Natural Awakenings Mercer, NJ November 2013 by Natural Awakenings Mercer

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feel good • live simply • laugh more

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CONSCIOUS LIVING Truly Wild ECO-HAPPY Don’t Worry Workouts HOLIDAYS Be Grateful Animal Kingdom Models Fun Moves

Light-Impact, High Fun Decorating

November 2013

Mercer County, NJ

Giving Thanks Unfolds Grace |

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SMART advertising in a tough economy! WHY NATURAL AWAKENINGS

More for your money Customers want more than an ad. They want an explanation. Natural Awakenings teaches our readers about you with news briefs, articles, calendar listings, and classifieds. Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t just place an ad. Become part of the magazine. 100% Targeted Audience Mintel International, an industry leader in providing market intelligence, recently called the green marketplace one of the fastest growing, most dynamic sectors of the US economy. 100% of our readers are interested in healthy living, a healthy environment, and personal growth. THATâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S 100% Credibility and Scope The Natural Awakenings family of magazines has been a respected source for cuttingedge healthy living information across the country for 18 years, reaching more than 3.6 million readers each month with 80+ individual magazines in 80+ cities across the nation and Puerto Rico.

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contents 12 6 newsbriefs 12 healthbriefs 14 globalbriefs 17 ecotip 18 community

spotlight 14 23 inspiration 24 greenliving 26 consciouseating 28 fitbody 30 healingways 32 wisewords 17 34 healthykids 35 naturalpet 39 calendar 42 resourceguide

advertising & submissions

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

20 FAST TRACK TO

PERSONAL GROWTH

Transform Your Life with Mentors, Books, Workshops and Online Courses by Bess J.M. Hochstein

24 CRAFTING A

GREEN HOLIDAY Happy Ways to Deck the Halls

by Avery Mack

BRAIN BRIGHT How Wheat, Carbs and Sugar

are Affecting Your Brain Health by Linda Sechrist

28 JUNGLE GYM

Moving Like Animals Can Wildly Improve Fitness by Debra Melani

Editorial submissions Email articles, news items and ideas to: LDBeveridge@NAMercer.com. Deadline for editorial: the 10th of the month.

by Michael A. Singer

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

30 THE PATH TO

INNER PEACE

12 Steps to Spiritual Awakening

4 4

Mercer County, County, NJ NJ NAMercer.com NAMercer.com Mercer

32 THE MIRACLE OF MIDLIFE

Being Exactly Who We Need to Be by Marianne Williamson

34 SUPERPOWER KIDSâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; IMMUNE SYSTEMS

Natural Health Experts Share How by Jenna Blumenfeld

35 SAVING ANIMALS SAVES PEOPLE

Rescue You, Rescue Me

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26 GRAIN FREE &

how to advertise To advertise with Natural Awakenings or request a media kit, please contact us at 609-249-9044 or email LDBeveridge@NAMercer.com. Deadline for ads: the 10th of the month.

calendar submissions Email Calendar Events to: Calendar@NAMercer.com or fax to 609-249-9044. Deadline for calendar: the 10th of the month.

by Sandra Murphy

letterfrompublisher “We must remind ourselves that to do what is possible we must sometimes challenge ourselves with the impossible.” ~ Jim Rohn

his month’s editorial focus on Personal Growth likely prompts us to inquire: “How am I doing?” Everyone marks their own development and progress differently, whether in terms of career, children, health and healing, money, spiritual clarity or some other measure. Of course we expect to see our children grow up, develop distinctive character and expand their horizons.

What about us? Pondering the possibilities of enhancing my own potential, I realized again the pivotal role owning and publishing this magazine has played in my own growth. As a new career path, I saw it as a perfect match; I do all I can to walk the walk and now I have this privileged opportunity to talk the talk with others about healthy living on a healthy planet. When I started to believe in the dream, although I knew I had the education and skills to support the move, nerves still bubbled up: Could I really do it? I’d like to share with you how John R. Voell, the passionate co-founder of Natural Awakenings, helped me make one of the biggest decisions of my life, to grow right along with this new venture. John, who passed last month and is dearly missed, was a valued mentor and colleague and friend. His dedication to Natural Awakenings’ community of readers here and across the country was something to behold, and I’m thankful I caught the larger vision. He showed me that I wasn’t only establishing my own business, I was choosing to become a part of a growing family of kindred spirits. It works because we all love John R. Voell what we do! In the midst of serious discussions of all we would need to learn and build, he could make us honestly laugh to lighten the moment. Now, a bit further way, I can still think of him and say, “Thank you John, for making a difference and being such an inspiration.” Natural Awakenings CEO Sharon Bruckman and John Voell are the original company partners that determined to take the concept big; thanks to them and their team we are able to bring you Mercer County’s own community magazine. Today, Natural Awakenings reaches more than 3.8 million people in 90 markets, all consciously working to build a healthier world together, community by community, by embodying natural and sustainable living to the point where it’s now begun to go mainstream. We are privileged to support this trend by sharing monthly news of classes and events, expert insights and advertiser products and services available right here in Mercer County. So we celebrate our friend John by dedicating this issue of Natural Awakenings to his life and memory. It is a living legacy we are proud to honor. Blessings for a healthy, happy Thanksgiving,

Managing Editor Dave Beveridge

Proofreader Randy Kambic

Design & Production Melanie Rankin Stephen Blancett

Franchise Sales 239-530-1377

Phone: 609-249-9044 Fax: 609-249-9044 NAMercer.com LDBeveridge@NAMercer.com © 2013 by Natural Awakenings. All rights reserved. Although some parts of this publication may be reproduced and reprinted, we require that prior permission be obtained in writing. Natural Awakenings is a free publication distributed locally and is supported by our advertisers. It is available in selected stores, health and education centers, healing centers, public libraries and wherever free publications are generally seen. Please call to find a location near you or if you would like copies placed at your business. We do not necessarily endorse the views expressed in the articles and advertisements, nor are we responsible for the products and services advertised. We welcome your ideas, articles and feedback.

SUBSCRIPTIONS Subscriptions are available by sending $25 (for 12 issues) to the publisher. Call for details.

Lori Beveridge, Owner/Publisher

Natural Awakenings is printed on recycled newsprint with soy-based ink.

natural awakenings

November 2013

newsbriefs Pure Fitness 24 Relocation in Allentown

P Do you have a special event in the community? Open a new office? Move? Recently become certified in a new modality?

ure Fitness 24, LLC, proudly announces it is moving to a new location at 24 South Main Street in Allentown. “We will be open for business starting November 1,” states owner Sheena Potts. “Once established in the new location, we will also be expanding the small group schedule,” continues Potts, who is also a certified Functional Movement System Screens (FMS Screen) professional. Current classes offered include Kettlebell, Bodyweight and TRX, Pilates and Core, and Movement for Men. In addition, Potts provides both individual and semi-private FMS training. For more information, call 609-286-8502, visit PureFitness24.com or Facebook. com/PureFitness24 or email Info@PureFitness24.com. See ad on page 28.

HomeFront Food Drive and Art Display in Ewing

News Briefs We welcome news items relevant to the subject matter of our magazine. We also welcome any suggestions you may have for a news item. Contact us for guidelines so we can assist you throughout the process. We’re here to help!

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EAC Health & Fitness will support HomeFront of Mercer County in two ways for the month of November. First, with a non-perishable food collection drive for HomeFront’s food pantry; and second, by displaying original works of art produced by the members of ArtSpace at HomeFront’s Family Preservation Center, which is dedicated to breaking the cycle of homelessness in Central New Jersey. Through the food pantry, HomeFront distributes approximately 700 bags of free groceries to low-income families each month. In addition, the Emergency Food Bag program allows clients to receive a grocery bag filled with a week’s supply of food from the food pantry once per month. A portion of the food comes from local food drives, such as the one at PEAC. ArtSpace helps HomeFront participants to develop necessary life-building skills using art as therapy. Ruthann Traylor, director of ArtSpace states, says, “We feel the creative process helps build self-esteem and improve emotional well-being. ArtSpace promotes socialization, self-confidence and self-sufficiency to help its clients cultivate the skills necessary to become independent.” HomeFront provides an array of preventive emergency and long-term support services for families that are in danger of becoming homeless including temporary shelters, affordable housing, educational programs for children and life skills and employment readiness training for adults. “PEAC is glad to continue our relationship with HomeFront,” says Christine Tentilucci, PEAC’s marketing coordinator. “We enjoy giving the artists a venue for their art, and we are always overwhelmed by our members’ generosity toward the food drive.” Location: 1440 Lower Ferry Rd. For more information about HomeFront, visit HomeFrontNJ.org. For more information about ArtSpace, contact Ruthann Traylor at RuthannT@HomeFrontNJ.org. For other inquiries, contact Christine Tentilucci at 609-883-2000, email CTentilucci@PEACHealthFitness.com or visit PEACHealthFitness.com.

Holistic Health Extravaganza in New Egypt

esiring to sample holistic health sessions that you have heard or read about but haven’t had the time or weren’t sure who to turn to? Meet experienced, grounded and knowledgeable practitioners at the upcoming Holistic Health Extravaganza from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on November 30 at the American Legion, in New Egypt. Experience foot detox baths, crystal energized mats, feng shui specialists, aura photography, henna artists, ayurvedic spices, energized jewelry and crystals. Meet specialists in yoga, t’ai chi, Reiki, Donna Eden Energy Medicine, craniosacral therapy and massage. As you give the gift of relaxation to yourself, pick up that special holiday gift for someone you care about. Location: American Legion, 2 Meadowbrook Lane, New Egypt. For more information and to learn about the CSA Organic Farm six-week sample gift raffle, contact Siobhan Hutchinson at Siobhan@NextStepStrategiesLLC.com or call 609-752-1048. See ad on page 26.

PEAC Welcomes New Group Exercise Instructors

coverartist

Autumn Pasture by Linda Marcille

EAC Health and Fitness welcomes seven certified teaching professionals to its roster of Group Exercise instructors. Nick Cifelli specializes in boot camp, core, (L-R) Michael Wiley, Nick Cifelli, speed and agility, and plyometrics training. He Vanessa Piepszak, Laurel Reid has been with PEAC for more than six years, working at the service desk and as a camp counselor. Cifelli is a CSCS (Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist), has a Bachelor of Science degree in Health and Exercise Science and is currently a physical therapist intern. Vanessa Piepszak is a boot camp and cross-training instructor and a member of PEAC’s Service Desk team. She holds an AAAI (American Aerobic Association International) certification and a Bachelor of Science degree in Exercise Science. Betsey Valenza specializes in spinning and muscle conditioning. She holds a certification from AFAA (Aerobics and Fitness Association of America), and is also certified to instruct TRX, kettlebells and spinning. Alexis Walker is a boot camp instructor and a member of PEAC’s Service Desk team. Walker earned her AAAI certification and is completing her Bachelor of Science in Health and Exercise Science. Michael Wiley is PEAC’s newest t’ai chi instructor and is certified by Southern Shaolin Academy in Yang Style T’ai Chi. Two instructors have joined PEAC’s group of yoga instructors: Pat Ficoratta, a Level 5 yoga instructor certified by Yoga Fit Teacher Training; and Alissa Lawrence, certified by Prancing Peacock Yoga Studio Teacher Training in Yardley, Pennsylvania. PEAC Health and Fitness offers a wide variety of Group Exercise classes, seven days a week under the direction of Laurel Reid, group exercise director. “We are so excited to welcome these new instructors to our team,” Reid states. “They have great energy and are poised to continue the caliber of the classes we offer our members.”

Linda Marcille’s paintings on silk, mostly whimsical vignettes of rural and urban life in New England, are meant to inspire happy, healing emotions. All are filled with a sense of joy and lightness. Marcille has been drawn to the mysterious and distinctive qualities of silk painting, an ancient Asian art form, since the late 1990s. “There is a serendipitous quality to painting on silk with dyes,” she explains. “The process never allows the artist to be fully in control or to know exactly the effect that will be created.” The artist hopes that the powerful healing force she experiences while painting will be shared by viewers of her work. Her own 10-year battle with an autoimmune disease led her to found the internationally respected Lyme Awareness Art Project, which encourages advanced Lyme sufferers to use creativity as part of their healing process. Marcille chose her studio name, Crow House, to inspire hope, as well. “In Native American legend, the crow represents an omen of change and is a shape-shifter,” she advises. “Crow medicine encourages people to shape-shift their old realities into their future self.”

Location: 1440 Lower Ferry Rd., Ewing. For more information, call Christine Tentilucci at 609-883-2000, email CTentilucci@PEACHealthFitness.com or visit PEACHealthFitness.com.

View the artist’s portfolio at Crow HouseStudio.com and visit her blog at Brattleboro-Muse.blogspot.com.

natural awakenings

November 2013

newsbriefs Harvest for the Holidays in Pennington

oin the Arts Council of Princeton Instructor Janet Keller Laughlin at the Watershed Reserve to create festive decorations that will never wilt from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on November 16, in Pennington. Begin with a hike led by one of the Stony Brook Millstone Watershed teachers and naturalists to collect specimen items such as vines, seed pods and other dried plant materials. Then, head indoors to construct and embellish botanical assemblages, wreaths and arrangements. Supplemental dried-plant material, hot glue guns, wire, grapevine wreaths and orbs will be supplied. Participants should bring their own gloves, clippers and imagination. Cost: $50/$60 members/non-members. Location: SBMWA, 31 Titus Mill Rd., Pennington. Registration is exclusively through the Arts Council; call 609-924-8777.

Save the Date: Local Craft Show in Hamilton

aint Gregory the Great Academy PTA will sponsor a fall craft and vendor show from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on November 9, in Hamilton. All proceeds will benefit the students of the Academy. The event will include crafts and products for sale from local area vendors, sweet and savory food tables, 50/50 raffle, plus Saint Gregory the Great Academy merchandise for sale. Breakfast and lunch will be available as well. Location: Saint Gregory the Great Parish Center, 4680 Nottingham Way. Vendor applications can be obtained by visiting StGregoryTheGreatAcademy.org, emailing CraftShow@StGregoryTheGreat.org or calling 609-587-1131 ext 546.

Diabetes Awareness Day Events in Two Counties

he Greater Mercer Public Health Partnership will sponsor its first-ever Diabetes Awareness Day events from 7 to 9 a.m., 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. on November 6 throughout Mercer and Middlesex counties. This is a coordinated effort to increase community understanding by providing diabetes education and screenings at five locations throughout both counties. This program was developed in response to feedback from residents via a recent community-needs assessment. The information obtained indicated many residents want and need to know more about prevention, diagnosis and treatment of diabetes. The fun, educational and invaluable community health day sessions will inform about pre-diabetes, diabetes, nutrition and exercise and provide free blood glucose screenings. Locations: Quakerbridge Mall, 150 Quakerbridge Mall, Lawrenceville; Capital Health Medical Center, 1 Capital Way, Hopewell; RWJ Fitness & Wellness Center, 3100 Quakerbridge Rd., Mercerville; St. Lawrence Rehabilitation Center, 2318 Lawrenceville Rd., Lawrenceville; and University Medical Center of Princeton, 1 Plainsboro Rd., Plainsboro. 8

Mercer County, NJ

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Grand Re-Opening of OM Central Jersey Massage

M Central Jersey Massage, LLC, founded by Brian Critchley, is now the massage practice in residence at Plainsboro’s Center for Relaxation & Healing that is celebrating a grand re-opening on November 1. The Center has served the community for over a decade and will now have a full-time massage practice from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Monday through Friday, and by appointment from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays, focusing specifically on delivering high-quality, therapeutic massage for the relief of chronic pain, recovery from injury or surgery and correction of postural imbalances. “With the increase in daily stress in our lives, it is essential to have regular maintenance practices that keep our bodies, minds and spirits healthy,” comments Critchley. “OM Central Jersey Massage has been dedicated to helping local individuals achieve those goals through therapeutic massage and yoga since 2009. Now with a permanent home, the practice will be able to serve more people each week who need these services.” Natural Awakenings readers that are new clients to OM can obtain a $10 discount for their first visit by showing the ad in this issue. Thirtyminute targeted massages start at $50. Location: 666 Plainsboro Rd., Ste. 635, Plainsboro. Appointments can be scheduled online at CentralJersey. MassageTherapy.com. For more information, call Critchley at 609-3062618 or email BrianJCritchley@ MassageTherapy.com. See ad on page 17.

Princeton Resident Presents Lecture Chronicling Successful Mt. Everest Climb

EAC Health & Fitness, in Ewing, will host a presentation by member Scott Smith who successfully climbed Mt. Everest last May. The lecture will be held at 6:30 p.m. on November 5 and is open to the public. Smith will present Scott Smith on Mt. Everest details about his training and preparation for the climb, as well as details about the two-month-long hike from a base camp to Mt. Everest’s summit at an elevation of 29,029 feet. He will share his slideshow, which magnificently chronicles the feat from his arrival in Nepal to finally standing on top of the world, and will also display some of the specialized equipment needed for the climb. Time will be allotted for questions from the audience. “Scott’s accomplishment is a testament to hard work and determination,” says Christine Tentilucci, PEAC’s marketing coordinator. “We are excited for others to hear about his experience and possibly be motivated to meet their own challenges.” Smith was born and raised in central Vermont, where his interest in hiking began. For 20 years he worked in corporate finance with multi-national companies. Leaving the corporate world in 2010 to become a private investor allowed him to actively pursue his lifelong passion for the outdoors and adventure travel. He has climbed in Peru, Ecuador, Argentina and Nepal, and is currently planning his next series of climbs in North and South America. Scott, who resides in Princeton, has two sons and is also an avid tennis and ice hockey player.

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Come Visit Our Farm

Cost: free for PEAC members; $10 for non-members. Location: 1440 Lower Ferry Rd. For reservations, call PEAC’s Service Desk at 609-883-2000. For more information, email CTentilucci@PEACHealthFitness.com.

Check our web site for upcoming events, classes, and farm store hours.

www.cherrygrovefarm.com 3200 Lawrenceville Rd. Lawrenceville, NJ 08648 natural awakenings

November 2013

A DV E RTO R I A L

Natural Iodine Supplementation A Must for Most Americans

e all need iodine, yet most of us don’t get enough of it through our diet. A study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that iodine deficiency in the developed world has increased fourfold in the past 40 years and now affects nearly three-quarters of all adults. Numerous U.S. practicing physicians quoted widely in the media estimate that the incidence of hypothyroidism in our adult population may be between 30 and 70 percent. Thus, we can’t efficiently produce the thyroid hormones that serve as chemical messengers triggering nearly every bodily function. The presence or absence of iodine affects our every cell.

Symptoms can range from extreme fatigue and weight gain to depression, carpal tunnel syndrome, high blood pressure, fibrocystic breasts and a variety of skin and hair problems. Hypothyroidism can further cause infertility, joint pain, heart disease and stroke. Low iodine levels also have been associated with breast and thyroid cancers. In children, insufficient iodine has been strongly linked with mental retardation, deafness, attention deficient and hyperactivity disorder and impaired growth, according to studies by Boston University, China’s Jiao Tong University School of Medicine and France’s National Academy of Medicine. The answer is simple: Taking the right kind of iodine in the right dosage can rebalance thyroid function and restore health to the thyroid and the whole body.

Be Aware of Hypothyroidism Symptoms Low thyroid function, or hypothyroidism, is the most recognized and obvious indicator of low iodine intake because the thyroid gland contains more concentrated iodine than other organs.

A Few Drops Can Change Your Life! You could feel better, lose weight or increase energy and mental clarity with a few drops of Natural Awakenings DETOXIFIED IODINE daily in water or on your skin when used as directed. An essential component of the thyroid, iodine replacement has been reported to give relief from: • Depression • Fibromyalgia • Hypothyroidism • Radiation

• Weight Gain • Low Energy • Hyperthyroidism • Bacteria & Viruses

4-6 week supply ONLY $20

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Natural Awakenings Detoxifed Iodine is 100 percent natural, raw iodine in an ethyl alcohol solution. We thank all those that are benefiting from this product and enthusiastically telling us their great results.  Available only at NAWebstore.com  My wife, who suffered from extreme fatigue and other symptoms, saw a dramatic increase in energy after just a few days of taking the natural iodine drops. Now if she misses a day, she’ll end up falling asleep in the middle of the afternoon, like she used to do before taking the iodine. It works! ~ Aaron My doctor told me that I had a hypothyroid condition, prescribed medication and was happy with the follow-up test results, yet I noticed no positive effects on my overall wellbeing. Within two weeks of using the Natural Awakenings Detoxified Iodine, I had more energy, felt more awake and enjoyed clearer thinking and greater peace of mind. People even comment that I look younger. I am a fan! ~ Larry

Reasons Behind Iodine Deficiency Radiation: Almost everyone is routinely exposed to iodine-depleting radiation emitted by cell phones, Wi-Fi, microwave ovens and other electronic devices. Iodized table salt: The human body cannot utilize the iodine added to this product. Low-sodium diets: Failure to use healthy salts to fulfill sodium requirements, plus overuse of zero-nutrient table salt in foods, leads to iodine depletion. Bromine: This toxic chemical overrides iodine’s abilities to nourish the thyroid, adrenal and other hormone-producing glands. A known carcinogen, it is used as an anticaking ingredient found in almost all baked goods, unless the ingredients specifically cite unbromated flour. Iodine-depleted soils: Due to poor farming techniques, iodine and other minerals in soil have declined, so most foods today are devoid of naturally occurring iodine. Proper iodine supplementation with a high-quality product like Natural Awakenings Detoxified Iodine can prevent harm by protecting the thyroid and other endocrine glands and restoring proper hormone production.

kudos Bald Eagles and Bobcats Depicted in Art

&R Greenway Land Trust and the Conserve Wildlife Foundation of New Jersey (CWFNJ) are proudly presenting Species on the Edge, a display of prize-winning art by statewide fifth-grade students, on November 8 in the Olivia Rainbow Gallery at the Johnson Education Center, in Princeton. This winning artwork and accompanying essays from 2,000-plus entries depict some of New Jersey’s more than 80 endangered and Lana Glisic threatened wildlife species. The foundation conducts the contest each year to raise awareness about our rarest wildlife residents and call attention to the urgency of preserving our unique wildlife and habitats. The Mercer County winner is Lana Glisic, a student at Riverside School, in Princeton. Glisic drew a bobcat, an elusive wild cat that can be found primarily in the northwestern part of New Jersey. For the statewide Species on the Edge Art & Essay Contest, beginning each fall on October 1, the children choose an endangered area wildlife species and research it, essentially becoming temporary wildlife biologists. They then create artwork and write an essay about their chosen species. A winner is chosen from every participating county in our state. Created in 1998, the CWFNJ protects and preserves the rare and imperiled species of wildlife that live, breed and migrate throughout the state. The organization helps restore habitat, manage species, educate and engage citizens and conduct research on New Jersey’s rarest wildlife members. Location: D&R Greenway Land Trust, Johnson Education Center, 1 Preservation Place, off Rosedale Rd., Princeton. For more information, call 609-924-4646 or visit DRGreenway.org. For more information about the contest, visit ConserveWildlifeNJ.org.

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Bobcat by Lana Glisic

reetings. I am the bobcat, or Lynx rufus. I live in the beautiful, green forests of New Jersey. You can recognize me by my yellow-green eyes, tufted ear-tips, golden-brown fur and black, spotted tabby markings. We are named after our short, “bobbed’’ tails. Cats like me can range from a yellow to a reddish-brown, too, and with stripes or spots. I hunt muskrats, mice, squirrels, insects, birds, and rabbits for my meals. Sometimes, sick or dead deer can become our food, also. My species, though, is in danger. There are only a few of us left, and we are on the endangered list. People must help my decreasing species—the bobcat—because of the few numbers of us that are left from over hunting, the small and rare stretches of living territory we have and the roads we die on. Beauty will be lost from New Jersey and food chains will be broken if the fascinating felines like me become extinct. The bobcats’ plummet of species started a long time ago. When European settlers first came, they hunted cats like me down for our beautiful fur and pelt. If a bobcat attacked them, it would quickly be killed. This relentless over hunting caused many bobcats to die, lowering our numbers. Deforestation occurred not much later. It was a great blow for felines like me, and a massive loss. As trees were cleared for fuel, lumber and charcoal, our habitat became fragmented. Woodlands were changed to agricultural land, leaving the bobcats’ living territory in small, isolated stretches. This prevented things such as breeding and contact with other bobcats. It caused many more of my type to die out, leaving my species weaker and rarer. As roads were built in the forests, my species frequently passed away under the wheels of cars. As they tried to cross into other parts of their territory, many bobcats were hit by passing vehicles. Lots of cats suffered from this threat. It decreased the number of my species even more. In conclusion, I repeat that felines like me need help. For our survival, and the survival of all the bobcat kits to come, you have to act. You must help my rare species before it becomes extinct. We have barely survived over hunting, habitat loss and dying on roads. If one more mistake happens, bobcats will die. natural awakenings

November 2013

healthbriefs

Rosemary Revs Up Memory

R Mindful Meditation Relieves Inflammation

new University of Wisconsin-Madison study shows that meditation, a proven reducer of psychological stress, can also lessen stress-caused inflammation and thereby relieve the symptoms and pain of certain diseases. Long-term stress has long been linked to inflammation, an underlying cause of many diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis, bowel disease, asthma, heart disease and Type 2 diabetes. Meditation study volunteers were divided into two groups—an eight-week mindfulness meditation course or a stress reduction program of supportive nutrition, exercise and music therapy that did not include meditation. The meditation group focused attention on the breath, bodily sensations and mental content while seated, walking or practicing yoga. Immune and endocrine data was collected before and after training in the two methods and meditation proved to be more effective. Melissa Rosenkranz, a neuroscientist with the university’s Center for Investigating Healthy Minds and lead author of the report, concludes that, “The mindfulness-based approach to stress reduction may offer a lower-cost alternative or complement to standard treatment, and it can be practiced easily by patients in their own homes whenever needed.”

Tanning Beds Invite Melanoma

s summer tans fade, some might feel tempted to use tanning beds to keep a “healthy glow”, but they may be less than healthy. A recent multi-country meta-study published in the British Medical Journal confirms that exposure to a tanning bed’s intense doses of ultraviolet light significantly increases the risk of cutaneous melanoma, the deadliest type of skin cancer. Of the 64,000 new melanoma cases diagnosed each year in Europe, more than 5 percent were linked by researchers to tanning bed use. Users experience a 20 percent increased relative risk of all types of skin cancer compared with those that have never used one. This risk doubles if indoor tanning starts before the age of 35, and the risk increases with every session.

Happy Life, Healthy Heart

eelings matter when it comes to protecting a person’s physical health. Researchers at Boston’s Harvard School of Public Health reviewing more than 200 studies published in two major scientific databases found a direct correlation between positive psychological well-being and a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease, including heart attacks and strokes. They concluded that positive feelings like optimism, life satisfaction and happiness are associated with the reduced risk, regardless of a person’s age, weight or socioeconomic or smoking status.

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osemary’s folkloric reputation for improving memory has been validated by science. UK researchers at London’s Northumbria University found that when the essential oil of rosemary was diffused into a room—a method practiced in aromatherapy—it enhanced participants’ ability to remember past events and remind themselves to do tasks planned for the future, like sending an anniversary card. Mark Moss, Ph.D., head of psychology at Northumbria, says, “We wanted to build on our previous research that indicated rosemary aroma improved long-term memory and mental arithmetic. In this study, we focused on prospective memory, which is critical for everyday functioning.” In the study, 66 people randomly assigned to either a rosemary-scented or unscented room were asked to complete a variety of tests to assess their memory functions. Those in the rosemary-scented room outperformed the control group. Blood analysis of those exposed to the rosemary aroma confirmed higher concentrations of 1,8-cineole, the oil’s compound specifically linked to memory improvement. The researchers concluded that the aroma of rosemary essential oil can enhance cognitive functioning in healthy individuals and may have implications for treating people with memory impairment. The findings were presented at the British Psychological Society Annual Conference, in Harrogate.

Walnuts Strengthen Sperm

dding a handful of walnuts to a man’s daily diet might just increase the chance of pregnancy for couples with fertility problems. Scientists attribute male infertility as the central issue in 30 to 50 percent of the 70 million couples worldwide experiencing such difficulties. Researchers at the University of California, Los Angeles, investigated whether increasing intake of the polyunsaturated fatty acids found in fish, flax seed and walnuts that are critical for sperm maturation and membrane function would increase sperm quality in men consuming a typical Western-style diet. They found that less than three ounces of walnuts added to a man’s daily diet improved sperm strength, size and motility (swimming ability). The men eating the walnuts also showed fewer chromosomal abnormalities in their sperm.

The Killer Called Sugar

new animal study from the University of Utah, in Salt Lake City, reports daunting results. Female mice that consumed the equivalent of a human drinking three cans of soft drinks a day doubled their death rate from all causes. The study further showed that fertility rates dropped dramatically in male mice and their innate ability to defend their territory diminished. All of the sugar-saturated mice performed poorly on cognitive tests. The lab mice received a diet in which 25 percent of their total calories came from sugar (not high fructose corn syrup, which carries substantial additional health risks). That’s an amount commonly consumed in the Standard American Diet, easy to do in one sitting via a super-sized soft drink.

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November 2013

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

Giving Group

Millennials Devote Time, Talent, Treasure Much is rightly written about how and why “millennials”, or “Generation Y”—the young people heading into the 21st century—spend their time and money. This generation is redefining the way we think about business, and conscious consumerism is now its own form of philanthropy. This age group is leading the charge by extending the premise of a moral compass to for-profit enterprises and looking for ever-more meaningful opportunities to have an impact. The trend carries fresh implications for the nonprofit sector, too, because millennials lead the way in forwarding worthy causes. When The Case Foundation partnered with Achieve, a thought leader in nonprofit millennial engagement, to produce the Millennial Impact Report, researchers surveyed more than 2,500 millennials ages 20 to 35. They found that last year, 83 percent gave a financial gift to an organization supporting a cause that resonates with their interests. Seventy-three percent volunteered for a cause that they were passionate about or felt created impact, and 70 percent are raising money for their causes both online and offline.

Frack Attack

Controversial Drilling Threatens Pacific Ocean Federal regulators have approved at least two hydraulic fracturing, or “fracking”, operations on oil rigs in the Santa Barbara Channel off the coast of California since 2009 without an updated environmental review that critics say may be required by federal law. Environmental advocates are concerned that regulators and the industry have not properly reviewed the potential impacts of fracking in the Pacific outer continental shelf. Fracking, a subject of heated debate, is a method of drilling that forces water, chemicals and sand deep beneath the Earth’s surface at high pressure to break up underground rock and release oil and gas. Offshore fracking is currently used to stimulate oil production in old wells and provide well-bore stability. In California, the oil company Venoco has been using fracking technology to stimulate oil production in an old well off the coast of Santa Barbara— where the public memory of the nation’s third-largest oil spill in 1969 lingers—since early 2010. Another firm recently received permission for fracking in the Santa Barbara Channel, home to the Channel Islands Marine Reserve. So far, offshore fracking is rare, but officials expect that other firms may seek to utilize the environmentally damaging technology on offshore rigs in the future. Source: Tinyurl.com/PacificFracking 14

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Holy Eco-Crisis!

Capital Idea

Deadly Fungus Destroying Bat Colonies White-nose syndrome, a disease spread by a soil fungus, G. destructans, and thought to have been carried to North America from Europe, is devastating bat colonies in the U.S. and Canada. First identified in 2006 in a population of common little brown bats in a cave 150 miles north of New York City, the malady has claimed 98 percent of the bat population there by causing them to awaken prematurely from their normal hibernation and then die from lack of food and exhaustion. A single reproductive female little brown bat can eat her weight in insects each night. A recent Canadian study valued crops potentially lost to insects that would otherwise be devoured by bats at $53 billion a year. Without the bats to keep insect numbers down, farmers may turn to greater use of pesticides. Source: Telegraph.co.uk

Pass Go

Cooperation Rules in New Board Game Monopoly is a traditional, popular board game that provides fun for the whole family as players ruthlessly strive to outwit each other, form a monopoly and take ownership of all the real estate, houses, hotels and money. If that doesn’t seem like a pastime that teaches values of fairness and social justice, there’s a new game in town—Co-opoly. In the 21st-century game, invented by the Toolbox for Education and Social Action (ToolboxForEd.org), players develop cooperative businesses using a team effort. Sharing knowledge and creating cooperative strategies determine whether everyone wins or loses. Instead of encouraging players to grab up all the wealth and bankrupt others, it showcases the economic success that can result when people work together.

Social Networking Funds Local Business Community Sourced Capital (CSC) is a newly formed lender headquartered in Seattle, Washington, that aims to apply the crowdsourcing model to encourage the growth of locally owned businesses. “The hardest part is often not attracting shoppers once the project is off the ground,” explains co-founder Casey Dilloway, “but securing capital to get it started.” CSC’s objective is to harness the power of the connections that tie local people together—both via social media and in the physical world—to find people willing to loan money to small local businesses. They may initially connect through Community SourcedCapital.com. Lenders make funds available in $50 blocks up to a maximum of $250 per project, and are acknowledged by the receipt of a pale-blue square card bearing the CSC logo, which identifies them as “Squareholders”. The funds are then made available to borrowers at zero interest, and loans are paid back at a designated rate based on the company’s revenue. CSC makes loans of up to $50,000. Source: Yes magazine

Safer Sleep

People- and Planet-Friendly Fire Retardants An ultrathin film that consists of polymers found in crustacean shells could be an environmentally friendly alternative to the flame retardants used in bedding and sofas. Mattresses and furniture cushions are typically made of highly flammable polyurethane foam; to meet fire safety guidelines, manufacturers treat the foam with fire-retardant chemicals. These are typically brominated compounds that studies by the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, in The Netherlands, have shown can act as endocrine disruptors, leading to neurological problems or even cancer. The European Union has banned several of the flame-retardant compounds and U.S. and Canadian regulatory agencies have started to scrutinize their use. The nano-coating could be sprayed on foam, which would make it easy for mass production; several companies have expressed interest in the material. Source: Chemical & Engineering News natural awakenings

November 2013

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Bamboozled

Bamboo Fabric a Product of Greenwashing At least one dealer in sustainable products has taken a stand against bamboo fabric, which most people associate with bamboo lumber, a rapidly renewable resource that requires fewer pesticides to grow than other crops. Laura Mathews, of Eco Promotional Products, Inc., in Washington state, cites the Federal Trade Commission’s report: “The truth is, most bamboo textile products, if not all, really are rayon, which typically is made using environmentally toxic chemicals. While different plants, including bamboo, can be used as a source material to create rayon, there’s no trace of the original plant in the finished rayon product.” Mathews says that her company has discontinued selling bamboo clothing and all other items made from bamboo fabric. She notes, “It’s the responsibility of everyone to vet these and other similar terms to ensure that the eco-friendly product you’re putting your purchasing power behind is actually eco-friendly.” Source: EcoPromotionsOnline.com

Second Verse

Kids Turn Trash into Musical Instruments Young musicians from the village of Cateura, Paraguay, a town of 2,500 families that make a living by mining the 1,500 tons of solid waste daily dumped in a local landfill, have started making musical instruments from the debris. Favio Chávez, an ecological technician and trained musician, was inspired to teach the local children to play music in an orchestra. He says, “The world sends us garbage, we send back music.” A documentary, Landfill Harmonic, is in production and a 30-member Recycled Orchestra has performed in Argentina, Brazil and Germany. The message is that like other natural resources, children living in poverty have redeeming value and should not be deemed worthless. photo courtesy of Landfill Harmonic

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Watch videos at Tinyurl.com/ChavezOrchestra and Facebook.com/landfillharmonicmovie.

Table Label

Chipotle’s Identifies GMO Ingredients Although the U.S. Food and Drug Administration does not require the labeling of genetically modified organisms (GM or GMO) used as ingredients in any food, the Chipotle Mexican Grill national fast food restaurant chain has chosen to do so, on the way to eliminating them from its menu altogether. They have already switched fryers from using soybean oil, almost always made from genetically modified sources, to sunflower oil, which is not. With 1,400 locations, Chipotle reports that its labeling system reflects that it does use GMO soybean oil in some of its products and that most of the grain used to feed its animals for meat and dairy is GMO corn. The chain’s success in this effort may also prompt other fast food outlets to follow suit.

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Digital Detox

Unplug to Cut Stress, Up Success Whether it’s extreme texting, tweeting, Googling, posting or blogging, the phenomenon of being caught in the web of the Web is real. Rationalizations range from coping with today’s information overload to fear of missing out (FOMO). Yet, detriments of such continual digital connectedness range from the stifling of family and social bonds to a lack of life skills that only face-to-face communication fosters. In 2011, The New York University Child Study Center reported that 8-to-18year-olds average more than six hours of daily media use and that school grades of a surveyed group that considered themselves “heavy” users were considerably lower than their “light” use counterparts. Stanford Communications Professor Clifford Nass, author of The Man Who Lied to His Laptop, remarked in a 2013 NPR interview that people that do extensive media multitasking “can’t filter out irrelevancy, can’t manage memory and are chronically distracted. They say they are productive and can ‘shut it off’, but can’t keep on task and focus on one thing.” Fortunately, programs to unplug are catching on. More than 400 middle and high schools in 20 U.S. states plus Canada took a Digital Blackout Challenge to refrain from using electronic devices for one week during the 2012-2013 school year (DigitalBlackout.org). From Chief Sealth International High School, in Seattle, Washington, senior Marissa Evans says the experience informed her “there’s a balance between ‘too much’ and ‘just enough’” in being connected, and classmate Alex Askerov terms the Challenge “a breath of fresh air.” For the 2013 documentary film, Sleeping with Siri, Seattle-based journalist Michael Stusser underwent a one-week, self-assessed “techno gorge”, followed by a digital detox of the same duration. During stage one, he said his blood pressure went up 40 points after four days. He found, “You’re always waiting for a response.” He subsequently enjoyed being disconnected. Foresters, a Toronto, Ontario-based life insurance provider, asks families to take a Tech Timeout pledge for at least one hour every day and make Sundays entirely non-tech, packed with family activities and socializing. Learn more at TechTimeout.com.

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November 2013

Cherry Grove Farm Sustainably and Organically Focused by Gayle Wilson Rose

oday’s go-to online information resource Wikipedia credits our Garden State for three important contributions to cuisine: the development of the Mason jar, grape juice and frozen food. It may need a reference update as the artisanal cheeses crafted by Cherry Grove Farm are now a major force on the local and regional food scenes. This Lawrenceville farm has received such positive attention that a food network TV reality show recently visited to film their cows and spotlight their milking and cheesemaking processes. The local family that owns and operates this 480-acre farm has deep roots in the community. The Hamills have been tending to the land for the past 111 years. When the family patriarch passed away a decade ago and bequeathed the farmland to his three sons, they charted a new direction in his honor: A return to a more pastoral way of farming with a local, organic and sustainable focus. “More than anything, we want to ensure that our land remains intact and accessible to the public, and the animals that we raise are healthy and thriving,” explains Oliver Hamill. Sustainable agriculture, an increasingly common phrase, is a practice in the food and farming industries that’s based on ecological principles with a reverence for the relationship between organisms and their environment. “For us, sustainability is natural—a pastoral method that was used before mass production began dominating farming and food production,” says Kathy Simon, the 18

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farm’s retail and marketing manager. “It’s a way of not just minimizing our environmental impact but we are leaving the land better than we found it.” With a nod to the savvy consumer’s growing desire to know where their food comes from, the farm’s practices are transparent and questions are welcome. Adds Simon, “We take our organic pasture certification seriously. We produce healthy food without hormones, antibiotics or steroids and are proud of that.”

80 Happy Cows

The milk from the farm’s 80 grass-fed dairy cows are at the heart of their handcrafted cheeses. Dairy herdsman Brian Barber notes, “We have chosen a mixed herd of cows, including jersey, Dutch belted and short horns, because of the diverse qualities that each breed contributes. Those attributes, along with flavors of seasonal pasturage, are what makes our cheeses unique.” Like wine and olive oil, the unique qualities of the environment impact the ultimate flavor of the cheese. Throughout the year, the taste and even the appearance of the farms’ cheeses transform based on the changes in the grass and plants in the pastures. Barber’s careful handling of the cows has another positive impact. Cherry Grove practices rotational grazing where the herd is moved regularly, giving the pastures time to rest and regrow. At any given time, just half the

herd is being milked while the other half are expecting calves or resting. In winter, the cows are fed hay grown on the farm and a small amount of certified non-GMO grain. Twice daily, the cows come in from grazing to be milked. Otherwise they are roaming and enjoying life as cows do.

Cheese Glorious Cheese

Cheese is an essential element in many recipes and is diverse in its forms: from mild to sharp, soft to hard and everything in between. The farm’s many cheese varieties include Buttercup Brie, seasonal Jacks, Rosedale, Herdsman, Toma, Havilah and Cheddar Curds. “Our cheese makers are constantly experimenting to perfect the varieties and recently added fresh ricotta to the lineup. It’s a new customer favorite,” beams Simon. They now age Havilah for much longer than the original six to nine months. “The extra aging has made a major impact on its taste. We took it from being a good table cheese to one whose flavor at 17 months is best described as superlative,” explains Jamie Png, one of the farm’s cheese makers. Cheese making is both art and science, and farm loyalists have expressed so much interest in what goes into making the great cheeses of Cherry Grove Farm that they now offer cheesemaking classes. “We started with a monthly two-hour class focused on ricotta and

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mozzarella production. Due to high demand, we’ve expanded the class offering to twice monthly.”

Where Oh Where?

Where can one get their hands on the farm’s culinary treasures? At the Cherry Grove Farm’s on-site store where they sell their farmstead cheeses as well as whey-fed pork, grass-fed lamb and beef, pasture-raised eggs and myriad locally sourced goods. Cherry Grove cheeses are also offered in numerous shops in the tri-state area that focus on quality, local-sourced foods. Many regional restaurants, as far south as Philadelphia and as far north as New York City, feature Cherry Grove cheeses on their menus. Whole Earth in Princeton and Allen’s Orchard in north Jersey are two of many key retailers. With the family farm’s passion for quality food backed by responsible animal husbandry, one can see and taste quality. The farm team serves as an optimal model of what happens when farmers and food producers blend the ideals of their craft with care for the land. Even Mother Earth can smile in response. Location: 3200 Lawrenceville Rd. (Rte. 206 N.), Lawrenceville. For more information, call 609-219-005, email CherryGroveFarmEvents@gmail.com or visit CherryGroveFarm.com. See ad on page 9. Gayle Wilson Rose is a frequent contributor to Natural Awakenings. Learn more at DashWriter.com.

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November 2013

Transform Your Life with Mentors, Books, Workshops and Online Courses by Bess J.M. Hochstein

Our capacity for self-examination distinguishes us from other animals. We feel compelled to ask: “Who am I? What am I here for? How can I attain my full potential?” The quest for answers has engaged humans for millennia.

opular books that have helped people on this journey span centuries, from Wallace Wattles’ The Science of Getting Rich (1910), Napoleon Hill’s Think and Grow Rich (1937), Dale Carnegie’s How to Win Friends and Influence People (1937), Abraham Maslow’s Motivation and Personality (1954) and Dr. Thomas Anthony Harris’ I’m OK, You’re OK (1967) to Rhonda Byrne’s The Secret (2006). The personal growth genre is a cornerstone of the publishing industry. Companies like Hay House, founded by motivational author Louise Hay, have flourished. Hay teaches, “No matter where we live or how difficult

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our situation seems to be, we have the ability to overcome and transcend our circumstances.” The success of her 1984 book, You Can Heal Your Life, a New York Times bestseller well into the 21st century, led to her publishing empire, which includes authors such as Dr. Wayne Dyer, Caroline Myss and Joan Borysenko, Ph.D. One of its recent top sellers is Pam Grout’s E-Squared: Nine Do-It-Yourself Energy Experiments that Prove Your Thoughts Create Your Reality. Hay House has expanded its messages of hope and healing through online courses, films, conferences, special events and other opportunities to meet leading thinkers and peers.

Courtesy of Doug Ellis/Esalen Institute

Fast Track to Personal Growth

Such expansion is essential as more of those pursuing the examined life seek personal interaction in community and find that inward exploration frequently translates into outward action to improve the world. Perched on the cliffs of Big Sur, in California, the Esalen Institute, established in 1962, helped birth the modern human potential movement. It exists to help individuals grow through education, experience and research, with the conviction that positive personal and social transformation go hand-in-hand. Today, Esalen offers about 600 workshops a year, serving around 12,000 participants. Popular programs range from dance and yoga to couples workshops and psychology courses. Cheryl Fraenzl, director of programs, explains the appeal: “For most of us, life can be challenging and messy. Gaining the insight, skills and tools to move through the challenging times with more ease and grace while creating more love for yourself and those around you seems like a good investment of time and energy. Being consciously kind and relationally wise ripples out and changes the world. The effort has to start with the individual, like paying it forward; imagine if we all were doing it?” The largest holistic retreat center in North America, Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health, in Stockbridge, Massachusetts, attracts 35,000 participants to 800 programs annually. According to Denise Barack, the nonprofit’s director of program development, current workshops in high demand include qigong, Buddhist meditation, mindfulness and yoga nidra. She also notes a growing interest in diverse dimensions of yoga, dance and “authentic movement” for

~ Plato healing, addiction recovery, releasing trauma and energy medicine. Psychotherapist and yoga teacher Stephen Cope, founder and director of the Kripalu Institute for Extraordinary Living, the Center’s yoga research department, notes that many guests first come to Kripalu “… as a result of some form of suffering. Then they engage in a period of self-exploration—perhaps learning some form of contemplative practice to help them manage themselves more effectively. Almost always there is a turn outward, back toward the world, and a longing to bring the healing power of contemplative practice into their own domain.” Once someone has experienced the benefits of contemplative practices such as yoga, meditation, breathing and other healthy lifestyle routines, notes Cope, a powerful aspiration typically arises to share these practices and perspectives. “These practices all lead to a sense of union, relatedness and sameness with others,” he says, “and this burgeoning consciousness of sameness compels us to share what we’ve learned.” In Rhinebeck, New York, the Omega Institute for Holistic Studies offers similar self-empowering and reflective opportunities. Dr. Stephan Rechtschaffen and Elizabeth Lesser founded Omega in 1977 as a “university of life.” Through working with prominent Zen masters, rabbis, Christian monks, psychologists, scientists and others, Lesser has found, “By combining a variety of religious, psychological and healing traditions,

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The unexamined life is not worth living for a human being.

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each of us has the unique ability to satisfy our spiritual hunger.” Based since 1981 in a former camp on a lake with more than 100 buildings on 200-plus acres, Omega hosts more than 23,000 guests in up to 500 programs between mid-April and October, plus special programs in Costa Rica and New York City. Director of Rhinebeck Programs Carol Donahoe notes the rising interest in workshops on dietary cleansing, detox and juicing, such as “Reboot with Joe Cross: A Jump Start to Health and Weight Loss,” led by the filmmaker of Fat, Sick & Nearly Dead. Personal transformation and mindfulness programs led by teachers like Jon Kabat-Zinn, Saki Santorelli, Florence Meleo-Meyer, Byron Katie and Pema Chödrön are perennial favorites. “As humans, we continue to be fascinated by the big questions in life,” observes Donahoe, “like, ‘Where do we go when we die? Who are we if we are not our thoughts?’ People seem particularly drawn to hearing about it from those that have always lived their lives in a left-brain, logical way, and then come to believe the unexplainable through an extraordinary life experience, and now view the world through a completely different lens.” As examples, she cites neurosurgeon Dr. Eben Alexander, who recounts his near-death experience in his bestselling book, Proof of Heaven, and neuroanatomist Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor, author of the bestselling memoir My Stroke of Insight. Taylor’s 2008 TED talk was ranked the nonprofit’s second most-watched for the past two years. Both of these cutting-edge thinkers have given presentations at Omega, which, like at Esalen and Kripalu, helps bring ideas and practices that

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November 2013

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Bess Hochstein is a freelance writer enjoying bicoastal bliss in Berkshire County, Massachusetts, and Sonoma County, California. Connect at BessHochstein.com.

Courtesy of Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health

Photo by Ali Kaukas / Wanderlust Festival

once seemed on the fringe—from yoga and meditation to complementary medicine and sustainability—into mainstream consciousness. Particularly innovative initiatives include helping military veterans heal from post-traumatic stress disorder; the women’s leadership center; the center for sustainable living; and pioneering programs on mindfulness in the workplace, education system and at-risk urban youth communities. “We recognize that because we live in an interconnected world; the behavior of one can contribute to creating changes that benefit the whole,” says Donahoe. “Doing both the inner and outer work can awaken the best in the human spirit, and so provide hope and healing to individuals and society.” For those unable to travel great distances for a holistic immersion experience in community with like-minded seekers, Wanderlust Festivals may offer an answer. Four-day regional summits, primarily held at ski resorts during the off-season, feature teachers like Shiva Rea, Elena Brower and Gurmukh; stimulating discussions; yoga; music and adventure, amidst stunning vistas. Wanderlust co-founders Sean Hoess and Jeff Krasno strive to create an expansive space for personal growth and mindful living. One common element at every gathering—now including urban and exotic locales—is Seane Corn and Suzanne Sterling’s Off the Mat program, mobilizing yoga students toward activating social change. The Shift Network is dedicated to creating an online community that shares the tools of self-actualization, empowering a global movement of people creating an evolutionary shift of consciousness that leads to a more enlightened society, built on principles of sustainability, peace, health and prosperity. This new model for the human

potential movement has roots in the grandfather of retreat centers; The Shift Network’s founder, Stephen Dinan, both worked at Esalen and contributed to Esalen’s Center for Theory & Research. Dinan explains that at a meditation retreat, he received a detailed vision of “a large global transformation network that would be helping to usher in a shift to the new era.” The Shift Network now offers free teleseminars and online summits on subjects ranging from meditation and parenting with presence to enlightened business practices and cultivating peace. “We started with The Sacred Awakening Series—40 days with 40 spiritual leaders—and 30,000 people signed up in 21 days,” says Dinan. The Inspiring Women Summit attracted 25,000 participants. Since 2010, more than 400,000 people from 160 countries have participated in free teleseminars; 18,000 have paid for online courses such as Barbara Marx Hubbard’s Agents of Conscious Evolution, Andrew Harvey’s Christ Path and Thomas Hüebl’s Authentic Awakening. The Shift Network has already reached profitability and donated more than $50,000 to nonprofits. Dinan’s vision includes providing education program certifications; building a multimedia platform of e-zines, mobile phone apps and web TV broadcasts; and eventually building facilities and intentional communities to model the possibilities of a more healthy, peaceful, sustainable way of life. From reading a book on meditation to attending a yoga intensive or tapping into a multifaceted community striving to change the world, we have myriad opportunities to lead an examined life. While the seeker may have a personal goal in mind, each mode of self-inquiry can expand outward toward making the world a better place. Hay encourages us all. “You’ve been criticizing yourself for years and it hasn’t worked. Try approving of yourself and see what happens.”

Seeding Growth

ersonal growth can be advanced by activities that improve selfknowledge and identity, develop talents and potential, build human capital and employability, enhance quality of life and contribute to the realization of dreams and aspirations. It’s worth investing in: Consider these core universal benefits.

Self-Awareness

Growing self-awareness enables an individual to live a life by design, instead of one marred by feelings of mediocrity, discontent or being a victim of circumstance. When elevated awareness becomes one’s modus operandi, it brings infinite spiritual riches to life.

Happiness

Successful growth requires taking personal responsibility for each choice we make in shaping and responding to circumstances and other people. Most of us are happier when we feel that we have some control over creating our own reality. Feeling empowered supports self-worth and increases our confidence to make even more of the changes we desire to comfort and nurture us and keep us safe.

Success

True success isn’t about the dollars and cents of financial worth—it’s realized via living a life of balance and fulfillment in our health, family life, social relationships, career and contributions to our community and world. Source: Inspired by FinerMinds.com

inspiration

LIVING GRATITUDE

A Taproot of Happiness by Leo Babauta

Be Thankful Be thankful that you don’t already have everything you desire.

“

If you did, what would there be to look forward to?

f the only prayer you said in your whole life was, ‘Thank you,’ that would suffice,” a maxim first voiced by mystic Meister Eckhart, has held true through the centuries. Why should this simple act mean so much? Expressing gratitude works wonders.

ward to thank others.

Gratitude reminds us to recognize good people in our life. They range from loved ones to those that render a kindness to a stranger. Treasuring goodness in every form brings more of it into our experience.

Show thanks. Sometimes we think about something helpful or kind that someone did for us recently or long ago. Make a note, call them up or even better, tell them in person with sincere conviction why you continue to be grateful and appreciative. Another option is a thank-you card or email—keep it short and sweet.

Gratitude turns bad things into good things. Having problems at work? Be grateful to be employed and serving others. Challenges keep life interesting, enhance judgment and strengthen character. Gratitude reminds us of what’s important. Being grateful to have a healthy family and friends, a home and food on the table puts smaller worries in perspective. Gratitude reminds you to say, “Thank you.” Call, email or stop by to say thanks… it takes just a few minutes to express our reason for doing so. People like being appreciated. It creates a satisfying beam of mutual happiness that shines on.

Habit-Forming Tips

Here are some ways to overcome any initial discomfort felt in stepping for-

Create a morning gratitude session. Take a few minutes each morning to close your eyes, silence the to-dos and give thanks to whomever and whatever is cause for gratitude.

See the silver lining even in “negative” situations. There are always two ways to look at something. We can perceive something as stressful, harmful, sad, unfortunate and difficult, or look for the good embedded in just about everything. Problems held in a positive light from a different perspective can be opportunities to grow and to be creative in devising a solution. Learn a gratitude prayer. Many songs and prayers, religious or not, serve to remind us to be grateful. Find or write a special one and post it in a highly visible spot. Leo Babauta is the founder of the simplicity blog, ZenHabits.net, and author of bestselling e-books Focus, The Little Guide to Un-Procrastination and Zen to Done.

Be thankful when you don’t know something for it gives you the opportunity to learn. Be thankful for the difficult times. During those times, you grow. Be thankful for your limitations because they give you opportunities for improvement. Be thankful for each new challenge because it will build your strength and character. Be thankful for your mistakes. They will teach you valuable lessons. Be thankful when you’re tired and weary because it means you’ve made a difference. It is easy to be thankful for the good things. A life of rich fulfillment comes to those who are also thankful for the setbacks. Gratitude can turn a negative into a positive. Find a way to be thankful for your troubles and they can become your blessings. ~ Author unknown

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November 2013

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CRAFTING A GREEN HOLIDAY Happy Ways to Deck the Halls by Avery Mack

Conjure a Norman Rockwellesque holiday fantasy of family members gathered around a home-cooked meal, creative gifts and decorations in place as stories of holidays past mingle with memories in the making. Cue the strolling carolers. The reality tends to be more of a distracted and exhausting race to the finish line. Available time, energy and money all play into what’s possible to get done by the big day. Some tips can make easy eco-decorations a feel-good part of the merriment.

ow-maintenance, childand pet-friendly colored seashells make a sustainable alternative to outdoor mulch. Choose from 22,000 Sherwin-Williams nontoxic, water-based hues to brighten any landscape. Hide a fallow flowerbed under a waterproof tarp, cover with light-colored shells as background. Then design a Christmas tree, wreath, menorah, multihued snowman or another original design with colored shells. After the holidays, the tarp can envelop the shells and be put away for easy storage. Visit ColoredShells.com. Canadian Laura Watt, owner of the ethical seed company Cubit’s Organics, in Toronto, made a felted wool wreath for a front door from an old jacket. A worn-out blanket will also work. “It only took one long baby nap to make,” says Watt, who gave new life to the wire base from an old wreath by using bits of yarn to stitch flowers. Find instructions at Tinyurl. com/FeltWreath.

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A little VOCfree paint, some repurposed mini-decorations and recycled toilet paper rolls could become an indoor wreath to be proud of. “I’m a television producer, blogger and mother of 2and 4-year-old daughters, so it had to be easy and quick,” says Karri-Leigh Mastrangelo, in Los Angeles. “We’ll do it again this year.” See how at Tinyurl.com/TPWreath. Spice up table décor using unexpected items. Lay a base of an organic cotton tablecloth, runner and napkins. Top with a centerpiece base comprising a pie pan, clear flower vase or Mason jar filled with bits of fresh evergreens and accented with small ornaments or beads from repurposed and recycled jewelry. Colored shells can line the bottom. Add a stable soy candle positioned in a bit of water for easy cleanup of dripped wax.

To continue the theme from the front door to the table, fashion leftover felt from the wreath into candle rings, using the same method, but on a smaller scale. Add spirals of garland made of star-shaped, dried orange peels handcrafted by Colombia’s Sapia artisans. The green, yellow and orange colors, backed with a soft white, provide a citrusy fragrance that lasts months. Learn more at Tinyurl.com/ CitrusGarland. Beeswax candle kits are kid-friendly and come with enough supplies to make 20 candles. Order red and green wax sheets for Christmas, blue and white for Hanukkah or purple and pink for Advent. The beeswax is rolled around the wick to make an eight-inchtall, one-inch-diameter

taper. The honeycomb texture creates a festive look. Beeswax is natural and free from the petroleum-based chemicals commonly used in conventional candles. It burns brighter, hotter, cleaner and longer, while emitting negative ions that clean the air of odors, pollen, smoke, dust, dust mites and allergens. No time for a do-it-yourself project? Many ready-to-use beeswax and floating candles in the shape of poinsettias, holly leaves and snowflakes are available at ToadilyHandmade.com. Angela Price has created handblown glass terrarium ornaments for her small-space garden design company and boutique, Eden Condensed, in greater Los Angeles, California. The ornaments range from two to four inches in diameter and include live succulents, dried moss and miniature, holiday-inspired repurposed items. Price says, “Decorating the tree or the table, they’re easy to maintain and can be enjoyed for many months beyond the holidays.” See Tinyurl.com/Decorative Terrariums for inspired ideas.

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Place cards add an elegant, personal touch to any holiday table. Kids can make snowflake ornaments from recycled paper. Print a holiday greeting on one side of the snowflake and inscribe a name and personal message on the other for family gatherings. Tied with a ribbon, the snowflakes can also be hung in the window or on the tree. Preprinted snowflakes made of recycled paper with soy ink at Tinyurl. com/PlantableSnowflakes are embedded with a variety of wildflower seeds for future planting. Mail them in lieu of traditional greeting cards or as more formal place cards for a simple way to prosper green holiday wishes. Mixing mindful shopping with creative touches embroiders a memorable day with family fun and the satisfaction that we’ve celebrated the holidays in sustainable style.

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by Linda Sechrist

lzheimer’s, the most common form of dementia and a general term for memory loss and other intellectual disabilities serious enough to interfere with daily life, affects 5.6 million Americans. According to The Lancet Neurology, a well-respected medical journal on brain research, Alzheimer’s, which presently has no cure, is preventable. “Lifestyle choices, like aerobic exercise and eating plenty of healthy fats and reducing carbohydrates, affect overall brain health, as well as the risk of Alzheimer’s,” says Dr. David Perlmutter, a board-certified neurologist and author of the new bestselling book, Grain Brain: The Surprising Truth about Wheat, Carbs, and Sugar—Your Brain’s Silent Killers. Food is a powerful epigenetic modulator—it can enable or hamper our DNA, thus regulating the expression of many genes. Experts have only begun to understand the damaging consequences of wheat consumption. “Grain Brain is a timely wake-up call about how we are increasingly challenging human physiology by consuming what we are not genetically prepared to process, like the 133 pounds of wheat the average American eats annually,” says Perlmutter. He believes that one of the main culprits for the decline in brain health in modern times has been the introduction of wheat into the human diet. Today’s modernized and hybridized wheat crops share little genetic, structural or chemical similarity to the wild einkorn variety of grain our ancestors consumed in small amounts.

In the West, 20 percent of calories “A hallmark of what I term to disease processes like Alzheimer’s, come from wheat-based food. Perlmutmild cognitive impairment and corograin brain is that brain nary artery disease. The researchers ter is among those that regard this as a dangerous statistic, especially since Dr. dysfunction is predicated concluded that elevated hemoglobin Alessio Fasano, a pediatric gastroenteroloA1C is directly associated with brain on the inflammation from shrinkage, says Perlmutter. gist and research scientist who leads the Center for Celiac Research & Treatment at He further notes, “The function of consumption of gluten, Massachusetts General Hospital, in Bosthe brain, which is 60 to 70 percent fat as well as the long chains and maintained by the fats you consume, ton, found that the gluten in wheat leads to the production of zonulin in the gut. of sugar molecules known depends on its environment.” Grain Zonulin increases the permeability Brain recommends a diet that’s aggresas carbohydrates.” of the intestinal wall, allowing proteins to sively low in carbohydrates (60 grams leak from the gut into the bloodstream, per day) and bountiful in supportive ~ Dr. David Perlmutter explains Perlmutter. These proteins, brain fats. These include extra-virgin which would normally remain within the olive oil, sesame oil, coconut oil, ghee, digestive system, then challenge parts of the immune system, almond milk, avocados, olives, nuts, nut butters, cheese and the macro fascia and certain other types of white blood cells seeds such as flaxseed, sunflower, pumpkin, sesame and that increase production of inflammation-related chemicals. chia. It is also rich in above-ground vegetables such as kale, “Zonulin is the cornerstone of diseases characterized by broccoli, spinach, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts and salad inflammation in the brain—Alzheimer’s, autism, Parkinson’s greens, while relatively low in below-ground vegetables like and attention deficit disorders—as well as autoimmune disbeets, carrots and potatoes, which are higher in carbohyeases,” advises Perlmutter. drates. It also calls for reduced fruit consumption. Fasano’s research shows that such a reaction to zonulin “Having two to four servings of fruit every day, based on is present in 100 percent of humans—not just in the 1.8 perAmerica’s present food pyramid, is not helpful. More in line cent of the population that have celiac disease or 30 percent with avoiding brain drain is an apple or a handful of berries, that are gluten sensitive. “A hallmark of what I term grain or about 100 calories worth of any fruit. In my opinion, the brain is that brain dysfunction is predicated on the inflamma- pyramid needs to be stood on its head,” advises Perlmutter. tion from consumption of gluten, as well as the long chains “We should eat a diet similar to what our ancestors survived of sugar molecules known as carbohydrates,” says Perlmuton for 2.6 million years and reprogram support of our genetic ter. “This includes fruit, which also was consumed in limited destiny for the better.” quantities by our ancestors.” He cites a published analysis by Loren Cordain, Ph.D., author of The Paleo Diet. Dr. David Perlmutter is a board-certified neurologist, Fellow A diet high in carbohydrates has been directly related of the American College of Nutrition and author of Grain to atrophy, or brain shrinkage, according to a recent GerBrain. For more information on his 2013 PBS Grain Brain man study by University of Bonn researchers, published in series, visit DrPerlmutter.com. Neurology. A blood test for hemoglobin A1C, the standard laboratory measurement to assess average blood sugar, is Linda Sechrist is a senior staff writer for Natural Awakenings. frequently used in studies that correlate blood sugar control Visit ItsAllAboutWe.com for the recorded interview.

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itness seekers across the country are finding their wild sides by crouching like cougars, leaping like leopards and crawling like crabs. Although it might seem like they’ve let silliness encroach on their fitness goals, these adventurous types might be on the right track, realizing more of the rippled muscles and exceptional agility of our four-legged complements. “It’s getting people back into their own bodies,” says Mike Fitch, creator of Animal Flow, one of several fitness programs offered in health clubs around the country that enable participants to make the most of their inner beast. “People are tired of being injured and doing the same old workouts. They need a more well-rounded, holistic approach to their health.” Fitch, founder of Global Bodyweight Training, in Miami, Florida, incorporates fluid movement (including parkour, break dancing and gymnastics) in his routines. Animal-related workouts are proving to be a fun form of natural bodyweight training—named a top fitness trend for 2013 by the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM). Men and women are mimicking animals to attain

stronger, leaner and more agile bodies that perform better in life. Whether building arm strength by swinging their lower bodies sideways, feet-to-hands, like a gorilla, or toning thigh muscles by stalking forward inches from the ground like a panther, animal workout converts are toning their bodies in challenging ways without the use of heavy weights or equipment. “The bear crawl is another good example,” advises David Nordmark, author of Animal Workouts: Animal Movement Based Bodyweight Training for Everyone. With hands and feet on the ground and rear end raised in the air, the bear crawl involves scrambling quickly forward and backward—a popular high school football and karate agility drill for years. He contends, “Even if you think you are in shape and do it for a minute, you’ll be amazed at how much more of a workout your arms get.” Neal Pire, a New Jersey-based strength trainer and ACSM fellow, agrees the movements are intense and strength building, but wonders if an evolved, two-legged animal is meant to mimic four-legged species. “It’s a very tough workout,” says Pire. “You’re

loading muscles where typically you don’t have very much leverage, so your muscles are doing all of the work; yet some moves might be overloading to certain people’s joints.” Fitch claims the overall result is increased muscle endurance. He cites a study published in the journal Applied Physiology Nutrition and Metabolism of women that found whole-body, aerobic resistance training like what’s applied in his program supplies a cardiovascular workout similar to endurance training, but with the added benefits of increased balanced muscle strength and perceived enjoyment. “I call it body balance, working your body as a unit,” Nordmark says, citing pushups, which activate specific muscle groups, as a more traditional example. He notes, “I think it gives people a more natural and attractive look than bodybuilding, more like dancers or even martial artists or gymnasts.” Working out like animals keeps human cores activated, especially when combining the exercises together for a sustained routine. In addition to tightened abdominal muscles, it boosts

“Even if you think you are in shape and do it for a minute, you’ll be amazed at how much more of a workout your arms get.” ~ David Nordmark on “the bear crawl” exercise calorie consumption and leads to enhanced core and overall strength. Fitch points to a relevant study of college football players that demonstrated the strength connection, published in the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research. Pire concurs that sustained exercises at a moderate range, as with animal workouts, is an effective calorie burner. Firming up a flabby middle also works to improve balance, as another study in the same journal showed, involving sedentary women performing fitness ball exercises. Moving the body in many directions in intense, but flowing, almost dance-like workouts, naturally improves

stability, agility, flexibility and balance, as exhibited in the animal kingdom. “Challenging the body as it moves in all directions uses the body the way it was intended to be used,” maintains Fitch. Nordmark also points to similarities in yoga poses resembling animal postures that have contributed to physical and spiritual health for millennia. Nordmark and Fitch believe that animal themes provide many more bodyweight movements that can keep workouts fresh and be mastered for life, keeping bodies strong and functional as people age. “If you meet an old bear in the woods, he’s not walking around with a walker,” Nordmark observes. “He’s still a formidable animal, and you don’t want to mess with him.” Plus, adds Fitch: “The workouts are great fun.” Watch animal moves in action at Tinyurl.com/AnimalFlowVideo. Freelance journalist Debra Melani writes about health care and fitness from Lyons, CO. Connect at Debra Melani.com or DMelani@msn.com.

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The Path to Inner Peace 12 Steps to Spiritual Awakening by Michael A. Singer

pirituality is meant to bring about harmony and peace. But the diversity of our philosophies, beliefs, concepts and views about spiritual matters often leads to confusion or even conflict. The fact is that the very act of seeking spiritual freedom causes notions of success and failure, and these notions serve only to bind us to our own self-judgments: Am I growing? Have I done anything wrong? Am I meditating enough? Truth is only complicated because we pass it through our habitual thought patterns. When we step back from ourselves, truth becomes simple. There are not many paths to freedom; there is only one. In the end, no matter what particular patterns of thought we have managed to build in our minds, freedom always means transcending these personal thought patterns. So how does one go about transcending the personal self and awakening to spiritual freedom? What is needed for this journey are succinct steps that are so universal that they can echo through the halls of any religion as well as support intellectual understanding. The following is a universal road map to Self-Realization.

Realize that you are in there. You must first come to realize that you are in there. From deep inside, you are experiencing this world. You are experiencing your physical body, your

thoughts and your emotions. You are conscious and you are experiencing what it is like to be human.

Understand that you are not okay in there. Look to see what’s going on inside. If you want to understand why you’ve done everything you have ever done, if you want to see what’s really going on, just observe your mind and emotions—just experience your inner state. If you objectively look, you will see that you are never completely at peace. You will see that you are not okay in there.

Notice that you’re always trying to be okay. At any point when you look at the state of your inner being, you will see that something is bothering you. You will then notice that this causes urges, drives and impulses to do something about it. You will find yourself constantly trying to either get something or avoid something. All of this is done in an attempt to be okay.

Watch as your mind strives to figure out how everything needs to be for you to be okay. If you watch, you will see that your mind is always telling you what you should and should not do, what others should and should not do and how things should and should not be. All of this is the mind’s attempt to first create a conceptual model of what would make you

okay, and then try to get the outside world to match it.

Realize that the process of defining how the outside needs to be is not going to make you okay. You must seriously look at this process of trying to be okay. You’ve been at it your entire life—you’ve just tried different things at different times. While it’s true that sometimes you manage to make it better for short periods of time, you know that you’ve never even come close to reaching a state of permanent peace. Watch very closely how you react to the things your mind has preferences about. You will see that if your mind gets what it wants, you feel joy; if it doesn’t get what it wants, you feel disturbance. Likewise, when your mind experiences what it doesn’t want, you feel disturbance, and when it avoids what it doesn’t want, you feel relief. You will never be okay playing this game because the world will never match the conceptual model your mind has made up. Eventually, you will come to see that struggling to be okay does not work. At some point, you will try to find a different way to be okay in there.

Learn to not participate in the mind’s struggle to be okay. This step is about learning to sit in as the witness, the part of you that notices the inner urges to be okay. You must become comfortable with sitting in there and not participating in the inner energies. You learn to relax in the midst of them. You come to see that there is a habitual process in which the moment you feel inner disturbance, you are drawn into doing something about it. You must learn to sit inside and not participate in this process. If you truly understand that going outside to try to be okay inside doesn’t work, then you’ll be willing to sit inside and simply allow the disturbance to pass through. It is not difficult. If you can do this, all disturbance will cease by itself.

Go about your life just like everyone else, except that nothing you do is for the purpose of trying to be okay. If you aren’t so preoccupied with trying to be okay, you will be free to sit inside and quietly love, serve and

honor whatever naturally unfolds in front of you. When you reach this point, you are no longer living for yourself. You are interacting with life, but not for the purpose of being okay.

As you sincerely let go of the inner energies you are watching, you begin to feel a deeper energy come in from behind. Up to this point, everything you were watching inside was in front of you. But now that you are no longer being drawn into those personal energies, you’ll realize that your inner universe is actually very expansive. You will begin to feel Spirit flow in from behind. It lifts you and brings you great love and joy.

Your inner experience becomes so beautiful that you fall in love with the energy flow, and you develop a very deep and personal relationship with it. It will become completely clear to you that there is a direct trade-off between your personal energies and the amount of Spirit that you feel. The more you get drawn into your personal energies, the less Spirit you feel; the less you participate in your personal energies, the more Spirit you feel. You now have a direct relationship with the spiritual energy, and you will find yourself constantly longing to experience it.

You begin to feel the energy pulling you up into it, and your entire path becomes letting go of yourself in order to merge. Will is no longer needed. Now your path is strictly about releasing yourself into the pull of the higher energy. You must surrender deeply enough to be able to overcome the fear of losing your connection to the

TI R E D

personal self. You must to be willing to die to be reborn.

Once you get far enough back into the energy, you realize that your personal life can go on without you, leaving you free to become immersed in Spirit. This is the greatest miracle: You’ve surrendered and your entire life is about Spirit, yet people, places and things continue to interact with you. The difference is that these interactions require none of your energy. They happen naturally, by themselves, leaving you at peace and absorbed in Spirit.

Now you are truly okay and nothing inside or outside of you can cause disturbance—you have come to be at peace with it all. Because you are now completely okay, you don’t need anything. Things just are what they are. At this point, you know yourself as Self. The world, mind and heart cannot disturb you. You’ve transcended them all. What is more, instead of feeling drawn into Spirit, you now actually experience yourself as Spirit. You have no boundaries in time or space. You have always existed and you will always exist. You have no form, shape, gender or body. You simply are, have always been and will always be— Infinite Spirit. Michael A. Singer is the author of The New York Times bestselling book, The Untethered Soul – The Journey Beyond Yourself (UntetheredSoul.com), which is the basis for this article. He is the founder of the Temple of the Universe, a yoga and meditation center established in 1975 in Alachua, FL.

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ow would we live, were we not afraid of death? How would we live if we gave ourselves permission to give to life everything we’ve got? In The Longevity Factor, Lydia Brontë, Ph.D., observes that we’ve added 15 years to our lives… but in the middle, not at the end. No longer identifying ourselves as “over the hill” at whatever age, we are simply removing the hill. We are forging a different conversation and a new vision to take us beyond the limited thought forms that have defined the parameters of age for generations. For the first time in history, we can realistically view the first half of life as a kind of gestation period, preparing us for an even more productive second half. Midlife is like a second puberty, a point at which one persona falls away and another comes to take its place. What happens then is up to us. Some begin a long, slow cruise toward death at that point, allowing memories to become more meaningful than the present. Others, remembering that the spirit within us never ages, see the moment of midlife as a rebirth—the time to put our engines into high gear. Whomever it is we were born to be, whatever our soul was coded to accomplish, whatever lessons we are here to learn; now is the time to seriously get going. We may regret that we’re no longer young, but we’re ecstatic that we’re no longer clueless. We must be disciplined, though.

We want to become precision instruments now, focused on exactly what we want to do and being exactly who we need to be. This requires separating from the person we were before to whatever extent that person was not who we know in our hearts we were created to be. There’s no more time for five-year detours. No more time for relationships that don’t serve us or for staying in situations that aren’t true to who we are. No more time for pettiness, false pride or whatever other dysfunctional roadblocks obstruct our higher destiny and the joy that’s meant to be ours. Our life might not be as fabulous as it used to be in some ways, but in other ways it’s even more fabulous. The Universe is constantly and infinitely elastic, responding not to our past, but to our present state of mind. As we learn to reprogram thoughts—atoning for our mistakes of the past and embracing the endless miraculous possibilities of the present—we step into a time when we have every reason to look forward with genuine excitement to what happens next. Individually and collectively, we are now fitted to fearlessly forge new ground, wielding the power of what life has taught us so far and laying claim to the possibility of redemption, not only for ourselves, but also for the entire world. The planet needs a new story, aligned with a larger consciousness, and so do we.

What we need now are imagination and courage. Many of us feel we’ve forever carried around a secret dream, rarely validating it even to ourselves and often denying its reality. Yet it has refused to go away and is ready to be born at last. Individuals that have spent decades achieving one thing or moving in one direction often take up something else entirely that gives them far more psychic satisfaction. They see achievements that were the height of their material success

For the first time in history, we can realistically view the first half of life as a kind of gestation period, preparing us for an even more productive second half. as preparation for an even greater one; the means by which they learned the skills ultimately needed to make their biggest contribution to the world. Divine law guarantees that the power of “now” presents an endless fount of miraculous opportunities. In God, there are no limits to how high we can go, ever. In God, there is no time… only the call of the soul. It is not too late; we are right on time and we are better than we know. Now, having visited so many other places in our journey of life, we seek our place within the collective heartbeat of holiness. When enough of us stand in the light of our higher purpose, seeking to be ever-greater servants of love, each consciously dedicated to creating a more loving world, then a new field of collective possibility will emerge among us. All that is not love will begin to fall away of its own dead weight. A profound moment of planetary renewal will occur then, after our having allowed it first to occur within us. Marianne Williamson is an internationally acclaimed inspirational author and lecturer. Six of her 10 books have been New York Times bestsellers, including The Age of Miracles: Embracing the New Midlife, the basis for this article.

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November 2013

healthykids

Superpower Kids’ Immune Systems Natural Health Experts Share How

ACUPUNCTURIST AND CHINESE HERBALIST Marco Chung-Shu Lam, Licensed Acupuncturist Mandala Integrative Medicine Clinic, Boulder, Colorado Practice deep-breathing exercises. Practicing yoga or t’ai chi several times each week can deepen the breath, allowing organs to function more efficiently and boost immunity. Concentrate on pranayama, a focused and controlled type of yogic breathing: Slowly inhale and exhale through the nostrils, expanding the belly, rather than the chest.

by Jenna Blumenfeld

any experts admit there is no definitive reason that people sniffle more during colder months. Some speculate it’s because we’re spending more time indoors and missing out on resupplying vitamin D, which makes us more susceptible to disease. Others say that when the temperature drops, the body uses more energy to stay warm instead of to fend off infection. What health practitioners do know is it’s possible to maintain immunity naturally with diet, lifestyle and a proper whole foods supplement routine. Consider these tips from three experts to stave off illness and shorten its duration. NATUROPATHIC DOCTOR Christopher Johnson, Doctor of Naturopathy Thrive Naturopathic, Arlington, Virginia Incorporate immunity-boosting foods. Ginger and garlic contain antioxidants such as vitamin C and selenium, and have antimicrobial qualities. Add minced ginger to teas or marinades; roast garlic with carrots and squash. Aim to eat one to two cloves of garlic and 250 milligrams of ginger daily. Try elderberry extract. Elderberry has strong antiviral properties. Consuming the plant’s extract may prevent virus-based illnesses and alleviate both the symptoms and duration of a cold. Adults can take one to two teaspoons twice daily for prevention; increase dosage to four times a day if feeling sick. Use less for youths, based on size. Make exercise and rest priorities. Daily physical activity rids the body of toxins, increases blood circulation and lowers stress levels. A simple 30-minute cardio routine three to four times a week strengthens immunity. Adequate rest helps the body recover and regenerate cells. Adults need a minimum of seven hours of sleep per night; children may need up to 13. 34

Mercer County, NJ

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Add herbs. Incorporate the root herb astragalus in a daily whole foods supplement routine, especially important for older adults. Used for centuries in Traditional Chinese Medicine, astragalus supports the immune system by stimulating immune cell activity with its high polysaccharide (complex carbohydrate) content. Simmer the short, flat herb in soups or add to long-cooking grains like brown rice. Eat seasonally. Our body naturally drives us to eat heartier foods like sweet potatoes, beets and winter squashes in colder months—foods that support immunity by providing both fiber and vitamins A and C. Eat warming foods like stews, beans and miso; avoid raw foods, which cool the body and stress the immune system. DIETITIAN Barbara Bapst, Registered Dietitian Carolina Nutrition & Wellness, Charlotte, North Carolina Balance bodily pH. The typical American diet of fast food, sugary treats and refined snacks produces acid in the body, creating an environment in which bacteria thrive. Eat at least 10 servings of alkalizing foods each day to optimize the body’s immune response and overall functioning. Spinach, broccoli and cauliflower are excellent choices, along with almonds, olive oil and grapes. Drink plenty of water and green tea to keep acid in check. Up the antioxidants. Antioxidants help the body resist illness because they protect cells against harmful free radicals and oxidative stress. Berries are particularly beneficial and maintain their nutrients even when frozen; blend half a cup into a morning smoothie. As a diet supplement, consider adding 400 to 600 milligrams of curcumin—the active ingredient in turmeric, an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory spice—to meals. Focus on kids’ immunity. Although it’s tricky to get children to eat enough immune-supporting fruits and vegetables every day, encouraging them to sit down at the table for meals can help. Get kids excited about eating healthy foods by involving them in vegetable gardening, planting herbs in windowsill pots and preparing dinner. Incorporate pumpkin and carrot purées into sauces or stews to increase their nutritional power. Jenna Blumenfeld is a managing editor with New Hope Natural Media, in Boulder, CO.

naturalpet

Saving Animals

Saves People Rescue You, Rescue Me by Sandra Murphy

Like water, grace seeks its own level. In rescuing animals, the rescuer is often also rescued. Both lives change for the better.

“

uster came to us for a reason,” says Amy Burkert. “My husband, Rod, and I were walking our Shar-Pei, Ty, in our Philadelphia neighborhood when a man warned us about ‘a big, black dog’ in the alley. The friendly fellow came home with us and after a fruitless search for his family, we decided to make him part of ours.” In 2009, when the couple encountered difficulty finding a vacation hotel that would accept their new 70-pound German shepherd as an overnight guest, they decided to launch GoPetFriendly.com, a website that assists in finding travel accommodations for families with dogs and other pets. Selling their house in Pennsylvania and hitting the road in a 24-foot-long RV, they’ve now traveled to 47 states to research and qualify content for the website; Rod works from “home” and Amy writes the weblog. Their travel schedule flexes, with most stops lasting one to three weeks. “It’s not the life two accountants were banking on, but we couldn’t be happier,” she says, “and we owe it all to Buster.” The site now lists more than 60,000 hotels, campgrounds, restaurants, beaches, dog parks and activities across the U.S. and Canada, plus a road trip planner. “I woke up one morning and thought, ‘I can’t find a husband, so I’ll get a dog,’” says BJ Gallagher, a sociologist and award-winning author. “I’d lived in my Los Angeles house for 16 years and knew none of the neighbors. Within six months of adopting Fannie from a shelter, I’d met them

Humans rescue animals, but animals show up for a reason—most humans can use some rescuing, as well. all. Thanks to her, I’ve become a full-fledged member of my community.” Fannie’s Chinese heritage includes chow and Pekingese breeds. Transformations can come from more unusual pets, as well. Soon after Susan M. Tellem, a registered nurse in Malibu, California, gifted her husband, Marshall, with two tortoises for his birthday, the couple discovered there was no national protection program for the reptiles. They started American Tortoise Rescue (Tortoise.com), an organization that has been rescuing, rehabilitating and providing sanctuary to more than 3,000 water turtles and land tortoises since 1990. Their education and awareness initiatives for humane treatment have gone international, as well. It was a bird that rescued April Leffingwell. She had been dealing with a severe back injury that necessitated pain medication and kept her from regular work for six months when she and her husband visited a local Los Angeles pet store, “to get out of the house.” She was touched by seeing a large Moluccan cockatoo that was afflicted with a damaged claw. Her husband recognized how she related to the bird’s condition and brought Izzi home the next day. Now with just one leg, Izzi has learned to sleep while lying down to rest his other limb. “Izzi and I found each other when we were both broken,” she says. “We’ve become each other’s source of strength. If he can live with only one leg, I can live through pain.” When members of the armed forces deploy, they often have to find alternate living arrangements for pets and may not always be successful. Kimberly Gauthier, a blogger at KeepTheTailWagging.com, and her ex-Army partner are securing funding and laying plans to foster dogs for deployed soldiers. Emailing updates and Skype visits will aim to boost the morale of both the dog and serviceman or woman. The couple lives on five acres in Marysville, Washington. An animal-enriched environment has proved to be helpful for author Kathy Rowe, a 20-year veteran retired from the military, and her husband, Scott, who also retired from Air Force service that included Special Forces duty. They have chosen to live on a 100-acre farm in Tyner, Kentucky. Kathy believes their variety of resident rescued animals, including dogs, cats, chickens, turkeys and a potbelly pig, all help Scott in dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder. Riding, working with and grooming his horse, Quint, is particularly helpful. “My husband is less frustrated, has better focus, is less jumpy and has fewer flashbacks than he used to,” relates Rowe. “Knowing that our rescue dog, Lola, is guarding the farm, he feels he can sleep better because she has his back.” Humans rescue animals, but animals show up for a reason—most humans can use some rescuing, as well. Connect with freelance writer Sandra Murphy of St. Louis, MO, at StLSandy@mindspring.com. natural awakenings

November 2013

consciouseating

Garden Fresh Restaurant Corp., the parent company of Souplantation & Sweet Tomatoes restaurants, estimates that its recycling and composting programs annually save: n 2,129,400 pounds of

waste paper n 7,452,900 gallons of water n 3,194,100 cubic yards of

landfill space n 4,365,270 kilowatts

of energy

Eating Out? EAT GREEN Eco-Friendly Restaurants Serve Up Sustainability by Sandra Murphy

ating green isn’t limited to salads. It means that sustainable thinking goes into a meal at every stage, from the use of local ingredients and energy savings to recycling and composting waste. Delicious food, served thoughtfully, is the goal of today’s environmentally conscious restaurant. Look first to local mom-and-pop eateries that are doing it right, but there are some chains worth considering, as well. With more than 25 million cups of wake-up java sold each day, coffee shops have a perfect opportunity to start a good day by example. Californiabased Green Café Network consults

Mercer County, NJ

NAMercer.com

with owners and baristas to reduce the environmental impact of member shops. Efficient equipment, biodegradable cups and renewable products for flooring and tables make the coffee house experience more sustainable, especially when buyers select shadegrown, organic, free-trade beans. Starbucks Corporation has taken it all a step further by designing a pre-certified Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) prototype store. It features recycled floor tiles, reduced lighting and lower water usage and air conditioning set three degrees higher than usual.

Souplantation & Sweet Tomatoes offers fresh-tossed salads, made-fromscratch soups and hot or cold desserts in their 120 restaurants, where vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free items are offered daily. Reclaimed recyclables come back as takeout containers, towels and napkins. Materials sent out for recycling include glass, paper, aluminum and cardboard. Even garbage is given a new role as part of a chainwide composting program. Tankless water heaters are in while traditional systems are out and cleaning products are all Green Seal certified. At Chipotle Mexican Grill, “It’s not just a burrito, it’s a foil-wrapped, handcrafted, local farm-supporting, food culture-changing cylinder of deliciousness,” states the company’s website. In 2010, Chipotle served about 5 million pounds of local farm produce through its 1,000 mostly North American stores. The company-wide 2011 goal was 10 million pounds. Inside those burritos, 40 percent of the beans are certified organic, resulting in 140,000 fewer pounds of pesticide added to the soil. The romaine lettuce, bell peppers, jalapeño, red onions, oregano and tomatoes come from family-owned farms.

California patrons also enjoy locally grown lemons and avocados. Chipotle produce typically travels no more than 300 miles to its distribution centers. Short travel time means less fuel burned and fewer greenhouse gases plus fresher, more nutritious food on the plate than what less eco-conscious restaurants provide. “The environment is the basis of our business; we try to be green in everything,” explains Mike Vroman, a store manager in the St. Louis area. So, for example, “Most of the beef we serve in this area is either from Missouri or Kansas. Even our uniforms are 100 percent organic cotton.” Because restaurants draw their highest levels of electricity when community demand peaks, Chipotle installed solar panels on 75 of its Texas restaurants, while a wind turbine provides electricity at the Gurnee, Illinois site, reducing midday drain on the grid. The Gurnee site is the first restaurant ever to receive the superior Platinum Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating. Is it possible to operate a restaurant without a dishwasher, range, hood or oven? Yes, if bowls, straws, cutlery, chopsticks and cups are made from corn or potato starch. Freshii meals are created in biodegradable, all natural, food-safe bags. Custom made, the bags leave a carbon footprint five to seven times smaller than the most energyefficient dishwasher. Everything taken from the store will readily biodegrade or is easy to recycle. Even store size is a factor. Freshii founder Matthew Corrin notes, “As we grow, our stores are built smaller, to use less materials, to use greener materials, to consume less energy, to take less from this Earth.” Some Freshii stores are super-efficient, encompassing just 150 square feet.

EVOS generates one-third of its restaurant energy needs via wind turbines. For each store, it’s the annual equivalent of taking eight cars off the road or planting 32 acres of trees.

By cutting the volume of pickle and pepper brine used, Subway annually saves 739,000 gallons of water and 130,000 pounds of plastic, plus reduces shipping miles by delivering the same amount of product in fewer trucks. Just eliminating the paper interleaf between cheese slices saves 450,000 pounds of waste paper a year; the restaurant’s overall goal is zero landfill waste. If a burger, fries and shake dinner evokes guilty pleasure, EVOS removes both the guilt and grease, leaving only pleasurable flavor. The restaurant’s trademark Airfries are better for more than just folks’ arteries. “Our potatoes are air-fried at a high temperature,” explains Jackie Macaluso, community ambassador for EVOS, “so we have no used and reused vats of grease to discard.” Less noticeable eco-bonuses include zero-VOC paint and flooring, made from sustainable, eco-friendly, raw materials like wood flour, linseed oil, rosin, jute fiber and limestone. The company’s Southeast U.S. locations work to raise awareness that even comfort foods can be greener, healthier and still taste good, and to teach children about healthier eating habits. Of course, there’s usually a Subway Restaurant around the corner. Long committed to serving fresh food fast, the company recently announced its new LEED-certified eco-edition. With 35,000 franchises in 98 countries, small changes add up to big blessings for the Earth. The most important thing we can do to go green is to eat green every day. It serves up the most bang for the buck in healthy sustainability. Sandra Murphy is a freelance writer at StLSandy@mindspring.com.

Signs of an Eco-Friendly Restaurant

aking the environment a priority doesn’t have to be expensive or time-consuming. Owners and managers can green up any local restaurant, and customers will appreciate the results. Following are some good first steps. n Recycle everything possible—paper, aluminum, plastics and glass. n Collect food waste to give to local gardeners to compost. n Switch from foam carryout contain ers and bags to Earth-friendly prod ucts made from biodegradable vegetable starch; also consider transitioning to recycled napkins. n Use eco-friendly cleaning supplies that are healthy for staff and customers. n Install low-flow aerators on sink faucets and low-flow conversion kits on toilets to reduce water usage. n Anytime equipment needs to be replaced, choose a greener model, from light bulbs to refrigerators, which will save on energy bills. n Remember, going green is a process. For more information, visit the Green Restaurant Association’s DineGreen.com.

natural awakenings

November 2013

fitbody

Under-training. Once you’re dressed and ready to sweat, commit to giving it your all for the next 30 to 60 minutes. Just going through the motions doesn’t do much for the body and makes it easy for boredom to creep in. You owe this time to yourself—you deserve it—so make sure you give it your all.

Daydreaming. You can develop a laser-sharp focus by actively involving your mind in every pose, set, rep and step—thinking about how your body moves, how the muscles engage, which muscle or muscles you’re using and correct form. Mindfulness adds up to a better workout and faster results. So forget about the laundry, the kids’ schedules and that afternoon conference call, turn off the TV and stay 100 percent in the moment.

Our Worst Fitness Habits Six Roadblocks to Sidestep by Tosca Reno

e all know that working out is beneficial. But how you work out makes all the difference in staying safe, seeing better results and keeping your body balanced. Here’s how to make sure you aren’t sabotaging a good workout.

Bad form. Correct form is your safety net. Once you compromise the way you do a move, you’re no longer getting the greatest benefits from the exercise, and you’re seriously increasing your risk of getting hurt. Even if it means, for example, lightening up the amount of resistance, follow the correct form for the best results.

Mercer County, NJ

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Over-training. Don’t expect that you are going to dive right in and pound your body into its best shape ever overnight. Not only will this all-or-nothing approach cause burnout, but you also risk injury and will give up on yourself, because this is an unreasonable expectation. Instead, you need to gradually build up your muscles so they get the most effective and efficient workout possible. More doesn’t always mean better, faster results. Remember, rest is good for the body. Take days off between training to repair and rebuild or if you’re training daily, don’t work the same muscle groups back-to-back.

Staying with a few exercises you know. Your muscles love being challenged, so if you just stick to the same routine, they’ll eventually adapt and won’t have to work as hard to do the same moves. But if you change the exercises and even the order you do them in, you ensure that muscles don’t get too efficient with any single routine. Not only is this better for toning, but it also helps your mind stay focused and engaged.

Holding your breath. Regular steady breathing has many benefits: Proper inhalations and exhalations can help you power through moves, keep lactic acid (a byproduct that builds up in the muscles during exertion) at bay and help maintain a steady heart rate. A full breath delivers the maximum amount of oxygen to the blood, which in turn delivers more energy to the working muscles. Tosca Reno is the co-author of Your Best Body Now, excerpted here with permission from Harlequin Books S.A.

calendarofevents NOTE: All calendar events must be received via email by the 10th of the month and adhere to our guidelines. Email Calendar@NAMercer.com for guidelines and to submit entries.

Saturday, November 2

markyourcalendar

Cherry Grove Farm Market Offerings – 9am1pm. Featuring farmstead cheeses, pasture-raised meats beef, lamb, pork, chickens, and eggs at West Windsor Farm Market. Vaughn St parking lot off Alexander Rd, Princeton Junction. For more information call Cherry Grove Farm at 609-219-0053.

The Alchemy of Home Fermentation Finding truly fermented foods is difficult and expensive. Fortunately fermenting is easy and safe to do at home. This workshop will give you hands on experience of making your own fermented foods such as sauerkraut, pickles, and kimchee at home.

From Dude to Dad – 9:30-11am. Men are you unsure of the impending new role of fatherhood? Becoming a father is a life changing event; come learn the tools necessary to get you off to a successful start. The class covers specific, hands-on skills like changing a diaper, swaddling and soothing an infant, changing family roles, work/family balance and the wide range of challenges a new dad experiences. Cost $25. RWJ Fitness & Wellness Center, 3100 Quakerbridge Rd, Hamilton. 609-584-5900. Fall Into Autumn Hike – 10am-12pm. Join Teacher-Naturalist Tammy Love on a walk at the Mountain Lakes Preserve in Princeton to discover how local plants and animals prepare for winter’s freeze. This hike does not meet at the Watershed Reserve. Co-sponsored by the Friends of Princeton Open Space. Cost $5/person. Registration required. Stony Brook-Millstone Watershed Association, 31 Titus Mill Rd, Pennington, 609-737-7592. Healthier South Asian Diet – 10-11:30am. Free. People of South Asian descent are prone to chronic conditions such as diabetes, but slight changes to traditional dishes can make them more healthful. University Medical Center of Princeton, 1 Plainsboro Rd, Plainsboro. 609-853-7000. Bacon, Sausage & Scrapple Making – 11am-3pm. Howell Living History Farm, 70 Wooden’s Ln, Lambertville. Info: 609-737-3299. Tarot Card Readings – 1-5pm. Tarot Card readings with Jessica Gabrielle. Cost $35/30 minutes, $60/hour. Cha Cha Gifts & Wellness Center, 1300 Livingstone Av, North Brunswick. 732-249-1821.

Monday, November 4 Pre-Natal Yoga 4-Week Class – 7:15-8:15pm. Exercise with a certified prenatal yoga instructor in a class that encourages flexibility, endurance and strength through physical poses. This specialized class for expectant mothers can help you meet and bond with other pregnant women and prepare for the journey of being a new parent. No prior yoga experience needed. Please bring a yoga mat. Cost $40. RWJ Fitness & Wellness Center, 3100 Quakerbridge Rd, Hamilton. 609-584-5900.

Wednesday, November 6 Diabetes Awareness Day – 7-9am, 2-4pm, 6-8pm. Free. Fun, educational and invaluable community health day sessions will inform about pre-diabetes, diabetes, nutrition and exercise and to provide free blood glucose screenings at multiple locations in Mercer and Middlesex counties. For more information, see News Brief on page 8.

Thursday, November 7 Autumn Adventure Mini-Camp – 9:30am-4pm.

November 9 • 1-4pm Cost $65 Cherry Grove Farm 3200 Lawrenceville Rd, Lawrenceville Spend the November public school break at the Watershed Reserve with the Teacher-Naturalists. Outdoor autumn activities will focus on the turning of the seasons and may include trail explorations, shelter building, or a pond exploration. Enjoy a campfire each afternoon with a marshmallow roast. Sign up for one day or both. Registration and prepayment are required. Cost $60/75 per day member/ non-member. Stony Brook-Millstone Watershed Association, 31 Titus Mill Rd, Pennington, 609737-7592. Mindful Walking Meditation – 7-8pm. Walking is a wonderful opportunity to cultivate mindfulness. Learn how focused movement can quiet the mind and strengthen awareness. Gemma Bianchi aromatherapist. Class awards 1 nursing contact hour. Cost $10. RWJ Fitness & Wellness Center, 3100 Quakerbridge Rd, Hamilton. 609-584-5900. Journey through the Chakras – 7-9pm. Class combining meditations and the Chakra system and providing a Chakra tune up by Adrienne Gamal. Will leave you feeling centered, aligned and relaxed. Cost $40. Cha Cha Gifts & Wellness Center, 1300 Livingstone Av, North Brunswick. 732-249-1821.

Friday, November 8 Autumn Adventure Mini-Camp – 9:30am-4pm. See November 7 listing. Pennington.

Saturday, November 9 Cherry Grove Farm Market Offerings – 9am1pm. See November 2 listing. Princeton Junction. Craft Show – 9am-3pm. Saint Gregory the Great Parish Center, 4680 Nottingham Way, Hamilton. Reiki Level 1 Certification – 10am-6pm. Receive certification upon successful completion of this class taught by Pam Jones, RN. Cost $150. Class awards 7 nursing contact hours. RWJ Fitness & Wellness Center, 3100 Quakerbridge Rd, Hamilton. 609-584-5900. Cider Making – 11am-3pm. Howell Living History Farm, 70 Wooden’s Ln, Lambertville. Info: 609-737-3299.

To register or for information, call

609-219-0053

Oneness Blessing with Aswini Rao – 2-3pm. Free. This blessing is a direct transfer of intelligent sacred energy that opens the heart, heals relationships, quiets the mind, opens doors to higher states of awareness and initiates a process of awakening into Oneness. Cha Cha Gifts & Wellness Center, 1300 Livingstone Av, North Brunswick. 732-249-1821. Shamanic Reiki with Don Julio – 2-5pm. Experience a special one hour reading and healing session with Don Julio who is a third generation Andean Shaman. Cost $45. Cha Cha Gifts & Wellness Center, 1300 Livingstone Av, North Brunswick. 732-249-1821.

Monday, November 11 Pre-Natal Yoga 4 Week Class – 7:15-8:15pm. See November 4 listing. Hamilton.

Tuesday, November 12 Winter Containers – 7-8pm. Create beautiful decorations for outdoors and inside your home. Learn which plants work best in arrangements and how they can be combined for an attractive effect. Mercer Educational Gardens Extension, 930 Spruce St, Lawrence. 609-989-6830.

Wednesday, November 13 Simple Suppers: A Healthy Way to Dine – 6-7pm. Get recipes that fit into most meal plans or demonstrate healthy cooking habits. Registered dietician answers questions related to nutrition. Cost $10. RWJ Fitness & Wellness Center, 3100 Quakerbridge Rd, Hamilton. 609-584-5900. Stress Management for Today’s Women – 6:308pm. Join Pam Jones, RN, as she discusses the latest research on the unique challenge for women and stress. Learn to cope with stress. Class awards 1.5 nursing contact hours. Cost $5. RWJ Fitness &

natural awakenings

November 2013

Wellness Center, 3100 Quakerbridge Rd, Hamilton. 609-584-5900.

Friday, November 15

markyourcalendar Adult Farm Campfire Enjoy a night away in the great outdoors. Start with a sunset wagon ride to experience the sights and sounds of ducks around the farm. Finish at campfire circle in the woods while enjoying live music, roasted marshmallows and wholesome company. Feel free to bring your own adult beverages.

November 15 • 7-9pm Must be 21 or over to attend. Cost $15/person. Fernbrook Farms Education Center, 142 Bordentown Georgetown Rd, Chesterfield.

609-298-4028 Saturday, November 16 Cherry Grove Farm Market Offerings – 9am1pm. See November 2 listing. Princeton Junction. Harvest for the Holidays – 9:30am-1pm. Create festive decorations that will never wilt. Begin with a hike led by one of the SBMWA Teacher-Naturalists to collect specimen items such as vines, seed pods and other dried plant materials. Then head indoors to construct and embellish botanical assemblages, wreaths and arrangements. Cost $50/60 member/ non-member. SBMWA, 31 Titus Mill Rd, Pennington. Registration through the Arts Council, 609-924-8777. Willowood Pottery Sale - 10am-5pm. Holiday sale of hand-thrown functional ceramics by Caryn Newman. Studio sale. Showings available by appointment too. 7 Willowood Dr, Ewing. 609-203-7141. Basket, Broom & Barrel Making – 11am-3pm. Howell Living History Farm, 70 Wooden’s Ln, Lambertville. Info: 609-737-3299. Develop Your Psychic Abilities – 1-4pm. Do you feel you just know things? This is a fun interactive class with Judy Toma where you will tap into

your own psychic abilities and personal intuitive strengths. Bring your own deck of Doreen Virtue Oracle Cards or available for purchase in store. Class for new or those already performing readings. Cost $44. Cha Cha Gifts & Wellness Center, 1300 Livingstone Av, North Brunswick. 732-249-1821.

Sunday, November 17 Willowood Pottery Sale - 10am-5pm. See November 16 listing. Ewing. Open House Grief Services – 1-4pm. Center for Grief Services open house. 323 N. 4th Av, Highland Park. 855-97-GRIEF.

Monday, November 18 Pre-Natal Yoga 4-Week Class – 7:15-8:15pm. See November 4 listing. Hamilton.

Wednesday, November 20 Tiny Tot Walk – 10-11am. You and your “budding naturalist” are invited to join an outdoor explorations of the natural world. Children and adults should dress for the weather .Class includes songs, stories, super simple crafts and a snack. Cost $7/10 member/non-member. Stony Brook-Millstone Watershed Association, 31 Titus Mill Rd, Pennington, 609-737-7592. Health Rhythm Drumming – 7-8pm. Group drumming is good fun and good for you. HealthRythms, an evidence-based program, strengthens the immune system and reduces stress. Drums provided or bring your own. Mauri Tyler, CTRS, CMP. Cost $15. RWJ Fitness & Wellness Center, 3100 Quakerbridge Rd, Hamilton. 609-584-5900. Crystal & Alchemy Singing Bowl Mediation – 7-8:30pm. Experience sonic tones of the bowls as they bathe your soul and envelop you in therapeutic crystalline energies with Janis Alber Groppi. Feel tension and stress dissipate with this soothing guided mediation. Cost $17. Cha Cha Gifts & Wellness Center, 1300 Livingstone Av, North Brunswick. 732-249-1821.

Thursday, November 21 Reiki Sharing Evening – 7-9pm. Trained practitioners are invited to share Reiki with each other. Bring a pillow and a small sheet and blanket. Cost $5. RWJ Fitness & Wellness Center, 3100 Quakerbridge Rd, Hamilton. 609-584-5900.

Saturday, November 23 Cherry Grove Farm Market Offerings – 9am1pm. See November 2 listing. Princeton Junction.

Blacksmithing/Horseshoeing – 11am-3pm. Howell Living History Farm, 70 Wooden’s Ln, Lambertville. Info: 609-737-3299.

markyourcalendar Learn How to Make Cheese Double-header cheese making class. Ricotta and mozzarella.

November 23 • Noon Cost $65 payment made at reservation Cherry Grove Farm, 3200 Lawrenceville Rd, Lawrenceville To register or for information call

609-219-0053

Crystal Mediation – 1-2pm. Experience mediation with crystal and gentle movements for creating an atmosphere of deep relaxation with Larry Schiller. Larry has many years experience with crystals, meditation, and movement/bodywork. Cost $15. Cha Cha Gifts & Wellness Center, 1300 Livingstone Av, North Brunswick. 732-249-1821. Angel Card Readings – 1-4pm. Angel Card readings with Gina Fernandes. Certified by Tina Marie Daly and Charles Virtue. Cost $42/30 minutes. Cha Cha Gifts & Wellness Center, 1300 Livingstone Av, North Brunswick. 732-249-1821.

Monday, November 25 Pre-Natal Yoga 4 Week Class – 7:15-8:15pm. See November 4 listing. Hamilton.

Saturday, November 30 Holistic Health Extravaganza – 9:30am-5pm. Meet experienced, grounded, and knowledgeable practitioners. Experience foot detox baths, crystal energized mats, Feng Shui specialist, Aura photography, Ayurvedic spices, energized jewelry and crystals and more. Purchase gifts of relaxation for yourself and others. American Legion Post, 2 Meadowbrook Ln, New Egypt. For more information contact Siobhan Hutchinson at 609-752-1048. Thanksgiving Hayrides – 11am-3pm. Howell Living History Farm, 70 Wooden’s Ln, Lambertville. Info: 609-737-3299.

A life spent making mistakes is not only more honorable, but more useful than a life spent doing nothing. ~George Bernard Shaw

Mercer County, NJ

NAMercer.com

ongoingevents NOTE: All calendar events must be received via email by the 10th of the month and adhere to our guidelines. Email Calendar@NAMercer.com for guidelines and to submit entries.

monday

friday Breastfeeding Support Group – 11am-12pm. Expectant parents will learn about the benefits of breastfeeding, getting started, positioning, nutrition, pumping and avoiding common problems. Facilitated by Lactation Consultant. Free. PHC Community Education & Outreach Program, 731 Alexander Rd, Ste 3, Princeton. 888-897-8979.

Rise to the Task Free Dinner – 4-5:30pm. Free community dinner. First Presbyterian Church of Hightstown, 320 N Main St, Hightstown. For more info contact Rise office at 609-443-4464. Breast Cancer Support Group – 6-7:30pm. 3rd Tues. No registration required walk-ins welcome. UMCP Breast Health Center, 300B PrincetonHightstown Rd, East Windsor Medical Commons 2, East Windsor. Discover the Serenity of T’ai Chih – 6:30pm. Discover the Serenity of T’ai Chi Chih (Joy thru Movement Class). Need better balance, concerned about high blood pressure, quality sleep a challenge? Join class at VFW, 77 Christine Ave, Hamilton. For more information, additional locations, & to learn how to save on class fee, contact Siobhan at 609-752-1048.

tuesday Discover the Serenity of T’ai Chih – 6:30pm. Discover the Serenity of T’ai Chi Chih (Joy thru Movement Class). Need better balance, concerned about high blood pressure, quality sleep a challenge? Join class at American Legion, 2 Meadowbrook Ln, New Egypt. For more information, additional locations, & to learn how to save on class fee, contact Siobhan at 609-752-1048. Warm Vinyasa Flow Yoga – 7:15-8am. Call Christine at 609-789-8188. Trenton.

wednesday Discover the Serenity of T’ai Chih – 8:45am. Discover the Serenity of T’ai Chi Chih (Joy thru Movement Class). Need better balance, concerned about high blood pressure, quality sleep a challenge? Join class at Energy for Healing, 4446 Main St, Kingston. For more information, additional locations, & to learn how to save on class fee, contact Siobhan at 609-752-1048. Bright Beginnings – 10:30-11:30am. This informative, relaxed group is for parents and caregivers of infants. Each week focuses on a different topic of interest to new parents, and guest speakers are occasionally featured. Infants and children under 4 years of age are welcome to attend with the parent or caregiver. $5 payable at door. Princeton Fitness & Wellness Center, Princeton North Shopping Center, 1225 State Rd, Princeton. 609-683-7888. Zumba Fitness – 6-7pm. Join the fitness party and burn calories while enjoying dance steps and fitness moves. Cost $8/7 Drop-in/Punch Card. Bring-a-Friend $6/each. Lawrence Community

Center, 295 Eggerts Crossing Rd. Contact Stephanie. 609-954-9067. Archangel Meditation with Judy Toma – 7-8pm. 2nd Wed. During this monthly Meditation Circle, Judy will give a brief Angel reading for each participant and will give you insight into each Archangel. You will be guided on a journey to meet this Angel that will bring understanding and healing. Make a commitment to yourself and your healing. Take this time to meet with like minded people, discover peace and your own inner guidance. Cost $28. Cha Cha Gifts & Wellness Center, 1300 Livingstone Av, North Brunswick. 732-249-1821.

Discover the Serenity of T’ai Chih – Discover the Serenity of T’ai Chi Chih (Joy thru Movement Class) in Bordentown. Need better balance, concerned about high blood pressure, quality sleep a challenge? Join us. To register call Siobhan at 609-752-1048.

saturday Multi-Level Yoga – 8-8:55am. Starting November 15. Inspired by Iyengar, Anusara, and Kundalini traditions. Cost $15/drop-in. Cash/check only. Center for Relaxation & Healing, Plainsboro. Call Brian at 609-306-2618.

Multi-Level-Yoga – 7-8pm. Starting November 13. Inspired by Iyengar, Anusara, and Kundalini traditions. Cost $15/drop-in. Cash/check only. Meadow Creek Clubhouse, Manalapan. Call Brian at 609-306-2618.

Discover the Serenity of T’ai Chih – 8:30, 10:30am and 1:30pm. Discover the Serenity of T’ai Chi Chih (Joy thru Movement Class) in Bucks County at 3 locations (Newtown, Langhorne, and Morrisville.) Need better balance, concerned about high blood pressure, quality sleep a challenge? Join us. To register call Siobhan at 609-752-1048.

thursday

Soup Kitchen – 4:30-6pm. 3rd Sat. Volunteers arrive at 3pm. Free hot meal served. VFW Post 5700, 140 Dutch Neck Rd, Hightstown. Information: Adrenne 609-336-7260.

Warm Vinyasa Flow Yoga – 7:15-8am. Call Christine at 609-789-8188. Trenton. 4 Mom’s Networking Hour – 1-2pm. Weekly parenting topics with RWJ Hamilton experts and sharing with other moms. RWJ Hamilton Center for Health & Wellness, 1 Hamilton Health Place, Hamilton. 609-584-5900. CPAP Workshop – 6pm. 3rd Thurs. Free workshop provided by the Sleep Care Center for patients with sleep disorders. A respiratory therapist will provide CPAP education, adjust CPAP pressures, refit masks and discuss the importance of CPAP/BiPAP usage. RWJ Hamilton Center for Health & Wellness, 1 Hamilton Health Place, Hamilton. 609-584-6681.

SPOT (Safe Place for our Tweens) – 7-10pm. 1st Sat. Allows 9-12-year-old youngsters to “hang out” at the YMCA under the supervision of trained YMCA staff. Basketball, indoor soccer, music, karaoke, swimming, access to the wellness center, video games in our Youth Interactive Center and the snack stand are offered. A Hamilton Area YMCA Membership is not required for participation. Dress comfortably for the activities you wish to participate in. 1315 Whitehorse Mercerville Rd, Hamilton. 609-581-9622 x 21103.

Got Events? Get Noticed! Thousands of our readers are looking for healthy options.

Call Today!

609-249-9044

natural awakenings

November 2013

communityresourceguide Connecting you to the leaders in natural healthcare and green living in our community. To be included, email LDBeveridge@NAMercer.com or call 609-249-9044 to request our media kit.

ACUPUNCTURE Jim Slaymaker, L.Ac

405 Rte 130 N, East Windsor 609-616-2281 Jim@Acupuncture2Heal.com Acupuncture2Heal.com Schedule a complimentary consultation and learn how Traditional Chinese Medicine can safely and effectively relieve chronic pain and stress, restore sleep, boost energy, promote healthy digestion, and support OBGYN issues. Experienced Practitioner since 2004. See ad, page 28.

BODYWORK Siobhan Hutchinson, MA

Holistic Health Practitioner 609-752-1048 NextStepStrategiesllc.com Siobhan@NextStepStrategiesllc.com Enhance balance of Body/Mind/ Spirit through Tâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ai Chi Chih, Seijaku, Qigong, Reiki and Donna Eden Energy. Clients can choose classes or personalized one-onone sessions for deep relaxation and reducing the effects of stress. See ad, page 26.

COUNSELING Center for Grief Services Dr. Norma Bowe Dr. Norman Travis 855-97-GRIEF CenterForGriefServices.com

Center for Grief Services specializes in grief treatment. Workshops and individual therapy options available. See ad, page 26.

HOLISTIC DENTISTS PRINCETON CENTER FOR DENTAL AESTHETICS Dr. Ruxandra Balescu, DMD Dr. Kirk Huckel, DMD, FAGD 11 Chambers St, Princeton 609-924-1414 PrincetonDentist.com

We offer a unique approach to the health care of the mouth based on a holistic understanding of the whole body. Please contact us to learn how we can serve your needs. See ad, page 13.

HYPNOSIS prism hypnosiS Dr. Ira Weiner 609-235-9030 PrismHypnosis.com

Do you smoke, feel stressed or in pain, crack under pressure, or want to break unhealthy habits? Contact us and visit our website for healthful solutions that work. See ad, page 30.

NATURAL SERVICES BLACK FOREST ACRES

Trudy Ringwald Country Herbalist & Certified Reboundologist 553 Rte 130 N, East Windsor 1100 Rte 33, Hamilton 609-448-4885/609-586-6187 BlackForestAcres.Net Two locations for the natural connection to live well and eat right. Natural and organic foods, vitamins, supplements, groceries and most important, free consultation.

FITNESS PURE FITNESS 24

Grow Your Business Expand Your Earnings Reach Your Target Market

Sheena Potts 24 South Main St, Allentown 609-286-8502 PureFitness24.com Achieve the results you never thought possible. Specializing in Kettlebell, TRX and bodyweight combo classes, mobility and balance classes, Functional Movement Screen, individual personal training, semi-private personal training and small group training. See ad, page 28.

Mercer County, NJ

NAMercer.com

with a Resource Guide listing for under $60 per month. We work for you. CALL NOW! 609-249-9044 LDBeveridge@NAMercer.com

NUTRITION Nutritional Consultant Claire Gutierrez 194 N Harrison St, Princeton 609-799-3089 Claire@VisanoConsulting.com VisanoConsulting.com

Let me help analyze your current diet thru nutritional assessment and assist you in making necessary adjustments and modifications to eventually achieve optimal health.

ORGANIC FARMS Cherry Grove Farm

3200 Lawrenceville Rd, Lawrenceville 609-219-0053 CherryGroveFarm.com Organic and natural products including farmstead cheeses; Buttercup Brie, seasonal Jacks, Rosedale, Herdsman, Toma, Havilah and Cheddar Curds. Additional products include whey-fed pork, grass-fed lamb and beef, pasture-raised eggs and myriad locally sourced goods.

REGENERATIVE MEDICINE EDWARD MAGAZINER, M.D.

2186 Rte 27, STE 2D, North Brunswick 877-817-3273 PainAndSpineCare.com Dr. Magaziner has dedicated his career to helping people with pain and musculoskeletal injuries using state-of-the-art and innovative pain management treatments including Platelet Rich Plasma, Stem Cell Therapy and Prolotherapy to alleviate these problems. See ad, page 2.

YOGA Higher Power Yoga Studio 439 S Broad St, Trenton 101 S Warren St, Trenton 609-789-8188 HigherPowerYoga.net

Two locations offering drop-in classes suitable for all levels and private lessons. Classes and workshops include Yoga Basics, Natural Beauty, Meditation and Continuing Education for Yoga Teachers.

departments healthbriefs consciouseating globalbriefs wisewords ecotips fitbody greenliving inspiration healingways naturalpet healthykids

themes JANUARY health & wellness

plus: health coaches

FEBRUARY MARCH APRIL MAY

rethinking heart health plus: stress relief

food & garden

plus: gluten-free foods

green living

plus: healthy home

women’s wellness plus: bodywork

JUNE

inspired living

JULY

food watch

AUGUST SEPTEMBER OCTOBER

plus: men’s wellness plus: natural medicine cabinet

transformative education plus: children’s health

conscious caretaking plus: yoga

sustainable communities plus: chiropractic and acupuncture

NOVEMBER

personal empowerment

DECEMBER

awakening humanity

plus: beauty

plus: holiday themes

natural awakenings

November 2013

Holiday Gift Guide

onnect with our readers in the special Holiday Gift Guide in the December issue of Natural Awakenings Magazine. Take advantage of our special ad rates to help our readers find unique and special holiday gifts! Reach more than 30,000 targeted readers in Greater Mercer County.

LISTINGS

Offer gift ideas to capture our readers’ attention! For only $35, you’ll get: 20-word description of your offer, Business Name, Address, Phone or Email, and Website. Fast! Easy! Cost-effective! This holiday, give the gift of good health. Enjoy a 20% discount on gift certificates. Absolute Integrative Medicine 135 Main St, Your City 609-888-8888 * AbsoluteIntegrativeMed.com

HURRY

GIFT SPOTLIGHTS

Highlight your services and offerings! For only $150, you’ll get: A photo or logo, and 100 word description with contact information.

The Gift of Wellness

Enjoy a relaxing and therapeutic massage in our peaceful spa environment. Massage helps to relieve stress and tension and restore your body’s equilibrium. Many massage techniques available, as well as Reiki and foot reflexology. Many massage techniques available, as well as reiki and foot reflexology. Many massage techniques available, as well as reiki and foot reflexology. Healing You Massage, 123 Main St, Your City. 609-000-0000. HealingHands.com. Follow us on Facebook!

COUPONS

Offer coupons as an incentive to our readers! 2.5 x 3” $90

Ads must be placed by November 10

Call TODAY to reserve your space

Contact Lori Beveridge at 609-249-9044 or LDBeveridge@NAMercer.com

20% OFF

All relaxing and therapeutic massage items in our peaceful spa. Absolute Integrative Medicine 135 Main St, Your City 609-888-8888 AbsoluteIntegrativeMed.com