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Women’sWellness Hormone Balancing Natural Strategies For Feeling Better
The Power of Place
Lifetime Relationships That Shape Our Souls
WOMEN'S CARE 101 a Foundation for Wellness
May 2012
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publishersletter
“A
quarius is a very high sacred Feminine age,” says Sioux Chief Golden Light Eagle of the astrological time period that many believe we have now entered at the start of 2012. “We need to get back to this way called Heart. For the last 2000 years, we’ve been in the Mind.” Since Women held onto their heart connection in the age of the Mind, and never lost it, he says, they can now help reconnect Men, who did. Some men also seem to have lost their Minds, as well, at this stage in the transition. For them, the Chief has some frank advice:
“You’re not going to be able to stand against the womenfolk. This is their time. All the men can do is stand with them and support them. If you try to stand in front of them, you will fall down. Falling down means you can have heart attacks, if you don’t get into your heart.” “Men, we need to listen to our women, because they’re the ones who are going to help us get back in our heart.” The way of the heart, says the Chief, is the way to heal Mother Earth. “It’s the way that will help us to keep Mother Earth alive, and she is very much alive at this time.” But can we say that, as well, about the present state of Women’s wellbeing? What I know is this: you have always put the needs of others ahead of your own. You do this every time, for everyone. I know you do because you’ve done it for me, all my life. I am grateful. I’ve seen you do it for others, too. They are grateful. Now it’s time to put Yourselves first. We know that you know what to do and where to find what you need for your own wellness. How do we know? Seventy percent of our readership are female. It’s a magazine devoted to Health and Wellness, as defined in the broadest possible terms. Which means to me that many more women than men are devoted to Health and Wellness as defined in the broadest possible terms. If we would just get out of your way, and give you the space to do it.
contact us Publisher Tom Maples Tom@AlabamaAwakenings.com Cell: 404-395-9634 New Business Development Advertising Sales Cindy Wilson Cindy@AlabamaAwakenings.com Cell: 256-476-6537 Design and Production Karen Ormstedt 256-997-9165 Natural Awakenings Birmingham 14 Woodland Ave. Trinity, Alabama 35673 Office: 256-340-1122 Fax: 256-217-4274 NABirmingham.com
So, I offer this. Speaking for all Men, I hereby stand with you and support you in your taking time for yourself, to seek whatever pathways to wellness that you choose to pursue, and I will not interfere or interpose my own needs between you and yours.
© 2012 by Natural Awakenings. All rights reserved. Although some parts of this publication may be reproduced and reprinted, we require that prior permission be obtained in writing.
Women...be Well. Find what brings wellness to you and do not stop short of your highest hope for yourself, in health—your optimal wellness, and most vibrant wellbeing. Then bring this to your families, and then, to Mother Earth.
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.
Then, after that is accomplished, please help us. The men. After losing both our Hearts and our Minds, what do we have that’s left? Everything. Our beautiful heart-centered women. Our wives, sisters, mothers, daughters. You.
—Source: “Chief Golden Light Eagle at the Topanga Canyon Film Festival.” YouTube.com.
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 10 10 healthbriefs
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.
12 globalbriefs 36 inspiration
14 WOMEN'S CARE 101
14
by Elizabeth Campbell Korcz, M.D.
15 FRIVOLITY
12
SUSTAINED by Molly Green
12 16 THE HORMONE BALANCING ACT
advertising & submissions
Natural Strategies for Feeling Better by Kathleen Barnes
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
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26 THE POWER OF PLACE by Linda Sechrist
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newsbriefs
Coming in June
Personal Transformation Workshop based on Jungian Archetypes to be held at Unity of Birmingham
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re you interested in raising your consciousness and letting your light shine more brightly, blessing you and your world around you? You can learn how by attending a workshop delivered at Unity of Birmingham by Donna Su’Luna, founder of Su’Luna Center for Higher Consciousness, located near Nashville. This 4-session, psycho/spiritual self-discovery workshop is based on the work of Carl Jung, a respected psychotherapist. During two Sunday afternoons and a Saturday/Sunday workshop, participants will identify the unique archetypes that filter their perceptions and provide their sense of meaning and motivation. They will also discover any negative developmental schemas from their formative years. Once change areas are specified, attendees will engage in metaphysical practices that open them to transformative spiritual patterns that they may bring into consciousness through focused attention, deep breathing, and meditation to recode existing patterns. All are invited to participate and learn how to dispel the darkness, develop balance, and let their light shine. The cost of the workshop is $99. Donna Su’Luna holds a master’s from the University of San Francisco and a PhD in fields associated with change and transformation. Her 25-year career includes corporate management of cultural change programs, consulting, and corporate and university teaching on-related topics. She is also a certified Jungian Archetype Consultant. • Overview – Sunday May 20, 1:30-4:30pm. • Application Workshop –Saturday May 26, 10am-4pm and Sunday May 27, 1:30-4:30pm. • Spiritual Practice – Sunday June 3, 1:30-4:30pm. —Unity of Birmingham, 2803 Highland Avenue, Birmingham. 205-251-3713.
Birmingham Yoga Hosting Grand Opening in Forest Park, May 18-19
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irmingham Yoga will be relocating to their new studios to Forrest Park at 605 37th St, Birmingham. They will be hosting a Grand Opening on May 18-19. Also coming to their space will be a talented massage therapist, craniosacral and acupuncture therapists, as well as two master level Reiki energy healers. On Friday May 18 from 7-9pm they will be hosting a Kirtan Concert with Gurunam Singh. Gurunam Singh tours worldwide sharing his powerful and transformative music. He makes mantra chanting and devotional singing easy, vibrant, and totally accessible. From 5:30-6:30pm there will be a free kundalini class just before the concert. On Saturday May 19th there will be a yoga and cleanse workshop with Akasha Ellis and an evening Closing Circle community meditation with Terri Heiman. Details and full schedule online at BirminghamYoga.com.
Natural Forces Studio Opening in Forest Park
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erri A. Heiman, owner and founder of Natural Forces Studio is excited to be opening her new crystal, color and energy healing studio in Forest Park this spring. Natural Forces Studio is a healing arts studio dedicated to healing the
HEALTHY ESCAPES Getaways for personal growth, optimal wellness and active adventure. Special Section:
Men’s Health
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spirit through integrative health practices. The studio will be located inside the newly opened Birmingham Yoga at 605 37th Street South. Here, she will be offering private treatments, classes and workshops in energy medicine, and a Reiki Certification Program. An ongoing scheduling of events will include monthly Reiki Circles, Angel Healing Circles, and an Are You Psychic group as well as a walk-in Reiki Clinic on Friday afternoons. Look for her ongoing schedule beginning in June. Join her for the grand opening with Birmingham Yoga on Friday, May 18 for a Kirtan concert with Gurunam Singh. For more information Natural Forces can be reached at 516-457-3885 or NaturalForcesStudio.com/blog. See ad on page 17.
healthy? Enter the Arbonne business opportunity. Redirect your personal care spending to Arbonne online, with healthier products and get paid to use and share them with others. Every day, Arbonne helps people eliminate sinus issues, allergies, insulin problems, hormone imbalances, IBS, colon, indigestion, lose weight, get rid of acne and age spots, look beautiful from the inside out. A simple plan to health and wealth. Get healthy, fit and earn residual income with Arbonne. Contact Area Manager, Independent Consultant Crystal Storey at 256-510- 2118, CrystalStorey@att.net for more information about your health or wealth. CrystalStorey. MyArbonne.com. See ad on page 7.
Birmingham Ballet Presents World Premier of “The Awakening” on May 5
Preparing for Change: The Astrology of 2012 and Aligning your Chakras with the Planets
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indy Free, Director, will present an evening of dance in honor of Virginia Simpson, 7:30pm on May 5. The program will include a world premier titled “The Awakening” by Birmingham Ballet’s Director Emeritus and internationally recognized choreographer, Alfonso Figueroa, dedicated to Virginia Simpson. Virginia Simpson was a staunch and fierce supporter of the arts, providing strong political and financial support until her tragic death, without which the major cultural institutions in Birmingham like its Museums, Symphony, Opera and Dance, may not have survived. Her mission was to change the reputation of Birmingham as a city representing civil rights strife of the 1960s to one of support for the arts, which would elevate its cultural image and enhance its quality of life. Birmingham Jefferson Convention Complex Theatre, 2100 Richard Arrington Jr. Blvd. N, Birmingham. 205-979-9492.
From Sickness and Struggling to Health and Wealth
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re you tired of being tired? Sick of being sick? Ready to feel and look better than you ever have no matter your age? A fresh start detox plan to a healthier lifestyle is what every body needs. Digestion and elimination are the keys to losing weight and being healthy. Arbonne Essentials for your health is a holistic approach for wellness of the whole person. Arbonne’s 30 Days to Fit cleanses and restores body, promotes health, removes pollutants and chemicals, flushes toxins and eliminates waste. The four Rs to restore your health are: Rebalance diet, body and lifestyle; remove allergenic foods, body fat and toxic chemicals; replace with fiber, clean foods and natural ingredients; repair liver, kidneys, intestines, colon, lungs and blood. Do you get paid to wash your hair, put on lipstick, take vitamins, have energy drinks or protein shakes, take a bath, give your children the daily nutrients they need to stay fit and
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arcus Mason, UK author of “The Astrology of 2012 And How It Affects You,” will be doing presentations, meditations and book signings at Unity of Birmingham on June 3-4. Marcus is a soul-centered astrologer, acupuncturist and sacred Earth energy worker. With his partner Sue Weaver, a crystal and shamanic healer and a group of planetary healers, they will have recently completed a ceremony for Earth healing in the Alaska Aleutian Islands, during the Eclipse on May 20. Don’t miss this opportunity to hear about the planetary alignments and their work with two Eclipses in 2012, leading up to the so-called Mayan calendar end-date on 21 December 2012. This marks the end of a 25,626-year cosmic cycle and the beginning of a new cycle of harmony between the masculine and feminine aspects of consciousness. Marcus and Sue will also give a presentation about how the frequencies of the planets resonate in the human chakras. They have discovered a simple, elegant system of relationship between the planets and chakras that is used in meditation, to align our personal energies with the dance of the planets, bringing each person into resonance with the frequencies of the new era. Beautiful crystal mandalas are used to help focus attention on the planetary resonances in the chakras. Sunday June 3 – 1:30-4pm. “The Astrology of 2012 And How It Affects You” ($30.00) Monday June 4 – 7-9pm. “Working with your Chakras, the Planets and Crystals” ($25.00) Discount for both events $45.00. Unity of Birmingham, 2803 Highland Avenue, Birmingham. 205-251-3713. UnityBham.com. Marcus and Sue online: HeavenAndEarth.uk.com.
Mother’s Day Deals at Hoover Alt MD
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omen’s health is important to Hoover Alt MD. In honor of all Moms and their daughters, Hoover Alt MD is offering half-price deals for weight loss medications to help women begin a healthier lifestyle and take off those extra pounds. The warm and helpful staff at Hoover Alt MD is sure to make any Mom feel at home, and the same goes for those who are not, or not yet, Moms. The comprehensive weight loss plan includes dietary counselling, exercise advice, a calorie plan, and a tailored set of strategies for each individual. Using a complete bodyanalysis scale, Dr. Korcz can identify each woman’s specific needs. The practice even has a Personal Trainer available for those wishing some guidance with exercise planning. A patient can use their Health Insurance for office visits, and obtain their appetite suppressant medication for only $30 for a month’s supply. Hoover Alt MD also carries high-quality Lipotropic Injections, with B-complex vitamins, and vitamin C included, to complement a weight-loss plan. Packages are available for savings. Hoover Alt MD is located at 3421 S. Shades Crest Rd, Suite 111, Hoover. Call 205-733-6676 to schedule an appointment today. See ad on page 2.
energy efficiency, recycling, and healthful, sustainable living will fill the lawn of the Formal Garden in front of the Conservatory with fun-filled, family-focused activities. The purpose of Earth Day at The Gardens is to promote awareness, understanding and dialogue for solutions to environmental issues. It is a participatory approach to creating new ideas for resolving issues that range in scope from local to global. At the entrance, used electronic devices may be dropped off for recycling, including computers and their components, copiers, scanners, telephones, cell phones, battery back-ups and microwaves. All forms of scrap metal, including filing cabinets, shelving, washers and driers may also be dropped off. No televisions will be collected, and there will be a charge for computer monitors. Admission is free. Music will be provided by the Oxymorons. Popcorn and ice water are provided throughout the day at no charge. The newest garden, the Arrington Plant Adventure Zone, will be open to the public for the first time. About Birmingham Botanical Gardens Birmingham Botanical Gardens is Alabama’s largest living museum with more than 12,000 different plants in its living
Earth Day at The Gardens set for May 5
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he Birmingham Botanical Gardens’ annual Earth Day at The Gardens will be held Saturday, May 5, from 11-4pm. Displays of dozens of local and regional organizations advocating water, air and land conservation, wildlife protection,
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collections. The Gardens’ 67.5 acres contains more than 25 unique gardens, 30+ works of original outdoor sculpture and miles of serene paths. The Gardens features the largest public horticulture library in the U.S., conservatories, a wildflower garden, two rose gardens, the Southern Living garden, and Japanese Gardens with a traditionally crafted tea house. Education programs run year round and more than 10,000 school children enjoy free science-curriculum based field trips annually. The Gardens is open daily, offering free admission to more than 350,000 yearly visitors.
Release and resolve physical and emotional pain, anxiety, stress, depression, insomnia, and body weight imbalance. counseling and life transitions ~ yoga therapy energy medicine ~ nutrition & supplements ~ ayurveda
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Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it. ~Confucius
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Drugs That Don’t Work and Natural Therapies That Do
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r. Rodney Soto, MD will be presenting “Drugs That Don’t Work and Natural Therapies That Do” on Tuesday May 15 at 6:30pm at Grille 29 located at 445 Providence Main St, Huntsville. Learn how drugs may not be the best choice to treat the most common medical conditions and might actually be interfering with the body’s natural ability to heal. The potential detrimental effects of cholesterol lowering agents, antacid, osteoporosis, anti-inflammatory and antidepressant drugs will be discussed. Holistic Medical Center of Alabama will be hosting the event. The cost of the evening is $25 and includes dinner. Space is limited, so call 256325-1648 by May 14 to RSVP.
Swami Nardanand to visit Birmingham in June
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wami Nardanand will be visiting Birmingham as part of his 2012 world tour. Since his last visit in 2007 he has been busy completing the Paradeshwar Temple located in Siddha Ashram, where he welcomes visitors from all over the globe. During this visit he will be available for private meetings as well as holding meditation retreats. Space is limited for retreats. For more information email the host at SwamiVisit2012@gmail.com. Check June Natural Awakenings mag. in print and online at NABirmingham.com for the finalized schedule of times and locations for Swami Nardanand’s visit to Birmingham. See ad on page 17.
Slow Down As the hurry of the day overwhelms me, I close my eyes and reflect upon the messages of the turtle: “Slow down. Walk close to the earth. Carry your inner sanctuary with you, wherever you go.” When I reflect upon these messages, I am encouraged to become more mindful of my surroundings and my actions. I am encouraged to connect with the grounding energy of nature. And I am reminded that all of life is a sacred experience and should be treated as such. Art and Text by Rita Loyd. Copyright © 2012
Rita Loyd is a professional watercolor artist and writer. The message of her work is about the healing power of unconditional self-love. Rita began painting in 1996 as a way to cope with chronic illness and depression. Through this journey, the creative process became her teacher, healer and friend who would guide her to find the true meaning and experience of unconditional self-love. Rita writes about this experience and all that she has learned about unconditional self-love in her new book Unconditional Self-Love: What It Is, Why It's important and How to Nurture It in Your Life. You can purchase this book in Huntsville at Ruth's Nutrition, H. Raines Gifts or at www. NurturingArt.com, where you can view Rita's artwork and blog.
healthbriefs
Eating Greens Can Change Genes
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n international team of scientists led by researchers at McMaster and McGill universities, in Canada, were surprised to find that consuming generous amounts of fruit and raw vegetables modified a gene designated 9p21, the strongest marker for heart disease. In one of the largest gene-diet interaction studies ever conducted related to cardiovascular disease, the researchers analyzed more than 27,000 individuals from five ethnicities—Latin American, European, Chinese, South Asian and Arab—and the effect their diets had on the target gene. They discovered that men and women with the high-risk genotype that consumed a healthy diet with plenty of raw vegetables and fruits had a risk of heart attack similar to individuals carrying the low-risk genotype. “We know that 9p21 genetic variants increase the risk of heart disease for those that carry it,” says Genetic Epidemiologist Jamie Engert, joint principal investigator of the study, “but it was a surprise to find that a healthy diet could significantly weaken its effect.”
SOUR NEWS ABOUT SWEET DRINKS
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rinking sodas and other sugarsweetened beverages may increase a woman’s risk of heart disease and diabetes, according to research presented at the American Heart Association’s Scientific Sessions 2011. Middle-aged and older women that drank two or more such drinks per day were nearly four times as likely to develop high triglycerides and significantly more likely to develop impaired fasting glucose levels, plus increase their waist size. The study also noted that risk factors for heart disease and stroke developed even when the women didn’t gain weight.
Source: PLoS Medicine
Acupuncture Cools Hot Flashes
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small, yet intriguing study published in Acupuncture in Medicine found that traditional Chinese acupuncture curbed the severity of hot flashes and other menopausal symptoms. Fifty-three middle-aged, postmenopausal women were divided into two groups; one received such treatments twice weekly for 10 weeks, while the other experienced “sham” acupuncture with blunt needles that did not penetrate the skin. In both groups, levels of estrogen and other hormones were measured before the study began and before and after the last session. Menopausal symptoms—hot flashes, vaginal dryness, urinary tract infections and mood swings—were also measured before and after the treatments, using a five-point menopause rating scale (MRS) in order to assess their severity. At the end of the study, the women receiving Chinese acupuncture scored significantly lower on the MRS scale, with hot flashes seeing the sharpest decrease. The researchers explain that acupuncture boosts production of endorphins, which may stabilize the temperature control system of the body. They say that more investigation is needed because the study was small, but note that its results seem promising, suggesting that traditional Chinese acupuncture could be an alternative for women unable or unwilling to use hormone replacement therapy to relieve menopausal symptoms. 10
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MEMORY AND THE PILL
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esearchers from the University of California, Irvine (UCI) report that while birth control pills don’t damage memory, they can alter it. Women that were not taking birth control pills were better at remembering details than their peers on the pill. The difference makes sense, says UCI graduate researcher Shawn Nielsen, because contraceptives suppress sex hormones such as estrogen and progesterone to prevent pregnancy. These hormones were previously linked to women’s strong left-brain memory by a UCI research group led by Ph.D. Neurobiologist Larry Cahill.
Calcium Supplements Increase Heart Risk
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alcium supplements, usually taken to improve bone health, may increase the risk of heart attack by as much as 30 percent, according to the findings of the Women’s Health Initiative, a 15-year research project established by the National Institutes of Health to address cardiovascular disease, cancer and osteoporosis. “If you take calcium supplements, you’ll build up excess calcium in your system that, coupled with mineral deficiencies and imbalances, can cause plaque in arteries, kidney stones, gallstones and more,” says Dr. Robert Thompson, co-author with Kathleen Barnes of The Calcium Lie: What Your Doctor Doesn’t Know Could Kill You. Instead, he recommends taking a trace mineral supplement, preferably in ionic form, whose electrical charge helps bond minerals with water, making the nutrients more easily absorbed. Such a supplement provides all needed minerals, including calcium, in the correct balance.
Cheese is Better than Butter
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espite traditional cautions against eating animal fats to keep cholesterol in check, Danish researchers have found that eating hard cheese is better for the arteries than consuming the equivalent number of calories in butter. According to their study, published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, when hard cheese accounted for 13 percent of participants’ daily calories, their LDL (bad cholesterol) did not increase. When the same individuals switched to consuming more butter, their LDL levels rose. The researchers were unsure what caused the results, but noted that cheese contains a lot of calcium, which can increase the amount of fat excreted by the digestive tract.
The Write Way to Lose Weight
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ccording to a new study published in Psychological Science, the right kind of writing may facilitate losing weight. Participating women were given a list of significant values including creativity, religion, music and relationships, and asked to rank them in order of personal importance. Half the women were asked to write for 15 minutes about the value most important to them; the other half wrote about a value not among their most highly preferred but that might be important to someone else. The first group lost an average of 3.4 pounds during the next few months, while the second group gained an average of 2.8 pounds. Researchers think the weight loss may be due to increased self-esteem and strengthened resolve.
FLEXIBLE WORK PLACES BOOST WELL-BEING
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etter sleep and feelings of health are among the benefits of a flexible workplace, according to a new study by University of Minnesota sociology professors that followed 608 office employees in a collaborating company. The initiation of a performance-focused work environment that redirected the focus of employees and managers towards measurable results and away from when and where work was completed, yielded positive markers. Employees that were allowed to routinely change when and where they worked, based upon their individual needs and job responsibilities, experienced improved sleep quality, higher energy levels, better self-reported health and a sense of personal mastery. Source: Journal of Health and Social Behavior
NICOTINE: MOTHERS JUST SAY NO
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xpectant moms using nicotine patches and gum to help kick a smoking habit are putting their unborn babies at risk, say researchers at the Loma Linda University School of Medicine, in California. In a study published in the British Journal of Pharmacology, they note that the fetus absorbs the addictive substance, which can damage the baby’s blood vessels and may lead to high blood pressure and heart problems later in life.
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QIGONG: A BOON FOR CANCER PATIENTS
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ancer patients that regularly practiced qigong, a 5,000-year-old combination of gentle exercise and meditation, for almost three months experienced significantly higher levels of well-being, improved cognitive functioning and less inflammation, compared to a control group. Dr. Byeongsang Oh, a clinical senior lecturer at the University of Sydney Medical School, in Australia, who led the study, says the reduced inflammation in patients that practiced medical qigong, a form of Traditional Chinese Medicine, was particularly significant. The project involved 162 patients, aged 31 to 86; those assigned to the medical qigong group undertook a 10-week program of two supervised, 90-minute sessions per week. They were also asked to practice an additional 30 minutes at home each day. When the study began, there were no significant differences in measurements of quality of life, fatigue, mood status and inflammation between the intervention and control groups. However, “Patients that practiced medical qigong experienced significant improvements in quality of life, including greater physical, functional, social and emotional well-being, while the control group deteriorated in all of these areas,” reports Oh. He remarks that the study is the first such trial to measure the impact of medical qigong in patients with cancer. “Several studies have indicated that chronic inflammation is associated with cancer incidence, progression and even survival,” Oh explains. He presented the findings at a recent American Society of Clinical Oncology conference. 12
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globalbriefs News and resources to inspire concerned citizens to work together in building a healthier, stronger society that benefits all.
Tiny Baubles Plastic Pollution Flows from Washday to the Sea A study published in the journal Environmental Science & Technology warns that microscopic plastic debris from washing clothes made of synthetic materials like polyester, acrylic and nylon is accumulating in the marine environment and could be entering the food chain. Concentrations were greatest near coastal urban areas. Up to 1,900 tiny fibers per garment were released with each wash during the study. Earlier research has shown that plastic particles smaller than one millimeter comprise 80 percent of environmental plastic and are being eaten by animals and getting into the food chain. Mark Browne, Ph.D., an ecologist based at the University of California, Santa Barbara, and a member of the National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis, advises, “Once the plastics had been eaten, they transferred from the animals’ stomachs to their circulation system and actually accumulated in their cells.” The team took samples from 18 beaches around the globe, including sites in Australia, Britain, India, Japan, Oman, the Philippines, Portugal, Singapore, South Africa and the United States. They found no sample that did not contain pieces of the microplastic. Source: BBC
Go Rio Natural Wealth Spreadsheet Proposal The British government is setting up a Natural Capital Committee that will describe the country’s wealth in terms of the quality of its air, water, wildlife and other natural resources. Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman intends to propose that all countries begin “green accounting” to audit the state of their rivers, forests and other landscapes. The United Nations Rio+20 Conference in Brazil this June is expected to unite the participating nations in protecting the world’s environment. Sustainable development goals under consideration include ensuring that all agriculture is sustainable, protecting oceans, setting up an international court on environmental crime, and appointing an ombudsperson to speak on behalf of future generations. The summit, to be attended by 190 nations, will also look at cutting subsidies for fossil fuels and low carbon energy for all. Spelman observes that businesses in Great Britain are already measuring the impact they are having on the environment. She states, “In the same way, governments can start to take account of damage to the environment in order to sustain resources like fresh water for fisheries, forests for clean air and green spaces for tourism. We want our own government to take account of natural capital and our statisticians to calculate the state of the nation more widely.”
Oldie Goldies Honoring Elders’ Contributions to Community May spotlights Older Americans Month and the important role they play in sharing their experience, wisdom and understanding, and passing it all on to younger generations in meaningful ways. Youth that have significant relationships with a grandparent or another elder, for example, report that these relationships helped shape their values, goals and life choices, and gave them a sense of identity and roots. Many communities have increased their efforts to provide opportunities for older adults, many that remain physically and socially active through their 80s and beyond. Trends show that people over age 60 account for a growing percentage of participants in community service positions, faith-based organizations, online social networking groups, and arts and recreational activities. Lifelong participation in social, creative and physical activities has proven health benefits, including retention of mobility, increased muscle mass and improved cognitive abilities. The interactions of seniors with family, friends and neighbors across generations work to enrich the lives of all. Sources: Administration on Aging (aoa.gov) and ElderCare.gov
Mamma Mia A New Demography for American Motherhood The state of motherhood in the United States has shifted strikingly in the past two decades, according to a Pew Research Center survey. Compared with mothers of newborns in 1990, today’s mothers are older, better educated and less likely to be either white or married. The ideal number of children for a family is still two, as it has been since the 1970s. Pew projects that 82 percent of U.S. population growth through 2050 will be from immigrants that arrived after 2005 and their descendants. Sources: PewForum.org, National Center for Health Statistics, U.S. Census Bureau
Breathe Easier Great Days for Clean Air For nearly 100 years, discharges from two of Edison International’s coal plants have polluted the air over the city of Chicago, exposing area families to dangerous levels of chemicals while adding to the Earth’s greenhouse gases. But the people fought back and won, because the city has quit using coal. For more than 10 years, Chicago residents have been demanding their right to clean air and a safe climate. Now, the Fisk coal plant, in Pilsen, and the Crawford operation, in Little Village, will shut down in 2012 and 2014, respectively. Clean air activists in Ohio and Pennsylvania recently claimed similar victories. Utility provider GenOn will close seven coal plants in the two states, including one in Portland, Pennsylvania, which has been deemed responsible for more than 500 asthma attacks and 54 heart attacks. “These victories are not only for the people of Chicago, Ohio and Pennsylvania, but for local activists all over the country that are working to shut down dirty coal plants in their communities,” says Kelly Mitchell, of Greenpeace, in celebrating the announcement.
Church and State Faith Begets Civic Activism The Pew Research Center’s Internet and American Life Project affirms that religiously active people are more likely to engage in civic activities than others. The authors say their findings counter the view that religiously active people are less engaged with the secular world. The report found that 40 percent of Americans engage in some form of religious activity such as going to a church, synagogue or mosque, and feel better about their place in the larger civic community. They tend to be more trusting of others and more optimistic about their impact on their community and are more active in groups. Religious teachings have a component of helping others at their core, points out Eugene Fisher, a professor of Catholic-Jewish studies at Saint Leo University, in Florida. “Civic participation would be a natural result of that push to help your fellow man,” he says. The study similarly reveals a high level of digital participation by religiously engaged folks. Media expert Paul Levinson, author of New New Media, says, “The Internet is an amplifier of all that each of us are in our humanity.”
To keep the
body in good health is a duty... otherwise, we shall not be able to keep our mind strong and clear. ~Buddha
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Women’s Care 101
Elizabeth Campbell Korcz, MD
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omen are not so different, are we? Well, in many instances, we have the same risks as men, and in a few specific examples, we are quite different. Last year, we discussed Breast and Bone health, so this year, we will focus on a few other issues important for the health of women. Let’s start with thinking about the major causes of death in this country. The #1 cause for Men is Heart disease, and the #1 cause of death for Women is… the SAME. Yes, heart disease is still Number One. Addressing heart disease in women can be challenging, more for preconceived notions than anything else. Many women still think this is mostly a Man’s issue. Granted, women tend to be older when heart disease problems strike, but it is no less of a problem, and worse than this—more women actually die of heart disease issues than men. “Heart Disease” is a term we use for atherosclerosis, sometimes also called “hardening of the arteries.” Not a bad description, but “narrowing” would be better than “hardening.” Cholesterol, fat, cells, and calcium deposits create plaques
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(gunk) in the arteries, that build up with time, and eventually block the flow of blood in the heart. A blockage of this type causes a heart attack. The process of atherosclerosis happens all over the body—not just the heart. It can happen in the Brain and cause stroke, or in the legs, and cause peripheral artery disease (painful walking). What causes this process to progress? A few major factors: high blood pressure, bad cholesterol, blood sugar (diabetes), and inflammation. Women with any of these problems, and those with a family history of people dying with heart attacks and strokes need to take action. Do not wait too long to start looking into this. I recommend a “baseline” check in the latter 20s, and more screening and interventions at 30. See your doctor for an exam, EKG, and cholesterol check. Then, make some changes in diet, exercise and supplements that can help. Statin medications are always my last resort for patients due to side effects and potential liver damage. Many people try Red Yeast Rice (RYR), which is very effective in dropping cholesterol. However, it is really a Natural Statin, with the same risks and problems. NEVER take RYR without letting your doctor know, and being monitored. Better yet, go with an MD who has experience using RYR for therapy. Another important Woman’s issue is getting a PAP smear, to check for cervical cancer. HPV, the virus that causes cervical cancer is extremely common. Many people have the virus and spread it without knowing. Furthermore, not all individuals who get the virus actually develop cancer, or the cancer may not form for years. If found early, cervical cancer (or pre-cancer) is very curable, but if it goes untreated, can be lethal. The Pap smear and pelvic exam saves lives, and previously it was advised that women get the Pap annually. However, the newest guidelines now advise to begin Pap smears at age 21, and do them every three years. Pelvic and breast exams should be done annually. For women over 30 years old, Pap
and HPV testing is done. If the tests are negative, you can go to every five years for testing. However, if you have multiple partners, or any history of abnormal Paps in the past, you should have the test more often. Women with history of STDs are also at higher risk, and need testing more often. Basic guidelines need to be tailored to the individual, and it is best to discuss the options and best plan for you with your doctor. Finally, I will say a quick word about the Obesity problems in America. More than half of the population is overweight or obese. The complications plague women of all walks of life. High Blood Pressure, Heart Disease, and Diabetes are major causes of health problems, disability, and death in women. It comes from a number of sources, from “comfort eating” and baby-weight, to just being to busy to make the right choices and cook at home. Instead, we grab some fast food, or prepared meals, often high in fat, calories, and salt. This Mother’s Day season, make a new resolve to lose those extra pounds, and get healthier. In summary, your health is vitally important, and you and your doctor make a team for success. The foundation for wellness is a healthy diet, supplements and naturals, and quality healthcare from a knowledgeable doctor. At Hoover Alt MD, we care for many women, at all stages of life, and we welcome you to join us. Dr. Elizabeth Campbell Korcz trained at Morehouse School of Medicine in Atlanta, Ga, graduating in 2005. She completed her intern year at Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta, and transferred to Birmingham in 2006 to finish her residency locally, at Carraway Methodist Hospital. Board-Certified in Family Medicine, Dr. 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.
Frivolity Sustained by Molly Green
S
ustainability can be defined in so many terms, in relation to fashion it can get a bit murky. I have always had an obsession with style, and I’m guilty of passing judgment accordingly (move over Joan Rivers). Admittedly, my superficial nature shines through. Don’t get me wrong, I seldom stand by these initial assessments of mine. But riddle me this...do you, or do you not, pick through the cantaloupes in the produce section— thumping, sniffing—and Judging—their bumpy textured exteriors? It is not so different with apparel. We literally wear our emotions and opinions on our sleeves! Example: When I’m tired and stressed, I will most likely be found in a wrinkled white tee, jeans and some sort of outlandish necklace. My statement to the world? “Fatigue outweighed my fashion sense.” As my worldview has grown, my Style scope has evolved with new criteria. I no longer buy for the same reasons, or from the same angle. I can safely say I will never again line my lips with brown eyeliner. But I will check the care tag on every potential purchase…for country of origin and fabric content. Here are a few notions that you may or may not be privy to: organic cotton can be beautifully draped, sculpted and topstitched such that Daphne Guinness could not refuse. These posh frocks lay waste to the vagrant peasant blouse motifs of the past. No longer does the Green community hide behind patchoulicolored glasses… At present, among the multitude
of options available to the eco chic, secondhand purchases are the clearcut winner in the sustainability race. Assuming garment care is considered, of course—dry-cleaning vs. hand wash and line-dry, your choice. Vintage is a more endearing term for these purchases. Pure poetry in that word, with bona fides vibes, besides. Green, and thus modern, but by an oldschool standard that makes Vintage in some ways more suitable than most other options for the eco Now. The word, as a descriptor, label, and category, strikes the perfect balance of all that was best from each and every Age, the timeless sensibilities, the gravitas, the glamour, and grace. Vintage earns every volt of its very high vibration. Vintage! I might as well be namedropping…and am. Admirer: “Brittany where did you get that amazing bag, with the missing sequin?” Me: “Hmmm...it’s vintage.” My affair with pre-worn clothing began with rummaging through the church yard sale clothing section. We were supposed to separate and price the clothing—“i.e., three for me, one for the Honduran Orphans.” Looking back, my zest for new pants was overtly selfish, okay... but intrinsically, I saw value in garments others couldn’t discern. I would crudely alter and combine garments with Frankensteinian skills and often with monstrous results. My love for thrifting will never
fade, but I find solace in new places, too. I admire designers and buyers both for putting their money where their mouth is. I’ve been able to fill my store with fabulous garments, made domestically and with aerial-view transparency. I have personally spoken to, laughed with, and invested in designers like Lizz Wasserman. Her rebellion against disposable clothing led her to create Popomomo, a line based on social and environmental responsibility. Lizz uses fabrics that are non-detrimental, organic or recycled, only. She knows what her seamstresses are being paid and the conditions they work in because she walks to her sewing house from her work studio in LA. I have a connection to the shirt I’m wearing. I know where it was made and where the cotton was harvested, spun into thread, then woven into a bolt of fabric. Challenge yourself to consider the impact of your button-down. Vintage. Organic. Low-Impact. Eco. It’s your prerogative, find what works for you and go with it! Happy styling! Molly Green is an eco chic boutique featuring fabulous earth friendly fashions. We carry sustainable, recycled, vintage and organic clothing for fashionistas with a style conscience. Our mission is to bring you classic collections attracting all devoted to style, fashion, and Mother Earth. Molly Green, 2817 18th Street South, Homewood. 205-637-7210. MollyGreen Boutique.com. natural awakenings
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The Hormone Balancing Act Natural Strategies for Feeling Better by Kathleen Barnes
H
ormones rule our lives; it’s a simple fact of biochemistry. In their role as the body’s chemical messengers, hormones affect every human biological system. Without them, nothing works correctly. Women’s hormonal systems are as complex as men’s, although vastly different. They govern reproduction, plus every aspect of health—including metabolizing food, proper immune function, physical and emotional responses to stress and the aging of cells.
Teens and Early 20s Puberty and the early reproductive years should be the physical peak of a young woman’s life; when she is
physically active and full of energy and youthful health. It’s also the time when breasts develop, hips widen, pubic hair appears, menstruation begins, and she becomes capable of pregnancy. The good news is that several studies by the National Cancer Institute and the University of California, Los Angeles, have shown that regular exercise undertaken at this age results in lower estrogen levels throughout a woman’s life, greatly reducing her risk of breast cancer and other hormonal cancers. Yet, C.W. Randolph, Jr., a leading bioidentical hormone physician and co-author of From Hormone Hell to Hormone Well, reports that the ideal hormonal balance is routinely upset today. Culprits are obe-
Major Female Hormones Estrogen is produced by the ovaries, adrenal glands and in several other parts of the female body. It is responsible for physical maturation, including development of breasts, regulation of the menstrual cycle and preparing the uterus to receive a fertilized embryo. Progesterone prepares the uterus for pregnancy, maintains pregnancy and balances estrogen during cyclical fluctuations. 16
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Luteinizing hormone governs the ovaries’ production of estrogen and progesterone. Follicle-stimulating hormone works in synergy with the luteinizing hormone to control the menstrual cycle and ovarian egg production. Testosterone is present in women, although in far lower levels than in men. It serves as a component of healthy sexual desire and in maintenance of healthy bones and muscles.
sity among young American women and the everyday presence of toxic estrogenic chemicals in today’s dairy products and meat, personal care products, plastics, food containers, pesticides and herbicides, as well as car exhaust. “These compounds often have chemical structure similar to estrogen and can act like estrogen when introduced into the body,” Randolph explains. “Over time, these substances can increase estrogen in the body, potentially causing problems.” Categorized as xenoestrogens, these hormone disruptors can cause rapid growth in breast tissue and have been blamed for the appearance of breast tissue and even milk production in girls as young as 18 months and the early onset of puberty, particularly among African-American girls. They are also suspected in the rising incidence of breast cancer in younger women today.
Reproductive Years Women in their reproductive years often experience extreme stress in struggling to balance family, work, relationships and a need for personal growth, along with economic challenges. Women’s health expert Dr. Christiane Northrup, author of The Wisdom of Menopause, blames the stress of modern lifestyles for hormone disruptions in women in their child-
Ways to Avoid Manmade Estrogens Choose organic milk and dairy products. Eat organic meats and wild-caught fish. Avoid canned foods and plastic water and soda bottles. Do not use lawn or garden chemical pesticides or herbicides. Shed outdoor shoes before entering the house. Avoid furniture made from medium-density fiberboard (MDF) and synthetic carpeting; these materials outgas toxic chemicals. Use natural household-cleaning products, including baking soda and vinegar. Choose natural personal care products, including shampoos, lotions and cosmetics. bearing years. “The stress hormones cortisol and epinephrine can have long-term effects on all other hormones,” advises Northrup. Concurrently, many women sacrifice self-nurturance in order to nurture others. The first result is often premenstrual syndrome (PMS), which Northrup calls a “lifestyle disease.” “We know that this problem seems to worsen with each subsequent child. That made the connection for me,” she adds, “that with growing families and responsibilities, women no longer take care of themselves as well; no longer get the amount of exercise they once did. The body is quite forgiving in their 20s, much less so in their 30s.” Part of the result is the attempt to reduce stress levels by eating high-fat and high-sugar comfort foods. Weight gain, blood sugar imbalances and sex hormone imbalances follow. “Excess blood sugar changes the way estrogen, progesterone and testosterone are metabolized,” Northrup explains. “PMS and other problems of the reproductive years often go away when you get your blood sugar balanced, but—here’s the rub—you won’t get it rebalanced unless you are addressing
the very real stressors in your life.” Due to the presence of xenoestrogens and Americans’ general fondness for processed comfort foods, women in their childbearing years are also increasingly afflicted by polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a condition characterized by overproduction of testosterone and other male hormones. Insulite Laboratories, in Louisville, Colorado, reports that infertility and early onset Type 2 diabetes, another hormonal imbalance problem, are closely connected to PCOS. The first priority for every woman at any age, counsels Northrup, is to get blood sugar (glucose) under control. “Get a glucometer. You don’t need a
sweats and insomnia to weight gain, fuzzy thinking and redistribution of hair on the body. Again, the presence of xenoestrogens and stress contribute. Women of other cultures rarely experience the intensity of perimenopausal symptoms that Western women report. So does that make perimenopause a lifestyle disease, as well? Emphatically yes, says Holly Lucille, a doctor of naturopathy, registered nurse
To find a local compounding pharmacy for customized, bioidentical hormone blends, as prescribed by a medical practitioner, visit iacprx.org. prescription. If your blood sugar level isn’t between 80 and 90 in the morning, you need to look at your diet and lifestyle. Getting this under control will create hormonal balance in the vast majority of women. It’s so simple.”
Perimenopause The next hormonal shift overlaps with a woman’s reproductive years. Symptoms of perimenopause, or the start of menopause and the end of childbearing years, typically show up between the early and late 30s. These range from hot flashes, night
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coverartist
Seven Steps to Address Perimenopausal Symptoms 1. Good diet that’s heavy on organic foods and low in saturated fats
as adrenal support via an adrenal glandular supplement
2. Vitex, or chasteberry, to increase progesterone naturally and help balance excess estrogen
6. Regular exercise
3. Black cohosh extract, like that found in Remifemin, to control hot flashes and night sweats 4. Blood sugar stability
7. Bioidentical hormone replacement, if symptoms become too uncomfortable Source: Creating and Maintaining Balance: A Women’s Guide to Safe, Natural, Hormone Health, by Dr. Holly Lucille
5. Stress management, as well
Big Push Paul David Bond Pesqueira Paul Bond’s magic realism art illuminates a dreamlike world where anything is possible, as he deftly juxtaposes and rearranges common elements to convey universal spiritual or metaphysical ideas. Sometimes, his paintings are simply uplifting illusions, expressing the whimsical, surreal and fantastic side of life. They are always soothing, visual meditations that delight the imagination and stir the soul. Rearranging familiar objects gives Bond the visual symbols he uses as a language to reflect an emotion or thought he’s entertaining at the moment. “Often, a painting is born from something randomly seen from a car window or a line in a novel or song,” he explains. “If it stirs my curiosity, it finds its way into my work.” About Big Push, he says, “This was inspired by a photo I had taken of my favorite model in a nearby park, looking down from a swing. I immediately hit on the idea of her swinging at a ridiculously high altitude—joyful, with unflinching confidence and courage.” View the artist’s portfolio at PaulBondArt.com. 18
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and past president of the California Naturopathic Doctors Association. “Diet and lifestyle are absolutely essential to a healthy hormonal system,” which she explains in her book, Creating and Maintaining Balance: A Women’s Guide to Safe, Natural, Hormone Health. “The biochemistry of the body is based on vitamins and minerals. If we compromise food and lifestyle choices, we are not getting the nutrients necessary to have a healthy endocrine system.” Weight gain is a particular concern during perimenopause. In their book, From Belly Fat to Belly Flat, Dr. Randolph and Genie James, co-founders of the Natural Hormone Institute, advocate a specific eating plan to override belly fat and related accumulating effects of excess estrogen. “In perimenopause, progesterone production usually declines rapidly, more than 120 times faster than estrogen or testosterone production. That’s what aggravates the symptoms,” Randolph notes. “Because women in perimenopause are usually still menstruating, they think their hormones are okay.” “The more body fat you have, the more estrogen tips the hormonal imbalance,” says Lucille. “Those fat cells hold on to toxins and place more burden on the liver, making it unable to effectively metabolize those extra estrogens,” which are stored in body fat and brought into the body as xenoestrogens. “At the end of the day, estrogen is a messenger, and its message is to tell cells to grow and proliferate. That’s what we don’t want.”
When estrogen becomes dominant, several things happen, including a more rapid release of insulin from the pancreas, which triggers sugar cravings. “It’s not a willpower problem,” Randolph assures. “Too much estrogen causes you to pack on the pounds in the belly area, and belly fat produces more estrogen. It’s a vicious cycle.” Lucille considers perimenopause the opposite of puberty and counsels, “While we are dealing with these changes, bringing some hormones on
Foods to Reduce Estrogen Dominance Cruciferous vegetables and green leafy vegetables with indole-3carbinol to decrease xenoestrogens, including broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, spinach, celery and kale; two to three servings a day Any citrus fruits, which have dlimonene to promote estrogen detoxification; one serving a day Insoluble fiber as an estrogen binder, such as oats, berries, dried beans and apples; two servings a day Lignans as estrogen binders, such as flaxseed, sesame seeds and flaxseed oil; two to three tablespoons a day Source: From Belly Fat to Belly Flat, by Dr. C.W. Randolph, Jr., and Genie James
board for a short time can be a valuable tool.” However, she cautions, replacing anything isn’t the issue. “You have to look at the big picture,” she avers. “Putting hormones into a toxic body is like putting gas into a dirty gas tank. We have to restore function first.” Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT) has been a boon for millions. Results of the Women’s Health Initiative, a national study of women’s health between 1991 and 2002, involving more than 160,000 postmenopausal women ages 50 to 79, sparked more widespread use early in the 21st century, when research began to show the dire consequences of synthetic hormone replacement. The Million Woman Study of British women also found that taking synthetic hormones at menopause doubled the risk of breast cancer for women. Northrup calls bioidenticals “nature’s ideal design,” due to the prescription of individually tailored doses, custom-made by compounding pharmacies.
Menopause If a woman has had no menstrual periods for 12 months, she is considered to be in menopause. However, Lucille asserts, “Menopause is not a disease.” Northrup touts menopause as the most creative and precious time of a woman’s life; it is often a time of spiritual awakening and self-fulfillment. “When the female brain passes menopause, the brain changes,” advises Northrup. “In a sense, we move from alternating current to direct current; I believe that this is the way the brain encodes wisdom.”
“Yet there are women in their 60s that are still having hot flashes. What should they do?” queries Northrup. Natural alternatives exist that are safe and effective. “Many herbs have been used for millennia that have estrogen-like properties, but do not have estrogen’s side effects.” Northrup says. “There is huge confusion about this: Plant hormones have different structures than mammalian hormones and cannot act as growth hormones. If you have too much estrogen, these plant hormones can actually protect against excess stimulation.” Her favorite is pueraria mirifica, which has helped relieve perimenopausal and menopausal symptoms in 80 percent of her patients within days. (Because the method of harvesting and processing supports effectiveness, Northrup likes Solgar brand PhytoGen.) She also uses maca, from Peru, for its phytoestrogens, vitex, black cohosh and omega-3 fatty acids such as those found in salmon for ongoing hot flashes. “Some women go through these years and truly take their place as women of wisdom and power. They don’t need any additional hormone support; they have enough life energy coming,” comments Northrup. “Others may need to take some kind of hormone support their entire lives. Either way, no one should suffer.” Kathleen Barnes is a natural health advocate, author and publisher. User’s Guide to Natural Hormone Replacement is among her many books. Visit KathleenBarnes.com.
How to Access Bioidentical Hormones Bioidentical hormone replacement requires a prescription hormone blend prepared specifically for each individual by a compounding pharmacy. It may include the three primary aspects of natural estrogen: estradiol, estrone and estriol, and will usually include progesterone and testosterone, if needed. “An almost limitless flexibility of doses is available in capsule or cream form,” says Steve Metcalf, a registered pharmacist and owner of Metcalf
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Pharmacy, a compounding pharmacy in Brevard, North Carolina. “Unlike conventional hormone replacement therapy, where the mentality of the pharmaceutical companies is ‘one size fits all,’ we can make the specific strength you need.” To find a local compounding pharmacy, visit the International Academy of Compounding Pharmacists website, iacprx.org. natural awakenings
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calendarofevents TUESDAY, MAY 1 Free Health Screenings – 10am-2pm daily. Protect your health with UAB HealthSmart’s free preventive health profile screenings. We check your blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar, body fat level, and more and then help you prevent health problems through our free health talks, nutrition and fitness counseling, and group fitness classes/programs. Preventive screenings are free and last about 30 minutes. Please call to schedule an appointment. UAB HealthSmart, 301 Twentieth Street North, Birmingham. 205-996-2304. Summer Reading 2012: Dream Big READ! – All day May 21-July 13. Read for fun, prizes, and a free book! For babies through rising sixth graders. Last day to redeem prizes July 27. Hoover Public Library, 200 Municipal Dr, Hoover. 205-444-7831. 2012 UAB School of Medicine Art Show – MonFri 9am-5pm, through May 11. This annual juried show features all the entries in the Student, Resident and Faculty categories. Free admission. UAB Lister Hill Library, 1530 3rd Ave, Birmingham. 205-934-4475. Sacred Art Gallery – M-Th 9-4:30pm; Fri 9am-12pm, Sun 1-3pm. Through May 24. The Birmingham Art Association has four members showing their art at The Sacred Art Gallery. Artists showing: Tom Dameron and Pam Truitt, multimedia painters, Maud Belser, acrylic painter, Judy Bobula, collage painter, and Donna Sophronia-Sims, found object figurative sculptor. Sacred Art Gallery, 2100 4th Ave N, Birmingham. 205-324-9127. One Year After: The April 27th Tornadoes – Saturdays 10am-6pm; Sundays 12-6pm; MondayFriday 9am-5pm, beginning April 21. The magnitude of the storms that occurred in our area on April 27, 2011 makes them both historically and scientifically significant. The exhibit will illustrate both the force of these storms and the impact they had on survivors, volunteers and the community. McWane Science Center, 200 19th St N, Birmingham. 205-714-8300. McWane.org. Living in Limbo: Lesbian Families in the Deep South – Tues-Sat 10am-5pm; Sun 1-5pm, through June 11. Created by Birmingham award-winning photographer Carolyn Sherer, this exhibit features photographic portraits accompanied by a full-color catalog with an essay by author/educator Dr. Ellen Dossett. The powerful, large-format images challenge viewers to consider their own perceptions and biases about how they define family, equality, and community. Educational programming provided by the Southern Poverty Law Center. Presenting Sponsors: Ann Huckstep and Carol Misner. Exhibit included in BCRI admission. Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, 520 16th St N, Birmingham.
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Nook Classes – 5:30-6:30pm. Learn how to use your Black & White Nook and how to download free eBooks from the library. Martha Moore Public Library, 995 Mt Olive Rd, Gardendale. 205-631-6639. Nook Color Classes – 6:30-7:30pm. Learn how to use your Nook Color and how to download free eBooks from the library. Martha Moore Public Library, 995 Mt Olive Rd, Gardendale. 205-631-6639. Singin’ in the Rain – Th-Sat 7:30pm; Sat-Sun 2pm, through May 20. 1920s Hollywood is the setting for this zany, light-hearted romantic comedy about the early days of sound film, when many a movie studio found itself scrambling to salvage the career of its chipmunk-voiced silent picture star. RMTC Cabaret Theatre, 301 19th St N, Birmingham. Sidewalk Salon: Hands on with Sony – Networking at 6pm; Presentation at 7pm. Sidewalk Salon’s are free networking and educational events for filmmakers and film buffs, held the first Tuesday of each month in the sideroom at Rojo. May’s Salon will give attendees an opportunity to check out the two awesome Sony Pro Cameras, the FS100 35MM CineAlta camera and the TD300 3D camera. Sony Rep. Paul Hogan will be on hand to show of features and answer questions from the audience. ROJO, 2921 Highland Ave S, Birmingham. 205-324-0888.
WEDNESDAY, MAY 2 Brown Bag Lunch Program: Historic Landmarks of the World – 12:30pm. From the ancient Mayan city of Palenque in Southern Mexico to the Seagram Building in Manhattan, you’ll visit some of the most famous historic landmarks in the Americas. Please bring a sack lunch; drinks and dessert provided. All programs last one hour unless otherwise noted. For more information, contact Katie at KMoellering@ bham.lib.al.us or 205-445-1118. Emmet O’Neal Library (Mountain Brook), 50 Oak St, Mountain Brook. 205-445-1121.
THURSDAY, MAY 3 Cooking for a Cause –5:30pm. A night of food and fun befitting: Healthy Kids, Healthy Communities. Hosted by the Young Leaders Society of United Way of Central Alabama. Option 1: $25 General Admission, includes Hors d’Oeuvres & Silent Auction. Option 2: $75 General Admission plus Sit Down Dinner, includes full dinner, cooking demonstration with Chef Chris Vizzina, Wine Pairings, and Silent Auction. Alagasco Center for Energy Technology, 20 20th Street S, Birmingham. 205-458-2033. UWCA.org. Hands Up Together – 7pm. Award-winning Broadway star Euan Morton will perform. Proceeds
will support Collat Jewish Family Services’ programs and services for seniors, who are served throughout the Birmingham area regardless or race, religion, or income. Program will honor Jimmie Hess’ decades of service to the arts and social services in greater Birmingham. Dessert reception to follow. $100 ($75 is tax-deductible). Dorothy Jemison Day Theater, Alabama School of Fine Arts, 800 19th St N, Birmingham. 205-879-3438. The Literacy Council: Tutor Orientation – 5:30pm. The Literacy Council is training adult literacy tutors and we need you. With more than 92,000 adults in Central Alabama who are illiterate, the need is greater than ever. To register for both Adult Basic Literacy and/or ESOL tutor training workshops you must first attend an orientation session. Orientation sessions are held on the first Thursday of each month with the exception of July and December. Orientation sessions are an hour and half and will outline the expectations of tutors and how the programs are conducted. Literacy Council, 2301 1st Ave N #102, Birmingham. 205-326-1925. Scholarship Gala with Andy Andrews – 6:30pm Private Reception; 7:30pm Gala Dinner. Scholarship Gala presented by Legacy League, an Auxiliary of Samford University. Featuring best-selling author Andy Andrews as keynote speaker. Proceeds benefit the Samford University Legacy Scholarship for deserving students with financial need. Reception and Dinner: $125 per person ($72.50 is tax-deductible). Dinner: $75 per person ($37.50 is tax-deductible). Vestavia Hills Country Club, 400 Beaumont Dr, Birmingham. 205-726-2247. Smart Investing @ EOL: Fraud Prevention & Record Keeping – 6:30pm. In our last seminar of the Smart Investing series, we’re going to take a look at fraud. Dr. Rauterkus will help attendees understand how investment fraud happens, determine warning signs consumers can recognize, discuss regulators, and finally, we’ll talk about which records to keep, for how long, and which to destroy. Dinner is provided. Please call the Library to register at 205-445-1121 or register online at EOlib.org. Emmet O’Neal Library (Mountain Brook), 50 Oak St, Mountain Brook. 205-445-1121.
FRIDAY, MAY 4 Full Flower Moon Hike – 8pm. Native Americans named each full moon to capture the spirit of the season. May was named the Flower Moon because of the abundance of wildflowers blooming at this time of year. We will meet at the Ruffner Road gate on the Irondale side of the mountain and hike to the wetlands to enjoy the glow of the moon and light refreshments. Leashed dogs welcome. This is a flat trail. 2 miles total. $7 public / $5 member. Ruffner Mountain Nature Center, 1214 81st St S, Birmingham. 205-833-8264.
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• Low Investment • Work from Home • Great Support Team • Marketing Tools 21 Meaningful New natural•awakenings May Career 2012
First Friday: 2012 Jazz Musical Explosion – 121pm. Join us in Kelly Ingram Park for the 2012 Spring Musical Explosion during your lunch break. Bring your lawn chair or blanket, sit back, relax and enjoy jazz music at its best. Free. Kelly Ingram Park, 6th Ave N at 16th St, Birmingham. 205-328-1850. BRAVO! Birmingham – 7:30pm. The Birmingham Music Club presents the second annual BRAVO! Birmingham. A wonderful musical evening, celebrating musical performers with local and national recognition. The season finale, and one you won’t want to miss. $45, $35, $25, $10. Leslie S. Wright Fine Arts Center, Samford University, 800 Lakeshore Dr, Birmingham. 205-726-2853. Schaeffer Eye Center Crawfish Boil – May 4-5. Gates open Fri at 4pm, Sat at 2pm. The 2012 lineup includes Janes Addiction, The Cult, Lupe Fiasco, Megadeth, Snoop Dog, and Wiz Khalifa. Visit SchaefferCrawFishBoil.com for full schedule. Birmingham Jefferson Convention Complex (BJCC) Arena and Exhibition Halls, 2100 Richard Arrington Jr Blvd N, Birmingham. Gardendale Magnolia Festival – Fri 5-9pm, Sat 10am-5pm. Celebrate spring at the award-winning Gardendale Magnolia Festival with over 150 arts/ crafts/ business vendors including home and garden special section, large midway carnival, classic car show, 3 stages of live entertainment, pooch parade, Little Miss GMF pageant, bungee jump, fishing tank, silent auction, free art classes for kids, and cookie eating contest. Gardendale Civic Center, 857 Main St, Gardendale. 205-514-6799.
SATURDAY, MAY 5 39th Annual Southern Appalachian Dulcimer Festival – 10am-3pm. The Southern Appalachian Dulcimer Association (SADA) will host their 39th annual Dulcimer Festival at Tannehill State park May 3-6. Tannehill Ironworks Historical State Park, 12632 Confederate Pkwy, McCalla, AL. 205-477-5711. SouthernAppalachianDulcimerAssociation.org. Alabama Kidney Foundation Walk-a-Thon – Registration begins at 8:30am. All money raised goes to Alabama kidney patients in need. Last year the foundation gave out over $350,000 in assistance. Homewood High School’s Waldrop Stadium, 266 Snow Dr, Birmingham. 205-934-2111.
Ballet, Bourbon and Bowties – 2-6pm. The Alabama Ballet Jr. Board proudly presents, “Ballet, Bourbon and Bowties”, a Kentucky Derby themed event. This will be an exciting day filled with live coverage of the Kentucky Derby races, food and drink, bluegrass music, entertainment for the children, and much more. Our mission is to raise awareness for the Alabama Ballet’s after school enrichment program, City Dance. Now in its 19th year, City Dance provides two, eight week classes of dance education for our inner-city schools. Supporting the mission of “Ballet, Bourbon, and Bowties” allows our City Dance program to continue to touch the lives of over 15,000 youth. Alabama Ballet, 2726 1st Ave S, Birmingham. 205-322-4300. Nature Journaling – 10am. Our resident artist, Gary, will show you his take on nature journaling and open your eyes to seeing nature in a new light. We will take a short walk, stopping along the way to record what we see, using our eyes as windows to nature. Reservations required. $7 public; $5 member. Ruffner Mountain Nature Center, 1214 81st St S, Birmingham. 205-833-8264. Wine and Cheese Hike – 6pm. We will walk to Hawk’s View Overlook for an amazing view of the sun setting over the downtown Birmingham skyline. After partaking in wine and refreshments, we’ll head back down the mountain with the brightness of the full moon acting as Mother Nature’s flashlight. Cheese donated by Cabot Creamery. Moderate hike. 3 miles total. Please be ready to show identification. Reservations required. $15 public; $10 member. Ruffner Mountain Nature Center, 1214 81st St S, Birmingham. 205-833-8264. Earth Day at The Gardens – Earth Day at The Gardens will have over 40 earth friendly exhibitors at booths displaying family friendly activities and information. Free. Birmingham Botanical Gardens, 2612 Lane Park Rd, Birmingham. BBgardens.org. Art in Avondale Park – 10am. Come out and join us for a day of art in the newly-refurbished Avondale Park. The event features artists’ booths and food vendors, plus free art activities for children, live music and dance, face-painting and more. The mission of Art in Avondale Park Alliance, Inc. is to inspire children to discover their talents through a wide variety of artmaking lessons provided by local art teachers, artists and community volunteers. Avondale Park, Birmingham Park and Recreation Board, 4101 5th Ave S, Birmingham. 205-585-5323.
from diaries, sheet music and glassware to military items, toys, trophies, and more. Evaluations for up to three items are included with a $20 donation to the history center ($15 for members). All donations are tax deductible and benefit the Birmingham History Center, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Birmingham History Center, 1731 First Ave N, Suite 120, Birmingham. 205-202-4146. Culinary Herbs: Cultivating and Cooking, A Light Lunch and Learn – 9:30-11:30am. A presentation and light lunch with herb recipes demonstrated and prepared by Naturalist Nancy Cobb. See Nancy prepare herbal teas, vinegars, butter, dipping sauce, and use culinary flowers while discussing the cultivation and tips for growing and using these must-have plants. Limited to 20. Pre-registration required. Aldridge Botanical Gardens, 3530 Lorna Rd, Hoover. 205-682-8019. Central Alabama Daylily Society (CADS) Annual Daylily Sale – 8am until sold out. Knowledgeable collectors and growers will be available to answer any questions you might have about choosing Daylilies, along with how to grow and care for them. Contact: Becky Parr, BeckyParr@bellsouth.net. Birmingham Botanical Gardens, 2612 Lane Park Rd, Birmingham. 205-602-1273.
SUNDAY, MAY 6 Southeastern Outings Dayhike along Buck Creek in Helena –2pm. Come explore the wilder side of Helena. Hike with SEO on a lovely creekside trail in Helena in Shelby County. Depart 2pm from the parking lot for the Helena City Park on AL Highway 261 in Helena. Info and Directions: Mike Walker, 205-665-4639. “ Bow Ties, Belles, and Brews” – 2-6pm. A Kentucky Derby themed event that will benefit the Alabama Autism Assistance Program. This is a nonprofit organization which provides scholarships for therapy to children with autism and other neurodevelopmental disorders. There will also be a best dressed competition that will be judged by MyScoop and Hoffman Media. Great prizes will be awarded to the winners. Check out our Facebook event page “Bow Ties, Belles, and Brews.” Good People Brewery, 114 14th St S, Birmingham. 205733-0976. $30 in advance, $35 at the door.
Build A Library 5K and Fun Run – 8am 5K; 9am Fun Run. The Build A Library 5K will take participants through the lovely streets of the Town of Mt. Laurel followed by a family Fun Run. All proceeds from the run benefit the Mt Laurel Public Library building fund. Mt. Laurel Town Square, 5 Mt. Laurel Ave, Birmingham. 205-910-1608.
Ozan Vineyard Wine & Train Excursion – 12pm, May 5-19. Join us Saturday afternoons at Ozan Vineyard for the South’s wine and train excursion. This three-hour event includes a Souvenir Wine Tasting, Gourmet Box Lunch, and Heart of Dixie Railroad train excursion. Ozan Vineyard and Cellars, 173 Hwy 301, Calera, AL. 205-668-6926.
Adaptations Screening Party: “Jane Eyre” by Charlotte Bronte – 2:30pm. 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. AfterParty is scheduled for May 22nd. Avondale Regional Library, 509 40th St. S, Birmingham. 205-226-4000.
Story Time On the Mountain – 10am. Join Ms. Jerri in the Activity Hall of the Treehouse to read “Butterfly Butterfly” by Petr Horáek. Free. Ruffner Mountain Nature Center, 1214 81st St S, Birmingham. 205-833-8264.
Birmingham Memorabilia Road Show (and Tell) 10am-2pm. Seven specialists in Birmingham and Jefferson County objects and lore will be on hand Saturday, May 5, from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at the Birmingham History Center to evaluate pieces ranging
21st Annual Arty Party – 3pm. Arty Party is an annual art auction benefiting Birmingham AIDS Outreach. Local, regional, and national artists donate their art to BAO for this event. There are typically over 200 pieces of art with 15 of the pieces in a live
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auction. $50 per person. B&A Warehouse, 1531 1st Avenue S, Birmingham. 205-322-4197. Birmingham Ballet’s “The Awakening� – 7:30pm. An evening of dance featuring a world premier title by Birmingham Ballet’s Director Emeritus and internationally recognized choreographer, Alfonso Figueroa, dedicated to Virginia Simpson, a staunch and fierce supporter of the arts in Birmingham. Birmingham Jefferson Convention Complex Theatre, 2100 Richard Arrington Jr. Blvd. N, Birmingham. 205-979-9492.
MONDAY, MAY 7 BAO BINGO – 7-9pm. Birmingham AIDS Outreach hosts a monthly BINGO game on the first Monday of every month. Doors open at 6pm and the game is from 7-9pm. You must be 19 to enter. Each month there are six games and each game includes a cash prize of $100 or more. The charge is $15 to play five games, $1 to play the final bonus game, and $1 for an ink dauber. Birmingham AIDS Outreach, 205 32nd St S, Birmingham. 205-322-4197.
TUESDAY, MAY 8 Free Non-Profit Tax Seminar – 10am-12:30pm. Join Haynes Downard for a seminar featuring Important Tax Information for Non-Profits. Subjects covered will include sales and use taxes, proper donor acknowledgements, contract labor vs employee, political lobbying, and more. This is a free seminar.
Space is limited. Please RSVP with Lynn Crooks at 205-254-3380 or LCrooks@haynesdownard.com. The Center for Regional Planning and Design, 1731 1st Ave N, (formerly the Young & Vann Building), Birmingham. 205-254-3380. The Bookies Book Group: The Greater Journey: Americans in Paris – 10am. The Bookies meet in the Library’s Conference Room to discuss The Greater Journey: Americans in Paris by David McCullough. New members are always welcome. Call the Library for more information at 205-445-1121. Emmet O’Neal Library (Mountain Brook), 50 Oak St, Mountain Brook. The Art of Science: Paper Project – 4pm. The Art of Science is a grant-funded after-school program conducted by Elinor and Winfield Burks at six Birmingham Public Library branches: Avondale, East Lake, Five Points West, Ensley, Powderly, and Springville Road. The program will run from Sept 2011 through December 2012, and will cover the science of nutrition, geometry, sound, plants, optics, recycling, and materials engineering in a hands-on atmosphere. Supplies for the crafts are provided. Five Points West Regional Library, 4812 Avenue W, Birmingham. 205-226-4013. Oxmoor Page Turners Book Group: The Glass Castle – 6:30pm. Join the Homewood Public Library’s very own book group. We will be discussing The Glass Castle by Jeanette Walls. The Oxmoor Page Turners meet the 2nd Tuesday of every month. Contact: Judith Wright, 205-332-6601. Homewood
Public Library, 1721 Oxmoor Rd, Homewood. HomewoodPublicLibrary.org.
THURSDAY, MAY 10 Susan Haltom Lecture at Birmingham Botanical Gardens – 2-3pm. Birmingham Botanical Gardens presents Author Susan Haltom and One Writer’s Garden: Eudora Welty’s Home Place. “A rich exploration of the garden Welty tended with her mother and how that work affected her writing.� Book Signing to follow lecture. Tickets $5. Books are available for purchase at Leaf n Petal at the Gardens. Birmingham Botanical Gardens, 2612 Lane Park Rd, Birmingham. 205-414-3958. Let’s Talk About It: Making Sense of the American Civil War Part 5: War of Freedom 5:307pm. In commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the American Civil War, the Birmingham Public Library and the Alabama Humanities Foundation are pleased to present this five-part reading and discussion series. Victoria Ott, Associate Professor of History at Birmingham-Southern College, will lead the discussion at each session. This series of programs is open to the public, but as seating is limited, registration is required. Register online at BPLonline.org/CivilWar. Birmingham Public Library Central Branch, 2100 Park Place, Birmingham. 205-226-3604. Smart Investing @ EOL Finale with Dolores Hydock – 6:30pm. What happens when a young man ignores every bit of money advice his father
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ever gave him: And just how much happiness can money actually buy? Find out in Ms. Hydock’s hilarious presentation of “On a Spree: More Stories About Money” about individuals throwing financial caution to the wind. Dinner is provided. Please call the Library to register at 205-445-1121 or register online at EOLib.org/Smart-Investing.php. Emmet O’Neal Library (Mountain Brook), 50 Oak St, Mountain Brook. Cyrano De Bergerac – 7:30pm, May 10-19. Cyrano de Bergerac has an extremely large nose, which is the reason for his own self-doubt. This doubt prevents him from expressing his love for his distant cousin, the beautiful and intellectual heiress Roxane. Homewood Central Park, 1604 Oxmoor Rd, Homewood. 205-590-0155.
FRIDAY, MAY 11 Cherokee Leaf Pounding – 2:30-4:30pm. Instructor: Bettye Kimbrell, Crafter, featured on AL Public Television. Master an ancient Cherokee Indian craft making exquisite botanical imprints on placemats, napkins, quilt pieces, aprons, pillow cases, T shirts, table runners, or any 100% cotton fabric. Bring to class: leaves (with stems in water) you wish to pound, large wooden cutting board, roll of wide masking tape, a thin, worn bath towel, lightweight 100% off-white cotton muslin fabric item(s) of your choice, and a small hammer. Registration required. Workshop limited to 12. $20 Members and Teachers/$25 Non-Members. Aldridge Botanical Gardens, 3530 Lorna RD, Hoover. 205-682-8019. . 32nd Annual Dog Daze Festival – Friday 5pm9pm; Saturday 9am-4pm. Festival featuring music, fireworks, food vendors, booth vendors and arts and crafts. Trussville Mall, 225 Parkway Dr, Trussville. 205-655-7535. Buck Creek Festival – Friday 6-10:30pm; Saturday 10am-10:30pm. The Buck Creek Festival is proud to begin its eleventh year as one of the leading fund raising events in the Birmingham metropolitan area. Our festival attracts visitors and crafters/vendors from all over the Southern united states. Helena Amphitheater, 4151 Helena Rd, Helena, AL. 205296-6153. BuckCreekFestival.com. Homestead Hollow Springfest – 9am-5pm May 11-13. Featuring fine arts, unique, hand made crafts, and pioneer demonstrations. See wood carving, ironwork, blacksmithing, smoke house cooking, gardening, quilting, whiskey making at our original working still, tour our original cabins as they were built by the early settlers. Relax by one of our many streams and listen to live local entertainment all day. Children’s activities: ride the ponies, climb the rock wall, moon walk, petting zoo. Visit and talk with our Herbalist and find out more about Grandma’s remedies or those nature produces naturally. Free parking. No pets. Homestead Hollow, 1190 Murphees Valley Rd, Springville, AL. 205-467-2002.
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SATURDAY, MAY 12 Native Plant Propagation, Part II – 8:30am. Various types of treatments are required for some seeds to germinate; seeds of several species will be handled to learn these processes. Other topics will include: appropriate containers, media, light, temperature, as well as transplanting, diseases, insects and fertilizer. Vegetative propagation will be explained, including stem and rhizome cuttings, layering, division and bulb scaling. Proper documentation will be demonstrated and each participant will be able to take home samples of several species. $40 Members; $45 Non-Members. Birmingham Botanical Gardens, 2612 Lane Park Rd, Birmingham. Art in the Park 2012, Jasper – 9am-4pm. Ninth Annual Art Festival featuring over 80 artist and fine craft booths with free children’s activity area, a Birmingham Children’s Theatre special performance and artist demos. Gamble Park, Gamble Ave, Jasper, AL. 205-221-1711. 2012 Spring Walking Tour Series: Highland Avenue – 9:30am-12pm. Vulcan Park and Museum’s 2012 Spring Walking Tour Series offers recent and longtime residents alike a fun, invigorating way to experience the history and architectural beauty of Birmingham’s neighborhoods and districts. Series Curator: Philip Morris. Tickets: Non-Member: $12; Vulcan Members: $10. Space is limited. Preregistration strongly suggested. Info or to register: 205-933-1409 x30 or Info@visitvulcan.com. Vulcan Park and Museum, 1701 Valley View Dr, Birmingham. 60th Annual Birmingham Rose Show – 6-10:30am, Entries Received; 10:30am-1pm, Judging of the entries; 1-5pm, Rose Show open to the public. The 2012 Birmingham Rose Show promises to be one of the largest yet. This year’s show will include entries for Horticulture, Arrangements & Photography. There is also a planned seminar on Saturday: “Yes, You Can Grow Beautiful Roses.” All events are free and open to the public. Birmingham Botanical Gardens, 2612 Lane Park Rd, Birmingham.
SUNDAY, MAY 13 Mother’s Day Brunch at Arlington Antebellum Home & Gardens – Seatings at Noon and 2pm. Enjoy a special brunch at Arlington, a fine example of Greek Revival architecture dating from the 1840s. Originally called “The Grove” the house was built by Judge William S. Mudd, one of the ten founders of Birmingham, and is the only remaining antebellum mansion remaining in Birmingham. Reservations required. Arlington Antebellum Home and Gardens, 331 Cotton Ave, Birmingham. 205-780-5656. Southeastern Outings Dayhike in Oak Mountain State Park – 1pm. Enjoy a moderate 4-5 mile walk in the woodlands near Birmingham on a Sunday afternoon. Meet at 1pm in the park office parking lot on Terrace Drive between the boat dock parking lot and the beach parking lot. Please bring $3/person
($1 Seniors) park admission fee plus your drink. Info & Directions: call trip leader Bonnie Black, 205-913-5735. Oak Mountain State Park Office, 200 Terrace Dr, Pelham.
MONDAY, MAY 14 West End Branch Library Presents Basic Internet Class – 9:30am. Confused about Internet basics? Sign-up and learn what you need to know about surfing the Internet. Call to reserve your seat. Limited seats available. West End Branch Library, 1348 Tuscaloosa Ave SW, Birmingham. 205-226-4089. Great Books Reading Group: John Barth – 6:30pm. The Great Books Discussion Group (GBDG) discusses John Barth’s “Lost in the Funkhouse.” The GBDG reads from anthologies published by the Great Books Foundation and a limited number are available for checkout from EOL’s Reference Department. Reference Staff are happy to help you find readings in other books when/if copies of the anthologies are not available. Emmet O’Neal Library (Mountain Brook), 50 Oak St, Mountain Brook. 205-445-1121.
TUESDAY, MAY 15 Clay Public Library Book Club – 6pm. Our May selection is the 2011 bestseller, Maine, by J. Courtney Sullivan. Light refreshments served. New members welcome. Please register by May 11th if you would like to attend (no charge). E-mail Joy at JLee@bham.lib.al.us or call 205-680-3812. Clay Public Library, 7257 Old Springville Rd, Clay, AL. Documentaries After Dark – 6:30pm. With the Internet surpassing print as the main news source and newspapers all over the country going bankrupt, this film chronicles the transformation of the media industry at its time of greatest turmoil. At the heart of the film is the burning question on the minds of everyone who cares about a rigorous American press, Times lover or not: what will happen if the fastmoving future of media leaves behind the fact-based, original reporting that helps to define our society? 92 minutes. Info: Holley Wesley 205-445-1117 or HWesley@bham.lib.al.us. Emmet O’Neal Library (Mountain Brook), 50 Oak St, Mountain Brook. Ballet in Cinema Series presents The Bright Stream (Bolshoi) – 7pm. Encore screening of an April 29 performance of the Bolshoi Ballet, Moscow, Russia. Composed by Shostakovich. Choreographed by Alexei Ratmansky. 2 hrs 5 mins, including one intermission. The Carmike Summit 16, 321 Summit Blvd. Birmingham. 205-298-1329.
WEDNESDAY, MAY 16 Brown Bag Lunch Program: Treasures of the Dark Ages – 12:30pm. Uncover the secrets of the largest hoard of Saxon Gold ever found, chronicling the story of an amateur metal-detecting enthusiast who discovered a gold hoard dating back
a millennium and valued at over $5 million. Please bring a sack lunch; drinks and dessert provided. Info: Katie at KMoellering@bham.lib.al.us or 205-4451118. Emmet O’Neal Library (Mountain Brook), 50 Oak St, Mountain Brook. 205-445-1121. The Birmingham Fern Society’s Annual Lecture – 6:30pm. Our speaker will be Barbara Joe Hoshizaki, president of the American Fern Society and former professor of botany at Los Angeles City College. She is the author of “Fern Grower’s Manual”, one of the most comprehensive books on ferns, containing information on 700 species. For more information call Ginny Lusk. Birmingham Botanical Gardens, 2612 Lane Park Rd, Birmingham. 205-988-0299.
THURSDAY, MAY 17 Girlfriend Gala – 6:30-9pm. The Girlfriend Gala is a unique fundraising event that celebrates women, friendship, and creativity. The theme of the inaugural event is “Chick Flicks: Celebrating Girls on Film.” Both corporate and individual tables can be purchased, with each table selecting a captain and tablescape based on the theme. Individual tickets are $75. Call for corporate and individual tables. Workplay, 500 23rd Street S, Birmingham. 205-326-1925.
FRIDAY, MAY 18 Alabama Record Collectors CD & Record Show Fri 4-9pm; Sat 9am-5pm. The 31st annual show will feature hundreds of thousands of records, CDs and musical memorabilia from dealers from all over the United States. Special guests from the music profession are honored on Saturday morning. General admission $3. Two day pass $5. Bessemer Civic Center, 1130 9th Avenue SW, Bessemer. Brown Plays Mozart – 8pm, May 18-19. Maestro Brown will take the stage and his seat at the piano in his last official performance as the Principal Conductor of the ASO. Come celebrate his triumphant career with some of his favorite works. He’ll begin by conducting Mozart’s sprightly Piano Concerto No. 23 from the keyboard. Then it’s on to Mahler’s Fifth Symphony, which stands as one of the most towering works Mahler ever composed. Justin Brown, Conductor and Piano. Alys Robinson Stephens Performing Arts Center, 1200 10th Ave S, Birmingham. 205-975-2787.
SATURDAY, MAY 19 Tannehill Trade Days – 8am-4pm Sat/Sun. The third weekend of each month, from March through November, shoppers and swappers come from far and near to Tannehill Trade Days in search of tools, clothing, jewelry, knives, furniture and other treasures. Please note: no pets are allowed in the Trade Days Area. Tannehill Ironworks Historical State Park, 12632 Confederate Pkwy, McCalla, AL. 205-477-5711.
Tarrant Five Mile Creek Festival – 10am-6pm. An all new kidzone stage with carnival rides and inflatable games, live music on the main stage, food, and arts and crafts. Also a hamburger easting contest provided by Hamburger Heaven. Festival takes place in downtown Tarrant at the corner of Hwy 79 and Ford Avenue. Tarrant Public Library, 1143 Ford Ave, Tarrant, AL. 205-332-2641. Do Dah Day – Birmingham’s 34-year-old music festival kicks off at 11:01am on the streets of Highland Avenue in Birmingham’s Southside. Then, spend the day in Caldwell and Rhodes Parks with friends, pets, arts and crafts, kids’ activities, a lineup of great bands, food and beverages, and collectible Do Dah Day T-shirts. Free admission. All proceeds benefit local animal charities. Caldwell Park, 26th St S and Highland Ave, Birmingham.
MONDAY, MAY 21 Monday Morning Investment Club – 10am. Join us for the third meeting of our new group, the Monday Morning Investment Club. Topic to be announced. Emmet O’Neal Library (Mountain Brook), 50 Oak St, Mountain Brook. 205-445-1121. Library Tour of The Golden Record – 6pm. In August 1977, NASA sent into outer space a phonographic recording, the “Golden Record,” containing sounds and images selected to portray the diversity of life and culture on Earth with hopes of some day communicating to intelligent life. Sanspointe dance artists Lynn Andrews and Rhea Speights choreographed a dance response to this cultural capsule. Free and open to all ages. Five Points West Regional Library, 4812 Avenue W, Birmingham. 205-344-0598. Gardendale Past and Present – 6pm. Kermit Dooley from the Gardendale Historical Society will be on hand to talk about the history of Gardendale from the first settlers of the area to present day. Gardendale–Martha Moore Public Library, 995 Mt Olive Rd, Gardendale. 205-631-6639.
TUESDAY, MAY 22 Druid City Opera – All day, May 22-30. Second annual pre-professional opera training intensive for singers, pianists, and stage directors held on the campus of UA. Please see Music.ua.edu/Opera for more information. Opportunities and Experience available for singers, apprentice coach/pianists and apprentice stage directors. Moody Music Building, 810 2nd Ave, Tuscaloosa. 205-348-1477. Adaptations AfterParty: “Jane Eyre” by Charlotte Brontë – 6:30pm. 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. Avondale Regional Library, 509 40th St S. Birmingham. 205-226-4000.
WEDNESDAY, MAY 23 Brown Bag Lunch Program: American designers Charles and Ray Eames – 12:30pm. The husbandand-wife team of Charles and Ray Eames is widely regarded as America’s most important designers. Narrated by James Franco, this is the first film dedicated to these creative geniuses and their work. Please bring a sack lunch; drinks and dessert provided. Contact: Katie at KMoellering@bham. lib.al.us or 205-445-1118. Emmet O’Neal Library (Mountain Brook), 50 Oak St, Mountain Brook. 205-445-1121.
THURSDAY, MAY 24 Beer on the Backporch FUNdraiser – 6-10pm. Local brews, local food and local music. All the festivities will take place on the picnic pavilion. $20/ person. Ruffner Mountain Nature Center, 1214 81st St S, Birmingham. 205-833-8264. Nonfiction Book Group—Cleopatra: A Life by Stacy Schiff – 7-9pm. Hoover Public Library’s nonfiction book discussion group, held each fourth Tuesday of the in a Theatre-Level Meeting Room. One book is discussed each session. Snacks and drinks will be provided. Hoover Public Library, 200 Municipal Dr, Hoover. 205-444-7840.
FRIDAY, MAY 25 Alabama Phoenix Festival – Friday 1pm, then round the clock to Sun 5pm. The Alabama Phoenix Festival is a celebration for persons who passionately pursue creativity and imagination. We understand that the people who like science fiction, fantasy and other forms of speculative fiction are the engineers, scientists, artists and writers who are so important to the development of our community and state. Cahaba Grand Conference Center, 3660 Grandview Parkway, Birmingham. AlabamaPhoenix Festival.com.
SATURDAY, MAY 26 Cahaba Lily Festival – 9am. Cahaba Lily Festival is held each year on the last Saturday in May. The program begins in the morning with indoor presentations by various nature/wildflower groups. Botanist Larry Davenport, an expert on the lilies, presents an informative presentation, followed by lunch, and a walk to the river for viewing the lilies. Cahaba Lily Center, Main St, West Blocton, AL. Eddie Aldridge’s Hydrangea Propagation Workshop – 10am-12pm. Eddie will teach the basic principles and techniques of propagating hydrangeas from seed and cuttings. He will have different species of hydrangeas on display, but will focus mainly on our natives. Pot up your own native hydrangea cutting to take home. $15 Members/$20 Non-Members. Class size limited. Pre-registration strongly suggested. Aldridge Botanical Gardens, 3530 Lorna Rd, Hoover. 205-682-8019.
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SATURDAY, MAY 26 Annual Civil War Battle and Living History Reenactment – Sat-Sun. Camps open 9am; battles at 2pm. Always held on Memorial Day weekend, the two-day event attracts 300 to 400 Federal and Confederate soldiers in full fighting attire of the day, cannons and horses and sometimes even battle music. Visitors may also walk through the military camps and visit sutler stores. Tannehill Ironworks Historical State Park, 12632 Confederate Parkway, McCalla, AL.
The Power of Place T by Linda Sechrist
he qualities that make a place special to us are highly personal, and they often help us to define who we are. Whether the setting is a lake house, a mountain lodge, a seashore cottage or a backyard at twilight, our sensory connections to these special places shape us in deep and lasting ways. Childhood experiences of our hometowns and memorable spots where we ran free during summer vacations are often deeply embedded in our strongest memories. This relationship to place is one that we carry within ourselves for a lifetime. Nobel Prize-winning author William Faulkner noted that his own “little postage stamp of native soil” was an inexhaustible source of material. Fellow Mississippian and Pulitzer Prize winner Eudora Welty wrote, “Place absorbs our earliest notice and attention, it bestows on us our original awareness; and our critical powers spring up from the study of it and the growth of experience inside it. It is to this place that each of us goes to find the clearest, deepest identity of ourselves.” Psychologist Carl Jung lived nearly half his life in a home he built in the village of Bolligen, on Switzerland’s Lake Zurich. In his memoir, Memories, Dreams, Reflections, Jung remarked, “At Bolligen, I am in the midst of my true life, I am most deeply myself. At times I feel as if I am spread out over the landscape and inside things, and am myself living in every tree, in the splashing of
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the waves, in the clouds and the animals that come and go, in the procession of the seasons. In Bolligen, silence surrounds me almost audibly, and I live in modest harmony with nature.” Iona Dreaming: The Healing Power of Place, is Clare Cooper Marcus’ journal of her six months on the Scottish island of Iona. The author writes, “I feel pure in this place. It is as if there was no separation between my living, breathing, perceiving body and my soul-nature. No posturing, no pretending. I am who I am—no more, no less. As my breathing slows and I relax, I experience the sound of the sea passing through me— not me hearing the sea, not me and the sea—just the sound. A breeze blows across my face; the sun shines on my cheeks and forehead. For a moment, they seem to penetrate my body. Then, they just are. My body ceases to exist. No Clare or ego or a specific person, but a manifestation of divine energy just like everything around me… our separateness just an illusion.” These kinds of intimate experiences occur most often when we are in a relaxed or meditative state, or spending full-bodied, multisensory, openhearted time in nature. Such moments inspire the experience described by American Poet Robinson Jeffers in which we “fall in love outward.” Linda Sechrist is a senior staff writer for Natural Awakenings magazines.
SUNDAY, MAY 27 Bats of Alabama – 7pm. Come learn the truth about some very unique mammals. Bats are interesting, important creatures and they are often misunderstood. Free after park admission. Oak Mountain State Park, 200 Terrace Dr, Pelham. 205-620-2520.
TUESDAY, MAY 29 Intro to Genealogy Class – 11:30am. Want to do genealogy research? Come to this class. No registration is required. Go to TinyUrl.com/GenieIntro to print out the class handout and bring it with you. Birmingham Public Library Central Branch, 2100 Park Place, Birmingham. Genre Reading Group, Salon Discussion: Book(s) of Choice – 6:30pm. Twice a year the Genre Reading Group takes a break and readers may discuss any book on any topic. Just like the literary salons of old, join your friends at Emmet O’Neal Library for one of the best book group experiences in town. Contact: Holley, 205-445-1117 or HWesley@bham.lib.al.us. Emmet O’Neal Library (Mountain Brook), 50 Oak St, Mountain Brook. 205-445-1117.
WEDNESDAY, MAY 30 Brown Bag Lunch Program: Volcanoes – 12:30pm. From Japan’s Mount Fuji to the ‘Sleeping Giant’ submerged beneath Naples to the Yellowstone “Supervolcano” in the United States, NOVA travels with scientists who are attempting to discover how likely these volcanoes are to erupt, when it might happen, and exactly how deadly they could prove to be. Please bring a sack lunch; drinks and dessert provided. All programs last one hour unless otherwise noted. For more information, contact Katie at KMoellering@bham.lib.al.us or 205-445-1118. Emmet O’Neal Library (Mountain Brook), 50 Oak St, Mountain Brook 205-445-1121.
ongoingevents sunday Mindfulness Meditation and Discussion Group – 9-10am. In the tradition of Thich Nhat Hanh. Chairs are provided, or bring your own cushion. Childcare available. Contact Sharron Swain at Dre@uucbham. org. Unitarian Universalist Church of Birmingham, 4300 Hampton Heights Dr. 205-945-8109. Adult Sunday School – 10-10:30am. Facilitated by Mike Goins. Currently studying “Practical Mysticism of Joel Goldsmith.” Unity of Birmingham, 2803 Highland Ave. 205-908-2007. UnityBham.com. Healing Ministry – 12:30-1:30pm, first and third Sunday of each month. The Unity Healing Ministry offers healing through prayer and energy balancing to individuals following Sunday service in our upstairs Healing Center. Unity of Birmingham, 2803 Highland Ave. 205-908-2007. UnityBham.com. Power Pilates Mat – 2pm. Genevieve Ward. Blissful Heights Integrative Healing, 3100 Independence Dr, Homewood. 205-639-1062. BlissfulHeights.com. The Appalachian Trail Club of Alabama (ATCA) 2pm, first Sunday of each month. Alabama Outdoors (downstairs), 3054 Independence Dr, Birmingham. Pinhoti@bellsouth.net. Pinhoti.org. Chess: Scholastic Chess Club – 2-5pm. Schoolage players of all skill levels are welcome. Chess coach Michael Ciamarra hosts. Chess, Checkers, Go. Free. Books A Million, Brookwood Village. 205-870-0213. Course in Miracles Workshop – 5:30-7pm. Based on Kenneth Wapnick’s highly acclaimed workshop, “What It Means to Be a Teacher of God.” Facilitated by Angela Julian. Free, open to the public, and can be attended at any time. Contact Angela at AcimJulian@gmail.com to receive study material. Unity of Birmingham, 2803 Highland Ave. 205-908-2007. UnityBham.com. Sunday Service – 11am-12:30pm. Unity of Birmingham, 2803 Highland Ave. 205-908-2007. UnityBham.com. Hatha Yoga Class – 4:30-5:30pm. The Integral Yoga approach is taught in an easeful, highly meditative manner. The student is guided to a deep level of physical and mental well-being, vitality, and relaxation, promoting flexibility, strength, and health for the entire system. Beginners always welcomed. $5.00 per class. Presented by India Henson Yoga at pH Balanced Fitness, 3325 Rocky Ridge Plaza, Birmingham. 205-936-0820. pHBalancedFitness.com. Meditation – 7pm. Birmingham Shambhala Meditation Center, 714 37th Street South. Free admission. 205-595-1688. Birmingham-ShambhalaMeditation.org. Spoken Word – 6-8pm. The Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame presents spoken word performances the third
Sunday of each month. The Carver Theatre, 1631 N 4th Ave, Birmingham. 205-254-2731. JazzHall.com.
monday Pilates Reformer Duet/Trio –7:45am and 4:15pm. Genevieve Ward. Blissful Heights Integrative Healing, 3100 Independence Dr, Homewood. 205-6391062. BlissfulHeights.com. Vinyasa Flow & Restore Yoga – 9am. Jasper Wolfe. Blissful Heights Integrative Healing, 3100 Independence Dr, Homewood. 205-639-1062. BlissfulHeights.com. Core Barre – 12pm and 6:45pm. This fun, fatburning format of interval training quickly and safely reshapes the entire body. It is non-impact and targets all major muscle groups while improving posture. $18. Register online. Pilates on Highland, 2827 Highland Ave S, Birmingham. 205-323-5961. PilatesOnHighland.com. Chair Yoga Class – 2:30-3:30pm. Chair (Seated) Yoga brings the health benefits and experience of yoga to people who are uncomfortable moving up and down from the floor or whose physical condition keeps them from a traditional yoga practice. $5.00 per class. Presented by India Henson Yoga at pH Balanced Fitness, 3325 Rocky Ridge Plaza, Birmingham. 205-936-0820. pHBalancedFitness.com. Martial Arts – 5-6pm. Books, Beans & Candles Metaphysical Shoppe, 1620 Richard Arrington Jr. Blvd, Birmingham. 205-453-4636. MHagood@ gmail.com. BookBeanCandle.com. Zumba® Fitness With Ashley – 5:20pm. Zumba® Fitness fuses hypnotic Latin rhythms and easy to follow moves to create a dynamic fitness program. The routines feature interval training sessions where fast and slow rhythms, and resistance training are combined to tone and sculpt your body while burning fat. $5 per class (cash or check only). No membership required. Bailey Dance Studio, 1853 Montgomery Hwy, Ste 103, Hoover. 205-212-4697. BaileyDance.com. Pilates Mat – 5:30pm. A series of floor-work exercises emphasizing core strength, breath control, flowing movement, the development of long, lean muscles and a decompressed spine. $15. No reservation needed. Pilates on Highland, 2827 Highland Ave S, Birmingham. 205-323-5961. PilatesOn Highland.com. Introduction to Pilates Equipment – 5:30pm. Become familiar with the equipment used in the Pilates method, including Reformer, Tower, and Chair. $30. Register online. Pilates on Highland, 2827 Highland Ave S, Birmingham. 205-323-5961. PilatesOnHighland.com.
Chess Club – 6-7:30pm every Monday through April 30. Get a lesson from a chess coach and try your skills against other players. Ages 7 and up. No registration required. Emmet O’Neal Library (Mountain Brook), 50 Oak Street, Mountain Brook. 205-879-0497. Crunk Fitness – 6-7pm. A fun, high-energy, hip-hop dance workout for all levels. It involves a combination of basic aerobics movements and funky hip-hop dance moves, broken down so anyone can do it. Free. Please arrive 15 minutes early to register. You will be required to sign-in each time you participate in this class. Railroad Park, 17th Street Section B, 1600 1st Ave S, Birmingham. 205-521-9933. The Magic City Toastmasters Club – 6:15pm. Trinity Medical Center, 800 Montclair Rd, the 820 Professional Building (Nursing School). ZSupport@ TheToastMastersTornado.com. Meditation – 6:30pm. Twin Hearts meditation classes held every Monday. Free admission. Unity of Birmingham, 2803 Highland Ave. 205-908-2007. UnityBham.com. Circle of Champions Toastmasters Club –6:307:30pm, first and third Monday of each month (except holidays). Abundant Life Church, 1625 Kent Dairy Road, Alabaster. 205-218-8136. RCooperdtm@yahoo.com. BAO Bingo – 6pm, doors open; 7pm game starts. First Monday of each month. Cost to play is $15 for five games plus $1 for the bonus game and $1 for an ink dauber. You must be 19 to enter. Birmingham AIDS Outreach, 205, 32nd St S. BirminghamAID SOutreach.org. Board Games – The J. Simpkins Gallery hosts Classic Monday each Monday after work, featuring classic board games, classic movies, and refreshments. 1608 Floyd Bradford Rd, Trussville. Admission $5. 205-957-5448. Afro Aerobics (African Dance Fused with Aerobics) 6:30-7:30pm. A low impact/high energy workout designed to bring wholeness to the body, improve your fitness level, and cardiovascular system. If you want a great way to get in shape then this is the class for you. $8 per class. Bethesda Family Life Center, 1721 Dennison Ave, Birmingham. 205-218-2381. Irish Dance – 7-8:30pm. Irish set dance classes for adults and mature teens. Beginners welcome. $5. Children’s Dance Foundation, 1715 27th Court South, Homewood. 205-678-8569. Meditation – 7pm. Birmingham Shambhala Meditation Center, 714 37th Street South. Free admission. 205-595-1688. Birmingham-ShambhalaMeditation.org. Swing Dance – 7pm lessons, 8-10pm social dancing. The Birmingham Lindy Dancers Association hosts “Just Gotta Swing.” $5-$7. Bella Prima Dance Studio, 3712 Lorna Rd, Birmingham.704-533-5017. JustGottaSwing.com.
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tuesday Alzheimer’s of Central Alabama (ACA) – Support group meeting for individuals and/or families on the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month. ACA office, call for time and details. 205-871-7970. Alzca.org. Pilates Reformer Duet/Trio – 8am with Genevieve Ward and 5:45pm with Virginia Rives. Blissful Heights Integrative Healing, 3100 Independence Dr, Homewood. 205-639-1062. BlissfulHeights.com. Tuesday Tours of AWS – 9-10am, Tuesdays through May 31. Take a tour of Alabama Waldorf School and get a glimpse into the joyful learning experience of the Waldorf student. Alabama Waldorf School, 1220 50th St S, Birmingham. Yoga for the Back and Fibromyalgia – 9-9:45am. Iron Beach Gym, 1729 Crestwood Blvd, Irondale. Call or email Laura Thornton at 205-854-5683, YogaByLaura@att.net for current schedule and information. Beginning Yoga – 10-11am. Iron Beach Gym, 1729 Crestwood Blvd, Irondale. Call or email Laura Thornton at 205-854-5683, YogaByLaura@att.net for current schedule and information. Network Birmingham – 11:30am, first Tuesday of each month. Network Birmingham promotes communication among career-oriented women. Each meeting includes networking time, a businessrelated educational program, a full lunch, announcements, and door prizes. Harbert Center, 2019 4th Ave N, Birmingham. NetworkBham.net. Hatha Yoga Class – 4:30-5:30pm. The Integral Yoga approach is taught in an easeful, highly meditative manner. The student is guided to a deep level of physical and mental well-being, vitality, and relaxation, promoting flexibility, strength, and health for the entire system. Beginners always welcomed. $5.00 per class. pH Balanced Fitness, 3325 Rocky Ridge Plaza, Birmingham. 205-936-0820. pHBalancedFitness.com. VA Voices Toastmasters – 5-6pm. Birmingham VA Medical Center, Third Floor, 700 19th St S, Birmingham. PGresh@uab.edu. Zumba Dance Calorie Burn-Off Sessions – 5:30pm. Zumba is a Latin inspired dance/fitness class where you can easily have fun and burn 500-1000 calories per session. Ages 12-84+ have attended. No dance experience needed. $5 per class. Homewood Community Center, 1632 Oxmoor Rd, Homewood. Pilates Boot Camp – 5:30pm. A great mix of cardio and core strengthening interval training. $18. Register at PilatesonHighland.com. Pilates on Highland, 2827 Highland Ave S, Birmingham. 205-323-5961. Yoga for Beginners 6-Weeks Series – 5:30-7pm. A 6-class series beginning March 20. Instructor Adrianne Morrison. This series introduces the foundations of Hatha yoga with hands-on, “how-to” guidance. Traditional yoga poses and breathing exercises
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will be explored. Great for first timers, those finding their way back to yoga, or more experienced practitioners looking to reconnect with foundations of the discipline. Requires pre-registration. Villager Yoga, 3150 Overton Rd, Birmingham. VillagerYoga.com. The BE FIT Group Experience – 6-7pm. By using just your body weight, this workout routine will help tone muscles, build endurance, and boost metabolism. Free. Please arrive 15 minutes early to register. You will be required to sign-in each time you participate in this class. The Hillside at Railroad Park, 1600 1st Ave S, Birmingham. 205-521-9933. 21 Essential Lessons of Life – 6-7:30pm. Study group seeking answers to the basic questions of life. Facilitated by Pat Hahn, 205-337-6426. Unity of Birmingham, 2803 Highland Ave, Birmingham. 205-251-3713. UnityBham.com Sidewalk Salon: E.M.P.A.C.T Alabama – 6pm. Sidewalk Salon’s are free networking and educational events for filmmakers and film buffs. March’s Salon will feature Bobby Jon Drinkard, of AIDT, who will speak about the State’s new Entertainment, Media, Production & Crew Training (EMPACT) Program. First Tuesday of each month in the sideroom at Rojo, 2921 Highland Ave S, Birmingham. 205-324-0888. The Vulcan Hash House Harriers – 6:15pm. Weekly run. Affectionately known as “A Drinking Club with a Running problem,” Vulcan H3 is a non-competitive running group for people of every athletic ability. Starting at 6:15pm with a 3–5 mile trail somewhere around Birmingham concluding with general mischief and drinking. VulcanH3.com. Vestavia Toastmasters – 6-7pm, first and third Tuesday of each month. Vestavia Board of Education Building, 1204 Montgomery Hwy, Vestavia Hills. 205-937-4099. SpeakWithEase@gmail.com. Restorative Yoga – 6-7pm. Restorative Yoga focuses on relaxing the body in restful postures in order to bring the body’s response system back into equilibrium. $5.00 per class. Presented by India Henson Yoga at pH Balanced Fitness, 3325 Rocky Ridge Plaza, Birmingham. 205-936-0820. pHBalancedFitness.com. Hatha Yoga – 6:30-7:30pm. Trussville Civic Center, 5391 Trussville Clay Road, Trussville. Call or email Laura Thornton at 205-854-5683, YogaByLaura@ att.net for current schedule and information. Meditation – 7pm. Free. Birmingham Shambhala Meditation Center, 714 37th Street S. 205-595-1688. Birmingham-Shambhala-Meditation.org. Ballroom Dance – 7pm. Ballroom dance lessons in various dance styles. $3. No partner required. South Highland Presbyterian Church, 2035 Highland Ave S, Birmingham. 205-933-0790. HPCbhm.org. Cha-Cha Dance – 7-8pm. Beginner level cha-cha lessons. No partner required, all ages welcome. $3. South Highland Presbyterian Church fellowship hall, 2035 Highland Ave S, Birmingham. 205933-0790. The Society for Creative Anachronism – 7pm. A group dedicated to the sports, arts, and sciences of the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. Homewood
Senior Center, 816 Oak Grove Rd, Homewood. BaronyOfIronMountain.org. Course in Miracles – 7-8pm. New “Text Made Simple” Book Study with commentary provided by Pathways of Light (PathWaysOfLight.org). For more info contact Angela Julian, Facilitator at AcimJulian@blogspot.com or 205-370-5721. Unity of Birmingham, 2803 Highland Avenue, Birmingham. UnityBham.com. Folk Dance Classes – 7:30-9pm. Open to all. No experience necessary. $2. Levite Jewish Community Center, 3960 Montclair Road, Birmingham. 205-956-1735. Alabama Orchid Society Monthly Meetings –7:15pm. The Alabama Orchid Society welcomes all visitors and extends an invitation to attend monthly meetings which are held at Birmingham Botanical Gardens (Hodges Room) every fourth Tuesday of each month at 7:15pm. Birmingham Botanical Gardens, 2612 Lane Park Rd, Birmingham. 205933-8688.
wednesday French Conversation: Daniel Rabourdin hosts an informal French speaking group the first and third Wednesday of each month at Barnes & Noble at the Summit. 205-370-3542. DRabourdin@ewtn.com. Pilates Reformer Duet/Trio –6am, 7:45am, and 4:30pm classes with Genevieve Ward; 6pm class with Virginia Rives. Blissful Heights Integrative Healing, 3100 Independence Dr, Homewood. 205639-1062. BlissfulHeights.com. Hatha Yoga Class – 9:30-10:30am. The Integral Yoga approach is taught in an easeful, highly meditative manner. Beginners always welcomed. $5.00 per class. Presented by India Henson Yoga at pH Balanced Fitness, 3325 Rocky Ridge Plaza, Birmingham. 205-936-0820. pHBalancedFitness.com. Lupus Outreach Group – 10am, second Wednesday of each month. Homewood Public Library, Room 116, 1721 Oxmoor Rd, Birmingham. Kala485@yahoo.com. Chair Yoga Class – 10:45-11:45am. Chair (Seated) Yoga brings the health benefits and experience of yoga to people who are uncomfortable moving up and down from the floor or whose physical condition keeps them from a traditional yoga practice. $5.00 per class. Presented by India Henson Yoga at pH Balanced Fitness, 3325 Rocky Ridge Plaza, Birmingham. 205-936-0820. pHBalancedFitness.com. Noon Prayer Service – 12-12:30pm. For a midweek spiritual boost, come to the Wednesday weekly noon prayer service and meditation service at Unity of Birmingham, 2803 Highland Ave, Birmingham. 205-251-3713. UnityBham.com Farm Stands on the Railroad – 4-6pm. Birmingham community gardens and urban farms will be selling fresh produce each week from April through October. Community gardens and urban farms that will be featured throughout the season include: Jones
Valley Urban Farm, Rosedale Community Garden, PEER/East Lake Farmer’s Market, West End Community Garden. Railroad Park, 17th St Plaza, 1600 1st Ave S, Birmingham. 205-458-2168. Chair Yoga Class – 4:30-5:30pm. Chair (Seated) Yoga presented by India Henson Yoga at Urban Ministry, 1229 Cotton Ave, SW, Birmingham. Disc Golf Birmingham 2012 Spring League – 5:30pm, March 21-May 9 on Wednesday evenings. George Ward Park. Tee Time 5:30 sharp. (Please be on-site with your bag tag turned in no later than 5:20 for the players’ meeting.) More info at Disc GolfBirmingham.com. Pilates Mat – 5:30pm. A series of floor-work exercises emphasizing core strength, breath control, flowing movement, the development of long, lean muscles and a decompressed spine. $15. No reservation needed. Pilates on Highland, 2827 Highland Ave S, Birmingham. 205-323-5961. PilatesOn Highland.com. Martial Arts – 5-6pm. Books, Beans & Candles Metaphysical Shoppe, 1620 Richard Arrington Jr. Blvd, Birmingham. 205-453-4636. MHagood@ gmail.com. BookBeanCandle.com. Belly Dancing – 6-7pm. Meeting room. Books, Beans & Candles Metaphysical Shoppe, 1620 Richard Arrington Jr. Blvd, Birmingham. 205-453-4636. MHagood@gmail.com. BookBeanCandle.com. Zumba at Railroad Park – 6-7pm. A Latin inspired dance fitness class that blends easy Latin dance moves with aerobic steps. Free. Please arrive 15 minutes early to register. You will be required to sign-in each time you participate in this class. Railroad Park, 17th Street Section B, 1600 1st Ave S, Birmingham. 205-521-9933.
thursday
white balance and much more. Ages 12-17. A new class begins the first Thursday of each month. Call today to sign up. Instructor: Paris Farzad. Shelby County Arts Council Gallery, 104 Mildred St, Columbiana. 205-669-0044. Hatha Yoga Class – 4:30-5:30pm and 6-7pm. Beginners always welcomed. $5.00 per class. Presented by India Henson Yoga at pH Balanced Fitness, 3325 Rocky Ridge Plaza, Birmingham. 205-936-0820. pHBalancedFitness.com. Pilates Beginner Mat – 5:30pm. A series of floorwork exercises emphasizing core strength, breath control, flowing movement, the development of long, lean muscles and a decompressed spine. $15. No reservation needed. Pilates on Highland, 2827 Highland Ave S, Birmingham. 205-323-5961. PilatesOnHighland.com. CLICK! Basic Digital Photography for Adults 6-8:30pm. Students will learn about how camera functions, how to create a correct exposure, how to get the best quality megapixels and how to change white balance and much more. Ages 18+. A new class begins the first Thursday of each month. Call today to sign up. Instructor: Paris Farzad. Shelby County Arts Council Gallery, 104 Mildred St, Columbiana. 205-669-0044. Yoga at Railroad Park – 6-7pm. For the beginning as well as advanced student. Free. Please arrive 15 minutes early to register. You will be required to sign-in each time you participate in this class. The Meadow at Railroad Park, 1600 1st Ave S, Birmingham. 205-521-9933.
Genealogy Workshop – 9am-12pm. This workshop will give you the basics on finding that elusive great-great grandpa so you can take him with you to your next family reunion. Pleasant Grove Public Library, 501 Park Rd, Pleasant Grove.
Meditation – 7pm. Free. Birmingham Shambhala Meditation Center, 714 37th St S, Birmingham. 205595-1688. Birmingham-Shambhala-Meditation.org
CLICK! Basic Digital Photography for Youth – 4-5:30pm. Students will learn about how camera functions, how to create a correct exposure, how to get the best quality megapixels and how to change
Chair Yoga Class – 1:30-2:30pm. Chair Yoga is a wholesome alternative to traditional yoga classes offering the health benefits of yoga to those who may not be comfortable coming up and down from the floor or whose physical condition prohibits participation in a traditional class. Presented by India Henson Yoga at Villager Yoga, 3150 Overton Rd, Birmingham. 205-262-2012. VillagerYoga.com. Friday Night P.E. – 6-7pm. A mix of your favorite childhood games such as kickball, dodge ball, ultimate Frisbee, and musical chairs to help you burn calories and improve your health. Perfect for groups. Railroad Park, 17th Street Plaza Section B, 1600 1st Ave S, Birmingham. 205-521-9933. Bards & Brews: Birmingham Public Library Poetry Slam Series – 6:30-9pm, first Friday of each month. Live music and sign-up at 6:30; call time is 7pm. Check Bards & Brews on Facebook for updated schedule and location. Alabama Mineral and Lapidary Society – 6:308pm. Meets the 2nd Friday of each month (except June). Vestavia Hills Library, 1221 Montgomery Hwy, Vestavia Hills. LapidaryClub.com.
Hatha Yoga – 6:30-7:30pm. Trussville Civic Center, 5391 Trussville Clay Road Trussville. Call or email Laura Thornton at 205-854-5683, YogaByLaura@ att.net for current schedule and information. Core Barre – 7pm. This fun, fat-burning format of interval training quickly and safely reshapes the entire body. It is non-impact and targets all major muscle groups while improving posture. $18. Register online. Pilates on Highland, 2827 Highland Ave S, Birmingham. 205-323-5961. PilatesOnHighland.com.
Book Discussion Group – 10am-12pm, first Thursday of the month. Just ask at the Fiction Desk for a copy of the current month’s title. Refreshments are provided. Hoover Public Library, 200 Municipal Dr, Hoover. 205-444-7820.
Core Barre – 12pm. This fun, fat-burning format of interval training quickly and safely reshapes the entire body. It is non-impact and targets all major muscle groups while improving posture. $18. Register at PilatesOnHighland.com. Pilates on Highland, 2827 Highland Ave S, Birmingham. 205-323-5961.
The Vocalizers Toastmasters Club – 6:15pm, first and third Thursday of each month. Hoover Public Library, 200 Municipal Dr, Birmingham. 205-678-4599. Vocalizers.com.
Pilates Reformer Duet/Trio – 6am and 7am with Sheri Kristjansson; 4:30pm, Genevieve Ward. Blissful Heights Integrative Healing, 3100 Independence Dr, Homewood. 205-639-1062. BlissfulHeights.com.
Restorative Yoga – 9:30am. Blissful Heights Integrative Healing, 3100 Independence Dr, Homewood. 205-639-1062. BlissfulHeights.com.
friday
Science of Mind at UNITY – 7-8:30pm. Rev Cindy Shellum, licensed Minister of Religious Science with Centers for Spiritual Living, offers insight and practical application ideas to put transformative spiritual tools to work in your life and the world around you. Rev Cindy has been studying New Thought/Ancient Wisdom for almost 30 years. She is a skilled presenter and facilitator with a knack for clarifying even the biggest ideas, a desire to draw out the wisdom in the group, and a conviction that God loves a good laugh. Presented on a Love offering basis. Unity of Birmingham, 2803 Highland Ave. UnityBham.com.
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CODA – 6:30-7:30pm. Unity of Birmingham, 2803 Highland Ave. Jackpc@earthlink.net. Unity Bham.com.
communityresourceguide
saturday
Connecting you to the leaders in natural healthcare and green living in our community. To find out how you can be included in the Community Resource Guide, email Editor@AlabamaAwakenings.com to request our media kit.
Pepper Place Saturday Market – 7am-12pm, rain or shine. Visit our region’s farming families at the Pepper Place Saturday Market. They grow vegetables and flowers, bake breads and cookies, cakes and pies, tend the bees, and drive into the Lakeview District of Birmingham to sell the fruits of their labors. In addition to farmers, bakers and beekeepers you can enjoy local musicians on two stages while sipping a fresh cup of coffee or enjoying a light breakfast. There is a cooking demonstration at 9am every Saturday morning by Birmingham’s finest chefs. Pepper Place, 2829 2nd Avenue S, Birmingham. 205-313-4120. Zumba Dance Party – 9am. Zumba is a Latin inspired dance/fitness class where you can easily have fun and burn 500-1000 calories per session. Ages 12-84+ have attended. No dance experience needed. $5 per class. Homewood Community Center, 1632 Oxmoor Rd, Homewood. Changing Lives One Mind At A Time Community Chess Class – 10am-12pm. Free two hour Saturday chess class taught by Charles A. Smith of Magic City Chess U. Smith is the coach of the W. J. Christian state champion chess team, the Indian Springs Chess team, and has produced 11 individual state chess championships, as well as regional and national achievements. Birmingham Public Library Central Branch, 2100 Park Place, Birmingham. Pilates Reformer Duet/Trio –10:15am. Genevieve Ward. Blissful Heights Integrative Healing, 3100 Independence Dr, Homewood. 205-639-1062. BlissfulHeights.com. Belly Dance Classes – with Zivah Spahirah Troupe instructors. Meets every Saturday at Children’s Dance Foundation, 1715 27th Court South, Homewood. Ages 16 and up. 205-978-5121. ZivahSaphirah.com. Bagpipe Lessons – 9am. Heritage Pipes and Drums offers bagpipe and Scottish side drum lessons. Riverchase Church of Christ, 1868 Montgomery Hwy, Birmingham. 205-427-1756. HPD-Pipeband.org. Downtown Running Club – 10am. Weekly runs on Saturday mornings. Runners meet in front of Paramount Cafe at 200 20th Street North for a social 3 or 6 mile run through the neighborhood streets of downtown, rain or shine. The club is free and open to runners of all speeds. For more info contact Brian Johnson at BemJohnson@gmail.com or search “Downtown Running Club” on Facebook. Meet in front of Paramount Cafe, 200 20th St N, Birmingham. 617-947-0692. Dancing for Birth classes – 11am-12pm. Villager Yoga, 3150 Overton Rd, Birmingham. Email Kaleigh at Kaleigher@gmail.com to get a coupon for a free trial class and for more information. The Birmingham Genealogical Society – 2pm, fourth Saturday of each month (except November and December). Arrington Auditorium, Linn-Henley Building, Birmingham Public Library. 205-226-3665. BirminghamGenealogy.org.
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CHIROPRACTIC
HOMEOPATHY CONSULTANT
CHIROPRACTOR & HERBALIST
JOAN SCOTT LOWE
Dr. Jeanne R. Chabot 2116 Rocky Ridge Road Hoover, AL 35216 205-822-2177 ChabotChiropractic.com
Homeopathic Consultant 1901 Richard Arrington Jr. Blvd. South Birmingham, AL 35209 205-939-0071 Joan@HomeopathyBeWell.com HomeopathyForWellness.com
35 years of chiropractic experience, certified herbalist, Reiki Master, Dr. Chabot provides physiological therapeutics, conventional Chiropractic adjustments, as well as gentle adjustments, according to your preference and need, private treatment rooms. Available at the clinic: massage, hypnotherapy, energy work, meditation classes, personal trainer. Most insurance accepted.
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 ENERGY HEALING 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 Reiki Certification Program, Energy Medicine, Vinyasa Krama Yoga. Crystal, Color & Light Therapy. Private sessions, classes and workshops.Walk-in Reiki Clinic.
LORRI HELLER, C.HT. 205-862-6888 Birmingham-hypnosis.com Irondale and Pelham locations Providing personalized sessions in hypnotherapy in addition to utilizing other proven methods such as NLP and EFT. You can lose weight, stop smoking and eliminate other bad habits. You can eliminate stress, fears, phobias and limiting beliefs that interfere with your being able to self-motivate and Achieve Your Goals!
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