Natural Awakenings South Jersey April 2015

H E A L T H Y

L I V I N G

H E A L T H Y

P L A N E T

feel good • live simply • laugh more

Back to Nature

FREE

Seeking Its Wisdom for a High-Tech World

EARTH in Peril

Children Confront Climate Change

Healing Journeys

Paul Stutzman Finds Universal Truths on His Treks

Earth Day 2015

Hope for Our Future April 2015 | South Jersey Edition | nasouthjersey.com

We’ve got Spr ng fever!

Join us

Saturday, April 18th

retailer to est establish sts household cleaning product standards

for our Share the Buzz event Featuring our monthly outdoor Market

We Like Being Social!

wholefoods.com/stores/marlton look for the eco-scale logo ®

940 ROUTE 73 NORTH • MARLTON, NJ 08053 • Ph. 856.797.1115

Free yourself from harsh pain medications Proven complementary therapies can reduce pain while optimizing your overall health.

Learn more at a free information session.

To register, call 1-888-VIRTUA-3. Attendees receive $50 off their initial consultation.

• Acupuncture • Biopuncture • Homeopathy

Polina Karmazin, MD, Medical Director 2309 Evesham Road, Suite 100, Voorhees, NJ www.virtua.org/IntegrativeMed

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South Jersey

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contents 5 newsbriefs

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10 healthbriefs

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

12 globalbriefs 14 ecotip

12 8 22 fitbody 26 zenspiration 34 naturalresource

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35 calendar 40 classifieds 40 resourceguide

15 HEALING JOURNEYS

17

Paul Stutzman Finds Universal Truths on His Treks

by Randy Kambic

16 EARTH DAY 2015 Hope for Our Future

by Julianne Hale

18 NATURE’S WISDOM

Its Lessons Inspire, Heal and Sustain Us

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by Christine MacDonald

24 THE FOOD advertising & submissions HOW TO ADVERTISE To advertise with Natural Awakenings or request a media kit, please contact us at 856-546-0945 or email don@na southjersey.com. Deadline for ads: the 10th of the month.

EDITORIAL SUBMISSIONS Email articles, news items and ideas to: don@nasouthjersey.com. Deadline for editorial: the 7th of the month.

CALENDAR SUBMISSIONS Email Calendar Events to: don@nasouthjersey.com.

Deadline for calendar: the 10th of the month.

REGIONAL MARKETS Advertise your products or services in multiple markets!

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

ARTISANS NEXT DOOR

Homemade Delicacies, Direct from Our Neighbors

by Lisa Kivirist and John Ivanko

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28 DOGS WITH

LIBRARY CARDS Kids Love Reading to Animals

by Sandra Murphy

32

30 ONENESS

What if the Concept of Oneness Was Accepted as Truth?

by Maryann Pino Miller

32 EARTH IN PERIL Children Confront Climate Change

by Avery Mack

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nasouthjersey.com natural awakenings

April 2015

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letterfrompublisher Whenever I want to go to church, I take a walk in the woods. contact us Publisher/Editor Don Moore 306 7th Ave. Haddon Heights, NJ 08035 Phone: 856-546-0945 Fax: 866-295-6713 don@nasouthjersey.com nasouthjersey.com Assistant Editors Linda Sechrist S. Alison Chabonais Design & Production Kent Constable Stephen Blancett Creative Director Marilyn Eppolite Contributing Writer Robin Shreeves Multi-Market Advertising 239-449-8309 © 2012 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 Subscribe online to receive FREE monthly digital magazine at nasouthjersey.com

Natural Awakenings is printed on recycled newsprint with soybased ink.

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South Jersey

the realm of my existence in Creation.

I’ve never had a less than satisfying experience walking in the woods or by the sea. My appreciation for these moments typically comes gushing forth with an exclamation of gratitude followed by the query: Why I didn’t do this earlier?

“Nature’s Wisdom,” Christine MacDonald’s feature beginning on page 18, recognizes what we all innately know—time outdoors is as vital to our well-being as the food we eat. Now more scientists are working to explain why physical, emotional and spiritual healing happens naturally when we commune with nature’s primal elements.

The world of technology does everything in its power to entice us into drifting away from beneficial natural forces. When interacting with a computer seems to be dominating my time and energy, I find there’s no substitute for an hour-long walk outside. My best moments of clarity and insight are inevitably achieved there. We are all part of the same cosmic stardust of creation and embracing the natural world serves to reignite society’s neglected connections to the plants, animals, wind, sea and earth.

“Green” may be termed a cliché these days, but I’m among millions of people witnessing a blossoming movement around environmentally important issues and actions. Earth Day reminds us that the magnitude of the restorative work yet to be done is monumental and challenging. It reminds us to reflect on how well each one of us is doing in stewarding Mother Earth’s generous bounty and how far we must go to do our part.

Thanks go to Ed Cohen, an active participant in Sustainable Cherry Hill and the Tri-County Sustainable Alliance, for providing the list of Earth Day activities in our area shown on page 16. It’s exciting to see all the local townships getting involved in the sustainability movement, offering a place for every generation to learn why it’s important to become active in their communities. Never has there been a better time to be a part of the shift towards a greener town, state, country and world. Mother Earth will be glad to receive your help, and so will future generations!

Each month we work to present a balance of articles and briefs to help South Jersey readers live healthier and happier lives. The topics vary but the intent is always the same, to offer information that will expand and support your ability to care for yourself and loved ones. I’m always pleased to hear when we hit the mark. Whenever I receive someone’s heartfelt thanks expressing their affection for our magazine’s mission, I feel renewed again, as nature would have it.

In gratitude,

Donald Moore, Publisher nasouthjersey.com

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soothing comfort envelopes me when the trees and clouds are my canopy and a trail of earth meets my soul.

Nature, in all of her dynamic bounty, freely shares her energy and affords gifts of renewal, cleansing and nurture. It’s a subtle yet powerful transformation that sensibly returns me to

newsbriefs

WELLNESS SERVICES FOR NATURAL BALANCE Thermographic Diagnostic Imaging & Health Through Awareness

Earth Yoga and EarthGym Offer Stress Relief

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oga For Living, in Cherry Hill, is offering an uplifting new class, Earth Yoga, at 6 p.m. on Wednesdays. Created by Ecopsychologist Bonnie Heart, this class begins with a centering meditation and moves into postures that stretch and tone the body while quieting the mind. It concludes with a deep relaxation known as shivasana. What sets Earth Yoga apart from other classes is that it encourages students to connect with a deep sense of grounding, helping to ease tension in the body.

“Earth Yoga helps us reconnect with our emotional balance and stability,” explains Hart.

“Nervous tension, anxiety and even depression are signs of being ungrounded, in other words, a lack of emotional balance and stability. The good news is that re-grounding is readily available through conscious movement that helps us reestablish a sense of connection to the earth beneath us.”

Yoga For Living is also offering EarthGym, an outdoor club that encourages people to get outside in order to reconnect with nature. Hart says, “There is such a sense of renewal and connection we feel when communing with nature. Time spent outdoors evaporates our stress and replaces a feeling of isolation with one of being part of something grand.”

SPECIALIZING IN...

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Garden State Community Medical Center 100 Brick Road, Suite 206 • Marlton, NJ 08053 www.tdinj.com • www.healththroughawareness.com

Mention this ad and receive a $25.00 discount on your Thermogram!

Bonnie Hart

Ecopsychologist M.A. Transpersonal Psychology

Location: 1926 Greentree Rd. For more information, call 609970-3401, visit EarthGym.org or BonnieHart.org.

New Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) Coming to Camden County

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ur Yards Farm, a suburban farm and CSA based in Audubon, will soon distribute produce to Camden County. This unique farm transforms unused lawn space into productive, sustainably grown produce for the local community.

Every day the United States loses over 3,000 acres of farmland to development amidst exponential population growth. In the last 20 years, over 8 percent of farmland has been lost in this country due to suburban sprawl. Our Yards Farm and CSAs like it provide healthy, affordable, local food to the community.

For more information, call Julie Pierre at 856-827-3276 or email OurYardsFarm@gmail.com.

Counseling & Stress-Relief Specialist

Lyric of the Month:

One-on-one counseling to unravel the fears and worries of the mind and move into the wisdom of the heart.

“The water does a dance upon the stones, I sit and listen ... a thing of beauty is not to be ignored.” ~ Hothouse Flowers

609-970-3401 www.BonnieHart.org / Bonnie@BonnieHart.org Located within Yoga For Living: 1926 Greentree Road Cherry Hill, NJ

Services and Classes Focused on Balancing Mind, Body and Spirit • Hypnosis • Intuitive Guidance • Massage • Meditation • Reiki • Book/Gift Shop • BioMat • And More

Come by to browse, chat, or raise your energy!

43 South Main St., Medford, NJ 08055 TheCenterLifeInBalance.com

•

• 609.975.8379

TheCenterLifeInBalance@gmail.com

natural awakenings

April 2015

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Publish a Natural Awakenings Magazine in Your Community Share Your Vision and Make a Difference • Meaningful New Career • Low Initial Investment • Proven Business System • Home Based Business • Exceptional Franchise Support & Training

Natural Awakenings recently won Call 239-530-1377 the prestigious FBR50 Franchise visit our website : Satisfaction Award from Franchise NaturalAwakeningsMag.com/mymagazine Business Review. To learn more visit: franchisebusinessreview.com for more information

Natural Awakenings publishes in over 95 markets across the U.S. and Puerto Rico • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

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Huntsville, AL Mobile/Baldwin, AL* Little Rock/Hot Spg., AR* Phoenix, AZ* Tucson, AZ East Bay Area, CA San Diego, CA Denver/Boulder, CO Fairfield County, CT Hartford, CT New Haven/Middlesex, CT Washington, DC Daytona/Volusia/Flagler, FL NW FL Emerald Coast Ft. Lauderdale, FL Jacksonville/St. Aug., FL Melbourne/Vero, FL Miami & Florida Keys* Naples/Ft. Myers, FL North Central FL* Orlando, FL* Palm Beach, FL Peace River, FL Sarasota, FL Tampa/St. Pete., FL FL’s Treasure Coast Atlanta, GA Hawaiian Islands Chicago, IL Chicago Western Suburbs Indianapolis, IN Baton Rouge, LA Lafayette, LA New Orleans, LA Portland, ME Boston, MA Ann Arbor, MI East Michigan Wayne County, MI Western MI Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN Charlotte, NC Lake Norman, NC Triangle NC Central NJ Hudson County, NJ* Mercer County, NJ

South Jersey

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Monmouth/Ocean, NJ North NJ North Central NJ South NJ* Santa Fe/Abq., NM Las Vegas, NV Albany, NY Buffalo, NY Central NY Long Island, NY Manhattan, NY Queens, NY Rochester, NY Rockland/Orange, NY Westchester/Putnam, NY Central OH Cincinnati, OH Toledo, OH Oklahoma City, OK Portland, OR* Bucks/Montgomery, PA Harrisburg/York, PA Lancaster, PA Lehigh Valley, PA Pocono, PA/Warren Co., NJ Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, PA Rhode Island Charleston, SC Columbia, SC Grand Strand, SC* Greenville, SC Chattanooga, TN Knoxville, TN* Memphis, TN Austin, TX Dallas Metroplex, TX Dallas/FW Metro N SE Texas Houston, TX San Antonio, TX* Richmond, VA VA’s Blue Ridge Seattle, WA Madison, WI Milwaukee, WI Puerto Rico

*Existing magazines for sale

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newsbriefs Spring Into Better Health Coaching Program

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olistic Health Coach Karen Ferrari will offer a threemonth Group Coaching Program beginning 5:30 to 7 p.m., April 2, at The Sanctuary for Yoga, in Medford. The program will continue every other Thursday for 12 weeks. Participants will have the opportunity to purchase a special unlimited yoga card for $270 (a $300 value) for the duration of the class.

Geared toward individuals who struggle with making healthy food choices, this class teaches participants how to permanently change their relationship with food and dieting, improve their health by changing their eating habits, add whole foods to their diet and prioritize self-care.

Exercise is a key factor in any self-care regimen and yoga helps to trim and tone the body, while working on the mind and spirit to improve health. Practicing yoga also helps to increase sensitivity to inner signals such as hunger and cravings. While there are physical components to both of these sensations, true hunger to feed the body’s basic needs is a totally different experience than craving foods that do not nourish the body.

Cost: $225 or register with a friend for $400. Location: 43 S. Main St. For more information, call 609-953-7800 or visit TheSanctuaryForYoga.com.

Wellness Center Opening in Cherry Hill

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ure body, pure bliss, pure balance (PB3), one of the first health and wellness centers in the Cherry Hill area, is opening this month at 800 North Kings Highway, Suite 100, Cherry Hill,, less than a mile from Whole Foods Market.

The Grand Opening celebration is expected to take place on April 11.

The staff at PB3 understands that each individual has different needs and struggles. Taking a holistic approach to achieving total physical, mental and spiritual harmony, the center will offer an extensive collection of products and services that are designed to target specific areas of the body and mind.

“By combining an array of services that target all areas of a person’s health and well-being, PB3 provides a convenient location for clients that are seeking to make an overall positive change in their lifestyle,” says owner Kate Galvez.

“PB3 isn’t just a spa, nor is it a gym. It is truly an innovative process to achieving total wellness.”

For more information, visit pb-3.com or Facebook.com/ pb3wellness.

World T’ai Chi & Qigong Day

Whole Body

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’ai chi enthusiasts will gather to move as one in a T’ai Chi Chih practice, a series of easy, gentle movements, at the World T’ai Chi & Qigong Day celebration at 10 a.m., April 25, at the American Legion Post 455, in New Egypt. All are welcome and no experience is necessary. A workshop on t’ai chi and Taoist philosophy with Dr. Chang-Shin Jih will follow the practice.

Jih is a professor and the co-author of the book, The Tao of Jesus. He is certified in several modalities, including TaiQi-Chuan, qigong, yoga and Buddhist meditation.

The event is hosted by Siobhan Hutchinson, founder of Next Step Strategies, which educates and encourages individuals to discover their body’s natural healing abilities. She is an accredited T’ai Chi Chih, Seijaku, Guigen qigong, Reiki master/ teacher and a certified Eden Energy Medicine practitioner.

Cost: $10 in advance or $15 at the door for practice, $50 in advance or $75 at door for workshop. Location: 2 Meadowbrook Ln. For more information or to register, call 609-752-1048 or email Siobhan@NextStepStrategiesLLC.com.

Natural Awakenings Earns Top Franchise Business Award

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atural Awakenings has been ranked in the best 50 in its size class among 200 companies named in the Franchise Business Review’s 2015 Top Franchises Report. The healthy living magazine was one of five franchise companies cited as best-in-class in the advertising and sales category. To select the top franchises across industries and performance categories, the organization surveyed more than 28,500 franchisees.

“We feel privileged that it was our franchisees’ expression of high satisfaction that earned us this award,” says Sharon Bruckman, CEO of Natural Awakenings Publishing Corp. “Gaining this recognition proves that our process of providing franchisees with editorial, promotional and operational support, partnered with their enthusiastic dedication in individual markets, serves communities well. Together, we are nourishing and growing a healthy living consciousness in America.” The network now encompasses nearly 100 franchisees nationwide and in Puerto Rico.

Franchise Business Review, headquartered in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, is a national franchise market research firm that performs independent surveys of franchisee satisfaction and franchise buyer experiences. 2015 marked its 10th annual Top Franchises Report.

For more information, call Anna Romano at 239-530-1377 or visit NaturalAwakeningsMag.com and FranchiseBusiness Review.com. See ad, page 9.

D E N T I S T R Y

Experience the Difference of Biological Dentistry Biological dentists are concerned with the impact that toxic materials have on the entire body.

General and Cosmetic Dentistry Biocompatible Materials Testing (Zyto Scan) Safe Mercury Removal TMJ and Chronic Headache-Facial Pain Treatment Sleep Apnea- Snoring Therapy Homeopathic Approach to Dentistry Doctor-Patient Partnership

Scott Silver, DMD (856) 854-4354

621 White Horse Pike Haddon Township NJ 08107

BiologicalDentistsofNJ.com

A Better Tomorrow Counseling Service Offering Hypnotherapy Services & wide range of Therapeutic Interventions to help with:

• Stop Smoking • Weight Loss • Anxiety • Depression

• Phobias • Addictions • Medical Issues • Anger Management

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Brian Stemetzki, LCSW, NBCCH, EMDR level II ABetterTomorrowCounselingServices.com

Washington Professional Campus 2 • 901 Route 168, Suite 103, Turnersville, NJ 08012

Hours by Appointment 856.266.4983

Integrate Your Mind, Body, & Spirit Offering Total Wellness, From the Inside Out. Experience Your First Yoga Class for FREE!

• Yoga & Meditation • Reiki & Massage • Shiatsu & Reflexology • Sound & Energy Healing • Chirology (Hand Analysis) • Drumming • Group Light Grid

• Personal Growth Classes • Private & Group Sessions

Bliss Body Studio & Wellness Center 616 Collings Ave, Collingswood, NJ 08107

856.261.0554

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April 2015

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We inspire as well as inform,providing cutting-edge articles and interviews that really make our readers take notice.

Find us online at

NASouthJersey.com Set up an account at NASouthJersey.com and list your calendar events for Free!

Mediumship Alaine Portner

~ Private & Group Sessions ~ Spiritual Guidance

Gift Certificates Available for all your loved ones!

609.654.9400 www.alaineportner.com www.yogacenterofmedford.com

newsbriefs Spirit to Sole Connection Now Open

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eannie Meutz Francis, an author, Reiki master, reflexologist and certified herbalist, has opened Spirit to Sole Connection, a new storefront and learning center, located at 23 North Centre Street, in historic Merchantville.

The store offers hand-blended herbal teas, handmade herbal soaps and salves, books on holistic wellness and more. Services are available by appointment and include Usui Reiki, reflexology and herbal consultations. The learning center will host holistic wellness-related classes including yoga and qigong, along with guest speakers and events.

“I wanted this to be a kind of hub for holistic and wellness-minded people in South Jersey,” says Francis. “We’ll have plenty of herbal products, some books and there’s a space for classes and events.”

For more information, call 856-834-0883 or visit SpiritToSoleConnection.com.

you choose the y!

Feel Good, Naturally, at the Weight That's Right For YOU! Let our knowledgeable staff help you choose the right products to help you achieve your optimal weight…….Naturally Owner and nutritiOnal COunselOr dOnna wOOd-Cn Can help yOu aChieve yOur Optimum weight!

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Health Ha ve n •Vitamins •Health Food •Cafe

HealthHavenInc.com

Scholarship Available to Haddon Township High School Seniors

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ustainable Haddon Township, in conjunction with the Haddon Township Clean Communities Program, is offering a one-time $500 scholarship to Haddon Township High School seniors planning to pursue a career in sustainability, environmental sciences or a related field. Interested students must submit the required materials by May 1.

The winner will be notified by May 15 and recognized

by Sustainable Haddon Township at 7 p.m., June 23, at the Haddon Township Mayor and Commissioners Meeting at the Municipal Building.

For more information, email MattJMcCarthy@hotmail.com.

Every flower is a soul blossoming in nature.

~Gerard de Nerval

has been ranked in the best 50 in its size class among 200 companies named in the Franchise Business Review’s 2015 Top Franchises Report. The healthy living magazine was one of five franchise companies cited as best-in-class in the advertising and sales category. To select the top franchises across industries and performance categories, the organization surveyed more than 28,500 franchisees.

For more information visit our website: NaturalAwakeningsMag.com/mymagazine or call 239-530-1377

Passionate about Your Total Wellness

P Steven Horvitz, D.O. Board Certified Family Practice

We offer:

revention is the hallmark of good healthcare. As your proactive partner in health, I am devoted to helping you and your family stay healthy. At The Institute for Medical Wellness, we integrate traditional family care with holistic and complementary medicine to treat the whole person for a healthy heart, mind and body. Our balanced, caring approach empowers you to tap into your body’s natural ability to heal by addressing the root cause of illness – not just medicating symptoms.

• Convenient, Same and Next day appointments • Compassionate, supportive, non-rushed Office Visits • Nutrition and Supplement Counseling • Paleo Diet and Lifestyle Counseling • Massage Therapy • Network of private medical and holistic health professionals

Services and Testing:

• Food Sensitivity Testing • Specialized Vascular Preventative Testing – VAP, Heart Scan • Micronutrient Testing • Alpha-stim for anxiety, depression and insomnia • Telomere Testing • Omega-3 Testing • Low Dose Naltrexone (LDN) for autoimmune disease and the prevention of recurring cancers

Special interests in the Treatment of Inflammatory and Autoimmune diseases such as MS, Crohns, Ulcerative Colitis, Thyroid Disease and more.

Affordable, Annual Wellness Plan Options for every budget.

856-231-0590 • drhorvitz.com

Moorestown Office Center, 110 Marter Avenue, Suite 408, Moorestown, NJ 08057 natural awakenings

April 2015

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healthbriefs

Acupuncture Increases Quality of Life for Allergy Sufferers

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esearch from Berlin’s Charité University Medical Center suggests that acupuncture is an effective treatment for patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis. Published in the Annals of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, in 2013, the study analyzed data on the costs and quality of life of 364 allergy patients that had been randomly assigned to receive one of three treatments: rescue medication alone (taken when symptoms are greatest); acupuncture treatment plus rescue medication; or sham (non-therapeutic) acupuncture plus rescue medication. Patients receiving acupuncture incurred higher total treatment costs, but also gained significantly more quality of life compared with the rescue medication-only groups.

Strawberries Reduce Blood Pressure

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study published in the World Journal of Diabetes concluded that the regular consumption of a flavonoid-rich strawberry beverage reduces blood pressure in people with Type 2 diabetes. The study divided 36 subjects, all with moderately high blood pressure and Type 2 diabetes, into two groups—the first drank the equivalent of one serving of fresh strawberries per day made from freeze-dried berries, and the other group drank the same amount of an imitation strawberry-flavored drink over a six-week period. Blood pressure was tested at the beginning and end of the study for all participants.

At the end, the group drinking the real strawberry beverage registered significantly lower diastolic blood pressure than at the outset; it was also lower than the imitation strawberry group. The average diastolic blood pressure of the group drinking real strawberries went down by 6.5 percent and the systolic dropped by 12 percent. The strawberry-flavored group’s systolic blood pressure was also reduced, but only by 3.7 percent.

THE COLOR GREEN MAKES EXERCISE FEEL EASIER

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esearch from the University of Essex, in England, suggests that viewing natural green images while exercising may be better than being exposed to other colors. The researchers tested 14 people doing moderate-intensity cycling while watching video footage of predominantly gray, red or green imagery. Each of the participants underwent three cycling tests—one with each of the videos— along with a battery of physiological and mood testing.

The researchers found that when the subjects watched the green-colored video, they had better moods, with a lower relative perception of exertion than when they exercised while watching the red and grey videos. They also found those that exercised while watching the red video experienced greater feelings of anger during their exercise.

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nasouthjersey.com

Memory Works Better Reading Real Books

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esearchers from Norway’s Stavanger University and France’s Aix-Marseille Université found that readers remember a story better if it’s on paper.

The study tested 50 people that read the same 28-page short story. Half of the group read the paper version and the other half read the story on a Kindle e-reader. The researchers discovered that readers of the digital version could not remember details from the story or reconstruct the plot as well as the group that read the paper copy.

The researchers found that the feedback of a Kindle doesn’t provide the same support for mental reconstruction of a story as a print pocket book does. “When you read on paper, you can sense with your fingers a pile of pages on the left growing, and shrinking on the right,” explains Stavanger University’s Anne Mangen, Ph.D.

These findings confirm a study performed a year earlier, also led

by Mangen. Seventy-two 10th-graders were given text to read either on paper or on a computer screen.

The students that read the paper text versions scored significantly higher in reading comprehension testing than those reading digital versions.

Local Toxins Increase Risk of Autism

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onfirming previous findings, a large study from the University of Chicago has found that autism is linked to toxic environmental exposure. The research examined data from nearly a third of the U.S. population, which showed that both autism spectrum disorders and intellectual disabilities increased as exposure increased in region-by-region testing.

The research measured clusters of autism incidence together with exposure rates in different counties and states across the country. The areas with greater environmental toxin exposures had significantly increased autism rates. The correlation was significant among both boys and girls, but stronger among girls. Proximity to urban areas also increased autism incidence. For every 1 percent increase in urbanization, there was about a 3 percent rise in autism and intellectual disabilities. Influential toxins include pesticides, plasticizers, lead and pharmaceuticals.

Martial Arts Poses Many Benefits

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he benefits of martial arts are numerous ranging from the obvious physical ones to the realms of psychological, emotional and the spiritual.

Although “martial arts” comes from the term “Art of Mars”, Mars being the Roman god of war, the modern-day benefits could not be more peaceful in most contexts. Obviously, self defense is one of the first benefits that comes to mind. But, when examined deeper, self defense or the ability to defend oneself, can give the practitioner an enormous amount of self confidence. Confidence that is exuded in settings of work or school, public speaking, leadership roles or even in personal relationships. However, confidence gained through martial arts is most often tempered with humility.

In addition to the direct correlation between the physical benefit, in terms of activity level, and self defense related confidence, there is the peaceful underlying philosophy of most martial arts. Even the art forms that concentrate on pure efficiency of technique, like modern mixed martial Arts, that may not have a storied, ancient message or ethos of “flow” or “beginner’s mind,” create a huge mutual respect and camaraderie—two social cornerstones of any healthy society. Some of the bonds and friendships attained while training in such a physically demanding setting are some of the strongest that can be experienced. Lifelong friendships are formed.

Since self defense is a common underlying component of most modern-day martial arts, the benefit extends into a more intangible realm. Self defense is not self offense; there is no unprovoked aggression. There is a “live and let live” psychological state accompanying a healthy, properly trained martial artist. Violence is not condoned. Even in contests that appear violent to untrained onlookers, the combatants are willing participants in a sport following rules. Medical personnel are always present. And the activity takes place in a ring, mat or enclosure. The only “street” violence the properly trained martial artist is involved in is defense of themselves or of another that may need assistance or has been victimized by criminal activity.

There are ultimately many reasons to begin a martial art. Everyone has their own, usually very personal story behind beginning to train. Once embarking on your journey, you’ll realize many benefits. But, as in life, the first step in a direction is always the most important. And with martial arts, the most difficult “belt” to earn is the White Belt. So, don’t wait!

Resource: Pat Vacanti, Migliareese Black Belt under Phil Migliarese, owner, Vacanti Jiu Jitsu, 1351 Rt 38W, Hainesport, N.J., 856-313-0557, VacantiJiuJitsu.com

Olive Oil Boosts Healthy Cholesterol

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n an effort to understand what makes olive oil so good for heart health, a study from Europe’s Cardiovascular Risk and Nutrition Research Group and the U.S. National Institutes of Health has found that olive oil’s polyphenols significantly increase the size of high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL) in the blood and enhance the HDL’s ability to inhibit formation of the abnormal fatty deposits, known as plaque, within the walls of arteries. Polyphenols are natural compounds from plants known to help prevent cancer and heart disease.

In the three-week study, researchers isolated the effect of polyphenols by dividing 47 healthy European men into two groups: one ate a diet containing polyphenol-poor olive oil and the other consumed polyphenol-rich olive oil. The enriched diet resulted in increased size, fluidity and stability (resistance to oxidation) of the HDL molecules by reducing their triglyceride core. The researchers note that the oxidation of cholesterol lipids such as low-density lipoprotein (LDL) is linked with arteriosclerosis.

He who lives in harmony with himself lives in harmony with the universe. ~Marcus Aurelius natural awakenings

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

Vanishing Wildlife

50 Percent Gone in Under 50 years The latest World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Living Planet Report shows that the Living Planet Index (LPI), which measures more than 10,000 representative populations of mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and fish, has declined by 52 percent since 1970. The report is widely considered the leading science-based analysis on the health of our planet and the impact of human activity (Tinyurl.com/WWF-Living-Planet-Report).

In fewer than two human generations, populations of vertebrate species—the life forms that constitute the fabric of life-sustaining ecosystems and serve as a barometer of how humans are impacting nature—have dropped by half. Nature conservation and sustainable development go hand-in-hand; it’s not only about preserving biodiversity and wild places, but about safeguarding the future of humanity.

Living Planet Report partners include the Zoological Society of London, Global Footprint Network and Water Footprint Network. Marco Lambertini, director general of WWF International, states, “We need leadership for change. Sitting on the bench waiting for someone else to make the first move, doesn’t work. Heads of state need to start thinking globally; businesses and consumers need to stop behaving as if we live in a limitless world.”

Thriving Eco-Towns

Malaysian Villages Model Sustainability

photo by MIGHT

Innovations being successfully pioneered in Malaysia offer ideas for improving the world, according to the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN), including the construction of high-tech, self-sustaining ecological “smart” villages.

These villages are lifting incomes for scores of rural families while promoting environmental sustainability. Each 50acre community consists of about 100 affordable homes, advanced educational, training and recreational facilities and an integrated, sustainable farm system that provides villagers with food and employment that on average, triples their monthly income.

Low-cost, 1,000-square-foot homes are built in 10 days and the communal farming operations include a cascading series of fish tanks, or “aquafarms”.

Filtered fish tank wastewater irrigates trees, grain fields and high-value plants grown in “autopots”, a three-piece container with a valve that detects soil moisture levels and releases water as required, reducing the need for fertilizers and pesticides. Free-range chickens feed on the fast-reproducing worms that process the plant compost.

This system optimizes nutrient absorption, minimizes waste and enables crops to be grown on previously non-arable land. The village’s solar-generated power is complemented by biomass energy and mini-hydro electricity. A community hall, resource center, places of worship, playgrounds and educational facilities equipped with 4G Internet service support e-learning and e-health services.

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Corporate Do-Gooders

U.S. Recognizes Companies for Earth-Sound Policies Each year, the U.S. Department of State presents Awards for Corporate Excellence recognizing U.S.-owned businesses that play vital roles worldwide as good corporate citizens. Parameters include supporting sustainable development, respect for human and labor rights, environmental protection, open markets, transparency and other democratic values.

The 2014 winners, announced last December, include the EcoPlanet Bamboo Group, in Nicaragua, for fostering sustainable development by regenerating degraded pasturelands.

The company dedicates 20 percent of its plantations as natural habitat that protects biodiversity by prohibiting illegal hunting. EcoPlanet also focuses on employing persons with disabilities and empowering women through recruitment to managerial positions.

Wagner Asia Equipment, LLC, in Mongolia, a heavy equipment dealership, is recognized for its commitment to public/private partnerships with Mongolia’s local and national governments designed to protect the environment. Initiatives include planting more than 900 trees, conducting workshops for students on environment and ecology, implementing a project to build a community garden and rehabilitating a toxic waste site.

Other finalists include the Coca-Cola Company, in the Philippines; Chevron Corporation, in Burma; ContourGlobal, in Togo; General Electric, in South Africa; General Electric International, in Tunisia; GlassPoint Solar, in Oman; and the Linden Centre, in China.

For more information on finalists, visit Tinyurl.com/ACE2014Finalists.

Soil Salvation

Organic Farming May Counteract Greenhouse Effect The nonprofit Rodale Institute, the United Nations and the Soil Association are reporting that modern, chemical-intensive industrial farming is stripping the soil’s natural ability to take carbon back out of the atmosphere through photosynthesis and store it in the soil. Rodale researchers say that by returning to small-scale organic farming, more than 40 percent of annual greenhouse gas emissions could be captured in the soil, and if the entire world’s pasture and rangelands were managed using regenerative techniques, an additional 71 percent of those emissions could be sequestered.

Further, organic practices could counteract the world’s yearly carbon dioxide output while producing the same amount of food as conventional farming. Rodale claims that using regenerative organic agriculture—like low or no-tillage, cover crops and crop rotation—will keep photosynthesized carbon dioxide in the soil, instead of returning it to the atmosphere. The institute cites 75 studies from peer-reviewed journals, including its own 33-year Farming Systems Trial, which directly compare organic farming with conventional farming.

Buzzing Buddies

‘Flying Doctor’ Bees Prevent Cherry Disease

People in the United States waste more than a third of all of the food they produce, but more than 180 cities and towns are beginning to realize that wasted food can be valuable; they are asking residents to separate unwanted food from the rest of their trash and put it in a curbside compost bin. The idea is to stop sending food waste to the landfill, where it generates harmful methane gas pollution, and start turning it into something useful, like compost.

In 2011, Portland, Oregon, launched a curbside compost program in which residents are encouraged to put food scraps into the city’s green yard waste bin.

Since then, the amount of garbage sent to the landfill has decreased by 37 percent.

According to Bruce Walker, the city’s solid waste and recycling program manager, the program also reduces the environmental footprint of the trash heap.

Getting people to separate their food waste, however, can be difficult. To motivate its residents to put more food waste in the compost bin, the city of Seattle, Washington, has proposed both making curbside composting mandatory and fining residents a dollar every time they put a disproportionate volume of food waste in their trash.

University of Adelaide researchers are introducing a “flying doctor” method of employing bees as preventive medicine. Project leader and bee researcher Katja Hogendoorn, Ph.D., says, “All commercial cherry growers spray during flowering to control the later development of cherry brown rot.

Instead of spraying fungicide, we’re using bees to deliver a biological control agent right to the flowers, where it’s needed.” The innovative delivery works via entomovectoring.

This is a new technique for Australia, with potential application in many horticultural industries. The biological control agent contains spores of a parasitic fungus that prevents another fungus that causes the brown rot from colonizing the flower. Future applications of the small, winged medics are expected to become available for disease control in almonds, grapes, strawberries, raspberries, apples, pears and stone fruit.

Source: NetNebraska.org

Source: Adelaide.edu.au

Source: OrganicConsumers.org

Curbside Composting

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ecotip Sustainable Shopping Tips Smart Choices Help Our Home Planet

The buy local movement and popularity of local farmers’ markets continue to grow, but we can do even better when it comes to sustainable shopping. A recent Greendex.com survey on environmental impacts of consumer behaviors in 18 countries reports that more Americans are eating local and organic foods and say they’re going to consume less meat and bottled water. Nevertheless, we continue to eat the most processed and packaged foods and the fewest fruits and vegetables of all the countries surveyed. Evidently, we need to literally put our money where our mouths are.

The Greendex survey cites several basic ways to make our diets more sustainable. These include eating more vegetables and less beef and lamb (recognizing the greater environmental impact of raising animals); participating and supporting community supported agriculture and fishery initiatives; economizing meal planning; and storing food properly in the refrigerator to maximize space and freshness periods.

When grocery shopping, peruse the perimeter aisles first, where whole foods are stocked, instead of the interior shelves, which typically comprise processed foods according to MotherEarthLiving.com.

More cooperation between the public and private sectors and individual involvement can also increase sustainability in communities around the world.

Rachael Durrant, Ph.D., a research fellow with the UK-based Sustainable Lifestyles Research Group, cites in a recent paper the need for improved understanding of the key roles that civil society organizations play within processes of large-scale social change and warned that many communities are vulnerable to grave environmental and social risks.

Durrant lauds “greener, fairer and healthier practices, such as community gardening or cookery classes,” plus “those that change the rules of the game through campaigns or lobbying to coordinate and facilitate activities of other groups.”

Supporting food and farming management that’s independent, cooperative and welcomes volunteers, for example, is highly beneficial.

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Healing Journeys

Paul Stutzman Finds Universal Truths on His Treks

by Randy Kambic

P

aul Stutzman was a successful executive with a family restaurant chain and a happy father and husband married for more than 30 years when his wife, Mary, passed away from breast cancer in 2006.

Questioning his faith as to why this happened, Stutzman quit his job to hike the 2,168-mile Appalachian Trail (AT), advising everyone he encountered, “Don’t take spouses and families for granted.” His book, Hiking Through, recounts this extreme adventure and relates his subsequent thoughts about grief, healing and life.

Stutzman chronicled his second journey, a 5,000-mile-plus cross-country trek, in Biking Across America. This time, he perceived a “noble, yet humble America that still exists and inspires.” More recently, the author has turned to fiction with The Wanderers and Wandering Home, both enriched with reflections upon the values of his Amish Mennonite upbringing and marriage.

What kept you going?

Early on, I realized how soothing nature was to my

grieving soul. Still, there were times it would have been easy to abandon my journeys and head for the safety of home. The desire to discover if my life held any meaning after such a great loss kept me moving forward. I kept telling myself on both journeys, “If my wife can fight cancer for four years, I can overcome any obstacle I encounter.”

I was determined to write about what I was being taught by nature. I also believed books written by and about someone seeking solace via an incomplete pilgrimage would be cheating the reader.

What do such journeys teach about nature and our response to experiencing it?

I find comfort in nature. I believe the beautiful streams and waterfalls, the grand views from mountaintops and the wildlife were all created for our enjoyment. When we absorb this beauty and wonderment, the stresses in life slowly melt away. Granted, not everyone will be able to do what I did; however, a stroll through a local park, along a beach or in a flower garden can have similar effects.

Did these extended physical endeavors make mental demands that catalyzed unexpected self-growth?

Treks like these into the unknown are physically demanding. With time and effort, one’s body gets into shape for extended hiking and biking. The mental hurdle must be crossed next. You’ll miss home and loved ones. Loneliness will set in. This is where you discover who the real you is. Are you tenacious enough to push through the desire to abandon the pilgrimage or will you succumb to the allure of comfort and safety?

On my journeys, I had to make difficult choices. There is a saying that applies to folks planning to hike the AT end-to-end through 14 states: “If hiking the entire Appalachian Trail isn’t the most important thing in your life, you won’t accomplish it.”

My daughter gave birth to my grandson while I was hiking. Although she asked that I come home for the event, I declined. I kept on hiking because I knew I wouldn’t return to the trail if I went home. I’d spent my lifetime trying to do the right things for my three children, but now had to do what was right for me.

What did you learn about Americans along the way?

I discovered that most Americans are kind, law-abiding citizens. Most are still willing to help a stranger in need.

Unfortunately, I feel we focus too much time and energy on the minority of malcontents.

How have these experiences informed your creative process?

America is a great country. The beauty I’ve witnessed from a bicycle seat and on two feet hiking the mountains is a continual source of inspiration. Many folks are unable to do what I do. My ongoing desire is to describe the images imprinted in my mind in such a way that others can feel as if they are there walking with me.

For more information, visit PaulStutzman.com.

Randy Kambic is an Estero, FL, freelance writer and editor who regularly contributes to Natural Awakenings. natural awakenings

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earthdayevents

EARTH

DAY 2015

Hope for Our Future

by Julianne Hale

W

hen we learn about the condition of our most valuable resource—this spinning planet we call home—we may feel a sense of urgency, desperation or even defeat. Global climate change is a powerful foe, and current efforts may seem like a losing race against time.

Yet, mounting evidence suggests that the global community is making progress, giving rise to the possibility that climate change may not be the insurmountable obstacle we once thought. The Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) article, “We Can Do This: 10 Reasons there’s Hope for our Climate,”

by Dan Upham, summarizes a speech given by EDF President Fred Krupp at the 2014 Aspen Ideas Festival (Tinyurl. com/HopeForTheClimate). Here are some encouraging highlights.

The price of solar energy panels has dropped by 75 percent in the U.S. since 2008, and affordable wind energy is increasingly available. According to a study published by the U.S. Energy Information Administration, carbon dioxide emissions from energy in this country dropped by 10 percent between 2005 and 2012.

In addition, China, the world’s largest producer of greenhouse gases, is actively seeking ways to reduce emissions.

Proof of progress is also found in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean Power Plan to cut billions of tons of pollution, a goal supported by two-thirds of Americans, according to a survey conducted by Harstad Strategic Research. Aligned with this, the government is requiring that manufacturers double automobile fuel mileage by 2025.

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Perhaps the best argument for hope reflects the priorities of Amer-

ica’s younger generations. A recent bipartisan poll of young voters conducted by Benenson Strategy Group and GS Strategy Group suggests that 80 percent of voters under the age of 35 support the president taking action to address climate change, making it an issue that both major political parties must take seriously.

It’s time to realize that mankind is making decided progress, that the majority of us do care, that what local communities accomplish has a positive effect and that the global community can take the steps needed to avert catastrophic climate change.

Become a part of the solution by attending one or more of the community events listed below.

Event

Location

Date

Notes

Green Festival by Borough of Collingswood

Collingswood, along Irvin Ave.

Sat April 18th, 9am - 2 pm

Live music, eco-artisan mall featuring food from local restaurants. Contact: Collingswood.com/arts/greenfestival

Mt. Laurel Cleanup Day

Mt. Laurel Community Center, 100 Mount Laurel Rd.

Sat April 18th, 9am - noon

Prizes for most unusual trash found, snacks, gloves and bags for all. Contact: Meghan Shaddow: MShaddow@Mount Laurel.com. 856-234-0001 ext 1220

7th Annual Go Green Event by Sustainable Haddon Township

Haddon Township, Westmont Theatre Parking Lot (Haddon Ave)

Sat April 18th, 10am - 2pm

Face Painting, Rizzo’s Reptile Program, crafts and games and more. CamdenCounty.com/events/haddon-townshipgo-green-event. Matt McCarthy, MattJ McCarthy@hotmail.com

Barrington Green Fair

Woodland School on School Lane, Barrington NJ

Sat April 25th, 10am - 2pm

In conjunction with Woodland and Avon school science fairs.

Sustainable Cherry Hill Earth Festival

100 Bortons Mill Rd., Cherry Hill, NJ 08034

Sat April 25th, 10am - 2pm

Plant exchange, entertainment, crafters, bike ride, trail walk, upcycled art. Info: SustainableCherryHill.org

Haddonfield Earth Day, by Sustainable Haddonfield

Kings Court, Downtown Haddonfield

Sat April 25th, 10am - 2pm

Live animals from the Academy of Natural Sciences, Kids’ Crafts and Activities.

Contact: Julie Beddingfield. BeddingfieldJB@gmail.com

Center for Environmental Transformation Earth Day Fair

Sacred Heart Church, corner of Ferry Ave. and S. Broadway in Camden

Sun April 26th, Contact: cfet.org 9:30am - 1:30pm

Burlington County Earth Fair

Historic Smithville Park, 803 Smithville Rd., Eastampton, NJ 08060

Sun June 14th, 10:30am – 4pm

Huge family-friendly event with lots of entertainment, artists, crafters and activities. Children's activities include trash sculpting, paper making, and storytelling.

Art exhibits in Gallery and the Smithville Mansion Annex Gallery.

Earth Day

by Ed Cohen

Celebration and Involvement

W

arming days, budding trees and morning bird songs mark spring’s arrival. Earth Day celebrations highlight the wonders of nature and remind us about the importance of protecting the amazing resources that our planet provides. Throughout Burlington, Camden and Gloucester counties, there are many opportunities to join the festivities. Earth Day activities provide learning opportunities and ways to get involved. Many activities in the upcoming weeks offer ways to get and stay involved throughout the year.

Earth Day events are a fantastic way to have fun, get energized and learn. One of the biggest in our area will be in Cherry Hill on April 25. The Sustainable Cherry Hill Earth Festival welcomes the South Jersey community to enjoy all things green. All family members “will learn at least one new sustainable idea or practice that will help citizens and businesses save money and protect the planet,” says Brenda Jorett, Sustainable Cherry Hill Earth Festival producer. This event attracts over 5,000 visitors with an array of green vendors, nonprofit groups, educational displays, food, and live entertainment.

Like nearly all Earth Day events in the tri-county region, admission, parking and entertainment are free.

On June 14, Burlington County has its enormous 19th annual Earth Fair in Historic Smithville Park featuring vendors, entertainment for all ages (storytellers, magic shows, dancing, music, lectures and more), kids’ activities with an environmental twist, crafters and art exhibits, all with an Earth-friendly theme.

Looking for a more intimate local event? See the Earth Day listings. Nearly all have a variety of crafts, entertainment, food, information and lots of opportunities to get involved.

The sustainability movement is primarily led by grassroots organizers like those that help put on the Earth Day festivals. Aside from helping the cause, volunteering is rewarding in its own right. Working with interesting, motivated and engaging people is stimulating and entertaining. It’s like reality TV but with unlimited screen size and no commercial breaks. People who will donate their time are usually fun to be around. Working together towards a goal multiplies the effectiveness of individuals. Volunteering lets you control your commitment level, from as little as a few hours a month.

Many townships throughout New Jersey got a boost in their sustainability efforts by participating in Sustainable Jersey, a certification program for state municipalities and schools to go green, save money and take steps to sustain their quality of life over the long term.

This nonprofit, nonpartisan organization provides tools, training and financial incentives to support and reward communities as they pursue their sustainability programs. Visit SustainableJersey.com for to find out of free events and contacts in your town, ideas and see what communities have achieved and accomplished.

Looking to reach outside your town?

The Tri-County Sustainability Alliance is a partnership of dedicated volunteers “Connecting Burlington, Camden and Gloucester counties for a better tomorrow.” It meets every other month to share ideas, resources and enthusiasm. The group also helps raise awareness that less wealthy communities, such as the city of Camden, often suffer the effects of unsustainable practices disproportionately. Past events have included leadership training, improving shelter-belts (protective tree barriers) in Camden, diversity education and networking events.

Contact Ed Cohen at ECohen@Vision-Edge. com for more information.

Many groups provide outreach combined with advocacy. Special interests, by definition, don’t serve the entire population and often try to advance legislation that serve their needs (not the community’s). Citizen action groups need volunteers to vigilantly protect our region’s natural resources. Many volunteer groups have information tables at Earth Day events.

Food & Water Watch (FoodAnd WaterWatch.org) envisions a world where all people have the wholesome food, clean water and sustainable energy they need to thrive. These conditions will happen when people become involved in making democracy work and when people, not corporations, control the decisions that affect their lives and communities.

More locally, the Pinelands Preservation Alliance (PinelandsAlliance.org) advocates for the protection of the NJ Pinelands, our country’s first National Reserve. This largely undisturbed wilderness area is under threat. Over the past year, efforts have begun to approve the construction of a gas pipeline through the Pinelands. To achieve this, Governor Christie is working to replace New Jersey Pinelands Commission members who oppose the pipeline construction. The alliance needs your help to make sure the voices of the community are heard.

Join Earth Day celebrations and make it last all year by getting involved.

Ed Cohen, Ph.D., a Mt. Laurel resident, focuses on community outreach and is a member of Mt Laurel Green Team, Tri-County Sustainability Alliance (a Sustainable Cherry Hill Task Force), and Camden Collaborative Initiative.

Aside from sustainability, his other outlets include mentoring Storm High School Robotics team, Ultimate and Magic. Contact him at 609-217-1412 or ECohen@Vision-Edge.com.

natural awakenings

April 2015

17

Nature’s Wisdom Its Lessons Inspire, Heal and Sustain Us

by Christine MacDonald

The environment is not separate from ourselves; we are inside it and it is inside us; we make it and it makes us. ~ Davi Kopenawa Yanomami, Amazon shaman

W

hile the idea that we humans stand apart from—or even above—nature is a prevailing theme in much of modern civilization, naturalists and other clever souls throughout the ages have observed that the opposite is true: We are part of, depend on and evolve with nature—and we ignore this vital connection at our peril.

“If one way is better than another, that you may be sure is nature’s way,” admonished the Greek philosopher Aristotle, in the third century B.C.E.

“Time destroys the speculation of men, but it confirms the judgment of nature,” Roman politician and philosopher Cicero ruminated two centuries later.

Nobel Prize-winning physicist and philosopher Albert Einstein remarked, “Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.”

Today, more of us are looking to nature for ways to improve physical, mental and emotional health, develop 18

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intelligence, innovate, overhaul how we build homes and neighborhoods, and raise our children.

Healthful Nature

As Henry David Thoreau wrote in his classic 1854 book Walden, “We need the tonic of wildness.”

While we know firsthand how walking in the woods can elevate mood, scientists have documented that a regular dose of nature has other far-reaching benefits. It can lower stress hormone levels, blood pressure and undesirable cholesterol; help heal neurological problems; hasten fuller recovery from surgery and heart attacks; increase cancer-fighting white blood cells; and generally aid overall health (Health Promotion International research report; also Nippon Medical School study, Tokyo).

Regular playtime outdoors helps children cope with hyperactivity and attention deficit disorders, accord-

ing to research published in Current Problems in Pediatric and Adolescent Health Care.

Exposure to nature can help adults escape from today’s wired lives; reinvigorate, be fitter and less likely to suffer from obesity, diabetes and heart disease, as reported in studies published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition and a University of Washington research summary. It can also unlock understanding of the spiritual essence of life.

Hours regularly spent by youth outdoors stimulate imagination and creativity and enhance cognitive development, helping them learn.

Nature also helps youngsters develop social awareness, helping them better navigate human relations (Tinyurl.com/ OutdoorHealthBenefits Research).

“It’s strange and kind of sad that we are so removed from nature that we actually have to ask why nature is good for us,” says Dr. Eva Selhub, a lecturer at Harvard Medical School, author of the new book Your Health Destiny, and co-author of Your Brain on Nature. “The fact is our brains and bodies are wired in concert with nature.”

Recognition of nature’s positive effects has grown so much in recent years that physicians increasingly write their patients “prescriptions” to go hiking in the woods, counting on the healthy exercise and exposure to sunlight, nature and soothing views to address health problems stemming from poor diets and sedentary lifestyles. Healthcare clinics and hospitals in Washington, D.C., New York City, Chicago, Indianapolis, Albuquerque, New Mexico, California’s Bay Area and elsewhere have launched Prescription Trails programs aimed at objectives from preventing obesity in children to healthful activities for retirees (Tinyurl. com/AmericanHealthTrails).

Bestselling author Richard Louv calls the positive nature effect “vitamin N” in The Nature Principle. He contends: “Many of us, without having a name for it, are using the nature tonic.

We are, in essence, self-medicating with an inexpensive and unusually convenient drug substitute.”

Such ideas are commonly accepted in many cultures. The Japanese believe in the restorative power of shinrin-yoku, which could be translated as “forest medicine” or “forest bathing”. Indigenous peoples like the Brazilian tribe led by Shaman Davi Kopenawa Yanomami, fighting to preserve their land and way of life in the Amazon, profess to be at one with the innate riches of sustainable rainforests (SurvivalInternational.org/parks).

Innovative Nature

Scientists, inventors and other innovators are increasingly inspired by nature. Biomimicry, part social movement and part burgeoning industry, looks to how Earth’s natural systems work and solve problems. University of Utah researchers, inspired by the durable homes built by sandcastle worms, are creating a synthetic glue that one day could help repair fractured bones. Architectural components manufacturer Panelite makes energy-efficient insulated glass by mimicking the hexagonal structure that bees use in honeycombs. (Find other precedents at Tinyurl.com/ BiomimicryCaseExamples).

The inspiration for biomimicry comes from many places, says Dayna Baumeister, Ph.D. co-founder of Biomimicry 3.8, a Missoula, Montana, company working with other companies and universities to propel biomimicry into the mainstream.

“People are recognizing that they’ve been disconnected to the natural world,” she says. “We also realize that [as a species] we are in trouble.

We don’t have all the answers, but we can look to other species for inspiration” for clearing pollutants from our bodies and environments.

Plants and fungi are now commonly used to clean up old industrial sites that resemble nature’s way of removing pollutants from water and soil. A University of California, Berkeley, meta-study confirms that farmers currently using organic farming methods and solar power achieve roughly the same crop yields as conventional techniques with far less dependence on fossil fuels, reducing greenhouse gases and petrochemical pesticide and fertilizer pollution.

Scientific studies show that a regular dose of nature has far-reaching health benefits. More doctors now write “nature” prescriptions for their patients.

Cyclical Nature

These breakthrough technologies emulate the way nature uses the building blocks of life in an endless cycle of birth, reproduction, decay and rebirth.

It’s part of a broad rethinking of the principles behind sustainability— building, manufacturing and living in greater harmony with natural systems, perhaps eventually eliminating landfills, air and water pollution, and toxic site cleanups.

“A toxin is a material in the wrong place,” says architect William McDonough, of Charlottesville, Virginia. The only individual recipient of the Presidential Award for Sustainable Development, he is co-author of Cradle-to-Cradle, a groundbreaking book that calls for re-envisioning even the nastiest waste, and The Upcycle: Beyond Sustainability—Designing for Abundance. McDonough imagines

a world where waste becomes raw material for new buildings, furniture and other goods—akin to how a forest reuses every deceased tree and animal to nourish the ecosystem and spawn new life.

With 80 percent of U.S. residents currently living in urban areas, architects, builders and municipal planners are likewise pivoting toward nature, prompted by the scientific evidence of the many ways that human health and general well-being rely upon it. While this contact is preferably the kind of “stopping by woods” that inspired New England poet Robert Frost, even a walk in a city park will work.

“Urban nature, when provided as parks and walkways and incorporated into building design, provides calming and inspiring environments and encourages learning, inquisitiveness and alertness,” reports the University of Washington’s College of the Environment, in Green Cities: Good Health.

The American Planning Association stresses the importance of integrating green space into urban neighborhoods. Not only does so-called “metro nature” improve air and water quality and reduce urban heat island effects, urban wilds such as Pittsburgh’s Nine Mile Run and Charlotte, North Carolina’s Little Sugar Creek Greenway also restore natural connections in densely populated city centers.

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natural awakenings

April 2015

19

Man is everywhere a disturbing agent. Wherever he plants his foot, the harmonies of nature are turned to discord. The proportions and accommodations that ensured the stability of existing arrangements are overthrown. Of all organic beings, man alone is to be regarded as essentially a destructive power. ~George Perkins Marsh, Man and Nature (1864)

Natural Intelligence

A growing number of scientists say that research about our place in nature has sparked fresh thinking about our role and devastated quaint notions about our species’ superiority. “Single-celled slime molds solve mazes. Brainless plants make correct decisions and bees with brains the size of pinheads handle abstract concepts,” points out Anthropologist Jeremy Narby, author of the groundbreaking book Intelligence in Nature.

At a national conference of Bioneers, an organization based in Santa Fe, New Mexico, and San Francisco that gathers nature-minded social and scientific innovators, Narby said: “We are nearly identical to many animals.

Many behaviors once thought to be exclusively human are shared by other species. The zone of the specifically human, as determined by science, has been shrinking.”

We haven’t lost the ability to tap that primal animal inside, even if most of us are more likely to “venture into the forest” by watching a movie or playing video games. We may feel cut off from our instincts, but studies show time in the woods can do wonders to restore the keenness of our senses to

connect with the subtle changes in natural habitat, the movements of other species and the changing seasons.

The rise of human civilizations may have taken “survival of the fittest” in new directions, often decidedly tamer ones, but experts ranging from scientific researchers to lifestyle analysts say humankind is still hardwired by our more primitive past. Despite the ingenious ways we’ve devised to exploit other life forms, capitalize on Earth’s resources and protect ourselves from nature’s sometimes terrifying power, our fate remains linked to natural laws and limits, from nurturing our body’s immune system to resolving planet-sized problems like climate change.

“‘Nature’ is our natural environment,” according to Selhub. We don’t have to move to the country to reconnect, she says. “Even spending 20 minutes a day outside has an effect.”

Houseplants, nature photos and aromatherapy Earth scents can also help indoor environments better reflect our own nature.

The wealth of research and common sense wisdom is aptly summed up by celebrated author Wendell Berry in The Long-Legged House. “We have

True-Life ‘Aha!’ Reads 10 Lessons from Nature to Inspire Our Everyday Lives

by David Miller, Tinyurl.com/10InspiringLessons FromNature 9 Amazing Lessons from Nature to Inspire Your Everyday Life

by Annie Hauser, Tinyurl.com/9InspiringLessons FromNature Intelligence in Nature

by Jeremy Narby Life Lessons from Nature

by Elvis Newman Cathedrals of the Spirit

by T. C. McLuhan Your Brain on Nature

by Eva Selhub lived our lives by the assumption that what was good for us would be good for the world. We have been wrong.

We must change our lives so that it’ll be possible to live by the contrary assumption, that what is good for the world will be good for us. And that requires we make the effort to know the world and learn what is good for it.”

Christine MacDonald is a freelance journalist in Washington, D.C., whose specialties include health and science.

Visit ChristineMacDonald.info.

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April 2015

21

fitbody

MASTERING THE FORCE

The Martial Arts Hold Deep Inner Lessons

by Eric Stevens

F

ew words are as oddly coupled as martial and arts. The first means “relating to war and soldiers,” while the second means “something that is created with imagination and skill, and is beautiful or expresses important ideas or feelings.” All martial arts represent a paradox of push and pull, yin and yang, external and internal.

Their practice represents the blending of our physical lives in harmony with our emotional makeup, allowing our external activity to mirror our internal being. Seldom is the fusion of body, mind and spirit easily achieved with one activity, but martial arts are an exception, because they focus equally on internal and external well-being. Here are five key life lessons that martial arts can teach us.

Learn how to breathe. True connection with our breath permeates an artist’s realm. A vocalist must reach deep within the diaphragm to sing proficiently and a dancer must learn to time their breath while performing. A martial artist learns to control breath with stillness and speed, like juxtaposing yoga with intense contact sports. Breathing properly makes the practitioner a better martial

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artist and a healthier one. According to a study published in the American Journal of Chinese Medicine, hypertensive qigong program participants were able to both lower their blood pressure after 10 weeks and increase their oxygen uptake by 20 percent.

Avoid conflict by developing character. While it may seem counterintuitive that learning how to fight could avoid conflict, it’s an essential part of martial arts. The philosopher Lao Tzu said the best fighter is never angry. The martial arts are primarily about discipline, heightened awareness and honing an ability to face our own internal conflicts. Several studies corroborate that practicing martial arts produces positive behavioral changes. For instance, according to a study published in the Journal of Adolescence, participating students in the martial arts were characterized as being less impulsive and less aggressive.

Connect the external (body movement) with the internal (energy movement). The energetic force that catalyzes expressive kicks, punches, blocks and other outward forms is as essential as the movements themselves. In Chinese

martial arts, that force is referred to as qi, the life energy that intrinsically unites body, mind and spirit.

Be both an artist and athlete. Artistry and athleticism need not be divergent forces. The martial artist combines the grace of a creator and skill of a warrior, and watching a martial arts competition can be as riveting as watching a ballet or sports event. Most of us may not be talented artists or natural athletes, yet all students can learn how to integrate both worlds by blending physicality with stillness and expression through action.

Let go of ego, find mental clarity and access the present moment.

Jirōkichi Yamada, a master of Japanese kenjutsu, said, “The way of the sword and the way of Zen are identical, for they have the same purpose; that of killing the ego.” The focus of all true martial arts is the process, not the outcome. Whatever the style of execution, preparatory practice and meditative application, they all require the discipline of being purely present. Gaining such clarity requires grappling more with ego than with opponents; the real battle of a martial artist is waged within.

Bruce Lee, the film star who revolutionized Western awareness of martial arts and founded jeet kune do, realized that martial arts’ transcendent philosophy gives us many lessons to draw upon.

He suggested, “Be like water making its way through cracks. Do not be assertive, but adjust to the object and you shall find a way around or through it. If nothing within you stays rigid, outward things will disclose themselves.”

Eric Stevens has been a fitness professional and martial arts coach for 15 years. He writes about related topics from Denver, Colorado. Connect at EricChristopherStevens@gmail.com.

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Neighbors in most states can now legally buy fresh breads, cookies and preserves from local food artisans.

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he locavore movement of eating locally produced foods continues to expand, thanks to 42 states passing cottage food laws that permit community members to make certain foods at home to sell to neighbors.

Some enterprises use a contract packer to deliver on a scale not possible domestically, or even operate from a commercially licensed production facility.

From sauerkraut and distinctive jams and organic jellies to gluten- or peanut-free cakes and regional artisanal breads, some of the most flavorful products are being produced with no chemical preservatives, artificial colors or other laboratory ingredients. Nearly all are made in small batches, and usually by the owner. Many source local ingredients or serve special dietary needs largely underserved or ignored by larger food businesses.

“In a sharing economy, individuals look less to big chain stores for

their food needs and more to each other, making fresher, tastier and often healthier foods more accessible,” explains Janelle Orsi, co-founder of the Oakland, California, Sustainable Economies Law Center (SELC), citing its Policies for Shareable Cities report partnered with the nonprofit Shareable.

The Specialty Food Association reports that sales of specialty foods— primarily at grocery retailers, but also cottage operators via farmers’ markets and direct orders when allowed by their state—grew 22 percent from 2010 to 2012, topping $85 billion.

Healthy as it Comes

“All of our products are made by hand and in small batches daily,” says Ruth Wardein, co-owner, with Andrew Amick, of Epiphany Gluten Free Bakery, in Naples, Florida, which she launched from her home kitchen. Besides gluten-free cookies, cakes and breads,

photo courtesy of Epiphany Gluten Free Bakery, Naples, FL

WHAT CONDITIONS CAN BENEFIT FROM A

she’s always “perfecting” her Paleo cookies, brownies and pancake mix.

Paleo recipes contain no grains, dairy, yeast or refined sugars, explains Wardein. “They require nut and seed flours, coconut oil and natural sugars like honey or maple syrup. So they are naturally higher in protein and fiber and lower in carbs than the average gluten-free recipe.”

“We’re experimenting with the community supported agriculture model with local fruit,” says Erin Schneider.

She and her husband, Rob McClure, operate Hilltop Community Farm, in LaValle, Wisconsin, which produces value-added products with organically grown crops. “We have salsas, pickles and jams. Our black currant and honey jam is sold before it’s made. Rob’s garlic dills have their own following.” Wisconsin’s cottage food law restricts sales to only high-acid foods.

Quality over Quantity

In Royal Oaks, California, Garden Variety Cheese owner, cheesemaker and shepherd Rebecca King feeds her 100 milking ewes organically raised, irrigated pasture grass and brewer’s grain to yield award-winning farmstead easier-to-digest sheep cheeses from her Monkeyflower Ranch. “Many first-time customers like my story as a small producer and want to buy direct from the farm. They keep buying because of the taste,” says King.

“My marinara and pizza sauces are made in small batches by hand in a home kitchen, enabling us to hot pack them to retain the ingredients’ natural favors,” says Liz James, owner of The Happy Tomato, in Charlottesville, Virginia. Her sauces are also low in

sodium and contain no sugar, saturated fat or gluten. James’ production is facilitated by Virginia’s home food processor license, which lets her work from home and sell wholesale. Whole Foods Market is among her major retail accounts.

When home-based cottage food businesses are spurred into expansion to keep up with demand, a situation sometimes complicated by state limits on sales volume, many opt for renting space in the growing number of incubator, or community, kitchens nationwide.

“We did farmers’ markets for three years and went from seven customers to thousands,” says Wardein, who now rents a commercial kitchen space. “Returning customers are the momentum that has pushed us forward.”

“By growing food in and around our own neighborhoods and cities, we decrease our dependence on an oftentimes unjust and ecologically destructive global food system and build stronger, more connected and resilient communities,” affirms Yassi Eskandari-Qajar, director of SELC’s City Policies program.

“We think it’s important to produce what grows well on our soil and then sell it, so that ecology drives economics, rather than vice versa,” says Schneider.

“Random things prosper in our area, like paprika peppers, elderberries, hardy kiwi, garlic, pears and currants. It’s our job as ecologically-minded farmers to show how delicious these foods can be.”

Lisa Kivirist and John Ivanko are co-authors of the new book Homemade for Sale, a guide for launching a food business from a home kitchen, plus ECOpreneuring, Farmstead Chef and Rural Renaissance. Learn more at HomemadeForSale.com.

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zenspiration

Mysterium Magnum

by Seijaku Roshi

Where there is Love there is Beauty, there is Confidence, there is Potential, there is Joy, there is Wonder, there is God. Love leaves us with the remembrance of Miracles, Possibilities never imagined apart from it, of lifetimes’ past and of Heaven’s future.

So in the end all that matters is Love.

All that’s necessary is Love. Love pervades the entire Universe. Listen for Its Voice, feel its breath upon you and within you as it whispers — “You are Love”. Then go forward and act accordingly.

I Love You,

O

“

nce upon a time, there was a boy. He lived in a village that no longer exists, in a house that no longer exists, on the edge of a field that no longer exists, where everything was discovered, and everything was possible. A stick could be a sword, a pebble could be a diamond, a tree, a castle. Once upon a time, there was a boy who lived in a house across the field, from a girl who no longer exists. They made up a thousand games.

She was queen and he was king. In the autumn light her hair shone like a crown. They collected the world in small handfuls, and when the sky grew dark, they parted with leaves in their hair. Once upon a time there was a boy who loved a girl, and her laughter was a question he wanted to spend his whole life answering.” ~ The History of Love I believe in Love. I choose Love.

The Great Mystery without which I would not want to live. I choose to speak its words with my mouth, to express its wonder with my actions, to whisper its mysterious ways into the ear of my beloved. I choose to be preoccupied by it wherever I go, to look for it wherever I am, in every room I enter, in the eyes, the window to a person’s soul of everyone I meet.

I would rather Love and lose (and I have) than never to have loved at all.

Every day and every moment of my life for as long as I can and in every way I can, I want my daughter to

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know Love so thoroughly through and through. I will be an instrument for that. I want the children of every parent to know Love. I want the parents of every child to know Love. I want every man and every woman to know Love. I want you to know it through and through.

Seijaku Roshi Seijaku Roshi is the abbot of Jizo-an Monastery at the Pine Wind Zen Community, located at 863 McKendimen Rd., in Shamong. For more information, call 609-268-9151 or visit Jizo-an.org.

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Dogs with Library Cards Kids Love Reading to Animals

by Sandra Murphy

The goal of Reading Education Assistance Dogs (READ), launched in Salt Lake City, Utah, in 1999 as part of Intermountain Therapy Animals, is to improve children’s literacy skills with the mentoring help of certified therapy teams. Its reach has spread through library programs across the U.S. and Canada and internationally, with other therapy groups following suit.

D

“

octors told the parents of an 11-year-old autistic son that he would never read… so quit trying to teach him,” says Suzanne Vening, an organic farmer in Jackson, Mississippi.

“The doctor didn’t count on Adam, my Australian shepherd.” Abused and abandoned before being adopted by Vening, she had trained him for therapy work.

Vening knew nothing about autistic or learning-disabled children, but she knew Adam could work miracles. The boy made eye contact with Adam during his library visit and read a few words. His parents were overjoyed as his reading continued to improve. “It’s hard to include children with special needs in many family activities,” Vening says. “A library is a place the whole family can enjoy.”

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She advises, “Designate a safe corner where a child can escape if feeling overwhelmed. After entering the room, handlers should sit on the floor with the dog lying beside them. A standing dog can cause too much excitement.

It’s important to trust that your therapy dog will know how to approach a child that’s afraid, has tremors or can’t sit up or sit still.”

“An animal’s heartbeat seems to call to kids,” observes Rachael Barrera, a children’s librarian at Brook Hollow Public Library, in San Antonio, Texas.

“Dogs have come here once a week for more than a year. Now older kids that are comfortable with the reading program are showing younger ones how to choose a book.”

photo courtesy of Jean Maclean

naturalpet

National Library Week, April 12 to 18, celebrates the program Unlimited Possiblities @ Your Library sister, Emi, 6, is anxious for her next birthday so she ‘can read to doggies,’ too.”

Reading programs aren’t limited to libraries or schools. Jean Maclean, of Lompoc, California, trains her two dogs in agility and rally skills. For a change of pace, they visit the Chumash Learning Center, in Santa Ynez, once a month. The Chumash people value education from both its elders and teachers outside the tribe. Maclean relates that Donny, age 11, was afraid of dogs until he met hers,

Connect with freelance writer Sandra Murphy at StLouisFreelanceWriter@ mindspring.com.

Other Four-Footed Reading Partners Cleo, a small gray cat that lives with Michelle Cardosi, a retail clerk in Denver, enjoyed her Love on a Leash therapy visits. When she became arthritic, moving from lap-to-lap was painful, and Cardosi considered retiring her, but Cleo didn’t agree. “So we went to the library’s Whiskers and Tales program instead, where she could sit on a pillow, get petted and be the center of attention,” she says.

“She was able to visit until her 18th birthday.”

Clifford, a 24-year-old Morgan horse, is a well-known literacy advocate. He tours libraries in Michigan and using a sponge and watercolor paint, “signs” his biography, Clifford of Drummond Island, by author and Lansing artist Nancy Bailey, for his fans. “The kids probably won’t remember what I say, but they’ll always remember the day they saw a horse in the library,” says Bailey. “We’ve been visiting for about four years. He’s nosy and gets into everything, like the day he noticed the used book shelf. He picked out pulp fiction books and kept handing them to me.”

Bailey notes that Clifford teaches children that horses have feelings and a sense of humor when he goes for laughs and changes his responses when doing tricks. photo courtesy of Nancy Bailey

At California’s Benicia Public Library, kids read to Honey, a friendly brown dog, on Wednesday afternoons. Sheila Jordan, managing editor and owner of Booklandia, founded in Bend, Oregon, says her 8-yearold, Chase, found it difficult to concentrate because of ADHD (attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder). “The Tales and Tails program was a big help. All summer, we went every week and chose books he said the dog would love.” Jordan’s reward was a more focused child; Chase’s reward was a dog of his own last fall.

North Carolina’s Charlotte Mecklenburg Library offers 14,000 free programs a year throughout its 20 locations, including Paws to Read. Librarian Cathy Cartledge, reading program coordinator for the Morrison Regional branch, shares this story from Jaylee’s mom, Jill.

“Jaylee was tutored in reading for a year. After she also began reading to Zoey, a great Pyrenees, or Hunter, a golden retriever, I saw improvement in fluency, confidence and enjoyment. It worked miracles compared with the hours and money spent for tutoring,” her mom remarks.

The Mount Prospect Library, near Chicago, has an age requirement for its Tales to Tails program. “Rachael, 8, will hardly put a book down now,” says her mom, Nicole Sasanuma, a senior associate with Business Communications & Advocacy, in Northbrook, Illinois. “Her

after which his teachers saw his reading improve three levels in one semester.

Animals help kids relax and become teachers to the dogs. Researchers at the University of California, Davis have found that reading skills for kids that read to dogs during a 10-week literacy program improved by 12 percent. Children in the same program that didn’t do the same showed no improvement.

Dogs and other pets prove that reading out loud doesn’t have to be scary. All it takes is a good book and a good listener.

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ONENESS What would life on Planet Earth look like if the concept of Oneness was accepted as truth?

Would there be fracking, pesticides and GMOs in our diets? Would there be deforestation, mountain topping acollapsing and Monarch butterflies be drastically declining, threatening food supplies? Would there be Ponzi schemes? Would there be war?

by Maryann Pino Miller

W

hat is the concept of Oneness? It states that… every man, woman and child, every plant, animal, insect, tree, ocean, river, bird, sun, star, planet… all of life on the planet, the planet itself and beyond are essentially one. One and the same.

Accepting this or at least giving it some consideration as a possible truth could be a game-changer. It could be the end to business as usual in every walk of life. That is the power behind this concept.

It can be looked at from two perspectives: scientific and spiritual.

Scientifically it would state that everything is energy and like energy attracts like energy… basic physics. Quantum physics sweetened the pot when it revealed that every thought, word and feeling is energy. Scientific instruments and studies have further revealed the frequencies of thoughts, words and feelings are varied. Loving-compassion vibrated very high; greed, fear, hatred, very low.

These studies correspond to the work 30

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done by Japanese scientist, Emoto, who studied the crystal formations of words, music and pictures. His work showed beautiful crystal formations of the words like love, compassion, joy, peace and discolored, distorted ugly incomplete crystal formations for words like greed, hatred and fear.

In essence with every thought one thinks, every word spoken and every feeling felt, energy is impacting one’s own energy field. But it does not stop there. It continues its flow into the universal energy field impacting all of life as it travels along. The energy contained in those thoughts, words and feelings causes a ripple effect of positive or negative vibrations affecting every form of life. Every form of life is energy and is impacted by the energy around it.

Spiritually it would propose that all life stems from Source, the Creator of all and the life-sustaining force within all of life. It speaks to all humanity having the same Spirit, the same spark of the Divine, regardless of the name given to it, within one’s very being.

To accept the spiritual rationale would mean seeing all peoples, regardless of age, color, sex, nationality, socioeconomic status, education, religion, as the same—the same within, which is the true essence of each individual, Divine, Spirit, Pure Unconditional Love, with a unique expression.

The same in having a desire for love, happiness, hope, peace, prosperity, good health, home, job, family, fun, freedom, beauty, joy, being seen and heard… In varying degrees each person has the same basic needs and desires as the next. This can make for a common understanding among peoples. Each individual can make the conscious decision to see this commonality and choose to relate from this focal point.

A mother in any culture is a mother at heart wanting the best for her child.

Mothers of all cultures can relate on such a basis. Teenagers in any culture experience the same angst and so have a common reference point.

By considering the concept that within self and within every man, woman and child is absolute Love and Divinity, absolute Perfection, the step can be taken to find at least one world-level commonality. And it only takes one to get the ball rolling for dialogue. Once there is face-to-face contact with the intention to see/relate to the Spirit within, a shift of energy can occur to turn tension into harmony.

So how would the concept of Oneness change things? A person would come to realize that when greedily grasping before anyone else gets it, the supposed competitor or challenger is self. Plus the energy associated with greed would attract more reasons and situations reinforcing the self-imposed need to be greedy. As a man sows so shall he reap. Ultimately it turns out to be a battle with self.

Allowing the scientific and spiritual approaches to explain how life can best be lived, consensus, harmony and do-no-harm would be the driving forces behind all educational, political, socioeconomic, medical, scientific and environmental decisions. Honor and respect would be buzz words.

When it comes to the environment and all issues dealing with Mother Earth, besides honor and respect for all of life, the driving forces would be

sustainability and precautionary action.

The GNP has directed our energy and resources, but the GNH (Gross National Happiness, as in Bhutan) could be directing our future plans of world collaboration.

Is There A Correlation Here?

~ fracking, the injection of toxic chemicals into the heart of Mother Earth, the very ground that all humanity is standing on and calls home with no real certainty as to the long-term effects to the stability and viability of the planet… with ~ man injecting chemicals, artificial dyes and sweeteners, GMOs, petroleum, pharmaceuticals, alcohol, trans fats under the guise of eating, feeling better, enjoyment, into his own body, the home of his spirit, the very vehicle that carries him through life, with no real certainty as to the long term effects… until…

Is it any wonder that some have a hard time seeing the inherent and possible irreversible damage fracking could cause to our planet.

As man dishonors and disrespects himself, he does so to everyone and ev-

clichés but truths, and seeing and integrating the interconnectedness of all of life could help a person see deeper into his heart.

Other thoughts to consider… a chain is only as strong as its weakest link. So a neighborhood, city, state, country, the world, the planet is only as strong as its weakest aspect of life.

And do unto others what you would have them do unto you. It could take on deeper meaning when “others” are seen as self and self is seen as unconditional love and as energy in the vast universal pool of energy.

“It is within our Oneness that I find myself.

The tiniest microbe to the tallest I am within Oneness.” mountain to the vastest ocean, you, me, generations to come are worthy and The mandala, channeled by Shiya Stone, deserve the consideration. teaching artist and intuitive, for the concept of Oneness, can be used as a focus for a meditation on Oneness.

erything else around him. How does man begin to feel differently about himself?

Can oneness turn the tide? Possibly… looking at the bigger picture and considering that no man is an island and man does not live in a vacuum,

Maryann Pino Miller, M.Ed., spiritual coach, HypnoCounselor, owner of Consciously Living, co-owner of The Center, Life in Balance, in Medford, and author, encourages respect for self, others, animals, nature and the planet through her work and life. Contact her at 856-912-2087.

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31

healthykids Supporting a Balanced Lifestyle

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EARTH IN PERIL Children Confront Climate Change

by Avery Mack

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Logic is the beginning of wisdom, not the end. ~Leonard Nimoy

Character is like a tree

and reputation like a shadow. The shadow is what we think of it; the tree is the real thing. ~Abraham Lincoln

T

his month, Home influence, according to We only have Nino Box Office (HBO), University of South Carolina in collaboration with one home. If we statistician John Grego.

New York City’s American “The globe is warmer Museum of Natural History, mess this one up, than it has been in the last will air the new documenwhere do we 100 years,” says climate tary, Saving My Tomorrow. scientist Jennifer Francis, go next?

Scientists representing Ph.D., of Rutgers Univerthe museum discuss how ~Hippocrates, age 8 sity, in New Jersey. “Any temperature change affects wisps of doubt that human life on Planet Earth, but the activities are at fault are majority of voices are those of children. now gone with the wind.”

Their words cry out for universal action to prevent them from inheriting what At Sea they believe is a dying planet in desper“We do more damage to the planet ate need of healing. than we think.” ~Peri, age 9

In the Atmosphere

“We need to know the truth, because adults clearly aren’t doing enough to stop this.” ~Zoe, age 12 The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and NASA recently announced that last year was the hottest in 135 years of recordkeeping, with rising ocean temperatures driving the global heat index.

Nine of the 10 hottest years have occurred since 2000. The odds of this taking place randomly are about 650 million to 1, especially without an El 32

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In the same 100 years, sea levels have risen seven inches, mostly due to expansion as the water warms. “We have over 2 million preserved fish in our collection. We study them to see the effect of temperature change,” says Melanie Stiassny, Ph.D., curator of ichthyology at the museum. “The mummichog fish is less than an inch long. It’s a bottom feeder and that’s where pollution like mercury lies. When the water is warm, fish eat more and mercury is stored in their bodies.” The contaminants move up the food chain, bringing the effects of pollution to our dinner table.

A 2006 study by Nicola Beaumont, Ph.D., with the Plymouth Marine Laboratory UK, found that 29 percent of the oceans’ edible fish and seafood species have declined by 90 percent in the past 100 years. The international team of ecologists and economists led by Boris Worm, Ph.D., of Dalhousie University, in Halifax, Nova Scotia, predict total saltwater fish extinction by 2048 due to overfishing, pollution, habitat loss and climate change. Rising ocean acidity due to absorption of increasing carbon dioxide and other emissions from burning fossil fuels impacts creatures large and small, like dissolving the shell of the tiny sea butterfly, a vital link in the ocean’s food chain.

Americans currently consume 4.5 billion pounds of seafood each year.

On Land

“Each species was put here for a reason.

We are the caretakers.” ~a youth at a climate rally Scientists look back to look ahead.

Henry David Thoreau fell in love with the wilderness around Concord, Massachusetts, 160 years ago. From his renowned journals, scientists know when flowers like the pink lady slipper (Cypripedium acaule), bird’s-foot violets (Viola pedata) or golden ragworts (Packera aurea) used to bloom.

Today, with temperatures six degrees Fahrenheit warmer than in Thoreau’s time, these species now bloom two weeks earlier. The Canada lily (Lilium canadense), plentiful before, is now rare, unable to adapt to the new reality.

Paul Sweet, collections manager of the museum’s ornithology department, studies “skins” (stuffed birds). He says,

“The skins show us how birds lived years ago.” In just the past 100 years, bird species that have gone extinct range from the ivory-billed woodpecker (Campephilus principalis) to the once-abundant passenger pigeon (Ectopistes migratorius) and Carolina parakeet (Conuropsis carolinensis).

In Colorado, 70 percent of the lodgepole pines have been lost, with pines in other states also in trouble.

Pine beetles feed on the pines. Historically, winter brings death to both the beetles and weakened trees, which fall to feed a renewed forest. Due to warmer temperatures, the beetles are living longer and migrating to higher altitudes to kill more trees. Forest fires follow the dry timber line.

All Are Needed

Forward Good Change Today 4 Reuse more, buy less. Less trash equals less pollution.

“I don’t have time to grow up before becoming an activist.” ~Ta’Kaiya, age 12

4 Bike or walk, instead of driving.

Don’t use the car at least one day a week. Less use of fossil fuels equals less drilling, fracking and oil spills.

“Get your parents involved.” ~Teakahla, age 11

4 Substitute a planet-healing activity for the usual after school program. Replace lawns with native plants, which need less water and no mowing. Email manufacturers to urge them to use less packaging and plastic, auto makers to produce more fuel-efficient cars, grocery stores to carry more locally sourced foods and ban plastic bags, and government agencies to improve pollution control measures.

Children are more informed now than ever before. Schools offer classes on ecology, the environment, global warming and climate change. Disasters are instant news, constantly streaming through digital media. Kids are aware that they need adults to work with them to keep Earth habitable.

HBO will air all four parts of Saving My Tomorrow starting Apr. 22. Check local listings—and watch as a family.

See Tinyurl.com/SavingMyTomorrow.

Connect with freelance writer Avery Mack at AveryMack@mindspring.com.

4 When eating meat, make sure the animals were humanely and locally raised, not factory farmed.

4 For fish, factory farmed is preferred when farmers are vetted by watchdog agencies for being devoid of disease, pollution and heavy metals; clean fish are especially rare among international providers. Learn more at Tinyurl.com/ SustainableFishFarming.

4 Support wildlife. Help hatchling sea turtles make their way to the sea.

Predators and man are the biggest threats—only one in 1,000 hatchlings reach adulthood. Plant milkweed to feed monarch butterflies. Use natural insect repellants like basil or marigolds instead of killer sprays.

4 Speak out and speak up. Search c2es.org/science-impacts/basics/kids for event ideas and resources. natural awakenings

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naturalresource

Biodiversity and Sustainable Ecosystems: A Case for Conservation in the Pinelands and Globally

What’s the Big Deal about Biodiversity?

by Dr. Amy Karpati

B

iodiversity—the variety of life on Earth—is valued by many people for its intrinsic worth. Preserving biodiversity for its own sake of existence, for making sure our world is full of unique and wonderful species, is often the primary motivation of environmental conservation proponents. On the other side of the equation is what biodiversity does for us—the utility of biodiversity in terms of the ecosystem services it provides that benefit society as a whole such as food production, water purification, climate regulation, pollination services and medicinal values.

If you are the type of person who’s generally in tune with nature, you probably don’t need scientific studies to convince you of what you already know is true—that biodiversity is one of the most important characteristics of a sustainable ecosystem.

You may have heard that different species play different roles under different conditions, and so the more species there are in an ecosystem, the better that ecological functions are sustained over time. Regardless of the intuitive nature of this concept, it helps the cause of conservationists when science agrees that biodiversity is important. Fortunately, such scientific affirmation has been presented in a string of recent studies.

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A 2009 report by 29 authors from the U.S., Europe and Australia published in the scientific journal Ecology and Society presented initial estimates of “planetary boundaries”—the limits of global ecosystem properties which, if transgressed, could trigger major environmental changes that threaten human sustainability. By the authors’ estimates, three of these boundaries—climate change, changes to the global nitrogen cycle, and rate of biodiversity loss—have already been crossed. It’s estimated that we’re currently losing species at 1,000 to 10,000 times the natural background rate. The current and projected rates of global biodiversity loss indicate that Earth could experience the sixth mass extinction within a couple of centuries.

In 2012, a study published in Nature by international scientists cited evidence that biodiversity loss is altering ecosystem processes critical to sustainability with a magnitude comparable to that of climate change. Another, published last summer, revealed that the ability of an ecosystem to maintain important functions is significantly affected by biodiversity not only at the level of species, but also at the level of biological communities (meaning it’s not just that more species equals greater ecosystem function, but more ecological communities also equals greater

ecosystem function). The researchers state, “In addition to conserving important species, maintaining ecosystem multifunctionality will require diverse landscape mosaics of diverse communities.” In other words, a patchwork of ecological communities—large mature forests, young forests, wetlands, uplands, grasslands and more—must be conserved within any given landscape in order to preserve ecosystem function and services.

So how does all of this relate to the New Jersey Pinelands? It’s a hotspot of biodiversity in an otherwise dramatically human-altered landscape. Species found nowhere else on the planet live here. The intrinsic value of Pinelands species and ecological communities is unmistakable—Pinelands enthusiasts talk of the beauty, serenity, strangeness and history within this landscape.

Less conspicuous are the ecosystem functions performed by the diversity of species and ecological communities in the Pinelands. Maintaining pockets of biodiversity like the Pinelands is critical to promote local and regional sustainability. We don’t know what direct impacts the loss of individual species might have but we do know that conserving biodiversity is critical to the ecosystem as a whole—of which we are a part. The continued existence of Pinelands species, both rare and common, is a major part of this mission at the Pinelands Preservation Alliance.

Dr. Amy Karpati has worked as a conservation biologist with the Pinelands Preservation Alliance and teaches Urban Ecology through Columbia University’s Master of Science in Sustainability Management program.

calendarofevents Email don@nasouthjersey.com for guidelines and to submit entries.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1 Sustainable Cherry Hill’s Green Drinks – 6-8pm. Networking the 1st Wed monthly (SeptJune) focused on creating a sustainable South Jersey community. The Farm & Fisherman Tavern + Market, 1422 Marlton Pike E, Cherry Hill.

609-238-3449. SustainableCherryHill.org.

Living a Meaningful Life: Reconnecting with the Natural Rhythms of the Heart – 7-9pm. Zen study class includes guided meditation, chanting and a dharma teaching by Seijaku Roshi or Senior Monk. $10. Pine Wind Zen Center, 863 McKendimen Rd, Shamong. 609-268-9151.

PineWind.org.

THURSDAY, APRIL 2 Spring into Better Health: 3-Month Group Coaching Program – 5:30-7pm, every other Thurs. With Holistic Health Coach, Karen Ferrari. Learn how to choose healthier foods, create more energy and feel more comfortable in your body. Learn how to permanently change your relationship with food and dieting. Make selfcare a priority. $225/12 wks; bring a friend and its $400 for both. The Sanctuary for Yoga, 43 S Main St, Medford. Register: 609-953-7800 or TheSanctuaryForYoga.com.

FRIDAY, APRIL 3 Happy Hour Yoga – 6pm. This all-levels flow class focuses on coordinating breath to movement. The sequence of postures increase flexibility and strength, while creating a sense of calm and relaxation in the body and mind. Class meets every Fri. $20 or class card. Yoga Center of Medford, 417 Stokes Rd, Medford. 609-6549400. YogaCenterOfMedford.com.

SATURDAY, APRIL 4 Spring Solstice One-Day Sesshin – 7am-7pm.

An opportunity for deep introspection, sesshin is for those wanting to experience the gift of intensive Zen Meditation. Includes chanting, silent meals, work practice and talks by Seijaku Roshi and Senior Monks. Nonmember: $45/full day, $35/partial day. Member: $25/full-day, $15/ partial day. Pine Wind Zen Center, 863 McKendimen Rd, Shamong. Registration required: 609268-9151. PineWind.org.

Reiki Levels I & II Certification Class – 11am6pm. Learn Reiki Levels I and II in one day with Reiki Master, Faye Weber. Be attuned to Levels I & II symbols, learn the history and principles of Reiki, the chakras and aura, scanning techniques, hand positions, distant healing, and give their first Reiki session. $225. Genesis Spiritual Healing & Metaphysical Center, 1632 Rte 38, Lumberton. 609-456-3888. GenesisSpiritualHealing@gmail.com. Pre-registration required: GenesisSpiritualHealing.com.

MONDAY, APRIL 6 Community Yoga: Donation Based – 9-10:15am.

Open to all levels of participants, beginners and experienced. Once a month we extend an open

invitation to a free yoga class for members, $5 donation for guests. Level 1 Yoga is held all other Sundays. Yoga Center of Medford, 417 Stokes Rd, Medford. 609-654-9400. YogaCenterOf Medford.com.

Yoga Basics – 10:30-11:30am. An introductory class to yoga postures and yogic philosophy.

Through movements, breathing techniques and meditation principles, learn the benefits of this rewarding practice that will last you a lifetime. 4 consecutive wks. $15 or class card. Yoga Center of Medford, 417 Stokes Rd, Medford. To register: 609-654-9400. YogaCenterOfMedford.com.

Meditation and Messages through Mediumship – 5:30pm. Also May 11. Alchemy exists with medium, Alaine Portner, E-RYT, in combination with meditation, messaging and harmonic sounds. She communicates with the energies of loved ones and receives symbolic messages, both personal and purposeful to you. Limited to 8 participants; pre-registration required. $65.

Skype sessions available. Yoga Center of Medford, 417 Stokes Rd, Medford. 609-654-9400.

YogaCenterOfMedford.com.

TUESDAY, APRIL 7 Core Strengthening and Sculpting – 10:4511:45am. A great abdominal toner and total body workout. An innovative blend of techniques that will focus on core strength and sculpting, along with mat Pilates basics. Meets every Tues. Beginners welcome. $20 or class card. Yoga Center of Medford, 417 Stokes Rd, Medford. To register: 609-654-9400. YogaCenterOfMedford.com.

Zen Men’s Circle – 7-8:30pm. Monthly support group for men only, led by Seijaku Roshi, offering an opportunity to deal with struggles relevant to men today. Donations appreciated.

Pine Wind Zen Center, 863 McKendimen Rd, Shamong. Registration required: 609-268-9151.

PineWind.org.

Tibetan Energy Meditation – 7:30-8:30pm.

With Master Reiki Teacher Janice Gilpin. Experience a breath work practice to balance, center and align your energy field, along with gentle seated movement, chanting mantras and mudras, followed by 20 mins of meditation. $15. Live in Joy Yoga & Wellness, 118 W Merchant St, Audubon. 856-546-1006. LiveInJoyYoga.com.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 8 Live Music and Yoga – 6-7:15pm. With Molly Hicks and Bonnie Hart. Gentle guitar music and beautiful vocal accompaniment by a music therapist provide the perfect backdrop for yoga postures that promote relaxing and rejuvenating. $13. Yoga for Living, 1926 Greentree Rd, Cherry Hill. 609-970-3401. BonnieHart.org.

Monastic Circle: Essentials for Living a Zen-Inspired Life – 7-9pm. The Monks of Pine Wind discuss and train in the fundamentals of living a spiritual and ethical life. Includes a liturgy. All welcome. Donations appreciated. Pine Wind Zen Center, 863 McKendimen Rd, Shamong. 609268-9151. PineWind.org.

THURSDAY, APRIL 9 Eden Energy Medicine Study Group – 7-8:30pm. Learn Donna Eden’s Daily Routine and other techniques to keep your energies balanced and healthy. Based on Donna Eden’s Energy Medicine book. Led by Elsie Kerns and Paula Anderson, EEM Advanced Practitioners. No prior experience needed. $15. Acu-Health Center, 100 W Camden Ave, Moorestown. Paula: 856222-9444. Acu-HealthCenter.com.

Yoga Nidra – 7:15pm. An Indian tradition referred to as “Sleep of the Yogis.” Experience a deep sense of calm with guided visualization techniques. Yoga nidra melts away tiredness and tension in the body, awakening to clarity. Beginners welcome. $20 or class card. Yoga Center of Medford, 417 Stokes Rd, Medford. 609-6549400. YogaCenterOfMedford.com.

FRIDAY, APRIL 10 Gallery Readings with Kimara – 7-9pm.

Kimara, international psychic medium, soul coach and healer, will be sharing her exceptional gift of mediumship to bring about answers, heal hearts and facilitate an evening of joy, laughter and tears with your loved ones in Spirit. Limited seating. $40. The Center, Life in Balance, 43 S Main St, Medford. 609-975-8379. TheCenterLife InBalance@gmail.com.

SATURDAY, APRIL 11 Pilates Reformer Demo Class – 10am. Pilates is known for its ability to promote core strength, flexibility, coordination and balance. Introduce yourself and your body to the wide-spread benefits of Pilates Reformer. Space limited. Free.

Yoga Center of Medford, 417 Stokes Rd, Medford. Registration required: 609-654-9400.

YogaCenterOfMedford.com.

Nature always

wears the colors of the spirit. ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Lightweight Backpacking Basics – 6:30-8pm.

Do you want to try backpacking but worry about carrying a heavy pack? Join an REI backpacking expert who will provide excellent tips on lightweight backpacking techniques. Free. REI Marlton, 501 Rte 73 S, Marlton. Register: 856810-1938, rei.com/stores/marlton.html.

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Healthy Hike – 10:30-11:30am. Join a Rancocas naturalist for a themed hike around the preserve. $3/RNC members, $5/nonmembers. Rancocas Nature Center, 794 Rancocas Rd, Westampton.

Pre-register: 609-261-2495, RancocasNature Center.org.

Tarot 101 Class – 11am-4pm. Learn the history of tarot, tarot spreads, how to clean a tarot deck, spiritual protection during a reading, card meanings, and give readings to their fellow classmates, with Tarot Instructor, Ashley Oppon. $100. Genesis Spiritual Healing & Metaphysical Center, 1632 Rte 38, Lumberton. 609-456-3888.

GenesisSpiritualHealing@gmail.com. Pre-registration required: GenesisSpiritualHealing.com.

Let Your Yoga Dance – 1-2pm. With Suzie. Begin with a centering warmup, get your heart rate up with a combination of guided and free dance, cool down. Experience healing thru joy. $10. Live in Joy Yoga & Wellness, 118 W Merchant St, Audubon. 856-546-1006. LiveIn JoyYoga.com.

Annual Spring Festival – 1-5pm. Learn eco tips.

Games and crafts for the kids. Enjoy unique nature displays and exhibits. Find out more about Saddler’s Woods and how to get involved in its care. Special nature presentation, 2pm. Free.

Saddler’s Woods Conservation Association, Haddon Township Environmental and Historical Center, 143 E Ormond Ave, Haddon Township.

856-869-7372. SaddlersWoods.org.

The Path of Transformation Chakra Empowerment Workshop – 6-8pm. Based on The Path of Transformation Chakra Poster by Lisa Cahall, join others on the path of transformation in raising your consciousness and empowering your I AM Presence with Sacred Sound and the Power of the Spoken Word. $55. Genesis Spiritual Healing & Metaphysical Center, 1632 Rte 38, Lumberton. 609-456-3888. GenesisSpiritual Healing@gmail.com. Pre-registration required: GenesisSpiritualHealing.com.

Awakening to the Divine Masculine/Divine Feminine within Each of Us – 7-9pm. Spiritual teacher, channel and true blended being, Dona Cabello, helps us understand the importance of Sacred Masculine/Feminine to our wholeness and our ability to love. $25. Pine Wind Zen Center, 863 McKendimen Rd, Shamong. 609-2689151. PineWind.org.

SUNDAY, APRIL 12 Community HU Song – 10-10:30am. Come learn about, experience and share the spiritual insights and upliftment gained by singing HU, a love song to God. Open to all spiritual backgrounds and faiths. Free. Acu-Health Center, 100 W Camden Ave, Moorestown. More info: 609-261-0019.

Eckankar Worship Service – 11am-12pm. Celebrate the experience of the Light and Sound of God through the Eckankar Worship Service. Service includes a reading, singing HU, followed by a discussion on month’s topic: “When Life Takes a Turn for the Worst, How Do You Recognize When a Miracle Occurs?” Acu-Health Center, 100 W Camden Ave, Moorestown. More info: 609-261-0019.

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Interpretive Trail Hike – 1-2pm. Join an RNC naturalist for an interpretive hike through our varied habitats. Pace is easy and suitable for adults and teenagers. Free/member, $4/person, $10/family. Rancocas Nature Center, 794 Rancocas Rd, Westampton. Pre-register: 609-2612495, RancocasNatureCenter.org.

Yoga for Runners – 2-4pm. Perform your best.

Janet Watkins teaches an Ayurvedic yoga practice that will enhance your performance without over stressing your body. $30. Live in Joy Yoga & Wellness, 118 W Merchant St, Audubon. 856546-1006. LiveInJoyYoga.com.

TUESDAY, APRIL 14 Wild at Heart: Borrowed Landscapes and Wildflowers in the Garden – 7pm. Monthly Horticultural Society of South Jersey meeting.

A program by Emma Seniuk, who is currently restructuring the cut flower and vegetable garden spaces at Chanticleer. Her talk will be illustrated with examples from 3 famous gardens in England, France as well as Chanticleer. Free.

Carmen Tilelli Community Center, 820 Mercer St, Cherry Hill. More info: HSSJ.org.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 15 Spiritual Discussion Class – 3-4pm. This month’s topic is “Inner Guidance: Wisdom beyond the Body, Mind and Emotions.” Following your inner guidance can lead you to a real understanding of your spiritual nature. Free.

Moorestown Community House, 16 E Main St, Moorestown. For more info: 609-261-0019.

Refresh Your Run – 6:30-8pm. Whether you are just starting or are getting back on track, this class will help you get in the groove and provide training and technique insights to get you back in shape and/or prepare for your upcoming 5-10K or more. Free. REI Marlton, 501 Rte 73 S, Marlton. Register: 856-810-1938, rei.com/ stores/marlton.html.

Beginners Mind Meditation & Zendo Class – 7-8:30pm. An evening of instruction in meditation, liturgy and Zendo etiquette. Perfect for beginners as well as the more seasoned student.

Donations appreciated. Pine Wind Zen Center, 863 McKendimen Rd, Shamong. 609-268-9151.

PineWind.org.

Crystal Bowl Meditation – 7:30-9pm. Crystal bowls are sound healing instruments that bring you on a vibratory journey into deep meditative states. Michele Halliwell guides participants through a beautiful meditation to balance the chakras and bring about healing on many levels. $25/at door, $20/advance. The Sanctuary for Yoga, 43 S Main St, Medford. Register: 609953-7800 or TheSanctuaryForYoga.com.

THURSDAY, APRIL 16 Integrative Medicine Introduction – 6:307:30pm. Learn how proven complementary therapies including acupuncture, biopuncture and homeopathy treat pain and encourage the body’s natural healing abilities without the side effects of conventional medications. Meet Polina Karmazin, MD, medical director of the Virtua Center for Integrative Medicine. Free. Attendees receive $50 off their initial consultation. Space limited. Rohrer Center for Health Fitness, 2309 Evesham Rd, Voorhees. Pre-registration requested: 1-888-VIRTUA-3.

Spring Cleaning Pantry Makeover – 6:30-8pm.

Join GMO Free NJ to find out how to clear your pantry of GMOs and refill it with healthy nonGMO essentials. Registered dietician Barbara Wilson will be on hand to walk us through toward healthy choices. You’ll even walk away with recipes and possibly a door prize. Free.

Collingswood Public Library, 771 Haddon Ave. RSVP: GMOFreeNJ@gmail.com. Learn more: GMOFreeNJ.com.

FRIDAY, APRIL 17 Laughter Yoga – 11am-12pm. With Pam Kofsky.

A brilliant practice that uses laughter as a form of joyous exercise. Boost the immune system, reduce stress hormones, increases oxygenation, increases cardiovascular functions, elevates mood, encourages social bonding and enhances feeling of overall well-being. $15. The Sanctuary for Yoga, 43 S Main St, Medford. Register: 609-953-7800 or TheSanctuaryForYoga.com.

Twilight Hike – 6:30-8pm. We hike down to the creek to watch the sun setting over the Rancocas and perhaps see who else uses the park after dark on our way back. Members: $7/person, $15/ family (limit 5); Nonmembers: $10/person, $21/ family (limit 5). Rancocas Nature Center, 794 Rancocas Rd, Westampton. Pre-register: 609261-2495, RancocasNatureCenter.org.

Restorative Yoga – 7:15pm. Experience deep relaxation through gentle yoga stretches and supported postures, accompanied by the soothing sounds of crystal bowls. Free yourself from long-held tensions in the body and mind, and create a healing and spiritually uplifting space. $15. Yoga Center of Medford, 417 Stokes Rd, Medford. Register: 609-654-9400 or YogaCenter OfMedford.com.

SATURDAY, APRIL 18 Girl Power Tween and Teen Empowerment Workshops – A fun, interactive, curriculum-based program that empowers tweens (10-13) and teens (14-17) with great life skills needed for self-love, self-confidence and self-acceptance. Teach healthy coping skills that promote positive self-esteem to make great choices in life. $69. Yoga for Living, 1926 Greentree Rd, Cherry Hill. 856-404-7287. YogaForLiving.net.

5K Run for Clean Air – 9am. Philadelphia’s largest Earth Day Celebration. A certified green event, which also includes a 3K walk, Kids’ Fun Run and more. Philadelphia Museum of Art steps. More info: 5KRunForCleanAir.org.

Access Consciousness Bars – 9am-5pm. Did you know there are 32 points on your head which, when gently touched, effortlessly and easily release anything that doesn’t allow you to receive?

These points contain all the thoughts, ideas, beliefs, emotions and considerations that you have stored in any lifetime. An opportunity for you to let go of everything. 8 CEUs. Moorestown. For more info: 856-437-0430, Restoration-You.com.

Reiki 1 Class/Attunement – 9am-5pm. Workshop is a combination of lecture, meditation and experience. Supervised practice time includes giving and receiving a complete Reiki session. An extensive First Degree Manual, additional handouts and a Reiki Certificate. Auditors welcomed. Medicine in Balance, 940 Town Center Dr, Langhorne, PA. Must register: 609-7521048 or Siobhan@NextStepStrategiesLLC.com.

Wilderness First Aid with WMI & REI – Apr 18-19. 9am-5pm. REI is collaborating with the Wilderness Medicine Institute of NOLS to offer a 2-day class that will teach you the wilderness medicine skills needed to recreate with confidence in the backcountry. $225/member, $255/ nonmember. REI Marlton, 501 Rte 73 S, Marlton. Register: 856-810-1938, rei.com/stores/ marlton.html.

Free Yoga Classes – Apr 18, 19 & 22. 12 & 1:30pm, Sat; 12pm, Sun; 7:15pm, Wed. As another class of YCOM’s “Yoga Teacher Training Program” prepares to graduate this spring, we invite you to join them as they practice their teaching techniques. This is your opportunity to support the teachers in training while participating in a yoga class suitable for beginners. Yoga Center of Medford, 417 Stokes Rd, Medford.

609-654-9400. YogaCenterOfMedford.com.

Being Present to Change: An Evening with Seijaku Roshi – 7-9pm. Insights and inquiry into opening the heart to life changes, as a path to achieving sustainability and fulfillment. $15/individuals, $20/partners. Pine Wind Zen Center, 863 McKendimen Rd, Shamong. 609-268-9151.

PineWind.org.

SUNDAY, APRIL 19 Working with Spirit Guides – 1-4pm. A practical workshop with Robert Egby. Expand awareness and communicate with the spirit realm. $35.

Martial Arts Bldg, 201 Kresson-Gibbsboro Rd, Voorhees. More info, Wellness Workers: 856435-3427 or 856-470-8981.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 22 Hands-On Bike Maintenance: Drive Train – 6:30-8:30pm. Join our certified bike techs to learn about your drive train as well as how to inspect, maintain and adjust front and rear derailleurs to make sure your ride is as smooth as possible. $45/member, $65/nonmember. REI Marlton, 501 Rte 73 S, Marlton. Register: 856810-1938, rei.com/stores/marlton.html.

Holistic Health Webinar – 7-8pm. 4th Wed of every month with Thermographic Diagnostic Imaging and Health Through Awareness. Elsie Kerns is an Eden Energy Medicine Advanced Practitioner who will be discussing “Stress Reduction for Health and Vitality.” For more info or to register: 856-596-5834 or tdinj.com-go.

THURSDAY, APRIL 23 Crystal Bowls Meditation – 7:45pm. With Michele Halliwell. An evening of healing, balancing and relaxation with the beautiful sounds of the quartz crystal singing bowls, sound healing instruments that bring you on a vibratory journey into deep meditation and higher states of consciousness. $25. Yoga Center of Medford, 417 Stokes Rd, Medford. Pre-registration required: 609-654-9400 or YogaCenterOfMedford.com.

FRIDAY, APRIL 24 Detox & Cancer Workshop – Apr 24-25. 6:309pm, Fri; 8:30am-3:30pm, Sat. Dr. Sandra Rangel, MD, cancer survivor, shares various natural methods and hope for the prevention of and support through cancer. Aquatrols, 1273 Imperial Way, West Deptford. Info: 856-275-1769. To register: KarensFabLifestyle.com.

The Earth of You – 7pm. The Earth’s many structures are also found in the human body. Allow the Master Earth Devas along with the Elementals and other Nature Spirits to align, balance and re-rhythm your body and energy field to optimize ease and flow in your daily life. $25 before Apr 22, $30 after. To register, Andrea Regal: 856-904-5566. HealersUniverse.com.

SATURDAY, APRIL 25 6th Sustainable Cherry Hill Earth Festival Sustainable – 10am-2pm. Family Fun Bike Ride kicks off the festival at 8am with 2- & 9-mile rides (must wear helmet). Includes: Local entertainment on 2 stages; plant exchange; green vendors & crafters; delicious healthy food; guided trail walk and more. Rain or shine. Free admission. Croft Farm, Bortons Mill & Brace rds, Cherry Hill. Croft Farm, 100 Bortons Mill Rd, Cherry Hill. More info: SustainableCherry Hill.org.

PPA’s Earth Day Native Plant Sale – 11am-3pm.

Trees, shrubs and wildflowers native to the Pinelands will be for sale. Also: Raffle for cool prizes, gardening lectures and tours of the historic barn and farmhouse. PPA Headquarters at Bishop Farmstead, 17 Pemberton Rd, Southampton.

609-859-8860 x 26. PinelandsAlliance.org.

Reiki Level III (Master/Teacher) Certification Class – 11am-6pm. Pre-requisite: Reiki Level II. With Reiki Master, Faye Weber. Be attuned to the traditional Master symbol and 3 additional

savethedate Stress Reduction Through Mindfulness Meditation Class Wednesdays through May 13. 8 sessions.

Learn stress-reduction techniques to use the rest of your life. Temenos Center, 720 E Main St, Moorestown. Info, Jane Fox: 856722-9043 x 3, JaneFoxLcsw@msn.com or TemenosCenter.com.

symbols, learn to attune others to Reiki, work with crystals, advanced Reiki techniques, and give first session and attunement as a Reiki Master and Teacher. $350. Genesis Spiritual Healing & Metaphysical Center, 1632 Rte 38, Lumberton. 609-456-3888. GenesisSpiritualHealing@ gmail.com. Pre-registration required: Genesis SpiritualHealing.com.

Bollywood Dhoonya FIT – 1-2pm. With Ritu Pandya. Dance along to cardio and conditioning intervals of varying intensity, each activating major muscle groups of the abs, arms and legs.

The energy and expressions of Bollywood-inspired music and dance will keep you smiling as you burn up to 800 calories while learning dance and fitness fundamentals. $15. Live in Joy Yoga & Wellness, 118 W Merchant St, Audubon. 856546-1006. LiveInJoyYoga.com.

Earth and Arbor Day Family Festival – Apr 2526. 1-4pm. Celebrate Earth Day amid the beauty of children’s themed gardens and the Butterfly House. Includes planting activities, crafts and educational activities to learn about and to help celebrate Mother Earth. Camden Children’s Garden, 3 Riverside Dr, Camden. 856-365-9741.

CamdenChildrensGarden.org.

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SUNDAY, APRIL 26

MONDAY, MAY 4

Morning Meditation – 10am with Deepinder Ransi at Sol Yoga in Hainesport. Access your inner calm with this peaceful, guided meditation.Please register and find details at SolYoga NJ.com.

Integrative Medicine Introduction – 6:307:30pm. Learn how proven complementary therapies including acupuncture, biopuncture and homeopathy treat pain and encourage the body’s natural healing abilities without the side effects of conventional medications. Meet Polina Karmazin, MD, medical director of the Virtua Center for Integrative Medicine. Free.

Attendees receive $50 off their initial consultation. Space limited. Virtua Health and Wellness Center, Washington Twp, 239 Hurffville-Cross Keys Rd, Sewell. Pre-registration requested: 1-888-VIRTUA-3.

2015 Arbor Day Festival at the Rancocas Nature Center – 12-4pm. Includes tree plantings, demonstrations, tree hikes, a photo exhibit, tree seedlings and children’s activities. Rancocas Nature Center, 794 Rancocas Rd, Westampton.

609-261-2495. RancocasNatureCenter.org.

The Simplicity of Qigong – 1-3pm. With Wendy Clouser. Raise your life energy, and build vitality in your body. Movements are gentle yet strengthening. Some exercises may be standing or sitting. Bring slippers for more support if like.

Wear loose, comfy clothing. $20. Live in Joy Yoga & Wellness, 118 W Merchant St, Audubon.

856-546-1006. LiveInJoyYoga.com.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 29 Map & Compass Navigation Basics Class – 6:30-8:30pm. Learn basic navigation skills using map and compass to find your way. Learn the parts of a compass, how to read a topographic map and how to use them in tandem. $30/member, $50/nonmember. REI Marlton, 501 Rte 73 S, Marlton. Register: 856-810-1938, rei.com/ stores/marlton.html.

Acupoints for Headaches – 7-9pm. With Deborah Overholt. A hands-on workshop locating and feeling the most effective points to use to release headaches. Learning a basic acupressure neck and shoulder release allows for a better flow of energy and quicker release. Handouts with point locations included. $30. The Center, Life in Balance, 43 S Main St, Medford. 609-975-8379.

TheCenterLifeInBalance@gmail.com.

plan ahead

SATURDAY, MAY 9 Virtua Women’s Conference – 8am-2pm. Virtua presents a day devoted to healthy solutions for busy women. This rejuvenating day includes expert-led health sessions; enlightening experience including skin renewal, nutrition, yoga and tai chi; an inspirational keynote presentation about reigniting you passion and purpose and more. $25 registered before Apr 15; $30 after.

Crowne Plaza, 2349 W Marlton Pike, Cherry Hill. Register: 1-888-VIRTUA-3 or Virtua.org/ Conference.

Discover the Serenity of T’ai ChiChih (Joy thru Movement Class) – 11:15am. Need better balance, concerned about high blood pressure, quality sleep a challenge? Medicine in Balance, 940 Town Center Dr, Langhorne, PA. For more info & registration: 609-752-1048 or Siobhan@ NextStepStrategiesLLC.com.

SUNDAY, MAY 17 One Love Kirtan Concert – 7pm. Join One Love for a high-energy musical celebration of global estatic chants. One Love was recently selected

by Bhakti Fest, a leading yoga and chanting festival, as the best up-and-coming Kirtan band. $15/advance, $20/at door. Live in Joy Yoga & Wellness, 118 W Merchant St, Audubon. 856546-1006. LiveInJoyYoga.com.

SATURDAY, JUNE 13 Holistic Health and Psychic Fair – 9am-3pm.

Intuitive readings, chair massage, energy healing, nutritional products, crystals. Brooklawn residents & seniors free. $5 admission; bring a friend free. Brooklawn Community Center, 101 2nd St, Brooklawn. Wellness Workers: 856-4353427 or 856-470-8981.

retreats

SUNDAY, APRIL 12 Bimini, Bahamas Dolphin Yoga Adventure – Apr 12-18. With Alaine Portner, Medium, and Lori Reyes, MSW, CTT. Create your human pod of like-minded sea seekers on this yoga retreat to Bimini, Bahamas. Discover the retreat of a lifetime. Release your own boundaries of adventure.

Yoga, mediumship, breathwork, dolphin magic, Atlantis, energy transformation. The trip always fills to capacity. Register now: 609-654-9400, WildQuest.com or YogaCenterOfMedford.com.

FRIDAY, MAY 15 Spa and Spiritual Weekend – May 15-17. With Alaine Portner, Medium. Elevate your thinking and personal awareness at this special event.

Woodloch Lodge, Poconos, PA. More info: 609654-9400 or YogaCenterOfMedford.com. If you mention that you are traveling to The Lodge to experience Alaine’s presentation, please mention code INSPIRE and receive a $25 dollar spa credit per person, (2 night minimum). TheLodgeAt Woodloch.com/speakers-events/

trainings

SATURDAY, MAY 2 Discover the Serenity of T’ai ChiChih (Joy thru Movement Class) – 9am. Need better balance, concerned about high blood pressure, quality sleep a challenge? Newtown Administration Building. For more info & registration: 215-9682800 x 266.

Seasonal Botany Tour – 10am-12pm. Join Robyn A. Jeney, Saddler’s Woods Conservation Association’s Director of Forest Management, for a botanical tour of Saddler’s Woods. Rain date: May 3. $2/person. 143 E Ormond Ave. To register: 856-869-7372 or Harriet@Saddlers Woods.org. SaddlersWoods.org.

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SATURDAY, APRIL 18

On Earth there is no heaven, but there are pieces of it. ~Jules Renard

Thai Yoga Bodywork Training – Apr 18-20.

With Sudevi Linda Kramer, MA, LMT. Learn the healing art of Thai massage. Learn the foundation for giving a classic 90-min session. Work in supine, prone, side-lying and seated asanas.

All participants receive hands-on assistance as well as a course manual to take home. CEUs for Massage Professionals & Yoga Teachers. $350/3 days, $295/Sat & Sun only. Live in Joy Yoga & Wellness, 118 W Merchant St, Audubon. 856546-1006. LiveInJoyYoga.com.

ongoing events Email don@nasouthjersey.com for guidelines and to submit entries.

daily

tuesday

Yoga for Your Back – If you are looking for an effective therapy for back pain that does not involve drugs or medical procedures, discover Svaroopa® yoga. A therapeutic and gentle style of yoga that relieves pressure from the spine. 6 classes offered a week. Rhonda Clarke, Yoga Therapist and Advanced Svaroopa Yoga Teacher. $15/class. Yoga for Living, 1926 Greentree Rd, Cherry Hill. 856-404-7287. YogaForLiving.net.

Back To Basics Yoga – 10-11am. With Bonnie Hart. Movements that stretch, tone and firm the physical body while relaxing the mind. All ages and abilities welcome. $13. Yoga for Living, 1926 Greentree Rd, Cherry Hill. 609-970-3401.

BonnieHart.org.

Dawn Meditation – 6-7am each weekdays, except week of Apr 20. Start your day with a healthy mental breakfast, which nourishes and prepares your mind and body to meet the day’s challenges.

No registration required. Donations appreciated.

Pine Wind Zen Center, 863 McKendimen Rd, Shamong. 609-268-9151. PineWind.org.

sunday Meditation – 10:30am. Joyful Gathering Spiritual Center, 215 Highlands Ave, Ste C, Haddon Township. 856-780-5826.

Detox with Devpreet – 11am-12:30pm. Kundalini yoga kriyas for: detoxification; cleansing the liver, blood & lymph; improving digestion & elimination; addictive behaviors; rebirthing & subconscious clearing; radiant skin. Each week includes inner sun warm ups, cleansing breath work and meditation. Live in Joy Yoga & Wellness, 118 W Merchant St, Audubon. 856-5461006. LiveInJoyYoga.com.

monday Nia – 5:30-6:30pm. A cardio dance group fitness class that incorporates empowerment with martial arts, joy of movement with dance arts and healing arts with yoga stretches. Promotes mindfulness, holistic fitness and well-being. $13, $8/senior, student. Yoga for Living, 1926 Greentree Rd, Cherry Hill. 856-404-7287. Yoga ForLiving.net.

Group Hypnosis & Discussion – 6:30-8pm. 2nd Mon. While in a relaxed state, your subconscious is coached to accept new positive and uplifting thoughts about yourself and your life and filled with thoughts of hope and trust, opening your mind to infinite possibilities. $15. The Center, Life in Balance, 43 S Main St, Medford. 609-975-8379.

TheCenterLifeInBalance@gmail.com.

Monthly Meditation/Mini-Workshop – 6:308:30pm. 1st Mon. Explore meditation, energy education/topics and Reiki. Please arrive on time so the meditation is not disturbed, and refrain from alcohol the day of the workshop. $15. The Center, Life in Balance, 43 S Main St, Medford. 609-9758379. TheCenterLifeInBalance@gmail.com.

Barefoot Bootcamp – 10:30-11:30am. With Jessica Watters. A fusion class that blends Pilates, yoga, traditional strength and resistance moves with a smidgen of heart pumping core cardio moves. And you’ll get your sweat on.

The Sanctuary for Yoga, 43 S Main St, Medford. Register: 609-953-7800 or TheSanctuaryForYoga.com.

All Level Yoga with Sandy – 7pm. Vital Yoga, 836 Broadway, Westville. 609-922-2484.

VitalYogaNJ.com.

Evening Meditation – 7-9pm. Tues & Thurs, except Apr 7, 21, 23. Includes a brief instruction along with periods of seated and walking meditation. Donations appreciated. Pine Wind Zen Center, 863 McKendimen Rd, Shamong. 609268-9151. PineWind.org.

wednesday Mid-Day Meditation – 12pm. Also held Fri. Join us for a 10-min meditation. On Wed the focus is love; on Fri, peace. Each week we raise the love and peace vibration personally and globally. Treat yourself to a mid-week refresher. The Center, Life in Balance, 43 S Main St, Medford.

609-975-8379.

Qigong Class: Lunch Time Recharger – 12:15pm. 40-min class so can attend during lunch break. Using controlled breathing with gentle movements, qigong builds strength and stamina while boosting circulation, improves immunity and much more. No special equipment needed. Certified Supreme Science Qigong Instructor, Sharon Tuscano. $12/drop-in, $40/4 classes. WellSpring Center, 19 N Centre St, Merchantville. To register: 856-461-0060.

Creative Writing – 2-3:30pm. Course designed to be a true creative writing class. If you have ever wanted to write, now is the opportunity to try doing it within an accepting circle of writers. Class ongoing and will become a way for you to finally find your voice and to tell your story. $95/6 wks, $18/drop-in. Eilandarts Center, 21 S Centre St, Merchantville. Ni@Eilandarts. com. Eilandarts.com.

Earth Yoga – 6-7pm. With Bonnie Hart. Native American and Eastern Philosophies intermingle to relieve stress and reconnect to a greater sense of self. Postures and breathing techniques shift nervous tension to a feeling of grounding and peace. $13. Yoga for Living, 1926 Greentree Rd, Cherry Hill. 609-970-3401. BonnieHart.org.

Sustainable Cherry Hill’s Green Drinks – Thru June. 6-8pm. 1st Wed. Networking focused on creating a sustainable South Jersey community. The Farm & Fisherman Tavern + Market, 1422 Marlton Pike E, Cherry Hill. 609238-3449. SustainableCherryHill.org.

Lettering Arts – 7-8:30pm. With Maureen Peters. All skill levels welcome to learn the art of calligraphy and to create unique pieces using brush work, resists, embossing, stamping and more. Supplies provided. Free. Woodbury Public Library, 33 Delaware St, Woodbury. 856845-2611. WoodburyLibrary.org.

thursday YogaBlaast – 9:15-10:15am. With Lauri Andreacchio. Blending yoga and kickboxing moves into a vigorous dual practice where just being in your body with your heart pumping and your breath roaring can be transformative. Don’t be intimidated, its pure fun and a great way to let go of frustration. The Sanctuary for Yoga, 43 S Main St, Medford. Register: 609-953-7800 or TheSanctuaryForYoga.com.

A Healing Sanctuary: Yoga for Breast Cancer Recovery – 10-11:30am. Integrates gentle yoga, breathing and mindfulness practices along with aromatherapy, Reiki, energy medicine and singing crystal bowls to soothe the body, mind and spirit. $20. Anu Medical Spa, 200B Rte 73, Voorhees. Info, Pamela Kofsky: 856-266-3164 or InnerRadiance777@aol.com.

Kids Yoga Classes – 4:15pm. This is a great way to introduce kids to the power of yoga and have fun at the same time. Ages K-8. $10/class. Halo Wellness Center, 968 Rte 73 S, Marlton. More info: 856-574-4433 or ElevateYourHealth.com.

Sound Healing with Crystal Singing Bowls – 7pm. 2nd Thurs. Connect, balance and align with the power of sound for the body, mind and spirit. Guided meditation, chakra balancing and a spectrum of meditative sound.

Healing Harmonies, Medford. 609-304-3335.

Healing Harmonies1111.com.

Weekly Mindfulness Meditation Classes – 7-8pm. Research shows that mindfulness meditation practice can restore emotional balance, reduce stress, improve health and actually change the brain’s gray matter. With practice one can become aware of habitual reactions to stressors and discover new ways of responding to life’s challenges. $13/class, $8/senior, student. Yoga for Living, 1926 Greentree Rd, Cherry Hill. 856-404-7287. YogaForLiving.net.

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Bellydancing for Beginners – 7:30-8:30pm.

With Megan. Learn to dance the basic movements based on the American Tribal Style (ATS) format of belly dance, for beginners and for those who want to brush up on the basics. Live in Joy Yoga & Wellness, 118 W Merchant St, Audubon. 856-546-1006.

LiveInJoyYoga.com.

friday Yoga with Crystal Bowls – 10-11am. With Bonnie Hart. Stress relief through focusing on the breath while moving through postures.

Concludes with deep relaxation to the soothing sounds of Crystal Bowls which awaken a deeper meditative state. $13. Yoga for Living, 1926 Greentree Rd, Cherry Hill. 609-9703401. BonnieHart.org.

Mid-Day Meditation – 12pm. See Wed listing.

The Center, Life in Balance, 43 S Main St, Medford. 609-975-8379.

Yoga for Living Fridays – 7-8pm. 1st Fri: Yoga Dance; 2nd Fri: Deep Relaxation with Crystal Bowls; 3rd Fri: Laughter Yoga. Rejuvenate and start your weekend in a new state of mind and body. Yoga for Living, 1926 Greentree Rd, Cherry Hill. 856-404-7287. Yoga ForLiving.net.

saturday Refresh and Renew Yoga Class – 10:1511:15am. Start your weekend by clearing out the chaos and stressors of the week. This class will guide you through a flowing series of purifying and restorative postures. Leave feeling rejuvenated and ready to enjoy the weekend. Sol Yoga at Vacanti Jiu Jitsu, Bruni Square, 1351 Rte 38W (rear), Hainesport. 267664-3236. SolYogaNJ.com.

Saddler’s Woods Open House Day – 1-5pm; 2pm, special presentations. 2nd Sat. Enjoy a variety of programs and find out the many ways you can participate in the environmental and historical issues in your community. Haddon Township Environmental and Historical Center, 143 E Ormond Ave. 856-869-7372.

SaddlersWoods.org.

classifieds Fee for classifieds is $1 per word per month. To place listing, email content to don@nasouthjersey.com. Deadline is the 10th of the month.

FOR RENT BEAUTIFUL YOGA STUDIO/COUNSELING SPACE FOR RENT, CHERRY HILL – Looking for a great space and location to hold your workshop, class, private therapy or counseling session. The Yoga for Living studio is available for rental. Counseling room, $15/hour or $75/day. Call 856404-7287.

BEAUTIFUL AND CLEAN ROOMS FOR RENT IN A NUTRITION & WELLNESS CENTER – Both in the back and very private, located in Woolwich Twp, 3 minutes from I-295. (10’ x 11’ $500/month; 8’ x 9’ $375/month). Deposit required. Call 856467-3535.

THE CENTER, LIFE IN BALANCE IN MEDFORD IS EXPANDING! – New office space available for interested practitioners. Be part of a supportive and positive environment while helping others. To learn more, call 609-975-8379.

HELP WANTED AD SALES REP – Natural Awakenings is now accepting resumes for Part/Full-time Sales Reps throughout the Camden/Burlington/Gloucester County area. Must be self-motivated with strong organizational skills, sales and computer/database experience. We’re positive people looking for positive associates. Flexible schedule with great earning potential. Pay is set up on a generous full commission structure with bonuses.

Email cover letter & resume to Info@NA SouthJersey.com.

LABYRINTHS CLASSICAL CHARTRES LABYRINTH DESIGNS – Manufactured for residential, commercial, and institutional settings. These beautiful labyrinths are made from concrete pavers, individually created with your choice of size, color and design, to pass the test of time. Landscape design services and consulting available to help with placement, installation and supporting landscape. TAKE THE FIRST STEP. To learn more, call: 856-546-0945.

NJ OFFICIANT Character is like a tree and reputation like a shadow. The shadow is what we think of it; the tree is the real thing. ~Abraham Lincoln 40

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CUSTOM WEDDING VOWS – I specialize in getting to know you so that your vows reflect your love and lifestyle. Dee: 609-509-3772 or Terra Aurum@hotmail.com.

community resource guide ACCESS CONSCIOUSNESS RENEE ROBERTSON Restoration-You Inc. Moorestown, NJ 856-437-0430 Restoration-You.com

What if there was a much easier way to deal with stress and anxiety? Have your Bars run, a hands-on body process that starts a flow of energy and erases years of fixed points of view, judgments, negative feelings and limiting beliefs that hold us back. Sessions include powerful tools to use in everyday situations. Offering certification classes for Access Consciousness Energetic Facelift™ and Access Bars ™.

ACUPUNCTURE FRANCHESCA ISAAC, LAC, DIPL. AC., HHC Acupuncture, Holistic Health Coach 860 Rte 168, Ste 104 Turnersville, NJ 08012 856-401-9550

Franchesca Isaac is a nationally New Jersey licensed Acupuncturist and a certified holistic health counselor. Acupuncture is known to help a wide variety of conditions including; migraines, back pain, neck pain, digestive issues, allergies, menstrual symptoms, and menopausal symptoms. Schedule a complimentary consultation to learn how acupuncture can help.

ALLERGY MELISA SKYRM, MAC, DIPL AC, LICENSED ACUPUNCTURIST Regenerate Health and Wellness 2 Sheppard Rd, Ste 500, Voorhees 609-332-1324 RegenerateHealthAndWellness.com

Got allergies? Food sensitivities? Try AAT/Advanced Allergy Therapeutics.

Melisa Skyrm, LAc, is now bringing this exclusive and needed service to South Jersey. It has helped many with respiratory and food sensitivity symptoms. Call today to get ahead of allergy season! See ad page 14.

Connecting you to the leaders in natural health care and green living in our community. To find out how you can be included in the Community Resource Guide email don@nasouthjersey.com to request our media kit.

ANIMAL COMMUNICATION KARIN HIRSCH

Lotus Living Space Shamanic Healing, Animal Communication 201-993-6588 Info@LotusLivingSpace.com LotusLivingSpace.com Does your animal companion experience health or behavioral problems? Is your pet lost or diseased and you would like to get in contact?

Karin is a Shamanic Healer and Animal Communicator and utilizes her telepathic abilities when communicating with animals.

Deepen your relationship and understanding with your beloved pet.

AYURVEDIC HEALING PRACTITIONER RHONDA CLARKE, CSYT

Certified Ayurveda Therapist, Yoga Therapist Yoga for Living 1926 Greentree Rd, Cherry Hill 856-404-7287 YogaForLiving.net Support for living a more balanced life through the science of yoga. Yoga t h e r a p y, Ay u r v e d i c l i f e s t y l e counseling and Ayurveda treatments available. See ad, page 32.

JANET WATKINS, RYT, CRM

Ayurvedic Healing Practitioner Registered Yoga Teacher Live in Joy Yoga & Wellness 118 W Merchant St Audubon, NJ 08106 856-816-4158 Utilizing the principles of Ay u r v e d a , n u t r i t i o n , y o g a , meditation, and herbs for natural healing and self-care to support your body in returning to its natural healthy function. Reiki session, ayurvedic cooking classes, restorative yoga and private yoga sessions. See ad, page 13.

CHIROPRACTOR DECOTIIS CHIROPRACTIC WELLNESS 30 W Holly Ave Pitman, NJ 08071 856-218-1330 Fddec@WellnessSpeakers.org

D r. D e C o t i i s s p e c i a l i z e s i n wellness-based Chiropractic care: helping the body to function at its personal best while reducing internal and external stresses. We individualize care to optimize performance of body systems by reducing nerve damage, improving spinal alignment, posture, ergonomics, sleep habits, hormone balance and improving overall health through exercise, weight loss, detox and supplementation.

DR. SYLVIA BIDWELL BIDWELL CHIROPRACTIC

The Strawbridge Professional Center 212 W Rte 38, Ste 100 Moorestown, NJ 08057 • 856-273-1551 DrSylviaBidwell@verizon.net Bidwell-Chiropractic.com D r. B i d w e l l i s d e d i c a t e d t o providing patients the best possible spinal healthcare including chiropractic adjustment, massage, electrical muscle stimulation, ultrasound, hot and cold therapy, cervical and lumbar traction, and stretching and strengthening exercise instruction. Her adjustments techniques consist of diversified, a c t i v a t o r, a r t h r o s t i m , S O T b l o c k i n g , craniosacral work, active release technique, and PNF stretching. See ad, page 24.

COLON HYDROTHERAPY ALLERGY & HEALTH SOLUTIONS CENTER CARYLANN BAUTZ, CNC, CMT

“Naet” 24-Hr Allergy Elimination Therapy Colon Hydrotherapy, Crystal Light Bed Healing 609-654-4858 FeelLikeUs.net Since 1982, we have been blending Eastern and Western t h e r a p i e s. B o o st t h e i m m u n e system, balance the mind and b o d y, s a f e l y c l e a n s e t o x i n s and waste. Far Infrared Sauna Chelation Therapy. Rejuvenate and reconnect the body, mind and spirit. Namaste. See ad, page 29.

COUNSELING BONNIE HART

Stress-Relief Specialist, Ecopsychologist, MA Transpersonal Psychology 1926 Greentree Rd Cherry Hill, NJ 08003 609-970-3401 Bonnie@BonnieHart.org BonnieHart.org EarthGym.org One-on-one counseling to unravel the worries of the mind and move into the wisdom of the heart. Offering knowledgeable, caring guidance. Phone calls and emails welcome to answer any questions. See ad, page 5.

MIMI AWTAR SCALIA

MCAT/abt, Certified Hatha and Kundalini Yoga Teacher Reiki Practitioner, Clinical Wholistic Counselor Yoga for Living, 1926 Greentree Rd, Cherry Hill Mimipaz@aol.com Individual and/or group sessions available to support you in reaching your highest potential: releasing holding patterns, grief & loss, trauma, childhood issues, through spiritual healing via E a s t m e e t s We s t t r a d i t i o n s , including art therapy, drumming, chelation and meditation.

ENERGYWORK ALAINE PORTNER, E-RYT

Experienced Registered Yoga Teacher, Reiki Master 417 Stokes Road Medford, NJ 609-654-9400 AlainePortner.com Alaine@YogaCenterOfMedford.com YogaCenterOfMedford.com A gifted medium, yoga teacher, spiritual guide and guardian of the Yoga Center of Medford. The Center has enriched the lives of the community for over a generation. During the course of her professional journey, Alaine has fine-tuned her ability as a medium and then fused it with her love of meditation to offer a unique and transformative experience. Individual and group sessions are now available. See ad, page 8.

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ENERGY THERAPY

JENNY TORTORICE

Energy Medicine, Healing and Reiki Yoga for Living 1926 Greentree Rd, Cherry Hill 856-207-6621 BeeYogaJenny@gmail.com Offering hands-on healing modalities; Reiki, energy medicine techniques and counseling, as taught by my teacher Dr. Jane Ely. I create a supportive environment for you to relax and receive; to help facilitate you moving with life with greater ease. See ad, page 32.

MARILYN EPPOLITE

The Wisdom Within Energy healing, flower essences, akashic readings and spiritual counseling 856-236-5973 New website: video meditations and tips on living a balanced emotional life.

TheWisdomWithin.net A balanced energy system is the foundation of health. Marilyn, a graduate of the Barbara Brennan School of Healing and a certified flower essence therapist, guides you to an experience of a balanced energy field as the secret to emotional balance and in finding solutions to the challenges of life. Children, teens, adults. In-person or phone/Skype sessions.

MINDFUL SURROUNDINGS

DR. JAIME FELDMAN, DCH

Bev Borton understands and balances the river of energy that flows through and around your home, workplace, or property to remove obstacles and create the best support for your desired circumstances. Mindful Surroundings—positive changes felt by all who enter.

Dr. Jaime Feldman, one of the pioneers in an advanced technique called “Advanced Parts Therapy,” has been able to unlock the subconscious and remove unwanted behaviors: stop smoking (guaranteed), weight loss, stress, depression, pain and anger management, and more. Outstanding success in curing phobias and deep-seated trauma, and treating the immune system to put cancer into complete remission.

See ad, page 14.

Bev Borton, Certified Feng Shui Practitioner Feng Shui Consultations and Classes Medford, NJ 609-654-0697 609-744-3789 (c) Bsborton@verizon.net

HEALING MODALITIES SHARON TUSCANO, NCTMB, CNMT, CECP

Olympia Healing Arts 4142 US Rte 130 N, Delran/Edgewater Park Area 856-461-0060 OlympiaHealing.com Experience a transformational healing session that will bring you back to yourself. Skillfully integrating several modalities specifically chosen to eliminate pain, release stuck emotional patterns, overcome fears, bringing you to a state of peace and oneness. No more stress, just a renewed joy for life.

Certified Qigong Instructor, Healing with Food, BARS – Access Consciousness, Colorpuncturist, NeuroMuscular Therapist.

HEALTH COUNSELING LIESHA GETSON, BCTT, HHC

FENG SHUI & ENERGY WORK KARIN HIRSCH

Lotus Living Space Feng Shui, Physical Radiesthesia, Energy Therapy, Shamanic Healing 201-993-6588 Info@LotusLivingSpace.com LotusLivingSpace.com A healthy body, mind and spirit need a balanced and positive environment. Karin is a certified Feng Shui Master and Professional Dowser for Geopathic Stress, Electromagnetic Frequencies, Energy Intrusions and Product Sensitivities. She also offers IET ®, Shamanic Healing and Psychopomp work to heal mind and spirit.

Never interrupt someone doing what you said couldn’t be done. ~Amelia Earhart 42

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Health Through Awareness 100 Brick Rd, Ste 206, Marlton 856-596-5834 HealthThroughAwareness.com

Liesha Getson is a Board-Certified Thermographic Technician, Holistic Health Counselor, a Reiki Master and Energy Practitioner. Liesha is a founding partner of Health Through Awareness in Marlton, a cooperative wellness center that provides a variety of alternative services to facilitate healthy living including nutrition and lifestyle counseling, Reiki, thermography, infrared detoxification and biopuncture. See ad, page 5.

HYPNOTHERAPY BRIAN STEMETZKI

901 Rte 168, Ste 103, Turnersville 856-266-4983 ABetterTomorrowCounselingServices.com Brian Stemetzki is a licensed LCSW, NBCCH and a level 2-trained EMDR clinician. He provides a wide variety of treatment methods such as Hypnotherapy, EMDR and EFT that can help you reach your goals quicker and easier. See ad, page 7.

Chairman, Medical & Dental Division, International Hypnosis Federation 214 W Main St, Ste L4, Moorestown, NJ 08057 856-231-0432 • DrJaimeF@aol.com PartsTherapy.com

INTEGRATIVE/HOLISTIC MEDICINE CHANDLER WELLNESS CARE

Khayriyyah Chandler, DO 25 A Tanner St, Haddonfield, NJ 08033 856-874-8194 Fax: 877-876-2833 ChandlerWellnessCare@gmail.com ChandlerWellnessCare.com Direct Pay family practice in downtown Haddonfield. 24/7 access to Dr, 30-min visits, house calls, Skype and telemedicine visits. Integrative medicine. Osteopathic manipulation. Weight-loss management. Shop with Dr. Vitamin Injections. Postpartum and youth services. Tai chi and Education Series. Book online.

DR. STEVEN HORVITZ

Institute for Medical Wellness 110 Marter Ave, Ste 408, Moorestown, NJ 856-231-0590 DrHorvitz.com Board-Certified Family Medicine blending traditional family care with a holistic focus and preventive, nutritional and integrative approach.

We look for causes and triggers for disease before reaching for the prescription pad. Same and next day appointments are available. See ad, page 9.

PHILIP GETSON, DO

Health Through Awareness 100 Brick Rd, Ste 206, Marlton, NJ 08053 856-596-5834

Health Through Awareness takes a holistic approach to health and wellbeing. Dr. Philip Getson is a Board Certified Family Physician and certified by four Thermographic Boards. He specializes in thermography, an early diagnostic tool for many health conditions including breast health. With the mission of providing a balanced approach to wellness, the center offers diet and lifestyle counseling, thermography, the area’s most unique infrared detox sauna (The POD), Reiki, a smoking cessation program, physician standard supplements and ongoing wellness classes. See ad, page 5.

MASSAGE THERAPY

VICTORIOUS SOUL HEALING

Kerrie Sullivan, LMT, CRM 856-357-6596 VictoriousSoul@yahoo.com Facebook: Victorious Soul Healing Victorious Soul Healing believes that when you heal the soul first, the mind and body will follow. Kerrie Sullivan operates this mobile unit and will travel a great distance to offer her services. She is a gifted healer that uses her intuitive abilities to pinpoint the cause of dis-ease in the body. Book your appointment today for massage therapy and bodywork, Reiki, attunements, energy medicine, healing with essential oils, chakra balancing, distance healing, self-exploration, spiritual growth, and crystal and intuitive healing.

METAPHYSICAL SERVICES GENESIS SPIRITUAL HEALING

Faye Weber, Reiki Master, Psychic Medium Angel Therapy Practitioner® 609-456-3888 1632 Rte 38, Lumberton, NJ 08048 GenesisSpiritualHealing.com Faye’s transformational approach will help you to become self-empowered, in touch with your higher self, and learn to live from the soul. Reiki, Angel Healing Therapy, Sound Healing, Intuitive/Psychic Guidance, Mediumship, Reiki certification, other metaphysical classes and workshops.

NUTRITIONAL COUNSELING

DONNA WOOD

Certified Nutritionist Health Haven, 1381 New Jersey Rte. 38 Hainesport, NJ 08036 609-346-7696 HealthHavenInc.com D o n n a Wo o d , a c e r t i f i e d nutritionist, focuses on nutritional counseling and dietary guidance. Disease does not occur without a cause or imbalance. Discover the “root” of your imbalance. Learn to make better food and lifestyle choices. Gain selfawareness through our services. Call for an appointment. See ad, page 8.

DR. TAMMY LANG

South Jersey Center for Nutrition & Wellness 553 Beckett Rd, Ste 406 Swedesboro 856-467-3535 SJNutrition.com Good nutrition is fundamental to good health and wellness. Tammy specializes in clinical nutrition and Nutrition Response Testing—a non-invasive system of analyzing the body to determine the underlying causes of your symptoms/poor health. Tammy takes a natural, holistic approach to create an individualized program that combines nutritional guidance and natural supplements to resolve nutritional imbalances, poor digestion, hormone imbalance and difficult weight loss.

NUMEROLOGIST TRACI ROSENBERG, MA

Numerologist & Empowerment Coach 609-417-4526 TraciRosenberg@gmail.com SoulTalkWithTraci.com J o i n t h e r e g i o n ’s l e a d i n g numerologist as you discover your life’s purpose. Encoded in your name and birth date are your lessons, talents and desires. Traci will help you realize your full potential.

Time is nature’s way of keeping everything from happening at once. ~Woody Allen

PSYCHOENERGETIC COUNSELING HEALERS UNIVERSE

Andrea Regal Subtle Energy Therapist 856-904-5566 Andrea@HealersUniverse.com HealersUniverse.com Sessions facilitate personal transformation, spiritual expansion, revelation of soul purpose and one’s unique role in the evolution of the planet.

Individually tailored to organically reintegrate dissociated pieces of one’s Essence experiencing definitive and permanent change of both inner and outer conditions in a relatively short period of time.

30+ years experience in counseling and teaching the energetics of mind, body and soul connection.

WELLNESS CENTER THE CENTER…LIFE IN BALANCE 609-975-8379 TheCenterLifeInBalance@gmail.com TheCenterLifeInBalance.com

Awareness Coaching, with Maryann Miller, Life in Balance and Intuitive Guidance, with Susan Drummond, are offered at The Center and as private sessions in your home or over the phone. If you are feeling out-of-sorts, have a free consultation to determine the unique approach for your unique journey. See ad, page 5.

THE CENTER

YOGA FOR LIVING

1926 Greentree Rd, Cherry Hill 856-404-7287 YogaForLiving.net South Jersey’s leading h o l i st i c y o g a c e n te r offering yoga, meditation, Ayurveda, lifestyle and stress relief counseling, tween and teen empowerment programs and a variety of workshops designed to support a more balanced lifestyle. See ad, page 32.

ZEN LIFE COACHING SEIJAKU ROSHI

Pine Winds Zen Center Cherry Hill & Shamong locations 609-268-9151 Seijaku@Jizo-An.org A unique opportunity to work with an American Zen Master. One-onone private sessions with one of today’s most popular pioneers and expert in the field of human potential and Mindfulness Meditation Stress Reduction Training (Zen Training). Adults, couples, families, executives, professionals, caretakers and clergy. Stress management, relationships, grief, loss, mindfulness in the workplace. See ad, page 26.

The more you like yourself, the less you are like anyone else, which makes you unique. ~Walt Disney natural awakenings

April 2015

43

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