Natural Awakenings September 2015 Sarasota by Natural Awakenings of Sarasota

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VEGAN AGELESS GREEN ACTIVIST LIVING STADIUMS Alexandra Paul Walks Her Talk

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

34 AGELESS BEING Staying Vibrant in Mind, Body and Spirit

by Kathleen Barnes

38 CHOOSE HAPPINESS

Four Tips to Flip the Joy Switch by Linda Joy

40 SURF TO TURF

U.S. Farmed Seafood That’s Safe and Sustainable by Judith Fertig

42 WHOLE CHILD SPORTS Free Play Earns the Winning Score by Luis Fernando Llosa

44 YOGA ENTERS THE

MEDICAL MAINSTREAM Research Proves its Health Benefits

by Meredith Montgomery

46 GREENING

AMERICA’S GAMES

Major Leagues Sport More Sustainable Stadiums by Avery Mack

48 ALEXANDRA PAUL

ON VEGAN ACTIVISM Her Kind Lifestyle Honors All Living Things by Gerry Strauss

50 EYE HEALTH FOR DOGS 10 Foods to Keep Canine Vision Sharp by Audi Donamor

59 THE ADVENTURE

OF COUCHSURFING Stay with Locals and Make New Friends by Lisa Rosinky

Sarasota/Manatee Edition

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11 newsbriefs 20 healthbriefs 30 globalbriefs 28 33 ecotip 33 actionalert 38 healingways 40 consciouseating 42 healthykids 44 fitbody 30 46 greenliving 48 wisewords 59 inspiration 50 naturalpet 72 classifieds 78 calendar 33 81 resourceguide

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advertising & submissions HOW TO ADVERTISE To advertise with Natural Awakenings or request a media kit, please contact us at 941-564-0885 or email Publisher@ nasrq.com. Deadline for ads: the 15th of the month. EDITORIAL SUBMISSIONS Email articles, news items and ideas to: Publisher@nasrq.com. Deadline for editorial: the 5th of the month. CALENDAR SUBMISSIONS Please submit all listings through nasrq.com. Deadline for calendar: the 12th of the month. REGIONAL MARKETS Advertise your products or services in multiple markets! Natural Awakenings Publishing Corp. is a growing franchised family of locally owned magazines serving communities since 1994. To place your ad in other markets call 941-564-0885. For franchising opportunities call 239-530-1377 or visit NaturalAwakeningsMag.com.

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September 2015

letterfrompublisher

he month of September always reminds me of the start of something new. I think this comes from my childhood and having the summer months off to relax and recharge. September was a start of a new school year and, therefore, new experiences. With that thought in mind, I am excited about the month of September, and this issue has inspired me to get rid of any bad habits and start fresh. If you only get to read one article in this issue, I encourage you to read “Ageless Being.” No matter what age you are, this article will give you a better mindset and tips on how to defy your chronological age. Nutrition is so important – eating whole foods and supplementing with vitamins – but we all have to watch out for stress too. Take the quiz on how to “Compute Your Real Age.” You will be surprised at how many years you can take off just following some basic principles. After reading this article, I got some great ideas on how to make myself feel younger! With September being National Yoga Month, this issue is packed with yogarelated articles, so we can all get familiar with our local studios and the various classes they offer. This is the perfect time to take a class and learn how to meditate. Plus, yoga can help us all decrease our “real age” – I couldn’t ask for more! Janet

contact us Publisher Janet Lindsay Managing Editor Mary-Elizabeth Schurrer Contributing Writer Juliette Jones Calendar Editor Cheryl Hynes Design & Production Susan McCann Web Development Stephen Warne Social Media Manager Stephen Warne

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

Safe & Natural Nail & Skin Care We know you’ll love Epiphany, so we invite you to the Sanctuary, for a $50 Introductory Facial or Massage or $40 Natural Pedicure Treatment.

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.

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

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newsbriefs

coverartist

Sarasota Yoga Studios Celebrate Global Mala Day

he global yoga community is coming together on September 21 to practice 108 Sun Salutations to raise awareness, consciousness and donations for charity. Here in Sarasota, our local yoga community will be observing this event at on the 21st, from 7:30–9 a.m. Yoga instructors will lead participants through these Sun Salutation sequences at North Lido Beach. No experience is necessary, and modifications will be encouraged. We will be joining with other yoga communities worldwide to raise awareness and funds for the Solar Aid and Karma Yoga Outreach program. This is a donation-based event. Please bring sunscreen, water and a yoga mat along with

a sheet to place underneath it. For more information, call 941-895-7245, visit Main.Mandy@gmail.com or visit GardenOfTheHeartYoga.com.

Love and Light Tiffany Seiler

New Hair Care Products Available at Angela’s Pure Salon and Spa

ith over twenty years of industry experience and a lifetime of interest in natural cosmetics, Swing is devoted to bringing you hair products that are salon-quality, healthy, eco-friendly and affordable. Swing products provide simple and natural solutions for the cleansing, treatment and finishing of all hair types. Not only are they safe and healthy, these products effectively provide shine, texture and control without causing a sticky mess. In addition, Kevin Murphy of Australia products use high levels of natural ingredients and essential oils that act as bio-catalysts to perform natural regenerative, moisturizing and strengthening functions. These products can be used to create various hairstyles with weightless hold, meaning that the hair looks natural while remaining product-free. Plus, hair is never crunchy and can be brushed or combed with ease. When searching the world for ingredients, Kevin Murphy sources from smallscale cultivation, organic growing practices and ecologically-sound wild harvesting techniques to minimize environmental impact. In honoring this commitment to reducing its carbon footprint, this company relocated its American manufacturing branch from Australia to United States soil, greatly reducing the transportation carbon emissions. Also, Kevin Murphy’s signature square packaging holds more volume and uses 40% less plastic which results in fewer materials cluttering landfills. Finally, all Kevin Murphy products are paraben- and sulphate-free, and have not been tested on animals. Angela’s Pure Salon and Spa offers a wide variety of Kevin Murphy products including shampoos, conditioners, treatments and styling gels. If you are looking to balance personal health with an eco-friendly, performance-grade hairstyle, then we would be happy to help you select the perfect products for your hair and lifestyle. Location: 3510 N Lockwood Ridge Rd., Sarasota. For more information, call 941351-0670 or visit AngelasPureSalon.com. Angela’s Pure Salon and Spa is an ecofriendly alternative salon. For more information on Kevin Murphy products, visit KevinMurphy.com/au.

Cover artist Tiffany Seiler works in mixed media, including watercolors, acrylics, papers and objects like buttons to create whimsical, stylized portraits of girls that express delight and innocence. The cover work Love and Light was inspired by Seiler’s daily yoga practice. “I was raised in a family of all girls,” says Seiler. “My art is deeply rooted in positive female images surrounded by the things I love, like flowers, trees, the ocean and yoga.” Seiler is a self-taught artist, having returned to her childhood love of drawing and painting after working as a hairdresser and makeup artist for 20 years. Seiler’s works, many of which bear inspirational messages, have been reproduced for greeting cards found in national stores such as Trader Joe’s. Her art has also graced the pages of magazines such as Somerset Studio. Seiler currently lives, works and paints in Independence, Kentucky, joined by her husband and six rescued animals—three dogs and three cats. View the artist’s portfolio at SouthEndGirlArt.etsy.com.

natural awakenings

September 2015

newsbriefs Garden of the Heart Yoga Hosts Lisa Danahy for Two Upcoming Workshops

his informative workshop, taking place on September 25 and 26, will equip you with skills to transform your relationships and facilitate cooperation both at home and school, as you develop skills to create calm through purposeful play. Encourage self-awareness, relieve tension and foster social-emotional competencies in children through mindfulness and movement. Location: 2888 Ringling Blvd., Sarasota. For more information, call 941-341-97-81, email Cheryl@GardenOfTheHeartYoga.com or visit GardenOfTheHeartYoga.com

Elysian Fields Offers Voyager Tarot Reader Certification Class

lysian Fields is excited to present James Wanless, PhD, Voyager Tarot creator and author, who will be teaching a Voyager Tarot Certification Class – the first time this class has been offered in Sarasota in nearly 20 years. The class will be held at the Hotel Indigo September 26 and 27, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days. During this dynamic and interactive class, you will complete the coursework required for competence in tarot and for certification as a professional Voyager Reader. This class, designed for both the beginner and advanced tarot student, covers the basic structure and knowledge of tarot for those who to begin reading for themselves and for others, as well as deeper insight into the cards themselves. We will explore the nature of tarot and how to access the mystery of symbols for better health, wealth and happiness by looking at the essence of each card and their correlation to astrology, numerology, color and mythological archetypes. Early-bird pricing for the class is $200 through September 15 and $250 from September 16–26. The class fee includes a free copy of Wanless’ book Intuition at Work. Limited space is available. Wanless will also be available for readings at Elysian Fields on September 24 and 25, from 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. both days. The costs of these readings are $75 for 30 minutes and $135 for 60 minutes. Sessions are always booked, so be sure to reserve your appointment in advance. Readings are encouraged for participants of the class to get a deeper perspective of the readings from this powerful and magical Voyager deck. Wanless is a pioneer of New Thinking, recognized for weaving ancient wisdom into modern life with intuitive, symbolic and mythic tools. He experienced a lifethreatening disease which led to his spiritual transformation. He then began to share his new-found wisdom and artistic inspiration by creating his best-selling Voyager Tarot Deck and books. Location: 1273 S Tamiami Trail, Sarasota. To reserve your space in this class or to book a reading, call 941-361-3007. For reduced rates on overnight accommodations at Hotel Indigo, call 941-487-3805.

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“Thriving: Because I Know Who’s On First!” Workshop for an Enlightening Journey

n September 20, at 12:30 p.m., Unity of Sarasota will host a special presentation by Betty Mann McQueen, author and instructor, in the Fellowship Hall Education Annex. Registration will starts at 12:00 p.m., along with a book signing. Not to be missed, this workshop will be a hands-on experience in determining “who’s on first” in your life, regardless of your personal circumstances. Workshop take-aways include a technique for thriving rather than striving by clarifying your thinking, bringing order to your life, and moving forward to solve a problem or to fulfill a dream. McQueen’s most recently published book, From Striving to Thriving, will be available at the workshop. All handouts and working materials will be provided by the presenter. A Love Offering will be gratefully accepted. All are welcome! McQueen, M.S., CFCS, walks her talk by using her life experiences as teaching opportunities. She sees possibilities when those around her see problems. Her writing and program presentations are both practical and inspirational with examples of how to move forward to a life of joy and fulfilled dreams. She has been a member of Unity for over 20 years. Location: 3023 Proctor Rd., Sarasota. For more information, call 941-9553301 or visit UnityofSarasota.com.

Spiritually Healthy Living: a Workshop with Erinn Earth

The Path to Soul Trauma Healing

oes your lifestyle support your spiritual goals? Lifestyle is our best defense against the natural drive toward sense fulfillment, which sabotages the spiritual progress. This workshop, taking place at Unity of Sarasota on September 27, from noon to 2 p.m., will address the following questions: What is a spiritually healthy lifestyle, and where do I begin? What will I sacrifice, and what will I gain? From cooking and cleaning to makeup and hair care, from socializing and managing family relations to spending time in solitude, Erin Earth offers tried-and-true advice for breaking old habits and establishing new, healthy ones that allow for a lifestyle created to serve spiritual progress. The cost to attend this workshop is $15.

The Definitive Course for Energy Healing, Self, Others or for Professional Certification

Oct 16, 17 & 18 10am - 5pm $375

5423 Creeping Hammock Drive, Sarasota, 34231 Professional Instructors: Elissa Bentsen of Forever Souls, Soul Trauma Healer, Natural Awakenings Magazine “Nattie” award winner for Best Energy Healer, Past Life Regressionist. Anne Tibbetts, MSW, Reiki Master, Akashic Records Reader, Past Life Therapist. Learning Modules: History of Energy Medicine, Chakra & Auric Systems, Emotional Freedom Technique, Soul Trauma Healing Technique, Intimate Hands on practice sessions

941-706-3583 or elissa@foreversouls.com

Location: 3023 Proctor Rd., Sarasota. For more information, call 941-284-9563 or visit InSelfYoga.net.

Celebrating Our New Location K.J., Age 58, Englewood, FL

Please join us for an Anti-Aging Seminar with Dr. Anna Baker, D. O. M. Friday, September 18th at 1:00 PM No Preservatives • ALL Natural

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September 2015

newsbriefs New Table Thai Massage Now Offered at Beach Life Wellness

udos to Diana Caruso, LMT, who recently completed the “Thai on the Table” 12-hour CE course at the Sarasota School of Massage Therapy on August 2. Caruso is now offering this effective and re-aligning modality in addition to her Deep Tissue Therapy expertise at Beach Life Wellness in Nokomis, from Monday–Thursday and Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thai massage is a form of bodywork that includes gentle rocking, rhythmic compression and passive stretching. Thai massage also uses thumb presses along energy lines (Sen lines) to release energy flow. In a Table Thai treatment, the entire massage is performed on the massage table, incorporating the same techniques used on a mat in traditional Thai massage. The client wears loose-fitting clothing, and no oil is used on the body. The benefits of a Table Thai massage include an increased range of motion, flexibility, relaxation of tense muscles and relief of joint stiffness. This treatment can assist also athletes in improving their performance. Table Thai massage promotes calmness and inner peace while enhancing the mind-body connection. Caruso is excited to introduce you to Table Thai for only $59 throughout the month of September. Location: 301 Albee Rd. W., Nokomis. To schedule an appointment, call 941-244-2006.

EuroRhythmic Gymnastics Announces Upcoming Open Houses

uroRhythmic Gymnastics will be holding open houses for prospective new students on September 17 at 5 p.m. and October 1, also at 5 p.m. A free trial class will be offered for anyone who is interested in discovering what rhythmic gymnastics entails, using apparatuses like balls, jump ropes, hulahoops and ribbons. There will also be a raffle drawing for 50% off the onetime registration fee. In addition, a 50% rebate will be available for a one month enrolling fee. Come learn more about this unique, artistic form of physical exercise, have fun meeting new friends and enjoy some healthy snacks too! Location: 6050 Longwood Run Blvd., Sarasota. For more information, call 941-212-9166, email Info@ EuroRhythmicGymnastics.com or visit EuroRhythmicGymnastics.com.

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Dr. Anna’s Acupuncture Face and Necklift Seminar

n September 16, at 2 p.m., Dr. Anna Baker, DOM, and founder of Faces by Dr. Anna, will present a seminar on facial rejuvenation at any stage in the aging process, using her muscle tightening acupuncture face and necklift technique. Dr. Anna’s results are unique in that all the muscles of the face and neck are retightened proportionally along the route that they aged. She will show pictures and results on people of all different ages and face types. A nationally board-certified Doctor of Oriental Medicine, Dr. Anna has been practicing in Sarasota since 1998. She has developed a specialty in a muscle tightening acupuncture face and necklift with no needles being used on the face. Up to three treatments can be done in one day with a 10-treatment minimum. After treatments are completed, a one or two treatment touch-up is suggested every 18 months to maintain the lift. Dr. Anna’s work has been nationally televised, and she has been voted Sarasota’s favorite anti-aging practitioner. For more information, visit FacesbyDrAnna.com or call 941924-2723 for seminar reservations or to schedule a free consultation.

Curious about Energy Healing?

he Brennan Healing Science Practitioners Association is offering free monthly guided meditations, video lectures, webinars, talk shows, interviews, channelings and published papers on healing and other topics. These works are created by the associates and presented on the website for your viewing. All associates are graduates of the Barbara Brennan School of Healing (BBSH), a four-year program of intense study for the unfolding of personal growth and cutting edge healing techniques. The primary goal of the BBSH graduates is to heal selffirst and to learn advanced healing skills to help heal individuals and humanity. Brennan Healing Science Practitioners live and work across the U.S. and around the world as healers, authors, attorneys, teachers, therapists, artists, in medicine, and professions they feel most able to offer their talents and healing skills. They are also great parents and everyday people with a strong sense of self. They care about humanity. On the website, you can read about the origin of Brennan Healing Science, the graduates’ training and the intent of a session. Join the email list to receive updated free educational material and pay-for events around the U.S. or on the web, all presented by the associates. For more information energy healing or the associates visit, BrennanProfessionalHealers.org/ or follow on Facebook via @Brennan Healing Science-USA.

How the Trees Got Their Voices Named Recipient of 11 National Book Awards

• • • • • • • • •

usan Andra Lion, author and illustrator of How the Trees Got Their Voices, is helping young readers become aware of the deep connection between all living things within a forest ecosystem. Through her visually compelling and imaginative story, children learn that the earth’s inhabitants live in relation to each other which teaches them respect for all forms of life. Critics agree that Lion has created a remarkable work of children’s literature, as evidenced by 11 national awards: • Moonbeam Children’s Literacy Award Winner, Mind, Body, Spirit Category • Coalition of Visionary Resources, Winner Visionary Fiction Book 2015 Coalition of Visionary Resources Winner, People’s Choice Book of the Year 2015; Mom’s Choice Award Gold Medal Creative Child Magazine 2014 Book of the Year 2015 Next Generation Indie Awards, Overall Winner, Best Fiction Design 2015 International Book Awards, Overall Winner, Mind Body Spirit Category National Parenting Publications Award Silver Medal Winner, 2014 2015 Next Generation Indie Awards, Finalist, New Age Category Coalition of Visionary Resources Finalist, Conscious Living Book 2015 Coalition of Visionary Resources Finalist, Children’s and Teen’s Books 2015

A portion of all sale proceeds will be donated donated to initiatives and groups that help to preserve and replant forests worldwide. How the Trees Got Their Voices is available through Satiama.com, Amazon.com and many bookstores across the United States.

Heartwood Retreat Center Hosts Annual Yoga Festival

ome join us on September 26, for our second Annual Yoga Festival at Heartwood Retreat Center for a full day of yoga fun! There will be something for everyone, from interesting yoga classes, creative art, specialty workshops, vendors and philosophy talks, to music and dance performances, guided garden meditations, a wonderful silent auction, a kids’ yoga area and more. The only cost is a $25 donation will be passed to support nonviolence efforts for women. Location: 17507 Waterline Rd., Bradenton. For more information, call 941-745-5719 or visit HeartwoodRetreatCenter.com

ADOPT YOUR NEW FURRY FRIEND Call: 941.955.4131 or visit www.hssc.org

for more information on adoption. Hours: Sunday and Monday: CLOSED Tuesday through Friday: 11am - 6pm Saturday: 10am - 4pm

natural awakenings

September 2015

newsbriefs Natural Awakenings Family of Franchises Keeps Growing

atural Awakenings Publishing Corp. (NAPC) recently welcomed new publishers that completed a training program in early August at the corporate headquarters in Naples, Florida. NAPC staff spent several days with the entrepreneurs launching a new Natural Awakenings edition in Philadelphia and renewing publication of the existing Southeast Louisiana magazine. Founded by CEO Sharon Bruckman with a single edition in Naples in 1994, Natural Awakenings has grown to become one of the largest free, local healthy living lifestyle publications in the world, serving approximately 4 million readers in 95 cities across the U.S. and Puerto Rico. “Living a conscious lifestyle that supports our well-being and the sustainability of planet Earth has become more important than ever,” says Bruckman. “Our dedicated family of publishers, supported by loyal advertisers, connects readers with the resources they need to create a healthier, happy world that works for all living things.” For a list of locations where Natural Awakenings is publishing or to learn more about franchise opportunities, call 239-530-1377 or visit NaturalAwakeningsMag.com. See ad, page 86.

Unity of Sarasota Offers MapQuesting for Your Spiritual Journey

nity of Sarasota will host a series of Spiritual Meet-Ups. Each Meet-Up offers participants the opportunity to explore various topics. Some of us have been on our spiritual path for our entire lives, and others are just now just beginning our journey. No matter where you are on your path, join us monthly for a lively conversation designed to assist you on your spiritual path. Each session stands alone, so you can attend all of them or whichever meets your schedule. These lively discussions are offered on a love offering basis. Sessions are scheduled monthly on Thursday evenings from 7–8:30 p.m. Enjoy the following topics as we explore and grow together! • September 10: MapQuesting Your Spiritual Journey – Where you are and where are you are going? • October 8: Realization to Reality – What holds you back? How do you bounce back? • November 17: Gratitude – the Super Food of Spiritual Growth. • December 10: Keeping Spirit in the Holiday Season.

Location: 3023 Proctor Rd., Sarasota. For more information, call 941-955-3301 or visit UnityOfSarasota.com. 16

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Autumn Equinox Trance Dance with Erinn Earth

nter into autumn in the right frame of mind by enjoying a heart-felt dance! De-stress, move your body, ease your mind, feel yourself again, and celebrate life and all it offers! With consciousness expanding music and lights low, we’ll begin this event with some easy kundalini breathing and simple trance dance moves, letting the body flow with psychedelic music and a very quiet mind. Each person will have their own circle of dance space to use only for themselves so that focus remains internalized. Feel free to dress up, making comfort in your attire the main priority. This event will be held at Unity of Sarasota, an oasis of beauty and peace, on September 25, from 7–9 p.m. The cost to attend is $10. While you’re here, enjoy the meditation labyrinth, sitting swings, flower gardens and cypress pond, not to mention the church itself. Erinn Earth and friends will be your happy hosts for these quarterly celebrations of the earth’s major movements. Enjoy an evening of meditation and naturally exalted movement. You can even dance from a chair! No dance experience is necessary. Vegan and vegetarian snacks will be provided, so feel free to bring a snack to share. Location: 3023 Proctor Rd., Sarasota. For more information, call 941284-9563 or visit InSelfYoga.net.

Holistic Holiday at Sea Sets Sail in February

he next opportunity is approaching to learn from many of the world’s leading experts in getting and staying healthy during a one-week Caribbean cruise vacation. A Holistic Holiday at Sea, cited by National Geographic Traveler as “one of the 100 best worldwide vacations to enrich your life,” will depart on its 13th “Voyage to Well-Being” on February 27 next year with 35 teachers, 130 classes, a vegan menu and myriad social events. Guests may choose from a wide spectrum of classes and workshops, ranging from several types of yoga, fitness and meditation to presentations on integrative medicine, plant-based nutrition, 10 cooking classes and lectures from a host of luminaries that include Dr. T. Colin Campbell, Dr. Michael Greger, Dr. Neal Barnard and Dr. Michael Klaper. The cruise begins and ends in Miami, with ports of call at St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands; San Juan, Puerto Rico; and Nassau, Bahamas. The unique concept is the brainchild of Sandy Pukel, who previously conducted health educational programs in Miami for four decades. His first cruise attracted 400 people; more than a decade later, it counts among one of the largest national holistic events, hosting 1,850 like-minded cruisers on each voyage. “This relaxing vacation and educational experience has profoundly changed thousands of lives,” he says. For more information or to register, call 800-496-0989 or 877-844-7977 or visit HolisticHolidayAtSea.com.

Unitarian Universalist Church of Sarasota Hosts Back-to-School Open House

arents looking for an alternative to traditional religious school education might want to attend the Back-to-School Kick-Off Party at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Sarasota. This event, which is open to all, takes place September 13, from noon to 1:30 p.m., and provides an opportunity for parents to learn about the curriculum of the religious education program and to see if it might be a good fit for their family. Hotdogs and hamburgers will be served and a giant slip-n-slide will be available for kids. The church’s Religious Education Program offers a progressive education for people looking for a non-dogmatic approach to teaching children. The curriculum is educational and inclusive, stressing the inherent worth and dignity of all beings. The focus is on making this world better for all residents – both human and animal – through social justice, community service and respect for diverse beliefs. Unitarian Universalist (UU) religious education taps into the wisdom of many sources in helping children navigate a complex world using critical thinking skills, discernment, faith, spirit and compassion. Children’s religious education programs are offered on Sunday mornings. A nursery is available, as well as a Pre-K through 1st Grade classroom, 2nd through 5th Grade classroom and a teen room for youth. Location: 3975 Fruitville Rd., Sarasota. For more information, call 941-371-4974 or visit UUSarasota.org.

The Power of The Parables: Have Fun Listening and Learning!

his fourweek course, presented by Reverend Amy Zehe and Mary Ann Modrak, will focus on familiar parables and encourage participants to look deeper into the message of the parable in today’s world. The term “parable” is defined as a short narrative using metaphor and symbolism to illustrate a moral or spiritual point. Parables, like those in the Bible, were used by Jesus to speak to a community in a form they would connect with. In this course, as we search for a deeper meaning of familiar parables, we will also explore moral or spiritual truths that may lend themselves to a 2015 Parable. Participants will be invited to develop their own parable. Classes will be held from 1:30 – 3 p.m., on Thursdays in the Fellowship Hall Education Annex, beginning September 3. All materials will be available. Love Offerings of $10 or more per class would be greatly appreciated. The dates and topics which will be presented for your learning enrichment are as follows: • September 3: Overview of the Power of Parables; Parable of the Pearl of Great Price • September 10: The Mustard Seed; 2015 Morals or Spiritual Truths that Need a Modern Parable • September 17: The Good Samaritan; Writing Your Own Parable • September 24: The Wise and Foolish Builders; Modern Parables. Please join us for an invigorating discussion over several weeks. Each activity is a stand-alone experience, and all are welcome! Location: 3023 Proctor Rd., Sarasota. For more information, call 941-955-3301 or visit UnityOfSarasota.com.

natural awakenings

September 2015

newsbriefs Pearl Cream by Dr. Anna Anti-Aging Seminar

n September 18, at 1 p.m., Dr. Anna Baker, DOM, will give a seminar about 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. Dr. Anna will show picture results on people of all different ages. Pearl Cream by Dr, Anna is also available as a muscle tightening body lotion, a men’s anti-aging line and a sports performance line. Location: Gulf Gate Shops, 2721 Mall Dr., Sarasota. New store hours are Monday through 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.

Starflower Organic Spathecary Offers Herbal Foot Spa

ndulge in the ultimate pedicure ritual, beginning with a detoxifying foot soak, followed by a warm and invigorating exfoliation application massaged into your lower legs and feet. This treatment process offers de-stressing and refreshing health benefits. In fact, body toxins can be discarded through the feet’s 500,000 sweat glands. This intoxicating massage medley of healing hands, melted shea butter and pure organic essential oils will make you feel like royalty. So, embrace your inner “Zen” and book a piece of paradise at Starflower Organic Spathecary. Location: 415 S Pineapple Ave., Sarasota. To schedule your massage, call 941-5544292 or email Star@Starflower.com. For more information, visit Starflower.com.

Rosemary Court Yoga Offers Yoga for Everyone

ave you heard about the benefits of yoga and want to experience it firsthand, but don’t know where to begin? At Rosemary Court Yoga, not only do we offer yoga for every level, but we also offer 10 different yoga styles! We encourage you to contact us for a personalized consultation so that we can guide you to a yoga class that would be the best fit for you. Classes cost $14 for a single drop-in or $50 for a five-class pass. Our yoga studio is equipped with everything you’ll need to participate, in terms of mats and props. Yoga classes are offered seven days a week. Location: 810 Central Ave., Sarasota. To view class times, visit RosemaryCourt.com. For your personalized consultation, email RosemaryCourt@yahoo.com.

Sarasota/Manatee Edition

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Englewood Yoga Center Introduces New Classes

t Englewood Yoga Center, we offer both private and semi-private Aerial Yoga classes. Using gravity to your advantage, decompress your spine and challenge your body in new ways. You will gain flexibility, muscular tone and cardiovascular health as you increase joint mobility and gently decompress the vertebrae of the spine, a restorative and strengthening practice. In addition, try our Sound Healing with Crystal Bowls Classes, combining the healing properties of yoga with sound therapy. The sound vibrations emanating from the crystal bowls re-tune the listener’s body by opening, clearing and re-balancing each chakra. It’s been scientifically established that each of these energy centers are associated with a musical note or vibrational frequency. Return to wholeness as you are guided through a deeply restorative yoga flow, surrendering to gravity and sensations which aids in the removal of tension and blocks in the flow of energy in your body and mind. We also offer yoga every day on beautiful Englewood Beach! The beach is a place of healing and joy. The salt cleanses us and the sun embraces us in its warmth. The ocean heals the heart, mind, and soul. The overall high vibrational beach energy draws us in. When we feel compelled to visit it, we must understand that it is a soul call for healing. Englewood Yoga Center offers a variety of yoga classes designed to meet your needs at any level of practice. Our instructors focus on the needs and experience level of the individuals participating in the class. Location: 3455 S Access Rd., Englewood. For more information, call 941-473-0135 or visit LovingLightYoga. com.

natural awakenings

September 2015

newsbriefs Cosmic Center of Spiritual Light Announces September Workshops

any wonderful and incredible classes are taking place this month at Cosmic Center of Spiritual Light. Mark your calendar for the free introduction to The Keys of Enoch: The Book of Knowlege on September 22 and 30, presented by Kim Converse and written by Dr. J.J. Hurtak. This introduction will serve as preparation for a study group starting on October 7, and taking place on the first and third Wednesdays of each month. Also notable is the return of Crotalo Sesamo, ambassador to Damanhur, the beautiful, mystical and magical Temples to Human Kind. This landmark is the eighth wonder of the world, created by inhabitants of the 40-yearold eco-community in Damanhur, Italy. On September 25, Sesamo will present Introduction to Selfica. One of the most interesting fields of research developed by Damanhur is the one linked to “Selfica,” a structure based on the spiral and the use of metals, colors, inks and minerals able to host intelligent energies. The energies that Selfic structures call upon are living life forms, border intelligences that pass from one reality to another acting as intermediaries between planes of existence. Also, on September 29, Sesamo will be offering a healing class with the use of Selfica. Another workshop offered by Sesamo is a two-day class on Atlantis and Other Ancient Civilizations, taking place on September 26 and 27. This workshop asks the “what if?” part of the solution to challenges in the world today which can be resolved by reconnecting differently with parts of our own past. This experiential course can stand alone or serve as the second class of the journey into the Damanhur Mystery School. Location: 5041 Ringwood Meadow, Sarasota. For more information or to reserve your space in these workshops, call 941-371-9333 or visit CCOSL.com. For more information on Damanhur, visit Damanhur.org or email BRTempleton@msn.com.

Our Sacred Love Temple Launches Events to Attract Love into Life

ast winter, Lucia Gabriela, love coach, healer and alchemist, started Love Circles, a support group where men and women can gain tools, inspiration and empowerment to shed what is no longer a part or worthy of them – to heal mind, body, heart and soul at a deeper level to align with their higher self and truest potential. Now, she has founded Our Sacred Love Temple, a sacred container of love, for love and to embody love from within. Inspired to empower others toward embodying love, reawakening sensuality and honoring divine sexuality, Lucia Gabriela recently launched powerful and transformational Red Tent events for women to honor their divine feminine, fall in love with themselves and become magnets for true love. Today, Our Sacred Love Temple has expanded to reach out to men, women, couples and children who are ready to be transformed at a deeper level in all areas of their life – mentally, emotionally, physically, spiritually, sensually and sexually. With the unconditional support of a Love Community and compassion for your evolution and transformation, your journey to embody true love and attract love into your life will become more joyful and uplifting. For more information about our various upcoming events, visit SacredLoveTemple. com. For volunteering opportunities, call 516-287-0242 or email Support@bh-bb. com.

Sarasota/Manatee Edition

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Mainstay Chiropractic Announces New Clinic Opening

rs. Jill and Beau Smith are pleased to announce the opening of their new clinic in Sarasota! Their practice, Mainstay Chiropractic, is a modern, high-tech family wellness center. At Mainstay Chiropractic, Drs. Smith focus on Neuro-structural Integration. Your nervous system controls and coordinates every single bodily function down to the tiniest cell. Drs. Smith use state-of-the-art research grade diagnostic equipment to evaluate your nervous system and spine. If the doctors, discover neurological and/or spinal deficiencies, they will facilitate the correction of those deficiencies enabling you to heal, function and operate at your greatest potential. Mainstay Chiropractic offers the latest state-of-the-art chiropractic techniques and diagnostic approaches. See how contemporary neurologically based chiropractic care can help you and your specific health problem. Since Drs. Smith are new in town and in the process of establishing their practice, immediate opening appointments are available. You will likely be seen the same day you call, so begin the healing process right now! Drs. Smith can afford to spend time with you and offer personalized, pampered care that many established doctors are often too busy to offer. At Mainstay Chiropractic you will be treated like a person and not a number or statistic. If you suffer from frequent headaches or wake up with stiffness or aches and pains, now is the time to take action, so schedule your complimentary consultation today! Location: 717 Honore Ave., Sarasota. For more information or to make an appointment, call 941-342-1291 or visit MainstayChrio.com.

natural awakenings

September 2015

Englewood Beach Yoga is 8:30am-9:30am Every Day

newsbriefs

Good Morning Yoga Every Day

Join us for Good Morning Yoga on Englewood Beach for a one hour class which is open to all levels, ages and abilities! Holidays included!!! 8:30am-9:30am Every Day, 365 Days a year Tuesday & Thursday 7:45am-8:15 am Morning Sun Salutations with Lata

Englewood Beach Park Sunset Yoga Wednesdays

Englewood Yoga Center A variety of Yoga classes for all ages and abilities with additional classes in Aerial Yoga, Blindfold Yoga and Sound Healing Crystal Bowl Concerts with Restorative Yoga, Yoga Nidra and Chakra Yoga/Meditation.

941-417-0135 • 3455 S. Access Road, Englewood

www.lovinglightyoga.com

Come for a day of fun and mystical experiences! VENDORS PSYCHIC READERS MESSAGE GALLERY HEALERS AURA PHOTOS GIFTS, CRYSTALS, JEWELRY …AND NATIONAL AND LOCAL SPEAKERS! Sarasota Auditorium, 801 N. Tamiami Trail www.MysticalBazaar2015.com 22

Sarasota/Manatee Edition

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What Women Want Lifestyle and Wellness Expo

NOT Productions is proud to present an event dedicated to women and their families, the What Women Want Lifestyle and Wellness Expo, on October 17, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and October 18, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. This event is sponsored by RejuveFace, facial, plastic and reconstructive surgery, as well as Gravitas, a magazine for modern women of style and purpose. Admission is free; however, donations are graciously accepted. The proceeds will support Selah Freedom, a non-profit foundation dedicated to abolishing human trafficking and the exploitation of young women. Thanks to a generous gift from the Pentecost Family Foundation, all donations will be doubled this year. Anyone who gives $10 or more will be entered to win a grand prize basket, featuring an assortment of products and services for women, valued at almost $5,000. Held at the Devyn, Sarasota’s premier event venue, the expo will focus on various aspects of life essential to women including family, health, lifestyle and wellness. Discover innovative beauty products, spa and massage services, fashion, jewelry, plastic surgeons, medical spas and facial rejuvenation services. Learn of the latest in home improvement and automation, security systems, financial planning, interior design and travel services including cruises, safaris and remote getaways. In addition, the first 3,000 attendees will be given “swag bags.” Location: 7113 S Tamiami Trail, Sarasota. For more information, call 941-921-0518, email Tony@YNOTProductionsFL.com or visit YNOTProductionsFL.com.

BEACH LIFE WELLNESS Massage - Acupuncture - Fitness - Organic Facials

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Community Acupuncture $35 Beach Life Wellness 301 Albee Rd. W, Nokomis, FL 34275 • (941) 244-2006 www.beachlifewellness.com

There Is Another Choice For Breast Exams Breast Thermography (DITI) is recommended for ALL women...

• DITI is a non-invasive and non-radiation screening test to monitor breast health • DITI is not limited by breast implants or breast density • DITI can evaluate fibrocystic breast condition • DITI is safe for pregnant women • DITI can continue monitoring mastectomy sites • DITI is valuable in monitoring hormone replacement therapy

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natural awakenings

September 2015

newsbriefs

petbriefs

Bright Life Invites Submissions for Upcoming Events and Workshops

Animal Rescue Coalition Welcomes New Staff Member and Enjoys Community Support

right Life, Natural Awakenings’ 2014 award winner for “Favorite Business of the Year,” invites the community to submit ideas for running an event or workshop at the newly constructed Bright Life Education & Event Center. If the event is approved, it will officially be added to Bright Life’s 20152016 Season Event Offering, be actively promoted to thousands of Bright Life supporters, and be advertised in Natural Awakenings each month. For the past five years, Bright Life has experienced success and recognition for their event offerings. This success has led to their decision to formally integrate a wonderfully inviting space into the Bright Life boutique. They will also have completely redone their website and online event calendaring system by start of the season in order to accommodate and enhance everyone’s online event sign up experience. Anyone interested in holding an event or teaching a class on any subject is being invited to submit information now. All submissions will be reviewed, and if it is a good fit, you will be contacted for further discussion. Bright Life looks forward to hearing from you and learning about what you would like to share with the community! When submitting ideas, email the following information to Info@BrightLife-USA.com: “event name,” “proposed date(s),” “time(s),” “fee (if applicable),” “detailed event description” and “contact information.”

s Animal Rescue Coalition (ARC) recently said farewell to Dr. Jerry Edington, DVM, we welcomed Dr. Lisa Tipton, DVM, as our new Medical Director. We are fortunate to work with such an amazing and compassionate veterinarian. Dr. Tipton is a native of North Dakota and graduated from Iowa State University. She moved to Florida in 2006. She is enjoying the Florida sun with her husband, Gary, their children and their beloved pets. In addition, thanks to the support of our generous Emergency Medical Fund (EMF) donors, ARC has cared for countless animals rescued by Sarasota County Animal Services. They are stray, abandoned, injured, sick or abused animals who are adoptable but, without the medical treatment needed, are likely to be euthanized. With the help of EMF, however, they receive proper, are able to recover well and can be adopted by loving families. Please help us continue rescuing these sweet animals and allowing them to find forever homes. Location: 6320 Tower Ln., Sarasota. To donate, visit AnimalRescueCoalition.org/Donate.aspx. For more information, call 941957-1955 or email Info@AnimalRescueCoalition.org.

Natural Dentistry Ray Behm DDS

Sarasota/Manatee Edition

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petbriefs Cat Depot Launches 2015 Giving Challenge

ast year, you changed the destiny of 1,100 cats and kittens. This year, you can help over 1,300 cats with your ongoing support. Together, we can show them the love. Your generous donation will provide much needed medical care, food, and love for cats. Please help us reach our goal of $100,000 for homeless and special needs cats and kittens. This is our biggest fundraiser of the year. The money you donate during the 2015 Giving Challenge is critical to the wellbeing of homeless cats. Won’t you please help them? The 2015 Giving Challenge is taking place from September 1–2, noon to noon. Donate online during September 1–2 by visiting CatDepot.org, or give us your donation over the phone by calling 941-366-2404.

Cat Depot Announces Columbia Restaurant Community Harvest Program

et your appetite do the giving while you support Cat Depot by dining at Columbia Restaurant on St. Armands Circle during the entire month of September for lunch or dinner. Choose Cat Depot from the ballot given to you by your server, and The Columbia will donate 5% of your lunch and dinner check to Cat Depot! This promotion is valid for The Columbia Restaurant in Sarasota and lasts throughout the month of September!

Columbia Restaurant location: 411 St. Armands Circle, Sarasota. Cat Depot location: 2542 17th St., Sarasota. For more information, call 941-366-2404 or visit CatDepot.org.

olistic H FOR PETS The healthiest pet foods and treats! The Area’s Largest Selection of Natural, Human-Grade Pet Foods Over 43 brands and hundreds of choices. Your pet will love it or we will take it back! Dry Kibble • Canned Raw • Freeze Dried Grain- Free & Hypo-Allergenic Foods

SEPTEMBER Special Offer:

All “Wellness” Dog Food and Cat Food at 20% off Exp. 9/30/15 5411 Fruitville Road Sarasota, FL 34232

941-378-4367 5770 Ranch Lake Blvd East Bradenton, FL

941-753-PAWS (7297) www.holisticforpets.com natural awakenings

September 2015

healthbriefs Abrams Dermatology

Offers Treatment for Fat Below the Skin

radley Abrams, D.O., is one of the first and only physicians chosen in the Sarasota-Bradenton- North Port area to be trained by Kythera Biopharmaceuticals, Inc. in the treatment of submental fat, known as double-chin, using FDA approved injectable KybellaTM.

“Many patients visiting for noninvasive treatments of lines, wrinkles and volume are bothered by their double chin, but do not want to undergo surgery or liposuctions which are expensive and invasive procedures with a long recovery time,” explains

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Add a vial of Omega Cure Extra Strength or two to three teaspoons

of fresh, full-spectrum Omega Cure to your morning routine. Your brain

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Sarasota/Manatee Edition

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Dr. Abrams. “This newly FDA approved injectable KybellaTM is non-invasive and meets the needs of my patients by treating and eliminating the fat located under the chin. I can perform this treatment in combination to fillers or toxins for better overall results and time constraints. Once results are achieved with KybellaTM, there is no need for further treatments.” KybellaTM is the first and only FDA-approved nonsurgical treatment that destroys fat cells when injected into subcutaneous fat and improves the appearance of one’s chin profile. The number of treatment sessions varies, and a customized treatment plan designed between the patient and Dr. Abrams will determine the number of injections needed. Most patients experience visible contouring of their chin in two to four treatment sessions, spaced at least one month apart. Up to six treatments may be administered. Dr. Abrams reviews each of his patient’s goals to determine the appropriate treatments plan. “Each treatment takes about 15 minutes, and the results are noticeable within the first two injections with minimal swelling and very little downtime. I sometimes inject KybellaTM in combination with other fillers to save time and achieve the best overall rejuvenation results,” adds Dr. Abrams. With over 20 years’ experience as a dermatologist, dermatological surgeon and cosmetic dermatology, Dr. Abrams was chosen by Kythera Biopharmaceuticals, Inc. to be trained on the proper treatment administration technique and is excited to offer this unique treatment in the Sarasota area. For more information or to schedule a consultation, call 941-926-2300 or visit AbramsDerm.com.

natural awakenings

September 2015

healthbriefs

Yoga Boosts Brain Gray Matter

esearch from the Brain Imaging and Analysis Center at Duke University Medical Center has found that a regular hatha yoga practice increases gray matter within the brain, reversing the loss found among those with chronic pain. The researchers tested seven hatha yoga meditation practitioners and seven non-practitioners. Each of the subjects underwent tests for depression, anxiety, moods and cognition levels, along with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) brain scans. The scientists found that the brains of the yoga meditation practitioners contained significantly greater gray matter by volume in key brain regions, including the frontal, temporal and occipital cortices, plus the cerebellum and the hippocampus, compared to the non-yoga subjects. The yoga meditation practitioners also had more gray area in the prefrontal cortex regions that are involved in decision-making, reward/consequence, control and coordination.

Support Groups Keep Artery Patients Mobile

esearch published in the Journal of the American Heart Association has determined that when peripheral artery disease patients engage in behavioral support groups that encourage exercise, they realize increased mobility. The researchers from Northwestern University followed 194 patients for a year, testing subjects at six months and again at 12 months. The patients were divided into two groups; one attended weekly intervention group meetings, while the control group attended weekly lectures. After six months, the researchers found that only 6.3 percent of those that attended the support group meetings experienced mobility loss, compared to 26.5 percent of those that didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t attend the meetings. After one year, the support group attendees again showed positive results. The control group had 18.5 percent loss in mobility, while only 5.2 percent of the support group attendees did.

Smog Increases Stroke Risk

esearch from Germany has found that the high particulate numbers in smoggy areas increase the risk of stroke. The Heinz Nixdorf Recall study followed more than 4,400 people between the ages of 45 and 74 years old. The researchers began the study in 2000. They compared stroke and heart attacks to air pollution particulate matter (PM) levels of PM10 (particle sizes of 10 micrometers or less) and PM2.5 (2.5 micrometers or less). The study found that stroke incidence was more than two-and-a-half times higher among people with long-term exposure to PM10, while stroke incidence increased by more than three times among people with long-term exposure to PM2.5 smog.

Sarasota/Manatee Edition

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Chamomile Tea Helps Us Live Longer

n a study of 1,677 Mexican-American men and women over the age of 65 from the Southwestern U.S., researchers have found that drinking chamomile tea decreases the risk of earlier mortality by an average of 29 percent. Researchers from the University of Texas Medical Branch followed the study population for seven years. Among those tested, 14 percent drank chamomile tea regularly. These were primarily women, and those women that drank chamomile tea experienced a 33 percent reduced mortality during the study period. The small group of men that drank the chamomile tea regularly did not register a significant difference in mortality. Chamomile also has a long history of use in folk medicine and is primarily used to settle digestion and calm the mind. It is a leading natural herbal tea in many countries and contains no caffeine. While various species may be used, chamomile tea is traditionally made by infusing the flowers of either German chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla) or Roman chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile) into hot water. In Spanish-speaking regions, chamomile tea is often referred to as manzanilla teaâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;consumed in Mexico and other Spanish cultures for centuries.

Daily Exercise Adds Five Years to Life

esearch published this year in the British Journal of Sports Medicine has determined that just 30 minutes of exercise, six days a week, can result in a reduced risk of early death by 40 percent, regardless of the intensity of the exercise. The researchers followed nearly 15,000 men born between 1923 and 1932. The men’s exercise and sedentary levels were measured along with the number of deaths that occurred during two 12-year study periods. In the second 12-year period, the researchers followed almost 6,000 of the surviving men. The researchers compared those men that were sedentary with those that exercised either moderately or intensely and found that moderate to intense exercise increased their average lifespan by five years. This improvement was comparable to the difference between smoking and non-smoking, according to the researchers. The data comes from the Norwegian School of Sport Sciences, in Oslo. The scientists’ finding confirms that public health practices for elderly men should include efforts to increase physical activity, along with efforts to reduce smoking.

Muscle-Building Supplements Linked to Testicular Cancer

ew research published in the British Journal of Cancer has found that taking muscle-building supplements can increase the risk of testicular cancer by up to 65 percent. The study monitored 356 cancer patients and 513 control subjects, all from Connecticut and Massachusetts. The case-control study was conducted by researchers from the Yale School of Public Health and the Harvard School of Public Health, and tested for testicular germ cell cancer. About 90 percent of testicular cancers originate from germ cells. The researchers found the subjects that used multiple musclebuilding supplements and those that began using the supplements when they were younger had the greatest risk of developing cancer.

Plants Absorb Second-Hand Smoke, Too

on-smokers aren’t the only ones to suffer from passive smoking. New research from the Technical University of Braunschweig, in Germany, has determined that plants can also absorb nicotine from cigarette smoke, soil and pesticide sprays. The data showed that many plants yield higher quantities of nicotine residues from periods when pesticides used contained nicotine. Plants that were mulched with tobacco leaves also absorbed nicotine into their leaves. “Tremendously elevated nicotine levels were detected after fumigation with cigarette smoke,” says Dirk Selmar, lead author of the study.

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GREEN TEA, APPLES AND COCOA PROTECT AGAINST CANCER AND ARTERIAL PLAQUE

esearch published in Molecular Nutrition & Food Research has found a new mechanism that may provide the key to why some foods are particularly healthy. The researchers found that epigallocatechin gallates, a class of polyphenols contained in green tea, apples, cocoa and other herbs and foods, blocks vascular endothelial growth factor, or VEGF, which is implicated in the buildup of plaque in the arteries, as well as cancer growth. Blocking VEGF helps prevent angiogenesis—when tumors form new blood vessels that help them grow. The researchers, from the Institute of Food Research, in Norwich, in the United Kingdom, tested the polyphenols, as well as human cells, in the laboratory.

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September 2015

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

Breeze Please

A Third of U.S. Power May Be Wind by 2050 According to a new study by the U.S. Energy Department (Tinyurl.com/EnergyDepartmentWindReport), wind power could provide more than a third of the nation’s electricity in a few decades, while posting a net savings in energy costs. Undersecretary for Technology and Energy Lynn Orr, Ph.D., states, “With continued commitment, wind can be the cheapest, cleanest option in all 50 states by 2050.” Wind power has tripled since 2000, and now supplies nearly 5 percent of the country’s electric power. The report says that it could dramatically reduce air pollution and go a long way toward meeting the country’s goals of slowing climate change. Meanwhile, Spanish engineers have invented the Vortex Bladeless wind turbine, a hollow straw that sticks up 40 feet from the ground and vibrates when the wind passes through it. Instead of using a propeller, the Vortex takes advantage of an aerodynamic effect called vorticity. The result is a turbine that’s 50 percent less expensive than a bladed model and is nearly silent. It’s not as efficient as conventional turbines, but more of them can be placed in the same amount of space, for a net gain of 40 percent in efficiency. Plus, with no gears or moving parts, maintenance is much easier and they are safer for bats and birds. Source: Wired

Bottomless Well

De-Salting Water Could Help Drought-Stricken Areas A team from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Jain Irrigation Systems has devised a method of turning brackish water into drinking water using renewable energy. This solar-powered machine is able to pull salt out of water and disinfect it with ultraviolet rays, making it suitable for both irrigation and drinking. Electrodialysis works by passing a stream of water between two electrodes with opposite charges. Because the salt dissolved in water consists of positive and negative ions, the electrodes pull the ions out of the water, leaving fresher water at the center of the flow. A series of membranes separate the freshwater stream from increasingly salty ones. The photovoltaic-powered electrodialysis reversal system recently won the top $140,000 Desal Prize from the U.S. Department of Interior. “This technology has the potential to bring agriculture to vast barren lands using brackish water,” says Richard Restuccia, Jain’s vice president of landscape solutions. The prize was developed to supply catalytic funding to capture and support innovative ideas and new technologies that could have a significant impact on resolving global water demand. Among 13 desalination projects under consideration along the California coast, the Carlsbad Desalination Project will be the largest in the Western Hemisphere once it is completed in the fall. Source: EcoWatch.com 30

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Embracing Invasives

Rethinking the Balance of Nature Environmental journalist Fred Pearce, author of the new book, The New Wild: Why Invasive Species Will Be Nature’s Salvation, traveled across six continents and ecosystems from remote Pacific islands to the United Kingdom and the Great Lakes to reveal some outdated scientific ideas about invasive species and the balance of nature. Pearce argues that mainstream environmentalists are correct that we need a rewilding of the Earth, but they are wrong if they believe it can be achieved by reengineering ecosystems. He thinks that humans have changed the planet too much, and nature never goes backward. But a growing group of scientists is taking a fresh look at how species interact in the wild. According to these new ecologists, we should applaud the dynamism of alien species and the new ecosystems they create. In an era of climate change and widespread ecological damage, it’s crucial that we find ways to help nature regenerate. Embracing this new ecology, Pearce proposes, is our best chance, maintaining, “To be an environmentalist in the 21st century means celebrating nature’s wildness and capacity for change.” Source: Earthtalk.org

You can’t help getting older, but you don’t have to get old. ~George Burns

Secular Socialization

Today’s Young Adults Are the Least Religious Ever Researchers led by San Diego State University Psychology Professor Jean M. Twenge, Ph.D., found that millennials are the least religious generation of the last six decades, and possibly in the nation’s history. They analyzed data from 11.2 million respondents from four nationally representative surveys of U.S. adolescents ages 13 to 18 taken between 1966 and 2014. Results published in the journal PLOS One conclude that recent adolescents are less likely to say that religion is important in their lives, report less approval of religious organizations and find themselves feeling less spiritual and spending less time praying or meditating. “Unlike previous studies, ours is able to show that millennials’ lower religious involvement is due to cultural change, not to their being young and unsettled,” says Twenge, who is also the author of Generation Me. “Millennial adolescents are less religious than Boomers and GenXers were at the same ages,” she notes. “We also looked at younger ages than the previous studies. More of today’s adolescents are abandoning religion before they reach adulthood, with an increasing number not raised with religion at all.” Source: San Diego State University

Spring Cleaning

Connecticut Initiates Mattress Recycling Connecticut has introduced the nation’s first-ever mattress recycling program to get old beds off the curb and into the renewable waste stream via Park City Green, a cavernous warehouse in Bridgeport where mattresses go to die and get reborn. One of only two mattress recycling facilities in the state, it employs workers that manually break down bedding parts, separating the materials into giant piles of foam, mounds of cotton and tall stacks of metal springs. All this gets shipped off to junk dealers to be recycled and reclaimed for later use in the metal industry or as backing for carpets. The city had been paying hundreds of thousands of dollars per year to pick up mattresses on trash day and break them apart for disposal, but that figure is expected to drop to zero and create jobs at the same time. Connecticut’s program is voluntary, so municipalities don’t have to participate. But because it’s already being paid for by consumers and the mattress industry, state officials expect the program to grow. Already, more than 60 Connecticut communities are participating.

Fossil Free

China Tests Hydrogen-Powered Mass Transit China has started testing the world’s first hydrogen-powered tram. Although hydrogen fuel cells have been around for a while and are currently being used and tested in a variety of vehicles, including buses, the country is the first to master the technology for trams. Hydrogen is extremely abundant and can be extracted from a variety of sources, both renewable and non-renewable. Hydrogen-fuel cell vehicles produce zero emissions, only water. One tank lasts for about 60 miles and takes three minutes to refuel. See the vehicle in action at Tinyurl.com/ChineseHydrogenTrain. natural awakenings

September 2015

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Online Summer of Peace Program Continues Designed by The Shift Network as “the largest virtual peace event on the planet,” a free, online three-month global movement program, The Summer of Peace, continues through September 21. It promises to inspire participants by teaching ways to heal conflicts within oneself, in relationships and in the world using peace, instead of conflict, as the new baseline. Featured thought leaders include Deepak Chopra, Ervin Laszlo, Grandmother Agnes Pilgrim, Karen Armstrong, Lisa Garr and Congressman Tim Ryan, plus messages from the Dalai Lama, Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Jane Goodall. Programs include The Subtle Activism Summit: Inner Dimensions of Peace Building from September 8 to 10, and 11 Ways to Transform Your World from September 11 to 21, concluding on the United Nations International Day of Peace. “You’ll discover more personal ease, joy and well-being with techniques to connect more profoundly to the deep peace within yourself and the latest in the science of compassion,” says Garr, host of The Aware Show and Being Aware and bestselling author of Becoming Aware. She also attests that participants will find the best practices for citizen engagement and conscious activism to help accelerate the shift to a world of peace. For more information or to register, visit SummerOfPeace.net.

United in Utah

Parliament of World Religions Gathering

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The 2015 Parliament of the World’s Religions, regarded by organizers as the oldest, largest and most inclusive gathering of all faiths and traditions, will be held from October 15 to 19 at the Salt Palace Convention Center, in Salt Lake City. International spiritual leaders will come together to share wisdom and best practices in dealing with critical global issues, especially climate change and care for creation; income inequality and wasteful consumption; and war, violence and hate speech. Leading speakers include the Dalai Lama, Karen Armstrong, Tariq Ramadan, Mairead Maguire, Jim Wallis, Oscar Arias Sanchez, Eboo Patel, Vandana Shiva and Michael Bernard Beckwith. Attendees can also participate in a Women’s Assembly and Program Initiative; training in dialogue, interfaith activism, fundraising and organizing; musical performances and film showings; breakout sessions; and networking opportunities. Cost: $200 to $550, based on date of registration. Discounts and housing options are available for families, groups, organizations and students, along with scholarship and sponsorship opportunities. For more information or to register, email 2015@ParliamentOfReligions.org or visit ParliamentOfReligions.org.

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ecotip

actionalert Happy Eco-Birthday!

Parties that Celebrate Life and the Planet The most memorable birthday parties make us feel good, and going green makes them feel even better.

Youngsters Location matters. Consider a park or beach as a setting to promote exercise and time outdoors. Children’s museums and wildlife centers frequently host kids’ birthday parties. Other “experience parties”, as suggested at Tinyurl.com/GreenChildPartyTips, include pottery making, tie-dyeing organic T-shirts or touring a local fire station. Forgo traditional trappings. Rather than using paper materials, consider decorating an old sheet as a festive tablecloth, utilize recycled computer or other repurposed paper to print custom placemats, and personalize cloth napkins found at estate sales or made from old clothes with guest names written with fabric pens for a unique and reusable party favor. Find details on these and other tips at Tinyurl. com/PBS-Green-Party-Ideas. Sustainable gifts. PlanToys makes its toys from rubberwood, a sustainable byproduct of latex harvesting, and non-formaldehyde glues. For preteens, gift a subscription to the National Wildlife Federation’s Ranger Rick magazine or a birdhouse or bird feeder. Make a maestro. Presenting a gift card for introductory music lessons can launch a young musician. A recent study by the National Association for Music Education notes that early exposure to music develops language, reading, math and memorization skills; improves hand-eye coordination; builds confidence and a sense of achievement; and promotes social interaction and teamwork when performing with others. Or, give tickets to introduce a child to classical, pops or jazz concert-going.

Adults Healthy drinks and eats. Serve or bring organic, locally made beer and wine and pure fruit juices. Have the party catered by a health food restaurant or store, or order organic takeout. Do-good gifts. Antique and consignment shops are filled with items rich in culture and history. Museums, art centers and specialty gift shops offer fair trade creations handmade by overseas workers that all purchases assist. Family ties. Work beforehand with a partner or family member of the birthday celebrant to showcase family photos at the party and spark sharing of nostalgic stories among guests.

Dark Act

Protect Truth and Transparency in GMO Food Labeling On July 23, the U.S. House of Representatives voted in favor of H.R. 1599, known by supporters as the Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act and dubbed the “Deny Americans the Right to Know (DARK) Act” by opponents. The bill removes the requirement that foods containing genetically modified organisms (GMO) be labeled as such, preventing consumers from the right to know whether or not the foods they purchase contain potentially harmful ingredients. If it becomes law, H.R. 1599 will preempt state labeling requirements, including the pioneering Vermont GMO labeling law scheduled to take effect next year. First, a companion bill will have to clear the Senate. No date is set yet for this and the time to let our senators know that we want to protect truth and transparency on food labels and encourage them to oppose the DARK Act starts now. Make the people’s voice heard by contacting local state senators, call 202-224-3121 and visit Tinyurl.com/ ContactYourSenatorToday.

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September 2015

AGELESS BEING Staying Vibrant in Mind, Body and Spirit by Kathleen Barnes

Agelessness: Engaging in and experiencing life without fear of falling, failing or falling apart.

n a nutshell, that’s the philosophy of visionary women’s health expert Dr. Christiane Northrup, of Yarmouth, Maine, as explored in her latest book, Goddesses Never Age. “We’re long overdue for a paradigm shift about how we feel about growing older,” says Northrup. “You can change your future by adopting a new, ageless attitude that will help you flourish physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually. We don’t have to buy into modern medicine’s promotion of the idea of the pathology of aging.” One of Northrup’s primary admonitions: “Don’t tell anyone how old you are. Another birthday means nothing.”

Maintain a Sound Mind

Our Western society fosters a belief system that we will become decrepit, frail 34

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and mentally feeble at a certain age. “When my mother turned 50, her mailbox suddenly filled with ads for adult diapers, walkers and long-term care insurance,” Northrup quips. The point is well taken. Think vibrant, healthy, gorgeous and yes, sexy Sandra Bullock, Johnny Depp, Chris Rock and Brooke Shields—all 50 or older—as the targets of ads for Depend. We’re living and working longer, and many of us are feeling, looking and staying young longer. So is 60 the new 40? Yes, say State University of New York at Stony Brook researchers, and further note that we’re generally leading longer and healthier lives. Centenarians are the fastest-growing segment of the U.S. population. In the 2010 census, 53,364 people had surpassed their 100th year, an increase

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of 40 percent over the 1980 census, and more than 80 percent of them are women. The National Institute on Aging projects that this number could increase tenfold or more by 2050. What we think of as “old” has changed. Many baby boomers refuse to buy into the mythology of aging, bristle at being called senior citizens and especially dislike being called elderly. Their position is backed by science. Stem cell biologist Bruce Lipton, Ph.D., author of Biology of Belief and currently a visiting professor at the New Zealand College of Chiropractic, in Auckland, is best known for promoting the concept that DNA can be changed by belief, for good or ill. Lipton explains that we all have billions of stem cells designed to repair or replace damaged—and aging—tissues and organs. “[These cells] are profoundly influenced by our thoughts and perceptions about the environment,” Lipton explains. “Hence our beliefs about aging can either interfere with or enhance stem cell function, causing our physiological regeneration or decline.” “Yes, we are destined to grow older, but decrepitude and what we call aging is an optional state,” Northrup adds. “Our genes, nutrition and environment are under our control far more than we may have thought.” More, she says, “Words are powerful. Don’t talk yourself into believing your brain is turning to mush just because you are over 40.”

Take Control of the Body

“Manage the four horsemen of the aging apocalypse,” encourages nutrition and longevity expert Jonny Bowden, Ph.D., a Los Angeles board-certified nutritionist and author of The Most Effective Ways to Live Longer. He says the aging process, including disease, loss of physical or mental function and the general breakdown of systems, is caused by one or more of four factors: oxidative damage (literally rusty cells); inflammation; glycation (excess sugar, metabolic syndrome); and stress. “Collectively, they damage cells and DNA, wear down organs and systems, deeply damage the vascular pathways that deliver blood and oxygen to the entire body, and even shrink brain size,” explains Bowden.

While it may seem like a tall order to make lifestyle changes that vanquish these four horsemen, Bowden says they can be broken into manageable elements by employing an arsenal of healthful weapons: whole foods, nutrients, stress-reduction techniques, exercise, detoxification and relationship improvement. “All of these actually do double duty, battling more than one of the four processes that can effectively shorten your life,” he reports, based on his 25 years of study.

Oxidative Damage

Consider what rust does to metal. That’s what free radical oxygen molecules do to cells. Over time, they damage them and cause aging from within. “Oxidative damage plays a major role in virtually every degenerative disease of aging, from Alzheimer’s to cancer to heart disease and diabetes, even immune dysfunction,” says Bowden. His recommended key to destroying free radicals is a diet rich in antioxidants, including lots of fresh fruits and vegetables and healthy fats, nuts, grassfed meats and organic dairy products. Avoid environmental free radicals that show up in toxic chemicals by eating as much organic food as possible and avidly avoiding residues of the poisonous pesticides and herbicides sprayed on crops eaten by people and livestock.

Inflammation

Long-term inflammation is a silent killer because it operates beneath the radar, often unnoticed, damaging blood vessel walls. Like oxidative damage, inflammation is a factor in all the degenerative diseases associated with aging, says Bowden. His suggestion: First, get a Creactive protein (CRP) test to determine the levels of inflammation in our body. A CRP level over 3 milligrams/liter indicates a high risk of a heart attack. Antiinflammatory foods like onions, garlic, leafy greens, tomatoes, beans, nuts and seeds have all been widely scientifically proven to reduce chronic inflammation.

Glycation

This is the result of excessive sugar that glues itself to protein or fat molecules, leaving a sticky mess that creates advanced glycation end (AGE) products

Compute Your Real Age Lifestyle choices can make our bodies older, or younger, than our number of orbits around the sun, according to Michael Roizen, a doctor of internal medicine and author of This is Your Do-Over: The 7 Secrets of Losing Weight, Living Longer, and Getting a Second Chance at the Life You Want. “Seventy percent of aging is in the simple things you do or don’t do,” he maintains. Here are a few sobering examples: n An unresolved major life stressor, such as a divorce, being sued, the death of a close relative or other traumatic events, can add up to 32 years to chronological age. Managing the stress adds a relatively insignificant two years. n Swap out saturated fats (cheese and meat) for monounsaturated fats (olive oil, nuts and avocados). Subtract 2.5 years from chronological age. n Get up out of the chair every 15 minutes and also take a 10-minute walk every two hours. Subtract 2.1 years from chronological age. n Have close friends. Subtract 2.1 years from chronological age. Take the Real Age test at ShareCare.com/RealAge.

that damage all body systems and are acknowledged culprits in the dreaded diseases associated with aging. Bowden’s basic answer is to minimize intake of sugar and simple carbs; anything made with white flour or white rice. Also avoid fried dishes and any foods cooked at high temperatures that actually skip the glycation production in the body and deliver harmful AGEs directly from the food. He advises taking 1,000 mg of carnosine (available in health food stores) daily to prevent glycation.

Stress

The long-term effects of physical, mental or emotional stress are tremendously damaging to the human physiology. Sustained exposure to the stress hormone cortisol can shrink parts of the brain, damage blood vessels, increase blood sugar levels, heart rate and blood pressure and contribute to chronic inflammation, according to wellestablished science recorded in the U.S. National Library of Medicine. Bowden warns, “Stress management is not a luxury.” In its many forms, including prayer, meditation and breathing exercises, it should be part of any agelessness program. Deep, restful sleep is as vital a component as ending toxic relationships, having a nurturing circle of friends and doing familiar, gentle exercise such as yoga or tai chi. Overall, Bowden adds, “Rather than thinking of such endeavors as antiaging, I strive to embody the concept of age independence. I admire former Supreme Court Associate Justice John Paul Stevens, who resigned from the court when he reached age 90 because he wanted to play more tennis.” Bowden recommends embracing the concept of “squaring the curve”, meaning that instead of anticipating and experiencing a long downhill slope of poor health leading to death, “I look at a long plateau of health, with a steep drop-off at the end.” Wellness guru Dr. Michael Roizen, chair of the Cleveland Clinic’s Wellness Institute, contends that although our chronological age can’t be changed, “Your ‘real age’ [calculated from data he collected from 60 million people] is the result of a wide variety of factors that are within your control.

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September 2015

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Dietary choices alone can make you 13 years younger or older than your actual age.” Roizen adds uncontrolled portion sizes, tobacco use and physical inactivity to the list of lifeshortening lifestyle options.

Align with Spirit

“If you don’t have some kind of spiritual foundation, literally, God help you,” says Northrup. “God isn’t confined to a book or a church, mosque or synagogue. Divinity is the creative loving, vital flow of life force that we’re all part of and connected to. Our bodies are exquisite expressions meant to embody, not deny our spirits.” Touch, pleasure and sex can be part of it, too. Individuals that have the most fulfilling sex lives live the longest, according to researchers conducting the University of California, Riverside’s Longevity Project. “Pleasure comes in infinite forms,” says Northrup. “It can mean the exquisite taste of a pear or the sound of an angelic symphony, the kiss of sun on skin, the laughter of a child, spending time with friends or creating a pastel landscape. When you experience pleasure, God comes through and

you become aware of your divine nature. You’ll find that joy comes in ways that are unique to you.” Connection with the natural world is an essential element of agelessness, says Northrup. “The human body evolved to walk on the Earth, drinking its water, breathing its air and basking in its sunlight.” The bottom line is, “Agelessness is all about vitality. Taking all the right supplements and pills, or getting the right procedure isn’t the prescription for anti-aging,” says this renowned physician. “It’s ageless living that brings back a sense of vibrancy and youthfulness.” We could live to be well over 100 years old and, as Northrup likes to paraphrase Abraham Hicks, of The Law of Attraction fame, “Wouldn’t you rather have your life end something like this: ‘Happy-healthy, happy-healthy, happy-healthy, dead.’ Isn’t that a lot better than suffering sickness, decrepitude and frailty for years?” Kathleen Barnes is the author of numerous books on natural health, her latest being Food Is Medicine: 101 Prescriptions from the Garden. Connect at KathleenBarnes.com.

Age-Defying Exercise by Kathleen Barnes

pecially designed movements performed to music can dramatically improve memory, as well as slow the process of physical aging, according to Denise Medved, of Hendersonville, North Carolina, the founder of Ageless Grace. Medved’s foundational physical and mental exercise classes involve 21 exercises that promote brain plasticity by activating all five functions of the brain: analytic, strategic, kinesthetic learning, memory/recall and creativity and imagination. Find videos of Ageless Grace exercises by searching YouTube, including this one: n While sitting in a chair (all exercises are taught in this position to develop core strength), make a circle with the right lower arm. n Add a triangular motion with the left foot. n Next, add a horizontal movement with the left hand. n Finally, do the entire series in reverse. Classes are available in all 50 states and in 12 countries. To find a teacher nearby, visit AgelessGrace.com.

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September 2015

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healingways

Choose Happiness Four Tips to Flip the Joy Switch by Linda Joy

recent Harris Interactive poll indicates that only one in three Americans are happy. Success, education and increases in annual household income create only marginally more happiness. So what will it take to go the distance? Inspiration for a Woman’s Soul: Choosing Happiness endeavors to discover just that. Its collection of intimate stories from more than two dozen women reveals telling insights— most profoundly, that happiness is a choice that anyone can make, regardless of their history or circumstances. Four tips from contributors to the book show how we all can rise up out of our troubles to the other side, shining.

Let Go of ‘Supposed To’

Family, friends and society exert pressure on us to achieve certain goals or impose their definition of success. When our soul doesn’t fit the mold, exciting things can happen. Happiness strategist Kristi Ling seemed to have it all: a high-powered job in Hollywood, significant income and the envy of all her friends—but her

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success felt empty. She writes from her home in Los Angeles, “Each morning I’d get up thinking about who I needed to please, and then prepare myself to exist for another day. I looked and felt exhausted just about all the time. The worst part was that I thought I was doing everything right!” After a middle-of-the-night epiphany, Ling left her job and set out to discover what her heart wanted. She began following a completely different life path as a coach and healer, in which success means manifesting joy.

Be Grateful Now

While we’re striving to change our life or wishing things could have been different, we often forget to pay attention to what we have right now. Boni Lonnsburry, a conscious creation expert and founder/CEO of Inner Art, Inc., in Boulder, Colorado, writes about the morning she decided to choose happiness, despite the enormous challenges she was facing, including divorce, foreclosure, bankruptcy and possible homelessness. “I thought to myself, ‘Yes, my life could be better, but it also could be a hell of a lot worse. I’m healthy and smart—why, I even have some wisdom. Why am I focusing on how terrible everything is?’” Using the power of her choice to be happy right now, Lonnsburry not only found joy amidst the adversity, but created love and success beyond her wildest dreams.

Let Love In

We all want to feel loved, but when we’re afraid of getting hurt, we put up barriers to 38

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protect ourselves, even against the love we want. Certified Relationship Coach Stacey Martino, of Yardley, Pennsylvania, writes, “From the first day we met, I’d been waiting for [my boyfriend] Paul to end our relationship. I begged him for another chance—not for our relationship, but to be my authentic self—to figure out who I am and show up in our relationship as the real me.” Fourteen years later, Martino and her boyfriend, now husband, are still exploring the depths of their love for one another. For them, the choice to be vulnerable was the gateway to happiness.

Look Inward Instead of to Others

If we can’t own our pain, how can we create our joy? Choosing happiness means taking full responsibility for our state of mind, with no excuses. Lisa Marie Rosati, of Kings Park, New York, who today helps other women catalyze their own transformation, writes: “I didn’t want to accept what was going on inside [me], so I looked outside for a way to make things better. I depended on intimate relationships to complete me, and on friends and acquaintances for entertainment. My self-esteem floated on incoming compliments and I absolutely never wanted to spend a minute alone with my own thoughts, lest they erode whatever happiness I possessed at the moment. I was exhausted, frustrated and quite frankly, pissed off.” It took a flash of insight to set Rosati free of her patterns of blame—and then realizing she could create her own fulfillment was all it took to catapult her into a place of empowerment. Look out, world! As Los Angeles happiness expert and Positive Psychology Coach Lisa Cypers Kamen says, “Happiness is an inside job.” Joy, love and inspired living are ours for the taking—all we must do is choose. Linda Joy is the heart of Inspired Living Publishing and Aspire magazine. Inspiration for a Woman’s Soul: Choosing Happiness is her third in a series of bestselling anthologies. Next up is Inspiration for a Woman’s Soul: Cultivating Joy. Learn more at InspiredLivingPublishing.com.

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September 2015

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SURF TO TURF U.S. Farmed Seafood That’s Safe and Sustainable by Judith Fertig

Wild-caught fish from pure waters is the gold standard of seafood, but sustainable populations from healthy waters are shrinking. That’s one reason why fish farms are appearing in unusual places—barramundi flourish on a Nebraska cattle ranch, shrimp in chilly Massachusetts and inland tilapia in Southern California.

ith the demand for seafood outpacing what can safely be harvested in the wild, half the seafood we eat comes from aquaculture, says Kathryn Sullivan, Ph.D., administrator for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Yet, farmed seafood has a reputation for uneven quality and questionable farming practices. A primary reason is that much of what Americans buy comes from Asia, where aquaculture is less stringently managed. Meanwhile, domestic aquaculture provides only about 5 percent of the seafood consumed here, according to NOAA.

Safe Seafood Solutions

If we want to eat safer, sustainable, farmed seafood, there are two solutions. One is to purchase farmed fish raised in the U.S., says Sullivan. The agency’s FishWatch consumer informa40

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tion service assures: “If it’s harvested in the United States, it’s inherently sustainable as a result of the rigorous U.S. management process that ensures fisheries are continuously monitored, improved and sustainable.” Whole Foods Markets have found that farming seafood (aquaculture) can provide a consistent, high-quality, year-round supply of healthy and delicious protein. Accordingly, “When it’s done right, aquaculture can be environmentally friendly and offer a crucial way to supplement wild-caught fish supplies. On the other hand, poor farming practices such as the overuse of chemicals and antibiotics and those that cause water pollution and other negative impacts on the environment are bad news.” A second solution is to consult with a trusted fishmonger that has high standards for flavor, health, safety, sustainability and environmental concerns.

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The Green Fish Farmer

Chefs like Rick Moonen, who owns RM Seafood, in Las Vegas, are getting behind U.S. aquaculture farms that do it right, raising healthy, sustainable and delicious fish. Moonen recently became a brand ambassador for True North Salmon, a farm system that integrates the way nature keeps fish healthy and fresh. “They have a salmon farm near a mussel farm near a kelp farm, mimicking the way these three species interact in the wild,” says Moonen. The best seafood farms take what geography and climate offer—ocean inlets, a natural spring and a natural depression in the land or indoor controlled freshwater tanks—and use clean feed. With no antibiotics, non-GMO food (free of genetic modification) in the right ratio, good water quality and creative ways to use the effluent, they employ green farming practices to raise fish and shellfish that, in turn, are healthy to eat. The Atlantic coasts of Maine and Canada are where families have been making their living from the sea for centuries, says Alan Craig, of Canada’s True North Salmon Company. “The fish are fed pellets made from all-natural, nonGMO sources with no dyes, chemicals or growth hormones added. Underwater cameras monitor the health of the fish to prevent overfeeding.” True North Salmon follows a threebay system, similar to crop rotation on land. Each bay is designated for a particular age of fish: young salmon, market-ready fish and a fallow, or empty, bay, breaking the cycle of any naturally occurring diseases and parasites. Robin Hills Farm, near Ann Arbor, Michigan, offers vegetable, meat, egg and fruit community supported agriculture, U-pick fruit and a pair of stocked farm ponds. Farm Manager Mitzi Koors explains that the ponds are a way to leverage natural resources, add another income stream and attract visitors. “We first discovered a low-lying area that would become a beautiful pond with a little work,” Koors relates. “We then expanded to two close ponds that don’t connect, to keep the older fish raised on at least six months of nonGMO organic feed separate from the newer fish. The ponds are spring fed, providing a great environment for trout.”

In northeastern Nebraska, five generations of the Garwood family have traditionally raised cattle and produced corn and tomatoes. To keep the farm thriving and sustainable, they have had to think outside the row crop. Today, they’re growing something new—barramundi, or Australian yellow perch. They built a warehouse that now holds 18, 10,000-gallon fish tanks full of growing fish. A Maryland company provides old-fashioned cow manure and leftover grain sorghum from area ethanol plants to create algae, naturally non-GMO, to use as biofuel and fish food. “People prefer to eat locally raised food, even if it’s fish in Nebraska,” says Scott Garwood. The sophistication of closed containment systems like the Garwoods use means that chefs, too, can raise their own fish, besides growing their own herbs and vegetables. California Chef Adam Navidi, owner of the Oceans & Earth restaurant, in Yorba Linda, also runs nearby Future Foods Farms, encompassing 25 acres of herbs, lettuces, assorted vegetables and tank-raised tilapia. Baby greens, not GMO products, help feed the fish, while nitrates from the ammonia-rich fish waste fertilize the crops. The fish wastewater filters through the crops and returns to the fish tanks in an efficient, conservationdriven system that produces healthy, organic food. “Someday, chefs will be known both by their recipes and the methods used to produce their food,” Navidi predicts. Judith Fertig blogs at AlfrescoFoodAnd Lifestyle.blogspot.com from Overland Park, KS.

10 Seafood Choices to Feel Good About

ccording to the nationally recognized Monterey Bay Aquarium’s SeafoodWatch.org, these farmed fish and shellfish are current Best Choices. Under each fish or shellfish variety, check the Seafood Recommendations list for specific geographic areas, certified organic options, non-GMO feed, or other designations. Arctic Char: The farmed variety, raised in closed-tank systems, produce little impact on local habitats in the Pacific Northwest. Barramundi (Australian yellow perch): Look for it sourced from recirculating aquaculture systems in farms throughout the U.S. Catfish: Pond-farmed American catfish, found mainly near the Mississippi River, are some of the most sustainable fish available. Crawfish: Domestic production centers mainly in Louisiana, grown in ponds on existing agricultural lands. No feeds are added, but minimal fertilizer is used to support an aquatic food web that crawfish thrive on. As a native species, the potential impacts of escape are minimal. Mussels: Most farmed mussels for sale in the U.S. hail from New England and the Pacific Northwest, or are imported from nations with stringent environmental regulations. The nonprofit Marine Stewardship Council independently certifies some of these mussel fisheries as sustainable.

Oysters: Nearly 95 percent of the oysters Americans eat are farmed in New England, the Gulf of Mexico and the Pacific Northwest. Oyster farms in the U.S. and throughout the world are well managed and produce a sustainable product. Salmon: Before ordering, Seafood Watch recommends finding out where salmon originated by asking the local grocer or restaurant manager if it’s wild caught or farmed and its source. Shrimp: Most caught or farmed in U.S. and Canada also qualify as a Seafood Watch Good Alternative. However, avoid shrimp caught in Louisiana with otter trawls and in the Gulf of Mexico (except Florida) with skimmer trawls. All shrimp from recirculating aquaculture systems constitute a Best Choice. Tilapia: Tank-farmed tilapia in the U.S. and Canada has become a popular standard. Trout: Farmed rainbow trout from the U.S. gets a nod because it’s raised in environmentally friendly ways in spring-fed ponds.

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September 2015

No matter what happens on the field or in the pool, your first four words to your kids afterward should be, “I loved watching you.” That is all. That’s all your kids really want to hear.

healthykids

~Luis Fernando Llosa

Whole Child Sports

Free Play Earns the Winning Score by Luis Fernando Llosa

any parents concerned that their children are getting engulfed by social media often turn to sports to spark physical activity. They scramble to sign their toddlers up for swimming and tennis lessons, T-ball and soccer practice, hoping these activities will teach their kids about motivation and leadership, while getting them off the couch and out the door. They hope that sports will be a conduit for their kids to learn what it takes to strive, drive toward a goal and succeed in later life. As a result, more than 40 million kids across America are engaged in organized play. But youth sports are not a panacea; while parental intentions are good, they sometimes don’t realize the

potential for negative consequences. Those that have studied the phenomenon believe that youth sports—which on the surface, appear to provide a perfect environment for children to learn life lessons and develop critical social and physical skills—might hamper our children’s healthy physical, social, psychic and creative development.

Too Much Too Soon

It seems that many young kids playing on teams today are over-coached by controlling, command-oriented adults. As Jenny Levy, head coach of the University of North Carolina’s 2013 NCAA champion women’s lacrosse team at Chapel Hill puts it, “Kids are kind of

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like overbred dogs, mimicking the drills we run in practice. They aren’t wired to think creatively. They do what they know. What’s safe.” This kind of behavior can start at an early age, when kids should be engaging in free play with minimal adult supervision in unstructured settings. Parenting expert Kim John Payne, author of Simplicity Parenting and The Soul of Discipline, says, “Parents are giving in to enormous societal pressure to push kids into high-performance sports settings several times a week. It’s an ‘arms race’ of sorts, with the clear victims being the kids themselves that are robbed of their childhoods.” There’s a much more holistic way kids can experience play, including sports. An American Academy of Pediatrics study attests that free and unstructured play is healthy and essential for helping children reach important social, emotional and cognitive developmental milestones, plus managing stress and becoming resilient. Payne observes, “In free play, children have to actively problem solve and take one another’s feelings into account if the play is to be successful. In sports, the social problem solving is largely extrinsic, facilitated by coaches, referees or parents. During a child’s formative stages, between the ages of 5 and 12, having the freedom to develop, create and innovate is critical.” Creativity isn’t limited to only younger children. How sports are taught in this country at all levels, right up through college, often inhibits athletic creativity and problem solving—as Levy has noticed year after year in the freshmen players she trains—rather than fostering these attributes.

Why are most American kids getting turned off by sports by the time they should be really leaping into it? ~Steve Biddulph, author, Raising Boys and Raising Girls

A Better Alternative

It’s crucial to consider the whole child, not just the budding athlete. To revive a child’s imagination and create better conditions for developing creativity, resiliency and flexibility, contemplate the option of taking a child out of organized youth sports for a while to provide the time, space and opportunity to rediscover childhood play and games. Then support them in re-entering organized athletics when they’re a bit older and more physically and emotionally ready. Also, some kids that get heavily involved in highly structured youth sports too early may be prone to behavioral problems and serious physical injuries. The best thing a parent can do for a young child that is active and interested in sports is roll up their sleeves and join in unscripted backyard or playground family play. Kids thrive in the attention offered from mom or dad, regardless of parental athletic skill levels. Also, organize play dates with other neighborhood kids of varying ages, because they love to learn from each other, including how to work out disagreements. Once kids are socially, emotionally and physically ready, organized sports can be an amazing platform for fun-filled learning. Having already experienced healthy free play, a child will be ready for and thrive in a more focused, competitive, organized and structured play environment. Fortified by a creative foundation in earlier years, a youngster is better able to identify and express their own mind, body and spirit. Luis Fernando Llosa is the co-author of Beyond Winning: Smart Parenting in a Toxic Sports Environment and co-founder of WholeChildSports.com. A writer, speaker and former Sports Illustrated reporter, he lives in New York City, where he coaches his five kids. For more information, visit LuisFernandoLlosa.com.

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Yoga Enters the Medical Mainstream

Yoga is the fountain of youth. You’re only as young as your spine is flexible.

Research Proves its Health Benefits

~Bob Harper

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fter practicing internal medicine for 10 years in Boston, Dr. Timothy McCall became a full-time writer, exploring the health benefits of yoga. As the medical editor of Yoga Journal and the author of Yoga as Medicine: The Yogic Prescription for Health and Healing, he says, “In the late 90s, the conveyor belt of patient care continued to speed up and I got frustrated. There was less time to form relationships with patients, which is essential to providing quality care without excessive tests and drugs.” Initially, McCall found that most of the documented research on yoga was from India, and notes it was low in quality from a Western perspective (though it is now excellent). In the West, the first notable scientific yoga article was published in 1973 in The Lancet on combining yoga and biofeedback to manage hypertension. According to the International Journal of Yoga, the surge in yoga’s popularity here finally gained academic interest in 2007, and there are now more than 2,000

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yoga titles in the National Institutes of Health PubMed.gov database, with 200 added annually. Initially, yoga teacher and economist Rajan Narayanan, Ph.D., founded the nonprofit Life in Yoga Foundation and Institute to offer free teacher training. Within a couple of years, the foundation’s focus shifted to integrating yoga into the mainstream healthcare system. “We realized that to make a real difference, we needed to teach doctors about yoga and its scientifically proven effects,” he says. Medical providers can earn credits to keep their licenses current by attending courses by Life in Yoga, the only yoga institution independently certified by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education. Currently, even if physicians don’t practice yoga, it’s likely that many of their patients do. “You now see it everywhere from major medical centers to mainstream advertising,” says McCall, who notes an increase in doctors, nurses and therapists attending the Yoga as

Any physical exercise done with breath awareness Mounting Evidence becomes yoga; “Yoga may help prevent diseases across the board be- anything done cause the root cause of 70 to without the 90 percent of all disorders is stress,” says Narayanan. Yoga breath is just a increases the body’s ability to physical practice.

therapy like there are for pharmaceuticals,” remarks Narayanan, and until yoga is funded by health insurance, it will be challenging to gain full acceptance in mainstream medicine. Another barrier is certification standards. The International Association of Yoga Therapists (iayt. org) and the Council for Yoga Accreditation Intersuccessfully respond to stress national (cyai.org) are both by activating the parasympa- ~Rajan Narayaran beginning to offer certificathetic nervous system, which tions for therapy training slows the heart and lowers blood presprograms and therapists. Narayanan is sure. That in turn suppresses sympathetic hopeful that certification could lead to activity, reducing the amount of stress yoga being covered by insurance. hormones in the body. Medical school curricula have Studies collected on PubMed.gov started shifting to embrace complemendemonstrate that yoga has been found to tary approaches to wellness, with many help manage hypertension, osteoporosis, textbooks now including information body weight, physical fitness, anxiety, on mind/body therapies. The Principles depression, diabetes, reproductive and Practices of Yoga in Healthcare, cofunctions and pregnancy, among other edited by Sat Bir Khalsa, Lorenzo Cohen, issues. Studies at California’s PrevenMcCall and Shirley Telles and due out tive Medicine Research Institute have in 2016, is the first professional-level, tracked amelioration of heart disease. medical textbook on yoga therapy. A growing body of research is validat “Yoga has been proven to treat ing yoga’s benefits for cancer patients, many conditions, yet yoga teachers including at the University of Texas M.D. don’t treat conditions, we treat individAnderson Cancer Center. A small study uals,” says McCall. “Yoga therapy is not at Norway’s University of Oslo suggests a one-size-fits-all prescription because that yoga even alters gene expression, different bodies and minds, with differindicating it may induce health benefits ent abilities and weaknesses, require on a molecular level. individualized approaches.” While medical research is working Cultural Challenges to grant yoga more legitimacy among “For yoga to be effective, a regular doctors, policymakers and the public, practice must be implemented, which McCall says, “I believe these studies is challenging in a culture where are systematically underestimating people can’t sit for long without an how powerful yoga can be. Scielectronic device. It’s more than ence may tell us that it decreases just popping pills,” says Narayanan. systolic blood pressure and McCall says, “Even if people cortisol secretion and increases can commit to just a few minlung capacity and serotonin utes of yoga practice a day, if levels, but that doesn’t bethey keep it up the benefits gin to capture the totality can be enormous.” of what yoga is.” “There are no sales reps Meredith Montgomery, a telling doctors to use yoga registered yoga teacher, publishes Natural September is Awakenings of National Yoga Mobile/Baldwin, Month AL (Healthy LivingHealthy Planet.com). Medicine seminars he and his wife Eliana teach internationally and from their Simply Yoga Institute studio, in Summit, New Jersey.

When Yoga Can Help 4 Addictions 4 Anxiety spectrum disorders 4 Back pain 4 Cancer 4 Depression 4 Diabetes 4 Endocrine issues 4 Heart disease 4 Hypertension 4 Mental health conditions 4 Metabolic syndrome 4 Musculoskeletal and neuromuscular complaints 4 Neurological and immune disorders 4 Pregnancy issues 4 Premenstrual syndrome, perimenopausal symptoms 4 Respiratory issues 4 Weight management

Youth is the gift of nature, but age is a work of art. ~Stanislaw Jerzy Lec

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September 2015

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League Soccer, plus the U.S. Tennis Association, and has expanded to include college sports.

Food

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Stadium food has always been part of the fan experience, but it’s possible to eat sensibly and well with options like the roasted turkey sandwich at AT&T Park, in San Francisco, where concessionaires source locally and compost leftovers. Veggie burgers, vegan cheesesteaks and sushi have also found their way onto game-day menus to add a change of pace for fans, says Julianne Soviero, author of Unleash Your True Athletic Potential. The growing interest shown by the sports industry in composting offers enormous potential benefits, and not a moment too soon, says Allen Hershkowitz, Ph.D., co-founder of the Green Sports Alliance and director of the NRDC Sports Project. Using recyclable containers counts—New York City’s venerable Yankee Stadium reduced its trash load by 40 percent by switching to biodegradable cups and service ware. PepsiCo supported the upgrade by exchanging its conventional plastic bottle for a bio-based version made from agricultural waste.

Lights

At New York’s Oncenter War Memorial Arena, the American Hockey League’s Syracuse Crunch pro team skates under LED lights. “They make the arena brighter. It’s easier to see the puck,” says defenseman Joey Mormina. “The fun light show that follows goals adds energy for the crowd and players.” LED lighting provides improved clarity in TV transmissions and sports action photos and doesn’t create soft spots on the ice, like traditional lights. “Utica and Binghamton teams switched to LED after playing in our arena,” comments Jim Sarosy, chief operating officer for the Crunch.

Water

“The Crunch is the first pro hockey team to skate on recycled rainwater,” Sarosy adds. “It’s collected from the roof, stored in three central reservoirs in the basement and pumped into the Zamboni machine for resurfacing the ice.” The practice also diverts rainwater

from overworked sewer systems. The first pro football stadium to earn a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold Certification, the San Francisco 49ers Levi’s Stadium features a 27,000-square-foot rooftop garden to help control water runoff. Home to the Los Angeles Lakers, Clippers and Kings, the Staples Center has swapped out 178 flush urinals for waterless models, reducing annual water usage by 7 million gallons. Like the Eagles, the Florida Marlins pro baseball team, in Miami, now uses 50 percent less water via low-flow plumbing fixtures. Also, the stadium’s upgraded landscape design lessens outdoor irrigation needs by 60 percent. The University of Georgia likes keeping its grass green, but hates wasteful water dispensers. Its football field is now watered via an underground irrigation system that saves a million gallons a year. Soil moisture sensors indicate when watering is needed.

More Creative Practices

Lincoln Financial Field, home to the Philadelphia Eagles, now boasts more than 11,000 solar panels and 14 wind turbines that combined, generate more than four times the energy used for all home games in a season. The staff uses green cleaning products and has increased recycling more than 200 percent since 2010. Most creatively, the carbon costs of team travel are offset via mitigation by financing tree plantings in their home state and purchasing seedlings for a wildlife refuge in Louisiana. The Seattle Mariners Safeco Field’s new scoreboard uses 90 percent less power than its predecessor and the Arizona Cardinals pro football team provides bags for tailgating fans to use for recycling. Five NBA arenas have achieved LEED certification—Phillips Arena (Atlanta Hawks), Toyota Center (Houston Rockets), American Airlines Arena (Miami Heat), Amway Center (Orlando Magic) and Rose Garden (Portland Trail Blazers). The goal of a cleaner, healthier planet is achievable with systemic shifts like these as more pro and collegiate sports teams score green points. Connect with our freelance writer via AveryMack@mindspring.com.

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September 2015

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Alexandra Paul on Vegan Activism

expected 10 billion people in 35 years is if humankind stops raising animals for food, so my veganism is helping the planet, as well as my own health.

Her Kind Lifestyle Honors All Living Things

Which other aspects of your diet and lifestyle do you credit for looking and feeling vital?

by Gerry Strauss

What is your philosophy of life? Be kind. Being kind is different from being nice. I spent my teens and 20s anxious to be nice, and all it gave me was a boatload of acquaintances and an inauthentic self. Nice aims to be popular. Kindness is about doing the right thing: justice, fairness, patience, respect. Kindness is at the heart of why I’m a vegan, and why I’ve been arrested 16 times for civil disobedience supporting peace, equal rights and the environment. Being kind to myself inspires me to exercise and live healthfully.

How has activism forged your identity and inspired others?

I’ve been an activist since I was 7, when I wrote to President Nixon asking him 48

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to stop pollution. As a dedicated citizen, my mom boycotted companies that acted against her ethics. Growing up with such a role model, trying to make the world better came naturally. Walking my talk is a challenge I face daily as I choose what to buy, what to eat and how to be, and I also think it is the most effective way to encourage change in others. photo by Denice Duff

t may seem odd that one of the most intensely dedicated public activists is also known for starring in one of TV’s most superficial shows of the 1990s, but Alexandra Paul overturns stereotypes. Behind that signature Baywatch one-piece that kept David Hasselhoff on his toes beats the heart of a true soldier for animal rights and population stabilization. At 52 years young, she is extremely fit and knowledgeable about the vegan lifestyle that got her there.

What drives your commitment to a vegan diet?

I became a vegetarian when I was 14, after reading Frances Moore Lappé’s Diet for a Small Planet, which taught me how eating meat was destructive to the planet. A couple of years later, I did a book report on Peter Singer’s Animal Liberation and learned the ethical reasons against eating animals. I stopped using cosmetics tested on animals when I was a teen and stopped wearing leather, wool and silk in my 20s. I finally gave up eating dairy in my late 40s, and I wish I’d done it earlier. Although I did it to benefit animals, being vegan has enriched my life and changed the way I look at the world. The only way there will be enough food and water for Earth’s

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My husband Ian and I go to bed early and generally get up with the sun. I’ve never consumed coffee, soda or alcohol, only water and protein shakes. I believe being a vegetarian, and now a vegan, has given me tons of energy. I also prioritize making time for my workout routine, and that helps me feel good every day. I didn’t always have this serenity with my lifestyle and health. For a dozen years, until my late 20s, I struggled with bulimia. Becoming vegan improved my relationship with food, aligning my diet with my values, and I have never been more at peace with myself.

Why do you enjoy working out? For me, being active is fun—not only because I feel good moving my body, but because I am also outside with friends, reading on a stationary bike or listening to favorite podcasts while stretching. Six days a week, I do an hour of cardio; either swimming or the stationary bike. Every other day I practice yoga for at least 45 minutes to ensure that my back stays pain-free. Once a week, I go hiking for two hours with friends, chatting the whole time, which all makes it worth getting up at 4:30 a.m. I walk whenever I’m on a conference call, either outside or at my tread desk, a simple treadmill under a standing desk; I’m walking on it when I’m reading or answering emails, too. It’s the best present I ever gave myself. Like everyone, sometimes I don’t particularly feel like working out, but all these factors make it easier to start, and once I start, I’m always glad to be exercising. Gerry Strauss is a freelance writer in Hamilton, NJ. Connect at GerryStrauss@aol.com.

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EYE HEALTH FOR DOGS 10 Foods to Keep Canine Vision Sharp by Audi Donamor

ey colorful foods, packed with nutrients, protect against eye problems ranging from progressive retinal atrophy and uveitis to cataracts and glaucoma. Here are 10 foods that are highly regarded in helping prevent and defend against vision problems. Their eye-worthy nutrients include anthocyanins, beta-carotene, carotenoids, glutathione, lycopene, omega-3 essential fatty acids, phytonutrients—and the special partnership of lutein and zeaxanthin, sometimes referred to as “sunscreen for the eyes”. An easy way to serve these power-packed foods is as a mash. Simply combine a few cups of fruits and vegetables in a food processor with a half-cup of filtered water and blend as a raw pet meal topper. For a cooked topper, chop the fruits and vegetables and place in a medium sized sauce pan with the filtered water and a couple tablespoons of first-pressed olive oil. Simmer gently, cool and serve. Maybe top it all off with a fish or egg. Blueberries contain two eye-healthy carotenoids: lutein and zeaxanthin. They also deliver anthocyanins, eye-nourishing phytonutrients known to support night vision, according to a study published in the Journal of Biomedicine and Biotechnology. University of Oklahoma research suggests that flavonoids like the rutin, resveratrol and quercetin in blueberries may help prevent retinal atrophy. Their selenium and zinc components also support vision, according to a study from the National Eye Institute. Eating blueberries has even been associated with the reduction of eye fatigue, according to The Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry. Broccoli’s anti-cancer benefits are well known, but it’s also recognized as one of the best vegetables for eye health. A good source of lutein and zeaxanthin, it’s also packed with beta-carotene. Don’t leave the leaves behind, because they contain even more beta-carotene than the stems and florets. Researchers at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine have found that broccoli and broccoli sprouts protect the retina from free radical damage, which may be due to a compound called sulphoraphane that boosts the body’s defense against free radicals.

Carrots come in 100 varieties, from deep purple and white to brilliant orange. Each is a storehouse of nutrient power, providing vitamin A, beta-carotene, vitamins C, D, E and K, and riboflavin, niacin, calcium, potassium, phosphorus, sodium, iron, magnesium, manganese, sulphur, copper and iodine. The adage that carrots are good for the eyes is true. They even contain lycopene and lutein, phytonutrients that protect from UVB radiation and free radical damage. Cold-water fish such as salmon, tuna, cod, haddock and sardines are rich in omega-3s, especially EPA and DHA, which are widely known to be important to cellular health. DHA makes up 30 percent of the fatty acids that comprise the retina. The particularly high levels of omega-3s in sardines add further protection to retinal health, according to researchers at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. Eggs are rich in cysteine and sulphur, two components of glutathione. Cataract Health News reports that sulphurcontaining compounds have been found to protect eyes from cataract formation. Egg yolks contain lutein, and a University of Massachusetts study has found that eating an egg a day raised levels of lutein and zeaxanthin in the blood; at the same time, blood serum lipids and lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations remained stable. Garlic. Researchers at the University of Oregon suggest that sulphur-rich garlic is important for the production of glutathione, a protein that acts as an antioxidant for the eye’s lens, and can be instrumental in the prevention of some visual problems. Kale is an excellent source of lutein and zeaxanthin. The American Optometric Association says these special antioxidants act like “internal sunglasses.” Add betacarotene to the mix and kale serves as a preferred foil to oxidative stress. Pumpkin’s orange color is a sure sign that it’s packed with carotenoids like beta-carotene, which help neutralize free radicals. Its lutein and zeaxanthin generally promote eye health and further protect against retinal degeneration. Even pumpkin seeds carry several benefits, including omega-3s, zinc and phytosterols to enhance a dog’s immune response. Sweet potatoes are loaded with both beta-carotene and anthocyanins, the latter high in antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Tomatoes are famous for their lycopene, a carotenoid and phytonutrient found in red produce. This powerful antioxidant helps protect against sun damage and retinal degeneration and has been well documented as effective in cancer prevention. Processed tomato products conMake vision tain higher levels of than the raw and diet part of lycopene fruit.

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Audi Donamor regularly contributes to Animal Wellness Magazine (AnimalWellnessMagazine.com), from which this was adapted and used with permission.

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National Yoga Month Sheds Healing Light on the Suncoast by Mary-Elizabeth Schurrer

ational Yoga Month is an observance and awareness campaign, designated by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services and sponsored by the Yoga Health Foundation (YogaHealthFoundation.org). This effort to promote the health benefits of yoga amongst the general public began in 2008, and now occurs annually throughout the month of September. In commemoration of this nationwide initiative, local yogis on the Suncoast are helping indoctrinate their own communities into the yoga movement. Cheryl Chaffee, ERYT-500, director of Sarasota-based Garden of the Heart Yoga studio, offers insight on National Yoga Month’s positive, far-reaching impact. “Setting aside a month dedicated to yoga is a great way for yoga practitioners to reconnect with their yoga practice. Sometimes we get out of the habit of practicing. We stop going to class. We ‘forget’ to practice at home. National Yoga Month is a nice reminder for yogis to get reacquainted with their practice, maybe try classes at a different studio, or recommit to a daily home practice. It’s also an opportunity for people who have never tried yoga to get started on this beautiful, beneficial practice,” she explains. The multiple advantages to studying this ancient healing art run the gamut of physical, mental and spiritual. “A regular yoga practice is ideal for reducing stress, increasing flexibility and strength, creating calm and peace of mind, and increasing mindfulness, mental focus and clarity. There are many other benefits too like meeting new friends, learning a new skill, learning a new language (Sanskrit names for the poses are taught in most classes) and learning more about yourself, Chaffee adds. For these reasons, National Yoga Month has become vitally instrumental in advocating how yoga can enhance an individual’s entire lifestyle and well-being – regardless of experience or activity level. “Anything we can do to foster community ties and involvement is wonderful, and having a designated yoga month certainly helps. Sarasota is a yogafriendly community. We have many amazing yoga teachers and studios in town, so it’s wonderful when we can all come together for a cause. “Garden of the Heart always participates in National

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Yoga Month’s ‘Free Week of Yoga.’ Students who are new to our studio can sign up with Yoga Health Foundation to get a week of unlimited free yoga classes. You must register through the Yoga Health Foundation’s National Yoga Month website,” Chaffee clarifies. She then continues, “Garden of the Heart is also pleased to be collaborating with other studios in Sarasota to celebrate Global Mala Day which will be held on September 20. We are planning to offer 108 Sun Salutations at North Lido Beach for yoga practitioners of all ages to come out and have fun practicing together. “People all around the world do this practice on Global Mala Day, so our local community is coming together to be part of a global community. The event will take place from 7:30–9 a.m. There will be live music, and the class will be led by several different yoga teachers from Sarasota. It will be a fundraiser for our local Karma Yoga Outreach Program and the Solar Aid charity.” A primary objective of National Yoga Month is encouraging people to continue the practice long after September ends, thus integrating this physical and mental exercise into their daily routines. Chaffee’s studio seeks to streamline this process of matching novice yogis with an appropriate class type. “All yoga levels are welcome at Garden of the Heart, from beginners’ and gentle yoga to advanced classes. We offer classes in alignment-based Hatha Yoga which means that we focus on safety and good posture in all yoga poses. “Our classes are typically taught with a heart-centered theme which gives your mind something to focus on while you are doing the exercises. We also include breathing techniques, relaxation and yoga philosophy in every class. It’s more than just a workout for your body. It’s an overall system of wellness for body, mind and heart,” she expounds. Despite having originated during the fifth-century BCE, this deeply philosophical discipline still remains relevant in a modern context. Practitioners from every fitness background, ability and stamina can enjoy yoga’s profound, life-affirming benefits. Chaffee aptly concludes, “For me personally, September is a great month to reconnect with my own yoga practice, as well as a time to get out and attend more classes at other studios around town. “For Garden of the Heart, it is a month when we enjoy an influx of new students, typically people who have never tried yoga before. We love new students at Garden of the Heart, so it’s wonderful observing how the practice benefits people who are new because they can start to see and feel the changes in their body, stress level, sleep and emotions right away.” Location: 2888 Ringling Blvd., Sarasota. For more information about, call 941-341-9781, email Info@GardenOfTheHeartYoga.com or visit GardenOfTheHeartYoga.com. Mary-Elizabeth Schurrer is the Managing Editor of Natural Awakenings Sarasota-Manatee. She also works as a freelance writer, blogger and social media marketer, based in Southwest Florida. Her personal blog, HealthBeAHippie.Wordpress.com, features practical tips for embracing a fit, nutritious and empowered lifestyle.

communityspotlight

Global Mala Day Unites the Sarasota Yoga Community by Cheryl Chaffee, ERYT-500

ogis Unite! September is National Yoga Month, and people all around the country will be focusing on their yoga practice this month. One practice that has been a tradition at a few yoga studios in Sarasota is doing 108 Sun Salutations on Global Mala Day which usually takes place the weekend of the Autumnal Equinox and coincides with the United Nations International Day of Peace. This year, on September 20, many yoga studios and yoga teachers in Sarasota are coming together for a true community yoga gathering. Global Mala Day is widely promoted by Shiva Rea, an internationally known yoga teacher from California. Rea founded the project in 2007 which is now practiced annually in over 50 countries, creating a virtual “mala,” or string of sacred beads, around the Earth. Practitioners around the world will do 108 Sun Salutations on the same day with an intention of promoting peace for oneself, peace for the local community and peace for the world. Together, they form an integral strand of mindful, peaceful intention that circles the globe. What is the significance of the number 108? It’s a popular number in Indian and other religious cultures, and is also known as an auspicious number for several reasons including the following examples: • There are said to be 108 “nadis,” or energy channels in the body, through which subtle energy flows. • 108 is the product of a precise mathematical operation (1 power 1 x 2 power 2 x 3 power 3 = 108) which was thought to have special numerological significance in Ancient India. • When breaking down 1, 0 and 8 into individual integers, 1 stands for the Absolute, 0 stands for emptiness or nothingness, and 8 stands for infinity or eternity. • There are 54 letters in the Sanskrit alphabet. Each has a masculine and feminine form, and 54 x 2 = 108. • There are 9 planets and 12 signs in the Zodiac. 9 x 12 = 108. Sarasota’s Global Mala Day event is being organized by Cheryl Chaffee, director of Garden of the Heart Yoga Center. She is collaborating with other yoga studios and teachers

from the Sarasota area to make it a truly community-wide event. Other teachers who will be participating are Regina DeWitt of Prana Yoga, Lynn Burgess of Yoga from the Heart, Liana Sheintal-Bryant of Rosemary Court, Kerry Tice of CircuSoul, Erin Geraghty of Thrive Yoga and many other yoga teachers will also be involved in leading the salutes. Live music on the beach including kirtan and gongs will help to create a festive atmosphere. As previously mentioned, this event will take place on September 20, from 7:30-9:30 a.m., at North Lido Beach (zone 1) right at the end of John Ringling Blvd. All yogis and yoginis are invited to participate as much as they wish – doing all 108 sun salutations is not required. The event will be a fundraiser, and all donations will be split among two great causes. The global charity is Solar Aid, endorsed by Shiva Rea, which brings solar and renewable power to developing countries. Our local cause is the Karma Yoga Outreach Program which brings free or low cost yoga classes to veterans with PTSD (and their family members), children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and people with Parkinson’s Disease. Pre-registration is not required. Participants should wear yoga clothes, bring a mat and either a large beach towel, tablecloth, blanket or sheet to put under the mat (to keep the sand off), and come equipped with water, sunscreen and sunglasses. Participants should also bring their intentions to create a more peaceful life for themselves, their loved ones, their community and for the whole world! For more information about this event, contact Garden of the Heart Yoga center via Cheryl@GardenOfTheHeartYoga.com.

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natural awakenings

September 2015

The Meditative Dimension of Yoga by Amrit Desia

n authentic practice of yoga creates a paradigm shift from our conflict-creating, stress-producing interaction between the body, mind, heart and soul which brings them into the unity of integration and oneness. This is the meaning and purpose of the practice of yoga. Healthcare, business professionals, educators, parents, students and the public are waking up to a deep spiritual hunger, a time to explore the deeper meditative and spiritual dimensions of yoga. The range of yoga has grown but its depth has yet to be explored. The physical practice of Hatha Yoga is one wing, and the spiritual dimension of Raja Yoga (meditation) is the other wing. Your practice will not fly by flapping one wing faster and faster. Yoga is not one or the other. It is the combination that moves your practice deeper. I AM Yoga TM (Integrative Amrit Yoga) evolved from insights into the ancient sage Patanjali’s Ashtanga (eightlimbed) Yoga. Patanjali, the Father of Yoga and author of the Yoga Sutras, recommends that yoga be practiced as a combination of Hatha and Raja Yoga where the outer physical discipline is combined with inner mental and emotional disciplines. I AM Yoga TM uniquely integrates Patanjali’s wisdom where all eight limbs of Ashtanga Yoga are practiced simultaneously. The result is a holistic approach that combines the inner and outer dimensions of yoga. The meditative dimension of yoga releases the energies trapped in the body as self-destructive habits and compulsive behavior patterns that continue to create ongoing stress. This stress is toxic to your body and mind. It appears as emotional irritation, frustration, anxiety, insomnia and fatigue. These symptoms have a crippling effect that destroy your health, as well as the relationships in your love life, family life and work life. In the practice of dynamic meditation (Meditation in motion), all the physical benefits are still present. More importantly, the meditative aspect of your practice enables you to encounter and dissolve mental, physical and emotional blocks that disconnect you from your inner source of healing, empowerment and wholeness. The more you suffer from

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stress, the further you move away from your inner source of harmony, peace, love and oneness within yourself. This separation is experienced no matter where you go, what you do or whom you are with. Now is the time to recapture the original spirit of yoga that is missing when the practice of Asanas is separated from its meditative dimension. This combination of physical and meditative is the heart and soul in the practice of yoga. With this understanding, you can go beyond the limitations of both body and mind. These limitations are the fundamental cause of all human suffering. Through the practice of I AM Yoga TM, you create a paradigm shift where you establish a conscious connection to the power of your inner source. This connection to consciousness that you cultivate on a yoga mat automatically supports, guides and protects you no matter where you go, what you do or who you are with. In this integrated state, your thinking, feeling, doing and being are unified. This is the true experience of Yoga. Yogi Amrit Desai is recognized and honored worldwide as a pioneer of authentic yoga in the West. Over the past 54 years, more than eight thousand yoga teachers in 45 countries have been trained in the yoga systems he developed. He is the founder of one of the largest yoga and health centers in North America, Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health, and now Amrit Yoga Institute, the thriving Yoga and Ayurveda Center in Salt Springs, Florida. For more information call 352-685-3001 or visit AmritYoga.org. In 1971, I had a profound experience of awakening energy; yoga postures were spontaneously and effortlessly performed while I was drawn into meditation. From this experience, I developed an approach to the practice of Hatha Yoga that captures yoga’s original depth and responds to the growing awakening we are currently experiencing as a society. Today, this approach is known as I AM Yoga TM (Integrative Amrit Methods of Yoga). Yoga is about returning to the source that I AM. Therefore I call it I AM Yoga TM. It has been my intention to preserve the original values and purity of yoga. Ordinarily, while practicing yoga postures externally, your thoughts, feelings and emotions continue to move through your mind. This often results in engaging in self-criticism, comparison and competition which creates a conflict between what you are doing physically and what you are doing mentally and emotionally internally. In the Yoga Sutras, Patanjali suggests that the key to dismantle conflict and restore harmony is “witnessing the modifications of the mind”. I AM Yoga TM teaches you to witness conflict creating thoughts and feelings that occur during your yoga practice The technique of witnessing the mind allows you to enter the inner dimension of Raja Yoga (meditation) while engaging in physical postures (Hatha Yoga). This methodology uniquely enables you to encounter and dissolve mental, physical and emotional blocks that disconnect you from your own internal source of healing, empowerment and wholeness.

Fun and Mystical

Connections at Sarasota’s Mystical Bazaar by Victoria Ackerman “Believe, and what was impossible becomes possible, what at first was hidden becomes visible.” – Tahir Shah, in Arabian Nights: A Caravan of Moroccan Dreams

magic carpet, in its classic context, can be used to rise and transport riders to their far-away destination in the twinkling of an eye. The idea of a magic carpet is interwoven into fairy tales, fables, romances, legends and parables. If we stop to think about it, does the fanciful magic carpet truly exist? Before modern day aircraft made its significant appearance in our daily lives, the notion of a man-made flying object was kept strictly in the world of fancy and imagination. Currently, however, there are over 50,000 airplane flights each day – our actualized version of the magic carpet. Indeed, modern technology can now transport riders “to their far-away destination in a twinkling of an eye.” Can something which is beyond our understanding ever truly be mastered or attained? Is it possible to accept the concept of the ethereal and utilize it in our present existence for the greater good? Or, are we destined to only dwell within our feelings of awe and wonder when beholding the mystical experiences that are bestowed upon us, never venturing into the realm of truth and understanding? Answers to these questions may be sought at the upcoming Mystical Bazaar. This event features a marketplace with a sweeping variety of merchants and mystics, from ancient approaches to enlightened modern day accomplishments. The topics of holistic, alternative, spiritual and supernatural come together in a cornucopia under one roof, easily accessible for seekers. Perhaps you would like to sit down for tantalizing psy-

chic readings with your choice of intuitives? There will be Tarot readers, palmists, angelic message bearers, animal communicators, astrologists and evidential mediums. For a nominal fee, they will access their insight and convey to you what their intuition tells them. As brief as 15 minutes, these short “mini-readings” give you the opportunity to sample a variety of different readers and styles. Special appearances by national speakers add enrichment to the day. Sharon Hill (a Lily Dale Assembly certified medium), Joseph LoBrutto (psychic medium and a “Brazil’s John of God” genre of divine healer) and therapist Elissa Bentsen, BSW (specializing in past life regression and soul trauma healing), are just of few of the added attractions. Vendors will market unique gifts and new age items. Peruse crystals, precious gems, salt lamps, sage, pendulums, oils, bracelets and inspired jewelry. Meet a near death experience (NDE) author and have your aura photographed. If healing and well-being is your focus, learn more about oriental medicine, acupuncture, massage therapy, chiropractic and other holistic pathways to wellness and improved health. There will even be a participatory Divine Healing session facilitated by speaker Joseph LoBrutto. Stroll through the auditorium, and you may encounter a mystical dancer or artist weaving through the crowd. In the vein of Zoltar from the Tom Hanks movie Big, the Mystical Bazaar’s fortune telling “machine,” complete with a real-life Mistico, will dispense a brief but entertaining glimpse into your future. Mystical connections and experiences enable you to discover more of your spiritual nature. They assist in the growth of your self-awareness and fulfillment of your purpose. You step out of your limited thoughts and transform, awakening your consciousness to the greater dimensions of infinite life. The frequently used term, “body, mind, spirit” sparks the understanding that there is a connection between these elements: a mystical connection. The journey to a fuller understanding of this connection is the mission of the Mystical Bazaar event. Explore the benefits and joy of the inner and outer worlds, connect with like-minded people, buy unique and whimsical gifts, get a psychic reading and, most importantly, have fun. Enjoy enrichment, education and entertainment at this popular event. Climb aboard your own inner magic carpet and, in a twinkling of an eye, arise from your commonplace perspective, brace yourself for a thrill, and…fly! You are invited to come for a day of fun and mystical connections and experiences! Sarasota’s Mystical Bazaar is an annual event for the public to enjoy. It is a mystical meeting place with access to many different things: Vendors, Psychic Readers, Speakers, Message Gallery, Healers, Aura Photos, Gemstones and Jewelry, and Metaphysical Items. With a $5 entry ticket, enjoy entertaining and informative seminars on healing, health, physical and emotional support, intuition and more topics you won’t want to miss. The Mystical Bazaar will be held on September 26, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., at Sarasota’s Municipal Auditorium, 801 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota. For more information, visit MysticalBazaar2015.com. natural awakenings

September 2015

Plews: L.N.C. stands for “Licensed Nutrition Counselor,” issued by the Florida State Board of Medicine Dietetics and Nutrition Council. It is also worth noting that a L.N.C. is different from a Dietician License. Unlike a dietician, I don’t work within the food management sector (e.g. school, nursing home or prison meal plans). I.F.M.C.P. stands for “Institute for Functional Medicine Certified Practitioner.” I was also among the first group of 124 clinicians nationally to receive the four-year C.P. certification.

NA: How does Functional Medicine differ from what we generally know as medicine?

Debunking the “Function” behind Functional Medicine by Mary-Elizabeth Schurrer

n the midst of a society saturated by media-endorsed health fads, inconsistent medical claims and so-called “miracle” drugs, seeking relief from ailments of any kind frequently leads to more frustrations than solutions. But, have you considered that the crux of why you suffer from chronic pain, insomnia, skin irritation or other illnesses might lie outside mainstream explanations? Perhaps, the remedy for your health issues cannot be found inside a conventional clinic or emergency room. What if changing your nutritional intake, physical activity regimen or environmental stressors could positively and profoundly impact your quality of life? Throughout the following Q&A discussion, Eve Prang Plews, LNC, IFMCP, founder of Full Spectrum Health in Sarasota, lends her professional perspective on this revolutionary concept. A functional medicine practitioner with over 27 years of experience in holistic healing modalities, Plews offers insight into that age-old question, “What’s ailing you?” And her answer just might surprise you.

Natural Awakenings: What do the L.N.C and I.F.M.C.P. distinctions after your name mean? 56

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Plews: Functional medicine shifts the attention from a disease-centered approach to a patient-centered approach. Rather than basing observations off an isolated set of symptoms, we search for an underlying cause. In other words, conventional medicine focuses on reaching a diagnosis, while functional medicine looks at the whole person. The Institute for Functional Medicine is raising the bar on holistic healing. Currently, there are 500 CP-certified clinicians practicing functional medicine, and I remain hopeful this number will continue growing. As more people become suspicious and disenchanted with conventional medicine’s drug and surgery approach, they start looking for alternative approaches. Therefore, the spread of a holistic model is largely consumer driven. Health is not just an absence of pain or disease, but an expression of vitality. I want people to fully experience this, so I study each patient’s history, diet, lifestyle factors, environmental challenges and even tests performed by other clinicians. More than anything else, though, I listen. My clients often complain about doctors not listening. Instead of asking about food intake or exercise levels, they simply prescribe a “pill for every ill.” The average medical appointment in Florida lasts about four to seven minutes. My initial intake session is two hours long, and I need every minute of it. This time is necessary for developing a relationship and empowering people to take active roles in their own health. I’m a detective, and talking to patients gives me clues into how a disease’s emergence and progression occurred. How did the problem initiate? That’s what functional medicine seeks to find out. For example, I once had a client come to me with cracked, abraded skin. Before visiting my practice, he had been to literally a dozen doctors, all of whom prescribed topical medications – steroid, cortisone or soothing creams. No one took into account his eating habits or what might prompt these skin symptoms on a cellular level. From a holistic perspective, skin conditions originate in the bowel or the liver, so regardless of the issue, – eczema, acne, dryness or irritation – we look at the underlying cause from a digestive standpoint. When you adopt a systematic approach, you’ll find that various conditions, from anxiety to insomnia, begin in the digestive system as well. The body cannot process unnatural molecules from artificial chemicals and processed ingredients. There is no pathway or mechanism to break these

chemicals down during digestion, so they muck up the delicate metabolism of a cell.

NA: There are so many conflicting views on diet in our culture. What is your best advice? Plews: Eat what occurs in nature. A chicken occurs in nature; a chicken nugget does not. A potato occurs in nature; a Pringle does not. No degree of genetically-modified ingredients should be considered safe, not even in moderation. Every plate of food you eat is a letter to your genes, telling them how to respond and behave. Every meal does one of two things – it makes you either more alive or more dead. That sounds harsh, but it’s ultimately the truth. If every plate of food is a letter to your genes, there must be self-responsibility. That’s what functional medicine is about, a therapeutic partnership between the patient and practitioner which better equips people to care for themselves. I focus on the foundations of nutrition. We need to eat a rainbow every day. Variety is the greatest salvation of any diet. I’m not even going to tell you to eat the same healthy foods, like salmon, every single day. The average American only eats about 25 foods, but a balanced diet should include dozens upon dozens of foods. Consuming a variety of nutrients, protective chemicals (those found in nature) and even plant toxins offer long-term health benefits. Exposing your body to different organic, seasonal foods builds immunity. Restrict your total volume of fourlegged animal proteins (e.g. beef or pork), as neither your body nor the environment can tolerate that on a regular basis. Eating these meats should be a novelty – perhaps two meals per week, not two meals per day. Next, pay attention to your food’s quality. Did you know, in Great Britain, MacDonald’s makes French fries with four ingredients, – potatoes, oil, salt and sugar? In the U.S., however, they’re made with 19 heavily processed ingredients. That is criminal! Also, be skeptical of diet trends. Food fanaticism and evangelism cause me heartache because I see people buying into bad science which results in bad health. Anytime people remove an entire category of food from their diets, there will be future trouble. My question is, “Why are you doing that?” Demonizing certain ingredients natural awakenings

September 2015

creates imbalance. Avoiding whole grains and eating mostly proteins on the Paleo diet, for instance, can cause kidney issues. Just last month, the European Congress on Obesity linked a 59% increase in deaths from all causes when protein replaces carbs. I had a client who consumed over 100 grams of protein from powder shakes without fueling his system with other necessary nutrients, and his kidneys simply couldn’t handle the excessive protein intake. In regard to veganism, sadly, these people are among the sickest I see. They start out experiencing positive results then become nutrient-deficient over time. I once treated a 38-year-old woman for osteoporosis because, as a vegan, she didn’t eat enough protein to build the bone matrix needed for mineral attachment. So, her bones were literally eroded. I’ve also observed many vegans getting so caught up in the evangelical aspect of this lifestyle that their main reason for pursuing it becomes less about achieving optimal nutrition and more about proselytizing. The question I always come back to is, “Of all the diets out there, how many people are still sticking with them two years later?”

October 25, 2015 Sponsored by People for Trees, Inc.  An on-road scenic ride through the beautiful pine flatwoods of North Port! It is NOT a race!  Choose your distance, 15, 35, or 65 miles. Pre-registration of $40 includes: Breakfast by First Watch, catered lunch, desserts, rest stops with homemade snacks, and mobile SAG provided by Louie’s Bicycle and The Bicycle Center of Port Charlotte. FREE ride t-shirt, “got shade?” sunglasses and goody bag guaranteed to the first 250 who pre-register by Oct. 23. Begins: Imagine School (Upper Campus) 2757 Sycamore St. 34289 with breakfast @ 7AM Group Starts begin @ 8AM Proceeds benefit the efforts of People for Trees, Inc., a 501©3 non-profit group that strives to create awareness about the importance of protecting and maintaining our native tree canopy through educational programs, workshops, and tree plantings. The Tour de North Port is being supported by: Natural Awakenings of Sarasota, Real Bikes, FirstWatch Daytime Café, T’s Plus, ROI Media, Patriot Storage, Sunny Days Ice Cream, The North Port UPS Store, Anytime Fitness, Heron Creek Animal Hospital, Bruce Henry/Hathaway Home Services, The Power & Light Co. Registration: www.peoplefortrees.com Contact: Alice White (941)426-9752 or treelady12001@yahoo.com “Save a tree today, and we’ll all breathe a little easier!”

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NA: Besides your nutrition practice, are you involved with other community ventures Plews: I host public radio shows every Monday – WMNF 88.5 in Tampa and WSLR 96.5 in Sarasota. I also travel both nationally and internationally teaching other clinicians, from doctors to chiropractors, from pharmacists to acupuncture physicians, about the benefits of functional medicine. In fact, I recently did a national seminar tour on liver detoxification methods. Locally, I’ve run an HIV support group for the past 25 years. This group meets on the first Tuesday of each month at Church of the Trinity on Lockwood Ridge Road. Florida currently has the highest HIV infection rate of any other U.S. state, so awareness is important. As you can see, I am committed to public education. We cannot expect American public health to change unless people receive solid science-based education. Finally, I teach astronomy at Siesta Key on the Monday evening after the new moon. Astronomy is my personal hobby,

and my class – called “Meet the Sky” – is open to the public, beginning at sunset.

inspiration

The Adventure of Couchsurfing

NA: Can you provide any additional suggestions for maintaining wellness and longevity? Plews: Get enough sleep each night, and if you don’t sleep adequately, change your behaviors. These days, the average person stays awake past midnight to do trivial things like checking Facebook. This habit won’t contribute to your overall quality of life, whereas even an extra 30 minutes of sleep will offer both physical and mental benefits. Find an activity you love and incorporate movement into your daily routine. Not everyone is wired for the gym, so you don’t have to wear spandex or spend $70 on a Pilates session. Take a walk, work in your garden or play tennis, for example. Just move like your body is designed to! Find a hobby you adore which constantly allows you to feel fascinated – beading, painting, starting a collection or whatever personally speaks to you. For me, that’s astronomy. Finally, don’t sweat the small stuff. The cost is bigger than the payoff. Eve Prang Plews is a Nutrition Counselor, licensed by the Florida State Board of Medicine. She offers both private consultations and public classes on nutrition and healthy lifestyle practices. Plews has been practicing functional medicine in Sarasota since 1988. For more information or to schedule an appointment, call 941-952-1200 or visit FullSpectrumHealth.com.

Stay with Locals and Make New Friends by Lisa Rosinky

people’s faith and trust in aniel Sperry, a “couchsurfer” one another and create in his late 50s, decided a meaningful connecfew years ago to quit his day tions across cultures. job and make a living by performIt’s easy to become ing cello music and reciting poetry a member by creating a in living rooms across the country. “I profile as a host and/ didn’t know it would become a catalyst or a traveler, which for bringing communities of includes verified local people together,” identification. Guests he says, but his first don’t need to reciprocate gig, a “little shotgun by hosting or leaving gifts, shack” in Elko, Nealthough lasting friendvada, became more ships are a common than a once in a lifetime result. Hosts and guests experience. Years later, his Elko are encouraged to leave host remains a close friend and hosts honest reviews for each a regular (and lucrative) stop on his cross-country tours. As a traveler, offer other, which helps ensure ongoing safety Not only does creating connections with strangers an ethnic meal, good and good behavior all make us happier—as Unistory or how to say around. Meanwhile, nonversity of Chicago social scientists have proven—it leads hello in a different members also are to fun travel stories. If we language. As a host, welcome to explore couchsurfing events in choose to see the world via be open to what their city. Fun opportuthe decade-old organization at Couchsurfing.com, we guests can teach. nities to make new connections include weekly might find ourselves sleepKeep a travel log language exchanges, ing on a sailboat in the Irish Sea; meeting backpackers and guestbook to skill swaps, outdoor activities and potlucks. by solar-powered light in a “For me, it’s cave in Petra, Jordan; sharing record memories. undeniably about the community, the a room with a pet bird that falls asleep listening to sappy love songs on the radio; kind of person it tends to attract,” says Joseph Abrahamson, a couchsurfer in or jamming to old-time banjo and fiddle his mid-20s. “A room full of couchsurftunes in a North Carolina kitchen. ers is full of stories and listening and The global community of couchsurfers, now 10 million strong, consid- sharing and trust. It changes a person in a positive way… people that travel ers strangers “friends you haven’t met like this for long enough can no longer yet.” They currently are hosting and survive with closed minds.” organizing more than half-a-million events in more than 200,000 cities worldwide this year. The aim is to make Lisa Rosinky is a freelance writer travel easier and more affordable, build in Boston. natural awakenings

September 2015

Special Nutrition:

Where Healthy Living Meets Budget-Friendly Pricing by Mary-Elizabeth

isit virtually any shopping plaza along the Southwest Florida coast, and you’ll notice the landscape is saturated with storefronts offering natural health commodities, from cold-pressed juices to organic produce to nutritional supplements of every variety. This market is undeniably competitive, but a consistent demand for wellnessenhancing, pain-reducing products makes the Suncoast a prime spot for such businesses to thrive. Special Nutrition, a Sarasota-area mainstay since 2001, is one such natural health retailer committed to delivering a proven track-record of customer satisfaction, expansive premium-grade inventory and unparalleled savings. “We guarantee the lowest prices and largest selection of supplements in town,” states Louise Mastro, a seasoned nutritional consultant and owner of Special Nutrition. As a small, local and independently-run operation, Special Nutrition takes pleasure in providing each customer with personalized attention, while keeping the shelves stocked with products made from quality ingredients and ensuring a cost-effective shopping experience. “We are in a

Transform, Evolve & Attract True Love

Store hours are Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Special Nutrition is located at 1882 Stickney Point Rd., Sarasota. For more information, call 941-929-0884 or visit SpecialNutrition.net.

Into Your Life

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class all our own,” Mastro expounds, “The main advantage of coming here is that we really do treat our customers special. You could say we live up to our name!” In addition, the knowledgeable and accommodating staff will place custom orders if anyone requests a certain brand or product out-of-stock. Special Nutrition also ships mail-order purchases across both the United States and Canada. This business strives to make health widely accessible in both the Sarasota community and beyond. “We carry major supplement and natural food brands at discount rates. There are three supplement categories our customers routinely look for. First are the foundationals – multivitamins, fish oils and calcium formulas, for example. “Next are the anti-inflammatory supplements, our most popular sellers. The number one reason people visit Special Nutrition is for pain relief or, at least, minimization. Inflammation has become an epidemic in this country. It’s a universal problem, and people as young as 40 suffer from chronic pain these days. “Finally, the third category is for managing gastrointestinal issues, another common concern among our target Baby Boomer’ demographic (e.g. 40–60 age group). The once standard practice of doctors prescribing antibiotics as an easy ‘cure all’ has created a generation of ill people since antibiotic use kills beneficial stomach bacteria,” continues Mastro. This comprehensive understanding of which supplements the public needs most – combined with friendly touches and maximum affordability – explains the store’s repeat traffic, shopper loyalty and 14 years of continued success. In 2014, Special Nutrition even earned Natural Awakenings’ “Nattie Award” distinction for “Favorite Place to Buy Nutritional Supplements.” Clearly, this community agrees Special Nutrition has staying power. Like most consumer groups, Sarasota residents support local businesses, appreciate superior customer service, and cannot resist a bargain! In addition, the entire Suncoast places positive emphasis on physical wellness, as evidenced by plentiful outdoor activities, workout facilities, locally-sourced farmer’s markets and even nutritious restaurant options. Sarasota, therefore, represents an ideal location for the natural health market to flourish. Mastro concludes, “This area’s large population of older, educated and health-conscious people, many with disposable incomes, means that our primary customer base has both the knowledge and financial resources to look after their own well-being.” But, of course, Special Nutrition simplifies this process for anyone who walks through its welcoming doors.

Lucia Gabriela LMT, AADP, CHC Love Coach, Healer & Alchemist

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Mary-Elizabeth Schurrer is the Managing Editor of Natural Awakenings Sarasota-Manatee. She also works as a freelance writer, blogger and social media marketer, based in Southwest Florida. Her personal blog, HealthBeAHippie.Wordpress.com, features practical tips for embracing a fit, nutritious and empowered lifestyle.

Yoga Nidra is Yogic Sleep: Reshape Your Life, Redesign Your Destiny

by Yogi Amrit Desai

he literal translation of Yoga Nidra is “yogic sleep.” It is an ancient sacred yogic practice that teaches you how to enter the deepest levels of (sleep-like) relaxation and yet remain aware. This is a dynamic state where you are neither awake nor asleep. It is a paradoxical dimension where you are asleep and awake simultaneously. From this alpha state, yogis have developed techniques to tap into the extraordinary integrative powers of the Third Eye and the higher centers of consciousness. In the sacred space of the Third Eye, the brain waves drop into the silent, peaceful, tranquil space within. Yoga Nidra is one of the most effective and least known techniques to unleash the power of the spirit. It ignites the fire that burns old karma. Yoga Nidra is the single most powerful tool to help you reshape your whole life, – personal, professional and love life – as well as restore your health. It is simple in practice, yet profound in impact. You can gain new insights and visions that will guide you toward the unfolding of a new life. Yoga Nidra Awakens the Third Eye Yoga Nidra holds your awareness, combined with intention in a dynamic but restful, active but peaceful state. Once you learn how to enter this state, you can access the unifying spirit of the Third Eye, represented by the sixth

chakra. Here, all the fragmented levels of your being are integrated through the power of the Third Eye. Normally, our perception through the five physical senses and the mind are confined to the world of time and space, duality and relativity. We remain blind to the integrated Self that we are. Only the Third Eye penetrates the illusive dimension and limitations of duality. It does not divide reality into good and bad, ugly and beautiful, right and wrong, or you and me, in the way our personality and self-image does. Yoga Nidra induces freedom from these opposites. It takes no sides. This is a state that is beyond ordinary waking or sleep, body or mind, time or space. Ordinary sleep is unconscious. It only rejuvenates your body and refreshes your mind, but has no power to release you from the bondage of pre-programmed unconscious fears, personal biases, belief systems and selfconcepts. Such unconscious patterns keep you from actualizing your inborn, divine potential. Yoga Nidra Dissolves Deep Karmic Roots Karma is the compelling force that regulates your actions, shapes your self-image, distorts your perceptions, impacts your health, structures your beliefs, initiates personal biases, and creates mental and emotional barriers. It is built into each individual’s biology and psychology. Although karma may take on many different forms, it is the only problem you face. Yoga Nidra empowers you to uncover and alter the deepest karmic roots hidden in your subconscious. During ordinary waking consciousness, you are bound by the self-concepts, personal biases and belief systems which make up the body of karma we call the self-image. This self-image or karmic body operates as a separate entity that veils the power of the Self that you are. The self-image shades and distorts all the levels of your being. As a result, the forces of the energy body, the mental body and the emotional body manifest as conflicting voices of body, mind and emotions. This conflict is the basic source of all human suffering. The practice of Yoga Nidra helps

you to harness and harmonize the conflicting karmic voices and allows you to enter the unified state of your being. You are no longer a separate entity. The voices of your physical, energy, mental and emotional bodies become aligned. The waves of the unconscious voices merge into the ocean of the unified field of consciousness. Duality merges into unity. In this state, higher forces of divinity work for you from within and without. Entering the Unified State of Being When your whole being is aligned in this way, intentions, affirmations and visualizations allow you to create instant transformation from your deepest core. Shifts in karmic patterning automatically begin to occur. Yoga Nidra is neither logical nor psychological. It is not like a rope that is wrapped clockwise 100 times around a post that requires you to go 100 times counterclockwise to unwind it. Yoga Nidra is more like burning the rope rather than unwinding it. It bypasses the linear, logical approach and allows you to resolve unconscious patterns by burning the karmic rope. Yoga Nidra practice opens the doorway to the non-physical world from where you can go beyond the unconscious barriers of the five senses of the body and the mind. This connection with the deepest core of your being is where all miracles of selfhealing occur. Yoga Nidra becomes a powerful tool to eliminate karmic stress and banish self-destructive unconscious fears, beliefs and habits. It has the power to actualize your intention, affirmations, healing and prayers. Ordinarily, our strong efforts and disciplines to change our old habits fail because of the ongoing presence of internal conflicts. Yoga Nidra awakens the integrative power of the soul to support your intention and vision. Journey into Complete Wellbeing Yoga & Meditation Center is located at 265 E Marion Ave. Suite 117C, Punta Gorda. For more information on Amrit Yoga and Yoga Nidra classes, call 772-4850605, visit JourneyInStudio.com or visit AmritYoga.com.

natural awakenings

September 2015

“Age,” she would say, “is just a number.” Her attitude and the way she lived life had a profound influence how I view the aging process.

The Spiritual Work of Aging by Juliette Jones “To know how to grow old is the master work of wisdom and one of the most difficult chapters in the great art of living.” Ram Dass

erhaps you remember certain phrases or quotations that your mom or dad oft repeated during the course of your upbringing? I have come to think of these as “parental mantras” which settled into the depths of my subconscious and continue to serve as signposts along my path of life.

My mother brought me into the world at age thirty-nine – a chronology 62

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considered late in life for childbearing, especially during the 1940s. She lived a philosophy of inner freedom, adventure and strong mindedness well into her elder years. I think her strong vitality was the reason she got so many questions about her chronological age (many of which wouldn’t be considered politically correct), but she wouldn’t have thought to take offense. She simply used such questions as teaching opportunities. “Age,” she would say, “is just a number.” Her attitude and the way she lived life had a profound influence how I view the aging process. Increasingly, we live in a culture that treasures youth and eschews the social clock of aging. Economic productivity and social achievement

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roles are prized, and fewer proclaim the value of the “golden years.” This isn’t true, however, in extended family cultures where the social support system embraces natural roles for elders based on inclusiveness and respect. Alienation across generations is something of a cultural pathology, and in the modern West, alienation from nature has contributed to this problem. In a world dominated by technology and man-made projections, we have sadly lost our connectedness with nature and the feelings that once made us feel close to plantings, harvests, birth and death, as well as to the innate meaning of the aging cycle. “The limitations and distortions of our core vision of what it means to be a person in our culture become starkly evident in old age. If to be an old person is to suffer abandonment, disappointment and humiliation, this is not a geriatric problem. It is the disproof of our whole shaky pudding, technology, science and all. If our old people are empty, our vision of life is empty.” – Robert Kasselbaum In the East (particularly India), certain cultural traditions still define and emphasize the tasks assigned to social roles according to age – childhood through twenty (student), twenty through forty (the tasks of adulthood, raising children etc.), forty through sixty (spiritual study) and beyond this, complete freedom from social roles. According to this view, the importance of spiritual deepening is emphasized as one advance in years. Old age is

counted as an achievement leading to freedom, rather than a disability. In the East, the physical body is seen as a vehicle for the ripening of awareness, and is “dropped” at the time of exit – a vehicle for the purpose of sojourn on planet earth. As with Christian mysticism, it is understood that one must lose the physical to gain a greater life. Internal preparation for change and loss is understood as an extremely important task, especially in the latter cycles of life. The goal is to become deeply aware of the “that” within the self that does not change in the midst of cycles of change, and to be present in the face of change without fear. This is a great art and, fundamentally speaking, cannot adequately be put into words but has something to do with realizing a profound state of inner awareness. “In the modern West, life is generally spent denying aging and death. The material world emphasizes bodily reality over inner life and material productivity. There is a price to be paid for the neglect of depth perception and practice. For those who have spent their entire lives denying the reality of aging and death, it is difficult to embody a different view after a lifetime of looking the other way. The profound challenges inherent in aging and death are intense, and quite beyond the comprehension of the ego. Die in the morning so you need not die at night.” – Ram Dass All cycles in nature have purpose, and winter is no exception, but there is great advantage in seasonal preparation. Recognizing and honoring this stage of life has exceptional value. Rather than seeing “old age” as an obstacle, it is possible to see it as a template for spiritual discipline and practice. Transformation, letting-go, contemplation, compassion, sharing, life-review and completion of projects are the tasks of eldership. Not everyone receives the chance to become an elder, and in this may provide opportunity for a master work. “At fifteen, my heart was set on

learning. At thirty, I stood firm. At forty, I had no more doubts. At fifty, I knew the will of heaven. At sixty, my ear was obedient. At seventy, I could follow my heart’s desire without overstepping the bounds of what was right.” – Confucius The nature of aging has to do with time, as well as the ability to transform through the physical, psychological and spiritual dynamics of life cycles. As people get older, they often start to think they have less of a chance of succeeding based on age. People who think this way are more likely to give up since they tell themselves it’s already too late to change or accomplish. Add to that a person who is older may have already formed false beliefs about life and success, and once someone harbors negative beliefs about himself or about life, it is more likely he will prove himself right. The ability to flourish during the last half of life is not based on chronological age. Success in life has much more to do with strong belief, passionate desire and preparation. My first formal spiritual teacher, the late Dr. Sarah E. Akens, used to say, “There’s no such thing as competition. We can all be the best we can be!” In today’s world, this may appear untrue from the standpoint of the ego, but is anyone truly competing against others in the unified field? Every person is born to this life with many purposes they are here to accomplish. When it comes to success and the ability to excel in any endeavor, the best practice is to build a habit of “being the best that you can be in any and every endeavor.” This mentality is common among successful people and can be used as a daily yoga in every phase of life. Another good habit is to brush negative thoughts aside with the hand of the mind or to put negative thoughts in neutral gear, using the image of a stick shift in a car. Is it really that rare for people to exhibit accomplishments later in life? Napoleon Hill, author of Think and Grow Rich said this: “I discovered, from the analysis of over 25,000 people, that men who succeed in an outstanding

way seldom do so before the age of 40, and more often they do not strike their real pace until they are well beyond the age of 50. The average man reaches his greatest capacity to create between 40 and 60.” There are numerous people who don’t reach real success until quite advanced along the “line of time” Maybe you know someone like this? Many well-known late bloomers have interesting success stories. For example, Morgan Freeman was born at a time when discrimination was in full swing. He had always wanted to be an actor, watched movies constantly and pursued his ambitions passionately. However, initially, he didn’t succeed and wound up with a different career. Nevertheless, his dream would not leave him so he tried once again, reaching his first success at age 50 and winning an Oscar at age 67. I assume most people know about Grandma Moses who should be an inspiration to every artist. She was 76 when she took up painting and began selling her creations for two or three dollars apiece. She became so successful, however, that she soon sold her work for thousands of dollars. Posthumously, some of her paintings even sold for over a million dollars. Peter Mark Roget was famous for authoring the Thesaurus which he published at the age of 73. He even had the disadvantage of coming from a family with mental illness, but this hereditary set-back did not dissuade his desire to leave a legacy. Finally, Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada founded the Hare Krishna movement at age 69, an immigrant from India who started with only 50 dollars, a pair of symbols and the desire to spread the teachings of Lord Krishna. “The success stories of different people all over the world, across all age groups, are the same. Names change, but the story remains the same. If a person believes in himself, keeps trying, does his best, gets rejected then, after some time, someone recognizes his work, he becomes successful.” – Tony Robbins

natural awakenings

September 2015

The Subtle Art of Superconscious Aging by Juliette Jones

“S

uperconscious aging” implies an alternative perspective on aging, or perhaps a vastly different way to negotiate the aging process. Is there a way to look at lifespan which lies beyond current, ordinary conscious perception? Does the mind of the spirit grasp the cycles of aging differently than the ego-mind? Further, is there a purpose for human longevity that is not yet well known or understood? Most people want to live long, full lives. We know there are many ways to care for ourselves in support of the aging process and longevity – proper exercise, healthy nutrition, detoxification, reduction of stress, the company we keep, creative self-actualization, numerous “state-of-the-art” anti-aging technologies can be applied to the quest for lasting vitality. Superconscious aging involves more subtle, esoteric ways to support ourselves as we move through time. These modalities are extremely powerful, but hidden or overlooked because they lie beneath our current cultural radar. In the Western world, we haven’t been exposed to the profound purpose and spiritually-conscious objective that fuels the drive for life extension held by Eastern masters of longevity. Familial and cultural beliefs about the passage of time and aging become internalized and, therefore, affect the way we approach life cycles and enjoyment of life itself. We live in a culture that values youth, and this bespeaks of a healthy desire to be the best that we can be through vital living. On the other hand, the process of aging has natural roots – youth

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passes…age happens. When truth is denied in ways that are out of balance or unconsciously destructive, the result is less than positive. If we fail to appreciate the deeper meaning inherent in each life cycle and willingly embrace the teachings which present themselves in each phase, we shortchange our life path in many important ways. A quest for the Fountain of Youth is anything but new, but in today’s milieu of Western materialism and advancing science, aging is often viewed as a disability, and time itself as a destructive process. Larry Dossey, M.D., describes the prevailing Western temporal view as that of a two dimensional timeline on which we progress forward from past through present to future. Our existence in time becomes progressively more limited as forward movement occurs, and the older we get, the closer we get to the end of this line. Inevitably, we drop off the line and cease to exist. Dossey observes this construct as both stress producing and depressing. Thus, the worldview of time and aging in the mainstream West is fundamentally based on perceptions of the ego. This perspective is finitude, and time is seen as a destructive process which leads to death of the mortal self. There is no expanded recognition of higher dimensional reality or even mention of the ever-present now – a recognition, I might add, which not only relieves stress, but expands our view of time and being. In the West, we now combat this perspective with the relatively new appearance of anti-aging science and technology. The accepted definition of anti-aging has to do with the delay or termination of the aging process. At the vanguard of this movement, scientists like Aubrey de Grey work to achieve an “anti-aging escape velocity,” whereby “successive medical advances postpone aging and extend lifespan faster than the passage of time.” De Gray sees aging as a disease and “a barbaric phenomenon that shouldn’t be tolerated in polite society.” Of course, the so-called “cure for aging” would entail cultural-, social- and resource-related consequences.

The Dark Side of Anti-Aging

Are we in a war against aging? Is this good, bad thing or both? “Earth

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School,” as I refer to our time here on earth, features a curriculum where change is absolute and, at this time in history, “change is so speeded up that we begin to see the present only when it is already disappearing.” (R.D. Laing) Like it or not, we are rapidly moving into a very different future than we have previously known. At the moment, however, the phenomenon of aging is met with a significant amount of unprocessed fear and prejudice. There is a tremendous push in cultural media to exacerbate this fear of aging. Every few minutes, commercials blast over the airwaves designed to create anxiety over the aging process, featuring messages like, “Time is a thief. One out of two women will get osteoporosis.” These fear-based messages are not aimed at health education or real solutions to challenges, but rather material profit. In a similar manner, this also applies to the induced fear of financial failure, loneliness and other social ills associated with aging. Internalized fear-based messages about time and aging incubate negative expectations and affect enjoyment of life. Besides the practical challenges connected to aging in our society, there is added internal pressure for those who lose self-respect due to loss of social roles that allow them to be useful and productive. In a hyper-material, fastpaced culture, older people are often viewed as irrelevant or burdensome. How cultures view and treat their elderly is closely linked to what is considered valuable or treasured. For example, the Koreans and Japanese hold great respect for the elderly and demonstrate this through special celebrations commemorating the accumulation of years as signposts on life’s journey. Latin cultures place great value on family life, often living together as extended family where generational tasks are understood. Breadwinners work outside the home, while the older generation watches over the young. The aged make an important contribution, are integrated into the family culture and, are valued in their role as elders.

The Spiritual Purpose of Longevity

There is evidence of an amazing culture in the East which prizes human longevity and boasts the longest lived people in the world. This culture is not based

on ethnicity but the practice of yoga mastership, as described in The Lives and Teachings of the Yogi’s of India. Fate Magazine’s August 2007 issue referenced these individuals documented as living at least 240 years or, in one case, even longer. Moreover, quantity of years is not the endpoint of this extraordinary life extension. Instead, quality of life is primary. In the fabric of this culture, the point of human longevity is spiritual in nature – to mature a physical vehicle capable of superconsciousness. The accumulation of years, therefore, appears to amplify an ability to develop subtle energies presently unknown to Western mainstream science. Accordingly, these yogis have learned to evolve a transpersonal, super-ordinary physiology – a kind of time machine for the purpose of evolution. “None but those who see for themselves will ever believe, do what you may…But so long as men doubt, there will be curiosity and enquiry.” – Anonymous Hindu Adept Sri Aurobindo, in his practice of Integral Yoga, spoke of a science of spirit pointing to a new path of human evolution. “After attaining the final state of union with the supermind, a yogi begins a structural reorganization of the body at a molecular level and alters the cellular construction” (called the “Diamond Body”). This is the final stage of human development, to create a deathless vehicle for consciousness to operate free from the limitations of flesh. With the attainment of such a vehicle, the yogi is capable of miraculous phenomena. This worldview of time and aging is based on the perceptions of higher mind. The perspective is infinitude. Aging is viewed as a privilege which lends advantage to spiritual development, and the body is not viewed as core identity. By nature, the human mind regards anything outside its commonly accepted framework as impossible. If our feet are only at the beginning of the path of truth, we may wish to consider that both Eastern and western paradigms of understanding are looking to discover the narrow way to the divine harbor for which all human ships are searching. “There will come a day when science and religion will walk hand in hand.”Ernest Holmes

Tai Chi as a Spiritual Practice by Caroline Demoise, MA

ai chi is an inward journey because the true essence of tai chi is spiritual connection. Essentially, we are all spiritual energy that inhabit physical bodies and express ourselves through the dichotomy of opposites known as yin and yang. Your inner being and awareness functioning of mind are yin aspects, while your physical body and thinking mind are considered yang aspects. Your mind is a bridge between your inner and outer world. The practice of tai chi weaves a connection between these inner and outer worlds. This is how I experience tai chi. My deep relationship with tai chi has informed my thinking, understanding of the truth, decision making, teaching and writing. Tai chi has physically conditioned me, spiritually awakened me and transformed my outlook on life. I am definitely more flexible, less stressed, better focused and in touch with my natural creativity. These changes have made me more productive in the outer world. If you want to live life following the Tao, true to your unique spirit, contributing positively to life and gracefully accepting each twist and turn of life’s great adventure, then tai chi is a valuable long-term endeavor. Although I did not recognize this when I began learning tai chi over thirty years ago, this practice became a pathway which has guided me to a deeper understanding of who I am beyond a woman named Caroline, living on planet earth who has taught tai chi in Australia, Canada, England and the USA. How can the slow, rhythmic movements of tai chi open the door to higher consciousness, you may wonder? The ancient masters of this Chinese martial art recognized that practicing tai chi connected them to a deeper awareness of life and spirituality. Although this is not the most common way to become more spiritual, it was my pathway and, for this, I am eternally grateful. My expanded awareness inspired me to write several books on tai chi and become certified to teach by an international tai chi organization. Prior to tai chi, I didn’t realize how much tension and stiffness my physical body was holding or how fear and worry had shaped my life. Life is easier now. I look for unexpected blessings in my life. I am more graceful, both in movements and how I approach life challenges. In tai chi, there is a flow of energy and connection underneath the physical movement uniting intention, energy and outer physical expression. I enjoy envisioning life as a flowing tributary of water navigating obstacles as I flow toward my destiny. Whatever happens, I find a way to receive it, bless it and continue on effortlessly in the adventure of life. Tai chi has wonderful benefits for people of all ages. If you are healthy, practicing tai chi helps you retain your vitality and health. If you are recovering from a chronic illness, tai chi is a supportive rehabilitation method. Best of all, tai chi is a good stress management tool for people of all ages. Learning tai chi can be a very enjoyable and health promoting experience for adults of all ages. Unity of Sarasota will be offering an introductory five-week class on Meditation in Motion to experience tai chi as spiritual practice. Classes take place on Thursday at 2–3 p.m., from September 10 to October 8. Each class will be held in Fellowship Hall. Cost is $10 per class or $40 paid in advance for the series. For more information, call Caroline Demoise at 941-355-1252. natural awakenings

September 2015

Newcomers’ Meeting:

Get Your Questions about Unity Answered and Meet Like-Minded Souls in the Process by Nancie-Lynn Sheldon-Martin

ou do not have to feel separate or alone. Please take a few minutes and sit in peace and joy with us at Unity of Sarasota. You will be happy that you did! Every fourth Sunday after Unity’s 10:30 a.m. service, we joyfully gather together with other like-minded souls in the Fellowship Hall Education Annex at noon, to learn more about the wonderful teachings of Unity and how the principles might apply to our everyday spiritual living. The five expansive basic ideas that Unity sets forward as its main belief system are as follows: • “God is the source and creator of all. There is no other enduring power. God is good and present everywhere.” • “We are spiritual beings, created in God’s image. The spirit of God lives within each person; therefore, all

people are inherently good.” • “We create our life experiences through our way of thinking.” • “There is power in affirmative prayer which we believe increases our connection to God.” • “Knowledge of these spiritual principles is not enough. We must live them.” Unity is devoted to demonstrating that the teachings of Jesus Christ can be lived every day. Furthermore, our basic position is that the true Church is a “state of consciousness in mankind.” Unity teaches that each person is a unique expression of God, that each person is sacred and each worthy. Unity emphasizes the creative power of thought in people’s experiences and encourages taking personal responsibility to choose lifeaffirming thoughts, words and actions, believing that when people

Two new classes beginning September 1st. Meditation/Affirmative Prayer and Foundations (entry level Science of Mind/Metaphysics). Contact Theresa Fieberts, RScP, 941-376-0177 for information.

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do this, they experience more fulfilling and abundant lives. Unity also teaches that we are individual, external expressions of God. Our essential nature is divine and, therefore, we are inherently good. Our purpose is to express our divine potential, as demonstrated by Jesus. The more we awaken to our divine nature, the more fully God expresses in and through our lives. Salvation, in the Unity view, is found in conscious understanding of one’s innate divinity then putting this knowledge into practice in everyday life. Unity founders, Charles and Myrtle Fillmore, studied the Bible as both history and allegory. They interpreted it as a metaphysical representation of each soul’s evolutionary journey toward spiritual awakening. Unity understands the Bible as a complex collection of writings compiled over many centuries. The Bible is a valuable spiritual resource, but is understood as a reflection of the comprehension and inspiration of the writers and their times. Although Unity is not a traditional Christian teaching, it emphasizes its agreements, not differences, with (traditional) Christians and stresses its concurrence with the teachings of Jesus and the Bible. It has been generally accepted that Jesus’ great works were miracles, and that the power to do miracles was delegated to His immediate followers only. In recent years, many of Jesus’ followers have inquired into His healing methods, and they have found that healing is based on universal mental and spiritual laws which anyone can utilize who will comply with the conditions involved in these laws. Unity considers itself to be a nonsectarian educational institution. Due to the interdenominational nature of Unity, its influence extends beyond its membership. Whether or not you have previously attended one of our inspiring Sunday services, please feel free to stop by. Grab a coffee, a cookie, and please join us. This Newcomers’ Meeting is open to all that might have additional questions for Reverend Elizabeth or Reverend Amy. We look forward to seeing you during our next Newcomers’ Meeting on September 27. Location: 3023 Proctor Rd., Sarasota. For more information or to stay updated on the exciting spiritual activities and events Unity of Sarasota has to offer, visit UnityOfSarasota.com or join our online Meet-Up Group at MeetUp.com/SarasotaSpiritual-Growth-Meet-Up-Group.

The Dance Revival by Angelena Craig

ancing has become prime time entertainment. So You Think Can Dance, Dancing with the Stars and Live to Dance offer serious competitions while establishing dance as a popular spectator sport. You may recall a time when you personally loved to dance. Maybe, as a child, you turned on the radio and danced around the house, feeling joyful and free. Later, if you showed some interest or talent, your parents may have paid for lessons while you aspired to be a great ballerina or tap dancer. While you were still in school, there were plenty of opportunities to attend dances with your friends or on a date. Then, somehow, the seriousness of life (including marriage, babies and job responsibilities) got in the way. You put aside the pleasures of dancing and forgot just how much you once enjoyed this activity. It can be said, “We are all dancers, knowing how to dance is innate and embedded in our DNA.” Since the very beginning of time, there has always been music and, in response, dance. Every culture has a long and unique history of dancing to the music. So, what stops us from exploring what comes naturally? We become self-conscious and self-critical, afraid of making a fool of ourselves. Our inner dialogue may sound something like this: “I don’t know how to dance.” “I’m too overweight or too old or too clumsy.” “People are watching and laughing at me.”

“I have no one to dance with.” These are poor excuses, however, preventing you from enjoying a wonderful form of exercise. You may have heard the popular adage, “Dance as though no one is watching.” In reality, chances are no one else is paying much attention to you on the dance floor. Instead, they are much too busy enjoying themselves. Expressing yourself through dance requires letting go of self-judgments and making peace with your very own unique and individual ways of moving. Beside the sheer joy of dancing, consider the health benefits as well. In fact, here’s what the latest research tells us: • Dancing is helpful in preventing or slowing down multiple forms of degenerative brain disease including Alzheimer’s. Dancing forces the brain to organize, to plan and to use judgment. • Dancing supplies the body with additional oxygen flow and coordinates the large muscle groups. • Dancing improves balance and increases awareness of the body in space, thereby helping to prevent falls. • Dancing is an aerobic form of exercise which, if done consistently, will help extra weight come off, consequently revitalizing your entire being – physically, mentally and emotionally. • Dancing strengthens the body, promotes flexibility and unblocks stuck energy. • Dancing can diminish the effects of depression and anxiety, thereby lifting your spirits. If you’re wondering where you can go to dance, there are many opportunities to explore this often forgotten yet pleasurable aspect of life. One option (whether or not you have a partner) is to take professional ballroom dance classes at a studio. The award-winning Fred Astaire Studio, on the corner of Bee Ridge and Tuttle, has taught dance at their Sarasota location for the past 38 years. You can learn to salsa, swing, tango and more. By signing up for individual classes, you’ll learn how to move with confidence and grace, guided by your

professional instructor. Quickly, you will see tangible improvements in your style while enjoying the positive social aspects offered through parties, events and group classes as well. Taking dance classes with your partner is especially rewarding if you have an event, like a wedding, coming up and want to show off your dancing skills. Partner lessons are also ideal for spending quality time with a significant other when life gets in the way of much-needed togetherness. Besides formal dance classes, there are other opportunities to go out and dance. Several local clubs provide live music or DJs on the weekends. You might decide to dress up, bring a friend along or venture out alone. If you are undeterred by the risk of taking “no” for an answer, invite someone who catches your eye to join you on dance floor. After all, you have nothing to lose, and this bold gesture could possibly land you a partner for life. In addition, there are several schools in the area where children and adults can study all kinds of dance including jazz, ballet, African or belly dance. Zumba, originally from Brazil, is the latest workout craze. This aerobic dance form will help you work up a sweat and increase your heart rate. The choreography is expressive of the music which ranges from Latin to hip-hop, from Charleston to tango, even to belly dancing. Regardless of your age or size, you can dance and, as long as you have patience to stick with it, you’ll notice positive physical changes including weight loss, toned arms and legs, and a slimmer waistline. Plus, you’ll be able to recapture that joy you’ve been missing all these years. Dancing is a perfect way to celebrate life, so leave your sedentary routine behind then get up, go out and dance! Angelena Craig of Sarasota has always studied dance as a hobby. She is a longtime yoga professional-level instructor and loves sharing the joy of movement. Craig writes a blog and a monthly column, “Boomer Talk,” which has been published in The Newburyport Daily News for the past eight years in. For more information, visit ANewAgingMovement.com

natural awakenings

September 2015

Choose the Seed

What do you require in your life? What do you want to be, do and have? How will you use this profound power of mind to direct your life? What would it look and feel like? Choose the seed of your desired reality. Prepare the soil with willingness, faith and expectancy.

Plant the Seed

We plant the seed of a desired experience in the receptive soil of our minds by a clear intention and conviction. Often, a gardener will put the seed packet at the end of the row, with a picture of the completed plant. In the same way, we can form a clear picture of the intention already in place. In the process, we are growing in greater consciousness of Oneness with Spirit.

Water the Seed

What Does Your Spiritual Garden Look Like? as told by Nancie-Lynn Sheldon-Martin

ometimes I just wonder, “How can I best measure my spiritual journey, and am I even growing along my spiritual path?” Does that thought ever cross your mind? Reverend Gena Gilcrease, a licensed minister at Centers for Spiritual Living, shares her thoughts on this subject: At the heart of New Thought is the principle that our minds are connected to a Divine Power that gives creative authority to our thoughts. We say “change your thinking, change your life” because our experience mirrors the types of thoughts most frequently entertained. Consequently, a shift in thinking can create a different experience. The problem is that we might change our mind for a while, but the real secret is keeping it changed! A reality was not formed with one thought, but many more billions and billions of thoughts. Spiritual treatment and affirmations do work to change experience; at the same time, we need to continue spiritual practice to keep affirmative and connected with the creative Source. A garden illustrates the creative process at work. A gardener knows that a seed can produce a plant but doesn’t expect a result by commanding a carrot seed, “I affirm you are a carrot!” We can’t make the seed grow; we can only provide the means by which it can grow. There is a procedure to follow: 1. Choose a seed. 2. Plant it in good soil. 3. Nourish it on a regular basis. 4. Provide for sun or warmth. 5. Weed out the unwanted plants. 6. Harvest and enjoy! A garden is also a useful allegory for the creative process in our lives. We can use the same method in our mental gardens to grow a greater consciousness of Divine Power to uplift into a more fulfilling experience.

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The seeds of intentions are nourished with the water of affirmative thoughts. Plants have been shown to be affected by positive words and feelings. In the same way, our mental seeds respond to expressions of love and encouragement. Forming affirmative statements is powerful, especially when said as true now, not in the future. Jack Canfield has an idea to make a jingle of your affirmations: “I’m vitally alive at 165!” I feel so happy and free as riches come to me. Words of gratitude and appreciation continue to enrich the soil and the seeds. Prayer uplifts our thoughts to a higher good, not to convince God of anything, but to strengthen our faith and belief. Spending time in meditation quiets the mind to deepen the connection with creative source. Reading spiritual literature, making a vision board or listening to inspiring CDs all nourish the mental seeds. Find some way to daily keep your intentions foremost in your mind. The work is not to produce a thing but to grow in consciousness of Divine Creation.

Provide for Warmth The seeds need warmth in order to grow. In our inner garden, we provide warmth by fueling intentions with the fire of inner passion. Feeling is the key to creating a new reality, feeling as if this experience is true now. We nurture the seeds with light and love in our hearts as catalysts of creation. We often express strongly about something we don’t like in our experience; our feelings of what we do want must be even stronger and continual. Visualize successfully achieving the desired result now, having or doing the thing you want. Most importantly, add the feeling of fulfilling this goal – enjoyment, confidence, ease, power, elation or self-respect – whatever you would feel in manifesting this goal. Expand the feeling of joy and happiness in your life now which invites more joy. In tending our inner garden, we are making the Divine our creative partner and can attune our intuition to Divine Wisdom. So, ask, “What do I need to know or do? What’s my next step?” The message may come as words or as a picture or symbol. We can’t make our gardens grow; we can’t make our goals manifest. We deeply connect with Divine Power that does the work.

Weed out Unwanted Plants

Weeding is a fact of gardening to remove unwanted plants that crowd out and remove good nutrients. Do we weed our garden only one time? Hardly. We have to continue to remove those doubts or negative thoughts that can choke out the planted intentions in our mental gardens. Does a gardener pull out a weed and say, “How disgusting and horrible you are!”? No, he or she just removes it. In the garden of our mind, the mental weed of negative thought doesn’t need to be labeled too harshly. Being negative about being negative is counterproductive! Just accept it and have compassion for that part of yourself. When negating thoughts come to mind, simply notice them, but give them no power. Perhaps, create a mental compost heap to put them in, affirming that they are being transformed to nutrients that help grow the planted intentions. Then, counter the negative thought or feeling with an affirmative and uplifting thought. As the enjoyment of watching a movie requires the suspension of disbelief, so creating a new movie for your life requires suspending any thoughts or beliefs that prevent the new movie from being created.

Harvest and Enjoy

Know that the creation is realized. Notice any aspect of the desired reality taking shape, no matter how small. Gratitude and appreciation continue the process of creation to blossom into new directions, events, and opportunities. Now, you might be thinking, “Do I have to spend hours on this?” In learning a musical instrument or a new language, how much time would you spend every day? One hour? 30 minutes? Is it worth five to 10 minutes a day to create a new reality? Growing a different experience doesn’t take hours a day, just a consistent and concentrated focus on the planted intentions. And we say, “treat and move your feet.” You might think, “What’s one thing I can do today toward my intentions?” Spend some time daily in your mental garden growing your planted intentions into reality. May you all grow beautiful gardens of your heart’s desires in joyful oneness with Divine Presence. From As a Man Thinketh: “Just as a gardener cultivates his plot, keeping it free from weeds, and growing the flowers and fruits which he requires, so may a man tend the garden of his mind, weeding out all the wrong and useless thoughts and cultivating toward perfection the flowers and fruits of right and useful thoughts. By pursuing this process, sooner or later a man discovers that he is the master-gardener of his soul, the director of his life.” Unity of Sarasota, located at 3023 Proctor Rd., Sarasota, offers a multitude of activities, workshops and events that you would surely enjoy. To find out about all of the wonderful happenings at Unity of Sarasota, visit UnityOfSarasota.com and sign up for our free e-newsletter. It is easy and will keep you informed regarding all of the enlightening opportunities to meet like-minded souls.

Mark Your Calendars for Blessing of the Pets at Unity of Sarasota by Nancie-Lynn Sheldon-Martin

nity of Sarasota is proud to present a special, wonderful outreach program led by our joyful assistant minister, Reverend Amy Zehe. One of the most innovative projects in the mix is our Annual Blessing of the Pets. Our enlightening Pet Blessing Festival touches both big and small animals, as well as their owners in the Sarasota and surrounding communities. Are you a loving and devoted animal lover? Are your pets honorary members of your family? Then, Unity invites you to participate in this uniquely enriching experience. On September 26, between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., please join us to honor those glorious pets that we adore. This event represents one of our important outreach activities shared with the greater community areas. We believe in our vision of “Me...We...Community” under the guidance and extraordinary mission of Reverend Elizabeth Thompson and Reverend Amy Zehe. A Higher Power (your individual choosing and beliefs) created all animals, and we are their loving caretakers. Let’s give thanks for the love that they freely share with us unconditionally, while greeting other like-minded souls in doing so. In celebration of this event, the Eighth Annual Blessing of the Pets, Reverend Amy will hold a short service, beginning at12:30 p.m., in our lovely, sacred Labyrinth. All people and pets are welcome to attend. Our open-hearted Prayer Chaplains will offer blessings to all pets, free-of-charge, and our special Memory Tree will offer the opportunity to memorialize any pets that have been lost. This day is dedicated to the love we all have for our animals. There will be also multiple venders from a variety of disciplines, as well as several fun surprises. Please join us for this festive, joyful day. If you are interested in contributing to this worthy event as a vendor, the cost is $20. There is no cost to attend as a visitor, but we ask that you would kindly donate bags of dry food, cans of wet food, blankets, animals toys and other pet-friendly essentials for animals in need which we will give to non-profit animal rescue organizations. No donation is too small. Love offerings are greatly accepted but not required for entrance to this wonderful outreach event. Unity of Sarasota is a trans-denominational movement which welcomes everyone and excludes no one. You are invited to awaken the Higher Self within, so we can all be the change we wish to see in this world. Location: 3023 Proctor Rd., Sarasota. For more information about becoming a vendor or to have your questions regarding this event answered, call Rev. Amy Zehe at 941-955-3301 ext. 27. To learn more about the Unity community, visit UnityOfSarasota.com and sign up for our free weekly e-newsletter. If you would like to stay updated on the exciting spiritual events and activities taking place at Unity, join our Meet Up Group at MeetUp.com/Sarasota-Spiritual-GrowthMeet-Up-Group. natural awakenings

September 2015

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World Day of Prayer:

How it Really Can Make a Difference! by Rev. Elizabeth Thompson

he theme for this year’s event is Pray Up Your Life, Pray Up the World, in conjunction with Unity’s affirmation: “As I pray, I connect my highest thoughts with my deepest faith.” For the past 22 years, I have celebrated World Day of Prayer with my Unity Movement. However, I must admit that, on a human level, I have wondered from time to time if my prayers really made a difference. Haven’t you? Many sacred traditions teach the power of collective consciousness with shifting inner and outer realities. Even though I personally have experienced many amazing results through prayer, there are times when I still question its effectiveness. “Oh ye of little faith!” the still, small voice of Spirit whispers to me. I still look for empirical evidence, and I don’t need to look far. The empirical evidence in prayer treatment is connected with my personal transformation, guidance and harmonious outcomes. I have never required others to be persuaded without their own practice, study and investigation. “…The day science begins to study non-physical phenomena, it will make more progress in one decade than in all the previous centuries of its existence. To understand the true nature of the universe, one must think it terms of energy, frequency and vibration.” – Nikola Tesla Prayer is not outer-directed, but a turning within, going beyond the level of facts and into the sacred space of connection with Intelligent Energy. The mystics have demonstrated the phenomenon of pure intention, linked with vision for centuries with great success. Those who study this shared understanding see and experience the connecting web of consciousness. The New Thought Movement has long held that we can measure the results of practical prayer. We know that we are not praying to “change God out there,” but seeking to awaken to our own inner connection to the Creative Intelligence which pervades all matter and consciousness. We know that, with skilled intention, willingness and awareness, we can influence our world. This influence has the capacity to expand to the degree that we cooperate with certain universal principles. They are not as mysterious as we might believe. These laws are available to every human being from every walk of life. Scientific Prayer is simply about setting an intention, living fully in the resolve and claiming our good through inspired right actions. Our results speak for themselves over time. The most powerful steps we can take to awaken our powerful prayer consciousness include the following: 1. Surrender the E.G.O (acronym for Edge God Out).

2. Express gratitude for all lessons learned, being learned and to be learned. 3. Intentionally unify my highest reality with my deepest desire; 4. Forgive and release what no longer serves a purpose in my life (no matter long as it takes – minutes, days, years, etc.). 5. Move forward with whatever task is at-hand. Whether my steps are big or small, I move from the gentle impulse of intuitive knowing. Group prayer with trained or inspired individuals is is tangible to the soul, uplifting, inspiring and, most importantly, life-enhancing. When we join together in conscious intention for life enhancement, we can each experience powerful shifts inside our individual beings which reverberate throughout our experiences. Unity of Sarasota will be participating in the Unity Movement’s 125 anniversary of continuous prayer support by the worldwide prayer ministry of Silent Unity on September 9–10. We join with Silent Unity in a 24hour prayer vigil beginning on September 9, at 7 p.m., with our Unity Prayer Service. We invite all to join with us in prayer to bless, heal and harmonize all people, situations and conditions in our world. This support can either be in the privacy of your home or in our Sanctuary, from 7–9 p.m., on September 9, and anytime between 8 a.m. and 7 p.m., on September 10. Location: 3023 Proctor Rd., Sarasota. For more information, call 941-955-3301 or visit UnityOfSarasota.com. You can also join our online Meet-Up Group at MeetUp.com/ Sarasota-Spiritual-Growth-Meet-Up-Group.

For tickets call the Fred Astaire Dance studio at 941-921-6651

natural awakenings

September 2015

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.

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 1 The Yoga Sanctuary’s Annual Yoga Month Challenge – September is National Yoga Month, designated by the Department of Health & Human Services, with festivities occurring across the country. Hundreds of studios, teachers and students join in. Come celebrate with The Yoga Sanctuary and discover the transformational power of a consistent yoga practice. Take The Yoga Sanctuary’s Challenge–20 yoga classes in 30 days–and see the difference for yourself! You’ll also be supporting the Peace River Wildlife Center. $89/month. 112 Sullivan St, Punta Gorda. Info & registration, 941-505-9642, info@theyogasanctuary.biz, theyogasanctuary.biz. Course Registration 2015-16 Begins – Sarasota/ Manatee’s leading lifelong learning institution, Pierian Spring Academy, covers the gamut from art and music, through science, politics and world affairs, offering a total of 70 courses, 50 of which are new. 10 locations. Tuition: $60/4 weeks; $85/6. Visit psasrq.org.

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2 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. Healing and Wholeness – 5:15-6:45pm. Wednesdays, Sept 2-Oct 14. Presented by Reverend Elizabeth Thompson, this class is designed to consciously engage the Source of Healing and the practice of knowing and expressing our wholeness. It is based on the Spiritual Universal Principle as understood through the Unity Movement. Love Offering. Unity of Sarasota, 3023 Proctor Rd (between Beneva & Swift). UnityOfSarasota.com.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 3 Have You Had a Spiritual Experience? – 6:307:30 pm. Introductory discussion about spiritual experiences, past lives, dreams & Soul Travel. Free Spiritual Experiences Guidebook, includes CD. Free, Jacaranda Library, 4143 Woodmere Park Blvd, Venice, 941-358-0325, Meetup.com/EckankarInSarasota. Group Healings & Private Healing Sessions – 7pm. Sept 3 & 4. With Internationally renowned shamanic healer, Bart Smyth, a Master Practitioner/Instructor of The Yuen Method, a Medicine man ordained by the Shipibo tribe in Peru, Grand Master of Tai Chi, QiGong, and certified in Thai Shiatsu, Hansa Shiatsu, Massage, Reiki, Abayanga Massage and Neuro Muscular Movement. He has cleared 35,000 people of chronic and debilitating conditions. $20. $35/Both nights. For Private Appointments 9/5, 7 & 8, $100, contact Cosmic Center. The Cosmic Center of Spiritual Light, 5041 Ringwood Mdw, Bldg G-2, Sarasota. 941-3719333, CCOSL.com. Love Circles: Love, Heal & Live – 7pm. Sept 3 & 17. Powerful circles designed to gather our com-

Sarasota/Manatee Edition

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munity in the spirit of love and mutual support. Here, we create a sacred space for profound emotional healing through experiencing the miracles of love. Be in touch with your true self and heal in all aspects of your life: mentally, emotionally, spiritually, sexually, physically and financially. Led by Lucia Gabriela, Love Priestess-Coach, Healer & Alchemist. BYO cushion or yoga mat. Sliding Scale Love Offering $10-$20. Elixir Tea House, 1926 Hillview St, Sarasota. Call 516-287-0242, Details SacredLoveTemple.com.

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 4 Psychic Intuitive & Trance Channel Readings – 10:30am-5:30pm. Sherry Lord is a versatile channel who can answer your questions, both business and personal, and help you on your spiritual path. $40/15 mins; $75/30 mins; $125/60 mins. Deep Trance Channel Sessions $175/50 mins. Elysian Fields, 1273 S Tamiami Trl, Sarasota, 941-3613006, ElysianFieldsOnline.com. Reiki Share – 7-9pm. An Invitation to Reiki Practitioners - All Levels are most welcome! Join in the fun of giving and receiving healing. $5/Love Offering. Angel Ministries, 2269 S Tamiami Trl, Venice. Rev Patricia Charnley, 941-492-4995, revpat@angelministriesfl.org, angelministriesfl.org. 69th Annual Labor Day Regatta – Sept 4-6. Sailing is the name of the game when the Sarasota Sailing Squadron puts on its biggest event of the year. Sailors from ages 8 to 80, from the U.S. and Canada, register your boat and take part. Activities include five separate race courses, live music, barbeque, refreshments and awards ceremony. Boat Registration $60 - $95. Spectators Free. City Island at 1717 Ken Thompson Pkwy. Call 941-3882355, Sarasota Events on Escape-to-Sarasota.com.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 5 Literacy Amongst the Trees – 10am-2pm. In celebration of International Literacy Day, this fun and family-oriented event will feature storybook telling by local authors suitable for all ages, followed by book signings and sales, literacy activities, and a book swap for all ages. The park’s normal entrance fees will be waived if you donate a gently used family-friendly book or present a library card upon entrance on this date. Oscar Scherer State Park, 1843 South Tamiami Trl, Osprey. Sarasota Events on Escape-to-Sarasota.com. Fermentation Fervor Workshop – 10am-4pm. During this hands-on class, you will practice six different homemade ferments and taste them all as part of a light lunch. Come discuss the health benefits of traditional live-culture ferments with a registered dietitian, learn how to transform your kitchen into a fermentation station, and leave feeling knowledgeable, secure, and confident about making these creations at home. $100. Need-based financial aid is available and Transition Sarasota membership discounts apply. Fogartyville Community Media & Arts Center, 525 Kumquat Ct, Sarasota. 941-545-5635, SarasotaPEACEnter. org. Info and register, 941-408-3374, Info@transitionsrq.org.

Venice Craft Festival – 10am-5pm. Sept 5-6. It’s time to enjoy the 7th annual downtown art and craft festival with vendors’ works on display. Miami Avenue in downtown Venice. Free admission and parking. Sarasota Events on Escape-to-Sarasota.com. Connect with Prana Workshop – 11:15am1:15pm. The focus of Amrit Yoga is how to awaken the prana by disengaging it from domination of the ego-mind and unite or impregnate it with spirit. The biological prana body overlays the physical body like a veil. Often our capacity to feel has been heavily compromised by pockets of unconscious blocks hidden in areas that have become insensitive. You do this unconsciously in a futile attempt to protect yourself from pain you experienced in the past. Learn about: why the Amrit method of Yoga is all about Prana, the Yamas & Niyamas, and how they are used to release prana, and the importance of dropping from thinking to feeling, Yogic Scriptures & Correct Knowledge, Integrative Intention. $25/Pre-registration, $35/Day of workshop. Journey Into Complete Wellbeing Yoga & Meditation Studio, 265 E Marion Ave, Ste 117C, Punta Gorda. RSVP 772-485-0605, JourneyInStudio.com. 59th Englewood Pioneer Days – Sept 5-7. Family fun and activities include Cardboard Boat Races, Photo Contest, Car Show, Englewood’s Got Talent, Diaper Derby, Fish-a-Thon for kids, a chalk fest, Little Miss/Mr Pageant, and much more. Parade 9am, Sept 7. Olde Englewood Village. Full schedule of events, EnglewoodPioneerDays.com/ calendar.html.

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 6 Open Heart Divine Healing Service – 12:15pm. The first Sunday of each month. Through the gathering of the Faithful, experience and co-create the Anchoring of Powerful Divine Healing energies within

the Sacred Circle. Expect Miracles! Rev Sharon Elizabeth James. Love offering. The Cosmic Center of Spiritual Light, 5041 Ringwood Mdw, Bldg G-2, Sarasota. 941-371-9333, CCOSL.com.

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 7 LABOR DAY 59th Annual Pioneer Days Parade – 9am. Parade begins at St. Raphael’s Church, follows Olde Englewood Rd, turns onto W Dearborn St, proceeds to N McCall Rd, turning left. Full schedule of events, EnglewoodPioneerDays.com/calendar.html.

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8 Have You Had a Spiritual Experience? – 6-7 pm. Introductory discussion about spiritual experiences, past lives, dreams & Soul Travel. Free Spiritual Experiences Guidebook, includes CD. Free, Gulf Gate Library, 7112 Curtiss Ave, Sarasota, 941-3580325, Meetup.com/EckankarInSarasota.

to feel comfortable joining any ongoing class. The classes will teach standard yoga postures and emphasize body awareness and safety. $32/series by Aug 20; $40/thereafter. Radiance Center, 2868 Ringling Blvd, Gold Tree Plaza, Sarasota. Register 941-952-0960, GaryHalperin@yahoo.com, FeelBetterNowYoga.com. Qi Gong – 7-8pm. Qi Gong opens pathways in the body to circulate & stimulate the body’s internal processes to allow for the smooth flow of Qi (energy), which can increase strength and produce vitality. $10. Angel Ministries, 2269 S Tamiami Trl, Venice. Dr Bill Philpott, 941-587-1288, revpat@ angelministriesfl.org, angelministriesfl.org.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9

Intuitive & Healer Readings – 10:30am-5:30pm. Sept 10 & 17. Guest Reader Deborah Chadwick is able to communicate with her guides and angels, quickly receiving very specific information for her clients.15 mins/$30; 30 mins/$60. Elysian Fields, Midtown Plaza, 1273 S Tamiami Trl, Sarasota, 941-361-3006, ElysianFieldsOnline.com.

Afternoon Angel Healing with Meditation and Messages – 1-3pm. A powerful afternoon of channeled Angelic guidance with crystal bowls for healing, growth and awakening to Christ Consciousness, with meditation and messages, channeled by Alysia Sargent and Melissa Parks. $25. The Cosmic Center of Spiritual Light, 5041 Ringwood Mdw, Bldg G-2, Sarasota. 941-371-9333, earthangelsofsarasota.com, CCOSL.com.

Memory Vessels – 1-5pm. A workshop with Denise Clair. Anything can be a vessel for memories: a car, a house, clothing, etc., and we can reach a deeper understanding of these journeying together with writing, cartooning or collaging. Each student will create a story that is unique to them. No artistic ability needed. $20. The Cosmic Center of Spiritual Light, 5041 Ringwood Mdw, Bldg G-2, Sarasota. 941-371-9333, CCOSL.com.

Four-Week Beginners Yoga Series – 6-7pm. Sept 9, 16, 23, 30. Professional level certified Kripalu yoga teacher and meditation teacher, instructor Gary Halperin provides newcomers to yoga the opportunity to learn everything they need to know

Family Yoga at Selby Gardens – 4-4:45pm. Jen Maecker 200RYT teaches yoga to children and adults throughout the Sarasota community, and has a certification to teach yoga to children with special needs. Inside location will be provided in

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natural awakenings

September 2015

case of rain or high temperatures. Families should bring either yoga mats or towels for class. Member Parent and up to 2 children, $15; Non-member Parent and up to 2 children, $20. Selby Gardens, 900 S Palm Ave, Sarasota. 415-755-7167, JenMaeckerYoga@gmail.com, JenMaecker.com. Register in advance Selby.org.

Family Yoga Workshop – 1-2pm. Got kids? This class includes yoga poses, breath exercises, partner poses, games, and relaxation for kids and parents to do together. Ages 4 - infinity. $20/By 9/9, $25/After. Garden of the Heart Yoga Center, 2888 Ringling Blvd, Sarasota. Register, 941-3419781, GardenOfTheHeartYoga.com.

Connecting with Your Spirit Guides – 7-8pm. Join Angela Valentine for a group guided meditation that will allow each participant to learn how to meet their spirit guides. $10. Elysian Fields, Midtown Plaza, 1273 S Tamiami Trl, Sarasota, 941361-3006, ElysianFieldsOnline.com.

Aroma Yoga with Laurel James – 1:30-3:30pm. A Kundalini yoga class with essential oils. Come learn how to enhance your yoga experience with essential oils. Allow yourself to relax and revitalize! $25, $20/Teacher rate. Rosemary Court Yoga, 810 Central Ave, Sarasota. 941-952-5280, RosemaryCourt.com.

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 11 Peace Kirtan – 7pm. Cheryl Chaffee presents Kirtan, a call-and-response devotional chanting. Learn different mantras to activate the different energies of the Divine, and feel how they vibrate through your body, heart, and mind to bring feelings of love, joy, and peace. Donation. Venice Holistic Center, 714 Shamrock Blvd, Venice. Info, 941-4415926, VenicePeaceProject.org. Ascending To A New World – 7-9pm. A mind blowing discussion about the Awakening and Ascending of humanity to the Christ Consciousness and heaven on earth, channeled by Alysia Sargent and Melissa Parks. $25. The Cosmic Center of Spiritual Light, 5041 Ringwood Mdw, Bldg G-2, Sarasota. 941-371-9333, earthangelsofsarasota. com, CCOSL.com.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 12 Life’s a Beach Triathlon – 6am Packet pick-up. 8am First wave. A kinder, gentler triathlon with a shorter swimming course: 200-yard swimming race, 5 miles on bike, 2 mile beach run. Starts at 6am with racer packet pickup. First wave goes at 8am. Beach bash after party when you finish the race. Register early and save. Lido Beach Resort, 400 Ben Franklin Parkway, Lido Key, Sarasota. Info & Registration, LifesABeachTriathlon.com. Psychic Fair – 10am-3pm. Are you searching, questioning and seeking answers? Choose from some of the best Intuitive Artists in the Area! See what your future holds! Free healing and refreshments. Private Readings $15/15 mins. Angel Ministries, 2269 S Tamiami Trl, Venice. Rev Patricia Charnley, 941-492-4995, revpat@angelministriesfl.org, angelministriesfl.org. Intuitive Arts Fair – 10am-5pm. No appointments made by phone. First come, first served. $35/30 minutes. Elysian Fields, Midtown Plaza, 1273 S Tamiami Trl, Sarasota, 941-361-3006, ElysianFieldsOnline.com. Community HU Song – 11am-Noon. For everyone of any background or belief. Singing ‘HU’, a love song to God, for 20 minutes can bring insight, peace, and calm into your life; followed by light refreshments. Free, Jacaranda Library, 4143 Woodmere Park Blvd, Venice, 941-358-0325, Meetup. com/EckankarInSarasota. New Reiki II Attunement and Certification Class – 11:30am-5:30pm. The 2nd of 4 classes for a Reiki III Master Healer Certification into the Usui Reiki with Rev Zan Benham. Only certified Reiki I students may apply. $122. For info and dates for series go to woman-spirit.com. The Cosmic Center of Spiritual Light, 5041 Ringwood Mdw, Bldg G-2, Sarasota. 941-371-9333, alunajoy.com/elders.html, CCOSL.com.

Sarasota/Manatee Edition

Red Tent to Empower and Honor our Goddesses (Women Only) – 7pm. Honoring Our Divine Feminine, a sacred circle where women gather to honor and appreciate their body, sensuality and sexuality. Here, women claim the wisdom of their sacred womb and heart; awaken their inner fire and BECOME a full expression of their Divine Sensuality. Fall in love with yourself and become a magnet for true love. Led by Lucia Gabriela, Love Priestess-Coach, Healer & Alchemist. Dress code: Red. BYO cushion or yoga mat. Sliding Scale Love Offering $20-$30. For location (private home) and RSVP, call 516-287-0242, Details SacredLoveTemple.com.

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 13 Learn Energetic Healing with Reiki 1 – 1-5pm. In this fun and powerful class you will learn Reiki healing along with other advanced techniques. Anyone with a compassionate heart and a commitment to learn can become a practitioner of energy healing. Workshop includes: Reiki 1 Certification and Attunement, Aura Clearing, Hand Positions, Self-Treatment, Healing Others, Body Scanning, Develop your Practice, Reiki in Hospitals. Class size is limited, pre-registration required. With Dawn Freeman. $80/Advance, $100/Door + $18 manual. The Spirit University, 373 Braden Ave, Sarasota. 941-544-5874, Light@VictoriaAckerman.com, TheSpiritUniversity.com. The Urantia Book Lecture – 2pm. From The Urantia Book, Damon Michaelson will bring spiritual insights by sharing revelations of the life and teachings of the Master Jesus. Susan Houliston will then channel Spirit Jacob to add further info. $10/Donation. Six weekly discussion sessions follow: 2pm, Sundays, Sept 20, 27 and Oct 4, 11, 18, 25. $10/Donation. Center for Metaphysical Fellowship, 2044 Bispham Rd, Sarasota. 941-266-8435, CMFSarasota.org.

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15 An Evening of Angel Healing with Meditation and Messages – 7-9pm. A powerful afternoon of channeled Angelic guidance with crystal bowls for healing, growth and awakening to Christ Consciousness, with meditation and messages, channeled by Alysia Sargent and Melissa Parks. $25. The Cosmic Center of Spiritual Light, 5041 Ringwood Mdw, Bldg G-2, Sarasota. 941-3719333, CCOSL.com, earthangelsofsarasota.com.

Friedenfeld. $25. The Cosmic Center of Spiritual Light, 5041 Ringwood Mdw, Bldg G-2, Sarasota. 941-371-9333, violetwisdom.com, CCOSL.com. Reiki III Master Share – 7 -9pm. Masters of all lineages come together to share, expand, enhance and brush up on their Reiki. Wear comfortable clothes. $5 Suggested Donation. Rising Tide, 5102 Swift Rd, Sarasota. Rev Zan Benham 941-9227839, Zan@woman-spirit.com, woman-spirit.com.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17 Love Circles: Love, Heal & Live – 7pm. Powerful circles designed to gather our community in the spirit of love and mutual support. Here, we create a sacred space for profound emotional healing through experiencing the miracles of love. Be in touch with your true self and heal in all aspects of your life: mentally, emotionally, spiritually, sexually, physically and financially. Led by Lucia Gabriela, Love Priestess-Coach, Healer & Alchemist. BYO cushion or yoga mat. Sliding Scale Love Offering $10-$20. Elixir Tea House, 1926 Hillview St, Sarasota. Call 516-287-0242, Details SacredLoveTemple.com.

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 18 Elysian Fields Anniversary Sale – 10am-6pm. Sept 18-20. We’re celebrating our 24th year, offering 20% to 50% off all regularly priced merchandise. Midtown Plaza, 1273 S Tamiami Trl, Sarasota, 941-361-3006, ElysianFieldsOnline.com. Live from Downtown Sarasota – 6-9pm. It’s Friday Night! Local entertainers, musicians and performing arts groups are highlighted in live street performances. Rotating locations. Towles Court (Adams & Washington area). September Sarasota Events on Escape-to-Sarasota.com. JG Big Star Productions Presents Red Griffin – 7pm. Solo production will cover some of the greatest country music artists from past to present. With over 40 years in the music industry, Red Griffin performs country, classic and southern rock, blues, and bluegrass. Crowd entertainment and involvement is his forte, with sing-alongs. Griffin has played with Billy Joe Royal and Johnny Paycheck & has opened for Alabama, Vern Gosdin, Jack Green, Gene Watson and Daryl Singletary. Tickets: $15, $13/CC Members (limit 2). The Cultural Center of Charlotte County, 2280 Aaron St, Port Charlotte. Tickets, 941-625-4175, online app.arts-people.com/index. php?ticketing=cccct, at Information Desk. Ascending To A New World – 7-9pm. A mind blowing discussion about the Awakening and Ascending of humanity to the Christ Consciousness and heaven on earth, channeled by Alysia Sargent and Melissa Parks. $25. The Cosmic Center of Spiritual Light, 5041 Ringwood Mdw, Bldg G-2, Sarasota. 941-371-9333, earthangelsofsarasota.com, CCOSL.com.

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16

Séance – 7-9pm. A Séance is a meeting where the group wishes to communicate with Spirit. Join our Psychic/Spiritualist Medium from England in this exciting 2-hour workshop. Limited seating of 8 max. Pre-registration a must. $25. Angel Ministries, 2269 S Tamiami Trl, Venice. Rev Patricia Charnley, 941-4924995, Donna 561-346-6296, angelministriesfl.org.

Overcoming Fear and Stepping into Your Divinity! – 7-9pm. Transmute fear to love and Universal light in seconds! Discover your brilliance by learning to hold a positive vision and breathing love into everything you do, seeing the world with the “eyes of the heart,” with Molly

Couples Weekend Getaway & Workshop – 7pmSun 2pm. Join Richard & Diana Daffner, authors of Tantric Sex for Busy Couples, for a romantic beach getaway. Bring greater joy, intimacy and passion to your relationship. Celebrate your love. Connect with your beloved on a soul level. $695/couple. Si-

www.nasrq.com

esta Key Beach, Sarasota, FL. More info, other dates & locations, brochure, 941-349-6804, IntimacyRetreats.com.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 19 AMC Basic Integrated Energy Therapy – 10am4pm. You will learn to conduct the 5-min empowerment self-balancing & clearing session; Become familiar w/Energy Anatomy and Cellular Memory Map; “Read” Energy; Conduct a full Basic-level IET session. $180/0.5 Credit. Angel Ministries College, 2269 S Tamiami Trl, Venice. Rev Patricia Charnley, 941-492-4995, revpat@angelministriesfl.org, angelministriesfl.org. Intuitive Faire, Readings and More – 11am4pm. A monthly event with Intuitive and Mediumistic Readings, Spirit Artist, Palmistry, Astrology and Numerology Reports. Something for everyone. The Cosmic Center of Spiritual Light, 5041 Ringwood Mdw, Bldg G-2, Sarasota. 941371-9333, CCOSL.com. Storytelling on Stage: Up Close and Personal! – 7pm. You will find yourself transfixed as you listen and view the artistry of Mac Martin and James Hawkins on stage. Two highly ranked performers, combined, they have written over 400 songs in Folk and Americana-Rock genres. Listen, Learn, Love-the creative works-experience it for yourself! Tickets: $15, $13/CC Members (limit 2). The Cultural Center of Charlotte County, 2280 Aaron St, Port Charlotte. Tickets, 941-625-4175, online app.arts-people.com/index.php?ticketing=cccct, at Information Desk. Annual International Coastal Clean-Up Day – Help keep Sarasota County beautiful. Included in the clean-up: Bay Island Park, Bayfront Park and Marina, Bird Key Park, Brohard Beach, Caspersen Beach, Centennial Park, Edwards Islands, Golden Beach, Ken Thompson Park, Lemon Bay Park and Nature Center, Lido Beach, Manasota Beach, Nokomis Beach, North Jetty Park, North Port, Philippi Estate Park, Quick Point Nature Preserve, Rattlesnake Island, Ringling Causeway, Service Club Park, Siesta Beach, South Jetty Beach, South Lido Beach, Turtle Beach, Venice Beach, Venice Fishing Pier and Whitaker Bayou. Info & Volunteer, 941861-5000, Details, escape-to-sarasota.com/september-sarasota-events.html#sthash.0upZ33LF.dpuf. Reflexology Certification Program Weekend – Sept 19-20. This weekend is part of a 12-month, 300-hour program available for LMTs, acupuncturists and licensed health professionals with massage in their scope of practice to train to become Certified Reflexologists. Sam Belyea, program director, guides students through balancing the systems of the body using the technique of Reflexology. Each weekend includes additional topics such as business development, meditation, and self-care. $2100/Year; $175/Weekend. The Foot Whisperer Reflexology Institute, 4810 W. Gandy Blvd., Tampa, Details 813-831-9420, FootWhisperer.com/reflexology_training.

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 20 Global Mala Day Celebration – 7:30-9:30am. The Yoga Community of Sarasota Unites! Teachers from the community are leading 108 Sun Salutations, with live music. By Donation/All donations go to charity. North Lido Beach (zone 1), Sarasota. Info 941-341-9781. Community HU Song – 10-11am. HU is an ancient name for God. When sung as a pure prayer

of love, it opens your heart to God’s Love for you; 30 mins, followed by light refreshments. Free, AmericInn, 5931 Fruitville Rd (W of I-75), Sarasota, 941-358-0325, Meetup.com/EckankarInSarasota. An Enlightenment Journey with Betty Mann McQueen – Noon. Book signing 12:30pm. I Thrive Because I Know Who’s On First! Practical techniques and an inspirational experience with takeaways galore. Love Offering. Unity of Sarasota, 3023 Proctor Rd (between Beneva & Swift). UnityOfSarasota.com.

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 21 Reiki I Certification – 6:30-9pm. In this 2-day workshop you will receive Reiki Attunement, experience guided meditation, meet your Reiki Guides, and so much more! $75/$15 Reiki I manual. Angel Ministries College, 2269 S Tamiami Trl, Venice. Rev Patricia Charnley, 941-492-4995, revpat@ angelministriesfl.org, angelministriesfl.org. AMC Awakening to a Life of Joy – 7-9pm.This 10-week college course takes you on a profound and safe journey of self-discovery in order to clear the way to living a more peaceful, loving and joyful life and so much more! $200/2.0 College Credits. Angel Ministries College, 2269 S Tamiami Trl, Venice. Rev Patricia Charnley, 941-492-4995, revpat@ angelministriesfl.org, angelministriesfl.org.

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22 Keys of Enoch – 7pm. A free introductory talk in preparation for a study group on the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays of the month starting Oct 7, ($7). Known as the The Book of Knowledge, this riveting book is a blueprint or code-book designed to bring us in touch with the reality of Divine Intelligence, written by Dr. JJ Hurtak, facilitated by Kim Converse, keysofenoch.com. The Cosmic Center of Spiritual Light, 5041 Ringwood Mdw, Bldg G-2, Sarasota. 941-371-9333, CCOSL.com.

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23 Afternoon Angel Healing with Meditation and Messages – 1-3pm. A powerful afternoon of channeled Angelic guidance with crystal bowls for healing, growth and awakening to Christ Con-

sciousness, with meditation and messages, channeled by Alysia Sargent and Melissa Parks. $25. The Cosmic Center of Spiritual Light, 5041 Ringwood Mdw, Bldg G-2, Sarasota. 941-371-9333, earthangelsofsarasota.com, CCOSL.com. Fall Equinox: The Celestial Cross 2015 – 7pm. This Equinox will be particularly powerful as unprecedented cosmic energies are impacting our planet at this time. We gather together combining sacred ceremony, meditation and prayer with intentional healing and balance for ourselves and our planet. Love offering. The Cosmic Center of Spiritual Light, 5041 Ringwood Mdw, Bldg G-2, Sarasota. 941-371-9333, CCOSL.com.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24 Intuitive Reading with James Wanless – 10:30am5:30pm. Sept 24-25. Author and creator of Voyager Tarot. 30 mins/$75, 60 mins/$135. Elysian Fields, Midtown Plaza, 1273 S Tamiami Trl, Sarasota, 941361-3006, ElysianFieldsOnline.com. Spiritual Evolution: The Law of Attraction – 7-9pm. Back by request, a 12-week course (to Dec 17) on the principles and tools of the Law of Attraction (Cause and Effect. Sow Reap) with an emphasis on the works of Abraham-Hicks from Ask and It Is Given and other notable passages from sages past and present and some sacred ceremony with Rev Zan. $10. The Cosmic Center of Spiritual Light, 5041 Ringwood Mdw, Bldg G-2, Sarasota. 941-371-9333, CCOSL.com.

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25 Historic Downtown Village Fourth Friday Event – 5-9pm. Stroll the 1920s & ‘30s bungalows that have been refurbished into local small businesses, offering everything from local art, crystals of all shapes and sizes, homemade cookies and cupcakes, teas from around the globe, a clothing boutique, an art studio, to more gift shops, massage, skin care and hair care. Many will be serving wine and light snacks and there’s usually a drawing for a basket of goodies from each storefront participating in the event. Live entertainment. NW corner Gillespie Ave & Fruitville Rd, Sarasota. Escape-to-Sarasota.com/september-sarasota-events. html#sthash.0upZ33LF.dpuf.

Cosmic Center of Spiritual Light

Serving Sarasota and Manatee Counties - and the World through Healing, Education and Enlightenment

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

Embracing the New Paradigms of our Awakening Consciousness:

Divine Connection, Ascended Masters, Alternative Healings, Lightwork, Meditations, Channeling, Mediumship, Shamanism, UFOs, Special Guest Speakers and much more...

SUNDAY SERVICES

SPECIAL EVENTS

10:30 AM ~ Universal New Thought Service with Rev. Zan Benham 12:15 PM ~ A Cosmic In-Service Gathering of Lightworkers with Rev. Sharon-Elizabeth James 12:15 PM ~ Every 1st Sunday of the Month Open Heart Divine Healing Service

Crotalo Sesamo returns from Damanhur, IT, Eco Community of the Temples of Humankind! See Events Calendar for Friday, 9/25, Introduction to Selfica. Healing with Selfica workshop 9/29 and a workshop on 9/26 & 27 on the practices of Atlantis and Other Ancient Civilizations.

941-371-9333 or www.CCOSL.com For more information on our workshops and classes natural awakenings

September 2015

Yoga Nidra Workshop – 6-7:30pm. Yoga Nidra is a deeply nourishing, guided relaxation practice. Reduce stress, calm the mind and body, and feel refreshed and renewed. All levels. $15/Pre-registered by 9/15, $20/After. Garden of the Heart Yoga Center, 2888 Ringling Blvd, Sarasota. Register, 941341-9781, GardenOfTheHeartYoga.com. Introduction to Selfica – 7-9pm. Workshop is on Sept. 29. This is an ancient healing art that concentrates vital and intelligent spiral energies into alchemical substances and sacred geometrical art forms which benefit personal and spiritual understanding, with Ambassador Crotalo Sesamo from Damanhur, Italy, a 40-year-old spiritual eco-community known for the Temples of Humankind, the “8th wonder of the world.” $10. The Cosmic Center of Spiritual Light, 5041 Ringwood Mdw, Bldg G-2, Sarasota. 941-371-9333, CCOSL.com. Lisa Danahy Workshops – Sept 25-26. Transform relationships and facilitate cooperation at home and at school as you develop skills to create calm through purposeful play and encourage self-awareness, relieve tension, and foster social-emotional competencies in children through mindfulness and movement. Garden of the Heart Yoga Center, 2888 Ringling Blvd, Sarasota. 941-341-9781, Cheryl@ GardenOfTheHeartYoga.com.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 26 Sarasota’s 22nd Annual National Public Lands Day – 9am-Noon. The nation’s largest hands-on volunteer effort to improve and enhance America’s public lands, with the removal of nuisance / exotic plants and picking up trash and other debris. What to wear: Field appropriate clothes (or old clothes that can get dirty); closed-toe, closed-heel shoes such as hiking boots or old sneakers that may get wet; sunblock, hat, sunglasses and insect repellent. Volunteers are encouraged to bring loppers, clippers or shears. Bring your own work gloves, extra drinking water and insect repellent. Space for this event is limited to 30 volunteers. Woodmere Park, 3951 Woodmere Park Blvd, Venice. Register in advance, 941-650-0696, dzeilman@scgov.net. The Annual National Public Lands Day at Oscar Scherer State Park – 9am-2pm. Volunteer and take part in the work service projects involving Tree Planting and Wildlife Habitat Restoration during the day. Oscar Scherer State Park, Rte 41, 1843 S Tamiami Trl, Osprey, Info 941-483-5957, escape-to-sarasota.com/september-sarasotaevents.html#sthash.0upZ33LF.dpuf. Homeopathy Information Pattern Workshop – 9am-5pm. Sept 26-27. Harnessing the Information Patterns in Homeopathy. Early Bird Aps $300; General Public $100. East West College of Natural Medicine, 3808 N Tamiami Trl, Sarasota. 800-5784865, fsoma.com/homeopathyclass. Eighth Annual Blessing of the Pets –10am-2pm. Free blessings for you and your pets, big or small. Festivities and vendors galore! Love offering and/ or pet food donations gratefully accepted for pets that are in need. Unity of Sarasota, 3023 Proctor Rd (between Beneva & Swift). UnityOfSarasota.com. Psychic Fair – 10am-3pm. Are you searching, questioning and seeking answers? Choose from some of the best Intuitive Artists in the Area! See what your future holds! Free healing and refreshments. Private Readings $15/15 mins. Angel Ministries, 2269 S Tamiami Trl, Venice. Rev Patricia Charnley, 941-492-4995, revpat@angelministriesfl.org, angelministriesfl.org.

Sarasota/Manatee Edition

Voyager Tarot Certification Class – 10am-5pm. Sept 26-27. With James Wanless, author/creator of Voyager Tarot. $250/Two-day class, including free book. Early-bird pricing $200 thru September 15th. This class is designed for both the beginner and advanced tarot student. Limited space available! Hotel Indigo, 1223 Boulevard of the Arts, Sarasota. Info & reservations, 941-361-3006, ElysianFieldsOnline.com.

Gentle Partner Yoga – 3-5pm. Connect deeply with your partner with yoga, breathing, compassionate communication and more. All levels, including beginners. Led by Harmony Ananda. $40/ couple. Garden of the Heart Yoga Center, 2888 Ringling Blvd, Sarasota. Register, 941-341-9781, GardenOfTheHeartYoga.com.

Atlantis and Other Ancient Civilizations – Sat 10am-6pm and Sun 1-8pm. Sept 26-27. What happened to Atlantis? Explore the mystery of lost civilizations from the unique perspective of the experimental time travelers of Damanhur. Course explains our stellar roots as well as innovative with Ambassador Crotalo Sesamo from Damanhur, Italy, a 40-year-old spiritual eco-community known for the Temples of Humankind, the “8th wonder of the world” $270/by 9/11; $300/ thereafter. The Cosmic Center of Spiritual Light, 5041 Ringwood Mdw, Bldg G-2, Sarasota. 941-371-9333, CCOSL.com.

Ton of Fun Challenge – September 28-December 7. Ready to lose weight and be healthier? Join Fleet Feet Sarasota and United Healthcare’s Ton of Fun program and be part of a 2,000 lb weight loss campaign, led by professionally certified Fleet Feet Coach and Director of Fitness, Whitney Bartlett. Participants receive access to local nutrition and fitness professionals and mentors, with weekly nutrition tips, recipes, access to a registered dietitian, free workouts, private weighins, email updates, biometric screenings, cooking classes, private Facebook group and prize incentives. $50. Fleet Feet Sports Sarasota, 1830 S Osprey. Info and Register, 941-894-3338, FleetFeetSarasota.com.

Mystical Bazaar – 11am-5pm. Come for a day of fun and mystical connections and experiences! The Sarasota Mystical Bazaar is an annual event for the public to enjoy. It is a marketplace hosting many different things: Vendors, Psychic Readers, Speakers, Message Gallery, Healers, Aura Photos, Gemstones and Jewelry, Metaphysical Items. $5. Sarasota Municipal Auditorium, 801 N Tamiami Trl, Sarasota. Light@MysticalBazaar2015.com, MysticalBazaar2015.com. Creating Calm Children Seminar – 1-3pm. Parents, educators, child-care givers: Learn techniques from yoga, breathing, and mindfulness to create calmness and cooperation in kids of all ages. $25/Pre-registered by 9/20, $30/After. Garden of the Heart Yoga Center, 2888 Ringling Blvd, Sarasota. Register, 941-3419781, GardenOfTheHeartYoga.com. Chakra Connection – 3-6pm. This workshop will help you understand the corresponding body parts, emotions and colors of the seven major energy centers. You will be shown how to check and balance your Chakras and learn exercises and acquire tools for clearing blockages. $25. Angel Ministries, 2269 S Tamiami Trl, Venice. Rev Patricia Charnley, 941492-4995, revpat@angelministriesfl.org, angelministriesfl.org. Blue Tent to Embrace and Honor our Men (Men Only) – 7pm. Honoring Our Divine Masculine, a sacred circle where men gather to open their hearts, share their truth, and step into their power. Here, men experience honor, respect, acceptance, appreciation, gratitude & unconditional love for who they are. Rediscover your inner fire; embody what your heart desires; gain clarity in your life; claim, attract, and manifest true love into your life. Led by Lucia Gabriela, Love Priestess-Coach, Healer & Alchemist. Dress code: Blue. BYO cushion or yoga mat. Sliding Scale Love Offering $20-$30. Elixir Tea House, 1926 Hillview St, Sarasota. RSVP 516-287-0242, Details SacredLoveTemple.com.

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 27 ECK Worship Service – 10-11am. This month: HU, the Most Beautiful Prayer. Join others in learning how singing HU puts you in tune with Divine Spirit, giving you insight into how to respond to everyday situations. Free, AmericInn, 5931 Fruitville Rd (W of I-75), Sarasota, 941-358-0325, Meetup. com/EckankarInSarasota.

www.nasrq.com

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 28

TUESDAY. SEPTEMBER 29 Workshop on Selfica – 6:30-9:30pm. An ancient healing art that concentrates vital and intelligent spiral energies into alchemical substances and sacred geometrical art forms which benefit personal and spiritual understanding, with Ambassador Crotalo Sesamo from Damanhur, Italy, a 40-year-old spiritual eco-community known for the Temples of Humankind, the “8th wonder of the world.” $65. The Cosmic Center of Spiritual Light, 5041 Ringwood Mdw, Bldg G-2, Sarasota. 941-371-9333, CCOSL.com.

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 30 Keys of Enoch – 7pm. A free introductory talk in preparation for a study group on the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays of the month starting October 7 ($7). Known as the The Book of Knowledge, this riveting book is a blueprint or code-book designed to bring us in touch with the reality of Divine Intelligence, written by Dr. JJ Hurtak, facilitated by Kim Converse, keysofenoch.com. The Cosmic Center of Spiritual Light, 5041 Ringwood Mdw, Bldg G-2, Sarasota. 941-371-9333, keysofenoch.com, CCOSL.com.

planahead

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 1 Mediumship Development – 7-8:30pm. Oct 1, 8, 15, 22. Do you have psychic abilities or see and sense spirits? If you would like to learn how to develop your mediumship ability, this class is the perfect place to get started. Medium Victoria Ackerman teaches you how to unlock your abilities and provides the key for learning. Her indepth and comprehensive curriculum incorporates teaching methods which complement many learning styles. $10. The Spirit University, 373 Braden Ave, Sarasota. 941-544-5874, Light@VictoriaAckerman.com, TheSpiritUniversity.com.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 2 Annual Ringling College Faculty, Staff & Division Instructors Exhibition – Runs through Oct 31. Selby, Basch & Willis Smith Galleries, Ringling College of Art + Design, 2700 N Tamiami Trl, Sarasota. 941-359-7563, Ringling.edu/galleries.

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

sunday Beach Yoga for Everybody – 8:30-9:30am. Relax, breathe, stretch & greet the beautiful morning on beautiful Englewood Beach (N end). Loving Light Yoga, 3455 S Access Rd, Englewood. 941-473-0135, Lata528@gmail.com, LovingLightYoga.com. Meet & Greet: Learn With Other Like-Minded Souls – 9-10am. Enrichment spiritual classes for adults. Free. Unity of Sarasota, 3023 Proctor Rd (between Beneva & Swift), Sarasota. 941-9553301, UnityOfSarasota.com. One from the Heart Healing Sessions – 9:3010:15am. Center of Spiritual Awareness healing practitioners offer 15-min sessions to bring a state of wholeness to body, mind, and spirit. Free. Fruitville Rd (Knights of Columbus Bldg), 941-926-7828. Amrit Level 1 Yoga – 9:30-11am. In this class you will be guided through the Level 1 Amrit Yoga posture sequence. With continued practice, this sequence is specifically designed to lead students into a deeper experience of integration. You will be guided into proper alignment for your body type through energetic extensions and press points. Working with the 1st and 2nd half of the posture brings the nervous system into balance and body into homeostasis. Intentionally repeating this sequence is similar to chanting a mantra repeatedlyit focuses the mind so that the body can relax fully. All levels welcome. $15/1, $125/10, New student special $57/unlimited-1x offer/new students only. Journey Into Complete Wellbeing Yoga & Meditation Studio, 265 E Marion Ave, Ste 117C, Punta Gorda, 772-485-0605, JourneyInStudio.com. Discover Your Spiritual Home – 10am. With Rev Karen Wolfson. Center for Spiritual Living Sarasota, South Gate Community Center, 3145 S Gate Cir, Sarasota. 941-927-6212. CSLSarasota.com. Hatha Yoga with Jamie Coffey – 10-11:30am. A creative blend of yoga styles based on the teacher’s background. The class helps to build strength and increase flexibility. $14, $50/5, Rosemary Court Yoga, 810 Central Ave, Sarasota, 941-952-5280, RosemaryCourt.com. Mixed Levels Yoga with Cindy – 10-11:30am. Alignment-based yoga suitable for anyone with previous yoga experience. Learn standing poses, twists, back bends, seated bends & inversions at your own pace. More options given for beginning or advanced students. $16; $78/6. Garden of the Heart Yoga, 2888 Ringling Blvd, Sarasota, 941341-9781, GardenOfTheHeartYoga.com. A Cosmic New Thought Service – 10:30-11:30am. A metaphysical universal service with music, talk, meditation and chants, to educate & expand our understanding and concepts to clarify and empower our connection with Infinite Spirit, Divine Source. Free energy healings at 10am. Love offering. The Cosmic Center, 5041 Ringwood Meadow, Bldg G-2, Sarasota. Rev Zan Benham 941-922-7839, Zan@Woman-Spirit.com, CCOSL.com.

FUNday at Unity of Sarasota – 10:30-11:30am. Spiritual Seekers, all are welcome to join us each Sunday for a wonderful, uplifting service. Free. Unity of Sarasota, 3023 Proctor Rd (between Beneva & Swift), Sarasota. 941-955-3301, UnityOfSarasota.com. Sunday Worship Service – 10:30-11:30am. Start your week refreshed. Join CMF for a morning of inspiration, spiritual healing, inspirational talk, special music and spirit messages from guides and loved ones. Love Offering. Center for Metaphysical Fellowship, 2044 Bispham Rd, Sarasota. 941266-8435, CMFSarasota.org. Aerial Yoga – 11:30am-12:45pm. With Mandy. All levels. Begins with basic mat work & progresses to using a soft fabric yoga inversion swing. $15; $12/senior/student. 6260 N Lockwood Ridge Rd, Sarasota. 941-359-9642. ReflexArts.com. Cosmic In-Service – 12:15-1:30pm. Gathering of Lightworkers. A call to Planetary World Servers to anchor Light and work with our family of light to bridge Heaven and Earth. Love Offering. The Cosmic Center, 5041 Ringwood Meadow, Bldg G-2, Sarasota. Rev Sharon Elizabeth James, 941-3719333, CCOSL.com.

monday Beach Yoga for Everybody – 8:30-9:30am. Relax, breathe, stretch & greet the beautiful morning on beautiful Englewood Beach (N end). Loving Light Yoga, 3455 S Access Rd, Englewood, 941473-0135, Lata528@gmail.com, LovingLightYoga.com. No Nonsense Nutrition – 9-10am. With Eve Prang Plews, LNC, IFMCP. WSLR 96FM, wslr.org. Workout with Lucho – Mon & Weds 9:1510am. F.I.T. Functional Interval Training. Improve strength, flexibility and heart health using your own body combined with resistance and cardio exercises. All levels. $12/Prepaid, Beach Life Wellness, 301 Albee Rd W, Nokomis, 941-244-2006, BeachLifeWellness.com. Hatha Yoga with Stephanie Cole – 9:3010:45am. A creative blend of yoga styles based on the teacher’s background. The class helps to build strength and increase flexibility. $14, $50/5, Rosemary Court Yoga, 810 Central Ave, Sarasota, 941952-5280, RosemaryCourt.com. Alternative Health – 10-11am. Alt Mondays. With Eve Prang Plews, LNC, IFMCP. WMNF 88SFM. Call-in line 813-239-9663, wmnf.org. Ashtanga Yoga with Liana Bryant – 11:15am12:45pm. Ashtanga Yoga is a physically demanding practice synchronizing breath with movement through a set series of progressive postures to build strength, flexibility, and stamina. $14, $50/5, Rosemary Court Yoga, 810 Central Ave, Sarasota, 941952-5280, RosemaryCourt.com, LianaYoga.com.

Transitions Support Group – 5-6:30pm. A support group that helps cope with the reality of traumatic changes. Discover resources & chart strategies to achieve priority goals. Six sessions are recommended. Free. Transition Church, 2215 Sunset Dr, Ste E1, Bradenton. 941-739-7103. RevDCT@ Verizon.net. Zumba with Carla – 5:30-6:30pm. Forget the workout, Join the party! Dance yourself into shape listening to the exotic & exhilarating rhythms of Latin and international beats. Just lose yourself in the music at the original dance-fitness party. All levels welcome. $12/Prepaid, Beach Life Wellness, 301 Albee Rd W, Nokomis, 941-244-2006, BeachLifeWellness.com. Mixed Levels Yoga with Randall – 5:30-7pm. This alignment-based yoga class is geared toward students who have been practicing yoga for at least 6 months. Inversion options will be taught in this class to prepare you for headstands, handstands, and shoulderstands. Drop-ins welcome. $16; $78/6. Garden of the Heart Yoga, 2888 Ringling Blvd, 941341-9781.GardenOfTheHeartYoga.com. Ongoing Class Feldenkrais – 5:45-6:45pm. Awareness Through Movement® classes improve posture, balance, body awareness. Lessons (in chairs/on floor) are designed to quiet non-working habitual patterns, invite you into a process for learning and offer experiences for more efficient movement. $15/class; $50/4 classes, Ionie’s, 1241 Fruitville Rd, Sarasota, 941-587-4535, FeldenkraisInSarasota.com. Amrit Yoga Nidra Class – 6-7pm. The Amrit Method of Yoga Nidra is a guided meditation technique, accessible to everyone. It has the power to take you to the innermost, deepest levels of relaxation where your whole body and being is permeated by peace of mind and profound stillness. Yoga Nidra takes you beyond the ordinary state of mind where the deepest level of healing and rejuvenation take place effortlessly. Free during Yoga Month. Journey Into Complete Wellbeing Yoga & Meditation Studio, 265 E Marion Ave, Ste 117C, Punta Gorda, 772-485-0605, JourneyInStudio.com. Evening Yoga Flow – 6-7:15pm. Join Lata in this evening slow flow vinyasa practice. Bring your focus to releasing stress and tension in the body and mind while opening the heart and freeing the spirit, slowing down from your busy day as we link breath and movement with grounding asana sequencing and longer held forward bends to relax and re-new. Loving Light Yoga, 3455 S Access Rd, Englewood. 941-473-0135, Lata528@gmail.com, LovingLightYoga.com. Booty Beat! – 6:40pm & Friday 9:15am. Experience the fabulous feeling that dancing gives you, while reaping the benefits of strength and cardio. This fabulous and super fun dance fitness class allows you to let loose and condition the entire body inside out! $10, Packages available, Fly Dance Fitness, 999 Cattleman Rd, Sarasota, 941-400-0020, FlyDanceFitness.com. Forgiveness Support Group – 7-8:30pm. Forgiveness in Aramaic is to cancel, untie or let loose. It’s a tool for changing a reality in the mind. This is one of the core messages of Why is this Happening to Me Again? $10. Unity Church of Sarasota. 941776-7465, UnityOfSarasota.com.

natural awakenings

September 2015

Sai Maa Satsang & Blessing – 7-8:30pm. 1st Monday. A spiritual gathering, meditation & blessing to strengthen connection to self, truth & healing. Uses Sai Maa teachings & transformational healing. Free. Central Sarasota location. 941-4877077, Sai-Maa.com. The Art of Evidential Mediumship I: Private Reading – 7:15-8:45pm. Sep. 21, 28, Oct 5. Ongoing enrichment and refinement of Evidential Mediumship practice with attention to the skills of the private reading. Includes how to do a karmic reading and other advanced mediumship applications. Students will perform readings, followed by discussion and problem solving. Pre-requisite: Must have completed Foundations of Evidential Mediumship course or have permission from instructor 216-402-0597. New students not admitted after the first class without instructor permission. With Shanna Spalding St Clair. $15. The Spirit University, 373 Braden Ave, Sarasota. 941-544-5874, Light@VictoriaAckerman.com, TheSpiritUniversity.com. Anchoring the Light Meditation – 7:458:45pm. Rev Sharon-Elizabeth James channels anchoring the light meditation. Serving the Ascension of our planet with the Ascended Realms as Anchors of Light. Every Monday since 2007. Love Offering. The Cosmic Center, 5041 Ringwood Mdw, Bldg G-2, Sarasota. 941-371-9333, CCOSL.com. Chakra Clearing & Alignment – Spiritual guidance from Rev Duffy Rutledge using the Crystal Bed from John of God. $25. Call for appointments. 941-926-7828. Yoga Classes – Mon, Tues, Wed. A variety of styles. Ionie Body Mind Retreat/Raw Food Café, 1241 Fruitville Rd, Sarasota. Info 941-955-4599, Ionie.com.

tuesday Beach Yoga for Everybody – 8:30-9:30am. Relax, breathe, stretch & greet the beautiful morning on beautiful Englewood Beach (N end). Loving Light Yoga, 3455 S Access Rd, Englewood. 941473-0135, Lata528@gmail.com, LovingLightYoga.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. TRX Training Basics – Tues & Thurs 9:15-10am. Learn how to safely use this Suspension Training System used today by all branches in the US Military and in fitness & rehabilitation programs all over the world. Basic yet challenging full body workout. $12/Prepaid, Beach Life Wellness, 301 Albee Rd W, Nokomis, 941-244-2006, BeachLifeWellness.com. Dance N Tone – 9:30-10:30am. A work out for your mind and body! One hour of low impact exercise and fun in an air-conditioned gym. Optional 1/2 hour of floor work afterwards. $5. Faith Church (corner of Beneva and 12th St), Sarasota. Info, Gail 941-586-3464. Hatha Yoga with Stephanie Cole – 10-11:15am. A creative blend of styles that builds strength and increases flexibility. $14; $50/5. Rosemary Court

Sarasota/Manatee Edition

Yoga, 810 Central Ave, Sarasota, 941-952-5280, RosemaryCourt.com. Hot Vinyasa Yoga – 11am-12:15pm. Combines upbeat music, interesting transitions, & fulfilling vinyasas to begin the week. Betsy is experienced & continues to grow & evolve this beautiful practice. $15, Class cards available. 6260 N Lockwood Ridge Rd, Sarasota. 941-359-9642. ReflexArts.com. Chair Yoga – Tues & Thurs Noon-1pm. With Carol. Perfect for those that struggle with flexibility or balance demands of a traditional yoga class. Benefits of asana, pranayama, & short meditation. $15, $12/Senior. Reflex Arts, 6260 N Lockwood Ridge Rd, Sarasota. 941-359-9642. ReflexArts.com. Community Acupuncture with Dr Wald and Dr Dienes – 1-3pm. $35. Beach Life Wellness, 301 Albee Rd W, Nokomis. Space is limited. Reservations, 942-244-2006, BeachLifeWellness.com. Belly Dance Fundamentals – 5:30-6:30pm. Belly Dancing is natural to a woman’s bone and muscle structure with movements emanating from the torso. Join us as we focus on the basic isolations essential for the beginner as well as the professional dancer. $12/Prepaid, Beach Life Wellness, 301 Albee Rd W, Nokomis, 941-244-2006, BeachLifeWellness.com. Advanced Practice – 5:30-7:15pm. Tuesday nights are a teacher-led practice where strong yogis can come to learn advanced sequences and poses. Knowledge of alignment is expected. Led by Jaye Martin or Cheryl Chaffee alternate weeks. Advanced students from other styles are welcome. $15; $88/8. Garden of the Heart Yoga, 2888 Ringling Blvd, 941-341-9781. GardenOfTheHeartYoga.com.

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

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY START A CAREER YOU CAN BE PASSIONATE ABOUT. PUBLISH YOUR OWN NATURAL AWAKENINGS MAGAZINE. Home based business complete with comprehensive training and support system. New franchises are available or purchase a magazine that is currently publishing. Call 239-530-1377 or visit NaturalAwakeningsMag.com/mymagazine.

DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS #1 PREMIUM CBD (CANNABIDIOL) HEMP OIL. Pain, Anxiety, Sleep, Focus. 954-415-0942. PureScienceLab.com. den of the Heart Yoga, 2888 Ringling Blvd, 941341-9781. GardenOfTheHeartYoga.com. Self Love Yoga – 8:30am. Led by Love Yoga Instructor Jake Jones. BYO cushion or yoga mat. Sliding Scale Love Offering $10-$20. Southgate Circle Park on Tuttle (park at 3205 Southgate Cir & look for Self Love Yoga banners), Sarasota. Call 516-287-0242, Details SacredLoveTemple.com.

The Essentials Yoga Class – 5:45-7pm. An active class appropriate for most levels, focusing on essential yoga postures to improve one’s skeletal alignment, balance, flexibility & strength. Learn to release stress & enhance breathing. $14; $80/8. Yoga Arts, Bradenton. 941-747-9397.

Iyengar Yoga with Deborah Di Carlo – 6:308pm. Iyengar Yoga is characterized by an emphasis on precision of alignment in the yoga postures, the use of props to help students of all ability levels achieve correct alignment, and an understanding of the therapeutic potential of yoga. $14, $50/5, Rosemary Court Yoga, 810 Central Ave, Sarasota, 941-952-5280, RosemaryCourt.com.

Chair Yoga in Salt Room – 9:30-10:30am. Experience the health benefits of gentle yoga combined with the health benefits of working with the breath during dry salt therapy. $20; Pkgs available; Sr discount; 1st time Free. Fusion Therapy, 7069 S Tamiami Trl, Sarasota. 941-921-7900, FusionTherapy.net.

Intro to Buddhist Meditation – 7-8:30pm. Intro to meditation (6 varieties) from an authentic Tibetan Buddhist perspective, along with chats about Buddhist philosophy. $45/6 classes. Unitarian Universalist Church of Sarasota, 3975 Fruitville Rd. 941-552-8466. Saratara@gmail.com. Zen Meditation – Tues & Thurs 7-8:30pm. Led by spiritual director, Rev Daito Zenei Thompson. Consists of two 20-min meditations, separated by a 5-min walking meditation. Ends with tea & conversation. Free. Sarasota Zen Center, 3947 Clark Rd, Ste A, Sarasota. 941-451-6988. SarasotaZen.org.

wednesday Early Morning Yoga with Jaye – 6-7:30am. Alignment-based yoga class geared toward students who have been practicing yoga for at least 6 months. Greet the day with yoga. $16; $78/6. Gar-

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Amrit Yoga Nidra – 10-11am. The Amrit Method of Yoga Nidra is a guided meditation technique, accessible to everyone. It has the power to take you to the innermost, deepest levels of relaxation where your whole body and being is permeated by peace of mind and profound stillness. Yoga Nidra takes you beyond the ordinary state of mind where the deepest level of healing and rejuvenation take place effortlessly. $15/1, $125/10, New student special $57/unlimited-1x offer/new students only. Journey Into Complete Wellbeing Yoga & Meditation Studio, 265 E Marion Ave, Ste 117C, Punta Gorda, 772-485-0605, JourneyInStudio.com. Restorative/Therapeutic Yoga – 10-11:15am. This class combines therapeutic movement & restorative postures. Suited for people unable to practice yoga in its more active form. Movements are gentle & well-supported. $14; $80/8. Yoga Arts, Bradenton. 941-747-9397. Five Points Park Farmers Market – 10am-2pm. Omega Cure bottles, vials, cookies and chocolates

available. Stop by, say hi, and try a sample. First St & N Pineapple Ave, Sarasota, Omega3Innovations.com. Tai Chi Dance/Baby Dragon – 10:30-11:30am. This is an internal dance of breath and balance focusing on brain waves and connections found in the ultimate movements of the Baby Dragon Dance, with Master Teacher, Cody, Flying Eagle, Templeton. $10. The Cosmic Center of Spiritual Light, 5041 Ringwood Mdw, Bldg G-2, Sarasota. 941-371-9333, CCOSL.com. Info & Register, 941780-3168, EagleWings64@hotmail.com, MindBodyFitnessForYou.com. Feldenkrais with Bonnie K – 10:45-11:45am. Awareness Through Movement® classes improve posture, balance, and body awareness. Lessons (in chairs/on floor) are designed to quiet non-working habitual patterns, invite you into a process for learning and offer experiences for more efficient movement. $15/class; $50/4 classes, Ionie’s, 1241 Fruitville Rd, Sarasota, 941-587-4535, FeldenkraisInSarasota.com. Core Tone-Up – 11:15am-12:30pm. A therapeutic flow of yoga and Pilates taught by a certified teacher in both. Beg-Int levels. Develop strong posture, healthy spine & joints, pelvic stability, balance, respiration, and all of yoga’s other benefits. $15; $10/10. Alive with Yoga, 7512 S Tamiami Trl, Sarasota, 941-302-1004, AlivewithYoga.com. Stand Up Paddleboard Yoga – 3pm. A gentle yoga class on stand up paddleboards in a beautiful lagoon. Great for beginners. $35/includes board rental. 190 Taft Dr, Lido Key, Sarasota. Info & sign-up, 941-952-8245, Info@SurfItusa.com, SurfItusa.com. TRX Chisel with Carla – 3-4pm. Intense fitness class working all of your muscles using TRX Suspension Training with a combination of the best basic exercises including squats, presses, lifts, curls, pushes, pulls, and more! $15, Beach Life Wellness, 301 Albee Rd W, Nokomis, 941-2442006, BeachLifeWellness.com. Free Yoga for Veterans/Military – 3:30-4:30pm. Veterans, military personnel and their family members can attend a free weekly yoga class designed for vets with PTSD, TBI and other combat injuries. Free, Garden of the Heart Yoga, 2888 Ringling Blvd, Sarasota, 941-341-9781, GardenOfTheHeartYoga.com. Tea with the Goddesses – 4:30-6:30pm. The Goddess Love Circle of Sarasota meet-up with other amazing Goddesses. Relax, chat, share wisdom, receive support from others and hold space for mind, body, heart and soul healing. Elixir Tea Shop, 1926 Hillview St, Sarasota, Text RSVP 516-287-0242. Healing and Wholeness – 5:15-6:45pm. Sept 2-Oct 14. Presented by Reverend Elizabeth Thompson, this class is designed to consciously engage the Source of Healing and the practice of knowing and expressing our wholeness. It is based on the Spiritual Universal Principle as understood through the Unity Movement. Love Offering. Unity of Sarasota, 3023 Proctor Rd (between Beneva & Swift). UnityOfSarasota.com. Sunlight Yoga – 5:45-7pm. With Debbie Downing. Gentle flowing hatha yoga. Range of motion, balance, breath awareness, asanas, relaxation. Mixed level. The Power of One, 238 W Tampa Ave, Venice Centre Mall/KMI Bldg, Ste 250, 941468-0403, SunlightYoga@Verizon.net.

Intro to Hoop Dance Class – 6-7pm. Learn the basics of the art of Hoop Dance in this 4-week series that begins each month. Have fun, dance, meet new friends and burn calories. $40/month series. Prana Yoga Studio, 3840 S Osprey Ave, Sarasota. Bonnie Brown 941-404-8114. OutwardSpiral.net. Kundalini Yoga with Erinn Earth – 6-7pm. Outdoor class for fresh air intake. Lots of breathing while stretching. Techniques for kundalini manipulation for subtle body transformation. Meditation indoors at end of class. Lesson from Sutras or Gita. $10; $40/5, Unity of Sarasota, 3023 Proctor Rd, Sarasota, 941-284-9563, InSelfYoga.net. All Levels Flow Yoga – 6-7:15pm. With Ginny. Healing yoga class, afterwards, take a walk through gardens, visit the chickens & relax. $15; $12/Senior/Student. Heartwood Retreat Center. 941-359-9642. ReflexArts.com. Pregnancy Yoga – 6-7:15pm. Experience the benefits of pregnancy yoga for improved posture, strength, flexibility, endurance, breathing & relaxation. Appropriate for all levels. $15; $50/5. Prana Yoga, 3840 S Osprey Ave, Sarasota. 941-312-1898. LeBarre – 6:40pm & Tues 9:15am. Taking the hottest trend in dance-inspired conditioning, people LeLove LeBarre! Combines balance, agility, resistance, recovery and eloquence into a challenging full body workout. Unlike any barre class you’ve seen! All levels welcome. $10; Packages available, Fly Dance Fitness, 999 Cattleman Rd, Sarasota, 941-400-0020, FlyDanceFitness.com. Chair Yoga in Salt Room – 7-8pm. Experience the health benefits of gentle yoga, combined with the health benefits of working with the breath during dry salt therapy. $20; Packages available; Sr discount. Fusion Therapy, 7069 S Tamiami Trl, Sarasota. 941-921-7900. FusionTherapy.net. Meditation Study Group – 7-8:30pm. Introduction of the various philosophies of meditation followed by a study of different kinds of practices throughout history. We will discover what meditative practices are most appropriate today and for those interested in spiritual development. Free. Starflower Spathecary, 415 S Pineapple Ave, Sarasota. 941-554-4292. Starflower.com. Numerology Classes – 7-8:30pm. Learn to manage your life with numerology, with Kathy Skeen. $30. Rejuvenations Center, 2610 Bee Ridge Rd, Sarasota. 941-554-8657. RejuvenationsofSarasota@gmail.com. Services – 7-9pm. 4th Wednesday. First Congregational United Church of Christ, Fellowship Hall, 1031 S Euclid Ave, Sarasota. Joni Luckenbill 941724-3913. Sarasota Contact Improv Jam – 7-9pm. 2nd & 4th Wed. Contact improv dance class. Love offering. Ionie Body Mind Retreat/Raw Food Café, 1241 Fruitville Rd, Sarasota. 941-320-8144. Ionie.com. Rune Magik Workshop – 7-9pm. A comprehensive study of the Runes, the language of this archetypal imagery, their basic meanings, cosmology, magikal workings, history and practical use with AWEN Warren Behrens. Love offering. The Cosmic Center of Spiritual Light, 5041 Ringwood Mdw, Bldg G-2, Sarasota. 941-371-9333, CCOSL.com. Midweek Prayer and Meditation Service – 7:208:30pm. Midweek relaxing respite which includes

meditation, affirmative prayer, music, candle lighting, and silence. Free. Unity of Sarasota, 3023 Proctor Rd (between Beneva & Swift), Sarasota. 941-955-3301, UnityOfSarasota.com. Restorative Yoga & Meditation – 7:30-8:45pm. All levels welcome. Focuses on postures that relax the body & allow the mind to rest. Guided meditation & Reiki healing make this a great place to find rejuvenation. $15; Class cards available. 6260 N Lockwood Ridge Rd, Sarasota. 941-359-9642. ReflexArts.com.

thursday Beach Yoga for Everybody – 8:30-9:30am. Relax, breathe, stretch & greet the beautiful morning on beautiful Englewood Beach (N end). Loving Light Yoga, 3455 S Access Rd, Englewood. 941473-0135, Lata528@gmail.com, LovingLightYoga.com. Hatha Yoga – 9-10am. For a Life in Balance. A gentle, transforming practice with Pauline Dimitri. $10. The Cosmic Center of Spiritual Light, 5041 Ringwood Mdw, Bldg G-2, Sarasota. 941-3719333, CCOSL.com. Englewood Farmers Market – 9am-2pm. Omega Cure bottles, vials, cookies and chocolates available. Stop by, say hi, and try a sample. Historic Dearborn St, Sarasota, Omega3Innovations.com. Kundalini Yoga with Laurel James – 9:3010:45am. Back to School - Back to Class! Come enjoy and experience breath work, postures (Kriyas), meditations and sound. $14, $50/5, Rosemary Court Yoga, 810 Central Ave, Sarasota, 941-9525280, RosemaryCourt.com. Mom + Baby Yoga with Liana – 10-10:45am. In this playful practice, moms rebuild core strength and relieve neck and shoulder tension while bonding with their little ones, and create lasting relationships with other moms. $14; $50/5, Rosemary Court Yoga, 810 Central Ave, Sarasota, 941-9525280, RosemaryCourt.com. Ashtanga Yoga with Liana Bryant – 11:15am12:30pm. Ashtanga Yoga is a physically demanding practice synchronizing breath with movement through a set series of progressive postures to build strength, flexibility and stamina. $14; $50/5, Rosemary Court Yoga, 810 Central Ave, Sarasota, 941952-5280, RosemaryCourt.com. The Power of Parables: A Fun Learning Experience! – 1:30-3pm. Focus will be on familiar parables. The term “parable” is a metaphor and symbolism to illustrate a moral and/or spiritual point. Encourages participants to look deeper into the messages of the parables in today’s world. Love Offering. Unity of Sarasota, 3023 Proctor Rd (between Beneva & Swift). UnityOfSarasota.com. Amrit Yoga Therapeutics – 6-7:30pm. Over time patterns, of thinking and feeling are energetically and physically held in the body. Left unsolved, they can manifest as tension, agitation, health imbalances and other problems. Through the understanding of these holding patterns and the use of yoga postures to free prana, the body mind complex can begin to heal and integrate itself. The focus of this class is learning to relax with forms of energy one would normally resist and recognizing that even the most intense, uncomfortable sensa-

natural awakenings

September 2015

tions lead back to stillness and calm. All levels welcome. $15/1, $125/10, New student special $57/unlimited-1x offer/new students only. Journey Into Complete Wellbeing Yoga & Meditation Studio, 265 E Marion Ave, Ste 117C, Punta Gorda, 772-485-0605, JourneyInStudio.com. Vinyasa Yoga with Ildi Bercak – 6:30-7:45pm. A vigorous style of yoga, which links breath and movement through a heat-building sequence. $14, $50/5, Rosemary Court Yoga, 810 Central Ave, Sarasota, 941-952-5280, RosemaryCourt.com. Pet Grief Support Group – 7pm. 3rd Thursday. For understanding, support & sharing pictures & stories of your special friend. Love offering. Unity of Sarasota. 941-955-3301. Prenatal Yoga – 7-8:15pm. Exclusively for momsto-be. Learn to safely modify yoga poses for every stage of pregnancy. Relax, de-stress, & embrace the joy of being pregnant, in a supportive environment. $16; $78/6. Garden of the Heart Yoga, 2888 Ringling Blvd, 941-341-9781. GardenOfTheHeartYoga.com. Mapquesting for Your Spiritual Journey – 7-8:30pm. 2nd Thursday. Guided by Reverend Amy Zehe and Mary Ann Modrak. Join a lively discussion designed to assist you on your individual spiritual path. Love Offering. Unity of Sarasota, 3023 Proctor Rd (between Beneva & Swift). UnityOfSarasota.com. Mediumship Development – 7-8:30pm. Oct 1, 8, 15, 22. Do you have psychic abilities or see and sense spirits? If you would like to learn how to develop your mediumship ability, this class is the perfect place to get started. Medium Victoria Ackerman teaches you how to unlock your abilities and provides the key for learning. Her in-depth and comprehensive curriculum incorporates teaching methods which complement many learning styles. $10. The Spirit University, 373 Braden Ave, Sarasota. 941-544-5874, Light@VictoriaAckerman.com, TheSpiritUniversity.com.

friday Sarasota Farmers Market – 7am-1pm. Come early for good parking & pick of the best produce & products from the market’s 70+ vendors. Downtown Sarasota, intersection of Lemon & Main St, 941-225-9256. SarasotaFarmersMarket.org. Beach Yoga for Everybody – 8:30-9:30am. Relax, breathe, stretch & greet the beautiful morning on beautiful Englewood Beach (N end). Loving Light Yoga, 3455 S Access Rd, Englewood, 941473-0135, Lata528@gmail.com, LovingLightYoga.com. Kundalini Yoga with Dev Atma – 8:30-9:45am. Classes includes gentle warm ups, a yoga set of postures, movements, breathing techniques, and relaxation, followed by meditation utilizing mantra, breath, and often times the healing vibration of the Gong. $14; $50/5. Rosemary Court Yoga, 810 Central Ave, Sarasota. 941-952-5280. RosemaryCourt.com. Downtown Bradenton Farmers’ Market – 9am2pm. Each Sat, the market features a special activity including guest chefs, raffles, arts & crafts vendors & children’s activities. Old Main St, Downtown parking/free on weekends. Dogs on leashes are welcome. 941-744-7484.

Sarasota/Manatee Edition

Nokomis Powerwalk – 9:15-10:15am. Group gathers at Beach Life Wellness and walks, jogs, lunges, and performs a variety of exercises as we make our way to Nokomis Beach and back. Super fun way to exercise with a group and enjoy the beautiful outdoors. All levels welcome. $12/ Prepaid, Beach Life Wellness, 301 Albee Rd W, Nokomis, 941-244-2006, BeachLifeWellness.com. Essentials for Healthy Backs – 9:15-10:30am. Therapeutic Yoga emphasizing alignment, core, breath, and specific poses to relieve common back conditions. $15; $10/10. Alive with Yoga, 7512 S Tamiami Trl, Sarasota. Paula Morris, 941-923-5621, MrrisHaven@aol.com, AliveWithYoga.com. Chair Yoga in Salt Room – 9:30-10:30am. Experience the health benefits of gentle yoga combined with the health benefits of working with the breath during dry salt therapy. $20; Pkgs available; Sr discount; 1st time Free. Fusion Therapy, 7069 S Tamiami Trl, Sarasota. 941-921-7900, FusionTherapy.net. Flow Yoga – 10-11:15am. Sun Salutations to warm the body & move into a series of standing poses. Practice balance, core stability & breathe awareness. $15, $88/8. Prana Yoga. 941-735-0344. Hatha Yoga with Stephanie Cole – 10-11:15am. A creative blend of yoga styles based on the teacher’s background. The class helps to build strength and increase flexibility. $14, $50/5, Rosemary Court Yoga, 810 Central Ave, Sarasota, 941-9525280, RosemaryCourt.com. Book Study & Discussion – 10am-Noon. An ongoing book study group encouraging discussion & group interaction. $10. Unity of Sarasota. 941-9553301. UnityOfSarasota.com. Mindfulness and More – 1-2:30pm. Alive With Yoga, 7513 S Tamiami Trl, Sarasota. Charlie Bradt 941-922-5205. Reiki Share – 7-9pm. 2nd Friday. Interested in practicing, receiving or just want to learn more about Reiki? Come and participate in group healing, with guided meditation beginning the evening, followed by Reiki transference. Massage tables are set up and everyone takes turns giving and receiving Reiki, sharing their month’s experiences and discussing the art of healing to enhance their gifts. Donation/Goes to a different charity each month. ReFlex Arts, Heartwood Retreat Center, 6260 N Lockwood Ridge Rd, Sarasota. 941-359-9642, Contact@ReFlexArts.com, ReFlexArts.com. Chronic Illness Support Group – 7-9pm. 4th Friday. For women living with chronic illnesses in Sarasota. Free. Lido Key, Sarasota. 802-373-8779, ChronicWellnessNurse.com/events.html.

saturday Sarasota Farmers Market – 7am-1pm. Omega Cure bottles, vials, cookies and chocolates available. Stop by, say hi, and try a sample. Main St & Lemon Ave, Sarasota, Omega3Innovations.com. Central Sarasota Year-Round Farmers Market – 8am-1pm, rain or shine. Every agriculture vendor at the market (fruits, vegetables, herbs, plants, etc.) is a growers or farmer, not just a reseller. Sarasota County Technical Institute, 4748 S Beneva Rd, South parking lot, E of the pond, Sarasota, CentralSarasotaFamersMarket.com.

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Beach Yoga for Everybody – 8:30-9:30am. Relax, breathe, stretch & greet the beautiful morning on beautiful Englewood Beach (N end). Loving Light Yoga, 3455 S Access Rd, Englewood, 941473-0135, Lata528@gmail.com, LovingLightYoga.com. Alignment-Based Vinyasa Yoga with Jen Maecker – 9-10:15am. A vigorous style of yoga, which links breath and movement through a heatbuilding sequence, with an extra focus on alignment. $14, $50/5, Rosemary Court Yoga, 810 Central Ave, Sarasota, 941-952-5280, RosemaryCourt. com. Yoga with Lana – 10-11am. Join Lana in her serene Banyan Tree Open Studio. Authentic Yoga incorporating the essentials of a vital practice: meditation, strength, flexibility, balance, and healing. Beginner-Intermediate Hatha Yoga. $12/Prepaid, Beach Life Wellness, 301 Albee Rd W, Nokomis, 941-244-2006, BeachLifeWellness.com. Wild Ginger Apothecary – 10am-6pm. Now open in Gulf Gate, featuring non-toxic and eco-friendly health + beauty items for the entire family. 6557 Superior Ave, Sarasota. 941-312-5630. WildGingerApothecary@gmail.com, WildGingerApothecary.com. Kundalini Yoga with Erinn Earth – 10:3011:45am. Outdoor class for fresh air intake. Lots of breathing while stretching. Techniques for kundalini manipulation for subtle body transformation. Meditation indoors at end of class. Lesson from Sutras or Gita. $10; $40/5, Unity of Sarasota, 3023 Proctor Rd, Sarasota, 941-284-9563, InSelfYoga. net. Iyengar Yoga with Deborah Di Carlo – 11am12:30pm. Iyengar Yoga is characterized by an emphasis on precision of alignment in the yoga postures, the use of props to help students of all ability levels achieve correct alignment, and an understanding of the therapeutic potential of yoga. $14, $50/5, Rosemary Court Yoga, 810 Central Ave, Sarasota, 941-952-5280, RosemaryCourt.com. Stand Up Paddleboard Yoga – 2pm. A gentle yoga class on stand up paddleboards in a beautiful lagoon. Great for beginners. $35/includes board rental. 190 Taft Dr, Lido Key, Sarasota. Info & sign-up, 941-952-8245, Info@SurfItusa.com, SurfItusa.com. Nokomis Reiki Share – 3-5pm. 2nd Sat. An opportunity for Reiki practitioners to connect with one another and those who are interested to know more. Everyone will have time to receive as well as practice sharing healing energy in this safe, caring, environment. No experience needed. Love offering. Beach Life Wellness, 301 Albee Rd W, Nokomis, 941-244-2006, BeachLifeWellness.com.

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

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

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

COURTNEY F. CONNELL, AP

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

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

DR. PAULA KOGER BSN.MA AP OMD Home office in Sarasota, Florida call 941 539 4232 www.wealthofhealthcenter.com

Combining integrative technology and techniques to bring you Dynamic results see www.wealthofhealthcenter.com Acupuncture, NES, Zyto, Homeopathy, Scalar

ADULT EDUCATION THE OPEN CENTER

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

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

THE SPIRIT UNIVERSITY

373 Braden Ave, Sarasota 941-888-4246 www.TheSpiritUniversity.com

Classes and Events: enriching and educational experiences for your personal transformation. Interact with likeminded individuals and learn from industry experts. Meditation, Energy Healing, Psychic Skills. Beginner to expert – all are welcome.

ANIMAL MEDICAL CENTER SARASOTA ANIMAL MEDICAL CENTER

Anne Luther, DVM 3646 Birky St., Sarasota 34232  941-954-4771  SRQVet.com

Dr. Anne Luther has over 25 years experience in conventional medicine and alternative therapies such as acupuncture and homeopathy. “We treat your pet like our own!”

ACUPUNCTURE FACELIFT FACES BY DR ANNA

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

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

APPLIED KINESIOLOGY DR. CYNTHIA CLARK, AP, ACN

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

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

AROMATHERAPY YOUNG LIVING ESSENTIAL OILS

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

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

BIO-IDENTICAL HORMONES FAMILY PHARMACY

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

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

BOOKSTORE/GIFT SHOPS BRIGHT LIFE

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

Bright Life, an award winning boutique specializing in innovative products that accelerate personal growth and transformation. Offering includes energy based healing products which utilize color, sound, fragrance, and the signatures of flowers, crystals & gemstones, monthly workshops, Aura-Soma & Classical Feng Shui consultations & training. Tue & Wed 12:30pm-5:30pm, Thur & Fri (by appointment), Sat 10am-4pm, closed Sun & Mon

ELYSIAN FIELDS

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

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

COLON HYDROTHERAPY COLON THERAPY CLINIC

Alain Menard • Allaesia Menard 7733 Holiday Ave. • Sarasota, Fl 34231 941-922-7744 ColonTherapyClinic.com

Cleansing for digestive disorders. Licensed 42 years. Developed gentle technique. Foot bath and ear candling.

natural awakenings

September 2015

CRANIOSACRAL THERAPY

COUNSELING

ADVANCED CRANIOSACRAL WHOLE BODY THERAPY

SARASOTA PSYCHOTHERAPY SERVICES

Eva Macaluso, MA, LMHC, BCC 941-363-1039 info@anxietytx.com

Holistic treatment approaches integrating Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Energy Psychology and Mindfulness. Working with the mind and body to alleviate symptoms and learn new ways of approaching life with a greater sense of calmness and less anxiety.

Terry Grywinksi, LMT MA6049 San Marco 205D, 1188 N Tamiami Tr, Sarasota • 941-755-3437 AdvancedCranioSacralHealing.com

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

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

MAINSTAY CHIROPRACTIC Drs. Jill and Beau Smith 717 Honore Avenue, Sarasota (941) 342-1291 www.mainstaychiropractic.com Email: www.mainstaychiro.com

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

Mainstay Chiropractic offers the latest 21sth century chiropractic techniques and diagnostic approaches. See how contemporary neurologically based chiropractic care can help you and your specific health problem. Immediate openings. Since Drs. Smith are new in town and in the process of establishing their practice, you can probably be seen the same day you call. Call now to begin the healing process!

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

FELDENKRAIS® METHOD

THE CRYSTAL CAVE

RAY BEHM DDS

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

FELDENKRAIS METHOD®

CRYSTALS

CHIROPRACTORS

DENTISTRY

CRYSTAL BOWLS/GIFTS THE OM SHOPPE & SPA

4801 S. Tamiami Tr. Sarasota 941-706-3257 www.theOMshoppe.com

Sarasota’s largest selection of crystal singing bowls, Himalayan salt products, organic essential oils & aromatherapy, ascension crystals, meditation accessories and mindful living gifts.

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

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

Healthy Food for a Healthy Life

“The Journey In is where you will find that which you have always been searching for”. -Charu-

Our New Menus Are Here!

The Amrit Method of Yoga Nidra is a guided meditation technique, assessible to everyone. It has the power to take you to the innermost, deepest levels of relaxation where your whole body and being is permeate by peace of mind and profound stillness.

New Smoothies, Juices, Gluten-Free Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner items

Studio Offerings: Weekly Amrit Yoga, Yoga Therapeutics, Meditation in Motion & Yoga Nidra (Meditation) Classes, Transformational Workshops, 6 Week Corporate Stress Management Program, Private Yoga Therapeutics, Yoga, & Life Coaching

For more details:

Exploring The Inner Dimensions of Yoga & Yoga Nidra

NEW Student Special $57.00 1 month unlimited classes *1 time offer for new students only

Journey Into Complete Well-Being Yoga & Meditation Center 265 E. Marion Ave. Suite #117 C, Punta Gorda, Fl. 33950 (772)485-0605 • www.journeyinstudio.com

Sarasota/Manatee Edition

www.nasrq.com

visit CafeEvergreen.net or Facebook

801 Tamiami Trail S. | Nokomis, FL 34275

941.412.4334 | cafeevergreen.net

FENG SHUI BRIGHT LIFE AKA FENG SHUI SARASOTA

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

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

THE FENG SHUI CURE

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

JIN SHIN JYUTSU®

HAIR SALON BLISS SALON

SUNCOAST JIN SHIN JYUTSU

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

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

ROYAL BUSINESS CONSULTING, LLC Enjoy the best of Asian health culture Care for feet - health control center 2312 Gulf Gate Dr, Sarasota 941-203-5289

Feeling exhausted and stressed? Enjoy the Finest authentic and professional care for your feet and body. Call 941203-5289 for an appointment. All major credit cards accepted

GYMNASTICS EURORHYTHMICGYMNASTICS

6050 Longwood Run Blvd, Sarasota 941-212-9166 EuroRhythmicGymnastics.com

The beauty of the Rhythmic Gymnastics is coming to the area! A sport that blends the strength of gymnastics, the grace of ballet and the creativity of dance, combined with the use of Ribbons, balls, ropes and clubs. Available for Girls all ages Opens August 18 at Longwood Community Center Classes coached from former Olympic level gymnast for Artistic Gymnastics and former College Champion of Rhythmic Gymnastics Rossy Mihaylova.

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

HEALTH CARE / MASSAGE JUICE BAR

ZUNZUN MASSAGE AND HEALTHCARE

Phillip &Tamayo Shope LMTs 2975 Bee Ridge Rd, A-#5, Sarasota MA66926 &MA59620 & MM28165 941-400-8291 www.zunzunmassage.abmp.com

CROP JUICE BAR & CAFE

2320 Gulf Gate Drive, Sarasota and 4057 Cattlemen Rd, Sarasota (inside LA Fitness) (941) 923-8640 cropjuicesrq.com

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

FOOTBATH MASSAGE & SPA

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

HOLISTIC VETERINARIAN BEAR CREEK VETERINARY ALTERNATIVES 7509 S Tamiami Trl, Sarasota 941-312-6825 BearCreekSarasota.com

At CROP, we hand craft our juices daily by using the highest ORGANIC JUICE BAR & CAFE quality organic vegetables, mix the appropriate amounts of organic fruits for a burst of flavor, and package our juice in glass to ensure the freshest, highest quality juice available anywhere. We invite you to try a CROP juice today and compare the ingredients on our label to any other juice on the market. You will then understand why we believe no other juice even comes close.

MANICURE/PEDICURE

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

EQUINE SUPPLEMENTS WELLPRIDE

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

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

HEALTH SUPPLEMENTS

BLISS SALON

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

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

MASSAGE THERAPY

Bich Mai Massag BICH MAI MASSAGE NO MEMBERSHIP REQUIRED

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

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

OMEGA3 INNOVATIONS

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

Licensed Massage Therapist MA 0025928

941-724-9992

1219 East Ave, Suite 202, Sarasota, FL

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

natural awakenings

September 2015

RAINDROP TECHNIQUE CAROL FORREST, LMT

NUTRITION

cccforrest1@gmail.com 941-266-5771

LICENSED NUTRITION COUNSELOR

The Raindrop technique uses the amazing power of essential oils (which are dispensed in small, rain-like drops) to bring the body back into structural and electrical alignment.

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

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

THE OM SHOPPE & SPA

4801 S. Tamiami Tr. Sarasota 941-706-3257 theOMshoppeandspa.com

OM Energy Day Spa. Om Sound Wave Fusion, Hot Himalayan Salt/ Cold Marble, Steamed Thai Herbal Ball, Four Hand, Chakra Clearing, & Integrated Energy Therapy. Complimentary with all treatments- organic products, color light and sound wave therapy and Amethyst Biomat.

MEDICAL SPA/ MASSAGE THERAPY C’S MEDI SPA

Clara Diaz 2726 Tamiami Trl, Unit C, Port Charlotte 941-249-8160 • www.csmedispa.com

Clara Diaz, the heart and soul behind C’s Medi Spa, is a Licensed Paramedical Aesthetician with a passion for helping others. Specializing in Fractional RadioFrequency, Micro-Needling, Facial Treatments, Massages, Chakra Balancing Massage, Slimming Cavitation, Waxing, and Eyebrow Tinting. MM32214.

NATURAL FOOD CAFE EVERGREEN

STARFLOWER ORGANIC SPATHECARY

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

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

NUTRITIONAL SUPPLEMENTS SPECIAL NUTRITION DISCOUNT PRICES

1882 Stickney Point Rd, Sarasota 941-929-0884 SpecialNutrition.net

Offering the largest selection of all major supplement brands and natural products in the Sarasota area at discount prices. Special orders are our pleasure.

ORGANIC BABY CLOTHES

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

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

NATURAL PET FOOD HOLISTIC FOR PETS

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

UPSCALE BABIES

6170 N. Lockwood Rd. • Sarasota 941-552-8500 upscalebabies.com

Our store carries made in the US 100% organic baby clothes made of bamboosa (grown right here in the US). We offer Kee - Ka(an organic cotton), organic Boba wraps(bamboo), local artisan’s such as Fiona’s Fairies, Coast 2 Coast Threads, and Erna. Educational books and games coming soon. Pre-made gift baskets available as well.

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

Sarasota/Manatee Edition

www.nasrq.com

PEST CONTROL GOOD NEWS PEST SOLUTIONS 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.

PET SUPPLIES HOLISTIC FOR PETS

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

PILATES THE PILATES BODY & GYROTONIC STUDIO

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

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

PSYCHIC MEDIUM REVEREND LOIS CHENEY

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

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

RECONNECTION® THE RECONNECTION® AND RECONNECTIVE HEALING®

Laura Mahoney, Practitioner and Yoga Teacher 561-306-9712 SarasotaHealer.com AngelWingsYoga.com

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

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

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

SPATHECARY STARFLOWER ORGANIC SPATHECARY

SPIRITUAL CENTERS CENTER FOR SPIRITUAL LIVING

ANIMAL MEDICAL CENTER

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

Dr. Anne Luther has over 25 years experience in conventional medicine and alternative therapies such as acupuncture and homeopathy. “We treat your pet like our own!”

Sarasota

SWIMMING SCHOOLS BODY-MIND AQUATICS SWIM SCHOOL Sarasota, Fl 941-981-1200 info@bodymindswimming.com www.BodyMindAquatics.com

Enjoy Sarasota’s holistic swim school’s healthier hydrogen peroxide pool. NO-TEARS Survival Safety Swim, childpaced, fun, individualized small classes of 3-4. Overcome fears. 6 months-adults. FREE EVALUATIONS.

SKIN CARE SPA DE VRIES

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

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

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

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

3646 Birky Street, Sarasota 941-954-4771 SRQVet.com

YOGA COSMIC CENTER OF SPIRITUAL LIGHT 5041 Ringwood Meadow, G2, Sarasota 941-371-9333 CosmicCenterOfSpiritualLight.com

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

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

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

VETERINARIAN

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

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

GARDEN OF THE HEART YOGA

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

ECKANKAR

Explore Eckankar at eckankar.org, call 941.358.325 or on Facebook: EckankarInSarasota

people to have real spiritual experiencesóeven the ultimate experience of Godóin this very lifetime. You can Explore Eckankar at eckankar.org, call 941.358.0325 or on Facebook: EckankarInSarasota.

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

REFLEX ARTS DANCE & YOGA STUDIO

RISING TIDE INTERNATIONAL

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

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

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

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

YOGA SRQ

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

UNITY OF SARASOTA

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

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

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

natural awakenings

September 2015

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! “I am impressed by the range of support provided to franchisees; it seems all the bases are more than covered to provide an owner the ability to be successful. Together with my experience, drive and desire to make a difference, it feels like a good fit.” ~ Holly Baker, Tucson, AZ “Each month, the content is enriching, beneficial and very often profound. We are a source of true enrichment and nourishment for so many. We are bringing light and understanding to millions of people.” ~ Craig Heim, Upstate NY “There’s such strength in this business model: exceptional content from the corporation paired with eyes and ears on the ground here locally. We rock!“ ~ Tracy Garland, Virginia’s Blue Ridge

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Sarasota/Manatee Edition

www.nasrq.com

Natural Awakenings is now expanding into new markets across the U.S. Contact us about starting a magazine in a community of your choice or acquiring an existing publication for sale highlighted in red below. Natural Awakenings publishes in over 95 markets across the U.S. and Puerto Rico. • • • • • • • • • •

Huntsville, AL Mobile/Baldwin, AL* Phoenix, AZ* Tucson, AZ East Bay Area, CA San Diego, CA Denver/Boulder, CO Fairfield County, CT Hartford, CT New Haven/ Middlesex, CT • Washington, DC • Daytona/Volusia/ Flagler, FL • NW FL Emerald Coast • Ft. Lauderdale, FL • Jacksonville/ St. 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 • FL’s Treasure Coast • Atlanta, GA • Hawaiian Islands • Chicago, IL • Chicago Western Suburbs, IL • Indianapolis, IN • Baton Rouge, LA • Lafayette, LA • New Orleans, LA • Portland, ME • Boston, MA • Ann Arbor, MI • East Michigan • Wayne County, MI • Western MI • Minneapolis/ St. Paul, MN • Charlotte, NC • Lake Norman, NC* • Triangle, NC • Central, NJ • Hudson County, NJ • Mercer County, NJ

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

* Existing magazines for sale

Natural Awakenings recently won the prestigious FBR50 Franchise Satisfaction Award from Franchise Business Review. To learn more, visit FranchiseBusinessReview.com

natural awakenings

September 2015

Fall Classes Now Forming

COURSES INCLUDE: • Introduction to Homeopathy • The Herbal Medicine Chest • Traditional Chinese Medicine • Introduction to Chiropractic

Additional degree programs available

• Herbology and Botany • Ayurvedic Medicine • Nutrition and Aging • Naturopathy

Ranked in the Top 30 Best Online Colleges TheBestSchools.org

Online Shifts are Available Learn more at EvergladesUniversity.edu

Sarasota 866.907.2262 Tampa 844.297.1715

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