Natural Awakenings Central New Jersey / June 2020 by Natural Awakenings Central NJ & Eastern PA

E E R

HEALTHY

LIVING

HEALTHY

PLANET

EVERYDAY ADVENTURES Taking to Vans & RVs for Life on the Road

FAMILY TRAVELING BRAIN STORIES IN PLACE BOOSTERS

Help Kids Cope During Tough Times

Finding Adventure Close to Home

Optimizing Cranial Blood Flow

June 2020 | Somerset-Middlesex-Hunterdon-Mercer-S. Warren NaturalAwakeningsCNJ.com

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Natural Awakenings is a family of more than 70 healthy living magazines celebrating 25 years of providing the communities we serve with the tools and resources we all need to lead healthier lives on a healthy planet.

Contents 14 EVERYDAY ADVENTURES

Taking to Vans & RVs for Life on the Road

16 HOMEBODY WORKOUTS Getting Fit Without a Gym

18 FEEDING HAPPINESS

Lift Your Mood with Feel-Good Foods

20 FAMILY STORIES

Help Kids Cope During Tough Times

22 TRANSFORMATIVE

STAYCATIONS

Finding Respite and Adventure Close to Home

25 DAVID HAMILTON

on Kindness in the Pandemic Age

26 FATHERS KNOW BEST 28 POWER UP YOUR BRAIN

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.

Six Ways to Boost Blood Flow

32 SOOTHING SEPARATION Helping Anxious Dogs to Cope

DEPARTMENTS 7 news briefs 10 health briefs 12 global briefs 14 green living 15 eco tip 16 fit body 18 conscious eating 20 healthy kids 25 wise words

26 inspiration 28 healing ways 29 teen voices 32 natural pet 34 local yoga 35 yoga corner 36 calendar 37 classifieds 38 business directory June 2020

HEALTHY LIVING HEALTHY PLANET

CENTRAL NJ EDITION

publisher letter

Words to Remember Breathe

Publisher Joe Dunne

Relax

Joe@NaturalAwakeningsNJ.com • 908-405-1515

Managing Editor Kathy Tarbell

Enjoy

Kathy@NaturalAwakeningsNJ.com 908-912-4569 • 770-867-2101 direct

Be Kind

Editor Lana Dykes

Design & Production Kathy Tarbell

Help Others

Social Media Christian Tang

Work on Me

Website Kristy Mayer Accounting/Billing Asta Dunne

Be Positive

Asta@NaturalAwakeningsNJ.com • 908-405-4040

ADVERTISING SALES Joe Dunne 908-405-1515 Joe@NaturalAwakeningsNJ.com

Be Grateful See the Good Take Nothing for Granted Listen

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

Respect Everyone Be Humble

NaturalAwakeningsCentralNewJersey

Watch My Ego

NATIONAL TEAM CEO/Founder Sharon Bruckman COO/Franchise Sales Joe Dunne National Art Director Stephen Blancett Art Director Josh Pope Financial Manager Yolanda Shebert Asst. Director of Ops Heather Gibbs Digital Content Director Rachael Oppy National Advertising Lisa Doyle-Mitchell Administrative Asstistant Anne-Marie Ryan Natural Awakenings Publishing Corporation 4933 Tamiami Trail N., Ste. 203 Naples, FL 34103 Ph: 239-434-9392 • Fax: 239-434-9513 NaturalAwakeningsMag.com © 2020 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

Smile-Laugh-Love Let Go Accept Life Every day is a gift. How I appreciate this gift, what I pay attention to creates a change in my attitude, my relationships, my parenting, my serenity, my thinking. It designs my life. My list of words is a daily reminder of who I want to become. It helps direct my thinking, my behavior and actions. It helps me remember that I am responsible for me. And, sometimes, that makes all the difference. In peace, love and laughter, Originally published in March 2020. Recently we received a note that the reader had saved it, and found it to be even more meaningful throughout the pandemic. To quote: “These words of yours are there every morning for me to look at and enhance everything else.”

Joe Dunne, Publisher

Please Recycle

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news briefs

Natural Awakenings Publishing Corp. Partners with KnoWEwell Collaborative

atural Awakenings Publishing Corp. (NAPC) is entering into a partnership with KnoWEwell, P.B.C., and is a Founding Patron of The KnoWEwell Collaborative. KnoWEwell, a 1% for the Planet company, received the Top 50 Healthcare Companies award from the International Forum on Advancements in Healthcare. Founder and Chief Executive Officer Kimberly Whittle says, “It’s one centralized private, secure online platform to inspire and empower individuals with today’s knowledge, evidenced-based resources and collaborative ‘wholistic’ community to help them address the root causes of chronic diseases and achieve optimal health and well-being.” Whittle points out that KnoWEwell is “the missing link designed to provide people with peace of mind throughout their life journey’s collaborative with personal and professional benefits for all in the ‘wholistic’ ecosystem: individuals, families, providers and organizations. Our purpose is to improve the health of humanity and our planet.” NAPC and KnoWEwell are perfectly mission aligned, adds Whittle. “Natural Awakenings’ well-researched, practical information about the latest natural approaches to nutrition, fitness, personal growth and sustainable living played a significant role in fueling the wellness revolution. We’re grateful to collaborate with them.” NAPC Chief Executive Officer Sharon Bruckman says, “Our Natural Awakenings family of 60 publishers is excited about the new resources and opportunities this new partnership brings to our community of readers, providers and organizations. We are honored to be playing such a significant role in the launch and future growth of this incredibly sophisticated platform which will result in tremendous benefits to members.” For more information, see ad on page 2 and visit NaturalAwakeningsCNJ.com.

Exploring Qi from the Comfort of Home

hen the doors to the studio closed in response to stay-at-home requirements, the teachers at Qi Gong for Healing in Middlesex knew they wanted to continue to provide classes. One teacher, Patty Pagano, decided to use high tech to share the health-enhancing mind/body/qi classes she loves so much. After a good bit of trial and error, help from the electronic crowd, and cooperation from her family, she was able to set up Zoom online for her current students along with a virtual class for Rutgers Adult School in July. If you are new to qi gong, Pagano also offers Moving Your Qi—The First Steps for Beginners. With three class times available, this is the perfect opportunity for those desiring to start the practice, and she is the perfect instructor as she is renowned for her patience and her smile. It is no surprise that Pagano is a very resourceful person. Her background includes 20+ years in the fashion industry, a sideline in catering, and a long history of training in the Chinese practice of qi gong, including 16 years of study with several master teachers including William Ting, Dr.Tzu Kuo Shih, Fran Maher and Brian Coffey. For more information on beginner classes, contact Patty at 908-392-1313 or PattyQiGongForHealing@gmail.com, or see the link in the Ongoing Events section. For information about qi gong, tai chi, and Qi Healing/Therapy Weekend Seminars, call 908-647-1563 or visit QiGongForHealing.com. See ad, page 11.

Directory of Display Advertisers

Thank you for being part of our community! Be Here Now Yoga 32 Califon Yoga 34 Center for Advanced Health 17 Through Dentistry Christ Church 11 Dr. Derek Rodger, ND 37 Fortis Farms 9 eZential Wellness 34 Harmony Mountain Retreat 4 Holistic Dental Center 44 Hunterdon Integrative Physicians 28 Inner Harmony Wellness Center 13 InSight Holistic 33 Integrative Health & Wellness 17 Associates KnoWEwell 2 Kwee Jack Fish Co. 17 LifeWorks 43 Lisa’s Thermography 26 & Wellness Morning Star Family Health Center 9 Natural Awakenings Singles 43 Ondov Relationship Coaching 21 Personally Yours Lingerie 28 Princeton Meditation Group 6 Qi Gong for Healing 11 Samsara Chiropractic 31 Sand Hills Community 15 Wellness Center Sunrise Nutrition 33 Valley Integrative Pharmacy 3 Whole Foods 21 WholeListic Hair Design 15 Yoga Central 34 * new or returning advertiser

Let them know you found them in Natural Awakenings Central NJ! June 2020

news briefs

From Tower to Table: Growing Plants with Aeroponics

i ealizTaINt Gon10Fellow R − 0 YE A R f AR shi el CELEB S

ortis Farms is about creating easy access to fresh, local food sources in a sustainable, space-saving, resource-conserving system. Started by four Culpeper, Virginia, area entrepreneurs, the company is committed to supporting communities, families, and businesses through the imperative of generating new, resilient, accessible food sources and economies using innovative technologies and systems. Fortis Farms leverages aeroponic vertical solutions as an approachable, scalable pathway to grow more and reduce waste in a low-cost, small-footprint framework. Aeroponic gardening is an evolution of hydroponics that employs a process of growing plants in a

Celebrating

100 Years

2020

The Kriya Yoga Teachings of Paramahansa Yogananda

For more information, call Fortis Farms at 540-409-6871, email info@growfortisfarms.com, or visit GrowFortisFarms.com. See ad, page 9.

1920

mist environment rather than soil. By combining water, liquid nutrients, soilless medium, and a timer-controlled pump, plants raised in this method grow more quickly, more heartily, are incredibly delicious and highly nutritious. Using this method, yields can increase by 30%, plants grow 2-3x faster, and the systems use up to 98% less water and consume 90% less space than traditional techniques. The towers are extremely easy to maintain and almost run themselves. Families will find themselves wasting less food, eating more healthfully, and spending less. The produce is simply there and doesn’t travel thousands of miles to reach the table. Larger producers can take advantage of gravity-fed irrigation, nutrient delivery systems, and the space-saving, effort-reducing nature of these solutions to produce more, faster, and closer to their communities.

PA R A

MAHANSA

G YO

The year 2020 marks the centennial anniversary of Paramahansa Yogananda’s arrival in America and his founding of Self-Realization Fellowship. It was the beginning of an enduring legacy of spirituality linking East and West. Widely considered the “father of Yoga in the West,” he has transformed the lives of millions of seekers around the globe through his spiritual classic Autobiography of a Yogi and by introducing the universal principles of Kriya Yoga, a scientific system of meditation and spiritual living. Originating millenniums ago in India, these nonsectarian teachings embody a complete philosophy and way of life for achieving all-round success and well-being in body, mind and soul. To learn more, please visit our website.

Princeton Meditation Group of Self-Realization Fellowship www.PrincetonMeditationGroup.org 8

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June 2020

Natto, a fermented soybean dish of Japan, offers postmenopausal women protection from bone fractures, concludes a new study in The Journal of Nutrition. Studying 24 years of records of 1,417 Japanese women older than 45, researchers found that compared to those women that rarely ate natto, those that consumed one to six 40-gram packs a week had 21 percent fewer fractures and those consuming more than seven packs had 44 percent fewer fractures. Tofu and other soybean products had no effect on fracture risk. With its strong smell and sticky consistency, natto is an acquired taste, but is also one of the few plant sources of vitamin K2, which activates bone-building proteins. Other studies have linked it to healthier gut flora, lower cholesterol and blood pressure levels, and a stronger immune system.

Consume Olive Oil to Fight Off Aging In what might be good news for teetotalers, researchers at the University of Minnesota found that it’s not the resveratrol in red wine that increases the life span of cells of those following the Mediterranean Diet, but the fat in olive oil that activates the critical pathway which prevents age-related diseases. “This pathway has been linked to almost all of [aging diseases]. It’s the roots,” says Doug Mashek, Ph.D., a professor in the departments of medicine and biochemistry, molecular biology and biophysics. His studies suggest that the benefits of olive oil are most pronounced when coupled with fasting, limiting caloric intake and exercising. “We found that the way this fat works is it first has to get stored in microscopic things called lipid droplets, which is how our cells store fat. And then, when the fat is broken down during exercising or fasting, for example, is when the signaling and beneficial effects are realized,” Mashek explains.

Eat a Plant-Based Diet to Lessen Stroke Risk People that eat a vegetarian diet rich in nuts, vegetables and soy may have a lower risk of stroke than others with diets that include meat and fish, concluded a new study in the journal Neurology. Taiwanese researchers studied two groups of healthy people over age 50 that lived in Buddhist communities in which drinking and smoking were discouraged and vegetarian diets were followed by about a third of residents. Compared to the meatand fish-eaters, vegetarians consumed less dairy, animal protein and fat, about the same amount of eggs and fruit, and more fiber and plant protein. In the group of 5,050 people studied for six years, vegetarians had a 74 percent lower risk of ischemic stroke, in which blood flow to the brain is blocked, than non-vegetarians. In the group of 8,302 people followed for nine years, vegetarians had a 48 percent lower risk of overall stroke than non-vegetarians, a 60 percent lower risk of ischemic stroke and a 65 percent lower risk of hemorrhagic (bleeding) stroke. “Stroke can also contribute to dementia. If we could reduce the number of strokes by people making changes to their diets, that would have a major impact on overall public health,” says study author Chin-Lon Lin, M.D.

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

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ANTONIO TRUZZI/Shutterstock.com

Decrease Bone Fractures with Natto

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health briefs

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Try Chinese Herbs for Ulcerative Colitis A Traditional Chinese Medicine herbal mix known as Gegen Quinlian decoction, when combined with standard Western pharmaceuticals, is more effective in treating the painful condition of ulcerative colitis than pharmaceuticals alone, concluded a Chinese review of 22 studies that included 2,028 patients with the disease. Typically used to heal diarrhea and gastrointestinal inflammation, the herbal mix produced few adverse reactions and resulted in low recurrence rates, researchers said.

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Green Up Cities to Reduce Violent Crime Well-designed and maintained green spaces in cities such as parks, community gardens and tree-lined streets lower the rate of violent crimes, make communities safer and keep people healthier, concluded Cornell University and University of Virginia researchers that conducted a meta-study of 45 papers studying the links between greenery and crime. In particular, more green spaces, such as community gardens converted from vacant lots, decrease gun violence, six studies found. But poorly designed green space with inadequate maintenance, bad lighting and excessive nearby traffic can help crime take root and spread.

QiforGong Healing

classes|seminars|workshops

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 details and registration, click here. For info, contact Patty at 908-392-1313 or PattyQigongforHealing@gmail.com

QiGongForHealing.com or call Fran Maher & Brian Coffey

908-647-1563

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Sentinel Trees Give Advance Warning

The United States, Europe and China are growing “sentinel trees” in strategic locations around the world to receive advance warnings of destructive pests that could destroy native plantings. According to a study published in Plos One, “Sentinel nurseries represent one potential mechanism to address the current lack of knowledge about pests in the countries from where live plants are shipped and the threats they represent to native flora and crops in importing countries.” As global trade intensifies, the risk for accidental importing of and exposure to new invasive pests is a constant worry for entomologists and arborists, stimulating a search for new tactics to prevent future losses.

Generating Electricity from Rain

A surprisingly high voltage can be generated from raindrops using a field-effect, transistor-style structure, reports a new study from the City University of Hong Kong in the journal Nature. A single drop can muster 140 volts, enough to briefly light up 100 small LED bulbs. The new design couples an aluminum electrode with an indium-tin oxide electrode layered with polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), a material with a quasi-permanent electric charge. When a raindrop hits the PTFE/tin surface, it bridges the two electrodes and creates a closed-loop circuit that helps fully release any stored charges. The technology could handle sustained rainfall, as well. If there are continuous drops, the charge accumulates and eventually hits a saturation point. Building rooftops could supplement some of the electricity used inside, and electric boats could extend their range.

ifong/Shutterstock.com

Splashy Solution

Pest Alarm

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global briefs

Beware the Air

People continuously exposed to air pollution are at increased risk of dementia, especially if they also suffer from cardiovascular diseases, reports a new study from the Karolinska Institute in Sweden, published in the JAMA Neurology. Researchers examined nearly 3,000 adults with an average age of 74 living in the Kungsholmen district in central Stockholm for up to 11 years. Of those, 364 people developed dementia. The district’s annual average level of particulate matter 2.5 microns or less in width is high by Swedish standards, but low compared to international standards. Heart failure and ischemic heart disease both enhanced the dementia risk, and stroke explained almost 50 percent of air pollution-related dementia cases, according to the researchers.

Mindfulness Training May Reduce Paranoia

In news that may be useful for people dealing with the stress of the global pandemic, researchers from the University of London have found that just one week of practicing mindfulness—moment-to-moment awareness—reduces feelings of paranoia. The research, published in the journal Mindfulness, was based on questionnaires of 494 people, enabling researchers to find a correlation between paranoia and judgemental thinking. They found that higher levels of nonjudgement predicted lower levels of paranoia, even in individuals that had a predisposition for it. Then, 68 people were selected and divided into two groups: one that was asked to go through a prerecorded, guided mindfulness session once per day, and one that acted as a control. The session consisted of a quick body scan, mindful breathing and awareness exercises. The results showed a drop in judgmental thinking and paranoia in the mindfulness group. 12 Somerset/Middlesex/Hunterdon/Mercer/ S. Warren Co. Edition

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Dementia Linked to Air Pollution

Mental Relief

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Tofu Takeaway Isoflavones Lower Risk of Heart Disease

Observational research published in Circulation, the flagship journal of the American Heart Association, states that tofu and other foods that contain higher amounts of isoflavones are associated with a moderately lower risk of heart disease, especially for younger women and postmenopausal women not taking hormones. Researchers at Harvard Medical Schools’ Brigham and Women’s Hospital analyzed data from more than 200,000 people that participated in three health and nutrition studies; all participants were free of cancer and heart disease when the studies began. Consuming tofu, which is high in isoflavones, more than once a week was associated with an 18 percent lower risk of heart disease, compared to a 12 percent lower risk for those that ate tofu less than once per month. Tofu and whole soybeans are rich sources of isoflavones. Chickpeas, fava beans, pistachios, peanuts and other fruits and nuts are also high in isoflavones.

Down-Under Drought

Australian Wildfires Linked to Climate Change Australia’s devastating wildfires during 2019 and 2020 were at least 30 percent more likely to occur because of human-caused climate change, report researchers in a new study published in the online journal Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences. An intense heat wave was the primary factor in raising the fire risk, says climate scientist Geert Jan van Oldenborgh, with the Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute. The study linked to climate change the extremity of that heat wave, which is 10 times more likely now than it was in 1900. Van Oldenborgh notes that climate simulations tend to underestimate the severity of such heat waves. “We put the lower boundary at 30 percent, but it could well be much, much more,” he says. The year 2019 was Australia’s hottest and driest since modern recordkeeping began in the country in 1910.

Hot Power science photo/Shutterstock.com

Heat Converted into Electricity

Researchers from Japan’s Osaka University have found how the thermoelectric effect, or converting temperature differences into electricity, can be best used to power small, flexible devices, reports the journal Advanced Materials Technologies. Future healthcare applications will require internet connectivity between billions of sensors, and the devices that enable them must be small, flexible, reliable and environmentally sustainable. Batteries are not optimal because continually replacing them is inconvenient and expensive. Many researchers have optimized device performance solely from the standpoint of the thermoelectric materials themselves. “Our approach is to also study the electrical contact, or the switch that turns the device on and off,” explains Tohru Sugahara, the corresponding author of the study. “The efficiency of any device critically depends on the contact resistance.” Thermoelectric power generators are self-sustaining, self-powered and have no moving parts. Solar power and vibrational power do not have all of these advantages.

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Everyday Adventures Taking to Vans and RVs for Life on the Road

by Sandra Yeyati

any Americans choose to travel in recreational vehicles (RVs) or well-equipped vans with all the comforts of home—no hotels, just the open road and a tank full of gas. Cindy Jane is a Florida naturalist, vegan advocate, accomplished artist and wife to land surveyor Kevin Georgeson. Now 50 years old, she’s had a dream since she was 18 to travel the country in a van, visiting state and national parks, hiking trails and spending quality time in nature. She envisions setting up an easel and painting in inspiring settings. “It’s about getting out of that social norm of always knowing what the next day is going to be like, doing the same thing every day. I like a little bit of the unknown, the unexpected. I want to see things. I want adventure. I want the freedom that comes with going,” she says. The couple purchased a 2018 Ford Transit van with low mileage and a little warranty left on it. Together, they are customizing it to create a comfortable home away from home to satisfy Jane’s wanderlust. Crafty and resourceful, they voraciously watch YouTube videos to learn the ins and outs of solar panels, electrical hookups, kitchen countertops, insulation and 1,000 other details that go into a suc-

cessful buildout. They’re taking their time to do it right after investing thousands of dollars already. To document their progress and hopefully inspire others, they record videos on Jane’s smartphone and post them to her website (ArtfulVeganNomad.com). Val and Nick Wheatley are veteran nomads, having travelled the world for almost four years in all kinds of rides, including the 1994 Ford Bronco they drove across the U.S. for six months. Camping outdoors was challenging, and they vowed never again to travel in a vehicle without a bed. They purchased a Ford Econovan to explore New Zealand and sold it three months later when they left. In Germany, where beautiful campgrounds and free public lots with inexpensive electric and water hookups are plentiful, a rented RV was the way to go. With experience, the couple has come to prefer converted vans or smaller RVs, thanks to their fuel savings and easier maneuverability in cities and on narrow country roads. According to the Wheatleys, traveling and living in close quarters has its drawbacks. Cleaning out portable toilets and taking showers at truck stops can be challenging, but for the avid explorers,

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

these inconveniences were always eclipsed by jaw-dropping scenery and cultural immersion in new countries. “Because we had wheels and time, we got to see some cool stuff off the beaten track that most people that were visiting for a weekend or week never see,” says Val. Offering tips, tricks, candid descriptions and inspiring photography of their many world-trotting experiences, the couple’s travel blog (WanderingWheatleys. com) tallied more than 600,000 visitors last year. Through online advertising and affiliate programs, they earned enough money for living and travel expenses. “The world actually isn’t a scary place at all. People all over the world in every culture are friendly and welcoming,” Nick says. For those looking to connect with fellow travelers, there are numerous recreational clubs that offer base camps, programming and social opportunities. One such club is Sisters on the Fly (SistersOnTheFly.com), an all-women outdoor adventure club founded in 1999 by Maurrie Sussman and her sister Rebecca Clarke with a penchant for small, vintage trailers that are restored and embellished by their owners. With 9,000 active members and an organizer in each state, these resourceful and festive ladies hold more than 1,000 events nationwide every year, including fly fishing, guided tours, kayaking, mountain climbing, biking and more. “It’s about being outdoors and meeting amazing women. We love going into the national parks, taking back roads and visiting all the small towns,” Sussman says. Living in an RV or van full-time has become an attractive option for many people, including college kids looking for inexpensive housing or retirees on limited incomes. “I think more and more we’re seeing people who value their time more than a bunch of possessions,” says Jane. “Maybe that means working less and living more frugally, so you see a rise in minimalism and van life.” For a wealth of information on vans and RVs as full-time options, as well as in-depth interviews with van lifers, visit Bob Wells’ YouTube channel CheapRVLiving. Sandra Yeyati is a freelance writer. Reach her at SandraYeyati@gmail.com.

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green living

eco tip

(left arm extended downward) to alert bikers that may be traveling behind.

Biking During the COVID-19 Crisis

Proper pedaling can help prevent strains. In addition to

Regular Tips Apply to Pedaling

Ljupco Smokovski/Shutterstock.com

During the coronavirus crisis, biking is especially recommended, as it provides exceptional aerobic and cardio exercise, relaxation and because it maintains social distancing. Keeping in mind proper equipment, fitness, safety and other factors can make it even more fulfilling during this difficult period.

Choose the right bike. Those designed for roads and pavement are generally lighter and have more gears than mountain bikes, which have more shock-absorbing features, plus more lower gears to help traverse inclined terrain. Urban and commuting bikes feature a slightly more upright riding position that allows better sightlines and improved visibility by motorists. Use a bike shop with mechanics that test and adjust the bikes they sell, including determining the proper seat height—which facilitates proper alignment of hips and a full rotation— and the ideal distance from the handlebars to the seat tube. Back, knee or hip pain may develop if a cyclist has to stretch his or her legs to get to the pedals, according to the League of American Bicyclists. A biker doesn’t get proper leg extension if the seat is too low. The legs should be almost,

but not totally extended at the lowest point in pedaling.

Safety takes many forms. Even well-marked bike lanes don’t guarantee safety, so use caution. Some motorists are careless about entering bike lanes and don’t correctly stop at crosswalks or look behind before opening doors. Keep at least five feet from the sides of cars to avoid being hit. Don’t weave in and out of traffic, always don a helmet, signal turns and watch out for runners and walkers. Use the stop signal

ensuring they’re employing proper leg extension, it’s advised that bikers pedal a little faster in a lower gear; ideally, 75 to 90 revolutions per minute, which is easier on the knees with less muscle fatigue than traveling slower in a higher gear.

Routine maintenance includes

“cleaning and lubing the chain, replacing brake pads, and changing and fixing a flat tire,” according to major bike and outdoor retailer Recreational Equipment, Inc. (rei.com). The website has helpful tips on tools to obtain, along with basic information on bike maintenance, cleaning and fixing a flat tire.

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available, similar things can be done in your backyard. Just have fun with it.”

fit body

Homebody Workouts Getting Fit Without a Gym

by Marlaina Donato

hen getting to the gym is not possible, there are plenty of options to explore for at-home workouts. From finding fun ways to stay fit to getting loved ones involved, figuring out what works and committing to a few simple goals is a good start. Although it may be hard to pull ourselves up from the couch during periods of adversity, sticking to an exercise program can help boost immunity and emotional resilience. “Not feeling like exercising is common during stressful times, but try to remember how good you feel afterward and the sense of accomplishment. Remember the why,” says life coach Suzanne King, in Marlton, New Jersey.

Begin With the Basics Trainers agree it’s important to see working out and taking care of our health as an investment, and having a plan goes a long way. “You would never just brush off a business appointment if it was in your calendar and you knew you had to attend,” says personal trainer Chris Wong, in Oakville, Ontario. “The simple act of 16

putting it in your schedule makes it real. Now you have a responsibility. Now you have structure.” Stephanie Mansour, host of the PBS fitness and health show Step it up with Steph, concurs: “Once I started viewing workouts as my own personal confidence-boosting time, a lightbulb went off in my head and I became addicted to this time with myself.” The Chicago-based personal trainer recommends lightening up. “Find something fun. Do something goofy like dancing around. Schedule this in and instead of ‘workout’, call it ‘pump-up time for me’.” Getting outside and hitting the trails or walking every evening after dinner is a great way to get oxygen-infused aerobic time. “Use outdoor space to your advantage,” says Wong. “I’ve taught boot camps at parks, and one game I like doing is Touch 20 Things. Run around and touch 20 things at least 15 to 20 feet apart, but don’t touch the same thing twice. He also suggests doing sprints or bear crawls for distance exercise and step-ups on park benches or large rocks. “If a park is not

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Working out with a different rule set offers an invitation to add a new twist to a usual favorite. “I personally practice martial arts every day, but that can be done in a variety of ways,” says Wong, pointing to gentle qigong, shadow boxing, breathing exercises, footwork drills and heavy bag training. He recommends exercising every day, but limiting more intense workouts to three or four times a week. Cardio exercises such as walking and bicycling are a good daily choice, while high-intensity interval training workouts can be accomplished with minimal or no equipment. There are a variety of methods with timing elements that can be used to get a good workout. For example, with the As Many Rounds As Possible regimen, three exercises are done back-to-back for as many rounds as possible in a 10-to12-minute period. Exploring free online classes on YouTube and other platforms opens up even more options, including yoga, Pilates and dance classes. Many trainers offer virtual workouts over Zoom or Skype live in real time. There are also mobile apps with workouts available for download.

The Support Factor Partners or family members can help each other to stay on a workout schedule. “You can set up a chart for you and your family members to put a star or checkmark once you’ve finished a workout. Turn it into a competition, and whoever has the most stars at the end of a few weeks gets to pick the workout for the whole family to do,” suggests Mansour. Partners can also make a pact to take care of the kids when it is the other’s turn to grab some fitness time. Being motivated is easier with some self-love, King reminds us: “You can begin something new by fully appreciating yourself with daily gratitude.” Marlaina Donato is an author and composer. Connect at AutumnEmbersMusic.com.

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Exercising Outside the Box

A Home Workout

Stephanie Mansour suggests this quick workout:

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4 Hop over a tile line on the floor and back. Both of these count as cardio. Tetiana Rostopira/Shutterstock.com

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4 After 60 seconds, add in some strength training, like 10 squats or half push-ups on your hands and knees. 4 After that, do 10 repetitions of an ab exercise such as crunches or toe taps. 4 Then repeat the circuit for as much time as you have. This adds aerobic and strength aspects to the workout.

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Feeding Happiness

Lifting Moods with Feel-Good Foods

by Marlaina Donato

hether it’s a pandemic, a breakup or a busy day with the kids, heading to the kitchen for a carb fix or a pint of ice cream is a common knee-jerk response to stress. It’s easy to get caught in a whirlpool of poor eating when our bodies need nutritional support more than ever. Sustained or chronic stress can reduce levels of dopamine and serotonin—neurotransmitters linked to feelings of both satiety and happiness. “When serotonin levels are normal, it leads to both emotional satisfaction and a sense of fullness after a meal,” says Certified Integrative Nutrition Health Coach Maria Marlowe, in New York City and Dubai. “Conversely, when serotonin levels are low, it can lead to depression and a tendency to reach for sweet and starchy foods.”

“Finding healthier substitutes that are less processed can make a huge impact.” Experts agree that concentrating on weight loss or super-strict diets during times of adversity might do more harm than good. “Focusing on the need to lose weight during crisis will only do two things—make you feel guilty if you’re not eating what you think you’re supposed to and potentially make you eat more out of guilt,” says Registered Dietitian Nutritionist Jennifer Neily, in Dallas. Opting for healthier versions of favorite comfort foods is a doable compromise that can prevent endorphins from plummeting after the usual temporary spike. “With the right ingredients and recipes, we can satisfy our cravings for sweet, salt, creamy or crunchy with healthier upgrades of our favorite junk foods,” says Marlowe.

Avoiding Extremes

Friendly Fare

Stress-eating sparks only temporary physical and emotional fulfillment. “When your brain is in need of energy, it can mimic the symptoms of depression and anxiety,” notes Tara Waddle, holistic life coach at The Center of Balance, in Greeley, Colorado.

Eating to stay healthy during hard times can tickle the taste buds without a lot of invested time. Marlowe’s go-to favorites like homemade banana ice cream or chocolate truffles not only take minutes to prepare, but fortify the brain. For must-have salty fa-

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vorites, she suggests opting for snack foods seasoned with unrefined or pink Himalayan salt, fresh guacamole, salsa, olives or pickles. Filling a seaweed sushi wrap with avocado can be a satisfying and easy snack. For easy-exotic, Marlowe says, “I always keep coconut milk and unsweetened curry paste on hand to whip up a red Thai curry, my favorite 15-minute dinner. Simply add fresh or frozen vegetables and protein of choice and you have a satisfying, flavorful meal that is faster than delivery.” Waddle’s healthy comfort foods include nuts of different flavors, dried fruits and baked Brussels sprouts with nitrite-free bacon, black pepper and a sprinkle of nutmeg. “The food you consider comfort food is comforting because it’s familiar,” she says. “When you start eating healthier food more often, it will become comfort food. Just keep trying new things.”

Keep it Simple

The kitchen can be our greatest ally during any life-storm, but having a stress-free strategy is key, especially paying attention to emotional states. “Ask yourself, ‘Is it head hunger or belly hunger? Above the neck or below the neck?’ If it’s the latter and that’s truly what is desired, don’t deny yourself, but choose with conscious understanding. Savor the flavor,” says Neily. Marlowe recommends easy meal planning and maintaining an eating schedule. “This helps remove some of the stress and decision fatigue that comes with figuring out what to eat in the moment, especially with random ingredients in the fridge.” Food shopping can be an instant junk food trap. Waddle’s approach is a sure way to outsmart impulse buying based on habit. She says,“Start with the produce department first. This fills your cart with fresh foods and your cart will be full by the time you get to the snack aisle.” Self-compassion can be one of the most important, yet overlooked considerations. “Regardless of what you choose to eat, be gentle with yourself,” notes Waddle. “The guilt of eating poorly is more damaging than the food.” Marlaina Donato is an author and a composer. Connect at AutumnEmbersMusic.com.

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conscious eating

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Sweet Recipes for Healthy Snacking Banana Ice Cream 2 overripe bananas ¼ tsp vanilla extract

photo courtesy of Maria Marlowe

Add-Ins: choose as many as desired 2-3 tsp cacao powder 1 Tbsp almond butter 2-3 tsp carob powder 3-4 pitted dates ¼ tsp cinnamon 1 cup frozen strawberries 6 mint leaves 1 Tbsp coconut flakes (or coconut butter or shredded coconut) 1 Tbsp ginger 1 Tbsp almond butter or almonds ½-inch peeled ginger piece

Five-Minute Chocolate Truffles Truffle

3 Tbsp cacao powder 1½ cups dates, pitted 3 Tbsp shredded coconut, unsweetened

sonchacha/Shutterstock.com

photo courtesy of Maria Marlowe

Toppings (choose a few) Cacao nibs Cacao powder Sesame seeds Shredded coconut Pistachios, crushed Walnuts, crushed Acai powder Goji powder Maqui powder Pomegranate powder

Peel bananas, break in half and put in a zip-top freezer bag. Freeze for at least 4 hours or overnight. Place all ingredients (banana base plus the add-in ingredients of choice) into a high-speed blender such as a Vitamix, and blend on high until soft-serve ice cream consistency is reached, which should be in about 30 to 60 seconds. Taste to determine whether any more add-ins are needed and re-blend if desired. Spoon out and serve. Source: Certified Integrative Nutrition Health Coach Maria Marlowe

Add cacao powder, dates and coconut to a blender. (A bullet blender works well.) Blend until a paste is formed, which should only take a few seconds. Roll about a tablespoon or so of paste into a ball. Repeat. Choose a topping, sprinkle it onto parchment paper and roll date ball in it to coat.

Fast, Healthy Pasta Gluten-free bean and legume-based pastas provide more fiber and protein compared to traditional pasta, points out Marlowe. She suggests placing a steamer basket full of chopped veggies like broccoli, cauliflower and squash over boiling pasta water for a quick pasta primavera. Add some garlic sautéed in olive oil and a little salt and pepper.

Feel-Good Foods Serotonin boosters for better mood and digestive harmony:

kiwi, bananas, pineapple, kiwi, plums, all types of berries, tomatoes, raw cacao nibs, 90 percent dark chocolate, chia seeds, pumpkin seeds, butternuts (related to walnuts), almonds, eggs, beans, oats, protein-rich foods, sea vegetables, avocados, Swiss chard, beets, green tea and spices like turmeric.

Dopamine boosters for better mood and memory, and warding off neurodegenerative diseases: artichokes, ripe bananas, tahini, wheat germ, almond butter, leafy greens, lentils, chickpeas, black beans, papaya, red beets, apples, watermelon, blueberries and prunes.

Natural Awakenings recommends using organic, non-GMO (genetically modified) and non-bromated ingredients whenever possible. June 2020

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FAMILY STORIES Help Kids Cope During Tough Times by Ronica O’Hara

n these challenging times as our children struggle to cope with a swiftly changing world, one of the best things we can do is simply to let them know what strong stuff they come from. Decades of research show that children that know their family’s stories—especially how their parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles and other forebears overcame adversity—have the ability to handle societal and personal trauma better. “Family stories help children feel safe, secure and grounded,” says psychology professor Robyn Fivush, Ph.D., director of the Family Narratives Lab at Emory University, in Atlanta. “The stories provide a sense that they belong to something larger than themselves.” In the midst of unsettling events, she says it’s especially important for children to know that the family has been through hard times before and persevered. Emory research shows that children, teens and young adults that know more of their family’s narratives have a greater sense of control over their lives, more self-esteem, better grades, higher social competence, less anxiety and depression,

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and fewer behavior problems. After 9/11, children that tested high in measures of family narratives proved to be more resilient and less stressed. Family stories can be of loss—“Once we had it all”—or of triumph—“We came up from nowhere”—but the most powerful stories are those that show both the peaks and the valleys, the hilarious escapades and deep losses. “Even simply hearing what other people wish they could have done differently helps to offer children a broader perspective to current experiences,” says Carrie Krawiec, a family therapist at Birmingham Maple Clinic, in Troy, Michigan. Accounts of the deepest trauma also prove formative: Knowing how their great-grandparents survived the Holocaust gave young adults a sense of gratitude, pride, courage and a greater religious commitment, a University of Pennsylvania study found. Stories unfold easily at holiday dinners and during long car rides; even during an ordinary dinner, some kind of story—“Guess what happened today at the store?”—occurs about every five minutes,

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Fivush’s research shows. But summer vacation or days spent together inside a house provide a special opportunity for kids to dive deeper into their family background. For example, they can write an essay about a grandparent or aunt, write and direct a play with siblings, make a scrapbook, read history or novels to study events that took place during a specific time period, write a song or story from the ancestor’s point of view, research and draw a family tree or create a mini-documentary based on an interview with an older relative. This is the quiz used in family narrative research, but Fivush cautions that the 20 questions are only a starting point, and many more can be created. Nor does getting the facts exactly right matter— those can easily be in dispute among family members. “It is the telling, the sharing and the listening that is more important than the story itself,” she says.

Do you know some things about what happened when your brothers or sisters were being born?

Do you know how your parents met?

Do you know some of the jobs that your parents had when they were young?

Do you know where your mother grew up? Do you know where your father grew up? Do you know where some of your grandparents grew up? Do you know where some of your grandparents met? Do you know where your parents were married? Do you know what went on when you were being born? Do you know the source of your name?

Do you know which person in your family you look most like? Do you know which person in the family you act most like? Do you know some of the illnesses and injuries that your parents experienced when they were younger? Do you know some of the lessons that your parents learned from good or bad experiences? Do you know some things that happened to your mom or dad when they were in school? Do you know the national or ethnic background of your family?

Do you know some awards that your parents received when they were young? Do you know the names of the schools that your mom went to? Do you know the names of the schools that your dad went to? Do you know about a relative whose face “froze” in a grumpy position because he or she did not smile enough? Ronica A. O’Hara is a Denver-based health writer. Connect at OHaraRonica@gmail.com.

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Getting Started with Family Narratives Read more about family narratives at Robyn Fivush’s Psychology Today blog: PsychologyToday.com/intl/blog/the-stories-our-lives Ideas for writing and craft projects: Tinyurl.com/ CreatingAFamilyNarrative

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Questions kids can ask family grownups: Tinyurl. com/ClassroomRoots June 2020

Staycations

Finding Respite and Adventure Close to Home by April Thompson

taycations—sticking close to home for new travel experiences—was a growing trend even before the COVID-19 pandemic turned it into a practical necessity for many of us. Staycations reduce costs, minimize travel time and also lower our carbon footprint by eliminating international travel. Happily, they don’t reduce the pure pleasure of finding new adventures, exploring untrammeled nature, seeing the familiar with fresh eyes and meeting people from all walks of life. All of that is close at hand, and especially when compared to foreign jaunts, the price is right.

A good place to start is by checking out state and regional parks, often overlooked gems offering scenic miles of trails for hiking, biking, birding, fishing, picnicking and other activities. “Whether mountains, prairies, rivers, forests in the country or heart of the city, there is always a state park waiting to welcome you, no matter what kind of recreation you enjoy,” says Jason Clay, spokesperson with Colorado Parks and Wildlife. In Colorado parks, people can, for example, river raft in the Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area; boat, fish and hammock camp in Jackson Lake State Park;

22 Somerset/Middlesex/Hunterdon/Mercer/ S. Warren Somerset/Middlesex/Hunterdon/Mercer/S. WarrenCo. Co.Edition Edition 22

and rock climb in Eldorado Canyon. Parks can be discovered and trail maps downloaded by visiting TrailLink.com, run by the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy. It provides searches for nearby trails using parameters such as distance, types of activity and wheelchair accessibility. Its smartphone TrailLink app is free to download and $30 per year for unlimited customized use. State, local and regional parks across the country offer rich educational opportunities for kids and adults alike, including naturalist-guided activities, bird and botany walks, lessons in local history, ecology and

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Transformative

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says Paige Conner Totaro, of Alexandria, Virginia, the founder of Unquote Travel, a web-based tour agency focusing on small group, off-the-beaten-track adventures. “You can change your environment without going very far, and that in turn can change the way you think about things. Little things like sleeping on the other side of the bed can help you shake up your brain.”

Local Attraction

geography, and more. Several states offer free admission to all state-run parks, including Hawaii, Tennessee and Illinois. State-by-state listings of fees and policies can be found at Tinyurl.com/StateParkPasses.

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Making a Quick Getaway

Weekend forays into natural and rustic settings can be ideal escape valves for people needing a simple, quick change of venue. Camping, of course, is always an option, but for those that want to be in nature in a more comfy fashion, using “cabin” as a search word works well in websites like Airbnb.com and TripAdvisor.com. The option of glamping—or glamorous camping—offers surprisingly luxurious stays outdoors in tents, pods and domes; check out Glamping.com. Getaway.House offers woodsy outposts in 10 locations equipped with “tiny house” cabins around the country designed for quick escapes from cities. “If you were at your desk in need of an escape, you could cut out early and be there by 6 p.m.,” says Vice President of Marketing Rachel Mansfield. The private experience, with no check-in desk or communal areas, enables it to continue operating safely during the pandemic. The cabins, designed to blend in with their natural surroundings, are equipped with food for purchase, stove, books, radio, firewood, fire pit and Adirondack chairs, as well as a map for local hikes and adventures. “I did a getaway at a point in my life where I wanted some time alone, away from commitments, to figure out what my next chapter in life was going to be,”

Local-led excursions are another way to see our home turf through a new lens. Airbnb Experiences, offered virtually everywhere that Airbnb lists lodging, are one-of-a-kind tours and classes designed and hosted by locals with unique expertise. Experiences run the gamut from neighborhood tours on foot or bikes with athletes to museum tours led by local artists or art historians. Many include a hands-on learning component, like how to make mosaics in a community art space or cook a local delicacy from a family recipe. Similar tours and experiences can be found on TripAdvisor’s Things To Do listings. WithLocals.com, whose mission is “to break down the barriers between travelers and locals worldwide,” also offers foodie fun and off-beat adventures. Kelly Kniewel stumbled onto tour guiding after experiencing burnout in her previous career in the beverage industry. An Airbnb Experiences host, Kniewel now leads small group tours of Chicago, introducing locals and visitors alike to many of its little-known facets.

“I’ve fallen in love with my city all over again doing these tours,” says Kniewel, a self-proclaimed history geek. She loves to take guests inside Art Deco and Beaux Arts buildings they may have passed before without realizing the gorgeous art and architecture that exists inside, such as the library-turned-cultural center, Chicago Cultural Center, boasting two impressive glass domes, one designed by Tiffany Glass. Another favorite excursion is taking guests on a water taxi tour. “It’s a cheap and unique way to see Chicago. The water, both the Chicago River and Lake Michigan, is so much a part of who we are as a city.” During the limitations imposed during the COVID-19 period, Airbnb and other websites began offering experiences online, allowing people from all over the world to connect and make pastries with a Swedish baker, draw with a Mexican cartoonist, learn about apartheid from a South African or experience a day in the life of an American Olympic bobsledder.

Traveling the World Without Leaving Home

Hosting travelers can bring new meaning to a staycation, offering a rich opportunity for cross-cultural exchange without any exchange of currency. The popular CouchSurfing.com connects travelers with locals offering free use of a couch, air mattress or spare bedroom. Available in more than 200,000 cities worldwide, it has 14 million members and sponsors local language exchanges, dance classes, hikes and dinners, so there are opportunities to make new friends and have new experiences even without offering a place to sleep. (During COVID-19 restrictions, these activities were moved online.) Similar organizations that offer opportunities for local hosting (including June 2020

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can truly live like locals. John Fackenthal, of Rockville, Maryland, has hosted more than 100 couchsurfers from 29 countries, and loved every experience. “I had a big apartment in the heart of Washington, D.C., when I first started hosting, but lived alone and felt a little isolated. I wanted to bring back the youth hostel feel from travels in my younger days, where you’d hang out with fellow travelers and go hiking, share a meal or play cards,” he says. A web developer, he recalls such memorable guests as a carpenter in his 60s from the Pacific Northwest that helped him with fixer-upper projects, a pair of pro volleyball players from the Czech Republic and two young women from China that prepared him a massive traditional Chinese feast “with all four burners going,” he says. “It’s restored my faith in humanity. I’ve encountered nothing but wonderful people, all with such different personalities and backgrounds.”

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

Agrotourism, in which working farms open the barn doors to visitors for day or overnight trips, has the added advantage of supporting local agriculture. AgritourismWorld.com and FarmStayUS.com provide listings for farm stays worldwide searchable by type, such as Christmas tree farm, vineyard, orchard, dude ranch or alpaca farm. The 40-acre Taos Goji Farm and Eco-Lodge Retreat, in Taos, New Mexico, is one such venue. “My husband and I returned to the land nine years ago after many years working as professionals in stuffy offices. The farm has been developed for our family and others who wish to be close to nature and to live off of the land,” says co-owner Elizabeth vom Dorp. The farm is open for paid guests, as well as to the volunteers known as “Wwoofers” that come through Worldwide Opportunities on Organic Farms to help raise goji berries, fruits, vegetables and free-range chickens. All cabins date from the early 1900s, including an old dairy barn converted into a duplex and five sheep herder cabins. The farm is surrounded by a national forest, so many guests visit to enjoy hiking, biking, fishing, rafting and ballooning. “Families with children love to come and pick berries, collect eggs and pet the animals. We have rescue alpacas, sheep, goats, chickens and turkeys,” says vom Dorp. While the world may still be at the mercy of unfortunate circumstances this summer, travel is ultimately a state of mind. By staying open, curious and present, there are always new encounters and discoveries underfoot very close to home. Connect with Washington, D.C., freelance writer April Thompson at AprilWrites.com.

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to sitesee!

Be a Weekend Farmer

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What a

low- or no-cost lodging) include Servas.org, established in 1949, which stresses world peace and cultural exchange, and pre-interviews potential guests and hosts to ensure safety; GlobalFreeloaders.com, a free registry for hosts and guests that do their own online screening and matching; and EvergreenClub.com, in which hosts provide a bed-and-breakfast homestay for travelers over age 50 for $20 a night. An exciting option for homeowners is HomeExchange. com, a $150-a-year service that allows people in far-flung places to switch homes, either directly or through a staggered point system so they

wise words

David Hamilton on Kindness in the Pandemic Age

by Sandra Yeyati

avid Hamilton has authored 10 books, including The Little Book of Kindness, How Your Mind Can Heal Your Body and The Five Side Effects of Kindness. He holds a doctorate in organic chemistry and spent four years in the pharmaceutical industry developing drugs for treating cardiovascular disease and cancer. During clinical research trials, he noticed that a significant number of people experienced health improvements while on fake, or placebo, drugs. This inspired a career change more than 20 years ago, when he became a writer and public speaker teaching people how to understand and harness the mindbody connection to improve health.

We are genetically wired for kindness. The genes that produce the kindness hormone are some of the oldest in the human genome, like 500 million years old. So, our natural state is to care, to be kind and compassionate. But in life, we get caught up in everyday stresses and worries—financially, work-wise and in relationships—that often obscure that natural tendency to care. When a lot of that stuff is taken away, people’s natural sense of kindness and compassion come to the surface.

Have you noticed an increase in kindness during the current pandemic emergency?

Absolutely. We’ve been called to unify, to recognize that we are part of the same human family. There’s a global outpouring of compassion. We’re transforming, becoming more aware of our own kindness and the needs of other people. On another level, I saw a meme that said, “It feels like the universe has sent us home to our rooms to think about what we’ve done.” There’s research that correlates an increase in viruses and parasites over the last couple of years to a loss in biodiversity due to human action, like knocking down rain forests and human-induced climate change. Species extinctions are 1,000 to 10,000 times greater today than they’ve ever been in recorded history, except for 65 million years ago

I think so. In the past, you said things like, “Hello, how are you?” as a greeting. But now, when people say it, they really mean it. There’s a sense of genuine compassion that I think is coming out in everyone on a scale that I’ve never seen before. We’re feeling empathy for people that are suffering, but also feeling empathy for each other, because we realize that everyone is in a similar place.

How do you explain this upsurge in kindness during social distancing and isolation?

Do you see an opportunity for a shift in collective consciousness?

when an asteroid crashed into the Earth and wiped out the dinosaurs. Parasites, viruses and bacteria have nowhere else to go, so they’re jumping species, from bats to humans, for example. We’re being called spiritually not only to be more compassionate and kind to each other, but also to recognize the damage we’re doing to the planet and to be more respectful of nature, the environment and animals.

What are the positive physical effects of kindness?

Physiologically speaking, kindness is the opposite of stress. Where feeling stressed can increase blood pressure, tense the nervous system and suppress the immune system, feelings induced by kindness reduce blood pressure, calm the nervous system and elevate the immune system.

Are certain acts of kindness better than others?

It doesn’t matter what you do. What matters most is that you do it because you mean it; you genuinely have a sense of empathy and want to help someone. All of the physiological benefits of kindness come because the feelings induced by kindness generate what I call kindness hormones, the most important one being oxytocin, which is a female reproductive hormone that also plays a big role in cardiovascular health.

Can a small act of kindness really make a difference in the world?

Absolutely. It’s been charted scientifically that if you do something kind for somebody, that person will be kind or kinder to five other people over the next day or two because of how you made them feel. Those five people will be kind or kinder to five further people, which turns into 25 people, and each of those 25 will be kind to five people, which takes it to 125 people’s lives that can be changed and affected in small and large ways three social steps away from you simply because of one tiny little thing you did. Sandra Yeyati is a freelance writer in Naples, Florida. Connect at SandraYeyati@gmail.com. June 2020

A dad is best

inspiration

remembered in his capacity for love, everyday strength and friendliness.

Fathers Know Best

by Neal Allen

ads, lighten up. Yes, all dads project their own fears and hopes on their children. If Dad dreamed of becoming a first baseman for the Yankees, he’ll push Johnny into baseball, ignoring his son’s preference for woodworking. If Dad harbored hopes of being the next Hemingway, he’ll praise Mary’s poetry, and maybe skip a few of her tedious soccer games. Those are the facts, ma’am. Dads have a habit of imposing their own success goals on their kids. It’s not built into fatherhood to let kids willy-nilly develop

their own talents and dreams. Does that ruin the kids? Who knows? It happens in just about every family, so good luck finding a control group for the experiment. There may be no hope for the kids, but how about the dads? What might happen if they notice this odd behavior and how might that lighten their own loads? Most of us dads, most of the time, initially take on the responsibility of fatherhood—income, protection, education—with drive and purpose. We make compromises

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with our pre-dad selves. The sports car gets traded in for a minivan. Playing guitar becomes a hobby, not a professional goal. We sign on at the warehouse. New dads around the country are making these changes every day, and mostly with alacrity. It’s later, when the perfect infant becomes the complaining toddler or rejecting teenager, that the vexing notion arises that another life could have been lived. This form of nostalgia—for what never came—is bitter. The word “nostalgia”, after all, comes from the Greek for “the pain of going home”. But by seeing himself project his dreams on his children, a father can also see how he’s holding onto a suspect belief that another life would have been better. With maturity, a dad can revisit his adolescent dreams; not nostalgically, but with the wisdom that comes with age. Did I really have a chance at the Yankees? Be real. Weren’t there two guys in high school alone who had more talent? Asking these questions, a father might even notice that no one in the family measures his worth in worldly achievements. A dad is best remembered in his capacity for love, kindness, forgiveness, everyday strength and friendliness. Your child may know you’re a master carpenter. But what she remembers is that day when you gently showed her the right way to hold a hammer. Neal Allen is a spiritual coach and author who shares seven children, step-children and grandchildren with his wife, writer Anne Lamott. His book on a new path to personal freedom will be released by Hierophant Publishers in spring 2021. For more information, visit ShapesOfTruth.com.

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kindness, forgiveness,

Is Stress Harming Your Relationships?

by Rhoda Ondov

he response to the coronavirus pandemic means coping with big adjustments, and many people are having a hard time. Losing a job is traumatic even in normal times but this is much more than that. It means financial crisis for many as well as the fear of catching a deadly disease. The lockdowns have forced many to stay at home with a partner or family. Even those able to keep their jobs and work from home may be suffering from too much togetherness as stress and anxiety can derail even good relationships. For a couple with difficulties, being together 24/7 is not ideal, to say the least. Irritability and frustration are easily set off when we are stressed, yet it is possible to learn to get along without hard feelings or arguments. Truly, communication is the key—the ability to really listen and to be really heard. It is natural to want to blame personal upset or disagreement on the other person, however, this is not going to work out well. When the other person is blamed, or even feels blame, it puts the conversation on a wrong track. When someone feels blamed or attacked, they shift their focus to self-protection, often by explaining why the accusation is wrong or defending whatever was said or done. Alternatively, there is the counter-offense, with “what about” or “but

it’s your fault.” For some, the reaction is to simply withdraw from the conversation— leave, dismiss the concern, or just “check out.” Sometimes, we don’t care what started the argument, only who wins! However, there is another way—avoid this reaction and instead resolve the issue. First, make sure what was said was interpreted correctly. Assumptions and misunderstandings often start arguments. Or restate a complaint as a request, so it is less accusatory. But ultimately, we have to take responsibility for our own feelings. Talk about what feelings were triggered besides anger. Anger is not a standalone emotion—it always comes with some negative feeling that felt hurtful. Go beyond the anger—why does it hurt? There are many negative feelings we all have but don’t wish to admit to, for example,

feeling worthless, incompetent, irrelevant, unlovable, stupid—the list goes on. These negative “truths” are ones we all experience yet can’t banish, so don’t even try. Work around it just like any other obstacle by acknowledging it and getting past it. Learning to communicate peacefully is especially important now when we are in such close quarters with others. The benefits of engaged listening are easy to see as every relationship—friends, family, colleagues—begins to improve, however, it is not always easy to start and takes practice. Consider using the services of a professional counselor for guidance and support as these new skills are being learned and practiced. Rhoda Ondov, MS, LMFT, CPC, is a Certified Professional Coach, with a background in Marriage and Family Therapy and advanced training in couples counseling. She has been helping couples and families to repair and strengthen their relationships for over 10 years. She is an authorized leader of the Weiner-Davis’ divorce-busting program Keeping Love Alive. For more information, call 908-642-6256 or visit OndovRelationshipCoaching. com. See ad on page 21.

June 2020

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ur brain has many well-known structures like the amygdala that detects danger and the prefrontal cortex that enables planning, but we often take for granted the 400 miles of blood vessels that push through a liter of blood per minute, carrying in oxygen and nutrients, and porting out wastes. “Our brains are highly metabolic organs, so they require lots of nutrients and oxygen to function properly, and those can only get to our brain when we have good blood flow,” says naturopathic physician Emilie Wilson, of the Synergy Wellness Center, in Prescott, Arizona. When that blood flow is optimal, we feel energized and clear-headed; when it’s low, we feel foggy and listless. Low levels of cranial blood flow have been linked in brain imaging studies to strokes and dementia, as well as bipolar disorder, depression and suicidal tendencies. The first imperative for healthy cranial blood flow is to make sure our blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol numbers are in a healthy range. Health practitioners can help us address that, as well as the conditions linked to reduced blood flow—heart disease, hypothyroidism, diabetes, anemia, depression and smoking. To boost brain blood flow, specific lifestyle strategies have proven to be highly effective:

Eat strategically, especially beets and chocolate.

Nitric oxide (NO) is made in the endothelium, the thin layer of cells that line blood vessels; it relaxes the inner muscles of those vessels, maximizing blood flow. “The continuous formation of NO in the brain is essential to life,” says prominent pharmacologist Louis Ignarro, Ph.D., who received the Nobel Prize in Science in 1998 for discovering that humans produce NO and that it lowers blood pressure and improves blood flow. He advocates passing up

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meat for soy and fish protein, eating antioxidant-rich produce such as pomegranate, blueberries, spinach and kale, and consuming lots of nitrate-rich food like celery and leafy greens which are converted to NO in the body. He especially recommends beets—one study reported that in juice form, it increases nitric oxide levels by 21 percent in 45 minutes—as well as dark chocolate. In a Harvard study, older people that drank two cups of hot chocolate a day for 30 days had improved blood flow to the brain and better memory.

Take amino acid supplements. “Consuming sup-

plements containing both L-arginine and L-citrulline are well-documented to boost the production of endothelium-derived NO,” says Ignarro. “Adding antioxidants to the amino acid mix provides added benefit by increasing NO levels.” He recommends pomegranate extract, cocoa flavonols and omega-3 supplements.

Move the body. Fast walking, running, cycling, swimming,

ball playing, weight lifting and yoga all help improve cranial blood flow, says Ignarro: “Physical activity stimulates the production of NO in all arteries, including those in the brain.” In one study, women over 60 that walked for 30 to 50 minutes three or four times a week increased ongoing cranial blood flow up to 15 percent. Yoga exercises like downward dog and shoulder stands also raise blood flow in the head.

Play music. Research using functional magnetic resonance imaging published in Scientific Reports found that blood flow in the brain increases when people listen to music they love, whether it’s Mozart or Eminem. In a recent study, Weightless, a song written by the British group Macaroni Union along with sound therapists, reduced participants’ anxiety levels by 65 percent and physiological resting rates by 35 percent.

Do a chanting meditation. Kirtan Kriya, a 12-minute

daily meditation that includes chanting, finger movements and visualization, “has been researched for over 18 years and has documented benefits in increasing blood flow to the brain,” says Krystal Culler, senior Atlantic fellow with the Global Brain Health Institute, in San Francisco and Ireland. YouTube offers several versions, as does the Alzheimer’s Research and Prevention Foundation (Tinyurl.com/12MinuteYogaMeditation).

Consider acupuncture and craniosacral therapy.

“Acupuncture has been used for thousands of years to boost blood flow, and it can also relax tense muscles in the neck and head, which can impair blood flow more than we realize,” says Wilson. She also recommends the gentle, hands-on-head approach of craniosacral therapy: “It can directly improve blood flow by removing restrictions, and it can also rebalance sympathetic and parasympathetic functions, which has beneficial effects on our nervous system and on blood flow.”

teen voices

Staying On Track by Isabella Dussias

don’t know about you, but I find it hard to stay on track these days. In addition to the stress of this current public health crisis, adapting to new schedules and a new way of living is also trying. While there is less time spent commuting, my days are still filled with online studies, working on college applications, doing household chores, and communicating with my friends. Normally, the busier I am the more I get done. Now, though, even with a lot of self-directed goals, I have more time on hand. The extra time is good, but it is also a little daunting. I feel the youth of my generation are used to always being scheduled, sometimes over-scheduled. My parents have told me that when they were kids, they were outside all day, rode their bicycles everywhere, and had some, but not many organized activities. This is very diﬀerent in comparison to my childhood which has consisted of scheduled play dates and various lessons and activities that I had been shuttled from, to and fro. So now my regimented self is thrown into the water, no paddle, no flippers, just myself. That might sound melodramatic, but I am learning to adapt, to be self-directed and to use my time wisely. I’m learning not to waste countless, mindless hours on social media and to not drown in indecision about what to do next. I am learning to be more of a self-starter and not depend on where I will be slotted in for the next activity. Trying to stay on track and stay focused in times of uncertainty and crisis is diﬃcult. For the teens of today, we are learning to adapt like those before us throughout history. Hopefully, we come through this stronger and more resilient. Stay safe and be well. Isabella Dussias is a 17-yearold singer-songwriter/composer from New Jersey. She enjoys writing about issues that are important to today’s youth, and she believes music is an important outlet to connect people and share messages through the creativity of lyric and melody. For more information, please visit IsabellaDussias.com.

Ronica O’Hara is a Denver-based health writer. Connect at OHaraRonica@gmail.com. June 2020

mushroom medicine by Joseph Condora

edicinal mushrooms are gaining immortality”, reishi mushroom has gained popularity in the natural health a significant amount of attention during world as of late. However, the COVID-19 pandemic for its potential mushrooms have been used medicinalrole in the prevention phase of immune ly in traditional Chinese medicine for health protocols. New research published thousands of years and western medicine in Integrative Medicine: A Clinician’s Journal since 1928. The first thing that most explored the possibility of reishi of us think of when we hear the mushroom in providing protective word mushrooms is the cremini effects against COVID-19 and mushrooms or portobellos other viral infections. that we eat as a side dish Reishi mushwith our dinners. rooms stimulate NK However, there are cells (natural killer over 10,000 known cells). These are specialReishi species of mushrooms ized immune surveillance that have been identified and researchers cells that seek out virally infected cells and believe that there are countless more speformulate a response to contain a potential cies that remain undiscovered. infection. For this reason, the researches While many species are known, only a surmise that utilizing reishi mushrooms as select few have been clinically studied and part of an immune health protocol may found to be especially effective for increasoffer powerful protection against viral ing immune function, lowering blood infection. sugar, improving exercise performance, and improving energy levels. Here are three of the most well-reCordyceps mushroom is searched mushrooms and their various actually a fungi that benefits. grows on caterpillars at high altitudes in Asia. Cordyceps gained Cordyceps Also referred to as “the mushroom of mainstream attention in

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1993, when the Chinese Woman’s Track and Field team credited their impressive performances during the Chinese National Games to the use of cordyceps mushroom. Following this claim, cordyceps mushroom began being clinically studied to assess whether the reports of improved physical performance were founded. A 2017 trial published in the Journal of Dietary Supplements assessed the effect that cordyceps mushroom supplementation had on the performance competitive cyclists. The researchers found that those who were given cordyceps mushroom significantly increased their “time-to-fatigue”, meaning that they were able to cycle for a longer period before getting tired. Additionally, the cyclists who supplemented also improved their V02 Max by 11%. V02 max is a measurement that is used to determine how much oxygen is being utilized during physical activity. Higher V02 max scores are associated with increased fitness performance.

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Similar to reishi mushroom, chaga mushroom has been used medicinally for thousands of years throughout Russia, Korea, and Eastern and Northern Europe. Referred to as the â&#x20AC;&#x153;King of Herbsâ&#x20AC;?, chaga mushroom has been the subject of over 190 studies to assess the potential anti-cancer, anti-viral, and blood-sugar regulating effects. Research published in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology aimed to assess the impact that chaga mushroom supplementation has on blood-sugar levels of type 2 diabetic mice. The researchers found that chaga mushroom supplementation was able to lower blood-sugar levels of the mice by 31% over a three-week period. Chaga mushrooms, like reishi, are potent NK cell stimulators and exhibit anti-cancer properties. A 2016 study published in the Heliyon journal investigated the effect of chaga mushroom supplementation on mice with lung cancer. The researchers found that the tumor-bearing mice who received chaga mushroom had a 60% tumor reduction. Additionally, mice with metastatic cancer, the number of nodules present decreased by 25% compared to the control group. Keep in mind, most medicinal mushrooms are powerful immune stimulators. Immune stimulants should be avoided by those with an autoimmune condition because these individuals already have an overactive immune system. Be sure to consult with your physician before beginning any supplement protocol. Joseph Condora is a nutrition and health coach at Valley Integrative Pharmacy, located at 75 Washington Valley Road in Bedminster. For information, call 908-658-4900 or visit ValleyPharmacyRX.com. See ad, page 3.

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Natural Solutions Human Tricks

Soothing Separation Helping Anxious Dogs to Cope by Julie Peterson

eparation anxiety is a common canine problem, diagnosed in as many as 40 percent of dogs seen by veterinary behavioral specialists. When the dog is left alone, it may serenade the neighbors, soil the house or cause damage. Stories abound of unstuffed couches, dugup floors, destroyed window coverings and dog injury from chewing out of a crate or trying to escape through windows. In an article on separation anxiety syndrome (SAS) in the Journal of American Veterinary Medicine, Stefanie Schwartz, DVM, cites several studies that agree on common risk factors for SAS in dogs: his-

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tory of traumatic separation, inexperience with being alone, excessive greetings and prolonged departures by owners, relocation and changes in routine or family structure. Symptoms vary in scope and degree, but SAS is painful for both dog and parent. Repeatedly returning home to complaints from neighbors or considerable damage can cause owners to surrender their dogs.

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If a dog is acting out, an assessment is needed to ensure that what seems like SAS isn’t caused by underlying conditions. Boredom, illness or canine cognitive dys-

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A 2018 study in the Journal of Veterinary Behavior suggests that petting a dog for one minute before leaving may make the dog calmer during separation. Some dogs feel safest when left in a crate covered with a blanket. The human attitude toward separation can be felt by the dog, as well, but some dogs simply need more help coping. Changing the brain might be the way to go. Calmer Canine is a device that sends targeted, pulsed, electromagnetic field (tPEMF) signals to the dog’s brain. Unlike approaches like medications, supplements and cannabidiol (CBD) that have to be administered repeatedly as needed, “the dog gets two, 15-minute treatments per day for four to six weeks,” says veterinarian Judy Korman, at Assisi Animal Health, in New York City and Santa Fe, New Mexico. A 2019 pilot study of nine dogs that she conducted in cooperation with the North Carolina State University of Veterinary Medicine, which developed the device, showed that the tPEMF signals reduced anxiety and restored calm.

Exercise

“I’ve tried medication and natural supplements, and have found that what works best for all three of my dogs is plenty of exercise. Long walks, especially in new locations with new smells, are a favorite,” says Kimberly Gauthier, a blogger at Keep the Tail Wagging and Dog Mom Style, in Marysville, Washington. There is a physiological reason for engaging in walks guided by the dog’s nose. “The more the dog is able to take in scent, the more it triggers the seeking part of the brain, the more enriching life is for the dog and the more it calms them down,” says Mittsy Voiles, a behavior specialist at the Lake Mills Veterinary Clinic, in Wisconsin.

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function could result in actions and symptoms such as pacing or excessive salivating that mimic anxiety. If SAS is diagnosed, owners must understand that dogs aren’t exacting revenge and should never be punished for behavior exhibited when they are terrified, advise veterinarians.

natural pet

Food and Supplements

Good nutrition allows dogs to be more mazing new breakthrough that successful citizens. â&#x20AC;&#x153;If you make the baseline on fundamentals good, it gives the dog ocuses stimulating neurolymthe ability to think, process its environhaticment points therapeutic and havewith less anxiety, â&#x20AC;? says holistic veterinarian Catherine Alinovi, at Healthy magnets. Pawsibilities, in Clearwater, Florida. Pro-

rogram includes: allergy identifi- ation, micronutrient status, ionic cessed kibble with food coloring is doggie junk food. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Kibble Quandary: A Fresh Look at Pet Food,â&#x20AC;? at NaturalAwakenings. com, suggests healthier feeding options. How a dog is fed can also have an impact. Putting food in puzzle toys facilitates a brain exercise that improves confidence. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Dogs who spend part of their day working out puzzles are really engaging that opportunistic scavenger part of their biology,â&#x20AC;? says Voiles. Commonly, pet owners are turning to the hemp plant derivative CBD as a calming aid. For those considering nutraceuticals, herbs and supplements, a holistic veterinarian can make recommendations.

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Accessories

Diffusing calming essential oils may relax some dogs, but a mild scent for humans could supersaturate a dogâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s olfactory organ, preventing them from smelling whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s necessary. Learning how to use essential oils safely around pets is critical. But the pacifying scent of natural pheromones that mimic the comfort of nursing are hard to beat; pheromone-based products in sprays, diffusers, wipes and collars can be found in natural-health stores and pet stores. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s effective for dogs who need to feel safe or when adjusting to a new environment,â&#x20AC;? says Voiles. ThunderShirts, special blankets and Dog TV are tried by many, but no one option works for every dog. â&#x20AC;&#x153;When people try things and donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t get improvement, they should seek a holistic veterinarian who can help figure out what is going on,â&#x20AC;? says Alinovi. Julie Peterson writes about wellness and the environment. Reach out at JuliePeterson2222@gmail.com.

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Yoga Corner The Graduate (2020) by Nicole Zornitzer

his is a picture of my cap and gown for completing my Ayurvedic Graduate Studies at The Maryland University of Integrative Health. This cap and gown will never be worn. So many of our children and possibly ourselves are affected by the cancellation of ceremonial graduation events in 2020; me included on both fronts. Today, I am choosing to honor myself for the hard work and dedication I put into receiving this certification. And I congratulate my fellow classmates on this feat that was much more intense than I think we each could have predicted. My graduate school experience was one I waited over 14 years to complete. Ayurveda was first introduced to me in 2006 when I began my formal yoga training program at Yama Therapeutics in Maryland. I was immediately drawn to the concepts presented and the idea of creating wellness in the human body naturally. My experience at MUIH was nothing short of amazing between the professors I trained under to the group of women I became virtual sisters with. When I registered for my program, I had no idea my mother would be diagnosed with terminal cancer six weeks into

peace

my program. There were many moments that I believed I would need to post-pone this education. My graduate school ended up happening not only at MUIH; my studies and experiences occurred at Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Delray Beach Memorial Hospital, St. Barnabas Hospital and Kessler Rehabilitation Hospital; all while holding my mother’s hand and becoming an energy of presence next to her. I was applying the knowledge I was gaining while studying; it was extraordinary. I helped patients at Sloan Kettering meditate while advocating for my mother’s health. I became the therapeutic yoga practitioner I had always envisioned while practicing ayurveda and finding comfort in my teachers and classmates.

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My graduate experience was unique, it prepared me for so much more than what I signed up for. Ayurveda and yoga are my calling and the universe spoke volumes to me during this time. I would change nothing about this experience, it was beautiful and exactly as I was meant to learn a modality that is going to help save humans. So today, I do acknowledge my hard work and perseverance. I believe as adults we must celebrate our moments, even if we are a party of one. Becoming an example for my own children and most importantly my son, who also will not experience a formal graduation ceremony from high school, this is a bittersweet time in our journey. Life is full of deviations from our plans—this is part of the human experience. The lessons we take, the knowledge we gain, the connections we develop and the pride we feel during all of these moments is what is vital to our existence. My message…Never give up. Dreams do come true. Just be willing to humbly adjust as they come to fruition. Nicole Zornitzer, ERYT 1000, yoga therapist, founder of Niyama Yoga & Wellness Studio in Randolph, New Jersey. NiyamaYogaStudio.com.

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JUNE 2020 Virtual Session Series Dr. Peter Amato, Inner Harmony Wellness Centers Fridays, May 1-June 5 • 7pm Pandemic Resilience: Moving Beyond Fear A Six Session Weekly Mind-Body Course designed to empower you to adapt to the tremendous new challenges we now face. Join anytime as course is evergreen! $199.00. Register today at InnerHarmonyWellness.com. This course is “evergreen” so join any time. For information, call 570-319-6073 or visit InnerHarmonyWellness.com

Virtual Worship/Spiritual Connection Christ Church: An Emerging Christian Community Sundays in June • 10-11:15am Join us for online worship and fellowship via Zoom. To receive your link to join, visit http://www.ChristChurchEmerging.com Wednesdays in June • 7-8:30pm Spiritual Conversation Circle and Soup Supper via Zoom. To receive your link to join, visit http://www. ChristChurchEmerging.com. Wednesdays in May • 7-8:30pm Share your thoughts with other seekers and explore spiritual journeying. This conversation circle is open to your authentic self. Via Zoom: Find invitation at https://www.meetup.com/ProgressiveChristian-Community/ For information call 908-722-2080 or email cpchurch@optonline.net. ChristChurchEmerging.org

All calendar events for the July 2020 issue must be received by June 10, 2020 and adhere to our guidelines. Email kathy@NaturalAwakeningsNJ.com for guidelines and to submit entries.

Virtual Classes Karen Walsh, Be Here Now Yoga

Virtual Meditation Princeton Meditation Group

Thursday,June 4 • 7-8pm Moving Through Grief Class includes gentle movement on mat or chair, plus quiet meditation practices for the mind, body, and spirit. Free but space is limited and pre-registration is required. Please register at https:// beherenowyoga108.com/calendar Online Yoga Visit https://beherenowyoga108.com/ calendar for classes throughout week. For information call 908-642.0989 or email karen@beherenowyoga108.com. BeHereNowYoga108.com

Online Group Meditation Services Visit SRFOnlineMeditation.org to participate. For information, call 609-902-4850 or visit PrincetonMeditationGroup.org.

Virtual Classes / eZential Wellness Saturday, June 27 • 11am-12noon Virtual & In Studio Muscle Rebalancing & Stress Relief with Jen James. $30. Pre-registration is required. Mondays in June • 7-7:30pm. Mindful Matters with Maria Usewick. Zoom class series. 4 weeks on Mondays. $10 per class or $36 for all 4 weeks. Call 908-526-0002 or email Lori@ eZentialWellness.com for information. Visit https://ezentialwellness.com/ events-2/ to see all the virtual class offerings and to sign up.

Phone Healing Session Beth Wishbow, Insight Holistic Reiki Distance Healing Telephone Sessions with Beth Wishbow, Reiki Master Teacher & Therapist. 75-minute Reiki Distance Healing Session: $90; 75-minute 3-Pack Reiki Distance Healing Sessions: $255 ($85 each). Appointments available from 12noon-7:15pm EST on M, W, Th, Fri & Sat. To book: InsightHolisticHealth.com/reikidistance-healing-sessions/ For information, call 908-295-7999 or email beth@insightholistichealth.com. InsightHolisticHealth.com

Virtual Qi Gong Classes Qi Gong for Healing Beginner series, four 1-hour classes. Begin the gentle movements of a Qi Gong Tai Chi journey featuring instructor Patty Pagano live online. Not sure? First 1-hour class is Free! Check schedule or register at https://forms.gle/k2kcv9tVJ6X1QfpD8 For information contact Patty at 908392-1313 or PattyQigongforHealing@ gmail.com. QiGongForHealing.com

Virtual Weekly Classes Sand Hills Wellness Center

With the ever-evolving COVID-19 situation causing uncertainty for citizens worldwide, Natural Awakenings is more committed than ever in supporting your health and well-being. For the latest updates on local events and information, visit us online at:

Friday • 11am-12noon Emotional Freedom Technique for Stress Reduction with Sharon Coyle-Saeed via ZOOM. Monday • 10:30-11:30am Meditation with Sharon Coyle-Saeed via ZOOM. For more information, visit SandHillsWellness.wixsite.com/ sandhillswellness

NaturalAwakeningsCNJ.com NaturalAwakeningsCentralNewJersey

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

NaturalAwakeningsCNJ.com

classifieds Have a business opportunity, job opening, space for rent or other need?

It’s Healthy, Holistic & FREE! Contest runs from June 5-June 19.

INTUITIVE SERVICES

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.

READINGS: Oracle card and palmistry readings offered in person, phone, parties welcome. Spiritually guided channeled messages are for your highest good. Let my gifts guide you! Reasonable rates. Cheryl 908-268-8029.

Enter Now at

NaturalAwakeningsCNJ.com Virtual Classes / Yoga Central Join us each day for an online class. If you are interested in Yoga, Prenatal Yoga, Meditation or Tai Chi Chih, there is a daily online class available to attend. Visit YogaCentralNJ.com for all details, and don’t forget to check out our prerecorded sessions! For information call 908-7070759 or email yogacentralnj202@gmail. com. YogaCentralNJ.com

Virtual Skype Class Siobhan at Next Step Strategies Monday, Wednesdays and Fridays • 10am Natural ways to support the immune system & calm the fight/flight/freeze response. Ask about personalized one-on-one sessions. For information call 609-752-1048 or email Siobhan@ NextStepStrategiesLLC.com.

SUNDAY, JUNE 14 Reiki I Online Live Training & Certification via Zoom – 10:30am–6:30pm EST. Learn to heal yourself and others both in-person and at a distance in this interactive online class. Beginner level. $225 (Package discount available). Register at: InsightHolisticHealth.com/ OnlineClasses. Instructor: Beth Wishbow, Reiki Master Teacher, beth@InSightHolisticHealth.com. InsightHolisticHealth.com.

The Next

Nutrition Course Next Course starts October 25

Become a Certified Nutrition Consultant in 6 Months and put the letters CNC after your name. This recognized qualification is obtained through the American Association of Nutritional Consultants, AANC. The course includes 12 modules, and classes meet twice a month on Sundays 9 am - 1pm . All modules are taught by Dr. Derek Rodger (ND). Course fee is $2295.00 and can be paid over 6 monthly installments at $389.00 per month. Every student receives a free 90 minute private nutritional consultation with Dr. Rodger (ND) worth $289.00. Naturopathic Doctor Dr. Derek Rodger (ND) Course Instructor

To obtain a detailed information pack visit:

NutritionConsultants.org or Tel: 908-223-8899

SUNDAY, JUNE 28 Reiki II Online Live Training & Certification via Zoom – 10:30am – 6:30pm EST. Expand your Reiki abilities in this comprehensive interactive online class. Learn to heal across any distance. Practice with other students in Zoom breakout rooms. $225 (Package discount available). Register at: InsightHolisticHealth.com/OnlineClasses. Instructor: Beth Wishbow, Reiki Master Teacher. beth@InSightHolisticHealth.com. InsightHolisticHealth.com

A library of material becomes yours following course completion.

June 2020

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

Ayurveda/Holistic Health

Chinese Healing Arts

Acupuncture Works Center

Ayurvedashram Holistic Wellness Center

Qi Gong For Healing

Kristin A. Dudley LAc

84 Park Ave, Ste G-103C, Flemington 973-979-1652 AcupunctureWorksCenter.com

page 50.

Gentle acupuncture with can be both very relaxing as well as healing. Acupuncture has been used for centuries to ease muscle and arthritis pain, relieve stress, increase energy and improve sleep. De-stress in a nurturing and healing enviroment. See ad,

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. 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 19.

Agri-business Fortis Farms, LLC Monika Christian and Kiley Doll 18230 Edwards Shop Rd., Elkwood, VA 540-409-6871 hello@growfortisfarms.com GrowFortisFarms.com Fortis Farms’ goal is to create easy access to fresh, local food sources in a sustainable, resource-conserving system. We use and distribute aeroponic garden solutions to produce more, local, lower cost, healthy food in smaller spaces. See ad,

2070 Route 1, 2nd Floor, North Brunswick 732-658-6122 MyAyurvedashram@gmail.com MyAyurvedashram.com Experience the personalized body-mind-spirit approach of Ayurveda, a 5000-yearold healing science from India and one of the oldest system of medicine in the world! Ayurveda consultations and Panchakarma (detox) therapies by experienced and trained Ayurvedic practitioners. We specialize in pain management, hormonal imbalance, auto-immune disorders and pediatric wellness. Mention NaturalAwakenings and get 25% OFF your initial consultation! See ad, page 25.

Beauty & Fitness

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 11.

Clinical Hypnotherapy Inner Truth Hypnotherapy and Meditation Center Tori Valspirit 908-617-1545 hypnotherapy@valspirit.com InnerTruthHypnotherapy.com

Lipo Laser NJ Natasia Kakar 315 Main Street, Metuchen 908-793-9933 info@lipolasernj.com LipoLaserNJ.com Lipo Laser NJ utilizes a non-invasive, FDA-approved technology that can immediately reduce the size of fat cells without damaging or destroying them. The treatments are painless, effective and commonly used to treat the following problem areas such as abdomen, back, arms, legs, mommy thighs, love-handles, muffin-tops, buttocks and more.

Clinical hypnosis is a natural yet altered state of mind with numerous beneficial characteristics. Evidence-based services include clinical hypnotherapy, medical support clinical hypnotherapy and integral hypnotherapy. Clinical hypnotherapy is available in private or group sessions. Confidentiality is assured within HIPAA regulations.

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

CBD Products Mom N Pop CBD & Wellness Shop Ray Brown, Jr.

5 Locations in NJ/PA 484-415-5037 MomNPopCBDShop.com CBD is a natural pain reliever and anti-inflammatory with no addictive properties. However, not all CDB products are created equally. We use the latest scientific knowledge and experienced professionals to create top of the line CBD products at affordable prices. See ad, page 23.

page 9.

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

Brian Coffey LMT, and Fran Maher, CA

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.

NaturalAwakeningsCNJ.com

Education/Schools

Fitness

Waldorf School Of Princeton

Orange Theory Fitness

1062 Cherry Hill Rd, Princeton 609-466-1970, x115 PrincetonWaldorf.org

The Waldorf curriculum, used in 1,000+ schools School worldwide, integrates arts, of Princeton academics, movement, and music, emphasizing social and environmental responsibility. The hands-on approach is screen free.

Waldorf

Cedar Hill Preparatory School 152 Cedar Grove Lane, Somerset 732-356-5400

CedarHillPrep.com Facebook.com/cedarhillprep/ Early Education Program

CHP believes a nurturing program that fosters emotional, social, and cognitive skills through a scaffolded learning evironment of structured and unstructured experiences is imperative in Preschool. We aim to provide a diverse environment, abundant space and stimulating activities as we strive to empower children to reach their unique potential.

434 US Hwy 202/206N, Bedminster 908-698-4600 882 Rte 22, Somerville 908-526-1400 OrangeTheory.com

Spring back to life with the workout designed to give you more energy, more strength and more results, so you can get more out of life. Visit OrangeTheory. com today to book your first workout free! See ad, page 15.

Elaine Bacio

650-678-3128 elainebacio@hotmail.com EssentialsKingdom.com

See ad, page 11.

Elaine is a Certified Health Coach specializing in Essential Oil Education. She helps women find their emotional anchor and unleash their spiritual purpose using the high vibrational frequencies of doTERRA essential oils. Schedule a free consultation to experience her work.

HEALTHY PLANET

2020 EDITORIAL CALENDAR HEALTHY LIFESTYLES ISSUE

Functional Medicine

JAN

Age-Defying Habits Plus: Healthy Immune System

Morningstar Family Health Center

FEB

Cardiovascular Health Plus: Regenerative Medicine

54 Old Highway 22, Clinton 908-735-9344 MorningStarFHC.com

MorningStar’s team of health professionals cares for you like family. Our membership based practice cares for men, women and children age 8 and up with a functional approach to primary care. See ad, page 9.

Essential Oils Essentials Kingdom

HEALTHY LIVING

Gifts/Natural/Handmade Gaia’s Gifts Ellen Perkins

16 Broad St., Washington 908-223-1331 • GaiasGiftsNJ.biz Local, handcrafted items including wall art, fiber art, jewelry, small furniture, leather work, soaps, lotions, local honey, loose tea and flower vibrational essences. Variety of rocks and crystals in personal size or display pieces, Himalayan salt lamps and so much more. See

PLANT-BASED NUTRITION ISSUE

MAR

Thriving on a Plant-Based Diet Plus: CBD

APR

Grassroots Climate Crisis Strategies Plus: Healthy Home

WOMEN’S WELLNESS ISSUE

MAY

Autoimmune Breakthroughs Plus: Protein & Collagen Connection

JUN

Inspired Lifestyle Travel Plus: Brain Health

THE FOOD CONNECTION ISSUE

JUL

Beyond Factory Farming Plus: Gut Health

AUG

Biological Dentistry Plus: Environmental Education

SELF-EMPOWERMENT ISSUE

SEP

Emotional Well-Being Plus: Adaptive Yoga

OCT

Stress Management Plus: Joint Health

THE DIABETES CHALLENGE ISSUE

“How far you go in life depends on your being tender with the young, compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving and tolerant of the weak and strong. Because someday in life you will have been all of these.” - George Washington Carver

NOV

Personalized Diabetes Strategies Plus: Skin Care

DEC

Creating Community & Connection Plus: Spending Locally

June 2020

Holistic Chiropractors

Holistic Dental Center

Dr. Paul M. Bizzaro, DC

91 Millburn Ave, Milburn 973-457-4688 HolisticDentalCenterNJ.com

81 S Main St, Yardley, PA 215-493-6589 • DrPaulBizzaro.com My mission is to educate people to the benefits of chiropractic, nutrition, and a healthy lifestyle. Over 40 years experience (personally and professionally) allows me to relate to your problem(s). Services include nonforce chiropractic, nutritional testing, utilizing test kits/panels, Chirothin weight loss, massage (covered by most insurance) and laser therapy for pain. Personalized attention guaranteed! See ad, page 4.

Samsara Chiropractic Wellness Center 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 31.

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 17.

Vladimir Gashinsky, DDS

Inner Truth Hypnotherapy and Meditation Center

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.

Princeton Center For Dental Aesthetics Dr. Kiersten Huckel, DMD Dr. Kirk Huckel, DMD, FAGD 11 Chambers St, Princeton 609-924-1414 PrincetonDentist.com

We offer a unique approach to the health care of the mouth based on a holistic understanding of the whole body. Please contact us to learn how we can serve your needs. See ad, page 28.

Hypnosis & Reiki Energy Health & Wellness LLC Michele Dellavalle, CH, CHTP, ART Clinton & Flemington Online Sessions available #908-403-2045 EnergyHealth4Wellness@gmail.com ReikiEHW.com Employs complimentary methods to treat individuals in a holistic manner helping clients reach their goals and highest possible level of mental, physical & spiritual well-being. Offering 5-Path Hypnosis®, 7th Path Self-Hypnosis®, Reiki, Healing Touch, Crystal Healing & Meditations.

“I see my path, but I don’t know where it leads. Not knowing where I’m going is what inspires me to travel it.” - Rosalia de Castro 40 Somerset/Middlesex/Hunterdon/Mercer/ S. Warren Co. Edition

Hypnotherapy

Tori Valspirit

908-617-1545 InnerTruthHypnotherapy.com Clinical hypnosis is a natural yet altered state of mind with numerous beneficial characteristics. Evidence-based services include clinical hypnotherapy, medical support clinical hypnotherapy and integral hypnotherapy. Clinical hypnotherapy is available in private or group sessions. Confidentiality is assured within HIPAA regulations. See ad, page 12.

Integrative Holistic Consultant Sunny van Vlijmen

939 Ridge Rd, Suite 2D, Monmouth Junction 609-275-3881 FindHappinessNow.com Do you want real and lasting change? My professional background of 20+ years in alternative healing and personal development has taught me what works and what doesn’t. If you’re ready for change, schedule your free 15-minute phone consultation, today. Se e ad, page 32.

Integrative/Functional MD Integrative Health & Wellness Associates Minal Vazirani, MD

112 Town Center, Warren 844-5-HEALER • 844-543-2537 dr.mvazirani@ihwa-nj.com minalvaziranimd.com ; Facebook: DrVazirani Dr. V is triple board certified in pediatrics, internal medicine, and integrative medicine, plus additional training in Ayurvedic and Functional Medicine, and Yoga Therapy. She has published on integrative approaches to gut health. Committed to helping patients get to the root cause of health concerns to create an individualized integrative lifestyle prescription for optimal wellness. Functional Medicine Testing and Nutritional Testing is performed when indicated. See ad, page 17.

NaturalAwakeningsCNJ.com

Integrative Psychotherapy

Meditation/Spiritual

Naturopathic Medicine

Bobbie Lynn Edwards LPC, NCC,M.Ed

Center For Healing and Empowerment

New Jersey Natural Medicine

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

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.

MLS Laser Therapy MLS Laser Therapy

Massage - Therapy Body Be Well Massage Lauren Curtis, LMT

615 Mountain Blvd, Watchung 908-333-7746 Lauren@BodyBeWellMassage.com BodyBeWellMassage.com Lauren Curtis, LMT is a New Jersey State Licensed massage therapist, who specializes in various forms of massage, including Oncology, Pregnancy, Swedish, Deep Tissue, Medical, Aromatherapy and Chair massage. She is also trained in Foot Reflexology and Reiki.

Dr. Paul Bizzaro, DC

81 S Main St, Yardley, PA 215-493-6589 DrPaulBizzaro.com Get permanent relief for your pain without drugs, shots or surgery with FDA approved Laser Therapy. Benefits include Speedy healing process, pain free, extremely safe with no known side effects. Don’t live in pain anymore.

Natural Medicine Inner Harmony Wellness Center

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.

Peter Amato, PhD, DNM Board Certified Natural Medicine Two PA Locations: 647 Wyoming Avenue, Kingston, PA. 131 Reynolds Road, Waverly, PA. 570-319-6073 InnerHarmonyWellness.com

With 25 years of experience we get to the root cause of your health concerns. Find out what is causing long-standing health issues and walk away with a precise care plan. Today’s chronic illnesses are not located in the blood! We test at the cellular level. Our approach merges applied kinesiology, Quantum Biofeedback and a (ART) Autonomic Response Testing developed by Dietrich Klinghardt M.D. PhD. See ad, page 13.ee ad, page

Dr. Jason Frigerio ND, LAC Dr. Krista Imre, ND Dr. Adam Dombrowski ND, LAC 2424 Lamington Road, Bedminster 973-267-2650 NJNaturalMedicine.com

Since 2004, NJNM has treated countless patients with naturopathic, Chinese, ayurvedic and biological medicine. Some come to improve and maintain health, while others are seeking treatments outside the traditional medical sphere. Regardless of the reason for the visit, our guiding principal remains constant: to observe and treat the whole person, not just symptoms. Using this approach, NJNM is better able to identify and treat the root cause of illness, help restore balance and promote optimal health. See ad, page 7.

Naturopathic School Health Queen

Avis Gardell-Feldstein 1 Shadowbrook Lane Basking Ridge, NJ 07920 732-547-1196 (phone or text) HealthqueenAvis@gmail.com HealthQueenAvis.com We are excited to be able to bring the most cutting edge information in the Health Industry through our Certification in Naturopathy. Private consultations with Matrix Decoder diagnostics and Biofeedback plus testing available for Food Sensitivities, Hormones and more! See ad, page 17.

Nutrition Sunrise Nutrition & Wellness Center Dr. John Harrington 137 Mountain Ave., Hackettstown 908-441-2276 drharrington@SunriseNutritionCenter.com SunriseNutritionCenter.com You may be suffering from nutritional deficiencies, toxin overload, chronic infections and bad lifestyle habits. Get checked today! We are dedicated to providing a health improvement program unique to your body. We aim to improve your health through nutrition and other safe, non-invasive therapies. See ad, page 33.

June 2020

Reiki & Hypnosis

Retreat Experience

Thermography

Alice Rich Reiki Center

Harmony Mountain Institute

Lisa’s Thermography & Wellness

Alice Rich, Certified Master Teacher

Dr. Peter Amato, Ph.D., DNM 131 Reynolds Rd., N. Abington Twp, PA 570-558-7450 info@harmonymountaininstitute.com HarmonyMountainInstitute.com

Lisa Mack, CCT, HHC

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.

Escape for a luxurious weekend of radical transformation. Receive the Tools required to sustain your best life, achieve balance, and experience joy. Immerse in SelfCare and depart with a personalized wellness plan and Support Coach. See ad, page 4.

Thermography gives an early look at the most important indicator of a potential health problem – inflammation. Early stage disease screening is an area in which thermography excels. Whether your pain is acute or chronic, or you are merely curious about the state of your health, thermography can help provide answers. Radiation-free breast and full body screenings for men and women. See ad, page 26.

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

Relationship Coach Ondov Relationship Coaching Rhoda Ondov, MS, MFT, CPC

12-14 E Main St, Suite 8, Somerville 908-642-6256 rhoda.ondov@gmail.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 21.

Spiritual Healing, Teaching Be The Medicine

Thermographer and Holistic Counselor See website for locations in NJ and NY 855-667-9338 Lisa@LisasThermographyAndWellness.com LisasThermographyAndWellness.com

Vision/Eye Health

Janet StraightArrow

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

Dr. Andy Rosenfarb, ND, LAc,

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.

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

Wellness Center “Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do.

eZential Wellness

1 Lamington Rd Branchburg 908-526-0002 • Lori@eZentialWellness.com eZentialWellness.com Hatha, Vinyasa, Yin, & Ashtanga Yoga for all levels. Whether you are new to yoga or have been practicing for a while, we see each of you as unique individuals who deserve to feel happy, healthy & welcome! Also offering Mindfulness classes, Reiki certification and Yoga teacher training. See Yoga Profile, page 34.

So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” ~ Mark Twain 42 Somerset/Middlesex/Hunterdon/Mercer/ S. Warren Co. Edition

NaturalAwakeningsCNJ.com

June 2020

The Holistic Dental Center Working Together with Other Holistic Practitioners to Create a True Holistic Approach to Your Health

team approach to your overall health and it starts at the Holistic they don’t see, I do, and vice versa, seeing dental infections and Dental Center in Millburn, New Jersey, with their highly skilled how they can affect organ systems through meridians or directly and team of trained professionals in holistic and biological dentistry. From utilizing the benefits of networking with a holistic practitioner can and their award winning doctors and their state of the art technology to does make all the difference in patient care…I wouldn’t have it any their use of ozone and self-healing therapies, they are committed other way,” Dr. Gashinsky says about working with other practitioners. to not only treating your dental related symptoms, but also, the root So if you’re looking for an approach that is inclusive of all aspects cause thereby eliminating disease and promoting optimal health. of holistic care, visit Dr. Gashinsky and his team at The Holistic Dental Little did conventional practitioners know so many years ago that Center in Millburn, New Jersey. It’s their priority to ensure complete it took more than just looking at the mouth. A generation ago there holistic care by promoting the benefits of holism. “It’s not just your was a disconnect, a thought that our mouth and teeth had no bearing teeth anymore,” as he says, “It never was,” but now they have the on the health of the rest of our body. Now more and more research ability to not just treat overall disease but truly prevent and promote has been showing that there is a strong connection between dental whole body wellness. disease and systemic health. Dr. Gashinsky, Holistic Dentist, has always known that. A holistic approach to health is multifaceted, so he Other than being a dentist for 40 years, Dr. Vladimir Gashinsky, is a certified nutritional consultant, Accredited by the International Academy has built a network of healthcare practitioners to assist his patients in of Oral Medicine and Toxicology, SMART certified and a Naturopathic obtaining their desired level of optimal wellness. doctor “My passion for learning is never complete, I will continue to Working hand in hand with Naturopaths, Functional Medicine research and learn the latest in alternative treatments and team up practitioners and many others in the field of holistic medicine has with the best in the fields of holistic and alternative medicine to bring expanded Dr. Gashinsky’s ability to help more people. “I find it to be my patients the best treatments available, this I can assure you.” incredibly fulfilling to work synergistically with these practitioners to be able to improve patients’ health so dramatically. Some are coming Holistic Dental Center is located at 91 Millburn Avenue, Millburn, to me so very sick and by working together we’re seeing drastic New Jersey. For more information, call (973) 457-4688 or visit improvements in their quality of life,” says Dr. Gashinsky. HolisticDentalCenterNJ.com. Dr. Gashinsky feels strongly in the need to practice in such a manner as to take patients whole health into consideration. So much so, that he traveled to Switzerland this past spring to visit the Paracelsus Clinic and Swiss BioHealth Clinic; two healthcare models that promote the oral-body connection, to study their holistic approach to patient care. Dr. Gashinsky says, “To truly practice holism; the thought that everything is understood in relation to the whole and not just its parts, it’s important to remember that when treating a person it’s not just what one practitioner does, but how they can work together to improve the final outcome.” “Finding and working with like minded practitioners to help my patients has not only been professionally satisfying, but also on a personal level knowing that my patients are being well taken care of,” say Dr. Gashinksy. “Finding and addressing the root cause of disease in all our disciplines is the key to success in our patients’ health. What __________________________________________ A D V E R T O R I A L __________________________________________

Natural Awakenings Central New Jersey / June 2020

Articles inside

mushroom medicine

Is Stress Harming Your Relationships?

DAVID HAMILTON

SOOTHING SEPARATION

TRANSFORMATIVE

HOMEBODY WORKOUTS

EVERYDAY ADVENTURES

FAMILY STORIES

FATHERS KNOW BEST

FEEDING HAPPINESS