Aging with Awareness - FEBRUARY 2017

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AGING WITH AWARENESS A New Paradigm

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February 2017 | Bucks & Montgomery County Edition | NABuxMont.com

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Climb for Your Dreams!

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natural awakenings

February 2017

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eventbriefs newsbriefs healthbriefs globalbriefs community spotlight fitbody

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

17 WINTER-READY SKIN AND HAIR

Tips to Take Us Through the Season

by Candy St. Martine-Pack

bookreview wisewords inspiration consciouseating localyoga calendar classifieds resourceguide

advertising & submissions HOW TO ADVERTISE To advertise with Natural Awakenings or request a media kit, please contact us at 267-544-9585 or email Publisher@NABuxMont.com. Deadline for ads: the 5th of the month.

22 STAY SHARP

Powerful Ways to Avoid Mental Decline

by Lisa Marshall

28 FIT FOR LIFE

How to Stay Healthy, Flexible and Strong

by Aimee Hughes

30 SACRED PASSAGE

Conscious Dying as a Transformative Healing Journey

by Linda Sechrist

DYING WELL

Bringing Awareness and Meaning to Transition

CALENDAR SUBMISSIONS Submit calendar events online at NABuxMont.com.

Deadline for calendar: the 5th of the month.

40 TRANSFORMING THE

4

Bucks & Montgomery County Edition

How Past Life Regression Therapy Sets Us Free

by Elaine Berk

WAY WOMEN RELATE TO MEN

An Interview with Alison Armstrong

by April Thompson

42 INDOOR KITCHEN GARDENING

Easy-Grow Microgreens Are Big on Nutrition

by Barbara Pleasant

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40

by Sheri Hatfield

39 HERE I GO... AGAIN...

NABuxMont.com NaturalAwakeningsMag.com

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36 THE ART OF

EDITORIAL SUBMISSIONS Submit articles, news items and ideas to: Publisher@NABuxmont.com. Deadline for editorial: the 5th of the month.

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letterfrompublisher Beautiful young people are acts of nature; Beautiful old people are works of art. ~Eleanor Roosevelt

Many of us are enjoying longer, fuller lives. Our

population will soon include 75 million people over the age of 60, and recent reports by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development show the average life expectancy for U.S. men is 76. For U.S. women, it’s 81.

Certainly our extended lifespan is cause for celebration. But it also poses

contact us Publisher & Director of Advertising Partnerships Karen G. Meshkov

important questions: How can we live longer, better with improved physical and

Publisher@NABuxMont.com

emotional vitality? How can we work against a cultural bias that favors youth and

Associate Publisher Melanie Rankin

stigmatizes older age? How can we treat death with candor and compassion?

AssociatePublisher@NABuxMont.com

Researchers and gerontologists are hard at work on the wellness piece of this puzzle, and are making progress. An exciting revelation came in 2009, when Elizabeth Blackburn, Ph.D., and two of her colleagues won the Nobel Prize for medicine for their work concerning something called telomeres, which protect each end of a chromosome from deterioration or fusion with other chromosomes.

Telomeres naturally shorten as we age, but it is now believed that this process can be slowed, and telomeres extended. Blackburn’s work concluded that lifestyle changes—like those we promote in Natural Awakenings, such as committing to a plant-based diet, avoiding stress, and participating in meditation and exercise— can influence telomeres positively.

Staff Writers Rebecca Antsis, Sarah Grey, Carrie Jackson, Gisele R. Siebold, Julie Vitto Proofreader Julie Vitto Calendar Editors Kyle and Amy Hass Design & Production BuxMont Designs Social Media/Digital Savvy Social Media

Replacing outmoded ideas about what it means to be living into sixth, seventh, eighth and ninth generations requires a shift in collective consciousness. Zen teacher Norman Fischer offers, “We need living examples of old people who really are old people and who really are vital and admirable... And we need to understand what aging is, and what it is for.” In the months to come, Natural Awakenings will feature profiles of older members of our community. Our hope is to address misconceptions about the senior years, break down the walls between

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“us” and “them”, and work toward constructing a new, positive paradigm through which we can understand old age.

While we are honoring life and longevity, we must also honor death. We explore in this issue myriad ways that people are working to make the process more personal, peaceful and sacred.

Thank you for taking this important journey with us.

This and every month, we are “Making the Awakening” together.

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

The content herein has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and is not meant to treat, diagnose, cure or prevent any condition.

Statements are the opinion of the author/speaker.

Always consult your healthcare provider. We welcome your ideas, articles and feedback. © 2017 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.

Karen G. Meshkov

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 for a location near you or if you would like copies placed at your business.

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February 2017

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Change Your Career, Change Lives New Tai Chi Classes start Jan 30 Shiatsu Clinic Feb 4 and second clinic Feb 18 9am-5pm Sound Journey Feb. 18 Welcome the new year with Lois Harrison 7-9pm, $30 Reserve space early

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The measure of who we are is what we do with what we have. ~Vince Lombardi

eventbriefs Escape to Bali for Yoga and Meditation

N

atassia Levine of Open Center Yoga will guide students in a week of daily yoga practice, guided meditation, gourmet vegetarian food and inward reflection at Sarinbuana Eco Lodge, in Bali, from May 15 through May 20.

Rates include twice daily yoga, one workshop, a group temple tour and three gourmet, vegetarian meals per day, with organic tea, coffee and juice options.

A Yoga Alliance-certified Vinyasa Yoga Teacher, Levine describes the retreat as an opportunity to meet new faces, deepen one’s practice and recharge the soul.

Students will begin each morning with yoga and meditation on the outdoor yoga deck. A relaxed itinerary will allow for spending the day freely, whether that entails swimming in a nearby waterfall, reflecting in a rice paddy or taking advantage of the Eco Lodge’s many options for self-care and personal enrichment, which are available for an additional cost.

“Sometimes you have to take an adventure and get away from everything familiar to connect with who you truly are,” says Levine, whose practice spans nearly 15 years. She currently teaches at Open Center Yoga, in historic Bristol Borough, and offers several weekly classes and monthly workshops. Levine also specializes in Drishti Yoga and has over 10 years of practice in Pilates.

Rates for the retreat do not include airfare or ground transportation. Ground transfer booking information will be provided with final itinerary. Students are advised to select flights that arrive at least eight hours before the start of the retreat.

Cost: $775 per student for shared rooms. Upgrades available for private rooms and bungalows. A $500 deposit is non-refundable after March 1. All balances due by April 1. Location: Sarinbuana Eco Lodge, Tabanan, Bali 82152, Indonesia. For more information, call 267-799-8308 or email BaliYoga2016@gmail.com. See Save the Date listing, page 49.

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Interfaith Program Offered in Doylestown

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he School of Sacred Ministries, an outreach program of Pebble Hill Interfaith Church, in Doylestown, is accepting applications for its interfaith ministry program set to start in March 2017. The school offers one of the country’s most comprehensive interfaith programs for religious studies, professional development and spiritual transformation. Through lectures, retreats, reading, self-reflection and community service, students develop the tools to find deeper meaning in their lives.

“We are paving the way for people to communicate and coexist peacefully,” states Reverend Brian Weis, the administrator at the School of Sacred Ministries. Over the course of 27 months, participants study the world’s major religious, spiritual and wisdom traditions, experience the power of ritual and the beauty of celebration, and learn what it potentially means to assume the mantle of interfaith clergy.

According to Weis, the program offers the opportunity for students to explore their spirituality within a community of like-minded people; expand their awareness of other points of view, beliefs and traditions; learn how they can help others; and, if they choose, become an ordained interfaith minister or celebrant.

The School of Sacred Ministries is a service-oriented, nonprofit divinity school that was founded in 1997.

Its mission is to help spread greater understanding by respecting those of all faiths, and recognizing and embracing commonalities.

For more information and to register, call 215-348-3428, ext. 6, email Contact@SSMInfo.org or visit School OfSacredMinistries.org. See ad, page 15.

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eventbriefs Climb To New Heights with Indoor Rock Climbing Retreat Erin Owen, Transformational Life Coach for Leaders and President of EEO Balance Corporation, along with Karen G. Meshkov, publisher of Natural Awakenings BuxMont, will host a pair of indoor rock climbing and goal-setting retreats, from 1:30 to 5:30 p.m., February 26, at Philadelphia Rock Gym, in Wyncote, and February 27, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Doylestown Rock Gym, in Doylestown. No prior indoor rock climbing experience is required and newbies to climbing are welcomed—all training and safety supports will be provided by professionally trained staff. Early registration is strongly encouraged, as space is limited, and registration will close as soon as all spots are filled.

This invigorating half-day retreat is designed to help clarify and supercharge annual goals, as well as facilitate a new awareness of our innate talents and intuition. The event will include a learning lab exploring the cutting-edge neuroscience behind learning and change, and will then put theory into action through climbing. Participants will experiment with climbing, (safely) falling and climbing again, all in a supportive environment where participants are encouraged to go to their “edge” and see what growth and change is found there. The event will wrap up with a debrief session where participants can share their insights and takeaways.

Climbers will celebrate their experience with newfound friends and leave feeling exhilarated, empowered and motivated.

“We are excited to introduce this innovative event at two fantastic local rock climbing venues,” shares Owen. “Even if you’ve never climbed before—particularly if you’ve never climbed before—this is an opportunity to try something new, to get your juices flowing in the cold of winter and to supercharge your goals so they come off the page and become achievable in your daily life.”

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Cost: $150. Locations (Dates): 827 Glenside Ave., Wyncote (Feb 26), and 3853 Old Easton Rd., Doylestown (Feb 27). For more information, call 215-771-8968 or email Connect@ ErinOwen.com. Registration required at ErinOwen.com/ClimbingRetreat.

See ad, page 3.

natural awakenings

February 2017

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newsbriefs Open Up to Heart-Centered Hypnotherapy

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or the past decade, clinical psychotherapist Beth Herman has provided individual counseling for adults, adolescents and children with a wide range of emotional and behavioral issues. Now, Herman is excited to add a more person-centered, holistic modality called Heart-Centered Hypnotherapy to her practice offerings.

Heart-Centered Hypnotherapy combines specialized hypnotherapy techniques that integrate Inner Child Work, CBT and Gestalt methods of therapy, resulting in healing for both client and practitioner after each session. “In this modality there is an energy release,” explains Herman. “From a cognitive perspective, there is a conclusion that we draw about ourselves based on core experiences, and they can be misguided. The goal in Heart-Centered Hypnotherapy is to heal that wound by correcting the mistaken thought or concept and to affirm a new behavior.”

Inspired by a growing demand in her field for more holistic care options, Herman says her commitment to continuous learning was affirmed by her own personal experience with hypnotherapy. “Coming from an academic clinical background, I was somewhat skeptical initially. After completion of my initial training, I was so blown away I decided to pursue the Advanced Program. This work relieves the clinical distance and lets me get closer to my clients.” Herman is currently training in a two-year advanced clinical internship for hypnosis through The Wellness Institute.

Herman offers free, initial consultations and sliding scale pricing at her Doylestown office.

Location: The Farm at Doylestown, 605 Farm Ln. For more information, call 215-348-8900, email BethHerman@BethHermanTherapist.com or visit BethHermanTherapist.com. See ad, page 15.

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Age Smarter, Not Harder with Integrative Health Care

Providing Compassionate Legal Services for You and Your Family

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t Integrative Health Care, in Fountainville, the aging proIntegrative Health Care cess is put into focus under the lens of its preventive care services. A doctor of podiatric medicine and licensed acupuncturist, the practice’s founder, Dr. Lisa Rhodes, attests that “prevention is priceless” and offers a variety of preventive therapies geared to save individuals money on future healthcare costs.

“We can be smart about aging,” says Rhodes, who has practiced for nearly two decades and is in the process of receiving additional training and certification from the Institute of Functional Medicine. Integrative Health Care’s anti-aging therapies include acupuncture, nutritional counseling, weight loss, detoxing and light therapy. Rhodes encourages those with active health issues to try any number of these therapies, particularly if relief with other therapies has not been achieved. “The key is to be proactive sooner than later,” she advises. “For some, that means lifestyle changes, such as exercise and dietary changes.

For others, it means finally addressing that health issue that’s been put on the back burner for too long.”

Through a range of complementary, noninvasive modalities Integrative Health Care serves as supplementary support to allopathic medicine. “Our approach is to pinpoint underlying causes of symptoms,” says Rhodes, adding that in order to offset negative effects of the aging process, “It is important for all of us to engage in preventive health care.”

Location: 5055 Swamp Rd., Ste. 203, Fountainville. For more information, call 215-230-4600, email IHCHealth4You@ aol.com or visit IntegrativeHealthCare PA.com. See ad, page 19.

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healthbriefs

Infants Breathing Bad Air May Suffer as Teens FamVeld/Shutterstock.com

A

study from the Karolinska Institute of Environmental Medicine, in Stockholm, analyzed data on air pollution exposure and lung function in the first and 15th years of life among 2,415 adolescents in Sweden. The researchers focused on nitrogen oxide in vehicle exhaust and particulate matter from road erosion, using road traffic, topography and weather conditions to classify pollution levels. They compared this data to the level of difficulty the teens experienced getting air through their peripheral airways, termed “resistance”.

The study found that breathing problems increased for teenagers each time their exposure as infants to such pollution increased by 10 micrograms per cubic meter, with the strongest association occurring in male subjects with asthma at age 16. The same increase was not present in relation to their exposure to traffic pollution as teenagers.

Lead author Erica S. Schultz, Ph.D., says, “An increasing number of studies demonstrate the importance of airway periphery for lung health. It’s concerning that the effect from the first year of life seems to be long-lasting, although we don’t yet know the full clinical implications.”

Aloe Vera Juice Allays Diabetes

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joannawnuk/Shutterstock.com

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

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

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Reflexology and Imagery Relieve Preoperative Anxiety

A

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

Researchers divided 360 preoperative patients ages 17 and up into three groups: those receiving standard care for preoperative anxiety; those receiving standard care along with complementary therapy, featuring acupuncture, reflexology, individual guided imagery or a combination of the latter two; and those receiving standard care combined with generic guided imagery via a recording. Anxiety levels were measured preoperatively before and after the intervention on a scale of one to 10, with scores of four or more constituting intermediate or higher-level anxiety.

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

Dino Osmic/Shutterstock.com

FORTIFIED FOODS CUT INTO SUPPLEMENT USE

A

September 2016 survey from Packaged Facts, a division of Market Research Group, LLC, showed that as much as 20 percent of the U.S. adult population is cutting back on supplement use due to consumption of fortified foods.

Despite this trend, nutritional supplement sales nationwide are projected to increase by $1.5 billion in just two years to $16 billion in 2018.

Fortified foods contain extra nutrients added by manufacturers such as cereal fortified with iron, milk with added vitamin D and pasta enhanced with folic acid.

While the original intent of these additives was to improve nutritional deficiencies in people without access to foods that naturally contain these nutrients, consequences now include an overabundance of particular nutrients for some and poor food choices due to a dependence on fortified foods for others. Ingesting naturally occurring nutrients in unfortified foods allows each nutrient to be absorbed together with the other vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients contained in that food, enabling them to work together within the body, according to the Harvard School of Public Health.

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

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Heave Ho

Abandoned and lost fishing gear such as traps, crab pots and nets litter the ocean floor in coastal areas worldwide, continuing to attract, entrap and kill fish and other marine life. The Associated Press reports that global nonprofits, governments and companies are engaged in efforts to retrieve and recycle as many of the items as possible to protect the environment, save marine life and reduce hazards to marine navigation.

A 2009 United Nations report estimated there are 640,000 tons of discarded fishing nets deep below the ocean surface worldwide. Recommended solutions include degradable panels on traps that break down and allow trapped marine life to escape. International agreements prohibit dumping fishing equipment at sea; yet in England, small vessels can amass landfill charges of roughly $700 per year, giving them an incentive to ditch broken gear.

Pascal van Erp, a Dutch diver alarmed by the amount of equipment he’s encountered, founded the Ghost Fishing Foundation to tackle the issue. He says, “It’s found in all seas, oceans and inland waters at all depths, along the beach and under the sand. I don’t think the problem can be resolved completely, but we can keep it from getting worse by showing the problem to the public and the authorities.” Industry experts and scientists estimate that commercial fishermen annually lose about 10 percent of their traps due to bad weather.

Fungus Among Us Genetically Altered Mushrooms Approved for Consumption

Free Fuel

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

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

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

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Abandoned and Lost Fishing Gear Pollutes the Seas

14

Bucks & Montgomery County Edition

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Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) is a new method of editing genomes of farm animals and food crops.

White button mushrooms (Agaricus bisporus) that have been genetically modified to delay the natural browning process are the first CRISPRedited organisms to receive approval from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

Yinong Yang, a plant pathologist from Penn State University, crafted the modified mushrooms by targeting the family of genes responsible for the browning effect seen in produce when sliced and exposed to oxygen.

Yang was able to reduce the browning enzyme’s work by 30 percent and was granted approval from the USDA because no foreign or altered DNA was integrated into the mushroom genome. The department only assesses whether there’s a risk that the new modified variety of an organism could become a weed or “pest” to other plants.

The mushrooms may still be subject to Food and Drug Administration or Environmental Protection Agency regulations. The National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine are in discussions about developing a new set of rules for the biotech industry in the next five to 10 years.

Source: Nature.com

Veggie Tales

Plants Communicate with Sound

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Repurposed Pallets

Texas Company Turns Wood Waste into Furniture

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

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

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

Still accepting applications for March 2017 start!

Source: PalletSmart360.com

Think with your whole body. ~Taisen Deshimaru natural awakenings

February 2017

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Winter-Ready Skin and Hair Tips to Take Us Through the Season

by Candy St. Martine-Pack

W

ith colder temperatures and abrasive wind, the winter months can be especially harmful to the skin. For treating chronic skin conditions or just trying to maintain overall health, organic and holistic treatments will leave the skin healthy and nourished.

1. Go organic.

Many over-the-counter products contain harsh chemicals, such as parabens, petroleum, sulfates and fragrances that can damage the skin and overall health. These products, when applied to the skin, are absorbed directly into the bloodstream. Using soaps and lotions containing natural and organic ingredients keeps the whole body healthier.

2. Choose “hotpressed” soap.

There are two main types of soap: coldpressed and hotpressed. Unlike coldpressed soaps, hot-pressed soaps contain glycerin, a humectant that attracts moisture to the skin. Look for hot-pressed soaps to help skin maintain moisture and hydration. These soaps should be wrapped in plastic to prevent moisture, attracted by the glycerin, from beading up on them.

3. Limit water.

When dry skin itches, we scratch, which leads to further irritation and damage. A good moisturizer will help soothe and protect the skin. Look for

6. Limit shower time.

creams and lotions that don’t contain water as the first ingredient.

Products that contain calendula oil, jojoba oil (which is more like human sebum), olive oil, tamanu oil and shea butter have important antioxidants and healing properties.

People tend to take longer, warmer showers in the winter, and the extra exposure to water can leave skin feeling dry. Try to keep shower time below 10 minutes and skip a day if possible.

People with scalp psoriasis should use a shampoo that contains tea tree oil, which has antiseptic, antimicrobial and antibacterial properties, to help with itchiness and sores on the scalp.

7. Mediate mold and dust.

4. Be mindful with diet.

Both eczema and psoriasis are considered inflammatory disorders, and while they can be quite bothersome, they can often be managed through diet and holistic treatments. Diet can have a significant impact on skin in general. Foods that contain white sugar, dairy and flour cause inflammation inside the body, aggravating not only eczema and psoriasis, but other conditions as well. People with severe skin conditions might also try avoiding nightshade vegetables like tomatoes, eggplant and other highly acidic foods.

5. Don’t skip sun protection.

Protecting skin from the sun is just as important in the winter as in the summer. Snow and ice can reflect the sun and cause sunburn damage. Zinc-based total sunblock protects against both UVA and UVB rays and also acts as an antifungal treatment. Read the labels; avoid sunscreens that contain artificial ingredients that may be harmful.

Although humidifiers are commonly used to add moisture to the air in the winter, they can actually be cesspools for mold and other bacteria that irritate the skin and lungs. Those with severe sensitivities or allergies should keep their homes free of dust mites and make sure anything that comes into contact with their skin, such as bed linens, is covered in plastic. Frequent dusting and vacuuming is also important.

Candy St. Martine-Pack is owner and originator of Green Street Luxuries and GSL Organics, located at 617 W. Main St., Lansdale, and creates all products on-site. For more information, call 267-879-1554 or visit GSLOrganics.org.

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communityspotlight

What kinds of people come in on a regular basis?

We have people of all kinds, really. We’ve had babies as small as two months old, and I have an older couple that has a monthly membership.

Do you have to have a health issue to benefit from the salt?

An Evening in The Cave Visiting with Anita Heft, Owner of Himalayan Salt & Wellness Cave

I

t’s a rainy winter weeknight, and yet the waiting room of the Himalayan Salt Cave and Wellness Center, in Pottstown, is packed with people. Men and women, children and senior citizens fill the lobby, busily checking in on their reservations. The monthly sound bowl meditation event starts soon; both the 6 p.m. and 7 p.m. sessions are sold out.

Natural Awakenings: Wow, there are a lot of people here!

Anita Heft: We take reservations weeks in advance. These events are very popular, as are our crystal healing and guided meditation events. We do all sorts of events in the caves, from bridal parties to yoga classes, reflexology and reiki. There are options for socializing—you can rent the cave or family room and just come in and hang out or be quiet and peaceful. There’s also a salt bed that delivers a more concentrated experience. All of these options offer the benefit of breathing in the salt air and taking some time to rest and relax.

Many clients that come say it helps with their coughing, asthma and skin conditions and that it opens up their sinuses.

My son had allergies and it really helped his breathing. I hear others say it helps relieve their migraines, and an older client reports that it alleviates her neuropathy pain and tremors.

Others just appreciate the stress-reduction benefits, better sleeping and how they feel when they leave.

Why do people need to wear special socks into the rooms?

These socks are washed with detergent that doesn’t have any harmful chemicals. The salt in the cave is not like regular salt—it’s organic and contaminate-free. It came directly from a mine in Pakistan that is known for its purity. Particularly because many people that come here can have allergies, respiratory and/or sensitive skin conditions, we don’t want to risk contaminating it.

You opened up last July but you already have over 3,000 Facebook friends. Are you surprised that salt caves have become so popular?

I’m really blessed. People have really taken to it. They come because they are curious, and they keep coming back because they say they just feel good.

Location: The Himalayan Salt & Wellness Cave is located at 1494 N. Charlotte St., in Pottstown. For more information, visit HimalayanSaltNWellness.com or call 610-310-3884. See ad, page 41.

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businessspotlight

Making Businesses Social

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ichelle Arbore, of Savvy Social Media, helps entrepreneurs and businesses through the process of creating a social media presence, maintaining it and getting the most out of the various online tools.

“We all need help and support,” she says. “Our job is to take your frustrations away by creating customized training to fit your needs, no matter what level your business is at or what industry you are in.”

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kinds find the right type of social media they should be using. “With our help, we discover what your social media goals are and who your target market is. By doing this, you will know which platforms to focus your time on,” says Arbore.

She also offers LinkedIn training for companies as a way to build credibility and demonstrate their expertise. “If you have an incomplete profile, that shows a lack of credibility and professionalism,” Arbore says. “With first impressions going a long way, it’s important to get yours right the first time.”

Arbore also offers the chance to “Rent My Brain for two hours”, during which time clients can sit down and ask her anything about social media—including looking at profiles and getting

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practitionerprofile

Muhamad A. Rifai, MD Medical Director, New Vitae Wellness and Recovery

A

s the Medical Director for New Vitae Wellness and Recovery, Muhamad A. Rifai, MD, FACP, FAPA, FAPM brings to the center more than 15 years of experience and progressive training in clinical medicine and psychiatry. He received his Clinical Professor of Medicine and Psychiatry degree from Geisinger Commonwealth Medical College and is President-Elect of the Lehigh Valley Psychiatric Society.

Throughout his career, Rifai has advocated for the expansion of progressive treatment options, such as deep Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (dTMS), in an effort to reach more people in need of psychiatric care.

What changes have you seen in treating mental health over the last decade?

This is the decade of the brain. We are on the cusp of great advances in the treatment of psychiatric disorders.

Individualized medication recommendations are a reality and practiced on a daily basis at New Vitae Wellness and Recovery under the progressive leadership of our chair of the board, Adam Devlin, and our president and CEO, Judith Yanacek. By utilizing cuttingedge genomic markers to choose medications that can lead to psychiatric stability in our patients, we can achieve superior outcomes.

When did you first learn about dTMS and when did you start working with patients using the technique?

I was first introduced to the concept of dTMS while working as a consultant for the National Institute of Mental Health, in Bethesda, Maryland, in 2002. Brainsway, the maker of the only

available dTMS machine, was established in 2003. The company holds an exclusive license from the National Institutes of Health for the patent and for dTMS technology. New Vitae Wellness and Recovery started using the technology in 2015 and we’ve had great success treating many patients, with strong outcomes.

How is New Vitae unique among mental health care providers?

New Vitae Wellness and Recovery is a leader in the Greater Lehigh Valley area and in the Northeast as a provider of psychiatric services and long-term residential and rehabilitation services for individuals with severe and refractory psychiatric disorders. Anecdotal and evidence-based figures show that patients at New Vitae achieve better outcomes in terms of remission, psychiatric stability and the reduction in hospitalizations.

People are sometimes skeptical of new treatment modalities.

Can you speak to the status of dTMS with the FDA and the research and clinical trials? dTMS has been approved by the FDA since 2009 and this technology has already been applied in at least 100,000 cases worldwide. It has also been enthusiastically embraced by leading research institutions worldwide, with over 60 clinical trials held across the globe.

For more information and admissions inquiries, call 610-928-0173, email Info@NewVitaeWellness.com or visit NewVitaeWellness.com. See ad, page 6.

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STAY SHARP Powerful Ways to Avoid Mental Decline

by Lisa Marshall

A

slow descent into dementia seemed inevitable for a 66-yearold man that had been misplacing his keys, missing appointments and struggling at work. He failed doctor-administered cognitive quizzes and tested positive for a gene variant linked to an exponentially higher risk of Alzheimer’s disease. A brain scan revealed scattered clusters of sticky, amyloid plaque—a hallmark of the disease. His hippocampus, or memory center, had shrunk to rank in the lowest 17 percent of men his age.

Told there wasn’t much that could be done, he sought the help of University of California, Los Angeles Alzheimer’s researcher Dale Bredesen, a neurologist and founding president of the independent Buck Institute for Research on Aging. He recommended a personalized, 36-point plan, including a high-fat/low-carb diet, intermittent 22

Bucks & Montgomery County Edition

fasting, strict sleep schedule, select dietary supplements and other lifestyle changes. Within three months, family members reported marked improvements in his memory. At 10 months, brain scans revealed his hippocampus had grown 12 percent.

“Such improvements are unprecedented,” says Bredesen, who described this and nine other hopeful cases in a provocative paper published in June in the journal Aging. “These are the first examples of a reversal of cognitive decline in pre- and early Alzheimer’s patients.”

Addressing the Sources

Bredesen is among a small but growing group of researchers, physicians, caregivers and patients challenging the conventional wisdom that the road to dementia goes one way, with no cure or repair of damage done. They argue that the key to both prevention and NABuxMont.com

reversal, at least in early stages, is to pinpoint its numerous drivers—from nutritional and hormonal deficiencies and exposure to infection to environmental toxins and harmful drugs—and attack them simultaneously. It’s a stark departure from the classic, often unsuccessful, one-pill treatment approach. Of the 244 clinical trials for Alzheimer’s drugs between 2002 and 2012, all but one failed.

“Imagine having a roof with 36 holes in it, and your drug patched one hole. You still have 35 leaks,” says Bredesen, who believes his synergistic approach—the Bredesen Protocol—can likely make Alzheimer’s drugs work better or render them unnecessary. Skeptical colleagues point out that Bredesen’s paper described only 10 case studies, not a clinical trial. “It is intriguing, but not enough to make recommendations to physicians or patients,” says Keith Fargo, Ph.D., director of scientific programs and outreach for the Chicagobased Alzheimer’s Association. “The current consensus in the scientific community is that we do not have a way to reverse dementia.”

While agreeing that a larger study is needed, Neurologist David Perlmutter, of Naples, Florida, whose bestsellers Brain Maker and Grain Brain promote nutritional changes for supporting brain health, considers Bredesen’s study revolutionary. “To reverse Alzheimer’s in one patient is monumental, much less 10,” says Perlmutter.

They recently presented together at a conference organized by Sharp Again Naturally, a New York nonprofit that educates patients and caregivers about natural means of slowing and reversing cognitive decline.

After losing her mother to Alzheimer’s, the nonprofit’s co-founder, Jacqui Bishop, 74, stopped her own frightening decline by changing her diet and getting her thyroid hormone levels under control via supplements.

Now she’s helping others do the same.

She says, “We are trying to change the conversation from one of despair to one of hope.”

Mending Body and Brain

Key to Bredesen’s approach is the notion that instead of being one disease, Alzheimer’s consists of three sub-types

Lifestyle changes can prevent and slow cognitive decline. Some say they also reverse it. with distinct drivers: inflammation or infection; harmful environmental exposures; and/or lack of neuron-nurturing hormones. To determine which one to target, he tests patients for blood-sugar, inflammation and hormone levels, heavy metals and critical nutrients such as D and B vitamins. Then he crafts a personalized plan.

He notes that the 10 years it can take to progress from subtle decline to full-blown Alzheimer’s provides a huge opportunity. “Ideally, we want people to come in when they have mild impairment or are asymptomatic,” says Bredesen, advising that tests be done for the APOE4, or “Alzheimer’s gene” in one’s 40s. “People have not wanted to know in the past because they’ve been told there is nothing they can do about it. We completely disagree.”

One way to stay cognitively sharp is to eat fewer carbs (which boost blood sugar) and eat more fat, says Perlmutter.

“There is a clear relationship between elevated levels of blood sugar and increased risk of Alzheimer’s.”

One study, published in 2013 in the New England Journal of Medicine, tracked 2,067 healthy adults for seven years and found that the higher their average glucose level, even if they weren’t diabetic, the more likely they were to develop dementia. For instance, those with a level of 115 milligrams per deciliter were 18 percent more at risk than those measuring 100 milligrams per deciliter.

A 2012 study published in Neurology followed 266 adults for four years and found that those with higher blood sugar saw certain areas of the brain shrink 6 to 10 percent more than those with lower blood sugar. Gluten can also be problematic, advises Perlmutter, when it’s inflammatory and driving brain degeneration.

In contrast, good fat, like that in avocados, fatty fish, coconut oil and walnuts, serves as a foundation for neurons and an efficient, clean-burning

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Get-Smart Supplements Curcumin: This potent constituent in turmeric (the yellow spice that gives curry its flavor) has been shown to combat many of the problems that contribute to brain degeneration, including inflammation, free radical damage and high blood sugar. It also boosts growth of new brain cells.

Take 500 milligrams (mg) twice daily or eat a diet rich in curry.

DHA (docosahexaenoic acid): This omega-3 fatty acid serves as a key building block for brain cell membranes. Take 1,000 mg daily (derived from fish oil or algae) or eat lots of fatty fish.

Coconut oil: It’s rich in medium-chain triglycerides, an efficient, clean-burning fuel source for the brain. Take one or two teaspoons daily.

Probiotics: These help fortify the intestinal lining, reducing the gut permeability and inflammation that can impact cognitive health. They also support production of key neurotransmitters and the brain-derived neurotrophic factor brain growth hormone. Look for supplements or foods containing Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus brevis, Bifidobacterium lactis and Bifidobacterium longum.

B vitamins: High levels of the amino acid homocysteine have long been linked to increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease; have levels checked and if they’re elevated, B6 and B12 can reduce them.

Source: David Perlmutter 24

Bucks & Montgomery County Edition

fuel source for the brain. This is particularly helpful in someone with early-stage Alzheimer’s, says Bredesen, because the disease can make it harder for the brain to use sugar for fuel. In some cases, both doctors recommend an extremely low-carb, or “ketogenic” diet (fewer than 60 grams of carbs per day). Starved of carbohydrates, the liver produces fat-like compounds called ketones, a brain-fuel source shown to stimulate growth of new neural networks.

Bredesen also recommends 12 hours of fasting each night, with zero food intake within three hours of going to sleep. Fasting promotes a process called autophagy, by which the brain essentially cleans itself of damaged cellular material. Eight hours of sleep is also vital. According to University of Rochester research, the space between brain cells opens up during sleep, allowing cleansing channels of fluid to flow more freely. “If you were operating your house 24/7 with no time to rest or clean, it would be disastrous,” says Bredesen.

“The same is true of your brain.”

Also, they say, keep teeth clean because bacterial infections, including those in the gums, have been shown to hasten formation of neuron-killing plaque. Also critically examine the prescription drugs being ingested. A recent study of 74,000 people published in JAMA Neurology found that regular use of heartburn drugs like Prilosec and Nexium increased dementia risk by 42 to 52 percent. Meanwhile, anticholinergic drugs like Benadryl and statin drugs prescribed to manage cholesterol have also been linked to increased dementia. “We see ‘statin brain’ all the time,” observes Perlmutter, who says once patients go off the drugs, they tend to get better.

False Hope or Sound Advice

Fargo says researchers are keenly interested in many of the ideas in Bredesen’s paper. Although it’s too early to endorse them, numerous studies are underway. But he wonders if some patients that assert that they’ve reversed dementia actually suffered from something else, like sleep apnea or depression.

Bredesen stands by his research, asserting that the 10 patients in his paper had all been formally diagnosed NABuxMont.com

Resources Alzheimer’s Association, alz.org Buck Institute for Research on Aging, BuckInstitute.org David Perlmutter, DrPerlmutter.com MPI Cognition, MPICognition.com Sharp Again Naturally, SharpAgain.org with Alzheimer’s or its precursors. One 69-year-old entrepreneur that was planning to close his business after 11 years of mental decline is now expanding it. A 49-year-old woman that scored poorly on neuropsychological tests showed no signs of cognitive decline when she was tested again nine months later. In all, more than 100 people have participated in the program. “We have people that are fourand-a-half years out and doing very well,” he says, noting that such strategies aren’t likely to work for someone with advanced Alzheimer’s.

In some cases, the results may be more subtle, but for those caring for a sick loved one, any positive progress means a lot. Paul Tramontozzi knows.

After his father, then 75, was diagnosed with Lewy Body Dementia, the New York City financial advisor attended a Sharp Again Naturally meeting seeking advice. “I was skeptical, but when the answer you get from everyone else is, ‘There’s nothing you can do,’ you become more willing to listen.” He took his father off his cholesterol medication, fed him spoonfuls of coconut oil daily and put him on a specific supplement regimen. His balance improved and he could participate in family outings again. “If you had told me a few years ago we’d be able to take Dad to a restaurant for his 80th birthday, I would have said, ‘No way.’ But we did.”

Tramontozzi says his father isn’t cured, but the advice he obtained facilitated more time together and insights on how to avoid a similar fate. “These are all things a healthy 37-year-old should be doing right now anyway. I just wish we’d found out earlier.”

Lisa Marshall is a freelance health writer in Boulder, CO. Connect at LisaAnnMarshall.com.

practitionerprofile they begin to reminisce and come alive. There’s a lot of improvisation and playfulness, and through the movement and the laughter we are helping them to discharge loss, physical pain and anxiety. I always use the Sam Cooke song “Shake”, and I’ll ask, “What can we shake off today?” And they’ll answer me, “Our problems, our worries, our arthritis!”

You are a reiki practitioner, too.

How do you bring touch, breath and mindfulness into your work?

I’ve been practicing reiki for over 10 years. I use those skills—touch and attunement—every day. Just touching someone on the shoulder in the right way when they are agitated can make shifts happen. I also incorporate breathing exercises throughout the session. It helps to ground and center us, particularly those that are cognitively impaired.

And we do mindfulness practice using sensory items. We use scented moisturizers and focus on how it feels on our hands and how it smells. We focus just on those sensations for a moment.

REMINISCING to Breath & Beat

Natasha Goldstein-Levitas Moves Seniors Toward Center

N

atasha Goldstein-Levitas is a Philadelphia-based dance/ movement therapist with over 16 years of experience working with older adults across various cultures and socio-economic backgrounds.

She facilitates groups at several area senior centers, residential case- and outpatient-based programs that are specifically tailored to the needs of high-functioning seniors, as well as those suffering from degenerative conditions such as dementia. GoldsteinLevitas has presented at conferences hosted by the Delaware Valley Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association and her research article, “Dance/Movement Therapy and Sensory Stimulation: A Holistic Approach to Dementia Care”, was recently published in the American Journal of Dance Therapy.

How have things changed in the senior living community since you started 16 years ago?

You’ve been working with seniors in several different capacities. How did you start your work with older adults?

During my master’s degree training in dance therapy, you choose a population to work with. I chose older adults and I’ve just kept choosing them. It’s become part of my heart.

What happens in a typical session?

I start by putting on music from the 1940s and ‘50s. The session is very organic, and it’s about connecting with the people in whatever way they can.

If they can make eye contact or tap their toes, that’s where they are. I ask questions that will elicit memories, like, “Who is singing this song?” and

Things are definitely changing. When I started, there were very few, if any, groups like the ones I am facilitating.

Now, there is more receptivity to holistic treatments and a recognition of how these simple, low-cost practices can have a measurable impact on seniors’ quality of life. I find that people are most receptive when they’ve experienced it themselves. When they come to sit in on my sessions they can see the difference in people when they come in compared to how they are when they leave—they are lighter and less agitated. There’s such an urgent need for more of these programs for this quickly growing population, and it’s exciting to see the culture of eldercare becoming more inclusive of these modalities.

For more information, visit Natasha Goldstein.com.

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February 2017

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Support and Sustenance

The Alzheimer’s Association Offers Resources for the Delaware Valley

by Carrie Jackson

W

ith more than five million people in the United States suffering from Alzheimer’s disease and another 15 million people acting as caregivers, the need for resources and support is growing. The Alzheimer’s Association is the largest nonprofit voluntary health organization in the country dedicated to research, education and support for the disease. The Delaware Valley Chapter, headquartered in Philadelphia, with a new suburban regional office located in Montgomery County, offers a wide range of programs and services to local people living with Alzheimer’s, as well as their family members, caregivers and loved ones.

Alzheimer’s disease currently has no cure or proven treatment. It is caused by buildup in the brain from two proteins, tau and beta amyloid, which disrupts communication

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between cells and results in memory loss, disorientation and problems with language, judgment and orientation.

Eventually the damage to the nerve cells in the brain causes the body to shut down, resulting in death.

Weekly support groups, which are led by trained volunteer facilitators, are conveniently located across southeastern Pennsylvania, including Bucks and Montgomery counties. They are safe places for caregivers to share best practices, discuss challenges, make connections and find empowerment from other group members in a confidential, supportive environment. Caroline Stritz, who co-facilitates a group in Elkins Park that meets in the evenings every third Wednesday, explains, “Caregiver support groups give family members the opportunity to connect with others in similar situations and share ideas that can make a difference in dealing with

a wide range of challenges. Sometimes what helps the most is talking to someone who’s been there and who knows how difficult it is to see a loved one decline and require help doing things they used to take for granted.”

The chapter provides free education programs, specialized conferences, professional training, early stage initiatives, fundraising events and resources.

The programming, through its Julie H.C. Bailey Learning Academy, provides healthcare providers and lay caregivers with the tools and education to ensure people with Alzheimer’s receive professional, respectful, appropriate care. These programs are free and just require advanced registration.

The Alzheimer’s Association also operates a 24/7 helpline, 800-2723900. “Anyone who has questions about Alzheimer’s or a related disorder, our programs and services, or needs help finding resources for the family can call us any time, any day of the year—even holidays, and someone will answer the phone to guide them,” says Krista McKay, the Alzheimer’s Association Delaware Valley Chapter’s director of programs and services.

With the help of support groups, programs and community engagement, the Alzheimer’s Association Delaware Valley vows to work to eliminate Alzheimer’s disease through research, provide care and support for all affected, and reduce the risk of dementia through the promotion of brain health.

The Alzheimer’s Association Delaware Valley Chapter is headquartered at 399 Market St., Ste. 102, Philadelphia. For more information, call the 24/7 helpline at 800-272-3900 or visit alz.org/delval.

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FIT FOR LIFE

Bucks & Montgomery County Edition

hen thinking about the best forms of exercise as we enter midlife and beyond, we should first clarify some myths and preconceptions,” says Michael Spitzer, of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, biochemist, fitness expert and author of Fitness at 40, 50, 60 and Beyond. “In our society, there’s a mindset that once we pass our 40th year, it’s all downhill from there.

Our metabolism slows and we gain weight, lose mobility and flexibility, deal with more aches and pains, experience shortness of breath and the list goes on.”

According to Spitzer, this all can happen, but it’s more of a self-fulfilling prophecy than destiny. “Research with older people at both rehabilitation and nursing centers tells us that the human body wasn’t designed to begin a major decline in function until age 70, barring major illness or accidents along the way. Most of individual decline is due to lifestyle choices, not nature’s plan.”

Spitzer teaches his clients that weight training is essential for every age group. “After age 30, most people lose between 0.5 to 1 percent of lean muscle fiber per year, which directly affects the basal metabolic rate. Much like a car engine, the more lean muscle mass NABuxMont.com

we have, the more energy our ‘engine’ uses, even when idling. If not prevented, by age 50, for example, we may have lost as much as 20 percent of the lean muscle fiber we had when we were 30.”

He also recommends regular cardiovascular exercise. “Do a good round of cardio inside your target heart rate zone for 30 minutes at least three times a week. It’s vital for lung and heart health, the primary benefit of cardio exercise as opposed to just burning calories.”

“For those in their 40s, I recommend high-intensity interval training such as burst training, along with a mind-body practice like power yoga or budokon,” says Nelson Pahl, of Northfield, Minnesota, managing editor of Longevity Times. “Vinyasa yoga, tai chi and cycling are ideal during our 50s, while hatha yoga, tai chi, or qigong and hiking work well in our 60s.”

“Most of my clients are 70 and up,” notes Gwyneth Jones, an active aging specialist at the Carriage Club, in Kansas City, Missouri, who also trains physical therapists, rehabilitation specialists and movement educators. “They enjoy mixing up their daily exercise routines and look forward

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to the support and encouragement of their classmates. Discussions include lighthearted wordplay and questions about anatomy and physiology.”

Pahl urges everyone at every age, “Consume only whole foods, always.”

He rarely drinks alcohol and begins every day with yoga and qigong.

“Also, be sure to stay well hydrated,” adds Jones. “This will keep your joints healthy, skin clear and moist, digestion more efficient and detoxification of organ systems more effective. Add fresh lemon if you like.”

Physical fitness is only one aspect of aging gracefully. Spiritual growth lifts and lightens any mental and emotional load, while supporting physical well-being.

Spitzer also recommends, “Reading, learning to play a musical instrument, crafting activities, computer strategy games or doing other

activities that require concentration or new problem-solving skills; all help the mind stay tuned up and sharp.” It’s always healthy to break out of normal routines and comfort zones, venture into new worlds, volunteer and do what makes our heart soar.

Jones advises, “Choose activities that feel good, refreshing, include people you enjoy, and are done in pleasant environments. Don’t forget to revel in sunshine or a good book on a rainy day.

Listen to music, play music, sing and dance every day.”

Maturity brings benefits we can embrace with delight when we bring loving attention and happy novelty to life.

Aimee Hughes, a freelance writer in Kansas City, MO, is a doctor of naturopathy and consultant for the Yandara Yoga Institute. Connect at ChezAimee@gmail.com.

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PASSAGE Conscious Dying as a Transformative Healing Journey

by Linda Sechrist

W

hen properly viewed, the thresholds of all of life’s transitional moments can be both emotionally and spiritually rewarding.

Whether it involves marriage or birth, job loss or illness, gleaning insight from the experience can yield fresh perspective on how to live life more fully today, if we remain mindful and lovingly attentive through the process.

Like birth, death is a transition we can wisely prepare for. In recent years, compassionate individuals and grassroots movements have emerged to help us conduct ourselves, heal and grow from losing a loved one or face our own passing. An increasing number of initiatives support a new model in palliative care that treats death not as a failure, but an expected aspect of 30

Bucks & Montgomery County Edition

the human experience. Each in its own way advocates for a grace-filled passage supported by dignified, caring and compassionate practices.

Profound Shift

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

styleuneed.de/Shutterstock.com

SACRED

openness, compassion and a universal field of consciousness.

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

It attends to the provider’s inner awakening and helps them strengthen their ability to give spiritual, emotional, physical and practical care to anyone, helping to relieve pain, regardless of diagnosis.

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

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

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

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

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

Exploring the Mystery

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

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

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

Sarit Wuttisan/Shutterstock.com

art and healing ritual of a home funeral by preserving the rights of families to provide home after-death care.

Supporting and educating interested families is the mission of Sacred Crossings founder Rev. Olivia Rosemarie Bareham. The certified death midwife and home funeral guide draws from her experiences as an auxiliary nurse and hospice volunteer to assist families with end-of-life planning, death midwifery and arrangements for an at-home vigil and funeral, as well as cremation and burial choices.

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

We rediscover that in order to die well, we must live well. Dying gracefully is the result of a mindful, day-to-day journey—a culmination of informed choices, honest discussions and deference to the hallowed fragility of nature’s life-death cycles. ~William Rosa

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

Questions she frequently addresses in public talks and Death Over Dinner party conversations include: the necessity of finishing unfinished business; bringing closure to unresolved relationship issues; finding words to express our compassion; soothing the sense of impending loss; and managing to take only love with us to the other side, yet

leave enough of it behind to help loved ones through their grieving process. She cautions that no matter how well we plan for death, things don’t always go as planned.

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

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

Practical Plans

The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and its 360 Degrees of Financial Literacy program offer a free downloadable national Guide to Financial Decisions: Implementing an End-of-Life Plan at Tinyurl.com/EssentialPlanNeeds.

It includes basic descriptions of issues that arise as we age beyond retirement and details the critical documents needed for the individual, dependents, property, assets, estate planning, wills and trusts. It also addresses issues related to advance, treatment and do-notresuscitate directives, insurance, types of funerals and costs, and Social Security, Medicare and veterans’ benefits. Guidelines suggest consulting with a certified public accountant or personal financial planning specialist.

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

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

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

Writing Our Legacy

by Linda Sechrist

I

n their books Caring for the Dying and Having the Last Say, authors Henry FerskoWeiss and Alan Gelb, respectively, advocate reviewing our life and writing a short narrative to explore its value as we approach our final act of Earth’s play.

Processing experiences from the past and what they mean at this juncture presents us an opportunity to achieve greater clarity and integrate them in a positive way in our life story. According to Fersko-Weiss, it has the power to reduce depression, increase life satisfaction, promote acceptance of self and enhance integrity of spirit, no matter what phase of life we are in.

The harvesting of life experiences should reflect our true humanity—flaws and all—and what we’ve learned through mistakes and failures, as well as triumphs. Conveying a compelling mythic family story, values we’ve lived by and our embrace of meaningful relationships will help the people we know understand that, for all its difficulties and complexities, life is worth living.

Our narrative, whether recorded as an essay or scripted video, becomes an act of praise for the gift of the life we’ve led, imperfect as it may have been. It can also serve as a potential keepsake that passes along life lessons and values from one generation to another.

Gelb suggests that summing up what’s most important to us in 500 to 1,000 words can be an experience to savor and enjoy at a reflective time in life, an opportunity to capture our legacy and even serve as our own eulogy.

When we want a loved one no longer here to feel near to us and hear them one last time, it’s a way for them to literally have the last say, he adds.

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New York Times journalist Mark Leibovich wrote about how Massachusetts Senator Edward Kennedy chose to spend his final weeks in pursuit of a “good ending.� As death approached, Kennedy told friends that he wanted to take stock of his life and enjoy the gift of his remaining days with the people he loved most. As a result, he continued enjoying his morning ritual of reading newspapers while drinking coffee, playing with his dogs, watching James Bond movies with his wife and holding family dinners and sing-alongs near nightly. He reveled in his bedside view of Nantucket Sound, sailed when he could and ate lots of his favorite ice cream. His mantra was, “Every day is a gift.� “As our time winds down, we all seek comfort in simple pleasures—companionship, everyday routines, the taste of good food, the warmth of sunlight on our faces,� remarks Boston’s Dr. Atul Gawande in Being Mortal. “If we strive in our final months for independence, companionship, mindful attention, dignity, wisdom, joy, love and freedom from pain, we have the power to make those days less miserable, confusing and frightening.�

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

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How many times a week/ month do you volunteer?

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I try to volunteer at least once a month or more. It can vary.

Why did you decide to enroll in the program?

When my parents and grandparents were alive I loved spending time with them. Once they passed, I felt a void. I saw an advertisement for volunteer training at the Lansdale Library.

Since it was so close, I decided to go, especially since they were looking for people with reiki experience, and I have that skill. I love to visit nursing homes and enjoy visiting the elderly, so I thought this would be a great fit for me, and I thought this would be a way to help me feel needed.

What does your work involve?

For people who are close to death, I sit with them in what is called the “11th Hour Program”. Many times these people have no family, and I feel so honored to be able to share this time with them doing reiki, maybe holding their hand and letting them know they are not alone. We are also there for the family in their time of sadness. This too has been truly a wonderful experience for me.

What have you learned from the experience?

I learned people do need other people like our volunteers to be there for them in their time of need—holding their hand or just listening to what they have to say makes their day and my day as well. I may be having the worst day when I go see my people, but they make my day so much better. I have met so many lovely people through the years and would never trade it for the world—they are all a true blessing to me.

For more information about Ascend Hospice’s volunteer program, call 866-821-1212. See ad, page 35.

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bookreview

Change Maker How My Brother’s Death Woke Up My Life

by Rebecca Antsis

T

here are two types of books in the New Age literary genre: those that speak down to you from high on the mountain, and those that make the journey with you.

Rebecca Austill-Clausen’s inspirational memoir, Change Maker: How My Brother’s Death Woke Up My Life, belongs firmly in the latter. AustillClausen takes readers with her through the series of unlikely events that catalyze her unexpected spiritual blossoming.

Originating from the tragic passing of her younger brother, AustillClausen’s grief catapults her onto a path of transformation. Over the course of less than a year, she goes from “Type Triple A” workaholic to profound seeker and spiritual adept, splitting her time between managing a thriving occupational therapy, physical therapy and speech-language pathology practice and exploring her quickly evolving spiritual life, rich with fantastic meditations, visualizations and encounters with spirits, shamans and guides.

Within the body of the book, AustillClausen’s voice resonates as powerful yet inclusive, effervescent with joy at her discoveries while constantly understanding the need to ground. Although not shy to relay the pure wonder and majesty of her experiences, AustillClausen also does not disguise her doubts, nor does she pretend she does not harbor some reticence in sharing

Rebecca Austill-Clausen this new dimensionality to her life.

“Multiple times a day, I questioned the reality of ...I did not even know what to call it… my spiritual enlightenment?

At the same time, I had never felt more alive, more in control and more at peace with myself.”

The format of the book is organized month-to-month, inviting readers to travel alongside Austill-Clausen, step by step, and experience her wonder as it grows in this remarkable narrative of awakening.

At the close of each chapter is a one- to two-page companion section entitled “Illumination.” These interludes engage readers with guided meditations and affirmations, encouraging us to

Experience her wonder as it grows in this remarkable narrative of awakening.

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explore and integrate the ideas contained within the previous chapter.

At the close of the book is a personally curated compendium of resources, should the reader choose to learn more about the subjects mentioned throughout Change Maker. It is quite special, as if we are being given access to Austill-Clausen’s personal bookcase, and a sampling of the hundreds of books that accompanied her year-long spiritual intensive.

Austill-Clausen has written a book that is a memoir of bereavement, a riveting tale of spiritual unfolding and something of a sampler Course in Miracles for those seeking an entry point into New Age topics.

Change Maker includes illustrations by Micki McAllister.

Rebecca Austill-Clausen is an author, reiki master and occupational therapist who has served over 100,000 clients.

For more information, call 610-3637446, email Becky@CompHealthWorks. com or visit RebeccaAustillClausen. com. See ad, page 2.

Rebecca Antsis is a Pennsylvania-based writer, multimedia performer and editorial associate for Natural Awakenings BuxMont. Connect at RebeccaAntsis@ gmail.com.

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but Not Lost Who You Are Makes Us Who We Are Become an Ascend Hospice Volunteer

by Kimara

2

016 marked the loss of many talented and influential people. Legends like David Bowie, Alan Rickman, Prince, George Michael, Carrie Fisher and her mother, iconic star of Singin’ in the Rain, Debbie Reynolds, are but a few of those gone too soon. Although most have never met nor had personal interactions with any of these celebrities, hearts were no less broken at their passing. In April of last year, the world was awash in purple lights to mourn the death of legendary singer, Prince. Why do hearts ache for the loss of those in the spotlight, and how can strangers evoke such emotion with their passing?

Film, music, literature and art spark the collective consciousness and provide the framework upon which our most personal and precious memories rest. Artists profoundly affect the world and their deaths leave it somehow less bright.

Death is inescapable, yet love and the soul are eternal.

Passing from this life to the next is as effortless and natural as breathing. The soul continues its evolution long after the Earth journey ends, and the dead continue their spiritual work, guiding and assisting those left behind. People in Spirit are a mere thought away and continue to communicate from the other side to those like mediums, who are receptive to their presence.

The average person will never create the next charttopping album, nor win an Academy Award or Grammy, yet each soul has a meaningful destiny. We should periodically take moments to ask: What is our purpose? How do our daily lives impact those around us?

When caught in life’s rut, it is helpful to remember that with each passing day, our legacy is being constructed. Build memories of joy, patience and understanding. Give time generously. Be willing to forgive. Smile, hug, laugh and love; these are the gifts of eternity.

Ascend Hospice is actively recruiting reiki practitioners, certified massage therapists and comfort volunteers to positively impact the lives of our patients.

To sign up for volunteer training, or for more information on volunteer opportunities, please call 866.821.1212.

Unwind & Get ‘Back In Balance’!

Kimara is a psychic medium and reiki master.

For more information about her and her upcoming events, or to book a reading, visit TheBlessedSelf.com. Services available in-person or virtually. See Community Resource Guide listing, page 54.

Artwork by Victor Alemar

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ness about being around the person and a lack of knowledge or confidence about what to say and do. Dying can create a tense situation for all involved. Having an open conversation about death can bring about understanding, compassion and empathy; it can change the experience.

End of Life Doulas

The Art of Dying Well

Bringing Awareness and Meaning to Transition

by Sheri Hatfield

D

eath is not simply the end of living; it is part of living.

Whether it is coming to terms with one’s own death or processing a loved one’s end of life, all humans encounter death. Yet in many places, especially in the United States, death continues to be a relatively taboo subject for most people. We do not speak openly about our own death, and tend to avoid the subject even when someone we know is sick and likely dying. We will talk about everything but death.

Yet it is as death approaches that some people do most of their most conscious living. When a person realizes their death is near, they begin to reflect on their lives, the legacy they will or will not leave behind, making things right with friends and loved ones, and working through the spiritual and emotional aspects of death.

When faced with the imminent death of a loved one— especially after a long illness—family members also begin to process what is next. They may have spent days, weeks or even years caring for the sick and dying; being so focused on the now, they have not thought about what is next. Having a conversation about a loved one’s death before it happens allows them to begin to process their future. Having an open conversation about what their loved one wants, may help to lessen stress, relieve guilt and allow them to create their own plan for living after the death.

People that are in the final stages of life often start to feel useless. Because they are less active, they are treated like children and may feel excluded because they cannot participate in activities like they used to. There is a loss of control and autonomy and a feeling that they are just waiting with nothing else to do. For loved ones, there may be awkward-

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Bucks & Montgomery County Edition

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Now there is a group of people that are trained to elevate the conversation around death. They are called end-of-life doulas, or “death doulas”. “Doula” is a Greek word meaning “female servant” or “female who serves”; it is commonly associated with the birth and the beginning of life. Just as a birth doula helps to create a birth plan, an end-of-life doula helps to create a death plan. He or she will work with the dying person and their family to create the end-of-life experience that best suits the patient and the family.

Different than a hospice care worker whose main concern is keeping a patient comfortable during their last days, a death doula helps and guides people through their last days of life. Their role is multi-fold for both the patient and the families. They help guide conversations about what the dying need and want to communicate to others; they give caregivers and family members much needed rest so that they can be rested and engaged in the last moments. They also help both the dying and the living understand the experience of dying.

While there are many end-of-life doulas now, the first official training program was created by Henry Fersko-Weiss, LCSW, in 2003. At that time, he was a social worker in a hospice center in New York City. Hospice workers used volunteers to visit people in their last days of life, but many did not sit vigil in the very last moments.

“My experience as a hospice social worker showed a need to make the dying experience different,” says FerskoWeiss. “There was no one doing that, being with people that were dying while they were dying. And no one was helping the families understand what was happening with their loved ones as they were dying.”

Death is not pretty. In fact, it can be messy. There are a host of emotions to deal with, questions to ask and be answered, physical needs to attend to and family dynamics to navigate. An end-of-life doula is a guide and brings deeper meaning and a richer experience to the last few months, days and hours of life.

Fersko-Weiss leaned on his knowledge as a social worker to understand the stages of both death and grieving. In speaking to a friend who was a birth doula about his experience, he realized the need for a death doula. He spent a year creating a three-phase process that eventually became the groundwork for the end-of-life doula training and the International End of Life Doula Association (INELDA.org).

This three-phased process is aimed at helping the dying exercise control over their remaining time and how they spend it. It also gives the gifts of control and purpose to the dying, who often feel that they have neither. “It’s not about waiting for the end, it’s about living with purpose and meaning through the end, to the very last breath,” explains Fersko-Weiss.

Life Meaning and Legacy

The first phase works with the dying person to examine the meaning of their life. The doula and patient review what they’ve learned, their values, what they did or did not do well, and what they are leaving behind or hope to leave behind. As they are facing death, what was the meaning of their life? This is a process most people go through naturally; a doula helps them examine and make sense of it. They then create a legacy project to complete prior to their death. This project can be their memories, the lessons they’ve learned or anything that helps them feel as though they’ve left a gift behind for their families that can be treasured. Then the doula and the person dying create a plan for the unfolding of their last days. Much like a birth plan, the death plan lays out their wishes and desires, how they want to be touched and held, how they want to have interactions with others and how they want to set up their space. The plan pays attention to all five senses by incorporating taste, touch, sight, smell and, especially, hearing. “Hearing is the last sense to go,” explains Barbara Slaine, owner of the Liphe Balance Center in Weston and founder of the Alliance for Conscious Transitioning (TheAllianceforConsciousTransitioning.Org). “So we want to ensure that right up to the last breath, we are letting them hear something meaningful to them. We have had women who sing people in to the beyond.”

Slaine notes, “People don’t realize they have options, so they go like lemmings. But being aware of our mortality makes us much more conscious of the present. We have choices. We choose how we bring a life into this world, it only makes sense saved that we have choices when leaving this world.”

my husband’s life; he has been in good health under Dr. MeshVigil ’s careHolding for 20 years now

The second phase of the process, the vigil, occurs when the person is actively dying, which can happen from two to four hours or up to eight to 10 days. The end-of-life doula or doulas work in shifts over 24-hour periods to ensure that the person is never alone. This provides respite for the caregivers

and families and allows them to be fully present in the last moments of life.

“The process of watching someone die can be traumatic for loved ones,” Fersko-Weiss notes. “End-of-life doulas are trained to know the signs of a person’s last moments. They can then alert loved ones when it is time and explain the physical process that is happening so that it is less frightening.” Having a doula in the home also relieves the fear of what to do if the person dies in the middle of the night or when the caregiver falls asleep.

The vigil is also the time when the doula and the dying can finish any legacy work; the doula can support the dying spiritually and emotionally in addition to bringing in rituals that have meaning to the person and the family. “The U.S. has a very death-phobic culture,” says Slaine. “We are able to bring in intercultural practices and open up the sacred path to death. It can be very powerful for both the dying and the living.” Doulas may do energy work, pray, sing or bring in other practitioners to help both the dying and the living transition to the next phase in life.

Finally, after the passing of the person, the doula meets again with the family to reprocess the active dying experience. They can sort through the various emotions, reframe experiences and give back beautiful and touching memories.

The intention is to bring greater balance to the way survivors begin to grieve. It is during this time that the doula and family review the legacy project, work through traumatic experiences associated with death and talk through the experience as a whole.

By elevating the conversation around death, end-oflife doulas and organizations like the Alliance for Conscious Transitioning are helping people choose how their soul leaves the world to make it a meaningful experience for all involved.

Sheri Hatfield is a freelance writer and marketing professional who lives in Shelton with her son.

Connect at Sheri@DayDreamerConsulting.com.

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Here I Go… Again…

How Past Life Regression Therapy Sets Us Free

by Elaine Berk

weeks, months or even years using other kinds of therapeutic modalities.

Even if the lifetime were an “imagined” story, it still has therapeutic benefit. Most who (re)experience a past life will attest to the very real and visceral emotions and physical feelings they experience during a session. To these individuals, it is undeniably real.

Who to Work With?

T

o many in our Western culture, Past Life Regression Therapy (PLRT) may seem like a far-fetched solution to achieving one’s best self, but more than 25 percent of Americans report believing in reincarnation. Many more are open to the possibility of believing… because they just “don’t know.”

The growing popularity of PLRT is not hard to understand. Many who undergo this therapeutic process experience profound emotional and physical healing around present life experiences and relationships, and leave the sessions feeling a deeper understanding of themselves, both as individuals and in relation to others. The result is often a shift in perspective that enables them to live out their current lives more meaningfully, with greater freedom and deeper peace. For those that do believe in reincarnation, PLRT provides a sense of oneself as an eternal being. For those that don’t believe, the result is still overwhelmingly positive.

What is Past Life Regression Therapy?

PLRT is deep work on the unconscious—those factors that dictate our reactions to situations and people we are attracted to, choose to partner with and/or have in our family or circle, as well as our physical health and habits.

In PLRT an individual is guided into the subconscious mind with the intent of identifying the origin of reoccurring

problems, and unresolved issues experienced in their lifetime. Insight and wisdom are gained, and these issues (and others that arise), both in their originating lifetime and in their current lifetime, are resolved and healed.

During this process, a therapist guides the client to retrieve and (re-) experience past life information that comes by way of all six senses. A slow unraveling of what occurred in that lifetime will come into awareness in the form of mental pictures, emotions and intuitive insights.

As the journey of that lifetime becomes increasingly clear, deeper insight is gained, and the healing and transformation unfolds.

Are Past Lives Real?

There are many experiences we can’t recall, yet we know they happened. For instance, one might completely forget the experience of being in a third grade play until years later, when they are shown a photograph of themselves on the stage. Looking at the photograph, the memory is triggered and comes back quickly with clarity. The details of the experience are accessed and brought into consciousness. Retrieving past life memories happens in much the same way.

It’s the nature of these kinds of immediate insights that makes PLRT such an attractive approach for therapists.

PLRT can often provide relief after just one session and achieve what can take

PLRT is serious therapeutic work and has implications about how we live our lives going forward. It is deep work on the unconscious. As such, it is important to work with an experienced professional, preferably someone with a psychotherapy background in addition to extensive training in PLRT. They may or may not also be a certified hypnotherapist, as it is not necessary to use hypnotherapy to access past life experiences.

Past Life Regressionists and Past Life (Regression) Therapists work differently. As such, session length and fees can vary greatly. Fees will vary based on the time investment, therapist credentials and the degree to which these sessions are conducted therapeutically. A potential PLRT client should ask considered questions, ensuring they are satisfied with any limitations set and understand any implications associated with such limitations.

As a client engages in PLRT, they should ensure they are working with someone they feel comfortable with, that has the experience and credentials to assist them in healing and resolving any and all issues that arise during and potentially following their session.

Elaine Berk, MEd, CHt, CPLT, is the owner of Past Life Regression Therapy PA. She has a master’s degree in counseling psychology and many years of experience as a psychotherapist. She is certified by the American Medical and Dental Association as a hypnotherapist and has trained extensively with many pioneers in the field of Past Life Therapy.

Location: 110 North State St., Newtown.

For more information, call 215-9701534 or visit PastLifeRegressionPA.com.

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natural awakenings

February 2017

39

wisewords

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

by April Thompson

F

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

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

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

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

Which core differences between men and women cause everyday misunderstandings?

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

We interact with our partners by doing 40

Bucks & Montgomery County Edition

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

For example, men and women relate to feelings differently.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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sychologist Ty Tashiro reports in The Science of Happily Ever After that only three in 10 couples remain in healthy, happy marriages.

Psychologist John Gottman, in New York City, has studied couples for four decades seeking to understand successful relationships. He and his psychologist wife, Julie, founded The Gottman Institute that helps couples build and maintain loving, healthy relationships based on scientific studies.

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

One of Gottman’s studies watched 130 newlywed vacationing couples and found that partners regularly made bids for connection, requesting responses from their mate. Choices to “turn toward” or “turn away” revealed the level of engagement and respect in the relationship. Couples that divorced within six years had shown “turn toward” bids a third of the time while couples still together responded to their partner’s emotional need nine times out of 10.

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

“There’s a key habit of mind that the masters have,” Gottman explains. “They are scanning the social environment for things they can appreciate and express thanks for. Disasters are scanning for partners’ mistakes.”

People focused on criticizing miss 50 percent of positive things their

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by Emily Esfahani Smith

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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INDOOR KITCHEN GARDENING

Easy-Grow Microgreens Are Big on Nutrition

by Barbara Pleasant

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Bucks & Montgomery County Edition

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

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

Like high-fiber wheatgrass, “Microgreens are great for juicing, either by themselves or mixed with other veggies,” says Rita Galchus (aka Sprout Lady Rita), proprietor of The Sprout House, in Lake Katrine, New York, which sells organic seeds for microgreens and sprouts. “You can add a handful of microgreens to a smoothie to NABuxMont.com

ramp up the nutrition without changing its taste or texture,” she notes.

Good Picks

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

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

For beginners, large seeds that sprout quickly such as sunflowers, buckwheat and snow peas are good choices because

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they produce big, robust sprouts with mild flavor.

Many people also grow microgreens for their pets. “Cats tend to prefer mild, sweet-tasting microgreens such as red clover, alfalfa and flax seed,” advises Galchus. “They also love grasses grown from hard wheat, whole barley and rye. Cats cannot digest the grass, but use it to bring up indigestible matter that might be lodged in their stomachs.”

Clean Greens

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

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

Work only with organic seeds.

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

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

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

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

Is the key to your present buried in your past?

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Local Yoga

River Yoga 5667 York Rd, Lahaska 215-794-1890 RiverYoga.org

BUCKS COUNTY Bikram Yoga Doylestown 1717 S Easton Rd, Doylestown 570-977-6689 BikramYogaDoylestown.com

Shine Yoga Center 601 W Market St, Perkasie 267-221-0980 ShineYogaPerkasie.com

Blossom Yoga 2324 2nd Street Pike, Newtown 215-416-3252 Blossom-Yoga.net

Sun Dog Yoga Studio 17 W State St, Ste 1, Doylestown 215-230-4031 SunDogYogaStudio.com

Cornerstone Health & Fitness

Tristana Yoga Studio 4095 Ferry Rd, Doylestown 267-245-4140

740 Edison Furlong Rd, Doylestown • 215-794-3700 415 S York Rd, New Hope 215-862-2200 419 S York Rd, New Hope 215-862-2200 847 Easton Rd, Warrington 215-918-5900 CornerstoneClubs.com

Yoga Vibhuti 77 2nd Street Pike, Southampton 215-514-6065 YogaVibhuti.com Yogasphere 18 Swamp Rd, Newtown 215-579-6130 Yogasphere.net

Dragonfly Yoga Studio & Massage Therapy 156 Green St, Doylestown 215-622-4612 DragonflyYogaStudio.com

EASTERN MONTGOMERY COUNTY

Moondog Yoga Studio 44 Front St, Quakertown 267-374-4046 MoondogYoga.com

Amma Yanni Yoga Center & School 827 Glenside Ave, Wyncote 215-572-9881 AmmaYanniYoga.com

Park Club Fitness and Wellness 620 W Chestnut St, Ste 101, Perkasie 215-257-8877 Facebook.com/ParkClubFitness

The Buddha-Bar Yorktown Plaza 160 Yorktown Plz, Elkins Park 215-901-2835

Prancing Peacock 524 Stony Hill Rd, Yardley 139 Zimmerman Ln, Langhorne 267-679-0791 PrancingPeacock.com

*Denotes multiple locations in various regions.

4444 Bucks Bucks & Montgomery County Edition & Montgomery County Edition

NABuxMont.com NABuxMont.com

TRANSFORMATION

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YOGA PROJECT PARTNER

Dana Hot Yoga 2278 Mount Carmel Ave, Glenside • 610-667-3262 832 N Bethlehem Pk, Spring House • 267-974-9805 DanaHotYoga.com* Dhuni Yoga & Pilates 1458 County Line Rd, Huntingdon Valley • 215-917-0501 DhuniYoga.com

Jenkintown Hot Yoga 409 Old York Rd, Jenkintown 215-478-1701 JtownHotYoga.com Nourishing Storm 124 N York Rd, Hatboro 215-394-8152 NourishingStorm.com SSP Yoga 400 Commerce Dr, Fort Washington • 610-656-6041 SSPYoga.com Tara Yoga 1134 Easton Rd, Abington 215-305-8325 TaraYogaPhilly.com Twisted Monkey 501 Huntingdon Pike, Rockledge 215-379-1046 TwistedMonkeyYoga.com

Twisters Wellness Centers

131 E Butler Ave, Ambler 717 Bethlehem Pk, Erdenheim 215-654-5393 TwistersYoga.com

Local Yoga Whole Body Yoga Studio 103 E Walnut St, North Wales 215-661-0510 WholeBodyYogaStudio.com Yoga Evolution/MomentOM 261 Old York Rd, Jenkintown 215-885-1800 MomentOM.me WESTERN MONTGOMERY COUNTY Aim High Studio 3015 W Germantown Pike, Norristown • 484-686-0067 AimHighStudio.com

Anahata Yoga

703 Harleysville Pike, Harleysville 215-740-1354 AnahataYoga Wellness.com Art & Soul Yoga & Pilates 1690 Valley Forge Rd, Eagleville 610-220-8572 ArtAndSoulYoga.com

Collegeville Yoga Bar 50 Second Ave, Ste 3, Collegeville • 610-409-2696 CollegevilleYogaBar.com Moyo 4335 Skippack Pike, Schwenksville 610-584-1108 Moyo-Yoga.com Sol Yoga Studio 117 W Ridge Pike, Conshohocken 610-636-0391 SolYogaStudio.com Stillpoint Yoga Studios 217 W Church Rd, King of Prussia 610-213-3280 StillpointYogaStudios.com

Yoga-Cise2 533 S West End Blvd, Quakertown 267-718-6444 Yoga-Cise2.com

Don’t see your studio here?

Email Publisher@NABuxMont.com and let us know!

Trauma-Sensitive Yoga for Recovery for Prisons for Veterans Learn the benefits of becoming a

Yoga Home 424 E Elm St, Conshohocken 484-344-5040 OurYogaHome.com

YogaOne Park Ridge Ctr, 4 N Park Ave, Trooper • 610-761-3620 Yoga-One.co

HEALING THROUGH EMPOWERMENT

TYP PARTNER STUDIO • Host Healing Classes • Host Donation Classes • Donate Mats & Props • Involve Your Yogis

Contact Us and Make a Difference!

484-730-1999

TransformationYoga Project.org

natural awakenings natural awakenings

February 2017

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calendarofevents Submit your listing online at NABuxMont.com by the 5th of the month, one month prior to publication. Please email Publisher@NABuxMont.com with questions.

Tasty Treats for Your Love – 6-7pm. Adults. Learn to pair chocolate and beer to create a delicious gift you can both enjoy together, and of course try some samples. Must be 21. Free. Giant Food Stores, 1874 Bethlehem Pk, Flourtown. To register, call nutritionist Rabiya Bower, 215-836-4300.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 3 First Run Friday – 5-7pm. Join us for some live music, wine tasting with Buckingham Winery, and a tasting with Luv Superfoods chocolates, this month’s featured local producer. 20% off Luv all month. Doylestown Food Market, 29 W State St, Doylestown. 215-348-4548. Andrea@Doylestown. coop. Doylestown.coop/calendar.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 8

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 4 Heart-Loving Treats – 10am-2pm. All ages. Chocolates and roses are nice, but this Valentine’s Day give those you love something new. Stop by anytime from 10am–2pm to sample some heart-loving treats for the loves in your life. Free. Giant Food Stores, 1201 Knapp Rd, North Wales. To register, call nutritionist Christina Fava, 215-661-1025.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 5 ThetaHealing Perfect Weight Series – 1:302:30pm. We will learn how to tune into our bodies and uncover the subconscious reasons why our body weight is the way it is, and, using ThetaHealing, quickly and easily bring those subconscious programs into alignment with the way we want our bodies to be. Two group sessions (2/5 & 2/26) and two one-on-one sessions. $221. Whole Body Yoga Studio, 103 E Walnut St, North Wales. Patty Ferry, 215-661-0510. Patty@WholeBodyYogaStudio.com.

WholeBodyYogaStudio.com/workshops.

treatment stimulates parts of the brain that contribute to depression. Learn how dTMS works. Hear patient testimonials. Light refreshments served. New Vitae Wellness and Recovery Center, 16 S Main St, Quakertown. Pre-register: Tracy Semmel, 215-538-3403, ext. 314 or NewVitaeWellness.com.

Valentine’s Couples Massage Class – 3-5pm. Thai Massage- Learn techniques to relieve muscle tension, improve flexibility and relax the mind without straining your own body in the process. Sedating.

Energizing. Hypnotic. Connect more deeply with your partner or friend. Price is per person. Wear comfortable clothing/bring a thick blanket and pillow. $30. Yoga Tree at PWC, 1281 RT 113, Blooming Glen. 215-257-3938. iNitaUnwind@gmail.com. www.Back-In-Balance.MassageTherapy.com.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 7 Information Session on dTMS – 6-7pm. Free information sessions on Deep Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (dTMS), a holistic option to treat depressive symptoms. This non-invasive, FDA-cleared

Sacred Pilgrimage to Egypt with Rae Chandran This magical retreat offers a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity

to experience Egypt with a custom guided program led by internationally renowned channeler and author Rae Chandran that combines nature, history, adventure and spiritual experiences in some of the most magnificent spots in the world.

March 31 – April 9, 2017

10 days / 9 nights • Cost: $3,800 - $4,200 (airfare not included)

Spiritual Retreat in Israel – July 2017 Meditations, Initiations and Channelings

Spice Up Your Life – 7-8pm. Did you know that there are many spices that you may use on a regular basis with therapeutic benefits? Learn the properties of some common spices and how to use them to improve your health. Free. Call or email to register by 2/6/17. Samsel Integrative Health, 305 Corporate Dr E, Langhorne. Katie Samsel, 215-944-8424. DrS@ SamselHealth.com. SamselIntegrativeHealth.com.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9 Effective Communication Strategies – 11:30am1pm. Connect and communicate in meaningful ways. Registration is required seven days in advance of program date. Free. Shepherds Compassion Care Solutions, 2738 E County Line Rd, 1st floor, Ardmore. Sharon Jarnette, 800-272-3900. SJarnette@ alz.org. alz.org/delval.

A Heart Smart Diet – 1-2pm. Adults. Learn the latest research regarding heart health and heart-healthy diets. Get more info on topics like cholesterol, fats, and sodium and sample some delicious heart smart foods.

Free. Giant Food Stores Cooking School, 315 York Rd, Willow Grove. To register, call 215-784-1960.

savethedate The Functional Forum Local Meetup Visit Website for February Meetup Date and Time For health professionals and medical community stakeholders interested in functional and integrative medicine, Natural Awakenings BuxMont presents “The Functional Forum,” a monthly medical conference for like-minded local providers to network, brainstorm and ideate. Fun, “medutainment” format brings together current health news and research, practice development and health technology in a lively, interactive, video-based platform.

Sponsored by Metagenics.

Giant Supermarket, 315 York Rd, Willow Grove

Karen Meshkov, 215-544-9585 Publisher@NABuxmont.com Meetup.FunctionalForum.com/ delaware-valley-pa

To register for the Egypt or Israel tour or for more information, call Susan Deflavis Winters at 239-340-1036 or email Panguswf@gmail.com For more information about Rae Chandran, visit RaeChandran.com 46

Bucks & Montgomery County Edition

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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 10

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 16

Kids Cook Under 5: Sweetheart Smoothies & Pops – 10am or 3pm. Kids & adults. Recommended for children ages 18 months to 5 years. Our in-store nutritionist will work with kids and adults to create nutritious, yummy snacks. Caregiver attendance required. Free. Giant Food Stores, 1874 Bethlehem Pk, Flourtown. To register, call nutritionist Rabiya Bower, 215-836-4300.

Legal & Financial Planning – 1-3:30pm. What you need to know to plan for the future. Registration is required seven days in advance of program date. Free. The Presbyterian Church of Chestnut Hill, 8855 Germantown Ave, Philadelphia. Sharon Jarnette, 800-272-3900. SJarnette@alz.org. alz. org/delval.

Partner Yoga Playshop – 7-9pm. We’ll play with poses that require trust in your partner and in yourself. Expect to be challenged but fully supported as we move through a fun and nourishing practice.

All levels welcome. Instructor Liz Chesla. $20/ person. Anahata Yoga & Wellness Center, 703 Harleysville Pike, Harleysville. 215-740-1354.

AnahataYogaWellness.com.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 11 Luv Superfoods Tasting – 10am-12pm. Share the Luv. Stop in for a taste of Luv Superfoods chocolates, this month’s featured local producer.

Made from raw, organic ingredients, these tasty bites are the perfect Valentine’s gift. 20% off Luv all month. Doylestown Food Market, 29 W State St, Doylestown. Tom Cockley, 215-348-4548.

Andrea@Doylestown.coop. Doylestown.coop/ calendar.

Find Your Playful Spirit – 7-8pm. Burnt out, worn and seeking some fun? Stressed, overwhelmed, unexcited for a new year? Not taking time for yourself? Engage in some fun to lighten your spirit, reconnect with your joy, yourself and ways to play with life. Inspire your spirit, your true essence to come out again. Magical class. $15. The Room at Meadowbrook, 4089 Durham Rd, Ottsville. Lyn Hicks, 215-813-4073. Lyn@HarmonyHillGardens. com. LynHicks.com.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 17 Musical Artist-Inspired Yoga – 7-8:15pm. Something in the Way She Moves. Join us for a gentle yoga class enhanced by the sweet, soulful music of James Taylor. Beginners welcome $17 drop-in.

Anahata Yoga & Wellness Center, 703 Harleysville Pike, Harleysville. 215-740-1354. AnahataYoga Wellness.com.

Birding 101 – 1-4pm. Want to identify birds that you see? Join Bucks County Audubon Society for a Birding 101 course and learn how to become one of the 50 million Americans that birdwatch. In this 1 day course we’ll teach you how to see birds, identifying traits, how to use binoculars and more. $5. Bucks County Audubon Society, 2877 Creamery Rd, New Hope. Diane Smith, 215-297-5880. DianeSmith@ bcas.org. BCAS.org/event/birding-101.

Numerology For The New Year – 7-8:30pm.

Learn your basic soul path numbers. Calculate your life path, birthday, expression, heart’s desire, personality, personal year and maturity numbers in this class Fun way to see yourself, what you are here to learn, your talents and what you are here to accomplish. Supports you in living soulfully, joyfully and inspired. $20. The Room at Meadowbrook, 4089 Durham Rd, Ottsville. Lyn Hicks, 215-813-4073. Lyn@HarmonyHillGardens.com.

LynHicks.com.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 12 Valentine’s Couples Massage Class – 12:30-3pm.

Thai Massage. Learn techniques to relieve muscle tension, improve flexibility and relax the mind without straining your own body in the process.

Sedating. Energizing. Hypnotic. Connect more deeply with your partner or friend. Price is per person. Wear comfortable clothing/bring a thick blanket and pillow. $70. Yoga Tree at PWC, 1281 RT 113, Blooming Glen. 856-469-7497. Barbara@ YogaInspiredStudio.com. www.Back-In-Balance.

MassageTherapy.com.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 14 Food For Thought Bookclub – 6:30-8pm. Pawpaw - in search of America’s Forgotten Fruit. Please join us on Valentine’s Day for a lively interesting book discussion. Special guest speaker – Adam Dusen, fruit farmer. Doylestown Bookshop, 16 S Main St, Doylestown. Tom Cockley, 215-348-4548. Tom@ GuldenIndustries.com. Doylestown.coop/calendar.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 18 Dolce & Artesia Demo – 10am-12pm. Meet Julia of local raw dog treat company, Dolce & Artesia.

All meats are sourced from local farms, including one of our favorites: Purely Farm in Ottsville. Learn about the benefits of raw, grain-free foods for your pet’s health. Save 10% during the demo. Doylestown Food Market, 29 W State St, Doylestown. Tom Cockley, 215-348-4548. Tom@GuldenIndustries. com. Doylestown.coop/calendar.

Great Backyard Bird County – 1-3pm. The Great Backyard Bird Count is open to all ages and skill level birders. Participants will be trained in proper data collection, how to report their findings, and how to access real time reporting. Once trained, participants can continue to count from their home and watch the results roll in. Bucks County Audubon Society, 2877 Creamery Rd, New Hope. Diane Smith, 215-297-5880. DianeSmith@bcas.org. BCAS.org/ event/great-backyard-bird-count-and-winter-hike.

Qigong for Women’s Health – 1-3pm. According to ancient Chinese Medicine, when energy (Qi) flows freely through the body, disease, illness, calcifications, etc. cannot set in. Maintaining the free flow of Qi through your body is easy and fun to do. You will learn how to care for yourself using seven unique and powerful self-healing Qigong movements. $30.

Whole Body Yoga Studio, 103 E Walnut St, North Wales. Patty Ferry, 215-661-0510. Patty@Whole BodyYogaStudio.com. WholeBodyYogaStudio. com/workshops.

savethedate Greenshire Arts Consortium 3620 Sterner Mill Rd, Quakertown Event Details: GreenshireArts.org Please register for all activities.

Info@GreenshireArts.org 215-538-0976 Magdalene Mysteries February 4, 10am-12pm The mysteries that surround Mary Magdalene are inherent in the sublime wisdom written in the Gospel of Mary, a Gnostic text discovered in the 1800’s. Through our studies we will discover the real Magdalene, and how her gifted revelations enable us to return to our real essence, balancing both the divine feminine and sacred masculine that are within us all. This workshop will also introduce a newly-published book, In Search of the Eighth Gate, by Arlene Curley: her most recent work that discusses the Great Mysteries in the Gospel of Mary. This workshop serves as an introduction to future study groups. Rev. Arlene Curley, Ph.D. intuitive healing, minister. $30.

John of God Crystal Bed Sessions February 9, 9am-9pm Developed by John of God for use at his worldrenowned healing center in Brazil, crystal bed therapy combines the power of color, light and crystal healing for the body’s chakra and bio-field energy systems: to cleanse, balance and align your energies. The 90-minute session includes: guidance for healing intentions, 60 minutes on crystal bed, prayers, music, closure. Dr. Elaine Berk, psychotherapist. $100.

You Are More than Who You Think: Clarity and Purpose on the Spiritual Path February 17, 6:30-9:30pm Learn how to frame your life experiences so you can gain clarity of who you really are. Often the soul is ahead of the mind’s perception, and if you are not in touch with this inner truth, your personal growth can be limited. In this focused experiential exploration facilitator Ken Kaplan, spiritual coach, will invoke the presence of divine guides while working individually with participants, thus forming an interweaving of collective energy that can support those on the journey of self-exploration. Because of the nature of this workshop, attendance is limited to six. $35.

Reiki Two Feb 18, 10am-4pm Distant healing is the focus of Reiki II: Distant healing for other people, and inner healing for yourself.

Connect to your subconscious and re-program old habits. Arlene Curley, Reiki Master/Teacher. $200.

Healing Appointments Available: Cranio Sacral, Spiritual Energy Healing, Alchemical Healing, Reiki, Holistic Counseling Healing is an opportunity to come more fully into life, restoring a natural state of harmony and balance to your entire being at the physical, emotional, mental and spiritual levels. With an intuitive sense of healing, Dr. Arlene Curley offers sessions that are tailored to meet your specific needs. $75/hour.

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savethedate Susan Duval Seminars and Sacred Journeys Doylestown • 215-348-5755 SusanDuvalSeminars.com Register online or call Susan.

Sign up on website to receive weekly newsletter with updates on seminars and trips.

February 19, 2-4:30pm Shamanic Ancient Postures

Lisa Woodside, PhD will present this authentic shamanic ceremony. We will receive messages, teaching and healings from the remarkable figures we meet, using simple percussion to change the state of our minds and access the psychic realm.

To accomplish this change of mind-state, we’ll stand or sit in specific Ancient Postures that create portals to alternate realities to reach helping guides and spirits. It is a safe method of having other-worldly experiences. This is an opportunity to feel more whole and to increase your awareness.

If you have them, bring a rim drum or a rattle, eye covering, notebook and pen. $40. New Britain.

Saturday, February 25, 1-4pm Seimei Healing and MaNi Power Workshop

Nicola Bertolo, the USA’s Foremost Seimei Instructor and Healer and Sheryl Blumenthal, Channel and Seimei Practitioner, will facilitate this enlightening and healing afternoon. Seimei is a non-touch energy healing technique from Japan, effective in reducing pain and discomfort, lessening swelling, decreasing stress and increasing energy. The afternoon will begin with messages channeled by Sheryl for the greatest good of all. Then, Nicola Bertolo will provide you with practical healing methods for pain relief for yourself, your family, friends, pets and the world. You will also learn to improve your water, food and more. The Ancient Seimei teachings allow miracles to become a daily way of life. Seimei healing is immediate, with deeper-acting results, easily transcending the universal laws, as we know them: of time, space and mass. Participants will be gifted with a package of MaNi Power Healing Seals, a $20 value. $80. Doylestown.

Sunday, February 26, 10am-5pm Personal Seimei Healing Sessions

Nicola Bertolo is the most highly regarded Seimei practitioner in the USA. Since she rarely offers personal sessions, as she is today, this is a great opportunity. $90 for 30 minutes—inlcudes MaNi Power Seals ($20 value). Doylestown.

Sunday, February 26, 10am-5pm Private Channeling Sessions

Sheryl Blumenthal is a clear, strong channel for the divine. Converse with your and Sheryl’s spiritual guides. Clarify your higher purpose, relationship concerns, health issues and career choices. $110 for 30 minutes, $135 for 45 minutes, $170 for 1 hr, Doylestown.

March 31-April 2 New Mexico Hot Springs Retreat

With esoteric teachings from ancient wisdom traditions, discover how to activate your light body for soul expansion, self-mastery and heart-centered higher dimensional living. See details on website.

See Susan’s website for other upcoming events and sacred journeys!

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Bucks & Montgomery County Edition

Meetup Holistic Healing for Pets – 7pm. Dr. Suzanne Walski, a veterinarian, will host a meetup with the purpose to introduce the world of veterinary medicine with a Holistic approach. It will be a general discussion to answer questions people have on this approach to their dog or cats overall well-being. $15. The Room at Meadowbrook, 4089 Durham Rd, Ottsville. Sue Walski, 215-8134073. srw@epix.net. Meetup.com/integrativeveterinary-health-care-for-your-dog-and-cat/ events/236681934/?from=ref.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 19 Bucks Co Lyme Disease Support Group Meeting – 4pm. Doug Fern will speak on understanding and preventing Lyme disease. Pennsylvania now accounts for 40% of all new Lyme cases nationwide.

The CDC says that Lyme is actually 10x’s more common than reported which means that there were over 100,000 new cases of Lyme in PA in 2016 alone. All welcome to come and learn about this serious and growing health crisis. Middletown Municipal Bldg 3, Municipal Way, Langhorne.

Evelyn Throne, 215-741-5902. BucksLyme@gmail. com. BucksCoLyme.com.

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 20 Winter Nature Adventure Camp – 9am-4pm.

What a great way to spend a day off from school – in the woods of Silver Lake Nature Center. SLNC Naturalists are ready to spend the day assisting your child in engaging nature in the outdoors. Children ages 6 to 13 are welcome to attend. $50. Register by 2/17. Silver Lake Nature Center, 1306 Bath Rd, Bristol. 215-785-1177. SilverLakeNatureCenter@ BucksCounty.org. SilverLakeNatureCenter.org.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 21 Heart Health for Women – 6-7pm. Adults. Hey ladies – Do you know how to keep your heart healthy?

Come discuss your unique health needs and spend some time taking care of your heart. Free. Giant Food Stores, 1874 Bethlehem Pk, Flourtown. To register, call nutritionist Rabiya Bower, 215-836-4300.

Conversations With Spirit – 7pm. Limited seating mediumship group reading. Join international medium Kimara for an evening of mediumship as she connects guests with loved ones who’ve passed.

Come with an open mind and heart and experience laughter, tears and healing. Seating is limited to 12 so everyone receives a reading. Online sales only. $60. The Zen Den, 20 Donaldson St, Doylestown.

Kimara, 609-353-7210. TheBlessedSelf@gmail. com. TheBlessedSelf.com/events.

Yoga for Stress Series – 7-8:15pm. Class back by popular demand. Are you feeling wrung out, exhausted and overwhelmed? We will address these feelings and symptoms with gentle yoga and breathing exercises designed to help you feel better in these areas and more. Class led by yoga teacher and licensed therapist Nancy Ignatin. 4 Tuesdays, 2/213/14. $80. Whole Body Yoga Studio, 103 E Walnut St, North Wales. Patty Ferry, 215-661-0510. Patty@ WholeBodyYogaStudio.com. WholeBodyYoga Studio.com/workshops.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 23 Nature Lover’s Book Club – 6:15-8pm. This February, Nature Lover’s Book Club shall read and discuss The Bees by Laline Paull. This is open to anyone who has a passion for the environment

NABuxMont.com

and wants to share with like-minded individuals. To get started, visit our blog site, NatureLoversBook Club.blogspot.com for discussion questions and to purchase the book. Doylestown Bookshop, 16 S Main St, Doylestown. Heidi Shiver, 215-297-5880.

HHShiver2016@gmail.com.

Restorative Yoga with Reiki, Bells and Bowls – 7-8:30pm. The combination of these unique sound vibrations and the relaxing atmosphere of restorative yoga is a powerful way to free your mind and leave you feeling refreshed, reconnected and empowered. Katie Haegele and Kathy Tooley. $36.

Anahata Yoga & Wellness Center, 703 Harleysville Pike, Harleysville. 215-740-1354. AnahataYoga Wellness.com.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 25 Usui Reiki Level I Course – 10:30am-6:30pm.

Learn the Usui Reiki System in its authentic form with psychic medium/reiki master Kimara. Through clear lectures, hands-on practice, and step-by-step manual, Kimara guides, attunes and certifies students to achieve full Reiki I power. Increase your psychic senses, feel confident with reiki techniques, and give healing reiki to yourself and others. $175.

The Tree of Life Acupuncture and Wellness Center, 281 Tabor Rd, 2nd Flr, Ottsville. Kimara, 609-3537210. TheBlessedSelf@gmail.com. TheBlessedSelf. com/events.

Laughter Yoga – 11:30am-12:30pm. There are no yoga poses. Laughter yoga is comprised of laughter exercises, with yogic breathing and meditation. We reconnect with our inner child through child-like playfulness and imagination. Come with an open mind, no judgment, and a willingness to just be silly and laugh. $10. Whole Body Yoga Studio, 103 E Walnut St, North Wales. Patty Ferry, 215661-0510. Patty@WholeBodyYogaStudio.com.

WholeBodyYogaStudio.com/workshops.

Maple Syrup Event – 1-3pm. Learn the basic steps to turn tree sap into delicious syrup. Taste a sample and help in the process of making this wonderful delight. Be prepared for outdoor exploring. Families and individuals of all ages welcome. Fee per adventurer: $8 member; $10 non-member. Silver Lake Nature Center, 1306 Bath Rd, Bristol. 215785-1177. SilverLakeNatureCenter@BucksCounty. org. SilverLakeNatureCenter.org.

savethedate Spiritual Intensive February 25-26 1-5pm Workshop based on Elizabeth Joyce’s books, Seeding and Nurturing the Garden of Your Soul and The NEW Spiritual Chakras. Experience deep meditation, move beyond boundaries with your Universal Body, open and apply the new spiritual chakras, experience ascension while manifesting your soul purpose.

Cost: $100/day or $180/both days The James Lorah House, 132 N Main St, Doylestown

Elizabeth Joyce, 215-996-0646 Elizabeth_Joyce@verizon.net New-Visions.com

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 26 Vision Board Creation Make & Take – 1-2:30pm.

Align your thoughts & visions with the law of attraction. Come cut, paste & create your masterpiece.

See it, believe it & achieve it. Includes guided meditation to help clear subconscious blocks. Tea & light snacks. Adults only. Feel free to bring additional pictures & magazines to cut for your board. $20. Spiritual Dawn MBS Boutique, 806 Veterans Hwy, Unit B, Bristol. Leaondra Culver, 973-580-2353. SpiritualDawnMBS@gmail.com.

SpiritualDawnMBS.com.

savethedate Climb For Your Dreams & Have Fun February 26 1:30-5:30pm Philadelphia Rock Gym 827 Glenside Ave, Wyncote

February 27 11am-3pm

Doylestown Rock Gym 3853 Old Easton Rd, Doylestown Join us to take your new year goals to a whole new level. Learn about the neuroscience of learning & change. Take your #1 goal with you up the wall at this fun indoor rock climbing venue. Gain new awareness of your innate capabilities. Leave feeling exhilarated, empowered, and motivated. Expert led. Hosted by Karen Meshkov, Publisher of Natural Awakenings and Erin Owen, Leadership Coach.

Cost: $150 Erin Owen, 215-771-8968 Connect@ErinOwen.com ErinOwen.com/ClimbingRetreat

plan ahead savethedate Holistic & Psychic Fair March 11-12 11am-5pm A day of fun and inspiration that benefits local Bucks charities. Psychic readings from local or guest psychics. Frank St James of The Psychic Detectives, and BIO Channel, Celeste of the Fox Sisters, more. Enjoy massage, bodywork and other holistic services. Call to book advance appointments.

Cost: $5 entrance / $7 lunch Booths/activities extra

The James Lorah House 132 N Main St, Doylestown

Elizabeth Joyce, 215-996-0646 New-Visions.com

savethedate Yoga & Meditation Retreat in Bali May 15-20

savethedate Yoga Training in Recovery/CJ System March 25-26 12-6pm 2-day in-depth training for yoga teachers, social workers, counselors and interested yogis. Includes interactive lecture, experiential exercises and opportunity to practice. Topics include yoga service, cultural awareness, unresolved trauma, connecting yoga and 12-steps, and specific trauma sensitive asana, pranayama and meditation.

Cost: $225

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 28

Join Natassia, RYT-200HR, of Open Center Yoga for a total wellness experience at Sarinbuana Eco Lodge. Clear the mind, cleanse the body and recharge the soul with a 5 night/6 day Vinyasa Yoga immersion. Enjoy daily yoga & meditation, gourmet vegetarian meals and the sights & sounds of Bali, Indonesia.

Shared rooms start at $775/student w/ private room/cabin upgrade options available. Rates include daily yoga, all meals, temple tour & lodging.

Cost: $775

Moondog Yoga Studio 44 Front St, Quakertown

Sarinbuana Eco Lodge Jalan Arjuna, Br. Biyahan, Desa Wanagiri Tabanan, Bali, Indonesia

Cheryl Spera, 484-730-1999 Info@TransformationYogaProject.org TransformationYogaProject.org

Natassia Levine, 267-799-8308 BaliYoga2017@gmail.com NatassiaLevineWellness.com

Effective Communication Strategies – 4-5:30pm.

Connect and communicate in meaningful ways.

Registration is required seven days in advance of program date. Free. Asera Care Hospice, 411 Eagleview Blvd, #114, Exton. Sharon Jarnette, 800-272-3900. SJarnette@alz.org. alz.org/delval.

Qigong for Wellness Series – 7-8:30pm. 2/28-4/4.

Learn 10 simple and powerful qigong energy movements in this 6-week program designed to awaken your body’s ability to heal. According to Chinese Medicine, as long as energy (qi) flows smoothly throughout the body, disease and illness cannot set in. Qigong helps stimulate the flow of qi throughout your body. 6 Tuesdays. $219. Whole Body Yoga Studio, 103 E Walnut St, North Wales. Patty Ferry, 215-661-0510. Patty@WholeBodyYogaStudio.com.

WholeBodyYogaStudio.com/workshops.

I’m not interested in my legacy. I made up a word: ‘live-acy.’ I’m more interested in living. ~John Glenn

GOT EVENTS? GET NOTICED! Advertise in our calendar. natural awakenings

February 2017

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savethedate For full schedule, visit TriskeleSisters.com

Monthly Women’s Radiance Circle February 20 • 7-9pm The global shift toward the feminine is in its tumultuous backlash phase. How do we participate? Handle the negative? What is our role? Using books as a medium we will explore concepts of feminine energy, history, lore, future possibilities. Third Monday each month. This is more than just a book club.

Cost: $13 Quakertown Integrative Health Center 600 W Broad St, Quakertown Tracy McGovern, 215-858-8195 Tracy@EssentialConnections.biz TriskeleSisters.com

Salt Cave Meditation February 22 Two Sessions Available: 6 or 7pm

Find Your Natural Valentine

J

oin the largest consciousliving online dating network in February and receive a 20% Valentine’s Day discount* on new memberships! Use referral code NASingles

Enjoy a hour salt treatment as you recline in a zero gravity chair while being guided into a mindful meditation to allow stress to subside and a new opening to begin. Call Himalayan Salt and Wellness Cave to reserve your spot. Cash only.

Cost: $25 Himalayan Salt and Wellness Cave 1491 N Charlotte St, Pottstown Michelle McInnis, 610-310-3884 HimalayanSaltWellnessCave@gmail.com HimalayanSaltnWellness.com

New Moon Meditation February 27 7-8:30pm A fine night to tap into the incredible power of you. Set your intentions and bring in clarity to create your dreams. Facilitated by Kelly, Michelle & Tracy of Triskele Sisters.

Cost: $13 Quakertown Integrative Health Center 600 W Broad St, Quakertown Tracy McGovern, 215-858-8195 Tracy@EssentialConnections.biz tinyurl.com/newmoonmed

Dancing With The Angels Retreat March 31-April 2 5pm-11am What if you didn’t have to look outside yourself for answers? What if you knew with total certainty that you’re connected to Universal energy and could trust your intuition completely?

Experience a weekend of self-exploration and learning methods to connect with Angels. Investment includes double occupancy room, meals and all activities.

Cost: $350 Bally Spring Inn 90 Airport Rd, Barto 215-534-4989 EarthRhythmSacredDance.com

classifieds Fee for classified ads is $2 per word, per month. Minimum $40. To place a listing, email content to Publisher@NABuxMont.com by the 5th.

FOR RENT PEACEFUL COUNTRY SETTING – Building includes four gathering rooms, kitchen and covered porch. Wooded paths, meditation gardens.

Perfect for workshops, weddings, retreats. 215538-0976. GreenshireArts.org.

OPPORTUNITIES

Try it for FREE at

NaturalAwakeningsSingles.com *Offer good Tuesday, Feb. 14 through Monday, Feb. 20, 2017

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Bucks & Montgomery County Edition

NOW TRAINING – Attention yoga teachers, massage therapists, nutritionists, reiki and healing practitioners: supplement your income and expand your repertoire of expertise as a colon hydrotherapist. This unique healing modality has immediate earning potential. Train and work locally within months. Christine@InnerSpa.org.

NABuxMont.com

SERVICES HOLISTIC SERVICES – Life counseling, reiki, energy healing, psychotherapy, spiritual mentoring, weddings, memorial services, holistic workshops and more. 215-538-0976. GreenshireArts.org.

ongoingevents Submit your listing online at NABuxMont.com by the 5th of the month, one month prior to publication.

Please email Publisher@NABuxMont.com with questions.

Wales. Patty Ferry, 215-661-0510. Patty@Whole BodyYogaStudio.com. WholeBodyYogaStudio. com/workshops.

sunday

Shiatsu Community Clinic – 1st Sat, 9:15am4:45pm. Shiatsu sessions offered in supervised clinic setting. Each student will interview, assess energy and create individualized shiatsu session to balance the body. Wear loose comfortable clothing, preferably cotton. Wear socks. No cell phones, no perfumes. $40. International School of Shiatsu, 6055C Kellers Church Rd, Plumsteadville. Shirley Scranta, 215-766-2800. LearnShiatsu@gmail.com.

Shiatsubo.com.

Guided Morning Meditation – 10:30am. Join us for focused breathing meditations. Following the mediation there will be an opportunity to share your thoughts and/or visions experienced & have them interpreted by our intuitive practitioners. Please arrive between 10:15 & 10:25am. Bring a sitting pillow. Free to participate. Spiritual Dawn MBS Boutique, 806 Veterans Hwy, Unit B, Bristol. Leaondra Culver, 973-580-2353. SpiritualDawnMBS@ gmail.com. SpiritualDawnMBS.com.

Transformation Yoga Donation Class – 5-6pm.

Transformation yoga provides mindfulness based, trauma sensitive yoga to develop skills to navigate life with comfort and ease. Perfect class for beginners. Suggested donation $10 to benefit Transformation Yoga Project a nonprofit that serves people impacted by trauma and addiction. Twisters Wellness Center, 131 E Butler Ave, Ambler. 215-654-5393.

TwistersYoga.com.

monday Mental Health Support Group – 6:30-7:30pm.

Join 4 The M.I.N.D.S. for its weekly peer-to-peer support group. We welcome family, friends and individuals who suffer from mental illness. Aldie Medical Arts Building, 11 Welden Dr, Doylestown.

4TheMINDS.org. 4TheMINDS@gmail.com.

tuesday Monthly Multi Media Art Class with Ute Arnold, M.F.A. – 10am-2pm. Last Tuesday of each month.

Composition and color studies with drawing, printing, water color, pastel, painting on silk, collaging and journal making. No experience necessary. $90 each for a series for 6, drop-ins $130. Work study possible. Blue Bamboo Studio, Pt Pleasant. Ute BArnold@gmail.com. Unergi.com.

Free Information Session on dTMS – 1st Tuesday, 6-7pm. New Vitae Wellness and Recovery Center will host free information sessions on Deep Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (dTMS), a holistic, non-invasive, FDA-cleared option to treat depressive symptoms. Learn how dTMS works and who can be treated. Hear patient testimonials. Refreshments served. New Vitae Wellness and Recovery Center, 16 S Main St, Quakertown. Pre-register: Tracy Semmel, 215-538-3403 ext. 314. NewVitae Wellness.com.

Guided ThetaHealing Meditation – 7:30-8:30pm.

Every 2nd & 4th Thursday. We experience a Theta brainwave state every night when we sleep and dream. These guided meditations will help you to achieve a Theta state while you are awake. In Theta, you have access to the energy of all that is, and can

receive intuitive guidance. $20. Whole Body Yoga Studio, 103 E Walnut St, North Wales. Patty Ferry, 215-661-0510. Patty@WholeBodyYogaStudio.com.

WholeBodyYogaStudio.com/workshops.

wednesday Website Wednesdays Q&A – 2-4pm. Get your Business website questions, how-to’s, and troubleshooting answered. Panera Bread, North Main St, Doylestown, inside the back “Dark Nook”. Tom Knoble, 267-380-0467. UpperBucksWeb.com.

Community Acupuncture – 3-6pm. Seated in a serene group environment, receive affordable acupuncture for stress management, detox, routine health/pain issues and overall wellness. Mention NA to waive initial $15 paperwork fee. Online scheduling via BridgeAcupuncture.com or call us 215-348-8058 to reserve a spot. Located upstairs; call us if you have disabilities. $30. Bridge Acupuncture, 30 Garden Alley, Doylestown. Paolo Propato.

BridgeWellness@gmail.com.

friday Body-Psychotherapy Training Classes – 9:30am12:30pm. Bi-weekly class. Magic power of challenging illness and aging. Revealing your body-story with body-psychotherapist Ute Arnold: gestalt, alexander technique, micro movement, art and nature. $90 each for a series of 6, drop-ins $130. Work study possible. Blue Bamboo Studio, Pt Pleasant.

UteBArnold@gmail.com. Unergi.com.

Theosophical Principles – 10-11:30am. Reading and discussion of sections of Bhagavad Gita and Notes on the Gita by W.Q. Judge. Presented by Tommy Kehoe. Joint effort of the United Lodge of Theosophy of Philadelphia and the Theosophical Society in America, Abraxas Lodge. Southampton Friends Meeting House, Street and Gravel Hill roads, Southampton. Nancy Bragin, 215-512-2900. NBragin@ mac.com. NancyBragin.com/theosophical-societyabraxas-lodge.

Guided Morning Meditation – 10:30am. Join us for focused breathing meditations. Following the mediation there will be an opportunity to share your thoughts and/or visions experienced & have them interpreted by our intuitive practitioners. Please arrive between 10:15 &10:25am. Bring a sitting pillow. Free to participate. Spiritual Dawn MBS Boutique, 806 Veterans Hwy, Unit B, Bristol. Leaondra Culver, 973-580-2353. SpiritualDawnMBS@ gmail.com. SpiritualDawnMBS.com.

Ancient Wisdom Traditions – 12-1:30pm. Exploring ancient wisdom traditions through the study of comparative religion, philosophy and science.

Presented by the Theosophical Society in America, the Abraxas Lodge. Southampton Friends Meeting House, Street and Gravel Hill roads, Southampton.

215-512-2900. NBragin@mac.com.

Family Yoga – 3-4pm. Every 3rd Saturday. This class is open to parents and children of any age. Feel free to bring more than one child, your spouse, etc.

Children can play (bring a toy if you think they want to do that) or do yoga. $20/family. Whole Body Yoga Studio, 103 E Walnut St, North Wales. Patty Ferry, 215-661-0510. Patty@WholeBodyYogaStudio.com.

WholeBodyYogaStudio.com/workshops.

saturday Laughter Yoga – 11:30am-12:30pm. Last Saturday of every month. There are no yoga poses. Laughter yoga is comprised of laughter exercises, with yogic breathing and meditation. We reconnect with our inner child through childlike playfulness and imagination. Come with an open mind, no judgment and a willingness to just be silly and laugh. $10.

Whole Body Yoga Studio, 103 E Walnut St, North

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

ACCOUNTING AND TAX PREPARATION S A BURGIO & ASSOCIATES

Makefield Executive Quarters, Yardley 215-493-9843 SABurgio.com Not your typical accountant, Sal A Burgio has been providing area businesses with high-quality tax preparation and accounting services for over 20 years.

Work with us and make life less taxing. See ad, page 27.

ACUPUNCTURE BRIDGE ACUPUNCTURE

Grace Rollins, MS, LAc, NTP Paolo Propato, LAc 30 Garden Alley, Doylestown 215-348-8058 BridgeAcupuncture.com Schedule a complimentary consultation to learn more about acupuncture and our warm, joyful wellness center. 10% off your first treatment for NABuxMont readers. Acupuncture and East Asian Medicine can safely and effectively relieve chronic pain, stress and anxiety, restore sleep, boost energy, promote healthy digestion, balance the immune system and regulate hormones.

Meditation classes, qigong, nutritional counseling, massage therapy, pediatric acupressure and more.

Google our many positive reviews and testimonials.

Easy online scheduling available. See ad, page 26.

BUSINESS COACHING JACQUELINE FOX, MS

Professional Development Services JFox@JacquelineFox.com 267-935-9097 • JacquelineFox.com Office organizer and “next actions” coach for business professionals in their homes or business offices, including high-level administrative support services, program coordinating, project management.

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CHIROPRACTIC CARE SAMSEL INTEGRATIVE HEALTH Dr. Katie Samsel SamselIntegrativeHealth.com 215-944-8424

Let’s make pain a part of your past.

Integrative chiropractic care in a warm, familiar setting. Applied kinesiology, lifestyle support, ayurveda, nutrition and weight loss. See ad, page 7.

CRYSTAL – COLOR – LIGHT HEALING JOHN OF GOD CRYSTAL BED HEALING Evolving Soul, LLC Elaine Berk, MEd Counseling & Energy Psychology 110 North State St, Newtown 215-970-1534

John of God Crystal Bed Healing cleanses, opens and invigorates the body and soul by balancing and clearing one’s chakras and energy field. Colored lights, chosen to match the chakra colors, radiate light and energy through precision crystals, activating the body’s own natural healing mechanisms. Gain insight & enhanced emotional, physical & spiritual well-being. See ad, page 43.

DANCE EARTH RHYTHM

Kelly Thomke, JourneyDance Certified Facilitator 215-534-4989 • JourneyDance.com EarthRhythmSacredDance.com JourneyDance is a whole-body experience that tickles the mind and nourishes the soul. It is freestyle movement to world music where self-expression releases tension. Visit the website for upcoming dances or to book a JourneyDance for a group. No dance experience needed to feel this wild freedom.

NABuxMont.com

DENTISTRY - HOLISTIC DENTAL WELLNESS CENTRE

Hyo J. Lim DMD 216 Mall Blvd, Ste 11, King of Prussia 610-265-4485 DentalWellnessCentre.com Dr. Hyo Lim provides a holistic approach to exceptional dentistry, in a warm and caring environment. At Dental Wellness Centre, mercuryand metal-free restorations are used for the most biocompatible results.

Biocompatibility testing for dental materials is available. Invisalign is offered as an alternative to metal braces. Zirconium and titanium implants are offered to replace damaged or missing teeth. Free digital X-rays with initial consultation. See ad, page 10.

HERITAGE DENTAL

Dr. Beth Skovron 595 Bethlehem Pike, Montgomeryville 215-822-3860 Enjoy an anxiety-free dental experience. You no longer have to be nervous about going to the dentist. From the moment you open the doors, our friendly and courteous team will make you feel comfortable in our relaxing spa atmosphere. Choose from a wide range of holistic services. See ad with special offers, back page.

LANAP & IMPLANT CENTER OF PA David DiGiallorenzo, DMD 184 W Main St, Collegeville 610-422-3120 PerioImplants.us

Dr. David DiGiallorenzo focuses on providing oral health solutions through holistic, biologically compatible and organic practices.

It is one of the world’s most accomplished centers for periodontal and implant care, which integrates wellness services into their therapeutic approach. He is experienced at immediate total tooth replacement with metal-free dental implants, treating gum disease with LANAP, a no-cut, no-sew method of treating gum disease, comfortable gum grafting with PRGF, implant denture solutions, and chronic pain management. See ad, page 8.

DEPRESSION SERVICES NEW VITAE WELLNESS AND RECOVERY 16 S Main St, Quakertown 215-538-3403, x314 NewVitaeWellness.com

Stimulating specific brain regions, deep Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (dTMS) is clinically proven to safely, effectively help with depression. Noninvasive, non-medication, FDA-cleared. Medicare/ insurances accepted. See ad, page 6.

EFT (EMOTIONAL FREEDOM TECHNIQUES) DELIA NESSIM COUNSELING Delia Nessim, MS, MFT, NGH 610-416-7535 DNCounseling.com

Using EFT (or “tapping”), guided imagery, relaxation and mindbody techniques, we safely and gently access and release trapped emotions, and that is life changing.

ENERGY THERAPY HEALING TOUCH BY KATHY

Kathy Fennelly, RN, CHTP 1062 E Lancaster Ave, Bryn Mawr, Ste 13-A 610-698-8643 • HealingTouchByKathy.com Relax, restore and rebuild with a C e r t i f i e d H e a l i n g To u c h Practitioner. Appointments available in my office, satellite locations or your home. Also offering group outreach programs.

See ad, page 9.

GIFT STORE - SPIRITUAL SPIRITUAL DAWN

806 Veterans Hwy, Unit B, Bristol 973-580-2353 SpiritualDawnMBS.com Destination boutique shop and community center. Purchase crystals, essential oils, crystals, herbal teas, incense, candles, angel cards, salt lamps and more. Attend mandala painting, medium/spirit readings, vision-boarding/jewelrymaking workshops.

GREEN LIVING

HOSPICE

THE ORGANIC MATTRESS STORE

ASCEND HOSPICE

Celebrating our 12th Anniversary, doing business since 2004. Why an organic mattress? Remove toxic chemicals from the bedroom, naturally flame retardant, repels dust mites, mold and mildew, naturally regulates temperatures and improves spinal alignment. Say goodbye to toxic gases, allergies, night sweats and back pain with an environmentally friendly mattress. See ad, page 10.

Bringing a personalized and holistic approach to hospice care. Our trained volunteers offer aromatherapy, massage therapy, reiki and pet therapy to bring healing and wholeness to clients and their families. See ad, page 35.

HEALTH AND WELLNESS COACHING

HYPNOSIS – METAPHYSICAL

1075 Main St, Hellertown Mon-Fri, 9:30am-5pm; Sat, 9:30am-3pm TheOrganicMattressStore.com

108 Cowpath Rd, Stes 3 & 4, Lansdale 215-542-2100 AscendHospice.com

LISA GERCIE

MEd, LPC, NCC 484-634-6743 TheHypnoticHealer.com

SUSAN BURGER, DC

215-736-3803 DrSusanBurger@gmail.com LiveWithVitality.com Let the masterpiece that is you e m e rg e . P r o v i d i n g n e u r o emotional technique, lifestyle and wellness coaching, creative chiropractic care, energy healing, mind/body healing education and workshops.

HEART HEALTH

Lisa is a fourth generation healer and intuitive empath; she provides a unique metaphysical experience where you get to connect with your departed loved ones while under hypnosis. Her clients call it “experiencing a piece of heaven on earth.” Her sessions have also helped to heal people from various health conditions.

HYPNOTHERAPY

ABINGTON CARDIOLOGY

Arnold B Meshkov, MD 1077 Rydal Rd, Ste 307, Rydal 215-920-0815 • AbingtonCardiology.com Board-certified cardiologist with 35 years in private practice.

Offering a holistic approach to cardiology with an emphasis on outpatient management, prevention, diagnosis, lifestyle and treatment. See ad, page 37.

HOME & WELLNESS PRODUCTS

BETH ALLYN HERMAN COUNSELING

Psychotherapy • Hypnotherapy • Distance Counseling 605 Farm Ln, Doylestown 215-348-8900 • BethHermanTherapist.com I use an integrative approach combining talk therapy with Heart-Centered Hypnosis to heal trauma, pain or illness. Help with depression, anxiety, sexual abuse, grief work, stress management, relationships and codependency, weight and smoking. See ad, page 15.

LEGAL SERVICES

SUSAN PONTELANDOLFO

267-474-7536 SusanPontelandolfo@gmail.com AHealthCafe.com/springhousegreenliving Dedicated to educating people on toxins and chemicals found in their homes, and the effects they have on their health. Convert your home to safer, healthier products.

LAW OFFICES OF JENNIFER J RILEY 585 Skippack Pike, Ste 200, Blue Bell 900 W Valley Rd, Ste 703, Wayne 215-283-5080 • JJRLawFirm.com

Specializing in family law.

High-quality, compassionate legal services including child support, child custody, divorce, alimony, pre- and post-nuptial agreements, estate planning and more. Serving the greater Philadelphia area. See ad, page 11.

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LIFE COACHING DIANA T MOORE, PHD

Wellness Coach 267-753-9262, DianaTMoorePhD.com Diana@DianaTMoorePhD.com Personalized guidance in defining and reaching your vision for better health and life satisfaction with ayurveda, holistic nutrition, h y p n o t h e r a p y, y o g a a n d meditation for adults, children and mothers-to-be. See ad, page 28.

MASSAGE & BODYWORK BACK IN BALANCE

Nita Keesler, LMT, BCTMB Langhorne/Bensalem/Cheltenham 267-980-1727 • iNitaUnwind@gmail.com Back-In-Balance.MassageTherapy.com Board-certified in therapeutic massage and bodywork. 22 years of experience. Therapeutic, deep tissue and Thai Massage with an intuitive touch. Corporate onsite programs; couples massage; YogaDance, posture, flexibility classes. See ad, page 35.

IN YOUR HANDS, LLC

Megan Downs, LMT, E-RYT Center for Natural Healing Bailiwick Office Campus, Ste 26, Doylestown • 215-206-3394 InYourHands.MassageTherapy.com Megan’s therapeutic massage technique works deeply by targeting specific problem areas while keeping in mind the whole. She incorporates a variety of methods including Myofascial Release, Trigger Point Therapy, Hot Stones, Bellabaci Method of Cupping and Aromatherapy, and also offers Therapeutic Yoga instruction. Relieve pain and stress, increase body awareness, heal and relax.

SHIATSU SHIN TAI BODYWORK THERAPIES

Laurie Van Valkenburgh, ACBT, LMT 6064 Upper Mountain Rd, New Hope lavabigail@gmail.com • 267-566-6056 ShiatsuBodyTherapies.com Experience Shiatsu/Shin Tai Bodywork, in New Hope. Align your body’s structure using muscle energy and fascial release techniques, central channel release to allow free-flowing spinal alignment, and cranial work. This releases hidden trauma trapped in the body, and life force is then able to return.

INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL OF SHIATSU

6055C Kellers Church Rd, 2nd Floor, Pipersville 215-766-2800 • Shiatsubo.com Celebrating 20 years as the area’s leading center for shiatsu massage training and treatment.

Come visit our new space in Pipersville. New courses start regularly. See ad, page 6.

Want to see yourself here?

The various tools in Natural Awakenings are designed to get your message out to the most readers... in the right niche... in the most effective manner. Inquire at Publisher@NABuxmont.com.

54

Bucks & Montgomery County Edition

METAPHYSICAL SERVICES KIMARA

Psychic Medium, Reiki Master, Soul Coach TheBlessedSelf.com • 609-353-7210 Facebook.com/TheBlessedSelf Kimara empowers clients to discover purpose, develop intuition and find clarity. Connect with loved ones who’ve crossed over for healing, closure and forgiveness.

In-person or virtual, private and group readings available.

MUSIC INSTRUCTION MINDFUL MUSIC, LLC

Jonathan Flowers 413 Conshohocken State Rd, Bala Cynwyd 610-724-2540 JDFlowersMusic.com Discover the musician you are meant to be. Patient, personalized instruction in piano, voice and music theory/composition. All ages and levels, including children, teens and adults. Holistic approach incorporates mindfulness practices to cultivate relaxation, mental focus and creativity.

NABuxMont.com

NATURE CENTER SILVER LAKE NATURE CENTER 1306 Bath Rd, Bristol 215-785-1177 SilverLakeNatureCenter.org

Silver Lake Nature Center (SNLC) is the home of the area’s first Earthship, a carbon-zero structure built with recycled products, that heats and cools itself, that gathers its own water, recycles its own waste, and produces food. Education, recreation, research and advocacy.

NUTRITIONAL HEALING CENTER FOR NATURAL HEALING Jeffrey L Griffin, DC Bailiwick Office Campus, Ste 26, Doylestown • 215-348-2115 Center4NaturalHealing.com

Dr. Jeffrey Griffin is a chiropractor with 31 years of practice experience in chiropractic care that is blended together with enzyme nutrition.

This combination of treatment modalities allows Griffin to successfully treat a wide variety of health complaints, ranging from neck and back pain to headaches, digestive maladies and fibromyalgia. Call him today for a complimentary phone consultation or visit his website. See ad, page 33.

NUTRITIONISTS GIANT FOOD STORES RABIYA BOWER, RD, LDN

1874 Bethlehem Pk, Flourtown 215-836-4300 GiantFoodStores.com/nutrition In-store nutritionist Rabiya Bower can help you reach your goals by helping you find healthy choices in the store and create enjoyable meals. $20 for individual consultation, receive $20 Giant gift card in return.

GIANT FOOD STORES CHRISTINA FAVA, MA, RDN, LDN 1201 Knapp Rd, North Wales 215-661-1025 GiantFoodStores.com/nutrition

In-store nutritionist Christina Fava has a passion for helping customers make healthy decisions while they shop and creating individualized meal plans. $20 for individual consultation, receive $20 Giant gift card in return.

GIANT FOOD STORES MARY ANN MOYLAN, RD, LDN, CDE 315 York Rd, Willow Grove 215-784-1960 GiantFoodStores.com/nutrition

In-store nutritionist Mary Ann Moylan has special training in diabetes and weight management and can help you adjust your eating habits to improve your overall health. $20 for individual consultation, receive $20 Giant gift card in return.

PAST LIFE REGRESSION THERAPY EVOLVING SOUL, LLC • ELAINE BERK Certified Past Life Regression Therapist Certified Hypnotherapist MEd, Counseling Psychology 110 North State St, Newtown 215-970-1534 • PastLifeRegressionPA.com

PLRT is a unique therapeutic process that helps you recall and resolve emotional trauma from previous lifetimes which, unbeknownst to us, is often the root cause of issues we’re struggling with in this lifetime. As a trained psychotherapist and PLR therapist, I work with clients to address these complexes and bring about transformation and healing. See ad, page 43.

PHYSICIAN - INTEGRATIVE BCIM

Julia Helstrom, DO 10 S Clinton St, Ste 101, Doylestown 267-454-7262, BCIMedicine.com Bucks County Center for Integrative Medicine: where traditional family medicine and alternative modalities combine for an individualized plan. Come attain your personalized optimal wellness.

SALT – HALOTHERAPY

WEB DESIGN UPPER BUCKS WEB

HIMALAYAN SALT & WELLNESS CAVE

267-380-0467 • UpperBucksWeb.com Sales@UpperBucksWeb.com Serving Bucks & Montgomery Co.

1494 N Charlotte St, Pottstown 610-310-3884 HimalayanSaltNWellness.com

Upper Bucks Web provides small business owners with premium and affordable web services and package pricing plans. Get your business on the web ASAP. See ad, page 23.

A spa-like experience, tapping into the therapeutic properties of pure Himalayan salt for physical and emotional health.

Individuals and groups. Also offering reiki, reflexology, yoga. See ad, page 41.

YOGA ANAHATA YOGA & WELLNESS CENTER

SPA – HOLISTIC

703 Harleysville Pike, Harleysville 215-740-1354 • AnahataYogaWellness.com Info@AnahataYogaWellness.com

INNER SPA

4 Terry Dr, Ste 12 Atrium Bldg, Newtown Info@InnerSpa.org 215-968-9000 • InnerSpa.org InnerVitalitySpa.com A fully organic, holistic, ecofriendly wellness spa featuring an array of detoxification, cleansing and therapeutic services. The spa is one of the only facilities in the area to offer colon hydrotherapy. See ad, page 26.

VETERINARY – HOLISTIC

A welcoming, cozy, Kripaluaffiliated studio with the sacred mission of serving from the heart. Offering yoga and ayurveda classes and workshops, meditation and energy healing sessions.

TRANSFORMATION YOGA PROJECT Info@TransformationYogaProject.org 484-730-1999 TransformationYogaProject.org

DOYLESTOWN VETERINARY HOSPITAL & HOLISTIC PET CARE 380 N Shady Retreat Rd, Doylestown 215-345-6000 DoylestownVeterinaryHospital.com

Improving the lives of pets through acupuncture, herbal therapy, h o m e o p a t h y, n u t r i t i o n a l counseling, and integration of holistic therapies with conventional medicine for customized approach to care. See ad, page 29.

Trauma-informed yoga for prison, recovery and veterans. See calendar for classes. Inviting local studios to partner with us to provide healing through empowerment. See ad, page 45.

PSYCHOTHERAPY FULL LIVING: A PSYCHOTHERAPY PRACTICE Multiple Locations 215-494-7818 • FullLiving.com Info@FullLiving.com

Expertly p l a c i n g interested clients with one of our 15 seasoned and varied therapists throughout the city and surrounding areas to find the best fit for you. See ad, page 20.

We all have a hand in creating the community where we want to live.

healthy living. healthy planet.

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