Natural Awakenings Boston February 2017

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SACRED LOVE IN THE LESSONS PASSAGE O-ZONE How to Make a Marriage Last

Conscious Dying as a Transformative Healing Journey

Oxygen Therapy Heals a Host of Ills

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letterfrompublisher

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ur feature story exploring the theme of Conscious Dying reminds me what a contrarian blessing a terminal illness can sometimes be for those losing a loved one. Although I was completely in the dark, spiritually speaking, when my Dad passed in 1985, he saw it coming several months ahead and made it easier for us all to appreciate the gifts that can show up knowing the end of life here is near.

This consummate family man and patriarch, who was universally respected and adored by his family and most everyone he touched, took the news of a terminal diagnosis with dignity and grace. His biggest concerns related to his loved ones being okay without him and wanting to ensure his family would be with him at the time of his transition.

Though not deeply religious, Dad was a quietly spiritual man comfortable with whatever he thought was ahead for him in the afterlife. I was the youngest of seven children and one of two still living at home then, so I volunteered to take the night shift of his round-the-clock care during the last few weeks of our time together. Big, true blessings arrived in my life as a result.

Being given the opportunity to sit and talk, in the still of the night, about his life, listening to stories of his youth is the greatest gift I could have hoped to receive. A favorite story related how Dad grew up hating school from day one, a passion that had him already sitting on the front steps at home awaiting his sister when she returned home from just having dropped him off at kindergarten.

He liked racing through neighbor’s yards to beat her home, even knowing he’d immediately be dragged back to school.

Other stories afforded glimpses of why he was over-the-top protective of his loved ones; like the one of losing his brother as a teenager to a drowning accident. His time in World War II remains a mystery and I was somewhat satisfied with the little he was willing to share.

I deeply appreciate the rare opportunity to have had this precious time with my father. An equally wonderful blessing was the peace he communicated and bestowed through his lack of fear and ability to embrace what comes next. He moved on as he lived, surrounded by his wife of 40 years, his children and his spiritual leader, voicing his final lasting gift, “I love you.”

I appreciate how Linda Sechrist’s feature article, “Sacred Passage: Conscious Dying as a Transformative Healing Journey,” tenderly explores the many ways the end-of-life transition can be beautified by compassion and dignity when thoughtfully approached. We all deserve the best.

To embracing the gift of life,

Maisie Raftery, Publisher

contact us Publisher Maisie Raftery Managing Editor Nancy Somera Proofreader Randy Kambic Administrative Assistant Allison Roedell Support@NaturalAwakeningsBoston.com Contributors Valerie Burke • Gina Cronin Sandra Murphy • Barbara Pleasant Linda Sechrist Emily Esfahani Smith Sarina Stone • April Thompson Gert Walter Design & Production Courtney Ayers Stephen Blancett Julee Bode Zina Cochran

P.O. Box 1149 Brookline, MA 02446 Phone: 617-906-0232 Fax: 877-907-1406 NaturalAwakeningsBoston.com Maisie@NaturalAwakeningsBoston.com © 2017 by Natural Awakenings. All rights reserved.

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newsbriefs healthbriefs globalbriefs ecotip business spotlight inspiration mindbody wisewords healingways consciouseating greenliving naturalpet calendarof events classifieds community resourceguide

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

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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.

17 HOME ENERGY CLEARINGS BY REALTOR KAREN PIEDRA

by Gina Cronin

18 SACRED PASSAGE

Conscious Dying as a Transformative Healing Journey

18

by Linda Sechrist

21 UNDERSTANDING BIOIDENTICAL HORMONES AND PLATELET RICH PLASMA TREATMENTS

by Gert Walter

22 KISSED BY KINDNESS

by Emily Esfahani Smith

23 DEVELOP CHI THE TAOIST WAY

by Sarina Stone

25 TRANSFORMING THE

WAY WOMEN RELATE TO MEN

An Interview with Alison Armstrong

by April Thompson

26 IN THE O-ZONE

28

Oxygen Therapy Heals a Host of Ills

by Valerie Burke

28 INDOOR KITCHEN GARDENING

Easy-Grow Microgreens Are Big on Nutrition

by Barbara Pleasant

30 SUSTAINABLY

STYLISH HOME

Relax into Nurturing Furnishings

by April Thompson

33

33 HEART-TO-HEART WITH A HORSE Their Gentle Empathy Helps Us Heal

by Sandra Murphy

natural awakenings

February 2017

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MAR Food Sensitivities Plus: Holistic Eye Care

Our Readers are Seeking Providers & Services for Addressing Dietary Concerns & Natural Vision Care

newsbriefs Governor Baker Signs Bill to License Naturopathic Doctors in Massachusetts

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ast month Governor Charlie Baker signed into law a bill that offers licensure to naturopathic doctors (NDs) in Massachusetts. This licensure ensures the safe practice of naturopathic medicine in the Baystate.

A grassroots effort led by thousands of grateful patients helped get this legislation over the finish line. This law affords people of Massachusetts an option to include well-educated and trained NDs on their healthcare team for the naturopath’s expertise in both preventive care and natural integrative medicine.

This law also protects public health by enabling Massachusetts’ citizens to understand credentials of those practitioners seen. High-level state politicians, Secretaries of Health and Human Services, and members of Departments of Public Health from licensed states weighed in with their positive experiences with naturopathic medicine in their respective states. In addition, insurance company executives, leaders from the business world, medical researchers along with scores of medical doctors and other allied health professionals contacted Governor Baker urging the signing of this bill.

Amy Rothenberg, ND and president of the Massachusetts Society of Naturopathic Doctors (MSND) reports, “I applaud Governor Baker and the legislative process that studied and vetted this profession for more than 24 years and came to understand the unique role that licensed NDs can play in the state.”

Paul Herscu, ND, MPH and MSND legislative chair, furthers, “Naturopathic doctors are poised to bring evidence-based knowledge and expertise to the Massachusetts clinical, public health, teaching and research settings.”

In licensed states, NDs work collaboratively with allied health providers, whether from private practice, in integrative clinics or healthcare centers, and in clinics that care for the underserved. Massachusetts patients will now be able to safely access the skills and expertise of NDs in the Baystate.

The Massachusetts Society of Naturopathic Doctors (MSND) is the professional association representing licensable naturopathic doctors in the Commonwealth.

For more information, call 413-658-4461 or visit msnd.org.

To advertise or participate in our next issue, call

617-906-0232

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newsbriefs Free Introduction to Life Coaching with Reiki in Waltham

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isa Hassett, a reiki therapist and life coach at Reiki of Greater Boston, will begin a free introduction to combining reiki and life coaching on February 1, in Waltham.

“I have observed a need in most reiki clients for a more all-encompassing healing session, which prompted me to get certified in life coaching in order to provide them with the best possible service,” says Hassett. “Focusing on the whole person and taking a heart-centered approach is important to me, and all sessions are done in-person.”

Hassett says her coaching encompasses all aspects of life, from career to finances, relationships, health, spirituality and well-being. “By tuning in and listening carefully to your heart, the gap between where you are now and where you ultimately want to be in life will be bridged,” she says.

Each life coaching program includes coaching sessions, reiki healing and unlimited support via email and text between sessions. Depending on a person’s issues, Hassett may also offer such additional services as yoga, meditation, breath work, crystal healing, chakra balancing, aura clearing and other recommendations and resources to support progress in designing and achieving dreams. There are four levels of life coaching programs available, following an initial complimentary session.

Cost: Free introductory event. Location: Reiki of Greater Boston, 160 School St., Ste. 1-1, Waltham. For more information, visit ReikiOfGreaterBoston.com.

See Resource Guide on page 43. natural awakenings

February 2017

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GROW Your Business I just wanted to take the time to write and express my gratitude to Natural Awakenings for the enormous role it has played in the success of Thought Alchemy. It simply would not have happened without you.

From the very first month of advertising where the ad paid for itself and then some, to the presence it has created for Thought Alchemy today, is truly amazing. You have made my life as a solo business owner much easier, it is like having my own advertising team, guiding me and assisting me in my success.

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you! ~ Rose Siple, Thought Alchemy

617-906-0232

Publisher@NaturalAwakeningsBoston.com

newsbriefs Positively Priming the Mind Workshop

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im Serafini, founder and CEO of MindPT, will be the keynote speaker at a Positively Priming the Mind Workshop from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., March 22, in Kim Serafini New York City.

Participants will learn more about the research and technology behind the accelerated learning tool called Mind Power Technology (MindPT) that serves businesses, nonprofits, organizations and entrepreneurs in creating positive results by priming the mind to start each day on a positive note.

Serafini is a leading authority on positive priming and how to accelerate learning and change. This workshop is for coaches, practitioners, doctors, healers, educators, advocates, managers, trainers and others. Attendees will leave with real tools to navigate life more easily and beautifully.

“MindPT is a revolutionary new way to integrate new beliefs and cultivate the mindset and habits of happiness and success,” she says.

“Traditional personal growth programs often fail to produce the desired results because they require time, effort and discipline, but MindPT is quick and effortless, based on the latest in neuroscience research and proven, positive psychology principles. It is shared in fun and engaging bite-sized lessons on a desktop computer or mobile app to create fast, enduring results.”

Cost is $49, including lunch. For location and tickets, visit PositivePriming ForSuccess.com. See ad page 39.

If opportunity doesn’t knock, build a door. ~Milton Berle 8

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newsbriefs Reiki Level 1 Training Now Approved for Social Worker CEUs

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lise Brenner, owner of Brenner Reiki Healing, announces that social workers can now receive nine continuing education credits for her Reiki Level 1 Training Seminars. The seminars are offered monthly.

“As more and more professional care providers are discovering the benefits of reiki practice for self-care and care of their clients, their certifying boards for continuing educaElise Brenner tion credits are agreeing,” says Brenner. “We’re already an approved CE provider for licensed massage therapists, too.”

In a Reiki Level 1 Training Seminar, students learn reiki meditations, ways to practice hands-on healing of self and others, reiki principles and history, and how reiki promotes mindfulness and wellness on all levels of one’s being.

“Creative and fruitful innovation in social work requires practitioners to push the boundaries of traditional practice to create, implement and evaluate new and effective ways of helping people who struggle in life,” says Brennan. “Treatment approaches that are widely accepted today, such as EMDR (eye movement desensitization and reprocessing), DBT (dialectical behavior therapy), hypnosis and music therapy, were once considered unorthodox and, by some, controversial.”

Cost: $150 for Reiki Level 1 Training Seminar. Location: 324 Central St., Newton.

For more information, call 617-244-8856 or visit BrennerReikiHealing.org. See Resource Guide on page 42.

Aiming to Set the Record for World’s Largest Tantra Workshop

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obyn Vogel, founder of Come Back to Love, Inc., is aiming to make the Guinness Book of World Records with the largest tantra workshop ever recorded from 6:30 to 10:30 p.m., February 18, at the Center for the Arts at the Armory, in Somerville.

For 14 years, Vogel has led many tantra workshops, known as Intimate Puja Circles, in the Boston area. “The circles are a place to develop the skills of intimacy, and my intention now is to reach as many people around the world to bring their hearts back to love,” she says. “I’ve approached the Guinness Book of World Records for this Robyn Vogel revolutionary event, so we may go down in history.”

Vogel says participants will walk away feeling accepted for who they are, cherished, nurtured, loved, more grounded and peaceful. “It’s the perfect way to spend Valentine’s Day weekend whether you are in relationship or single,” she says. “This special evening will begin with invitations to connect in light and playful ways. Single or coupled, people will experience tantra and intimacy as a way to say ‘Hello,’ get to know one another and connect deeply.”

Cost: $45. Location: 191 Highland Ave., Somerville. For more information, call 508-380-9254 or visit IntimatePujaCircle.com. See ad on page 8. natural awakenings

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Using a unique blend of healing modalities to create a treatment plan for all kinds of physical, chemical & emotional issues, Kristine will help you find relief from:

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newsbriefs Free Talk on Diagnosing and Treating IBS and SIBO in Waltham

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n February 8 from 6-7:30 p.m., Johnson Compounding and Wellness, in Waltham, will hold a free talk with Dr. Alex Bingham on diagnosing and treating irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO). These conditions are characterized by stomachaches, gas, bloating constipation, and diarrhea, along with bloating and discomfort after eating.

Bingham brings 25 years of experience as a physician at The Rothfeld Center and is board-certified in family practice and a member of the American Board of Integrative and Holistic Medicine. “For more than 15 years, Dr. Bingham Dr. Alex Bingham has combined the burgeoning field of functional medicine with the best practices of conventional medicine,” says Katie Nolan, director of pharmacy education at Johnson Compounding and Wellness. “He has developed a comprehensive, holistic allergy program that has benefited thousands of patients suffering from environmental and food allergies, mold toxicity, chronic sinusitis, and other inflammatory, immune and autoimmune illnesses. His other specialties include adrenal fatigue and digestive disorders.”

Cost: Free. Location: Johnson Compounding and Wellness, 577 Main St., Waltham. For more information, call 781-893-3870 x117 or visit Natural Compounder.com. See ad on page 43 and Resource Guide on page 41 and 42.

Women’s Getaway Weekend in April

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ulie McGrath, founder and coach at The Joy Source, will present her 7th annual Women’s Getaway Weekend on April 1 and 2 in Hampton, New Hampshire. During the weekend, McGrath will also debut her new book, The Right Time is Right Now. “In the book and during the weekend, I will take participants through six key questions to help them let go of excuses that get in their way and prevent them from changing their lives,” says McGrath. “We’ll be inspired to tackle the obstacles and put our dreams and goals into action immediately.”

The weekend getaway includes workshops designed to inform, inspire and enhance one’s life. “Participants can walk on the beach, sleep in, take in the spectacular scenery, tap into creativity at a painting party, dance the night away, catch up with friends and relax,” says McGrath. “This is their weekend to do whatever energizes the spirit, relaxes the body and refuels the soul.”

Cost: $335/single occupancy, $250/double occupancy. Location: Ashworth by the Sea, 295 Ocean Blvd., Hampton, NH. For more information, call 978-587-7324 or visit TheJoySource.com/womens-weekend-2017/. See ad on page 35.

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February 2017

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healthbriefs

Fenugreek Eases Menopause

randomized, double-blind study from the Sri iJayadeva Institute of Cardiovascular Science and Research, in Bangalore, India, has found that an extract of fenugreek husk (FHE) called FenuSMART can provide relief from common symptoms of menopause, including night sweats, insomnia, headaches, hot flashes and mood swings.

Researchers studied 88 menopausal women between the ages of 45 and 58. Half were given one gram of FHE per day for 90 days while the other half received a placebo. The study measured the impact the supplement had on the subjects’ menopausal symptoms through weekly telephone sessions.

At the study’s end, approximately 32 percent of the women in the FHE group reported no hot flashes, while the placebo subjects saw the frequency of theirs reduced from three to five per day to one or two. Additionally, the subjects that took FHE experienced a 57 percent reduction in night sweats, a 68 percent abatement of mood swings, a 75 percent drop in insomnia and 58 percent fewer headaches.

Reflexology and Imagery Relieve Preoperative Anxiety

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nticipating surgery can be stressful, and many patients suffer from preoperative anxiety, which can cause serious health complications such as hypertension, rapid pulse and sugar metabolism changes. Israeli researchers from the University of Haifa have found that complementary medicine, combined with standard use of anti-anxiety drugs prior to entering the operating room, can significantly reduce preoperative anxiety levels and improve outcomes.

Researchers divided 360 preoperative patients ages 17 and up into three groups: those receiving standard care for preoperative anxiety; those receiving standard care along with complementary therapy, featuring acupuncture, reflexology, individual guided imagery or a combination of the latter two; and those receiving standard care combined with generic guided imagery via a recording.

Anxiety levels were measured preoperatively before and after the intervention on a scale of one to 10, with scores of four or more constituting intermediate or higher-level anxiety.

The study found that complementary therapy in combination with standard care produced a 60 percent reduction in anxiety, with the mean score dropping from 5.54 to 2.32. Combining standard care with reflexology and guided imagery provided the best relief, reducing anxiety by an average of 4.22 points. Patients receiving only standard care experienced a slight rise in their average anxiety level.

Photographee.eu/Shutterstock.com

Oliver Wilde/Shutterstock.com

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A Natural Solution to Sleep Apnea

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any people believe sleep apnea is caused by a sagging soft pallet in the throat. According to master herbalist Steven Frank, it actually results from a diminishing signal from the brain to the diaphragm during the transition from semi-wakefulness into the next stage of lighter sleep. In some people, breathing goes beyond being shallow and completely stops.

As the brain realizes the need to breathe, it forces a rapid inhalation that drags the sagging soft tissue into the airway, as reported in Frank’s Sleep Apnea: A New Approach to an Emergent Problem. For some, there’s no indication of potential problems when they are awake as the tissue remains in its normal state and the throat doesn’t close off.

Many resort to surgery to some tissue or use a machine to force air into lungs. However, natural, herbal solutions can work to increase the pertinent brain signal that maintains healthy breathing without that rapid inhalation. According to the Encyclopedia of Herbal Medicine, ingesting herbs like lobelia, thyme and camp bark can intensify the signal from the brain to the diaphragm, increase the gas-transfer efficiency of the lungs and relax some of the skeletal muscles that can obstruct the propagation of the signal.

Steven Frank, master herbalist, can be reached at 888-465-4404 or visit NaturesRiteRemedies.com. See ad, page 11.

Chinese Herbs Lessen Postpartum Blues

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marilyn barbone/Shutterstock.com

study from the China iAcademy of Chinese Medical Sciences, in Beijing, reports that Chinese Herbal Medicine (CHM) can be an effective treatment for patients with postpartum depression.

Traditional Chinese Medicine advocates herbal treatments based on underlying issues.

Researchers analyzed data from 47 clinical trials encompassing 3,795 participants between the ages of 18 and 43 suffering from postpartum depression. The study pooled results into three categories: CHM versus placebo, CHM versus routine treatments (antidepressants) and CHM plus routine treatments versus only routine treatments.

The study found that using Chinese herbs combined with antidepressants is the most effective approach, noting that CHM is a safe, effective alternative for patients unable or unwilling to take antidepressants.

Aloe Vera Juice Allays Diabetes joannawnuk/Shutterstock.com

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esearchers from the David Grant Medical Center, at Travis Air Force Base, in Fairfield, California, have found that oral doses of aloe vera can reduce fasting blood glucose and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), which indicates the average glucose level over the previous three months, in patients with Type 2 diabetes.

Data from nine clinical studies that included 89 diabetes patients were analyzed. Findings suggest that patients with a fasting blood glucose level of more than 200 milligrams per deciliter experienced the greatest benefits from the aloe vera.

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 305, Just like skin, gums can be Brookline MA rejuvenated for health and youth. www.bostondentalwellness.com

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

“You don’t really expect

a magazine to change your life, but that’s

Veggie Tales

flipping through

me with Natural Awakenings!

I saw an ad for the Boston School of Herbal Studies that caught my eye. It felt

exactly what I had been looking for both personally like

and professionally so I quickly enrolled in the apprenticeship program and upon graduation started my herbal body care product line. I’m

glad I picked up that issue – I can’t imagine my life if I hadn’t!” so

~ Natalia K.,

Sweet & Sacred

To participate in our next issue, contact us today!

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exactly what happened to

Plants Communicate with Sound A recent study from the University of Western Australia has found that plants regularly react to and emit sounds through a series of clicks produced by their roots, and that such inter-flora communication may be essential to their survival. Evolutionary biologist Monica Gagliano, who made the discovery, listened to the roots of young corn plants and found that they regularly produced sounds in the range of 220Hz, a frequency audible to the human ear.

Plants have been shown to influence each other in many ways through nanomechanical oscillations on a molecular scale. Gagliano remarks, “Scientists also know that plants use volatile chemicals to communicate with each other.”

Another biological research team under the direction of Professor Olaf Kruse, Ph.D., scientific director of the Center for Biotechnology at Germany’s Bielefeld University, has shown that green algae not only engages in photosynthesis, but also has an alternative source of energy: It can draw it from other plants (Nature Communications).

Gagliano comments, “Considering that entire forests are all interconnected by networks of fungi, maybe plants are using fungi the way we use the Internet.”

Free Fuel

Hydrogen Conversion From Water Making Gains Scientists at KTH Royal Institute of Technology, in Stockholm, report that they have finally unlocked a major barrier to exploiting a renewable energy source through extracting pure hydrogen from water. Because the best-performing catalysts for electrochemical oxidation, or “water splitting”, are expensive precious metals, the research team led by KTH Professor Licheng Sun developed molecular catalysts for water oxidation with an efficiency approaching that of natural photosynthesis comprising common, abundant elements, all of which could help change the economics of large-scale hydrogen fuel production.

Meanwhile, Daniel Nocera, a professor of energy at Harvard University, and Pamela Silver, a professor of biochemistry and systems biology at Harvard Medical School, have co-created a system that uses solar energy to split water molecules and hydrogen-eating bacteria to produce liquid fuels. Their paper, whose lead authors include post-doctoral fellow Chong Liu and graduate student Brendan Colón, was recently published in Science.

“This is a true artificial photosynthesis system,” says Nocera. “Previously, people were using artificial photosynthesis for water-splitting, but this is a true A-to-Z system, and we’ve greatly exceeded the efficiency of photosynthesis in nature.”

617-906-0232 Publisher@Natural AwakeningsBoston.com 14

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Our Readers Speak Out

No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted. ~Aesop

Repurposed Pallets Texas Company Turns Wood Waste into Furniture

holbox/Shutterstock.com

Nearly 2 billion wooden pallets are currently in circulation in the U.S., consuming around 50 percent of the country’s annual hardwood harvest and representing more than 90 percent of the world’s shipping waste.

PalletSmart, in Fort Worth, Texas, has been making furniture, home decor and custom projects out of repurposed pallets and other reclaimed material since 2012.

Company co-founder John Zaskoda says, “As with any business, we are looking to grow, but want to be smart about it. For now, we are staying put, taking custom residential and commercial orders and producing top-notch furniture.” He sees the endeavor as proof that with hard work and consistency it’s possible to make trash into treasure.

Source: PalletSmart360.com

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ecotip Laundry List

Coming in April 2017 Fitness & Nutrition Health & Wellness Personal Growth Sustainable & Green Living

PROMOTE YOUR BUSINESS ALL YEAR FOR ONLY $125 Be listed in our directory to reach our health-conscious readers with year-long distribution of this special edition.

Following eco-friendly laundry tips can save on energy, water usage and utility bills, making it good for both the planet and the bank account. The laundry results, too, may be better for some loads.

RealSimple.com advises that 90 percent of the energy consumed while running a wash load is used to heat the water, so the average household can eliminate as much as 350 pounds of carbon emissions and save about $40 annually by turning the knob to cold. It also notes that some protein-heavy stains, like perspiration and blood, can become more set into the fabric when washed in hot water, which can also shrink synthetic fibers.

For sweat stains, DIYNatural.com suggests combining two tablespoons of cream of tartar, a few drops of lemon essential oil and water to make a paste.

Mix and spread it on the stain, and then rub it in and let dry. Another pre-laundry option is to pour or spray a 3 percent solution of hydrogen peroxide onto the stain and then soak for about 30 minutes.

Mildly soiled laundry doesn’t necessarily need hot water for adequate cleaning, reports the Mother Nature Network. It advises pre-soaking heavily soiled laundry in cold water for about an hour, adding four tablespoons of baking soda to loosen dirt and grime.

“Responding quickly to stains always helps,” says Steve Boorstein, a Boulder, Colorado, clothing-care expert on his ClothingDoctor.com website. “For washable clothing, flush the stained area with cool water to remove any solid matter. Never rub the stain in order to avoid driving it deeper into the fabric.”

Conserve more energy as well as water by always assembling a full load of laundry. Appliance performance can also make an eco-difference. Energy Star estimates that water savings of between 40 and 75 percent can be achieved with front-loading machines instead of top-loaders. Line drying wins over a clothes dryer in terms of freshness, energy use and kindness to the environment.

Start with biodegradable and phosphate-free detergents made from plant- and vegetable-based ingredients.

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Cool Tips to Save Money and Energy

businessspotlight

D

SOL

Home Energy Clearings

by Realtor Karen Piedra

by Gina Cronin

K

aren Piedra has been a real estate professional for 25 years, serving clients throughout the Greater Boston area, with specialized knowledge of Newton and Natick Metro West. As a certified buyer’s agent and an associate with RE/MAX Leading Edge, she works closely with her clients, providing daily updates, market reports, neighborhood statistics, property search capabilities, professional home photos and multimedia marketing. She connects clients to her vast network of resources, including attorneys, electricians, plumbers, contractors and more, in order to help streamline all aspects of the buying or selling process.

Beyond her extensive experience in the industry, what sets Piedra apart is her additional experience with energy healing as a reiki master teacher. Her knowledge in this field assists clients in the preparation of selling their homes.

She uses the energy of reiki and philosophy of feng shui to refresh the home’s energy as a complimentary gift to the buyers and sellers who hire her.

“How a home feels energetically is especially important when selling a home, because buyers want to feel happy and uplifted; they want to be able to picture themselves living in the

home,” says Piedra. “There are times that someone is trying to sell their home, and people like it, but something doesn’t ‘feel right’ to them. This is often due to the emotional vibrations created by the history in the house—the highs and lows, the trials and tribulations that past families experienced while living in that space.”

By clearing the seller’s home of these energetic impressions, Piedra makes way for prospective buyers to

view the home in its highest state, rather than being influenced by unseen energy vibrations. If she is working with a buyer, she will make sure to do a healing on the home before the family moves in to the purchased home.

“It’s important for people to start their life in a new home fresh and without interference from past energies,” she says. “Certain energy lines can create depressive vortexes in a home, which affect sleep, well-being, mood and relationships,” says Piedra.

While she does clearings complimentarily for her buyers and sellers, she can also do so for other people that just feel their living space is feeling off or stagnant and they and their family need to be cleared or reenergized. She also helps other realtors and is often called upon when a listing isn’t moving. “Because I have been in the realty business in this area for so many years, I know the history of properties,” she explains.

“I’ve suggested to other realtors struggling to sell a listing that they have a clearing done, and within a month the property is under contract.”

Piedra adds, “Even those who are not spiritually minded can feel the difference from these clearings—a clean, pure environment is something that any person can benefit from, especially when buying or selling a home.”

To learn more, call 508-395-6392, email ReikiMagic@comcast.net or visit KarenPiedra.com. See ad below.

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PASSAGE Conscious Dying as a Transformative Healing Journey

by Linda Sechrist

W

hen properly viewed, the thresholds of all of life’s transitional moments can be both emotionally and spiritually rewarding. Whether it involves marriage or birth, job loss or illness, gleaning insight from the experience can yield fresh perspective on how to live life more fully today, if we remain mindful and lovingly attentive through the process.

Like birth, death is a transition we can wisely prepare for. In recent years, compassionate individuals and grassroots movements have emerged to help us conduct ourselves, heal and grow from losing a loved one or face our own passing. An increasing number of initiatives support a new model in palliative care that treats death not as a failure, but an expected aspect of the human experience. Each in its own way advocates for a grace-filled passage supported by dignified, caring and compassionate practices.

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Profound Shift

The Conscious Dying Institute, in Boulder, Colorado, aims to restore death and dying to its natural place in the sacred circle of life. Its end-of-life literacy curriculum and certificate training programs are helping to create a new, wisdom-based culture of healing teachers and end-of-life doulas that serve among the frontline caregivers and companions providing the comfort people want and need most. Founded by Tarron Estes, a healing artist, poet, Caritas coach and transformational learning educator, the institute is grounded in love, spiritual openness, compassion and a universal field of consciousness.

“Training is open to nurses, physicians, clinicians, caregivers, family members, healthcare teams and anyone else interested in exploring what it means to die consciously,” says Estes.

It attends to the provider’s inner awakening and helps them strengthen their ability to give spiritual, emotional,

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styleuneed.de/Shutterstock.com

SACRED

physical and practical care to anyone, helping to relieve pain, regardless of diagnosis.

“Rather than curative care, it’s all about seeking to increase precious, meaningful moments, a sense of spiritual sanctity, beauty, interconnectedness and appreciation of life for the families and patients they serve. An end-of-life doula at bedside assures that families and loved ones can focus on what is most important,” explains Estes, who believes that our true nature lives within us as an unblemished jewel.

Helping individuals become comfortable talking about death is the work of Dr. Karen Wyatt, of Dillon, Colorado, founder of the End of Life University, an online interview series with end-of-life care experts. She provides a trustworthy loving environment in monthly death cafés. The author of What Really Matters: 7 Lessons for Living from the Stories of Dying expands the conversation through related articles and podcasts at eolUniversity.com.

Death cafés benefit from Wyatt’s experience as a hospice doctor. “There is never an agenda. Of the 10 to 12 people that generally join in, one is always a new caller, recently awakened to the idea of conscious dying or their own mortality. They’re seeking information and someone to talk to because family and friends aren’t interested.

Some already embracing their mortality wish to explore their thoughts with others. Some callers join just to listen,” advises Wyatt.

Because death in the West has become a commercialized, medical event with funeral home packages the norm, Wyatt recommends the National Home Funeral Alliance to those interested in a deeper understanding of options and resources for a gentler model. The nonprofit, grassroots movement and its members, such as Sacred Crossings, in Los Angeles, seek to restore the lost art and healing ritual of a home funeral by preserving the rights of families to provide home after-death care.

Supporting and educating interested families is the mission of Sacred Crossings founder Rev. Olivia Rosemarie Bareham. The certified death midwife and home funeral guide draws from her experiences as an auxiliary nurse and hospice volunteer to assist

Congratulations to the Massachusetts Society of Naturopathic Doctors for their ongoing efforts that assisted in Governor Baker signing into law the licensing of naturopathic doctors (NDs) in Massachusetts. We look forward to serving Bay State NDs and helping support the new, groundbreaking work of building the naturopathic community in Massachusetts.

natural awakenings

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Exploring the Mystery

For more than 40 years, philosopher, psychologist and physician Raymond Moody’s life work has been acknowledging the mysteries and validating the unexplainable events at the end of life. His seminal bestseller Life After Life appeared in 1975. Lisa Smartt’s mentorship by Moody led them to co-found FinalWordsProject.org. She’s also authored Words at the Threshold, a study of the nonsensical, metaphorical and paradoxical language and visions of the dying.

Moody and Smartt agree that by better understanding the unique language patterns related to end of life we can share more deeply and build bridges with our beloveds throughout the dying process. “When we do so, we offer greater support to the dying and ameliorate our own experience of loss as they cross the threshold,” remarks Smartt. Like William Peters, founder of the Shared Crossings Project, in Santa Barbara, California, they caution that compassionate etiquette during events at death is important.

“Assume that levels of awareness exist in the dying so that our energy and presence are felt and our voices heard,” advises Moody. “Respect your words and actions, regardless of the person’s state of consciousness. Be a compassionate listener and validate their vision. Don’t pretend to intellectualize or explain anything.”

Dianne Gray, president and executive director of the Elisabeth Kübler-Ross Foundation, also owns Hospice and Healthcare Communications. “The dying often wish to leave here surrounded by peace and harmony. They choose to let go of contentiousness and often wish family members would do the same, which is facilitated by mapping out Advance Directives according to the 20

Sarit Wuttisan/Shutterstock.com

families with end-of-life planning, death midwifery and arrangements for an at-home vigil and funeral, as well as cremation and burial choices.

“We also offer sacred singing to help ease a loved one’s transition. Music by a bedside soloist or choir before, during and after death can be deeply relaxing and comforting, and even provide pain relief,” advises Bareham. final wishes of the patient,” says Gray.

Questions she frequently addresses in public talks and Death Over Dinner party conversations include: the necessity of finishing unfinished business; bringing closure to unresolved relationship issues; finding words to express our compassion; soothing the sense of impending loss; and managing to take only love with us to the other side, yet leave enough of it behind to help loved ones through their grieving process. She cautions that no matter how well we plan for death, things don’t always go as planned.

“Sometimes no matter how many advance care conversations have taken place, discord can dismantle the best laid plans. It requires the tough work of compassionate communications. Friends and families need to remember that this is the patient’s end-of-life experience, not theirs. It is possible to find peace in the midst of conflict, understanding that the one leaving overwhelmingly wishes for a peaceful passing, including peace within the family.”

The Death Over Dinner initiative, founded by Michael Hebb in 2013, has been hosted by groups in more than 20 countries to help people engage in conversations on “how we want to die”—the most vital and costly discussion Americans aren’t having (Death OverDinner.org/stories).

Practical Plans

The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and its 360 Degrees of Financial Literacy program offer a free downloadable national Guide to Financial Decisions: Implementing an End-ofLife Plan at Tinyurl.com/EssentialPlanNeeds. It includes basic descriptions of issues that arise as we age beyond retirement and details the critical documents needed for the individual, dependents, property, assets, estate plan-

Boston | NaturalAwakeningsBoston.com

ning, wills and trusts. It also addresses issues related to advance, treatment and do-not-resuscitate directives, insurance, types of funerals and costs, and Social Security, Medicare and veterans’ benefits. Guidelines suggest consulting with a certified public accountant or personal financial planning specialist.

The latest innovation is the blessing of a living funeral, a celebration of life while the honoree is present to hear the eulogies, praises and farewells before they depart.

AgingWithDignity.org provides a downloadable Five Wishes document, a popular advance directive, or living will that covers personal, spiritual, medical and legal aspects. It’s easy to use and can serve as a family guide to prompt conversations about personal care preferences in the event of serious illness.

New York Times journalist Mark Leibovich wrote about how Massachusetts Senator Edward Kennedy chose to spend his final weeks in pursuit of a “good ending.” As death approached, Kennedy told friends that he wanted to take stock of his life and enjoy the gift of his remaining days with the people he loved most. As a result, he continued enjoying his morning ritual of reading newspapers while drinking coffee, playing with his dogs, watching James Bond movies with his wife and holding family dinners and sing-alongs near nightly. He reveled in his bedside view of Nantucket Sound, sailed when he could and ate lots of his favorite ice cream. His mantra was, “Every day is a gift.”

“As our time winds down, we all seek comfort in simple pleasures— companionship, everyday routines, the taste of good food, the warmth of sunlight on our faces,” remarks Boston’s Dr. Atul Gawande in Being Mortal. “If we strive in our final months for independence, companionship, mindful attention, dignity, wisdom, joy, love and freedom from pain, we have the power to make those days less miserable, confusing and frightening.”

In these many ways, we can manage to gently embrace and tenderly navigate life’s final transition with grace and love.

Linda Sechrist is a senior staff writer for Natural Awakenings. Connect at ItsAllAboutWe.com.

treatmentspotlight

Understanding Bioidentical Hormones and Platelet Rich Plasma Treatments

by Gert Walter

L

ately there has been a lot of interest in platelet rich plasma (PRP).

PRP can be used to improve joint function (originally developed by orthopedists 20 years ago), to stop urinary incontinence in women (very high success rate), improve sexual pleasure and function in men and women, and rejuvenate the skin of the aging face and other places. These treatments include the trademarked Vampire Facial and Face Lift, the O-Shot, the Priapus Shot and others.

PRP is obtained from drawing the patient’s blood, then processing the blood specifically to concentrate the platelets and filter out red blood cells and most of the white blood cells. The remaining PRP contains concentrated platelets, monocytes and a bit of plasma, which is then re-injected into the

desired area. The platelets are an important part of the normal healing cascade that gets activated with any injury.

They release multiple growth factors, which in turn draw in stem cells to rejuvenate the treated area.

For those interested in this procedure, it can be confusing to select the right system for producing the PRP. Independent research shows that many PRP systems either don’t really concentrate the platelets, omit other important cells or are too concentrated. The provider should be able to provide patients with literature and unbiased scientific studies that support the product they are using.

Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT) is very different, but provides some of the same benefits.

BHRT, provided in pellet form, has

been available for more than 75 years.

It certainly improves libido and sexual function, but also helps with brain fog, joint aches, sleep, moods and much more if done correctly.

Most importantly, hormone supplementation should be bioidentical, meaning the molecule given to individuals is the same as what they already have in their body. Synthetic hormones (oral contraceptives, Premarin, Prempro, anabolic steroid shots, etc.) are chemically and functionally different than what is in the body, and can produce very different effects. For instance, bioidentical hormones don’t prevent pregnancy, but synthetics can. Also, the bad effects found in the Women’s Health Initiative (more strokes, heart attacks, blood clots, breast cancer), are from synthetic hormones. Be sure to find a doctor that truly understands the difference, otherwise one could miss out on the benefits that hormones can provide for improved health and well-being.

When determining whether PRP or bioidentical hormones are a fit, understand that it really isn’t an either/ or choice. PRP is great for specifically targeting something that bothers you (urinary incontinence, painful knee joint, decreased vaginal sensation, trouble with erections, etc.) After one to three initial treatments, people usually continue once a year.

On the other hand, BHRT by pellet therapy (by far the best way to get consistent and appropriate levels of hormones) is administered two to four times per year. This helps with the above, but also increases bone health, improves sleep, relieves brain fog, anxiety and mood swings and much more.

It’s even better is to combine the two treatments for enhanced results.

Dr. Gert Walter is a physician who co-owns Medical Aesthetics of New England, PC, 274-2A Great Rd., Acton.

The Medical Spa provides both PRP, bioidentical hormones and many other services. For consultations available daily or to find out more about these important treatments, call 978-2631406 or visit MedicalAestheticsNE. com. See ad on page 35.

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inspiration

Masson/Shutterstock.com

KISSED BY KINDNESS

by Emily Esfahani Smith

P

sychologist Ty Tashiro reports in The Science of Happily Ever After that only three in 10 couples remain in healthy, happy marriages. Psychologist John Gottman, in New York City, has studied couples for four decades seeking to understand successful relationships. He and his psychologist wife, Julie, founded The Gottman Institute that helps couples build and maintain loving, healthy relationships based on scientific studies.

Using data from his Love Lab at the University of Washington, John separated thousands of couples into two groups: masters (still happy after six years) and disasters (separated or chronically unhappy in their marriages).

One of Gottman’s studies watched 130 newlywed vacationing couples and found that partners regularly made bids for connection,

requesting responses from their mate.

Choices to “turn toward” or “turn away” revealed the level of engagement and respect in the relationship.

Couples that divorced within six years had shown “turn toward” bids a third of the time while couples still together responded to their partner’s emotional need nine times out of 10.

An integral element is the spirit couples bring to the relationship: kindness and generosity or contempt, criticism and hostility.

“There’s a key habit of mind that the masters have,” Gottman explains.

“They are scanning the social environment for things they can appreciate and express thanks for. Disasters are scanning for partners’ mistakes.”

People focused on criticizing miss 50 percent of positive things their partners are doing and see negativity

when it’s absent. Deliberately ignoring their partner or responding minimally to opportunities for small moments of emotional connection devalues and kills a relationship.

Kindness, conversely, glues couples together, making each partner feel cared for, understood, validated and loved. In a study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, researchers found that the more someone receives or witnesses kindness, the more they will be kind themselves, creating upward spirals of love and generosity.

Practicing kindness during a fight is vital. Letting contempt and aggression spiral out of control during a conflict can inflict irrevocable damage.

“Kindness doesn’t mean that we don’t express anger,” Julie explains, “But it informs how we choose to express it.

You can either throw spears or explain why you’re hurt and angry, which is the kinder path.”

Kindness can also solidify the backbone of a relationship by being generous about our partner’s intention and avoiding misinterpreting what’s motivating their behavior. “Even if it’s executed poorly, appreciate the intent,” Tashiro advises.

Clearly, if we want to have a stable, healthy relationship, exercise kindness early and often and let a spirit of generosity guide happy years together.

Emily Esfahani Smith is the author of The Power of Meaning: Crafting a Life That Matters. Connect at Emily EsfahaniSmith.com or on Twitter @emesfahanismith.

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Develop Chi The Taoist Way

Between Two Worlds 125 Slater Street • Attleboro, MA

(508) 222-7376 BetweenTwoWorlds.info

by Sarina Stone

O

ne of the best tools for stress management and self healing is more than 5,000 years old and was brought back to western culture through a Taoist master named Mantak Chia. The Inner Smile meditation has been recognized as one of the best exercises for stress management and self-healing, easily inducing a state of deep relaxation. Deep relaxation dissolves physical and mental tensions that can cause energetic blockages and illness. For this reason, the Inner Smile is best used as a preparation or warmup in other meditations and chi kung (qigong) exercises that circulate the chi. A smile will help cultivate good chi.

The basic foundation of the Taoist practice teaches how to conserve physical energy within the body so that it will no longer scatter and weaken as a result of worldly interactions. Full emotional independence requires that we avoid being drained of this energy through the eyes, ears, nose and mouth. The novice in the Taoist system begins with a wide range of exercises that develops the physical body into an efficient and healthy organism, able to live in the world and yet stay free of the tensions and stress of daily life. One aspires to return to a childlike state of innocence and vitality, to regain the original force that is our birthright. Specific goals of this level are to learn how to heal oneself, how to love oneself and how to love others.

Master Chia says, “In the Universal Healing Tao System, we start the practice of bringing balanced energy to the body and natural awakenings

February 2017

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emotions into balance with the Inner Smile. We often get so out of touch with our bodies and our emotions that we do not notice inner disharmony developing until it finally manifests as a serious illness.”

Well over 500 different forms of chi kung have been developed in China.

Many people think that chi kung must involve moving the arms and legs. But the most important part of chi kung is actually being aware of the chi flow in the body. Practicing the Inner Smile daily gives us a regularly scheduled time to look inside, to keep in touch

with the state of our inner organs, with our chi, with our breath and with our emotions. We can then spot problems at their inception, making it easier to make adjustments when they first arise and “nip them in the bud.”

Low self-esteem is becoming endemic in our society. “If we are not taught or encouraged to love ourselves, we cannot have a healthy loving relationship with other people, or with our Mother Earth,” says Chia.

“Witness the state of the society and environment today as proof of this imbalance. The Inner Smile teaches

us to recognize our inherent positive qualities, and not just our negativity.

With regular practice, we get to know ourselves as we really are; we can discover our virtues as well as our afflictions,” he says.

This practice helps to form a truer and healthier self-image, one that stays in close touch with reality. The Inner Smile exercises one’s ability to love, starting with ourselves, with our own bodies. As we learn to love and accept ourselves, it becomes natural and easy for us to extend this love outward and to begin to love and accept other people, creatures, places and things.

Because the first level of practice is to develop a healthy body, individuals can also learn how to circulate and refine their smiling energy through the Microcosmic Orbit meditation. One learns to store his/her life force in a chi ball (energy sphere) so it will not dissipate. As people grow older, their life force weakens, often resulting in illness and suffering. Using drugs to combat illness drains so much of the body’s life force that there may be not enough energy left to maintain health.

The basic practices of the Universal Healing Tao ensure that people retain enough vital energy. All the practices are interrelated and practicing them together brings the best results.

A rare annual opportunity to study in person with Grandmaster Mantak Chia during his once-a-year North America teacher training will take place at Eastover from June 9 to 27. For more information and details, visit Eastover. com/symposium.html.

The Eastover Estate & Retreat is located at 430 East St., Lenox. For more information on retreats, workshops and classes, call 866-264-5139 or visit Eastover.com. See ad on page 11.

Sarina Stone is a student of Taoist Master Mantak Chia. She has been teaching gigong and Tao Healing in St. Paul, MN, since 1995. Passionate about sharing natural health techniques via workshops, lectures and literature, Stone assists others in reaching health goals through qigong, meditation and lifestyle changes.

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wisewords

Transforming the Way Women Relate to Men An Interview with Alison Armstrong

by April Thompson

F

or 25 years, relationship expert Alison Armstrong has worked to evolve society by changing the way women relate to men. Her yearning to understand the opposite sex was born from personal challenges, including a failed marriage in her 20s. She began studying men on her own, at the age of 30, beginning with the question, “What if men are responding to women?” What started out as a personal inquiry has become a lifelong pursuit and she’s shared her findings with millions of men and women worldwide.

Armstrong, co-founder and CEO of PAX Programs, addresses gender differences, sexuality and relationships.

She has written three books, including The Queen’s Code, and speaks to interpersonal insights through workshops, webinars and teleclasses, including free recordings and articles at UnderstandMen.com.

Armstrong and her second husband have been happily married for 23 years and now live in Colorado.

Which core differences between men and women cause everyday misunderstandings?

The biggest source of mischief is denying that differences exist at all. Both men and women tend to assume that each is a version of the other, which creates significant misunderstandings.

We interact with our partners by doing

or saying what works for us. When that doesn’t get the response we’re expecting, we usually draw incorrect conclusions and act in counterproductive ways.

For example, men and women relate to feelings differently.

Women often make life decisions based on their feelings about something or someone.

To men, who tend to rely on facts and set aside feelings, this approach can seem irrational, and relating to women as irrational has predictably bad outcomes.

Where does a couple best start to heal the communication divide?

The most powerful thing men and women can do is to address misunderstandings with openness and curiosity rather than assuming we know why our partner did or said something. We should ask ourselves, “What if there’s a good reason for that?” Don’t assume that what’s true for her is also true for him, and vice versa.

Once a couple chooses to give each other the benefit of the doubt, a few simple changes can further open up communication. Saying “I need” instead of “I want” will make a huge difference. Because being “needy” is considered unattractive, women avoid this word, not realizing that it connects with a man’s instinct to provide.

When asking for something, it’s important to say what it would

provide us. For him, there needs to be a reward equal to or greater than the energy he’ll have to expend. Years ago, I described to my husband in colorful detail the experience of falling into the toilet in the middle of the night; he took it upon himself to make sure that never again happens to the women he loves.

What’s the secret to navigating partners’ differing needs and drives for physical intimacy?

The secret is to stop leaving our sex lives to the whims of biology, or making decisions based on whether we “feel like it.” Waiting for a time when both partners feel like it, the kids are at Grandma’s and we’re not too tired leads to sex happening too rarely. Delicious sexual partnerships begin when we decide to stop waiting and instead work on creating the circumstances that put us in the mood.

One example is learning to offer “dessert”. Using the desire for food as a metaphor for the desire for sex, we’re often trying to eat together when only one partner is hungry. But dessert sounds delicious anytime; examples might be massage or kissing or other physical activities. Find out what reliably perks up a partner’s interest and put that on the menu.

How can a woman satisfy a man’s desire to provide without sacrificing her independence?

American culture tells women that being low-maintenance matters most.

Yet, when we allow our partners to fulfill our needs, it can help us unlock our own greatness, as well as theirs. Men are driven to provide for their loved ones and denying them such opportunities takes away their life’s pursuit, which can be emasculating.

By asking for what we need, women create opportunities for partnership, satisfaction and fulfillment for both partners. When we allow the men in our life to contribute to us and learn to receive graciously, we discover that it doesn’t diminish our power.

Connect with freelance writer April Thompson, of Washington, D.C., at AprilWrites.com.

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In the O-Zone Oxygen Therapy Heals a Host of Ills

A

by Valerie Burke

s safe and trusted as hyperbaric (high pressure) oxygen therapy, ozone therapy also harnesses the healing power of oxygen. Since the 1950s, its popularity has increased around the world.

Today, more than 45,000 physicians in 50 countries administer ozone therapy to address ailments ranging from endodontic infections and herniated disk pain to arterial plaque and Lyme disease.

According to the American Academy of Ozonotherapy, the widespread medical use of ozone began in Germany and has since spread across Europe as an alternative treatment for antibiotic-resistant bacteria. The academy notes that allopathic physicians caution against ozone therapy largely due to misinformation and a lack of understanding regarding its efficacy, side effects, expense and safety, even though published international studies as well as U.S. clinical trials have shown it can be used instead of more expensive and dangerous methods such as surgery or pharmaceuticals.

Therapeutic ozone has a sound safety record and no toxic effects have been observed from proper clinical use (Journal of the American Medical Association). Occasional reported side effects are slight 26

weakness, dizziness or drowsiness for short periods of time during or after treatment. Rare allergic skin reactions like nettle rash are possible with local applications, although occurrences are mild and quick to resolve.

Ozone is an oxidant.

Ozone therapy, like exercise, creates health benefits by delivering measured doses of oxidative stress that activate the body’s internal antioxidant systems. The primary natural enzyme in ozone therapy is superoxide dismutase, which stimulates another enzyme called telomerase that keeps DNA young by maintaining the telomere at the end of each DNA strand.

A study from Cuba’s University of Havana of herniated disc patients found that ozone therapy provided both oxidative protection and pain relief. Such properties make medical ozone therapy a safe and effective treatment for many infections.

It’s been shown to be particularly effective for sinus and endodontic infections (Iranian Endodonics Journal), osteonecrosis of the jaw, ear infections, hepatitis (Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine), cystitis, HIV, intestinal and blood infections and Lyme disease. Staff of the Sophia Health Institute, in Woodinville, Washington, report remarkably fast results treating such chronic complex infections by

Boston | NaturalAwakeningsBoston.com

following intensive intravenous (IV) ozone protocols, with individualized systemic support.

Ozonotherapy is a prime treatment for infections, especially viral. Leading experts in oxidative therapy Dr. Robert Rowen, who practices in Santa Rosa, California, and Dr. Howard Robins, director of The Healing Center, in New York City, had good success administering treatment during the Ebola crisis in Sierra Leone. In addition to many patients helped, “It’s been reported that ozone therapy rapidly cured five patients with Ebola during the outbreak,” says Rowen.

Ozone therapy is now used to relieve arthritis, neuropathy, degenerative joint and disk disease, fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue. A pilot study led by the Universidad de Granada, Spain, saw improvement in the physical and depressive symptoms of fibromyalgia.

“Ozone is also effective in treating osteoarthritic knees and, via injection, arthritic hips,” says Rowen. Other individuals describe their experiences of overcoming various diseases using ozone therapy at YouTube.com/user/ RobertRowenMD/videos.

One of the most impressive evidence-based applications is relief from the pain of herniated disks, particularly lumbar. More than one meta-analysis deemed ozone treatment an effective and extremely safe procedure, with pain and functional outcomes equal to or better than surgery and far lower complication rates (less than 0.1 percent), along with significantly shorter recovery times (Pain Physician; American Journal of Neuroradiology).

According to the Journal of Natural Science, Biology and Medicine, oxygen/ozone therapy used in dentistry offers three fundamental forms of applications to treat oral tissue—ozonated water, ozonated olive oil and oxygen/ ozone gas. Ozonated water and olive oil have proved to be an ideal delivery system.

Non-toxic and simple to generate, ozone therapy is coming of age as a viable option for both the treatment and prevention of illnesses.

Sebastian Kaulitzki/Shutterstock.com

healingways

Valerie Burke is a freelance health writer in Olympia, Washington, versed in integrative medicine with a master’s degree in nursing science.

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consciouseating

Galchus. “They also love grasses grown from hard wheat, whole barley and rye. Cats cannot digest the grass, but use it to bring up indigestible matter that might be lodged in their stomachs.”

akepong srichaichana/Shutterstock.com

Clean Greens

INDOOR KITCHEN GARDENING

Easy-Grow Microgreens Are Big on Nutrition

by Barbara Pleasant

F

ast, fun to grow and packed with flavor and nutrition, tender young microgreens can go from seed to table in as little as a week. Close cousins to edible sprouts, microgreens are grown in potting soil or seed-starting mixes instead of plain water. They customarily grow beyond the sprout stage until they have produced a true leaf or two. After that, harvesting is a simple matter of snipping off fresh greens.

“You don’t need a green thumb to grow microgreens, only patience and persistence,” says Mark Mathew Braunstein, in Old Saybrook, Connecticut, author of Microgreen Garden. Even first-timers can expect good results. For example, the thin shoots grown from popcorn taste like a more vibrant form of sweet corn, and pea shoots work well in wraps, salads and virtually any Asian dish.

Like high-fiber wheatgrass, “Microgreens are great for juicing, either by themselves or mixed with other veggies,” says Rita Galchus (aka Sprout Lady Rita), proprietor of The Sprout House, in Lake Katrine, New York, which sells organic seeds for microgreens and sprouts. “You can add a handful of microgreens to a smoothie to ramp up the nutrition without changing its taste or texture,” she notes.

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Good Picks

The seeds of dozens of plants from alfalfa to wheat can be grown as microgreens. If seeking to maximize nutrition, put red cabbage and cilantro on the planting list. Scientists at the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food Quality Laboratory, in Beltsville, Maryland, tested the nutritional properties of 25 microgreens; red cabbage, cilantro, garnet amaranth and green daikon radish had the highest concentrations of vitamin C, carotenoids, and vitamins K and E, respectively. Microgreens generally provide three times as much nutrition per weight as the same food eaten in its mature state.

“People underestimate the intense flavor of microgreens and might try planting mustard greens or radish varieties even if they don’t like spicy flavors,” say Elizabeth Millard, an organic farmer in Northfield, Minnesota, and author of Indoor Kitchen Gardening.

For beginners, large seeds that sprout quickly such as sunflowers, buckwheat and snow peas are good choices because they produce big, robust sprouts with mild flavor.

Many people also grow microgreens for their pets. “Cats tend to prefer mild, sweet-tasting microgreens such as red clover, alfalfa and flax seed,” advises

Boston | NaturalAwakeningsBoston.com

Microgreens grow so fast that there’s little time for them to run into trouble.

Commercial growers use large trays, but home gardeners can also use pretty coffee mugs or tofu boxes rescued from the recycling bin. Drainage holes in the container bottoms work well when growing beets or other slow-sprouting seeds, but are less important for fast-growing sunflowers or wheat.

Work only with organic seeds.

Seeds sold for sprouting or bulk grains from a local health food store cost much less than the larger, robust seeds produced for gardening. Soak seeds in water overnight to jump-start germination. Place an inch or so of potting soil or seed-starting mix in the container, and then scatter the plump seeds on top. “A common beginner’s error is to sow seeds too thickly,” says Braunstein.

Sown seeds should not touch each other, with most spaced about one-quarterinch apart. Spritz with water and cover with a plate or plastic wrap.

At the first signs of sprouting, water and move the pot to a sunny spot near a bright window or within two inches of a bright grow light. Dribble in small amounts of water to maintain moisture over the next few days. To harvest, cut in bunches about one-half inch above the soil line. Microgreens store well in the refrigerator for a couple of days, but are best eaten fresh.

For both beginners and experienced gardeners, growing microgreens provides a close-up look at seed germination, one of nature’s miracles.

Award-winning garden writer Barbara Pleasant’s new book Homegrown Pantry: A Gardener’s Guide to Selecting the Best Varieties & Planting the Perfect Amounts for What You Want to Eat Year Round, will be out next month from Storey Publishing.

Local Organic Seed Source Boston-Gardener.com

www.Boston-Gardener.com natural awakenings

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Signs of Progress

melis/Shutterstock.com

greenliving

Sustainably Stylish Home Relax into Nurturing Furnishings

W

by April Thompson

e all relish a cozy nest, whether that means lightfilled views, the embrace of form-fitting sofas and chairs or plush rugs that snuggle bare feet. A beautiful, comfortable home that reflects our personal style and embodies our values can be achieved by learning the origin of furnishings and investing in sustainably made pieces that will stand the test of time, say experts.

“Furnishing a home ethically

doesn’t mean sacrificing comfort or style,” says JD Doliner, a business consultant in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Doliner’s home is graced with 18thand 19th-century antiques, organic cotton mattresses, comfy custom-made chairs from Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)-certified wood and handmade wool rugs certified child-labor-free by GoodWeave. “They give me peace of mind as a humanitarian and environmentalist,” she says.

Debbie Hindman, marketing director for Associates III Interior Design, in Denver, is working with increasingly knowledgeable clients like Doliner asking for sustainably sourced products. Manufacturers, in turn, are upping transparency about product origins, realizing it can provide a competitive edge, she notes.

“We look at the story behind a product and make sure that it aligns with both our company’s and clients’ values,” says Hindman, a co-author of Sustainable Residential Interiors. “We ask questions like, ‘Are workers paid a fair wage? Was the product made with local materials? What is the story behind the company’s founding?’”

The Sustainable Furnishings Council (SFC) coalition of manufacturers, retailers and designers partners with businesses and informs consumers to increase environmentally responsible choices in the marketplace. Its 400 members commit to sustainability and transparency in their business practices and submit an annual action plan showing such efforts. Headquartered in Edenton, North Carolina, the council strives to minimize industry carbon emissions and remove unsustainable materials and harmful chemical ingredients from residential and commercial furnishings.

“The residential furnishings industry frequently takes raw materials from one continent, processes and manufactures on another to be consumed on yet another, leaving a huge environmental footprint,” says Susan Inglis, the council’s executive director. As the third largest consumer of wood, these manufacturers bear significant responsibility for preserving the world’s forest ecosystems and fighting deforestation, reports Inglis.

Savvy Shoppers

To make informed decisions, furniture shoppers need to ask how, where, from what and by whom a potential purchase is made. Lisa Beres, a healthy home expert and former interior designer in Newport Coast, California, and author of Just Green It! advises not taking product claims at face value. Ask if the product has earned a certification like the Global Organic Textile Standard for fabrics or GreenGuard, which verifies low levels of chemical emissions.

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Boston | NaturalAwakeningsBoston.com

Not all natural products are sustainably produced; cotton, for example, is one of the most heavily sprayed crops. Look for certified organic cotton as a responsible textile choice. Beres also suggests renewable fiber sources like bamboo or hemp. “Natural latex is a sound alternative to foam fillers, offering good support and dust mite resistance,” says Beres.

Specific animal-based products like down feathers used in bedding can provoke allergies and be produced inhumanely, Beres cautions. Products certified to the Responsible Down Standard, which protects the well-being and welfare of geese tapped for their manufacture, offer a humane choice for fluffy down comforters.

Look for well-crafted furniture made from locally sourced, reclaimed or FSC-certified wood instead of particleboard, which usually contains formaldehyde and may be made from unsustainably harvested wood.

Sustainable furnishings are both better for the planet and can make a home distinctive. Natural pieces like a countertop made from reclaimed, rough-hewn wood provide a unique beauty that mass-manufactured pieces can’t match and also showcase the material’s natural form and feeling.

Her firm promotes durable, timeless pieces over trendy furnishings that a client might discard in a few years.

When it’s time to retire a piece of furniture, find a new home for it, whether by donating to a charity or reselling through a consignment store.

While cutting corners on home furnishing choices can be tempting, especially when shopping on a budget, remember that today’s quality pieces may become tomorrow’s cherished heirlooms.

“Some will spend money on the latest gadget, but hesitate to invest in a great piece of furniture or a quality mattress they’ll spend much of their life sitting or sleeping on,” says Beres. “It’s not a splurge; you’re investing in your health and protecting Earth’s precious resources. It all comes full circle.”

Connect with freelance writer April Thompson, of Washington, D.C., at AprilWrites.com.

Toxic Furnishings Alert

T

oday’s mass-produced furniture may contain hidden chemicals such as formaldehyde-based adhesives, flame retardants and other volatile organic compounds (VOC) linked to serious health issues. Researchers from the Natural Resources Defense Council found 45 toxic chemicals in indoor dust, 10 of which were present in at least 90 percent of households sampled. “These chemicals enter the air as materials in the furnishings break down,” explains healthy home expert Lisa Beres. “Because we spend an average of 90 percent of our lives indoors, the exposure to harmful chemicals is troubling.”

Beres advises shoppers to be wary of synthetic fabrics, which not only consume nonrenewable resources like petroleum, but may also contain toxic dyes, heavy metals or chemicals like Teflon. Foam and other fillings in mattresses, sofas and chairs are often a hidden source of off-gassing VOCs. The Sustainable Furnishing Council’s seal of approval and member list at SustainableFurnishings.org are a good place to start to find companies committed to offering healthier alternatives that include transparency and responsibility in their manufacturing practices.

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Contact us to learn about marketing opportunities and become a member of the Natural Awakenings community at: CONTACT US AT 617-906-0232 Publisher@NaturalAwakeningsBoston.com natural awakenings

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Why Not ADOPT a Pet? CitySide Subaru proudly supports our local Animal Shelter & Rescue Groups!

CitySideSubaru.com • 617-826-5000 ANDOVER

BROOKLINE

LOWELL

REVERE

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CalliopeRescue.org

(978) 452-7781 LowellHumaneSociety.org

(617) 731-7267 AnimalUmbrella.org

Great Dog Rescue

Calliope Rescue, Inc.

BEVERLY

BOSTON/WORCESTER

FriendsOfBeverlyAnimals.org

(508) 625-0332 BrokenTailRescue.org

Friends of Beverly

BOSTON

Animal Rescue League of Boston (617) 426-9170 ARLBoston.org

MSPCA-Angell

Broken Tail Rescue

MARBLEHEAD

DEDHAM

(781) 631-8664 Marblehead-Animal-Shelter.org

Animal Rescue League of Boston (781) 326-0729 ARLBoston.org

(617) 522-7400 MSPCA.org

EAST BROOKFIELD

PAWS New England

(508) 867-5525 SecondChanceAnimals.org

PAWSNewEngland.com

Survivor Tails Animal Rescue

Lowell Humane Society

Second Chance Animal Shelter

ESSEX

Friends of Marblehead’s Abandoned Animals

MEDFORD

Kitty Connection

(781) 393-9995 KittyConnection.net

MELROSE

Melrose Humane Society MelroseHumaneSociety.org

(617) 383-PETS SurvivorTails.org

Sweet Paws Rescue

MILTON

UnderdogResQ

FALL RIVER

(617) 698-0413 MiltonAnimalLeague.org

BRADFORD

(508) 677-9154 ForeverPaws.com

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One Tail at a Time

SweetPawsRescue.org

Forever Paws Animal Shelter

OneTailAtATime.com

GLOUCESTER

BRIGHTON

(978) 283-6055 CapeAnnAnimalAid.org

Ellen M. Gifford Shelter (617) 787-8872 GiffordCatShelter.org

Cape Ann Animal Aid

HOPKINTON

Baypath Humane Society (508) 435-6938 BayPathHumane.org

Milton Animal League, Inc.

NATICK

All Dog Rescue

(617) 507-9193 AllDogRescue.org

NORTH BILLERICA Billerica Cat Care Coalition

BillericaCatCareCoalition.org

QUINCY

Quincy Animal Shelter (617) 376-1349 QuincyAnimalShelter.org

Animal Umbrella

SALEM

Northeast Animal Shelter (978) 745-9888 NortheastAnimalShelter.org

SALISBURY

Merrimack River Feline Rescue Society (978) 462-0760 MRFRS.org

STERLING

Sterling Animal Shelter SterlingShelter.org

SUDBURY

Buddy Dog Humane Society, Inc (978) 443-6990 BuddyDogHS.com

Save A Dog, Inc (978) 443-7282 SaveADog.org

WALTHAM

Cat Connection of Waltham (781) 899-4610 TheCatConnection.org

WOBURN

House Rabbit Network (781) 431-1211 RabbitNetwork.org

What Are You Waiting For? 32

Boston | NaturalAwakeningsBoston.com

Osetrik/Shutterstock.com

naturalpet

HEART-TO-HEART WITH A HORSE

Their Gentle Empathy Helps Us Heal

P

by Sandra Murphy

hysical therapists have long used horses to help patients improve balance or strengthen core muscles.

Now they’re helping to teach empathy.

Given a horse’s significant size, sometimes distracting surroundings and the need for safety, humans need to learn the animal’s non-verbal cues, and to regulate their own. Close interaction without riding is proving to be helpful for those dealing with addictions, trauma and grief, and for employees to improve their communication and teamwork skills.

Kelly Wendorf and Scott Strachan, co-founders of Equus, in Santa Fe, work with both individuals and organizations. Strachan emphasizes, “This isn’t magic. Horses reflect our feelings back to us. If we’re nervous, the horse will be more skittish.”

“We’ve had executives arrive with cell phones firmly in hand and leave holding soggy tissues instead,” comments Wendorf. “For them, it was unexpectedly emotional.”

For addicts caught up in a debilitating cycle, “Equine therapy gets the brain firing in a new direction,” says Constance Scharff, Ph.D., director of

addiction research at Cliffside Malibu, in California. “Patients may say they’re fine when they’re not, but you can’t lie to a horse. They have boundaries; if you’re angry, a horse won’t tolerate your behavior and will walk away.”

Scharff notes, “Equine therapy is complementary to psychotherapy

medicine, and one tool we use in approaching addiction. Depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder can be the underlying issue, so we can address it, to understand why the person became an addict.”

Wendorf relates the story of an 18-year-old client facing body image issues. “Five horses approached her and touched her with their noses on her arms and legs. Where they touched was where she had been cutting herself to try to relieve her emotional pain.”

“People feel a powerful connection when they let down their defenses and a horse responds,” says Sheryl Jordan, equestrian director at Salamander Resort & Spa, in Middleburg, Virginia. “Our Equi-Spective life lessons program brings self-awareness and the power to better control emotions. During the session, they may hug, pet and cry on the horse, but they leave the corral smiling.”

The program teamed up with the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS) serving bereaved military families. Kelly Griffith, a surviving sister of U.S. Marine Corps Major Samuel Griffith, points to the power of equine therapy in a video at Tinyurl.com/ Equi-SpectiveVideo.

Susan Wight, a former professional steeplechase rider and ambassador for TAPS in Leesburg, Virginia, says, “My husband was my riding coach. When he passed away, I was numb when facing

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Boston | NaturalAwakeningsBoston.com

Horses help bring back memories for clients with dementia. ~Hearts & Horses, Loveland, Colorado, nonprofit therapeutic riding facility decisions, but at the session, it felt like one of the horses was the one to choose. The initial flood of emotions and memories from being around horses again wasn’t pretty, but empathy is a specific language, and I’m grateful for the opportunity.

Horses are a huge part of my life.”

At Ranch Hand Rescue Counseling Center & Animal Sanctuary, in South Argyle, Texas, founder Bob Williams considers animal therapy a ministry.

“We rescue abused and neglected farm animals, including horses that come into play when patients are not responding to usual therapies,” he says. “It’s important for damaged people to learn to live in the light, and our partnering with the special needs animals helps put them on the emotional path to health.”

The rescue’s mission is to provide hope, healing and a sense of security for children and adults that have suffered severe trauma such as abuse, domestic violence and witnessing violent death (Tinyurl.com/RanchHandRescueVideo).

Riding Beyond’s four-session program, in Ashland, Oregon, is free to women recovering from the rigors of breast cancer treatment. Expenses are covered by donations from the community. German research published in the journal Psycho-Oncology reported that 82 percent of participating breast cancer patients studied displayed symptoms of PTSD following diagnosis.

“They often don’t want to touch or be touched, and have trouble with friendships and intimate relationships; issues that can pretty soon cripple a woman’s life,” says Trish Broersma, founding director and a certified therapeutic riding professional at Riding Beyond (Tinyurl.com/Riding BeyondVideo). “The medical team that saved their lives doesn’t treat these issues.”

The first client, unfamiliar with horses, met Mystic, who touched her on the site of the former tumor. She says, “Even weeks later, when I brought her image to mind when stressed, sad or even happy, it brought feelings of contentment, peace and well-being.”

Horses have been serving humans in many ways for centuries. Equine therapy shows they have even more to give if we are open to receive.

APRIL 1-2, 2017 • THE 7th ANNUAL

WOMEN’S GETAWAY WEEKEND Hosted by Julie McGrath of The Joy Source

Held right on the ocean at the Ashworth by the Sea, Hampton Beach, NH. Find the keys to relax, connect, grow, dream, take action and rediscover your true self.

To Register: thejoysource.com/womens-weekend-2017/

Connect with freelance writer Sandra Murphy at StLouisFreelanceWriter@mindspring.com.

Nothing is worth more than this day. ~Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

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calendarofevents All Calendar events for the March issue must be received by February 10 and adhere to our guidelines. Visit NaturalAwakeningsBoston.com for guidelines and to submit entries. For extended event descriptions and additional listings, visit NaturalAwakeningsBoston.com.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 3 How She Did It: Steps to Success for Women Entrepreneurs – 8-10am. Learn, network and get inspired as some of the most exciting entrepreneurs and top thought leaders in Boston discuss tricks-ofthe-trade in their fields and the success principles they gained along the way. Free. BostonSpeaks, 50 Milk St, Boston. RSVP required: 857-753-8211 or BostonSpeaksSeries.com.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 5 The Art of Making Goat Milk Soap – 1-3pm.

Workshop will cover the benefits of different ingredients, molds, recipes and tools. All participants will leave with a sample of soap made that day. $25. Boston School of Herbal Studies, 12 Pelham Terrace, Arlington. 781-646-6319. Boston HerbalStudies.com.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 7 Opera Night at the Boston Public Library: Stravinsky – 6-7pm. Mini-performances and previews of Boston Lyric Opera’s upcoming productions and opera as a whole. Free. Boston Public Library, Central Branch, Rabb Hall, 700 Boylston St, Boston. blo.org.

Guided Imagery for Heart Health – 6:30-8pm.

Celebrate American Heart month with hypnotist Kathryn McGlynn. She shares several simple stress reduction techniques and facilitates a group guided-imagery relaxation session. Donations accepted. The Tam Center for Healing, 15 Cottage Ave, 5th Fl, Quincy. 781-340-2146. Hypnosis.ws.

The Incredible Dr. You Workshop – 7:158:15pm. This first of two workshop breaks down

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the basics of Network Spinal Analysis, the method of chiropractic used at Newton Chiropractic. Get more out of your adjustments and enlighten yourself on just how incredible your body is at healing itself. Free. Newton Chiropractic & Wellness Centre, 383 Elliot St, Ste 250, Newton. RSVP: 617964-3332. WellAdjusted.com.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 8

markyourcalendar Demystifying Lyme Disease: A Library Talk

Educational talk features Biomagnetic Therapy practitioner Alan Grazioso discussing Lyme disease including its history, myths, recent statistics, prevention tips and how to identify symptoms. The presentation will also touch upon associated pathogens and co-infections as well as latest treatments.

Wed., Feb. 8 • 7 - 8pm Limited seating. Wheelchair accessible. Free.

Robbins Library, 3rd Fl, 700 Massachusetts Ave, Arlington.

RSVP required: GraziosoIntegrativeHealth.com/Talk-Feb8.

Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) Orientation/Information Session – 6:30-8:30pm.

Join Cindy Gittleman, Certified MBSR teacher, for a free orientation/information session about the world-renowned Mindfulness-Based Stress

Boston | NaturalAwakeningsBoston.com

Reduction (MBSR) program developed by JonKabat-Zinn. Free. Skin to Soul, 800 W Cummings Park, Ste 3950, Woburn. 978-657-7730. Sunrise Mindfulness.com.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9 Trees, Climate Change and Gas Leaks – 7-8:30pm. Presentation and discussion of effects of climate change and gas leaks on trees in New England by Boston University Professor, Dr. Pamela Templer, and Director of Park Operations for the Emerald Necklace Conservancy, Ray Oladapo-Johnson. Free. Brookline Main Library, 361 Washington St, Hunneman Hall, Brookline. 617429-7139. MothersOutFrontBrooklineMA.Nation Builder.com.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 11 Free Introduction to Reiki – 10am-12pm. An overview of reiki, an ancient hands-on healing method for reducing stress, relieving pain and facilitating healing and personal growth. Arlington Reiki Associates, 366 Massachusetts Ave, Arlington. Pre-registration required: 781-648-9334.

ArlingtonReiki.com.

Family Owl Prowl – 6:30-8pm. Join Manomet and Wildlands Trust staff in the search for owls under the light of the moon. $15/nonmember. Willow Brook Farm, 99 Barker St (Rte 14), Pembroke.

Manomet.org.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 12 Valentine’s & Yoga Single Women’s Workshop – 1-5pm. Practice yoga and meditation for selflove. Learn about healthy dating and relationships.

Share your experiences with other single women.

Get clarity, support and insight. $99. Healthworks Chestnut Hill, 1300 Boylston St, Brace Room, Chestnut Hill. 415-533-3046. PellaWeisman.com.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 14 Casablanca – 4 & 7pm. The Brattle Theater, 40 Brattle St, Cambridge. 617-876-6837. Brattle Film.org.

The Princess Bride – 10pm. The Brattle Theater, 40 Brattle St, Cambridge. 617-876-6837. Brattle Film.org.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 15 Ted Reinstein Author Talk – 7-8pm. Chronicle’s Ted Reinstein reveals New England’s rich history of grudges and squabbles as he discusses his book Wicked Pissed, New England’s Most Famous Feuds. Free. Winchester Public Library, 80 Washington St, Winchester. 781-721-7171 x 318.

WinPubLib.org.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 16 Neurofeedback: Brain Training at its Best: Psychological, Neurological, Cognitive Correction – 7-8:30pm. Brain training will enhance brain function, improve memory, correct executive function struggles, improve overall attention, and reduce anxiety and depression. Come learn how neurofeedback works, what improving your brain can do for you, and what the research says. Free. Acton Memorial Library, 486 Main St, Acton. 781-4449115. AdvancedNeurotherapy.com.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 18

about reclaiming your dreams and desires via The Artist’s Way: A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity. $18. The Arlington Center, 369 Massachusetts Ave, Arlington. 617-640-3813. KimChilds.com.

markyourcalendar

markyourcalendar

Systems Health® One-Day Teacher Training Certification Workshop

Largest Puja Tantra Workshop Ever

At this event, Dr. V.A. Shiva, the MIT engineer who invented email, will run a 1-day Teacher Training Certification Workshop on Systems Health® for health and wellness practitioners. Attendees will learn how to build a profitable educational business delivering the ancient science of Siddha and Ayurveda to anyone seeking a holistic systems approach to health and well-being. All those completing the workshop will be certified to use the Your Body, Your System® tool, allowing them to perform a systems analysis, charge, and generate new income.

Sat., Feb 18 • 8am - 4pm $250. 701 Concord Ave, Cambridge.

617-830-1936. SystemsHealth.com.

Family Science Days – 11am-4pm. Also Feb 19. Explore interactive science exhibits, learn about cool science jobs and have your questions answered by scientists. Activities appropriate for K-12 children and their families. Free. Hynes Convention Center, 900 Boylston St, Boston. Meetings.aaas.org/family-science-days.

The Artist’s Way: An Introduction – 2-4pm.

Join life and career coach Kim Childs to learn

formance honoring African American Heritage month. Meet over a dozen groundbreakers and hall-of-famers who have contributed to shaping our nation’s past, present and future. Free. John F Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, 220 William T Morrissey Blvd, Boston. RSVP required: 617-514-1644. JFKLibrary.org/celebrate.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 26

Led by Robyn Vogel of Come Back to Love, Inc., the LARGEST PUJA Tantra Workshop ever will bring your heart back to love. The Intimate Puja Circle is the place to develop skills of intimacy. Walk away feeling accepted, cherished, nurtured, loved, more grounded and peaceful.

Forget the typical dinner out, this is the perfect way to spend Valentine’s Day weekend whether you are in relationship or single.

Sat., Feb 18 • 6:30 - 10:30pm $45. Center for the Arts at the Armory, 191 Highland Ave, Somerville. 508-380-9254.

IntimatePujaCircle.com/feb-18-largest-puja-ever/

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 21 Just Breathe: Somato-Respiratory Integration Workshop – 7:30-8:30pm. Learn breathing exercises to help release tension and calm your mind. Somato-Respiratory Integration (SRI) helps enhance your chiropractic care as well as free up energy in your body. $20. Newton Chiropractic & Wellness Centre, 383 Elliot St, Ste 250, Newton.

RSVP: 617-964-3332. WellAdjusted.com.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 22 Celebrate with Bright Star Theater: Black History Hall of Fame – 10:30am. Fast-paced per-

Reiki Level 1 Training and Certification – 9am-7pm. Learn to care for yourself and others with reiki. Learn reiki meditations, how to practice hands-on healing of self and others, the reiki principles, reiki history, and how reiki promotes mindfulness and wellness on all levels of one’s being. Comprehensive course manual. CEUs for nurses, social workers, and LMTs. $150. Brenner Reiki Healing, 324 Central St, Newton. 617-2448856. Brenner ReikiHealing.org.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 28 Mardi Gras & Carnival Celebration of the Arts – 6-10pm. An evening of fun and celebration of the arts with a live band, The Confederacy of Dumpsters, light hors d’oeuvres, a full cash bar, an art show, dancing, silent auction and raffle. Free garage parking next door. $10/advance online. Social Restaurant, 320 Washington St, Crowne Plaza Hotel, Newton. 617-657-4278.

UnboundVisualArts.org.

Neurofeedback: Brain Training at its Best: Psychological, Neurological, Cognitive Correction – 7-8:30pm. Brain training will enhance brain function, improve memory, correct executive function struggles, improve overall attention, and reduce anxiety and depression. Come learn how neurofeedback works, what improving your brain can do for you, and what the research says.

Free. Needham Free Public Library, 1139 Highland Ave, Needham. 781-444-9115. Advanced Neurotherapy.com.

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ongoingcalendar All Calendar events for the March issue must be received by February 10 and adhere to our guidelines. Visit NaturalAwakeningsBoston.com for guidelines and to submit entries. For extended event descriptions and additional listings, visit NaturalAwakeningsBoston.com.

daily Quincy Market History Tour – 11am, daily; 6pm, Wed; 2pm, Sat. Learn about Quincy Market’s central and ever-evolving role in Boston’s history. Meet guide by Pulse Café on South Market St. Faneuil Hall Marketplace, 4 S Market, Boston.

617-523-1300. FaneuilHallMarketplace.com.

Restorative Yoga – 4-6:30pm. Anyone needing to chill out and rest body, mind and spirit. Props used to support total relaxation, giving you a chance to catch up with yourself. Open to beginners and experienced yogis, people with injuries and other precautions. $40/session. Art & Soul, 91 Hampshire St, Cambridge. 617-594-1794. For specific dates: ArtSoulYoga.com.

weekly Weekly Relax and Rejuvenate Retreats at Discounted Rates for Healers and Teachers – Thru Mar. Winter is a great season to recharge for yoga teachers and healers. Whether it’s a time to reflect and restore, or to gently reverse the “burnout” that can result from your dedication to this special line of work, we offer an all-inclusive package designed to meet your needs and budget. Eastover Estate & Retreat Center, 430 East St, Lenox. 866 264 5139. For pricing: Eastover.com.

sunday SoWa Vintage Market – 10am-4pm. Designers, collectors, appreciators of the beautiful and unusual love this market. A cool, urban, vintage flea market featuring fresh vintage and designer finds every week. Free. SoWa Vintage Market, 450 Harrison Ave, Boston. SoWaVintageMarket.com.

Vinyl Sundays at Short Path Distillery – 1-6pm.

Bring your favorite LP and we’d be happy to spin it on the tasting room stereo system. Or choose from our selection. Free. Short Path Distillery, 71 Kelvin St, Unit 2, Everett. ShortPathDistillery.com.

monday Open P-Knotting at Noon – 12-12:45pm. Also Tues, Wed & Thurs. Individualized guided instruction on how to use the P-Knot. No P-Knot required. Free. P-Knot Industries, Hope Artiste Village, 1005 Main St, Rm 1217, Pawtucket. 401753-2099. P-Knot.com.

EasYoga – 6-7:30pm. Also Tues & Thurs. Relax, re-energize and revitalize. Walk-ins welcome.

First session free. The Well Street Station, 62 Mt Auburn St, Watertown. 617-923-1440. WellStreet Station.com.

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Nia-Somatic Fitness Classes – 7:30-8:30pm. Nia technique is a blend of dance martial arts and healing arts set to music to fit your personal experience.

All levels welcome. Discount cards available. $15.

Om Namo Center, 21 Belmont St, Cambridge.

617-620-7654. OmNamoCenter.com.

tuesday Noon Concerts on the Freedom Trail – 12:15pm.

Stop by to hear a 30-40-min concert. Performers vary each week and perform a wide variety of music ranging from jazz to folk, medieval to modern. $3 suggested donation. King’s Chapel, 64 Beacon St, Boston. 617-227-2155. Kings-Chapel.org.

Anxiety and Panic Support Group – 6:30pm. 1st Tues. Designed to offer a place where people with common interests and experience can meet. You are not alone in your experience, and knowledge is the key to living a symptom-free life. Free. Washington St, Newton. 617-849-3198. UCanBFear Free.com.

Open Meditation – 7-8:15pm. A supportive environment with 45 mins of shamatha sitting. Appropriate for all levels with several breaks and a brief inspirational video. Free. Rigpa Boston, 24 Crescent St, Ste 308, Waltham. 619-906-4291.

RigpaBoston.org.

wednesday Nia-Somatic Fitness Classes – 7:30-8:30am. Nia technique is a blend of dance martial arts and healing arts set to music to fit your personal experience.

All levels welcome. Discount cards available. $15.

Studio 550, 550 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge.

StudioAt550.org.

Boston | NaturalAwakeningsBoston.com

Free Tour of Symphony Hall – 4pm select Wed. Also 2pm select Sat. Join volunteers on a behindthe-scenes tour and hear about the hall and the history and traditions of the famed musicians and conductors. Boston Symphony Hall, 301 Massachusetts Ave, Boston. For available dates & times: 617-638-9390. BSO.org.

Museum of Fine Arts Free Wednesdays – 6-9pm. An opportunity to sketch from live models and/or from objects in their collections. A drawing instructor provides insights on drawing technique and the artist-model relationship as it informs the creation of artwork. MFA, 465 Huntington Ave, Boston. 617-267-9300. MFA.org.

Active Stretch for EveryBODY – 6:30pm. Also Mon, 7:30am & Thurs, 9:30am. Everybody from elite athletes to couch potatoes welcomed. See “classes” on website. $12/drop-in, $100/10 classes with Budget Stretcher card. STAR Tech Healing and Learning Center, 14 Nason St, Ste 202, Maynard. 978-897-0110. StarTechHealing.com.

Public Open Night at the Observatory – 7:30pm, Fall/Winter; 8:30pm, Spring/Summer. A chance to come observe the night sky through telescopes and binoculars and see things you otherwise might not get to see. Held most Wed evenings throughout the year, weather permitting. Free. Coit Observatory at Boston University, 725 Commonwealth Ave, Boston. 617-353-2630. BU.edu.

Let’s Laugh Today Laughter Yoga – 7:308:30pm. 1st Wed. Any age and any level of physical ability can enjoy this unique exercise of laughter and clapping combined with gentle breathing that brings more oxygen to the body’s cells. Free. Meetinghouse of the First Universalist Society, 262 Chestnut St, Franklin. 508-660-2223.

LetsLaughToday.com.

thursday

see some of the latest research coming out of MIT. MIT Museum, 265 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge. 617-253-5927. MIT.edu/Museum.

classifieds

Free Night at the ICA – 5-9pm. The Institute of Contemporary Art, 100 Northern Ave, Boston.

ICABoston.org.

Yoga, Wine and Chocolate – 5:30-7pm. An hour of yoga followed by complimentary yoga, wine and chocolate. $15. embodyFitness 18 Adams St, Burlington. 781-999-2503. EmbodyFitness.net.

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY

SRR Thursday Night 4.06 Miler – 7:15-8:15pm.

It may be raining. It may be hot or cold. The SRR Thursday night run will happen every week, no matter what. Free. Casey’s Bar, 171 Broadway, Somerville. SRR.org/Events/Thursday-Night-Race.

The Healing Beyond Cancer: Cancer is a Doorway for Healing and Transformation – 7:30-9pm.

With Sonny Rose. Learn how to manage your thoughts, explore and discover how the interactions of your beliefs and feelings can have profound effects on your health and well-being. Identify the “issues in our tissues” and release them forever.

Free. Roots and Wings, 317 N Main St, Natick.

978-369-7733. TheHealingBeyondCancer.com.

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. 617-495-7461.

CFA.Harvard.edu.

friday 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. 1st Fri. Free blood pressure screenings in front of the Old Country Buffet. Watertown Mall, 550 Arsenal St, Watertown. 617-926-4968. Watertown-Mall.com.

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

Mingle with friends in the unique galleries and

Monthly Community Reiki Clinic – 7-8:45pm.

1st Fri. Make an appointment for a 30-min reiki session. Appointment times are 7-7:30pm, 7:358:05pm & 8:10-8:40pm. $10. Brenner Reiki Healing, 324 Central St, Newton. 617-244-8856.

BrennerReikiHealing.org.

saturday BCYF Family Gym – 10-11:30am. For children ages 3-8 and their families. Move at your own pace, jump rope, play on an obstacle course, limbo, play parachute games or sports. Caregivers must participate and remain in the gym with their children.

Free. At 3 locations: BCYF Blackstone, BYCF Holland and BCYF Madison Park. More info: Boston.gov/Health-And-Human-Services/BCYFFamily-Gym. The Marketplace at Simpson Spring – 10am2pm. Includes farmers, bakers, artisans and local entrepreneurs. Stop in to browse or take in our featured entertainment, local authors, educational seminars and lecturers. 719 Washington St, South Easton. SimpsonSpringMarketplace.com.

Let’s Laugh Today Laughter Yoga – 11am12pm. 2nd Sat. Any age and any level of physical ability can enjoy this unique exercise of laughter and clapping combined with gentle breathing that brings more oxygen to the body’s cells. Free. Unitarian Church of Sharon, 4 N Main St, Sharon.

508-660-2223. LetsLaughToday.com.

Prenatal Yoga Class – 11-12:30pm. Relax, re-energize, revitalize. Gentle stretches to relieve tension. Walk-ins welcome. First session free. The Well Street Station, 62 Mt Auburn St, Watertown.

617-923-1440. WellStreetStation.com.

START A CAREER YOU CAN BE PASSIONATE ABOUT – Publish your own Natural Awakenings magazine. Home-based business complete with comprehensive training and support system. New franchises are available or purchase a magazine that is currently publishing. Call 239-530-1377 or visit NaturalAwakeningsmag.com/MyMagazine.

CLASSES & WORKSHOPS ACIM TALKS – Talks based on A Course in Miracles streaming live every Wednesday night with ongoing access if you can’t listen live. Hosted by Marianne Williamson. Marianne.com.

NATURAL AWAKENINGS SINGLES READY TO MEET THE LOVE OF YOUR LIFE? – Dip into our pool of conscious, awake singles and meet someone that you would have never met without us! Free to join. NaturalAwakeningsSingles.com.

PRODUCTS SPRINGHILL STATUARY - HOME OF THE $10 STATUE – Pet memorials, Angels, Buddha statues, bird baths.

Many dog breeds. Shipping worldwide.

Open year round. 75 Laura St, Tiverton.

401-314-6752. SpringhillStatuary.com.

SELF-STUDY A COURSE IN MIRACLES – A unique, universal, self-study, spiritual thought system that teaches that the way to love and inner peace is through forgiveness. ACIM.org.

SPACE AVAILABLE 25-YEAR OLD HOLISTIC HEALING CENTER – In lovely Victorian in downtown Rockland Maine looking for another practitioner to round out offerings. Sunny room with bay window and closet. Plenty of parking. If you’ve been thinking about relocating, and want to check out mid-coast Maine, contact Abi Morrison: 207-5944766 or Abi@RedBirdAcupuncture.com

Place your ad here

617-906-0232

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communityresourceguide Connecting you to the leaders in natural health care 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.

ACTIVE ISOLATED STRETCHING THE A.I.S. INSTITUTE

103 Morse St, Watertown 617-905-3038 TheAISInstitute.com TheAISInstitute@gmail.com

BIOMAGNETIC THERAPY GRAZIOSO INTEGRATIVE HEALTH

Alan Grazioso, BMT Lyme Disease Specialist Lexington Medical Building, Lexington, MA 339-970-8375 GraziosoIntegrativeHealth.com Specializing in alleviating symptoms of Lyme disease, it’s co-infections and other autoimmune health issues. Lyme Magnetic Protocol trained. Goiz BioMagnetic Pair Therapy certified. See ad, page 15.

Specializing in Active Isolated Stretching (AIS) that works with the body’s natural physiological makeup to bolster flexibility, improve circulation and increase the elasticity of muscle, joints and fascia. See ad, page 15 .

ACUPUNCTURE LIFE GATE ACUPUNCTURE Karina Beleno Carney 78 Main Street, Pepperell 978-294-9291 LifeGateAcu@gmail.com LifeGateAcu.com

BRAIN TRAINING ADVANCED NEUROTHERAPY, PC Jolene Ross, PhD 781-444-9115 RetrainYourBain.com

Specializing in Neurotherapy, an effective, drug-free treatment for: attention, behavior, emotional, and executive function problems, autistic spectrum, anxiety, depression, postconcussion, peak performance and more. See ad, page 15.

Karina Beleno Carney, Lic.Ac., brings over 10 years experience of effective and compassionate acupuncture, Chinese herbs and TuiNa treatments. Serving Nashoba Valley. See ad, page 15.

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APPLIED KINESIOLOGY CENTRAL SQUARE HEALTH AND WELLNESS

Kristine Jelstrup, CMFT, CBK, LMT 126 Prospect St, Ste 5, Cambridge, 02139 617-833-3407 Kristine@CentralSquareHealthAnd Wellness.com CentralSquareHealthAndWellness.com Achieve optimal health physically, emotionally, nutritionally.

Kristine uses a form of muscle response testing to identify and clear nervous system interference, facilitating optimal health.

See ad, page 10.

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BRAINCORE NEUROFEEDBACK 132 Central St, Ste 205A, Foxboro 844-272-4666 Info@BrainCoreUSA.com BrainCoreUSA.com

We offer state-ofthe-art brain training technology. Drug-free, non-invasive treatment. Emphasis on quality care with flexible payment options. Scholarships available. Call today to schedule a free consultation.

Boston | NaturalAwakeningsBoston.com

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

We are an integrative holistic center, with a caring team of Network Spinal Analysis chiropractors, massage therapists, Shiatsu and reiki practitioners and a Wellness Coach. See ad, page 7.

COACHING A COMMON THREAD COACHING James Ashton 646-262-3037 ACommonThread99@gmail.com

Looking to improve an area of your life or to heal a personal/ business relationship? I can assist you in discovering a new path forward. My specialties: family dynamics, personal/work relationships and career development.

MONEY & $UCCESS COACHING Virtual Coaching & Workshops 207-592-0377 Tam@ChooseBigChange.com

Tired of being sad, stressed and broke and ready for a rich, rewarding life? Learn #The MoneyFix for personal power and bigger paydays.

SACRED TEMPLE ARTS Sacha L. Fossa, MA, ACTE 978-309-9399 SacredTempleArts.com

Ready to radically improve your sex and love life, with or without a partner? Cutting-edge holistic sex, relationship and intimacy coaching, energy and bodywork for your sexual healing and empowerment. In person and/or Skype. See ad, page 22.

TAKE THE LEAP COACHING

Kim Childs 1025 Mass Ave, Arlington, MA 02476 617-640-3813 Kim@KimChilds.com KimChilds.com Need help clarifying and manifesting your desires? Asking “What’s next?” or “What do I really, really want?” Kim is a certified life and career coach specializing in Positive Psychology, creativity, and spiritual living to help clients create more joyful and fulfilling lives. Consultations are free via phone/Skype or in person.

COLON HYDROTHERAPY

CORPORATE WELLNESS YOUR WELLNESS SCOUT Kirsten Wright-Cirit 919-593-2943 YourWellnessScout@gmail.com YourWellnessScout.com

Your Wellness Scout provides coaching, resources, and tips to set wellness goals and integrate sustainable solutions and practices without tipping the work, life, family balance.

Receive professional colon hydrotherapy by a national board-certified therapist using the Angel of Water system. The most comfortable and private system in the industry. See ad, page 13.

COMPOUNDING & WELLNESS PHARMACY JOHNSON COMPOUNDING AND WELLNESS

Stephen Bernardi 577 Main St, Waltham, MA 02452 781-893-3870 • Fax: 781-899-1172 Steve@NaturalCompounder.com NaturalCompounder.com JCW is the only sterile and non-sterile PCABaccredited 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 43.

93 Union St, Ste 408 Newton Center, MA 617-244-4997 NewtonDW.com

We are the healing dentist. We take a holistic approach to general and pediatric dentistry.

We make it easy to see a dentist. New patients receive free comprehensive exam and full set of X-rays. Blog at TheHealingDentist.info.

HERBAL STUDIES THE BOSTON SCHOOL OF HERBAL STUDIES

DENTIST DR. IVETA IONTCHEVA-BAREHMI DMD, MS, D.SC.

1842 Beacon St, Ste 305, 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 13.

INTERNAL WELLNESS CENTER

Liz Marcano-Pucillo 150 Wood Rd, Ste 403, Braintree, MA 02184 781-228-6915 Liz@InternalWellnessCtr.com InternalWellnessCtr.com

NEWTON DENTAL WELLNESS

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 8.

HORMONE BALANCING BELLA NATURAL HEALTH Dawna Jones, MD, FACOG 99 Longwater Cir, Ste 100 Norwell, MA 02061 781-829-0930 BellaNaturalHealth.com

GROTON WELLNESS – FAMILY DENTISTRY & ORTHODONTICS, MEDICAL, SPA, CAFÉ 493-495 Main St (Off Rte 119) Groton, MA 01450 978-449-9919 GrotonWellness.com

Groton Wellness is a vibrant center for health and healing consisting of Holistic Family Dentistry & Orthodontics, an Integrative Medical Practice, a pampering and detoxifying Therapeutic Spa, and a clean food, farm-to-table Café—all working together to provide exceptional community health care. We also offer exciting talks, cleanses, classes and events, many of which are free to the community. Groton Wellness uses IV Therapy, Nutrition Management, Herbal Medicine, Bio-Identical Hormone Balancing, EAV Testing, Integrative Chiropractic, Acupuncture and many other Holistic Therapies to treat patients from head-to-toe. We have enormous success treating chronic health issues such as Lyme disease, cancer, diabetes, hormonal imbalance, mold, internal toxicity and more. See ad, page 2.

Board-certified MD in gynecology and integrative medicine.

Hormone balancing, nutrition and detoxification are keys to optimal health. See ad, page 23

HYPNOTHERAPY THOUGHT ALCHEMY

Rose Siple, Certified Hypnotherapist 774-991-0574 Info@ThoughtAlchemy.guru Transform yourself and achieve your goals through the transformative healing process of hypnotherapy. Aren’t you tired of talking about it and thinking about it? We specialize in Virtual Gastric Band Hypnosis for weight loss. Call today. See ad on page 19.

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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 mod- alities like acupuncture, functional nutrition, homeopathy, chiropractic, herbs, ozone therapy, surgery and dentistry. See ad, page 33.

MASSAGE NEWTON CHIROPRACTIC & WELLNESS CENTRE

BOSTON BEHAVIORAL MEDICINE 1371 Beacon St, Ste 304-305 Brookline, MA 02446 617-232-2435 Ext 0 BostonBMed.com

Boston Behavioral Medicine promotes a holistic view of health using integrative mindbody psychotherapy, stress management, and nutritional services, and strives for the balance of mental, physical, social and spiritual well-being.

NATUROPATHIC MEDICINE KERI LAYTON, ND

Whole Family Wellness, LLC 29 Commonwealth Ave, Boston, MA 02116 781-721-4585

383 Elliot St, Ste 250 617-964-3332 WellAdjusted.com

Deep-tissue, medical, sports, Swedish and therapeutic massage, shiatsu, Reiki & HydroMassage in a full-service Wellness Center also featuring chiropractic, acupuncture, Facial Rejuvenation, Facelift Acupuncture and detox footbath. See ad, page 7.

MIND-BODY MEDICINE BODYMIND REPATTERNING

Alison Shaw APRN, LMT, CEH 109 Massachusetts Ave Lexington, MA 02420 781-646-0686 Alison@BodymindRepatterning.com BodymindRepatterning.com 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 24.

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Naturopathic Medicine since 2006. Dr. Layton provide safe, effective complementary and alternative natural therapies to achieve vibrant health in people of all ages.

GARY KRACOFF, RPH & NMD

NUTRITIONAL COACHING OLIVIA NAPOLI WELLNESS Olivia Napoli Boston, MA 917-576-4078 Olivia@OliviaNapoli.com OliviaNapoli.ccom

What if you could look and feel your best every single day? It’s possible. As a Holistic Nutrition Coach, I specialize in healthy eating and lifestyle, including one-on-one nutrition coaching, corporate wellness, weight loss, cooking demos and more.

ORGANIC HAIR CARE ORGANIC HAIR CARE KIMBERLY BRUNO

222 Newbury St, 3rd Fl, Boston 617-459-7474 KimberlyBruno.com What’s in your hair color? How does pharmaceutical-grade Certified Organic Aloe Vera sound? Call today to experience the difference Certified Organic ingredients make in your hair care products.

Johnson Compounding and Wellness 781-893-3870 Gary@NaturalCompounder.com Dr. Gary Kracoff provides guidance and in-depth consultative services to find the “why” to what is happening physically and mentally, working with individuals to restore balance in the body. Specializes in customizing medications to meet individualized needs of patients, and he suggests nutritional supplements, natural products and homeopathic remedies to aid in faster healing and recovery See ad, page 43.

Boston | NaturalAwakeningsBoston.com

REIKI BRENNER REIKI HEALING

324 Central St, Newton 02466 617-244-8856 Elise@BrennerReikiHealing.org BrennerReikiHealing.org Providing you with reiki healing sessions, reiki meditation, and reiki training to support you in reaching your goals of mind-body-spirit wellness and wholeness.

BRIANA PIAZZA, REIKI MASTER 228 Central St, Saugus, MA 01906 781-629-9659 Briana.Piazza@gmail.com BrianaPiazza.com

Reiki Master healer and teacher offering healing treatment sessions and training at all levels. Call, email or visit BrianaPiazza.com to schedule your session.

REIKI OF GREATER BOSTON

160 School St, Ste 1-1, Waltham, MA 508-335-3814 ReikiOfGreaterBoston@gmail.com ReikiOfGreaterBoston.com Healing for body, mind and spirit. Yoga, reiki, meditation, crystal healing and life coaching are used to activate your body’s natural healing response.

THERMOGRAPHY METROWEST THERMAL IMAGING

Susan Shaw Saari, Lic.Ac., CCT, MEd, MAOM, Diplomate in Acupuncture (NCCAOM) 781-899-2121 Sue@Thpclinic.com, MyThermography.com A clinical imaging technique that records thermal patterns of the body to help diagnose and monitor pain or pathology in any part of the body. See ad, page 10.

YOGA CECILE RAYNOR

Certified Alexander Technique Teacher; Certified Thai Yoga Therapist 33A Harvard St, Brookline, MA 02445 617-359-7841 OffTheMatYogaBlog.com Your yoga can release or create tension depending on the quality of your daily movements. Learn to let your postural mechanism work for you and notice excess body tension ease away on-and-off the mat.

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