Natural Awakenings Fairfield County September 2012 by Natural Awakenings Magazine

H E A L T H Y

L I V I N G

H E A L T H Y

P L A N E T

feel good • live simply • laugh more

free classes all month

FREE

EXPRESS

YOURSELF

Ways to Explore Community Arts

Functional Medicine

Addressing the Root Cause of Disease

National Yoga Month

Wheat Belly?

Lose the Wheat, Lose the Weight

September 2012 | Fairfield County Edition | eNaturalAwakenings.com

Fairfield County Edition

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Explore & Celebrate

Sample FREE Classes & Events – All Throughout September, All Throughout Connecticut Many thanks to our participating practitioners: Angelic Healing Center Ann Carter Anne Finan Annie Stiefel Anthony Smokovich Ariela Sarai, LCSW Deb Bossio, ND Donna Smith Carol Shwidock, RYT Cris Ann Mulreed Cynthia Quintanal Finding Feathers Gigi Benanti Harmony Yoga Studio Jackie Tepper, RYT Janak Desai Kaia Yoga Kindred Spirits Karen Goldstein, RN Leesa Sklover, PhD, LPC

Lori Rafalof Margaret Cohen, LMT Maria Castillo, MSW, LCSW Mark Hoyt Meta-Consciousness Journeys Mystic Birinder Paul Epstein, ND Penny Cohen, LCSW Personal Wellness Center Pro-Health Chiropractic Raema Salmon Reiki Overtones Rosario Mazer Sage Osa Sophia Natural Health Center Stella Maya Sticks & Stones Farm Susan Kipp The Center for Supreme Truth Vicki Scataglini, LPC

• Naturopathic Medicine • Acupuncture • Chiropractic • Nutritional Counseling • Ayurveda • Yoga • Meditation • Reiki • Energy Healing • EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique) • Hypnotherapy • Spirituality • …and more Learn about the benefits of natural health, yoga and meditation; the power of energy healing; how to discover your life purpose; and how to develop your intuition. Visit eNaturalAwakenings.com to see the full schedule and details of FREE events throughout Fairfield County, updated daily! Visit NaturalNewHaven.com/Awakenings/index.php for events in New Haven & Middlesex counties. Visit NAHRT.com for events in Greater Hartford.

eNaturalAwakenings.com

September 2012

The Natural Choice – The Breiner Whole-Body Health Center

Optimize Your Smile and Your Health! Whole-Body Dentistry® provides comprehensive oral health care using traditional and holistic approaches. We understand the “mouth-body connection.” Mark A. Breiner, DDS

Fellow of the Academy of General Dentistry Fellow of the International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology Speaker and best-selling author of Whole-Body Dentistry®

Mercury-free for over 30 years, Dr. Breiner is a pioneer and recognized authority in the field of biological and holistic dentistry.

WholeBodyDentistry.com 203-371-0300

5520 Park Ave., Trumbull / Fairfield town line at Exit 47 off Merritt Pkwy

Doesn’t it make sense to see the authority?

The Natural Choice – The Breiner Whole-Body Health Center Caring Naturopathic Physicians Offering the Best in Holistic Healing

Our integrative approach treats a widerange of conditions including: ADD/ADHD Allergies Anxiety & Depression Autism Brain Injuries Candidiasis Chronic Fatigue (or Fatigue Concerns) Difficulty Concentrating Female Concerns Fibromaylgia

Gastrointestinal Concerns Healthy Aging Hormonal Issues Immune Disorders Lyme Disease RSD Sports Injuries Stress-related Symptoms Thyroid & Adrenal Issues Toxicities Weight Gain

Learn more about our approach. Watch our new therapy videos – all on our website!

We can help you get your health back in balance naturally with proven treatments and therapies:

From left to right:

Dr. Adam Breiner, ND, Director Dr. Elena Sokolova, MD, ND & Dr. David M. Brady, ND, CCN, DACBN

WholeBodyMed.com 203-371-8258

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) EEG Neurofeedback Acupuncture Chinese Medicine Homeopathy Energy Medicine Electrodermal Screening Metabolic Typing

Functional Medicine Colon Hydrotherapy Natural Hormone Therapy Herbal Medicine Nutritional Assessment Allergy Desensitization FDA-cleared Phototherapy Detoxification Abdominal Manual Therapy

FREE CDs on our Whole-Body approach to Lyme Disease. Call now for details.

Office located on the Fairfield/Trumbull line

Whole-Body Medicine, LLC – The Natural Approach for Optimal Health Fairfield County Edition

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September 2012

Be allergy Free Perhaps Even for Life! Seasonal, food & environmental allergies CAN be eliminated: Conditions like eczema, gastric reflux, IBS, sinus conditions and digestive problems are often due to food & chemical allergies.

A revolutionary, noninvasive, child friendly technique is available to eliminate food, environmental and other sensitivities. It is used together with: • Computerized allergy testing & elimination without medication or shots • Enzyme therapy, including nutrition and proper diet • It enhances immune system function & assists the body in the natural healing process.

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

22 Banishing

Wheat Belly

The Drawbacks of a Wheat-Dominated Diet by Lee Walker

24 Exploring Your Creative Side

Engaging in Community Arts Brings Unexpected Rewards by Judith Fertig

28 Injury-Free Yoga Proven Approaches for Safe Practice by Lynda Bassett

33 Peace Mail Visit allergyEliminationNorwalk.com for more information and a

FrEE E-Book Download: “How To Stop Suffering From Food Sensitivities, ‘Allergies’ and Digestion Problems” Allergy Elimination | Norwalk

Spreading Good Will on Earth Through Art by April Thompson

34 Functional Medicine 36 Taking the Whole Toolbox Approach by Kathleen Barnes

36 Doggy Lost...

and Found Again

Call Dr. Mark JoaChiM for a complimentary consultation. Over 10 years experience as an Advanced BioSET Practitioner.

ASSOCIATES IN FAMILY CHIROPRACTIC & NATURAL HEALTH CARE, P.C. 156 East Avenue, Norwalk

allergyEliminationNorwalk.com

(203) 838-1555

Fairfield County Edition

natural awakenings

by Avery Mack

38 Eco-Friendlier Floors Top Green Choices for What’s Underfoot by Brita Belli

40 Julia Cameron

Speaks From Her Heart Creating a Life Beyond Need and Worry by Linda Sechrist

FREE classes!

16 9 newsbriefs 16 healthbriefs 14 fairfieldgreen 18 globalbriefs 22 consciouseating 28 fitbody 33

33 inspiration 34 healingways 36 naturalpet 38 greenliving 40 wisewords 42 calendar 47 classifieds 34 50 resourceguide

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. Deadline for News Briefs: the 5th of the month. CALENDAR SUBMISSIONS Visit eNaturalAwakenings.com. Deadline for magazine calendar listings: the 5th of the month. Website 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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September 2012

letterfrompublisher

eptember is one of those transitional months when you can feel the shift – the shift from summer to fall when many get back to work or back to school, the shift in weather when the cooler air fills you with a rejuvenating energy in contrast to the slower, hotter days of summer. It feels like the perfect time for our 2nd annual Awakenings celebration, a month long celebration of holistic health with free classes, events, and workshops generously donated by practitioners all throughout Fairfield County, all throughout September – and this year, the celebration has expanded to include events in New Haven and Middlesex counties and the Greater Hartford area. We’re raising the vibration in CT! Carolyn Aversano

For those new to holistic health, the Awakenings celebration is an excellent (and free!) opportunity to sample and explore a wide range of classes and workshops related to natural health, personal growth, and spirituality. For those more experienced in the ways of holistic health, think of this as your month long pass to continuing education!

Editors Stephen Warne Cris Ann Mulreed Design & Production Erica M. Mills

It’s a 30-day opportunity that’s all about YOU and your highest potential. It’s a 30-day challenge. Give yourself and a friend this gift. Get out your red pen, turn to page 42 and start circling anything that catches your interest. Then pick up the phone and reserve your spot asap, because space is limited…and your potential is unlimited!

Sales & Marketing Carolyn Aversano Leana Cipolla

Share your stories! I’d love to hear about your Awakenings experiences this month. Email me at Carolyn@NaturalAwakeningsMag.com. Natural Awakenings Fairfield County Phone: 203.885.4674 Fax: 203.516.2392 Carolyn@NaturalAwakeningsMag.com

To the practitioners who have co-created this year’s celebration with us: your donations of time and talent are so greatly appreciated. Your passion for what this celebration stands for, and your passion for sharing your work, has been inspiring and humbling to me. Namaste!

eNaturalAwakenings.com NAwebstore.com © 2012 by Natural Awakenings. All rights reserved. Although some parts of this publication may be reproduced and reprinted, we require that prior permission be obtained in writing. Natural Awakenings is a free publication distributed locally and is supported by our advertisers. It is available in selected stores, health and education centers, healing centers, public libraries and wherever free publications are generally seen. Please call to find a location near you or if you would like copies placed at your business. We do not necessarily endorse the views expressed in the articles and advertisements, nor are we responsible for the products and services advertised. We welcome your ideas, articles and feedback.

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

100%

Fairfield County Edition

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For the full list of FREE events, visit eNaturalAwakenings.com

newsbriefs Metaphysical Teachers Coming to Norwalk

his fall, Unity Center for Practical Spirituality is hosting eleven metaphysical speakers whose interests vary from miracles to the movement to save our planet. There will be discussions on faith, music, thought, meditation, religion, and more. All are welcome. On September 2, engaging and inspiring interfaith minister and singer, Phil (Shiva) Jones presides and offers his didgeridoo workshop, which explores the use of breath and sound frequencies to connect with the Divine for the enhancement of healing, meditation, prayer and creativity—instruments will be provided. No prior musical experience needed. On September 9 & November 25, Bible scholar Rev. Ed Townley will discuss the Christian texts. On September 16, Jon Mundy, author, lecturer, and publisher of Miracles magazine, will discuss “The Mythology of Self”, plus a workshop on his newest book, “Living a Course in Miracles.” On October 7, if you’ve joined the Green movement to save our planet, don’t forget to green-up your health and spirituality with author Victoria Moran. On October 14, don’t miss Rev. Marion Gambardella’s workshop for caregivers. On October 28, experience the healing service of Connecticut’s world renowned speaker, teacher, and musician, Sharada Wen. On November 18, join an in depth exploration of David Friedman’s Thought Exchange.

New Program Offered by Sage Osa

Holistic Health & Healing Certificate Program Begins Sept. 22 - 23

(5 weekends total, every other month)

Program includes: • Intuitive/Psychic Development • Mediumship • Manifesting • Transcend Fear

All programs will be held at Unity Center for Practical Spirituality, 3 Main Street (2nd Floor) in Norwalk. For more information visit UnityCenterPS.org or call 203.855.7922. See ads pg 2 and 13.

• Nutrition • Spiritual Mastery • Qi Gong • Family Constellations • Breath Work

Inspiring You to Live Your Best Life!

A Special Offer for Vibrant Health

aturopathic physician K. Pramila Vishvanath believes the importance of achieving vibrant health is not just through a good diet, but also good digestion, assimilation of nutrients and elimination.These are the four pillars of health. Good nutrition includes eating proteins, carbohydrates, fats and water (all processes in the body run on water). Unfortunately, today in the name of progress, we have become dependant on processed foods, fast foods and quick fixes. This has created issues in the digestive tract. Digestion does not start in the stomach but rather in the thought “What am K. Pramila Vishvanath I going to have for dinner?” The idea of assimilating the raw materials, chopping and marinating the food, and smelling the aroma as they cook is how the digestive processes start. Once it is laid out on the plate with all its colors and shapes pleasing to the eye, the body is ready to receive and digest the food in all the chambers of the digestive tract. Then the cells are ready to break down the food to bio available nutrients whereupon the assimilation processes take place. The cells are bathed in these vital nutrients necessary to promote vibrant health. The waste matter from the various processes is eliminated through the natural peristalsis stimulated by good digestion, assimilation and diet. Thus the circle is complete. Any break or misalignment in this process will cause the beginnings of mal-digestion resulting in the weakness of this process.

203.767.6237 MyPersonalWellness.com Personal Wellness Center 1895 Post Rd, Fairfield

Beyond Touch

Massage & Energy Therapies • Therapeutic Massage • De-stress - Relieve Pain • Energy Healing & EFT • Manifest Abundance

$10 Off Your First Two Sessions Roberta Russell, LMT, RPP Ridgefield, CT

203.438.2354 • Beyond-Touch.com

eNaturalAwakenings.com

September 2012

Step Into the Quiet of the Woods at Sticks & Stones to experience this working Farm, Educational and Retreat Center • Organic Garden, Farm Stand & Internships • Nature Summer Camps, Educational Workshops, Day Retreats Yoga, Drum Circles, Ukulele Club, Foraging & more

At Integrated Health Center, located in Fairfield, a special protocol has been designed to help repair and restore the four pillars to help attain this goal of vibrant health using the NEWSTART detox and deep tissue cleanse program. Special offer: Integrated Health Center is offering a complementary Body Composition analysis and 20% off services and supplements through October 31. Call 203.259.2700 and mention the code NEWSTART to receive this discount. Integrated Health Center is located at 2324 Post Road, Fairfield. Integrated HealthCenterOnline.com. See ad pg 21.

• Moss & Stone Shop Native Plants, Garden Benches, Sculptures • Chartre Labyrinth, Woodland Memorial Sites • Holistic Health Coach, CIA Trained Chef Wellness Cooking Classes, Transformational Weight Loss • Cabin & Houseboat Rentals • Available for Benefits, Special Events, Weddings

201 Huntingtown Rd, Newtown • 203.270.8820

SticksAndStonesFarm.com

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

Fairfield County Edition

natural awakenings

Leesa Sklover is Back in Fairfield County

r. Leesa Sklover, PhD, LPC has moved back to Fairfield County and brings a rich array of healing modalities and experiences to her counseling practice. Her new office is located at 2324 Post Road in Fairfield at Integrated Health Center. On Wednesday, September 12 she will host an Open House and lecture on ‘Creativity and Inner Peace’ from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Dr. Sklover has a 20 year practice in Leesa Sklover many areas of health and wellness. She is devoted to her counseling work and says it is enhanced by her passions and experience as an integrative and creative healer, composer-professional singer, music therapist, Kundalini yoga teacher, wellness expert-lecturer, playwright, author, and special project director for the Cetacean Society International (whalesdolphins). Her work in eco-spiritual adventures brings extraordinary experiences of mind, body spirit, and earth together. The next trip is the Blue Whale / Kundalini Yoga / Dreamsculpting Adventure planned for February 2013, and registration is now open for those interested. Among the types of integrated therapies Dr. Sklover specializes in, are Kundalini Yoga therapy, Music Therapy, Mindfulness meditation, relationship/lifestyle coaching, hypnotherapy, habit cessation, dream/goal, and imagery-inner journeying — all part of her Blue Pearl Concierge Wellness program. Also offered is OptiSelf counseling for adults, couples and families. On September 9 from 4-7 p.m., Dr. Sklover will facilitate a women’s wellness group called ‘Circle of the Third Way’ that will focus on community, world healing, and inspiration, held on second Sundays of the month. To schedule an appointment or for more information about services and programs, call 203.313.2327, email DrSklover@gmail.com, or visit OptiSelf.com. For more information about the upcoming Blue Whale Adventure visit EcoBlueCreative.com or contact Dr. Sklover. See ad pg 31.

‘Forever Wild’ Photography Documentary

‘Discovering Your Life Purpose’, a Group for Women

he Appalach i a n M o u n tain Club (AMC) will be hosting a speakers meeting on Tuesday, September 11 at 6:15 p.m. in Westport. Documentary photographer Daryl Hawk will be sharing photographs Justin and Daryl Hawk and experiences of his recent travels in Oregon. The presentation is entitled “Forever Wild”, and will be featured in Shutterbug Magazine later this year. For the past 25 years, Hawk has traveled to the most remote places in the world telling stories with his camera. In July, Mr. Hawk and his 17 year old son Justin embarked on a road trip to explore the entire state of Oregon – the coast, Columbia Gorge, Mount Hood, Crater Lake National Park, Central Oregon and lava lands, as well as the northern California redwood country. The Appalachian Mountain Club was founded in 1876, and is the oldest and largest outdoors and conservation club in the North East - with almost 100,000 members , including almost 10,000 in Connecticut.

icki Scataglini, LPC is hosting her ongoing ‘Discovering Your Life Purpose’ group for women, in Sandy Hook at CT Counselors starting Monday, September 10 at 10 a.m. Inspired by her spiritual journey over the past 14 years, psychotherapist Vicki Scataglini, LPC has weaved her traditional training with her spiritual underVicki Scataglini standing of the human path. “Every human has the potential for joy and bliss, it is my role to guide, help uncover blocks and align with the soul’s purpose. It is in this state, where one creates the life they love and can sustain it.” Participants can join at anytime. This is an ongoing group where women will work at their own pace sharing their stories and using a workbook to uncover their life purpose. Vicki Scataglini is in private practice at CT Counselors and is available for individual and couples counseling. She accepts most insurances and will work on a sliding scale when needed.

CT Counselors is located at 107 Church Hill Road, Suite 1, Sandy Hook, CT. Space is limited to 8. Reserve your seat by calling 203.392.4846. See ad pg 54.

A man paints with his brains and not with his hands.

The presentation will be at The Unitarian Church, 10 Lyons Plain Road, Westport. Wine and appetizers at 6:15 p.m., dinner at 7 p.m., and presentation at 8 p.m. The cost is $8 for members and $15 for non-members. For more information, visit C T- A M C . o r g / Fa i r f i e l d o r e m a i l E l e a n o r S a s s o a t Easasso@optonline.net.

~Michelangelo

Get High Quality Acupuncture at Affordable Prices Really affordable acupuncture care based on an innovative approach and pricing schedule, including: Community Acupuncture - by treating in a small group setting, acupuncture can become more affordable, allowing many more people to take advantage of this highly effective and ancient healing art. In fact, treating in a group setting is how acupuncture is traditionally practiced around the world. Acu-Balance Auricular (ear) Acupuncture - also available at affordable prices, a world re-knowned, simple technique, especially effective in treating stress, anxiety, depression, mood and compulsive disorders. Discounted packages - get better, faster results and lower pricing! Private sessions also available Jody Eisemann is a CT licensed acupuncturist with 20+ years experience, Former president & secretary of the CT Society of Acupuncture & Oriental Medicine.

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203-216-2548

AffordableAcupunctureCT.com Call for free consultation

A safe and painless treatment for: • Arthritis, fibromyalgia, back pain, migraines & carpal tunnel • Seasonal allergies & asthma • Digestive problems • Menstrual problems & menopause • Depression, anxiety, insomnia & stress • Emotional & neurological issues

Tradtional Chinese Medicine also offered: Cupping, Moxa, Gwa Sha, Electro-acupuncture and Traditional Chinese medicinal herbs

eNaturalAwakenings.com

September 2012

• Needleless Acupuncture Option • Detox / Weight Loss / Weight Coaching • Facial Rejuvenation • Rain Drop Essential Oil Technique • Yoga, Tai-Qi, Qi-Gong: Call for Complimentary Class MOsT INsuRANCE ACCEpTED

GrAnd OPenInG! Acupuncture is Amazing for Pain & Sports Injuries!

Joseph downer, LAc

2318 Main Street, Stratford, CT StratfordAcupunture.com • (203)257-7550

Craniosacral Therapy & The Alexander Technique • Profoundly deep relaxation and healing • Release back & neck pain, headaches, TMJ • Unlock musical potential

Vincent Fraser, CST, CAT Somatic Therapist

(203) 570-2059 • VincentFraser.com

ARC Sacred Center

THE ALLIANCE FOR RAISING CONSCIOUSNESS

Sharing a Vision of love and oneness

Fairfield County Edition

Ayurvedic and Naturopathic Clinic Opens in Weston

he Institute for Ayurvedic and Naturopathic Therapies has opened a second location in Weston. Naturopathic Physician Neeru N. Kaushik, Director of the Institute, says that patients from the area have been asking for this for a long time. The clinic offers Ayurvedic medicine as well as Acupuncture, Naturopathic medicine, Neeru N. Kaushik Chinese medicine, Homeopathy, Botanical medicine, Physical medicine, Nutritional counseling, Constitutional hydrotherapy, Colonics and Ozone therapy. Ayurvedic medicine is considered to be the oldest system of medicine. Originated in India, this system is now used all over the world especially for chronic conditions. Panchakarma, the Ayurvedic detox program and rejuvenation therapies are the core of Ayurveda and are very effective. In addition, the anti-aging program offered by the Institute is very popular. Dr. Kaushik is a family practitioner and treats children, adults and the elderly. She has earned her Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine and Masters of Acupuncture degrees from University of Bridgeport, Masters of Science from Alabama State University and a M.A. from Punjab University, India. She is the only physician in the Northeastern United States who offers these combinations of healing modalities and therapies. Each combination is selected based on the individual’s constitution or body-type, a truly personalized medicine. For more information, visit AyurvedicInstituteCT.com, call 203.227.7550 / 203.331.9111, or visit The Institute for Ayurvedic and Naturopathic Therapies at 47 Buttonball Lane, Weston or 805 Kings Highway East, Fairfield. See ad pg 50.

ARC HEALING FAIR Saturday, September 15th, 10 am to 3 pm Meet and experience the work of skilled healing/wellness practitioners Participate in mini sessions Reiki - Massage - Angel Readings - and much more! Please call or check our website for additional information and a full list of events INTERFAITH SERVICE GATHERINGS SuNdAyS 10 -11 Am ~ All ARE WElComE! 458 Monroe Turnpike, Monroe, CT | 203-268-1ARC (1272) arcsacredcenter.org | arcsacredcenter@gmail.com

natural awakenings

Local Reiki Master Celebrates 17 Years of Healing

MARGARET COHEN Licensed Massage Therapist

igi Benanti Usui, Reiki Master and teacher at the Angelic Healing Center in Norwalk, celebrated her 17th year of practicing Reiki this month. To celebrate and continue to deepen her commitment to the system of Reiki healing, she took part in a special five day Reiki workshop. The first day of the workshop was on the same date as her first Reiki workshop seventeen years ago! Seeing Gigi Benanti first-hand the comfort Reiki healing has to offer for stress, pain reduction, cancer care, hospice care, and so much more, she wanted to continue her learning experience by taking the latest classes offered — Benanti learned about Jikiden Reiki Kenkyu Kai, considered by the Japanese to be one of the ‘True and Complete Systems of Reiki’. The workshop was offered by F.Arjava Patter, a renowned teacher in the Reiki community. Although she is not teaching Jikiden Reiki, Benanti now includes Jikiden Reiki techniques along with Usui/Karuna™ Reiki in her Reiki sessions & healing practice. Gigi is a Usui Reiki Master, Karuna Master/Teacher™, and a member of ICRT and IARP, and now Jikiden Japanese Reiki Certified. She has a full time healing and teaching practice for Reiki healing and is a Reiki therapist for a hospice agency. For more information, visit AngelHealReiki.com, call 203.852.1150, or go to the Angelic Healing Center at 7 Morgan Avenue, Norwalk off of Exit 16 (East Avenue). See ad pg 54.

70 North Street Suite 102 Danbury, CT 203-243-3547 By Appointment Only

LYPOSSAGE SAVE 50% On Zone 1, 2, 3 or full-body treatment

Firms face, waist, and thighs Reduces cellulite Lose 1 to 5 dress sizes See results in 6-9 weeks! CaLL FoR a FRee ConSuLtation Sergiana Bruno, BS, MMP • 1081 East Putnam Ave, Riverside

203-548-7292 • PainlessHealing.com

Why just resign yourself to quick fixes or suffering forever... when you can heal your inner wounds to the root? I have helped people heal to the root for over 30 years.

Judith Barr, lpc, lmhc Depth Psychotherapist • Spiritual Midwife Professional Training/Supervision • Speaker

Have news to share? Visit eNaturalAwakenings.com to submit News Briefs. Deadline: September 5

P O B O x 6 0 3 , B r O O k f i e l D , C T 0 6 8 0 4 • 2 0 3 -7 7 5 - 5 0 0 6

JudithBarr@PowerAbusedPowerHealed.com

www.JudithBarr.com • www.PowerAbusedPowerHealed.com

Unity Center For Practical Spirituality

Our mission is to continually discover, demonstrate, and educate that our source of Good is God within.

Our Weekly & Monthly Ongoing Events A Brush with Soul..........2nd Thurs at 7 pm Thought Exchange.....Mon at 7 pm Prayer Works.................3rd Thurs at 7 pm Reiki Exchange..1st Thurs at 7 pm Bible Studies - Rev.EdTownley.....3rd Fri at 7 pm

Rev. Shawn Moninger

Metaphysical Speakers Series

Classes & Events at UC:

Sundays at 10:30 am Sept - Oct - Nov

$20 Suggested Love Offering

see the ad in this issue and visit our website for details 3 Main St, Norwalk, CT 06851 (over the Ford dealership) www.unitycenterps.org (203) 855-7922

eNaturalAwakenings.com

Unity Where all are welcomed!

Celebration Service Sundays at 10:30 am Childcare Provided

The Good Bookstore is open Sundays before and after the Celebration Service.

September 2012

fairfieldgreen Be the solution. Get involved. Support your local, eco-friendly businesses & organizations.

‘Live Green Connecticut!’ Two-Day Upcycle It Repurpose Just About Anything Festival Focuses on Green Living epurposing possessions saves money by reducing con-

‘L

ive Green Connecticut!’ is an annual twoday, green-living, family festival on Saturday, September 15 and Sunday, September 16 at Taylor Farm Park in Norwalk. There will be opportunities to learn about the newest in green and renewable technologies, see cool, eco-cars like the Tesla Roadster, and check out the Ford ‘Go Further Tour’. Visitors can get behind the wheel of the Focus Electric and C-MAX Hybrid too. Enjoy music and delicious local food, including organic ice cream and pizza made from local ingredients. Find out how Connecticut is creating a stronger economy by going green. Free panels include, Fatter Wallet-Greener Planet, The Future of Electric Cars, How to Find a Green Job and Sustainable Communities Initiative hosted by Mayor Moccia. Live Green CT! will present DEEP Commissioner Dan Esty as the Keynote Speaker on Saturday, September 15 at 11:00am. Highlights include activities for children, face-painting, petting zoo, over 150 exhibits, fun & friendly atmosphere, and book signings. Special guests include The Green Living Guy, Seth Leitman and environmental writer and speaker, Jim Motavalli. For more information visit LiveGreenCT.com. See ad pg 15.

sumption and helps the environment by taking pressure off landfills. Common strategies include using old newspapers for stuffing or wrapping and used tin cans to collect cooking grease. Author Jeff Yeager, in his book, Don’t Throw That Away, expounds on such everyday “upcycling”. His tips include using a banana peel to shine shoes, sprinkling crumbled eggshells in the garden as fertilizer and natural pest control, and stuffing dryer lint inside empty toilet paper rolls for fireplace kindling. Instead of merely recycling plastic mesh bags, nest a few together and use them as a kitchen sink scrub pad. Fill empty plastic bottles with water and freeze them to make the refrigerator more energy-efficient, and also to serve as dripless ice cubes for the family picnic cooler. Before discarding old carpet, salvage the best sections to use in smaller spaces, like a bathroom, closet, car floor or pet house. Instead of buying new shelf liners, consider used gift-wrapping paper for kitchen or bathroom cabinets. Scrap lumber, tile and stones can be made into mosaic art designs. A cat scratching post exemplifies another multi-source (carpet and wood) upcycling project. While about 90 percent of U.S. households now have curbside recycling available, the amount of trash each American produces keeps growing. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the average citizen currently generates about 4.5 pounds of trash a day, totaling 600 times their body weight over a lifetime unless they seriously practice the three R’s of reduce, reuse and recycle.

Organic lawncare for the safety of your kids, pets & the environment ~ Lawncare to achieve a beautiful, thick green lawn, naturally

Call for a FREE soil analysis.

~ Tree Care – Protection from insects and disease ~ Tick and Mosquito Control to keep your family safe and healthy

www.countrygreenorganic.com

license #B-1245 C-0860770

Fairfield County Edition

(203) 268-2922 • (203) 353-9576

natural awakenings

14th Annual HawkWatch Weekend Festival Returns

ach autumn, 15,000 to 20,000 broadwinged hawks and 16 other species of hawks, eagles and vultures, are spotted as they migrate southwest over the hilltop known as the Quaker Ridge Hawk Watch in Greenwich, Connecticut. The 14th Annual “HawkWatch Weekend Festival & Green Bazaar”, a familyfriendly, green-themed celebration of the amazing raptor migration will be celebrated on September 22 and 23 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day. This fundraising event features kids’ activities, organic and local foods, eco-friendly businesses, and a famous live birds of prey show at 1 & 3 p.m. This year the presenters will be Bill & Brian Robinson (Saturday) and Talons: A Bird of Prey Experience (Sunday). On Sunday, witness the release of rehabilitated raptors with Wildlife in Crisis at 4 p.m. For more information, or to get involved as a festival volunteer, corporate sponsor, or as an eco-friendly vendor on-site, contact Jeff Cordulack at 203.869.5272 x-239, or visit Greenwich.Audubon. org. Admission to the festival is $10 for non-members and $7 for current, new, or renewing Audubon members. Audubon Greenwich is located at 613 RIversville Road, Greenwich, CT.

Check our website for classes and upcoming events! Exploring the Body, Mind and Spirit aromatherapy, diet & nutrition workshops, yoga, meditation, art shows, book lectures & signings, psychic & tarot readings...all in an elegant boutique setting 17 Washington Street, South Norwalk, CT • 203 810 4491 Conveniently located across from Klaff’s just one block from the South Norwalk train station

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September 2012

healthbriefs National Women’s Health & Fitness Day is September 26— Look for a Local Event

Few U.S. Adults Regularly Practice Healthy Habits

recent American Heart Association (AHA) survey reports that only 12 percent of American adults regularly practice the healthy-life trifecta of good nutrition, exercise and oral care. The most common excuse is a lack of time. Of those surveyed, 80 percent said that eating at least nine servings of fruit and vegetables daily is a struggle. About 60 percent find it difficult to log the association’s recommended 150 minutes of moderate physical activity each week. At least 25 percent don’t brush and rinse twice daily and floss at least once daily. Yet, 90 percent of Americans like the idea of improving their health. The AHA “My Heart. My Life.” initiative offers a straightforward set of solutions to help families understand how to make incremental changes that have long-term health impact (MyLifeCheck.Heart.org). “Whether it is simply adding a 30-minute brisk walk to your day, eating a few more fruits and vegetables with meals, balancing your calories and physical activity to achieve a healthy body weight or creating routine oral care habits—it all contributes to an overall healthier lifestyle,” says Cardiologist Tracy Stevens, a professor of medicine with Saint Luke’s Cardiovascular Consultants, in Kansas City, Missouri.

WATCHING MAGIC BOOSTS CREATIVITY IN CHILDREN

esearchers from Lancaster University have discovered that youngsters watching creative fantasy films improve their own imagination and creativity. The study involved 52 4-to-6-year-old children. The youngsters were split into two groups and shown two short segments of a popular fantasy movie. The findings showed that the group watching the magical scenes generally scored “significantly better” in creative activities than their peers in the other group that saw scenes without any magical content.

Why Laptops Should be Renamed... and Relocated

he portable computers that serve as our business and communication “lifelines” may actually be thwarting unborn lives. Researchers suggest that laptop computer (LTC) users should avoid putting the devices directly on their laps, especially for extended periods of time. Recent research reported in the journal Fertility and Sterility examined semen samples from 29 healthy male donors that used an LTC on their laps, near their testes. The scientists found that LTCs connected to the Internet via Wi-Fi resulted in decreased sperm motility and increased sperm DNA fragmentation. A separate study, published in the journal Archives of Environmental and Occupational Health, noted that electromagnetic fields produced by LTCs likely induce currents within the body and can expose developing fetuses in pregnant women to unsafe levels. The researchers concluded that, “[An individual’s] ‘laptop’ is paradoxically an improper site for the use of an LTC, which consequently should be renamed to not induce customers towards an improper use.”

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MATE TEA FIGHTS COLON CANCER

ccording to a recent University of Illinois study, bioactive compounds in mate tea, a beverage consumed in South America for its medicinal properties, killed human colon cancer cells in vitro. The scientists attribute this surprising health benefit to the tea’s caffeine derivatives that not only induced death in the cancer cells, but also reduced important markers of inflammation. Source: University of Illinois College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences

20-Second Trust Factor

irst impressions not only count—they are surprisingly accurate, at least when it comes to detecting whether a stranger is “made” to be compassionate, trustworthy or kind. New research by the University of California, Berkeley suggests that it can take just 20 seconds to recognize who is genetically so inclined. Two dozen couples participated in the study and provided DNA samples. Researchers documented them as they talked about times when they had suffered. A separate group of observers that did not know the couples were shown 20-second video segments of only the listeners and asked to rate which participants seemed most compassionate, based on facial expressions and body language. The listeners that received the highest ratings for empathy turned out to possess a particular variation of the oxytocin receptor gene known as the GG genotype. Dubbed the “love hormone”, oxytocin is naturally secreted into the bloodstream and the brain, where it promotes social interaction, bonding and romantic love. “People can’t see genes, so there has to be something going on that is signaling these genetic differences to the strangers,” says Aleksandr Kogan, lead author of the study. “What we found is that the people that had two copies of the G version displayed more trustworthy behaviors: more head nods, eye contact, smiling and open body posture. These behaviors signaled kindness to the strangers.”

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recent study suggests they can. Researchers from Virginia Commonwealth University, in Richmond, and the University of Illinois system studied more than 5,500 students at 37 middle schools, focusing on this age group because aggressive behavior tends to escalate during the transition from childhood to adolescence. The researchers found that violent behavior in general increased throughout the three years of middle school, especially among girls. The good news is that children whose parents actively advocate peaceful conflict resolution acted less aggressively, even if they attended more violent schools.

Creativity

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September 2012

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

No GMOs

Stop Monsanto’s Attacks on Safe Food Laws Beyond continuing its well-documented opposition to genetically modified (GMO) labeling laws in order to protect its corporate interests, Monsanto has recently launched aggressive backdoor attacks on organic and non-GMO farmers and consumers. The corporation’s rider attached to the U.S. House of Representatives’ 2013 Agriculture Appropriations Bill would allow planting of new genetically engineered (GE) crops—even when courts rule that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has approved them illegally. Now, Monsanto has slipped an even more dangerous provision, HR 872, into the house version of the Farm Bill. This so-called Reducing Regulatory Burdens Act would stop the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency from reviewing new and expanded uses of pesticides (often caused by the introduction of herbicide-resistant GMO crops) and require the USDA to approve GE crops easier and faster. Most GMO crops have been genetically engineered to

withstand spraying with herbicides whose toxic ingredients remain in the plants and then enter the environment and food chain. The American Academy of Environmental Medicine links GMO foods with adverse health effects, and the President’s Cancer Panel Report advises against choosing foods grown with pesticides, herbicides and chemical fertilizers. Join with millions of other concerned consumers and national organizations, such as the Organic Consumers Association, Center for Food Safety, United Farm Workers, American Public Health Association, Sierra Club, Rainforest Action Network and Institute for Responsible Technology, to safeguard our food supply and environment. Tell Congress to remove Monsanto’s toxic provisions. Take action to protect citizens’ food at Tinyurl.com/StopMonsantoNow.

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Emerging Field of Ecotherapy Recent research indicates that interaction with nature reduces stress levels, improves memory, and gives us a sense of belonging to the larger ecosystem. Ecotherapy is an emerging field designed to capitalize on this idea. The field was recently recognized by the U.S. Department of Labor as a viable occupation and it has gained real momentum in the healthcare arenas. In Western Europe, Ecotherapy is already integrated into the health care system and doctors often prescribe patients spending time at a farm, taking walks, swimming in a lake, or working with animals or flowers. After launching the world’s first Ecotherapy training program at JFK University in California, Dr. Craig Chalquist has partnered with The Graduate Institute of Bethany, CT to offer the first Ecotherapy Certificate program on the East Coast. The program is dedicated to reimagining the connection between humanity and nature, and will kick off in April 2013. For more information see Learn.edu/Ecotherapy. See ad pg 7.

Cool Schools

Spotlight on Sustainable Colleges Environmental credentials, in addition to academic excellence and affordable tuition, are gaining traction in the collegiate selection process, according to The Princeton Review’s latest poll. Its Hopes and Worries survey sampled 7,445 college-bound students nationwide and found that 68 percent say commitment to sustainability impacts their college choice, based on campus environmental initiatives, how deeply the curriculum integrates sustainability and how well the colleges prepare students for green jobs. The 16 institutions of higher learning considered most eco-savvy are: American University, Arizona State University, College of the Atlantic, Dickinson College, Georgia Institute of Technology, Harvard University, Northeastern University, Oregon State University, San Francisco State University, The State University of New York-Binghamton, University of California-Santa Cruz, The University of Maine, University of Washington, University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, Virginia Tech and Warren Wilson College. “The best schools integrate sustainability across their community [in] how they manage their finances, academic offerings and operations. They don’t treat sustainability as an add-on or extra credit assignment,” says Rachel Gutter, director of the U.S. Green Building Council’s Center for Green Schools. “But even the best still have… a long way to go, and there’s a moment for humility in that.” Source: Fast Company

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September 2012

globalbriefs Noodle Doodle Creativity on Tap

Creativity is often perceived as an unpredictable event, the product of an unexpected “Aha!” moment. But a pair of Michigan psychologists, Mareike Wieth, of Albion College, and Rose Zacks, of Michigan State University, decided to research the concept. They discovered that problems requiring a flash of illumination to solve are best approached during the time of day when thinkers are not actually at what they feel is their peak. Reporting their findings in the journal Thinking and Reasoning, they assigned 428 students to fill out a questionnaire with 19 questions, including, “What time would you get up if you were entirely free to plan your day?” and “How much do you depend upon an alarm clock?” Participants were categorized as morning, evening or neutral types and randomly assigned to a morning or afternoon testing session. Some problems were analytic in nature, others were inspiration-based. While the more logical type of problem solving showed no statistical difference, morning people scored higher on the insightdemanding challenges in the late afternoon, and vice versa. Wieth and Zacks believe the results depend upon an inhibitory process that suppresses distracting information. It is thought that this system performs less efficiently when individuals are less alert, allowing random thoughts to enter the decision-making process, resulting in more creative thinking.

Bunker Hunker Down is the New Up

Designer Matthew Fromboluti, of Washington University, in St. Louis, Missouri, has turned conventional wisdom about modern construction upside-down with his architectural design, Above/Below, submitted for the eVolo Skyscraper Competition. His underground skyscraper would theoretically fill a 900-foot-deep, 300-acrewide crater left by the Lavender Pit copper mine, in Bisbee, Arizona. A cone-shaped, inverted tower would allow people to live, work and even grow food in a huge cavern, covered by a dome. The building is designed to maintain a comfortable temperature via a passive climate-control system suited to the hot desert environment. A solar chimney provides natural ventilation as the sun heats the air at the surface, causing it to rise and draw cooler air up through vents at the bottom. The moving air passes through wind turbines at the top of the chimney, generating electricity. Fromboluti’s aim is to atone for the mine’s destruction of the landscape by finding new ways to harvest the energy that went into excavating it, suggesting that no design should be considered “off the table” when planning for the future. Source: ForumForTheFuture.org 20

Fairfield County Edition

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Trash Fashions

The Rehabilitation of Plastic The rap on most plastic is that although it can be recycled, it doesn’t decompose in landfills. For a period of time, the city of Houston halted its composting of household yard waste due to the cost of having to cut and empty the plastic bags used in curbside pickup, even though the annual landfill fees exceeded $1 million. But now the service has resumed, based on the use of new, compostable plastic bags that require no special handling; the city even garners income from sales of composted clippings. Dinnerware, such as utensils, plates and cups, is another niche market in which advocates see potential for use of compostable plastics, especially by cafeterias, restaurants and other institutions. Not only are such items not biodegradable, they often end up being thrown out with food waste. Biodegradable polymers that break down in a matter of months are more expensive; for example, the BASF company’s Ecoflex material costs about two-and-a-half times more than the polyethylene it replaces. But proponents say that it provides value by enabling the largescale collection of organic waste, such as grass clippings and food, and that the potential for growth is enormous. Source: Chemical & Engineering News

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Eka Pada Rajakapotasana II (One-Legged King Pigeon Pose II) Ilene Rubin Bucks County, Pennsylvania, artist Ilene Rubin won her first drawing award at the age of 9 and has been involved in art ever since, painting murals, boots, purses, a line of women’s and children’s clothing, furniture, walls and even a radiator, using motifs that range from folk art designs to landscapes. She is still painting “stuff,” but now devotes most of her brushwork to landscapes. Working in acrylics, watercolors, pastels and oils, Rubin’s bold and unabashed explosions of color make her canvases sing. Her pastel, Eka Pada Rajakapotasana II, is based upon an image by photographer David Martinez that graced the September 2007 cover of Yoga Journal magazine. Rubin, also a published author, plumbs the frailties and depths of the human heart and mind, but most of all, seeks to offer serenity and light. “Through my art, I explore shades and colors of beauty—the tones and silences between what is seen and what is felt,” she advises. “For me, I have succeeded if I have given someone… a reason to rest their heart and smile—even for one single glance—at a beautiful sight. That is my greatest aspiration and desire.” View the artist’s portfolio at IleneRubin.com.

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September 2012

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Banishing Wheat Belly The Drawbacks of a WheatDominated Diet by Lee Walker

r. William Davis, author of Wheat Belly: Lose the Wheat, Lose the Weight and Find Your Path Back to Health, is a preventive cardiologist who has gone against the grain to expose yet another genetically engineered monstrosity, shedding light on the dark side of today’s commercial wheat crops.

What made you suspect that wheat might be behind numerous health problems? When I recognized that 80 percent of the people that came to see me had diabetes or pre-diabetes, I began asking patients to consider removing all wheat from their diets. This made sense to me due to wheat’s high glycemic

Some diabetics became non-diabetics and pre-diabetics became non-pre-diabetic. On average, these people each lost about 30 pounds and experienced relief from arthritis and joint pains, acid reflux, migraine headaches, edema and irritable bowel syndrome, as well as other conditions. Some even reported that they no longer needed inhalers for asthma. Initially, it seemed like these positive results were just odd coincidences. However, based on the overwhelming number of incidences, I clearly saw that it was a real and repeatable phenomenon. I began systematically removing wheat from all my patients’ diets and continued to witness similar turnarounds in health. Research related to agricultural genetics, an area largely ignored by medical doctors, and my own interviews with U.S. Department of Agriculture experts substantiated what my own anecdotal evidence has revealed.

Why has wheat suddenly become such a health threat? index. Foods made from this grain raise blood sugar higher than nearly all other foods, including table sugar. The next logical step was to reduce blood sugar by eliminating wheat—organic, multigrain, whole grain and sprouted—from anyone’s diet. Patients that followed my simple directives and replaced the lost calories with healthy foods such as vegetables, raw nuts, meats, eggs, avocados, olives and olive oil returned three months later with lower fasting blood sugars and lower glycohemoglobin levels, which tests how well diabetes is being controlled.

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The wheat we eat today is not the same wheat our grandmothers used for baking. In the 1970s, in anticipation of a global population explosion and world hunger issues, a well-meaning University of Minnesota-trained geneticist developed a hybridized strain of high-yielding dwarf wheat. By 1985, all wheat products were made from the altered dwarf strain, which now comprises 99 percent of all wheat grown worldwide. By weight, this modern wheat is approximately 70 percent carbohydrate, in a highly digestible form of a starch known as amylopectin A, which

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converts more easily to blood sugar than nearly all other simple or complex food carbohydrates. Gram-for-gram, wheat increases blood sugar and causes insulin problems to a greater degree than even potato chips or table sugar. Wheat, which now typically comprises 20 percent of all the calories we consume, is in hundreds of prepared foods such as instant soups, salad dressings, candy and granola. In 1970, this wasn’t true. Wheat was only in such foods as bread, rolls, cookies and cake, and it was in a natural form.

How does a wheat-dominated diet compromise health? Eating a wheat-based cereal for breakfast, wheat crackers and pretzels for snacks, two slices of whole wheat bread for lunch and whole wheat pasta for dinner results in too much exposure to amylopectin A, and repeated spikes in blood sugar levels. This leads to insulin resistance and cultivates the growth of visceral fat in the abdomen, which tends toward diabetes and other inflammatory responses. Even worse, the gliadin protein in wheat is an opiate that stimulates appetite and addictive eating behavior (it does not relieve pain). All this plus the direct intestinal toxic effects of the wheat germ agglutinin protein in wheat add up to a destructive ingredient that spurs acid reflux, bowel urgency and irritable bowel syndrome, and leads to inflammation in various organs.

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Describe how eliminating wheat has affected you. Thirty pounds ago, I was an enthusiastic consumer of “healthy whole grains,” who relied on pots of coffee or walking and other exercise to maintain focus and energy. My cholesterol values reflected my wheat-consuming habits: HDL 27 mg/dl [milligrams per deciliter of good cholesterol] (very low), triglycerides 350 mg/dl (very high), and blood sugars in the diabetic range (161 mg/dl). I had high blood pressure of 150/90 and excess weight around my middle. Eliminating wheat from my diet reversed all of these conditions without drugs, including the struggle to maintain attention and focus. Overall, I feel better today at 54 than I felt at 30.

Are gluten-free foods the answer? Commercially produced gluten-free foods made with tapioca, cornstarch or rice starch—all poor replacements for wheat—are destructive to the body. Homemade or locally made gluten-free foods absent such ingredients are better, as are the free recipes available via WheatBellyBlog.com. Millet, quinoa and amaranth, whole grains that lack most of the undesirable properties of modern wheat, are better but not necessarily safe in unlimited quantities because most people today have spent their lives overexposed to carbohydrates. Eating only small portions of these non-wheat grains is key. For more information visit WheatBellyBlog.com.

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Exploring Our Creative Side Engaging in Community Arts Brings Unexpected Rewards by Judith Fertig

“Turning, moving, spinning, dresses swirling, music beating, eyes in contact with a partner, then another, then another, then another, and the fiddle turns a corner, the phrase repeats, the dance repeats. You smile. Your body smiles.” ~ Doug Plummer, photographer and contra dancer, Seattle, Washington

hree years ago, Janine Joslin, a savvy business executive, set her sights on becoming a Dazzler, and today is a proud member of the Leawood, Kansas, chapter of community tap-dancing troupes. “I love to dance and perform, and I felt that had been missing from my own life,” she says. After a friend suggested it, Joslin showed up for her first practice ready to go, wearing tights and tap shoes. Potential Dazzlers must prove they’ve learned the routines before being selected to perform for the public. Luckily, says Joslin, “I’m a quick study,” and soon took her place in this 50-and-up women’s group that likes to routinely Shuffle Off to Buffalo at area retirement facilities, church halls and special events. Learning the stopand-go, Broadwaystyle routines such as Steppin’ Out and Millie is more of a mental challenge than aerobic exercise, comments Joslin. “The main thing is

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it exercises your brain.” Performing for appreciative groups is a great feeling, she notes, and helps make the twiceweekly practices worthwhile. Just being around inspiring women has helped Joslin look at aging differently. She’s now applying her business skills to set up her troupe’s first website. Joslin’s experience proves what many dancers, artists, writers, actors and musicians know: Active, hands-on, group participation in the arts is beneficial on many levels.

National Trend

In a recent study commissioned by the Wallace Foundation, Gifts of the Muse:

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Reframing the Debate About the Benefits of the Arts, the researchers found that, “People that engage in arts in a group setting develop a sense of community as they exchange favors (such as meeting to learn lines or loaning painting supplies); identify themselves with a cast, music ensemble or choral group; and develop a sense of trust and expectations of reciprocity.” It also noted, “Through the arts of ethnic traditions—such as classical Indian dance, Jamaican steel drums or Japanese raku ceramics—participants develop and maintain their cultural heritage and communicate their cultural identity to outsiders.”

Gateway Experiences

Most art disciplines can be experienced at any age. No previous training or ability is required, just a curious spirit and willingness to participate and learn. Fun options range from a painting party, in which participants set up an easel and paint a canvas at Uncork’d Art, in Washington, D.C. (UncorkdArt. com), to African drumming at DrumRise, in Decatur, Georgia (DrumRise. net). “A drumming class is a great way to reduce stress, have fun, relax and

reenergize, all at the same time; it has even been shown to positively affect your immune system,” say co-founders Amy Jackson and Colleen Caffrey. Such activities allow us to dabble and explore amidst the power of a group and maximize the joy of artful endeavors, which many prefer to the cost of individual lessons. One of the most accessible community arts is choral music, as it requires no special equipment. Singing in a group can also become a community tradition that gathers people of all ages and lifestyles in fellowship and celebration. Since 1882, singing Handel’s Messiah has become an annual highlight for a Swedish wheat-farming community in South-Central Kansas. For three months before Palm Sunday, 200 farmers, homemakers, college students and business owners from the Lindsborg area gather twice weekly to rehearse the three-hour piece (Bethanylb.edu/Oratorio_History.html). Becky Anderson, the owner of Lindsborg’s Swedish Country Inn, who has sung for 41 years, points to a particularly thrilling moment during each performance. “There is just this exhilaration as the audience jumps to their feet yelling, ‘Brava, Brava.’ Golly, that’s fun.” Chicagoans maintain a similar holiday tradition. For 35 years, free Do-It-Yourself Messiah concerts have provided a community-funded uplift (imfChicago.org). Thousands of audience members lend their voices to thrilling performances of this masterpiece, led by a world-class conductor and soloists and backed by an all-volunteer orchestra of local professionals and amateur musicians. Storytelling is yet another community performing art that requires no special equipment. The National Storytelling Network (StoryNet.org) advances the art of storytelling through a national conference and local storytelling guilds. The Lehigh Valley Storytelling Guild, in Pennsylvania, meets once a

month at a local coffee house (LVStorytellers.org). Members include professional and amateur storytellers, poets, actors and newcomers that love to practice—or just listen to—this ancient art. Strong community and cultural identity is forged on other stages, as well. The Community Actors Theatre, in San Diego, California’s, Oak Park, performs many plays written by local playwrights exploring themes in black culture (CommunityActorsTheatre.com). For Calvin Manson, a local poet and playwright who teaches acting workshops, the nonprofit venue feels like a mom-and-pop outfit. “They have the raw talent that could be developed into something wonderful. People don’t just learn to be actors and playwrights. They learn to work together, to commit to a common struggle. When they leave, they know how to work with people, to be team players.” Sometimes, a life change can open the door to a creative outlet. As a newly single 30-something, photographer Doug Plummer says that when he fell in with the Seattle contra dance scene in the mid-1980s, “It became my primary social life.” Derived from New England folk dance, two lines of dancers face each other and move to the rhythms of fiddle music. “Since 2003, anytime I’m in New England, I try to stay over on a Monday and catch the Nelson [New Hampshire] dance,” says Plummer. Likening it to participating in the slow-food and similar local movements, he says, “I feel like I’m entering into a mode of slow-dancing.” At the weekly Nelson gatherings, “The dancers will drift in; singles, couples and families with kids,” he relates. “Someone puts out the fiddle case for the $2 admission. Whoever volunteered to bring baked goods sets them out. Harvey shows up with his fiddle, sits on the fold-up chair on the stage. Bob sits at the piano. ‘Line up for a contra,’ barks Don, in a clipped, Yankee accent. ‘First dance is Monymusk.’ Then everyone just joins in.”

Auditioning for the Role of a Lifetime

The next level of volunteer arts participation may involve an audition and a greater commitment. At the same time, these pursuits offer prime opportunities to expand artistic skills and join in something bigger than one’s self. Since 1873, the Cincinnati, Ohio, May Festival has served as a shining example of community showmanship (MayFestival.com). Chorus auditions are held in January,

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rehearsals begin in September and concerts routinely sell out by May. Music critic Nancy Malitz comments, “It’s that special, tiny sliver of the year when everybody stretches. When hundreds of amateur singers accelerate the tempo by devoting every night to rehearsal and every day to thoughts of the concerts to come… when audiences look their finest, clap their loudest.” Lawrence Coleman, a chorus member for 15 years, has found that singing and networking with other May Festival vocalists has paid off in surprising ways. “I’ve recorded and had other singing engagements and opportunities, all because I’ve been connected to the chorus and the people in it,” he says. Coleman also sings with the rhythm and blues gospel group Fo Mo Brothers, performing at area churches and the Midwest Regional Black Family Reunion. Coleman remarks, “I have friends in the chorus from very different walks of life. We come together for the single

purpose of making great music. People of differing backgrounds and schools of thought can do more than coexist. It’s confirmed for me that we can learn to celebrate our differences when we have a common goal.” Even those that don’t feel inherently artistic can find venturing into an art form unexpectedly rewarding. Channeling an inner Elizabeth Bennett or Mr. Darcy is commonplace in Bay Area English Regency Society waltzes and “longways” dances, in Palo Alto, California (baers.org). Alan Winston, a computer systems administrator and veteran dance caller, observes that these patterned dances appeal to mathscience-logic-computer types. “It’s a great place for people that live in their heads to get out and be social,” he says. Appropriately, the dances all feature choreography from Jane Austen’s era. Depending on the theme of the dance— like the sophisticated Cyprians Ball or spirited Return of the Regiments Ball— the ambience may be elegant or rowdy, explains Winston. Dances are taught beforehand to music such as George Washington’s Favourite Cotillion, an 1808 tune performed by musicians playing a clarinet, piano and recorder. Many wear period costumes, while others come in jeans. Winston is usually bedecked in a wine-colored waistcoat with tails that he found on eBay. Plein air painters forsake the indoors

“When I’m not doing any plays, things just don’t go right. This is my justification. This is my opportunity to just be me.” ~ Eva Jones, foster parent and member of Community Actors Theatre, Oak Park, California to take their paints, easels and canvases outside. Plein-Air Painters of America regularly paint in groups in the fresh air and then hold an exhibition; annual workshops help teach techniques (p-a-p-a.com). At the recent seventh annual Florida’s Forgotten Coast event, in the state’s Panhandle, billed as America’s Great Plein Air Paint-Out, featured artists set up alongside amateurs eager to learn more (PleinAirfl.com). Whatever one’s newly discovered or longtime treasure, individuals engaging in a group arts activity forge strong social bonds, keep ethnic arts traditions alive, learn new things in new ways and experience joyous personal growth. … All while creating something wonderful. Judith Fertig regularly contributes to Natural Awakenings. She’s an awardwinning cookbook author at AlfrescoFoodAndLifestyle.blogspot.com.

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eNaturalAwakenings.com

September 2012

Courtesy Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health

Yoga, Dance & Fitness

INJURY-FREE YOGA

Proven Approaches for Safe Practice by Lynda Bassett

Between 15 and 20 million Americans practice yoga, spending an estimated $5.7 million annually on classes and accessories. National Yoga Month, in September, reminds us to always make personal safety a guiding principle during practice sessions. Experts advise the following guidelines for practicing injury-free yoga.

“L

ike any kind of movement, yoga involves some risk,” says Devarshi Steven Hartman, dean of the Kripalu School of Yoga, headquartered in Stockbridge, Massachusetts. “The level of risk depends on the individual’s age, physical condition, limitations, emotional state, previous injuries, strength, time of day, awareness, type of movement and how much weight bearing is taking place.” It’s not uncommon for both seasoned athletes and yoga neophytes to push too hard in the beginning. Dr. Loren Fishman, medical director at Manhattan Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, says, “The three leading causes of injury are an overenthusiastic student, improper alignment and poor teaching.” Many aspirants feel they have to master a pose right away; thus, a “Type A” person may have the most potential for injury, observes Sadie Nardini, New York 28

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City-based founder of Core Strength Vinyasa Yoga and host of Cable TV’s Viera Living’s daily yoga show, Rock Your Yoga. Some instructors may have a vigorous Type A attitude, as well. “Keep looking if you feel pushed,” she advises. Choosing a style is less important than choosing the instructor best suited to the student’s needs. “Finding the right teacher,” says Nardini, “is kind of like dating. Keep looking until you find your match.”

Proven Guidelines

Here are some safe approaches and injury-prevention tips from experienced yogis. Research the teacher. Investigate a yoga instructor’s credentials before signing up for a class, advises Meredith Montgomery, a board member of the Yoga Health Foundation and publisher

of Natural Awakenings’ Mobile/Baldwin edition. Read the instructor’s biography to verify his or her professional training, certification and level of experience. YogaAlliance.org maintains a wellrespected registry of instructors that have been certified as registered yoga teachers (RYT). Analyze the class level. Consider the name of the class, plus the level of advancement. New students may want to begin with a gentle, restorative or yin-type class. To reduce any risk, “Sign up for classes that are one level lower than where you are,” advises Fishman. Ask how many students are allowed in the class; a smaller size means more one-on-one attention.

Yoga is renowned for increasing physical flexibility, balance and range of motion, while decreasing stress. Yet, as with any form of exercise, injuries may result from improper practice. Speak out. “Don’t be afraid to ask questions,” Fishman emphasizes; get to the class early, introduce yourself to the teacher and perhaps audit various classes. Good instructors always ask students about their health and fitness history. Look for special needs groups. “You can get really specific in choosing the right yoga class, whether it focuses on back care or other therapeutic yoga,” notes Nardini. Exercise caution. Certain areas of the body, like the back, neck and limbs, are particularly prone to injury, counsels Hartman. “Twisting and contorting poses can cause undue pressure,” so take things slowly and stop if pain occurs.

Practice correct alignment. Experts agree that proper alignment is key to injury-free yoga. “There’s a lot to proper alignment; it’s integral to being a yoga teacher,” says Fishman. A good one will walk the room to make sure everyone has the correct form, keeping the vertebrae more or less in line, even in a twisting pose. Seek modifying options. Instructors must teach modifications in poses to accommodate the individual, often using props such as blocks and straps. Learn to breathe. Proper breathing cannot be overemphasized. “Kripalu’s teaching methodology, for example, emphasizes coordinating movement with breath because it is one of the leading ways to prevent injury,” Hartman says. Go with a teacher that understands anatomy. A teacher with such a background knows not only how muscles move, but also how they move together. Experts in yoga understand kinesiology—the natural synergies and limits to muscle and joint movement, according to Fishman. Nardini further emphasizes the importance of teaching transitions between poses. Consider prior injuries. “People think of yoga as a healing practice. That does not [necessarily] mean it will help heal a previous injury,” says Nardini. “It’s possible you can make it even worse.” Those with previous injuries, plus elderly individuals and expectant mothers, must take extra safety precautions. Remember that yoga is not about competition. “Don’t be afraid to take a time out,” says Fishman. “Or go into a child’s or modified child’s pose if you need to.” In the end, “Yoga is about increasing awareness of the body. A wellschooled yoga teacher intends to create individual, empowering experiences,” concludes Hartman. Lynda Bassett is a freelance writer based near Boston, MA. Connect at LyndaBassett.com.

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Yoga, Dance & Fitness Yoga-Recess National Campaign Aims to Bring Yoga into Classrooms classroom. With the new Yoga-Recess in School campaign we encourage school teachers to integrate breathing, stretching and other short yoga exercises into their daily class schedule.” says Johannes R. Fisslinger, president of the Yoga Health Foundation. Considering budget cuts in schools across the country and the elimination or reduction of physical education, school officials are looking to find cost-effective ways to bring PE back into their schools. Physical exercise alone does not seem to be enough anymore. Children of all grades are more stressed then ever and yoga seems to be the perfect form of exercise to balance the body and mind.

oga-Recess in Schools is a national campaign coordinated by the Yoga Health Foundation to bring yoga-based health education into classrooms by providing free online resources like instructional videos and lesson plans that will make it easy and fun for school teachers to integrate yoga into their teaching schedule. Yoga allows children to benefit from balancing their body and mind through breathing and stretching exercises. The national campaign will peak with Yoga-Recess Day, Friday January 25, 2013 with hundreds of participating school teachers and organizations. “Since we started Yoga-Recess 2 years ago over 10,000 school teachers expressed interest in bringing yoga into their

september Yoga Month is a national observance and grassroots awareness campaign to inspire a healthy lifestyle.

According to the University of Indiana’s Sound Medicine, children who practice yoga often experience healthier sleep patterns which allow them to relax more than children who don’t practice yoga. A study conducted by the Journal of Attention Disorders found that ADHD children who practice yoga are much more likely to remain focused and are less hyperactive, which in turn reduced the amount of emotional outbursts and their oppositional behavior. A Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center study showed that people who regularly practice yoga have fewer chances of gaining weight and are more likely to lose weight. Additionally, yoga allows asthmatic children to maintain a healthy lifestyle without fear of a high-intensity exercise induced asthma attack. Participating in Yoga-Recess is easy: School teachers, parents, and yogis interested in getting involved may contact Hera Zee at the Yoga Health Foundation, 754.300.9642 or Hera@Yoga-Recess.org. Visit Yoga-Recess.org.

ONE WEEK FREE YOGA at over 1,800 participating yoga studios nationwide

Get involved. Share FREE YOGA with family and friends!

YogaMonth.org YM NA20121 1 4.indd 1

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7/27/2012 3:58:58 PM

purecelebration Discover the Benefits of Yoga During National Yoga Month September

oin the millions of people across the world practicing yoga in September 2012 to celebrate National Yoga Month. september Since 2008, Yoga Month has expanded at over 1,800 participating Month is a national observance and grassroots campaign and national intoYoga a nationally recognized awareness observance, contributawareness campaign to inspire a healthy lifestyle. yoga studios nationwide ing tools to inspire health and harmony in life through yoga. “Experience is a powerful Get involved. Share FREE YOGA with family and friends! teacher,” explains Yoga Health Foundation founder Johannes R. Fisslinger, “so we decided to give people across the country the opportunityYogaMonth.org to try yoga for themselves.” The numerous benefits of yoga include stress management, increased flexibility, relaxation, stronger muscles and connective tissue, among many others. A regular practice encourages an overall well being that many yogis from all walks of life can attest to. These immense health benefits of yoga have been proven countless times, yet the Yoga Health Foundation challenges people to experience yoga for themselves and share its positive physical and mental effects. Through one free week of yoga passes, National Yoga Month provides the tools for beginners to try yoga, and for experienced yogis to expand their practice. For access to free yoga and events from over 1,800 studios across the country, visit YogaMonth.org to find a participating studio in your city. Whether just beginning or continuing a journey through yoga, Yoga Month provides the perfect opportunity to discover yoga’s simple, unique health benefits firsthand. See ad pg 30.

ONE WEEK FREE YOGA

free week of yoga! For all first time students during the month of September. Valid at both locations. Local ID required.

7/27/2012 3:58:58 PM

n honor of National Yoga Month, Kaia Yoga is offering new students one week of free yoga, which can be used at both the Greenwich and Westport studios. The many types and levels of classes available at Kaia Yoga make yoga accessible to everyone, from beginners to seasoned yogis. There are many reasons to incorporate yoga into your life: to create a healthier lifestyle, to heal a sports injury, to reduce stress or just to achieve a greater level of fitness. Kaia Yoga is committed to helping you achieve optimum health and balance. The centers offer a full schedule of yoga classes in two locations, 7 days a week. The Westport location offers a state of the art hot yoga room as well as an Iyengar room with a rope wall. Throughout all classes, teachers focus on the connection between breath and movement, aiming to create space in the body and calm the fluctuations of the mind. In addition to regular yoga classes there are also opportunities for workshops and teacher training. Wherever your interests lie, the multitude of classes and offerings will have something to suit your needs and bring more purity to your life. *The one free week offer is only valid to new students who have never taken a class at either studio. For more information visit KaiaYoga.com or call 203.532.0660. Kaia Yoga is located in Greenwich at 328 Pemberwick Road and in Westport at 1200 Post Road East (behind Crate & Barrel). See ad pg 31.

Leesa Sklover, PhD, LPC formerly of Canyon Ranch Spa, Health & Healing

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Kaia Yoga Celebrates Yoga Month in Westport & Greenwich

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Will on Earth Through Art by April Thompson

ainter Franck de Las Mercedes, of New York City, has combined a pair of hopeful concepts—world peace and free art for all—in a quickly broadening art initiative inspired by an “Aha!” moment at the local post office. “I had always painted on the boxes I shipped my paintings in,” relates the native Nicaraguan. “One day, a postal clerk commented that my boxes were like works of art. I thought about how I had prompted the worker to pause in her everyday routine and wondered, ‘What if I shared my painting on the outside of a box, rather than the inside, and what if it carried a message of peace?’” Since that pivotal 2006 encounter, the artist has sent more than 10,600 abstractly painted, pre-paid boxes, labeled with messages like, “Handle with Care: Contains Peace,” to individuals in 70 countries, as part of his Priority Boxes Art Project. Each empty box is symbolically “full” of meaning, engaging the thought of the recipient as well as the sender, plus the interpretation of all those handling it throughout its postal journey. De Las Mercedes hopes that his painted-message boxes will stimulate new ways of communicating through art. He maintains, “We shouldn’t have to wait for world leaders to take a stand or create peace; it can begin through interpersonal dialogue.”

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Honor World Peace Day, September 21 While many people write to the artist requesting boxes for themselves, others order them for loved ones. Requests vary widely, from a death row inmate that asked for a box for his daughter and a mom that wanted to give one to her son to a leukemia sufferer whose daily highlight was a trip to the family mailbox. The brightly painted boxes also have helped reconcile feuding friends and family members, serving as a peace offering from one to the other. It all helps to bring feelings of greater peace and understanding to the human race, one person at a time. More than 100 schools across the United States have adopted the project, with students creating their own versions of the peace box in the classroom. School-sponsored peace boxes reach patients in hospitals and military personnel overseas and have been used in interschool box exchanges to support anti-bullying campaigns. It would be difficult to find a group that couldn’t benefit from such fresh inspiration. To request a box, make a donation or start a local peace art project, visit fdlmStudio.com/PriorityBoxes.html. April Thompson is a freelance writer in Washington, D.C. Connect at AprilWrites.com.

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JewelTreeofLife.com HOLISTIC LIFE & SOUL COACHING "I really thought I was decided about what to do next...then something unexpected happened. When Julie reflected back to me that I possibly wasn't ready to be done yet, I started to realize that she was so right! It's like my "fault line" had a plate shift that day! My new attitude helped me rediscover my love for the work. I really do attribute it to that moment I had with Julie. That one little pebble really created a giant positive ripple." Portland, ME Where is your JewelTree?

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eNaturalAwakenings.com

September 2012

healingways

Functional Medicine Taking the Whole Toolbox Approach by Kathleen Barnes

Once called “alternative” medicine, then “holistic” or “complementary” and later “integrative”, the newest evolution is “functional” medicine, designed to search out the underlying causes of illnesses in order to carry out effective treatment.

“C

onventional medicine is like a carpenter that only has a hammer to work with, while functional medicine doctors are working with a full toolkit,” says the author of From Fatigued to Fantastic, National Medical Director of Fibromyalgia & Fatigue Centers, Dr. Jacob Teitelbaum, of Kona, Hawaii. Conventional medicine addresses symptoms instead of diseases, explains Los Angeles functional medicine practitioner Dr. Hyla Cass, author of 8 Weeks to Vibrant Health: A Take Charge Plan for Women. “It tends to treat the symptoms with more and more medications that cause a host of other side effects that also need to be treated and can result in declining health, rather than increased vitality.” “Functional medicine, rather than simply ‘chasing symptoms’ while ignoring the causes, searches for and addresses environmental factors, nutritional deficiencies, genetic tendencies, biochemical dysfunctions and emotional and social stressors that can together 34

Fairfield County Edition

cause the development of symptoms,” adds Dr. Adiel Tel-Oren. He operates Eco-Health Clinics internationally (the U.S. site is in Minneapolis, Minnesota) and serves as president emeritus and professor of nutrition and functional medicine with the California-based University of Natural Medicine. In every case, it takes some investigation to get to the heart of the problems, and the solutions can take many forms. “For example, depression, insomnia and obesity aren’t diseases; they are symptoms,” says Cass. “If we can find the underlying cause of these symptoms, we can address the problem permanently.” An allopathic approach, on the other hand, would routinely recommend a pill to lower temperature for high fever, prescribe a synthetic pill to elevate mood in treating depression, or look to pharmacological anti-inflammatory drugs for simple immune reactions. Tel-Oren is among those that link a vast number of illnesses to stress: “Diverse conditions such as fibromy-

natural awakenings

algia, irritable bowel syndrome, heart disease, diabetes, mood and cognitive disorders, various autoimmune disorders, premenstrual syndrome, temporomandibular joint issues, chronic pelvic pain, interstitial cystitis, chronic low back pain, chemical and food sensitivities, allergies, asthma and cancer all seem to share common courses of formation. The common denominator for these disturbances appears to be chronic stress.” Dr. Mark Hyman, chair of the Institute for Functional Medicine, in Lenox, Massachusetts, elaborates: “Functional medicine seeks to create balance in the body by looking at seven keys to achieving wellness: nutrition, hormones, inflammation, digestion, detoxification, energy metabolism and a calm mind. We work through the entire system, help people identify patterns and return the body to balance.” Hyman is a strong advocate of nutrition as the basis for restoring balance to the body. “Food is the most powerful medicine we have, more powerful than any drug, more powerful than anything you’ll ever find in a pill bottle,” he says. Teitelbaum notes, “Conventional medicine is basically run on economics, so doctors are too often influenced by drug company marketing messages masquerading as science that encourage expensive treatments, regardless of their toxicity.” In stark contrast, “Functional medicine instead looks for the lowest cost treatment that is supported by medical evidence.”

Conventional Medicine Case in Point

Fibromyalgia, for example, encompasses a basket of symptoms, usually beginning with overall body pain with specific pain points. Other common symptoms can include extreme fatigue, facial pain, irritable bowel syndrome, memory loss and brain fog, depression, numbness and tingling, palpitations, insomnia and headaches, including migraines. “Until a few years ago, conventional medicine decided you were crazy if you complained of these symptoms,” advises Teitelbaum. “Then some expensive medications came out—

promoted by $210 million a year in advertising; so now, patients are instead being told to take medications with lots of side effects.” The most common conventionally prescribed drugs for fibromyalgia target symptoms of insomnia, depression, nerve pain and inflammation. According to Teitelbaum, the vast majority of people treating with these medications continue to experience the same symptoms over a five-year period; only 25 to 35 percent report some improvement. It’s difficult to determine how many Americans suffer from fibromyalgia because many go undiagnosed (the average time from onset of symptoms to diagnosis is five years). Cure4Fibromyalgia.com estimates that 5 million Americans, or approximately 2 percent of the population, suffer from this disease.

Functional Medicine Alternative

“Functional medicine practitioners recognize that fibromyalgia represents an energy crisis in the body and use

simple, appropriate and effective treatments with no harmful side effects,” says Teitelbaum. “Most often I use a SHINE protocol that I developed, based on 30 years of treating patients with chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia, with a 90 percent success rate.” His is just one example of the way functional medicine would treat a difficult-to-diagnose and to treat disease. Cass uses functional medicine very effectively against depression, addiction and a host of women’s health issues. Hyman specializes in managing diabetes and obesity with the tools of functional medicine. “If other medicines worked as well as treatments used in functional medicine, I’d use them, but they don’t,” concludes Hyman. “My Hippocratic Oath says I must help relieve suffering. I can do that with the tools that functional medicine gives me.” Kathleen Barnes is a natural health advocate, author and publisher. Eight Weeks to Vibrant Health: A Take Charge Plan for Women is among her many books. Visit KathleenBarnes.com.

SHINE Protocol Optimizes Energy

Sleep eight to nine hours a night. Hormone balance is critical in

remedying hormonal deficiencies that can contribute to fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue.

Infection control boosts immune

function and helps eliminate underlying viral, bacterial and fungal infections that sap energy.

Nutritional supplements should

include B-12, magnesium, acetyl l-carnitine, d-ribose and glutathione, as well as vitamins A, B, C and D.

Exercise in a gradually escalat-

ing program as former symptoms improve. Source: EndFatigue.com

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September 2012

naturalpet

Doggy Lost… and Found Again Microchips Provide Peace of Mind by Avery Mack

I For the full list of FREE events, visit eNaturalAwakenings.com

t’s easy for a dog or cat to slip out an unlatched door, open gate or even a window. Three million lost pets are picked up by animal control agencies each year, according to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA). The National Council on Pet Population Study & Policy estimates fewer than 2 percent of wayward cats and only 15 to 20 percent of wandering dogs find their way home again. Most of those that make it back have been identified and reunited through tags, tattoos or microchips. About the size of a grain of rice (12 millimeters), a microchip is injected under the skin into the shoulder area of a dog or cat as a form of permanent identification. The chip itself has no internal energy source, so it will never wear out or run down. Microchips work on a radio frequency identification system (RFIS) that operates on two main frequencies—125 kilohertz (in this country) or 134.2 kilohertz (internationally). A handheld

scanner powers a low radio frequency readout of the chip’s unique identification number and transmits it to the scanner’s display window, much like a retail bar code. Shelters, veterinarians and animal control staff routinely use scanners to check for identification chips in unclaimed pets. If detected, the displayed code can then be traced to the pet’s family.

Microchip Myth Busters False: Microchipping is common. True: The Humane Society of America estimates that fewer than 5 percent of pets have a microchip. False: The chip will move after it’s been injected. True: Technology has improved. For example, one microchip manufacturer has developed a patented anti-migration feature that ensures their microchips stay put. “The chip very rarely migrates under the skin,” says Dr. Amber Andersen, a Los Angeles veterinarian. “Every pet should have a microchip.”

Every two seconds, a pet is lost somewhere in the United States. Shelters report the biggest barrier to a pet and family reunion is a lack of current information. Identification can help bring him home again. Use both a tag and microchip. Keep contact information up to date. When traveling, program a GPS tag with a cell phone number— it’s faster than calling home for messages. 36

Fairfield County Edition

natural awakenings

False: Microchips pose a health risk. True: “There have been no reported cases of tumors at injection sites.” There’s no reaction at all in the tissue around the chip,” reports Dr. Jeff Bryan, a veterinary oncologist at the University of Missouri’s Medical Veterinary Teaching Hospital, in Columbia.

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False: The shelter won’t have a scanner. True: More than 50,000 veterinarians and shelters use scanners. Microchip providers also frequently donate scanners to shelters and rescue groups. False: Implanting a microchip is painful. True: Pets do not have to be sedated to be chipped. Although a larger needle is used than for shots, it won’t be any more painful for the pet than a vaccination. False: It’s expensive. True: Veterinarians set their own prices, usually between $25 and $40. Local shelters and humane societies often sponsor chip-a-thons, where microchips are provided at an even lower cost. Call local shelters, humane societies or rescue groups for details about their next microchipping event. False: Microchipping really isn’t necessary. True: Identification is key in returning a lost pet. The ASPCA strongly recommends the use of a collar tag in combination with a microchip. Collars can break—a microchip assures backup identification that can’t be removed or altered.

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GPS Tracking For a dog that likes to jump fences or take himself out on walkabouts, consider using a GPS collar. Tagg’s batterypowered GPS system allows the owner to track a pet from the Internet or a mobile phone app. Simply set up a perimeter of allowed space between 75 and 1,000 yards, and if the tagged pet leaves that area, notification arrives by text and email. The customized GPS function traces the pet’s location on a digital map or via text updates. Avery Mack regularly contributes to Natural Awakenings magazines. Connect at AveryMack@mindspring.com.

Pet Locator Resources American Kennel Club Companion Animal Recovery 800-252-7894 akccar.org American Veterinary ID Devices 800-336-2843 avidid.com

Home Again 888-466-3242 Public.HomeAgain.com IdentiChip 800-926-1313 IdentiChip.com Tagg 855-738-8244 Tagg.com eNaturalAwakenings.com

September 2012

greenliving

environmentally. However, the FSC also certifies tropical and other forests around the globe (at least 330 million acres in 81 countries), helping to prevent damaging deforestation and counteract illegal logging (fsc.org). Brad Kahn, the council’s director of communications, notes that people purchasing FSC-certified products have assurance that the product is supporting responsible forest management and helping protect forests for future generations. Reclaimed Hardwood: Lumber brimming with character, as well as sterling environmental credentials is available from companies specializing in reclaimed wood. It may come from sources as diverse as Midwest barns razed for development to ties from abandoned rail lines in Thailand. Nail holes, scratches, weathering and other distinctive markings lend the wood—and our homes—a special distinction. Reclaiming these valuable materials not only diverts them from the waste stream, it expands the eco-options available to homeowners via otherwise unavailable old-growth tropical

Eco-Friendlier Floors Top Green Choices for What’s Underfoot by Brita Belli

tanding in a newly carpeted room, it’s hard to miss the distinctive chemical odors wafting up from the floor. That’s the off-gassing of volatile organic compounds (VOCs)—airborne chemicals that can exacerbate asthma symptoms and cause headaches, nausea and eye and throat irritation upon exposure. While the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) maintains that proper ventilation significantly reduces VOC exposure from new carpets after the first 48 to 72 hours, health concerns related to conventional carpets are legitimate, as are its other environmental consequences. According to the EPA, “Over 4 billion pounds of carpet enter the solid waste stream in the United States every year.” Because it’s bulky and comprises multiple materials, discarded carpet is difficult both to dispose of and recycle. Fortunately, there are a host of savvy alternatives that won’t tax the health of our families or the planet. Here are some of the most popular eco-flooring choices. Hardwood: Woods certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and available through most major retailers offer an attractive option for most homes. Domestically grown species, including oak, maple and hickory, are the better choices

Fairfield County Edition

natural awakenings

hardwoods, including cherry and teak. If a local source isn’t available, look for an FSC-certified company (e.g., TerraMai.com; ElmwoodReclaimedTimber.com). Bamboo: Bamboo has won many environmental accolades in recent years because it is a hardy plant that grows to full height quickly. Intended to reduce the need to fell trees, its use has prompted the spread of bamboo plantations across India, China and Burma; the unintended result has been rampant clearing of old-growth, biodiverse forests for a monoculture crop, frequently for bamboo products that are not FSC-certified. Look for bamboo that is FSC-certified; when it’s not, advises Kahn, “Consumers have no way to know how the bamboo was grown or harvested.” What’s more, he adds, bamboo flooring is held together with adhesives and other chemicals, and these related issues must be considered by an eco-conscious homeowner. Cork: Cork is durable, warm, sound absorbing and environmentally friendly. Lending unique properties to flooring, its cellular nature makes it a good shock absorber (a special plus for the infirm) and maintains its integrity over time. Note that spilled moisture needs to be dealt with immediately, as it could eventually ruin the flooring.

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Derived from the bark of the Quercus suber, or cork oak, that grows in the Mediterranean region, the bark is harvested once every nine years by hand from carefully managed forests. Peeling off the bark does not hurt the trees. To be sure cork flooring is chemical-free, look for companies selling allnatural, undyed cork. Wool Carpets: Wool has everything—softness, warmth, durability, variety and sustainability. Shorn from sheep, the primary fiber is as renewable as possible, but homeowners need to check the composition of the backing material, as well. Nature’s Carpet (NaturesCarpet.com), one example of a green textile company, ranks their wool carpets on a grading system. The most environmentally friendly, or “dark green”, carpets feature jute (the same material used for burlap, comprising one of the softest natural carpets) natural fiber backings, held in place with natural rubber latex, says Brooke Davis, a spokesperson for Nature’s Carpet. “The result is an ultra-low toxicity floor covering,” she says. Davis confirms that most wool carpets will last 30 years or longer and at the end of their long natural life, will biodegrade. Natural Carpets: In addition to jute, other plant-based carpets are ideal for hallways, entranceways and other hightraffic household areas. Sisal, made from agave plants, is the same material used as twine; sea grass offers a coarse, woven, beach-friendly appearance; and coir, culled from coconut husks, often shows up in natural-fiber doormats. All make ideal area rugs and can feature colorful and decorative borders to accent the natural look. Brita Belli is the editor of E – The Environmental Magazine and author of The Autism Puzzle: Connecting the Dots Between Environmental Toxins and Rising Autism Rates. She blogs at AutismAndToxins.com.

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Apricot Bread (Makes 1 loaf)

Jennifer from Washington State sent us this recipe, a family favorite handed down from her grandmother. “I’m not sure where she found the recipe, might have been from one of her sisters, but this bread has been one of our favorite holiday treats for years now,” Jennifer wrote. 3/4 cup dried apricots 3/4 cup sugar 2 tablespoons canola oil 1 egg 1/4 cup water 1/2 cup orange juice 1 cup unbleached white flour 1 cup whole wheat pastry flour 1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder 1/4 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/2 cup finely chopped walnuts • Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter a 9-inch loaf pan and set aside. Soak apricots for 20 minutes in hot water to cover. Drain and chop apricots into 1/4-inch pieces. Set aside. • Beat sugar, oil and egg together in a mixing bowl. Stir in water and orange juice. Add white flour, pastry flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt, mixing until thoroughly combined. Stir in walnuts and apricots. Pour batter into prepared pan and bake for 55 to 65 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted into the center of the loaf comes out clean. Cool in the pan for 15 minutes. Remove to a wire rack to continue cooling. eNaturalAwakenings.com

September 2012

wisewords

Coming in October

Julia Cameron Speaks from Her Heart

CREATING A LIFE BEYOND NEED AND WORRY by Linda Sechrist

Caring for the health of people and the planet. Participate in a better future with Natural Awakenings’ special Environment edition.

How is unblocking creativity linked to having a prosperous heart and a life of enough?

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

203.885.4674 40

Fairfield County Edition

I have taught creative unblocking for 35 years. When I’ve asked my students about money, inevitably their responses are emotional exclamations: “Money is the biggest block to my creativity,” or “I feel like I can handle anything but money,” or “Do we have to talk about money?” I believe that every person is creative, and can use his or her creativity to create a life of “enough”. I have worried about money and found that having money does not end this worry. I have also discovered practical tools that have lifted my students and me out of money worries into a prosperous heart. Prospering is something we can do today, no matter how much money we have.

natural awakenings

photo by Mark Kornbluth

ulia Cameron is an award-winning author, poet, playwright and filmmaker, perhaps best known for her precedent-setting works on creativity, including The Artist’s Way, The Vein of Gold, Walking in this World and The Right to Write. In her latest book, The Prosperous Heart, she presents a 10-week program that guides readers in developing a life that is as full and satisfying as they ever imagined possible.

Prosperity is not just about money, although our relationship to money must be brought out into the light, and we must be brave enough to look at it candidly. Having enough is having a life beyond need and worry. It’s about finding satisfaction in our lives, improving the lives we have, straightening out our finances and creating a life that is enough for us.

What led you to conclude that a prosperous heart is about a spiritual bottom line, rather than a financial one? My experience of this principle has been cumulative. When teaching The Artist’s Way through the years, I have sometimes been moved to give away memberships in a class in order to help creatively stymied individuals that felt they couldn’t afford the 12-week course. While this didn’t add to my bank account, I felt rewarded on a spiritual level as I watched those students blossom over the course of the class.

What tools do you offer readers in The Prosperous Heart? Morning Pages remain the primary tool of a creative recovery and for establishing prosperity. Three daily pages of longhand writing—strictly stream of consciousness—work to provoke,

clarify, comfort, cajole, prioritize and synchronize the day at hand. Counting is another bedrock tool of prosperity; keeping a small notebook tracking every penny in and every penny out puts us in touch with our true values, which is one of the first and finest fruits of prosperity. This daily writing, coupled with counting, brings emotional and financial clarity. Together, they help us discover our true values—both personal and monetary—and uncover the actions that will lead to a life that is truly our own. Abstaining from financial imbalance is simple when we stop debting. A commitment to practicing the tool of abstinence plugs the leaks and our personal lifeboat stops sinking. While this may seem severe, it leads straight to more prosperity. Walking at least twice a week for a minimum of 20 minutes works to put events into a healthier perspective. We may walk out with a problem and walk back in with a solution. Walking also offers the opportunity to encounter sights and sounds that fire the imagination and replenish our inner well of creativity. As we walk, we can experience the richness of the world, as well as our own inner prosperity. I recommend taking a time out once in the morning and once at night, for five minutes, to sit quietly and consciously count your blessings, or simply rest. Time outs also put us in closer touch with our own inner resources. Ideas often come to us during these periods, which prove to be time-efficient and guided by wisdom. Through many years of experience, I have seen how the tools explored in The Prosperous Heart help people from all walks of life come into contact with their true value system. When they act in alignment with their values, they naturally feel a sense of prosperity. When they do what they love and do it well, the money seems to take care of itself. Find the next chapter on personal creativity at JuliaCameronLive.com. Linda Sechrist is a senior staff writer for Natural Awakenings magazine.

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September 2012

FREE classes & events throughout Fairfield County. Visit eNaturalAwakenings.com for the full list & full details – offers added daily. Limit one free class/event per person (per location) unless specified otherwise. Limited spots available - so call NOW to reserve yours!

HEALTH Free Holistic Health Coaching Session w/ Sage Osa Entire month of September. FREE! Personal Wellness Center. 1895 Post Rd. Go down the driveway near Health in a Hurry. Fairfield. 203.767.6237. Free Massage Mondays 9am-12pm Mondays in September. 30 minute therapeutic massage w/ Margaret Cohen. FREE! 70 North St., Suite 102. Danbury. Call to reserve your session: 203.243.3547. Healthy Living and Nutrition 7pm. Tuesdays & Thursdays in September. All classes can be customized to help clients achieve positive changes and preset goals to a healthier lifestyle. FREE! Fairfield County. 67 Deer Hill Rd. Redding. Donna: 203.470.4325. Mind-Body Medicine Lecture Series 8-9pm Tuesdays w/ Dr. Paul Epstein, Naturopathic Physician, mindfulness meditation teacher. Transform stress, pain and illness into a journey of self healing and awakening. FREE! 161 East Ave. Norwalk. 203.226.3923. Sept 5 ~ Are You Toxic? 6:15-7:15pm. Toxic overload is damaging one’s health. Learn how a supervised detox can help protect one’s health and promote optimum functions. FREE! Pro-Health Chiropractic. 2600 Post Rd., Suite L2. Southport. Susan: 203.333.2700. Sept 8 ~ Fairfield Wellness Revolution 11-am4pm. Learning about the various dimensions of health with other community members FREE! Whole Foods, Fairfield, 350 Grasmere Ave. Fairfield. FREE for attendees. Minimal cost for vendors. 203.333.2700. Sept 12 ~ New Natural Ways to Relieve Stress 6pm. Learn symptoms of stress, how stress affects the body’s overall health, and what a person can do to relieve stress. Sophia Natural Health Center. 31 Old Route 7. Brookfield. 203.740.9300. Sept 16 ~ Workshop: Improve Your Health and Energy 11am-12pm. Energy is not only the basis of existence; it is the fuel that makes everything in one’s lives real and possible. FREE! Sticks and Stones Farm. 201 Huntingtown Rd. Newtown. 203.270.8820.

Fairfield County Edition

Sept 18 ~ Natural Solutions to Insomnia and Sleep Disturbance 7-8pm w/ Naturopathic Doctor Deb Bossio. Learn common causes for sleep disturbance and solutions that naturopathic medicine can offer. FREE! 100 Danbury Rd. Suite 102. Ridgefield. 203.431.4443. Sept 20 ~ Manage Your Stress...Enhance Your Life! 6-8pm w/ Karen Goldstein. Opportunity for self-empowerment in managing stress levels through the breath, simple relaxation techniques, creative visualization and guided meditation. FREE! Karen’s Office. 518 Monroe Tpke. Monroe. 203.929.5910. Sept 26 ~ Beauty of Ayurveda Workshop 7-8pm. FREE! TLC Center. 152 East Ave. Norwalk. Jaya Daptardar 203.857.4123. Sept 29 ~ Book Discussion: Science and Health 1-2pm. Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy. FREE event also includes a FREE book! Christian Science Reading Room. 950 Chapel St. New Haven. 203.787.0829.

EMPOWERMENT / COUNSELING Discovering Your Life Purpose 10-11:30am. Mondays in September. Enjoy one FREE session and receive a FREE workbook. Work at one’s own pace in a supportive inspiring setting. CT Counselors. 107 Church Hill Rd. Sandy Hook. 203.392.4846. Transformational Counseling Session 10am5pm. Entire month of September. Using breath, meditation or guided visualization to uncover patterns stored in the unconscious. FREE! Private office. 39 Driftway Lane. New Canaan. Anthony Smokovich: 203.831.8680. The Circle of the Third Way 4-7pm. Sundays in September. Inspirational women’s wellness group. Leesa Sklover, Ph.D, LPC, and Jeanne Donohue, MSAP co-coach and skillfully influence learning and sharing to shift Self to a new state of being. FREE! Fairfield. 917.860.0488. Avatar® Info Hour 7pm. Tuesdays in September begins the 11th. Learn about the power of beliefs & experience heartfelt compassion. FREE! Ariela Sarai’s House. 64 Edgewood Rd. Fairfield. 203.249.5203.

natural awakenings

Sept 6 ~ Introduction To The Art Of Intimacy 7-9pm. Author Penny Cohen, LCSW. For individuals and couples desiring To Be In Love. Longing for intimacy and connection. FREE! Pound Ridge. Call: 914.764.1708. Sept 12 ~ Creativity and Inner Peace: The True Healers 5:30-7:30pm w/ Leesa Sklover, PhD. Attend a lecture and open house for the new OptiSelf Counseling and Blue Pearl Concierge Wellness. FREE! 2324 Post Rd. Fairfield. 203.323.2327. Sept 13 ~ The Law Of Attraction, Meditation & EFT 9:30-11:30am w/ Penny Cohen, LCSW. The Law of Attraction is based on the law of cause and effect. What one thinks, one attracts: Ask, Believe & Be Open to Receive. FREE! Pound Ridge. 914.764.1708.

SPIRIT Buddhist Chanting 6-7pm w/ June Fagan and Tracy Mignone. Thursdays in September. All welcome, no previous experience required. Learn about the Budddhist history, philosophy and practice. Kindred Spirits. FREE! 59 Ledgewood Rd. Redding. 203.938.3690. Akashic Consultation Cris Ann is offering 1/2 Hour Telephone Akashic Consultations for the entire month of September. Delve into one’s Akashic Records to receive insight into current blocks or challenges in one’s life. FREE! Wilton. 203.216.8413. The Journey Group meets the 1st Wed. of each month. Free in September. If you are looking to get unstuck, learn more about self empowerment, becoming a healing faciliator, than this is the group for you. God based intuitive insight is given by Cindy Miller. Newtown Congregational Church, 14 West St, Newtown. RSVP: 203.426.9446. Sept 9 ~ Rising Star Mini Healing Sessions 125pm. w/Lori Rafalof. 20 minute mini session helps open chakras and removes energy blockages. FREE! 140 Hoyt St., Apt 5G. Stamford. 917.922.4908. Sept 16 ~ Circle of Sound 4:30-6:30pm w/ Cynthia Quintanal. Co-create sound with ones’ voices, drums and singing bowls. Intentions will be to send out through the heart to the circle, the world and the planet! FREE! Sticks and Stones Farm. Newtown. 203.257.9935.

Sept 17 ~ Tarot Readings 5-7pm w/ Mark Hoyt. 15 minute Tarot Card readings full of insight. Clients rave about Mark’s readings. FREE! Finding Feathers. 395 Commerce Drive. Fairfield. 203.916.7887. Sept 21 ~ Past Life Regression 6:30-8pm w/ Maria C. Castillo, LCSW. Information Session. Remembering one’s past lives can help individuals heal emotionally, physically, and spiritually. FREE! 238 Monroe Tpke, Suite B. Monroe. 203.445.8966. Sept 22 ~ 45 minute Energy Healing Session 9am-2pm. Also held 9/29. Karen uses supportive energetic techniques such as Creative Visualization, Reiki, Quantum Healing, Matrix Energetics, Aromatherapy, and Breathwork. FREE! Karen’s Office. 518 Monroe Tpke. Monroe. By appointment only: 203.929.5910. Sept 22 ~ Complimentary 20 minute Consultation 10am-1pm. A private 20-minute consultation with a Christian Science Practitioner to explore one’s true spirituality and its healing potential. Connecticut Business Centers building. FREE! 191 Post Rd. West. Westport. 203.536.0609. Sept 25 ~ Quest for The Supreme Truth 7-8:30pm. Courage to Live for FREEdom of the Heart. Join Mystic Birinder for an interactive dialogue for finding clarity on the dynamics of the heart and the mind. FREE! The Center For Supreme Truth. 3 Hollyhock Ln. Wilton. 203.273.8364.

YOGA One Week of FREE Yoga in September Create a healthier lifestyle, to heal a sports injury, to reduce stress or just to achieve a greater level of fitness. FREE for new students. Kaia Yoga. 1200 Post Rd East. Westport. 203.532.0660. Yoga in the Garden 5:45-7pm. Monday & Wednesday evenings in September. Practice in the midst of beautiful flowers, shrubs and majestic trees. First Class is FREE! Bartlett Arboretum and Gardens. 151 Brookdale Rd. Stamford. 203.520.1304. Kundalini Yoga 9-11am. Mondays & Wednesdays in September. Enjoy total fitness for mindy, body and soul. FREE class for 1st time students. Kundalini Yoga. 27 Danbury Rd. Wilton. Jackie Tepper 203.918.0085. Healing Yoga Mondays in September. The yoga works on the physical, emotional, psychological and spirit levels, balancing and channeling the healing energy: for women with cancer or any specific health conditions. FREE! Noelle Health and Healing. Stamford. 203.520.7186. Beginners/Moderate Kripalu Yoga Tuesdays & Thursdays in September. Carol Shwidock creates the class to meet one’s needs. One class FREE for month of September to new students only. Harmony Yoga Studio. 48 Union St. Stamford. 203.962.4672. Yoga at Sticks and Stones Farm 9-10:15am w/ Janak. Saturday and Sundays: 9/15-9/16 & 9/299/30. Discover the health benefits, find peace and relaxation from the stress and tension of one’s busy life. Sticks and Stones Farm. Newtown. First class is FREE! 203.520.1304.

REIKI Angelic Reiki Sessions 9:30am-5pm. Entire month of September. FREE! New clients only. Discount for returning clients.Angelic Healing Center. 7 Morgan Ave. Enter downstairs in back. Norwalk. 203.852.1150. Sept 1 ~ Introduction to Reiki 9-11:30am. Jim or Jeannette, experienced Reiki teachers, practice both Usui, Usui/Tibetan, Jikiden, and KarunaR Reikii. FREE to the 1st ten people who mention this ad. Fairfield. 95 Harris St. Fairfield. 203.254.3958. Sept 1 ~ Reiki Sessions FREE Reiki sessions to the 1st three people who respond. One per person. 15% off to all others in September. By appointment. Not be combined with other offers. 95 Harris St. Fairfield. Jim or Jeanette: 203.254.3958. Sept 5 ~ Reiki Meditation with Essential Oils 7:30-9pm. For any level Reiki Practitioner. Connect with Reiki community to bring more Reiki light into the area. FREE! Angelic Healing Center. 7 Morgan Ave. Please enter downstairs in the back. Norwalk. 203.852.1150. Sept 10 ~ Reiki Clinic 5-7pm. A wonderful opportunity to experience Reiki w/ Mark Hoyt, Reiki Master. FREE! Finding Feathers. 395 Commerce Dr. Fairfield. Reservations required: 203.916.7887. Sept 27 ~ Introduction to Reiki 7:30-9:15pm w/ Gigi Benanti, Rieki Master/Teacher. Dr. Oz recommends Reiki, an accepted healing practice. FREE! Angelic Healing Center. 7 Morgan Ave. Office downstairs in the back. Norwalk. 203.852.1150.

MEDITATION Sept 1 ~ Meditation 6-8pm. Learn how to meditate. 1st ten people to respond will experience three types of meditation. FREE! Mention this ad. Fairfield. 95 Harris St. Fairfield. Jim or Jeannette: 203.254.3958. Sept 13 ~ Stress Reduction Meditation & Blessing 6:30-7:30pm w/ Rosario Mazer. The Oneness Blessing works at the meta level beyond human comprehension. This Divine Transmission causes quantum evolutionary leaps at every level of one’s being. FREE! 102 River West. Greenwich. 646.383.7918. Sept 27 ~ Shanti Mission Satsang Meditation 7-9pm w/ Stellar Maya. This beautiful evening is not to be missed. FREE! Finding Feathers. 395 Commerce Drive. Fairfield. Reservations required: 203.916.7887.

PRE-NATAL WELLNESS Sept 3 ~ Prenatal Yoga & Meditation 6-7:30pm. Also held 9/10. Enjoy emotional, physical and spiritual health for the nine months of pregnancy. FREE! Prescott House. Volunteer Ln. off La Fayette. Greenwich. 203.520.7186. Sept 20 ~ What You Need to Know About: Conception University 6-7:30pm w/ Rosario Mazer. Most people are unaware of the fact that life-habit patterning in children begins at the moment of conception. FREE! $57.00 value. 102 River West. Greenwich. 646.383.7918. Prenatal Yoga & Meditation 9:30-11am. Thursdays. Enjoy emotional, physical and spiritual health for the nine months of pregnancy. FREE! Prescott House. Volunteer Ln. off La Fayette Pl. Greenwich. 203.520.7186.

ith gratitude to our partners who have co-created the Awakenings celebration. We encourage our readers to take advantage of these wonderful free offers that they have so generously offered. Angelic Healing Center Ann Carter Anne Finan Annie Stiefel Anthony Smokovich Ariela Sarai, LCSW Deb Bossio, ND Donna Smith Carol Shwidock, RYT Cris Ann Mulreed Cynthia Quintanal Emei Qigong Finding Feathers Ganga Flow Yoga Gigi Benanti Harmony Yoga Studio Jackie Tepper, RYT Janak Desai Jaya Daptardar Kaia Yoga Kindred Spirits Karen Goldstein, RN Leesa Sklover, PhD, LPC Lori Rafalof Margaret Cohen, LMT Maria Castillo, MSW, LCSW Mark Hoyt Meta-Consciousness Journeys Milford J.K.A. Shotokan Mystic Birinder Paul Epstein, ND Penny Cohen, LCSW Personal Wellness Center Pro-Health Chiropractic Raema Salmon Reiki Overtones Rosario Mazer Sage Osa Sophia Natural Health Center Stella Maya Sticks & Stones Farm Susan Kipp The Center for Supreme Truth The OneJoy Center for Wellness Tranquil Healing Reiki Vicki Scataglini, LPC Your Community Yoga Center

eNaturalAwakenings.com

September 2012

calendarofevents Magazine calendar events must be received by September 5th (for October issue) and adhere to our guidelines. All calendar submissions must be entered online at eNaturalAwakenings.com - click on “submit calendar” at the very top of the page.

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 9

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 2

MARK YOUR CALENDAR

Wildman ~ Steve Brill Wild Food & Ecology Walk 2:30-4:30pm. Find, identify & gather seasonal edibles. Bring a small trowel and a paper bag. $25/adult; $10/children under 12. Sticks & Stones Farm. Newtown. RSVP Annie: 203.270.8820.

AWAKEN FAIR

The biggest/best loved body-mind-spirit-green event north of NYC! AwakenFair.com

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 4 Kundalini Yoga 9am. Continues until 9/25. Half price special on one class. Kundalini yoga helps maintain one’s balance in life and compensate for all stressful influences. Noelle Health and Healing. High Ridge Rd. Stamford. 203.520.7186.

Sunday November 11 • 10am to 5pm Doubletree Hotel 455 So. Broadway, Tarrytown NY 10591 Sponsors, Exhibitors, Speakers: ThePractitioners.com

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 6 Ukulele Club 6:30-8:30pm. Uncle Zak the Uke Guy will be facilitating. Come jam, sing and make music and learn. Uke not necessary, some available. Donation. Sticks & Stones Farm. Newtown. RSVP Annie: 203.270.8820.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 8 Kripalu’s Three Stages of Transformation 4-6:30pm. The word Kripalu means compassion.

It is a practice of deep inquiry and self-discovery. $30 pp by 9/1; $40 thereafter. Yoga for Everybody. 27 Unquowa Rd. Fairfield. 203.254.9642. Community Drum Circle 7-9pm. Fun family evening of playing drums in the Stone Barn w/ Ase-AmenRa. Bring drum. $15 adults; Seniors & kids under 12 $5.) Dessert $3.50 cash only. Sticks & Stones Farm. Newtown. RSVP Annie: 203.270.8820.

Project Turtle: Life In A Shell 1-2pm. Come and listen to turtle whisperer and naturalist, John Foley show and tell about turtles in one’s backyards and native woodlands. Donation. Sticks & Stones Farm 201 Huntingtown Rd. Newtown. RSVP Annie: 203.270.8820.

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 11 Naturalist Training Program 9:30-11:30am. Also held 9/13, 9/18 & 9/20. A love of nature and an affinity for working with elementary school students are important. Free. Kimberlin Nature Center. Greenwich Audubon. Ted: 203.869.5272 x230. Family Yoga 3:15-4:15pm. Class runs until 10/16. Designed for children and adults to enjoy together. $15 per student registered by 9/4; $21 thereafter. Yoga for Everybody. Fairfield. 203.254.9642. Teen animé club 6:30pm. Enjoy a night of animé & meet people who share one’s passion. Come with ideas for the evening’s content. For middle school & up. Westport Library, McManus Room. Free. 203.291.4809.

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12 Open House 5:30pm. Learn about TGI’s cutting edge Masters degree for holistic adult learners. 171 Amity Rd. Bethany. 203.874.4252. Developing Courage 7-9:30pm. The Way of the Spiritual Warrior. Now is the time to develop the strength, courage and wisdom to sail over any chaos and live in peace globally. $45 pp by 9/5; $55 thereafter. Yoga for Everybody. Fairfield. 203.254.9642.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 13 Meditation & Alexander Technique 7:309pm w/ Vince Frazer. This technique develops a conscious use of self, allowing one’s meditation practice to deepen. $15. Greenwich. 203.570.2059.

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.

Fairfield County Edition

natural awakenings

Reiki Refresher 7:30-9:45pm. All levels welcome. Share techniques that will help raise one’s vibration. $38 +$8 material fee includes an attunement. Angelic Healing Center. 7 Morgan Ave. Norwalk. RSVP: 203.852.1150.

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 14 Sixth CT Ukulele Invitational 7-9:30pm. Join in for a great ukulele evening, hosted by the Edukated Fleas. There will be a lineup of uke performers, plus Play Alongs. Everybody gets to play, so bring a uke. Sticks & Stones Farm. Newtown. 203.270.8820. Dedicated to Men, Women and Children Touched by Cancer

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 15 Live Green Connecticut! 10am-4pm. Also on Sun. Over 150 exhibitors. Fun for whole family.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR

FIND YOUR BREATH KUNDALINI YOGA Wednesdays • 6:00-7:30pm

With Hari Sangat (Carrie Kane). A way to end your day by letting go and finding your freedom. Kundalini integrates the body, mind, and spirit to connect you with your true and total self.

All levels welcome. $20/class, $150/10 classes. Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Danbury Ct.

24 Clapboard Ridge Rd. • 914.450.7642

Learn about green technology, renewable energy. Check out eco-cars. Music, local food, green workshops. Free. Taylor Farm Park, Norwalk.

Healing Circle/Gong Relaxation 6-7pm. Come immerse oneself in the healing energy of a live gong bath. Yoga for Everybody. 27 Unquowa Rd. Fairfield. 203.254.9642.

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26 Annie’s Healthy Baking Class 6:30-8:30pm. Baking 101 includes: quick and yeast breads and gluten free. Cooking demo, recipes and dinner included. $45. Sticks & Stones Farm. Newtown. Pre registration a must. Annie: 203.270.8820.

THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 27 Healthy Pot Luck Supper 6-9pm. Last Thursday monthly. Bring healthy dish to share, + own plate, cup, bowl, utensils. Raw foodist’s welcome. No alcohol or smoking. Free. Sticks & Stones Farm. Newtown. RSVP Annie: 203.270.8820.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 29

ARC Sacred Center Healing Fair 10am-3pm. Drop in and experience a plethora of healing arts and wellness practitioners. Mini sessions will be available at a very discounted rate. ARC Sacred Center. 458 Monroe Turnpike. Monroe. 203.268.1272.

Shamanic Healing 1-3pm w/ Mikki Davis, healer teacher. Subject: Forgiveness & letting go. Use ancient techniques from shamans to help cut cords that hold one back. $50. Albertson Memorial Church. Old Greenwich. Must pre-register: 914.610.5146.

Mindfulness in Everyday Life 10am-4pm. An Equine interactive workshop to help one be come more present in one’s life. Work with meditation in conjunction with equine facilitated exercises. Mistover Farm. Pawling. 212.477.4475.

Women’s Rhythm Circle 6:30-7pm for beginners w/ Michelle G. Cappellieri, CSC. 7-9pm. Learn techniques and explore World Rhythms. All levels. Bring drum or share one. $15 Cash. Seniors $5. Sticks & Stones Farm. Newtown. RSVP Annie: 203.270.8820.

Transformational Astrology & Karma 4-6pm w/ Rich Kisiel. Learn in what area of one’s life karmic issues appear and how to transform one’s karma. $35. Albertson Memorial Church. Old Greenwich. Must pre-register: 913.610.5146.

SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 16 Crystal Cymbalogy Concert 2-4pm w/ Cynthia Quintanal. $20/person or $50/family. Pot Luck Dinner: 3-4:30pm. Sound Circle w/ voices, drums & singing bowls: 4:30-6:30pm. Free. Sticks & Stones Farm. Newtown. RSVP Annie: 203.270.8820.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18 Why Manage Life? Live It! 7-9pm w/ Barbara Greenhouse. Discover how to turn one’s health & lifestyle challenges into a life of wellness & happiness. $20 prepayment required. ARC Sacred Center. Monroe. Barbara: 203.216.6889.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 22 HawkWatch Festival & Green Bazaar 11am5pm. Also held Sun. A family-friendly, greenthemed celebration features kids’ activities, organic and local foods, eco-friendly businesses & the famous live birds of prey shows at 1 & 3 pm. Greenwich Audubon. 203.869.5272 x239. Illuminated Accessories 2pm. Make an LEDilluminated headband for a tech-savvy fashion statement. $10 fee. Register online. Westport Library. Maker Space, The Great Hall. Westport. 203.291.4809.

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 30 Wildman ~ Steve Brill Wild Food and Ecology Walk 2:30-4:30pm. Find, identify & gather seasonal edibles. Bring a small trowel and a paper bag. $25/adult; $10/children under 12. Sticks & Stones Farm. Newtown. RSVP Annie: 203.270.8820.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 6 Natural & Integrative Medicine Symposium 10am-4pm. Evidence based information for professionals and the community about current research and approaches to healthcare. $35 pp by 8/31; $50 at door. University of Bridgeport. 75 Linden Ave. 203.576.4880.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR

FINDING YOUR PATH Saturday, October 6 • 10-4pm An equine-interactive, life coaching experiential workshop. $300 (lunch & learning materials included) by James Cassese, LCSW of Equine Energetix. EquineEnergetix.com • 212.477.4475

Held at Mistover Farm, Pawling NY. no prior horse experience necessary eNaturalAwakenings.com

September 2012

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MEDICAL DOCTOR

ongoingevents

sunday Reiki Volunteers 10am-12pm. Pledge time to volunteer Sundays at various homes for the elderly and nursing homes in Fairfield & Southbury. Receive credits towards Reiki training. ReikiOvertones. Fairfield. Jim or Jeannette: 203.254.3958. Celebration Service 10:30am w/ Rev. Shawn Moninger. Inspiring message. Great music. Come early for Dynamics for Living study at 9:30 am. Unity Center 3 Main St above Ford Dealership Norwalk 203.855.7922. Ayurveda Cooking Classes 11am-12pm. $50. 25 Old Farm Rd. Weston. Reservations: 203.268.1272.

monday Sacred Wisdom Circle 6:45-9pm / Alexandra Horsky. Women co-create a healing space in which all can discover and reclaim deeper wisdom and wholeness. PRICE? Unitarian Universalist Church. 10 Lyons Lane. Westport. 203.293.7750.

RIVERSIDE OB/GYN Russell Turk, MD Karen Zino, MD 1200 East Putnam Avenue Riverside, CT 06878 203.637.3337 Riverside Obstetrics & Gynecology is a full-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 4.

The Thought Exchange 7pm w/ David Friedman. A spiritual support group based on observing the thought/sensation connection to manifestation What if one’s life just mirrors one’s thoughts? Love offering. Unity Center 3 Main St above Ford Dealership Norwalk 203.855.7922 Transformation and Healing 7:30-8:15pm. Rev. Ed O’Malley uses a Shamanic Illumination Process which removes heavy energies from the luminous energy field that surrounds each person, returning the body and soul to its initial state of wellness. ARC Sacred Center. Monroe Tpke. Monroe. 203.268.1272. Free Guided Meditation 7:30-8:30pm w/ Dr. Levy. Meditation is shown to reduce stress, depression, anxiety and weight gain while increasing energy. Sabita Holistic Center. 3519 Post Rd. Southport. RSVP: 203.254.2633.

tuesday Tell them you saw it in Natural Awakenings! 46

Fairfield County Edition

Reiki Healing Shares 7:30pm. 1 & 3rd Tuesdays. Reiki Healing Shares 7:30pm. 1 & 3rd Tuesdays. Gigi Benanti Usui/Karuna Reiki Master/Teacher. For Reiki Practitioners only. Exchange ongoing since 1996. Instructions included $10. Held at Angelic Healing Center. 7 Morgan Ave. Norwalk pre-register: 203.852.1150. Spirit Talks 7:30-8:30pm w/ Reverend Chris Guerrera. Share one’s spiritual journey and dialogue, receive support on one’s path, time for psycho-spiritual Q & A, prayer and meditation. $10. ARC Sacred Center. 458 Monroe Turnpike. Monroe. 203.268.1272.

natural awakenings

wednesday Free Guided Meditation 1-1:45pm w/ Dr. Levy. Meditation is shown to reduce stress, depression, anxiety and weight gain while increasing energy. Sabita Holistic Center. 3519 Post Rd. Southport. RSVP: 203.254.2633. A Course in Miracles 6:30-8pm w/ Michael Robinson. A self-study curriculum which aims to assist readers in achieving spiritual transformation. $15 Suggested love offering. ARC Sacred Center. 458 Monroe Turnpike. Monroe. 203.268.1272. 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. Life Style Management Counseling 7-9pm w. Dr. Jaya Daptardar, B.A.M.S., M.H.A. practicing and teaching Ayurveda in U.S. since 1998. $50. Ayurveda for Wellness. 152 East Ave. Norwalk. 203.857.4123.

thursday Prayer Works 7pm w/ Karen Mitchell, musican/ healer. 3rd Thurs monthly Explore various modalities of healing through prayers specifically designed for those attending. Unity Center. 3 Main St. Above the Ford Dealership. Norwalk. 203.855.7922. Buddhist Chanting 7-8pm. Hosted by June Fagan. All welcome. Free. Kindred Spirits. 59 Ledgewood Rd. Redding. Please call: 203-938-3690. A Brush with Soul 7-9pm w/ Alexandra Philippas. 2nd Thurs monthly. Healing with color: Intuitive painting-meditation allowing stillness and insights to surface while observing one’s Soul’s creative expression. Love Offering. Unity Center. Norwalk. 203.855.7922. Sound Healing Event 7:30-8:30pm w/ Laurie Millo, Licensed Massage Therapist and Healing Touch Practitioner. The sounds and vibrations effect the release of congested energy. $10. ARC Sacred Center. 458 Monroe Turnpike. Monroe. 203.268.1272 Women’s Sacred Circle 7:30-9pm w/ Rev Chris Guerrera. 4th Thurs monthly. Share, connect, explore, play, and heal in a sacred space. $25. ARC Sacred Center. 458 Monroe Turnpike. Monroe. 203.268.1272.

friday

classifieds

saturday

Metaphysical Bible Study 7-8:30pm. In depth study of the Bible’s metaphysical aspects with Bible scholar Rev. Ed Townley. Bring questions! Unity Center for Practical Spirituality. 3 Main St., 2nd Fl. Above Ford Dealership. Norwalk. Love Offering. 203.855.7922.

The Universal Reiki Plan 11am-1pm. Every 3rd Sat. monthly. Reiki Practitioners. Register for a free Reiki session. Love offerings appreciated. Bloodroot Vegetarian Restaurant. 85 Ferris St. Bridgeport. Reservations Jim or Jeannette: 203.254.3958.

Play, Create, Connect Night 7-10pm. 1st Fri. monthly. $5. Love Offering. ARC Sacred Center. 458 Monroe Turnpike. Monroe. 203.268.1272.

The Universal Reiki Plan 1:30-4:30pm. Every 3rd Sat. monthly. Reiki Practitioners only. Workshop & ReikiShare. Free. Love offerings appreciated. Bloodroot Vegetarian Restaurant. 85 Ferris St. Bridgeport. Reservations Jim or Jeannette: 203.254.3958.

Circle of Life 7:30-9:30pm. Wondering about one’s Life Mission? Learn how to bring love, life and happiness to oneself and those one loves. Bring questions and receive healing and messages from Spirit. Monroe. 203.286.3262.

Reiki Sessions 5-6pm. ReikiOvertones offering free Reiki sessions during classes. Students participate as part of class syllabus. 1st-reserved. Fairfield. Jim or Jeannette: 203.254.3958.

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 HEALTH & WELLNESS MAGAZINE FOR SALE Well established and profitable. Excellent demographics and great potential for multi-channel growth. Complete training provided. Turn your passion for healthy living into a career! 917.273.4809.

FOR RENT OPEN SPACE AVAILABLE (250SF) in downtown Fairfield on Post Rd. Available 2 to 3 days per week or in blocks of time with 4 hours minimum per month. Perfect for small yoga class, massage, counseling, etc. 203.449.8884. SHARE, SUBLET, POSSIBLE LEASE CENTRAL GREENWICH. Great for teaching yoga, personal training, kids classes Move-in condition, reception desk, $5,500 (2250 sq ft) 203.291. 9351 leave message. TREATMENT ROOMS FOR RENT IN TRANQUIL WELLNESS CENTER. Perfect for therapists/counselors/bodyworkers. Flexible terms. Call Eileen at 203.353.8811.

HELP WANTED VIOLIN TEACHERS WANTED AT THE LITTLE RED SCHOOL OF ART & MUSIC. 2979 Main Street, Stratford. Piano and vocal instructors. 203.375.0692. Carolyn West, Owner.

NATURAL AWAKENINGS NETWORK (NAN) SALES MANAGER WANTED to sell innovative wellness discount program to companies & organizations. Lucrative ground floor opportunity. Corporate sales experience preferred. Flexible hours, work from home when not on sales calls. Full or Part-time. Excellent commission + draw. Fairfield County. Call 203.885.4674.

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Point Your Life in a Healthy Direction Fairfield County’s most extensive online collection of articles, local resources & events, contests, back issues, and much more, that support and inspire a healthy, sustainable lifestyle. FREE website calendar listings for those that qualify. Now just a click away!

FAIRFIELD COUNTY EDITION

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September 2012

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AWAKENING ONE

COMMUNITY ATATIME... NATURALLY Should you or someone you know own a Natural Awakenings magazine?

e are seeking like-minded individuals and teams to share our vision and expansion. Are you, or someone you know in your community, ready to own your own business of publishing a magazine and becoming a leader in helping to improve the lives of people in your community? Then a Natural Awakenings franchise is for you. Available markets across the country are waiting for information that will help local communities feel good, live simply and laugh more. One of the locations below might be right for you or someone you know. Financial consulting assistance is provided to help you capitalize your business.

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Our Vision Natural Awakenings has expanded into the cyberworld with national and local websites, iPhone app and our new webstore, where readers shop for everything needed to maintain a healthy lifestyle and healthy planet. Myriad marketing, advertising and support materials are available for publishers to implement in their communities to expand awareness and grow revenue streams. Some of these materials and activities include coupon saver sites, e-magazines and newsletters, trade show and expo displays, public relations videos, sponsorships, and local and multimarket ad sales programs. The Natural Awakenings Network discount health program is designed to provide savings to your members while benefitting your advertisers. Long-range plans include continuing to expand our network of publishers to inform and change communities across the nation and beyond.

Natural Awakeningsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Franchises are Available in These Markets Montgomery, AL Anaheim-Santa Ana, CA Bakersfield, CA Fresno, CA Los Angeles-Long Beach, CA Modesto, CA Riverside-San Bernardino, CA Sacramento, CA Salinas-Seaside-Monterey, CA San Francisco, CA San Jose, CA Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA Stockton, CA Vallejo-Fairfield-Napa, CA Visalia-Tulare-Porterville, CA Colorado Springs, CO Wilmington, DE-NJ-MD Columbus, GA-AL Macon-Warner Robins, GA Savannah, GA Davenport-Rock Isl.-Moline, IA-IL Des Moines, IA Boise City, ID

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Contact Co-Founder John R. Voell at (239) 530-1377 or go online to NaturalAwakeningsMag.com 48

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OWN A BUSINESS THAT MAKES A DIFFERENCE Fairfield County, Connecticut NATURAL AWAKENINGS MAGAZINE IS FOR SALE Great opportunity to own one of Fairfield County’s most exciting businesses. Natural Awakenings Healthy Living/Healthy Planet free monthly magazine targets the dramatically expanding marketplace of goods and services focused on natural health, fitness, the environment, personal growth, creative expression and green/sustainable living.

Turn your passion into a business... This is a turnkey business. The current owner wishes to transition this business to someone with similar passion, enthusiasm and vision.

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September 2012

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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 21.

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.

AYURVEDA DR. JAYA DAPTARDAR

JODY EISEMANN, LAc

Ayurveda & Life Style Management 203.857.4123 ActiveAyurveda.com jmdaptardar@hotmail.com

AffordableAcupunctureCT.com Offices in Norwalk and Fairfield 203.216.2548

Jaya is an Ayurvedic specialist with 20 years experience. She offers life style management, other Ayurvedic counseling, Ayurvedic cooking and educational classes by appointment only.

High quality acupuncture at the most affordable prices in Fairfield County. 20+ years experience, specializing in treating all kinds of pain and general health issues. See ad pg 11.

INSTITUTE FOR AYURVEDIC & NATUROPATHIC THERAPIES

STRATFORD ACUPUNCTURE & WELLNESS CENTER

2318 Main St, Stratford CT 203.257.7550 StratfordAcupuncture.com Joe is trained in several systems of Acupuncture that are amazing for pain, sports injuries, facial rejuvenation, fertility, weight, allergies, emotional balancing, and more. Call for your complementary consultation! See ad pg 12.

ALLERGIES BIOSET ALLERGY ELIMINATION PROGRAM

Dr. Mark Joachim Advanced Certified Practitioner 156 East Avenue, Norwalk 203.838.1555 AllergyEliminationNorwalk.com 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 6.

Fairfield County Edition

Dr. Neeru N. Kaushik, ND, MS Acup, MS, MA 805 Kings Hwy E., Fairfield 203.331.9111 47 Buttonball Ln, Weston 203.227.7550 AyurvedicInstituteCT.com Ayurvedic medicine including Panchakarma, the Ayuredic detox and Rejuvenation program; are combined with Naturopathy, Homeopathy, Acupuncture, Clinical Nutrition, Constitutional Hydrotherapy, Ozone therapy and Colonics to create an individualized treatment program for optimum healing benefits. Most major Insurances Accepted. Visit our website for more info.

BREAST THERMOGRAPHY SOPHIA NATURAL HEALTH CENTER 31 Old Rt. 7, Brookfield CT 203.740.9300 SophiaNaturalHealth.com

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.

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BREAST THERMOGRAPHY X TO RAYS.COM

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.

CHILD CARE ARLENE S. POWERS

State Licensed Daycare Provider Spiritual Counselor/Minister Fairfield 203.292.3017 Powersrere@optonline.net With 25 years experience, Arlene understands the need for holistic care for every child’s mind, body and spirit. Homemade juicing, organic cooking, compassion based play at her in-home daycare. See ad pg 12.

COACHING RECHARGE RETREATS LIFE COACHING Liz Carey, MS Member: Westchester Holistic Network Recharge–Retreats.com 845.225.5192

Live the life you want. Live the life you DESERVE. Break old patterns of thinking and acting and open yourself to less stressful living, stronger and closer relationships, and a sense of meaning and purpose in your personal and work life. Liz has helped many people live a fulfilling life – let her help you too. Complimentary first session. Budget-friendly plans

COLONICS AN EVER CLEAN LIFE

Colon Hydrotherapy/Colonics Gentle, safe, effective colon cleansing 203.542.7822 EverCleanColonics.com Starting a cleanse or detox, trying to lose weight or just getting ready to clean up? Colonics are a great complement to any program.

COLONICS

EEG NEUROFEEDBACK

COLONICS AT LIFELINE HYGIENICS REJUVENATION CENTER

ROSEANN CAPANNA-HODGE, EdD, LPC, LLC

CUSTOM SLEEP DESIGN, LLC

Experience and personalized service you can trust. The finest in colonic irrigation and personal care. Serving the tri-state area since 1993. See ad pg 36.

Looking for an alterative to medication to help yourself or your child? EEG Neurofeedback is a safe, valid and research-based alternative to medication. Neurofeedback helps those with ADHD, Asperger’s, Autism, Traumatic Brain Injury, Sports-related Concussion, Anxiety, OCD, Depression, Mood Disorder, Learning Disability and other conditions.

CSD has developed a revolutionary process that designs a mattress specific to your body characteristics using natural foam and organic covers. Visit our showroom to learn more.

Since 1993, Rye, NY 914.921.LIFE (5433) LifelineHygienics.com

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

Greenwich Colon Experience relief from congestion and discover Hydrotherapy a greater sense of well est. 1996 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 12. WHOLE-BODY MEDICINE, LLC Fairfield/Trumbull town line 203.371.8258 WholeBodyMed.com

Ready to start feeling healthier? Take your first step with this gentle cleansing p r o c e d u r e . Wa t c h o u r colonic and detoxification videos on our new video website located at WholeBodyMed.com Call for Free CD on Detoxification. See ad pg 4.

EDUCATION

898 Ethan Allen Highway, Suite 6 Ridgefield, CT 06877 203.438.4848 DrRoseann.com

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 4.

ENERGY HEALING DEANA PAQUA, MA, LMT  Ridgefield, CT   203.994.5045 EmbodyTheSacred.net

Blissful bodywork in a sacred space. Holistic massage, Reiki and shamanic healing for pain, trauma and stress relief.

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 15.

57 Main Street, 2nd Fl. Westport, CT 203.227.7900 CustomSleepDesign.com

HEALING CENTER REV. CHRISTINE GUERRERA, LMFT Psychotherapist, Interfaith Minister ARC Sacred Center, Monroe 203.268.1272 ARCSacredCenter.org

Chris is a licensed psychotherapist and inter-spiritual teacher offering psycho-spiritual therapy and sacred ceremonies such as baby blessings, weddings, interfaith gatherings and healing workshops. See ad pg 12.

HOLISTIC BEAUTY CAROL MOBILIO

Dr. Hauschka Esthetician and Electrologist Westport Therapeutic 203.685.3298 37 Franklin Street, Westport Carol Mobilio offers personalized signature facials and electrolysis at a Dr. Hauschka premier authorized treatment center. Experience your skin transform to a state of balance and beauty.

HOLISTIC DENTIST FAMILY SERVICES HEALING STEPS

Tracy King LCSW-R Early childhood thru adolescent counseling 914.589.6755 TracyAKing14@msn.com

RIDLEY-LOWELL BUSINESS & TECHNICAL INSTITUTE 44 Shelter Rock Rd, Danbury 203.797.0551

Accredited institution offering skilled training in the following fields: Massage Therapy, Medical Assisting, Medical Admin Assisting, Medical Billing and Coding, Information Technology and Electrical Systems Technician; day/evening classes, Financial Aid (if eligible), free placement assistance. See ad pg 41.

GREEN LIVING

anxiety.

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

MARK A. BREINER, DDS, FIAOMT

5520 Park Ave, Ste 301, Ffld Town Line Merritt Pkwy, Exit 47 203.371.0300 WholeBodyDentistry.com 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 4.

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September 2012

HYPNOSIS

INTERFAITH MINISTRY

MELANIE BARNUM, CH

Hypnotist, Life Coach, Intuitive Counselor Author, Reflexologist 203.451.0914 MelanieBarnum.com

REV. KAREN S. JUDD, LCSW

Counselor • USUI Reiki Master ReverendKarenSJudd.com Office: Bethel, CT 203.545.3664

HYPNOSIS Diane Bahr-Groth, CHy, TFTdx 1177 High Ridge Rd, Stamford 203.595.0110 MindBodyTransformation.com Fast, effective methods for weight, stress, fear, pain, smoking, etc.  Certified Hypnotherapist, Thought Field Therapy™, Time Line Therapy™, NLP and Complementary Medical Hypnosis, since 1989. See ad pg 22.

LIFE COACH JULIE BOWES, CERTIFIED LIFE COACH Holistic Life & Soul Coaching Energetic Restoration Consultant 203.240.4397 JewelTreeOfLife.com

Implement your internal guidance and innate wisdom through Holistic Soul Coaching. Illumine your mind, body & spirit by dissolving emotional debris to allow wellbeing. See ad pg 33.

INTEGRATIVE OPTOMETRY CENTER FOR INTEGRATED VISION

Dr. Randy Schulman, MS, OD, FCOV Norwalk: 203.840.1991 vtotWorks.com VisionworksVT@aol.com Trumbull: 203.268.8852 TLTC.org Schulman@tltc.org 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.

MICHAEL E. DOYLE, MD

Conventional & Alternative Medicine 22 5th St Suite 201 Stamford, CT 06905. 203.324.4747 GoToDrDoyle.com

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.

Create a life you love! Unique individual and group sessions, ongoing workshops. Connect to your future! Be the person you want to be!

MIND BODY TRANSFORMATION HYPNOSIS

MEDICAL DOCTOR

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 35.

RIVERSIDE OB/GYN

Russell Turk, MD Karen Zino, MD 1200 East Putnam Avenue Riverside, CT 06878 203.637.3337 Riverside Obstetrics & Gynecology is a fullservice 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 55.

NATURAL HEALTHCARE MASSAGE & BODYWORK ROBIN ORDAN, LMT, LCSW, CICMI Licensed Massage Therapist & Reiki Practitioner Old Greenwich/Stamford 203.561.8535; RobinOrdanLMT.com

WORDEN WELLNESS CENTER

41 Kenosia Ave, Danbury 203.748.8093 WordenChiropractic.Meta-eHealth.com Combining natural health treatments, chiropractic, acupuncture, and nutrition to relieve pain and restore the body to optimal health and balance.

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 36.

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

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NATUROPATHIC PHYSICIAN DEBRA GIBSON, ND 100 Danbury Road 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 19.

INTEGRATED HEALTH CENTER

K. Pramila Vishvanath, ND 2324 Post Rd, Fairfield 203.259.2700 IntegratedHealthCenterOnline.com Serving Fairfield County for 20 years. Specializing in craniosacral therapy, classical homeopathy, allergy assessment and treatment, nutrition, weight management, body reshaping and skin tightening, detox, colonics, breast thermography. See ad pg 21.

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 include Family Medicine, Women’s Health, Endocrinology, Gastroenterology, Pain Management, Skin Care. Insurance accepted.

NORTHEAST NATURAL MEDICINE, LLC Shawn M. Carney, ND 33 Main St. Suite 15 Newtown, CT 1.800.723.2962 NortheastNatMed.com

Integrative naturopathic medicine clinic and therapeutic massage center for the whole family. Services include advanced diagnostic testing, detoxification programs, personalized nutrition, and botanicals. Insurance accepted.

NATUROPATHIC PHYSICIAN MARVIN P. SCHWEITZER, ND

Wellness Institute 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 41.

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

A NEW DAY A NEW APP

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 Detoxification Protocols, Electro-Dermal Screening, Energy Medicine, FDA-cleared Phototherapy, Functional Medicine, Herbal Medicine, Homeopathy, Hormonal Balancing, Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy, Metabolic Typing, Nutritional Assessment, RealTime EEG Neurofeedback, and other therapies. See ad pg 4.

OSTEOPATHIC PHYSICIAN OSTEOPATHIC WELLNESS CENTER, LLC David L Johnston, DO Lisa Preston, DO Hannah Eucker, DO 158 Danbury Road, Ridgefield, CT 203.438.9915 OsteopathicWellness.net

Gentle, natural, handson osteopathic medical care for infants, children & adults. Children’s health and development, birth trauma, musculoskeletal pain and injuries, nutrition and wellness counseling, stress reduction, immune support, allergies. Most major insurances accepted.

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September 2012

PET CARE

PSYCHOTHERAPY

OLIVER’S PLACE

102 Old Ridgefield Rd, Wilton OliversPlaceLLC.com 203.210.5441 OliversPlaceLLC@gmail.com Oliver’s Place offers holistic & natural foods and treats with balanced nutrition encouraging growth, healthy skin/coast and support of your pet’s immune system throughout their life. See ad pg 37.

PHYSICAL THERAPY

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.

PHYSICAL THERAPY OF SOUTHERN CT

ROBIN ORDAN, LCSW

Linda Maude, PT 917 Bridgeport Ave, Shelton CT 06484 203.926.6997 PhysicalTherapySoCT.com

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

Specializing in evaluation & treatment of musculoskeletal imbalance & injuries. Results achieved that traditional physical therapy may not. Therapeutic approaches such as manual therapy, cranialsacral, visceral manipulation and vestibular rehab. State of the art facility for strengthening & overall rehabilitation.

Robin has over 18 years of experience working with families and children. Specializing in Divorce, Parent/Child Conflict, Grief, Attachment /Bonding, Child Development and Parenting. See ad pg 19.

VICKI SCATAGLINI, LPC

CT Counselors 107 Church Hill Rd, Suite 1, Sandy Hook 203.392.4846

PSYCHOTHERAPY 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.

Weaving traditional training with a spiritual understanding of the human path. Every human has the potential for joy and bliss - it is my role to guide you, help you uncover your blocks and be aligned with your soul’s purpose.

We all have a hand in creating the community where we want to live.

The support of our wonderful advertisers is what makes it possible for us to provide this free resource to you every month. Please support the businesses that support us... And be sure to mention you saw them in Natural Awakenings! Thank you! 54

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REIKI 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.

TURNING POINT REIKI, LLC

JoAnn Duncan, MS, RMT Reiki Master Ridgefield, CT 203.438.3050 TurningPointReiki.com JoAnn uses intuition, experience and a deep spiritual connection in her Reiki, IET and Reconnective Healing sessions. Specializing in care for individuals with Cancer, Lyme disease and Back Pain. All Reiki levels taught.

RELATIONSHIP COACH PEAK RESULTS COACHING Jeff Forte CSIC CME 2389 Main St. 860.633.8555 Glastonbury, CT PeakResultsCoaching.com

Do you want a more fulfilling marriage but don’t know what to do? Are you feeling stuck in a relationship that seems doomed to fail? I will show you step by step exactly what to do to create the love and connection you want in your relationship. I am a Certified Marriage Educator, and clients frequently come to me when nothing else seems to work or when something must change now. Call today because you deserve more.

WORKSHOPS PROMINDFUL, INC. Stamford, CT, USA ProMindful.org 203.856.5299

ProMindful is a non-profit o rg a n i z a t i o n o ff e r i n g i n t egrative 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.

Listening and Caring Wouldn’t you prefer a doctor who makes time for both?

Naturopathic Medicine Services Offered:

General Family Medicine Acupuncture Dr. Susan Rzucidlo, ND Anthem, BC/BS, Oxford, Aetna insurance accepted

Facial Rejuvenation– “The Natural Facelift” Pediatrics

Diet & Nutritional Counseling Botanical Medicine

Conditions Treated: Allergies Arthritis Diabetes Heart Disease PMS Chronic Pain Any many others…

The Center for Naturopathic Medicine, Inc. 3335 Main Street, Stratford • (203) 377-1525

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September 2012

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