Natural Awakenings Boston December 2012

H E A L T H Y

L I V I N G

H E A L T H Y

P L A N E T

feel good • live simply • laugh more

FREE

Tune In To Conscious Your Breath Evolution It’s All About We

Tips for Better Workouts

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Healthy Holiday Baking

Easy & Delicious Treats

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December 2012

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letterfrompublisher

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ear Santa, You probably don’t hear from magazine publishers very often, as we are usually juggling a zillion things while trying to wear five hats at the same time. But we wanted to give you our wish list and share some holiday tips as well.

We must admit, the latest iPad would be a really cool “thing” gift this year, but that can wait. Instead, we share with you our heartfelt wishes and dreams for true and real gifts. They may be grandiose, but we believe they are part of the Spirit that can be carried within us all as we move into 2013.

• • • •

That as human beings, we may begin to truly value all people on this Earth and honor everyone daily with simple dignity, respect and hope for the future—and teach our children these ways by example.

That as citizens of this country and of the world, we can put our political and ideological differences aside and work toward lasting economic, spiritual and social healing.

That as keepers of the Earth, we may awaken to the realization that every action or inaction has an effect on seven generations ahead, and consciously work toward a healthier and sustainable environment for all creatures.

And that as part of the grand web of life, we may more fully honor and respect the beauty in all things and give thanks daily for this wonderful Planet Earth that we call home.

It gives us chills to think of the possibilities as these wishes start to manifest, even in a tiny way. Imagine the snowball effect if everyone were to make a small daily effort in these areas!

Santa, we’ve also left you a few copies of December’s issue of Natural Awakenings to enjoy with your almond milk and gluten-free cookies. Please give a copy to Mrs. Claus, as we know she’ll enjoy our Conscious Eating department recipes for naturally healthy holiday treats. Oh, and Santa, just a thought after all those yummy sweets—please check out the article in our Fit Body department.

We hope that you’ll pass your copy along to the elves in your North Pole workshop. We think they’ll want to read our feature article, “It’s All About We,” about why we do better together, topped by Wise Words on practicing unconditional love. We know you’ll all like our Healthy Kids section on creating meaningful family traditions based on the true reason for the season.

One final thought for you, Santa. If while making your rounds this year, you find you’re missing a few gifts for all the good girls and boys, please be sure to visit our Natural Awakenings advertisers and distributors. They’ll help you find the perfect gift for everyone on your list.

Wishing you a peaceful and magical holiday season and a world of happiness in 2012,

contact us Publisher/Editor Maisie Raftery Director of Natural Awakenings Network Kyle Murphy Editors Karen Adams S. Alison Chabonais Kim Childs Proofreader Randy Kambic Writers Emily Chan Kim Childs Taryn Johnson Dawna Jones Katrina Kazda Design & Production Stephen Blancett Kim Cerne Zina Cochran Helene Leininger

P.O. Box 1149 Brookline, MA 02446 Phone: 617-906-0232 Fax: 877-907-1406 NaturalAwakeningsBoston.com Maisie@NaturalAwakeningsBoston.com © 2012 by Natural Awakenings. All rights reserved.

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

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

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

We welcome your ideas, articles and feedback.

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

Maisie Raftery on behalf of the Natural Awakenings Family of Publishers

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

contents 7

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6 newsbriefs 14 healthbriefs 15 globalbriefs 16 ecotip 20 community

spotlight

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.

18 STRESS LESS, FEEL BETTER THIS HOLIDAY SEASON

by Emily Chan

20 Community spotlight

Dr. Connie Jackson: Restoring Hormonal Balance and Vitality in Women and Men

26 consciouseating 22 22

IT’S ALL ABOUT WE 30 greenliving

Conscious Evolution: 31 healthykids Why We’re Better Together

by Linda Sechrist 32 wisewords 26 HEALTHY HOLIDAY 33 inspiration BAKING

A Cornucopia of Delicious Treats 37 fitbody 43 community 30 HOMEMADE AND HEARTFELT

by Kim Childs

resource guide

advertising & submissions

Do-It-Yourself Stocking Stuffers

31 MINDFUL HOLIDAY TRADITIONS

Simple Ways to Add Meaning and Family-Centered Fun

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

by Barbara Amrhein

Editorial submissions Email articles, news items and ideas to: Publisher@ NaturalAwakeningsBoston.com. Deadline for editorial: the 5th of the month.

by Judith Fertig

calendar submissions Visit NaturalAwakeningsBoston.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.

NaturalAwakeningsBoston.com

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by Meredith Montgomery

32 HOW UNCONDITIONAL

LOVE HARMONIZES OUR WORLD

Marci Shimoff Explores its Transformative Power

33 THE LUMINOUS WEB

34

Why We Are One

by Barbara Brown Taylor

34 AVOIDING PESTICIDES AND “NON-FOODS” IS THE BEST REASON TO BUY ORGANIC

by Dr. Dawna Jones

36 SUSTAINABILITY IS GOOD FOR

BUSINESS, PEOPLE AND THE PLANET

by Katrina Kazda and Taryn Johnson

37 BREATHE EASIER

Try These Tips for Better Workouts natural awakenings

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coverartist

newsbriefs Free Workshop to Identify and Avoid Toxic Beauty Products

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In the Spirit of the Season – May We Walk as One Jody Bergsma Jody Bergsma began creating art at age 3, when her mother suggested that she draw her nightmares to vanquish her fears. Monsters illustrated with pink and green crayons were not so scary, and the budding young artist became hooked. By her mid-teens, Bergsma was selling her fanciful works and she went on to become an award-winning illustrator.

In her whimsical, elfin watercolors and detailed, dramatic images of wildlife, the artist often uses aboriginal, native and geometric designs and symbols derived from the beautiful patterns of ancient cultures. By respectfully working with these images, she reintegrates them into our modern ethos.

“I propose that all humankind shares a common reality just beyond the range of normal sight,” remarks Bergsma, whose watercolor technique is self-taught. “Each person’s physical adventure is unique, but the abstract language of feelings and realization of existence is our shared experience.

“Art is a tradition that helps define who we are and brings us a vision of who we can become,” Bergsma continues. “My painting is my expression and request for a more beautiful, peaceful and harmonious world.”

View the artist’s portfolio at Bergsma.com.

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ewton Chiropractic and Wellness Centre, in Newton Centre, will present Identifying Toxins in Beauty Products at 2:30 p.m. on December 1. This free workshop is for anyone who wants to learn about avoiding the toxins and carcinogens that are used in many beauty products.

“When it comes to good health, what you put on your skin can be as important as what you put in your mouth,” says Dr. Julie Burke, owner of Newton ChiroDr. Julie Burke practic and Wellness. “The unfortunate truth is that most women put more than 500 chemicals on their face and body every day. These chemicals have nothing to do with making you look better, and they’re often working against you.”

Burke, who has practiced natural health and wellness for more than 20 years, will offer attendees the chance to try safer beauty products at the workshop, which is part of the center’s Community Wellness Program. “We’ve spent hours poring over the data and have boiled this down to a simplified system for identifying the toxins to avoid,” Burke says. “We’ve also got some suggestions about products that we’d recommend.”

Cost: Free. Location: Newton Chiropractic and Wellness Centre, 345 Boylston St., Ste. 300, Newton Centre. For more information and reservations, call 617964-3332 or visit WellAdjusted.com. See ad on page 17 and Resource Guide on page 43.

Behavioral and Mental Health Services Now Offered at Visions HealthCare

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isions HealthCare, in Wellesley, now offers behavioral and mental health services to complement the center’s complete approach to health. The new department provides therapy and psychiatric services to assist patients with such concerns as depression, anxiety, weight loss, sleep disturbance and stress management.

“Visions is now closer to being a one-stop-spot for supporting whole health and wellness,” says Marketing Coordinator Stephanie Travers. “We’re also opening a second location in Dedham very soon.”

The new team consists of board-certified psychiatrist Achina Stein, DO, DFAPA, and Licensed Mental Health Clinician and behavioral health specialist Marsha Klein. Stein practices from a biopsychosocial approach that aims to support the whole person, and both practitioners plan to work closely with physicians for their patients’ best interests.

“The creation of our behavioral health department allows us to continue to serve our patients in mind, body and soul,” says Dr. Edward Levitan, CEO and founder of Visions HealthCare. “We’re very happy to have Achina and Marsha as part of the team, as they truly understand our vision of transforming health.”

Location: Visions HealthCare, 170 Worcester St. (Rte. 9), Wellesley. For more information, call 781-431-1333 or visit VisionsHealthCare.com. See ad on back cover.

Boston | NaturalAwakeningsBoston.com

newsbriefs Shamballa 1 Reiki Class in Brighton

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icensed Massage Therapist Mimi Rhys, of Phoenix Healing Arts, in Brighton, will present a Shamballa 1 Reiki class from 6 to 8:30 p.m. on December 13. Rhys says that the class will include a foot attunement to heal the Earth.

“Shamballa Reiki is based on Usui Reiki and is the next step beyond Mimi Rhys that,” says Rhys. “It also has more symbols and a higher vibrational energy, and it’s simple to use. People can be attuned to Shamballa Reiki for less cost than Usui Reiki and still be as effective in healing.”

Rhys notes that her Shamballa 1 Reiki classes are ongoing, with future dates to be announced for those who cannot attend in December.

Cost: $60; due December 10, payable to Mimi Rhys. Location: Phoenix Healing Arts, 21 Glenmont Rd., Brighton. Class is limited to six; early registration is recommended. For more information, call 617-413-7174 or visit PhoenixHealingArts.net.

See ad on page 13 and Resource Guide on page 45.

Holiday Pottery Show and Sale in Brookline Village

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eet of Clay Pottery, a cooperatively run pottery studio in Brookline Village, is holding its show and sale from November 30 through December 16. The hours are Fridays from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sundays from noon to 6 p.m. The event features the work of 23 artists and presents a wide range of contemporary ceramics, from highly refined porcelain work to earthy wood-fired stoneware.

“We invite people to support our artists and buy gifts that range from the beautifully functional to the exuberantly fanciful,” says owner Jenn Wyman. “We also welcome visitors and new students at our studio, which fosters community and the arts.”

Open since 1974, Feet of Clay offers a friendly community work and education environment for studio potters of all levels.

Classes are offered in clay hand-building and wheel-throwing, a therapeutic and ancient art form for all ages and backgrounds.

“Our private studio members volunteer their time to studio operations,” says Wyman. “The result is a group of artists who are dedicated and invested in the studio’s future.”

Location: Feet of Clay, 21 Station St., Brookline. For more information, call 617-731-3262 or visit FeetOfClayPottery.com.

Dr. Iveta Iontcheva-Barehmi DMD, MS, D.Sc. Dr. Iontcheva-Barehmi is an accomplished dentist and specialist in Periodontics and Implants. She has a firm belief that our bodies are very intelligent. All the body organs and systems are interconnected and related to each other (the teeth and the mouth are part of and related to the whole body).

Our bodies are perfect self-sustainable systems, capable of self-healing and self-regeneration.

Dr. Iontcheva-Barehmi has expertise in the areas of Biological, Physiological Dentistry and Integrative Periodontal Medicine and Implants, Lasers and Energy Medicine.

Miracle Bite Tabs™ (MBT) Miracle Bite Tabs™ (MBT) and and Low Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) are used to treat Dental Distress Syndrome. Your teeth and jaws are an extension of your brain and spinal cord. Any imbalances caused by improper alignment of the jaw can play a major role in pain syndromes and chronic diseases.

Head and Neck Pain Management Scenar, a non-invasive treatment device, is the only real time biofeedback device that will find what is wrong with your body and stimulate self-healing through electro stimulation and “conversation” with the control systems of the body (CNS Integrative Periodontal Medicine-Periodontal Spa The majority of the dental and periodontal procedures in Dr. Iontcheva-Barehmi’s office are laser assisted. She has Biolase MD, the most versatile laser, which can be utilized to work with the gums and the teeth, implants and root canals. The discomfort is minimal to none and the healing is speededup. The procedures are often combined with a low level laser and Scenar, which give additional boost to the healing and removing discomfort.

Vitamin C electrophoreses is a unique method used in Europe to prevent recession, boost collagen synthesis, support and increase the blood circulation leading to firming the gingiva and discontinuing the signs of aging and bleeding. It is part of the integrative protocol for treatment and prophylaxes of periodontitis.

Zirconia Solution to Titanium Implant If you are allergic or sensitive to other metals Bio-ceramic (zirconia) implants might be an option for you. Dr. IontchevaBarehmi is certified to place zirconia implants, you don’t need to travel to Europe anymore.

Ozone Treatment Ozone is a powerful oxidizer and kills effectively bacteria, fungi, viruses and parasites.

Oxygen ozone therapy can be applied as an adjunctive therapy in treatment of periodontitis (periodontal disease), in arresting and reversing carious lesions in initial stage, reversal of initial pulp inflammation in deep carious lesions, treatment of dentinal hypersensitivity. The methods applied are efficacious with no toxicity or side effects.

Perio-Protect Dr. Iontcheva-Barehmi is certified to use the Perio-protect methodone of the best prophylactic methods for periodontal disease, and subsequently for cardiovascular disease, diabetes and some other conditions.

Restorative and Cosmetic Dentistry Your amalgam fillings contain not only poisonous mercury but they cause cracks in your tooth structure and can lead to tooth loss. Defective amalgam fillings are removed safely following the IAOMT protocol, Including spa treatments for detoxification and the newest form of noninjectable Vitamin C with comparable absorption.

Anxiety and dental phobias are rarely experienced in the Dr. Iontcheva-Barehmi’ s practice.

Meditation, breathing techniques, homeopathy, EFT technique, hypnotherapy are all used, so you can be comfortable and love coming to your dentist.

To schedule your comprehensive exam and share the excitement of a healthy smile call:

617-868-1516

Vitamin C gum rejuvenation 1842 Beacon St. Suite 302, Just like skin, gums can be Brookline MA rejuvenated for health and youth. www.bostondentalwellness.com

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newsbriefs New Supplement to Support Brain Health and Memory

S Tea Party Reenactment Promises to Make a Splash

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he Old South Meeting House, in Boston, and the Boston Tea Party Ships and Museum are teaming up for a Boston Tea Party Reenactment at 4 p.m. on December 16. Re-enactors from across New England will gather at the meeting house to recreate one of Boston’s most iconic public protests before marching to the harbor to destroy chest after chest of tea.

“We’re recreating the single most important event that led to the American Revolution,” says Robin DeBlosi, director of marketing at the Old South Meeting House.

“Visitors can join the spirited meeting at Old South Meeting House with such sons of liberty as Samuel Adams and Paul Revere to debate the 1773 tea tax with crown-loving loyalists.”

DeBlosi says that visitors can then join the procession to Griffin’s Wharf, meeting additional colonial characters along the way, before lining the shores of the Boston Harbor to watch the sons of liberty storm aboard the brig Beaver and toss out the tea. The event will be held rain or shine and tickets are available at BrownPaperTickets. com/event/285895.

Cost: $15 for adults, $12 for children, 4 to 12; service fees apply.

Location: Old South Meeting House, 310 Washington St., Boston. For more information, call 617-482-6439 or visit osmh.org.

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evo Nutraceuticals announces the introduction of a new supplement for brain health and improved memory called PERCEPTIV™. The supplement, which was developed at the University of Massachusetts at Lowell, is now available for sale at leading pharmacies and natural health stores nationwide.

“Cognitive health is a critical health issue in the United States, impacting the largest demographic in America, the baby boomers,” says Steve Swenson, chief marketing officer at Sevo Nutraceuticals. “A recent report by the National Council on Aging indicates that these Americans are more fearful of losing mental capacity than physical ability, which points to a growing need for cognitive health products that are effective and safe.”

Swenson says that PERCEPTIV has been shown to protect against the normal cognitive decline associated with aging, improve list recall by more than 100 percent, improve executive function by more than 25 percent and increase focus and concentration.* “There are five published clinical studies that support the efficacy and safety of PERCEPTIV,” says Swenson. “The product formula includes vitamins E, folic acid and B12, along with herbal ingredients such as SAM-e.”

Sevo is currently offering a $10 discount to those who use the code WELCOME10 when ordering from its website, ThinkPERCEPTIV.com. * These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.

ForThis more information, call to 800-748-4694 visit See ad on product is not intended diagnose, treat,or cure, or ThinkPERCEPTIV.com. prevent any disease. page 2. * These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.

This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Discounts on Spa Gift Cards and Esthetics Programs

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he Catherine Hinds Institute of Esthetics, in Woburn, is offering a limited-time discount on gift cards for spa services in its student clinic. Gift card purchases of $35 or more will be discounted by 15 percent until December 14. The institute is also offering discounted tuition on its esthetics programs.

“Our student clinic offers a multitude of spa services and gift cards make the perfect holiday gift,” says President and CEO An Hinds. “In addition, we offer five skin-care training programs that range in length from 300 to 1,200 hours and cover basic and advanced facial treatments, waxing, makeup artistry and more. It’s a great career and, as the saying goes, ‘If you love what you do then you’ll never work a day in your life.’”

The Catherine Hinds Institute of Esthetics has been researching and presenting the leading theories and technological advancements in skin care for more than three decades. Full- and part-time programs are available, and the next start date is January 28, 2013. The student clinic gift cards can be purchased online at CatherineHinds.edu using the discount code HOLIDAY15.

Location: Catherine Hinds Institute of Esthetics, 300 Wildwood Ave., Woburn. For more information, call 781-935-3344 or visit CatherineHinds.edu. See ad on page 11 and Resource Guide on page 46.

Boston | NaturalAwakeningsBoston.com

newsbriefs

Contest to Win Groceries and a Winter Supply of Cold Care

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ohnson Compounding and Wellness Center, in Waltham, is partnering with Kare-N-Herbs to express gratitude for customer support and loyalty with a holiday contest. Th first-place prize winner will receive 10 boxes of the Kold Kare wellness formula and a $50 grocery card.

“It’s a small way to thank our wonderful customers and help them to enjoy a healthier winter,” says Gary Kracoff, manager of Johnson Compounding and Wellness Center.

“People can enter our giveaway on Facebook and, if they win, they can share the health with friends and family.”

Participants can visit the Facebook page at woobox.com/xxyncg to enter the giveaway. Second-place prizes of two boxes of Kold Kare will also be awarded to five winners.

Johnson Compounding and Wellness Center, a family-owned business, is recognized by the Pharmacy Compounding Accreditation Board. The compounding pharmacy specializes in customizing medications to meet patients’ individual needs. The center also has an extensive selection of nutritional supplements and homeopathic remedies.

Location: Johnson Compounding and Wellness Center, 577 Main St., Waltham.

For more information, call 781-8933870 or visit NaturalCompounder.com.

See ad on page 25 and Resource Guide on page 44. natural awakenings

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COMING IN JANUARY

newsbriefs Appalachian Music and Healthy Holiday Treats at CommonWealth Herbs

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Start the Year Well Discover new paths to Health & Wellness— from nutrition and exercise to your daily lifestyle.

Good health is habit forming.

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

617-906-0232 10

ommonWealth Center for Herbal Medicine, in Brookline, will present a fundraising event at 7 p.m. on December 6, featuring the band Rising Appalachia.

The evening will offer opportunities to learn about herbalism while sampling tasty, healthy herbal concoctions and treats and enjoying lively music.

“Rising Appalachia is the unofficial band of the herbal community, and we’re lucky to have them while Rising Appalachia they’re touring the East Coast,” says CommonWealth Director Katja Swift. “Their particular style is something like Appalachian folk-tribal-fusion-awesomeness.”

Visitors can learn about CommonWealth classes and clinical appointments, meet the herbalists on staff and register for the Advanced Herbal Studies program that begins in January. “The concert is a great time to come check out our school, see a schedule of events and talk to our talented teachers,” says Swift. “We’re excited for the chance to show the school and clinic to a new audience and kick up our heels with this great band.”

Cost: Sliding scale, from $12 to $20. Location: CommonWealth Center for Herbal Medicine, 25 St. Mary’s Ct., Brookline. For more information, call 617-750-5274 or visit CommonWealthHerbs.com. See ad on page 27 and Resource Guide on page 44.

Birth 2012 Boston Joins Global Celebration on 12-22-12

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n December 22, Birth 2012 Boston will celebrate what organizers call a planetary shift to a new paradigm. The event, which will take place from 7 to 10 p.m. at Arlington Town Hall, includes sound healing concerts, drumming, dance and arts performances, interactive exhibits and peace meditations.

“Planetary Birth Day 12-22-12 is ‘Day One’ of a shift into the emergent global culture of peace that begins on the December 21 solstice,” says organizer eliSabeth Taylor. “Birth 2012 Boston is a local celebration of this historic event, which links hearts and minds to mark the birth of an awakened, heart-centered, universal humanity.”

The Arlington event includes a brief video introducing Birth 2012 co-founder and humanist Barbara Marx Hubbard, an 82-year-old visionary and leader of the human potential movement for four decades. Taylor says that there will be other local events leading up to December 22, and that individuals, groups and organizations can participate and plan their own celebrations. “People can visit Facebook.com/Birth2012Boston to link up with others for action and to share their innate genius, visions, and joys.”

Cost: $10 to $20, on sliding scale; free for children 12 and younder. Location: Arlington Town Hall, 730 Massachusetts Ave., Arlington. For more information, call 877-258-2773, ext. 103, or visit Birth2012Boston.com or Facebook.com/ Birth2012Boston. See ad on page 19.

Boston | NaturalAwakeningsBoston.com

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newsbriefs New Graphic Novels from Local Author and Artist

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nomestead Press announces the release of the first two uplifting novels in its Gentle Mountain Way series, by author and artist Sarah Jeppson Zitter, of Maynard. Written for adults and young adults, Path of the Bunny is in full color, in both hard and soft covers, and Crystal Bunnytail in a Tiny Nutshell is a black-and-white paperback.

Zitter describes the birth of the first book thusly: “Suppose I cared not what others thought of me and simply acted from my authentic self at all times? Could I find the courage to do so? Spontaneously, such an inner persona emerged through my drawings, an inner self named Crystal Bunnytail.”

The stories involve faith, care for the Earth and the difficulties of life, and chronicles Crystal Bunnytail’s graceful triumphs over the obstacles she faces. “It’s a fully holistic view of a hoped-for world that I think is inside every one of us,” says Zitter. “A place where love rules supreme and life is a joy-filled adventure.”

Books II and III will be published at later dates.

For more information, visit Gnomesteading.com. See ad on page 19.

Natural Awakenings’ Family of Franchises is Thriving

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atural Awakenings Publishing Corp.

(NAPC) recently welcomed a large group of new publishers that completed an October training program at corporate headquarters in Naples, Florida. The NAPC training staff spent several days with the entrepreneurs now launching new Natural Awakenings territories or taking over the production of existing magazines in locales across the nation. New markets include Syracuse, New York; Cincinnati and Columbus, Ohio; Baltimore, Maryland; and Hudson County, New Jersey. Existing franchises with new publishers at the helm include San Antonio, Texas; Bergen County and Somerset, New Jersey; Roanoke, Virginia; Santa Fe, New Mexico; and Long Island, New York.

Company CEO Sharon Bruckman launched the first edition of Natural Awakenings in 1994 and began franchising it in 1999. The company currently publishes more than 80 Natural Awakenings magazines throughout the United States and in Puerto Rico, with 1.5 million monthly print copies and a collective readership exceeding 3 million.

“Interest in naturally healthy living that’s good for people and the planet is now influencing mainstream America, thanks in part to our active and growing readership,” says Bruckman. “Our dedicated family of publishers, supported by loyal advertisers, makes it possible for everyone to know they have healthy-life choices available to them.”

For a list of where Natural Awakenings is publishing or to learn more about franchising opportunities, visit NaturalAwakeningsMag.com or call 239-530-1377.

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Boston | NaturalAwakeningsBoston.com

Yoga, Pilates & Fitness Directory

Yoga Instructors Conscious Being Yoga Your Home or Office CBeingYoga.com 617-775-6227

Pilates

Yoga Studios

103 Morse St ShawnsStudio.com 617-393-3535

Belmont Bodytrio Yoga, Pilates & Barre 21 Alexander Ave Bodytrio.com 617-489-1319

Cambridge Art & Soul Yoga 91 Hampshire St ArtSoulYoga.com 617-395-4227

Watertown Inner Strength Studios 309 Main St InnerStrengthStudios.com 617-924-0111

West Roxbury Inner Strength Studios 1524 VFW Pkwy InnerStrengthStudios.com 617-477-3315

Watertown Shawn’s Studio

Personal Training Charlestown Engin Wellness Coaching 8 Allston St EnginCoach.com 617-823-0464

Newton Vitality Personal Fitness 118 Needham St VitalityPersonalFitness.com 617-620-3585

Join our directory!

Maisie – 617-906-0232 Maisie@ NaturalAwakeningsBoston.com

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healthbriefs

One-Size Meditation Does Not Fit All

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n intriguing study recently posted online by Explore: The Journal of Science and Healing, suggests that new meditators are most likely to stick with the practice and reap its healthful benefits if they select methods with which they are most comfortable, rather than those that are most popular.

In one of the first studies to compare meditation techniques head-to-head, author Adam Burke, a professor of health education at San Francisco State University and the director of its Institute for Holistic Health Studies, taught 247 participants four popular methods— mantra, mindfulness, Zen and qigong visualization. He asked them to choose which they preferred to practice at home for six weeks before techniques were evaluated.

The simpler methods, mantra and mindfulness, each were preferred by 31 percent of study participants. Zen and qigong were selected by about 22 percent and 15 percent, respectively.

Burke says the results showed the value of providing people new to meditation simpler and more accessible methods, and also emphasized that no one technique is best for everyone. He hopes to see more comparative meditation studies, especially to determine if particular methods are better at addressing specific health issues such as addiction.

“If that’s the case,” he advises, “healthcare professionals would be able to guide patients toward techniques that will be most effective for them. Additional studies are also needed to determine if there is a way to predict which method will be best suited for any particular individual.”

A Wise Man’s Gift for Arthritis Sufferers

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rankincense, an aromatic resin obtained from Boswellia trees native to Africa, is an age-old herbal remedy that may help alleviate the pain of arthritis, according to scientists at Cardiff University, in Wales. “The search for new ways of relieving the symptoms of inflammatory arthritis and osteoarthritis is a long and difficult one,” says Dr. Emma Blain, who led the research with co-investigators Professor Vic Duance, from Cardiff University’s School of Biosciences, and Dr. Ahmed Ali, of the Compton Group. The team believes they have been able to demonstrate that treatment with an extract of Boswellia frereana—a rare frankincense species—inhibits the production of key inflammatory molecules and helps prevent the breakdown of cartilage tissue that causes the condition.

The African Somali people have long used extracts of frankincense as a traditional remedy for arthritis. “Our research achieved the use of innovative chemical extraction techniques to determine the active ingredient in frankincense,” says Ali. “We will now be able to further characterize the chemical entity and compare its success against other anti-inflammatory drugs used for treating the condition.”

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Nutty Way to Help Preserve Cognition

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alnut consumption is associated with better memory scores and cognitive function, according to recent findings published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease. In the Prevención con Dieta Mediterrnáea study, funded by the Spanish Ministry of Health, results show that a Mediterranean diet, supplemented with olive oil or one ounce of mixed nuts, half of which are walnuts, is more beneficial than a low-fat diet when it comes to body weight, blood pressure, insulin resistance and systemic inflammation.

The nutrient-dense walnuts provide antioxidants and alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), the plant-based omega-3 fatty acid. Both are key nutrients with anti-inflammatory properties that help protect brain cells from the oxidative damage associated with cognitive decline.

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

Smog Begone

Dramatic Decline in Los Angeles Air Pollution Legendary late-night TV host Johnny Carson made the thick, automobile-generated smog that covered Los Angeles the butt of jokes for decades, but times have changed. In the past 50 years, California’s Los Angeles Basin has shown a 98 percent decrease in levels of some vehicle-related air pollutants even as area denizens now burn three times as much gasoline and diesel fuel.

Between 2002 and 2010 alone, the concentration of volatile organic compounds (VOC) dropped by half, according to a new study led by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and published in the Journal of Geophysical Research-Atmospheres. “The reason is simple. Cars are getting cleaner,” says Carsten Warneke, a NOAA-funded scientist with the Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences, at the University of Colorado at Boulder.

Primarily emitted from the vehicle tailpipes, VOCs are a key ingredient in formation of ground-level ozone, which at high levels can harm people’s lungs and damage crops and other plants. The magnitude of the drop in VOC levels was surprising, although it doesn’t mean that ozone levels have dropped as steeply, because the air chemistry is complex. Levels of ozone pollution in the basin are down, but don’t yet meet U.S. Environmental Protection Agency standards.

Warneke expects the decrease in VOC emissions by cars to continue, given that engine efficiency continues to improve and older, higher polluting vehicles will be taken off the roads.

Source: American Geophysical Union (Tinyurl.com/SmogBegone)

Coming Clean

Environmental Hall of Shame From shampoo, deodorant and toothpaste to laundry detergent and window cleaners, hundreds of chemicals of unknown origin and effect can be found everywhere in our daily lives. Some are regulated by government agencies, but many are not; some cleaning products, for example, are not even required to list their ingredients on labels.

The research team at the nonprofit consumer watchdog Environmental Working Group has released a new Cleaners Hall of Shame database (Tinyurl.com/CleanerHallOfShame) that ranks more than 2,000 household cleaners by how hazardous their ingredients are and how much information is on their labels.

Many products contain ingredients known to cause asthma or are contaminated with carcinogens. Even so-called “green” products aren’t necessarily any better. Many of them boast of ingredients made from plants, rather than petroleum, but there is little or no safety data for some plant-based ingredients. A truly green product poses few risks to health or the environment and transparently informs users of its content.

Tech Revolution

Fresh Funds for Innovative Renewable Projects U.S. Secretary of Energy Steven Chu is spearheading a new wave of renewable energy research by recruiting top scientists from the nation’s best research laboratories to staff a new agency called ARPA-E, modeled after DARPA, the research and development wing of the Pentagon that invented the Internet. With a surge in funding for renewable energy, courtesy of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, plus grants from the Department of Energy, ARPA-E has made more than 180 investments in basic research projects in renewable energy.

One company, Ocean Power Technologies, is installing a 260-ton generator in the Pacific Ocean off the Oregon coast to capture renewable energy from waves. If the generator operates as planned, it will link to the grid and generate enough electricity for 1,000 homes.

Other ARPA-E-funded projects are making cheaper batteries, more efficient air conditioners and appliances, experimental algae-based biofuels, carbon sequestration (trapping) technologies and even plants that secrete crude oil.

Source: The Atlantic magazine (Tinyurl.com/SilentGreen)

natural awakenings

December 2012

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ecotip Green Christmas Holiday Planet Savers

Here are some fresh ways to tweak family traditions for a greener holiday this and every year.

Incorporate local, sustainable cuisine into the family feast. Ingredients for a traditional holiday dinner can travel up to 30,000 miles. Instead, show support for local community farmers and reduce food transportation miles by choosing a heritage turkey or meatless entrĂŠe. Stellar complements may include organic cranberry jelly, mulled apple cider or wine from an area farm, orchard or vineyard.

Adopt or recycle the Christmas tree. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, as many as 33 million live-cut Christmas trees are purchased each year in North America, and most end up in landfills. Fortunately, Christmas tree adoption services like Central California’s Rent a Living Christmas Tree are popping up across the country, allowing them to go on living. The potted trees can be rented and delivered.

If tree adoption services are not yet available locally, make sure to recycle a live holiday tree so it’s turned into landscape mulch for reuse as ground cover to hinder weeds and nourish plantings.

You must not

lose faith in humanity.

Humanity is an ocean; if a few drops of the ocean are dirty, the ocean does not become dirty. ~ Mahatma Gandhi

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Reduce energy costs through efficient cooking.

Wait to fire up the oven until the heritage turkey or organic ham is ready to go in; preheating is unnecessary for these slow-roasting items.

For baked goods, opt for glass or ceramic pans, which allow cooking time to remain the same while lowering the heat by about 25 degrees. Another energy-saving trick is to place stovetop cookware on the smallest burner possible; more heat will embrace the pan, while less is lost to the surrounding air. A six-inch pan on an eight-inch burner typically wastes more than 40 percent of the energy generated. Crockpots work well for serving other small family dinners during the busy holiday season or anytime; an entire meal requires about 17 cents worth of electricity.

At cleanup time, load up the dishwasher fully. One load of dishes scrubbed in a dishwashing machine uses 37 percent less water than washing the same dishes by hand.

Send plant-able holiday cards. According to CalRecycle, an estimated 2.6 billion holiday cards are sold each year in the United States, enough to fill a football field 10 stories high. This year, instead of the usual snail mail, send a bouquet of flowers for the price of a stamp. Recipients can plant a GreenFieldPaper.com grow-a-note holiday card in the ground and see wildflowers bloom. For plant-able holiday cards that can be personalized with a corporate logo, BotanicalPaperworks.com offers card sets and party favors.

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natural awakenings

December 2012

17

Stress Less, Feel Better This Holiday Season

by Emily Chan

H

appy though they can be, the winter holidays can also be stressful, especially when dealing with crowds and family members. The following tips can help everyone to manage stress and feel more relaxed for the holidays this year.

Identify What’s Causing the Distress

People can sometimes feel anxious and yet be largely unaware of what’s driving the feeling. During the holidays, the anticipation of family gatherings can produce anxiety, as underlying fears of confrontation, disruption, rejection, looking bad and being criticized begin to surface. Identifying these fears and letting go of the need to please every family member can reduce stress and create more enjoyment. Selfacceptance is the key to feeling at peace with other people and their reactions and responses.

Clearing Out Other People’s Energy

Day-to-day interactions with others bring forth numerous energy exchanges, as people take on some of our energy, or we take on theirs. If, for example, a family member has been caring for a terminally ill person and feels drained and overwhelmed, we may start to feel those same things when we are around them. The following meditation practice can “clean the slate” and bring forth peace and calm: • Sit with feet flat on the floor, feeling the ground under the soles of feet.

• Breathe deeply and mindfully.

• Imagine the person whose energy needs to be cleared from yours, noticing where you may feel it in the body (e.g. perhaps some heaviness in the chest).

• On each exhalation, feel that person’s energy flow out of your body. You can channel it into the ground, in front of you, behind you or wherever you feel it wanting to go, offering this energy to the universe to be neutralized.

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• Keep breathing until the process feels complete and notice how emotions or physical sensations may have shifted after the practice.

Exercise

Exercise is a wonderful way to de-stress without needing to mentally process anything. Cortisol, a hormone secreted during the stress response, has a half-life of about an hour and a half. This means that, even after a stressful thought or event, half of the cortisol lingers for 90 minutes, and long-term elevated cortisol levels have many negative effects on the body. Exercise speeds up the excretion of cortisol from the body. It also helps to move qi (energy, in Chinese medicine) that gets stuck when people are stressed.

Epsom Salt Baths

Epsom salts are magnesium bath salts that help to relax tight muscles. Magnesium, which is often depleted during stress, is vital to many cellular functions, including the manufacturing of GABA, a calming neurotransmitter.

Taking the time to wind down and enjoy some solitude in an Epsom salt bath can help us to relax and recollect ourselves. Try adding a few drops of lavender essential oil for a calming effect, eucalyptus oil to clear the sinuses, or rosemary to clear the mind and enhance focus.

During stressful times and events, it often feels impossible or even wasteful to stop and take the time to do stress relieving things. However, it can be one of the most powerful ways to reset the body and actually improve stressful situations. Even though it takes time to care for the mind and body, the resulting feelings of calm and centeredness can increase productivity and effectiveness.

Dr. Emily Chan, ND, practices at the Lydian Center for Innovative Medicine, 777 Concord Ave., Ste. 301, in Cambridge. For more information call 617-299-6151 or visit ModernIntegrativeMedicine.com. See Resource Guide on page 46.

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December 2012

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communityspotlight Dr. Connie Jackson:

Restoring Hormonal Balance and Vitality in Women and Men

by Kim Childs

A

bout 30 years ago, Dr. Connie Jackson was a young mother with two small children when she decided to pursue a medical career. Her quest was fueled by frustration with her kids’ pediatric care, which favored pharmaceutical approaches to problems over exploring underlying issues.

Jackson began with a degree in nutrition science and went on to become an obstetrician and gynecologist in 1991, working for decades in conventional medical settings while continuing to study integrative medicine. Two years ago, she opened private practices in Brookline and Stow to concentrate on functional medicine and bioidentical hormone replacement therapy for men and women. Natural Awakenings asked Jackson to explain her integrative approach to patient care.

Many people are talking about functional medicine these days. How do you define it?

To me, it means exploring who the individual patient is, understanding what is going on with them, learning what their symptoms are and evaluating and treating them accordingly. This means not going by lab values only.

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For example, many people have been told that they can’t have low testosterone or hypothyroidism, or that they can’t be perimenopausal, because their numbers are normal.

But those lab numbers have a very large reference range and they may not fit the individual patient. A functional approach means not only looking at the lab values, but also listening to the patient to hear what their issues and symptoms are. I can then devise a treatment plan that is right for them.

There has been some controversy about hormone replacement therapy and bioidentical hormones. Where do you stand on the issue?

Most of my practice is geared toward restoring hormonal balance with bioidentical hormone replacement therapy. That’s been my interest since I graduated from my residency, and I use it to treat hormonal imbalances in women, teenage girls and men.

It’s well documented that oral estrogen and synthetic progestin, which is called Provera, can have dangerous medical consequences. That is why I do not prescribe them.

Bioidentical hormones, however, are derived from yams and are biologically similar to what the human body makes.

Because they’re mostly used as transdermal creams and patches, they don’t have to be metabolized in the liver. This eliminates the clotting risk that comes with oral synthetic estrogen, and it also means that they can be prescribed

at a much lower dosage than oral medications.

What symptoms do you see in patients that suggest the need for bioidentical hormones?

Patients come to me with such issues as irritability, hot flashes, night sweats, mood changes, low sex drive, sleep disturbances, hair loss, depression, decreased stamina and energy, fatigue, difficulty with mental focus and memory and the inability to think clearly. My evaluation of them may include blood, urine, saliva and GI analysis. Once I have the results, I’ll design an individualized treatment plan to restore normal physiologic levels, and it may include bioidentical hormones and nutritional and herbal supplements as well as pharmaceuticals.

What kinds of results do you see from these therapies?

It’s not unusual for my patients to tell me, “Now I can function and think more clearly, my sleep is no longer disrupted, my hot flashes have improved and I’m not turning red and sweating all day.” When we can identify and treat their imbalances and improve thyroid and adrenal function, my patients become more energetic and interested in life again.

Often I help my patients to see issues that have never been addressed. What I love about my work is that it gives me the chance to identify underlying problems and individualize treatment plans instead of using a one-size-fits-all approach to medicine. So rather than automatically prescribing a drug for a diagnosis like depression, I look at what may be causing the depression, including hormonal imbalances and an underactive thyroid. I can then treat the underlying issues that we’ve identified.

My ability to think and use my training in this way is very satisfying.

Dr. Connie Jackson practices at 55 Pond Ave., Brookline; and at 132 Great Rd., Stow. For more information, call 617232-0202 (Brookline) or 617-879-0403 (Stow) or visit ConnieAJacksonMD.com.

See ad on page 17 and Resource Guide on page 43. natural awakenings

December 2012

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It’s All About We Conscious Evolution: Why We’re Better Together

by Linda Sechrist

A

fter decades of studying issues of environmental destruction, poverty and war, Malcolm Hollick, Ph.D., author of The Science of Oneness: A New Worldview for the Twenty-First Century, concluded in 2006 that a better future for humanity requires a more holistic worldview. It must be one that reflects the evidence of both new sciences and established spiritual traditions, all of which point to a deep unity, or Oneness, the grand reality underlying and often belying the superficial testimony of the senses.

Hollick concluded, “We become open to the experience of this unity only when we recognize at the deepest intuitive level that we do not exist as separate selves.” The founder of the Findhorn College Foundation, in

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Scotland, recognized that while the old worldview has disintegrated, the concrete of a new one has not yet set.

He also observed how the acceleration of scientific findings—advancing knowledge and understanding of the universe, as well as the meaning and purpose of life—would continue to influence the general worldview.

Within a decade, of the publication of his book, hard scientific evidence across many disciplines—particularly physics and biology—as well as pioneering ideas and anecdotal evidence presented by leading philosophers and authors, affirmed the existence of a reality in which everything is connected and linked in a coherent whole.

Such thinking further revealed that evolution has equipped humans with genetic wiring for

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co-creation, cooperation and collaboration. Martin A. Nowak, a professor of biology and mathematics at Harvard University and co-author of Super Cooperators: Altruism, Evolution, and Why We Need Each Other to Succeed, explains that most great innovations of life have resulted not from competition, but cooperation, the real “master architect” of evolution. Nowak believes that figuring out how cooperation comes about and breaks down is the key to human survival as a species.

Books such as The Bond: Connecting Through the Space Between Us, by Lynne McTaggart, a scientific researcher and award-winning journalist, and The Golden Motorcycle Gang: A Story of Transformation, co-authored by motivational speaker Jack Canfield, are helping individuals to see through the illusions of the old “survival of the fittest” and “I win, you lose” paradigms into one expressed in terms of connectedness and relationships. This new “Me-We” thinking and way of being has been spreading; it now informs everything from enlightened environmental stewardship to economics, as well as health and spiritual well-being.

How Community Works

Canfield emphasizes the valuable lesson of collaboration and cooperation he learned while working for W. Clement Stone, a philanthropist and self-help author: When working together, focus on overlapping goals and interests, and not on differences.

In Chicago, Illinois, where the Eat Fresh Eat Local movement sparks successful collaborations, the focus is on food, rather than issues of race, sex or economic disparity. There, hundreds of people are growing food together in communal spaces on city-owned land, privately owned empty lots and rooftops, as well as in school gardens, food forests and urban farm sites.

“Self-reliant, community-operated urban farms and the food centers that retail the produce to residents in surrounding neighborhoods—some in the city’s most isolated and impoverished communities—are economic drivers that create jobs,” says Erika Allen, projects manager of Chicago’s Growing Power office. The daughter of national organization founder Will Allen notes that local workshops resemble a cross-section of the world. “Participants from different countries, cultures and economic levels come together for three meals a day, where we connect, share perspectives and learn from one another.”

Another successful initiative, Building a Healthier Chicago (BHC), brings together the Chicago Department of Public Health, the Office of the Regional Health Administrator of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Chicago Medical Society and the Institute of Medicine of Chicago. The BHC agribusiness project develops and maintains a system of more accessible food supply, distribution and markets where people live, work, play, pray and learn.

Neighbors in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, organized park cleanups with the long-range goal of replacing crime and litter with learning. Now, Riverside Park, once an area of urban blight, has

“We’re one humanity and we’re all in this together.” ~ Jack Canfield

“The transformation of our society, world and universe starts and ends with the transformation of ourselves… and in this way to co-create with others and Spirit a person, a community, a civilization, a planet and a cosmos that are whole and harmonious.” ~ Malcolm Hollick both a college-level field research station and grade school outdoor classroom, offering innovative school, adult and community programs operated by the Urban Ecology Center (UEC).

Programs serve 44 schools and have spawned two branches in Washington Park and Menomonee Valley to serve residents in those areas.

The UEC’s latest project, in partnership with the Rotary Club of Milwaukee, the River Revitalization Foundation, Milwaukee County Parks, private businesses and local landowners, is an arboretum that will protect and restore 40 acres of land for native species and wildlife habitat along the Milwaukee River. “With the creation of the Milwaukee Rotary Centennial Arboretum, southeastern Wisconsin has a new, biologically diverse space for growing future environmental stewards,” says UEC Executive Director Ken Leinbach. He particularly likes creating spaces and resources that give people that wouldn’t normally connect a place to bump into one another.

Expanding Worldview College settings are similarly intended to encourage stimulating and expansive dialogue among diverse populations.

At Mount Holyoke College, in South Hadley, Massachusetts, recent environmental study grads Dana Rubin and Hannah Blackmer met Frances Moore Lappé when she visited to share the message of her book EcoMind: Chang-

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“We are facing a critical moment in the unfolding of our human story, and feel called to create pathways to a better future.” ~ Craig Hamilton ing the Way We Think, to Create the World We Want. As a result, the pair embraced the need to shift their view of the world away from looming negatives to focus on creating positive connections and meaningful relationships that recognize life’s interdependence and fuel constructive change.

After more research, the duo built a simple website named Convenient Resilience.com and created a blog before commencing a coast-to-coast, 100-day, solutions-oriented journey last summer. They posted nearly 30 “webisodes” of heartfelt interactions with individuals and organizations with stories to tell, like the group at 2100 Lakeside Emergency Men’s Shelter, in Cleveland, Ohio, that is using small-scale, practical and cost-effective solutions to lessen their impact on the environment.

“The personal stories we heard affirm what we learned from Frances—that it’s possible to locally solve global problems together,” advise the sojourners, who travel in a grease-powered car.

“Learn to think beyond negative thought traps that engender fear,” advises Lappé. “Thinking, ‘There isn’t enough to go around, so I have to grab what I can now,’ for instance, focuses on separateness and lack, which is precisely what got us into the state we are in.”

Starting Within A big-picture, more-whole-systems perspective forms naturally when individuals come together to explore the power of building intentional coherence. The Art of Hosting (and convening conversations that matter), World Café, Vistar Method for Circles and OpenSpace collaborations leverage technology for the practice of mindfulness to foster deeper connections, authentic conversations and outside-the-box ideas, all contributing to a more enlightened collective intelligence.

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One’s own new world perspective can even emerge as a result of a dark night of the soul, as Patricia Ariadne, Ph.D., author of Drinking the Dragon, has observed with clients that have undergone a personal metamorphosis as a result of the economic downturn.

“Often, the entire process of transformation indicates a spiritual initiation— a renewal or rebirth—that acts as an induction into a level of expanded consciousness and new relationship with Spirit,” remarks Ariadne. “True spiritual progress inevitably leads to a desire to be of greater service to others, to go from ‘Me to We,’ which I believe is our mandate for the 21st century.”

Living mindfully can literally change our brains, states Jon KabatZinn, Ph.D., in the introduction to A Mindful Nation, by Ohio Congressman Tim Ryan, which reports on the supporting science. “Mindfulness… can improve our capacity for perspective taking and decision making, and enhance our emotional intelligence and our ability to act with clarity and wisdom, alone and in concert with others.” Kabat-Zinn is the founding director of the Center for Mindfulness in Medicine, Health Care and Society, at the University of Massachusetts Medical School, in Worcester.

“A peaceful revolution is being led by ordinary citizens across our nation,” confirms Ryan. “At the core of it is mindfulness—finding ways to slow the mind, pay attention to the present moment and see how you are connected to others and can work in a spirit of cooperation to get things done.”

The inner impulse to recognize the deeper unity of all life and sense the

“My experience has convinced me that fixing the many problems that beset us requires nothing less than ripping up our rulebook and starting afresh, based on something other than every man for himself.”

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~ Lynne McTaggart

reality of Oneness is bubbling up within individuals, small groups and organizations, and finding expression in writings and teachings, according to Barbara Marx Hubbard, author of Birth 2012 and Beyond: Humanity’s Great Shift to the Age of Conscious Evolution. Individuals that feel compelled to join with others in expanding their consciousness to help foster systemic change and a culture of a higher order are invited to find a compatible group. Hubbard offers webcast training for Agents of Conscious Evolution (ACE), now 3,000 members strong; Craig Hamilton, founder of Integral Enlightenment, provides an online telecourse called Awakening to an Evolutionary Relationship to Life.

“Evolutionaries sense that we are facing a critical moment in the unfolding of our human story and feel called to create pathways to a better future,” says Hamilton. He notes that the 35,000 participants in his most recent introduction to his webcast were interested in where they could find a supportive community of kindred spirits committed to living life on the same level. He states, “We instinctively know that we can accomplish more together.”

A partnership with The Shift Network, which empowers a global movement of those intent on creating an evolutionary shift in consciousness, has enabled Hubbard, a featured sage in the documentary Awaken Soul to Soul, and her ACEs to launch a global initiative to mark the inauguration of a sustainable planetary civilization on December 22. Thousands of individuals are now working in collective hubs across the United States to prepare for the Planetary Birth Day celebration.

An initial concern for many individuals seeking to experience Oneness is, “What happens to my identity?” Christopher M. Bache, Ph.D., professor emeritus in the department of philosophy and religious studies at Youngstown State University, in Ohio, reassures us that within the matrix of connectivity, individuality is not suffocated, but paradoxically liberated into deeper forms of self-expression.

“While opening to the collective fields that surround us melts the boundaries of the private ego, bringing about the ‘death of self’ noted in spiritual literature, as the ego dies, a deeper form

The Global Birth Day of a New Humanity December 22, 2012 – Birth2012.com Join the Conscious Evolution Birth2012Boston.com ArtOfHosting.org BarbaraMarxHubbard.com ConvenientResilience.com GrowingPower.org NewMomentumfhu.org SmallPlanet.org TheShiftNetwork.com TheWorldCafe.com VistarFoundation.org of individuality is born—not an isolated individuality, but one that thrives in subtle give-and-take,” explains the author of The Living Classroom: Teaching and Collective Consciousness.

While the idea of a future in which American and other cultures reflect oneness can seem distant and idealistic, it is already present in South Africa’s Xhosa community in the form of Ubuntu, a worldview which means, “I am what I am because of who we all are.”

According to South African Archbishop Desmond Tutu, recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize in 1984, Ubuntu iterates the essence of being human and speaks to the fact that it’s impossible to exist as human beings in isolation. We are people through other people.

“We think of ourselves far too frequently as just individuals, separated from one another, whereas you are connected, and what you do affects the whole world,” he observes. “When you do well, it spreads out; it is for the whole of humanity.”

Linda Sechrist is a senior staff writer for Natural Awakenings. For more information and in-depth interviews on It’s All About We, visit ItsAllAboutWe.com. natural awakenings

December 2012

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consciouseating

HEALTHY HOLIDAY BAKING

A Cornucopia of Delicious Treats photos by Stephen Blancett

T

here’s nothing so comforting as the scent and taste of homebaked treats. To fill a home with cheer, try these delectably healthy recipes. Some are gluten- or dairy-free, others pack less butter and sweeteners (thus fewer calories) than their typical counterparts, and a few are vegan (containing no animal products, including honey). All are perfect for holiday celebrations, hostess gifts or exchanges.

Gluten-Free Apricot Scones

These scones freeze well and taste even better the next day, warmed for 30 seconds in a microwave. Serve with apricot jam or honey.

Yields 8 servings (342 calories per serving) 1½ cups brown rice flour ½ cup tapioca flour 1 /3 cup potato starch 2½ tsp baking powder 2½ tsp xanthan gum ¼ cup natural cane sugar ½ tsp salt ½ cup (1 stick) cold butter, cubed 5 eggs (divided) ½ cup plus 1–2 Tbsp plain ½ low-fat yogurt ¾ cups dried apricots, finely chopped 26

½ tsp vanilla extract 1 tsp almond extract 1 Tbsp water ¼ cup turbinado sugar Preheat oven to 350° F. Sift together first 7 ingredients (brown rice flour through salt). Using a pastry blender or two knives, cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse meal.

In a separate bowl, whisk together 4 eggs, yogurt, apricots and extracts. Add to flour-butter mixture. Mix until just combined.

Dust work surface with brown rice flour. Turn out scone mixture and pat into a nine-by-nine-inch square. Cut scones into desired shape or use a biscuit cutter. Place on a parchment-lined baking sheet.

Whisk remaining egg with 1 tablespoon water; brush mixture over scones. Sprinkle with turbinado sugar.

Bake for 10 to 15 minutes or until golden.

Yields 16 servings (239 calories per serving) ¼ cup light brown sugar 2 tsp ground cinnamon 2¼ cups whole-wheat pastry flour (divided) ¼ cup (½ stick) cold unsalted butter ½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter at room temperature 1 cup maple sugar 2 eggs ¼ cup plus 1 Tbsp low-fat buttermilk (1 percent) 2 tsp vanilla extract 1 tsp baking soda ½ tsp salt 2 cups Granny Smith apples, peeled and diced ½ cup walnuts, chopped and toasted Preheat oven to 350° F. Line a 9-inch springform pan with parchment paper.

Butter pan sides and top of parchment.

Apple-Walnut Coffee Cake

In a medium bowl, whisk together brown sugar, cinnamon and ¼ cup flour. Cut in ¼ cup cold butter until mixture becomes crumbly and resembles a streusel topping. Refrigerate until ready to use.

Here’s a favorite yummy treat for festive brunches. Guests and family will never guess that this decadent indulgence contains much less butter and sugar than a typical coffee cake.

In a large bowl, use a mixer to cream together ½ cup room-temperature butter and maple sugar until fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, mixing until fully

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incorporated. Beat in buttermilk and vanilla. Sift remaining 2 cups flour, baking soda and salt into egg-butter mixture. Mix until just combined.

mix together water, oil and vanilla. Add wet mixture to dry. Mix to combine.

Fold in chocolate chips, pecans and cherries.

Fold in apples and walnuts. Pour batter into prepared pan and sprinkle with streusel topping. Bake for 50 to 55 minutes or until an inserted toothpick comes out clean. Cool before releasing from pan.

Scoop batter by 2 tablespoons each onto a baking sheet, pushing in any stray pieces. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes or until lightly golden. Cool for 2 minutes and then remove to a rack to cool completely.

Vegan Trail-Mix Cookies

Vegan Pumpkin Spice Muffins

These crunchy-chewy cookies are perfect for snowshoe hikes or crosscountry ski trips.

Yields 36 servings (135 calories per serving) ¾ cup all-purpose flour ¾ cup whole-wheat pastry flour 1 cup carrot, shredded 1½ cups unsweetened coconut, shredded 1½ cups natural cane sugar 1½ cups rolled oats 1 tsp baking powder ½ tsp salt ½ cup water ½ cup canola oil 1 Tbsp vanilla extract 1 cup grain-sweetened chocolate chips 1 cup chopped pecans, lightly toasted 1 cup cherries, dried Preheat oven to 350° F. Mix together flours, carrot, coconut, sugar, oats, baking powder and salt. In a separate bowl,

These lightly sweetened, butter-free muffins evoke the scents and tastes of the holidays. With fewer carbs and calories than regular sugar, the concentrated fruit-juice reduction also adds moistness; look for all-natural options, such as Wax Orchards’ Fruit Sweet.

Yields 16 servings (145 calories per serving) 1 cup all-purpose flour 1 cup whole-wheat pastry flour 1 tsp baking soda ½ tsp salt ½ tsp ground nutmeg 1 tsp ground cinnamon ½ tsp ground ginger ½ tsp ground allspice 1 cup pumpkin purée 2 /3 cup fruit-juice reduction (or light agave nectar) ½ cup canola oil ¼ cup coconut milk ½ cup unsweetened coconut, shredded 1 cup walnuts, chopped and toasted ¾ cup dried cranberries

Be miserable.

Or motivate yourself.

Whatever has to be done, it’s always your choice. ~ Wayne Dyer

Preheat oven to 350° F. Line a 12-cup muffin tin with baking cups.

Sift together flours, baking soda, salt, nutmeg, cinnamon, ginger and allspice in a bowl. In a separate bowl, mix together pumpkin purée, fruit-juice reduction or agave, oil and coconut milk. Stir

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wet mixture into dry until just incorporated (do not overmix). Fold in coconut, walnuts and dried cranberries.

the bowl. Whisk until well blended.

Place sugar, oil and eggs in a separate large bowl. Whisk until smooth. Add buttermilk, vanilla, lemon juice and food coloring. Whisk lightly until combined.

Divide batter evenly among muffin tins.

Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until an inserted toothpick comes out clean.

Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients and stir just until mixture comes together. Do not overmix.

Healthy Red Velvet Cupcakes

These moist cupcakes use spelt flour for a lighter texture, more protein and fewer calories than wheat flour. Avoid artificial colors by using vegetable-based food coloring, or make your own.

Yields 8 to 10 servings (352 calories per serving) Cupcakes 1½ cups white spelt flour 1 tsp baking powder ¼ tsp salt 1 Tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder (not Dutch-processed) ½ cup natural cane sugar ½ cup melted coconut oil (or safflower oil) 2 eggs at room temperature ¾ cup buttermilk at room temperature 2 tsp vanilla extract 2 tsp lemon juice 3 tsp natural red food coloring

2 tsp cornstarch Preheat oven to 350° F. Line a muffin tin with 8 to 10 cupcake liners or coat with cooking spray.

Place flour, baking powder and salt in a medium bowl. Sift cocoa powder into

Gently spoon batter into muffin cups.

Bake 10 minutes and test with a toothpick. If it doesn’t come out clean, turn pans and bake another 3 to 5 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.

Cool on rack for 2 minutes. Remove from pan and cool completely before frosting. (Or store in an airtight container until ready to frost. Do not refrigerate, which dries them out.)

Beat cream cheese, agave and vanilla together. Sift cornstarch over mixture and blend until smooth. Frost cupcakes just before serving.

Agave Cream-Cheese Frosting 8 oz Neufchâtel (reduced-fat) cream cheese at room temperature 3 Tbsp plus 1 tsp agave nectar 1 tsp vanilla extract

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greenliving

Homemade and Heartfelt Do-It-Yourself Stocking Stuffers

by Meredith Montgomery

“W

ith the volume of household waste soaring 34 percent beyond normal levels in the weeks between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day it’s particularly important to remain eco-conscious during the holidays,” says Anna Getty, author of I’m Dreaming of a Green Christmas. “It’s easy to get so wrapped up in buying gifts and decorations that eco-friendliness goes out the window.”

This year, consider giving the family’s stocking stuffers a sustainable makeover by gifting homemade items.

Getty observes, “Useful, thoughtful homemade gifts can be really sweet… and green.”

A Jar for Everyone With a ribbon and label of instructions, inexpensive canning jars and glass containers filled with homemade goodies can become creative and practical gifts for everyone on the list.

Sugar body scrubs offer a simple and affordable home spa experience.

Combine two cups of sugar with one cup of oil (sweet almond, grapeseed or olive) and add 10 to 20 drops of essential oils to scent. Try a combination of rosemary and peppermint for an invigorating morning scrub or lavender and vanilla to unwind later.

Fill jars with ingredients for some simmering home aromatherapy. Labels 30

instruct recipients to boil the contents in a small saucepan of water, and then reduce heat to simmer, adding water as needed. Combine evergreen sprigs, cinnamon sticks, cloves, dried apple peels and citrus rinds for a festive holiday scent. Lemon, rosemary and vanilla afford a refreshing alternative.

For family grill masters, obtain bulk spices for barbecue rubs at a health food store. A basic recipe from DadCooks Dinner.com combines four tablespoons paprika, four tablespoons brown sugar, two tablespoons chili powder, one tablespoon freshly ground black pepper, two teaspoons garlic powder, two teaspoons onion powder and one teaspoon dried thyme.

Upcycled and Sewn Experienced crafters can follow online guidelines to upcycle fabric scraps and unwanted clothing and linens. An old sweatshirt or sweater becomes an iPad case and colorful T-shirts morph into tote bags and scarves.

Creating therapeutic hot/cold bags can be fairly simple, even without a sewing machine. Cut a 16-by-eight-inch piece of flannel, cotton, fleece or terrycloth and fold it in half with the finished side inside, lining up the edges. Using sturdy thread, sew a quarter-inch seam along the open edges, leaving a halfinch opening. Carefully turn the fabric

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right-side-out through the opening and fill the bag three-quarters full with long grain white rice. Tuck in the opening’s unfinished edges and sew closed.

To treat aches and pains, the giftee can microwave the bag for 30 seconds at a time until achieving the desired temperature or place it in the freezer to use as a cooling or freezer pack.

For aromatherapy, mix the rice with a couple of drops of lavender essential oil before filling. At room temperature, the scented version doubles as a soothing eye pillow.

Seeds to Throw and Grow Guerilla Gardening’s (GuerillaGardening. org) recipe for seed bombs makes fun gifts for gardeners and nature lovers.

Choose flower and herb seeds that grow well in each recipient’s region.

Combine five parts clay soil or potter’s powder (from art supply stores), one part compost and one part seeds, with water to bind. Form the mixture into balls approximately one inch in diameter and let dry for one to two days in an empty egg carton. Wrap seed bombs in recycled paper or cloth tied with a ribbon and instructions. Toss them in the yard or garden and watch them grow.

Creative and Kid-Friendly Enlist Santa’s elves to assemble a fortbuilding kit for children, inspired by Saltwater-Kids.com. Stock a pillowcase with two sheets, clothespins, plastic clamps, rope, suction cups and a flashlight. Tie up the pillowcase with rope and a cute label, and watch old linens come to life with a little imagination.

“I like to encourage families to focus on creating memories and rituals as a way to avoid excessive holiday consumption,” says Getty, who is renowned for her home-cooked gifts packaged in reusable tins with recycled bows. She notes, “These become a tradition that people know and love.”

Such heartfelt gifts open the door to special moments and memories celebrating the true spirit of the season.

Meredith Montgomery is the publisher of Natural Awakenings of Mobile/ Baldwin, AL. Connect at Healthy LivingHealthyPlanet.com.

Holiday waste report source: epa.gov

healthykids

Mindful Holiday Traditions Simple Ways to Add Meaning and Family-Centered Fun

by Barbara Amrhein

T

oo many winter holidays whiz by in a blur of presents, parties and rich foods, muting the season’s true messages of love, hope and peace.

By slowing down and refocusing on what makes this time of year so special, we can help our children—and ourselves—create fresh, meaningful traditions and experience genuine joy.

“If the spirit of the season at your home is more ‘Gimme, take me, buy me,’ instead of ‘Deck the halls,’ don’t despair,” advises internationally renowned educator and child expert Michele Borba, Ph.D., author of The Big Book of Parenting Solutions:101 Answers to Your Everyday Challenges and Wildest Worries. “There are more subtle ways to encourage your kids to appreciate the greatest gifts of the holiday season. The simplest way is to focus on gifts of the heart and letting your kids be participants, not just recipients.”

Try these tips for helping youngsters co-create traditions that celebrate family, friends, sharing with others and the holidays’ festive delights.

Emphasize experiences, not things.

Presents can never take the place of presence. Years from now, children will rarely recall what they unwrapped, but will remember special times spent together as a family. Take a nature walk to collect pinecones and other seasonal items for holiday décor. Designate a Family Night and let the kids choose the activity, like seeing a movie or a holiday performance such as The Nutcracker, playing a favorite board game or building a gingerbread house. At dinner, ask youngsters to relate their favorite holiday memories, and then build upon their responses to plan this year’s celebrations.

Treat cards as treasured gifts.

Gather the family ‘round when opening cards from others, catching up on their news and recalling funny or enjoyable shared moments. Skype calls and videos offer pleasurable immediacy while mailed cards become an appreciated, permanent memento.

Encourage children to create handmade or personalized cards for grandparents and other relatives, enclosing photos or drawings and a short note describing the reasons that person means so much to them. Hand deliver other cards to neighbors, accompanied by a plate of homemade, healthy treats.

Children can also send cards to military personnel overseas via a Red Cross program at Tinyurl.com/HolidayHeroMail.

Practice creative giving. Adopt a less fortunate family or child for the holidays (local churches or social service agencies can provide information)

and ask youngsters to be “Santa’s little helpers” by picking out and thoughtfully wrapping books, toys and other gifts.

Help children research good causes and earmark a small amount of money for them to gift to the cause of their choice, such as an animal shelter or other local nonprofit. Honor the gift of time, as well: Youngsters that spend a few hours helping out at a food pantry, caroling at a nursing home or wrapping gifts for Toys for Tots will experience and remember the true joy of giving.

Nurture a sense of the spiritual.

Worship services aren’t the only venue for sharing family values and beliefs with children. On the night of the Winter Solstice, December 21—the shortest day and longest night of the year—enjoy dinner by candlelight. Afterwards, stargaze in the backyard and make some holiday wishes. On another evening, turn off all the lights except the Christmas tree, menorah or other special candles and talk quietly about your blessings. Listening to a CD of carols from around the world reinforces a spirit of unity and invites lively discussions about how other cultures observe their holidays.

Celebrate the season’s sights, sounds and fun. Ask children to help choose a tree and make or buy an ornament with special meaning for them.

Then join in an informal decorating party with holiday tunes (kids get to choose some favorites), cocoa and cookies. Set aside an evening to walk or drive around the neighborhood to admire holiday lights and displays. Those in northern climes can build a family snowman, forge a “snow angel” chain in the yard or go sledding at an area park. As a fun twist on traditional caroling, grab some kazoos and go humming with the kids and their friends. To capture these great holiday moments, ask each child to take turns as the official family photographer.

Borba believes these types of shared experiences help children understand the true meaning of the season and bring back the heartfelt joy it represents. “In the end,” she advises, “remember that the holidays are really meant to be about love, togetherness and wonderful memories.”

Barbara Amrhein is a freelance writer and editor for Natural Awakenings.

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wisewords

How does having a heart that’s open to unconditional love benefit us?

How Unconditional Love Harmonizes Our World

The Institute of HeartMath has discovered that the magnetic field generated by the heart—what’s measured on a magnetometer—is 5,000 times stronger than that of the brain. HeartMath research has also demonstrated that when we’re in a positive emotional state, our hearts beat in a coherent rhythm that causes all the other systems in the body—including the brain, immune system and hormones—to work more efficiently and harmoniously. Their research shows that experiencing this regularly leads to better health, slows the aging process and brings us greater creativity, resilience and happiness.

Marci Shimoff Explores its Transformative Power

by Judith Fertig

A

self-described “seeker from the get-go,” Marci Shimoff, is an expert at helping others effect greater personal fulfillment and professional success.

The noted transformational leader, speaker and author has written two bestselling books on happiness and unconditional love—Happy for No Reason: 7 Steps to Being Happy from the Inside Out and Love for No Reason: 7 Steps for Creating a Life of Unconditional Love, and co-authored six bestselling titles in the Chicken Soup for the Woman’s Soul series.

What is the old way of looking at love, versus the new paradigm shift you propose?

We’ve been trained to think of love solely as energy between two people, usually experienced as conditional love—we feel love if the other person agrees with us, treats us a particular way or loves us back. But love is actually the essence of who we are, and when we live in a state of unconditional love, what I call “love for no reason,” we experience our essence that is love, which doesn’t depend on another person, situation or romantic partner. It is the core of every spiritual tradition.

Why do our ways of loving often seem inadequate?

We each have a “love set-point,” the upper limit of our ability to give and receive love. We can’t feel more love by trying to change the outside—by relying on others to fill us up—because 32

it will never work in the long run. We need to raise our love set-point higher; then we experience everything more through the eyes of love.

Do challenging economic times help us grow spiritually?

We can use any life challenges to help us grow and find fresh avenues of lasting fulfillment. Success and money don’t guarantee happiness, and I know that from my own wake-up call.

In 1998, I had three of my Chicken Soup for the Soul books on The New York Times bestseller list at the same time. One day, I spoke to 8,000 people and autographed 5,432 books and felt like an author rock star. Yet when I returned to my hotel room that night, I burst into tears. All of the success was great, but it still hadn’t made me happy.

That’s when I began my intensive study of happiness and love.

Does science support our capacity to daily experience and deepen a love for all things?

Science is finding that there is a neurophysiology of love. Studies by researchers in major institutions worldwide show that we can do simple things like breathe more deeply, walk barefoot on earth, listen to uplifting music or practice meditation that will support us in experiencing more unconditional love.

These activities create greater heart rhythm coherence and new neural pathways in the brain.

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What are the seven doorways to practicing unconditional love revealed by your own research?

I’ve interviewed hundreds of people that are living examples of unconditional love. I’ve found seven access points to experiencing more love: safety, being grounded and present; vitality, energy and well-being; unconditional self-love, feeling empowered; openness, being comfortable giving and receiving love; communication, listening and speaking with love; vision, seeing through the eyes of love; and oneness, feeling connected with the greater wholeness of life.

How does one person’s loving larger bless our families, communities and world?

The more we experience love, the more we spread love to others. Our feelings are contagious. This idea is beautifully expressed in an ancient Chinese proverb:

“When there is light in the soul, there will be beauty in the person.

When there is beauty in the person, there will be harmony in the house.

When there is harmony in the house, there will be order in the nation.

When there is order in the nation, there will be peace in the world.”

Connect with Marci Shimoff at HappyForNoReason.com.

Judith Fertig, of Overland Park, KS, is a regular contributor to Natural Awakenings.

inspiration

The Luminous Web Why We Are One

by Barbara Brown Taylor

Humankind has not woven the web of life. We are but one thread within it. Whatever we do to the web, we do to ourselves. All things are bound together. All things connect. ~ Chief Seattle, 1855

W

hat I see is an infinite web of relationship, flung across the vastness of space like a luminous net. It is made of energy, not thread. As I look, I can see light moving through it as a pulse moves through veins. What I see “out there” is no different from what I feel inside. There is a living hum that might be coming from my neurons, but might just as well be coming from the furnace of the stars. When I look up at them, there is a small commotion in my bones as the ashes of dead stars that house my marrow rise up like metal filings toward the magnet of their living kin.

Where am I in this picture? I am all over the place.

I am up there, down here, inside and outside of my skin.

How could I ever be alone? I am part of a web that is pure relationship, with energy available to me that has been around since the universe was born.

Where is God in this picture? God is all over the place. God is up there, down here, inside and outside of my skin. God is the web, the energy, the space, the light— not captured in them, as if any one of those concepts was more real than what unites them—but revealed in that singular, vast net of relationship that animates everything that is.

It is not enough for me to proclaim that God is responsible for all of this unity. Instead, I want to proclaim

that God is the unity—the very energy, the very intelligence, the very elegance and passion that make it all go.

This is the God who is not somewhere, but everywhere; the God who may be prayed to in all directions at once.

The “I am who I am,” in whom everything else abides.

For the moment, we see through a glass darkly. We live in the illusion that we are all separate “I ams.” When the fog finally clears, we shall know that there is only One. Excerpted from The Luminous Web, by Barbara Brown Taylor, with permission of Cowley Publications.

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Avoiding Pesticides and “Non-foods” is the Best Reason to Buy Organic

by Dr. Dawna Jones

A

recent study conducted by scientists at Stanford University concluded that organically grown produce was comparable in nutritional content to produce that was conventionally grown. The comparison was extended to include organically produced meat, leading many to question the validity of spending more for food that may or may not be healthier for them.

The production of organic food is closely regulated in the United States, following strict guidelines as outlined in the Organic Food Production Act of 1990. Nutritional value is not the only concern when deciding whether or not to buy organic. Other important reasons include improved taste, decreased exposure to pesticides and antibiotic-resistant bacteria, and a reduced risk of toxic overload.

Pesticides and Developing Children

In 2011, a multicenter study involving scientists at four major American universities examined 34

the effects of organophosphates on pregnant women and their children.

Organophosphates, which form the basis of many insecticides, herbicides and nerve gasses, are listed by the Environmental Protection Agency as highly toxic to bees, wildlife and humans. In the 2011 study results, children born to women who were exposed to high levels of organophosphates were shown to have lower IQ’s than their peers.

Other recent studies suggest a link between low-level exposure to organophosphates and impaired neurobehavioral development in fetuses and children. In the abovementioned Stanford study on the nutritional content of organic food, the conventionally grown produce that researchers examined had pesticide residue levels that were deemed “under the safety limits.” But even at low levels, organophosphates and other pesticides act on brain chemicals closely related to those involved in attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder

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(ADHD). These substances, which can also be absorbed through the lungs and skin, have cumulative effects because they break down slowly and are temporarily stored in body fat. Thus, exposure to even small amounts of pesticides over an extended period of time can have significant consequences.

Detoxification Impaired by Pesticides and “Non-Foods”

Pesticide residue that’s ingested with food is just one more harmful substance in the increasingly toxic environment that most people are experiencing today. Such toxic overload overburdens the liver, the main organ of detoxification in the body, which holds onto toxins and becomes less productive when overwhelmed. Inflammation may ensue as a result, leading to fatty accumulation in the organ and dysfunction in the rest of the body. A direct example of this phenomenon is found in the film Super Size Me, in which filmmaker Morgan Spurlock ate McDonald’s fast food, exclusively, for 30 days. During his experiment, Spurlock gained 24 pounds, elevated his cholesterol to 230 and experienced mood swings and sexual dysfunction with the formation of a fatty liver. These conditions were reversed when he later switched to an organic vegan diet.

When it comes to non-organic meat, which is most often served in restaurants, dangerous substances include the antibiotics and hormones given to the animals, as well as contaminants in their feed. Such nonorganic feed may be bioengineered or genetically modified, making it unrecognizable to the body as food.

These “non-foods” may perpetuate dysbiosis, a bacterial and fungal imbalance in the intestine. They can also impair the liver’s ability to detoxify and contribute to inflammation, now considered a major causative factor in chronic disease.

Benefits of Organic, the “Dirty Dozen” and the “Clean 15”

While the Stanford study may have ignored these important arguments about the benefits of eating

organic food, it did have some noteworthy findings. Organic milk, for example, was found to have more omega-3 fatty acids, which benefit heart and brain health. The organic produce contained higher levels of phosphorus and compounds called phenols that are protective against cancer.

Organic strawberries were also found to have higher levels of vitamin C than their conventionally grown counterparts.

While the barriers to eating organic may include higher costs, there are indications that the tide may be changing.

More grocery stores, and even warehouse stores, are selling organic food. When choosing which foods to buy organic, people can consult the Environmental Working Group’s annual “Dirty Dozen” list, citing the most contaminated conventionally grown foods to buy.

Currently, the group estimates that people can reduce pesticide exposure by 80 percent if they switch to organic when buying these 12 foods: apples, celery, sweet bell peppers, peaches, strawberries, imported nectarines, grapes, spinach, lettuce, cucumbers, blueberries (domestic) and potatoes. A special category now includes green beans, kale and other leafy greens.

Conversely, the group’s “Clean 15” foods, which are deemed lowest in pesticide residue, include: onions, sweet corn, pineapples, avocado, cabbage, sweet peas, asparagus, mangoes, eggplant, kiwi, cantaloupe (domestic), sweet potatoes, grapefruit, watermelon and mushrooms. When budgets are tight, consumers can purchase conventionally grown versions of these vegetables and fruits with less concern.

Finally, it’s important to note that not all corn is, in fact, “clean.” Commodity crops used for animal feed and biofuel are almost always produced with genetically modified seeds, as are some sweet corn varieties sold for human consumption.

Since they are not labeled as such, consumers may want to choose the organic varieties.

Dawna L. Jones, MD, is the medical director for Bella Natural Health, located at 20 East St., in Hanover.

For more information and to make an appointment, call 781-829-8900 or visit BellaNaturalHealth.com. See ad on page 33. natural awakenings

December 2012

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B

leak headlines paint a distressing picture of America’s ecosystem and economy. From unusually violent storms to low jobs reports, people are increasingly wondering what can be done to turn things around. One answer lies in a growing local and sustainable economy movement that’s driving positive environmental action and transforming local economies across the nation.

This grassroots movement encourages a return to locally owned and independently run businesses, from stores and restaurants, to banks. Recent studies show that supporting local businesses provides an incredibly high return on investment, impacting job growth, wage increases and economic stability. According to a 2008 study commissioned by the Michigan-based advocacy group Local First, for every $100 spent at a locally owned and independent business, $73 remains in the local economy, versus $43 spent at non-locally owned businesses. This results in significantly more money being re-circulated in the community.

The local and sustainable economy movement also encourages a shift to more environmentally responsible ways of doing business, from decreasing energy use to reducing transportation emissions and diverting waste. Companies large and small are discovering ways to reduce their carbon footprints, save money and revitalize their businesses.

Here in Massachusetts, the local and sustainable economy movement grows stronger each year. Behind this growth are a number of pioneering organizations, including the Sustainable Business Network of Massachusetts (SBN), a local nonprofit with the mission to build “economies that are green, local and fair.” Founded in 1988, SBN is composed of individuals, businesses and community leaders who are committed to changing the way companies and consumers do business.

Through its Sustainable Business Leader Program, SBN supports locally owned and independent businesses in greening their operations and practices through holistic environmental change. Program graduates complete an average of 30 sustainability action 36

Sustainability is Good for Business, People and the Planet

by Katrina Kazda and Taryn Johnson items for certification, often saving significant money in the process. They are then listed in SBN’s online Local Green Guide (LocalGreenGuide. org), alongside SBN members and businesses who have taken the Local Green Guide Pledge. Environmentally conscious consumers can view this online guide and look for Certified Sustainable Business Leader decals to support businesses and nonprofits that are serious about sustainability.

SBN is behind the annual Boston Local Food Festival, which this year drew more than 40,000 visitors and 120 local food vendors from across New England to the Rose Kennedy Greenway. The festival, along with other SBN local food events throughout the year, helps to spread awareness about the wealth of local and sustainable food in the Boston area, with the goal of encouraging a statewide shift to at least 10 percent local food consumption.

Networking and collaboration among local and sustainable business leaders is another function of SBN, which hosts a Sustainability Leadership Summit each year. The event gathers pioneers from across New England in conversations about actions that build strong local, green and fair economies.

Boston | NaturalAwakeningsBoston.com

Discussions range from how to build a local ecosystem of business-to-business relationships, methods to raise capital for localized economic development and ideas about transforming the local food system.

SBN is also involved in the development of Local First networks in such places as Brookline, Cambridge, Somerville, Watertown and Worcester.

These networks, which are committed to building vibrant local economies and communities, are conducting such Local First campaigns as Shift Your Shopping and Plaid Friday for the holidays. Of course, no sustainable economy movement will thrive without participation from consumers. Those who want to help can look for Local First decals and patronize local and sustainable businesses this holiday season, opt for farmers markets over supermarkets when possible, and join SBN in an exchange of ideas and actions for real and lasting sustainable change.

Katrina Kazda is managing director and Taryn Johnson is an intern at the Sustainable Business Network of Massachusetts. For more information visit SBNMass.org or email Katrina@ SBNMass.org.

fitbody

classifieds

BREATHE EASIER

employment opportunities

Try These Tips for Better Workouts

I

t’s easy to take breathing for granted.

But tune in to your breath—when, say, halfway through a sun salutation or headed for a finish line—and you’ll find that it not only feeds muscles fresh oxygen, but also indicates whether it’s time to increase the intensity of the activity. To get the most out of every breath, follow these exercise tips from acknowledged experts.

Running With closed lips, breathe in sharply and deeply through the nose. Then purse the lips as if trying to blow out a candle and exhale through the mouth. While running, breathe in for one step and out for two.

“The rapid inhale and slower exhale in this technique fills lungs from the bottom,” explains Danny Dreyer, author of ChiRunning: A Revolutionary Approach to Effortless, Injury-Free Running. “Breathing exercises help take in more air when inhaling and empty lungs completely when exhaling. Muscles receive more glycogen, which lowers the chances of their cramping up.”

Yoga Use the Hindu breathing method called ujjayi, in which the lungs are fully expanded. First, inhale once with the mouth open, and then exhale the same way, making a “Ha,” sound. Then close your mouth and continue making the same sound while inhaling and exhaling through the nose (it will resemble the rushing sound that Darth Vader makes in Star Wars movies).

“Your breathing is the barometer of all your poses,” says Elena Brower, founder and co-owner of Virayoga, in

New York City. If you’re gasping for air, back out of the pose. “Always give preference to deeper breathing over deeper postures,” advises Brower. This controlled breathing technique is largely responsible for the yoga buzz that helps keep students coming back for more.

Strength Training Exhale through the mouth when lifting weights and inhale through the nose when lowering them. As a rule of thumb, take two seconds to raise weights and three to four seconds to lower them.

“Focusing on your breath keeps your brain in the game, so you’re more likely to pay attention to overall form,” says Tom Holland, an exercise physiologist, personal trainer and fitness consultant in Darien, Connecticut.

Cycling “The key to breathing on a bike is to go in through the nose and out through the mouth, and to be as relaxed as possible,” Holland counsels. As intensity increases on climbs or long rides, breathe more forcefully—deeper, quicker inhalations through the nose and rapid exhalations through the mouth.

“The more relaxed your breathing is, the more relaxed your entire body will be,” says Holland. “Relaxed breathing conserves energy, prevents fatigue and improves endurance.” Using forceful breaths when you’re tired also sends more energizing oxygen to muscles to help counter fatigue.

Source: Women’s Health online © 2012 Rodale Inc. All rights reserved; used with permission.

AD SALES REP – Natural Awakenings is now accepting resumes for full-commission experienced Ad Sales Reps in Southeastern Middlesex County including: Cambridge, Somerville, Arlington, Belmont, Watertown, Waltham, Lexington, Brookline, Boston and Newton. Strong organizational and people skills, computer/database experience necessary.

Must be a self-starter. We’re positive people looking for positive associates who are focused on healthy living and a healthy planet to reach like-minded practitioners and businesses, and help grow their client base. Flexible schedule with great earning potential, only you set the limit on your potential. Email cover letter and resume to: Publisher@NaturalAwakenings Boston.com. SERIOUS INQUIRIES ONLY PLEASE. SOLLIEVO MASSAGE AND BODYWORK – Is looking for a front desk person part-time. Candidate must have good interpersonal skills, computer skills, and be able to multi-task. Please send inquiries to Rose@ Sollievo.org.

FOR RENT/lease SEMINAR ROOM – Perfect location for your wellness seminar or training class. Seated classroom for 30-50 people or massage table classroom for 10-12 tables. Friday, Saturday, or Sunday only. Free parking or walk from Watertown Square. New England School of Acupuncture. Call Steve: 617-558-1788 x 375.

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December 2012

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38

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calendarofevents All Calendar events for the January issue must be received by December 10th and adhere to our guidelines. Visit NaturalAwakeningsBoston.com for guidelines and to submit entries.

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 1 Doctors Express Waltham Open House – 10am1pm. Meet our doctors, tour the center, enjoy some light refreshments and enter a raffle to win an iPad. Bring along a new, unwrapped toy to benefit the Waltham YMCA. Free. Doctors Express Waltham, 1030 Main St, Waltham. 781-894-6900.

DoctorsExpressWaltham.com.

Cultural Survival Bazaar – Dec 1-2 & 7-9.

10am-6pm. A festival of Native arts and culture from around the world. Features Native artisans and performers, fairly traded products benefiting the livelihoods of artisans, projects in their communities and fair trade. Shop for unique art, jewelry, clothing, crafts, décor, tribal rugs and much more. Free. Cambridge College, 1000 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge. 617-441-5400. Bazaar.

CS.org.

Introduction to Ayurveda – 11am-1pm. Ayurveda, the “science of life and longevity,” is a holistic system of medicine that originated in India several thousands of years ago. In this interactive workshop, identify your ayurvedic constitution (dosha) and learn how to feel more consistent energy throughout the day, sleep better, improve diet, exercise more efficiently and much more. $25. New Beginnings with JoLynn Fitness & Wellness, 1794 Bridge St, Bridgewood Plaza, Unit 4, Dracut. 619699-2389. JenHocko@gmail.com. JenHocko.com.

Feet of Clay Pottery Holiday Show and Sale – Weekends Dec 1-16. 11am-8pm, Fri; 10am-6pm, Sat; 12-6pm, Sun. Twenty-three artists present a wide range of contemporary ceramics. The scope of the work ranges from highly refined work in porcelain to the earthy wood-fired stoneware; from the beautifully functional to exuberant flights of fancy. Free. Feet of Clay, 21 Station St, Brookline.

617-731-3262.

Washington St Art Center Open Gallery – 124pm. Also Dec 8, 15. Each month, the organization puts on a different free show open to the public. Often artists give talks about their work and members host arts and crafts sessions or just screen a film on a bare gallery wall. Washington St Art Center, 321 Washington St, Somerville. 617623-5315. WashingtonSt.org.

Trigger Point Release Seminar – 1-2pm. Discover why gentle touch is so effective in reducing pain and tension in the body, and learn techniques to effectively do this at home. Bring a partner as it requires another person to do it. Free. Newton Chiropractic & Wellness Centre, 345 Boylston St, Ste 300, Newton. 617-964-3332. Silviat@Well Adjusted.com. WellAdjusted.com.

Identifying Toxins in Beauty Products Workshop – 1:30-4pm. When it comes to good health, what you put on your skin can be as important as what you put in your mouth. Attend this free workshop on how to identify the dangerous toxins and carcinogens in your health and beauty products.

Free. Newton Chiropractic & Wellness Centre,

345 Boylston St, Ste 300, Newton. 617-964-3332.

Silviat@WellAdjusted.com. WellAdjusted.com.

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 2 Free Introduction to Reiki – 10am-12pm. Come and meet the Reiki Master Teachers Ulrike & Denis Dettling Kalthofer, listen to a lecture about Reiki and its history, experience a 20-min guided imagery and relaxation, get your questions about Reiki answered. Free. Arlington Reiki Associates, 366 Mass Ave, Ste304, Arlington. Pre-registration required; space limited: 781-648-9334. Detkal@ aol.com. ArlingtonReiki.com.

The Heart’s Vocation: Meditation Seminar with Pir Zia Inayat-Khan – 10am-4pm. What would it mean to think, speak and act from the heart? How would such a reorientation affect one’s way of life, relationships, emotions and identity itself? Through conscious breath, sacred sound, movement, prayer and meditation, transformation of consciousness in the heart will be explored. $225. MIT Wong Auditorium, 70 Memorial Dr, Cambridge. 617522-0800. TheHeartsVocation@GardenLight.org.

GardenLight.org.

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 4 Network Spinal Analysis Class – 7:30-8:30pm.

Dr. Julie Burke, of Newton Chiropractic and Wellness Centre, has been delivering this form of chiropractic care for over 20 years. Learn the basics of this fascinating modality. By emphasizing the inherent wisdom and healing intelligence of the body, Network Spinal Analysis can help you handle stress, improve posture, and assist you in achieving a greater sense of overall well-being.

Free. Newton Chiropractic & Wellness Centre, 345 Boylston St, Ste 300, Newton. 617-964-3332.

Silviat@WellAdjusted.com. WellAdjusted.com.

ThurSDAY, DECEMBER 6 Rising Appalachia Live in Concert – Soulful harmonic singing, hypnotic poetics, stomp-beat percussion, and a message of common unity through music. One show in Boston. $12-$20 sliding scale.

CommonWealth Center for Herbal Medicine, 25 Saint Mary’s Court, Brookline. 617-750-5274.

CommonWealthHerbs.com.

FriDAY, DECEMBER 7

Reiki I Certification Class – 10am-6pm. Reiki I provides you with a complete method of accessing healing energy for yourself and others. Learn the history and philosophy of Reiki, receive the channel opening attunements, learn the hand positions, practice giving a complete Reiki treatment, receive a Reiki treatment, learn how to do self-treatments.

CEs available for nurses, massage therapists and mental health professionals. $150. Arlington Reiki Associates, 366 Mass Ave, Ste 304, Arlington. 781648-9334. Detkal@aol.com. ArlingtonReiki.com.

Career Development for Healing Practitioners – 7:30-9pm. With Ken Mattsson. Too often, people who possess a healing talent or teaching focus give little to no thought about how to become a success in their chosen area. This workshop will discuss your personal vision of success and how to start making concrete plans for actualizing them. $10.

Theosophical Society, 21 Maple St, Arlington.

617-926-4155. TSBoston.org.

Threads Bared: Art Inspired By Fiber – 1pm.

Also Dec 8. An exploration of the tactile nature of fiber. Using traditional and non-traditional methods and materials, fiber artists unravel, piece together and bare the very threads that make up our lives.

Free. Nave Gallery, 155 Powder House Blvd, Somerville. ArtSomerville.org.

Introduction to Ayurveda – 2-4pm. Ayurveda, the “science of life and longevity,” is a holistic system of medicine that originated in India several thousands of years ago. In this interactive workshop, identify your ayurvedic constitution (dosha) and learn how to feel more consistent energy throughout the day, sleep better, improve diet, exercise more efficiently and much more. $25.

Earthsong Yoga, 186 Main St, Fl 2, Marlborough.

619-699-2389. JenHocko@gmail.com. JenHocko. com.

Ice Skating Show – 5pm. Stop by the ice rink at Frog Pond to enjoy a free ice show of holiday performances by local and national figure skating champions as well as some of Frog Pond Skating Academy’s most talented skaters, including synchronized skating teams. Free. 84 Beacon St, Boston. 617-635-2120.

MONDAY, DECEMBER 3 Lyme Disease Practitioner Training: Hope for a Silent Epidemic – 6:30-9:30pm. Also Jan 7 & 21.

This course provides comprehensive instruction on how to address Lyme disease and co-infections.

Practitioners learn about herbal protocols and supplements to help clients return to normal functioning. $295. 4 Minebrook Rd, Lincoln. 339-2230647. BostonHerbalStudies.com.

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 8

Network Spinal Analysis Class – 2:30-3:30pm.

Dr. Julie Burke, of Newton Chiropractic and Wellness Centre, has been delivering this form of chiropractic care for over 20 years. Learn the basics of this fascinating modality. By emphasizing the inherent wisdom and healing intelligence of the body, Network Spinal Analysis can help you handle stress, improve posture, and assist you in achieving a greater sense of overall well-being.

Free. Newton Chiropractic & Wellness Centre, 345 Boylston St, Ste 300, Newton. 617-964-3332.

Silviat@WellAdjusted.com. WellAdjusted.com.

Yoga Workshop: Pranayama and Chest Openers – 4-6pm. Pranayama translates as breath control

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or breath work. Come open the chest to reveal the heart center and deepen the breath. Suitable for all levels. $25. Inner Space Yoga, 17 Station St, Brookline. 617-645-5573. AnnieHoffmanYoga@ yahoo.com. AnnieHoffmanYoga.com.

remedy consultation services. A free sample and information guide will be given to each guest. Free.

Johnson Compounding and Wellness center, 577 Main St, Waltham. 781-893-3870. Diana@Natural Compounder.com. NaturalCompounder.com.

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 9

Learning to Work with Tree Medicine – 7pm.

Guest lecturer Michael Blackmore teaches the medicinal properties of common local trees, identification and wildcrafting tips. $25. CommonWealth Center for Herbal Medicine, 25 Saint Mary’s Court, Brookline. 617-750-5274. CommonWealth Herbs.com.

Reiki Clinic – 1:30-4:30pm. An opportunity for clients to receive a Reiki treatment at the introductory rate of $15 for a half-hour treatment by a group of practitioners. Reiki is an ancient hands-on energy healing method for reducing stress, relieving pain and facilitating healing on all levels. Reiki Practitioners participate in giving and receiving Reiki treatments for free at the clinics. $15 for clients, free for practitioners. Arlington Reiki Associates, 366 Mass Ave, Ste 304, Arlington. By appointment only, Meg: 617-710-3683. Detkal@ aol.com. ArlingtonReiki.com.

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 11 Laughter Yoga for Health and Relation – 7:308:45pm. With Sandra Daitch. Join us for this fun, health-supporting class which incorporates interactive laughter exercises with breathing, stretching and self-massage. $10. Theosophical Society, 21 Maple St, Arlington. 617-926-4155. TSBoston.org.

Team Northrup Business Opportunity Call – 8-8:30pm. Interested in a business in the health and wellness industry? Learn how to earn residual income with Team Northrup and how we use personal growth as a business building strategy in a supportive community. Free. Phone conference call. For call-in info &RSVP: 978-877-6122, Pam@Wealthy HealthyWomen.com. Wealthy HealthyWomen.com.

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 12 Free Bach Flower Info Session – 11am-3pm. Dr. Edward Bach’s Flower remedies have been providing emotional balance to many for over 80 years.

Join Jenna and Diana to learn how these amazing flowers can enhance the lives of your family and pets. We are pleased to offer new Bach Flower

Happy Hanukkah!

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Feeling-Based Financial Planning – 8-8:30pm.

Financial planning is often wrought with stress, anxiety, worry, resistance, and boredom. Join women’s health pioneer Christiane Northrup, MD. to identify exactly how you want to feel and create financial plans to deliver that feeling. Free. Phone conference call. For call-in info & RSVP: 978877-6122, Pam@WealthyHealthyWomen.com.

Wealthy HealthyWomen.com.

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 13 Healthy Eating Seminar – 7-8pm. The holiday eating season is here. Avoid seasonal weight gain.

Learn about healthy, low-glycemic, tasty eating.

Create a desire for healthy foods. Support your bodies true health and longevity. Learn to reset your health, banish the belly bulge and reenergize.

Free. Sue Cullen PT Studio, 143 Essex St, Ste 201, Haverhill. 978-478-8241. Sue@SueCullenPT Studio.com. SueCullenPTStudio.com.

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 14 Shamanic Winter Solstice Ceremony – 7-9:30pm. Join Shaman Janet StraightArrow for a sacred, deep, fun Shamanic experience. Ceremony awakens deep parts of us individually and collectively and heals all. We will be honoring the Earth, the stars and all of us as a celebration of life. $40 or $36 prepaid by Dec 8. Center at Westwoods, 590 Gay St, Westwood. 973-647-2500. Janet@ BeTheMedicine.com. BeTheMedicine.com.

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 15 Buddhist Meditation Retreat Weekend – Dec 15 & 16. 9am-9pm, Sat; 9am-5pm, Sun. For info & pre-registration contact Ven.Dharman Stortz: 617-460-6156, Dharman_Shakya@yahoo.com or Howard Ritchie: 781-645-3272. Theosophical Society, 21 Maple St, Arlington. For cost info: 617926-4155. TSBoston.org.

and yet you are more efficient in what you do. Can be applied to any activity and even non-movement activity like sitting. $50. 33A Harvard St, Ste 302, Brookline. 617-359-7841. AlexanderTec.com.

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 16 Gong & Himalayan Singing Bowl Meditation – 1-2pm. A Priscilla Gale of Sacred Song Reiki presentation. Experience the healing sounds of Himalayan Gongs and Singing Bowls. Regain your sense of vitality, balance, clarity of thought, happiness and peace. $18. Melody Motion Yoga Studio, 17 River St, Deep River. 860-575-5032. Melody Motion.vpweb.com.

239th Boston Tea Party Reenactment – 4pm.

Take on the role of a Patriot or a Loyalist as you reenact the famous tax protest and spark a revolution. $12. Old South Meeting House, 310 Washington St, Boston. 617-482-6439. OldSouth MeetingHouse.org.

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 20 Qabalistic Healing Ceremony – 7:30-9pm. With William Westgroves. Qabalistic Healing Ceremony is hosted by the Fraternity of the Hidden Light.

Explore the fundamentals of ritual and meditation while serving as a conduit of healing and peace for the entire world. Your open mind, positive spirit and willingness to work with others will bring light into our world. $10. Theosophical Society, 21 Maple St, Arlington. 617-926-4155. TSBoston.org.

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 21 Winter Solstice Celebration – 7:30-9pm. Honor the shortest day of the year and celebrate the imminent return of light through meditation, readings, music and community, Bring a favorite reading and refreshment to share. Free. Theosophical Society, 21 Maple St, Arlington. 617-926-4155. TSBoston. org.

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 28 The Cold Moon: Full Moon Yoga Celebration – 7-9pm. This is a time for renewal: going inside, nurturing and preparing space for new beginnings.

This will be the full moon closest to the Winter Solstice when the light and dark times are equal.

We celebrate together with movement, chanting and meditation. $20/advance; $25/at door. The Center at Westwoods, 590 Gay St, Westwood. 617869-9574. RavenSong4@yahoo.com. SelfHealing Solutions.com.

Winter Solstice Celebration Day – 9:30am4:30pm. A day of deep healing ascension experiences, drumming, meditation, journeying, sacred teachings and ceremony we work with guides and teachers in the nine dimensions from the center core crystal of the Earth through all levels into the galactic center and beyond. $175; $165 prepaid.

Center at Westwoods, 590 Gay Street, Westwood.

973-647-2500. Janet@BeTheMedicine.com.

BeTheMedicine.com.

Full Moon Yoga: Long Night’s Moon – 7-9pm.

Celebrate the divine feminine through meditation, chanting, pranayama, asana, dance and ceremony.

We welcome the Long Night’s Moon, taking shelter inside, protecting our seeds of creativity, warming up and resting. $20. The Center at Westwoods, 590 Gay St, Westwood. 617-869-9574. Raven Song4@yahoo.com. SelfHealingSolutions.com.

Alexander Technique For Neck, Back and Joint Problems – 10am-12pm. Learn how to improve postural balance and coordination, reduce mind and body tension while increasing ease of movement by using this mind/body approach which triggers your postural reflexes so you have less to do

First Night Boston – The oldest, largest and most elaborate New Year’s Eve event of this type in the U.S. One thousand artists, musicians and performers entertain the crowds in more than 200 performances throughout the city. $15 for a button.

FirstNight.org.

Boston | NaturalAwakeningsBoston.com

MONDAY, DECEMBER 31

ongoingcalendar

978-369-1232. MondayContras.com.

All Calendar events for the January issue must be received by December 10th and adhere to our guidelines. Visit NaturalAwakeningsBoston.com for guidelines and to submit entries.

Anxiety and Panic Support Group – 6:30pm.

First day of every month. Designed to offer a place where people with common interests and experience can meet. Learn that you aren’t alone in your experience and knowledge is the key to living a symptom-free live. Washington St, Newton. For more info, Doreen: 617-849-3198.

UCanBFearFree.com.

Beginner Level Yoga Classes – Sun-Wed & Sat evenings. Small group class introducing yoga flows, poses and sequences linked to breath and core strength. Emphasis on the fundamentals and an interconnection with the body through yoga alignment, meditation, breathing technique and relaxation. $20/class. Lifetime Health & Consulting, LLC, Harvard Sq, 116 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge. 617-710-1337. For scheduling & to reserve a spot: Info@HolistiKey.com.

ColonLove.com.

Boutique Yoga – One-hour sessions designed specifically for the beginner. Come to this peaceful, comforting and well-balanced environment to begin or enrich your vinyasa yoga practice. Choose between private, semi-private, trio or quad to begin cultivating your body flow.

By appointment only. $100-$125. Lifetime Health & Consulting, LLC, 1166 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge. 617-710-1337. HolisticKey.com.

Gentle Morning Yoga – 10-11:15am. Also, Vigorous Yoga, 11:30am-12:45pm. All classes are taught in the Kripalu Style and can be gentle, moderate or vigorous. $14/drop-in, $12/students with ID. YogaWithNatalie.org.

Yoga Class – 11am-12:15pm. Join a great group for an all-levels yoga class in a cozy and spiritual studio. $17. Pipal Leaf Yoga, 945 Great Plain Ave, Needham. CBeingYoga.com.

Glassblowing Family Experience – 1-2pm.

Enjoy a glassblowing demonstration with the family. A truly unique experience. $15/person.

Make pendants for only $10 more per person.

Diablo Glass School, 123 Terrace St, Boston. 617442-7444. DiabloGlassSchool.com.

Sunday Restorative Yoga – 5-6:15pm. Relax, stretch, de-stress and re-charge your whole system before your work week. Poses supported with blankets and bolsters. Open to everyone. $15. The Center at Westwoods, 590 Gay St, Westwood.

617-869-9574. SelfHealingSolutions.com.

Supper Club at Mandarava – 7pm. 3rd Sun. String of six or so surprise courses, all small

plates, presented directly by the chef and created entirely at her whim. Sit back and take in a little magic in a cozy, candlelit environment. First come, first served basis, reservations required. $36/seat. Mandarava, 46 Inn St, Newburyport.

978-465-7300. MandaravaJuice.com.

Community Acupuncture – Thru Dec 31. Also Wed & Fri. By appointment. Affordable care for a healthy community. Acupuncture in a shared space, rather than private rooms enabling lower cost. Sliding scale, $35-$55/initial visit, $20-$40/ follow-up visits. Green Tea Yoga, 10 Colonial Rd, Salem. 781-269-2287. NSCAcupuncture.com.

Men’s Redcord Class – 6:30-7am. A double suspension training system using the instability of the cords to condition the entire body. A great and intense workout. $20/drop-in, $90/5 classes, $170/10 classes. Every Body Pilates, 50 Leonard St, Ste 2A, Belmont. 617-484-3311.

EveryBodyPilates.com.

Core Fundamentals – 12:30-1:30pm. Learn how to effectively use free weights, your body weight, resistance tubing and cable exercises to unleash your body’s natural confidence and power. $20/first class. Vitality Personal Fitness, 118 Needham St, Newton. 617-620-3585.

VitalityPersonalFitness.com.

Pilates Group Equipment Classes – 5:306:30pm. Enjoy a comprehensive Pilates workout using the traditional Reformer apparatus and transform your mind, body and spirit. First class free. Shawn’s Studio, 103 Morse St, Watertown.

617-393-3535. ShawnsStudio.com.

Jam’n Cardio Kix – 7-8pm. Also Wed, 7:30pm.

A martial art fitness class that puts several musical patterns together in to routines performed continuously to develop cardiovascular fitness, agility and quickness. $100/10 classes, $60/5 classes, $15/drop-in. Corpbasics Fitness & Training Club, 73 Bow St, Somerville. 617-6288400. Corpbasics.com.

Hatha Yoga at Gallery 263 – 7:15-8:30pm.

Increase flexibility, strength and balance.

Relax and recharge mind and spirit. Intelligent sequencing and attention to alignment which will challenge all levels. Emphasizes correct alignment within a flowing sequence that will leave you feeling strengthened and energized. $10. 263 Pearl St, Cambridgeport. 617-459-9817.

WatertownHolisticHealth.com.

Community Contra Dance – 7:30-10:30pm.

Make new friends while doing easy social dancing to great live music in a historic hall. Alcohol, smoke and perfume-free. Instruction provided, no need to bring a partner. $8, $5/22 or under.

Concord Scout House, 74 Walden St, Concord.

MoneyMoves TeleConnections – 8-9pm. 2nd Mon. Discussions which will dive deeply into many facets of financial fitness from a practical as well as reflective perspective encouraging growth in money-savvy and self-awareness. Free. For details: GayleColman.com.

Practitioners Breakfast – 7:30-9am. 3rd Tues.

All healthcare practitioners are welcome to share breakfast and knowledge. Features monthly guest speakers and presentations and working together with passion and enthusiasm to increase the overall wellness of the community. Groton Wellness Medical Center, 493-495 Main St, Groton. 978-449-9919. GrotonWellness.com.

Newton’s Winter Farmers’ Market – 1:30-6pm.

A new indoor market with farm fresh eggs, fruits, vegetables, turkey, beef, fish, goat cheese, gouda, olive oil, baked goods, popovers, jams, jellies, plants and flowers. Hyde Community Center, 90 Lincoln St, Newton Highlands. NewtonMA.gov.

Zumba Toning – 6:30-7:30pm. Benefit mentally, emotionally and physically from the dance workout that has caused such a sensation all over the world. $100/10 classes, $12/walk-in. Dance Union, 16 Bow St, Somerville. 617-968-1695.

ShapeUpPersonalTraining.com.

Kripalu Yoga Series – Thru Dec 18. 6:457:45pm. Learn to move your body in a way that improves your health, makes you feel good and provides you with tools to help you manage life’s challenges, both on and off the yoga mat. $65/5-class card, $15/drop in. Breathe Wellness, 162 Cook Ln, Marlborough. 617-699-2389.

BreatheInWellness.com.

Canis Major Herbal Workshop – 7-8pm. Join canine herbalist Nancy Anderson on the 2nd Tues of each month and explore a holistic, herbal model for canine health. $10. The Center for Arts at the Armory, 191 Highland Ave, Somerville.

617-718-2191. ArtsAtTheArmory.org.

Healthy Eating Seminar – 7-8pm. 1st Tues.

Avoid seasonal weight gain. Learn about healthy, low-glycemic, tasty eating. Create a desire for healthy foods and support your body’s true health and longevity. Free. Sue Cullen PT Studio, 143 Essex St, Ste 201, Haverhill. 978-478-8241.

SueCullenPTStudio.com.

Reiki Clinic – 7-9pm. Last Tues. An opportunity to try something new, crack open the door or just take a moment for yourself to destress. Appointments for 30-minute sessions are suggested. $10. Sky Dancer’s, 788F Counrty Way, Ste 1, Scituate. 339-526-9759.

SkyDancersNewAge.com.

Broga I Chill – 7:30-8:15pm. Also Thurs, 7:30pm & Sat, 12pm. Energetic, fun, challenging, but set to a chill, accessible pace. Perfect for Broga or yoga newbies or those interested in focusing on fundamentals. $100/10 classes, $15/drop-in. The Center for Arts at the Armory, 191 Highland Ave, Somerville. 617-207-9374. BrogaYoga.com.

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Refreshing Samples – 10am-3pm. Try featured refreshing teas and nutritional snacks. Enjoy a selection of organic teas, treats and snacks for customers to sample. Stop in to see what’s new to try. Free. Johnson Compounding and Wellness Center, 577 Main St, Waltham. 781-893-3870.

NaturalCompounder.com.

Expand Your Gifts – 6:30-8:30pm. Every two weeks on Wed. Come develop your known and unknown, intuitive, psychic or medium gifts. Discover new aspects of you. $15. Sky Dancer’s, 788F Country Way, Ste 1, Scituate.

For more info or to register: 339-526-9759.

SkyDancersNewAge.com.

Meditation Evenings – 7-8:30pm. Come to meditate and take part in a discussion. Both beginners and experienced meditators welcome; instruction provided from 7-7:30pm for those who need it. Light refreshments provided. Suggested donation $15. Advaita Meditation Center, 28 Worcester Ln, Waltham. 781-647-0020.

AdvaitaMeditation.org.

Dance Freedom – 7:30-10:30pm. The oldest continually running weekly barefoot dance in the world. Live DJ music, a great workout, lots of fun and lots of interesting people to meet.

Recharge and renew in a joyous, positive, drug and alcohol free environment. $10-$20 sliding scale. First Congregational Church, 11 Garden St, Cambridge. 617-312-3039. DanceFreedom.com.

Free Sample Acupuncture Treatment – People new to the clinic can book a free sample treatment on Thursdays. Open Space Community Acupuncture, 66-70 Union Sq, Ste 102, Somerville. 617-627-9700.

OpenSpaceAcupuncture.com.

Reiki Healing Circle for Women on a Healing Journey with Cancer – 4-6pm. Once a month.

Women trained in Reiki and at various stages in their healing journey come together to support each other. Uplifting, life affirming and healing. $35. Arlington Reiki Associates, 366 Mass Ave, Ste 304, Arlington. 781-648-9334.

ArlingtonReiki.com.

Broga II Power – 6-6:45pm. Also Sat, 1010:45am. High energy, Broga flow class. Good for those ready for a great workout. Familiarity with Broga or yoga recommended, but not required. $100/10 classes, $15/drop-in. The Center for Arts at the Armory, 191 Highland Ave, Somerville.

617-207-9374. BrogaYoga.com.

Zumba – 6:30-7:30pm. Benefit mentally, emotionally and physically from the dance workout that has caused such a sensation all over the world. $100/10 classes, $12/walk-in. Dance Union, 16 Bow St, Somerville. 617-968-1695.

ShapeUpPersonalTraining.com.

Evolutionary Circle – 7-9pm. 2nd Thurs.

Explore our emergence as universal humans, up to and following the Planetary Shift. Led by

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eliSabeth Taylor, A.C.E. and Rev. Betty Walker.

Donation encouraged. UNITY Somerville, 6 William St, Somerville. 781-643-1586.

Birth2012Boston.com.

Somerville Road Runners Night 4.13 Miler – 7:15-8:15pm. It may be snowing. It may be raining. The SRR Thursday night run will happen every week, no matter what. Free. Casey’s, 171 Broadway, Somerville. SRR.org/Events/ Thursday-Night-Race.

Observatory Night – 7:30-9:30pm. 3rd Thurs. A non-technical lecture and telescopic observing from the observatory roof if weather permits. Free. Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, 60 Garden St, Cambridge. 617-4957461. CFA.Harvard.edu.

The Family Walking Program – 9:30am. Take a healthy walk through the mall in a safe, climatecontrolled environment for both parent and child.

Spend time with other parents while your children make new friends and learn the benefits of regular exercise. Meet near Carter’s. Watertown Mall, 550 Arsenal St, Watertown. 617-926-4968.

Watertown-Mall.com.

Health Lecture Series – 10am. 1st Fri. An informative discussion for parents and caregivers on a variety of parent and child related topics such as: nutrition, behavior, community resources and more. Held in the Old Country Buffet, Watertown Mall, 550 Arsenal St, Watertown. 617-926-4968.

Watertown-Mall.com.

Blood Pressure Screenings – 10am-12pm.

Free blood pressure screenings on the 1st Fri each month in front of the Old Country Buffet.

Watertown Mall, 550 Arsenal St, Watertown. 617926-4968. Watertown-Mall.com.

Second Fridays Free – 5-8pm. Free evening at the MIT Museum on the 2nd Fri each month.

Mingle with friends in the unique galleries and see some of the latest research coming out of MIT. MIT Museum, 265 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge. 617-253-5927. MIT.edu/Museum.

First Fridays Open Studios – 5-9pm. Over fifty of the United South End Artists open their studios on the first Friday of every month. Free. 400 Harrison Ave, Boston. USEABoston.com.

Jam’n Java Open Mic and Coffeehouse – 6:309pm. 1st Fri. Sign up to play, or come and listen to talented local performers. Free. Jam’n Java, 594 Massachusetts Ave, Arlington. ArlOpenMic. wordpress.com.

Friday Night Cooking Series – 6:30-9:30pm.

Join us for a night of conversation, anecdotes and fun, and a detailed cooking demonstration. See website for specifics by week. $61. Cambridge Center for Adult Education, 56 Brattle St, Cambridge. CCAE.org.

Glass Beadmaking – 6:30-9:30pm. An evening of glass, friends and wine. Spend 3 hrs in one of our studios to experience an introductory taste of working with hot glass in glassblowing and bead

Boston | NaturalAwakeningsBoston.com

making. $75. Diablo Glass School, 123 Terrace St, Boston. 617-442-7444. DiabloGlassSchool. com.

Meditation Evening – 7-9pm. 2nd Fri. Let the week go and prepare for a work free weekend.

Practice mindful meditation, chakra movement and awareness and perhaps read from The Power of Now. $20. The Center at Westwoods, 590 Gay St, Westwood. Confirm attendance: 617-524-7628 or PMCHoward@hotmail.com.

CenterAtWestwoods.com.

Live Music – 8-10:30pm. Also Sat. Enjoy local food, music and art. Free, no cover charge.

Nourish Restaurant, 1727 Massachusetts Ave, Lexington. 781-674-2400. NourishLexington. com.

Outdoor Crosstraining Core – Thru Dec 15.

6:45-7:45am. Come to an outdoor crosstraining class that is never the same class twice. Balance, plyo-metric, stability and coordination drills, heart rate conditioning, endurance, strength and stamina development and core and pelvic strength. $10/ drop-in, packages available. 617-438-4467.

YourHealthSense.com.

Morning Yoga – 7-8:15am. Gentle beginnerlevel yoga class held in a sunlit room in a lovely historic house. Led by trained instructor, Keith Herndon. $10 donation. Advaita Meditation Center, 28 Worcester Ln, Waltham. 617-497-4541.

AdvaitaMeditation.org.

Yoga Class – 7:30-8:45am. Stop by for a slowpaced, conscious flow through a morning yoga series. Afterwards, walk around the studio to see the events and offerings within this community. $18. Samadhi Integral Studio, 796 Beacon St, Newton Centre. CBeingYoga.com.

Vital TRX Cross – 9-9:55am. A revolutionary method of leveraged bodyweight exercise, which allows you to safely perform hundreds of functional exercises that build power, strength, flexibility, balance, mobility, and prevent injuries. $20/first class. Vitality Personal Fitness, 118 Needham St, Newton. 617-620-3585.

VitalityPersonalFitness.com.

Jamaica Plain Farmers’ Market – Thru Dec 20. 12-5pm. A small neighborhood market, featuring the freshest local foods. The vendors must produce or make their own product.

No crafts or other non-food items for sale.

677 Centre St, Jamaica Plain. 508-867-7193.

JamaicaPlainFarmersMarket.com.

Kripalu Yoga Series – 4:30-5:45pm. Thru Dec 22. Learn to move your body in a way that improves your health, makes you feel good and provides you with tools to help you manage life’s challenges, both on and off the yoga mat. $72/6wk series, $15/drop in. Earthsong Yoga, 186 Main St, Marlborough. 617-699-2389. EarthsongYoga. com.

Live Music Saturday Nights – 8-10:30pm. We are building a community around local food, music and art. No cover. Nourish Restaurant, 1727 Massachusetts Ave, Lexington. 781-6742400. NourishLexington.com.

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@NaturalAwakeningsBoston.com to request our media kit.

ACUPUNCTURE BROOKLINE MEDICAL ACUPUNCTURE

Amy Pearsall, MD 1622A Beacon St, Ste 205, Brookline 857-288-9416 BrooklineMedicalAcupuncture.com Individuals seeking a more natural and elemental approach to healing and wellness may benefit greatly from the integration of Eastern and Western medicine. See ad page 11.

NEW ENGLAND SCHOOL OF ACUPUNCTURE

150 California St, Newton MA 02458 617-558-1788 NESA.edu NESA is the first school of acupuncture in the U.S. and provides a rigorous acupuncture education along with affordable health care to the community. See ad page 12.

VISIONS HEALTHCARE

170 Worcester St (Rte 9), Wellesley, MA 02481 781-431-1333 VisionsHealthCare.com Acupuncturists at Visions HealthCare are able to provide relief for a variety of concerns including but not limited to insomnia, allergies, digestion, pain, fatigue, etc. See ad on the back cover.

Bioidentical Hormone Treatment CONNIE A. JACKSON, MD

55 Pond Ave, Brookline, MA 02445 132 Great Rd, Ste 201, Stow, MA 01775 617-232-0202 (Brookline) 617-879-0403 (Stow) Connie.A.Jackson.MD@gmail.com ConnieAJacksonMD.com Specializing in Hormonal Imbalance and Individualized Natural Bioidentical Hormone Treatment for irregular menstrual cycles, hot flashes, night sweats, low sex drive, irritability, fatigue, poor concentration, poor memory, depression and sleep disturbances. Accepting most major insurances. See ad page 17.

PATRICIA JAY, MD

chiropractic NEWTON CHIROPRACTIC AND WELLNESS Julie Burke, DC 617-964-3332 Info@WellAdjusted.com

We are an integrative holistic wellness center. Our caring team consists of chiropractors specializing in Network Spinal Analysis, massage therapists and Shiatsu and Reiki practitioners.

See ad page 17.

ERIC ROSEEN, DC

170 Worcester St (Rte 9) Wellesley, MA 02481 781-431-1333 VisionsHealthCare.com

170 Worcester St (Rte 9) Wellesley, MA 02481 781-431-1333 VisionsHealthCare.com Effectively using BioIdentical Hormone Therapy for 9 years; expert gynecologist passionate about supporting women to ease transition through all life phases.

Accepts most major insurances.

See ad on the back cover.

Patient-centered, evidence-based spinal care and soft tissue work to decrease pain and improve mobility. Accepts major health insurances. Weekend and evening hours available. See ad on the back cover.

COACHING THE ARTIST’S WAY

BUSINESS MENTORING WISE WOMAN SMALL BUSINESS SERVICES

Kim Childs 617-640-3813 Kim@KimChilds.com KimChilds.com

Phyllis Wilson 781-883-2282 WiseBlueLotus@gmail.com WiseBlueLotus.com

Successful relationships create successful businesses. Offering client communications, Web and creative services, and organizational strategies for holistic health and personal growth practitioners. See ad page 16.

natural awakenings

Kim coaches people in the life-changing practices and principles of The Artist’s Way and The Prosperous Heart

by Julia Cameron. No artistic experience required, just a desire to live a rich and more fully expressed life. Workshops offered each spring and fall.

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BOSTON SOUL COACHING Daniel Sharp, CSC, CIMT, RMT 781-763-7685 BostonSoulCoaching.com

De-clutter your mind, your home and your path to an abundant future with personalized Soul Coaching. Daniel will help you build the life you deserve. See ad page 27.

YOUR INSPIRED TRUTH Donna Markussen 781-583-8534 YourInspiredTruth.com

Are you looking for more meaning and purpose? I’ll help you find the key that unlocks the door to the bigger, better version of yourself. See ad page 2.

COLON HYDROTHERAPY LIFETIME HEALTH & CONSULTING 1166 Massachusetts Ave Cambridge, MA 02138 617-710-1337 LifetimeHealth@ColonLove.com

Improve your colon health through hydration, activation and elimination.

Experience Guided Colon Therapy in a safe, gentle atmosphere using FDAapproved equipment by a National Board Certified and I-ACT Certified Instructor. See ad page 9.

dentist DR. IVETA IONTCHEVA-BAREHMI DMD, MS, D.SC. 1842 Beacon St, Ste 302, Brookline, MA 617-868-1516 BostonDentalWellness.com

Dr. Iontcheva-Barehmi is an accomplished dentist and specialist in Periodontics and Implants with a holistic approach to medicine and dentistry. To schedule your comprehensive exam and share the excitement of a healthy smile, call: 617-868-1516. See ad page 7.

GROTON WELLNESS – MEDICAL, DENTAL, SPA, BISTRO 493-495 Main St Groton, Ma 01450 978-449-9919 GrotonWellness.com

Our specialization, healthfocused dentistry, enables us to consider you, our patient, as a whole person, not merely a “dental case.” Therefore, we have the unique opportunity to evaluate every patient, and develop every treatment, procedure and protocol, from an individualized holistic standpoint. We will make recommendations to improve not only your dental health, but your overall health as well. See ad page 19.

DOG WALKING CANIS MAJOR DOG WALKING Nancy Anderson 617-501-9241 Canis_major@mac.com CanismajorHerbals.wordpress.com

As a wellness service of Canis major Herbals, we now offer dog walking in the Davis Sq, Somerville area. Visit CanismajorHerbals.com.

Experienced. Responsible.

Insured.

compounding & wellness pharmacy 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 25.

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“We are the ones we’ve been waiting for.”

--Excerpted from a passage attributed to the Hopi elders about this moment in human history.

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EXERCISE/FITNESS/ PERSONAL TRAINING KOKO FITCLUB

39 Harvard St, Brookline, MA 02445 77 Spring St, Shaw’s Plaza, West Roxbury, MA 02132 Brookline: 617-566-5656; West Roxbury: 617-325-4800 MA.Brookline@KokoFitClub.com MA.WRoxbury@KokoFitClub.com KokoFitClub.com World’s first automated personal training studio offering highly effective, efficient, customized workouts guided and monitored by the proprietary Smartraining technology in a spa-like setting. See ad page 3.

HERBal studies THE BOSTON SCHOOL OF HERBAL STUDIES

12 Pelham Terrace, Arlington, MA 781-646-6319 BostonHerbalStudies.com We offer two Herbal Apprenticeship Programs, Advanced Training, Aromatherapy Certification and a series of Thursday evening and Saturday afternoon classes. Please visit our website. See ad page 9.

COMMONWEALTH CENTER FOR HERBAL MEDICINE Katja Swift & Ryn Midura 25 Saint Mary’s Court, Brookline, MA 617-750-5274 CommonWealthHerbs.com

Personalized, comprehensive consultations with experienced herbalists. Whether it’s the flu or a chronic illness, or simply to build greater vitality, herbal medicine can help. See ad page 27.

HERBAL ACADEMY OF NEW ENGLAND

120 Arlington Rd, Woburn, MA 01801 781-572-4454 HerbalAcademyOfNE@gmail.com Our Academy is focused on the art and science of plantbased medicine, from a holistic perspective. All herbalists are welcome, mentors and students. See ad page 35.

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 29.

Integrative/Functional Medicine RICHARD CHEN, MD

170 Worcester St (Rte 9) Wellesley, MA 02481 781-431-1333 VisionsHealthCare.com Board-Certified Family Medicine physician trained in Functional Medicine accepting new patients of all ages for Primary Care or consultation. Accepts most major health insurances. See ad on the back cover.

PHOENIX HEALING ARTS

Mimi Rhys, LMT 617-413-7174 Mimi@PhoenixHealingArts.net Experience what gentle, integrated therapies can do to help you lose your pain. Mimi Rhys offers craniosacral therapy, lymphatic drainage, and lymphatic joint release work.

See ad page 13.

holistic nutrition

SOPHIA DAROSA-SPILLANE, MSN, ANP-C

Certified Holistic Nutrition Consultant specializing in digestive health, emotional eating and detoxification.

Available for individual consultations at Samadhi Integral in Newton Centre.

HOME-BASED BUSINESS PAM PEARSON

978-877-6122 Pam@WealthyHealthyWomen.com WealthyHealthyWomen.com Build your own health and wellness business. As a successful entrepreneur, I’ll teach you how to manifest success and achieve your personal and professional dreams. See ad page 11.

170 Worcester St (Rte 9) Wellesley, MA 02481 781-431-1333 VisionsHealthCare.com

Licensed Mental Health Clinician and Behavioral Health Specialist with over 15 years of experience; integrative approach. Specialties: anxiety, panic, depression, stress, anger, etc. Accepts insurance. See ad on the back cover.

Cecile Raynor

Certified Alexander Technique Teacher; Certified Thai Yoga Therapist 617-359-7841 AlexanderTec.com Learn to relieve body tension and manage the stress in your life. Improve your posture without any holding. Learn mind/body tools for personal growth or simply enjoy a relaxing Thai yoga session. See ad page 17.

170 Worcester St (Rte 9) Wellesley, MA 02481 781-431-1333 VisionsHealthCare.com

Nurse Practitioner with extensive training in Functional Medicine, primary care, and allergy testing & treatment. Knowledgeable, caring, and backed by a whole integrative team. Accepts insurance. See ad on the back cover.

MOLLY ROBSON WELLNESS

671-678-3108 MollyRobsonWellness@gmail.com MollyRobsonWellness.com

MARSHA KLEIN, LMHC

PATRICIA ZUB, MD

SELF-HEALING SOLUTIONS Raven Sadhaka Seltzer 617-869-9574 SelfHealingSolutions.com

Feeding mind-body-spirit through therapeutic and restorative yoga, Ayurvedic counseling, meditation, pranayam and Reiki; specializing in low back pain and digestive issues. See ad on page 25.

170 Worcester St (Rte 9) Wellesley, MA 02481 781-431-1333 VisionsHealthCare.com Internal Medicine Physician with integrative approach and more than 13 years of primary care experience. Also available for consultation. Accepting most major health insurances. See ad on the back cover.

integrative therapy BODYMIND RESOURCING

Alison Shaw APRN, LMT, CEH 393 Massachusetts Ave Arlington, MA 02474 781-646-0686 Alison@BodymindResourcing.org An innovative blend of body-centered counseling, integrative bodywork and energy medicine to uncover and release body-mind patterns that limit your life and health. See ad page 35.

integrative veterinary medical care MASH MAIN ST ANIMAL SERVICES OF HOPKINTON Margo Roman, DVM 72 W Main St, Hopkinton, MA 01748 508-435-4077 MASHVet.com

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 35.

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NATUROPATHY EMILY CHAN, ND

Lydian Center for Innovative Medicine, 777 Concord Ave, Ste 301 Cambridge, MA 02138 617-299-6151 ModernIntegrativeMedicine.com

SACRED SONG REIKI

978-897-8846 SacredSongReiki@yahoo.com SacredSongReiki.com

Priscilla Gale, of Sacred Song Reiki, utilizes multiple healing modalities and techniques along with Reiki, including Himalayan and Crystal Singing Bowls, Reconnective Healing, and Magnified Healing.

Dr. Emily cares and takes the time to listen. Effective, scientific, and non-invasive natural options are used to address the root cause of health issues.

WATER PURIFICATION/ IONIZATION KANGEN WATER速 IONIZERS Nancy Zare, PhD 508-981-2315 KangenDemo.com

Attach to faucet. Make alkaline, antioxidant, purified, super-hydrating water. Select 7 pH levels for: Drinking. cooking, cleaning, moisturizing, pets, plants, degreasing, disinfecting and healing.

ROLFING STRUCTURAL INTEGRATION physical therapy CAMBRIDGE PHYSICAL THERAPY & SPORTS MEDICINE 1000A Cambridge St. Cambridge, 02141 617-492-6600 CambridgePTSportsMed.com

BOSTON BODY BALANCE Jazmine Fox-Stern 617-308-7104 BostonBodyBalance.com

Rolfing速 Structural Integration is a hands-on, participatory approach to rebalancing the body.

Reduce aches, pains, and injuries. Increase energy and grace.

Improve athletic performance.

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 13.

ROWE PHYSICAL THERAPY

148 Linden St, B-8, Wellesley Center 781-263-9977 RowePT.com

Cynthia S. Rowe, PT, has over 26 years of experience as an Integrative Manual Physical Therapist who treats body, mind and spirit as a holistic, total body approach. See ad page 21.

SKIN CARE CATHERINE HINDS INSTITUTE OF ESTHETICS

300 Wildwood Ave, Woburn, MA 01801 781-935-3344 CatherineHinds.edu

REIKI

We offer the finest education and training in skin care and spa therapy as well as affordable skin care treatments to the public. See ad page 11.

WELLNESS COACHING LIVING FROM CENTER ~ WELLNESS COACHING & MASSAGE THERAPY Katrina Piehler, CWC, LCMT, MEd 617-833-3035 Living-From-Center.com

Empowering, action-oriented coaching that helps busy women transform and love their lives.

Fully individualized one-onone coaching or powerful small group support for your journey of healthy, vibrant, balanced living. Free initial consultation available.

ROOM2IMPROVE

Vicki Loberman 617-610-9551 Vicki@Room2Improve.us Room2Improve.us

We partner with clients to identify and overcome barriers to living a healthy lifestyle. Services include wellness coaching, professional organizing, personal training and stress management.

REIKI 4 SOUL

Michele S. Portlock, RMT 781-228-1915 Reiki4Soul.com

Michele partners with you to create your personal wellness path with Reiki healing for your mind, body and soul. She specializes in treating patients with chronic pain and illnesses.

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Boston | NaturalAwakeningsBoston.com

Wishing you a peaceful and magical holiday season.

natural awakenings

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Boston | NaturalAwakeningsBoston.com