Natural Awakenings Boston July 2015

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H E A L T H Y

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Special Issue

Food Democracy

Taking Back Our Food Supply GMO Warnings Amma Returns to Boston Savvy Cycling Boston Food Gleaners

image is courtesy of PlantPure Nation

July 2015 | Boston | NaturalAwakeningsBoston.com

letterfrompublisher

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hile at times it can be infuriating to think of the mass injustices occurring around us, I diligently try to maintain a focused attention on what’s good in the world. As the well-known adage advises, “What you resist persists.”

I was reminded of this again during May’s Boston March Against Monsanto, held at Copley Square. It occurred to me that the language used may be doing citizens a disservice.

I fully support the effort for transparency within our food system, but just hearing the word “against” in any campaign or movement makes my brain rattle.

What if rather than terming everything a fight, battle or war, we instead focused solely on education? Imagine what would be possible if all of the anger toward and action taken against Monsanto and other self-interested corporate conglomerates shifted to educating citizens on the dire need for us to take back our country. The focus would be on our most fundamental rights as Americans and how we are able to protect ourselves and advance good by choosing legislators based on how they vote.

We could work to eradicate corporate lobbyists from having unequal influence in our state and federal congressional and judicial systems.

According to The Washington Post, voter turnout in 2014 numbered the lowest in a midterm election since World War II. A paltry 36.4 percent of eligible voters took part.

It appears that President Kennedy was ahead of his time in 1960 when he first expressed the Consumer Bill of Rights (Tinyurl.com/ConsumerBillOfRights): • The right to safety: to be protected against the marketing of products and services that are hazardous to health or to life.

• The right to be informed: to be protected against fraudulent, deceitful or grossly misleading information, advertising, labeling or other practices, and to be given the facts needed to make informed choices.

• The right to choose: to have available a variety of products and services at competitive prices.

• The right to be heard: to be assured that consumer interests will receive full and sympathetic consideration in making government policy, both through the laws passed by legislatures and through regulations passed by administrative bodies.

• The right to education: to have access to programs and information that help consumers make better marketplace decisions.

• The right to redress: to work with established mechanisms to have problems corrected and to receive compensation for poor service or for products which do not function properly.

Support your right to know, starting with our food supply! Visit MARightToKnow.org/ contactlegislators.

To a healthy peace for all citizens,

Maisie Raftery, Publisher

contact us Publisher Maisie Raftery Managing Editor Nancy Somera Proofreader - Randy Kambic Administrative Assistant Allison Roedell Support@NaturalAwakeningsBoston.com Marketing Representative Cheryl Sullivan - 781-799-6610 CherylA@NaturalAwakeningsBoston.com Contributors Kim Childs • Judith Fertig Melinda Hemmelgarn Randy Kambic • Avery Mack • Faith Pomeroy-Ward Linda Sechrist • Nancy Somera Design & Production Stephen Blancett Zina Cochran Suzzanne Siegel P.O. Box 1149 Brookline, MA 02446 Phone: 617-906-0232 Fax: 877-907-1406 NaturalAwakeningsBoston.com Maisie@NaturalAwakeningsBoston.com © 2014 by Natural Awakenings. All rights reserved.

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

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

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Boston | NaturalAwakeningsBoston.com

contents 7 6 newsbriefs 11 kudos 12 healthbriefs 13 ecotip 14

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14 globalbriefs 16 business

spotlight 22 actionalert 24 greenliving 26 fitbody 28 conciouseating 30 wisewords 32 petbriefs 34 calendarof events 38 community

resourceguide

advertising & submissions

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

16 EQUAL EXCHANGE

Supporting Farmers, Engaging Consumers, Changing Economies

by Kim Childs

18 33 MILLION AND COUNTING:

India’s Renowned Humanitarian to Visit Boston

by Faith Pomeroy-Ward

20 FOOD DEMOCRACY

By the People, for the People and Toward a Stronger Nation

by Melinda Hemmelgarn

24 FOOD GLEANING Harvesting Leftovers Feeds the Hungry

by Avery Mack

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.

EDITORIAL SUBMISSIONS Email articles, news items and ideas to: Editor@ NaturalAwakeningsBoston.com. Deadline for editorial: the 5th of the month.

CALENDAR SUBMISSIONS Visit NaturalAwakeningsBoston.com for guidelines and to submit entries. Deadline for calendar: the 10th of the month.

REGIONAL MARKETS Advertise your products or services in multiple markets!

Natural Awakenings Publishing Corp. is a growing franchised family of locally owned magazines serving communities since 1994. To place your ad in other markets call 239-449-8309. For franchising opportunities call 239-530-1377 or visit NaturalAwakeningsMag.com.

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25 BOSTON AREA

20

GLEANERS LEAVE NO CROP BEHIND

by Nancy Somera

26 SAVVY CYCLING Keep the Hard Knocks Out of Biking

by Randy Kambic

27 PEDALING IN

24

BOSTON

28 VEGGIE NATION REVOLUTION

by Judith Fertig

30 JEFFREY SMITH

WARNS AGAINST GMOS

by Linda Sechrist

NaturalAwakeningsBoston.com natural awakenings

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newsbriefs Professional Training on Understanding and Treating Metabolism Function from the TCM Perspective

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fter a lifetime of practice and discovery, Dr. Nan Lu will share what he has learned about bridging modern science to traditional Chinese medicine’s wisdom at a four-day training program, to be held October 8 to 11, at Eastover Estate and Retreat, in Lenox, a 600-acre sanctuary of unspoiled beauty and inspiring views nestled in the Berkshires.

Lu will lead participants in groundDr. Nan Lu breaking training on conditions related to metabolism function like diabetes, heart disease, obesity and stroke. The program will include indepth analysis of the three major organs related to metabolism function, how to apply the five-element energetic framework for diagnosis and treatment, and a full protocol for understanding and treating these issues.

“Now more than ever, healthcare professionals need a revolutionary framework to deal with the chronic metabolic illnesses swamping society,” says Elaine Katen, program director of the Traditional Chinese Medicine World Foundation and host of the event. “When viewing these issues through the lens of energy, one can re-see how viewing body, mind, spirit integration can yield what is often called miraculous results.”

Practitioners from all healthcare disciplines will benefit from the training, especially complementary and integrative practitioners, including medical doctors, nurses, psychologists, social workers, acupuncturists and massage therapists, among others. Check-in will take place at 3 p.m., October 8, and the program wraps up at 11:30 a.m., October 11.

Cost: $499 to $545 depending on day of registration. For more information, call 212-274-1079 or visit TCMConference.org. To learn more about Traditional Chinese Medicine World Foundation, call 212-274-1079 or visit TCMWorld.org. See ads on pages 19 and 21.

If it came from a plant,

EAT IT. If it was made in a plant,

DON’T. ~Michael Pollan

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Boston | NaturalAwakeningsBoston.com

newsbriefs Once Again, Boston is Most EnergyEfficient City in U.S.

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he biennial City Energy Efficiency Scorecard, released by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, once again cites Boston as the most energy-efficient city in the nation. The city received 82 out of a possible 100 points, an improvement of more than five points over its 2013 score.

New York City, Washington D.C., San Francisco and Seattle join Boston in the top five American cities for energy efficiency.

Key findings in the 2015 report include Washington D.C., Los Angeles, Chicago, Minneapolis and Seattle as the most improved cities compared to the 2013 scorecard, with many showing doubledigit improvements. Los Angeles has established a strong energy savings goal, while Chicago enacted a new commercial building benchmarking ordinance.

Reacting to the city’s number one ranking, Boston Mayor Marty Walsh says, “Our goal is to help Boston residents and businesses save energy and money, and through collaborative efforts with our utility partners, Eversource and National Grid, we are creating a thriving, healthy and innovative Boston. I look forward to continuing these efforts for both our environment and residents.”

The five key areas covered by the report include government operations, community-wide initiatives, building policies, energy utilities and transportation.

For more information and to see the report, visit ACEEE.org/ local-policy/city-scorecard.

New, Effective Treatment for Toe Fungus

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oundShapes is now offering offering U.S. Food & Drug Administration-approved laser toe fungus treatment with the Alma LP YAG hand unit. The fast, easy and non-toxic laser treats the nail fungus from the inside out, targeting bacteria located deep beneath the nail bed for effective, long-lasting results without any drugs, topical ointments, or adverse side effects. The appearance of the nail improves immediately, and treatment prolongs immunity to fungus recurrence.

SoundShapes Skin & Body Rejuvenation Center of Boston’s North End is a destination for skin and body treatments including skin rejuvenation, laser hair removal, IPL/Phototherapy, cellulite reduction, laser acne treatments, tattoo removal, Fraxel/Pixel laser skin resurfacing, acne scar and surgical scar removal, Clear Lift and the HCG Diet.

Location: 230 Commercial St., Boston. For more information, call 617-367-1900 or visit Sound-Shapes.com. See ad on page 15 and Resource Guide on 38. natural awakenings

July 2015

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coverart

newsbriefs Open House at New Center for Body Mind Integration in Lexington

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he new Center for Body Mind Integration, at 109 Massachusetts Avenue, in Lexington, is hosting an open house from 6 to 8 p.m., July 17. The center is co-directed by Alison Shaw, of Bodymind Repatterning, and holistic bodyworker and physical therapist Barbara Gosselin. Both practitioners say they’re on a mission to transform healthcare by offering innovative therapies and education.

“Alison and I are excited to be joining forces to open this center and expand the reach of our work,” says Gosselin. “We’re inviting people to come see our new center, meet us and hear about all that we’re offering.”

The open house will include special offers for attendees, as well as opportunities to speak with Shaw and Gosselin and learn how their work can help to create deep and lasting physical and emotional healing. Light refreshments will be served.

Lady Liberty has a new tagline: a plantbased diet for all. A return to a simple diet based on whole grains, fruits and vegetables is the revolution the founding fathers of PlantPure Nation hope Americans will embrace this Independence Day.

Founded by Dr. T. Colin Campbell, Ph.D., the grassroots organization PlantPure Nation seeks to promote the powerful health benefits for people and the planet offered by a whole foods, plant-based diet.

This July 4, the documentary film PlantPure Nation, directed by Nelson Campbell, Colin’s son, will debut nationwide and start screening in more than 100 cities. It covers a broad landscape of issues, from the politics of food to the science of nutrition, and follows the lives of 16 people in Campbell’s small hometown of Mebane, North Carolina, as they take on PlantPure Nation’s 10-day food challenge.

“No issue is bigger than the one of plant-based nutrition,” says filmmaker Nelson. “It’s at the root of our healthcare crisis, affecting the lives of millions of Americans, the vitality of our economy and the solvency of our government.”

Learn more in this issue’s article “Veggie Nation Revolution,” and visit PlantPureNation.com for dates and times of screenings.

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Bill to License Naturopathic Doctors Before the Massachusetts Legislature

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Image courtesy of marin at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

PlantPure Nation

For more information, call 781-646-0686 or 781-507-4226, or visit CenterForBodyMindIntegration.com.

he bill (HB 1992/SB 1205) is currently before the Joint Committee on Public Health. A public hearing date is set for November 17 in the afternoon at the State House. On that same morning, the Massachusetts Society of Naturopathic Doctors (MSND) will hold a Lobby Day, where consumers and practitioners will have the opportunity to meet with lawmakers and aides to talk about this legislation.

Massachusetts residents are also encouraged to write their state senators and state representative, asking them to support their right to have access to naturopathic doctors in Massachusetts. Contact information for each senator and state representative can be found at MALegislature.gov/People/Search.

For more information about Lobby Day and the public hearing, contact Amy Rothenberg, ND and president of the MSND, at Amy@nesh.com. For more information on MSND, visit msnd.org.

Free Talk on Eating for Health at Whole Foods Market in Dedham

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isions HealthCare is partnering with Whole Foods Market, in Dedham, to present a free talk by Dr. Wendie Trubow from 6:30 to 8 p.m., July 15. The event, which focuses on eating for greater health, includes delicious, nutritious food.

“We’re excited to collaborate with Whole Foods Market, which draws in so many food-conscious people,” says Marketing Coordinator Ashley Inman. “Our doctors here at Visions emphasize the importance of eating the right foods, and those who attend Dr. Trubow’s talk will hear about the impact of food choices on our Dr. Wendie Trubow bodies and learn about the integrative, functional medicine approach to health.”

Cost: Free. Location: Whole Foods Market, 300 Legacy Place, Dedham. To RSVP, visit Eventbrite.com/e/you-are-what-you-eat-transform-your-health-tickets-17247601039. To learn more, call 781-231-5504 or visit VisionsHealthCare.com. See ad on back page.

Boston | NaturalAwakeningsBoston.com

newsbriefs Beloved “Hugging Saint” Amma Returns to the Boston Area

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orld-renowned humanitarian and spiritual leader Mata Amritanandamayi Devi, better known as Amma, returns to the Boston area on July 9 and 10, The Pope with Amma offering free programs at 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. on both days along with a prayer ceremony for world peace. Everyone is invited to attend and receive a personal blessing and hug from Amma at the event, which takes place at the Best Western Royal Trade Center in Marlborough.

“Amma has hugged more than 33 million people worldwide, and many who’ve received her embrace express feeling unconditional love and total acceptance for the first time,” says Vino Gupta, publicity coordinator for the event. “Amma has also provided humanitarian aid and disaster relief for every major global disaster over the last 10 years, including the recent Nepal earthquake.”

More information on Amma’s charities can be found at EmbracingTheWorld. org. Last year, Amma joined Pope Francis at the Vatican for a ceremonial signing of a declaration against human trafficking and slavery. “The human mind has created many divisions in the name of religion, caste, language and national boundaries,” Amma stated at the ceremony. “Let us try to create a bridge of all-encompassing pure love to break down these self-created walls.”

The free programs in Marlborough include inspirational music, meditation and spiritual discourse. Numbered tokens for individual blessings are distributed 90 minutes before each program.

Cost: Free. Location: Best Western Royal Trade Center, 181 Boston Post Rd. W., Marlborough. For more information, call 716-226-6223 or visit AmmaNew England.org/tour. See ad on this page. natural awakenings

July 2015

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SCREEN TODA

Early Detection of Disease Allows for Early Intervention and Optimal Health Affordable • Painless • Safe

Waltham, MA (781) 899-2121 Shrewsbury, MA (508) 425-3300

Hopkinton, MA (508) 425-3300

newsbriefs Somerville Aiming to Convert All Public Lights to LED

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funding request before the Somerville Board of Aldermen would allow the conversion of every city-owned streetlight and other light fixtures to energyefficient LED lightbulbs. City officials say the effort would pay for itself in savings within five years and advance Somerville’s goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2050.

The current funding request before the Board is for $2,475,000. After a $619,000 rebate from Eversource for installing the LED lights, the net cost of changing all city-owned lights would total an estimated $1,486,585. Officials say that using the energy-efficient LED bulbs in street, decorative and external city building lights would save an estimated $450,000 annually and reduce CO2 emissions by 600 metric tons per year.

“This is a common sense step the city can take that’s better for both our residents’ wallets and the environment,” says Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone. “In addition to those benefits, the quality of light from LED bulbs is superior to sodium light bulbs and, because of their design, we’ll have better directional control over our lights.”

Curatone says that LED streetlights will be focused on illuminating public ways instead of “bleeding into residents’ homes or the night sky.” LED streetlights are currently being piloted in Somerville along Putnam Street, on Highland Avenue from School Street to Walnut Street, and on Pearl Street between McGrath Highway and Cross Street. East Broadway streetlights already use LED light bulbs.

For more information, visit SomervilleMA.gov.

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Boston | NaturalAwakeningsBoston.com

kudos Groton Wellness and the Groton Community Foundation hosted their second annual “Ride for Free Wellness” fundraising event on May 17, in Groton, to raise funds to provide free wellness consultations and treatments to those that are unable to pay for much-needed private health care. About 100 bikers and walkers joined together on a beautiful May day to participate in this ride.

Jean Nordin-Evans, co-owner of Jean Nordin-Evans and children, Groton Wellness, rode in the fun, family Bobby and Kasey. event and says, “It is rewarding to see so many people join together to help raise money for this wonderful cause. I personally like to participate in this event with my family, as it encourages everyone to get out and exercise while helping those in need. Staying active is an important part of maintaining good health.”

If people didn’t participate in the May Ride for Free Wellness but want to make a donation, they may visit GrotonWellness.com/free-wellness-project. All donations are tax-deductible.

Location: Groton Wellness, 493-495 Main St., Groton. For more information, call 978-615-7157 or visit GrotonWellness.com. See ad on page 3, and Resource Guide on page 39.

On May 31, Natural Awakenings hosted Boston’s first Mind-Body Experiential Event & Expo at Arlington High School, which included a screening of the documentary film The Connection, a panel discussion, more than 30 workshops and an exhibitor hall where attendees learned about and sampled a variety of hands-on, mind-body modalities and other healthy living products and services. A portion of the event’s proceeds was donated to Calmer Choice, a local nonprofit organization that brings mindfulness education into Massachusetts schools.

Boston Natural Awakenings Publisher Maisie Raftery created the event to connect some of Greater Boston’s mind-body experts with local community members. “Boston is full of healthcare experts, including leaders in the mind-body field, so we wanted to create a venue for them to share their knowledge and help educate people on the importance of developing a mind-body connection to improve one’s health and well-being,” she says.

More than 400 people took part in the event, which was so well-received, that Raftery has begun to plan for a similar event in the fall for individuals that missed it or for repeat attendees that want to take part in different workshops. “I was pleased with the turnout and participation, and as with all first-time events, we’ve learned a lot about how to make the next one even better,” she says, adding, “I was blown away by the stream of requests from attendees as they were departing asking when we would be doing it again.”

For ages 3+ Where:

SARAH’S SCHOOL OF MARTIAL ARTS 1100 Massachusetts Ave., 3rd Flr. Arlington, MA

When: July 20-24 and August 17-21 Time: 8:30-1:00 pm For more information: SarahsSchool.com (781) 641-0262

For more information on the event, visit NaturalAwakeningsBoston.com/MindBody-Experiential-Event. Stay tuned for details about the upcoming event this fall.

Mind-body practitioners and healthy living vendors interested in participating can call 617-906-0232. natural awakenings

July 2015

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healthbriefs

Stress Ramps Up Inflammation

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esearch led by Peggy Zoccola, Ph.D., an assistant professor of psychology at Ohio University, has found that dwelling upon events that are stressful can significantly increase inflammatory chemicals in the body. The researchers tested 34 healthy young women giving public presentations for job interviews. Afterward, half were asked to contemplate their performances while the others were asked to think about neutral events and images.

While all of the women initially experienced significantly higher levels of Creactive protein (CRP), the levels continued to rise for at least one hour afterward for the performance-ruminating group, but returned to normal during the same time period for those that pondered neutral thoughts.

CRP is produced in the liver and is known to rise following an injury or in a chronic inflammatory condition. “The immune system plays an important role in various cardiovascular disorders such as heart disease, as well as cancer, dementia and autoimmune diseases,” states Zoccola.

MINDFULNESS MEDITATION LOWERS BLOOD PRESSURE

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esearch from the University of Virginia and Emory University has found that just a few minutes of mindfulness meditation a day can significantly reduce high blood pressure among AfricanAmericans. The research included 15 men with high blood pressure and chronic kidney disease in a crossover study that tested each with 14 minutes of mindfulness meditation and compared that with 14 minutes of blood pressure education during two different treatment periods.

Results showed that practicing mindfulness meditation reduced systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, mean arterial pressure and heart rate among the patients.

SCIENTISTS REVEAL DIRECT LINK BETWEEN BRAIN AND IMMUNE SYSTEM

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n a remarkable discovery, researchers at the University of Virginia School of Medicine have determined that the brain is directly connected to the immune system by vessels previously thought not to exist. The discovery could have profound implications for the treatment of diseases, from autism, to Alzheimer’s and multiple sclerosis.

“Instead of asking, ‘How do we study the immune response of the brain?’ and ‘Why do multiple sclerosis patients have the immune attacks?’ now we can approach this mechanistically,” says Jonathan Kipnis, a neuroscience professor and director of UVA’s Center for Brain Immunology and Glia. “We believe that for every neurological disease that has an immune component to it, these vessels may play a major role.”

The discovery was made possible by the work of Antoine Louveau, Ph.D., a postdoctoral fellow in Kipnis’ lab. Kipnis says that the findings will fundamentally change the way people look at the central nervous system’s relationship with the immune system.

As to how the brain’s lymphatic vessels managed to escape notice before this, Kipnis noted that they follow a major blood vessel down into the sinuses, an area that is difficult to image. The unexpected presence of these vessels raises many questions about the workings of the brain and the diseases that plague it. Neurological diseases, from autism to multiple sclerosis, must now be reconsidered in light of these groundbreaking findings.

Source: ScienceDaily.com

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ecotip Soil Savers

The Need to Protect Precious Native Topsoils American states salute their native identities and characteristics in many ways, including official birds and flowers. Home farmers, growers and gardeners can relish that soils also bear official state designations, including New York’s Honeoye, South Carolina’s Lynchburg, Alabama’s Bama, Iowa’s Tama and California’s San Joaquin. All these different types of earth are threatened by widespread use of pesticides, topsoil degradation and other factors that severely hamper their integrity.

The U.N. General Assembly declared 2015 as the International Year of Soils, saluting its many roles, including storing and filtering water, providing resilience to drought, participating in the carbon cycle and being the foundation for agriculture. According to The Land Institute, the loss of topsoil is the greatest threat to our food supply. Planting perennial crops, agroforestry, intercropping and other agroecological practices can help conserve soils, preventing erosion and protecting water.

According to GreenLiving.com, these sustainable practices can help prevent soil erosion:

Reduce impervious surfaces. Driveways, patios and lanais allow precipitation to flow freely over them, gaining momentum in the process, to erode topsoil. Use paving stones rather than a concrete slab to allow water to percolate down into the soil.

Plant a rain garden. As a shallow depression in the yard, a rain garden collects precipitation washing over impervious surfaces, preventing soil erosion and facilitating growth of wetland plants.

Use a rain barrel. Placing a barrel underneath a downspout will collect and store water that runs off roofs, making it available for watering plants even when rain is sporadic. It supports both water and soil conservation efforts.

Consider innovative products. Fiber mulch mats— small, biodegradable particles of wood, straw, coconut and other natural plant materials interlocked with mulch—blend with soil to keep moisture in the topsoil by acting as a top coating. (Review representative manufacturers’ products at LandscapePlanet.com and ErosionPollution.com.)

Find the official soil for each state at Tinyurl.com/NativeStateSoils.

Control oil and you control nations; control food and you control people. ~Henry Kissinger

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

natural awakenings

July 2015

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Be Creative: Try New Directions to Inspire Connections

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

Vermont’s Victory Court Rules GMO Labeling Constitutional In April, a federal court denied a request by powerful food industry groups to block Vermont’s landmark law requiring the labeling of genetically modified foods (GMO).The plaintiffs, including the Grocery Manufacturers Association, had sought a preliminary injunction to stop implementation of Act 120, which passed in May 2014 and will take effect a year from now.

U.S. District Court Judge Christina Reiss’ ruling said that the plaintiffs failed to show that they would suffer “irreparable harm” to warrant an injunction, and that the state had established that the act’s GMO disclosure requirement is constitutional.

“This important ruling affirms the constitutionality of genetically engineered food labeling, as well as the rights of Vermonters and U.S. citizens across the country,” states George Kimbrell, senior attorney for the Center for Food Safety and counsel in the case.

The ruling came shortly after an analysis by the Environmental Working Group found that industry groups spent $63.6 million last year—triple the amount spent in 2013—to defeat GMO-labeling measures. The general consensus is the Vermont case is likely to go to trial.

Fresh Catch

Community Supported Fisheries Share Bounty of the Sea

Advertise in Natural Awakenings Awakenings’

August Parenting with Presence & Creativity Issue To advertise or participate in our next issue, call

617-906-0232 14

Community supported agriculture is a growing movement in which subscribers pay farmers for weekly shares of their crops before the growing season starts, benefiting both. The farmers receive an infusion of cash up front and are paid a fair price for the food they produce.

Consumers receive fresh food from sustainable, local farms and are often introduced to vegetables and fruits they might not try otherwise.

The same concept applies to new community supported fisheries (CSF), which reconnect coastal communities to their local food systems. According to Paul Greenberg, author of American Catch: The Fight for our Local Seafood, 91 percent of the seafood that Americans eat comes from other countries, while onethird of the seafood caught by American fishermen is sold outside our borders.

He believes this situation exists because most Americans aren’t willing to pay premium prices for better seafood and domestic fishermen realize better prices overseas.

Locally in Gloucester, the Cape Ann Fresh Catch (CAFC) CSF (CapeAnnFresh Catch.org) works together with local fishermen along with shore-side operations to deliver the freshest sustainable seafood available to its more than 650 members, making it one of the largest CSFs in the nation.

Source: Mother Nature Network

Boston | NaturalAwakeningsBoston.com

globalbriefs GMO Gains

Food Supplies Increasingly Under Siege Three hundred farmers recently took over the building and interrupted a meeting where the Brazil National Biosafety Technical Commission was deciding whether or not to introduce genetically engineered (GE/GM/GMO) transgenic eucalyptus trees into their biosphere. These activists and thousands more around the country have halted plans temporarily, but the assault continues by international corporations bent on patenting and controlling the environment itself.

At home, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has already approved the first corporate-sponsored, patented, genetically modified tree, ArborGen’s loblolly pine. Despite outspoken public opposition, the USDA approved it with no public oversight nor assessment of the environmental risks it poses.

Grass-fed beef farmers, supplying an alternative that many seek to avoid GMO feed grain, now have to cope with the advent of genetically modified grass. The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company, Monsanto’s exclusive consumer sales agent for RoundUp glyphosate weed killer, intends to conduct field trials at the homes of company employees absent government oversight, because no laws currently prohibit or limit the planting of GMO grass.

In February, the government approved the first genetically modified apple for commercial planting. The Arctic apple is part of a growing list of sanctioned GMO fresh produce, including papaya and sweet corn. A gene within the apple is altered so it resists browning and bruising.

Many people die or go blind from vitamin A deficiency, so the Gates Foundation has funded research by Australia’s Queensland University of Technology to create a vitamin-enhanced, GMO “super banana”. Testing on humans will take place in the U.S. over a six-week period and researchers aim to start growing the fruit in Uganda by 2020.

Sign concerned-citizen petitions at Tinyurl.com/Credo-No-GMO-Trees and Tinyurl.com/Care2-No-GMO-Grass.

If you think eating

organic is expensive, have you priced cancer lately? ~Joel Salatin

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businessspotlight

EQUAL EXCHANGE

Supporting Farmers, Engaging Consumers, Changing Economies

by Kim Childs

E

qual Exchange was founded 29 years ago in Boston’s South End with a mission to bring small-scale farmers around the world in closer contact with American consumers and reform exploitative models of international trade. They began with coffee from Nicaragua and later expanded its product line, supporting growers and educating consumers in the process.

“About 70 percent of what we sell is coffee and we’ve added chocolate, cocoa, tea, bananas and other things under this mission-driven context of engaging consumers to think and be more curious about how products are sourced,” says CoExecutive Director Rob Everts. “We enable small-scale farmers, who generally do not have the same kind of market access as the big players, to build market share and a viable livelihood.”

Everts notes that Equal Exchange is a for-profit, workerowned, cooperative business that gives equal consideration to multiple stakeholders. “The founders believed that if this dream would succeed it would have to do so in the context of a democratic workplace,” he says. “Today we have about 150 full-time employees who are either owners or on the track to become owners, so all have equal stake in the business. Our

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outside investors have preferred stock but no seat on the board or vote.”

The company’s coffee roasting and production plant is about 30 miles south of Boston, and the product can be found locally in Shaw’s and Hannaford supermarkets, Harvest Food Co-op in Cambridge, City Feed and Supply in Jamaica Plain, and cafes that brew it. The coffees are most often blends of beans from countries like Peru, Mexico and Uganda. Whole Foods Market carries their chocolate and baking cocoa, and these and other items like bananas, cashews, olive oil from the West Bank and teas from India, Sri Lanka and South Africa can also be found online at EqualExchange. coop/products.

Future plans for the company include aligning more tightly with similar fair trade organizations around the world, inviting consumers to play more active roles in the mission, and becoming more deeply involved in efforts to mitigate climate change.

Everts says this includes involving Equal Exchange network members in the movement to divest from companies that use fossil fuels.

“Of course we are feeling the climate change in this country, but in the places where we buy coffee, cocoa and tea it’s even worse,” he says. “The warming planet is taking land out of circulation in high elevation places where coffee is grown. Drought and floods are affecting our growers, so we want to link our work with those who are battling climate change.”

Reflecting on the kind of impact that fair trade companies can have, Everts recalls a cooperative of Peruvian farmers that partnered with the company 15 years ago. “Their quality, membership and product line grew over time, and they later became politically active in their province and ultimately elected a woman to the national assembly,” he reports. “Today she is the vice president of the country, helping to steer governmental spending priorities to rural development in new ways. That’s the kind of social change that drives us to do what we do.”

To learn more and purchase products, visit EqualExchange.coop. natural awakenings

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33 MILLION AND COUNTING: India’s Renowned Humanitarian to Visit Boston

by Faith Pomeroy-Ward

S

piritual leader, humanitarian and visionary Sri Mata Amritanandamayi Devi, known to millions around the world simply as “Amma”, will host four free public programs at the Best Western Royal Trade Center, in Marlborough, at 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. on July 9 and 10.

Amma travels throughout the world, guiding people to emotional fulfillment as well as offering insights and solutions to global issues such as environmental pollution, the mistreatment of women and religious disharmony. She inspires those she meets to make more space in their hearts for others and dedicate time to social service.

Amma’s teachings are universal. Whenever she is asked about her religion, she replies, “My religion is love.” Amma does not ask anyone to believe in God or to change their faith, but only to inquire into their own real nature and to believe in themselves.

Amma’s dedication to uplifting others has culminated in a vast network of charitable projects in India and around the world, under the global banner of Embracing the World.

For this work, Amma has been honored with a number of international awards including the prestigious Gandhi-King Award for NonViolence (2002), the James Parks Morton Interfaith Award (2006), and the Cinema Verite Award (2007) for humanitarian and human rights work. In December 2014, Amma joined Pope Francis and 10 other global spiritual leaders from a range of faiths to sign the Declaration of Religious Leaders Against Modern Slavery.

More recently, after the Nepal earthquake, Embracing the World representatives were on site the day after the disaster, working hard to provide immediate 18

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relief and evaluate options for longer-term aid. In fact, one of the most remarkable things about the Embracing the World initiatives is the long-term solutions provided for disaster-struck zones. Embracing the World is often one of the first organizations to supply vital aid, and one of the last to leave. At the center of Amma’s life is her darshan: the tender, caring embrace that has been sought out by millions. It is in this intimate manner—a heartfelt hug—that she receives one and all, listens to their problems and gives them the inspiration and knowledge to uplift themselves and, ultimately, others.

Those that attend one of Amma’s free programs notice that people come to Amma from all religions and all walks of life. Some have been walking the spiritual path for decades, others have never picked up a spiritual book in their lives. Some come because they are suffering mentally, physically or materially, and they hope Amma can help them. Some are simply curious. Perhaps they have seen Amma in a newspaper or on TV, and they want to see for themselves what Amma is all about.

Regardless of why they have come, many describe experiencing a feeling of radiant and unconditional love in Amma’s presence. Some are moved to tears and feel a cleansing of old wounds; others experience profound peace and even joy. Regardless of people’s different backgrounds or cultures, the experiences of the heart reveals how we are all seeking love and a direct experience of our own true nature.

The stories of people who have met Amma are incredibly powerful, and provide an insight into the way in which Amma is able to deeply affect so many people and open so many hearts: “I felt overwhelmed to realize what a great saint Amma was. She sat there, hour after

hour, sweetly hugging everyone with the same love and compassion, without stopping for even a few minutes. It was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen. I understood that to really know God, one had to be able to love everyone like that, and it was not as easy as described in books.” – Berta Petasny, Buenos Aires, Argentina “When I approached Amma to receive her darshan (hug), I felt her look penetrate my entire being. As if I could not hide any feelings or thoughts from her. Amma embraced me and I felt so deeply loved.”

– Maria Isabel Harker, Bogota, Columbia “Meeting Amma has changed my life immensely. Over time I understood that it is the small, small stones… of rage, guilt, longing, pain, nostalgia… that form the great wall in our hearts that imprison the inner child. We trip over these stones every day in our ignorance. The greatest blessing we receive from Amma is that she offers to take these stones from us.” – Cristina Rodriguez, Barcelona, Spain

Amma’s message of love and compassion resonates powerfully in today’s world, and Amma’s record of tireless service—or compassion in action—inspires volunteers all over the world to selflessly serve others. In the words of Professor Muhammad Yunus, 2006 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, “Amma has done more work than many governments have ever done for their people… her contribution is enormous.”

This year in Boston, thousands of people are expected to seek Amma’s life-changing embrace during Amma’s programs. Whether you feel drawn to meet Amma because of her message of unconditional love or her inspiring charitable works, Amma’s programs have much to offer everyone.

For more information about Amma and her Boston programs, visit AmmaNewEngland.org/tour. Visit EmbracingTheWorld.org for more details about Amma’s charitable activities. See ad on page 9. natural awakenings

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bargain and whether people have access to safe, healthy food—as well as the right to know what is in their food, how it is produced and where it comes from.”

Peck believes that if we want a cleaner environment, healthier people and more vibrant communities, “We need to be citizens that care about bringing democratic accountability, social justice and ecological integrity to all aspects of our food/farm system.”

Local Food Strengthens Communities

Food Democracy By the People, for the People and Toward a Stronger Nation

by Melinda Hemmelgarn

T

o more fully understand the concept of democracy, we can look to some past U.S. presidents. Abraham Lincoln defined it as “government of the people, by the people, for the people.”

Thomas Jefferson said, “An informed citizenry is at the heart of a dynamic democracy.” Harry S. Truman further recognized that “secrecy and a free, democratic government don’t mix.”

By extension, “food democracy” describes a fair and transparent food system in which people have informed choices and control in determining what and how they eat. It’s what happens when we view people as citizens, rather than consumers, and treat food as a human right, reports the Oakland, California-based Pesticide Action Network (PAN).

Kelly Moltzen, a registered dietitian in Bronx, New York, and member of the Franciscan Earth Corps, defines it as having the freedom to make choices about the integrity of our food from farm to plate, so that we can support the health and well-being of ourselves, the Earth and all organisms that inhabit the ecosystem.

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Food Sovereignty Feeds Independence

A PAN report on food democracy describes food sovereignty as the international equivalent of the U.S. movement to re-localize control over our food and farming. It’s rooted in regenerating historically autonomous food systems with, for and by the people.

John Peck, Ph.D., executive director of Family Farm Defenders, in Madison, Wisconsin, explains that the term “food sovereignty” was coined about two decades ago by the globally active La Via Campesina, comprised of family farmers, farm workers, fishing folks, hunters, gatherers and indigenous communities around the world.

“At its most basic,” Peck says, “Food sovereignty is about reclaiming local democratic control over our food/farm system from corporate agribusiness.” This way, “Everyone has the right to decide what is grown or raised in their community, whether animals are treated humanely, if family farmers and other food workers are paid a living wage and can collectively

Boston | NaturalAwakeningsBoston.com

In their report, Deepening Food Democracy, the Institute of Agriculture and Trade Policy (IATP), in Minneapolis, describes how U.S. food and farming has increasingly become concentrated, consolidated and controlled by the few.

Local food enthusiasts want to take back their food system from industrial, corporate masters that lobby for legislation which denies citizens the right to know how their food is produced or if it contains genetically modified ingredients (GMO). The growing local food movement is as much about returning power to communities, food workers, farmers and farm workers as it is about producing and distributing healthy, sustainably grown food, reports IATP.

Anthony Flaccavento, an organic farmer in the Appalachian region of southwestern Virginia, has been working on national food and sustainable farming initiatives for nearly 30 years.

In a recent Food Sleuth Radio interview, he described the resulting tremendous, multiple positive impacts of strong local economies, noting that a strong local food system is usually at their center.

“Once you have vibrant, diverse local economies,” says Flaccavento, “you have better health, lower crime and incarceration rates—and more civic participation.” Basically, a more democratic food system could help fix many of the maladies ailing our nation today.

The steady growth of farmers’ markets, farm to school programs and food policy councils prove that Americans are hungry both for clean food and an enhanced sense of community.

While Flaccavento appreciates conscious consumers that support local food providers, he emphasizes, “Just acting locally isn’t enough. We need to re-engage

with bigger social and political debates, as well.”

Growing Vegetables and Democracy

After Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans, Jenga Mwendo knew she had to leave her high-powered job in New York City and return to her hometown in the devastated Lower Ninth Ward. “My parents raised me to contribute,” Mwendo explains. “My first name means ‘to build’ and my last name means ‘always progressing’.”

In 2009, Mwendo founded the Backyard Gardeners Network (BGN), a local nonprofit organization that restores and strengthens what had once been a thriving, closely knit, self-reliant community, rich with backyard gardens and citizen engagement. Residents went to work, recognizing the potential of community gardens to revitalize their neighborhood and bring affordable healthful food to residents, many of them suffering from obesity, heart disease and diabetes. The BGN both revitalized a community garden and converted a blighted lot into a Guerrilla Garden, where people of all ages gather to grow food, share stories, embrace their cultural heritage and learn how to become responsible citizens.

“We bring people together and make decisions collectively,” says Mwendo. “The garden is for our community, by our community.” Understanding the value of involving children and teens, she adds, “Kids know they will be loved here. This is a nurturing environment.”

Like Mwendo, Stephen Ritz, a top 10 finalist in the Varkey Foundation’s Global Teacher Prize, is reaching youth through food. Based in New York City’s South Bronx, one of the country’s poorest school districts, he and his students are growing vegetables in school, thereby improving children’s diets, health, school performance and future potential. “We are contributing to food democracy by making sure every child we touch, regardless of income, zip code and skin color, faith or nation of origin, has access to fresh, healthy, nutritious food that they help grow,” says Ritz.

So far, his Green Bronx Machine community has raised 30,000 pounds of vegetables. “We’re growing justice,” Ritz announced in his March 2015 TED Talk. “My favorite crop is organically grown citizens— graduates, voters and students who are eating [better] and living healthier lives!” natural awakenings

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actionalert

Support Mandatory GMO Labeling in Massachusetts

D

ue in large part to an outpouring of grassroots support across Massachusetts, this state’s GMO labeling bill, H.3242 has the support of more than 75 percent of the state legislature (154 cosponsors out of 200 total legislators). However, legislators need to hear from many more constituents so they will prioritize and bring GMO labeling up for a full vote this session.

Individuals: Please share the link MARightToKnow.org/contactlegislators as a way for people across the state to take quick action by sending a message to their state legislators in support of mandatory GMO labeling. Individuals are also encouraged to pick up the phone and call the offices of their legislators.

Organizations: More than 350 farms, businesses and organizations have so far endorsed GMO labeling in Massachusetts. Compiling a long and diverse list of local entities in support goes a long way to magnifying our voices. Member-based groups with newsletters or active social media outlets also help to activate a statewide network for change in our food supply. There are no other requirements or obligations other than to help share information with members and networks regarding the campaign as appropriate.

For more information, visit MARightToKnow.org.

Kitchen Gardens Nourish the World

Roger Doiron is the founder and director of Kitchen Gardeners International (KGI), an online global community of some 30,000 people in 100 countries that are growing some of their own food. He spearheaded First Lady Michelle Obama’s White House Garden. Doiron’s campaign to bring a food garden back to the White House (presidents John Adams, Jefferson and Jackson all had edible gardens) began in 2008, went viral, took root and the rest is history. Today, the first lady continues to champion garden-fresh food to improve children’s health.

From his own 1,500-square-foot garden in Scarborough, Maine, Doiron and his wife harvested 900 pounds of organic fruits and vegetables worth $2,200 in a single season. “Talented gardeners with more generous soils and climates are able to produce even more food in less space,” he says, “but maximizing production is not our only goal. We’re also trying to maximize pleasure and health.”

Doiron believes, “Quality food is central to well-being and is one of the best ways to unite people of different countries and cultures around a common, positive agenda.” He’s convinced that kitchen gardens will play a critical role in feeding a growing population faced with climate challenges. On July 4, his organization celebrates Food Independence Day as a way to recognize the role of home and community gardens in achieving self-sufficiency.

Saving Seeds, Saving Democracy

Jim Gerritsen operates Wood Prairie Farm with his family in Bridgewater, Maine.

He’s dedicated to using organic farming methods to protect the environment and food quality, provide ample harvests and foster good jobs for the next generation of young farmers.

As president of the Organic Seed Growers and Trade Association, Gerritsen led a lawsuit against Monsanto in 2011, challenging the validity of seed patents.

In a Food Sleuth Radio interview, he explains, “Patented seeds cannot be saved and replanted. To take that right away from farmers was a terrible mistake on the part of the Supreme Court.” Seed ownership belongs to the people; our seed resource is part of our common heritage.

“Genetic engineering was an invention to take away from the commons the ownership of seeds,” he continues. “Regaining control of the seed supply is one of the most pressing battles we have in agriculture.” Gerritsen encourages everyone to plant an organic garden using organic seeds and to advocate GMO labeling.

“Let’s let transparency reign, which is a hallmark of a democratic system,” he proclaims.

Melinda Hemmelgarn is a registered dietitian and award-winning writer and nationally syndicated radio host at KOPN. org, in Columbia, MO (FoodSleuth@ gmail.com). She advocates for organic farmers at Enduring-Image.blogspot.com.

New Boston Public Market to Open this Summer

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he Boston Public Market (BPM), a permanent, yearround, self-sustaining market featuring fresh locally sourced food, will be opening sometime this summer.

Located at 136 Blackstone Street, with direct access to the MBTA’s Haymarket Station, the BPM will bring together local farmers, fishermen and specialty­food producers with the residents of Boston and Massachusetts to create a new civic institution—a vibrant marketplace that will let people taste, buy and understand their food. Market-goers will learn how their food is made and sourced, its nutritional value, its impact on the environment, as well as how to prepare it to make delicious meals.

More than 35 vendors have been announced to date. Classes, workshops and events will be held in the 3,200 square-foot, state-of-the-art demonstration kitchen including hands-on cooking demos, lectures, family activities, exercise classes and community events within the Boston Public Market.

For more information, visit BostonPublicMarket.com.

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greenliving

FOOD GLEANING Harvesting Leftovers Feeds the Hungry

by Avery Mack

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mericans annually discard more food than plastic—35 million tons in 2012— an amount that’s tripled since 1960, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Most of the waste is fruits and vegetables, seafood, grains, meat and milk. Since waste starts in the fields before it compounds via restaurants, grocers and families, the easiest starting point to reverse this trend is with farmers.

“Farming’s a high-risk business.

Farmers can’t predict weather, sales or equipment problems, so extra is grown,” explains Laurie Caldwell, executive director of Boston Area Gleaners, in Waltham, Massachusetts. “Up to 20 percent of U.S.-grown food isn’t harvested.

Gleaners save what’s left behind for hungry people in need.”

Everyone Benefits

“Income disparity, economic vulnerability and lack of knowledge leads to unhealthy choices,” adds Caldwell. “The negative consequences become a community burden.” Countering the problem, “We’ve seen a shift in priorities, with food pantries offering fresh, quality food and educating both staff and recipients,” she reports. In 2014, Boston Area Gleaners harvested 34 farms, contributing 177,000 pounds of primarily vegetables encompassing 60 varieties.

California’s fruit is abundant because of the state’s year-round growing season.

Until the 1960s and the advent of Silicon 24

Valley, this was the world’s largest fruit-producing region.

Some of its current apple trees date back to the Gold Rush days. “We glean backyards and orchards here,” says Craig Diserens, executive director of Village Harvest, in San Jose. “Apples, pears, cherries, peaches, plums and apricots, plus citrus fruits—it’s ladderless picking, to protect both volunteers and trees.” Telescoping tools pluck out-of-reach fruit. The nonprofit gleans 15 to 20 times a month via volunteers ages 5 to 90. In 2013, its Harvesting for the Hungry program distributed 245,000 pounds of fruit.

The Feeding America West Michigan food bank, headquartered in Comstock, provides more than produce, with donations from manufacturers, wholesalers, restaurants and stores adding meat, dairy, frozen foods and bread. Volunteers repackage donations into usable sizes; do clerical work; pick produce; and sort, pack, store and deliver food.

While most of the nonprofit’s yield is distributed through 1,100 food pantries, shelters and soup kitchens, many can’t store perishables. Working with churches, schools and community centers, the organization’s mobile units deliver fresh food directly to recipients, often the same day it is donated. Each unit can carry food for 100 to 200 families. This local Feeding America outreach group serves an estimated 492,000 people each year.

The Society of St. Andrew often rescues the “ugly” produce—potatoes not

Boston | NaturalAwakeningsBoston.com

well-shaped for chips, oversized peaches, too-long green beans, too-ripe strawberries and apples that aren’t picture perfect.

“Farmers get a tax benefit and people get fresh food,” says Bruce Oland, the Triangle Area coordinator in North Carolina.

“Farmers let us know when they’ll harvest a crop and we have a few days to glean what’s left before they replant. We pick anything edible—kale, lettuce, tomatoes, cantaloupe and lots of sweet potatoes.” In a single harvested field, volunteers have gleaned seven tons of sweet potatoes.

The society’s gleaning and feeding ministry has regional offices in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia. Additional areas are located in Illinois, Indiana, Nebraska, Ohio and Pennsylvania (see EndHunger.org).

Jason Brown, a former St. Louis Rams’ center with a five-year, $37 million contract, traded his cleats for a tractor.

Now in Louisburg, North Carolina, he calls First Fruits Farm home and plans to donate the first fruits of every harvest to food pantries. He learned about farming from YouTube videos, computer searches and other farmers. The first crop on five acres yielded 100,000 pounds of sweet potatoes; Brown gave it all away. With 1,000 acres to farm, he’s set to tackle hunger big time.

It doesn’t require a big time commitment to help feed the hungry. Backyard gardeners can start by planting an extra row (Tinyurl.com/PlantRowForHungry).

Since its inception in 1995, the Plant a Row program has collectively turned 20 million pounds of produce into 80 million meals.

Offer to pick a neighbor’s excess produce or herbs, and then check with others nearby. Get the kids involved.

Volunteer at or make a donation to a soup kitchen. Gather a group of friends, family, members of an organization or congregation to glean or repackage produce one day a month. If a local food pantry can’t accept perishables, leverage social media to spread the word about which day free food will be available at a church or school. Everyone can help. No one should go to bed hungry.

Connect with freelance writer Avery Mack at AveryMack@mindspring.com.

Boston Area Gleaners Leave No Crop Behind

by Nancy Somera

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ore than 350,000 people in eastern Massachusetts access the emergency food system, and each of them requires five servings of fresh produce per day. Boston Area Gleaners (BAG), located in Waltham, works closely with local farmers, providing volunteer labor to harvest what would otherwise be plowed under, to deliver high quality, local produce to pantries and meal programs.

Executive Director Laurie “Duck” Caldwell says, “When food budgets are affected, health often declines” making gleaning a valuable and healthy food source for the community. She notes that gleaning practices differ based on geographical location, and in eastern Massachusetts where more than 1,200 small farms are operated, the practice of gleaning is mostly a reactive one, meaning that farmers call BAG and give them a short window of time, usually 48 hours, to bring volunteers to harvest their unneeded crops.

Caldwell admits that the concept of gleaning is a simple one—gathering surplus on farms and delivering to food pantries—but incredibly complex to implement. In order to create a reliable supply chain, BAG must function as equal parts wholesale distributor, trucking company and mobile harvest crew comprised of registered volunteers. She says they are working hard to grow the infrastructure of the nonprofit organization so they can continue to increase the amount of food gleaned each year.

“With the number of farms in the region, we could be 25 times bigger,” maintains Caldwell. This requires additional resources, mainly financial support. A majority of BAG’s income is individually based via donations and attendance at events. Grants, donated goods and services, earned income and corporate gifts make up the remainder of BAG’s earnings. In order to grow as an organization, Caldwell says it needs more long-term funders to

invest in the concept of gleaning. They hope to secure funding partners within each county as well as build a stronger individual donor base within each community.

The gleaning season is mainly June through December, with additional gleaning of root and stored crops during the winter months. BAG gleans every day of the week, including weekends, and trips are usually in the morning in the summer and in the afternoons in the fall. Most trips last two to three hours in the field, not including travel time to and from the farm. Trips are posted as requests come in from farmers and registered volunteers sign up on a first come, first serve basis. All gleaning trips are staff supervised and volunteers are trained on site.

To donate, volunteer or help raise funds for Boston Area Gleaners at the Three Squares New England Ride for Food on September 20, visit BostonAreaGleaners.org.

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fitbody

Savvy Cycling

Keep the Hard Knocks Out of Biking

by Randy Kambic

P

eople are biking more than ever. Recreational bicycling ranked second to running as the favorite outdoor activity among both youths (6 to 24 years old) and adults (25-plus) in a recent Outdoor Industry Association study. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) further reports that from 2000 to 2012 the number of Americans biking to work rose from 488,000 to 786,000.

This positive trend also means more crowded bike lanes and other pathways challenge the community infrastructure’s ability to keep up, raising safety concerns.

Plus, we naturally want to avoid aches and pains while enjoying the myriad benefits of pedaling.

Find the Right Bike

“Having the right bike for one’s needs that’s properly fitted is crucial,” says Dan Moser, a founder and steering committee member of the BikeWalkLee community coalition and a traffic safety consultant in Fort Myers, Florida. “Use a local bike shop whose mechanics test and adjust the bikes they sell.”

A bike mechanic can determine the proper seat height and ideal distance from the handlebars to the seat tube. Back, knee or hip pain may develop if a cyclist has to stretch their legs to get to the pedals, 26

explains Tim Bustos, a bicycling consultant in Pensacola, Florida, and former bicycle and pedestrian coordinator for Davis, California, which earned platinum-level Bicycle Friendly Community status, along with Boulder, Colorado, and Portland, Oregon, from the League of American Bicyclists (LAB). On the other hand, “A biker doesn’t get proper leg extension if the seat is too low,” he says, possibly leading to leg muscle strains. “The legs should be almost, but not totally extended at the lowest point in the pedaling motion.”

Safety Alert

The latest NHTSA study charted 49,000 bicycle accidents in 2012, 1,000 more than the year before. Biking only in daylight and avoiding alcohol could improve those numbers because 48 percent of biker fatalities occur beginning at 4 p.m. and 37 percent involve a driver or bicyclist that has been drinking.

Even well-marked bike lanes don’t guarantee safety, so caution is required.

Some motorists are careless about entering bike lanes and don’t correctly stop at crosswalks or look behind before opening car doors. David Takemoto-Weerts, a bicycle program coordinator at the University of California, Davis, member of the city’s Bike Transportation Advisory Committee

Boston | NaturalAwakeningsBoston.com

and LAB-certified instructor, suggests keeping at least five feet from the sides of cars to avoid being hit. Cyclists are wise not to weave in and out of traffic, to signal turns and watch out for runners, walkers and pedestrians as they abide by normal traffic rules and flow. Takemoto-Weerts says that bikers sometimes overlook using the stop signal (left arm extended downward) to alert bikers behind them.

Wearing a helmet should be a standard practice. The University of North Carolina’s Highway Safety Research Center, in Chapel Hill, reports that wearing a helmet reduces the overall risk of head injuries by 85 percent. “Cyclists are part of traffic, whether operating on a road, pathway or a combination,” says Moser. “Being acutely aware of one’s surroundings and minimizing distractions, following the rules of the road and pathway, and being prepared to deal with others’ mistakes are all vital.”

Fitness Factors

Dr. Kim Martin, a certified functional medicine practitioner and chiropractor with North Shore Health Solutions, in Northbrook, Illinois, says that recreational bikers have visited her for knee, hip and neck soreness or strains. In addition to ensuring they’re employing proper leg extension, she advises, “Pedal a little faster in a lower gear; ideally, 75 to 90 revolutions per minute, which is easier on the knees and lessens muscle fatigue than traveling slower in a higher gear.” She explains that the correct seat height facilitates proper alignment of hips and a full rotation; if not, energy is forced outward, stressing the hips.

Martin adds that the neck might experience strain from tilting the head up for long periods. “This can occur by wearing a helmet that is too low or forward in the front or poor-fitting eyewear that inches forward down the nose.” Right after a long ride, Martin suggests that riders gently bend downward over their crossed legs a few times, alternately switching legs, and also slowly bending the head up and down, sideways and then in a circular motion for a couple of minutes.

“Overall,” she says, “the key is to have fun.”

Freelance writer and editor Randy Kambic, in Estero, FL, is a frequent contributor to Natural Awakenings.

PEDALING IN BOSTON CYCLE MASSACHUSETTS STATE BIKE TOUR

Dubbed “The Friendliest Ride in the East”, the State Bike Tour will take place August 1 to 7. The tour starts and ends at Smith Vocational and Agricultural High School, located at 80 Locust Street, Northampton, Massachusetts, and takes cyclists through Northampton, Hardwick and Greenfield.

Riders will stay two nights in each location. The Cycle Massachusetts State Bike Tour supports MassBike (MassBike.org) and better biking for Massachusetts. For more information on the tour, visit CycleMA.com.

BOSTON WOMEN’S BIKE RIDE & FESTIVAL

On July 18, Boston Bikes will host New England’s largest biking event for women, at Daisy Field, Willow Pond Road and Jamaicaway, in Boston. This year the event will celebrate active, healthy living, with fabulous food provided by some of the top women in Boston’s food businesses.

A post-ride celebration will feature fun activities for all ages, an expo of businesses that promote healthy lifestyles, live music and bicycle workshops. Registration is $35 at BostonBikes.org/programs/women/festival.

BIKE FRIDAYS

Cyclists can join a bike commuter convoy from one of dozens of locations throughout the Boston metro area one Friday each month. Safe, guided convoys with experienced ride leaders follow a fixed schedule and route, and finish together at City Hall Plaza in Boston. Cyclists receive a free breakfast and coffee courtesy of Boloco, set to music amid an expo at City Hall Plaza. Registration is free and encouraged at BostonBikes.org.

Upcoming Bike Friday dates are July 24 and August 28.

BOSTON BIKE PARTY

Free monthly group bike rides just for fun are held at 7:30 p.m., every second Friday, at Copley Square. Party attitude required; lights, bells and costumes encouraged. To find out each month’s theme, visit BostonBikeParty.com.

BIKE SAFE BOSTON BLOG

Lawyer and cyclist Josh Zisson blogs about biking in Boston and is a resource for helping cyclists across the country to bike safer through a better understanding of bike laws and the rules of the road. Visit BikeSafeBoston.com.

natural awakenings

July 2015

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consciouseating

image courtesy of PlantPureNation.com

VEGGIE NATION REVOLUTION

by Judith Fertig

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n 1776, the stirring phrase in the U.S. Declaration of Independence—life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness—became a rallying cry for American colonists seeking these inalienable rights of self-government.

In 2015, those seeking a new way of eating for personal wellness, a more vibrant local economy and a healthier environment are fomenting their own kind of rebellion.

“You have to make a conscious decision to change for your own wellbeing, that of your family and your

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country,” according to former President Bill Clinton. In early 2010, suffering from heart disease, Clinton chose to radically change his meat-lover’s diet to a more plant-based focus. “I wanted to live to be a grandfather, so I decided to pick the diet that I thought would maximize my chances of long-term survival,” he says.

Clinton is part of a growing leadership group that espouses a more vegetarian approach to eating, including a federally appointed panel of nutritionists. For the first time since its formation

Boston | NaturalAwakeningsBoston.com

in 1983, the federal Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee this year elected to factor environmental sustainability into its recommendations, noting that a diet lower in animal-based foods is not only healthier, but has less of an environmental impact. The impetus toward plant-based foods is also stronger than in their last report in 2010.

Exciting Developments

A bold pioneer in the charge for plantbased eating is PlantPure Nation, a grassroots organization founded by Dr. T. Colin Campbell, Ph.D., the author of the bestselling The China Study, a book that helped persuade Clinton to make his own dietary change. Today, his son, Nelson Campbell, is at the forefront of this food revolution, most recently producing the independent documentary film PlantPure Nation, set to debut nationwide on July 4.

Those enticed by the delicious concept of better health for themselves and the planet can also turn to The PlantPure Nation Cookbook, with more than 150 plant-based recipes by Kim Campbell, Nelson’s wife, whom he names “the chef in the family.”

“No issue is bigger than the one of plant-based nutrition,” says Nelson. “It’s at the root of our healthcare crisis, affecting the lives of millions of Americans, the vitality of our economy

and the solvency of our government. The food we eat has enormous effects on climate, water and soil resources. Our food choices also affect the way in which food is produced and distributed in this country, equitably or not.”

Historically, political revolutions tend to be violently adversarial, but a food revolution can take a more nurturing and inclusive course. “The first step people can take is to change their own diet,” Nelson says. “The next step is to help others do the same. The third is to get involved in the movement.”

New Fourth of July Barbecue

A fun way to help ourselves and our friends and family consider making dietary changes is hosting a plant-based Fourth of July get-together. Kim’s recipes for a smoky “barbecue” sandwich, creamy potato salad and a zesty, colorful bean dish celebrate traditional picnic foods with a twist. They’re also perfect for potluck-style entertaining.

“We have often branded this idea of plant-based nutrition as such and such a ‘diet’, and then built these brands around personalities. But in order to make this a more mainstream idea, we need to frame it differently. This concept of plant-based nutrition is a fact of nature; a simple idea that’s accessible to all,” says Nelson.

In a 2012 Gallup poll, just 5 percent of U.S. adults identified themselves as vegetarians, plus 2 percent as vegans. It’s a start, Nelson contends, and there are other promising signs. “The local-food movement is blossoming, with farmers’ markets springing up all over the United States,” proclaims the National Geographic special publication The Future of Food (Food.

NationalGeographic.com). The number has increased dramatically in the past five years. The editors point to the demand for fresh produce and a desire to invest in local economies as driving this growth.

“I love the idea of a movement involving millions of people fixing a problem that industry and government have largely caused,” says Nelson. “Our success may show a new way forward for solving other pressing social problems.”

Judith Fertig blogs at AlfrescoFoodAnd Lifestyle.blogspot.com from Overland Park, KS. natural awakenings

July 2015

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wisewords

Jeffrey Smith Warns Against GMOs

by Linda Sechrist

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effrey Smith is the founder and executive director of the Institute for Responsible Technology, author of Seeds of Deception and director of the documentary Genetic Roulette: The Gamble of Our Lives. Smith and his organization’s Campaign for Healthier Eating in America are spearheading consumer rejection of genetically modified foods (GM/GMO) in order to force them off the market.

What basics should everyone know about GMOs? Genetic engineering is different from traditional crossbreeding. In engineering

six major GMO crops— soy, corn, cotton, canola, sugar beets and alfalfa—a gene from a virus or bacteria was forced into the DNA of the plants. Derivatives such as soy lecithin, soy protein, high-fructose corn syrup and sugar (unless labeled as cane sugar) are in the vast majority of processed foods.

How did GMO foods invade grocery shelves?

Many U.S. consumers mistakenly believe that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves GMO crops only after careful study. Instead, the agency claimed it wasn’t aware of

any significant difference from other food crops and declared safety testing unnecessary. In reality, according to FDA documents later made public in a lawsuit, the consensus among FDA scientists was that GMOs were different and dangerous and needed rigorous, long-term testing to prevent allergies, toxins, new diseases and nutritional problems.

When the George W. Bush administration ordered the agency to promote biotechnology as a way to increase U.S. food exports, the FDA responded by creating a new position of Deputy Commissioner of Policy for Michael R. Taylor, a former Monsanto attorney. He later became a Monsanto vice president and is now back at the FDA as the U.S. food safety czar.

Why is Roundup, Monsanto’s weed killer for GMO crops, so toxic?

Monsanto portrays Roundup as a benevolent herbicide. This is a lie.

Glyphosate, its active patented ingredient, alters biochemical pathways in the body. Scientists such as Anthony Samsel and Stephanie Seneff have linked glyphosate to numerous diseases and disorders, including cancer, heart disease, diabetes, gluten sensitivity, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, depression, autism and reproductive disorders. In March, the World Health Organization declared it a probable carcinogen.

How can we avoid unlabeled GMO foods?

Eat organic foods, which are not allowed to contain GM ingredients, or products that are labeled non-GMO, 30

Boston | NaturalAwakeningsBoston.com

or those that don’t contain derivatives of the current nine GMO food crops, which now include some zucchini, yellow squash and papaya grown in Hawaii or China. Any packaged grocery product not labeled “Non-GMO” or “Organic” is likely to contain at least one GMO; this includes meat and dairy products, from animals that have eaten GM feed.

NonGMOShoppingGuide.com is a reliable resource that lists about 30,000 non-GMO products. A non-GMO diet is recommended by thousands of doctors, as well as the American Academy of Environmental Medicine.

What more can “we the people” do to eradicate GMOs? We are in control, not government agencies. I believe that promoting a stronger message—that GMOs are dangerous and should be avoided—would better serve consumers and the food-labeling movement. High-profile campaigns will continue educating consumers about the dangers of GMOs and the necessity of rejecting them in favor of healthier nonGMO choices, especially for children that are most at risk.

The desired result is that food companies will feel the loss of profits and remove GMOs as a liability.

The tipping point in the U.S. is almost here. In 2013, the president of Whole Foods announced that when a product becomes verified as non-GMO, sales leap by 15 to 30 percent. Thousands of natural product brands were immediately enrolled for verification.

Now conventional brands such as Post Foods’ Grape Nuts, Target’s Simply Balanced brand, Ben & Jerry’s ice cream and Chipotle’s restaurant menu are GMO-free. General Mills stopped using GMO beet sugar in Cheerios. When the rest of the food industry sees these non-GMO-labeled products increase in sales in conventional supermarkets, they will be forced to eliminate GMOs as well, to protect their market share.

Great things are done when men and mountains meet. ~William Blake

Visit ResponsibleTechnology.org and GeneticRouletteMovie.com to educate everyone about the dangers of GMOs. Connect with writer Linda Sechrist at ItsAllAboutWe.com. natural awakenings

July 2015

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petbriefs Especially for Pets Charitable Program Supports Baypath Humane Society

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specially for Pets has donated $8,641 to the Baypath Humane Society of Hopkinton, the first quarter Charity Nail Clipping recipient of 2015. The program involves offering free pet nail clipping services to customers in exchange for donations that are sent to a local animal welfare organization.

“We’re so grateful to all Especially for Pets’ customers who had their pet’s nails trimmed this year,” says Elizabeth Jefferis, Baypath Humane Society’s Executive Director. “These donations have truly helped our animals, present and future.”

The funds raised through the program enabled the shelter to build a new enrichment space for the animals living there. “For a long time, we dreamed of creating a home-like room that allows our animals a place to relax away from their enclosures,” Jefferis says. “This new space offers a break from what can sometimes be a hectic shelter environment.”

Jefferis notes that the quiet space will be set up like a living room and provide a refuge for anxious dogs, an opportunity for one-on-one bonding time with people, and a comfortable place for potential adopters to get to know the animals.

The Baypath Humane Society of Hopkinton is open daily from 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The organization is dedicated to providing shelter, humane treatment and loving homes for stray or unwanted companion animals and making a positive impact on pet overpopulation. To learn more, visit BaypathHumane.org.

For more information about Especially for Pets services, programs and store locations, visit EspeciallyForPets.com. See ad on this page.

No Worries: Cats Naturally Eat Less in Summer

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study from the University of Liverpool School of Veterinary Science has found that cats naturally eat less during the summer, indicating that owners can take such appetite swings in stride.

The researchers studied 38 cats for four years. Their collars were implanted with a microchip that recorded the amount as they ate as much as they wanted from a dispenser. The team found that cats ate an average of 15 percent less in hot weather.

Their eating decreased from June through August and increased from October to February. Eating levels were intermediate in the spring and fall.

Study author Dr. Alex German observed, “Cats are more inclined to comfort eat when it’s cold outside, likely to be due to the extra energy they need to keep warm when out and about.”

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Boston | NaturalAwakeningsBoston.com

Proudly Supports Animal Shelter & Rescue Groups

We applaud you for all you do to help save animals in need.

ANDOVER

BOSTON/WORCESTER

GDRNE.com

(508) 625-0332 BrokenTailRescue.org

Great Dog Rescue

BEVERLY

Broken Tail Rescue

Friends of Beverly

DEDHAM

BOSTON

(781) 326-0729 ARLBoston.org

FriendsOfBeverlyAnimals.org

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

MSPCA-Angell (617) 522-7400 MSPCA.org

Animal Rescue League of Boston

EAST BROOKFIELD

Second Chance Animal Shelter (508) 867-5525 SecondChanceAnimals.org

ESSEX

PAWS New England

Sweet Paws Rescue

Survivor Tails Animal Rescue

FALL RIVER

PAWSNewEngland.com 617-383-PETS SurvivorTails.org

UnderdogResQ

SweetPawsRescue.org

Forever Paws Animal Shelter (508) 677-9154 ForeverPaws.com

UnderdogResQ.org

GLOUCESTER

BRADFORD

(978) 283-6055 CapeAnnAnimalAid.org

One Tail at a Time

OneTailAtATime.com

BRIGHTON

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

BROOKLINE

Calliope Rescue, Inc. CalliopeRescue.org

Cape Ann Animal Aid

HOPKINTON

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

LOWELL

Lowell Humane Society (978) 452-7781 LowellHumaneSociety.org

MARBLEHEAD

Friends of Marblehead’s Abandoned Animals

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

MEDFORD

REVERE

Animal Umbrella

(617) 731-7267 AnimalUmbrella.org

SALEM

Northeast Animal Shelter

Kitty Connection

(978) 745-9888 NortheastAnimalShelter.org

(781) 393-9995 KittyConnection.net

SALISBURY

MELROSE

Melrose Humane Society

Merrimack River Feline Rescue Society

MelroseHumaneSociety.org

(978) 462-0760 MRFRS.org

MILTON

STERLING

Milton Animal League, Inc. (617) 698-0413 MiltonAnimalLeague.org

NATICK

Sterling Animal Shelter SterlingShelter.org

SUDBURY

Buddy Dog Humane Society, Inc

All Dog Rescue

(617) 507-9193 AllDogRescue.org

(978) 443-6990 BuddyDogHS.com

NORTH BILLERICA Billerica Cat Care Coalition

BillericaCatCareCoalition.org

NORTH ATTLEBORO North Attleboro Animal Shelter NAShelter.org

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

WALTHAM

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

WOBURN

QUINCY

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

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

CitySideSubaru.com • 617-826-5000 natural awakenings

July 2015

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

WEDNESDAY, JULY 1 Charles River Herb Walk – 12:15-1:15pm.

Learn to identify medicinal plants growing along the Charles River. $5. Charles River, corner of JFK & Memorial Dr, Harvard Weld Boathouse, Cambridge. 617-750-5274.

CommonWealthHerbs.com.

Decolonizing Herbalism: A Community Discussion – 7-9pm. An ongoing conversation about appropriation and exploitation in the world of herbal medicine. Focus on the insidious myth of “independence” in an interdependent world. Free.

CommonWealth Center for Holistic Herbalism, 25 Saint Mary’s Ct, Brookline. 617-750-5274.

CommonWealthHerbs.com.

THURSDAY, JULY 2 Celebrate Independence Day with Ancient Lifestyle Techniques – July 2-5. Join Dr. Jeff Migdow, Usui Reiki Master, for this revitalizing holiday retreat exploring the ancient practices of yoga and meditation at beautiful Eastover. Eastover Estate and Retreat, 430 East St, Lenox. 866-2645139. For details & pricing: Eastover.com.

FRIDAY, JULY 3 Boston Pops Concert – Oval opens at 5pm, concert begins at 8:30pm. Also on July 4: Oval opens at 9am, concert begins at 8:30pm. From the opening notes of the National Anthem to the closing bursts of real cannon fire as part of the 1812 Overture, celebrate Independence Day in spectacular fashion. Free. Hatch Shell, Boston Esplanade. Boston-Discovery-Guide.com.

SATURDAY, JULY 4 Fourth of July Fireworks – 10:30pm, immediately following the Boston Pops Concert. Boston’s most spectacular fireworks display of the year. Watch from tall buildings, rooftops or the banks of the Charles River. Boston-Discovery-Guide.com.

SUNDAY, JULY 5 Weekday Tantra Meditation to Enhance Your Love Life – July 5-10. Practice loving communication skills, enjoy sacred touch and share tantra yoga and qigong in the historical mansion and meditation gardens surrounded by the Berkshire Mountains. $550 plus boarding fee. $100 discount before July 1. Eastover Estate and Retreat, 430 East St, Lenox. 866-264-5139.

Eastover.com.

Medicinal Plant Walk – 1-3pm. Learn to identify local, healing plants. We will look at which parts of the plants are used medicinally and how they support health. $15. Boston School of Herbal Studies, 12 Pelham Terrace, Arlington. 781-6466319. BostonHerbalStudies.com.

MONDAY, JULY 6 Self-Help Stress Survival: Hypnosis Seminar – 6:30-8pm. A group hypnosis session teaches you how to relax and stay calm, even under the most

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stressful conditions. By donation; benefit event.

190 Old Derby St, Ste 100, Hingham. 781-3402146. Hypnosis.ws.

TUESDAY, JULY 7 Phone Group Healing – 7-8:30pm. Powerful, relaxing healing on a group level. Shift physical, emotional, karmic issues; release blocks and more.

Recording provided after the call. $50. To register: 617-943-6980. InsightfulTransformation.com.

Just Breathe: Somato-Respiratory Integration Workshop – 7:30-8:30pm. Learn breathing exercises that 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.

617-964-3332. WellAdjusted.com.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 8 Hope in the Midst BookTalk – 2:30-3pm. Please join us for a BookTalk to discuss the book Hope in the Midst. Read about the spirit needed to overcome challenges. Free. Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital, 1153 Centre St, Boston. 617983-7443. BrighamAndWomensFaulkner.org.

Free Orientation to Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction – 6:30-8pm. Orientation to an 8-wk structured and supportive environment in which to learn and deeply develop mindfulness techniques as a part of daily living. Also July 9, 9:30-11:30am.

Visions HealthCare, 910 Washington St, Dedham.

781-232-5504. VisionsHealthCare.com.

Permaculture for Herbalists – 7-9pm.

Investigate the shared landscape of herbalism and permaculture, two holistic practices with similar perspectives and opportunities for crosspollination. $25. CommonWealth Center for Holistic Herbalism, 25 Saint Mary’s Ct, Brookline.

617-750-5274. CommonWealthHerbs.com.

THURSDAY, JULY 9 Free Orientation to Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction – 9:30-11:30am. See Wed listing.

Visions HealthCare, 910 Washington St, Dedham.

781-232-5504. VisionsHealthCare.com.

Free Talk for Women: The Process of Transformation – 12-1:30pm. An introductory talk to kick off a transformational group for women called The Gathering. This talk demonstrates how fear, negative energy patterns, and self-limiting beliefs can hold us back from living our intended lives. Visions HealthCare, 910 Washington St, Dedham. 781-232-5504. VisionsHealthCare.com.

The Heal Your Gut Cookbook Book Signing – 6:30-8pm. Groton Wellness welcomes Mary G. Brackett, co-author of The Heal the Gut Cookbook: Nutrient-Dense Recipes for Intestinal Health Using the Gaps Diet.” Includes delicious recipes, best cooking techniques and key ingredients. $7.

Mill Run Plaza, 493 Main St, Groton. 978-4499919. GrotonWellness.com.

Boston | NaturalAwakeningsBoston.com

SATURDAY, JULY 11 Feng Shui and the Energy of the Land – 9am6pm. Explore the principles of land energy from the Chinese feng shui and Tibetan beyul (hidden land) perspective. Wear good walking shoes; bring water bottle and a hat. $125. Karmê Chöling, 369 Patneaude Ln, Barnet. 802-633-2384.

KarmeCholing.org.

Community HU: Experience the Wisdom and Love of Your Inner World – 11am-12pm. People of all faiths and philosophies are invited to sing HU. Sung silently or out loud, singing or chanting this sacred word can bring benefits such as peace and calmness in difficult times. Free. TS Center for Spiritual Studies, 21 Maple St, Arlington. 508816-1454. TSBoston.org.

SUNDAY, JULY 12 Reiki Level 1 (Shoden) Training and Certification – 9am-6:30pm. Learn to cultivate resiliency, wellness, and mindfulness in your life. Learn to care for others with the gentle, transformative practice of Reiki. CEUs for Nurses and LMTs. $150. Brenner Reiki Healing, 324 Central St, Newton. 617-244-8856.

BrennerReikiHealing.com.

Free Intro to Reiki – 1:30-4:30pm. A community service project where clients can receive a halfhour Reiki treatment by a team of practitioners.

Reiki Practitioners can volunteer at the clinics and receive a free treatment. $15. Arlington Reiki Associates, 366 Massachusetts Ave, Ste 304, Arlington. Pre-registration required: 617-8359963. ArlingtonReiki.com.

TUESDAY, JULY 14

markyourcalendar LyceumLive Presents: Permaculture: Backyard Sustainability An interactive workshop where you will learn: trash and pollution are merely unused resources, how to apply the least change for the greatest effect, how to create a sustainable backyard system where nothing goes to waste.

Tuesday, July 14 • 6:30-8:30pm Free. The Center at Westwoods.

590 Gay St, Westwood.

425-205-1692 • LyceumLive.com Guided Meditation – 6:30-8pm. Also July 21, 28. Guided meditation featuring Grace Ramsey Coolidge, LMHC, Heart- and Energy-Based Psychotherapist with 40 years of meditation experience. A 3-part series teaching potent, guided meditation and imagery. $45/3 wks, $20/drop-in.

Groton Wellness, Mill Run Plaza, 493 Main St, Groton. 978-449-9919. GrotonWellness.com.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 15 You Are What You Eat – 6:30-8pm. A fun and informative presentation, all about living a glutenfree lifestyle. An opportunity to learn the science behind how gluten, sugar and other food choices affect your health and your life. Light refreshments and gluten-free snacks included. Free. Whole Foods Dedham, 300 Legacy Pl, Dedham. 781-232-5504.

VisionsHealthCare.com.

Practical Herbs for Diabetes – 7-9pm. Insulin resistance, the primary underlying imbalance behind Type 2 Diabetes, can be potently mitigated by dietary strategies and herbal remedies. Learn how to get started. $25. CommonWealth Center for Holistic Herbalism, 25 Saint Mary’s Ct, Brookline. 617-7505274. CommonWealthHerbs.com.

THURSDAY, JULY 16 Natural Solutions for Executive Function Struggles and ADHD – 6:45-8:45pm. A drug-free approach to cognitive health. Dr. Ross discusses a researched and effective method for achieving brain wellness and executive function success. Free. Acton Memorial Library, 486 Main St, Acton. 781-4449115. AdvancedNeurotherapy.com.

Preventing and Managing High Blood Sugar with Nutrition – 7-8:30pm. An interactive discussion led by Omar Allibhai, PharmD, explaining what may be going on behind high blood sugar and respective medications. Free. Johnson Compounding & Wellness, 577 Main St, Waltham. 781-893-3870.

NaturalCompounder.com.

Women’s Circle – 7-9pm. Women only evening of sharing, laughter and wine. Groton Wellness welcomes Women Within Eastern USA. We as women will lead the healing of the world, but first we must each do our personal internal healing work through love, support and acceptance. Free. Groton Wellness, Mill Run Plaza, 493 Main St, Groton. 978449-9919. GrotonWellness.com.

FRIDAY, JULY 17 Open House at the New Center for Body Mind Integration – 6-8pm. Come join us for an open house at our new center. Meet Center co-directors Alison Shaw and Barbara Gosselin, see the new center, and hear about upcoming events. Light refreshments served. Free. The Center for Body Mind Integration, 109 Massachusetts Ave, 2nd Fl, Lexington. 781-5074226. HolisticHealingPT.com.

SATURDAY, JULY 18 Buddhist Meditation Retreat – 9am-9pm. Retreat includes both sitting and walking meditation. Basic instruction/guidance available for newcomers.

Free. TS Center for Spiritual Studies, 21 Maple St, Arlington. 617-460-6156. TSBoston.org.

Experience and facilitate healing with acupuncture in a community setting. Free for new patients. Joy Community Acupuncture, 335 Boylston St, Newton.

617-510-0559. JoyCommunityAcupuncture.com.

TUESDAY, JULY 21 Inward Bound Mindfulness Education Teen Meditation Retreat Old Chatham, NY – July 2127. Come unplug, tune in and have fun. Learn selfawareness, mindful communication, and techniques to calm and focus the mind. $35-$1,500. Guideline is 1% of annual family income. Powell House, 524 Pitt Hall Rd, Old Chatham. 978-254-7082. IBME.info.

Practitioner’s Breakfast: Osteopathy and Environmental Toxicity – 7:30-9am. Is the environment causing our body’s harm? An interactive morning of learning, collaborating and networking as Le Santha Naidoo, DO, discusses osteopathy and environmental toxins. Free. Groton Wellness, Mill Run Plaza, 493 Main St, Groton. 978-449-9919.

GrotonWellness.com.

The Incredible Dr. You Workshop – 7:30-8:30pm.

The first class in a series of two, breaks down the basics of Network Spinal Analysis, which is the method of chiropractic used at Newton Chiropractic.

Free. Newton Chiropractic & Wellness Centre, 383 Elliot St, Ste 250, Newton. 617-964-3332.

WellAdjusted.com.

Trigger Point Release Seminar – 7:30-8:30pm.

Discover why gentle touch is so effective in reducing pain and tension in the body, and learn techniques to effectively do this at home. Bring a partner as it requires another person to do it. Free. Newton Chiropractic & Wellness Centre, 383 Elliot St, Ste 250, Newton. Space limited, registration required: 617-964-3332. WellAdjusted.com.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 22 Shakespeare on the Common – July 22-Aug 9.

Performances are usually 8pm, Tues-Sun, with a 3pm matinee on July 25. One of the most popular Boston events in the summer. Bring a blanket, a picnic basket and enjoy a magical evening of free theater under the stars. Free. Boston Common, near the Parkman Bandstand. BostonCentral.com.

Phone Group Healing – 7-8:30pm. Powerful, relaxing healing on a group level. Shift physical, emotional, karmic issues; release blocks, and more.

Recording provided after the call. $50. To register: 617-943-6980. InsightfulTransformation.com.

Make An Herbal First Aid Kit – 7-9pm. Every home needs a first aid kit, and every kit should include herbs. Learn the most important and versatile

herbs for first aid. $25. CommonWealth Center for Holistic Herbalism, 25 Saint Mary’s Ct, Brookline.

617-750-5274. CommonWealthHerbs.com.

THURSDAY, JULY 23 Explore “Real Food” Philosophy – July 2326. Come cook with Cooking Diva, Amy Jo, at this historic estate surrounded by natural beauty.

Includes lectures, Q&A time and cooking to refine your personal best diet, cultivate joy in your kitchen and learn to listen more deeply to what your body is craving. $350 plus boarding fee. Eastover Estate and Retreat, 430 East St, Lenox. 866-264-5139. Eastover. com.

Natural Solutions for Executive Function Struggles and ADHD – 6:45-8:45pm. A drug-free approach to cognitive health. Dr. Ross discusses a researched and effective method for achieving brain wellness and executive function success. Emotional control, initiation, working memory, planning, organization, and task completion are only a few areas that make up executive functioning. Free.

Walpole Public Library, 143 School St, Walpole.

781-444-9115. AdvancedNeurotherapy.com.

Relax, Renew and Awaken – July 23-26. 7:3012:30pm. Join us for a spacious retreat that allows time to walk the land, visit our 1-acre organic garden, or to follow the spontaneous callings of your spirit. Meet other participants over tasty meals; vegetarian options provided. $365. Karmê Chöling, 369 Patneaude Ln, Barnet. 802-633-2384.

KarmeCholing.org.

FRIDAY, JULY 24 Sand Sculpting Festival – July 24-26. Over 500,000 spectators gather at Revere Beach to watch renowned master sculptors from across the U.S. and Canada work their magic with individual 12-ton allotments of sand imported from Hudson, NH plus water.

Free. Revere Beach, Revere. 978-749-6700. BostonDiscovery-Guide.com.

SATURDAY, JULY 25 Qigong & Healing with Thomas Garbarino – 7am12pm. Learn simple and profound ways to awaken your body’s innate healing ability while deepening your capacity to enjoy your life more completely.

Complimentary to Eastover guests. Eastover Estate and Retreat, 430 East St, Lenox. 866-264-5139.

Eastover.com.

SUNDAY, JULY 26 Free Intro to Reiki – 10am-12pm. An overview of Reiki, an ancient hands-on healing method for

SUNDAY, JULY 19 Reiki Level 2 (Okuden) Training and Certification – 9am-6:30pm. Expand your practice of Reiki with the Level 2 tools, teachings, exercises, and meditations. Allow your practice of Reiki to deepen and evolve. CEUs for Nurses and LMTs. Discounted tuition for students and seniors. $300. Brenner Reiki Healing, 324 Central St, Newton. 617-244-8856.

BrennerReikiHealing.com.

MONDAY, JULY 20 Free Day at Joy Community Acupuncture – 2-7pm.

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July 2015

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reducing stress, relieving pain and facilitating healing and personal growth. Free. Arlington Reiki Associates, 366 Massachusetts Ave, Ste 304, Arlington, Pre-registration required: 781-6489334. ArlingtonReiki.com.

TUESDAY, JULY 28 Easy Solutions to Stress-Caused Health Problems – 7:30-8:30pm. Workshop will focus on identifying the different types of stress, their effects on the body and mind, and teaching useful tools that anyone can draw from anytime during times of stress. Free. Newton Chiropractic & Wellness Centre, 383 Elliot St, Ste 250, Newton.

617-964-3332. WellAdjusted.com.

THURSDAY, JULY 30 Survival Guide to Aging – 7-8pm. Are you tired, stressed and fatigued? Is this just part of normal aging or does it mean something else?

Join Groton Wellness’ Sue Lunt, RN, and holistic, certified health coach, as she discusses ways to age gracefully with vibrant energy and optimal health. $15. Mill Run Plaza, 493 Main St, Groton. 978449-9919. GrotonWellness.com.

savethedate 17th Annual 5K Run/Walk to Break the Silence on Ovarian Cancer Come celebrate survivors, remember those we lost, hear the powerful guest speakers and have fun enjoying the festivities of the day.

Sunday, Sept. 13 • 8am-12pm $40/pre-registered, $50/day of. DCR Mothers Rest & Day Blvd on Carson Beach, 25 William J. Day Blvd, Boston. 781-643-9800.

NOCC.Kintera.org/Massachusetts.

savethedate Digesting the Universe: A Revolutionary Framework for Healthy Metabolism Function Unique professional training with Nan Lu, OMD. Now more than ever, healthcare professionals need a new framework for dealing with chronic metabolic conditions swamping society. The biggest impact we can make on health issues like diabetes, obesity and hypertension is to re-see them through the lens of an integrated, whole system approach that accounts for body, mind and spirit. Dr Lu will introduce metabolism function, an exciting, multidimensional process that takes physical treatment into the realm of energy.

Thursday, Oct. 8-11 Open to all healthcare practitioners.

Eastover Estate and Retreat, 430 East St, Lenox.

TCMConference.org.

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ongoingcalendar All Calendar events for the August issue must be received by July 10th 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 Free Basic Yoga, Breathing, Relaxation and Meditation Class – Learn and experience practical tools for managing stress and energy in everyday life. All ages and levels welcome. Dahn Holistic Fitness, 1773 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge. For times & availability: 617-354-9642. DahnYoga.com.

Free Tour of Symphony Hall – Join volunteers on a behind-the-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.

Kids’ Karate – 3-8pm, Mon-Thurs & 9am1:30pm, Sat. Designed to help students build self-confidence and self-awareness while learning and improving in this traditional martial art. $130. SSOMA, 1100 Massachusetts Ave, 3rd Fl, Arlington. 781-641-0262. SarahsSchool.com.

sunday Free Meditation Session – 7-8am. 2nd Sun. A simple and powerful process learned in a 1-hr session for health and wellbeing. Requires 12-15 mins each day to potentially transform one’s life.

Free. Shri Gurusthan Sai Baba Temple, 107 Otis St, Northborough. 617-396-4742. IshaUSA.org.

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, 460C Harrison Ave, Boston. SoWaVintageMarket.com.

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu – 3:30-4:30pm. A martial art, combat sport and a self-defense system. Learn techniques that not only increase their physical fitness, but also challenge the mind. $100. SSOMA, 1100 Massachusetts Ave, 3rd Fl, Arlington. 781-6410262. SarahsSchool.com.

monday Simply Grace Radio: Just Breathe – 10am.

A meditative experience and opportunity to be still, grateful, and to set heart-centered intentions for the week. Free. Online radio. 413-267-0333.

SimplyGrace.me.

“EasYoga” Free Class – 6-7:30pm. Also Thurs.

Relax, re-energize, revitalize. Walk-ins welcome.

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

WellStreetStation.com.

Anxiety and Panic Support Group – 6:30pm.

1st Mon. Designed to offer a place where people

Boston | NaturalAwakeningsBoston.com

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.

UCanBFearFree.com.

Let’s Laugh Today Laughter Yoga – 7-8pm. 3rd Mon. Any age and any level of physical ability can enjoy this unique exercise of laughter and clapping combined with gentle breathing that brings oxygen to the body’s cells. Free. Unitarian Church of Sharon, 4 N Main St, Sharon. 508-660-2223.

LetsLaughToday.com.

Teen Karate – 7-8pm. Every 2 wks on Mon & Wed. Also Sat, 12:30-1:30pm. A traditional Shotokan karate class for teens ages 13-18. Curriculum covers the 3 aspects of Shotokan karate. Build self-confidence, self-awareness and long-lasting friendships. All levels welcome. $130. SSOMA, 1100 Massachusetts Ave, 3rd Fl, Arlington. 781641-0262. SarahsSchool.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.

Natural Healing with Wisdom Qigong – 12:301:30pm. An ancient Chinese self-healing exercise typically involving moving meditation, coordinating slow flowing movement, deep rhythmic breathing and a calm meditative state of mind. $80/4 sessions, $25/drop-in. TS Center for Spiritual Studies, 21 Maple St, Arlington. 617-997-9922.

ArlingtonQiWellness.com.

wednesday 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.

Open Meditation Evenings – 7-8:30pm. Come to meditate and take part in a discussion. Both beginners and experienced meditators welcome.

Light refreshments provided. Donation. Advaita Meditation Center, 28 Worcester Ln, Waltham.

781-647-0020. AdvaitaMeditation.org.

Public Open Night at the Observatory – 7:308:30pm. 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.

thursday Qigong Overlooking October Mountain – 9-10:30am. Enhance your immune system, awaken insight and stimulate life-giving forces for health, healing and wholeness in the awe-inspiring 600 acres overlooking October Mountain State Forest.

Guided relaxation end of each class. Complimentary to Eastover guests. Eastover Estate and Retreat, 430 East St, Lenox. 866-264-5139. Eastover.com.

Institute of Contemporary Art Free Thursdays – 5-9pm. Share the pleasures of reflection, inspiration, provocation and imagination that contemporary art offers through public access to art, artists and the creative process. Institute of Contemporary Art, 100 Northern Ave, Boston. ICABoston.org.

Adult Shotokan – 7-8pm. Also Sat, 7:45-9am.

For ages 18+. Curriculum covers the 3 aspects of Shotokan karate, kala (forms), kumite (sparring) and kihon (basics). Classes consist of traditional Japanese training which helps mind, body and soul. All levels welcome. $100. SSOMA, 1100 Massachusetts Ave, 3rd Fl, Arlington. 781-6410262. SarahsSchool.com.

Somerville Road Runners Night 4.13 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, 171 Broadway, Somerville. SRR.org/Events/Thursday-Night-Race.

Observatory Night – 7:30-9:30pm. 3rd Thurs.

A non-technical lecture and telescopic observing from the observatory roof if weather permits. Free.

Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, 60 Garden St, Cambridge. 617-495-7461. 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.

Simply Grace Radio: Blessing Circle – 10am. A universal, global, gratitude experience intended to awaken grace, honor sacred experience and offer blessings for the journey. Free. Online radio. 413267-0333. SimplyGrace.me.

Blood Pressure Screenings – 10am-12pm. Free blood pressure screenings on the 1st Fri each month in front of the Old Country Buffet. Watertown Mall, 550 Arsenal St, Watertown. 617-926-4968.

Watertown-Mall.com.

Second Fridays Free – 5-8pm. Free evening at the MIT Museum on the 2nd Fri each month. Mingle with friends in the unique galleries and see some of the latest research coming out of MIT. MIT Museum, 265 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge. 617-253-5927.

MIT.edu/Museum.

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

of working with hot glass in glassblowing and bead making. $75. Diablo Glass School, 123 Terrace St, Boston. 617-442-7444. DiabloGlassSchool.com.

Reiki Clinic – 7-9pm. By appt at 7pm, 7:35pm & 8:10pm. 1st Fri. Experience a Reiki session.

Facilitate healing, promote mindfulness and support personal growth in a comforting and reassuring setting. 30-min time slots available; call to schedule. $10. Brenner Reiki Healing, 324 Central St, Newton.

617-244-8856. BrennerReikiHealing.com.

Free Friday Flicks at the Esplanade – July 10late Sept. 8:15pm; at sundown. The perfect way to spend a Friday night in the summer. This series of family movies provides the perfect excuse to grab a blanket, pack a picnic and head for an evening of entertainment under the stars. Free. 617-787-7200.

Boston-Discovery-Guide.com.

Astronomy After Hours at the Museum of Science – 8:30-10pm. Weather permitting, visit the Gilliland Observatory on the roof of the Museum’s parking garage to view stars, planets, the Moon and other astronomical phenomena. Call to ensure program is running on any given Fri. Museum of Science Boston, Gilliland Observatory, 1 Science Park, Boston. 617-589-0267. MOS.org.

saturday

classifieds

The Marketplace at Simpson Spring – 10am-2pm.

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 – 11am-12pm.

2nd Sat. Any age and 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. Walpole Library, 143 School St, Walpole. 508-660-2223.

LetsLaughToday.com.

Natural Healing with Wisdom Qigong – 11am12pm. Relieve allergy, headache and joint stiffness with qigong which has been shown through scientific studies to improve mobility and balance in people with ALS, Parkinson’s, MS or other movement disorders. Wear light, flexible shoes and comfortable clothing. $80/4 sessions, $25/drop-in. Park Avenue Congregational Church, 50 Paul Revere Rd, Arlington. 617-997-9922. ArlintonQiWellness.com.

Prenatal Yoga Class – 11am-12:30pm. Relax, re-energize, re-vitalize. Gentle stretches to relieve tension. First session free. The Well Street Station, 62 Mt. Auburn St, Watertown. 617-923-1440.

WellStreetStation.com.

Glassblowing Sampler – 12-2pm. Every other Sat. Get a taste of the ancient art of glassblowing.

Enjoy the excitement of playing with melted glass while making your very own souvenir. Learn how to gather glass from the furnace, and then control and shape it. $75. Diablo Glass School, 123 Terrace St, Boston. 617-442-7444. DiabloGlassSchool.com.

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

RETREATS ARTIST & SILENT RETREATS – Affordable and quiet Artist Retreat in rural southwest Vermont. Offering guided Silent Retreats in July and August. Inquiries: 802325-2603 or GreenHillArtistRetreat.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 FOR RENT BODYWORK / THERAPY SPACE – For therapist/bodyworker, in 3-office suite on Lexington/Arlington line. Common waiting area, kitchen. Ample parking. On bus line, bike path. $700+. Call Barbara at 781-507-4226.

To Place your Classified Ad here, call 617-906-0232 natural awakenings

July 2015

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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 1-844-AIS-Today TheAISInstitute.com 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 21.

ANTI-AGING SOUND SHAPES

230 Commercial St, Boston MA 02109 617-367-1900 Sound-Shapes.com We offer the latest cutting-edge non-invasive face and body rejuvenation available. Customized treatments are comfortable and based on each clients’ specific cosmetic needs without any down-time. See ad page 15.

APPLIED KINESIOLOGY ACUPUNCTURE RACHEL FRENCH, MAOM 910 Washington St (Rte 1A) Dedham, MA 02026 781-431-1333 VisionsHealthCare.com

With a master’s degree in acupuncture and a gentle approach to healing, Rachel provides relief for insomnia, pain, indigestion, fatigue, emotional and menstrual concerns, and more. See ad on back cover.

ACUPUNCTURE FACELIFT NEWTON CHIROPRACTIC & WELLNESS CENTRE 383 Elliot St, Door F, Ste 250 617-964-3332 WellAdjusted.com

Acupuncture Facelift / Facial Rejuvenation / Cosmetic Acupuncture is a painless, non-surgical method of reducing the signs of the aging process.

The aim is to diminish wrinkles, muscle tension, as well as systematically remove issues standing between you and the glowing young face you deserve. Traditional Acupuncture also available. See ad page 7.

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CENTRAL SQUARE HEALTH AND WELLNESS

Kristine Jelstrup, LMT, CBK 126 Prospect St, Ste 5, Cambridge, 02139 617-833-3407 Kristine@CentralSquareHealthAnd Wellness.com CentralSquareHealthAndWellness.com Achieve optimal health, physically, emotionally, nutritionally. Kristine works with the innate wisdom of the body to clear nervous system interference, creating a balanced body.

See ad page 11.

BIOIDENTICAL HORMONE TREATMENT CONNIE A. JACKSON, MD

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

Boston | NaturalAwakeningsBoston.com

PATRICIA JAY, MD

100 Second Ave, Needham, MA 02494 910 Washington St (Rte 1A) Dedham, MA 02026 781-431-1333 VisionsHealthCare.com Effectively using Bioidentical Hormone Therapy for 10 years; expert gynecologist passionate about supporting women to ease transition through all life phases.

Accepts most major insurances.

See ad on back cover.

BODYWORK BARBARA GOSSELIN, PT

393 Massachusetts Ave, Arlington, MA 781-507-4226 HolisticHealingPT.com I’m a Physical Therapist with 20+ years experience helping people recover from pain using gentle, effective Bodywork techniques including Craniosacral Therapy and Fascial Mobilization. See ad page 17.

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 7.

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.

ERIC ROSEEN, DC

910 Washington St (Rte 1A) Dedham, MA 02026 781-431-1333 VisionsHealthCare.com Patient-centered, evidence-based spinal care and soft tissue work to decrease pain and improve mobility. Experienced with athletes; ART & Graston® Certified. Accepts insurance. See ad on back cover.

LAW OF ATTRACTION COACH David Scott Bartky “Phone Coaching At Its Best!”

973-444-7301 LifeCoachDavid.com

The Law of Attraction is always operating in your life. Are you using it to attract what you want? I will teach you processes and techniques so you’ll not only start to attract what you want (a relationship, more money, more clients, etc.), you’ll also become more excited about your life. The first session is free

TAKE THE LEAP COACHING

Kim Childs 1025 Mass Ave, Arlington, MA 02476 617-640-3813 Kim@KimChilds.com KimChilds.com Need help clarifying and reaching your goals? Asking “What’s next?” or “What do I really want?”

Kim is a Certified Positive Psychology Life, Career and Wellness Coach and facilitator of The Artist’s Way, helping people to cultivate more personally rewarding lives. Initial consultations are free.

COACHING BRIAN SEAN REID

Life Coach, Personal/Professional Development 401-402-0819 Brian@BrianSeanReid.com BrianSeanReid.com Get the support and tools you need to connect with your true nature, get in line with your personal HorsePower and transport your life and/or business toward what matters to you. Brian’s down-to-Earth and effective no nonsense approach has created a shift for many local and international entrepreneurs, coaches and facilitators through his 1-1 trainings, webinars, seminars and speeches. See ad page 42.

L7 COACHING

Alan Rosen, CPC, ELI-MP 617-320-1325 AlanRosen@L7Coaching.com L7Coaching.com Together, we’ll explore your goals and desires, discover obstacles to fulfillment, and create a realistic and transformational action plan. Contentment and lightness are your reality.

COLON HYDROTHERAPY INTERNAL WELLNESS CENTER

Liz Marcano-Pucillo 640 Washington St, Dedham, MA 02026 781-329-3800 Liz@InternalWellnessCtr.com InternalWellnessCtr.com 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 32.

Visit Us At NaturalAwakeningsBoston.com Like Us At NaturalAwakeningsBoston and Natural Pet Boston Follow Us At NAGreaterBoston

FIND US!

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 on page 29.

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.

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 on page 3.

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NEWTON DENTAL WELLNESS 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.

HEAD LICE TREATMENT

HOME-BASED BUSINESS SUZANNE CAMYRE

NITWITS, LLC

All-Natural Lice Removal Salon 617-816-9487 LiceInfo.net Boston’s premier professional head lice treatment salon.

Pesticide-free, non-toxic.

Founded by school nurse Berit Pratt, RN BSN MPH, since 2004. Peace of mind for frantic families.

978-712-8011 Info@TeamNorthrupNE.com TeamNorthrupNE.com As your lifestyle advocate, I’ll facilitate your success in building your own health and wellness business so you can take control of your life. See ad page 16.

ENERGY HEALING HERBAL STUDIES

INSIGHTFUL TRANSFORMATION Anna Clayton 617-943-6980 Anna.EnergyHealer@gmail.com InsightfulTransformation.com

I combine my own intuitive healing gifts with transpersonal psychology to create Transformational Healing for sensitive souls. This work gently and effectively clears issues at the karmic level. See ad page 19.

EXERCISE/FITNESS/ PERSONAL TRAINING KOKO FITCLUB

39 Harvard St, Brookline, MA 02445 77 Spring St, Shaw’s Plaza, West Roxbury, MA 02132 Brookline: 617-566-5656 West Roxbury: 617-325-4800 MA.Brookline@KokoFitClub.com MA.WRoxbury@KokoFitClub.com KokoFitClub.com World’s first automated personal training studio offering highly effective, efficient, customized workouts guided and monitored by the proprietary Smartraining technology in a spa-like setting. See ad page 17.

GYNECOLOGY MITCHELL LEVINE, MD

100 Second Ave, Needham, MA 02494 910 Washington St (Rte 1A) Dedham, MA 02026 781-431-1333 VisionsHealthCare.com In practice for over 32 years, Dr. Levine has been a prominent advocate for holistic and gentler approaches to women’s health care. Provides alternatives to hysterectomy. See ad on back cover.

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THE BOSTON SCHOOL OF HERBAL STUDIES

12 Pelham Terrace, Arlington, MA 781-646-6319 BostonHerbalStudies.com We offer two Herbal Apprenticeship Programs, Advanced Training, Aromatherapy Certification and a series of Thursday evening and Saturday afternoon classes. Please visit our website. See ad page 35.

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

Board-certified MD in gynecology and integrative medicine.

Hormone balancing, nutrition and detoxification are keys to optimal health. See ad page 16.

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

Personalized, comprehensive consultations with experienced herbalists. Whether it’s the flu or a chronic illness, or simply to build greater vitality, herbal medicine can help. See ad page 15.

HOLISTIC RETREATS

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 page 15.

EASTOVER ESTATE & RETREAT 430 East St, Lenox, MA 866-264-5139 Events@Eastover.com Eastover.com

Eastover is a 600-acre sanctuary and residential holistic retreat center in the Berkshires. A dedicated facilitator of holistic events and retreats. Minutes to Stockbridge and Great Barrington, next to October Mountain with views of Mt. Greylock.

Boston | NaturalAwakeningsBoston.com

INTEGRATIVE/FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE RACHEL KATZ, MD, RD 100 Second Ave Needham, MA 02494 781-431-1333 VisionsHealthCare.com

You Matter. We Care. BoardCertified Family Medicine Physician practices with the Functional Medicine approach.

Accepting new patients for Primary Care or Consultation.

Accepts insurance. See ad on back cover.

INTEGRATIVE THERAPY MARSHA KLEIN, LMHC

910 Washington St (Rte 1A) Dedham, MA 02026 781-431-1333 VisionsHealthCare.com Licensed Mental Health Clinician and Behavioral Health Specialist with over 15 years of experience; integrative approach.

Specialties: anxiety, panic, depression, stress, anger, etc.

Accepts insurance. See ad on back cover.

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

SSOMA

Sarah’s School Of Martial Arts 1100 Massachusetts Ave., 3rd Floor Arlington 781-641-0262 SarahsSchool.com We train our body to be strong, our mind and spirit to be patient, in order to become the best human beings we can be. See ad page 11.

MASSAGE

GARY KRACOFF, RPH & NMD

BODYMIND RESOURCING

Johnson Compounding and Wellness 781-893-3870 Gary@NaturalCompounder.com

Alison Shaw APRN, LMT, CEH 393 Massachusetts Ave Arlington, MA 02474 781-646-0686 Alison@BodymindResourcing.org An innovative blend of body-centered counseling, integrative bodywork and energy medicine to uncover and release body-mind patterns that limit your life and health. See ad page 28.

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 on page 29.

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

NATURAL NAIL & SKIN CARE ATIR NATURAL NAIL & SKIN CARE

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.

A full-service integrative veterinary clinic offering caring and healthful options and modalities like acupuncture, functional nutrition, homeopathy, chiropractic, herbs, ozone therapy, surgery and dentistry. See ad page 31.

MARTIAL ARTS

NATURAL MEDICINE

MIND-BODY MEDICINE

115 Great Rd, Acton, MA 01720 978-263-1080 AtirNaturalNailCare.com

We challenge the nail industry to a higher standard and provide detailed maintenance of your hands and feet in a positive, relaxing and clean atmosphere. See ad page 37.

NATURAL VISION IMPROVEMENT

PETER HOWE

508-838-1101 Info@PeterHoweHealer.com PeterHoweHealer.com Over 35 years as an alternative health practitioner and neuromuscular therapist. Helps clients identify and eliminate chronic and acute pain, digestive disorders, Lyme and myriad other health disorders. See ad page 10.

REE COLEMAN, YOUR BETTER VISION GURU

Ree Coleman, Your Better Vision Guru Serving Greater Boston and New England 617-838-0928 Ree@BetterVision.guru BetterVision.guru In 10 visits I can completely change your relationship with your eyes. Learn techniques to improve your vision and how not to age your eyes with Computer Vision Syndrome through techniques, awareness, diet and relaxation.

NEWTON CHIROPRACTIC & WELLNESS CENTRE 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.

When you pay attention to boredom it gets unbelievably interesting. ~Jon Kabat-Zinn

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ORGANIC MATTRESSES & BEDDING

SPRING WATER SIMPSON SPRING MARKETPLACE

THE CLEAN BEDROOM

444 Washington St, Wellesley, MA 02481 781-431-6167 • 866-380-5892 TheCleanBedroom.com

The Clean Bedroom is an organic and all-natural mattress and bedding resource with seven showrooms, including its Wellesley location.

Through its showrooms and website, eco-minded shoppers gain insights to create a healthier sleep environment. See ad page 2.

REFLEXOLOGY

719 Washington St, South Easton 508-238-4472 SimpsonSpring.com

Simpson Spring is the oldest independent bottling plant in the United States, providing pure spring water and old-fashioned, hand-mixed soda in a variety of favors, classic and new. Complimentary tours of historic museum, see the Spring, Visit the Alpacas, and fill up with crisp spring water at self serve stations; bring your own containers. Saturday Marketplace educates, entertains and offers 30 food and artisan vendors. See ad on page 17.

THERMOGRAPHY

INBAR ISRAEL STOLOVICKI 910 Washington St (Rte 1A) Dedham, MA 02026 100 Second Ave, Needham, MA 02494 781-431-1333 VisionsHealthCare.com

METROWEST THERMAL IMAGING

Susan Shaw Saari, Lic.Ac., CCT, MEd, MAOM, Diplomate in Acupuncture (NCCAOM) 781-899-2121 Sue@Thpclinic.com MyThermography.com

Based off the body’s natural reflexes, reflexology is a non-invasive healing treatment that works through contact with the feet yet supports healing throughout. All ages. See ad on back cover.

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Boston | NaturalAwakeningsBoston.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 ALAINE AMARAL, BFA, RYT 910 Washington St Dedham, MA 02026 781-431-1333 VisionsHealthCare.com

Integrative Yoga Therapy is a highly individualized, self-empowering process that connects healthcare with yoga. Heal from chronic pain or illness. Individual & group offerings. See ad on back cover.

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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July 2015

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Boston | NaturalAwakeningsBoston.com