Natural Awakenings Mercer, NJ December 2013 by Natural Awakenings Mercer

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feel good • live simply • laugh more

Eckhart Tolle on the Kingdom of Heaven Within

Peace on Our Plates

Mindful Eating for a More Peaceful World

HOLIDAY FITNESS

Survival Guide

GREEN Merry-Making Retro-Fresh Family Traditions

December 2013

Mercer County, NJ

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No More Pain! Dr. Magaziner can help you recover from Chronic or Acute Pain Why Do I Have Pain?

There are also two distinct types of pain. They are acute and chronic.

Pain is a normal response of the body when damage has occurred or something is wrong. It’s like an alarm clock; letting us no we have to stop what we are doing or take some type of corrective action. Without pain life would be difficult and dangerous. We would have to be on constant alert because we would not know when something’s wrong which could lead to more serious or lifethreatening problems.

Acute pain usually means something new and or serious has happened which requires some action (e.g., back pain from lifting something heavy or pain after a car accident).

For example, when your hand touches something hot the sensors in your skin (nerve endings) rapidly send millions of messages to your brain about what’s going on. Your brain then creates the pain signals alerting you to remove your hand quickly before additional damage occurs.

How does it work? The spinal cord is the main route for all pain messages to the brain, where pain is then registered. Essentially there are two ways pain signals travel to the brain. The first is the fast way (motorway) the second the slow way (side roads). The former leads to sharp stabbing pain and the latter to a continuous dull and / or aching pain. Of course feelings of pain can be a mixture of these two.

Chronic pain is more commonly associated with an old injury or the slow bodily changes which are painful (e.g., arthritis pain from “’wear and tear”). Over time, chronic pain can cause you to change your normal habits which can lead to additional problems e.g. becoming less active and gaining weight. Such habits become part of a vicious cycle which feeds the pain and keeps it central in your life. Regardless of what type of pain you are having, it is important to get it evaluated by a healthcare professional. Finding the cause of your pain is most important.

diagnosis and treatment of acute and chronic injuries. Once an accurate diagnosis is made, Dr. Magaziner will design a specific treatment plan for you condition. Dr. Magaziner’s philosophy is to start with the more conservative treatments (less invasive) first. Dr. Magaziner provides multiple forms of treatment to help patients recover from an acute or chronic conditions. Including: State of the Art Bio-cellular Regenerative Therapies (PRP – Platelet Rich Plasma Therapy, Stem Cell Grafts, Fat Grafts and prolotherapy) inteventional pain treatments (joint, trigger point and epidural injections) and Minimally Invasive Endoscopic Surgery if necessary. If you are suffering from acute or chronic pain, call Dr. Magaziner today!

Dr. Magaziner has been in the field of interventional pain management for over 25 years. He specializes in the

%DWARD -AGAZINER -$ 2186 Route 27, Suite 2D, North Brunswick, NJ 08902

877-817-3273 • www.DrEMagaziner.com

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 Natural Awakenings is your guide to a healthier, more 10 6 newsbriefs balanced life. In each issue readers find cutting-edge information on natural health, nutrition, fitness, personal 10 healthbriefs growth, green living, creative expression and the products 12 globalbriefs and services that support a healthy lifestyle. 15 ecotip 16 consciousgiving 16 LOCAL GUIDE TO 18 12 18 greenliving CONSCIOUS GIVING Holiday Gifts Near You 21 newintention 24 wisewords 18 GREEN MERRY-MAKING Retro-Fresh Family Traditions 25 inspiration 26 community spotlight 20 NEAR-DEATH 28 healingways EXPERIENCES Proof of Life after Death 15 30 naturalpet 32 healthykids 20 34 consciouseating 24 HUMANITY’S ETERNAL QUEST 38 fitbody Eckhart Tolle on the Kingdom 39 calendar of Heaven Within 42 resourceguide 28 ‘TIS THE SEASON advertising & submissions by Claire O’Neil

by Linda Sechrist

by Eric Nelson

TO BE WISE

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. Editorial submissions Email articles, news items and ideas to: LDBeveridge@NAMercer.com. Deadline for editorial: 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. 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.

A Prime Time to Rejuvenate and Birth Creativity by Lane Vail

30 PET FIRST-AID KITS

All-Natural Home Health Care by Sandra Murphy

32 SWEET SLUMBER

Co-Sleeping in the Family Bed by Mark Sisson

34 PEACE ON OUR PLATES Mindful Eating for a More Peaceful World

by Judith Fertig

38 TOO MUCH

TOGETHERNESS?

Exercise Helps Keep Family Holidays Merry by Sarah Todd

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

letterfrompublisher

hope you are making the most of each season’s beauties, as we are. As winter settles in with its own outdoor fun in the snow, I fondly recall recent days of

getting outside to walk and play with my kids sans coats and mittens, romping around in autumn leaves at every opportunity, like I did as a child. I loved to collect all kinds of colorful leaves, arranging patterns between contact paper to make placemats. I also liked to do line

tracings, creating artful echoes of the supporting ribbing; maples leaves were my favorites.

So this month I applied those childhood skills to making a natural wreath,

circling green, yellow, orange, red and color blended leaves together on a thin cardboard foundation, embellished with pinecones. We also plan to enhance our

Owner/Publisher Lori Beveridge

Managing Editor Dave Beveridge

annual Christmas tradition of stringing popcorn by adding cranberries this year for a pop of color. How fun it is to think of green ways to decorate! Claire O’Neil has

Proofreader Randy Kambic

rounded up more inspiring ideas in “Green Merry-Making,” on page 18.

The amazing amount of holiday lighting going up in our towns is breathtak-

ing, and we like to take in the sights. With all the lights going up earlier each year, I am eager to install power strips for our household’s growing strings of LED lights

Design & Production Melanie Rankin Stephen Blancett

to save wasted “ghost” energy when they’re shut off. Of course, we always hit the switch when we head for bed.

My Facebook page reminds me daily, often in entertaining ways, of the fast

Franchise Sales 239-530-1377

approach of festivities. I’ve now attended my first Holiday Tea at a friend’s house, which involved shopping to support friends and family of the host sharing their in-home local businesses, agreeable socializing and sipping delicious herbal tea. I brought homemade organic sweet potato pie; my kids love it so much I make

Phone: 609-249-9044 Fax: 609-249-9044 NAMercer.com LDBeveridge@NAMercer.com

several to treat us all the season. Since it garnered rave reviews from the grownup ladies as well, I was asked to share the recipe, which you’ll find on page 32.

We all enjoy indulging in a well-considered pause. Now you’re set to sit with

a delicious piece of sweet potato pie and cup of tea as you contemplate meaningful gifts loved ones will like, many of which you’ll find in this month’s Local Guide to Conscious Giving. Thank you for supporting local families. Peace, love and joy to you and yours,

© 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.

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December 2013

newsbriefs ‘Tis the Season for Decorating

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

oin Fernbrook Farm’s Farmer “Q” with his craft knowledge and learn from the farm’s annual wreath-making event from 1 to 4 p.m. on December 8 in Chesterfield. After the demonstration, participants can take a wagon ride to clip an assortment of pines and hollies and then craft their own door or mantle decoration. Attendees are welcome to bring snacks and adult beverages; hot chocolate will also be provided. The event is best suited for adults and children ages 8 and older. Cost: $30/wreath, $5 for each additional person working on wreath. Location: Fernbrook Farms Environmental Education Center, 142 Bordentown-Georgetown Rd., Chesterfield. For more information, call Tina Williams at 609-298-4028, email Tina@FernbrookFarms.com or visit FernbrookEducation.org.

Local Holiday Events and Tree Lighting

he Drumthwacket Foundation in partnership with the Garden Club of New Jersey will conduct a self-guided tour of the historic Drumthwacket mansion this holiday season to view the beautiful decorations created by several theaters and garden clubs of New Jersey. Holiday Open House events will take place from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on December 4, 8 and 11. In addition, Lawrenceville Village will kick off the holiday season from 2 to 4 p.m. on December 9 at the gazebo in Weeden Park to light the village tree. Carolers will be present to add even more to the holiday spirit. Visit with Santa, enjoy the joyous music of the season and see the Weeden Park Holiday Tree. A $5 donation to the Drumthwacket Foundation is requested for holiday open house events. Reservations are required and can be made at PolClients.com/ Drum-Thwacket/HouseTour.cfm. Locations: Drumthwacket House, 354 Stockton St., Princeton and Weeden Park, Main St., Lawrenceville, (South of Craven Lane by U.S. Post Office). For more information on tree lighting event, visit Lawrenceville MainStreet.com.

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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Holiday Carriage Rides in Bordentown

njoy the thrill of a horse-drawn carriage ride as an active highlight of the festivities of the holiday season from 3:30 to 7:30 p.m. on December 14 and from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. on December 15 in Bordentown. While enjoying the ride, participants will be able to savor all of the seasonal festivities with the sounds of holiday music, aroma of chestnuts and kettle corn roasting and the visual splendor of decorated scenes in the community in an evening of total holiday bliss. Cost: $20/adults, $10 children under 10. Location: Holiday Carriage Rides, corner of Farnsworth and Walnut sts., Bordentown. Carriage tickets can be purchased in advance by calling Rebeccas’s Vintage Boutique & Consignment Shop at 609-298-9422.

Cha Cha Gifts

One Stop For All & Your Needs Specializing in Meaningful FromGift Around The World Memorable Items

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Wishing You a Joyous Holiday Season! Community Christian Choir, Christmas Concert Series

nown for its innovative, spirit-filled Christian music programming, the Community Christian Choir has announced its Christmas concert series for the upcoming holiday season. Performances will be held at 6 p.m. on December 1 at Robbinsville Seventh Day Adventist Church (2290 Rte. 33), Robbinsville; 6 p.m. on December 8 at Cornerstone Calvary Chapel (6550 Highway 9), Howell; and at 7:30 p.m. on December 13 at St. James Roman Catholic Church (115 E. Delaware Avenue), Pennington. The CCC is a nonprofit, ecumenical choir with vocalists from more than 45 area churches. Both adult and children’s choirs are comprised of singers of a variety of skill levels. The children’s choir has divisions for ages kindergarten and up. Singers are placed according to experience and ability. The adult choir ranges in age from ninth-grade students to senior citizens. Both the children and adult choirs are directed by Patricia K. Weitz, Community Christian Choir founder.

Unique Gifts from around the World!

We would like to thank our customers for their patronage this past year. Our Best Wishes for the Holiday Season! Enjoy Exceptional Savings at Cha Cha’s Throughout the Joyous Season. If you would like to be added to our email list please send an email indicating such to joyce@oceaniclink.com

Special Holiday Hours

Tuesday to Thursday 11 am to 6 pm, Friday & Saturday 11 am to 7 pm & Sunday 1pm to 6 pm.

PH: (732) 249-1821

For more information, call 609-587-7076, email CCChoir@ OptOnline.net or visit CCChoir.com.

Christmas Candlelight House Tour

Come Visit Our Farm

ave you ever driven past beautifully lighted homes all decorated for Christmas and wondered how they look inside? You’ll have the opportunity to enter seven especially lovely holiday-festooned homes from 3 to 6 p.m. on December 15 in Hightstown and East Windsor. The public is invited to start the tour at the Ely House, home of the Hightstown-East Windsor Historical Society, at 3 p.m. In addition to the tour, the society will host its annual Christmas tea, choral music and holiday boutique from 1:30 to 4 p.m. Everyone is invited to enjoy cider and homemade cookies. This event is free to the public whereas a fee for the house tour applies. Location: Ely House, 164 N. Main St., Hightstown. Cost $15/$5, adults and children. Pre-sale tickets cost $10/$5, available at Perennial Home, 119 W. Ward St., Hightstown and Weichert Realtors, 417 Rte. 130, East Windsor. For more information, call 609-448-8388 or visit HEWHS.org.

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

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

December 2013

A DV E RTO R I A L

Natural Iodine Supplementation W

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.

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.

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.

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

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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.

newsbriefs Toys for Tots Drive

n conjunction with Battery G 3rd Battalion 14th Marines, located in Ft. Dix, New Jersey, PEAC Health & Fitness will be a collection site for the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots program from November 29 through December 21. Anyone is welcome to drop off new, unwrapped toys, which will be distributed at Christmas to local, underprivileged children. Michael Briehler, president of PEAC Health & Fitness states, “We are glad to support the Toys for Tots program again this year. Through the generosity of our members, we hope our toy collection can make Christmas fun for kids in need.” According to the U.S. Marine Corps, “The primary goal of Toys for Tots is to deliver, through a new toy at Christmas, a message of hope to less fortunate youngsters that will assist them in becoming responsible, productive, patriotic citizens.” Toys for Tots campaigns are typically held in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. Location: 1440 Lower Ferry Rd., Ewing. For more information about Toys for Tots, visit ToysForTots.org. For more information about PEAC’s collection, call Christine Tentilucci at 609-883-2000, email CTentilucci@ PEACHealthFitness.com or visit PEACHealthFitness.com.

kudos PEAC Health & Fitness recently donated $1,076 to the Teal Tea Foundation in recognition of Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month last September. The amount was raised through the sale of Teal Tea items, such as jewelry and baseball caps, throughout that month. (L-R) PEAC’s Christine Tentilucci, PEAC also hosted weekly, themed raffle Valerie Lopenzina and Michelle baskets, with the cost of participating donatBriehler; Jean Shipos, Director, Teal ed to Teal Tea. In addition, all the proceeds Tea Foundation; Michael Briehler, from PEAC’s Fall Fest 5K, held on October PEAC President; Pat Lehnert, VP of 19, were donated to the Foundation. Publicity, Teal Tea Foundation “We have supported Teal Tea Foundation in the past,” said PEAC’s Marketing Coordinator Christine Tentilucci. “This year, we wanted to boost our involvement to help increase awareness about ovarian cancer and the efforts of Teal Tea Foundation.” Teal Tea Foundation is dedicated to raising ovarian cancer awareness and supporting research efforts focused on early detection, treatments, and a cure for ovarian cancer. Its programs help women faced with ovarian cancer improve their quality of life during and after treatment. The Foundation is a partner member of the Ovarian Cancer National Alliance, based in Washington, D.C., and it also supports the awareness and research efforts of the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition, the Fox Chase Cancer Center, Cooper Cancer Institute and the Cancer Institute of New Jersey Foundation. Location: PEAC, 1440 Lower Ferry Rd., Ewing. For more information about Teal Tea Foundation, visit Teal.Tea.org. For information about PEAC, contact Christine Tentilucci at CTentilucci@PEACHealthFitness.com or visit PEACHealthFitness.com.

Patriots’ Week: When Trenton’s Revolutionary History Comes to Life

n 1776, several pivotal battles of the American Revolutionary War were waged on the streets and in the fields of downtown Trenton. Join the salute to the city’s past, commemorate the passion of the patriots who fought for American Independence and honor the spirit of revolution and patriotism that flourishes today. Patriots’ Week will encompass a variety of concerts, tours, performances, presentations, exhibits, hands-on activities and book signings, bringing Colonial history into the modern age and draw a dynamic mix of families, history buffs, re-enactors and culture seekers to New Jersey’s Capital, from December 26 to 31. The program is produced by the Trenton Downtown Association, in partnership with the Barracks Museum, which has been staging the Battle of Trenton Re-enactments for more than 20 years. A collaboration of both city and state cultural and history organizations, Patriots’ Week programming reflects the quality of the Capital’s resources and provides a public showcase and interactive opportunities to experience its many treasures. For more information and to see the schedule of events, visit Patriots WeekTrenton.com. For more information on the Barracks Museum, call 609-396-1776 or visit Barracks.org.

natural awakenings

December 2013

healthbriefs

Sprinkle Cinnamon to Avert Alzheimer’s

innamon is known as an excellent antioxidant that improves fasting blood sugar levels and prevents heart disease. Now new research offers yet another benefit and reason to add this potent spice to our daily diet. Researchers at the University of California, Santa Barbara, have confirmed that cinnamon helps protect against Alzheimer’s disease. They found that the cinnamon compounds cinnamaldehyde and epicatechin help stop the formation of “tangles” of tau protein in the brain, hallmarks of the memory-robbing neurodegenerative disease. The study, published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, says these powerful antioxidants that give cinnamon its potent flavor and scent defend mental function in a unique way. “Take, for example, sunburn, a form of oxidative damage,” explains Roshni Graves, of the university’s Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology. “If you wore a hat, you could protect your face and head from oxidation. In a sense, this cinnamaldehyde is like a cap,” protecting against tau proteins. The findings suggest that sufficient cinnamon consumption might stop the progression of Alzheimer’s or even prevent it.

Cocoa Calms Inflammation

ew can say no to a cup of hot cocoa on a cold winter’s night. “Enjoy!” say Penn State researchers. They have found that a little bit of cocoa may be a powerful diet aid in helping to control inflammation and ameliorate related diseases, including diabetes. Numerous current studies link obesity to inflammation in the body. Cocoa, although a common ingredient of chocolate, by itself has low-calorie, low-fat and high-fiber content. The researchers fed laboratory mice the human equivalent of 10 tablespoons of cocoa powder—about four or five cups of hot cocoa—along with a high-fat diet for 10 weeks. The control group ate the same diet without the cocoa. Lead researcher Joshua Lambert, Penn State associate professor of food science, says the study results surprised the team, which did not expect the “dramatic reduction of inflammation and fatty liver disease” associated with obesity. Although the animals lost no weight, the cocoa powder supplement reduced liver triglycerides by 32 percent and plasma insulin levels by 27 percent, indicating it might be a powerful obesityfighting tool. But there is a catch: Adding sugar, an inflammatory substance in itself, to healthy cocoa will likely neutralize the benefits. Try stevia as a sweetener instead; it’s been used for decades to lower blood sugar. 10

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Meditation Helps Heal Traumatized Veterans

ranscendental Meditation (TM) has a dramatic healing effect on people with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and can also result in lower blood pressure, according to two new studies. TM—a technique to avoid distracting thoughts, decrease stress and promote a state of relaxed awareness— reduced PTSD symptoms in combat veterans by as much as 50 percent in just eight weeks, according to a study from Georgetown University, in Washington, D.C., published in the journal Military Medicine. The veterans also reported decreased depression and improved quality of life, with a greater ability to come back to their civilian lives after returning from duty. Vietnam War vets randomly assigned to TM sessions at a Denver Veterans Center also experienced greater reductions in alcohol usage, insomnia and depression than those in conventional counseling. At the conclusion of a landmark three-month study, 70 percent of the meditating veterans felt they no longer required the services of the center. A separate American Heart Association report on the general U.S. population showed that the practice of TM generally reduced systolic blood pressure in subjects by five points and diastolic by three points, enough to put many of them into normal range. Previous clinical trials have shown that lower blood pressure through TM practice is associated with significantly lower rates of death, heart attack and stroke. TM is usually practiced for 15 to 20 minutes twice a day by sitting comfortably and focusing on an individually selected word or series of words.

Cranberries Support Healthy Circulation

PrismHypnosis.com

egularly drinking cranberry juice may help control blood pressure, according to new findings presented at the American Heart Association’s High Blood Pressure Research 2012 Scientific Sessions. Cranberry juice, the researchers note, is rich in antioxidants—naturally occurring molecules that have been associated with the blood pressure-lowering benefit. U.S. Department of Agriculture researchers discovered a moderate systolic pressure reduction—about three points—for people that drank two eight-ounce glasses of cranberry juice every day for eight weeks. Because of the sugar calories in juice, consider the alternative of a whole-food cranberry supplement.

609-235-9030 Solutions for Healthy Living

Button Batteries Imperil Bambinos

utton-type lithium batteries are all around us, powering remote controls, keyless entry devices for cars, flameless candles, watches, greeting cards and other devices. Parents should be aware that these batteries are attractive to small children and if swallowed, can dissolve and cause serious damage to the esophagus in as little as two hours. The National Safety Council reports that the number of children swallowing these batteries quadrupled between 2005 and 2010, to 3,400 cases, yet 62 percent of parents are unaware of the danger.

To Get More, Give More

iving away money or spending it on others increases the giver’s sense of personal wealth, according to research by Michael Norton, of Harvard Business School, and co-author Elizabeth Dunn, of the University of British Columbia. The latest in a series of studies showed that people that support others, from helping with homework to shoveling a neighbor’s driveway, feel that they had more time in general and that giving time away relieved the sense of “not having enough time,” even more than gaining unexpected free time.

I don’t know what your spiritual beliefs are, but I believe that when I leave this world, I’m going to somehow measure my success by those I’ve helped along the way.

~John R. Voell II

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December 2013

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

Genuinely Greenwashed Six Ploys to Avoid in Eco-Purchases

We encourage and welcome participation by experts in our community. Local articles are what make Natural Awakenings a community resource for naturally healthy and sustainable living... for everyone. We want our readers to get to know you. Submitting editorial for one or more of our departments provides you with the opportunity to share knowledge and bring focus to your business and/or practice. For details, editorial and styling guidelines, contact us. We’re here to help!

LDBeveridge@NAMercer.com

A report by TerraChoice Environmental Marketing exposes these six “greenwashing” marketing ploys to watch out for when shopping: 1. Hidden Trade Off: A refurbished plasma TV might reduce the need of buying new at first, but new or not, such TVs are energy hogs. 2. No Proof: Can a third party verify claims such as “organic” or “all-natural”? 3. Vagueness: Beware of products claiming to be “chemical-free” or “no hormones added”. 4. Irrelevance: Claims that have no relationship to the product or might be made with any other product in the same category, such as [chlorofluorocarbon] CFC-free shaving gel. 5. Fibbing: A falsehood that can’t be backed up, such as “certified organic” for products for which no such certification exists. 6. Lesser of Two Evils: An attempt to put a green twist on a product that’s inherently harmful to humans and the environment, such as organic cigarettes.

Escalating Thirst

Endangered Western Tree Habitats A team of scientists at the University of Grenoble, in France, have isolated ultrasonic pops 100 times faster than what a human can hear in slivers of dead pine wood bathed in a hydrogel to simulate the conditions of a living tree. They exposed the gel to an artificially dry environment and listened for the noises that occurred as air bubbles built up, blocking water uptake, similar to what occurs to trees during drought. As leaves on a tree collect carbon dioxide, they open their pores, a process that leaves them particularly vulnerable to water loss. Douglas firs and pine trees can repair this damage as frequently as every hour, says Katherine McCulloh, a plant ecophysiologist at Oregon State University. However, the bubbles are deadly for other species. Today, the typical forest in the often thirsty American West contains an unnaturally high density of 112 to 172 trees per acre. Besides intercepting rain and snow that would otherwise enter the groundwater supply, such an overabundance threatens native species. “Deprived of [the effect of] low-intensity, naturally occurring fires, aspen, lupine, sequoia and fireweed can’t reproduce,” notes Jamie Workman, of the Environmental Defense Fund. “Deer lose edge habitat. Threatened owls and raptors can’t navigate through increasingly dense thickets.” Workman argues that thinning out small trees is the answer. Contributing source: Utne.com

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Intuitive Generosity Spontaneity Sparks Altruism

What makes people put “we” ahead of “me”? To find out, a group of Harvard University researchers enrolled thousands of people to play a “public good” game in which subjects were divided into small groups, given some money and the choice to keep it or contribute it to a common pool that would grow and benefit the entire group. Researchers discovered that those that made their decisions quickly were more likely to contribute to the common good. Taking it a step further, the researchers applied time pressure to the decisionmaking process. They then found that those faced with making a quick decision most often chose the “we” option, while those that spent more time deliberating ended up giving less money to the group kitty. The Massachusetts research team, which tested thousands of online worldwide participants, concluded that spontaneity and intuition guide people into rapid acts of kindness.

Arctic Rescue

Finland Calls for North Pole Sanctuary The Finnish government has adopted a new Arctic Strategy that calls for a global sanctuary around the North Pole as one of the key demands of the growing Save the Arctic movement, reversing its long-held position of backing corporate interests over the environment. The populace responded strongly to a series of actions taken by Greenpeace against government icebreaker ships aiding corporate oil exploration in order to heighten awareness of the issue. The new Finnish policy reflects a mounting world citizenry’s view that the Arctic deserves protection. Greenpeace points out that companies can wreck the Arctic with little penalty and the current Arctic Council oil spill agreement does nothing to protect the Arctic or impose liability in this the most vulnerable place on Earth. The hope is that the other seven Arctic Council countries will see the light, as well. Sign the petition and pitch in at SaveTheArctic.org.

Tagging Toxins

Online Database Identifies Safe Products SafeMarkets.org offers a new clearinghouse of information gathered by advocates investigating toxic chemicals in food, baby products, toys, furniture, construction materials and other consumer goods. Families, municipalities, builders and businesses can use it to identify potentially harmful products and find safer alternatives. Hosted by the Workgroup for Safe Markets (WSM), it’s a one-stop shop to provide information for consumers, retailers and manufacturers that are demanding safer products, says Beverley Thorpe, a WSM co-leader and consulting co-director for Clean Production Action. Mia Davis, vice president of health and safety at Beautycounter, who is expecting her first child, sees it as a resource for parents to find a full complement of safe products for their families. “More than ever,” she says, “people understand how important it is to shop with companies they trust and to support businesses working to create truly safe products.”

Sustainable Solutions

Competition Launched to Measure Ocean Acidification As part of their mission of “making the impossible possible,” organizers of the XPrize, a global leader in incentivized competitions, have launched the $2 million Wendy Schmidt Ocean Health XPrize contest. Schmidt is president of the Schmidt Family Foundation, which strives to advance the development of clean energy and support wiser use of natural resources. The program aims to spur innovators to transform our understanding of ocean acidification—a grave problem associated with the rise in atmospheric carbon dioxide—via breakthroughs in ocean pH-sensing technologies designed to monitor and sustain ocean health. For information and to register, visit xprize.org or Facebook.com/xprize.

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December 2013

globalbriefs Standard Returns

New Sustainable Currency Geared to Stabilize World Economy The Terra, an Internet-based trade reference currency (TRC), has been launched as a global complementary form of money to provide an inflation-resistant international value standard, stabilize the worldwide business cycle and realign stockholders’ interests with long-term sustainability. From a legal viewpoint, the Terra is standardized “countertrade” (international barter), which is routinely used for more than $1 trillion worth of transactions each year. Countertrade legislation already exists in about 200 countries, including all the major trading nations, so introducing the Terra does not require new intergovernmental agreements. Financial and currency expert Bernard Lietaer, one of the key architects of the European Currency Unit, the convergence mechanism that led to the Euro, posits the Terra as the first time since gold standard days that such a robust, inflationresistant international base value has been available. He says, “This supranational complementary currency is uniquely designed, unlike national currencies, to provide a stable international mechanism for contractual and payment purposes worldwide. This mechanism would automatically work to reverse the boom and busts of the business cycle and stabilize the economy by providing more cash during downturns and cooling off inflationary pressures in the peak of an upturn.” Perhaps most importantly, it is positioned to resolve the current conflict between short-term financial interest and long-term sustainability. The Terra works in parallel with national currencies. Source: TerraTRC.org

Power Walking

Shoe Insert Generates Electricity Two Carnegie Mellon graduates, Matt Stanton and Hahna Alexander, are the founders of SolePower, a company making a shoe insert that stores the power generated by walking and running into a battery that can be instantly accessed via a USB port. Beta testing on the prototype has begun, with release expected next summer. The insert can be paired with any shoe type and feels like a regular, cushy insole, according to Stanton. The battery attaches to the ankle or the top of the shoe, and is charged after 2.5 miles of footsteps with enough power to run an iPhone. Runners needing to power heat-producing mittens in the winter could also benefit. Another application is emergency charging of cell phones and radios during power outages. People in developing nations likewise will have a reliable power source for mobile phones and other essential small electronics. Source: SolePowerTech.com 14

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December 2013

CHRISTMAS GIFT SUGGESTIONS: To your enemy, forgiveness. To an opponent, tolerance. To a friend, your heart. To a customer, service. To all, charity. To every child, a good example. To yourself, respect. ~Oren Arnold

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Local Guide to

e know it as the most wonderful time of the year, yet too often the holiday season pushes wellness to the back burner and heightened consumption trumps efforts to go green. For this year’s gift-giving season, Natural Awakenings has gathered meaningful and practical gift ideas from local businesses to ease the stress of holiday shopping. To make gifting even simpler, pair our findings with creative themes that initiate new traditions. Try the four-gift rule with kids: one thing they want, one thing they need, one thing to wear and one thing to read. Suggest exchanging locally crafted items with out-of-town family members so everyone receives a unique gift they’ve never encountered before. Consider shopping throughout the year when inspiration strikes, and then store items in a gift closet; it cuts down on holiday to-dos. Or turn from packaged products altogether to gift certificates, prepaid memberships and charitable donations. With friends and family in mind, have fun practicing conscious consumerism with these ideas for gifts of wellness and sustainability. You’ll also find naturally appealing gift ideas for kids, pets, relatives and friends at the Natural Awakenings webstore, NAWebstore.com.

Accessories with a Conscience

If jewelry is on a loved one’s wish list, look for pieces that are made of sustainable or recycled materials or that raise funds for a worthy cause.

Presents that Pamper

With busy calendars and long to-do lists, everyone can use a little pampering this time of year. This holiday, give the gift of good health. Enjoy a $10 discount off first acupuncture treatment. Valid through 1/31/2014. Acupuncture 2 Heal 405 Rte 130 N, East Windsor 609-616-2281 Jim@Acupuncture2Heal.com Purchase a gift certificate for a 60-minute massage and get a 20 percent discount on a massage for yourself. OM Central Jersey Massage & Yoga 666 Plainsboro Rd, Ste 635, Plainsboro 609-306-2618 CentralJersey.MassageTherapy.com

For Furry Family Members Before purchasing another squeaky toy or rawhide bone for the fourlegged members of the family, consider conscious gift alternatives for Fifi and Fido, too.

This holiday, give your pet the gift of good health—$10 discount off a wellness exam. Valid through 1/31/2014. Windsong Pet Healing 21 Rte 31 N, Pennington 609-737-2800 WindsongPet.com

Charitable Gifts that Keep On Giving

Good things can come in little packages—or no packages at all. Consider charitable donations in honor of those on your gift list. Twenty percent of total labor charges will be donated to a local charity of choice in customer’s name. We Do It All Home Improvements & Repairs LLC 609-851-1753 WeDoItAll4U2@gmail.com

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For homemakers and others swamped by houseguests, having help around the house can ease the stress of the holidays or any other time of the year. Visit Cherry Grove Farm for your and your hostess’ holiday gift needs including: farmstead cheeses, cheese accompaniments, cheese boards and serving pieces, local preserves, chutney and raw honey, cookbooks, aprons and more. See our special holiday coupon in this section. Cherry Grove Farm 3200 Lawrenceville Rd, Lawrenceville 609-219-0053 CherryGroveFarm.com Give the gift of all-natural or organic home or office cleaning. Mention this ad and save 10 percent. Down to Earth Cleaning Serving Mercer County 609-468-4992 Down2EarthClean@gmail.com

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Make Christmas shopping easier on the environment and the family budget by visiting local consignment and resale shops for gifts or gift certificates.

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hroughout the year, Santa’s good girls and boys of all ages make every effort to buy only what’s needed, plus recycle, reuse and repurpose. Then the holidays hit and discipline often gives way to indulgences. The season seems consumed by up-tempo decorating, feasting, shopping, giftgiving and merrymaking at any cost. Yet, creative green living experts show us how easy it is to tweak time-honored family traditions to align with the green way we wish to live and feel even more satisfied with festivities.

For Danny Seo, author of Upcycling Celebrations: A UseWhat-You-Have Guide to Decorating, Gift-Giving & Entertaining, “Upcycling is basically a form of recycling that elevates something to a better level than before.” Based in New York City and Bucks County, Pennsylvania, Seo always has an eye out for green possibilities. “Opt for vintage pieces and re-imagine them in new and interesting ways,” he advises. For example, he likes to upcycle a vintage glass cake stand with a collection of bright ornaments for a unique holiday focal point. Michele Johansen, a lifestyle writer in Bellevue, Washington, suggests bringing in the outdoors. Instead of decorating the tree with tinsel and the home with plastic faux greenery, she suggests stringing popcorn and cranberries on the tree and decking the halls with fresh wreaths and garlands accented with boughs of holly. “Local nurseries are good sources for holiday décor that you can later mulch or put in yard waste bins,” she says. “The smells are much more authentic and festive.” Save energy by using LED lights whenever possible, suggests Sheryl Eisenberg, a writer for the National Resources

Defense Council. Plug lights and electronics into a power strip, and then unplug it when not in use to save “ghost” energy pulled by electronics that are plugged in, but not activated. Buy a live tree to later plant or recycle, Seo suggests. This supports regional Christmas tree farmers while retaining the integrity of local forests. Many communities offer recycling of holiday trees to provide mulch or habitat for aquatic life in local lakes.

Keeping the Feast

Organize a cookie exchange to get together and save time and energy on holiday baking, suggests Sara Novak, a food policy and health writer at SereneKitchen.com, from Sullivan’s Island, South Carolina. Generally, a hostess asks guests to bring several dozen of their favorite cookies. Once gathered, attendees share the treats and recipes, taking home several of each variety. To “green it up”, Novak recommends emailing the recipes rather than printing them, encouraging invitees to use fresh and local ingredients and bring favorite reusable containers from home, like a colorful, time-honored cookie tin. For the holiday table, mix and match settings of plates, glasses, linens and cutlery. “Use the real thing,” Eisenberg recommends, “and recruit guests to help wash up afterwards.” She recalls that while growing up, her mother supplemented her silverware with grandmother’s for large holiday dinners. Save your own energy—and sanity—by asking family and friends to bring an appetizer, side dish or dessert. The hostess can assign a dish and corresponding recipe or use a potluck approach, says Eisenberg. Leftovers go home in nonplastic, reusable containers.

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Gift Giving

Many families enjoy giving traditional gifts to children at certain ages, like dollhouses or train sets. Re-imagine these and, when possible, buy local to save energy and support area businesses, suggests Eisenberg. Cintia Gonzalez, an Australian mom, crafted a dollhouse from an old suitcase, inventively using black chalkboard paint for the exterior, wooden shelves as floors and fast food ketchup cups as lampshades (Tinyurl.com/UpcycleDollhouse). Another mom transformed a discarded coffee table into a painted train table for her boys. Upcycle paint chip cards into colorful gift tags, suggests Seo. Plus, use gift wraps that become part of the gift itself, such as placemats swaddling a bottle of wine, fabric to encase quilting supplies or sheet music enveloping concert tickets. As a general rule, “Give experiences, not gifts,” counsels Eisenberg. “Giving loved ones experiences reduces wrapping paper, ribbon and packaging and is an easy way to be a bit more personal over the holidays. Your teenage niece may love a spa day, complete with hair styling, while your favorite aunt and uncle may be thrilled to attend a local wine tasting. If you think a young child can tolerate a few less presents in exchange for a pass to an ice show or dance class, go for it.” “It’s the holiday experience that counts,” counsels Seo. “It’s what makes memories.”

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December 2013

Near-Death Experiences Proof of Life after Death by Linda Sechrist

he advice that the White Queen gave to young Alice in Lewis Carroll’s Through the LookingGlass might be some of the best to offer non-believers and skeptics that question the credibility of near-death experiences (NDE). When Alice protests, “One can’t believe impossible things,” the White Queen famously retorts, “I daresay you haven’t had much practice. When I was your age, I always did it for half-an-hour a day. Why, sometimes I believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast.”

Glimpses of Grace

The majority of physicians and clinical researchers in the medical community continue to consider NDEs as impossible and merely pure fantasies generated by a surge of electrical activity as a dying brain runs out of oxygen. However, according to a Gallup poll, the 8 million Americans whose transcendental NDEs freed their consciousness to leave the body and enter into a wondrous reality that exists completely free of physicality, believe them to be real, meaningful and lifechanging experiences. Recently, the renowned NDE narratives of Anita Moorjani, author of Dying to Be Me: My Journey from Cancer to Near Death, to True Healing, and Dr. Eben Alexander, author of Proof of Heaven: A Neurosurgeon’s Journey into the Afterlife, have sparked fresh 20

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I was overwhelmed by the realization that God isn’t a being, but a state of being… and I am that state of being… pure consciousness. ~ Anita Moorjani public interest in NDEs, a word coined by Raymond Moody, Ph.D., in his 1975 classic, Life After Life. Moody, a psychiatrist and professor of philosophy who has spent nearly 50 years investigating what happens when people die, has interviewed thousands of individuals that have personally experienced an NDE. “Over the past 20 years there have been enormous strides in resuscitation technology. Defibrillators and public access defibrillation programs, as well as cardiopulmonary resuscitation, are major factors that allow modern medicine to bring people back from a state that 100 years ago would have been labeled death,” observes Moody. Through his research, he has identified numerous common elements that occur in NDEs—an out-of-body experience, the sensation of traveling through a tunnel, encountering a bright light (usually interpreted as God, Jesus or an angel), communicating with deceased relatives, feeling emotions such as pro-

found peace, well-being and love, plus a flood of knowledge about life and the nature of the universe. Perhaps the most significant element he reports is the supremely conscious and superbly blissful state that exists beyond both limitations of the senses and intellect and the confines of space and time— the pure conscious form of each one’s truly real Self.

Life as Love

Rushed to the hospital in a coma, Moorjani, whose body had been devoured for four years by cancer of the lymphatic system, describes the real self that she discovered during her NDE. “There I was, without my body or any physical traits, yet my pure essence continued to exist. It was not a reduced element of my whole self; in fact, it felt far greater and more intense and expansive than my physical being. “I felt eternal, as if I’d always existed and always would, without a beginning or end. I was filled with the knowledge that I was simply magnificent,” explains Moorjani, whose cancer completely disappeared within five weeks after her release from the hospital. “Not only did I come back with a clean slate, I brought back one of my biggest lessons—to love myself and be an instrument of love. I also returned to life here with a sense of purpose—to fearlessly be as authentically me as I can be. This means,” she clarifies, “that in whatever I do, I am acting from my sense of passion and the sheer joy of doing it.” During Alexander’s seven-day coma in a hospital, brought about by antibiotic-resistant E. coli meningitis that attacked his brain, he left his mortal identity behind. “My brain wasn’t working at all,” he relates. “My entire neo-cortex, the part that makes us human, was entirely shut down. I had no language, emotions, logic or memories of who I was. Such an empty slate granted me full access to the true cosmic being that I am, that we all are,” says Alexander. He further recalls that as his NDE unfolded, it occurred to him that he was being granted a grand overview of the invisible side of existence. He also had a lovely ethereal companion that floated along on a butterfly wing, telepathically teaching him to accept the universal truth that, “You are

“We need to accept—at least hypothetically—that the brain itself doesn’t produce consciousness.” ~ Dr. Eben Alexander eternally loved and cherished, you have nothing to fear, and there is nothing you can do wrong.” “If I had to boil the whole message down to just one word, it would be Love—the incomprehensibly glorious truth of truths that lives and breathes at the core of everything that exists or will ever exist. No remotely accurate understanding of who we are and what we are can be achieved by anyone who does not know it and embody it in all their actions,” Alex-ander now understands. Prior to his life-threatening illness, this neurosurgeon’s sophisticated medical training had led him to dismiss the possibility of NDEs. Today, he works at returning to his NDE state of oneness and unconditional love by using meditation and sacred acoustics, as well as quantum mechanics, to explore the nature of consciousness and higher brain function. Like Moody, Alexander studies the ancient Greek philosophers Parmenides, Pythagoras and Plato, who took the notion of an afterlife seriously and questioned “what” survives bodily death. Alexander’s consequent nonprofit organization, Eternea, fosters cooperation between science and spirituality by sponsoring research and education about spiritually transformative experiences and holistic consciousness beyond conventional definitions. “I had to learn a whole lot more about consciousness than I had to know about neuroscience,” quips Alexander, who now believes that the brain blocks access to knowledge of higher worlds. “We need to accept—at least hypothetically—that the brain itself doesn’t produce consciousness. That it is, instead, a kind of reducing valve or filter that dumbs down consciousness for the duration of our human experience. “Neuroscience can’t give you the first sentence about how the physical brain creates consciousness,” he states, while many are finding how science and spirituality strengthen each other. At age 37, a blood vessel exploded in the left hemisphere of Jill Bolte Taylor’s brain. A Ph.D. Harvard-trained scientist specializing in anatomy of the brain, she was fascinated to observe the breakdown of her brain-related functions. As described in her book, My Stroke of Insight: A Brain Scientist’s Personal Journey, she became the witness to her stroke, which initially left her unable to talk, walk, read, write or remember anything prior to that occurrence. As her left brain shut down, Taylor lost her ability to process all language; with her mind suspended in newfound silence, she experienced an unprecedented sense of deep peace. She also experienced an inability to visually distinguish edges and boundaries between herself and the outer world. Absent conventional orientation, “I could actually see that my skin was not my physical boundary. “As a result of such a glorious state of blissful realization that I am—as we all are—connected to everything and everyone around us, I no longer see myself as a single, solid entity,

newintention Lakota Advice for Life Friend do it this way—that is, whatever you do in life, do the very best you can with both your heart and mind. And if you do it that way, the Power Of The Universe will come to your assistance, if your heart and mind are in Unity. When one sits in the Hoop Of The People, one must be responsible because All of Creation is related. And the hurt of one is the hurt of all. And the honor of one is the honor of all. And whatever we do affects everything in the universe. If you do it that way—that is, if you truly join your heart and mind as One—whatever you ask for, that’s the Way It’s Going To Be. Source: Passed down from White Buffalo Calf Woman and Sapphyr.net.

“In touch with our wholeness, illness can’t remain—in ourselves, others or the planet.” ~Anita Moorjani separate from other human beings,” advises Taylor. “Although my left mind still thinks of me as a fragile individual, capable of losing my life, my right mind realizes the essence of my being as eternal life.” She now understands that she is part of the cosmic flow of energy, which she characterizes as a tranquil sea of euphoria.

Present Possibility

In The Hidden Face of God: Science Reveals the Ultimate Truth, author Gerald L. Schroeder, Ph.D., suggests that each of us is a part of the universe seeking and finding itself. Could it be that without the mental filter and self-limiting beliefs, we are free to consciously know our higher state of wholeness and the truth of our magnificence? Upwards of 8 million people that have experienced their own NDE are trending the world toward a tipping point into the comforting awareness that anything is possible. Linda Sechrist is a senior staff writer for Natural Awakenings. Visit ItsAllAboutWe.com for the recorded interviews. natural awakenings

December 2013

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sked why she “I’ve become focused just my own enthought she ergy manifesting on seeing the perfection as cancer, because had cancer, Anita Moorjani, of life in this moment.” my fears weren’t author of Dying to allowing me to exBe Me, sums up press myself as the her answer in one word: Fear. “I was magnificent force I was meant to be,” killing myself, and cancer saved me,” advises Moorjani. says Moorjani, whose book documents She hopes that her presentaher near-death experience (NDE) and tions to medical professionals and the higher realm she encountered public speaking will influence how when her body shut down. Allowed the health profession views cancer to identify with her true magnificence, and other diseases and illnesses. undistorted by the fear generated “Treatment needs to be about more by her own lifelong self-judgment, than medicine, because so much of self-criticism, worry and lack of selfdisease has to do with our emotions,” forgiveness, she returned with a vital, she imparts, “especially the ones we heartfelt message. direct toward ourselves.” “Everyone is an amazing, mag Through this life-enhancing expenificent being, with great capacity for rience, Moorjani came to understand health, happiness and joy. Although why she owes it to herself, everyone we’ve been conditioned to believe that she meets and life itself to always exwe need to pursue success and learn press her own unique essence. “Trying to improve ourselves to be happy, such to be anything or anyone else doesn’t steps are unnecessary, because we make me better—it just deprives me already are all we are trying to attain,” of my true self and keeps me from she says. interacting authentically with others,” “I’d spent a lifetime feeling she explains. inadequate, beating myself up for Moorjani now knows that all life not meeting my own expectations,” in the universe is one and our core she continues. Through the clarity is love. “I was overwhelmed by the of dwelling in the NDE realm, she realization that God isn’t a being, but understood that the cancer wasn’t a state of being… and I am that state a punishment for anything. “It was of being… pure consciousness.”

Dealing with Grief During the Holidays by Dr. Norma Bowe

friend of mine recently lost her grandmother. He told me at the funeral, “My grandmother was the glue for our family. All of our best memories took place at her house. We celebrated every birthday, graduation and holiday eating her food and basking under the wide umbrella of her love.” Holidays and special events can be very hard after a loss. Grief can be quite complicated and doesn’t always follow a predictable trajectory. Friends and family can’t help either because they may be grieving too and also have a vested interest in our “being OK.” In fact we feel pressure to “move on” in every aspect of our life. Here is some advice for getting through the holidays after a loss. Remember that no one approach works for everyone. Feel free to experiment and be ready to make adjustments when necessary.

fortunately we often don’t say these things until we are on our deathbed. Say them now. Believe me, it is better than any storebought gift. If you are feeling reticent to talk face to face, write a letter or send a card.

Find ways to remember the deceased loved one

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Scale back

It is not reasonable to think that you can do all you did before the loss. In fact, losing a loved one feels a lot like getting hit by a truck, even if the death was expected due to a long illness. If you were actually hit by a truck no one would expect you to bake Christmas cookies or baste a turkey. It is good for the others around you to step in and help. Giving and receiving help is a step on the path to healing.

Get rest

When a loved one dies, we often feel numb at first and don’t understand why. Don’t worry. An emotional release will come and then other feelings will follow as you embark on this grief journey. Unfortunately, feeling exhausted comes with it. If you feel compelled to push on ignoring your body’s instinct to rest, you will get sick. And over the holiday season there is a lot of pressure to go to every party and participate in every grab bag. Give yourself permission to take care of yourself. There will be lots of other grab bag opportunities.

Talk

Express how you are feeling. Don’t hold back. It is also important to tell family and friends how much you care about them, and in what meaningful way they touch your life. Un-

People sometimes make a big mistake and try to ignore past traditions or avoid talking about the loss for fear of upsetting those around them. If you are thinking about loss, the ones around you are too. Spend some time discussing memories. Light a candle. Hang an ornament. Visit the grave. Set an empty place at the table. Prepare a favorite dish. Pray. Remember, love does not turn off like a light switch. You will probably feel better as soon as you acknowledge that you are grieving.

Find ways to give back

One of the things that I have learned on my own grief journey and from teaching a college course on death is that community service is an integral part of healing. Donate to a cause that your loved one supported. Make a holiday basket and donate it to a family in need. Volunteer at a hospice. Buy a toy for a child. Feed the homeless. There are so many ways to make a difference. And any small act of kindness will help you honor your loss. You will instantly feel better. Grief is a difficult journey. It won’t help for me to say here that things get better. But they will in time. And time is exactly what is needed now. Asking for help is OK. Taking time to heal is OK. One of the best gifts we can give ourselves is to lean in deeply to our vulnerability. It is what makes us human after all. Dr. Norma Bowe is a co-founder of the Center for Grief Services offering workshops and counseling for those experiencing loss. She is also a professor at Kean University in Union, NJ. Bowe teaches a course on death that has a three-year waiting list and is the subject of the book The Death Class: A True Story About Life by Erika Haysaki. The book is published by Simon and Schuster and will be released in January. For more information, visit CenterForGriefServices.com. See ad on page 33. natural awakenings

December 2013

wisewords

Humanity’s Eternal Quest photo by David Ellingsen

Eckhart Tolle on the Kingdom of Heaven Within by Eric Nelson

o listen to Eckhart Tolle is to be reminded that anything is possible—for anyone. We’re not talking about living a life of leisure, filled with expensive cars, beach homes and extravagant vacations, but an experience brimming with the kind of spiritual insights that make this life not only worth living, but decidedly more fulfilling. The problem is that when people hear the words “spiritual insight”, there’s often an assumption that it’s about something too ethereal to be practical or too elusive to be achieved in this lifetime.

This is exactly the point that Eckhart Tolle, one of the world’s most wellknown spiritual teachers and authors, rebuffed during a talk earlier this year at California’s Stanford University. “Some people awaken spiritually without ever coming into contact with any meditation technique or any spiritual teaching,” he says. “They may awaken simply because they can’t stand the suffering anymore.” He went on to cite examples of those that have either been told they have a short time to live or have been given an exceptionally long prison sentence. In both cases, any thought of

a future has been effectively dashed, forcing these individuals into what Tolle describes as an intense awareness that there is only the present moment, with no more future to escape into mentally. The result is a lot less suffering. “That is the real spiritual awakening, when something emerges from within you that is deeper than who you thought you were,” says Tolle. “So, the person is still there, but one could almost say that something more powerful shines through the person.” The good news, according to Tolle, is that in order to experience this awakening, “You don’t have to wait for the diagnosis by the doctor or to be put in prison… nor do you have to do 30,000 hours of meditation or live in an ashram for 20 years. Once you get a glimpse of it, you can invite it into your daily life.” For a growing number of people, it’s this understanding of the always present “spiritual you” shining through that has led to significant improvements in their lives, not the least of which is better health. This would seem to indicate that these kinds of spiritual insights aren’t the least bit ethereal or elusive, but decidedly practical.

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Spiritual insights aren’t the least bit ethereal or elusive, but decidedly practical. “Spirituality and religion belong in the healing paradigm,” writes Airdre Grant, Ph.D., of Australia’s Southern Cross University, in a study published in the Journal of the Australian TraditionalMedicine Society. “They are determinants of health and they are factors in recovery, well-being and longevity.” So where do these insights come from? Is it simply a matter of wishful thinking? Or is it perhaps something more reliable, more effective than that? “Jesus said, ‘The kingdom of heaven is within you,’” observes Tolle, implying that this health-inducing understanding may be a lot closer than we thought. “I think if he lived nowadays, instead of ‘kingdom’, he would have said, ‘dimension’. And ‘heaven’ refers to a sense of vastness or spaciousness. So if we retranslate the words of Jesus into modern terms, [it would be] ‘the dimension of spaciousness is within you.’” “And then Jesus said—when they asked him, ‘Where is the kingdom of heaven and when is it going to come?’— he said, ‘The kingdom of heaven does not come with signs to be perceived. You cannot say, ah, it’s over there or look, it’s over there, for I tell you the kingdom of heaven is within you.’” How comforting it is to be reminded that the proverbial “kingdom of heaven” we’ve been hearing about for at least two millennia—this “dimension of spaciousness”, or what might be characterized as the understanding of our true spiritual identity—is “within you.” It’s within us all, here and now. All that remains is the willingness— and the humility—to put this insight into practice. Eric Nelson is a Christian Science healing practitioner from Los Altos, CA, whose articles on the link between spiritual consciousness and health appear regularly in national online publications. Connect at norcalcs.org.

inspiration

BE HAPPY RIGHT NOW The Top Five Regrets of the Dying by Bronnie Ware

eople grow a lot when faced with their own mortality. As a palliative caregiver for many years, I learned never to underestimate someone’s capacity for personal growth. After wrestling with a variety of intense emotions, every patient I saw found their peace before they departed. When questioned about regrets or what they would have done differently, five themes emerged. I wish I’d had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me. This was the most common regret of all. When people realize that their life is almost over and look back clearly on it, it is easy to see how many dreams have gone unfulfilled. Most people had not honored even half of their dreams and died knowing that it was due to choices they had made or not made. Health brings a freedom very few realize until they no longer have it. I wish I hadn’t worked so hard. Every male patient that I nursed felt they had missed their children’s youth and their partner’s companionship. They deeply regretted spending so much of their lives on the treadmill of a work existence. Women also spoke of this regret, but because most were from an older generation, many had not been breadwinners. I wish I’d had the courage to express my feelings. Many people suppressed their feelings in order to keep peace

with others. As a result, they settled for a mediocre existence and never became who they were truly capable of becoming. As a result, many developed illnesses apparently related to the bitterness and resentment they carried. I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends. Many were disappointed they had not truly realized the full benefits of old friends until their dying weeks, and it was not always possible to track them down. Many had become so caught up in their own lives that they had let golden friendships slip away. Many deeply regretted not giving important friendships the time and effort that they deserved. I wish that I had let myself be happier. Many did not understand until the end that happiness is a choice. They had stayed stuck in old patterns and habits. The so-called comfort of familiarity overflowed into their emotions, as well as their physical lives. Fear of change had them pretending to others and to themselves that they were content, when deep within, they longed to laugh with gusto and cultivate some silliness in their life. Bronnie Ware is the author of The Top Five Regrets of the Dying: A Life Transformed by the Dearly Departing, a memoir of how people she cared for changed the way she lives. She blogs at InspirationAndChai.com.

natural awakenings

December 2013

communityspotlight

Agricola Community Eatery Taking Local and Seasonal to Extremes by Gayle Wilson Rose

n every industry, there is served seasonal bounty from often a select group of the farm. businesses and owners that While not related to the define the category. In the famous Swiss cough drop, growing farm-to-table restauRicola, the eatery’s moniker is rant movement, Agricola Compronounced similarly, i.e., “Agmunity Eatery of Princeton and ’ri-ko-la.” It’s Latin for farmer, its owner, Jim Nawn, naturally a fitting name considering that fill this role. Nawn’s Great Road Farm, just In the years leading up four miles away, is Agricola’s to the restaurant’s debut last primary source of food. March, Nawn owned and “We source only seasonal, operated nearly 40 successsustainable, antibiotic-free ful Panera Bread franchises in ingredients,” explains Steve Tomlinson, the live-in farm north New Jersey. Yearning for (L-R) Josh Thomsen and Jim Nawn manager. About half of the more connection and community, he sold the stores and moved his family to a 112-acre farm’s acres remain wild and wooded, while the other half farm in Skillman, New Jersey. With a vision and developing is populated by crops and livestock. “Anything we serve that dream, he drove head-on down the path to opening a fullwe don’t produce on the farm, we seek from other local farmers.” (Their locally produced cheese comes from Cherry service, high-level dining venue. His first step was to complete a professional chef program at the Institute of Culinary Grove Farm, of Lawrenceville, New Jersey, for example.) Education, in New York, in spite of an admitted lack of pas Tomlinson’s farming and permaculture design experiencsion for cooking. It was there that he solidified his vision for es add depth to the eatery’s leadership team. Though the farm a farm-to-table eatery. is not certified organic, Tomlinson employs organic practices on the five cultivated acres. “We don’t use any pesticide sprays or chemical fertilizers. We feed the soil with compost, Home Is Where the Farm Is cover crops and rely on beneficial insects such as ladybugs One can see the seasonal focus first-hand upon stepping and praying mantises.” into this warm and inviting eatery in the heart of Princeton: A large brick-and-windowed wall provides back light and depth to shelves of countless glass jars brimming with preDaily Delivery The entire farm-to-table process is what makes Agricola a standout. Executive Chef, co-partner and New Jersey native, Josh Thomsen, explains, “The care that we put into the food—from the menu development to the planting, crop tending, foraging, kitchen preparation through presentation— it’s all driven by one thing: Taste. The question I ask myself and my kitchen team on a daily basis is: Are we delivering on taste?” Thomsen, a veteran of French Laundry, among other notable eating establishments, shares, “My food approach can be summed up with a single term: Hyper-seasonality.” The rustic American cuisine he prepares with long-time partner chef de cuisine, Manlee Siu, focuses on what’s in-season and produced locally. “We could simplify things and contract with a distant, mass purveyor of fresh and frozen vegetables, but that’s not what we are about,” explains Thomsen. 26

Mercer County, NJ

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Since Agricola opened in March, they’ve adjusted the menus to embrace seasonality about six times. “We have menu constants and patron favorites, of course; our accompaniments see the most seasonal variety shifts.” With ubiquitous food sensitivities and dietary restrictions, Thomsen and team proudly say they can “please the staunchest carnivore to the most dedicated vegan.” Pastry chef Sarah Brunina ensures there’s always at least one gluten-free sweet on the menu to finish a meal.

If You Learn from Natural Awakenings, Share the Knowledge

Call for Community

The eatery’s middle name, community, is taken to heart. Their sharing ways manifest themselves through their restaurant, the Great Road Farm, and avenues of direct support. Whether by giving back through local hunger relief program support, nutritional education programs or by lending a hand through a local scholarship with Mercer College to help aspiring chefs on their road to professional development, Nawn says, “It’s just the right thing to do.” Most recently, the eatery warmed patron’s bellies by serving 1,800 bowls of soup throughout October. But the focus transcended soup sales; they pledged that for every bowl locals savored, a local person in need would be helped. Agricola’s $1,800 contribution at month’s end to Mercer Street Friends assisted community members struggling with poverty and health issues. From June to October, deliveries of farm bounty reach the community through their Community Supported Agriculture program. “We love that people come to Agricola for a meal or simply drop by for a hello when picking up a home supply of seasonal vegetables,” Nawn adds. In our world where mass-produced food and drive-thrus abound, Agricola is a Princeton oasis of taste and reverence for the power of community and healthy, wholesome food. Location: 11 Witherspoon St., Princeton. For more information, call 609-9212798, email Info@AgricolaEatery.com or visit AgricolaEatery.com. Gayle Wilson Rose is a frequent contributor to Natural Awakenings. Learn more at DashWriter.com.

JOIN US ON: facebook.com/ NaturalAwakenkingsMercerCounty twitter.com/ @NaturalMercer LDBeveridge@ NAMercer.com

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December 2013

healingways

Calendar A wonderful resource for filling your workshops, seminars and other events.

‘Tis the Season to Be Wise A Prime Time to Rejuvenate and Birth Creativity by Lane Vail

Two styles available: Calendar of Dated Events: Designed for events on a specific date of the month. 50 words. n

Calendar of Ongoing Events: Designed for recurring events that fall on the same day each week. 25 words. n

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or California acupuncturist Daniela Freda, counseling patients that grapple with low energy during winter is routine. “They’re often concerned something is wrong, since our society expects us to feel the same way year-round,” says Freda, who maintains a private practice in San Francisco. “But in fact,” she adds, “everything is right.” According to a study published in Psychiatry Research, only 4 to 6 percent of Americans suffer from seasonal affective disorder (SAD), characterized by a predictable seasonal pattern of major depressive or bipolar disorder. For the vast majority of the population, a slight seasonal variance in mood and behavior is normal, confirms Kathryn Roecklein, Ph.D., a clinical psychologist and prominent SAD researcher at Pennsylvania’s University of Pittsburg. Practitioners of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), like Freda, view decreased energy in nature’s wintertime as a reflection of the season’s energy. In this philosophy, rising (yang) and falling (yin) energies cycle as the seasons turn. Winter is governed by quiet, slow, introspective and creative yin energy. As winter yields to spring, the bright, fast, expansive and extroverted yang energy gains momentum to peak in summer. “Nature expresses universal energies in a big way,” says research psychologist and mind-body medicine expert

Joseph Cardillo, Ph.D., author of The Five Seasons. Who can ignore a blossoming spring or an abundant autumn? “Those same energetic cycles,” says Cardillo, “are mirrored in the microcosmic human body and human experience.”

Chill Out

Although the December 21 winter solstice marks the shortest day of the year, temperatures in most of the U.S. continue to fall through February. Cardillo advises embracing winter’s chill because it diverts our attention from daily activities so that we pause to consider what’s important. “The effect is similar to splashing cold water on our face,” he remarks. As the cold draws animals into hibernation and plants into dormancy, it also beckons us to enjoy extra sleep, notes Freda, as we follow the sun’s path: Earlier to bed; later to rise. She encourages her clients to incorporate restorative activities into daily routines. “Intentionally set aside time to connect with the breath and quiet the mind,” she counsels. Try gentle yoga or t’ai chi, listen to relaxing music, curl up with a cozy book or take nature walks, flush with fresh sensory experiences. Cardillo explains that slowing down naturally creates space for the contemplative and creative qualities of yin energy to rise. Meditating, visualizing and journaling promote access to one’s inner

Spring is a time for new Find Balance points out that within the strong beginnings, summer a time Freda yin energy of winter, “There are yang for growth, autumn for moments, celebratory moments, to us going.” An imbalance can gathering abundance and keep occur when the slowness of winter is winter for introspection. completely counteracted by too much ~Joseph Cardillo wisdom. “Winter is a perfect time to examine the myriad ideas you’ve dreamt up and assemble them into a new you,” says Cardillo. “Now you are prepared to use the robust energy of spring to scatter those ideas abroad.”

Reflect on Water

In TCM, the element of water, symbolizing focus and purity, is closely associated with winter. Highly adaptable, water can be solid, liquid or formless vapor; it can flow over, under, around or through obstacles with ease; and it can be still and contained. Contemplating the power of water in any of its forms can help synchronize one’s consciousness with the season’s gifts. “When your mind is unstuck and flowing like water, your dreams start becoming real to you, simply because you’re in the flow, the present moment,” observes Cardillo, who also authored Be Like Water. He suggests looking to water for guidance in creating solutions, sharpening focus or moving effortlessly on to the next step.

high-energy socializing, working or rushing through the day. “An excess of yang during the winter,” counsels Freda, “rather than a glimpse of it, can deplete us,” contributing to stress, fatigue and depression. Conversely, for those with an already predominantly yin personality (quiet, introverted, low energy) that overindulge in the yin energy of winter, an attempt at restoration and quietude can lead to lethargy and isolation. “I see this clinically,” says Freda. “Instead of embracing a little extra rest and relaxation, some people become exhausted and lose their motivation altogether. They become stuck in the yin.” Cardillo recommends that such individuals engage in mood-brightening outdoor activities to help restore balance. Roecklein agrees, noting that SAD sufferers undergoing cognitive behavioral therapy (which emphasizes positive thinking and beneficial behaviors) likewise are encouraged to participate in physical and social activities that bring joy and meaning. Lane Vail is a freelance writer in South Carolina. Connect at WriterLane.com.

Rituals Reverse Winter’s Blues Unpleasant winter memories can affect one’s emotional experience of the season every year like clockwork, says Dr. John Sharp, a physician, psychiatrist and author of The Emotional Calendar. Fortunately, it is possible to take a personal inventory, be aware of such behaviors, innovate on traditions and create a new experience. Holistic Psychologist Joseph Cardillo goes further, suggesting that we create a “personal prescription” to mindfully manage difficult emotions during wintertime. He encourages activating the senses and combining two or more sensory experiences to amplify the effectiveness. Appealing options include: n Light scented candles or diffuse essential oils (citrus brightens; lavender soothes) n Invite bright colors into living spaces (reds excite; greens, blues and whites calm) n Nourish the palate with winter vegetable stews n Create a playlist of soothing nature sounds or uplifting music n Warm up near a cheery fire after spending time in the frosty outdoors

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December 2013

naturalpet Conventional & Holistic Veterinary Medicine Traditional Chinese Medicine for Pets Kathleen Stryeski, DVM

609-737-2800 Acupuncture for dogs, cats & rabbits Veterinary Herbal Medicine Food Therapy and Home-Cooking consults Well and Sick Pet Exams In-house Lab Work House Calls available in Mercer and Bucks County

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Mercer County, NJ

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Pet First-Aid Kits All-Natural Home Health Care by Sandra Murphy

“

irst-aid is the first thing you can do to help an injured animal if you are prepared,” says Dr. Jason Nicholas, owner of The Preventive Vet, in Portland, Oregon. Attention in cases of injury or sudden illness can help a dog or cat stay more comfortable, stop bleeding and provide temporary relief. A pet first-aid kit can resemble a pantry more than a medicine cabinet. Natural components include: Cool water. Purified water kept in a spray bottle can cool overheated pets. For the fastest results, spray near the pulse points, the “armpits” and where fur is the thinnest. Further, a vet will assess if clinical hydration is needed beyond the water bowl. Saline solution. Versatile saline is available at the vet’s office or any pharmacy, and also easy and inexpensive to make at home. Use it to flush debris from eyes, clean wounds and promote healing from incisions. Two teaspoons of non-iodized salt in four cups of boiled water mimics body fluids. The Ohio State University Medical Center website provides a recipe for normal saline solution at Tinyurl.com/SalineRecipe. Vinegar. It acts as a drying agent, especially for floppyeared dogs taking a dip in a pool or natural waterway, which can leave the inner ear moist. “Don’t use vinegar if the skin is red or broken because it will be painful,” says Dr. Jules Benson, vice president of veterinary services

at Petplan Pet Insurance, in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania. Never use it more than twice a week. Honey. Apply this sweet unguent to gums to help counteract low blood sugar and shock, particularly when a diabetic pet’s insulin levels are off. Maple syrup is a good substitute. Sugar. Although not recommended in a regular pet diet, sugar can be a topical antibacterial for the short term. Sugar draws water from the wound and dehydrates bacteria, supporting growth of new tissue. Plain yogurt. Adding this healthy refrigerated topping to dry food will activate a sluggish appetite and supply needed cultures to help balance the digestive system. Cornstarch. This non-toxic remedy helps stop minor bleeding from cuts, scrapes and pedicure accidents. Calendula. Also known as pot marigold, calendula cream may be used as an anti-inflammatory. Bug bites, scrapes, sunburn and itching from allergies also benefit from its application. Aloe. Easily grown in a garden or pot and available in gel form, aloe sooths burns, prevents blisters and speeds healing. It also serves as canine Chapstick. “Older dogs often have cracked skin on their noses,” notes Benson. “Aloe helps to heal the skin and keeps the dog comfortable.” Rescue Remedy. Illness or injury brings stress, and one common solution is Rescue Remedy. To relieve fear or anxiety, rub it onto a paw, nose or ears or add the recommended number of drops to water, a treat

Sandra Murphy is a freelance writer in St. Louis, MO. Connect at StLSandyM@ yahoo.com.

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or food. It helps dogs, cats, horses, birds, fish and even iguanas. Dosage relies on the extent of stress rather than weight or species. Clean cloths. For bee stings or insect bites on the body, cool compresses can reduce swelling and itching. Wet a washcloth with cold water or for larger welts, wrap an ice pack in a towel and apply for a few minutes at a time. For stings on the face or mouth, it’s best to go to the vet’s office immediately, so that airways don’t swell up and hinder breathing. Miscellaneous supplies. Keep on hand gauze, tape, small scissors, tweezers (for removing objects from the roof of the mouth or splinters), a small flashlight, clean socks to cover a bandage and disposable gloves to keep human germs out of open wounds. A dog in pain may bite without realizing it. Nicholas recommends a basket muzzle, so the dog can easily breathe and pant. When a pet eats or drinks non-food items or foods they shouldn’t, such as chocolate, grapes or onions, head to the local vet. Veterinarian Jeff Levy, in New York City, who is also a certified veterinary acupuncturist, counsels, “Always keep contact information for your vet, an emergency hospital and animal poison control center handy.” Also, find out where emergency services are located when traveling. Pets can go into shock just like humans. To prevent or reduce the impact, keep the animal warm and provide a deep massage of the ears, at the base, where ears meet the head. A couple of drops of lavender oil on a collar or bandana will help everyone relax. Do not put essential oils directly on the pet, especially cats, as it can be toxic. Just like children, pets may have accidents or get sick after office hours. Stay calm, head for the natural pet pantry and then call the family’s holistic veterinarian.

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December 2013

healthykids

ORGANIC SWEET POTATO PIE 1½ lbs of organic sweet potatoes 1 Tbsp organic vegetable oil ½ cup organic light brown sugar ½ cup organic pure maple syrup 1½ tsp organic ginger 1 tsp organic ground cinnamon ½ tsp organic ground nutmeg ¼ tsp organic ground cloves ½ tsp salt 1 cup organic heavy cream, room temperature 4 large organic eggs, room temperature

Sweet Slumber Co-Sleeping in the Family Bed

Pre-heat the oven to 375°. Rub the sweet potatoes with vegetable oil and roast in the oven for 45-60 minutes, until very tender. Remove and set aside to cool. Peel the potatoes and smash with a fork until desired smooth consistency (approximately 1½ cups of puree). In a medium bowl, combine the sweet potato puree with the sugar, maple syrup, ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and salt. Whisk to combine. In a separate bowl, combine the eggs and heavy cream and whisk to combine. Add the cream and egg mixture to the sweet potato mixture and stir to blend. Pour the batter into a prepared shell and place the pie on a sheet pan. Bake until the center is set and golden brown, about 35-45 minutes. Remove the pie from the oven and allow to cool for 20 minutes before cutting to serve. Top with whipped cream if desired. Source: Lori Beveridge

Mercer County, NJ

by Mark Sisson

very young mammal on Earth sleeps in close contact with its mother and other family members. They’ve been co-sleeping for security, warmth, comfort and protection for millions of years of evolution. Although it is generally frowned upon in the United States, many human cultures, including most in East Asia, the Pacific islands, South America, Africa and much of southern Europe, have a rich tradition of co-sleeping. In At Home: A Short History of Private Life, Bill Bryson relates that until very recently, most domiciles centered around a central room, or hall, where everyone slept together. Even today, adults and children almost always sleep together in the same beds in non-industrialized, traditional societies worldwide. The modern practice of placing babies in separate rooms at night, often to cry themselves to sleep, appears to be a historical aberration. Co-sleeping, conversely, is the age-old norm because it offers so many benefits to both parents and children.

Co-sleeping makes breastfeeding easier. Studies published by

the Acta Paediatrica, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Journal of NAMercer.com

Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics confirm a consistent link between cosleeping and breastfeeding in countries as disparate as Brazil, Britain, Malaysia and Sweden. Breast milk provides immunological benefits, transfers symbiotic gut bacteria and promotes bonding between mother and child. It’s especially nutritious if the mother’s diet is healthy, and breast milk is the only food experts agree the human body is unquestionably designed to consume.

Co-sleeping improves sleep. A

mother that can breastfeed without leaving the bed will get more sleep. Also, more research from the American Academy of Pediatrics shows a lower incidence of sudden infant death syndrome when breastfeeding is practiced. In the clinical experience of James McKenna, Ph.D., a University of Notre Dame professor and leading anthropologist in the field, “Breastfeeding mothers typically keep their babies away from pillows, positioning their infants on their backs, while placing them below the parents’ shoulders and raising their arms above them.” Plus, the adults “lay on their sides in ways that can prevent accidental overlays.”

Safe Co-Sleeping Habits

Co-sleeping builds parent-child bonds. Research published by the

Sleep Research Society shows that mothers who co-sleep with their babies are more attuned to their sleep/wake habits and can respond quicker to their needs. According to the journal Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine, skinto-skin touch increases the secretion of oxytocin, a bond-building hormone.

Co-sleeping fosters maturation.

Studies in the Infant and Child Development journal show that kids that share a bed or sleep in the same room with their parents grow up to be more selfreliant and socially independent, better behaved, less anxious about intimacy as adults and more likely to be happy. Parents that are nervous about sharing beds can try room sharing, where the baby sleeps in an adjoining crib or cot; family members will experience many of the same benefits. Mark Sisson is a former marathon runner and triathlete. He is the author of the bestselling health and fitness book, The Primal Blueprint, and publisher of the health blog, MarksDailyApple.com.

by Mark Sisson

DON’T:

4 Don’t drink alcohol or take drugs that affect awareness and judgment, especially before bed. 4 Don’t smoke tobacco. The tars and toxins cling to an adult’s body, hair and clothes, exposing the baby to dangerous chemicals that increases the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). 4 Don’t co-sleep if the parent is sleep-deprived, a heavy sleeper, has sleep apnea or is obese. 4 Don’t allow pets or other children to sleep next to babies. 4 Don’t co-sleep on a sofa, loveseat or reclining chair. The cushions create crevices for infant heads to slip into and the elevation creates a fall risk. 4 Don’t use overly soft mattresses that babies can sink into. Think firm. 4 Don’t use thick bedding, which can cause rapid overheating or lead to smothering. 4 Don’t co-sleep unless everyone is on board. If a spouse isn’t agreeable, try a room share instead.

DO:

4 Provide a big enough bed to afford ample space for all co-sleepers. 4 Keep the mattress low or place it on the floor. 4 Eliminate all crevices that a baby might be able to fall into; push the mattress snug against one or more walls. 4 Use a firm mattress, a tight-fitting sheet and light bedding. 4 Place the baby on its back to sleep.

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December 2013

Peace on Our Plates Mindful Eating for a More Peaceful World by Judith Fertig

s Earth’s population grows to a projected 9 billion people by 2050, can our global community keep eating flesh like we’ve been doing for centuries? No, according to a 2010 report by the United Nations Environment Programme, an international panel of sustainable resource management experts. Examining the food demands of a growing population and associated environmental and sustainability issues, Assessing the Environmental Impacts of Consumption and Production recommends “substantial worldwide diet change away from animal products.” Making the case for a holistic view, Will Tuttle, Ph.D., suggests in World Peace Diet: Eating for Spiritual Health and Social Harmony that we start to see the connections between our food choices and the health and well-being of ourselves, our families, communities and the world.

Web of Understanding

At the center of the web of life is the food we all share to sustain our bodies. Tuttle insists that we celebrate this and regard each meal as a feast. “Food 34

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preparation is the only art that allows us to literally incorporate what we create. It is also the only art that fully involves all five senses,” he says. We honor this wonderful activity most by sharing our cooking efforts with others, blessing the food and eating mindfully. The problem at the center of life, maintains Tuttle, is that we involve animals in our food chain, an act that “introduces suffering, whether physical, mental or emotional.” This is a truth we try to hide from, what he calls the ”cultural shadow”. “The worst examples include factory farming, but even the best methods ultimately involve killing other animals for food,” he says. One of Tuttle’s more controversial claims is that the herding culture—raising, dominating, selling, killing and owning animals—sets up a harmful physical, emotional and cultural dynamic, extolling domineering and aggressive behavior. “The herding culture requires male dominance and a mentality that might makes right,” observes Tuttle. “It also sees females as primarily breeders, not beings.” Based on contemporary research in anthropology, sociology and psychopathology, he

photo by Stephen Blancett

consciouseating

Tip: Cook whole-grain or spinach pasta, potatoes, rice or another recommended grain in a large quantity to store in the refrigerator for use in stir-fries, salads and other meals later in the week. maintains that the actions required to both dominate animals and eat their meat can lead to more aggressive and violent behavior. One recent study seems to support his claim. Dr. Neil Barnard, in his book, Foods That Fight Pain, remarks that, “Plant-based diets also help tame testosterone’s activity.” Barnard cites a Massachusetts male aging study of 1,552 men ages 40 to 70, which indicated that men eating more fruits and vegetables than meat were less domineering and aggressive, because the increased sex hormone-binding globulin produced by plants helps keep testosterone in check. “If we continue the meat-centric way of eating, we’re going to continue to have the problems that come with it,” says Tuttle. “The way forward is plant-based agriculture.”

Practicing a World Peace Diet The Tuttles shop for fresh, organic and non-GMO (genetically modified organism) foods and favor what they call “blueprint recipes”, that vary from day to day. Each outlines the makings of a dish and encourages cooks to be intuitive in how they fill in the details. For a typical breakfast, for example, Tuttle and his wife, Madeleine, will make a green smoothie that includes kale, banana, apple, grapes, ground flax, chia seeds, cinnamon and fresh ginger. “It’s a flexible drink,” says Tuttle. “We will swap out whatever organic fruits and vegetables we have so that we vary the flavor from time to time.” For example, they might use parsley, spinach, or chard leaves in place of kale, or citrus in place of grapes. Lunch is usually a wrap-type sandwich, sometimes using fresh leaf lettuce or a whole-wheat tortilla. One recent example of such a wrap combined tomatoes, peppers, sprouts, walnuts, tempeh and avocado. A dinnertime blueprint recipe involves a base of cooked rice, quinoa, pasta, mashed potatoes or polenta, topped with a vegetable ragout, cooked or raw. “You could live the rest of your life mixing and matching these ingredients and never have the same meal twice,” notes Tuttle. “We have been doing it for 30 years. If we all choose to eat like this, the world could feed everybody on a fraction of the land now consumed by agriculture.” Learn more at WorldPeaceDiet.org/articles.htm. Judith Fertig blogs at AlfrescoFoodAndLifestyle.blogspot.com from Overland Park, KS.

Healthy World Shopping List by Madeleine W. Tuttle Allow an hour to explore and buy the following basics to stock the pantry, always choosing organic and foods that have no genetically modified (GM or GMO) ingredients. In certain Asian traditions, only the most enlightened members of a monks’ community are allowed to cook food for their fellows, with good reason. The more love that goes into meal preparation, the better the outcome will be.

Staples Grains: rice, millet, whole-grain spaghetti or angel hair noodles, couscous, quinoa, buckwheat, wild rice, cornmeal Veggies: (in season) pumpkin/squash, leek, onions, garlic, kale, cabbage, ginger, horseradish, broccoli, peppers, mushrooms, carrots, lettuce/greens, sprouts, edamame, spinach, tomatoes, cucumbers, celery, avocado, cilantro, peas (fresh or frozen), yams, potatoes Proteins: tofu, tempeh, seitan; lentils, split peas, beans and other legumes Dried herbs: peppermint, Italian seasoning mix, basil, dill, cilantro, paprika, cayenne, curry, turmeric, pepper, nutmeg powder, cumin seeds, rosemary, nutritional yeast Fruits: citrus, apples, bananas, grapes, berries, avocado and others

Additions Meat analogs: Gardein, Tofurkey, Field Roast, Beyond Meat, Sun Burger, Fakin’ Bacon Nuts and seeds: almonds, walnuts, hazelnuts, pine nuts; raisins; flax, sunflower seeds, sesame seeds Oils and sauces: tahini (sesame butter), Vegenaise dressing, tomato sauce, olive oil, coconut oil, tamari or shoyu Sweeteners: Sucanat, stevia, coconut sugar, rice syrup, date syrup/sugar, agave nectar Dairy: plant-based milks (e.g., soy, rice, hemp, coconut, almond, oat, tapioca), cheeses, yogurts, and creams; and nut butters such as almond, cashew, and peanut butters and sesame tahini Others: spelt flour, Celtic salt, vanilla, cacao powder, shredded coconut natural awakenings

December 2013

Peace Blueprint Recipes When sitting down to eat, look at what’s been created to nourish all those gathered. Enjoy the colors, smells, tastes and love that blesses the food. May the principle of Oneness govern all beings.

Place all ingredients in the blender and blend until smooth. Strain, if necessary, to remove larger pieces; pour into two glasses and serve.

Green Smoothie

Yields two servings Rice: 1 cup brown rice 2¼ cups water

Yields two servings

Whole Wheat and Vegetable Wrap

For lunch, a simple wrap can provide a daily change-up mixing in different fresh ingredients plus a plant-based flavoring like dried herbs, spices or garlic stirred into the Vegenaise or homemade eggless mayonnaise. Yields two servings 2 10-inch whole-wheat tortillas 2 Tbsp Vegenaise 1 tsp prepared horseradish, or to taste 1 cup fresh lettuce, torn into pieces ½ cup sprouts ½ cup chopped fresh tomatoes ½ cup shredded fresh carrots ½ cup diced fresh cucumber 1 ripe avocado, peeled, pitted and sliced ¼ cup toasted walnuts Toast walnuts by placing them on a baking sheet in a 350-degree oven for 15 minutes. Cool, and then chop. Place the tortillas on a flat surface. In a small bowl, mix the Vegenaise and horseradish together. Spread the mixture on the tortillas. Top each tortilla with half the lettuce, sprouts, toma-

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Raw Vegetable Ragout with Brown Rice Start dinner with a base of cooked rice, potatoes, quinoa or polenta and top it with a vegetable medley.

To start the day, use a high-powered Vitamix-type blender to reduce whole fruits and vegetables to a smooth juice. If using a regular blender, cut the fruits and vegetables into small pieces and strain the purée after blending.

1 banana, sliced 1 large apple, peeled, cored and chopped ½ cup seedless green grapes 1 cup chopped kale leaves 1 cup baby spinach leaves 1 Tbsp grated fresh ginger 1 Tbsp ground flax seeds ¼ cup ground chia seeds ¼ tsp ground cinnamon ¼ tsp ground cloves 1 cup purified water

toes, carrots, cucumber, avocado and walnuts. Roll each tortilla into a wrap and serve.

Raw Vegetable Ragout: 1 cup red bell pepper, cut into strips ½ cup finely chopped celery ½ cup pitted Kalamata olives, chopped ¼ cup finely chopped Italian parsley ¼ cup toasted, chopped walnuts 3 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil 1 garlic clove, minced 1 Tbsp lemon juice 1 tsp coarse kosher or sea salt Bring the water to a boil in a medium saucepan over high heat. Stir in the rice, reduce the heat and simmer covered until tender, about 40 minutes. While the rice is cooking, combine the red bell pepper, celery, Kalamata olives, Italian parsley and walnuts in a medium-sized bowl. In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, garlic, lemon juice and salt. Pour the dressing over the vegetables, stir until well blended, and then let rest until the rice is done. To serve, spoon the cooked rice onto each plate and top with the raw vegetable ragout. Source: Adapted from Intuitive Cooking, by Madeleine Tuttle (WorldPeaceDiet.org).

A New Year’s Journey Around The World Whatever the custom might be, New Year’s Eve is a celebration of remembrance, renewal, hope and joy. by Monika Rice, M.S.

he clock strikes 12, champagne glasses clink, fire crackers go off into the night and everyone starts singing, or, more likely, humming the most popular New Year’s song of all—“Auld Lang Syne . . .” It’s the old familiar Scottish tune that no-one knows the lyrics to, but the words embody the spirit of the moment. Auld Lang Syne means Times Gone By, and as the song continues, it asks whether old friends and times will be forgotten. Then it promises to remember people of the past with fondness. New Year’s is a very special holiday, all around the globe, whether you observe it on the last day of our Gregorian calendar, or in February as do the Chinese, or even at the beginning of spring, as is the custom in Sri Lanka. The last day of the old year is always filled with moments of deep reflection, promises and ritual, and not seldom with a good helping of fun-filled superstition. From “Auld Lang Syne” in Scotland, let us journey south to Germany where an age-old ritual of divination is practiced on New Year’s Eve. Just before midnight, people drop molten lead into a saucer filled with cold water and then try to tell the future from the shape it makes. Can you decipher a heart, or a ring, perhaps? This could mean a new lover will enter your life or a wedding will take place in the year ahead. It’s a time to let imagination—and laughter— run wild. In Italy, as you can imagine, Capo d’Anno, or New Year’s Eve is all about food. You might find yourself digging into a plate of garlic and lemon spiced lentils which represent money, earthly riches, and good luck. Then wash it all down with spumante, a sparkling wine. The Spaniards, on the other hand, con-

tent themselves with eating a handful of grapes, 12 to be exact, one for each month to secure happiness in the coming year. And what would the English be without a breath of superstition? The first person to enter someone’s home after midnight had better be male, young, darkhaired and handsome. And, this “first-footer” better carry a small piece of coal, some money, bread and salt. Why? To ensure prosperity in the household for the new year. Boas Festas e Feliz Ano Novo! Where else would people wish “Good Parties and Happy New Year,” but in Brazil. Priestesses of the local Macumba Voodoo cult dress in blue skirts and white blouses in honor of the goddess of water, Yemania. And what do they sacrifice to invite good fortune? A boat filled with flowers, candles and jewelry that is pushed out to sea from the famous Ipenama beach in Rio de Janeiro. In Korea, the holiday is all about renewing ties within the family and honoring the elders. Everyone dresses in new clothes to mark the fresh beginning and gathers at the home of the eldest male family member. Ancestral memorial rites might be held, and the younger generation pays their respect by bowing to the family elders, wishing them good health and prosperity in the coming year. In return, the elders often give newly minted money or gifts to their children and grandchildren. Dance parties, the ball drop in Times Square, in New York City, or a soul food serving of black-eyed peas all mark the American New Year’s tradition. But whatever the custom might be, New Year’s Eve is a celebration of renewal, remembrance, hope and joy.

Spaniards content themselves with eating a handful of grapes, 12 to be exact, one for each month to secure happiness in the coming year.

To leave the old with a burst of song; To recall the right and forgive the wrong; To forget the things that bind you fast To the vain regrets of the year that’s past; To have the strength to let go your hold Of the not worthwhile of the days grown old; To dare go forth with a purpose true, To the unknown task of the year that’s new; To help your brother along the road, To do his work and lift his load; To add your gift to the world’s good cheer, Is to have and to give a Happy New Year.

natural awakenings

—Author Unknown December 2013

fitbody

Too Much Togetherness?

Exercise Helps Keep Family Holidays Merry by Sarah Todd

iven family hopes and often unrealistic expectations that everything will go perfectly, holiday gatherings can sometimes be a recipe for untoward stress. One of the best ways to keep potential ’tis-the-season tensions under control is to carve out some time for exercise, a move supported by research findings at Princeton University. Other experts suggest that from practicing a favorite Eastern modality to taking a natural spin around the neighborhood, we all have instant access to foolproof tactics for staying relaxed, healthy and more even-keeled among kin this winter. To mend nerves frayed by debates at the dinner table, slip into a nearby bedroom for a calming yoga workout. Yoga’s emphasis on controlled breathing makes it ideal for treating family dynamics straight out of Silver Linings Playbook. The Mayo Clinic reports that deep breathing increases the flow of oxygen into the bloodstream, easing headaches, muscular tension and chest tightness. Yogic breathing patterns also are shown to lower resting heart rates, which helps practitioners stay composed in the face of any intrafamily disagreements or other stressors. For a quick, relaxing yoga routine, begin with a 38

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few breathing exercises before moving into a sun salutation—a sequence of full-body poses, or asanas, performed in a smooth, continuous flow. Begin standing, palms pressed together in the tadasana, or mountain, pose. Then move through a series of motions that sweep the arms over the head, expanding the chest, before dipping into downward dog and plank poses, which help increase flexibility and strength. End lying down in the shavasana, or resting, pose with eyes closed and let the quiet settle in. Resistance-training exercises are another option. Release pent up tension by pushing against a wall. Stand about three feet away, lean in and push. Position feet at an angle so that a straight body line forms the hypotenuse of a triangle with the wall and floor. This activity drains the limbs of tightness and stretches out hamstrings and calf muscles, enabling us to walk away feeling light and limber. While some people can happily greet and maintain cheerfulness throughout holiday family times, others may feel a bit anxious. For a sure-fire endorphin boost, try a cardiovascular workout like running, which German researchers

published in Cerebral Cortex confirm produces a flood of euphoria on cue. A quick jog or spirited walk outside helps elevate mood while strengthening the immune system, helping to keep feelings of melancholy at bay. Before heading for the door, those stretching their legs outside in colder climates need to dress as if it’s 20 degrees warmer than the thermometer reads. This helps prevent the body from overheating, especially after being sedentary for an extended period. To get the blood flowing beforehand, do some simple stretching or take a few trips up and down the stairs.

From practicing a favorite Eastern modality to taking a natural spin around the neighborhood, we all have instant access to foolproof tactics for staying relaxed, healthy and more evenkeeled among kin this winter. Exercisers that prefer to stay sheltered from wintry weather entirely have a solid alternative; an indoor cardiovascular workout can mimic jogging’s mood-lifting effects. Try alternating 12 reps of jumping jacks, lunges, squats and crunches to get the heart pumping. Consider a second series for a higher intensity workout. All of it will give muscles that often go slack during holiday loafing a chance to flex. Because these moves don’t require any equipment, such electives are as portable as a travel hair dryer during holiday visits anywhere. After one or more of these solo workouts, many revelers may be ready to up the ante on family togetherness. For a healthy dose of quality time, round up the gang and enlist them in a high-energy outdoor activity like hiking, sledding or even Ultimate Frisbee. Participating in friendly family competition is healthy fun and gives everyone something else to talk about later. Sarah Todd is a freelance writer in Brooklyn, NY. Connect at SarahToddInk.com.

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.

Sunday, December 1 Community Christian Choir Concert – 3 and 6pm. Performing their Christmas Concert Series. Robbinsville Seventh Day Adventist Church, 2314 Route 33, Robbinsville. For more information, call 609-587-7076.

markyourcalendar The Nutcracker Ballet Join Clara and her friends on her enchanting voyage meeting magical mice, giant rats, marching soldiers, swirling snowflakes, waltzing flowers and the beautiful Sugar Plum Fairy and her cavalier. Children should plan for a special visit from Santa and his jolly friends.

December 1 • 3pm Cost: $15-$50 ticket range Roxey Ballet, College of NJ, Kendall Theater, 2000 Pennington Rd, Ewing Information: 609-397-7616

Monday, December 2 The Nutcracker Ballet – 10am. See December 1 listing. Ewing. 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.

Tuesday, December 3 Masked Bandit Preschool Class – 10-11:30am. During this program, preschoolers age 3-5 will learn all about the fascinating lives of raccoons as they explore the forest with their Teacher-Naturalist. Read a raccoon story and make a raccoon craft. Registration required. Cost: $10/$15 member/non-member. Stony Brook-Millstone Watershed Association, 31 Titus Mill Rd, Pennington, 609-737-7592.

Thursday, December 5

markyourcalendar Cherry Grove Farm Winter Wonderland Enjoy the farm winter wonderland including a bonfire, hot beverages, food, music, Christmas trees and wreaths for sale.

December 5 • 5-8pm

Christmas on the Farm – 11am-3pm. Howell Living History Farm, 70 Wooden’s Ln, Lambertville. Info: 609-737-3299. Center for Grief Open House – 1-3pm. Dedicated to providing wrap around grief services to those anticipating a loss or experienced the death of a loved one. Center for Grief Services, 727 Raritan Av, Highland Park. For more information, call 855-97-GRIEF. The Nutcracker Ballet – 3pm. See December 1 listing. Ewing.

Sunday, December 8

Free admission. Cherry Grove Farm, 3200 Lawrenceville Rd, Lawrenceville For more information, call

609-219-0053

Seven Chakra Chant – 7-8pm. There are seven major energy centers (i.e. chakras) in the human body. Learn chanting techniques for each of the seven chakras while enjoying aromatic plant essences and music. Gemma Bianchi aromatherapist. Class awards 1 nursing contact hour. Cost: $10. RWJ Fitness & Wellness Center, 3100 Quakerbridge Rd, Hamilton. 609-584-5900.

Friday, December 6 TCNJ Choir – 8pm. Sing for Joy is presented by the TCNJ Chorale, College Choir and Women’s Ensemble. Featuring Ko Matsushita’s Jubilate Deo, William Byrd’s Psalm 67, Norman Dello Joio’s Jubilant Song, Moses Hogan’s I Can Tell the World and other works. Cost: $5-$15. The Mildred & Ernest E. Mayo Concert Hall (Music Building), The College of New Jersey, 2000 Pennington Rd, Ewing. Tickets 609-771-2585. Winter Bird Walk – 9-11am. Join SBMWA Education Director Jeff Hoagland on a hike of the Watershed Reserve in search of wintering birds. Bring binoculars and dress for possibly muddy or snowy walking conditions. This hike is co-sponsored by Washington Crossing Audubon Society. Registration required. Cost: $5/age 15 to adult. Stony BrookMillstone Watershed Association, 31 Titus Mill Rd, Pennington, 609-737-7592.

markyourcalendar Slow Foods Winter Market Slow Foods Winter Market will include these vendors: Birds and Bees Farm, Davidson’s Exotic Mushrooms, Donna & Co. Chocolates, Nice and Sharp Knife Sharpening, North Slope Farm, Paolo’s Kitchen, Rocky Brook Farm, Shibumi Farm, The Artisan Tree Soaps, WoodsEdge Wool Farms, and host farm, Cherry Grove Farm.

December 8 • 10am-2pm Free admission. Location: 3200 Lawrenceville Rd, Lawrenceville Information: 609-933-4452 Grief & the Holidays Workshop – 11am-5pm. Workshop led by Dr. Norma Bowe, experienced professor and psychiatric nurse. Center for Grief Services, 727 Raritan Av, Highland Park. For more information, call 855-97-GRIEF. The Nutcracker Ballet – 3pm. See December 1 listing. Ewing. Community Christian Choir Concert – 6pm. Performing their Christmas Concert Series. Cornerstone Calvary Chapel, 6550 Hwy 9, Howell. For more information, call 609-587-7076.

Monday, December 9 Pre-Natal Yoga 4 Week Class – 7:15-8:15pm. See December 2 listing. Hamilton.

Wednesday, December 4

Tuesday, December 10

Masked Bandit Preschool Class – 1-2:30pm. See December 3 listing. Pennington.

Nature and Me Preschool Class – 10-11:30am. In this program children ages 3-5 will decide what things come directly from nature and what things are made by people. A teacher-naturalist will show you how the natural world is important to all living things and what we can do to protect it for everyone. Registration required. Cost: $10/$15 member/nonmember. Stony Brook-Millstone Watershed Association, 31 Titus Mill Rd, Pennington, 609-737-7592.

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.

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December 2013

Women’s Corner – 6-8pm. Join Robin Edwards, MD, as she guides us on a journey of health and preventive screenings throughout the stages of a woman’s life. Fee: $5. Discuss your questions with Radiology, OB/GYN, Pharmacy, and Registered Dietitian. Door prizes include “Just for Women” gift basket, Reiki session and CHW membership. Cost $5. RWJ Fitness & Wellness Center, 3100 Quakerbridge Rd, Hamilton. 609-584-5900.

Wednesday, December 18

Wednesday, December 11

Thursday, December 19

Nature and Me Preschool Class – 1-2:30pm. See December 10 listing. Pennington.

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.

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.

Thursday, December 12 Prenatal Breastfeeding Class – 7-9pm. Expectant parents will learn about the benefits of breastfeeding, getting started, positioning, nutrition, pumping and avoiding common problems. This class is taught by a certified lactation consultant. Cost $50/ couple. University Medical Center of Princeton, 1 Plainsboro Rd, Plainsboro. Register: 888-897-8979.

Friday, December 13 Community Christian Choir Concert – 7:30pm. Performing their Christmas Concert Series. St James Roman Catholic Church, 115 E Delaware Ave, Pennington. For more information, call 609-587-7076. Westminster Choir College Presentation – 8pm. Evening of holiday music from choir, organ and brass performed in the Princeton University Chapel, featuring Westminster’s Choirs, Princeton Girl choir’s Cantores, and Solid Brass. Cost $70, 55, 40. Princeton University Chapel, Princeton University, Princeton. Information and tickets: 609-520-1020.

Saturday, December 14 Reiki Level II Certification – 10am-6pm. To deepen the effect and experience of Reiki, students learn the use of three symbols and how to access Reiki for distance healing. Pre-requisite: Reiki Level I training and certification. Pam Jones RN. Class awards 7 nursing contact hours. Cost $150. RWJ Fitness & Wellness Center, 3100 Quakerbridge Rd, Hamilton. 609-584-5900. Learn How to Make Cheese – 12pm. Doubleheader cheese-making class. Ricotta and mozzarella. Cost $65, payment made at reservation. Cherry Grove Farm, 3200 Lawrenceville Rd, Lawrenceville. To register or for information, call 609-219-0053. Westminster Choir College Presentation – 4pm. Evening of holiday music from choir, organ and brass performed in the Princeton University Chapel, featuring Westminster’s Choirs, Princeton Girl

choir’s Cantores, and Solid Brass. Cost $70, 55, 40. Princeton University Chapel, Princeton University, Princeton. Information and tickets: 609-520-1020.

Sunday, December 15 Great Solstice Market – 11am-5pm. New Amsterdam market celebrates 8th year anniversary. Local, natural and organic produce and products available including from Cherry Grove Farms, Lawrenceville. South St between Beekman St and Peck Slip, NYC, NY. For more information, call 212-766-8688. Holiday Memorial Workshop – 2-5pm. Workshop led by Dr. Norma Bowe, experienced professor and psychiatric nurse. Center for Grief Services, 727 Raritan Av, Highland Park. For more information, call 855-97-GRIEF.

Monday, December 16 Tiny Tot Walk – 10-11am. You and your ‘budding naturalist’ are invited to join an outdoor exploration 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, 609737-7592.

Saturday, December 21 Learn How to Make Cheese – 12pm. Doubleheader cheese-making class. Ricotta and mozzarella. Cost $65, payment made at reservation. Cherry Grove Farm, 3200 Lawrenceville Rd, Lawrenceville. To register or for information call 609-219-0053. Candle Making – 1-3pm. Celebrate the Winter Solstice and the return of the light by making candles with the Teacher-Naturalists. Create hand-dipped candles, sand candles and molded candles. Learn how to shape candles and add embellishments, then go home with your unique handmade gifts. Registration required. Cost $10/15 member/non-member age 8 to adult. Stony Brook-Millstone Watershed Association, 31 Titus Mill Rd, Pennington, 609737-7592.

Sunday, December 22

Pre-Natal Yoga 4-Week Class – 7:15-8:15pm. See December 2 listing. Hamilton.

Princeton Brass Brand Holiday Concert – 2pm. Princeton Brass Band Stephen Arthur Allen, conductor. This concert features traditional British music, as well as holiday favorites. Tickets were nearly sold out last year, so purchase early. Cost $10/$5, adults/ students. Richardson Auditorium in Alexander Hall, Princeton University, Princeton. Information: 609-258-9220.

Tuesday, December 17

Monday, December 23

Family and Friends Infant CPR – 7-8pm. Program teaches how to perform CPR in infants, and how to help an infant who is choking. An infant is defined as a child 1 year of age and under. This course is designed for family members, friends and members of the general community who want to learn CPR but do not need a course completion card. Cost $20. Community Education & Outreach, 731 Alexander Rd, STE 103, Princeton. Register: 888-897-8979.

Pre-Natal Yoga 4-Week Class – 7:15-8:15pm. See December 2 listing. Hamilton.

Wednesday, December 25 Merry Christmas Tuesday, December 31 Happy New Year’s Eve

Wishing you the happiest of holidays and a wonderful new year!

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monday

saturday

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.

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 to register/confirm attendance at 609-306-2618.

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

thursday 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.

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. 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. 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! Our 30,000 readers are looking for healthy options.

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. Discover the Serenity of T’ai Chih – 6:30pm. 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.

Call Today! 609-249-9044 NAMercer.com

natural awakenings

December 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 11.

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 33.

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 33.

NUTRITION

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

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.

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 15.

HYPNOSIS

ORGANIC FARMS Cherry Grove Farm

prism hypnosiS

3200 Lawrenceville Rd, Lawrenceville 609-219-0053 CherryGroveFarm.com

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 11.

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

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

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

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.

PURE FITNESS 24

Sheena Potts 24 South Main St, Allentown 609-286-8502 PureFitness24.com

Reach Your Target Market

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 17.

Mercer County, NJ

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with a Resource Guide listing for under $60 per month.

Our 30,000 readers are looking for healthy options.

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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

December 2013

PUT YOUR BUSINESS ON A HEALTHY REGIMEN

Our friendly staff can help you select a 6-month or 12-month advertising plan that fits your budget. Advertise in our special

Health & Wellness January edition Our readers seek specialists offering:

• Acupuncture • Alternative Healing • Aromatherapy • Ayurveda • Bodywork • Chelation Therapy • Chiropractic • Counseling/Therapy

• Dental Care • Energy Healing • Fitness/Health Clubs • Herbalists • Homeopathy • Hypnotherapy • Integrative Physicians • Iridology

• Natural/Organic Foods • Physical Therapy • Wellness Trainers & Coaches • Retreats/Workshops • Skin Care • Spas • Spiritual Practices • Yoga ... and this is just a partial list