December 2011 - Genesee/Lapeer Natural Awakenings by Natural Awakenings of East Michigan

HEALTHY LIVING HEALTHY PLANET feel good live simply laugh more

FREE

Special Edition

Uplifting Humanity Simple Ways to Give and Do Good

Wayne Dyer Five Favorite New Year's Intentions

HOLIDAY TREATS Flavorful, Festive Party Foods

Meaningful

Giving Tips to Simplify the Season

December 2011 | Genesee, Lapeer & Shiawassee | NAeastMichigan.com

The Tornadosuit™ Makes scoliosis Treatment comfortable

he TornadoSuit™ is a new type of functional scoliosis activity suit that acts upon the spine much differently than conventional rigidstyle scoliosis braces. It can be easily concealed underneath clothing, and has shown immediate correction of the scoliosis curvature. The TornadoSuit ™ was developed by Mark Morningstar, DC, who also founded the ARC3D system of scoliosis treatment.

Get Published in Natural Awakenings!

upon the location and severity of the scoliosis. The TornadoSuit™ is designed to be used in conjunction with an exercise-based scoliosis therapy, such as the ARC3D Therapy (arc3dtherapy.com). This enhances the effectiveness of the TornadoSuit™ compared to wearing the TornadoSuit™ alone.

Because it is not a hard brace, but made “As an active member instead out of neoof SOSORT, a European prene (a stretchable Thoracolumbar based medical society foyet durable material), Configuration cused on exercise-based it does allow some give treatments for scoliosis, I’ve been over the course of time over each fortunate enough to be exposed wear period (3-6 hours per day). to all types of scoliosis treatment The TornadoSuit™ material allows worldwide. Having seen the benthe patient to maintain efits and disadvantages of his or her flexibility, various types of bracing and can be worn while both in the US and abroad, participating in sports I tried to create a design and other athletic acthat incorporated as many tivities. However, it of the advantages as possistill maintains a high ble without the drawbacks level of support to alof conventional bracing,” low the muscles of says Morningstar. the spine to work less Full Torso According to preliminary while still stabilizing Version reports, the TornadoSuit™ the spine. Preliminary is more comfortable than hard research suggests that the avbraces, yet it still provides substan- erage initial correction of the tial support, while also being thin spinal curvature ranges between enough to conceal under clothing 15-35%. Patients wearing the for daylong wear. TornadoSuit™ for one year are maintaining scoliosis improveA big advantage of the TornadoSuments of 10-40%. it™ is that it can be worn exclusively at home, thereby minimizing the For more information on impact of treatment on a child’s the TornadoSuit™, or to schedule self-esteem and confidence. Since your free initial consult, please it is comprised of multiple pieces, contact Dr. Morningstar at 810the TornadoSuit™ can be fully cus- 694-3576, or email him at: tomized to each patient, depending drmorningstar@nwprc.com. advertisement

We encourage and welcome participation by experts in our community. Local articles are what make Natural Awakenings a community resource for naturally healthy and sustainable living..for everyone. We want our readers to get to know you. Submitting editorial for one or more of our departments provides you with the opportunity to share knowledge and bring focus to your business and/or practice. For details, editorial and styling guidelines, visit our website: NAEastMichigan.com

Or email us: publisher@NAEastMichigan.com

contents 7

5 newsbriefs

7 healthbriefs

10 globalbriefs

15 consciouseating

19 healthykids

20 inspiration

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.

12 DO GOOD, FEEL GOOD

21 greenliving

22 fitbody

23 healingways

25 calendarofevents

28 ongoingevents

The Helping – Health – Happiness Connection by Lisa Marshall

15 FUN PARTY FOODS

Easy, Flavorful and Festive

by Renée Loux

29 naturaldirectory

30 classifieds

12 15

19 THE PARENT PATH How Children Enrich Our Spiritual Life

by Steve Taylor

advertising & submissions how to advertise To advertise with Natural Awakenings or request a media kit, please contact us at 248-628-0125 or email: Advertising@NAeastMichigan.com. Deadline for ads: the 12th of the month. Editorial submissions Email articles, news items and ideas to: Editor@NAeastMichigan.com. Deadline for editorial: the 5th of the month.

5 Intentions For the New Year

21 MEANINGFUL GIVING Tips to Simplify the Season

by Beth Davis

22 THE UPSIDE OF

regional markets Advertise your products or services in multiple markets! Natural Awakenings Publishing Corp. is a growing franchised family of locally owned magazines serving communities since 1994. To place your ad in other markets call 239-449-8309. For franchising opportunities call 239-530-1377 or visit NaturalAwakeningsMag.com. is uses recycled newsprint and soy-based ink.

calendar submissions Email Calendar Events to: Calendar@NAeastMichigan.com. Please see guidelines on our website first Deadline for calendar: the 12th of the month.

Natural Awakenings

20 WAYNE DYER

DOWNHILL SKIING

Make the Most of Peak Experiences

by Randy Kambic

23 GOOD VIBRATIONS

Sound Healing for the Soul by Erin Lehn Floresca

Please recycle all unused copies of

Natural Awakenings.

natural awakenings

December 2011

letterfrompublishers

Natural Awakenings of East Michigan Greater Genesee, Lapeer and Shiawassee Edition Michigan Healthy Living & Sustainability P.O. Box 283 • Oxford, MI • 48371

Phone: 248-628-0125 Fax: 866-556-5205

Publishers

Tracy & Jerry Neale publisher@NAeastMichigan.com

Editorial and Design Team Sharon Bruckman Kim Cerne • Alison Chabonais Beth Davis • Leah Juarez Tracy Neale

Sales & Marketing

KC Brethauer • Nate Morris Jerry Neale

National Franchise Sales John Voell, II • 239-530-1377 NaturalAwakeningsMag.com

www.NAeastMichigan.com © 2011 by Natural Awakenings of East Michigan, Natural Awakenings Publishing Corp. and Michigan Healthy Living and Sustainability, Inc. All rights reserved. Although some parts of this publication may be reproduced and reprinted, we require that written permission be obtained in advance. We do not necessarily endorse the views expressed in the articles and advertisements, nor are we responsible for the products or services advertised. The information contained herein is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Always seek the advice of your medical professional.

e go to press with the December issue about the same time as the official start of the Christmas/Holiday shopping season. This can also be one of the most stressful times of the year. As one of our writers this month, Beth Davis, points out in her article "Meaningful Giving: Tips to Simplify the Season," a poll reveals that 90 percent of the stress we feel during the holidays is related to gift-giving. If you've ever stood in line during the cold, early morning hours, waiting for a store to open so you can get one of those "early bird" specials or languished in the checkout line for an unbearable amount of time, you can relate. Beth goes on to describe easy, affordable ways to gift and help reduce the stress you experience over the next few weeks. Related to the stress issue, a growing amount of research is showing that acts of generosity and the associated feelings of empathy, compassion and altruism may actually improve both mental and physical health. In our feature article this month, "Do Good, Feel Good," writer Lisa Marshall delves into the "Helping - Health - Happiness" connection. We were delighted to learn that even chronic pain sufferers, research has shown, saw their own pain and depression decrease! Studies have also shown that people who regularly volunteer or give of themselves live longer. If any of this interests you, check out the article. Just think if everyone ramped up their giving. The less fortunate would be better off and those who do the giving would all be healthier! We know, from Thanksgiving on through the holidays, eating healthy can be a challenge with all the feasts, parties, snacks, treats and other tempting items with which we're bombarded. As someone we know used to say, "the best solution is exercise...pushing yourself away from the table." We all have to eat, however, so in this issue we've got a variety of great, healthy recipes for you in "Fun Party Foods," by Renee Loux. What's good about these recipes is that they can be used yearround. Enjoy. And there's lots more, including Wayne Dyer with his five recommended intentions for the New Year and lots of other information to help you live healthier, more earth-friendly lifestyles. Finally, the publishing business is an ongoing, constant process, and we're already planning the content for our January issue. Each year in January we concentrate even more on natural, integrative and complementary medicine and this year we're planning for our biggest issue ever. The healthy living niche, especially as it relates to integrative and complementary options, is on the rise here in Michigan and for January we'll be searching for the best to bring to you. If you have suggestions, let us know by email or give us a call. Our contact information is in the masthead. So until then, stay happy and healthy...naturally!

We welcome your ideas, articles and comments.

Subscriptions:

By Mail: $24 (12 issues) Natural Awakenings P.O. Box 283 • Oxford, MI • 48371 Free Digital Subscription: www.ReadNA.com Natural Awakenings is printed using recycled newsprint and soy-based ink.

Genesee, Lapeer & Shiawassee, MI

Watch for the

symbol next to advertisers in this issue.

It indentifies NA Network Providers offering special discounts to cardholders. For a complete listing, visit: NaturalAwakeningsNetwork.com. www.NAeastMichigan.com

newsbriefs Peripheral Neuropathy Clinic Opens in Flint

europathy Relief Centers of Flint is announcing the opening of their new clinic on South Linden Road in Flint this month. "The Lansing office has been open since June, 2011 with an overwhelming demand for services," says Dr. Paul DeWeese, of the center. "This is why we're opening offices in Flint and in Brighton." Peripheral neuropathy is a disorder of the peripheral nerves-the motor, sensory and autonomic nerves that connect the spinal cord to muscles, skin and internal organs. It usually affects the hands and feet, causing weakness, numbness, tingling and pain. It is often misdiagnosed and affects over 20 million Americans. "This is a new, innovative and exclusive treatment solution that relieves pain, restores feeling and is proven safe and effective," explains Dr. DeWeese. "It is covered by Medicare, uses no addictive medications and there is no surgery. We ask readers to call us for a free consultation."

Do you have a special event in the community? Open a new office? Move? Recently become certified in a new modality?

Neuropathy Relief Center of Flint is located at 1289 South Linden Road, Flint. For more information, call 810-410-9021. See ad page 17.

Imagine That Hypnotherapy Celebrates New Waterford Location

magine That Hypnotherapy has moved to a more convenient location in Waterford, and in celebration, program specials are being offered to introduce the benefits of hypnosis to the general public. Price reductions for stop smoking, weight loss, self-esteem boost and other programs will be running throughout the month of December. Owner and certified hypnotherapist, Jack Dugger, has been doing hypnosis to help people achieve their goals for over 30 years. His main goal is to help people awaken to their highest potentials and end unconscious reactions forever. “It seems as we're growing up our brain is wiring itself. It records every action, emotion and reaction. As Jack Dugger we grow older and older, these imprints on the brain become more and more crystallized,” says Dugger. “Come in and experience the calming and proactive effects that hypnosis can implant in your subconscious mind. Lose 20 pounds easily, give cigarettes up forever and find your most powerful, dynamic self.” Imagine That Hypnotherapy is now located at 2893 Dixie Hwy., Waterford. Call 248-622-6450 to schedule an appointment of visit imaginethathypnotherapy.com for more information.

natural awakenings

News Briefs.

We welcome news items relevant to the subject matter of our magazine. We also welcome any suggestions you may have for a news item. Visit our website for guidelines and a convenient online submission form to guide you through the submission process.

NAEastMichigan.com December 2011

newsbriefs Providing Guidance and Direction for Better Health • Relaxing Therapeutic Massage • Hot Stone & Deep Tissue Massage • Reflexology • Nutritional Counseling • Scenar Therapy • Blood Interpretation • Bio Terrain • Ear Candling • Ion Cleanse If you are concerned about your health, have a specific health problem, or simply want to fine tune your current level of well-being call

114-A S. Bridge St. ~ Linden

(810) 735-2575

check out natural awakenings on Facebook® and interact with us on events, topics and news.

visit mhlas.com then click "like" natural awakenings on Facebook 6

Genesee, Lapeer & Shiawassee, MI

Sultan of Oman Permits Young Living Oils to Extract Frankincense

rankincense, known for millennia for offering immense therapeutic benefits, is once again in the modern day spotlight thanks in part to Young Living Essential Oils. Within the past 20 years, frankincense has been the subject of substantial research, with more than 200 studies illustrating its efficacy in treating health challenges such as depression, cancer therapy, inflammation, skin care and vascular support. Young Living Essential Oils was recently granted permission by the Sultan of Oman to build a distillery in his country, and to extract Boswellia sacra, the most potent form of frankincense, from 900 year old frankincense trees. The company now carries two forms of frankincense – the Boswellia sacra as well as Boswellia carteri. Therapeutic-grade frankincense which contains no pesticides, herbicides, or synthetics, can be used in aromatherapy , topically on the skin, or as perfume. For more information, contact Irene Marz, a local Natural Wellness Advocate and Young Living Distributor, at irenemarz.vibrantscents.com. Detailed listings of the frankincense studies can be found at pubmed.com. See ad page 29.

New Holistic Psychotherapy Practice Opens in Lake Orion

he Conscious Connection Center, LLC is a new, holistic psychotherapy practice in Lake Orion that provides insight and guidance to individuals, couples and families yearning to create rich and full relationships in their lives. "My purpose," says founder April Shackelford MSW, CADC, "is to provide a sacred space for personal and spiritual restoration that increases self-awareness for the chance to exchange information with the core of the human composition. This core is comprised of the emotions and cognitions of the higher self, the inner child, the current physical experience and the energetic entanglement of all three components. I April Shackelford believe that people deserve to be treated as emotional, energetic and progressive human beings." Shackelford's current studies involve identifying and applying methodologies that integrate parental self-awareness to heal or re-create strong child-parent bonds. "Although medical treatment is needed in our lives," states Shackelford, "this center was established to run in opposition of the medical model, which currently floods the existing insurance-accepted therapy practices today." To reach April Shackelford to schedule an appointment or for more information, call 810-423-7577 or email thesearchwithin_4@yahoo.com www.NAeastMichigan.com

healthbriefs

Acupuncture Eases Unexplained Symptoms

atients that experience medically unexplained symptoms might benefit from acupuncture, according to new research by the Institute of Health Services Research, Peninsula Medical School, at the University of Exeter. The study involved 80 adults that had consulted their general practitioner eight or more times in the previous year for problems such as headaches, muscle pain, extreme fatigue or joint and back pain. The patients receiving acupuncture reported improved well-being and scored higher on an individualized health status questionnaire than the control group. They reported that their acupuncture consultations became increasingly valuable and that the interactive and holistic nature of the sessions gave them a sense that something positive was being done about their condition. Professor Andrew Gould, who led the study, says it is important to offer patients other options when conventional medicine isn’t working. “It’s soul-destroying for both the patient and doctor when there’s no clear reason for the symptoms patients are suffering from,” he explains. “We don’t know how acupuncture is making a difference, but it seems to be something to do with the treatment, rather than just a placebo or the one-to-one care the patients are getting.” The study was the first of its kind in the United Kingdom. The research results were published in The British Journal of General Practice.

1 in 3 Menopausal Women At Risk of Developing Scoliosis

n new research published in the European Spine Journal, women going through menopause or just after menopause were more likely to develop olisthesis, a spinal deformity that may contribute to the onset of adult scoliosis, termed de novo scoliosis. One of the big factors in this study was the observed loss of bone density in this population of patients. The researchers found that women taking hormone replacement therapy (HRT) were much less likely to develop this spinal deformity. According to Dr. Megan Strauchman, an expert in bio-identical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT), “This study represents a new perspective in the prevention of adult scoliosis. If we can maintain balance in women’s hormone levels, we may be indirectly preventing the most well known deformity of the spine, scoliosis.” Scoliosis affects nearly one-third of all postmenopausal women, according to recent data. This is a much higher incidence than the adolescent version of scoliosis, which affects only 1-3% annually. Bio-identical hormones are different than conventional hormone replacement therapy. “Bio-identical hormones are much safer than the conventional hormone drugs, which are synthetic and carry increased risks of certain cancers,” says Dr. Strauchman. She recommends women take a proactive role in maintaining their hormone levels not only for scoliosis prevention, but also for thyroid disorders, menopause symptoms, decreasing bone density, and low libido. For more information on bio-identical hormones replacement and scoliosis, you can visit Dr. Strauchman’s website at nwprc.com or call 810-694-3576 in Grand Blanc and 586-727-7500 in Richmond. natural awakenings

David Ewing DDS Licensed Professional Counselor and

Leslie Crandell-Ewing Licensed Professional Counselor

30 year s of helping families look and feel their best!

Holistic Dentistr y

• Cosmetic Dentistry for Your Smile • Composite Fillings (pure white and Mercury FREE!) • Dentures, Crowns, and Bridges • Extractions and Root Canals •TMJ (jaw related headache relief)

• Applied Kinesiology for Pain and Anxiety Relief

Counseling We use Psychological Energy Techniques for Powerful and Effective

Pain Control

• Pain Control Techniques for

Fibromyalgia, Migraines, Nerve, Muscle, & Joint Pain & Fatigue

Our Techniques Include: • Neuro Emotional Technique (NET) • Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) • Laser Light Therapy

& Personal Counseling for: • Family Anxiety and Depression

• • Negative Thinking • Crisis Management • Substance Abuse • Smoking Cessation

5516 Torrey Rd. at Hill Rd.

Flint/Grand Blanc

810-232-2515 December 2011

healthbriefs

Massage Beats Meds for Back Pain

new study conducted by the Group Health Research Institute of Seattle suggests that massage therapy may be better than conventional medicine alone for easing lower back pain. Researchers recruited 401 patients with chronic back pain and found that those receiving a series of either relaxation or structural massage spent fewer days in bed and were more active than those receiving “usual medical care,” ranging from

Zinc Fights Colds

new study confirms that zinc can, indeed, help reduce the severity and duration of the common cold, and high doses—at least 75 milligrams per day—work best. Depending upon the total dosage and composition of the lozenges, zinc may shorten the duration of a common cold episode by up to 40 percent, according to University of Helsinki research. Source: Open Respiratory Medicine Journal

Save! 10% off

any supplement purchase

With coupon. Valid Through: 12/31/11. Not valid with any other offers.

Genesee, Lapeer & Shiawassee, MI

painkillers, anti-inflammatory drugs and muscle relaxants to physical therapy. Lead study author Daniel Cherkin, director of the institute, concluded: “If you’re having continuing problems with back pain, even after trying usual medical care, massage may be a good thing to do. I think the results are pretty strong.” Funded by the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, part of the U.S. National Institutes of Health, the study was published in the Annals of Internal Medicine.

Nutty Help for Diabetes

New research from St. Michael’s Hospital and the University of Toronto reports that consuming two ounces of nuts daily as a replacement for carbohydrates (muffins were used in the study) is effective in glycemic and serum lipid control for people with Type 2 diabetes. The researchers concluded that all nuts—whether mixed, unsalted, raw or dry-roasted— offer benefits for control of both blood glucose and blood lipids and could be consumed as part of a strategy to improve diabetes control without weight gain. Source: Diabetes Care

www.NAeastMichigan.com

Phosphates Not Heart-Healthy

hosphates are commonly found in microwavable meals, soft drinks and other processed and prepackaged foods. Now, researchers at the University of Sheffield, UK, have demonstrated a connection between the high intake of phosphates and atherosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries, a leading cause of heart disease. The research shows that cholesterol deposits in the walls of arteries increase following a higher phosphate diet. This leads to narrowing of the arteries, the cause of most heart attacks and strokes. Source: Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology

We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give. ~Winston Churchill

Delivering More Than Prescriptions Natural & Homeopathic Supplements & Products Compounding for People & Pets Free Ameda Breast Pumps & Rentals D e liver y Dr. Comfort Diabetic Shoes LifeLine Medical Alert Service Sigvaris Support Stockings Educational seminars BIOFREEZE® Queasy Pops & Drops SCRIP TALK

FREE SERVICE & ONLY AVAILABLE HERE!

FAMILY Pharmacy

810-235-7995

G4444 Fenton Rd • Flint

(Located just north of Maple Road)

Therapies and treatments designed to improve life, regenerate the body and increase overall health. • BioIdentical Hormone Replacement during Menopause (female) and Andropause (male)! • Lose Weight for good! Improve lifespan, cardiac and brain health, immune system, digestion, sleep and energy! • Intravenous Nutritional Support for Malabsorption, pre/post surgery, immune system, Chelation and Detox. • And many more services from the area’s premier skin treatment specialist. The goal of Dr. Madhu Subnani, Board Certified Physician and Medical Director, is to replenish those nutritional deficiencies and vital hormones which reduce fatigue and weight gain and increase sexual function. Bio-Identical Hormone Replacement, along with Oral and IV Nutrition, has quickly become the new source for longer, healthier lives and what many are now calling The Fountain of Youth. She develops a specific plan designed for your body based on a Clinical Assessment determining your health status.

Call 248-840-7853 for a FREE consultation today!

Health & Beauty Medical Spa Rochester • 6854 N Rochester Rd • 248-650-2241 Imlay City • 542 N Cedar • 810-724-0480

Enjoy the fountain of youth! Look good, feel good and have great sex! natural awakenings

December 2011

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

The Greenest Tree Go Natural for Christmas

The star of many families’ seasonal décor, the annual Christmas tree does not need to become an environmental burden if selected with care. While some individuals have strong opinions about the virtues of a natural tree versus an artificial one, each can have pros and cons. The National Christmas Tree Association points out that 85 percent of the plastic trees sold in the United States are imported from China and may contain toxic chemicals, while evergreen trees can be grown in all 50 states. Even with a real tree, however, there are factors to consider. How far did the tree travel? The distance traveled from its source impacts the carbon footprint, due to the fuel expended to transport it. Most vendors can tell you the state of origin, but how about pesticides? Conventional Christmas tree farms are reputed to use abundant pesticides to keep their product looking picture-

perfect. Ask if the seller is the grower and/or knows the answer. Typically, a temporary sidewalk or street corner seller may not; a better bet can be a u-pick-it tree farm. Put a cut tree in water within a few hours after trimming the base a flat one-half to one inch; some people add an aspirin to the water to enhance absorption. According to the 2009 National Geographic Green Guide, Americans annually discard 30 million cut trees after the holidays, with the wood wast-

You’ll know it’s fresh when you cut your own at Nicklas Tree Farm Hand-trimmed Christmas trees • No preservatives, additives or paint • Free hay rides Friday through Sunday!*

Pre-cut or in-patch trees available. • In-patch: $46 • Pre-cut: $51 3847 W. Brocker Rd. Metamora, MI

810-610-3849

Certificate for a FREE Christmas Plant from Wojo’s Greenhouse ~and~ FREE Appetizer from the Historic White Horse Inn with every tree purchase!

*Dates: Nov. 25th to Dec. 18th. Hours: 10-5 Wednesday-Sunday • new days - Closed Mon & Tue Please...no pets, chain saws or credit cards.

Get Stress Relief* With Craniosacral Therapy * And much more...Denae Tait uses unique, specialized techniques that include Craniosacral, Aromatherapy & Holistic Nutrition to help you with: Stress • Neck & back pain Headache • TMJ • Depression Sports Injuries • Chronic fatigue For Info/Appt:

1178 S. Lapeer Rd Lapeer

810-614-7582

Genesee, Lapeer & Shiawassee, MI

ed in landfills. Alternatively, a program in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, collects them to combat coastal erosion. Locate tree growers by state and learn how to dispose of trees responsibly at PickYourOwnChristmasTree. org. GreenPromise.com publishes a list of organic Christmas tree farmers at Tinyurl.com/65oqh9. When choosing a live tree, keep it properly hydrated and just repot it in the yard after the celebrations conclude. Find detailed steps for care and planting from WikiHow.com at Tinyurl. com/6dyauj and Tinyurl.com/3rj582n.

www.NAeastMichigan.com

Got Faith?

Coming in January

Global Religion Remains Strong Despite Repression In a recent, nondenominational global survey of 18,000 people across 24 countries by UK research firm Ipsos Mori, 70 percent identified themselves with a chosen religion. Thirty percent said that their religion motivates them to give time or money to people in need and 73 percent of those under age 35 said their religion or faith was important in their life. At the same time, Rising Restrictions on Religion, a recent report by the Pew Research Center’s Forum on Religion & Public Life, found that more than 2.2 billion of the world’s total population of 6.9 billion people live in countries where either government restrictions on religion or social hostilities involving religion rose substantially between 2006 and 2009. Most of the countries that experienced substantial increases already had high levels of restrictions or hostilities. “This survey shows how much religion matters and that no analysis of the contemporary world, political or social, is complete without understanding the relationship between faith and globalization,” says former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair, a patron of the Tony Blair Faith Foundation. “There is much to encourage the view that people can learn to respect those of another faith and live with them peacefully. Interfaith dialogue and action today is not just an interesting but peripheral minor subject; it is the essence, central to creating greater social cohesion and harmony.”

Journey to Good Health with Natural Awakenings’ Health & Wellness experts. Making natural choices supports physical and mental well-being.

Sources: Christian Today (UK); PewForum.org

Bully Beaters

Cooperation is Key to Social Harmony Bullies seem to be made, not born. A study from the University of California, Berkeley, concludes that a cooperative school experience, versus a competitive one, can play a major positive role in the socialization of students. Researchers canvassed 217 students in grades three through five, measuring how much they liked to cooperate or compete with their peers, and how often they acted with aggression or kindness toward them. The youngsters also estimated how often their teachers put them in small groups to complete assignments together, a classroom strategy known as “cooperative learning,” because the students have to collaborate with one another to get their work done. Students that engaged in more frequent cooperative learning were more likely to say they enjoyed cooperating with others and reported exhibiting kind, helpful, prosocial behaviors. In contrast, students that said they preferred to compete were significantly more likely to act aggressively toward their peers and try to do them harm. The results suggest that cooperation begets cooperation. The researchers further concluded that cooperative experiences promote the development of the personality trait of cooperation. Based on their results, the researchers advocate more cooperative learning in classrooms as a way to promote positive behaviors and combat bullying, or harm-intentioned aggression.

For more information about advertising and how you can participate, call

248-628-0125

Source: Greater Good Science Center natural awakenings

December 2011

Helping Hands Live Longer

DO GOOD, FEEL GOOD

The Helping – Health – Happiness Connection by Lisa Marshall

rowing up on Long Island, New York, young Stephen Post often received an unusual prescription from his mother when he was feeling grouchy or under the weather. “She’d say, ‘Why don’t you go out and help someone?’” he recalls. “I’d go out and help Mr. Muller rake leaves or help old Bobby Lawrence fix his boat. Then, I’d come back feeling better, and feeling better about life.” Decades later, Post—a professor of preventive medicine at New York’s Stony Brook University—is among a growing contingent of researchers exploring just how such acts of generosity and the feelings (empathy, compassion, altruism) that prompt them may actually improve our mental and physical health. Recent studies have shown that people that volunteer live longer, suffer less chronic pain, have bolstered immune systems, are more likely to

Genesee, Lapeer & Shiawassee, MI

recover from addiction, and experience an in-the-moment sense of calm akin to that which people experience during and after exercise. Scientists have yet to fully understand what the physiological underpinnings are of such health benefits, but early studies credit a cascade of neurobiological changes that occur as we reach out to help a loved one, or (in some cases) even cut a check to a stranger in need. Could generosity be the missing, often overlooked ingredient to a prescription for better health? Perhaps, says Post, author of The Hidden Gifts of Helping: How the Power of Giving, Compassion and Hope Can Get Us Through Hard Times. “This is a young science, but what we have begun to discover is that there is something going on, physiologically, in this process of helping others that seems to make people feel happier and report greater health.”

We’ve all felt it: That blush of innerwarmth we get after we bring a plate of healthful, steaming food to a sick relative, volunteer to read to kids at a local preschool or help sort donations for a shelter. According to a 2010 survey of 4,500 Americans by United Healthcare, 68 percent of those that volunteered in the previous year reported that doing it made them feel physically healthier; 73 percent noted that it lowered their stress levels. Meanwhile, 29 percent of volunteers that suffered from a chronic illness claimed that giving of their time helped them to better manage the illness. Other studies, by researchers at Boston College, found that when chronic pain sufferers volunteered to help others with similar conditions, they saw their own pain and depression levels decrease. At least seven studies have shown that people that regularly volunteer or give of themselves live longer—especially if they do it for genuinely altruistic reasons. Cami Walker, 38, of Denver, has experienced firsthand the physical benefits of being generous. After one sleepless night, lying awake and, “feeling sorry for myself,” due to a flare-up of her multiple sclerosis, she decided to take the advice of a spiritual teacher that suggested she, “Give something away each day for 29 days.” On day one, she called a sick friend to offer her support. On day two, she dropped $5 in a hat for some street performers. Another day, she treated a friend to a foot massage. By day 14, she recalls, “My body was stronger and I was able to stop walking with my cane. After months of being too sick to work, I was able to go back part-time.” Walker subsequently wrote the bestselling 29 Gifts: How a Month of Giving Can Change Your Life. It has inspired a global giving movement, with participants blogging about their experiences at 29Gifts.org. As she recently explained to The New York Times, “It’s about stepping outside of your own story long enough to make a connection with someone else.”

The Helper’s High

University of Michigan researcher Sara

www.NAeastMichigan.com

Konrath, Ph.D., has found that people engaging in acts that benefit others tend to have more calming hormones like oxytocin and progesterone coursing through their bodies. If presented with a tough situation later, they are likely to react with a muted stress response, churning out fewer harmful stress hormones, such as cortisol and norepinephrine, and maintaining a calmer heart rate. Konrath is studying whether altruistic thoughts and behavior might also be associated with an anti-inflammatory effect on the body. “Just thinking about giving seems to have a beneficial physiological impact,” says Post. For instance, a late 20th-century study by then Harvard Psychologist David McClelland found that when people watched a film about Mother Teresa’s work with orphans in Calcutta, levels of immunoglobulin A (a marker of immune strength) shot up. A more recent study found that people had higher levels of oxytocin in their blood after they had watched a moving film about an ill 4-year-old boy. Some research further suggests that the act of giving may release natural opiates, such as endorphins, into our system. One landmark analysis of 1,700 people published in Psychology Today found that more than 68 percent experienced a “helper’s high” when physically helping another person, and 13 percent reported a decrease in aches and pains afterward. It’s a concept that’s been documented many times since. Meanwhile, new brain-imaging research has shown that acts of giving (including making a charitable donation) stimulate “reward centers” in the brain. This includes the mesolimbic pathway by which natural dopamine is released, leaving us feeling euphoric. On the flip side, “We found that people that are high in narcissism and low in empathy have higher cortisol levels,” advises Konrath. “They walk around with high stress reactivity, which is really hard on the body.” One other clear

example of the health benefits of helping lies in the field of addiction research. Recent studies by Maria Pagano, Ph.D., an associate professor of psychology at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, found that recovering addicts that volunteer to help other addicts stay sober are twice as likely to remain so themselves. That’s because narcissism and self-absorption are often at the root of addiction, and generosity is an antidote to narcissism, Pagano says. “The founders of AA (Alcoholics Anonymous) figured it out,” Pagano continues, noting that a primary focus is on serving others. “They figured out that this selfish root is there before the illness develops, and is sustained unless you treat it. This is treatment; it is a way of continually weeding out the narcissism that made you sick.”

Born to Give

Stephanie Brown, Ph.D., an associate professor of preventive medicine at

Stony Brook, is the daughter of an evolutionary psychologist and a pioneer in the study of altruism’s neurobiological roots. In sharp contrast to what she describes as the long-held “self-interested” assumption about human nature (that we help others only to help ourselves), she suggests that humans are biologically wired to be empathetic and generous. “It makes more sense from an evolutionary perspective for us to suppress self-interest,” for the benefit of the whole sometimes, she says. New research from the University of Washington suggests that babies as young as 15 months old exhibit fairness and empathy. So, why don’t we always stop to help? Our anxious, busy, modern-day lives get in the way, suggests Brown. “It could be that our natural, default state is to help when we see need, but what prevents that is our stress response.”

You must not lose faith

in humanity. Humanity is an ocean; if a few drops of the ocean are dirty, the ocean does not become dirty. ~Mohandas Gandhi

Call 239-530-1377 natural awakenings

December 2011

Winter 2012 Issue Available later this month!

That is, stress often gets in the way: Maybe we pass a stranded motorist on the road, but drive on by because we’re on a timetable. Perhaps our instinct is to offer a helping hand to a homeless person, but we fear that more will be asked of us than we are prepared to give. We wish to bring a meal to a dying relative, but are apprehensive about what to say when we visit. Brown’s recent federally funded studies show that at least some of the calming hormones and quietness of heart often seen in habitual givers may actually precede and enable their acts

of selflessness by interrupting their potential stress response before it stalls their helping hand. “I am suggesting that when you see helping going on, something beneficial has already happened to the giver’s body,” says Brown. When givers perceive a need, instead of fretting and fleeing, they calmly stop to help. In the end, everyone walks away feeling a little more generous. Lisa Marshall is a freelance health writer in Boulder, CO. Connect at LisaAnnMarshall.com.

how to up our generosity Quotient

pet

natural awakenings

East Michigan's Natural Awakenings magazine...exclusively about healthy living for our animal friends.

ocus on someone else for a change, whether it’s looking a store clerk in the eye or refraining from shouting at a referee at a sporting event. “People can become more empathetic if they just practice taking someone else’s perspective,” says University of Michigan researcher Sara Konrath. “When encountering a homeless person, for example, our inclination may be to not go there psychologically, because it is painful to imagine. Allow yourself to try.” ■ Do something for nothing. “This idea that everything has to be paid back hangs over our lives,” says Stephen Post, author of The Hidden Gifts of Helping. “Just be generous and expect nothing in return. Pay it forward.” ■ Don’t reserve your generosity for people you know. Do something nice for someone you don’t know or will never meet. ■ Be consistent. “Don’t think you can be kind in one domain and dastardly in another,” says Post. ■ Do something that you feel called upon to do, or that you are good at. ■ Slow down, take a deep breath and look around. Need abounds. Stop to help a stranger in some small way, even if you are in a hurry.

248-628-0125

■ Don’t help just to get healthy, impress your friends or get a tax deduction. “Motivation matters,” says Konrath. “If you are volunteering just for self-interested reasons, research shows you aren’t going to live any longer than someone who doesn’t volunteer at all.”

or visit: nahealthyPet.com

■ Volunteer for a cause you really believe in, or help a person you truly care about.

For more information about advertising and how you can participate, call

Genesee, Lapeer & Shiawassee, MI

www.NAeastMichigan.com

consciouseating

FUN PARTY

FOODS

AHRC is a treatment and wellness center with a holistic, personal approach. We can help you find new therapies, procedures and solutions for your health care needs, including:

Easy, Flavorful and Festive

by Renée Loux

ake the most of being a host with party foods sure to wow guests. Combining classic concepts with tasty twists will satisfy any gourmet in search of a fabulous holiday buffet. Whether you are a year-round or seasonal party planner, these crowdpleasing appetizers will make you the toast of the celebration circuit.

Butternut Squash Spread with Baked Spelt Crisps A festive, flavorful spread perks up any table, and this one commands attention with its gorgeous golden color. Butternut squash is loaded with antioxidant vitamins A and C, carotenoid antioxidants, potassium and manganese. Plus, it is simple to make and serve. For an innovative use of leftovers, add 1 cup of vegetable broth or stock to 1 cup of the prepared recipe, mix well and warm up for a satisfying serving of smooth soup. Yields: about 4 cups (dairy-free) 1 medium butternut squash (about 6 cups of cubes) 2 Tbsp olive oil 1 clove garlic, finely minced 1 tsp maple syrup (optional) 1 tsp finely grated ginger 2 tsp fresh thyme leaves (or 1 tsp dried thyme leaves) 1 tsp fresh rosemary, chopped finely (or ½ tsp dried rosemary) Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Peel squash, cut in half lengthwise and scoop out seeds with a spoon. Cut into 1-inch cubes. Place in a medium-large saucepan and cover with filtered water plus 2 inches. Bring to a boil, and then reduce heat to simmer for 6-9 minutes or until tender and easily pierced with a fork. Drain liquid and let cool until comfortable to handle. Reserve the liquid for other uses such as making a vegetable stock or watering houseplants. Place cooked squash in a food processor with olive oil, garlic, ginger, thyme, rosemary, a scant teaspoon of sea salt and some freshly ground black pepper. Blend until very smooth. Season further to taste with sea salt and pepper as needed.

Acupuncture • Chiropractic • Decompression Therapy • Counseling • Sports & Rehab Therapy • Nutrition • Detoxification Programs • Deep, Rehab & Sports Massage • Ion Cleanse • Foot Bath • Mild Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy • Choices • 12 week Diet/Weight loss • Colon Hydrotherapy • FDA Libbe (I-ACT), Global Wellness • Electric Rife Machine, Personal Trainer • Rehab, Fitness & Sports Targeted Body Wraps and much more.

With our multidisciplinary approach, we have over 90% improvement rate. Open Monday – Saturday Currently Accepting New clients We bill all insurance companies • Cash & Pre-paid Available

Tour our office! Receive either a 45 min. Body Wrap or 30 min. Ion Cleanse for $25.

Serve with crisps, crackers, whole-grain bread or crudité vegetables. Store any leftovers in a sealed container in the fridge for up to 3-4 days.

Baked Spelt Crisps Easy, homemade crisps are delightfully crunchy and contain less oil than nearly anything available for purchase in a bag, plus the oil is of a high quality. Spelt (an ancient variety of wheat) contains more nutrients and less gluten than standard wheat. Look for whole wheat spelt tortillas for optimum flavor, fiber and nutrition. Yields: about 3 dozen crisps natural awakenings

Call 810-235-5181 today for an appointment.

AHRC 2284 S. Ballenger Hwy Flint, MI 48503

Visit us online at: AHRC.us “We accept most major credit cards” December 2011

pods) are abundant in bone-building vitamin K, silica, calcium, magnesium and phosphorous. Soaking the pecans for the pesto makes them lighter, more digestible and yields delicious, nutritious results. Yields: 10-12 rolls (dairy-free, glutenfree)

Sweet Potato Wrapper 2 sweet potatoes, peeled 2 tsp olive oil Pinch of sea salt Several fresh basil leaves, torn in half (to roll inside) Preheat oven to 350° F. Peel the sweet potato and cut the ends off. Slice thinly, lengthwise. If the potato is long, first cut it in half across the middle.

Preheat oven to 350° F. Using a mister or pastry brush, mist or brush both sides of each tortilla with olive oil. Stack the tortillas and cut the stack into 8 wedges. Arrange resulting triangles in a single layer on baking sheets and sprinkle with sea salt and freshly ground black pepper. Bake for 6-7 minutes, or until crisp and turning golden. Watch carefully after 5 minutes to avoid burning. Let cool before serving; they get crispier as they cool.

Sweet Potato Rolls with Haricot Verts & Pecan Pesto This party favorite is sumptuous enough to be considered a small plate entrée when served on a bed of wild rice. Sweet potatoes are a rich source of antioxidant beta-carotene (pro- vitamin A), vitamin C, minerals and hunger-quenching fiber. Haricot verts (small and slender immature bean

Genesee, Lapeer & Shiawassee, MI

Continue cooking the liquid, stirring occasionally until it is reduced and the resulting marinade becomes syrupy. Pour over haricot verts or green beans and toss to coat. Let stand while preparing the remainder of the dish.

Pecan Pesto ¼ cup pecans, soaked for 1 hour 3 cups packed basil leaves 1 Tbsp walnut oil or extra-virgin olive oil ½ tsp sea salt 3-4 Tbsp extravirgin olive oil

Bake 10 minutes until soft.

Soak pecans in 1 cup filtered water for 1 hour.

Allow to cool and gently rub with a drizzle of olive oil and a pinch of salt.

Drain and rinse. Pat dry with a clean towel.

If wrappers must stand for any length of time, cover after cooled.

In a food processor, place drained pecans, basil, walnut oil and salt, and then pulse until finely chopped. With the motor running, add olive oil in a slow stream until well incorporated, but the mixture still has a bit of texture.

Lay pieces flat on a baking sheet. 4 spelt tortillas (9-inch), preferably made from whole wheat spelt Extra-virgin olive oil, as needed Pinch of sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

until tender. Do not disturb the veggies by stirring while they cook; they should remain firm. When tender, remove from the liquid with tongs and set aside in a bowl.

Haricot Verts or Green Beans 30 haricot verts or 18 green beans, cut in half and sliced lengthwise 2 tsp tamari or soy sauce 1 tsp umeboshi plum vinegar ½ tsp agave nectar or maple syrup Enough filtered water just to cover the veggies in a small saucepan Haricot verts are thin enough to leave whole. If using green beans, slice in half lengthwise. If green beans are extra-long, cut them in half before slicing. Place haricot verts or sliced green beans in a small saucepan. Mix together tamari or soy sauce, umeboshi plum vinegar and agave nectar or maple syrup and drizzle over the vegetables. Add just enough filtered water to cover the beans. Bring to a gentle simmer uncovered over medium heat. Reduce the heat to low and cook for 5-10 minutes, or just

Assembly Lay 2 pieces of softened sweet potato skins on a cutting board (not touching, with short end facing you, and the length of the sweet potato placed away from you). It is best to lay a few pairs at once to create an assembly line for quicker rolling. Lay haricot verts or green beans across a piece of sweet potato, and top with a teaspoon or two of pesto. Fold the short end of the softened potato skin over the vegetables and roll closed. Note the tendency to overpack and the fact that less is more; it will be easier to eat and go further. Roll the second sweet potato slice around the bundle and secure with a toothpick. Follow suit until all ingredients are used.

www.NAeastMichigan.com

PAIN IN FEET, LEGS & HANDS CAUSED BY NEUROPATHY...NOW!

Eat the rolls as is, or bake at 350° F for 10-12 minutes to warm. Garnish with freshly ground black pepper.

Almond Truffle & Herb Paté

• Often misdiagnosed or undiagnosed • Affects over 20 million Americans

Do you suffer from one or more of the following problems?

This simple paté bursts with flavor and good-for-us nutrients. Almonds are a champion source of calcium and a clean source of protein and healthy fats. Soaking the almonds plumps them, wakes up enzymes and makes them more digestible, also supplying more alkaline reserves for the body. White truffle oil (olive oil infused with white truffles) is a secret weapon for injecting sumptuous, sophisticated flavor, although the recipe is excellent without it.

• • • • • • •

Now a New, Innovative and Exclusive Treatment Solution • Relieves Pain • Restores Feeling • Proven Safe & Effective

NO ADDICTIVE MEDICATIONS

Yields: about 3 cups (raw-living, dairyfree, gluten-free, low-glycemic)

NRC

COVEREDBYMEDICARE AND MAJORMEDICALINSURANCE

Season to taste with salt and pepper. Serve with crudité vegetables and/or healthy crackers.

CALL FOR A FREE CONSULTATION

Visit us at our new location

1289 S. Linden Road, Suite B • Flint Just North of Court Street on Linden

Call (810) 410-9021 give the gift of naturally healthy living.

the natural awakenings network discount card.

Soak almonds in 3 cups of filtered water for 8 hours. Drain and rinse in a colander. Place almonds in a food processor. Add lemon juice, olive oil, truffle oil, garlic, a scant teaspoon of salt and some freshly ground pepper. Blend, dribbling in water to aid processing as needed until mixture is as smooth as possible. Add more olive oil, lemon juice and water to thin to a preferred consistency. Add herbs and blend in pulses until well incorporated, but bits of herbs are still visible.

NO SURGERY

Neuropathy Relief Center of Flint LJ-0100124401

1½ cups raw almonds, soaked for 8 hours and drained 6-7 Tbsp lemon juice, or as needed 3-4 Tbsp extra-virgin olive oil, or as needed 2-3 tsp white truffle oil, as needed ½ to 1 small clove garlic, finely minced 1 tsp sea salt, or to taste Freshly ground black pepper to taste ¼ to 1/3 cup filtered water, or as needed to blend to desired consistency 1 /3 cup chopped parsley leaves ¼ cup chopped basil leaves 3 Tbsp chopped sorrel (optional) 2-3 Tbsp chopped chives

Numbness Burning Pain Sharp Electrical-Like Pain Prickling or Tingling Feelings of Feet or Hands Leg Cramping Pain when you walk Difficulty sleeping from leg & foot discomfort

Check into our • individual, family and group plans • special holiday discount subscriptions • exclusive online directory of providers

• save money on products and sevices • good at hundreds of locations in michigan, more around the us and Puerto rico...and growing every day! • low, affordable subscription rates

visit www.mhlas.com/na-network for details natural awakenings

December 2011

Organic Salon Services

Calling All Local Health Experts!

g Organic Coloring g 100% Ammonia-free g Ion Foot Detox g Ear Candling g Make-up g Precision cuts for women & men g and more

You can be part of our special January issue. The January East Michigan edition of Natural Awakenings will provide information, tips and resources for natural, integrative and complementary choices that support physical and mental health and well-being. To discuss the many options you have for participating, sharing your expertise and promoting your practice

For an appointment, walk-in hours or other information call

810-636-5100

call 248-628-0125 today.

8331 S State St (M-15) • Goodrich

It’s not OK if you gums bleed when you brush your teeth.That would be like saying your fingers bleed (just a little bit) when you wash your hands So while we’ve been making smiles beautiful since 1979, we’ve been helping you stay healthy too. Participant of most dental insurance plans, including Delta and Traditional BCBS.

No insurance? Neither do most of our clients so we have Membership Plans for you! • Mercury-free fillings • Invisalign invisible orthodontics • Non-surgical gum therapy

• Mercury safe removal • Homeopathy • Implants

• CEREC 3D same-day crowns • TMJ/TMD Bite Imbalances •Lumineers, too!

Holistic General Dentistry Since 1979

David W. Regiani DDS PC 248-627-4934 • www.RegianiDental.com 18

Genesee, Lapeer & Shiawassee, MI

www.NAeastMichigan.com

healthykids

give us a first-person taste of infant experience,” as can experiencing beauty, she says. This illustrates one of the most positive effects of having children: They help us to become children again ourselves. In Taoism, the ideal is to be as spontaneous and curious as a child, exhibiting their openness to experience. On the physical plane, Taoist practices like Tai chi and qigong aim to help the body become as supple and flexible as a child’s.

Beyond Selfishness

The Parent Path How Children Enrich Our Spiritual Life by Steve Taylor

irty nappies, wakeup calls in the middle of the night, a house full of screams and squeals, food splattered on walls, a chaos of toys everywhere, no more late nights out, no time to read books, take classes or attend retreats—what could be spiritual about bringing up children? Isn’t spiritual development just one of the many things we sacrifice when we have kids? Many spiritual traditions based on meditation, prayer and solitude maintain that nothing should divert us from our spiritual practices—least of all a family, which takes up so much time and energy. In India, one tradition holds that spiritual development belongs to a later stage of life, roughly after age 50. It is only once we have lived through a householder stage, bringing up and providing for our children and living a worldly life, that we can turn our attention to the inner world. After our children have reached adulthood, we have the privilege of meditating regularly, and living more quietly and simply. Many parents, however, find that—

far from hindering it—bringing up children actively advances their spiritual development. Seen in the right way, parenthood can be a spiritual path, bringing a heightened sense of love, wonder and appreciation.

Natural Mindfulness

After all, children are such strongly spiritual beings. They naturally have many of the qualities that adults work to cultivate through spiritual development. For example, children are naturally mindful. They constantly live fully in the present, and the world is always a fantastically real and interesting place to them. As child psychologist Professor Alison Gopnik, of the University of California, Berkeley, puts it, “Babies and young children are actually more conscious and more vividly aware of their external world and internal life than adults are.” They have what she calls an, “…infinite capacity for wonder,” that adults only experience at their highest moments. “Travel, meditation and romantic poetry can natural awakenings

All the world’s spiritual traditions tell us how important it is to transcend our own selfishness; to stop seeing ourselves as the center of the universe and trying so hard to satisfy our own desires. They advise us to help and serve others, so that we can move beyond our separate ego and connect to a transcendent power. The eightfold path of Buddhism aims to cultivate this selfless state and ideally, the path of parenthood can, as well. It’s impossible to be a good parent without being prepared to put your children first. Much of parenthood is about selfsacrifice. Gopnik remarks: “Imagine a novel in which a woman took in a stranger who was unable to walk or talk or even eat by himself. She fell completely in love with him at first sight, fed and clothed and washed him, gradually helped him to become competent and independent, and spent more than half her income on him… You couldn’t bear the sappiness of it. But that is just about every mother’s story. Caring for children is a fast and efficient way to experience at least a little saintliness.” The poet William Wordsworth described how children see the world as “…appareled in celestial light [having] the glory and freshness of a dream.” Yet, as adults, this vision, “…fades into the light of common day.” Having children of our own helps us to reawaken some of the celestial light within. Perhaps this is what Jesus meant too, when he told his disciples, “Unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” This makes sense if we think of the kingdom of heaven not as a future, far-off place, but as a state December 2011

of consciousness, here and now. Heaven is the state of wonder and natural well-being where children dwell and in their company, we naturally re-enter the kingdom.

inspiration

Steve Taylor, a UK university lecturer and researcher, is the author of Waking from Sleep, described by Eckhart Tolle as, “One of the best books on spiritual awakening I have come across.” His new book is Out of the Darkness – from Turmoil to Transformation. Visit StevenMTaylor.com.

How to Treat Parenthood as a Spiritual Path ■ Don’t be tempted to rush your children; try not to be impatient at their slowness. Walk at their pace and be mindful with them. ■ Consciously cultivate a fresh, intense, childlike vision. Imagine how the world looks through their eyes. ■ Let youngsters teach you the marvels of the world around you. Be as open and curious as they are, not taking anything you know for granted. ■ Give yourself wholly to play with kids, allowing yourself to step outside your mental world of worries and responsibilities.

How to Support Your Inner Child’s Natural Spirituality ■ Don’t be irritated when children ask, “Why?” Encourage their sense of wonder. ■ Try not to be irritated by youthful exuberance and excitement. ■ Try to limit the amount of time kids watch TV or play computer games. ■ Encourage children to use their own creativity by inventing games, drawing or painting. ■ Schedule periods of quiet relaxation and meditation, which enable them to feel more at home within their own being. Source: Waking From Sleep, by Steve Taylor

Genesee, Lapeer & Shiawassee, MI

Intentions for the New Year by wayne dyer

T 1

hese daily practices will help you move toward Spirit in your thoughts and actions.

Commit to at least one daily experience where you share something of yourself with no expectation of being acknowledged or thanked. For example, before I begin my daily routine, I go to my desk and choose my gift for that day. Sometimes it’s just a phone call to a stranger that’s written to me, or perhaps I order flowers or send a book or a present to someone that has helped me in a local store. On one occasion, I wrote to the president of the university I graduated from to start a scholarship fund; on another day, I took a calendar to the yard man; on another, I sent a check to Habitat for Humanity; and on another, I sent three rolls of postage stamps to my son, who had just started his own business. It doesn’t matter if this activity is big or small—it’s a way to begin the day in-Spirit.

Spirit” to yourself. Then make a silent effort to shift that thought to match up with Source energy.

In the morning before you’re fully awake, and again as you’re going to sleep, take one or two minutes of what I call quiet time with God. Be in a state of appreciation and say aloud, “I want to feel good.”

Remind yourself of this statement: My life is bigger than I am. Print it out and post it strategically in your home, car or workplace. The “I” is your ego identification. Your life is Spirit flowing through you unhindered by ego—it’s what you showed up here to actualize—and is infinite. The “I” that identifies you is a fleeting snippet.

Dedicate your life to something that reflects an awareness of your Divinity. You are greatness personified, a resident genius and a creative master—regardless of anyone’s opinion. Make a silent dedication to encourage and express your Divine nature.

Become conscious of all thoughts that aren’t aligned with your Excerpted from Inspiration: Your Source. The moment you catch yourself excluding someone or having a Ultimate Calling, by Wayne Dyer, with permission of Hay House, Inc. judgmental thought, say the words “inwww.NAeastMichigan.com

greenliving Previously Enjoyed Gifts

MEANINGFUL

Not every gift needs to be brand-new. Browse vintage and antique shops, estate sales, auctions and consignment stores for amazing treasures. Keep an open mind or go hunting for that certain something for that special someone. Online sources such as EstateSales.net, and gsalr.com can help locate garage, yard and estate sales in communities across the country. Look for items that are unusual or hold special significance.

GIVING Tips to Simplify the Season by Beth Davis

’T

is the season, and a U.S. poll by Harris Interactive reveals that a majority of the stress 90 percent of us feel about the holidays is related to gift-giving. So, solving this problem will set us well on our way to a joyeux noël. The same study found that given a choice, most of us prefer investing in good family relationships instead of more material things, anyway. Natural Awakenings has uncovered four ways that we can make the holidays less hectic and more relaxing and meaningful. First, says Barbara Kilikevich, author of A Mindful Christmas–How to Create a Meaningful, Peaceful Holiday, we have to stop buying into the notion that more is better and that extravagant, expensive gifts are equal to how much we care for one another. “We need to stop believing that doing it all is productive and having it all is meaningful.”

Get Crafty

• Edible items are always a hit. Consider making something yummy that can be given to everyone on the list. Herbed olive oil, spiced nuts and homemade jams are favorites.

• A childhood reminder—perhaps a favorite toy or comic book • Vintage jewelry • A silk scarf, unusual hat or fun bag • Classic books, movies and music

• Attractive, reusable shopping bags, made from repurposed or recycled fabric, make practical gifts that can be used again and again. Sew on monograms or paint on designs to personalize them.

• Unique housewares, from vases and candleholders to platters and teacups (Replacements.com can help find missing pieces for sets)

• Fashioning painted pottery, custom artwork and decorated picture frames can engage kids in anticipating fun holidays with friends and family.

For large families or families with grown children, it can be expensive and time-consuming shopping for a gift for every relative. Try one of these ideas to take the pressure off.

Non-Material Gifts

• Instead of giving gifts to each member of a family or a couple, think in terms of a single gift for the household.

The Center for a New American Dream, a national nonprofit organization that challenges a “more is better” definition of the good life, suggests giving of oneself—providing gifts of time or experiences that will be long remembered.

For the Family

• Draw names. Have everyone in the family put his or her name into a hat and ask each family member to draw one name, so that each person needs to buy only one or two gifts.

Homemade gifts are always special. They carry a message of thoughtfulness and love, which is the heart of gift-giving. Making a memorable gift can take less time than we’d spend earning the money for a manufactured gift, driving to the store and back and coping with checkout lines. Ideas are endless; these may stimulate your creative juices.

• Invite loved ones to an outing to the zoo, a sporting event or an indoor/outdoor picnic.

• Gather favorite family recipes and copy them into a personalized binder.

• Purchase a gift certificate for a local massage, acupuncture session or other soothing therapy as a way to unwind during or after the holiday season.

• Set a limit. In his book, Hundred Dollar Holiday: The Case for a More Joyful Christmas, author Bill McKibben suggests that families limit the amount they spend and instead, make the holidays as much fun as possible, filled with song and food, creativity and connection. With a little planning and a lot of love and care, we can fill the whole holiday season with less stuff and more satisfying joy.

• Support the local art scene by giving tickets to a community theater or a museum membership.

Beth Davis is a contributing writer to Natural Awakenings magazines.

• Mix jars of tasty combinations of loose teas and/or bulk herbs that might include lavender, chamomile or mint. Add a mesh tea strainer to complete the package.

• Give a friend her dream, based on an expressed interest and careful research. Sign her up for a class in cooking, sewing, photography or dancing—classes abound in most cities.

natural awakenings

December 2011

fitbody

“Don’t stop for too long in the middle of a steep trail to rest or take in the splendid views,” counsels Butson. “A speedy skier might not see you there beneath a mogul.”

The Upside of Downhill Skiing Make the Most of Peak Experiences by Randy Kambic

now brings fresh fun with winter sports and recreation. Cross-country skiing and snowboarding are healthy options, but neither offers the scope and variety in terrain, movement and exercise afforded by the perennial favorite of alpine downhill skiing.

Jen Butson, public affairs director of the Vermont Ski Areas Association, representing 48 facilities, believes that downhill particularly appeals to women, due to its, “ …accessibility to all ages, abilities and body types, its gracefulness, and being a way for a family to experience nature together.” Yet, some skiers may experience diminished interest due to memories of cold limbs, residual aches and pains or crowded slopes. Or, they might be concerned about resorts’ perceived high energy usage. Cost is another factor. Here are some tips to get folks back on the slopes and max out mountain moments. Warm-up exercises. Skiing demands slightly bent knees and a firm back to absorb bumps, so do some deep squats and short hops from that position beforehand, advises Dr. Joe Ethen, owner of Lakefront Chiropractic Center, in Glencoe, Illinois. “This exercise targets the upper quadriceps and provides full-range motion of joints.” Using ski poles to initiate turns and propel through chairlift lines works the arms

Genesee, Lapeer & Shiawassee, MI

and shoulders, so he also recommends upper body stretching. Foot care. Boots need to be tight fitting in order to transmit the pressure to make turns from the foot through the boot and binding to the ski itself. The necessary snugness can hinder circulation and chill toes. A solution: Loosen boot buckles while waiting for and taking the chairlift, and wear thin, synthetic-blend socks that wick away moisture and accelerate evaporation. Avoid the crowds. When skiing on a weekend, locate one or two trails serviced by a mid-mountain chairlift, which is usually far less crowded than the main lift closest to the lodge. “Many resorts have high-speed, four-seat chairlifts, which reduce wait time,” says Karl Winter, vice president of Ski the Rockies, which represents 30-plus resorts in California, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming and Canada. Eat early or late to get in more skiing while others lunch in the lodge. Take a workweek vacation day or two to totally beat weekend crowds. Safety. Call out, “On your right,” for example, if you pass a skier that’s to your left, to make sure he or she doesn’t ski into your path. Stay aware of faster moving skiers and boarders.

Late-season benefits. More natural and manmade snow on the slopes is the norm as the season progresses. Warmer temperatures later in the season also tend to make conditions more comfortable and soften ice and hard-packed snow, slowing speeds a bit and making turns easier. “More snow makes skis easier to control,” explains Winter. “It allows you to glide and carve your turns and maintain a turning rhythm. So, you don’t have to work as hard, which also saves energy.” Many resorts offer special lateseason discounts. Ski green. Joining a ski club can deliver savings on lift tickets, as well as lodging booked by the group. Plus, traveling by bus or carpooling saves gas. Remember to properly recycle or dispose of refuse and pick up any trash you spot in the snow. When choosing a destination, check to see if the resort goes for electric vehicles, composting, local purchasing programs, efforts to reduce carbon footprints, water conservation and employee and guest sustainability education. All are elements of the National Ski Areas Association’s Environmental Charter, endorsed by190 resorts that together, host about 75 percent of all U.S. skier and snowboarder visits. Many resorts are adopting the association’s new sustainable slopes and climate challenge programs. If you need skis, but are on a tight budget, consider renting or checking out early season ski swaps, which also can offer more traditional eco-friendly, gently worn clothing. If you feel you must wax ski bases, select a product that is free of PFCs and other petrochemicals, which can rub off into snow and eventually find their way into waterways. With the ultra-smooth, resilient bases of modern skis, waxing has become unnecessary for most recreational skiers. Enjoy winter’s wonderland. Avid skier Randy Kambic is a freelance editor and writer in Estero, FL, and a copyeditor for Natural Awakenings.

www.NAeastMichigan.com

healingways

Good Vibrations Sound Healing for the Soul by Erin Lehn Floresca

any sounds associated with holidays instantly cheer us up, but why? We naturally respond to sounds, because everything in the Universe is comprised of vibration— also referred to as resonance. When we are exposed to healing sounds, our bodies and minds begin to resonate in harmony with them, supporting our well-being. Fortunately, avenues of sound healing are readily accessible in our everyday lives. Engaging in activities such as singing, drumming or chanting often help us quickly reestablish a sense of balance in the midst of our multitasking lives. Attending an uplifting musical event can render a similar effect.

Sound Healing Therapy Psychotherapist Meredith McFadden, a sound healing therapist in Medford, Oregon, observes that, “Receiving or creating intentional, healing sound vibrations is proving to be one of the most direct, most relevant healing modalities available today.” McFadden appreciates sound for its immediate effect. She takes individual clients on sound journeys with the help of voices, crystal singing bowls, buffalo drums and other instruments. “When we bathe ourselves in healing sound waves,” she observes, “we open up a direct line of communication with our soul.” At the culmination of each session, she allows what she terms the “big music of silence” to envelop the one being healed. McFadden notes that not all healing sounds need to be calming. “Activating music can be just as healing as soft

and slow sounds,” she says. Whether we prefer listening to Lady Gaga, Native American flutes or the sound of a heavy rainstorm, the key is to discover what especially resonates with us.

Crystal Singing Bowls Master crystal singing bowl artist Ashana, based in Santa Fe, New Mexico, couples angelic vocals with her massive collection of bowls for a musical healing alchemy recognized worldwide. “Listening to the bowls can have a profound impact on a person’s well-being,” says Ashana. Made from pure, crushed quartz, infused with precious gemstones, minerals and metals, “The bowls vibrate at a very high, pure frequency,” she explains. “As we come into resonance with the bowls, mental chatter slows or stops and the mind quiets. Within minutes, our nervous system starts to unwind. In a state of peaceful stillness, the ‘dial up’ to our higher self becomes accessible. This is the optimum state for healing to occur.” Ashana emphasizes that we are all interconnected, so any healing work we do on ourselves affects all of humanity. “As we raise our personal frequency, we can become conscious tuning forks for divine energies to pour through us,” she believes. “We’re all holding a piece of the web.”

Healing Through Song “Since the dawn of time, humans have been sharing song in their tribe,” says Zurich, Switzerland, recording artist, educator and filmmaker Michael Stillwater. “Pop songs are modern tribal songs, although we have mostly natural awakenings

become a culture of consumers and spectators, rather than participants.” The founder of Inner Harmony Music and Song Without Borders, Stillwater’s is a strong voice in an emerging grassroots global movement devoted to helping people reclaim their inner song. “As a vocal art, singing is unique,” he advises. “It’s deeply connected to our sense of self.” He also notes that if our voice or singing is criticized in our developmental years, we may shut down our creative expression. “We then become like cave dwellers, hiding our voice; there are millions of vocal cave dwellers in our world,” he says. Finding your song—or chant or mantra—almost inevitably becomes integrated with a pathway for rediscovering one’s authentic self. “It’s about letting your voice become part of your own healing medicine,” says Stillwater. His film documentary, In Search of the Great Song, celebrates the use of creative vocal expression for healing and transformation.

Experience Kirtan Kitzie Stern, producer of the New World Kirtan podcast, notes that kirtan, or sacred chanting, is known for bonding everyone in the moment of co-creation between audience and artists, followed by quiet meditation in community. Originating in India, kirtan is one of the oldest musical traditions in the world. The mantras used in kirtan open the listener to the experience of peace. Stern explains, “The music that accompanies kirtan also helps our minds to turn off. As wallah (chant leader) Dave Stringer puts it, ‘The chant is the medicine, but the music is what helps it go down.’” One does not have to attend a live kirtan performance to reap its benefits. Stern’s podcast plays a variety of chants to help listeners tune into tranquility. She observes that, “Being able to access the quiet magnificence that exists within each one of us and live within it for some portion of the day helps us to stay sane in the turmoil of the modern world.” Learn more at SoundMovesWonder.com, and NewWorldKirtan.com. Erin Floresca is a freelance writer in Portland, Oregon. Connect at ErinLehnFloresca.com. December 2011

Do you have yours yet?

advanTake introd tage of subsc uctory ri plansption !

Save with the Natural Awakenings Network Card.

Why be a member? • Save money on purchases from our network of businesses and practitioners • Use our conveient online directory to locate businesses and practitioners • Join our special email list to receive extra-special discount coupons • Be part of a network dedicated to promoting healthy, sustainable lifestyles • Join a program that pays for itself AND saves you money! • Your card is good at any NAN provider in the US and Puerto Rico.

Check out our online directory! businesses in this magazine with the

symbol are members of the network!

Special introductory programs available to early subscribers in the new East Michigan Natural Awakenings Network. For details, visit : 24

MHLAS.com/na-network

Genesee, Lapeer & Shiawassee, MI

www.NAeastMichigan.com

calendarofevents

Clinic, 5715 Bella Rose Blvd, CLARKSTON. Call 248-625-6677 to register.

NOTE: All calendar events must be received via our online submission form by the 12th of the month and adhere to our guidelines. No phone or fax submissions, please. Visit mhlas.com/calendar to submit online.

Wednesday, December 7

Tuesday, November 29 Grandma’s Home Remedies - 6-8pm. Learn tips and tricks from your grandma’s cupboard for a healthier "YOU". $25. Lapeer Community Education, LAPEER. 810-667-6546.

Wednesday, November 30 Auras and Chakras - 6-8 pm. Auras can be explained as the electric magnetic field that surrounds the outside of all life forms, and Chakras can be explained as the energy flow inside of all life forms. This class will cover the recognition, perception, and manipulation of both. $25. Lapeer Community Education, LAPEER. 810-667-6546. Connecting With Your Angels - 7-9pm. This class offers a basic introduction on who the angels are, how to clearly develop your intuitive abilities to hear your angels’ guidance, and how to heal your energy body with angelic healing techniques. Learn to uplift your life to harmony, peace and divine oneness with spirit. $25. Rochester Holistic Arts, 118 Terry Ave. Rochester. Kim Leshley 248-895-5064. Hypnosis & Fertility - 6-7pm. Buried deep in the subconscious are barriers to living life to its fullest. Learn how hypnosis can unlock, treat these barriers and enhance fertility $10. MI Center for Fertility & Women's Health, 4700 Thirteen Mile Rd, Warren. Claire Maurer 586-576-0431. Gluten Free Support Group - 7pm. Join us in the café with copies of your favorite gluten free recipe to share. Familiarize yourself with our gluten free products, discuss your allergy and get samples provided by our gluten free vendors. FREE. Register online or at the Customer Service desk. Whole Foods Rochester Hills. Info: 248-371-1400.

Friday, December 2 An Evening with Santa - 6pm. Enjoy a fun meal with dessert, plus visit Santa and make a craft. Advance ticket sales only, $7/child $4/adult, on sale now. Farm Center of Wolcott Mill Metropark in Ray Township. 586-752-5932.

Saturday, December 3 Southern Link Trail Hike - 10am. Millington South to Birch Run Rd. and return. Dogs allowed. Take I-69 to M-15 to Millington. At the light, turn East. Cross the Railroad tracks and turn right at the next street. School is on the left and trailhead is at the end of the street. Contact: Denny Crispell 989-624-5038. Deer Santa with Stage Nature Center - 9-11am and 1-3pm. Back by popular demand, join the Stage Nature Center for a day of exploring and fun; inside join Santa Claus himself to learn about life at the North pole. Each child will get a gift and a naturally delicious treat. Ages 3-8, registration necessary. $14. Whole Foods Market, Troy. Rev. Dianne and the 2012 Energies - 11am-1pm. Join Rev. Dianne and the Angels for a discussion of

the new energies coming in, how they are affecting us and the world and what is to come in 2012. We will talk about the solstice on Dec 21st and the energies that rocked the earth on 11-11-11. $25. Soothe Your Soul, Oxford. 248-236-9855. Tot Time – Winter Wonderland - 10am. Bring your sense of wonder to explore everything winter has to offer. Be prepared to venture outdoors in search of snowflakes. Ages 2-5. $3/child. Preregister. Indian Springs Metropark Environmental Discovery Center near White Lake. 248-625-6640. Juicing for Health with Anca - 11am-noon. Learn about juicing's powerful benefits & sample fresh delicious juices. Anca will also share her incredible story about healing herself from cancer. $5. Whole Foods Market, 2918 Walton Boulevard, Rochester Hills. Service Desk 248-3711400. Juicing for Health with Anca - 11am-noon. Learn about juicing's powerful benefits & sample fresh delicious juices. Anca will also share her incredible story about healing herself from cancer. $5. Whole Foods Market, 2918 Walton Boulevard, Rochester Hills. Service Desk 248-3711400. Lunch with Santa - 11am and 1pm. Also Sun 12/4. Join Santa for lunch and have your picture taken with him, make a craft and sing holiday songs. Advance ticket sales only, $7/child $4/adult, on sale now. Farm Center of Wolcott Mill Metropark in Ray Township. 586-752-5932. Lunch with Santa and Mrs. Claus - 11am-2pm. The fun begins with Rosco the Clown and storytime with Mrs. Claus, followed by lunch and a visit with Santa. Advance ticket purchase only. $7/person, now on sale at the park office or by phone. Metro Beach Metropark, Thomas S. Welsh Activity Center, near Mount Clemens. 586-463-4581.

Sunday, December 4 2nd annual "Holiday Warmth" Class - 1-5pm. Create sustainable hand-made holiday gifts from natural materials and share in the holiday spirit ! Make hand dipped beeswax candles from local beeswax and your own cards with stencils and other materials. RSVP/Register $25 prepaid. Family rates available, children welcome. Oxford. Deanne 248-628-1887.

Tuesday, December 6

Look & Feel Younger for the Holidays - 7pm. Learn the secrets to permanently losing weight and keeping it off. Learn the secrets about diet, nutrition, exercise and lifestyle changes that can improve your health and help you look and feel younger. Presented by Dr. Carol A. Fischer, BS, DC, ND. Whole Foods West Bloomfield. RSVP: 734-756-6904. Detoxification Class - 6:30-8:30pm. Learn the importance of detoxifying your body and the various ways to do it. Learn about foods that help detox too. Taught by Ann Heusted, RN. $25. The Downing

natural awakenings

Raw Food Tasting: Chocolate - 5-7pm. Join Deb Klungle of Nourished Body for some raw food samples of two healthy holiday desserts - a decadent fudge brownie & luscious chocolate pudding. FREE. Whole Foods Market, 2880 West Maple Rd, Troy. Service Desk 248-649-9600. Digestion Issues? Nothing Working? - 7-8:15pm. Dr. Richard Sowerby D.C., Clinical Nutritionist will discuss hidden causes of… Acid Reflux, Crohn’s, Gas, Bloating, Diarrhea. Don’t let digestive problems rule your life. Attend this seminar and learn drugless solutions. Whole Foods, Rochester Hills. FREE! Call 248-879-1900 to register.

Thursday, December 8 Juicing for Health with Anca - 7pm. uicing for Health with Anca - 11 am-noon. Learn about juicing's powerful benefits & sample fresh delicious juices. Anca will also share her incredible story about healing herself from cancer. $5. Whole Foods Market, Rochester Hills. Essential Oil Class - 6:30pm. Learn the basics of using essential oils for your family. The class will will typically run 45 minutes to one hour. $10. Soothe Your Soul, Oxford. 248-236-9855.

Saturday, December 10

Raw Foods for Regular People - 11am-noon. Sweets are usually so unhealthy! Learn to prepare some nutritious, quick & easy holiday goodies. We'll make creamy chocolate pudding & yummy truffles. $10. Whole Foods Market, 2918 Walton Boulevard, Rochester Hills. Service Desk 248-371-1400. Lunch with Santa - 11am and 1pm, Also Sun 12/11 at 1 pm. A visit, lunch, and sing-along with Santa. Advance tickets in person or by phone. $5/child $3/ adults. Stony Creek Metropark Nature Center near Rochester/Washington Township. 586-781-9113.

VISIT

NaturalAwakeningsCoupons.com

For DAILY DEALS from your favorite businesses. IT’S FREE!

$AVE NATURALLY

December 2011

TURN YOUR PASSION INTO A BUSINESS... own a Natural Awakenings magazine! as a Natural Awakenings publisher, you can enjoy learning about healthy and joyous living while working from your home and earn a good income doing something you love! Your magazine will help thousands of readers to make positive changes in their lives, while promoting local practitioners and providers of natural, earthfriendly lifestyles. You will be creating a healthier community while building your own financial security. no publishing experience is necessary. You’ll work for yourself but not by yourself. we offer a complete training and support system that allows you to successfully publish your own magazine. be part of a dynamic franchised publishing network that is helping to transform the way we live and care for ourselves. now available in spanish as well. to determine if owning a Natural Awakenings is right for you and your target community, call us for a free consultation at 239-530-1377.

Phenomenal Monthly Circulation Growth Since 1994. Now with 3.6 Million Monthly Readers in: • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

For information about how to publish Natural Awakenings in your community, call

239-530-1377

NaturalAwakeningsMag.com

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Birmingham, AL* Huntsville, AL Mobile/Baldwin, AL Little Rock/ Hot Springs, AR Phoenix, AZ Tucson, AZ East Bay Area, CA Los Angeles, CA San Diego, CA Santa Barbara/ Ventura, CA Denver/Boulder, CO Hartford, CT Fairﬁeld County, CT New Haven/ Middlesex, CT Daytona/Volusia/ Flagler, FL NW FL Emerald Coast Ft. Lauderdale, FL Jacksonville/ St. Augustine, FL Melbourne/ Vero Beach, FL Miami & Florida Keys Naples/Ft. Myers, FL North Central FL* Orlando, FL Palm Beach, FL Peace River, FL Sarasota, FL Tallahassee, FL Tampa/ St. Petersburg, FL Florida’s Treasure Coast Atlanta, GA Augusta, GA Chicago North Shore, IL Indianapolis, IN Lexington, KY* Louisville-Metro, KY Lafayette, LA New Orleans, LA Middlesex Co., MA Ann Arbor, MI Grand Rapids, MI East Michigan Lansing, MI

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Wayne County, MI Asheville, NC * Charlotte, NC Raleigh/Durham/ Chapel Hill, NC Monmouth/ Ocean, NJ North NJ North Central NJ Somerset/Middlesex Counties, NJ South NJ Santa Fe/ Albuquerque, NM Las Vegas, NV Long Island, NY Manhattan, NY Rockland/ Orange Counties, NY Westchester/ Putnam Co’s., NY Cincinnati, OH* Oklahoma City, OK Tulsa, OK* Portland, OR Bucks County, PA Harrisburg, PA Lehigh Valley, PA Northeastern PA* Rhode Island Charleston, SC Columbia, SC* Grand Strand, SC Greenville, SC Chattanooga, TN Knoxville, TN Memphis, TN Nashville, TN Austin, TX Dallas, TX Houston, TX North Texas San Antonio, TX Tyler/Longview, TX Richmond, VA Southwestern VA* Seattle, WA Madison, WI Milwaukee, WI Puerto Rico

*Existing magazines for sale

Genesee, Lapeer & Shiawassee, MI

• low investment • work at home • great support team • marketing tools • meaningful new career www.NAeastMichigan.com

Snacks ‘n’ Crafts with Santa - 10am and 1pm. Listen to a story in front of the holiday tree, decorate a cookie, make some festive crafts and visit Santa. All ages.$5/child. Preregister. Indian Springs Metropark Environmental Discovery Center near White Lake. 248-625-6640. Raw Foods For Regular People: Holiday Goodies - 11am. Join Deb Klungle of Nourished Body & learn to prepare a nutritious smooth & creamy chocolate pudding and a variety of truffles. $10 Whole Foods Market, Rochester Hills.

Sunday, December 11 Taste the Holiday Cheer - 12-3pm. Celebrate the holiday season by trying some of the tastiest items available. Traditional holiday dishes will be sampled by our Prepared Foods Department, as well as some new twists on conventional favorites. Stop on in for a taste! FREE. Whole Foods Market, Rochester Hills. Holiday Brunch Ideas w/ Mood - 2-4pm. Our Troy store welcomes Mood Ahmed our NEW demo extraordinaire. Just in time for the holidays Mood will be preparing and sampling items perfect for your holiday brunch and entertaining complete with non-alcoholic mimosas! Whole Foods Market, Troy.

Monday, December 12 Sleep Issues? What Can You Do About It? 7-8:15pm. Dr. Richard Sowerby D.C., Clinical Nutritionist will discuss Thyroid & Adrenal Health, Stress, Depression, Fatigue and more! Don’t settle for false solutions. We will cover things that have been known for years but are now largely ignored by mainstream health care. Vitamin Shoppe, Shelby Twp. FREE! Register: 248-879-1900. Anti-viral Essentia Oils - 7-8pm. Protect yourself from harmful bacteria and germs the natural way by using plant based formulas and without using toxic or synthetic materials. Also learn how to repel airborne viruses and bacterias naturally, both inside and outside the body. FREE. Rochester Holistic Arts, 118 Terry Ave, Rochester. Kim Leshley 248-895-5064.

Tuesday, December 13 Learn to Crochet - 6:30-8pm. Learn how to become comfortable with them basic tools involved to crochet simple patterns. Also understand how to read beginners crochet patterns. All materials are provided to create fun scarves. $25. Rochester Holistic Arts, 118 Terry Ave, Rochester. Kim Leshley 248-895-5064. Spiritual Vision Meditation Group - 6:30-8:30pm. Also 12/27. $15. Soothe Your Soul, Oxford. 248-236-9855.

Thursday, December 15 Latin Dance: Merengue - 6-7pm. A great way to learn Latin Dance. This upbeat dance style is fun, easy to learn, and full of great moves and music. Learn steps, tips and techniques. Burn calories the fun way! Please wear shoes with backings. No partner required. $15. Rochester Holistic Arts, 118 Terry Ave, Rochester. Kim Leshley 248895-5064. Yin Yoga - 7:15-8:15pm. Deep meditation practices will relieve stiff knees and an aching back by allowing you to sit more comfortably while

stretching the connective tissue and done by tapping into the body's energy systems. Harmonized flow of hidden energy offers an unmoving sense of stability and clarity. Mats recommended. $15. Rochester Holistic Arts, 118 Terry Ave, Rochester. Kim Leshley 248-895-5064.

Friday, December 16 Basic Yoga - 3-4pm. Free your body & mind from tension by allowing yourself to regain balance and energy by utilizing elemental postures & breathing techniques. $15. Rochester Holistic Arts, 118 Terry Ave, Rochester. Kim Leshley 248-895-5064.

Sunday, December 18

Calendar A wonderful resource for filling your workshops, seminars and other events.

Explore Nature in Winter - 1pm. Join an interpreter for a brisk hike through the woods and marsh. Then go inside and enjoy some hot cocoa. All ages. $3/ person. Preregister only. Metro Beach Metropark Nature Center located near Mount Clemens. 586-463-4332 and

MONDAY, DECEMBER 19 Kinesiology - 6:30-8:30 pm. Listen to your body with muscle testing. $25. Lapeer Community Education, LAPEER. 810-667-6546.

Tuesday, December 20 A Taste of Isha - 7pm. Sample the dishes and take home recipes to try on your own. Learn to make a yummy vegetarian recipe and taste how good healthy eating can be! Registration required online or at the Customer Service Desk. Space limited. FREE. Whole Foods Market, Rochester Hills.

Wednesday, December 28 Gluten Free Support Group - 7pm. Join us in the café with copies of your favorite gluten free recipe to share. Learn about our gluten free products, discuss allergies and get samples provided by our gluten free vendors. Register online or at the Customer Service. FREE. Whole Foods Market, Rochester Hills. Info: 248-371-1400.

Saturday, December 31 New Years Eve Yoga Practice - 6-7:30pm. A Magical Jivamukti inspired Yoga Class led by Abby. Live music by Dave. Asana practice followed by chanting and meditation for a blissful evening. $15/$20 at door. House of Yoga, 2965 W. 12 Mile Rd, Berkley. Abby Bechek Hoot 248-556-0992.

Thursday, January 5 Better Health Now and For a Lifetime Class 6:30-8:30pm. FirstLine Therapy Coordinator, Ann Heusted, RN, will conduct a seminar introducing attendees to the lifestyle modification program, FirstLine Therapy. This customized program includes personal consultation, individualized nutrition plan, testing for progress and group classes. FREE. The Downing Clinic, 5715 Bella Rose Blvd, CLARKSTON. Call 248-625-6677 to register.

Two styles available: n Calendar of Dated Events: Designed for events on a specific date of the month. 50 words. n Calendar of Ongoing Events: Designed for recurring events that fall on the same day each week. 25 words.

For guidelines and our convenient online submission form, visit our website: MHLAS.com/Calendar

Tuesday, January 10 Fibromyalgia - 6-7pm. This class covers causes of the disease, what nutrition and lifestyle changes are needed, and specialized testing commonly missed. Seating limited. FREE. Fraser Activity Center. Info: Jennifer 586-774-6301.

natural awakenings

of East Michigan

248-628-0125 December 2011

ongoingevents NOTE: All calendar events must be received via our online submission form by the 12th of the month and adhere to our guidelines. No phone calls or faxes, please. Visit mhlas.com/calendar to submit online.

Creating A World That Works For All - 10am. Celebration of Spirit: music, laughter, meditation, inspiration, spiritual community. Peace Unity Church & Holistic Center, 8080A Ortonville Road, Clarkston. Bookstore, Offices and Holistic Center, 248-625-5192. Spiritual Gathering - 11am. The Center of Light Spirituality Center. All welcome. Relaxed, retreat type setting, interesting topics, loving experiences, meditation, healing, 5898 Baldwin Rd, Oxford. 248-236-0432.

La Leche League of Lake Orion - 10am. Daytime Series meeting: 3rd Monday. FREE. Christ the Redeemer Church, 2700 Waldon Rd, Lake Orion. Tawnya 586-604-4074. Yoga - 12pm Yin Yoga, 6:30pm Power Yoga. Soothe Your Soul, Oxford. Info: Hannah 248-236-9855. Tai Chi Chuan Classes - 6:30-8pm. Enjoy the calm, centered, relaxed state of moving meditation. Mind leads, body follows. Reunite with your personal power and learn to direct your energy. $15. Orchid Leaf Energy Arts, 2290 East Hill Rd #202, Grand Blanc. Dawn Fleetwood 810-235-9854. Slow Flow Yoga with Noreen Daly CYT - 5:45pm. Wednesdays also. For beginners to intermediate. First class free. $8/class or package rates. Peace Unity Holistic Center, 8080A Ortonville Road, Clarkston. 248-625-5192. Flow Yoga - 7pm. Also Wed-6:15pm & Thu-9:30am. Great for the fit individual wanting to experience a blend of classic yoga combined with asana flow & breath. $12. Jewels Yoga & Fitness, 7355 Hall Rd, davisburg. Jules 248-390-9270.

Gentle Yoga with Rev. Matthew - 10am. Thursdays also. Please bring a practice mat or towel. Freewill Love-offerings received. Peace Unity Holistic Center, 8080A Ortonville Road, Clarkston. 248-625-5192. Gentle Yoga - 7pm. Great class for beginners, plussized, seniors, pregnant or anyone needing a more therapeutic approach to their practice. $12. Jewels Yoga & Fitness, 7355 Hall Rd, davisburg. Jules 248-390-9270. Tai Chi Classes - 6:30-7:30pm. 20 yrs experience. $13 drop in or 10-class packages. KMAI, 935 Baldwin Rd, Lapeer. 810-667-2101. See ad inside back cover.

Genesee, Lapeer & Shiawassee, MI

Yoga - 9am Basic Yoga, 11:15am & 6:30pm Gentle Yoga. Soothe Your Soul, Oxford. Info: Hannah 248-236-9855. Foundational Yoga - 10-11am. Energize and relax your mind, body, spirit and heart. $8. Michigan Rehabiliation Specialists, 10860 Highland Rd, Hartland. Tanya 810-623-4755. Women’s and Children’s Domestic Violence Support Groups - 10-11:30am. LACASA: Comprehensive Services Center, 2895 W. Grand River Avenue, Howell. Info: 517-548-1350. Gentle Yoga with Noreen Daly CYT - 1pm. A wonderful introduction to yoga, or a nice way to build on your current practice. First class free, $8/class or package rates. Peace Unity Holistic Center, 8080A Ortonville Road, Clarkston. 248-625-5192. Flow Yoga - 6:15 pm. Great class for those new to Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga system. $12. Jewels Yoga & Fitness, 7355 Hall Rd, davisburg. Jules 248-390-9270. Women's Only Workout - 6:00-7:00pm. Class teaches overall fitness with cardio, strength, and TaeKwon-Do punching and kicking techniques. KMAI, 935 Baldwin Rd, Lapeer. 810-667-2101. See ad inside back cover.

Alzheimer’s Association Support Group - 6:308pm. 4th Thur. Open to the public, free of charge and are attended by families, caregivers, and friends of persons with Alzheimer’s disease and other related dementia disorders. Lapeer Library- Margurite D. Angeli Branch. FREE. Info: Amy DeNise 810732-8500. Essential Meditation with Rev. Matthew 6:30pm. Brief instruction & deep experience. Free-will love offering will be received. Peace Unity Holistic Center, 8080A Ortonville Road, Clarkston. 248-625-5192. Basic Yoga - 7pm. This class is a classic! Great for all levels. $12. Jewels Yoga & Fitness, 7355 Hall Rd, Davisburg. Jules 248-390-9270. Health Seminars - 7-8pm. Different topics each week, with Dr. Dennis Benn. Call for weekly topics. FREE. Alternative Health and Rehab Centre, 2284 S Ballenger Hwy Ste F, Flint. RSVP 810-235-5181. See ad page 15. La Leche League of Lake Orion - 7:30 pm. Evening Series Meeting: 2nd Thursday. Toddler Meeting: 4th Thursday. Babies and children welcome. FREE. Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 1950 S. Baldwin, Lake Orion. Tawnya 584604-4074.

Yoga - 9am Basic Yoga, 12pm Yin Yoga. Soothe Your Soul, Oxford. Info: Hannah 248-236-9855. Basic Yoga - 9:30am. Great class for newbies! Learn the basics in a fun, casual atmosphere. $12. Jewels Yoga & Fitness, 7355 Hall Rd, davisburg. Jules 248-390-9270. Sexual Assault Group - 9:30-11:30am. LACASA: Comprehensive Services Center, 2895 W. Grand River Avenue, Howell. Info: 517-548-1350.

Flow Yoga - 9:30am. A blend of classic yoga teachings inter-woven with asana flow and breath to help strengthen the mind, body & spirit. $12. Jewels Yoga & Fitness, 7355 Hall Rd, davisburg. Jules 248-390-9270. Batterer/Assailant Group - 10-11:20am; 5:306:50pm and 7-8:20pm. LACASA: Comprehensive Services Center, 2895 W. Grand River Avenue, Howell. Info: 517-548-1350. Young At Heart Active Adults - 11:30am-1:30pm. Fun and friendly atmosphere filled with activities. $5 yearly membership per person. Non-members welcome. (May be extra fee for luncheon). Hart Community Center, Davisburg. Info; Sarah 248-846-6558. Special Needs Adaptive Yoga - 4:30 pm -5:30 pm. Ages 10 to 15 attends class with caregiver. Begins July 7 thru August. $8. The Yoga Loft & SHARP Fitness, 555 S. Saginaw St, Flint. Lois Schneider 810-232-2210. YOGA for Men & Women - 6-7:30pm. Beginning & Intermediate. Discover how movement and breath help open tight spots in the body. This class will help bring balance to the body. Available for all fitness levels. Bring your own mat or one provided. Taught by Chris Duncan, RYT 8 years Astanga Yoga. $12 drop in. KMAI, 935 Baldwin Rd, Lapeer. 810667-2101. See ad inside back cover.

Colon Hydrotherapy - 6-7pm.Wth Dr. Dennis Benn. FREE. Alternative Health and Rehab Centre, 2284 S Ballenger Hwy Ste F, Flint. RSVP 810235-5181. See ad page 15. Essene Health Association Meetings - 7pm, second Friday, Linden. Raw foods, sprouting, detox, live blood cell info & general health info is provided. Cost: $5 association membership fee required. Info/ register: 810-735-2575. See Center for Holistic Studies ad, page 6.

Yoga Fusion - 8am. Explore the 8 limbs of the Ashtanga practice infused with traditional, primary & secondary series postures. $12. Jewels Yoga & Fitness, 7355 Hall Rd, davisburg. Jules 248390-9270. Basic Yoga - 9am. Soothe Your Soul, Oxford. Info: Hannah 248-236-9855.

Tai Chi/Qi Gung classes - 10am. This ancient art will help you improve balance, muscle tone, flexibility, posture, and balance. Great stress reliever! $8. Alternative Health and Rehab. Centre, G-2284 S Ballenger Hwy, Flint. Dawei 810-2355181. See ad page 15.

www.NAeastMichigan.com

Craniosacral therapy

naturaldirectory

guided touch • denae tait Lapeer • 810-614-7582

Natural Networking at its best! Connecting you to the leaders in naturally healthy living in our community. To find out how you can be inbe included in this directory each month, call 248-628-0125 or visit: MichiganHealthyLiving.com.

Acupuncture Acupuncture

Clarissa Dawn Guest, RN, Dipl. Ac 2359 W. Shiawassee, Suite E, Fenton 810-750-2004

Transform your health with Acupuncture. Start feeling better today. Specializing in insomnia, depression, pain management, infertility, painful periods, menopause, headaches and migraines. Also offering Nutrienergetics™ and Neuromodulation Technique™.

Acupuncture & Herbal Clinic Michal Kelly L. Ac., Dipl. O.M. Kimberly Heneke, Massage Therapist 12272 Fenton Rd., Suite 3, Fenton 810-714-5556

Offering personalized natural health care that focuses on treating the root cause of illness, not just the symptom. A safe and effective alternative for children, adults and seniors. Specializing in infertility, pediatrics, internal medicine and pain management.

alternative health & Rehab centre, PLLC S. Ballenger Hwy, Flint • 810-235-5181

Certified Acupuncture with 8 years experience, David Birmingham. Chronic pain relief from many everyday issues without drug therapy. See ad page 15.

MICHIGAN ORIENTAL MEDICINE Acupuncture and Herbs Karen DeBruyn, PT, Dipl.OM 12809 S. Saginaw, Suite 206 Grand Blanc, 810-694-3500

Providing acupuncture and herbal medicine to optimize your health and wellness. Specializing in pain management, sports injuries, women's health, immune support, insomnia, and stress management.

Love and compassion are necessities, not luxuries. Without them humanity cannot survive. ~Dalai Lama

chiropractic alternative health & Rehab centre, PLLC S. Ballenger Hwy, Flint • 810-235-5181

DR. BENN DC BA, 30 years in practice treating sports, family, chronic and non-responsive conditions. See ad page 15.

café of life fenton

Dr. Erica Peabody, Chiropractor 521 North Leroy St., Fenton 810-629-6023

Serving the exceptional Chiropractic experience. The Café of Life® is a unique concept. A place that thinks radically different about health and provides an environment to practice. Visit our website: CafeOfLifeFenton.com.

Natural wellness & Pain Relief Centers

10683 S. Saginaw St., Ste B, Grand Blanc 810-694-3576 • NWPRC.com

Dr. Morningstar is the developer of the TornadoSuit and ARC3D Scoliosis Therapy. His treatment approach has already received national media attention for it's long-term effectiveness. Preventing scoliosis surgery in children, and maximizing pain relief function in adult scoliosis patients. See ad page 2.

colon hydrotherapy alternative health & Rehab centre, PLLC S. Ballenger Hwy, Flint • 810-235-5181

Advanced I-ACT certified Colon Hydro therapist available 3 days/wk. Water based cleansing of large intestines and colon's impacted waste. See ad page 15.

Counseling Shanti Counseling Services Theresa Callard-Moore, ACSW 6199 Miller Rd., Ste A, Swartz Creek 810-630-0904 ext. 2

Pain/stress relief and more with Craniosacral therapy, aromatherapy and holistic nutrition. 11 years experience. See ad page 10.

Wondering what the symbol is? It indicates that this advertiser is a provider in the NA Network! Visit NaturalAwakeningsNetwork.com for details on their offerings.

Dentistry David Ewing, DDS, LPC 5516 Torrey Rd, Flint 810-232-2515

General Dentistry, including root canals, dentures, extractions, bridges, composite (white) fillings, crowns, TMJ, N.E.T. for pain control, anxiety and more. Nutrition and ZOOM teeth whitening. See ad page 7.

David W. Regiani, DDS, PC Holistic General Dentistry 101 South Street, Ortonville 248-627-4934 RegianiDental.com

Mercury and metal-free dental materials, non surgical perio treatment, Invisalign© Orthodontics, DDS weight-loss system, cosmetic dentistry and TMJ pain diagnosis & treatment. Over 25 years of providing dental services to the community. See ad page 18.

essential oils young living essential oils Irene Marz Independent Distributor 810-691-1317 HealthfulOils@gmail.com IreneMarz.VibrantScents.com

Get Your Own Listing

Yo u n g l i v i n g h a s specialized in growing, distilling & selling therapeutic-grade, organically-pure Essential Oils for over 20 years. Over 130 Essential Oils & Oil blends available for health & wellness, as well as essential oilenhanced nutritional supplements / products for kids, personal care, dental & home. Income opportunities also available.

HERE

health foods

Treating the whole person: Body mind & spirit. Holistic psychotherapy services including traditional counseling, EMDR, NET, Nutritional response testing, Reiki and more. ShantiCounseling.com

in the Natural Awakenings Natural Directory for as little as $55/month. Visit MHLAS.com/NaturalDirectory natural awakenings

natures better way

880 W. Dryden Rd., Metamora 810-678-3131 or 800-894-3721 My4Life.com/NaturesBetterWay

We are helping "take Transfer Factor to the World." We also carry top quality herbal and nutritional supplements.

December 2011

hypnotherapy alternative health & Rehab centre, PLLC S. Ballenger Hwy, Flint • 810-235-5181

Medical Hypnotherapist Jon Tomlinson, with 90% success rate. Helping with conditions: quit smoking, weight loss, golf and much more. See ad page 15.

integrative medicine Natural wellness & Pain Relief Centers

10683 S. Saginaw St., Ste B, Grand Blanc 810-694-3576 • NWPRC.com Comprehensive treatment options to maximize your results. Bio-identical hormones, IV nutritionals, HcG weight loss, manipulation under anesthesia, decompression therapy, exercise with oxygen therapy, and cancer therapies. See ad page 2.

The giving of love is an education in itself. ~Eleanor Roosevelt

massage Deep tissue, Active Release, Prenatal, Myofacial, Shiatsu, Sports • 521 North Leroy St., Fenton

810-629-6023 • CafeOfLifeFenton.com

We strongly believe in integrating massage therapy into your healing and have a full massage staff to do just that. Warm, inviting, relaxing atmosphere condusive to healing and relaxation.

Lotus Healing Arts Center

Medical spa Timeless Health & Beauty medical spa 810-724-0480 542 N. Cedar, Imlay City

A healthy body from the inside out. Bioidentical Hormone replacement, weight loss, intravenous nutritional support, vaser and smart lipo, botox, nonsurgical facelift, vericose veins and other services. See ad page 9.

Natural/Holistic Health Alternative Health & Rehab Centre, PLLC 2284 S Ballenger Hwy, Ste F, Flint 810-235-5181 • www.AHRC.us

A diagnostic, treatment and research centre with a holistic, personal approach. Acupuncture, Chiropractic, sports rehab and exercise, massage, oxygen therapy, detox and more. See ad page 15.

Center for Holistic studies & Practices, LLc Deborah Weeks • 810-735-2575 114A S Bridge St, Linden

Rejuvinate, cleanse and detoxify the body, mind and spirit by choosing from alternative and preventative practices offered. Naturopathic Counselor, Certified Medical Massage, S c e n a r, M i c r o s c o p y, Biological Terrain, Ion Cleanse, Blanket Therapy and Ear Candling. See ad page 6.

Discount programs

WOULD YOU LIKE TO SIT BY THE WATER for a week in Naples, Florida? For details visit this website: www.vrbo.com/57189.

NEW HEALTH DISCOUNT NETWORK. Natural Awakenings Network discount card for products and services related to health, fitness, nutrition and sustainability. Save money on the products and services you purchase in our community and throughout markets in the US. For more information, visit: NAeastMichigan.com/na-network.

Sales professional wanted in East Michigan to sell magazine advertising, event sales, discount card program and other ancillaries for Natural Awakenings. Strong skills only apply. Call for a short telephone interview to begin the process. Jerry Neale: 248-628-0125.

Genesee, Lapeer & Shiawassee, MI

Lawn/tree care program that offers organic-based fertilizers, Free lawn analysis. Visit Bio-Turf.com.

organic salon cutting edge organic salon 8331 S. State St. (M-15), Goodrich 4 miles North of Ortonville 810-636-5100

Organic Hair Coloring, Ion Detox, Feathering, Mani/ Pedi, Gel Nails and Shellac, Hi/Lo Lites, Regular Hair Care, Men,women and children cuts, Gift Certificates available. See ad page 18.

Weight Loss Natural wellness & Pain Relief Centers

10683 S. Saginaw St., Ste B, Grand Blanc 810-694-3576 • NWPRC.com People under Dr. Strauchman's supervised HcG protocol are losing 20-30 pounds a month and keeping it off. Mention Natural Awakenings Directory and receive $50 off your HcG Program. See ad page 2.

Yoga/ Martial Arts

FOR RENT-VACATION

Help wanted

Organic Lawn Care Serving Genesee, Oakland & Livingston

LISTINGS: 3 lines (approx 22 words), 3 mo. minimum/prepaid: $69; 6 mo.: $119. Extra words: $1 ea/mo. Send check w/listing by 12th prior to publication to: Natural Awakenings Classifieds, Box 283, Oxford, MI 48371. Info: 248-628-0125.

BE VEGAN/GREEN! Help save planet from destruction. Go to GodsDirectContact.org. View climate change flyer.

A Holistic Approach to Health. Treating the body, mind, and soul. Offering Massage, Thai Yoga Massage, Reiki, Polarity Therapy, Quantum Touch, Readings, Reflexology, Acupuncture, Nutrition, and Workshops.

Bio-Turf, LLC • 810-348-7547

classifieds

GREEN LIVING

6015 W Pierson Rd #3 Flushing • 810-874-1759 LotusHealers.com

OPPORTUNITIES CURRENTLY PUBLISHING NATURAL AWAKENINGS MAGAZINES – For sale in Birmingham, AL; North Central FL; Lexington, KY; Santa Fe/Albuquerque, NM; Cincinnati, OH; Tulsa, OK; Northeast PA; Columbia, SC; Southwest VA. Call for details 239-530-1377.

Korean Martial Arts Institute

935 Baldwin Rd., Lapeer 810-667-2101 • KMAI.net

Traditional TaeKwon-Do training for ages 5 through seniors. Adult enrichment classes in Yoga, Kick-fit and Women’s self-defense. Visit website for class schedule and offering. See ad next page.

Your success and happiness lies in you. Resolve to keep happy, and your joy and you shall form an invincible host against difficulties. ~Helen Keller

www.NAeastMichigan.com

Get Fit • Have Fun • Learn the Art of Self-Defense At the Korean Martial Arts Institute: • Every student actively participates in every class. • We reinforce character development & values that schools, parents & churches strive to role model, such as: Common courtesy, integrity, perseverance, teamwork, self-confidence, community service, & respect for authority. • We support academic pursuits. • Training is available for the whole family—5 years of age & older. • Memberships entitle one to attend an unlimited number of classes. • Morning, evening, & weekend classes are available (call for hours of operation). • We have served the Lapeer community for over 35 years.

First Class

FREE with this Ad!

Korean Martial Arts Institute

with this Ad! Stop in and give us a try!

Enrichment Classes: — Tai Chi —

Tuesday's

— Yoga —

Thursday's

-- TaeKwon-Do --

Tues thru Sat

6:30-7:30pm

6-7:30pm

Various times

8 classes for $88 to be used in 10 weeks or $13 drop in fee.

8 classes for $80 to be used in 10 weeks or $12 drop in fee.

Ages 5 to Adult Call for rates & times 810-667-2101

Womens' Only Workout Wednesday's 6:00-7:00pm 10 classes for $40. Starts Nov. 2nd

natural awakenings

December 2011

The

5th Annual

Michigan Healthy Living and Sustainability

g n i r sp

! h t l a e h o t In

po x E r & i a F h t l a e H FREE l a r u Admission! Nat Saturday, March 31, 2012 10 am to 5 pm

FREE Parking!

Genesys Conference Center 805 Health Park Blvd., Grand Blanc, MI* (next to the Genesys Athletic Club)

FREE Speakers!

• Speakers • Exhibits • Displays • Demonstrations • Samples register early to exhibit. don't miss ✽ your chance to be part of this special event! ✽ * For a map to the facilities, or to exhibit visit: