Natural Awakenings February 2015

H E A L T H Y

L I V I N G

H E A L T H Y

P L A N E T

feel good • live simply • laugh more

FREE

Happily Coupled

Blue Ridge Green Travel

Creating Loving Relationships that Work

Romantic Getaways

Karen Perkins, D.D.S.

MercuryFree Dentistry

February 2015 | Virginia’s Blue Ridge Edition | NABlueRidge.com

letterfromthepublisher

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n this season of love, here is an assortment of inspiration for you, on many different kinds of love. May you feel and show love this month!

contact us Publisher Tracy Garland Publisher@NABlueRidge.com

“Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”

Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Editor Karen Adams Marketing & Advertising Bonnie Cranmer Bonnie@BlueRidgeGreenMedia.com Design & Production Courtney Ayers Karen Garland, Graphic Design Distribution Leigh Anne Woods distribution@nablueridge.com To contact Natural Awakenings Virginia’s Blue Ridge Edition:

Phone: 540-384-1815 Fax: 540-444-5668 Email: Publisher@NABlueRidge.com 1390 Southside Drive., Suite 118 Salem, VA 24153 NABlueRidge.com Follow us on

“Where there is love there is life.” Mahatma Gandhi “Let us always meet each other with a smile, for the smile is the beginning of love.” Mother Teresa “There is nothing I would not do for those who are really my friends.

I have no notion of loving people by halves; it is not my nature.”

Jane Austen “Love is that condition in which the happiness of another person is essential to your own.” Robert A. Heinlein “Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage.” Lao Tzu “Immature love says: ‘I love you because I need you.’ Mature love says: ‘I need you because I love you.’” Erich Fromm “A friend is someone who knows all about you and still loves you.”

Elbert Hubbard “A true friend is someone who lets you have total freedom to be yourself. . . . That’s what real love amounts to: letting a person be what he really is.”

Jim Morrison “When we love, we always strive to become better than we are. When we strive to become better than we are, everything around us becomes better too.” Paulo Coelho

© 2015 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 $15 (for 12 issues) to the above address.

Natural Awakenings is printed on recycled newsprint with soybased ink.

“Our task must be to free ourselves from this prison by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty.” Albert Einstein “A quiet secluded life in the country, with the possibility of being useful to people to whom it is easy to do good, and who are not accustomed to have it done to them; then work which one hopes may be of some use; then rest, nature, books, music, love for one’s neighbor – such is my idea of happiness.” Leo Tolstoy “Until he extends the circle of his compassion to all living things, man will not himself find peace.” Albert Schweitzer

Sincerely, Tracy Garland, Publisher

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newsbriefs healthbriefs ecotip community spotlight blueridge greentravel greenliving naturalpet business espotlight conscious eating wisewords calendar resource directory

advertising & submissions HOW TO ADVERTISE To advertise with Natural Awakenings or request a media kit, please contact us at 540-384-1815 or email Publisher@NABlueRidge.com.

Deadline for ads: the 5th of the month.

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Natural Awakenings Publishing Corp. is a growing franchised family of locally owned magazines serving communities since 1994. To place your ad in other markets call 540-384-1815. For franchising opportunities call 239-530-1377 or visit NaturalAwakeningsMag.com.

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

10 KAREN PERKINS, D.D.S. Mercury-Free Dentistry

by Karen Adams

12 BLUE RIDGE

GREEN TRAVEL

Romantic Getaways

by Anne Piedmont

12

14 ECO FENG SHUI

Tips to Bring More Positive Energy into Your Home

by Sarah Tarver-Wahlquist

16 HAPPILY COUPLED Creating Loving Relationships that Thrive

by Judith Fertig

19 COUPLEHOOD

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as Sacred Union

by Rev. Kanta Bosniak

20 WHEN YOUR

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PET PASSES A Guide to Mourning, Remembering and Healing

by Julianne Hale

21 MOUNTAIN VIEW Pet Cemetery

22 HAPPY MEALS

Eating Healthy Foods Fights Off Depression

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by Lane Vail

24 CONSCIOUS DATING Jill Crosby on Looking for Love Online

by S. Alison Chabonais

NABlueRidge.com natural awakenings

February 2015

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newsbriefs Grayson LandCare Names New President

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Free Tons of Fun Annual Family Event at Tanglewood Mall

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he 16th annual Tons of Fun event will be held at Tanglewood Mall, in Roanoke, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on February 7. This free, family day of fun activities includes inflatable games, crafts, rides, face painting, interactive exhibits and much more. Hands-onLearning-Fun stations are spread throughout the mall.

Children’s performer Roger Day, twice a Parents’ Choice Gold Award-winner, will perform, as well as the Southernettes Baton Corps. Costumed characters Spiderman, Aladdin and the Snow Queen will also visit the event.

The Roanoke County Camp Fair will be held in conjunction with Tons of Fun again this year. The Camp Fair provides an opportunity for families to meet with representatives of summer camps throughout the Mid-Atlantic region and discover which camps are right for them. Door prizes will include free weeks at various camps.

Tons of Fun is designed for children and their families. The event is hosted by Roanoke County Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism and sponsored by the Roanoke County Department of Economic Development and Tanglewood Mall.

For more information, call 540-387-6455 or visit RoanokeCountyParks.com.

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Virginia’s Blue Ridge

rayson LandCare announced in December that Kathy Cole will be the organization’s new president. Cole succeeds Danny Boyer, who helped establish Grayson LandCare and served as its president for the past seven years.

Cole was born and raised in Grayson County and attended Galax High School and Emory and Henry College. After receiving her master’s degree in psychology from Hollins College and working at the Salem Veterans Affairs Medical Center, she earned her doctorate at the Danny Boyer passes University of Oregon in Eugene. Cole worked for the the torch to Kathy Cole.

Department of Veterans Affairs for 30 years as a clinical psychologist, leadership educator and manager. After retiring in 2009 she returned to Galax to volunteer for local causes. She served on the Galax Downtown Association for three years and has been the secretary of Grayson LandCare for four years. She has two children and her interests include environmental sustainability, local economies, alleviation of poverty and animal welfare.

Grayson LandCare’s triple-bottom-line mission is: to increase the productivity and expand economic opportunities for local farmers, forest owners and other citizens; to promote sustainable and equitable management of natural resources and the environment; and to promote the greater good of the community of Grayson County, Virginia.

For more information, visit GraysonLandCare.org.

Virginia Wins USDA Funding to Connect Schools and Farmers

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overnor Terry McAuliffe recently announced that Virginia was selected for two U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) awards that will help connect Virginia agricultural producers with school systems statewide.

The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) was awarded a USDA Farm-to-School Conference and Event grant of $20,750 for a statewide Farm-to-School Conference, scheduled for March. In addition to VDACS’ grant, the USDA awarded two other Farm-to-School grants in Virginia.

Appalachian Sustainable Development, in Abingdon, was awarded a grant of $99,179 to increase the flow of local produce into three local school systems in southwest Virginia and northeast Tennessee. In addition, Pulaski County Public Schools will receive a $43,415 grant to develop a Farm-to-School initiative in their district.

Virginia was one of eight states selected by the USDA to participate in the Pilot Project for Procurement of Unprocessed Fruits and Vegetables, as directed by the Agricultural Act of 2014, also known as the Farm Bill. Under the pilot, Virginia school systems will be able to increase locally grown fruits and vegetables in their school meal programs.

“By collaborating with partners like the USDA, we can increase our momentum toward building a new Virginia economy,” says Governor Terry McAuliffe.

“These awards will support local agriculture economies while helping our efforts to bridge the nutritional divide. I’m pleased that Virginia communities, schools, families and children will benefit from these programs.”

For more information, visit FNS.USDA.gov/FarmToSchool.

NABlueRidge.com

In Memoriam: Cabell Brand

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World Spay Day Helps Save Animals’ Lives

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ebruary 24 is World Spay Day, an annual campaign designed to highlight the importance of spay/neuter programs and the need for affordable services, particularly in underserved communities.

More than 600 event organizers around the world are hosting hundreds of events and spaying or neutering thousands of animals on World Spay Day and throughout the month of February, which is Spay/Neuter Awareness Month.

You can help save animals’ lives by participating in World Spay Day. To find events near you, to sponsor a spay/neuter surgery or to find resources for affordable spay/neuter services, visit WorldSpayDay.org or contact the resources below directly.

Angels of Assisi (and Barn Cat Buddies program)*

alem native, businessman, environmentalist and philanthropist E. Cabell Brand passed away on January 13 at the age of 91. Brand was a tireless advocate for the environment and the plight of those in poverty and held a world vision for global peace.

His work spans decades, from his early years in his family shoe business to the founding of Total Action for Cabell Brand Progress (TAP), Feeding America and his namesake organization, The Cabell Brand Center for International Poverty and Resource Studies. His organization’s scholarships, provided to hundreds of students of all ages and backgrounds, demonstrated his desire to lift others up and provide opportunities that would not have existed otherwise.

Early in his life, Brand made the decision to donate 20 percent of his time to charitable causes that would improve both the local community and the world. His daughter Caroline Brand Mateja wrote: “He was the most proud of his accomplishments on issues that met the most resistance, such as school integration, women’s rights and equal opportunity for all. For these, and for all other his other goals, he truly felt that he had ‘finished his duties in this world.’”

Contributions in his memory can be made on the Cabell Brand Center website or mailed to The Cabell Brand Center For more information, visit CabellBrandCenter.org.

415 Campbell Ave., Roanoke, 540-344-8707

Bedford Humane Society 829 Ole Turnpike Dr., Bedford, 540-586-6100

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Franklin County Humane Society/Planned Pethood Clinic and Adoption Center 18401 Virgil H. Goode Hwy., Rocky Mount, 540-489-3491

Martinsville/Henry County SPCA 132 Joseph Martin Hwy., Martinsville, 276-638-7297

Mountain View Humane Spay/Neuter Clinics 5363 Peters Creek Rd., Roanoke, 540-562-8440 53 W. Main St., Ste. B, Christiansburg, 540-382-0222 (Offering a “Beat the Heat” spay program in February; all procedures only $20 at either clinic)

Pulaski County Humane Society Spay Neuter Clinic

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For more information, visit WorldSpayDay.org.

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February 2015

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newsbriefs Electronics Recycling Business Benefits Local Nonprofits

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Roanoke startup business, UCell2Us, is helping nonprofits in the area raise money through electronics recycling.

Joseph Brozovsky, owner of UCell2Us, started the business in June to recycle hand-held electronic devices, such as cell phones and tablets. Owners of unwanted electronics can turn them in to UCell2Us and receive cash in return.

While users should remove any personal information and data from their phones, Brozovsky routinely wipes each device clean and performs several factory resets to protect the previous owner’s privacy.

He then refurbishes and resells the device.

In November, he began working with local churches and other nonprofits to leverage his business model to help with the organizations’ fundraising efforts. Under this fundraising initiative, owners donate used electronics and the market rate normally given to the owner goes instead to the nonprofit. UCell2Us provides collection boxes, which are placed by the nonprofits at locations chosen and arranged by the nonprofit.

UCell2Us is currently coordinating fundraising campaigns with Big Brothers/Big Sisters and, in January, Brozovsky worked with at Keisha Graziadei-Shup and the startup nonprofit La Conexion Virginia, which serves the local Hispanic community. “Aside from raising funds, it has just been great visibility for people to find out what LaConexionVa.org is,” says Graziadei-Shup. “Joseph is a communityminded person and it has been a pleasure to work with him. He’s on top of everything, reliable and friendly. I hope his business continues to grow.”

For more information, call 540-808-8838, email Sales@UCell2Us. com or visit UCell2Us.com.

LOA Offers Free Chronic Disease Self-Management Program

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he Local Office on Aging (LOA), a nonprofit community service organization in Roanoke, is offering the Chronic Disease Self-Management Program, developed by the Stanford University School of Medicine. This free, six-week program will be held at various locations around the area.

The dates, times and locations are: Mondays, February 9 through March 16 1 to 3:30 p.m., Vinton Baptist Church, Vinton Sundays, February 15 through March 22 2 to 4:30 p.m., Roanoke Natural Foods Co-op, Roanoke Wednesdays, March 4 through April 8 1 to 3:30 p.m., Richfield Living, Salem Wednesdays, April 1 through May 6 9:30 a.m. to noon, Richfield Living, Salem Thursdays, April 2 through May 7 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Lewis Gale Medical Center, Salem Tuesdays, April 14 through May 19 1 to 3:30 p.m., Kirk Family YMCA, Roanoke People with chronic health problems such as high blood pressure, pain, diabetes, arthritis and heart disease attend the workshops together. The workshops are facilitated by two trained leaders, one or both of whom are non-health professionals with chronic diseases themselves. Topics include goal setting, problem solving, fatigue management, healthy eating, exercising and communication.

Cost: Free. Locations: Vinton Baptist Church, 219 Washington Ave., Vinton; Roanoke Natural Foods Co-op, 1319 Grandin Rd., Roanoke; Richfield Living, 3737 W. Main St., Salem; Lewis Gale Medical Center, 1802 Braeburn Dr., Salem; and Kirk Family YMCA, 520 Church Ave. SW, Roanoke. For more information, call 540-345-0451, ext. 4012, or visit loaa.org.

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Virginia’s Blue Ridge

NABlueRidge.com

Barn Cat Buddies Offers ‘Free Feline Fix’ Program

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arn Cat Buddies, Inc. in partnership with Angels of Assisi, in Roanoke, is offering free spaying, neutering and vaccinations for up to 600 cats this winter. The goal of the Free Feline Fix program is to reduce the number of litters that would otherwise be surrendered to animal pounds and shelters this spring and summer.

The program is funded by the McCausland Foundation and is free to cat and kitten owners. There is no income requirement, no zip code requirement and no limit to the number of cats per household. The program is also open to community (feral) cats as long as there is a caretaker feeding and monitoring the cats or colony.

This grant covers the cost of sterilization and rabies vaccine and ear tip for cats in traps. Any additional treatment will be the responsibility of the cat owner or caretaker.

The surgeries will be performed at Angels of Assisi, in downtown Roanoke.

Cost: Free. Location: Angels of Assisi, 415 Campbell Ave. SW, Roanoke. For more information, or to apply for the program, call the Barn Cat Buddies hotline at 3448707, ext. 3, or email Diane Novak at Diane@BarnCatBuddies.org.

Chair of Food for Thought Named to State Council

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ynthia D. Lawrence, founding chair of Food for Thought: An Edible Education Partnership, in Roanoke, has been named to the Commonwealth Council on Bridging the Nutritional Divide.

The Council, established by Governor McAuliffe in November 2014, is a public-private partnership that includes representatives from both the McAuliffe administration and Cynthia D. Lawrence the private sector. It aims to help solve childhood hunger in Virginia, promote the agricultural economy and support local programs related to community nutrition, food access and health strategies. It will ensure that Virginia pursues new opportunities and funding to promote healthy living, nutrition and local food programs. “A critical component in building a new Virginia economy is ensuring that no Virginia child or family goes hungry,� says Governor McAuliffe. “By using the assets unique to Virginia, we can bridge this nutritional divide, put more Virginians on pathways to success, and at the same time grow our local agriculture economies.�

Food for Thought is a partnership with The City of Roanoke, Roanoke City Public Schools and Virginia Western Community College. The program teaches students how to grow, prepare and share meals, and make connections between healthy food choices, the environment and communities. “Community wellness is not just a quality of life issue; it’s an economic one,“ says Lawrence. “Corporate investment and innovation occur in regions where there is high academic performance and a healthy population. The happy by-products of this initiative will be increased economic activity and a heightened awareness of and access to healthful local foods.�

For more information, visit Governor.Virginia.gov/Newsroom/ NewsArticle?articleId=7309. For more information about the Food for Thought program, call Cynthia Lawrence at 540-344-8958 or visit FoodForThoughtVA.org.

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natural awakenings

February 2015

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coverartist

healthbriefs

Satisfaction with Friendship is Hard to Come By

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Four Hearts Mac Worthington Born and raised in Canton, Ohio, cover artist Mac Worthington cites a number of powerful influences on his bold art, from a creative upbringing to his experiences in the military.

Worthington’s father, John “Jack” Worthington, was well-known for his bronze sculptures; specifically, busts of movie stars and sports figures in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, in Canton. His mother, Marion Worthington, was skilled in enameling and silver work.

Serving in the jungles of Vietnam at age 19, Worthington interpreted the emotive experiences of war into powerful expressions of art, further influenced by the music of the 1960s.

A self-taught welder, Worthington uses steel, iron and aluminum to create massive outdoor sculptures.

Worthington has participated in more than 100 exhibits across the United States, Canada, England, Ireland, France, Italy, Spain and Germany. He maintains a prominent gallery in the arts district of Columbus, Ohio, as well as a sculpture park at his private estate in rural Delaware County.

View the artist’s portfolio at MacWorthington.com.

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Virginia’s Blue Ridge

study conducted by Edge Research and Sea Change Strategies found that less than a quarter of Americans are fully satisfied with their friendships, and almost two-thirds lack confidence in even their closest friends. Seniors (70 and over) and millennials/Gen Ys (16 to 34) are more likely to be extremely satisfied than Gen X-ers (35 to 49) or baby boomers (50 to 69), indicating the existence of a midlife friendship slump.

The research was based on a self-reported survey of 1,016 Americans ages 16 and up. Across all demographics, people that report they have more close friends feel happier and are more fulfilled than those that say they have few or no friends.

The majority also prefer deeper friendships with fewer friends over just having more friends. Qualities that most people look for in friends are loyalty, honesty, goodness and reliability in a crisis. Among the attributes considered least important are similar political or religious views and physical attractiveness, which ranked last.

The use of social media appears unrelated to the number or quality of friendships or overall friendship satisfaction. People that attend religious services at least once a week are twice as likely to be completely satisfied with their friendships than those that rarely or never attend such services.

The researchers concluded, “Those seeking more fulfillment from their friendships should invest disproportionate time and energy in the relationships they consider close.”

Marriage is Good for the Heart

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esearch from the New York University School of Medicine found that married people have significantly less cardiovascular disease (CVD) than those that are divorced, widowed or otherwise single. The study used data on the rates of CVD from the health surveys of more than 3.5 million men and women collected at 20,000 U.S. medical centers.

Married people under 50 had 12 percent lower incidence of heart disease than single people. Married couples between 51 and 60 years old had a 7 percent lower risk, while those over 60 had a 4 percent lower risk.

The results were presented at the 2014 scientific sessions of the American College of Cardiology. Researcher and cardiologist Jeffrey Berger recommends that doctors show increased diligence for single patients: “If one of my patients is recently widowed or divorced, I’m increasingly vigilant about examining them for signs of any type of cardiovascular disease and depression,” he says.

NABlueRidge.com

Eco-Fireplace Tips Best Ways to Enjoy Greener Indoor and Outdoor Fires Our inclination to position ourselves near fire is a year-round lure nationwide.

Yet, the traditional ingredient in both indoor fireplaces in the north and outdoor fire pits in the south should give shivers to the eco-minded. In addition to causing considerable air pollution, wood smoke contains carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides and fine particulates that can aggravate asthma, allergies and other health conditions.

Eco-friendly firelogs—many made of recycled biomass products like compressed wood sawdust, ground nutshells and other ingredients—provide low-emission and petroleum-free alternatives to cordwood. According to GreenAmerica.org, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recommends manufactured logs over wood to cut air pollutants. Major manufacturers noted by ApartmentTherapy.com include Java, which uses coffee grounds; Energy Log briquettes made from recycled mill waste; and TerraCycle, ShredMaster Ltd. and CleanFlame, all of which use recycled and repurposed cardboard. In addition to producing greater heat, some of these logs even produce a natural crackling sound without throwing sparks.

Inserts—basically a stove that fits into existing fireplaces—provide a genuine fireside feeling, but with green benefits. An EPA-certified stove or insert is built to burn cleaner and more efficiently, dramatically reducing fine particle emissions and pollution over older models. However, while a propane gas stove insert burns even cleaner and is easier to operate, it uses nonrenewable fuel. Consider wood pellet models that burn ultra-compressed wood and biomass of olive, corn and cherry pits.

Outdoor steel fire pits that can burn firelogs have grown popular in warmer regions, and equipment manufacturers have responded. Tripods suspend swivel and free-standing grills over the pit for direct cooking or to hold cast iron kettles. Special outdoor tables also afford a gathering spot around friendly flames. Avoid gas and electric models as eco-no-nos.

If real wood is a must, be selective. Firewood that looks a little rough is more likely to come from over-mature trees of the kind that can be removed without affecting the health of its forest (WoodHeat.org). Product packages of Pioneer Processors firewood attest that it “never uses endangered wood species and always purchases from wellmanaged forests.�

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natural awakenings

February 2015

9

communityspotlight

Karen Perkins, D.D.S.: Mercury-Free Dentistry

by Karen Adams

W

hen Lynchburg dentist Karen Perkins was a youngster, she looked forward to going to her orthodontist’s office. “I really enjoyed the atmosphere of the office and how everyone worked together,” Perkins recalls. “They had lots of fun in a calming way that made it a great few years for me.” Those visits left an impression on her and steered her toward her career in dentistry.

“I also always enjoyed the tools and they gave me a small, fancy hand mirror to watch each visit,” she adds. “I still enjoy the tools of dentistry. I also strive for a similar kind of relaxed, fun and calming atmosphere every day for patients and staff alike.”

Today Perkins sees dental patients at her Lynchburg office, having joined the long-established practice of Dr. C. Frederick Smith in 2013 before Smith’s recent retirement. Perkins says that, although she had concerns about mercury throughout dental school and when she began practicing, she

Karen Perkins, D.D.S. learned about the mercury-free dentistry movement many years after graduating from the University of Michigan School of Dentistry in 1995.

“I attended a health series at my church,” she explains. “This program

brought in specialists in their fields that focused on the body’s replenishing ability and an approach to health and healing that included considering emotional, dietary, physical, spiritual and environmental considerations.” Learning about the dangers associated with mercury (or “silver”) amalgam fillings changed her thinking about her work.

She discovered and joined the International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology (IAOMT), an organization of health professionals that serves to educate the public about health risks and supports efforts to change those risks. “Working with Dr. Smith and the IAOMT have given me the opportunity to learn, grow and make a difference in these areas as it pertains to dentistry,” Perkins says.

She believes that everyone should know about mercury in dentistry, and also know that there are other choices available. For those who wish to replace their mercury fillings with safer material, there is a specific protocol for removal, established by the IAOMT. This protocol includes specialized equipment for this purpose, which reduces mercury exposure for both patients and dentists and their staff, and ensures proper and safe disposal to protect the environment.

Perkins’ office has the protective equipment and disposal procedures in place, and follows the protocol completely.

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“Mercury, a potent neurotoxin that is used in dental fillings, can damage the brain, kidneys and nervous system, and is particularly harmful to fetuses and young children,” says Perkins, who also is a mother of three children. “Substantial, peer-reviewed, scientific evidence proving these dangers has been made available.

A broad variety of solutions are available to help protect patients, staff and the environment from the use and disposal of dental mercury, through the IAOMT, ADA and other international organizations.”

Many people believe there may be additional health issues related to mercury exposure, and Perkins advises patients to address these with other health professionals as well as their dentists. “Many patients come to our office looking for safe removal of their mercury silver fillings for many reasons,” Perkins says. “While we utilize the IAOMT protocols of safe removal and disposal in our office, we encourage patients to work with a team of health care professionals that may assist them with their specific needs, as we discuss and address

their dental needs.” She adds that these are her own opinions, and she always recommends that patients discuss their health concerns with their physicians.

Besides removal of mercury fillings and mercury-free options, Perkins’ practice offers standards of care found in most dental practices: hygiene for healthy teeth, gums and bones; restoration of decayed or broken teeth or fillings with tooth-colored composite fillings, bonded onlays and veneers and crowns; and options for replacement of missing teeth.

“It is the mission of our office to continue education in these areas and to assist our patients of all ages in maintaining or improving their smiles and dental health for a lifetime,” Perkins says.

Karen Perkins, D.D.S., 46 Shelor Dr., Lynchburg. For more information, call 434-237-6328, email MercuryFreeDDS@gmail.com or visit MercuryFreeDDS.com. For more information on mercury-free dentistry and the IAOMT, visit IAOMT.org.

See ad, page 13, and Community Resource Directory, page 29.

Obstacles are

what you see when you take your eye off the goal. ~Chris Burke

natural awakenings

February 2015

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blueridgegreentravel

Romantic

Getaways

trees on the property. Just a few blocks away, the Claiborne House Bed and Breakfast, also in Rocky Mount, is a large, circa-1895 home that features a 130-foot front porch with rockers and wicker furniture for enjoying the view.

Red might be the predominant color for February, but that’s no reason you can’t go green. There are several Green Travel Leader Award-winning lodging options in the region. They include the Mountain Song Inn, a bed and breakfast in Floyd County; the Natural Bridge Hotel and Conference Center; Oak Grove Plantation Bed and Breakfast, in South Boston, and the Clay Corner Inn, a boutique hotel in downtown Blacksburg.

What better way to spend a romantic day than enjoying beautiful scenery and locally produced wines? The Bed-

by Anne Piedmont A heart-healthy walk on the Roanoke River is enjoyable year-round.

R

omance is alive in the Blue Ridge Region. February may be filled with Valentine’s Day specials, but who’s to say the love light can’t shine all year long?

Treat your sweetheart to dinner and a movie in Roanoke’s historic Grandin Village. The farm-to-table restaurant Local Roots is one of the fine dining options in the neighborhood. It’s also a 2014 Virginia Green Travel Star Awardwinner for Green Restaurant of the Year.

After dinner, wander a few doors down the block to the historic, nonprofit Grandin Theatre, which offers both new and vintage films. In addition to current releases, the Grandin’s schedule for the next few months features such classics as An Affair to Remember, Groundhog Day, Citizen Kane, Tombstone and The Manchurian Candidate.

Rocky Mount, about 25 miles south of downtown Roanoke, is rapidly becoming a getaway location for music lovers. The Harvester Performance Center, which opened last year, is helping to spark a renewal in the Franklin County town. Housed in a building that originally served as an International Harvester dealership, the center has a full and varied line-up for February.

The Wildfire Band, with special guests Randy Goodson and Angellena, will be performing on Valentine’s Day. Taking the stage later in the month are Don

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Virginia’s Blue Ridge

McLean (known for the songs “American Pie” and “Vincent”), Common Ground Bluegrass Band, James Gregory (billed as “The Funniest Man in America”), Jerry Douglas and The Earls of Leicester, Sway Katz and Underhill Rose.

A new restaurant across the street, Bootleggers Café, offers a convenient spot for dinner and/or drinks before a show. The café, housed in an old CocaCola Bottling Company building from 1929, offers contemporary American cuisine and “home scratch cooking” featuring fresh, local ingredients from sustainable farms. Make a full night of it with an overnight stay at the newly opened Early Inn at The Grove. Located just steps away from The Harvester, the bed and breakfast, an 1854 manor built in the Greek revival style, was originally known as The Grove due to the many

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Hotel Roanoke offers several Valentine’s Day specials.

The Harvester Performance Center is a perfect Valentine’s Day destination.

ford Wine Trail showcases six wineries in the Bedford area: Hickory Hill Vineyards, LeoGrande Vineyards and Winery, Peaks of Otter Winery, Ramulose Ridge Vineyards, Savoy-Lee Winery and White Rock Vineyards and Winery.

Peaks of Otter and White Rock also are green-certified wineries. The Botetourt Wine Trail includes three Botetourt Wineries: Blue Ridge Vineyards, Fincastle Vineyard and Winery and Virginia Mountain Vineyards.

The Blue Ridge Wine Trail takes wine lovers along the Blue Ridge from Fincastle into North Carolina, with most of the Virginia stops located in Floyd County, and includes Foggy Ridge Cider and the Black Snake Meadery along with Villa Appalaccia Winery, Chateau Morrisette Winery and AmRhein Wine Cellars. Fincastle Vineyard and Winery, Peaks of Otter Winery and Roanoke County’s Valhalla Vineyards also are

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part of the Blue Ridge Trail. In addition, the Attimo Winery, in Blacksburg, has been certified by the Virginia Green Program as well.

Any discussion of romantic getaways would not be complete without mentioning some of the regionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s best known, and most luxurious, accommodations. Hotel Roanoke, located steps away from Roanokeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s historic market, offers several Valentineâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s packages for both overnight guests and those who just want an intimate dinner for two. In Bath Countyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Hot Springs, The Homestead offers spa packages, outdoor activities and elegant dining, all guaranteed to spark romance.

Valentineâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Day obviously claims a prominent spot on Februaryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s calendar, but in recent years, the American Heart Association has used the month to â&#x20AC;&#x153;Go Red for Women.â&#x20AC;? Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s an effort to turn the focus on women and cardiovascular disease. Take care of your own heart and your sweetheartâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s with a romantic hike or just a stroll along one of the regionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s greenways. Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll work up an appetite for that special dinner and feel healthier, too.

For more information, visit LocalRootsRestaurant.com, GrandinTheatre. com, Harvester-Music.com, BootleggersCafe.com, EarlyInn.com, ClaiborneHouse.net, MountainSongInn.com, NaturalBridgeVA.com, OakGrovePlantation.com, ClayCorner.com, AttimoWinery.com, BedfordWineTrail.com, BotetourtWineTrail.com, BlueRidgeWineTrail.com, HotelRoanoke.com and TheHomestead.com.

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February 2015

13

greenliving

Eco Feng Shui Tips to Bring More Positive Energy into Your Home

by Sarah Tarver-Wahlquist

W

hen we’re hungry for change, we may feel the impulse to spruce up our living spaces.

Rooms that feel cluttered, drab and unappealing drag on our energy. Applying the basic inspired tenets of the ancient Chinese art and science of feng shui can transform and re-energize any space, improving the way we feel.

Translated as “wind and water,” feng shui—which has been creating healthy and harmonious environments since its origins 3,000 years ago—can activate our rethinking the arrangement, uses and tone of each room while bringing beneficial green changes home.

Feng Shui Basics When considering how to apply feng shui principles, it helps to have a trained practitioner make a map, or bagua, analyzing how energy, or chi, moves through a building. They will determine ways to help chi flow and settle in appropriate places to support all aspects of life. Recommended alterations typically start with furniture placement,

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Virginia’s Blue Ridge

achieve a balance and yield an indoor environment of peace and calm,” says feng shui practitioner Maureen Calamia, owner of Luminous Spaces, in St. James, New York.

Feng shui categorizes the natural elements as water, metal, fire, earth and wood, reflected in items like stones, plants and water features, as well as art and wall decorations and paint colors.

Filling a home with living plants is favored by many feng shui experts.

“Surround yourself with green plants, including cuttings from the yard,” advises Debra Duneier, a feng shui master practitioner, certified eco-designer and author of EcoChi: Designing the Human Experience, in New York City. “They bring energy and life force into your home, while also filtering the air you breathe.” If adding plants isn’t feasible, she recommends picking up some fresh flowers each week. Remember to change the water every day and dispose of the flowers at the first sign of wilting (dying flowers bring negative energy).

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color choices and key accessorizing.

Sample bagua maps are available online for referencing.

While a complete feng shui treatment may require major revamping, we can also take some low-cost steps to immediately create more harmony while eliminating toxins that are unhealthy and disrupt the energy flow.

Bring in Green “Bringing natural elements into a space will aid the circulation of chi, help

“Healthy indoor air quality is an essential aspect of good feng shui,” attests Alisa Rose Seidlitz, an eco feng shui consultant/designer, certified green building and interiors professional and owner of Ambiance Eco, in Berkeley, California.

“Materials used inside our homes, such as cleaning products and furnishings, can either contribute significantly to poor air quality or support positive feng shui.”

Indoor air quality is significantly impacted by furnishings and décor.

When seeking out the cleanest, greenest options, pay special attention to:

Color Me Feng Shui

H

ere’s a quick primer on the colors associated with each of the five natural elements and ways to bring them into a home. Seek a balance of all five in each room, appropriate to its use.

Wood Water Earth Metal Fire

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green, brown blue, black earth tones, soft yellows/oranges white, gray red, purple, bright yellows/oranges

living plants, wood, flowers water features, running fountains, glass brick, tile, ceramics rocks, stones sunlight

“Feng shui is the original eco-science.” ~ Will LeStrange Cleaning products. Safely discard toxic cleaning chemicals by taking them to hazardous waste pickup sites. Many household jobs can be done with vinegar and baking soda.

Paint. Revisions in wall, trim and furniture colors quickly freshen a room and bring new energy, especially when they align with Earth’s natural elements.

Avoid conventional paint, which contains dangerous volatile organic compounds (VOC) that off-gas into the air. Look for widely available zero-VOC brands. Other options include displaying art or colorful wall hangings.

Flooring. Many toxins lurk in conventional carpeting and adhesives used to lay wood or tile floors. Look for natural wool rugs, reclaimed wood and zero-VOC floor adhesives. Preserve resources and alter the energy in a space by repurposing reclaimed materials for rehab projects. For good feng shui, smudging with dried sage cleanses any negative energy leftover from previous owners.

Furnishings and fabrics. Mainstream furniture is typically treated with toxic flame retardant, so always ask how furniture has been treated before purchasing.

Seek out nontoxic and natural materials like natural rubber mattresses and hemp or organic cotton shower curtains and window coverings.

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natural awakenings

February 2015

15

Happily Coupled Creating Loving Relationships that Thrive

by Judith Fertig

“To be fully seen by somebody… and be loved anyhow— this is a human offering that can border on miraculous.” ~ Elizabeth Gilbert

A

t the conclusion of her bestselling memoir, Eat Pray Love, author Elizabeth Gilbert had fallen in love with Jose Nunes (called Felipe in the book), a Brazilian living in Indonesia. The divorced Gilbert, reluctant to have her heart broken again, had vowed never to remarry… yet ultimately changed her mind when U.S. immigration law presented her with multiple choices: marry so they could live together in this country, stay single and live as ex-pat partners or say goodbye to Nunes.

Gilbert chose a marital partnership that suits the shared life they want: honest and, after years of travel, settled in one place. She says, “For the first time in my life, living in a small town with a lovely husband in an old house with

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Virginia’s Blue Ridge

a big garden and several pets, I feel absolutely rooted in a way I have never experienced before and never would have imagined even desiring. But it is what we want—at least for now—and we’re relishing that stability.” Gilbert records the process of going from two global wanderers falling in love to a married couple sharing domestic chores in her follow-up memoir, Committed: A Love Story.

Love Science The spark that ignites such a partnership is love, which is “primarily about connection,” says Barbara Fredrickson, Ph.D., a positivity expert and author of Love 2.0: How Our Supreme Emotion Affects Everything We Feel, Think, Do, and Become. “It’s vital to our health

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and happiness, affecting our brains and bodies at the cellular level.

“We were born to love,” emphasizes Fredrickson, who also serves as a psychology professor and director of the Positive Emotions and Psychophysiology Laboratory at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. “The evidence comes from research that shows how our brain and nervous system are designed to enhance our chances of experiencing it.”

When we share positive emotions with another person, experience a synchrony between their biochemistry and behaviors and ours, plus exhibit mutual care, love can bloom, whether we stay happily single or decide to pursue a committed relationship. She calls this triple-action sequence “positivity resonance”. Love, she observes, is less a smooth, solid path than momentary experiences of connection.

Making Love Last The more areas of connection we have with our partners, the more opportunities we have to positively resonate every day, adds Frederickson.

Thomas G. Plante, Ph.D., a psychology professor at California’s Santa Clara University and adjunct clinical professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the Stanford University School of Medicine, agrees. “Long-term relationships, like marriages, are partnerships in living,” according to Plante.

“The vast majority of the time couples are together they’re not having hot sex, but are sharing a practical day-to-day life together.”

Shared activities aren’t always exciting or glamorous. Raising children, working, managing a home, cooking and cleaning, shopping, being with friends and family and the rest of regular daily living is where the rubber meets the road in relationship satisfaction, observes Plante. “If couples aren’t compatible in these areas, then the connection and attraction will inevitably atrophy, tensions emerge and too often, relationships fracture and fall apart.”

Compatibility means different things to different people, and requirements can change as individuals in a romantic partnership change over time. Compatibility also means agreement that

the relationship is worth the effort to nurture and sustain it.

Partnering Life’s Dance Five couples in different stages of loving partnerships share how they make their special relationships work. The key to them all is shared values.

Doing everything together. For newlyweds Drs. Josh and Chelsea Axe, of Nashville, Tennessee, a mutual commitment to vigorous wellness and physical fitness keeps them together. Says Josh, “The healthy lifestyle I have chosen to live is so important that I need someone who is able to not just agree, but also partner with me.” Married in 2012, the two chiropractic physicians went on to co-found the BurstFIT interval training program and meld their professional, as well as personal, lives.

Chelsea notes, “There is truth to the phrase, ‘Couples that sweat together, stay together.’ When working out together, you share a specific energy you create while pushing yourself to your mental and physical limits. You have your partner right there doing it alongside you, knowing they’re supporting you; so when you each break through a mental or physical barrier in your workout, you step over together into a strength and confidence that carries over into your marriage. Being a part of each other’s goals and the struggles to reach them unifies us.”

Remarks Josh, “I feel like we can both be successful individually, but when we’re a team, the outcome is synergistic.”

Chelsea adds, “It’s never a mindset of ‘me.’ It’s always ‘us.’”

Balancing work and play. Barbara and Bob Unell, of Leawood, Kansas, dated as teenagers, went their separate ways in college and then found each other again in their early 20s. “We went on a blind date in 1968 and both belted out songs on the car radio,” recalls Barbara. “I thought he had a great sense of humor and was fun to be with. All these years later, it feels like we’re still dating. We’re crazy about each other.”

Both Barbara and Bob describe themselves as enthusiastic, playful, entrepreneurial, altruistic and geared toward creative projects, whether un-

“Seventy-five to 80 percent of all chemistry evaporates within six to eight months unless the relationship is significantly undergirded by deeper and more durable compatibility.” ~Neil Clark Warren dertaken together or separately. “We’re both, ‘Let’s try this,’ sort of people,” says Barbara with a laugh.

When the Unells had twins, now grown, they realized there was no national publication addressing how to parent multiples, so they launched Twins magazine in 1984. Bob founded and managed an advertising agency while Barbara wrote bestselling parenting books, but the whole family traveled together on her speaking engagements.

In response to becoming a breast cancer survivor, Barbara founded the nonprofit Back in the Swing in 2000 to support survivorship care at cancer centers.

When they needed additional staff, Bob joined the team in 2009. One of the biggest things that Barbara has learned from Bob is, “You can make work fun.”

“Although we come from different backgrounds, Bob and I know the power of mutual respect, trust and kindness,” reflects Barbara. “Part of our connection is that we have shared history and never take each other for granted.”

Making long-distance work. Lisa Ekus, who runs the full-service culinary talent agency The Lisa Ekus Group, in Hatfield, Massachusetts, had been married twice and already raised her two children when she met Atlanta Chef Virginia Willis. They got to know each other through culinary events and to their surprise, fell in love. Over the past six years they’ve evolved a relationship that works for them—keeping a deep personal connection, but maintaining separate residences.

Cookbook author Willis gardens, develops recipes and writes for her Food Network blog, “Down Home Comfort,” at Ekus’ New England compound in the summers; Ekus travels to the South during cold months. They also meet up as often as they can at conferences, food and wine festivals and other events during the rest of the year.

“We are both smart, professional women who love what we do, have strong ethics and a high level of self-expectation in how we work,” says Ekus.

“We are also best friends and work together professionally. The respect we have for each other and our work is instrumental in our relationship.”

“We often joke about the North/ South, fast/slow cultural difference,” Ekus notes. “I’m more spontaneous; Virginia is more thoughtful in her responses. I tend to move fast and focus on checking off items, while Virginia is more about the journey and being in the moment. It often makes us each take stock and consider what we’re doing and saying.”

They make the geographic separation work despite its inherent longdistance complications via consistent communication, saying good morning and good night every day by phone and texting often. They hold regular agent/author meetings to make professional plans and personal calendar meetings at least weekly, recognizing and respecting what is important to each of them.

Bridging the age gap. Karen and Dick Eagle, from St. Louis, Missouri, are 16 years apart in age, but are close in the ways that count. Both are strong-minded and still vie to get their own way even after 30 years of marriage. “We argue over the stupid-

natural awakenings

February 2015

17

est things, and then “Marriages based on laid back and easy to resolve our disagreebe with, I can relax,” a mutual desire to says Susan. Michael, ments and realize how good we have serve and inspire grow on the other hand, always seemed to fill it,” says Karen. continually in richness a room. Jake helps What first attracted them to each othand beauty, and are Susan with chores around the property er—and keeps them a benediction to all and she is always together—is a love of playful fun and good who know of them.” there cheering him on from the front row times with friends. when he performs at Karen remarks, “I ~ Meher Baba local venues. knew Dick was ‘the one’ when he jumped flat-footed over a wingback chair at a friend’s house.

Cultivating Care That showed me that he was young at Working out as a couple, sharing a heart.” creative project or making a gourmet Making ends meet. Eleven years meal together can do more than keep ago, when family therapist Susan partners feeling connected. Shared Franklin lost her husband, Michael, a activities also keep the positive experiuniversity college professor, she felt ences ongoing and resonating. “That bereft and overwhelmed. The pair had special bond and the commitments owned a country property near Clevepeople often build around it are the land, Ohio, where they boarded horsproducts of love, the results of the es. Susan realized, “I couldn’t keep up many smaller moments in which love with everything on infuses you,” maintains my own,” and Jake Fredrickson. Such moMarshall, a musician ments not only accufriend of Michael’s, mulate, but can also offered to help. Over be stored in memtime, Susan and Jake ory and banked to became close, and feed a relationship they now live during the tougher together. times.

Although “Love is someJake is a great thing we should supporter in re-cultivate every many ways, he’s day,” she says. A not in a position loving partnership to help financially. is always a work Susan depends on her in progress. late husband’s insurance and pension benefits, Judith Fertig is a freelance writer from which she would lose if Overland Park, KS. she remarries. “Jake is so Mary Pritchard ND, CNC, MME

Conscious Compatibility

N

eil Clark Warren, Ph.D., a clinical psychologist and cofounder of the eHarmony relationship website, believes there are at least 29 personality dimensions— such as anger management skills, intelligence, feelings about children, energy and ambition—that comprise who we are and play a role in maintaining a relationship.

Key personality dimensions include interests and activities, guiding principles and philosophies, expressions of emotional experience, tendencies toward togetherness and separateness, goals and familial and other relationships.

Warren suggests categorizing desired qualities in a mate into three lists: non-negotiables, qualities that are top priority and deal breakers; semi-negotiables that are important, yet flexible secondary priorities; and negotiables that are subject to trade-offs for more important qualities.

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me a better person.” Most engaged couples also say that when they met, or shortly thereafter, they just “knew” they had met their life partner. Who knows what cosmic matching system may be involved? Campbell refers to it as “a mystery,” a sacred unknown that functions in a way we don’t understand but that is reliable if we follow our built-in guidance system.

Couplehood as SACRED UNION

by Rev. Kanta Bosniak

I

n an interview between Joseph Campbell, author of The Power of Myth, and Bill Moyers, the two discuss marriage.

Campbell differentiates between marriage and love affairs. Love affairs, he says, are about gratification and always end up in disappointment. Marriage, on the other hand, he says, is alchemical in nature. “It’s the sacrifice of the ego to the relationship of the twoness, which becomes one,” Campbell says. In so doing, he continues, we sacrifice “the visible for a transcendent good.”

In a committed relationship with the right person, we grow spiritually, because we value the love we share more than our selfish nature. Each time we make a choice to prioritize the relationship more than our shadow selves, we bring joy to the union, strengthen the connection with our loved one and raise our consciousness, all at the same time.

MOYERS: How does one choose the right person?

CAMPBELL: Your heart tells you.

There’s a flash that comes and something in you knows this is the one.

In pre-marital counseling interviews, couples are often asked about their shared values. Counselors and ministers often are told that “putting the relationship first” is essential and that the beloved “makes

Rev. Kanta Bosniak, of Radford, creates and officiates custom wedding ceremonies and baby blessings. She is the author of numerous books, including Awakened Love, Twin Flames and Sacred Love, and the baby blessing book Welcome to the World! She is listed in Who’s Who in America and is the winner of national and local awards for excellence in wedding officiation. For more information, call 540-577-8854 or visit KantaBosniak.com. See Community Resource Directory, page 29.

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naturalpet

When Your Pet Passes A Guide to Mourning, Remembering and Healing

by Julianne Hale

A

pet’s love is extraordinary because it is unconditional. It doesn’t have expectations, pass judgment or try to leverage guilt. It is rich in loyalty, trust and adoration.

Domestic pets provide warmth, companionship and love, as well as purpose, fun and conversational gambits for family members. For lonely hearts, they are a lifeline, providing a physical, emotional and spiritual connection to life that may prove critical to survival and happiness.

Loving pets seem like an endless source of happiness while with us, but few outlive their owners. Loss is as much a part of having a pet as potty training. For some, the loss of a dog or cat is debilitating and the grieving process can take months.

Rev. Gary Kowalski, author of Goodbye, Friend and a Unitarian Universalist minister in Santa Fe, New Mexico, contends that the depth of the relationship that we develop with pets emerges from the time we spend with them every day—exercising, feeding, grooming and even sleeping

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Virginia’s Blue Ridge

with them. The relationship is pure and uncomplicated, and the pain of separation can be especially intense and profound.

The challenge of pet loss is often complicated by the difficult decision to euthanize an aged or suffering animal. “One of the hardest things about having a dog is that sometimes you have to decide to end its life,” says Jon Katz, of upstate New York, a New York Times bestselling author of many books about dogs, including Going Home: Finding Peace When Pets Die. “Our job as pet owners is to be an advocate for our pets, making sure they do not suffer. Don’t poison the joy that you shared with your pet with guilt over your decisions,” he says. Katz recommends taking photos of pets and making intentional memories in the time leading up to parting to encourage closure.

The same kind of rituals we use to honor and say goodbye to other family members can likewise help ease the pain of a pet’s passing.

Owners can gather with loved ones and friends to celebrate the life of

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their pet with a burial ceremony or memorial. Kowalski likes adding meaningful words. His book includes a variety of readings that pet owners can use in their rituals taken from poems, literature, the Bible and other sacred texts.

When a human friend or family member dies, compassion and empathy flows from everyone we meet, but many may not be aware of, or understand, the depth of grief associated with a pet’s death. “Some people feel embarrassed or don’t understand that mourning a deceased pet is a normal process,” explains Julia Harris, a pet bereavement counselor from Ellijay, Georgia, and author of Pet Loss: A Spiritual Guide.

Support is essential during times of grief, and it can be difficult to find an understanding friend to discuss it with. Several online communities are devoted to providing support. An Internet search of “pet loss support” yields a wealth of online resources.

In the same way that the belief in an afterlife comforts people of many faith traditions when a person passes, the possibility of the same destiny for pets can offer comfort. “Perhaps one of the most common questions I am asked is whether or not animals have a soul,” explains Harris. “I encourage people to know that the soul, like love, is eternal. It leaves the physical body, but the loving relationship continues.”

While there’s no standard timeline for the grieving process, it’s important to keep perspective. Excessive grief can lead to depression. “If the grief is interfering with life and your work, then you may need to seek professional help,” advises Katz.

Not even a parent is capable of providing the purely unconditional love we receive from pets. Kowalski views it as a sacred connection, observing that through the unconditional love and acceptance that we receive from our pets, we get a little glimpse of what God’s love must look like.

Julianne Hale is a writer and editor for Natural Awakenings and blogs about family life at AnotherGrayHair.

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businessspotlight Mountain View Pet Cemetery: A Peaceful Resting Place

O

ur pets will always have a place in our hearts, but what about a place for their eternal rest?

Mountain View Cemetery, in Vinton, provides a special area dedicated to memorializing our cherished family pets.

Like so many of us, Tanner Price, one of Mountain View’s family service counselors, has a personal connection to pet burials. He recalls losing a beloved dog when he was a boy and wishes now his family hadn’t buried her in the back yard. “We don’t live there any more, so I will never be able to visit her grave,” says Price. “If we had the options that pet cemeteries and funeral homes offer today, I think we would have gone a different route with Princess’s memorial.”

Another Mountain View family service counselor, Beth Abbott, adds, “Our families really make the burial service

for their pets unique and meaningful.

One family read a poem they had written and another family placed 17 tennis balls in their dog’s casket, signifying the seventeen years of joy he had provided them.”

The staff at Mountain View understands how hard it is to lose a pet, really a member of your family, and want to help clients in the mourning process.

When coping with a pet’s death, it is important to have support from people who care. “My own personal experience with the loss of a pet is filled with memories of compassionate veterinarians

and other pet professionals we dealt with, like groomers and kennel owners.” says Donald Wilson, president of Evergreen Memorial Trust, which owns Mountain View Cemetery. “The people at Mountain View want to be a part of that support group.”

Recent landscaping and development improvements at Mountain View provide spaces for full burial as well as the cremated remains of dogs, cats and other small pets, such as rabbits and birds. Pet caskets and urns are available, but shoe boxes are also permitted for pet burials. (Other funeral and cremation services in the area can offer some choices here, as well as castings of paw and footprints.)

Mountain View Cemetery will rededicate its pet cemetery in the spring with new plantings, columns and a bronze bench. It is open every day.

Mountain View Cemetery, 1401 Mountain View Rd. (at the Ruddell Rd. intersection), Vinton. For more information, call 540-342-7566 or visit MountainViewCemeteryVinton.com. See ad, page 7, and Community Resource Directory, page 29.

Your best source for healthy and natural pet foods and treats.

The largest selection of pet gifts, toys, beds, wild bird, pond and garden supplies.

3912 Brambleton Ave. Roanoke, VA 24018 540-989-8020

MyNaturesEmporium.com

natural awakenings

February 2015

21

consciouseating

HAPPY MEALS Eating Healthy Foods Fights Off Depression

by Lane Vail

A

dvertisements for antidepressants abound, yet a recent analysis in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that the benefits of treating mildly or moderately depressed individuals with these drugs “may be minimal or nonexistent” compared with a placebo. Most physicians agree that at least part of the prevention of and recovery from depression can be addressed through diet.

“Every molecule in the brain begins as food,” says Dr. Drew Ramsey, author of The Happiness Diet and assistant clinical professor of psychiatry at the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons. “Food choice is the biggest puzzle piece patients have under their control.”

Ramsey describes the modern American diet as being overwhelmed with highly processed foods, refined carbohydrates, omega-6 fats and sugar.

His food philosophy serves as an overall prescription for mental health: “Eat food

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that comes from farms and not factories; simple, recognizable human food.”

Registered Dietitian Kathie Swift, an integrative clinical nutritionist in Lennox, Massachusetts, and author of The Swift Diet, agrees that food is powerful medicine. She recommends a balanced, flexitarian diet founded on plants, but including high-quality, animal-sourced foods. Just shifting our processed-foods to whole-foods ratio yields an improved mood, Swift says, which continues to motivate dietary change.

Prebiotic/Probiotic Potential Recent science suggests a deeper meaning to the “gut feeling” adage.

Bacteria in the gut and neurochemicals in the brain communicate intimately and bidirectionally via the vagus nerve, explains Swift. Altering the gut’s microbial population, whether from chronic stress, antibiotic overuse or nutritional deficiencies, can change brain chemistry

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and thereby influence mood, mental clarity and sleep, she says.

In 2013, Canadian researchers altered both the neurochemicals and behavior in mice by switching their intestinal microbiota; anxious mice given the microbes of intrepid mice became braver, and vice versa. Another small study in the British Journal of Nutrition showed a decrease in depression and anxiety symptoms in volunteers taking probiotics for a month.

Essentially, says Swift, “We have a brain in the belly,” which must be nourished by both prebiotics (soluble fiber) and probiotics (fermented food). “Fiber is the quintessential substance to feed the lovely community of bugs in the gut,” says Swift, “while fermented foods interact with resident bacteria and give them a boost.” She recommends a variety of vegetables as a primary source of fiber, especially legumes, along with fruits, nuts, cheese and the occasional gluten-free whole grain. Probiotic foods include fermented vegetables, kefir, yogurt with live active cultures and apple cider vinegar.

B Happy Most psychiatric medications target feel-good neurotransmitters like serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine, says Ramsey, but the body also manufactures these chemicals naturally during the methylation cycle, a B-vitamin-dependent neurological process.

“B vitamins are superstars of the brain,” Ramsey says. “Think of them as lubrication for the brain’s gears.”

Folate, or vitamin B9 is particularly important to healthy nervous system functioning. A meta-analysis of 15,000 people reported in the Journal of Epidemiology associated low folate with a higher risk of depression. Dark leafy greens like kale, spinach and Swiss chard are high in B vitamins, as are beets, eggs, lentils, beans and whole grains; helpful fruits include papaya, avocado and berries.

Omega-3s Please “It’s a horrible notion that fat is bad,” says Ramsey.

Swift agrees, noting, “We need a major renovation and reeducation of this important neuro-nutrient.” The

integrity of a neuron cell membrane, which Swift describes as “a beautiful and fluid layer of lipids,” is crucial for brain health because it dictates communication among neurotransmitters. “The fat we eat becomes the fat of our cell membranes,” she says. “So nourish your membranes with adequate amounts of the right types of fat.”

Long-chain omega-3s (DHA) docosahexaenoic acid and (EPA) eicosapentaenoic acid build and protect neurons, help prevent cognitive decline with age and can boost overall mood and mental performance, says Ramsey. A study in the Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry found that treating depressed patients with omega-3 EPA was as equally effective as Prozac. “DHA

and EPA are the two most important fats for brain health on the planet, period,” states Ramsey.

Foods rich in omega-3s include fatty seafood like salmon, mussels and oysters, plus sea vegetables, walnuts, flaxseed and grass-fed beef. For vegetarians and vegans, Ramsey recommends an algal DHA supplement.

Focusing on feeding the brain doesn’t preclude staving off heart disease, obesity or diabetes. “Follow the rules of eating for brain health,” Ramsey says, “and you’ll also be slim, energized, focused and resilient.” It’s all a recipe for happiness.

Lane Vail is a freelance writer and blogger at DiscoveringHomemaking.com.

Good-Mood Meal Plans Wild-Caught Alaskan Salmon with Sautéed Swiss Chard, Pickled Beets and Banana-Avocado Pudding Salmon is an excellent source of omega3s, and Swiss chard offers fiber and folate. Beets are high in folate, as well as nitrites, which improve circulation throughout the body and the brain, says Nutritionist Kathie Swift. Double-down on beets’ power by eating them pickled in apple cider vinegar, promoting healthy gut flora. Bananas contain tryptophan, an amino acid involved in serotonin production, and avocados are high in folate and oleic acid, a model unsaturated omega-9 fat needed for healthy brains, advises Dr. Drew Ramsey.

Lentil Salad with Hummus, Grilled Asparagus, Broccoli, Red Onion and Grilled Watermelon Lentils, chickpeas and asparagus are high in fiber and B vitamins, while walnuts add omega-3s. Broccoli is an excellent source of chromium, a mineral found to lower blood sugar and reduce symptoms of depression in some people, according to a Cornell University study. Grilled onions (along with garlic, which can be blended into hummus) belong to a food family called alliums that promote healthy vascular function and blood flow to the brain and also contain a high concentration of chromium, says Ramsey.

Watermelon’s red color is due to its high concentration of the antioxidant lycopene, which helps resolve free radical damage, inflammation and hormone imbalances associated with depression, notes Swift.

Grass-Fed Beef with Roasted Sweet Potatoes, Kale and Greek Yogurt Swirled with Raspberries A British Journal of Nutrition study showed that beef raised on chlorophyllrich grass provides more omega-3s than grain-fed beef. Like other animal proteins, beef is a significant source of tryptophan. Kale and sweet potatoes contribute fiber, folate and vitamin A, which promotes the enzymes that create the pleasure neurotransmitter, dopamine. Yogurt is also high in tryptophan, and raspberries provide folate and antioxidants.

Please join us for: greendrinks 2nd Wednesday of each month

5 to 7 pm

1327 Grandin Rd., SW Roanoke Info@GrandinCoLab.com

GrandinCoLab.com

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Free-Range Egg Omelet with Spinach, Tomatoes, Cheese and Fresh Papaya Eggs are a power-packed food full of B vitamins, tyrosine and tryptophan amino acids, plus selenium, zinc and iodide, micronutrients vital for proper functioning of the energy- and metabolism-regulating thyroid, says Ramsey.

Tomatoes and natural cheese are high in lycopene and tryptophan, respectively, and spinach and papaya are packed with folate and fiber. natural awakenings

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wisewords

Conscious Dating Jill Crosby on Looking for Love Online

by S. Alison Chabonais

J

ill Crosby, owner and founder of the Conscious Dating Network, has focused on spiritual development and meditation for more than 30 years. Working as a director for the granddaddy of the original onsite photo/video dating companies, which included interviewing 6,000-plus singles, sparked a desire to create a venue for spiritually conscious singles to meet.

So, 15 years ago, she created her flagship online dating site, SpiritualSingles.com.

NaturalAwakeningsSingles.com, launched two years ago as part of the network, shares the same database of members as SpiritualSingles.com and many affiliated conscious dating sites in the network.

Today, the Conscious Dating Network is the largest of its kind. From Mount Shasta, California, Crosby leads a team of specialists that care for members’ needs and provide a loving, inspiring site for singles to meet their beloveds.

How has online dating continued to evolve and what trends do you see now?

The stigma about meeting someone online has completely dissolved as success stories have become so common. It’s like shopping online—you can look at many different varieties and styles to find exactly what you are looking for, rather than physically searching store after store hoping to find something you like.

Technology has made a tremendous difference in price, accessibility and reach.

Today, members post selfies as headshots, shoot their own videos and can access potential matches anywhere in the world.

I used to think long-distance relationships didn’t stand a chance. However, with Skype and a willingness to relocate, many of our success stories start as long-distance connections. Video chatting is a great way to assess common values and get to know someone on a deep level before traveling to meet in person.

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Virginia’s Blue Ridge

What distinguishes conscious dating sites like Natural AwakeningsSingles.com from mainstream sites?

Natural Awakenings Singles is a niche dating site for those that are conscious, spiritual and green. Singles with specific interests, passions and lifestyles usually prefer niche dating sites because they allow for more targeted search results, provided that the member database is large enough. Our database of more than 90,000 members globally is considered large for a niche. Mainstream sites may have more members; however, they require far more time and effort in sorting through profiles to find those with whom we might have something in common.

Natural Awakenings Singles is also much more generous than conventional pay models, in that free members can read and reply to personal messages and live instant messages sent from subscribing members. Most mainstream sites make members pay to read and reply to messages. Our primary goal is for our singles to become couples—to facilitate the tremendous amount of success our members experience, we do many things differently.

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Have you seen any overall differences in the success stories the Conscious Dating Network facilitates?

Yes, our members usually connect on a deeper, “soul-to-soul” level and tend to understand that chemistry comes in all shapes and sizes. Our success story couples oftentimes have the feeling that they are destined to be together.

We encourage members to listen to their inner guidance in regard to whom to contact, be grateful in advance and stay in their divine flow. When members tune in and act from this space, miracles happen.

Many of our “destined” couples go on to do amazing projects together, like opening retreat centers, writing books, facilitating workshops, starting intentional communities, creating nonprofit organizations and other beautiful ventures that neither of them would have necessarily done alone. The power of two seems to be exponentially greater.

What have proved to be your all-time favorite tips for online dating success?

By healing past traumas, loving and forgiving ourselves, and embodying our divine presence as much as possible, deep-seated feelings of unworthiness fall away and we emanate our true radiance, thus magnetizing a partner equally empowered and awake.

When we are in a place of personal power, there is no being shy or procrastinating. Imagine how it would be once you have met the love of your life, and focus on those feelings while browsing and reading profiles. When you notice a strong inner nudge to contact someone, do it. If it’s not mutual, that’s OK; don’t take it personally. That’s part of the beauty of online dating; the pool is large, and when the feeling and knowingness is mutual, you might just be starting a life together.

“In-joy” the process, be positive and choose to make it a fun adventure!

Joining NaturalAwakeningSingles. com includes access to all members of all the Conscious Dating Network sites.

S. Alison Chabonais is the national content editor for Natural Awakenings magazines.

ADVERTORIAL

BRINGING MORE THAN HOMEWORK HOME

By Ryan Hogan It’s the time of year when we send our kids back to school from the holidays. Unfortunately, while schools are good places to learn they are great places to catch a disease. In fact, children’s Upper respiratory illnesses (URI’s) cause more doctor visits and missed school days than any other illness in the US. Luckily, there are a few things you can do at home to help reduce the chances of your child getting sick at school this year.

sanitizer before eating snacks, lunch and after using a shared computer mouse, pencil sharpener, water fountain or other community objects.

Now, most people know we need to wash our hands, but one thing most people don’t really relate their health to is nasal hygiene. Using a saline spray with xylitol, such as Xlear Nasal Spray, is safe for all ages. Research has shown this natural sweetener is useful in preventing bacterial otitis media (ear infections), among other upper respiratory problems that are most likely to occur in fall and winter months. Additional xylitol studies have also shown a significant reduction in asthma attacks when a xylitol nasal spray is used on a daily basis.

Xylitol affects nose and throat bacteria in two ways:

HOW? Before we talk prevention, we need to know how infection spreads. Many childhood illnesses are caused by viruses and bacteria that are transferred from person to person. URI’s increase in fall and winter as we spend more time crowded indoors. All it takes is one sick child, going to school for the spread to begin. Small droplets from a child’s cough or sneeze travel through the air and land on surfaces like desks, doorknobs and people. These germs are easily spread when someone touches the contaminated object and then proceeds to touch their eyes, nose or mouth. Children’s immune systems are less mature than those of adults, so they’re more vulnerable to these germs. Washing your hands and your nasal passages and also keeping their hands away from their nose, eyes and mouth are the most preventative habits to form at a young age.

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Decreases the adherence of harmful bacteria on their surface cells.

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Stimulates the body’s own natural defense system

Since the average American child has six to ten colds a year, using a xylitol nasal spray is a safe and effective way to promote better upper respiratory health, year round.

FINAL HEALTHY TIPS In addition to frequent hand-washing, teach your child some other school health basics:

WHAT CAN YOU DO? Our best defense is to stop cold germs where they breed.

Good hand-washing is the most effective way to prevent bacteria and viruses from spreading. Wash your hands after using the bathroom, blowing your nose, handling trash and prior to touching food to help eliminate germs. Soap and water should be used for 20 seconds (about as long as it takes to sing the “Happy Birthday” song twice). Using alcohol-based hand cleaners is also effective. Remind your child to use the

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Cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze.

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Give your child a package of tissues to keep in his or her desk.

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Encourage your child not to share water bottles, food or other personal items.

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Ask your child’s teacher to include hand-washing time before lunch or snacks.

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Have your whole family practice nasal hygiene and the use of xylitol saline spray like Xlear.

Even with all of these tips, your kids are bound to come down with something over the course of the school year. We all get sick at some point or another, forming healthier habits and maintaining a positive attitude is all we can do as parents.

For more information, please visit www.xlear.com.

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February 2015

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calendarofevents ongoingevents To have your event included in the Calendar of Events, please email Publisher@NABlueRidge. com or visit NABlueRidge.com for guidelines and to submit entries. Calendar entries are due by the 5th of the month prior to publication.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 3 South Rail Concert and Reception – 7:30pm. Come experience the sounds of The Americana Roots Rock and Soul Band currently on a national tour. Reception following the concert. $10/person. Roanoke Metaphysical Chapel, 1499 Peters Creek Rd NW, Roanoke. 540-562-5122. RoanokeMeta.org.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6 Community HU Song and Introductory Book Discussion in Lynchburg − 7pm. Community HU song followed at 7:30pm with an Eckankar book discussion on Wisdom of the Heart, Book 3 by Harold Klemp. Sponsored by Eckankar Center, Roanoke.

Wave Wellness Center, 3201 Hill St, Lynchburg. 540-353-5365.

SWVA.Eck.Cntr@gmail.com. Eck-VA.org. Eckankar.org.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 7 Monroe Institute Excursion Workshop – 9am-6pm.

Continues on Sunday, 9am-5:30pm. Easily access expanded states of consciousness using Hemi-Sync technology to realize more of your untapped potential. Pre-registration is required. $195/person. KeyQuest, Floyd County. 540651-2727. KeyQuest.US.com.

16th Annual Tons of Fun – 10am-4pm. Inflatable games, crafts, rides, face painting, interactive exhibits and much more for children and their families. Sponsored by Roanoke County Parks and Rec., Roanoke County Department of Economic Development and Tanglewood Mall. Free. Tanglewood Mall, Roanoke. 540-387-6455. RoanokeCountyParks.com.

AAUW Semi-Annual Used Book Sale – 9am-6pm. Tanglewood Mall, Roanoke. RoanokeValley-VA.AAUW.net.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13 Special Chef’s Three-Course Tasting – 5-10pm. Also, chef’s three- and five-course tasting on Saturday, February 14. Both evenings will have a few surprises from our chefs.

All food will be designed toward opening the heart, such as oysters, chocolates and our special “Lover’s Cocktail.” Please call for reservations. Local Roots Restaurant, 1314 Grandin Rd, Roanoke. 540-206-2610. LocalRootsRestaurant.com.

All-Message Service – 7:30pm. An all-message service is one in which the minister gives an individual spiritual message to each person. At this type of service there is no sermon, but there is prayer and the singing of hymns to raise the vibrations so that the minister may tune into you and your loved ones in spirit. $20/person. Roanoke Metaphysical Chapel, 1499 Peters Creek Rd NW, Roanoke. 540-562-5122. RoanokeMeta.org.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 21 Sleep Tight: Say So Long to Insomnia Workshop – 9:30am5:45pm. Learn dozens of practical strategies and experience Hemi-Sync as a powerful tool to support deep, restorative sleep. Pre-registration is required. $95/person. KeyQuest, Floyd County. 540-651-2727. KeyQuest.US.com.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 28 Into the Light: The Near-Death Experience Workshop – 9:30am-5:45pm. Discover what it’s like to have a near-death experience by safely and easily visiting non-physical realms using Hemi-Sync technology. Pre-registration is required. $95/person.

KeyQuest, Floyd County. 540-651-2727. KeyQuest.US.com.

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TUESDAY, JANUARY 20 – TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 10 Parenting Teens with Positive Discipline – 6-7:30pm. This series of classes with Cathy Songer of Parenting-SOS addresses getting over those hurdles with teens by teaching you positive and effective skills that bring out the best in you and your teen. $75. Blacksburg Community Center, 725 Patrick Henry Dr, Blacksburg. 540-239-0287. SongerCat@ Parenting-SOS.com. Parenting-SOS.com.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 22 – THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12 Parenting 2-11’s with Positive Discipline – 6-7:30pm. This series of classes with Cathy Songer of Parenting-SOS helps you face and handle the changing challenges of parenting kids from ages 2 through 11. $75. Blacksburg Community Center, 725 Patrick Henry Dr, Blacksburg. 540-239-0287. SongerCat@ Parenting-SOS.com. Parenting-SOS.com.

sunday Unity of Roanoke – 9 and 11am services. All welcome.

3300 Green Ridge Rd NW, Roanoke. 540-562-2200.

Office@UnityRoanoke.org. UnityOfRoanokeValley.org.

Unity in the Seven Hills – 10-11am. Sunday service. Free. 3522 Campbell Ave, Lynchburg.

434-845-5832. Love@UnityInTheSevenHills.org.

UnityInTheSevenHills.org.

Valley Community Church – 11am. Practical solutions based on the teachings of Jesus. Services include varied musical programs; refreshments served afterward. Also streaming live on the Internet. All welcome. Nursery available. 5000 Carriage Dr, Roanoke. 1 block off Rt 419, behind the McDonald’s at Oak Grove Plaza. 540-774-5512. VCCDS.com.

Meditation Class – 11am-12:30pm. Beginning Sunday, February 15. “How to Understand the Mind.” Everyone welcome. $10/person. Dharmapala Buddhist Center, 315 Albemarle Ave SE, Roanoke. 540-521-7989. Info@MeditationInVirginia. org. MeditationInVirginia.org.

Eckankar Worship Service – 11am-Noon. Second Sunday of each month. During each worship service we explore a spiritual topic and practice simple spiritual exercises to help gain personal experience with the light and sound of God. All welcome. Eckankar Center, 1420 Third St, Roanoke (first floor, back far right office). 540-353-5365. SWVA.Eck.Cntr@ gmail.com. Eck-Virginia.org. Eckankar.org.

Peace Readers Book Group – 2pm. Last Sunday of every month. Book group focusing on titles that help to create a culture of peace. For more information, check the calendar on our website. All are welcome.

Free. The Peace Practice, 3200 Memorial Ave, Lynchburg. 434-609-3437. ThePeacePractice.com.

Flow Yoga – 4:30-5:30pm. Practice yoga in a fun, safe, intelligent, well-stocked studio. No registration required; drop in any time. Bedford Yoga Center, 715 Liberty St, Bedford. 434-944-1150. YogaBedford.com.

NABlueRidge.com

Enter the Mysterium – 5-7pm. A weekly spiritual service featuring grounding games, interactive presentations, mudra meditations and energy healing.

Valley Community Church, 5000 Carriage Dr, Roanoke. 1 block off Rt 419, behind the McDonald’s at Oak Grove Plaza. 540-998-9789. VCCDS.com.

monday AA Meetings – 8-9am. Also Wednesdays and Fridays. Valley Community Church, 5000 Carriage Dr, Roanoke. 1 block off Rt 419, behind the McDonald’s at Oak Grove Plaza. 540-774-5512. VCCDS.com.

Flow Yoga – 5:30-6:30pm. Practice yoga in a fun, safe, intelligent, well-stocked studio. No registration required; drop in any time. Bedford Yoga Center, 715 Liberty St, Bedford. 434-944-1150. YogaBedford.com.

Coworking at the CoLab – 9am-5pm. Opportunity to sample a working space at the CoLab. Free. Grandin CoLab, 1327 Grandin Rd SW, Roanoke. 540-524-2702.

Info@GrandinCoLab.com. GrandinCoLab.com.

Yoga – 6:30-7:30pm. Valley Community Church, 5000 Carriage Dr, Roanoke. 1 block off Rt 419, behind the McDonald’s at Oak Grove Plaza. 540-774-5512.

VCCDS.com.

Creating Your Joy: Yoga to Manage Your Mood – 7-8:15pm. Join us for a gentle yoga class that emphasizes balancing the nervous system and mood regulation. $12 drop-in or purchase a class card. All are welcome. Inner Wisdom Yoga and Psychotherapy, 1420 Third St, Roanoke. 540-798-8478. InnerWidsomYogaTherapy@gmail.com.

A Course in Miracles – 7-9pm. All welcome.

Love offering. Unity of Roanoke Valley, 3300 Green Ridge Rd NW, Roanoke. 540-562-2200 x10.

UnityOfRoanokeValley.org.

tuesday Kid’s Yoga – 4:30-5:15pm. Beginner’s class aimed at being light and engaging for children. Call to pre-register. Ages 4-11. Free/first session; $8/one session; $36/six sessions. Life in Balance Counseling and Wellness Center, 125-D Akers Farm Rd, Christiansburg. 540-381-6215. LifeInBalanceCenter.com.

Beginner’s Yoga – 5:30-6:45pm. Also Thursdays 4:15-5:30pm and Fridays 9:30-10:45am. Increase your strength and flexibility. No experience necessary. Call to pre-register. Free/first session/free; $12/one session; $48/6 sessions. Life in Balance Counseling and Wellness Center, 125-D Akers Farm Rd, Christiansburg. 540-381-6215. LifeInBalanceCenter.com.

Mindfulness Meditation – 5:30-7pm. Sitting and walking meditation, Dharma readings and discussions.

Free. Bridge of Compassion Sangha, West End Presbyterian Church, 1200 Campbell Ave SW, Roanoke.

540-427-4843. BridgeOfCompassion.Wordpress.com.

AA Meetings – 6-7pm. Also on Thursdays. Valley Community Church, 5000 Carriage Dr, Roanoke.

1 block off Rt 419, behind the McDonald’s at Oak Grove Plaza. 540-774-5512. VCCDS.com.

Zen Meditation Group – 6-7pm. Meditation instruction is available. Stone Mountain Zendo, Christ Episcopal Church, 1101 Franklin Rd SW, Roanoke. 540-345-5932. tainormand@verizon.net.

Zen Meditation Group – 6-7pm. Meditation instruction is available. Stone Mountain Zendo, Christ Episcopal Church, 1101 Franklin Rd SW, Roanoke.

540-345-5932. tainormand@verizon.net.

Kripalu Yoga – 6-7pm. What distinguishes a Kripalu yoga class is an emphasis on bringing awareness to the physical sensations, emotions and thoughts that arise throughout the practice. Accessible to all levels. Bedford Yoga Center, 715 Liberty St, Bedford. 434-944-1150. YogaBedford.com.

Meditation, Reading and Book Discussion – 6:30pm meditation; 7-8:30pm reading and book discussion.

Visit website for current book. Valley Community Church, Divine Science, 5000 Carriage Dr, Roanoke.

One block off Rt 419, behind McDonald’s at Oak Grove Plaza. 540-774-5512. VCCDS.com.

Tai Chi Class – 6pm. Also, Friday at 10am. Tai chi is a relaxing, fluid movement to assist you in choosing peace and harmony and releasing stress. Students may attend one or both classes for $12/week. Centers of Light, BEAing Center for Holistic Living, 1420 Third St, Roanoke.

540-588-0788. CelebrationOfLight@gmail.com. AlexandriaPederson.com.

Community HU Song in Roanoke − 7-7:30pm. First Tuesday of each month. Singing HU has helped people of many different faiths open their hearts more fully to the uplifting presence of God. Eckankar Center, 1420 3rd St SW, Roanoke (first floor, back far right office). 540-353-5365. SWVA.Eck. Cntr@gmail.com. Eck-Virginia.org. Eckankar.org.

Spiritual Experiences Discussion in Roanoke − 7-8pm.

Third Tuesday of each month. Open discussion of past-life memory, insightful dreams, déjà vu, inner guidance, soul travel and more. Free spiritual experiences guidebook with audio CD provided. Eckankar Center, 1420 3rd St SW, Roanoke (first floor ,back far right office). 540-3535365. SWVA.Eck.Cntr@gmail.com. Eck-Virginia.org.

Eckankar.org.

Edgar Cayce Search for God Group – 7:30-9:30pm. New members welcome. 413 Dunton Dr, Blacksburg. 540-5522873. IniBeckman@yahoo.com.

My Co-op 101. Learn more about a cooperative business and how to make the most of your ownership. Last Tuesday of every month. Free to owners; walk-ins welcome.

Please call to reserve a space. Roanoke Natural Foods Co-op, 1319 Grandin Rd SW, Roanoke. 540-343-5652.

RoanokeNaturalFoods.coop.

wednesday Mindfulness Self-Care for Practitioners – 9-10am. Second and fourth Wednesday of each month. Hosted by Alan Forrest, LPC, LMFT. Practice mindfulness for 30 minutes and then enjoy an open discussion for 30 minutes. Freewill offering. Pre-registration is required. Life in Balance Counseling and Wellness Center, 125-D Akers Farm Rd, Christiansburg. 540-381-6215. LifeInBalanceCenter.com.

Life in Balance Open House – 10am-6pm.Stop by and check out all of our great services; no appointment necessary. Life in Balance Counseling and Wellness Center, 125-D Akers Farm Rd, Christiansburg. 540-381-6215.

LifeInBalanceCenter.com.

Prayer and Meditation – Noon-12:20pm. Add your energy to the peaceful environment of our chapel and be lifted up through the use of positive affirmations during this sacred time of prayer and focused attention. Unity of Roanoke Valley, 3300 Green Ridge Rd, Roanoke (at the Woodhaven intersection). 540-562-2200. UnityOfRoanokevalley.org.

(X)po Wednesdays – 5-7pm. Gathering of local people talking about their ideas, experiences and interests with the goal of sparking a discussion. Light refreshments and beverages. Grandin CoLab, 1327 Grandin Rd, SW, Roanoke. 540-524-2702. Info@GrandinCoLab.com.

GrandinCoLab.com.

New River Valley Unity Study Group – 7:30-9pm.

Meditation, introspection and discussion. Free. Location varies. Call for details: Bev 540-763-2410 or Betty 540-639-5739.

thursday Hot Yoga – 6-7pm. Better suited to the student with some prior yoga experience, this class incorporates a faster pace, high temperatures and fun music. No registration required; drop-in any time. Bedford Yoga Center, 715 Liberty St, Bedford. 434-944-1150. YogaBedford.com.

Laughter Yoga – 6-6:30pm. Laughter Yoga is held every first and third Thursday of the month. No experience required. Free. Blue Ridge School of Massage and Yoga, 2001 South Main St, Ste 106, Blacksburg.

540-392-3723 or 540-544-6820. Laugh4u.org.

saturday Zen Meditation Group – 9-10pm. Meditation instruction is available. Stone Mountain Zendo, Christ Episcopal Church, 1101 Franklin Rd SW, Roanoke.

540-345-5932. tainormand@verizon.net.

Free Science-Based Natural Health Information – 10am-5pm. Second Saturday of each month. Drawings for free gift certificates, proven wellness information and great savings opportunities. The Well, 1764 Patriot Ln, Bedford. 540-587-9000; 877-8439355. TheWellInBedford@gmail.com. WellOfCourse.net.

Monthly Silent Peace Vigil – Noon. Third Saturday of each month. All welcome. Downtown Roanoke City Market Building, 32 Market St, Roanoke. Sponsored

by Plowshares, Roanoke. 989-0393. PlowshareVa.org.

THE GROCER quality

service

621 A TOWNSIDE RD SW ROANOKE VA 24014

Mysore Yoga – 6-7:30pm. Deepen your experience of yoga. $10/public; $5/students. Blue Ridge School of Massage and Yoga, 2001 South Main St, Ste 106, Blacksburg. 540-392-3723 or 540-544-6820.

BlueRidgeMassage.org.

Best selection of Indian spices, beans & grains

Roanoke Community Drum Circle – 7pm. Express yourself through rhythm. Free. Grandin Village, Courtyard of Raleigh Court Baptist Church, corner of Memorial Ave and Grandin Rd, Roanoke. Sponsored

by Plowshares, Roanoke. 989-0393. PlowshareVa.org.

Meditation Class – 7-8pm. Beginning Thursday, February 12. Everyone welcome. $10/person. Dharmapala Kadampa Buddhist Center, 315 Albemarle Ave SE, Roanoke. 540-521-7989. Info@MeditationInVirginia. org. MeditationInVirginia.org.

price

540-981-0888

Facebook.com/thegrocer

What’s in your water?

KANGEN R WATER

friday

Alkaline Antioxidant Restructured The Healthy Water Solution

Vinyasa Flow Class – 9:30-10:45am. Class is open to all levels. $10/public; $5/students. Blue Ridge Blue School of Massage and Yoga, 2001 S Main St, Ste 106, Blacksburg.

540-392-3723 or 540-544-6820. BlueRidgeMassage.org.

CoLab Members’ Lunch – 12-1pm. Join your fellow members for a brown bag lunch and discussions on various topics. Grandin CoLab, 1327 Grandin Rd SW, Roanoke. 540-524-2702. Info@GrandinCoLab.com.

GrandinCoLab.com.

Alzheimer’s Support Group – 3-4pm. Meets every third Friday of the month in the Woodland Studio at the Village Center at Warm Hearth Village. Members will discuss issues that arise from caring for a loved one with dementia. Light refreshments available. Free.

Warm Hearth Village, 2603 Warm Hearth Dr, Blacksburg. 540-552-9176. Retire.org.

Second Fridays in Centertown Bedford – 5-8pm.

Second Friday of every month. Art Galleries and shops will be open. Centertown Bedford, Bedford. 540-5868582. CentertownBedford.com.

Call 540-230-7459 or email HealthyWaterForMe@hotmail.com for a free 3-week trial!

classifieds SEEKING LPC OR LCSW. Join our group of private practice behavioral health counselors. Our center focuses on serving clients in a professional, caring and compassionate manner and empowering them by using a holistic approach to counseling. Furnished office, referrals, credentialing and administrative billing support provided. For more information, call 540-381-6215, ext. 303.

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communityresourcedirectory To be included in the Community Resource Directory, please email Publisher@NABlueRidge.com or visit NABlueRidge.com for guidelines and to submit entries.

ANIMALS AND PETS – SUPPLIES

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY GRANDIN COLAB

NATURE’S EMPORIUM 3912 Brambleton Ave., Roanoke, VA 24018 540-989-8020 MyNaturesEmporium.com The largest selection of pet gifts, toys, beds and healthy foods and treats for all the special members of the family. Natural and holistic pet food, wild bird and garden supplies. See ad, page 21.

ANIMALS AND PETS VETERINARIANS CONCORD VETERINARY SERVICES Lori Leonard, BS, DVM, LFHOM 8908 Village Hwy., Concord, VA 24538 434-993-2403 ConcordVetServices.com

540-397-4377 GrandinCoLab.com The Grandin CoLab is a hub for ideation, or generation of new ideas. It is designed to connect innovators and entrepreneurs to resources, education and networking opportunities throughout the Roanoke and Blacksburg regions.

The space is available for memberships, business meetings and events. See ad, page 23.

H2O AT HOME Jean Cox, Founding Senior Director 360-271-9525 MyH2OatHome.com/Jean

Discover methods of support and comfort for your beloved animals. For 20 years we have offered homeopathy and other holistic modalities as well as conventional veterinary care. New patients welcome!

Ground-floor business opportunity. Earn “green” while helping others go green with your own home-based business. Be among the first advisors in Virginia and help launch the East Coast. Incentive packages available to experienced leaders. Call for more information.

HOLISTIC VETERINARY CONSULTANTS

CHURCHES

Marjorie M. Lewter, DVM 2401 S. Main St., Blacksburg, VA 24060 540-616-9247 HolisticVeterinaryConsultants.com Professional guidance for clients with many issues including vaccines, nutrition and special health problems.

Geriatric care, cancer support and hospice care. Routine medical care for small animals, farm animals and horses.

Integrative medicine including acupuncture, botanical medicines, chiropractic and homeopathy. Discover the power of holistic medicine. See ad, page 10.

ECKANKAR, RELIGION OF THE LIGHT AND SOUND OF GOD 1420 3rd Street SW, Roanoke, VA 24016 540-353-5365 swva.eck.cntr@gmail.com eck-virginia.org Are you looking for the personal experience of God, every day? Each of us is connected to God through Divine Spirit (the ECK), which can be heard as Sound and seen as Light. Connect with a spiritual community of people who share your desire for truth See ad, page 9.

BODYWORK – REIKI ROANOKE METAPHYSICAL CHAPEL

LUELLA CROCKETT

Rev. Reed Brown, Pastor 1488 Peters Creek Rd., NW Roanoke, VA 24017 540-562-5122 RoanokeMeta.org

Usui Reiki Practitioner 229 Union St., Salem, VA 24153 540-397-1355 LuellaCrockett.WordPress.com LuellaCrockett@gmail.com Reiki sessions available at Grandin Gardens every Wednesday and in Salem by appointment. Amethyst BioMat, Bach Flower Remedies and Young Living Essential Oils are combined to create a relaxing healing session as unique as you. Buy 2 Get 1 Free.

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Virginia’s Blue Ridge

We are a metaphysical church with spiritualist roots. We offer classes, workshops and speakers throughout the year, and we teach and practice positive spirituality. Sunday services: childrens’ Sunday school, 9:30 a.m.; adult study, 9:30 a.m.; spiritual healing, 10 a.m.; worship service, 11 a.m. Weekly classes and weddings. All welcome!

NABlueRidge.com

UNITY OF ROANOKE VALLEY Rev. Linda Taylor 3300 Green Ridge Rd., Roanoke, VA 24019 540-562-2200 UnityOfRoanokeValley.org We are a vibrant, loving, spiritual community, demonstrating Christ consciousness, embracing diversity and inspiring personal transformation. Join us in co-creating a world that works for all! See ad, page 10.

VALLEY COMMUNITY CHURCH, DIVINE SCIENCE 5000 Carriage Dr., Roanoke, VA 24018 540-774-5512 VCCDS.com Teaching practical, spiritual laws based on and found in the example and teachings of Jesus, as well as the Bible and other great wisdom literature. Through Divine Science teachings you can lead a life of joyful inner and outer satisfaction and serenity.

ENERGY – CONSERVATION AND HVAC J & J WEATHERIZATION 434-847-5487 JoLangford@juno.com JJWeatherization.com With 30 years of experience in home energy performance, J&J Weatherization is a full-service company specializing in insulation, home energy conservation and efficiency. See ad, page 5.

FITNESS – HOOPING BLUSKYE HOOPS 252-489-7451 Info@BluSkyeHoops.com BluSkyeHoops.com At Blu Skye Hoops we are passionate about making life fun through the art of hoop dance. Invoking a fun, creative way for self-expression, combined with classes and custom hoops, we aim to ignite the passion and light that we each hold inside.

FOOD – NATURAL, ORGANIC AND VEGAN ROANOKE NATURAL FOODS CO-OP 1319 Grandin Rd., Roanoke, VA 24015 1 Market Square, Roanoke, VA 24011 540-343-5652 RoanokeNaturalFoods.coop Virginia’s largest, cooperatively owned natural-foods grocery store. Nutritious food choices and earthfriendly products. We support sustainable environmental practices, local organic farmers, local businesses and our community. See ad, page 30.

REV. KANTA BOSNIAK, CHT Life Coach and Wedding Officiant 540-577-8854 Art4Spirit@yahoo.com KantaBosniak.com Coaching and guided imagery for weight loss, life purpose, creativity, new directions, business and career growth, confident interviews, dating. Take positive thinking to a deeper level. Personalized and meaningful wedding ceremonies.

We Hold Your Well-Being In Highest Regard

HEALTH AND WELLNESS DENTIST DR. KAREN PERKINS, DDS

THE WELL 1764 Patriot Ln., Bedford, VA 24523 540-587-9000 The.Well.In.Bedford@gmail.com WellOfCourse.net The destination for natural health when looking for sciencebased information, superior products, herbal tinctures, supplements, natural foods, bulk foods, spices and teas. The Well has all of this and more.

Your benefit is our business. See ad, on back cover.

FOOD RESTAURANTS LOCAL ROOTS FARM-TO-TABLE RESTAURANT 1314 Grandin Rd., Roanoke, VA 24015 540-206-2610 LocalRootsRestaurant.com Roanoke’s first true farm-totable restaurant.

Open Tuesday through Friday for lunch and dinner, Saturday for dinner, Sunday for brunch and familystyle supper. Full bar and wood-fire oven. Available for private parties, corporate events, celebrations and catering. See ad, page 15.

FUNERAL AND BURIAL SERVICES - GREEN FOREST REST AT MOUNTAIN VIEW 5970 Grassy Hill Rd., Boones Mill, VA 24065 540-334-5398 Sensor@EvergreenMemorialTrust.com EvergreenMemorialTrust.com Forest Rest is a natural cemetery where interments are made without burial vaults or common embalming chemicals. Wood tablets or native stones mark the graves. See ad, page 7.

HEALTH AND WELLNESS COACHING

46 Shelor Dr., Lynchburg, VA 24502 434-237-6328 MercuryFreeDDS.com Providing the highest quality of dental care in a mercury-free environment, using safe and biocompatible dental materials. We practice safe removal of old mercury/silver (amalgam) fillings with the safe mercury/silver filling removal protocol outlined by the International Academy of Oral Medicine, IAOMT. See ad, page 13.

HEALTH AND WELLNESS SPAS AND SALONS REVIVE ORGANIC SALON 2305-A Colonial Ave., Roanoke, VA 24015 540-816-0986 Organic salon offering ladies and men’s haircuts, demineralizing treatments, organic base coloring, highlights, color correction and hair loss solutions.

Revive’s mission is to treat others with respect and dignity while nurturing them in an organic environment. See ad, page 13.

HEALTH AND WELLNESS – WELLNESS CENTERS

Cure ailing sales by advertising in Natural Awakenings’ March Animal Welfare Issue

LIFE IN BALANCE COUNSELING AND WELLNESS CENTER 125 Akers Farm Rd., Ste. D, Christiansburg, VA 24073 540-381-6215 LifeInBalanceCenter.com The Life In Balance team of therapists offers psychotherapy for adults, children, adolescents, couples and families, as well as massage therapy, Reiki, yoga classes, relaxation and meditation classes and health and wellness workshops. See ad, page 15.

To advertise or participate in our next issue, call

540-384-1815

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PERSONAL TRANSFORMATION

HOME – CLEANING SUPPLIES H2O AT HOME

KEYQUEST

Jean Cox, Founding Senior Director 360-271-9525 MyH2OatHome.com/Jean Now you can care for your home with our innovative smart tools and just water or certified natural and organic products. Your home will be sparkling with no harsh chemical residues or fumes!

OUTDOOR RECREATION AND ECOTOURISM

Ellen Jones-Walker Floyd County, VA 540-651-2727 KeyQuest.us.com Highly experiential, small-group workshops using powerful HemiSync audio guidance technology for self-discovery and personal transformation. Monroe Institute consciousness exploration workshops, calming mind and body, awakening to inner states, slowing the aging process, healing yourself and improving sleep.

VIRGINIA GREEN

RECYCLING

804-986-9119 VirginiaGreenTravel.org Virginia Green is Virginia’s program to encourage green practices throughout the state’s tourism industry. Member destinations and events include recycling, waste reduction, energy and water conservation and consumer education. The program is a partnership between Virginia’s Department of Environmental Quality and Virginia Tourism. See ad, page 13.

Cathy Songer 540-239-0287 SongerCat@Parenting-SOS.com Parenting-SOS.com Nearly all of us face parenting challenges at some point in our lives.

There is no need to let it create ongoing stress. Our mission is to help you get over those hurdles by teaching you positive and effective skills that will bring out the best in you and your family. Complimentary speaking engagements offered.

TRANSPORTATION ALTERNATIVES 866-424-3334 Info@RideSolutions.org RideSolutions.org

Roanoke-based 501c3 charity keeps two TONS of used school supplies out of the landfill every year. Since 1990 the group has traveled each summer to Belize to deliver supplies to three schools. Email, call or visit the website for more information about making donations.

A nonprofit organization serving the Roanoke Valley for more than 30 years.

Providing educational programming and citizen participation events to spread the word about litter prevention, recycling, waste-stream reduction, storm-water pollution prevention and protecting our natural resources. The go-to resource for local recycling information.

www.roanokenaturalfoods.coop Virginia’s Blue Ridge

We put your donations to work by dedicating 90 percent of our resources to providing services to the community. Donations entrusted to us are used to help people with disabilities and disadvantages overcome barriers to employment and achieve a level of independence in life.

RIDE SOLUTIONS

Grandin Village & Downtown Roanoke

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2502 Melrose Ave., Ste. A, Roanoke, VA 24017 540-581-0620 GoodwillValleys.com

540-342-2083 BookbagSanta@verizon.net BookBagSanta.com

Jefferson Center, 541 Luck Ave., Ste. 319, Roanoke, VA 24016 540-345-5523 CleanValley.org

PARENTING-SOS

GOODWILL INDUSTRIES OF THE VALLEYS

BOOKBAG SANTA

CLEAN VALLEY COUNCIL

PARENTING

RETAIL - NONPROFIT

NABlueRidge.com

Ride Solutions connects you to your transportation options with free regional carpool matching, bike commute support, transit assistance and employer services, all for free.

WATER CONSERVATTION AND FILTRATION - ALKALINE WATER HEALTHY WATER FOR ME 540-230-7459 or 540-789-7808 HealthyWaterForMe@hotmail.com HealthyWaterForMe.com Kangen Water® is a great way to increase hydration, balance body pH, obtain optimal health, neutralize free radicals, reduce pain and more. Change Your Water…

Change Your Life ™. Call to begin a free three-week alkaline, antioxidant water challenge today. See ad, page 27.