Natural Awakenings Sarasota February 2015 by Natural Awakenings of Sarasota

H E A L T H Y

L I V I N G

H E A L T H Y

feel good â&#x20AC;˘ live simply â&#x20AC;˘ laugh more

Happily Coupled

Creating Loving Relationships that Thrive

Gentling Grief Remedies to Heal the Heart

P L A N E T

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

36 HAPPILY COUPLED Creating Loving Relationships that Thrive by Judith Fertig

39 CONSCIOUS DATING Jill Crosby on Looking for Love Online by S. Alison Chabonais

40 HAPPY MEALS

Eating Healthy Foods Fights Off Depression by Lane Vail

44 ECO FENG SHUI

Tips to Bring More Positive Energy into Your Home by Sarah Tarver-Wahlquist

46 EASE ADHD

NATURALLY

Nine Ways to Help Restore Calm and Focus by Jenna Blumenfeld

48 FITNESS FINDS

44 48

Locate the Best Workout Space for You by Debra Melani

51 WHATâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S IN

YOUR WAY?

Obstacles Point the Path to Wholeness and Healing by Deborah Shouse

52 WHEN YOUR

PET PASSES

A Guide to Mourning, Remembering and Healing by Julianne Hale

54 GENTLING GRIEF

Remedies to Heal the Heart by Kathleen Barne

Sarasota/Manatee Edition

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11 newsbriefs 27 healthbriefs 30 globalbriefs 33 community

spotlight 39 wisewords 40 consciouseating 44 greenliving 46 healthykids 48 fitbody 51 inspiration 52 naturalpet 54 healingways 72 calendar 77 classifieds 80 resourceguide

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 5th of the month. CALENDAR SUBMISSIONS Please submit all listings through nasrq.com. Deadline for calendar: the 12th of the month.

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February 2015

letterfrompublisher

am very excited about the February issue, as not only is it packed with great tips and up-to-date information about good health and wellness, but it is also has articles to help our love life. With Valentine’s Day approaching, this is the perfect opportunity to showcase articles that will help those couples maintain and improve their relationships, as well as help the singles out there, too. We have a great article on online dating, including our own Natural Awakenings website, NaturalAwakeningsSingles.com. As we start the new year and focus on getting and staying healthy, what better time than to improve our love lives, too? With the shorter days and cooler weather, I know we can get a little more sedentary. Although our area enjoys great weather year-round, we do have a few gloomy days that can make us a little blue. Take a look at the Happy Meals article to help us stave off depression that can come around this time of year. I know I tend to shut down a bit when the sun goes down, but good nutrition can help energize and boost our moods. You may have noticed the issues in the past year include more articles on animals. Like most of you, I have a darling dog, and I have many friends and neighbors with pets. We all get attached to our furry “kids.” Recently, one of my neighbors lost her dog, Sadie, to cancer. She was a gentle golden retriever who was a great friend and family member. It was hard to see the sadness left on her owner. Plus, I miss her, too. We have included an article this month on how to get through the loss and keep their memory alive. The strong bond we develop with our pets is hard to let go of, and I hope this article will help many get through the pain. Enjoy the issue and the little surprises that Valentine’s Day can bring. I love hearing from you, as your input helps us decide where to focus on local establishments and environmental, spiritual and physical topics. And, of course, best wishes always. Janet Lindsay, Publisher

contact us Publisher Janet Lindsay Managing Editor Suzi Harkola Editor Mary-Elizabeth Schurrer Calendar Editor Cheryl Hynes Design & Production Susan McCann - Erin Cass Web Development Stephen Warne Social Media Manager Stephen Warne

To contact Natural Awakenings Sarasota / Manatee Edition: 941-564-0885 publisher@nasrq.com

Crystal Cave The

© 2015 by Natural Awakenings. All rights reserved. Although some parts of this publication may be reproduced and reprinted, we require that prior permission be obtained in writing. Natural Awakenings is a free publication distributed locally and is supported by our advertisers. It is available in selected stores, health and education centers, healing centers, public libraries and wherever free publications are generally seen. Please call to find a location near you or if you would like copies placed at your business.

Happy Valentine’s Day! Crystals make great gifts for that special someone! Crystals, stones, mineral specimens! Fossils, jewelry, books, & unique gifts!

We do not necessarily endorse the views expressed in the articles and advertisements, nor are we responsible for the products and services advertised. We welcome your ideas, articles and feedback.

Printed on 100% recycled paper Natural Awakenings is printed on 100% recycled paper with soybased ink.

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www.crystalcave.me • 941-346-6203 • 1899-B Fruitville Rd, Sarasota, FL crystalcave.me@gmail.com • Hours: Tuesday-Saturday 11ish-5ish Please like us on Facebook! www.nasrq.com

newsbriefs Seminar Offered on OTZ Chiropractic Breakthrough

n 2006, Dr. Francis X. Murphy made a phenomenal discovery, which isolated the cause of frozen shoulder syndrome (FSS) as a neurological disorder. Since his discovery, Murphy and Team OTZ have been researching and developing a complete curriculum on the resolution of the true cause of FSS, called the One-toZero (OTZ) Tension Adjustment. Named after the binary code used by computers, this proven method involves a very unique analysis and manipulation of the articulation between the occiput and the first cervical vertebrae. Preliminary clinical data suggests that the OTZ analysis and treatment has a much broader application for the chiropractic profession and the overall patient population. The OTZ Team has treated more than 1,000 cases of FSS using this method with dramatic results, and has trained hundreds of health care providers from around the world, who are also experiencing great success using the OTZ Method. Dr. Erik Roach and the Roach Chiropractic Wellness Center are hosting a seminar, “OTZ Methods and the Polyvagal Effect,” from February 28 to March 1, at the Roach Center in Altamonte Springs. The relief from frozen shoulder syndrome is instantaneous, in usually one adjustment, which gives skeptics a new view on chiropractic care. Roach Family Wellness Integrative Medicine is seeing an increase in patient referrals of nonsurgical candidates that prefer a less invasive solution and experience chiropractic care for perhaps the first time.

Certified Spiritualist Medium Laura Willey Returns to Pixie Dust

ouples can now experience the joy of practicing yoga together in a gentle way. The new Gentle Partner Yoga class, offered on the last Sunday of the month at Garden of the Heart Yoga Center is a “feel good” experience! Using a combination of Yoga, Thai massage, Tantra, synchronized breathing, healing touch and communication practices, couples will sooth, nurture, stretch and pleasure one another in a safe, non-threatening environment. Props, yoga mats and pillows will be provided for a comfortable and relaxing experience. This class is appropriate for everyone, including beginners or more advanced yogis. Students will leave feeling good and more profoundly connected to their own bodies and to their partners. Led by Harmony and Rick Joyce, the first class is February 22, from 3 to 5 p.m. Register for three or more sessions and save $10 per class. Harmony Amanda Joyce has been practicing and teaching yoga and Tantra for over 30 years. She is certified in TriYoga, Kripalu Yoga, Transcendental Meditation, Food Healing and Laughter Yoga.

ack by popular demand, Laura Willey will be offering private readings from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily from February 10 through November 14. She will showcase her gifts publicly at Pixie Dust for an “Evening with the Spirits,” a gallery event on February 12 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Willey is a Certified Spiritualist Medium and a long-time member of The Swampscott Church of Spiritualism where she serves on the board of trustees. Willey also serves as a lecturer and platform medium at services. She also works as a medium during the church’s Medium’s Nights and Spirit Festivals, as well as having done private readings for numerous clients. Willey owns “Spirit of Love Healing and Development Studio” where she is devoted to helping people heal through the understanding that life continues after the change called death. Willey has remained committed to developing herself as an evidential medium through her classes with the church. Her experiences with spirits and the clients she has read for have taught her that medium-ship is the highest, purest form of healing, and that it is an important part of the grieving process. She believes that the realization of the continuity of life through evidence of our loved ones in spirit brings a deep sense of inner peace, comfort and true healing. Willey is a Certified Reiki Master Teacher of Dr. Usui’s System of Natural Healing and a Lightarian Reiki Master. Cost of “Evening with the Spirits” is $50. Private Readings are $65 per half hour or $125 for an hour.

Location: Garden of the Heart Yoga Center, 2888 Ringling Blvd. Sarasota. For prices and to register, visit GardenOfTheHeartYoga.com or phone 941-341-9781.

Location: 1547 Main St., Sarasota. Call 941-366-6325 for more information.

Location: 475 Maitland Ave., Altamonte Springs. For more information, visit RoachChiro.com, OTZHealthEd.com and FrozenShoulderDoctor.com.

Gentle Partner Yoga Strengthens Relationships

natural awakenings

February 2015

newsbriefs

Silverstein Institute Opens Office in Lakewood Ranch

NT services for adults and children will be offered at Silverstein Institute’s new offices at Lakewood Ranch. Special care for all types of ear, nose and throat disorders, including hearing loss, tinnitus, Meniere’s disease, sinus disorders and voice loss/hoarseness will be available.

Location: 8433 Enterprise Circle, Suite 140, Lakewood Ranch. Call 941-366-9222 or visit EarSinus.com for more information.

Spring Acupuncture Festival at Phillippi Creek Mansion

ooking for something fun to do for the Spring Equinox? Are you curious about acupuncture? The Sarasota/ Manatee Acupuncture Resource Team* (SMART*) is hosting a festival celebrating the power of Oriental Medicine to transform people’s health. On March 2,1 at the Phillippi Creek Mansion from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., local expert acupuncturists from all over Sarasota and Manatee counties will join together to share their love of Chinese Medicine. Find out how Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine can help you live a longer and healthier life. Experience two quick diagnosis techniques that practitioners use during an Oriental-style medical exam to learn what’s going on in your body. West meets East in Cancer Treatments, presented by Cancer Treatment Centers of America, and eight other topics will be presented: • Meditation with Healing Sounds - Dr. Carolee Parker • Emotional Freedom Technique - Dr. Susan Davis, AP • Chinese Medicine 101 - Dr. Rene Ng, AP (pictured) • The Rich Culture of Chinese Herbs - TBD • Endocrine Disorders - Dr. Cynthia Clark • Thermography - Dr. Michele Louiselle • Chinese Nutrition – Food as Medicine - TBD • Tuina – Chinese Bodywork techniques - TBD • Participate in Qigong for Anti-Aging with Dr. Jessica Lipham or Qigong for Heart Health with Dr. Cynthia Clark. This free event is sponsored by the Sarasota Manatee Acupuncture Resource Team, a local chapter of FSOMA, and by AcuMarket, Acupuncture Media Works, Golden Needle, Lhasa OMS, Standard Process and TCM Zone. For more information visit SarasotaAcupuncture.net or phone 941923-9355. 12

Sarasota/Manatee Edition

Aura-Soma Practitioner Certification Training Offered in April

www.nasrq.com

athy Keh is the owner of Bright Life, an award winning boutique specializing in energy-based healing products. Her primary goal is to offer her customers innovative tools that accelerate personal growth and transformation. Keh is an Aura-Soma Practitioner, and has been a passionate advocate of the Aura-Soma product line since opening her shop over four years ago. “Of all the tools that I offer, Aura-Soma is probably the most effective for consistently healing and transforming people’s lives on an emotional, physical and spiritual level,” she says. Aura-Soma is a self-guided system for personal development, primarily driven by a person’s attraction to color. The system, which originated in England over 30 years ago, helps individuals to fully develop the unique gifts they were given so that they are more able to fulfill their true life’s purpose. “For most of us to fully realize our potential, to fully realize our dreams and aspirations, we first need to get out of our own way and release what does not serve us. This is exactly what the Aura-Soma products help us to do,” she explains. “The Aura-Soma system helps people develop greater clarity and objectivity about their lives, which enables them to take the next right step in their personal evolution.” Keh has invited Dominic Yeoman, one of AuraSoma’s most distinguished teachers responsible for developing the original Aura-Soma course materials over 25 years ago and someone who has dedicated his life to sharing the world of Aura-Soma with people all over the world, to Sarasota. Yeoman will teach a six-day Aura-Soma Practitioner Certification Course April 20 through 25, immediately followed by a three-day course on the Ascended Masters, April 27 to 29. Location: 2135 Siesta Drive across the street from Southgate Mall next to Sally’s Beauty Supply. To find out more, phone 941-366-8113 or visit BrightLifeUSA.com.

Emerging Parallels’ at Art Center Sarasota

Expressive Arts Symposium Slated for Sarasota

rt Center Sarasota’s 2014-2015 exhibition, ‘Emerging Parallels,” continues with four exhibits, which run January 29 to March 6. “Common Vernacular” in Gallery 1 is a solo exhibit by Sarasota-based Canadian artist Richard Mueller, exploring the American influence on his art; “Line and Space” in Gallery 2 is a solo exhibition of Miami-based installation artist David Zalben; “ASALH: Black Muse 2015” in Gallery 3 features works by member artists of the Association for the Study of African-American Life and History; and “Fresh” in Gallery 4 is an open, all-media, all-subject exhibition juried by Kim Anderson, associate professor of art at New College of Florida. Admission is free. Gallery hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Saturday; closed Sunday.

“E

Location:707 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota. Phone 941-365-2032 or visit ArtSarasota.org.

Unity of Sarasota Presents ‘Politics and/or Religion’ Series

arin Hoover is the host of this powerful format, a panel discussing a topic of interest. Join the discussion with the panel and have your own questions answered. There is no charge, and everyone is invited. On February 12 at 7 p.m., the topic is “Race Relations in America.” Examine the Ferguson case and the situation in Cleveland. What is the bottom line to solve this divide between the authorities and the people? Location: Unity of Sarasota, 3023 Proctor Rd., Sarasota. Call 941-955-3301 for more information or visit UnityOfSarasota. com.

Glenridge Performing Arts Center’s February Events

n true cabaret style, the Sarasota’s best intimate theater, the Glenridge Performing Arts Center, hosts a variety of shows in February, starting with a new spin on the solo classical piano recital with Michael Brown, 8 p.m. on February 13; a critically acclaimed Manhattan cabaret act tribute to Ella Fitzgerald with vocalist Scott Coulter 8 p.m., February 18; a sidesplitting lampoon of theatrical comedy by Dan Kamin, the man who taught Robert Downey, Jr. and Johnny Depp their comedic moves, 2 p.m., February 22; and acclaimed jazz singer Giacomo Gates, pictured, 8 p.m., February 28. Tickets for all shows are on sale now and can be purchased online at GPACTix.com, or by calling the GPAC Box Office at 941-552-5325.

ngaging the Collective Imagination,” a weekend expressive arts symposium, will take place at the Holiday Inn Sarasota/Bradenton Airport, from March 6 through 8, 2015. Cosponsored by Expressive Arts Florida Institute and the International Expressive Arts Therapy Association (IEATA), the symposium features expressive arts pioneers Pat B. Allen, Sally Atkins and Harold McKinney with two full-day workshops of art, movement, music, drama and more. A Friday night stand-alone community event, “A Medley of Inspiration, Performance and Participation,” includes a booksigning, collaborative art making and an inspiring medley of music, poetry, art, presentation and audience participation. Additional presenters for the evening include Expressive Arts Florida Institute faculty and Authentic Voicework founder, soprano Stephanie Heidemann. The evening opens with a “meet and greet” and refreshments. The cost for Friday night alone is $40 (IEATA members and students, $30). Saturday and Sunday together is $415 (IEATA members and students, $395) and the entire weekend, FridaySunday, is $445 (IEATA members $415). There is an optional $20 networking social on Saturday evening. Location: 8009 15th Street East, Sarasota. Register at ExpressiveArtsFlorida.com. For more information, call 941-366-9595 or email Institute@expressiveartsflorida.com.

natural awakenings

February 2015

newsbriefs NATIONAL WEAR RED DAY IS FEB. 6 The American Heart Association

encourages everyone to wear red, know their cardiovascular risk and take action to live healthier lives Heart disease is the #1 killer of women, it takes more lives annually than ALL forms of cancer COMBINED!

Your Face, Only Younger – Acupuncture Face and Necklift Seminar with Dr. Anna

r. Anna Baker, DOM and founder of Faces by Dr. Anna, will present a seminar on changing the course of facial aging with her muscle tightening acupuncture face and necklift on February 11 at 2 p.m. Her technique reverses the puffing and sagging of aging in the muscles of the face and neck, returning the original features. Dr. Anna has a database of over 500 people, and she will show pictures of results for different ages and face types. A nationally board-certified Doctor of Oriental Medicine, Anna Baker has been practicing in Sarasota since 1998. She has developed a specialty in a muscle tightening acupuncture face and necklift with no needles used on the face. Up to three treatments can be done in one day with a 10-treatment minimum. After treatments are completed, a one or two treatment touch-up is suggested every 18 months to maintain the lift. Dr. Anna’s work has been nationally televised, and she has been voted Sarasota’s favorite anti-aging practitioner. For more information visit FacesByDrAnna.com or call 941-924-2723 for seminar reservations or to schedule a free consultation.

Roy Eugene Davis to Appear at Unity Sarasota

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Sarasota/Manatee Edition

ast November, 500 members of Southwest Florida’s spiritual community saw the extraordinary documentary YoganandaAwake. On February 1, the community will have the privilege of spending an afternoon with Roy Eugene Davis, one of the last two living direct disciples of Paramahansa Yogananda. Davis is a scholar, a rational thinker, a gentle man and one who lives the spiritual teachings and training of his master, Yogananda. It’s rare that a direct disciple of a master can share his intimate account of that relationship, but Roy did that in his book, Yogananda As I Knew Him. His Center of Spiritual Awareness (CSA) is located in the North Georgia mountains where people from all over the world attend retreats. His message is simple and direct. His talks are intelligent, kind and filled with commentary of his time with Yogananda. More importantly, he keeps the attendees focused on true “self realization” rather than on what he calls “psychic distractions.” The program will be held at Unity of Sarasota from 2 to 5 p.m. It is offered by donation only, the same practice he follows for his retreats at CSA. The attendee considers the value of the teachings received, and donates accordingly. All donations will be split 50/50 with Unity. There are NO TICKETS to purchase. However, you MUST PRE-REGISTER for this event, as seating space is limited. To register, send an email to UnitySarasota@juno.com. You’ll receive a confirming email with a ticket embedded in it. Save the email with the ticket, as it’s your entry to the event. Location: 3023 Proctor Rd, Sarasota. For more information, call Jo Mooy at 941355-1414 or email JoMooy@gmail.com. Information updates will be posted on StarSoundings.com. www.nasrq.com

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natural awakenings

February 2015

newsbriefs

Drum, Dance and Rise

Revive the Senses: A Somatic Journey

any people are new to conscious movement, and the benefits are numerous, including a greater feeling of peace and connection, body awareness, expanded consciousness and greater ease in life. In this three-hour playshop on February 7 from noon to 3 p.m., one can dive into the inner landscape through exploration of the senses. A playful merging of Conscious Movement, Contact Improvisation and sensory meditation will allow space for deeply embodied connection. Conscious Movement is a mindful movement practice where you listen to your inner voice and move from the wisdom of your body. There are no steps to learn, no right or wrong movements. Conscious Movement is a non-speaking sacred space, honoring the individual and creating community. A movement form where contact with another provides a springboard for improvisational movement and exploration, it is a juicy blend of self-exploration, community building, self-massage, spontaneity, touch, play and just plain “having fun being in your body” while being with others. There is no set choreography or steps to learn. The dance arises from the encounter with each moment. Location: Prana Yoga and Healing Center 3840 S Osprey Ave, Sarasota. Cost is $30; $40 at door. For more information and to register, phone 941-724-9719, email KathyOravec@gmail.com or visit ConsciousMovementSarasota.com.

“The Art of the Violin” Presented by Perlman Music Program

he Perlman Music Program encourages artistic development and camaraderie among young international string musicians via a nurturing, noncompetitive and world-renowned Music Education Program, while offering Educational Outreach Programs with events in Sarasota and surrounding communities. The current event, “The Art of the Violin,” showcases one-of-a-kind violins that have been transformed by both local and international artists. These unique works of art will be on display through February at local galleries. The artists participating in this event are Brendan Coudal, Karen Prosper Davenport, Farry Forgard, Gay Germain, James Griffin, Todd Grywinski, Tim Jaeger, Cassia Kite, Candace Knapp, Jill Krasner, Raven Skye McDonough, Micah Mathewson, Joseph Melancon, Tobias Norton, Marcos Casanove (Novadi), Andrea Dasha Reich, Gale Fulton Ross, David Smokler, Amy Webber and Vladislav Yeliseyev. Hand-painted violins can be seen at these galleries in Sarasota: • Art Uptown - 1367 Main Street • Galleria Silecchia - 20 S. Palm Ave. • Joan Hodgell Gallery - 46 S. Palm Ave. • Art to Walk On - 16 S. Palm Ave. • Dabbert Gallery - 76 S. Palm Ave. • State of the Arts Gallery - 1525 State Street A reception and violin auction will be held in an elegant home on Longboat Key on February 19 at 6 p.m. Tickets are $75, and proceeds benefit the education programs of The Perlman Music Program of the Suncoast. For details, call Margaret Ann Behrends, 941-350-2338. 16

Sarasota/Manatee Edition

www.nasrq.com

on Valentine’s Day

he Power of Love, Sarasota’s Second Annual V-Day Event, will be celebrated on Valentine’s Day, February 14 from 1 to 4 p.m., at The Out-of-Door Academy in Lakewood Ranch. Sponsored locally by Tervis, the Peace Education and Action Center, and The Red Couch, V-Day is an international movement to raise awareness about violence against girls and women. With the tagline “Drum, Dance & Rise,” The Power of Love and other V-Day events worldwide will focus on creating and envisioning brave and radical artistic initiatives to usher in a new revolutionary world of equality, dignity and freedom for all women and girls. This year, The Power of Love is expanding its vision to include both men and teens. To understand the vital role men play in this issue, the keynote speaker will be Neil Phillips, Founder of Visible Men—The Success Network for Black Boys and Men, and Visible Men Academy—an all-boys, tuition-free, public charter school in Bradenton. A Harvard University graduate and 2012 Echoing Green/Open Society Fellow, Phillips is committed to empowering and inspiring young black boys by exposing them to role models who can help them see and realize their potential. Following the keynote, there will be facilitated group discussions on how people can take action to end violence against women and girls. Staff from Safe Place and Rape Crisis Center (SPARCC) will facilitate a session for teenagers on teen dating violence. Student art will be displayed. The Power of Love will conclude with the community coming together to perform the international V-Day dance/ anthem, “Break the Chain,” led by dance teacher Kelly Atkins. Location: The Out-of-Door Academy Upper School, 5950 Deer Dr., Lakewood Ranch. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit SarasotaPeaceCenter. org.

New Locations for EcoFest 2015

orld Wellness EcoFest is the largest “Healthy Living, Healthy Planet” event of its kind in the area. The event provides a platform to educate on the benefits of a holistic and environmentally friendly lifestyle. It’s fun and entertaining with music, activities for the family, food and demos of dance, yoga and much more. Learn how to integrate environmentally safe and healthy choices on a day-to-day basis to live a full and balanced lifestyle while having fun doing it. Dates are February 7 and 8 in North Port, and February 28 at Sarasota’s Payne Park. The event will be open to the public from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday in North Port. It will be open on Saturday at 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Payne Park. Admission to the event is free.

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Locations: 4970 City Hall Blvd., North Port; and Payne Park, 2050 Adams Lane, Sarasota.

Rising Tide International Presents Conference of the Birds

he Conference of the Birds was first presented in Sarasota in last November and received an enthusiastic response. As a result, we were invited to present it once more to an international audience visiting Rising Tide on February 5 at 8 p.m. Come experience the magic of a classic Sufi myth adored throughout the world. The Conference of the Birds: An Avian Masquerade is an allegory of the spiritual quest. It depicts the birds of the world journeying to find the Simurgh, the King of majesty and splendor, who will bestow realization and awakening to their lives. The cast will be masked in the style of Theatre of Personae, the ancient medieval plays of Greece, which have become extinct in the modern world. Suggested donation of $10-15 is appreciated. Location: Rising Tide International, 5102 Swift Rd. Sarasota. For more information, call 941-320-9666, email saddiqalch@aol.com or visit RisingTideInternational.org.

Come Find Your Bliss 941-923-1287

5531 Palmer Crossing Cir, Sarasota, FL 34233 blisssalonsrq.com

RISING TIDE INTERNATIONAL

As the moon raises the tide, love raises humanity Cultivating the Inner Message Shared by all Spiritual Traditions

Spiritual Practice

Young Living Essential Oils Hosts Educational Outreach

Sacred Music, Chanting & Dance Interfaith Celebration

obert and Alina Rinato, Sarasota-based independent consultants for Young Living Essential Oils, will be hosting an informational session titled “Top 10 Everyday Essential Oils” on February 25 from 6:30 pm to 8 pm. This event is entirely free and open to the public. Join the Rinatos, as they teach you how to embrace a healthier lifestyle by replacing items in your medicine cabinet with 100% natural, chemical-free, essential oil-based products. “Everyone is invited to our community class to experience essential oils in an educational, no pressure setting,” says Alina. Location: Fire Station Community Room, 2070 Waldemere Street, Sarasota. For more information, call 813-644-9104 or email Hello@YLEOSRQ.com. To place an order, visit YLEOSRQ.com.

Universal Worship Sundays 10:30am Spiritual Liberty Class Tuesdays 7:30pm

“Have the courage to face the light of your own being.” - Pir Vilayat Inayat Khan

5102 Swift Rd, Sarasota, FL 34231 www.RisingTideInternational.org

natural awakenings

February 2015

newsbriefs Embark on the Next Holistic Holiday at Sea

et sail aboard the luxurious, eco-friendly, Italian MSC Divina on the 12th Holistic Holiday at Sea cruise for life-transforming discussions on the benefits of a plant-based diet, plus a host of other health and wellness activities with a community of 1,700 fellow passengers. The 35 expert presenters and teachers will include Ann Crile Esselstyn, known for her life-changing plant-based meals and author of the new book, The Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease Cookbook, a current bestseller on Amazon. com; her husband Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn, whose groundbreaking research and dietary advice found the book’s 125 recipes; plus Dr. T. Colin Campbell, Dr. Neal Barnard, Dr. Michael Greger, Colleen Patrick-Goudreau, Chef AJ (Abbie Jaye) and Bhava Ram. More than 130 classes cover food preparation, yoga, Pilates, meditation and other topics related to natural well-being. Cruise passengers will dine on nondairy, vegan/natural cuisine, expertly prepared under the supervision of Mark Hanna, an internationally known natural food chef. Evenings bring opportunities to socialize in the Golden Jazz Bar and enjoy nourishing time in the Aurea Spa. The next cruise is March 14 to 21, 2015. Passengers depart from and return to Miami and dock en route at Falmouth, Jamaica; Georgetown, Grand Cayman Islands; Cozumel, Mexico; and Great Stirrup Cay, Bahamas. For more information or to register, call 1-828-749-9537 or 1-800-496-0989, email Info@HolisticHolidayAtSea.com or visit HolisticHolidayAtSea.com.

Sarasota Season of Nonviolence Kickoff Features Rivera Sun

uthor/Activist Rivera Sun will be in town to help us kick off the Season of Nonviolence. She will update us on Campaign Nonviolence and share from her new book. Rivera Sun is the social media coordinator for Campaign Nonviolence and Pace e Bene. She is the author of The Dandelion Insurrection, and Steam Drills, Treadmills and Shooting Stars, the cohost of Occupy Radio, and the cofounder of the Love-In-Action Network. She is a graduate of the James Lawson Institute 2014, and her essays on social justice movements appear in Truthout and Popular Resistance. Rivera Sun lives in Taos, New Mexico. The purpose of the campaign is to focus educational and media attention on the philosophy of attaining peace through nonviolent action as demonstrated by legendary leaders Mohandas K. Gandhi, Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr., Cesar E. Chavez and President Nelson Mandela, as well as living legends such as His Holiness, Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet. The Sarasota Peace Education and Action Center will host a Season of Nonviolence Potluck Kickoff Event on Sunday, February 1 at 6 p.m. at the Fogartyville Community Media and Arts Center, featuring Rivera Sun. Location: Fogartyville Community Media and Arts Ctr., 525 Kumquat Ct., Sarasota. Call 941-545-5635, email Peacenter@gmail.com or visit SarasotaPeaceCenter.org. Learn more about the presenter at RiveraSun.com. 18

Sarasota/Manatee Edition

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Cosmic Center of Spiritual Light Welcomes Hutchison and McGaa, Eagleman

eturning to Sarasota is Leela Hutchison, gemologist and first woman explorer of the Giant Selenite Crystal Caves of Naica, Mexico, the largest crystals ever discovered. On February 21 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. she offers a special workshop, “Connecting with the Planetary Crystal Grid.” This workshop includes never before seen on TV images of the Crystal Caves, Sacred Geometry of the Crystal Grid, the importance of crystals, Selenite, Healing of the Emotional body through the Crystals, Chakra #2, personality lines, healings and meditations from the Ascended Angelic Masters. She will also be holding private sessions. Pre-registration cost is $99, through LeelaSplashThat.com, or $122 at the door. For more information about the Giant Selenite Crystal Caves, visit TheCrystalGiants.com. Coming in March is Ed McGaa, Eagleman, Oglala Sioux, born on the Pine Ridge reservation. He studied under Chief Eagle Feather and Chief Fool’s Crow, and received his law degree from the University of South Dakota. He is a six-time Sun Dancer and served as a fighter pilot in the Marine Corps in Vietnam, with 110 combat missions, receiving eight air medals, two Crosses and a recommendation for a Distinguished Flying Cross. For info go to EdMcGaa. com or Amazon.com/Ed-McGaa/ . He will give an introductory talk on March 6 from 7 to 9 p.m. Cost is $10 at the door; and on March 7, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. for $50. His topic is “Native Spirituality: Can It Save the Planet?” Location: Cosmic Center, 5041 Ringwood Meadow Bldg. G-2 Sarasota. Call 941- 371-9333 or visit CCOSL.com for more information.

February Events at Pearl Cream by Dr. Anna

ichelle Giambra, LMT, the 2014 “Nattie” Award Winner of “Favorite Energy Healer” and “Favorite Holistic Practitioner, is returning to the Pearl Cream by Dr. Anna Store for a special event. Michelle specializes in the ancient hands-on healing art, Jin Shin Jyutsu. Join us for “An Evening of Jin Shin Jyutsu” on February 12 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Michelle will introduce and demonstrate Jin Shin Jyutsu and then lead the group in a “Guided Jin Shin Jyutsu – Hands-On Self-Healing Meditation.” Fee applies. Space is very limited. Must register before February 12. Reserve your space by calling 941-228-2972 or email Michelle@suncoastjsj.com. Attendees will receive 25% off Dr. Anna’s Pearl Cream products. Offer applies to total purchase and new clients only. On February 20, it’s BOGO Day! From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Buy One, Get One for 35% off! Offer includes Men’s products. Dr. Anna’s Pearl Cream line is made from real pearls, and is an all-natural alternative to slowing down and reversing the signs of aging on your face and body. All products are preservative-free. Location: Pearl Cream by Dr. Anna, 5872 Bee Ridge Rd., in Centergate Plaza across from Doctor’s Hospital, Sarasota. Call 941-371-7400 for more information.

ReFlex Arts and Heartwood Retreat Center Offer Reiki Healing

eFlex Arts and Heartwood are home to a vibrant Reiki community, people who gather to promote healing for themselves, others and the world at large. We have a monthly Reiki share the second Friday of every month at ReFlex, where those who are interested in practicing Reiki, receiving Reiki or who just want to learn more can come and participate in group healing. A guided meditation begins the evening, followed by Reiki transference. We set up massage tables, and everyone participating takes turns giving and receiving Reiki, sharing their month’s experiences and discussing the art of healing to enhance their gifts. Donations are given, and each month the offerings are donated to a charity of choice. Those interested in learning more about Reiki, or in becoming a Reiki practitioner or Master, can take any or all of our four levels of Reiki training with our resident Reiki Master, Mandy Main. Group sessions are offered five times a year (recommended), and/or private Reiki training can be scheduled through the office. Our next Reiki level 2 is scheduled for February 15, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Our next Reiki Level 1 is March 7, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Location: 6260 N. Lockwood Ridge Rd., Sarasota. For more information, phone 941-359-9642, email Contact@ ReflexArts.com or visit ReflexArts.com.

natural awakenings

February 2015

newsbriefs

Venice Library Hosts Community HU Song

Experience Aerial Yoga Weekend Immersion Training at Reflex Arts

omeone recently came to the studio asking, “How can you call the aerial practice of back flips and tricks authentic yoga?” Our answer, of course, was as complicated as the question. Aerial yoga is a fascinating art that, in its advanced forms, can look like dance or even circus arts, but the key word is aerial yoga. So, to put it simply, the aerial swing is a great prop, just like a block or strap, that can help us deepen our practice by using gravity and challenging our bodies in new, different ways. Students who find inversions on the mat frightening or too difficult can easily begin to conquer their fears in the swing, not to mention receiving therapeutic decompression of the spine with every moment spent upside down. As for the tricks? There is absolutely nothing wrong with laughing, playing like a kid again, or reminding yourself you can still do something new and different. Our aerial yoga training is designed to give a broad overview of the subject, while also guiding students to learn correct alignment and technique. Our weekend program will help you deepen your practice and, by the end, give you enough information and support that you can begin teaching. This program is open to RYT 200 and 500 students for yoga alliance continuing education credits, as well as to instructors from other fitness backgrounds. The class is designed for teachers, but those just looking to deepen their own practice will walk away with a strong understanding to continue practicing with a better foundation of form and proper body alignment. The classes will be held February 13 from 1 to 9 p.m., and February 14 and 15 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

ife can sometimes be overwhelming. Fear, anger, loss, loneliness and pain can close one’s heart to the joy of living. Harold Klemp, the Spiritual Leader of Eckankar, offers a simple exercise that can lift one out of darkness into a state of light and spiritual freedom. For example, in Spiritual Wisdom on Conquering Fear, Klemp suggests, “In contemplation, visualize the golden Light of God coming into your heart center, coming in so quietly and gently that you may not realize It’s there. Imagine your heart center reacting like the pupil of an eye, opening gently to allow more Light to come in. “You are also welcome to sing HU (pronounced like the word hue). It is a love song to God and can be sung by anyone of any faith. Singing HU as a non-directed prayer can instantly open your heart to divine love even as you sing. Truth will come to you, and fear will flee.” To experience HU for yourself, attend a Community HU Song on February 14 at 11 a.m. People of any background or belief are invited to sing or chant HU for 20 minutes, or to quietly listen. Following a 5-minute silent contemplation, there will be refreshments and conversation. This Community HU Song is presented as a service to people of all beliefs by local members of Eckankar, Religion of the Light and Sound of God.

Location: 6260 N. Lockwood Ridge Rd., Sarasota. For more information, phone 941-359-9642, email Contact@ReflexArts.com or visit ReflexArts.com.

Location: Venice Library, 300 Nokomis Ave. S., Venice. For more information, call 941-358-0325. To hear the sound of HU, visit HearHU.org.

Experience How Singing HU Can Help You You have the potential for greater happiness, love, and understanding.

To hear the sound of HU, visit www.HearHU.org

You’re warmly invited to attend a Community HU Song. Below are dates and locations for February.

Venice - Sat., Feb. 14th at 11:00am

(Venice Public Library 300 Nokomis Ave S, 34285)

Sarasota - Sat., Feb. 15th at 10:00am (AmericInn 5931 Fruitville Rd, 34232)

941-358-0325

This Community HU Song is presented as a service to people of all beliefs by local members of Eckankar, Religion of the Light and Sound of God.

Sarasota/Manatee Edition

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natural awakenings

February 2015

newsbriefs OM Shoppe Relocates

he OM Shoppe recently moved into expanded retail/spa space in the Tihany Plaza. The move also prompted a name change, to The OM Shoppe & Spa. According to co-owner Cindy Shannon, the move was prompted by a need for a larger space that would accommodate a menu of spa treatments with retail sales of crystals, salt lamps, pendulums, crystal singing bowls and more. Location: 4801 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota. For more information on special three-pack bundles or monthly memberships, visit TheOMShoppe.com, phone 941-706-3257 or email Info@theOMshoppe.com.

Intensive Series of Hands-On Energy Harmonizing Provides Cumulative Benefits

lients marvel at the profound relaxation and rejuvenation from just a single Jin Shin Jyutsu Hands-On Energy Harmonizing session. To help the client’s progression in their healing journey, Suncoast Jin Shin Jyutsu offers an Intensive Series of sessions that provides additional benefits from the cumulative effects of receiving multiple sessions in close succession. Each session builds upon the previous. Imbalances are cleared layer-by-layer, and patterns for harmony are re-established, opening the path for a happier, healthier, more joyful life. The Intensive Series consists of three or more personal hands-on energy harmonizing sessions received within a week. Call now and enjoy special savings during the month of February when you book the Intensive Series. (To receive the savings, all sessions must be paid for at the first appointment.) When life energy becomes trapped or stuck in particular areas of the body, the stagnation contributes to a variety of symptoms including aches, pain, discomfort and dis-ease. Harmonizing the flow of life energy releases the stagnation and restores balance. A unique modality, Jin Shin Jyutsu encompasses a deep understanding of the body’s complex network of energy pathways and their relationships to all facets of life: physical, mental and emotional. The trained practitioner is able to identify the energetic needs of the individual with information received from pulses in the wrists, body alignment, previous medical diagnosis and symptoms shared by the client. Gentle placement of the hands on certain areas of the body in specific sequences harmonizes the flow of life energy. Michelle Giambra, LMT, the 2014 “Nattie” Awards Winner of “Favorite Energy Healer” and “Favorite Holistic Practitioner,” specializes in Jin Shin Jyutsu. A Certified Jin Shin Jyutsu Practitioner and Self-Help Instructor for over 17 years, she works with individuals and families addressing acute, chronic and serious health projects (such as cancer and ALS), along with those interested in maintaining their well-being with this profound, ancient healing art. For more information, call 941-228-2972, email Michelle@SuncoastJSJ.com, or visit SuncoastJSJ.com. 22

Sarasota/Manatee Edition

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Winners of Four “Nattie” Awards in Yoga & Energy Healing under One Roof

he Sarasota community agrees that Rosemary Court is the place to be for yoga and healing! Rosemary Court Yoga and Suncoast Jin Shin Jyutsu are both located in the Rosemary Court District of downtown Sarasota. Combined they are winners in four categories of the 2014 “Nattie” Awards. Favorite Yoga Instructor of the Year is Liana Sheintal Bryant, Director and Yoga Instructor at Rosemary Court Yoga, which is the winner of the Favorite Eco-Friendly Business and received Honorable Mention in the Favorite Spiritual Center and Favorite Yoga Studio/Sanctuary categories.Voted as both the Favorite Energy Healer and the Favorite Holistic Practitioner, Michelle Giambra, LMT provides hands-on energy harmonizing in her studio located above the Rosemary Court Yoga studios. A Certified Jin Shin Jyutsu Practitioner and Self-Help Instructor with over 17 years of experience, Giambra works with individuals and families addressing acute, chronic, and serious health projects (such as cancer and ALS) along with those interested in maintaining their well-being with this profound, ancient healing art. She teaches self-care classes on a regular basis and is available by appointment only for personal hands-on energy harmonizing sessions. Location: 810 Central Ave., Sarasota. For more information on Rosemary Court Yoga, call 941-952-5280, email RosemaryCourt@yahoo. com, or visit RosemaryCourt.com. For more information on Jin Shin Jyutsu, call 941-2282972, email Michelle@SuncoastJSJ.com, or visit SuncoastJSJ.com.

‘Friends and Family’ at Allyn Gallup Studio

Royal Tea Service at Powel Crosley Estate

et your pinky finger ready! Simply Gourmet hosts a traditional royal English tea service on Thursday afternoons from February 12 through March 19 at 2 p.m., at the Powel Crosley Estate. Tea will be served in the exclusive upstairs living area of the mansion overlooking the Bay. “Every year, the Royal Family hosts an afternoon tea for about 8,000 guests at Buckingham Palace,” says Chef Larry Barrett, president of Simply Gourmet Caterers, explaining that the tradition began in 1860 with Queen Victoria. “It’s a grand and colorful affair. Men wear suits or military uniforms, and women wear dresses with hats and gloves. The 500-foot buffet table is set with a feast, and there’s tea, of course. The Crosley Estate offers the perfect ambiance for our re-creation of this royal event.” Expect such delicacies as Cassis Marinated Strawberry Parfait, Vanilla Cream Fruit Tartlets, Currant Scones/ Devonshire Cream, Double Chocolate Triangles, Turkey/Sundried Tomato Pinwheels and Royal Tea Sandwich Medley. “And don’t forget the tea,” Barrett laughs. “Guests will savor properly brewed cups of flavorful English tea.”

llyn Gallup Contemporary Art gallery presents “Friends and Family,” an exhibition showcasing figurative paintings by Lynn Davison, February 3 through 28. The artist’s reception is February 6 from 6 to 8 p.m. Lynn Davison’s human dramas combine a sense of the absurd with an otherworldly magical realism. A graduate of Ringling College of Art and Design, this Naples-based painter has been creating haunting, figurative imagery for more than 30 years. “The human figure has always been the primary focus,” says Davison. “I want my figures to provoke introspection. While they’re essentially revelations of self, I hope they also portray universal truths about what it means to be exposed, disconnected, vulnerable and human.” The 20 new figurative paintings in this exhibition reveal Davison’s latest bold experiments. These include a new approach to the medium. “I’ve been working with a new range and palette of colors,” she says. “Each hue presents its own subtle challenges. I feel like I’m just beginning to learn to paint.” Location: 1288 N. Palm Ave., in Sarasota. For more information about this exhibit, call 941-366-2454 or visit AllynGallup.com.

New Reiki Class Series at Rising Tide

ev. Zan Benham announces the start of a new Reiki Class Series toward a Reiki III Master Healer Attunement and Certificate. Classes are scheduled as follows (you do not have to register for all classes consecutively): Reiki I – February 14; Reiki II – March 14; Reiki III, Part 1 – April 11; Reiki III, Part 2 – May 2. Classes are on Saturdays, 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Each class is $122 each. Between Reiki III, 1 and 2, all students receive a private, free, hands-on, Reiki teaching and healing session with Rev. Zan. Rev. Zan has been teaching Reiki since 2003. For her it is a path of awakening to the Divine Light of which all is created. It is a powerful spiritual venue for expansion, healing, cleansing and balancing body, mind, emotions and spirit. Location: Rising Tide, 5102 Swift Rd., Sarasota. For information and registration contact Rev. Zan, 941-922-7839 or Zan@Woman-Spirit.com. Payments can be made with credit card on the “Products” page of Woman-Spirit.com.

Location: 8374 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota. Tickets are $32. A portion of the proceeds benefits the Crosley Foundation. For more information and reservations, call 941-225-9122. To reserve, call 941-225-9122. natural awakenings

February 2015

Holistic

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petbriefs Looking to Adopt a Pet? Look No Further Than Your Nearest Shelter

The following animal shelters have pets available for adoption. Shelter animals are looking for forever homes, so adopt from a local animal rescue agency. • Suncoast Humane Society, 6781 Casa Dr., Englewood. 941-474-7884; Humane. org. • Humane Society of Sarasota County, 2331 15th St., Sarasota. 941-955-4131; HSSC.org. • Englewood Animal Rescue Sanctuary, 145 W. Dearborn St., Englewood. 941681-3877; EARSAnimalRescue.com. • St. Francis Animal Rescue of Venice, 1925 S. Tamiami Trail, Venice. 941-4926200; StFrancisARFl.org. • Racing Dog Rescue Project (greyhounds), Sarasota. 941-379-3278; RDRPGreyhound.org. • Sarasota County Animal Services, 8451 Bee Ridge Road, Sarasota. 941-8619500; SarasotaSheriff.org/animals. • ARC-Animal Rescue Coalition, 1408 State St., Sarasota. 941-957-1955; AnimalRescueCoalition.org. • Puffy Paws Kitty Haven, Englewood. 941-623-8904; PuffyPawsKittyHaven.com. • Cat Depot, 2542 17th Street, Sarasota. 941-366-2404; CatDepot.org. Help injured wildlife: Wildlife Center of Venice (call to report), 3252 Border Rd., Venice. 941-484-9647, WildlifeCenterOfVenice.org.

Florida Maritime Museum Celebrates the History of Cats at Sea

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Sarasota/Manatee Edition

he Florida Maritime Museum (FMM) is celebrating the history of cats at sea in “The Ship’s Cat” exhibition. Dating back to ancient times, cats served as companions, good luck charms and mousers on many trading, exploration and naval ships. Learn more about these adventurous and adorable felines from Peeble, the talented ship’s cat aboard HMS Western Isles, who was known to shake the hands of strangers, and Pooli, who earned three service ribbons and four battle stars during WWII. In honor of this exhibit, FMM is holding a cat food drive to benefit Cat Depot, a nonprofit organization committed to helping homeless, abandoned, and injured cats and kittens. Donations can be dropped off at the Museum during regular business hours (Tuesday–Saturday 9:00 am to 4:00 pm) through Thursday, February 5th. Donations will be presented to Cat Depot on the evening of the exhibit opening on February 5 from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. This event is free and open to the public; donations and RSVPs are appreciated. Guests can enjoy light refreshments and join in making toys for the cats and kittens at Cat Depot. “The Ship’s Cat” exhibit will only be open until February 20, so mark your calendars now! Location: 4415 119th Street West, Cortez. Contact Halee at 941-708-6120 or Halee. Turner@manateeclerk.com for more info or to RSVP.

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natural awakenings

February 2015

Marriage is Good Mind-Body Therapies Stimulate for the Heart R the Immune System healthbriefs

large statistical analysis of multiple studies on bodymind therapies such as meditation, tai chi, qigong and yoga found that the practices effectively reduce inflammation and show promise in modulating the immune system. Scientists at the Tufts University School of Medicine analyzed the results of 34 controlled scientific studies that collectively assessed 2,219 people. Each study involved the use of at least one mind-body practice for between seven and 16 weeks and measured immune system health using multiple biological markers. Eighteen of the studies specifically examined inflammation factors, while seven evaluated antiviral-related immunity. Nine of the studies measured C-reactive protein (CRP) levels—an indicator of cardiovascular-related inflammation. The analysis revealed that mind-body therapies reduced CRP levels in subjects with high risk factors for cancer, diabetes, depression and cardiovascular disease. The scientists added that some of the research suggested that mind-body therapy may also increase immunity against viral infections.

Sarasota/Manatee Edition

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esearch from the New York University School of Medicine found that married people have significantly less cardiovascular disease (CVD) than those that are divorced, widowed or otherwise single. The study used data on the rates of CVD from the health surveys of more than 3.5 million men and women collected at 20,000 U.S. medical centers. Married people under 50 had 12 percent lower incidence of heart disease than single people. Married couples between 51 and 60 years old had a 7 percent lower risk, while those over 60 had a 4 percent lower risk. The results were presented at the 2014 scientific sessions of the American College of Cardiology. Researcher and cardiologist Jeffrey Berger recommends that doctors show increased diligence for single patients: “If one of my patients is recently widowed or divorced, I’m increasingly vigilant about examining them for signs of any type of cardiovascular disease and depression,” he says.

Satisfaction with Friendship is Hard to Come By

study conducted by Edge Research and Sea Change Strategies found that less than a quarter of Americans are fully satisfied with their friendships, and almost two-thirds lack confidence in even their closest friends. Seniors (70 and over) and millennials/Gen Ys (16 to 34) are more likely to be extremely satisfied than Gen X-ers (35 to 49) or baby boomers (50 to 69), indicating the existence of a midlife friendship slump. The research was based on a self-reported survey of 1,016 Americans ages 16 and up. Across all demographics, people that report they have more close friends feel happier and are more fulfilled than those that say they have few or no friends. The majority also prefer deeper friendships with fewer friends over just having more friends. Qualities that most people look for in friends are loyalty, honesty, goodness and reliability in a crisis. Among the attributes considered least important are similar political or religious views and physical attractiveness, which ranked last. The use of social media appears unrelated to the number or quality of friendships or overall friendship satisfaction. People that attend religious services at least once a week are twice as likely to be completely satisfied with their friendships than those that rarely or never attend such services. The researchers concluded, “Those seeking more fulfillment from their friendships should invest disproportionate time and energy in the relationships they consider close.”

Calcium and Vitamin D May Help Prevent Dental Decay

study from Argentina’s Buenos Aires University has linked dental caries to low levels of calcium and vitamin D. Dental status and caries risk were assessed by determining the number of decayed, missing and filled teeth, the amount of plaque and the sugar intake of 106 women of the average age of 24. Calcium levels were deficient among nearly 60 percent of the women, 70 percent had low blood levels of vitamin D, 72 percent consumed soft drinks daily and all of them presented gingivitis (gum disease). The third with the highest caries scores and decayed or missing teeth had significantly lower calcium intake and vitamin D levels and significantly higher intake of protein and soft drinks, plus significantly higher plaque and sugar intake compared with the rest of the women. The researchers concluded that low calcium intake is associated with a high risk of dental caries and a greater severity of oral disease. “Adequate nutritional status of calcium and vitamin D could be an additional factor that may help preserve good oral health,” they state.

February is National Children’s Dental Health Month

LARGE STUDY EXPANDS VIEW OF SODIUM INTAKE

ietary Guidelines for Americans, published by the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, recommends that people 50 years old and younger keep their sodium intake lower than 2,300 milligrams (mg) per day, while those over 50 keep sodium ingestion below 1,500 mg. However, a large international study recently published in the New England Journal of Medicine reveals a different story. Measuring levels of sodium and potassium excreted in the urine of 101,945 people between 35 and 70 years old from 17 low, middle and high-income countries, Canadian scientists found that consuming less than 3,000 mg of sodium per day was associated with a 77 percent increased risk of death from cardiovascular disease. Consuming between 3,000 and 6,000 mg of sodium daily was linked to lower risks of both cardiovascular disease and earlier mortality, while consuming more than 7,000 mg daily was associated with a 54 percent increased risk of death from cardiovascular disease. The researchers added that current guidelines for sodium consumption have been based upon shorter studies that showed only modest results. They also determined that daily consumption of 1,500-plus mg of potassium related to a significantly reduced risk of cardiovascular disease and earlier mortality. Consuming less than 1,500 mg was linked to increased risk.

natural awakenings

February 2015

Obstacles are

what you see when you take your eye off the goal. ~Chris Burke

healthbriefs A Healthy Approach to Intestinal Maintenance

mall intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) is a condition in which too many and the wrong kinds of bacteria inhabit the small intestine, or small bowel, usually due to another condition that interferes with normal intestinal activity. Bacteria are allowed to stay overlong and multiply or even spread backward from the colon into the small intestine. The results may include constipation, bloating, abdominal pain, fatigue and even anemia because iron and vitamin B12 are absorbed here. Allopathic medicine usually kills off the overgrowth with antibiotics that tend to stay in the intestinal tract. The small intestine is then reseeded with healthy probiotics to establish the proper balance of gut bacteria essential to the absorption of nutrients and the production of some natural vitamins. Steven Frank, founder of Nature’s Rite, advises that, as a more natural alternative, some naturopathic practitioners are using an enhanced aqueous silver colloid to kill off the overgrowth before reseeding. According to the Encyclopedia of Herbal Medicine, after using either technique, it helps to ingest herbs such as plantain, licorice, marshmallow and slippery elm bark, as well as aloe to heal the damage. For more information, call 888-465-4404 or visit NaturesRiteRemedies.com. See ad, page 15.

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February 2015

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

European Eco-Cooperation Linking Oceans and Human Health

EurOcean 2014, convened by the Italian Presidency of the Council of the European Union, the European Marine Board, the European Commission and three Italian partner institutions—the National Research Council, National Inter-university Consortium for Ocean Science and the National Institute of Oceanography and Experimental Geophysics—has issued the first of 18 priorities cited in a declaration that adds momentum to a European Marine Board report, Linking Oceans and Human Health (Tinyurl. com/OceansAndHealth). Participants identified four high-level policy goals: valuing the ocean; capitalizing on European leadership; advancing ocean knowledge; and breaking scientific barriers. Newly discovered toxic nanoparticles and swelling micro-plastic marine pollution, with concerns emerging about higher seawater temperatures incubating chemical carcinogens, pose several new perils to human health. Jan Mees, chair of the European Marine Board, states, “To truly progress our knowledge, European scientists across a broad range of disciplines and domains must make a quantum leap towards holistic approaches and integrated research on a scale that will help us to much better understand, protect, manage and sustainably exploit the seas and oceans that surround us. This is a grand challenge; not just in Europe, but for human society as a whole.” Source: Eurocean2014.eu

Potent Promises

Climate Change Pledges Predict Progress President Obama and Chinese President Xi Jinping have both made ambitious pledges to combat climate change. Jinping pledged that China’s CO2 emissions would peak around 2030; the first time that Beijing has set such a target. Obama promised that by 2025, the U.S. will have reduced its emissions by 23 to 26 percent from 2005 levels, twice as much as Washington had previously offered. The carbon emission deal that has been reached between China and the United States is a promising breakthrough. The world’s biggest economies account for one-third of the planet’s emissions, so their initiative should help persuade other countries to reach a global emissions agreement at a United Nations climate summit next year in Paris. President Obama faces opposition in the Republican-controlled Congress, although aides say he can act unilaterally. Moreover, rapidly evolving energy conditions in the United States, from the increased supply of natural gas to the expansion of renewable energies, will ease the pain of carbon cuts. 30

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GMO Pushback Hawaii Lobbies for Anti-GMO Laws

The Aloha State enjoys a year-round growing season, with multiple harvests annually. Last year, the Hawaiian island of Kauai passed genetically modified organism (GMO) farming restrictions, but they were overturned in court. Now, Maui County, which includes the Hawaiian islands of Maui, Lanai and Molokai, has approved a moratorium on the cultivation of genetically modified crops. The majority of Monsanto’s GMO corn seed sold to farmers in Argentina, Brazil and the U.S. comes from its Maui operation. If the law stands, Monsanto and Dow AgroSciences, another biotech firm with operations in Maui County, will need to seek alternatives. Lawsuits have already been filed by both opponents of the ban and proponents that want rigorous enforcement built in. Michael Lilly, former attorney general of Hawaii, expects the new law to be struck down like the previous Kauai attempt on grounds that state law supersedes it, although appeals in that case are underway. Meanwhile, an injunction has stalled the whole process. The message from anti-GMO forces is that although giant firms have deep pockets and many options, staunch determination to stem the tide of GMO crops worldwide may eventually bear the sweet fruit of victory. Source: Grist

y 2r0a t1i o5n a D h t r r y Ea t celeb niversa l t h y p l a n e

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Healthy Li Healthy ving, Planet Demon stration s! Exhibit ors! Enterta inment ! ptions! Pet Ado Food! Music! re! and Mo

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Saturday & Sunday Feburary, 7th-8th 2015 City of North Port

4970 City Hall Blvd, North Port, FL 34286 Sunday 10am-4pm • Saturday 9am-5pm

Saturday Feburary, 28th 2015 Payne Park

2050 Adams Ln, Sarasota, FL 34237 (Across from Sarasta Police Department)

Saturday 9-5

Join us in celebrating a modern and realistic approach to environmental issues and living a healthy lifestyle. Local businesses will be showcasing products, services, technology, wellness programs and research that can make our lives more environmentally friendly and fully balanced.

Sponsorship and Vendor Opportunities Available! 941-225-1425 • www.EcofestSRQ.com This will be a sold-out event and vendor booths are available on a first come first serve basis

natural awakenings

February 2015

Simply the BEST! 2014 Natties Unveiled

Favorite Nutritionist of the Year: J.D. Doyle Honorable Mention: Louise Mastro

undreds of ballots were cast by Natural Awakenings readers for Favorite Place to Shop for Natural Foods of the Year: Whole Foods their favorite companies, practitioners and places of interest. The top companies in each of the 28 categories of natural living are Honorable Mention: Richard’s Food listed below. We encourage the community to congratulate them, Emporium frequent their award-winning businesses and enjoy their outstanding Favorite Farmer’s Market of the services. Year: Sarasota Farmer’s Market Favorite Anti-Aging Practitioner Favorite Business of the Year: Honorable Mention: Jessica’s Farm of the Year: Bright Life Market Dr. Rene Ng, Traditional Chinese Honorable Mention: Family Healing Medical Solutions Healing Center Center Favorite Place to Buy Nutritional Honorable Mention: Dr. Christina Supplements of the Year: Favorite Eco-friendly Business of Captain, Family Healing Center Special Nutrition the Year: Rosemary Court Yoga Honorable Mention: Richard’s Honorable Mention: Seaside Wellness Favorite School for Holistic Foodporium Medicine of the Year: Spa; Whole Foods Market (tie) Sarasota School of Massage Therapy Favorite Enlightened Books and Favorite Pet Friendly Business of Honorable Mention: East West College Gift Store of the Year: Elysian Fields of Natural Medicine the Year: PetSmart Honorable Mention: Pixie Dust Honorable Mention: Holistic For Pets Metaphysical Boutique Favorite Energy Healer of the Year: Michelle Giambra Favorite Holistic Doctor of the Favorite Eco-friendly Cleaning Honorable Mention: Elissa Bentsen Year: Dr. Fred Harvey Service of the Year: Green World Honorable Mention: Dr. Lydia Corn Home Cleaning; The Greener Cleaner Favorite Holistic Practitioner of (Tie) the Year: Michelle Giambra Favorite Acupuncture/TCM Honorable Mention: Rebecca Sears Practitioner of the Year: Favorite Skin Care Professional of Dr. Rene Ng the Year: Favorite Spiritual Center of the Honorable Mention: Dr. Christina Michelle Turner, Zen Blossom Year: Center for Spiritual Living Captain Honorable Mention: Heather Bishop, Sarasota Seaside Wellness Spa Favorite Chiropractic Physician of Honorable Mention: Rosemary Court Yoga the Year: Dr. Dan Knapp Favorite Holistic Veterinarian of Honorable Mention: Dr. Aaron Taylor the Year: Dr. Jaime Gonzalez, Bear Favorite Yoga Studio/Sanctuary Creek Veterinary Alternatives of the Year: Garden of the Heart Yoga Honorable Mention: Dr. Martin Neher, Favorite Natural Dentist of the Honorable Mention: Rosemary Court Palmer Ranch Animal Clinic Year: Dr. Jack Corn Yoga Honorable Mention: Dr. Glori Enzor Favorite Animal Hospital of the

Favorite Natural Healing Center of Favorite Weight Loss Program/ the Year: Traditional Chinese Medical Center of the Year: Solutions Healing Center Honorable Mention: Family Healing Center

Year:

Palm Aire Animal Veterinary Clinic Sarasota Boot Camp Honorable Mention: Clark Road Animal Honorable Mention: Nutrition Wellness Clinic Center

Favorite Natural Women’s Health Favorite Yoga Instructor of the Specialist of the Year: Dr. Christina Year: Liana Sheintal Bryant

Favorite Natural Pet Food Store of the Year:

Bone Appetite; Holistic for Pets (tie) Honorable Mention: Cheryl Chaffee Honorable Mention: Amy’s Pet Pantry Captain, Family Healing Center Honorable Mention: Dr. Rene Ng, Traditional Chinese Medical Solutions Favorite Eco-friendly Salon/Spa of For more information, the Year: Bloom Organics email Publisher@nasrq.com. Healing Center Honorable Mention: Seaside Wellness Spa; Zen Blossom Organic Skincare (tie) Sarasota/Manatee Edition www.nasrq.com 32

communityspotlight

Young Living Essential Oils

Living uses oils and radio frequencies instead of herbicides and pesticides to preserve the purity of plants. The company’s founder, Gary Young, recovered from a logging accident with essential oils over 30 years ago, and that sparked a passion for dedicating his life to the study, growth and harvest of the purest oils available.” This couple’s commitment to promoting Young Living throughout the Sarasota area can be glimpsed through their sincere belief in every product’s restorative energy. “We have seen first-hand the power of nature’s remedies. Besides our own experiences, we have a team of over 7,000 members, so we get to hear some amazing testimonials from many, many people. “We focus on education, rather than selling, and this has helped us grow a successful business. When we concentrate on providing value for our community and offering them the information they seek about natural health, the right people find us. However, we do enjoy sharing [the oils] via home info sessions, online gatherings and local expos. We will be at the EcoFest in Sarasota on February 28,” clarifies Alina. Since both Robert and Alina avidly use these natural cure-alls on a routine basis, their response is immediate when asked which specific products they recommend. “The Everyday Oils starter kit is our favorite because it offers everything – a great sampling of the most versatile oils, plus a free diffuser. The starter kit is designed to be the best value and most versatile offering for [customers] to get started and share the benefits with everyone in their home. “We also love the Thieves product line. From hand soap to breath mints, it offers us a way to integrate oils into our lives all day long. We recommend the Thieves line to replace toxic household items and to support overall wellness. The biggest point is to diffuse the oils and apply them daily. Consistency is key.” Finally, for anyone, seeking a healthier lifestyle from the inside-out yet feeling hesitant to try essential oils, Alina shares further insight. “If you choose the correct grade of oil, get a reference guide and use common sense, there is nothing to fear. Essential oils offer safe and effective solutions without side-effects, unlike most pharmaceuticals and overthe-counter remedies. Again, quality is a must. We would never apply, ingest or diffuse any other oil brand because we know the process required to produce a truly pure, unadulterated essential oil.” In order to assist potential new clients along the path toward natural healing and well-being, Robert and Alina provide several customer incentives. “We supply a free reference guide, lavender lip balm and Thieves hand sanitizer, so that our customers become comfortable using their oils. “These extra goodies are for them to experience our other personal care product lines. We have many products, and all of them include our incredible oils. We also offer hands-on support, local monthly classes and coaching if they want to start sharing the oils for extra income as well,” concludes Alina.

Experience Wellness, Purpose, & Abundance with Y Young Living Essential Oils by Mary-Elizabeth Schurrer

ou may already be aware that natural wellness originates within the body and radiates outward, positively impacting your entire lifestyle. However, did you know this transformative process cannot occur if artificial additives are lurking in the nutrients you ingest and the household or personal care cleansers you regularly use? Often, products that appear healthy or have even been marketed as “all-natural,” actually contain chemicals to enhance shelf-life. Because of this misinformation, the average consumer must question whether such items are as beneficial as they seem. Fortunately, local health professionals, Robert and Alina Rinato, offer a simple and affordable solution. Driven by an impulse to eliminate the guesswork from living naturally, this husband-and-wife team has been working for Young Living Essential Oils – an internationally recognized company that cultivates, produces and distributes healing essential oils and aromatherapy products – since 2009. “We’ve been working with Young Living for just over five years now, and we originally joined for the quality of the product – no other essential oils meet this standard of Seed-to-Seal product purity. We stayed because of personal experiences with our health improving, and we decided to pursue the business due to the integrity of this company and our passion for its products,” says Alina. Expounding upon that brand integrity, she continues, “Everything Young Living offers is chemical-free and 100% plant-based, so much so that they can be ingested (lemon essential oil in our water is a daily favorite for us). Our oils are so pure, they go beyond organic. Most are grown and harvested in countries where the USDA organic standard is non-existent. Plus, this company believes its products should be even more pure than what the U.S. considers ‘organic.’ “Young Living is the world leader in therapeutic-grade oils, meaning they are made with the intention to be used for supporting health, not just for their scents. In fact, Young

Young Living Essential Oils can provide you with the opportunity to earn income while helping others and learning to keep your family healthier !

hat are the benefits of working with Young Living Essential Oi

Learn to detox your home and make your family healthier Endless resources to help you learn and grow personally and professionally Oppotunities to give back by sponsoring a child at the YLEO Academy in Guayaquil, Ecuador Young Living Essential Oils is a truly “green” business Earn income by helping others Trips, incentive prizes, and recognition for all levels Young Living Essential Oils is a valuable home business For more information, call 813-644-9104 or email Hello@ featured in Success from Home magazine YLEOSRQ.com. To place an order, visit YLEOSRQ.com.. awakenings February 2015 33 Energetic local and online team support andnatural training

Private Celestial Sound Baths are also a signature therapy. Practitioners work with crystal and Tibetan singing bowls, rattles, chimes, gongs and drums to break up energy blocks and restore balance and charged energy flow through sound vibrations. Steamed Herbal Thai compresses gently worked into achy muscles, and hot Himalayan salt stones used to exfoliate the skin and regenerate new cell growth, help to offer nurturing at every level of one’s being.

Sound Vibration as its Own Therapy

Good Vibrations at The OM Shoppe & Spa By Suzi Harkola

he first thing a visitor notices when approaching the entrance to The OM Shoppe and Spa at 4801 Tamiami Trail South is the large square of sparkling white sand of a Zen garden, raked by the meditative mind, disengaged with the troubles of the world. It’s an invitation to patrons who peruse the display shelves lined with crystal singing bowls, Himalayan salt products, meditation accessories and organic essential oil and aromatherapy products, as well as those visiting for a signature spa experience. Cindy Shannon, owner of The OM Shoppe & Spa, says that their store carries the largest selection of energy raising products – many that are hard to find elsewhere – for relaxation, stress relief and healthy living. “To our knowledge, no retail location in the Southeastern United States has such a large selection of crystal singing bowls, Himalayan salt products, organic essential oils and aromatherapy under one roof” she continues “All of our products do something to elevate a person’s quality of life. When we feel relaxed and calm, our sense of wellbeing and connection to Spirit improves.” The spa is a new addition to The OM Shoppe. “We use the products in the spa that we sell in the store,” Cindy says, “and we offer an extensive menu of innovative spa treatments.” For example, in the trademarked OM Sound Wave Fusion™ therapy, crystal singing bowl sound waves open the energy body in tandem with traditional Thai massage stretches and Shiatsu compressions resulting in complete energy flow for the physical body as well as the energy body. Integrated Energy Therapy is a welcome addition to the day spa in Sarasota. This therapy focuses on removing the “issues from the tissues” and also works in tandem with crystal singing bowl sound therapy. This treatment addresses the body’s nine emotional cellular memory regions where a negative energy tied to a memory is stored, and three regions that support the body – emotional, mental and spiritual. Karmic imprints from this life, past or future lives, ancestral memory and extra dimensional realities ready to go, are released, resulting in a newfound sense of calm, peace and one’s life purpose. 34

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Cindy explains that scientist such as Albert Einstein and Nikola Tesla have discovered that everything is energy and vibration, right down to the human body. “Our bodies have a natural set of energy centers called Chakras that can become out of tune due to the constant stream of stress and toxins,” she says. “It can be difficult to find your body’s natural rhythms, thereby causing you to feel out of sync, stressed, depressed or even physically ill. Sound wave vibrations can help bring us back into sync through resonance. Many people find that taking the time to get in touch with your body’s natural energy through the practice of sound therapy with meditation singing bowls will equip you with a tool that you can refer to when the disruptive stress of everyday life creeps in and throws your life out of balance.” “Einstein talked about the importance of frequencies in matter. ‘Concerning matter,’ he wrote, ‘we have been all wrong. What we have called matter is energy, whose vibration has been so lowered as to be perceptible to the senses.’ All beings vibrate at specific rates and everything has its own melody. Our goal at The OM Shoppe & Spa is to balance the mind, body and spirit and restore the flow of vital life force energy through sound vibrations, organic aromatherapy and restorative bodywork.”

Crystal Singing Bowls Put the Pieces Together Cindy explains, “The power of 99.99% pure quartz crystal, meditation and sound therapy work together as a tranquil and potent force to restore your body’s natural flow of energy, allowing you to breathe deeply and think more clearly,

reducing stress and giving you a positive outlook on life. While the chaos may still swirl around you after your session using meditation and sound therapy with a crystal singing bowl, your response to that chaos will be much lighter and will not take the toll it did before your session.” According to her, the bowls correspond to musical notes and, in turn, those notes correspond to specific Chakra centers to fulfill your optimum state of being and vitality. “For example,” she says, “a singing bowl cooled to an E note will clear, balance and charge the Solar Plexus Chakra and generate purpose, vitality, energy and a sense of empowerment to act, while a G Note bowl calls upon the Throat Chakra, which is the channel to your ability to communicate well with your world and to be heard and understood. The Om Chakra (C Sharp) is the primordial sound of all creation, a powerful tool for using in manifestation meditations and creating realities. Coming into resonance with the sound of Om is thought to bring one into the seat of their Divine being made manifest.”

Multiple Options for Spa Treatments and Therapies

your selection of therapies, you may either be treated fully dressed (loose fitting, yoga-type clothing is recommended) or asked to undress. You’ll lie down on the table, which is covered in organic linens and warmed by an amethyst Biomat that calms the nervous system with negative ions and far infrared heat therapy. A soft sensuous blanket is available for additional pampering. Crystal frequency infused water is provided to revitalize the being prior to and following the treatment. The practitioner explains the process, going into more detail with someone new to the experience. After 60 to 90 minutes of being tantalized by organic oils, soothed and stimulated by the ionic chromo therapy, massaged with steamed herbal Thai balls or Himalayan heated salt stones, and lulled by the sound of the crystal bowls clearing the Chakras, it’s not unusual to actually feel the electrical impulses within your body shift to a more calm and contented mood. The vibes are terrific at The OM Shoppe and Spa. You’ll be warmly welcomed and leave with new knowledge and a better understanding of your body and your place in the universe.

When it’s time to begin your spa treatment, the therapist will lead you into a calm, cocoon-feeling room, lit with customized ionic chromo therapy system and soft meditative music playing in the background. One “feels” the music rather than hearing it. Large healing crystals throughout the room set the energy level and you feel instantly relaxed. Depending on

For more information on the products and therapies offered at The OM Shoppe and Spa, located at 4801 S. Tamiami Trail in Sarasota in the Tihany Plaza, visit TheOMShoppe. com. To reserve a treatment appointment, call 941-7063257 or email Info@TheOMShoppe.com.

natural awakenings

February 2015

Happily Coupled Creating Loving Relationships that Thrive by Judith Fertig

“To be fully seen by somebody… and be loved anyhow— this is a human offering that can border on miraculous.” ~ Elizabeth Gilbert

t the conclusion of her bestselling memoir, Eat Pray Love, author Elizabeth Gilbert had fallen in love with Jose Nunes (called Felipe in the book), a Brazilian living in Indonesia. The divorced Gilbert, reluctant to have her heart broken again, had vowed never to remarry… yet ultimately changed her mind when U.S. immigration law presented her with multiple choices: marry so they could live together in this country, stay single and live as ex-pat partners or say goodbye to Nunes. Gilbert chose a marital partnership that suits the shared life they want: honest and, after years of travel, settled in one place. She says, “For the first time in my life, living in a small town with a lovely husband in an old house with 36

Sarasota/Manatee Edition

a big garden and several pets, I feel absolutely rooted in a way I have never experienced before and never would have imagined even desiring. But it is what we want—at least for now—and we’re relishing that stability.” Gilbert records the process of going from two global wanderers falling in love to a married couple sharing domestic chores in her follow-up memoir, Committed: A Love Story.

Love Science

The spark that ignites such a partnership is love, which is “primarily about connection,” says Barbara Fredrickson, Ph.D., a positivity expert and author of Love 2.0: How Our Supreme Emotion Affects Everything We Feel, Think, Do, and Become. “It’s vital to our health

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and happiness, affecting our brains and bodies at the cellular level. “We were born to love,” emphasizes Fredrickson, who also serves as a psychology professor and director of the Positive Emotions and Psychophysiology Laboratory at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. “The evidence comes from research that shows how our brain and nervous system are designed to enhance our chances of experiencing it.” When we share positive emotions with another person, experience a synchrony between their biochemistry and behaviors and ours, plus exhibit mutual care, love can bloom, whether we stay happily single or decide to pursue a committed relationship. She calls this triple-action sequence “positivity resonance”. Love, she observes, is less a smooth, solid path than momentary experiences of connection.

Making Love Last

The more areas of connection we have with our partners, the more opportunities we have to positively resonate every day, adds Frederickson. Thomas G. Plante, Ph.D., a psychology professor at California’s Santa Clara University and adjunct clinical professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the Stanford University School of Medicine, agrees. “Long-term relationships, like marriages, are partnerships in living,” according to Plante. “The vast majority of the time couples are together they’re not having hot sex, but are sharing a practical day-to-day life together.” Shared activities aren’t always exciting or glamorous. Raising children, working, managing a home, cooking and cleaning, shopping, being with friends and family and the rest of regular daily living is where the rubber meets the road in relationship satisfaction, observes Plante. “If couples aren’t compatible in these areas, then the connection and attraction will inevitably atrophy, tensions emerge and too often, relationships fracture and fall apart.” Compatibility means different things to different people, and requirements can change as individuals in a romantic partnership change over time. Compatibility also means agreement

that the relationship is worth the effort to nurture and sustain it.

Partnering Life’s Dance

Five couples in different stages of loving partnerships share how they make their special relationships work. The key to them all is shared values. Doing everything together. For newlyweds Drs. Josh and Chelsea Axe, of Nashville, Tennessee, a mutual commitment to vigorous wellness and physical fitness keeps them together. Says Josh, “The healthy lifestyle I have chosen to live is so important that I need someone who is able to not just agree, but also partner with me.” Married in 2012, the two chiropractic physicians went on to co-found the BurstFIT interval training program and meld their professional, as well as personal, lives. Chelsea notes, “There is truth to the phrase, ‘Couples that sweat together, stay together.’ When working out together, you share a specific energy you create while pushing yourself to your mental and physical limits. You have your partner right there doing it alongside you, knowing they’re supporting you; so when you each break through a mental or physical barrier in your workout, you step over together into a strength and confidence that carries over into your marriage. Being a part of each other’s goals and the struggles to reach them unifies us.” Remarks Josh, “I feel like we can both be successful individually, but when we’re a team, the outcome is synergistic.” Chelsea adds, “It’s never a mindset of ‘me.’ It’s always ‘us.’” Balancing work and play. Barbara and Bob Unell, of Leawood, Kansas, dated as teenagers, went their separate ways in college and then found each other again in their early 20s. “We went on a blind date in 1968 and both belted out songs on the car radio,” recalls Barbara. “I thought he had a great sense of humor and was fun to be with. All these years later, it feels like we’re still dating. We’re crazy about each other.” Both Barbara and Bob describe themselves as enthusiastic, playful, entrepreneurial, altruistic and geared toward creative projects, whether un-

“Seventy-five to 80 percent of all chemistry evaporates within six to eight months unless the relationship is significantly undergirded by deeper and more durable compatibility.” ~Neil Clarke Warren dertaken together or separately. “We’re both, ‘Let’s try this,’ sort of people,” says Barbara with a laugh. When the Unells had twins, now grown, they realized there was no national publication addressing how to parent multiples, so they launched Twins magazine in 1984. Bob founded and managed an advertising agency while Barbara wrote bestselling parenting books, but the whole family traveled together on her speaking engagements. In response to becoming a breast cancer survivor, Barbara founded the nonprofit Back in the Swing in 2000 to support survivorship care at cancer centers. When they needed additional staff, Bob joined the team in 2009. One of the biggest things that Barbara has learned from Bob is, “You can make work fun.” “Although we come from different backgrounds, Bob and I know the power of mutual respect, trust and kindness,” reflects Barbara. “Part of our connection is that we have shared history and never take each other for granted.”

Making long-distance work. Lisa Ekus, who runs the full-service culinary talent agency The Lisa Ekus Group, in Hatfield, Massachusetts, had been married twice and already raised her two children when she met Atlanta Chef Virginia Willis. They got to know each other through culinary events and to their surprise, fell in love. Over the past six years they’ve evolved a relationship that works for them—keeping a deep personal connection, but maintaining separate residences. Cookbook author Willis gardens, develops recipes and writes for her Food Network blog, “Down Home Comfort,” at Ekus’ New England compound in the summers; Ekus travels to the South during cold months. They also meet up as often as they can at conferences, food and wine festivals and other events during the rest of the year. “We are both smart, professional women who love what we do, have strong ethics and a high level of self-expectation in how we work,” says Ekus. “We are also best friends and work together professionally. The respect we have for each other and our work is instrumental in our relationship.” “We often joke about the North/ South, fast/slow cultural difference,” Ekus notes. “I’m more spontaneous; Virginia is more thoughtful in her responses. I tend to move fast and focus on checking off items, while Virginia is more about the journey and being in the moment. It often makes us each take stock and consider what we’re doing and saying.” They make the geographic separation work despite its inherent longdistance complications via consistent communication, saying good morning and good night every day by phone and texting often. They hold regular agent/author meetings to make professional plans and personal calendar meetings at least weekly, recognizing and respecting what is important to each of them.

Bridging the age gap. Karen and Dick Eagle, from St. Louis, Missouri, are 16 years apart in age, but are close in the ways that count. Both are strongminded and still vie to get their own way even after 30 years of marriage. “We argue over the stupidest things, natural awakenings

February 2015

and then resolve our “Marriages based on back and easy to be disagreements and with, I can relax,” says a mutual desire to realize how good we Susan. Michael, on have it,” says Karen. serve and inspire grow the other hand, always What first atseemed to fill a room. continually in richness Jake helps Susan with tracted them to each other—and keeps and beauty, and are chores around the them together—is a property and she is a benediction to all love of playful fun always there cheering and good times with who know of them.” him on from the front friends. Karen rerow when he performs marks, “I knew Dick at local venues. ~ Meher Baba was ‘the one’ when he jumped flat-footed over a wingback Cultivating Care chair at a friend’s house. That showed Working out as a couple, sharing a me that he was young at heart.” creative project or making a gour Making ends meet. Eleven years met meal together can do more than ago, when family therapist Susan Frankkeep partners feeling connected. lin lost her husband, Michael, a univerShared activities also keep the positive sity college professor, she felt bereft and experiences ongoing and resonating. overwhelmed. The pair had owned a “That special bond and the commitcountry property near Cleveland, Ohio, ments people often build around it where they boarded horses. Susan realare the products of love, the results of ized, “I couldn’t keep the many smaller moments in which up with everything on love infuses you,” mainmy own,” and Jake tains Fredrickson. Such Marshall, a musician moments not only friend of Michael’s, accumulate, but offered to help. Over can also be stored time, Susan and Jake in memory and became close, and banked to feed a they now live relationship during together. the tougher times. Although “Love is someJake is a great thing we should supporter in many re-cultivate every ways, he’s not in day,” she says. A a position to help loving partnership financially. Susan is always a work depends on her late in progress. husband’s insurance and pension benefits, which Judith Fertig is a freelance writer from she would lose if she Overland Park, KS. remarries. “Jake is so laid

Conscious Compatibility

eil Clark Warren, Ph.D., a clinical psychologist and co-founder of the eHarmony relationship website, believes there are at least 29 personality dimensions—such as anger management skills, intelligence, feelings about children, energy and ambition—that comprise who we are and play a role in maintaining a relationship. Key personality dimensions include interests and activities, guiding principles and philosophies, expressions of emotional experience, tendencies toward togetherness and separateness, goals and familial and other relationships. Warren suggests categorizing desired qualities in a mate into three lists: non-negotiables, qualities that are top priority and deal breakers; semi-negotiables that are important, yet flexible secondary priorities; and negotiables that are subject to tradeoffs for more important qualities.

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Have you seen any overall differences in the success stories the Conscious Dating Network facilitates?

Conscious Dating Jill Crosby on Looking for Love Online by S. Alison Chabonais

ill Crosby, owner and founder of the Conscious Dating Network, has focused on spiritual development and meditation for more than 30 years. Working as a director for the granddaddy of the original onsite photo/video dating companies, which included interviewing 6,000-plus singles, sparked a desire to create a venue for spiritually conscious singles to meet. So, 15 years ago, she created her flagship online dating site, SpiritualSingles.com. NaturalAwakeningsSingles.com, launched two years ago as part of the network, shares the same database of members as SpiritualSingles.com and many affiliated conscious dating sites in the network. Today, the Conscious Dating Network is the largest of its kind. From Mount Shasta, California, Crosby leads a team of specialists that care for members’ needs and provide a loving, inspiring site for singles to meet their beloveds.

How has online dating continued to evolve and what trends do you see now? The stigma about meeting someone online has completely dissolved as success stories have become so common. It’s like shopping online—you can look at many different varieties and styles to find exactly what you are looking for, rather than physically searching store after store hoping to find something you like. Technology has made a tremendous difference in price, accessibility and reach. Today, members post selfies as headshots, shoot their own videos and can access potential matches anywhere in the world.

I used to think longdistance relationships didn’t stand a chance. However, with Skype and a willingness to relocate, many of our success stories start as longdistance connections. Video chatting is a great way to assess common values and get to know someone on a deep level before traveling to meet in person.

What distinguishes conscious dating sites like Natural AwakeningsSingles.com from mainstream sites? Natural Awakenings Singles is a niche dating site for those that are conscious, spiritual and green. Singles with specific interests, passions and lifestyles usually prefer niche dating sites because they allow for more targeted search results, provided that the member database is large enough. Our database of more than 90,000 members globally is considered large for a niche. Mainstream sites may have more members; however, they require far more time and effort in sorting through profiles to find those with whom we might have something in common. Natural Awakenings Singles is also much more generous than conventional pay models, in that free members can read and reply to personal messages and live instant messages sent from subscribing members. Most mainstream sites make members pay to read and reply to messages. Our primary goal is for our singles to become couples—to facilitate the tremendous amount of success our members experience, we do many things differently.

Yes, our members usually connect on a deeper, “soul-to-soul” level and tend to understand that chemistry comes in all shapes and sizes. Our success story couples oftentimes have the feeling that they are destined to be together. We encourage members to listen to their inner guidance in regard to whom to contact, be grateful in advance and stay in their divine flow. When members tune in and act from this space, miracles happen. Many of our “destined” couples go on to do amazing projects together, like opening retreat centers, writing books, facilitating workshops, starting intentional communities, creating nonprofit organizations and other beautiful ventures that neither of them would have necessarily done alone. The power of two seems to be exponentially greater.

What have proved to be your all-time favorite tips for online dating success? By healing past traumas, loving and forgiving ourselves, and embodying our divine presence as much as possible, deep-seated feelings of unworthiness fall away and we emanate our true radiance, thus magnetizing a partner equally empowered and awake. When we are in a place of personal power, there is no being shy or procrastinating. Imagine how it would be once you have met the love of your life, and focus on those feelings while browsing and reading profiles. When you notice a strong inner nudge to contact someone, do it. If it’s not mutual, that’s OK; don’t take it personally. That’s part of the beauty of online dating; the pool is large, and when the feeling and knowingness is mutual, you might just be starting a life together. “In-joy” the process, be positive and choose to make it a fun adventure! Joining NaturalAwakeningSingles.com includes access to all members of all the Conscious Dating Network sites. S. Alison Chabonais is the national content editor for Natural Awakenings magazines.

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February 2015

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HAPPY MEALS Eating Healthy Foods Fights Off Depression by Lane Vail

dvertisements for antidepressants abound, yet a recent analysis in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that the benefits of treating mildly or moderately depressed individuals with these drugs “may be minimal or nonexistent” compared with a placebo. Most physicians agree that at least part of the prevention of and recovery from depression can be addressed through diet. “Every molecule in the brain begins as food,” says Dr. Drew Ramsey, author of The Happiness Diet and assistant clinical professor of psychiatry at the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons. “Food choice is the biggest puzzle piece patients have under their control.” Ramsey describes the modern American diet as being overwhelmed with highly processed foods, refined carbohydrates, omega-6 fats and sugar. His food philosophy serves as an overall prescription for mental health: “Eat food that comes from farms and not factories; 40

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simple, recognizable human food.” Registered Dietitian Kathie Swift, an integrative clinical nutritionist in Lennox, Massachusetts, and author of The Swift Diet, agrees that food is powerful medicine. She recommends a balanced, flexitarian diet founded on plants, but including high-quality, animal-sourced foods. Just shifting our processed-foods to whole-foods ratio yields an improved mood, Swift says, which continues to motivate dietary change.

Prebiotic/Probiotic Potential

Recent science suggests a deeper meaning to the “gut feeling” adage. Bacteria in the gut and neurochemicals in the brain communicate intimately and bidirectionally via the vagus nerve, explains Swift. Altering the gut’s microbial population, whether from chronic stress, antibiotic overuse or nutritional deficiencies, can change brain chemistry and thereby influence mood, mental clarity and sleep, she says.

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In 2013, Canadian researchers altered both the neurochemicals and behavior in mice by switching their intestinal microbiota; anxious mice given the microbes of intrepid mice became braver, and vice versa. Another small study in the British Journal of Nutrition showed a decrease in depression and anxiety symptoms in volunteers taking probiotics for a month. Essentially, says Swift, “We have a brain in the belly,” which must be nourished by both prebiotics (soluble fiber) and probiotics (fermented food). “Fiber is the quintessential substance to feed the lovely community of bugs in the gut,” says Swift, “while fermented foods interact with resident bacteria and give them a boost.” She recommends a variety of vegetables as a primary source of fiber, especially legumes, along with fruits, nuts, cheese and the occasional gluten-free whole grain. Probiotic foods include fermented vegetables, kefir, yogurt with live active cultures and apple cider vinegar.

B Happy

Most psychiatric medications target feel-good neurotransmitters like serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine, says Ramsey, but the body also manufactures these chemicals naturally during the methylation cycle, a B-vitamin-dependent neurological process. “B vitamins are superstars of the brain,” Ramsey says. “Think of them as lubrication for the brain’s gears.” Folate, or vitamin B9 is particularly important to healthy nervous system functioning. A meta-analysis of 15,000 people reported in the Journal of Epidemiology associated low folate with a higher risk of depression. Dark leafy greens like kale, spinach and Swiss chard are high in B vitamins, as are beets, eggs, lentils, beans and whole grains; helpful fruits include papaya, avocado and berries.

Omega-3s Please

“It’s a horrible notion that fat is bad,” says Ramsey. Swift agrees, noting, “We need a major renovation and reeducation of this important neuro-nutrient.” The integrity of a neuron cell membrane, which Swift describes as “a beautiful and fluid layer of lipids,” is crucial for brain health because it dictates communication among neurotransmitters.

“The fat we eat becomes the fat of our cell membranes,” she says. “So nourish your membranes with adequate amounts of the right types of fat.” Long-chain omega-3s (DHA) docosahexaenoic acid and (EPA) eicosapentaenoic acid build and protect neurons, help prevent cognitive decline with age and can boost overall mood and mental performance, says Ramsey. A study in the Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry found that treating depressed patients with omega-3 EPA was as equally effective as Prozac. “DHA and EPA are the two most important fats for brain health on the planet, period,” states Ramsey. Foods rich in omega-3s include fatty seafood like salmon, mussels and oysters, plus sea vegetables, walnuts, flaxseed and grass-fed beef. For vegetarians and vegans, Ramsey recommends an algal DHA supplement. Focusing on feeding the brain doesn’t preclude staving off heart disease, obesity or diabetes. “Follow the rules of eating for brain health,” Ramsey says, “and you’ll also be slim, energized, focused and resilient.” It’s all a recipe for happiness. Lane Vail is a freelance writer and blogger at DiscoveringHomemaking.com.

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February 2015

Good-Mood Meal Plans

If You Learn from

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Wild-Caught Alaskan Salmon with Sautéed Swiss Chard, Pickled Beets and Banana-Avocado Pudding Salmon is an excellent source of omega3s, and Swiss chard offers fiber and folate. Beets are high in folate, as well as nitrites, which improve circulation throughout the body and the brain, says Nutritionist Kathie Swift. Double-down on beets’ power by eating them pickled in apple cider vinegar, promoting healthy gut flora. Bananas contain tryptophan, an amino acid involved in serotonin production, and avocados are high in folate and oleic acid, a model unsaturated omega-9 fat needed for healthy brains, advises Dr. Drew Ramsey. Lentil Salad with Hummus, Grilled Asparagus, Broccoli, Red Onion and Grilled Watermelon Lentils, chickpeas and asparagus are high in fiber and B vitamins, while walnuts add omega-3s. Broccoli is an excellent source of chromium, a mineral found to lower blood sugar and reduce symptoms of depression in some people, according to a Cornell University study. Grilled onions (along with garlic, which can be blended into hummus) belong to a food family called alliums that promote healthy vascular function and blood flow to the brain and also contain a high concentration of chromium, says Ramsey.

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Watermelon’s red color is due to its high concentration of the antioxidant lycopene, which helps resolve free radical damage, inflammation and hormone imbalances associated with depression, notes Swift. Grass-Fed Beef with Roasted Sweet Potatoes, Kale and Greek Yogurt Swirled with Raspberries A British Journal of Nutrition study showed that beef raised on chlorophyllrich grass provides more omega-3s than grain-fed beef. Like other animal proteins, beef is a significant source of tryptophan. Kale and sweet potatoes contribute fiber, folate and vitamin A, which promotes the enzymes that create the pleasure neurotransmitter, dopamine. Yogurt is also high in tryptophan, and raspberries provide folate and antioxidants. Free-Range Egg Omelet with Spinach, Tomatoes, Cheese and Fresh Papaya Eggs are a power-packed food full of B vitamins, tyrosine and tryptophan amino acids, plus selenium, zinc and iodide, micronutrients vital for proper functioning of the energy- and metabolism-regulating thyroid, says Ramsey. Tomatoes and natural cheese are high in lycopene and tryptophan, respectively, and spinach and papaya are packed with folate and fiber.

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February 2015

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Eco Feng Shui Tips to Bring More Positive Energy into Your Home

Banish Toxic Materials

by Sarah Tarver-Wahlquist

hen we’re hungry for change, we may feel the impulse to spruce up our living spaces. Rooms that feel cluttered, drab and unappealing drag on our energy. Applying the basic inspired tenets of the ancient Chinese art and science of feng shui can transform and re-energize any space, improving the way we feel. Translated as “wind and water,” feng shui—which has been creating healthy and harmonious environments since its origins 3,000 years ago—can activate our rethinking the arrangement, uses and tone of each room while bringing beneficial green changes home.

Sample bagua maps are available online for referencing. While a complete feng shui treatment may require major revamping, we can also take some low-cost steps to immediately create more harmony while eliminating toxins that are unhealthy and disrupt the energy flow.

Feng Shui Basics

When considering how to apply feng shui principles, it helps to have a trained practitioner make a map, or bagua, analyzing how energy, or chi, moves through a building. They will determine ways to help chi flow and settle in appropriate places to support all aspects of life. Recommended alterations typically start with furniture placement, color choices and key accessorizing. 44

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feng shui practitioner Maureen Calamia, owner of Luminous Spaces, in St. James, New York. Feng shui categorizes the natural elements as water, metal, fire, earth and wood, reflected in items like stones, plants and water features, as well as art and wall decorations and paint colors. Filling a home with living plants is favored by many feng shui experts. “Surround yourself with green plants, including cuttings from the yard,” advises Debra Duneier, a feng shui master practitioner, certified ecodesigner and author of EcoChi: Designing the Human Experience, in New York City. “They bring energy and life force into your home, while also filtering the air you breathe.” If adding plants isn’t feasible, she recommends picking up some fresh flowers each week. Remember to change the water every day and dispose of the flowers at the first sign of wilting (dying flowers bring negative energy).

Bring in Green “Bringing natural elements into a space will aid the circulation of chi, help achieve a balance and yield an indoor environment of peace and calm,” says

“Healthy indoor air quality is an essential aspect of good feng shui,” attests Alisa Rose Seidlitz, an eco feng shui consultant/designer, certified green building and interiors professional and owner of Ambiance Eco, in Berkeley, California. “Materials used inside our homes, such as cleaning products and furnishings, can either contribute significantly to poor air quality or support positive feng shui.” Indoor air quality is significantly impacted by furnishings and décor. When seeking out the cleanest, greenest options, pay special attention to: Cleaning products. Safely discard

Color Me Feng Shui

ere’s a quick primer on the colors associated with each of the five natural elements and ways to bring them into a home. Seek a balance of all five in each room, appropriate to its use. Wood Water Earth Metal Fire

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green, brown blue, black earth tones, soft yellows/oranges white, gray red, purple, bright yellows/oranges

living plants, wood, flowers water features, running fountains, glass brick, tile, ceramics rocks, stones sunlight

“Feng shui is the original eco-science.” ~ Will LeStrange toxic cleaning chemicals by taking them to hazardous waste pickup sites. Many household jobs can be done with vinegar and baking soda. Paint. Revisions in wall, trim and furniture colors quickly freshen a room and bring new energy, especially when they align with Earth’s natural elements. Avoid conventional paint, which contains dangerous volatile organic compounds (VOC) that off-gas into the air. Look for widely available zero-VOC brands. Other options include displaying art or colorful wall hangings. Flooring. Many toxins lurk in conventional carpeting and adhesives used to lay wood or tile floors. Look for natural wool rugs, reclaimed wood and zero-VOC floor adhesives. Preserve resources and alter the energy in a space by repurposing reclaimed materials for rehab projects. For good feng shui, smudging with dried sage cleanses any negative energy leftover from previous owners. Furnishings and fabrics. Mainstream furniture is typically treated with toxic flame retardant, so always ask how furniture has been treated before purchasing. Seek out nontoxic and natural materials like natural rubber mattresses and hemp or organic cotton shower curtains and window coverings.

Follow Your Joy Feng shui is multifaceted, but at its center is a search for balance and harmony. When making changes at home, it’s good to know we can follow our instincts and add things that bring us joy. Feng shui experts provide guidance in choosing colors and elements, but each of us is ultimately the best judge of what feels best for our own space. “I often ask my clients: What kind of message are you sending yourself?” says Duneier. “You can use your space to send yourself a message of a beautiful, abundant and healthy life.” Sarah Tarver-Wahlquist, a writer from Tucson, Arizona, also freelances for GreenAmerica.org.

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February 2015

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appetite changes and muscle spasms. Experts suggest considering these natural options to complement an afflicted child’s integrative treatment plan. Nutritionist Sara Vance, owner, Rebalance Life, San Diego, California.

EASE ADHD NATURALLY

Nine Ways to Help Restore Calm and Focus by Jenna Blumenfeld

lthough experts aren’t certain why it occurs, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) affects 3 to 5 percent of school-age children, causing symptoms such as

inattentiveness, frenetic activity, anxiety and forgetfulness. Kids with ADHD typically respond to drug prescriptions designed to provide calm and focus, but some carry unpleasant side effects like

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Up omega-3s. The University of Maryland Medical Center reports that recent studies show kids with behavior problems have low blood levels of omega-3 fatty acids, a nutrient vital for brain health. Children’s daily diets should contain omega-3-rich foods, such as chia, hemp, nuts and fatty fish. For children 12 and older, supplement with fish oil containing 1,200 milligrams (mg) of (DHA) docosahexaenoic acid and (EPA) eicosapentaenoic acid combined. Try magnesium. Low levels of magnesium, also known as the calming mineral, are associated with restless legs, anxiety and irritability—all of which can exacerbate ADHD. For kids ages 4 to 8, start with 130 mg of magnesium in the morning. If the child has trouble sleeping, another dose before bed may help. Reduce the dose if loose stools occur. Boost B vitamins. Vitamins B6 and B12 are important building blocks for brain neurotransmitters such as serotonin and dopamine. Deficiency can impair nerve cell communication, hindering memory,

focus and attention. Encourage a child to eat B-packed organic foods like eggs, poultry, bell peppers, yams and spinach, and sprinkle B-vitamin-rich nutritional yeast on dishes like noodles and soup. Naturopathic Doctor Laurie Brodsky, e-consultant,DrLaurieND.com, New York City. Give up gluten. Gluten is a complex, gooey conglomeration of many proteins that sticks to the digestive tract, often stimulating behavioral issues. When gluten inflames a child’s digestive system, brain inflammation likely occurs, as well. Look for gluten-free pasta, bread, crackers and cookies made from rice, quinoa, flaxseed and non-GMO (genetically modified) corn. Pair fats with food. Healthy brain function requires a proper ratio of anti-inflammatory omega-3 fats to the more common inflammatory omega-6 fats (found in canola, soybean and corn oils). Encourage balance by eating omega-3 foods at mealtime, when the gallbladder releases bile into the digestive system, allowing better omega-3 absorption. Avoid processed foods. High-fructose corn syrup and artificial colors such as Yellow 5, Blue 1 and Red 40 are linked to increased hyperactivity in children. Choose whole, real foods like whole grains and organic meats, vegetables and fruits. Use maple syrup rather than white sugar to sweeten foods— it’s full-flavored, so a little goes a long way.

Behavior Specialist Margit Crane, educator, GiftedWithADD.com, Seattle, Washington. Lead by example. Parents have more power to handle their child’s ADHD than they think. Model the desired behaviors—if children are not allowed to eat in the living room, the rule should apply to the whole family. Maintaining consistent rules is vital. Set boundaries. Many parents and teachers believe that boundaries for ADHD-laden kids, that are often sensitive by nature, may be harsh or limiting. But these children actually thrive with boundaries. Rather than offer kids unlimited choices, give them two or three options. This helps a child feel safe. Regard a troubled child as scared, rather than angry—this will enable parents and caregivers to speak to them with compassion. Work with teachers. Some children with ADHD may have trouble fitting into traditional schools. When speaking with teachers, use collaborative words such as “partnership” to obtain healthy cooperation. Teachers have an entire class to attend to, not just this child; address them with respect and understanding, and everyone will ultimately benefit. Jenna Blumenfeld is the senior food editor at New Hope Natural Media, in Boulder, Colorado. Copyrighted 2014. Penton Media. 114554:1214BN.

natural awakenings

February 2015

fitbody able that going to the gym can’t be a hassle.” Check online and list nearby facilities and hours, scratching off any that aren’t open at convenient times. Clue #2: Know what you need. Some people have absolute necessities for fitness success. “For instance, avid swimmers need a pool,” says Grace DeSimone, an ACSM personal trainer in New York City. “That’s going to reduce their choices considerably.” Other nonnegotiable provisions might be a yoga studio, indoor track or child care.

FITNESS FINDS Locate the Best Workout Space for You by Debra Melani

ix years ago, Sherry Salmons, of Oak Ridge, Illinois, was perplexed by her “glowing, smiling, energetic” neighbor that worked full time while raising three young children, yet never seemed drained. Finally, she asked: “What’s your secret?” The answer was a life-changing visit by Salmons to a nearby holistic fitness studio. Lucking into good recommendations can whittle down the multitude of choices available at 32,000 U.S. health clubs and studios, according to the International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association. With the dual trends of niche studios and low-cost fitness centers fueling a diverse burst in workout options, club-seekers should apply their sleuthing skills before deciding on something that can prove so pivotal to their health. 48

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Clue #1: Location and hours. If a facility isn’t near home or work, people won’t go, says Jim White, an American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) health fitness specialist, in Virginia Beach, Virginia. “Our time is so valu-

Clue #3: Gym rat or newbie? A fitness facility that costs pennies a day might seem like an obvious choice, but not if our fitness level and knowledge are near zero. “A lot of people don’t know what to do in a gym,” observes White, who owns personal training studios in Virginia. “We’re especially for those who want their hands held or want to see results fast.” Niche studios focused on modalities from kick boxing to dance therapy can offer added guidance. DeSimone notes that other reputable facilities will likewise have accredited trainers, often at a low cost. Larger facilities also may offer more options for a newbie to try out before settling on what they like, she says. Clue #4: Take a test drive. Make use of trial periods and guest passes. “Get a feel for the culture,” says Chris Freytag, spokesperson for the American Council on Exercise and a personal trainer in Minneapolis, Minnesota. “People are more likely to stay motivated in an environment that inspires

Think Outside the Box

ne of the latest trends for health-seekers is joining more than one club. Mixing it up can be a good way to go, says Jim White, owner of Jim White Fitness & Nutrition Studios, in Norfolk and Virginia Beach, Virginia. “A lot of people are leaving the big-box gyms for more of an a la carte menu,” White says. “I have a client that strength trains with me in the mornings and then goes to spinning, barre and yoga studios in the afternoons.” Up to 90 percent of small studio members belong to more than one club, according to the 2014 International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association’s annual industry trend report. That can both lessen monotony and provide a wellrounded fitness routine, White says.

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them and with people that motivate them,” Freytag says. During on-site visits, do we feel at home among kindred spirits our own age? Is the facility clean and secure? Clue #5: Look at the equipment. If the gym doesn’t have the equipment we want to use, whether it’s Pilates or TRX equipment, free weights or Kettlebells, then move on. A gym worth joining will have plenty of up-to-date equipment that follows the latest fitness trends and works properly, says White. Clue #6: Investigate the staff. Checking out the staff is key for those seeking specialized guidance, such as yoga, martial arts or personal training. Look for trainers and instructors available to help that are certified by a reputable program accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies. Investigating key employees’ backgrounds, including acupuncturists and massage therapists, is crucial. Clue #7: Sign with caution. Avoid signing long-term, complicated contracts, which are rare these days, DeSimone counsels. “Don’t be overwhelmed by a high-pressured sales pitch; just stand your ground, because those people are at your service.” White recommends making sure the price includes expected services; feel free to negotiate, especially with initial fees. Understand all policies, especially cancellation clauses, and use a credit card, which is easier to correct if problems arise, adds DeSimone. Although Salmons was lucky, with her neighbor’s recommendation leading her to her perfect studio, people

should investigate to find their ideal fit. “It starts when you walk in the door,” Salmons says about her attraction to The Balance Fitness Studio. “The space is open, exposed and it’s got this very clean, feng shui energy.” Not a traditional, iron-pumping, music-blasting gym fan, Salmons prefers Pilates, but participates in all of the studio’s offerings, including massage, acupuncture and nutrition classes. While finding the right club has boosted her fitness level, she notes that the real magic has come in the form of revitalized energy. “It’s changed me in all aspects of my life. When I leave, I feel mentally focused, emotionally balanced and refreshed. It’s kind of transformational.” Freelance journalist Debra Melani writes about health care and fitness from Lyons, CO. Connect at Debra Melani.com or DMelani@msn.com.

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February 2015

Skip the Sugar Coma and Go Organic this Valentine’s Day by Mary-Elizabeth Schurrer

he most direct route to many peoples’ hearts is through the sweet tooth, and never does this feel more applicable than on Valentine’s Day, the most romantic – albeit, cavity causing – holiday we celebrate. With every imaginable chocolate and candy confection available this time of year, it’s tempting to overindulge. Unfortunately, while these mass-produced treats may satisfy your taste buds, they are proven nutritional pitfalls. So, fight those sugary cravings and subsequent health risks by pampering your sweetheart – or even yourself – with goodies that taste delicious without any negative side-effects. Debbie Meyer, owner of Green Door Organics, a Sarasota-based distributer of locally-grown and affordable certified organic produce, weighs in with further insight on why you should avoid the candy aisle this Valentine’s Day. “Too much refined sugar, fat and artificial food coloring can cause weight gain, dental decay, allergies, skin problems and reduced immune function. The cute, often funny messages on conversation hearts encourage overeating of these holiday treats. In addition, eating high-sugar candies often replaces the consumption of nutritious foods, especially 50

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in children, whose appetites tend to be smaller to begin with,” she says. Instead, Meyer suggests the following thoughtful – and yes, edible – gift idea. “Create your own personalized Valentine’s Day basket! Fill it with fresh fruits, such as pears and chocolate-dipped strawberries or, for adults, organic wine. “Chocolate-dipped strawberries taste decadent, but are a healthy treat, easy to make and cut down on sugar, compared to traditional candies. In addition, one cup of strawberries contains significant amounts of Vitamin C, folate, potassium, phytonutrients and fiber, which may improve heart health, reduce the risk of developing certain cancers and lower blood pressure. “However, it should be noted that conventionallygrown strawberries are on the ‘Dirty Dozen’ list of fruits and vegetables that rate high in pesticide residue after washing, so certified organically-grown strawberries are recommended,” explains Meyer. She then continues, “Dark chocolate with a high cocoa content is rich in iron, magnesium, copper and manganese, as well as powerful antioxidants, such as polyphenols, flavanols and catechins. Non-dairy, vegan, gluten-free chocolate is also readily available and tastes great.” In order to simplify this process of selecting wholesome alternatives to diet derailing holiday favorites, Green Door Organics has eliminated the guesswork. “We offer a Valentine’s Day-themed basket, including fruits, vegetables and leafy greens with aphrodisiac-rumored properties. We also provide dozens of recipes so that you can prepare a romantic candlelit dinner for two. In addition, we have fresh, certified organic, Florida-grown strawberries at a discount,” clarifies Meyer. For those, who would rather customize their own assortment of all-natural food items, Green Door Organics has several other produce options in-stock throughout this month. “We are currently enjoying many varieties of local greens, such as kale, chard, arugula and lettuce. Salad items are plentiful, as well as seasonal fruits, like carambola (also known as starfruit), many citrus varieties and even Floridagrown coconuts,” adds Meyer. So, bestow a truly meaningful and considerate act of love upon your significant other by encouraging healthy eating habits, which you both can continue pursuing together all year long. Green Door Organics is located at 810 Central Avenue, Sarasota (main pick-up location). For more information, call 941-378-9036 or visit OrganicVeggies.net. Hours are 1pm– 5:30pm (Friday – pick-up times). Mary-Elizabeth Schurrer is a writer and copy editor for the Sarasota-Manatee edition of Natural Awakenings. She works as a freelance writer, blogger and social media marketer, based in Southwest, FL. Her personal blog, HealthBeAHippie. Wordpress.com, features practical tips for embracing a fit, nutritious and empowered lifestyle.

inspiration

into her body and inquired about the dread: “How big is it and how deep does it go? Does it have a flavor?” The more she questioned, the more curiosity and attention she brought to the emotion and the freer she felt.

Turn Curiosity into Compassion

O’Malley learned to more accurately self-report her feelings. Instead of, “I am afraid,” she learned to assess; “Dread is here.” Then she cultivated compassion, treating the dread as her friend signaling the need for a solution. She acknowledged and listened to the stricken and paralyzed parts of herself, knowing they were separating her from joy because they needed to be heard and understood.

Step Outside Struggle to Embrace Humility

What’s in Your Way? Obstacles Point the Path to Wholeness and Healing by Deborah Shouse

ince childhood, Mary O’Malley always thought that something bad was about to happen and experienced a continuous dread that gnawed her insides. Over the years, she tried to eat, drink and medicate away the anxious feelings plaguing her, and sought help from group therapy, hypnotherapy and psychiatrists. Then in 1972, in her late 20s, O’Malley attended a yoga workshop that helped advance her quest to let go of struggles and embrace life. Later, when she met Stephen Levine, whose teaching is influenced by Buddhism, he conveyed, “There’s nothing in you that needs to be fixed,” and invited her to view her own issues with curiosity and compassion. The transformational insights learned along her journey shared in her book, What’s In the Way Is the Way, include simple tools for those that need to move beyond struggles to live in the present with more peace, ease and joy.

Train as a Tightness Detective

Ask this internal question when feeling stressed: “In what aspect of life am I holding on for dear life?” Is your breath short, are your shoulders tight; do you feel a fist in your solar plexus or an elephant sitting on your chest? These are indications that you’re aligned with some struggle. By softening and breathing into the tight places, you can open into life and better align with ease and grace.

Strengthen the Curiosity Muscle

O’Malley believes that struggle is humanity’s core compulsion. We develop a story about the difficulty of life and heroically fight against myriad injustices. Yet making a U-turn in perspective to see them as challenges is tailor-made to help us recognize and achieve separation from our individual struggles in favor of a better way of experiencing life. “The dictionary misses the full meaning when it defines humility as ‘lowliness, meekness, submissiveness,’” O’Malley believes. “True humility is a state of great availability, and from this kind of openness we can reconnect with the joy of being fully alive.” She now discovers gifts embedded in every single challenge. Deborah Shouse blogs at DeborahShouseWrites.wordpress.com.

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pet’s love is extraordinary because it is unconditional. It doesn’t have expectations, pass judgment or try to leverage guilt. It is rich in loyalty, trust and adoration. Domestic pets provide warmth, companionship and love, as well as purpose, fun and conversational gambits for family members. For lonely hearts, they are a lifeline, providing a physical, emotional and spiritual connection to life that may prove critical to survival and happiness. Loving pets seem like an endless source of happiness while with us, but few outlive their owners. Loss is as much a part of having a pet as potty training and vaccinations. For some, the loss of a dog or cat is debilitating and the grieving process can take months. Rev. Gary Kowalski, author of Goodbye, Friend and a Unitarian Universalist minister in Santa Fe, New Mexico, contends that the depth of the relationship that we develop with pets emerges from the time we spend with them every day—exercising, feeding, grooming and even sleeping with them. The relationship is pure and uncomplicated, and the pain of separation can be especially intense and profound. The challenge of pet loss is often complicated by the difficult decision to euthanize an aged or suffering animal. “One of the hardest things about having a dog is that sometimes you have to

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decide to end its life,” says Jon Katz, of upstate New York, a New York Times bestselling author of many books about dogs, including Going Home: Finding Peace When Pets Die. “Our job as pet owners is to be an advocate for our pets, making sure they do not suffer. Don’t poison the joy that you shared with your pet with guilt over your decisions,” he says. Katz recommends taking photos of pets and making intentional memories in the time leading up to parting to encourage closure. The same kind of rituals we use to honor and say goodbye to other family members can likewise help ease the pain of a pet’s passing. Owners can gather with loved ones and friends to celebrate the life of their pet with a burial ceremony or memorial. Kowalski likes adding meaningful words. His book includes a variety of readings that pet owners can use in their rituals taken from poems, literature, the Bible and other sacred texts. When a human friend or family member dies, compassion and empathy flows from everyone we meet, but many may not be aware of, or understand, the depth of grief associated with a pet’s death. “Some people feel embarrassed or don’t understand that mourning a deceased pet is a normal process,” explains Julia Harris, a pet bereavement counselor from Ellijay, Georgia, and author of Pet Loss: A Spiritual Guide.

Support is essential during times of grief, and it can be difficult to find an understanding friend to discuss it with. Several online communities are devoted to providing support. An Internet search of “pet loss support” yields a wealth of online resources. In the same way that the belief in an afterlife comforts people of many faith traditions when a person passes, the possibility of the same destiny for pets can offer comfort. “Perhaps one of the most common questions I am asked is whether or not animals have a soul,” explains Harris. “I encourage people to know that the soul, like love, is eternal. It leaves the physical body, but the loving relationship continues.” While there’s no standard timeline for the grieving process, it’s important to keep perspective. Excessive grief can lead to depression. “If the grief is interfering with life and your work, then you may need to seek professional help,” advises Katz. Not even a parent is capable of providing the purely unconditional love we receive from pets. Kowalski views it as a sacred connection, observing that through the unconditional love and acceptance that we receive from our pets, we get a little glimpse of what God’s love must look like.

Helping Children Cope

or many children, the loss of a beloved pet is their first exposure to death, and age-appropriate honesty is the best policy for helping them through this difficult time. Rev. Gary Kowalski advises parents and caregivers to reassure kids that the death of an animal is not something they have to fear, and let them know that the animal is not in pain, is not sleeping and is in a peaceful place. He cautions parents against speaking euphemistically about death to young children. Involving children in the planning of a memorial service for a pet can be therapeutic. Let them talk openly about their favorite memories together and their sadness. Bereavement counselor Julia Harris encourages parents to share stories from their faith traditions that address afterlife. “These stories can help your child best understand that God continues to watch over their pet,” she contends. “This provides a sense of security that the pet is safe and remains with your child in spirit and memory.”

Julianne Hale is a writer and editor for Natural Awakenings and blogs about family life at AnotherGrayHair.WordPress.com.

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February 2015

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rief can arrive suddenly with the death of a loved one, serious illness, loss of a job, parental dementia or decaying relationship. In any case, it takes a toll. “Grief encompasses all of our thoughts and feelings. Mourning is when we put them into action by talking, crying, perhaps doing rituals,” explains Tracy Riley, a licensed clinical social worker and grief counselor in Jacksonville, Florida. “Grief isn’t something that’s over when you wake up one day,” Riley counsels. “It’s ridiculous when an employer gives you three days off and then expects everything to be fine.” She notes that time helps heal all wounds, but even a decade after losing a loved one, the pain can remain and life is never the same, although most of us learn to live with loss and move forward. “Some things can’t be fixed,” concludes Megan Devine, a psychotherapist in Portland, Oregon, and author of the audio book, When Everything is Not Okay, who blogs at RefugeInGrief. com. After witnessing the drowning death of her fiancé, she says, “I didn’t need to hear platitudes that everything would be OK. I needed something solid to hold onto when my whole world exploded.”

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Physical Aids

An unexpected death and any emotional shock is an extreme stressor that causes the adrenal glands to release a flood of adrenaline. Tina Erwin, La Mesa, California author of The Lightworker’s Guide to Healing Grief, explains, “If you get a shock when someone close to you dies, your adrenal glands are blown out almost instantly and you are overwhelmed with adrenaline, much like we often see in people with post-traumatic stress disorder. You need to rebalance your body chemistry.” Intense grief can sometimes show up as chest pain, a classic sign of heart attack, due to a temporary disruption of the heart’s normal pumping action from a surge in stress hormones, according to the National Institutes of Health. Yet Imperial College London scientists now have found that a recognizable “broken heart syndrome” may temporarily protect the heart from being overwhelmed with adrenaline. “Healing the physical side of grief ultimately helps healing on an emotional level, too,” says Erwin. To assist herself following the death of her 6-yearold niece from a sudden infection, she uses several Bach flower remedies for trauma—Rescue Remedy, to rebalance

the flood of adrenaline; Star of Bethlehem, for shock and loss; and Mimulus, for fear and anxiety. “Combining a few drops of each of these in a water bottle or tea several times a day helps you regain a feeling of balance,” Erwin says. She also likes drinking bloodcleansing noni juice to help wash adrenaline out of the body, and taking salt baths enhanced with lavender essential oil to literally “wash away the darkness.”

Emotional Aids

Riley views art and music therapy, plus journaling (a “personal roadmap” that helps chart her progress), as powerful healing tools. She’s also seen firsthand how animals can play a key role through the mourning process. Her miniature schnauzer intuitively approaches her clients that are anxious and grieving and gives them permission to pet him. “It puts people at ease,” she says. “Then they can talk more freely about their pain.” Numerous studies, starting in the 1980s, show that stroking a furry pet lowers blood pressure.

Charting a Personal Course

For the bereaved (literally defined as “torn apart”), the symptoms of grief are meant to slow us down, advises Alan Wolfelt, Ph.D., director of the Center for Loss and Life Transition, in Fort Collins, Colorado, and author of numerous related books, including Understanding Your Grief: Ten Essential Touchstones for Finding Hope and Healing Your Heart. Society expects bereaved people to “carry on, keep their chins up, be glad they had him/her as long as they did or else be grateful that our loved one’s pain is over”—all platitudes that are more hurtful than helpful, says Wolfelt. Mourning takes time, but it also requires a social context, he explains. “It’s the shared response to loss. If you isolate yourself, you are grieving, not mourning. You can’t do this on your own. It’s bigger than you.” For those that feel stuck or unable to move forward, experienced grief counselors may be able to help.

Helping a Mourning Friend

ere’s comforting advice from grief advocate Megan Devine for friends yearning to soothe a bereaved friend. Don’t try to fix it: Don’t say anything that tries to fix the unfixable, and you’ll do fine. It’s an unfathomable relief to have a friend that doesn’t try to take the pain away. Grief belongs to the griever: You have a supporting role, not the central role, in a friend’s grief, which is an entirely personal experience. Anticipate, don’t ask: Don’t say, “Call

me if you need anything,” because your friend won’t call; not because they don’t need support, but because identifying a need, figuring out who might fill it, and then reaching out to ask is beyond their energy level, capacity or interest. Instead, make concrete offers of practical assistance in doing normal tasks or chores for the friend and deliver on them. Be willing to witness searing pain: Simply be quietly present. Acknowledge their state and stick with simple truths: “This hurts. I love you. I’m here.” Bonded & Insured

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February 2015

Beach Life Wellness:

An Oasis for the Body and Soul by Suzi Harkola

ana and Lucho De Vettori were searching for the perfect location to open a state-of-the art healing center. They found it, less than a mile from the beautiful Nokomis Public Beach on Casey Key in Nokomis. The sprawling cottage is beautifully landscaped and soothingly furnished, and the glass-enclosed lanai at the rear of the building offers a closeup view of a majestic Banyan tree. The result is a Zen-like experience that is calming and cleansing. Lana brings impressive credentials to her role as coowner. A Licensed Massage Therapist and Medical Massage Practitioner, she also leads Yoga sessions at the spa Saturday mornings at 10 a.m. Lana has a background in Eastern healing arts, with expertise in anatomy, physiology and Western medicine. She and Lucho both hold Advanced Certifications in multiple areas of massage, physical training, fitness and nutrition as evidence of their life-long passion for learning and holistic health. Lana’s true passion is for empowering others and is excited when she sees healing replace pain and suffering. Some of Lana’s specialties include Medical Massage, Myofascial Release, Acupressure, Electro-Stimulation, Reiki, Hydrotherapy and Thermalism, Lymphatic Drainage, Traditional Thai, Hot Stone Massage and Pilates. She is ISSA Certified, Aerial Yoga Certified and Reiki Level II Certified. Lucho, co-owner, is the Office Manager and is a Physical Fitness Specialist and Clinical Exercise Therapist. Karate, soccer and tennis were mainstays in his early years. His time in the Navy gave him the discipline, commitment and leadership skills required to manage a business, and he holds a diploma from the Sarasota School of Massage Therapy. He has acquired multiple degrees, certifications and recognition in the areas of fitness and nutrition, including a Master of Sports & Nutritional Sciences, and is 56

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certified in plant-based nutrition from Cornell University. Lana and Lucho have worked very hard to realize their dream of working together and owning a holistic healing center with an intimate environment for clients to receive professional treatments. Lana and Lucho live and love wellness, the beach, the ocean, the sun and nature. Finding this location for the spa was a dream come true. One of the spa’s newest aesthetic treatments is the Signature Oxy-Sonic Organic Facial. “We are the only spa in the area that has the equipment and expertise to perform this amazing two-hour facial,” says Lana. “Ninety-five percent oxygen is used to provide deep exfoliation of all impurities, while ultrasound vibrations firm and tighten your skin, while our amazingly aromatic and nourishing food-grade organic products deliver a luxurious yet effective experience! At first, we thought a two-hour facial would be too much for our clients, but we have them asking for more when the treatment ends.” Other popular treatments and programs, according to Lana, include the Beach Life Signature Massage, Thai Massage, Open Acupuncture, the Eight-Week Fitness & Nutrition Program and Reiki. “Reiki is fascinating! When a person receives a Reiki treatment, the God-conscious part of the energy assesses where the person has blocks, and then directs the healing energy,” she explains. “It flows through the affected parts of the energy field, charges them with positive energy and raises the vibratory level in and around the physical body where the negative thoughts and feelings are attached. This causes the negative energy to break up and fall away. Reiki clears, straightens and heals the energy pathways, allowing a healthy flow of Ki. When a block is released, a person may experience a cold or hot sensation. Once Ki is flowing naturally, the physical organs and tissues are then able to complete their healing process.”

Meet the Team

Lucho is quick to note that they are fortunate to have an outstanding team of therapists, acupuncturists, estheticians and specialty trainers. The staff has grown rapidly since the spa opened, due in part to its reputation as an outstanding and unique fitness and health destination. “Our goal is to disconnect wealth from health,” he says. “Our clients consistently say that we provide an outstanding experience at reasonable cost.” The following team bios are excerpted from the Beach Life Wellness website. Dr. Jonathan Wald is the resident Acupuncture Physician. His expertise includes Traditional Chinese Medicine, Energy Status Analysis, Japanese Style Acupuncture, Auriculotherapy or Ear Acupuncture, Hand Therapy, Bio-puncture, Cupping, Guasha and non-insertion techniques. Irina Fedoseeva, Medical Massage Practitioner and Licensed Massage Therapist, whose focus is on rehabilitation, incorporates techniques such as Deep Tissue and Hot Stone Massage into her practice. Sandra Lyman is a Certified Fitness Trainer and Exercise Physiologist as well as a Cardio Pulmonary Rehabilitation Specialist. She has worked with rehabilitating veterans since

2006 and has trained beginner to athletic clients of any age, as well as those with medical limitations such as people with Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s and Multiple Sclerosis. Jake Grabin, Certified Personal Trainer and Bone Health Specialist, loves working with the elderly and people with limitations of any age. Carla Peralta is a Certified Personal Trainer and Fitness Instructor who has been in the fitness industry since 1989. She brings a Latin flare to her clients through Zumba and teaches a TRX class. Jeanne Radwick, Certified Personal Trainer/ TRX and Movement Specialist, is a former Tallahassee firefighter. National Certified by IFPA, Jeanne’s expertise spans traditional weight training and body resistance training to specialized training in Pilates, Power Plate (whole body vibration acceleration training), TRX and Spinning, along with kettle bell, aqua and flexibility training. Vera Mirnaya is a Licensed Skin Care Practitioner and Registered Nurse, a National Esthetics Trainer and Organic Facials Specialist. She incorporates the finest raw organic food-grade oils and herbs into her European-style facials. Joan Emond, Licensed Massage Therapist, specializes in Orthobionomy, a gentle yet affective therapy working with your body’s holding patterns and using positional release and gentle range of motion techniques to melt patterns of tension and stress in the body. Diana Caruso, Licensed Massage Therapist, has extensive experience working with the elderly and adults and children with developmental disabilities. Her modalities of choice include Deep Tissue Massage, Sports Massage, Neuromuscular and Myofascial Therapy. A Reiki I and II practitioner, she can also perform a relaxing Swedish massage or deep therapy, geared for athletes or those with injuries and chronic painrelated issues. Jordan Shock is most likely the first voice you hear when you call Beach Life Wellness. As Office Assistant, she schedules appointments and cheerfully greets customers.

FEBRUARY 10th & 24th

Community Outreach

“We want to let everyone know that our client base is not just South County,” Lana says, “So, we’re participating in EcoFest in Sarasota at Payne Park on February 28 as an additional way to reach out to the community at large. We are now accepting pre-registration for our New Open Acupuncture, offered in a community setting in the Banyan Tree Open Studio. We’re also offering a free Reiki Share experience on February 21, so call for reservations and explore first-hand the benefits of Reiki.” Beach Life Wellness specializes in clinical therapy that feels like a luxury. Lana, Lucho and the entire team invite you to “Live the Life” at Beach Life Wellness. Beach Life Wellness is located at 301 Albee Road West, Nokomis. Phone 941-244-2006 for an appointment or visit BeachLifeWellness.com for more information on services offered and cost. Suzi Harkola is Managing Editor and writer for Natural Awakenings Sarasota/Manatee and Peace River editions. Connect at Suzi@WordsWorthDesignGroup.com. natural awakenings

February 2015

cultivation of crops. Beekeeping became a universal past-time in areas of the world where agriculture and climate permitted. Honey, mead (honey wine) and beeswax were the “fruits of the hive.”

Beekeeping Today in Sarasota and Manatee Counties

Beekeeping

The Second Oldest Profession Second in a series by Juliette Jones; Part 1 appeared in the January 2015 edition of Natural Awakenings.

he insects have carved careful letters of their language on these sticks under the bark, careful arcs and curves. I sink into the earth, inarticulate and wild for want of understanding this script. I know it contains answers to every question. Excerpt Marna 1994, from We’Moon 2015 The relationship between honeybees and humankind began in the ancient world and spans thousands of years. Today, in the modern world, we must heal our fragile relationship with honeybees, or it is possible that they will leave us and disappear. The number of honeybees worldwide is decreasing at an alarming rate. My deepest wish for the honeybees is that we find a way to prevent their disappearance and, in doing so, save ourselves. As it is, people don’t think much about bees, except perhaps to be wary of them as stinging insects. If the honeybee disappears from the face of the earth, there will be a devastating effect on our practical lives. The entire fabric of nature would weaken, and the environment become even more disintegrated than it already is; our food supply would shrink, and the economy would go into spasm. Humankind would suffer food shortages and, perhaps only then, would we collectively realize something about what we had lost. Most of us would have missed entirely some of the greatest magic and real medicine that the planet had ever known.

Not long ago, beekeeping was a thriving commercial industry. Pollution, disease and loss of habitat have cut this commercial industry in half. Tom Nolan, President of Florida Beekeepers Association, points out, “There aren’t many successful businesses that can lose a third of what they sell every year.” Not all beekeepers in Florida are commercial; Florida is one of the most successful places in the nation for backyard beekeeping due to favorable climate and food supply. Many a backyard beekeeper begins with a hive or two and learns to care for bees, sometimes planting bee-friendly gardens, often becoming passionate bee advocates. These hobbyists are making an important contribution to the health and strength of the honeybee population. When I became a beekeeper, I soon realized that the local beekeepers associations were the touchstone for my success. Sarasota County is home to Suncoast Beekeepers Association, a well-established club that meets monthly. Beekeepers come from all walks of life. You would be hard-pressed to find such a collectively interesting, inventive, down-to-earth, adventuresome group anywhere else. Some come with a lifetime of experience, having grown up in rural areas or close to nature. Others get into beekeeping because something or someone sparked a connection to the fascinating world of honeybees. Beekeepers as a whole are passionate about beekeeping and generous in sharing information.

The Inner Sanctum

I asked some of my beekeeper friends to see how they “got the bug” for beekeeping. Randy: I got started when I met some Suncoast people out on the beach at my metal detectors club. They asked me to come to a beekeepers meeting. Well, I didn’t know. Three months later, I showed up, and the next thing I knew, I was interested. I hooked up with someone, who did swarm saving. It was neat to watch, and it felt good to save the bees from being sprayed and killed. One time we went to Tire Kingdom to save a swarm. Again, I thought, “We just saved them,” and it Ancient Insects – Stone Age Beekeepers felt good! I took that swarm home and set up a hive. It was fun According to National Geographic, Mellittosphex burmensis to watch the hive grow and produce honey. Four months later, is the oldest bee fossil ever discovered, thought to be 35-45 I went to a honey show and got second place. I also entered a “gadget” contest in the same show with a tool I invented million years old. While this ancient bee shares some traits with its modern descendants, it is quite unlike the honeybee for easier application of wax foundation (the basis for start of honeycomb), and I won first place! After that, I was really that exists today. hooked. Being a machinist, I want to do things for beekeepers In the natural world, bees’ nests are usually tucked away in hidden places. The earliest records of human honey to help them have quality tools and save money. I make things hunting and beekeeping appear in the rock art of the Meso- like branding irons for identification of hive boxes. Eventually, I began selling honey at the Florida State Fair, and my wife lithic era (Stone Age). Early honey hunters often worked in came along. Now I’m a honey hustler (laughs). groups to track bees and gather the golden syrup. Around Kevin: Well, at the time I was a volunteer fireman and in 8000 B.C., groups of hunter-gatherer humans moved from the pest control business. I worked for a friend in the business, place to place to acquire food and eventually began to form who got a call for bee removal, but I didn’t know a thing agricultural communities in favorable areas. It is thought that about bees. This was in the early days of Colony Collapse agricultural beekeeping came into play around this time as bee hunters found ways to construct nest sites alongside the Disorder, and another one of our customers was a beekeeper. 58

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This guy had a boat and wanted to learn more about fishing in Florida. So we started going fishing, and I liked honey. Yeah…he gave me some real honey. One day, he got a call from a guy in Osprey about a birdhouse full of bees. He took me out there, and we put on some gear; then he opened the birdhouse. There were a million bees flying all around. I’m not claustrophobic, but… Meanwhile, he’s in the birdhouse sifting through the bees, very calm sayin’…“Yeah, we’re gonna find the queen” (finding the queen is essential to capturing a colony). That’s where it started. (Kevin went on to become a Master Beekeeper.) Lynn: When I was a kid growing up, I always wanted comb honey, but it was expensive. I figured it would be easier and cheaper to get my own. We lived in a small town on the edge of a rural area. My first contact with bees was when my mom told me that the next-door neighbor had a swarm under the porch and to stay away to avoid stings. Naturally, I went over there and jumped up and down on the porch. Bees at that time were wilder. These bees came out from under that porch and stung me all over. I was surprised, but I didn’t cry. Later, I thought, “If I had a bee suit, I will conquer!” My brother and I ordered a bee suit out of a catalogue and went out and caught a swarm in the woods. Much, much later, I became a bee inspector. I’ve studied everything about bees that I could get my hands on. I always wanted to work with bees to control genetics and produce good queens. Now I do. (Lynn is an Advanced Beekeeper. At Suncoast he’s known as “The Bee Whisperer.”) Charlie: In the beginning, I just wanted to keep bees to produce my own raw honey. I wanted it for superior nutrition. I don’t want to sell it or go into business. That isn’t my objective. After joining Suncoast and attending a Florida

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Beekeepers Conference, I’ve found that I also just really want to take care of bees. (Charlie is a new beekeeper.) Jane: How did I get started in beekeeping? I married George. The first year, I was processing honey in the basement up north. The next year, I was out managing hives. George started beekeeping in high school as a 4-H project. A farmer became allergic to bee stings and gave George his hives for the project. We were married in 1966. At one time, we were both Bee Inspectors in New York. Now we have a commercial operation with about 200 hives in Englewood, but we are beginning to think about retiring. (George and Jane, Commercial beekeepers) As you can see, folks get into beekeeping for all sorts of reasons. Next month, I will share my personal wellness story in an article on Apitherapy and the Ancient Natural Medicine of the Bee Hive. The Suncoast Beekeepers Association is dedicated to promoting and supporting beekeepers in Manatee and Sarasota counties, Florida. We provide an informational and social venue for beekeepers of all experience levels. Some members are new beekeepers, while others are professionals with many years of experience. Suncoast Beekeepers promotes best beekeeping management practices and offers education, encouragement and mentoring to people, who want to be involved with honeybees. For more information, email SunCoastBeekeepers@gmail.com. Juliette Jones, PhD, is a writer, public speaker and clinicallycertified spiritual counselor with hospice. She sees backyard beekeeping and Apitherapy as a fascinating way to learn and share. Connect with her at BodyMindSpiritConnection@ gmail.com.

Sunday, Feb. 1 2 p.m. – 5 p.m.

MEDITATION SEMINAR with Roy Eugene Davis A direct disciple of Paramahansa Yogananda

Weekend Skin Care Clinic

Effective Routines and Techniques and Holistic Lifestyle Guidelines All Welcome Donation Basis Early Reservations Required UnitySarasota@juno.com

UNITY OF SARASOTA 3023 Proctor Road

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Clinic Hours and Location:

Friday 9:00 am - 4:45 pm��Saturday 9:00 am - 12:15 pm

Mr. Davis has taught for more than sixty years in North and South America, Europe, and India. He was ordained by Paramahansa Yogananda in 1951.

www.csa-davis.org natural awakenings

February 2015

Yoga, and Melina Economos, director and instructor at ReFlex Arts Yoga, share expert insight on how practicing tandem yoga, alongside your Valentine, can deepen a mutual affection and appreciation for each other long after this holiday has passed.

Natural Awakenings: What are the benefits of engaging in physical activities, like yoga, as a couple rather than sticking with more conventional date ideas?

Why Your Romantic Relationship Could Benefit from Couples’ Yoga by Mary-Elizabeth Schurrer Lovebirds, rejoice: Valentine’s Day is just around the corner! ow will you and your sweetheart keep the romance alive on this meaningful occasion? Will you opt for a traditional – and, let’s be honest, tediously predictable – dinner-and-a-movie date? Or, will you step outside the cliché and explore a more adventurous activity? If the latter option sounds appealing, then why not surprise your significant other with a uniquely thrilling and entirely unexpected V-Day experience that he or she won’t soon forget? This year, give the gift of yoga. Engaging together in such a physically and emotionally restorative practice will strengthen your relationship through improving both verbal communication and nonverbal body language, building reliance on each other and discovering the rhythm of one another’s movements. Maybe you’ll even develop a common interest in yoga, which could lead to further bonding opportunities in the future. So, for those vivacious couples, who want to create oneof-a-kind romantic memories, local yoga studios have got you covered. Liana Bryant, director and instructor at Rosemary Court

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Liana Bryant: Practicing yoga together allows you to be fully present and encourages you to maintain that presence even after class ends. Giving your significant other your full focus is truly a gift. After your first class together, you may even decide to continue practicing together regularly! A regular practice provides so many benefits – such as stress release, better mood, more focus, enhanced flexibility, strength and more – and beginning this journey together through a Valentine’s date would be very special. Melina Economos: Relationships are hard, aren’t they? Even the most nurtured, attended relationship can experience hardships and silly midnight debates. Sometimes we get into energetic ruts – and we don’t even realize it! – and begin to feel like there is nothing new or magical in our relationship. Yoga can be the return of that spontaneity and surprise. When teaching couples’ yoga, I often hear things like, “Wow! I didn’t know you could do that!” or “I can’t believe we just did that!” Or, even better, all I hear are whispers, then giggling and laughing, like two best friends with a secret. Partner yoga helps us become intimate in a way that opens our eyes to our partners. We get to see [that person] in a different light – as flexible, strong, capable or, at the very least, kind, patient and willing. To accomplish some of the postures, couples learn to listen to each other again and relearn how to trust one another in balancing postures, or in asking things like, “How does that feel? Are you comfortable in this pose? Can I help?” The best thing is Savasana – the final relaxation pose – when couples lie together at the end of class, hands resting in one another’s, slightly sweaty, a little stretched, and tired but with soft smiles on their lips.

NA: Does your studio offer any tandem yoga classes and, if so, when are they scheduled? Bryant: We offer private yoga sessions for couples. To schedule your appointment, email us at RosemaryCourt@ yahoo.com. Economos: We will be offering a couples’ yoga class on Valentine’s Day at our University Parkway location, from 5 to 6:30 pm. Partner yoga is a perfect before-dinner event

that is sure to stoke your appetite and set the tone for a great evening. No experience in yoga or partner yoga is needed – just a playful attitude and an open mind.

NA: Will your studio be offering any Valentine’s Day gift packages, incentives or discounts throughout the month of February?

NA: What does a tandem, or partner, yoga practice specifically entail?

Bryant: We’re offering a single hour-long, in-studio private couples’ yoga session for $90. We also offer a five-session pass for $425 (discounting each session to only $85!). Economos: Yes! From February 8 to 14, bring your [significant other] to any regularly scheduled yoga class (no special events or classes) as our guest. At the studio, we so often hear, “I really wish my wife practiced,” or, “My husband just doesn’t understand yoga.” We know how transformational yoga can be, and sometimes it’s difficult when our partner isn’t on the same track. We are offering this special in the hope that couples can come together, sharing what they love and feeling a closer commitment to each other because of it.

Bryant: Tandem yoga can simply mean practicing alongside one another, either in a group class or via private sessions. Tandem yoga can also be practiced through poses done together, assisting one another and essentially becoming a prop for each other to get deeper into the poses. Economos: As I mentioned above, partner yoga helps couples learn trust in a lot of ways. But I think, just as importantly, they are doing something together that has no other purpose than to make each other happy. During a partner yoga class, couples move through the postures together, with their mats side-by-side. Many postures are done together, but a few are done one at a time, where one person will move into a restorative posture while the other person uses hands-on assists to help [his or her] partner stretch deeper or feel the gentle touch or massage from a loved one. We try to include a few challenges to really get the laughs going, but overall, partner yoga classes are all levels. Often, one person will be the “yoga practitioner” in the relationship, and the partner will be brand new to the practice. We totally understand that feeling of wanting to bring your partner but being worried [he or she] may think it’s too different or weird, so we make sure to lead the class in a casual way that allows people to feel comfortable regardless of their experience levels. For serious yoga practitioners, be warned: practicing with your partner will be totally different than practicing solo on your mat! But we promise that the reward is just as great

Rosemary Court Yoga: 810 Central Ave, Sarasota; RosemaryCourt.com; 941-952-5280 ReFlex Arts: 6260 N Lockwood Ridge Rd, Sarasota; ReFlexArts.com; 941-359-9642 Mary-Elizabeth Schurrer is a writer and copy editor for the Sarasota-Manatee edition of Natural Awakenings. She works as a freelance writer, blogger and social media marketer, based in Southwest, FL. Her personal blog, HealthBeAHippie. Wordpress.com, features practical tips for embracing a fit, nutritious and empowered lifestyle.

NA: Have you ever done yoga with a significant other, would you personally recommend trying it, and what advice would you give couples, who want to explore an activity together, but may find yoga intimidating? Bryant: Yes, I have practiced yoga with my significant other, and yes, I would absolutely recommend it! Be playful and enjoy the lightness of the practice. If you feel intimidated to attend a group class together, private [sessions] are a great way to start. Economos: My partner and I practice together quite often. I have been traveling and teaching more for the past year, and we find that partner yoga brings us back to that intimate yet fun space of sacredness in our relationship. I’m good at some postures, he’s good at others, and together, we learn to make compromises while still allowing room for the individual to shine. Partner yoga can be the catalyst for change in many relationships, opening up new ways of seeing the other person and often reminding us of the many reasons to be together in the first place. The playful nature of this practice brings us back to that essence of who we really are: fun, free and full of joy.

angela’s Pure salon & spa Ensure your own health and well-being.

Angela’s Pure Salon is an eco-friendly alternative salon that provides organic color and organic products. It gives you the opportunity to make informed choices that are safer, better, and more natural options for your hair, skin, and bodies- without sacrificing quality!

Call for your appointment today 941-351-0670 3501 N. Lockwoodridge Road, Sarasota, Fl 34234 www.angelaspuresalon.com Gift Certificates Available natural awakenings

February 2015

Can Low Testosterone Be Boosted Naturally? by Denise Barbato

en, just like women, deal with issues that go along with aging. Their biggest difference is due to the male sex hormones known as androgens. The main sex hormone of this group is testosterone, produced by the testicles and often associated with “manhood.” It plays a very important role in male sexual and reproductive function. It also contributes to hair growth, muscle mass, red blood cell production, bone density and overall well-being. The prostate gland requires testosterone to remain at optimal levels. Testosterone levels in men begin to decline naturally at age 30 and continue to do so as they age, which also accounts for changes in men’s skin and hair. Low T can affect a man’s physical appearance, mood and sex drive, according to National Institute of Health (NIH), which estimates that about 5 million men in the United States have low T. Symptoms include fatigue, irritability, sleep apnea, loss of sexual desire, erectile dysfunction, obesity and type 2 diabetes. Testosterone replacement therapy comes in many forms

available late evenings and weekends

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and at varying costs. Monthly supplies of underarm spray, patches and tablets cost about $400, pellets range from $230-$750. FDA, drug makers and some independent websites say the testosterone tablet can cause allergic reactions and irritation in the gum; gels can cause skin irritation; and patches can cause skin irritation and blistering, Manufacturers warn women and children not to be exposed to the application site or they can experience changes to their endocrine system. TV ads say there is an increased risk of prostate cancer, heart attack and stroke. More and more often, men are making efforts to care for their health naturally without the risks associated with drugs and chemicals. Many are turning to the wisdom of ancient medicines. Dr. Anna Baker, a Doctor of Oriental Medicine, as well as a Research and Development Engineer holding 21 U.S. Patents, explains that in Traditional Chinese Medicine low T symptoms are viewed as coming from a variety of imbalances in the body. “Chinese medicine teaches that deficiencies or excesses in various organ systems can cause symptoms in other organs. Very often, treatment for a condition is given to a different organ than the one showing the problem. This is very different from the Western medical approach.” Dr. Anna points out that the use of Chinese herbs to treat a condition can take longer than Western treatments. However, Chinese methods will slowly rebalance the body to a state of health and wellness while Western treatments can “force” a change chemically in the body, which can lead to a host of side-effects and imbalances to the rest of the organs. The side-effects may not be apparent at first, she says, but continued use over long periods of time can cause a domino effect through the other organs. “The body decreases its hormone production as a person ages,” she states, “But hormones are still produced! Hormones have to travel through the body to receptor sites. The problem can lie in other body functions, limiting the ability of the hormones to be circulated through the body. “All the biochemical molecules that run and regulate the body have to travel in the same water passageway of the lymphatic and fluid circulatory systems,” she explains. “Minute quantities are delivered to each cell in the fluid that surrounds them. If there are problems in this delivery system, the body could be producing sufficient levels of hormones, but they just can’t get through. Supplementing such an imbalance with excess hormones could cause damage to the delicate symphony of biochemicals that run and produce

every function, action and emotion in our 50 trillion cell ensemble.” Dr. Anna continues, “Many imbalances can cause problems in this delivery system. The water passageway can get blocked by inflammation, response to pathogens, environmental toxins and imbalances in the organ systems. Type 2 diabetes and obesity can be indicators that insufficient insulin is reaching the receptor sites. Low energy can be similar to what is experienced when the body is recovering from a hard flu and the body is clogged by all the biochemicals produced to fight the invading virus.” Dr. Anna has formulated a line of men’s products which help the symptoms of Low T. Her Pearl Cream by Dr. Anna Men’s Body Lotion contains Chinese herbs used for thousands of years in promoting men’s health and well-being. Other Chinese herbs in the formula improve circulation and lymphatic health. The herbs also are balanced to address the deficiencies as described in the Chinese organ system. All the herbs in Pearl Cream by Dr. Anna Men’s Body Lotion work slowly over time to restore a true systemic balance and feeling of well-being and proper functioning without any side effects. And, unlike topical Low T gels, all the herbs can also be used by women and children. Pearl Cream by Dr. Anna is made from real pearls. The oyster creates pearls from encapsulating irritants with signal proteins made of amino acids which have a three-dimensional contracting action. In humans, these signal proteins can tighten muscles. “This result can be used, not only to restore a younger look, but also help to move the fluids in the water passageway,” she says. “Just like when you push on water, and the movement is propagated through the fluid, tiny tightenings at the surface of the body can cause movement in the water passageway away from the application area. Over time, the muscles are toned and densified, and the biochemical nutrients can move better through the system, giving a slow and steady increase in feelings of well-being and performance.” Pearl Cream by Dr. Anna Men’s Body Lotion is $79 per 8 ounce bottle and is available at her store, 5872 Bee Ridge Road, Sarasota. Phone 941-371-7400 for more information.

SEE THE WORLD FROM A NEW PERSPECTIVE Aerial Yoga Training

Friday 1-9pm Saturday & Sunday 9-5pm Feb. 13-15, 2015 at ReFlex Arts Sarasota Location Training includes om gym style swings and aerial silks, anatomy and physiology, inversions and the energetic body, as well as a manual of postures

941 359-YOGA (9642) | www.ReFlexArts.com 6260 & 6378 N.Lockwood Ridge Rd | on University PKWY | Sarasota, FL 34243

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natural awakenings

February 2015

petperspectives

Itchy Dog? by Suzi Harkola he key to solving your dog’s itchy problem is figuring out why she is scratching or licking, then treating for specific causes. Cortisone shots or tablets will cover up the cause of many types of itch, but they are not always best for your pet and usually do not cure the problem. Most dogs itch because of allergies, skin infections, fleas or mange mites. Pet parents can help a veterinarian determine the reason for the itch by observing where on her body the dog is itchy and what the skin looks like in those areas. When the reason is an allergy, the triggers are atopic, such as pollen or grass, food allergy and flea allergy. Atopic allergies cause dogs to lick their paws, with the front feet affected most. They often have itchy ears and rub their faces on the carpet or furniture. Food allergies cause itchy ears 80 percent of the time and often cause an itch around the anus. Sometimes an upset tummy can occur; many have more than three bowel movements per day.

A flea allergy causes an itch on the tail root and above the tail area. The hind legs are also often affected, but the paws are not itchy. Often, owners do not see the fleas. Many flea products work well enough to kill the fleas and, thus, the itch. Mange mites, also called scabies in advanced cases, cause crusty lesions on the edges of ear margins and elbows. Eighty percent of dogs with scabies will scratch their sides with the hind leg when their ear pinnae (flap) is folded and rubbed together. Often, dogs have a mild itch because of an allergic disease that suddenly becomes itchier, as the skin gets infected by the dog breaking the skin with her scratching. Staph infections cause crusts, especially ringlike crusts on the skin. Yeast infections are mostly present in the ear fold areas and paws. If your dog has black bands on the base of her nails, she likely has yeast in the nail beds. Yeast infections are especially itchy. When you notice excessive scratching and licking, get your dog to the veterinarian right away. The sooner the cause is diagnosed and treated, the sooner your dog will be comfortable, happy and itch-free. The Veterinarian Team at Bright Cross Animal Clinic contributed to this article. Bright Cross is located at 4165 S. Tamiami Trail in Venice. Call 941-408-9696 or visit BrightCross.com for more information.

CELEBRATING

YEARS K.J., Age 58, Englewood, FL

Mark Your Calendars and Join Us On: Feb. 12, 2015 - 7 to 8:30pm An evening of Guided Jin Shin Jyutsu

Hands On - Self Healing Meditation Fees Apply. Space limited. Must Register before Feb. 12

Feb. 20, 2015 - 10am - 4pm BOGO Day! Buy One, Get One for 35% Off!

941-371-7400

5872 Bee Ridge Rd, Sarasota, FL

To learn more please visit our website at 64

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AFTER 5 PLUS

4900 Pearl Cream Original $59 00 Pearl Cream Plus $

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What’s “Special” About Special Nutrition? Best Prices, Unparalleled Inventory, Customer Satisfaction By Suzi Harkola

orn of a desire to provide the largest selection of nutritional supplements, at the greatest discounts in the area, Special Nutrition has thrived since 2001. Under the leadership of nutritional consultant Louise Mastro, the store offers customers personal attention, guaranteed lowest prices, expansive inventory, mail order services and monthly deep discount specials. The expansive retail store at Stickney Point, in the shopping center anchored by Stonewood Grill and Gluten Free Bakery, is visually appealing, with a brightly colored exterior and ample parking. A landmark of sorts, it draws in customers and helps create a memorable shopping experience. Inside, walls and shelves are carefully organized, and products are clearly and thoroughly labeled with the type of supplement and the dosage. Shopping is easy, and knowledgeable staff members are available to provide any additional needed assistance. “All of the five full-time staff are college-educated and well-versed in the products sold at Special Nutrition,” Mastro explains. “I got into this business because I truly want to help people through the use of natural vitamins and supplements,” she says. “At the same time, I have a good business sense, and that’s what’s kept the store going strong for 14 years.” That, and the monthly specials offered to customers who call and inquire, or who physically visit the store, for current deep discount offerings. “Our specials reflect a 20 percent to 30 percent savings, and they change every month,” she says. “This not only keeps the inventory current, but it provides an opportunity for our customers to experience the very best

prices in the supplements they need and use regularly. “It’s important that our customers trust us and rely on us to provide good advice and the best products possible at the lowest possible cost. Repeat traffic and building customer loyalty are keys to our success, and I assess the business climate – which changes periodically for all types of businesses – and adjust my marketing and pricing structures as needed.” Customer reviews are glowing. Jeremiah S. wrote, “Louise is very knowledgeable regarding nutrition, herbs and alternative medicine in general. Special Nutrition has, handsdown, the best prices in town on vitamins, supplements, health food and more.” Sean B. posted, “[Special Nutrition provides] incredible customer service and knowledge straight from the owner, as well as unbeatable prices. Honestly, this is the best place to buy natural supplements in Sarasota (and anywhere that I have experienced yet).” Nicole M. wrote on Yelp, “Best prices in town. The staff is highly knowledgeable and will help direct you in finding what you need.” Additionally, Special Nutrition won the 2014 “Nattie” award for Favorite Place to Buy Nutritional Supplements. The Natties are selected by readers of Natural Awakenings magazine, Sarasota-Bradenton edition. Mastro says, “We have the largest selection of all major nutritional supplement brands and natural products at discount prices. Customers keep returning thanks to our high level of customer service, our knowledge, and our affordable prices. We also have a strong mail order service for our customers who leave the area in the summer, as well as for those who travel extensively and can’t always make it into the store. We ship primarily in the 48 contiguous United States, but also to Alaska, Hawaii and Canada.” “Our customers are seeking relief for a variety of ailments,” Mastro explains, “with the Number One reason being pain and inflammation. Following, in order, are gastrointestinal issues; disruptions in sleep cycles or insomnia; and Number Four, weight loss.” Mastro stresses the importance of buying locally rather than risk an unknown purchase online. “If you need assistance researching vitamins or any of our product offerings, ask our educated staff. Our nutritional consultants are ready to help you find what you need.” If Special Nutrition does not carry what you’re looking for, they will gladly order it for you. “We place special orders for things we don’t currently have in stock,” Mastro says. “When you come in and want something we don’t have, we will research it, find it and order it for you.” In addition to vitamins and other supplements, Special Nutrition carries organic food, weight loss products, glutenfree foods and more. Visit the store, if you haven’t already, and discover why Special Nutrition is so “special.” Open seven days a week, store hours are Monday to Saturday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Special Nutrition is located at 1882 Stickney Point Road, Sarasota. Phone 941929-0884 or visit SpecialNutrition.net for more information natural awakenings

February 2015

would promote the most rapid change in your metabolism and your weight, could you do that? If so, stop eating grain today. I don’t mean go gluten-free; I said to go grain-free. That means no bread, no pasta, no rice, no crackers, no cookies, no muffins, no couscous, no kasha.

High Blood Pressure

Why “GO RED” for Women?

Smoking

By Dr. Fred Harvey

ink gets all the attention…and undeservedly so! Yes, I said it. Tell your friends! Red deserves more time and more attention than Pink. You think that heart attacks are a guy’s disease? Since 1984, more women than men die annually of heart disease. Worse yet, women are twice as likely as men to die from the heart attack, or in the year after a heart attack. Ladies, do you think that you’re not at risk? Please wake up. Nine out of 10 women have at least one risk factor. Ever smoke while on the pill? You have a risk factor. • African American women are twice more likely to develop cardiovascular disease than white and Hispanic women. • Heart disease is the number one killer of women, and it takes more lives worldwide annually than all forms of cancer combined. • Breast cancer kills one in 31 women every year, but cardiovascular disease causes one in three of women’s deaths annually. So, Pink, take a seat while we Go Red. However, enough with the doom and gloom; let’s talk health and wellness. I want to show you how to reduce your risk of a cardiovascular event. Let’s address the risk factors.

Obesity and Diabetes

I put these two risk factors together because they work hand-in-hand. The purpose of insulin is to store excess carbohydrates as fat. Diabetes is a carbohydrates-storage disease, reaching epidemic proportions due to the parallel epidemic of obesity. Medical costs for people who are obese are about $1,500 higher annually than for people of normal weight. This is because fat is an inflammatory organ. Fat is angry. Angry fat sends signals to other organs that irritate them. Irritated organs are dysfunctional and lead to illness. Irritated blood is thick and sticky. Irritated blood vessels are also sticky and narrow. This leads to thrombosis or clot formation in the blood vessel, which is known as a heart attack or stroke. There are some very simple interventions to combat obesity. First is movement. Simply walk 30 minutes daily. A more difficult intervention is changing what you put in your mouth. To make changing your dietary habits easier, keep it simple. If you were to eliminate one item from your diet that 66

Sarasota/Manatee Edition

Almost one-third of adults in America have high blood pressure, or hypertension. It is a major risk factor for heart disease, stroke and heart failure. Obesity and the high insulin levels associated with Type II diabetes are linked to hypertension. Therefore, the first steps to controlling high blood pressure are start moving and change your diet.

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Fortunately, fewer people smoke today than ever before, yet almost 20 percent of the population still smokes as of 2010. Stop.

High Cholesterol

Statistical epidemiologic evidence reveals that those individuals who have elevated LDL cholesterol or low HDL cholesterol are at risk for a cardiovascular event, such as heart attack or stroke. However, there is no evidence that cholesterol causes heart attacks. Elevated cholesterol is actually another symptom of angry fat and angry blood vessels. We can begin to control the inflammation in the body by simply increasing movement and decreasing grain intake. Not all who have high cholesterol need a statin. The guidelines are simple and can be found here: NHLBI.NIH.gov/health-pro/guidelines/ current/cholesterol-guidelines/quick-desk-reference. You can also calculate your 10-year risk here: CVDRisk.NHLBI.NIH. gov. In my practice, I have taken four women and two men off of their statin drugs because of these new guidelines.

Physical Inactivity

Physical inactivity was added as a risk factor most recently. We are designed to move on a regular basis. If we do not move, we get sick. Numerous studies have revealed that approximately 30 minutes a day of vigorous movement can change medical illness. A 30-minute daily walk can dispel depression and reverse Type II diabetes. So, let’s get moving!

Excessive Alcohol Use

More than two ounces of alcohol a day cannot be processed efficiently by your liver. This results in multiple physiologic changes, including increased blood pressure. The heart does not do well under this strain and can be damaged. Excessive alcohol is a prominent cause of heart failure. So, have a glass of red wine with dinner, but avoid binge drinking.

Poor Diet

I could speak for days on this subject. However, there are a few simple rules. Eat a diet that is based on plants. Each meal should consist of 80 percent plant- and 20 percent animalbased food. The plants should be primarily leafy greens. Eliminate processed foods like white sugar, white flour and almost anything in a box or can. Everyone should take a multivitamin of good quality because we are all deficient in minerals and vitamins due to the na-

ture of the modern diet and lifestyle. A daily dose of two grams of high quality fish oil is foundational vascular nutrition. 2000 international units of vitamin D help to stabilize inflammation. A daily probiotic will help to replace the beneficial bacteria that we formerly got from our naturally fermented foods, which are absent from today’s diet.

Unity Church in the Woods

Wake Up to Cardiovascular Disease

I realize that this article started on a rather negative note. I wanted to get your attention. I wanted you to realize that, although heart disease is prevalent and deadly, there are some very clear risk factors that can be corrected or diminished with very simple and inexpensive interventions. National Wear Red Day is February 6. It is an annual day to bring attention to this silent killer of women. The American Heart Association encourages everyone to wear red, raise their voices, know their cardiovascular risk and take action to live longer, healthier lives. Dr. Fred Harvey is a triple board-certified physician from the American Board of Internal Medicine, American Board of Internal Medicine/Geriatrics, and the American Board of Holistic Medicine. Dr. Harvey’s programs are designed to improve the quality of life, reverse the signs of aging and prevent degenerative diseases that can rob patients of their quality of life. The Harvey Center for Integrative Medicine is located at 3982 Bee Ridge Road, Sarasota. For more information or to schedule a one-on-one consultation, please contact Dr. Fred Harvey at 941-929-9355.

Rev. Dorothy Ann Jackson

Rev. Allan Bazzy

Rev. Dr. Toni LaMotta

Presents

UNITY NOW Helping you move into your highest God-potential Everyone accepted and celebrated 2 Services: 10:00 and 11:30 am

Theme for February Loving Ourselves—Shadow and All 4200 32nd Street West Bradenton, FL 917-737-6582 www.unitychurchinthewoods.org

5041 Ringwood Meadow, Bldg. G-2, Sarasota, FL 34235 (Honore, north of 17th St.)

SUNDAY SERVICES 10:30 AM ~ Universal New Thought Service with Rev. Zan Benham 12:15 PM ~ A Cosmic In-Service Gathering of Lightworkers with Rev. Sharon-Elizabeth James 3:00 PM ~ Open Arms Spiritualist Service with Spirit Messages with Mediums Rev. Mary Linn & Rev. Thomas Clarke.

Cosmic Center of Spiritual Light Embracing the New Paradigms of our Awakening Consciousness: Ascended Masters, Classes, Essential Oil, Healing, Lightwork, Meditation, Mediumship, Speakers, Spirituality, UFOs, and more...

941-371-9333 www.ccosl.com

SPECIAL EVENT Saturday Feb. 21st from 10-6pm

Connecting With The Planetary Crystal Grid Leela Hutchison - Gemologist, teacher and first woman explorer of the largest crystals ever discovered, the Giant Selenite Crystal Caves of Naica, Mexico. http://leela.splashthat.com/ $122 or $99 pre-registration Fri. and Sat., March 6 & 7 Native Spirituality - Can It Save the Planet? Ed McGaa - Eagleman, and Oglala Sioux, born on the Pine Ridge, Sun dancer, lawyer. Author of 9 books, student of Eagle Feather and Fools Crow. www.edmcgaa.com natural awakenings

February 2015

Physician & Acupuncture

Specialist Tackles Breast Cancer with Alternative Medicine by Mary-Elizabeth Schurrer

r. Nancie Brenes, a certified Doctor of Oriental Medicine and Acupuncture, who has been healing patients in the Sarasota-Bradenton area for over 10 years, is helping change the face of modern healthcare with her practice’s ability to administer cutting-edge and highly effective breast cancer care. Using an innovative medical procedure called the Visica® 2 Treatment System, Dr. Brenes – in conjunction with another Sarasotabased physician, Dr. Adaline Zalkin MD, of Emerald Medical Group – can treat both malignant and benign breast tumors without performing surgery. Visica 2 received FDA clearance in 2007, and since this initial authorization, Dr. Brenes confirms that tumors have been successfully removed from thousands of patients nationwide. Furthermore, the treatment process is based on cryoablation technology, which destroys tumors with extreme cold, thereby eliminating the need for invasive operations. “This system uses a probe to deliver therapeutic freezing temperatures to targeted tissue and ablates the tumor, while an ultrasound provides accurate guidance to confirm that the ice ball has fully engulfed the tumor. The procedure is done under local anesthesia in Dr. Zalkin’s office. After the tumor has been ablated, the patient can go home, return to work or, as one lady did after her treatment, go out and play tennis. The convenience and ease of in-office use has made this cryoablation solution the treatment of choice for patients with both benign and malignant tumors,” clarifies Dr. Brenes. She then expounds upon this ground-breaking procedure’s proven success rates. “The Visica 2 Treatment System has been used to treat breast cancer during clinical 68

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trials in hundreds of cryo-assisted surgeries and dozens of cryo-only procedures. “Visica 2 is an image-guided cryoablation device for the treatment of breast tumors, as an alternative to surgical lumpectomy. The National Cancer Institute-sponsored study, ACOSOGZ1072, used Visica cryoablation to treat earlystage breast cancers. Its recent completion yielded promising results – 93.4% of breast tumors, larger than one centimeter, had complete ablation.” Dr. Brenes’ passion for improving the health of others is clearly evidenced by her continued efforts to provide and spread the word about this non-invasive, life-changing treatment throughout the community. However, her healing practices don’t end there. In addition to Visica 2, Dr. Brenes also specializes in performing acupuncture, homeopathic injections, Class IV therapeutic laser applications, and food sensitivity or allergy testing. She has been offering these holistic remedies to Southwest Florida residents since 2004. Regarding how she became dedicated to the practice of Alternative health, Dr. Brenes explains, “I have always had the desire to help people and didn’t really know much about acupuncture, but I felt it was the path I was lead to. I am very grateful that I took this path due to the people I can help. I feel there is a place for Western medicine, but there is also a place for Eastern medicine. “Being an acupuncture physician has been very rewarding. We are the ones people call when they can’t get results anywhere else. I have treated so many people, who were unable to get results from drugs or other remedies. “I feel my background reflects out-of-thebox thinking, and I’m always pursuing new medical treatments, which leads back to Visica 2. This is a huge break-through in treating fibroadenoma (benign breast tumors) and breast cancer.” In fact, Dr. Brenes even offers a special incentive for anyone, who participates in a medical study, testing the effectiveness of cryoablation as an alternative to surgery or radiation. “We are currently enrolling new patients under the Frost Trial. This phase two and three trial is no cost to patients, who qualify,” she says. For further details, a potential patient can search “Frost Clinical Study” on ClinicalTrials.gov or contact Dr. Brenes’ office. Location: 6815 14th Street West, Suite 208, Bradenton. For more information or to schedule an appointment, call 941751-2345 (Dr. Brenes’ office) or 941-926-3100 (Dr. Zalkin’s office). Mary-Elizabeth Schurrer is a writer and copy editor for the Sarasota-Manatee edition of Natural Awakenings. She works as a freelance writer, blogger and social media marketer, based in Southwest, FL. Her personal blog, HealthBeAHippie. Wordpress.com, features practical tips for embracing a fit, nutritious and empowered lifestyle.

BRINGING MORE THAN HOMEWORK HOME By Ryan Hogan It’s that time of year when we’re sending our kids back to school. Unfortunately, while schools are good places to learn they are great places to catch a disease. In fact, children’s Upper respiratory illnesses (URI’s) cause more doctor visits and missed school days than any other illness in the US. Luckily, there are a few things you can do at home to help reduce the chances of your child getting sick at school this year.

sanitizer before eating snacks, lunch and after using a shared computer mouse, pencil sharpener, water fountain or other community objects. Now, most people know we need to wash our hands, but one thing most people don’t really relate their health to is nasal hygiene. Using a saline spray with xylitol, such as Xlear Nasal Spray, is safe for all ages. Research has shown this natural sweetener is useful in preventing bacterial otitis media (ear infections), among other upper respiratory problems that are most likely to occur in fall and winter months. Additional xylitol studies have also shown a significant reduction in asthma attacks when a xylitol nasal spray is used on a daily basis. Xylitol affects nose and throat bacteria in two ways:

HOW? Before we talk prevention, we need to know how infection spreads. Many childhood illnesses are caused by viruses and bacteria that are transferred from person to person. URI’s increase in fall and winter as we spend more time crowded indoors. All it takes is one sick child, going to school for the spread to begin. Small droplets from a child’s cough or sneeze travel through the air and land on surfaces like desks, doorknobs and people. These germs are easily spread when someone touches the contaminated object and then proceeds to touch their eyes, nose or mouth. Children’s immune systems are less mature than those of adults, so they’re more vulnerable to these germs. Washing your hands and your nasal passages and also keeping their hands away from their nose, eyes and mouth are the most preventative habits to form at a young age.

•

Decreases the adherence of harmful bacteria on their surface cells.

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Stimulates the body’s own natural defense system

Since the average American child has six to ten colds a year, using a xylitol nasal spray is a safe and effective way to promote better upper respiratory health, year round. FINAL HEALTHY TIPS In addition to frequent hand-washing, teach your child some other school health basics: •

Cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze.

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Give your child a package of tissues to keep in his or her desk.

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Encourage your child not to share water bottles, food or other personal items.

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Ask your child’s teacher to include hand-washing time before lunch or snacks.

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Have your whole family practice nasal hygiene and the use of xylitol saline spray like Xlear.

WHAT CAN YOU DO? Our best defense is to stop cold germs where they breed. Good hand-washing is the most effective way to prevent bacteria and viruses from spreading. Wash your hands after using the bathroom, blowing your nose, handling trash and prior to touching food to help eliminate germs. Soap and water should be used for 20 seconds (about as long as it takes to sing the “Happy Birthday” song twice). Using alcohol-based hand cleaners is also effective. Remind your child to use the

Even with all of these tips, your kids are bound to come down with something over the course of the school year. We all get sick at some point or another, forming healthier habits and maintaining a positive attitude is all we can do as parents. For more information, please visit www.xlear.com.

natural awakenings

February 2015

Pet Vaccines: Q & A with Dr. Anne Luther Natural Awakenings: How important are vaccines to my pet’s health?

Dr. Luther: That really depends on their lifestyle. An indoor only pet is much less likely to be exposed to any contagious diseases than one that goes outside. A pet that spends a lot of time outdoors should definitely be protected against the most common and deadly diseases such as Rabies, Distemper, Parvo and Adenovirus for dogs; and Rabies, Distemper and Leukemia for cats.

NA: Are there vaccines that are harmful or unnecessary?

Dr. Luther: Absolutely. There are a number of vaccines, which are given routinely by many veterinarians that just aren’t necessary due to the pet’s lifestyle. In cats, Feline Leukemia is not necessary for an indoor cat with no exposure to leukemia positive cats. In cats, any vaccination can lead to a very invasive form of cancer at the injection site. This vaccine-induced sarcoma is very difficult to remove due to its invasive nature, and many cats die if they have this type of cancer. Bordetella (Kennel Cough) vaccine is required by many kennels and groomers but, according to respected veterinary immunologist Ronald Schultz, this vaccine is ineffective for preventing the disease. Giardia is a new vaccine, but there have not been adequate field studies to demonstrate the need or benefit of this vaccine. To date, no one has demonstrated a benefit for coronavirus vaccine. In the vaccination guidelines from the American Animal Hospital Association, neither Giardia nor Coronavirus vaccines are recommended. Canine flu vaccination is a new vaccine, which is now being recommended by some veterinarians. The flu is quite uncommon and usually not lifethreatening. The vaccine won’t prevent a dog from getting the virus, but it may lessen the severity and the duration of the disease. It is considered a non-core vaccine. The leptospirosis vaccine is controversial. While Leptospirosis is a life-threatening disease, it is treatable when diagnosed early. The vaccine can cause a variety of severe reactions, and it is not effective against many of the common strains of the disease, so the risk of vaccination really doesn’t outweigh the benefit. Because all vaccines carry some risk when given, it is recommended that vaccines only be given to prevent potentially life-threatening diseases.

NA: At what age should pets be vaccinated and with which vaccines?

Dr. Luther: The “core vaccines” are those that every dog or cat should receive. For dogs, these include Canine Parvovirus, Canine Distemper virus, Canine Adenovirus type 2 and Rabies Virus. Cats should be given Feline Panleukopenia, Herpesvirus, Calicivirus, Feline Leukemia (outdoor cats only) and Rabies. At a minimum, puppies and kittens should be given at least one dose at 16 weeks of age or older. Current recommendations are that they should be given at least twice 70

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starting at eight to nine weeks then at an interval of every four weeks. It is critical that the last dose be given at 14 to 16 or more weeks of age. Rabies vaccination is given once, no earlier than 12 weeks of age. After the puppy or kitten series is completed, revaccination is recommended again one year after the last vaccination. Rabies is required by law to be given every three years, whereas the other core vaccines need not be given again for at least three or more years. There is no benefit from annual rabies vaccination, and most one-year Rabies products are similar or identical to the three-year products with regard to duration of immunity and effectiveness. However, if the veterinarian administers a one-year Rabies vaccine, they must be legally given annually. Revaccination annually does not necessarily improve immunity, but it does significantly increase the risk for an adverse reaction in the dog.

NA: What about all the other vaccines currently available for the dog?

Dr. Luther: They are non-core or optional vaccines that should only be given to animals that need them and only as often as needed. The duration of immunity is not known for certain non-core products, the efficacy is limited or not known, and the risks versus benefit factors are not always well established or understood. The minimum duration of immunity for Leptospira vaccines is probably less than one year, thus if required for a high risk dog, they may need to be given as often as semi-annually. Considering the low efficacy, the adverse event rate and the minimal risk for Leptospirosis in many regions of the US, many veterinarians do not think the risk outweighs the benefit.

NA: Are there holistic alternatives to vaccines?

Dr. Luther: There are definitely alternatives to revaccination. If pets receive a vaccination for Parvo, Distemper or Rabies over the age of 16 weeks, they may be protected for life. Blood tests, called titers, may be used to determine if your pet needs a booster vaccination. If the titer shows adequate protection, your pet doesn’t need to be vaccinated for that disease. Unfortunately, Florida does not accept titer results to license your pet. For prevention of kennel cough, there is an effective homeopathic nosode, which may be given during boarding.

NA: Are there risks associated with vaccines?

Dr. Luther: There are risks associated with all vaccines. Some are mild and not life-threatening, but others may be fatal. The most common reactions include lethargy, soreness, anorexia, fever, hives and facial swelling. More chronic risks include allergic skin disease, behavior changes, respiratory infections and immune suppression. The most serious complications include anaphylactic shock, chronic arthritis, autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA), glomerulonephritis (kidney inflammation), Myocarditis (heart inflammation), encephalitis (brain inflammation), thyroiditis and vaccine-induced sarcomas (cancer at the injection site).

NA: What side effects should I look for?

Dr. Luther: The initial side effects can range from facial swelling and hives to anaphalactic shock. Later symptoms are more subtle and occur up to several weeks later. The most life-threatening reaction is development of autoimmune hemolytic anemia, which can be rapidly fatal. AIHA causes anemia and weakness, eventually leading to death if untreated. Other long term symptoms include seizures, encephalitis, and heart and kidney disease.

NA: What should I do if I think my pet is having an allergic reaction?

Dr. Luther: Go to the closest Veterinary hospital for treatment. These reactions can be life-threatening.

NA: Mine is an indoor cat. Do I need to get vaccinations for her?

Dr. Luther: Indoor cats have very little opportunity to catch contagious diseases. If you have other cats that go out, you should definitely vaccinate for

the core vaccines. If all of your cats are indoors, you should analyze the risk of vaccination versus the risk of catching the disease. Cats that go out on the lanai can still catch diseases through the screen. Rabies is required by law in all animals, whether at risk or not. The safest rabies vaccine for cats is Merial’s Purevax vaccine. All others carry a greater risk of side effects.

NA: What is the philosophy of vaccinations at Sarasota Animal Medical Center? Dr. Luther: We believe less is more when it comes to vaccinations. Each pet has unique requirements, and this should be discussed at the first visit. Pets that are sick or have chronic health issues should not be vaccinated because this can worsen the disease. I recommend that puppies and kittens receive as few vaccines as possible. If they are kept indoors and away from other pets, waiting until they are over 16 weeks of age for the first vaccine will almost guarantee three years of immunity for dogs, and at least one year for cats. If your vet is still recommending yearly re-vaccinations, ask for titers to measure your pet’s immunity. If your

pet was properly vaccinated as a puppy or kitten, chances are he’s protected for life from core diseases. It’s also important to remember the only vaccine required by law is Rabies. Vaccination programs are changing, and they will continue to change. The vaccination program must be tailored to the individual animal. My general philosophy is to vaccinate with only those vaccines that the animal needs and only as often as required to maintain protective immunity. My clients tell me that when they asked their previous veterinarian why they still recommend annual shots, they said “better safe than sorry.” Ironically “the better safe than sorry philosophy” can be applied to less vaccination, since the animal that develops an adverse reaction from a vaccine that wasn’t needed is an example of being “sorry, not safe!” Anne Luther, DVM, MS, BA, CVA, is the owner of Sarasota Animal Medical Center, located at 3646 Birky Street in Sarasota. In addition to office appointments, Sarasota Animal Medical Center also offers veterinary house call services. To schedule an appointment, call 941954-4771. For more information, visit SarasotaAnimalMedical.com.

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natural awakenings

February 2015

calendarofevents

Trance Channel Sessions $150/50 mins. Elysian Fields, 1273 Tamiami Trl S, Sarasota, 941-3613006, ElysianFieldsOnline.com.

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.

Full Moon Women’s Meditation – 6:30-8:30pm. Experienced practitioners from different spiritual disciplines focus on the raising of human consciousness. Master Drummer Barbara Gail leads Drumming the Chakras meditation. Love offering. Rising Tide, 5102 Swift Rd, Sarasota. Jo Mooy 941-355-1414.

why it works, and how to apply it to your home. $40, Bright Life, 2135 Siesta Dr, Sarasota, 941366-8113, BrightLife-USA.com.

daily SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 1 Soft Eyes/Hands, Easy Shoulders – 9:30am-5pm. Using concepts from the Feldenkrais Method® participants explore how easy eyes and hands can soften and help to reorganize shoulders and neck. $120, Ionie’s, 1241 Fruitville Rd, Sarasota, 941360-2248, FeldenkraisInSarasota.com. Roy Eugene Davis at Unity of Sarasota – 2-5pm. Davis is one of the last two living direct disciples of Paramahansa Yogananda. A scholar, rational thinker, and gentle man who lives the spiritual teachings and training of his master, Yogananda, Davis has his Center of Spiritual Awareness in the north Georgia mountains where people from all over the world attend retreats. Donation, 3023 Proctor Rd, Sarasota. Seating is limited. Pre-registration required, send email to UnitySarasota@juno.com. Season of Nonviolence Potluck Kickoff – 6pm. The Gandhi King Season for Nonviolence (SNV) commences for the 18th consecutive year on January 30 and runs through April 4, spanning the memorial anniversaries of Mahatma Gandhi and Dr Martin Luther King, Jr in cities across the globe. The purpose of the campaign is to focus educational and media attention on the philosophy of attaining peace through nonviolent action as demonstrated by legendary leaders Mohandas K Gandhi; Rev Martin Luther King, Jr; Cesar E Chavez; and President Nelson Mandela, as well as living legends such as His Holiness Tenzin Gyatso, 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet. Hosted by The Sarasota Peace Education and Action Center, featured speaker will be Rivera Sun, activist and social media coordinator for Campaign Nonviolence and Pace e Bene, (RiveraSun. com). Fogartyville Community Media & Arts Ctr, 525 Kumquat Ct, Sarasota, Info Arlene Sweeting 941-545-5635, PEACenter@gmail.com, SarasotaPEACenter.com.

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 2 Prenatal Yoga with Victoria Ochoa – Every Monday in February. 5:15-6:15pm. Yoga designed specifically for moms-to-be, includes breath techniques, gentle warm-ups, postures that increase movement, comfort, strength, and openness. Classes end in deep relaxation. $14, $50/5, Rosemary Court Yoga, 810 Central Ave, Sarasota, 941-9525280, RosemaryCourt.com. Life Long Agility – Mondays through March 23. 7-9pm. 16-hour program using concepts from The Feldenkrais Method® that work to maintain/regain agility for life. Being agile - different than flexibility. $225, Ionie’s, 1241 Fruitville Rd, Sarasota, 941360-2248, FeldenkraisInSarasota.com.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 3 How Feng Shui Improves Lives – 6:30-8:30pm. Kathy Keh, Master Practitioner of Classical Feng Shui explains what Feng Shui is, isn’t, how and

Sarasota/Manatee Edition

Healing Service – 7pm. Come relax and benefit from a guided meditation, hands-on healing and mental healing for those named by attendees. 30 to 45 minutes. Love Offering. Center for Metaphysical Fellowship, 2044 Bispham Rd, Sarasota, 941266-8435, CMFSarasota.org.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 4 Free Healing Clinic – 4-7pm. Our Masters tap into the Divine Source of energy to balance and heal your being. Relax and enjoy this renewing and enlightening experience. Love Donation. Angel Ministries, 2269 South Tamiami Trl, Venice, Rev Patricia Charnley 941-492-4995, RevPat@ AngelMinistriesFL.org, AngelMinistriesFL.org.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 5 Spiritual Wake-Up Calls – 6:30-7:30pm. Introductory discussion about spiritual experiences, past lives, dreams & Soul Travel. Free Spiritual Experiences Guidebook, includes CD. Free, Venice Library, 300 S Nokomis Ave, Venice, 941-358032, Meetup.com/EckankarInSarasota. How to Design a Healthy Home – 6:30-8:30pm. Join Kathy Keh, Master Practitioner of Classical Feng Shui, as she demonstrates how to feng shui a home by applying formulas to actual blueprints. $40, Bright Life, 2135 Siesta Dr, Sarasota, 941366-8113, BrightLife-USA.com. The Conference of the Birds – 8-9:15pm. Become aware that challenges in your life are archetypal in nature and represent an opportunity for spiritual unfoldment. Presented is the classic Sufi tale, The Conference of the Birds: An Avian Masquerade, an allegory of the spiritual quest. It depicts the birds of the world journeying to find the Simurgh, the King of majesty and splendor, who will bestow realization and awakening to their lives. Encore performance for those who missed November. Cast masked in the style of Theatre of Personae, ancient medieval plays of Greece. $10-15/Sugg’d donation, Rising Tide, 5102 Swift Rd, Sarasota, Info 941-320-9666, SaddiqAlch@aol.com.

Reiki Share – 7-9pm. An Invitation to Reiki Practitioners: All levels are most welcome! Join in the fun of giving and receiving healing. $5/Love Donation, Angel Ministries, 2269 S Tamiami Trl, Venice, Rev Patricia Charnley 941-492-4995, RevPat@AngelMinistriesFL.org, AngelMinistriesFL.org Healing Sessions with Joy Adler – Feb 6-20. Open to your destiny. Graduate & former faculty of Barbara Brennan School of Healing, Joy Adler will be seeing clients for private healing sessions. $120. Clinic at Sarasota School of Massage Therapy, GoldenVoice@prodigy.net, JoyAdler.com/healing, JoyAdlerMusic.com.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 7 Revive the Senses: A Somatic Journey – Noon3pm. A playful merging of conscious movement, contact improvisation and sensory meditation will allow space for deeply embodied connection. Conscious movement is a mindful practice where you listen to your inner voice and move from the wisdom of your body, a non-speaking sacred space, honoring the individual and creating community. Contact improv is a movement form where contact with another provides a springboard for improvisational movement and exploration. $30/advance; $40/door, Prana Yoga and Healing Center, 3840 S Osprey Ave, Sarasota, Kathy 941-724-9719, KathyOravec@gmail.com, ConsciousMovementSarasota.com. Message Gallery – 7-8:30pm. Melissa Parks brings individual messages from guides and loved ones in spirit to all attending. The information brought during Melissa’s high energy sessions is very often helpful and comforting. $20 donation. Center for Metaphysical Fellowship, 2044 Bispham Rd, Sarasota, 941-266-8435, CMFSarasota.org. Kirtan World Music Concert – 8-10pm. Join us for beautiful music by Amir and Chloe O’Loughlin on guitar and violin, inspired by Eastern spiritual, call-and-response music (kirtan). $10-20, Rising Tide, 5102 Swift Rd, Sarasota, 941-993-9994, RisingTideInternational.org.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 8

Kundalini Yoga with Dev Atma – Feb 6, 13, 20 & 27. 8:30-9:45am. Classes include gentle warm ups, a yoga set of postures, movements, breathing techniques and relaxation, followed by meditation utilizing mantra, breath, and oftentimes the healing vibration of the Gong. $14, $50/5, Rosemary Court Yoga, 810 Central Ave, Sarasota, 941-952-5280, RosemaryCourt.com.

“The Forgotten Kingdom” – 1pm. Jim Rosemergy is a spiritual seeker and explorer of the mystical life. His focus is conscious oneness with the One. $5, $10, Unity of Sarasota, 3023 Proctor Rd, Sarasota, 941-955-3301, UnityOfSarasota.com.

Psychic Intuitive & Trance Channel Readings – 10:30am-5:30pm. Sherry Lord is a versatile channel who can answer your questions, both business and personal, and help you on your spiritual path. $35/15 mins; $65/30 mins; $100/60 mins. Deep

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TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 10 Our Personal Connection to God – 6-7 pm. Introductory discussion about spiritual experiences, past lives, dreams and Soul Travel. Free Spiritual Experiences Guidebook, includes CD. Free, Gulf Gate Library 7112 Curtiss Ave, Sarasota, 941-3580325, Meetup.com/EckankarInSarasota.

natural awakenings

February 2015

Alternative to Surgery – 6-7pm. Hear about the new non-surgical options available to heal joints, tendons and muscles using stem cells, as well as Platelet Rich Plasma. Free. Gecko Joint & Spine, 2033 Wood St, #210, Sarasota, RSVP 941-3308553, GeckoJointandSpine.com.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 11 Tibetan & Crystal Bowl Concert – 6:30-8:30pm. Join us for an evening immersed in sound and experience the powerful emotional and physical healing vibrations of the Tibetan & Crystal Bowls. $40, Bright Life, 2135 Siesta Dr, Sarasota, 941366-8113, BrightLife-USA.com.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12 Intuitive & Healer Readings – 10:30am-5:30pm. Deborah Chadwick is able to communicate with her guides and angels, quickly receiving very specific information for her clients. $30/15 mins; $60/30 mins. Elysian Fields, 1273 Tamiami Trl S, Sarasota, 941-361-3006, ElysianFieldsOnline.com. Stop Smoking Forever Hypnosis – 6-7:15pm. Enjoy a natural and easy way to be tobacco-free permanently. Learn about Dr Coleman’s unique program with a guarantee. Release your cravings in 2015! $10. Invincible Solutions Hypnosis, Gabriel Center, 2886 Ringling Blvd, Sarasota, 941356-5506, InvincibleSolutionsHypnosis.com. Race Relations in America Discussion – 7pm. Panel will consist of an Atheist, Christian, Jew, Muslim, and a special guest from the community, discussing the Ferguson trial and the situation in Cleveland. Join in and have your own questions answered. Everyone welcome. Free. Unity of Sarasota, 3023 Proctor Rd, Sarasota, Info 941-9553301, UnityOfSarasota.com.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 14 ST. VALENTINE’S DAY Psychic Fair – 10am-3pm. Are you searching, questioning and seeking answers? Choose from some of the best Intuitive Artists in the area and see what your future holds! Free Healing and Refreshments. $15/15 Min Readings, Angel Ministries, 2269 S Tamiami Trl, Venice, Rev Patricia Charnley 941-492-4995, RevPat@AngelMinistriesFL. org, AngelMinistriesFL.org. Reiki I – 11:30am-5:30pm. The first of four classes towards a Reiki III Master Healer certification. This ancient form of hands-on healing handed down by Dr Usui is a profound path of initiation into becoming a conduit of light on the planet. $122. Rising Tide, 5102 Swift Rd, Sarasota, Rev Zan Benham 941-922-7839, Zan@Woman-Spirit. com, Woman-Spirit.com.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 15 Community HU Song – 10-11am. HU is an ancient name for God. When sung as a pure prayer of love, it opens your heart to God’s Love for you; 30 mins, followed by light refreshments. Free, AmericInn, 5931 Fruitville Rd (W of I-75), Sarasota, 941-358-0325, Meetup.com/EckankarInSarasota. Numerology with Marcia Bender – 1-3pm. More than 50 years of experience in many metaphysical disciplines, Marcia will present and help you with your personal numerological forecast for 2015. $20/Donation, Unity of Sarasota, 3023 Proctor Rd, 941-955-3301 X 43, UnityOfSarasota.com. Making Spiritual Decisions – 3-4:30pm. Nationally known inspirational speaker Ed Foote examines how to make decisions based on spiritual principles, suggesting specific ways to do this. Making decisions this way enhances peace, calm & happiness. $20 donation. Center for Metaphysical Fellowship, 2044 Bispham Rd, Sarasota, 941-2668435, CMFSarasota.org.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17

Guided Jin Shin Jyutsu® – 6-7:15pm. Be renewed as you are guided by Michelle Giambra, Certified Practitioner, through hands-on energy balancing exercises you apply to your own body. $13/ class; $50/5 classes prepaid; cash or check. Suncoast Jin Shin Jyutsu, Rosemary Court Yoga, 810 Central Ave, Sarasota. Register by Noon, Fri, Feb 13, 941-228-2972, Michelle@SuncoastJSJ.com, SuncoastJSJ.com.

Chanting for Health, Wealth & Joy with Dr Raj Markos – Feb 17 & 24. Mar 3, 10, 17 & 24. 7-8:30pm. Mantras, the Sanskrit syllables inscribed on yantras, are essentially thought forms representing cosmic powers, which exert their influence by sound-vibrations. Expect amazing and wonderful changes in your life. $10/per class. The Cosmic Center of Spiritual Light, 5041 Ringwood Mdw, Bldg G-2, Sarasota, 941-371-9333. CCOSL.com.

Qi Gong – 7-8pm. Qi Gong opens pathways in the body to circulate & stimulate the body’s internal processes to allow for the smooth flow of Qi (energy), which can increase strength and produce vitality. $10, Angel Ministries, 2269 S Tamiami Trl, Venice, Rev Patricia Charnley 941-492-4995, RevPat@AngelMinistriesFL.org, AngelMinistriesFL.org.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 18

Aerial Yoga Weekend Immersion Training – Feb 13-15. 1-9pm Fri; 9am-5pm Sat & Sun. Class is designed for teachers and those looking to deepen their own practice, providing a broad overview of the subject while also guiding students to learn correct alignment and technique. Students who find inversions on the mat frightening or too difficult can easily begin to conquer their fears in the swing, not to mention receiving therapeutic decompression of the spine with every moment spent upside down. Open to RYT 200 and 500 students for yoga alliance continuing education credits as well as instructors from other fitness backgrounds. ReFlex Arts, 6260 N Lockwood Ridge Rd, Sarasota, 941359-9642, Contact@ReflexArts.com.

Sarasota/Manatee Edition

Transform Your Life with Light – 6:30-8:30pm. Learn how lives are being magically transformed with Aura-Soma’s energy-based healing emulsions which blend color, herbs, flowers & crystals. $30, Bright Life, 2135 Siesta Dr, Sarasota, 941-3668113, BrightLife-USA.com. Reiki III Master Share – 7-9pm. Masters of all lineages come together to share, expand, enhance and brush up on their Reiki. Wear comfortable clothes. $5/Suggested Donation. Rising Tide, 5102 Swift Rd, Sarasota. Rev Zan Benham 941-922-7839, Zan@Woman-Spirit.com, Woman-Spirit.com.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19 A Taste of Hypnosis – 6-7:15pm. Everything you wanted to know but were afraid to ask about hypnosis. Enjoy a happy group hypnosis session. Free gift if you bring a buddy. $10. Invincible Solutions Hypnosis, Gabriel Center, 2886 Ringling Blvd, Sarasota, 941-356-5506, InvincibleSolutionsHypnosis.com.

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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 20 Yoga with Julianna Takacs – 3-4:30pm. A chance to meet Julianna Takacs of NYC in a gentle, restorative and well-rounded yoga class. Free to all attending Embodied Mysticism weekend workshop. $20, Rising Tide, 5102 Swift Rd, Sarasota, 941735-8352, RisingTideInternational.org. New Moon Women’s Meditation – 6:30-8:30pm. Experienced practitioners from different spiritual disciplines focus on the raising of human consciousness. Buddhist nun Gen Demo of the Kadampa Center leads a Buddhist Mindfulness meditation. Love offering, Rising Tide, 5102 Swift Rd, Sarasota, Jo Mooy 941-355-1414. Sharing of Spiritual and Healing Powers of the Crystal Caves – 7pm. Doors open 6pm to meet Leela Hutchison, Gemologist and first woman explorer of the largest crystals ever discovered on planet Earth, in the Giant Selenite Crystal Caves of Naica, Mexico. $20. The Cosmic Center of Spiritual Light, 5041 Ringwood Mdw, Bldg G-2, Sarasota, 941-371-9333. CCOSL.com.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 21 Embodied Mysticism – Feb 21-22. 9am-Noon. Two-day workshop of yoga and spiritual practice combined, with Julianna Takacs, from NYC, teaching. $150, Rising Tide, 5102 Swift Rd, Sarasota, 941-735-8352, RisingTideInternational.org. Channeling the Divine – 10am-1pm. Join John White and work with special meditations and you can awaken the sacred self to: remember your natural talents and gifts, understand your sacred contracts, learn how the higher mind thinks, and so much more. $40, Angel Ministries, 2269 S Tamiami Trl, Venice, Rev Patricia Charnley 941492-4995, RevPat@AngelMinistriesFL.org, AngelMinistriesFL.org. AMC Basic Integrated Energy Therapy – 10am4pm. You will learn to conduct the 5-min empowerment self-balancing & clearing session; become familiar with Energy Anatomy and Cellular Memory Map; “Read” Energy; Conduct a full Basic-level IET session. $180/0.5 Credit, Angel Ministries College, 2269 S Tamiami Trl, Venice, Rev Patricia Charnley 941-492-4995, RevPat@AngelMinistriesFL.org, AngelMinistriesFL.org. Hands of Light with Joy Adler – Feb 21 10am6pm; Feb 22 10am-4pm. Learn skills as taught at the premier healing school in the world. Energy Mastery techniques are great for self-healing and helping others! $270. Sarasota School of Massage Therapy, GoldenVoice@prodigy.net, SarasotaSchoolOfMassageTherapy.edu/ce_hands_of_light. html. The Crystal Grid Activation – 10am-6pm. A day-long workshop with Leela Hutchison, Gemologist and first woman explorer of the largest crystals ever discovered on planet Earth in the Giant Selenite Crystal Caves of Naica, Mexico. $99/Pre-registered, $122/Door. The Cosmic Center of Spiritual Light, 5041 Ringwood Mdw, Bldg G-2, Sarasota, Pre-register 941-371-9333 or Leela. SplashThat.com. Sound Healing Energy Workshop – 2-4pm. Norma Gentile (HealingChants.com), a trained channel and energy healer who holds a Master’s degree in Voice, takes everyone on a tonal journey through portals of sound. $25. The Cosmic Center of Spiritual Light, 5041 Ringwood Mdw, Bldg G-2, Sarasota, 941-371-9333, CCOSL.com.

Lecture & Book-Signing – 4-5:30pm. Heather O’Brien Walker, motivational speaker and author of Don’t Give Up, Get Up!, will be giving a free lecture and book signing. Elysian Fields, 1273 Tamiami Trl S, Sarasota, 941-361-3006, ElysianFieldsOnline.com. Julianna Takacs Open Kirtan – 7:30-9pm. Kirtan is the practice of singing together to open the heart & consciousness, and embody our highest selves. Sacred songs from around the world. $1020/Donation, nobody turned away. Rising Tide, 5102 Swift Rd, Sarasota, 941-735-8352, RisingTideInternational.org.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 22 ECK Worship Service – 10-11am. This month: You Exist Because God Loves You. Join others in exploring the wonder and beauty of God’s Love for you. Free, AmericInn, 5931 Fruitville Rd (W of I-75), Sarasota, 941-358-0325, Meetup.com/EckankarInSarasota. Gentle Partner Yoga Workshop – 3-5pm. Incorporates massage, healing touch, and communication for you and your partner to discover the joy of yoga together. All levels welcome. $40/couple, Garden of the Heart Yoga Center, 2888 Ringling Blvd, Sarasota, 941-341-9781, GardenOfTheHeartYoga.com.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 24 Alternative to Surgery – 6-7pm. Hear about the new non-surgical options available to heal joints, tendons and muscles using stem cells, as well as Platelet Rich Plasma. Free. Gecko Joint & Spine, 2033 Wood St, #210, Sarasota, RSVP 941-3308553, GeckoJointandSpine.com. Permanent Weight Loss Hypnosis – 6-7:15pm. Release extra pounds the effortless way with Dr Coleman’s unique Virtual Gastric Band Hypnosis program. Traditional program available also. $10. Invincible Solutions Hypnosis, Gabriel Center, 2886 Ringling Blvd, Sarasota, 941-356-5506, InvincibleSolutionsHypnosis.com.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25 Top 10 Everyday Essential Oils – 6:30-8pm. Learn how you and your family can benefit from the top 10 easy-to-use oils designed to replace every item in your medicine cabinet. Fire Station, Community Rm, 2070 Waldemere St, Sarasota, Alina & Rob Rinato 813-644-9104, yleosrq.com.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 26 Intuitive & Healer Readings – 10:30am-5:30pm. Deborah Chadwick is able to communicate with her guides and angels, quickly receiving very specific information for her clients. $30/15 mins; $60/30 mins. Elysian Fields, 1273 Tamiami Trl S, Sarasota, 941-361-3006, ElysianFieldsOnline.com.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 28 Psychic Fair – 10am-3pm. Are you searching, questioning and seeking answers? Choose from some of the best Intuitive Artists in the area and see what your future holds! Free Healing and Refreshments. $15/15 Min Readings, Angel Ministries, 2269 S Tamiami Trl, Venice, Rev Patricia Charnley 941-492-4995, RevPat@AngelMinistriesFL. org, AngelMinistriesFL.org. Advanced Hypnosis Training – Feb 28-Mar 1, 10am-5pm. Start a fulfilling and lucrative career in hypnosis with this two-day hypnosis certification course. Open to people who have basic hypnosis

training. Call for Cost & Registration. Invincible Solutions Hypnosis, Gabriel Center, 2886 Ringling Blvd, Sarasota, 941-356-5506, InvincibleSolutionsHypnosis.com. Creating Your Personal Power Field with Jeannie Hamm – 2pm. Rebuild your energy field, access your Higher Mind and realize your unlimited potential utilizing sacred geometry and other spiritual tools to provide a pathway into expanded awareness (AscensionSpirit.com). Love Offering. The Cosmic Center of Spiritual Light, 5041 Ringwood Mdw, Bldg G-2, Sarasota, 941-371-9333, CCOSL.com. Lecture & Book-Signing – 4-5:30pm. Cheryl Grace, professional feng shui consultant and author of Feng Shui Simply, will be giving a free lecture and book signing. Elysian Fields, 1273 Tamiami Trl S, Sarasota, 941-361-3006, ElysianFieldsOnline.com. Soul Proof Movie and Q&A – 7-9:30pm. Finally, imagine receiving sensible, evidence-based answers to your biggest questions and challenges about life, death and afterlife. Love offering. Unity of Sarasota, 3023 Proctor Rd, Sarasota, 941-9553301, UnityOfSarasota.com. Matt Venuti Concert – 7:30-9pm. Come experience an enchanting and uplifting concert of Heartfelt Love featuring Matt Venuti, award-winning composer. $20; $10/Students. Rising Tide, 5102 Swift Rd, Sarasota, 941-321-8107, RisingTideInternational.org.

plan ahead SUNDAY, MARCH 1 Soul Proof 1 Workshop – Noon-4:30pm. In this workshop with Mark Pitstick you can deepen your faith and knowledge that you are an integral part of Source Energy now and forevermore. Love offering. Unity of Sarasota, 3023 Proctor Rd, Sarasota, 941-955-3301, UnityOfSarasota.com.

FRIDAY, MARCH 6

Native Spirituality: Can It Save the Planet? – Mar 6-7. Workshop and talk with Ed McGaa, Eagleman, an Oglala Sioux born on the Pine Ridge Reservation, sun dancer, lawyer, author of nine books, student of Eagle Feather and Fools Crow (EdMcGaa. com). The Cosmic Center of Spiritual Light, 5041 Ringwood Mdw, Bldg G-2, Sarasota, 941-3719333, CCOSL.com.

SATURDAY, MARCH 7 Break

Through

Threshold – 3-5:30pm. There is no goal bigger than you, just goals that require you to be a bigger you. Manifestation & co-creation with Jai Maa. $25-$75/Sliding Scale, Rising Tide, 5102 Swift Rd, Sarasota, 941-387-4225, BreakThroughYourThreshold.com.

FRIDAY, MARCH 13 Guided Jin Shin Jyutsu® – 6-7:15pm. Be renewed as you are guided by Michelle Giambra, Certified Practitioner, through hands-on energy balancing exercises you apply to your own body. $13/ class; $50/5 classes prepaid; cash or check. Suncoast Jin Shin Jyutsu, Rosemary Court Yoga, 810 Central Ave, Sarasota. Register by Noon, Fri, Mar 13, 941-228-2972, Michelle@SuncoastJSJ.com, SuncoastJSJ.com.

FRIDAY, MARCH 27 When Food Was Sacred – Mar 27, 7:30pm-Mar 29, 5pm. Create a spiritual and sacred relationship with your food, learning world spiritual teachings, meditations, and practices with Dr Anna Less PhD. $190/by March 18; $215/after. Rising Tide, 5102 Swift Rd, Sarasota, 941-993-9994, RisingTideInternational.org. DaySpring Retreat – Mar 27-29. The weekend Women’s Spiritual Retreats are filled with returning students every year so new students cannot attend. For that reason, this Women’s Commuter Retreat is offered for new attendees only. Retreat size is limited to 20 women. Cost for 3 days includes lunches, a bound book, and canvas tote bag. Come and enjoy a weekend along the banks of the Manatee River on 96 acres of park-like setting. DaySpring Retreat Center, 8411 25th St, Ellenton. Info/Reservations, 941-355-1414, JoMooy@ gmail.com, Starsoundings.com.

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Your

natural awakenings

February 2015

ongoingevents NOTE: All calendar events must be received via email by the 10th of the month and adhere to our guidelines. Email publisher@nasrq.com for guidelines and to submit entries. No phone calls or faxes, please.

sunday Beach Yoga for Everybody – 9-10am/Nov-April. Relax, breathe, stretch & greet the beautiful morning on beautiful Englewood Beach (N end). Loving Light Yoga, 3455 S Access Rd, Englewood. 941-473-0135, Lata528@gmail.com, LovingLightYoga.com. One from the Heart Healing Sessions – 9:3010:15am. Center of Spiritual Awareness healing practitioners offer 15-min sessions to bring a state of wholeness to body, mind, and spirit. Free. Fruitville Rd (Knights of Columbus Bldg), 941926-7828. Discover Your Spiritual Home – 10am. With Rev Karen Wolfson. Center for Spiritual Living Sarasota, South Gate Community Center, 3145 S Gate Cir, Sarasota. 941-927-6212. CSLSarasota.com. Hatha Yoga with Jamie Coffey – 10-11:30am. A creative blend of yoga styles based on the teacher’s background. The class helps to build strength and increase flexibility. $14, $50/5, Rosemary Court Yoga, 810 Central Ave, Sarasota, 941-9525280, RosemaryCourt.com. Mixed Levels Yoga with Cindy – 10-11:30am. Alignment-based yoga suitable for anyone with previous yoga experience. Learn standing poses, twists, back bends, seated bends & inversions at your own pace. More options given for beginning or advanced students. $15; $88/8. Garden of the Heart Yoga, 2888 Ringling Blvd, Sarasota, 941341-9781, GardenOfTheHeartYoga.com.

Candlelight Healing Meditation – 3pm. Open Arms Spiritualist Service 3:30pm. Inspired talks and messages with Rev Mary Linn & Rev Thomas Clarke, Cosmic Center of Spiritual Light, 5041 Ringwood Mdw, Bldg G-2, Mdws Village Center, Sarasota, 941-371-9333, CCOSL.com.

monday Yoga of 12 Step Recovery (Y12SR) – 8:15-10am. Y12SR combines the practical tools of the 12-step program with the ancient wisdom of yoga, creating a model that truly addresses addiction as the physical, mental & spiritual dis-ease that it is. Donation. Rising Tide Intl, 5102 Swift Rd, Sarasota, Cynthia 941-685-1533, y12sr.com. Beach Yoga for Everybody – 9-10am/Nov-April. Relax, breathe, stretch & greet the beautiful morning on beautiful Englewood Beach (N end). Loving Light Yoga, 3455 S Access Rd, Englewood, 941-473-0135, Lata528@gmail.com, LovingLightYoga.com. Workout with Lucho – Mon & Weds 9:1510am. F.I.T. Functional Interval Training. Improve strength, flexibility and heart health using your own body combined with resistance and cardio exercises. All levels. $12/Prepaid, Beach Life Wellness, 301 Albee Rd W, Nokomis, 941-244-2006, BeachLifeWellness.com. Hatha Yoga with Stephanie Cole – 9:3010:45am. A creative blend of yoga styles based on the teacher’s background. The class helps to build strength and increase flexibility. $14, $50/5, Rosemary Court Yoga, 810 Central Ave, Sarasota, 941952-5280, RosemaryCourt.com.

Transitions Support Group – 5-6:30pm. A support group that helps cope with the reality of traumatic changes. Discover resources & chart strategies to achieve priority goals. Six sessions are recommended. Free. Transition Church, 2215 Sunset Dr, Ste E1, Bradenton. 941-739-7103. RevDCT@ Verizon.net. Zumba with Carla – 5:30-6:30pm. Forget the workout, Join the party! Dance yourself into shape listening to the exotic & exhilarating rhythms of Latin and international beats. Just lose yourself in the music at the original dance-fitness party. All levels welcome. $12/Prepaid, Beach Life Wellness, 301 Albee Rd W, Nokomis, 941-244-2006, BeachLifeWellness.com. Mixed Levels Yoga with Randall – 5:30-7pm. This alignment-based yoga class is geared toward students who have been practicing yoga for at least 6 months. Inversion options will be taught in this class to prepare you for headstands, handstands, and shoulderstands. Dropins welcome. $15; $88/8. Garden of the Heart Yoga, 2888 Ringling Blvd, 941-341-9781. GardenOfTheHeartYoga.com. Ongoing Class Feldenkrais – 5:45-6:45pm. Awareness Through Movement® classes improve posture, balance, body awareness. Lessons (in chairs/on floor) are designed to quiet non-working habitual patterns, invite you into a process for learning and offer experiences for more efficient movement. $15/class; $50/4 classes, Ionie’s, 1241 Fruitville Rd, Sarasota, 941-587-4535, FeldenkraisInSarasota.com. Automatic Writing Class – 6-7pm. With Melissa Parks learn how to open up and then practice communications with spirit loved ones and guides. Most students pick up this skill quickly. Enjoy learning this communication method. $10/Donation, Center for Metaphysical Fellowship, 2044 Bispham Rd, Sarasota, 941-266-9250, CMFSarasota.org.

Tai Chi – 10am. Jack Barker, Certified TCA & FLEX instructor under Dr Paul Lam’s Tai Chi for Health Institute. $30/6 weeks; Free/Silver Sneakers Members. The Cosmic Center of Spiritual Light, 5041 Ringwood Mdw, Bldg G-2, Sarasota, 941-371-9333, CCOSL.com.

Booty Beat! – 6:40pm & Friday 9:15am. Experience the fabulous feeling that dancing gives you, while reaping the benefits of strength and cardio. This fabulous and super fun dance fitness class allows you to let loose and condition the entire body inside out! $10, Packages available, Fly Dance Fitness, 999 Cattleman Rd, Sarasota, 941-400-0020, FlyDanceFitness.com

Introduction to Yoga – 11am-12:15pm. Learn how to align your body, mind, and life with the practice of yoga. No prior yoga experience is expected. $8/1st class, Garden of the Heart Yoga Center, 2888 Ringling Blvd, Sarasota, 941-341-9781, GardenOfTheHeartYoga.com.

Forgiveness Support Group – 7-8:30pm. Forgiveness in Aramaic is to cancel, untie or let loose. It’s a tool for changing a reality in the mind. This is one of the core messages of Why is this Happening to Me Again? $10. Unity Church of Sarasota. 941776-7465. UnityOfSarasota.com.

Aerial Yoga – 11:30am-12:45pm. With Mandy. All levels. Begins with basic mat work & progresses to using a soft fabric yoga inversion swing. $15; $12/senior/student. 6260 N Lockwood Ridge Rd, Sarasota. 941-359-9642. ReflexArts.com.

Intermediate Yoga with Jen – 11am-12:30pm. This alignment-based yoga class is geared toward students who have been practicing yoga for at least 6 months. Poses build from week to week for a progressive learning experience. Drop-ins welcome. $15; $88/8. Garden of the Heart Yoga, 2888 Ringling Blvd, Sarasota, 941-341-9781, GardenOfTheHeartYoga.com.

Sai Maa Satsang & Blessing – 1st Mon 7-8:30pm. A spiritual gathering, meditation & blessing to strengthen connection to self, truth & healing. Uses Sai Maa teachings & transformational healing. Free. Central Sarasota location. 941-487-7077. Sai-Maa.com.

Cosmic In-Service – 12:15-1:30pm. Gathering of Lightworkers. A call to Planetary World Servers to anchor Light and work with our family of light to bridge Heaven and Earth. Love Offering. The Cosmic Center, 5041 Ringwood Mdw, Bldg G-2, Sarasota. Rev Sharon Elizabeth James, 941-3719333. CCOSL.com.

Ashtanga Yoga with Liana Bryant – 11:15am12:45pm. Ashtanga Yoga is a physically demanding practice synchronizing breath with movement through a set series of progressive postures to build strength, flexibility, and stamina. $14, $50/5, Rosemary Court Yoga, 810 Central Ave, Sarasota, 941952-5280, RosemaryCourt.com, LianaYoga.com.

Sunday Worship Service – 10:30am. Start your week refreshed. Join the CMF for a morning of inspiration, spiritual healing, inspirational talk, special music and Spirit messages from guides and loved ones. Center for Metaphysical Fellowship, 2044 Bispham Rd, Sarasota, 941-266-8435. CMFSarasota.org. A Cosmic New Thought Service – 10:3011:30am. A metaphysical universal service with music, talk, meditation and chants, to educate & expand our understanding and concepts to clarify and empower our connection with Infinite Spirit, Divine Source. Free energy healings. Love offering. The Cosmic Center, 5041 Ringwood Mdw, Bldg G-2, Sarasota.Rev Zan Benham 941-9227839, Zan@Woman-Spirit.com, CCOSL.com.

Sarasota/Manatee Edition

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Anchoring the Light Meditation – 7:458:45pm. Rev Sharon-Elizabeth James channels anchoring the light meditation. Serving the Ascension of our planet with the Ascended Realms as Anchors of Light. Every Monday since 2007. Love Offering. The Cosmic Center, 5041 Ringwood Mdw, Bldg G-2, Sarasota. 941-371-9333. CCOSL. com.

Chakra Clearing & Alignment – Spiritual guidance from Rev Duffy Rutledge using the Crystal Bed from John of God. $25. Call for appointments. 941-926-7828. Yoga Classes – Mon, Tues, Wed. A variety of styles. Ionie Body Mind Retreat/Raw Food Café, 1241 Fruitville Rd, Sarasota. Info 941-955-4599, Ionie.com.

tuesday Beach Yoga for Everybody – 9-10am/Nov-April. Relax, breathe, stretch & greet the beautiful morning on beautiful Englewood Beach (N end). Loving Light Yoga, 3455 S Access Rd, Englewood. 941-473-0135, Lata528@gmail.com, LovingLightYoga.com. TRX Training Basics – Tues & Thurs 9:15-10am. Learn how to safely use this Suspension Training System used today by all branches in the US Military and in fitness & rehabilitation programs all over the world. Basic yet challenging full body workout. $12/Prepaid, Beach Life Wellness, 301 Albee Rd W, Nokomis, 941-244-2006, BeachLifeWellness.com. Yoga at Colonial Oaks Recreation – Tues & Thurs 9:30am & 5:45pm. Beginners and intermediate Hatha yoga in a relaxed, beautiful environment. Each 70-minute class includes pranayama or breathing exercises, asanas or postures, stretching (of course) and relaxation or svasana. Props available, bring your mat! Many pricing options. 5300 Colonial Oaks Blvd, Sarasota, Cynthia 941-6851533, iClarityYoga.com. Hot Vinyasa Yoga – 11am-12:15pm. Combines upbeat music, interesting transitions, & fulfilling vinyasas to begin the week. Betsy is experienced & continues to grow & evolve this beautiful practice. $15, Class cards available. 6260 N Lockwood Ridge Rd, Sarasota. 941-359-9642. ReflexArts. com. Chair Yoga – Tues & Thurs Noon-1pm. With Carol. Perfect for those that struggle with flexibility or balance demands of a traditional yoga class. Benefits of asana, pranayama, & short meditation. $15, $12/Senior. Reflex Arts, 6260 N Lockwood Ridge Rd, Sarasota. 941-359-9642. ReflexArts.com. Family Yoga with Jen – 4:30-5:15pm. Got Kids? Love yoga? Family yoga is the perfect class for kids and parents (or grandparents!) to enjoy yoga together. Explore stretching, strengthening, games, music, and growing healthy bodies together. For families with kids ages 4+. $20; $90/6-week session, Garden of the Heart Yoga, 2888 Ringling Blvd, Sarasota, 941-341-9781, GardenOfTheHeartYoga.com. Belly Dance Fundamentals – 5:30-6:30pm. Belly Dancing is natural to a woman’s bone and muscle structure with movements emanating from the torso. Join us as we focus on the basic isolations essential for the beginner as well as the professional dancer. $12/Prepaid, Beach Life Wellness, 301 Albee Rd W, Nokomis, 941-244-2006, BeachLifeWellness.com. Advanced Practice – 5:30-7:15pm. Tuesday nights are a teacher-led practice where strong yogis can come to learn advanced sequences and poses. Knowledge of alignment is expected. Led

by Jaye Martin or Cheryl Chaffee alternate weeks. Advanced students from other styles are welcome. $15; $88/8. Garden of the Heart Yoga, 2888 Ringling Blvd, 941-341-9781. GardenOfTheHeartYoga.com The Essentials Yoga Class – 5:45-7pm. An active class appropriate for most levels, focusing on essential yoga postures to improve one’s skeletal alignment, balance, flexibility & strength. Learn to release stress & enhance breathing. $14; $80/8. Yoga Arts, Bradenton. 941-747-9397. Avatar Intro Nights – 6-9pm. With Sonia Morisette, Avatar Master. Explore how beliefs affect reality. Awaken new possibilities and discover the preciousness of life. The Avatar course is inspiring and empowering. Free. RSVP 941-928-1554. Iyengar Yoga with Deborah Di Carlo – 6:308pm. Iyengar Yoga is characterized by an emphasis on precision of alignment in the yoga postures, the use of props to help students of all ability levels achieve correct alignment, and an understanding of the therapeutic potential of yoga. $14, $50/5, Rosemary Court Yoga, 810 Central Ave, Sarasota, 941-952-5280, RosemaryCourt.com. Zen Meditation – Tues & Thurs 7-8:30pm. Led by spiritual director, Rev Daito Zenei Thompson. Consists of 2/20-min meditations, separated by a 5-min walking meditation. Ends with tea & conversation. Free. Sarasota Zen Center, 3947 Clark Rd, Ste A, Sarasota. 941-451-6988. SarasotaZen.org. Intro to Buddhist Meditation – 7-8:30pm. Intro to meditation (6 varieties) from an authentic Tibetan Buddhist perspective, along with chats about Buddhist philosophy. $45/6 classes. Unitarian Universalist Church of Sarasota, 3975 Fruitville Rd. 941-552-8466. Saratara@gmail.com. Introduction to Yoga – 7:30-8:45pm. Learn how to align your body, mind, and life with the practice of yoga. No prior yoga experience is expected. $8/1st class, Garden of the Heart Yoga Center, 2888 Ringling Blvd, Sarasota, 941-341-9781, GardenOfTheHeartYoga.com. Reiki Sessions – With Reiki Master Mary Kane. Spa De Vries, 3534 Osprey Ave, Sarasota. 941706-1157.

wednesday Early Morning Yoga with Jaye – 6-7:30am. Alignment-based yoga class geared toward students who have been practicing yoga for at least 6 months. Greet the day with yoga. $15; $88/8. Garden of the Heart Yoga, 2888 Ringling Blvd, 941341-9781. GardenOfTheHeartYoga.com Beach Yoga for Everybody – 9-10am/Nov-April. Relax, breathe, stretch & greet the beautiful morning on beautiful Englewood Beach (N end). Loving Light Yoga, 3455 S Access Rd, Englewood, 941-473-0135, Lata528@gmail.com, LovingLightYoga.com. Restorative/Therapeutic Yoga – 10-11:15am. This class combines therapeutic movement & restorative postures. Suited for people unable to practice yoga in its more active form. Movements are gentle & well-supported. $14; $80/8. Yoga Arts, Bradenton. 941-747-9397.

classifieds Fee for classifieds is $1 per word per month (20 word minimum). To place listing, submit online at nasrq.com. Or call 941-564-0885 ext. 306 for more information. Deadline is the 12th of the month.

CLASSES AND WORKSHOPS ACCESS BARS® HAS ASSISTED THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE CHANGE MANY ASPECTS OF THEIR BODY AND THEIR LIFE, including sleep, health and weight, money, sex and relationships, anxiety, stress and so much more. At worst you will feel like you have just had a phenomenal massage. At best your whole life can change into something greater with total ease. Classes & private sessions, Becky 941-888-2340, Lghtwkr@hotmail.com. TECHNIQUE AND BIBLE OILS. Practical applications of essential oils for massage therapists, body workers with IACET affiliation. MindTimeOils.Weebly.com.

MENTAL HEALTH YOUR SPECIAL CHILD. EXPERIENCED INTUITIVE ANN BLISS offers individualized emotional release, enhancing focus, socialization, happiness, digestion, emotional balance. Free Consultation 845-282-0643.

OFFICE SPACE AVAILABLE CLEAN AND RELAXING ROOM IN A HOLISTIC SETTING. In the heart of Sarasota. Deposit required. $450 a month, includes utilities. Call 941-373-3998. OFFICE SPACE FOR RENT. In well-established wellness center in the Gulf Gate area. $500 per month. 941-928-9584.

PRODUCTS 100% ORGANIC, NON-GMO, CUSTOMIZED NUTRITIONAL SUPPLEMENTS. HIPPA-protected assessment ensures that nothing interferes with prescriptions or medical conditions. Free of Gluten, Casein, Soy, artificial colors, flavors, fillers. 859-620-2055, ANourishedLife.IDLife.com. Five Points Park Farmers Market – 10am-2pm. Omega Cure bottles, vials, cookies and chocolates available. Stop by, say hi, try a sample. First St & N Pineapple Ave, Sarasota, Omega3Innovations.com. Feldenkrais with Bonnie K – 10:45-11:45am. Awareness Through Movement® classes improve posture, balance, body awareness. Lessons (in chairs/on floor) are designed to quiet non-working habitual patterns, invite you into a process for learning and offer experiences for more efficient movement. $15/class; $50/4 classes, Ionie’s, 1241 Fruitville Rd, Sarasota, 941-587-4535, FeldenkraisInSarasota.com. Core Tone-Up – 11:15am-12:30pm. A therapeutic flow of yoga and Pilates taught by a certified teacher in both. Beg-Int levels. Develop strong posture, healthy spine & joints, pelvic stability,

natural awakenings

February 2015

balance, respiration, and all of yoga’s other benefits. $15; $10/10. Alive with Yoga, 7512 S Tamiami Trl, Sarasota, 941-302-1004, AlivewithYoga.com. Kundalini Yoga with Dev Atma – 11:30am12:45pm. Classes includes gentle warm ups, a set of postures, movements, breathing techniques, and relaxation, followed by meditation utilizing mantra, breath, and oftentimes the healing vibration of the Gong. $14; $50/5. Rosemary Court Yoga, 810 Central Ave, Sarasota. 941-952-5280. RosemaryCourt.com. Gentle Flow Yoga with Harmony – 1-2:30pm. Hatha yoga class perfect for students of all levels, including beginners. Reduce stress and increase flexibility and strength with yoga. Each Gentle Flow class ends with Yoga Nidra for a relaxing state of mind and body. $15; $88/8. Garden of the Heart Yoga, 2888 Ringling Blvd, 941-341-9781, GardenOfTheHeartYoga.com. TRX Chisel with Carla – 3-4pm. Intense fitness class working all of your muscles using TRX Suspension Training with a combination of the best basic exercises including squats, presses, lifts, curls, pushes, pulls, and more! $15, Beach Life Wellness, 301 Albee Rd W, Nokomis, 941-2442006, BeachLifeWellness.com. Free Yoga for Veterans/Military – 3:30-4:30pm. Veterans, military personnel and their family members can attend a free weekly yoga class designed for vets with PTSD, TBI and other combat injuries. Free, Garden of the Heart Yoga, 2888 Ringling Blvd, Sarasota, 941-341-9781, GardenOfTheHeartYoga.com. Tea with the Goddesses – 4:30-6:30pm. The Goddess Love Circle of Sarasota meet-up with other amazing Goddesses. Relax, chat, share wisdom, receive support from others and hold space for mind, body, heart and soul healing. Elixir Tea Shop, 1926 Hillview St, Sarasota, Text RSVP 516-287-0242. Sunlight Yoga – 5:45-7pm. With Debbie Downing. Gentle flowing hatha yoga. Range of motion, balance, breath awareness, asanas, relaxation. Mixed level. The Power of One, 238 W Tampa Ave, Venice Centre Mall/KMI Bldg, Ste 250, 941468-0403, SunlightYoga@Verizon.net. Intro to Hoop Dance Class – 6-7pm. Learn the basics of the art of Hoop Dance in this 4-week series that begins each month. Have fun, dance, meet new friends and burn calories. $40/month series. Prana Yoga Studio, 3840 S Osprey Ave, Sarasota. Bonnie Brown 941-404-8114. OutwardSpiral.net. Kundalini Yoga with Erinn Earth – 6-7pm. Outdoor class for fresh air intake. Lots of breathing while stretching. Techniques for kundalini manipulation for subtle body transformation. Meditation indoors at end of class. Lesson from Sutras or Gita. $10; $40/5, Unity of Sarasota, 3023 Proctor Rd, Sarasota, 941-284-9563, InSelfYoga.net.

LeBarre – 6:40pm & Tues 9:15am. Taking the hottest trend in dance-inspired conditioning, people LeLove LeBarre! Combines balance, agility, resistance, recovery and eloquence into a challenging full body workout. Unlike any barre class you’ve seen! All levels welcome. $10; Packages available, Fly Dance Fitness, 999 Cattleman Rd, Sarasota, 941-400-0020, FlyDanceFitness.com. Chair Yoga in Salt Room – 7-8pm. Experience the health benefits of gentle yoga, combined with the health benefits of working with the breath during dry salt therapy. $20; Packages available; Senior discount. Fusion Therapy, 7069 S Tamiami Trl, Sarasota. 941-921-7900. FusionTherapy.net. Meditation Study Group – 7-8:30pm. Introduction of the various philosophies of meditation followed by a study of different kinds of practices throughout history. We will discover what meditative practices are most appropriate today and for those interested in spiritual development. Free. Starflower Spathecary, 415 S Pineapple Ave, Sarasota. 941-554-4292. Starflower.com. Numerology Classes – 7-8:30pm. Learn to manage your life with numerology, with Kathy Skeen. $30. Rejuvenations Center, 2610 Bee Ridge Rd, Sarasota. 941-554-8657. RejuvenationsofSarasota@gmail.com. Sarasota Contact Improv Jam – 7-9pm. 2nd & 4th Wed. Contact improv dance class. Love offering. Ionie Body Mind Retreat/Raw Food Café, 1241 Fruitville Rd, Sarasota. 941-320-8144. Ionie.com. Prayer & Meditation Service – 7:20-8:30pm. Mid-week prayer, meditation & candle lighting service. Unity of Sarasota. 941-955-3301. UnityofSarasota.com. Restorative Yoga & Meditation – 7:30-8:45pm. All levels welcome. Focuses on postures that relax the body & allow the mind to rest. Guided meditation & Reiki healing make this a great place to find rejuvenation. $15; Class cards available. 6260 N Lockwood Ridge Rd, Sarasota. 941-359-9642. ReflexArts.com. Argentine Tango Classes – 8-10:30pm. Learn the Universal language and explore the depth of your soul through the movement and music. Great for your mind, body and spirit! SaraDance Center, 5000 Fruitville Rd, Sarasota, 941-266-4402, Dance-Fire.com.

thursday Beach Yoga for Everybody – 9-10am/Nov-April. Relax, breathe, stretch & greet the beautiful morning on beautiful Englewood Beach (N end). Loving Light Yoga, 3455 S Access Rd, Englewood, 941-473-0135, Lata528@gmail.com, LovingLightYoga.com.

All Levels Flow Yoga – 6-7:15pm. With Ginny. Healing yoga class, afterwards, take a walk through gardens, visit the chickens & relax. $15; $12/Senior/Student. Heartwood Retreat Center. 941-359-9642. ReflexArts.com.

Englewood Farmers Market – 9am-2pm. Omega Cure bottles, vials, cookies and chocolates available. Stop by, say hi, try a sample. Historic Dearborn St, Sarasota, Omega3Innovations.com.

Pregnancy Yoga – 6-7:15pm. Experience the benefits of pregnancy yoga for improved posture, strength, flexibility, endurance, breathing & relaxation. Appropriate for all levels. $15; $50/5. Prana Yoga, 3840 S Osprey Ave, Sarasota. 941312-1898.

Mom + Baby Yoga with Liana – 10-10:45am. In this playful practice, moms rebuild core strength and relieve neck and shoulder tension while bonding with their little ones, and create lasting relationships with other moms. $14; $50/5, Rosemary Court Yoga, 810 Central Ave, Sarasota, 941-9525280, RosemaryCourt.com.

Sarasota/Manatee Edition

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Hatha Yoga – 10-11am. For a life in balance. A gentle transforming practice. Pauline Dimitri. $10. The Cosmic Center of Spiritual Light, 5041 Ringwood Mdw, Bldg. G2, Sarasota. 941-371-9333. CCOSL.com. Ashtanga Yoga with Liana Bryant – 11:15am12:30pm. Ashtanga Yoga is a physically demanding practice synchronizing breath with movement through a set series of progressive postures to build strength, flexibility and stamina. $14; $50/5, Rosemary Court Yoga, 810 Central Ave, Sarasota, 941952-5280, RosemaryCourt.com. Yoga for Veterans – 3:30-4:30pm. Veterans, military personnel, & their family members can attend a free weekly yoga class designed for vets with PTSD, TBI, and other combat injuries. Free. Goodwill Community Room, 5150 N Tamiami Trl, Sarasota. 941-341-9781. Pet Grief Support Group – 3rd Thursday. 7pm. For understanding, support & sharing pictures & stories of your special friend. Love offering. Unity of Sarasota. 941-955-3301. Prenatal Yoga – 7-8:15pm. Exclusively for momsto-be. Learn to safely modify yoga poses for every stage of pregnancy. Relax, de-stress, & embrace the joy of being pregnant, in a supportive environment. Donation. Garden of the Heart Yoga, 2888 Ringling Blvd, 941-341-9781. GardenOfTheHeartYoga.com. A Study of World Religions – 7-9pm. Starting with the Bhagavad-Gita, students learn the various spiritual and cultural paths to God from the world’s religions. Love Offering. With Rev Leslie Chaillou from Cosmic Center at her home, 2506 5th Ct, Ellenton. 704-756-7331, 941-371-9333. CCOSL.com. Spiritual Evolution: Awakening the Shaman – 7-9pm. A course designed to infuse, enhance and expand your spiritual growth through ceremony and practical application of meditation techniques, chakra work, chants, all to open and to expand insight & perception. $10. The Cosmic Center, 5041 Ringwood Mdw, Bldg G-2, Sarasota. Rev Zan Benham, 941-922-7839, Zan@woman-spirit.com, CCOSL.com.

friday Sarasota Farmers Market – 7am-1pm. Come early for good parking & pick of the best produce & products from the market’s 70+ vendors. Downtown Sarasota, intersection of Lemon & Main St, 941-225-9256. SarasotaFarmersMarket.org. Kundalini Yoga with Dev Atma – 8:30-9:45am. Classes includes gentle warm ups, a yoga set of postures, movements, breathing techniques, and relaxation, followed by meditation utilizing mantra, breath, and often times the healing vibration of the Gong. $14; $50/5. Rosemary Court Yoga, 810 Central Ave, Sarasota. 941-952-5280. RosemaryCourt.com. Beach Yoga for Everybody – 9-10am/Nov-April. Relax, breathe, stretch & greet the beautiful morning on beautiful Englewood Beach (N end). Loving Light Yoga, 3455 S Access Rd, Englewood, 941-473-0135, Lata528@gmail.com, LovingLightYoga.com.

Vinyasa Yoga – 9-10:15am. With Ildi. A vigorous style of yoga, which links breath and movement through a heat-building sequence. $14; $50/5. Rosemary Court Yoga, 810 Central Ave, Sarasota. Liana Bryant 941-952-5280. RosemaryCourt@yahoo.com, RosemaryCourtYoga.com. Basic Yoga with Randall Buskirk – 9-10:30am. Learn how to align your body, mind, and life with the practice of yoga. Suitable for beginners. $8/1st class, Garden of the Heart Yoga Center, 2888 Ringling Blvd, Sarasota, 941-341-9781, GardenOfTheHeartYoga.com. Downtown Bradenton Farmers’ Market – 9am2pm. Each Sat, the market features a special activity including guest chefs, raffles, arts & crafts vendors & children’s activities. Old Main St, Downtown parking/free on weekends. Dogs on leashes are welcome. 941-744-7484. Nokomis Powerwalk – 9:15-10:15am. Group gathers at Beach Life Wellness and walks, jogs, lunges, and performs a variety of exercises as we make our way to Nokomis Beach and back. Super fun way to exercise with a group and enjoy the beautiful outdoors. All levels welcome. $12/ Prepaid, Beach Life Wellness, 301 Albee Rd W, Nokomis, 941-244-2006, BeachLifeWellness.com. Essentials for Healthy Backs – 9:15-10:30am. Therapeutic Yoga emphasizing alignment, core, breath, and specific poses to relieve common back conditions. $15; $10/10. Alive with Yoga, 7512 S Tamiami Trl, Sarasota. Paula Morris; 941-9235621. MrrisHaven@aol.com, AlivewithYoga.com. Chair Yoga in Salt Room – 9:30-10:30am. Experience the health benefits of gentle yoga combined with the health benefits of working with the breath during dry salt therapy. $20; Pkgs available; Senior discount. Pine Park Center, 7069 S Tamiami Trl, Sarasota. 941-921-7900. FusionTherapy.net. Flow Yoga – 10-11:15am. Sun Salutations to warm the body & move into a series of standing poses. Practice balance, core stability & breathe awareness. $15, $88/8. Prana Yoga. 941-735-0344. Hatha Yoga with Stephanie Cole – 10-11:15am. A creative blend of yoga styles based on the teacher’s background. The class helps to build strength and increase flexibility. $14, $50/5, Rosemary Court Yoga, 810 Central Ave, Sarasota, 941-9525280, RosemaryCourt.com.

Book Study & Discussion – 10am-Noon. An ongoing book study group encouraging discussion & group interaction. $10. Unity of Sarasota. 941-9553301. UnityOfSarasota.com. Paint through Spirit with Lisa – Friday & Saturday, 11am-1pm or 1:30-3:30pm. Let go of your thinking self and open to your heart and soul through paste paper painting. This simple yet transformative painting process nourishes, inspires, and frees your intuitive self. Classes are relaxed and joyful. Paste Paper Art Gallery Studio, Towles Ct, 1975 Morrill St, Sarasota, 941-313-2175, PastePaperArt.com. Mindfulness and More – 1-2:30pm. Alive With Yoga, 7513 S Tamiami Trl, Sarasota. Charlie Bradt 941-922-5205. Community Yoga Class – 4:15-5:30pm. Practice yoga and support the community. All proceeds from this class support the Karma Yoga Outreach Program. Pay what you can, Garden of the Heart Yoga Center, 2888 Ringling Blvd, Sarasota, 941341-9781, GardenOfTheHeartYoga.com. Ascension to Immortality – 7-9pm. Based on his book about Jesus, Avatar of God, Rev Gopi Chari shows the ardent Seeker that they can experience a personal connection with God, the Divine Source, by following the teachings and example of Jesus’ 7 stages of the paths of Ascension. $10, The Cosmic Center of Spiritual Light, 5041 Ringwood Mdw, Bldg G2, Sarasota. 941-371-9333. CCOSL. com.

saturday Sarasota Farmers Market – 7am-1pm. Omega Cure bottles, vials, cookies and chocolates available. Stop by, say hi, try a sample. Main St & Lemon Ave, Sarasota, Omega3Innovations.com. Central Sarasota Year-Round Farmers Market – 8am-1pm, rain or shine. Every agriculture vendor at the market (fruits, vegetables, herbs, plants, etc.) is a growers or farmer, not just a reseller. Sarasota County Technical Institute campus, 4748 S Beneva Rd, south parking lot, E of the pond, Sarasota, CentralSarasotaFamersMarket.com. Beach Yoga for Everybody – 9-10am/Nov-April. Relax, breathe, stretch & greet the beautiful morning on beautiful Englewood Beach (N end). Loving Light Yoga, 3455 S Access Rd, Englewood, 941-473-0135, Lata528@gmail.com, LovingLightYoga.com.

RYT200 Yoga Teacher Training – 9am-6pm. Sept 20-April 2015. Our professional level RYT200 Yoga Teacher Training prepares students for work in public classes & private sessions. Kerry Tice & Britt Dienes train. $3175. CircuSoul Yoga, 941-922-9642, CircuSoul.com. Yoga with Lana – 10-11am. Join Lana in her serene Banyan Tree Open Studio. Authentic Yoga incorporating the essentials of a vital practice: meditation, strength, flexibility, balance, and healing. Beginner-Intermediate Hatha Yoga. $12/Prepaid, Beach Life Wellness, 301 Albee Rd W, Nokomis, 941-244-2006, BeachLifeWellness.com. Wild Ginger Apothecary – 10am-6pm. Now open in Gulf Gate, featuring non-toxic and eco-friendly health + beauty items for the entire family. 6557 Superior Ave, Sarasota. 941-312-5630. WildGingerApothecary@gmail.com, WildGingerApothecary.com. Kundalini Yoga with Erinn Earth – 10:3011:45am. Outdoor class for fresh air intake. Lots of breathing while stretching. Techniques for kundalini manipulation for subtle body transformation. Meditation indoors at end of class. Lesson from Sutras or Gita. $10; $40/5, Unity of Sarasota, 3023 Proctor Rd, Sarasota, 941-284-9563, InSelfYoga.net. Iyengar Yoga with Deborah Di Carlo – 11am12:30pm. Iyengar Yoga is characterized by an emphasis on precision of alignment in the yoga postures, the use of props to help students of all ability levels achieve correct alignment, and an understanding of the therapeutic potential of yoga. $14, $50/5, Rosemary Court Yoga, 810 Central Ave, Sarasota, 941-952-5280, RosemaryCourt.com. Nokomis Reiki Share – 2nd Sat. 3-5pm. An opportunity for Reiki practitioners to connect with one another and those who are interested to know more. Everyone will have time to receive as well as practice sharing healing energy in this safe, caring, environment. No experience needed. Love offering. Beach Life Wellness, 301 Albee Rd W, Nokomis, 941-244-2006, BeachLifeWellness.com. The Happiness Hour – 2nd Sat. 5pm. An uplifting hour of upbeat music, calming meditation and a spiritual message to entertain and enlighten. Built on social interaction, fun and real world spiritual practices. $10, Bayfront Community Center (behind the Municipal Auditorium), 803 N Tamiami Trl, Sarasota, 941-484-8782, TheHappinessHour. com.

Profound Relaxation 2014 "Nattie" Awards Winner Rejuvenation & Relief Favorite Energy Healer & Favorite Holistic Practitioner!!! Take Your Healing Journey to the Next Level

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Michelle Giambra

941.228.2972 SuncoastJSJ.com Certiﬁed Jin Shin Jyutsu Practitioner & Self-Help Instructor, LMT

MA42460

17+ Years' Experience

natural awakenings

February 2015

communityresourceguide Connecting you to the leaders in natural health care and green living in our community. To find out how you can be included in the Community Resource Guide email publisher@nasrq.com to request our media kit. ACUPUNCTURE/ CHINESE MEDICINE

APPLIED KINESIOLOGY DR. CYNTHIA CLARK, AP, ACN

CARYN L. YOUNG, DOM, AP, OTR

Board Certified Acupuncture Physician The Integrated Path, P.A. 3148 Southgate Ci, Sarasota 941-924-8833

The Integrated Path to Health and Wellness for the whole family utilizing Traditional Chinese Medicine, Acupuncture, Bio-Meridian Computerized Scanning, Bio-Cleanse Detoxification, Energetic Medicine, Clinical Nutrition.

Longevity Wellness Clinic & Crane Health 2106 Bispham Road, Sarasota, FL 941-923-9355 (WELL) LongevityWellnessClinic.com CraneHealth.net

Nutritional Healing with muscle testing combines dietary therapy with Western nutrition science; the aim is to recommend the precise nutrients your body needs to treat your specific health issues, increase healing and enhance performance.

AROMATHERAPY

COURTNEY F. CONNELL, AP

Longevity Wellness Clinic & Crane Health 2106 Bispham Road, Sarasota, FL 941-923-9355 (WELL) LongevityWellnessClinic.com CraneHealth.net

We offer a holistic approach to healthcare that combines Chinese Medicine, acupuncture and nutrition with Western science and diagnostics. We specialize in Pain and Stress Relief, Heart Health and Healthy Aging, Endocrine and Nerological Disorders.

YOUNG LIVING ESSENTIAL OILS Alina Piccone & Robert Ridpath, ICA 813-644-9104 AlinaPiccone@me.com YLEOSarasota.com WeOwnOurLife.com

Young Living is the world leader in therapeutic essential oils. Contact us for details about hosting your own workshop or to attend an upcoming class!

CHIROPRACTIC ALL NATURAL HEALING

941-953-3700 2650 Bahia Vista St Suite 309, Sarasota AllNaturalHealingSRQ.com

Dr. Larson uses a gentle adjusting technique for all ages. He specializes in non-surgical neck and back repair. Call for Free Consultation 941-9533700.

DR. AMY TAFEEN

3529 South Tuttle Avenue, Sarasota, FL 941-924-7228 phone 941-924-4780 fax FamilyChiropractic-DrTafeen.com

30 years experience, pediatrics, sports, automobile injuries, massage, nutrition and facials. Most insurances accepted and affordable cash plans.

COLON HYDROTHERAPY COLON THERAPY CLINIC

Alain Menard • Allaesia Menard 2831 Ringling Blvd, Ste 121-F 941-922-7744 ColonTherapyClinic.com

Cleansing for digestive disorders. Licensed 40 years. Developed gentle technique. Foot bath and ear candling.

BIO-IDENTICAL HORMONES ACUPUNCTURE FACELIFT

FAMILY PHARMACY

3644 Webber Street Sarasota • 941-921-6645 888-245-0070 FamilyPharmacy.org

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.

THE OPEN CENTER

Bob Waxman, Ph.D. Author & Educator 3023 Proctor Rd. at Unity of Sarasota 941-724-5151 • OpenCenter@comcast.net OpenCenterFL.com (see 2014 Events)

Come and enjoy uplifting classes, events and films that explore spirituality, wellness & personal growth. Expand your mind and nourish your spirit! Many events by donation. Newcomers welcome! Also, seeking teachers with experience & credentials.

Sarasota/Manatee Edition

BOOKSTORE/GIFT SHOPS ELYSIAN FIELDS

1273 Tamiami Trail, Sarasota 941-361-3006 ElysianFieldsOnline.com

ADULT EDUCATION

Personalized service for 30 years— specializing in custom compounding. We offer herbal and nutritional supplements, seminars on bio-identical hormone replacement therapy, cholesterol screenings and more.

Books and gifts for conscious living. Award-winning store! Jewelry, incense, clothing, candles, greeting cards and more. Private readings daily. Classes and events. M-Sat 10-6, Sun 12-5.

www.nasrq.com

CRANIOSACRAL THERAPY ADVANCED CRANIOSACRAL WHOLE BODY THERAPY Terry Grywinksi, LMT MA6049 San Marco 205D, 1188 N Tamiami Tr, Sarasota 941-755-3437 AdvancedCranioSacralHealing.com

Gifted healer Terry Grywinski with 19 years experience and advanced craniosacral training provides rapid relief from injury, pain, and muscle restrictions. Great success with auto/ sports injury, sciatic, neck and back pain, TMJ, migraines.

CRANIOSACRAL THERAPY LYMPHATIC DRAINAGE TERRY SCHIBLER, LMT MA11621 Fusion Therapy 7069 S Tamiami Trail Sarasota, 34231 • 941-921-7900 FusionTherapy.net

Terry’s 22 years of experience integrates the best of anatomical knowledge of the body with eastern concepts of energy and healing. He has a singular ability to trace, recognize and treat complex pain patterns while treating the cause of pain, not just symptoms.

CRYSTALS THE CRYSTAL CAVE

1899B Fruitville Rd., Sarasota 941-346-6203 CrystalCave.me

Sellers of stones, crystals, mineral specimens, fossils, jewelry, books, gifts, etc. Susan has over 25 years experience working with crystals and stones.

CRYSTAL BOWLS/GIFTS THE OM SHOPPE

4521 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota 941-706-3257 TheOMShoppe.com

Sarasota’s largest selection of Crystal and Fusion Singing Bowls, Himalayan Salt products, Organic Oils, as well as Mediation Accessories and Gifts for Mindful Living.

SPATHECARY STARFLOWER ORGANIC SPATHECARY 415 S, Pineapple Ave Sarasota, FL 34236 941-554-4292 Starflower.com

Starflower Organic Skincare is one of the leading holistic skin care manufacturers in the U.S.A, offering a complete line of certified organically grown, food grade ingredients and essential oils. Spathecary services include Organic Facials, Structural Alignment Massage, Reflexology and Nutritional and Holistic Detoxification counseling.

DENTISTRY RAY BEHM DDS

127 N Garden Ave Clearwater, FL SaveYourTeeth.com 727-446-6747

Save your teeth with safe natural holistic dentistry. We offer general dental services such as cleanings, checkups and emergencies. Safe appropriate amalgam removal. Metal-free crowns, bridges and dentures.Non-surgical gum treatment. Holistic extractions.

ENERGY HEALING/GIFT STORE” BRIGHT LIFE

2135 Siesta Drive, Sarasota 941-366-8113 www.BrightLife-USA.com

Bright Life, an award winning boutique specializing in innovative products that accelerate personal growth and transformation. Offering includes energy based healing products which utilize color, sound, fragrance, and the signatures of flowers, crystals & gemstones, monthly workshops, Aura-Soma & Classical Feng Shui consultations & training. Tue-Fri 11am-5pm, Sat 10am-4pm, closed Sun & Mon

HOLISTIC VETERINARIAN

FELDENKRAIS METHOD®

BEAR CREEK VETERINARY ALTERNATIVES

FELDENKRAIS® METHOD

Classes, Individual Lessons and Workshops. Bonnie Kissam, M.A. At Ionie’s, 1241 Fruitville Rd., Sarasota 941-360-2248 Bonnie@FeldenkraisInSarasota.com

7509 S Tamiami Trl, Sarasota 941-312-6825 BearCreekSarasota.com

Movement with attention is the Feldenkrais Method®’s approach to improve posture and create more harmonious, efficient ways of moving. Through heightened awareness to the flow of movement, clients optimize their musical, athletic or natural everyday movements, and improve abilities after an injury, illness or trauma. Benefits go beyond the physical. Visit: FeldenkraisInSarasota.com.

FENG SHUI

HYPNOSIS DR. JANICE COLEMAN

Invincible Solutions Hypnosis dr.janicecoleman@yahoo.com 941-356-5506

BRIGHT LIFE AKA FENG SHUI SARASOTA

Kathy Keh, Classical Feng Shui Consultant 2135 Siesta Drive, Sarasota 941-366-8113 www.BrightLife-USA.com

Kathy Keh is a Classical Feng Shui Consultant who specializes in commercial and residential properties, existing and new construction. She also offers Advanced Feng Shui Consultation Certification Training on behalf of the Wu Ji Academy, Europe’s premier teaching institution for Classical Feng Shui Consultants formally recognized by the Chinese Institute of Classical Feng Shui in Beijing, China.

THE FENG SHUI CURE

Steve Kodad, CFSP, CFSRE 941-720-4480 www.TheFengShuiCure.com

Transform any environment into one that encourages success, good health, and great peace. Visit www.TheFengShuiCure.com for information on evaluations, seminars, and training in SW Florida.

HAIR SALON BLISS SALON

5531 Palmer Crossing Ci, Sarasota 941-923-1287 BlissSalonSRQ.com

Jaime Gonzalez DVM, CVA, is coowner of this specialty practice. He is a holistic care expert and his approach to veterinary care combines 22 years of conventional, emergency medicine and alternative modalities.

Come relax, be pampered and leave feeling beautiful inside and out. Have a green experience from head to toe at Sarasota’s premier natural salon & boutique. We focus on natural beauty products.

Achieve 2015 Goals! Lose Weight, Stop Smoking, Release Stress, Any Positive Change! Dr. Janice Coleman provides individual sessions, classes, workshops & professional training in hypnosis & NLP.

EQUINE SUPPLEMENTS WELLPRIDE

727 Commerce Dr, Venice, FL 34242 866-840-4811 Wellpride.com

Wellpride Omega-3 fish oil (EPADHA) for horses. Immune System • Respiratory Protection • Greater Endurance • Joint Flexibility • Better Fertility • Muscle Recovery • Hoof Integrity • Stomach Protection • Coat Sheen

HEALTH SUPPLEMENTS OMEGA3 INNOVATIONS

727 Commerce Dr, Venice, FL 34242 866-840-4811 Omega3Innovations.com

Omega Cure® – Ultra-fresh, pure omega-3 cod liver oil. The result is impressive: our customers tell us they experience lowered triglyceride levels and relieved joint pains.

JIN SHIN JYUTSU® SUNCOAST JIN SHIN JYUTSU

Michelle Giambra, Certified Practitioner at Rosemary Court Yoga, 810 Central Ave 941-228-2972 SuncoastJSJ.com

Michelle shares this ancient, hands-on art of balancing life energy in the body with individuals addressing acute, chronic and serious health projects along with those interested in maintaining wellness. MA42460

natural awakenings

February 2015

MANICURE/PEDICURE BLISS SALON

5531 Palmer Crossing Ci, Sarasota 941-923-1287 BlissSalonSRQ.com

Come relax, be pampered and leave feeling beautiful inside and out. Have a green experience from head to toe at Sarasota’s premier natural salon & boutique. We focus on natural beauty products.

MASSAGE THERAPY ALL NATURAL HEALING

Hypnosis for Health, Well Being, and Success ✓ ❏ ✓ ❏ ✓ ❏ ✓ ❏

Take control of your life Relieve stress Free your mind and spirit from false fears, negative thoughts and self-imposed limitations Learn about your past life

Please Call 941.266.4402 Katherine Woodward

Certified Hypnotist, member of NGH since 1996

941-953-3700 2650 Bahia Vista St, Suite 309, Sarasota AllNaturalHealingSRQ.com

Treat yourself to a full body massage. We have the BEST DEAL in town. Introductory Special. $35 1hr/massage. Limit one per customer. MM30266 Call to schedule your massage today 941-953-3700.

Bich Mai Massag BICH MAI MASSAGE NO MEMBERSHIP REQUIRED

MA 0025928 Will meet or beat all competitor pricing. 1219 East Ave, Suite 202, Sarasota New Client Special 941-724-9992

3 Massages for $100 (regular price $65-75) eac Customized massage to fit your needs. Specializing in sports • Customized Massage to Fit Your Needs massage. Available evenings & • Specializing in Sports Massage weekends. client 3 alleviate pai • Works onNew all levels of special athletics-to and prevent injury massages for $100. • Medical Insurance Accepted

EnglEwood Yoga CEntEr

Loving Light Yoga

3455 S. Access Rd., Englewood, FL (next to Stevens Florist)

All levels of Yoga, Meditation & Sound Healing Morning Yoga Every Day on Englewood Beach! Sunset Yoga on Monday & Wednesday!

941-473-0135 • LovingLightYoga.com Lata528@gmail.com 82

Sarasota/Manatee Edition

www.nasrq.com

Licensed Massage Therapist MA 0025928

941-724-9992

1219 East Ave, Suite 202, Sarasota, FL 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 HOLISTIC FOR PETS

Valerie Clows 713 Honore Ave, Sarasota, 941-378-4367 8728 SR 70, Bradenton, 753-7297 HolisticForPets.com

Specializing in Hypo-allergenic Foods, Frozen Natural Raw Foods, Herbal & Homeopathic Remedies, Detergent & Soap Free Shampoo, Natural Flee Preventatives Skin Care Products, Healthy treats, Toys and gifts.

PET SUPPLIES

NUTRITION LICENSED NUTRITION COUNSELOR Eve Prang Plews, LIC NC333 Full Spectrum Health, Inc. 2106 Bispham Road Sarasota, FL 941-952-1200 • M-Fri 9-5, Sat10-2 FullSpectrumHealth.com

HOLISTIC HEALTH CLINIC & STORE. Superior Supplements by Xymogen and more. Professional Grade Homeopathics by Newton. Essential Oils by Oil Lady and Wind River Organic Skin Care by Éminence.

Starflower Organic Spathecary offers an extensive line of superfoods and herbal medicinals with disease protocols. We offer a Holistic Wellness consultation for detoxification, which is a comprehensive multi-organ, totalbody cleansing and natural detoxification program. It includes reducing toxin intake, enhancing toxin elimination, and using specific detoxification herbs and other supportive dietary supplements to strengthen and promote optimum function of the organs. Mon- Fri, 10-5pm Sat 11-4

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il (The Landings Shopping Center) Sarasota FL, 34231 941-366-1997

Receive an extra 10% offy products the our first Wednesday of Askon About every HeAltHymonth. rewArdsSelect product linesPare also discounted 20% rogrAm It’s Free to JoIn every month.

5842 Bee Ridge Rd. (Centergate Shopping Center) Sarasota FL, 34233 941-342-1908

PEST CONTROL

The Original Discount Vitamin Store • Family Owned Since 1977 Formerly on Main St. for 35 years Keeping Sarasota/ Bradenton healthy for 36 years

Homeopathic, Chinese Herbs & More

GOOD NEWS PEST SOLUTIONS Dean Burnside, President Sarasota, Bradenton, Venice 941-371-1311 GoodNewsPestSolutions.com

Valerie Clows 713 Honore Ave, Sarasota, 941-378-4367 8728 SR 70, Bradenton, 753-7297 HolisticForPets.com

THE RECONNECTION® AND RECONNECTIVE HEALING® Laura Mahoney, Practitioner and Yoga Teacher 561-306-9712 SarasotaHealer.com AngelWingsYoga.com

Laura shares Dr. Eric Pearl’s energy healing for the body, mind and spirit. She also offers private and group yoga.

SHAMANIC PRACTICES

THE PILATES BODY & GYROTONIC STUDIO

415 S. Pineapple Ave Sarasota, FL 34236 941-554-4292, Starflower.com

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STARFLOWER ORGANIC SPATHECARY

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RECONNECTION®

SPIRITUAL COUNSELOR, SHAMANIC AND REIKI PRACTICES

1071 S Tuttle Ave Ste 2, Sarasota, FL 941-955-5533 PilatesSRQ.com

A fully equipped movement center utilizing Pilates, GYROTONIC® & GYROKINESIS® Methods in small group classes, duets or one on one training.

Rev. Zan Benham, BSL, BS, CHT 941-922-7839

PSYCHIC MEDIUM

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.

REVEREND LOIS CHENEY

928-300-2030 Sarasota-Psychic-Medium.com RevLois@gmail.com

Contacts Guides, Angels, Loved Ones, Past Lives. Cord Removal, Healing with Sound & Color. Chakra Balancing. Home or Office Clearing. Clinical Hypnosis for Habit Change. Psychic Parties!

A n n i v e r s A ry s A l e

A Weekend Workshop That Can Change Your Life. A Hands of Light® Workshop Created and Authorized by Dr. Barbara Brennan Presented by

Joy Adler

Go Green Plus 3 • Pest Control, Termite Control • Rodent Proofing and Trapping • Bat and Bird Exclusion • Mosquito and Mole Suppression • Bed Bug Control • Residential and Commercial.

Former BBSH Faculty

February 21–22, 2015

Cost: $270 For more information please contact Joy Adler at goldenvoice@prodigy.net

To register:

www.sarasotaschoolofmassagetherapy.edu/ce_hands_of_light.html Sarasota School of Massage Therapy 5899 Whitfield Avenue • Sarasota, FL 34243

Saturday Workshop: 10:00am–5:00pm (School Talk: 5:00pm–6:00pm) Sunday Workshop: 10:00am–4:00pm natural awakenings

February 2015

RISING TIDE INTERNATIONAL

SPIRITUAL CENTERS

SKIN CARE

5102 Swift Rd, Sarasota RisingTideInternational.org Universal Worship: Sunday 10:30am

CENTER FOR SPIRITUAL LIVING

SPA DE VRIES

Sarasota

3534 S. Osprey Ave, Sarasota 941-706-1157 DevriesCollection@comcast.net

Customized advanced skin care for all skin types. Specializing in custom facials, DermaSweep - exfoliation, Dermaplane and light therapy. MM 26158.

Interfaith and interspiritual classes, seminars, retreats and worship/service. Core offerings are rooted in the teachings of Universal Sufism. Founder: Shahabuddin David Less,Senior TeacherSufi Order International.

Rev. Karen Wolfson 3145 South Gate Circle (Tuttle@Siesta Dr.) 941-927-6212 CSLSarasota.com

UNITY OF SARASOTA STARFLOWER ORGANIC SPATHECARY

5041 Ringwood Meadow, G2, Sarasota CosmicCenterOfSpiritualLight.com 941-371-9333

415 S. Pineapple Ave Sarasota, FL 34236 941-554-4292 Starflower.com

Fresh, food-grade, organic skin care made in small batches, including medicinal - grade essential oils. We specialize in anti-aging for mature skin, rosacea, and acne. Visit our boutique and Spathecary Mon - Fri 105pm and Sat 11-4pm

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

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Rev. Elizabeth Thompson 3023 Proctor Rd, Sarasota 941-955-3301 UnityOfSarasota.com

COSMIC CENTER OF SPIRITUAL LIGHT

Sarasota/Manatee Edition

www.nasrq.com

Embracing the New Paradigms of our Awakening Consciousness. A place of Knowledge,Wisdom, Healing and Comfort. Please visit our website at CCOSL.com for more information.

Unity is an extremely positive approach to life, seeking to accept the good in people and all of life. God is seen as having many attributes, but most important that God is LOVE.

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

Birmingham, AL* Huntsville, AL Mobile/Baldwin, AL* Little Rock/Hot Spg., AR* Phoenix, AZ* Tucson, AZ East Bay Area, CA San Diego, CA Denver/Boulder, CO Fairfield County, CT Hartford, CT New Haven/ Middlesex, CT Washington, DC Daytona/Volusia/ Flagler, FL NW FL Emerald Coast Ft. Lauderdale, FL Jacksonville/St. Aug., FL Melbourne/Vero, FL Miami & Florida Keys* Naples/Ft. Myers, FL North Central FL* Orlando, FL* Palm Beach, FL Peace River, FL Sarasota, FL Tampa/St. Pete., FL FL’s Treasure Coast Atlanta, GA Hawaiian Islands Chicago, IL Indianapolis, IN

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

SPORTS MEDICINE ALL NATURAL HEALING

Dr. Michael House, AP/O.M.D. 941-953-3700 2650 Bahia Vista St Suite 309, Sarasota allnaturalhealingsrq.com

No need for surgery or pain management. Specializing in non-surgical neck, back and joint repair. Challenge me with any illness, disease or pain. Call for FREE consultation. 941-953-3700.

REFLEX ARTS DANCE & YOGA STUDIO

YOGA

6260 N. Lockwood Ridge Rd 941-359-YOGA (9642) ReFLEXarts.com

ROSEMARY COURT YOGA 810 Central Ave, Sarasota 941-952-5280 RosemaryCourt.com

Rosemary Court Yoga in downtown Sarasota offers all styles & levels of yoga classes including Beginner, Hatha, Pre & Postnatal, Iyengar, Restorative, Vinyasa, Power, Senior, Kundalini, Kripalu, and more. Come visit our welcoming and tranquil space.

GARDEN OF THE HEART YOGA

WEIGHT LOSS ALL NATURAL HEALING

Dr. Michael House, AP/O.M.D. 941-953-3700 2650 Bahia Vista St Suite 309, Sarasota allnaturalhealingsrq.com

New Year, New You!! 30-Day Weight Loss Program! Package includes: One Hour Consultation with Dr. House, Body Assessment (Fat, Bone, Muscle, Water), 8 Weight Loss shots, and Infrared Sauna! Call today for FREE consultation! 941-953-3700.

2888 Ringling Blvd, Sarasota. Near Tuttle 941-341-9781 GardenOfTheHeartYoga.com

Alignment-based hatha yoga for all ages and abilities. Classes are taught progressively, building from one week to the next each month, so you can access more poses with ease, according you your level. Gentle Yoga, Meditation, Vinyasa, Mixed Levels, Kirtan, Restorative Yoga, Chair Yoga, Workshops, and Teacher Training. Open 7 days a week. Drop-ins welcome.

Healthy Food for a Healthy Life

ReFLEX offers it all: from chair yoga to aerial yoga, from ballet to Zumba, from meditation & journaling classes to massage services! Honor your mind, body & spirit today. All ages and skill levels welcome.

YOGA SRQ

Robyn Marin, RYT 5900 S Tamiami Tr, Sarasota 941-955-4777 YogaSRQ.com

Sarasota’s Vinyasa Flow Power Yoga Studio. Gentle, Restorative & Laughter yogaSRQ Yoga too! We’ve moved! Beautiful new studio at 5900 S. Tamiami Tr. 1.5 Miles from Siesta Key/Next to Simon’s Coffee House. Yoga SRQ, a studio offering a full schedule of classes. We have what you wantearly mornings-evenings.Vinyasa Flow Yoga for all levels, Gentle Yoga, Yoga Rx, Donation based Family Yoga, Workshops and Retreats.

YOGA NIDRA I M M E R S I O N Unleash the Healing Potential Dormant Within You

Open 7 Days a Week Smoothie/Juice Bar 9am-8pm Lunch & Dinner 11am-8:30pm Breakfast only Saturday & Sunday 8 - 11am 801 S Tamiami Trail | Nokomis, FL 34275

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try our new delicious winter dishes

Yogi Amrit Desai, Spiritual Founder

MARCH 13–22, 2015 Free yourself from limitations of the past, stress about the present and worries about the future. Yoga Nidra trains the brain to respond differently to fear and anxiety thereby improving the stress-response, and cultivating a greater sense of fulfillment and inner-peace.

Kamini Desai, Ph.D. Director of Education

Whether choosing the 5-day immersion for yourself or the 10-day certification to facilitate Yoga Nidra for your students or clients, Yoga Nidra is scientifically proven to enhance concentration and focus, support the healing process, & more.

5-Day Immersion: $1,500 plus $39 per day room and board. 10-Day Certification: $2,800 plus $39 per day room and board. 100 CEs with Yoga Alliance. 25 CEs for Massage Therapists – Self Care NCBTMB. Amrit Yoga Institute, Salt Springs, FL - 352-685-3001 - amrityoga.org

natural awakenings

February 2015

I found it — The Secret to Anti-Aging!

My cholesterol dropped by 73 points in 1 month, my husband’s morning blood sugar level dropped from 200 to 113 in 3 months, and we are feeling and looking so much YOUNGER! A few months ago, my husband’s blood sugars were out of control after years of controlling it with diet. And his skin had taken on a yellowish-grey pallor… which showed me that his liver and kidneys were also in serious trouble. I was scared! A friend stopped by, took one look at Charles, and said, “We have to get him on the Micronized Heart of Royal Purple Rice immediately!” Although I had never heard of it, I quickly said, “Get me some now.” I am so grateful that I did! Within 3 weeks his skin was pink and glowing and he was feeling so much better. I also began eating it and began noticing more energy, sounder sleep, and improved skin.

It is so tiny and powerful that when you eat it … it does not even have to go through your digestive system — it can immediately go into the cells and energize them! Like tiny arrows, these highly charged alpha glucan chains of super nutrients can pierce cell walls and furnish the mitochondria (the cell’s battery) with fuel to create massive amounts of ATP Light Energy, so that the cells can recharge, regenerate, and function at the highest level.

Recharge, Repair, and Regenerate Your Cells

We had our blood tested and after eating this rice product for only a month, my cholesterol had dropped by 73 points! I had been taking several other natural supplements for two years to lower cholesterol to no avail, but after only one month my cholesterol dropped to normal, as did my triglycerides, and three other blood markers that had been way too high. My doctor was shocked. He said no drug would give me those quick and dramatic results! And Charles, with several medical conditions, had 10 blood markers drop significantly! My doctor said he knew of nothing that could work like that across so many body systems! “Not drugs...but real foods,” I said.

The reason so many people who are eating well and taking good supplements are still sick is ... nutrition can’t get into the cell! A recent medical study showed — more than 80% of the population is insulin resistant at some level That means that the sugars and nutrients we need for energy cannot get into the cells. (If a cell phone battery cannot be recharged — it powers down and eventually dies). If you are tired, and have dis-eases that have names … your cells are also powering down and dying. When the sugars (polysaccharides) can’t get into your cells to be used for energy, they cause another problem, too. They float around your blood stream, sticking to proteins and fats—or “glycating”. Wherever they stick they cause problems … if they stick in the bloodstream they cause hardening of the arteries and high blood pressure, in the brain they cause learning and memory issues or dementia, in the eyes—cataracts, in the skin—wrinkles. With my raw natural product you can recharge your cells and reverse the glycation and aging now!

What’s In This Product and How Does It Work?

Read What This Has Done For My Friends ...

The basis of the product is a ancient, heirloom strain of royal purple rice that is now grown in Thailand in a pristine valley that has never seen chemicals, pesticides, or GMO’s. Then, the purple husk, which is extremely high in anthocyanin antioxidants, along with the very heart of the rice (the endosperm) is removed—this is the part that carries the super polysaccharide sugars and polypeptide amino acid building blocks. Everything else is discarded. With only the dense nutrient rice heart left — this is then milled down to the size of a micron! That’s it—that is all that’s in this amazing raw natural product.

When I shared this with my friend, Bonnie, her body used the new cellular energy to reduce her blood pressure and smooth the wrinkles from her face. Nicole’s intense pain from an accident is gone and she is off her debilitating medications. Jeff is no longer experiencing acid reflux or gout. Dee Dee’s night blindness is gone and so are her allergies. Charles morning blood sugars have dropped from 200 to 113. I am looking so much younger that someone asked me if I had a ‘procedure’ done! Even my granddaughter’s dog has gotten rid of his digestive issues because of this product. So … would you like to see what this amazing food will do for you?

It takes 60 pounds of Royal Purple Rice to make ONE Pound of my product.

Call me (Kare) at: 727-798-8764 I’ll send you my FREE book, answer all your questions, and get this product on its way to you so you can begin anti-aging, too!

But What Really Got My Attention…

Kare & Charles Possick

Sarasota/Manatee Edition

www.KaresPurpleRiceProducts.com www.nasrq.com

natural awakenings

February 2015

Make a living Making a difference. Have you ever considered a career that touches peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s lives? If you have, ask yourself the following question: Might a career in the healing arts be a good fit for me? It is our passion to help you discover whether a career in bodywork is right for you. Call or text Autumn Lopez, SSMT admissions guide, for sincere help exploring your possibilities.

941.487.0827 sarasotaschoolofmassagetherapy.edu

Change Lives. Start with Yours.