Natural Awakenings Central New Jersey / June 2022 by Natural Awakenings Central NJ & Eastern PA

HEALTHY

LIVING

HEALTHY

PLANET

Special Edition

MEN’S HEALTH new trends in

TREATING TRAUMA the rise of

SUSTAINABLE WINE & SPIRITS simple ways to RAISE

EMPATHETIC KIDS Take Me Home June 2022 | Somerset-Middlesex-Hunterdon-Mercer-S. Warren NaturalAwakeningsCNJ.com

80 Morristown Road, Bernardsville (Bernardsville Centre) 908.766.5450 Hibernatebedding .com

Come see how EASY it is to shop for a mattress. Bring this ad & receive 20% OFF your total purchase.

We offer an exclusive collection of ORGANIC AND CHEMICAL FREE Mattresses and Accessories and have something for everyone at all prices…..a truly ONE OF A KIND store! Over 30 Years Family Experience. Once a Customer, Always a Customer. Education is our top priority.

Platform Beds, Headboards, Adjustable Bases, Toppers, Pillows, Sheets, & Crib Mattresses.

From one of our satisfied NY customers.

We were interested in an Organic Mattress Inc. innerspring mattress set, so made the lengthy trip from western New York to the Hibernate Bedding store in Bernardsville, NJ. Our experience with Pam and her operation was well worth the investment of our time. From the moment we entered the store, Pam was welcoming, attentive and worked hard to understand our needs and concerns. The "white glove" delivery process was flawless. We can't recommend Hibernate Bedding and their products highly enough following our very satisfactory experience.

Free Delivery 2

Free Set Up

Somerset/Middlesex/Hunterdon/Mercer/ S. Warren Co. Edition

Free Removal

NaturalAwakeningsCNJ.com

Natural Health and Beauty Products. Holistic and Traditional Medicines. Unmatched Expertise.

Disease begins in the gut.

Test. Don’t Guess. 1 in 7 people suffer from a wheat related disorder. If you think you may be suffering from any undiagnosed digestive issues, you may benefit from this highly accurate, quantifiable test. The Vibrant Wellness Wheat Zoomer Test can identify and decipher celiac disease, leaky gut, gluten sensitivity, wheat allergy, wheat sensitivity and other autoimmune reactions.

Vibrant Wellness tests include: • Micronutrient • Assorted gut health tests • Food sensitivities • Food additives • Cardiometabolic Call 908-658-4900 and make an appointment today.

SHIPPING

VIP CONCIERGE

& SHIPPING SERVICES

We’ll deliver or ship right to your door. $3.00 delivery charge.

Spend $50 Get 15% off Every time. In store or by phone only

75 Washington Valley Road, Bedminster, NJ 07921 • 908.658.4900 • valleypharmacyrx.com Located next to Fresh Market • Current hours: Monday-Friday 10am - 6pm, Saturday 10am - 3pm June 2022

Natural Awakenings is a family of 50+ healthy living magazines celebrating 26 years of providing the communities we serve with the tools and resources we all need to lead healthier lives on a healthy planet.

Contents 12 THE GIFT OF AN

IMPERFECT FATHER

16 THE EXERCISE POWER OF E-BIKES

Get a Workout on an Easier Ride

18 HOW TO RAISE EMPATHETIC KIDS

Simple Ways Parents Can Cultivate Compassion

24 THE HEALING OF THE MODERN MAN

Men Redefine Their Emotional Power

28 HEALING TRAUMA

Emerging Therapies Offer Fresh Hope

34 UNPLUGGED ADVENTURES

Eco-Tripping for a Digital Detox

ADVERTISING & SUBMISSIONS HOW TO ADVERTISE To advertise with Natural Awakenings or request a media kit, please contact us at 908-405-1515 or email Joe@NaturalAwakeningsNJ.com. Deadline for ads: the 15th of the month. EDITORIAL SUBMISSIONS Email articles, news items and ideas to: Kathy@ NaturalAwakeningsNJ.com. Deadline for editorial: the 5th of the month. CALENDAR SUBMISSIONS Email calendar events to: Kathy@NaturalAwakeningsNJ.com. Deadline for calendar: the 10th of the month. REGIONAL MARKETS Advertise your products or services in multiple markets! Natural Awakenings Publishing Corp. is a growing franchised family of locally owned magazines serving communities since 1994. To place your ad in other markets call 239-434-9392. For franchising opportunities call 239-530-1377 or visit NaturalAwakenings.com.

36 PLANET-FRIENDLY POURS

The Rise of Sustainable Wine and Spirits

DEPARTMENTS 6 news briefs 9 health briefs 14 lit bits 16 fit body 18 healthy kids 22 scam alert 28 healing ways 32 eco tip 33 yoga corner 34 green living

Somerset/Middlesex/Hunterdon/Mercer/ S. Warren Co. Edition

NaturalAwakeningsCNJ.com

36 conscious 40 42 43 46

eating calendar classifieds business directory crossword

publisher letter

HEALTHY LIVING HEALTHY PLANET

My Dad

y father was a person bookwriters dream about, a mystery unto himself. I remember him always looking for work and, when he found it, working all the time. Throughout his life, one or two or even three jobs were the norm. He was a bit on the small side with a big chip on his shoulder, and a left hook that surprised many (fighting was an expression and a statement for him). He was cheerful and angry, content and non-content, irritable and quick tempered, loving in his way and hurting. We didn’t hug in those days. Saying I love you came late to the family. In some ways, kids were ignored. My father didn’t share much of his life. I don’t know his heritage, grandmother or grandfathers. His brother was rarely mentioned, and his stepsister’s history didn’t happen around the family get togethers. There were no stories of the past. I believe they contained shame that many owned; I’m sure my dad’s did. Our family lived in the traditional roles that mother and father played in the past. There wasn’t time for bonding with my dad. I felt alone, detached and distant, and lived in my own separated world. Fending for myself with little guidance, direction or knowledge of what to do next. What was expected of me? Yet somehow this man that couldn’t say “I love you”, hug you or share a true feeling or emotion made me secure in knowing that I was protected, loved and important. How he did that I do not know. I know now that people love in different ways, shaped by situations, timing and circumstances. How could my dad pass to me a hug, express an emotion that he had never experienced? Growing up through the Great Depression he was alone. He had no real mom or dad in his life— they were gone for reasons that were never shared. I do know he ended up on the streets, fighting for food in clubs, sleeping in parked cars. I wonder if he ever felt loved. I guess I got carried away with this and need a point. People mostly do the best they can with what they have been given. My dad did his best, and I appreciate him for that. I love him for teaching me without education, worldly knowledge or book smarts. He made me feel loved. Through the years I have come to appreciate him so much more. I am so lucky that I never had a resentment toward my parents or a need to forgive them because I believe there is nothing to forgive them for. I can only speak for myself, and for me, my dad did the best he could. Looking at his life allowed me to see his way of loving of giving in the only way he knew how. Work, provide, be there. I hope this doesn’t come across as a bit sad. For it was really a story of appreciation and exposure. As with all things, we have new awareness of the role fathers play, and today I am proud of the men I see—involved, responsible, loving the art of being a father and embracing the journey of fatherhood. Men—keep going, make the memories, enjoy and set the examples for our future, for it is the family that still is the backbone of society. Join hands with the moms and make a difference together. But this is about Father’s Day, so I will leave you with this. One day is not enough time to say thank you to our dads. In peace, love and laughter,

CENTRAL NJ EDITION Publisher Joe Dunne Joe@NaturalAwakeningsNJ.com 908-405-1515 • Fax 239-920-5147 Managing Editor Kathy Tarbell Kathy@NaturalAwakeningsNJ.com 908-912-4569 • 770-867-2101 direct Design & Production Kathy Tarbell Website Kristy Mayer Accounting/Billing Asta Dunne Asta@NaturalAwakeningsNJ.com 908-405-4040

SALES & MARKETING Joe Dunne • Bedminster, NJ 908-405-1515 Joe@NaturalAwakeningsNJ.com NaturalAwakeningsCNJ.com

Visit our Facebook page for the latest health updates and information, or to post your events and comments.

NaturalAwakeningsCentralNewJersey

NATIONAL TEAM CEO/Founder COO/Franchise Sales Production Designer Financial Manager Asst. Director of Ops Digital Content Director National Advertising Administrative Asstistant

Sharon Bruckman Joe Dunne Gabrielle W-Perillo Yolanda Shebert Heather Gibbs Rachael Oppy Lisa Doyle-Mitchell Kristy Mayer

Natural Awakenings Publishing Corporation 4851 Tamiami Trail N., Ste. 200 Naples, FL 34103 NaturalAwakenings.com

© 2022 by Natural Awakenings. All rights reserved. Although some parts of this publication may be reproduced and reprinted, we require that prior permission be obtained in writing. Natural Awakenings is a free publication distributed locally and is supported by our advertisers. Please call to find a location near you or if you would like copies placed at your business. We do not necessarily endorse the views expressed in the articles and advertisements, nor are we responsible for the products and services advertised. Check with a healthcare professional regarding the appropriate use of any treatment.

Natural Awakenings Magazine is ranked 5th Nationally in CISION’S® 2016 Top 10 Health & Fitness Magazines

Please Recycle

June 2022

Directory of Display Advertisers Thank you for being part of our community! Be Here Now Yoga . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Be the Medicine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 CardFly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Center for Advanced Health . . . . . . . . 47 Through Dentistry

Dr. Andy Rosenfarb . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41 Dr. Clare Larkin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Full Circle Energy Therapies . . . . . . . . 20 Guna Allergy Products . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Health Yeah with Michelle . . . . . . . . . . 13 Hibernate Bedding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Holistic Dental Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48

news briefs

Shamanic Wheel Retreat in the Catskills

anet StraightArrow found her Shamanic calling 30 years ago in 1992. Awakening herself and assisting others in discovering who they are has been her purpose. She notes, “As we live our true selves, we learn to master our lives in the everyday world. As a result, our life becomes sweeter, easier, and more apparent.” From July 29 to July 31, StraightArrow will be offering an amazing Shamanic Medicine Wheel Retreat at a beautiful location in the Catskill Mountains. In this retreat, attendees will experience a unique blend of practices and ceremonies for a deep healing and awakening experience. “The medicine wheel tells the story of our lives. The medicine wheel also brings in all directions, elements, inner and outer guidance, ancestors, and all of nature. Healing through the medicine wheel offers us profound new ways to look at our life, heal, and move forward with ease and grace,” explains StraightArrow. Camping and lodge accommodations are available. Early bird discount is offered through June 1; payment plans are also available. Cost: $545. For more information, call 973-647-2500, email janet@bethemedicine.com and visit BeTheMedicine.com. See ad, page 13.

Hunterdon Integrative Physicians . . . 22 Hypnosis Counseling Center . . . . . . . . 11 KnowWEwell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Mad Lavender Farm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Natural Awakenings Singles . . . . . . . . 39 New Jersey Natural Medicine . . . . . . . 17 Numinous Mama . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Ojaya . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 Ondov Relationship Coaching . . . . . . . 15 Personally Yours Lingerie . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Qi Gong for Healing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 Quantum Wellness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7 RegeneSpine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 Samsara Chiropractic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Sunrise Nutrition Center . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 The Hair For Life Center . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 The Hemp Oil Store . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 Valley Integrative Pharmacy . . . . . . . . . 3 Whole Foods . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 * New / Returning Advertisers

Let them know you found them in Natural Awakenings Central NJ!

Discover Stress Relief with Hypnosis

tress is everywhere. While the pandemic added tremendous pressure, the cumulative effects of stress on our mental and physical health were already at epidemic levels. Every modality for addressing health issues begins with “reduce stress”. That suggests that stress, by itself, is a major risk factor that affects the well-being of mind and body. While there are many approaches to reducing stress, hypnosis is a safe, medically approved method of behavior modification therapy that is painless to experience, simple to learn and easy to practice. For over 35 years, the Hypnosis Counseling Center, has been helping people change their lives for the better. Panic attacks and anxiety disorders can manifest themselves in physical symptoms such as stomach pains or insomnia, or behaviors like avoidance or extreme shyness. Nicotine addiction and unwanted weight can both lead to a frustrating roller coaster ride of hope and disappointment. Regardless of the issue, you can discover what thousands of others have already learned: Hypnosis offers a painless path to freedom and change. The center offers in-person and virtual group classes throughout New Jersey and Pennsylvania, and private appointments are also available. Locations: Offices in Flemington, Princeton, and Livingston, New Jersey; King of Prussia, Pennsylvania. For more information, call founder Barry Wolfson at 908-303-7767 or visit HypnosisCounselingCenter.com. See ad, page 11.

“By the time a man asks you for advice, he has generally made up his mind what he wants to do and is looking for confirmation rather than counseling.” - Sidney J. Harris

Somerset/Middlesex/Hunterdon/Mercer/ S. Warren Co. Edition

NaturalAwakeningsCNJ.com

June 2022

Dmitry Naumov/AdobeStock.com

It is widely known that heavy drinking harms the brain, but even drinking as little as a few beers or glasses of wine per week will reduce brain volume, according to a new study of 36,000 adults. Researchers led by a University of Pennsylvania team reported in Nature Communications that alcohol consumption even at modest levels may carry risks to the brain, shrinking it in ways similar to the aging process. The study was conducted using the UK Biobank, a dataset from 500,000 British middle-aged and older adults that includes genetic and medical information, including white and gray matter volume in different regions of the brain. The researchers found that the more alcohol people consumed on average, the greater the brain damage. Going from zero to a daily average of one alcohol unit (half a beer or half a glass of wine) is linked with the equivalent of a half a year of aging in 50-year-olds. Drinking an average of two units a day (a pint of beer or glass of wine) produces changes in the brain equivalent to aging two years. The difference between zero and four units (two beers or glasses of wine) was equal to more than 10 years of aging. “It’s not linear,” says study co-author Remi Daviet. “It gets worse the more you drink. There is some evidence that the effect of drinking on the brain is exponential. That means that cutting back on that final drink of the night might have a big effect in terms of brain aging.”

For the one in three Americans that are sleep-deprived, working out with resistance exercises to strengthen muscles may produce longer and deeper shuteye than aerobics, new research from the American Heart Association shows. In a 12-month study, researchers randomly assigned 386 inactive, overweight adults with high blood pressure to one of several groups that worked out for an hour three times a week. A resistance exercise group did three sets of eight to 16 repetitions on 12 machines; the aerobics group used treadmills, bicycles or elliptical machines; a combo group used both; and a control group did no supervised exercise. Among the 42 percent of participants that were not getting at least seven hours of sleep at the study’s start, sleep duration increased by an average of 40 minutes for the resistance exercise group compared to an increase of about 23 minutes in the aerobic exercise group and about 17 minutes in the combined exercise group. “If your sleep has gotten noticeably worse over the past two stressful years, consider incorporating two or more resistance exercise training sessions into your regular exercise routine to improve your general muscle and bone health, as well as your sleep,” says study author Angelique Brellenthin, assistant professor of kinesiology at Iowa State University, in Ames.

Try Neem and Walking to Ward Off COVID-19 Symptoms Two new studies suggest that neem (Azadirachta indica), a plant used for centuries in India to treat malaria, intestinal ulcers and skin diseases, may offer protection against COVID-19 and future variants. At the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical campus, researchers found that neem bark extract tested on COVID-infected human lung cells proved as effective as a preventive drug. It targeted a wide range of viral proteins and also decreased virus replication and spread after infection. In an Indian double-blind study of 190 healthcare workers or relatives of COVID-19 patients, researchers at the All India Institute of Ayurveda, in Delhi, found that those given a neem extract of 50 milligrams twice daily for 28 days had a reduced risk of 55 percent for infection compared to the control group. For people dealing with the lingering symptoms of long COVID such as fatigue, brain fog and muscle pain, a solution may be daily exercise of at least 30 minutes, because it lowers inflammation and blood glucose levels, suggest Louisiana State University researchers in the journal Exercise and Sport Sciences Reviews. “If you can only walk 15 minutes once a day, do that. The important thing is to try. It doesn’t matter where you begin,” says article author Candida Rebello, Ph.D.

Somerset/Middlesex/Hunterdon/Mercer/ S. Warren Co. Edition

NaturalAwakeningsCNJ.com

mirzamlk/AdobeStock.com

Cut Back on Booze to Protect the Brain

daxiao productions/AdobeStock.com

Pump Iron to Boost Sleep

health briefs

stock image factory/AdobeStock.com

Run Farther with Beetroot and Citrulline Nitrate-rich beetroot extract and citrulline, a non-essential amino acid, have been shown to be precursors of nitric oxide, which benefits athletic performance by expanding blood vessels and increasing blood flow. To determine whether combining the two produces better results, Spanish researchers gave the two supplements separately and together to 32 male triathletes for nine weeks. The dosages were 3 grams a day of citrulline and 2.1 grams a day of beetroot extract. In a study published in Biology, they reported that the combination did not improve markers of exercise-induced muscle damage, but did reduce cortisol levels, and also enabled those participants to run 5 percent farther in the standard 12-minute Cooper Test.

Build faster & more effective business cards than ever before.

MATRIX REPATTERNING

Your body holds onto

trauma on a cellular level.

Matrix Repatterning is a revolutionary treatment that offers healing from concussions, impact injuries, headaches, acute and chronic pain. Learn more at MatrixRepatterningNJ.com. Call 908-930-0628 today to begin your journey back to normal.

Dr. Clare M. Larkin, DC, CMRP drlarkin@optonline.net DrClareLarkin.com conveniently located in Warren

Exchanging information is important—now it is pretty, professional and customizable with CardFly, a digital business card that keeps all your information in one place. Perfect for: Organizations, realtors, personal cards, pictures, videos, interactive connections. Creativity galore.

Start Making Your Life Easier Today! Scan the QR code cardfly.io/?ref=joe97 June 2022

global briefs

Cool It

Romolo Tavani/AdobeStock.com

Normally, temperatures fall with the end of the southern summer, but the Dumont d’Urville station, on Antarctica, registered record temperatures for March of 40.82° F at a time of the year when readings are usually already sub-zero. Gaetan Heymes, of France Meteo, describes the unseasonably mild weather as a historic event. The U.S. National Snow and Ice Data Center says that Antarctica’s sea ice fell below 772,204 square miles in late February for the first time since 1979. Around the same time, the Conger Ice Shelf, as big as Los Angeles, collapsed into the sea and there was sufficient atmospheric moisture to produce a significant snowfall. While researchers can’t definitively say that climate change is to blame, Jonathan Wille, a postdoctoral researcher at the Université Grenoble Alpes, in France, notes, “It was something we didn’t think was possible in Antarctica—the magnitude of heat, especially in what should be the cold season in Antarctica. We’ve never seen the atmosphere behave like this over Antarctica.” The heat wave and dramatic inland snowfall highlight the importance of a better understanding of the complicated dynamics of atmospheric rivers that maintain the ice sheet now, but could be cause for concern in the future. Understanding these patterns better could be the key to learning the polar region’s fate.

Access Denied Don’t Fence Me In

A group of biologists in the northern Rockies published a paper in 2018, “A fence runs through it: A call for greater attention to the influence of fences on wildlife and ecosystems.” In 2020, a meta-analysis in BioScience looked at all the studies of the effects of fences and found that their profound impacts are often ignored or greatly underestimated. The impacts extend far beyond blocking animal migration routes and include furthering disease transmission by concentrating animals, altering the hunting practices of predators and impeding access to key areas of water and forage. Fences are going up rapidly as border barriers and livestock farming increase. In the case of the U.S./Mexico border wall intended to prevent illegal immigration, “The main threat ... is the landscape-level impacts of curtailing or completely precluding wildlife movement and eliminating landscape connectivity at large scales,” says Aaron Flesch, a wildlife biologist at the University of Arizona, who has studied the wall’s impacts. Bighorn sheep and jaguars are cut off from their kind on the other side of the border. That means that the genetic interaction needed to keep small populations of jaguars or ocelots healthy may be affected. It also means bighorn sheep in Mexico may not be able to migrate north to escape a hotter and drier climate.

Somerset/Middlesex/Hunterdon/Mercer/ S. Warren Co. Edition

Kiryakova Anna/AdobeStock.com

South Pole Registers Historic Temperature

Easy Beezy

Weeds Attract Pollinators to Increase Harvests A recent study published in Insects compared mango trees at a local farm in Homestead, Florida, where one plot of trees had weeds growing around them and another plot was maintained to be weed-free. It turns out that the presence of weeds benefits trees and pollinators. “Weeds actually do a lot of good. It might be helpful to think of them of wildflowers,” says Blaire Kleiman, the Florida International University Institute of Environment graduate teaching assistant and alumna who, under the guidance of professors Suzanne Koptur and Krishnaswamy Jayachandran, undertook this research funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Hispanic-Serving Institutions Education Grants program. Fruit trees can’t live without pollinators. Bees and other insects have been shown to increase the size and quality of yields from 70 percent of the leading, economically important crops in the world, but it’s getting harder to bring bees to the trees. Over the last 30 years, pollinator numbers have declined significantly. Farmers already rely on insectary plants to attract pollinators, and Kleiman notes that her findings apply to 80 percent of all flowering plants of Earth, including vegetables like tomatoes, beans, eggplants and squash. She wants her study to help farmers also reduce the use of chemical pesticides that harm pollinators.

NaturalAwakeningsCNJ.com

Ban Plastics in National Parks

Shady Solution California Canals Gain Solar Panels

To both conserve water and generate clean energy, Project Nexus, an innovative pilot project from the University of California-Merced, will install solar arrays over 25foot- and 100-foot-wide canals in the Turlock Irrigation District so operators can monitor and evaluate their impact on water quality and evaporation, as well as assess maintenance and logistical issues. External Affairs Department Manager Josh Weimer says, “In today’s world and how we are operating our system, saving every possible drop of water for future beneficial use is something that we are really trying to focus on.” In Europe, canals are lined with tree cover, while India has already started using solar panels. Project partner Solar AquaGrid, LLC, recognized the untapped opportunity to curtail evaporation and advance California’s Solar Over Canal initiative. CEO Jordan Harris states, “Research and common sense tell us that in an age of intensifying drought, it’s time to put a lid on evaporation. Our initial study revealed mounting solar panels over open canals can result in significant water, energy and cost savings when compared to ground-mounted solar systems, including added efficiency resulting from an exponential shading and cooling effect. Now is the chance to put that learning to the test.”

Rendering by Solar AquaGrid LLC)

Our national parks are places of unparalleled scenic beauty and wildlife for all of us to enjoy. These national treasures are being threatened by plastic trash. Nonprofit Free the Ocean is circulating a petition to Get Single-Use Plastic Out of U.S. National Parks. Sign it at Tinyurl.com/PlasticParkPetition.

Change Your Thoughts,

Change Your Life!

Eliminate problems like Stress, Smoking or Overeating ... Forever! Private & Group Counseling Corporate Programs Available

• sales motivation t en em ag ent • stress man • sports improvem em te es lf se • g • smokin speaking ty • public ie nx /a ar fe • a ni cation m so • in • behavior modifi ss lo t gh ei ng w • confidenceation • sa y habits • test taki ud st • • les motiv es in ra • panic attacks • mig ... and more!

Barry Wolfson, M.S., has 35 years of proven success.

Call Today! 908-303-7767

HypnosisCounselingCenter.com In Person or Virtual Appointments Available

28 Mine Street, Flemington 43 Tamarack Circle, Princeton

June 2022

inspiration

The Gift of an Imperfect Father by Marlaina Donato

Natural Awakenings is proudly distributed at: Bound Brook (Bridgewater) 319 Chimney Rock Rd.

Clark 1255 Raritan Rd. Unit 150

Madison (Rose City) 222 Main St.

Metuchen 645 Middlesex Ave.

Millburn-Union 2245 Springfield Ave. Vauxhall

Montclair 701 Bloomfield Ave.

Morristown 110 Washington St.

Newark 633 Broad St.

Parsippany 60 Waterview Blvd

Princeton 3495 US Rt 1 S

Ridgewood 44 Godwin Ave.

West Orange 235 Prospect Ave.

or many of us, Dad was the first person to throw us a ball, take us fishing or treat us to ice cream after a game. If we were fortunate, he was the one who made a bad day better, was a strong protector who kept the metaphorical wolves from the door and, by example, secured our place in the world. Fathers give us many “firsts”, and for some of us, that also means a broken heart. Parents, like all human beings, are fallible, learning as they go, never quite getting it right, but doing the best that they can. Sometimes their “best” is tangled in a net of unresolved personal trauma, addiction or mental illness, and we learn to bear the bitter with the sweet. “Someone I loved once gave me a box full of darkness. It took me years to understand that this, too, was a gift,” wrote poet Mary Oliver, and her words can be a beacon as we journey through healing the father wound. Once we come out the other side of childhood, it might be difficult to love someone that destroyed our trust and even more difficult to love ourselves. This “gift” might take decades for us to unwrap. Children of difficult dads sometimes blossom like lotuses into more compassionate beings from the mud of absence, cruelty or indifference. Perhaps with a shift in perspective, we may realize how their weaknesses might have given us survival tools and resilience. Flipping the coin to examine what they have done right and giving credit where it is deserved can also help us to open that dead-bolted door to forgiveness. Taking inventory, both positive and negative, can encourage us to become a different kind of parent. In a black-and-white world, the heart’s gray areas can teach us how to lean into our own healing. We inherit a lot from our wounded fathers, including an energetic opportunity to change the familial emotional code, and it can be beautiful. Marlaina Donato is an author, composer and painter. Connect at WildflowerLady.com.

Somerset/Middlesex/Hunterdon/Mercer/ S. Warren Co. Edition

NaturalAwakeningsCNJ.com

Peace, Clarity, and Health are within reach Get Unstuck in All Areas of Your Life! Janet StraightArrow’s unique blend of ancient wisdom with practical methods opens the door for discovering your true self.

Meet Your True Self free of fear & anxiety free from trauma free to grow in love

Awaken

Deep Love, Complete Healing, Practical Spiritual Living.

Shaman, Healer, Teacher, Yogi, Sage

973-647-2500 | BeTheMedicine.com Workshops, Shaman & Reiki Training, Energy Healing Private Sessions | Remote, Virtual, In-Person June 2022

MONTHLY PLANNER july

food connection

lit bits

Amazing news from around the world.

One Huge Scoop at a Time Innovations in Removing Plastic from Oceans and Waterways

august

self-empowerment

“In order to solve a problem, you must first understand the problem.” — Boyan Slat

september

inspired living

learn about marketing opportunities at:

908-405-1515

Cleaning oceans of over 20 billion tons of plastic waste is a daunting task and passionate commitment for Boyan Slat, 27-year-old Dutch inventor and entrepreneur. At age 18, he conceptualized a way to use the natural forces in the oceans to passively gather plastic so cleanup time could be reduced to years instead of millennia. Slat targeted an area known as the Great Pacific Garbage Patch for the first big clean up, however, he needed to know more about the plastic in that area to know how to build the system he imagined. Researchers had been mapping data on ocean plastic since the 1970s, but the data was scattered and biased toward smaller pieces due to the methods used in sampling. To gather the information he needed, an unprecedented mapping project was initiated. By coordinating 50 boats taking samples at the same time, he was able to gain critical information for designing an effective system. To safely collect floating plastic without harm to fish or plankton, Slat designed a system of floating booms and processing platforms. Once gathered, plastic can be brought to shore for repurposing or recycling. In September 2018, Slat and his team the launched the world’s first ocean cleanup system from San Francisco, and deployment inside the Great Pacific Garbage Patch followed soon after. Increasing efficiency is ongoing, and its latest system iteration, System 002 (a.k.a. Jenny), began cleanup in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch in late 2021. In the first five months of operation, 40,273kg of plastic was collected and reported effects on marine life were more negligible than expected. Slat is CEO of The Ocean Cleanup, a non-profit organization developing and scaling technologies to rid the oceans of plastic. He gives lead to a team of about 80 people, but spends most of his time on research and engineering. Slat has received recognition and multiple awards for his innovative accomplishments including the UN’s highest environmental accolade—Champion of the Earth. The Ocean Cleanup is also working on scalable ways to efficiently intercept plastic in rivers before it reaches the oceans.

Somerset/Middlesex/Hunterdon/Mercer/ S. Warren Co. Edition

NaturalAwakeningsCNJ.com

Regain A Full Head Of Hair! without

Needling, Injectables or Lasers If you’ve tried other approaches to regain your hair and been disappointed with the results, visit us today for a free consultation.

We can guarantee you a full, beautiful head of hair in 2 to 3 hours! Results last up to 3 years.

Call 201-731-3530 Today

to Reserve Your Free Private Consultation before

after

Over 30 years experience helping women with hair loss.

The Hair for Life Center

163 Engle St., Bldg 4A, Englewood, NJ

TheHairForLifeCenter.com

Recover from the trauma, bridge the divide, and put the pieces back together. With or without your partner!

Rhoda Ondov, MS, MFT, CPC Relationship Coach

908-642-6256 rhoda.ondov@gmail.com

OndovRelationshipCoaching.com 12-14 E. Main St., Somerville Sliding Scale Rates June 2022

fit body

The Exercise Power of E-Bikes GET A WORKOUT ON AN EASIER RIDE he familiar adage, “No pain, no gain,” doesn’t really apply to e-bikes. Although a pedal-assist electric bicycle is zippier and easier to ride than a conventional model, researchers are finding that as long as we’re pedaling, we’re still getting our heart pumping, building stamina and experiencing some of that cardio magic. That’s good news for those of us that like to work smarter, not harder. What’s more, that battery-enabled oomph supplies riders with the enjoyment, motivation and self-confidence to venture out more frequently and for longer periods of time, give hills and inclines a try and even pedal to work for an active, eco-friendly commute. It’s a win-win-win. In 2018, researchers at Brigham Young University (BYU), in Provo, Utah, sought to quantify just how good a workout was possible on an e-bike, and they discovered that the average heart rate was only 6.21 beats per minute lower than on a conventional cycle. “The e-bike and conventional bike averages both fell within that 50 to 70 percent maximum-heart rate threshold which is indicative of moderate-intensity cardiovascular activity, so there seems to be a similar amount of benefit for heart health when riding an e-bike, despite the fact that the perceived exertion was significantly lower than on a conventional bike,” says Taylor Hoj, lead author of the study published in the journal JMIR Public Health and Surveillance. The college-aged men and women that participated in the study rode the same 10-mile trail on each type of bike, so it was easy to compare how much faster the e-bikes were.

Somerset/Middlesex/Hunterdon/Mercer/ S. Warren Co. Edition

photo courtesy of Gail Coleman

by Sandra Yeyati

Cyclists averaged 12 miles per hour (mph) on the conventional bike and 16 mph on the e-bike, reaching top speeds of 22 mph and 27 mph, respectively. On average, the same route took 54 minutes to complete on the conventional bike and only 39 minutes on the e-bike—a 30 to 40 percent time savings. For people considering using an e-bike to commute to work, that reduction might make it easier to give it a shot. Using questionnaires given before and after each ride, the BYU researchers found,

NaturalAwakeningsCNJ.com

“In general, participants agreed that they could ride an e-bike on most days, in the cold, when they were tired or dressed in formal attire, while carrying groceries or books, or on hilly terrain,” says Hoj, a health equity epidemiologist at the Utah Department of Health and adjunct faculty member at the BYU College of Life Sciences. Notably absent from the study were e-bikes with throttles, which with a twist of the handle or the push of a button, provide a boost even when the rider isn’t pedaling. These bikes would probably not provide the same level of exercise benefits. In 2019, the same BYU researchers conducted a similar study with experienced mountain bikers, published in the JMIR Formative Research Journal. “Our results in that study supported the idea that using a pedal-assist electric mountain bike (EMTB) retained the cardiovascular benefit and that the participants overwhelmingly perceived the potential of EMTB use to be positive,” Hoj says. “Some of them said an EMTB could help get them out on the trails more or perhaps get them to ride longer and go further, and also would allow older, injured, disabled or less-fit riders to enjoy mountain biking on dirt trails, whereas maybe their age, injuries or fitness levels limited their capability on a conventional mountain bike.” According to Hoj, e-bikes offer a great set of benefits for fitness buffs. “Even if you’re a very serious athlete and in training programs, there are days where maybe you’re recovering from a more intense ride and your muscles are really sore, but you still want to continue to train your heart and that aerobic side of things, and an e-bike could be a great use for a more laid back aerobic day while the legs are recovering,” he says. “And if someone is wanting to get into mountain biking but doesn’t feel like they have the fitness to get there or doesn’t know how to start, that pedal assist could remove that initial barrier.” Ultimately, the decision to buy an e-bike—good ones start at $1,000—may come down to emotional considerations. “They’re a lot of fun to ride,” Hoj says.

Since 2004 Naturopathic, Chinese & Biological Medicine COMPREHENSIVE & COMPASSIONATE HEALTH CARE FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY

All who come to NJ Natural Medicine benefit from our holistic approach to treatment. Regardless of the reason for the visit, the guiding principal remains constant: to observe and treat the whole person, not just his or her symptoms.

Acupuncture Bio-resonance Therapy Diagnostics Infrared Sauna

Dr. Jason Frigerio ND LAC 2424 Lamington Road Bedminster, NJ 07921

Sandra Yeyati, J.D., a professional writer and editor, can be reached at SandraYeyati@ gmail.com.

973 267 2650 www.njnaturalmedicine.com

June 2022

healthy kids

How to Raise Empathetic Kids SIMPLE WAYS PARENTS CAN CULTIVATE COMPASSION by Carrie Jackson

olesia bilkei/AdobeStock.com

Somerset/Middlesex/Hunterdon/Mercer/ S. Warren Co. Edition

mpathy is the foundation of a caring society. While we are all born with a certain amount, cultivating it is a skill that can be strengthened with practice, and it is critical that the learning process start early, say childhood educators. An empathetic child can better manage their own emotional responses and understand how someone else might be feeling. Studies show that children that practice empathy are less likely to bully and better suited to collaborative environments, setting them up for academic and professional success. According to educator Traci Baxley, of Boca Raton, Florida, empathy in children is developed over time and with repetition. “The earlier we begin to model empathy with our children, the more they will mimic the characteristics associated with the awareness and care of others. Teaching and modeling empathy early supports children’s emotion regulation development and contributes to creating safe spaces in our homes for children to feel nurtured, valued and cared for,” she says. As a speaker, coach and author of Social Justice Parenting: How to Raise Compassionate, Anti-Racist, Justice-Minded Kids in an Unjust World, Baxley uses empathy as a tool for fostering civic-minded awareness. “Empathy is foundational to achieving social justice and creating a world where everyone has a fair chance to live a full, productive life. Social justice requires us to see each other’s perspectives, circumstances and lived experiences through the lens of empathy and compassion. It’s the only

NaturalAwakeningsCNJ.com

YOUR ONE TRUSTED GLOBAL ONLINE DESTINATION FOR

Regenerative Whole Health™ Benefits 24/7 ACCESS

KnoWEwell is a One-Of-A-Kind Platform that centralizes today’s trusted global knowledge, resources and community to Prevent and Address the Root Causes of Chronic Diseases. Find best-matched Vetted Practitioners. Learn from Top Educators and Experts. Access Evidence-Based Resources. Make Meaningful Connections in Community Topic Groups. Explore Funding Help for Outof-Pocket Costs of Practitioner Services.

Invest in Your Optimal Health & Well-Being.

Visit KnoWEwell.com Today and receive 50% Off your first year.

Practitioners Apply: NANJ20221P | Individuals Apply: NANJ20221 June 2022

Full Circle Energy Therapies Do you need energetic support on your healing journey? This heart-centered approach helps empower individuals to gently peel back layers so they may radiate their true essence and vibrationally align with the life they deserve.

Giving New Meaning to

Head in the Clouds, Feet on the Ground. Featured Services

Personalized Energy sessions (In person and distance for people & pets) Group Facilitated Breathwork, Sound Healing Transformation Coach

Deep Healing is Our Right. Call today for free consult.

Lori Hoff

Energy Practitioner, Teacher & Coach 2041 Pennington Rd, Ewing Twp

908-268-7169 call/text feelslikesunshine124@gmail.com FullCircleEnergy.net IG: fullcircleenergy FB: fullcircleenergytherapies

The Journey of Motherhood is a Spiritual & Holistic Path.

Dr. Christine Dolahan is passionate about the benefits of holistic and integrative therapies in helping women and mothers with the challenges encountered in the different stages of this life path.

Fertility • Conception • Pregnancy • Postpartum • Motherhood Experience

more peace, fun, confidence & joy in your identity as a mother as well as relief on physical & emotional levels. Text Today for a Free 30-minute Discovery Call.

Specialties include:

» Life Purpose Coaching &

Consulting Sessions » Reiki Healings & Other Energy Modalities » Intuitive Guidance, Mediumship, Psychic Healing » Prenatal & Therapeutic Yoga » Postpartum Doula Services

Numinous Mama

Dr. Christine Dolahan, Ph.D.

1 Cherry Tree Lane, Sparta, NJ 07871 text: 973-995-6271 ChristineDolahanWellness@gmail.com NuminousMama.com

Empathy often starts with listening. way to live in the space of active hope that we can create a world free from inequities and injustices,” she says. One innovative program, Toronto-based Roots of Empathy, began in 1996 after a mother brought her baby into a kindergarten classroom for children to relate to. With the aid of an instructor, they were encouraged to understand the baby’s needs and feelings, and to take the baby’s perspective. So successfully did the interaction reduce bullying behavior that the program has since spread globally, reaching 1 million children in K-8 classes. “In school, students are taught to read, but if we don’t teach them to relate, then we can expect failed societies,” says founder Mary Gordon. “By interpreting the feelings of the tiny baby and sharing when they had the same feelings, the students develop emotional literacy and awareness. This enables them to build connections and healthy relationships, which leads to inclusion and integration.” By parents modeling empathy and vulnerability around their children, the foundation is laid for open conversations, she says. “At the dinner table, say, ‘Today I felt embarrassed when I was called on at work and felt unprepared.’ Identifying and normalizing feelings is the best way to show them it’s something you value and encourage their natural instincts. Kids learn best through observation rather than instruction.” At The Children’s Museum, in Oak Lawn, an Illinois nonprofit, play is an essential part of childhood development. Executive Director Adam Woodworth says the institution focuses on kindness and gratitude to build a foundation of empathy. “Helping children find their empathy for others develops strong friendships built on trust and understanding. Parents can incorporate empathy into explanations for everyday interactions such as sharing toys. Instead of focusing on the negative of giving up their toy for someone else, talk about how happy the other child would feel,” he suggests. Empathy often starts with listening. “Teaching children how to listen for context is a skill that is developed over time. Parents can help by asking open-ended questions while reading, such as, ‘Why do you think Frog didn’t want to invite Snake to the party?’ This helps cultivate both understanding and empathy, acknowledges their feelings as real and validates them in a way that they know we care,” he says. Baxley stresses that it is imperative for parents to model the behaviors they want to cultivate in front of their children. “The way we show up for our children is how they will show up for others,” she says. “We have to pour these habits of empathy and compassion into our children in the privacy of our homes if we expect them to know how to show up for others in that way out in the world.” Carrie Jackson is a Chicago-based freelance writer and frequent contributor to Natural Awakenings magazine. Connect at CarrieJacksonWrites.com.

Somerset/Middlesex/Hunterdon/Mercer/ S. Warren Co. Edition

NaturalAwakeningsCNJ.com

It’s time to

Shop

Local! A great way to bring Natural Awakenings readers to local businesses for special savings and value. Each Shop Local listing includes: Business Name Shop (Website, Etsy, etc.) Connect (FB, IG, Pin, etc.) Description: Medium Ad: up to 50 words OR Large Ad: up to 140 words): Offer Hi-res pic to accompany ad plus a Free Listing in our website’s coupon section ($25 value) Medium listing: $125/mo Large listing: $275/mo For information about Shop Local and all Natural Awakenings promotion opportunities, contact

Joe Dunne, Publisher joe@naturalawakeningsnj.com 908-405-1515

LIVE LIFE UNCORKED

Shop: Etsy.com/shop/LiveLifeUncorkedShop Medium Ad Instagram.com/livelifeuncorkedshop/ $125/mo Connect: IG @LiveLIfeUncorked Love wine or know someone who loves wine? Shop Live Life Uncorked’s readymade upcycled wine cork and sparkling wine capsule products, or reach out to have something specially made. Live Life Uncorked can preserve corks from special moments or trips for you to remember forever.

Up to 50 word description

Offer: 10% discount on Etsy or Instagram use or mention code NATURALAWAKENINGS10

INSPIRED UNIVERSE BOOKS

Large Ad $275/mo Up to 140 word description

Shop: InspiredUniverse.com Connect: FB @InspiredUniverseBooks IG @InspiredUniverse_Books

How lucky are we, having a future to see? Through charming rhyme of her new book, New Jersey author, Aleksandra Starling reminds children, teens, and young adults to dream big and follow their hearts. Illustrated by world-renowned artist, Keico Watanabe (www.keicow.com), You’ll Always Find Your Way, is a perfect graduation gift for any age.

Starling is the founder of Inspired Universe, a company devoted to children’s health. Her richly illustrated books are designed to make kids laugh while inspiring them to try new things that will become foundational habits for a balanced life. Join the author and the artist LIVE on Instagram @InspiredUniverse_Books or Facebook @keicow on Saturday, Feb 19th, 11am-12pm (add to your calendar) to hear about the inspiration behind this amazing book, take a tour of Keico’s art studio, and have a chance to win beautiful artworks and gifts.

Offer: Receive a beautifully designed bookmark with each purchase.

June 2022

scam alert

One-Of-Many Amazon Scams The phone rings. The caller ID doesn’t look familiar, but you answer. A very serious, obviously pre-recorded voice announces that it is Amazon customer service, and that there has been suspicious activity on your account. A rather large purchase has been flagged and for security purposes, they need you to act now by selecting #1 to decline the charge or #2 to freeze your account.

Hang up. Either selection will take you to a call center where the now live person on the line will boldly proclaim they are Amazon customer service and make every attempt to scam you. Note the phone number of the scammer and date/time of the call so you can complete the short online report form Amazon provides.

Somerset/Middlesex/Hunterdon/Mercer/ S. Warren Co. Edition

NaturalAwakeningsCNJ.com

Scammers that attempt to impersonate Amazon are everywhere. They will try to use calls, texts and emails to impersonate Amazon customer service. In the ongoing effort to protect its customers, Amazon offers these important clues so that you can identify scams and keep your account and information safe: 1. Never feel pressured to give information (such as your credit card number or account password) over the phone, especially if the call was unexpected. If you’re ever unsure, it’s safest to end the call/chat and reach out directly to customer support through the Amazon app or website. 2. Never pay over the phone. Amazon will never ask you to provide payment information, including gift cards (or “verification cards”, as some scammers call them) for products or services over the phone. 3. Trust Amazon-owned channels. Always go through the Amazon mobile app or website when seeking customer support or when looking to make changes to your account. 4. Be wary of false urgency. Scammers may try to create a sense of urgency to persuade you to do what they’re asking. Be wary any time someone tries to convince you that you must act now. For more information on how to stay safe online, or to report suspicious communications, visit the Amazon Customer Service page, which can be found in the Help section at the bottom of the Amazon home page at Amazon.com..

Yoga Classes DailY/WeeklY

in stuDio & online 200 & 300 Hour teaCHer training

reiki training MontHlY reiki sHare

PerFeCt For Beginners

“i Can’t Do Yoga” Yoga Visit

our WeBsite

For Details.

Be Here noW Yoga

908.642.0989 63 Main st., FleMington, nJ BeHerenoWYoga108.CoM June 2022

The Healing of the Modern Man Men Redefine Their Emotional Power

Merpics/AdobeStock.com

by Marlaina Donato

or generations immemorial, men have been builders of culture, solid providers and inspired adventurers, but gender roles and sometimes-conflicting cultural expectations have taken a heavy toll on both the individual and community. The pervasive “tough guy” paradigm has denied half the human race its full emotional expression, resulting in amplified stress levels, compromised physical health, toxic aggression, broken families and a higher risk for addiction. According to research published in the American Journal of Men’s Health in 2020, death by suicide among men is almost four times higher than that of women and is partly attributed to the stigma of seeking treatment for depression. African American men carry the additional burden of racial and economic inequality, and their depressive symptoms are often more persistent and incapacitating. Contrary to common myth, men are deeply emotional and responsive beings by nature. Centuries overdue, restrictive cultural definitions are slowly shifting to a broader psychosocial view of authentic manhood. Thanks to guy-friendly mental health resources, virtual and in-person support communities and diverse options in the alternative health

Somerset/Middlesex/Hunterdon/Mercer/ S. Warren Co. Edition

field, more men are taking responsibility for their well-being and learning how to embody emotional freedom. They are stepping up to the plate as strong, sensitive leaders, something our world needs now more than ever.

Breaking the Chains and Choosing Authenticity

The masculine expectation and requirement have been for most boys to “buck up and tough it out” during childhood and adolescence, and this overt or sometimes very subtle conditioning can promote

NaturalAwakeningsCNJ.com

disproportionate power plays, homophobia and resistance to emotional intimacy well into adulthood. “Every society has ‘feeling rules’ that govern how emotions can be expressed publicly,” says psychologist Michael Reichert, executive director of the Center for the Study of Boys’ and Girls’ Lives at the University of Pennsylvania and author of How to Raise a Boy: The Power of Connection to Build Good Men. “Research tells us that boys are born as emotionally expressive as girls, but in a short time receive constant messages from their loved ones, schoolmates and TV shows that only certain emotions are okay for boys.” Such emotional restrictiveness has a profoundly negative impact on male development, he says. For Todd Adams in Elmhurst, Illinois, cofounder of MenLiving.org and a Tony Robbins-certified life coach, recognizing societal trappings is key. “The first step is to have the awareness that we have been lied to for as long as we can remember about what it means to be a man. We have been conditioned to stay in the ‘man box’, which means if we show any type of vulnerability, our value from the outside, as well as from the inside, plummets.” Reichert concurs. “My belief is that tragic outcomes—addictions, violence, suicide and premature mortality—are a reflection of how men’s human natures are thwarted by cultural norms. Being confined to a man box is hazardous. We humans, including men, are built to express our hearts in close connections to others we love and who love us.” The notion of going the distance solo is discouraged by Adams, whose organization helps men from all walks of life find support and connection through online meetings and adventure outings. “Once the awareness is there, I would invite family, partners, et cetera, to invite us to show up in a more authentic and human way,” he says.

Stress and the Physiology of Feelings

For many men, emotions—other than “socially acceptable” anger and irritation— rarely see the light of day and instead morph into physical maladies such as digestive trouble, headaches, chest pain and high blood pressure. Unmanaged stress

can also zap any zing in the bedroom. “I’m certainly not a doctor, but I’m sure there is a correlation for some about their emotional/mental/financial well-being being related to erectile dysfunction. The men that I work with often have a habit of not taking good care of themselves, and that lack of self-care ripples into other parts of their life, including their sexual life,” observes Adams. In spite of the fact that many others are struggling with the same condition, out of shame, it is often kept in the shadows. “My advice is that men find safe spaces to

discuss these challenges with others. My hope is that men can discuss sexuality and intimacy as openly as women do.” Josh Beharry, project coordinator of HeadsUpGuys.org, in Vancouver, Canada, an online resource hub for men battling depression, has spearheaded online stress assessment tests for more than 26,000 men over the age of 18 and found surprising consistency. “The results suggest that the two most common stressors faced by the men are a lack of meaning and feelings of

Do y you experience p chronic p pain, allergies, depression or anxiety? Neuro-Emotional Technique (NET) is a safe, gentle, and effective body-mind stress reduction technique utilizing acupressure points and a gentle Chiropractic adjustment.

1 of 4 Doctors Advanced nced NET N certified in NJ

Dr. J. Redmond

CHIROPRAC CH C CHI HIIROP H ROPRAC ROP ROPRAC RO RA R AC TIC

Samsara Sa S ams msa arra ra Chiropractic Chir Ch irop irop opra pract ra acctticc Wellness Wel elln nes e s Center Cent Ce nterr nt E. High Ave., St., Somerville, 17Eastern Somerville,NJ NJ08876 08876 www.DoctorRedmond.com www.DoctorRedmond.com

908.300.8800

Nerve N er ve Interference Interference can can cause cause tthese hese S Symptoms: ymptoms: Headaches/Migraines Sinus/Allergies Neck/Back Pain Shoulder Problems Anxiety Depression

Earaches Sports Injuries

June 2022

eodor LazarevAdobeStock.com

loneliness, followed by financial strain, relationship difficulties and problems at work,” he says. According to data gathered by Tulane University, human connection boosts immunity and wards off cardiovascular disease, anxiety, depression and cognitive impairment. For men especially, social bonds are critical in coping with life stresses. Forging new alliances and maintaining old ones can be challenging with or without a pandemic, but online communities offer additional support, camaraderie and nonjudgmental sharing, which can be especially helpful for those suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), addiction and depression.

you do something to treat the wound. Or if it’s deeper, you go to a doctor or a hospital. Denying painful emotions is like trying not to bleed when you get cut or trying to pretend you’re not bleeding.” For family members or friends concerned about a man’s mental health, he advises, “Vague assertions like, ‘You seem depressed,’ can make a guy feel attacked or put on the spot. Instead, it’s helpful to start by pointing out specific observations you’ve had about changes to his mood or behavior, such as, ‘You seem stressed out,’ or, ‘You haven’t been eating much,’ or, ‘You’ve been isolating yourself from friends or turning down plans more than usual.’” It is estimated that 4 percent of men suffer from the physical and psychological consequences of trauma, and PTSD is certainly not reserved for combat veterans. While traditional therapies like cognitive behavioral therapy and exposure therapy are excellent for treating depression, other modalities offer light at the end of the tunnel for men plagued by traumatic overwhelm. Somatic Experiencing, developed by PTSD psychologist Peter Levine during the last 50 years, targets trauma stored in the nervous system and gently helps a person to increase their tolerance for difficult physical sensations and buried emotions. It is also highly useful in addiction recovery. Therapeutic massage, yoga and regular exercise are all allies for men to combat stress, anchor into their bodies and access unconscious feelings. In the end, little things add up to a whole lot of change for a man. “You are not alone. Take your responsibility in how you experience life. Empower yourself with resources—podcasts, books, therapy, coaching—whatever support might look like for you,” advises Adams. There is no better time than now for the masculine to rise to a new level of greatness. “There is ample evidence that we are in a paradigm-shifting moment in the history of manhood,” says Reichert. “When I speak with parents, I say that there has never been a better time in all of human history to raise a son.” Marlaina Donato is an author and multimedia artist. Connect at WildflowerLady.com.

Beyond Talk Therapy

Male depression can be hidden in plain sight, disguised as hitting the bottle to “relax”, or by working compulsively, engaging in highrisk behaviors or easily flying off the handle at loved ones. Beharry knows firsthand how insidious the disease can be and why seeking help sooner than later is vital. After miraculously surviving a horrific suicide attempt, he unexpectedly found hope and the will to live through walking, breathwork and human connection. Being honest with others, as well as himself, was a turning point in his recovery. “For a lot of men, talking about dealing with depression feels like an admission of weakness or something to feel guilty about,” he says. “Try to think of emotional pain like physical pain. If you get cut, you bleed; that’s part of being human. Then

Somerset/Middlesex/Hunterdon/Mercer/ S. Warren Co. Edition

HELPFUL RESOURCES MenLiving, MenLiving.org A national program of virtual and in-person opportunities for men to forge healthy and nourishing connections. EVRYMAN, Evryman.com An online men’s community group. Good Men Project, GoodMenProject.com Includes articles on many topics including relationships, dads and families, advice and confessions, and ethics. HeadsUpGuys, HeadsUpGuys.org A program at The University of British Columbia that provides support for men to prevent and manage depression. NaturalAwakeningsCNJ.com

Empower yourself Empower yourself — with withan an— — —

Online OnlineSelf-Paced Self-Paced Deep DeepMeditation Meditation Armor ArmorCourse Course

Armor Armor of Clear, Clear, Calm Calm

Energy Energy......

in in just just 10-20 10-20minutes. minutes. OJAYA is the first and only method OJAYA is the first and only method that I can actually feel the effects that I can actually feel the effects of when I meditate. — Zoe Gordon, of when I meditate. Zoe Gordon, ★★★★★ Hoover, Alabama—

Hoover, Alabama ★★★★★

Learn OJAYA ... the Ancient, Supremely Potent ... Anti-Stress ... Learn OJAYA ... the Ancient,...Supremely ... Anti-Stress ... Anti-Anxiety Meditation for Healthy,Potent Youthful Aging

Brain fog evaporates as your vital energies get Anti-Anxiety Meditation ... for Healthy, Youthful Aging

IDDEN and closely guarded for centuries, the

adept secrets of the OJAYA Armor technique IDDEN and closely guarded for centuries, the

recharged in mere minutes ... the perfect antidote

guided meditations, mindful practices, or “watching you gently deep within ... to create a blissful “Armor”

and an...essential secret for youthful aging. strong ready forbeauty you to go do something great.

Brain fog evaporates as your vital energies get

are now revealed to you. Far more potent than

to the fatigue and frenzy of life in the real world ,,,

guided meditations, mindful practices, or “watching

and an essential beauty secret for youthful aging.

adept secrets of the OJAYA Armor technique

are now revealed you. Far moretechnique potent than your breath,” the to ancient OJAYA pulls

your breath,” the ancient OJAYA technique pulls of clear, calm energy and core inner strength. It’s

recharged in mere minutes ... the perfect antidote toSimply the fatigue and frenzy of your life inconsciousness the real world ,,, put, OJAYA makes Simply put, OJAYA makes your consciousness Sukaishi David shares the rare OJAYA teachings

you gently deep within ... to create blissful “Armor” effortless, and so powerful that youa do not need to

strong ... step readybyfor youwith to go do something great. with you step exquisite online videos

long hours.and Justcore 10-20inner minutes attacks ofmeditate clear, calm energy strength. It’s

... Sukaishi producedDavid with love in the settingteachings of the shares theserene rare OJAYA

and dissolves deep anxiety, lethargy and effortless, and so powerful that you do notstress. need to

Earthborn Rainforest. on ouronline site. videos with you step by stepStart withfree exquisite

meditate long hours. Just 10-20 minutes attacks

... produced with love in the serene setting of the

and dissolves deep anxiety, lethargy and stress.

Earthborn Rainforest. Start free on our site.

Begin the adventure free at:

— OJAYA.COM — Begin the adventure free at:

The not-for-profit School of OJAYA Deep Meditation in the Earthborn Rainforest / US Tel. 641-472-3300 June 2022

— OJAYA.COM —

healing ways

Healing Trauma EMERGING THERAPIES OFFER FRESH HOPE by Ronica O’Hara

motortion/AdobeStock.com

efugee children with tear-stained faces, the frail elderly being wheeled away from floods or fires, the sobbing families of gunshot victims—the faces of trauma are seen in every heartbreaking newscast. And the faces are even closer to us than that, walking down the street: a woman that recoils from touch, a child that has withdrawn into himself, a man with incoherent bursts of anger. The trauma of death, cruelty and destruction has always been part of the human experience. In the U.S., surveys show that as many as 60 to 70 percent of people report being traumatized by sexual assault, accidents, violence, war combat or other causes, and as many as one in 11 may be diagnosed in their lifetime with the more severe post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The encouraging news is that in the last few decades, a revolution has occurred in the recognition of how widespread trauma is and how deeply embedded it can be, not only in our behaviors but in our bodies. That, in turn, has led to effective and ever-evolving approaches to heal what’s been broken. “Although trauma and PTSD are visible in the culture everywhere now, from films to popular literature and from legal to mental health fields, until 1980 the topic was virtually non-existent,” says San Francisco psychologist, PTSD researcher and author Harvey Schwartz, Ph.D., who has treated trauma clients in clinical practice for 35 years. “After it became a legitimate diagnosis in 1980, long-overdue research and development of clinical protocols occurred, and today, almost every tradition and subculture within the mental health field has its own model of how to treat trauma.” Shaping the ongoing dialogue has been the research of Boston psychiatrist Bessel van der Kolk, whose 2014 book, The Body Keeps the Score, has occupied the top rung of The New York Times bestseller list for three years. In magnetic imaging studies, he found that when a person is thrust into a terrorizing incident, the cognitive functions in the brain’s temporal lobe shut down and activity shifts to the self-defense mode of the amygdala. When the person responds by fighting, fleeing or freezing, physiological reactions kick in, which armor the body and trap emotions and thinking in that fraught moment, distorting future perceptions and experiences. He argues that any true healing of trauma must include “bottom-up” modalities focusing on the body rather than only mental “top-down” insights. He also insists that no single treatment alone is likely

Somerset/Middlesex/Hunterdon/Mercer/ S. Warren Co. Edition

NaturalAwakeningsCNJ.com

TRAUMA TREATMENT OPTIONS Dozens of approaches are available for treating trauma, and experienced therapists often mix and match cognitive and experiential modalities to meet a patient’s needs. “Choose the therapist over the method, as research repeatedly shows that the therapeutic relationship is the most important factor in any successful therapy,” advises internationally recognized PTSD specialist Babette Rothschild, author of The Body Remembers, Revolutionizing Trauma Treatment and 8 Keys to Safe Trauma Recovery. Some primary approaches, with links to practitioners, are: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy works to process the traumatic event and change negative thought patterns connected to it. Usually involving 12 to 20 sessions, it is the most thoroughly studied approach and has been shown to be effective for about half of patients with good, long-term retention of outcomes. Some variations are Cognitive Processing Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy and Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy. Find a practitioner at Tinyurl.com/CBTpractitioner. Prolonged Exposure Therapy helps a patient overcome the fear and anxiety of a trauma by re-experiencing elements of it in a safe environment, using imagination and sometimes virtual reality. It is often used by cognitive therapists. Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) uses sound, motion, touch, even a pencil to direct a client’s eyes back and forth, thus integrating parts of the brain; memories emerge, but without a heavy emotional charge. A key part of Veterans Administration therapy, it is recommended by the World Health Organization. Some studies show that 84 to 90 percent of single-trauma victims no longer have PTSD after three, 90-minute sessions. Find a practitioner at Emdria.org/directory.

Psychedelics are emerging therapies for PTSD, with psilocybin (magic mushrooms), ketamine and LSD potentially offering deep healing when administered under the supervision of a trained therapist. MDMA is the closest to obtaining U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval: carefully designed Phase 2 and initial Phase 3 clinical trials show twothirds of PTSD patients shedding debilitating symptoms. For more information, visit Maps.org/mdma. Trauma-informed Yoga focuses on grounding practices to restore disrupted physical sensations rather than emphasizing poses themselves and has proven helpful for sexual assault victims and veterans. Dozens of teacher certification programs exist, and it can be done virtually at home.

Brainspotting is an emerging outgrowth of EMDR that involves helping a client fixate on a location in the eye that pinpoints specific traumatic memories. Research is scant, but suggests it may be as or more effective than EMDR. Find a practitioner at Brainspotting.com/directory. Somatic Experiencing has a client pendulate between subtle sensations of trauma in the body and safe, peaceful feelings, which allows the trauma to be gently released. Although extensive research remains to be done, more than 120,000 professionals in 30 countries have been formally trained in it. Find a practitioner at Directory.TraumaHealing.org.

prostock-studio/AdobeStock.com

Internal Family Systems explores different “parts” of a personality held together by a benevolent core consciousness, which allows those parts damaged and hurt by trauma to express themselves and feel self-compassion. It is recommended by leading trauma theorist Bessel van der Kolk. Find a practitioner at Ifs-institute.com/practitioners. Emotional Freedom Technique shows a client how to tap certain rhythms related to acupuncture meridians on the face and the rest of the body while actively reframing traumatic memories. In a small study of veterans with PTSD, 86 percent no longer met diagnostic criteria after six, one-hour sessions. Find a practitioner at Members.iceeft.com/member-search.php.

June 2022

prostock-studio/AdobeStock.com

enough and no combination of treatments will be the same for every person. Christine Songco, a Los Angeles dental hygienist and wellness coach, used cognitive therapy, journaling and meditation to relieve the trauma of a grueling bout with cancer, but hearing loud and angry voices still made her panic. What ultimately proved healing was an hour-long session of Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), in which she followed a therapist’s prompt to move her eyes back and forth while memories surfaced. “It got to the root of my fear and anxiety and the source of my trauma without hours of therapy talking sessions, but I do think the other work I did set the stage for EMDR to be effective for me,” she says. Schwartz says that two major approaches to treating PTSD have emerged: cognitive and experiential. Cognitive, or “talk therapies”, supported by academic research and insurance companies, emphasize mentally processing painful memories to manage such symptoms as nightmares, flashbacks and explosive anger, often using anti-anxiety and antidepressant medications. They can include such strategies as narrative recall, slowly increasing exposure to the traumatic material, mindfulness training and deep breathing exercises. “Cognitive approaches help survivors learn how to become an expert of themselves so that they can respond to their trauma in a healthier way,” says psychologist Sabina Mauro, of Yardley, Pennsylvania, author of The Mindfulness Workbook for PTSD. This type of therapy can take months to years and effectively treats about half of PTSD sufferers. Experiential approaches, which have been researched less, but have engendered substantial therapist enthusiasm, do a “deep dive” to work through traumatic patterning embedded

Somerset/Middlesex/Hunterdon/Mercer/ S. Warren Co. Edition

in a person’s mind, body and psyche. “They help people restore not only their nervous systems, but their capacity for self-trust and self-forgiveness and their capacity for connection to their bodies and others,” says Schwartz. These modalities mostly focus, at least at first, on physical sensations rather than intellectual comprehension. For example, Somatic Experiencing defuses deeply held, fear-based contractions in the body by integrating those sensations with peaceful alternatives. EMDR, once an outlier but now practiced globally and endorsed by the World Health Organization, uses eye movements to lower the emotional charge of a traumatic memory. Internal Family Systems repairs a wounded psyche by relating a person’s deeply felt, damaged “child parts” to their essential goodness. To re-inhabit parts of the body frozen in the past by trauma, patients may be encouraged to use somatic meditations, trauma-informed yoga, acupuncture, massage and martial arts, as well as art, music, dance and other forms of expression. Psychedelics, which if used carefully can open a trauma sufferer to a larger sense of purpose, may become a legal option in a few years. In a recent U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved Phase 3 clinical trial on MDMA (previously called ecstasy), 67 percent of participants no longer met the criteria for PTSD after three therapist-guided sessions. Says Schwartz, “It can feel like a supermarket of options out there, so people need to read, become informed consumers and combine treatments at times. We have to think of the mind, the body and the spiritual as all needing attention and integration.” Health writer Ronica O’Hara can be contacted at OHaraRonica@ gmail.com. NaturalAwakeningsCNJ.com

Nutrition is the Foundation of your Health. Strengthen Your Immunity Nourish Your Body Energy For Life Don’t rely only on drugs for your healthcare. You may really be suffering from nutritional deficiencies, toxin overload, chronic infections and bad lifestyle habits.

Affordable fees that fit almost any budget.

Take the first step to better health!

Call Today!

QiforGong Healing

classes|seminars|workshops

Classes & Seminars Online Beginner Series / 4 Classes Begin the gentle movements of a Qi Gong Tai Chi Journey with Patty Pagano Not sure? First 1-hour class is FREE! For info, contact Patty at 908-392-1313 or PattyQigongforHealing@gmail.com

QiGongForHealing.com SunriseNutritionCenter.com 137 Mountain Ave, Hackettstown, NJ 07840

or call Fran Maher & Brian Coffey

908-647-1563

June 2022

Food Connection

Eco-Volunteering HANDS-ON WAYS TO HELP OUR PLANET THIS SUMMER Helping nature while enjoying the great outdoors is a classic win-win opportunity. Here are a few ideas to join the fun while contributing sweat equity. Corral the Cleanup Crew Becoming a weekend cleanup community leader can be as simple as gathering family, friends and neighbors to beautify the surroundings and save animals from suffering. To improve water quality, pay special attention to beaches and rivers. Get permission from local authorities, arrange a special trash pickup and equip the crew with gloves and garbage bags. Afterwards, stand together proudly before the enormous hill of discarded plastics, fishing lines, beer bottles, aluminum cans, fast-food containers and other refuse. Congratulate the team and take pictures to post on social media. For more tips, visit Tinyurl.com/ trashteam. Get on the Community Gardening Bandwagon Community gardens are springing up on school grounds, at hospitals and correctional facilities, on rooftops and balconies, and in unused public spaces and underserved communities. Researchers have proven what we suspect: Gardening is a great workout and leads to improved heart health and weight loss, while breathing fresh air and helping things grow in kinship with like-minded people is a surefire mood enhancer. Reaping the bene-

Somerset/Middlesex/Hunterdon/Mercer/ S. Warren Co. Edition

fits of locally grown, fresh produce; beautifying a neighborhood with flowering plants or shade trees; and providing food and refuge for pollinators and other wildlife is not too shabby, either. Now is the time to join an existing group or start a new community garden. For inspiring examples and how-to ideas, visit FoodIsFreeProject. org and OneTreePlanted.org. Lend a Helping Hand at a Park Local, state and national parks rely on volunteers to conduct tours and maintain green areas and facilities. Even artists and scientists are welcome to lend their expertise. Consider combining a park visit with purposeful assistance. The National Park Service runs a Volunteers-in-Parks program (nps.gov/ getinvolved/volunteer.htm) that offers one-time service projects and longer-term positions at parks throughout the country and in U.S. territories in the Pacific and Caribbean. Visit Volunteer.gov for tasks like a campground host at the Rocky Mountain National Park or climber steward at Joshua Tree National Park. Many state park systems and municipal parks and recreation departments use websites to manage their volunteer opportunities, such as Volunteers.Flo ridaStateParks.org or tpwd. texas.gov/state-parks/help-parks. All it takes is an internet search of the name of the state or county plus “park” and “volunteer” to find local openings.

NaturalAwakeningsCNJ.com

romul014/AdobeStock.com

coming in the july issue

eco tip

Yoga Corner Summer

From an Ayurvedic Lens by Nicole Zornitzer

n Ayurvedic medicine we look at the seasonal transitions as an opportunity to balance our constitutions/ doshas and increase our sense of internal stability and wellness. Ayurveda, which is the sister science to yoga, encourages us to balance our bodies, minds and spirits as per the environmental fluctuations to create a greater sense of connection with self and live a healthy existence. The human body is affected by seasonal changes and therefore needs to be attended to as we transition through a calendar year and similarly journey through life stages. The most obvious characteristics of summer are heat, fire, humidity, longer days of bright sun and often imbalances of those who are affected by the elevated temperatures or activities that tend to accompany summertime. These qualities directly relate to the pitta dosha in Ayurveda which is why summer is viewed as a pitta season. Pitta’s earth elements are fire, heat, action and may be viewed from the Eastern perspective as a “type A personality”. While so many of us look forward to summer and the beautiful aspects of it, we must be mindful of how to properly balance the body to avoid dis-ease and overindulgence of a good thing. The general guidelines for all bodies during summer to keep pitta balanced is to keep relatively cool, engage in moderate activity as to not overheat the body and to ground the body’s energy. It is extremely

important to stay hydrated and rise early before the sun and get to sleep early. It is also recommended to exercise early in the morning when the sun’s intensity has not peaked. Some useful tips to maintain balance are:

» » »

» Eat light foods and smaller meals frequently » Be fully present while eating food to avoid overeating » Enjoy sweet, bitter and astringent tastes to assist in cooling the internal agni (fire) Eat fresh fruits, salads, dairy products such as milk, butter or ghee Drink a lot of water and add some mint or lime to further cleanse and cool Avoid spicy foods as they will aggravate the agni

Having a personal sadhana practice is important in any season. A sadhana practice encourages us to be on a routine of self-care to create wellness of body and mind. During the summer season, some recommendations when creating your daily sadhana are: » » »

*Use of pitta balancing oils to conduct self-massage such as coconut oil or sunflower oil *Incorporating cooling essential oils such as jasmine or lavender *Dress in cool, light colors to reflect the sun

*Shower or bathe prior to bedtime to create a sense of relaxation

Keeping in mind the importance of maintaining a sadhana practice includes a yoga practice to cool the body and help release the natural internal fire that accumulates. Some common yoga asanas that one may enjoy during this season are: » » » » »

Cat/Cow to encourage release of fire/ heat in the solar plexus Twists of any kind Child’s Pose Moon Salutations Avoid hot yoga during the height of the day (12-3pm)

In summary, it is essential for one to maintain balance throughout all months of the year. Ayurveda calls us to become aware of how our bodies are affected by temperature, food and earth’s elements to become present in our experience on earth. When a balance is created, we are taking measures to avoid unrest or dis-ease in the body. Ayurveda and yoga go hand in hand, one cannot exist without the other when we are living an authentic yogic lifestyle. Nicole Zornitzer, ERYT 1000, yoga therapist, founder of Niyama Yoga & Wellness Shala, located in Randolph, New Jersey; Upper Lake Mohawk in Sparta, New Jersey; Roseland, New Jersey; and Delray Beach in Florida. NiyamaYogaShala.com.

June 2022

green living

UNPLUGGED ADVENTURES ECO-TRIPPING FOR A DIGITAL DETOX

ondreicka/AdobeStock.com

by Sheila Julson

martphones come in handy for emergencies or checking directions while traveling, but a brief glance at a website or social media can quickly turn into a lengthy scroll session, distracting us from why we go on vacation in the first place. For those that want to truly unplug, unique off-grid, eco-options beckon.

Remote and Quirky Camping The National Park Service has many affordable campgrounds at parks, forests and lakeshores with little to no cell connectivity, allowing visitors to immerse themselves in nature. Listings of wilderness/backcountry camping sites, as well as front-country sites easily accessible by vehicles, can be found at nps.gov/subjects/camping/campground.htm. State parks offer closer-to-home refuge from the digital world. California’s Hendy Woods State Park, in Philo, is brimming with old-growth redwoods. “A lot of people head way up north to Sequoia National Forest to see old-growth redwoods, but there are also redwood forests closer to Sonoma and Mendocino counties, and similarly along the coast,” says Milwaukee-based travel writer Kristine Hansen, contributor to Fodors.com, NationalGeographic.com and other travel outlets. “Standing beneath these towering trees, you can’t help but feel like a small part of this large and wild world.” Hendy Woods’ proximity to wine country allows explorers to drop by a winery or creamery and put together a quick picnic, she notes.

Somerset/Middlesex/Hunterdon/Mercer/ S. Warren Co. Edition

Locally owned campgrounds can offer an escape to a pre-cellphone era. Camp Wandawega, in Elkhorn, Wisconsin, has a storied past of hosting both sinners and saints, opening in 1928 as a speakeasy and later becoming a Catholic youth camp. The historic charm remains intact. “Spending a night here is like dialing it back to the 1950s. Think The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel’s upstate New York summer camp,” Hansen says. “You can climb into a treehouse or a glamping tent to completely unplug.”

Immersive Getaways River rafting tours provide an escape from the virtual world, says John O’Brien, a scientist and environmental advocate who, with his wife, Kellie, owns Fairbanks Trails and Rivers Tour Company, in Fairbanks,

NaturalAwakeningsCNJ.com

Alaska. “The moment that we shove off from the shore, we’re immediately on what we call ‘river time.’ It’s best at that point to put your phone and camera in airplane mode. We’re often in areas where there is no cell coverage,” he says. “There’s something to be said about just unplugging and being in the moment.” Eco-activities such as river rafting might conjure up images of young, physically fit adventurers in rafts slapped by wild waves, but O’Brien notes river rafting is suitable for all ages and abilities. In tours with frame-style rafts, the guide does all the rowing. “If you are able to stand, walk and climb into and out of a raft, even with some assistance, you can go river rafting,” he says. Trekking is another proven eco-trip strategy. Sometimes confused with hiking, it involves a long journey across a large swath of land that often requires participants to pare down to the absolute basics, which means ditching the cell phone and charger. There’s often little to no service in these remote stretches. North American treks include Canada’s the Long Range Traverse, a 22-mile, unmarked, backcountry trail in Newfoundland with moose, bears and caribou. The Appalachian National Scenic Trail is a 2,100-mile stretch that takes explorers through 14 states. Stretching from Springer Mountain, Georgia, to the northern terminus at Katahdin, Maine, the trail

passes through the diverse terrain of the Appalachian Mountain Range. Hikers of all levels can take advantage of day hikes or longer treks.

Getting Our Hands Dirty For an immersive nature experience that also does good, the American Hiking Society offers the Volunteer Vacations program, in which people join in public land stewardship projects. Working in small crews of six to 15 people, volunteers handle a variety of land conservation and trail maintenance needs. Project access ranges from backpacking to day-hiking, and accommodations vary from primitive campsites to bunkhouses or cabins. “Some of our Volunteer Vacations are remote backcountry trips that are only accessible via foot, and some are offered at local, state and national parks as well,” says program manager Ellie Place. “There is a Volunteer Vacation for everyone, whether you want to sleep in a cozy cabin with amenities or sleep under the stars miles away from it all.” The American Hiking Society has more than 35 Volunteer Vacations planned this year; more information can be found at AmericanHiking.org.

GROW YOUR BUSINESS

Secure this ad spot! Contact us for special ad rates.

908-405-1515

Sheila Julson is a Milwaukee-based freelance writer and contributor to Natural Awakenings magazines throughout the country.

June 2022

conscious eating

Planet-Friendly Pours THE RISE OF SUSTAINABLE WINE AND SPIRITS

tатьяна kреминская/AdobeStock.com

by Sheila Julson

conic food and beverage magazines such as Bon Appetit and Food & Wine affirm that sustainable and socially responsible wines and spirits are becoming a major force in the market, yet consumers wanting to pour an Earth-conscious tipple need a sobering amount of research to sort through what’s truly eco-friendly. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration does not require wine makers to list ingredients on labels or regulate the use of terms such as “natural” and “sustainably grown”. “There are more than 70 additives that are allowed in wine that don’t have to be disclosed on the label,” explains Brad Kruse, who with his wife, Allie, owns Nonfiction Natural Wines, a Milwaukee-based specialty wine retailer. “The only real requirement relating to additives is the declaration of sulfites, which makes it trickier, because even wines with no added sulfites have to have the

warning on the label because some naturally occur in the wine.” Some wine labels tout that they’re made with organic grapes or grapes that are farmed sustainably. “But those may still have a host of other additives or lots of added sulfites,” says Kruse. Certifications can act as a shortcut to locate eco-friendly wines. Demeter USA, for example, certifies vineyards that follow strict biodynamic rules for how the wine is farmed and processed, including limiting sulfites. But many small producers that operate naturally don’t bother obtaining certification. Independent wine shops with knowledgeable employees can help consumers choose wisely. Kruse recommends looking for the name of the importer on the back label, saying, “If you learn a handful of importers that focus on naturally made wines, such as Louis/Dressner, Zev Rovine or Jenny & Francois, it can be a quick way to find a good option.”

Somerset/Middlesex/Hunterdon/Mercer/ S. Warren Co. Edition

NaturalAwakeningsCNJ.com

Stay In The Game with

Regenerative Medicine

It’s not just for professional athletes any more.

If staying in the game is a priority,

Call 609-570-6980 Today to schedule a free informational call.

Regenerative Medicine utilizes your own cells, including Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) to facilitate your body’s natural ability to heal from orthopedic and spine problems that were previously treated with steroids and surgery. We specialize in treating pain in the spine and joints including osteoarthritis. With minimal down time, Regenerative Medicine can help you return to work, sports and activities quickly. For over 15 years, Dr. Roman has provided care to thousands of patients including professional athletes with various spine and joint disorders, arthritis, and pain issues.

609-570-6980 | info@regenespine.com Offices in Mercerville and Cedar Knolls, NJ & NYC. Stephen J. Roman, Jr., M.D.

RegeneSpine.com June 2022

Sustainability in the Vineyards

CLASSIC MANHATTAN

Rudy Marchesi, the former chairman of Demeter USA, practices biodynamic farming at his vineyard, Montinore Estate, in Forest Grove, Oregon. “We view our farm as one whole organism, below and above the ground,” he says. Biodynamic farming, founded by philosopher Rudolf Steiner a century ago, requires using nutritionally rich compost teeming with microbiology of fungi and bacteria, as well as synchronizing specific farming practices with the seasons. These practices help the vineyards buffer droughts and weather swings, resulting in a consistent product that reflects the region. “Wine connoisseurs and collectors look for wines that have a sense of place and tell the story of where they’re from,” Marchesi says.

¼ oz cherry liqueur 2½ oz sustainably produced rye 1 oz sweet vermouth 2 dashes angostura bitters 1 dash cherry bitters 1 maraschino cherry

Alcohol is an agricultural product, so producing a sustainable spirit starts with the grain itself, says Herman C. Mihalich, founder and distiller of Mountain Laurel Spirits, in New Hope, Pennsylvania. “Rye is a much less resource-intensive grain to grow compared to crops like corn,” he says. The recipe for the company’s signature Dad’s Hat Rye Whiskey calls for malted barley and rye, but no corn. “Rye doesn’t need much fertilizer and few, if any, pesticides. It’s easy to grow and it preserves soil because it’s a fall planting crop that helps prevent erosion,” he says. Their grains are sourced from a nearby farmer, and they save water by capturing cooling water from the still’s condenser and storing it in a tank, then using it to clean tanks and make spent mash that can be used for livestock feed. The bottles are made locally by Stoelzle Glass, in Monaca, Pennsylvania. When seeking sustainably produced spirits, customers have to do their due diligence, Mihalich says. “It requires a little digging and asking the right questions: What grains are you using and from where? How are you using water?” When Extreme Chef host Marsh Mokhtari and his wife, Jan, founded Gray Whale Gin, they rotated proprietorship with two existing distilleries instead of using land and resources to build a new one. A vacation in Big Sur inspired the couple to “capture California in a glass” and make a product with ingredients found along the gray whale migratory route between the Baja Peninsula and Oregon. They hired a professional forager to collect juniper berries along the coast. “Juniper for most gin is sourced from Italy or Macedonia,” says Mokhtari. “We predominantly use juniper berries from California, which are light purple and larger, with a cedar component.” They also source mint and limes from sustainable farms in California. Gray Whale Gin gives back through a partnership with the environmental nonprofits Oceana and 1% for the Planet. They recently joined with Oceana and former California governor Jerry Brown to support responsible swordfishing practices off the California coast.

Recipe and photo courtesy of Dad’s Hat Rye Whiskey.

WHALE HELLO THERE 2 oz sustainably produced gin ½ oz fresh lime juice ½ oz fresh lemon juice ½ oz agave syrup Fill a cocktail shaker with ice and pour in the gin, lime juice, lemon juice and agave. Shake vigorously and strain into a chilled martini glass, or over a glass filled with ice. Garnish with a lemon twist and serve immediately. Recipe and photo courtesy of Gray Whale Gin.

jimdeli/AdobeStock.com

Distillers Move Toward Sustainable Practices

Coat a chilled cocktail glass with cherry liqueur. Add the remaining ingredients over ice in a a shaker. Stir and strain into the cocktail glass. Garnish with the cherry.

Sheila Julson is a Milwaukee-based freelance writer and contributor to Natural Awakenings magazine.

Somerset/Middlesex/Hunterdon/Mercer/ S. Warren Co. Edition

NaturalAwakeningsCNJ.com

THE LARGEST ONLINE CONSCIOUS DATING NETWORK

IS WAITING FOR YOU! We invite you to join and experience a truly conscious, loving, dating environment with amazing members.

TRY FOR FREE and manifest an extraordinary, enlightened relationship. Be proactive by joining today. Your natural match is waiting to meet you!

Visit us at NaturalAwakeningsSingles.com

June 2022

daily & ongoing

JUNE 2022 SATURDAY, JUNE 4 Cacao/Fire Ceremonial Circle – 11am-1pm. Cacao has the power to let healing energy move throughout our bodies, opening up the heart’s center. Join Leslee Penny as she takes you through a journey of spiritual release, de-stressing, healing, and letting go of what no longer serves you. Includes meditation and full-body resonant sound healing. Bring comfortable clothing and something to lie down on. $55. Register at MadLavenderFarm. Com/Cacao-Fire-Ceremonial-Circle-JuneSeptember. Mad Lavender Farm, 452 Co Rd 579, Milford. For information call 908-3105973 or visit MadLavenderFarm.com.

SUNDAY, JUNE 5 Be Here Now: Embodiment – 9:30-10:30am. Together, we create space to cultivate a relationship with our bodies in the present; using a mix of tools like breathwork, somatic movement, self-energetic practices and guided meditations. $25. Location: Body Language Company, located in Peddlers Village, 100 Peddlers Village, Lahaska, PA, Shop #163 by Giggleberry Fair. Register at https://linktr.ee/fullcircleenergy. For information contact Lori at 908-268-7169 or feelslikesunshine124@gmail.com. FullCircleEnergy.net.

MONDAY, JUNE 6 Change Your Life with Hypnosis – 6-8:45pm. Barry Wolfson leads three one-hour sessions. Take any or all for tools to help you change your life for the better. Stop Smoking with Hypnosis – 6-7pm. Eliminate the craving for tobacco while minimizing discomfort. Lose Weight with Hypnosis – 7-8pm. Shed unwanted pounds and keep them off in a safe, effective program. Better Sleep with Hypnosis – 8-8:45pm. Imagine leaving life’s cares and worries behind at the end of each day. $60 each session. Upper Merion Community Center, 431 W. Valley Forge Rd., King of Prussia, PA. Register at 610-265-1071 or 908-303-7767. For more information, contact Barry at 908-303-7767 or barry@ hypnosiscounselingcenter.com. HypnosisCounselingCenter.com.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 8 Change Your Life with Hypnosis – 6:309:15pm; Virtual. Barry Wolfson leads three one-hour sessions. Take any or all for tools to help you change your life for the better. Stop Smoking with Hypnosis – 6:30-7:30pm. Eliminate the craving for

All calendar events for the July 2022 issue must be received by June 10 and adhere to our guidelines. To submit, visit naturalawakeningscnj.com/pages/calendar-listings or email kathy@NaturalAwakeningsNJ.com for submission form.

tobacco while minimizing discomfort. Lose Weight with Hypnosis – 7:30-8:30pm. Shed unwanted pounds and keep them off in a safe, effective program. Better Sleep with Hypnosis – 8:30-9:15pm. Imagine leaving life’s cares and worries behind at the end of each day. $60 each session. Sponsored by Hypnosis Counseling Center. For more information, contact Barry at 908-303-7767, or barry@hypnosiscounselingcenter.com. HypnosisCounselingCenter.com. Reiki Sound Bath Meditation – 7-8pm. Join Lori from Full Circle Energy Therapies for an hour of intention setting, breathwork, somatic movement, reiki and sound healing. Location: River Rock Healing Arts, Carriage House, 1 S. Main St. Rear, Yardley, PA. $25. Register at https://linktr.ee/fullcircleenergy. For information contact Lori at 908-2687169 or feelslikesunshine124@gmail.com. FullCircleEnergy.net.

THURSDAY, JUNE 9 Wicca 101 Class – 7:30-9:30pm. Experience a magickal year learning the correct ways of the “craft”. This 12-month course with one class each month is taught by High Priest Anthony and High Priestess Sara, both with decades of knowledge and practice in the arts. Pre-registration is required. $25 per person, per class. A Year and a Day Mystical Shoppe, 413 Bond St., Asbury Park. For information and to register, call 848-217-2371 or email Ayearandadaymysticalshoppe@yahoo.com. AYearAndADayMysticalShoppe.com.

FRIDAY, JUNE 10 Summer Foraging Workshop – 10am-noon. Soft, pale greens scatter the landscape in spring but wait a little longer and you will get the deep, lush greens of summer. Walk around the farm and woods with Robyn, our local herbalist, and learn the basics of foraging, how and when, the health benefits of the plants and how to use them, plus how to make an electrolyte drink for hydration in the hot summer months. $40. Register at: MadLavenderFarm.com/Summer-ForagingJune/. Mad Lavender Farm, 452 Co Rd 579, Milford. For information call 908-310-5973 or visit MadLavenderFarm.com.

SUNDAY, JUNE 12 Psychic/Mediumship Workshop with Cherise – 3-5pm. Introduction to the concept of mediumship as an encounter with and interpretation of spirit energy. Learn how to develop an awareness of energy,

Somerset/Middlesex/Hunterdon/Mercer/ S. Warren Co. Edition

within or without, whether embodied or not. Explore the levels of spirit energy and on the ways to encounter spirit responsibly. Pre-registration is required. $40 per person. A Year and a Day Mystical Shoppe, 413 Bond St., Asbury Park. For information and to register, call 848-217-2371 or email Ayearandadaymysticalshoppe@yahoo.com. AYearAndADayMysticalShoppe.com.

TUESDAY, JUNE 14 Lavender Yoga in June – 6/14, 6/15, 6/15, 6/17, 6/20, 6/28; 6-7:30pm. “If rosemary is for the spirit, then lavender is for the soul.” Find your zen in the midst of our blooming lavender field during this relaxing all-level yoga class. Surrender to the peaceful flow of your practice in the middle of a lavender field in full bloom. Plus pick your own lavender bouquet. Students must bring a yoga mat. $40. Mad Lavender Farm, 452 Co Rd 579, Milford. For information, call 908-3105973 or visit WildFlowersUpYoga.com/ LavenderYoga. For information on the farm visit MadLavenderFarm.com.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 15 Native American Drumming/Journeying with Shaman Lauren Porter – 7:30-9:30 pm. Connect with the spirit of the drum and your inner medicine. New or experienced welcome. Includes importance of drumming, how drumming can help heal spiritual wounds, and help discovering spiritual allies. $45 per person. A Year and a Day Mystical Shoppe, 413 Bond St., Asbury Park. For information and to register, call 848-217-2371 or email Ayearandadaymysticalshoppe@yahoo.com. AYearAndADayMysticalShoppe.com.

THURSDAY, JUNE 16 Working with Stones and Crystals – 7:309:30pm. Gain a working knowledge and relationship with your stones and crystals. Learn to choose stones by vibration and feel, how to work with them in everyday life, how to easily care for your collection and more! Includes a Crystal Bible book and 2 stones/crystals. $55 per person. A Year and a Day Mystical Shoppe, 413 Bond St., Asbury Park. For information and to register, call 848-217-2371 or email Ayearandadaymysticalshoppe@yahoo.com. AYearAndADayMysticalShoppe.com.

SATURDAY, JUNE 18 Change Your Life with Hypnosis – 9-11:45am. Barry Wolfson leads three one-hour sessions.

NaturalAwakeningsCNJ.com

Take any or all for tools to help you change your life for the better. Stop Smoking with Hypnosis – 9-10am. Eliminate the craving for tobacco while minimizing discomfort. Lose Weight with Hypnosis – 10-11am. Shed unwanted pounds and keep them off in a safe, effective program. Better Sleep with Hypnosis – 11-1145am. Imagine leaving life’s cares and worries behind at the end of each day. $60 each session. Hypnosis Counseling Center, 28 Mine St., Flemington. For more information, contact Barry at 908-303-7767, or barry@hypnosiscounselingcenter.com. HypnosisCounselingCenter.com. English Lavender Wreath Workshop in June – 10am-noon. Join Nicole of Spadaflora Botanical Artistry to make a wreath from freshly harvested Hidcote lavender. There is nothing like the color and scent of fresh lavender and it will dry beautifully, lasting well into the next year. Enjoy lavender lemonade and lavender shortbread cookies, and stroll around the farm. Limited to 8 attendees. In the event of rain, the workshop will be held in our new renovated Workshop Space. $130. Register at: MadLavenderFarm.com/ English-Lavender-Wreath-Workshop-InJune/. Mad Lavender Farm, 452 Co Rd 579, Milford. For information call 908-310-5973 or visit MadLavenderFarm.com.

SUNDAY, JUNE 19 Oil Distillation in Your Kitchen – 2:30pm. Scent is a complex mixture of volatile compounds, chemicals that vaporize into gas when released by the plant. Experience hands-on how lavender and other herbs are alchemized from volatile scent to bottled oil and hydrosol. The product collected from steam distillation is “essential oil”, the elusive essence of the plant that contains its scent. An additional product is hydrosol that contains water-soluble beneficial compounds. Workshop led by Dr. Alex, PhD. $75. Register at: MadLavenderFarm.com/ Workshops/Events/. Mad Lavender Farm, 452 Co Rd 579, Milford. For information call 908310-5973 or visit MadLavenderFarm.com. Summer Soul - Solstice Workshop – 6:30-8pm. Shift your focus to self-care and individual intentions as we dive into a nourishing sequence of somatic practices, breath and light movement, easing minds and bodies into a restful state of bliss. Embrace the energies of the season as we open our hearts to the beauty within and around us. Includes Reiki Sound Bath and gift bags. Location: Body Language Company, located in Peddlers Village, 100 Peddlers Village, Lahaska, PA, Shop #163 by Giggleberry Fair. $50. Register at https://linktr.ee/ fullcircleenergy. For information contact Lori at 908-268-7169 or feelslikesunshine124@ gmail.com. FullCircleEnergy.net.

SATURDAY, JUNE 25

with plants and our focus will, of course, be Lavender. Tap into the creative side with drawing and journaling, inspired by the energy of the plant. Lavender herbal infusion demonstration. Pick a fresh bunch of lavender to take home. Lavender lemonade refreshment. All materials and recipes provided. $45. Register at MadLavenderFarm. com/connecting-with-lavender-in-june. Mad Lavender Farm, 452 Co Rd 579, Milford. For information call 908-310-5973 or visit MadLavenderFarm.com. Reiki Sound Bath Meditation – 6:30-7:30pm. Join Lori from Full Circle Energy Therapies for an hour of intention setting, breathwork, somatic movement, Reiki and sound healing.

Location: River Rock Healing Arts, Carriage House, 1 S. Main St. Rear, Yardley, PA. $25. Register at https://linktr.ee/fullcircleenergy. For information contact Lori at 908-2687169 or feelslikesunshine124@gmail.com. FullCircleEnergy.net.

SUNDAY, JUNE 26 Design Your Youth Summer Vision Board – 4-5pm. Have you ever wanted to design your life? Set your future intentions by creating your very own vision board. We will design vision boards together in a workshop setting. This workshop is intended for youth ages 10 or older. All materials will be provided within workshop cost. $20.

Better Vision in 10 Days Most Eye Conditions Are Treatable!

Our Integrative Medical treatment programs provide the best clinical outcomes for our patients.

25 Years of Experience • • • •

MACULAR DEGENERATION GLAUCOMA CATARACTS RETINITIS PIGMENTOSA

• • • •

OPTIC ATROPHY DRY EYE DIABETIC RETINOPATHY RETINAL OCCLUSIONS

Mention this ad for a FREE phone consultation. DR. ANDY

R OSENFARB Andy Rosenfarb, ND, LAc.

Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine Board Certified in Acupuncture & Chinese Herbal Medicine

332 S. Avenue E., Westfield, NJ Specializing in Holistic Eye Health • #1 Bestselling Author

908-466-1980 • AcuVisionAcupuncture.com

Herbology: The Secret Life of Lavender – 1-3pm. In this two-hour workshop with Robyn, develop a personal ritual to connect

June 2022

Health Yeah with Michelle, 243 N. Union St., Ste 201, Lambertville. For information and to RSVP, call 973-420-9220, email healthyeahwithmichelle@hotmail.com, or visit HealthYeahWithMichelle.com. Design Your Adult Summer Vision Board – 6-8pm. Have you ever wanted to design your life? Set your future intentions by creating your very own vision board. We will design vision boards together in a workshop setting. This workshop is intended adults. All materials will be provided within workshop cost. $30. Health Yeah with Michelle, 243 N. Union St., Ste 201, Lambertville. For information and to RSVP, call 973-420-9220, email healthyeahwithmichelle@hotmail.com, or visit HealthYeahWithMichelle.com.

plan ahead SATURDAY, JULY 2 Oil Distillation in Your Kitchen – 2:30pm. Scent is a complex mixture of volatile compounds, chemicals that vaporize into gas when released by the plant. Experience hands-on how lavender and other herbs are alchemized from volatile scent to bottled oil and hydrosol. The product collected from steam distillation is “essential oil”, the elusive essence of the plant that contains its scent. An additional product is hydrosol that contains water-soluble beneficial compounds. Workshop led by Dr. Alex, PhD. $75. Register at: MadLavenderFarm.com/ Workshops/Events/. Mad Lavender Farm, 452 Co Rd 579, Milford. For information call 908310-5973 or visit MadLavenderFarm.com.

SATURDAY, JULY 16 Inclusion Festival – 11am-11pm. This unique, immersive and fully inclusive experience aims to use music and recreation to normalize disability and strengthen unity among diverse populations. Enjoy sensory-friendly live music and recreational and educational workshops spanning a wide range of topics and hobbies. Dance and creative movement, art and music appreciation, health, wellness, nature yoga, meditation and mindfulness and more. Designed to make everyone feel welcome and safe to participate with mindful modifications to meet individual needs. $45/ adult; Free/under age 12. Kempton Community Center, 83 Community Center Drive, Kempton. For information, visit InclusionFestival.com.

FRIDAY, JULY 29 Shamanic Medicine Wheel Retreat –7/29, 2pm-7/31, 2pm. Experience a unique blend of ceremonies from several traditions worldwide for a deep healing and awakening experience. The medicine wheel brings in all directions, elements, inner and outer guidance, ancestors, and all of nature. Healing through the

medicine wheel offers profound new ways to look at life, heal, and move forward with ease and grace. Led by Shaman Janet StraightArrow. Retreat held in beautiful Catskills Mountains location: Art Farm, 33 Fawn Lane, Accord. $495 if paid by 6/1; $545 thereafter. For more information, visit BeTheMedicine.com. Full Moon Musing – 7-8pm. A time to release, a time to celebrate. Come, let’s set our intentions and sink into our bodies with guided breath and energetic techniques. Sinking into a long shavasana, bathing in the healing tones of crystal singing bowls. Experience the magic in the everyday. Location: The Healing Journey at MFR & Holistic Arts, 11 Lower Center St., Clinton. $25. Register at https://linktr.ee/ fullcircleenergy. For information contact Lori at 908-268-7169 or feelslikesunshine124@ gmail.com. FullCircleEnergy.net.

SATURDAY, JULY 30 Cacao/Fire Ceremonial Circle – 11am-1pm. Cacao has the power to let healing energy move throughout our bodies, opening up the heart’s center. Join Leslee Penny as she takes you through a journey of spiritual release, de-stressing, healing, and letting go of what no longer serves you. Includes meditation and full-body resonant sound healing. Bring comfortable clothing and something to lie down on. $55. Register at Madlavenderfarm.Com/ Cacao-Fire-Ceremonial-Circle-June-September. Mad Lavender Farm, 452 Co Rd 579, Milford. For information call 908-310-5973 or visit MadLavenderFarm.com.

ongoing DAILY Qi Gong for Beginner Series – Times and days vary. Four 1-hour classes. Begin the gentle movements of a Qi Gong Tai Chi journey featuring Patty Pagano live online. First 1-hour class is Free! Check schedule or register at https://forms.gle/k2kcv9tVJ6X1QfpD8. For information contact Patty at 908-3921313 or PattyQigongforHealing@gmail.com. QiGongForHealing.com.

WEDNESDAY New Year, New You ‘22 – 6-7pm. 4th Wed. Let’s get together in a group session setting, the last Wednesday of every month to focus on making 2022 your best year yet. We will focus on all attributes of life to create positive and life-affirming changes. If you are interested in becoming a client of mine, you could attend these monthly events free of charge. . $49 per person/each session . Health Yeah! with Michelle, 243 N. Union St., Ste 201, Lambertville. 973-420-9220. HealthYeahWithMichelle.com. Advanced Soul Shamanism Bi-Weekly Class – 7-9:15pm. 2nd & 4th Wed, ZOOM. Join us for a great night of profound experiences. For all graduates of Soul Shamanism 101 and

Somerset/Middlesex/Hunterdon/Mercer/ S. Warren Co. Edition

other Soul Shamanism classes. Experience new energy levels, wisdom, knowledge, healing, tools, and practices within this practice Zoom link is provided upon signing up. $60. Be The Medicine (Online In-PersonSessions-Classes-Retreats), 247 North Rd., Chester. 973-647-2500. BeTheMedicine. com.

THURSDAY Holistic Dentistry: Materials Reactivity Testing – 8am-4pm. Learn about and discuss Materials Reactivity Testing with the expert holistic dentists at Princeton Center for Dental Aesthetics and Implants. Biocompatibility testing can be a good way to learn what dental materials may be best suited to your oral health needs. This free consultation has a $152 value. It’s your opportunity to benefit from the decades of experience we offer all of our patients. For patients who so choose, we can arrange the testing process. Free. Princeton Center for Dental Aesthetics & Implants, 11 Chambers Street, Princeton. 609-924-1414. PrincetonDentist.com/ holistic-dentistry.

classifieds Have a business opportunity, job opening, space for rent or other need? Place your classified ads here, 30 words for $30, extra words $1 each. Email to

Joe@NaturalAwakeningsNJ.com by the 10th of the month prior to publication date.

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY OPPORTUNITY: WHAT WOULD A RELIABLE RESIDUAL INCOME MEAN FOR YOU? Take Control of Your Future With A Reliable Residual Income. Visit: areliableincome.com/prosper. Call: 609-510-0292

METAPHYSICAL SHOP OFFERINGS: A unique gift shop for the mind, body and soul. Check out our collection of angels, candles, cards, crystals, crystal soaps, jewelry, sage, salt lamps, solar wind chimes, tea, t-shirts, tumbled stones and more. Card readings, classes and workshops available. Metaphysical & Spiritual Bliss, 19A Old Highway 22, Clinton. 908-268-8029. FB Metaphysical & Spiritual Bliss. Instagram @cmatsen11

NaturalAwakeningsCNJ.com

Central New Jersey Community

business directory

Join the community! Request our media kit today by emailing Joe@NaturalAwakeningsNJ.com

Your local source for natural health, nutrition, fitness, personal growth, green living, creative expression and the products and services that support a healthy lifestyle.

Acupuncture

Chinese Healing Arts

Energy Practitioner & Coach

Dr. Andy Rosenfarb, ND, LAc

Qi Gong For Healing

Full Circle Energy Therapies

Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine; Board Certified in Acupuncture & Chinese Herbal Medicine 332 South Ave East, Westfield 908-928-0060 • AcuVisionTherapy.com

Dr. Rosenfarb is world renowned in the field of holistic eye health. He is passionate about helping people with degenerative eye diseases. Learn of his astounding work in this area—call now to qualify for your free copy of his groundbreaking book, Recover Your Vision. Additional specialties include glaucoma, retinitis pigmentosa and diabetic retinopathy. See ad, page 41.

Bedding - Organic Hibernate Bedding

80 Morristown Rd, Bernardsville

908-766-5450 HibernateBedding.com Exclusive collection of Organic and Chemical Free mattresses and accessories. Over 30 years family experience. Come see how easy it is to shop for a mattress. Free delivery, free set up, free removal.

Brian Coffey LMT, and Fran Maher, CA 908-647-1563 • QiGongForHealing.com Specializing in T’ai Chi and Qi Gong classes, as well as private session clinical Qi Gong and acupuncture since 1994. Chinese Medicine weekend seminars teach how to apply clinical Qi Gong remedies to specific disorders. Excellent for the lay person and healthcare providers. All are welcome to observe or join a class. See ad, page 31.

Coach/Counsel/Therapy & Nutrition Health Yeah With Michelle

Michelle LaVecchia Odendahl 243 N. Union St., Ste 201, Lambertville 973-420-9220 healthyeahwithmichelle@hotmail.com HealthYeahWithMichelle.com

See ad, page 2.

CBD Oil The Hemp Oil Store

Joseph Wilker Cool Breeze Distributors 3 E. Ave., Yardley, PA 855-904-4367, 267-679-2949 coolbreezedist@gmail.com TheHempOilStore.com License Number: 82-2609404 The Hemp Oil Store is a family-owned CBD store. Our goal is to bring you, your pets, and your loved ones high-quality CBD products at affordable prices. Shop online at TheHempOilStore.com with free shipping. We also have curbside pickup and walkins are always welcome. See ad, page 31.

“I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious.” - Albert Einstein

ad, page 13.

Did you know you are born with unique talents, desires and motivations? As a Certified International Health and Wellness Coach, I will coach you to bring a strong sense of purpose to your everyday life with a positive mindset. See

Eden Energy Medicine/ Sound Meditation RedTail Energetics Karen E Adamo, EEM-AP

Eden Energy Medicine Advanced Practitioner Phillipsburg, NJ 908-752-0097 (phone or text) Karen@RedTailEnergetics.com RedTailEnergetics.com Experience more joy, peace, calm, health and vitality through the combination of two profoundly effective healing modalities—Eden Energy Medicine, which corrects imbalances in nine different energy systems, and Sound Meditation with authentic bronze Himalayan Singing Bowls and Gongs.

Lori L. Hoff 2041 Pennington Rd., Ewing 908-268-7169 feelslikesunshine124@gmail.com FullCircleEnergy.net

Taking energetic support to another level. Full Circle Energy Therapies is here to guide you with simple, gentle, effective tools. This is the sign you’ve been looking for. See ad, page 20.

Eye/Vision Health Dr. Andy Rosenfarb, ND, LAc, Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine; Board Certified in Acupuncture & Chinese Herbal Medicine 332 South Ave East, Westfield 908-928-0060 • AcuVisionTherapy.com

Dr. Rosenfarb is world renowned in the field of holistic eye health and passionate about helping people with degenerative eye diseases. Learn of his astounding work in this area—call now to qualify for your free copy of his groundbreaking book, Recover Your Vision. Additional specialties include glaucoma, retinitis pigmentosa and diabetic retinopathy.See ad, page 41.

Hair Restoration The Hair For Life Center, LLC 201-731-3530 TheHairForLifeCenter.com

For over 35 years The Hair For Life Center has been helping women who experience hair loss.In as little as 2 to 3 hours we restore your hair to its natural state safely without using glues or extensions. For more information, visit at TheHairForLifeCenter.com. See ad, page xx.

June 2022

Holistic Chiropractors

Holistic Spa/Wellness Ctr

Integrative Psychotherapy

Samsara Chiropractic Wellness Center

Quantum Wellness

Bobbie Lynn Edwards LPC, NCC,M.Ed

Dr Jennifer Redmond

7 E. High St, Somerville 908-300-8800 • DoctorRedmond.com We believe that the body is designed to heal itself but structural issues, toxins, lack of nutrients or an emotional component can affect overall health. We offer Whole-istic healing techniques including Neuroemotional Technique, Active Release techniques, Activator, Flexion Distraction and more! See ad, page 25.

Holistic Dental Center Vladimir Gashinsky, DDS 91 Millburn Avenue, Millburn 908-206-7848 HolisticDentalCenterNJ.com

Holistic dental care that is good for the body as well as teeth and gums. By treating the cause, not just the symptoms, Dr. Gashinsky helps improve his patients’ quality of life through dental care that respects and honors the body. See ad, back cover.

Holistic Dentistry The Center For Advanced Health Through Dentistry

Dr. Joseph R. Mele, DDS, FIND, CNC 215 Union Ave.,Ste D, Bridgewater 908-526-2266 • MeleDDS.com

Our aim is to restore you to health and vitality by eliminating dental road blocks. We offer the highest quality dental services with a holistic approach for children and adults. See ad, page 47.

Princeton Center For Dental Aesthetics & Implants Drs. Huckel, Huckel & Reine

327 US - 202, Bedminster 973-782-3227 info@quantumwellnessnj.com QuantumWellnessNJ.com

Licensed Psychotherapist 15 E. Main St., Clinton 908-892-8978 • HunterdonTherapist.com

Experience perfect relaxation at our premier spa and wellness center. Modalities include therapeutic massage, acupressure, reiki, cryotherapy and infrared saunas, yoga, floation therapy, workshops and more. See ad, page 7.

Hypnosis/Hypnotherapy Hypnosis Counseling Center Barry Wolfson 28 Mine St, Flemington 43 Tamarack Circle, Princeton 908-303-7767 HypnosisCounselingCenter.com

Over 35 years of experience. We offer traditional counseling methods and the art of hypnotherapy in private and group settings, in person or virtual, for weight loss, stress, smoking, confidence building, phobias, insomnia, test taking, sports improvement, public speaking, and more. See ad, page 11.

Hypnosis/Reiki Energy Health & Wellness LLC Michele Dellavalle, CH, CHTP, ART 65 Old Rt 22, Suite 10, Clinton Online Sessions available #908-403-2045 EnergyHealth4Wellness@gmail.com ReikiEHW.com

Master Clinical Hypnotist Certified in 5 Path ® Hypnosis, 7th Path ® Self Hypnosis, Reiki, Healing Touch & Guided Meditations. We identify & address the root cause allowing our clients to move forward and heal. Offering classes in 7th Path ® Self Hypnosis and Reiki Level 1 & 2. When all else fails, Hypnosis Works! Call for Free Consultation.

11 Chambers St, Princeton 609-924-1414 • PrincetonDentist.com Come for a visit, stay for a lifetime! We are trained in identifying holistic concerns beginning in the oral cavity that may cause issues elsewhere in the body. We use ozonated water, and choose systematically biocompatible materials for your treatment.

“Don’t go on discussing what a good person should be. Just be one.” - Marcus Aurelius

Somerset/Middlesex/Hunterdon/Mercer/ S. Warren Co. Edition

Bobbie Lynn Edwards is a licensed psychotherapist for 35 years. Practicing integrating psychotherapy focusing on a broad spectrum of spiritual philosophies and practices to assist in your healing. Clinically trained to provide guidance and direction to individuals, couples and families. Goals set within a mutual learning environment is the process. Meditation workshops for small and large groups are available. Call for a free consultation and further information.

Matrix Repatterning Dr. Clare M. Larkin, DC, CMRP located in Warren 908-930-0628 DrLarkin@optonline.net DrClareLarkin.com

Your cells remember traumatic injury on a deeper level. Some injuries hang on because their energy gets trapped in the deeper tissues of the body. Matrix Repatterning allows the detection and release of these deeper injuries, improves electrical flow and allows the body to function normally again. See ad, page 9.

Meditation/Spiritual Center For Healing and Empowerment Phyllis Livera

172 Washington Valley Rd, Suite 3, Warren 732-882-9676 CenterForHealingAndEmpowerment.com Are you seeking deeper meaning in your life? Are you stressed and ready for a change? Tired of being in both physical or emotional pain? We offer spiritual development, meditation and mini-me yoga classes, which have been helping people live more productive, happier lives.

NaturalAwakeningsCNJ.com

Mystical Shoppe

Reiki & Hypnosis

A Year and a Day Mystical Shoppe

Alice Rich Reiki Center

413 Bond Street Asbury Park, NJ 07712 (848)217-2371 ayearandadaymysticalshoppe@yahoo.com AYearAndADayMysticalShoppe.com Facebook.com/ayearandadaymysticalshoppe Metaphysical retail store offering crystals, gemstones, incense, essential oils, books, Tarot and Oracle cards, specialty candles, smudge supplies and more! Psychics, Shamans, Ministers and Reiki/Energy/Crystal healers are available to provide guidance and healing. We provide Aura photos with 3D imaging for you and your pet, meditations and in-store classes and workshops. Additional services: dedications, weddings, funerals and house cleansings.

Alice Rich, Certified Master Teacher Usui Reiki Ryoho, Karuna Reiki®, Crystal Healing, Certified Hypnotist 732-501-7628 alice@AliceRichReikiCenter.com AliceRichReikiCenter.com

Reiki, Crystal Healing and Integrated Energy Therapy® or Hypnosis sessions can help reduce pain physically, mentally and emotionally, promote a healthy lifestyle, achieve personal and professional goals, create balance and harmony and advance your spiritual journey. Private sessions and classes. Certification classes on Reiki, Crystal Healing and IET.

GROW YOUR BUSINESS

Secure this ad spot! Contact us for special ad rates.

908-405-1515

Relationship Coach Ondov Relationship Coaching

Naturopathic Medicine New Jersey Natural Medicine Dr. Jason Frigerio ND, LAC

2424 Lamington Road, Bedminster 973-267-2650 • NJNaturalMedicine.com Since 2004, NJNM has treated patients with naturopathic, Chinese, ayurvedic and biological medicine. Our guiding principa: to observe and treat the whole person, not just symptoms to identify and treat the root cause of illness, help restore balance and promote optimal health. See ad, page 17.

Rhoda Ondov, MS, MFT, CPC

12-14 E Main St, Suite 8, Somerville 908-642-6256 rhoda.ondov@gmail.com OndovRelationshipCoaching.com If you are in a troubled relationship, or dealing with infidelity, or facing possible divorce, you do not need Therapy. You are not mentally ill. You just need guidance and solutions. Relationship Coaching can help you repair these difficult situations, bringing clarity and restoring harmony. Eight years experience helping couples successfully navigate relationship crises. Does not require participation by both partners. See ad, page 15.

Nutrition

Spiritual Healing, Teaching

Sunrise Nutrition & Wellness Center

Be The Medicine

Dr. John Harrington

137 Mountain Ave., Hackettstown 908-441-2276 drharrington@SunriseNutritionCenter.com SunriseNutritionCenter.com Get checked today! You may be suffering from nutritional deficiencies, toxin overload, chronic infections and bad lifestyle habits. We provide health improvement programs unique to your body to improve your health through nutrition and other safe, non-invasive therapies. See ad, page 31.

Janet StraightArrow

973-647-2500 Janet@BeTheMedicine.com BeTheMedicine.com Shamanic Healing, Energy Medicine, Past Life, Medical Intuition, Life, Health, Spiritual Coaching, Astrology Readings, House and Land Clearings. In person, phone or Skype. Professional Reiki, Shamanism and Medical Intuitive Training. Retreats. 40 years’ experience. See ad, page 13.

June 2022

Crossword Puzzle Look for clues in the articles in this month’s edition

Across

1 Key quality that leads to a happy life (integrity) 5 Years of youth 8 Intimidate 9 Works with clay 11 Relating to Hindu and Buddhist mystical texts relating to yoga, meditation and mantras 15 Disliked intensely 17 Arrival time, abbr. 18 Protected 20 Do research, 2 words 24 Celtic singer 25 Isolated 26 Eastern discipline 30 The establishing of a rapport and relationship 31 Travel 32 Evergreen tree 33 Animal companions 34 Soothing spa treatment

Down 1 2 3 4 5 6

7 10 12 13 14 16 18 19 21 22 23 27 28 29 31 32

Addiction Hose material Blurt out Sure! Stereotypical role for a man, 2 words Ability to relate to someone else and their feelings Family girl, for short First aid box Southern state, abbr. Relating to Social worker’s assignment Fall a little Comfort Often the subject of stress in a family Nashville locale, abbr. 24 hours Stomach problems associated with stress Love deeply Flower supporter Kid’s playthings Band booking Scaled note

You can find the answers to this month’s puzzle by visiting

NaturalAwakeningsCNJ.com

this month’s CROSSWORD PUZZLE 80 Morristown Road, Bernardsville (Bernardsville Centre) 908.766.5450 sponsored by:

Hibernatebedding .com

Come see how EASY it is to shop for a mattress.

80 Morristown Road, Bernardsville (Bernardsville Centre) 908.766.5450

Bring this ad & receive 20% OFF your Hibernatebedding .com total purchase.

Come see how EASY it is to shop for a mattress.

Bring this ad & receive 20% OFF your total purchase.

For more information on Hibernate Bedding,

We offer an exclusive collection of ORGANIC AND CHEMICAL FREE see ad on page 2. Mattresses and Accessories and have something for everyone at all prices…..a truly ONE OF A KIND store! Somerset/Middlesex/Hunterdon/Mercer/ S. Warren Co. Edition NaturalAwakeningsCNJ.com Over 30 Years Family Experience. Once a Customer, Always a Customer.

Platform Beds, Headboards, Adjustable Bases, Toppers, Pillows,

The Center for Advanced Health Through Dentistry Our aim is to restore you to health and vitality by eliminating dental road blocks.

Our patients come from New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and other states...some have even traveled from outside the United States! Why? Because quality biocompatible dental care provided by a warm, caring dental team in a comfortable, relaxed setting is worth the trip.

Start Early for a Lifetime of Benefits! Improvements to Your Child’s Crowded Teeth and Appearance Can Begin As Early as Age 7.

Does your child show signs of: • Crowded baby or adult teeth? • Mouth breathing? (Lips are apart most of the time due to obstructed airways.) For more information, see our video

“How To Start Fixing Children’s Crooked Teeth As Early As Age 7 to 10” at MeleDDS.com or YouTube®.

We offer the highest quality dental services including... • Safe removal of amalgam restorations (fillings) following OSHA and EPA guidelines • Biocompatible dental materials including BPA-free restorations • Non-surgical natural and nutritional therapies to treat periodontal disease and dental decay • Effective treatment of TMJ, teeth grinding, bad breath, snoring, sleep apnea, and mouth breathing

Joseph R. Mele D.D.S., FIND, CNC Fellowship, Institute for Natural Dentistry Diplomate Member, American Association of Nutritional Consultants Member, International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology Member, The Holistic Dental Association

Come in for a complimentary Meet and Greet or visit our website for information. 215 Union Avenue — Suite D, Bridgewater, NJ 08807

(908) 526-2266

Natural Awakenings Central New Jersey / June 2022

Articles inside

THE HEALING OF THE MODERN MAN

UNPLUGGED ADVENTURES

HOW TO RAISE EMPATHETIC KIDS

THE EXERCISE POWER OF E-BIKES