April 2014

H E A L T H Y

L I V I N G

H E A L T H Y

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Special Edition:

GREEN LIVING Backyard Wildlife Habitats Healthy Homemade Cleaners Escaping Electromagnetic Harm April 2014

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contents 8

5 newsbriefs 8 healthbriefs 10 ecotip 1 1 business spotlight

16 healingways 18 greenliving

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20 consciouseating 22 fitbody 24 healthykids

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26 calendar 27 classifieds 30 resourceguide

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

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

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

Content limited to special events and other announcements.

No advertorials, please.

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

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

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

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.

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RESTORE AND MAINTAIN YOUR BEAUTY, HEALTH AND WELLNESS

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by Kerri Stowers of Preserve Face & Body

12 LIVE GREEN, SAVE BIG Five Eco-Friendly Life Decisions that Can Actually Save Money

by Crissy Trask

15 MAGNESIUM:

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Are You Getting Enough?

by Steve Dupont

16 GOOD RIDDANCE TO BAD VIBES

Escaping Electromagnetic Exposure

by Priscilla Goudreau-Santos

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18 HOMEMADE

ECO-CLEANERS

DIY Recipes Keep Your Home Naturally Clean

by Lane Vail

20 CULINARY

MUSHROOM MAGIC Delicate Powerhouses of Nutrition and Medicine

by Case Adams

22 QI WHIZ

24

Qigong Steps Up Vitality and Serenity

by Meredith Montgomery

24 BACKYARD BIRDS

AND BUTTERFLIES

Native Habitats Draw Critters and Delight Kids

by Avery Mack

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April 2014

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letterfrompublisher

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

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

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

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

We welcome your ideas, articles and feedback.

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

I carefully approached the tree, mentally reviewing the instructions. I sometimes struggle with visualizations, so when I run across a guided meditation that contains very concrete imagery that comes easily to my mind, I am often eager to try it.

This one involved the most energetically effective way to hug a tree. First, you have to select the right tree and ask for its permission to hug it.

“If you wish to work with a physical tree it is important to ask your soul and guides to lead you to the most appropriate tree.

Then consciously connect with the tree sending love from your heart and asking if the tree wishes to work with you. If you gain a positive answer then you can enter into the aura of the tree and place your hands upon its trunk.”

(Pretty much the same protocol for hugging humans, too!)

I already had my tree identified, a poplar in the furthest part of our back yard behind our shed. It was actually the only tree on my list because of its semiremote location, as I didn’t want anybody in the neighborhood to see me hugging a tree. Yet, I was supposed to ask the tree if it was the right one. I wasn’t sure at all about that part. I didn’t trust that I had enough psychic ability to receive a clear answer in response from the tree.

And yet, I tried it. I stopped a few feet away from the tree, and mentally asked if I could approach. What happened then surprised me. I felt a very tangible wave of uplifting, electric energy coursing over my whole body, causing my heart to swell full. I took that as a yes and stepped up to the tree. Next, the visualizations: “Allow yourself to become aware of the spiraling light within the tree and send your love up through the center of the spiraling light. Imagine that your flow of love flows upwards through the spiral to connect with the Creator.”

I allowed this imagery to play across in my mind. It was all very clear, and came easily, both visually and emotionally. I meditated on these thoughts and feelings for several minutes. I felt a beautiful, upswelling flow. Then, the fireworks finale: “Imagine the trees of the world all reaching their spiraling energy to connect with the Creator and then the light of the Creator showering down upon each tree, quickening the speed of the spiraling light and therefore enhancing the vibration of light that they hold.”

Wow! As I held that vision of the up-spiraling light meeting the downward shower of energy, my whole body convulsed as if electrified, and I had to hold on to the tree just to stay on my feet. This energetic avalanche went on for what seemed like minutes before I dropped my hands and stepped back, bedazzled.

My heart was soaring, my whole being uplifted. And there the tree stood, beaming back at me. Amazing.

Natural Awakenings is printed on recycled newsprint with soybased ink.

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newsbriefs Reiki Circles

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new monthly gathering for Reiki is being held at Natural Forces Studio. Terri A. Heiman, founder of Natural Forces, says these circles will offer the public an opportunity to experience the energy of Reiki in a peaceful and calm environment. Reiki is a natural system of healing that works on all levels of the body: emotional, mental, physical and spiritual.

The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (Nccam.nih.gov) recognizes Reiki as part of complementary and alternative medicine and places it within a domain (area of knowledge) called Energy Medicine. In this domain, therapies are based on the belief that disturbances in energy cause illness.

Terri A. Heiman Energy medicine practitioners seek to improve the flow and balance of energy in a beneficial way.

The circle also encourages those learning the modality to come in to practice their skills. It’s a great chance to gather experience as well as help others experience the many wonderful effects the modality has to offer.

The circles will be held monthly on the last Wednesday of the month with the first one starting Wednesday, April 30 from 6-7:15pm. The cost for the circle is $15. No experience is necessary to join in the group.

News to Share?

Do you have a special event in the community?

Are you opening a new office or moving?

Recently become certified in a new modality?

Let us know about it!

For more information, contact Terri Ann Heiman at 516-457-3885 or go to NaturalForcesStudio.com. See listing, page 30.

Amedisys Hospice Celebrates Volunteers

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uring the week of April 6-13, Amedisys Hospice of Homewood is celebrating and recognizing a wonderful group of dedicated volunteers who are a special and intricate part of our hospice team. Our volunteers are a group of people who have a desire to make a difference in the daily lives of the terminally ill. They also support the caregivers during this difficult time.

Jim Johnson has been volunteering since 2004 and provides professional massage therapy for patients as well as their caregivers.

David Rogers has a heart of compassion that not only helps the patients but their caregivers as well.

The brothers of Lambda Chi Alpha of UAB provide lawn care for our patients.

Jean Nix Fain enjoys visiting and leading a Bible Studies in facilities.

Debbie Simpkins has a love for helping people and provides meals.

Mike Goins visits patients and was recently involved in an extraordinary day with our Chaplain Curtis Calfee that was a surprise for one of our patients.

He is a car enthusiast and because of his illness was unable to be involved in the activities he loved so dearly. A chapter of the Corvette Club came out to his home and brought cars to display for him and made him an honorary member of their chapter.

Lacey Dennis enjoys visiting and listening to patients stories.

Carol Madden has been a faithful volunteer since 2012.

For information on becoming a hospice volunteer, contact Diane Rogers at 205-868-9221 or Diane.Rogers3@amedisys.com.

News Briefs We welcome news items relevant to the subject matter of our magazine. We also welcome any suggestions you may have for a news item.

Call 256-340-1122 for additional information, or email Editor@ AlabamaAwakenings.com

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April 2014

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newsbriefs Nutrition Columnist Now Taking Your Questions

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ow much protein should I be eating? Is my multivitamin a waste of money? What’s the FODMAP diet? Is coconut oil healthy?

Steve Dupont, RD, LD, monthly contributor of “Cutting Through the Nutrition Nonsense” is encouraging Natural Awakenings readers to submit Steve Dupont questions such as these to be answered in future columns. Subject matter may range across the nutrition spectrum, including but not limited to: diets, weight loss, disease management, cooking, eating out and dietary supplements.

You may submit your question to Steve directly at steve@ stevedupont.com.

Healing with the Angels

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ave you ever wondered how Angels can assist you in everyday life? The miracles of angels have been with us since the dawn of time. There are messengers from Spirit. This topic will be explored in a weekend workshop at Natural Forces Studio. The energy and miracles of working in the angelic realm will be offered through two classes in Integrated Energy Therapy. IET is a system of healing that works with the angelic realm and helps to remove emotional issues right out of the tissues.

Unconsciously, we store emotional issues in the body that can negatively affect our life. In this class, you will learn simple yet powerful techniques to clear the cellular memory of the first two pairs of our DNA structure by learning nine sets of integration points. These points allow you to energize, integrate and clear these memory areas. Once these blocks are cleared, you will learn empowerment imprints that fill the cellular memory with the opposite of what you cleared.

For example, you will learn to clear the energy of guilt and imprint the energy of innocence. Clear out old fears and imprint joy and happiness into your life!

This two-part workshop is April 12-13. The first day begins with learning about the nine angels we call on and establishing heart links to the world angel grid. The second day continues with learning nine sets of integration points and attuning to the energy of the angelic realm. Take one or both.

For more information, contact Terri Ann Heiman at 516-4573885 or go to Workshops on NaturalForcesStudio.com and click on workshop link to register. See listing, page 30.

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Birmingham, AL

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History and Benefits of Biofeedback at the Homewood Library

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ary Jeanette Clements, Ph.D., JD/ MSW will present a free community educational class on the History and Benefits of Biofeedback on April 29 from 6-7pm at the Homewood Library.

Biofeedback has been scientifically Mary Jeanette proven to re-educate and train the body Clements to alter one’s blood pressure, heart rate, brain activity and other critical functions. It has a proven track record of having postive effects on emotional and physical well being. Biofeedback does not diagnosis specific diseases but can detect the abnormality of electrical frequencies associated with a particular disease organ or disease state.

Dr. Clements’ mission is to reduce emotional pain so that one can experience joy bliss, fulfillment, peace, love, abundance, and to teach one how to cultivate emotions that work to validate and support well being.

The class will be held at the Homewood Library located at 1721 Oxmoor Rd, Homewood, AL 35209 in Room 116.

Reservations are required, seating is limited.

To RSVP call 615-559-5272. For more information visit TrueEmotionalWellness.com. See listing, page 30.

Exploring the Toxic Burden

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he award-winning documentary film “Unacceptable Levels” examines chemical exposure in daily life as told through filmmaker Ed Brown, a father seeking to understand the world in which he and his wife are raising their children. From the chemical revolution of the 1940s through today’s prevalence in industrial and consumer products, the documentary seeks to impart greater understanding and knowledge of the proliferation and compounding effects of commonly used chemicals, to engage questioning around the potential human risk and to propose ideas on what can be done about it.

The film is anchored in Brown’s own poignant experiences and follows a personal journey purposed in better understanding the impact of chemicals on his family.

“Unacceptable Levels” will be screening at 6:30pm, Thursday, April 3, at Carmike Patton Creek 15 in Hoover. The screening is open to the public, and tickets are priced at $12, available at Tugg.com/events/8159. No tickets will be sold at the theater.

The film’s official website, UnacceptableLevels.com, has trailers, reviews and more information. See ad, page 25.

Functional Medicine: a different approach to get you

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205-655-2110

Most Insurances Accepted

159 Main St. Trussville, AL 35173 BirminghamIntegrativeHealth.com

ONGOING WEEKLY CALENDAR Sundays 9:45am

Reverend Charles and Reverend Christine Perry Bookstore & Church

Tuesdays 6pm

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

Chaplain Prayer Line 205-251-4365

APRIL SERVICE SCHEDULE

Silent Unity

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

Unity of Birmingham

If you are ready to learn and practice the principles of true prosperity, this workshop will answer your questions and inspire you to act. Edwene Gaines has made 100% commitment to the transformation of the abundance consciousness of Planet Earth. She shares with humor and joy the four spiritual principles of prosperity...

24 hrs Prayer Available 1-800-NOW-PRAY

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

Conversations with God for Teens, Artie’s Place 10am Adult Sunday School 10:45am Youth Ministry in Artie’s Place 11am Sunday Service in the Sanctuary 5pm “Course in Miracles,” Main Lobby “Creative Process: Living Truth Principles for a Joyous Life”

Wednesdays

Noon Prayer Service

Fridays

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

Finding your Divine Purpose Forgiveness and Worthiness Tithing and Giving Setting Clearcut Goals

natural awakenings

April 2014

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healthbriefs

Home Renovations Aggravate Childhood Asthma

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ew research suggests that renovation planning should involve more than just picking the right colors and styles; doing it right may help prevent childhood respiratory conditions. Researchers from St. Louis University, in Missouri, linked home renovations with increased wheezing, asthma and chronic coughing among children living in the home. The study, published in the American Journal of Public Health, followed 31,049 children between the ages of 2 and 14 years old from seven Chinese cities over a two-year period.

Previous research has also reached a similar conclusion, identifying some specific materials responsible for increased childhood respiratory disorders. A Russian study of 5,951 children ages 8 to 12 found that increased asthma and wheezing were related to recently completed painting, as well as the installation of new linoleum flooring, synthetic carpets, particleboard and wall coverings.

That study, published in the same journal states, “Exposure levels are the highest during and shortly after painting, but low levels of exposure may remain for several months. Wooden furniture, as well as painted or varnished and new furniture, is likely to emit chemical substances.”

A 2002 study of New York children published in the Journal of Urban Health found similar results.

Healing Waters Ventilation and Cleaning Hinder Indoor Pollutants

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

720 23rd Street South Birmingham, AL 35233

205-323-7582

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

MoreThanColonics.com 8

Birmingham, AL

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roperly ventilating and frequently cleaning our homes and offices are both important to our health, concludes a new European study published in the Journal of Environmental Science and Health. Researchers analyzed bacterial and fungal counts and suspended particulate matter in indoor air samples of 40 homes and offices. They determined that 45 percent had indoor pollution levels greater than that recommended by the current European Concerted Action Report on air quality standards.

An analysis of a Canadian government Health Measures Survey discovered 47 different indoor volatile organic compounds (VOC) among more than half of the 3,857 households surveyed throughout Canada. Most of the VOCs identified there have also been present in separate European and U.S. studies.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), VOCs are carbon chemical compounds that can evaporate under normal indoor atmospheric conditions. The concern with indoor VOCs is their potential to react with indoor ozone to produce harmful byproducts that may be associated with adverse health effects in sensitive populations.

Benzene, trichloroethylene, tetrachloroethylene and xylene top the list of common VOCs inside U.S. households, according to an EPA report. Typical sources comprise common household chemicals, furnishings and décor, as well as indoor activities such as unventilated cooking, heating and smoking.

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Olive Leaf Outperforms Diabetes Drug

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live leaf may provide nature’s answer to diabetes treatment.

A recent study from the University of Auckland, in New Zealand, suggests that olive leaf extract can help reduce insulin resistance and increase insulin production by beta cells in the pancreas.

The researchers tested 46 middle-aged, obese adults at risk for developing metabolic syndrome-related Type 2 diabetes. In the double-blind, placebo-controlled study, olive leaf extract outperformed the diabetes drug metformin and “significantly improved insulin sensitivity and pancreatic beta-cell secretory capacity,” according to the researchers. Insulin helps escort glucose into the body’s cells.

Supplements Could Save $70 Billion in Medical Costs

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n a Frost & Sullivan study report authored by Christopher Shanahan and Robert de Lorimier, Ph.D., the use of dietary supplements, including B vitamins, phytosterols and dietary fiber, could reduce the cost of treating coronary artery disease in the U.S. by nearly $50 billion over the next seven years. In addition, healthcare costs related to diabetes, vision problems and osteoporosis could be reduced by nearly $20 billion collectively with the use of certain supplements.

The projections were based on cost-benefit analysis comparing a series of scenarios to assess the effect on overall disease management costs if an identified high-risk population were to avoid costly medical events by increasing their intake of dietary supplements purchased out-of-pocket versus no supplement usage.

“The healthcare system spends a tremendous amount of money treating chronic disease, but has failed to focus on ways to reduce those costs through prevention,” says Steve Mister, president of the Council for Responsible Nutrition Foundation. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, only 3 percent of U.S. healthcare costs are spent on the prevention of chronic diseases.

Air Conditioning Cleans Up Indoor Air

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ir conditioning does more than keep us cool. A study of 300 adults and homes concludes that central air conditioning removes significant levels of volatile organic compounds and pollution particulates from indoor air.

The research, published in the journal Science of the Total Environment, finds that using air conditioning with windows closed reduced indoor air pollution the most. One caveat, however, is that the research was conducted in Taipei, China—notable for its extreme outdoor pollution.

Another recent study published in Environmental Science confirms the general premise. A research team in Zhejiang, China, found that air conditioning reduced the presence of potent atmospheric pollutants known as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAC) by 23 percent. PACs contain compounds that are carcinogenic, mutagenic and teratogenic (damaging to fetuses).

New Natural Supplements for Weight Management and Thyroid

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n the mid1990s, I started having health concerns,” relates Nick A. Jerch, founder and president of Bell Lifestyle Products, of South Haven, Michigan, and Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. “I found that natural products supported my health and enhanced my life.” Eighteen years later his herbal nutrition and supplement company helps others access such natural products through more than 7,000 nutrition stores and pharmacies in North America.

One of its latest supplements, Shape and Health, is intended to support and enhance weight management by rejuvenating metabolism, supporting thyroid health, improving carbohydrate assimilation and easing a transition to better eating habits. Ingredients include chromium picolinate, potassium and vitamin B12, as well as extracts of black tang, guarana, kelp and wakame.

A new antioxidant-rich Thyroid Support formula aims to support efficient thyroid function and keep the metabolism in top condition. The supplement also may help improve the condition of hair, skin and nails.

It incorporates these botanicals: black tang, ashwagandha, forskohlii, guggul, and the minerals zinc, selenium, copper and iodine. The formulation also includes the amino acid L-tyrosine.

For more information, call 800-3337995 or visit BellLifestyleProducts.com.

See ad, page 2.

Note: Product claims have not been evaluated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

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Ruffner Mountain Nature Preserves invites you to join us in April for these and other events.

Heirloom Home

An Evenin’ of Good Eaton

A Fresh Look at Furnishings that Last

April 4th 5:30 pm Courtesy of CeeMe Productions

Meet the artists and donors that make Art on R Mountain possible while listening to Alabama Jazz & Music Halls of Fame artist Cleve Eaton. Hosted by the East Lake Arts District and sponsored by Burr Forman tickets are $25 in advance and $30 at the door.

East

Lake Arts District’s

Art on R Mountain April 5th 9am - 5pm This event is free to the public. Parking is available at East Lake United Methodist Church with free shuttle to the mountain provided by Yellow Cab of Greater Birmingham.

Back Forty Beer Presents Beer on the Back Porch April 18th 6 pm There is no better way to start your weekend than with delicious food, cold drinks, and live music. $25 gets you dinner and three drink tokens. Fun for all ages.

1214 81st Street South, Birmingham, AL 35206

Birmingham, AL

April 18

The Bill Ledbetter Project

Ruffner Mountain Nature Preserve (RMNP) is a 1,036 acre urban nature preserve nestled in Birmingham, Alabama. Our goals are preservation, conservation, education, and recreation. We seek to preserve the natural environment of Ruffner Mountain, conserve local biodiversity, educate our community about the natural environment, and provide community recreational spaces in touch with that environment.

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ecotip

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Why not expand on the spring tradition of home cleaning by appraising existing home furnishings and décor to see how rearrangements can freshen the whole presentation? Employing a few basic creative strategies will yield long-lasting beauty, cost savings, health benefits and utility, all adding up to enhanced sustainability.

Secondhand items readily spruce up interiors when they are thoughtfully selected. Look for gently used, newto-you items—ranging from furniture and lamps to accent pieces like pottery and wall art—at antique and thrift shops, yard and estate sales or via online forums such as CraigsList. com and Freecycle.org. Seeking out fair trade items helps support a fair wage for artisans around the world.

Plants enliven and beautify any space while cleaning indoor air, according to a recent study by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and Associated Landscape Contractors of America. Plants cited as especially effective in removing formaldehyde, benzene and carbon monoxide from the air include bamboo palm, Chinese evergreen, English ivy, gerbera (African) daisy, chrysanthemum and peace lily. Pot them in used jars or other repurposed containers to conserve materials and add character and more personality to home décor.

Overall balance is key. “An imbalanced room has large furniture grouped together at one end and lightweight furniture and bare walls at the other,” says professional designer Norma Lehmeier Hartie, author of Harmonious Environment: Beautify, Detoxify & Energize Your Life, Your Home & Your Planet. “The effect is like being on a tilting boat in a storm.”

Furniture arrangements are best when they allow light to flow through spaces with ample allowance for moving about the room. The ideal setup facilitates worktable projects and small-group conversations. Round tables help make everyone feel like they belong, according to green living expert Annie Bond.

Sustainable kitchen wares are often the classiest.

Sturdy pots, pans and kettles, like Le Creuset and Picquot Ware, may offer replacement parts and lifetime guarantees; Bialetti and Bodum coffee makers and Littala glassware are durable and long-lasting. While some may cost more upfront, their longevity saves money over time. Then there’s always grandma’s iron skillet.

Additional sources: GreenPages.org and GreenAmerica.org

businessspotlight

Restore and Maintain Your

Beauty, Health and Wellness P

reserve Face & Body is a spa studio with a holistic approach to beauty, health and wellness, nestled in the peaceful surroundings of Mountain Brook, AL. The owner, Kerri Stowers, personally caters to the needs of each guest, making every visit an unforgettable experience. Kerri is a Master Aesthetician, Certified Personal Trainer and Health Coach, as well as, a Therapeutic Essential Oils Educator and Practitioner. She specializes in treating individuals dealing with health concerns from autoimmune disorders to emotional/stress related issues. Additionally, Stowers is a graduate of Samford University with training in Counseling and Nutrition.

Let your cares fade away in the tranquility of soothing scents of lavender and soft music filling the air. The peaceful flow of positive energy will consume you as the mind, body and spirit transformation experience begins.

Preserve Face & Body is eager to take you to the next level of comprehensive wellness by tailoring services that

will exceed your expectations, making your experience the ultimate in relaxation and healing.

With many treatments to choose from, there is something for everyone. The use of Young Living Essential Oils is incorporated into each treatment.

Choose from a plethora of services from age-defying facials to Raindrop Technique body therapy. Lose yourself in total bliss by indulging in an hour-long lavender glow body treatment or sit back and relax while your hands and feet are given the royal Kerri Stowers treatment. For those interested in more health-focused treatments, Preserve Face & Body provides services in health and lifestyle coaching synergistically with data derived through ZYTO Technology, a system that assess energy patterns within the body via bio-communication.

Preserve Face & Body is prepared to take your stress away. Spend the day with us by being spoiled and healed from head to toe. So come relax, indulge and let your overall wellness journey begin today.

Location: Mountain Brook Office Park, 14 Office Park Cir, Suite 105A, Mountain Brook, AL. 205-547-0322. Preserve FaceBody.com. See ad, page 14.

the well-being of the body starts with the blood

nutritional blood analysis

April Specials

[the study of live blood] :

- Offers you a snapshot of your body’s internal performance - Helps detect potential, serious health problems - Aids in regaining overall mental & physical well-being TOXIC CELL ALERT! your appointment includes: - A (60) minute, in-depth blood analysis with report

ZYTO SCAN $25

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CALL NOW to find out what your blood has to say originofwellness.com (205) 538-2710 Alina Daryab | Certified Blood Analyst | Certified Iridologist CUSTOMIZED PACKAGES AND RATES AVAILABLE

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($50 value) or free with purchase of Premium Starter Kit and Distributor Membership.

Kerri Stowers 205-547-0322

natural awakenings

April 2014

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routine. You grow a strong bond with your home.”

Securing a much smaller dwelling than what we originally had designs on can lead to a lifetime of savings.

With less space to furnish, heat, cool, light, clean and maintain, we can enjoy greater financial freedom, less stress and more time for fun.

2. Deciding Where to Live

LIVE GREEN,

SAVE BIG Five Eco-Friendly Life Decisions that Can Actually Save Us Money

by Crissy Trask

E

very pivotal life decision, from choosing where we live to eating healthier, can support our best interests environmentally, as well. The good news is that it is possible to afford a sustainable way of life. Eco-friendly choices for housing, vehicles and food— generally perceived as expensive for the average individual or family—often are not only attainable when pursued in a thoughtful way, but can actually save us money compared to maintaining the status quo.

1. Buying a Home

When considering a move to a new place, we often find out how much house we can manage and then proceed to invest to the hilt. But if hitting our spending limit will leave a deficit in the amount of green and healthy home features and furnishings we can achieve, we could end up with a residence that makes neither financial nor 12

Birmingham, AL

ecological sense, and isn’t good for our health. A solution is to scale back on costly square footage. Spending 25 to 40 percent less than we think we can on a smaller home provides more possibilities when planning the renovation budget, enabling us to create a home that is more deeply satisfying.

Nicole Alvarez, an architectural designer with Ellen Cassilly Architect, in Durham, North Carolina, who blogs at IntentionallySmall.com, says that if we value quality over quantity, place over space and living more intentionally in every aspect of our lives, we are ready for a small home. Occupying less space has profoundly influenced her daily life and happiness.

Alvarez has found, “When space is limited, everything has a function and a purpose. Everything has to be intentional. Over time, as you grow in the home, you make small modifications to personalize it more to adjust to your

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Urban, suburban or rural, where we live incurs long-term repercussions on the natural environment. Choosing an established community within or close to an urban center tends to be more protective of air, water and land quality than living in a distant, car-dependent suburb, yet many families feel either drawn to or resigned to the suburbs for the lower housing prices.

But as Ilana Preuss, vice president at Washington, D.C.-based Smart Growth America, explains, “There is more to housing affordability than how much rent or mortgage we pay. Transportation costs are the second-biggest budget item for most families. In locations with access to few transportation choices, the combined cost of housing and transportation can be more than 60 percent of the total household budget.

For families with access to a range of transportation choices, the combined cost can be less than 40 percent.”

In most suburbs, where the only practical transportation choice is a personal vehicle, dependency on a car takes a toll on us financially and physically. Driving a personal vehicle 15,000 miles a year can cost about $9,122 annually in ownership and operating expenses, according to AAA’s 2013 Your Driving Costs report, and hours spent daily sitting behind the wheel being sedentary is eroding our health.

Lack of transportation options is a leading detriment to the nation’s collective wellness, according to the federal agency Healthy People.

Sustainable cities provide many transportation options, including public buses and trains, car-sharing services and all forms of ride sharing; and perhaps most importantly, they are bike- and pedestrian-friendly. Choosing communities that make it possible to reduce driving and even go car-free

price of $28,431, the category has been around long enough to create a market in previously owned vehicles. A used hybrid that is just two years old can cost up to 25 percent less than a new one.

4. Buying American Eco-friendly choices for housing, vehicles and food—generally perceived as expensive for the average individual or family—often are not only attainable when pursued in a thoughtful way, but can actually save us money compared to maintaining the status quo. much of the time can save us money, reduce stress and improve our health.

3. Choosing a Car

We know two primary facts about cars: They are expensive and those with internal combustion engines pollute during operation. Still, many of us need one.

Reducing the total impact and burden of owning a car can be as simple as prioritizing fuel efficiency. It helps that fuel-sippers now come in more sizes than just small, yet small subcompacts remain a good place to start our research because of their budget-friendly prices and high fuel economy.

A subcompact that averages 32 miles per gallon (mpg) and has a sticker price below $15,000 can save us so much money compared with a top-selling compact SUV—upwards of $16,000 over five years, according to Edmunds.com—that if we need a larger vehicle on occasion, we can more easily afford to rent one.

Hybrid electric vehicles (HEV), both small and midsized, can be an even better choice, averaging 41 mpg. Cost comparisons show that an HEV can save a heavily travelling city driver nearly $1,000 in fuel costs annually versus a comparably sized conventional gasolinepowered car. Although a 2014 midsized HEV has an average suggested retail

According to Consumer Reports, many shoppers prefer to buy products made in the USA, but with more than 60 percent of all consumer goods now produced overseas, finding American goods is not always easy.

The good news is that buying American doesn’t mean only buying American made. We back the U.S. economy and jobs when we purchase used items that have been renewed or repurposed by enterprising citizens. Creative reuse supports new and existing businesses that collect, clean, sort, recondition, refurbish, remanufacture, update, refinish, reupholster, repair, tailor, distribute and sell used parts, materials and finished goods.

Sarah Baird, director of outreach and communications of the Center for a New American Dream, an organization working to shift consumption away from wasteful trends, loves the history of used items. She says, “An item that has already lived one life has a story to tell, and is infinitely more interesting than anything newly manufactured.” Another reward is the big savings afforded by previously owned durable goods; not even America’s big-box discount retailers can beat these genuine bargains.

Of course, not everything is available in the used marketplace, but when it makes sense, we can proudly know that our purchases support American ingenuity and workers.

Green Housing Yields Social and Security Benefits ■ Large-home inhabitants may go all day without seeing one another and communication and togetherness can suffer. Family members living in small homes can more easily cultivate strong communications and cohesion.

■ Dense neighborhoods encourage interaction and cooperation among neighbors, nurturing a cohesive community that can reward us with social connections, collective responsibility and assistance when needed.

■ Urban homes give vandals and thieves fewer opportunities because neighbors are close by and passersby may be more readily noticed.

■ Small homes can encourage disconnecting from technology and getting outside. When the TV can be heard throughout the house, parents are more likely to urge outdoor playtime for kids.

■ The footprint of a small dwelling uses a fraction of the buildable lot, leaving more outdoor space for planting gardens that can nourish bodies and souls.

Source: GreenMatters.com

5. Getting Healthy

Going green is healthy in innumerable ways. In addition to driving less, banning toxic products from our household cupboards and dinner plates is another solid place to start on the road to improved well-being for ourselves and the planet.

Toxic consumer products pollute the planet, from manufacture through use and disposal. They aren’t doing us any favors. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency reports that the average human body now contains an estimated 700 industrial compounds, pollutants natural awakenings

April 2014

13

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The newest hybrids have been around for more than a decade, and the batteries have held up extremely well, lasting 150,000 to 200,000 miles in some cases. ~ CNN.com and other chemicals due to exposure to toxic consumer products and industrial chemicals. After researching proper local disposal of such hazards, replace them on future shopping forays with safer choices. It’s an investment in our health that can save untold pain and money and pay off big time in avoiding health problems ranging from cancer, asthma and chronic diseases to impaired fertility, birth defects and learning disabilities according to the Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families Coalition.

To reduce exposure to the toxins that are commonly sprayed on conventional crops, select sustainable and organic versions of foods to prepare at home whenever possible. Such choices help keep both our bodies and the environment healthy and can be surprisingly affordable compared with eating out and consuming prepackaged convenience foods.

By substituting whole foods for prepared foods, cooking more meals at home and practicing good eating habits—like eating less meat and downsizing portions—the average person can enjoy high-quality food for $7 to $11 per day. This matches or falls below what the average American daily spends on food, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Considering that diet-related diseases can cost afflicted families thousands of dollars a year, better food choices can make us not only healthier, but wealthier, too.

Crissy Trask is the author of Go Green, Spend Less, Live Better. Connect at CrissyTrask.com.

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Cutting Through the Nutrition Nonsense

by Steve Dupont, RD, LD

MAGNESIUM:

Are You Getting Enough?

M

agnesium is one of the most abundant, and most highly utilized, minerals in the human body, with most residing within the mineral structure of bone or within cells. It is also plays a critical role in metabolism, particularly energy production. In fact, magnesium serves as a cofactor in more than 300 enzymatic reactions, including every process related to ATP, our energy currency produced and spent at the cellular level.

Additionally, magnesium is closely related to the function of sodium and potassium as mediators of nervous action potentials—or the transmission of nerve signals. Low magnesium may induce low potassium in some cases, which may result in anything from impaired brain function to peripheral neuropathy (numbness, tingling, pain, lack of coordination and many other possible symptoms). Unfortunately, testing for magnesium status via blood samples is inherently problematic, due to the fact that only 0.5% (or less) of reserves are found in plasma.

In nature, magnesium is found in high concentrations within the structure of chlorophyll molecules, thus good sources of dietary magnesium include dark green leafy vegetables such as spinach, kale and swiss chard. Other reliable food sources include unrefined grains, nuts, seeds, beans, peas and potatoes. Magnesium content is also fairly high in certain types of fish, namely halibut, pollock, haddock and tuna.

The recommended dietary allowance (RDA) for magnesium currently stands at (For Men/For Women, amount in mg/day): Age 1-3: 80/80; Age 4-8: 130/130; Age 9-13: 240/240; Age 14-18: 410/360; Age 19-30: 400/310; Age 31+: 420/320. RDAs for pregnant women are slightly higher (National Institutes of Health, 2009).

As this shows, the magnesium needs of the human body generally increase with age. According to one authoritative study, older adults suffer from diminished absorption and increased excretion of magnesium, plus elderly persons generally consume less magnesium than younger adults, all of which puts them in a high-risk bracket for deficiency.

Early stages of magnesium deficiency are marked by general malaise (fatigue, weakness, poor appetite) as well as nausea and sometimes even vomiting. As the situation becomes more acute, various neuromuscular symptoms may be pre-

sented, including cramps, contractions, spasms and seizures, in addition to milder numbness and tingling sensations.

While severe magnesium deficiency is rare, several studies have alluded to widespread, subclinical magnesium deficiency in the United States and elsewhere. For example, one author indicates that a typical Western diet generally provides magnesium levels sufficient to mitigate deficiency symptoms, yet seems “not high enough to establish high normal serum magnesium concentrations that are protective against various diseases.”

Another team of researchers analyzed dietary recall data from 4,257 individuals before concluding that: “Substantial numbers of U.S. adults fail to consume adequate magnesium in their diets.” Specifically, they found that African Americans—and women more than men—consumed much less than the optimal amount of magnesium-rich foods, and they suggest this may partially explain certain health disparities seen in this racial group.

The pivotal question though, which remains to be answered in any conclusive way, is whether magnesium deficiency is a cause or effect. That is, do suboptimal levels of the mineral itself lead to disease? Or, is magnesium just one of a number of nutrients (others may include potassium, calcium, chromium and zinc) which are lacking as a result of poor diet in general? After all, the typical Western diet is low in fruits, vegetables and unrefined grains, yet high in simple carbohydrates, “bad” fats and sodium. One could argue this deadly trio is the primary driver of disease, not mineral deficiency.

Steve Dupont, RD, LD, is a registered dietitian and founder of Dupont Dietary Consulting LLC. A “true believer” in the power of nutrition, Steve is committed to serving those wishing to enjoy delicious food while reaping its health benefits.

Specialties include weight loss, energy balance, supplements, cooking and meal planning. 205213-7953. SteveDupont.com.

Email Steve your nutrition questions and have them answered in his future columns. natural awakenings

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15

healingways

Good Riddance to Bad Vibes

Escaping Electromagnetic Exposure

by Priscilla Goudreau-Santos

W

e crackle with energy.

Natural electromagnetic fields within us regulate how our bodies work. Plus, we continually encounter many outside energy fields from Wi-Fi, cell phones and towers, power lines, microwave ovens, computers, TVs, security devices and radar. A growing number of experts see these surrounding frequencies as an increasing danger to our well-being.

Applying modalities like acupuncture, Reiki, Touch for Health and Eden Energy Medicine can help us maintain a healthy energy balance internally.

They work to harmonize the body to protect against stress, trauma and associated illness.

Phyllis Traver, owner of Safe & Sound Home, in Boston, is certified by the International Institute of BuildingBiology & Ecology to detect, measure

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and counter in-home electromagnetic activity. “The institute usually finds that when a patient doesn’t respond to treatment by an energy healer, it’s because of the environment. I try to neutralize its effect to help the body regulate properly,” Traver says.

While protection in highly occupied family areas is important, providing protection in bedrooms is especially vital, due to the amount of time we spend there for rest and restoration.

Traver’s diagnoses sometimes suggest remediation measures that involve an electrician grounding currents and adding selective shielding materials to block frequencies flowing from electronic devices. “Magnetic fields from outside the house are hard to control, but 98 percent of what I find can be fixed,” she advises.

When Terry Mollner, 69, was having trouble sleeping, he contacted Traver, who receives client referrals from energy healers. “The conclusions were stunning,” Mollner says. “The detector’s measurements went off the charts in the bedroom. It wasn’t the flat screen TV at the foot of my bed, but how the room’s wiring was done. The electrician installed a relay so I can switch off the power on that side of the house at night. Now, I sleep six or seven hours,” which he characterizes as “a profound change.” He also suggests turning off and moving cell phones away from beds. Mollner then hardwired the computers in his home, eliminated Wi-Fi and rearranged the electronic equipment in his home office.

Kim Cook, an energy practitioner in Mission Viejo, California, specializes

“Just because someone isn’t feeling symptoms from exposure to electronic technology, that doesn’t mean that it’s not having an effect on DNA.” ~ Camilla Rees in Eden Energy Medicine and Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT). Cook decided not to buy a house she was initially interested in because it was in a hot spot. When Cook used her meter to chart frequencies at home, it also prompted her to move her bedroom clock radio to a different bureau. “It’s no longer sitting right at our heads,” she notes. Plus, “I don’t put my cell phone on my body and it bothers me that my son puts his in his pocket.”

An overarching observation from Cook’s professional practice is that increasing numbers of people in pain are interested in energy medicine because they’re so frustrated with Western medicine. She observes, “Pain is blocked energy, and people are learning how to unblock it naturally.”

The World Health Organization (WHO) launched the International EMF Project in 1996 because of rising public health concerns due to the surge in EMF sources. After reviewing extensive research and thousands of articles, the organization can’t confirm—or deny—the existence of health consequences from exposure to low-level EMFs.

But in 2011, the WHO International Agency for Research on Cancer classified the electromagnetic radiation from cell phones as possibly carcinogenic to humans, based on increased risk for glioma, a malignant brain cancer. Lloyd Morgan, a senior researcher with the nonprofit Environmental Health Trust and lead author of the internationally endorsed report, Cellphones and Brain Tumors, goes further, unequivocally stating, “Cell phone radiation is a carcinogen.”

In our own environment, we can regulate EMF, says Iowan Camilla Rees, founder of the educational petition website ElectromagneticHealth.org and Campaign for Radiation Free Schools on Facebook; she is the co-author of Public Health SOS: The Shadow Side of the Wireless Revolution and Morgan’s cell phone report.

Says Rees, “You can buy a meter, avoid using cordless phones and baby monitors, and change your cell phone behavior. The harmful effects of cell phones decrease with distance; just by holding the cell phone six inches from your head, there is a 10,000-fold reduction of risk.”

Find more helpful information at Tinyurl.com/CellPhone RadiationDanger, Tinyurl.com/CellPhoneUsageTips and Tinyurl.com/EMF-ProtectionTips.

Priscilla Goudreau-Santos is a freelance writer and owner of Priscilla Goudreau Public Relations & Marketing, in Charlotte, NC.

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greenliving Borax, a natural mineral, improves the effectiveness of laundry soap. Although classified (as is salt) as a low-level health hazard that should be kept away from children and animals, borax is non-carcinogenic and isn’t absorbed through skin.

HOMEMADE ECO-CLEANERS DIY Recipes Keep Your Home Naturally Clean

by Lane Vail

A

mericans use 35 million pounds of toxic household cleaning products annually. According to the Children’s Health Environmental Coalition, in Los Angeles, traces of cleaning chemicals can be found throughout the human body within seconds of exposure, posing risks like asthma, allergies, cancer, reproductive toxicity, hormone disruption, neurotoxicity and death.

Equally sobering is the decades of research suggesting a relationship between the overuse of powerful disinfectants and the rise of antibiotic-resistant super bacteria like methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), as well as concerns over these toxins entering water supplies and wildlife food chains.

Cleaning product labels lack transparency, says Johanna Congleton, Ph.D., a senior scientist for the Environmental Working Group, because “manufacturers aren’t required to specify ingredients.”

One approach to assure safe ingredients is do-it-yourself (DIY) products.

For Matt and Betsy Jabs, the authors of DIY Natural Household Cleaners who blog at DIYNatural.com, creating homemade cleaners is a rewarding exercise in sustainability and simplicity.

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“We’re cutting through all the marketing and getting back to basics,” says Matt. Affordability is another benefit: The Jabs’ homemade laundry detergent costs five cents per load, compared with 21 cents for a store brand.

Annie B. Bond, a bestselling author and pioneering editor of the award-winning Green Guide, dispels a DIY myth: “What’s time-consuming isn’t making the cleaners; it’s making the decision to switch and figuring it all out,” she says.

Nine Basics

Find these multitasking ingredients in local groceries and health stores or online.

White vinegar effectively cleans, deodorizes, cuts grease and disinfects against bacteria, viruses and mold.

Castile soap in liquid or bar form serves as a biodegradable, vegetable-based surfactant and all-around cleaner (avoid mixing with vinegar, which neutralizes its cleansing properties).

Baking soda cleans, whitens, neutralizes odors and softens water. It’s an excellent scrubbing agent for bathrooms, refrigerators and ovens.

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Washing soda, a caustic chemical cousin of baking soda, softens water and removes stains. Bond advises, “It’s a heavy duty cleaner as powerful as any toxic solvent,” so wear gloves.

Hydrogen peroxide is considered an effective disinfectant and bleach alternative by the Environmental Protection Agency.

Use it to whiten grout and remove stains.

Essential oils derived from plants infuse cleaners with fragrance and boost germ-fighting power. Tea tree, eucalyptus and lavender oils all boast antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal properties. The Jabs advise that although they can be pricy, “The investment will pay for itself many times over.”

Lemon juice or citric acid cuts through grease, removes mold and bacteria and leaves dishes streak-free.

Coarse kosher salt helps soften dishwasher water and acts as a scouring agent.

Home Formulas

All-purpose cleaner: Homemade Cleaners: Quick-and-Easy Toxin-Free Recipes, by Mandy O’Brien and Dionna Ford, suggests combining one cup of vinegar, one cup of water and 15 drops of lemon oil in a spray bottle. Use it anywhere, including glass and mirrors.

For serious disinfecting, follow with a hydrogen peroxide spray.

Foaming hand/dish soap: Shake one cup of water, a quarter-cup of castile soap and 15 drops of essential oil in a foaming dispenser. Use in bathrooms and kitchens.

Dishwashing detergent: DIYNatural recommends mixing one cup of borax, one cup of washing soda, a half-cup of citric acid and a half-cup of coarse kosher salt. Leave it uncovered for several days, stirring often to prevent clumping.

Cover and refrigerate. Use one tablespoon per load with a half-cup of citric acid in the rinse to combat streaks.

Transform Your Body More than 95 percent of “green” products manipulate labels by providing irrelevant information (declaring a product is free of an already illegal chemical), being vague (masking poisons as natural ingredients), outright lying (claiming false endorsements) and other maneuvers.

Exilis treatment for fat reduction and skin tightening

BEFORE

AFTER

~ TerraChoice Group Laundry detergent: Combine one cup of borax, one cup of washing soda and one 14-ounce bar of grated castile soap.

Use one tablespoon per load, adding a half-cup of lemon juice to the rinse cycle. Prior to washing, use hydrogen peroxide as a stain remover (test first; it may lift color).

Bathroom soft scrub: Bond recommends creating a thick paste with liquid castile soap and a half-cup of baking soda. Scour tubs, showers and stainless steel surfaces with a sponge, and then rinse.

Toilet bowl cleaner: Sprinkle one cup of borax into the toilet at bedtime and then clean the loosened grime with a brush the next morning, advises Bond. Wipe outer surfaces with the all-purpose spray.

Wood polish: Bond recommends mixing a quarter-cup of vinegar or lemon juice with a few drops of olive and lemon oil.

A painless, non-surgical method called Exilis uses radio waves to heat body fat to a temperature that dissolves unwanted fat.

The fat byproducts are then naturally removed by your body’s lymphatic system.

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Hard floor cleaner: Environmental Working Group’s DIY Cleaning Guide suggests combining a half-gallon of hot water with one cup of white vinegar in a bucket to mop.

See results in as few as 4 treatments!

Carpet cleaner: Freshen rugs by sprinkling baking soda at night and vacuuming in the morning, suggests Bond. For deeper cleaning, combine one cup of vinegar and two-anda-half gallons of water in a steam cleaner.

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Lane Vail is a freelance writer in South Carolina. Connect at WriterLane.com.

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consciouseating

Culinary Mushroom Magic Delicate Powerhouses of Nutrition and Medicine

by Case Adams

M

ushrooms have played a remarkable role in human history. Egyptian hieroglyphics dating back 4,500 years linked mushrooms to immortality. The famous 5,300-yearold “iceman” found frozen in 1991 in the Tyrolean Alps carried a sachet containing the mushroom species Piptoporus betulinus—the birch polypore.

Greek writings of Hippocrates, Pliny, Dioscorides, Galen and others regarded

the mushroom Fomitopsis officinalis (agarikon) as a panacea.

While enthusiasm later waned in Europe, with John Farley characterizing mushrooms in his 1784 book, The London Art of Cookery, as “treacherous gratifications,” Native American Indians used varieties such as puffballs (Calvatia and Lycoperdon species) for rheumatism, congested organs and other diseased conditions. Yet, modern-

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day culinary connoisseurs owe the recent surge in interest in fungal delicacies more to Japanese and Chinese traditions, which have consistently advanced mushrooms’ nutritional and medicinal uses. Ancient Chinese medical texts, including the Hanshu (82 CE) even refer to the famed reishi mushroom (Ganoderma lucidum) as the “mushroom of immortality”.

Today, fungi cuisine in the West is typically limited to Agaracus bisporus— the relatively mild button mushroom, which matures into the acclaimed portobello. But digging deeper into available options reveals chanterelle (Cantharellus sp.), oyster (Pleurotus ostreatus), morel (Morchella sp.) and shiitake (Lentinula edodes) species.

These culinary mushrooms provide a virtuosity of delicate flavors harboring nutritional and medicinal benefits, according to those that study them.

University of California-Berkeley research scientist and Mycologist Christopher Hobbs, Ph.D., explains that shiitake and oyster mushrooms follow the button as the most widely cultivated around the world. “They come in many colors, varieties and species and are typically the most easily digested and utilized of all mushrooms,” he notes.

“Mushrooms are an amazing health food,” says Hobbs. “Most edible fungi are high in fiber, good-quality protein, key vitamins, micronutrients, phosphorous and potassium, and low in fat and calories. It’s one of nature’s perfect diet foods.”

As protein powerhouses, portobello and other button mushrooms, shiitake and oyster varieties all deliver between 30 and 35 percent protein by weight.

The fiber content can range from 20 grams per 100 grams (about 3.5 ounces) in the case of portobello to a lofty 48 grams per 100 grams in the Phoenix oyster mushroom.

Mushrooms also supply potent B vitamins. One hundred grams (about 3.5 ounces) of portobello contains more than four milligrams (mg) of riboflavin (B2), 69 mg niacin (B3) and 12 mg pantothenic acid (B5). Shiitake’s comparable numbers are three, 106 and 17 while pink oyster delivers 2.45, 66 and 33 mg of the three nutrients. Thus, they deliver significantly more than recom-

mended daily allowances (RDA)—for example, niacin’s adult RDA ranges from 14 to 16 mg and riboflavin’s is just 1.1 to 1.3 mg.

Mushrooms also present one of the few food sources of vitamin D— primarily D2—but some also contain small amounts of vitamin D3, according to U.S. Department of Agriculture research. Also, their D2 levels spike dramatically when sun-dried sporeside-up, confirmed in research by internationally recognized Mycologist Paul Stamets.

Mushrooms contain important minerals, too. Portobello contains 4,500 mg, oyster 4,500 mg and shiitake 2,700 mg of potassium per 100 grams, all with low sodium levels. Plus, they deliver usable amounts of copper, zinc and selenium.

Beyond the nutrient numbers lies mushrooms’ bonus round: They contain special complex polysaccharides—long-chain molecules within cell walls—that have been the subject of intense research at leading institutions around the world, including Harvard, Yale and the University of California. Mushrooms’ (1-3)-betaglucan complexes have been shown to inhibit many cancers and suggest potential solutions for diabetes, heart disease and immune-related conditions.

Stamets explains that mushrooms also contain sterols, shown to benefit cardiovascular health. “Shiitake and other mushrooms like reishi have cholesterol-normalizing effects,” adds Hobbs.

Can we take these benefits back to the kitchen? “Most mushrooms have to be cooked to release their health-giving benefits,” explains Hobbs.

Stamets concurs: “Cooking liberates mushroom nutrients from their matrix of cells. They are tenderized upon heating, making their nutrients bioavailable for digestion.”

Thankfully, finding these tasty superfood delicacies has become easier as entrepreneurial fresh-mushroom growers have emerged throughout the United States in recent years.

Case Adams is a California naturopath and author of 25 books on natural healing. Learn more at CaseAdams.com.

Healing Nourishment braise on low heat. Allow mixture to cook down to desired consistency.

Mushroom Pâté

by Andrew Lenzer

Mushrooms are so versatile we can eat them for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

They add a note of delicious creativity to diverse dishes. Plus they deliver protein, vitamins and protective compounds. Fresh is always best and just-picked is better, although dried can work in a pinch.

My Tacos

by Cate Moss Makes a healthy filling for tacos and enchiladas, or crumble as a topper on deluxe nachos. They taste as good as they smell, and like chili they taste almost better as leftovers.

Present a perfect appetizer for dinner with friends. The savory quality of mushrooms—what the Japanese call umami—make them a welcome alternative to meat-based pâtés.

Approx 4 cups whole fresh shiitake mushrooms (2 cups after chopping) Approx 4 cups whole fresh maitake mushrooms (2 cups after chopping) 12 oz cream cheese or rice-based cream cheese substitute 2 cloves garlic 2 cups dry roasted hazelnuts 2 sprigs parsley Soy sauce Olive oil Sesame oil Salt and pepper to taste Finely chop the hazelnuts in a food processor and set aside.

Fills 12 large tacos, or more paired with fillings such as chopped leafy lettuce or guacamole.

Coarsely chop the shiitake (including the stems) and maitake mushrooms in a food processor.

1-2 cups of chopped stropharia, shiitake or maitake mushrooms 1 cup crumbled tempeh or other healthful protein source ¼ cup chopped onions ½ cup sunflower seeds or chopped almonds ¼ cup sesame seeds 1 cup corn 1 chopped sweet pepper (add hot peppers if desired) 1 small handful of chopped olives 4 shakes of soy sauce 1 Tbsp spiced hot chocolate 2 Tbsp chili powder 1 Tbsp ground cumin ¼ cup nutritional yeast 2 cloves of chopped garlic 1 cup broth or water

Coat the surface of a wok in olive oil and sauté mushrooms in 1-cup batches over medium-high-to-high heat, adding soy sauce as needed to keep the mixture from burning, for approximately 10 minutes per batch. Add a touch of sesame oil just before removing each batch.

Place hazelnuts, mushrooms, cream cheese, garlic, salt and pepper in the food processor and blend until smooth but still slightly grainy. Add parsley and blend until parsley is finely chopped and evenly distributed throughout the mixture.

Serve with crackers or fresh crusty bread.

Sauté mushrooms, protein and onions until crispy (uncrowded in the pan).

Then add remaining ingredients and

Recipes courtesy of employees of Fungi Perfecti, LLC; photos courtesy of Paul Stamets.

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April 2014

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A proven practice for supporting health and self-healing, qigong has been used in China for millennia to maintain and improve physical, mental and emotional well-being.

“Q

i” (pronounced chee) refers to the life force or vital energy present in all things throughout the universe while “gong” means dedicated effort or steady practice of a skill.

Qigong is the art of working intensely with this energy, cultivating life force.

Acupuncture physician and qigong instructor Walter Hayley, in Bonita Springs, Florida, became passionate about qigong while working as a stockbroker in need of stress relief. He compares qigong’s movement of energy in the body to water running through a hose: “Qi is concentrated in channels throughout the body. Think of the qi as water and those channels as a garden hose branching out to every aspect of the individual.

Stress, whether physical or emotional, can kink the hose. Qigong helps get the kinks out,” he explains. “It relaxes the body, letting energy flow more efficiently, allowing the body to heal itself.”

Qigong styles vary, but Hayley remarks that most involve slow movement, focused awareness and special breathing techniques. Many describe

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the practice as a moving meditation.

Qigong teacher Judith Forsyth, in Mobile, Alabama, says, “It’s often described as the mother of tai chi. When the quiet, internal energy art of qigong mixed with the powerful external martial arts, it developed into tai chi.” She emphasizes that the focus of qigong is less on its physical mechanics and more on understanding how the vital force moves through the body and can be used to enhance health and longevity.

Inside the body, there’s an integrated network of subtle energy centers that international Qigong Master Robert Peng believes are connected to the capacity for genuine happiness. The goal is to awaken and pack these centers with qi. “By repeating slow, gentle movements over and over, you can develop the body’s capacity to draw qi from the universe. It can be stored in these centers and later channeled back through the body to empower your daily activities,” explains Peng, author of The Master Key: The Qigong Secret for Vitality, Love, and Wisdom.

By adding qigong to their daily routines, children learn to channel energy and enhance concentration; office workers reduce stress; seniors enhance balance and quality of life; and caregivers and midwives advance abilities to help others. ~ The National Qigong Association He focuses on three of the body’s big energy portals: the “third eye”, located between the eyebrows; the “heart center”, at the center of the chest on the sternum and the “sea of qi”, just below the navel. The idea is that when energy is accessed in these three centers, specific spiritual qualities are accessed: wisdom, love and vitality (respectively). Harmonizing all three is ideal.

Peng advises that when these essential elements are woven together in balance, dynamic happiness is possible. “You begin to project more wisdom, love, vitality, inspiration and peacefulness. Conversations flow more smoothly. Your life becomes more productive, meaningful and serene,” he says. “Whatever the challenges encountered, you’ll be better equipped to deal with them, while remaining inwardly content.”

Forsyth was first guided to qigong when the prescribed rest, drugs, exercise and physical therapy following an accident left her with lingering neck and back problems.

She recalls, “After eight weeks of practice, I experienced significant physical improvement, not only where I had considerable pain, but in my overall energy level, ability to sleep and the condition of my skin and hair. The peace and harmonizing meditation benefits of qigong were also affecting me positively in other ways. I became less worried, less of a perfectionist, less stressed out and began to experience more joyfulness.”

While all styles benefit overall health, specific qigong exercises may be prescribed for specialized needs, from athletic conditioning to management of chronic conditions such as arthritis, hypertension or cancer. The gentle movements can be performed by almost anyone at any age and ability level, even those confined to a chair or bed. “Qigong speaks to the body and the body then addresses the condition,” Hayley remarks.

The experts advise that qigong is best practiced every day, even if for just five minutes. “A group class offers a synergy that a home practice lacks, but the more important practice is at home,” observes Hayley. Some personal instruction is ideal so the practitioner receives feedback, but books and videos make qigong accessible to everyone, everywhere.

Hayley reminds newbies, “Just be patient. If one form doesn’t suit you, remember there are thousands of different forms to try.”

Peng’s advice to beginners is, “Be happy! Think of the exercise as lighthearted play and remember to smile as you move.”

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

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April 2014

23

healthykids

Backyard Birds and Butterflies Native Habitats Draw Critters and Delight Kids

by Avery Mack

C

reating a backyard wildlife habitat provides valuable teaching moments. With planning and care, birds, bats, butterflies and bunnies can view yards as safe havens and sources for food, water and shelter, providing endless fascination.

Hummingbird Josh Stasik, a father of three and owner of SweetNectar Recipe Seed.com, in Syracuse, Measure one part New York, sees firsthand how feeding winged won- ordinary white sugar to four parts water ders can be an inexpensive (no unhealthy red way to start a new family dye needed). Boil activity. “My mom taught me about flowers and bird the water first, and feeders. I hope my kids will then mix the nectar someday pass the informawhile the water is tion along to their chilhot; the sugar will dren,” he says. easily dissolve.

Habitat plantings and available foods determine Source: TomatoEnvy.com what creatures will visit.

24

Birmingham, AL

Facebook.com/nabirmingham

“Native plants attract native bugs that are eaten by native birds and bats,” observes Stasik, noting that staff at extension services and garden centers can provide helpful advice.

Based on his own research, Stasik knows, “Bird species have definite tastes in food. Bluebirds love mealworms. Hummingbirds like floral nectars. Orioles look for citrus fruit. Butterflies are eclectic sippers of both floral and citrus.”

Hummingbirds pose particular appeal for kids and adults because they appear always on the move. Hummingbirds.net/ map.html follows their migration sites.

Videographer Tom Hoebbel, owner of TH Photography, outside Ithaca,

New York, builds birdhouses and nesting boxes with his kids. They also participate in the annual Christmas bird count for the Audubon Society (Birds.Audubon. org/Christmasbird-count). The Great Backyard Bird Count, a joint project between nonprofits Audubon and the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, folbird photos courtesy of Susan lows in February Gottlieb, of Venice, California (gbbc.BirdCount.org).

“In our yard, we have five nesting boxes made from reused wood. Once or twice a week, we check to see who lives there and how many eggs there are,” says Hoebbel. “So far, we’ve seen bluebirds, chickadees and house wrens.”

He laments the rapid decline of bats in the Northeast due to pesticides killing bugs, the main course for birds and bats. “In the winter, bats live in caves, so we put one-by-one-foot boxes in the yard for their summer homes.” Warm evenings on the patio are more enjoyable when bats clean up the mosquito population; a single bat can eat as many as 1,000 in an hour.

The monarch butterfly population is another favorite species in decline, with the spectacular annual migration on the verge of disappearing due to illegal deforestation, climate change, expansion of crop acreage and imposition of genetically modified plants that reduce the growth of native species.

“You can help them by planting perennial milkweed in your garden,” advises Brande Plotnick, founder of Tomato Envy, in Jenkintown, Pennsylvania.

Milkweed is the food of choice because it makes the caterpillars and butterflies toxic to birds and other predators. Also consider planting garden phlox, coneflower and lantana. Migrating monarchs live about nine months and fly up to 30 miles per hour.

Plotnick also suggests planting an herb garden

that includes parsley. “Swallowtail butterflies will lay eggs on parsley, caterpillars hatch and feed on it, and eventually create a chrysalis,� she says. “You’ll be able to see the entire butterfly life cycle.�

Rabbits add another dimension to backyard wildlife.

Just as birds and butterflies need trees, bushes and plants to land on and hide in, bunnies need ground cover. The Virginia Department of Game and Fisheries counsels that brush piles should start with a base of large limbs, logs or stones to raise the floor above ground and create tunnels and escape routes, plus a home base. Top with smaller branches and maybe a recycled Christmas tree or dead plants. Encourage structural density and permanence with live vines. The resulting brush pile should be igloo-shaped and about six to eight feet tall and wide. Visit Tinyurl.com/BunnyShelters.

City ordinances or subdivision regulations might prohibit brush piles in ordinary yards. Find out how to gain certification as a wildlife habitat through the National Wildlife Federation at Tinyurl.com/CertifiedWildlifeHabitat.

Rabbits can have as many as seven babies per litter, depending on the species. Make sure their space is sufficient. Before attracting bunnies to the yard, be aware of local predators—hawks, owls, coyote, dogs and stray cats.

The brush pile may also attract other animals like skunks, raccoons and reptiles.

A wildlife habitat is a fun, ongoing learning experience. It calls on math skills for bird counts, geography to follow migration maps and woodworking to build homesites and feeding spots. It becomes a lesson in local ecology and the roles of native plants and animals. When children comprehend they can help save wildlife, it’s also a lesson in hope.

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

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Source: Education Department at Callaway Gardens, Pine Mountain, GA

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April 2014

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calendarofevents TUESDAY, APRIL 1 Pet Loss Support Group Sponsored by the Greater Birmingham Humane Society – 5:30-7pm (4/1 and 4/8) This group provides support for those grieving the loss of their pets. Free, reservations requested. Contact Mary-Grace Wilson, mawilson@ gbhs.org or 205-942-1211. Homewood Public Library, Room 108, 1721 Oxmoor Rd, Homewood, AL 35209.

TUESDAY, APRIL 8 Darryl Patton, the Southern Herbalist – 6:30pm.

Author Darryl Patton trained with one of the last of the old mountain herb doctors. Learn about the historical uses of many plants that can be found in our own backyards. Free. Springville Road Regional Library, 1224 Old Springville Rd, Birmingham, AL 35215. 205-226-4081.

THURSDAY, APRIL 3 OLLI Presents: “Big Ideas for Small SpacesContainers” – 1:30-2:30pm. Dr. Vasha Rosenblum of the Birmingham Botanical and Aldridge Gardens will show how container gardening and composting are ideal for cramped locations. Free. Vestavia Hills Library in the Forest, 1221 Montgomery Hwy, Vestavia Hills, AL 35216. 205-978-4678.

Spanish Conversation Club – 7-8pm. Practice Spanish and learn the culture with a native speaker ers are welcome. Free. Hoover Public Library, 200 Municipal Dr, Hoover, AL 35216. 205-444-7820.

Couponing Strategies with Heather Lebischak – 6:30-7:30pm. Super Couponer Heather Lebischak will discuss various stores coupon policies, how to organize your coupons, and how to guarantee you are using your coupons to ensure the greatest savings. Free. Homewood Public Library, Large Auditorium, 1721 Oxmoor Rd, Homewood, AL 35209. 205-332-6620.

33rd Annual Spring Art Festival – 9am-4pm. Up to one hundred local artists will display original paintings for sale in an outdoor setting in Mountain Brook near Crestline Village. Free. Crestline Field, 32 Vine St, Mountain Brook, AL 35213.

SATURDAY, APRIL 5

support darter habitat restoration efforts. Live mu-

– 8am.

Bucks Pocket State Park has one of the greatest con-

and ecology education programs. Free. Railroad Park, 1600 1st Ave South, Birmingham, AL 35233.

205-226-4934.

area in the State of Alabama. Join fellow nature lovers for a walk on trails in this very scenic park.

Info: Dan Frederick, 205-631-4680. SEOutings.org.

Physiology of Asana Endocrine and Nervous System Function in the Yoga Practice – 2-5pm.

Dr. Shawn Galin, instructor. A global overview of the impact yoga has on our endocrine and nervous systems and creating asana sequences for optimal effect. $35. Birmingham Yoga, 605 37th St South, Birmingham, AL 35222. 205-637-4228.

BirminghamYoga.com.

Making New Plants: All about Plant Propagation – 8:30am-12:30pm. Collection, storage, preparation and treatment methods for successful propagation of woody and herbaceous plants will be discussed. $40 Members, $45 Non-Members. Birmingham Botanical Gardens, 2612 Lane Park Rd, Birmingham, AL 35223. 205-414-3950.

Art on R Mountain – 9am-5pm. A free art show on the grounds of the Ruffner Mountain Nature Preserve. Come browse through artists from around Alabama and the southeast. Ruffner Mountain Nature Center, 1214 81st St South, Birmingham, AL 35206. 205-223-7251.

Self Defense for Women – 3:30-4:30pm. Would you be able to defend yourself if someone physically attacked you? The Vestavia Hills Police Department’s own trainers will teach you the basics.

Dress comfortably. Free. Vestavia Hills Library in the Forest, 1221 Montgomery Hwy, Vestavia Hills, AL 35216. 205-978-4678.

Darter Festival – 11am-4pm. The third annual Darter Festival celebrates Birmingham’s singular

SUNDAY, APRIL 6 Southeastern Outings Dayhike, Moss Rock Preserve – 2pm. Explore the wilder side of Hoover on a moderate 2-4 mile hike with some climbing up and walking down fairly steep hills on Shades Mountain.

Info: David Shepherd, email davidshep2@yahoo. com or 205-240-4681. SEOutings.org.

It’s important to recognize that humans are not the measure of all things...

The Earth is the measure of all things. ~James Balog

THURSDAY, APRIL 10 Birmingham Revealed 2014—Sun Ra: Musician, Philosopher, Poet – 5:30-7pm. To honor legendary musician and Birmingham native Sun Ra, “the man from Saturn,” the Birmingham Seven will perform original transcriptions from Su Ra’s Magic City album. $10. Vulcan Park and Museum, 1701 Valley View Dr, Birmingham, AL 35209.

205-933-1409.

FRIDAY, APRIL 11 Spring Plant Sale – 9am-7pm (Fri), 9am-5pm (Sat), 11am-3pm (Sun). Friends of Birmingham Botanical Gardens Spring Plant Sale features over 100,000 plants, most of which have been nurtured by volunteers at The Gardens. Free. Former JC Penny’s at Century Plaza, 7580 Crestwood Blvd, Birmingham, AL 35210. 205-414-3950.

Restorative Yoga – 6-8pm. Join Lauren Brown for a full session of restorative yoga, where your mind and body can rest and renew with the help of props and massage to support the body’s relaxation. $25 advance/$30 at door. Embody Practice Center, 3918 Montclair Rd, Suite 100. Register with lauren@ embodybirmingham.com. EmbodyBirmingham.com.

SATURDAY, APRIL 12 Southeastern Outings Canoe and Kayak, Locust Fork River – 9am. A fun Southeastern Outings canoe and kayak trip on Section 1 of the Locust Fork River in Blount County. This stretch is fairly easy and withbellsouth.net or 205-631-4680. SEOutings.org.

Breath and Feldenkrais with Margaret Pittenger – 9am-4pm. With Margaret’s training in Feldenkrais and yoga, this workshop will be a unique opportunity to explore Dr. Feldenkrais’s principles and patterns for functional movement and deep diaphragmatic breath. $100. Embody Practice Center, 3918 Montclair Rd, Suite 100. Register with mjpittenger@gmail.com or 205-999-9070.

EmbodyBirmingham.com.

Greater Birmingham Humane Society Adoption Day – 10am-12pm. The GBHS Mobile Unit will be in the library’s back parking lot with some beautiful, loveable dogs just waiting for a special home like yours. Homewood Public Library, 1721 Oxmoor Rd, Homewood, AL 35209. 205-332-6620.

26

Birmingham, AL

Facebook.com/nabirmingham

Spring Bazaar Marketplace – 10am-3pm. Vendors from all over the state will bring unique, one of a kind items for you to purchase. This event will feature unique gifts, gourmet foods, boutiques, cessories. Free. Railroad Park, 1600 1st Ave South, Birmingham, AL 35233. 205-239-8050.

– 8:30am-12:30pm. Learn to identify 20 plants whose key traits are evident in spring. This is largely a walking class, held outdoors. $40 Members, $45 Non-Members. Birmingham Botanical Gardens, 2612 Lane Park Rd, Birmingham, AL 35223.

205-414-3950.

TEMPO: A Family Fun Festival – 10am-2pm.

Childcare Resources presents a free family event with unique entertainment, healthy food choices, bicycling activities, games and community resources, all to engage the community in building awareness and promoting strong, healthy families. Railroad Park, 1600 1st Ave South, Birmingham, AL 35233.

205-945-0018 x306. Ccr-bhm.org.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 20

Healing with the Angels – 11am-4pm. Learn a powerful four-step process that will enable you to energetically connect with the Healing Angels and develop your personal relationship with each of them. $85 by 4/5, $95 after. Natural Forces Studio, 609 37th St South, inside Birmingham Yoga. Birmingham, AL 35222. NaturalForcesStudio.com.

Celebrate Earth Day! The Proper Care of Trees with Stan Pella – 6:30-7:30pm. Celebrate Earth Day with tree expert Stan Pella and learn the basics on tree care, including pruning, mulching, watering, and fertilizing. Free. Homewood Public Library, Large Auditorium, 1721 Oxmoor Rd, Homewood, AL 35209. 205-332-6620.

Family Fun & Fitness Day – 2-4pm. Organized activities feature games for children, bikes, health related vendors and more. 2-4 pm. Free. Orr Park, 154 Vine St, Montevallo, AL 35115. 205-665-1519.

FRIDAY, APRIL 22

Women’s Empowerment Workshop – 2:30-5pm.

Empower your yoga practice, empower your life.

Learn how yoga can help cultivate more self-conyasa yoga practice. $30 in advance; $35 day-of. Led

by Lauren Lippeatt. Villager Yoga, 3150 Overton Rd, Birmingham. 205-262-2012. VillagerYoga.com.

Southeastern Outings Second Sunday Dayhike in Oak Mountain State Park – 1pm. Enjoy a moderate 4-5 mile walk in the woodlands near Birmingham on a Sunday afternoon. Info: Trip leader Doris Hatch, 205-901-8367. SEOutings.org.

THURSDAY, APRIL 17 OLLI Presents: “Talk Tips” – 1:30-2:30pm. Be comfortable speaking to any size group with tips from the actress, radio and TV talent, and voice diction coach. Free. Vestavia Hills Library in the Forest, 1221 Montgomery Hwy, Vestavia Hills, AL 35216. 205-978-4678.

FRIDAY, APRIL 18 Back Forty Beer Co Presents Beer on the Back Porch Music Series – 6pm. Come relax and support Ruffner on our Back Porch with delicious food, cold drinks and live music. $25 gets you dinner and three drink tokens. Ruffner Mountain Nature Center, 1214 81st St South, Birmingham, AL 35206.

205-833-8264.

SATURDAY, APRIL 19 Southeastern Outings Canoe and Kayak Trip, Sipsey Fork River – 8am. Scenic canoe and kayak trip in the Bankhead National Forest just outside the lovely Sipsey Wilderness in Winston County, Alabama. The river we will paddle is relatively easy with one class II rapid. Info: Dan Frederick, 205-631-4680 or seoutings@bellsouth.net. SEOutings.org.

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

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HOME STUDY PROGRAMS Very affordable CORRESPONDENCE HOME STUDY PROGRAM for students who want professional degrees. Reserve by calling 702-353-2512.

ORGANIC HEIRLOOM SEEDS GLASS GEM CORN SEED for sale. This is a rare heirloom corn that produces a diversity of gorgeous translucent, jewel-colored ears, each one unique. It can be used for popcorn, corn meal or decoration. $7.95/pack. To order call 256-340-1122 or email Cindy@Alabama Awakenings.com.

Celebrate

SUNDAY, APRIL 13 Integrated Energy Therapy: Basic Level 1 – 10am-6pm. Learn everything you need to do a powerful Integrated Energy Therapy® session on yourself or on another person (either in person or absentee). $155 before 4/5, $175 after. Natural Forces Studio, 609 37th St South, inside Birmingham Yoga.

Birmingham, AL 35222. NaturalForcesStudio.com.

classifieds

April 22 classic car show, 3 stages of live entertainment, food court, and much more. Free. Gardendale Civic Center, 857 Main St, Gardendale, AL 35071. 205514-6799. MagnoliaFestival.org.

THURSDAY, APRIL 24 Process Acupressure 101 – 9am-5pm (Thu-Sun).

PA is a holistic method that combines traditional acupressure with a process approach to consciousness.

SATURDAY, APRIL 26

CEUs for MTs, PTs, Nurses, Social Workers. $795.

Embody Practice Center, 3918 Montclair Rd, Suite

Southeastern Outings Canoe and Kayak Trip – 10am. Moderate 7.5-mile fun canoe and kayak trip on the Cahaba River near Birmingham. This stretch of river is fairly easy and without classi-

or 978-456-0300.

SEOutings.org.

Friends of the Library Presents: Birmingham Museum of Art – 10am-12pm. The Eugene Delacroix Exhibition (the “Father of Impressionism”) will be reviewed and discussed by Museum Docent Judith Hand. Free. Vestavia Hills Library in the Forest, 1221 Montgomery Hwy, Vestavia Hills, AL 35216. 205-978-4678.

Earth Day at The Gardens – 11am-4pm. More than 40 earth-friendly exhibitors will have booths displaying family friendly activities and informa-

FRIDAY, APRIL 25

Spiritual Warrior Master Class – 2-4pm. This creative heated vinyasa practice will take you on a journey through the Virabhadrasana poses (warrior poses) I, II, & III while strengthening and opening your body and heart. Instructor: Jo Beth Richards. $25 by 4/19, $30 after. Birmingham Yoga, 605 37th St South. BirminghamYoga.com.

ASO Coffee Concert: Brahms’s Violin Concerto – 11am. We welcome violinist Stefan Jackiw for Brahms’s technically challenging and formidable work. Arrive early to enjoy complimentary coffee and pastries before the concert. $19-$33. Alys Robinson Stephens Performing Arts Center, 1200 10th Ave South, Birmingham, AL 35294. 205-975-2787.

Gardendale Magnolia Festival – 5-9pm (Fri), 10am-5pm (Sat). Celebrate spring with more than 150 arts/crafts/business vendors, including a home and garden special section, large midway carnival,

and clean air from local earthkeeper organizations.

Free. Birmingham Botanical Gardens, 2612 Lane Park Rd, Birmingham, AL 35223. 205-414-3950.

Yoga Props 101 – 2:30-4:30pm. Take your yoga practice to the next level with the use of yoga blocks, blankets, straps, bolsters and the wall. Open to all levels, props provided. $25. Led by Jennifer Moller.

Villager Yoga, 3150 Overton Rd, Birmingham. 205262-2012. VillagerYoga.com.

natural awakenings

April 2014

27

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SUNDAY, APRIL 27 Southeastern Outings Dayhike on Montevallo Parks Trail – 2:30pm. Enjoy an easy 2 or so mile streams, and around a beautiful University-owned lake in Montevallo. Info: Rita Forrest, 205-6201167. SEOutings.org.

Mason Atkins – 2:30pm. Join us for an afternoon of jazz and blues with guitarist Mason Atkins. Free.

Hoover Public Library, 200 Municipal Dr, Hoover, AL 35216. 205-444-7820.

Meet the Doulas – 4-5pm. BirthWell in Birmingham is a co-op of doulas and childbirth educators providing services for the childbearing years. Join us for our free bimonthly Open House. Q&A, resources and education. Embody Practice Center, 3918 Montclair Rd Suite 100, Birmingham.

BirthWellinBirmingham.com.

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

sunday

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

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

and Yoga Nidra (yogic sleep). $25. Villager Yoga, 3150 Overton Rd, Birmingham. 205-262-2012.

VillagerYoga.com.

A Course in Miracles – 5-6:30pm. On-going discussion group. Unity of Birmingham, 2803 Highland Ave, Birmingham, AL 35205. 205-251-3713.

UnityBham.com.

week. Instructor: Emilie Maynor. $75/6-week series.

Villager Yoga, 3150 Overton Rd, Birmingham. 205262-2012. VillagerYoga.com.

TUESDAY, APRIL 29 Lecture on Biofeedback – 6-7pm. Free public lecof Biofeedback at the Homewood Public Library, Room 116, 1721 Oxmoor Rd, Homewood, AL 35209. Call 615-559-5272 to reserve your seat.

TrueEmotionalWellness.com.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30 Reiki Circle – 6-7:15pm. Meditation and Reiki healing energy. $15. Natural Forces Studio, 609 37th St South, inside Birmingham Yoga. Birmingham, AL 35222. NaturalForcesStudio.com.

plan ahead SATURDAY, MAY 10 The Harmony of the Empowered Heart – 1-5pm.

Standing postures and core strengthening, a heartopening breath meditation, and dynamic balancing dence and self-love in order to achieve our heart’s desires. Instructor: Andrea Brook. $50 by 4/26, $60 after. Birmingham Yoga, 605 37th St South.

BirminghamYoga.com.

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Get Noticed!

Thousands of Natural Awakenings readers are looking for healthy options.

Call Today! 256-340-1122 Editor@AlabamaAwakenings.com

monday

thursday

Intro to Yoga for Teens 6-Week Series – 6-7pm, Mondays, 4/7 to 5/12. Learn the basics of safe, supportive physical alignment in traditional yoga learning various breathing techniques to calm and focus the mind. $75/6-week series. Villager Yoga, 3150 Overton Rd, Birmingham. 205-262-2012.

VillagerYoga.com.

tuesday Manna Market Organic Food Co-op – Pick up, deliveries and co-op store will be on April 1, 15, and 29. Order online. Purchases can be delivered or picked up at one of the convenient locations.

Co-op store hours are 1:30-3:30pm at Valley Christian Church, 2600 Cherokee Pl, Mountain Brook.

MannaMarket.net. 205-566-2533.

wednesday Yoga for Kids 8-week Series, Ages 4-7 – 4-4:45pm.

Our 8-week sessions follow a loose curriculum through which kids add knowledge of poses as they move from warm-up to active play, through mindfulness exercises and closing relaxation. Separate adult class offered. $105/series, $15/class. Villager Yoga, 3150 Overton Rd, Birmingham. 205-262-2012.

VillagerYoga.com.

Yoga for Beginners 6-Week Series – 6-7pm, Wednesdays, 4/16 to 5/21. This series focuses on the foundations of Hatha Yoga in a hands-on, “how-to” format. Traditional poses and breathing exercises will be introduced and built upon each

Yoga for Kids 8-week Series, Ages 4-7 – 3:304:15pm. Our 8-week sessions follow a loose curriculum through which kids add knowledge of poses as they move from warm-up to active play, through mindfulness exercises and closing relaxation.

Separate adult class offered. $105/series, $15/class.

Villager Yoga, 3150 Overton Rd, Birmingham. 205262-2012. VillagerYoga.com.

Yoga for Kids 8-week Series, Ages 8-13 – 4:305:15pm. All of our Yoga for Kids 8-week series classes correspond with an adult class in a separate room so parents may practice at the same time. $105/ series, $15/class. Villager Yoga, 3150 Overton Rd, Birmingham. 205-262-2012. VillagerYoga.com.

friday Happy Feet Friday – 6-7pm. Get your feet moving in the right direction with a 60-minute low-to-high impact walk/run course. Learn proper walk/run All experience levels are welcome. Free. Railroad Park, 1600 1st Ave South, Birmingham, AL 35233.

205-521-9933. RailroadPark.org.

saturday Pepper Place Saturday Market – 7am-12pm, starting 4/12. Pepper Place Market brings the best Alabama growers, food producers and artisans to Birmingham each week. April to December. Weekly Musicians and Chef Demonstrations. Free. Pepper Place, 2829 2nd Ave South, Birmingham, AL 35233.

PepperPlaceMarket.com.

natural awakenings

April 2014

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communityresourceguide ACUPUNCTURE ASHLEY LUNDY, LAC

Doctor of Oriental Medicine 104 S Chalkville Rd, Ste 105 Trussville, AL 35173 205-234-4033 Alacupuncture.com DocLundy@alacupuncture.com Specializing in Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine. Using noninvasive treatment to help treat pain, high blood pressure, fertility issues, insomnia, fibromyalgia, and weight loss. Located inside Eastern Chiropractic. Call today for your appointment. See ad, page 16.

COACHING MARY JEANETTE CLEMENTS, PH.D., JD/MSW 4003 3rd Ave South Birmingham, AL 35222 205-538-7290 or 615-559-5272 TrueEmotionalWellness.com

Performance Coach Clements helps you uncover and resolve hidden challenges that may be sabotaging your success in all areas of your life. Walk away from a private session renewed, reenergized and inspired. She uses coaching techniques and technology of the Eductor64 (newest version of the EPFX that combined QXCI/SCIO) that scans your body and gives you back information (biofeedback).

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

36 years of Chiropractic experience, certified herbalist, Reiki Master. Conventional Chiropractic adjustments & gentle adjustments, physiological therapeutics, decompression therapy. Private treatment rooms. Massage therapy, Hypnotherapy, Energy Work, Meditation Class, Personal training, and Yoga classes. Most Insurance accepted.

COLON HYDROTHERAPY HEALING WATERS

Bernadine Birdsong I-ACT & NBCHT Certified Instructor 720 23rd St South, Birmingham, AL 205-323-7582 • MoreThanColonics.com Detox your body with Colon Hydrotherapy, Infra Red Sauna, and BioCleanse Therapy. We are the only hydrotherapist in Alabama providing colonics with ionized, microclustered, antioxidant, alkaline water. We offer Lipoex®, a non-invasive way to melt fat, reduce cellulite, and tighten skin. Computerized Biofeedback, Massage therapy, pain management, light therapy, Korean-style Hip Bath, and VibaBody Slimmer also available. See ad, page 8.

COUNSELING EMILY TUCKER LPC, NCC

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

Call today for your free consultation. Wellness Packages now available; pay once—no hassles. See ad, page 8.

ENERGY HEALING REV. TERRI A. HEIMAN, RMT, RYT

Natural Forces Studio, LLC 605 37th St South inside Birmingham Yoga Birmingham, AL 35222 205-201-6985 or 516-457-3885 Terri@NaturalForcesStudio.com NaturalForcesStudio.com Workshops, Classes, Private Energy Sessions, Intuitive Readings, EFT, Meditation, Kundalini & Restorative Yoga, Spiritual Counseling, Weddings, Illness.

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

Dr. Miller brings a commitment to integrative health to her patients in the greater nition of good health goes beyond freedom from disease.

She strives for both physical and mental well-being. She is a Family Medicine Doctor with interest in adrenal, thyroid, hormone balancing, nutrition, food allergies, weight loss, herbs, supplements and acupuncture. See ad, page 7.

HOMEOPATHY CONSULTANT JOAN SCOTT LOWE

Homeopathic Consultant 1901 Richard Arrington Jr. Blvd. South Birmingham, AL 35209 205-871-1288 Joan@HomeopathyBeWell.com HomeopathyForWellness.com Call or email Joan Scott Lowe, Homeopathic Wellness Consultant, to determine your individual constitutional remedy, the FDA-approved nontoxic homeopathic remedy based on the totality of your mental, emotional, and physical condition, chosen according to the Law of Similars ("like heals like").

Achieve wellness and freedom from illness!

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

April hath put a spirit of youth in everything. ~William Shakespeare, Sonnet XCVIII

30

Birmingham, AL

Facebook.com/nabirmingham

ORGANIC SKIN CARE NYR ORGANIC

Independent Group Leader, Jennifer Campbell 205-447-8678 CleanOrganicBeauty@gmail.com US.NYRorganic.com/shop/JenniferCampbell Safe. Beneficial. Ethical.

Neal’s Yard Remedies offers award-winning certified organic skincare and wellness products using pure ingredients sustainably sourced and fairly traded. Shop the collections, host a skincare or wellness workshop or start your own NYR Organic business. See ad, page 17.

PSYCHOLOGY CHUCK WHETSELL, PH.D.

Transformative Psychology Services 2011 9th Ave South, Suite 200B Birmingham, AL 35205 205-901-6438 • PeaceOfNowness.com CWhetsell@mindspring.com Peace comes from embracing the energy of our present experience, whatever it may be.

The Peace of Nowness group provides a space to practice acceptance of our emotions through mindfulness meditation. Groups meet weekly for 8 sessions. Please visit the website for details.

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VITAMINS & SUPPLEMENTS BELL LIFESTYLE PRODUCTS 800-333-7995 BellLifestyle.com

Formulated natural health supplements intended for pain control, urinary health, preventive illness, virility, stress relief, weight control and other common conditions. See ad, page 2.

YOGA BIRMINGHAM YOGA STUDIO

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

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

Embody Practice Center offers Yoga for all ages, levels, and health conditions.

Classes include All Levels Yoga, monthly Yoga Nidra and Restorative Yoga, Beginner’s Series, and series specific to injuries (such as neck and shoulders or low back).

EPC also offers Tai-Ji Quan (Tai Chi), Breath/ Feldenkrais® Class, Meditation workshops, and various other community and professional workshops. See ad, page 16.

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

}

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