April 2013

H E A L T H Y

L I V I N G

H E A L T H Y

P L A N E T

feel good • live simply • laugh more

Teaching Green

FREE

Education for a Sustainable World

MannaMarket

Organic Food Co-op

Gut Instincts How To Manage Good and Bad Bacteria

April 2013

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Birmingham, AL

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publishersletter

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ust look around and you can see all the sights telling us that spring has officially arrived. From the ground up we can see the grass turning green, flowers blooming and the trees starting to put on their leaves. What more could lift your spirits from the cold barren winter than the warmth of sunshine?

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April is the month we celebrate Earth Day. Just what is Earth Day? Earth Day was designed to help us develop an appreciation of the earth’s environment and grow awareness of the things that threaten it. In 1970, U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson proposed a bill to designate April 22 as Earth Day. The Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act and the Endangered Species Act are considered to be products that came out of the 1970 Earth Day bill.

Recycling has pretty much caught on everywhere. We live in a small community (Trinity) and we have never had curve side pick-up for recycling. In fact there was not anywhere close we could take things for recycling. Just this past year they placed a large recycling bin in our community. At first I didn’t think anyone would use the bin but it has turned out that many of the people in our community use it on a regular basis. Most of the bins are almost full every time we take things to recycle. I am proud that my community has started doing more to help keep our Earth healthy. Sometimes it is the small things we do that add up to make a big impact.

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

Natural Awakenings Birmingham 14 Woodland Ave. Trinity, Alabama 35673 Office: 256-340-1122 Fax: 256-217-4274 NABirmingham.com

On April 27, the Birmingham Botanical Gardens will host Alabama’s longestrunning Earth Day event. There will be over 40 earth-friendly exhibitors present displaying family friendly activities and information and Natural Awakenings Magazine will be there as well. So why not plan to spend the afternoon on the grounds of Birmingham’s Botanical Gardens and enjoy all that Spring brings.

Last month I told you all about my garden and wanted to give you all an update.

I have added 2 more raised beds. So far I have planted my potatoes, peas, beets, and a variety of lettuce. It still amazes me to watch as the tiny seeds come forth with life to gives us food. I will keep you posted on my progress.

© 2013 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.

Get out and enjoy the Spring.

“Until a man duplicates a blade of grass, nature can laugh at his so-called scientific knowledge. Remedies from chemicals will never stand in favorable comparison with the products of nature, the living cell of a plant, the final result of the rays of the sun, the mother of all life.” – Thomas Alva Edison

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

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

We welcome your ideas, articles and feedback.

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

Natural Awakenings is printed on recycled newsprint with soybased ink.

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contents 5 newsbriefs

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10 globalbriefs

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.

15 community spotlight

21 naturalpet

12 THE EMBODIMENT OF MOVEMENT

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by Margaret J. Pittenger, MSPT

22 calendars 29 resourceguide

14 HAIR TODAY, GONE TOMORROW

by Elizabeth Campbell Korcz, M.D.

15 MANNAMARKET 21 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

Community Spotlight Best Kept Secret in Birmingham...No Longer

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16 CUTTING THROUGH THE NUTRITION NONSENSE Gut Instincts: Bacteria May Control Our Health Destiny

by Steve Dupont, RD, LD

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.

18 THE NEXT LEVEL Education for a More Sustainable World

by Linda Sechrist

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

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

4 Birmingham NABirmingham.com www.NABirmingham.com

21 DETECTING DISEASE Liver and Adrenal Issues Share Symptoms

by Dr. Shawn Messonnier

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newsbriefs

In Gratitude...

New Vitamin / Herbal packages at Hoover Alt MD

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he Family Medicine and Alternative Medicine in Hoover is debuting its specially designed vitamin/herbal packages. Enjoy a pack of three different herbal or vitamin supports, compiled by Dr. Korcz, and labeled by your condition or health concern. The packages are convenient, and money saving, as you get extra discounts. Add any other supplements to a package, and get an additional discount on that one, too.

Options include: Super Man and Wonder Woman sexual health packages; Headache Helper for migraines and tension headaches; PCOS Pack for hormone balancing and fertility; Healthy Heart for preventive care; Soul Balance for anxiety and depression; and many more. Call the office for more details, or stop by to look around.

Dr. Elizabeth Korcz, Hoover Alt MD, 3421 South Shades Crest Rd, Suite 111, Hoover, AL. Call 205-733-6676 to schedule an appointment today. See Ad on Page 2 and CRG on Page 29.

Now Open on Montclair Road

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MBODY Practice Center and EMBODY Manual and Movement Therapy are now open in the building adjacent to the Post Office. EMBODY Practice Center is a beautiful, open space for practices that calm, inspire, uplift, and center you. Come find your fit from our variety of Yoga (Hatha, Restorative, Therapeutic, Nidra), Tai-ji Quan (Tai Chi), Breath, and Meditation classes. Our instructors include Becca Impello, Lauren Brown, Suzanne Graham, Dr. Chuck Whetsell, Laura McNulty, and Stephen Guesman. EPC also hosts community and professional workshops.

Coming soon—The Peace of Nowness: A Meditative Approach to Managing Anxiety, Iridology Certification, CranioSacral Therapy training by the Upledger International Institute, Breath Work, Freeing Your Voice to Sing, and Introduction to Yoga as Therapy.

EMBODY Practice Center is available to rent for classes and workshops with hourly, half-day, full day, and weekend rates. EMBODY Manual and Movement Therapy is a collaborative effort of 6 therapists offering some of Birmingham’s most unique and effective modalities that complement medical interventions and promote wellness. Margaret Pittenger (Physical Therapist, Feldenkrais®, Yoga), Becca Impello (Physical Therapist, Yoga Instructor), Andrew Brown (Certified Rolfing® Structural Integration Practitioner), Rene Yerby (Physical Therapist, CranioSacral Therapist), Lauren Brown (Massage Therapist, Yoga Instructor) and Jill Copeland (Massage Therapist, Visceral Manipulation) are happy to speak with you about what modality might be of most benefit for you.

To learn more about classes or therapies, visit EMBODYbirmingham.com, located at 3918 Montclair Road, Suite 100. Contact us at Info@embodybirmingham. com or 205-637-0299. See Ad on Page 7 and CRG on Page 30.

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

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Coming in May

Women’s Wellness Practical ways to achieve radiant well-being.

Redefining your best years yet.

April Happenings at the Gardens

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riends of Birmingham Botanical Gardens’ largest annual plant sale fundraiser will be held at the former J.C. Penney at Century Plaza in Birmingham, Ala. on April 5-7. Over 100,000 plants will be available for purchase, most of which have been nurtured by volunteers at The Gardens. More than 9,500 attended last year’s sale.

The public sale will be held Friday from 9am-7pm, Saturday from 9am-5pm, and on Sunday from 11am-3pm. Admission to the public sale is free. Numerous opportunities to volunteer are available and can be found at BBGardens.org/ springplantsale.

The annual Preview Party and Members-Only Sale will kick things off on Thursday, April 4, at 5pm. Admission to the Preview Party is $45 in advance and $50 at the door. The Preview Party provides guests a chance to shop early, enjoy great food, wine and a free plant. The Members-Only Sale is free to members from 6:30-8:30pm.

Educational opportunities continue throughout April, featuring “Get Into The Gardens,” a revamped collection of free weekend programming available to visitors this Spring. Demonstrations will be offered at 1pm on April 13 and April 27 on “Easy Container Gardening,” with “Planting Tomatoes” and “Planting Peppers,” respectively. “Hikes for Tykes” will encourage preschool children and their families to explore The Gardens each Saturday at 10am.

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

Introduction to Yoga as Therapy for PT, PTA, OT, YA

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hether for exercise, relaxation, or holistic healing, most therapy patients lately have tried yoga or are curious about it. Some have been injured by a yoga practice that was inappropriate for them. Many turn to PT’s or yoga studios with questions: What style of yoga? What teacher? What about a Yoga Therapist?

This course will teach PT’s and yoga teachers to answer these questions and investigate how scientific study is revealing the healing potential of yoga.

Join Becca Impello for this introduction to the emerging field of Yoga Therapy, where you will discuss style of hatha yoga, understand contraindications, practice basic breath control and awareness, learn poses for physical diagnosis, and review scientific study of yoga.

The class will be held on Sunday, April 14 from 8am-5pm at EMBODY Practice Center, 3918 Montclair Road, Suite 100. Cost is $215 after April 1. Earn 8 CECs for PT, PTA, OT, YA. Register online at SOSyoga.com. 205-637-0299. See Ad on Page 7 and CRG on Page 30.

Freeing the Voice

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

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hink you can’t sing? Used to sing in a choir and haven’t for a long time, or currently singing? Join Margaret Pittenger and Cathy Parrill at EMBODY Practice Center, a place where yoga, Feldenkrais, and singing meet. Discovering the connections among mind, body, emotion and spirit, finding unity, and letting the voice flow freely from that place of alignment is the goal of this workshop. We will focus on gaining flexibility in the spine in order to support the body and voice, exploring your voice, and experiencing singing in an accepting and joyful environment.

The class will be held on April 27, from 9am-4pm and on April 28 from 9am12pm. Cost is $195 for the entire workshop. To register or inquire, please email cparrill@gmail.com. EMBODY Practice Center 3918 Montclair Road, Suite 100.

EMBODYbirmingham.com. 205-637-0299. See Ad on Page 7 and CRG on Page 30.

Organic Produce From the Farm to Your Table

NOW OPEN

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ff the Vine Organic Produce, which operates a weekly organic produce box pick-up program, believes that our shopping choices have a lasting effect on our families and shape their future eating habits. Eating organic food reduces the risk of exposure to pesticides, antibiotics and hormones, and promotes the development of long-lasting, good eating habits. Since 2002, their motto has been, “We bring the organic farmers market to you!”

Before a product can be labeled organic, a USDAaccredited certifier must evaluate the farm or facility where the food is grown to make sure that the producer is following all the rules necessary to meet federal organic standards. They are also inspected annually by a third-party independent inspector.

Birmingham and Hoover area pick-up locations include Go Natural Herbs for Health, 4524 Southlake Parkway in Hoover; Garden Health Foods, 1082 Main Street in Gardendale; and Health Foods West, 1923 Bessemer Road, in Birmingham.

For more information or to place an order, call 850374-2181. New distribution points are welcome. For more information, email Support@offthevine.org or visit OffTheVine.org, Facebook.com/pages/Off-the-Vine or OffTheVineOrganicBlog.blogspot. See Ad on Page 8 and CRG on Page 29.

Amedisys Hospice Recognizes Volunteers

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olunteer Appreciation Week is April 21-27, and Amedisys Hospice would like to recognize a wonderful group of dedicated volunteers that are a special part of the hospice team. They are people who wish to make a difference in the lives of the terminally ill or those who are grieving, by giving their time to assist a patient or family member.

Jim has been volunteering with Amedisys Hospice since 2004 and goes to the patient’s home to provide professional massage therapy to patients and caregivers.

There have been many tired, overworked muscles relieved

by Jim’s talented touch.

Anna began volunteering in 2009, her freshman year at Samford, and became a part of the family she visited. When their loved one passed, she was honored by the family when asked to sit with them at the services and ride with them to the cemetery. Anna also won Amedisys Hospice Volunteer of the Year for the Southeast Region in 2011.

Sarah also began volunteering with Amedisys Hospice

Yoga Breathwork Continuing Education

Tai-ji Quan Meditation Workshops

Come practice at the new Embody Practice Center.

EPC offers wellness promoting opportunities to support and complement your health.

Embody also offers Manual and Movement Therapy · Physical Therapy · Feldenkrais® · Rolfing® · · CranioSacral Therapy · Visceral Manipulation · · Restorative and Thai Yoga Massage · NMT ·

EMBODYbirmingham.com 3918 Montclair Rd · Near Crestline Village · 205.637.0299

See our news brief for more details Birmingham Therapeutic Services LLC

Excellence in Academics Enlivened by the Arts – Early Childhood through Grade 8 –

Alabama Waldorf School is a community dedicated to educating responsible world citizens. We combine academic excellence, critical thinking development, and a sense of shared social responsibility. Students learn the skills and values to prepare them for success in high school, college and life. Through a rigorous curriculum of arts and academics, and a teaching approach that honors the individual child, our students learn how to meet life with courage, conviction and compassion for others.

Call (205) 592-0541 to schedule a tour.

Inquiries about tuition adjustment are welcome.

natural awakenings

Voted “Best Preschool” and “Best Private School” in Birmingham Magazine’s 2011 Parent’s Choice Awards and voted “Best Private School” in 2012

1220 50th Street South Birmingham, AL 35222

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newsbriefs her freshman year at Samford in 2010. She led a bible study at a nursing home for two years and shares her beautiful smile and sweet spirit with all she encounters.

Julie is mom to three young boys, but shares her time to relieve caregivers and bring her wonderful spirit into their lives.

Marlayna provides meals to a gentleman in need, and Sandy makes cakes, relieves caregivers, and shares her artistry. Carey makes tuck-in calls and sews pillowcases, and Jill makes phone calls to patients and bereaved. Shannon, Linda, Michelle, and Carol relieve caregivers, and Wilma Jean, Marian, Geneva, Riva, Rita, Margaret, Alyette, Dianne, and Kristen share their creative talents to lift spirits.

Thank you all for your humble, giving spirit. For information on becoming a hospice volunteer, contact Sandy Levine at 205-612-2400 or sandra.levine@amedisys.com.

Energy Anatomy Comes to Birmingham Yoga

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eiki Master Teacher Terri Heiman of Natural Forces Studio is offering an Energy Anatomy Class at Birmingham Yoga on Sunday, April 7. This class will be geared towards utilizing the natural healing system of Reiki for healing the body, mind and spirit. This workshop will explore the physical body as well as the subtle body; the chakra system and auric fields as we study the energy held in these radiant centers. Class participants will discover ways Reiki balances energy, reduces stress and enhances meditation, as well as deepens our personal yoga practice. Time will be devoted to common yoga injuries and the way to utilize the hands to bring relief to the areas in stress for self-care. The origins of this modality and the principles of Reiki will be discussed, as well as how they align with the yamas and niyamas. This class will provide each person with the Reiki attunements and a Reiki 1 certificate will be awarded. This class is geared towards the yoga teacher or student and 8 CE Yoga Alliance Hours will be awarded to enhance your continuing education training.

The class is scheduled for Sunday, April 7 from 9:30am-6pm. Cost is $155, manual included. Contact Birmingham Yoga to register for this class. Birmingham Yoga is located at 605 37th St South, Birmingham, AL 35222. 205-637-4228.

BirminghamYoga.com. Contact@birminghamyoga.com. See CRG on Page 30.

Reiki Techniques

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new class is being added to the schedule at Natural Forces Studio. Have you already been attuned to the energy of Reiki but haven’t had the chance to really practice your skills? Do you still doubt the ability to tap into this Universal Energy to clear blocks out of the body? Do your hands get warm but you still don’t know how to move energy? If you answered yes to any of these questions, this class is just for you.

In this 4-week workshop, we will work with these deep, subtle and ancient techniques for addressing and releasing the physical, emotional, mental and spiritual karma issues that manifest themselves as dis-ease in our physical and etheric bodies. We will discuss and demonstrate the following techniques: hand positions, ascended chakras, cord cutting, crystals grids, and breath work to intensify and direct energies and sense densities. Practice time will be included. Must be trained in Reiki 1 or higher and must register for this class.

Come ready to practice and hone your skills. $35 per class or $120 for entire four weeks. For more information or to register for this class contact Terri

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Aveda Institute of Birmingham Earth Month Events

Heiman, Natural Forces Studio, 605 37th St South, inside Birmingham Yoga.

205-201-6985 or 516-457-3885. NaturalForcesStudio.com/blog. See Ad on Page 24 and CRG on Page 29.

Margot Walbert Expands Practice

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argot Walbert DOM, AP, CST has been practicing Chinese medicine since 2006 with state licensed, nationally board certified (NCCAOM) status, and she has been at the McMinn Clinic in Homewood, Alabama since January, 2010.

Dr. Walbert now has expanded her scope of practice to Craniosacral Therapy.

Dr.Walbert earned this certification by fulfilling the requirements of the Upledger Institute International, located in West Palm Beach, Florida. Testing for this certification consisted of a three-part process involving written, oral and hands-on examination.

Dr. Walbert uses this treatment modality independently from, or in conjunction with, acupuncture—an approach which established her unique standing within the Integrative Health Care community.

For more information, please call Dr. Walbert at the McMinn Clinic: 205868-1313. The McMinn clinic is located at 3125 Independence Dr, Suite 108 in Homewood, AL 35209.

Tai Chi Shown to Improve Seniors’ Balance, Sleep, Immune Response

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edical researchers have found that the fluid, slow-motion practice of tai chi can alleviate a number of common age-related problems.

“As we age, arthritis and sleeplessness are more common, and we become more concerned about balance, flexibility, and mental stamina,” says Homewood tai chi instructor Liz Mawhinney. “Because of its emphasis on integrating specific body and brain functions, tai chi has been shown to help older people reduce pain and the risk of falls. In addition, because of its emphasis on breathing, tai chi has been found to reduce stress and blood pressure while enhancing mental clarity.”

Two studies sponsored by the National Institute on Aging (NIA) and published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society found that tai chi exercises significantly cut the risk of falls. In another study, researchers at UCLA found that practicing tai chi, the Westernized version of the 2,000-year-old Chinese martial art, promotes sleep quality in adults with moderate sleep complaints. A study funded by the National Institutes of Health found that tai chi can help adults avoid getting shingles by increasing immunity to varicella-zoster virus (VZV) and boosting the immune response to varicella vaccine.

“This is a gentle form of exercise that just about anyone can do, and it has real benefits for people with issues ranging from joint and balance issues to stress and insomnia,” says Mawhinney, a licensed massage therapist who says the approach is gaining popularity at the Homewood Synergy Centre, where she offers massage and tai chi therapy. For more information, or to sit in on a restorative tai chi session, contact Liz Mawhinney at Liz@theinnerbliss.com.

Homewood Synergy Centre is located at 2007 Lancaster Road, Birmingham, AL 35209. HomewoodSynergyCentre.com.

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n honor of Earth Day, Aveda Institute has set aside a whole month to raise money to support clean water projects at home and around the world. Over the last 6 years they have given $20 million dollars of the funds to support clean water projects at home and around the world.

The Aveda Institute of Birmingham has chosen the Gulf Restoration Network to receive the proceeds they raise. The Gulf Restoration Network is committed to uniting and empowering people to protect and restore the natural resources of the Gulf Region.

The Aveda Institute in Birmingham will be having two events in April to help raise money for their cause. On Earth Day, April 22, they will sponsor a cut-athon. All proceeds from haircuts will be going to The Gulf Restoration Network.

On April 28, Aveda will be hosting a fashion show, which is put on by the students. This event is combined with their scholarship contest that is done once a year for prospective students to have a chance to do hair and makeup on models for a chance to win a full ride scholarship to the Aveda Institute. Tickets are $10.

For appointments, information, or tickets call 205-769-3500. Aveda Institute is located at 3200 Galleria Cir, Birmingham, AL 35244.

The Earth is what we all have in common. ~Wendell Berry

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

Label GMOs Whole Foods Supports Americans’ Right to Know

Survival Alert Join America’s Start Saving Water Now Challenge America, like most of the rest of the world, is running short of fresh water. Our welfare depends on having annual access to 150 trillion gallons of fresh water for drinking, cleaning, growing food, making products and generating electricity. In every region of the country, the conservation and recycling of this vital resource is a key solution to achieving a sustainable future.

“We can do better” is the urgent message of the 2013 National Mayor’s Challenge for Water Conservation. Last year, people in more than 1,000 cities took simple actions to save water and related energy expenditures, pledging to collectively reduce their water use by 4.7 billion gallons over one year.

The Wyland Foundation, supported by the National League of Cities and the Environmental Protection Agency, are again sponsoring prizes for residents in the most “water-wise” cities, based on pledges to be made in April. Last year, $50,000 in awarded prizes included a Toyota Prius, Lowe’s gift cards and 1,200 water-saving fixtures.

Sign on at WylandFoundation.org/mywaterpledge.

Keystone XL Fight Protesters Rally Again Against Tar Sands Pipeline In February more than 10,000 citizens rallied at the White House, calling on President Obama to honor his clean energy campaign promises and reject the proposed Keystone XL Pipeline, resulting in multiple arrests of protest leaders. The 1,700-mile pipeline, a project of TransCanada Corporation, would carry tar sands crude oil south from Alberta, Canada, through multiple heartland states to refineries on the Gulf Coast.

“As our nation’s worst-ever economic recession drags on, creating jobs in the clean energy sector should be priority number one,” states a Sierra Club Beyond Oil campaign spokesperson. “Building the poisonous Keystone XL pipeline would put the brakes on clean energy and exacerbate the pollution and public health problems that come with America’s dependence on dirty, dangerous oil.”

The Sierra Club reports that pipeline plans require clear-cutting boreal forests and consuming huge amounts of energy and water, leaving behind toxic lakes.

An associated oil spill could devastate aquifers that supply water to 30 percent of America’s irrigated farmland (2,554 U.S. oil pipeline spills occurred from 2000 to 2009). Opponents are also concerned the pipeline would exacerbate air pollution and cancer, respiratory illnesses and other health problems in communities surrounding oil refineries in Chicago, Detroit and Houston.

For states directly impacted, visit Tinyurl.com/KeystoneXLMap. Learn more and take action at SierraClub.org/dirtyfuels/tar-sands.

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Whole Foods Market has become the first company in the industry to decide that all products containing genetically modified organisms (GMO) in its U.S. and Canadian stores must be so labeled by 2018.

“We support the consumer’s right to know,” said Walter Robb, co-CEO of Whole Foods Market, in announcing the policy. “The prevalence of GMOs in the United States, paired with nonexistent mandatory labeling, makes it very difficult for retailers to source non-GMO options and for consumers to choose non-GMO products.”

Genetic engineering introduces changes in DNA structure—usually to increase crop yield, plant hardiness and aesthetic appeal, rather than improve nutritional content. Acknowledged downsides of artificially transferring genes into plants include substantial increases in the use of chemicals and genetic crosscontamination of fields.

While major food companies funded the defeat of California’s Prop 37 calling for GMO labeling, 82 percent of Americans are pro-labeling, according to a recent poll by market research firm YouGov. On April 8, Americans will demand that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) stop choosing Monsanto’s industrial interests over policy transparency and public health.

Concerned citizens are beginning to take back America’s food system.

Join the Eat-In for GMO Labeling, Stone Soup style, outside of the FDA Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, 5100 Paint Branch Pkwy., College Park, MD 20740, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., April 8. Visit Occupy-Monsanto.com.

Silver Lining Cleaning Up the Cloud The New York Times has reported that “cloud” data centers—which store YouTube videos, run Google searches and process eBay bids—use about 2 percent of all electricity in the nation. In some data centers, up to 90 percent of the energy is wasted.

Now, an industry consortium called the Uptime Institute is sponsoring a “server roundup” and handing out rodeo belt buckles to the Internet company that can take the largest number of heat-producing, energy-hungry servers offline. Many centers expend as much or more energy in cooling their facilities as in computing and transmitting data.

Sharing best practices has become common among data center pros. Facebook won the Institute’s Audacious Idea award last year for its Open Compute Project, which enabled both its server and data center designs to be open-sourced for anyone to access and improve upon.

Source: Slate.com

Better Barters Swapping Trash for Fresh Produce Mexico City’s innovative monthly Mercado del Trueque (barter market) in Chapultepec Park is a winning trifecta for citizens, local vegetable and plant vendors and the city’s secretariat of the environment. There, residents can exchange cardboard, paper, glass, aluminum, plastic bottles, electronic devices and other waste for paper chits that are redeemed at kiosks for vouchers worth points.

The traders can then use the vouchers to buy tomatoes, potatoes, lettuce, lemons and other produce from participating farmers from surrounding districts.

Mexico produces 40 million tons of garbage annually, but only recycles about 15 percent. With this barter system, farmers have gained a new place to sell their produce and earn extra income, while the materials collected are processed for industrial reuse.

Source: IPSNews.net

Nordic Order Sweden Running Out of Garbage Sweden’s successful recycling program ensures that only 4 percent of the country’s waste ends up in landfills, while the other 96 percent is reused. But this means incinerators that burn waste to create heat and electricity are running short on fuel.

As a solution, Sweden has recently begun to import about 800,000 tons of trash every year from other European countries, most of it from neighboring Norway, which finds it a cost-effective option.

Online Literacy Students Learning to Adopt Internet Academics The findings of a survey of teachers conducted by the Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Project, in collaboration with the College Board and the National Writing Project, show that the Internet has opened up a vast world of information for today’s students, but digital literacy skills need improvement.

Three-quarters of Advanced Placement and National Writing Project teachers say that the Internet and digital search tools have had a “mostly positive” impact on their students’ research habits, but 87 percent say these technologies are creating an easily distracted generation with short attention spans, and 64 percent say they do more to divert students’ attention than to help them academically.

The good news is that 99 percent of teachers in the study agree with the notion that, “The Internet enables students to access a wider range of resources than would otherwise be available,” and 65 percent agree that, “It makes today’s students more selfsufficient researchers.”

Read the full report at Tinyurl.com/ TeenResearch.

Suburbia is where the developer bulldozes out the trees, then names the streets after them. ~Bill Vaughan

Find details at Tinyurl.com/SwedishWaste. natural awakenings

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The Embodiment of Movement

by Margaret J. Pittenger, MSPT A Partner at EMBODY Manual and Movement Therapy

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ur bodies and nervous systems were built giving us symmetry and balance. It is the job of the skeleton to hold us up and our joints are engineered to allow stability as well as freedom of movement. Our joints are fitted with restraining straps and cushions to protect the bones from wearing away by rubbing against each other. The muscles are arranged to compliment the symmetry of the skeleton and to allow the body to move in fluid and functional patterns.

Because we have a central and flexible spine engineered to be upright by carefully opposing curves, we have equal and opposite muscle groups that allow symmetry. The body balances itself in gravity by symmetry, opposition and reciprocity: standing on one leg I can lean my trunk forward and oppose the weight by taking my opposite leg backwards. If I stand on that same leg I can reciprocally lift my opposite leg to kick a ball or walk up a step.

Each joint is stabilized and given functional movement by the arrangements of equal and opposite muscles that are hard wired into our internal architect: our nervous system.

Our nervous systems are very intelligent. As humans we learn to program our nervous systems by responding to builtin reflexes that guide us through rolling, sitting, crawling, standing and then into walking. We move thru these stages automatically but then shape our unique experiences thru the sensations and movements our bodies allow us.

Movement is shaped by the protective reflex mechanisms built-in to protect the muscles and joints and by the equal and opposite muscle partners which allow balanced functional fluid patterns, initially, so we can eat and survive, but later so we can create and learn.

Functional patterns of reaching into a cupboard, picking up a full glass of milk, leaning over to lace a shoe are all possible because the muscles from your feet to knees to hips, across the spine, shoulders, neck and head have practiced exactly how to balance each other using the skeleton for stability to accomplish the intention of the act.

From birth we have intentions: turn the head to find the mother's voice, repeat the sensation of movement against the floor, enjoy the feeling of food in the mouth and taste that feels good.

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We enjoy the completion of a task, building a novel structure with cards, riding a bike alone. The intention, the sensation, the motor control of our balanced skeleton and muscular partners is our pathway to life.

Moshe Feldenkrais Ph.D. stated “movement is life.� When movement in hindered in our culture we are influenced by our stated philosophy that if we work hard enough we will get to our goals. When we are injured we force the injured part to work hard to become better rather than supporting the injury with time and healing and then reinstating the body part back into the pattern. By isolating the part or muscles to work harder we train the intention to work harder but not to work symmetrically or in the full functional pattern. We can train ourselves to be asymmetrical. We do this by using postural patterns over and over. A cellist sits with the instrument in one way time after time and then cannot let go of the pattern to sit in a car and drive or sit at the table to eat. The cello is the most important pattern. The music is the passion and the moneymaker. Consequently, muscles on one side of the spine are trained to hold and not let go. Pain can develop over time and the ability to change the pattern is lost because the person cannot feel the asymmetry. The feeling is too habitual. The movement of life is restricted. No functional pattern is a bad thing but habitual patterns shaped by our jobs, intentions, emotions and injuries can become restrictive if they are held and not allowed to return to symmetrical balance.

The embodiment of our lives, our movements are meant to be easy and flowing. Our structural systems are built to allow balance and symmetry. Our nervous systems are very plastic.

Given new choices and gentle reminders of balanced movement we can reshape patterns and release pain and tension.

Margaret J. Pittenger, MSPT is a partner at EMBODY Manual and Movement Therapy which is located at 3918 Montclair Rd, Suite 100, Birmingham, AL 35213. 205-637-0299. Email: Info@EmbodyBirmingham.com.

EMBODYbirmingham.com.

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Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow

by Elizabeth Campbell Korcz, MD

S

o, you step out of the shower, and look behind you, only to be dismayed at the sight of yet another clump of hair around the drain. Does this happen to you? Have you been losing your hair? Fear not. There are reasons for hair loss that can be controlled, and even solutions for hair loss that don’t have medical reasons. First, let’s talk about general hair loss, and later we’ll get specific to female hair loss. Male pattern baldness, which is often more discussed, we’ll discuss toward the end.

Hair loss occurs for a variety of reasons. Thyroid hormone issues are a big one. Too little thyroid hormone causes the hair to become coarse, dull, and sometimes fall out. You’ll particularly notice your eyebrows disappearing. Conversely, too much thyroid hormone causes the hair to become thin and breakable, and also fall out.

Overactive thyroid hair loss often happens faster than underactive. Thyroid issues are very delicate, and it must be in perfect balance for your overall health, and visible in your hair. Checking a patient’s thyroid function is the first thing I suggest to my patients.

Illness and chronic stress can also cause hair loss. People with heavy disease burden and inflammation can experience hair loss. Both acute stressors, (like having the Flu, pneumonia, getting a rash, breaking a bone, etc), and chronic health issues (high blood pressure, diabe-

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tes, asthma, etc) can affect your hair. Inflammation and stress on your body can cause Telogen Effluvium, where many of your hairs stop growing, and then fall out within a few months. This is often seen as some losses from all over. What helps this kind of hair loss is controlling a chronic disease (if this is the issue), and reducing inflammation with diet and supplements for acute issues.

Alopecia Areata is another type of hair loss that can occur in men, women, and even kids. This is an autoimmune disease, where your own body’s defenses turn and attack your hair follicles instead of invading disease.

Hair loss in this case comes as “spots” of complete loss, with other areas being normal. If you think this might be your problem, see your doctor, as there are medicines that can help this, too.

Certain medications can also cause hair loss in people, and even rapid weight loss. Losses on the head can also be from Seborrheic dermatitis or psoriasis conditions, so controlling these is important. Finally, hereditary hair loss is big for both genders. If all the family members lose their hair in their 50s, so will you. Take heart, though, as there are vitamins and supplements that can help this.

Women can experience hair loss with changes in hormones. During pregnancy, the hair doesn’t fall out as much (looks thick and shiny), and so

right after the birth of the child, many women experience a large amount of hair loss. This is actually normal. If a woman has Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), she is prone to hair loss due to elevated testosterone levels.

(More on testosterone-hair loss later.)

Even women’s hairstyles can cause too much pulling or tension on your hair, and cause it to die off and fall out. This includes braids, buns, styling devices, tight ponies, and weaves.

Menopause can cause hair changes as well. Loss of your hormones, particularly estrogen, can increase the ratio of testosterone in your body, and cause your hair to begin falling out. Estrogen replacement by herbals or hormone therapy, can help. Also, certain herbals and vitamin supplements help restore the hair’s volume and shine.

Finally, we talk about men’s hair loss. Testosterone is the big culprit here.

It gets converted into DHT (Dihydrotestosterone), which causes hair loss and thinning. Men with familial hair loss (“male pattern baldness”) have hair follicle receptors that are more sensitive to DHT than others. This sensitivity is variable among both men and women.

Of course, treatment for all types of hair loss ranges from cover-ups to testosterone blockers (oral or topical, think Rogaine), to hair transplant surgery, and even laser treatments to stimulate re-growth. At our practice, we have a UV light comb electrode, which can increase blood flow, and stimulate hair growth to treat hair loss in both men and women.

So, if you have a bit of a hairy situation…Go see your doctor, and find out what kind of hair loss problem you have, and start looking for the answers. You can have your Hair Happiness again, soon.

Dr. Elizabeth Campbell Korcz has a growing, innovative practice in Hoover that augments Traditional Family Medicine with Complementary and Alternative medical therapies and practices. She is currently accepting new patients. Hoover Alt MD, 3421 S. Shades Crest Rd, Suite 111, Hoover.

Call 205-733-6676 to schedule an appointment today. See Ad on Page 2 and CRG on Page 29.

CommunitySpotlight

Beets from the garden

thriving business that grows its own biodynamic produce and procures the best local and regional organic produce for its customers scattered across the state. They have a system in place that allows customers who do not live in the Birmingham metro area to be able to participate through online ordering and having their goods dropped off at more convenient locations. Currently, MannaMarket has drop-off locations as far north as Cullman to down close to Montgomery and all in-between.

Here's How It Works: • Contact Robyn Mitchell for an order form.

•

The order form is due to Robyn by the Friday before Tuesday’s market day.

Best Kept Secret in Birmingham...No Longer

W

hat began as an attempt to heal a very sick person many years ago has grown into a thriving market in which Hippocrates’ “Let Food Be Thy Medicine” is the basis for each food item sold.

In 1994, Robyn Mitchell contracted the deadly Toxic Strep-A virus. She was told to get her affairs in order and that she would not survive. Robyn endured surgery, the effects of high powered drugs and even being in a coma. Miraculously, she survived and through sheer determination, much research and lots of prayers, Robyn’s body slowly began improving. She was convinced the toxic pharmaceuticals would not be the answer to a long and healthy life. She began learning about organics and more specifically, eating an organic raw diet. As

her body healed and got stronger, she realized there was a huge void in Alabama. Where could people find clean, pure, organic produce?

In 2000, Robyn led twelve families together to start MannaMarket Organic Food Co-op.

The expense of eating organically was high at that time, but was more feasible when the families used their buying power together and shared.

For the first year, they met on Robyn’s porch. As more families heard about the co-op, Robyn was forced to find a more suitable location and found the New Merkle Senior Center in Cahaba Heights. Twelve years later, MannaMarket is still meeting from 1pm to 3pm every other Tuesday afternoon on Dolly Ridge Road.

Since MannaMarket’s meager beginning, it has grown from a 12 family organic co-op to a

•

Order and payment can be made online at MannaMarket. org, through email* or via phone.

Indicate location you want produce delivered or dropped off.

• On Market Day, ordered produce may be picked up at the New Merkle Senior Center in Birmingham between 1pm and 3pm; delivered to a drop-off location; or delivered to home or office. (Home and Office delivery has a $7.50 fee.) *Customers on the email list receive order forms, e-newsletters and reminders via email.

natural awakenings

Carrots freshly pulled

MannaMarket

April 2013

15

Cutting Through the Nutrition Nonsense Valleydale, at the markets

by Steve Dupont, RD, LD

There are numerous benefits to buying produce through MannaMarket. First of all, the prices are more affordable than buying at area grocery stores that carry organic produce. There is no fee to join or cost of membership. Then there is the health benefit. The food is so much fresher than buying at a grocery store. Many times, produce will have been picked just hours before co-op begins. Their food has not been stored in a warehouse.

Many new customers are amazed at how much better tasting their food is after buying from MannaMarket.

This is due to freshness, proximity and being so pure.

Robyn Mitchell has transformed a near-death experience into a business that provides healing and regeneration through the foods she grows and provides. She always invites people to come by the New Merkle Senior Center on market day even when they don’t have an order placed; they can buy from the “extras” table and experience the lively market atmosphere.

Gut Instincts: Bacteria May Control Our Health Destiny

I

Robyn can be contacted at 205-566-2533 and MannaMarket@ charter.net. Visit MannaMarket online at MannaMarket.org and at Facebook.com/MannaMarket.

Upcoming market days are April 2, April 16 and April 30 at the New Merkle Senior Center located at 4405 Dolly Ridge Rd, Birmingham, AL 35243.

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’m not going to lie to you—bacteria can be scary. Antibiotic resistant superbugs such as the CRE now making news headlines are a real threat. But apart from staying out of the hospital and using common hygiene, avoiding infection with such bacterium is largely out of our control.

The bacteria we willingly ingest, on the other hand, and dietary approaches to cultivating a favorable balance of bacteria, are much more controllable.

There is general consensus in the scientific community that imbalances between so-called “friendly” and “unfriendly” (pathogenic) bacteria could have enormous bearing on chronic diseases and obesity. After all, it’s a fact that these microbes far outnumber our own human cells.

In the colon for example, where concentrations of bacteria are the highest, scientists from the Mayo Clinic estimate that just one mL of luminal content contains approximately 10 trillion microbes—from up to 36,000 different species!

What We Know Thanks in part to the burgeoning supplement industry, it’s now widely known that bacteria have a tremendous impact on digestive health and frontline immune function. In the simplest terms, the good guys keep the bad guys under control and thus promote health.

This is not just marketing hype, it’s true. Various recent studies have shown these “friendly flora” help in detoxification, synthesis and absorption of micronutrients and electrolytes, utilization of dietary calories, drug metabolism and even production of major hormones like serotonin.

We also know that humans differ widely in their bacterial makeup.

We know that obese people and

lean people have very different profiles. We know that children and their parents often have very different profiles. We know that people who consume very similar proportions of macronutrients (carbs, protein, fat) have very similar profiles. And we know that other environmental factors, but primarily dietary intake, can alter the bacterial profile—albeit in small increments.

What We Don’t Know Quite a lot, actually, and the scientific findings to date hold a number of perplexing contradictions. For example, we don’t know why certain types of bacteria linked to diabetes onset tend to increase as an obese person loses weight. Or why animal models show that completely sterile animals—that is, with no gut flora at all—tend to be lean and highly resistant to diabetes. In fact, one particular study showed that antibiotic therapy—which is anathema to most “natural health” proponents— significantly delayed the onset of diabetes in a “diabetes-prone” rat model. Could an occasional course of antibiotics actually be good for long-term wellness? Assuming the bad guys will occasionally stage a coup and make us very sick (warranting the use of antibiotics)—and assuming the gut can be repopulated in a favorable ratio afterward. Quite possibly, yes.

What We Should Eat This is the million dollar question, isn’t it. Well, a recent study published in the journal Science found that people who ate large amounts of meat and saturated fat had higher levels of Bacteroides – the type of bacteria most often linked to obesity and diabetes.

Now, before you meat eaters get too worried, remember this is just one study. Plus, as with any study of dietary habits, it’s difficult to make generalized conclusions. For example, when I hear “meat and saturated fat,” I imagine the typical office worker scarfing down a Big Mac extra value meal at lunchtime,

or perhaps a football fan gnawing on fatty pork ribs before the game.

Personally, I’m not willing to throw the buffalo out with the bathwater.

My opinion is the benefits of meat—chiefly tissue building and repair—outweigh its risks, with a few critical caveats: 1) the leaner the meat the better, chicken without skin, fish, lean cuts of red meat such as round roast and flank steak, and 2) the cleaner the meat the better, pastured vs. factory raised animals, organic feed, no hormones or antibiotics.

Beyond that, I believe variety is important in consuming plant-based foods—not only in terms of the types of fruits, vegetables and (to a lesser extent) whole grains consumed, but how they are prepared. The insoluble fiber in a “raw food” diet will detox like crazy, but also tend to produce gas, bloating and may even alter the balance of gut flora for the worse. On the other hand, cooked vegetables perform more of a nourishing role, as they can enhance absorption of nutrients and phytochemicals. Tomatoes, for instance, deliver more of the powerful antioxidant lycopene than raw tomatoes.

So the basic answer is variety, variety, variety. Choose many different high-quality sources of protein, carbohydrates and fat, prepare them in many different ways, and don’t forget the herbs and spices. After all, while variety may be the spice of life, only real spice can flavor your food!

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.

Gobble Up the Good Guys Foods and supplements containing probiotics such as lactobacillus and bifidobacterium strains can be beneficial for just about everyone— but are especially important if you’re taking (or have just finished) a course of antibiotics or often have loose stools. My favorite sources of friendly flora include: Yogurt – Plain yogurt is preferable, sweetened to taste if necessary with a little raw honey, maple syrup and/ or fresh fruit—and be sure to look for the words “live [and] active cultures” on the product. Greek-style yogurts are typically high in active cultures and contain about twice the protein as conventional varieties. For the adventurous types out there, try making your own yogurt at home. All you need is whole milk (pasteurized cow, goat or sheep milk okay) and existing yogurt with live active cultures.

Kefir – Basically a yogurt drink. The most widely available producer is Lifeway, and I find their kefir to be quite delicious. Flavors include cherry, peach, blueberry, strawberry and mango.

Fermented Vegetables – Sauerkraut and Kimchi are two of the most popular variations, but nearly any vegetable can be safely fermented at home in a glass jar—or, needless to say, an expensive stoneware fermenting crock. Chances are most store-bought products have been pasteurized, thus killing the bacteria.

Miso – Most commonly found in the traditional Japanese soup misoshiru, true miso is actually a thick paste made from fermented soybeans, rice or barley.

natural awakenings

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Zoe Weil portrait by Robert Shetterly

issues in age-appropriate ways; fostering the Three C’s of curiosity, creativity and critical thinking; instilling the Three R’s of reverence, respect and responsibility; and ensuring access to both positive choices and the necessary tools for problem solving. “These elements enable students to take all that they learn and use it with reverence and a sense of responsibility,” says Weil.

Her institute offers the only master’s degrees in humane education that this approach requires, with complementary in-class and online programs for young people and adults.

Her determined vision is slowly becoming a reality as teachers become familiar with these concepts and integrate them into hands-on, project-based learning that crosses disciplines and better marries school experiences with real-life lessons.

Make the Extraordinary Ordinary Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Seymour Papert, a renowned educator and computer scientist, has conducted in-depth research in how worthy real-world topics get students excited about what they learn. They increase their

THE NEXT LEVEL Education for a More Sustainable World

by Linda Sechrist

“

W

hat is the purpose of education?” That’s a question Zoe Weil frequently revisits with her workshop audiences. As co-founder and President of the Institute for Humane Education (IHE), Weil has spent most of her adult life researching the answer. Her conclusion is that the U.S. Department of Education’s present goal of preparing graduates to “compete in the global economy” is far too myopic for our times.

Weil’s firsthand research, which grounds her book, The Power and Promise of Humane Education, has led her to forward the idea that the goal should be inspiring generations of “solutionaries” prepared to joyfully and enthusiastically meet the challenges of world problems.

“I believe that it is incredibly irresponsible for America’s educators and policymakers not to provide people with the knowledge of interconnected global issues, plus the skills and tools to become creative problem solvers and motivated change makers in whatever fields they pursue,” says Weil.

Weil points to four primary elements that comprise a humane education: providing information about current

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We need to build cases for environmental protection around broad-based community concerns like health, quality of life, the protection of watersheds and wildlife and the education of our children. Environmental issues are also social, economic and quality of life issues.

Our challenge is to bring life-sustaining principles into creative thinking for the long view, rather than the short term. ~ Terry Tempest Williams tendency to dig more deeply and expand their interest in a wide array of subjects as they better retain what they learn, become more confident in trusting their own judgment and make the connections needed to broadly apply their knowledge. Young people learn how to collaborate and improve

their social and group speaking skills, including with adults.

According to Papert, project-based learning improves test scores and reduces absenteeism and disciplinary problems. “If schoolchildren are given the gift of exploration, society will benefit, both in practical and theoretical ways,” notes Papert.

Papert’s observations were affirmed by middle school students at Voyagers’ Community School, in Farmingdale, New Jersey, in one of the IHE 10-week online classes— Most Good, Least Harm—in April 2012. “Initially, students were intimidated and underestimated their ability to express their thoughts and concerns or debate issues with the adult participants. That challenge faded quickly,” remarks Karen Giuffre, founder and director of the progressive day school.

Posing provocative questions like, “What brings you joy?” and engaging in conversations in subjects like climate change, racism, recycling, green energy, genocide and war challenged the students to step up to become respected equals. “This demanded a lot from these young people, because the experience wasn’t only about absorbing complex issues and developing an awareness of the material, political, economic and cultural world around them. It was also about how they probed their minds and emotions to determine where they stood on issues and what they could do to change their lifestyle, or that of their family and community, to make it more sustainable,” says Giuffre.

The students went on to help organize a peace conference that entailed 20-plus workshops to inspire an individual mindful awareness of peace that motivates and empowers the peacemaker within. It was intended to incite collective action across generations, explains Giuffre, and was followed by community service to people impacted by Hurricane Sandy.

Answering the Call Children or adults that participate in activities such as those created by IHE or the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) Challenge 20/20 are developing what Peggy Holman describes as “change literacy”, the capacity to be effectively present amid a changing set of circumstances.

Holman, an adjunct professional lecturer at American University’s School of Public Affairs, in Washington, D.C., is co-founder of the Open Space Institute-US, which fosters whole-system engagement, and author of Engaging Emergence.

“Conversational literacy—the capacity to talk and interact in creative ways with others that are very different from us—is our birthright. However, change literacy, a necessary skill for future leaders, is learned via curiosity,” advises Holman. “In my experience, children grasp it more quickly than adults, because authentic expression and curiosity come naturally to them. Children don’t have a long

Bill McKibben portrait by Robert Shetterly

Telling Transformation

history, and so are naturally more present when engaged in exploring things that matter.”

Global problems of deforestation, peacekeeping, conflict prevention, terrorism, water pollution and shortages, natural disasters and mitigation, global warming, education for all, biodiversity, ecosystem losses and global infectious diseases aren’t yet subjects found in a normal curriculum for grades five through nine. However, the Internet-based Challenge 20/20 program now has youth in nearly 120 independent and traditional schools throughout the United States working on solutions that can be implemented both locally and globally.

“Challenge 20/20 partners American schools at any grade level [K-12] with counterpart schools in other countries, free of cost,” explains NAIS Director Patrick Bassett.

“Together, teams tackle real global problems while forming authentic bonds and learning firsthand about cross-cultural communication.” Qualifying students may have an opportunity to share their experiences at the association’s annual Student Diversity Leadership Conference.

In 2010, 11 students at the Fay School, in Southborough, Massachusetts, partnered with Saigon South International School (SSIS), in Vietnam. After a year of studying, raising awareness and brainstorming solutions for the global water deficit, Fay students focused on the challenges families in underdeveloped countries face that must walk miles to find clean, safe, water sources.

A taxing water-carrying experiment brought immediate natural awakenings

April 2013

19

appreciation for the difficulty of transporting water, prompting them to invent the Water Walker. The modified rolling cooler with heavy-duty straps attached can carry up to 40 quarts of water on large, durable wheels and axles designed to navigate rocky terrain.

“Transformative learning, which is vital to the learning journey, goes beyond the acquisition of information,” says Aftab Omer, Ph.D., president of Meridian University, in Petaluma, California, and founder of its formative Institute of Imaginal Studies. “In informational learning, we acquire facts, concepts, principles and even skills, but in transformative learning, we are cultivating capacities. This is how certain capabilities become embodied in us, either as individuals or as human systems,” he advises.

Portrait artist Robert Shetterly tours with his series of more than 100 portrait paintings in traveling exhibits titled Americans Who Tell the Truth. They are helping individuals learn to embody patience, perseverance and compassion, while enhancing their understanding of sustainability, social justice, civic activism, democracy and civil rights, via both historical role models and contemporary mentors such as environmental activist Bill McKibben, conservationist Terry Tempest Williams and renowned climate scientist James Hansen.

“We don’t need to invent the wheel, because we have role models that have confronted these issues and left us a valuable legacy,” remarks Shetterly.

In 2004, he collaborated to produce a companion curriculum with Michele Hemenway, who continues to offer it in Louisville, Kentucky, elementary, middle and high schools. Hemenway also teaches Art in Education at Jefferson Community & Technical College and 21st-Century Civics at Bellamine University, both in Louisville.

Out of many, she shares a particularly compelling example of a student transformed due to this learning method: “I taught a young girl studying these true stories and portraits from the third through fifth grades when she took her place in a leadership group outside the classroom. Now in middle school, she is doing amazing things to make a difference in her community,” says Hemenway.

Reflecting on her own life, deciding what she cared about most and what actions she wanted to take, plus her own strengths, helped the student get a blighted building torn down, document and photograph neighborhood chemical dumping and have it stopped and succeed in establishing a community garden, a factor known to help reduce crime.

Among Shetterly’s collection is the portrait of John Hunter, a teacher in Charlottesville, Virginia, who devised the World Peace Game for his fourth grade students. Children learn to communicate, collaborate and take care of each other as they work to resolve the game’s conflicts. The 20

Birmingham

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Terry Tempest Williams portrait by Robert Shetterly

Re-Imagining Education

game triggers an eight-week transformation of the children from students of a neighborhood public school to citizens of the world.

Demonstrating transformational learning at its best, they experience the connectedness of the global community through the lens of economic, social and environmental crises, as well as the imminent threat of war. Hunter and his students are now part of a new film, World Peace and Other 4th-Grade Achievements, which reveals how effective teaching can help unleash students’ full potential.

Professor Emeritus Peter Gray, of Boston College, who researches comparative, evolutionary, developmental and educational psychology, believes the transformational method will be accepted as part of the increased demand to integrate enlightened educational approaches in public schools. The author of Free to Learn notes, “A tipping point can occur. It’s happened before, when women won the right to vote, slavery was abolished and recently when gays were openly accepted in the military.”

Weil agrees that when more individuals commit to working toward a sustainable and just world, it will happen.

“What’s more worthy of our lives than doing this work for our children and coming generations?” she queries. “How can we not do this for them if we love them?”

Linda Sechrist is a Natural Awakenings senior staff writer.

For recorded source interviews and additional perspective, visit her website, ItsAllAboutWe.com.

naturalpet

DETECTING

DISEASE

Liver and Adrenal Issues Share Symptoms

by Dr. Shawn Messonnier

A

drenal and liver diseases can commonly plague pets, with adrenal problems occurring more often in dogs but routinely misdiagnosed, and liver disease more frequently present in cats.

Liver Disease This inclusive term is used to describe any disorder of the liver. In both dogs and cats, common causes include toxins, infections, metabolic problems and tumors. In cats, infections and fatty liver disease are more likely, while dogs more often experience infections and tumors. Clinically affected pets are usually anorectic (not eating) and lethargic; in severe cases, jaundice may occur.

Conventional therapies depend to some extent on the cause, but in general, antibiotics and hospitalization for fluid therapy and forced feeding, often through a stomach tube, are necessary to give the pet the best chances of recovering. Pets with liver cancer are usually diagnosed too late to be a candidate for surgery, unless only one liver lobe is involved, or chemotherapy.

More gentle natural therapy often results in curing the condition, even in later stages, depending upon the root cause. The herb milk thistle is well known for its ability to heal liver damage. B vitamins, as well as the nutritional supplements comprising S-adenosylmethionine (SAMe) and phosphatidylcholine, may also be effective treatments.

Adrenal Disease Adrenal issues, especially common in middle-aged and older canines, can refer to Addison’s disease or Cushing’s disease—signifying decreased or increased adrenal function, respectively— and are commonly misdiagnosed as liver disease.

Addison’s disease, although not prevalent, is often incorrectly diagnosed because its symptoms of reduced appetite, vomiting, diarrhea and weakness are shared with most other diseases. Blood testing can

be helpful, but is not always definitive.

Cushing’s disease is a more common problem. Signs mimic diabetes and kidney disease, including increases in appetite, thirst and urination. Accurate diagnosis requires specialized blood tests and abdominal sonograms.

Conventional treatment for either disease involves lifelong medication.

Natural therapies that work to prevent and alleviate such ailments may involve adrenal glandular supplements, milk thistle and herbs such as licorice (for Addison’s disease) or ginseng and magnolia bark (for Cushing’s disease).

Regular laboratory testing is important for a pet to allow for early diagnosis and treatment of potentially life-threatening diseases. If a pet develops liver or adrenal disease, combining conventional therapies with natural remedies usually results in successful treatment of the condition.

Shawn Messonnier, a doctor of veterinary medicine practicing in Plano, TX, is the award-winning author of The Natural Health Bible for Dogs & Cats and Unexpected Miracles: Hope and Holistic Healing for Pets. Visit PetCare Naturally.com.

“In my veterinary practice, pets with elevated levels of enzymes indicating liver or adrenal disease are always treated with natural remedies first.

In most cases, this treatment is effective and conventional medication is not needed.” ~ Dr. Shawn Messonnier natural awakenings

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calendarofevents MONDAY, APRIL 1

THURSDAY, APRIL 4

Alabama’s Spring Birds: A Habitat-based Approach to Learning about the Birds – 6:308:30pm, April 1, 8, 15, and 22. In this habitat-based approach, you will learn which birds to expect during trips to your favorite local park, stretch of the river, patch of woods or expanse of field habitat.

You will learn which field marks to use to identify the birds and tips on identifying birds by their songs will be covered too. Birmingham Botanical Gardens, 2612 Lane Park Rd, Birmingham, AL 35223. 205414-3965. BBGardens.org.

First Thursday Fiction Book Club: The Great Gatsby – 10am-12pm. We will discuss F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel, which follows Jay Gatsby, a man obsessed with reuniting with the love of his life, Daisy Buchannan. Gatsby’s quest leads him from poverty to wealth, into the arms of his beloved, and eventually to death. Hoover Public Library, 200 Municipal Dr, Hoover, AL 35216. 205-444-7820.

TUESDAY, APRIL 2

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Sidewalk Salon: Adaptations – 6-8pm. Discuss the pros and cons of Adaptations with filmmakers John Marc Green and writer Stacey Davis. ROJO, 2921 Highland Ave South, Birmingham, AL 35205.

205-324-0888.

English Classes – 6:30-8pm, April 2, 9, 16 and 23.

Basic and Intermediate English classes on Tuesdays.

Classes are taught by Masters degreed teachers from the English Language Institute at UAB. No registration required. Hoover Public Library, 200 Municipal Dr, Hoover, AL 35216. 205-444-7820.

Brass Ensemble Concert – 7:30-8:30pm. Join us for a night of beautiful music at The University of Alabama School of Music. Admission free. University of Alabama Concert Hall, 810 2nd Ave, Tuscaloosa, AL 35404. 205-348-7111.

UA Opera Theatre Presents: One Night Only 7:30-9:30pm. Admission free. University of Alabama Choral Opera Room, 810 2nd Ave, Tuscaloosa, AL 35404. 205-348-7111.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 3 Brown Bag Lunch Program: The Path of Civilization – 12pm. Please bring a sack lunch; drinks and dessert provided. For more info, contact Katie at 205-445-1118 or kmoellering@bham.lib.al.us.

Emmet O’Neal Library (Mountain Brook), 50 Oak Street, Mountain Brook, AL 35213. 205-445-1121.

Ready, Set, Grow! – 4pm. Spring is in the air. This month we’re going to be doing some spring planting of veggies and flowers. Springville Road Regional Library, 1224 Old Springville Rd, Birmingham, AL. 205-226-4085.

Woody Allen Film Series: Annie Hall – 6:308:30pm. Emmet O’Neal Library (Mountain Brook), 50 Oak Street, Mountain Brook, AL 35213. 205445-1121.

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Estate Planning: It’s All About Family with Jay Greene – 10am-12pm. Come Discover the “7 Threats to your Family Security” and how to properly plan for and address them. Vestavia Hills Library in the Forest, 1221 Montgomery Highway, Vestavia Hills, AL 35216. 205-978-4678.

Commemoration of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Assassination – 12-1pm. Parker High School Choir and Orator Mr. Pope will honor Dr. King on the day of his assassination with song and spoken word. Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, 520 16th St N, Birmingham, AL. 205-328-9696.

Showing of “Death and the Civil War” Documentary – 2-3:30pm and 6:30-8pm. The Hoover Public Library will show the PBS documentary Death and the Civil War by filmmaker Ric Burns.

With the coming of the Civil War, and the staggering casualties it ushered in, death entered the experience of the American people as it never had before— permanently altering the character of the republic and the psyche of the American people. Free and open to the public. Hoover Public Library, 200 Municipal Dr, Hoover, AL 35216. 205-444-7820.

Military Historian Dan Haulman, Author of The Tuskegee Airmen – 6:30-7:30pm. Join us as we welcome Military Historian Dan Haulman as he discusses the Tuskegee Airmen. The Tuskegee Airman were an all black squadron that was not allowed in the armed forces until 1942. The squadron had an outstanding record and were well known for having achieved a double victory during WWII for fighting two wars: one against the enemies overseas and one against racism at home. There will be a book signing following Mr. Haulman’s talk. Admission free. Homewood Public Library, 1721 Oxmoor Rd, Homewood, AL 35209. 205-332-6620.

Marian McKay – 6:30pm. Jazz and blues singer McKay and her band will transport you to a bygone era of big bands and classic sounds. Admission free.

Hoover Public Library, 200 Municipal Dr, Hoover, AL 35216. 205-444-7821.

Student Chamber Ensembles Concert – 7:308:30pm. Join us for a night of beautiful music at The University of Alabama School of Music. Admission free. University of Alabama Concert Hall, 810 2nd Ave, Tuscaloosa, AL 35404. 205-348-7111.

Little Women – 7:30-9:30pm April 4, 5 and 6; 2-4pm April 6 and 7. Come see Louisa May Alcott’s seminal novel come to life in RTMC’s production of Little Women, as part of RMTC’s 2012-2013 Junior Series. The women may be small but the drama will be huge. Presented by Red Mountain Theatre Company at RMTC Cabaret Theatre, 301 19th St North, Birmingham, AL 35203. 205-324-2424.

FRIDAY, APRIL 5 Shelby County’s Best BBQ Cook-off – Public tasting is 4-7pm. 3rd Annual Shelby County’s Best BBQ in Downtown Columbiana. Cook teams will offer Boston Butts, ribs and other treats for tasting. Admission charged. Shelby County Arts Council Gallery, 104 Mildred St, Columbiana, AL 35051.

Mindful Movement Practice – 6-8pm. The Mindful Movement Practice is a monthly class that explores various topics to deepen our mind-body-spirit connection and how we approach our own practice on and off the mat. This month we will go inward to stay present in our movement to create balance of mind and body. All levels of Pilates practitioners and yogis welcome. $30. Pilates on Highland, 2827 Highland Ave South, Birmingham, AL 35205. PilatesOnHighland. com. Info@PilatesOnHighland.com.

44th Annual Spring Plant Public Sale – 9-7pm, April 5; 9-5pm, April 6; 11-3pm, April 7. Friends of Birmingham Botanical Gardens Spring Plant Sale features over 100,000 plants, most of which have been nurtured by volunteers at The Gardens. Admission free. Former JC Penny at Century Plaza, 7580 Crestwood Blvd, Birmingham, AL 35210. 205-414-3950.

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SATURDAY, APRIL 6 Easy Canoe Trip – 9am-2pm. Please join the Friends of the Locust Fork and the Sierra Club to paddle an easy section of the Locust Fork River just 45 minutes from Birmingham. Bring lunch, water, sunscreen and dry clothes. Meet at 9am at the Hayden Corner Park and Ride, exit 284 off I-65 North. Hayden/Corner Park and Ride, 171 Alabama Hwy 160, Warrior, AL 35180. 205-960-4524.

Vegetable Gardening for Central Alabama – 9-11am. For beginner to intermediate gardeners, this seminar is focused on everything you need to know to start growing your own tasty vegetables. Learn from Garden Director James Horton the details of planting spring and summer vegetables including site selection, soil type, soil prep, timing of planting, vegetable varieties, planting techniques, organic and inorganic fertilizers, and how to manage insects and diseases. You will leave with hand-outs and the confidence to begin your own garden. Admission charged. Aldridge Gardens, 3530 Lorna Rd, Hoover, AL 35216. 205-682-8019.

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Psychic Fair – 10am-6pm. Tarot, Geomancy, Throwing the Stones, Runes, Spirit Drawings, Aura Photography, Energy Work, Henna, Local Crafts, and more. $15 per Reading. Books, Beans, and Candles MS, 1620 Richard Arrington Jr. Blvd South, Birmingham, AL 35205. 205-453-4636. BookBeanCandle.com.

2013 Birmingham Asian Cultures & Food Festival – 10:30am. Presented by Alabama Asian Cultures Foundation. Admission charged. The Cedars Club, 301 Green Springs Ave South, Birmingham, AL 35205.

Breath Class with Margaret Pittenger – 9am-12pm. 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. $45. EMBODY Practice Center, 3918 Montclair Rd Suite 100, Birmingham, AL 35213. Register with mjpittenger@gmail.com.

EMBODYbirmingham.com.

We do not inherit the Earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children. ~Native American Proverb

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Lachlan Smith Book Signing: Bear is Broken: a Leo Maxwell Mystery – 12-2pm. Local author, Lachlan Smith, will be signing his new novel.

Little Professor Book Center, 2717 18th St. South, Homewood, AL 35209. 205-870-7461.

and unique products and services from artists and Birmingham businesses. Tickets include your enjoyment of the auctions, deejay music by Complete Music, and hors d’oeuvres by local restaurants, wine by Pinnacle Imports, and local beer. Admission charged. Clubhouse on Highland, 2908 Highland Ave South, Birmingham, AL 35205. 205-592-0541.

SUNDAY, APRIL 7

TUESDAY, APRIL 9

Energy Anatomy with Reiki for Yoga – 9:30am6pm. This class will provide each person with the Reiki attunements and a Reiki 1 certificate will be awarded. This class is geared towards the yoga teacher or student and 8 CE Yoga Alliance Hours will be awarded to enhance your continuing education training. $155 manual included. Contact Birmingham Yoga to register for this class. Birmingham Yoga, 605 37th St South, Birmingham, AL 35222. BirminghamYoga.com. Contact@ birminghamyoga.com.

“A Taste of France” with Chef E – 10-11am. Come and have a taste of France without ever leaving your seat! The Caring Chef is dedicated to educate, motivate and encourage through health, food and family. Vestavia Hills Library in the Forest, 1221 Montgomery Highway, Vestavia Hills, AL 35216.

205-978-4678.

How the “Letter From Birmingham Jail” and the Civil Rights Movement Helped Change a Nation – 6pm. Columbia University professor Jonathan Rieder will discuss his new book, Gospel of Freedom: Martin Luther King Jr.’s Letter from Birmingham Jail and the Struggle that Changed a Nation, and the impact and historical significance of King’s letter. Copies of the book will be available for sale and signing. Birmingham Public Library Central Branch, 2100 Park Place, Birmingham, AL 35203. 205-226-3746.

Restorative Yoga at EMBODY – 10am-12pm.

Join Lauren Brown for a full session of restorative yoga where you will learn to fully rest, recover, and renew with the help of props and blankets to get snug and comfortable. $25, 4 classes for $90.

EMBODY Practice Center 3918 Montclair Rd, Suite 100, Birmingham, AL 35213. Limited space so please register with lauren@embodybirmingham. com. EMBODYbirmingham.com

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10

Medicinal Plants Workshop – 2pm. Join us for a hike to introduce you to the world of plants and their medicinal properties. Our focus will be on the plants that are found on Ruffner, as well as your own backyard, and cultivating a relationship with the plants in order to benefit from their healing and medicinal properties. This workshop is designed to help you identify local plants used by Native Americans and early settlers. There will be a short 1 to 1.5 mile hike. Ruffner Mountain Nature Center, 1214 81st Street South, Birmingham, AL 35206.

205-833-8264. RuffnerMountain.org.

Viewing and Discussion of Freedom Writers – 10am. The film, Freedom Writers, starring Hillary Swank and Patrick Dempsey, will be viewed and discussed. North Avondale Branch Library, 501 43rd St. North, Birmingham, Alabama 35222.

205-592-2082.

Brown Bag Lunch Program: Blessed Are the Peacemakers – 12pm. Samford University professor Jonathan Bass will discuss the events surrounding the writing of King’s Letter from Birmingham Jail. Students from Birmingham’s Phillips Academy and Advent Episcopal School will recite excerpts from the letter. Birmingham Public Library Central Branch, 2100 Park Place, Birmingham, AL 35203.

205-226-3746.

Spring Soiree at the Clubhouse on Highland – 5-8pm. Alabama’s only Waldorf school presents “Spring Soiree at the Clubhouse on Highland,” a fundraiser benefiting Alabama Waldorf School, which understands the connection between academics and the arts. The fundraiser will include Silent and Live Auctions featuring destination vacations,

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Untold Stories, Ordinary Voices – 10am. Where were you when the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church was bombed? Come tell your story about what you remember about Birmingham in 1963. (All sessions recorded with permission). Smithfield Branch Library, 1 8th Ave West, Birmingham, AL 35204.

205-324-8428.

Second Thursday Fiction Book Club: The Buddha in the Attic – 10am-12pm. We will be discussing Julie Otsuka’s The Buddha in the Attic, which traces the lives of “picture brides” who arrive from Japan to San Francisco and their arduous journey for a life here in the states. Hoover Public Library, 200 Municipal Dr, Hoover, AL 35216.

205-444-7820.

FRIDAY, APRIL 12 “This City Isn’t Dead Yet: Temple Emanu-El and Civil Rights in Birmingham” – 5:40-6:40pm.

A lecture by Samford history department chair Dr. Jonathan Bass. Temple Emanu-El, 2100 Highland Ave, Birmingham, AL 35205.

Beethoven and the Viennese Masters – 7:30-9pm.

The ASO welcomes esteemed guest conductor Cristian Macelaru for an intimate look at both ends of the great Romantic tradition, from Beethoven’s influential Symphony No. 2 to Webern and Schoenberg’s reimaginings of the Romantic style. Admission charged. Samford University, Brock Recital Hall, 800 Lakeshore Dr, Birmingham, AL 35229.

205-975-2787.

SATURDAY, APRIL 13 Walk MS: Birmingham – Registration/Check-In, 7:30am; walk begins 9:30am. A 1, 2 or 3 mile walk honoring those affected by multiple sclerosis. This is a family-friendly event with a tailgate atmosphere.

Decorate a team tent, participate in the Walk MS t-shirt contest, or visit the health & wellness fair to fully experience this great event. Registration is free but participants are encouraged to fundraise for the cause. For more info, contact Amanda Burton at Amanda.Burton@nmss.org or at 205-879-8546.

Homewood Central Park, 1632 Oxmoor Rd, Birmingham, AL 35209.

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Introduction to Yoga as Therapy – 8am-5pm. This course is designed to help Physical Therapists and Yoga Instructors explore a more therapeutic approach to yoga and discover what styles of yoga are appropriate for particular clients. 8 hours of CE for PT, PTA, OT, YA. $175 with 10 day preregistration, $215. EMBODY Practice Center 3918 Montclair Rd, Suite 100, Birmingham, AL 35213. Register with becca@sosyoga.com. Sosyoga.com.

Adaptations Screening Party: The Enchanted April – 2:30pm. Tonight we’ll be discussing The Enchanted April by Elizabeth Von Arnim. Adaptations is Avondale Library’s book-to-film group. For each title, we host a screening party (where we watch the movie) and an AfterParty (where we discuss the book and film). Patrons are invited to attend either program, and may attend both for the full experience. The programs are free and open to the public. Join us for the After Party on April 23. Avondale Regional Library, 509 40th St S, Birmingham, AL. 35222. 205-226-4000.

TUESDAY, APRIL 16 3rd Annual Cajun Cook-off – 11am-3pm. This casual, family-friendly event features a Cajun cooking competition as well as live music in Birmingham’s beautiful Linn Park. Enjoy taste-testing all your Cajun favorites including gumbo, etouffee, jambalaya, red beans and rice and more. Your vote will help determine the winner of the cook-off competition.

Admission charged. Linn Park, 710 20th Street North, Birmingham, AL 35203. 205-599-5683.

Celebrating Martin Luther King Jr.’s Letter – 12pm. This day marks the 50th anniversary of the day that King began writing his “Letter from Birmingham Jail.’’ The Birmingham Public Library will sponsor a community-wide reading from King’s letter at the Central, North Birmingham, and Smithfield Libraries, and at libraries, schools, churches, parks, and businesses around the globe. Any group can participate. For more information or to participate, contact Jim Baggett at jbaggett@bham.lib.al.us or 205-226-3631. Birmingham Public Library Central Branch, 2100 Park Place, Birmingham, AL 35203.

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

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 17 Afternoon Book Club – 2-3pm. The group will discuss A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini. Vestavia Hills Library in the Forest, 1221 Montgomery Highway, Vestavia Hills, AL 35216.

205-978-4678.

the New Deal, lived side by side. Vulcan Park and Museum, 1701 Valley View Dr, Birmingham, AL. 205-933-1409. VisitVulcan.com.

Energy Healing Circle – 6:30-8pm. A healing circle dedicated to healing the spirit. Once a month we will meet for this energy healing group bringing in the healing energies of Reiki, Crystals, Color, Sound and the Angels in order to activate the spirit for greater health and well being. $15 drop in. Terri Heiman, Natural Forces Studio, 605 37th St South, inside Birmingham Yoga. NaturalForcesStudio.com.

FRIDAY, APRIL 19 Birmingham Reads & Colonial Brookwood Celebrates – 10am-2pm, Fri-Sat. Come out for a celebration of reading with music, characters, and more on main street at Colonial Brookwood Village.

Bring a book, buy a book. Collecting new and gently used children’s books for Birmingham city school children. Books-A-Million, 757 Brookwood Village, Birmingham, AL 35209.

Restorative Yoga at EMBODY – 6pm-8pm. Join Lauren Brown for a full session of restorative yoga where you will learn to fully rest, recover, and renew with the help of props and blankets to get snug and comfortable. $25, 4 classes for $90. EMBODY Practice Center, 3918 Montclair Rd, Suite 100, Birmingham, AL 35213. Register with lauren@embodybirmingham.com. EMBODYbirmingham.com.

Arova Contemporary Ballet presents “Fortuna” 7:30pm, April 19-20; 2:30pm, April 21. New works

by Arova Contemporary Ballet’s resident choreographer Alison Page and Marshall Ellis of Cirque du Soleil’s La Nuba. Admission charged. Virginia Samford Theatre, 1116 26th St South, Birmingham, AL 35205. VirginiaSamfordTheatre.org.

SATURDAY, APRIL 20 Mutt Strut: Dog Friendly 5k & 1 Mile Fun Run 7-8:30am, Registration; 9am, 5K start. Presented

by Hand in Paw’s young professional group, SoHIP (Supporters of Hand in Paw). The day will be packed with fun for not only the avid runner and dog-lover,

but for the whole family. From running the 5k, walking the 1 mile, listening to live music, visiting local vendors, to watching Manners in Motion’s agility dogs, you will not only have a great day, but you will also be supporting our local non-profit. Admission charged. UAB Campus Green, 1501 University Blvd, Birmingham, AL 35294. 205-322-5144.

Iridology Certification Level I – 8am-5pm, SatSun. Learn how to interpret the iris and sclera for information on health and inherited traits. Will learn what herbs and flower essences are helpful to treat conditions. 14 CEUs for MTs $300 if registered

by April 1, $350. EMBODY Practice Center 3918 Montclair Rd, Suite 100, Birmingham, AL 35213.

Register with betty.obrian@gmail.com. EMBODY birmingham.com.

32nd Annual Spring Art Festival, Mountain Brook Art Association – 9am-3pm. Up to one hundred local artists will display original paintings for sale in an outdoor setting in quaint Mountain Brook near Crestline Village. Many of these artists are regionally-recognized fine artists. Artwork available will range in size from minis to extra large canvases and all price ranges. Food vendors and shops nearby make for a pleasant outing. Admission is free. Crestline Field, 32 Vine St, Mountain Brook, AL 35213. MtBrookArtAssoc@gmail.com.

Birmingham Reads & Brookwood Celebrates – 10am-2pm. An event that is fun for the entire family featuring music, characters, entertainment, and more on the streetscape outside of Colonial Brookwood Village. 780 Brookwood Village, Birmingham, AL 35209. 205-944-2928.

2013 Episcopal Place Gumbo Gala – 11am2pm. Forty professional and amateur cook teams will cook and serve gumbo and compete for team awards, including “Birmingham’s Best Gumbo.”

Event guests can enjoy samples of gumbo from the teams, live music, family entertainment and vendors selling Alabama and gumbo-related products.

Proceeds from the event benefit the 148 seniors and young disabled adults who live on low incomes at Episcopal Place, an affordable housing community.

Admission charged. Sloss Furnaces National Historic Landmark, 20 32nd St North, Birmingham, AL 35222. 205-939-0085. EpiscopalPlace.org.

THURSDAY, APRIL 18 Birmingham Revealed! 2013 Series: Crossing Lines – 5:30-7pm. Crossing Lines: A Dramatic Work on the Southern Conference for Human Welfare is set in 1938, at a time when people around the country are coming to Birmingham for the inaugural meeting of the Southern Conference for Human Welfare. Written by playwright Lee Shackleford, Crossing Lines reminds us that the city known as the birthplace of civil rights was also the cradle of the progressive movement in the South, a place where socialism and Jim Crow, the Old South and

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Nocturnal Creatures – 7pm. Come learn about the creatures that are active at night. This hike will take place in conjunction with Southeastern Outings. We will meet at the Park Office Parking Lot on Terrace Drive. Free with park admission. Oak Mountain State Park, 200 Terrace Dr, Pelham, AL 35124.

205-620-2520.

SUNDAY, APRIL 21 R&R Pilates – 2pm-3:30pm. This workshop will give you a whole new perspective on Pilates. We will utilize Pilates mat exercises that massage and calm the body to create a restorative practice. We will focus on breath and gentle movements to release tension, calm the mind and de-stress. You will leave feeling like you just had a massage and renewed to take on the week. All levels of Pilates practitioners welcome and no previous Pilates experience needed! Price: $30. Pilates on Highland, 2827 Highland Ave South, RSVP at Pilates OnHighland.com or Info@PilatesOnHighland.com.

Spring Concert – 3-4pm. Birmingham’s civic handbell choir presents classical and popular music.

Admission free. Birmingham Museum of Art, 2000 Rev. Abraham Woods, Jr. Blvd, Birmingham, AL 35203. 205-870-4119.

Some people are always grumbling because roses have thorns; I am thankful that thorns have roses. ~Alphonse Karr

TUESDAY, APRIL 23 Adaptations AfterParty: The Enchanted April 6:30pm. We’ll be discussing both book and film versions of The Enchanted April by Elizabeth Von Arnim. Free and open to the public. Avondale Regional Library, 509 40th St S, Birmingham, AL. 35222. 205-226-4000.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 24 Brown Bag Lunch Program: Managing Grief 12:30-1:30pm. Panelists Chiropractor Dr. Beth Scherer, Financial Advisor Donna Cates and Psychologist Dr. Jacqueline DeMarco discuss strategies for managing the physical, emotional and financial stressors of bereavement. Emmet O’Neal Library (Mountain Brook), 50 Oak Street, Mountain Brook, AL 35213. 205-445-1121.

The Better Than Therapy Book Club with Leslie West – 2-4pm. Join us as we explore M.L. Stedman’s stunning debut Light Between Oceans.

Homewood Public Library, 1721 Oxmoor Rd, Homewood, AL 35209. 205-332-6620.

Documenting Justice Film Screening – 6-8pm.

The film screening will be the culmination of a year’s work by U of A students who have come together for a two-semester interdisciplinary course. Focusing on stories of justice and injustice in Alabama, Documenting Justice students learn how to use film to document and analyze culture, social experiences, and issues of concern to our state. Admission free. Carver Theatre, 1631 Fourth Ave North, Birmingham, AL 35203. 205-348-6490.

THURSDAY, APRIL 25 Lessons of the Birmingham Movement: A Symposium on Youth, Activism and the Struggle for Human Rights – April 25-27. Birmingham Civil Rights Institute (BRCI) will sponsor this symposium to engage youth, scholars, human rights and social justice organizations and the general public in discussions about the roles of young people in

historic and contemporary human rights movements in the U.S. and other countries. See BRCI.org for event details.

Theaster Gates: “Tis So Sweet or I Need Sugar Lawd” – 7-8pm. Chicago artist, activist, and urban planner Theaster Gates is intimately engaged with Birmingham’s fight for equality. Gates will perform with The Black Monks of Mississippi, an ensemble of musicians who perform in a variety of musical traditions. The performance will connect with the bombing of the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church using as inspiration media coverage of the incident as well as archival materials of the Birmingham Civil Rights Movement. Admission free. Birmingham Museum of Art, 2000 Rev. Abraham Woods, Jr. Blvd, Birmingham, AL 35203. 205-254-2565.

FRIDAY, APRIL 26 Peace Within, Sanity Without: the Practice of Meditation – April 26-28. What is the role of humanity on this planet? How can we find relief from self-doubt, internal warfare, and help the world we live in. In this weekend program, we’ll explore how meditation could change our lives, impact on the world, and the radical notion that enlightened society is possible. See website for more details. Birmingham Shambhala Meditation Center, 714 37th St South, Birmingham, AL 35222.

Birmingham.Shambhala.org.

Regions Masterworks: Brahms-A German Requiem – 8-10:30pm, Fri-Sat. Guest Conductor James Judd will lead Brahms’ masterwork for orchestra and voice. Admission charged. Alys Robinson Stephens Performing Arts Center, 1200 10th Ave South, Birmingham, AL 35294. 205-975ARTS. AlysStephens.org.

SATURDAY, APRIL 27 Freeing the Voice – 9am-4pm, Sat; 9am-12pm, Sun. Margaret Pittenger and Cathy Parrill bring you to a place where yoga, Feldenkrais, and singing meet.

Find how proper alignment can help your voice flow freely. $195. EMBODY Practice Center 3918 Montclair Rd, Suite 100, Birmingham, AL 35213.

Register with cparrill@gmail.com. EMBODY birmingham.com Earth Day at The Gardens – 9am-5pm. Over 40 earth-friendly exhibitors will have booths displaying family friendly activities and information. Dozens of local and regional organizations focused on issues such as conservation, energy efficiency and clean air will fill the Formal Garden, the lawn in front of the Conservatory, with fun-filled, family-focused activities. Birmingham Botanical Gardens, 2612 Lane Park Rd, Birmingham, AL 35223. 205-4143950. BBGardens.org.

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Whitewater Rafting Trip – 10am-2pm. Come enjoy this rare opportunity to experience the thrill of whitewater rafting from the relative comfort of a 6-person raft, thanks to Locust Fork Expeditions.

Wear appropriate clothes for being in and around water. Bring lunch, water, sunscreen, etc for enjoying a day on seldom traveled parts of the beautiful Locust Fork River. Seats are limited so call now to reserve your seat. Friends of Locust Fork River, Cleveland, AL 35049. 205-915-5493.

Write Club – 10:30am-12:30pm. How to Pitch Your Novel. Guest speakers Carla Swafford, author of Circle of Danger and sequels, and Lexi George, author of Demon Hunting in Dixie and sequels, will explore what a writer goes through to pitch that winning novel idea. Hoover Public Library, 200 Municipal Dr, Hoover, AL 35216. 205-444-7820.

Wine and Cheese Hike – 6pm. Join us for wine, cheese and a wonderful view of the city. We will hike to Hawk’s View Overlook and watch the sun set over Birmingham. This is a great opportunity to socialize in the great outdoors while partaking in food, drink, and a spectacular view. Moderate Hike.

Approximately 3 miles total. Reservations required.

Ruffner Mountain Nature Center, 1214 81st Street South, Birmingham, AL 35206. 205-833-8264.

RuffnerMountain.org.

SUNDAY, APRIL 28 Audubon Teaches Nature: Indigo Snakes in Alabama, Conserving a Species and its Habitat 1:30pm. The Eastern Indigo is perhaps the most beautiful snake in Alabama. It is also federally endangered. Live specimens will highlight this program as members of the society discuss conservation of these rare creatures and other inhabitants of Longleaf Pine ecosystems: Gopher Tortoises and Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnakes. Weather permitting, an informal nature walk follows the program. Alabama Wildlife Center, 100 Terrace Dr, Oak Mountain State Park, Pelham, AL 35124.

TUESDAY, APRIL 30 Butterfly Gardening – 6:30pm. A presentation by Master Gardener Richard Healy on how to create a garden landscape that attracts butterflies. Healy will discuss the varieties of plants as well as other garden features that can lead to a swarm of butterflies frolicking in your yard. Springville Road Regional Library, 1224 Old Springville Rd, Birmingham, AL. 205-226-4081.

Genre Reading Group: American Plays – 6:308pm. The Genre Reading Group will discuss American plays and playwrights. Emmet O’Neal Library (Mountain Brook), 50 Oak Street, Mountain Brook, AL 35213. 205-445-1127.

ongoingevents 37th St South, Birmingham, AL 35222. 256-6374228. BirminghamYoga.com.

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

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

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

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

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

monday Off the Vine Organic Produce Pick Ups & Deliveries, Birmingham – Pre-order online by Friday at noon. Health Foods West, 1923 Bessemer Rd, Birmingham. OffTheVine.org. 850-374-2181 Off the Vine Organic Produce Pick Ups & Deliveries, Hoover – Pre-order online by Friday at noon. Go Natural Herbs for Health, 4524 Southlake Pwky. OffTheVine.org. 850-374-2181.

Off the Vine Organic Produce Pick Ups & Deliveries, Gardendale – Pre-order online

by Friday at noon. Garden Health Foods, 1082 Main Street, Gardendale. OffTheVine.org. 850374-2181.

Yoga All Levels – 9:30-10:30am. Join Becca Impello for an all levels yoga practice that will explore rotating themes, always with an emphasis on core control and functional daily movement. $15 drop-in, $72 for 6 weeks, $120 for 10 weeks, payable to instructor. EMBODY Practice Center, 3918 Montclair Rd, Suite 100, Birmingham, AL 35213.

Register with becca@sosyoga.com. EMBODY birmingham.com.

Core Barre – 12pm, April 1, 8, 22, 29. As warm weather approaches and swimsuits reappear, this Pilates on Highland series will sculpt your body and boost your energy. All levels are welcome. Cost $100 for 5 = $20 a class or $25 drop in. Pilates on Highland, 2827 Highland Ave South, Birmingham, AL 35205. PilatesOnHighland.com. Info@Pilates OnHighland.com.

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

A flow practice highly influenced by Ashtanga primary series this is a great class to boost your energy during your lunch break. Birmingham Yoga, 605

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

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

Developing Intuition – 6:30-8:30pm, Mondays, March 7-April 8. Do you have an innate ability in intuition? Join this 6 week workshop as we look at the 4′Cs…Clairvoyance, Clairaudience, Clairsentient, Clairessence. Cost is $100 for the complete workshop or $20 for drop in sessions. For more info, contact Terri Heiman, Natural Forces Studio, 605 37th Street South, inside Birmingham Yoga.

NaturalForcesStudio.com/blog.

Yoga All Levels – 6-7:30pm Join Lauren Brown for an all levels traditional yoga practice, to include relaxation, basic pranayama (breathwork), asanas (postures), and meditation. $15 drop-in, $72 for 6 weeks, $120 for 10 weeks, payable to instructor.

EMBODY Practice Center, 3918 Montclair Rd, Suite 100, Birmingham, AL 35213. Register with lauren@embodybirmingham.com. EMBODY birmingham.com.

Reiki Techniques – 6:45-8:15pm, Mondays April 15-May 6. In this 4 week workshop, will discuss and demonstrate the following techniques: hand positions, ascended chakras, cord cutting, crystals grids, and breath work to intensify and direct energies, and sensing densities. Must be trained in Reiki 1 or higher. $35 class or $120 entire four weeks.

Terri Heiman, Natural Forces Studio, 605 37th St South, inside Birmingham Yoga. 205-201-6985 or 516-457-3885. NaturalForcesStudio.com/blog.

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

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

by Stephen Guesman of Dancing Stone Tai-ji Quan.

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

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

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

BirminghamYoga.com.

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

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

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

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

BirminghamYoga.com.

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

Community Mat Class – 8:15-9am. Free community mat class taught by apprentices enrolled in a training program. Wednesdays and Fridays 3pm-4pm. Pilates on Highland, 2827 Highland Ave South, Birmingham, AL 35205. PilatesOnHighland. com. Info@PilatesOnHighland.com.

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

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

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

Chair Yoga with Suzanne Graham – 10:3011:30am. This class provides a practice for those with limited mobility from injury, who cannot sit long or comfortably on the floor, or those who want to explore a different yoga experience. $15 drop-in, $72 for 6 weeks, $120 for 10 weeks, payable to instructor. EMBODY Practice Center, 3918 Montclair Rd, Suite 100, Birmingham, AL 35213.

Register with sgraham.bham.rr.com. EMBODY birmingham.com.

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

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

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Birmingham

NABirmingham.com

Yoga, 605 37th St South, Birmingham, AL 35222.

256-637-4228. BirminghamYoga.com.

Beginning Yoga 6 Week Series – 6-7:30pm. Starts Wednesday 4/17. This 6-week class is designed to provide progressive instruction on asana (postures) and pranayama (breathwork) for beginners. The series introduces skillful pose alignment and transitions, mindful movement, breath awareness, and guided relaxation. $15 drop-in, $72 for 6 weeks, or register with a friend for $60 per person, payable to instructor. EMBODY Practice Center, 3918 Montclair Rd, Suite 100, Birmingham, AL 35213.

Register with lauren@embodybirmingham.com.

EMBODYbirmingham.com.

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

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

BirminghamYoga.com.

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

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

Yoga All Levels – 10-11:30am. Join Lauren Brown for an all levels traditional yoga practice, to include relaxation, basic pranayama (breathwork), asanas (postures), and meditation. $15 drop-in, $72 for 6 weeks, $120 for 10 weeks, payable to instructor.

EMBODY Practice Center, 3918 Montclair Rd, Suite 100, Birmingham, AL 35213. Register with lauren@embodybirmingham.com. EMBODY birmingham.com.

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

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

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

BirminghamYoga.com.

Core Vinyasa, 4 Class Series – 6:35-8:05pm. Melissa Scott. A strong vinyasa flow practice with an emphasis on developing deep core strength. Good for all levels and great follow up from Intro and Ashtanga Series. $48 for series. Drop-ins welcome.

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

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

BirminghamYoga.com.

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

Yoga for Body Maintenance – 1:15-2:15pm. Join a group of individuals who want a regular time and space to practice yoga that suits each person. This is not a fully guided practice, but more of a semiprivate instruction. This is a great opportunity to receive feedback on your personal practice as you practice. $20/class. Pre-approval required from Becca. EMBODY Practice Center 3918 Montclair Rd, Suite 100, Birmingham, AL 35213. Register with becca@sosyoga.com. EMBODYbirmingham.com.

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

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

saturday Shiva Flow Yoga, Level 2 – 10-11:30am. Lauren.

Inspired by the Ashtanga Primary & Secondary Series, this vinyasa flow class is good for experienced beginners and experienced yogis looking for a heatbuilding practice. Room is heated to 80-85 degrees.

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

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

256-637-4228. BirminghamYoga.com.

communityresourceguide

FAMILY MEDICINE HOOVER ALT MD

ACUPUNCTURE

ENERGY HEALING

ASHLEY LUNDY, LAC.

CLEMENT WELLNESS

Doctor of Oriental Medicine 4735 Norrell Dr, Suite 5 Trussville, AL 35173 239-240-5428 Alacupuncture.com DocLundy@alacupuncture.com

4003 3rd Ave South Birmingham, AL 35222 205-538-7290 or 615-206-1553 ClementWellness.com ClementOnSouthWaterAvenue@gmail.com

Specializing in Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine. Using noninvasive treatment to help treat pain, high blood pressure, fertility issues, insomnia, fibromyalgia, and weight loss. Located inside Eastern Chiropractic. Call today for your appointment.

CHIROPRACTIC CHIROPRACTOR & HERBALIST Dr. Jeanne R. Chabot 2116 Rocky Ridge Road Hoover, AL 35216 205-822-2177 ChabotChiropractic.com 36 years of Chiropractic experience, certified herbalist and Reiki Master. Dr. Chabot provides physiological therapeutics, conventional Chiropractic adjustments, decompression therapy, as well as gentle adjustments according to your preference and need. Private treatment rooms provided for your comfort. Also available at the clinic:Massage therapy, Hypnotherapy, Energy Work, Mediation classes, Personal Training, and Yoga classes. Most insurances accepted.

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

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

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

Body/mind/spirit rejuvenation through space-age computer programs & emotional techniques. Call for private sessions, classes and workshops.

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

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

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

FELDENKRAIS (SOMATIC EDUCATION)” JENNIFER ROWLEY, LMT # 1039, CF

Reiki Certification Program, Energy Medicine, Vinyasa Krama Yoga.

Crystal, Color & Light Therapy.

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

Certified Feldenkrais® Practitioner 1025 23rd Street South Suite 205 Birmingham, AL. 35205 205-595-3671 Learn to move more easily and with less effort. Learn to move beyond your habitual patterns of movement and posture that may be causing pain or limitations.

The Feldenkrais Method® of Somatic Education (www.feldenkrais.com) offers a way to live more comfortably in your body. Over 28 years experience of assisting others to move better. Call for more information or to schedule a movement lesson.

SOULNICITY: SYNCHRONICITY OF THE SOUL Nicki Noftz 205-202-9198 Info@Soulnicity.com Soulnicity.com

FOOD & SUPPLEMENTS OFF THE VINE ORGANIC PRODUCE

“Inner peace is standing still in the chaos of life.”

Offering Reiki/energy healing, Pilates/Mindful Movement Instruction, meditation, spirituality and workshops. Energy healing can provide deep relaxation, assist in the healing process emotionally and physically, assist in connecting the mind-body-spirit, balance life energies, and help you maintain a healthy mind, body and spirit.

Call or email for more information about energy healing or other services. Two locations available in the Birmingham area.

Serving Birmingham and Montgomery 850-374-2181 Support@OffTheVine.org OfftheVine.org All organic—all the t i m e ! We b r i n g t h e farmers market to you.

Check our new selection every Friday and pick up the following week.

Pick up or delivery available.

HOLISTIC HEALING NTEGRATIVE HEALING Rama S. Khalsa, LMT #238, DAC 1025 23rd Street South Suite 205 Birmingham, AL. 35205 205-329-1272 Ramask10@gmail.com

EARTH DAY April 22

Offering an integrative treatment approach for optimal health and wellness through massage, acupuncture, yoga (trained by yoga master Yogi Bhajan), ayurvedic nutritional counseling and energy healing. If you are seeking more vitality through a balanced state of being, please call for more information or to schedule an appointment.

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HOMEOPATHY CONSULTANT

MASSAGE THERAPY

JOAN SCOTT LOWE

INSPIRED MASSAGE THERAPY

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

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

Call or email Joan Scott Lowe, Homeopathic Wellness Consultant, to determine your individual constitutional remedy, the FDA-approved nontoxic homeopathic remedy based on the totality of your mental, emotional, and physical condition, chosen according to the Law of Similars ("like heals like"). Achieve wellness and freedom from illness!

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

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

Healing touch for everyone.

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

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

205-323-7582

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Birmingham

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

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

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

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

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

Let me help you be pain free.

By appointment only.

YOGA BIRMINGHAM YOGA STUDIO 605 37th Street South Birmingham, AL 35222 205-637-4228 Contact@BirminghamYoga.com BirminghamYoga.com

STEPHEN WADE, LMT #2390

Serving the community, Birmingham Yoga offers and hosts: ongoing yoga classes in two beautiful studios, 200-hour yoga teacher training accredited with Yoga Alliance, morning meditation, exciting workshops and class series, monthly community kirtan, musical events, and rental space for guest speakers and teachers.

1025 23rd St. South Suite 205B Birmingham, AL 35205 205-792-1967

EMBODY PRACTICE CENTER

MASSAGE THERAPY

Whether you’re looking for a peaceful retreat from the daily pressure of life, needing therapeutic sports massage to complement your active lifestyle or for tension and pain relief. I would like to help you so call today for your appointment. Over 5 years’ experience. Specializing in neck and shoulder relief.

NUTRITION AND GIFTS GOLDEN TEMPLE, NOW 3 LOCATIONS

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PSYCHOLOGICAL KINESIOLOGY

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

3918 Montclair Rd, Suite 100 Birmingham, AL 35213 205-637-0299 Info@embodybirmingham.com EMBODYbirmingham.com EMBODY Practice Center offers Yoga for all ages, levels, and health conditions. Classes include All Levels Yoga, monthly Yoga Nidra and Restorative Yoga, Beginner’s Series, and series specific to injuries (such as neck and shoulders or low back). EPC also offers Tai-Ji Quan (Tai Chi), Breath/FeldenkraisŽ Class, Meditation workshops, and various other community and professional workshops.

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