April 2022 Natural Awakenings Sarasota by Natural Awakenings of Sarasota

E E FR H E A L T H Y L I V I N G

HEALTHY PLANET

PLAYTIME WITH NATURE STORIES CONNECT KIDS TO THE GREAT OUTDOORS

BUZZ-FREE DRINKS NON-ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES ARE A BIG HIT

EARTH DAY 2022

EVERYONE DOING THEIR PART

MUSINGS ON SPRING April 2022

| Sarasota/Manatee/Charlotte Edition | nasrq.com

Sarasota/Manatee Edition

www.nasrq.com March 2022

YOU F O

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Our Offerings •

Nutritional Assessment and Counseling

Cosmetic Acupuncture

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Fertility Care

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Cupping

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Stop Smoking

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Detox Foot Baths

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Diagnostics

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Weight Management

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Treatment for Cancer Patients

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Infrared Sauna

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Zyto–Elite

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Jaffe Mellor Technique

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Gastrointestinal Disturbances

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Acupuncture

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Acupuncture Point Injection

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Transforming Lives Through Holistic Care

Christina A . Captain, DAOM, MSHN, AP

2650 Bahia Vista St, Suite 101, Sarasota, Florida 34239

941.951.1119

SCANsrq.com 3 April 2022

Green Careers The EU Team wishes everyone a Happy Earth Day!

CLASSES START MAY 9TH Bachelor’s Degrees ✷ Alternative & Renewable

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✷ Hospitality Management ✷ Leadership ✷ Public Health Administration* ✷ Sustainability * Degree concentrations available

EvergladesUniversity.edu

SARASOTA • TAMPA • ORLANDO • BOCA RATON • MIAMI • ONLINE Everglades University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award bachelor’s and master’s degrees. 4

Sarasota/Manatee Edition

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We Put Your

Head on Straight (So You Can Achieve Optimal Health, Naturally)

If the first two bones in your neck are misaligned, communication between the brain and body is interrupted and can cause numerous health problems. Dr. Drew Hall has practiced the Blair Upper Cervical Chiropractic technique for the last 20 years in Los Angeles and Carson California before opening his third clinic right here in Sarasota, Florida. Blair Upper Cervical Chiropractic is a unique chiropractic technique that focuses all its attention on the upper neck and how it impacts the brainstem and central nerve system. The Blair technique is precise, gentle, and does not use any pulling, popping, or twisting of the neck.

Call (855) 745-1821 today to schedule an appointment to see if you suffer from a neck misalignment that may be affecting your health.

We have helped people with the following conditions:

• • • • • • • • • •

Auto Accidents Fibromyalgia Lower Back Pain Meniere’s Disease Neck Pain Sciatica Post-Concussion Syndrome TMJ Trigeminal Neuralgia Vertigo & Whiplash

“I have over 20 years of practice experience and taking care of 10,000 patients from Los Angeles to Sarasota Florida. I recovered from severe chronic health problems 30 years ago after being introduced to blair upper cervical technique. It’s my lasting purpose to help as many people as possible live a life of health and happiness”. - Dr. Drew Hall

ACCEPTING NEW PATIENTS! 3920 Bee Ridge Rd, Bldg D, Sarasota, Fl 34233

(855) 745-1821 • sarasotauppercervical.com April 2022

Sarasota/Manatee Edition

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EXCLUSIVE COUPON

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Why Professional Supplement Center • Knowledgeable and friendly staﬀ • Professional brands available • Practitioner consults available by request • Rewards program with special discounts

Phone (941) 487-5990 Address 5525 Palmer Crossing Circle Sarasota, FL 34233 Store Hours M-F: 9am - 6pm, Sat: 9am - 1pm

April 2022

Contents

The Integrated Path RELIEVE STRESS Let us guide your mind and body to

RESTORE BALANCE

AND THE EFFECTS ON OUR HEALTH

We’ve Moved! Our Services Include:

20 RELIEF FROM

(Computerized Bio-communication Technology)

Caryn L. Young, DOM, AP, OT • Over 30 years of clinical experience • Board-Certified Acupuncture Physician • Masters in Traditional Chinese Medicine • Acupuncture Diplomate NCCAOM Favorite Acupuncture Physician Favorite Energy Healer

Now in our new location!

The Integrated Path, PA 2801 Fruitville Rd., Suite 135

(On the corner of Tuttle & Fruitville Roads)

Sarasota, Fl 34237 941.924.8833

Sarasota/Manatee Edition

www.nasrq.com

18 HYPER-LOCAL

AGRICULTURE IS THE FOOD REVOLUTION WE ALL NEED

• Acupuncture • Oriental Medicine • Energetic Emotional Release • Bloodwork Analysis • Clinical Nutrition Assessments • Weight Management • Reiki Master • Occupational Therapy • ZYTO Elite

17 CLIMATE CHANGE

NECK PAIN

22 WHY WE NEED WILD

PLACES

26 SPIRITED STRIDES 28 TECHNOLOGY MEETS NATURE

30 BRIAN SAUDER 32 NATURE SPEAKS 34 BUZZ-FREE

DRINKING

36 EATING FOR THE PLANET

38 PEST CONTROL DEPARTMENTS 11 news briefs 16 health briefs 26 fit body 28 green living 30 wise words 32 healthy kids 34 healing ways

36 conscious eating 38 natural pet 40 calendar 45 classifieds 44 resource guide 47 cross word

Natural Awakenings is a family of 50+ healthy living magazines celebrating 27 years of providing the communities we serve with the tools and resources we all need to lead healthier lives on a healthy planet.

22 20

OUR SERVICES -

Headache/Migraine Parkinson’s Disease Depression Multiple Sclerosis Joint Pain Low Back Pain Arthritis Sports Injuries

Abdominal Pain Indigestion Common Cold and Flu Sinusitis & Allergies Stress Reduction Asthma Infertility Insomnia

$25 off

your first visit

3808 N. Tamiami Trail Sarasota, FL 34234

(800) 883-5528

EAST WEST COLLEGE CLINIC The East West College clinic has grown over the years and now provides services by highly trained and licensed natural medicine professionals and also serves as a hands-on training facility for our Oriental Medicine students.

for more info https://www.ewcollege.edu/clinic

Balance Life and Health Naturally

(800) 883-5528

3808 N. Tamiami Trail Sarasota, FL 34234

ADVERTISING & SUBMISSIONS HOW TO ADVERTISE To advertise with Natural Awakenings or request a media kit, please contact us at 941-564-0885 or email Publisher@nasrq.com. Deadline for ads: the 15th of the month. EDITORIAL SUBMISSIONS Email articles, news items and ideas to: Publisher@nasrq. com. Deadline for editorial: the 12th of the month. CALENDAR SUBMISSIONS Please submit all listings through nasrq.com. Deadline for calendar: the 12th of the month. REGIONAL MARKETS Advertise your products or services in multiple markets! Natural Awakenings Publishing Corp. is a growing franchised family of locally owned magazines serving communities since 1994. To place your ad in other markets call 239-530-0885. For franchising opportunities call 239-530-1377 or visit NaturalAwakenings.com.

Becoming a Primary Healthcare practitioner of Oriental Medicine including acupuncture and Chinese Herbology, will empower you to facilitate health and well being in today’s health care environment. East West College of Natural Medicine will provide you with the opportunity to make a difference in this dynamic health care field.

ABOUT US The East West College of Natural Medicine (EWCNM) was established in 1994 as the Academy of Chinese Healing Arts to provide training in the art of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Located on the southwestern coast of Florida in Sarasota, the program now attracts students from around the country and the world for their Master of Science in Oriental Medicine program.

for more info https://www.ewcollege.edu/

MISSION East West College of Natural Medicine holds to following core values: - To provide high level Healthcare education. - To Prepare our students for certification by National and State licensing boards in their profession. - To support the professional development of our graduates and other healthcare professional by offering advanced studies.

PROGRAMS - MASTER OF SCIENCE DEGREE IN ORIENTAL MEDICINE - BACHELOR OF HEALTH SCIENCE - CLASSES ARE 2 ½ DAYS EACH WEEK FOR 40 MONTHS

nasrq.com

(800) 883-5528

3808 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, FL 34234

VISIT OUR WEBSITE

https://www.ewcollege.edu/

April 2022

HEALTHY LIVING HEALTHY PLANET

SARASOTA /MANATEE EDITION PUBLISHER Janet Lindsay MANAGING EDITOR Mary-Elizabeth Schurrer DESIGN & PRODUCTION

Susan Jones

SOCIAL MEDIA Amy Hass

NATIONAL TEAM CEO/Founder Sharon Bruckman COO/Franchise Sales Joe Dunne Layout & Design Gabrielle W-Perillo Financial Manager Yolanda Shebert Asst. Director of Ops Heather Gibbs Digital Content Director Rachael Oppy National Advertising Lisa Doyle-Mitchell Administrative Assistant Anne-Marie Ryan

Natural Awakenings Publishing Corporation 4851 Tamiami Trail N., Ste. 200 Naples, FL 34103 Ph: 239-434-9392 • Fax: 239-434-9513 NaturalAwakenings.com

© 2022 by Natural Awakenings. All rights reserved. Although some parts of this publication may be reproduced and reprinted, we require that prior permission be obtained in writing. Natural Awakenings is a free publication distributed locally and is supported by our advertisers. Please call to find a location near you or if you would like copies placed at your business. We do not necessarily endorse the views expressed in the articles and advertisements, nor are we responsible for the products and services advertised. Check with a healthcare professional regarding the appropriate use of any treatment.

Natural Awakenings Magazine is ranked 5th Nationally in CISION’S® 2016 Top 10 Health & Fitness Magazines

letter from publisher

cannot think of a more idyllic season to bask in the simple, restorative beauty of nature than spring. This time of year is absolute paradise here on our slice of Southwest Florida coastline. The warm breeze, colorful foliage and brilliant sunshine remind us not to take our environment for granted—which is exactly what this month’s issue of Natural Awakenings is all about. In April, we’re diving into the benefits of sustainable living, as well as how practical and accessible it is to integrate eco-conscious practices into daily life. Join me as we peak inside! Our feature article for this month is called “Why We Need Wild Places,” and it’s sure to ignite an adventurous, nature-loving spirit within you. As the world continues to recover from a global pandemic that was likely caused by the harmful impacts of environmental destruction, it’s more crucial than ever before to invite nature back into both our lives and landscapes. There are many practical solutions to achieve this, from rewilding natural habitats, to advocating for open green spaces in our local neighborhoods, to supporting national parks conservation, to cultivating native plant species in our yards, to limiting our use of pesticides or herbicides. It’s a communal effort to save the environment, but we can each do our part with intentional steps. How we fuel our own bodies also influences the health of our environment, as this month’s “Conscious Eating” article points out. Animal agriculture contributes heavily to the long-term impact of climate change in several ways. An estimated 31 billion animals are farmed each year across the globe which causes water and soil contamination, as well as extensive deforestation. Therefore, if we all make strides to substitute our meat or dairy consumption with eco-friendlier, locally grown plant-based options, we can help to minimize the devastating effects of animal farming. We can also learn to reduce our own food waste through at-home practices like composting, as well as community initiatives such as redistributing leftover food from local farms, grocery stores, restaurants or catering businesses. Our children will inherit this world from us as they come of age, so it’s crucial to instill a love of nature in this next generation—and one effective way to do this is with storytelling. Kids are full of wild, active imaginations, so you can teach them to both respect and protect the environment by tapping into their innate sense of curiosity. Help them understand the importance of caring for this world through stories about the animals, plants and habitats that surround them. Point out a tree and ask them to imagine the squirrels, birds or other species who might call this tree home. Together, weave a story about how these animals coexist with each other and the tree as a unified ecosystem, then brainstorm steps you can all take as a family to preserve that ecosystem. This can help foster a love and appreciation for nature earlier in their lives. In addition, we will continue the crossword challenge that we first introduced in March, so we invite you to join in the fun. Each clue will come from an article in this issue, and the answers will be posted on my website at NASRQ.com. I hope this season is one of natural restoration for you from the inside out. Take some time just to step outside to breathe in the beauty of nature all around you. It will do wonders for your wellness, I guarantee!

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

Sarasota/Manatee Edition

www.nasrq.com

news briefs

Dr. Mary Gemming Releases New Book

r. Mary Gemming is excited to announce the release of her new book, The Hidden Knowledge of Egyptian Mythology. You do not have to take a trip to Egypt in order to enjoy the rich, colorful culture of Egypt. This book is a refreshing look at how mythology is linked to astrology, as it chronicles the author’s firsthand experiences in the temples of Egypt. Dr. Gemming never realized that astrology was such a vital part of Egyptian mythology and culture until she traveled to Egypt. Astrology is integral to the temples and art, both of which have a hidden, mystical nature. It was even taught in the Egyptian Mystery Schools. In this book, learn about Cosmic Beings who came to Egypt to raise the consciousness of humanity, as well as how 3847 S. School Ave. extraterrestrials, such as the Hathors of Sarasota, FL 34239 Sirius, influenced941-951-2161 the Egyptians and were depicted in their temples. The stories at the core of mythology are based on events that occurred in real life. Myths form a background for human behavior and motivation. They strive to answer questions such as, “Where do we go when we die?” or “Why do we experience the struggle of good versus evil?” We want to know the answer to life’s dilemmas, so we seek to know that life is not meaningless but has a special purpose for each one of us. Dr. Gemming is a teacher and minister who has used her skills to help others sustain peace and harmony since 1978. She has taught self-awareness courses for the Board of Continuing Educational Services in Rochester, New York, Manatee Technical Institute in Bradenton and the Cosmic Center of Spiritual Light in Sarasota. She is also the author of Discovering Treasures of Peace and Mystical Secrets of the Stars. Dr. Mary Gemming’s books are available to purchase online at AuthorHouse.com/Bookstore, BarnesAndNoble.com and Amazon.com. You can also order these books over the phone toll free by calling 833-262-8899.

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Scan to Learn More about our Treatments and Read our Reviews! 3847 S. School Ave., Sarasota, FL 34239 • 941-951-2161 • ritamedicalelite.com

European Helix Hair Designer THE CUT THAT CURLS and with NO chemicals. Please call Jutta for an appointment 941-629-0074

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Everybody will benefit from this carefree haircutting Technique, especially baby-fine hair. Any Length from short to long. I use “All Nutrient”, an organic derived haircolor and Highlights/ Balayage made with Blueberrys. NO MORE BRASSY HAIRCOLOR

The “Vines” Shopping Center, 701 JC Center Court, Unit 10, Port Charlotte, FL • www.EuropeanHairDesigner.com April 2022

news briefs

Music Moves the Soul Comes to Southwest Florida

ennifer Loftus, who recently moved to Northport from Maui, guides music, movement and meditation to harmonize the body, quiet the mind and elevate the spirit. Her business, Music Moves the Soul, helps you explore how both sound and stillness can open and heal your heart to make you feel more alive, peaceful and present. Loftus offers “Finding and Freeing Your Voice” sessions, piano lessons, singing alchemy crystal bowl meditations, private and small group sessions, “Divine Feminine Dance™ classes and other special events for women. For more information, call 808-283-3774 or visit MusicMovesTheSoul.com.

Weekly Spiritual Sobriety Group at Wild Ginger Apothecary

re you in search of a women’s group to support your road to sobriety or recovery through a spiritual lens? At Wild Ginger Apothecary, we invite you to a non-denominational, non-12 step affiliated, open discussion for women. This space will be designated to share the tools and experiences that we have utilized on our paths to recovery, wellness and healing. All are welcome to attend this informal weekly meet-up at Wild Ginger Apothecary, no matter where you are in the sobriety process. Sober-curious are welcome as well. Please arrive on time for this sacred space, and feel free to invite a friend. This group will meet each Friday at 10 a.m. There is a $5 minimum cash donation to be paid at the door or online. Location: 6557 Superior Ave., Sarasota. To reserve your spot, visit WildGingerApothecary.com.

Sarasota/Manatee Edition

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Look and Feel Your Best at Rita Medical Elite Spa

ita Medical Elite is a medical spa located in Sarasota that offers a variety of aesthetic services to keep you looking and feeling your best. We specialize in injectables, laser treatments, skin care and body contouring treatments. The newest arrivals to our practice include the three-step SaltFacial® which integrates organic sea salt, ultrasound and LED light therapy to gently exfoliate and rejuvenate your skin. We also offer Upneeq®, a prescription eye drop which lifts the eyelid and opens the eye. In addition, we have PCDC, a natural compound solution that can be injected to break down fat and stimulate collagen production. PCDC can be used to correct a double chin, a slightly protruding belly, extra cellulite on the thighs, an overly thick waist and other areas of the body where fat deposits tend to accumulate. Finally, our newest body contouring treatment is M-Sculpt. This muscle stimulating and fat burning treatment uses electro-magnetic energy to sculpt your thighs, glutes and abdomen! Location: 3847 S School Ave., Sarasota. To schedule a complimentary consultation, call 941-951-2161. For more information, visit RitaMedicalElite.com.

Anti-Aging Seminars on Zoom with Dr. Anna

D April Events at Sarasota Center of Light

his month, the Sarasota Center of Light will continue to present those who are integral to our metaphysical community. We invite you to register for the following class on our website. We will offer a “Trance Fundamentals” class via Zoom, taught by Rev. Val Williams, on April 16, 1–5 p.m. The fee to register is $75. Rev. Williams has been a trance medium since 1984 and believes the foundation of this work is vital for both the medium and Spirit workers. She is also a trained hypnotherapist who can facilitate on behalf of your guides to help you understand how your trance Mediumship works. In this workshop, you will create a foundation during meditation and attunement exercises, as well as come to appreciate the importance of two-way respect to achieve a deeper level of trance. This will enhance your natural Mediumship and healing abilities. The Center’s Ministry Team will conduct the services in April via Zoom, offering heartfelt spiritual guidance. Our special guests this month include Rev. Bill Patridge on April 3, Joseph Shiel and Evidential Spirit Portrait Messages on April 10, Rev. Patridge and Rev. Ellen Bourn on April 17, and Rev. Bourn on April 24. In addition, our Wednesday evening “Tune Up” healing service has grown, and we encourage you to join us for this time of love and fellowship. If you or a loved one need healing, visit the “Contact” tab at SarasotaCenterOLlight.com or call 941-953-6620. One of our healers will respond as soon as possible.

r. Anna Baker, DOM, invites you to join her interactive anti-aging seminars via Zoom on April 13 and April 22, 1:30 p.m. She will showcase her Faces by Dr. Anna acupuncture facelift and her muscle retightening Pearl Cream by Dr. Anna. Please contact the Pearl Cream by Dr. Anna store to access the meeting ID number. Dr. Anna performs a unique type of acupuncture facelift that she invented. The muscles of the face and neck are progressively retightened to retrace the steps that aging took. An initial package of 10 treatments is required, and the results last for 18 months before a one-treatment touchup is needed to maintain the lift. COVID-19 safety protocols include treatment rooms with special air filtration systems that pull patients’ breath droplets out the window. In this seminar, Dr. Anna will show photographed results on people of all ages. In addition, she will discuss her proprietary Pearl Cream by Dr Anna that offers the same muscle retightening as her acupuncture facelift in a slower, more gradual process. Her Pearl Cream is an anti-aging serum made from real pearls and Chinese herbs without any preservatives. Pearl Cream by Dr. Anna is also available as a muscle tightening body lotion, men’s anti-aging line and sports performance line. Dr. Anna will donate 10 percent of every purchase to help Ukrainian refugees. Location: 2721 Mall Dr., Sarasota. Temporary COVID-19 store hours: Monday-Friday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. To access the meeting ID, call 941-921-2662. For more information, visit FacesByDrAnna.com and PearlCreamByDrAnna.com.

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April 2022

news briefs

Professional Supplement Center: Fish Oil and Sustainability

hen it comes to fish oil, Professional Supplement Center offers a variety of brands including Wiley’s Finest Fish Oil, Nordic Naturals, NutriGold, Carlson and Ortho Molecular, to name a few. Wiley’s Finest Fish Oil always sources their raw materials from fisheries, using responsible catch methods with comprehensive fish stock management programs in place. All of their packages are labeled with The Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) tagline: “Together we can help protect fish stocks for the future.” This is what drives the Wiley family’s commitment to using Wild Alaskan Fish Oil in the Wiley’s Finest brand of Omega-3 supplements. Here’s What MSC Certification means: The fish are caught sustainably. MSC ensures rigorous fishing practices, standards that oversee bycatch, environmental impact and healthy stock level management. The fishery, the individual fishing companies and other entities who uses the MSC Ecolabel on packages must be audited for MSC compliance and traceability. The MSC’s chain of custody auditing and inspection program guarantees that only the species listed on the package are used in the actual product. A 2011 study by Consumer Reports estimated that 20–25 percent of all fresh and frozen seafood is mislabeled by species. For this reason, Wiley’s Finest lists the exact species name on the label (Wild Alaska Pollock), rather than a generic, catch-all species. MSC certified Wiley’s Finest Wild Alaskan Fish Oil is guaranteed from wild-caught fish, harvested in well-managed U.S. waters by American fishermen. It is important to know the origin of fish oil supplements, while acknowledging those who caught them. Professional Supplement Center is grateful to partner with companies who share similar values of environmental stewardship, community and healthy lifespan. Our aim is to continue to uplift and impart value to the nutritional supplements and healthy lifestyle space. Location: 5525 Palmer Crossing Cir., Sarasota. For more information, call 941-487-5990 or visit ProfessionalSupplementCenter.com.

Sarasota/Manatee Edition

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Spend a Sunday Afternoon at the Meadows Farmer’s Market

he new Meadows Farmer’s Market is located in The Meadows, a sprawling community in northeast Sarasota with thousands of residents and 14 miles of recreational trails. The perfect setting for a day outing on a Sunday afternoon. “Our motto is to feed your mind, body and soul,” says Ashley Millington, one of the market’s co-founders and co-creator of CMC Inc. Wellness, a health center located in The Meadows’ shopping village. CMC Inc Wellness is the premier sponsor of the market to bring this whole community together. The market launched in early October 2021 and operates from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. each Sunday. This market is seasonal and closed for the summer, making June 19 the last market of the season. It will reopen October 3. In the meantime, please mark your calendar for our upcoming holiday events over these next few months. On April 10, we will host a bouquet class and visit from the Easter Bunny. On May 8, we will host a special Mother’s Day Market, and on May 30, we will host a Memorial Day Market. In addition, June 19 will be our end of season party. Please also note that we will be closed on Easter Sunday, April 17. With more than 50 vendors, the market has drawn hundreds of visitors each weekend. We also offer live music, art, games and wellness activities. Customers love our fresh local produce, prepared foods, flowers, artisan goods and other local retail products. Food trucks are also onsite to fix you a quick lunch. Don’t miss our holiday markets each month with one of a kind experiences for the whole family, from interactive workshops to costumed characters. Location: 5041 Ringwood Meadow, Building G, Sarasota. For more information, call 941-315-7773, visit MeadowsFarmsMarket.com, or follow us on Facebook and Instagram. Holiday Events April 10th - Spring Market- Easter Bunny, Banquet Class April 17th- Closed for Easter May 8th- Mothers Day Market May 30th- Memorial Day Market June 19th - Hello Summer- End of the Season Party Oct 2nd - Back open for 2nd season!

Spa Experience Siesta Key Expanded to Accommodate Groups Up to 8 People

ow offering an array of new spa services including therapeutic and relaxing massage, anti-aging facials including microcurrent facial sculpting, and Connie’s Signature Facial that includes a deeply exfoliating enzyme fruit peel, treatment ampoule and custom-tailored mask and cream to your specific skin type. One of our most popular spa services is our Sun N Smoother. Get your body beach ready with this ultimate relaxing service that includes an aromatherapy salt scrub and our deeply healing hot stone massage. Other offerings include acupuncture for those who need a little extra help in achieving your health and wellness goals. Acupuncture can help with chronic conditions ranging from digestive, musculoskeletal, and hormonal. It’s a great way to bring your body back into balance. Best of Both Worlds Facial and Massage package is for those who want it all. Indulge in this pampering and therapeutic treatment that includes a full body relaxation or therapeutic massage and a facial. All massages include hot towels and aromatherapy. Elevate any service with our hot stone massage, CBD, or full body scrub. We can now offer 8 treatments at a time. Spa Experience Siesta Key has earned multiple year 5-star awards on Trip Advisor, is owned and operated by Connie Lewis LMT aesthetician. She has 30 years practical experience working in the spa industry. Lewis is happy to offer her vast array of services in the new remodeled day spa located at 5700 Midnight Pass Rd., STE 4, Siesta Key. Location: 5700 Midnight Pass Rd., STE 4, Siesta Key. For more information call 941-349-4833 or visit SpaExperienceSiestaKey.com.

health briefs

Consider Berberine and Probiotics to Improve Cholesterol When used together, the plant alkaloid berberine and the probiotic Bifidobacterium breve work synergistically to significantly improve total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels, reports a new study in Gut Microbes from Shanghai Jiao Tung University, in China. Researchers tested 365 diabetes patients at 20 centers throughout the country, giving them either a placebo, one of the two substances or both. Comparing post-meal blood samples after 12 weeks, patients that had taken both the berberine and the probiotic had significantly better cholesterol readings and experienced positive changes in the gut microbiome, as well as better fatty acid metabolism.

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April 2022

health briefs

Try Fenugreek to Boost Male Fertility and Health

swapan/AdobeStock.com

Fenugreek, an herb used in Indian curries and Middle Eastern cuisine, has been shown in studies to increase breast milk production in women, and a 12-week study of 100 men has found that it also boosts male testosterone and fertility. A research team at King George’s Medical University, in Lucknow, India, gave 500 milligrams a day of an extract made from fenugreek seeds to men that ranged in ages from 35 to 60. Sperm motility, or movement, significantly increased at eight and 12 weeks of treatment, while abnormal sperm morphology significantly decreased at 12 weeks. Testosterone levels, cholesterol markers and libido also improved. Higher levels of alertness were documented, along with lower blood pressure.

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Climate Change and the Effects on Our Health

by Dr. Fred Harvey

s we move out of the recent pandemic, we still face another threat looming in the background: Climate change. One area of concern with climate change is the alteration of whole foods due to an increase of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere or free-air CO2 enrichment (FACE). We have seen evidence of modifications of the nutritional makeup of some plants. For instance, one study revealed the protein content of rice has diminished. This is a significant concern because much of the world uses rice as its primary grain. There is also evidence of a decrease in zinc and iron within certain foods. CO2 stimulates plant growth— but with increased carbohydrates rather than proteins. Researchers have also documented lower amounts of B1 (Thiamine), B2 (Riboflavin), B5 (pantothenate) and B9 (folic acid) nutrients. This data suggests an increased vulnerability to anemia, diarrhea and infectious diseases in some populations. According to the World Health Organization, there is already a global challenge with micronutrient deficiency, and global warming will only exacerbate this problem. With the loss of natural habitats and increased human overrunning of formally inaccessible terrains, we are seeing more exposure to zoonotic illnesses like SARS,

COVID-19 and the Ebola virus. Combine this issue with the nutrient density problems, and we compound the impact of infectious diseases on our society. Pollen and allergens increase with blooming at odd times. For example, my mango tree bloomed at least a month earlier than usual this year. Flooding increases the risk of exposure to diarrhea illnesses and vector infections like Dengue, West Nile and Malaria. Extreme temperatures cause illness and death, and wildfires increase air pollution and displacement. In fact, the rate of displacement from these issues raises concerns of instability of emotional or physical stress and food insecurity. All these ramifications of climate change point to a significant need for building resilience. Start now to improve your diet and nutritional supplementation in order to create a strong health foundation. Make sure you prepare for seasonal weather changes to ensure adequate food, shelter and other options in case disaster strikes. Keep extra vitamins, dry protein powders and extra medications available for a quick move if necessary. In addition, please do not forget to stock up on all your nutritional support needs before storm season hits this year. Dr. Fred Harvey is the Medical Director of The Harvey Center for Integrative Medicine. He is quadruple board-certified in Internal Medicine, Geriatric Medicine, Functional Medicine and Holistic-Integrative Medicine, specializing in chronic illness recovery and prevention. For more information, visit HarveyCenter.com.

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Hyper-Local Agriculture Is the Food Revolution We All Need: Q&A with Harvest ² by Mary-Elizabeth Schurrer and the work Harvest² is doing to keep our communities fed.

he world is an uncertain, chaotic place. Two years ago, this nebulous concept became a harsh, unmistakable reality for all of us when a virus escalated into a full-scale global pandemic. You know the rest of this story. Health felt precarious. The economy felt unstable. Supply chain issues revealed just how vulnerable we are to food shortages or insecurities. It was also during that time in 2020 when Everett Hendrixon—alarmed by the impact of this food shortage on both consumers and commercial growers—made it his goal to create more accessibility around fresh, organic, flavorful produce for the general public in a limited amount of space. Through his subsequent experimentation with indoor hydroponic farming methods, Harvest² (Squared) was ultimately born. This passion for cultivating nutritious food sources close to home has since turned into an enterprise on the frontlines of revolutionizing how food is both grown and consumed across the state of Florida. It’s called hyper-local urban farming—and it can change how we source our produce, fill our kitchens and nourish our bodies. So allow me to introduce you to Everett Hendrixon 18

Sarasota/Manatee Edition

Natural Awakenings: How has this pandemic shed new light on food insecurity in the United States, and how is Harvest ² working to combat this prevalent issue? Everett Hendrixon: In any global crisis, our supply chains shrink or vanish entirely. This is not a new phenomenon. In World War II, there was a campaign to “encourage” Americans to cultivate their own Victory Gardens. This resulted in 40 percent of all vegetable production to be raised at home. As another example, drastic import reduction in the 1980’s Cold War years led to almost all of Cuba’s fruit and vegetable production taking place on the island. In modern times, the pandemic and now the threat of a European—or potentially global—war has exposed just how vulnerable the United States is to the current food supply chain. At the onset of COVID-19, vegetable crops were tilled under, and growers planted 70 percent less than in prior seasons. When the U.S. turned its attention to food supply, it became clear that, on average, over 40 percent of our fruits and vegetables came from outside the country. The federal administration at the time scrambled to avoid a total collapse of the food supply three times in a span of 18 months. The energy crisis we are currently experiencing pales in comparison to what we almost went through. However, with Russia and Ukraine—the two major global producers of wheat—now locked in conflict, the cost of bread might increase by over 400 percent if there is no intervention before the spring crop is planted. For over more than 50 years, we have taken our food supply for granted, but due to

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recent events, people outside the agriculture industry are starting to raise an eyebrow as to where our food comes from. Still, research indicates that over 85 percent of our school age children have no idea where food comes from. When asked, most will respond, “The grocery store.” Harvest² exists to educate the public, not only on the vital information around the source of our food, but also on how easy it is to raise food at home. Due to new technology in hydroponics, as well as other methods, even a family in a high-rise condo can grow 25 pounds of food per month, using less than nine square feet. Our goal at Harvest² is twofold. First, we raise awareness of where our food comes from and why it’s important, then we demonstrate how accessible production can be on a hyper-local level. And we are not alone. There are others making similar strides, like the Gourmet Gardner, for example. Folks in our space thrive off feeding people—it’s that simple. NA: What are the main benefits of cultivating hyper-local food supplies—both for the wellness of communities and for the environmental sustainability of this planet? Hendrixon: The main benefits of hyper-local foods are nutrition, flavor and environmental sustainability in that order. Take blueberries, for instance. It might surprise some to learn that a large portion of our blueberries come from Peru. How nutritious is a berry that travels over 2800 miles to reach U.S. consumers? The overwhelming production of fruits and vegetable accounts for three factors—durability, pest or disease resistance, and high yield. This allows the farmer to make a crop at a profit, but it disregards taste, nutrition and diversity, which are vital for a healthy diet. By creating a food supply that’s closer to home, we can focus more on nutrition and taste. The nutritional value of any fresh produce starts to decline immediately following its harvest. So the closer you are to a food source and the sooner you’re able to consume it, the more nutrition you’ll gain from it. Further, if you use newer production technologies, you can grow food varieties that are higher in nutritional value on a genetic level. It’s a double win!

We have seen firsthand how flavor affects the consumption of produce. Harvest to table food inherently tastes more delicious. Further, since shelf life isn’t a major concern, you can choose genetics that are richer in flavor. When the natural flavor of food is restored, you see people of all ages, who normally don’t care for vegetables, begin to search them out. It’s remarkable just how flavorless most of the produce in grocery stores is, but you might not even notice this taste deficit until you have something fresh and natural to compare it with. When flavor increases, consumption increases, along with all the health benefits that come from eating a rainbow of fresh foods. Assessing the impact on the environment is slightly more complicated. However, it stands to reason that when you harvest food closer to the source of consumption, there will be less fuel and energy expenditure to transport it—dare I say, zero food miles wasted. Eating what we harvest ourselves results in 40 percent food waste. Then, if we also take into account that hydroponic farming methods use 95 percent less land, minimal (if any) pesticides and 98 percent less water, you’ll recognize the environmental benefits on a macro level. Where we get into the weeds is the computation of carbon use and sequestration. Those figures run into fierce debate in terms of the micro benefits in each category. Local food supply benefits the environment. How much benefit is returned versus used will continue to be argued by those with more degrees than myself. My suspicion is this will be a key metric in how agriculture reduces its overall impact on the environment. NA: How do you empower individuals, families, schools, and other institutions to be healthy, eco-conscious and economically viable through the practice of urban farming? Hendrixon: Education—plain and simple. In 1870, about half of all Americans held jobs in agriculture, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. But today, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) reports that farmworkers comprise less than 1 percent. This, along with the reality that the average U.S. farmer is 58 years old, shows a massive disconnect between the general public and

their connection to food production. Too often, the societal message that farming is difficult, and it won’t yield a sizeable profit to compensate for all this hard work. The truth is, farming—especially commercial farming—is hard. The larger an operation, the more moving parts and complications exist. However, when we show a six-year-old how easy it is to plant, cultivate, harvest and eat fresh food, their eyes light up with excitement. If farming can spark that reaction in a six-year-old, it can do that for anyone with minimal experience cultivating their own fresh food. When we pivot to indoor farming methods, the simplicity increases as barriers decrease. That’s because it’s exceptionally difficult to grow outdoors in Florida. Take tomatoes, for instance. Every disease or pest known to infect the tomato plant exists in our hot, humid climate. This means that being able to produce a truly organic tomato crop is next to impossible without daily— sometimes even hourly—attention. This is the case for most produce grown here. So by utilizing controlled environment agriculture (CEA) on a small scale, we can control the environment easily to minimize the wasted effort or disappointment of a lackluster crop. When you factor in all the inputs, you can grow indoor fruits or vegetables for less than $1 per pound. That’s an enormous savings over what the average person will spend on basic produce such as lettuce and herbs. When people consume hyper-fresh, nutritious food, they will feel more energy and their brains can function at a higher level. My personal anecdotal experience to back this claim is this: The fresher the food, the better I feel after a meal. I can tell a clear difference between the “greenwashed” food supply versus a natural, freshly harvested food supply.

“miniaturize” this process, we can grow 25 pounds of lettuce in less than nine square feet. There is no way even the most experienced grower can accomplish anything close to that in nine square feet outdoors. The “fresh, nutritious and accessible” part of this metric is achieved by farming onsite. We can design and install an open field or traditional garden, passive or active greenhouse operations, and the like. However, each of those models pale in comparison to what can be accomplished with a vertical CEA farming model. We aren’t the only horse running this race. Many others also work to develop, invent, educate and motivate the public to examine our food supply chain against the benefits of micro farming. But not all products work in all scenarios. We curate the best options for each situation, and we exist to provide the best service for our clients’ unique, specific needs. Harvest² partners with families, schools, entrepreneurs, communities and other institutions to provide both educational resources and accessible solutions for cultivating micro urban farms. To learn about the nutritional, environmental and economic benefits of this hyper-local food source model, contact 941549-4971 or email Info@HarvestSquared. com. You can also visit HarvestSquared.com for more information. Mary-Elizabeth Schurrer is the Managing Editor of Natural Awakenings Sarasota– Manatee. She also works as a freelance writer, blogger and social media marketer. Her personal blog HealthBeAHippie.Wordpress. com features tips for embracing an active, nutritious, balanced and empowered lifestyle.

NA: What are some of the different urban farming models you use at Harvest² to grow fresh, nutritious, accessible hyper-local produce in a small amount of space? Hendrixon: The “small amount of space” element is the defining part of this question, and once again, we must look to CEA as a solution. Vertical farming on a broad scale will use just one acre to grow the equivalent of 30 acres in the open field. When we April 2022

While postural problems can trigger neck pain, not everyone with poor neck posture will suffer from neck pain. For instance, some of my patients suspect mental or emotional stress as a cause of their neck pain. In my experience, stress amplifies pain or brings it to the surface, but it isn’t the underlying cause.

Relief from Neck Pain by Eric Winder, D.C.

hronic neck pain can affect someone’s quality of life in numerous ways. Whether it causes poor quality sleep, difficulty looking for traffic, or just general daily irritation, neck pain is one of the most common reasons people seek help at my office. Many different factors can be at the root of the pain, but most of these causes will respond to the right treatment. A patient I will refer to as Melanie is an ideal example of how different factors cause neck pain, as well as how relief comes with the right form of care. Melanie had been in a high- speed car accident, resulting in severe whiplash, but x-rays showed that she had been suffering from severe arthritis long before the accident, although she wasn’t aware of this. Her neck pain was disabling to the point where surgery was being considered. A course of treatment at our office, consisting of fascial release therapy, joint stretching, and rehabilitation exercises, improved Melanie’s pain from an average of nine out of 10 (where 10 is the worst imaginable) to two out of 10. She was able to return to work, and surgery was avoided. She had several issues contributing to her pain—as do many people with neck problems—so let’s examine some of those underlying issues.

Sarasota/Manatee Edition

Arthritis? Many people (including doctors) think of arthritis as a major cause of neck pain. What many people don’t know is there’s only a small correlation between how much arthritis you have and how much pain you might feel in your neck. This means that just because you have arthritic changes, such as disc degeneration or bone spurs in your neck, this doesn’t necessarily cause the pain you feel. In my experience, most arthritic changes cause only stiffness and mild achiness in the neck. Melanie, for example, did not have neck pain, despite severe arthritis, until her accident. Of course, the arthritis could have made her injury and pain reaction more severe. Her relief, however, did not come from treating arthritis itself. We’ll discuss this below when we look at the connective tissue called fascia. Posture and Pain Another issue that relates to neck pain is posture. Many people with neck pain also have a forward head posture. This means their ears are positioned forward rather than centered over the shoulders. The restrictions that cause forward head posture

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can certainly cause neck pain as well. In fact, for every inch that the head is forward of the shoulders, tension at the base of the neck is multiplied ten times. While postural problems often require professional care, there are some issues with posture that can easily be corrected by changing ergonomics. Is your computer screen at eye level? If it is too low, or especially if it is too high, then regular use can lead to neck pain. Some people situate their computer screen off to one side, so their neck is always turned when they use it, and this can also cause pain. Whether or not these factors lead to pain will depend on the frequency of use. Occasional laptop computer use is not usually a problem. However, I have seen patients who use a laptop for hours each day, so looking down in a hunched position for this much time results in pain. While postural problems can trigger neck pain, not everyone with poor neck posture will suffer from neck pain. For instance, some of my patients suspect mental or emotional stress as a cause of their neck pain. In my experience, stress amplifies pain or brings it to the surface, but it isn’t the underlying cause. When the physical cause is correctly dealt with, similar levels of stress will no longer cause pain. In Melanie’s case, stressful days exacerbated her pain, but after successful treatment, stress had minimal effect on her pain levels. Fascia as the Root Cause The most common issue that I find at

the root of my patients’ neck pain is fascia restriction. Abnormal tension, stiffness or distortion in this fibrous connective tissue can alter muscle tension, joint alignment and joint stability, resulting in stiffness and pain. Fascia restrictions are frequently caused by prior injuries, postural stress or repetitive motion injuries. While mental or emotional stress itself is not a direct cause, the muscle tension that it brings can lead to stiffness or restriction in fascia. Restricted fascia is most easily treated with gentle hands-on compression techniques, such as Residual Strain Therapy. Densified fascia—where the connective tissue is thicker, less pliable and tender to the touch—is most effectively treated with pulsing pressure or specialized stretch techniques. Restricted fascia is not the same as a muscle knot or “trigger point.” In fact, trigger points in muscle are usually caused by fascia restriction, so when the fascia is released, one or several nearby trigger points will disappear. The powerful results of fixing the fascia come from improved proprioception, or “position sense.” The nerve endings that give us the position sense that we use for coordinated motion are in our fascia. When we correct restricted fascia, we improve proprioception which allows for better muscle coordination, joint alignment and stability. This can make all the difference in the world for a problem like neck pain. For Melanie, releasing fascia restriction was the key to her pain relief, and the relief was lasting rather than just temporary.

Complete Neck Care In addition to fascia release and ergonomic changes, other therapies can be important to relieve neck pain. Stiffness and pain can lead to weakness in the neck muscles which, in turn, can exacerbate the pain. Learning how to safely strengthen your neck is vital in this case. Sometimes whole-body posture affects the neck, so a person might need to strengthen their core muscles, or even their hips, in order to help relieve postural stress in the neck. In some cases when there is significant arthritis or disk degeneration in the spine, traction or decompression therapy can offer relief. Sometimes this can be done at home with inexpensive equipment, upon the recommendation of a qualified healthcare practitioner. Each case of neck pain is unique, and no two people will require the exact same treatment. However, as a general rule, I find it effective to change the easy lifestyle habits first (for example, computer screen height), treat fascia restriction next, then strengthen muscles when the joints and tissues are working correctly. For most people, this is a successful formula to get rid of a “pain in the neck.” Dr. Eric Winder has been practicing chiropractic for 25 years. His practice focuses on relieving pain to restore alignment and motion through gentle soft tissue therapies. For more information, call 941957-8390 or visit GentleBay.com.

Dr. Eric Winder Gentle But Powerful, Non-Invasive Treatments Fascia Release Therapies • Back and Neck Pain • Vertigo • Headaches • Tendinitis

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Why We Need

WILD PLACES How to Invite Nature Back into Our Lives and Landscapes by Sheryl DeVore

whose most recent documentary is A Life on Our Planet, says that in 1937, when he was a boy, about 66 percent of the world’s wilderness areas remained. By 2020, it was down to 35 percent. A wild place can be as spectacular as Yellowstone, a 3,500-square-mile national park in Wyoming, Idaho, and Montana, filled with hot springs, canyons, wolves, and elk. It can also be as simple as a sky filled with a murmuration, or gathering, of thousands of swooping starlings, which once caused two teens to stop taking selfies and photograph the natural scene above them instead, as Hoffman witnessed in Great Britain. Such regions that offer vast tracts of natural beauty and biodiversity are even found in and around major cities like Chicago, says Chicagoland nature blogger Andrew Morkes. “A wild place is also where you don’t see too many people, or any people, and you can explore,” he says. “You can walk up a hill and wonder what’s around the next bend.” “A wild place could be a 15-minute drive from home where we can walk among plants in a meadow, or a tree-lined street, or front and back yard, if landscaped with wild creatures in mind,” says Douglas Tallamy, author of Nature’s Best Hope: A New Approach to Conservation that Starts with Your Yard.

Sustaining Our Species

n a blustery day, Julian Hoffman stood outdoors and watched wild bison grazing in the restored grassland of Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie, fewer than 50 miles from downtown Chicago. For him, it was a wild place, affording a glimpse of what North America looked like hundreds of years ago when bison roamed the continent by the millions. “We’re witnessing, in a way that’s both terrible and tragic, just what the profound cost is of continuing to destroy the natural world,” he writes. Saving wild places is critical for human health and well-being, say both scientists

Sarasota/Manatee Edition

and environmentalists. But defining what a wild place is or what the word wilderness means can be difficult, says Hoffman, author of Irreplaceable: The Fight to Save Our Wild Places. “If wilderness means a place untouched by humans, then none is left,” he says. Even the set-aside wildernesses where no one may have ever stepped have been altered through climate change, acid rain and other human interventions. Humans are also losing the wilderness that is defined as land set aside solely for plants and creatures other than humans. Prominent naturalist David Attenborough,

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“We need these places to save ourselves,” says Tallamy, who heads the Department of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology at the University of Delaware. “Humans are totally dependent on the production of oxygen and clean water, and that happens with the continued existance of flowering plants, which are dependent on the continued existence of all the pollinators. When you lose the pollinators, you lose 90 percent of the flowering plants on the Earth. That is not an option if we want to stay alive and healthy.” Our mental and emotional health is also at stake. According to a recent overview in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives, studies have shown that nat-

ural settings can lower blood pressure, reduce depression and anxiety, and help the immune system function better. People have saved wild places over time, of course. “The world’s ancient redwoods are still with us today because people in the early 1900s fought to protect and preserve what they could already see was rapidly diminishing,” Hoffman says. “In the year 2022, we are the beneficiaries of those past actions. Yet less than 5 percent of those old-growth redwood groves are left, and we live in an age where we’re losing an extraordinary range of wild species; for example, 3 billion birds have disappeared from the skies of North America in just the past 50 years. That’s why people need to continue to fight for wild spaces.”

Community Crusaders In researching his book, Hoffman went looking for wild-space struggles. In Glasgow, Scotland, he met people that fought to save an urban meadow from being turned into a luxury home development. “I’d never experienced as much joy in any one place as when I spent time with the community fighting to preserve this tiny meadow,” he recalls. “They campaigned and lobbied politicians, and eventually, the government backed down. And now the whole community is able to enjoy this site where a lot of urban wildlife thrives.” Once-wild places may also need human help to again become wild refuges. The Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie, where Hoffman saw the buffalo, “was once an arsenal for the production of extraordinary quantities of ordnance for a number of wars,” he says. After hundreds of die-hard volunteers dug out invasive plants, scattered seed and documented wildlife on the 18,000-acre prairie, visitors can now walk among big bluestem and golden alexander, and listen for the sweet song of meadowlarks in the grasslands and chorus frogs in the wetlands. Conservation volunteers working to save wild places hail from every state. In fact, nearly 300,000 volunteers contribute more than 6.5 million hours of volunteer service a year to the U.S. National Park Service, from

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leading tours to studying wildlife and hosting campgrounds. One doesn’t have to be an environmental crusader to save wild places, Hoffman stresses. Exploring local wild places and sharing them with others can help save them, as well. “We can only protect those places that we love,” he says. “And we can only love those places that we know.” Sadly, roughly 100 million people, including 28 million children, do not have access to a quality park within 10 min-

utes of home, according to The Trust for Public Land. Projects, such as the Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership Program, which enables urban communities to create outdoor spaces, can help. The U.S. Department of the Interior committed $150 million to the program in 2021. “Every child in America deserves to have a safe and nearby place to experience the great outdoors,” says Interior Secretary Deb Haaland.

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Tallamy says one of the most important ways to get people to appreciate and save wild places is to begin in their own yards. “We have wilderness designations. We have national forests. We have national parks. We have 12 percent of the U.S. protected from development,” he says. “Yet, we are in the sixth great extinction. Our parks and our preserves are not enough. My point is that we have got to focus on the areas outside of parks and preserves.” He urges what he calls a “homegrown national park,” in which homeowners, land managers and farmers create a habitat by replacing invasive plants with native species. Tallamy speaks from experience. He lives on a 10-acre former farm in Oxford, Pennsylvania. “It had been mowed for hay and when we moved in, very little life was here,” he says. “We have been rebuilding the eastern deciduous forest here, getting invasive plants under control and replanting with species that ought to be here.” He’s now counted more than 1,400 different species of moths on his property and documented 60 species of birds nesting within the landscape. “We have foxes who raise their kits in the front yard,” he says. Lots of acreage is not required, he says. In Kirkwood, Missouri, homeowners created a wild place on six-tenths of an acre on which they’ve documented 149 species of birds. “If one person does it, it’s not going to work,” he stresses. “The point is to get those acres connected. When everybody adopts this as a general landscape culture, it’s going to help tremendously. By rewilding your yard, you are filling in spaces between the true wild places and natural areas. The reason our wild spaces are not working in terms of conservation is because they are too small and too isolated. Even the biggest national parks are too small or too isolated.” Tallamy says people can create wild spaces in their yards by reducing the amount of lawn they have or even getting rid of it. They can grow native plants and discontinue the use of pesticides and herbicides, which are disrupting ecological function of wild places the world over, as research shows. Hoffman agrees, “We’ve cultivated a culture of tidiness. It’s actu-

THESE DOCTORS ARE AMONG

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PHYSICIANS PHYSICIANS ally very easy to welcome wildlife into your home places, often by doing fewer things, by not bringing the leaf blower out and by leaving some dead wood where it fell, which creates important shelters for insects, for example. “Such wild yard spaces encourage wonder. Suddenly, the kids are out there and they can be absolutely fascinated by a small glittering beetle. For me, to experience the wild is to go to the shore of a lake, to be present in the mystery, to be among the lake’s reed beds, to see a marsh harrier sleek out of those reeds and to know you’re part of something much larger,” he says. “There’s so much joy and beauty and complexity in being in the presence of other lives besides human.” That in itself is reason enough to save wild places. Sheryl DeVore has written six books on science, health and nature, as well as health and environmental stories for national and regional publications. Read more at SherylDeVore.wordpress.com.

LEARN MORE The Nature Fix: Why Nature Makes Us Happier, Healthier and More Creative, by Florence Williams

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Irreplaceable: The Fight to Save Our Wild Places, by Julian Hoffman

Sarasota Center of Light

A Life on Our Planet, Netflix documentary by David Attenborough

Local metaphysical community that offers authentic teachings of Mediumship, Healing, and other Esoteric Arts. Weekly Sunday Morning Service with messages from Spirit, and Wednesday evening Healing Mediation Service. Links to our services and information about our classes can be found on our website.

Nature’s Best Hope: A New Approach to Conservation that Starts with Your Yard, by Douglas Tallamy The Living Landscape: Designing for Beauty and Biodiversity in the Home Garden, by Rick Darke and Douglas Tallamy

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fit body

Spirited Strides

POWER WALK TO BETTER FITNESS by Marlaina Donato at North Shore University Health System, in Glenview, Illinois.

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Walking as a Workout

e all know that the more steps we take in a day the better. The Mayo Clinic advocates walking regularly to keep bad cholesterol in check, maintain a heart-healthy weight and keep blood pressure within a normal range. Power walking—going a mile in under 15 minutes—amps up cardiovascular benefits and takes metabolic conditioning to a new level. Power walking involves taking longer strides, moving at 4.5 to 5.5 miles per hour and using the arms to propel motion, with or without light weights. “With this more intensive exercise, in comparison to everyday walking, one should note that their breathing is harder and their heart rate is faster with power walking. Compared to someone who walks at a casual pace, a power walker can expect lower blood pressure, heart rate, blood sugar and cholesterol numbers,” says Jason C. Robin, M.D., director of cardio oncology

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In cases of severe coronary artery disease, certain heart muscle disorders, known as cardiomyopathy or valvular diseases, Robin recommends seeing a doctor before taking up fitness walking, but emphasizes, “Obvious injuries or illnesses aside, power walking is great for all ages, genders, sizes and fitness levels and is, in general, very safe with very few contraindications.” He suggests aiming for 15 minutes or less on a first endeavor, and after one week increasing the time to 20 to 25 minutes, eventually working up to 30 minutes. To complement power walking, he recommends resistance training to increase muscle strength and tone, protect joints from injury, and improve flexibility and balance. Dave McGovern, walking coach and author of The Complete Guide to Competitive Walking: Racewalking, Power Walking, Nordic Walking and More!, points out, “The impact forces of walking, even high-level racewalking, can be one-third of what runners experience, so it’s a lot easier on the joints. Power walking doesn’t have many rules.” A 30-year veteran of the U.S. National Racewalk Team, McGovern underscores the importance of starting out with a regular, easy walk before progressing to a more vigorous pace. To avoid and reduce injury, he advocates mindfulness of correct posture and taking shorter, faster steps rather than long, stomping strides. He trains on a variety of surfaces, including everyday roads, tartan (rubber) running tracks, treadmills, dirt trails, grass, and even the occasional concrete sidewalk. “Changing up surfaces

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uses your muscles in different ways, which can help prevent overuse injuries that crop up from too much training on the same surfaces day in, day out,” he says.

Practical Essentials For optimal results on any surface, proper footwear is vital. “We would typically recommend a running shoe for any fitness-based walking,” says Josh Saint Cyr, store manager at New Balance, in Highland Park, Illinois. He notes that the right shoes are designed to help align gait and avoid pronation or supination that prompts the ankle to roll inward or outward with movement. “For a more customized experience, someone with medium or lower arches would want a shoe from the stability running section, and someone with higher arches would want a shoe from the cushioned running section.” In cases of tight calf muscles, Saint Cyr recommends stretching as a daily practice, even on non-exercise days. “Rollers or massage guns can be useful for immediate relief, but ultimately, stretching will help by reducing or eliminating tightness.”

Taking it Up a Notch Racewalking, the competitive and highly technical variety of power walking, takes place at track meets. “After you’ve built a base of miles, you can start sprinkling in some longer and faster workouts, and maybe even think about competition,” says McGovern. “There is a bit more technique involved in competitive racewalking, but once you get the hang of it, it will allow you to go much faster.” In the end, having a goal can be the best motivator. “For the athletes I coach, many of them in their 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s and beyond, racewalking and power walking gives a purpose to their workouts,” says McGovern. “One of my athletes has said that she hates to work out, but loves to train. Having the goal of a race over the horizon gives a lot of athletes a reason to get out the door every day.” Marlaina Donato is an author and composer. Connect at WildflowerLady.com.

April 2022

TECHNOLOGY MEETS NATURE APPS BRING US CLOSER TO FLORA AND FAUNA

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by Sheryl DeVore

hile exploring Seattle, Jackie Lentz Bowman noticed some bushes filled with pink and orange berries. She discovered she could safely eat them by using the smartphone nature app called iNaturalist (iNaturalist.org). “I learned they were salmonberries and edible,” says the Chicago area photographer and birder. “I just had to try them. They were very similar to raspberries.” Bowman is among a growing number of people using their smartphones to enhance their nature experiences. Phone apps are available for free or a modest price to identify mushrooms, bugs, birds, dragonflies, reptiles, beetles, wildflowers and other flora and fauna. “Whether it is to help identify a plant I’ve taken a photo of or to familiarize myself with what a bird looks like and sounds like, these are tools I’m always glad to have in my back pocket,” she explains. At least 6,300 nature apps were available in 2015, according to Paul Jepson and Richard Ladle, Oxford environmental scholars and co-authors of “Nature Apps: Waiting for the Revolution,” a research paper published in the Swedish environmental journal Ambio. Such programs are only beginning to scratch the surface of what is possible. They write, “As most people own a mobile phone today, the app—though a small device—is a major

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way conservationists could be reaching a huge audience with transformative possibilities.” Right now, some apps allow the user to point a smartphone to a plant or animal to get instant feedback on its common or scientific name. Others ask the user questions about what they are seeing and suggest an identity based on the answers. Some allow the user to interact with scientists, share their knowledge, record their observations and contribute to science. Perhaps the most popular nature app is iNaturalist, which has all those features and more. “Our mission has been to connect people to nature through technology,” says Scott Loarie, co-director of iNaturalist, a joint initiative of the California Academy of Sciences and the National Geographic Society. “By 2030, we want to connect 100 million people to nature to facilitate science and conservation.” The app began as a master’s degree project at the University of California, Berkeley, in 2008, and today 2 million people have recorded about 100 million observations, covering one in six species on the planet. “iNaturalist has grown to the point where it’s helping take the pulse of biodiversity,” he adds. Newcomers are often mentored and helped with identifications by volunteers that are experts in different fields. One example is a worldwide competition called the City Nature Challenge in which beginning and advanced naturalists document urban flora and fauna for several days. During the event, people share their photos of plants and animals on iNaturalist. During Chicago’s Challenge, Eric

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green living

Gyllenhaal, who blogs about nature on the city’s west side, found an uncommon species. “A Canadian expert helped confirm the identification as a bronze ground beetle native to Europe,” says Cassi Saari, project manager of natural areas for the Chicago Park District. “It’s an introduced species in Illinois and could have implications for wildlife in the region down the line.” Two other nature apps that Loarie likes are eBird (eBird.org) and Merlin (Merlin. AllAboutBirds.org), both administered by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, in Ithaca, New York. With eBird, users can report on their phones a list of birds they’re seeing in the wild, including when and where, and the sightings are added to a database for scientific research. Merlin is a field guide app to help folks identify the birds they are seeing. “Merlin has taken on authoring content with great descriptions of birds, something iNaturalist doesn’t do,” Loarie points out. “Merlin also just released sound recognition in the app, so people can identify birds by sound. It’s huge for birders.” Award-winning nature photographer Adriana Greisman, of Phoenix, says she uses both Merlin and iBird (iBird.com), another field guide app, to identify birds in the wild and when processing photos. “These are great resources to identify unknown species and to learn about their behavior.” The favorite app of Joyce Gibbons, a volunteer at the Natural Land Institute, in Rockford, Illinois, is Odonata Central (OdonataCentral.org), which focuses on her passion—dragonflies and damselflies, collectively called odonates. “I’ve loved solitary walks in the woods, prairies and other natural areas since I was a child,” she says. “I’ve always taken photos and tried to ID the many species I’ve observed. Now, with these apps on my phone, I feel like I am actually contributing to the scientific body of knowledge and connecting with other enthusiasts and not just keeping all this joy of discovery to myself.” Sheryl DeVore is an award-winning author of six books on science, health and nature. Connect at SherylDevoreWriter@gmail.com.

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wise words

Brian Sauder on

Faith-Based Grassroots Change

by Sandra Yeyati

ith degrees in natural resource management, environmental science, religion and business administration, Mennonite Reverend Brian Sauder is an adjunct professor at two Illinois seminary schools, as well as president and executive director of Faith in Place, a Midwest nonprofit headquartered in Chicago that helps diverse faith-based groups become community leaders in a shared quest for environmental, social and racial justice.

How are places of faith uniquely positioned to address environmental and racial justice?

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If you look at the history of the U.S. environmental justice movement, from Warren County, North Carolina, where black church women laid their bodies on the road to stop toxic waste dump trucks in their community, to Dr. Benjamin Chavis’ coining of the phrase “environmental racism” through the United Church of Christ, there’s a legacy of people of faith and diverse spiritualities calling out environmental racism and organizing the community to take action. We view ourselves in that historical lineage, with a mission to provide the tools, resources and programming for our faith partners to continue to advance these valuable pursuits.

How does Faith in Place work? It’s very grassroots. We believe in a Green Team model, which is a core group of people within a faith community, 30

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anywhere from three to 30 individuals, depending on the size of the community. Through coaching, we help teams evaluate the community’s needs and assets, set goals for the year, and create a strategic plan to address needs through programming, advocacy and a network of nonprofit partners.

Why are Green Teams effective in bringing about change?

The messenger matters. When you work with a community, it’s the people in that community that are going to understand the culture, the theology, the context, the history, the politics of the local body; so they understand how to meet people where they’re at and how to talk about these issues in a way that’s effective and attainable.

Can you describe a noteworthy Faith in Place project?

We partnered with a Green Team that wanted to address the need of hunger in their community by turning four acres of land that they had into a congregation-supported agriculture project (CSA), where people paid upfront to get a weekly bushel of produce grown on the land, while the church tithed 10 percent of it to local food pantries. Over several years, we helped them write a business plan, approach the committee structure of the church, hire a farmer, set up a legal structure and launch Sola Gratia Farm, which today is employing a bunch of people and stocking local food pantries with fresh tomatoes, kale, fruits and vegetables grown right there in the community. Once Faith in Place shared this story, other faith partners wanted to replicate it. We now support five different CSAs across Illinois.

Does Faith in Place welcome all denominations?

Absolutely. Whether it’s an institution of religion or a spiritual tradition, people are bringing the wisdom of the ages to bear on understanding the moment we’re in. Everything is connected, and the ecological crisis is a spiritual crisis. The healing of me

“One way to describe justice is love in action.” and the healing of you and the healing of Earth are bound together, and this mutuality is core to all our different spiritualities and traditions. At our annual Green Team summit, people from different regions, backgrounds and religions come together, all united by the air we breathe, the water we drink, the land where our food is grown and a deep sense of calling and purpose. It’s hope-inspiring in a world that is so divided.

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What areas of environmental justice do you focus on?

A Green Team might say, “We have an issue with lead pipes in our communities,” or, “We have an issue with high schoolage youth needing employment.” Our programs, which are shaped by the needs of our Green Teams and are constantly being reevaluated and reshaped, cover sustainable food and land use, climate change and energy, environmental advocacy, youth empowerment, and water and flooding prevention. We also advocate to policymakers. Last year in Illinois, Green Teams helped pass the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act by convincing legislators to not only reduce carbon emissions, but also prioritize employment opportunities in the new green economy for highunemployment neighborhoods.

What is your philosophy concerning the intersection between faith and environmental and social justice?

We’ve got to be committed to the transformation that we seek. Our spirituality calls us to remember how connected we are. One way to describe justice is love in action—a love that begins with ourselves— and as we love ourselves more deeply, it spurs outward action that seeks to dismantle injustice. Sandra Yeyati, J.D., is a professional writer and editor. Reach her at SandraYeyati@gmail.com.

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April 2022

healthy kids

Nature Speaks

STORYTELLING CONNECTS KIDS TO THE NATURAL WORLD

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by Carrie Jackson

hildren are natural storytellers with imaginations that shape their play and learning. In outdoor settings, everything from puddles to pine cones can engage children and draw them closer to the natural world, opening up a lifelong appreciation of natural environments. Connecting with nature also improves creativity, academic performance and attentiveness, while reducing stress and aggressive behavior, a body of research shows. Organizations, like the Wilderness Awareness School, a Duvall, Washington-based nonprofit, work to help children and adults cultivate healthy relationships with nature, community and self. “We find that children who feel at home in the outdoors are often more resourceful, creative and allow for curiosity to naturally unfold,” says Leah Carlson, director of marketing and communications at Wilderness Awareness School. “Allowing them to play freely and explore in nature is a wonderful way to build resilience and resourcefulness. When children can be intrigued through a story, it also allows them to understand their own outdoor experiences. They become more adept at finding new solutions to problems using the tools they have access to and creative thinking.” Weaving storytelling into their programs helps children understand their outdoor experiences. “Regular time spent with experienced nature mentors, playing games, explor-

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ing unique plants and animals and getting excited about the possibilities of nature is how a connection begins. When children are outside, the characters of these stories are the plants, animals, rocks and landforms around them. The suburban tree that was always an obstacle on the sidewalk can be seen through new eyes as a dragon, monkey bars or a red alder,” Carlson explains. Megan Zeni, a public school teacher in Steveston, British Columbia, says there is a global body of research that shows every measure of wellness is improved through time spent outside. She teaches solely outdoors, ensuring that her students have exposure to nature regardless of which neighborhood they live in. “In our modern world, higher-income families generally have better access to green spaces. Incorporating outdoor activities into the school day gives children equitable exposure to nature and outdoor learning,” she explains. Zeni uses both non-fiction and fiction storytelling approaches to teaching. “To learn about water cycles, I’ll have kids jump in puddles, observe where the water goes and track where it is in the community. They’ll then relay a fact-based story based on their observations and experiences. For a lesson on squirrels, I’ll ask the students to imagine where their habitat is, who their family is and what they eat. We use loose parts, which are open-ended items, such as pine cones and sticks, to creatively illustrate the story. “By using storytelling as a measure of knowledge, it is more equitable for students who don’t perform as well using traditional test and essay methods,” she says. Listening to a child’s story can also reveal misconceptions that can be clarified through further exploration and instruction. Storytelling can take on many forms and be enhanced with the use of props. As the artistic director of Rootstock Puppet Co., based in Chicago, Mark Blashford performs puppet theater rooted in stories that promote mutual kindness and ecological awareness. “Puppets are remarkable storytelling agents because, not only can they play characters and support narrative

“We find that children who feel at home in the outdoors are often more resourceful, creative and allow for curiosity to naturally unfold.”

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–Leah Carlson through movement, they can also tell a story from the very - ma terial they inhabit,” he says. P “ uppets invite kids to exercise - em pathy by compelling them to accept and invest in the thoughts, feelings and life of another entity.” By making puppets out of wood and using them to weave environmental awareness into his shows, Blashford helps to put the natural world in perspective. M “ y show M IT E B R! is about an entire forest and a single tree which is home to a family of spotted owls. I want children to see the role of both the forest and the tree in the lives of an owl family. When they fall in love with little wooden puppet owls, they are able to convert the giant concept of deforestation into a manageable scale,” he says. He encourages parents to regularly engage their children with their natural habitat. G o “ to your local forest or park, nd a tree, name it and check on it as oen as you can. Prompt children to ask questions about who they think lives in that tree, why the branches stretch out how they do and what happens at night. As children learn to see the outdoor world as part of their own characters and setting, the stories will develop naturally,” he advises. Connect with writer Carrie Jackson at CarrieJacksonWrites.com.

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healing ways

Buzz-Free Drinking

THE HEALTHY RISE OF NON-ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES

photo courtesy of Kerry Benson and Diana Licalzi

by Ronica O’Hara

SOUR MOCK-A-RITA 1 cup and 2 Tbsp lime juice ¼ cup and 2 Tbsp orange juice 3 Tbsp agave nectar, plus more to taste 2½ cups and 2 Tbsp coconut water Few dashes of salt Lime wheels for garnish Lime wedges and sea salt to rim the glasses To salt the rims of four to six lowball or margarita glasses, pour a thin layer of salt onto a plate or a shallow bowl. Slide a lime wedge around the rim of the 34

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glass to wet it, or use a finger to apply the juice to the rim, then dip and twist the glass in the salt. Combine all of the drink ingredients in a pitcher. Stir. Fill the rimmed glasses with ice. Divide the margarita mix among the glasses. Garnish with lime wheels. From Mocktail Party: 75 Plant-Based, Non-Alcoholic Mocktail Recipes for Every Occasion, by Kerry Benson and Diana Licalzi.

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s a former bartender, Katie Cheney enjoys mixing drinks for friends, and one night recently, in her San Francisco apartment, she tried out something new: an alcohol-free “Noquila Sunrise” made with a distilled, plant-based spirit. “I was actually pleasantly surprised. Even though we were drinking non-alcoholic drinks, we still had just as much fun as usual!” recalls Cheney, who blogs at DrinksSaloon.com. In New York City, Marcos Martinez has begun drinking virgin piña coladas when out on the town with friends. “The feeling is surprisingly great since I don’t wake up with hangovers. More importantly, I’ve realized that I don’t have to use alcohol as a crutch for my social anxiety,” says Martinez, who owns the black gay lifestyle blog TheMenWhoBrunch.com. At Chicago’s Kumiko Japanese cocktail bar, owner Julia Momosé offers a menu of what she calls “Spiritfrees,” crafted without alcohol and with ingredients like yarrow, ume—a Japanese fruit—and cardamom. “Folks comment on how they appreciate that it is ‘more than just juice,’ or how surprised they are at their depth, texture and complexity,” she says. The “sober-curious”—people experimenting with alcohol-free beverages as a way of prioritizing their health and fitness over a short-lived buzz—are changing America’s drinking culture. For the first time in 20 years, fewer Americans are regularly drinking, reports Gallup, and tipplers are drinking measurably less than they did 10 years ago. No longer stuck with a seltzer while dodging questions from inquisitive imbibers, today the sober-inclined can sip from a vast array of sophisticated choices—from faux vodka in exotic, crafted drinks to prize-winning sparkling wines to low- and no-alcohol craft beer. No-booze options can be easily

ordered at restaurants, picked up at supermarkets or delivered at home with a few online clicks. “The best part about having a fun, non-alcoholic beverage in hand is that you get the taste and experience of a cocktail or beer, just without the alcohol and potential negative side effects,” says dietitian Kerry Benson, co-author of Mocktail Party: 75 Plant-Based, Non-Alcoholic Mocktail Recipes for Every Occasion. “You have your wits about you, you can drive if necessary, you are less likely to say or do something you might regret and you won’t have a hangover the next morning. And alcohol-free drinks are usually less expensive than their alcoholic counterparts.” Sober-curious strategies range widely. Some people start tentatively, but increasingly turn to non-alcoholic drinks because they prefer the taste, price and lower calorie count, as well as the diminished risk of heart and liver disease. Others may go cold turkey for a month or two to break a pandemic-induced habit, alternate alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks at a game or bar to avoid getting tipsy, or drink a Bloody Mary for a weekend brunch and virgin versions during the week to enhance work productivity. The sales of non-alcoholic beverages shot up 33 percent to $331 million in 2021, reports Nielsen, and online sales of non- and low-alcoholic beverages skyrocketed 315 percent. To compete for the Millennials-heavy market, distillers like Seedlip, Suntory and Lyre’s have created beverages evoking tequila, Campari and vodka; breweries like Guinness, Budweiser and Carlsberg and small crafters are offering robust-tasting near- and no-alcohol beers; and wineries are using distillation and reverse osmosis to produce fine, low-alcohol Cabernets, Chardonnays and other varieties. Niche products are growing: for example, Los Angeles-based Optimist Botanicals bills its gin-, vodka- and tequila-like botanical blends as being vegan, gluten-free and paleo- and keto-friendly. On the home front, people are making their own concoctions, often with natural and herbal ingredients, such as pears, tomatoes, cilantro and spices. “Garden-grown produce, windowsill herbs and farmers market finds are the ideal foundation for recipes, from tea sangrias to shaken mocktails,” says New Jersey cooking instructor and recipe developer Vanessa Young, creator of ThirstyRadish.com. As an example, she says, “A slice of brûléed fruit gives a non-alcoholic drink a touch of smoky sweetness, plus it is so appealing in the glass.” Substance abuse counselors caution that beverages that mimic alcohol may not be a good route for recovery from serious alcohol abuse because they can reawaken destructive patterns. And consumers are advised to look carefully at labels. “Alcohol-free” beer contains 0.0 percent alcohol. “Non-alcoholic” beer can contain up to 0.5 percent alcohol, but some have been found to contain up to 2 percent—not desirable if pregnant or in recovery. Still, says Karolina Rzadkowolska, author of Euphoric: Ditch Alcohol and Gain a Happier, More Confident You, “The popularity of alcohol-free drinks is changing a culture. We are going from a culture that glamorizes drinking at every social situation, with little valid excuse to decline, to a culture that gives people healthier options.” Health writer Ronica O’Hara can be contacted at OHaraRonica@ gmail.com.

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April 2022

conscious eating

Eating for the Planet DIET FOR A CLIMATE CRISIS

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by Sheila Julson

hat we choose to put on our plates influences not only our physical health, but also the health of the environment. While much of the climate conversation focuses on the burning of fossil fuels, commercial food production—particularly livestock—uses large amounts of land, water and energy. Wasted food contributes to approximately 10 percent of all greenhouse gas emissions. Leigh Prezkop, food loss and waste specialist for the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), says agriculture accounts for about 70 percent of the world’s fresh water use, while pasture and crop land accounts for about 50 percent of the Earth’s habitable land. “The environmental impacts begin with the soil,” Prezkop explains. “Soil that’s depleted of nutrients loses its ability to capture carbon and produce nutrient-rich foods. The long chain continues with the processing and packaging of that food, and then transporting it to grocery store shelves and, eventually, to the consumer’s home.” 36

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Eat Less Meat Animal agriculture is the leading cause of climate change, argues author, screenwriter and playwright Glen Merzer in his latest book, Food Is Climate: A Response to Al Gore, Bill Gates, Paul Hawken & the Conventional Narrative on Climate Change. “When we have 93 million cattle farmed in the U.S. and 31 billion animals farmed globally each year, they create mountains of waste,” says Merzer, a dedicated vegan of 30 years. “That waste infiltrates water supplies and causes contamination, such as E. coli outbreaks, in foods like lettuce and tomatoes that are grown downstream.” He adds that cows belch methane, a far more powerful greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide, and that grass-fed cows belch even more of it than grain-fed, feedlot cows. In addition, nitrogen fertilizers used to grow animal feed run into waterways. Overfishing and ocean warming threaten populations of phytoplankton, which sequester carbon dioxide and seed clouds. Defor-

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estation to create grazing land may be the single greatest future threat to our climate because forests also sequester carbon and provide a home for diverse flora and fauna.

Make Simple Swaps Prezkop emphasizes that despite these problems with the industrial food chain, changing the way we produce food is also the solution. The WWF works with suppliers to educate and promote regenerative production practices. On the consumer side, changing the way food is produced can be achieved by changing people’s dietary demands. “We don’t prescribe people to eat a certain way. We do believe different people and cultures have different dietary needs,” she says. “The global north eats a lot of meat, so we do recommend a plant-forward diet while still incorporating animal proteins, depending on individual dietary needs.” Merzer argues that we have little control over fossil fuel burning, but we can control our diets. He promotes plant-based eating as a primary solution to climate change. Changing mindsets about “normal” traditions, such as having hamburgers on the Fourth of July or turkey on Thanksgiving, can be difficult, but achievable with the planet at stake, he says. Sophie Egan, founder of FullTableSolutions.com and author of How to Be a Conscious Eater: Making Food Choices That Are Good For You, Others, and the Planet, advises to start small by looking at the foods eaten most frequently and identifying ways to make simple swaps. “If you have toast with butter every morning, that could be changed to a nut butter. A sandwich with cold cuts every day for lunch, that can be replaced with a roasted vegetables and hummus sandwich or an avocado sandwich. You can still eat something in a familiar form, but replace ingredients with lower-emissions options,” she says. If someone is intimidated by switching to an all plant-based diet, a flexitarian option emphasizing foods from the plant kingdom while enjoying meat only occasionally may be more sustainable throughout a person’s lifetime. Her book contains a “protein scorecard” from the World Resources Institute that lists animal

SCRAP VEGETABLE STOCK Those potatoes that start to sprout, the straggler stalks of celery wilting in the back of the crisper drawer or that pompon of green carrot tops can all be used to make vegetable stock. This is a very general recipe with plenty of creative license to get more mileage from leftover vegetables that normally would have been discarded. Start by collecting vegetable scraps that typically aren’t used— thick asparagus ends, carrot tops and broccoli stems. Even wilted kale or limp carrots that are no longer good to eat fresh, but are still free from mold or mush, can be added. Coarsely chop scrap veggies and put them into a freezer bag. Store them in the freezer until four to five pounds of vegetable scrap have been accumulated. yield: about 3 quarts

vegetables are still frozen, dump them into the stockpot; they’ll begin to thaw during the cooking process.) Add the water and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer, stirring frequently. Cook for about two hours or until the liquid is reduced by about half and the color begins to fade from the vegetables. Let the mixture cool. Strain the stock into a large bowl. Compost the vegetables, as they are now flavorless; all of the flavors have been cooked into the broth. Strain broth a second time through a cheesecloth or sieve for an even clearer broth. Salt to taste and portion into Mason jars. Store in the refrigerator for one to two weeks, or freeze if saving for later use. Courtesy of Sheila Julson.

4 to 5 lb vegetable scraps (can include the freezer bag of vegetable scraps, green tops from a fresh bunch of carrots, slightly wilted kale, turnips that are starting to turn soft or any combination) 2 bay leaves 6 garlic cloves, peeled and smashed 2 medium onions, cut into quarters 6 quarts water Salt to taste Coarsely chop all vegetables and add to a large stockpot. (If the

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natural pet

inarian runs titer tests instead of giving unnecessary shots. n Toxic household chemicals, including cleaning products and dog beds treated with flame retardants. n Pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers used in the yard. n Toxic levels of electromagnetic fields from electrical devices in the home.

The Trouble with Ticks

Pest Control

KEEPING DOGS SAFE FROM TICKS AND FLEAS

by Karen Shaw Becker

leas and ticks are different types of pests; so, when considering how best to protect a dog, it is important to make a distinction—fleas are an annoyance, but ticks can be life-threatening. Many veterinarians recommend specific chemicals as a preventive solution, but this is often just a knee-jerk approach that uses chemicals to control nature. Instead, consider more natural alternatives that are both effective and non-toxic.

Fleas 101 Fleas are related to ants and beetles, feed on blood, and their bites can lead to irritation and skin allergies. They aren’t typically attracted to healthy pets; so, one of the best defenses against flea infestations is to feed a dog a nutritionally balanced, species-appropriate, fresh-food diet that will help keep their immune system functioning optimally. It is also important to remove the environmental factors that can negatively impact immunity, including: n Poor water quality. Make sure to provide

fluoride- and chlorine-free drinking water.

Ticks are a type of arachnid related to mites, spiders and scorpions. Because ticks feed on many different animals (including humans, dogs, cats, squirrels, mice, opossums and deer), they are quite good at acquiring and transmitting diseases, some of which can be life-threatening. Unfortunately, a single tick bite can expose a dog to multiple pathogens, including Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever and babesiosis. Luckily, most dogs mount an effective immune response. Up to 90 percent of dogs may have been exposed to tick-borne pathogens, but most are able to fight off infection on their own. The only way to know if a dog has effectively eliminated harmful bacteria is to follow up the typical blood test with a second test called a quantitative C6 that differentiates exposure from infection. Large numbers of dogs each year are unnecessarily treated with extensive antibiotic therapy because their veterinarians panic after seeing a positive exposure and fail to check for infection. To catch tick-borne infections before they take hold, ask the veterinarian to replace the standard annual heartworm test with the SNAP 4Dx Plus (from Idexx Labs) or the Accuplex4 tests (Antech Diagnostics), which screen for heartworm, Lyme disease and four other vector-borne diseases. Completing one of these simple blood tests every six to 12 months is the best way to protect a dog. In tick-infested areas, if a dog tests positive on either of those two tests, it should also be screened for babesia exposure with a polymerase chain reaction test.

Before Reaching for a Chemical Pet parents should not automatically apply potentially toxic chemical agents to their dogs or around their home to repel or kill

n Too many vaccines. Insist that the veterSarasota/Manatee Edition www.nasrq.com 38

pests. The use of spot-on products may cause skin irritation, paralysis, seizures and even death, if used improperly, and there are effective, natural alternatives that are far safer. If these chemicals are used, follow these precautions: n Be very careful to follow dosing direc-

tions on the label. If a pet is at the low end of a dosage range, use the next lowest dosage. Monitor the pet carefully afterwards for adverse reactions. Do not under any circumstances apply dog product to a cat. n Every other month, rotate chemicals with natural preventives, including diatomaceous earth, pet-friendly, essential oil products and natural deterrent collars. In many parts of the country, people can successfully control ticks with one chemical dose in the spring and one in late summer. n To detox a dog’s liver afterwards, give them a supplement such as milk thistle, a detox agent that helps to regenerate liver cells, or chlorella, a super green food. Work with an integrative veterinarian to determine the dosage; one dose daily for seven days following any chemical flea-, tick- or heartworm-preventive application is recommended.

Safe Options to Chemicals

There are safe, non-toxic alternatives for flea and tick control for dogs, and they do not have side effects, unlike virtually all forms of chemical pesticides. These include: n Cedar oil, specifically manufactured for

pet health

n Natural, food-grade diatomaceous

earth, applied topically

n A fresh-food diet that is nutritionally

optimal and species-appropriate It is important to bathe and brush a dog regularly and perform frequent full-body inspections using a flea and tick comb to check for parasite activity. If they spend a lot of time outdoors, be sure to check pets and people for ticks every night during tick season. Veterinarian Karen Shaw Becker has spent her career empowering animal guardians to make knowledgeable decisions to extend the life and well-being of their animals. Visit DrKarenBecker.com.

April Special!

Buy any Bag of NUNA Cat Food and Receive $5.00 off a bag AND Receive a Free pack of Creamys Cat Treats Expiration 5/30/22

April 2022

calendar of events NOTE: All calendar events must be received via email by the 12th of the month and adhere to our guidelines. Email publisher@nasrq.com for guidelines. No phone calls or faxes, please. Visit nasrq.com to submit online.

FRIDAY, APRIL 1

the Nobel Peace Prize. In person at Rising Tide, 5102 Swift Rd. Sarasota and on Zoom: https://zoom. us/j/81220 8049 Password: RTI2020. This weekly egalitarian service celebrates all of humanity’s religions on a single altar. RisingTideInternational.org. For info Rev. Zan, 941-922-7839.

THURSDAY, APRIL 7

Gallery by Advanced Student Mediums 7-8:30pm. On this night, and on the 1st Friday each month, a number of our advanced student mediums will present a Spirit Messages Gallery supported by two Certified Mediums. Each attendee will have the opportunity to receive information from their spirit loved ones or guides, by the different styles of each student. Come and enjoy this informative evening. $10 donation is requested. We offer separated seating with masks optional. No reservations needed. More info at CMFSarasota.org. Facebook is: CMF of Sarasota. Center for Metaphysical Fellowship, 3231 Gulf Gate Drive, Suite 204, Sarasota, 941-266-8435. Floating Tibetan Singing Bowl and Didgeridoo Meditation with Ed Russel - Relax to the shimmering sounds of the bowls as you awaken and refresh throughout your sacred spaces. Feel the vibrations move through your body. Allow conscious and unconscious information to come to you. Attune your physical, mental, emotional and spiritual body. Align yourself in love, gratitude and joy. Dissolve tension and stress. Explore and discover what sound can offer. $25/pp. Location: Palm Studio and Boutique, 441 W. Dearborn Street Englewood, 941208-5568, PalmStudioEnglewood.com.

SUNDAY, APRIL 3 Universal Service - 10:30am. With Rev. Parvati, Karen Miki, “Optimism.” Aung Sang Suu Kyi, spent nearly 15 years in detention at the hands of the military between 1989 and 2010, and was awarded

A Toxic Brain -Revelations from a Health Journey - 2-3 pm. Free event. Wellness champion, Sandra Strauss and Dan Watts, MD, launch their new book detailing their families’ journeys with hard-to-diagnose illnesses, now identified as chronic inflammatory response syndrome (CIRS), a silent epidemic. They’ll offer important insights regarding how exposures to mold, Lyme, heavy metals, and other toxins, fire up autoimmune issues with 25% of population who are genetically vulnerable as poor detoxifiers. They’ll share how precision evaluations and therapies available from functional practitioners help to both prevent chronic issues as well as recover health. Hosted at The Meadows Country Club, Second Floor, 3101 Longmeadow, Sarasota (near UTC mall). More information at SandraStrauss.com or TheRenewalPoint.com. Healing the Heart – 7pm. With Jim Toole. Discover what it really means to live with your heart wide open, be the love you are for yourself, with others, in your life and the world. Explore how to let go of what you hold in your heart that isn’t love and open to not only experience more love within; to sharing it, receiving it and being it. The fee is $15, presented online on Zoom. Register at SpiritofLifeInternational.org or contact Jim at SpiritoflLifeInternational@ gmail.com or 941-809-1104 with questions. Intuitively Reaching Star People - 7-9pm. Greg Martins, retired NASA engineer, enjoys helping people that have questions about their extraterres-

trial (ET) connections. The information he receives for clients comes partly from their Akashic Record and Oversoul. In addition, the ways in which he has intuitively connected with ETs includes connecting in meditation; during dream state; when doing intuitive readings for clients; when attempting to determine a client’s home world; and while on a Native American Vision Quest ceremony. He will share many examples, and will discuss the idea of having a “home world” in the cosmos. Q&A encouraged. $20 donation is requested. Reservations please, call or text 410-703-9256. We offer separated seating with masks optional, not required. Center for Metaphysical Fellowship, 3231 Gulf Gate Drive, Suite 204, Sarasota. CMFSarasota.org. Facebook is: CMF of Sarasota.

FRIDAY, APRIL 8 Floating Crystal Bowl Concert with Robert Austin - 6:30-7:30pm. Stimulate and restore the harmony between the physical and spiritual planes of the body, while suspended in an Aerial Hammock. Crystal Bowl Energy healing through harmonic sounds and crystals resonates with the body balancing the chakras and re-energize the auric field. The powerful vibrations of sound penetrates the body which consists of approximately 70% water and gives a gentle internal massage to all your cells. Let the positive vibrations of the bowls integrate into your body and let your spirit soar! $25/pp. Location: Palm Studio and Boutique, 441 W. Dearborn Street Englewood, 941-208-5568, PalmStudioEnglewood.com.

SATURDAY, APRIL 9 Come One, Come All! White Elephant Sale 10am-3pm. Find that treasure you’ve been looking for. Inside and outside areas available to rent. Outside space with your own table $10. Inside tables are long $20 or square $15 for the full day. No clothes or furniture please. Call to reserve your space as

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we are limited to how many can be included. Don’t hesitate, time is now to spring clean your baubles and beauties out to new homes! Call Colleen 941-5864797 to reserve your space. Center for Metaphysical Fellowship, 3231 Gulf Gate Drive, Suite 204, Sarasota. CMFSarasota.org. Facebook is: CMF of Sarasota.

attunement exercises and come to appreciate the importance of the two-way respect needed to achieve a deeper level of trance, which will enhance your natural Mediumship and healing abilities. $75. Sarasota Center of Light, 852 S Tuttle Ave. 941-953-6620, or after hours 727-492-2977, SarasotaCenterOfLight.com.

Yin Yoga with Crystal Bowls with Cheridan Smith and Robert Austin - 1-2:30pm. Enjoy the long, deep holds of Yin Yoga to relax and restore joints, muscles and fascia while absorbing the transformative sounds of live played crystal and tibetan bowls. Rejuvenating and healing. All levels are welcome. $25/pp. Location: Palm Studio and Boutique, 441 W. Dearborn Street Englewood, 941208-5568, PalmStudioEnglewood.com

Toning and Mindfulness - 6-7pm. Awaken your psychic powers and re-calibrate your chakras while you bathe in sacred healing frequencies and light. From the comfort of a mat or chair you will learn simple Bija mantras or seed syllables that will augment your awareness and recalibrate your light body. Experience augmented awareness with Seed Mantras, Crystal Sound Bowls, Chants, Drone Boxes and an Interactive Mandala Projection that will take you on an extraordinary journey to a higher plane. $15/per session. Rosemary Court Yoga, 810 Central Ave, Sarasota. MusicandWellness.Biz

SUNDAY, APRIL 10 Universal Service - 10:30am. With Rev. Kismet Weeber, “Holding the Vision.” Looking deep within ourselves to find answers and truths about ourselves and our goals within the fabric of life. In person at Rising Tide, 5102 Swift Rd. Sarasota, and on Zoom: https://zoom.us/j/81220 8049 Password: RTI2020. This weekly egalitarian service celebrates all of humanity’s religions on a single altar. RisingTideInternational.org. For info Rev. Zan, 941-922-7839

MONDAY, APRIL 11 Charlotte/Lee Counties Lymphdema and Venous Disorders Support Gathering - 3-5pm. Review self-care. Review put on/take off compression stockings. Review swelling reduction through compression, rotations, exercise, elevation (CREE). April speakers event features Dr. Laura Gruneiro, Vascular Specialist/Surgeon. Location: Serenity Garden: Journey to Wellness, 955 Tamiami Trail, Suite B, Port Charlotte, 914-883-4942. More info, SGJourneytoWellness.org; Facebook: Journey to Wellness at Serenity Gardens.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 13 Light Language Healing Circle - 7-9pm. At first you may not understand what is being said, but soon your heart will. Join Reiki Master and certified Reconnective Healer JoAnn Cooke to learn what this is all about, and how to activate this powerful energy. Light Language is the universal language of love, communicated via spoken word, song, dance, written symbol and other actions. It bypasses the logical brain and is interpreted through the heart. Whether you are familiar with Light Language or this is new to you, this healing circle will benefit all. Each one will experience a light language healing communication. Come with an open heart and be prepared for a powerful transmission of healing to assist you where most needed. $20 donation requested. Attendance limited, so reservations please 509-520-0377. We offer separated seating with masks optional. Center for Metaphysical Fellowship, 3231 Gulf Gate Drive, Suite 204, Sarasota. CMFSarasota. org, Facebook is: CMF of Sarasota.

SATURDAY, APRIL 16TH Universal Signs Psychic Fair - 11am-4pm. Come join us for a personal reading using Tarot and Oracle cards and various other modalities of spiritual connection, plus Crystal Bowl Healings with messages from guides or loved ones. We also offer Astrology and Numerology readings. Colleen Panebianco is offering many Sauv’e natural, handmade essential oil products. Readings or healings, $20/15 min. 11am-4pm. We offer separated seating with masks optional. No reservations needed. Facebook is: CMF of Sarasota. Center for Metaphysical Fellowship, 3231 Gulf Gate Drive, Suite 204. Sarasota, 941-586-4797, CMFSarasota.org. Trance Fundamentals Class - 1-5pm. On Zoom, taught by Rev. Val Williams. During this workshop you will lay a foundation during meditation and

SUNDAY, APRIL 17 Universal Service - 10:30am. A Group Service “Celebrating The Resurrection.” All that is living dies and is reborn again in some way. This service is remembrance of these blessings of Spring and Life. In person at Rising Tide, 5102 Swift Rd. Sarasota and on Zoom: https://zoom.us/j/81220 8049 Password: RTI2020. This weekly egalitarian service celebrates all of humanity’s religions on a single altar. RisingTideInternational.org. For info Rev. Zan, 941-922-7839.

THURSDAY, APRIL 21 Toning and Mindfulness - 6-7pm. Awaken your psychic powers and re-calibrate your chakras while you bathe in sacred healing frequencies and light. From the comfort of a mat or chair you will learn simple Bija mantras or seed syllables that will augment your awareness and recalibrate your light body. Experience augmented awareness with Seed Mantras, Crystal Sound Bowls, Chants, Drone Boxes and an Interactive Mandala Projection that will take you on an extraordinary journey to a higher plane. $15/per session. Rosemary Court Yoga, 810 Central Ave, Sarasota. MusicandWellness.Biz

SATURDAY, APRIL 23 Psychic Fair - 10am-6pm, April 23-24. We have an amazing group of highly evolved souls that will be joining us to offering readings. Reservations suggested, call to make your appointment 734-564-6828. It’s a Spiritual smorgasbord, filled with exciting possibilities and rewarding experiences. Spirit Speaks, 411 W. Dearborn Street, Englewood, 734-564-6828.

SUNDAY, APRIL 24 Universal Service - 10:30am. With Rev. Zan Benham, “Celebrating Earth Day and Our Earth Mother.” Remembering this beautiful and vast creation with all her diversity interwoven, interdependent and self-sustaining, if allowed to thrive. In person at Rising Tide, 5102 Swift Rd. Sarasota and on Zoom: https://zoom.us/j/81220 8049 Password: RTI2020. This weekly egalitarian service celebrates all of humanity’s religions on a single altar. RisingTideInternational.org. For info Rev. Zan, 941-922-7839. Awakening Your Spirit – 7pm. With Jim Toole. Explore what it means to become more of all you can be by waking up parts of you that you may not have known were “asleep” and transforming your experience of life by accessing and expressing the inspiration and illumination of your Spirit. Learn how to create more freedom, fulfillment and fun in your expression and life by waking up, showing up and being all you can be. $15, presented online on Zoom. Register at SpiritofLifeInternational.org or contact Jim at SpiritofLifeInternational@gmail. com or 941-809-1104 with questions.

FRIDAY, APRIL 29 Sound Immersion Meditation with Sandra and

Michael Katala - 6:30-7:30pm. Various sound techniques will be used to cleanse negative energies and create space to align the body on an emotional, physical, mental and spiritual levels. This meditation will be done off the floor and in the air! You will be cocooned in Aerial Hammocks for an ethereal experience. $25/pp. Location: Palm Studio and Boutique, 441 W. Dearborn Street Englewood, 941-208-5568, PalmStudioEnglewood.com.

SATURDAY, APRIL 30 Metaphysical Enlightenment Festival - 10am-6pm, Sat April 30, and Sun May 1st. Intuitive readers, mediums, healers, artists & vendors with jewelry, crystal sound healing bowls and inspiring speakers each day. Free parking and food trucks. $7/day, $12/both days. 5041 Ringwood Meadows - Bldg G-2, Sarasota. More info, MetaphysicalEnlightenment.com. Info for being a reader, healer or vendor at the festival, 941-313-5704 or Suzanne@Soulful-choes.com.

plan ahead SUNDAY, MAY 1 Universal Service - 10:30am. With Rev. Liana Salima Rael, “Light and Creativity.” This day is the celebration of Beltane, a time for seeking renewal, inspiration, new energy, insight, and to purify ourselves so that we may live more fruitful lives. As the sun gives physical energy to living things and increases their activity, so we may want to call upon Spirit to increase our creativity and to give us spiritual energy. In person at Rising Tide, 5102 Swift Rd. Sarasota and on Zoom: https://zoom.us/j/81220 8049 Password: RTI2020. This weekly egalitarian service celebrates all of humanity’s religions on a single altar. RisingTideInternational.org. For info Rev. Zan, 941-922-7839 Lightness of Walking - 5-7pm, May 1, 8, 15, 22, June 5 & 12. Online! Join Bonnie Kissam M.A., Feldenkrais® Practitioner for her 6-week Lightness of Walking Program. During this class, you learn how to re-design your ABCs for walking. Past attendees have reported pure amazement at how much lighter and more efficient their balance and walk can be when they use the Lightness of Walking tools to realign, re-balance, and re-coordinate. Registration, receive your free E-Book and more info at LightnessOfWalking.com, 941-360-2248.

SATURDAY, MAY 14-15 The Light Consciousness Expo - May 14-15. Spirit Speaks is excited to be a sponsor, speaker and vendor at The Light Consciousness Expo. Founded by Sherry Lord International Channel, Deep Trance Channel, Energy Healer and Emissary for Aeroth. Ms. Kitty (from Spirit Speaks) will be speaking on “Spirit Speaks, are you listening?” where we will explore the many ways Spirit speaks to us and how to get tuned in. The workshop will be free to all Expo attendees. Come early and explore the wonderful readers, vendors, speakers and so much more. Light Consciousness Expo held at Sarasota Event Center, 600 Beneva Rd, Sarasota May 14-15. Conference Tickets & Information available at SherryLord.com. Spirit Speaks is located at 411 W. Dearborn St., Englewood.

SUNDAY, MAY 15 Psychic Sunday Tours - 1-3pm, May 15 & 29. The 90-minute Psychic Sunday tour is led by Michael Newton-Brown, whose first psychic experience came when he was three years old - awakening one night to bid farewell to the spirit of his great-grandmother, who had just passed over downstairs. Michael began

April 2022

tarot reading in 1970; in 1975, he attended the Arthur Findlay College for the Advancement of Spiritualism and Psychic Sciences in Stansted, England, and has been an active medium and tarot reader since. $44.99 + tax/fees (and any add-ons). Individual tarot readings are available after the tour. All tours depart from the DST Trolley Cottage located at 1826 4th Street - a cute 1930s cottage near downtown with a charming Vintage Sarasota gift shop. Discover Sarasota Tours, 1826 4th Street, Sarasota, 941-2609818. Book online at DiscoverSarasotaTours.com. Sound Bath - 7-8:30pm. Hosted by Resonance Holistic Wellness. Come and enjoy this special evening with us. 1st half hour is mingle & snacks. $35/PP, call to reserve a spot - 941-312-4334. Location: Super Value Nutrition, 2400 Bee Ridge (in the Collonade Shopping Center), Sarasota. ResonanceSRQ.com

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sunday OM Shamanic Sound Journeys with Resonance - 4th Sunday of every month. Sold out for over 2 years! You will experience a blend of, shamanic drumming, rhythm, crystal singing bowls, rattles, tuning forks, vocal toning, electric violin and more in a coordinated and orchestrated fashion to help improve participants well-being. Clinical Hypnotherapist Beth A Snyder begins your journey by gently inducing a hypnotic state. Then your journey into sound begins. Consider your intention now. Tickets: TheOmShoppeandSpa.com or call 941-706-3257. The OM Shoppe 4801 S. Tamiami Tr #5 Sarasota. Meadows Farmers Market - 10am-2pm, closed Easter Sunday, 17th. Enjoy organic and local farm produce, one of a kind Items from local entrepreneurs and artisans, a variety of delicious foods all supporting wellness and the local economy. In the Meadows Shopping Village parking lot in front of 5041 Ringwood Meadow - Bldg G-2, Sarasota. For more information, please call 941-315-7773 Christian Spiritualist Sunday Morning Services - 10am. Old time camp meet style service, guided meditation, healing, presentation of truth and mini spirit message for each person. Private or group readings available daily by appointment. Contact Rev Shari. Church of Light, 2408 43rd Ave. West, Bradenton, 941-751-5683. Sunday Service at CMF - 10:30am. At each Sunday morning service, we are offering spiritual healing, an inspirational talk, messages from spirit, special music and an ever-important environment of fellowship. Leave refreshed and inspired to start the new week. We feature a variety of speakers and spirit message bearers throughout the year. We offer separated seating with masks optional. Center for Metaphysical Fellowship, 3231 Gulf Gate Dr., Suite 204, Sarasota, 941-266-8435, CMFsarasota. org, Facebook: CMF of Sarasota. Sunday Sabbath Services - 10:30am. In person and on Zoom. Join our rotation of reverends every Sunday as we connect with our Family of Light. 1st Sunday - Open Heart Divine Healing Service with Rev. Sharon-Elizabeth (Baba Sharone). Through the Divine Names of God and conscious intention we create the Sacred Space to connect to the Healing Power of the Divine. Expect MIRACLES! 2nd Sunday - A Channeling of Dimensions of Love with Rev.

Sarasota/Manatee Edition

Nancy Robinson. She will Uplift, Guide, Inspire, Heal and help promote Peace and Harmony in the Heart. 3rd Sunday - with Rev. Robin Richardson who will bring little known wisdom and answers from her vast knowledge of Ancient Wisdom from Ancient writings from all over the world. A new topic each Sunday. 4th Sunday - Ecstatic Kabbalah with Rev. Annie Eng - Anchored in Kabbalah Tree of Life Ceremony and Wisdom. This Service helps you align with the Higher Wisdom and Blessing that is available to all of us. Love Donation. Cosmic Center of Spiritual Light, 5041 Ringwood Meadows - Bldg G-2, Sarasota, 941-371-9333, CCOSL.com. Unity of Sarasota - 10:30am. We are meeting in person and livestream at UnityofSarasota.org under the services tab. The Sunday Celebration service includes a message and lively music. 3023 Proctor Rd., Sarasota, 941-955-3301, UnityOfSarasota.org. Universal Service - 10:30am. Each Sunday with a rotation of Reverends. This is a weekly egalitarian service which celebrates all of humanity’s religions together on a single altar. It is a place where East meets West, offering opportunities for spiritual growth and sharing. At Rising Tide, 5102 Swift Rd. Sarasota, and on Zoom: https:// zoom.us/j/81220 8049 Password: RTI2020.. RisingTideInternational.org, for info Rev. Zan, 941-922-7839. Sunday Morning Celebration Service, Zoom Live - 11am. Join us as we come together as a spiritual family and community, sharing our love and light for ourselves, for each other, and the world. Be a part of sharing the energy and illumination of our hearts and souls together through conversation, music, meditation, a talk and an affirmation. Sarasota Center of Light, 852 S Tuttle Ave. 941-953-6620, or after hours 727-492-2977, SarasotaCenterOfLight.com. Spirit Portrait Art Class Series - 11am-12:30pm on Zoom, Mar 26, Apr 9, 23, and May 7. With Jenny de Boer. Fee $75, that’s less than $20 per class. Sarasota Center of Light, 852 S Tuttle Ave. 941-953-6620, or after hours 727-492-2977, SarasotaCenterOfLight.com. Psychic Sunday Tours - 1-3pm, April 3 & 10. The 90-minute Psychic Sunday tour is led by Michael Newton-Brown, whose first psychic experience came when he was three years old - awakening one night to bid farewell to the spirit of his great-grandmother, who had just passed over downstairs. Michael began tarot reading in 1970; in 1975, he attended the Arthur Findlay College for the Advancement of Spiritualism and Psychic Sciences in Stansted, England, and has been an active medium and tarot reader since. $44.99 + tax/fees (and any add-ons). Individual tarot readings are available after the tour. All tours depart from the DST Trolley Cottage located at 1826 4th Street - a cute 1930s cottage near downtown with a charming Vintage Sarasota gift shop. Discover Sarasota Tours, 1826 4th Street, Sarasota, 941-2609818. Book online at DiscoverSarasotaTours.com.

monday “Health & Nutrition” - 10-11am. With Fred Harvey, MD of The Harvey Center for Integrative Medicine. Health & nutrition is a live call-in or email “Ask the Doc” health show from 10-11 on WMNF 88.5FM public radio Tampa. Email questions to DJ@WMNF.org Tai Chi - 1pm. With Reuben Fernandez. The main principle of tai chi is internal relaxation. Tai Chi is known as an internal martial art. The power and energy do not depend on muscle power, strength or speed, rather power comes from internal relaxation

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and release of Chi. In this class we will focus on developing a tai chi body, the basic warm up exercises, the Chen form, as well as Chi Gung for its health benefits. In person, $10/class. Cosmic Center of Spiritual Light, 5041 Ringwood Meadows - Bldg G-2, Sarasota, 941-371-9333, CCOSL.com. Pub Theology - 6:30-8pm, the 2nd Mon. of the month. With Rev. Amy Zehe. Bring your Spiritual questions. We are meeting at the Olive Garden in the Landings. 941-955-3301, UnityOfSarasota.org. Anchoring Light Transmission Meditation - 6:45pm. With Baba Sharone. A call to all Lightworkers. The Anchoring Light Transmission Channeled Meditation has been a gathering point for Lightworkers and Planetary World Servers to come together and assist in the Ascension of our Planet and all Her life in cooperation with our expanded Family of Light. As Anchors of Light, we take our important role in the Spiritual Hierarchy to manifest the Divine Plan of Love, Light, Peace and Oneness to our planet. Participants who serve in anchoring this Celestial Radiant Light Energy from the Ascended Realms benefit from the wisdom, guidance and grace that flows from it which brings forth healing, peace and Accelerated Spiritual Growth. In Person and Online. Love Offering. Cosmic Center of Spiritual Light, 5041 Ringwood Meadows - Bldg G-2, Sarasota, 941-371-9333, CCOSL.com. Deep Rest “ZEN” Sessions - Restorative Guided Meditation - 6:30-8pm. Provide yourself with Deep Rest & Stress Reduction via Zoom, from the comfort of your own home. Set yourself up in a comfortable, distraction free space & come ready to Deeply Relax. These ZEN Sessions relax the body, still the mind & calm the nervous system, such a benefit for better sleep and overall stress management. Restful & Restorative - There’s no way to do this wrong, can be done in a bed or on a yoga mat. $10. Info or to sign up visit ZENviaZOOM.com or 941-830-3040. Learning to Connect Classes at CMF - 7-9pm. Join Susan Houliston and guest instructors every Monday & Tuesday to learn techniques for connecting with Spirit. Students are given the opportunity to practice lessons to develop their skills while exploring various modalities. $15 donation is requested. Please refer to the CMF website CMFSarasota. org for description of the programs offered for each weekly class. We offer separated seating with masks optional. Reservations needed, so call or text Susan at 941-266-1696. Center for Metaphysical Fellowship, 3231 Gulf Gate Drive, Suite 204, Sarasota.

tuesday Restorative Stretching - 12:15pm. With Danielle Nance. Learn how to gently relax the muscles, loosen the joints, strengthen the tendons and ligaments, as well as fortify the bones. The goal of this special stretching technique is to move the Qi (life force energy), enhance circulation, and ease the body into a nourishing state of relaxation and wellbeing. In Person, $10/class. Cosmic Center of Spiritual Light, 5041 Ringwood Meadows - Bldg G-2, Sarasota, 941-371-9333, CCOSL.com. Guest Reader Psychic Medium Cheryl Buchanan - 12-3pm. Cheryl provides messages from guides, departed family or friends, and/or advice from spirit during her gentle and detailed readings. She uses tarot to connect the answers as needed. $30/15 minutes. Book an appointment at WildGingerApothecary.com Wild Ginger Apothecary, 6557 Superior Avenue, Sarasota, 941-312-5630.

Free Reiki Healing & Meditation Circle - 6:158:15pm. Join us at for an unforgettable Inspirational Meditative & Healing experience with 2 Reiki Masters: Victoria & Lorald (40+ yrs of combined pro experience). Release stress & walk away energized. You’ll be glad you did! Love Offerings accepted. Must RSVP, text preferred: 702-482-3719. Law of Attraction - 7-8pm. An on-going support group with Rev. Zan Benham on Zoom. Class will include a weekly YouTube from Esther Hicks/Abraham. $10 fee may be sent via PayPal, Venmo or Zelle, to Zan@woman-spirit.com. Zoom link will be sent to you after you confirm your desire to take this class. Rev. Zan Benham, 941-922-7839. For more info, Woman-Spirit.com

wednesday Lightness of Walking – 1-3pm, Apr 6-May 11, June 8-July 13. Online! Join Bonnie Kissam M.A., Feldenkrais® Practitioner for her 6-week Lightness of Walking Program. During this class, you learn how to re-design your ABCs for walking. Past attendees have reported pure amazement at how much lighter and more efficient their balance and walk can be when they use the Lightness of Walking tools to realign, re-balance, and re-coordinate. Registration, receive your free E-Book and more info at LightnessOfWalking.com, 941-360-2248. Sarasota Conscious Newcomers Group 5:30pm. Are you looking to meet like - minded community members? Have you just moved into the area and are looking to meet, create, and learn from mindful connections? We are offering a beautiful, sacred space to curate these connections. Join us for our new monthly newcomers’ group! It will be an open, relaxed, safe space to meet and guide each other on our mindful paths. Select Wednesdays per month, Free. You must reserve your spot at WildGingerApothecary.com to attend. Wild Ginger Apothecary, 6557 Superior Avenue, Sarasota, 941-312-5630. Acoustic Open Jam - 6-7:30pm. Come join us at The George Café for an evening of fun. The George, 5131 North Tamiami Trail, Sarasota. More info, 941-277-3707. Enoch Study Group - 7pm. With Kim Converse. Join Enoch Study Group facilitator Kim Converse for the study of “Key 405 - We Are The Family” written by Dr. James Hurtak. With this teaching we begin to understand how we are part of a greater cosmic family that is multi-dimensional in reality and function. The book also speaks about how each soul is part of the family of God and we are now being introduced to our cosmic brothers and sisters as well as our inheritance as we realize planet earth is but a mere steppingstone to eternal life in the greater universe. Online Zoom only, $5/class. Cosmic Center of Spiritual Light, 5041 Ringwood Meadows - Bldg G-2, Sarasota, 941-371-9333, CCOSL.com. OM Crystalline Vibrational Immersion - 7pm, every 2nd Wednesday of the month. Join us for this beautiful form of deepened relaxation! The OM Shoppe professional Sound Therapy Practitioners bring you these beautiful multi-instrumental sound baths to guide you into a deepened place of stillness and peace. Discover the magical way that sound can help ease you into a meditative state, and heightened mind-body awareness! Tickets: TheOmShoppeandSpa.com or call 941-706-3257. The OM Shoppe 4801 S. Tamiami Tr #5 Sarasota.

Unity of Sarasota - 7pm. Music and inspiration in person and Livestream at UnityofSarasota.org under the services tab. 3023 Proctor Rd., 941-955-3301, UnityOfSarasota.org. Healing, Intention and Meditation Zoom Live 7:30pm (new time). Join us for a time of healing, connection and meditation. Let us all come together and experience the energy and inspiration that can make such a powerful difference in our individual lives. Sarasota Center of Light, 852 S Tuttle Ave. 941-953-6620, or after hours 727-492-2977, SarasotaCenterofLight.com. A Course in Miracles (ACIM) - 6-7:30pm. Caroline and George Robertie. To register email Caroline. Scammel@Comcast.net. 3023 Proctor Rd., Sarasota, 941-955-3301, UnityofSarasota.org. Angel Healing Meditation - 7pm. Come experience this unique, relaxing meditation infused with grounding, visualization techniques, and connecting with the Seraphim and Archangel energy! This ancient, high vibrational energy amplifies your meditation experience and is a deeply relaxing experience. Biweekly, $20. You must preregister at WildGingerApothecary.com Wild Ginger Apothecary, 6557 Superior Avenue, Sarasota, 941-312-5630.

thursday Poetry Play Palooza - 6-7:30pm. Join THE GEORGE, for an evening of playful prompts, living poetry, listening, sharing, and community. Open to anyone interested in the art of word. The George, 5131 North Tamiami Trail, Sarasota. More info, 941-277-3707. Gentle Flow Yoga - 6:45pm. With Stephanie Jarvis. Join Stefanie RYT 200 for a Gentle Flow Yoga class geared specifically for those new to yoga or those who are interested in a gentle practice. This class incorporates simple flowing sequences to warm up the body, as well as slower paced movements focusing on alignment, strength, balance, and flexibility. Breathing techniques and meditation is also integrated. Each class will end with an extended period of relaxation. No experience or flexibility required. In Person, $10/class. Cosmic Center of Spiritual Light, 5041 Ringwood Meadows - Bldg G-2, Sarasota, 941-371-9333, CCOSL.com.

are welcome to this informal weekly meet-up at Wild Ginger Apothecary, no matter where you are on your sobriety journey. Sober-curious are welcome. Please arrive on time for this sacred space. Feel free to bring or invite a friend. $5 minimum donation per person, cash only at the door or preregister at WildGingerApothecary.com Wild Ginger Apothecary, 6557 Superior Avenue, Sarasota, 941-312-5630.

saturday Sarasota Farmers Market - 7am-1pm. Rain or shine. Established in 1979, the market continues its tradition of serving the community with local produce, plants, prepared foods and artisans. They currently have a full market that includes 70 vendors and 5,000 sq ft of produce and plants. 1 N Lemon Ave., Sarasota, SarasotaFarmersMarket.org. Bradenton Farmers’ Market - 9am-2pm. Over thirty-five vendors offering locally grown fruits, vegetables, plants, organic products, fresh seafood, prepared foods, as well as the local artists, craftspeople and musicians. 400 12th St., W. Bradenton, 941-301-8445. Death Cafe: Coffee, Cake and Conversations 2-4pm. 3rd Sat. Of the month. No agenda. No counseling. No judgment. Just opportunity to share and ask questions. With Rev. Robin G. White & Rev. Amy Zehe. 3023 Proctor Rd., Sarasota, UnityofSarasota.org. Sound Healing Meditation with Ed Russell - 5pm, 1st Saturday of every month. Sound bowls have a centuries-old tradition throughout Asia to awaken and refresh those in sacred spaces. You will feel the vibrations move throughout your body, allowing conscious and unconscious information to come to you. $20. Book at WildGingerApothecary.com Wild Ginger Apothecary 6557 Superior Avenue Sarasota, 941-312-5630. Free Musical Aspirations Workshop/ Groovin’ at The George - 6-7:30pm, Apr 2nd, 9th, 23rd, and 30th. Join David Warren, musician, song writer, and producer in this interactive workshop to explore your musical aspirations. The George, 5131 North Tamiami Trail, Sarasota. More info, 941-277-3707.

A Course in Miracles – 7pm. With Rev Nancy Robinson. A Course in Miracles, scribed by Dr Helen Schucman with Dr Bill Thetford in the 1970s. It is a study program of spiritual psychotherapy designed to awaken in us the truth of our oneness with God and Love. Through the course one learns how the practice of forgiveness assists in releasing elements of the past with a willingness to follow higher guidance, cultivating a miracle-mindedness. Schucman is said to have received the material through ‘inner dictation’ from Christ. Online Zoom only, $10.Cosmic Center of Spiritual Light, 5041 Ringwood Meadows - Bldg G-2, Sarasota, 941-371-9333, CCOSL.com.

friday Spiritual Sobriety Women’s Group - 10am. Are you searching for a women’s group to support your spiritual journey of sobriety and/or recovery? We want to welcome you to a non-denominational, non-twelve step affiliated, open discussion for women. This space will be designated for sharing the tools and experiences that we have utilized on our paths to recovery, wellness, and healing. ALL

April 2022

community resource guide

CHIROPRACTORS GENTLEBAY SARASOTA CHIROPRACTIC

CHECK OUT OUR NEW ONLINE BUSINESS DIRECTORY AT NASRQ.COM/BUSINESSES

Residual Strain Therapy Eric Winder DC Offices in Sarasota and Venice, FL 941-957-8390 • eric.winder.dc@gmail.com

ACUPUNCTURE/ CHINESE MEDICINE CARYN L. YOUNG, DOM, AP, OTR

Board Certified Acupuncture Physician The Integrated Path, P.A. 2801 Fruitville Rd.Suite 135, Sarasota 941-924-8833 • IntegratedPath.com

The Integrated Path to Health and Wellness for the whole family utilizing Traditional Chinese Medicine,Acupuncture, Energetic Medicine, Bloodwork Analysis,Clinical Nutrition Assessments and ZYTO Elite to restore balance. Over 30 years of clinical experience!

FAMILY HEALING CENTER, PA

Dr. Christina Captain, DAOM Nationally Board Certified Dipl.Ac Complimentary Meet & Greet The Medical Complex 2650 Bahia Vista Street, Suite 101, Sarasota, 941-951-1119 •FamilyHealingCenter.com

Family Healing Center, an integrative wellness practice. Addressing all health issues we will find the key to unlock your highest level of health and wellness. Complimentary Meet & Greet

ACUPUNCTURE FACELIFT FACES BY DR ANNA

Anna L. Baker, D.O.M. Nationally Board Certified Acupuncture Physician 941-924-2723 • FacesByDrAnna.com

Unique muscle-tightening acupuncture facelift and necklift done with 12 hair-thin needles, none of which are on the face. Results documented photographically. Only one maintenance treatment needed every 18 months. Free consultation includes facial analysis. Monthly seminars, call for schedule.

APOTHECARY WILD GINGER APOTHECARY

6557 Superior Avenue (Gulf Gate Shopping Village), Sarasota 941-312-5630 WildGingerApothecary.com

Community for health + wellness. Offering hemp CBD, health remedies, metaphysical gifts and tools, crystals, cards, essential oils, jewelry and more! Classes and drop-in tarot and psychic readers daily. Open Tues -Fri 10am-5pm, Sat 10am-4pm, Closed Sun + Mon

Sarasota/Manatee Edition

Professional care with a personal focus. Feel better through proper alignment, and get back to work and play! See our website for more information.

CRANIOSACRAL THERAPY AND LYMPHATIC DRAINAGE TERRY SCHIBLER, LMT MA11621

Fusion Therapy 7069 South Tamiami Trail, Sarasota 941-921-7900 • FusionTherapySarasota.com

Terry Schibler has 30 years experience in advanced bodywork. He has a singular ability to trace, recognize and treat complex pain patterns through numerous modalities such as CranioSacral Therapy, Lymphatic Drainage, Visceral and Fascial manipulation. Terry’s hands-on work is effective for a wide range of problems associated with pain and dysfunction such as Migraines, Chronic neck/back pain, Concussions, TMJ, Post-surgical dysfunction...and more.

ENERGY HEALING HEALING ROOMBLUE LIGHT ENERGY HEALING

HEALING ROOM, ENERGY HEALING, BIOFEEDBACK STRESS MANAGEMENT, PEMF Treatments to balance over a thousand conditions! Infrared Inversion, Sound Immersion with the Singing Bowls 718-791-3797 • PureFieldForce@gmail.com   Energy Healing helps the body with a long list of conditions, aches, pains and imbalances. Biofeedback Scanning locates the imbalances and it also corrects them. PEMF (Pulsed Magnetic Field Therapy) re-energizes damaged cells, it is a powerful tool to MANAGE PAIN! 941-586-9539, Facebook.com/CreateBalanceandHealing

RESONANCE HOLISTIC WELLNESS 3148 Southgate Circle, Suite 8, Sarasota 941-312-4334 ResonanceSRQ.com

37 years of combined experience in Holistic Wellness. Specializing in Research-Based Energy modalities, comprehensive sessions & focalized services, using FDA approved devices. 20 modalities to choose. PEMF, VibroAcoustics, Voice Analysis, Scalar Wave Therapy, Brainwave Entrainment, etc.

www.nasrq.com

FELDENKRAIS METHOD® THE FELDENKRAIS METHOD®

Lessons for Children (ABM), Adults, Classes, Prof Seminars Bonnie Kissam, M.A., Feldenkrais® Practitioner, LMT, CE Provider 941-360-2248 Bonnie@FeldenkraisInSarasota.com FeldenkraisInSarasota.com

The Feldenkrais® Approach , ‘Movement with Attention’, helps one ‘sense easier, improved posture and ways of moving. Clients optimize their musical, athletic or everyday activities through heightened ‘awareness’. They find unique ways to recover from injury, surgeries or illness. Call for appointments, classes or for weekend TOUCH TO INFORM seminars 941-360-2248 , Bonnie@FeldenkraisInSarasota.com.

FENG SHUI CREATETHEFEELING.COM

Laurie Pawli, Director, Certified Red Ribbon Consultant TheFengShuiSchoolOfChicago.com TheFengShuiSchoolOfFlorida.com CreateTheFeeling.com 630-279-8870

The Feng Shui School of Chicago & Florida is recognized as a Gold Level School, the highest standard established by the International Feng Shui Guild. Basic classes through Professional Certified Consultant Training Programs are taught. Classes are based on the front door of the space with a combination of Virtual and In Person Classes. Laurie was Certified as a Feng Shui Consultant in 2001 and is a student of Grand Master Professor Thomas Lin Yun.

FUNCTIONAL & LIFESTYLE WELLNESS KORMAN RELIEF & WELLNESS CENTER Laura Korman, DC, DACBN Chiropractor, Diplomate in Nutrition 16954 Toledo Blade Blvd, Port Charlotte 941-629-6700 • DrLauraKorman.com

Dr. Korman specializes in helping peri-menopausal women eliminate pain, fatigue and unwanted belly fat through functional medicine, lifestyle strategies and regenerative therapies so they can reclaim their vitality and stay engaged in the life they love. We offer PEMF (Pulsed Electromagnetic Field Therapy), Class IV Deep Tissue Laser, Near & Far Infrared Sauna, Decompression Therapies, Whole Body Vibration and carry a professional line of supplementation.

MEDIUMSHIP & SPIRITUAL READINGS INTERNATIONAL MEDIUM, SPIRITUAL INTUITIVE & CLAIRVOYANT

Caroline Crawford Messages from the spirit world with clarity and compassion. 941-402-9595 • CarolineCrawford.org CarolineCrawfordorg@gmail.com

Highly gifted British Medium and Master Healer, Caroline channels messages of healing to comfort, inspire and empower you from your loved ones and her team of Angelic beings. Receive guidance & insight into your life now and your future career, relationships, health and spiritual path with renewed confidence and optimism. Touching hearts for over four decades, Caroline is currently based in Sarasota. By appointment only, in person, by phone or zoom.

NATURAL FOOD CAFE EVERGREEN

801 S Tamiami Trail, Nokomis, FL 941-412-4334 • CafeEvergreen.net

Cafe Evergreen is a natural, organic restaurant. Our menu consists of many organic recipes designed to not only taste delicious, but also enhance your health. Open 7 days a week 11am-9pm.

NATURAL PET FOOD PET SUPPLY CENTER

Natural & Holistic Premium Pet Foods 3558 Webber Street, Sarasota 941-925-4376 PetSupplyCenter@gmail.com PetSupplyCenterSarasota.com

Spiritual Counseling, Guided Imagery, Past Life Regressions, Mental Telepathy, DNA Activation, Customized Ayurvedic Nutritional Programs, Chinese Cupping for Pain Relief.State-of-the-Art Mind-Body Technology, Far-infrared Sauna w/o EMF emission, Virtual Vacations using Mind Machine, Complete Bioscan of 700+ Body Meridians with Precise Frequency Corrections, Zero Gravity Massage, Lazer Far-Infrared Foot Detoxwith pH balancing.

ORGANIC SALON HAIR & EARTH ORGANIC SALON 200 Central Ave, Suite 18, Sarasota 941-284-9563 HairandEarth.SalonsByJC.com

Erinn offers Sarasota excellence in conscious haircare. Cuts, color, highlights, smoothing treatments and more. Metaphysical gifts too! Kevin Murphy color line as well as retail products available. Comfortable, private space for calm, creative collaboration. Call or text Erinn Earth for an appointment or consultation. Or schedule online at: HairandEarth.SalonsByJC.com

PAIN MANAGEMENT NECK AND BACK PAIN DISC CENTERS OF AMERICA/SARASOTA

Dr. David Cifra, DC Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression Specialist Office: 941-358-2224 • Cell: 315-345-7390 DrCifra@SarasotaDiscCenter.com www.SarasotaDiscCenter.com

Medical Breakthrough Technology! Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression Specialist, Dr.David Cifra,DC. Advanced procedure for patients who have back and neck pain and want to avoid narcotics, epidural injections, and unnecessary surgeries. Over 90% effective. No pain, No drugs, No surgery, NO Injections. Call today 941-358-2224. FREE CONSULTATION.

PSYCHIC READERS SKYE SAMUEL READINGS

at Wild Ginger Apothecary 6557 Superior Avenue (Gulf Gate Shopping Village), Sarasota 941-312-5630 WildGingerApothecary.com

Fourth-generation Psychic Intuitive Tarot Reader, Skye Samuel, is now available full time for readings Tuesday-Saturday at metaphysical and health boutique, Wild Ginger Apothecary. Skye has over 35 years’ experience and specializes in direct question answering for all matters of love, health, money, and life. In-person, virtual video or phone available. Book online or drop-in. Tues - Fri 10am-5pm, Sat 10am4pm.

PET SUPPLIES PET SUPPLY CENTER

Natural & Holistic Premium Pet Foods 3558 Webber Street, Sarasota 941-925-4376 PetSupplyCenter@gmail.com PetSupplyCenterSarasota.com

Offering full lines of veterinary diets, raw and frozen diets, dog, cat and bird supplies. Huge selection of toys, treats, flea and tick products, collars and more. Certified veterinary nutritional consultant on staff. We ship and pets always welcome!

SHAMANIC PRACTICES SPIRITUAL COUNSELOR, SHAMANIC AND REIKI PRACTICES Rev. Zan Benham, BSL, BD, CHT 941-922-7839

Spiritual counselor, shamanic practitioner, Reiki healing, breath, and energy work, hypnosis, soul retrieval, past life regression all to empower and help you move into the Divine flow of the joy and power within you.

classifieds HOUSECLEANING. Enjoy your free time and let us do what we do best: Housecleaning to your healthy satisfaction. Call Paula for a free estimate 941-320-4052. ADVANCED CLINICAL HYPNOTHERAPY. Advanced Clinical Heart-Centered Hypnotherapy is available in Sarasota. Specializing in healing trauma and coping with life transitions. La-Alza.com. TRAVELING HAIRSTYLIST/30PLUS YRS. Don’t like waiting for appt WELL wait no more I travel right to you. Have a special event coming up? Full wedding party on site. 941-248-4544, Beasxpertease@gmail.com. INTERIOR ALCHEMY DESIGN & FENG SHUI. Specializing in Redesign, Feng Shui, real estate staging, styling, short term rentals, decor updates, consults for remodeling. Reasonable hourly rates. Elizabeth Root, 808-895-1432, InteriorAlchemy@gmail.com. ME. ME. ME. THE SPIDER IN THE WEB. Thoughts and words are shells that convey something different than their content — like motivation, feelings, true intentions. These are what determine our fate. Gabriele-Publishing-House.com, P.O. Box 2221, Deering, NH 03244,1-844-576-0937.

SPA AND WELLNESS SPA EXPERIENCE SIESTA KEY 5700 Midnight Pass Road Suite 4B 941- 350-7495 SpaExperienceSiestaKey.com

Newly relocated and remodeled day spa Formerly Massage Experience Siesta Key proudly offers an array of healing and pampering services. A sampling of our offerings include specialty anti-aging facials, facial sculpting, pampering, therapeutic massage medical massage, acupuncture, cupping and now featuring two couples rooms catering to small groups and wedding parties.Owner Connie Lewis has over 25 years of experience in the Spa industry and welcomes you to her new Spa conveniently located next to the public beach on Siesta Key.

SPIRITUAL CENTERS COSMIC CENTER OF SPIRITUAL LIGHT

Embracing the New Paradigms of our Awakening Consciousness 5041 Ringwood Meadows Bldg G-2 • Sarasota CCOSL.com Facebook/Instgram/Twitter

A place of Light and Unconditional Love bringing together awakened and awakening minds and hearts for healing, enlightenment, support and joy!

April 2022

SARASOTA CENTER OF LIGHT

852 S Tuttle Ave, Sarasota 941-953-6620 • sarasotacenteroflight.com

Experience the peaceful energy, love and light of our metaphysical spiritual community. Join us for the inspiration, healing and connection to Spirit in our services, classes and social gatherings.

THERMOGRAPHY FLORIDA MEDICAL THERMOGRAPHY June Drennon, CCT 2008

JuneDrennon@TampaBayThermography.com

727-729-2711 FloridaMedicalThermography.com

JuneDrennon@FloridaMedicalThermography.com

Certified Clinical Thermographer 2008. Prevention is better than early detection. Knowledge is power: Know your risk factors to make corrections and avoid developing pathology. Call for location convenient for you.

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DIVINE CHAPEL OF LOVE

In the Picturesque Natural Beauty of The Meadows 5041 Ringwood Meadow, Sarasota DivineChapelofLove.com 941-295-9333

The Divine Chapel of Love offers a place for weddings, renewal of vows and ceremonies for couples who wish to commemorate their special occasion in a beautiful surrounding to form lasting memories where Love is All That Matters.

WELLNESS CENTER HEAL YOUR MIND, BODY & SPIRIT

Rev. Victoria Stitzer, CHT, Master of NLP, EFT Reiki Master/Teacher, Pranic & Thetahealer 30+ years of pro experience 702-482-3719 TransformVegas.com

Spiritual Counseling, Guided Imagery, Past Life Regressions, Mental Te l e p a t h y, DNA Activation, Customized Ayurvedic Nutritional Programs, Chinese Cupping for Pain Relief.Stateof-the-Art Mind-Body Technology, Far-infrared Sauna w/o EMF emission, Virtual Vacations using Mind Machine, Complete Bioscan of 700+ Body Meridians with Precise Frequency Corrections, Zero Gravity Massage, Lazer Far-Infrared Foot Detox with pH balancing.

YOGA

WILD GINGER APOTHECARY 6557 Superior Avenue (Gulf Gate Shopping Village), Sarasota 941-312-5630 WildGingerApothecary.com

Community for health + wellness. Offering hemp CBD, bulk herbs, remedies, sage, gifts, cards, metaphysical tools, essential oils, jewelry and more! Classes and drop-in psychic readers daily. Open Tues Fri 10am-5pm, Sat 10am-4pm, Closed Sun + Mon

Services.

WEDDINGS

www.nasrq.com

SPONSOR OUR MONTHLY CROSSWORD PUZZLE Build your brand with

Read this months articles for clues.

32 33 35 36

60 mins., abbr. D.D.S.’s group Virgin drink Arborist’s concern

Down 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 10 11 14 15 16 18

Across 1 4 8 9 10 12 13

Animal with a shaggy mane Shake, like aspen trees Wyoming national park Girl relation Small forest “Great blue” bird Hold the title to

17 19 22 23 25

All the plant life in a region Fuss Work out future actions Man, for one The tallest trees in the world 29 Granola grain 30 Uninhabited area left in its original state

20 21 22 24 26 27 28 31 34

Chesapeake, for example Sockeye fish Small recess Sample The interlinked environment Vital pollinators Bugling beasts Naval rank, abbr. Be indebted to Turn over earth Eclipse phenomenon Preserve for future generations The wonder the wild can bring about Father Native American dwelling Kitchen utensils Purple flower with a strong scent Forest female Dry riverbed Backpacker’s quarters Phrase of commitment, 2 words Crater Lake National Park’s state, abbr.

To review results for our monthly crossword puzzle please vist our website at www.nasrq.com April 2022

Nature’s Virus Killer Copper can stop a virus before it starts

By Doug Cornell

cientists have discovered a with a tip to fit in the bottom of the natural way to kill germs fast. nostril, where viruses collect. Now thousands of people When he felt a tickle in his nose are using it against viruses and bacteria like a cold about to start, he rubbed the that cause illness. copper gently in Colds and his nose for 60 many other seconds. illnesses start “It worked!” when viruses get he exclaimed. in your nose and “The cold never start multiplying. got going. That If you don’t stop was 2012. I have them early, they had zero colds spread and take since then.” over. “We don’t Copper kills viruses almost In hundreds of make product instantly studies, EPA and health claims,” university researchers confirm copper he said, “so I can’t say cause and effect. kills microbes almost instantly just by But we know copper is antimicrobial.” touch. He asked relatives and friends to try That’s why ancient Greeks and it. They reported the same thing, so he Egyptians used copper to purify patented CopperZap® and put it on the water and heal wounds. They didn’t market. know about microbes like viruses and Soon hundreds of people had tried it. bacteria, but now we do. Feedback was 99% positive if they used “The antimicrobial activity of copper copper within 1-3 hours of the first sign is well established.” National Institutes of bad germs, like a tickle in the nose or of Health. a scratchy throat. Scientists say the high conductance Users say: of copper disrupts the electrical balance “It works! I love it!” in a microbe cell by touch and destroys “I can’t believe how good my nose it in seconds. feels.” Some hospitals tried copper “Is it supposed to work that fast?” for touch surfaces like faucets and “One of the best presents ever.” doorknobs. This cut the spread of “Sixteen flights, not a sniffle!” MRSA and other illnesses by over half, “Cold sores gone!” which saved lives. “It saved me last holidays. The kids The strong scientific evidence had crud going round and round, gave inventor Doug Cornell an idea. but not me.” He made a smooth copper probe “I am shocked! My sinus cleared, no ADVERTORIAL

more headache, no more congestion.” “Best sleep I’ve had in years!” The handle is curved and textured to increase contact. Copper can kill germs picked up on fingers and hands after you touch things other people have touched. The EPA says copper works just as well when tarnished. Dr. Bill Keevil led one of the science teams. He placed millions of viruses on a copper surface. “They started to die literally as soon as they touched it.”

Customers report using copper against: Colds Flu Covid Sinus trouble Cold sores Fever blisters Canker sores Strep Night stuffiness Morning congestion Skin infections Infected sores Infection in cuts or wounds Thrush Warts Styes Ringworm Threats to compromised immunity CopperZap® is made in the USA of pure copper. It has a 90-day full money back guarantee. Price $79.95. Get $10 off each CopperZap with code NATA28. Go to www.CopperZap.com or call tollfree 1-888-411-6114. Buy once, use forever. Statements are not intended as product health claims and have not been evaluated by the FDA. Not claimed to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

April 2022 Natural Awakenings Sarasota

Articles inside

CLIMATE CHANGE AND THE EFFECTS ON OUR HEALTH

HYPER-LOCAL AGRICULTURE IS THE FOOD REVOLUTION WE ALL NEED