H E A L T H Y
L I V I N G
H E A L T H Y
feel good • live simply • laugh more
Pilates Unbound
STAY SHARP
Powerful Ways to New Fusions with Yoga, Dance & Boxing Avoid Mental Decline
P L A N E T
FREE
Pamper Yourself
Natural Ways to Refresh and Renew
November 2016 | Englewood • North Port • Port Charlotte • Punta Gorda • Venice | PeaceRiverNA.com
2
Peace River Edition
www.peaceriverna.com
BACHELOR'S DEGREE
ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE 11.21.16 FALL CLASSES START
COURSES INCLUDE
SCAN HERE
– – – – – _
The Herbal Medicine Chest Introduction to Chiropractic Traditional Chinese Medicine Herbology and Botany Ayurvedic Medicine Nutrition and Aging
Additional degree programs and online shifts are available
LEARN MORE
RECENT RECOGNITION U.S. Green Building Council and Everglades University are weaving the principles of sustainability, green building, nutrition, and environmental consciousness into its undergraduate degree programs.
SARASOTA 866.907.2262 TAMPA 844.297.1715 natural awakenings
November 2016
3
letterfrompublisher
W contact us Publisher Janet Lindsay Managing Editor Mary-Elizabeth Schurrer Contributing Writer Juliette Jones Calendar Editor Cheryl Hynes Design & Production Susan Jones Social Media Manager Amy Hass To contact Natural Awakenings Peace River Edition: 941-564-0885 publisher@nasrq.com
ell, it’s official. The holiday season is once again just around the corner. Although, here on the Suncoast, we rarely experience that seasonal weather shift, this time of year still ushers in both excitement and anxiety. We often feel pressured to excel at numerous obligations, from hosting the most impressive Thanksgiving feast on the block to navigating complicated family dynamics to corralling the kids during their holiday break from school. In the midst of all these demands, self-care inevitably takes a backseat. That’s why we are dedicating our November issue to both Mental Wellness and Personal Beauty Rituals. When that “hustle and bustle” of this season begins stealing your energy––or maybe even your sanity!––it’s essential to carve out time and space for regaining your peace-of-mind. In fact, the articles you’ll find throughout this issue can help you achieve just that. Given the high expectations surrounding this time of year––coupled with financial stressors, relational tension or endless to-do lists––the holidays sometimes feel more overwhelming than festive. So, to maximize enjoyment and avoid emotional burnout, check out “Proven Ways to Zap Depression” through proper nutrition and other lifestyle initiatives. Also, don’t miss “Mindful at Work” which offers practical suggestions for maintaining a clear, focused and balanced state, both in the workplace and everyday life. And, of course, let’s not forget those time-honored traditions that make this time of year memorable. Who can resist a delectable spread of holiday treats–– especially if they come with a side of guilt-free? This month’s Conscious Eating feature will make your seasonal gatherings extra special with “Festive Holiday Nibbles & Sips.” Finally, our Green Living article will restore both your mind and body with much-needed relaxation, compliments of a “Natural Beauty Pamper Party for One.” You know that sounds irresistible! As always, I hope you find this entire issue both insightful and enjoyable. Please feel free to email any comments or questions to Publisher@NASRQ. Here’s wishing a Happy Thanksgiving and stress-free holiday season from the Natural Awakenings family to yours!
© 2016 by Natural Awakenings. All rights reserved. Although some parts of this publication may be reproduced and reprinted, we require that prior permission be obtained in writing. Natural Awakenings is a free publication distributed locally and is supported by our advertisers. It is available in selected stores, health and education centers, healing centers, public libraries and wherever free publications are generally seen. Please call to find a location near you or if you would like copies placed at your business. We do not necessarily endorse the views expressed in the articles and advertisements, nor are we responsible for the products and services advertised. We welcome your ideas, articles and feedback.
Cozy Up To Your Natural Match
the largest database of Join health-conscious and ecominded, spiritual singles for FREE and manifest an extraordinary relationship!
Printed on 100% recycled paper Natural Awakenings is printed on 100% recycled paper with soybased ink.
4
Peace River Edition
Join for FREE at NaturalAwakeningsSingles.com www.peaceriverna.com
contents 10 7 newsbriefs 10 healthbriefs 12 globalbriefs 15 ecotip 19 wisewords 12 20 fitbody 21 healingways 22 inspiration 24 consciouseating 15 25 healthykids 27 calendar 28 classifieds 31 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 10th of the month.
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.
14 STEPHEN DINAN OUTLINES AMERICA’S NOBLE DESTINY Bridging Our Political Divide is Key by Mary Magline
16 STAY
SHARP
Powerful Ways to Avoid Mental Decline by Lisa Marshall
19 KELLY BROGAN
ON THE TRUTH ABOUT DEPRESSION Why Meds Don’t Work and What Does by Kathleen Barnes
20 PILATES
24
by Aimee Hughes
21 WORKPLACE WISDOM
Mindfulness in Corporate Life by April Thompson
22 THE ART
OF BLESSING
Sanctifying Everyday Life
Email Calendar Events to: calendar@nasrq.com. Deadline for calendar: the 12th of the month.
24 FESTIVE SIPS
REGIONAL MARKETS
Vegan Holiday Treats that Everyone Loves
NaturalAwakeningsMag.com
21
UNBOUND
New Fusions with Yoga, Dance and Boxing
CALENDAR SUBMISSIONS
Advertise your products or services in multiple markets! Natural Awakenings Publishing Corp. is a growing franchised family of locally owned magazines serving communities since 1994. To place your ad in other markets call 941-564-0885. For franchising opportunities call 239-530-1377 or visit NaturalAwakeningsMag.com.
16
by Dennis Merritt Jones
AND NIBBLES by Judith Fertig
26 THE SENSITIVE CHILD
How to Nurture Special Gifts by Maureen Healy
natural awakenings
26 November 2016
5
Turn Your Passion Into a Business
Own a Natural Awakenings Magazine Our publishers ranked us among the highest in franchise satisfaction for our Training, Support, Core Values and Integrity!*
As a Natural Awakenings publisher you can empower yourself and others to create a healthier world while working from your home earning an income doing something you love!
No publishing experience is necessary. You’ll work for yourself but not by yourself. We offer a complete training and support system that allows you to successfully publish your own magazine.
• Meaningful New Career • Low Initial Investment • Proven Business System • Home-Based Business • Exceptional Franchise Support & Training
For more information, visit our website NaturalAwakeningsFranchise.com or call 239-530-1377
Natural Awakenings publishes in over 90 markets across the U.S., Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic (listed below).
Contact us about acquiring an existing publication FOR SALE highlighted in RED or starting a magazine in an open territory. • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Huntsville, AL Gulf Coast AL/MS* Phoenix, AZ* Tucson, AZ East Bay Area, CA San Diego, CA Boulder/Ft. Collins, CO Denver, 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. Augustine, FL Melbourne/Vero, FL Miami & the Florida Keys Naples/Ft. Myers, FL North Central FL Orlando, FL Palm Beach, FL Peace River, FL Sarasota, FL Tampa/St. Pete., FL Treasure Coast, FL* Atlanta, GA Hawaiian Islands Chicago, IL Chicago Western Suburbs, IL* Indianapolis, IN Baton Rouge, LA Lafayette, LA New Orleans, LA Boston, MA Ann Arbor, MI East Michigan Wayne County, MI Western MI Minneapolis/ St. Paul, MN* Charlotte, NC Lake Norman, NC Raleigh/Durham/ Chapel Hill, NC
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Central, NJ Hudson County, NJ Mercer County, NJ Monmouth/ Ocean, NJ Bergen/Passaic, NJ* North Central NJ South NJ Santa Fe/Abq., NM* Las Vegas, NV Albany, NY* Buffalo, NY Central NY* Long Island, NY Hudson Valley W., NY Manhattan, NY* Westchester/ Putnam Co’s., NY Central OH Cincinnati, OH Toledo, OH Oklahoma City, OK Portland, OR Bucks/Montgomery Counties, PA Chester/Delaware Counties, PA Harrisburg/York, PA Lancaster/Berks, PA Lehigh Valley, PA* Philadelphia, PA Pocono, PA/ Warren Co., NJ Scranton/ Wilkes-Barre, PA Rhode Island Charleston, SC Columbia, SC Greenville, SC* Chattanooga, TN Austin, TX Dallas Metroplex, TX Dallas/FW Metro N Houston, TX San Antonio, TX* SE Texas Richmond, VA Seattle, WA Madison, WI* Milwaukee, WI Puerto Rico Dominican Republic
* Existing magazines for sale
6
Peace River Edition
www.peaceriverna.com
*Natural Awakenings recently received the prestigious FBR50 Franchise Satisfaction Award from Franchise Business Review.
newsbriefs
7733 HOLIDAY DRIVE • SARASOTA, FL 34231
European Helix Hair Designer: “The Cut, Those Curls”
A
t European Helix Hair Designer, we do with scissors what other salons do with chemicals. We are the only Helix designer salon on the West Coast of Florida. The Helix haircut is for everyone, especially those with “baby fine” hair. This style can be achieved on any hair length as well. Some people get curls, while others get waves, but everyone gets more body and volume. This carefree, low-maintenance cut requires no styling products whatsoever. Our salon owner has been performing the Helix cut for over 15 years, and the price is comparable to a standard perm. However, unlike that style, the Helix cut does not cause frizzing. For more information or to schedule an appointment, call 941-629-0074.
Uplifting Humanity
D E C
plus: The Holidays
Our Readers are Seeking Providers & Services for Charitable/Personal Enrichment & Organic/Sustainable Gifts
Health & Wellness
plus: Affordable Complementary Care Our Readers are Seeking Providers & Services for Integrative & Natural Healthcare Providers/ Weight Loss & Affordable Care
F E B
J A N
Conscious Dying plus: Children’s Dental Health
Our Readers Are Seeking Providers & Services for Conscious Dying & Children’s Dental Health
Contact us at 941-564-0885 natural awakenings
November 2016
7
DEC
newsbrief
A Farewell Tribute
N
atural Awakenings Publishing Corporation’s family of 95 magazines bid a fond farewell to company President Larry Levine, with many joining in on a call and sending notes, prayers and good thoughts prior to his passing on September 23. Levine enthusiastically contributed his all with a host of talents focused on forwarding our collective mission of providing publishers and readers with the tools needed to help us all create a healthier, more sustainable world together. Founder and CEO Sharon Bruckman honors her partner, saying, “Our home office and publishers are truly saddened to lose the beautifully loving, guiding light that Larry generously shared with us throughout the past 12 years. His impact on our lives and Natural Awakenings‘ success will continue to bless our readers. We will miss him dearly.”
LET YOUR LOVE LIGHT SHINE Watch It Brighten Up The Season Advertise in our
December Uplifting Humanity Issue
One of Levine’s last gifts to the company was recommending Pat McGroder as vice president of franchise development. “We welcome Pat, already feeling blessed by the 24 years of experience he brings in highly successful publishing and franchising endeavors,” says Bruckman. McGroder will now also assume some of the operational responsibilities formerly managed by Levine. Natural Awakenings Publishing Corporation’s home office is located in Naples, FL. Visit:NaturalAwakeningsMag.com, or call: 239-434-9392 for more information.
The Yoga Sanctuary Hosts Giving Thanks Celebration
O
n November 20, 4–5 p.m., come together with your friends and family to enjoy the beauty of nature during a free outdoor yoga class, open to all levels. This event is for the purpose of giving back to our community, so please bring donations of nonperishable food for the St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry, a local organization that helps individuals and families in need.
To advertise or participate in our next issue, call
941-564-0885 8
Peace River Edition
Location: 120 Laishley Ct., Punta Gorda. For more information, call 941-5059642, email Info@TheYogaSanctuary.biz or visit TheYogaSanctuary.biz.
www.peaceriverna.com
Richard’s Foodporium® 4th Annual Customer Appreciation Expo
Pearl Cream by Dr. Anna Presents Anti-Aging Seminar
R
ichard’s Foodporium®, a 37 year-old chain of natural and specialty products headquartered in Sarasota, is excited to announce its 4th Annual Customer Appreciation Expo on November 12th, 2016 from 10:00am to 5:00pm at Robarts Arena in Sarasota. Richard’s is the first retailer to bring the top vendors of products they sell in their stores directly to the consumer for the experience to educate and introduce new items. Last year’s expo was a success with over 4,200 attendees; guests lined up before doors opened. This year will feature over 90 booths of vendors from the Health & Beauty, Supplement, and Natural Grocery industry as well as local businesses and non-profits. Attendees will have the opportunity to visit each booth to test and take home samples, watch live demonstrations of Yoga, Tai Chi, fitness and cooking; line up to make your own trail mix, or visit the designated Kids Zone with games & toys sponsored by Our Loving Arms, a nanny placement agency. For their 4th Annual Expo, Richard’s has invited Girls Inc. to be its sole beneficiary. Attendees are asked to bring arts & crafts supplies as donations for the nonprofit organization. This event is family-friendly and free to the public.
Location: Robarts Arena, Sarasota. November 12th, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. For more information: For booth inquiries contact Deva O’Donnell, PR & Marketing Coordinator for Richard’s Foodporium at Dodonnell@RichardsFoodporium.com.
O
n November 18, 1 p.m., Dr. Anna Baker, DOM, will give a seminar on Pearl Cream by Dr. Anna, her revolutionary anti-aging serum made from real pearls and Chinese herbs without any preservatives. Pearls contain amino acids that retighten muscles and slowly return the face to its younger look with daily use. These amino acids are sensitive and, therefore, destroyed by chemical preservatives which is why other commercially available pearl creams don’t offer these results. During this seminar, Dr. Anna will show photographed results on people of all different ages. Pearl Cream by Dr. Anna is also available as a muscletightening body lotion, men’s anti-aging line and sports performance line. Location: 2721 Mall Dr., Sarasota. Hours: Monday– Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, call 941-921-2662 or visit PearlCreamByDrAnna.com.
The $300 Facelift
Buy 5 bottles of Pearl Cream Plus and get the 6th bottle FREE! Dr. Anna will personally review your results with you.
K.J., Age 58, Englewood, FL
Please join us for an Anti-Aging Seminar with Dr. Anna Baker, D. O. M. Friday, November 18th at 1:00 PM No Preservatives • ALL Natural
941-921-2662
2721 Mall Drive, Sarasota, FL
BEFORE
AFTER 5 PLUS
4900 Pearl Cream Original $59 00 Pearl Cream Plus $
(with fermented soy and yam)
Made Fresh from Pearls, Chinese Herbs & Vitamin E No Preservatives • ALL Natural
WINNER Natural Choice Awards Favorite Anti-Aging Practitioner
To learn more please visit our website at www.pearlcreambydranna.com natural awakenings
November 2016
9
Gut Bacteria Linked to Toddler Temperament
O
Pressmaster/Shutterstock.com
hio State University researchers have discovered a correlation between bacteria in the gut and behavior in toddlers. Scientists studied the bacterial microbes in stool samples from 77 girls and boys between the ages of 18 months and 27 months, while mothers filled out a questionnaire describing their children’s level of emotional reactivity. The study found that positive behavioral traits occurred more frequently in children with the most diverse types of gut bacteria. These included mood, curiosity, sociability and impulsivity. The correlation was particularly strong in boys. Lisa Christian, Ph.D., a researcher with the Ohio State Institute for Behavioral Medicine research, and her co-author, Microbiologist Michael Bailey, Ph.D., plan to use the information to help uncover some mysteries related to the origin of chronic illness. “There is substantial evidence that intestinal bacteria interact with stress hormones; the same hormones that have been implicated in chronic illnesses like obesity and asthma,” explains Christian. “A toddler’s temperament gives us a good idea of how they react to stress. This information, combined with an analysis of their gut microbiome, could ultimately help us to detect and prevent chronic health issues [from developing] earlier.” Source: Ohio State University Center for Clinical and Translational Science
10
Peace River Edition
www.peaceriverna.com
Silence De-Stresses the Brain
T
he human brain does not function optimally in society’s noisefilled environment. The brain, like the body, needs rest to function, and that comes with silence. A recent study in Frontiers in Human Neuroscience discovered that the brain is able to integrate both internal and external information into a “conscious workspace” when resting. Constant distractions and noises can detract from the brain’s ability to process critical information. Noise also elevates stress hormone levels within the brain. Research published earlier in Psychological Science examined the effects that the relocation of the main Munich airport, in Germany, had on children’s health and cognition. Gary W. Evans, researcher and professor of human ecology at Cornell University, notes that when exposed to constant noise, children develop a stress response that causes them to ignore it. The study’s subjects tuned out both harmful sounds and stimuli that they should be paying attention to, including speech. Silence has the opposite effect, releasing tension in brain and body. Exposure to chronic noise can also hinder children’s cognitive development, according to a study from the World Health Organization and the European Commission Joint Research Centre; this includes language skills and reading ability. To help counter modern noise pollution, attention restoration theory suggests that individuals placed in environments with lower levels of sensory input can recover some of the cognitive abilities they have lost.
donskarpo/Shutterstock.com
healthbriefs
wavebreakmedia/Shutterstock.com
L
istening to music during a workout or any extended, physically demanding activity can reduce fatigue and improve performance. New research published in Psychophysiology shows that as individuals work out, their attention gradually shifts from the activity around them to internal sensations. Over an extended period, this attention shift creates a sense of exertion. Listening to music while exercising can help shift focus away from the internal fatigue and back to the external world. Researchers from the UK’s Brunel University and University of London tested 19 healthy adults that performed two physical exertion tests while listening to either music or silence. The scientists monitored brain activity using EEG and measured task performance. While listening to music, participants showed both reduced fatigue and decreased stress-related brainwaves. They also performed their tasks more effectively than they did when music wasn’t being played.
Acupressure Eases Fatigue in Cancer Survivors
B
Exercising Women Have Fewer C-Sections
A
recent study published in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology reports that regular exercise during pregnancy can reduce the rate of Cesarean deliveries. Conducted by Thomas Jefferson University Medical College researchers, the study followed more than 2,000 pregnant women split into two randomized groups. Half of them exercised 35 to 90 minutes, three to four times a week, while the others did not. Just under 18 percent of the women in the exercise group ended up having Cesarean deliveries versus 22 percent in the non-exercising group. Exercising during pregnancy also appears to improve gestational health. The study participants that worked out regularly experienced a lower incidence of both hypertensive disorders and diabetes mellitus.
Undrey/Shutterstock.com
coka/Shutterstock.com
reast cancer survivors are often plagued by chronic fatigue that lasts long after their treatment is finished. They have few options to relieve the condition, but acupressure shows promise. A study published this summer in the Journal of the American Medical Association concluded that acupressure can significantly improve two symptoms of fatigue experienced by breast cancer survivors: sleep quality and quality of life. The researchers tested 424 women that had completed cancer treatments at least a year prior to the study. They were divided into three groups—one self-administered relaxing acupressure and another stimulating acupressure, while the control group followed a conventional care plan. After six weeks, fatigue was reduced from 70 percent to 43 percent among those receiving acupressure, with two-thirds of the women in the acupressure groups reaching levels of fatigue considered normal. The relaxing acupressure group showed substantial improvements in sleep quality compared with the conventional care group at week six, but the two groups reached parity at week 10. The relaxing acupressure group was the only one that showed improvements in quality of life, making it a reasonable, low-cost option for managing fatigue symptoms.
Heavy TV Watching Linked to Poor Bone Health
A
study published in the Journal for Bone and Mineral Research this summer suggests that excessive TV watching during childhood may be associated with lower bone mineral content in young adulthood. The researchers followed 1,181 children over time and measured their weekly hours of TV watching at ages 5, 8, 10, 14, 17 and 20. The bone mineral content (BMC) of each was measured at age 20. The study found that individuals that routinely watched more than 14 hours a week had lower BMC for their whole body and in their arms than those that watched less. Higher BMC helps protect the body against osteoporosis later in life. While all screen time should be monitored in children, TV appears to be the most harmful medium. A report published in the Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine studied 111 children between the ages of 3 and 8 and measured their TV viewing and other screen time, as well as their blood pressure levels. The study linked higher blood pressure with excessive TV viewing, but did not find the same link between the condition and computer usage.
natural awakenings
November 2016
11
Alena Ozerova/Shutterstock.com
Music Makes Exercise Easier
globalbriefs wavebreakmedia/Shutterstock.com
News and resources to inspire concerned citizens to work together in building a healthier, stronger society that benefits all.
Thanksgiving Lite
Turning the Tide for Turkeys
photo courtesy of the Farm Sanctuary
Turkeys and Thanksgiving go together for 88 percent of Americans surveyed by the National Turkey Federation. Each year, more than 46 million turkeys provide the entrée for gatherings, yielding leftovers for sandwiches, stew, chili, casseroles and turkey burgers. In 2011, 736 million pounds of turkey were consumed in the U.S., while a few lucky birds avoided the chopping block. The pardoning of a White House turkey began in 1863 when President Lincoln’s son, Tad, interceded on behalf of the bird and its life was spared. Now a tradition, two dressed birds and one live turkey are delivered to the White House each year. The live bird is “pardoned” and lives out its life on a historical farm. At the Farm Sanctuary, turkeys get sponsored or adopted instead of eaten. “Turkeys are friendly and follow you around like puppy dogs. They’ll try to sit on your lap to be petted,” says Gene Baur, president and co-founder of the sanctuary’s New York and two California locations. “At our Celebration for the Turkeys, we feed them cranberries, pumpkin pie and squash. People visit to see them enjoy it. Guests’ snacks are vegan.” Hundreds of turkeys have been adopted and given a lifelong home since the program’s inception in 1986. More than 8,000 people pledged to sponsor a turkey living at the sanctuary in a recent year, proving it’s not necessary to be a president to pardon a turkey. Source: FarmSanctuary.org/giving/adopt-a-turkey
Message Received
Conventional Grocery Chains Go Organic Arina P Habich/Shutterstock.com
The Kroger grocery chain, with nearly 2,500 U.S. stores, including subsidiaries Ralphs, Fry’s, King Soopers and Food 4 Less, has decided to go all in on the organic food market as a follow-up to the 2012 release of its Simple Truth brand of organic foods. Kroger President Michael Ellis says, “We’re really just answering the customer’s call for more and better,” giving Whole Foods Market more competition. Walmart has also begun to satisfy the growing health concerns of its shoppers by integrating organic options in its supermarkets. Now the challenge is for organic farming—which intentionally works to minimize agricultural impacts on the health of people and the planet—to meet the greater demand nationwide for healthier foods. Although implementation will vary depending on climate, experts advise that it begins with farms adopting healthy soil practices. It’s up to consumers to keep the momentum going. Source: Healthy-Holistic-Living.com 12
Peace River Edition
www.peaceriverna.com
Stoned Doggies Dangers vs. Benefits of Pet Marijuana
As of June, half of the states and the District of Columbia have legalized the use of medical marijuana for humans. People wonder if it’s also suited for pets, too, and need to investigate the parameters and consequences carefully. “It’s not legal in any state for veterinarians to prescribe or recommend medical marijuana,” says Dr. Carol Osborne, owner of Ohio’s Chagrin Falls Veterinary Center & Pet Clinic. “Done properly, it could have applications, but it’s not standardized, dosage amounts are unknown and without U.S. Food and Drug Administration regulation, there’s no guarantee what you think you’re buying is what you get. “Dogs that get into the stash or sneak-eat marijuana-laced food can experience wobbling when walking, trembling and potential seizures,” Osborne notes. “I haven’t heard of any cases of death, but as with any prescription drug, practice responsible ownership by keeping it out of the reach of curious children and pets.” “THC [tetrahydrocannabinol] in marijuana produces the high,” explains Doctor of Veterinary Medicine Robert Silver, author of Medical Marijuana & Your Pet: The Definitive Guide. “Dogs are extremely sensitive to THC, much more so than any other species studied.” Silver believes there are uses for cannabinoid oil, derived from hemp, which has very low levels of THC; pet owners in an end-of-life situation with no hope of recovery have used it to ease pain, stimulate appetite and add quality to final days. Reference: Tinyurl.com/PetMedical MarijuanaGuide
Zoo Zapped
Record carbon dioxide levels will surpass the symbolic threshold of 400 parts per million (ppm) this year and will likely never fall below it again in our lifetimes, according to a new study published recently in the journal Nature Climate Change. The findings highlight urgent concerns about global efforts to curb climate change as outlined in the Paris agreement negotiated last December and signed in April by nearly 170 nations. Carbon concentrations have passed the 400 ppm limit before, but never permanently. The authors state, “In the longer term, a reduction in CO2 concentration would require substantial and sustained cuts in anthropogenic [humanly influenced] emissions to near zero.” The determined safe level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is a maximum of around 350 ppm, according to climate advocates.
Billion Photos/Shutterstock.com
Carbon Dioxide Passes Climate-Warming Threshold
Source: Nature.com
Safer Citizens
Germany to Ban Fracking Permanently txking/Shutterstock.com
The German government has ruled to ban the practice of hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, for shale gas in the country, but will allow test drilling in certain circumstances, reports Reuters. The industry has lobbied to continue fracking, which involves blasting chemicals and water into underground rock formations to release trapped gas, but strong opposition has persisted throughout the nation, with a powerful green lobby warning of possible risks to drinking water. Germany follows France and Bulgaria, which have already permanently banned fracking.
The 140-year-old zoo in Buenos Aires is shutting down to give the animals a better life. Mayor Horacio Rodríguez Larreta agrees with activists that keeping wild animals in captivity and on display is degrading, so the zoo’s 2,500 animals will be moved to more suitable living environments in nature reserves around the country. Older animals and those too sick to be relocated will remain in their current home, but not displayed. The 45-acre zoo will be transformed into an eco-park to give children a place to learn how to take care of and relate with the different species. It also will provide refuge and rehabilitation for animals rescued from illegal trafficking. Source: Ecowatch.com
Be thankful for
Chemical Testing
FikMik/Shutterstock.com
Consumer and Animal Protections Update The Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act is a new federal law that restricts animal testing and requires regulators to develop technology-based alternatives. It updates the Toxic Substances Control Act of 1976, which insisted non-animal tests be used whenever possible and established a precedent for developing animal-free testing, including vitro and silico (computer simulation) methods. Earlier this year, the John Hopkins University School of Medicine made strides in removing the use of animals from medical training and cosmetic testing. Now all new chemicals will have to meet specific safety standards. Clothing, couches and cleaning products, among many other consumer goods, contain chemicals linked to cancer, Parkinson’s and other serious health problems, but are not routinely tested for safety. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will now have new authority to require testing with a legal mandate to review existing chemicals on the market. Along with updating rules for tens of thousands of everyday chemicals, the law specifically sets safety standards for dangerous chemicals like formaldehyde, asbestos and styrene. It aims to standardize on the national level what is currently a jumble of state rules governing an $800-billion-a-year industry.
Buenos Aires Moves Animals to Nature Reserves
what you have; you’ll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don’t have, you will never, ever have enough. ~Oprah Winfrey
natural awakenings
November 2016
13
Sarunyu_foto/Shutterstock.com
Stark Mark
2017
editorial calendar JANUARY
health & wellness
Bridging Our Political Divide is Key
plus: affordable complementary care FEBRUARY
by Mary Magline
conscious dying
plus: children’s dental health MARCH
food sensitivities
plus: holistic eye health APRIL
eco-yards
plus: medical massage MAY
natural pregnancy & childbirth plus: women rising JUNE
chronic pain remedies
plus: hybrid vehicles update JULY
natural detox options plus: true prosperity AUGUST
rethinking cancer
plus: reframing autism SEPTEMBER
graceful aging plus: yoga OCTOBER
transformative travel plus: chiropractic NOVEMBER
diabetes prevention & reversal plus: silent retreats DECEMBER
uplifting humanity plus: holidays
14
Peace River Edition
Stephen Dinan Outlines America’s Noble Destiny
S
tephen Dinan, founder and CEO of The Shift Network, is a champion of the transpartisan movement that seeks to transcend America’s current political climate to realize greater unity and understanding. His new book, Sacred America, Sacred World: Fulfilling Our Mission in Service to All, offers innovative, practical solutions for engaging citizens in an emerging whole. Dinan has forwarded thinking in his work with the Institute of Noetic Sciences, where he helped shape the Shift in Action and One Minute Shift programs, and with the Esalen Center for Theory & Research, a think tank he helped create to explore human potential frontiers. He is also an active member of the Evolutionary Leadership and Transformational Leadership councils.
What political problem tops the list if we’re to make progress on anything? We all know that American politics suffers from extreme polarization. Just as the middle class has faded away from our economy, the bipartisan “middle” has dropped out of our political process. In the last two decades, moderates have become far less prominent, giving way to ideologues on both sides of the aisle. As a result, Congress is virtually unable to legislate, because politicians on the left and right insist they have all the answers. They often refuse to work with the president if he is from the other party. This childish behavior is a far cry from the bipartisan approach to solving problems that once made this country great. Our country is falling apart and we need to renew ourselves by finding a sacred vision of national unity. The fast-growing transpartisan movement offers an answer that can be www.peaceriverna.com
aided by perspectives of transpersonal psychology and a visionary spiritual dimension drawn from wisdom traditions of the East and West.
How is transpartisan best defined? Transpartisan means that Americans can rise above damaging divisions. It provides hope that if we supply the right intention, we can hold to a vision that honors the ideals of a wide range of viewpoints. No one can be 100 percent right or 100 percent wrong, and we transcend limiting conservative and liberal categories by using dialogue and maturity in embracing the truths of all parties, while leaving behind their excesses and errors. We can belong to any party and claim an important piece of the truth; a singular truth we stand for, such as liberty or social justice or economic growth, but it represents only a personal selection from a larger set of sacred American principles. To attain insight into these principles, we must move to an enlightened vision that honors all political perspectives, seeing each as a valuable, yet incomplete contribution toward the emerging whole.
Why have you called for a sacred America? “Sacred” is a word that binds us together in the mystery of life and links us into a single human family in which ultimately no one is our enemy. A sacred worldview leads to a life filled with respect and reverence. It informs and enables us as we reach for our highest destiny as a country, not built on a desire to be number one, but a humble sense of calling, animated by a spirit of service to all. America is being called to explore new frontiers politically, economically
What have you, as a progressive, learned from conservatives? Conservatives tend to focus on preserving what has worked in the past, which is a useful function. In the human body, we have strong elements required for health that basically protect its homeostasis. Too much change happening too quickly can be dangerous to us. Conservatives often play the same role in society, minimizing the risk of chaotic change and preserving core values, commitments and culture. I’ve found that embracing conservative values and perspectives is a good form of cross-training in my role as a spiritually based CEO, where it’s imperative that I not risk everything on each new idea. A moderate path draws upon the best of conservative perspectives while opening to new possibilities for innovation and cultural expression, which tends to be a focus of progressives.
How can we replace political gridlock with a more perfect union? The ultimate solution comes in personally building bridges of curiosity, respect and understanding, and recognizing that true, lasting answers to extremely complex problems require the best thinking of all parties and ideologies so that some hybridization of solutions happens. We may not come to consensus on major issues, but we can come into deep dialogue and human exchange. Extending a hand of friendship across the aisle is ultimately one of the most important things we can do as citizens. The women members of the Senate have led the way in doing this, often creating breakthroughs through their personal connections with members of the other major party. For more information visit: Stephen Dinan.com or TheShiftNetwork.com
ecotip Bleep Cheap
Quality Clothes are Planet-Friendly
Stanislav Prozorov/Shutterstock.com
and spiritually, in service to our own citizens and the world. We are to embrace a path away from the waste and tragedy of war and toward universal health, sustainability and prosperity. It requires the best of both progressive and conservative values and a collaborative style of politics that seeks higher ground. Global accords and councils will replace the endless posturing of every military era.
The temptation to buy inexpensive clothes whispers, “It’s smart to trend with the latest fad,” or “Disposable wear can be tossed if it gets stained,” or “I can wear this outfit only once for a special event.” The lure to buy future throwaways seems especially prevalent during the holiday season of gifting and gatherings. Consumers can fall into the cycle of buying from inexpensive chain stores, wearing items a few times and then discarding them during spring cleaning purges. According to The Atlantic magazine, Americans now buy five times as much clothing annually as they did in 1980, yet recycle or donate only 15 percent of it. They simply discard 10 million tons as waste, reports the Huffington Post. Conscious consumers consider the extended consequences of their purchases. The production and transporting of an average shirt, for example, can deliver about nine pounds of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, reports Eve Andrews, culture editor for Grist.com. She offers five tips: buy less; shop smarter and only for what’s truly needed; look for durability and design that won’t fall apart or look dated in a few months; decrease frequency of laundering to increase the life of the garment; and donate what no longer works. Buying items that are durable, timeless and made under fair labor conditions from selected organic, resale and outlet stores that sell high-end clothing that lasts at reduced prices will save money over time and reduce resource abuse and waste. Five top outlet chains for superior and lasting value per a 2016 Consumer Reports readers survey are Bon Worth, L.L. Bean, Haggar, OshKosh B’gosh and Izod. Quality labels are welcomed by consignment stores, so the wearer can even retrieve some of the purchase price for gently-used classics. Giving used threads to thrift shops, churches, The Salvation Army and Goodwill Industries is another way to extend the life of items, help others and save landfill space. Another option is to cut up portions of clothing earmarked for disposal so they can live on as cleaning rags for home and vehicles.
Gratitude is the fairest blossom which springs from the soul. ~Henry Ward Beecher
ul: f i t u a e B Naturally! European Hair Designer
specializes in: All Nutrient Organic Hair Color/ Products Contemporary hair cutting/shaping techniques
Helix USA design cuts by Jutta Call 941-629-0074 Today for your professional consultation withJutta
The “Vines” Shopping Center 701 JC Center Court, Unit 10 Port Charlotte, FL www.europeanhairdesigner.com natural awakenings
November 2016
15
carla castagno/Shutterstock.com
STAY SHARP Powerful Ways to Avoid Mental Decline by Lisa Marshall
A
slow descent into dementia seemed inevitable for a 66-yearold man that had been misplacing his keys, missing appointments and struggling at work. He failed doctor-administered cognitive quizzes and tested positive for a gene variant linked to an exponentially higher risk of Alzheimer’s disease. A brain scan revealed scattered clusters of sticky, amyloid plaque—a hallmark of the disease. His hippocampus, or memory center, had shrunk to rank in the lowest 17 percent of men his age. Told there wasn’t much that could be done, he sought the help of University of California, Los Angeles Alzheimer’s researcher Dale Bredesen, a neurologist and founding president of the independent Buck Institute for Research on Aging. He recommended a personalized, 36-point plan, including a high-fat/low-carb diet, intermittent
16
Peace River Edition
fasting, strict sleep schedule, select dietary supplements and other lifestyle changes. Within three months, family members reported marked improvements in his memory. At 10 months, brain scans revealed his hippocampus had grown 12 percent. “Such improvements are unprecedented,” says Bredesen, who described this and nine other hopeful cases in a provocative paper published in June in the journal Aging. “These are the first examples of a reversal of cognitive decline in pre- and early Alzheimer’s patients.”
Addressing the Sources
Bredesen is among a small but growing group of researchers, physicians, caregivers and patients challenging the conventional wisdom that the road to dementia goes one way, with no cure or repair of damage done. They argue that the key to both prevention and
www.peaceriverna.com
reversal, at least in early stages, is to pinpoint its numerous drivers—from nutritional and hormonal deficiencies and exposure to infection to environmental toxins and harmful drugs—and attack them simultaneously. It’s a stark departure from the classic, often unsuccessful, one-pill treatment approach. Of the 244 clinical trials for Alzheimer’s drugs between 2002 and 2012, all but one failed. “Imagine having a roof with 36 holes in it, and your drug patched one hole. You still have 35 leaks,” says Bredesen, who believes his synergistic approach—the Bredesen Protocol—can likely make Alzheimer’s drugs work better or render them unnecessary. Skeptical colleagues point out that Bredesen’s paper described only 10 case studies, not a clinical trial. “It is intriguing, but not enough to make recommendations to physicians or patients,” says Keith Fargo, Ph.D., director of scientific programs and outreach for the Chicago-based Alzheimer’s Association. “The current consensus in the scientific community is that we do not have a way to reverse dementia.” While agreeing that a larger study is needed, Neurologist David Perlmutter, of Naples, Florida, whose bestsellers Brain Maker and Grain Brain promote nutritional changes for supporting brain health, considers Bredesen’s study revolutionary. “To reverse Alzheimer’s in one patient is monumental, much less 10,” says Perlmutter. They recently presented together at a conference organized by Sharp Again Naturally, a New York nonprofit that educates patients and caregivers about natural means of slowing and reversing cognitive decline. After losing her mother to Alzheimer’s, the nonprofit’s co-founder, Jacqui Bishop, 74, stopped her own frightening decline by changing her diet and getting her thyroid hormone levels under control via supplements. Now she’s helping others do the same. She says, “We are trying to change the conversation from one of despair to one of hope.”
Mending Body and Brain
Key to Bredesen’s approach is the notion that instead of being one disease, Alzheimer’s consists of three sub-types
with distinct drivers: inflammation or infection; harmful environmental exposures; and/or lack of neuron-nurturing hormones. To determine which one to target, he tests patients for blood-sugar, inflammation and hormone levels, heavy metals and critical nutrients such as D and B vitamins. Then he crafts a personalized plan. He notes that the 10 years it can take to progress from subtle decline to full-blown Alzheimer’s provides a huge opportunity. “Ideally, we want people to come in when they have mild impairment or are asymptomatic,” says Bredesen, advising that tests be done for the APOE4, or “Alzheimer’s gene” in one’s 40s. “People have not wanted to know in the past because they’ve been told there is nothing they can do about it. We completely disagree.” One way to stay cognitively sharp is to eat fewer carbs (which boost blood sugar) and eat more fat, says Perlmutter. “There is a clear relationship between elevated levels of blood sugar and increased risk of Alzheimer’s.” One study, published in 2013 in the New England Journal of Medicine, tracked 2,067 healthy adults for seven years and found that the higher their average glucose level, even if they weren’t diabetic, the more likely they were to develop dementia. For instance, those with a level of 115 milligrams per deciliter were 18 percent more at risk than those measuring 100 milligrams per deciliter. A 2012 study published in Neurology followed 266 adults for four years and found that those with higher blood sugar saw certain areas of the brain shrink 6 to 10 percent more than those with lower blood sugar. Gluten can also be problematic, advises Perlmutter, when it’s inflammatory and driving brain degeneration. In contrast, good fat, like that in avocados, fatty fish, coconut oil and walnuts, serves as a foundation for neurons and an efficient, clean-burning fuel source for the brain. This is particularly helpful in someone with early-stage Alzheimer’s, says Bredesen, because the disease can make it harder for the brain
to use sugar for fuel. In some cases, both doctors recommend an extremely low-carb, or “ketogenic” diet (fewer than 60 grams of carbs per day). Starved of carbohydrates, the liver produces fat-like compounds called ketones, a brain-fuel source shown to stimulate growth of new neural networks. Bredesen also recommends 12 hours of fasting each night, with zero food intake within three hours of going to sleep. Fasting promotes a process called autophagy, by which the brain essentially cleans itself of damaged cellular material. Eight hours of sleep is also vital. According to University of Rochester research, the space between brain cells opens up during sleep, allowing cleansing channels of fluid to flow more freely. “If you were operating your house 24/7 with no time to rest or clean, it would be disastrous,” says Bredesen. “The same is true of your brain.” Also, they say, keep teeth clean because bacterial infections, including those in the gums, have been shown to hasten formation of neuron-killing plaque. Also critically examine the prescription drugs being ingested. A recent study of 74,000 people published in JAMA Neurology found that regular use of heartburn drugs like Prilosec and Nexium increased dementia risk by 42 to 52 percent. Meanwhile, anticholinergic drugs like Benadryl and statin drugs prescribed to manage cholesterol have also been linked to increased dementia. “We see ‘statin brain’ all the time,” observes Perlmutter, who says once patients go off the drugs, they tend to get better.
False Hope or Sound Advice
Fargo says researchers are keenly interested in many of the ideas in Bredesen’s paper. Although it’s too early to endorse them, numerous studies are underway. But he wonders if some patients that assert that they’ve reversed dementia actually suffered from something else, like sleep apnea or depression. Bredesen stands by his research, asserting that the 10 patients in his paper had all been formally diagnosed with Alzheimer’s or its precursors. One
Thanthima Lim/Shutterstock.com
Lifestyle changes can prevent and slow cognitive decline. Some say they also reverse it.
Get-Smart Supplements Curcumin: This potent constituent in turmeric (the yellow spice that gives curry its flavor) has been shown to combat many of the problems that contribute to brain degeneration, including inflammation, free radical damage and high blood sugar. It also boosts growth of new brain cells. Take 500 milligrams (mg) twice daily or eat a diet rich in curry. DHA (docosahexaenoic acid): This omega-3 fatty acid serves as a key building block for brain cell membranes. Take 1,000 mg daily (derived from fish oil or algae) or eat lots of fatty fish. Coconut oil: It’s rich in medium-chain triglycerides, an efficient, clean-burning fuel source for the brain. Take one or two teaspoons daily. Probiotics: These help fortify the intestinal lining, reducing the gut permeability and inflammation that can impact cognitive health. They also support production of key neurotransmitters and the brain-derived neurotrophic factor brain growth hormone. Look for supplements or foods containing Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus brevis, Bifidobacterium lactis and Bifidobacterium longum. B vitamins: High levels of the amino acid homocysteine have long been linked to increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease; have levels checked and if they’re elevated, B6 and B12 can reduce them. Source: David Perlmutter
natural awakenings
November 2016
17
Cozy Up To Your Natural Match Join for FREE at NaturalAwakeningsSingles.com
18
Peace River Edition
69-year-old entrepreneur that was planning to close his business after 11 years of mental decline is now expanding it. A 49-year-old woman that scored poorly on neuropsychological tests showed no signs of cognitive decline when she was tested again nine months later. In all, more than 100 people have participated in the program. “We have people that are four-and-ahalf years out and doing very well,” he says, noting that such strategies aren’t likely to work for someone with advanced Alzheimer’s. In some cases, the results may be more subtle, but for those caring for a sick loved one, any positive progress means a lot. Paul Tramontozzi knows. After his father, then 75, was diagnosed with Lewy Body Dementia, the New York City financial advisor attended a Sharp Again Naturally meeting seeking advice. “I was skeptical, but when the answer you get from everyone else is, ‘There’s nothing you can do,’ you become more willing to listen.” He took his father off his cholesterol medication, fed him spoonfuls of coconut oil daily and put him on
www.peaceriverna.com
Resources Alzheimer’s Association, alz.org Buck Institute for Research on Aging, BuckInstitute.org David Perlmutter, DrPerlmutter.com MPI Cognition, MPICognition.com Sharp Again Naturally, SharpAgain.org a specific supplement regimen. His balance improved and he could participate in family outings again. “If you had told me a few years ago we’d be able to take Dad to a restaurant for his 80th birthday, I would have said, ‘No way.’ But we did.” Tramontozzi says his father isn’t cured, but the advice he obtained facilitated more time together and insights on how to avoid a similar fate. “These are all things a healthy 37-year-old should be doing right now anyway. I just wish we’d found out earlier.” Lisa Marshall is a freelance health writer in Boulder, CO. Connect at LisaAnnMarshall.com.
wisewords
Kelly Brogan on the Truth About Depression
Why Meds Don’t Work and What Does
As far back as 1998, Irving Kirsch, Ph.D., an expert on the placebo effect at Harvard Medical School, published a meta-analysis of the treatment of 3,000 patients, finding that drugs improved depression in only 27 percent of the cases.
What’s the link between women, high blood sugar, diabetes, obesity and depression?
When I meet a patient that complains about irritability, anxiety, foggy thinking, fatigue and insomnia, I visually plot her day-to-day symptoms on a mental graph. I find that the sugar rollercoaster accounts for the vast majority of diabetes, obesity, depression and researching what would other symptoms troubling my patients, aid my own journey back especially women. from health challenges, I Sugar disturbs mental health in saw how we have been at least three ways: It starves the brain duped. by causing blood sugar highs and lows Health is our natural that can eventually cause insulin resisstate, and we can restore tance, diabetes and even Alzheimer’s it by natural means. The disease; promotes inflammation, which way to prevent and reverse is closely linked to depression; and illness is to communiderails hormones by raising levels of cate with the body in a the stress hormone cortisol in the body’s language it understands. It’s so simple, yet effort to balance blood sugars. society considers it an act of rebellion to Depression also has roots in thyconsider this kind of lifestyle. roid imbalances, which are common in women more than 40 years old, and in Which science supports food intolerances, especially to gluten, soy and corn, that can affect the brain your conclusion that antidein unpredictable ways. pressant drugs don’t work
by Kathleen Barnes
I
ntegrative medical doctor Kelly Brogan, a women’s health psychiatrist and author of A Mind of Your Own, has turned the world of neuropsychiatry on its head by revealing that depression can be reversed without a single prescription drug. She asserts that depression is not caused by imbalanced brain chemistry, but by lifestyle choices that unbalance the entire human physiology. That’s why conventional antidepressants generally don’t work. She instead prescribes eliminating foods that trigger inflammation in order to rebalance all body systems. According to the National Institute for Mental Health, depression annually affects 15.7 million adult Americans, or about 8.3 percent of the population.
What’s your stand on the illness model of medicine and how you arrived there? My training as a conventional doctor was predicated on a disease care model that offers patients only one solution—a prescription. We have never had a shot at true wellness, having handed over our health to corporations loyal to their shareholders, rather than to us. Conventional medicine is based on the notion that we are born broken and need chemicals to feel better; the body is a machine that needs recalibration; and doctors always know what they are doing. After investing thousands of hours
for most patients? Taking an antidepressant for depression is like taking a Tylenol for a shard of glass in your foot. Wouldn’t you rather just remove it? Antidepressants don’t work the way we think they do and come with risks, including impulsive violence and debilitating withdrawal. They also can distract from an opportunity to identify the real cause of symptoms, one that is entirely reversible, in my experience. Selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors like Prozac, Zoloft, Paxil and Lexapro are commonly prescribed to treat depression by boosting serotonin levels. There are many studies debunking their use and effectiveness. The 2012 Ottawa Hospital Research Institute study led by Paul Albert, Ph.D., concluded, “Direct serotonin-enhancing effects of antidepressants disturb energy homeostasis and worsen symptoms.”
Is there a general protocol that seems to work best? While there are no quick fixes, I see turnarounds every week because I help my patients see the benefits of simple choices like avoiding wheat and wheat products. You need a month of serious commitment to quit sugar, alcohol, coffee, wheat and dairy. Then you discover you aren’t an irritable, tired, forgetful person, which is its own incentive toward feeling better. It’s the basis to make choices with your own fully informed consent. Applying such information leads to long-term change and healing. Kathleen Barnes has authored numerous natural health books, including Food Is Medicine: 101 Prescriptions from the Garden. Connect at KathleenBarnes.com.
natural awakenings
November 2016
19
fitbody
chemistry in their brains, boosting confidence on many levels. Pilates is recognized as a highly effective way to improve posture.
Val Thoermer/Shutterstock.com
Helps Coordination and Rehabilitation
Pilates Unbound New Fusions with Yoga, Dance and Boxing by Aimee Hughes
W
ith 11,000 studios across the U.S., “Pilates continues to grow because an increasingly wide spectrum of people are discovering how it can benefit them,” says Elizabeth Anderson, executive director of the Pilates Method Alliance, in Miami. Pilates instructor Amanda January, who works at The Carriage Club, in Kansas City, eventually became an instructor because, “I love the challenge of it. I had always been a dancer, and found Pilates provides the movement therapy that my dance classes lack.” Current trends are combining Pilates not only with yoga, but also dance and even boxing. “My favorite fusion Pilates class is barre,” says Halley Willcox, a certified Pilates teacher originally from Austin, Texas, now a grad student at the University of Arizona, in Tucson. Barre classes mix classical ballet exercises with yoga and Pilates (see Tinyurl.com/Barre4Fitness). The boxing variation, called piloxing, incorporates pugilistic moves and 20
Peace River Edition
barefoot interval training. “No prior experience is necessary; the possibilities are endless,” comments Willcox. Anderson believes, “The growth we’re observing is due to the fact that Pilates addresses fitness across the entire body, rather than parts. It creates a wonderful feeling of overall well-being; the exercise is done in a balanced manner on all planes and is coordinated with conscious breathing. Plus, it doesn’t cause injuries, it prevents them.”
Fosters Self-Confidence
“Through focus and breath awareness, Pilates, not unlike meditation and yoga, helps you become more aware of your body, which makes you more comfortable in your own skin,” says January. Social psychologist Amy Cuddy’s TED talk, “Change Your Posture, Grow Your Confidence, Follow Your Dreams,” shares the results of her Harvard University research, which demonstrates how people that assume what she calls “power postures” actually change the
www.peaceriverna.com
Many dancers and professional athletes access the therapeutic qualities of Pilates to help them recover from injuries and enhance balance and coordination. Anderson remarks, “With a qualified teacher, Pilates can be applied as a post-rehabilitation modality once post-surgery physical therapy is completed, to further strengthen the body. Elite athletes such as professional dancers, baseball and football players, ice skaters and equestrians are also finding ways that Pilates can strengthen and assist them with their performances, well-being and injury prevention.” One of the ways that Pilates helps is by affecting body fascia. “Muscles work together, not individually, within the fascia, and the best way to change the muscle is through resistance,” says January. “It’s why Pilates uses spring tension, resistance bands and even jumping. Pilates improves balance and coordination because all the muscles work together. The entire body is learning how to dance in unison with itself.”
Boosts Immunity “The more I committed to a regular Pilates practice, the more I noticed I wasn’t getting sick as often,” says January. “Pilates helps boost the immune system through reducing stress, a well-known contributor to disease. It’s accessible to people of all ages. You don’t have to be flexible or strong to begin, just willing.” She offers this advice to beginners. “Check out all the local studios to see what they offer. It’s best to start out taking classes twice a week with a certified teacher for two to three months. That’s easy to commit to. Then you can see if Pilates is right for you.” Aimee Hughes, a freelance writer in Kansas City, MO, is a doctor of naturopathy on the faculty of the Yandara Yoga Institute. Connect at ChezAimee@gmail.com.
healingways
easily by all the desires, agendas and emotions confronted at work.” Carroll cautions that it’s not about trying to eliminate our own or others’ emotional agendas or personal biases at work; rather, individuals use mindfulness to become more conscious of and relaxed about them. “Meditation helps develop agility in viewing… to self-regulate, drop fixed mindsets, become self-aware,” explains Carroll, who has coached university presidents, CEOs and nonprofit executives in mindful leadership techniques. “You learn things from a competitor’s perspective or pick up on social cues you may miss if you instead had a fixed lens on a situation.”
Dean Drobot/Shutterstock.com
Corporate Acceptance
WORKPLACE WISDOM
Mindfulness in Corporate Life
T
by April Thompson
he workplace can be filled with stress, egos and distractions that challenge the productive and happy atmosphere we desire. Both employees and employers are adopting mindfulness to help cope and transform both themselves and their work environment. Rooted in Eastern philosophies like Buddhism, most workplace mindfulness programs have stripped the techniques to a secular form more appealing to skeptics or adherents of other religions. The key practice—simply known as “sitting” or meditation—involves focusing our attention on our thoughts, breathing, emotions or bodily sensations for a set time period, while the term mindfulness refers to the ability to be aware of the present moment, whether meditating or in a business meeting. While Fortune 500 companies like Procter & Gamble, Aetna and General Mills have instituted formal mindfulness programs, Michael Carroll, meditation teacher, executive coach and the author of Awake at Work, says that the mindfulness revolution has been largely seeded from the ground up. It’s emerged through people exploring the practices in their personal lives, and then bringing them to work.
Personal and Professional Benefits
Jacqueline Gallo, operational excellence manager for Whitcraft Group, a manufacturing plant in Eastford, Connecticut, discovered meditation 12 years ago while seeking solace during a traumatic time. Today, Gallo does three short sits a week and occasionally participates in 10-day retreats. Whitcraft doesn’t offer meditation to employees, but Gallo says mindfulness enables her to be available to her staff and solve problems without getting “swept off my feet so
While meditation may be on the upswing in the workplace, it was a battle to legitimize it, according to Tara Healey, program director for mindfulness-based learning at Harvard Pilgrim Health Care (HPHC). A longtime meditation practitioner, Healey started the Mind the Moment program a decade ago while serving as an organizational capacity building consultant. Surveys had shown that employees were overwhelmed and dissatisfied, but lacked the skills to rectify their situation. “The leadership said, ‘Great, let’s do it, but not tell anyone,’” relates Healey. She notes that meditation, a core component of her multifaceted mindfulness course covering everything from workplace stress to mindful listening, wasn’t accepted in the workplace at that point. Today, 30 percent of her company’s 1,050 employees have completed a six-week class introducing them to the
Healthy Food for a Healthy Life
Our New Menus Are Here!
New Smoothies, Juices, Gluten-Free Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner items
For more details:
visit CafeEvergreen.net or Facebook
801 Tamiami Trail S. | Nokomis, FL 34275
941.412.4334 | cafeevergreen.net natural awakenings
November 2016
21
Connect with April Thompson, of Washington, D.C., at AprilWrites.com. 22
Peace River Edition
inspiration
The Art of Blessing Sanctifying Everyday Life by Dennis Merritt Jones
M
ost blessings are done quietly, in the silence of one’s own mind and heart; most often others don’t even know about it. How a blessing is done is not as important as the fact that it’s done mindfully. There is nothing magical or mystical about conferring a blessing—it’s simply confirming the presence of God, divine Spirit, at the center of that which is being blessed. Masters, teachers, sages and saints from every spiritual tradition have used blessings as a way to consecrate, sanctify, purify and heal. Wedding ceremonies, memorial services, christenings and everything in-between have at one time or another been blessed. Anyone can offer a blessing. Ernest Holmes, author of Science of Mind, defined a blessing as constructive thought directed toward anyone or any condition. He says, “You bless a man when you recognize the divinity in him.” When things are good, it can seem easy to neglect the practice of blessing ourselves and others. Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote: “Never lose an opportunity of seeing anything that is beautiful; for beauty is God’s handwriting—a wayside sacrament. Welcome it in every fair face, in every fair sky, in
www.peaceriverna.com
every fair flower and thank God for it as a cup of blessing.” We can always bless what’s good in our lives, but blessings can become even more meaningful if we remember to bless the bad times as well, when we most need to remember the truth that good is present then and there, too. Getting in the habit of embracing daily blessings is a good spiritual practice as we evolve and go forth and bless our world as we have been blessed. It’s a matter of remembering that the real blessing has already been bestowed; the gift of life itself. Take a moment to contemplate this and seal it in consciousness by silently affirming, “I am blessed and I am a blessing.” I Am is a name of God. In the words of Mary Baker Eddy in introducing her seminal work, Science & Health, “To those leaning on the sustaining infinite, today is big with blessings.” Dennis Merritt Jones, D.D., of St. Petersburg Beach, FL, is the author of Your (Re)Defining Moments, The Art of Uncertainty and The Art of Being, the source of this essay. He has contributed to the human potential movement and field of spirituality for 30 years (DennisMerrittJones.com).
Suzanne Tucker/Shutterstock.com
power of mindfulness; some go on to participate in a guided monthly group meditation practice or use company meditation rooms for individual practice. The health services company also offers the course to its member companies throughout New England. To date, more than 12,350 people in 174 companies have participated, encompassing varied fields from higher education and health to finance and technology. A survey of employees showed that initially 99 percent felt it was a good use of their time; another taken six months later found that 87 percent were still using the techniques. HPHC informatics analyst Stephanie Oddleifson, who took the course nearly 10 years ago, says it transformed her way of thinking and behaving in the workplace and furnished a set of practices she uses every day. In times of conflict, “I was so quick to make up stories in my head and jump to conclusions previously,” she says. “Now I’m able to pause before responding and observe my thoughts without getting caught up in them. I can diffuse tense situations with humor and not take things personally.” Additional research substantiates the anecdotal evidence for meditation’s workplace benefits. In 2015, scientists from Canada’s University of British Columbia and Germany’s Chemnitz University of Technology compiled data from 20-plus neurology studies, finding significant correlations between meditation and areas of the brain related to capacities for self-regulation, introspection and complex thinking. A Rice University study specifically found a positive relationship between workplace mindfulness, job performance and employee retention. While workplace mindfulness programs vary and may incorporate helpful talks, encouraging readings and group discussions, Healey and Carroll both caution that reading or talking about mindfulness or meditation is no substitute for the practice itself, which many find challenging. “You won’t taste the benefits just reading about it,” remarks Healey. “The practice will come into play come showtime.”
natural awakenings
November 2016
23
Stepanek Photography/Shutterstock.com
consciouseating
Festive Sips and Nibbles
Vegan Holiday Treats that Everyone Loves by Judith Fertig
F
or those that like to eat plant-based meals most of the time, the holidays can present a challenge. Social occasions from Thanksgiving to New Year’s Day abound, including multi-course dinners and potlucks; tree-trimming and baking parties; neighborly hospitality; nibbling on treats while wrapping gifts; and gathering to watch a holiday movie. Because so much is happening in such a short period of time, people often revert to serving traditional foods such as Aunt Mary’s cheese ball or Grandma Daisy’s three-layer chocolate bars. These vintage recipes, however, can be laden with processed ingredients. Foods that signaled holiday cheer ages ago need a tweak or two to satisfy today’s health-minded friends and family members. With traditional flavors of the season like aromatic spices, fresh rosemary and chocolate, plus a plantbased philosophy, family favorites can get a new twist. Natural Awakenings asked cookbook authors, chefs and bloggers from around the country to help us celebrate wonderful holiday moments, big and small. Adding a plant-based nibble or sip not only helps party hosts stay on track, it also helps keep guests from over-indulging, so that everyone ends up enjoying themselves even more.
Addictive Nibbles
American-born Sandra Gutierrez grew up in Guatemala and now lives in Cary, North Carolina. As the author of The 24
Peace River Edition
New Southern Latino Table and Empanadas: The Hand-Held Pies of Latin America, she shows how fresh, seasonal, Latino foods can add grace and flavor to any table. “In the South, appetizers can be as simple as shelled pecans tossed with spices,” she says. She applies the same easy treatment to pumpkin seeds, or pepitas, tossing them with ancho chile powder, cumin, coriander and other flavorings to bake in the oven until crunchy. “These take only minutes to make and will keep for a few weeks if stored in an airtight container.” Then, when people drop by, she has a ready-made, plantbased, delicious nibble to offer with drinks. Brother chefs Chad and Derek Sarno, of Austin, Texas, are the co-founders of WickedHealthyFood.com, a website devoted to plant-based eating habits. Chad has co-authored (with Chris Karr) Crazy Sexy Kitchen: 150 Plant-Empowered Recipes to Ignite a Mouthwatering Revolution. Derek is the former global executive chef for Whole Foods Market. “Shoot for 80 percent healthy and 20 percent wicked, and you’ll be 100 percent sexy,” they advise with a wink. A little indulgence is fine during the holidays, they say. “For vegans and vegetarians, think of your 20 percent as a chance to let loose every now and again and enjoy whatever makes you feel a bit wicked—fats, sugars, salts, beer; you get the idea—unless you’re following doctor’s orders. We want you to eat for
www.peaceriverna.com
health, and as chefs, we want eating healthy to taste great.” For the holidays, they like to have easy, yet big-flavor nibbles on hand such as homemade popcorn flavored with fresh rosemary and truffle oil, or crunchy, roasted chickpeas that pack a little heat from sriracha, a homemade or bottled hot sauce.
Celebratory Sips
Sophia DeSantis, of Carlsbad, California, changed to a vegan diet because of her husband’s health issues several years ago. “We ate plant-based for one month and just kept on going,” she says. “Within three months, he was off all meds and hasn’t needed them since.” That victory made her an impassioned vegan cook for their three children, as well. Whether preparing food for family or guests, she says, “I don’t even mention the type of food, because I simply make delicious dishes that just happen to be plant-based. There are a million and one ways to redo traditional favorites.” DeSantis makes her own pistachio milk for a special hot chocolate she serves during the holidays; she blogs her recipes at VeggiesDontBite.com. Other options for plant-based sips include chilled, dairy-free eggnog, perhaps topped with coconut creamer and a dusting of freshly grated nutmeg. Mulled cider or pomegranate juice, warmed in a stove pot with whole spices like cinnamon and cloves, plus slices of citrus fruits, add holiday flavors and aromas. Having already prepared nibbles and sips handy in the pantry, freezer or refrigerator makes both planned and spontaneous hosting easier, as well as providing ready-made goodies to bring to other gatherings. “Then, there’s always something available you can enjoy,” says DeSantis. Judith Fertig writes cookbooks and foodie fiction from Overland Park, KS (JudithFertig.com).
Natural Awakenings recommends using organic and non-GMO (genetically modified) ingredients whenever possible.
photo by Stephen Blancett
Tasty Holiday Recipes
Spiced Pepitas These crunchy pumpkin seeds are lemony, salty, spicy and zesty, all at the same time. A handful of these toasted tidbits whets the appetite. Yields: 2 cups 2 cups raw pumpkin seeds 1 Tbsp grated lemon zest 1 Tbsp lemon juice 2 tsp salt 1 tsp ground cumin ½ tsp freshly ground black pepper ½ tsp ground coriander ½ tsp ancho chile powder ½ tsp cayenne pepper ¼ tsp garlic powder ¼ tsp sugar (optional) Preheat the oven to 375° F. In a medium bowl, toss together the pumpkin seeds, lemon zest, lemon juice, salt, cumin, pepper, coriander, chile powder, cayenne and garlic powder. Spread the mixture on a baking sheet and bake for 5 minutes. Remove the baking sheet from the oven and shake to redistribute the seeds, and then bake for another 3 minutes. Pull it out to shake the pan again. Then finish baking for 1 to 2 minutes or until the pumpkin seeds are crispy and golden without burning them. Transfer to a cool baking sheet and cool completely before storing in an airtight container. Courtesy of Sandra A. Gutierrez, SandrasKitchenStudio.com.
Preheat the oven to 375° F.
Truffle Spiced Popcorn
Whisk wet ingredients until mixed well. Toss mixture with chickpeas.
This wicked, fresh, piping-hot popcorn is kissed with a simple blend of rosemary, onion and truffle oil. Yields: 9 cups
Place mixture on baking pan and roast for 20 to 30 minutes, shaking and stirring periodically until mixture is evaporated and chickpeas begin to get color; beware of burning.
2½ Tbsp grapeseed oil A bit less than ½ cup popcorn kernels 1 Tbsp truffle oil 2 Tbsp nutritional yeast ½ Tbsp onion granules ½ tsp fresh rosemary, minced Sea salt to taste On medium heat, warm the oil in a large saucepan with a lid. Remove from the stove and add all kernels in an even layer on the bottom of the pan. Cover for 20 seconds to allow all the kernels to become coated and reach equal temperature so they all pop at once.
Garnish with sesame seeds and dried chili, maybe a little smoked salt. Courtesy of Chad and Derek Sarno, WickedHealthyFood.com.
Frothy Hot Chocolate with Pistachio Milk Cozy up and indulge in this thick, creamy and rich hot chocolate made with whole food ingredients. Yields: 2 servings Pistachio Milk ½ cup raw shelled pistachios 2 cups filtered water
Place the covered pan back on the heat and shake it while it’s on the burner. The Cocoa kernels will slowly begin to pop; once ½ to ¾ cup unsweetened baking they start, crack the lid slightly to let out cocoa or cacao powder a bit of steam. Continue shaking the pan ¼ to ½ cup date paste over heat until the popping stops. 1 tsp cinnamon Remove from the stovetop immediately 1 tsp vanilla extract and pour all popcorn into a large bowl. Dash Himalayan pink salt Drizzle with truffle oil, nutritional yeast, For the pistachio milk, soak the nuts onion granules, minced rosemary and sea overnight in a bowl of water. salt. Shake and mix well before serving. Rinse before placing them into a highCourtesy of Chad and Derek Sarno, speed blender with the 2 cups of water. WickedHealthyFood.com. Blend until the mixture is completely puréed and milky.
Beer-Miso-Sriracha Roasted Chickpeas
Strain mixture through a nut milk bag or cheesecloth; then add the nut milk back into the blender.
Any favorite beer will work. Yields: 2 to 4 servings 1 (15½ oz) can chickpeas or garbanzo beans, drained and set aside 1 Tbsp sriracha 1 Tbsp organic miso paste (any color) 1 /3 bottle of beer Black and white sesame seeds Dried chili to taste Smoked salt for garnish to taste
Add all other ingredients and blend at a high speed until thick. Note: If using a regular, slower blender, re-warm the hot chocolate on the stove top. It may not be as thick and frothy but will taste good. Courtesy of Sophia DeSantis, VeggiesDontBite.com.
natural awakenings
November 2016
25
healthykids
THE SENSITIVE CHILD How to Nurture
altanaka/Shutterstock.com
Special Gifts by Maureen Healy
It is primarily parenting that decides whether the expression of sensitivity will be an advantage or a source of anxiety. ~Elaine Aron
H
ighly sensitive children need extra nurturing care so that they can learn to see their sensitivity as a strength and begin empowering themselves with tools to tap into their positive traits such as insight, creativity and empathy, while simultaneously learning how to manage their rich emotional lives. Elaine Aron, Ph.D., a practicing psychotherapist in Mill Valley, California, who studies sensitivity using functional magnetic resonance imaging, advises, “A highly sensitive child is among the 15 to 20 percent born with a nervous system that’s highly aware and quick to react to everything.” She offers a free online questionnaire to help assess a child’s level of sensitivity at HSPerson.com/test/ highly-sensitive-child-test. Highly sensitive children are incredibly responsive to their environments, from sounds and smells to the overall mood of people they encounter. Other indicators may range from a preference for quiet play to noticing details or asking many questions. With a sharpened sense of awareness, they are often gifted intellectually, creatively and emotionally, demonstrating genuine compassion early on.
26
Peace River Edition
The downside is that these intensely perceptive children can also be easily overwhelmed by crowds, noises, new situations or sudden changes. Criticism, defeat and the distress of others deeply affect them. Parenting a highly sensitive child can be highly rewarding, but some parents find it exhausting. Special skills help in gracefully raising a healthy, happy and well-adjusted sensitive child without wearing ourselves out. Accept, rather than seek to change them. Embracing a child as being highly sensitive is step one. No one can change them into less sensitive, more traditional kids. Accept their specialness as part of the family’s shared journey. See it as a gift. It’s easy to get frustrated or angry with a child if they continually cry, withdraw and shy away from social situations. Instead of viewing these behaviors as flaws, see them as providing the child a special gift. Sensitivity often characterizes artists, innovators, prodigies and great thinkers. Partner up. Sensitive children respond far better to requests for desired behaviors when acting in partnership with the adults in their life. Harsh discipline can elicit emotional meltdowns
www.peaceriverna.com
and outbursts of energy in temper tantrums, crying or yelling. Partnering with a child includes learning to avoid their triggers and giving them ready tools to use when they feel overwhelmed, such as breathing exercises. Professional counselors can help shape the relationship. Focus on strengths. Remembering that a highly sensitive child may be incredibly talented is essential when they are acting out. Training ourselves to see a child’s strengths first—such as their incredible creativity, perceptiveness and keen intellect—helps us accept their challenges, such as being overwhelmed, highly emotional, introverted at times, shy, picky about clothes and other preferences, or overly active. Create calmness. It’s worth taking the time to create spaces that match a child’s sensibilities. Create a “peace corner” at home designed to deliver the serenity that highly sensitive children crave by using just the right lighting, colors, sounds and surroundings; elements might include headphones, favorite plush toys and coloring markers. Instill inner discipline. Establishing gentle structure and clear limits with respect goes a long way. Reasonable reminders of what’s needed now and why yield better results than shouting and warnings of consequences. Connect with peers. Like everyone else, highly sensitive children are drawn to other “birds of a feather”, and getting these kids together to nurture each other’s strengths is good. It may mean some extra effort by parents to help a child find kids that get along together and make play dates. A highly sensitive child can be steered in a helpful emotional direction by well-adjusted, happy and healthy sensitive adults. Sensitive children need especially good role models because they are learning how to use their incredible gifts in a world that sometimes doesn’t value their inherent worth. Maureen Healy, of Santa Barbara, CA, runs a mentoring program for highly sensitive children based on her social and emotional learning curriculum for K-8 students, child psychology training and current scientific research. She is the author of Growing Happy Kids and The Energetic Keys to Indigo Kids (HighlySensitiveKids.com).
calendarofevents 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.
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 1 Intuitive Healing – 11am-6pm. Also, Nov 3, 8, 10, 15, 17, 22 24, 29. With Adam “Way” Wawrzyniak, an intuitive healer, Reiki master, minister of Universal Ministries with a healing modality strongly connected to his heart. Energy touch in contact with your internal multi-dimensional structure which directly affects physical body, emotions, mind balance, connection with inner child, heart opening, connection with your higher self, and adjustment to new multi-dimensional collective consciousness. Adam uses knowledge of sacred geometry and multi-dimensional holographic consciousness. $80. The Cosmic Center of Spiritual Light, 5041 Ringwood Mdws, Bldg G-2, Sarasota. 941-371-9333, ccosl.com.
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 2 Spiritual Arts Decoded – 7:15-8:45 pm. The Spiritual Arts are time-honored methods to connect to Spirit, higher consciousness, and the energy of the universe. They allow us to create pathways to greater possibilities. This Week: Intuition, Psychic Ability, Evidential Mediumship – contacting loved ones, Signs and Synchronicities-how Spirit contacts us, What is a Development Circle? With Shanna Spalding St Clair. $15. The Spirit University, 373 Braden Ave, Sarasota. 941-544-5874, Light@VictoriaAckerman.com, TheSpiritUniversity.com.
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 3 Cultivating a Community of Peace – 1-2:30pm. The Venice Peace Project will present information on the activities they have undertaken to promote peace in our area. Discussion will follow on steps to promote and enhance peace on an individual and community level. Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Venice Sanctuary, 1971 Pinebrook Rd, Venice. Information, 941-485-2105. Mary Magdalene’s Mystical Teachings of Enlightenment – 7-8:30pm. Also Nov 17. Awakening to the Power of the Sacred Feminine with Rev Lea Chapin. Mary Magdalene brings forth her powerful, mystical teachings of enlightenment. She will awaken all to the power of the divine feminine energy that has emerged upon this planet at this time. These teachings are powerful, direct and life altering for the serious spiritual seeker who truly desires to help humanity and Mother Earth shift into the Golden Age of enlightenment. $25. The Cosmic Center of Spiritual Light, 5041 Ringwood Mdws, Bldg G-2, Sarasota. 941-371-9333, ccosl.com. Reconnecting with Your Past Lives: An Experiential Journey – Based on a comprehensive mandala of human consciousness, each of us has the opportunity to visit our past, both in this life and previous lives. Jef Bartow will teach you what that mandala is and then provide a guided experiential journey into one of your past lives. Utilizing guided meditation with the energy of the mandala will open the unconscious door to a journey into the circumstances and reality of a past life that significantly affects the present. $35. Follow-up consultations for participants Nov 4 & 6. 60mins/$110. Elysian Fields, Midtown Pla-
za, 1273 S Tamiami Trl, Sarasota. 941-361-3006, ElysianFieldsOnline.com.
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 4 Follow-up Past Life Consultations with Jef Bartow – 10:30am-5pm. Consultations are only for attendees of Reconnecting with Your Past Lives Workshop held Nov 3. This one-on-one session will penetrate deeper into the past life contacted for additional clarity. Further utilizing the Akashic Records and the individual’s astrology chart, Jef will provide insights on where and how this past life impacts today’s life. Both inner intuitive work and key aspects within the natal astrology chart are important in understanding how past life experiences affect current challenges and opportunities. 60mins/$110. Elysian Fields, Midtown Plaza, 1273 S Tamiami Trl, Sarasota. 941-361-3006, ElysianFieldsOnline.com. Reiki Circle – 7-9pm. Are you a new student, advanced practitioner or seasoned Reiki master? Perhaps you want to know more about this ancient healing art. Everyone is welcome! $5. Angel Ministries, 2269 Tamiami Trl, Venice. Rev Patricia Charnley 941-492-4995. AngelMinistriesfl.org.
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 5 Reiki 2 Certification – 10am-2pm. Teaches Distance Healing and opens additional energy centers. Includes Reiki 2 Attunement. We will also touch on animal healing. Prerequisite is Reiki 1 Certification. Class size is limited. With Barbara Harrison. $98 plus $18 manual. The Spirit University, 373 Braden Ave, Sarasota. Please Pre-register, 941-544-5874, Light@VictoriaAckerman.com, TheSpiritUniversity.com. Musician, Michael Katala – 11am-3pm. Native American-style flute music played in the practice of healing the body and soul. Listen while you browse. Handcrafted flutes are available for demonstration and purchase. Elysian Fields, Midtown Plaza, 1273 S Tamiami Trl, Sarasota. 941361-3006, ElysianFieldsOnline.com. Reiki III, Pt 1 Certification Class – 11:30am5:30pm. Reiki III, Pt 2, the final one of the series is Nov 19. Students will receive a Reiki III Master Healer Attunement and Certification. This is a powerful and profound path of initiation into becoming a conduit of light on the planet. $122/ each class. Location near Proctor, off Swift. Rev Zan Benham, 941-922-7839. Zan@Woman-Spirit. com. Woman-Spirit.com. Flourishing With Qi – 1-4pm. Learn the cultivation practices of the 9-Breath technique, level 1 healing form and join hands in a 9-Breath Prayer Circle. Creating a Healing Chain of Energy for personal and planetary healing. Facilitated by Supreme Science Qigong Instructors Denise Duquette and David Smowton. $35. The Spirit University, 373 Braden Ave, Sarasota. Please Pre-register, 941-544-5874, Light@VictoriaAckerman.com, TheSpiritUniversity.com. Animals as Messengers of Spirit – 2:30-4:30pm. Animals can act as messengers from Spirit, and also from deeper parts of our being. In this work-
shop: How to learn from the animals around you, Energy and animals, Calling in a teacher, Working with animal symbols, Animals as reflections of part of our souls, Soul retrievals of the animal parts of us. Come dressed to be outside and use art supplies. With Anne Cederberg. $25. The Spirit University, 373 Braden Ave, Sarasota. 941-544-5874, Light@ VictoriaAckerman.com, TheSpiritUniversity.com.
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 6 ECK Worship Service – 11am-noon. Gratitude, the Secret of Divine Love. One who loves God loves life. The golden thread of divine love connects all of life with the divine Creator. Free. Charlotte County Cultural Center, Rm A, 2280 Aaron St, Port Charlotte, 941-358-0325, Meetup.com/EckankarInSarasota. Follow-up Past Life Consultations with Jef Bartow – 12:15-3:30pm. Consultations are only for attendees of Reconnecting with Your Past Lives Workshop held Nov 3. This one-on-one session will penetrate deeper into the past life contacted for additional clarity. Further utilizing the Akashic Records and the individual’s astrology chart, Jef will provide insights on where and how this past life impacts today’s life. Both inner intuitive work and key aspects within the natal astrology chart are important in understanding how past life experiences affect current challenges and opportunities. 60mins/$110. Elysian Fields, Midtown Plaza, 1273 S Tamiami Trl, Sarasota. 941-361-3006, ElysianFieldsOnline.com. Deep Peace Concert – 6pm. RadianceMatrix comes to Unity of Sarasota for a live, meditative concert on the Tibetan bowls, incorporating mantra chanting, flutes, and Tibetan throat singing. $15/advance. $20/door. 3203 Proctor Rd, Sarasota. Info, Unity office 941-955-3301. Tickets, OceanOfSound.org.
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 7 The Four Agreements – 6:30-8pm. Nov 7, 14, 21, 28. The wisdom in this book written by Don Miquel Ruiz is beautifully presented and, without exaggeration, the concepts are life-altering. Learn more about how to apply these tools and bring freedom and joy to your life. Take advantage of this opportunity to share your ideas, insights and experience. $10. Angel Ministries, 2269 Tamiami Trl, Venice. Rev Patricia Charnley 941-492-4995. AngelMinistriesfl.org.
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 8 Astrology Discussions with Catherine – 7-9pm. In this month’s class, we will be reviewing the last few ‘’game changer” eclipses. We will discuss how to move through these major influences, keeping our new higher levels activated. We’ll also be looking at some major shifts within the planets, primarily those of Uranus and Neptune. $25. Pre-registration required. Elysian Fields, Midtown Plaza, 1273 S Tamiami Trl, Sarasota. 941-361-3006, ElysianFieldsOnline.com.
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 9 Paddle Alligator Creek – 8:30am-1pm. We will paddle down the south branch of Alligator Creek, through hardwoods, sabal palms, and mangroves.
natural awakenings
November 2016
27
We will then paddle through mangrove tunnels and smaller streams to Charlotte Harbor, enjoy views of the bay, and return. Guides, Florida Master Naturalists Les and Mary Caraher, live on the creek. Participants must provide their own watercraft, PFD and be able to swim. Bring plenty of water, sunscreen, hat, and a snack or lunch. Voluntary donations to the Sierra Club are always gratefully accepted. Reservations are required and are limited to 10 people. Call 304-642-8851.
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10 Guest Reader, Deborah Chadwick – 10:30am5:30pm. Using a deck of regular playing cards, Deborah is able to communicate with her guides and angels, quickly receiving very specific information for her clients. Throughout her readings, Deborah brings forth humor and healing to aid her clients in achieving a higher level of understanding and focus. 15mins/$30; 30mins/$60; 45mins/$80 Elysian Fields, Midtown Plaza, 1273 S Tamiami Trl, Sarasota. 941-361-3006, ElysianFieldsOnline.com. The Ceremony of the Bowl of Light – 7-9pm. Join celebrated author, Charmian Redwood, for this deeply healing ancient Hawaiian traditional ceremony for releasing the old energies of trauma that you have experienced during your life from childhood up until the present. Using a crystal bowl, Charmian will guide the group in a cleansing meditation to remove this trauma and restore your Holy Innocence. $20. Pre-registration required. Elysian Fields, Midtown Plaza, 1273 S Tamiami Trl, Sarasota. 941-361-3006, ElysianFieldsOnline.com.
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 11 Guest Reader, Joann Leo – 10:30am-5:30pm. Join us in welcoming back our popular guest reader, Joanne Leo, who has more than 30 years’ experience as a psychic reader and life coach. Combining psychic-channeled numerology and astrology with her tarot card readings, Joanne is able to provide detailed insights about your life based on your birth date and birth name. Her candid “Readings with a Heart” provide a unique and profound guide to all aspects of your life. 15mins/$30; 30mins/$50; 45mins/$70; 60mins/$90. Elysian Fields, Midtown Plaza, 1273 S Tamiami Trl, Sarasota. 941-361-3006, ElysianFieldsOnline.com. Talking Stick Circle – 6:30-7:45pm. Join us bi-weekly for this new experience. When was the last time you felt heard? When was the last time you felt safe enough to give voice to something deep & truthful without fear of judgement or shame? $10. Angel Ministries College, 2269 Tamiami Trl, Venice. Rev Patricia Charnley 941492-4995. AngelMinistriesfl.org. Women’s Full Moon Meditation – 6:30pm doors open; 7pm doors close, meditation begins. With Jo Mooy & The Sound Sisters-Through Time. Crystal & Tibetan Bowls & Gongs are played in the background as Jo Mooy leads a guided meditation through the Goddesses of Religions in preparation for the coming winter season. The Women’s Meditation Circle meets on the New and Full Moons for a guided meditation led by a senior member of the community. $10 donation to Rising Tide for use of center. 5102 Swift Rd, Sarasota. Info, Jo Mooy 941-355-1414, JoMooy@gmail.com.
28
Peace River Edition
Movie: Peace Pilgrim – 7pm. Come and be inspired by a documentary on Peace Pilgrim, an American Sage who walked the talk of Peace from 1953-1981. She walked over 25,000 miles for peace. Let’s explore that peace with her. Donations accepted. Venice Holistic Community Center, 714 Shamrock Blvd, Venice. VenicePeaceProject.org.
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 12 Intuitive Arts Fair – 10:30am-5:30pm. Featured readers: Catherine, Laura, Stephanie, Jackie and Skye. No appointments made by phone. First come, first served. 30mins/$35. Elysian Fields, Midtown Plaza, 1273 S Tamiami Trl, Sarasota. 941-361-3006, ElysianFieldsOnline.com. Meet Your Spiritual Guides – 3:15-4:30pm. Join us and meet your Spiritual Guides. Learn what your Spiritual Guides have to offer you. Discover how your Spiritual Guides interact with you daily. $10. Angel Ministries College, 2269 Tamiami Trl, Venice. Rev Patricia Charnley 941-492-4995. AngelMinistriesfl.org.
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 13 Yin Yoga & Yoga Nidra – 3:30-5:30pm. Join Patty Seidensticker & Betsy Anderson for this slow moving practice which connects us to the deeper tissues and inner body while we quietly hold yin poses for a longer length of time. Increases flexibility, relieves tension, opens the chi energy and quiets the mind. Then enjoy Yoga Nidra, a guided 30-minute meditation led by Betsy into a deeply relaxing place that brings peace & calm. No experience necessary. $20/at door. Radiant Soul Yoga & Wellness, 3512 N Lockwood Ridge, Sarasota. Advance signup, RadiantSoulYogaWellness@ gmail.com.
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 14 Paddle Woolverton Trail Mangroves and Lunch on Big Dog Island – 10am-2pm. Explore the extensive mangrove tunnels of Lemon Bay then paddle to Big Dog Island with Florida Master Naturalist Helen Buonviri and Bill Schuyler. Enjoy a leisurely lunch/snack exploring Big Dog before returning to the launch area. Participants are required to wear a PFD. Bring your kayak/canoe (no inflatables), water, bug spray, lunch/snack. Donations to the Sierra Club are gratefully accepted. Reservations, Helen 941-467-0974 or Bill 941-763-9248.
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 15 Greater Charlotte Harbor Sierra Club General Meeting – 7pm. Deb Highsmith will show a beautiful program highlighting her adventures as a seasonal park ranger at Glacier Bay National Park in Alaska, celebrating the 100 year birthday of the National Park Service. Monthly General Meetings are open to the public, always on the 3rd Tuesday of every month. Unitarian Universalist Fellowship Building, 1532 Forrest Nelson Blvd, Port Charlotte. Info, 941-423-2713.
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 16 Kayak Shell Creek – 9am-2pm. Shell Creek is now coming in bloom with lavender banks of Climbing Asters. Join us as we paddle with Master Naturalist Rick Fried, who lives on the Creek. You must provide your own watercraft and be able to swim. Free to the public; voluntary donations to the Sierra Club are always gratefully accepted. Reserve 941-637-8805.
www.peaceriverna.com
classifieds SUPPORT HELPING PARENTS HEAL. At Unity of Sarasota on second Wednesday each month, 7–9pm. $5 donation. Sandi Crea 814-449-7481. 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. Enlightenment Center at Unity Church, 3023 Proctor Rd, Sarasota. Rev Zan Benham, 941-922-7839. Zan@Woman-Spirit.com. Woman-Spirit.com.
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 17 Mary Magdalene’s Mystical Teachings of Enlightenment – 7-8:30pm. Awakening to the Power of the Sacred Feminine with Rev Lea Chapin. Mary Magdalene brings forth her powerful, mystical teachings of enlightenment. She will awaken all to the power of the divine feminine energy that has emerged upon this planet at this time. These teachings are powerful, direct and life altering for the serious spiritual seeker who truly desires to help humanity and Mother Earth shift into the Golden Age of enlightenment. $25. The Cosmic Center of Spiritual Light, 5041 Ringwood Mdws, Bldg G-2, Sarasota. 941-371-9333, ccosl.com.
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 18 Guest Reader, Sherry Lord – 10:30am-5:30pm. Sherry is a Reiki Master, ordained reverend, teacher, psychic intuitive and deeper trance channel. She can see angels, guides and auras as well as channel loved ones who have crossed over. She is a versatile channel who can answer your questions, both business and personal, and help you on your spiritual path. 15mins/$40; 30mins/$75; 60mins/$125. In Deep Trance Channel sessions, Sherry allows Namara, a group of non-physical beings of pure love & light, to speak through her, 50mins/$175. Elysian Fields, Midtown Plaza, 1273 S Tamiami Trl, Sarasota. 941361-3006, ElysianFieldsOnline.com.
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 19 Qi Breathing Experience – 11:30am-1pm. Build a Qi foundation with Supreme Science Qigong. For personal and spiritual development. $25. Spa-NorthWest, 2722 Manatee Ave W, Ste 2, Bradenton. RSVP 941-713-1637. Spa-Northwest.com. Workshop: Create Your Own Mini Peace Pole – 2-4pm. Materials are supplied, but you are welcome to bring a special stone, feather, shell or other pieces. Limited to 25. $10/suggested donation. Venice Holistic Community Center, 714 Shamrock Blvd, Venice. Register, Info@VenicePeaceProject. org. VenicePeaceProject.org. Sacred Sound Immersion Beach Sunset – 4:305:30pm. Crystal & Tibetan bowls and gongs with the Sound Sisters. Donation $15. South Lido Beach Park, follow path to Gulf from west side of parking lot. 941-812-8695. Christo Bowers, Clairvoyant, Intuitive and Energy Healer – Nov 19-20. Two days of workshops, lectures, readings and private meditations. Special pricing for attending multiple events. Unity of Sarasota, 3203 Proctor Rd. Info, 941-3503301, UnityOfSarasota.org.
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 20
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 27
Giving Thanks Celebration – 4-5pm. This free outdoor yoga class is being held to give back to the community. Bring donations of non-perishable food for the St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry, a local organization that helps individuals and families in need. The Yoga Sanctuary, 120 Laishley Ct, Punta Gorda. 941-505-9642. Info@TheYogaSanctuary. biz. TheYogaSanctuary.biz.
Kayak Myakkahtchee Creek – 9am-noon. You will test your skills on this twisting, jungle creek in North Port with Allain Hale. Portaging is required in two places, so be in shape for this. Participants must provide their own watercraft, PFD and be able to swim. Voluntary donations to the Sierra Club are always gratefully accepted. Must reserve, 941-423-2713.
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 22
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 28
Guest Reader, Deborah Chadwick – 10:30am5:30pm. Using a deck of regular playing cards, Deborah is able to communicate with her guides and angels, quickly receiving very specific information for her clients. Throughout her readings, Deborah brings forth humor and healing to aid her clients in achieving a higher level of understanding and focus. 15mins/$30; 30mins/$60; 45mins/$90. Elysian Fields, Midtown Plaza, 1273 S Tamiami Trl, Sarasota. 941-361-3006, ElysianFieldsOnline. com.
Channeled Anchoring Light Meditation – 7:45pm. Serving the Ascension of our planet with the Ascended Realms as Anchors of Light, with Rev Sharon-Elizabeth James since July 16, 2007. Love Offering. The Cosmic Center of Spiritual Light, 5041 Ringwood Mdws, Bldg G-2, Sarasota. 941-371-9333, ccosl.com.
Monthly Anchoring Light Channeled Meditation Charlotte County – 6:45pm. With Rev Sharon-Elizabeth James, serving the Ascension of our planet with the Ascended Realms as Anchors of Light every Monday since July 16, 2007! Port Charlotte Beach Park, Room A, Port Charlotte. Love Offering. 941-371-9333, ccosl.com.
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 24 GIVING THANKS Intuitive Healing – 11am-6pm. With Adam “Way” Wawrzyniak, an intuitive healer, Reiki master, minister of Universal Ministries with a healing modality strongly connected to his heart. Energy touch in contact with your internal multi-dimensional structure which directly affects physical body, emotions, mind balance, connection with inner child, heart opening, connection with your higher self, and adjustment to new multi-dimensional collective consciousness. Adam uses knowledge of sacred geometry and multi-dimensional holographic consciousness. $80. The Cosmic Center of Spiritual Light, 5041 Ringwood Mdws, Bldg G-2, Sarasota. 941-371-9333, ccosl.com.
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 29 Intuitive Healing – 11am-6pm. With Adam “Way” Wawrzyniak, an intuitive healer, Reiki master, minister of Universal Ministries with a healing modality strongly connected to his heart. Energy touch in contact with your internal multi-dimensional structure which directly affects physical body, emotions, mind balance, connection with inner child, heart opening, connection with your higher self, and adjustment to new multi-dimensional collective consciousness. Adam uses knowledge of sacred geometry and multi-dimensional holographic consciousness. $80. The Cosmic Center of Spiritual Light, 5041 Ringwood Mdws, Bldg G-2, Sarasota. 941-371-9333, ccosl.com.
planahead THURSDAY, DECEMBER 1 Kayak Shell Creek – 9am-2pm. Your guide, Master Naturalist Rick Fried, lives on this pretty creek in Charlotte County, well worth visiting again and again. Participants must provide their own watercraft and be able to swim. Voluntary donations to the Sierra Club gratefully accepted. Reserve 941637-8805.
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 25
SATURDAY DECEMBER 3
Women’s Thanksgiving New Moon Meditation – 6:30pm doors open; 7pm doors close when meditation begins. Sabrina Harris and the Suncoast Threshold Choir sing the song of the souls to those in Hospice. In this meditation, they bring songs of Thanksgiving to the group. The Women’s Meditation Circle meets on the New and Full Moons for a guided meditation led by a senior member of the community. $10 donation to Rising Tide for use of center. 5102 Swift Rd, Sarasota. Info, Jo Mooy 941-355-1414, JoMooy@gmail.com.
Nature Walk in Prairie Creek Preserve Scrub – 8:30-11am. Walk with Florida Master Naturalists, John Phillips and Jamie Reynolds, as we tour this protected area of scrub habitat. Informative, easy and safe. Voluntary donations to the Sierra Club are always gratefully accepted. Info 941-6397468.
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 26 Have You Had A Spiritual Experience? – 11am12:30pm. Have you had dreams of a departed loved one, an out-of-body or near-death experience, wonder about past lives? Learn more with like-minded people, also receive a free CD with special techniques. Free. Mid-County Regional Library, Meeting Room B, 2050 Forrest Nelson Blvd., Port Charlotte. Fellowship and light refreshments. 941358-0325. Meetup.com/EckankarInSarasota.
relax • unwind • destress
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 10 Spirit of The Holidays Messages Party – 7-9pm. Five top psychic mediums, one holiday evening. Come celebrate the Spirit of the holidays. Mark your calendar, this is one event you don’t want to miss! All guests will receive a personal message from a top psychic medium. Dinner Buffet, Wine, Desserts, Gift Baskets Raffle, Music and Fun. Space is limited (we were at overflow capacity last year), so reserve your place early. $60. The Spirit University, 373 Braden Ave, Sarasota. 941-5445874, Light@VictoriaAckerman.com, TheSpiritUniversity.com.
YOU’RE THE
AR TIST
natural awakenings
November 2016
29
ongoingevents sunday Sunday Services Cosmic Center – 10am Hands on Spiritual Healing. 10:30am Open Arms Metaphysical Spiritualist Service: Inspirational lectures and messages from your loved ones and friends on “The Other Side”. Reverends Thomas & Mary Linn Clarke. The Cosmic Center of Spiritual Light, 5041 Ringwood Mdw, Bldg G-2, Sarasota. 941-371-9333. ccosl.com. Silent Retreat – 10am-3:45pm. 2nd Sun. Venice Mindfulness Community. Come to all or part. Silent brown bag lunch Noon-1:30pm. Venice Holistic Community Center, 714 Shamrock Blvd, Venice, RSVP 941-615-7613. Sunday Worship Service – 10:30am. Start your week renewed and encouraged. Join the CMF for a morning of inspiration, spiritual healing, inspirational talk, special music and Spirit messages. Fellowship period follows the service. Center for Metaphysical Fellowship, 2044 Bispham Rd, Sarasota. 941-266-8435. cmfSarasota.org. Sunday AM Service – 10:30am-Noon. Join us for a free chair healing, singing, inspiring spiritual church messages and, after service, messages from Spirit with our Psychic/Mediums. Love Offering Welcome. Angel Ministries, 2269 S Tamiami Trl, Venice. Rev Patricia Charnley, 941-4924995, revpat@angelministriesfl.org, angelministriesfl.org. Chess – 11am-3pm. The Cultural Center of Charlotte County, 2280 Aaron St, Port Charlotte. Info & sign-up 941-625-4175. A Cosmic In-Service Gathering of Lightworkers – 12:15pm. A call to Planetary World Servers to Anchor Light and work with our Family of Light to bridge Heaven and Earth. Reverend Sharon-Elizabeth James. The Cosmic Center of Spiritual Light, 5041 Ringwood Mdw, Bldg G-2, Sarasota. 941-371-9333. ccosl.com. Open Heart Divine Healing Service – First Sunday. 12:15pm. Through the Gathering of the faithful, experience and co-create the Anchoring of Powerful Divine Healing Energies within the Sacred Circle. Expect miracles! Reverend Sharon-Elizabeth James. The Cosmic Center of Spiritual Light, 5041 Ringwood Mdw, Bldg G-2, Sarasota. 941-371-9333. ccosl.com. Sunday PM Service – 6:30-8pm. Join us for a free chair healing, singing, inspiring spiritual church messages and, after service, messages from Spirit with our Psychic/Mediums. Love Offering Welcome. Angel Ministries, 2269 S Tamiami Trl, Venice. Rev Patricia Charnley, 941-492-4995, revpat@ angelministriesfl.org, angelministriesfl.org.
monday Free Max T3 – 7:30am. Ultimate Boost Training. For all levels of fitness! Dower Chiropractic, 2226 Gulf Gate Dr, Sarasota. Paddleboard Lessons & Tour – 9-10:30am. Learn how to stand up paddleboard while explor-
30
Peace River Edition
ing the barrier islands that surround the North Jetty. Great opportunity to see dolphins, manatees and other wildlife. $25. N Jetty, Nokomis. 941-234-4311. SUPEnglewood.com. Gentle Mixed Yoga – 9:30-11am. Gentle mixed level yoga. All levels and bodies welcome. $10. 238 W Tampa Ave, Ste 250, Venice. 941-468-0403. Sunlight Yoga – 9:30-11am Mon, Tues, Thurs. 5:457:05am Wed. With Debbie Downing. Gentle flowing hatha yoga for range of motion, balance, relaxation. Mixed level. $10. The Power of One, 238 W Tampa Ave, Venice Centre Mall/KMI Bldg, Rm 250. 941468-0403. SunLightYoga@verizon.net. Slow Flow Kripalu Yoga with Angelena Craig – 4-5:15pm. A gentle, yet energetic approach to traditional yoga, suitable for beginners or the more advanced. First time student special $15/ first class, second one is free; $55/5 class packages. Circusoul Yoga Studio, 4141 S Tamiami Trl, Sarasota. 941822-9620, ANewAgingMovement.com.
tuesday
Free Healing Clinic – 4-6:30pm. 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 Appreciated. Angel Ministries, 2269 S Tamiami Trl, Venice. Rev Patricia Charnley, 941-492-4995, revpat@angelministriesfl.org, angelministriesfl.org. Debbie Downing Yoga – 5:45-7:15pm. Gentle mixed level yoga. All levels and bodies welcome. $10. 238 W Tampa Ave, Ste 250, Venice. 941-468-0403. Free Max T3 – 6:30pm. Ultimate Boost Training. For all levels of fitness! Dower Chiropractic, 2226 Gulf Gate Dr, Sarasota. Sarasota Essential Oils Presents 8-Week Series – 6:30-8pm. Exciting, fun, informative classes on green, clean, chemical-free living. Different topics weekly. Join the Green Living Challenge where you earn Green Points to win prizes. We’re creating a safe and healthy environment for people, pets, plants and planet. 2700 Orchid Oaks Dr (1 blk north of Bee Ridge off Tuttle). $5/class or $25/ Three-for-Free with advance registration. Info and Registration, 941-203-1225, Facebook, SarasotaEssentialOils.com.
WSLR Peace & Justice Show – 9-10am. Tune in to 96.5 on the 1st, 3rd and 5th Tuesdays of the month for The Peace and Justice Report. Submit any event announcements for the show to Info@wslr.org.
Square Dancing – 7-9pm. The Cultural Center of Charlotte County, 2280 Aaron St, Port Charlotte. 941-625-4175.
Gentle Mixed Yoga – 9:30-11am. Gentle mixed level yoga. All levels & bodies welcome. $10. 238 W Tampa Ave, Ste 250, Venice. 941-468-0403.
thursday
Transformative Yoga – 5:30-6:45pm. The literal translation of Nidra is sleep. However, Yoga Nidra is a dynamic state, not the unconscious sleep of nighttime. It has the ability to alter your unconscious programming. You tap into creative powers beyond the ego-mind and have access to healing on physical, mental and emotional planes. First class complimentary, $10 thereafter. Venice Holistic Community Center, 714 Shamrock Blvd, Venice. Register, Facilitator Rick Rabalais 941-539-9149.
Kundalini Yoga/Gong Meditation – 8-9:30am. A blend of postures, mantra & gong meditation offering a technology that aligns with the ever-evolving universe. All levels. $15; $52/4; $88/8. Moving Toward Stillness Wellness Center, Osprey. 941812-8695. Zumba/Yoga Class with Allison – 9-10am. Feel young & energetic on Venice Beach. Dance & relax. Donations. W Venice Ave, on the Beach, Venice. VeniceInformationCenter.com.
The Greater Charlotte Harbor Group of the Sierra Club – 7-9pm. 3rd Tuesday monthly. Open to the public, this is a wonderful opportunity for you to discover what your local Sierra Club is all about. Unitarian Universalist Fellowship Building, 1532 Forrest Nelson Blvd, Port Charlotte. Info, 941-4232713, AllainHale@hotmail.com.
Englewood Farmers’ Market – 9am-2pm. Find a wide range of fruits, organic vegetables, fresh baked German breads, gourmet French foods, fresh seafood, bonsai plants, orchids, garden plants, kettle corn and much more! Olde Englewood Village, W Dearborn St, Englewood, EnglewoodFarmersMarket.org.
Anchoring Light Channeled Meditation Charlotte County – 7:45pm. 2nd Tuesday monthly. Reverend Sharon-Elizabeth James. Serving the Ascension of our planet with the Ascended Realms as Anchors of Light since July 2007. Love Offering. The Cosmic Center of Spiritual Light, 5041 Ringwood Mdw, Bldg G-2, Sarasota. 941-371-9333, ccosl.com.
Gentle Mixed Yoga – 9:30-11am. Gentle mixed level yoga. All levels & bodies welcome. $10. 238 W Tampa Ave, Ste 250, Venice. 941-468-0403.
wednesday Yoga/Pilates Flow, Level One – 11am-12:15pm. With Lata. Great for beginners and all levels. A flow of yoga postures and Pilates to strengthen, tone and stretch the entire body. Packages available. 3455 S Access Rd, Englewood. 941-473-0135. LovingLightYoga.com.
www.peaceriverna.com
Deep Water Aerobics – 10-10:45am. Some swimming ability required. $3. S County Regional Park, 670 Cooper St, Punta Gorda. 941-629-0170, 941505-8686. Awakening Spirit Kundalini Yoga – 11am12:15pm. Awaken spiritual energy with breath, movement and meditation, with Jana and Hannah. $10. Venice Holistic Community Center, 714 Shamrock Blvd, Venice. Register 941-488-1828. Mindful Movement – Noon-1pm. Qigong with Daniele. $10. Sarasota Mindfulness Institute, 1530 Dolphin St, Studio 6, Burns Ct, Sarasota. Details SarasotaMindfulness.org/calendar.html.
Open Gym Basketball – 5-8pm. Drop in & enjoy a game of indoor basketball. Shoot some hoops. Play 3 on 3, 5 on 5 or a pickup game with friends. Times subject to change. $2/player. Tringali Recreation Ctr, 3460 N Access Rd, Englewood.
Mindful Basics at SMI – 8:30-9:45am, Yoga Basics with Larisa, $10. Noon-1pm Sitting Meditation, Donation. Sarasota Mindfulness Institute, 1530 Dolphin St, Studio 6, Burns Ct, Sarasota. Details: SarasotaMindfulness.org/calendar.html.
Gentle Restorative Yoga – 6pm. Unwind the body with this gentle restorative class. All levels. $15/ first class free. Moving Toward Stillness Wellness Center, Osprey. 941-266-6962.
Astrology Fridays at the Power of One – 11am3pm. Know thyself and know what’s coming in your future. New relationship, order a synastry chart. Accurate, affordable prices. Call for an appointment or stop by the store to talk. Ask for Astrology Bob. $35/Natal or Progressed chart. The Power of One Metaphysical Shop, 238 W Tampa Ave, Venice. 941-493-6096.
Healing & Messages – 6:30-8pm. Join us for a free chair healing, singing, inspiring spiritual messages with our Psychic/Mediums. Love Offering Welcome. Angel Ministries, 2269 S Tamiami Trl, Venice. Rev Patricia Charnley, 941-492-4995, revpat@ angelministriesfl.org, angelministriesfl.org. Law Of Attraction Class – 7-9pm. Through December 15, this class takes you to the leading edge, working with the Principles of the Laws of Cause/ Effect or Sow/Reap. We are entering a study series of intention for living life as masterfully as we can, given our various quirks and preferences. $10. Unity of Sarasota, 3023 Proctor Rd, Sarasota. Rev Zan Benham, 941-922-7839. Zan@Woman-Spirit.com. Woman-Spirit.com.
friday Free Max T3 – 7:30am. Ultimate Boost Training. For all levels of fitness! Dower Chiropractic, 2226 Gulf Gate Dr, Sarasota.
Green Door Organics Co-op – 1-5:30pm. Every Friday of the month. Premium organics, affordable prices, no cross-contamination. Four locations, 941-378-9036 or OrganicVeggies.net. Private Readings Walk-in – 6-7:30pm. End your work week on a pleasant note, and with helpful guidance from your spirit guides and angels! Come and receive a 15-minute message from a loved one or guide from one of our gifted workers. Stop anytime during 6-7:15pm on Fridays, no appointments needed. Two workers available; minimum wait time, if any. $20 donation. Center for Metaphysical Fellowship, 2044 Bispham Rd, Sarasota. 941-2668435. cmfSarasota.org. Friday Night Concert – 7-9pm. Join us in Downtown Venice for our Free Friday Night Concert series at the Gazebo in Centennial Park, 200 W Venice Ave, Venice. Info MainStreet.com.
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.
MINERAL SPRINGS/SPA THE SPRINGS AT DAYS INN
18051 S Tamiami Tr., Fort Myers 239-267-7900 TheSpringsResortFL.com From over 1,000 feet below, warm mineral spring waters bubble to the surface and cascade from our large fountain beneath our domed pool. Even those with sun sensitivites can enjoy our local fountain of youth. Come and enjoy the healing and resorative powers of our high-mineral-content waters. Just 30 minutes away.
ORGANIC SALONS EUROPEAN HELIX HAIR DESIGNERS
Jutta Mestas, P.H.D. The Vines , 701 JC Center Court, Unit # 10 Port Charlotte, FL 33954 941-629-0074 Discover the “Magic” of Helix. Adds Volume, Body, Curls or Waves. We do with Scissors what others do with Chemicals.
PEST CONTROL GOOD NEWS PEST SOLUTIONS
saturday Punta Gorda Farmers Market – 8am-Noon. Voted the ‘Best Small Market in Florida’ and 15th in the USA, we have a large number of vendors offering fruits and vegetables, dried fruits and nuts, Italian bakery, fresh homemade pasta, kitchenware, cupcakes, beef and fresh seafood, fresh citrus, jewelry, candles and soaps, dip mixes, Florida arts and crafts, cheese, French bakery, baguettes and olives, homemade pies, orchids, organic produce, personalized pens, kettlecorn, coffee beans and drinks, native and exotic plants.Taylor St (across from Historic Charlotte County Courthouse), Punta Gorda. 941-391-4856. Info@PGDowntownMerchants. com. Venice Farmers Market – 8am-1pm. Every Saturday morning, local farmers, fisherman, craftsmen, bakers, artists and others gather in the heart of historic downtown for a weekly celebration of the best of Venice where you can get fresh seasonal Florida fruits and vegetables direct from local farms. You can’t find any fresher shrimp or seafood. There’s incredible tasty homemade baked goods, trinkets, crafts, soaps, flowers, plants, locally roasted coffee, and more. Tampa Ave between Nokomis & Nassau. 941-929-5304. TheVeniceFarmersMarket.com. Psychic Fair – 10am-3pm. 2nd & 4th Saturdays. Are you searching, questioning and seeking answers? Choose from some of the best Intuitive Artists in the Area! See what your future holds! Complimentary refreshments. Private Readings $1/Min. Angel Ministries, 2269 S Tamiami Trl, Venice. Rev Patricia Charnley, 941-492-4995, revpat@angelministriesfl.org, angelministriesfl.org. Free Sleep Consultation at Sleep Organics – 10am-5pm or by appt. 650 Central Ave, Sarasota, 941-312-5906, Sleep-Organics.com. Silva Method (Level 1) – First Saturday each month. This 2-day workshop teaches specialized techniques. Covered topics include habit control, accelerated learning, intuition, healing. Angel Ministries, 2269 Tamiami Trl, Venice. Info, Tami Patzer, MA, CSMI, 941-421-6563. AngelMinistriesfl.org.
Dean Burnside, President Sarasota, Bradenton, Venice 941-371-1311 GoodNewsPestSolutions.com 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.
YOGA LOVING LIGHT YOGA & HEALING CENTER
3455 S. Access Rd., Englewood 941-473-0135 • LovingLightYoga.com Yoga for Every Body. Restore your Body, Mind & Spirit!
natural awakenings
November 2016
31
32
Peace River Edition
www.peaceriverna.com