HEALTHY LIVING HEALTHY PLANET feel good live simply laugh more
FREE Dr. Christiane Northrup
EXPERIENCE THE BENEFITS OF
PLEASURE A Woman’s Guide to Financial Health Steps to Fiscal
10 SUCCESS SPRING SNEEZING BEGONE Seasonal Allergy Help
Plug into Life and
RECLAIM VITALITY!
Indianapolis Crossroads of America
May 2010
Indianapolis/Crossroads of America Edition
coverartist
Special Edition
Mother Earth Jenness Cortez
Renewal and purpose are repeating themes in the contemporary works of Jenness Cortez, symbolically portrayed in luminous layers. Internationally recognized and collected as a master realist painter, Cortez is revered for her remarkably intimate landscapes. Her vision comprehends all nature as a manifestation of the divine. Inspired by the light, color and form of the great masters, Cortez’s dynamic and rich compositions invite the viewer’s eye to move eagerly through her paintings again and again, savoring every nuance. Cortez says she hopes her work inspires the beholder to rediscover, revalue and reintegrate their own creative force into the hurried regimen of modern life. “I want to lead people to something good and eternal,” she says. The Indiana-born artist began her studies under the guidance of noted Dutch painter, Antonius Raemaekers. She further developed her fine arts background as a graduate of the Herron School of Art, in Indianapolis, and a student of Arnold Blanche, at the Art Students League of New York. View the artist’s portfolio at JennessCortez.com. Cortez is also co-founder of the nonprofit American Meditation Institute for Yoga Science & Philosophy (AmericanMeditation.org).
MEN’S HEALTH Get healthy. Stay healthy. Find out how in Natural Awakenings’ June edition.
For more information about advertising and how you can participate, call
317-862-6332
contents 8
5 newsbriefs
8 globalbriefs
10 healthbriefs
10
14 fitbody 19 wisewords
25
20 consciouseating
23 healthykids
Natural Awakenings is your guide to a healthier, more balanced life. In each issue readers find cutting-edge information on natural health, nutrition, fitness, personal growth, green living, creative expression and the products and services that support a healthy lifestyle.
11 SUSTAINING SPINAL
HEALTH WITH YOGA by Lee Walker
14 CURE FOR HIGH
HEEL HANGOVER by Katy Bowman
14
FINANCIAL HEALTH It Starts with Trusting Your
19
16 A WOMAN’S GUIDE TO
Intuition
25 healingways
advertising & submissions how to advertise To advertise with Natural Awakenings or request a media kit, please contact us at 317-862-6332 or email Publisher@NACrossroads.com. Deadline for ads: the 12th of the month. Editorial submissions Email articles, news items and ideas to: Publisher@NACrossroads.com. Deadline for editorial: the 5th of the month.
by Lisa Marshall
19 FINDING MORE PLEASURE IN LIFE A Conversation with Dr. Christiane Northrup
by Ellen Mahoney
20 HEIRLOOM TOMATOES 20 Good Picking in the Garden by Chantal Clabrough
21 THE RIPE STUFF
calendar submissions Email Calendar Events to: Calendar@NACrossroads.com. Please see guidelines on our website prior to submission Deadline for calendar: the 12th of the month.
Easy Recipes Starring Tomatoes
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DEFENSES AGAINST SEASONAL ALLERGIES 23 Tips to Help Children
NaturalAwakeningsMag.com NaCrossroads.com
23 COMMON SENSE Breathe Easier by Bevin Wallace
www.NACrossroads.com
May 2010
letterfrompublisher While I prepared this premiere edition of Natural Awakenings of Indianapolis, focused on Women’s Wellness, I found myself thinking about Mother’s Day. It was on Mother’s Day 14 years ago that I became the first in my family to graduate from college. To this day, Mom still teases me about my enthusiasm for finishing classes so that I could “just get on with my life,” to which she replied “this is your life!” The wisdom of my mother’s sayings has become clearer to me as I learn more about how to live a joyful, sustainable life. One of her favorites is: Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without. We still laugh over how she struggled with the temptation to salvage edible bits from the shattered remains of a giant glass jar of peanut butter that had crashed to the floor and had been intended to feed her five kids for a week. She daily practiced moderation, re-use and recycling in our home. She also encouraged her children to save their pennies for a rainy day, because when you have money in the bank, you have choices—a value I continue to cherish and teach to the little ones and other loved ones in my life. As “A Woman’s Guide to Financial Health” on page 16 attests, it all starts with trusting our intuition, while aligning our saving and spending habits with our personal values. In “Reclaiming Vitality,” in this month’s Healing Ways department, Catherine Guthrie explains how each of us can reap the benefits of an enhanced life force. We, too, can “stand out from the rest like shiny pennies,” by choosing to enhance our spirituality, connect with one another, cultivate community and live our life’s purpose. As I took a break from my desk to work outside in my garden this month, I was grateful that we all now have more sustainable choices available for everything from spring cleaning to mini-makeovers of our home and garden. This is the first year we’re working with organic and earth-friendly weed control and fertilizer and I can’t wait to dig into the ripe promise of healthful homegrown fruits and vegetables come summer. I bet you’ll want to try some of the 100 delicious varieties of heirloom tomatoes described beginning on page 21, including the local recipes. Enjoy reading this special edition; I am thrilled to introduce you to this newest member of the Natural Awakenings’ family of magazines, now publishing in more than 70 communities from coast to coast. I’m grateful to all of the women who contributed to these pages; may you benefit from their shared wisdom as well as that of the other enlightened women in your experience. And, may you continue to creatively share your own loving gifts, so needed for mothering the world. This is your life. Be inspired. Be joyful. Be magical.
Nancy Caniff, Publisher
Indianapolis/Crossroads of America Edition
newsbriefs First Green Fest Indy Raises Awareness
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ndy’s green businesses and communities came together recently from across central Indiana to work on solutions to make the city a healthier, more sustainable .. place to live. Green Fest Indy Sean, Nancy, Karen Haley, 2010, held March 26-28 Mayor Ballard at Toyota Expo Hall at the Indiana State Fairgrounds, increased awareness about green products, services, ideas, networks, jobs and more. Mayor Ballard made a special appearance to discuss the work of the Sustainability Office and also visited the Natural Awakenings booth. The event included green-related competitions, a series of eco-chic fashion shows, and showcases of grass roots involvement and other community projects. It is scheduled to return next year during the same time period. Green Fest Indy also presented the first Indiana Green Business Awards. Recipients were Sunrise Solar Inc., for Reduced Energy Consumption; Fort Wayne Metals Research Corp., for Reduced Waste; Fortune Management Inc., for Local Sustainable Materials; Nature’s Harvest Organics, for Local Sustainable Food; Green Team Dentistry, for Health & Well-Being; Workforce Inc., for Equity, Fair Trade and Local Economics; Green Way Supply, for Outstanding Community Project of the Year; Brandon Pitcher, owner of 5 Kingdom Developments, for Green Entrepreneur of the Year; Renee Sweany, co-founder of Green Piece Indy and owner of Green Savings Indy and Green Fundraising Indiana, for Enterprising Woman of the Year; SolarAg, for Culture and Heritage; and Imagination Factory, for Education. For more info, call 317-858-4345 or visit GreenFestIndy.com.
New Chiropractic and Wellness Center in Zionsville
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Dr. Lauren Montieth, Sarah Stout, CCN
ptimal Wellness Center has opened a new, state-of-the-art facility at 4545 Northwestern Drive, Suite A, near 106th Street and Michigan Road, in Zionsville. The new facility features an open adjusting area, private rooms, a Nemo-themed table for children, and all the tools needed to provide physical,
biochemical and psychological balance. Dr. Lauren Montieth and staff serve the community with comprehensive chiropractic exams, cold laser therapy, spinal decompression, kinesiotaping, a detoxifying foot spa, custom orthotics, massage, health and wellness testing and many other services. Meditation classes, from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. every Sunday, offer opportunities to connect with wellness advisors. Certified Clinical Nutritionist and Raw Foods Chef Sarah Stout is now offering a cooking class series on the second Wednesday of every month. Sarah believes that whole foods have strong healing powers that can cure ailments and help individuals reach optimal levels of health. Her classes, which feature gluten- and dairy-free living, juicing and smoothies, summer salads and soups, are ideal for all cooking levels. For more info, call 317-870-7220, or visit WeCreateWellness. com. See ad on page 11.
Seventh Annual Mutt Strut at Indianapolis Motor Speedway
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egistration has begun for the seventh annual Mutt Strut, a charity event featuring people walking with or without their dogs around the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. This year’s edition, the biggest fundraiser for the Humane Society of Indianapolis (HSI), presented by Harrison College School of Veterinary Technology for the second year in a row, begins at 11:15 a.m. on April 25. Mutt Strut is one of the largest dog walks in the world and a rare opportunity for people and pets to set feet and paws on the world-famous, 2.5-mile oval course. More than 8,000 people and 6,000 dogs attended Mutt Strut 2009 and raised $365,000 to directly support HIS programs and animals. More than 10,000 people are expected to attend this year. Co-Grand Marshals Pam Boas, NASCAR driver Tony Stewart’s mother, and Tony Hoard, with his Australian Shepherd, Rockin’ Rory, a disc-dog champion and semifinalist on America’s Got Talent, will wave the green flag to start the proceedings at the Yard of Bricks. Participants may check in at the IMS Plaza any time from 11 a.m. to 2:15 p.m. A variety of vendors in the plaza will offer free pet treats and other items, and a new entrance to the Speedway will improve traffic flow. Pre-register at IndyMuttStrut.org or at any Central Indiana Pet Supplies “Plus” location for minimum donations of $25, ages 16 and over, and $15, ages 8-15. Day-of, on-site registration: $35 and $20. Children 7 and under and dogs are admitted free. HSI location: 7929 Michigan Road, Indianapolis. For more info, call 317-872-5650 x102 or visit IndyMuttStrut.org (separate donations are accepted). www.NACrossroads.com
May 2010
Earth Day Indiana in White River State Park
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he annual Earth Day Indiana Festival will be held at White River State Park, in downtown Indianapolis. Some 130 environmental and conservation exhibits, live music from some of the state’s best new bands, special kids’ activities and healthy food will be offered from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on April 24. With the river behind them, bands will play from a soundstage in the park’s natural amphitheater. Walkways along the central canal provide visitors scenic access to and from the site. An estimated 30,000 people attended the 2009 Earth Day Indiana Festival. Plans are in place to host the event at the site for at least the next four years. Location: 801 W. Washington St. For more info, visit EarthDayIndiana.org.
Green Market Celebrates Seventh Anniversary Season
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he Green Market at Trader’s Point Creamery, in Northwest Indianapolis, will begin its seventh summer season on April 30. Indiana’s oldest continuously running year-round farmers’ market—one of the few strictly enforced, producer-only emporiums—offers customers the convenience and reliability of both a summer and winter season. While many farmers’ markets allow the resale of produce and other food products from third-party producers, all vendors at the Green Market must grow or produce what they sell. Customers can speak directly to the farmer or food artisan about his or her agricultural and food production practices. The Green Market has further differentiated itself through its mission of becoming the state’s first completely organic market. All produce and nearly all meat and dairy vendors are using totally organic practices in their agricultural production, and two have successfully gained USDA Organic certification. The staff is working with the remaining vendors to reach this goal. Location: 9101 Moore Road. Summer market hours: every Friday, 4 to 8 p.m., rain or shine. The Market moves into the Red Barn in the event of inclement weather. The summer season runs through October 29. For more info, call 317-733-1700 or visit TradersPointCreamery.com. See ad on page 10.
Indianapolis/Crossroads of America Edition
Farm Fresh Delivery Offers Online Service
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arm Fresh Delivery (FFD) offers Indianapolis and surrounding areas the ultimate convenience in obtaining healthy food. As an online home-delivery service, it brings organic produce and natural groceries right to customers’ doors year-round. The food goes directly from the grower or producer to the business’ Indianapolis-based warehouse within days, and then is delivered to the consumer, who can eliminate grocery shopping altogether. The experience is just like attending a local farmers’ market, offering the freshest local milk, eggs, beef, chicken, breads, cheeses and much more, along with the best of Indiana’s produce available each growing season. For those on budgets and wanting to spend smarter, FFD offers many options. Consumers can eliminate processed unhealthy foods and put their money towards more nutritious, high-quality, organic food grown and produced by their neighbors. FFD’s commitment is to the local living economy, keeping money where its providers and consumers are based and giving back within the Indiana community. FFD supports local farmers and artisans while recreating a sense of community that was once a way of life, and returning to the basics. For more information, go to FarmFreshDelivery.com. See ad on page 11.
Improve Foot Health via Online Service
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roperly fitting shoes and custom orthotics are keys to easing foot pain and discomfort and maintaining higher energy levels throughout the day. Helping individuals enjoy these benefits is the goal of Certified Pedorthist Kathy Carandang, who offers products and services through her website, WalkezStore.com. The site features the ezWalker Custom Orthotic Insole, and Carandang believes she is fulfilling a unique vision in serving her customers. “Every shoe should have the ability to carry a custom orthotic,” she advises. “Everyone should know how to properly fit a pair of shoes on their feet.” The user-friendly site offers information about feet, their potential ailments and how to overcome problems through proper fit and support.
Custom orthotics can be created for customers worldwide. Carandang says, “Gone are the days of bulky orthotics that are hard to fit in shoes. The ezWalker Custom Orthotic can fit in any kind of shoe and is about one-third the cost of other orthotics of similar quality.” For more info, visit WalkezStore.com, email Info@WalkezStore.com or call 888-3WALK-EZ. See ad on page 14.
Dalai Lama to Speak in Indianapolis
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he Dalai Lama will speak at 9:30 a.m., May 14, at Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. The program by His Holiness is hosted by the Tibetan Mongolian Buddhist Cultural Center (TMBCC), the Indiana Buddhist Center and the Interfaith Hunger Initiative. The Lama’s appearance is expected to draw an international audience. The collaboration of the host organizations forges a new partnership whose mission of community outreach and growth is universal. The TMBCC, founded by the Dalai Lama’s brother and located south of Bloomington, announced the public talk on its website. The talk will follow two days of Buddhist religious teachings on the Heart Sutra in Bloomington. Tickets are available by visiting Ticketmaster.com, at the Conseco Fieldhouse box office, or by calling 317-917-2727.
You never lose by loving. You always lose by holding back. ~Barbara De Angelis
Keep Indianapolis Beautiful Program Is Underway
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ayor Greg Ballard, along with volunteers from more than 40 neighborhood organizations, picked up litter, cleaned alleys and planted trees to kick off the 34th annual Great Indy Cleanup on April 17. Neighborhoods can schedule a community cleanup any weekend from now through the end of October by visiting kibi.org. The program, conducted by the nonprofit Keep Indianapolis Beautiful, Inc. (KIB) in partnership with the city of Indianapolis and sponsored by South Side Landfill, Covanta Energy, Republic Services and The Kroger Company, aims to relieve streets, walkways and alleys of the eyesores left behind by litter and illegal dumping. The Department of Public Works will assist neighborhoods in cleanup efforts by providing crews with trash trucks and dumpsters. South Side Landfill and Covanta Energy will dispose of the trash collected from the events. Individuals who do not belong to participating neighborhood associations are invited to participate in the citywide cleanup through KIB’s “Every Litter Bit Counts” campaign. The program functions with the belief that gathering together to clean Indy’s neighborhoods helps to foster pride, develop relationships and deter crime, making Indianapolis a healthier, more beautiful place to live. Keep Indianapolis Beautiful (KIB) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and an affiliate of Keep America Beautiful, the nation’s largest community improvement network. It unites people to build and transform community and public spaces through aesthetic and environmental improvement. To learn more, visit kibi.org. www.NACrossroads.com
May 2010
newsbriefs New Wellness Center Opens in Danville
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he Healing Chi Wellness Center offers a new place to learn how to make healthy lifestyle changes that encompass mind, body and spirit. Located on the square at 72 South Jefferson Street, in Danville, the center offers yoga, reflexology, personal training, Reiki, Tai chi easy, nia and zumba, as well as many other classes and workshops. The center also hosts drumming sessions once a month and conducts a five- to six-week Metabolic Typing Diet program that demonstrates how to eat right for one’s body type. For more info, call 317-441-2111, visit TheHealingChi.com or email Amy@ TheHealingChi.com.
Good Works Wellness Offers Blood Cell Analysis
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aturopath Pamela Reilly, CNHP, CNC, CPH, is now offering dried and live blood cell analysis in her Good Works Wellness research practice for the Indianapolis area. In many cases, the microscopic technique can detect nutritional deficiencies, toxins and other potential systemic weaknesses better than other diagnostic methods. Blood cell analysis is often used to spot candida (yeast) living in the bloodstream or to identify other toxins. Providing a sample is simple and easy. Reilly, with more than 20 years experience, uses an integrative, naturopathic approach to wellness that combines services in herbalism, kinesiology, iridology, nutritional consultation, Bach Flower Remedies, aromatherapy and bodywork. For more info or to schedule a consultation, call 317-489-0909 or visit GoodWorksWellness.com or RawVolutionaryHealing.Blogspot.com. Join Reilly on Twitter at Twitter.com/RawHealer. She is offering the dried and live blood cell analysis service at a special price for a limited time to readers of Natural Awakenings. See ad on page 13.
Wilderness Vigil
Americans Benefit from Elders’ Conservation Efforts reat Old Broads for Wilderness, a nonprofit, public lands organization based in Durango, Colorado, leverages the voices and activism of elders to preserve and protect wilderness and wild lands. The group’s forte is raising
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public awareness of the importance of wilderness and alerting the public to inappropriate development and management decisions affecting it. When its members talk with the conviction of life experience, people tend to listen, says Veronica Egan, executive director since 1992. Established in 1989 on the 25th anniversary of the federal Wilderness Act, these old broads are on a mission to preserve public lands, the places they love to hike, for their grandchildren. Broads in 22 local chapters, or Broadbands, in 18 states join with other environmental groups to preserve national forests, grasslands, monuments and parks. Most of the land they monitor is in the American West, with its vast roadless areas. The most common impacts are on archaeological sites and riparian lands that contain irreplaceable biological diversity. The women are vigilant about monitoring, documenting and reporting unauthorized activities. Wally White, a county commissioner of La Plata, Colorado, considers Egan’s work “unsurpassed.” She reminds him of the tradition of Native Americans, who have always relied on elders for guidance and leadership. For more information visit
GreatOldBroads.org.
Indianapolis/Crossroads of America Edition
globalbriefs News and resources to inspire concerned citizens to work together in building a healthier, stronger society that works for all.
Assisted Living
Cleaning for a Reason Helps Cancer Patients for Free The Cleaning for a Reason Foundation is a nonprofit agency that offers free professional housecleaning and maid services to women currently undergoing treatment for any form of cancer. Since 2007, the Texasbased group has been connecting cancer patients in all 50 United States and in Canada with hundreds of bonded and insured services that offer free cleaning to qualified applicants. Women seeking household cleaning help can sign up online, backed by a faxed note from their physician. Participating services can help two patients at a time with four monthly cleanings. Two to three dozen new agency partners are being added each month as word gets out and demand for the service grows. Visit CleaningForAReason.org.
Native Tongues
Newborn Cries Don’t All Sound Alike From their very first days, the cries of newborns already bear the mark of the primary language their parents speak, according to research from the University of Würzburg, Germany, published in Current Biology. For example, French newborns tend to cry with rising melody patterns, slowly increasing in pitch, whereas German newborns seem to prefer falling melody patterns. The findings, which studied 60 newborns, are consistent with the differences between the two languages.
Shopping Tip
Decline Unnecessary Receipts Shoppers need to be wary of receipts that come on thermal imaging paper, the kind of coated paper that faxes used to arrive on and some cash registers still routinely spit out. Many of these types of receipts are laced with bisphenol A (BPA), the estrogen-mimicking chemical present in many hard plastic bottles and metal-based food and beverage cans since the 1960s. The amount the receipts carry isn’t trivial. “When people talk about polycarbonate bottles, they talk about nanogram quantities of BPA [leaching out],” says John C. Warner, co-founder of the Warner Babcock Institute for Green Industry. “The average cash register receipt that uses the BPA technology will have 60 to 100 milligrams of free BPA.” (This means it’s not bound into a polymer, as in polycarbonates, he explains, but is just loose molecules ready for uptake.) In Warner’s opinion, when it comes to BPA in the urban environment, “the biggest exposure will be these cash register receipts.” Once on the fingers, BPA can be transferred to foods. A 2010 Food and Drug Administration update supports U.S. industry’s actions to stop producing BPA-containing baby bottles and feeding cups and to find alternatives for infant formula cans. The best bet for now is to minimize acceptance of such receipts, keep them out of kids’ hands and wash hands after touching one. Store them in a separate, zipped plastic bag away from the kitchen and not in a wallet. According to Grist.org, such receipts are non-recyclable; check with the local municipality for exceptions. www.NACrossroads.com
May 2010
healthbriefs
Acupuncture Relieves Depression During Pregnancy
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new study presented at this year’s Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine’s annual meeting showed that acupuncture can be a safe and effective treatment for depression during pregnancy. This is especially good news because expectant women are naturally reluctant to avoid medications and understand that the use of antidepressants during gestation poses risks for the developing fetus. About 10 percent of pregnant women meet criteria for major depression and almost 20 percent report increased symptoms of depression during pregnancy. The eight-week study involved 150 participants, in which half received depressionspecific acupuncture treatments.
Cruciferous Veggies Help With Cystic Fibrosis
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cientists at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine and Health System discovered that a dietary antioxidant found in vegetables like broccoli and cauliflower helps protect cells from damage caused by chemicals generated during the body’s inflammatory response to infection and injury. The finding has implications for inflammation-based disorders including cystic fibrosis, diabetes, heart disease and neurodegeneration.
Yoga May Decrease Dowager’s Hump
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ew research suggests that, for those prone to contracting it, dowager’s hump (hyperkyphosis) “is not a fait accompli,” advises Dr. Gail Greendale, a physician who specializes in women’s health with an interest in alternative and complementary therapies. Results of a pilot study she led at the University of California, Los Angeles, showed that elderly participants who practiced yoga for six months saw their upper spine curvature lowered by about 5 percent, compared to those who did not. Those with greater spinal flexibility at the start showed a 6 percent improvement. More than 100 otherwise healthy individuals with indicators of moderate hyperkyphosis participated. The study group was 81 percent female, with an average age of 75 years. During the six-month study period, the yoga group also showed significant relief from upper back pain, were less likely to report early wakening or insomnia and needed less time to stand up from a chair. Many members of the control group experienced increases in the curvature of their spines during the same period. Source: Journal of the American Geriatrics Society
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Indianapolis/Crossroads of America Edition
Sustaining Spinal Health with Yoga by Lee Walker
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eight-bearing exercise and movement are two key elements that can make a difference in the life of an individual diagnosed with kyphosis, also known as dowager’s hump. Simple yoga movements, which can bring softness and agility to joints, can also help build strength and maintain balance. To sustain the health of the spine, Janie Gunn, owner of the Source Yoga Center, suggests practicing poses that encourage the back muscles to lift and lengthen. “Overall, yoga teaches good posture from the ground up,” says Gunn, who urges beginners and individuals with kyphosis to start with “baby” backbends and more gentle poses such as Mountain, Cobra and Bridge. “Mountain pose is a beneficial standing pose because it is weight-bearing on large leg and hip bones and promotes flexibility, as well as good posture,” she advises. Gunn has practiced yoga for 15 years, with 10 as a teacher. She enthuses, “Yoga is more than just an exercise; it can create optimal health on the physical, emotional and spiritual levels.”
Mountain Pose Stand with your feet parallel, about six to eight inches apart. Distribute your weight evenly on the feet and plant them firmly on the ground. Hug your muscles to your bones and draw your low belly in and up to connect to your core. Lengthen your spine all the way through the crown of your head. “For anyone with kyphosis, this exercise is even more beneficial when it is done pressing the body against a wall,” states Gunn.
Cobra Pose Lie face down, with feet together and
toes pointing behind. Place your hands flat on the floor beside your rib cage. While inhaling, gently press your hands to the floor, draw your energy up, and then lift your shoulders, heart and head up off the mat to encourage a gentle back bend. “This pose creates strength in the lower back,” notes Gunn.
Bridge Pose Lie on your back, with knees bent and ankles under the knees. Lift the shoulders up and press the back of the head against the mat. Inhale and press through the feet to lift hips and lower back off the ground. “The Bridge builds back strength,” explains Gunn, “and it helps to keep the shoulders from rounding.” An Anusara-inspired teacher, Gunn recommends that all postures be practiced with an awareness of the breath as well as visualizing it moving up and down the spine. “Envision your breath as a light traveling through the spine; inhale and see it moving down; exhale and see it moving up,” explains Gunn, who opened Source Yoga Center six years ago. To avoid injury, always listen to your body when practicing a yoga pose, and do not push yourself beyond your limits. When in doubt, consult a doctor.
Never eat more than you can lift. ~Miss Piggy
Source Yoga Center, 8609 E. 116th St., Fishers, 46038. Call 317-915-9642 or email info@sourceyoga.net. Visit SourceYoga.net. See ad on page 7. www.NACrossroads.com
May 2010
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communityspotlight
Optimal Wellness Center
Dr. Lauren Montieth bloomed where she was planted. by Linda Sechrist
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and helping out at her parents’ organic n Russell Conwell’s [1843-1925] grocery and health food store, the well-known inspirational tale, Acres Georgetown Market. After receiving her of Diamonds, a man obsessed with degrees, Montieth returned to Zionsfinding diamonds sells his barren farm ville to open a in order to seek his fortune else“I’d grown up in a wellness- chiropractic office inside her parents’ where. When the new owner plows oriented atmosphere and store. “I’d grown up an abundance felt it was the perfect oppor- up in a wellnessoriented atmoof rough diatunity to have our family and sphere and felt it monds, he recognizes that he purall aspects of prevention- was the perfect opportunity to chased a potential oriented health under one have our family diamond mine. and all aspects of Lauren Montieth, roof.” ~ Lauren Montieth prevention-oriDC, founder of ented health under the Optimal Wellness Center, will never one roof,” says Montieth. succumb to the fate of that first farmer, The fertile ground of youth alwho felt he needed to look beyond his lowed seeds from her family’s holistic community for opportunity. Montieth lifestyle to take root, grow and flourish recognized early on that she already into Montieth’s practice, which focuses had everything she needed to be sucon family wellness and pediatric care. cessful in her hometown of Zionsville. “We didn’t eat anything artificial, and “Bloom where you are planted,” my parents believed that health and is a phrase deeply understood by this healing came from the inside, rather Purdue University and Logan College than from pills and surgery,” she notes. of Chiropractic graduate, who grew Her trust in the benefits of energy and up bagging groceries, stocking shelves bodywork therapies is the fruit of her 12
Indianapolis/Crossroads of America Edition
mother’s Reiki and bodywork practice. An educated background in nutrition and supplements is the result of Montieth’s knowledge about the herbs and vitamins she ordered for the family store. Montieth’s new location for the Optimal Wellness Center has come from not only success in growing her business, but also her ability to dream big and visualize possibilities. “While I was in college and envisioning my future, I dreamed of a large office building that could accommodate classes on meditation; yoga for adults and children; nutrition, cooking and lifestyle lectures; and massage and far infrared sauna therapy,” she recalls. “For now, although we will only be using 3,700 square feet of a 10,000square-foot building, we are talking to the owner about an additional 2,000 square feet.” Montieth’s dream, now a reality, includes some extras she didn’t originally envision. The new center offers corporate wellness programs; a nutrition center; childcare classes on a variety of health issues, such as nutrition and vaccinations; healthy cooking classes; a monthly movie night that shows films like The Secret and What the Bleep Do We Know? and a Ladies Night. Excited to offer women an evening of pampering services that include massage, reflexology, footbaths, skincare, manicures and pedicures, Montieth says, “We will educate the women at the same time we are pampering them, because we want everyone to understand the importance of self-empowerment in preventive health care. It’s the wave of the future, and I don’t need to imagine it coming. It’s already here, and we are ready for it with a full menu of services.” Optimal Wellness Center, 4545 Northwestern Dr., Ste. A, Zionsville 46077. Call 317870-7220 or visit WeCreateWellness. com. See ad on page 11. www.NACrossroads.com
May 2010
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fitbody
American Journal of Epidemiology, the situation can even increase the risk of knee osteoarthritis.
Taking a Healthy Stride Forward
CURE FOR
HIGH HEEL
HANGOVER by Katy Bowman
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ould we keep wearing a hat that gave us a headache or a belt that fractured our ribs? The answer is, probably not. Yet, most of us wear shoes that have multiple negative impacts on the health of our entire body. Studies in leading scientific journals show that these reverberating effects start with painful and deformed feet and can migrate up to impaired bone density and a weakened pelvic floor. According to The Journal of Gerontology, for example, a study examin-
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ing senior populations showed that a history of wearing ill-fitting and highheeled footwear was specifically associated with poor balance, hammer toes, bunions and foot pain. Once thought to be genetic or age-related, researchers are now beginning to look at the impact that shoes have on the body.
Identifying the Culprits The most detrimental part of the shoe to overall body structure seems to be heel height, which both increases tension in the plantar fascia (the thick connective tissue that supports the arch of the foot) and alters the position of the knees and lower back. The higher the heel, the tighter the muscles and fascia in the arch become, until walking feels painful. A heel of any height also projects one’s body mass forward, increasing the pressure on the front of the foot, which can lead to soreness there and increase the risk for bunions. Other harmful footwear characteristics also need to be evaluated. The narrow toe spaces of many fashion favorites not only limit the foot’s natural range of motion, they diminish the strength of the toes. Weakened foot and toe muscles, resulting from years of cramping toes into a too-small space, provide insufficient strength for proper balancing and, according to the
Indianapolis/Crossroads of America Edition
A lifetime of excessive shoe wearing and poor shoe choices means we need to make foot fitness a priority. It is possible to undo much footwear damage if we modify our habits. Try making the most of these foot exercises and shoe selection tips:
Foot Stretch Stand with your hands on a wall or a chair. Put one leg back behind the torso and tuck these toes under, in order to stretch the muscles in the toes and feet. Cramping is normal, so take a break when needed, and then return to the stretch. Work up to holding the tucked position for a minute, repeating on each foot two to three times daily.
Toe Spreading Everyone’s toes should be able to spread apart from each other, just as we can spread our fingers. Practice toe spreading every day to increase strength and flexibility in the feet, as well as circulation and nerve health. For faster results, slip toe spacers between the toes (available at local nail salons and drug stores) or wear toe alignment socks (e.g., MyHappyFeetColors.com) while watching TV or sleeping.
Shoe Closet Makeover The second part of our foot makeover occurs at the shoe store when we select a flat or negative-heeled shoe (with the heel lower than the ball of the foot). Also make sure the width of the shoe fits well. A woman should always be able to spread her toes comfortably inside a shoe, paying close attention to the big and pinkie toes. Fortunately, more shoe designers are offering colorful, fun and sexy options these days in sandals, ballet flats and other stylish looks. It’s also important to minimize the use of sandals or flip-flops that require the toes to grip onto the shoe when walking. The toe-gripping habit can lead to hammer toes, a problem that can be easily corrected with new footwear
Kathy Carandang Gives Every Shoe a Perfect Fit
photo by Cecilia Ortiz
K
choices and diligent practice of foot exercises. The same is true for bunions, as long as we also correct our walking patterns. As a final note, remember that while a high-heeled or pointy-toed shoe may make us feel sexy, a limping or stiff gait looks far less attractive than a youthful, powerful stride. Katy Bowman, a biomechanics scientist, holds a master’s degree in kinesiology and is director of the Restorative Exercise Institute in Ventura, CA. She is the creator of the Aligned and Well™ DVD series of gentle corrective exercise prescriptions, including Fix Your Feet (AlignedAndWell.com). Learn more at KatySays.com.
by Leah Tomeli athy Carandang doesn’t have to walk a mile in anyone’s ill-fitting footwear to know that when the feet hurt, the body hurts all over. The owner of WalkezStore.com, Carandang sells a wonder product that offers every woman the opportunity to adorn her feet with hot-looking shoes without suffering their all-too-common side effects: bunions, Morton’s neuroma, hammer toes and plantar fasciitis, among other ills. “With bio-mechanical custom orthotics designed for dress shoes, no woman has to suffer a high-heel hangover again,” says Carandang. According to this certified pedorthist, today’s spiked high heels average three to four inches. “Without stability, a woman’s ankles teeter back and forth, and the metatarsal area carries all the weight,” notes Carandang, whose two daughters, age 18 and 21, love wearing “Barbie Doll” shoes that their mom customizes to fit their feet. “Now the shoes that fit their eyes really fit their feet, too,” she jokes. Rather than “selling” individually designed orthotics that fit inside shoes, Carandang counts on educating customers about proper fit and the benefits of wearing custom supports to close a sale. “When women or men understand that bio-mechanically designed custom orthotics give the body better posture and balance, reducing the stress and strain on joints and resulting in less fatigue, they want them,” she advises. A longtime, enthusiastic advocate for orthotics, Carandang “While neither one of your began wearing them at age 22, shoes is made for either while working as a hair stylist. “After standing for hours, my feet one of your feet, your biowere screaming for relief, and mechanically designed I was exhausted,” she recalls. Her first pair of custom orthotics orthotics are. And when resolved the pain and the fatigue. your feet feel good, you feel Today, dressing feet instead of hair, Carandang derives great joy good.” ~ Kathy Carandang from her “pharmacy for footwear” and delights in being a pioneer within her industry who turns ordinary shoes into extraordinary shoes. “Shoes are made in mirror-matched images, but our feet are not,” quips Carandang. “While neither one of your shoes is made for either one of your feet, your bio-mechanically designed orthotics are. And when your feet feel good, you feel good.” Contact Kathy Carandang, C-Ped, at 888-392-5539 or Kathy@walkezStore.com. Visit WalkezStore.com.
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A WOMAN’S GUIDE TO
FINANCIAL
HEALTH It Starts with Trusting Your Intuition by Lisa Marshall
O
ne midnight, serving behind the counter of a Dunkin’ Donuts, Jen Smith could see the future—and it terrified her. She was working the graveyard shift at a job she hated, living in a cramped apartment and knew nothing about entrepreneurship or investment strategies. When a homeless woman clad in rags wandered in for a warm cup of coffee, Smith shivered. “The only thing standing between her and me was one paycheck and that counter,” recalls Smith, 45, of Fort Collins, Colorado. “I realized that I was in a vulnerable spot, with no backup plan.” Fast forward two decades to today; Smith now boasts a $2 million net worth and the financial independence to work only when she wants to. When you ask for her secret, she makes little mention of how to create a winning stock portfolio. Instead, she says, her decisions about how to earn and how to spend have come from a deeper, more esoteric source. Says Smith: “I asked myself: ‘What is it that I love to do?’” Then she went to work investing in herself and a succession of six small businesses, starting with $1,500 per bootstrap operation. Initially, she earned her way working with animals while investing her dollars with an eye toward environmental stewardship. In 2007, she founded a personal finance blog, MillionaireMommyNextDoor.com. Along the way, she discovered that, “Mindfully identifying what truly makes you tick, and then aligning your deci16
sions with your own personal values, is key to financial well-being.” Smith is among a growing number of women looking beyond the traditional world of personal finance to summon emotions, spirituality, intuition and personal values in the pursuit of economic abundance. Many books, blogs and magazines, too, have begun to explore the unlikely intersection of right-brain, inner voice consciousness and personal finance. “Our culture has always been very much focused on facts and research, but people are starting to realize we can’t just continue to rely solely on what we have relied on before, because it doesn’t work,” remarks Lynn Robinson, a Massachusetts-based “business intuitive” who advises executives on how to use their intuition to make better business decisions. “We are all looking for a deeper knowledge base, and that means looking within.”
Setting the Stage The shift comes at a time when, according to national statistics, women are facing unprecedented financial responsibility. According to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, January 2010 marked the first time in U. S. history that women comprised more than half (50.3 percent) of the workforce. Fiftyseven percent of all current college students are women, according to the American Council on Education. Thirtyeight percent of all working wives earn
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as much or more than their husbands, as of the 2009 Shriver Report. Nearly 16 percent of wives are the sole family breadwinners. Meanwhile, women continue to do the bulk of the housework (97 minutes per day for married women, versus 29 minutes per day for married men, according to a 2009 study by Vanderbilt University). Despite these employment trends, women still make roughly 80 percent of what men do for the same work. Complicating the situation, when it comes to making financial decisions, many females still tend to be fearful, naïve and disempowered, according to financial health guru Suze Orman. “Women have been thrust into an entirely new relationship with money that is profoundly different than anything we have ever encountered before… Yet when it comes to navigating the financial ramifications of this new world, they are using old maps that don’t get them where they want to go,” writes Orman, in Women and Money: Owning the Power to Control Your Destiny. Orman notes that only 12 percent of women feel confident about retirement and many continue to either leave their financial decisions in the hands of a male or ignore them altogether. This may be due to feeling embarrassed about their lack of knowledge, or a sheer lack of time. New female graduates are facing a brutal job market; many laid-off women find themselves in a mid-career job search and widows and divorceés are
TEN STEPS TO FINANCIAL SUCCESS Set a goal: Ask yourself what financial independence means to you and determine your “enough” point. If you’ve already reached it and continue to work long hours to buy more stuff, it may be time to re-evaluate your priorities. Keep good records: Balance your checkbook every month and use that account only for ready cash and bills (the rest goes into savings). Create a bill file and pay them on time. Knowing how much money is coming in and out is critical to relieving anxiety and will save on fees and fines. Save: Every woman needs a safety net in the form of her own savings account. Remember that on average, half of all marriages end in divorce, women tend to outlive their husbands and other relationships often end. Ultimately, you should have living expenses for six to eight months saved. Put something in the account each month, even if it means making a lower payment on a household credit card. Get out of debt: Pay off the highest interest rate credit card first; once it’s at a zero balance, shift all that money to another one. To avoid racking up debt again, envision what you would do if you didn’t have that monthly payment and put a picture depicting it on your refrigerator or stick a Post-it note describing it on your credit card as a reminder. Spend thoughtfully: Consider money spent as “life energy.” Every time you spend, ask yourself: Is it worth the life energy (or time spent working) it will take to earn this amount back? Open a retirement account early: As with savings, many women tend to leave the couple’s retirement account up to their husband, but you need
your own. Start today by socking away a reasonable portion of your income each month. Depending on the investments you choose and what the market does in coming decades, that could amount to a nice nest egg by retirement age. Invest wisely: Be prudent, but not too prudent. If you’re young, invest the bulk of your retirement in stocks, which tend to outperform bonds. If you are closer to retirement, shift to stable-value funds. Consider joining or starting an investment club. These meet regularly, pool $25 to $100 per member per month, discuss investment strategies and collectively choose stocks to invest in as a group. Of the 8,600 clubs in the United States, about one-quarter are womenonly, according to the nonprofit Better Investing. Learn more at BetterInvesting. org or ChicksLayingNestEggs.com.
shop leader Rosemary Williams. Your employees work harder. Your banker might waive a fee or make a courtesy call to let you know an overdraft is pending. More importantly, it forces you to take stock of what you do have right now—and appreciate it. Trust your instincts: If it doesn’t feel right, whether it’s an investment or a new business partnership, don’t do it. If it does feel right, do your homework first before making a decision. Sources: Your Money or Your Life, by Vicki Robin, Women and Money, by Suze Orman, and Rosemary Williams, author of The Women’s Book of Money & Spiritual Vision
Think in thirds: Think of your money in three segments: “past, present and future.” Spend some of it paying for the past (getting out of debt), use some to treat yourself in the present (to keep yourself from feeling deprived) and invest some for the future. Show gratitude: It is interesting what begins to happen when you start to say “Thank-you,” to people, observes financial advisor and work-
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facing retirement with a smaller-thanexpected nest egg. All these women want to know, “How can I confidently embrace my new role in the evolving economy in a way that leads to financial independence?”
First Steps to Solvency Understand the Underlying Emotions
Few heard in high school economics class that our relationship with money is intricately intertwined with emotion, comments Julie Murphy Casserly, a Chicago-based certified financial planner. Some of us are spenders, whipping out the credit card at the mall to ease some inner pain. Some are givers, picking up the tab at group events in an effort to feed a need to be liked. Others—perhaps those who grew up in poverty—are hoarders, holding on so tightly to their money that they cease to enjoy it or make it grow via sound investments. Recognizing which type we are, and when our emotions are sabotaging good financial decisions, is an important first step to attracting wealth. A tip for spenders and givers, who both tend to end up carrying debt, is to cut up credit cards and start using cash. “There is no emotional connection with sliding a debit or credit card, but when you physically hand over $200 in cash, you feel that,” says Casserly.
Create a Life Map
With her Dunkin’ Donuts job behind her and a blank slate ahead, Smith took a serious self-inventory. When she concluded that she wanted to work with animals, she called a kennel and agreed to groom dogs a few hours each day in exchange for an education in dog training. Within a few years, she owned a lucrative dog training and boarding business. “Our lives are the stories we narrate for ourselves,” she says. “If we don’t like the story our life has become, we can tell our self a better one… and act on it.” Smith recommends making a “Treasure Map to a Rich Life” out of poster board as a visual reminder of what’s important to us (e.g., travel, family, a career in a specific field). When 18
life circumstances derail those aspirations, which often happens, we can take a reminder peek. Say our leading aspiration is getting out of debt. Imagine what the day would look, feel and taste like absent that nagging credit card bill. Would we start saving for a son or daughter to go to college or quit that second job? Write it all down and post the intention in full view. “Surround yourself with all the things you are trying to create,” advises Casserly. “Persistently replace any shame, blame and guilt with dreams and desires.”
Earn with Our Spirit in Mind
As Rosemary Williams, founder of Women’s Perspective (WomensPerspective.org), puts it: “Spirituality and money come together easily when we realize that we cannot live a satisfactory life when we don’t engage our own spirits or when we operate against our soul’s purpose.” No one would argue that we all tend to do our best work when we choose jobs we are passionate about, and that when we invest in things contrary to our beliefs, they are never as satisfying. “Part of what the chaos of the current economy is bringing up for people is the question, ‘What am I here to do and what calling do I have?’” says Robinson, noting that the root of the word enthusiasm is entheos, or “God within,” in Greek. “Try to figure out what it is that enthuses you,” she counsels, “and then ask, ‘How can I make a living at this?’ at least part of the time.”
Trust Gut Wisdom
Whether deciding in which stock to invest or whether to trust a potential business partner, the power of intuition cannot be understated, advises Robinson. Some view a gut instinct as the subconscious synthesis of past knowledge that rises to the surface when our brain needs it. Others see it as a manifestation of a Higher Power. Either way, it’s worth listening to, as a critical adjunct. A good way to start each day is with a 10-minute prayer/meditation, asking that inner voice to provide three ways to help advance our financial health, and staying alert the rest of the
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day to listen for the answer, which can come when we least expect it. “I often find that when a woman asks these questions, it primes the pump, and when she is walking the dog or doing the laundry, she may hear an inner voice speaking,” Robinson says. “Pay attention.”
Spend According to Personal Values
To Washington-based writer Vicki Robin, author of The New York Times best seller, Your Money or Your Life, financial independence is as much about spending less as making more. “It’s not about going out and getting a financial advisor or turning over your savings to the stock market. It’s about living within your means, saving money and getting out of debt,” she observes. “Every financial decision you make is a chance to say ‘What are my values, really, and how does this serve them?’” Robin recommends viewing money as “life energy” and assigning value as such to each purchase we make. Is that high-end haircut and coloring really worth the stress or time away from family for what it costs? What is worth that much to us? Once we start aligning our spending with that inner conversation, we will inevitably spend less, which results in less debt, more savings and ultimately, more freedom, she says. Smith agrees. With the money she made working with animals, she invested first in real estate, and then in stocks. When she acknowledged her four-bedroom, three-bath home didn’t jive with her Earth-conscious values, she downsized. She still drives a 12-year-old car, frequents Craigslist and sticks with a frugal but gratifying “values-based budget.” The payoff for her, her husband and her young daughter has been huge. “We spend very little on housing or transportation, but we buy organic food. We travel when we want to, we homeschool our daughter and we spend as much time as we want together,” she smiles. “Probably the biggest thing this has all bought us is time.” Lisa Marshall is a freelance writer who lives in Lyons, Colorado. Contact her at LisaMarshall08@gmail.com.
wisewords
Finding More Pleasure in Life A Conversation with Dr. Christiane Northrup
C
by Ellen Mahoney
hristiane Northrup, a respected obstetrician/gynecologist and visionary in women’s health and wellness, is renowned for the practical medical and emotional counsel she generously shares in her many bestselling books. Among her best known are Women’s Bodies, Women’s Wisdom and Mother-Daughter Wisdom. Now Northrup is focused on another aspect of women’s health in The Secret Pleasures of Menopause. The idea is to help women of all ages achieve vibrant health by tapping into their inner wisdom in order to experience joy and fulfillment throughout life. Why do you believe the pursuit of pleasure is just as vital for a vibrant life as a healthy diet and exercise? You will not stick to a healthy diet and exercise plan unless you find pleasure in the pursuit of it. You must come to this by yourself and discover that the moment-to-moment way you live your life has to be pleasurable, because there’s not a happy ending to an unhappy journey. For years, I’ve watched people foregoing various foods to look a certain way; I see people who have perfect bodies, but absolutely no joy or life force shining behind their eyes. The joy and pleasure have to come first; then the lifestyle supports this. We consider a narrow waist beau-
tiful because it is generally healthy. Too much belly fat is unhealthy, because it produces an abnormal hormonal milieu and can lead to an earlier death from cancer, heart disease and/or diabetes. You have to exercise your body and eat well on a sustainable basis to look healthy—there’s just no way around it. The more you take care of yourself, the more pleasure you experience. How do we enhance our pleasure in life at any age? One of the biggest keys to enhancing your pleasure is to pay attention to what feels good. This is your vital guiding factor. Simple things, like enjoying a bouquet of flowers, are important. Pleasure begins with awakening the senses. I also recommend that you start to appreciate your skin, as well as the other parts of your body that serve you well. One of my older patients told me, “I’m no longer concerned with how my legs look. What I love is that when I get up in the morning, my knees work.” I hold the position that pleasure and happiness are actually the only things that work for us and are sustainable. What is the relationship of pleasure to the health-enhancing effects of nitric oxide? Nitric oxide is an odorless, colorless gas that’s produced by the lining of every blood vessel in the body. It passes through cell walls instantaneously and can simultaneously boost circulation. It’s also the über neurotransmitter that
signals all body cells to balance out levels of serotonin, dopamine and betaendorphins, which produce feelings of well-being. Nitric oxide is not stored in the body, so exercise, especially aerobics, helps raise its levels in the body at any age. When someone wins an Olympic gold medal, you can be sure he or she is at the height of a nitric oxide burst. Why do you believe that “life has just begun” after menopause? When you are in midlife, you obviously have the same soul as when you were 12. However, if you have negotiated midlife skillfully by getting rid of excess baggage, thinking positively, moving into relationships that support you and making peace with those that haven’t— then you have access to the dictates of your soul. Menopause is a wakeup call. We’re waking up to who we are and to what we love. You find that you don’t care what other people think nearly as much as you used to, and yet you are able to better appreciate others because you appreciate yourself. Now that I’m over 50, everything I’m drawn to and everything my body wants to do brings me more pleasure. This goes against everything we’ve been taught—that we’re designed to disintegrate with age, get osteoporosis and decline into chronic degenerative diseases. As of midlife, I feel like I’ve come home to myself. For example, I’ve been dancing Argentine tango for a year and loving it. I’m also happy to report that my daughters have come home to themselves more quickly than I have. I would like to egg all women on with this concluding thought: A woman’s body is designed for pleasure, and when we invite it into our own lives, we are a gift to the world. For more information, visit DrNorthrup. com. Ellen Mahoney teaches writing at the University of Colorado, Boulder. Email evm@Infionline.net. www.NACrossroads.com
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consciouseating
HEIRL M T MAT ES GOOD PICKING IN THE GARDEN by Chantal Clabrough
W
e marvel at the more than 100 varieties of enticing heirloom tomatoes and feast our eyes and palates on nature’s delicious harvest, reveling in their names: Black Brandywine, Goliath, Sun Gold, Black Plum, Marianna’s Peace, German Giant, Banana Legs, Big Rainbow, Aunt Gertie’s Gold, Box Car Willie, Daydream, Louisiana Pink and Missouri Pink Love Apple. Such signatures tell tales of their origins and of those who delighted in growing them. Their seeds have been handed down through generations of tomato growers whose love for these varieties has been shared with their neighbors and communities. To be certified as heirloom, a tomato must be grown from seed that has produced the same variety for at least 50 years; plus, it must be certified organic by a recognized U.S. Department of Agriculture organization. An heirloom cannot be a hybrid—a product of cross-pollination used for store-bought varieties to toughen them against susceptibility to parasites and lengthen their shelf life. Rather, they must be grown outdoors and naturally pollinated. The popularity of old-fashioned tomatoes has blossomed in recent years, not only due to their refreshing flavors, textures and crazy colors, but also because of their organic origins. Although heirloom tomatoes may blemish and spoil more quickly than factory-produced hybrids, they are worth the effort. Every bite of the delicious fruit speaks for itself. As a rule of thumb, the redder the tomato, the sweeter it is. Darker varieties, such as the purple and black, generally offer a nice mixture of sweet and tart; the green and white tend to be more bitter. All are prized for their plentiful disease-fighting antioxidants and vitamins. Further, they present a healthful rainbow of colors and tastes that integrate well in a wide array of dishes. 20
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Preparation Tips Here are some easy ways to prepare some of the most popular varieties of heirloom tomatoes: Cherokee Purple: This sweet heirloom tomato, reportedly enjoyed by the Cherokee people, has a rich, smoky taste. For an impromptu Mexican pico de gallo party salsa, chop up a couple of Cherokee Purples with half a chopped jalapeño pepper, a couple of spoons of chopped onion, fresh coriander, a squeeze of lemon juice and a bit of natural salt. Great White: This sweet and juicy yellow tomato exhibits low acidity levels. Slice and serve with a little ground sea salt and fresh pepper. Green Zebra: When ripe, this green tomato has yellow stripes. It’s sweet, yet a bit tart at the same time. When preparing a pasta dish, toss together the sauce and/or vegetables directly in the pan with the cooked pasta, and then add chopped tomatoes just before serving. Nebraska Wedding: This large, orange meaty tomato is sweet enough to be perfect on its own with fresh pepper and drizzled olive oil. Snow White Cherry: Similar in flavor to other good cherry tomatoes, this sweet yellow cherry tomato perfectly complements a tossed salad. continued on page 22
The Ripe Stuff |
Easy Recipes Starring Tomatoes
It doesn’t matter whether we say toh-may-toh or toh-mah-toh—the lush flavor of this summertime favorite appeals to everyone. Low in calorie but loaded with nutrients, including vitamins C, A and B plus potassium and iron, tomatoes are famously rich in lycopene, an antioxidant that has been shown to reduce the risk of cancer, heart disease and macular degeneration. The savory fruit is fiber-filled, as well, equaling the amount in a slice of whole wheat bread. Seek out locally grown, organic heirloom tomatoes for the best flavor. If they need ripening, store them in a pierced paper bag with an apple for several days at room temperature. Never refrigerate tomatoes—cold temperatures ruin their flavor and texture.
Tomato Salad with Black Olive Tapenade and Basil Dressing Serves 8
Ingredients 3 lbs ripe tomatoes, cut 1/2-inch thick 1 lb mozzarella cheese, thinly sliced Tapenade (see recipe) Basil leaves Basil dressing (see recipe) Tapenade 2 cups kalamata olives, pitted 3 cloves garlic, peeled and coarsely chopped 5 anchovy fillets 2 tbsp pine nuts 1/2 cup olive oil Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste Combine olives, garlic, anchovies and pine nuts in a food processor and process until smooth. With the motor running, slowly add the oil until emulsified. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Basil Dressing 1/4 cup red wine vinegar 1 tbsp Dijon mustard 2 tbsp honey 3/4 cup olive oil Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste 12 basil leaves, chiffonade (stack leaves, roll them tightly, then cut across rolled leaves to produce fine ribbons) In a medium bowl, whisk together vinegar, Dijon mustard and honey. Slowly whisk in the oil until emulsified. Season with salt and pepper, to taste, then stir in the basil. To assemble salad: Place one slice of tomato on each individual plate and spread with the tapenade. Next, add a slice of mozzarella and then a few chiffonades of basil. Repeat sequence with another tomato and
then finish with a slice of tomato and a dollop of tapenade. Drizzle with basil dressing and sprinkle with fresh basil.
Indiana Tomato, Basil, Bacon and Blue Cheese Stack Ingredients (per stack) 1 slice Asiago bread, brushed with olive oil and grilled 2 slices red tomato 2 slices yellow tomato 1 tbsp crumbled Danish blue cheese 1 tbsp crumbled bacon (pan fry one slice, reserving fat) A few torn basil leaves Dressing (see recipe) Dressing (enough for 2 to 4 stacks) 1/4 cup finely chopped shallots 2 tbsp sherry vinegar Combination of olive oil (about 2 tablespoons) and bacon fat Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste Brown sugar, to taste Cook shallots in bacon fat and olive oil over moderate heat until softened, about 2 minutes. Carefully add vinegar and brown sugar. Season with salt and pepper and set aside. Reheat to order. To assemble stack: Place grilled bread on plate. Top with red tomato, then bacon, cheese and basil. Then layer a yellow tomato with bacon, cheese and basil. Repeat process. Drizzle with a little of the dressing over the top and around the plate. Recipes are courtesy of Chef Regina Mehallick, owner of R Bistro, 888 Massachusetts Avenue, Indianapolis, and author of the cookbook, Regina’s Seasonal Table. Mehallick only uses fresh ingredients from local farmers. For reservations, call 317-423-0312. Visit RBistro.com.
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Heirloom Tomato
continued from page 20
A final tip: Enjoy heirloom tomatoes within a few days of purchase. They lose their flavors when stored in the refrigerator, so put them in a dry place on the counter, out of direct sunlight. Find more information in Carolyn Male’s 100 Heirloom Tomatoes for the American Garden. Chantal Clabrough is the author of A Pied Noir Cookbook: French Sephardic Cuisine from Algeria and a contributor to Sustainabletable.org
Where to Buy Seeds Gary Ibsen’s Tomato Fest at TomatoFest.com Golden Harvest Organics at GHorganics.com/heirloom_ tomatoes.htm Heirloom Tomatoes at Heirloom Tomatoes.net/Varieties.htm
Advice from Seldom Seen Farm
T
he rule of thumb for heirlooms grown on Seldom Seen Farm is, “The crazier it looks, the better it tastes!” While owners Kelly Funk and John Ferree grow around 15 varieties of heirlooms, their all-time favorites are Eva Purple Ball, Cherokee Purple and Green Zebra. Eva and Cherokee have a beautiful rosy to purple color and slice perfectly for sandwiches. Zebra, with its very high acid content, bursts with delectable flavor. Several years ago, they experimented with a yellow cherry tomato called Broad Ripple Current, a variety that was discovered growing in sidewalk cracks near College Avenue. “In Indiana, mid-May through mid-June is the best time to plant heirloom tomato starts outdoors,” says Ferree. “Start the seeds for your plugs at least four weeks prior to your intended planting date.” Because tomatoes are heavy feeders, the couple says it’s helpful to begin fertilizing with fish emulsion soon after the plants have germinated. In the ground, side-dress the plants (give them an extra boost of fertilizer) often with a well-balanced granular fertilizer; for the best results, do this shortly before a rain, to take advantage of Mother Nature’s help. To harvest, pick the tomatoes just before they are ripe. However, if you skip a day, be sure not to pass up fruit with cracks or some splits. “John and I have found that, while these will not last as long, they taste the best, especially while we are standing in the field,” advises Funk. Located at 2525 N. County Rd., 425 East, in Danville, Seldom Seen Farm is a 50-acre, family-run farm that grows a variety of vegetables, flowers and herbs. The “transitional organic” farm adheres to the list of prohibited, allowed and restricted materials for organic production and does not use synthetic fertilizers, herbicides, insecticides or fungicides. For more information or to inquire about a community supported agriculture (CSA) share, call 317-509-7828 or visit SeldomSeenFarm.com. SeedSaversExchange.org and FedcoSeeds.com are reliable sources for heirloom seeds. See ad page 13.
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healthykids
Common Sense Defenses Against Seasonal Allergies Tips to Help Children Breathe Easier by Bevin Wallace
F
or one in seven U.S. children, spring brings the start of seasonal allergies that can last through the fall. Seasonal allergies such as hay fever and allergic rhinitis occur when an airborne allergen comes into contact with nasal membranes, triggering the release of inflammatory histamines. The result can be sneezing, congestion, itchy eyes, coughing and runny nose. While not life threatening, these symptoms tend to interrupt a youngster’s sleep, weaken concentration and keep him or her from participating fully in play and school. Over-the-counter allergy medications can bring relief, but like other conventional drugs, they are not without drawbacks. “I don’t think decongestants and antihistamines are appropriate for kids, period,” states Randall Neustaedter, a doctor of Oriental medicine and a homeopathic pediatrician. “They tend to make kids tired, and they don’t really address the problem. They’re like putting a Band-Aid on the symptoms. It’s more important to build up immune system function, which these medications do not do.” Long-term use of antihistamines also has been linked to depression, anxiety and impaired thinking. A better approach is to gently and naturally reduce a child’s contact with allergic substances while boosting the immune system. Here’s how.
Steps for Prevention 1. Clean inside air.
Install a high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter, which removes pollen and dust from indoor air, and keep it running in the child’s bedroom 24 hours a day. The portable models work fine in smaller rooms and cost less than $100. On windy days and while the child is sleeping, keep the windows shut. If possible; remove old carpeting and cover air vents with filters; vacuum frequently when children are not in the room; avoid using ceiling fans; and wash all bedding and stuffed animals once a week.
2. Keep the nose clean.
It might take some getting used to, but rinsing the sinuses with a warm saline solution (salt water) is an excellent, age-old, natural remedy that helps reduce contact with pollen and lessens allergy symptoms. Sinus rinse kits are available in stores and online for about $15. A cleansing device of Indian origin called the neti pot is another affordable alternative.
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Acupuncture for Allergy Relief
3. Provide a low-inflammation diet.
Many children who have food sensitivities don’t know it. Foods such as dairy and wheat can promote the formation of mucus and inflammation that create an imbalance in immune system function, advises Neustaedter. Consider limiting these foods before and during allergy season. He also suggests using nutritional supplements to build up the small-intestine lining, which helps balance immune system function. For example, glutamine is an amino acid linked to improved intestinal-lining maintenance. Also add more antioxidant-rich and anti-inflammatory foods such as nuts, fish, grapes, oranges, apples and tomatoes to family meals. Because they fight free-radical cell damage (which interferes with the immune system), antioxidants can help boost immunity.
4. Try natural medicines.
When allergy symptoms flare up, Neustaedter recommends trying Chinese herbal formulas with Xanthium, which relieves symptoms by acting like an antihistamine. Recent studies also attest to the helpfulness of rosemary, which is deemed safe, even for children. The idea is to deliver “the most help with the least intervention,” Neustaedter says. Always consult an experienced herbalist or holistic doctor before giving any herbs to children; some can be toxic if taken improperly.
5. Consider allergy-soothing teas.
Warm liquids soothe the throat and nasal passages, and there are several teas created specifically for allergy sufferers. Natural tea sweeteners include honey and stevia.
Other Factors While a genetic predisposition is often a factor, recent studies also suggest that oversensitivity to allergens might be linked to antibiotic overuse, which might explain why allergies have been on the rise for the past 40 years. “Antibiotics kill off not only disease-causing bacteria, but also health-promoting bacteria,” explains Gary B. Huffnagle, Ph.D., of the University of Michigan. In his new book, The Holistic Baby Guide, Neustaedter also cites research that links allergies to vaccines. “Some researchers think that vaccination of children tends to create an imbalance in the immune responses, making children more prone to allergic responses,” he notes. The most common hay fever triggers are plant pollens. Flower pollen is usually carried by bees, so it isn’t windblown and rarely gets into people’s noses. More than 1,000 varieties of grass grow in North America, but only Kentucky bluegrass and a few others produce allergic pollen. The most prolific culprits are weeds such as ragweed, sagebrush and thistle. Trees with the highest pollen counts include oak, ash, elm, hickory, pecan, box elder and mountain cedar. 24
Indianapolis/Crossroads of America Edition
by Lily Viola
A
ccording to the American Academy of Medical Acupuncture (AAMA), the start of the spring allergy season is leading more allergy sufferers to use acupuncture to seek relief for their symptoms of runny noses, sneezing and watery, itchy eyes. Western medicine views seasonal allergies as a form of immediate hypersensitivity reaction that occurs when antibodies produced by lymphocytes, located in the blood stream, gastrointestinal tract, spleen, lymph nodes and bone marrow, i n t e ra c t w i t h airborne particles s u ch a s p o l len. “Although allergies do arise from a hypersensitive immune system, in Traditional Chinese Medicine, which includes acupuncture, we take the entire individual into consideration when determining the appropriate treatment for rebalancing the immune system to stop the allergic response,” says Erica Joy Siegel, owner of Indy Acupuncture & Health Services, Inc. According to this experienced, licensed acupuncturist, the numerous underlying causes of allergy symptoms may be anything from a qi (life force energy) deficiency in the lungs and spleen to a reactive liver. Determining the particular deficiency allows for specific treatment, which is why acupuncture can provide relief for acute symptoms, as well as restore balance to the out-of-balance organ or system through a series of treatments over a longer period of time. Siegel explains that for allergy sufferers, she generally treats the energy of reactive livers, lungs and spleens. “Acupuncture helps to smooth out the energy of these organs; it also tonifies and strengthens them so they can each perform their functions properly,” advises Siegel, who also uses Chinese herbs to restore balance. A practicing acupuncturist for five years, the 2005 graduate of Pacific College of Oriental Medicine in San Diego determined that she wanted to study Traditional Chinese Medicine after using it for premenstrual syndrome (PMS). “It made such a difference in my health, that I knew I wanted to study it so I could help others,” notes Siegel, who finds that most of her allergy patients seek her out for other reasons. “People come in for other problems and I ask about their allergies, because it’s part of what I do in order to treat the whole person,” she explains. Indy Acupuncture & Health Services, Inc., Broad Ripple Village, 6155 N. College Ave., Indianapolis 46220. Call 317-255-3030 or email info@IndyAcu.com. Visit IndyAcu.com.
healingways
RECLAIM VITALITY!
Reap the Benefits of Enhanced Life Force by Catherine Guthrie
W
e know vitality when we see it. People with vitality overflow with that special something; they stand out from the rest like shiny pennies. Why do some people have more vitality than others? Vitality is often broadcast via physical traits—sparkling eyes, radiant skin or an energetic demeanor. It’s tempting to chalk it all up to good health, but there’s more to vitality than robust physiology. Not all clinically healthy and ostensibly fit people seem especially vital, while some physically frail individuals still manage to emanate an extraordinary life force and joie de vivre. In the West, vitality is often associated with a strong supply of physical energy, vigor and resilience. In the East, what the Chinese call chi and healers in India call prana relates more to an ineffable life force, currents that suffuse and sustain both the physical and nonphysical aspects of every living thing. The popularization of Eastern practices such as yoga, Tai chi and meditation now offers more Americans a taste of life habits that can help us
understand and cultivate this sort of vitality. Yet in America, vitality is still viewed as the frosting on the cake of life—and not, as in Eastern cultures, its main focus. While good health enhances and helps signify vitality, it can’t deliver all of vitality’s benefits. So, what is the secret to sustaining our vitality or getting it back?
Reconnecting with What Nourishes Dan Buettner, bestselling author of The Blue Zones, is an expert on human longevity and vitality. He’s found that vitality has as much to do with social, emotional and mental health as with physical habits. For instance, diet and exercise play a big part in vitality, but so do things like a sense of life purpose, spirituality and community. Identifying vitality zappers is equally important. Constance Grauds, a registered pharmacist, shamana (female shaman) and author of Jungle Medicine, explains that traditional medicine men believe human disease and
suffering is caused by disconnection and that its root is a core fear, or susto. She believes that most Americans are chronically afflicted by susto, living in the grip of one type of fear or another virtually all the time. Grauds suspects that Americans’ excess susto has something to do with chronic anxieties, pressures and “little fears” they face every day: job stress, money worries, social pressures, relationship troubles and so on. The net outcome is a massive vitality drain. To plug “energy leaks,” we need to build connections to the things that energize and sustain us, such as meditation or prayer, healthy food, loving relationships and mindful exercise, says Grauds. “Energy and vitality come from the joyful things we do in life that are simple, free and right under our noses,” she observes, “like petting your dog, watering your garden and taking a few deep breaths. “Vitality is a measure of the life force within you,” she continues. “When we’re connected to our sources of vitality, not only do we have more energy to be more active and get www.NACrossroads.com
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Click on “Vitality Compass” at BlueZones.com to take a free longevity quiz based on vitality indices ranging from diet and exercise to spiritual practices and connection with family and community. more done, but we’re engaged, we’re present. We feel that flow of life force pumping through us.”
Where to Start Americans are slowly waking up to the fact that we need to value our vitality more deeply or we risk losing it. It’s best to review vitality zappers and enhancers daily or weekly and repair minor leaks before a trickle becomes a torrent. We can start by finding a place of stillness. Consider meditating, keeping a journal, praying or just walking in the woods while asking our self how we are doing and feeling and what we are missing or longing for. Listen for the signals that say certain connections may have come loose, and that other factors may be pulling too strongly. “Plugging into life is the key to more vitality,” says Grauds. “Find ways to connect to the world outside yourself.” Catherine Guthrie is a freelance writer based in Bloomington, IN. Connect at CatherineGuthrie.com.
Kathy McHugh: Living Life in the Now by Susan Aimes
R
eclaiming the vitality that animates her life is something that speaker Kathy McHugh, author of Passing on Hope, has chosen to do daily for the last six years. In 2004, with everything she ever wanted visible around her, McHugh was still living a stale and joyless life. “I was a partner in a business and I loved working with people, loved my clients—and then all of a sudden, I didn’t like any of it,” says McHugh. After much anguish over the opinions offered by friends, family and co-workers, McHugh said goodbye to her successful staffing business. “Everyone thought I was nuts for taking the risk to follow my dream and write a book when I was so good at what I was doing,” she recalls. Amidst the vacillation, fear and self-doubt that followed her departure, McHugh learned of her brother’s cancer diagnosis. “I was struggling with overcoming a mountain of questions about self-expectations and self-worth until I sat with my brother and asked him, ‘What does it feel like to know that your death is eminent?’” says McHugh. When he offered no response, McHugh had a deep insight. “I knew that my brother’s dreams would die with him, and I didn’t want the same for myself,” she explains. “The wisdom I gained from being with him through the dying process taught me how to be truly present to others, and it helped me transcend all my fears.” McHugh admits she had heard a lot of clichés about “living life in the now,” but until her brother’s diagnosis, she hadn’t fully understood that “someday” might never come. “I learned that I needed to live an authentic life now, rather than just going through the motions,” advises McHugh. “I also discovered that I needed to determine what I wanted my life to say and what I wanted to leave in the hearts of others, because in the end, it wasn’t my brother’s accomplishments that mattered; it was his service to the world.” McHugh’s service to the world didn’t stop when her book was published in 2003. Today, she speaks publicly and counsels individuals. “People need hope; they want to see you standing in your passion, holding up a mirror that shows them what’s possible,” she enthuses. “I’m in total gratitude and infused with vitality every time I become a part of someone else’s story.” Contact Kathy McHugh at McHugh_Kathy@yahoo.com or call 317-4420367. Visit PassingOnHope.com.
Seven Ways to Spark Vitality n Get outside n Cultivate community n Be a lifelong learner n Stay calm n Honor promises n Plug energy leaks
n Get enough sleep 26
Indianapolis/Crossroads of America Edition
calendarofevents NOTE: Email Calendar Events to: Calendar@NACrossroads.com. Please see
guidelines on our website prior to submission Deadline for calendar: the 12th of the month.
THURSDAY, APRIL 15
FRIDAY, APRIL 23
Women Like Us Professional Tea and Speakers Series – 1:30-4:30pm. Inspirational and motivational talks from women leaders such as Catt Sadler, host of The Daily 10 on E! Network, Natallie Angell, Co-founder and Executive Director of Shanti Uganda and Lin Dunn, Head Coach of the Indiana Fever. $35/person. Columbia Club, 121 Monument Cir, Indianapolis. 317-873-8700. WomenLikeUsSeries.com.
Tibetan Bowls, Gongs and Sacred Voice TranceCHANTment – 7-9pm. A special meditative performance with Tibetan Bowl Master Marion Causey of Sacred Sound Experience, and Sacred Voice EnCHANTress Melinda de Marmion blend and weave bowls, gongs and heartfelt voice in trancing primal tones and chants to “tune” the mind and body to a sense of peace. $20/non-members; $15/members. Source Yoga Center, 8609 E. 116th St, Fishers. 317-915-9642. ParadigmAlchemy.com.
Good Health For Life – 6:30-8pm. Learn how chiropractic care helps one’s body obtain and maintain good health, dinner included. Seating limited, reserve seat. Free up to 3 guests. Spinal Logic Chiropractic, 1300 E Main St, Danville. 317-745-5111. SpinalLogic@yahoo.com. SpinalLogicChiropractic.com.
SATURDAY, APRIL 17 Creating Health Workshop – 12-5:30pm. A five-lesson workshop created by Deepak Chopra, MD and David Simon, MD that focuses on physical, mental and spiritual well-being. Learn about mind/body types according to Ayurveda. Learn how to cleanse and prepare for the spring season and much more. $95, lunch and workbook included. Mother Nature’s Sun, 6516 Ferguson St, Broad Ripple. 317-753-1167. Barbarita3@aol.com. MotherNatureSun.com.
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 21 Wellness Orientation Workshop – 6:15pm. For new patients and those interested in learning about the wellness practices at Stillpoint Chiropractic. Distinctions are made between health/crisis care and wellness. Free. Stillpoint Chiropractic, 9780 Lantern Rd, Ste 230, Fishers. 317-863-0365. DrPennella.com.
THURSDAY, APRIL 22 Aromatherapy 101 Seminar – 6pm. Learn detailed information about using essential oils for health and wellness. Topics include the top ten essential oils for home use, how essential oils are made, the effects essential oils can have on body and mind, important safety tips, and various ways essential oils can be used therapeutically. Taught by Pamela Reilly, Naturopath. $20. Georgetown Market Community Room, 4375 Georgetown Rd, Indianapolis. 317-293-9525. GoodWorksWellness.com. Introduction to Vastu Shastra – 6-7:30pm. Learn how to balance one’s home and life. Vastu Shastra is Sanskrit for building science; part of the Ayurvedic medical system. Learn how to create harmony in one’s home with planetary influence and the 5 elements of nature. $25. Mother Nature’s Sun, 6516 Ferguson St, Broad Ripple. 317-253-5683. WendyWellness@sbcglobal.net. MotherNatureSun. com.
SATURDAY, APRIL 24 Healing Touch Level 1 – For the person who wants to enhance wellness in themselves and the lives of people they care about by using the gift of energetic touch. 16 hrs of continuing education for those who need the continuing ed credit. $283, includes workbook. HealingTouchProgram.com. Community Day at The Healing Chi – 9am-2pm. Sample beginning and intermediate yoga, Nia, Tai chi and Zumba classes. Obtain information on the Metabolic Typing Diet, reflexology and our other services. Donations only. The Healing Chi Wellness Center, 72 S Jefferson St, Danville. 317-441-2111. Amy@TheHealingChi.com. TheHealingChi.com. Earth Day – 11am-4pm. Outdoor festival featuring 130 environmental and conservation exhibits, great music, good food and special kids activities. Free. White River State Park, 801 W Washington St, Indianapolis. EarthDayIndiana.org.
SUNDAY, APRIL 25 March of Dimes March for Babies – 9am. Millions of Americans across the country will walk in support of raising money to support premature births. Donations. White River State Park, 801 W Washington St, Indianapolis. 317-262-4668. MarchOfDimes. com/Indiana. Mutt Strut – 11am-2:15pm. Sponsored by the Humane Society of Indianapolis. Support helping to provide shelter and care to animals in need on the path to loving lifetime homes. Family- friendly event includes a 2.5-mile walk with or without a pet around the famous oval at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Pre-registration: $25/ages 16+, $15/ages 8-15, Free/ages 7 and under. On site registration: $35/ages 16+, $25/ages 8-15, children age 7 and under are free. 317-872-5650 x 102. MuttStrut@ IndyHumane.org. IndyMuttStrut.org.
THURSDAY, APRIL 29 Natural Alternatives for ADD/ADHD – 6pm. Learn detailed information about natural ways to address ADD and ADHD. Taught by Pamela Reilly, Naturopath. $20. Georgetown Market Community Room, 4375 Georgetown Rd, Indianapolis. 317-2939525. GoodWorksWellness.com.
Good Health for Life – 6:30-8pm. See April 15 listing. Spinal Logic Chiropractic, 1300 E Main St, Danville. 317-745-5111. SpinalLogic@yahoo.com. SpinalLogicChiropractic.com.
SATURDAY, MAY 1 Introductory Session – 10-11am. All ages, all levels. An introduction session. Help boost one’s self-confidence, self-discipline and self-control to build a strong foundation for success in all aspects of one’s life. Free. Broad Ripple Martial Arts Academy, 5145 E 65th St, Broad Ripple. 317-251-2488. Kaboggs56@yahoo.com. BroadRippleMartialArts. com. Take Charge of Your Health: Women’s Event – 4:30pm. Women’s networking and learning event, designed to educate about healthy living. A special dinner at The Uptown Café. Seating limited; reserve a seat. $15. Tammy Mutter, The Uptown Café, 809 Conner St, Noblesville. 317-345-1366. Tammy@ HealthyUBiz.com.
WEDNESDAY, MAY 5 Wellness Orientation Workshop: Brown Bag Lunch – 1pm. See April 21 listing. Stillpoint Chiropractic, 9780 Lantern Rd, Ste 230, Fishers. 317-863-0365. DrPennella.com. IndyHoopers Hoop Dance Class – 7-8pm. Hooping or Hoop Dance is a great exercise for the core and everything beyond. The practice of Hooping can be very meditative if one can take oneself beyond expectations and venture within. $10. Earth House Collective, 237 N East St, Indianapolis. 317-6364060. IndyHoopers.com.
THURSDAY, MAY 6 Hendricks County Holistic Health Practitioners Meeting – 5:45-6:45pm. Connect for inspiration and support. Open to anyone that integrates mind, body and spirit into one’s work. Free. Life Coach Dane & Company, 2424 E Main St, Plainfield. 317-432-7426. DaneMcCullough@aol.com. LifeCoachDane.com.
SUNDAY, MAY 9 Healing Sunday – 10am-12:30pm. After 10am service there is a love offering. Two holistic practitioners offering reiki, reflexology, massage, Ruach healing, homeopathy and other healing modalities will be on hand. Free. The Church Within, 1125 Spruce St, Indianapolis. 317-637-5683. Info@TheChurchWithin.org. TheChurchWithin.org.
WEDNESDAY, MAY 12 Gluten & Dairy Free Living – 6pm. With Sarah Stout, Certified Clinical Nutritionist. Identify ways to better enjoy a gluten- and dairy-free diet. Class includes meal. $25; pre-registration required. Optimal Wellness Center, 4545 Northwestern Dr, Ste A, Zionsville. 317-870-7220. WeCreateWellness. com.
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Good Health For Life – 6:30-8pm. See April 15 listing. Spinal Logic Chiropractic, 1300 E Main St, Danville. 317-745-5111. SpinalLogic@yahoo.com. SpinalLogicChiropractic.com.
SATURDAY, MAY 15 40th Annual Broad Ripple Art Fair – May 15-16. Sat, 10am-6pm; Sun 10am-5pm. Rain or shine. More than 25,000 visitors, 225 artists, select food vendors and live entertainment on four stages. Indianapolis Art Center, 820 E 67th St, Broad Ripple. 317-2552464. IndplsArtCenter.org/BRAF40. Really Really Free Market – 2:30-5pm. Bring new or gently used items, food, skills and talents to join the Really Really Free Market. Building stronger community by sharing resources. Free. Earth House Collective, 237 N East St, Indianapolis. 317-3723674. TJRumpel@att.net. IndyFreeSwap.com.
WEDNESDAY, MAY 19 Managing Allergies Workshop – “All-Natural Allergy and Asthma Answers,” for parents on managing asthma, seasonal/environmental allergies, and food allergies in natural and safe ways. Kids Yoga will be offered during the workshop for 3 yr olds and up. Optimal Wellness Center, 4545 Northwestern Dr, Ste A, Zionsville. 317-8707220. WeCreateWellness.com. Wellness Orientation Workshop – 6:15pm. See April 21 listing. Stillpoint Chiropractic, 9780 Lantern Rd. Suite 230, Fishers. 317-863-0365. DrPennella.com
THURSDAY, MAY 20
MONDAY, MAY 31
Planet Indy: The Not So Big House – 7pm. How do the size, scale and design of homes affect wellbeing, family relationships and planet? In this talk, architect and author Sarah Susanka illustrates the connection between smart design, domestic pleasure and lower carbon footprints. $7/public, $4/member, free/student. Indianapolis Museum of Art, 4000 Michigan Rd, Indianapolis.
Geocaching Challenge – 9am-12pm. A family-friendly geocaching challenge. Use one’s GPS receiver to solve clues that help locate one’s geocache. $25/team. Broad Ripple Park, 1550 Broad Ripple Ave, Broad Ripple. 317-565-9110. PlanetAdventureRace.com.
SATURDAY, MAY 22 Branches Breath – 8-10pm. Native American flute ensemble Branches Breath will perform melodies with a mixture of percussion, world and native flutes. Branches Breath recently played at the International Mystic Music Festival in Konya, Turkey. Part of the proceeds benefit GlobalPeaceInitiatives.net. $15. Held at 2809 State Rd 38 E, Westfield. 317-4401732. J-Tarr.com.
WEDNESDAY, MAY 26
17th Annual Miracle Ride for Riley Children’s Hospital – 8am. A huge motorcycle rally with thousands of riders (Sun), plus a variety of events at other venues around Indy on Fri/Sat. Hours and activities vary daily. Proceeds benefit Riley Children’s Hospital. Info: See website or call 812-988-2116. Various venues, Indianapolis. MiracleRide.net.
SATURDAY, JUNE 5
Women’s Health Workshop Part I – A workshop for women to gain more information and resources on the top women’s health issues including hormones, PMS, menopause, thyroid conditions, osteoporosis, cancer, and more. Optimal Wellness Center, 4545 Northwestern Dr, Ste A, Zionsville. 317-870-7220. WeCreateWellness.com.
If You Want Something Make Room For It – 9:30-6pm. A one-day retreat designed to help one quickly and easily materialize goals, needs and dreams which seem elusive or energy draining while remaining comfortable during the uncertainties of transition. $145/person or $250/couple. Held at 8944 Bay Breeze Ln, Indianapolis. 317-823-8865. MakeRoomNow.com.
THURSDAY, MAY 27
SUNDAY, JUNE 6
Butterflies Exhibit – 9am. The venue’s most popular annual exhibit with live butterflies on display from Central America, Africa, and Native American species. White River Gardens, 1200 W Washington St, Indianapolis. 317-630-2001. IndyZoo.com.
Doga with Mimi Sosa – 1pm and 3pm. Relax and have fun doing yoga with one’s dog. Part of the proceeds benefit GlobalPeaceInitiatives.net. $15. The Labyrinth, 2809 State Rd 38 E, Westfield. Janet Tarr: 317-440-1732. J-Tarr.com.
SATURDAY, MAY 29
FRIDAY, JUNE 11
Drum Circle – 2-5pm. All ages and experience levels. Bring one’s percussion instrument and let loose through the rhythm of drumming. Don’t have a drum; bring a coffee can or other percussive instrument. Free. Garfield Park Arts Center, 2450 Shelby St, Indianapolis. 317-327-7066.
Zoobilation 2010: “Celebrating Cheetahs” – 7pm12am. The zoo’s annual black-tie major fundraising event. $275. Indianapolis Zoo, 1200 W Washington St, Indianapolis. 317-630-2026. IndyZoo.com.
SUNDAY, MAY 23 Farm Tour – 1-5pm. Take a tour and meet one’s farmers. Discover how Seldom Seen Farm uses organic methods to grow quality produce for local markets and CSA’s. Free. Seldom Seen Farm, 2525 N CR 425 E, Danville. 317-509-7828. SeldomSeenFarm.com.
SATURDAY, MAY 29 IPL 500 Festival Parade – 12pm. The annual 500 Festival parade draws a huge crowd of 300,000 or more to downtown Indy each year to see the floats, the bands, the national celebrities, and the Indy 500 drivers. Free. Downtown, Traditional Parade Route, Indianapolis. 317-927-3378. 500Festival.com.
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PLAN AHEAD FRIDAY, JUNE 4
Indianapolis/Crossroads of America Edition
SATURDAY, JUNE 12 55th Annual Talbot Street Art Fair – June12-13. Sat, 10am-6pm; Sun, 10am-5pm. The oldest and largest juried show in central Indiana. Free. Talbot Street Art Fair, 1600-2000 Talbott St, Indianapolis. 317-745-6479. TalbotStreet.org. Circle City Pride Parade and Festival – 10am. Annual GLBT Pride Parade followed by the Pride Festival, 11am-7pm. Free. American Legion Mall, 700 N Pennsylvania St, Indianapolis. 317-435-4923. IndyPrideInc.org.
ongoingevents
sunday Garden Walks – 1pm. Stroll through the beautiful historical landscape of the Oldfields estate. Free. Indianapolis Museum of Art, meet at main visitor entrance at the Lilly House, 4000 Michigan Rd, Indianapolis. IMAMuseum.org. Yoga Flow – 4-5:15pm. All levels of experience. A unique, complete way to improve flexibility and strength in one’s body, mind and life. $15/class; $60/5 classes. Optimal Wellness Center, 4545 Northwestern Dr, Ste A, Zionsville. WeCreateWellness.com.
monday Zumba Fitness – 4:45-5:40pm. For a fun workout after a long day at the office, look no further. First class free with coupon. $5/class. Indianapolis City Market, 2nd fl, E Wing, 222 E Market St, Indianapolis. 317-492-3253. Tita_64@yahoo.com. Belly Dance Technique Classes – 6-7pm. No experience required. Helps with toning, cardio and coordination. Classes are drop-in basis. Bring a yoga mat and hip scarf. $10/class. Earth House Collective, 237 N East Street, Indianapolis. MollyWyldFyre@ gmail.com. MollyWyldFyre.com. Tai Chi Easy Class – 7-8pm. All levels, no experience. De-stress with this modified Tai chi program. Included is Qigong moving-breathing exercises, Tai chi movements, meditation, self- hand and foot massage. $11/class; $54/6. The Healing Chi Wellness Center, 72 S Jefferson St, Danville. 317-441-2111. Amy@TheHealingChi.com. TheHealingChi.com. Women’s Community Drum Circle – 7-8pm. No experience needed. Drumming is a great way to relieve stress and connect with other women in a spirit of unity. All drums and percussion provided. “Journey,” a group discussion on current empowerment issues, follows the circle. $5. Bongo Boy Music and Wellness Center, 8481 Bash St, Ste1100, Castleton. 317-771-0241. Lisa@BongoBoyMusic. com. BongoBoyMusic.com.
tuesday Yoga Flow – 6-7:15pm. See Sunday listing. Optimal Wellness Center, 4545 Northwestern Dr, Ste A, Zionsville. 317-870-7220. WeCreateWellness.com. Evening with the Doctor – 7-8:15pm. Learn about the Bio-Energetic Synchronization Technique that is an extraordinarily effective healing modality. Learn about the six essentials for a healthy, pain-free life, and what one can do to get better faster and stay better longer. Free; reservation required. Morter Health Center, 10439 Commerce Dr, Ste 140, Carmel. 317872-9300. MorterHealthCenter.com.
Wellness Center, 8481 Bash St, Ste 1100, Castleton. 317-771-0241. Lisa@BongoBoyMusic.com. BongoBoyMusic.com.
Sahaja Meditation – 7-8pm. Discover inner peace; get rid of anxiety and stress. Experience a simple yet powerful meditation technique. Free. Franklin Road Branch Library, 5550 S Franklin Rd, Indianapolis, 317-456-2021, IndianaMeditation@gmail.com.
wednesday Farm Market – May-Oct. Mon-Wed, 9am-6pm; Thu-Sat, 9am-7pm. Featuring quality apples, pumpkins, plants, local food, produce, meat, and more. Tuttle Orchards, 5717 N County Rd 300 West, Greenfield. 317-326-2278. TuttleOrchards.com. Wellness Walks – 9-9:30am and 6-6:30pm. All ages and levels. The Power of Slow Gear. This class utilizes slower movements, engaging one’s muscles differently. Combines stretching, breathing, posture, sideways and backward movement, low impact. $10/class, $7/if bring a friend. The Labyrinth, 2809 State Rd 38 E, Westfield. Janet Tarr, 317-440-1732. J-Tarr.com. Sahaja Meditation – 7-8pm. Discover inner peace; get rid of anxiety and stress. Experience a simple yet powerful meditation technique. Free. Old National Bank, 4805 E 96th St, Fishers, 317-456-2021. IndianaMeditation@gmail.com.
thursday Toastmasters – 7am. Develop one’s communication skills to open doors in one’s personal and professional life. Free. La Peeps, 8255 Craig St, Ste 102, Indianapolis. Contact Matt Zentz: 317-430-5804 or MZentz@Marketpath.com. Castletontm.org. Meditation Hikes – 4-5pm. Meditation hikes move through the IMA’s grounds and gardens, sometimes in silence and sometimes with dialogue. Hikes occur regardless of weather. Free. Indianapolis Museum of Art, meet at the Efroymson Entrance Pavilion, 4000 Michigan Rd, Indianapolis. GlobalPeaceInitiatives.net.
friday Segway Tours – 10am-4pm. Glide past the park’s many attractions, including the NCAA Hall of Champions, the Indiana State Museum, and the White River Gardens. The tour finishes with a scenic trip around The Canal, Downtown Indy’s picturesque waterfront. Weather permitting. White River State Park, Segway. 317-253-1910. SegwayOfIndiana.com. The Green Market – 4-8pm. Shop from local farmers and artisans. Get fresh vegetables and local handmade goods and support the community at the same time. The Green Market, 9101 Moore Rd, Zionsville. TPFOrganics.com.
saturday Yoga Flow – 9-10:15am. See Sunday listing. Optimal Wellness Center, 4545 Northwestern Dr, Ste A, Zionsville. WeCreateWellness.com. Kids Rhythm Club – 10:45-11:30am. Ages 3-12, parents encouraged to participate. Explore recreational music making through rhythm-based games using various instruments. $5/child; free/parents. Bongo Boy Music and Wellness Center, 8481 Bash St, Ste 1100, Indianapolis. 317-771-0241. Lisa@ BongoBoyMusic.com. BongoBoyMusic.com. Quantum Fit Open House – 12-1:30pm. First Saturday each month. Learn Quantum Fit’s training methods: teaches core movements, sound nutritional basics and takes one through one’s fitness assessment workout. Free. Quantum Fit (inside Broad Ripple Martial Arts), 5145 E 65th St, Indianapolis. 317-6581827 Info@QFitIndy.com. QFitIndy.com. Garden Walks – 1pm. See Sunday listing. Indianapolis Museum of Art, meet at main visitor entrance at the Lilly House, 4000 Michigan Rd, Indianapolis. IMAMuseum.org.
Healthy Chocolate: Find Out More – 7pm. An hour that could change one’s life. To get one’s free chocolate, say Joyce sent you. Holiday Inn at the Pyramids. For more info: 317-363-2262. Mind, Body, Spirit Class – 7-8pm. First Thursday each month. Tap into and live from one’s wisdom within. With Life Coach Dane McCullough. Discover one’s full potential. Free. Life Coach Dane & Company, 2424 E Main St, Plainfield. 317-4327426. DaneMcCullough@aol.com. LifeCoachDane. com. Community Drum Circle – 7:15-8:30pm. No experience needed. Release some tension and stress, nothing needed except a willingness to have fun, all drums and percussion provided. $5 hand drum class from 6:30-7pm if want a lesson in the basics prior to the drum circle. Free. Bongo Boy Music and www.NACrossroads.com
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communityresourceguide FARMERS’ MARKETS/ NATURAL/ORGANIC
ANIMAL RIGHTS/WELFARE HUMANE SOCIETY OF INDIANAPOLIS
THE GREEN MARKET
7929 Michigan Rd, Indianapolis 317-872-5650 IndyHumane.org
9101 Moore Rd, Zionsville 317-733-1700 TradersPointCreamery.com
HSI is the first choice in providing direct services for shelter cats and d o g s , i n c l u d i n g a d o p t i o n , f o s t e r h o m e placement, behavioral training, appropriate medical care, and affordable spay/neuter services. See ad on page 4.
Indiana’s only year-round market, bringing you sustainably produced local goods. May 7th begins our summer hours, Fridays from 4-8pm. See ad on page 10.
ANTIOXIDANT XOCAI HEALTHY CHOCOLATE Joyce Kleinman 317-363-2262 TheHealthyChocolateTeam.com
A delicious, diabetic-friendly, u n p r o c e s s e d B e l g i a n chocolate with more antioxidants in one 33- calorie piece than 1/2 pound of raw spinach. No preservatives or caffeine. See ad on page 9.
CHIROPRACTOR SPINAL LOGIC CHIROPRACTIC 1300 E Main St, Danville, IN 46122 317-745-5111 SpinalLogicChiropractic.com
Receive only the finest quality care through the use of modern chiropractic equipment and technology. Natural alternatives for headaches, pain, fatigue, and more. See ad on page 9.
STILLPOINT FAMILY CHIROPRACTIC, INC.
9780 Lantern Rd, Ste 230, Fishers, IN 46037 317-863-0365 DrPennella.com
FARMS/CSA – NATURAL SELDOM SEEN FARM
John Ferree and Kelly Funk 317-509-7828 SeldomSeenFarm.com June through October our CSA supplies the Indianapolis area with high quality fresh produce, herbs and flowers, including fresh salad mix, and heirloom tomatoes. See ad on page 13.
GREEN CLEANING SERVICES TEAM GREEN SWEEP
317-603-4039 TeamGreenSweep@gmail.com TeamGreenSweep.com We are a green residential and commercial cleaning company utilizing natural, biodegradable, eco-friendly products. Our mission is to improve your living and working environments’ total wellness. See ad on page 12.
CONSCIOUS CHOICE HYPNOSIS AT MANGO BAY SPA 1329 W 96th St, Indianapolis 317-846-3427 MangoBaySpa.com
Facilitating healthier and happier choices. Stress management, weight loss, smoking cessation, past-life regressions, sleep therapy, test and study anxiety, fear control, self-esteem and confidence bu i l d e r. C o m p l i m e n t a r y consultation.
NATUROPATHS GOOD WORKS WELLNESS
Pamela Reilly, Naturopath 317-489-0909 Pamela@GoodWorkWellness.com Providing professional Naturopathic consultation and coaching to help you achieve the highest level of health possible using natural methods. Services available in English and Spanish. See ad on page 13.
NUTRITIONIST REINVENTING WELLNESS
Sarah Stout CCN, HHC, Raw Foods Chef 317-408-0110 SStoutCCN@gmail.com Offering a variety of nutritional and holistic health counseling services. Specializing in raw foods certifications, private cooking classes, corporate services, and menu planning. See ad on page 12.
HEALTH/SUPPLEMENTS SHAKLEE
Tammy Mutter HealthyUBiz.com 866-511-3987 Increase energy/immune function; optimize health goals with raw food supplements, non-toxic cleaning and skin care, sports nutrition, anti-aging. Trusted by NASA, U.S. Olympic athletes, the White House and more. Career Opportunities. See ad on page
Comprehensive chiropractic care for the entire family. We may help you with ADHD, allergies, asthma, pain, ear infections, pinched nerves, nutrition and more. See ad on page 7. 10.
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HYPNOTHERAPY
Indianapolis/Crossroads of America Edition
PRODUCE/GROCERY DELIVERY FARM FRESH DELIVERY
317-377-0470 Info@FarmFreshDelivery.com FarmFreshDelivery.com Farm Fresh Delivery works with local farmers and artisans to bring organic produce and natural groceries to your door year-round. Indianapolis and surrounding areas. See ad on page 11.
SUPER FOODS XOCAI HEALTHY CHOCOLATE
Jeanne McCullough 317-371-1492 Jeanne@AmazingChocolateTeam.com AmazingChocolateTeam.com Our chocolate is made with a patented, cold-pressing technology, allowing it to maintain the extreme levels of antioxidants naturally found in cacao, nature’s highest antioxidant super food. Tastes great. See ad on page 28.
WELLNESS
classifieds
OPTIMAL WELLNESS CENTER
4545 Northwestern Dr, Ste A, Zionsville 317-870-7220 WeCreateWellness.com Our mission is to provide a safe, inspiring and magical place for our community and their families to express optimal health and vitality while empowering them to create their ideal life. See ad on page 11.
YOGA SOURCE YOGA
8609 E 116th St, Fishers, IN 317-915-9642 SourceYoga.net Yoga is a scientific discipline of removing or eradicating stress and tension at its source. We provide you with the tools for becoming strong in mind and body. Over 20 classes, workshops and personal training. See ad on page 7.
BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES TURN YOUR PASSION FOR HEALTH into a great home-based business. Call 317-270-7746.
RECYCLE/REUSE DINING TABLE – Triangular, Aztec-style table with bench seat and two pedestal seats. Turn-style top. Will email pics. $250, OBO. SeanL.Pictures@ gmail.com. GENESIS MEDIA LAB HOME SPEAKERS – Model G2875 tower speakers in great condition. Incredible sound system, top of the line. $300 set of two. SeanL.Pictures@gmail.com. WHIRLPOOL SIDE-BY-SIDE WASHER AND DRYER – White, matching set, good condition, works great. $100, OBO. SeanL.Pictures@gmail. com.
www.NACrossroads.com
May 2010
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