Natural Awakenings Boston June 2011

HEALTHY LIVING HEALTHY PLANET feel good live simply laugh more

FREE

Men’s Wellness A Guy’s Guide to Vital Health

The Future SCHOOL’S OUT ZIPPY of GREEN E-BIKES Help Kids Avoid Today’s Easy, Green Riders

Newton North High’s Greengineers

JUNE 2011

Summer Slide

| SE Middlesex County | NaturalAwakeningsmcma.com

2

SE Middlesex County | www.NaturalAwakeningsMCMA.com

contents 5

5 newsbriefs

11 healthbriefs

12 globalbriefs

11

13 ecobriefs

14 community

spotlight

18 greenliving

13

23 naturalpet

28 healthykids 30 fitbody

advertising & submissions how to advertise To advertise with Natural Awakenings or request a media kit, please contact us at 617-906-0232 or email publisher@NaturalAwakeningsMCMA.com. Deadline for ads: the 10th of the month.

Editorial submissions Email articles, news items and ideas to: publisher@ NaturalAwakeningsMCMA.com. Deadline for editorial: the 5th of the month. calendar submissions Visit NaturalAwakeningsMCMA.com for guidelines and to submit entries. regional markets Advertise your products or services in multiple markets!

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 239-449-8309. 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.

16 THE FUTURE OF GREEN Newton North High’s Greengineers Take On Real-Life Environmental Issues

by Kim Childs

16

18 ZIPPY E-BIKES

Ditch the Car for a Fun and Easy Body-Friendly Ride

by Brita Belli

20 JUST TAKE FIVE

A Guy’s Guide to Staying Vitally Healthy

by Judith Fertig

23 FITNESS WITH FIDO

20

Five Ways to Make Workouts Fun

by Joshua Fleming

26 ANDROPAUSE:

THE MALE MENOPAUSE

Natural Ways to Rebalance and Revitalize

by Barry Taylor, N.D.

27 EASY WAYS TO BUILD FAMILY CREATIVITY

by Casey McAnn

28

28 SCHOOL’S OUT Five Fun Ways to Keep Kids’ Minds Sharp This Summer

by Janet Forgrieve

30 BAREFOOTIN’

Let Feet Go Naked and Natural

by Jason Robillard

NaturalAwakeningsMCMA.com natural awakenings

June 2011

3

letterfrompublisher

S

ummer is here! Anticipating the start of summer each year always brings back happy memories growing up, including family trips to Old Orchard Beach: the blinding sunshine, the sounds of gulls and waves rolling in, the joys of a seaside amusement park. If we could convince Dad to let us wade in, he was ready at the water’s edge making sure that no one went in past their ankles, else the ocean would surely swallow us up. We felt fearless, loved and safe.

Making cherished memories can mean all the difference in a life… physically, mentally and emotionally.

We don’t have to wait another day to make one happen.

This month we honor good fathers and good men everywhere with our special edition on Men’s Wellness. We give a little extra TLC to our male readers, while speaking to topics of universal interest. Ladies, consider passing this one on to the special men in your life; it may help all of you live healthier and happier.

Judith Fertig’s feature article, “Just Take Five” is a good place to start. It summarizes a short list of easy-to-do healthier habits that can change everything for the better. I have newfound appreciation for cooked tomatoes and gouda cheese. Read pages 20 through 22 to find out why.

As we look forward to summer, Janet Forgrieve helps families make the most of the opportunity with “Five Ways to Boost Kid’s Brains Once School is Out,” on page 28. You’ll find activity tips for learning-disguised-as-fun that are sure to engage children of all ages.

On page 30, barefoot running expert Jason Robillard puts a fresh spin on exercise for anyone who has questioned the source of running injuries. Locally, Slava Kolpakov (page 31) and Dr. Rob Mirandola (page 32) show the way to prevent problems during a transition to barefoot running or minimalist shoes.

As you know, summer brings a wealth of exciting, fun and often free events throughout the Greater Boston area, so be sure to check our Calendar, starting on page 33. If you have a future event to list, please visit NaturalAwakenings MCMA.com and click on the Calendar tab.

I want to thank our advertisers and distribution sites for making this magazine possible. Please support those who are supporting us. They work hard to bring you healthy living/healthy planet products and services every day. Then let us know what you think; we love to hear from you.

Wishing you peace and wellness always,

contact us Publisher/Editor Maisie Raftery National Editor S. Alison Chabonais Writers Kim Childs Slava Kolpakov Casy McAnn Dr. Robert Mirandola Barry Taylor, N.D. Design & Production Stephen Blancett Kim Cerne Zina Cochran Helene Leininger Multi-Market Advertising 239-449-8309

P.O. Box 1149 Brookline, MA 02446 Phone: 617-906-0232 Fax: 877-907-1406 www.NaturalAwakeningsMCMA.com © 2011 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.

Maisie Raftery, Publisher

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

Natural Awakenings is printed on recycled newsprint with soy-based ink.

4

SE Middlesex County | www.NaturalAwakeningsMCMA.com

newsbriefs Acupuncture Together Celebrates Anniversary

F

rom May 31 to June 4, Acupuncture Together, in Cambridge, will offer special events and discount treatments to celebrate three years of providing acupuncture to the community. From 4 to 7 p.m., June 1, the clinic will host a party with free, walk-in relaxation treatments, snacks and a drawing to win free acupuncture and other prizes.

“We want to show people why community Deirdre Kelley and acupuncture is special and beneficial,” says owner Justine Deutsch and licensed acupuncturist Justine Deutsch. “This will give them an opportunity to try it and learn more about our services.” A member of the nonprofit Community Acupuncture Network, the clinic’s goal is to increase acupuncture’s accessibility by offering it in a comfortable group treatment room, on a sliding fee scale.

Deutsch reports that acupuncture can treat a wide variety of conditions, including allergies, musculoskeletal pain and fibromyalgia, headaches and migraines, mood disorders like depression and anxiety, women’s hormonal health, insomnia, and respiratory and digestive ailments. “It also helps speed healing from an injury or surgery,” she adds, “and it works alongside Western medicine to help control conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes and asthma.”

Location: 2464 Massachusetts Ave., Ste. 420, Cambridge 02140. For information, call 617-499-9993, email Info@AcupunctureTogether.com or visit Acupuncture Together.com.

Pets in Need of Homes at Animal Spirit

O

n the fourth Saturday of each month, Animal Spirit, a pet store in North Cambridge, hosts an event on behalf of Pets in Need, a local nonprofit shelter. Visitors to the store can see cats and kittens available for adoption and ask questions of the volunteers, who take applications for available animals. The next events take place from 1 to 4 p.m., May 28 and June 25.

“Local animal shelters need our support during these difficult economic times,” says store owner Susan Warren-Southwick, “whether it be donations of time or money, or adopting a new friend.”

For more than a decade, Animal Spirit has been a leading local purveyor of organic and natural pet products. The store offers delivery, cat boarding and other services, and hosts education and adoption hours on weekends, featuring various local dog, cat and small-animal shelters.

Location: 2348 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge 02140. For information, call 617876-9696, or visit AnimalSpiritShop.com. natural awakenings

June 2011

5

newsbriefs An Evening of Straight Talk for Better Health and Fitness

J Sauna and Steam Bath Enhance Massages at East West

E

ast West Massage Therapy Center, in Newtonville, now features a sauna and steam room for clients that want to enhance the benefits of their massage sessions.

Owner Slava Kolpakov explains that the heat of a sauna also helps to relax chronically tense muscles; open pores; cleanse the body of dead skin cells, bacteria and toxins; and open up the sinuses and promote better breathing.

Kolpakov says that saunas are ideal after any athletic activity, because they help flush lactic acid from muscle tissue when followed by a cold shower or bath. “Saunas and steam baths are ancient healing practices that detoxify the body and, when combined with an ice bath or cold shower, recharge the immune system,” he advises. “At East West, we are blending these practices with our main services and educating clients about their benefits.”

“East West combines the best of Eastern healing arts with the most effective Western modalities,” notes Kolpakov, adding that the center also offers Thai massage and other massage therapies.

Location: 709 Washington St., Newtonville 02458. For information, call 617-244-2312 or visit EastWestBodyTherapy.com.

6

ohnson Wellness & Compounding, in Waltham, will present a free talk on weight loss and fitness by Pilates instructor Debra Goldman, at 7 p.m., June 8. She will discuss practical and fun fitness, no-excuse exercise, nutrition and weight loss, and using movement as medicine for optimal health and well-being.

“People can lower their health care costs, stress and pain by using nutrition and fitness to prevent conditions such as hypertension, cardiovascular disease, cancer and diabetes,” says Goldman, who owns Pilates Works, Inc. “No one else is responsible for your health—only you are.”

With Goldman’s guidance, participants will explore nutrition and exercise plans that work best for them and will receive information they can use to improve their ongoing health and well-being.

Event location: 577 Main St., Waltham 02452. For information, call 781-893-3870 or visit NaturalCompounder.com. Connect with Debra Goldman at 508-655-1178 or DebTrainer@aol.com or visit PilatesWorksInc.com. See ad on page 33.

Playback Theatere Festival Invites Audience Stories

P

layback Theatere’s first festival will take place from June 16 to19, at Lesley University, in Cambridge.

Described as theater for personal, organizational and communal change, Playback involves audience members in ways that most theatrical performances do not.

Christopher Ellinger, who directs an Arlington Playback troupe called True Story Theater, says the process is simple, yet profound.

“In Playback, volunteers from the audience are supported to tell important moments from their lives, and the actors creatively play back the heart of those stories, using music, movement and dialogue,” he explains. “From this simple interaction, people laugh, cry, share fresh insights and bond. Most of the time, we are deeply moved by the powerful compassion and healing that takes place.”

The festival includes evening performances, daytime workshops and skillsharing sessions. The fee for the entire festival, including lunches, is $240; the day rate is $95; and the price for two evening performances is $15 ($10 for students/ low-income).

Ellinger says the time is right for more individuals to participate in this unique art form. “So many people feel buffeted by the economic, environmental and societal crises of our times,” he advises. “The world deeply needs what Playback Theatre offers: humor, playfulness, empathy, deep listening, perspective and a profound connection to the human spirit.”

Location: 29 Everett St., Cambridge 02138. For information, visit the Facebook page Playback Theatre Festival North America, call 781-646-1705 or visit PlaybackNorthAmerica.net. For information about Boston’s True Story Theater performances, workshops and classes, visit TrueStoryTheater.org.

SE Middlesex County | www.NaturalAwakeningsMCMA.com

The Artist’s Way Summer Teleclass Explores Creative Living

F

or more than a decade, Kim Childs has facilitated spring and fall creative recovery workshops in Arlington, based on the book, Kim Childs The Artist’s Way: A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity, by Julia Cameron. This summer, Childs will add a teleclass, allowing people to experience the course from home or while away on vacation. The 12-week intensive will take place from 7:30 to 9 p.m. on Wednesday nights, from June 8 to August 24, with a maximum enrollment of 10 students.

“In the past, I have never offered The Artist’s Way during the summer because so many of us travel during those months,” says Childs, “but I’m excited to give people this opportunity during a time of year ripe for creative pursuits and pleasures.” She adds that The Artist’s Way is for anyone who wants to revisit, expand or explore their creativity. “People often think they have to be an artist to do this workshop,” she explains, “but it’s really about living as passionately and authentically as you can, and making your life your canvas.”

The course fee is $330, and participants must purchase a copy of the book. Childs is offering a free introductory call from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m., June 1, for those who wish to know more about the course.

For information and to register for the free June 1 introductory call, visit KimChilds.com/artistsway.html or call 617-640-3813. natural awakenings

June 2011

7

newsbriefs Medicinal Plant Walks Showcase Benefits of Local Flora

E

Local Running Store Offers Video Gait Analysis

T

he Boston Running Company, in Newton Centre, now offers a free video gait analysis to customers who would like to be fitted with the most appropriate running or walking shoes. Owner Mike Roche says that before buying a shoe, he wants customers to understand the way their feet behave when they are running or walking. “There are so many running and walking shoe options, and the customer should understand how to eliminate the ones that just won’t work for them,” says Roche. “With the video gait analysis, they can clearly understand what kind of support they need and select their shoe with confidence.”

Roche says his is the only running store in the Boston area to offer this kind of service and expertise for a thorough fitting process. The Boston Running Company also hosts free running groups for all levels on Monday and Wednesday evenings. Interested runners can call the store for more information and ask to be added to the mailing list.

Location: 67 Union St., Newton Centre 02459. For information, call 617-723-2786, email BostonRunCo@aol.com or visit BostonRunningCompany.com.

8

ach month, the Boston School of Herbal Studies (BSHS) presents Medicinal Plant Walks led

by Madelon Hope, a clinical herbalist and licensed psychotherapist. This summer’s walks will take place from 1 to 3 p.m., June 5, July 3 and August 7, at Rock Meadow, in Belmont. On the walks, participants learn to identify local plants and find out which parts Madelon Hope are used medicinally to nourish and support health.

“Medicinal plants are everywhere—in our backyards, along the streets where we walk, and in open spaces all around us,” Hope explains. “They are our plant neighbors, and it is useful to learn about them.” She says that native plants are helpful to their human neighbors and the environment because they have devised strategies to cope with local ecological challenges and also help cleanse the water, soil and air.

The fee for each walk is $15, and children attend free. BSHS also offers herbal apprenticeship programs, advanced training, aromatherapy certification and ongoing fall and winter classes.

For directions to Rock Meadow or more information, call 781-646-6319, email HerbStudies@verizon.net or visit BostonHerbalStudies.com. See ad on page 7.

Oncology Massage Training at Cortiva Institute-Boston

T

he Boston Medical Center (BMC) Department of Family Medicine has partnered with Cortiva Institute of Boston to offer clinical oncology massage training, as well as free massage to patients. Cortiva Institute-Boston is offering the 50hour Hospital-Based Oncology Massage continuing education program for licensed massage therapists at BMC. As part of the training program, oncology patients receive free massage at BMC during their treatment, while massage therapist participants develop expertise in this specialized area of medical massage.

Dianne Polseno, president of Cortiva Institute-Boston, calls the program a win-win situation. “Massage has a definite place in cancer treatment, and many professional therapists want to know how to effectively work in hospitals and with oncology patients,” she says. “We are honored to partner with BMC in this exciting endeavor.”

The 15-week program requires one 3.5-hour class per week for participating therapists that receive continuing education credits. Tuition is $1,000 and space is limited. The next round of classes starts in September.

Location: Cortiva Institute-Boston, 103 Morse St., Watertown 02472. For information, call Saskia Cote at 617-612-6905 or email SCote@Cortiva.com. Also call 617-612-6908 or visit Cortiva.com. See ad on page 15.

SE Middlesex County | www.NaturalAwakeningsMCMA.com

Dr. Christiane Northrup to Speak on Degenerative Disease Prevention

T

eam Northrup presents noted women’s health specialist Dr. Christiane Northrup, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., June 11, in Atkinson, New Hampshire. Northrup will join physi- Dr. Christiane Northrup cians Peter Rugg and Tim Wood for The Doctors Are In, an event designed to raise awareness about the degenerative disease crisis in America and present new health and wellness research that offers solutions.

The seminar will discuss information on disease prevention and the role of advanced cellular nutrition in supporting long-term good health.

“We have forgotten what it is like to die of old age in this world,” says Jackie Barrera of Team Northrup. “Instead, we die of man-made diseases that could and should be prevented.” Barerra says that 50 percent of Americans have degenerative diseases and that one in three people will die of cancer or heart disease. “Fortunately, we now know that 80 percent of chronic disease is preventable, and that optimal nutrition is key to long-term good health,” she says. “If we provide the cells of our bodies with the right kinds and amounts of nutrients, we can reverse the damage of these degenerative diseases.”

The fee for the event is $43 with a healthy lunch or $20 for the seminar only.

For more details, location information and registration, contact Jacqueline Barrera of Team Northrup at 508-808-3312 or HealthWellness.TN@gmail.com or visit HealthWellnessTN.Usana.com. See ad on page 27. natural awakenings

June 2011

9

newsbriefs Kidcasso Art Studio Now Enrolling in East Arlington

K

idcasso, an art studio for students ages 3 to 18 that want to study, explore and create original works of art, is currently enrolling for summer classes and workshops at its Arlington and Wakefield locations. The studio invites students to engage in a variety of artistic activities that encourage team building, communication and self-awareness skills, while building upon national art education standards.

Children and teens are immersed in painting, drawing, sculpture and other art forms, with lots of encouragement for self-expression, says owner and art educator Laura Marie-Small. “Kidcasso teachers stress that there is no right or wrong in art, and that it’s up to the students, as artists, to visually speak the truth,” she says. “Our goal is to help guide our students in finding their own truth and forming their own ideas and identity.”

Kidcasso first opened its doors in Wakefield in 2007 and recently added a new location in East Arlington. Marie-Small hopes her young visitors will make a connection between their art and the world at large. “I want them to understand how art can greatly affect the wider population,” she explains. “It’s also my hope to instill respect and tolerance for others among students, which is why we foster a sense of studio ownership, teamwork and self-motivation.”

Locations: 2 Lake St., Arlington 02474; and 101 Albion St., Wakefield 01880. For information, call 617-257-3010, email Laura@ KidcassoArt.com or visit KidcassoArt.com.

10

Pure Barre Fitness Comes to Newton

O

ne of the newest fitness crazes in America has come to Newton Centre. Pure Barre is a totalbody workout that lifts the derriere, tones thighs, and burns fat in record-breaking time, according to owner Rachel Roberts. The fitness method uses a ballet barre to perform small, isometric movements set to music, and Roberts reports that some students see results after just 10 classes.

“Pure Barre is intelligent exercise,” she explains. “The technique protects your joints, because it doesn’t involve any bouncing or jumping. Each strengthening section of the workout is followed by a stretching section, in order to create long, lean muscle, without bulk.”

Roberts says the workout targets areas of the body that are troublesome for many women, including the abdomen, hips, buttocks and arms. “It defies gravity by tapering everything in and lifting it up,” she adds. “In addition, the workout requires such focus that you ‘block life out’ for the hour, which allows you to obtain the mental benefits achieved in yoga or meditation.”

Location: 1300 Centre St., Newton 02459. For information, call 617-332-7873, email Newton@PureBarre.com or visit PureBarre.com/MA-Newton.

Hearing on Amendment to MA Vaccination Law

A

hearing on a bill to amend the Massachusetts vaccination law will take place at 10 a.m., June 28, at the Massachusetts State House, in Boston. Under the state’s current law, parents can decline vaccines for their children by stating that it is contrary to their religious beliefs. The proposed amendment will allow parents to refuse vaccinations without having to state a reason, while still allowing them to enroll their children in school. The legislation is sponsored Dr. Janet Levatin

by Salem Representative John D. Keenan, of the Joint Committee on Education.

“Having the law amended is important for our freedom of choice in health care matters,” says Brookline holistic pediatrician Dr. Janet Levatin, who is working to raise awareness about the issue. “Parents should be allowed to decline the elective procedure of vaccination for their own personal reasons, not just because of religious beliefs.”

Location: 24 Beacon St., Room A-2, Boston 02133. For more information about the proposed legislation, visit MALegislature.gov/bills/187/house/h01055. To connect with Janet Levatin, MD, or learn more about her practice, Natural Alternative, call 617-738-4600, email JLevatin@MassMed.org or visit Janet Levatin.com. See ad on page 33.

SE Middlesex County | www.NaturalAwakeningsMCMA.com

healthbriefs

Natural Relief for Constipation

Mercury-Free Dentistry

E

U.S. Supports Ending Amalgam Cavity Fillings

I

n a watershed move towards global mercury-free dentistry, the International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology (IAOMT) recently reported that the U.S. government has announced that it supports a phase down, with the goal of eventual phase out of mercury amalgam. That’s the silver-and-mercurymixed material commonly used to fill cavities in teeth.

This represents a radical reversal of the government’s former position that, “Any change toward the use of dental amalgam is likely to result in positive public health outcomes.” The new stance will be submitted at the third round of negotiations for the world mercury treaty. The IAOMT sees this as “an extraordinary development that will change the global debate about amalgam.”

The IAOMT, a global network of 700 dental, medical and research professionals, is a longtime opponent of mercury amalgam because of possible health risks from mercury, a known toxin. It is considered especially risky for children and for pregnant women, whose fetuses can be affected.

Possible side effects of the continuous release of toxic vapor from mercury fillings into the body include memory loss, tremors, personality changes and impaired immune systems.

Yet, the World Dental Federation and the American Dental Association continue to maintain that mercury amalgam fillings are safe. To date, mercury fillings have been banned in Norway and restricted in Finland, Sweden, Austria, Canada and Germany. With the U.S. government on board, says Charles G. Brown, president of the World Alliance for Mercury-Free Dentistry, “The debate has shifted from whether to end amalgam to how to end amalgam.” Mercury-free dentistry supports the use of a tooth-colored, bonded composite material, made primarily of resin.

For more information, visit iaomt.org.

Berries May Protect Against Parkinson’s

A

study by researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health, in Boston, presented at the American Academy of Neurology’s 63rd annual meeting, confirms that eating berries can lower the risk of Parkinson’s disease.

The study involved 49,281 men and 80,336 women that were monitored for 20 to 22 years.

The researchers concluded that the women who consumed the most anthocyanins, a class of flavonoids found mostly in berries, had a lower risk of developing the disease than those whose diet contained less or different classes of flavonoids. For men, berry anthocyanins, as well as flavonoids found in apples and oranges and other rich dietary sources, made a significant difference in their freedom from the disease.

ating dietary fiber and drinking plenty of fluids are the main ways for keeping our digestive tracts active and happy. Thus, the most common reasons for constipation are a diet lacking in fiber and insufficient fluid intake. But other reasons can also contribute, such as inadequate exercise, an unbalanced or changed diet due to traveling, ingestion of medications, or hormonal fluctuations. Whatever the reasons, it’s good to know that natural remedies can provide a viable option, instead of resorting to harsher, chemical laxatives.

Generally, all fruits, except for banana and jackfruit, can help get a sluggish bowel moving. Bael fruit, found in Asian markets, is considered a natural laxative and is eaten to help clean and tone the intestines. Another way to seek relief is eating pears or fresh guavas after dinner or with breakfast. Eating half a medium-sized papaya for breakfast has laxative effects, as do fresh figs.

Note that prunes and dry figs should be soaked overnight in a little water and eaten in the morning.

Consider a “fiber day” to move things along, with menus consisting only of steamed vegetables, fruits and salads. Sprinkle various dishes with high-fiber seeds, such as sunflower, pumpkin and ground flax seeds.

According to the American Dietetic Association, the average American currently ingests about 11 grams of fiber daily. Women should aim for 21 to 25 grams a day, and men, 30 to 38 grams.

Remember, if constipation strikes, when we literally get moving, so will our bowels.

Sources: Home-Remedies-For-You.com/ remedy/Constipation.html; WebMD.com

natural awakenings

June 2011

11

JOIN US IN JULY

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

Touch Nature

Vacation Down on the Farm With the family farm an endangered institution, urbanites have a growing desire to reconnect with America’s rural countryside. Farm Stay U.S. founder Scottie Jones, of Leaping Lamb Farm, in Oregon, is showing the way with a directory of farms that welcome visitors.

Jones and her team have seen firsthand how guests are nourished by their farm-stay experiences, reaping indelible memories of the lost rhythm of farm life. They return to their daily lives with an appreciation for farming and a greater likelihood of supporting local farms and food production through their everyday purchases.

Jones hopes that Farm Stay U.S. will provide an economic, educational and even spiritual bridge for both rural and urban Americans eager to expand their stewardship of the land with their newfound friends.

Celebrate the Freedom of Living Simply Natural Awakenings sparkles with ideas for sharing summer’s goodness.

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

617-906-0232 12

Search a wide range of farm types, activities and amenities by state at FarmStayUS.com.

Local Eats

Feds Boost Support for Local Farm-to-School Meals A new ruling by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) underscores the federal government’s intent to encourage use of local farm products in school meals. It allows schools and other providers to give preference to unprocessed, locally grown and locally raised agricultural products for school-based nutrition assistance programs.

“This rule is an important milestone that will help ensure that our children have access to fresh produce and other agricultural products,” confirms Agriculture Undersecretary Kevin Concannon. “It will also give a muchneeded boost to local farmers and agricultural producers.”

Part of the landmark Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 signed into law

by President Obama—which improves the critical nutrition and hunger safety net for millions of children—the rule supports USDA’s Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food initiative and builds on the 2008 Farm Bill designed to revitalize rural economies by supporting local and regional food systems. USDA expects Americans’ spending for locally grown food to rise from an estimated $4 billion in 2002 to as much as $7 billion by 2012.

For more information, visit www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/f2s.

SE Middlesex County | www.NaturalAwakeningsMCMA.com

ecobriefs Wear Blue, Tell Two

Celebrate World Oceans Day June 8 Global advocates for protecting the health of our oceans and making it a way of life have focused on youth education as the most promising activity to effect and sustain lasting positive change, based on research

by The Ocean Project (The OceanProject.org). The website suggests a multitude of ways that people of all ages can get on board.

It starts by wearing a blue shirt on June 8, World Oceans Day, and telling two others about the oceans’ vital role in Earth’s ecology. It continues by making it a habit to reduce our daily personal carbon footprint (ocean absorption of carbon dioxide is acidifying waters), and choosing seafood that is sustainably harvested or farmed without harm to coastal waters and seafood stocks.

Visit WorldOceansDay.org.

Act Now

Help Stop Crop Contamination On March 29, 2011, Sow True Seed joined 60 family farmers, seed businesses and organic agricultural organizations in a lawsuit led by the nonprofit Public Patent Foundation, challenging chemical giant Monsanto’s right to sue farmers for patent infringement, because they say it is Monsanto that is perpetrating the injury by infecting organic farms with genetically modified seed. Mounting research shows that once released into the environment, the engineered seed (a genetically modified organism, or GMO), contaminates and corrupts naturally reproducing seed for the same crop.

For example, soon after Monsanto introduced genetically modified seed for canola, these famers report that organic canola became virtually extinct, as a result of cross-contamination. Organic corn, soybeans, cotton, sugar beets and alfalfa now face the same fate, as Monsanto continues to develop genetically modified seed for many other crops.

“In the last decade [for example], it’s become nearly impossible to ensure that corn seed is free from contamination,” says Peter Waskiewicz, co-founder of Sow True Seed (SowTrueSeed.com).

“Morally, it has become necessary to stand up and fight for keeping openpollinated seed safe and available,” says fellow co-founder, Carol Koury.

Waskiewicz adds, “We recognize the basic right of all the Earth’s people to enjoy a safe, ethical and sovereign food production and distribution system.”

For more information, visit PubPat.org/osgatavmonsantofiled.htm. Petition for GMO labeling at OrganicConsumers.org/Monsanto/index.cfm. Ask the Department of Justice to step in at Action.FoodDemocracyNow.org/sign/break_up_monsanto.

Join local groups that advocate for healthy, organic, locally grown and produced products.

California Dreamin’ Golden State Leads in Clean Energy Standards

In the nation’s most aggressive clean energy legislation to date, California will require utilities in the state to obtain at least 33 percent of their electricity from clean, renewable sources such as the wind and sun by 2020, revising the previous standard of 20 percent by 2010 (they hit 18 percent, on track for the full 20 by 2012). Adopted as part of a green jobs stimulus package, “Today’s vote is not just a victory for California’s economy and environment, but for the entire nation,” says Laura Wisland, an energy analyst at the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS).

The new standard garnered the backing of a broad range of electric utilities, ratepayer groups, environmental organizations and renewable energy businesses. The UCS estimates that the state will be responsible for more than 25 percent of the renewable energy generated by state standards across the country in 2020.

The amount of heat-trapping global warming emissions displaced as a result will be equivalent to removing about 3 million cars from the road.

A 2011 Gallup poll found that of eight actions the U.S. Congress could take this year—from overhauling the tax code and immigration reform to speedy withdrawal of our troops from Afghanistan—Americans most favor an energy bill that provides incentives for using alternative energy; 83 percent said, “Do it!”

natural awakenings

June 2011

13

communityspotlight

The Organic Mattress Providing a Truly Sound Sleep

by Kim Childs

A

bout four years ago, John Muccino and his wife, Diane, bought a brand-name mattress from a chain store. Shortly after it arrived, they noticed a persistent, odd smell coming from the mattress. Diane began experiencing cold-like symptoms that she attributed to the new bed. John says he needed more convincing at first.

“We researched what goes into mattresses and what chemicals are coming out of them and found that some were potentially harmful,” John recalls. “We decided to get an organic mattress, and since there were no stores in our area that sold them, we found out who made the purest organic mattress, bought it from them, and soon opened the store.”

That store is The Organic Mattress, on Boston Post Road, in Sudbury, which sells mattresses made from organic cotton and wool from the United States and natural rubber from trees in Brazil and Sri Lanka. Their innerspring mattresses also use recycled steel, and all mattresses are hand made in New York or California.

John explains that mass-produced, 14

commercial mattresses often contain volatile organic compounds (VOC), which are emitted as gases. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) lists VOCs as indoor air pollutants that are also found in paints and varnishes.

Additionally, polybrominated diphenylethers (PBDE)—chemicals that act as flame retardants in synthetic mattresses— have become a health concern according to the EPA, due to evidence that they accumulate in living organisms, potentially causing liver, thyroid and neurodevelopmental toxicity.

“European countries proposed bans on PBDEs more than 15 years ago,” says John. “But here in America,

SE Middlesex County | www.NaturalAwakeningsMCMA.com

penta-BDE production didn’t stop until 2004, and deca-BDE production will continue until it’s phased out by 2013.”

John also refers potential customers to the website ChemTox.com. There, researchers and consumers make the argument that contemporary commercial mattresses and pillows are filled with petroleum-based compounds and chemicals that can cause everything from headaches and rashes to breathing and sinus problems over short- or long-term exposure. The concern is especially great for children, says John, who notes that asthma and allergies may result from exposure to toxic bedding. “Children today have the advantage that their parents can buy them an organic mattress.”

Yet less than 1 percent of consumers who buy mattresses choose organic, John reports. When they do, it’s likely that they have already taken other steps to improve their well-being.

“The mattress is not their first lifestyle change, but may be one of the last,” he says. “They’ll change their food and

some of their clothing and finally, their bedroom, which is where they spend a third of their life, because they want to make sure it’s a healthy environment.�

The Organic Mattress also sells organic sheets, comforters, custommade natural fiber pillows, and mattress toppers and pads made from wool, latex and cotton. Shoppers can try out mattresses in the store and receive samples of the materials to sleep with before making the investment. “Compared to a high-end mattress from a manufacturer like Sealy, Simmons or Serta, we’re probably about 20 percent higher,� John notes. “Customers say it’s always worth the extra cost, and they appreciate that when we say we’ll deliver the mattress at 10 o’clock, we’re there at 10. We also take our shoes off and remove pictures from the wall, so nobody’s house is compromised by movers.�

John makes deliveries as nearby as Maine and as far away as Manhattan, sharing a delivery truck with a neighboring business to save on fuel consumption and reduce pollution. A customer’s old mattress is carted away for free and donated to Household Goods Recycling of Massachusetts, in Acton (hgrm.org), where volunteers gather and distribute household items for area residents in dire need. John notes that older conventional mattresses may be safer than their new counterparts because the outgassing of harmful chemicals has been reduced over time.

When asked why they chose this business over others, the Muccinos’ reasons are both altruistic and self-serving. “We feel we’re doing something better for the environment, because we’re not putting chemical-filled mattresses in landfills,� says John. “And it’s healthier for people. They’re not breathing in chemicals. Also, the quality of sleep is better with a good mattress; I would have never believed the difference until I tried it.�

The Organic Mattress is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tues.-Sat., and after hours by appointment at 348 Boston Post Rd., in Sudbury. For more information, call 877-440-8282 or 978-4408200 or visit TheOrganicMattress.com.

See ad on page 17.

Content makes poor men rich; discontent makes rich men poor. ~Benjamin Franklin

Turn your love of wellness into a career as a

# 1 Career in 2011: .BTTBHF 5IFSBQZ

Bloomberg Businessweek

massage therapist t " HSPXJOH KPC ýFME FYQFDUFE UP JODSFBTF * t "GGPSEBCMF UVJUJPO Financial Aid available to those who qualify t (SBEVBUF JO BT MJUUMF BT NPOUIT

4DIFEVMF B

$35.00

IPVS NBTTBHF JO UIF .BTTBHF 5IFSBQZ $FOUFS

617.668.2000 *U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2010-11 Occupational Outlook Handbook.

LEARN MORE!

Cortiva Institute - Boston 103 Morse Street Watertown, MA 02472 t DPSUJWB DPN

natural awakenings

June 2011

15

Jaryd Justice-Moote explaining the engine ering behind building the biodiesel reactor

I

n the spring of 2007, Newton North High School English teacher Stephen Chinosi had just led a group of students through the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS) when he invited them to embark on a new project. After some passionate discussion, Chinosi recalls, they decided to explore the history of diesel engines and biodiesel fuel.

“These kids put together reports and PowerPoint presentations on all aspects of biodiesel, and I looked at the work—by kids who were at risk of failing the MCAS—and saw them engaged in ways I’d never seen kids engage,” recalls Chinosi, who then presented the work to Principal Jennifer Price. “I said, ‘I want to do something with this— to bring together these disconnected forces like environmentalism, activism, economics, science and engineering—in a truly integrated way.’”

In September 2009, following a few years of research and development, Chinosi launched his Greengineering class at Newton North High with 16 students. Today, more than 60 students populate three sections of the course that puts interdisciplinary studies to work for the world at large.

The Future of Green Newton North High’s Greengineers Take On Real-Life Environmental Issues Eli Olson sewing a Bootiki bag.

by Kim Childs

Greengineering Events and Innovations

The students are now producing and sharing thousands of gallons of biodiesel fuel made from cooking grease. This spring, they hosted an Envirojam concert that raised money for Newton’s Green Decade Coalition and provided a platform for several local green businesses.

They’re also producing snowboard covers, boutique bags and grill covers from reengineered shopping bags.

During the year, Chinosi and his colleagues encouraged students as they discovered and refined the art of fusing plastic shopping bags using household irons. The result is a sturdier plastic, used to make wallets that were cre16

SE Middlesex County | www.NaturalAwakeningsMCMA.com

Mackensie Hollister designing a lunch tote. gineers are girls, boys, honors students and students with academic challenges.

They sign up for Greengineering as a science elective for reasons like wanting to make a difference, build machines and design things that have real-world impact. Athletes also get in on the act, says Chinosi. “Last year, the mother of this big football player came to me and said, ‘You know what my son asked for this Christmas? A sewing machine! What should I do?’

And I said, ‘Perfect—get him a sewing machine!’”

ated by and for students. “They went around for two weeks and did all this market analysis, talking to other kids and asking, ‘What would you want in a wallet?’” Chinosi advises. “Whether they knew it was market analysis or not is irrelevant—they designed a great wallet, and every single one sold.”

On a recent visit to the Greengineers shop, visitors saw a completed order of 100 boutique bags made from that same fused plastic. The bags, which were designed and sewn by students, would hold books for needy children whose families received assistance from the nonprofit Newton Partnership.

Enhancing Self-Awareness and Activism

Products like boutique bags and biodiesel may impress visitors to the program, Chinosi notes, but it’s the unseen that makes Greengineering truly innovative.

“It’s a classroom where kids can think and bring all the stuff of who they are and what they want to become,” he says. “And they can test things out and learn from failures. Failure is encouraged, actually.”

Andrew Mackowski, a junior at Newton North High, says Greengineering raised his awareness of how much waste is generated in his community,

prompting him to start spreading the word about things like composting and recycling. “It’s a great experience,” says Mackowski. “We’re working with a bunch of companies and groups and schools in the community and really expanding the idea of reusing, so it’s getting out into the greater area.”

Junior Quinn Silva says Greengineering helps her learn under realistic conditions that sharpen her problem-solving skills and enhance her resourcefulness. Silva, who plans to study oceanography and environmental sciences in college, already speaks like an activist at work. “We’re all living on this planet, and if we want to continue doing that, we need to kick it into gear and start thinking about the causes and effects of industry,” she says. “We have the technology to make environmentally friendly machines and factories, so why aren’t we doing that?”

That may be the perfect question for the next class of Greengineers to consider when the school year begins in September.

To learn more about the Greengineers program and summer activities, visit Greengineers.wikispaces.com or call 617-559-6261.

Partnering to Make a Difference

Legal Sea Foods, Save that Stuff and Whole Foods Markets are among the other partners working with the Greengineers to reduce and reuse waste.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology is involved with the program’s alternative energy projects, the latest of which involves extracting oil from algae for fuel. “The first half of the year, the kids work out the recipe for biodiesel and do all the research and engineering to solve problems,” Chinosi says, noting that the Greengineers encountered challenges growing the algae and consulted with MIT researchers to find a solution.

Chinosi reports that his Greennatural awakenings

June 2011

17

greenliving

WHY NATURAL AWAKENINGS SMART advertising in a tough economy!

More for your money Natural Awakenings teaches readers about you with news briefs, articles, calendar listings, and classifieds. Don’t just place an ad. Become part of the magazine.

100% Targeted Audience

The green marketplace is one of the fastest growing, most dynamic sectors of the US economy. 100% of our readers are interested in healthy living, a healthy environment, and personal growth.

Credibility and Scope The Natural Awakenings magazine has been a respected source for cutting-edge healthy living information across the country for 14 years. We’ve reached more than 3.6 million readers each month with 84 U.S. metropolitan areas in 35 states and Puerto Rico.

CALL 617-906-0232 EMAIL publisher@ NaturalAwakeningsMCMA.com

WEB www.NaturalAwakeningsMCMA.com 18

Zippy E-Bikes Ditch the Car for a Fun and Easy Body-Friendly Ride

by Brita Belli

D

riving a vehicle to work, the store and the gym on congested roads does more than try our patience—those daily petroleumpowered trips are polluting the planet.

The Clean Air Council reports that each gallon of gas we use on the road results in 20 more pounds of carbon dioxide (CO2) mucking up the atmosphere we breathe. In fact, all motor vehicles combined are responsible for 31 percent of the total CO2 emissions currently contributing to global warming.

Because most car trips are short— the National Household Travel Survey finds that half of all the trips we make are three miles or less, 72 percent of these in motor vehicles—they could be replaced with a more eco-friendly ride.

With such a wide variety of snazzy new options available, from cargo bicycles to electric motorcycles, it’s never been easier to move on our best intentions.

nomically designed with higher pedals and large, back-supporting seats that distribute a rider’s weight—allowing people of all shapes and sizes to lean back and pedal comfortably while maintaining safety and speed. These people-friendly cycles can be of typical bike length or longer, and some are trikes, with two back wheels. They also can be equipped with a pod-like cover for year-round riding.

The covered, aerodynamic, threewheeled versions are known as velomobiles, or bicycle cars. Rod Miner, president of Lightfoot Cycles, which specializes in recumbent bikes, sideby-side four-wheel tandems, adult trikes with cargo and pet carriers, and velomobiles, says that almost every model can be given added oomph with an electric- or a small-engine assist. “For the cost of a gallon of gas,” Miner says, “one of our super-efficient, electrically assisted cycles can travel 1,200 miles.”

RECUMBENT BICYCLES AND VELOMOBILES: Recumbent-style bicycles look unfamiliar because they are ergo-

Examples at BacchettaBikes.com and LightfootCycles.com.

SE Middlesex County | www.NaturalAwakeningsMCMA.com

ELECTRIC BIKES: These offer a zippy, eco-friendly way to run errands, combining pedal power with the assistance of a small electric motor that facilitates speeds of up to 20 miles per hour.

They require no gas, license or registration, and often are allowed on roads where mopeds and scooters are offlimits. A good electric bike can travel 40 to 50 miles on a single charge. In another twist, the power of the motors in Kalkhoff brand bikes, known as pedelec bikes in Europe, increases the more you pedal.

Examples at Electric-Bikes.com, kabs ride.com, Kalkhoffusa.com and ILove eBikes.com (Liberty Electric Bikes).

ELECTRIC MOTORCYCLES: Electric motorcycles provide the same thrill and speed as gas-powered versions, minus the noise and dirty emissions. These motorcycles are ready to race: The Mission R electric racing superbike is not only a sleek-looking machine, but can go from zero to fast in one gear. They also look nearly identical to a traditional ride, hosting a battery pack and motor in place of the powertrain.

Because motorcycles are small and efficient, they don’t require heavy battery packs, and can be plugged into any home outlet to charge. Most will run for about two hours, or 40 to 50 miles on a charge. A federal incentive of a 10 percent tax credit helps with the purchase price, along with state incentives active in California, Colorado, Georgia and South Carolina and pending in many other states (update at ZeroMotorcycles.com/it/incentives).

Examples at Brammo.com; RideMission.com (Mission Motors). For more information see Popular Mechanics’ Electric Motorcycle Guide, tinyurl. com/3ddeej6.

ELECTRIC DIRT BIKES: Nature lovers may recoil at the idea of gas-powered dirt bikes or motocross bikes tearing

around trails, but in designated spots, they can provide the thrill riders seek, minus the noxious exhaust and noisy, revving engines. In fact, Dirt Rider Magazine says of the all-electric Zero X dirt bike: “Utter silence... is the inevitable sound of the future of off-road motorcycle riding.”

Its battery charger plugs in to any standard outlet, and all of the company’s lithium-ion power packs are recycled. While the battery-powered Zero can reach off-road speeds of up to 47 mph, the company Razor also designs scaled-down electric motocross bikes (and quads and scooters) for younger enthusiasts that are built for fun, with speeds of up to 14 mph for up to 10 miles on a single charge.

Examples at Razor.com and ZeroMotor cycles.com (search Dirt).

LONGTAIL AND CARGO BIKES: Longtail, or cargo, bikes are designed for carting everything from groceries to kids.

An extended mount for the back tire gives riders extra space to use as a long, flat seat for kids to straddle, with space on either side for saddlebags (called panniers) or other bucket- or basket-type attachments. It has a bit larger turning radius and two kickstands for keeping the bike upright when stationary.

With a base price often upwards of $1,000, cargo-oriented riders may wish to opt to convert an existing bicycle into a longtail with a backend attachment like the Free Radical from Xtracycle, which can be bolted on to provide two deep compartments for hauling up to 200 pounds of carry-ons.

Madsen bikes come equipped with a large, sturdy bucket that supplies a fun ride for young ones—or for packing beach gear or shopping bags.

Examples at MadsenCycles.com, Surly Bikes.com and Xtracycle.com.

BALANCE BIKES: Pedalless or “walking” balance bikes (also known as run bikes) are all the rage in kids’ bicycles today, and a quick perusal of YouTube videos of kids riding them shows why. Because little ones are able to use their feet to push off the ground, then lift their feet as the bike rolls forward, even tots as young as 2 or 3 can do some serious cruising. Not only can they go somewhat faster than they would with a hard-to-accelerate tricycle, they also learn how to balance themselves, facilitating a quicker transition to a larger bike without training wheels when the time comes.

Examples at Access.Kettlerusa.com/retail, LikeABikeusa.com, MyStriderBike. com and Runbikes.com.

BIKE ACCESSORIES: Rock the Bike, a collaboration of inventors and advocates in Berkeley, California, wants to make bike riding a fun, community-centered, mainstream activity with citizen advocates everywhere.

Products offered

by Rock the Bike are designed to make daily commuting and night riding easier, including cargo bikes designed for hauling heavy stuff; the Biker Bar, which allows several riders to produce clean energy from pedaling together (providing a steady 200 watts of power); Bike Blenders, which let riders pedal their way to tasty smoothies; and The Down Low Glow multi-colored neon lighting for bike frames that provides better nighttime visibility.

Information at RockTheBike.com.

Brita Belli, the editor of E – The Environmental Magazine, is a regular contributor to Natural Awakenings.

natural awakenings

June 2011

19

JUST TAKE FIVE

A Guy’s Guide to Staying Vitally Healthy

by Judith Fertig

A

ncient prophets understood the wisdom of living by the adage, “Eat, drink and be merry,” and it still rings true today. Today’s health experts further add, “get moving” and “see your doctor at least once a year.”

Adopting this short, easy-to-do list of habits as a guiding principle can be key to a healthier and happier life, and add more years to accomplish your bucket list. The good news about male longevity is that much of it is under our control.

Dr. Robert Butler, gerontologist, psychiatrist and author of The Longevity Prescription: The 8 Proven Keys to a Long, Healthy Life, received a Pulitzer Prize for his work on aging. A founding director of the National Institute on Aging of the National Institutes of Health, he also started the nation’s first department of geriatrics, at Mount Sinai School of Medicine, in New York City. In his early 80s, Butler was still regularly walking around Central Park before putting in 60-hour weeks doing work he loved as head of International Longevity Center–USA (ilcusa.org).

Butler maintained that genes account for only 25 percent of our individual health and said, “Our environment and personal behaviors account for the rest.” For him, it was simple things like welcome hugs and laughter that added pleasure and length to life.

Of course, learning something new helps the brain stay active. Butler lived 20

the essence of active right up until his passing a year ago at age 83.

A Simple Prescription

So, what are men up against today?

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (cdc.gov), the leading causes of death for men are heart disease; cancer (especially prostate); injuries; chronic lower respiratory diseases; stroke; diabetes; suicide; influenza and pneumonia; kidney disease; and Alzheimer’s disease. But men can take a preventive approach to these conditions. Here are five proactive, enjoyable ways that work:

EAT. The simple everyday act of healthy eating can have longterm, holistic benefits for not only overall health and weight management, but for preventing prostate cancer. In

SE Middlesex County | www.NaturalAwakeningsMCMA.com

2010, nearly 218,000 men in the United States were diagnosed with prostate cancer, a largely curable challenge when caught in its early stages, according to the American Cancer Society. But why not eat well to prevent potential cancer cells from becoming a bigger problem?

“All of us have microscopic cancers growing in our bodies all the time,” says Dr. William Li, founder and head of The Angiogenesis Foundation, in Cambridge, Massachusetts (angio.org and the userfriendly EatToDefeat.org). Angiogenesis is the process our bodies use to grow blood vessels, he says, a natural process that sometimes gets hijacked by cancer cells. “A microscopic tumor can grow up to 16,000 times its original size in as little as two weeks,” explains Li, “but new, groundbreaking research from The Angiogenesis Foundation proposes that you can stop cancer before it begins to grow.” Li calls this new preventive approach “anti-angiogenesis.”

“Many common foods contain cancer-starving molecules,” Li continues. “Anti-angiogenesis encourages that. By changing the way you eat, you can change your internal environment, thereby depriving cancer cells the opportunity to grow and multiply.”

Li and his colleagues continue to monitor the results of other studies while continuing their own research showing the positive effects of certain foods in slowing or preventing the growth and spread of cancer cells.

One seminal study, published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute in 2002, established the link between eating cooked tomato products and a lowered risk of prostate cancer.

“Cooked tomatoes… have more cancer-

fighting properties than raw tomatoes,” advises Li. “Both contain the molecule lycopene, but heating the tomato changes its chemical structure and makes the benefits more readily available to the body. You should eat two to three [½ cup] servings of cooked tomatoes a week.”

The Angiogenesis Foundation provides a base list of 40 natural foods that contain cancer-preventing properties.

New foods are added as their benefits are proved in research. The newest additions for fighting prostate cancer— Emmental, Jarlsburg and gouda cheeses—are rich in vitamin K2.

DRINK. Consuming fresh ginger drinks, green tea and herbal tea blends that include anti-angiogenic ginseng, lavender and licorice root work to hydrate the body and prevent disease, according to researchers at The Angiogenesis Foundation.

A glass or two of red wine, which contains the cancer fighting, anti-inflammatory compound resveratrol, can be good for men. “My own advice to folks is about one drink a day,” counseled Butler. “The older you get, the heavier the impact of the alcohol. But in moderation, alcohol not only has a relaxing effect, it can elevate levels of good cholesterol.

Maintaining good hydration by drinking water also helps kidneys filter impurities out of the body and keeps skin looking fresher.

BE MERRY. The very things that

come with being social are good for everyone’s health. According to Butler, simple touching, such as holding hands with and hugging a loved one, works to lower blood pressure. Laughing with buddies helps keep blood vessels from restricting, and thus keeps the heart working more efficiently.

Having an eye for beauty in our surrounding adds pleasure to life

and helps keep us in a good mood.

Engaging in close, loving and romantic relationships and staying in touch with lots of friends not only increases the quality of men’s lives, but also helps battle depression and heart disease, suggests Dr. Mehmet Oz, a professor of cardiac surgery at Columbia University and a founder of the Complementary Medicine Program at New York-Presbyterian Hospital. He frequently appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show before becoming host of The Dr. Oz Show.

According to Oz, “The more sex you have—provided that it’s safe sex and with a mutually monogamous partner—the healthier you will be.

Men who have sex once a month are at more than two times the risk of heart disease and heart attack than men who have sex twice a week.”

Complementing such healthy excitement, establishing a daily meditation practice also helps men stay calm, energetic, positive and more attuned to their own inner wisdom, says Donna Cardillo,a registered nurse who advises healthcare professionals in the Gannett Healthcare Group. “Studies have also shown that regular meditation can lower blood pressure, boost the immune system, improve the body’s response to stress, and even improve sleep patterns.”

Get a Move On: Five Reasons to Exercise

by Judith Fertig The research is in. Getting off the couch and moving away from TV, video and computer screens pays off in more ways than one.

Helps maintain a healthy weight: Everyone knows that the more active we are, the more calories we work off, and the more our weight stays at a healthy number on the scale.

Improves brain function: “The decline the brain experiences late in life is not inevitable; it can be affected by things like habitual exercise,” asserts Dr. Eric Larson, of the Group Health Research Institute, in Seattle. Larson and his team of researchers published a pivotal study in the Annals of Internal Medicine showing that older adults that exercised at least three times a week were 38 percent less likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease. The theory is that exercise not only increases blood flow and oxygen to the brain, it may also reduce the abnormality known as brain plaque that has been associated with Alzheimer’s.

Helps prevent diabetes: A study in The New England Journal of Medicine found that moderate exercise led to a 50 to 60 percent reduction in the risk for developing diabetes, and delayed the onset of Type 2 diabetes among those already at high risk.

Lowers blood pressure: After reviewing 15 studies on exercise and high blood pressure, the American College of Sports Medicine concluded that moderate exercise decreased blood pressure in approximately 75 percent of individuals with hypertension.

Keeps us going: The good news is that exercise—especially the short, intense bursts in circuit or interval training— helps maintain and develop muscles, strength and stamina, according to a recent study in the British Journal of Sports Medicine.

natural awakenings

June 2011

21

Another way to be and stay merry, suggests Cardillo, is to take part in some kind of volunteer work. “Volunteering has long been touted as a great way to give back and make a positive contribution to the world,” she remarks. “While all that is true, numerous studies, including the recent Do Good Live Well Study,

by UnitedHealthcare, have shown that people who do volunteer work for two or more hours a week exhibit lower rates of depression and heart disease, live happier more fulfilled lives and have greater self-esteem and greater functionality, especially older adults.”

spread to this country. Wearing a small counter is a simple way to keep track of how many steps we take in a day. Such monitoring devices indicate how active or inactive we really are, which can be a bit of a surprise. Hatano and his researchers found that most people take 3,500 to 5,000 steps a day. Raising that to 10,000 steps a day will burn more calories, promote better heart function and keep weight under control.

MOVE. Butler promoted moderate

exercise to help improve cardiovascular function, elevate mood and keep men fit longer, and his conclusions are supported by studies by the University of Maryland Medical Center, Arizona State University, and the Erasmus M.C. University Medical Center in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. He found that, “One of the most frightening disabilities of old age, aside from dementia, is frailty.” His prescription? Maintain strong thigh muscles, which is what we use to get up out of a chair or bed, and do squats daily.

Yoshiro Hatano, Ph.D., popularized the use of pedometers and the 10,000 Steps a Day program in Japan that also

Recommended Anti-Angiogenic Foods According to the researchers at The Angiogenesis Foundation, many easily eaten foods help starve commonly occurring microscopic cancer cells and keep them from becoming a problem. This list, starting with green tea, continues to grow over time as scientists verify the efficacy of various foods based on a body of research.

Green tea Strawberries Blackberries Raspberries Blueberries Oranges Grapefruit Lemons Apples Pineapples Cherries Red grapes

22

Red wine Bok choy Kale Soybeans Ginseng Maitake or other Asian mushrooms Licorice Turmeric Nutmeg Artichokes Lavender

Pumpkin Sea cucumber Tuna, halibut, flounder, salmon Parsley Garlic Tomato Olive oil Grape seed oil Dark chocolate Emmental, Jarlsburg, or Gouda cheese

SE Middlesex County | www.NaturalAwakeningsMCMA.com

GET A TUNE-UP.

Annual physicals are more important than regularly changing the oil in a car, yet men are more likely than women to skip a checkup visit to their doctor, according to a recent poll by Louis Harris and Associates.

A growing trend among health centers addresses this concern, offering men a one-stop-shopping-style checkup and testing.

Here’s how: Men who aren’t interested in spending a day windowshopping certainly aren’t into a day of appointments to check off a list of simple health screenings. So, special health programs—modeled after executive health screenings formerly accessible only at getaway destinations like the Mayo Clinic, in Rochester, Minnesota, or the Greenbrier Clinic, in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia— are popping up at local hospitals from coast to coast.

As part of the men’s health program at Shawnee Mission Medical Center, serving the Kansas City area, for example, doctors emphasize “maintaining optimal performance” versus “let’s see what’s wrong with you.” Prior to an appointment, patients visit a lab location for tests, so that all of their results are ready when they visit the doctor. Then, on the day of their appointment, some additional screenings are performed, if necessary, so the time men spend with the doctor is used more effectively.

This personalized, focused attention and all-at-once approach can provide straightforward strategic health planning—a map of diet, exercise and lifestyle targets to aim for in the coming year that can keep men here and healthy.

Judith Fertig is a freelance writer in Overland Park, KS; see AlfrescoFood AndLifestyle.blogspot.com. She interviewed Dr. Robert Butler before his passing.

naturalpet

FITNESS WITH

FIDO Five Ways to Make Workouts Fun

by Joshua Fleming

D

ming builds strength and stamina and is gentle on the joints; it works the body in ways that no other exercise does.

Walking

Dancing is another way to get a groove on and burn calories at the same time.

Turn on some tunes and start moving, encouraging your dog to move with you, perhaps even standing on his or her back paws if it feels right. The laughter that results is a whole other form of exercise.

ogs are great at showing unconditional love, being a good listener and offering open paws when a hug is needed; they also make superb workout partners. Here are five ways to bond and get healthy with your favorite four-legged friend.

An obvious way to exercise with a canine pal is to take walks together. Vets generally recommend that dogs go for at least one walk every day, and tagging along is a good way to get the 30 minutes of daily cardiovascular exercise that doctors encourage for us. Also, the regularity of a daily walk helps strengthen the relationship between a dog and owner, while developing the animal’s trust and obedience.

Fetching

Many dogs love chasing tennis balls, tree limbs or other thrown objects. To get the most out of a workout, after throwing the object to be fetched, take off after it with your dog. Although the four-legged competitor may win most of the time, running back and forth and friendly competition benefit all.

Swimming

It may be difficult to find a salt pool (avoid chlorine) where pooches are welcome, but shallow lakeshores, local streams and other natural bodies of water can provide enjoyable destinations to take a supervised dip. Swim-

Dancing

Bicycling

Years ago, bicycling with man’s best friend was dangerous. Fortunately, today we have contraptions that attach a dog safely to a bicycle for a ride and prevent falls when Fido lunges after a squirrel. Bicycling with a dog running alongside is an effective workout for both of you.

Exercising with canine pals can be rewarding in many ways, but workouts must be safe, as well as effective. Unless exercising at home or in a fenced yard, dogs should remain on a leash at all times and wear identification tags.

Understanding the limits and abilities of a dog’s breed is also important, so that workouts can be appropriately tailored.

Now, grab Fido and get moving.

Joshua Fleming, a personal trainer and sports nutritionist based in Daphne, AL, is the founder of Victory Fitness, a nationwide virtual personal training initiative. Learn more at VictoryFit.com. natural awakenings

Some men can live up to their loftiest ideals without ever going higher than a basement. ~Theodore Roosevelt

June 2011

23

snapshots Our area is rich with a variety of businesses and individuals who provide natural, healthy living products and services that can help us achieve greater well-being and fulfillment.

They also create opportunities to build meaningful community connections and explore options for living a simpler, greener, more authentic life.

Here are just a few of the many facilities, practitioners and providers who support Natural Awakenings’ mission to “feel good, live simply and laugh more.”

Air Sealing America

Emily Chan, N.D.

Working on the demand side of the energy equation, Air Sealing America reduces the global demand for energy by identifying and correcting problem areas of air-leakage. By properly air-sealing and insulating the building envelope and ensuring sufficient ventilation, homes and businesses benefit, using heating and cooling energy more efficiently. Owner Mark Garvey says, “Seal up the gaps and seal in the savings!”

A lifelong desire to help people began at an early age for Dr. Emily Chan, who witnessed her mother’s debilitating illness as a child. When her mother found healing with a naturopathic doctor, Chan found her future career. “I want my patients to know their worth and improve their health through understanding and empowerment,” says Chan. “I love seeing the transformation in a patient who came in overweight, flushed and tired and is now balanced, healthy and happy.”

P.O. Box 1253 Concord 01742 978-495-1798 AirSealingAmerica.com

The Boston School of Herbal Studies 12 Pelham Terrace Arlington 02476 781-646-6319 BostonHerbalStudies.com

At the Boston School of Herbal Studies, students learn about the core healing herbs for each system of the body to support overall immunity. The school teaches students to blend teas and make tinctures, salves, oils, liniments and herbal baths. Apprenticeships are available. Owner Madelon Hope says, “The approach is to be of service to the plants and their energy and to the larger need for healing from their energy.” See ad on page 7.

24

SE Middlesex County | www.NaturalAwakeningsMCMA.com

777 Concord Ave., Ste. 301 Cambridge 02138 617-299-6151 EmilyND.com

City Dog Training 321B Washington St. Somerville 02143 617-628-8862 CityDogTraining.com

At City Dog, Marjie Alonso and Liz Shaw are committed to supporting and nurturing the dog-loving community of Somerville and beyond. “Our approach to training is relationship-based,” says Alonso. “We support letting dogs be dogs, by helping people understand the relationship they have with their dog, and helping dogs understand their people.” Offering classes on manners, nose work, agility, tricks and much more, City Dog has created a community based on kindness, respect and mutual understanding.

Farmers to You

Lueders Environmental

Sasha Salon & Spa

The joint venture of two Boston-area families, Farmers To You has created a local food distribution model that co-founder Greg Georgaklis says, “… throws away all the old rules by delivering from ‘farm to plate.’” Each week, clients can pick up farm-fresh groceries from neighborhood drop sites or receive home delivery via Metro Pedal Power.

Produce, meats and dairy products are sourced from Vermont farms practicing organic and sustainable farming.

Mike Lueders’ company has been organic since he started cutting grass in 1978. Today, Lueders Environmental offers integrated and full-service organic lawn and plant care. “We do what the customer wants,” Lueders says. “After educating customers about opportunities that exist across the spectrum, we allow them to decide, based upon all of the facts.” Lueders Tree & Landscape, Inc. focuses on “selective hand-snip pruning” of shrubs, bushes and trees, along with landscape design and installation.

Sasha Salon & Spa provides resultsoriented skin care, combining natural approaches and products with leadingedge techniques. Owner Amrit came to the U.S. from Latvia with degrees in biology, chemistry and nursing. Recognizing the importance of individual freedom, Amrit wanted to share her own empowerment with other women.

“The psychological effect of women taking care of themselves after spending so much time taking care of others is very powerful,” she says.

P.O. Box 202 Calais, VT 05648 802-225-6383 FarmersToYou.com

GreenHow, Inc.

225 Riverview Ave., Suite B3 Newton, 02466 617-964-4733 GreenHow.com Sean & Lauren Greenhow started their business based on what they desired for their own home. Having pets and preparing for children made them want to provide safe, organic lawn care to the community. Services have expanded to include a licensed arborist, misting systems for perimeter pest control, rain barrel water-catchment systems, composting systems, integrative pest management, and high-efficiency dehumidifier sales and installation. GreenHow responds to calls 365 days a year.

Groton Wellness

493-495 Main St. Groton 01450 978-449-9919 GrotonDentalWellness.com

27 Brook St. Medfield 02052 508-359-9905 LuedersCo.com

23 Arrow St. Cambridge 02138 617-497-4144 SashaSalon.com

Sunlight Solar Energy

Metro Pedal Power

73 Lexington St. Newton 02466 617-332-1870 SunlightSolar.com

11 Olive Square Somerville 02143 617-776-3700 MetroPedalPower.com

Starting Metro Pedal Power was an easy decision for Wenzday Jane, who believes in both biking and sustainability. Serving Somerville, Cambridge, the South End, Allston, Brighton, Jamaica Plain, Brookline and Charlestown, the company is the bridge between community-supported agricultural (CSA) farms and the community, allowing customers to buy and shop locally, with the convenience of home delivery. Jane says their business philosophy is, “…to be the change you want to see in the world.”

“The core of Sunlight Solar Energy is consumer education,” says Marketing Director Amy Levine. She explains that with the current $8,500 state rebate, 30 percent federal tax credit and available leasing options, more people are finding it affordable to switch to solar, and the average payback for residential properties that convert is five to seven years. “The shift to solar energy has become an economic issue, not just an environmental one,” says Levine.

In 2004, Dr. G. Robert Evans and his wife, Dr. Jean Nordin-Evans, opened their first joint practice, Groton Dental Wellness Spa, founded on the principles of holistic dental health. Nordin-Evans, who is rooted in traditional dentistry, explains that they expanded the practice into Groton Wellness to provide total body detoxification. Offering a variety of modalities, from massage to colon hydrotherapy, acupuncture and IV therapy, Groton Wellness strives to serve a community that wants to be healthy without the use of pharmaceuticals. See ad on page 23. natural awakenings

June 2011

25

Andropause: The Male Menopause

Natural Ways to Rebalance and Revitalize systems may be at higher risk for more significant hormone imbalances.

by Barry Taylor, N.D.

W

omen may not be the only ones who suffer the effects of changing hormones. Men experience a decline in their testosterone after age 55, often reporting symptoms that are remarkably similar to those of women going through menopause: fatigue and sleep disturbances; hot flashes; depression and irritability; changes in hair growth and skin quality; reduced libido and potency; poor memory; and a decreased sense of well-being.

While female menopause and peri-menopause are life changes marked by specific, identifiable symptoms that deviate from a woman’s typical ovulation cycle, male menopause, also known as andropause, often manifests more subtly and can occur between ages 45 and 55. Acute drops in testosterone, usually due to infections, radiation or chemotherapy, are uncommon. Instead, most men experience a gradual decline in testosterone that they typically do not associate with their symptoms. Men who smoke heavily or have diabetes, generalized vascular diseases (atherosclerosis), hypoglycemic conditions or compromised immune 26

Diagnosis and Treatment Andropause can be diagnosed by checking testosterone levels and other nutritional relationships. For men 40 and older, hormone and nutrient test results can be used to guide appropriate treatment to correct imbalances and boost health. Men with true testosterone deficiencies may benefit from natural hormone replacement; administering testosterone, via pellets or transdermal creams, can help reduce symptoms and lead to an improved sense of well-being. Unfortunately, many medical doctors fail to evaluate important nutrients that might be low due to diet or stress. Assessing these nutrients and making adjustments through better food choices or specific supplements can dramatically affect many of the symptoms men often tolerate as part of the “normal” aging process.

Some of the nutrients and supplements that may benefit andropausal men include:

•Zinc, an important mineral depleted by the processing of foods (such as the conversion of wheat to white flour), can be found in ginger, meats, oysters, whole grains, dark chocolate, peanuts and sesame and pumpkin seeds.

•Acetyl-L-carnitine, produced by the body, is necessary for proper brain function and may decline with age.

The highest concentrations are found in beef, pork and tempeh and through

SE Middlesex County | www.NaturalAwakeningsMCMA.com

supplementation.

•Arginine, an amino acid produced by the body, is necessary for proper vascular functioning and may decline with age. Sesame seeds, soy protein, gelatin, peanuts and crustaceans are good food sources.

•Adrenalin (cortisol) and DHEA, hormones produced by the adrenal glands, can become depleted due to aging or stress. Supplementation under medical supervision may help.

•B-complex vitamins are depleted by eating white sugar and flour, consuming alcohol and managing stress poorly. Good sources are dairy products, eggs, green leafy vegetables, kidney beans, peanuts, potatoes, salmon and whole grains.

•Manganese, an essential trace mineral necessary for bone and enzyme formation, is found in whole grains, green and black teas, egg yolks, legumes and nuts.

•Vitamin E helps the body to normalize blood flow and use oxygen and hormones more efficiently. The best food sources include sunflower seeds, almonds and other nuts, papaya, olives, leafy greens, wheat germ and vegetable oils.

•Herbs, if used carefully under medical supervision, can work synergistically to increase libido, memory and strength as well as testosterone levels. Some of the most effective herbs include ginseng, gingko, tribulus, ashwaganda and yohimbe.

The body is resilient and has wonderful capacities to mature gracefully.

Despite our modern, “more-is-better” lifestyle that offers less-than-optimal food choices and creates demands that cause stress to become distress, men today have abundant natural options for improving their health and well-being, no matter what their age.

Naturopathic physician and healer Barry Taylor consults with people from all over the world; lectures in spas, hospitals and health care centers; and teaches doctors the health benefits of natural remedies to encourage the body to heal. He sees clients in his office in Weston. For more information, call 781237-8505 or visit DrBarryTaylor.com.

Easy Ways to Build

Family Creativity

by Casey McAnn

D

aily routines often keep families too busy to make time for creative pursuits, but one easy way to spark creativity is to simply look at ordinary things in a different way. Jan Whitted, creative director of ARTBEAT Creativity Store and Studio, in Arlington, recommends the following practices to awaken the senses and inspire opportunities for sharing creative activities as a family.

1. Explore. Treat every excursion as an adventure, even a trip to the supermarket. Keep your eyes open, both indoors and out. If you’re in a familiar place, imagine it’s your first time there. What you see will surprise you.

on sheets of paper or even documented in a full-fledged scrapbook.

4. Create. When it’s a rainy day or everyone is bored, dig into the Box of Interesting Things and see what you can make. Ideas include a collage or a “found art” mosaic to display for visual inspiration.

5. Share. Start a round robin of artwork with your family or friends. Each person starts a work of art and passes it on to the next person, who adds his or her own touch. Keep it going until it returns to you, transformed! Take photos of your artwork and share them via email or Facebook.

2. Collect. Look for items that capture your imagination or delight you.

They can range from a shell or leaf to a bottlecap or postcard. These items are meant for your Box of Interesting Things—something every member of the family should have, even moms and dads. Any container, even a shoebox, will do.

Whitted says that summertime offers families a great chance to increase their creative quotient. This summer, ARTBEAT Creativity Store and Studio presents a free artful adventure for families. A Summer Tweet begins June 4 and includes a Bird Search and Art Challenge; a Creative Birdhouse/ Feeder Contest; and weekly story and art time. Details can be found at ART BEATOnline.com/SummerTweet.

3. Record. Keep a journal of your finds, noting the item, the date, the place in which you found it, and why you picked it up. Your notes can be jotted in a pocket notebook, scrawled

For more information, call 781646-2200 or visit ARTBEAT at 212A Massachusetts Ave., in Arlington, or ARTBEATOnline.com.

Take care of your body.

It’s the only place you have to live. ~Jim Rohn

natural awakenings

June 2011

27

healthykids

School’s Out Five Fun Ways to Keep Kids’ Minds Sharp This Summer

by Janet Forgrieve

Every year, kids across the country close their schoolbooks and adjust their inner clocks to the more unstructured hours of summer. They’re ready to let the good times roll.

Y

et, studies going back decades have documented a resulting “summer slide” among kids who don’t engage their minds as much as school demands during their joyful break, according to Patricia Froehlich, youth services consultant for the Colorado State Library. To combat this, parents can find ways to strike a balance between learning and fun, grabbing opportunities to teach when and where they can.

These parents find that the more this learning feels like schoolwork, the faster you lose them. But keeping it fun can not only keep kids from falling behind, it also may give them a leg up when they head back to class in the fall.

The key is in “just hiding the learning in the fun,” counsels Christy Wright, activities director of Big Horn K-12 summer school, in Wyoming. Here are some ways to keep kids’ minds active when they’re out of school.

28

SE Middlesex County | www.NaturalAwakeningsMCMA.com

1

Reading

Summer community reading programs provide ageappropriate options for kids of every grade and help those who aren’t naturally adept readers to find topics that will make them want to pick up a book, advises Froehlich.

Lisa Parry’s inspiration for her own family reading program came on Mother’s Day, when her children asked if they could get out the beads and make their mom some jewelry.

They decided that each time her first-grader, Grace, finished reading a book aloud, she got to put another bead on a string that hung on the wall. Grace watched her accomplishments grow, while her parents saw her reading improve.

2

Science

Families that spend time camping and hiking can capitalize on the abundant natural learning opportunities that such activities foster, aided by books on the local flora and fauna. When traveling to another part of the country or the world for outdoor adventures, do some homework together first about what you’re likely to see when you get there.

Indoor science lessons, cleverly disguised as games or toys, may be just as valuable, not only for teaching scientific concepts, but also in fostering skills kids will need when they head back to the classroom.

Kelly Pascal Gould relates how Jackson, her elementary school-age son, naturally gravitates toward experiments and creative projects. One spring, she stocked up on chemistry sets and science kits. Several of them worked to engage the

budding inventor, who needed to increase his attention span.

Wright notes that many students that participate in her summer school program are referred to her because they have trouble concentrating in regular classes. She’s learned that projects that teach them about science, nature and how things work tend to keep them focused on the task at hand, and also begin to ingrain in them ways to better concentrate in the future.

3

Games

During Wright’s summer school program, kids come in early to play Dance Dance Revolution or Guitar Hero; she encourages kids to play these and other games on consoles like Xbox, PlayStation and Wii. Games that engage the body, while demanding mental concentration, not only help kids learn new skills, they may also improve their ability to be able to focus when they need to sit still for lessons later, she says.

“[Games that entail] cross-lateral movement, which means doing something crossover, like jumping rope or playing ball, are good, too, because they’re using one side of the body that engages the other side of the brain, so both body and mind are moving,” explains Wright. “It helps kids comprehend, and then settle down and learn.” More traditional games provide another type of learning experience, especially when kids make up rules they invent and agree upon as they go along.

4

Cooking

Preparing meals is another forum for engaging kids’ minds during the summer. To enjoy the fruits of their culinary labors, youngsters must first master reading, measur-

ing and following directions—lessons that are much easier to swallow when they are followed by a tasty dish they’ve made themselves, notes Wright.

It may take patience on the part of parents, who see cooking as another household chore to complete as quickly as possible, but taking the time to teach kids cooking skills makes us slow down and realize there’s joy to be found in the kitchen when we have someone to share the work.

Parry’s daughter Grace loves to help in the kitchen, and children generally enjoy the tangible sense of accomplishment when they put a meal they’ve helped create on the table. “She’s old enough now where she can measure and scoop,” Parry says. “It’s fun for both of us.”

5

Art

Gould set up a place at home where Jackson can go and create to his heart’s content. The art room has just about anything a child needs to create his own works of art, she says. Jackson also recently learned to embroider; quite an accomplishment, given the complete focus such an art demands.

Susan Aust’s tween, Tucker, is into art of a different kind, having developed a love of all things theatrical and voraciously reading books about famous actors and actresses, she says. The Austs started a weekly home family film festival, where they all watch a movie together and afterwards, “We talk about the actors’ lives and work.”

Janet Forgrieve is a regular contributor to GaiamLife.com, from which this article was adapted.

natural awakenings

June 2011

29

fitbody

Barefootin’ Let Feet Go Naked and Natural

by Jason Robillard

M

any folks, like me, started barefoot running on a whim. In 2005, I was just an aspiring runner searching for some method to escape chronic injuries involving plantar fasciitis, shin splints and back pain. I never expected to fall in love with this revolutionary approach to recreational running.

Today, according to the AdWords keyword tool, the term “barefoot running” is searched on Google some 90,000 times a month by those seeking more information, including from websites like guru Ken Bob Saxton’s TheRunning Barefoot.com and my own BarefootRunningUniversity.com.

Even the sports footwear industry has taken notice, with most manufacturers adding “minimalist shoes” to their lines that allow individuals to run in a more natural manner.

Fresh Approach This paradigm shift in the running world has created a new wave of research, focused on the principles of barefoot running. Dr. Daniel Lieberman, professor of human evolutionary biology at Harvard University, has published one of the most influential studies on the topic. In 2010, he and his colleagues discovered that there is no need for the overly cushioned running shoes that have dominated the market for a quarter century. Rather, he concluded, the naked human foot is more than capable of dissipating the forces generated by running.

A study published last year in the British Journal of Sports Medicine by researchers at the Allan McGavin Sports Medicine Centre, at The University of British Columbia, in Vancouver, questioned the entire shoe-fitting process. While monitoring women that were training for a half marathon, the authors found that common motion-control shoes caused more pain than neutral shoes that do not control natural foot movement. They concluded that, “Our current approach of prescribing in-shoe pronation [the inward rolling of the foot] control systems on the basis of foot type is overly simplistic and potentially injurious.”

Thus, the latest thinking is that wearing a modern, cushioned, motion-control running shoe is not necessarily the best solution for everyone. Trusting our own body may be a better answer. That’s the mantra of the grandfather of the movement, Ken Bob Saxton, a veteran of 77 barefoot marathons. His stance is clear: “Our own feet are our best running coaches.”

30

SE Middlesex County | www.NaturalAwakeningsMCMA.com

Ted MacDonald, another mentor to many advocates via BarefootTed.com, agrees, saying, “Barefoot running is about tuning in to your own body’s highly sophisticated set of integrated awareness systems, which communicate through feelings and senses that are being collected in real-time as you move.”

Critics of barefoot running point out that no conclusive clinical study has yet been done that contrasts injury rates between barefoot and shod runners. While researchers investigate this dynamic, anecdotal evidence from barefoot runners continues to support the beneficial nature of the practice.

Orthopedic surgeon Dr. Joseph Froncioni offers a helpful

analogy. He likens the use of the modern running shoe to our reliance on baby formula in the mid-20th century. Through clever marketing and the endorsement of the medical community, baby formula manufacturers convinced the American public that their formula was superior to a mother’s natural breast milk. A few decades later, research totally disproved the claim.

Of course, there are some conditions under which minimalist shoes can be highly advantageous, such as on rough trails or in extreme temperatures.

In these cases, a minimalist shoe that allows the body to run in the most natural manner can work well. That generally means flat-soled shoes without a raised heel, but with a wide toe box that allows toes to spread out; these are typically made of lightweight, flexible materials.

Barefoot Tips For anyone interested in barefoot running, learning about it may be as simple as kicking off your shoes. Most people can successfully make the transition by reacting to the tactile feedback they receive from the ground or other amenable surface. Everyone will benefit from these few basic tips from the experts: n Keep an upright posture n Take very short, light, quick steps n Land on the ball of the foot, and then

gently allow the heel to touch the surface n Keep knees bent and arms and legs relaxed n Be patient; start with a quarter-mile and then slowly increase distance

Barefoot running allows individuals to push their limits and reach new running goals. So, try taking your shoes off and have some fun!

Jason Robillard is a barefoot running instructor, founder of Barefoot Running University, co-founder of the Barefoot Runners Society and author of The Barefoot Running Book. He also consults for the shoe industry. Watch for news of his family’s cross-county tour this summer at BarefootRunning University.com and their blog, RobillardAdventures.com.

Protect the Achilles When Barefootin’

by Slava Kolpakov

B

ecause barefoot or minimalist running and walking require a considerable adjustment period, especially for those accustomed to well-cushioned sneakers, it’s wise to start very gradually. The foot must build muscular strength and toughen its connective tissues before it can run much distance free from shoe support.

Barefoot running is often referred to as forefoot running, because the forefoot makes the first contact with the ground, rather than the heel. This can feel like “falling into a run” and working with gravity. Consequently, the runner must take quicker and shorter steps, being cautious of overextending the knees, which should be slightly flexed at all times.

Due to these natural biomechanics, the Achilles tendon takes the most beating and is most prone to injury. This tendon connects the calf muscles to the heel, cushioning the forefoot strike and contracting every time the foot leaves the ground. For individuals unaccustomed to forefoot running, the Achilles tendon is at risk. Gradually increasing running distance and speed gives the tendon time to develop strength.

Equally important is the warm-up period before a run. Connective tissue can be compared to taffy. If tugged on when it’s cold, it will tear. Once warmed up, it will stretch. Running very slowly and taking short steps for about a mile before doing a full run will warm up the Achilles tendon and other foot structures.

A strained Achilles tendon is best treated by resting the foot when possible and applying ice several times a day during the first four days after the injury. After two or three days, alternating applications of ice and heat will facilitate blood flow to the area for more healing, as will stretching the Achilles tendon and muscles of the calves very slowly and gently.

Cross-fibering will also increase blood flow and reduce scar tissue. This technique involves applying focused pressure to and around the injury by quickly strumming fingers across the stringy muscle fibers for a few minutes several times a day.

Slava Kolpakov, LMT, is a runner and the founder of East West Massage Therapy Center, in Newtonville. He works with athletes and treats injuries using the Thai Muscular Therapy system that he developed. For more information, visit EastWestMassageTherapy.com.

natural awakenings

June 2011

31

Preparing the Feet for Barefoot Running

by Dr. Robert Mirandola

M

any individuals who want to begin barefoot or minimalist running are fearful that it will make them more prone to injury. However, a study conducted by Dr. Daniel E. Lieberman and his colleagues at Harvard University concluded that barefoot runners, who typically land on the balls or middle of their feet, rather than the heels, experience much less impact than shod runners, reducing chances of impact-related, repetitive-stress injuries to the feet and ankle joints.

Such injuries can cause misalignments that, if uncorrected, create or exacerbate problems like flat feet or ankle sprains. A chiropractic doctor can examine and gently adjust and realign the feet and ankles to prevent further injury. The foot muscles and ligaments can also be strengthened through exercise, and arches can be naturally supported without the use of orthotics.

The following three exercises are designed to strengthen the muscles and arches of the feet and help prevent injuries.

Towel crunches This exercise strengthens the foot’s tiny muscles known as the interossei and lumbricals. Spread a towel on a

smooth surface. With one foot atop the towel, scrunch it up with the toes. Do this 10 times, take a 30-second break and repeat, to complete three sets of 10.

Resistance band inner foot strengthening This targets the foot’s innermost muscles, the posterior tibial muscle and abductor halluces, that when weak, cause over-pronation and flat feet. Tie a resistance band on the leg of a chair, and then press the inner foot against the band. Moving only the ankle, not the leg, pull the band toward the midline of the body. Hold for 10 seconds, and then relax for 10 seconds. Repeat 10 times.

Resistance band outer foot strengthening This targets the outermost, or peroneal, foot muscles.

Using a resistance band tied to a chair leg, press the outside of the foot into the band. With the outer muscles of the foot, push the band away from the midline of the body, again moving the ankle instead of the leg. Hold for 10 seconds, and then relax for 10 seconds. Repeat 10 times.

Dr. Robert Mirandola is a minimalist runner, family chiropractor and the owner of Allasso Chiropractic, in Newton. He specializes in helping competitive and recreational athletes. Learn more at AllassoChiro.com.

ecotip Green Wedding Traditions An eco-friendly wedding will not only strip it of energy-sucking extras, it’s also far less expensive. Minimize the occasion’s carbon footprint by taking a cue from these standout green wedding customs and traditions from other countries.

Canada Rather than buy wrapped gifts, guests pay for each kiss from the bride or groom, and also pay for part of the honeymoon.

Italy Instead of gifts, a white bag called la borsa is passed around for guests to make cash donations.

China The bride and groom travel in one car to the ceremony.

Spain The bride hand-sews an embroidered shirt for her husband to wear at the ceremony.

Indonesia Family members invite weddings guests by walking to their homes to pay a visit.

Sweden The bride carries a bouquet of malodorous weeds to ward off trolls.

32

SE Middlesex County | www.NaturalAwakeningsMCMA.com

Marriage partners may be giving up a few status symbols, but by incorporating some of these green traditions, a couple can add a matchless personal touch to their wedding that will be forever treasured.

Source: PlanetGreen.com

calendarofevents All Calendar events for the July issue must be received by June 10th and adhere to our guidelines.

Visit NaturalAwakeningsMCMA.com for guidelines and to submit entries.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 1 The Artist’s Way: Free Intro Teleclass – 7:30pm. Free call to preview a summer teleclass based on The Artist’s Way: A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity, by Julia Cameron. Facilitator Kim Childs hosts this one-hour call introducing her 12-wk summer teleclass (Jun 8-Aug 24). Kim Childs: 617-640-3813. Details & registration: KimChilds.com/artistsway.html.

FRIDAY, JUNE 3 Friday Night Salsa – 9-10pm, beginner & intermediate salsa lessons; 10pm-1am, Salsa dance party. No partner required. Beginners welcome. $12. Havana Club, 288 Green St, Cambridge. Johnny Giraldo: 617-312-6464. HavanaClubSalsa.com.

SATURDAY, JUNE 4 Sixth Annual Rubber Ducky Race and Fair – 10am-12pm. Enjoy our famous Ducky Race Raffle as well as a petting zoo of baby animals, from Animal Craze, traditional country fair games, face painting and a silent auction offering premiere prizes. $10 Ducky Raffle ticket; most activities free. Emerson Playground, 90 Stow St, Concord.

MillDamNurserySchool.squarespace.com.

Cabot Fair – 10am-4pm. Fun-filled day features loads of activities such as games, pony rides, an obstacle course, moon walk, bake sale, raffle, soccer challenge, yard sale and more. Rain or shine.

Free. 229 Cabot St, Newton. CabotPTO.org.

Windrush Farm Family Festival – 10am-4pm.

Enjoy live music, games, crafts, horse and pony rides and more. Hop on a hay ride, grab a bite to eat, participate in a $1,000 cash raffle, or relax and watch one of the live bands. Free. 30 Brookview Rd, Boxford. 978-682-7855.

Exhibit Debut: Giant Anteater at Franklin Park Zoo – 10am-5pm. See the newest resident in the Tropical Forest, Jockamo, a one-year-old giant anteater. Free, with price of zoo admission.

Franklin Park Zoo, 1 Franklin Park Rd, Boston.

617-541-5466.

Cultural Survival Bazaar – 10am-6pm. Featuring artisans, products, and performers from around the world. Shop handmade art, jewelry, clothing, crafts, decor, tribal rugs, and more. Enjoy free music performances, presentations, Native American storytelling, educational displays, craft-making demonstrations, and ethnic cuisine. Boston Common-Parkman Bandstand, 145 Tremont St, Boston.

617-635-4505. CulturalSurvival.org/Bazaar.

Cambridge River Festival – 12-6pm. Celebration of the arts along the banks of the Charles River features jazz, folk, Latin and world music performances, dance, art demonstrations, family art-making activities and over 100 specialty food purveyors and craftspeople. Free. Cambridge Arts Council, 344 Broadway, Cambridge. 617-3494380. CambridgeMA.gov/CAC. Chameleon Arts Ensemble Free Family Concert – 2pm. An afternoon of exploration and discovery. An instrument “Petting Zoo” and demonstration will follow the performance. Musical selections by: Franz Josef Haydn, Bela Bartok, Darius Milhaud, Zhou Long, Mark O’Connor, John Cage, and Chameleon’s resident teacher/ composer Hans Indigo Spencer. Hyde Park Branch Library, 35 Harvard Ave, Hyde Park. Info@ ChameleonArts.org. ChameleonArts.org.

Boston Take Steps Walk – 4pm. Hosted by the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America. Enjoy live music, food, kids’ activities, and more, followed by a 2- to 3-mile walk. Boston Common, Boylston St & Charles St, Boston. Register a team: 781-449-0324 x 14 or CCTakeSteps.org/Boston.

SUNDAY, JUNE 5 Aids Walk Boston – 7:30am-1:30pm. By walking this year, you will make a difference in the fight against HIV/AIDS. Begins and ends at the DCR Hatch Memorial Shell on the Charles River Esplanade, Boston. AAC.org/site/ PageServer?pagename=AIDSWALK_homepage.

Saluting the Spirit – 8:15am-12:15pm. A yoga fundraising event to benefit Pathways to Wellness, yogaHOPE, and the Healthworks Foundation. Some of Boston’s best yoga teachers lead

natural awakenings

June 2011

33

participants in a challenging three-hour flow.

Healthworks Back Bay, 441 Stuart St, Boston.

617-859-3036. PathwaysBoston.org.

Clinical Sports Massage: Rotator Cuff & Shoulder Dysfunction – 9am-5pm. Learn the pathology, assessment, treatment, and self-care of the shoulder region with specific focus on the glenohumeral joint and rotator cuff musculature.

Understand the possible causes and contributing factors associated with rotator cuff shoulder dysfunction. $140. Cortiva Institute, 103 Morse St, Watertown. 617-668-2000. Katie McCarren: KMcarren@Cortiva.com; Holly Fitch: HFitch@ Cortiva.com. Cortiva.com.

Family Music Festival – 12-3pm. Activities include family picnic games, face painting and a musical instrument “petting zoo.” Special performances include African drumming & dance duo Jerry & Lisa Leake at 12:15pm and “El Doble de Amigos,” a Bilingual Musical Family Fiesta with Sol y Canto’s leaders, Rosi & Brian Amador at 1pm, and a family sing-a-long at 2:15pm. Free; some activities & concerts have a small fee. New School of Music, 25 Lowell St, Cambridge. 617492-8105. Tickets required: CambridgeMusic.org.

Family Experience – 1-3pm. See the ancient and mesmerizing practice of glass blowing, then make the experience hands-on by creating your own glass pendant souvenir. $15-$25/person. Diablo Glass School, 123 Terrace St, Roxbury Crossing.

Doris Martinez: 617-442-7444.

DiabloGlassSchool.com.

Breathwork – 2-4pm. With Samvedam Bettina Randles, Dipl Psych, LMHC. Use the transformative power of the breath to still the mind, clear the emotions, and deeply relax your body. This will help you create a more conscious connection to your spirit. $35 or class card x 2 + $5. The Arlington Center, 369 Massachusetts Ave, Arlington.

781-316-0282. More info: InnerArtsInstitute.com.

BostonLaw Collaborative: Relationship and Dating Coaching Forum – 3-6pm. Keynote Speaker: Rachel Greenwald. Forum discussion topics: Dating coaching, what it is and when it is useful; Self-awareness and authenticity in dating; Making online dating successful; Writing effective online profiles; Empowering singles to find love.

Limited to 30. $75. 99 Summer Street, Suite 1600, Boston. More info: PWolman@gmail.com.

SATURDAY, JUNE 11 Strawberry Festival and Craft Fair – 10am. A charming country fair held on the historic town green, centered on the crafts fair, strawberry shortcake, and farming exhibit along with town events. Free. Topsfield Town Common, Rte 97 &

34

E Common St, Topsfield. StrawberryFestival@ TopsFieldHistory.org. TopsfieldHistory.org.

Let’s Move Outside: Pride Stride – 10am-4pm.

Celebrate Boston Pride Week with a hike or stride around Spectacle Island. Check the Ranger Station for your Pride Stride prize. Other activities will include: kite flying, ranger-led walks, hiking, sand castle making, hula hoop contests, and beach glass hunts. Designed especially for kids. Free. Spectacle Island, Boston Harbor Islands. 617-223-8666.

BostonHarborIslands.org.

Family Fun on Rutland – 1-4pm. Create, eat, play, and explore with USES’ youth programs and learn more about last-minute registration for the Summer Arts Program and Camp Hale. Enjoy a performance by City Stage, barbeque lunch, art activities, and more in the beautiful playground and courtyard. All welcome. United South End Settlements’ Childrens Art Centre, 36 Rutland St, Boston. 617-375-8159. USES.org.

Dancing Kirtan with DJ Mantra Ji – 8-10pm.

Experience the cutting edge of yoga where the ecstasy of dancing and Kirtan (call-and-response singing of Sanskrit chants) come together. Dancing Kirtan lets you go within or join a guided, but freeform, path to moving and connecting with others. Dancing bliss. Donations gratefully accepted.

The Arlington Center, 369 Massachusetts Ave, Arlington. 781-316-0282. DJMantraJi.com.

SUNDAY, JUNE 12 Deep Tissue: Neck and Face – 9am-5pm. Treating the neck and face effectively affects the whole body. There are 32 muscles to explore. With Structural Integrationist Ellen Halpern. Pre-prequisites: Graduated from or currently enrolled in a 500-hr massage program. $160. Cortiva Institute, 103 Morse St, Watertown. Saskia Cote: 617-668-2000.

Cortiva.com.

Reiki 1 – 9am-5pm. A simple and safe method to easily and consistently connect with healing energy. Review how to integrate Reiki into your practice. Prerequisites: Open to LMTs and practitioners of the healing arts who wish to learn more on the topic. $150. Cortiva Institute, 103 Morse St, Watertown. Saskia Cote: 617-668-2000.

Cortiva.com.

32nd Annual Hong Kong Boston Dragon Boat Festival – 12-5pm. Watch brightly colored dragon boats, piloted by rowers, as they race down the Charles River. Will also feature traditional Chinese Dragon Dance, Martial Arts Demonstration, Korean Dance, Philipino Dance, traditional Japanese Taiko Drumming, various Asian performances and food. On the Banks of the Charles River, Weeks Foot Bridge, 953 Memorial Dr, Cambridge. Gail

SE Middlesex County | www.NaturalAwakeningsMCMA.com

Wang: 617-259-0286. BostonDragonBoat.org.

Yoga Studio Opening – 1pm. Waltham’s newest yoga center featuring hatha, vinyasa and anusarainspired yoga. Music, Kirtan, food, 30-min yoga sessions, and specialty workshops, kid-friendly event. Free. Shiva Shakti Yoga Center, 315 Moody St, 2nd Fl, Waltham. Gwenivere Lovewell: 520247-1915. ShivaShaktiYogaCenter.com.

TUESDAY, JUNE 14 Shamanic Plant Journeying – 6:15-9:30pm.

Tommy Priester, Clinical Herbalist. Experience how the physical and spiritual energies of a plant affect all levels of being. Participants meet the physical plant, experience the tincture and open to the energies of the flower essence. Through drumming and guided meditation, make contact with plant wisdom for our own personal healing and the healing of the earth. For beginning and intermediate herbalists as well for those who want to learn more about shamanic journeying. $25. Held at 4 Minebrook Rd, Lincoln. To Register, send check to: The Boston School of Herbal Studies, 12 Pelham Terrace Arlington. Also accept credit card payments: 781-646-6319.

THURSDAY, JUNE 16 Jam and Jelly Making – 7-8:30pm. Learn the steps to make a luscious strawberry rhubarb jam and an herbal strawberry jam using hot-water bath processing, and useful tools for the home jam and jelly maker. Go home with two jars of jam, information to make own delicious jams and jellies, and recipes to get started. Instructors: Jenny Craddock and Janet Springfield. $26, $23/Friends of the Farm, includes $15 materials fee. Newton Community Farm, 303 Nahanton St, Newton.

617-916-9655. NewtonCommunityFarm.org/ Education/Classes.

SATURDAY, JUNE 18 Boston Yoga and Chant Fest – 10am. The annual pilgrimage for yogis, bhaktas and spiritual seekers. 24 hrs of Kirtan with: Wah!, Shyamdas, Sean Johnson & the Wild Lotus Band, Prajna, Irene Solea, Karnamrita Dasi, DJ Mantra, SrutiRam & Iswari, Dave Russell, Kirtan Rabbi, Simrit Kaur, The Mayapuris, Shubalananda, Ashara, Clair Oaks and Tom Lena. $75/day pass, $95/weekend pass, Group of three + weekend pass $75 each purchased before June 10. Best Western Royal Plaza Hotel and Trade Center, 181 Boston Post Rd E, Marlborough. 508-460-0700. Shunyam Productions.com.

The Practices and Principles of Southern Appalachian Folk Medicine – Jun 18 & 19.

10am-5pm. This intensive addresses the traditional causes of health problems, seasonal patterns and influences, spiritual/magical influences and the influence of the land. Also a discussion of Southern blood types: sweet, sour, bitter, salty; the blood patterns: high/low, thick/thin, weak/strong, good/ bad as a way of assessing constitutional imbalances. $250. Boston School of Herbal Studies, 12 Pelham Terrace, Arlington. 781-646-6319. Boston HerbalStudies.com.

Shop & Talk – 12-2pm, 2-5pm, 5-8pm. Event made for women to indulge in everything from fashion and wellness to beauty and food. Spend the day in a fun, relaxed and trendy environment over cocktails and music, while sampling from Boston’s finest boutiques, fitness centers, spas, salons, restaurants and more. Venu & Rumor, 100 Warrenton St, Boston. 781-444-7771.

BostonEventGuide.com.

Feast of the East at ArtBeat – 1-5pm. Celebrating East Arlington’s unique neighborhood, an eclectic mix of stores, galleries, eateries, and entertainment venues. Look for sidewalk sales, giveaways, free food and entertainment. Free.

212A Mass Ave, Arlington. 781-646-2200.

ArtBeatOnline.com.

SUNDAY, JUNE 19 Changes Focusing Group – 2-4pm. With Joan Klagsbrun, Susan Lennox & others. Focusing is a mind/body/spirit process developed by Eugene Gendlin to access the body’s innate wisdom and cultivate compassion towards oneself and others.

Useful for decision-making, clarifying life issues, moving past blocks, enhancing creativity, deepening spirituality, and knowing oneself more deeply in each moment. $8/at door. The Arlington Center, 369 Massachusetts Ave, Arlington. 781-316-0282.

NewEnglandFocusing.com.

TUESDAY, JUNE 21 Introductory Workshop – 6:30-8:30pm. An overview of the school and programs. Opportunity to speak face to face with the admissions staff and get all questions answered. Get a sample of what being a massage student and professional entails by experiencing sample lessons in anatomy, physiology, kinesiology, and table techniques taught by instructors. Pre-registration required; space limited. Free. Cortiva Institute, 103 Morse St, Watertown. 617-668-2000. Katie McCarren: KMcarren@Cortiva.com; Holly Fitch: HFitch@ Cortiva.com. Cortiva.com.

FRIDAY, JUNE 24 GreenStreets Walk Ride Day – 9am-5pm. Go Green and Wear Green. Event coordinated by GreenStreets Initiative. All over Cambridge. Janie Katz-Christie: Walk-Ride-Days@comcast.net.

GoGreenStreets.org.

City of Cambridge Dance Party – 7-11pm. Free citywide street party featuring a variety of music.

After dark, spectacular lights will be launched, adding to the magic of the evening. Cambridge City Hall, 795 Massachusetts Ave, on the street in front between Inman & Bigelow. Maryellen Carvello: 617-349-4301 or MCarvello@ CambridgeMA.gov.

SATURDAY, JUNE 25 Island Yoga – 10:30-11:30am. A gentle hatha yoga class overlooking the spectacular views of the Boston Harbor. Bring a mat or towel. Meet at Spectacle Island Visitor Center. First come, first serve. Free. Spectacle Island, Boston Harbor Islands. Jessica Renehan: 781-740-1605 x 202.

BostonHarborIslands.org.

Berklee Music Fest – 4-7pm. Berklee College of Music will fill the harbor with music. Bands will

include: Julia Easterlin, Foxtrot, and Green Line Inbound Free. Georges Island, Boston Harbor Islands. 617-223-8666. BostonHarborIslands.org.

Stories of Our Lives: An Evening with True Story Theater – 7:30pm. An Arlington-based improvisational theater company wants to hear about your life. This troupe of skilled listeners will honor each story through the power of improvisatory drama, music and movement. The stories you share will magically be brought to life as we explore this important common theme. All welcome. $15 or class card at door, $10/students, elders, low income. The Arlington Center, 369 Massachusetts Ave, Arlington. 781-316-0282.

TrueStoryTheater.org.

SUNDAY, JUNE 26 Clinical Sports Massage: ITB – 9am-5pm.

Course designed to focus on a common hip and knee disorder associated with athletics called Iliotibial Band Syndrome. Integrating the appropriate soft tissue techniques can dramatically reduce the severity of symptoms and impact that this condition can have on training, participation and athletic performance. Prerequisites: Graduated from or currently enrolled in a 500-hr massage therapy program. $140. Cortiva Institute, 103 Morse St, Watertown. Saskia Cote: 617-668-2000.

Cortiva.com.

Raindrop Therapy: Essential Oils Treatment Integration – 9am-6pm. Non-invasive gentle technique has powerful cleansing properties and assists with improving spinal alignment. Gain knowledge on application and integration of essential oils into their practice. Prerequisites: Graduated from or currently involved in a 500-hr massage program. $160; $10 material charge to be paid to the instructor. Cortiva Institute, 103 Morse St, Watertown. Saskia Cote: 617-668-2000.

Cortiva.com.

natural awakenings

June 2011

35

ongoingcalendar All Calendar events for the July issue must be received by June 10th and adhere to our guidelines.

Visit NaturalAwakeningsMCMA.com for guidelines and to submit entries.

Snatch and more. Vitality Personal Fitness, 118 Needham St, Newton. 617-620-3585. Vitality PersonalFitness.com.

PortRDavis Vintage Fair – Jun-Aug. 10am-3pm. 2nd & 4th Sun. Dealers selling vintage and retro clothing, jewelry, furniture, art, books and magazines, kitchen, and other wicked cool stuff.

Will run the 2nd and 4th Sunday of June, July and August. Free. Free parking and “Mad Men” cash bar. Dilboy VFW Hall, 371 Summer St, Somerville. PortRDavisVF@gmail. Facebook: PortRDavis Vintage Fair.

SoWa Open Market – Thru Oct 31. 10am-4pm.

Features 140 indie designers, crafters, artists, musicians, farmers, food trucks and much more. 460 Harrison Ave, Boston. 800-403-8305. SoWa OpenMarket.com.

Anusara Inspired Yoga – 10:30-11:45am. With Andrea Fotopolous. An integrated approach to hatha yoga in which the human spirit blends with the science of biomechanics. Grounded in a deep understanding of body alignment and an essential appreciation and respect for each student’s abilities and limitations. $17 drop-ins. Majestic Yoga Studio, 223 Concord Ave, Cambridge. 617-8766116. MajesticYogaStudio.com.

The Men’s Class – 5:30-6:45pm. A unique opportunity for men of all backgrounds and athletic abilities to practice O2 yoga and create community. Taught by men. An active, heat-generating practice focused on the development of strength, flexibility and balance. O2 Yoga, 121 E Berkeley St, 2nd Fl, Boston. 617-532-0691.

Basics – 8:30-9:45am. Introductory class. Focus placed on the proper execution of postures and principles. Appropriate for new students or experienced students wishing to strengthen the foundation of their practice. $14/drop-ins; passes available. O2 Yoga, 288 Highland Ave, Somerville. 617-625-0267.

Baby Lapsit – 10-10:30am. Enjoy time together with other parents, caregivers, and babies to learn, play, and develop language and motor skills. For pre-walkers. Cambridge Public Library, Main, Snail Rm, 449 Broadway, Cambridge. 617-3494038. CambridgeMA.gov/CPL.aspx.

Kettlebell 101 – 5:30-6:30pm. With Jay Krawczyk. Learn the proper technique for kettlebell exercises such as the Turkish Get Up, the Swing, the Clean, the Windmill, the Clean and Press, the

36

Lower Body & Core Training Classes – Jun 6-Sept 12. 7-8pm. Designed for walkers and runners as part of a balanced training program.

Includes a combination of yoga, Pilates and traditional training modalities. Open to all. Free for members of Team core harmony who are preparing for the Boston Marathon Jimmy Fund Walk on Sun, Sept 18. Held at Shiva Shakti Yoga Center, 315 Moody St, 2nd Fl, Waltham. For more info about the Walk & how to register for free training: 617-794-7123 or coreharmony.com/Giving.html.

MIT Qigong – Thru Jun 21. 7-8pm. The dynamic practice cultivates wholesome power and physical equilibrium. Open to the public. Free. MIT, Stratton Student Center, Bldg W20, Rm 306, 84 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge. David Weingeist: Qi@MIT.edu. Web.MIT.edu/Qigong.

Bioenergetics Exercise Class – 7-8:15pm. A blend of stretching, breathing, grounding and expressive exercises. Appropriate for therapists, students of expressive therapies, and those wishing to develop greater body awareness. Led by Sarah Putnam. $10. 269 Washington St, Somerville. 617-640-7560 or SarahPutnam@netscape. com. MassBioenergetics.org.

Get Primal: Fusion Class – 5:30-6:30am. With Jay Krawczyk. Shape up with the seven primal patterns of movement: squat, lunge, push, pull, bend, twist and gait (walk, run or jog). Maximize your workout and capitalize on modern stretching techniques. Vitality Personal Fitness, 118 Needham St, Newton. 617-620-3585. Vitality PersonalFitness.com.

Intermediate – 9:30-11am. More difficult poses and sequences are introduced with the goal of building strength, flexibility and focus. $14/dropins; passes available. O2 Yoga, 288 Highland Ave, Somerville. 617-625-0267.

Nantucket Basket-Making Class – 10am-12pm.

Open to all levels. Self-paced, join at any time.

Choose a Nantucket Basket project that best suits your skills and experience. Costs for materials based on the materials required for specific project. $30/session. GrayMist Studio & Shop, 364 Huron Ave, Cambridge. 617-868-8868. Gray MistStudio.com.

Stretching for Seniors – 10:30-11:30am. With

SE Middlesex County | www.NaturalAwakeningsMCMA.com

Sylvia Piltch. Increase range of motion with easy stretching set to the rhythm of big band music.

Cambridge Public Library, Main, Community Rm, 449 Broadway, Cambridge. 617-349-4032.

CambridgeMA.gov/CPL.aspx.

Preschool Story Time – 4-4:30pm. Ages 3-5 and caregivers. Accommodate 45 people. Tickets available on first-come, first-served basis on day of program. Cambridge Public Library, Main, Snail Rm, 449 Broadway, Cambridge. 617-3494038. CambridgeMA.gov/CPL.aspx.

The Harmony Class: Yoga & Pilates – 7-8:30pm. Taught by Debra Bennett, Certified Pilates & Yoga Instructor. A unique blending of yoga & Pilates, creating strength, flexibility and balance within the body while stationary and in motion. Small group classes appropriate for all levels. $25/class; monthly registration only, no drop ins. Newton. More info, contact core harmony: 617-794-7123 or coreharmony.com/ NewtonClasses.html.

Dirty Water Saloon – 7-10pm. Two-step, West Coast Swing and Line Dancing for GLBT folks, friends and allies. Learn to lead or follow to artists such as Train, Lady Antebellum, and Brad Paisley.

Free. The Milky Way, 284 Amory St, Jamaica Plain. DirtyWaterSaloon.com.

Tong Ren Healing Energy Class – 9-10am.

Classes use the Tom Tam Healing System. The foundation of his system is that blockages in the flow of Chi impede healing. Direct energy from the collective unconscious, to focus it on people, reducing blockages. Completely natural, safe and painless. $10 suggested donation. Jefferson Cutter House (basement), 611 Mass Ave at Rte 60, Arlington. Class leader, Charlie Smigelski, RD: CharlieNutrition.com. TomTam.com.

Nantucket Basket Making Class – 10am-12pm, 1-3pm & 7-9pm. See Tues listing. GrayMist Studio & Shop, 364 Huron Ave, Cambridge. 617868-8868. GrayMistStudio.com.

Power – 6-7:30pm. Advanced level. The instructor leads the class through a flowing and varied sequence of postures including arm balances, backbends and inversions. Intended to challenge the more experienced student. $14/drop-ins; passes available. O2 Yoga, 288 Highland Ave, Somerville. 617-625-0267.

Chick Lit Book Discussion Group – 7-8pm. 4th Wed. Group focuses on these modern works and

discuss the merits and pitfalls of reading chick lit.

Cambridge Public Library, Beech Rm, 449 Broadway, Cambridge. 857-235-9810. Kelly Linehan, KLinehan@CambridgeMA.gov. Cambridge MA.gov/CPL.aspx.

Maum Meditation Introduction Seminar – 7-8pm. Also 3-4pm, Sat. Purpose is to bring people out of the false mind world that they are living in that includes stress, anxiety, loneliness, etc., all sorts of pain and burden. Subtracting all these false mind elements can remove the source of all these disturbances and live much better.

Even one’s body will become healthier. Maum Meditation, 50 Massachusetts Ave, Arlington.

617-272-6358. Maum.org.

Prana 2 Music in Cambridge – 7:30-8:45pm.

An invigorating, all levels flow, set to a unique playlist created by the instructor. Experience the prana flow as you open into the rhythm of your breath and the music. Classes sell out, arrive a bit early. Prana class packages and regular drop-in rates apply. Prana Power Yoga, 585 Mass Ave, 2nd fl (2R on elevator), Central Square, Cambridge.

PranaPowerYoga.com.

Adrenaline: Functional Training Class – 9-9:55am. With Jay Krawczyk. A high-energy circuit class using kettlebells, TRX, ropes, balls and bands designed to burn calories and incinerate fat. Vitality Personal Fitness, 118 Needham St, Newton. 617-620-3585. VitalityPersonal Fitness.com.

Collins Tea Time – 3:30-5pm. We provide tea, snacks, and plenty of reading material to browse and borrow. Informal discussions and an invigorating break. Collins Branch, 64 Aberdeen Ave, Cambridge. 617-349-4021. CambridgeMA.gov/ CPL.aspx.

Astanga – 6-7:30pm. Appropriate for intermediate and advanced students. Include predictable sequencing, focus on flow (Vinyasa), and working toward full expression of postures with proper execution of breath and timing. $14/drop-ins; passes available. O2 Yoga, 288 Highland Ave, Somerville. 617-625-0267.

Vital Strength – 12-12:55pm. With Shayleen Pastick. Lifting, dumbbells, kettlebells and cables, pure strength training to build vital muscle mass.

Learn variations on movement patterns, progression, and programming in this power-building, body-sculpting class. All levels; beginners encouraged to participate in one-on-one training beforehand to ensure safety, maximize results and increase confidence and fun. Vitality Personal Fitness, 118 Needham St, Newton. 617-620-3585.

VitalityPersonalFitness.com.

Nantucket Basket-Making Class – 10am-12pm & 1-3pm, every other Fri. See Tues listing.

GrayMist Studio & Shop, 364 Huron Ave, Cambridge. 617-868-8868. GrayMistStudio.com.

Yoga at Special Olympics – 3pm. Parent and athlete gentle Kripalu Yoga class. $12. Special Olympics Headquarters, Yawkey Sports Training Facility, 512 Forest Street, Marlborough. Pat Lebau: 508-393-5581.

MIT SGS Public Board Games Night – 7-11:30pm. Favorite games include The Settlers of Catan, Battlestar Galactica, Race for the Galaxy, and Power Grid. Extensive game library has something for everybody. MIT, Walker Memorial, Bldg 50, Rm 316, 142 Memorial Dr, Boston.

Maxwell Mann: MMann@MIT.edu.

Prana After Dark in Cambridge – 9-10:30pm.

2nd Fri. With Ray. Features a blend of electronic, dub-reggae, and chill-out music: coordinated in a playlist that is built to flow with the class. Prana Power Yoga, 585 Mass Ave, 2nd fl (2R on elevator), Central Square, Cambridge. Prana PowerYoga.com.

Maum Meditation Introduction Seminar – 3-4pm. See Wed listing. Maum Meditation, 50 Massachusetts Ave, Arlington. 617-272-6358.

Maum.org.

Sound Healing Circle – 7-9pm; doors open 6:45pm, close 7:20pm. Last Sat. With Brad Brockmann & Comma Williams. Explore the transformative healing powers of sound. Co-create and receive sound healing, and learn how to improvise music with a healing intention. Bring favorite instruments or just yourself, your voice and your love. Prior musical or healing experience welcome, but not required. Suggested donation $5-15. The Arlington Center, 369 Massachusetts Ave, Arlington. 781-316-0282.

classifieds Vital TRX Cross – 9-9:55am. TRX Suspension Training allows you to safely perform hundreds of functional exercises that build power, strength, flexibility, balance, mobility, and prevent injuries.

All levels. High-energy class will get heart pumping by fusing cardio intervals, kettlebells, medicine balls and jump ropes. Vitality Personal Fitness, 118 Needham St, Newton. 617-620-3585.

VitalityPersonalFitness.com.

Fresh Pond Cambridge Walk from Whole Foods – 11am. 1st Sat. Meet in front of Whole Foods, then walk over to the pond and around the 2.25-mile paved trail. Whole Foods Market, 200 Alewife Brook Pkwy, Cambridge.

BUSINESS Opportunities CURRENTLY PUBLISHING NATURAL AWAKENINGS MAGAZINES – For sale in Birmingham, AL; Cincinnati, OH; Lexington, KY; Manhattan, NY; North Central, FL; Tulsa, OK; Southwest VA and Volusia/Flagler, FL. Call for details: 239-530-1377.

ESTATE SALE OF NORTH CONWAY HOME – 4200 sq ft, 4BR, 3BA, 2 private acres, lots of extras. $299,999. 304-613-7367.

FSBO.com/ListingDetail.aspx?id=148271.

natural awakenings

June 2011

37

communityresourceguide Connecting you to the leaders in natural healthcare and green living in our community. To find out how you can be included in the Community Resource Guide, email Publisher@NaturalAwakeningsMCMA.com to request our media kit.

ACUPUNCTURE

COMPOUNDING & WELLNESS PHARMACY

ACUPUNCTURE TOGETHER 2464 Massachusetts Ave, Ste 420 Cambridge, 02140 617-499-9993 AcupunctureTogether.com

Affordable acupuncture, excellent care. Dozens of conditions treated safely and effectively in a comfortable community room. Sliding scale for everyone. $35-55 first visit, $20-40 follow-up.

DAVIS SQUARE ACUPUNCTURE & HEALING ARTS Lisa Desrosiers, LAc 617-548-8167 DavisSquareAcupuncture.com

Effective, gentle, compassionate healthcare for optimal health and wellness. Treatment for stress, mood, pain, injuries, headaches, immunity, digestion, women’s health, fertility, pregnancy, and preventative care.

CHIROPRACTOR WALTHAM CHIROPRACTIC

KIM CHILDS JOHNSON COMPOUNDING AND WELLNESS CENTER Stephen Bernardi 577 Main St, Waltham, MA 02452 781-893-3870 Fax: 781-899-1172 Steve@NaturalCompounder.com NaturalCompounder.com

JCWC is the only sterile and non-sterile PCAB-accredited pharmacy in Massachusetts. In addition to our compounding service, we offer a full range of nutritional supplements, natural products, homeopathic remedies and home health care equipment. See ad page 33.

CREATIVITY COACHING THE ARTIST’S WAY Kim Childs 617-640-3813 KimChilds.com

Kim coaches groups and individuals in the life-changing practices and principles of The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron.

Group intensives offered each spring and fall.

Dr. John C. Duffy, DC 781-894-4270 WalthamChiropractic.com

Activator methods, manual adjustments, massage, exercise therapy, spinolator roller tables, hydro-massage. Applied Kinesiology Testing for nutritional support, pediatric, pregnancy, whiplash, sports injuries. Major health insurances accepted. See ad page 15.

COUNSELING/ PSYCHOTHERAPY ARLINGTON WELLNESS

Dal Hucknall, LICSW 781-424-6249 ArlingtonCenter.org/Therapy.html Change your life with integrated approach through healthy diet, nutrition, life coaching, and hypnosis. This highly effective, step-by-step method helps overcome anxiety, depression and addictions.

38

EDITING/WRITING SERVICES

SE Middlesex County | www.NaturalAwakeningsMCMA.com

Writer/Editor 617-640-3813 KimChilds.com

Let me help you to say what you want to say as clearly and originally as possible, whether your writing project is personal or professional.

HEALTHY HOME ENERGY CONSERVATION DESIGN Peter Brooks 617-833-0087 P.Brooks@rcn.com EnergyConservationDesign.us

A home consultation will: Reduce your carbon footprint and save energy; Increase comfort and air quality through diagnostic testing, air sealing and insulation.

HOLISTIC BODYWORK BARBARA GOSSELIN, PT

393 Massachusetts Ave, Arlington, MA 781-507-4226 HolisticHealingPT.com I’m a Physical Therapist with 20+ years experience helping people recover from pain using gentle, effective Bodywork techniques including Craniosacral Therapy and Fascial Mobilization. See ad page 9.

HOLISTIC HEALTH COACH

INTEGRATIVE THERAPY

NINA MANOLSON, MA, LMT, CHC

NEXUS INTEGRATIVE THERAPY

Certified Health Coach 617-771-5121 Nina@BodyAliveBodyAware.com BodyAliveBodyAware.com

Helping busy women who take care of everything, start taking care of themselves. Nina offers health coaching, wellness and cooking classes. Free trial sessions offered. See ad page 35.

SAVOR YOUR EXISTENCE INTEGRATIVE HEALTH Dillan DiGiovanni, CHC 617-510-2534 SavorYourExistence.com

Set and reach goals for mindful eating and balanced lifestyle habits with Dillan as your coach.

Live better. Savor Your Existence. See ad page 37.

HOLISTIC PET CANIS MAJOR HERBALS Nancy Anderson 617-501-9241 Nancy@CanisMajorHerbals.com

Helping to bring dogs back to wellness using medicinal herbalism for health conditions and Tail Hikes for exercise. See Canis MajorHerbals.com for more info.

See ad page 34.

MYERS BODYWORK

Lexington, MA 781-862-8000 Tamar@MyersBodywork.com MyersBodywork.com

Alison Shaw APRN, LMT, CEH 393 Massachusetts Ave Arlington, MA 02474 781-646-0686 Alison@NexusIntegrativeTherapy.com

Your symptoms are trying to tell you something… Listen… Your body, emotions and thoughts are constantly interacting and affecting each other. Using my innovative blend of Body-Centered Counseling, Bodywork and Energy Medicine, I will help you discover and release the underlying mind-body patterns that may be interfering with your health and limiting your life. See ad page 34.

INTEGRATIVE VETERINARY MEDICAL CARE MASH MAIN ST ANIMAL SERVICES OF HOPKINTON Margo Roman & Deborah Grady 72 W Main St, Hopkinton, MA 01748 508-435-4077 508-435-4204 Fax: 508-435-5533 MashVet@verizon.net MashVet.com

PHOENIX HEALING ARTS 617-413-7174 Mimi@PhoenixHealingArts.net PhoenixHealingArts.net

Phoenix Healing Arts is a manual and energetic bodywork practice that specializes in techniques for chronic pain and physical, emotional and sexual trauma release. See ad page 23.

NATURAL SKIN CARE ARBORETUM NATURAL COSMETICS Olga Goldberger 617-413-8548 Arboretum1@gmail.com Arboretum-SkinCare.com

Want to look your best?

Homemade, all-natural, anti-aging, skin care line.

Organic facial cleansers, serums, masks and creams sure to bring a glow to your face.

PHYSICAL THERAPY/ SPORTS MEDICINE

A full-service integrative veterinary clinic offering caring and healthful options and modalities like acupuncture, functional nutrition, homeopathy, chiropractic, herbs, ozone therapy, surgery and dentistry. See ad page 33.

MASSAGE INTEGRATED MANUAL & ENERGETIC BODYWORK

Tamar Myers, in practice since 1992, offers comprehensive bodywork. Her expertise in a wide variety of modalities allows her to design sessions unique to each individual’s needs.

CAMBRIDGE PHYSICAL THERAPY & SPORTS MEDICINE 1000A Cambridge St. Cambridge, 02141 617-492-6600 CambridgePTSportsMed.com

Specializing in outpatient orthopedic rehabilitation and treatment of sports, dance and work injuries. We also treat computer/musician overuse injuries, carpal tunnel, and injuries from motor vehicle accidents. See ad page 35.

ERIC M. VOLKIN 339-368-0375 EVolkin7@gmail.com EVCMassage.com

Receive a massage experience that is unequaled, combining strength, gentleness, knowledge and experience with an acute sensitivity to minimizing pain and stiffness. By appointment only.

See ad page 35.

natural awakenings

June 2011

39

40

SE Middlesex County | www.NaturalAwakeningsMCMA.com