Prevention 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.
We o er:
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The Center is home to a community of holistic practitioners, services, classes, gatherings, workshops, and The Zen Den on Main.
Saturday, 10/7 - Yoga Sound Bath with Josey Manna
Friday the 13th - Séance Circle with Susan Drummond & Beth O’Brien
Thursday, 10/19 - Main Street in Medford Food Truck Night Specials
Saturday 10/21 - Monthly Psychic & Healing Fair & Fall Fest on Main Street in Medford
Thursday 10/26 - Letting Go of Emotional Baggage with April Willard
Friday 10/27 - Celebrate Halloween & Samhain!
COSTUME PARTY, GAMES & PRIZES!
Offering Services and Classes Focused on Balancing Mind, Body and Spirit Come
Sunday 10/29 – Sacred Active Breathing Meditation – with Kim Huston Reservations Required For Classes and Events - Call 609-975-8379
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As we welcome the crisp and colorful embrace of October, it is my pleasure to introduce you to the enriching world of traditional medicine, the harmonious practices of qigong and tai chi, the nurturing path of the modern macrobiotic diet, recycled art and the symphony of skill-building through the magic of music.
Our October issue is an ode to the wisdom of ages, the healing traditions that have stood the test of time. In the feature article, we go deep into the heart of Traditional World Medicine. It’s a journey that reminds us that the roots of health and well-being are deeply entwined with nature and the practices of our ancestors. As we explore the age-old remedies and holistic approaches, may you find inspiration in their enduring effectiveness.
The healing arts of qigong and tai chi are a testament to the gentle yet powerful ways of ancient wisdom. These practices offer a profound connection between mind and body, reminding us that the pursuit of health can be a serene dance through life. May you be inspired with these paths and discover the harmony they can bring to your own existence.
In this issue, we also take a modern twist of the macrobiotic diet. As we embrace the principles of balance, harmony, and simplicity, may you find a new way to nourish both your body and soul, guiding you towards a healthier and more vibrant life.
“Recycled Art: Transforming Trash into Treasure” showcases the ingenious ways artists breathe new life into discarded materials. It’s a tribute to creativity and sustainability; a reminder that beauty and purpose can be found even in the most unlikely places.
Our issue unfolds further with “A Symphony of Skill-Building: How Music Spurs Childhood Development.” Music, as a universal language, has the power to mold young minds and nurture talents. Discover the remarkable ways in which it fosters growth and self-expression in the younger generation.
And now, the pièce de résistance—our special Behind the Scenes section, a true labor of love. In these pages, we offer you an exclusive glimpse into the hearts and minds of many of our local business owners. Their passion, their stories and their vision for the future are a testament to the vitality of our community. We hope you find their journeys as inspiring as we do.
As we turn the pages of this October issue, may you find a world of inspiration, knowledge and a renewed sense of purpose. Embrace the traditions, the arts, the nourishment, the creativity, and the melodies that grace these pages. Let them infuse your life with meaning and positivity.
Thank you for allowing us to be a part of your journey.
With warmth and inspiration,
The Venus Moon Crystal Warehouse, in Glendora, invites the community to come and celebrate their one-year anniversary with them at their two-day festival. This fun-for-the-whole family, Halloween-themed event will take place from 2 to 8 p.m. on October 28 and from noon to 5 p.m. on October 29. There will be more than 30 vendors, including tarot and angel readers, crafts, treats, workshops, prizes and more. Costumes are encouraged.
“This last year has been an absolute blast and we are so excited to celebrate our one-year anniversary with a two-day party,” exclaims owner Krissy Marinelli. “We will have vendors both inside the warehouse and out in the back field, as well as workshops up in the Crystal Vortex Room. We also have some surprises and giveaways up our sleeve that you won’t want to miss. Mark your calendars and spend the weekend at our fabulous festival.”
The Venus Moon is a meeting space, metaphysical and spiritual advisory center, plus a crystal and stone shop with a constantly changing assortment of inventory. Venus Moon offers classes, workshops, readings, healing sessions and more.
Location: 234 Chestnut St. For more information, visit www.TheVenusMoon.com.
KnoWEwell and Natural Awakenings magazine will host a free, advanced screening of Memories for Life: Reversing Alzheimer’s, a documentary-style film that follows the journeys of six Alzheimer’s patients that refuse to accept their prognosis and are instead turning to a new, clinically proven method to help reverse the hands of time and retain their memories. This innovative approach, called the ReCODE (Reverse Cognitive Decline) Protocol, was invented by top neurologist Dr. Dale Bredesen.
Narrated by Grammy Award-winner Michael Bublé and directed by Hideyuki Tokigawa, the film will be livestreamed on KnoWEwell’s Regenerative Whole Health Hub at 8 p.m. ET (5 p.m. PT), on October 14. As an added bonus, Bredesen, New York Times’ bestselling author of The End of Alzheimer’s, will participate in a live, post-screening Q&A session.
This is a rare opportunity to view the film at no charge prior to its formal release and to interact with the creator of this exciting new Alzheimer’s protocol.
For more information or to register, visit https://bewell.knowewell.com/129-9.html.
Medical doctors understand that weight-bearing exercise is necessary for new bone growth and recommend to their patients that they practice this form of exercise. The 2012 Deere and Tobias study found that 4.2 times a person’s body weight is what is necessary to trigger bone growth to the hip joint—the place that is most important to avoid fracture.
While impact exercise is good for the bones, it can cause injury. OsteoStrong—a membership-based integrated health and wellness center with a focus on musculoskeletal strengthening—allows one to push and pull safely to achieve the minimum required osteogenic loading (heavy loading). OsteoStrong uses a robotic musculoskeletal development system to trigger new bone growth. There are four separate devices that focus on different parts of the body. A skilled coach is with the client every session, and sessions only last 10 minutes once a week.
The results are that OsteoStrong may help increase agility; decrease joint pain; improve strength, balance and posture; and increase bone density and slow bone density loss.
Location: 951 Haddonfield Rd., Ste. 3B, Cherry Hill. For more information, call 856-759-1000 or visit www.OsteoStrongSJ.com
According to the American Cancer Society, about one man in eight will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during his lifetime, with six in 10 of these cases in men 65 years and older. Non-Hispanic Black men have a 75 percent higher risk and are twice as likely to die from prostate cancer than white men, with genetics accounting for some of these disparities.
Researchers from The University of Texas Health Sciences Center at San Antonio evaluated the impact of yoga on quality of life, as well as on immune and inflammatory responses. Published in the Journal of Urology, the study included 30 men with cancer that were scheduled for radical prostate removal. Half of the patients performed 60 minutes of yoga twice a week for six weeks before surgery and for three to six weeks after surgery. The other patients received standard care.
The group that performed yoga reported higher quality-of-life scores, including reduced fatigue and improvements in physical, sexual, functional and social well-being. Based on blood samples, the scientists also found that yoga promoted an anti-tumor immune response and reduced inflammatory cytokine levels.
Taurine, one of the most abundant amino acids in the body, is vital for health of the eyes, muscles, brain and heart. Research has found that taurine levels decrease with age. In a study published in the journal Science, researchers found that taurine supplementation improved the lifespan and healthspan of middle-aged mice.
The scientists noticed improvements in bone, muscle, pancreas, brain, fat, gut and immune function. The median life span of taurine-treated mice increased by 10 to 12 percent, and life
expectancy at 28 months increased by about 18 to 25 percent. Similar effects were observed in monkeys and cellular worms. The researchers also found a link between lower circulating taurine levels and higher risk for Type 2 diabetes, obesity and hypertension.
The researchers speculate that taurine’s anti-aging and disease-preventing benefits could be due to its effects on reducing cellular death, inflammation, DNA damage, mitochondrial dysfunction and other hallmarks of aging. They also found that exercise increased concentrations of taurine metabolite levels in the blood.
While more research is needed on taurine supplementation, dietary sources can be prioritized. Shellfish (scallops, clams and mussels) are the best dietary source of taurine, followed by lamb, beef, pork and chicken.
The long, relaxing days of summer have come and gone, and whether we are ready or not, fall is here. Many of us may be in need of some soothing right about now after dealing with the back-to-school whirlwind of September and the start of plummeting temperatures.
Enter tea—the perfect solace. We can sip our way to tranquility this October with EarthShack Gifts & Herbiary’s teas of the month—lemon balm and their “Just Calm Down” blend.
“Lemon balm is renowned for its soothing traits, and when lemon balm dances with oat straw in our unique blend, aptly named Just Calm Down, the calming embrace intensifies twofold,” says owner Bill Reneau. “Embrace serenity this month with a cup of these potent herbal teas.”
For more information, visit EarthShack in the Amish Market, in Mullica Hill, or visit them online at www.EarthShack.org.
Do you suffer from digestive problems, autoimmune conditions, fatigue, insomnia? Do you have children with eczema, allergies, autism, ADHD, constipation?
Charlotte Nussbaum, MD, a triple board-certified pediatrician and internist can work with you to reclaim your and your family’s health.
A study published in the journal Geophysical Research Letters shows that the pumping of groundwater impacts the tilt of Earth’s rotation and further exacerbates climate change. The study reports that in less than two decades, Earth has tilted 31.5 inches because of pumping groundwater, equating to about a quarter of an inch of sea level rise.
Previous research from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration in 2016 demonstrates that because the Earth moves on a rotational pole, the distribution of water on the planet impacts the distribution of mass. In other words, the Earth spins a little differently as water is moved around due to pumping, ultimately impacting its tilt. Researchers believe this shift could have serious consequences in the long term—from changes in climate patterns to more frequent seismic activity if Earth’s core moves as a result.
Human activities, such as irrigation, water consumption and global droughts have led to a considerable amount of groundwater pumping in the last few decades, with the water eventually relocating to the oceans. Conservationists are using this data to understand how to rethink water usage and work toward preventing continued sea level rise and other climate issues.
In a landmark climate case in Montana, a group of young people has emerged victorious. The judge ruled in Held v. Montana that the state’s failure to consider climate change when approving fossil fuel projects was unconstitutional, thereby placing the burden on state agencies to take action to reduce net greenhouse gas emissions.
This decision marks a significant win in the fight against government support for oil, gas and coal, which have contributed to global warming. The ruling means that Montana must now take climate change into account when deciding whether to approve or renew fossil fuel projects. The state attorney general’s office intends to appeal the decision.
This case is part of a larger wave of climate-change litigation that targets companies and governments around the world. Other states and cities have sued major companies seeking damages from climate disasters, while individuals have sued governments for enabling the fossil fuel industry and failing to protect citizens. The case, which was the first of its kind to go to trial in the U.S., sets an important precedent for similar cases in other states and may have reverberations around the world.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing the education sector, bringing unprecedented opportunities for personalized learning experiences and teaching assistance. AI can help teachers identify gaps in students’ understanding, enabling a swift, tailored response. AI tools can also be used as study aids, reinforcing classroom concepts and driving student engagement.
Two organizations—California-based online educator Khan Academy and Seattle-based computer science education nonprofit Code.org —have joined forces to create a free, five-part AI training series for teachers. Code.org also offers two instructional videos for teachers, students and the public.
Despite the potential for AI in the classroom, teachers’ contributions remain crucial as facilitators of technology tools to foster enriched learning environments. Teachers can also identify if students are leveraging AI assistance, such as ChatGPT, helping ensure the ethical usage of these tools. Khan Academy, Code.org and others are providing teachers and administrators with the tools they will need to keep pace with emerging technology.
Magpies and crows in Scotland, Holland and Belgium are using metal spikes— originally intended to deter bird perching—to build their nests. The spikes appear to provide several nesting benefits, such as structural support, protection against predators and even as a signal of mate quality.
According to researcher Auke-Florian Hiemstra from the Naturalis Biodiversity Center and Leiden University, in the Netherlands, the metal spikes seem to provide a similar function to more natural materials, such as thorns. However, manmade materials in nests can be dangerous. For example, metal may get cold at night and harm chicks, or the spikes can collect materials that can be harmful to the birds.
This is not the first documentation of birds using harsh, manmade materials for nesting. The first account of a crow’s nest made of barbed wire dates back to 1933, and more modern examples include the use of nails, screws and syringes.
As first frosts arrive, annual plants die back and perennials begin to go dormant. This can create a considerable amount of leaf litter and dead stalks as the once-lush garden and yard turn brown. Many people mow and rake up the debris so that the ground is neat and bare. This winter, consider allowing at least some of this fallen foliage to remain where it lands. This will benefit the local ecosystem and reduce greenhouse gas emissions in landfills.
When temperatures drop, many insects live or leave eggs in fallen plant materials. By resisting the urge to tidy our yards, we can protect biodiversity and preserve beneficial bugs, such as stick insects, pill bugs and millipedes. While bumblebees hibernate underground, other bee species find their way into the hollow stems of native plants to rest and wait for spring. Certain butterflies find cozy shelter in plant litter, and some caterpillars roll themselves up in fallen
leaves. Toads and salamanders lie dormant in the ground or under the protection of plant debris.
Birds are drawn to highly textured landscapes with a diversity of plants. They feed on seed heads left standing and forage for insects among the litter. When snow piles up on fallen foliage, voles and mice scavenge through the debris for seeds and nuts. Squirrels and opossums may find edibles in the layers of mulch. The extra plant material on the ground creates habitats for more spring insects that will benefit birds, toads and other creatures when the snow melts.
Perennial root systems tucked in for winter with a protective blanket of garden waste are less likely to be harmed by extreme cold temperatures. The ground is also less likely to freeze and thaw as the temperatures vary.
Take a walk through the woods in the fall. Leaves drop; plants die back; and the ground is carpeted with a rich layer of composting materials. This loamy soil in the woods is some of the healthiest to be found. In the spring, plants reappear through the layer of humus without effort.
If saving the plants, insects and birds isn’t motivation enough, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency states that yard debris takes up as much as 6 percent of all waste in landfills, producing methane as it breaks down. If the garden or yard must be cleaned up, pile the material onsite or take it to a compost site instead of putting it in the trash.
Painful compressions ... ionizing radiation exposure ... false positives ... over-diagnoses. Mix in an unhealthy dose of dread, fear and anxiety and we’ve pretty much captured the typical mammogram experience.
Enter Thermographic Diagnostic Imaging where Dr. Philip Getson utilizes the latest in breast thermography technology and a holistic approach to wellness in order to detect and address physiological changes in tissue at the cellular level.
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“Most tumors, by the time they show up on a mammogram, have already been growing in the body for eight to 10 years,” Getson says. “Thermography gives us a unique opportunity to detect physiological changes early before any actual disease occurs. Mammography can only pick up anatomical abnormalities once they are formed, whereas the infrared imaging cameras in thermography accurately spot any physiological changes such as abnormal blood vessels and increased surface temperatures.”
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He is a conventionally trained Osteopathic Family Physician and he encourages women to research the dangers of aluminum-based antiperspirants and wearing underwire bras which constrict breast tissue and lymph flow.
Dense breast tissue can result in high levels of false negatives from routine mammography. “There are more than 800,000 unnecessary biopsies a year performed on women who are otherwise perfectly healthy,” Getson says. Thermography does not give off any harmful radiation and is a non-contact test.
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Thermographic Diagnostic Imagining also conducts thyroid, dental and facial studies to screen for potential dysfunctions. “There are eight teeth connected to the mammary glands. Treating dental infections can minimize the risk for certain types of breast disease,” he adds. “With regard to thyroid dysfunction, we have found that laboratory testing is often not highly accurate in measuring the function of the gland. A physiologic approach can provide more information.”
Thermographic Diagnostic Imaging, 100 Brick Rd., Ste. 206, Marlton, NJ. For more information or to make an appointment, call 856-596-5834, email tdi@comcast.net or visit www.TDINJ.com.
variety of sponsorship and partnership packages are available.
Having grown frustrated from nearly 10 years in treating patients using Western medicine modalities only, Dr. Ken Cheng knew he needed to find a different direction.
“We were seeing the same patients we thought we had treated successfully return six months to a year later presenting with the same symptoms,” Cheng says of his time working as a physical therapist at a well-known traditional medical practice.
His new direction pointed east and led Cheng back to his own Chinese heritage. “My aunt and uncle were doctors practicing Eastern medicine, which focuses on treating the whole person and not just the symptoms,” he says.
Now owner of the South Jersey Physical Therapy and Sports Medicine (SJPT) facility, Cheng combines the best of both worlds, creating individualized treatment plans using time-tested Eastern and evidence-based Western medicine.
“We have made it our practice to educate our clientele and provide a clear roadmap on what steps are needed to optimize their health and wellness,” Cheng says.
“When an individual takes responsibility for educating themselves for their body’s dysfunctions, they reap the benefits and share that knowledge friends and family,” Cheng says. “Everyone around them gets healthier because of it!”
“We didn’t set out to change people’s lives in this way, but seemingly when people have a safe place to land and a clear roadmap, the bigger picture becomes so much easier to see … and life changes in fact!”
A much-needed change from the business model Cheng had experienced in a traditional practice was also an important step to developing his vision for delivering better care.
“Typically, most practices will have three to five scheduled patients waiting for the same appointment time,” Cheng explains. “At SJPT, we are intentional about scheduling one client at a time.” Initial consultations are 90 minutes with follow-up appointments one hour each.
Unexpected open-heart surgery in 2005 gave Cheng a unique perspective as a patient and led him, along with hard work and determination, to graduating at the top of his class with a doctor of physical therapy degree. Tapping into that same determination, Cheng later continued his studies with some of the premier and leading-edge functional medical practitioners and pioneers in healing.
His holistic approach to wellness includes helping his clients understand the importance of how they move and their lifestyle habits including diet, sleep and effective ways to reduce stress. The practice also holds seasonal workshops on a variety of topics covering the importance of the mind/body connection.
SJPT’s compassionate care continues in their work with their community partners. “The very people, who all day long, help others find wellness … the trainers, nutritionists and functional docs … are often suffering from the same health issues as their patients,” Cheng says. These cooperative events provide an important opportunity to exchange treatments with, and support to, other caregivers.
“We are proud to see our patients, some in as little as three to six weeks, go beyond fully recovering to feeling empowered and finally in charge of their own lives.”
South Jersey Physical Therapy and Sports Medicine is at 1299 Rte. 38, Ste. 9, in Hainesport, NJ. For more information or to make an appointment, call 609-845-3585, email info@SouthJerseyPT.com or visit www.SouthJerseyPT.com.
William (Bill) Reneau is an entrepreneur, e-business consultant and is the owner and participating woodworker in the artisan store EarthShack. He has worked as a consultant, owner and partner for over the last 35 years in the fields of business and technology solutions. He is also a mesa carrier and initiated shaman within the Peruvian and Aztec traditions.
Reneau’s diverse array of talents and experiences gives him a unique and refreshing perspective to problem solving. His main strength is his ability to draw from and blend his knowledge of business and technology with shamanic principles to access, identify and utilize the various needs of a company.
Although he also has other businesses, “EarthShack is the one that feeds my soul,” he says. About 12 years ago, Reneau developed a renewed interest in herbalism and woodworking while creating pieces with his then-partner. They sold their creations at craft fairs for one year before establishing a location in an Amish Market in Mullica Hill, New Jersey, which was ultimately the genesis of EarthShack.
Reneau takes pride in how EarthShack has evolved. He now offers handmade and fair-trade pieces in the shop, along with more than 200 organic teas, essential oils, salves and hemp cannabidiol (CBD) products. He supports more than 300 artists that craft most of the items he carries.
Reneau has also just introduced Well-Being Services to his customers through his other company website www.BillReneau.com. Encompassing a diverse toolkit, this initiative offers apprenticeships, coaching, mentoring and shamanic practitioner services, providing people with many ways to nurture their inner selves.
“I’ve experienced a lot of personal growth during this journey,” Reneau reflects. “EarthShack was healing for me. I learned a lot over the years from the indigenous cultures and traditions.” And as an initiated shaman, he is honored to help pass those traditions on to future generations.
EarthShack is located at 108 Swedesboro Rd., Mullica Hill, NJ 08085 in the Amish Market. For more information, call 856-210-7662 or visit www.BillReneau.com or www.EarthShack.org.
A natural-born educator, Bonnie Fedge’s passionate and innate ability to inspire others to learn has led her on an extraordinary life adventure.
Beginning as a resourceful high schooler, Fedge taught herself how to heal by learning the not-very-well-known-at-the time connection between her own health issues and good nutrition. That same pioneering spirit led to a challenging and gifted career as a public school ESL teacher in the Bronx. From there, this trailblazing educator spent time in both Haiti and Chile wonderfully impacting hundreds of students along the way.
For the last three decades, Fedge’s journey brings her gift for teaching to her work as a holistic healer. She is a Reiki Master, Certified Integrative Wellness Coach, and an Advanced Akashic Records Reader.
“The Akashic Records are the vibrational memory of our soul’s story,” Fedge explains. As the owner and operator of her company, JADE ROSE, Bonnie helps her clients navigate a wide variety of life’s questions and issues. “About half of my clients are brand new to the Records with the other half being frequent and vibrant seekers, and we build a relationship.”
One-on-one sessions are over the phone and can help people better manage a particular part of their life, find purpose, discover personal or business insights and answers, or even work through grief and find peace.
“From the first time I learned of the Akashic Records, I loved it,” Fedge said. In addition to her practice, she holds workshops and seminars teaching.
“There is an unconditional love and joy that can be found in the Akashic Records, and healing, too. I love to share the clarity the Akashic Records offer.”
Go to www.Jaderose.org to learn more about the Akashic Records and other educational services provided including integrative wellness coaching, meditation, yoga, essential oils and workshops.
Staying on top of new emerging health issues and practicing “Root Cause Nutrition”, the experienced team at the Natural Health Improvement Center (NHIC) of South Jersey provide safe, natural and non-invasive solutions for the whole family.
“Post-COVID-19, pathogens are tougher, people are weaker and we’re having to use much stronger protocols and supplements to resolve the increase in infections and parasites we are seeing,” says owner and Director Sarah Outlaw, who oversees the South Jersey NHIC clinic and two other NHIC locations in Iowa and South Carolina, as well as a virtual worldwide practice.
Specializing in Advanced Muscle Testing, a science-based analysis of muscle function, the staff can pinpoint underlying sources of virtually any health problem. Nutritional guidance, custom-made whole-food supplements and a wide array of services ensure each client achieves optimal results.
NHIC of South Jersey offers comprehensive functional bloodwork, hormone and other lab testing, as well as emotional health services like Emotion Code and Body Code, revolutionary energy balancing systems, and Pulsed Electromagnetic Field Therapy (PEMF) to manage pain. Herbal, nutritional and flower essence therapies, as well as homeopathy and nutritional coaching and ionic foot detox, are also offered.
Outlaw, who is working on her Doctorate, holds a master’s degree in Applied Clinical Nutrition from New York Chiropractic College, and has earned professional certificates as a Health Coach, Clinical Herbalist, Emotion Code/Body Code Practitioner, Advanced Nutrition Response Testing and Quantum Nutrition Testing Practitioner. She is the author and publisher of the Real Life Outlaw blog, where she writes about real food, natural living and holistic health. She is a renowned speaker nationwide and teaches on a variety of health topics.
The Natural Health Improvement Center of South Jersey, located at 1020 Kings Hwy. N., Ste. 110, in Cherry Hill, offers both in-person and virtual appointments. For more information or for appointments, call 856-667-6805, email info@nhicsouthjersey.com or visit www.NHICSouthJersey.com
Veronica Carpenter, a certified Yoga Therapist, helps anxious humans find balance in practical and playful ways to support self-love and stress relief. She is a “solopreneur” residing in Audubon, New Jersey, teaching through a trauma-informed lens under the name Blissful Butterfly Yoga. The name of the studio represents the courage of the path and journey of the butterfly, for it was first a caterpillar, then turns to go inside a chrysalis before being rebuilt by the grace of the Divine into a butterfly. Then it must with considerable effort make its way out of the chrysalis to build up its wing strength to be able to fly free. This is just how life is: Metaphorically we are churned into mush by the waves of life time and time again throughout our journey here. It is only by the grace of the Divine, partnered with our own will and determination, that we can use these shattering stages of life to support our metamorphosis, which can lead us to living in alignment with our most blissful selves.
Through writing/blog and video, her social media presence and in conversation with her students, Carpenter often shares bits of her story, recovering from developmental and spiritual traumas, and living with androgenic alopecia, to inspire others to do the work of transforming times of crisis into tools for cultivating strength, courage, deeper understanding and resilience.
Her offerings are sacred spaces where students are encouraged to meet themselves with loving kindness, compassion and a dash of playfulness.
Carpenter currently offers live, online, accessible, group yoga classes, 1:1 Yoga Therapy sessions and monthly Soulhood Circle Gatherings. She also leads in-person Yoga and Mindful Nature special events in southcentral New Jersey.
All of her services are aimed to make the ancient practices of yoga accessible to the average person.
For more information on her offerings, visit www.BlissfulButterflyYoga.com.
Born a creative, Kelly Lynch’s artistic bent wove its way through many iterations from a successful career as a hair stylist to furniture restoration. So, when the idea emerged to open her own Hammer & Stain wood and paint studio, it found a perfect match in Lynch’s boundless energy and people-oriented personality.
“Many clients will come in tightly wound and sure they have zero artistic ability,” Lynch says. “I love empowering them by encouraging—and sometimes pushing them—out of their comfort zone, helping them realize nothing is perfect and that all art is meant to be flawed.
“There is always a tipping point, and it’s my favorite moment during any workshop, where a participant begins to realize they are creating something really wonderful.”
Lynch’s ability to usher others into realizing their potential and discover the courage to express that side of themselves has been an evolution. It has been deeply enriched by the second hat this amazing entrepreneur wears—as distributor of Green Compass CBD.
“I began taking CBD to save myself,” she explains. “I had become completely overstressed to the point where I was breaking my teeth from clenching them so hard.”
Now, Lynch brings her more balanced and life-affirming message into the lives of others including at her studio where she holds regular wellness workshops. She strives to remind others that, through art and healing, living a better and healthier life is possible.
Hammer & Stain studio is located at 24 Haddon Ave., Haddon Township, NJ. For more information, email Kellyshopeinhemp@gmail.com or visit www.HammerAndStainNJ.com
During a snowy winter in 2011, having recently moved from Bensalem, Pennsylvania, to Mount Laurel, New Jersey, away from family and friends, Heather Hirsh, a stay-at-home mom, realized she was struggling.
“I was feeling isolated, lonely, depressed and fatigued,” she says. Today the owner and operator of three South Jersey Burn Boot Camps and the newly launched Project LeanNation franchises reflects on her journey to wellness.
“I was never really athletic, but I remember loving aerobics class and how great I felt afterwards from the endorphins,” Hirsh says.
Hirsh dove into an opportunity to improve her overall wellness and began helping others which led to meeting the founders of what would become the popular nationwide model for Burn Boot Camps.
After visiting the first location in North Carolina, an inspired Hirsh recalls, “I felt welcomed, supported and encouraged by the women in the gym working out alongside me and when I returned home, I knew I wanted to bring this same community and sense of empowerment to our area.”
“In our gyms, we are intentional about creating a safe and welcoming environment where women, no matter where they are on their health and fitness journeys, feel accepted and not judged,” Hirsh adds. “Plus, we offer complimentary childwatch, which allows our members 45 minutes to focus on themselves.” In addition, members can have 1:1 Focus Meetings where trainers can help explore individual challenges, issues and goals.
“We are creating important connections and growing a community where we all can feel a sense of real belonging,” Hirsh says. “As our members, mostly women, begin to experience success, feel better and begin to thrive, many of their significant others notice the difference and are drawn in as well making it a family affair.”
The major next step for this dynamic entrepreneur and mother of three was the recent launch of a Project LeanNation franchise, a nutrition company dedicated to educating, supporting and creating better health through healthy prepared meals and protein shakes.
“You can’t out-train a bad diet,” Hirsh says. “People think walking into a gym is the hardest part of fitness, but really understanding the ‘how, when, what and why’ of eating well when you are home is most critical.”
“These are made-from-scratch, delicious, chef-crafted meals which can be served in under three minutes,” Hirsh relates. “With our busy lifestyles, it’s the perfect way to incorporate nutritious, responsibly sourced meals made with all-natural, gluten-free ingredients into our diets.” Advanced InBody scanning with one-on-one coaching is also available in addition to various, affordable meal plans.
Project LeanNation is located at 230 North Maple Ave., in the Crispin Square Shopping Center, in Marlton. For more information, call 856-7545899, email PLNMarlton@ProjectLeanNation.com or visit www.ProjectLeanNation.com/locations/marlton-nj
Area Burn Boot Camps: 652 W. Cuthbert Blvd., Haddon Township, 856-966-5802, HaddonTownshipNJ@BurnBootCamp.com, www.BurnBootCamp.com/locations/haddon-township-nj/. 872 Union Mill Rd., Mount Laurel, 856-924-8540, MtLaurel@BurnBootCamp.com, www.BurnBootCamp.com/locations/mt-laurel-nj/. 1140 White Horse Rd., Voorhees, 856-437-9112, VoorheesNJ@BurnBootCamp.com, www.BurnBootCamp.com/locations/voorhees-nj/
A renowned, high-profile chef and baker, Melissa Torre was reaching the pinnacle of her career as the owner of a popular bakery and a much-in-demand private chef.
“We were receiving tons of press with appearances on Chopped and Cupcake Wars, as well as local television programs,” Torre says.
But a persistent autoimmune condition resulting in chronic eczema and psoriasis led this successful baker to consider the impossible … avoiding wheat. North Jersey born and raised with Southern roots, bagels, pizza and biscuits had been mainstays in Torre’s diet.
“When I changed my diet, 90 percent of my symptoms disappeared almost immediately,” she says. In addition, Torre explored some good, old-fashioned home remedies. “I tried every medical prescription, but nothing worked on my skin issues, so I began experimenting with bacon fat.”
After receiving good results, Torre moved on to tallow and began discovering its amazing properties including vitamins A, D, E and K which support healthy skin.
“I began making other skincare products for myself and my friends, like lip balm and soap, and soon began, part time, selling them at local farmers markets and craft fairs,” Torre explains. It didn’t take long for success to follow, leading Torre to close her bakery and launch her new brainchild, Vellum Street.
The same standards for using only high-quality, organically and locally sourced ingredients Torre applied as a baker and chef carried over in her approach to producing Vellum Street products.
Also paramount is her commitment to reducing waste. “We source out ingredients from area restaurant kitchens and farms in the form of upcycled mater that would normally be thrown away,” Torre says. “There’s intrinsic value realized every time we are able to reuse.”
Cooking up healthy and healing products turns out to be the real secret ingredient to Vellum Street’s now decade-long success. For more information, visit www.VellumStSoapCompany.com
Retired from a successful career working for Judiciary-Family Court, Marla Gerrow found she fell into a “very deep funk” after her mother, whom she was caring for, passed away and her daughter moved across the country.
“Five months later, it all hit,” Gerrow says. “I knew I was grieving on many different levels and needed guidance.”
That help came in the form of spiritual discoveries which ultimately led her to become a Reiki Master, Atlantean practitioner and Pellowah Energy Healer.
Pellowah is an ultra-high vibrational frequency energy which can help create significant shifts in perception, mindset, consciousness and overall outlook. A hands-off practice, Pellowah can be found it to be more effective energy than other healing modalities.
Popular and well-known throughout Europe, the UK and Australia, Gerrow went to Edinburgh, Scotland, for extensive training to also become a Pellowah practitioner.
Tapping into the same empathy, compassion and wisdom which served her so well in the past, Gerrow brings an amalgamation of healing power to each client.
Location: 1200 South Church St., Ste. 7A, Mount Laurel, NJ. For more information on her services or to make an appointment, call 609-923-7389 or visit Facebook.com/marla.gerrow.
Una McKenzie, Cranial Prosthesis Specialist of The Hair Boutique, is dedicated to helping individuals navigate their journey with hair loss with confidence and dignity.
Her journey began with a simple vision: to combine deep understanding of the challenges of hair loss with expert, compassionate guidance. She knows that hair loss isn’t just about aesthetics; it’s an experience that can profoundly impact one’s self-esteem and emotional well-being.
She specializes in medical-grade wigs that are sourced and crafted with the highest standards. Each piece is meticulously designed to provide a natural look, comfort and longevity, with a range of options to suit different styles and preferences. All of their products are part of their exclusive brand, ensuring customers receive a wig that’s as unique as they are are.
If desired, she is a cranial prosthesis specialist is available to provide individualized consultations. They consider client’s lifestyle, personal style and specific needs to ensure that their choice enhances their daily life and brings them confidence.
The Hair Boutique is more than just a business—it’s a community that understands and supports us through our hair loss journey.
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Whether relaying a message from a baby in utero that doesn’t like the name the parents are planning to give them or explaining past trauma of a rescue dog to new owners or being on the receiving end of one of her life-changing, life-affirming energy readings, Sincearay, a natural-born intuitive, delivers powerful and transformative guidance to each and every experience.
Sincearay, a Heyoka empath, considered to be the rarest and strongest of intuitives, explains, “Energy is energy and my first step to tap into it is to simply start with a prayer.”
“Before every reading, I silently pray for the ability to pass on the knowledge and answers each person is seeking,” Sincearay says. “It’s important that I prepare and level down my own energy before I enter into theirs.”
Being highly sensitive to energy and vibration, Sincearay has a heightened awareness to her immediate surroundings. “Sound vibrations are the densest vibration. I feel them very physically. For example, sometimes at events, somewhere in the room someone uses a crystal sound bowl. Painful vibrations radiate through my bones. Crystal sound bowls are the most painful vibrations I have ever felt,” says Sincearay. “I also avoid movie theaters because of the loud, intense vibrations. It can be difficult to breath because of constant intense vibrations on my lungs.”
Having the ability to feel emotions, thoughts and energy of those around her began in childhood where she first experienced communicating with spirits at the tender age of 3. “I didn’t realize, when I was little that the people, I was speaking with had died and were in the non-physical realm.”
That, and the fact that she lived through epic and tragic trauma and loss as a child, left her vulnerable to loneliness and unacceptance. Humor, a Heyoka empath’s super
power, brought her through. “Everything was so incredibly sad in my life, the only thing I had left was my sense of humor.”
One of her most powerful gifts she shares is her artistic ability. Gifted and formally trained, Sincearay holds a degree in fine arts and creates custom personal energy portraits and conducts paint readings. Each piece displays the reflection of inner beauty and emanating light, and can serve as a touchstone to inspiration for the individual.
“The energy during a paint reading can actually move the paint around in very detailed and amazing ways, resulting in a finished piece that is similar to a revealing inkblot test,” says Sincearay, citing a recent work which revealed a samurai warrior.
Bringing her compassionate voice to those who are unable to express for themselves, Sincearay also offers readings on those experiencing autism, cognitive disabilities as well as coma patients. “These readings provide important understanding to caretakers and loved ones.”
Other services include in-person reading, paint reading, medium work, pet reading, phone reading appointments, email/text readings, Tarot Card reading, dream interpretation, personal or space cleansing, and more.
Her vast, dramatic life experiences combined with her natural giftedness in so many areas, Sincearay possesses an extraordinary wheelhouse of abilities to help others live their best lives.
For more information, call or text
971-409-2556, email Sincearay@gmail.com or visit www.Sincearay.com.
With time-tested wisdom and natural roots, traditional and Indigenous medicine has been an integral resource for centuries in communities around the world. According to the World Health Organization, 88 percent of all countries are estimated to use traditional medicine, such as herbal remedies, acupuncture and shamanism. The contribution of these practices is increasingly being recognized by Western medicine, especially in collaboration with integrative, holistic and regenerative medicine. The pandemic prompted renewed interest in traditional treatments, and incorporating them into wellness and healing modalities is easier and more valuable than ever.
Herbalist and spiritual coach Lucretia VanDyke integrates rituals, plant-spirit meditation, holistic food and ancestor reverence into her practice. An expert on Southern folk healing, VanDyke notes in her book, African American Herbalism, that Indigenous practices were never lost, but people had to go underground for fear of persecution.
“Herbal and sacred ceremonial practices of enslaved people of African descent were highly regulated or banned by the United States government in an effort to control the people most affected by colonization,” she explains. “In the mid-18th century, Virginia and South Carolina made it a capital offense to practice herbalism, resulting in harsh punishment or even execution if found guilty. Additionally, in 1883, the U.S. Department of Interior came up with the Code of Indian Offenses, which implemented laws that applied only to Native people until 1978. They were punished for dances and feasts by imprisonment or withholding food rations for up to 30 days.”
Noting a resurgence of these once-forbidden practices, VanDyke adds, “Today, I see people trying to branch out on their spiritual journey and seeking sources outside their Christian upbringing to answer questions within themselves with practices like herbalism and African traditional religion coming more into the mainstream.”
Linda M. Conroy, MSS, MLSP, is an educator, herbalist and community organizer who dedicates her life to connect-
ing with the green world. She is the founder of two annual gatherings: the Midwest Women’s Herbal Conference and the Mycelium Mysteries Women’s Mushroom Conference. She also provides herbal education, workshops and individual consultations through her Wisconsin-based business, Moonwise Herbs.
“Herbalism is a practice where people connect and work with plants for healing and nourishment,” she says. “Plants, herbs and mushrooms have been around long before we have and provide an innate connection to the earth. Everyone has ancestors that grew and foraged for their own food, and we remember that in our being. It’s a different experience from buying a plant or pill from the store shelf.”
Misconceptions about herbalism are common in America, Conroy asserts. “In other countries such as Cuba, Germany and China, conventionally trained physicians still learn about more than 50 herbs in their training, but the United States all but abandoned herbalism after the development of antibiotics and pharmaceuticals,” she explains. “The pandemic has helped spawn a resurgence of interest, with people increasingly disappointed by
Although Indigenous healing practices do not have scientific studies to support their efficacy, they do have the observational and traditional support of her people, Topa Tate’ says. “The Apache learned medicinal properties from the plants and honored the position of being stewards of the land,” she asserts. “We learned from our virtuous elders that plants provide us with medicine and food, as well as spiritual qualities, such as smudging, essential oils and incense, which help to cleanse the body, mind and spirit.”
According to Topa Tate’, a shamanic journey is a visit to the energy world and can lead someone to insightful wisdom regarding their life’s purpose. “The spirit world provides a release of the thoughts that limit us and brings us into a realm where we can be guided by higher thought,” she explains. “Visiting the spirit world with proper guidance allows us to access the worlds of healing, wisdom, angels, the past, the future and even the symbolic energies of our present lives through our mind. Another way to find this release is to understand that words are energy carriers and can provide our mind, body and spirit with a source of enlightenment. We do this through our drumming songs and ceremonies, but also by becoming more aware and harnessing the power of words as medicine in everyday actions.”
Energy work can help us reconnect with that part of ourselves that facilitates healing, says Topa Tate’. “I recommend beginning the day with a five-minute morning ceremony that gives thanks to the creator for a beautiful day and invokes our helpers to offer assistance with particular projects. As a healer, it is important to teach people how
to manage their stress with more productive platforms, such as meditation, nature walks and seeking out their life’s purpose. There is a misconception that only Native people can do this energy work, but we are all one family and can learn how to integrate the natural wellness that the Native people have used for centuries,” she explains.
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is based on the philosophy, experiments and experiences indigenous to Chinese culture. It has been practiced for more than 2,500 years and is used for health maintenance as well as the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of physical and mental illness. According to Dr. Heming Zhu, NCCAOM, a board-certified acupuncturist and Chinese herbalist, author, educator, scientist and founder of Harmony Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine, in Maryland, the basis of TCM lies in the belief that the human body is a holistic system deeply connected to the universe.
“TCM is influenced by the flow of vital energy called qi. To restore the balance of qi and gain the harmony of life’s paired aspects known as yin and yang, TCM practitioners use various techniques, including acupuncture, moxibustion [burning herbs at acupressure points], herbal medicine, massage, qigong and dietary therapy,” Zhu explains.
Zhu says that TCM modalities fit into either a physical therapy or chemical therapy category and can be introduced for regular maintenance. “Acupuncture is commonly used for addressing fatigue, stress, pain, gastrointestinal issues, arthritis and improving overall well-being. Cupping is beneficial for relieving stress and muscle soreness. Tui-na, a form of therapeutic massage, is used for musculoskeletal disorders, digestive issues, pain and more. Gua sha helps manage stress and alleviate muscle tension and pain. Moxibustion can boost energy, improve digestion and address cold-related ailments. Qigong and tai chi are gentle, mind-body exercises that reduce stress and promote relaxation and overall mental well-being. Chemical therapy includes herbal medicine and dietary therapy to emphasize the con-
nection between food and health,” he says. TCM can be incorporated into an established wellness routine, and Zhu offers a few guidelines to ensure the best results. “People should seek education on the basic principles of TCM and be intentional not to judge it by Western medicine standards. They should find a licensed and experienced TCM practitioner and keep an open mind in initial consultations. Simple TCM practices, such as mindful breathing, gentle stretching or drinking herbal teas, can be incorporated into a daily wellness routine, and lifestyle changes, such as sleep routines and stress management, are part of the healing process,” Zhu says.
“There are multiple factors to illness, but often our emotions and trauma, either intergenerational or personal, are at the core,” VanDyke says. “Creating ceremonies based on the old ways gives you the strength to show up for yourself and makes it a little easier to move through the experience. Grief is a multilayer process, and it takes a holistic approach to co-create a path to a new normal. Our emotions are like invisible chains that bind us in a trauma loop, and having support for that is important. Nurturing the spirit is one thing that Western medicine does not talk about. I find that laughter, joy, pleasure and feeding the child-like spirit in us helps with this when life gets heavy. Ask yourself how you prioritize joy, and create your own rituals that center traditions while honoring your true self.”
Carrie Jackson is a Chicago-based freelance writer. Connect at www.CarrieJacksonWrites.com.
From the time we wake in the morning, we begin to take in life. How we digest, process, assimilate and let go of life is what we look at to understand what healing modality we need.
Thai medicine is not as widely known and spoken about as other more common healing modalities in the West, but its use is growing here.
Thai medicine is Buddhist medicine, and while one need not be Buddhist, understanding simply that at a fundamental level this medicine practice holds at its core: compassion, loving kindness, sympathetic joy and equanimity. These “four limitless qualities” or Brahmaviharas are held sacred to anyone practicing Thai medicine. Those that have seen such a practitioner would have noticed a soft and loving presence, a feeling of being seen, heard and felt at our very heart.
n INTERNAL MEDICINE - herbs, concoctions and foods that are taken internally for healing.
n EXTERNAL MEDICINE - the orthopedic sciences (massage), utilizing medicated oils, liniments, herbal compresses, scraping (gua sha) and tok sen.
n DIVINATORY SCIENCES - astrology, numerology, palmistry, understanding tendencies towards imbalances.
n SPIRIT MEDICINE OR MAGIC MEDICINE - the use of mantra, yantra, sak yant, the magical tattooing, incantations and protection.
What links these limbs together is the use of element theory and the experience of these elements within us. We are each uniquely composed of earth, fire, water, wind and space. The element of earth is our experience of solidity, water our experience of fluidity, fire our experience of transformation, and heat and wind, our experience of movement,
such as our busy thoughts and space our experience of non-resistance or spaciousness, consciousness.
These elements looked at through the lens of their individual qualities and at our fingertips are the many limbs of Thai medicine; we use that which is most uniquely appropriate for healing the imbalance in those elements. Thai medicine is both simple and complex. Simply put, it is creating balance and harmony within the elements that exist within us through the expression of holding space for healing through massage, breath, connection and nourishment.
In its exquisite complexities, it is the individuation of the elemental disturbances in the body and mind and their qualities addressed through both gross and subtle applications of touch, rocking, undulating, stretching, compression, percussion and deep pressure at specific points. Each of these applications differ for each person depending on their current elemental imbalances.
It’s said that there are more than 1,000 ways to approach an imbalance and this beautiful individuality is part of the art of Thai medicine practices. It’s is also why you may never receive the same treatment twice as the individual feels differently on different days and at different times of each day. It’s poetry in motion—the poetry of healing, the beauty of nurturing loving kindness.
Marisa Incelli of the Artemis Table, is located at 30 Jackson Rd., Ste. D210, Medford, NJ. For more information, call 856-905-3204 or visit www.TheArtemisTable.com.
Traditional martial arts date back more than 2,000 years and have blossomed into about 200 styles. While originally devised to assist in hunting and protect against enemies, these practices also offer philosophical and spiritual guidance as practitioners establish a mind-body-spirit connection. According to Statista,
a German-based market research company, nearly 6.2 million people in the U.S. participate in some form of this sport.“Martial arts are for everyone, and it’s never too late to start,” says John Fonseca, an Illinois-based trainer specializing in karate, jiu-jitsu and other self-defense modalities. He is the first karate athlete in the world to win repeat gold medals at the Pan American Games, the first American to medal at the Karate World Championships in almost 16 years, and the first American to win the Paris Open in more than 30 years.
According to Fonseca, “Short-term benefits of any martial art include improved fitness, self-confidence and stress relief. While long-term benefits are hard to count, they may include increased discipline, self-defense skills and a sense of personal growth. Remember: Every black belt was just a white belt that never gave up.”
When advising beginners, the champion says, “It’s important to choose a style that suits your goals and fitness level. Each modality offers unique benefits. Find a reputable instructor or school, start gradually to avoid injury and maintain a consistent practice routine for better progress.”
With origins in Okinawa, Japan, dating back to the 17th century, the guiding principles of karate include respect, humility, perseverance and self-discipline. “A karate practice starts with kihon, or basic fundamentals, that include a variety of punches, kicks, knee strikes, elbow strikes, blocks and stances,” Fonseca explains. “These techniques are practiced repeatedly to develop muscle memory, accuracy and power. They are further developed in choreographed sequences called kata, which simulate various applications for self-defense situations.”
Practitioners perform these routines solo in a specific order and then practice the bunkai, or applications, with a partner to develop self-defense skills. “Lastly, kumite is the sparring component of karate training to develop timing, distance, adaptability and the ability to receive and deliver strikes. It involves practicing
techniques and strategies against a live, resisting opponent. Depending on the training level and focus, kumite can range from controlled, pre-arranged drills to freestyle sparring with varying levels of contact,” says Fonseca.
A martial art disguised as dance, capoeira is performed to music and traditional songs, including rhythmic clapping and drumming. Players form a circle, at the center of which two participants engage with one another in a combination of fighting and dancing. The art form was created in Brazil by African slaves in the mid-16th century. Although banned by the government after the abolition of slavery in 1888, many people continued to practice in hidden spaces. Modern capoeira was later developed around 1930, with several styles taking on their own characteristics. Emphasizing deception, flexibility and fluidity, participants learn discipline, confidence and self-control, while the use of music and instruments provides a multi-sensory experience.
Aikido, which means “the way of harmony with the spirit,” originated in 14th-century Japan and was modernized during the 1920s. Although it is mainly a throwing and pinning art, practitioners also utilize strikes, kicks, sweeps and come-alongs.
According to Greg O’Connor, chief instructor at Aikido Centers of New Jersey, “Aikido is the most challenging and most ethical of the martial arts, and the most difficult to achieve any level of black belt rank. Our practice requires working with a partner on the specific attack and technique demonstrated by the instructor. Each partner takes turns in this practice with safety for each other in mind, and we train to handle an aggressor with the full awareness that there are no rules in a self-defense situation.”
O’Connor describes aikido as a magical
skill, because as the participants learn to be patient and persevere, they often discover eye-opening alternatives to violence. It requires full integration of mind, body and spirit, as well as an awareness of how our minds and emotions can work against us, he says.
Jiu-jitsu originated in Japan, evolving over centuries, with Brazilian jiu-jitsu further developing in the early 20th century. Fonseca says that the practice focuses on leverage, technique over strength, control and adaptation. Students will first learn and practice positions, transitions, escapes and submissions, then engage in those techniques with a partner to refine their movements, timing and muscle memory.
“Live sparring, known as rolling, is a crucial aspect of jiu-jitsu training. During rolling, practitioners engage in controlled but dynamic matches with resisting opponents. The goal is to apply learned techniques, gain positional control and attempt submissions,” Fonseca explains. “Rolling helps students develop timing, adaptability and practical application
of techniques; enhances concentration, awareness, self-esteem and focus; and creates a sense of balance and calm.”
The Korean-based practice of taekwondo was developed during the 1940s as a blend of native fighting styles. Students learn kicking, punching and blocking techniques, which are applied to various forms of self-defense. According to the International Taekwondo Association, the philosophy is to build a more peaceful world, and that starts with developing individual character and positive morale. Through repeated practice and exercises, students learn courtesy, integrity, perseverance, self-control and an indomitable spirit. These five tenets are recited at the start and end of every class and become the foundation of both the students’ development as individuals and as martial artists.
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October 9 is Indigenous Peoples’ Day. Its origin traces back to 1977, during the United Nations International Conference on Discrimination Against Indigenous Populations in the Americas, but it was not proclaimed an official U.S. holiday until 2021. During this national holiday, we celebrate the invaluable contributions and resilience of Indigenous peoples, recognize their inherent sovereignty and commit to our treaty obligations with tribal nations.
The federal government recognizes 574 American Indian tribes and Alaska Native entities in the U.S. According to the United Nations, there are more than 476 million Indigenous peoples living in 90 countries worldwide, accounting for 6.2 percent of the global population.
Here are a few ways to celebrate.
HONOR THE LAND. Visit Native Land Digital ( native-land.ca ) to learn the location and history of lands inhabited by Indigenous peoples around the world. The website, which includes an interactive map, identifies territories, languages and treaties.
LEARN THE HISTORY. Winner of the 2015 American Book Award, An Indigenous Peo-
ples’ History of the United States by Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz offers a compelling history of the United States told from the perspective of Indigenous peoples.
CONNECT WITH NATURE. Indigenous peoples are exemplary stewards of the land that they inhabit, and we can take their lead by spending time in nature, acknowledging our dependence on the land and becoming good stewards of the local ecosystem.
BUILD A GARDEN. There is much to learn from Indigenous gardening techniques. Companion planting, for example, is the idea that certain plants grown together improve each other’s health and yield. Choose native plants as much as possible to support the local ecosystem. Grow healing herbs and flowers. At the end of a season, save the seeds of plants that thrived for future use.
SUPPORT INDIGENOUS BUSINESSES.
On this day and every day, consider supporting Indigenous businesses for handmade jewelry and clothing, body-care products, home decor and artwork.
VISIT A MUSEUM. The National Museum of the American Indian is part of the Smithsonian Institution, with locations in Washington, D.C., New York City and Suitland, Maryland. It curates one of the world’s largest collections of native artifacts.
TAKE UP STORYTELLING. Historically, Indigenous peoples have used storytelling to educate, inform, entertain and preserve their distinct legacy for future generations. Gather with friends and family to learn about and practice this life-affirming art.
EXPLORE INDIGENOUS ART FORMS. From traditional masks that narrate origin stories to handmade jewelry, crafts and dreamcatchers that memorialize healing dreams, there are so many wonderful art projects that we can appreciate and learn.
Kiki Powers is a health writer, blogger and national speaker specializing in plantbased nutrition and healthy green living. Learn more at www.RawKiki.com.
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In a world that often leans towards modern medicine, it’s important to remember the profound wisdom that lies in traditional healing practices. For centuries, communities around the globe have turned to nature for remedies to common ailments and overall wellness. Food has always played a role in traditional medicine with certain ingredients possessing remarkable healing properties. One such treasure is the humble sunflower seed, a nutritional powerhouse revered for its awesome health benefits.
Sunflower seeds have a rich history of medicinal use in traditional healing systems, from Native American remedies to Chinese medicine. These small, unassuming seeds offer a multitude of nutrients, including essential fatty acids, protein, fiber, vitamins, and minerals. As a result, they hold immense potential for healing and nourishing the body, mind and soul.
Heart Health: The seeds are packed with heart-friendly nutrients like vitamin E, which acts as a potent antioxidant, protecting the heart from free radicals. Additionally, the seeds’ high levels of magnesium can help regulate blood pressure and maintain a steady heartbeat, reducing the risk of cardiovascular diseases.
Digestive Health: With their considerable fiber content, these seeds can aid in promoting a healthy digestive system by preventing constipation and supporting regular bowel movements. Traditional medicine often emphasizes the importance of good gut health, recognizing that it impacts overall well-being and immunity.
Anti-Inflammatory Properties: Inflammation lies at the root of numerous chronic diseases, such as arthritis and certain cancers. By incorporating sunflower seeds into our diets, we may potentially reduce inflammation, leading to improved overall health.
Mood Booster: In Ayurvedic medicine, an ancient healing system from India, sunflower seeds are considered a natural mood booster. These seeds are believed to have a calming effect on the nervous system, alleviating stress, anxiety and even mild depression. Rich in tryptophan, an amino acid that contributes to the production of serotonin, sunflower seeds can help promote a sense of well-being and relaxation.
Essential Nutrients: Sunflower seeds can help maintain strong bones and muscles. They are particularly rich in copper, which aids in collagen production, essential for bone and connective tissue health. This makes sunflower seeds a beneficial addition to the diets of
people at risk of osteoporosis or looking to support healthy bone density.
Vitamins and Minerals: Sunflower seeds are packed with essential nutrients like vitamin E for skin and hair health, vitamin B for increased energy and cognitive function, protein for energy and muscle strength, folic acid and vitamin B9 for heart health and mood regulation, and essential minerals such as calcium, iron, manganese, zinc, and magnesium that promote bone health, red blood cell production, hormone balance and heart health.
Energy Enhancement: In Chinese Traditional Medicine, sunflower seeds are thought to be connected to the fire element, and they are believed to nourish the body’s vital energies, known as qi. By balancing qi, it is believed that one can maintain a state of health and harmony within the body and mind.
While sunflower seeds offer an array of health benefits, they should be consumed as part of a healthy and balanced diet. For those that may have specific health concerns, it’s best to consult a qualified healthcare professional before making significant dietary changes.
By incorporating these tiny, mighty seeds into our diets, we embrace the wisdom of the ages, nourish our bodies and enhance our overall wellness with their goodness. From supporting heart health to promoting digestive wellness, reducing inflammation and uplifting our spirits, sunflower seeds promote holistic wellness in so many ways. So take some sunflower seeds to work for snacking, keep some in the car and sprinkle them on salads, rice and veggies. Get creative and enjoy.
Martha Kein is the school director at The American Yoga Academy, a world-renowned, online, yoga teacher training school that’s been training and certifying yoga instructors for 30 years, and where all are welcome. For more information, visit www.AmericanYogaAcademy.com.
So much has evolved in the 100 years since Japanese educator George Ohsawa created the macrobiotic diet. For one thing, the recipes have become more flexible, empowering people to save time and use ingredients that they love. “The modern macrobiotic diet is about much more than tofu, seaweed and miso,” says chef and author Christina Pirello, the Emmy Award-winning host of Christina Cooks, on PBS. “It’s about season al, whole, unprocessed food cooked in accordance with each person’s condition and lifestyle.”
“In the beginning, there was rigidity that didn’t give you the freedom to say, ‘I don’t want to eat adzuki beans again,’” Pirello says. “Variety is key. You can’t just eat kale and drink smoothies and hope for the best. You have to get balanced nutrition with enough protein, fats and carbohydrates.”
According to Pirello, “What we eat determines how we move through the world. Are we comfortable or uncomfortable? In Chinese medicine, we are either in a state of ease or dis-ease, which became the word disease, but in Chinese medicine, it really means uncomfortable. What do you do to get back into that state of ease, or balance? That’s really what macrobiotics is about; how do you rebalance the body—the organs—to be comfortable?”
Eating in accordance with the natural order—with the seasons—is an essential concept of the macrobiotic diet and includes fall, winter, spring, summer and a fifth season, “late harvest.” The idea is to follow our intuition, Pirello advises: “If you walk into the supermarket in November, you’re not immediately attracted to cherry tomatoes and strawberries, but the winter squashes, pumpkins and parsnips call your name. Macrobiotics allows us to understand that—even here in the United States where foods are so widely available that you can have strawberries at Christmas.”
Her recipe for Winter Squash Risotto, which is featured in her new cookbook, VegEdibles, is just one example of the delicious macrobiotic dishes she has developed. “This risotto is perfect for cooler weather, when we need to keep energy in our middle organs so we are warm and cozy, centered and balanced,” Pirello says. “Come winter and fall, we want foods that are going to help the body hold onto heat. Squash, pumpkin, turnips and rutabaga are going to help relax the body and the middle organs and help us stay grounded, centered and warm. The risotto is cooked really long, so there’s a lot of warming energy that will help you in cold weather.”
“There has to be a period when the body transitions from the heat
of summer into the cool of the fall,” says Chicago area-based macrobiotic counselor Karla Walter. “That’s when we have those beautiful orange foods starting to come out, and the squashes start arriving. We have this really lovely, sweet time of the year that actually nourishes the body and helps the immune system ramp up and get ready for colder weather.”
Walter recommends the macrobiotic diet for finding calmness and rhythm. “When we eat healthy foods that sustain us, our goals come to the surface where we can see them a lot clearer. People don’t know their potential until they start to feel good about themselves,” she says.
Lisa Books-Williams, a plant-based chef, educator and therapist in the San Francisco area, encourages people to find their own plant-based path. “I found my answer at the end of a fork, instead of in a bottle of pills,” she says. “The most loving thing I ever did for myself started with changing my food choices. Sure, it would be more delicious to be eating a pizza, but eating a salad with beans and rice is how I love myself.”
Books-Williams believes that taking the extra time that is required to follow a plant-based lifestyle is worthwhile. “We can eat well inexpensively if we are willing to take an extra couple of hours each week to chop vegetables. We are worth the time it takes to batch-cook and freeze beans in single servings so we have them when we need them. Each of us has to be committed to our own well-being. No one is going to do it for us.”
While much has changed since Ohsawa introduced the macrobiotic diet, Pirello still adheres to its three core ingredients. “I still eat rice, seaweed and miso soup,” she says. “Not as much as I used to, but I still do, because miso is the greatest probiotic on the planet, followed by kimchi. Those are the greatest macrobiotics we could ever eat in our lives, and both are delicious.”
Veronica Hinke is a food historian and the author of The Last Night on the Titanic: Unsinkable Drinking, Dining and Style and Titanic: The Official Cookbook. Learn more at www.FoodStringer.com.
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YIELD: 4-6 SERVINGS
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FOR THE BROTH:
¼ red onion, diced
½ carrot, diced
¼ cup diced winter squash
Splash of white wine or mirin
3 cups spring or filtered water
FOR THE RISOTTO:
2 Tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
½ red onion, finely diced
¼ tsp sea salt
Splash of white wine or mirin
½ cup carnaroli or Arborio rice
¼ winter squash, unpeeled and finely diced
4-5 sprigs fresh basil, leaves removed, hand-shredded
To make the broth, combine all of the listed ingredients in a large saucepan over low heat and simmer for 30 minutes before making the risotto. This can be done the day before.
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For the risotto, place the olive oil in a deep skillet along with the onion over medium heat. When the onion begins to sizzle, add a pinch of salt and cook, stirring until translucent. Add the rice and a generous splash of wine, and cook, stirring until the wine is absorbed. Add ¼ cup broth and cook, stirring frequently, until the broth is absorbed. Add another ¼ cup of broth and repeat the process. Stir in half of the diced squash and cook, stirring.
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In a small saucepan over medium heat, place the remaining squash with enough water to cover halfway. Add a pinch of salt. Cook over medium heat until the squash is soft, about 20 minutes.
Continue adding the remaining broth to the rice—¼ cup at a time—and stirring until the rice is tender but al dente, about 25 minutes.
Take the remaining squash and use an emulsion blender or a food processor to purée until smooth. Stir the puréed squash into the cooked risotto. Season it lightly with salt and cook over low heat until the squash is absorbed into the rice.
Serve immediately, garnished with fresh basil.
Recipe courtesy of Christina Pirello.
YIELD: 8 SERVINGS
FOR CHILI
3½ cups fresh tomatoes, diced
1 15-oz can tomato sauce
1 15-oz can pinto beans, drained and rinsed (or 2 cups cooked pinto beans)
1 15-oz can dark red kidney beans, drained and rinsed (or 2 cups cooked kidney beans)
1 15-oz can black beans, drained and rinsed (or 2 cups cooked black beans)
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 jalapeño pepper, seeded and minced
½ small red onion, finely diced
½ small yellow onion, finely diced
1 red, yellow or orange bell pepper, finely diced
1 zucchini, finely diced
2 carrots, finely diced
2½ Tbsp chili powder
1¼ tsp cumin
⅛ tsp cayenne powder
½ tsp crushed red pepper flakes
1 can diced green chilies (optional)
1 cup fresh or frozen white corn
FOR CASHEW SOUR CREAM
1 cup cashews, soaked for 2 hours
½ cup pure water
Juice of 1 lemon
¼ tsp salt
1 tsp apple cider vinegar
Place all of the ingredients, except corn, in a large saucepan over medium heat and cook until the chili begins to boil. Note: For a meatier consistency, before placing them in the pot, place all of the veggies (except corn, tomatoes and green chilies) in a food processor fitted with an “S” blade, and pulse-chop until the ingredients become confetti size, about 2 to 3 minutes.
Cover the pot and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to low and simmer for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add the corn, cover and simmer an additional 5 minutes.
Serve over brown rice with the cashew sour cream.
To make the cashew sour cream, use a blender to combine all of the ingredients together, pulsing until smooth, about 1 to 2 minutes. Adjust seasonings to taste. Seal and store for up to 1 week in the refrigerator.
When it comes to maintaining a healthy and balanced diet, protein cannot be overlooked. Proteins are widely regarded as the “building blocks of life” and are essential to a host of bodily functions, which makes proteins an essential part of our diet.
Proteins are composed of individual molecules known as amino acids, which are necessary for numerous physiological processes within the body. There are numerous amino acids, but nine amino acids are only found in food. These are called essential amino acids. Foods containing all nine essential amino acids are called complete proteins. Beef, poultry, fish, eggs, and dairy are among them.
Physiological processes describe how organs, tissues and cells work together. These processes range from food digestion, building and repairing body tissue, producing enzymes and hormones, supporting immune function, maintaining healthy skin, hair, and nails, building muscle and providing an energy source when needed. Without adequate protein, we may struggle to perform these functions optimally, leading to a wide range of health issues.
Building and Repairing Tissue: Protein is critical for tissue growth, repair and maintenance. Whether it’s repairing muscle fibers after a workout or healing wounds, protein provides the necessary raw materials for these processes to happen. More specifically, certain amino acids are needed in optimal amounts for them to begin.
Enzymes and Hormones: Enzymes facilitate chemical reactions within the body, while hormones regulate various bodily functions. Both are often composed of proteins, emphasizing their importance for overall health. Examples are the secretion
of digestive enzymes for food breakdown and the hormonal response of insulin to lower blood sugar.
Immune Function: Many components of the immune system, such as antibodies, consist of proteins. A sufficient intake of protein supports the production of these immune molecules, enhancing the body’s defense mechanisms against foreign invaders.
Gut Health: A crucial area of our immune system, the gastrointestinal barrier, which keeps foreign objects from entering the bloodstream, are composed of proteins. A breakdown can lead to leaky gut which results in various infections and autoimmune reactions.
Energy Source: While carbohydrates and fats are our primary sources of energy, protein can also be utilized for energy when necessary. However, relying solely on protein for energy isn’t ideal, as it can compromise protein’s other essential roles when the body allocates protein for energy production.
The amount of protein an individual requires daily varies based on factors such as age, sex, weight, activity level and overall health goals. The Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for protein intake is approximately 1 gram per 2.75 pounds of body weight for the average sedentary adult. That’s about 45 grams for a 125-pound person.
For those that are physically active, engage in regular exercise or have specific goals like bodybuilders and athletes, this recommendation isn’t sufficient. Active individuals require a higher protein intake to support muscle recovery and growth, joint, ligament and tendon health.
Active individuals should consume around 0.6 to 1 gram of protein per 1 pound of body weight. That’s 75 to 125 grams of protein for a 125-pound person. Those undergoing intense resistance training or aiming for significant muscle gain will benefit from a higher protein intake within
this range.
Meeting our daily protein requirements can be achieved through a variety of common sources including meats, poultry, fish, eggs, dairy products, legumes (beans and lentils), nuts, seeds and protein-based supplements like collagen or whey. Make sure the supplements chosen are derived from high-quality protein sources to achieve the best results.
Choose 100 percent grass-fed, pasture-raised beef, wild-caught fish and pasture-raised (or free range) poultry when consuming animal-based protein sources, as research shows these contain higher quality protein, fat and more vitamins and minerals than those fed grain and in feed lots, farm-raised fish and poultry kept in confined, often overcrowded and unhealthy conditions.
Likewise, when it comes to plantbased proteins, always choose organic, as these sources are free of dangerous herbicides and pesticides like glyphosate, which has been banned in Europe, and linked to cancer and gut dysbiosis. Additionally,
organic plant-based protein sources often contain fewer heavy metals, which can negatively impact different organs like the brain.
The role of protein in maintaining good health is vital. From muscle growth to immune defense, proteins are the heroes of our bodies’ inner workings. It’s crucial to understand our body’s protein needs based on factors like activity level and health goals. The key to living a healthy and vibrant life is to balance our diet with adequate protein and other essential nutrients. When it comes to protein, don’t just focus on quantity, but also make informed choices aligned with our needs.
Stephen Matti, is co-founder of Renewed Health Co, a supplement company launched last year with the goal of improving the lives of people facing health challenges. He unknowingly lived with celiac disease and endured other related ailments for years before being accurately diagnosed by Dr. Anthony Ferro, a clinical nutritionist and chiropractor. For more information, visit www.RenewedHealthCo.com.
individuals, potentially delaying the onset of Alzheimer’s. A systematic review of 11 studies involving 1,061 seniors with mild cognitive impairment suggested that tai chi training could be effective in improving cognitive function, including memory, learning, mental speed and attention. And, a 10-week study by Brown University researchers reported that cancer patients that practiced qigong displayed clinically significant improvements in fatigue.
Qigong is more than a modern wellness practice. It’s a 5,000-year-old Chinese healing art steeped in tradition. At its core, qigong revolves around the concept of qi (pronounced “chee”), considered to be the life-force energy that permeates the universe. Like love, qi can act as a potent healing agent, restoring inner peace, balance and harmony. Gong refers to the dedication and effort invested in mastering this skill, a journey marked by patience and repetition. Qigong is a moving, meditative practice aimed at harmonizing internal energies, and it is related to tai chi, which originated as a martial art.
The practice of qigong involves breath work, movement, mindfulness and stretching. It is performed with intention, yet emptiness ( wuji ), enabling practitioners to cultivate a stronger, deeper mind-body-spirit connection that allows for heightened stillness, clarity, vitality, awareness and sense of self. It has been clinically documented to alleviate stress, enhance energy levels, improve physical fitness and promote cardiopulmonary and immune function.
A 2020 study published in Frontiers in Medicine reported that qigong improved balance and coordination in older adults. In presenting their scientific approach and rationale, the researchers noted, “Qigong is an integral part of both ancient and modern Chinese medical practice and is now a popular mind-body wellness technique in the United States, as well. An estimated 2.9 million U.S. adults practiced either tai chi, qigong or both in 2012.”
In a 2012 study published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, researchers found that tai chi could enhance brain size and improve neuropsychological measures in elderly
“Knowing yourself is the real practice,” says David Stokes Hone, a naturopathic doctor, medical qigong master and founder of the Elements of Life Institute. “As practitioners, all we’re doing is reminding people of the divine connection that’s inside of them. Qigong helps clear blockages and move the stuck qi out. Just doing the practices, we allow our bodies to heal through the movement that helps us have the faith to heal. The blocks and addictions melt into the light formed by the exercises.”
According to Hone, the profound transformations achieved through qigong can range from the dramatic, such as restoring sensation in a paraplegic’s legs, to the more subtle, like the emergence of a smile. He recalls the story of a young woman entrenched in addiction who managed to turn her life around after embracing the practice.
Kevin Chen, Ph.D., a qigong master and associate professor at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, introduced qigong to his father with chronic back pain as a way to alleviate his suffering and avoid a recommended surgery.
For beginners, Tai Chi Master Violet Li emphasizes relaxation and mindfulness. “True relaxation is more a state of mind,” she explains. “When we pay attention to our body, the qi will follow.” Troy Bennett, a doctor of acupuncture and qigong master from Newfoundland, Canada, shares eight principles that he learned from Qigong Grandmaster Effie Chow.
MEDITATE. Whenever a problem arises, meditate and wait for the answer to come. If you come to the conclusion that you can’t fix the problem, then it’s not in your hands, so don’t worry about it.
BE LIKE THE WILLOW TREE Learn to be flexible in the body, mind and spirit.
BREATHE. The quality of your breath will determine the quality of your life. Breathe like a newborn baby.
CONNECT Everyone and everything in the universe is connected through qi. Remember the smallest thing you do in life will have an effect on the universe. Always hold the intention of love.
TRAIN FOR SUCCESS Remember to always help people become the best that they can become.
LEAVE A BLESSING Whenever you meet someone, always give a blessing. Your kindness can have the most powerful effect on someone’s life and transform them in ways you can only dream of.
EXPERIENCE EIGHT HUGS AND THREE BELLY-ACHING LAUGHS DAILY Don’t take life so seriously. Learn to laugh and enjoy life.
LIVE When Dr. Chow was asked, “What happens when you die?” she laughed and said, “I cannot answer that question. There is no such thing as death. There is only life.”
Nadia Linda Hole is a medical doctor, qigong master and pioneer in bridging Oriental, Western and energy medicine with Hawaiian-style qigong. She served as a consulting editor for the book Chinese Medical Qigong and contributing author in medical textbooks on complementary medicine.
by Kiki Powers
For years, we have seen a growing appreciation in contemporary culture for Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and the complementary role it can play within Western medicine. Based upon thousands of years of observation, this natural healing approach can be valuable not just for humans, but also for animal companions.
Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine (TCVM) includes the use of food therapy, acupuncture, Chinese herbs and tui-na massage to maintain health and treat disease. Some pets with chronic arthritic pain, inflammatory bowel disease, nerve damage, epilepsy, cancer and other long-term ailments may not respond well to
conventional treatments, or the side effects of Western medicine may cause even more problems. That is when TCVM can intercede to provide relief.There are a few basic principles governing TCVM. Qi is the life force that flows freely when a pet is healthy and may be blocked or weak when a pet becomes ill. Yin-and-yang refers to the interplay between natural dualities—such as light and dark or hot and cold—and the need to maintain a balance between these opposing properties. There are five elements—wood, fire, earth, metal and water—which also need to be in balance for optimal health. During an examination, a TCM vet will determine what is out of balance and develop a customized treatment plan.
Dr. Ruth Roberts, an integrative veterinarian and pet health coach, applies TCM principles when designing a whole-foods diet to optimize pet well-being and support healthy longevity. “Under TCM principles, foods have warming, cooling or neutral properties when they interact with a pet’s natural energy, and the goal is to find a balance,” she explains. “Many pet ailments may stem from or be related to imbalances within the body, as well as environmental factors, all of which underscore the need for the proper nutritional balance.”
According to Roberts, in a hot climate, a pet might need cooling foods, such as turkey, fish, banana, celery, kelp, spinach, broccoli, cabbage, cucumber and melon. In colder temperatures, warming foods such as mutton, deer, chicken, ginger, squash and pumpkin are advisable. When designing a balancing diet, neutral foods may be needed, including pork, bison, salmon, tuna, carrots, green beans, peas, olive oil and shiitake mushrooms.
Veterinary acupuncture is becoming increasingly popular to relieve pain or treat ailments, including allergies, seizures, reproductive problems and liver and kidney disease. The procedure involves the insertion of very thin needles into specific points on the body, thereby stimulating nerve endings, which then conduct impulses to the brain and spinal cord. It is best to consult an experienced, licensed
acupuncturist or TCVM specialist that specifically treats pets.
In a 2017 study published in the Canadian Veterinary Journal, researchers found, “Acupuncture alone or in combination with analgesics reduced pain and improved quality of life in dogs with neurological and musculoskeletal diseases. Dogs with musculoskeletal disorders had a better improvement in chronic pain and locomotion than those with neurological disorders.”
TCVM uses a number of herbs, roots, mushrooms, bark and other plant-based ingredients to help pets with immune dysfunction, gastrointestinal issues, skin conditions, liver and kidney disease and other long-term, chronic conditions. When it comes to more serious pet health issues, such as osteosarcoma (bone cancer), Roberts suggests the strategic use of full-spectrum hemp extract (CBD), cannabis oil (THC) and medicinal mushrooms. Dosages will differ for each individual pet. It is best to consult an integrative veterinarian or pet nutritionist.
“In several documented cases, a combination of homeopathy, TCM, medicinal mushrooms and CBD-THC solutions working together synergistically with a healing diet have helped dogs outlive their bone cancer diagnosis without harmful side effects, stressful procedures or complicated vet visits, all at a dramatically reduced cost,” Roberts says. “As they say, ‘An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure,’ especially where our beloved animal family members are concerned.”
Also under the TCVM umbrella, tui-na massage uses kneading, pressing and rolling techniques to improve a pet’s health and balance. Among the conditions that respond well to this type of massage are arthritis, muscle tension and soreness, stress and anxiety, joint paint and mobility issues. The technique focuses on stimulating acupuncture points and energy pathways, or meridians, that promote the smooth flow of qi throughout the body. This treatment can be used in conjunction with complementary therapies to enhance results.
“I strongly believe Traditional Chinese Medicine is good medicine. Western medicine is great medicine. However, the best medicine is an integration of both because each of them has their own strengths and weaknesses,” says Dr. Huisheng Xie, DVM, Ph.D., a clinical professor of integrative medicine at the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine, in Gainesville.
According to Xie, TCVM is weak in diagnosis because it does not have sophisticated diagnostic technology. Western medicine’s weakness is the large amount of side effects associated with conventional drugs. “That’s why the best medicine is to integrate both to avoid the weaknesses and take advantage of the strengths of each,” he says.
Kiki Powers is a health writer, blogger and national speaker specializing in plant-based nutrition and healthy green living. Learn more at www.RawKiki.com.
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For adults, music has the power to instill feelings of joy, relaxation and calmness, or to motivate us when we are exercising or performing a task, but for children, there are added benefits. Whether listening to a live orchestra, engaging in rhythmic games, learning to play an instrument or singing in a choir, musical pursuits have been proven to help with early brain development and teach kids important life skills.
Researchers at the University of Washington Institute for Learning & Brain Sciences discovered that play sessions with music helped 9-month-old babies learn to detect rhythmic patterns, an important skill for both music and speech. According to lead author Christina Zhao, “This means that early, engaging musical experiences can have a more global effect on cognitive skills.”
In a five-year study involving 6- and 7-year-olds, neuroscientists at the University of Southern California Brain and Creativity Institute, in partnership with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, found that music instruction appeared to accelerate brain development in young kids, particularly in the areas of the brain responsible for processing sound, language development, speech perception and reading skills.
“Music learning, such as studying to play a musical instrument or singing in tune, are very complex activities for the brain. They use multiple senses but also require those senses to interact and exchange information in a highly synchronized way,” explains Dr. Anita Collins, founder of Bigger Better Brains and author of The Music Advantage: How Music Helps Your Child Develop, Learn, and Thrive She asserts that complex musical activities are
like full-body workouts for the brain, which sharpen a child’s ability to solve problems and think creatively and divergently. As these skills are mastered, they can be transferred to other types of brain activities.
Collins advises that singing to and with children at a young age can help them gain control of their voices, as well as their speech enunciation and processing, and to hear nuances in sounds. She recommends interacting with the world of sound while outdoors and adds, “Getting a young child to focus their ears onto a particular sound can help train auditory attention, which trains the attention network in general.”
Kids need to listen actively, rather than passively, most of the time, Collins notes. “Passive music listening is hearing music in a mall. Active music listening is focusing our auditory processing on a particular instrument, on the melody line over the bass line or mirroring the rhythmic ostinato of the drum part.”
Silence also plays an important role in early development. “The biggest mistake is not thinking about a child’s auditory environment and always having the TV on or having a highly stimulating auditory environment all the time. Children need variety in their food, and sound is food for the brain. They need quiet times, unusual sounds, unexpected sounds and repetitive sounds,” says Collins.
Joan Koenig, author of The Musical Child: Using the Power of Music to Raise Children
Who Are Happy, Healthy, and Whole, says that engaging in a musical practice can help kids develop language awareness
and social skills. Such positive results are possible even without expensive music classes or instruments.
Simple call-and-response exercises can be effective in the brain development of babies and toddlers. “We are an orchestra within ourselves; we can create rhythm, melody and harmony,” Koenig explains. “A parent or caregiver can initiate a calland-response game by singing a song, tapping a wooden spoon on pots and pans or singing nonsense words. Babies will imitate it. When the baby is involved in this game during the first year of life, they are experiencing a connection with the person that’s doing it. It is visceral proof that they are being listened to and understood long before the development of language. You’re giving them the building blocks for both music and language. It’s about repetition and engagement.”
Basic life skills can also be learned with the assistance of music. “A marchand-stop song game allows children to practice stopping something fun and waiting, which can carry over to stopping when we’re upset and waiting until we have a thoughtful response,” says Elise Pennington, chair of the early childhood program at the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music, in Milwaukee. “Playing games like Ring Around the Rosie or Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes can help with a number of areas. Enrolling in an organized music class where children are active participants and being challenged will help exercise a wider range of skills in a deeper way.”
“When children or adults make music together, they become part of the musical creation,” Koenig says. “When a young child feels this kind of visceral belonging, anxiety is low and empathy and confidence are high. These are the ideal conditions for all learning.”
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take the treasures that I have found—the bits, pieces and even words on paper—and make them into art.”
Cesar Aguilera, art curator at the Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center, in Fort Myers, Florida, makes art to create consciousness about what humans use and consume. “My personal artwork and the exhibitions I design encourage others to reconsider how much we throw away,” he says. “There is not another species on Earth that creates the amount of waste that does not naturally decompose. All that we create has an impact.”
I t takes a special kind of artist to create a work of art out of discarded items. These imaginative, multimedia visionaries see beauty and purpose in the most mundane materials, including paper, computer parts, bits of plastic, leftover fabrics, used tires and random game pieces. Their thought-provoking, surprising works reduce waste that would otherwise populate landfills and prove that trash can indeed become treasure.
Motivated by a desire to educate and inspire, many upcycle artists often interweave a message of environmental consciousness into their artwork, thus spreading awareness about issues or making social commentary. Plastics found along the beach may become a collage of a thriving sea turtle, for example. Old rusty metal parts may be transformed into a steampunk clock face or a modern hanging sculpture that spins in the wind.
Artist and interior designer Noelle Turco, of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, comes from a legacy of artists that found ways to be creative with things that were left behind. “Repurposed and upcycled art is inventive and gives a second or third life to everything from packing materials and wood to bottle caps and string,” she explains. “It’s one of my favorite things to do and challenges me mentally because it makes me think about how I am going to
Jen Hardwick, a mixed-media artist who resides in Longview, Washington, loves working with vintage game pieces, toys, wood and metal. “When I moved to Seattle in the late 80s, I started going to markets, junk stores and donation centers, and I would collect all these little ‘treasures’. A lot of these materials would end up in a landfill, so I hope that by using them in my art pieces, it’s helping the environment in a small way.”
Artist Gracie Berry, who also lives in Lancaster, loves the challenge and inspiration that creating upcycled and repurposed art brings. “It allows me to use my creativity to rename things from my perspective,” she explains. “While each of my creations has their own stories and set of rules, a common message is that my art is purposeful and needs to be here.”
Aguilera, Berry, Hardwick and Turco concur that when making repurposed art, the cre-
ative process unfolds in a messy, nonlinear way. Sometimes they begin with an idea in mind, but inspiration occurs while working with the pieces, so the work often takes a different direction. Canvas, wood, metal and fabric become foundations for intricate layers of found items placed, sewn and nestled into nooks and crannies, like puzzle pieces fitting oddly together.
“Materials seem to find me way before I ever go looking for them,” Berry shares. “Sometimes the material itself gives me inspiration for my next piece. It’s magical the way it all unfolds. I welcome challenges when it comes to learning techniques that work for specific projects. It’s exciting to find solutions through trial and error, cementing techniques that can be used again.”
Aguilera makes art from discarded computer parts, fabric and furniture. “Technology consumes precious resources but gets discarded as newer inventions become the focus,” he explains. “Showcasing the interior workings of a computer draws attention to hidden beauty. A fresh coat of paint or a design remodel breathes new life into a piece of furniture or clothing.”
“For those just starting out, simple projects can be created using magazines, cardboard, yarn and glue,” explains Turco. “Visit secondhand and thrift shops. Often, these stores are nonprofits, so by shopping there, we are not only keeping stuff out of landfills, but also supporting our local communities.”
“Choose materials that inspire you. Pieces can be as simple or detailed as you want them to be, but most importantly, have fun,” enthuses Hardwick. “I love all the things I collect individually, but putting them together to create a robot or a bug or an animal opens up a whole new world for me.”
Look for beauty in unexpected places. Berry suggests that repurposing upcycled objects is not only more sustainable for the planet, it also allows creativity to be accessed anywhere. “When we think outside the box, we can create change through art,” believes Aguilera.
Gisele Rinaldi is a frequent contributor to Natural Awakenings publications.
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Email Publisher@NASouthJersey.com for guidelines. We advise confirming in advance directly with the business or organization.
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 1
Usui Reiki Level I Certification – 9:30am2:30pm. With Usui Reiki Masters Steve Kavalkovich and Elsie Kerns. Learn the basic principles for self and others. Be guided through giving and receiving a Reiki I session following the spiritual attunement. 12 spots available. $175. East Meets West Acupuncture, 1002 Birchfield Rd, Mt Laurel. Info: 856-988-7426. Register: ElsieKerns.as.me/ReikiLevelOne.
Holistic Health & Healing Expo – 11am5pm. The HHH expo is dedicated to empowering individuals to live a healthier lifestyle on a healthier planet, educating communities on the latest in natural health and sustainability, inspiring them to lead more balanced lives. Free. The Westin Mount Laurel, 555 Fellowship Rd, Mount Laurel. 856-797-2227. Info@HHHExpo.com. HHHExpo.com.
Interpretive Trail Hike – 1:30-2:30pm. An interpretive hike through our varied habitats. Easy pace suitable for all ages. Inclement weather cancels. Registration limited. Free. Rancocas Nature Center, 794 Rancocas Rd, Westampton. 609-261-2495. RancocasNatureCenter.org.
Sound Bath Yoga – 11am-12pm. With Josey Manna. This practice incorporates fundamental poses to help strengthen your personal yoga practice. Crystal singing bowls will be played throughout the practice to help align your energy. All levels. $20. The Center, Life in Balance, 45 S Main St, Medford. 609-975-8379. TheCenterLifeInBalance@gmail.com.
African Drumming Class – 11am-12:30pm. With Tom Reischer’s African Drumming class. Experience the power of sound and the beautiful rhythms. No experience required; all welcome. $35. Excitari Wellness Center, 30 Jackson Rd, Ste D101, Medford. Register: 856-885-2990 or Vagaro.com/ excitariwellnesscenter/classes.
Food Truck and Craft Fair Fall Festival –11am-5pm. Rain date: Oct 8. Includes 12 assorted food trucks, 80 crafters and artisans, games and prizes for children, scarecrow making station, pumpkins and mums for sale, pumpkin painting, sand art, live music, fall photo op stations and more. Free. Camden County Technical Schools, 343 Berlin Cross Keys Rd, Sicklerville. ccts.org.
SJLWT Meet and Greet – 4-6pm. Meet our staff and board, learn more about our organization and the work we do. We’ll have a potluck dinner and get a fire going. Donations appreciated. SJLWT, 21 Main St, Swedesboro. RSVP required: sjlandwater.org.
Fall Foliage Hike – 5-6pm. Whitesbog Preservation Trust, 120 W Whites Bogs Rd, #34, Browns Mills. 609-893-4646. Whitesbog.org.
Tai Chi Walking Meditation – 6-7pm. 6-wk series blends various standing and walking meditations based in tai chi and bagua. Learn to coordinate breath and movement, build strength and increase balance. $125/ series. Beginners welcome. Eastern Harmony Healing, 614 Haddon Ave, Collingswood. EasternHarmonyHealing.com.
Access Nature Forum – 7-8pm. Join us for a conversation with Matthew Johnson who is the Coordinator for Open Space Acquisition & Park Development with Burlington County Parks. He will discuss his role, current projects and initiatives, and ADA-Accessible trails and amenities within the county park system. Zoom. Register: PinelandsAlliance.org.
Tuning Fork Class & Experience –7-8:30pm. With Sound Expert, Angelo Rizzo. The ancient art of using Tuning Forks has helped relieve physical pain, release emotional blocks, stress and clear the entire energy field. Learn about tuning forks and experience the vibration. Infinite Possibilities Center, 801 Rte 73, Greentree Executive Commons, Evesham. 856-983-1767. LoveInfinitePossibilities.com.
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 13
Family Costume Dance Party – 6-8pm. Dress in costume for a library after hours family-friendly dance party and costume contest. Pizza, drinks and dessert provided. $10/person. Cherry Hill Public Library, 1100 Kings Hwy N, Cherry Hill. Registration required: Tinyurl.com/mr3zepan.
Witches’ Market – 6-9pm. Offering a variety of witchy-vibed vendors, activities, food trucks, costume contest and entertainment. Rancocas Woods, 118 Creek Rd, Mt Laurel. RancocasWoodsEventsNShops.com.
Pull Up to the Table – 8-9:30pm. A safe place where women trying to learn, grow, and go can come together. We meet monthly with specific topics or as an open forum. 37 Clementon Rd, Berlin. More info: Tinyurl. com/bddbavax.
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 14
Fall Stewardship Event – 9am-12pm. Rain or shine. Volunteers needed to help mulch trails, weed invasive plants and reseed restoration zones. Saddler’s Woods, 250 MacArthur Blvd, Haddon Township. Registration required by Oct 10: SaddlersWoods.org.
Autumn in Moorestown – 9am-3:30pm. Includes crafts, cars, local breweries, artisan foods, live music and family-friendly activities. E Main St, Moorestown. Tinyurl.com/aprhbete.
The Sound Table – 10am-3pm. 20-min sessions with Angelo Rizzo. Relax on the Sound Table and listen to meditation music and feel the musical frequencies and the vibrational frequency of the table for a total inner and outer body experience. Infinite Possibilities Center, 801 Rte 73, Greentree Executive Commons, Evesham. 856-983-1767. LoveInfinitePossibilities.com.
Saturday Guided Hike – 10:30-11:30am. Studies show that taking a walk in a natural area is good for your physical and mental health. Free. Rancocas Nature Center, 794 Rancocas Rd, Westampton. 609-261-2495. RancocasNatureCenter.org.
Witchy Weekend – Oct 14-15. 11am-4pm. Dress up in your spooky attire to gain 15% off of all wine purchases. Valenzano Winery, 1090 Rte 206, Shamong. Facebook.com/ ValenzanoWinery.
Fall Harvest Festival – 11:30am-3:30pm. Embrace the harvest season by hand-picking pumpkins, apples, and sunflowers, and explore our 5-acre family corn maze. Johnson’s Locust Hall Farm, 2691 Monmouth Rd, Jobstown. Tinyurl.com/2p8przt8.
Kayak Oldmans Creek – 4-6pm. A guided paddle upstream the Oldmans Creek. Learn about the history of OCP, the creek, Auburn, as well as the flora and fauna of the creek. Must bring own kayak or canoe. SJLWT, 21 Main St, Swedesboro. RSVP required: sjlandwater.org.
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 15
Fall Harvest + Plant Swap – 10am3pm. Vendors, crafts, food, live music and Pup Strut. Rain or shine. Free. Rancocas Woods, 118 Creek Rd, Mt Laurel. RancocasWoodsEventsNShops.com.
Munalome Sound Healing Meditation
– 11am-12:30pm. A peaceful and unique blend of live musical song performance mixed with sound healing from acoustic guitars, singing to crystal bowls, handpan, didgeridoo and more. $35. Excitari Wellness Center, 30 Jackson Rd, Ste D101, Medford. Register: 856-885-2990 or Vagaro.com/ excitariwellnesscenter/classes.
Autumn Walk – 11am-1pm. Also Nov 12. With naturalist educator Jeff Calhoun. Take a closer look at the old-growth trees, wet meadow, and early successional woodland all contained in this 25-acre urban forest surrounded by suburbia. $20 donation. Saddler’s Woods, 250 MacArthur Blvd, Haddon Township. Registration required: SaddlersWoods.org.
DIY Essential Oils Roller Workshop – 5pm. Gather in community and intention to create our very own essential oil blends. $28. Venus Moon, 234 Chestnut St, Glendora. Register: TheVenusMoon.com.
New Moon Night Hike: Adults Only – 6:308pm. Enjoy a guided hike at night to visit nocturnal habitats that are home to owls, raccoons, opossums and other wildlife that emerge after dark. $15/adult. Woodford Cedar Run Wildlife Refuge, 4 Sawmill Rd, Medford. Registration required: 856-9833329 or CedarRun.org.
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 18
Inner to Outer Peace Guided Meditation – 7-8:30pm. In this guided meditation connect with Divine Guidance to bring inner peace and healing to your cellular level then through multiple levels of your being and then out into the world around you while also experiencing the scalar wave vibrations in the EES room. With Julia Gandy, Minister of Spiritual Peacemaking. Infinite Possibilities Center, 801 Rte 73, Greentree Executive Commons, Evesham. 856-983-1767. LoveInfinitePossibilities.com.
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 19
Gallery Reading with International Medium Rich Braconi – 6:30-8:30pm. Connect with family, loved ones and friends who have passed. Rich’s unique abilities allow him to relay deep spiritual messages of personal guidance, insight and love from loved ones in Spirit. No guarantee that everyone will receive a message. $50. Excitari Wellness Center, 30 Jackson Rd, Ste D101, Medford. Register: 856-885-2990 or Vagaro.com/ excitariwellnesscenter/classes.
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 20
Thai Massage (for Table) Training – Oct 20-22. With Michael “Mukti” Buck from the Vedic Conservatory. This Thai bodywork program is rooted in Traditional Thai Medicine and will offer techniques and theories to provide a 2-hr treatment, with protocols and additional fundamental lessons in supine, side-lying, seated and prone positions. Excitari Wellness Center, 30 Jackson Rd, Ste D101, Medford. Register: 856-885-2990 or Vagaro.com/excitariwellnesscenter/classes.
Magnolia Night Market – 4:30-8:30pm. Produce, crafts, family fun, kids’ activities, food trucks, beer, wine and live music. 215 Atlantic Ave NW, Magnolia. Facebook.com/ magnolianightmarket.
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 21
Cranberry Festival – Oct 21-22. 9am4pm. Features a juried craft show with up to 150 vendors, 15 food vendors and live music. 3890 Rte 563 Chatsworth. Tinyurl.com/2p82u75w.
Costume Contest: Mystery & Magic in Monsterville Street Fair – 1pm. Judging for children ages 1-15 will begin at 1pm. Judging for people 16 and up will begin approximately 1:30pm. Aradia’s Treasure Metaphysical Shop, 19 N Centre St, Merchantville. Register before Oct 14: AradiasTreasure@gmail.com. AradiasTreasure.com.
Howl-O-Ween Community Day – 1-4pm. Treats for people and pets. Visit the animals, play games, decorate pumpkins, costume contests, scavenger hunt, bounce house and more. Animal Welfare Association, 509 Centennial Blvd, Voorhees. 856-424-2288. awanj.org.
Owl-O-Ween Fun – 4-7pm. Dress up in your Halloween costumes and enjoy an afternoon trick-or-treating at our wildlife enclosures, along with a Halloween movie, costume contest, games, crafts, food and more. Woodford Cedar Run Wildlife Refuge, 4 Sawmill Rd, Medford. Registration required: 856-983-3329 or CedarRun.org.
Bat Walk – 6-7pm. Whitesbog Preservation Trust, 120 W Whites Bogs Rd, #34, Browns Mills. 609-893-4646. Whitesbog.org.
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 25
Shamanic Drumming & Fire Ceremony –
7-8:30pm. With Shaman Steve Kavalkovich (Owl Grey Fire). Limited to 10 seats. Infinite Possibilities Center, 801 Rte 73, Greentree Executive Commons, Evesham. 856-983-1767. LoveInfinitePossibilities.com.
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 26
Spooky Focaccia Art + Mocktail Tasting –7-9pm. Learn how to decorate a beautiful and delicious freshly baked focaccia bread. And while your bread is baking, Jody from Mystical Blossoms will be talking about the functional beverages and elixirs that Mystical Blossoms offers and will do some tastings. Grazing Affair, 5 S Main St, Medford. Tinyurl.com/yeyp22e4.
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 27
Halloween Night Market: Part II –4-8:30pm. An experiential event that embodies the festivities of Halloween. Vendors and artists will line Kings Hwy and Kings Court with a variety of wares for sale: apothecary, horticulture, curiosities, had-art, pop-art, clothing, face-painting, temp-tattoos, hair-tinseling and more. Downtown Haddonfield. DowntownHaddonfield.com.
OFFICE SPACE AVAILABLE – Integrative Physician looking to share their office space in Voorheers. 856-669-9118.
FLEX OFFICE SPACE AVAILABLE –For health and holistic wellness practitioners. Newly renovated. For info: 856885-2990.
NEWLY RENOVATED MEDFORD OFFICE SPACE AVAILABLE – 200-1,200 sq ft. For info: 856-885-2990.
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 28
Craft & Antique Show – 10am-3pm. A monthly outdoor market featuring an eclectic mix of local handmade, vintage and antique goods. Rain or shine. Free. Rancocas Woods, 118 Creek Rd, Mt Laurel. RancocasWoodsEventsNShops.com.
Muddy Paws Farm Trunk or Treat – 2-5pm. Come wearing your Halloween best. Trunkor-Treaters will spend the afternoon going from festively decorated trunk to trunk, collecting candy from vehicle owners who have decorated their cars. Free donations accepted. Muddy Paws Farm Rescue, 17 Retreat Rd, Southampton Township. MuddyPawsFarmRescue.org.
Venus Moon Crystal Warehouse 1-Year Celebration – Oct 28-29. 2-8pm, Sat; 125pm, Sun. Fun-for-the-whole family Halloween-themed event with 30 vendors, including tarot and angel readers, crafts, treats, workshops, prizes and more. Costumes encouraged. Venus Moon, 234 Chestnut St, Glendora. TheVenusMoon.com.
Enchanted Pumpkin Walk – 4-7:30pm. Saddler’s Woods, 250 MacArthur Blvd, Haddon Township. Registration required: SaddlersWoods.org.
Cedar Run for Your Life: Haunted Guided Night Hike – 6-9pm. For one night only, join us for an unforgettable evening of spine-tingling adventure as we are guided into the trails of Cedar Run where the legendary Jersey Devil takes the spotlight as the ringmaster of the Leeds Family Circus. Woodford Cedar Run Wildlife Refuge, 4 Sawmill Rd, Medford. Registration required: 856-983-3329 or CedarRun.org.
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Moonlight Walk – 8-10pm. Join an experienced guide for a night walk in the pines. $5/member, $10/nonmember. Whitesbog Preservation Trust, 120 W Whites Bogs Rd, #34, Browns Mills. 609-893-4646. Whitesbog.org.
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 29
Breathwork – 11am-12pm. With Kim Huston. In this sacred, active breathing meditation, the breath is the tool allowing your consciousness (ego) to literally move out of the way. Expect to feel held in a safe and loving space where you will take a journey of profound healing and releasing that which no longer serves you. $35. The Center, Life in Balance, 45 S Main St, Medford. 609-975-8379. TheCenterLifeInBalance@gmail.com.
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2024
Yoga Cape May Holistic Yoga Retreat – Feb 2-4. “Listening with our Hearts.” Deepen your experience with yoga and meditation. This retreat can help you connect deep within yourself to discover your true self and allow you to find your own path to wholeness. Experience various styles of yoga and meditation. All levels. $299 all-inclusive. Marianist Retreat Center, Cape May Point. Info, Karen: 609-827-8886 or KBosna28@yahoo.com. YogaCapeMay.com.
NASouthJersey.com can help you access the resources you need for help in staying healthy and happy!
SUNDAY
Haddon Heights Farmers Market – Thru Nov 5. 10am-1pm. Held at the corner of Station and Atlantic Ave. HaddonHeightsFarmersMarket.com.
Mt Laurel Farmers Market – Thru Oct 15. 10am-2pm. Live music, food trucks, kid’s crafts, workshops, yoga and more. Rain or shine. Rancocas Woods, 118 Creek Rd, Mt Laurel. RancocasWoodsEventsNShops.com.
MONDAY
Monthly Meditation/Mini-Workshop –
6:30-8pm. 1st Mon. An open invitation to those who are interested in exploring meditation, energy education/topics and reiki. No experience necessary. $15. The Center, Life in Balance, 45 S Main St, Medford. Pre-registration required: 609-975-8379 or TheCenterLifeInBalance.com.
TUESDAY
Healing Session with Elsie Kerns – TuesSat. Relax in the zero-gravity chair and enjoy deep relaxation and rejuvenation for the body, mind and spirit. Elsie combines 30+ yrs in the healing arts to assist your personal transformation. Infinite Possibilities Center, 801 Rte 73, Greentree Executive Commons, Evesham. 609-744-6787. LoveInfinitePossibilities.com.
Mindful Movement and Sound Healing –
7:30-8:30pm. With Angela. Live In Joy Yoga & Wellness, 118 W Merchant St, Audubon. LiveInJoyYoga.com.
WEDNESDAY
Midweek Meditation – 12-12:10pm. Also Fri. The focus of this meditation is love. Each week we will raise the love vibration personally and globally. Treat yourself to a mid-day refresher. Free. The Center, Life in Balance, 45 S Main St, Medford. 609-975-8379. TheCenterLifeInBalance.com.
Hump-Day Hikes – Thru Nov 1. 5:30-7pm. Join us for a brisk guided hike in nature and view the week-to-week changes as the natural world comes alive. Inclement weather cancels. Free. Rancocas Nature Center, 794 Rancocas Rd, Westampton. 609-261-2495. RancocasNatureCenter.org.
Yoga Mobility – 2pm. Yoga Mobility is something very different from traditional yoga. It takes the best of many different forms of movement to create a flow within our body. Perfect for seniors and people who are physically disabled. 1st class free; $10/class. Barrel Factory at Whitesbog Historic Farm and Village, 120 W Whites Bogs Rd, Browns Mills. Whitesbog.org.
Mommy & Me Breakfast & Class –9-11am. 1st Fri. Music and movement class with Miss Nikki and Miss Jenn from Nikki Jay Voice Studios. After class The Pop Shop will provide a lite buffet breakfast. $35. The Pop Shop, 729 Haddon Ave, Collingswood. Register: ThePopShopusa.com.
Midweek Meditation – 12-12:10pm. Also Wed. The focus of this meditation is peace. Each week we will raise the love vibration personally and globally. Treat yourself to a mid-day refresher. Free. The Center, Life in Balance, 45 S Main St, Medford. 609-975-8379. TheCenterLifeInBalance.com.
Collingswood Farmers Market – Thru Nov 18. 8am-12pm. Held underneath the Patco High Speedline between Collings and Irvin Ave. CollingswoodMarket.com.
Burlington Farmers Market – Thru Nov 11. 8:30am-1pm. Burlington County Agricultural Center, 500 Centerton Rd, Moorestown. BurlCoAgCenter.com.
Walking Group – 9am. 1st Sat. With Michelle, Teeming Health Wellness Studio. Walking group at one of our local county parks. For more info & location: Meetup. com/Healthy-Mount-Holly.
Psychic & Healing Fair – 10am-2pm. 3rd Sat. The fair offers different avenues to healing. Be able to have an intuitive/psychic reading, a reiki session, energy healing or lie on the BioMat. $30/20 mins. A variety of 20-min free talks offered. The BioMat incorporates amethyst crystals, far infrared heat and negative ions to help the body heal and relax. Walk-ins welcome and encouraged. The Center, Life in Balance, 45 S Main St, Medford. 609-975-8379. TheCenterLifeInBalance.com.
Volunteer Service Day – 10am-3pm. 1st Sat. Volunteer in outdoor or indoor projects in the village. Whitesbog Preservation Trust, 120 W Whites Bogs Rd, #34, Browns Mills. 609-893-4646. Whitesbog.org.
MARK JAMES BARTISS, MD
Institute for Complementary & Alternative Medicine
24 Nautilus Dr, Ste 3, Manahawkin
609-978-9002
504 Hamburg Tpk, Ste 202, Wayne
973-790-6363
639 Stokes Rd, Se 202, Medford
609-654-5900
ICAMBartissMD.com
Dr. Bartiss is both conventionally and holistically trained, giving patients the best of both worlds and the freedom to choose.
ICAM’s HEART Program addresses the body’s basic needs in terms of hormone rejuvenation to include adrenal, thyroid, sex and growth hormones as well as the essential neurotransmitters. As an active and founding member of the American Association of Ozonotherapists, Dr. Bartiss is an expert in various forms of bio-oxidative therapies that include ozone, hydrogen peroxide, ultraviolet phototherapy and high-dose vitamin C. These and other powerful therapies are offered by only a few hundred medical practitioners throughout the country.
MSC, CNS
Nutritional Wellness Center
1 Cinnaminson Ave, Ste 206 Palmyra, NJ 08065
856-499-2160
NutritionalWellnessNJ.com
Offering simple, effective solutions for optimal health for the whole family. Includes: Functional Medicine testing, Othromolecular energy medicine, Neuro Emotional Technique, Psycho neurobiology, autonomic response testing, Theta Healing.
DANA REYNOLDS-MARNICHE, Ph.D. Shaman-based Qi Channeler, Clairvoyant and Teacher
Mount Meru Holistic Earth Power Healing 856-993-1786
MtMeruHolistic.com/healing-testimonials
Highly trained with 35 yrs experience in mind-body healing, I utilize Korean Chunsu, a 5,000-yrold therapeutic practice, involving the channeling of balanced Heaven-Earth cosmic qi energy to release negative ancestral patterns from the body and mind. Rapidly restores well-being, addresses anxiety, depression, treats hormonal, immune system and chakra imbalances, alleviates physical pain, rejuvenates body cells and clears toxins. Over time, a prevalence of harmony in one’s home and work environment and the ability to manifest abundance and protection become our natural state of being.
MARYANN PINO MILLER, M.Ed Certified Heal Your Life® Teacher Emotion Code Practitione Consciously Living, LLC
The Center, Life in Balance
45 S Main St, Medford, NJ 856-912-2087
Maryann@ConsciouslyLiving.net
Become aware of your true nature, meet your inner child waiting for your love, become aware of and unload the baggage weighing you down, become aware of the depth of love that exists within you and gain the understanding of the importance of your relationship with yourself and how to foster it.
DR. CAMILLE SEMPLE-DALY, DO Replenish Center
215 Sunset Rd, Ste 204 Willingboro, NJ 08046
856-380-1330
Info@ReplenishHormones.com
ReplenishHormones.com
Don’t wait any longer to restore your hormone balance. Symptoms due to menopause, andropause, PMS, thyroid dysfunction, adrenal fatigue, etc., should not negatively impact your quality of life. Regain your vitality and zest naturally with individualized Bio-Identical Hormone Restoration Therapy (BHRT). Dr. Camille Semple-Daly is board certified in OB/GYN, Integrative and Aesthetic Medicine.
MARK JAMES BARTISS, MD
Institute for Complementary & Alternative Medicine
24 Nautilus Dr, Ste 3, Manahawkin 609-978-9002
504 Hamburg Tpk, Ste 202, Wayne 973-790-6363 639 Stokes Rd, Se 202, Medford 609-654-5900
ICAMBartissMD.com
Dr. Bartiss is among a small group of physicians that pioneered the early “integrated” health care system. As a conventionally and holistically trained physician, he offers the best of both schools of medicine. Dr. Bartiss’ “HEART” Program (Hormone, Endocrine, Adrenal Rejuvenation Therapy) addresses hormone imbalance and focuses on restoring his patients to optimal levels. The simple explanation of this program is that when the endocrine system is balanced, a person is less likely to become ill, overweight and emotionally imbalanced. ICAM patients report an improved quality of life, both emotionally and physically. nasouthjersey.com
As long as autumn lasts, I shall not have hands, canvas and colors enough to paint the beautiful things I see.
—Vincent Van Gogh
HARMONIOUS HEALINGS HOLISTIC HEALTHCARE
30 Jackson Rd, D207 Medford, NJ 08055
856-359-6005
DrKevinG.com
Optimize your human potential holistically: functional neurology & kinesiology, stress release & neuro-emotional technique, structure & posture improvement with advanced biostructural correction, biophysics body optimizer.
ONE LIFE COUNSELING AND YOGA THERAPY
DeAnn Mishler
609-744-9445
Therapy.DeAnnMishler@comcast.net
DeAnn is warm and grounded; clinical theory is based on attachment and solution focused. She offers a holistic and mindfulness-based approach to therapy to help clients free themselves and live the life they deserve. As a yoga therapist, DeAnn uses yoga to reconnect the mind and body to release the central nervous system from holding past physical and emotional pain that has been stored in the body.
INFINITE POSSIBILITIES CENTER LLC
801 Rte 73, Ste I, Evesham, NJ 08053
856-983-1767
Elsie@LoveInfinitePossibilities.com
LoveInfinitePossibilities.com
Create cellular regeneration, oxygenate the body, decrease inflammation and repair DNA with the Energy Enhancement System. Experience scalar and light wave energy for rejuvenation and relaxation.
GO WITH YOUR GUT TESTING
609-202-8188
GoWithYourGutTesting.com
The Alcat test is world-renowned and validated by Yale. It determines the cause of inflammation for those with autoimmune, IBS, rashes, infertility and unexplained illnesses. We arrange your blood draw. Get results in 8-10 days. Coaching session included.
CHARLOTTE NUSSBAUM, MD Medford Functional Medicine
107 Jamestown Ct, Medford 609-969-4844
MedfordFunctionalMedicine.com
Board-certified pediatrician and internist Charlotte Nussbaum is a founder of Medford Functional Medicine where we partner with people of all ages to reclaim your health.
NATURAL HEALTH IMPROVEMENT CENTER OF SOUTH JERSEY
1020 Kings Hwy. N., Ste 110 Cherry Hill, NJ 856-667-6805 • NHICSouthJersey.com
DR. JAIME FELDMAN, DCH
Chairman, Medical & Dental Division, International Hypnosis Federation
214 W Main St, Ste L4 Moorestown, NJ 08057
856-231-0432 • DrJaimeF@aol.com
PartsTherapy.com
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.
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.
PHILIP GETSON, DO
Safe, natural solutions for many health problems. Get to the root of your symptoms and heal your body with Nutrition Response Testing. The practitioners at NHIC offer a non-invasive, advanced form of muscle testing for food sensitivities, chemical and metal toxicity, and immune system issues for all ages. Individualized, targeted, “Root-Cause Nutrition.”
LIESHA GETSON, BCTT, HHC
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.
Health Through Awareness
100 Brick Rd, Ste 206, Marlton, NJ 08053 856-596-5834
Health Through Awareness takes a holistic approach to health and well-being. 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.
POLINA KARMAZIN, MD
Board certified in Integrative Medicine & Acupuncture
2301 E Evesham Rd, Bldg 800, Ste 219 Voorhees, NJ 08043
856-528-2258 • SouthJerseyHolistic.com
Our practice treats each person individually by addressing the root cause of the problem. Dr Karmazin employs holistic therapies, such as acupuncture, biopuncture, homeopathy and nutritional counselling for a variety of ailments. We also specialize in holistic pain management and do not use narcotics, NSAIDs or steroid injections.
SUSAN COSTANTINO DRUMMOND
RM, INTUITIVE MEDIUM
NJBalance at The Center, Life in Balance 45 S Main St, Medford 609-923-3154
Susan@NJBalance.com NJBalance.com
Susan is an Intuitive Medium and Reiki Master. She specializes in intuitively enhancing the mind, soul and physical body with healing energy for your highest well-being.
DR. ANAMARIA NEWPORT, DMS, DMD, MHS, PAC
17 White Horse Pike, Ste 10B Haddon Heights, NJ 08035 856-323-8885
Dr. Newport is a discerning artist, highly experienced master cosmetic injector and renowned dermatology speaker with 10+ years of extensive medical training. Her continuous dedication for skincare, surgery, dentistry, and cosmetic procedures are enhanced by combining the use of the latest technology and her unique homeopathic style. As an artist, she is genuinely passionate about bringing out the unique beauty in each one of her patients. Look no further for your organic skincare specialist, offering the purest treatments achievable with our personalized natural products.
TRACI ROSENBERG, MA
Numerologist & Empowerment Coach 609-417-4526
TraciRosenberg@gmail.com
SoulTalkWithTraci.com
Join the region’s leading 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.
PINELANDS ADVENTURES
1005 Atsion Rd, Shamong, NJ 08088
609-268-0189
PinelandsAdventures.org
A nonprofit initiative of Pinelands Preservation Alliance. Recreational activities include guided/unguided river paddling, camping, hiking and small group history and ecology forest tours.
DR. ASHA PANDEY-SMITH, PT, DPT SoulRise Physical Therapy, LLC
912 W Kings Hwy, Haddon Heights, NJ, 08035
856-433-4008
Info@SoulRisePT.com
SoulRisePT.com
Limited by pain? Trouble getting around? Lacking confidence and motivation to accomplish your goals? Be in charge of your health, be your own hero. At SoulRise Physical Therapy, you will be empowered to live the life you want by being the driver of your own health and wellness. We specialize in combining health and spirituality to provide the most well-rounded experience. We treat all orthopedic conditions, with special focus on women’s health and maternal wellness prenatal through post-partum. Book a free consultation today.
DR. JOCELYN FLAY, DAC
Nutritional Wellness Center
1 Cinnaminson Ave, Ste 206
Palmyra, NJ 08065
856-499-2160
NutritionalWellnessNJ.com
Open to the flow of reiki that is before you and experience the divine life force energy that is innate to all of us. You can heal, grow, process trauma, change your beliefs, create new experiences, and shift into a life that you love, and reiki can guide you. Individual reiki sessions and reiki courses are provided at the Nutritional Wellness Center.
DR. CAMILLE SEMPLE-DALY, DO
Replenish Center
215 Sunset Rd, Ste 204
Willingboro, NJ 08046 856-380-1330
Info@ReplenishHormones.com
ReplenishHormones.com
Natural, non-invasive procedures for sexual dysfunction affecting one or more of the following: desire, arousal, lubrication, erectile function, orgasm, pain, dryness and satisfaction. The Replenish Center utilizes an integrative and functional approach looking at key factors such as hormone imbalance, vitamin/mineral deficiencies, certain medications and chronic illnesses. Other contributing factors are lifestyle, diet, exercise and stress. The Replenish Center specializes in therapies which utilize your body’s own healing mechanisms. Dr. Camille Semple-Daly is triple board certified in OB/GYN, Integrative Medicine and Aesthetic Medicine.
BETH O’BRIEN
Spiritual Healing Through Guidance
The Center Life in Balance, 45 N Main St, Medford
On Angels Wings, 110 Creek Rd, Mt Laurel BethOB67@yahoo.com
Beth, a psychic/medium, can give you spiritual and intuitive guidance from your loved ones. Beth is also a Reiki Master and an ordained minister to officiate your wedding. She also is a paranormal investigator and does private and public homes. She also does house blessings and cleansing.
Autumn… the year’s last, loveliest smile.
—William Cullen Bryant
EXCITARI WELLNESS CENTER
30 Jackson Rd, D101, Medford
ExcitariWellness.com
A full-service holistic wellness center offering everything from yoga to integrative osteopathic physician services and sound healing to psychic wellness reading and more.
WHITE HAWK HOLISTIC WELLNESS CENTER
Jennifer Armento, Homeopath PHOM, Clinical Herbalist
Tabernacle, NJ
732-778-5023
WhiteHawkHolistic.com
Homeopath and herbal consulting for acute and chronic illness. Offering holistic workshops, homeopathic classes, herbal products, quantum bioscan sessions and a raw food co-op.
RISE AND THRIVE WELLNESS YOGA
Terry Veit-Harmening
714 E Main St, Moorestown
609-923-5782
RiseAndThriveWellnessYoga.com
Terry Veit-Harmening is a certified Yoga Therapist, a certified Ayurvedic Lifestyle Educator and a brain longevity specialist with the Alzheimer’s Research Association. Yoga Therapy is a holistic approach to health care using postures, movement, stretches, lifestyle choices, relaxation and breathing practices to address your specific issues.
PERINATAL HEALTH LLC
Donna Favilla
609-206-9633
PerinatalHealthLLC.com
Looking for support during pregnancy, labor and postpartum?
Perinatal Health offers: childbirth education, HypnoBirthing and Spinning Babies Parent Class, labor doula support, prenatal/ postpartum massage therapy and reflexology services, baby classes.
If a metal does this to your skin... Imagine what it will do implanted inside of your body?
EMBARK ON AN EXTRAORDINARY JOURNEY OF SELF-DISCOVERY AND ADVENTURE BY JOINING US IN PERU!
JULY 6TH -12TH
- ANCIENT TRADITIONS OF THE TEMAZCAL CEREMONY
- ORGANIC NUTRITIOUS MEALS PREPARED BY ARTISAN CHEFS
- EXHILARATING WATERFALL HIKES
- ENGAGE IN DAILY MEDITATION AND ENERGY WORK AMIDST
BREATHTAKING LANDSCAPES
- YOGA POSES AS THE SUN RISES
OVER THE ANDES,
- POTTERY ART THERAPY
- DAY TRIP TO THE AWE-INSPIRING MACHU PICCHU!
AND SO MUCH MORE!
PACK YOUR BAGS AND GET READY TO UNLEASH YOUR INNER ZEN IN PERU!
