Natural Awakenings Fairfield County February 2011 by Natural Awakenings Magazine

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Special Edition

Relax & RECHARGE

Mind & Body

Inspiring Ways to Balance Your Life

BOOT CAMP

Conscious Relationships

Sierra Bender Redefines Fitness

Harville Hendrix Shares How-to Secrets

GREEN DRINKS Cheers to Eco-Conscious Connections

FEBRUARY 2011

Fairfield County

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Point Your Life in a Healthy Direction â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Visit Our New Website Browse the local news, events calendar, resource guide, and contests, plus all the wonderful articles that support and inspire a healthy, sustainable lifestyle. FREE website classifieds and calendar listings. Now just a click away!

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FAIRFIELD COUNTY EDITION

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contents 20

5 newsbriefs 14 globalbriefs ``20 fairfieldgreen 22/50 fitbody 24 healingways 28 healthbriefs 36 consciouseating 38 wisewords 42 inspiration 44 naturalpet 46 healthykids 48 greenliving 51 calendar 58 resourceguide 62 classified

advertising & submissions how to advertise To advertise with Natural Awakenings or request a media kit, please contact us at 203.885.4674 or email FFCadvertising@NaturalAwakeningsMag.com. Deadline for ads: the 12th of the month. Editorial submissions Visit eNaturalAwakenings.com - click on “Submit Editorial” at the top of the page. Deadline for editorial: the 5th of the month. calendar submissions Visit eNaturalAwakenings.com - click on “Submit Calendar” at the top of the page. Deadline for magazine (print) calendar listings: the 5th of the month. Online calendar listings may be entered at any time. 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 203.885.4674. For franchising opportunities call 239.530.1377.

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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.

22 Sierra Bender’s

Holistic Boot Camp Redefining Fitness to Empower Women from the Inside Out by Kim Childs

24 Meditation Made Easy Try these Simple Tips to Achieve Better Health, More Happiness and Peace of Mind by Sally Kempton

26 Stay Warm in

Winter with Qi Gong by Luis Duarte

32 Relax & Recharge

Therapeutic Home Recipes Rebalance and Renew Mind and Body by Frances Lefkowitz

36 Happiness Is… Chocolate Dark and Delicious, it’s Blissfully Healthy by Gabriel Constans

42 Achieve Emotional Freedom Dr. Judith Orloff Shows You

32 46

How in Her New Book by Karen Adams

43 Periodontal Disease – and Your Whole Body Health by Mark A. Breiner

46 Mindful Kids

Inner Awareness Brings Calm and Well-Being by Daniel Rechtschaffen

48 Green Drinks

Cheers to Making Eco-Conscious Connections by Judith Fertig

natural awakenings

February 2011

letterfrompublisher “Be aware of wonder. Live a balanced life — learn some and think some and draw and paint and sing and dance and play and work every day some.” ~ Robert Fulghum

Carolyn Aversano

This month we focus on Life Balance, something that most of us struggle with in our fast paced, overloaded society. Balancing a young family, work, and personal interests is definitely a challenge for me – one that I’ve gotten better at by being more conscious of priorities and choices about how I spend my time and energy but still a challenge. There are great days when I think, “Yeah, I can do this!” and then there are other days that knock me down flat and leave me feeling depleted and overwhelmed. Just being honest. The good news is that as I look back over the past few years, I realize that I’ve developed a toolkit of things that work for me, to help me relax, relieve stress, and enjoy my family, and life in general – little things like getting out in nature, meditation, breathing exercises in times of stressful situations, listening to music throughout the day, lavender baths at night, date nights with my husband, and silly fun, like family karaoke night or XBox bowling with my sons. Our feature article, “Relax & Recharge” is filled with practical, low cost ways to help bring more balance to our busy lives. For me, the key has been to try different things to find those that I truly enjoy and that are realistic for my schedule and my life – and to go with the flow when I fall short of the balance that I strive for. It’s a work in progress, but I’m grateful for my toolkit and look forward to adding selectively to it!

Design & Production Erica M. Mills Sales & Marketing Carolyn Aversano Joseph Pacelli Leana Cipolla Natural Awakenings Fairfield County Phone: 203.885.4674 Fax: 203.516.2392 FFCadvertising@NaturalAwakeningsMag.com FFCeditor@NaturalAwakeningsMag.com FFCcalendar@NaturalAwakeningsMag.com

eNaturalAwakenings.com © 2011 by Natural Awakenings. All rights reserved. Although some parts of this publication may be reproduced and reprinted, we require that prior permission be obtained in writing. Natural Awakenings is a free publication distributed locally and is supported by our advertisers. It is available in selected stores, health and education centers, healing centers, public libraries and wherever free publications are generally seen. Please call to find a location near you or if you would like copies placed at your business.

We’re thrilled to feature “Sierra Bender’s Holistic Boot Camp” this month on page 22. Like many of the best ideas, Sierra created her program as a result of lessons from her own life experience. Her “Boot Camp for Goddesses” offers a fresh approach to holistic fitness, balancing the needs of mind, body and spirit in synergistic sisterhood. I feel compelled to acknowledge that many working parents really don’t have time to exercise, to pamper themselves, to take up new activities - and inspiration offered may seem patronizing. In my prior career I was certainly one of these moms, and I highly recommend Cheryl Richardson’s “Take Time for Your Life,” as a wonderful, practical and realistic guide that put me on the path to much greater balance in my life. Whether we make the commitment to attend a boot camp or to just make time for a cup of herbal tea, I think the important thing is that we take a step in the right direction. One step will inevitably lead to the next.

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

Natural Awakenings is printed on post-consumer recycled paper with soy-based ink.

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newsbriefs Sacred Doors Offers Its Finest Jewel

acred Doors, a holistic healing and educational center with locations in Wilton and Westport, announces that it has entered into fellowship with some of the best practitioners of holistic medicine in the area and beyond. Their offerings include acupuncture, flower essence therapy, energy healing, Reiki, shamanic healing, craniosacral work, voice mapping, lymphatic massage, biofeedback, hypnosis and nutrition, as well as detox programs utilizing infrared sauna and ionic footbaths. “But our finest jewel,” says Sandra Angulo of Sacred Doors, “is the gift of meditation and breath work that aligns the systems organically, allowing any human being to come into wellness. Meditation is a powerful tool for personal transformation, but it is more than just sitting still. Proper instruction and guidance is the key to unlocking the transformative power of meditation, and often people have limited success when they try to figure it out on their own. When beginning a meditation practice, it is important to get instruction from an experienced teacher.” Meditation is held on Tuesdays from 7 to 8 p.m in Wilton and Sundays from 5:30 to 6:45 p.m. in Wesport, and Breath Work with Mastery classes on Thursdays from 7 to 8:30 p.m. in Wilton. Reservations are suggested. Sacred Doors is located at

1 Danbury Road, Wilton and 1300 Post Road East, Wesport. Call 203.727.8685 or visit SacredDoors.net for more information. See ad pg 12.

“Talk” to Your Body at JH Wellness

ost daily activity is managed by an exchange of information that happens at a level below conscious awareness. There are an estimated 100 million impulses of information processed by the body every second that we are not aware of. The mechanism that filters this information is a part of the brain called the reticular activating system, and even though we aren’t aware of it, it is this information that keeps the body organized and healthy. The breakthrough bio-communication technology available at JH Wellness is an extremely powerful and effective tool that can evaluate the stress experienced by each of the body’s systems, identify the underlying cause of stress in each of these systems, and pinpoint the exact remedies that will

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February 2011

select Nordic Naturals heart health products

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Relax, Enjoy &

Let Your Spirit Shine Thru We offer a variety of healing modalities including:

• Meditation Classes • Intuitive Sessions • Reiki • Tai Chi • Rising Star For more information on classes, workshops and events please call, click or email us!

Kindred Spirits A Center for the Mind, Body & Soul NEW LOCATION in REDDING, CT JTKindredspirit@aol.com

203-938-3690 www.KindredSpiritsCenter.com

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bring the body back into balance. “Rather than guessing what will bring a body back into balance, the body is tested to see which foods, supplements, and/or natural remedies are most compatible with it,” explains owner and health practitioner, Jennifer Hanley. This cutting-edge technology performs an assessment of the body called a Bio-Survey, which allows JH WellJennifer Hanley ness to measure the energetic stress level of organs and systems, identify such hidden stressors as bacteria, viruses, candida, heavy metals, chemicals, and EMFs, identify food and environmental sensitivities, and pinpoint specific remedies to bring the body back into balance. By combining quantum physics, biology and information theory, this technology provides an interface between living things and computers, allowing them to talk to each other. For more information, please visit JHWellness.com.To set up a consultation, please contact Jennifer at 203.650.0940 or Jen@JHWellness.com. See ad pg 8.

For Valentine’s Day, a Couple’s Massage

onsider celebrating Valentine’s Day with a Couples Massage, suggests Clare Wilson of Pangaea Massage, who has been a creative presence in the Greenwich massage community for over ten years. Clare practices Integrated Swedish Massage and specializes in Sports, Deep Tissue, and Medical Massage. The focus of her practice has always been to listen to and problem-solve the particular needs of each individual client. By discussing with clients their lifestyle, body structure and exercise habits, she is able to help lead them toward their optimum healthful state. With the launch of her new website, Clare is introducing several new services to her existing practice, aside from the Couples Massage, including Aromatherapy, Hot Stone and Sole to Sea, all of which are available in her Cos Cob office. Please visit the new website, PangaeaMassage.com, to learn more about these exciting new services. Pangaea is located at 122 River Road Extension, Greenwich. Sessions can also be scheduled to accommodate clients in the comfort of their homes. For more information or to schedule an appointment, please call 203.869.1764. See ad pg 19.

Withinsight’s Imbolc Open House, Retreat

Lisa Meade & Valerie Wilke

ithinsight welcomes 2011 with a year-long celebration of Women’s Wisdom~Spirit’s Spark, with Lisa Meade and Valerie Wilke leading women to uncover the gifts they hold within. On Saturday, February 12, Withinsight’s Imbolc Open House will honor the midpoint between Winter Solstice and Spring Equinox, with the promise of seeds stirring underground, our intentions for the New Year that will be woven in words and movement, color and form. Dreams and goals will also bloom into reality at Withinsight’s weekend spiritual retreat at Litchfield’s Wisdom House Retreat Center on March 26 through 27, where participants will work solo and in groups to explore the deepest longings of their souls. This introspective and interactive gathering will empower women to reconstruct their life-stories and to step into their personal strength and wisdom within a sacred space. Located in Fairfield County, Withinsight offers programs at various locations, finding local sites of beauty, power and tranquility as event locations. Forest glens, moonlit beaches, meadows and New England trails are only a few of the natural settings for Withinsight’s sacred spaces. The February 12 Imbolc ceremony will take place from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Visit the website, WomenWithinsight.com for details and to sign up for an on-line seasonal newsletter offering updates. See ad pg 15.

Life is what we make it, always has been, always will be. ~Grandma Moses

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February 2011

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id your New Year’s Resolutions this year include either losing weight or saving money? Well, FixEat’s wide range of flexible services has a program that does both—a 5-week Pound-Buster Program designed to shed that holiday weight and set participants on the right track. A fully qualified registered dietitian will create a personalized plan offering guidance every step of the way, and the program includes weekly counseling sessions, plus daily support and a choice of supermarket tour, restaurant menu analysis, cooking demonstration or group activity. Sign up by the end of February 2011 to receive 50% off the usual rate, plus a money-back guarantee. Space is limited, so get in early and call now. FixEat Nutrition and Health Services LLC in Riverside can be reached at 203.940.1948 or Info@FixEat.com. Go to their website, FixEat.com, for more details on the 5-Week PoundBuster Program. See ad pg 60.

Healing Hands Reiki Comes to You

essica Hunter, an advanced reiki practitioner, is pleased to announce Healing Hands, a new mobile Reiki practice for the Fairfield County area. Healing Hands provides personal in-home Reiki treatments for clients, as Jessica travels to the client where she strives to create a personal and affordable spa environment and tailors the session to each client’s Jessica Hunter needs. “I am extremely passionate about Reiki and working on an individual basis with clients. For me, each client is special and each client is an opportunity for me to contribute to enhancing their wellness and working with them to make an improvement, whether that is mentally, physically, emotionally, or spiritually.” Jessica is a natural “people person” who is compassionate, empathetic, and sincere. Her enthusiastic and personal approach to Reiki enables clients to relax and experience Reiki without the stress of traveling to an appointment in a public venue or outside distractions. Jessica is a member of the International Association of Reiki Professionals, and holds herself strongly to their values and ethics as a practitioner. 8

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Reiki is an ancient Japanese method of healing and relaxing the mind, body and spirit to promote overall wellness. It is a gentle method of cleansing that works in conjunction with traditional medicine wherein energy is channeled through the hands of a trained practitioner and received by the recipient through specific hand positions. It is safe, non-invasive, and can be received by people of any and all faiths as it is not associated with any form of religion. To learn more about Reiki and Healing Hands, visit Jessica’s new website at HunterHealingHands.com or contact her at 203.522.2673. See ad pg 61.

Homeopathy, “New” 21st Century Family Medicine

r. L o u i s e Sanchione, Naturopath and Classical Homeopath, is launching The Natural Educator, providing courses, seminars, workshops and webinars on natural healing modalities designed to be used at home in treating acute illnesses. Courses begin in Connecticut in March and will also be offered in western Massachusetts. Her first course is Homeopathic Acute Care and First Aid. She believes that with an acute home health care kit, a wellselected book on homeopathy, and several hours of training with an experienced homeopath, families can begin treating their own acute illnesses. Homeopathy assists the body’s ability to heal itself by providing the extra “nudge” it needs, in very small doses, increasing balance and overall health and your vitality, also reducing the frequency of illnesses. As healthcare costs rise especially for routine acute illnesses such as coughs, colds, earaches, sinus infections, digestive upsets and the flu confidence in conventional medicine’s ability to address these conditions in a safe and effective way continues to plummet. Homeopathic medicine is a safe, effective and proven medical system, used worldwide. There were more than twenty homeopathic medical colleges in the United States in the late 1800s the U.S was a world leader then, and is experiencing a homeopathic resurgence now. One need only look on the shelves in Walgreen’s to see homeopathic remedies sharing space with conventional treatments.

Yan Ting, Doctor of Acupuncture YOUR BEST PAIN SPECIALIST

203-558-6169 ▪ www.2003watts.com

For more information about The Natural Educator, contact Dr. Louise Sanchione at DrSanchione@earthlink.net or call 413.320.9158. DrSanchione.com.

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February 2011

A Process for Remembering Joy

Sandra Eagle

Acupuncture Natural Healthcare Nutrition Programs Chiropractic

Relieve pain and restore the body to optimal health... naturally Dr. Tom Worden dc, Director 41 Kenosia Avenue, Danbury

203-748-8093 10

Fairfield County Edition

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n Saturday, February 12, Mind/ Body Psychotherapist Sandra Eagle, LCSW, is offering a special breakthrough session dedicated to remembering the joy buried within. As she explains it: “There is a journey, unique to you, at this moment in time. Residing within you, awaiting your activation, are visions, sensations, insights and awakenings to be experienced. This is not drug-induced tripping; it’s your intrinsic orientation toward healing and evolving. It will free whatever needs to be released or revealed to you, in order for you to arrive at your next level - an expanded sense of freedom and a more deeply felt sense of connection. The ‘prescription’ for living in your Vitality is already coded within. Remembering Joy is a simple process, using Intention, Surrender and Breathwork that accesses your coding, resulting in a profound experience of coming home to your Self.” Sandra Eagle works with all ages and with families, using a blend of techniques from both psychotherapeutic and meditational traditions as guides to the place where tension and confusion cause energy to be “knotted.” Once released, this energy supports the creation of new life and successful relationships. The February 12 session will take place from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Stamford. Fee is $45. To register, contact Sandra@SandraEagle.com or call 203.550.2111. Lunch will be provided; bring your own snacks, drinks, a mat, blanket, pillow, and journal.

Naturopath Dr. Brady on Preventing Heart Disease

n Thursday, Fe b r u a r y 17, the Trumbull Library and the University of Bridgeport will present the second Heart Month lecture, with Naturopath Dr. David M. Dr. David Brady Brady speaking on Cardiovascular Disease Prevention and Risk Management in Naturopathic Medical Practice. The #1 cause of death and disability is cardiovascular-related, and is pandemic in our society. Research suggests that foundational issues such as diet, lifestyle, obesity, chronic inflammation, insulin resistance and other factors play a large role in the formation of cardiovascular disease, and that this problem is much more than just a matter of prescribing cholesterol-lowering medications. The focus of Dr. Brady’s program will be on new cutting-edge diagnostic and treatment strategies. Attendees will learn: The latest laboratory evaluations that your doctor is probably not doing; the epidemiology of cardiovascular disease and just how big a problem it is; the relationship between obesity, insulin resistance, stress and CVD; why the standard evaluation techniques only screen for approximately 50% of people at significant risk, and the latest and best therapeutic management options. Dr. Brady is a licensed Naturopathic Physician and a Board Certified Clinical Nutritionist. He is the Vice Provost of the Division of Health Sciences and an Associate Professor of Clinical Sciences at the University of Bridgeport, as well as a physician at Whole Body Medicine in Trumbull. Bring lunch, as doors will open at 11:45 a.m. The program is scheduled for noon in the Community Room. For more information, call the Library at 203.452.5197 or visit TrumbullCt-Library.org. The Trumbull Library is located at 33 Quality Street. See ad pgs 17, 35.

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natural awakenings

February 2011

Onus Tribus ~ Onus Domus

A Holistic Healing & Education Center

New Owner at Yoga for Everybody

Weight management and Detox programs, Infra Red Sauna treatments, Ionic Foot Bath, Lymphatic Drainage Massage, Acupuncture, Voice Mapping. Meditation, Breath Work and Movement. Groups & Individual Classes. Eastern & Shamanic Energy Healing, Reiki, Cranial Sacral, Flower Essence. Sundays: Free meditation class and movie for our ONE TRIBE ~ ONE HOME movement towards our divine light .....& love.

SacredDoors.net One Danbury Rd, Wilton 1300 Post Rd East, Westport

203 -727- 8685 Evelyne Serais

oga instructor Evelyne Serais is the new owner and director of Fairfield’s Yoga for Everybody (Y4E), with studio manager Jennifer Jennings staying on. Especially attentive to beginners’ needs, Y4E offers Kundalini, Kripalu and Vinyassa classes, along with Anusara-inspired, Yin and Vini Yoga, Restorative, Pre-natal, Mommy-and-Me, and Middle School classes. Thai bodywork, a 2500-yearold one-on-one healing technique, and many workshops, including Pranayama (yogic breathing), Yoga Nidra (relaxation), Chakra and Posture clinics and various types of meditation, such as gong relaxation are offered. “The mind cannot resist the gong’s vibrations,” says Serais. “It is the fastest way to clear out the subconscious and begin to let go of our blocks.” Y4E has also reopened its retail shop, offering jewelry, clothing and yoga related accessories. The studio is adding another room for concurrent sessions, and will announce new programs and workshops throughout the year. “We are here to nourish the body, mind and spirit,” says Serais. “Through this effort and practice we may begin to take yoga ‘off the mat’, extending light and compassion to all those around us.” Y4E, open seven days a week, is located at 27 Unquowa Road, Fairfield. Visit Yoga4Everybody.net or call 203. 254.9642.

Fairfield County Edition

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Natural Awakenings Presents 2012: Time for Change

n Fe b r u a r y 6, community sustainability groups will gather at the Wainwright House in Rye, NY for a showing of the film 2012: Time for Change, which offers an optimistic alternative to apocalyptic doom and gloom. Directed by Emmy Award nominee João Amorim, the film follows journalist Daniel Pinchbeck, author of the bestselling 2012: The Return of Quetzalcoatl, as he seeks to integrate the ancient wisdom of tribal cultures with the scientific method. As conscious agents of evolution, Pinchbeck asserts, we can redesign post-industrial society based on ecological principles to make a world that works for all. Rather than breakdown and barbarism, he says, 2012 heralds a cultural rebirth where collaboration replaces competition and spiritual exploration becomes the new cutting edge, replacing the sterile materialism that has pushed our world to the brink. “The film is profound and serves as a rallying point for Fairfield and Westchester County residents to get involved in their community and learn what we can all do to help create a better world using sustainable practices,” says Carolyn Aversano, one of the publishers of Natural Awakenings, which is sponsoring the event. The movie begins at 3 p.m. and will be followed by a one-hour expert panel discussion. Panelists include Jeff Cordulack, Events and Communications Manager for Audubon Greenwich and President of ECOS (Environmental Council of Stamford), Amy Kalafa, award-winning film producer, school food advocate and holistic health and nutrition counselor, and Victoria Friedman, Founder of Vistar Foundation, teacher, lecturer, and leader in the field of Collective Consciousness. Several environmental and sustainability-focused organizations will be on hand with information, including G.I.V.E. (Green Initiatives for Vegetables in Education), NOFA (New England Organic Farmers Association), Jane Goodall’s Roots & Shoots, Feeney Farm, Greenwich Audubon, and Vistar Foundation. All proceeds will benefit Feeney Farm in Fairfield, CT (FeeneyFarm. org) and Hilltop Hanover Farm in Westchester, NY.

Whole Foods Market is bringing you natural & organic foods at premium quality, not premium prices. Westport 399 Post Road West, CT 203.227.6858 Greenwich 90 E. Putnam Avenue, CT 203.661.0631 Darien 150 Ledge Road, CT 203.662.0577

The movie begins at 3 p.m. The Wainwright House is located at 260 Stuyvesant Ave, Rye, NY. Tickets are $10, advance reservation only; call 914.617.8750. Admission is free after 5 p.m. for community discussion and information tables. For more information, visit eNaturalAwakenings.com and 2012TimeForChange.com. natural awakenings

February 2011

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

Eco-Kudos

America Names Top Smart-Growth Cities The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Smart Growth Awards recognize innovation in everything from creating small public spaces in densely packed urban cores to investing in compact communities and preserving forests and farmland. It all makes for greater livability. This past year, the Big Apple took honors for overall excellence. “New York City has achieved a relatively small carbon footprint, given its size, through its commitment to creating compact and walkable neighborhoods,” according to the agency report. The city has also built dedicated bike lanes and carved out public spaces in urban jungles like Times Square. Portland, Oregon, wins kudos for its realistic growth plan to accommodate an anticipated 600,000 population by 2030, strengthening employment and concentrating commerce, while preserving its neighborhoods and connections with nature. In Maine, 20 towns collaborated in a commercial and tourist byway, while preserving the region’s rural character. San Francisco earned praise for transforming a previously neglected alleyway into the vibrant South of Market retail area, as did Baltimore for its green rehab of an historic building into a mixed-use space that revitalized the surrounding neighborhood.

Natural Medicine of the Future…Here Today

Dr. Beverly P. Jackson, Ň.D. Human biological processes are entirely dependent on communication of atoms in the DNA. When the body’s information transfer system is compromised, cellular, physiological and energetic processes cease to function optimally. Dr. Jackson utilizes the latest cuttingedge technology and natural medicine encoded with information to correct distortions in the DNA.

Learn more at www.dynutrix.com 203-962-2995

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Urban Psychology

Where We Come From Counts Making a life is about more than making a living, and a University of Michigan study has found that some cities lead with their heart, while others lead with their head. “The place where we grew up or currently reside… defines who we are, how we think about ourselves and others, and the way we live,” suggest researchers Nansook Park and Christopher Peterson. Hence the common query: “Where are you from?” With more than half of the world’s total population living in cities, the researchers maintain that it’s time to assess what is right about urban life. So, they surveyed character strengths among more than 47,000 residents of the 50 largest U.S. cities. They report that heart-strong cities tended to be warmer, less crowded and more community/teamwork oriented, with more families with children, and perhaps kinder and gentler overall. The five highest scoring heart-oriented cities were: El Paso, Texas; Mesa, Arizona; Miami; Virginia Beach; and Fresno, California. Head-strong cities tended to be more intellectual, innovative and creative, with a greater number of patents per capita. They are often labeled as hot spots for talent and high-tech industries. The five top-scoring cities in this category were: San Francisco, Los Angeles and Oakland, California; Albuquerque; and Honolulu. Some cities scored above average on both counts, including El Paso, Honolulu and Detroit. Is it better to lead with your head or your heart? Each has its own advantages, the researchers conclude. Life may well be good in other towns, too, simply in different ways.

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  

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

Adult Volunteers We’ve Got Time to Help

The Corporation for National and Community Service reports that 63.4 million Americans volunteered to help their communities in 2009, 1.6 million more than the year before, and the largest single-year spike since 2003. They contributed 8.1 billion hours of service, with an estimated value of nearly $169 billion. Part-time employees proved the most generous, with a 34 percent volunteer rate, according to the Portland Tribune’s analysis of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Nearly 29 percent of those with full-time jobs contributed. About 23 percent of unemployed individuals volunteered. Utah was the top volunteer state, with a rate of more than 44 percent, followed by Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska and Alaska, all exceeding 37 percent. Large cities were led by Minneapolis-St. Paul; Portland, Oregon; Salt Lake City; Seattle; and Oklahoma City, all with at least a third of their residents taking up a cause. Mid-size cities, particularly those in the Midwest, have on average higher volunteer rates than large cities, with volunteers also contributing more hours. Mid-size city stars, with a volunteer rate of between 63 and 40 percent include Provo, Utah; Iowa City; Ogden, Utah; Fort Collins, Colorado; and Madison, Wisconsin.

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February 2011

globalbriefs

Checkbook Bingo

Marriage Modes

Because few parents do the math, not many would guess that it costs more than $222,000 to bring up the average child in today’s middleincome American family. That’s the latest price tag, according to U.S. Department of Agriculture figures— even before college starts. Although the lion’s share of parental spending today goes toward housing and food, healthcare costs have doubled to 8 percent of the total since 1960. Education, including childcare and extracurricular activities, is up 2 percent, comprising 17 percent of the total childhood bill. Some economists say the USDA estimate is modest, because it doesn’t take into account competitive spending practices among the upper classes. These can range from high-speed Internet access, unlimited smartphone texting and cultural travel to competitive sports, private schooling and expenditures on orthodontia and brandname status symbols. All are vying to give kids a leg up to success.

The Rise of New Forms of Family Even as the number of married couples shrinks to just more than half of all U.S. adults, the family—in all of its emerging varieties—remains resilient, says a new Pew Research Center nationwide survey. Most Americans’ definition of family has expanded to encompass either one or two adults living with a child. The vast majority (75 percent) of all adults consider their own family to be the most important and most satisfying element of their lives. Far more married adults say that love (93 percent), making a lifelong commitment (87 percent) and companionship (81 percent) are key reasons to get married, rather than having children (59 percent) or financial stability (31 percent). Unmarried adults viewed these factors in the same order. Asked if they agree that there is only one true love for every person, fewer than 3 in 10 of total survey respondents say, “I do.”

Happiness Index

Most American Adults Say Life is Good A new Rasmussen Reports survey finds that 61 percent of adults rate their lives today as good or excellent. Among the most satisfied are married adults, those with no children at home and people with the highest incomes. Of the 1,000 men and women surveyed, 58 percent consider the years from 18 to 49 as the very best, 17 percent ultimately prefer age 50 and up and 14 percent maintain that childhood takes the cake. The rest are undecided.

The Rising Cost of Raising a Child

Source: The Christian Science Monitor

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Older teens interested in community service or social change have long been able to tap into tailormade resources, including DoSomething.org, the nation’s largest database of teen volunteer opportunities; it sparked more than a million teens to action in 2010. But, how about tweens, who often find it difficult to make themselves heard? The Do Something! Handbook for Young Activists now empowers younger kids, too, with the tools and know-how to change their world.

Campus Life

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Ninth World Sound Healing Day is February 14 Jonathan and Andi Goldman will lead a five-minute worldwide toning for planetary peace and harmony on February 14 at noon, Eastern Time, when everyone is invited to meet up in the toning chamber at TempleOfSacredSound.org to join in a heartfelt, “Ah.” Those without Internet access are welcome to join in the compassionate chorus with their own heart sound at that time, or to create or join a local sounding event. “We estimate that hundreds of thousands participate each year,” Jonathan says. They are encouraged that independent monitoring of the effects of collective consciousness on worldwide energy fields by Princeton’s Global Consciousness Project and HeartMath’s Global Coherence Initiative, while not conclusive, showed simultaneous upward spikes last year on Valentine’s Day.

Retirement communities, typically nestled near beaches or golf courses, are beginning to emerge somewhere else: near university campuses. Educational opportunities and cultural activities there are among the perks for those who feel most alive in active, intellectually stimulating and intergenerational settings. Alma maters are a special draw for sports fans. About 50 campus-oriented retirement communities exist around the country, estimates Andrew Carle, an industry expert and founding director of the Senior Housing Administration program at George Mason University, in Fairfax, Virginia. Another 50 are planned.

For details, visit WorldSoundHealingDay.org, listen live to a special radio program at HealthyLife.net beginning at 11 a.m. ET, Feb. 14, and find articles at HealingSounds.com/sounds.

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ecotip Savvy Switch

Why Tap Water is a Better Choice Did you know that Americans now drink more bottled water than milk or juice? We buy 30 billion bottles a year, 80 percent of which ends up in landfills for hundreds of years. That’s why Earth-friendly folks use refillable bottles these days. In addition to being eco-savvy, consumers have plenty of reasons to avoid bottled water. According to a four-year study by the National Resources Defense Council (NRDC), we cannot assume that the bottled water we purchase is necessarily any better regulated, purer or safer than most tap water. Here are some revealing facts: n People typically spend from 240 to 10,000 times more per gallon for bottled water than for tap water. n According to government and industry estimates, at least 25 percent of bottled water (some say 40 percent) is tap water, sometimes with additional treatment, sometimes not. n Independent laboratory analysis in the NRDC study showed that about one-third of the bottled waters tested contained significant contamination in at least one test. That means the levels of chemical or bacterial contaminants exceeded those allowed under a state or industry standard or guideline. n The Food and Drug Administration doesn’t regulate water bottled and sold in-state, effectively exempting 60 to 70 percent of U.S. bottled water from FDA standards. Even when its rules apply, they are weaker in many ways than Environmental Protection Agency rules governing big-city tap water. The majority of the country’s tap water passes the EPA standards. n Tap water test results and notices of violations must be reported to state or federal officials. There is no mandatory reporting for water bottlers; manufacturers have recalled bottled water 100 times, without letting consumers know about it two out of three times. n City water systems must issue annual “right-to-know” reports, telling consumers what is in their water; bottlers successfully killed such a requirement for bottled water. Every American has a right to safe, good-tasting water from the tap. If we choose to buy bottled water, we deserve the same assurances that it too, is safe. Whether our water comes from a tap or a bottle, we have a right to know what’s in it. If bottled water is so pure, why not prove it, with full disclosure on the label? Primary Source: National Resources Defense Council (nrdc.org)

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CT School Pilots Healthy Lunch Program with French Chef

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votre santé,” is a toast in French meaning “to your health!” The aptly named Santé, a local catering company run by Chef Alex Gunuey and his wife, Amy Kalafa, has as its focus a goal to offer clients food that is simultaneously delicious and nutritious. Expanding that out-

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reach to children early in life, the duo recently launched a pilot lunch program at Connecticut Friends School (CFS), a Quaker elementary school with campuses in Wilton and Norwalk. They provide lunch once a week to participating students and staff. Alex and Amy are Weston residents utilizing a commercial kitchen in Ridgefield to prepare nutrient-dense meals so children can enjoy expanding their palates, knowledge, and healthful eating habits. Chef Gunuey grew up in France as part of a family that was passionate about food, so he was introduced to the pleasures of the table and proper nutrition at a young age. “My playgrounds were markets and farms. I was taught to select the best ingredients and respect the rhythm of the seasons to naturally sustain the body and mind.” His mother, a kitchen gardener and fine cook, educated him in cuisine bourgeoise and pastry. From his stepfather, he learned the arts of hunting, butchering and charcuterie. Preparation for their Sunday gatherings began on Friday and turned into two days of “classes,” culminating in long, delectable communal meals at a table covered in fine linen and china. Gunuey also worked in restaurants preparing items from street food to haute cuisine and immigrated to the U.S. in 1980. Here he discovered even more about world cuisine, particularly Asian, Indian and Latin flavors and spices. In 1985, he and Amy established the first certified organic poultry and game

“My playgrounds were markets and farms. I was taught to select the best ingredients and respect the rhythm of the seasons to naturally sustain the body and mind.” bird farm on the East Coast: Animal Farm. They designed specialty birds, feeding them milk and rice to tenderize and refine the meat. Pheasant were flavored during their growth with aromatic herbs and berries. “Our unique products supplied the meccas of the food world in New York, including David Bouley, Grey Kunz, Jean George, Dean and Deluca’s and Anthony Bourdain. The Farm also became a meeting place for our chef friends, its kitchen a place where we would experiment with the local products and the fowl from our barns and fields.” Both Santé partners have backgrounds in media and communications, as well, including co-producing the award-winning Two Angry Moms, about the need for healthier school lunches. A holistic health and nutrition counselor, and Kripalu yoga teacher, Kalafa is also an award-winning documentary filmmaker and editor who holds a Lectureship at Yale’s School of Medicine (and Psychiatry). Gunuey worked in French television news before becoming an editor and producer of food and health shows. His work has included music videos, independent features and documentaries, including one for Yoko Ono, and serving as a staff editor on the Emmy-winning Martha Stewart Living show. Trained as a chef at the Culinary Institute of America, Gunuey says these experiences enabled close associations with some of the world’s best, most creative master cooks. Most recently, he served as broadcast producer and senior editor of the PBS series’, “Lidia’s Family Table” and “Lidia’s Italy.” Lidia Bastianich became a mentor, sharing the secrets of Italian cooking, which expanded his culinary education. This collaboration was celebrated by multiple Emmy nominations and winning the James Beard Award. Santé was introduced by Gunuey and Kalafa in 2004, with the aim to source and showcase the best local and seasonal ingredients. “From macaroni and cheese to complex haute cuisine fare, the principle is the same: whole food nourishes the body and mind, helping to achieve maximum potential in life.” With Connecticut Friends School serving as their

flagship endeavor, they now share their knowledge and experience by supplying quality ingredients to schools. With this program they hope to broaden education about the delights of food and nutritious eating, using their expertise to encourage healthy living. Most CFS students and faculty have chosen to participate in the lunch program. Menus have included items such as quinoa pasta with sauce made from

locally grown tomatoes, turkey tacos with fresh homemade corn and black bean salsa, and vegetable lasagna with squash “noodles.” Chef Gunuey and Kalafa continue to evolve the program by incorporating student feedback in their menu planning. Based on a student’s request for Moroccan food, one of their current considerations is coordinating internationally-themed meals. To contact Alex and Amy, call 203. 544.8114, or visit. For information about Connecticut Friends School, visit www.CTFriendsSchool.org.

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February 2011

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n her early 30s, Sierra Bender was a personal trainer who looked and felt physically fit. Then, one day, her body took a turn that she didn’t see coming. Bender initially mistook the sensation she experienced for a pulled muscle.   “I exercised every day and worked as a professional trainer,” she recalls, “but I was so out of my body that I didn’t even know that my uterus had ruptured [from an ectopic pregnancy outside the womb]. That’s how disconnected I was… fit on the outside, but an emotional wreck on the inside.”   Today, Bender works to prevent other women from focusing solely on physical fitness and body image at the expense of their emotional, mental and even physical health. Her mission is to redefine health for women so that they understand wellness as a whole-self process and become empowered to lead truly integrated lives.   “Empowerment involves pulling forth what’s already within you,” Bender says. “We’ve mastered the eNaturalAwakenings.com

beauty part of looking fit and good, but it doesn’t last, because it’s not coming from the core inside. So, that’s where women are searching.”

Boot Camp Intensive

After years of studying yoga, bodywork, energy healing, nutrition and shamanism, Sierra developed the Bender Empowerment Method 4 Body Fit concept that she teaches at her weeklong Boot Camp for Goddesses retreats around the country. The four bodies identified are the physical, emotional, mental and spiritual aspects of a person, all of which receive training and treatment in Bender’s workshops. Boot camp participants hike, practice yoga, learn anatomy and train with weights. They also dance, sing, cry, journal, share secrets, pray and purify themselves via Native American-style sweat lodges. The aim is to heal anything that’s preventing a woman from living her full potential, says Bender,

and her methods show people where they most need to work.   “One day, you’ll be great at the mental exercises, but not the physical, so that shows where your weakness is,” Bender explains. “Some [students] are great at doing the exercises or workouts, but they can’t sit still or be quiet on a 45-minute hike; so each one is being challenged.”   The first technique that Bender teaches is conscious breathing to oxygenate the body and calm the nervous system. That means breathing deeply through the nostrils, filling the lungs and always checking in with the breath during any activity. Improper breathing and stress go hand-in-hand, she says, and because the stress hormone cortisol can cause fat retention, people who discount their breath may feel frustrated when diet and exercise routines seem to fail them.   “Breath is what burns fat in the simplest form,” says Bender. “What gives your body energy and vitality? Breath. What keeps you looking young and alive? Breath. Our skin is our largest organ.”

Fitness Made Easier

Kim Davis, a 45-year-old legal secretary from Houston, Texas, enrolled in one of Bender’s workshops in 2008 to lose a few pounds. She says the conscious breathing enhances her workouts.   “The best thing I’ve taken away from the boot camp experience is that fitness does not have to be difficult—with hours spent on a treadmill or pumping iron—to be effective,” says Davis. “I no longer feel I have to punish my body into fitness, but instead attain fitness through a loving relationship with my body.” Davis, who went on to become a yoga teacher, says that she and others in Bender’s workshop also experienced emotional and psychological breakthroughs through holding yoga postures and practicing breathing techniques. This led to emotional releases through tears and words, followed by more lightness in the body, Davis reports.

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Holistic Empowerment When teaching yoga and fitness, Bender tells her students which organs, glands and body systems are being affected by each posture. The psychological and emotional relevance of poses like Cobra are also explained to students who may feel uncomfortable in such a heart-opening posture. “Students start to understand that this posture is reflecting their weaknesses and strengths, and they may realize, ‘Okay, I don’t want to open my heart that big; that’s too vulnerable,’” she observes. Getting her goddesses to embrace their vulnerability, strength, inner spirit and authentic power is at the heart of Bender’s work with women and female teens. She advises: “A goddess warrior trusts her intuition and is brave enough to follow it.”   For more information about Sierra Bender, her recent book, Goddess to the Core: An Inspired Workout to Maximize Your Fitness, Beauty & Power, and upcoming workshops and events including July 31 - August 5, Boot Camp for Goddesses, for adults and teens at Omega Institute in NY, visit SierraBender.com.

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Kim Childs teaches Kripalu yoga in the Boston area. Connect at KimChilds.com. natural awakenings

February 2011

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or 20 years, I’ve meditated before stressful meetings, when I’m slammed by deadlines and during all kinds of domestic crises,” reports one successful lawyer. “In the middle of a tough day or any time I feel like I’m about to lose it, I’ve learned that if I close my eyes for two minutes and find that inner place of calm, it will give me the strength to deal with just about anything.” A string of clinical studies since the 1970s supports meditators’ claims that the activity works to counteract the negative effects of both acute and chronic stress. Research from Herbert Benson’s Mind-Body Institute and other studies shows that meditation can turn a natural stress response into a natural relaxation response. Instead of the body becoming flooded with chemicals that prepare us to fight or take flight or freeze, meditation releases a flood of calming neurotransmitters and hormones that soothe the system and stimulate immune functions. Meditating helps to bring the body back into balance. According to multiple studies cited in Daniel Goleman’s The Meditative Mind: The Varieties of Meditative Experience, people who regularly meditate experience lower incidences of high blood pressure and heart disease than those who do not. Richard Davidson’s recent studies at the University of Wisconsin demonstrate that regular meditation decreases brain markers for depression, while increasing brain activity that marks states of peace and joy.

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Constancy is Key The key to such healthful effects is regularity. Conducted occasionally, meditating can give us a temporary emotional lift, but the real benefit comes when we do it every day. Then we learn to tune into the inner state that is the source of meditation’s power to heal the body, calm the emotions and stabilize the mind. Meditators often describe feeling states of increased focus and clarity, a sense of connection and empathy with others and above all, the sense of core inner strength that accompanies them through life, even in crises. But in order to be willing to make meditation a daily priority, we need to find a way to enjoy it. Otherwise, chances are we won’t stick with it. Meditation for the Love of It shares several core strategies for reaping pleasure from our practice. The first consideration is physical comfort when sitting to meditate. As long as the spine is straight and the chest open, comfort trumps form. Secondly, it helps to approach meditation as an experiment; one we conduct in the laboratory of our inner self. The third basic principle is to find a core practice that feels good to us and that we can relax into. Choose one that focuses and draws attention and energy into the peaceful fullness of a deeply meditative state.

it throughout the inner body. (Note: To find the heart center, place the right palm over the center of the chest and focus attention on the very center of the body, behind the breastbone).

Three Classic Approaches Tuning into the Breath – After assuming an upright posture, sense the flow of breath in and out through the nostrils— cool on inhaling and warm on exhaling. The key is to tune into the sensation of how the breath feels, which also engenders a natural sense of well-being.

Mindfulness – Beginning with the crown of the head, move attention through the body, focusing next on the forehead, followed by the cheeks, ears, mouth, neck, shoulders, front and back of the chest, stomach, lower back, hips, pelvic area, thighs, knees, calves and ankles. Continue on. As straying thoughts arise, notice them, note them as “thinking,” and return to the practice. To realize a daily practice, begin by sitting for five minutes at the beginning or end of the day. Each day, increase the time spent sitting by one minute, until reaching 20 minutes. Benefits accrue when we practice daily and make it a priority.

Sally Kempton is a master teacher of meditation. Her new book, Meditation for the Love of It, includes 20 practices to optimize meditation. A teachers’ teacher, her students include leading teachers of yoga and meditation around Meditation in the Heart – Let the breath the world. Visit SallyKempton.com. flow into the center of the chest, as if it were flowing through the chest wall. Local Resource for Meditation As it touches the center of the chest, Sacred Doors • Locations in Wilton imagine a soft glow in the heart, like an and Westport • SacredDoors.net inner sun. With each inhalation, feel the • 203.727.8685 • See ad pg 12 sun glow. With each exhalation, spread

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February 2011

Stay Warm in Winter with

Qi Gong

by Luis Duarte

e live in a field of qi, “vital breath” or “life energy.” Yet, like a fish in water or a bird in flight, we are unaware of this med-ium that supports us. Qigong means “working with the qi.” It is the ancient Chinese art and science of becoming aware of this life energy and learning how to control its flow through a precise choreography of posture, movement, respiratory technique, and meditation.

Fairfield County Edition

Like biofeedback, qigong teaches psychophysiological self-regulation. The student becomes aware of bodily functions conventionally considered involuntary–blood pressure, respiratory rate, even the flow of blood and nutrients to internal organs–and learns to restore balance. However, unlike biofeedback, no technical devices are needed. Qigong is one of the most cost-effective self-healing methods in the world. The only investment needed is time. A practice of thirty to sixty minutes each day can ultimately result in better health, increased vitality, and peaceful alertness. There are thousands of styles of qigong. Some are designed for general health and well-being and may be done every day for a lifetime. Others are therapeutic and targeted to cure specific problems. Qigong techniques are suitable for men and women, young and old, athletes and sedentary, and the dis-

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abled. All styles are based on similar principles: relaxed, rooted posture; straight, supple spine; diaphragmatic respiration-- the abdomen expanding on inhalation, retracting on exhalation; fluid movements without excess effort; and, tranquil awareness. Many of us suffer with chronically cold hands and feet and can’t seem to get or stay warm. Heavy layers of clothing and drinking warm liquids such as coffee, cocoa and tea cannot combat the feeling of “chilled to the bone.” Bringing heat to the body can be accomplished by practicing breathing techniques, such as the qigong Tumo practice. First, visualize that you are breathing in through the top of your head and imagine that you have a very long and narrow neck, and a full, round base. Your breath travels down through the neck of this “bottle.” When it becomes full at the bottom, imagine corking it

By utilizing this technique, even those who are chronically cold can generate enough body heat to stay comfortably warm for hours. to keep the breath from escaping for as long as possible. As you come to the end of your endurance, release the breath very slowly. At the same time, imagine that the qi is like a mist that separates from the air and descends to the bottom of the bottle. Once this mist has settled, envision removing the cork, start breathing in, and begin again.

As you repeat, work your way up to holding your breath for longer intervals (20 seconds, 30, and so on). You will get very warm within 15 minutes of doing this exercise. By utilizing this technique, even those who are chronically cold can generate enough body heat to stay comfortably warm for hours. The Tumo training eventually evolves to a sole focus on visualization. Imagine that a sun is shining in every cell of your body. The energy of the universe is warming each cell. At this point you no longer need to concentrate on holding the breath. The significant principle with this exercise, which is true of Taoist and traditional Oriental philosophy, is that practice is an attitude. There is an important Taoist saying: “My life is in my hands not in the heavens’ hands.” If you are ill you can get well. If you are hungry you can overcome it even if you do not have food. If you are cold you can become warm. From the Buddhist and Taoist perspective, a lot of healing has to do with faith. The minute you let go, things begin to happen. If you don’t have the faith, the breathing serves as a

crutch to show you that this is possible. You can then work your way up to trusting in your own abilities and divinity, manifesting the energy by simply remembering those moments. The more you do Tumo, the faster the heat will come, and eventually you will not need to concentrate on the breathing at all. Luis Duarte began his study of Tai Chi & Qi Gong in 1993. He currently conducts exercise classes in the short and long forms of Tai Chi, Taoist healing techniques, breathing exercises, meditation, stress reduction, Chi Kung, and Nei Gong. Luis holds black belts in the arts of Tae Kwon Do, Shindo Ryu and Kickboxing. He studied Yoga with Akaria Kripananda Avaduta and traveled to Wudang Mountain China to study the advance aspects of Qi Gong and Tai Chi. His knowledge of martial arts, Tai Chi and Yoga allows him to teach a highly effective and safe synthesis of eastern and western healing methods. For information and the upcoming Qi Gong schedule, contact Sabita Holistic Center at 203.254.2633.

natural awakenings

February 2011

healthbriefs

Acupuncture Helps Heart Patients

esearch news from Germany reports that acupuncture can improve exercise tolerance in patients suffering from chronic heart failure. The researchers gave such patients—who were on conventional medication and stable—10 sessions of acupuncture, focusing on the healing method’s pressure points that boost general strength, and according to traditional Chinese medicine, influence the nervous system and inflammation. The control group was treated with placebo needles that did not break the skin. The needles did not increase the heart’s pumping function, but they seemed to have an influence on skeletal muscle strength, and increased the distance that the heart patients were able to walk in a given time. The acupuncture patients also recovered more quickly from the exercise and tended to feel less general exhaustion. This finding could provide a useful option in the future if relatively low-cost acupuncture treatment can work to improve the prognosis for cardiac patients over the long term.

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Our Renewable Heart

groundbreaking Swedish study has demonstrated that heart cells are able to regenerate themselves, overturning the conventional wisdom that the body cannot replace damaged heart cells. Examining the heart tissue of 50 people over four years, the researchers found that on average, new heart cells appeared to replace old ones at a rate of about 1 percent a year in youth and 0.5 percent a year by age 75. Thus, our heart comprises a mosaic of older and newer cells. Scientists hope to learn how to stimulate this organ’s ability to naturally regenerate. Source: Natural News Network

Fairfield County Edition

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Diet May Affect Our Internal Clock

Our body’s internal clock, the circadian rhythm, helps it adapt to the cycle of day and night and regulates functions such as sleep and metabolism. Working with lab animals, scientists at Hebrew University of Jerusalem have discovered that a high-fat diet can cause disturbances in this daily rhythm by affecting an animal’s clockrelated genes. Significant health consequences include irregular sleep/wake cycles and metabolic disorders.

Stress-Busting Walnuts

diet rich in walnuts and walnut oil may prepare the body to deal better with stress, according to a team of Penn State researchers. They specifically considered how these foods, which contain polyunsaturated fats, influence our blood pressure. Their studies showed that walnuts and walnut oil have the ability to lower blood pressure, both when we are at rest and in response to stress.

Blushing Could Save Face

Most people try to hide their blushes when they’re embarrassed, but new research published in Emotion suggests that the facial expressions can actually serve an important role in smoothing social interactions. Researchers from the University of Groningen, in the Netherlands, had participants read vignettes about typical social transgressions and mishaps, and then rate how favorably they felt about the faces of the ostensible social culprits. Blushing people were judged more favorably than non-blushers, regardless of the other emotional cues on their face. The researchers argue that blushing signals a sincere acknowledgement of wrongdoing and communicates to others that we won’t make the same mistake again. They concluded that blushing might prevent people from being socially excluded after committing some kind of transgression. It could actually help us, yes, save face. Source: GreaterGood.Berkeley.edu

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February 2011

healthbriefs

Grapefruit’s BitterSweet Secret

rapefruit’s piquant combination of sweet and slightly bitter tastes comes with a newly discovered benefit. Researchers have discovered that naringenin, an antioxidant derived from the bitter flavor of grapefruit and other citrus, may be of help to people with diabetes. Naringenin, the researchers explain, causes the liver to break down fats instead of storing them, while increasing insulin sensitivity, two processes that naturally occur during long periods of fasting. The natural compound, the scientists suggest, seems to mimic some lipid-lowering and anti-diabetics drugs; it holds promise for aiding weight control, as well as regulation of blood-sugar levels, both vital components in treatment of Type 2 diabetes. “It is a process that is similar to the Atkins diet, without many of the side effects,” notes Martin L. Yarmush, Ph.D., a physician who is the director of the Massachusetts General Hospital Center for Engineering in Medicine and a study author. Earlier evidence has shown that naringenin also has cholesterol-lowering properties and may ameliorate some of the symptoms associated with diabetes.

Happiness Keeps Growing

s there any good news about growing old? Researchers reported at a recent American Psychological Association convention in Toronto that an increase of happiness and emotional well-being occurs as people mature. Their study of contributing factors showed that older adults exert greater emotional self-control, have learned to avoid or limit stressful situations and are less likely than younger adults to let negative comments or criticism bother them.

Source: Public Library of Science Source: HealthDay.com

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February 2011

RELAX & RECHARGE Therapeutic home recipes rebalance and renew mind and body.

by Frances Lefkowitz

“A

chieving balance on all levels of being is the true measure of vibrant health,” says Thomas Yarema, a multidiscipline physician and director of the Kauai Center for Holistic Medicine and Research, in Hawaii. Integrative physicians and practitioners understand that in many ancient Eastern therapies, including Ayurveda and Traditional Chinese Medicine, well-being is all about balance. In these disciplines, harmony—and by extension, health and happiness—is created by a constant rebalancing of energies, sometimes complementing a natural state and sometimes countering it. Thus, depending on our physical and emotional makeup (easy-going personality? hot-tempered?) and current situation (need a job? getting married?), balance may require a calming down

Fairfield County Edition

or a boosting up, turning inward or turning outward. Consulting the latest research and advice from scores of experts, Natural Awakenings has created a guidebook of recipes for balancing mind and body. Whether the immediate need is to relax, refresh, release or recharge, we’ve got a simple to-do to get you back in balance. Try these new approaches today.

Relax

“Change is good,” the saying goes, but even good change, like falling in love or going on vacation—causes stress. Stress is widely reported in medical journals like The Lancet and The Journal of the American Medical Association as linked to health problems from heart disease and diabetes to hair loss and depression. Because stress affects the immune system, frequent colds or bouts

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with the flu may signal a need to slow down. Fuzzy thinking, forgetfulness and feelings of frustration can also indicate that it’s time to relax. Get Herbal Drinking a cup of herbal tea is a simple, gentle and enjoyable way to “take five.” Herbal educator Dodie Harte, of the Sierra Institute of Herbal Studies, recommends a blend of three common calming herbs: chamomile, linden flower and passionflower, with a dash of relaxingly aromatic lavender flower. Add a cup of boiling water to a mix of one teaspoon of each herb and a small sprig of lavender, then let steep for 5 to 10 minutes. Apply Pressure Like acupuncture, acupressure is a technique of Traditional Chinese Medicine that works to rebalance the flow of

chi, or energy, in the body by stimulating key points along its energy meridians, or pathways. While acupuncture uses needles that puncture the skin and requires a visit to a professional, acupressure stimulates via points on the skin’s surface and can be part of a selfcare practice. “When acupressure points are stimulated, they release muscular tension, promote circulation of blood and enhance the body’s life force energy to aid healing,” explains Michael Reed Gach, Ph.D., founder of the Acupressure Institute, in Berkeley, California, and author of Acupressure’s Potent Points: A Guide to Self-Care for Common Ailments. To relax the neck and relieve tension headaches, use the point at the base of the skull, just where the head attaches to the neck. Feel for the hollow between the two thick, vertical muscle masses—finding and pressing it will probably elicit a sigh. Put one or both thumbs in that hollow and apply gentle pressure for one to two minutes.

Refresh Perhaps the problem isn’t stress, but a feeling of weariness or listlessness. According to Atlanta psychiatrist Tracey Marks, a medical doctor and author of the new book, Master Your Sleep: Proven Methods Simplified, the continuous flow of electronic information in our smartphone lifestyles may be overstimulating our brains. The first step to refreshing and replenishing is to log off. In short, she says, “Off-hours create better on-hours.” Go Solo Psychologist Ester Schaler Buchholz, Ph.D., author of The Call of Solitude, believes that “alonetime” is a basic need. She supports this belief with a series of infant studies, analysis of historical and anthropological data, and research examining how meditation and rest bolster the immune system. “When we don’t get enough solitude,” she observes. “We get out of touch with ourselves; we get forgetful; we get sloppy.” We may also get angry, anxious and depressed. Take a daily, refreshing, mini-retreat by stepping away from the rest of the

world for 15 minutes. Find a room with a door and turn off all electronics… then read a book, write a letter, meditate, or just close your eyes and listen to the silence. Sleep “Sleep ends up being one of those things we see as expendable,” says Marks. Yet, a growing body of studies from Harvard Medical School’s Division of Sleep Medicine and other research institutions shows that it is crucial to your mental and physical health, as well as many of the body’s major restorative functions, including tissue repair, muscle growth and protein synthesis. New findings by Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center even show that the brain uses sleep to consolidate memories and make them more accessible when we’re awake. “We should really think of ourselves as operating on a 16-hour battery,” Marks advises, because we must recharge ourselves in order to perform well. Signs of sleep deprivation include irritable moods and an inability to concentrate. Marks’ Countdown to Bedtime routine starts an hour beforehand. Put away the work and turn off the computer. Stop drinking fluids. Take a warm bath or footbath and don pajamas. Read, meditate or listen to music to wind down. Adjust the bedroom temperature to between 68 and 74 degrees and turn off all lights and electronics, covering their LED displays. If it takes more than 30 minutes to fall asleep, get out of bed and do something relaxing until you feel drowsy. “If your mind is busy, write out your thoughts on a problem-solving worksheet,” she suggests. Get Outside Time and again, it has been proven that nature heals. One researcher, from the University of Southern California, has found that even just gazing at a natural landscape, sunset or grove of trees from a window can activate endorphins in the brain that make us feel good. Getting outside is even better. Integrative Psychiatrist Henry Emmons, a physician and author of The Chemistry of

Joy, explains that sunlight provides us with vitamin D, which he notes, “… plays a role in many physiological processes, including moods.” Emmons’ prescription: at least 30 minutes outside daily, without glasses, which can filter out healing components of sunlight. Neuroimmunologist and physician Esther Sternberg, author of Healing Spaces: The Science of Place and Well-Being, points to an extensive body of research showing that the colors, patterns and scents of natural environments affect mental and physical well-being. She recommends spending time in gardens and growing your own plants, even if only a window box of herbs.

Release You can’t move forward if you’ve got something holding you back. Sometimes what you need is to let go of whatever’s weighing you down—even if you don’t quite know what it is. Here are feel-good ways to let go of physical and emotional stagnation. Make Noise Many Eastern and Western sacred traditions utilize the healing power of sound through chants, songs, hymns and mantras; but the science behind sound healing is solid. According to Sound Healer Tom Kenyon, the repetitive patterns of music and chant stimulate the reticular activating system in the brain, which can induce a mild, trancelike state. Making sounds and music is even more transformative than just listening. “The way music helps us release is that it helps us remember a little bit more of who we are,” advises soprano and Sound Shaman Norma Gentile,

natural awakenings

February 2011

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from Ypsilanti, Michigan. Her favorite tip: Sing! Gentile exhorts, “Sing with the radio, with a choir or by yourself.” When you sing, she explains, you breathe deeply and your body vibrates and releases energy. Just sing whatever moves you, from the medieval songs of Hildegard von Bingen (her favorite), to Country & Western ballads. She adds, “There’s no style of music that can’t be helpful and healing.” To release aches and pains, Kenyon applies a different exercise. First, find a quiet, private room where no one will hear you. Then, close your eyes and focus on a part of the body that feels uncomfortable: the lower back or neck, perhaps, or maybe a heavy heart or other emotional unease. Breathe in slowly. Exhale in an audible sigh, letting the sound come from the place of discomfort. Expressed sounds will be unique to each individual. Allow the sounds to build, reach a crescendo and then taper off naturally. “This is a simple, but powerful, technique for expressing tension with sound,” promises Kenyon. Brush it Out “The skin is the largest organ in the body, and the better it functions as a toxin releaser, the less work the liver and kidneys have to do,” explains Tom Sherman, a bodyworker who teaches at the Acupressure Institute. He suggests daily dry-brushing, a low-tech way to stimulate lymph nodes, open pores, release toxins and exfoliate the skin. Any natural fiber bristle brush with a long handle will do, though Sherman prefers the Yerba Buena palm bristle brush. He also likes the Vital Chi SkinBrushing system developed by Bruce Berkowsky (NaturalHealthScience. com). Dry-brushing is a popular spa treatment with European roots. For basic skin-brushing, remove clothing and gently, but vigorously, rub the dry brush over every part of the body, using circular motions. The basic rule of thumb is to brush toward the heart and in the direction of blood flow. So, starting with the feet, brush in circles up the calves, thighs and buttocks, before moving to the hands and up the arms to the shoulders. Brush down on the neck, but up on the back.

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Finally, move to the chest and abdomen, brushing counter-clockwise. The whole process should take about 10 minutes. Follow it up with hydrotherapy—a simple shower will do—to help wash away dead skin and impurities. A further detoxing option is to follow up with a hot bath containing two cups of Epsom salts and 20 drops of tea tree oil.

Recharge

After you have de-stressed, refreshed and released, it may be time to ramp up your energy. These final steps are geared to recharge your emotional and physical batteries. Stay in Touch Physical touch in any form stimulates the body, and while massage is typically used to relax and release, it can also revitalize. A recent National Institutes of Health study showed that massage had a positive effect on cancer-related fatigue in patients who were undergoing treatments that drained them of energy. “During an invigorating massage, the therapist uses faster paced, gliding, strokes, rather than slow, sustained, pressure,” explains Kristen Sykora, a licensed massage therapist and spokesperson for the American Massage Therapy Association. In-between visits there’s plenty you can do on your own. “Physiologically, when you massage yourself—even when you rub lotion on your skin—you’re asking the blood vessels to open up and bring in blood, nutrients and oxygen into that area,” Sykora says. She suggests a simple tapping technique, called tapotement, for re-energizing any area of the body that feels fatigued, such as quadraceps or derrière. To work on quads, sit comfortably, so the muscles are relaxed, make a soft fist and tap gently all over the muscle for one to two minutes. Use either the pinky end of the fist or the underside, where the fingers are curled. Walk A simple way to get moving, walking raises heart rate and breathing capacity, increases circulation of blood and nutrients to all systems of the body and, as new research from the University of

Pittsburgh shows, improves memory. It’s a relatively lowimpact, safe, form of exercise that also gets you outdoors, which has its own balancing benefits. Beginners can try for 10 minutes a day at a slow, comfortable pace, while more experienced walkers may shoot for 30 minutes a day at a faster, more invigorating pace. Try Something New Sticking to the safe, familiar and tried-and-true may seem like an energy-conservation measure, but upsetting your routine and trying new things can recultivate a passion for life. And passion, says Marks, helps provide life with meaning and purpose. “It’s important to find pleasures outside of work, even if you do love your job,” she counsels. What will you do? Something you’ve always wanted to do, or used to do and have always wanted to get back to. Or, something you never thought you could do, or think you’re too old to do. Natural Awakenings’ monthly Calendar of Events is a perfect place to start. Take a cooking or art class (local community colleges are great, too) or join a dining or green drinks or birdwatching group (Meetup.com facilitates local gatherings). Learn a new sport (tennis, paddleboarding, salsa dance) or a musical instrument (ukulele, an easy instrument to pick up, is making a comeback). Join a community gardening, handcrafting or reading circle, which are all part of the growing make-ityourself movement. The list is endless... Frances Lefkowitz’s new book, To Have Not, has been named one of five Best Memoirs of 2010 by SheKnows.com. Connect at FrancesLefkowitz.net.

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natural awakenings

February 2011

consciouseating

Happiness Is…

CHOCOLATE Dark and Delicious, it’s Blissfully Healthy by Gabriel Constans

id you know that more than half of U.S. adults prefer chocolate to other flavors and spend $55 per person per year to indulge their hankering? That’s a lot of chocolate— some 3.3 billion pounds annually, or about 12 pounds per chocoholic. The International Cocoa Organization further estimates that by 2015, U.S. chocolate sales will top $19 billion. Yet, Europeans still enjoy the majority of chocolate per capita. Switzerland leads the trend, with its citizens each forking over the equivalent of U.S. $206 a year for the treat. Worldwide, 21stcentury chocolate consumption continues to climb year after year; cocoa seems to be a recession-free commodity. That’s good news for Indonesia and the West African nations that produce 70 percent of Earth’s cocoa beans. It’s widely known that dark chocolate, in particular, is good for our emotional and physical health. The only debate that remains is what quantity is the most advantageous to include in our daily or weekly diet.

Why Chocolate Appeals Eating dark chocolate makes people happy, researchers have learned, because it contains phenylethylamine, the same nurturing hormone triggered by the brain when we fall in love. It’s 36

Fairfield County Edition

no wonder that Madame du Barry and Giacomo Casanova both believed that chocolate was an aphrodisiac. Further, according to the California Academy of Sciences, the theobromine in chocolate acts as a myocardial stimulant, dilator of coronary arteries and smooth muscle relaxant, all inducing good feelings. Researchers at the Harvard Medical School and Boston University School of Medicine recently reported in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition that subjects who consistently consumed dark chocolate showed a 40 percent lower risk of myocardial infarction and stroke than those who did not. A study published in the European Heart Journal that tracked almost 20,000 people for 10 years found that people who ate about 7 grams of dark chocolate per day had lower blood pressure and 39 percent less risk of experiencing a stroke or heart attack, compared to those who ate an average of 1.7 grams daily. Scientists have learned that cocoa powder and chocolate contain rich sources of polyphenol antioxidants, the same beneficial compounds found in red wine and many fruits and vegetables that help to reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke. Professor Frank Ruschitzka, head of cardiology at University Hospital, in Zurich,

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Switzerland, comments: “Basic science has demonstrated quite convincingly that dark chocolate, particularly with a cocoa content of at least 70 percent, reduces oxidative stress and improves vascular and platelet [appropriate blood clotting] function.” Chocolate lovers also will be glad to know that dark chocolate contains more antioxidants per 3.5 ounces than prunes, raisins, blueberries, blackberries, strawberries, raspberries, kale, spinach, Brussels sprouts, alfalfa sprouts, plums, oranges, red grapes, red bell peppers, cherries, onions, corn or eggplant. Gabriel Constans, Ph.D., is a counselor, journalist and author of a dozen books, including Luscious Chocolate Smoothies: An Irresistible Collection of Healthy Cocoa Delights and Great American Smoothies. For more information, visit GoGabriel.com.

A Bite of History Xocolatl was the Aztecs’ word for chocolate, which they called “bitter water” and considered a gift from the gods. Cultivated for 1,000 years, the cacao tree is prolific once it reaches maturity, producing cocoa pods every six months for about 20 years. The beans must be fermented before they begin to taste like the chocolate we know and love. Cocoa was first introduced to Europe when explorer Hernán Cortés brought the beans from Mexico to Spain in the early 1500s. The Spaniards kept their discovery a secret for almost a century, until it was smuggled by monks into France. By the 1650s, cocoa had crossed the channel to England and the North American colonies of the English and Dutch; 1831 heralded the invention of the first chocolate bar in the United States.

The Latin Lover

6 oz melted bittersweet dark chocolate 2 cups milk – dairy or non-dairy (soy, rice, nut, coconut or grain) 2 bananas ½ Tbsp flax seed oil 1 tsp cinnamon powder

Chocolate Smoothies for Valentines

1. Place ingredients in a blender and mix on medium for one minute. 2. Pour into tall cups and serve.   Yields: 5 cups

The Naked Truth The Sweetie

2 cups orange juice 1 banana ½ cup raspberries ½ cup blueberries ½ cup guava slices ½ cup mango slices 1 Tbsp cocoa powder  1. Place all the fruit and cocoa in a blender and mix on high for one minute. 2. Pour into clear glass and serve.  Yields: 4 cups

2 cups plain low-fat dairy or non-dairy milk ¾ cup vanilla ice cream (dairy or non-dairy) 1 ½ cup chopped walnuts 1 cup canned pineapple chunks, drained 6 oz bittersweet chocolate, melted 2 Tbsp brandy

The Velvet Orchid

1. Place all ingredients, except brandy, in a blender and mix on high for about two minutes; add brandy and blend for 10 seconds more. 2. Pour into tumblers or wide-mouthed glasses. Yields: 6 cups Source: Luscious Chocolate Smoothies: An Irresistible Collection of Healthy Cocoa Delights by Gabriel Constans

2 cups chocolate low-fat milk – dairy or non-dairy ½ banana, in chunks 1 12-oz package of soft silken tofu 1 cup frozen mango slices 2 oz semisweet chocolate, melted 1. Place all ingredients in a blender and mix on high for two minutes. 2. Pour contents into tall glasses and serve. Yields: 4 cups

natural awakenings

February 2011

wisewords A Conversation with Harville Hendrix, Marriage Whisperer

On the Secrets of a Healthy Relationship by April Thompson

arville Hendrix, Ph.D., knows the sorrow of a broken relationship. In 1975, after a 16-year struggle to make a failing marriage work, Hendrix and his wife decided to

split up. On the day the divorce was final, he was scheduled to teach a class on marriage at a university graduate school. As Hendrix responded to audience questions, he realized that everyone wants to know the secrets of successful marriages—including him. That “Aha!” moment spurred years of research with couples and led to his seminal book, Getting the Love You Want, and the creation of Imago Relationship Therapy with his second wife, Helen LaKelly Hunt, Ph.D. Their partnership of 28 years has produced nine books on intimate relationships and parenting, most recently Receiving Love, and six grown children. Imago Therapy seeks to unearth the hidden agendas that we all bring to our relationships and address them with openness, compassion and fearlessness.

What should you know before getting into a relationship? You need to know what pushes your but-

Unity Center

tons, whether it’s someone not looking at you while talking or someone being late. You should also know what happened in your childhood that made you sensitive to that. Why? Because the person you will be attracted to is going to push that button. It’s an opportunity to repair the shut-down part of yourself as you stretch to meet your partner’s needs and become whole in doing so. The divorce rate has been 50 percent for the past 60 years, because people think conflict means you’re with the wrong person. But conflict is growth trying to happen. Every person who falls in love goes through this drama: You meet someone who activates the negative aspects of your parents or caretakers, and your unconscious wants this person, who acts as a parental surrogate, to fulfill the unmet needs of childhood. When such conflict occurs, you know you are in a relationship with the right person. Many people may go to therapy or read self-help books, but if the issue you need to address is triggered only by certain types of people, you can’t work on it until it’s triggered. If you do go to therapy, go together. Therapy can actually be bad for your marriage unless you are in the same room at the same time with the same person helping you work through these issues.

How does real love feel? Romantic love and real love are two forms of the same thing. The feeling of romantic love is one of joy, pleasure, relaxation, excitement and euphoria. Couples eventually will lose that feeling and encounter conflict; if they can work through that, they can get to a point of

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real love. Real love feels like romantic love, but romantic love is fragile and driven by expectations, whereas real love is durable and lasts through frustrations.

What can we do to keep and develop intimate connection? We teach couples how to have a different kind of conversation. It is called an Imago Dialogue, in which partners listen deeply to each other with curiosity, empathy and respect: what the other person thinks, how they feel and particularly, what they want in the relationship—and it is all done without criticism. In a dialogue, I will tell you what frustrates me. Time is often a big factor—whether it’s being late or early, time together or alone or time management. We have a primordial need for reliability; what scares children most is parents not being reliable. So I might say, “I need you to show up on time. In childhood, I couldn’t count on people.” You might respond, “Not having parents who kept promises, I imagine you feel frightened when I don’t show up.” Then you come to the behavior needed to respond: For example, “If I’ll be late, I’ll give you a call, so you know when I’ll be there.” It’s all about communication.

If we fail to fix a past relationship, what does it take to make the next one work well? It takes changing the notion that between our marriages, we can get fixed. You are going to take any unresolved problems into the next relationship. The best and only thing you can do is be aware of this and resolve to respond to it differently the next time. Ultimately, the best thing anyone can do for a relationship is to agree to end all negativity. If criticism is the basis of conflict, then appreciation, adoration and empathy are the basis for safety and passion in a relationship. April Thompson is a freelance writer in Washington, D.C. Connect at AprilWrites.com.

Intentional Dialogue by Tim Atkinson

mago Dialogue is an intentional process that can help keep relationships dynamic and get beneath conflict to rediscover a deeper connection. Most emotionally charged conflicts are only 10 percent about the present and 90 percent about some past wound that is causing pain now. Our current partner is the ideal person to help us truly heal old wounds. Imago Dialogue is a conversation in which people agree to listen to others without judgment and accept their views as equally valid as their own. This can be challenging, especially if we are talking about a difficult subject. To truly hear what concerns our partner has means putting aside all spontaneous reactions and listening without judgment. This requires creating a safe space, where both parties have agreed to banish all shame, blame and criticism from the dialogue. Such intentional dialogue is initiated when one partner asks for an appointment and the other agrees to participate. Before beginning, it’s good to set the stage for connection by sitting in chairs facing each other, knees close together, maintaining eye contact and breathing quietly. Mirroring – Using “I” language, one person conveys his or her thoughts, feelings or experiences (“I feel, I need,” etc.) to the receiver without shaming, blaming or criticizing their partner. In response, the receiver echoes the sender’s message, using a lead sentence like, “Let me see if I’ve got you. You said... ” Then there’s a beautiful question the receiver can ask: “Is there more?” When I ask that question, I then pause to show that I really want to hear more. My partner might say, “Well, let me see… maybe there is.” Often, they will go deeper and share more, and that sharing can be the most fascinating part of the dialogue. When my partner says, “No, that’s all,” then I can summarize. “So, in summary, I heard you say that…” Then check that you got it all. My partner might often say, “Well you missed this little bit—and it’s important to me that you hear it.” Validation – When I mirror my partner successfully, she will probably already feel that I have heard her point of view. This step can be hard to do if my partner has a different perspective, but it’s important to recognize that what my partner says makes sense for her. In dialogue, creating the connection is paramount. Who is right and who is wrong doesn’t matter. After I have summarized my partner’s messages, I can validate her by simply saying, “That makes sense to me.” I don’t have to agree with her, but need to show that I respect her reality. If I can, I might go on with “That makes sense to me because...” Empathy – In this final step, I imagine what my partner might be feeling. I would just ask: “I imagine you might be feeling afraid, and a little sad, too. Is that what you are feeling?” Then I check in with my partner, and if he or she shares other feelings, then I mirror them to show I also heard: “Ah, a little excited, too.” Trying this with our partner helps us understand one another a little more and works to bring us closer. It has made a big difference in the lives of couples that use it. Tim Atkinson is the executive director of Imago Relationships International. For more information visit GettingTheLoveYouWant.com. natural awakenings

February 2011

Relationship Repair:

How One Couple Retrieved Their Love by Harville Hendrix

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counseled one couple—let’s call them Peter and Mary—who were on the brink of divorce. They run a coffee shop and bakery together; Peter is the primary businessperson and Mary is secondary. Mary works from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m., then goes home and makes dinner, which is supposed to be at 6 p.m. Mary feels unappreciated by her husband for two reasons: “Peter never thanks me for fixing dinner, and he’s seldom ever home for dinner on time. I can’t seem to get him to understand that I need appreciation.” Peter responds by saying, “I don’t think you should be thanked for doing what you’re supposed to do—I don’t expect you to thank me for doing my job. Second, there are often customers in the store when it’s time to close.” It sounds like an easy thing to fix: He just needs to close up the store on time and say thank you. For them, it’s been a 20-year conflict that relates to something deeper. As we worked together, Mary remembered two things about her childhood: being told no man would ever love her and meet her needs, and that her mother never kept her promises. Peter noted that he grew up in a family where nobody said thank you and where boundaries weren’t set. Both individuals had been dealing with wounds and defenses for so long that these mechanisms had become a lifestyle, and as a result they were close to divorce. As we continued the conversation, Peter said, “Well, I know about your mother, but I didn’t know I was treating you the same way she did. I really do appreciate your meals and I can see that it frustrates you when I don’t come home, because you feel valueless and dinner gets cold. Now I see I was delaying going home because I was dreading having the inevitable fight with you.” The partners got clear on why they did what they did, and then made some simple adjustments. He was to come home at 6:30 p.m., and communicated, “I say I don’t need appreciation for the store, but I would like to be thanked for being responsible for the majority of our income.” She agreed. In their newfound mutual appreciation, the relationship took off like a new love affair. When we stretch out of our comfort zones into our partner’s world, something magical happens. When we sustain that, we are in the real love phase of the relationship.

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February 2011

inspiration

Achieve

EMOTIONAL

FREEDOM

Dr. Judith Orloff Shows You How in Her New Book by Karen Adams

hat if we all had the power to change our world, both now and in the future, simply by understanding and embracing our emotions? According to Dr. Judith Orloff, psychiatrist and author of the new Emotional Freedom: Liberate Yourself from Negative Emotions and Transform Your Life, we do. “Emotional freedom is being able to increase your ability to love, both yourself and others, by cultivating positive emotions and by compassionately witnessing and transforming negative ones,” says Orloff. It’s about learning how to approach life from a heart-centered place, instead of simply reacting when our buttons are pushed. This loving disposition includes all situations in life, the challenging ones as well as the good ones. “I believe that the point of being alive is to develop our souls,” Orloff says. “I want to blend all aspects—the spiritual, psychological and biological.” 42

Fairfield County Edition

Her holistic approach helps us to use everything that happens to us as material for personal growth. It helps us learn how to work with what she terms, “the energies of emotions”—to master them, instead of allowing them to master us. The first step toward achieving Orloff’s vision of individual emotional freedom is understanding that each person has a natural emotional type to which we retreat under duress. In her book, she counts four basic types, each with its own specific strengths and weaknesses: The Intellectual, who can think his or her way through life, but would benefit from feeling and playing more. The Empath, who is sensitive and compassionate, but can be overwhelmed by others and must set protective boundaries. The Gusher, whose emotions are “out there,” and tends to share everything, but must learn restraint to keep from exhausting others.

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The Rock, who is always there for others, but may appear detached, due to disconnection from his or her own inner feelings. Orloff observes that modern life has created an epidemic of what she calls, “emotional vampires,” consumed with their own psychological needs; it’s essential to be able to identify them and respond in healthy ways. She explains that when we’re with someone and our energy level plummets or we feel put down or even ill, these are strong clues that we’re in the presence of an emotional vampire. Here are six main types she discusses in Emotional Freedom: n The Victim has a “poor me” attitude and thinks solutions don’t exist. n The Criticizer puts others down with cutting comments. n The Narcissist needs lots of attention, but has no empathy for others. n The Drama Queen or King loves to create big scenes. n The Controller always tells others what to do. n The Splitter sees everyone as angels or devils, and destroys relationships by turning people against each other. Her advice? “Emotional vampires get their energy from upsetting you. So, if you’re calm and nonreactive, they’re not going to be interested in you.” Orloff firmly believes that inner peace is the foundation of emotional freedom, and comes from connecting with the spiritual. Once established, an awareness of our innate worth, our own divinity, becomes a lifelong source of refuge and regeneration. That connection constantly reminds us that we are loved. Wherever we are in our journey to emotional freedom, Orloff concludes, one lesson is essential: “Trust that emotions are teachers for your own awakening.” Judith Orloff, M.D., is the author of Emotional Freedom and an assistant clinical professor of psychiatry at the University of California, Los Angeles. For details on her national book tour, including Hartford on March 5 and NYC on March 6 & 7, visit DrJudithOrloff.com. Karen Adams is a Natural Awakenings editor and freelance writer.

Periodontal Disease – and Your Whole Body Health by Mark A. Breiner, DDS

“You don’t have to brush your teeth just the ones you want to keep”

~Author Unknown

alph, a new patient, came to my office for a dental exam complaining he had felt unwell for years. He suffered from terrible shoulder pain, mental fog, and was unable to continue running his family business. Upon examination, I found he had two molars with extremely deep periodontal pockets (approximately 12 millimeters). Periodontal Disease, a common infectious disease, affected Ralph’s overall health. The mouth cannot be looked at separately, without understanding its impact on the entire body’s health. Periodontal is derived from the words “Peri,” which means “around,” and “odonto,” referring to the “tooth.” Periodontal Disease (PD) comprises a range of problems from gingivitis, simple inflammation of the gums, to full periodontitis involving loss of bone around the teeth. Some estimates report more than 85% of the U.S. population over age 30 has this disease. Gingivitis is an early stage of gum disease and easily reversible with debridement by a dental hygienist, proper home care by patients, and good nutrition to restore health. When the problem progresses to the bone it is called periodontitis. Pockets accompanied by bone loss become present. As these pockets deepen, teeth can loosen. If enough bone is lost around those teeth, they may need to be removed. During an initial exam, I probe around the teeth, noting any bleeding and pockets. Pockets more than 3mm indicate bone has been lost. But how do I know if it is actively infected and the loss is ongoing? One way to assess if an infection is active involves taking plaque from under gum tissue and observing it under a phase-contrast microscope at a magnification of 400 times. A healthy sample will have certain types of bacteria and minimal activity. An unhealthy slide is characterized by increased bacterial activity, spirochetes, amoebae and white blood cells. An amoeba is a parasite and a spirochete is a snake-like bacteria. Both indicate a serious problem and are not seen in healthy mouths. An unhealthy sample taken from a pocket would indicate an ongoing infection in that pocket. A healthy slide from a pocket denotes a previous problem that is presently inactive. No pockets, but a microbe-laden slide, suggests a person at risk for bone loss and other possible problems, such as heart disease, stroke, and stomach ulcers.

It is important to treat PD and, in the best scenario, to do so at its earliest stage. Other than potential tooth loss, treatment is vital for two main reasons. First, PD indicates a problem in host resistance. Second, bacteria and toxic byproducts within pockets do not necessarily stay there. The same blood traveling in the gums flows throughout the body. In fact, periodontal bacteria have been found in atherosclerotic plaque.1 Harmful bacteria can cause problems and often play an increasing role in chronic diseases, such as arthritis. Recent news headlines cite studies correlating a higher incidence of heart disease in those with PD.2 They advocate treating PD to prevent heart problems, because bacteria associated with gum inflammation are also associated with heart disease. C-Reactive Protein (CRP) is a key marker of inflammation and is produced in response to infection and injury. Findings suggest that elevated CRP is a predictor of future stroke and heart attack. Many people with PD have elevated levels of CRP.3 We all have bacteria, not only in our mouths, but throughout our bodies. One reason some people develop problems, while others do not, is because a host’s resistance may be low, providing a prime environment for bad bacteria to multiply. In fact, the same underlying problems are the common denominator in both heart and gum disease. For example, toxins such as chemicals, pesticides, heavy metals, pH imbalances, poor diet and nutrition, can ultimately lead to inflammation. In Ralph’s case, infected pockets were affecting his entire system. Unfortunately, his PD was not treated early, and his bone loss was so great that extractions were necessary. However, once treated dentally and nutritionally, Ralph’s energy was restored, his mind became sharp and clear, and he was able to run his business. His case illustrates the importance of recognizing the intimate relationship of the mouth to the rest of the body. Many factors must be considered when dealing with PD, including defective restorations, bite problems, high electrical currents (from dissimilar metals in the mouth), mercury toxicity, nutrition, and overall body chemistry. A mouth infection diagnosis is not usually an immediate life-threatening situation. However, over time, it may be a contributing factor to other disease processes, so it is wise to take care of it early. Dr. Breiner practices dentistry in Trumbull, CT. He is a Fellow of The International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology, and the Academy of General Dentistry, a Diplomate of the College of Dentistry, American Association of Integrative Medicine, and author of Whole-Body Dentistry®. Visit WholeBodyDentistry.com for information and free online newsletter See ad pg 7. 1 Oral Bacteria Found in Arterial Plaque, ADA News. J Am Dent Assoc, Vol 136, No 6, 724-725, 2005. 2 DeStefano F, et al., “Disease and Mortality”, BMJ, 306:668-691, (13 Mar) 1993 3 Slade GD, et al., “Relationship between periodontal disease and C-Reactive Protein among adults in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities study.” Arch Intern Med 163(2003): 1172-1179.

natural awakenings

February 2011

naturalpet

PURRING FOR PROTEIN Why Canned Food is Best for Cat Health by Dr. Lisa Pierson

Just as with humans, diet comprises the bricks and mortar of health for our pets. Unfortunately, as we have strayed from a healthy diet, so have the feline friends that are dependent upon us for their food.

ften ignored principles of proper feline nutrition explain why cats have a better chance at optimal health if they are fed canned food instead of dry nuggets or kibble. Putting a little thought into what we feed our cats can pay big dividends over their lifetime and likely help them avoid experiencing serious, painful and costly illnesses. To begin, it is vital to understand that cats are obligate (strict) carnivores, and are very different from dogs in their nutritional requirements. Cats are designed to have their nutritional needs met by the consumption of a 44

Fairfield County Edition

large amount of animal proteins (meat/ organs), instead of those found in plants (grains/vegetables). Plant proteins are less complete than meat proteins. A wild catâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s diet typically consists of rodents, birds, rabbits, lizards and insects. Such natural feline prey are high in animal protein, high in water content (about 70 percent) and low in carbohydrates (less than 5 percent). Most canned foods are of similar proportions. Now, consider three key negative issues associated with dry cat food: 1) as a protein source, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s too high in plant (grain or vegetable) protein and too low in

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animal protein; 2) the water content is far too low, at just 5 to 10 percent; and 3) its carbohydrate load is too high, as much as 50 percent. This is not what is needed to support a healthy animal.

Protein Puzzle Humans and dogs can take the amino acids provided in plant proteins and, from those, produce any missing amino acids normally provided by animal proteins. Cats cannot do this, and so cannot live on a vegetarian diet. That is why the protein in dry cat food, which is often heavily grain-based, is not equal in quality to the protein in canned cat food, which is meat-based. The protein in dry food, therefore, earns a lower score in terms of biological value. Many pet food companies use grain proteins, such as corn, wheat, soy and rice, which are cheaper ingredients than meat proteins, because this practice contributes to a higher profit margin.

Water for Life Water, too, is vital to life and it also plays a critical role in the health of a catâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s urinary tract. Cats, by nature, have an extraordinarily low thirst drive and are designed to obtain water as part

of their food. People who feed their cat dry food think that the animal is consuming enough water, because they see it drinking from a water bowl, but cats do not make up their water deficit this way. We can think of wet food, packaged in cans or pouches, which is a minimum of 75 percent water (approximating that of a cat’s normal prey), as working to flush out the cat’s internal plumbing several times each day, because such a water-rich diet produces much more urine than a water-depleted dry diet. The fact that urinary tract problems are common in cats, and often life-threatening, underscores the importance of keeping water flowing through the kidneys and

Psychic

bladder, which is critical to the health of this organ system.

Carb Load The high carbohydrate load of dry cat food wreaks havoc on the blood sugar balance of many cats because they lack the necessary enzyme systems to efficiently process carbohydrates. This comes as no surprise, given a cat’s strict carnivore status. While some cats are able to handle elevations in blood sugar levels, many are not, and this can contribute to the development of diabetes. In the 20th century, dry kitten and cat food attracted a huge following due to its convenience and affordability, but informed and caring owners now

realize that wet cat food is a far more healthy choice. Veterinarians and enlightened consumers understand that a core principle of nutrition is: pay more for good food now or pay the doctor later. This principle applies to our pets, as well as to us. Finally, no discussion of dry versus canned food would be complete without addressing the myth that dry food is good for a cat’s teeth. In fact, this old tale has no basis in reality. Lisa Pierson is a doctor of veterinary medicine based in Lomita, CA. For more information on how to make the switch to a healthier diet, see the “Transitioning Dry Food Addicts to Canned Food” at CatInfo.org.

Intuition

Psychics have been part of the world culture and history for as far back as Nostradamus. Janet Lee has been doing readings in Connecticut for over 20 years and she has had many stories written up about her and her work in Connecticut and was featured on the front page of the Greenwich Times and the NY Times and the NY Post. Janet Lee is a part of most local charities and non-profits in Greenwich. So if you’re looking for answers in love, marriage, business, health or if you’re just lost and need a look ahead, Janet can guide you through all of life’s difficulties. If you’re looking for fun – then Janet is not the intuitionist for you. All readings are private and confidential.

“I take great pride in what I do and my job here on earth is to guide people to their path and with my wisdom and knowledge I’ve met and helped wonderful people.”

Call today for your reading and experience what the power of knowledge can do for you in your journey through the vision of Janet Lee.

Janet Lee (203) 629-0155 natural awakenings

February 2011

healthykids

MINDFUL KIDS Inner Awareness Brings Calm and Well-Being by Daniel Rechtschaffen

hen I walk outside, students fulness, in the forms of medical and run to me from the school psychological modalities such as Mindplayground, but they don’t fulness Based Stress Reduction and yell out my last name as they circle Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy, around and grab onto my legs, as it can is gaining attention as research suggests be a bit much to remember and prothat it can improve mood, decrease nounce correctly. Instead, I usually hear stress and boost immune function. Dr. “Hey, Mr. Mindfulness,” or even, “The Jon Kabat-Zinn, Ph.D., and others have Mindfulness Dude!” been studying the medical effects of My job is to help to bring the art mindfulness for 30 years with impresand science of mindfulness to students sive results. Excerpt from a fourth-grader’s and teachers in schools, juvenile deten Brought into schools, it can be a Mindfulness Journal tion centers and sports teams, as well as powerful antidote to many struggles to clients in my private psychotherapy facing our youth. In the California Bay practice. Happily, research is beginning to show that applyArea, for example, the Mindful Schools program has used ing mindfulness can decrease stress, attention deficit issues, mindfulness to teach concentration, attention, conflict depression, anxiety and hostility in children, while benefitresolution and empathy to 10,000 children in 38 schools; ing their health, well-being, social relations and academic 66 percent of these schools serve low-income children. performance. Children can easily learn the techniques, and Inside Oakland’s juvenile detention centers, the Mind Body when learned young, they become lifelong tools. Awareness Project offers daylong, silent retreats for teens; although they presently live behind bars, they are learning Mindful Benefits to access greater inner freedom. In sports, a season invested in training the Alameda High Mindfulness means intentionally and compassionately School’s boys’ basketball team in mindfulness techniques opening our awareness to what is here and now. Mind-

“You feel... more connected to

everything. It felt

sort of like flying.”

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helped us reach the Northern California playoffs, an unprecedented achievement in the school’s athletic history. These youth are learning the attention skills they need to succeed in today’s fast-paced, multitasking world. With practice, students are also learning emotional balance and new ways to feel connected to their communities. The most vital result I see is a new baseline of peacefulness evident in these young people’s minds and bodies. Mindfulness offers a general sense of well-being that all other skills for learning and productivity can build on.

True Education The word education comes from the Latin roots ex, “from within,” and duco, “to guide.” Thus, education originally meant to draw out, to guide a student in unfolding the wisdom that is inherently within each person, at any age. This is a fundamentally different approach than the conventional educational paradigm that approaches students from the outside in and from the top down. In using what I call the “fire hose” method of learning, spewing information at students and penalizing them when they can’t retain what the powers-that-be deem important, we make the mistake of assuming what each child should be, instead of seeing them as they already are. Think of how different each of our own lives would have been if parents, teachers and other mentors helped us learn to become the person we were inherently meant to be. This approach requires us all to discover and utilize our own mindfulness. When parents ask me, “What is the best mindfulness technique to teach my children?” my answer is always, “Your own mindfulness.” Our own mindfulness is already present within us; it’s not something we need to create. Notice all of your thoughts in this moment: your doubts and interests, as well as sensations. Simply become aware of phenomena, without judgment or preference. The natural capacity to open up in the present moment to everything that is happening within and around us is mindfulness, an open, intentional, non-judgmental awareness. When we embody mindfulness practices, we become a living example to the children in our lives. If you are interested in learning how to bring mindfulness practices to youth, begin by offering it to yourself. Join a mindfulness group, do some reading or even better, finish reading right now, let your eyes close, check in to your body and let go into this present moment. Daniel Rechtschaffen, MA, a pioneering trainer in his field, helps implement mindfulness-based curricula in schools and organizations. Collaborations include the Mind Body Awareness Project, Mindful Schools and Mindfulness Without Borders. He also convenes an annual Mindfulness in Education conference and teacher training at Omega Institute (search eomega.org). He has a private psychotherapy practice in the San Francisco Bay Area as a marriage and family therapy intern. Visit MindfulChildren.com and NowCounseling.com.

Winter Vegetable Soup (serves 6)

A hearty meal on its own, or a terrific opener to a vegan main course like our Celebration Lentil Loaf. 1 ounce (about 1 cup) dried porcini mushrooms or other dried wild mushrooms 3/4 cup unsalted cashews 6 cups low-sodium vegetable broth, divided 3 rutabagas, peeled and finely chopped 1 onion, finely chopped 1 red bell pepper, seeded and finely chopped Zest and juice of 1 lemon, divided 3 tablespoons chopped fresh chives • Put mushrooms in a bowl, cover with 1/2 cup boiling water and set aside to let soak 10 minutes. • Meanwhile, in a blender, combine cashews and 2 cups broth and blend until very smooth, about 1 minute. Pour cashew mixture into a large saucepan and add rutabagas, onion and remaining 4 cups broth. Remove mushrooms from the bowl with a slotted spoon, cut them into bite-size pieces and add them to the pot; carefully pour in the liquid the mushrooms soaked in, being sure to leave behind any grit that has settled in the bottom of the bowl. • Bring the soup to a boil over high heat, lower heat and simmer, uncovered, until rutabagas are tender, 15 to 20 minutes. Add bell pepper and lemon juice and simmer 3 minutes longer. Serve garnished with chives and lemon zest.

THINK BEFORE YOU BUY:

1. Is it recycled or made from sustainable materials?

2. Is it resource saving?

3. Is it vintage or pre-owned? Asking these questions before you buy can help you make a green choice. natural awakenings

February 2011

greenliving

Fairfield County Green Drinks Visit GreenDrinks.org for details. Locations vary.

Bridgeport 4th Tuesdays of the month

GREEN DRINKS

Cheers to Making Eco-Conscious Connections

Brookfield 3rd Tuesdays of the month

Fairfield 1st Tuesdays of the month

Greenwich 2nd Wednesdays of the month

New Canaan 3rd Tuesdays of the month

Norwalk 1st Wednesdays of the month

Ridgefield

by Judith Fertig

coming soon

Stamford 4th Wednesdays of the month

hether attendees at a typical Green Drinks gathering choose to sip a fine wine or organic lemonade, the emphasis is on socializing and networking for a “greener” world, one community at a time. Founded by friends Edwin Datschefski and Paul Scott at a London pub in 1989, Green Drinks currently includes more than 700 chapters worldwide. The first and largest North American group, Green Drinks New York City, was launched by Margaret Lydecker in 2002 and currently counts 14,000 members. After moving to the Big Apple, “I was having a hard time finding a community of like-minded people,” confesses Lydecker, a sustainability advisor who helps companies find greener options in the way they source products and services. She adds, “When you have an 48

Fairfield County Edition

active dialogue with other environmentally conscious people in business or government, you begin to find answers and solutions.” Typically, groups around the country partner with a community sports bar, restaurant, or other food and drink establishment to host a Green Drinks event in a private room. The word goes out via email, Facebook, phone calls or postcards, and people come to meet other environmentally conscious people. Although these soirées sometimes include short talks by sustainability experts, they’re essentially casual. Yet in this setting, attendees can make connections that benefit the environment, businesses, the community—and themselves. John O’Neill reports that at one recent Green Drinks social hour in Port St. Lucie, Florida, the owner of a local

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Wilton 4th Tuesdays of the month

environmental service business struck up a conversation with a restaurant owner. “The business agreed to take the leftover grease from the restaurant and use it on their farm,” reports O’Neill. “That’s exactly the kind of thing we want to see happen.” Jim Horlacher, the founder of Kansas City’s Green Drinks, admits, “I primarily do Green Drinks because I like it.” Although the relationship-building is definitely there, he adds, “It’s hard for me to quantify.” Horlacher is a financial planner for First Affirmative Financial Network, a group that helps individual investors put their money where their

socially and environmentally responsible values are. “People get to know me at Green Drinks events as someone who walks the walk and talks the talk,” he says. Although Green Drinks’ environmental mission is deliberately simple—attend, engage, connect— some groups take it further. The Seattle Green Drinks chapter also offers a host of more narrowly targeted member groups, including those who want to hear speakers on innovation in sustainability, support Native Americans or conserve wildlife. Green Drinks of Victoria, British Columbia, has a work and career forum that continues to encourage the forging of the links that people make at face-to-face gatherings. Says Seattle Drinks founder Gabriel Scheer, “I’m immensely proud of how the organization has taken a central role in growing our local environmental community.” A founding partner in ReVision Labs, which helps business and organizations incorporate social media and community organizing into their business models, Scheer concludes, “Green Drinks events are helping each community see itself.” For more information visit GreenDrinks.org. Judith Fertig is a freelance writer in Overland Park, KS; see AlfrescoFoodAndLifestyle.blogspot.com.

A Toast to

GREEN DRINKS What happens at a Green Drinks gathering? Attendees like these attest to the power of networking in support of a common goal—and to some surprising outcomes.

“One guy found his girlfriend, his job and his roommate at Green Drinks. I love that.” Margaret Lydecker, founder, New York City chapter

“The best compliment so far came from Gina Gould, Curator of Science at the Bruce Museum. She said after months of living and working in Greenwich, there were still three people she felt she needed to meet: she came to Green Drinks Greenwich in December and met all three of them!” Jessica Brockington, founder, Greenwich chapter

“I think the strangest thing about Green Drinks is that the goals are vague and the benefits hard to quantify— but they are undoubtedly there.” Edwin Datschefski, international coordinator, Green Drinks, London, England

Make your community a little GREENER … Support our advertisers For every $100 spent in locally owned business, $68 returns to the community

“I came away with seven business cards, five new Facebook friends and information about green building, green certifications and some really cool new green products.” Maria Booker, Tampa.CreativeLoafing.com blogger, Green Drinks event, Tampa

source: the350project.net

“It’s an amazing group of people that gather at Green Drinks, who come to learn and share, make friends and business contacts. There’s nothing else like it.” Daphne Dixon, founder, Fairfield Green Drinks, co-founder Stamford Green Drinks

natural awakenings

February 2011

fitbody

Cramping is normal, so take a break when needed, and then return to the stretch. Work up to holding the tucked position for a minute, repeating on each foot two to three times daily.

Toe Spreading

CURE FOR

HIGH HEEL

HANGOVER by Katy Bowman

ould we keep wearing a hat that gave us a headache or a belt that fractured our ribs? The answer is, probably not. Yet, most of us wear shoes that have multiple negative impacts on the health of our entire body. Studies in leading scientific journals show that these reverberating effects start with painful and deformed feet and can migrate up to impaired bone density and a weakened pelvic floor. According to The Journal of Gerontology, for example, a study examining senior populations showed that a history of wearing ill-fitting and highheeled footwear was specifically associated with poor balance, hammer toes, bunions and foot pain. Once thought to be genetic or age-related, researchers are now beginning to look at the impact that shoes have on the body.

Identifying the Culprits The most detrimental part of the shoe to overall body structure seems to be heel height, which both increases tension in the plantar fascia (the thick connective tissue that supports the arch of the foot) and alters the position of the knees and lower back. The higher the heel, the tighter the muscles and fascia in the arch become, until walking feels painful. A heel of any height also projects 50

Fairfield County Edition

one’s body mass forward, increasing the pressure on the front of the foot, which can lead to soreness there and increase the risk for bunions. Other harmful footwear characteristics also need to be evaluated. The narrow toe spaces of many fashion favorites not only limit the foot’s natural range of motion, they diminish the strength of the toes. Weakened foot and toe muscles, resulting from years of cramping toes into a too-small space, provide insufficient strength for proper balancing and, according to the American Journal of Epidemiology, the situation can even increase the risk of knee osteoarthritis.

Taking a Healthy Stride Forward A lifetime of excessive shoe wearing and poor shoe choices means we need to make foot fitness a priority. It is possible to undo much footwear damage if we modify our habits. Try making the most of these foot exercises and shoe selection tips:

Foot Stretch Stand with your hands on a wall or a chair. Put one leg back behind the torso and tuck these toes under, in order to stretch the muscles in the toes and feet.

eNaturalAwakenings.com

Everyone’s toes should be able to spread apart from each other, just as we can spread our fingers. Practice toe spreading every day to increase strength and flexibility in the feet, as well as circulation and nerve health. For faster results, slip toe spacers between the toes (available at local nail salons and drug stores) or wear toe alignment socks (e.g., MyHappyFeetColors.com) while watching TV or sleeping.

Shoe Closet Makeover The second part of our foot makeover occurs at the shoe store when we select a flat or negative-heeled shoe (with the heel lower than the ball of the foot). Also make sure the width of the shoe fits well. A woman should always be able to spread her toes comfortably inside a shoe, paying close attention to the big and pinkie toes. Fortunately, more shoe designers are offering colorful, fun and sexy options these days in sandals, ballet flats and other stylish looks. It’s also important to minimize the use of sandals or flip-flops that require the toes to grip onto the shoe when walking. The toe-gripping habit can lead to hammer toes, a problem that can be easily corrected with new footwear choices and diligent practice of foot exercises. The same is true for bunions, as long as we also correct our walking patterns. As a final note, remember that while a high-heeled or pointy-toed shoe may make us feel sexy, a limping or stiff gait looks far less attractive than a youthful, powerful stride. Katy Bowman, a biomechanics scientist, holds a master’s degree in kinesiology and is director of the Restorative Exercise Institute in Ventura, CA. She is the creator of the Aligned and Well™ DVD series of gentle corrective exercise prescriptions, including Fix Your Feet (AlignedAndWell.com). Learn more at KatySays.com.

calendarofevents Magazine calendar events must be received by February 5th (for March issue) and adhere to our guidelines. Important change: all calendar submissions must be entered online at eNaturalAwakenings.com - click on “submit calendar” at the very top of the page. Email FFCcalendar@NaturalAwakeningsMag.com for support.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 1

Sunday, February 6

Monthly EFT Class 7:30-9:30pm w/ Roberta Russell, LMT. 1st Tuesday monthly. Combining body-mind medicine with self-acupressure. $25. Move2wellness. 635 Danbury Rd. Ridgefield. 203.403.2522.

1st Sunday Bird Walks at Greenwich Point 9am. Join experts from the community with spotting scopes to help identify wintering birds at Greenwich Point. Meet at second concession stand. Beginners welcome. Bring binoculars. Info: Wild Wings 203.637.9822.

THURSDAY, February 3 Raw Food Introduced: The How’s & Why’s 6:30pm. Glen Colello shares why raw foods are popular and how to make some basic staple recipes. Catch A Healthy Habit Café. 39 Unquowa Rd. Fairfield. Free. RSVP required: 203.292.8190. Bellydance w/ Dahlina 7-8:15pm. Women of all ages can enjoy the beauty and benefits of this timeless dance celebrating feminine power with Middle Eastern and Latin inspired music and movements. $115/8 week session. Stamford Adult Ed. 203.977.4209.

Friday, February 4 Questions & Answers about Reiki 7-9:30pm w/ Gigi Benanti, Reiki Master/Teacher. Short talk about Reiki w/ Q & A’s. Non-Reiki 7-8:15pm. $5. Short talk w/ Q & A. for Reiki practitioners: 8:159:30pm. $10. Angelic Healing Center. Norwalk. Pre-register: 203.852.1150.

Film: 2012: Time For Change 3-6:30pm. Natural Awakenings invites you to an exclusive documentary screening, followed by a Q&A panel discussion and networking with local sustainable/ conscious living organizations. Movie 3-5:30pm, tickets are $10. Panel and networking , 5:306:30pm, free. Wainwright House. Rye NY. Limited space. Tickets: 203.885.4674.

Wednesday, February 9

Information Session on the Master of Arts in Experiential Health and Healing 7pm. Presented by The Graduate Institute. Free. Total Life Care Center. 152 East Ave. Norwalk. 203.874.4252.

Your Fit FACE - Because muscles don’t end at your neck 6-7pm. Linda Gottlieb, Certified Facial Fitness Trainer hosts: FIT Chicks Workshop for Women. Free. Greater Valley Chamber of Commerce. 900 Bridgeport Ave. Shelton. 203.877.5270.

Sat., Feb. 12 • 9:30am- 3pm The ‘prescription’ for living in your Vitality is already coded within. Remembering Joy is a simple process, using Intention, Surrender, and Breathwork, that accesses that coding, resulting in a profound journey of coming home to your Self. $45. Stamford.

Contact Sandra@SandraEagle.com or 203.550.2111 to register & for directions

The Graceful Planet 203.426.8215 Register online GracefulPlanet.com

THURSDAY, February 10

Yoga for Men 10:30-11:45am. Saturdays thru 3/12. Learn the secret of professional athletes: improve golf game; relieve back soreness; sleep better! All fitness levels. $90/six sessions prepaid. $19/class drop in. YogaSpace. 777 Federal Rd. Brookfield. 203.775.6220.

Re-membering Joy with Sandra Eagle, LCSW

The Pilobolus master class explores improvisation & collective performance. Training in dance is not required. For adults and kids!

Bellydance w/ Dahlina 7-8:15pm. Women of all ages can enjoy the beauty and benefits of this timeless dance celebrating feminine power with Middle Eastern and Latin inspired music and movements. $114/8 week session. Fairfield Continuing Ed. 203.255.8376.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 5

MARK YOUR CALENDAR Workshop:

DANCE!

February 3 – 5

Monday, February 7

Dr. Steven Horowitz Presents ~ Key Topics in Experiential Health and Healing 5pm. Stamford Hospital’s Tully Health Center. Conference Room C. 32 Strawberry Hill Court. Stamford. 203.874.4252.

Milo, My Stray Cat 2-4pm. Drop in for a book signing with author with author Donald Cohen & artist Gayle Gleckler. Learn about stray animals, & do an art project! Westport Library. Children’s Library. Free. 203.291.4810.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR Pilobolus Community Workshop

The Easy & Basics of Raw Food Prep 6:30pm. Glen Colello shares prepping easy raw soups, salad dressings and pate’s while sharing recipes and samples. $15. Catch A Healthy Habit Café. 39 Unquowa Rd. Fairfield. 203.292.8190.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 11 Metaphysical Movie Night 7pm. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind discussion afterwards w/ Wendy Hrynewski. Unity Center for Practical Spirituality. 3 Main St. Above Ritar Ford. Norwalk. 203.655.7922. Signs From Our Angels 7:30-9pm. Explore the messages angels send through numbers. Bask in

IMPORTANT CHANGE REGARDING CALENDAR SUBMISSIONS

Magazine (print) calendar listings should be submitted on eNaturalAwakenings.com - click on “Submit Calendar” at the very top of the page. Deadline is still the 5th of the month.

FREE ONLINE CALENDAR LISTINGS!

For valid events only. Visit eNaturalAwakenings.com click on “Submit Calendar” at the very top of the page. Online calendar listings can be submitted at any time and can include photos. natural awakenings

February 2011

MARK YOUR CALENDAR BE A PARTICIPATING PROVIDER in the NATURAL AWAKENINGS NETWORK FREE for providers. Help us grow our healthy living community and your business! Sign up now to be included in our upcoming local Provider Directory in Natural Awakenings magazine.

203.885.4674 the Angel’s energy and love. Receive an Angelic message. Cost: $10. Jane Russo’s Wellness Room. 65 Clinton Ave. Stratford. Contact: 203.377.7984.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 12 Re-membering Joy 9:30am-3pm w/ Sandra Eagle, LCSW. A profound experience of journeying facilitating a leap in well-being. $45. Stamford. Please call Sandra for location: 203.550.2111. Partner Yoga 1-3:30pm. Special workshop for friends, significant others or individuals. All levels. Learn partner yoga poses; massage; and breathing techniques. $32/person or $60/couple in advance. YogaSpace. 777 Federal Rd. Second Floor. Brookfield. 203.775.6220.

G IN CH M R CO MA IN

LIVING DRAGONS 2:30pm. Drop in & & join Brian Kleinman of Riverside Reptiles to meet different species of lizards, including a legless cousin of the Komodo Dragon! Westport Library. McManus Room. Free. 203.291.4810.

Sunday, February 13 Chantsformations 9-10am. Chanting and meditation hour inspired by the Jewish mystical tradition. Open to all faiths. Soma Center for Well-Being. 60 Katona Dr. Fairfield. Suggested donation: $10. Call Rachel: 203.292.6873. Community Drum Circle 3pm w/ Randy Brody. Share the passion of drumming and rhythm. Drum, dance and create joyful noise! Drums provided. $15/$5 seniors and kids under 12. Norfield Grange. 12 Good Hill Rd. Weston. Info: 203.544.7085.

THURSDAY, February 17 The Practice and Craft of LongeviTea 6:30pm w/ Dave Tyler. Learn the craft of making healing teas. Discussion: equipment, ingredients, recipes and samples of teas. $10. Catch A Healthy Habit Café. 39 Unquowa Rd. Fairfield. 203.292.8190. Bernie Siegel Presents an Evening of Love, Medicine, and Miracles 7 pm, $20 per person. The Graduate Institute. 171 Amity Rd. Bethany. Reserve a seat: 203.874.4252.

Saturday, February 19

MARK YOUR CALENDAR

AWAKEN FAIR SATURDAY, APRIL 16 Doubletree Hotel Tarrytown, NY 10591 Our 10th fantastic year! The area’s biggest body-mind-spirit wellness fair www.AwakenFair.com

Sponsors • Exhibitors • Speakers: www.ThePractitioners.com mind and body unified through breathing and movement. Spend this hour to reach an inner balance. $25. Move2wellness. 635 Danbury Rd. Ridgefield. 203.403.2522. Great Backyard Bird Count 1-2:30pm. Take a walk to ID and count birds. Hot chocolate to follow. All Ages. Greenwich Audubon. To RSVP or participate from home in this 4 day event 2/182/21 call Ted: 203.869.5272 x230. Partner Prenatal Yoga at Dew Yoga 2:304:30pm. In partner prenatal yoga the poses are safe for all trimesters of pregnancy. 923 High Ridge Rd. Stamford. 203.524.2919.

Special Qi Gong Instruction 11am/ Mathew Wein. Experience the ancient practice combining

special edition

NATURAL FOODS Natural Awakenings takes a look at the growing food revolution in our March issue.

For more information about advertising and how you can participate, call 203.885.4674 52

Fairfield County Edition

eNaturalAwakenings.com

MARK YOUR CALENDAR Natural Awakenings’ NATURAL CONNECTIONS EVENT February 6 • 3-6:30pm Join us for an exclusive movie screening of 2012: Time for Change, followed by a Q&A panel discussion and exhibition led by local sustainability and spiritual leaders. $10. Wainwright House, 260 Stuyvesant Ave, Rye NY. 2012TimeForChange.com. Limited space. RSVP: 914.617.8750.

is now available at

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 20 Absolute Beginners Workshop at Dew Yoga 11:15am. Get the basics in a two hour workshop. 923 High Ridge Rd. Stamford. 203.524.2919. Animal Communication 2-4pm w/ Melissa Merendino, Animal Whisperer. Come deepen the bond with animals and promote wellness through the language of the heart. Learn to speak and listen to animals. $35. Move2wellness. 635 Danbury Rd. Ridgefield. 203.403.2522.

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 21

in Darien, Westport & Greenwich

in Norwalk & Danbury

Pick up a copy!

Vision Board ~ Manifesting Workshop 7:309pm. Come learn about manifesting desired reality. Join in making a vision board. Held in Jane Russo’s Wellness Room: 65 Clinton Ave. Stratford. Cost: $15. Contact: 203.377.7984.

Tuesday February 22 Angels Card Reading for your self 7-9:30pm w/ Gigi Benanti, Reiki Master/Teacher. Introduction: Learn techniques to help one to connect with one’s angels. $28. Angelic Healing Center. 7 Morgan Ave. Norwalk. Must pre-register: 203.852.1150.

Thursday, February 24 Open House at The Graduate Institute 5pm. Discover graduate programs that enrich the spirit and inspire life-long transformation. 171 Amity Rd. Bethany. RSVP: 203.874.4252.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 25 Film: ‘InGREEDients’ – about the many products added to foods 6-9pm. Wine & cheese reception: 6-7 pm. Cutting-edge animations entertain, inspire, and at times frighten audiences of all ages. $15 adults. Under 21 $5. RSVP Jeff: 203.869.5272 x239.

Saturday, February 26 Archetypal Cosmology 12pm online. Dr. Glenn Perry presents a free online information session on the emerging field of Archetypal Cosmology. Register online. Call: 203.874.4252 for information.

Hope Grows . . . With Every Step Honor a loved one in a monumental way. Inscribe a brick today and help us complete the Timothy Kelly Terrace, step by step. To order a brick, go to: www.annsplace.org For more information, call Ann’s Place (203) 790-6568.

natural awakenings

Dedicated to Men, Women and Children Touched by Cancer

February 2011

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ongoingevents

sunday Sunday Worship 11am-12:15pm. Doors open at 10:30am for Silent Prayer and Meditation. Worship service integrates music, prayer, healing, meditation, inspiration and Spirit Communication. Albertson Memorial Church of Spiritualism. 293 Sound Beach Ave. Old Greenwich. 203.637.4615. New Eckankar Class: The Call of Soul 11am12:30pm. 3rd Sunday monthly. Book discussion. Learn to go inside oneself because this is the source of all Truth. Newtown. Register: 203.417.8434. Meditation 7pm. Led by rotating practitioners. Free. Move2wellness. 635 Danbury Rd. Ridgefield. 203.403.2522.

monday Pilates Mat Class 9am w/ Megan Bascom, Instructor. Basic level class focused on the principles of Pilates including alignment, breath, and core strengthening. A great place to start or strengthen technique. $20. Black Rock Pilates. 2889 Fairfield Ave. RSVP: 203.335.1987. Be Strong, Stretched & Center Yoga 9-10:15am w/ Lara Ward. Also held Fridays. Class brings health and tones the body while finding the calm within. Jewish Community Center. 9 Rte 39 So. Sherman. 10 classes/$130. Drop-in $17. 860.354.6241. Group Cycling Classes 9:15am. Also on Saturday & Sunday. Various times thru-out the week. Enjoy different instructors for each class. All levels welcome. No-Limit Health & Fitness. 1120 Federal Rd. Brookfield. Call for complete scheduling: 203.775.8548. Svaroopa® Stress Relief Yoga 9:30am, 11am & 5:45pm w/ Mazie. Rejuvenating and bliss-filled (yin & yang) asana and pranayama practice unravels tension, increase circulation, flexibility, energy, enhancing immune system. $20. $150/10 classes. Catch Your Breath. Fairfield. 203.255.9111. Children’s Expression Sessions 4:15-5:15 p.m. Playful, creative arts workshops enhance self image and esteem. Ages 8-12. $35/session. Allison Spitzer 203.261.7615. The EDGE Learning System 5 & 6pm. Ages 6-12. Groups enhance the child’s motor, speech, reading, math, social and visual skills improving grades, performance and self esteem. $50. Total Learning and Therapy Center. Trumbull. 203.268.8852. Open Level Vinyasa Yoga w/ Nina 5:15-6:15pm. Also held 8/9, 8/16, 8/23. 4/classes $60. Drop in $17. Maria Fiore Dance Studio. 201 Summer St. Downtown Stamford. Call: 914.393.9221. Intermediate Yoga Class at Nu~Yoga Studio 6-7:30pm w/ Sally Grillo. Also on Wednesdays. Welcome to a yoga class created for intermediate level students. Connect to inner calm and emerge refreshed and renewed.$20. 32-34 Main St. Ste. 6. Norwalk. 203.854.6744.

The Thought Exchange 7pm w/ David Friedman. A support group based on having new thoughts. What if what one’s life just mirrors one’s thoughts? Cost: Love Offering. Unity Center for Practical Spirituality. 3 Main St. Norwalk. 203.855.7922. Intro to Yoga w/ Barbara 7pm. Learn basic postures to help strengthen the body and relax the mind. 6 classes/$96. Santosha Center for Yoga & Health. 27 Hawleyville Rd. Newtown. 203.364.0851. Belly Dance Fusion 7-8:30pm w/ Naima Provo, LMT, RMT. No experience necessary! Learn movements focusing on muscle isolation, core strength, and correct posture. Drills and stretches to music cardio style. Move2wellness. 635 Danbury Rd. Ridgefield. 203.403.2522. Gentle/Intermediate Yoga 7:30pm. Kripalu/ Vinyasa Style. $12/class or 8 classes/$80. Jazzercise Fitness Studio. 633 Hope St. Stamford. 203.845.8856. Group Therapy for Men and Women 8-9:30pm w/ Sandra Eagle, LCSW. Begins 2/28. Combines techniques from meditative and psychotherapeutic traditions promoting healing and expanding consciousness. 8 sessions. Ongoing sessions available. 34 E Putnam Ave. Greenwich. Info/fees: 203.550.2111.

tuesday Intro to Feldenkrais® classes 7 & 8:15am. 1 hour. Through 1/18. A gentle tune-up for mind and body. Special focus on improving balance and breathing. $21.50/class. The Ananda Center.16 Forest St. New Canaan. 203.274.5085. Pilates Plus w/ Sally Grillo 9:30-10:30am. Pilates exercises enhance health, strengthen muscles and create length throughout the body. For all levels with modifications for injuries and limitations. $20. Nu-Yoga Studio. 32-34 Main St. Suite 6 Norwalk. 203.854.6744. Iyengar Style Yoga 9:30-10:45am w/ David Schoenberg. Beginners Class (does not mean easy, but accommodating with use of props). Practice asanas and pranayama: develop strength, balance, poise. $15. Redding Meditation Center. 9 Picketts Ridge. Redding. 203.544.1090.

about living sustainable lifestyles. Free. Bridgeport. Call for Location: 203.536.4695. Town of Fairfield Green Drinks 6-8pm. 1st Tuesday monthly. A casual gathering of greenminded people who get together and share ideas about living sustainable lifestyles. Free. The Shack. 2070 Post Rd. Fairfield. 203.536.4695. Beginners Yoga class at Nu-Yoga Studio 6-7:30pm w/ Sally Grillo. Uplifting class to learn about yoga, reduce stress and clearing the mind. This class includes postures, breathing techniques and relaxation. Sign up is on-going. $20. Norwalk. Sally: 203.854.6744. Qi Gong and Tai Ji Quan (Tai Chi) Class 6:30pm w/ Cliff Martin. Integrated Healthcare Associates. 992 High Ridge Rd. 3rd Fl. Stamford. Info: 203.750.0731. Yoga at First Presbyterian Church 6-7pm. All levels & drop-ins welcome. Hatha Vinyasa Yoga. Wear exercise clothes. $10. Fish Church Lounge. 1101 Bedford St. Stamford. Info: 203.550.8811. HEAL Support Circle 6:30-8pm. 3rd Tuesday monthly. A peer-support group led by trained cofacilitators is for victims/survivors of emotional abuse or any violence or trauma, the group meets monthly. Brookfield Town Hall. For info call 203.305.2137. Qi Gong/Reiki Meetup 6:30-8:30pm. Study alternative healing modalities, concentrating on Reiki, chi gung, meditation and mantra w/ Andy Sinn. $15. The Ananda Center. 16 Forest St. New Canaan. 203.273.8364. A Course in Miracles 7pm. Also Wednesday at 10am. Facilitated by Joan Goss. Cost: Love Offering. Unity Center for Practical Spirituality. 3 Main St. (above Ford dealership). Norwalk. Info: 203.855.7922. Beginners Yoga 7-8:15pm w/ Carol Shwidock MA, OTR, RYT. Come explore the magic of a Kripalu Yoga class. Guaranteed to better afterwards. All levels welcome. Drop-Ins encouraged! Harmony Yoga Studio. 48 Union St. Stamford. 203.962.4672. HIV/AIDS Education Support Group 7-8:15pm w/ Rodney Mailloux, MS LADC. For those affected and infected, and any related substance abuse and lifestyle issues. Free. APGD. 30 West St. Danbury. 203.778.2437.

Feldenkrais® classes 5:45-6:45pm. Lisa Shufro, certified instructor, leads this gentle tune-up for mind and body. Great for flexibility, better posture, and stress relief. $20. Dew Yoga. Stamford. 203.274.5085.

Lyme Disease Support Group 7-8:30pm. 3rd Tues monthly. Informational, emotional and experiential support to cope with the mind-body distress of chronic illness. Free. Weston Library, 56 Norfield Rd. Register with Deni Weber: 203.544.6094.

Gentle Hatha Yoga w/ Letty 5:45-7pm. All ages & abilities. $20/class. Classes ongoing. Greenwich Senior & Arts Center. 2nd Fl. Meeting Room. 299 Greenwich Ave. 203.862.6750.

Acupuncture, Health & Greening The Environment 7-8:30pm weekly talks with acupuncturist Ingri Boe-Wiegaard. Free. Location varies; Wilton, Bethel & Fairfield. Call Ingri for info: 203.259.0166.

Latin - Creative Dance Workout/Weightloss Class 6pm w/ Maria Fiora, 20 year professional latin dnacer. Energize, tone and have fun. $15 drop in. 201 Summer St. Stamford. 203.353.4363.

MMA Classes (Standup Fighting & Grappling) 7:15-8:30pm. Also on Thursdays. Sensei Robert Neal, ranked #1 Masters Level, National Title Holder. $10 per class. No-Limit Health & Fitness. 1120 Federal Rd. Brookfield. 203.775.8548.

Town of Bridgeport Green Drinks 6-8pm. 4th Tuesday monthly. A casual gathering of greenminded people who get together and share ideas

Back Yard Beekeepers 7:30pm. Last Tuesday monthly January-June and September-November.

natural awakenings

February 2011

BYBA’s provides its membership with practical info on how to’s of beekeeping. 6:30pm for new beekeepers. Free. Norfield Church. Community Rm. 64 Norfield Rd. Weston.

Creative Kvetching: Expressive Arts Therapy 9 and 11 a.m. Let it out, get it out! Somatic tools for healing, growth, change. Small group sessions, women only. $25. Allison Spitzer 203.261.7615.

Wednesday monthly. A casual gathering of greenminded people who get together and share ideas about living sustainable lifestyles. Free. Locations vary, call 203.536.4695.

Exchange Reiki/Healing Circle 7:30pm. 1st & 3rd Tuesdays w/Gigi Benanti, Usui/Karuna Reiki Master/Teacher. Reiki circle for all levels of Reiki Practitioners only. Percentage is given to Charity. $10. Angelic Healing Center. Norwalk. Please preregister: 203.852.1150.

Kripalu Yoga 9:30am. Relax, refresh and renew w/ Kat Barton, 500 hour Kripalu Professional Level Yoga Teacher. $10 w/class card, $16.99 walk-ins. The Graceful Planet. Newtown. 203.426.8215.

Middle Eastern Belly Dance 6-7:30pm. Advanced Level. Instructor: Riskallah Riyad. First class free. A Common Ground. 346 Main St. Danbury. 203.267.1677.

Yoga for 50 to Infinity 10:45am. Cost is only $1. Bethel Senior Center. Municipal Center. 1 School St. Bethel. 203.792.3048.

Town of Stamford Green Drinks 6-8pm. 4th Wednesday monthly. A casual gathering of greenminded people who get together and share ideas about living sustainable lifestyles. Free. Locations vary, call 203.536.4695.

Psychic Circle 7:30-9pm. 3rd Tuesday monthly. Come play in the psychic world. Enjoy tapping into intuition; connect to guides and deceased loved ones. No experience necessary; everyone can play. $25. Info: Melanie Barnum, CH. 203.451.0914. Therapy group for Recovering Alcoholics 8-9:30pm w/ Sandra Eagle, LCSW. Begins 2/8. Teaching grounding techniques, used to selfregulate e.g. anxiety, depression, volatility, cravings. 8 sessions. Ongoing sessions available. 34 E Putnam Ave. Greenwich. Info/fees: 203.550.2111.

wednesday Early MornYoga 8-9am w/ Carol Shwidock MA, OTR, RTY. Start the day with this motivating Kripalu style class. Mixed level class. Drop-Ins encouraged. Harmony Yoga Studio. 48 Union St. Stamford. 203.962.4672. Latin - Creative Dance Workout/Weightloss Class 9am w/ Maria Fiora, 20 year professional latin dnacer. Energize, tone and have fun. $15 drop in. 201 Summer St. Stamford. 203.353.4363.

Gentle Chair Yoga for Every-Body Class 121pm w/ Deb Del Vecchio-Scully, CIYT. Gentle yoga increases relaxation while decreasing pain and stress. $18 drop-in/$80 for 5 classes. Associated Neurologists of Southern CT. Fairfield. Registration required: 203.333.1133 ext. 152. Weekly Back School 1:30pm w/Dr. Christopher Mascetta. Free. Ridgefield Chiropractic and Wellness Center, 10 South St., Ste. 205, Ridgefield. RSVP – seating limited: 203.431.1688. Meditation, Yoga & Shivasana 5:30-6:45pm. A class devoted to opening the mind as well as the body. Explore movement, energy, focus and relaxation. $21.50/class. The Ananda Center. 16 Forest St. New Canaan. 203.274.5085. Mindfulness Meditation and Stress Reduction 5:30-7pm w/ Paul Epstein, ND. Practice, teachings, integration with life. 4/sessions $95. Drop in $25. Shamatha Yoga Studio. Stamford. 203.722.2358. Green Drinks Greenwich 5:30-7:30pm. Greenwich is joining the vibrant Green Drinks movement! Every 2nd Wednesday of the month. Locations vary, call 203.661.4774. Town of Norwalk Green Drinks

6pm. 1st

Keys to the Kingdom, A Course in Prosperity 7pm w/ Rev. Shawn Moninger. Recognize, accept and create your own prosperity. Unity Center. 3 Main St. Norwalk. For more information: 203.855.7922. Journey within, Do you feel stuck? 7pm. 1st Wednesday monthly. Need support trying to begin something new? Support, intuitive insight, wisdom. Facilitator: Cindy Miller, intuitive. $20. Newtown Congregational Church. 14 West St. Newtown. Call: 203.426.9448. Reiki Share/Circle 7pm. 2nd Wednesday monthly w/ Hilda Swaby. Reiki for stress reduction and healing, supports changes in one’s world, balances the mind, body & spirit. Bring family and friends. Love Offering. Stamford. Call for directions: 203.554.1238. Kundalini Yoga and Meditation w/ Leesa 7:30pm. A blend of postures, kriyas, pranayama & meditation, which teaches the art of relaxation & self-healing. $17/class. Santosha Center for Yoga & Health. 27 Hawleyville Rd. Newtown. 203.364.0851.

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thursday Hatha Yoga Class 9:30-11am. Flowing with grace. This class takes a close look at aligning postures therapeutically to serve individual needs. $20. Nu~Yoga Studio. 32-34 Main St. Ste 6. Norwalk. Contact: Sally Grillo: 203.854.6744. Yoga at First Presbyterian Church 6:157:15pm. Meditation, stretching, twists, inversions to gentle music in candlelight. Great for the stressed professional or mom. First Presbyterian Church, Lounge. 1101 Bedford St. Stamford. Questions: 203.550.8811. Qi Gong and Tai Ji Quan (Tai Chi) Class 6:30pm w/ Cliff Martin. Integrated Healthcare Associates. 992 High Ridge Rd. 3rd Fl. Stamford. Info: 203.750.0731. Reiki 7pm. 1st Thursday monthly. Unity Center. 3 Main St. Norwalk. For more information: 203.855.7922. Kundalini Yoga & Meditation 7-8:30pm. A sacred technology that awakens the spirit, energizes the body and relaxes the mind. All ages & fitness levels. 10/$170. $20 drop in. Move2wellness. 635 Danbury Rd. Ridgefield. 203.403.2522. HEAL Support Circle 7-8:45pm. 2nd Thursday monthly. A peer-support group led by trained cofacilitators is for victims/survivors of emotional abuse or any violence or trauma, the group meets monthly. Norwalk Library. For info call 203.305.2137. Awakening Joy... Happiness through Meditation 7:15-8:45pm w/ Paul Epstein, ND. Practice, teachings, integration with life. $25 drop-in. Pymander Books. Main St. Norwalk. 203. 722.2358. Energywork Healing Circle at Daya Healing Arts in Monroe 7:30-9:30pm. Michelle Lambert (Usui Reiki, Ama Deus Shamanic Healing Master) facilitates a guided meditation and group healing. New comers and practitioners of energy work invited. $12. Monroe. 203.820.6261. Night Out, Night Off, Cranky Couples Re-Connect 8-9pm. Re-charge, renew & refresh your relationship. Engaging, creative activities and dialogue. $40/couple. Allison Spitzer 203.261.7615.

friday Nu~Yoga’s Core Strength Class 9-10am w/ Sally Grillo. A blend of yoga, pilates, stability ball, dance and breathing techniques to achieve the most dynamic flow. $20 or purchase class card. Norwalk. Contact Sally: 203.854.6744. Nutritional Evaluation Visits 10am w/ Debi Greco, MD. Free. 31 Hawleyville Rd. Hawleyville/ Newtown. Call to schedule appointment: 203.798.8114. Gentle Yoga w/ Sally Grillo at Nu~Yoga Studio 10:15-11:30am. A gentler, slower paced yoga class emphasizing correct alignment, breath awareness and energy flow. All proceeds go to charity! $20. Nu~Yoga, 32-34 Main St. suite 6, Norwalk. 203.854.6744.

Middle Eastern Belly Dance 11:45am-12:45pm. Beginner Level. Instructor: Riskallah Riyad. First class free. A Common Ground. 346 Main St. Danbury. 203.267.1677. Drumming Circle 7-8:30pm. 1st Fridays. Drums available or bring one. Suggested Donation $10. Touch of Sedona. 452 Main St. Ridgefield. 203.438.7146. Kirtan 7-9pm. 2nd Friday of every month. Satya Franche and Ma Kirtan. Call and reponse chanting. Suggested donation $10. Kids free. Touch of Sedona. 452 Main St. Ridgefield. 203.438.7146. Reiki Circle 7:30pm. 1st Fridays. w/ Luciana Walker Reiki Master. Experience Universal Reiki energy in an evening of Reiki’s healing effect. Release all stress and tension, relax muscles and mind and renew soul and spirit. $15. Easton. 203.767.6453. Reiki Drumming Circle 7:30pm. 3rd Fridays. w/ Luciana Walker Reiki Master. An evening of integrating sound with Reiki. Sound especially drumming is a wonderful way to promote inner peace while having fun. $15. TLC of Fairfield. 203.767.6453. Healing and Meditation Circle 7:30pm w/ Raffaello MiDeglio, karmic healer. 2nd Friday monthly. Come for a wonderful evening of meditation, prayer, healing and receive a message. $15. Newtown Congregational Church. 14 West St. Newtown. 203.426.9448.

saturday Monthly Angelic Teleconferences: One hour with the Angels 1st Saturday of the month. First bi-lingual program w/ Ana Mercedes Rueda, facilitator. $20. Info: 203.426.9448. Yoga & Pilates Fusion 8:30am w/ Kat Barton. Class utilizes weights, bands and balls. $10 w/ class card, $16.99 walk-ins. The Graceful Planet. Newtown. 203.426.8215. Pilates Mat mixed level 8:30am. A combination of a traditional Pilates mat class and core challenging exercises using physio-ball. Great for anyone from athletes to someone who wants to tone. $20. Black Rock Pilates. 2889 Fairfield Ave. Call: 203.335.1987.

Keys to the Kingdom, A Course in Prosperity 11am-1pm w/ Rev. Shawn Moninger. Recognize, accept and create your own prosperity. Unity Center for Practical Spirituality. 3 Main St. Norwalk. For more information: 203.855.7922. Experience Karuna Reiki® (ICRT registered tm) 11am-1pm. 3rd Sat/monthly at Bloodroot Vegetarian. Restaurant. Tap into unlimited healing energy. $10. Make private appointment now! Info for ReikiOvertones call Jim or Jeannette: 203.254.3958. Reiki Workshop-Intro and Application for everyone 1-3pm Also Thursdays 7-9pm. $25 (applied towards future class). ReikiOvertones. Jim or Jeannette: 203.254.3958. Wine Tasting 12:30-8pm. Come to the Saturday Wine Tastings. A variety of organic wines always in stock. Free. New England Wine & Spirits. 590 Danbury Rd. Ridgefield. 203.438.6331. Recovery is for Everyone 2-3pm w/ Paul Bender & Dwight Tate. A consumer led recovery from mental illness support group. Share the recovery experience. Fairfield Library. Conference room D. Call Dwight or Paul: 203.218.7233.

Love is an

act of endless forgiveness, a tender look which becomes a habit. ~Peter Ustinov

Therapeutic Yoga 8:30-9:45am w/ Carol Shwidock. Carol combines Occupational Therapy knowledge with a passion for yoga in this healing Kripalu style class. All levels welcome. $20 or $180/10 classes. Harmony Yoga. 48 Union St. Stamford. 203.962.4672. Dharma Yoga w/ Yogi Brian 8:30-10:30am. The Ananda Center. 16 Forest St. New Canaan. 203.273.8364. Reiki Classes all levels 9am-6pm. Also Sundays. Winter Classes: RI/II, ART/Master. Info: ReikiOvertones students review free. ReikiOvertones call Jim or Jeannette: 203.254.3958. Santosha Yoga w/ Julie 9am. Santosha’s signature yoga class takes place outside on landscaped grounds next to a pond. $17/class. Santosha Center for Yoga & Health. 27 Hawleyville Rd. Newtown. 203.364.0851.

natural awakenings

February 2011

communityresourceguide Connecting you to the leaders in natural healthcare and green living in our community. To find out how you can be included in the Community Resource Guide (CRG) in print and online email FFCadvertising@naturalawakeningsmag.com to request our advertising rates. BIO-FEEDBACK TECHNOLOGY

ACUPUNCTURE

JH Wellness, LLC

Ingri Boe-Wiegaard, LAc

Bio-Feedback Technology Nutritional & Weight Loss Counseling JHWellness.com 203.650.0940

Fairfield, Wilton, Bethel 203.259.1660 CTacupuncture.com 25 year full time practice

Ingri treatments help alleviate Pain, Depression, Neck & Back, Anxiety, Headaches, Stress, Allergies, Asthma, Arthritis, Digestive, Menstrual, Infertility, and Smoking & Weight Loss Issues. See ad pg 12.

SOPHIA NATURAL HEALTH CENTER Kenneth Hoffman, DAc, LAc 499 Federal Rd, Brookfield CT 203.740.9300 SophiaNaturalHealth.com

Combining Chinese Medicine with modern science, we restore health by identifying imbalances that cause illness. Acupuncture, Allergy Elimination, Chronic Pain Relief, Hormone Balancing, Thermography, Detoxification.

ALLERGIES BioSET Allergy Elimination Program

Dr. Mark Joachim Advanced Certified Practitioner 156 East Avenue, Norwalk 203.838.1555 Allergy-Cure-CT.com

Experience our break through state-of-the art bio-communication technology. By removing the guesswork, this powerful and effective tool will assist in a lifetime of wellness. See ad pg 8.

BOOKSTORE Pymander LLC

37 Wall Street, Norwalk, CT 06850 203.854.5596; Pymander95@Yahoo.com PymanderBooks.com Our center for positive energy is an oasis for wellbeing, inspiration and transformation. Come to our events and browse our spiritual and holistic health books, meditation CDs, jewelry, singing bowls, rocks, crystals, incense, chimes, Christian, Buddhist, Hindu and Native American sacred items.

Breastimage.net

AROMATHERAPY

John M. Popowich, DC Board Certified in Infrared Imaging 87 South Main St., #3, Newtown 203.300.4922 Celebrating 11 years in service, we offer High Resolution Computerized Digital Infrared Imaging for Breast Health. Scans start at $125.

SOPHIA NATURAL HEALTH CENTER

YOUNG LIVING ESSENTAIL OILS

499 Federal Rd, Brookfield CT 203.740.9300 SophiaNaturalHealth.com

Young Living is uniting ancient traditions and modern science to promote health and longevity. Through extensive research and commitment to quality, we are growing, distilling and manufacturing the highestquality organic essential oils and oil-enhanced products in the world.

As the hormone experts, we specialize in women’s health, natural hormone balancing, breast cancer prevention and thermography utilizing the highest definition camera in the area with interpretations from MD specialists in the field. Thermogram results include a free 15-minute phone consultation.

Cris Ann Mulreed 203.216.8413 pathfollowers@gmail.com

Fairfield County Edition

Digital Infrared Thermal Imaging Suzanne Pyle, MS, CCT 866.XtoRAYS SuzannePyle@Prodigy.net Get peace of mind with safe (no radiation), FDA-approved breast cancer screening. 8 years earlier detection vs. mammography. Certified DITI thermographer. Conveniently located throughout Fairfield.

CHIROPRACTIC

BREAST THERMOGRAPHY

BioSET can eliminate all food and environmental allergies related to behavioral issues, asthma, eczema, headaches, fibromyalgia, sinus conditions, gastric disorders and chronic health conditions. Safe for all ages, without drugs, shots or side effects! See ad pg 30.

X TO RAYS.COM

eNaturalAwakenings.com

Brian K. Nathanson, DC 161 East Ave., Suite 102 Norwalk also Newtown location 203.313.3844 NEphysical.com

Specializing in the repair and rehabilitation of soft tissue injuries and post masectomy rehabilitation, utilizing acupuncture and the “non-thrust” Graston® techniques. Newtown appointments available as well.

Erica Sawers, DC, RD

Cardinal Chiropractic 1817 Black Rock Turnpike, Fairfield 06825 203.368.9990 CardinalChiropractic.us Imagine feeling your best with chiropractic care! Specializing in healing muscle strains, back, neck, and joint pain. Custom nutritional programs. Certified Active Release Technique provider. See ad pg 18.

COLONICS COLONICS AT LIFELINE HYGIENICS Rejuvenation Center Since 1993, Rye, NY 914.921.LIFE (5433)

Now offering personalized cleanse programs, lymphatic drainage massage, as well as our personalized colonics, since 1993. Rejuvenation at its best! See ad pg 14.

GREENWICH COLON HYDROTHERAPY Kelly McCoy Located at Natural Medicine & Wellness Center Old Greenwich 203.698.9088

xperience relief Greenwich Colon E from congestion and Hydrotherapy discover a greater sense est. 1996 of well being. Colon Hydrotherapy helps to regain a deeper flow and creates balance in a world with pressure and toxicity. Relaxing treatments aid in achieving personal awareness to internal harmony. See ad pg 18.

FAMILY SERVICES

MARK A. BREINER, DDS, FIAOMT

5520 Park Ave, Ste 301, Ffld Town Line Merritt Pkwy, Exit 47 203.371.0300 WholeBodyDentistry.com

Allison B. Spitzer, MA

Expressive Therapeutic Coaching 203.261.7615 PeriwinkleHealth.com Children, teens, adults Practical, ongoing support while handling issues such as ADD, depression, difficult parenting, obesity or loneliness. Traditional and creative sessions to help you manage life more comfortably and joyously. See ad pg 9.

WHOLE-BODY MEDICINE, LLC Fairfield/Trumbull town line 203.371.8258 WholeBodyMed.com

Ready to star t feeling healthier? Take your first step with this gentle cleansing procedure. Watch our colonic and detoxification videos on our new video website located at WholeBodyMed.com Call for Free CD on Detoxification. See ad pg 17.

INTEGRATIVE OPTOMETRY

Healing Steps

Tracy King LCSW-R Early childhood thru adolescent counseling 914.589.6755 TracyAKing14@msn.com Supporting children and parents with expert knowledge in the field of mental health and psychiatry. Specialized in treating preschool age through adolescence with behavioral/emotional issues such as abuse, trauma, divorce, separation anxiety. See ad pg 37.

EDUCATION Housatonic Valley Waldorf School

40 Dodgingtown Road, Newtown 203.364.1113 WaldorfCT.org We develop each child’s unique capacity to engage meaningfully in the world by integrating experiential and artistic learning, academic excellence, respect for diversity, and reverence for nature. See ad pg 11.

eeg neurofeedback WHOLE-BODY MEDICINE, LLC

Adam Breiner, ND, Director Fairfield/Trumbull town line 203.371.8258 WholeBodyMed.com Improve Brain Function with RealTime EEG Neurofeedback. Learn about about this amazing technology, watch patients tell their own stories of improved focus, concentration, help in recovery from traumatic brain injuries on our video website at WholeBodyMed.com. See ad pg 17.

GREEN LIVING

DR. RANDY SCHULMAN, MS, OD, FCOVD Behavioral Optometrist Norwalk, CT 203.840.1991 vtotworks.com Visionworksvt@aol.com

Dr. Schulman specializes in vision therapy, pediatrics, learning disabilities, developmental delays, autism, TBI/stroke, and preventative and alternative vision care. She also practices Iridology, the study of the iris. Gain insights into your physical, emotional and spiritual being through this unique reading.

INTERFAITH MINISTRY

GET GREEN CLEAN

Tony Antolics, BSN, BA, RN Independent Shaklee Distributor 203.435.4476 Nutrivit-nurse.myshaklee.com Shaklee is the 1st company in the world to be certified Climate Neutral. Start making your home cleaner for your family and the planet with the safe alternative to traditional household cleaning products. See ad pg 21.

HOLISTIC DENTIST

REV. KAREN S. JUDD, LCSW

Counselor • USUI Reiki Master ReverendKarenSJudd.com Office: Bethel, CT 203.545.3664 Creates and performs Weddings, Union Ceremonies, Memorial Services and Baby Blessings. Life transitions - bereavement counseling; facilitating a deeper connection with yourself, others and the Divine.

MASSAGE & BODYWORK Robin Ordan, LMT, LCSW, CICMI

Leonard Kundel, DMD

1250 Summer Street, Stamford 203.487.6020 StamfordDentist.com The Way Dentistry should be! Discover the relationship of mouth and body. Learn what 96% of dentists won’t tell you. Find out how your mouth can help you sleep better, walk straighter and have improved relationships in your life.

Dr. Mark A. Breiner is a pioneer and recognized authority in the field of holistic dentistry. With over 30 years of experience, he is a sought after speaker and lecturer. His popular consumer book, Whole-Body Dentistry, has been sold world-wide. See ad pg 7.

Licensed Massage Therapist & Reiki Practitioner Old Greenwich/Stamford 203.561.8535; RobinOrdanLMT.com

Robin has been providing massage and Reiki for over 15 years. Specializing in Swedish, Pregnancy, Trigger Point, Injuries and Infant/Child Massage Instruction. Sessions are individualized to meet your needs. See ad pg 16.

naturalawakenings awakenings natural

February 2011

MEDICAL DOCTOR

Gary S. Gruber, ND

Family and Environmental Medicine 68 Old Stamford Road New Canaan, CT 06840 203.966.6360 ScienceMeetsNature.com

HENRY C. SOBO, MD

Optimal Health Medical, LLC 203.348.8805 DrSobo.com Medical doctor practicing holistic/ alternative medicine & weight reduction in Stamford, CT. Nutrition, Allergy Desensitization, Bio-Identical Hormone Replacement for men and women. See ad pg 12.

Michael E. Doyle, MD

Conventional & Alternative Medicine 22 5th St Suite 201 Stamford, CT 06905. 203.324.4747 Specializing in Natural and Alternative approaches to restoring health. Focusing on underlying causes of illness. Hypothyroidism, hormonal imbalances, nutrition and much more. See ad pg 8.

RIVERSIDE OB/GYN

Russell Turk, MD Karen Zino, MD 1200 East Putnam Avenue Riverside, CT 06878 203.637.3337 Riverside Obstetrics & G y n e c o l og y i s a f u l l service medical practice incorporating traditional and holistic approaches to women’s health. The practice includes two OB/GYN’s and a naturopathic physician. See ad pg 27.

Natural Healthcare WORDEN WELLNESS CENTER 41 Kenosia Ave, Danbury 203.748.8093 Healing the Whole Person

“Where science meets nature with compassion.” Do you struggle with allergies, pain, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, heart or circulatory problems? Difficulty losing weight? Have you been diagnosed with an autoimmune disease or cancer? I have effective therapies for patients just like you. Family and Environmental Medicine for men, women, and children.

INSTITUTE FOR AYURVEDIC AND NATUROPATHIC THERAPIES

Dr. Neeru N. Kaushik, ND, MS Acup, MS, MA Dr. Somesh N. Kaushik, BAMS, ND, MPH, MPA 805 Kings Hwy E, Fairfield, 203.331.9111 47 Buttonball Ln, Weston 203.227.7550 AyurvedicInstituteCT.com The unique therapies of Ayurveda: Panchakarma, including Abhyanga, Shirodhara, Swedana, Basti and more, are combined with Naturopathy, Homeopathy, Acupuncture, Clinical Nutrition and Colonic Hydrotherapy to create an individualized treatment program to match your body/metabolic type for optimum healing benefits.

Dr. Marina Yanover, ND, LAc 1300 Post Road East, Westport 203.255.5005 BigAppleHealth.com

Naturopathic Medicine, Acupuncture, Craniosacral Therapy, Natural Face Lift using microcurrent therapy. Specialties i n c l u d e Fa m i ly M e d i c i n e , Women’s Health, Endocrinology, G a s t r o e n t e r o l o g y, P a i n Management, Skin Care. Insurance accepted.

Combining natural health treatments, chiropractic, acupuncture, and nutrition to relieve pain and restore the body to optimal health and balance. See ad pg 10.

NATUROPATHIC PHYSICIAN Debra Gibson, ND

158 Danbury Road, Suite 8 Ridgefield, CT 06877 203.431.4443 Natural family healthcare using nutrition and biochemistry; herbal, homeopathic, and energetic medicine; lifestyle transformation and detoxification, to promote well-being of body, mind and spirit. See ad pg 37.

Fairfield County Edition

eNaturalAwakenings.com

WELLNESS INSTITUTE

Marvin P. Schweitzer, ND 1 Westport Ave, Norwalk 203.847.2788 DrMarvinSchweitzer.com Family Health Care using all natural therapies for 25 years. Acupuncture, Bio-Identical H o r m o n e s , H o m e o p a t h y, Chinese/Western Herbs, Allergy/ Toxin Testing, Oxygen Therapy, Meridian Stress Assessment, Nutrition/Enzyme Therapies. See ad pg 5.

WHOLE-BODY MEDICINE, LLC

Adam Breiner, ND, Director Elena Sokolova, MD, ND David Brady, ND, CCN, DACBN Fairfield/Trumbull town line 203.371.8258 WholeBodyMed.com Using state-of-the-art science combined with centuries-old healing modalities, our caring naturopathic doctors correct underlying imbalances and address issues which may interfere with the body’s ability to heal itself. Treatment protocols or therapies include: Abdominal Manual Therapy, Acupuncture, Allergy Desensitization, Chinese Medicine, Colonics and other D e t ox i f i c a t i o n P r o t o c o l s , Electro-Der mal Screening, Energy Medicine, FDA-cleared P h o t o t h e r a py, F u n c t i o n a l Medicine, Herbal Medicine, H o m e o p a t h y, H o r m o n a l Balancing, Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy, Metabolic Typing, Nutritional Assessment, RealTime EEG Neurofeedback, and other therapies. See ad pg 17.

Nutrition FixEat Nutrition and Health Services LLC

Riverside 203.940.1948 Info@FixEat.com FixEat.com At FixEat, we provide expert nutrition counseling tailored to your needs. General health, weight management, chronic disease, childhood, pregnancy, PCOS and more. Visit FixEat.com.

OSTEOPATHIC PHYSICIAN Osteopathic Wellness Center, LLC David L Johnston, DO Lisa Preston, DO 158 Danbury Road, Ridgefield, CT 203.438.9915 OsteopathicWellness.net

Gentle, Natural, Handson Osteopathic Medical Care for Infants, Children & Adults. Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Health and Development, Birth Trauma, M u s c u l o s ke l e t a l Pa i n a n d Injuries, Nutrition and Wellness Counseling, Stress Reduction, Immune Support, Allergies. Most Major Insurances Accepted.

PSYCHOTHERAPY CAROLINE J. TEMPLE, MSW, LCSW Offices in Fairfield and Norwalk 203.866.9333; CTemple38@Yahoo.com MyWiseWoman.com

A Holistic Psychotherapist, Caroline offers a safe, supportive partnership for inner healing and change, tending to the emotional, spiritual and psychological needs of women through therapy, coaching, Reiki, and energy psychology.

DENI WEBER, MA, LPC, D-CEP Holistic Psychotherapist Comprehensive Energy Psychology Fairfield County DeniWeber.com 203.544.6094

Within a supportive, empathic relationship Deni guides individuals on their journey of self-discovery integrating psychology, Eastern medicine and spirituality to heal suffering from traumatic stress related to chronic illness, disabilities, abuse & PTSD.

Robin Ordan, LCSW

TURNING POINT REIKI, LLC

Family, Child, Individual & Couples Therapy Old Greenwich/Stamford, CT 203.561.8535; RobinOrdanLCSW.com

JoAnn Duncan, MS, RMT Reiki Master Ridgefield, CT 203.438.3050 TurningPointReiki.com

Robin has over 18 years o f e x p e r i e n c e wo r k i n g with families and children. Specializing in Divorce, Parent/Child Conflict, Grief, Attachment /Bonding, Child Development and Parenting. See ad pg 37.

JoAnn uses intuition, experience and a deep spiritual connection in her Reiki and IET sessions. Specializing in care for individuals with Cancer, Lyme disease and Back Pain. All Reiki levels taught.

TAROT

STACY RAYMOND, Psy.D

Clinical Psychologist for men and women Ridgefield, CT 203.438.4080 DrStacyRaymond.com Dr. Raymond offers traditional and alternative approaches to depression, anxiety and recovery from trauma of any type or severity. Energy psychology techniques (EMDR, HeartMath(R), EFT). Integrated, mind-body-spirit approach to physical and/or emotional illness. Re-establish selfacceptance, inner peace, and wholeness.

Tarot Readings with Ava

Transformative Tarot, Westport, CT 203.454.9939 TransformativeTarot@Earthlink.net Expert phone or in-person readings with Tarot elucidate decisions, career, relationships, new possibilities, lifeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s path. Masterful, transformative. Shamanic energy healing available. Credit cards, Paypal.

WELLNESS

REIKI

PROMINDFUL, INC.

GIGI BENANTI USUI REIKI MASTER Angelic Healing Center 7 Morgan Ave. Norwalk, CT 203.852.1150 AngelHealReiki.com

Gigi is an experienced Reiki Master/Teacher She offers all levels of Reiki Training monthly. All classes and Reiki sessions include the latest techniques.

HEALING HANDS

Jessica C. Hunter ~ Usui Reiki Practitioner 203.522.2673 Fairfield, CT HunterHealingHands.com

Stamford, CT, USA ProMindful.org 203.274.6024

ProMindful is a non-prof it organization offering integrative practices including yoga, meditation, and holistic nutrition services. We work in collaboration with existing teachers and organizations to provide scholarships, lectures, classes, workshops, publications, recordings, and broadcasts.

Your well-being is my spiritual goal! Contact me to experience a personal Reiki session in your own home - I will travel to you! Certified & insured.

Maria C. Castillo, MSW, LCSW

238 Monroe Tpke. Suite B Monroe, CT 06468 203.445.8966 LifeBetweenLivesTherapy.com Msisi@AOL.com Past Life Regression, trained by Brian Weiss, MD. Life Between Lives Hypnotherapy, trained by TNI and Michael Newton, PhD. Traditional psychotherapy with a spiritual approach; Reiki. Connect with your soul self and let your inner wisdom guide you.

A dog teaches a boy fidelity, perseverance, and to turn around three times before lying down. ~Robert Benchley

naturalawakenings awakenings natural

February 2011

classifieds To place a Classified Listing: $1 per word. $25 minimum. Magazine deadline: 12th of month prior to publication. Email copy to FFCadvertising@NaturalAwakeningsMag.com.

BUSINESS Opportunities

HELP WANTED

CURRENTLY PUBLISHING NATURAL AWAKENINGS MAGAZINES – For sale in Austin, TX; Lexington, KY Manhattan, NY; Pensacola, FL; Southwest VA and Ventura/Santa Barbara, CA. Call for details 239.530.1377.

Colon Hydrotherapist for thriving practice in Stamford. See web: Internal-Hygiene.com. Gravity Method Trained. Great pay. Full and/or Part Time. Flexible Hours. If not Certified and still interested, please contact anyway. Email to: InternalHygiene@gmail.com.

NATURAL AWAKENINGS MAGAZINE FRANCHISES: for sale in prime locations. Natural Awakenings now in 60+ cities. Call 877.530.1377. RESERVE YOUR SPACE IN NATURAL AWAKENINGS 2011 NATURAL RESOURCE GUIDE. Don’t miss out on the most comprehensive and influential local directory of its kind! Our largest issue of the year, marketed as a year round reference for our readers, and just a 1-month commitment. More info: Carolyn@NaturalAwakeningsMag.com or call 203.885.4674.

FOR RENT Beautiful office space for rent in downtown Fairfield. Ideal for massage/psychotherapist. $50 per day/4 day per month minimum. 203.254.8182 or magsfrench@gmail.com. Integrated Medical Practice in Norwalk looking for a new team member. Lab, tranquil exercise studio, office space on site, perfect for naturopath, yoga instructor or massage therapist. Contact Rory at rdoyle0213@yahoo.com or call 914.564.1982 Office space for rent in quiet Old Greenwich setting. Zoned Medical, 2 treatment rooms and reception. All health practitioners inquire. Contact Craig Swan 203.698.2965.

Home based business opportunity. Individuals desired for the largest wellness company in the world. You create your own income level! Contact Jean Dunphy 203.984.8999, JeanDunphy@gmail.com. LOCAL VIDEOGRAPHER wanted to work with and guide small business owners in creating commercial video spots. Must have professional experience. 203.885.4674. Marketing/sales person needed for a wholesale green products company in Fairfield, Wilton, and Bethel. Call Ingri: 203.259.1660. Massage Therapist Position Newton, CT- Chiropractic/Acupuncture Office is looking for a massage therapist PT/FT. Open possibilities as an independent or employee. Please email JMPDC@AOL.COM so we can set a time to meet. Art & Music teachers wanted at The Little Red School of Art & Music. 2979 Main Street, Stratford. Piano and vocal instructors. 203.375.0692. Carolyn West, Owner. PART-TIME COMMISSIONED AD SALES HELP – If you have ad sales experience, are interested in natural health and would like to earn extra income email FFCadvertising@ NaturalAwakeningsMag.com to learn more. Must

be friendly, enthusiastic, persistent and good with follow-up and details. Lower Fairfield County home-base or established network preferred. PART-TIME COMMISSIONED green LIVING AD SALES – If you have ad sales experience, have a passion for the environment and would like to earn extra income email FFCadvertising@NaturalAwakeningsMag.com to learn more. Must be friendly, enthusiastic, persistent and good with follow-up and details. Established local “green” network is a +. RECENT GRAD OR COLLEGE INTERNS WANTED for Natural Awakenings Field Marketing team. Outstanding opportunity to gain excellent experience in marketing, promotions, and sales support. 5-15 hours per month. Ideal candidate possesses excellent communication skills, interest/experience in marketing, and an outgoing and self-motivated personality. Send resume to FFCadvertising@NaturalAwakeningsMag.com.

PRODUCTS Wholesale priced green products for your home and business. Call Ingri: 203.259.1660.

SITUATION WANTED The Conscious Gourmet is seeking a new kitchen or retreat center for periodic health supportive cooking/lecture classes in the NY or CT area. Ideal vision: center island, lots of counter space, 5-6 gas burner stove. Good shopping nearby for organic foods. Contact Diane Carlson at 917.975.9721.

The Fairfield County ReStore accepts donations of Furniture, Appliances and Building Materials both New and Used. Your tax-deductible donation will help Habitat for Humanity build decent affordable homes for hard working low-income families as we work towards our mission of eliminating substandard housing in Coastal Fairfield County.

Wrong Size? Wrong Color? Wrong Amount? Or Just Tired of It? Call Our Donation Hotline 203-383-4358 Don’t Throw It Away! WE’LL TAKE IT!! www.fairfieldcountyrestore.org Or Visit

Fairfield County Edition

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What’s New in 2011 with Natural Awakenings! Natural Connections events continue based on popular demand!

Monthly events and workshops intended to educate, inspire and offer new experiences Next event: February 6, 3-6:30pm. Natural Awakenings brings the movie 2012: Time for Change to the Wainwright House in Rye, NY, followed by a guest panel for Q&A, community conversation and networking, to exchange ideas about how to be the change we seek! Visit 2012TimeForChange.com to learn more about the movie. For tickets and information call Carolyn at 203-885-4674.

eNaturalAwakenings.com

the online destination for Fairfield County’s healthy living, ecofriendly community • Featuring local articles, news briefs and advertising, as well as new interactive, web-only content like our monthly contests! • The Natural Awakenings library offers classic interviews and timeless articles on a wide variety of topics. • Our popular calendar and Community Resource Guide are now also available online, featuring photos, videos, maps, and web links, and searchable by topic, date or location. • FREE website classiﬁeds and calendar listings! Now just a click away!

Natural Awakenings Network (NAN)

Natural Awakenings invites you to join our discount network focusing on natural health, well-being and a green lifestyle. We are now building our Connecticut area Provider Network. Contact us if you’d like to become a provider. The $88 enrollment fee has been waived for the first year. NAN Discount Membership Card sales start in early 2011.

Finally!

Your Healthy Living, Healthy Planet DISCOUNT Network!

Work for a Fairﬁeld County company? Introduce us to your Human Resource department and we will present the NAN corporate wellness program to them! For more info call 203-885-4674 and visit www.NaturalAwakeningsNetwork.com.

Attention! Providers of Healthy & Green Products and Services: Stay connected with Natural Awakenings! Visit eNaturalAwakenings.com for updates and to 2

read our blog, ﬁnd us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter. Or call us at 203-885-4674. Westchester/Putnam Counties As a Natural Awakenings Network Provider, You Can:

natural awakenings

February 2011

Celestial Retreat Relax, Integrate Mind, Body & Spirit The

MassageClinic 430 Kelsey Avenue, West Haven, CT 06516

Healthy Lifestyle ~ Mindful 3 Day Retreat with Lin Hourihan, Holistic Health Counselor/Practitioner Learn to mindfully relax, eat, exercise, meditate & set healthy goals

“Expect to be catered to.”

APRIL 8, 9, & 10, 2011

Friday from 6 to 9 p.m. / Saturday & Sunday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

$800 per person / Celestial Retreat only

*$998 per person / Retreat & overnight stay at the Hampton Inn & Suites (with pool & fitness room) *plus tax

You MUST RSVP to attend the retreat: 877-620-2042 Online booking: www.themassageclinicusa.com To reserve a room at the Hampton Inn & Suites call 203-932-0404 or 1-800-Hampton 510 Saw Mill Road, West Haven, CT 06516 (Mention the Massage Clinic when you call.) Prepare To Be Pampered... Breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks and beverages are low carbohydrate, high protein ORGANIC, WHEAT FREE, GLUTEN FREE, SOY FREE MEALS prepared by Chef Richard Maldonado and professionally served by his wait staff One hour long dinners with 30 minute break/snack times provided (Special diets upon request) Retreat opens Friday 6 p.m. with an Elegant Gourmet Dinner and Crackling Fireplaces Exquisite Breakfast at 10 a.m., Lunch at 2 p.m., and Dinner at 6 p.m. Saturday & Sunday Plus healthy specialty snacks provided throughout the day. 30 minute Therapeutic Massage • 30 minute Counseling Session with Lin Body Sculpting Exercises with Tad-G’s fitness • Breathing Exercises • Yoga in the evening 5/60 minute Holistic Health Meditations • Beautiful Ocean Walks 2 minutes away 64

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Lin Hourihan, HHCP, LMT, lic#003078