Natural Awakenings Fairfield County September 2013 by Natural Awakenings Magazine

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Schools Go Green

EDITION

Use This, Not That

FITNESS & YOGA Whole-Being Workouts Deep-Healing Yoga Fitness for All Ages

Natural Skin Care, Cosmetics & Hair Color

Sugar Monster

Customized Smart Training

How Sweet It Isn’t

September 2013 | Fairfield County Edition | eNaturalAwakenings.com eNaturalAwakenings.com

September 2013

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 2

Fairfield County Edition

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JOURNEY FROM SUFFERING TO WHOLENESS Transform and Heal the Root causes of Addiction

There is a universal energy and process behind all compulsive and addictive

behavior, a common source of suﬀering and a common path to freedom. Preoccupation with drugs, alcohol, food, sex, money, status, control, and physical appearance: all these attachments are the external manifestation of an internal struggle for spiritual growth. This workshop will explore the common roots of addiction and attachment, as well as the skills to freedom from both a clinical and spiritual perspective. Alex and Liz will blend evidence based healing and treatment skills with the narrative of personal healing and transformation including an integration of 12 step recovery and the Buddhist traditions of healing. At this beautiful setting on the Long Island Sound, participants will have an opportunity to be completely immersed in the experience of nature as well.

Participants will learn:

❖ How freedom from compulsion and addiction is a spiritual

choice and joyful practice.

❖ How to use mindfulness and meditation techniques to feel

freedom from compulsive and addictive “pulls” towards food, alcohol, drugs, work, status, money, sex, and all other spiritual distractions, and how to develop a daily practice that encourages ongoing growth and healing .

❖ How to deeply practice these techniques and teach them to clients and others in recovery. ❖ How to use the present moment as their greatest teacher. ❖ How to “carry our suﬀering on the path” of recovery with compassion.

Sponsored By

www.newportacademy.com

Access a full brochure at insightcounselingllc.com, or call 203.431.9726 for more information. 7 hour CEUs for social workers and counselors have been applied for. CEU attendance certiﬁcates will be provided for all other disciplines.

September 14, 2013 8:30 AM- 4:30 PM The Mercy Center 167 Neck Road Madison, CT 06804 $135, includes materials, lunch, and refreshments to reserve a space contact insight counseling, llc 203.431.9726 insight@snet.net

Therapist, counselor, and addiction specialist with twenty-eight years of experience. Liz is a student of many spiritual paths with a reverence for Buddhist teachings and practice. She has taught at Harvard University CME, Liz D. Jorgensen Dartmouth, and numerous other venues. She is the owner of Insight Counseling, as well as a clinical and development consultant to Newport Academy. A devoted student of the vajrayana Buddhist path, Alex’s passion is the dialogue and integration of the sacred path of Buddhism and Western psychology. Alex is a licensed Professional Counselor in private practice Alex Boianghu at Insight Counseling. eNaturalAwakenings.com September 2013 3

GET THEIR YOUNG BRAINS READY FOR THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR. Research has shown that BRAINPAINT ® treatment can increase performance and focus your child’s brain for excellence. BRAINPAINT helps with ADD/HD, Insomnia, Test Anxiety, Stress, Depression, PTSD, Brain Injuries, Executive Function, Creativity, and Refocusing. Call us to learn more…

Fairfield County Edition

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DrMarvinSchweitzer.com 2 0 3 . 8 4 7. 2 7 8 8

1 We s t p o r t A v e n u e Norwalk, CT 06851

eNaturalAwakenings.com

September 2013

Having a caring relationship with a renowned physician is good medicine.

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.

28 Natural Skin Care

and Cosmetics Use This, Not That by Ana Mercedes Kranzlin

31 Organic Hair CarE

A Safer Alternative

by Ana Mercedes Kranzlin

And having a great relationship with him and his students is even better. Welcome to the new Center of Excellence in Generative Medicine, a teaching clinic that provides patients with the best that natural healthcare has to offer. Under the direction of Dr. Peter D’Adamo, a leader in the field of natural medicine and best-selling author of Eat Right for Your Type, naturopathic doctoral students blend time-honored healing techniques with state-of-the-art diagnostics to provide highly individualized patient care.

We offer:

• Individualized Nutrition Programs • Acupuncture • Medically Supervised Weight Loss • Constitutional Hydrotherapy • Infrared Sauna

“I was happy to meet with your interns and come up with a plan to optimize my health and wellness. I have been following your recommendations and am feeling better.” —Mary S.

34 WHOLE-BEING Moving the Body Opens the Door to Spirit by Lisa Marshall

38 Fit at Any Age

Exercise and Fitness are

Not Reserved for the Young

by Natasha Michaels

40 CUSTOMIZED Smart Training Trumps Personal Training Technology Gives Koko FitClub

Members an Edge by Natasha Michaels

43 DEEP-HEALING YOGA

Release Trauma, Build Resilience by Sarah Todd

46 SUGAR MONSTER How Sweet It Isn’t by Kathleen Barnes

50 FAT FIGHT THE D’ADAMO TEACHING SHIFT

CENTER OF EXCELLENCE IN GENERATIVE MEDICINE UNIVERSITY OF BRIDGEPORT 115 BROAD STREET, BRIDGEPORT CT 06604

(203) 366-0526

WWW.GENERATIVEMEDICINE.ORG 6

Fairfield County Edition

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WORKOUTS

Like Us, Pets Must Eat

Right and Keep Moving by Dr. Shawn Messonnier

52 SCHOOLS GO GREEN

Homework, Lunch, Buses Get an Eco-Makeover by Avery Mack

38 40 50

Be allergy Free

27 9 newsbriefs 16 healthbriefs 20 globalbriefs 24 eventspotlight 27 healthykids 33 inspiration 43 healingways 46 consciouseating 50 naturalpet 33 52 greenliving 55 calendar 58 classifieds 59 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 NicoleM@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 239-449-8309. For franchising opportunities call 239-530-1377 or visit NaturalAwakeningsMag.com.

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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.

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September 2013

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Nicole Miale

Publisher/Managing Editor Nicole Miale Assistant Editor Ariana Rawls Fine Design & Production Erica Mills Sales & Marketing Nicole Miale Virginia Trinque Distribution Man in Motion LLC Natural Awakenings Fairfield County Phone: 203-885-4674 Fax: 203-516-2392 NicoleM@NaturalAwakeningsMag.com

eNaturalAwakenings.com NAWebstore.com NaturalAwakeningsSingles.com © 2013 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.

Well, welcome to a new, expanded era of fitness! Physical measures of fitness are vital, but as several Natural Awakenings writers explore in different ways this month, there is new understanding that the old definition is incomplete. Since we don’t come in separate pieces, true fitness of a human being must involve more than the physical self. Consideration of the unique mental, emotional, spiritual and creative parts of each individual ushers in a new era of whole-being fitness. It also means increased opportunities for becoming and staying fit – wherever “fit” might be for you – with different workouts and strategies for getting where you want to go. This is a topic near to my heart. Not only have I been on a quest for physical fitness my whole life (as far as I can tell, there’s no finish line!), but my master’s thesis investigated the many tools available to reintegrate the mind, body, and spirit during times of stress. Most people, including me, have faced times when life seemed out of control or they felt unsure what to do next. In my personal experience, these occasions are ultimate tests of overall fitness or resilience. Those times are also a call to that which resides inside each of us. Whether inner guidance is labeled spirit or intuition (or some other name), I believe true human fitness may prove elusive without activation of the inner sense of self. The word yoga means to “yoke” the mind-body-spirit; yoga has been recognized for centuries as a physical practice which enables people to make deeper connection with themselves. September is National Yoga Month so it’s appropriate that in this issue Natural Awakenings investigates how yoga can heal deeply rooted trauma. Yoga is a powerful healing and fitness practice, available to anyone no matter what their age or body type. My wish for you is improved human fitness, whatever that may mean to you. With love and light,

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.

SUBSCRIPTIONS Subscriptions are available by sending $15 (for 12 issues) to the above address. Natural Awakenings is printed on recycled newsprint with soybased ink.

Fairfield County Edition

hat comes to mind when you hear the word fitness? For many, thanks to the news media and our cultural obsession with physical appearance, the word conjures an image of a hard body and an often fruitless quest to have the lowest body-mass index (BMI) in the neighborhood. This association of fitness and physical health began for many of us as children during mandatory assessments in gym class (remember how many squat thrusts you could do?!) and grew as we aged, perpetuated by the media, our family, friends, and healthcare providers.

natural awakenings

newsbriefs Charge Up at the Ridgefield Playhouse

isitors to the Ridgefield Playhouse can now recharge their electric cars while enjoying a show or movie thanks to new Nissan LEAF Charging Stations sponsored by Bruce Bennett Nissan, also in Ridgefield. “It makes perfect sense,” says Allison Stockel, executive director of the nonprofit performing arts center. “You’re sitting inside a movie theater or enjoying a show for several hours. It’s the perfect time to charge your electric car! And our hope is that the easier we make it for people to charge their cars, the more people will go electric.” The official ribbon cutting took place on August 1 with the Ridgefield Chamber of Commerce organizing the unveiling of the station. Location: 80 E. Ridge, Ridgefield. For more information, call 203-438-579 or visit RidgefieldPlayhouse.org.

Live Green Connecticut! Family Festival

he fourth annual Live Green Connecticut! Family Festival will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., September 14 and from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., September 15, at Taylor Farm Park, in Norwalk. Live Green Connecticut! provides environmental education in a family-friendly atmosphere. Exhibitors and activities include nonprofit organizations, small businesses, grassroots efforts, government agencies, green businesses and corporations, local and organic food, renewable energy, green technology, organic gardening environmentalism, eco-transportation, children’s activities, live music, eco-friendly test drives with The Ford Go Further Tour and more. “The merger between economic development and environmental responsibility has become an indispensable part of our culture and economy,” explains Norwalk Mayor Richard A. Moccia. “Live Green Connecticut! advances the knowledge and wherewithal for citizens at every stage of the process to become actively, ethically and productively involved in this effort and as mayor of Norwalk, I am proud that during the Live Green Connecticut! Festival, our city will be the focal point of this important work.” Cost: $10 for adults; $3 for children. Location: 45 Cow Pasture Beach Rd., Norwalk. For more information, email Info@LiveGreenCT.com or visit LiveGreenCT.com. See ad, page 29.

Four-Week Fall Cleanse in Monroe

ue Muro, a holistic health and wellness counselor, is offering a FourWeek Fall Cleanse beginning September 16, in Monroe. This gentle cleansing focuses on eatSue Muro ing real, whole foods and includes weekly meetings, menus, recipes, food samples, pantry makeover ideas, group and individual support. Muro’s approach is designed to aid in weight loss, helping individuals eliminate cravings, take control of their health and maintain a sustainable healthy diet over the winter months. Trained at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition, in New York City, Muro studied more than 100 dietary theories and a variety of practical l ifestyle coaching methods. Drawing on this knowledge, she helps clients create a personalized roadmap to health that suits each person’s unique body, lifestyle, preferences and goals. For more information, call 203-520-9449, email ItsPerfectlyNatural@charter.net or visit ItsPerfectlyNatural.net. See ad, page 13.

Celebration Service Sundays at 10:30 am Our mission is to continually discover, demonstrate, and educate that our source of Good is God within. Our Ongoing Events Rev. Shawn Moninger 3 Main St, 2nd Floor Norwalk, CT 06851 (203) 855-7922 www.unitycenterps.org

Under-Earners Anonymous, Wed at 8:30 am Journaling with Spirit, Wed at 7 pm

Reiki Healing Circle, 1st Thu at 7 pm Purls of Wisdom, 2nd Sat at 6 pm

Special Events

Rev. Yolanda’s Old Time Gospel Hour, Sat, Sep 7th at 8 pm Tickets: $25 in advance, $35 at the door Open Mic Night, Sat, Sep 21st at 7 pm - $10 Cover

eNaturalAwakenings.com

September 2013

newsbriefs Puttin’ on the Dog Festival

Organic Eco-Friendly Beauty Without Health Risk Organic Hair Color

no harsh ingredients, great results

Holistic Rejuvenation Miracle Wave a non surgical face lift

Pedicure & Manicure

with organic coconut oil sugar scrub

For Appointments Call: 203-655-7444 1950 Post Road, Darien, CT • PeartreeSalon.com

dopt-A-Dog’s 26th annual Puttin’ on the Dog festival will take place from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., September 22, at Roger Sherman Baldwin Park, in Greenwich. A fundraiser to aid the Adopt-A-Dog nonprofit rescue and adoption organization in its mission to provide a safe, healthy and quality environment while they await adoption, Puttin’ on the Dog features activities for dogs, their families and all pet lovers, including performances by local bands, dog competitions, demonstrations, children’s events, shopping, information booths and food. The Special Connections contest gives pet enthusiasts a chance to submit a story about a special relationship, memorable moment or remarkable situation they have experienced with an animal friend. The 30 best stories will be displayed in the Special Connections Gallery. Founded in 1981, Adopt-A-Dog is a dog and cat rescue sanctuary and adoption center in Armonk, New York, serving Connecticut, New York and beyond. Cost: $15, $5 for ages 13-18 and seniors, children under 12 free with adult. For more information or to purchase tickets, call 914-273-1674 or visit AdoptADog.org. See ad, page 51.

“Together we will get there!” Holistic Health Coaching for Individuals, Groups, & Organizations Call Gary Camillo today for a personal consultation 203-259-9906 CamilloHealthAndFitness.com

T�� S�� C�� T� J�� C�� G��? Hire a personal fitness trainer! D��'� �� ? Camillo Fitness's rates are affordable – we work with your budget! • Every client is an individual! • Finally achieve your goals! • Exposure to all the latest in holistic health coaching, as well as our core of fitness standards. • Located in Fairfield, CT

MINERALS FROM THE DEAD SEA

From the oldest spa on Earth… Face & Body Care • Age Defying • Gifts for Women & Men Healing and Therapeutic Treatments for Psoriasis, Eczema, Acne

…delivered to your door from the Dead Sea in Israel. Call Aliza Freedman for a personal in-home consultation. 203.554.5975 • alizafreedman17@gmail.com 10

Fairfield County Edition

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Lotus Wellness Center Offers New Playshop

he Lotus Wellness Center, in Greenwich, is offering a Returning Home to Your Authentic Self Playshop from 9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., October 5. Owner Robin Spiegel is collaborating with colleagues Greer Jonas, DeeAnn Macomson, and Auriel Morgana for a full day of inspiration, renewal and empowerment through sound, movement, chakra painting, drumming, toning, aromatherapy, meditation, ceremony, healing circles and more. Women, men and young adults are welcome to attend the workshop in a non-judgmental space. Spiegel, LMT has over 20 years of experience in the healing field and, is also the owner of Ancient Aromatics, an organic therapeutic-grade aromatherapy company. Morgana is a sound healer and energy worker. Jonas, a New York City-based intuitive numerologist, painter and teacher, will also be joined by Macomson, focusing on rhythm with her background in music and massage therapy. For more information, call 203-531-4784 or email Info@LotusWellnessCtr.com.

SOUND Grand Re-Opening and Fall Workshops

OUND, a holistic educational center in Newtown, will celebrate a grand re-opening on October 19. Located in the historic Hawleyville Chapel, at 31 Hawleyville Road, SOUND offers classes in creative arts, dance, private, early childhood and group music, music therapy, yoga, healing modalities and more. “It is with the deepest gratitude that I thank my husband John Zulli and all who dedicated their time and hard work during the renovation and building process of this beautiful historic chapel. Without their generosity and efforts, my vision for SOUND, a center that can ignite, celebrate and help heal the human spirit could not be possible. It is even more beautiful than I ever imagined,” says Jennifer Zulli, founder and director of SOUND. For more information, email SoundCenterArts@gmail.com or visit SoundCenterArts.com. See Community Resource Guide listing, page 60.

Grass Rxoots in Old Greenwich

rass Rxoots, a mini-cafe that creates organic meals and coldpressed juices, has opened at 197 Sound Beach Avenue, inside the Upper Crust Bagel Co., in Old Greenwich. The cafe’s menu includes items that are free of gluten, soy, peanuts, corn, dairy and GMOs for vegetarian, vegan, paleo and raw diets. Owners Rob and Amy Guerreri launched the organic cafe with the help of Dr. Steven Murphy, a Greenwich physician who specializes in weight management and genetic medicine. With more than 25 years of experience, holistic nutritionist and Chef Heidi Fagley also came on board as a partner. Grass Rxoots Mind+Body+Soul, a new lifestyle center spearheaded by Murphy and holistic medical doctor Kathy O’Neil Smith, is opening soon in the same space and will offer meditation groups, yoga, health resources and classes. For more information, visit GrassRxoots.com.

A Night to End Hunger in Fairfield County

ommunity Plates, a national hunger relief organization based in Norwalk, will host its third annual fall fundraiser, A Night to End Hunger in Fairfield County, from 6 to 10 p.m., October 1, at The Loading Dock, in Stamford. Honoring Community Plates’ food runners and supporters, the event will highlight the organization’s 2014 goals and unveil the new GoRescue software, which coordinates hundreds of food runners to provide direct-transfer services from food donors to receiving agencies. Founded in 2011, Community Plates has delivered over 2 million meals in three U.S. markets with plans to expand to four more areas in 2014. A $20,000 grant from the Fairfield County Community Foundation supported the development of GoRescue software. For more information, email MSpiesman@CommunityPlates.org or visit CommunityPlates.org.

Expanding Possibility Through Vision Enhance Your Eyesight

Ask About Vison Therapy

There’s more to healthy vision than 20/20 eyesight! Seeing clearly is just one part of your overall eye health. It’s important to have regular eye exams with an optometrist whether or not you wear eyeglasses or contacts, and even if your vision is sharp. Eyes are important indicators of overall health. • Comprehensive eye exams for all ages • High quality eyeglasses and speciality contact lenses • Exceptional treatment for eye diseases • LASIK & Refractive Surgey Comanagement • Solutions for dry eyes, computer use and sports

Eyecare Associates, LLC For all services visit: cteyecareassociates.com

Locations in Southern Fairfield County 139 Main Street Norwalk, CT 06851 203-840-1991 5893 Main Street Trumbull, CT 06611 203-268-8852 6515 Main Street Trumbull, CT 06611 203-374-2020 2600 Post Road Southport, CT 06890 203-255-4005

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September 2013

newsbriefs Nutritional Programs with the Fat Loss Coach

amillo Health and Fitness, in Fairfield, now offers customized nutritional programs for fat loss. Designed by Charlie Remington, known as the Fat Loss Coach, this program uses everyday foods to target fat in the body. A graduate of the Institute for Integrative Nutrition, in New York City, owner Gary Camillo emphasizes holistic nutrition, health coaching and the importance of preventive care. His work is based on the principles of Bio-individuality, creating healthy primary food relationships and working with clients to understand the Integrative Nutrition Pyramid. Focusing on core strength for clients, with an added specialty in women’s, senior and sports training, Camillo Fitness has more than 20 years of personal fitness training experience. Camillo holds certifications from the United States Weight Lifting Association, National Strength and Conditioning Association, and American College of Sports Medicine. For more information, call 203-223-1479 or visit CamilloHealthAndFitness.com. See ad, page 10.

A New Skin Care Line that Promises to be Luxurious, Effective and most Importantly Toxin-Free

www.diana.beautycounter.com

Environment Reflects Consciousness

Change your environment, Change your mind, Change Your life

Organize • Declutter • Refurbish

Energetic Space Clearing Krista Collins 203-231-9971 www.kristakcollins.com krista@kristakcollins.com

Fairfield County Edition

estport naturopath Ellen Lewis’ Shalva Clinic is offering two, four-week Wednesday fall detox groups at Westport Therapeutic. Session one begins at 7 p.m., September 11 and session two starts at 7 p.m., October 16. Featuring a gentle cleansing, Lewis’ program includes four consultations, all-detox supplementation, guidelines and support with customized modifications as needed. “Toxins are unavoidable,” says Lewis. “They are found in food, water, beauty products, prescription drugs and in the air we breathe. A detoxification program helps decrease the burden of these toxins from our bodies.”

Location: Westport Therapeutic, 37 Franklin St., Westport. For more information, email Info@ShalvaClinic.org. See ad, page 52.

Personal Wellness Center Launches Program

n September 29, Personal Wellness Center, in Fairfield, will begin a new self-development program for people who feel constrained, stuck, or separated from what they wish life could be. Access Your Pure Potentiality Through Consciously Creating Your Own Reality will empower attendees to let go of limiting beliefs and patterns that may be holding them in place, promoting self-worth, and enabling a new relationship with the self and others. Sage Osa The program takes place on five consecutive Sundays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., beginning September 29 and ending November 3. The investment in the program is $295, with a $150 non-refundable deposit. Sage Osa, founder of the Personal Wellness Center, is a third-generation psychic medium and spiritual coach who has helped thousands of people align with their authentic self to create the life they desire. To register or for more information, call 203-767-6237 or visit MyPersonalWellness.com. See ad, page 16.

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

Transforming Homes, Changing Lives

Fall Detox Series Offered by Shalva Clinic

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World’s Oldest Yoga Master Speaking at Dharma and Yoga Fest

Experience a Himalayan Salt Cave …Now Here in Ridgefield Experience

Saltana C ve

the Fairfield County's First & Only Therapeutic Himalayan Salt Cave In a salt cave, you are immediately surrounded by tons of Himalayan salt rocks, just as if you were in a salt mine. Relaxing on zero gravity lounge chairs to soothing music, experience serenity & peace in just minutes Salt therapy is: known to significantly improve respiratory issues in children & adults, asthma, allergies, countering the side effects of smoking and pollution, cystic fibrosis, acne naturally anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antifungal ~ Like us on Facebook ~ https://www.facebook.com/pages/Saltana-Cave/477550062298188

590 Danbury Road,Ridgefield 203-969-4327 SaltanaCave.com

he first-ever Dharma and Yoga Fest will take place on Saturday, September 21, from 1 to 7 p.m. at Highlands Middle School in White Plains, New York. The free event, organized by Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh (HSS), the White Plains Youth Bureau and White Plains Cares Coalition, features a talk by the world’s oldest known yoga master, Tao Porchon-Lynch. The Dharma and Yoga Fest features yoga and meditation workshops, food demonstrations, discussions, storytelling, dance and cultural performances designed to show how spirituality plays an important role in nurturing wellness of the mind and body. The 95-year-old Porchon-Lynch will share her secrets for health, longevity and graceful aging during her talk and the Q-and-A session that follows. The day, which is open to all, includes such fun-filled activities for children as game stalls, face painting, yoga for kids and a fancy costume parade. The festival concludes a year of activities organized by HSS to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the birth of Swami, who introduced the Hindu philosophies of Vedanta and yoga to the western world in 1893. Dharma and Yoga Fest is part of the Wellness Week celebration of the city of White Plains. Location: Highlands Middle School, 128 Grandview Ave. in White Plains, NY. For more information and a festival schedule, visit DYFest.org/ny or call 914-214-8911. See ad, page 36.

FEEL HEALTHY & CONFIDENT IN YOUR BODY... and in life! A gentle cleanse eating real, whole foods, will help you lose weight, take control of your health, eliminate cravings and maintain a sustainable healthy diet. Menus, recipes, food samples, pantry makeovers, support. Fall Cleanse begins September 16.

IT’S PERFECTLY NATURAL Cleanses

Sue Muro

Holistic Health and Wellness Counselor Psychology of Eating Coach

• Nutrition • Weight Loss • Healthy Cooking Instruction • Seasonal Group

Free Consultation 203-520-9449 ItsPerfectlyNatural@charter.net

ItsPerfectlyNatural.net

Intrigue Hair Salon Our clients’ well-being is our priority. Introducing Maraes, our brand new line of all natural hair color.

Instead of ammonia, sulfate, PPD, paraben, and gluten to push the color into the hair cuticle, Maraes dye depends on organic oil. This new product also provides 100 percent gray coverage.

Call for a consultation • 203-254-1015 intrigue.llc@sbcglobal.net www.intriguehair.com 1275 Post Road in the Brick Walk, Fairﬁeld, CT “It’s nice to have an option, something that’s natural.” eNaturalAwakenings.com

September 2013

newsbriefs New Warrior Training Weekend Program for Men

he Mankind Project (MKP), a not-for-profit men’s organization, brings its New Warrior Training Adventure (NWTA) to Cold Spring, New York, October 4 to 6. On a mission to “heal the planet one man at a time,” MKP has initiated more than 65,000 men worldwide through this flagship training program. “The NWTA is a powerful, experiential weekend that helps men explore different aspects of their lives,” says Jon Wilson, a leader in the New York Metro area MKP. “MKP’s goal is to help men become more emotionally intelligent and mature by embracing the core values of integrity, accountability, authenticity and respect for all mankind. We teach men how to be more accountable to others, how to be role models and what mature manhood really means.” MKP is a brotherhood that supports men to “Wake up, grow up, and show up,” with gatherings every week in communities around the world. “The ripples from the work that these men are doing in groups and trainings has impacted hundreds of thousands of people and profoundly helped families and communities,” says Wilson, noting that two MKP members received Presidential Champions of Change awards last year for their work with veterans and children. “We are here to restore sacred masculinity for our time,” Wilson adds. “Men are warriors and the true, new warrior lives his life in service to himself and his world.” To register for the New York Metro NWTA email Enrollment Coordinator Andras Bucsinszky at Bucsinszky@yahoo.com or visit NWTA.MKP.org for more information. To learn more about Mankind Project, visit MankindProject.org.

Unity Center Launches Lecture and Cabaret Series

n previous years, the Unity Center, in Norwalk, produced benefit concerts at Town Hall featuring local talent alongside entertainers from Broadway, cabaret, television, and film. The Center’s newest endeavor is the presentation of a lecture and cabaret series in its own space at 3 Main Street, Norwalk. On Saturday, September 7, Rev. Yolanda’s Old Time Gospel Hour – A Gender Bending Gospel Celebration will kick off the cabaret series with a five-piece band and featuring Joyful Noise. Kenneth Gartman (pianist/singer) hosts a monthly Open Mic Night on the third Saturday of every month with a different co-host/featured entertainer. Poets, singers, musicians, actors, and comedians are all welcome. The lecture series began August 23 with Lucie Arnaz delivering the first lecture, entitled Surviving Success. In addition to these new series, the center will offer a four-week stand-up comedy class facilitated by comedian and radio personality (TheGoodShow.com) Shawn Moninger. The class begins on Saturday, September 14 and will culminate in a comedy-themed Open Mic Night on Saturday, October 19, with special guest Nancy Witter, a comedienne, author and TV and film actress. Unity Center provides quality entertainment in an alcohol-free, family-friendly environment. Its their goal is to build community while empowering and inspiring others through entertainment. Location: Unity Center, 3 Main Street, 2nd Floor, Norwalk. For more information and to purchase discounted tickets in advance, call 203-855-7922 or visit UnityCenterPS.org See ad, page 9.

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New Nutrition Program Sustains Personal & Global Health

he Institute of Sustainable Nutrition (TIOSN), an innovative new school, is now accepting applications for its September opening at Holcomb, Farm in West Granby. Classes will meet one weekend a month for a one-year certification in Sustainable Health and Nutrition. This unique hands-on program comes at a pivotal point in the world’s food evolution. It starts by exploring the science of the human body and food, and the seasonal changes. From there, participants will move into the gardens to learn to nourish the soil and grow healthy food and herbs. They will discover how to take the harvest into the kitchen, prepare it in myriad ways, and extend and preserve the season’s bounty. Time will be spent identifying weeds that can be found when foraging in the yard and learning what to do with them as food and first aid. The rich past and exciting present of kitchen medicine with herbs will also be covered. More than a school, TIOSN is a movement. In addition to affording attendees an opportunity to enhance their knowledge and skills, the program was created with the understanding that the time spent together in these tasks—tasks that are steeped in traditional knowledge and wisdom—will create and sustain community. Location: Holcomb Farm, 113 Simsbury Rd. For more information, call 860-764-9070 or visit TIOSN.com.See ad, page 41.

kudos Melissa Kelleher, a licensed clinical social worker, has joined Reproductive Medicine Associates of Connecticut (RMACT) to work with fertility patients in Norwalk, Danbury and Trumbull. “Working with fertility patients is an opportunity to help people during one of the most stressful situations of their lives,” Melissa Kelleher says Kelleher, a graduate of New York University’s Masters in Social Work program. “Infertility is complicated. It involves layers of emotions and simultaneously requires patients to respond by making decisions that will impact them for the rest of their lives. I’m honored to help these patients and to be a part of RMACT, which is unique for making the patients’ emotional well-being a priority and having professional support in every office.” RMACT supports patients through all aspects of their fertility treatments and cycles, including mental health care, nutrition counseling and mind-body services such as yoga and acupuncture. For more information, call 800-865-5431 or visit RMACT.com. See ad, page 18. eNaturalAwakenings.com

September 2013

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inesio tape, known as K-tape, has been used by professional athletes for more than 25 years. These blue and black strips can be seen on the biceps of some NBA players or pink strips along the Achilles tendon of Olympic runners. Dr. Kenzo Kase, a Japanese practitioner licensed in chiropractic and acupuncture, developed K-tape in the mid-1970s. After he donated it to participants in the 2008 Summer Olympic Games, athletes all over the world watched and became curious about its benefits. Unlike traditional sports tape that tends to restrict or limit motion, K-tape has an elasticity and texture similar to human tissue. Common uses for K-tape include reeducating the neuromuscular system, reducing pain, optimizing performance, preventing injury and promoting improved circulation and healing. The pain-reducing benefits are cited in a July 2012 BBC News article in which Kase claims that the K-tape “lifts the skin to assist lymphatic flow, which in turn reduces pain and swelling.” Source: Dr. Meri Rosco. For more information, visit LiveWellChiropracticCare.com. See Community Resource Guide listing, page 59.

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Jog or Walk to Live Longer

slow jog around the block a few times a week can prolong life. The Copenhagen City Heart Study monitored 1,878 joggers for 30 years and found that 44 percent of these subjects are less likely to prematurely die from any cause than non-runners. Males and females that continued to jog regularly added 6.2 years and 5.6 years, respectively, to their average lifespans. It only takes 1.5 hours of slow-to-average-pace jogging a week to reap the longevity benefits. Walking is also beneficial; the National Institutes of Health says it can add up to 4.5 years to the average life expectancy. Seventy-five minutes of brisk walking a week can add 1.8 years to life expectancy after age 40, according to study results cited in PLOS Medicine.

Yoga Relieves Back Pain

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ould a simple yoga class ease chronic back pain? Yes, say researchers in two recent studies. Scientists at the University of Washington found that subjects reported a 61 percent decrease in back pain when practicing yoga in a 12-week period compared with doing simple stretching. The researchers attributed their findings, published in Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, to yoga’s physical and breathing exercises and how they increase awareness and relaxation. Another project, funded by Arthritis Research UK, showed that Britons with long-term back pain that took a 12-week yoga course reported 75 percent fewer sick days.

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Protein for Breakfast Curbs Food Cravings

kipping breakfast or eating sugary breakfast breads and cereals sets us up for increased appetite all day long, while proteinrich food effectively satiates us, according to a recent University of Missouri-Columbia study. Subjects were 20 overweight young women, ages 18 to 20, divided into three groups: those that skipped breakfast, ate cereal, or enjoyed a 350-calorie, high-protein breakfast of eggs and lean meat. Researchers tracking brain function concluded that those eating the high-protein breakfast were better able to control their eating throughout the day and evening. For people that don’t currently eat breakfast, lead researcher Heather Leidy, Ph.D., an assistant professor of nutrition and exercise physiology, says it only takes about three days to acclimate the body. Leidy suggests first trying plain Greek yogurt, cottage cheese or egg or meat burritos. Aim for 35 grams of protein in the morning for all-day control of food cravings.

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Weightlifting Lowers Heart Disease and Diabetes Risks ewer than 10 percent of Americans regularly lift weights, but perhaps more of us should, according to a study in The Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research. Scientists at the University of North Florida, in Jacksonville, found that weightlifters had a 37 percent reduced risk of metabolic syndrome, a cluster of risk factors linked to heart disease and diabetes. Previous research has linked having greater muscle strength and mass (results of weightlifting) to lower rates of metabolic syndrome. People with three out of five risk factors—a large waist (more than 40 inches for men, more than 35 inches for women), high triglycerides and low levels of HDL (good) cholesterol, high blood pressure and high blood sugar— may be diagnosed with metabolic syndrome. The researchers also analyzed data from the 1999-2004 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, which showed that young men were most likely to do regular weightlifting, while women, older people and Latinos were least likely. The survey statistics support the conclusion that nonweightlifters are more likely to exhibit metabolic syndrome.

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eens with acne might consider cutting back on milk and other dairy products. Foods with a high-glycemic index (carbohydrates affecting blood sugar levels) are the leading causes of acne at all ages, according to a meta-review of studies and clinical trials published in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Now, researchers at New York University say milk’s natural hormones may additionally stimulate the acne-producing hormones present at puberty. “Milk is designed to grow things— namely babies—and in the case of cows’ milk, calves,” comments Dr. Mark Hyman, author of The Blood Sugar Solution. “It’s naturally full of muscle-building anabolic hormones… which [also] cause bad acne.” Hyman considers cows’ milk “nature’s perfect food only if you are a calf,” and warns of “60-some hormones in the average glass of milk; even organic, raw and bovine growth-hormonefree milk.”

Antibacterials May Make School Lunches Kids Allergy-Prone Minus the Meat

dults’ obsession with antibacterial soaps, toothpastes and other personal care products may be making our children more prone to many allergies, according to research from the Johns Hopkins Children’s Center, in Baltimore, Maryland. While not the direct cause, researchers say such products may impair the development of children’s immune systems. In a study of 860 children between the ages of 6 and 18, researchers found elevated levels of immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies in children from households where these products were used. IgEs increase when exposed to allergy-causing substances like pollen, pet dander and certain foods. Urine levels of triclosan, an antibacterial agent used in soaps, mouthwash and toothpaste, provided the strongest link to increased IgE levels and increased allergy risk. Parabens, preservatives with antimicrobial properties commonly found in shampoos, conditioners, lotions and body washes, were strongly associated with allergies to pollen and pet dander. These results confirm the “hygiene hypothesis” that society’s focus on cleanliness has actually prevented children from getting dirty and developing strong immune systems that are regularly challenged and strengthened by pathogens, say researchers.

s the first school in the nation to go completely meatless, 400 students at New York City’s P.S. 244, the Active Learning Elementary School, are treated to eclectic fare that includes black bean and cheese quesadillas, falafels, and tofu in an Asian sesame sauce. “We’ve had a really great response from the kids, but they also understand it’s about healthy options,” says Principal Bob Groff. “Because we teach them to make healthy choices, they understand what is happening and believe in what we’re doing, too.” When the school opened in 2008, the cafeteria served vegetarian meals three days a week. “We started to try out recipes with small groups of students to see what they liked and didn’t like. It was a hit,” says Groff. All meals adhere to U.S. Department of Agriculture standards, so students get plenty of nutrient- and protein-dense vegetables. Students are also welcome to pack their own lunches, including meat.

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September 2013

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Solar Socket

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

The Window Socket, a new device that attaches to any window using a suction cup, provides a small amount of electricity to charge and operate small devices from its solar panel. Inventors Kyuho Song and Boa Oh, of Yanko Design, note, “We tried to design a portable socket so that users can use it intuitively, without special training.” Even better, the charger stores energy. After five to eight hours of charging, The Socket provides 10 hours of juice to charge a phone, even in a dark room. The device is not yet available in the United States.

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Shellfish Solution

Bivalve Farming May Purify Fouled Waters Scientists are investigating whether mussels can be grown in urban areas as a way of cleansing coastal waters of sewage, fertilizers and other pollutants. The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has placed an experimental raft at the mouth of New York City’s Bronx River with long tendrils seeded with geukensia demissa hanging beneath it. The two-year experiment will test whether the ribbed mussel can survive in the industrial and organic effluent found there. If it does, that could have implications for cleaning up coastal waters all over the world. The idea of using bivalves like mussels, oysters and clams to purify waterways has been on the minds of conservationists and scientists for decades. If the creatures can absorb enough nitrogen from the polluted water, it will prevent algae blooms that deprive waterways of the oxygen needed to support life. Other researchers also are investigating the beneficial effects of raising seaweed and kelp in conjunction with bivalves to clean coastal waters. Source: E360.yale.edu

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Feathered Friends

Food Shortages Guide Behavior A new report published in American Naturalist by a pair of ecologists, W. Alice Boyle and Courtney J. Conway, at the University of Arizona, in Tucson, has determined that the primary pressure prompting shortdistance bird migrations comes from seasonal food scarcity, not their amount of eating or living in non-forested environments, as was previously thought. “It’s not just whether they eat insects, fruit or nectar, or where they eat them; it matters how reliable that food source is from day-to-day,” says Boyle. A universal assumption has been that short-distance migration is an evolutionary steppingstone to longer trips. The team’s work contradicts that idea by showing that the two are inherently different. They also found that species that forage in flocks are less likely to migrate. “If a bird is faced with food scarcity, is has two options,” Boyle notes. “It can either forage with other birds or migrate.”

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Freebie Fruit

Online Mapping Points the Way

Fare Sharing

Three Is the Perfect Number With increasing traffic congestion and escalating gas prices, carpooling has become a way of life in America’s biggest cities. Now new high-tech innovations such as ridesharing apps that make the process more efficient have given rise to a new class of riders know as “slugs.” The term was originally coined by bus drivers trying to distinguish between commuters awaiting carpool drivers and people standing in line for the bus, just as they used to stay vigilant for fake bus tokens known as slugs. In many urban centers with specific lanes dedicated to cars with three occupants (HOV-3), having clearly marked entry and exit points benefits everyone—drivers move faster and save gas; riders get to work; and the environment gets a break. The magic number is three—something about having just two occupants doesn’t seem as safe to many people, although the concept is the same. If the worst happens and no drivers show up, there’s always the bus. Source: Grist.com

Falling Fruit (FallingFruit.org), created by Caleb Philips, co-founder of Boulder Food Rescue, and Ethan Welty, a photographer and geographer based in Boulder, Colorado, uses a map to cite locations of fruits and vegetables that are free to forage around the world. It looks like a Google map, with reported locations marked with dots. Zoom in and click on one to find a description of what tree or bush is there. The description often includes information about the best season to pluck plant fruits, the quality and yield, a link to the species’ profile on the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s website and additional advice on accessing the spot. Welty compiled most of the half-million or so locations from various municipal databases, local foraging organizations and urban gardening groups. Additionally, the map is open for Wikipedia-style public editing. He says, “Falling Fruit pinpoints all sorts of tasty trees in public parks, lining city streets and even hanging over fences from the UK to New Zealand.” It also lists beehives, public water wells and even dumpsters with excess food waste.

Fashion Freedom

Fair Trade Comes to Retail Clothing The revolution that started in food is expanding to clothing: origins matter. With fair trade coffee and organic fruit now standard on grocery shelves, consumers concerned with industry working conditions, environmental issues and outsourcing are now demanding similar accountability for their T-shirts. As a result, some retailers have started supplying information about how and where their products are made. “There’s real demand for sweat-free products,” observes Ian Robinson, Ph.D., a lecturer and research scientist at the University of Michigan who studies labor issues. “Consumers don’t have the information they need, and they do care.” The New York Times reported that a recent factory collapse in Bangladesh might play a part in changing that. Loblaw Companies Limited, the parent company of Joe Fresh, which produced clothing there, has vowed to audit factories more aggressively and compensate the victims’ families. “The apparel industry can be a force for good,” vows Galen G. Weston, Loblaw’s chairman.

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Scrub Up

Cleaning the Environment a Step at a Time

Killing Fields

Neonicotinoid Pesticides Threaten Birds and Insects, Too Controversial neonicotinoid pesticides linked to catastrophic honeybee declines in North America and Europe may also kill other creatures, posing ecological threats even graver than feared, according to a new report by the American Bird Conservancy. It claims that dangers to birds and stream-dwelling and soil-dwelling insects accidentally exposed to the chemicals have been underestimated by regulators and downplayed by industry. “The environmental persistence of the neonicotinoids, their propensity for runoff and for groundwater infiltration and their cumulative and largely irreversible mode of action in invertebrates raise environmental concerns that go well beyond bees,” according to the report co-authors, pesticide policy expert Cynthia Palmer and pesticide toxicologist Pierre Mineau, Ph.D., who both work for the nonprofit. They note that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency typically sets guidelines for bird exposures using laboratory tests on just two species, which ignores widely varying sensitivities among hundreds of other species. Scott Black, executive director of the Xerces Society, an invertebrate conservation group, says that integrated pest management (IPM), which combines precisely targeted chemical use with other, non-chemical means of pest control, can deliver industrial-scale yields in an environmentally sustainable way. To the detriment of wildlife, “[Our nation] has moved away from IPM, from scouting a farm, putting in habitat for beneficial insects and spraying only if there’s damage,” he warns. “With neonicotinoids, they don’t do that anymore,” instead returning to indiscriminate blanket spraying. Primary source: Tinyurl.com/ABCBirdReport

Unilever, one of the world’s largest consumer product companies, which makes Vaseline and Dove soaps, is doing away with a longtime manufacturing process because scientists and environmental groups are concerned that it contributes to polluting oceans. The company has decided to phase out the use of plastic micro-beads as a scrubbing agent in all personal care products by 2015. Small pieces of plastic material under five millimeters in diameter, referred to as micro-plastics, originate from a variety of different sources, including the breakdown of larger plastic materials in the water, the shedding of synthetic fibers from textiles during domestic clothes washing, and the micro-beads used for their abrasive properties in a range of consumer and industrial products.

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Oil Alternative

Bio-Breakthrough Can Reduce Fossil Fuel Use

Researchers at Virginia Tech, in Blacksburg, attest they have succeeded in using xylose, the most abundant simple plant sugar, to produce a large quantity of hydrogen in a method that can be performed using any source of biomass. “Our new process could help end our dependence on fossil fuels,” projects Y. H. Percival Zhang, the associate professor of biological systems engineering who is spearheading the initiative. This environmentally friendly method of producing hydrogen utilizes renewable natural resources, releases almost zero greenhouse gases and doesn’t require costly heavy metals. Most hydrogen for commercial use is produced from natural gas, which is expensive to manufacture and generates a large amount of the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide. “It really doesn’t make sense to use non-renewable natural resources to produce hydrogen,” says Zhang. “We think this discovery is a game-changer in the world of alternative energy.”

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September 2013

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Stamford Hospital health professionals will provide free health screenings and educational information at the upcoming Stamford Hospital Health Wellness & Sports Expo 2013 at Chelsea Piers Connecticut.

Stamford Hospital Health Wellness & Sports Expo 2013 Returns to Chelsea Piers CT September 21 and 22

he Stamford Hospital Health Wellness & Sports Expo 2013 is returning to Chelsea Piers Connecticut, the 400,000-square-foot, stateof-the-art sports and recreation facility at 1 Blachley Road in Stamford, Saturday, September 21 and Sunday, September 22, from, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Now in its second year, the Expo, which is free to the public, promises to be educational, interactive and entertaining for all ages and aims to convey the overall message—now is the time to take charge of your health. The public is encouraged to bring one or more nonperishable food items in exchange for free raffle tickets for a chance to win healthy door prizes or tickets can be purchased for $5. All food and proceeds will be donated to the Food Bank of Lower Fairfield County. Door prizes will be awarded throughout the weekend. Produced by TMK Sports & Entertainment, LLC, the event will feature free health screenings and educational information provided by Stamford Hospital, a wide variety of exhibi24

Fairfield County Edition

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tors, fitness demos and more. Special guests will include Connecticut native and recently crowned Miss USA 2013 Erin Brady, who will demonstrate healthy cooking, meet and greet attendees and, in her role as Miss USA, serve as a spokesperson for breast and ovarian cancer education, prevention and awareness. Brady, the former Miss Connecticut USA, will participate in the expo from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, September 21 and be on hand at Stamford Hospital’s Paint the Town Pink exhibit, which promotes breast cancer awareness. Brady will also work side-by-side with Grade A ShopRite’s dietitian Jamie McIntyre to demonstrate healthy cooking. Passionate about running and a Tough Mudder competitor, Brady will also spend time at the many exhibits, particularly those featuring fitness and lifetime sports. “We are excited to welcome Miss USA to this year’s Expo,” says Vicki Hoffman, Stamford Hospital Service Line director, Orthopedics & Women’s Health. “Erin is a wonderful representative of health and wellness and we look forward to her sharing her passion for healthy living with our exhibitors and attendees.” Exhibits will cover alternative medicine, integrated nutrition, weight management, children’s health, pet wellness, healthy homes, spa and beauty treatments, fitness programs, financial health, green technology, sports medicine, lifetime sports and more. Exhibitor highlights will include Debbie Miron, Shaklee independent distributor, who will showcase many health products and introduce Shaklee’s Biggest Loser 180 Weight Loss Challenge, and Grade A ShopRite, which will feature healthy food samples and recipes in addition to McIntyre’s cooking demos. Visitors can also meet News 12 Connecticut anchor and “12 on Health” reporter Gillian Neff on Saturday and Sunday from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Attendees can explore Ageless Personal Training’s holistic approach to fitness from anti-aging expert and celebrity trainer Mario Lomanto; watch how healthy meals can be quickly created by Vitamix, the maker of high-performance blenders; and learn how to stand taller from posture specialists at Stamford Healthcare Associates, a chiropractic practice. Visitors will also experience fitness in action by UFC Stamford, which will demo martial arts, Work it Dance and Fitness, which will showcase their high energy routines, and the Greenwich Track Club, which will conduct fun races. Additional exhibitors will include Stamford Sports & Spine, BlueStreak Sports Training, the Spa at the Delamar, Game Day Skincare for Active Men, Angela Cosmai Salon, Grand Prix New York, Capt Saam’s Scuba School, Agora Spa, Lander Chiropractic Sport & Health Sciences, Performance Physical Therapy and more. Sponsors of the event include Stamford Hospital, Grade A ShopRite and Shaklee Independent Distributor and the following media sponsors: Hearst Media Services, Moffly Media, News 12 Connecticut, Natural Awakenings, WEBE 108, KidsOutAndabout.com and Hey Stamford! For more information, contact TMK Sports & Entertainment at 203-531-3047 or visit HWS-Expos.com.

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September 2013

Health Wellness & Sports Expo Exhibitor Marketplace

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ecotip several natural products in wide use among Indian women. Here are some popular ones available in America. Henna: Women mix powder from the henna plant with water to use as a natural hair dye and conditioner.

Global Glamour Natural Beauty Aids from India

The health and beauty aisle at Indian grocery stores includes

Fairfield County Edition

Coconut oil: Indian women regularly massage a natural oil into their scalp before washing to keep their hair healthy and prevent the scalp from drying out and itching. “Coconut oil helps to grow hair long,” advises Bibya Malik, owner of Bibya Hair Design, a salon chain in Chicago. “It is probably the most widely used hair oil in the Indian subcontinent; amla

natural awakenings

oil, jasmine oil and other herbal oils are used, as well.” Rosewater: Most often used as a skin toner, some women also like to spray rosewater on their face as a refresher. Rosewater has a long history as a fragrance and as a flavoring in dessert recipes. Ubtan: This mixture of turmeric, gram (chickpea) flour and herbs is combined with milk or water as a beauty treatment. Indian brides scrub their skin with it in the days prior to their wedding. Source: Bibya Hair Design, research by Bushra Bajwa

healthykids

What Peace Means to Children The World We All Need by Kids for Peace

Peace isâ&#x20AC;Ś a wish that grows around the world everyone feeling music in their hearts everyone having someone to love everyone knowing they are in a safe place everyone knowing they are beautiful inside and out singing together making art and sharing it with others growing a garden, planting a tree protecting animals

love meditating nature the beauty that surrounds the world

Kids for Peace Pledge I pledge to use my words to speak in a kind way. I pledge to help others as I go throughout my day.

I pledge to care for our Earth with my healing heart and hands. I pledge to respect people in each and every land. I pledge to join together as we unite the big and small. I pledge to do my part to create peace for one and all. Contributions are by children ages 5 to 11. For more information, visit KidsForPeaceGlobal.org.

getting Dorothy back home everyone playing sports instead of going to war happiness for all, peace on Earth and pizza for all people being kissed goodnight every child having a family every child having a ball to play with at least one hug a day a warm bed to dream in the angel in my heart using your voice for good treating others as you wish to be treated sending all soldiers home to their families people shaking hands keeping our world safe knowing anything is possible having fun and being kind helping people in need everyone having an education everyone having good food goodness laughter

Honoring the United Nationsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; International Day of Peace, September 21

His Holiness has a Fan Page. Do You?

We all Want to be LIKED

203.548.7785 Rob@SocialResultsToday.com eNaturalAwakenings.com

September 2013

uses six, each containing a dozen or more chemicals. With repeated use, many of these chemicals can be present at concentrations above the individual’s acceptable daily intake. The list of potentially harmful chemicals used in cosmetics includes many—such as lead, methoxyethanol, mercury, nitromethane and phenacetin—that have been linked to cancer, reproductive toxicity, hormone disruption, brain damage and other health issues. Unfortunately, many women are confused about how to find safe and effective beauty care products with which to replace the chemically laden ones. Several companies are committed to offering products to the public that are more beneficial for their whole wellbeing, not just how they appear on the outside.

Natural Skin Care and Cosmetics:

Use This, Not That by Ana Mercedes Kranzlin

he United States is the biggest cosmetic market in the world, with estimated revenue of about $55 billion, 7.2 billion of which came from Internet sales in 2010. As new cosmetics continue to flood the market, consumers must navigate many concerns, including what products are best for specific skin types or particular age-related concerns and perhaps most importantly, how the ingredients that comprise the products might affect their health. A dawning realization that the chemicals in cosmetics could increase the risks of cancer and other diseases has driven efforts to produce safer, more natural and organic products, free of the potentially harmful synthetic ingredients. The Environmental Working Group (EWG) researches and publishes data about the safety of cosmetics, 28

Fairfield County Edition

expressing concerns about the lack of premarket safety testing for chemicals that go into personal care products. EWG notes that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has stated, “…a cosmetic manufacturer may use almost any raw material as a cosmetic ingredient and market the product without an approval from FDA.” Hundreds of cosmetic chemicals that have been banned in the European Union continue to be used in the United States. According to the nonprofit Story of Stuff Project, the self-regulated cosmetic industry has assessed just 20 percent of the ingredients in beauty products for long-term safety and has rejected only a handful. In the short film, The Story of Cosmetics, creator, director and host Annie Leonard notes that the average woman uses 12 personal care products daily and the average man

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Minimally Processed Skincare One such business is the family-owned Neal’s Yard Remedies, founded in England in 1981. Independent consultant Rosanne Conoscenti, of Fairfield County, describes the Neal’s Yard approach to skin care: “We try to pinpoint the main skin care concern for each of our customers and address that first. Our skin changes with the seasons and of course, as we age, so we always need to be evaluating what products are best for us.” Conoscenti says that it is important to evaluate and potentially change the products we have been using because the skin is the largest organ of the body and may absorb many of the ingredients that we apply to it. “There are many well-publicized trials showing that as a population, we are increasingly contaminated,” she comments, pointing out reports that traces of hundreds of chemicals have been found in the umbilical cord blood of newborns. “If we can minimize the chemicals in our food by choosing minimally processed and organic food, why would we not do that in our skincare?” she remarks. All of Neal’s Yard Remedies products are also vegetarian and cruelty-free.

Fruits, Vegetables and Flowers Make Us Look Better LUSH—a British company founded in the 1970s with local retail stores at the

Danbury Fair Mall and Trumbull Mall, as well as a catalog ordering system— produces its makeup and skin care lines using fresh ingredients from farmers’ markets and flower shops. The products are not tested on animals. “Freshness is at the core of LUSH. Using whole, fresh ingredients means you get the most effective product for your money,” indicates Erica Vega, the company’s North American product trainer for cosmetics. She advises three basic ways to keep the skin healthy: “Drink plenty of water, stay out of the sun and don’t smoke.” She adds, “As skin matures, the need for moisture becomes more and more prevalent. Keeping the skin conditioned from an early age will keep it elastic and will prevent it settling into wrinkles.”

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The Never List

Concerned about the lack of ingredient testing and government oversight in cosmetics industry, Gregg Renfrew founded the California-based skin care company Beautycounter with the mission to create cosmetics that would be safe, effective and chic. Beautycounter provides a Never List of cosmetic chemicals often found in conventional beauty products that it promises never to use because they have been linked to cancer, reproductive harm and cell damage. The company instead uses natural botanicals including aloe, coconut oil and geranium, argan nut, grapeseed and marula oils. New products soon to be released include sunscreens, as well as a children’s line and a makeup line.

“Many exercise forms—aerobic, yoga, weights, walking and more—have been shown to benefit mood.” ~Andrew Weil

Cleanse, Tone and Moisturize

Debbie Miron is an authorized distributor of Shaklee products, a large natural nutrition company based in the United States. From her office and showroom in Greenwich, Miron suggests these three steps for everyone, regardless of age and gender: cleanse, tone and moisturize. For young people, Miron recommends choosing a normal-to-oily skin cleanser and toner; for clients 40 and over, she suggests normal-to-dry. “In addition, the company recommends the patented AM Time Repair Moisturizer with sun protection factor (SPF) 15, and also offers moisturizers that are specifieNaturalAwakenings.com

September 2013

Relax, Enjoy &

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

cally designed for ultra-dry or oily skin—a hydrating moisturizer for those needing more moisturizing or a balancing moisturizer for those needing a lightweight, oil free moisturizer,” she explains. Shaklee’s vitamin-infused, anti-aging skin care line boasts seven patents and is hypoallergenic and free of parabens.

Beauty Comes from Nature

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

Kindred Spirits A Center for the Mind, Body & Soul

Ancient cultures seemed to understand what we are re-learning: Mother Nature has the resources we need for our health and beauty. Seacret products are made from essential oils and minerals from the Dead Sea, in Israel, and are distributed independently in the United States. “Skincare needs to begin when we are young to avoid problems as we age,” says Aliza Freedman, agent of Seacret products in Fairfield County. “Regardless of age or gender, everyone should use a good cleanser, exfoliator, moisturizer and sunscreen. Depending upon age and whether your skin is dry, oily or combination, all regimens should be tweaked to balance and respond to the skin’s natural state,” she adds. Seacret specializes in Dead Sea masks and soaps for oily skin, and moisturizing scrubs and body butters for dry skin. The company also produces treatments for eczema, psoriasis and acne that act without doing any harm.

Committed to Care of the Earth

203-938-3690 KindredSpiritsCenter.com

Founded in 1975 in Switzerland by Petter Morck, Arbonne develops its skin, body and hair care lines, as well as cosmetics and nutritional products, from botanically based ingredients. The international company is independently distributed in Fairfield County. Arbonne has an Ever Green Commitment, through which the company strives to be friendly to the Earth, from its selection of ingredients to its choices in packaging and delivery procedures.

Natural Awakenings Singles Site

Ana Mercedes Kranzlin is a contributing writer to Natural Awakenings who resides in New Canaan, Connecticut.

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Single?

Local Resources for Safer Cosmetics

Ready to Meet Your Natural Match?

• Neal’s Yard Remedies sells online and through in-home events with independent consultants. Call Rosanne Conoscenti at 203-984-3004 or visit US.NYROrganic. com/shop/RCono. See ad, page 17.

ccess many thousands of health-conscious, eco-minded, spiritual singles now!

• LUSH products can be found at the Danbury Fair Mall and Trumbull Mall. Call 203-744-5874 or visit LUSHusa.com.

Join for free

• Shaklee independent distributor Debbie Miron provides free skin care and nutrition consultations. Call 203-253-1462 or visit DebbieMiron.MyShaklee.com/us/en. See ad, page 26.

• Beautycounter offers its products online or locally through direct sales. Call consultant Diana Pisano at 203-962-2591, email Diana.Beautycounter@gmail.com or visit Diana.Beautycounter.com. See ad, page 12.

and manifest an extraordinary, enlightened relationship. Summer is in the air; be proactive by joining today. Your soul mate is waiting to meet you!

• Seacret Direct agent Aliza Freedman offers a free gift with purchase to anyone that mentions Natural Awakenings. Connect with her at 203-554-5975, AlizaFreedman17@gmail.com or SeacretDirect.com/Freedman. See ad, page 10. • Arbonne products can be ordered by calling 1-800-272-6663, emailing Info@Arbonne.com or visiting Arbonne.com. Online resources for more information: • Environmental Working Group, ewg.org/SkinDeep.

NaturalAwakeningsSingles.com 30

Fairfield County Edition

• Story of Stuff Project, StoryOfStuff.org. • The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, SafeCosmetics.org.

natural awakenings

Salon Aponte

Organic Hair CarE A Safer Alternative by Ana Mercedes Kranzlin

very woman has experienced the proverbial bad hair day and many women struggle to find the right hair color and products. According to StatisticBrain.com, an estimated 75 percent of American women color their hair and increasingly, men are following this trend. These days choosing to color may not be such an easy decision, once people consider the harmful chemicals found in many conventional hair products. For example, a 2011 study completed at Brigham Women’s Hospital, in Boston, suggests a link between the childhood use of hair oils and perms and the early onset of puberty in girls due to exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals. Also in 2011, the Environmental Working Group (EWG) published a report about long-lasting keratin hair straighteners and smoothers that expose people to a significant amount of formaldehyde, a known carcinogen and potent allergen. Concerns about the contents of hair color date back to the 1970s, when consumers were alerted to the dangers of ingredients such as coal tar and benzidine, both known carcinogens. Most manufacturers changed the ingredients in hair dye products to

eliminate some of these chemicals, but many of the substitutes, like ammonia and parabens, have since been linked to a variety of medical conditions. Ammonia-free hair dyes are becoming more popular. Commercially available brands such as Herbatint, Light Mountain, Aveda, and Morrocco Method Int’l proclaim an organic and holistic approach to hair care. However, it is always important to research claims and read ingredient labels carefully. EWG offers a guide to chemicals to avoid in hair care products and rates a large number of brands according to the safety of their ingredients (ewg.org/SkinDeep/top-tips-for-saferproducts).

Local Salons Offer Non-toxic Hair Care

It is now possible to enhance appearance without endangering the environment, or ourselves thanks to a number of safer alternatives to chemical-laden products. Several salons in Fairfield County have proactively chosen natural and organic products after realizing the dangers of exposing their staff and clients to the dangerous ingredients in conventional products. Here are the stories from a few local salons that have made the change.

Salon Aponte, awarded as the number one eco-friendly salon in Fairfield County in 2012 by the New Haven Advocate, has offered natural products to its clients for more than a decade, when owner Nancy Aponte realized the dangers of being exposed to ammonia. The salon now offers organic beauty aids including New Jersey-made Karma Organic nail polish and polish remover, free of toluene, formaldehyde and dibutyl phalate, as well as Kettle Care all-natural shampoos, conditioners, hair sprays and gels made in Montana from ingredients grown without herbicides or pesticides. Moroccan Organics shampoos, conditioners and oils are also available. Salon Aponte uses Organic Colour Systems (OCS) from England. “This color works just as a traditional color would, but without the caustic exposure to ammonia or its derivatives,” says Aponte. “Ammonia blasts open the cuticle of the hair so the pigment can seep in, whereas with OCS, the use of a warm dryer takes its places and slowly allows the color to penetrate.” Location: 838 Main St., Monroe. For more information, call 203-261-2838 or visit SalonAponte.com.

Peartree’s Salon

Peartree’s Salon journey to become an organic and eco-friendly place started when owner Grisel Cruz became a yoga teacher. “We want to be able to provide services with organic, more natural products that are good for our clients and the environment,” she enthuses. Organic Salon Systems certifies Peartree’s staff. The salon also has a refill organic shampoo and conditioner program to help reduce plastic bottle consumption. Cruz is excited to discover innovative natural products such as Crystals, an application of vitamin C that removes chlorine, mineral deposits and buildup from hair products to leave just shiny, healthy hair. Location: 1950 Post Rd., Darien. For more information, call 203-655-7444 or visit PeartreeSalon.com.

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September 2013

It’s Not Just Bad Hair, It’s Dangerous When buying hair products, try to avoid the following compounds: • Ammonia • Ceteareths and polyethylene • DMDM hydantoin • Diethanolamine (DEA) and triethanolamine (TEA) • Ethoxylated ingredients (those starting with PEG or ending with -eth) • Fragrance • Imidazolidinyl urea and diazolidinyl urea • Parabens (often preceded by propyl, isopropyl, butyl, isobutyl, methyl) • Petrolatum (petroleum jelly) • Propylene glycol • Silicone • Sodium lauryl/laureth sulfate (SLS or SLES)

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Intrigue Salon

Sally Goldstein, owner of Intrigue Salon, which has served Fairfield County for 11 years, switched to natural and organic products when she was pregnant and realized the chemicals she was using in her salon could be harmful to her child. This, along with a realization that more clients seem to be susceptible to allergies and skin sensitivities, prompted her to look for alternative products that would still deliver great results. “We believe the best way for someone to know how a product works is to educate them prior to using it on their hair,” states Goldstein. One brand used at Intrigue is the Maraes color line, which she affirms is free of parabens, para-phenylenediamine, gluten, sulfates and ammonia. “It features certified organic Monoi de Tahiti oils instead; it is safe for all ages and hair types and gives 100 percent gray coverage,” she says. Location: 1275 Post Rd., Fairfield. For more information, call 203-254-1015 or visit IntrigueHair.com.

Synergy Salon

Michele Maestri-Murphy, a 23-year veteran hairstylist, has been interested in nutrition, health and wellness throughout her life. “After a few years of being in the salon environment, I became concerned about all of the toxins I was being exposed to and feared what the long-term effects would be for my clients and me,” recalls Murphy. “I decided to meld my passions to create a more conscious salon.” After much research and preparation, she opened Synergy Salon in 2006. Synergy provides herbal color, pure henna, henna with gray coverage and other hair products—all free of the toxic chemicals found in conventional salon styling, such as dimethicone, DEA, EDTA, artificial fragrance and phalates. The salon uses Derma Organic and Bamboo brands and occasionally creates treatments from fresh produce and other farmers’ market goods. “The response to the salon concept has been wonderful,” Murphy enthuses. “People are very thankful to have an alternative.” Location: 53 East Ave., New Canaan. For more information, call 203-966-5655 or visit SynergySalonNC.com.

Kim Roach

Independent stylist Kim Roach specializes in organic hair color and organic, non-formaldehyde smoothing treatments.

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Kim Roach works from Briana Salon, located at 15 Square Acre Dr., in Stamford. For more information, call 203-4619543 or visit Vagaro.com/KimRoach.

201 Huntingtown Rd, Newtown • 203.270.8820

Ana Mercedes Kranzlin is a contributing writer to Natural Awakenings who resides in New Canaan.

SticksAndStonesFarm.com 32

Fairfield County Edition

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inspiration

Fall Flyways

Thrill to Flocks in Full Flight by Timothy Boucher

all migration literally brings birds of a different feather than in springtime. Spring migration brings a glorious burst of song and color as millions of tiny feathered gems pour northward, singing their hearts out, flitting about with the excitement of arrival at their breeding grounds. They are relatively easy to spot and identify by their voices and bright plumage. In the fall, birdwatching is trickier. To survive, migrating birds need to go to warmer climes for food, because insects do not thrive in cold temperatures. Males molt their bright plumage, need-

ing fresh feathers for the long flight. Most retain some color, but generally, they are duller and look similar to the females. Identification becomes harder because some species are similar in appearance and the singing gives way to an occasional, subtle call, emitted as little chipping sounds at most. The Internet offers a comprehensive range of data that can suggest which days are best for early morning viewings. Experienced birders know the best local spots, and weather forecasts are good indicators of timing. Sid Gautreaux’s pioneering study of bird migration in the

1960s using weather radar, still ongoing at the Radar Ornithology Lab at South Carolina’s Clemson University, is available to birders on regional websites via Tinyurl.com/USBirdTrackingRadar. While radar can confirm the magnitude and direction of the migration over the previous night, weather predictions help forecast when big flights will occur. So, the next step is to hold a wetted finger up to the wind. A big cold front will hold up birds from moving south because the associated low pressure brings southerly winds and storms. Birds wait it out, storing fuel. Then, when the front clears and a tailwind comes from the north, a floodtide of birds pours southward. Eager birders, having arrived shortly after dawn, await at selected spots 200 to 300 miles south of the leading edge of the former front. On days like these, the skies are brimming with birds. Grassroots monitoring reports on the birds’ progress from mid-August through October are posted at eBird. org, sponsored by New York’s Cornell Lab of Ornithology (Birds.Cornell.edu). As Joni Mitchell sang, we rejoice that, “They’ve got the urge for going now, and they’ve got the wings to go.”

Timothy Boucher is a senior conservation geographer at The Nature Conservancy (Nature.org), focused on ecosystem services, land use, habitat conditions and links between conservation and human well-being. His fieldwork spans six continents, encompassing local and global issues.

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WHOLE-BEING

WORKOUTS Moving the Body Opens the Door to Spirit by Lisa Marshall

t’s the Sabbath, a day of “Exercise can picks up the pace, Pierrat leads the group through prayer, and millions of be a powerful a funky, rave-like series people across America are quietly sitting or kneeldance moves aimed at gateway to of ing, humbly communing “opening up” the hips and with a power greater than the spiritual.” chest and something less themselves. tangible deep inside. By ~ Chantal Pierrat But inside the Alchemy song five, the sweat is flowof Movement studio in Bouling and some are dancing der, Colorado, the Soul Sweat faithful unabashedly, eyes closed, lost in the are connecting with their higher power music. Others are smiling broadly, makin a different fashion. In bare feet, and ing eye contact in the mirror. wearing yoga pants and tank tops, they The sense of joy and interconnectfind a place before a wall-to-wall miredness in the room is palpable. “Exerror while a slow, Afro-Brazilian rhythm cise can be a powerful gateway to the vibrates the wooden floor. spiritual,” observes Pierrat, the founder At the urging of instructor Chantal of Soul Sweat, a highly choreographed, Pierrat, they let their arms and necks spiritually charged dance workout. go limp, shaking off the week’s stresses Twenty years after the yoga craze introduced Westerners to the possibilvia a sensual, full-body writhe she calls ity that the two seemingly incongruous “the flail.” As the World Beat playlist

Fairfield County Edition

natural awakenings

goals could be intertwined, the spirituality-fitness link has spread well beyond the yoga mat. It has spawned fusions ranging from Body Gospel, a Christian workout tape, and Jewish Yoga classes to triathlon programs rooted in Native American teachings and Buddhismbased running meditation workshops. In addition, creative instructors have been fusing body/mind/spirit classics like yoga and Pilates with hardcore cardio disciplines like spinning and boxing. Half of all U.S. fitness clubs now offer mind/body programming, according to the IDEA Health & Fitness Association, and the portion of classes dedicated to “mind/spirit” versus just “body” is on the rise. “The newer programming is balanced 50-50, rather than the 80-20 body-mind split of the past,” estimates Sandy Todd Webster, editor in chief of IDEA’s publications. At a time when, according to the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life, the number of people that identify with “no organized religion” continues to grow (topping one-fifth of Americans and one-third of U.S. adults under 30), more people than ever are exploring exercise as a path to both flatter abs and deeper self-discovery. “We have spent so long focusing on the mind and the brain… but that is not the whole story,” says Pierrat. “The somatic, or physical, expression of spirituality is the future.”

In the Zone

The notion that intense dancing or a long run could spark what feels like a spiritual awakening makes sense to Philadelphia-based research neuroscientist and physician Andrew Newberg, author of How God Changes Your Brain. A pioneer in the field of integrative “neurotheology”, he has for years used brain imaging technologies to study the impact religious or spiritual practices like deep meditation, intense prayer and speaking in tongues have on the brain. Exercise, he says, provides many of the same effects. In addition to prompting a surge of feel-good endorphins, a highly strenuous workout is one of the few activities that can lead to simultaneous activation of both sympathetic (fight-or-flight) and parasympathetic (calming) nervous

“A lot of people separate things, saying they’ll get their spirituality from one place and their exercise from somewhere else. I think they are missing out.” ~ Marcus Freed system reactions. “Normally, when one Book of Psalms, says, “Let all my bones of these is active, the other one shuts praise the creator.” The Jewish Talmud down, but when people drive one or refers to a rabbi that “stretched his spine the other to a very heightened level of with a prayer of gratitude.” Yet, Freed activity, there is some evidence that the observes, the physical elements of daily other turns on too,” explains Newberg. spiritual practice have been largely That intense dual firing can forgotten over the centuries. When paradoxically lead to an interruption in he discovered yoga, it filled a gap for sensory information traveling to areas him. “I found a way to draw upon this of the brain that control our sense of incredible spiritual literature but ground ourselves at any moment. “Not only do it in the body, so that experience is not you have this great feeling of energy just in the head, but also in the heart.” and calmness, but you tend to lose your Thus, Freed founded Bibliyoga, sense of space and time,” he notes. which launches each class with a Newberg’s own research also Hebrew or Kabbalistic teaching, folsuggests that when people “surrender” lowed by poses that incorporate its themselves in a spiritual practice, the themes, as reflected in his book, The frontal lobe (the practical part of the Kosher Sutras: The Jewish Way in Yoga brain that keeps our thoughts in check) and Meditation. The practice, now quiets. He speculates that something taught in cities around the United States similar may happen in the midst of, and Europe, has prompted the birth say, a marathon or intense dance, of similarly religion-infused classes, enabling out of the ordinary thoughts including Christ Yoga, and the Jewish and feelings to surface. “It can allow for Yoga Network. “A lot of people separate creativity—a blending of different, more things, saying they’ll get their spiritualintuitive ideas in ways you don’t nority from one place and their exercise mally mix things,” comments Newberg. from somewhere else,” says Freed. “I So, is exercise able to only make think they are missing out.” us feel like we’re having a mystical experience, or is it somehow actually Mindful Sports opening a channel to the divine? NewThe spirituality-exercise link likewise berg declines to go there, commenting resonates through other traditionally that a brain scan tells what’s going on in solo pursuits such as triathlon activities the brain, not in the soul. Yet he has no and running, in which many athletes us aatmore or email us atapproach to traindoubt the two are inextricably linked. Callsay mindful He says, “There are many well-known today! ing has infused their sport with more examples of intense experiences, like Sufi dancing, generating spiritual experiences for people.”

Whole-Being Workouts

Marcus Freed is one of those people. He grew up in a traditional Jewish family in London, England, and attended a rabbinical seminary in Israel. Still, he felt that something was missing in his spiritual life. “I thought, ‘God has created us with a body. Why aren’t we praying with our body?’” Freed says that Biblical text often references the body: King David, in the

meaning, and in some cases, improved their performances. Ironman Marty Kibiloski, formerly a competitive marathoner and road racer, led what he terms a “high achievement, low contentment” life for years, measuring his self-worth by timed results that never quite satisfied him. In 2006, he attended a Running with the Mind of Meditation three-day workshop, based on Rinpoche Sakyong Mipham’s book of the same name. The retreat combined with his newfound interest in Buddhism, completely redefined running for him. Kibiloski prefers to steer clear of the word “spiritual” (which he sees as somewhat ambiguous) when describing what he now experiences when running. Instead, he frames it as a vehicle for self-discovery, a mobile meditation that provides the intense focus and freedom from distraction that enables him to “awaken to how things really are.” He now leads the retreat that proved pivotal for him, drawing more than 100 runners each Labor Day weekend to the Shambhala Mountain Center, in Red Feather Lakes, Colorado. Participants learn to focus on the cadence of their footfalls, their breathing and their surroundings to, as he puts it, “move meditation beyond the cushion.” He remarks, “It trains you to have your mind be still when your body is active, which is how you are in everyday life.” Triathlete Mark Allen credits his work with Brant Secunda, a shaman and teacher in the Huichol Indian tradition of Mexico, for enabling him to overcome negative self-talk and physical stresses and go on to win the Ironman World Championship in Kona, Hawaii, six

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September 2013

“Mobile meditation… trains you to have your mind be still when your body is active, which is how you are in everyday life.”

Clinics Your Partners in Health and Wellness

The UB Clinics, located on the campus of the University of Bridgeport, are staffed by some of the brightest and most talented healthcare professionals of the future. Open to the public, the UB Clinics offer affordable, high-quality care at a fraction of the cost of comparable treatments elsewhere. • Naturopathic Medicine • Dental Hygiene • Chiropractic • Acupuncture Call our UB Clinics at 203-576-4349 to take advantage of this unique healthcare opportunity located in your own backyard. Or visit www.ubclinics.org

FUSION WORKOUTS

4/6/10 4:58 PM

WELLNESS WEEK 2013 SPIRITUAL WELLNESS DAY

A Spiritual Celebration Of Universal Oneness

Saturday September 21, 2013 1 PM to 7 PM Highlands Middle School 128 Grandview Ave White Plains, NY 10605 Free Admission and Parking Parallel Track Sessions Include:

Yoga and Meditation Workshops, Holistic Living Food Workshops, Indian Classical Dance, Kirtan and Chanting, Discourses, Panel Discussions, Game Stalls, Puppet Shows, Story Telling, Face Painting, Children’s Fancy Costume Competition of Indian Persona* Grand Raffle Prize iPad! Gifts Bags for first 500 registrants!!

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www.DYFest.org/ny ● facebook.com/dharmaandyogafest.ny info.ny@DYFest.org ● (914)214-8911

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times in the late 1980s and early 90s. He notes, “In every one of my physical workouts, I also focused on training the spiritual aspect, so that when I got that chatter in my head, saying, ‘This is too hard’ or ‘I want to quit,’ I could go to a quiet place, rather than a negative one.” Based on their book, Fit Soul, Fit Body: Nine Keys to a Healthier, Happier You, the pair conduct workshops around the country on how to strengthen both soul and body by intertwining both. “Some people think you are only spiritual when you are praying, but when you are moving your body, that is an intensely spiritual experience, too,” says Allen. “It’s my way of saying, ‘Thank you for letting me be alive.’” Lisa Marshall is a freelance health writer near Boulder, CO. Connect at Lisa@LisaAnnMarshall.com.

Health Sciences Center, 60 Lafayette Street, Bridgeport, CT 06604

UBRIRE380_natrl_Awkngs_Ad color PRINT.indd 1

~ Marty Kibiloski

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Pump Body, Charge Spirit by Casey McAnn Drawing newcomers eager to break a sweat while staying true to their mind/body and spiritual roots is the aim of yoga, Pilates and tribal dance instructors that are busy introducing innovations. Here’s a quick look at just some of them. Aero boga: This approach to yoga-dance fusion is designed for older adults that follow the bhakti yoga philosophy. Buti: Teachers of this 90-minute, high-intensity workout that fuses yoga, tribal dance and plyometrics aim to unlock the shakti spiral and release the hips to help energy flow freely in the first and second chakras. Piloxing: Created by Swedish dancer and celebrity trainer Viveca Jensen, Piloxing blends Pilates and boxing with powerful principles of femininity. Soul Sweat: Highly choreographed, yet accessible to beginners, dance movements are set to World Beat, African, Latin, hip-hop and rave music to enhance coordination, tone muscles, enhance energy flow and awaken creativity. Vinyasa on the bike: Conscious pedaling on a stationary bike integrates yoga principles of breathing, flowing and paying attention to what is happening in the body. YoBata: Fast-paced classes intersperse Vinyasa (or flow) yoga with tabata brief sets of high-intensity, fat-burning bodyweight or cardio exercises).

UNIVERSAL FITNESS TIPS Mindful Practices Enhance Any Routine by Casey McAnn When it comes to attaining fitness, several well-regarded recommendations increase the likelihood of success. Natural Awakenings canvassed online fitness sources for tips and techniques intended to keep workouts safe, fun and satisfying. Our favorites follow. Always stretch – Light stretching before and after workouts loosens muscles and increases circulation for quicker repair and healing. It can also help prevent injuries. It’s ideal to hold stretches for at least 30 seconds, breathing “into” the muscles that are being stretched and inviting a gentle release of tension on the exhalation. If any pain surfaces while stretching a certain area, stop. Start slowly – Begin and build workout routines slowly in order to avoid straining muscles and ligaments. Exercise at least twice a week, the bare minimum for staying physically fit. Be well rounded – Add leg and back exercises to crunches and bicep curls, and vary cardio routines to stay enthusiastic about workouts. Experiment with all the equipment available at a studio or gym, asking a trainer for guidance. Drink plenty of water – Drinking water helps to decrease appetite and eliminate cravings, while nourishing and hydrating the body. The goal is to

drink half of one’s body weight number in ounces each day. Keep it regular – Making exercise a regularly scheduled part of the week eliminates excuses. Keep it on the calendar and show up as dutifully as for any other important appointment. Make up any days missed. Increase intensity – More intense workouts mean less time spent doing them while achieving the same level of benefits. It’s also important to keep endurance exercises in any routine, however, because they are vital for cardiovascular benefits and building stamina. Use weights – Adding muscle to the body increases strength, life expectancy and fat burning. To tone muscles, use a weight that works for eight to 12 lifts. For bulk, use a weight suited to four to six lifts. Practice a weight training routine two to three times a week, keeping sessions under 45 minutes. Add interval training – Sprinting for about 50 yards boosts metabolism and heart health. Return to the starting point by taking a slow walk. Repeat as many times as possible, making sure to warm up before the interval training and cool down afterwards. Dress up – Energize a workout session and boost confidence by wearing something snazzy. Donning an exercise

“uniform” gets us in the mood, and a new piece of clothing or footwear can make us excited to get moving again. Be a safe runner – Every six weeks, cut running mileage and frequency in half for a week. This allows the body to recover from workouts and helps to prevent injury. Make it meaningful – While walking or running, recite prayers or a gratitude list, or listen to inspirational podcasts and downloads. Volunteer for fitness – Many volunteer tasks involve some form of physical movement. It feels good to burn calories while helping others. Bring workout buddies – Friends and pets need exercise, too, and they provide restorative companionship. Working out with a pal adds support and motivation, which are keys to success. Seek out a human buddy with similar fitness goals. Go green – Research from the University of Essex, in England, shows that exercising in nature produces additional physical and mental benefits. The researchers found that “green exercise” improves mood, self-esteem, enjoyment and motivation. Casey McAnn is a freelance writer in Boston, MA.

Connection to Clarity Workshop

with Lisa Jones Learn to tap into your intuitive abilities. September 28, 2013 – 1pm to 5pm Redding Meditation Center Sign up: artoflivinghappy.com/connectiontoclarity

470 Main Street, Ridgefield Move2Wellness.com • 203-403-2522 eNaturalAwakenings.com

September 2013

Fit at Any Age Exercise and Fitness are Not Reserved for the Young by Natasha Michaels

aintaining a regular exercise routine is a necessary component of healthy aging, but starting or implementing a routine can be a challenge. Illness, ongoing health problems or fear of falling and injury may deter seniors from beginning a fitness program and unfortunately, many living environments and caretakers actually discourage exercise for the elderly in their care. There is no question that exercise can improve the quality of a seniorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s life, regardless of their ability. Benefits of regular physical activity include mood elevation, stress relief,

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management of illness and pain and improved sense of well-being. Frank Callahan, RN, is principal of SilverFox Fitness, LLC in Fairfield, which works with people of all ages, but emphasizes supporting men and women over age 55 in their quest for healthy aging. Callahan is 72 years young himself, and credits his 20 years of nursing experience gained while working in nursing homes and hospitals as leading him to his current path. â&#x20AC;&#x153;As I aged, that work environment began to scare and depress me. I began to notice many of the patients

were younger than I,” he explains. “In 2010 I decided to shift gears and move away from the sickness-death-anddying end of the healthcare spectrum to the wellness-fun-and-frolic side where prevention is the emphasis. Since I always have enjoyed sports and exercise, I decided to help folks stay in shape, especially those who are of a certain age.” After earning his certification in personal training from the American Council on Exercise, Callahan launched SilverFox Fitness, which is based on Jack LaLanne’s teaching that the secret to good health and longevity is nothing more complicated than movement. His mission is to show people, especially seniors, how to establish exercise as an essential habit of daily living, like eating and breathing. “The human body was designed to keep on moving,” Callahan says. “Just about everyone can benefit from exercise, and recent research proves it.” Callahan prefers to coach one-onone in the privacy of clients’ homes, so he can customize workouts and include some time on lifestyle skills such as healthy eating habits. While the majority of his clients are older, he is willing to coach anyone that is sufficiently motivated. His youngest client was a 19-year-old boy who was de-conditioned by his cancer treatment. Callahan’s coaching doesn’t use a lot of equipment—a few free weights, some isometric bands, a yoga mat, a jump rope and a dining room chair are the mainstay of his equipment—he also likes to incorporate music and dance into routines because it’s fun and his clientele enjoys it. First-time clients at SilverFox Fitness receive a free health and fitness assessment and Callahan will consult with a client’s physician, if necessary. New clients are asked to commit to three months in order to establish healthy habits. Callahan meets with clients once a week and provides them with a customized daily workout and journal to track their progress. For more information, call 203-895-2155, email Frank@SilverFoxFitnessllc.com or visit SilverFoxFitnessllc.com.

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ersonal fitness and diet are a national obsession in the United States. Unfortunately, while many want to change, Time magazine reported in early 2013 that losing weight and getting fit are the two most quickly forgotten New Year’s resolutions. In partial response to this, while once reserved for the wealthy, personal training has now become big business. The industry’s International Health, Racquet and Sportsclub Association (IHRSA) noted in their 2011 Health Club Consumer Report that more than 6.4 million people were using personal trainers, despite the recession. However, despite this increased personal attention, many Americans have still not found fitness success and continue struggling with weight and health issues. One rapidly growing fitness franchise aims to bridge this gap in a new way while fulfilling the need people feel for motivation, accountability, and a coach by their side. Using technology and highly customized plans to help people reach goals, Koko FitClub offers an alternative to both costly personal training services and conventional gyms. Founded in 2004, Koko FitClub

Fairfield County Edition

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opened its first facility in 2009 in Pembroke, Massachusetts, taking inspiration for the name from the Japanese word koko, meaning individual. There are currently 130 Koko FitClubs in 29 states, including four clubs in Fairfield County—Westport, Ridgefield, Darien and Monroe. Peter Buckley’s interest in fitness was first ignited by his young son’s health problem. “When my son Jamie was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes, I became more aware of the benefits of, and more dedicated to, a healthy lifestyle,” he says. “The Koko FitClub concept allows me to help others with the same goal.” The New Canaan resident, who previously worked in banking, now owns the Westport and Ridgefield Koko FitClubs, which both opened within the past year. Koko FitClub bills itself as an alternative to personal training, claiming the title of “world’s first automated training studio.” Its methodology attempts to address barriers keeping people from creating long-term healthy changes that will make a crucial difference in their bodies and lives. It leverages technological advances to maximize efficiency, giving members the opportunity to work out when they want and keeping them engaged with automated adjustments to their workouts and ongoing feedback as they progress. The company claims its proprietary strength and cardio equipment gives the benefits of a 60- to 90-minute personal training session in just 30-45 minutes. Prior to beginning a workout program, members complete a fitness assessment to determine baseline weight, level of strength and cardio fitness, body mass index (BMI) and lean muscle mass. Using that information, a customized workout plan is created based on the member’s goals, such as to lose weight, build muscle or protect what

they have. Members can also choose from select Health Tracks designed to support individuals with specific medical conditions such as back pain, arthritis, diabetes, men’s health and breast cancer recovery. The plan is downloaded to an individualized flash drive, the Koko Key, which plugs into KoKo’s Smartraining cardio and strength equipment, registering the workout program for the day and recording all workout outcomes. Through touchscreen technology and audio prompts, the equipment not only tells users what weight to choose for each exercise and how to perform each exercise, but also gives them visual instructions for proper execution for maximum results.

The approach minimizes the kind of frustration and confusion that often derails even the most resolved individuals reentering the gym for the first time in a while. It also minimizes the need for a live personal trainer, but if members have questions or need personal assistance, Koko FitClubs have FitCoaches available during certain hours for one-on-one consultations. Earlier this year, Koko FitClub introduced a nutritional element to its repertoire, further supporting its members in their quest for healthier lifestyles. Users can customize goals online with meal plans and nutritional guidance. Locations: Koko FitClub of Westport: 619 Post Rd. E., Westport. For more information, call 203-557-3994 or visit Westport.KokoFitClub.com. Koko FitClub of Ridgefield, 88 Danbury Rd., Ridgefield. For more information, call 203-894-5055 or visit Ridgefield.KokoFitClub.com. See ad, page 35. Natasha Michaels is a contributing writer to Natural Awakenings magazine.

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September 2013

SEPTEMBER

IS YOGA D

MONTH

uring National Yoga Month thousands of yoga instructors and yoga studios will be holding events throughout the world to introduce curious individuals to a 5,000-year-old Indian practice that tones muscles, strengthens bones, and offers a host of other benefits. There are numerous Yoga systems available and selecting one can be challenging for a novice. Although the ultimate goal of each system is the always the same—the yoking of body, mind and spirit—yoga techniques and instructors vary as well as asanas, or postures, that range from the physically challenging to the meditatively transcending. Each demands respect, dedication, and commitment so know yourself and your limits before stepping on to an ordinary mat that can lead to extraordinary bliss and better health. Following are some profiles of local yoga practitioners and studios who want Natural Awakenings readers to know what they have to offer.

YOGA THERAPY Registered Yoga Teacher, Professional Yoga Therapist 203-470-6969 cell InnerSpacesbyKaren.com

Kaia Yoga: Vinyasa Yoga • 328 Pemberwick Rd, Greenwich, CT 06831 •1200 Post Rd East, Westport, CT 06880 KaiaYoga.com Gina, and her husband Stan Woodman created Kaia Yoga with the understanding that optimum health and happiness is achieved when we strengthen our bodies, purify our systems, and nourish our relationships. Kaia Yoga studios in Greenwich and Westport offer a full schedule of hot, Vinyasa, beginner, gentle, prenatal, kids yoga and meditation classes as well as organic cafes, supervised playrooms and spas, including massages and facials.

Mazie Zdanowich 203-255-9111 Mazie@CYByoga.com CYByoga.com Fairfield CT Mazie, a yogi since age 11, founded Catch Your Breath in 2000. She believes yoga is a lifestyle choice, reflected in living your life in love and happiness. Her years of continuous study result in client need-driven private instruction, workshops and retreats. She encourages clients to weave numerous practices into everyday activities, including laughter, breathwork, meditation, nutrition, feng shui, yogadance and Svaroopa® (blissful) yoga. This simple, easy asana (pose) practice is based in Core Release and spinal decompression using precise alignments, props and adjustments to meet your body where it is.

Karen was introduced to meditation and yoga as a teen and has deepened her practice over nearly three decades. She holds many advanced yoga certifications and is a member of the International Association of Yoga Therapists. As a yoga therapist Karen uses therapeutic tools from a vast array of different sources and styles to create a personalized yoga practice that is safe and rooted in exercise science. Karen is also the author of Yoga Bear: Yoga for Youngsters - a children’s book (2004) and Co-Contributor to Yoga in America (2009).

Fairfield County Edition

Greenwich class schedule: KaiaYoga.com/#!Greenwich-Schedule/cqxv Westport class schedule: KaiaYoga.com/#!Westport-Schedule/c2052

Group Sessions: Mon, 10am; Wed, 6:30pm; Sat, 9:30am 42

Gina Norman

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Catch Your Breath

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healingways

DEEP-HEALING YOGA Release Trauma, Build Resilience by Sarah Todd

hen a woman separated from her husband last fall, she tried hard to shut down her emotions. A 30-year-old working mother of two young boys, she felt she couldn’t afford to be sad or angry, even as she contemplated divorce. But something shifted when she began taking yoga classes in her town in northern Michigan. “It was my one place to relax and let go,” says Emily, who asked that her real name stay private. “I used to go to class, get into a deep stretch and cry. It was like my muscles were connected with my heart. My instructor would warn us that certain poses would provide emotional releases, and sure enough, the tears would fall.” People suffering disruptive changes —from losing a loved one to coping with unemployment or striving for sobriety— often find yoga to be a healing force. Lola Remy, of yogaHOPE, a Boston and Seattle nonprofit that helps women navigate challenging transitions, attests that yoga makes them feel safe enough in their bodies to process difficult emotions. “The goal isn’t to make stressors go away, it’s to learn resilience,” Remy explains. “Irreparable harm isn’t necessarily the only result of experiencing stress. Even if I’m in a challenging position—like wobbling in the tree pose—I can see that I’m still okay.” The object

is to teach women that their bodies are strong and capable, giving them more confidence in their ability to weather obstacles off the mat.

Supporting Science

Research suggests that yoga can also be an effective therapy for people affected by some forms of severe traumatic stress. A study in the Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences that scanned the brains of trauma survivors after a reminder of the traumatic event revealed decreased activity in the prefrontal cortex—the part of the brain that helps make sense of raw emotions and bodily experiences. While shutting down the connection between body and mind can help in coping with dangerous experiences, it also makes recovery difficult. “You need to have a high-functioning prefrontal cortex to organize the thoughts that come up and know that you’re safe in the present moment,” advises David Emerson, director of yoga services at the Trauma Center, in Brookline, Massachusetts. “Otherwise, you’re assaulted by memory sensory information.” Yoga appears to rewire the brains of trauma survivors to stop reliving past distress. “You can’t talk your prefrontal cortex into functioning well again,” Em-

erson observes. “But you may be able to do it with your body.” The study found that eight female patients that participated in traumasensitive yoga saw significant decreases in the frequency and severity of their post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms. In a study at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital, in Boston, co-sponsored by the U.S. Department of Defense, military veterans enrolled in a 10-week yoga course also showed improvement in PTSD symptoms. A paper presented at a recent International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies conference studied 64 people that had experienced childhood abuse and neglect; those that participated in a trauma-sensitive yoga course had a 33 percent reduction in PTSD symptoms. Two months later, more than 50 percent in the yoga group experienced greater freedom and were no longer diagnosed as suffering from PTSD, compared to the control group’s 21 percent. Yoga can also transform traumatized lives in other ways. “For many traumatized people, being touched intimately can be a trigger,” Emerson remarks. “Yoga may let them feel ready for physical intimacy again. Others have mentioned victories such as being able to go to the grocery store and knowing exactly what foods their bodies crave.” Emerson notes that such programs emphasize choice and individual empowerment. “The beauty of yoga is that you reclaim your body as your own.”

Spreading the Word

Once largely concentrated on the East Coast, trauma-sensitive yoga programs are spreading. Jennifer Johnston, a research clinician and yoga instructor at Boston’s Mind Body Institute, sees programs like these enriching our culture’s understanding of the physical and mental health connection. “In a country where drugs and surgery are often the first go-to,” she says, “it’s important to remember that things like yoga can change our chemistry, too.” Sarah Todd is an East Coast-based writer and editor. Connect at SarahToddInk.com.

eNaturalAwakenings.com

September 2013

find a way to be with him all the time.” Since their first star-crossed encounter in 1990, the duo has recorded some of the top-selling mantra albums in the world; most recently, A Deeper Light. Their personal histories and life together are depicted through words and sound in More Than Music: The Deva Premal & Miten Story, a book and compilation CD. Premal and Miten have sung for the Dalai Lama and to mark the life passing of Elisabeth Kübler-Ross, author of the groundbreaking On Death and Dying. Their celebrity fans include Eckhart Tolle, Anthony Robbins and Cher, who performed their version of the Gayatr Mantra during her farewell tour.

Delivered with Love The Power of Sound and Silence by Mamaniji Azanyah

use the power of love, silence and the divine, and the result is the music of Deva Premal and Miten. For more than 20 years, the couple’s impassioned renditions of the sacred mantras of India have inspired an eclectic worldwide following. The pair’s shared journey, converging music and love, began two decades ago in an ashram dedicated to the Indian mystic and guru Osho, then known as Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh. Miten was searching for a different way of life with richer meaning after departing the British rock ’n’ roll scene, while the German-born Premal was reconnecting with the great Eastern musical

Fairfield County Edition

and spiritual disciplines in which she was raised. Premal made a conscious decision early on to pursue two goals in life: “Enjoy every moment and do something meaningful.” In the music she found both, and more. One day, she simply sat down and began harmonizing with Miten while he played the ashram’s meditation music, effortlessly invoking the ancient mantras that had been her childhood lullabies. Miten discovered that Premal’s powerful voice completed his music, and her powerful presence completed him. The same was true for Premal, who sang in part because, “I wanted to

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Miten sees their music’s growing popularity as a sign of people’s hunger for spiritual renewal and purpose. “You don’t need to know what the mantras mean for them to have their effect—it works like medicine in that way,” he says. Audiences at their performances are encouraged to withhold applause and naturally take in the expansive silence that fills the room after a mantra has been played. “It’s the reason we play, to feel that ‘alive’ silence, which is as tangible as the music,” says Miten. “That’s when it’s the most healing.” “Once you tune into that silence, you can hear it anywhere, even in a noisy place,” advises Premal. “It’s always underneath everything; the awareness of it becomes part of your life.” Deva Premal & Miten’s MantraFest tour across North America this fall features the legendary GuruGanesha Band and Nepalese musician Manose. For tickets, locations and dates, visit BrightStarEvents.net. See ad, page 45.

eNaturalAwakenings.com

September 2013

consciouseating

Ounce of Prevention, a Lifetime of Health. “If there is more glucose than you need, the remainder is stored in the liver and muscles as glycogen, and then converted to fat.”

Killing Effect

SUGAR MONSTER How Sweet It Isn’t by Kathleen Barnes

“Am I a sugar addict?” There’s an easy way to tell.

“

f you have to ask yourself, you are,” advises Dr. Jacob Teitelbaum, a renowned integrative physician in Kona, Hawaii, and author of Beat Sugar Addiction Now! The dangers of excessive sugar consumption, especially of high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS), are well known. Yet such cheap, corn-based sweeteners account for nearly 56 percent of all sweeteners, especially in beverages. The average American annually consumes 152 pounds of sugar, compared to 109 pounds in 1950, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. A large portion is ingested as sugary liquids, including juices and an average of 46 gallons of soft drinks a year—compared to 11 gallons 50 years ago.

Puts on Pounds

Certainly, high-calorie sugars trigger weight gain, but it may be news that calories from sugar act differently in the body than those from other foods. “Fat doesn’t make you fat. Sugar makes you fat,” states Dr. John Salerno, director of The Salerno Center for Complementary Medicine, in New York, Tokyo and Sao Paolo, Brazil. “Eating carbohydrates quickly raises blood sugar (glucose), prompting the release of insulin to transport the glucose not immediately needed for energy, to the cells,” Salerno explains in his new book, The Salerno Solution: An 46

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While the negative effects of excess sugar consumption have been documented for decades, “Evidence is mounting that sugar is the primary cause of obesity, plus many chronic and lethal diseases,” says Osteopathic Physician Joseph Mercola, of Hoffman Estates, Illinois, who runs the highly popular natural health website, Mercola.com, and has authored books that include The No-Grain Diet and Sweet Deception. “Excessive fructose consumption leads to insulin resistance that appears to be the root of many, if not most, chronic diseases,” says Mercola. Beyond the obvious association with obesity, hypertension, Type 2 diabetes, liver and heart disease and Alzheimer’s have all been linked to sugar, according to the National Center for Biotechnology Information at the National Institutes of Health. “Sugar, in excess, is a toxin, unrelated to its calories,” says Dr. Robert Lustig, an endocrinologist and professor of clinical pediatrics at the University of California, San Francisco. “The dose determines the poison. Like alcohol, a little sugar is fine, but a lot is not. And the food industry has put us way over our limit.” Sugar can be addictive, continues Lustig. “It has clear potential for abuse. Like tobacco and alcohol, sugar acts on the brain to encourage subsequent intake.”

Healthy Sweeteners

n Stevia, a powdered extract of a South American plant, is the most popular natural sweetener, delivering no calories or blood sugar swings; 200 to 300 times sweeter than sugar, a little goes a long way. Look for a product with no additives. n Sucanat—minimally processed, dehydrated cane sugar juice—is a reasonably healthy alternative, especially to substitute measure for measure in baking. Because it metabolizes like sugar, it too will cause blood sugar swings; also note that both agave and “raw” sugar, which is merely less refined table sugar, have similar effects.

Everyday Sugar Addicts by Dr. Jacob Teitelbaum A solution to sugar addiction is simply to stop eating sugars, especially any form of corn syrup. Drink more water and take a high-quality multivitamin, plus other supplements as necessary. Here are the four characteristics of people that tend to obsessively seek sugar. 4 Chronically exhausted and looking for an energy boost 4 Stressed out and suffering from adrenal exhaustion 4 Cravings caused by excessive presence of yeast/candida 4 Hormonally related cravings

n Honey, while not calorie-free, is high in heart-healthy flavonoids and anti-allergens, and may even help lower cholesterol, according to a study from University Hospital Giessen and Marburg, in Germany. n Maple syrup carries calories, but is also a rich source of polyphenol anti-inflammatory antioxidants. A University of Rhode Island, Kingston, study suggests that maple syrup may help manage Type 2 diabetes. n Molasses, while not calorie-free, is a worthy alternative if weight isn’t an issue, since it’s a good source of minerals, especially iron. n Raw monk fruit (avoid processed Nectresse), a small, sweet melon native to China and Southeast Asia known as luo han guo, has traditionally been used in herbal medicine. It is touted as being low in carbs and is 200 to 300 times sweeter than sugar. n Coconut sugar is generating excitement largely because of its low glycemic index (35) and low carbohydrate qualities. This optimum option is a good source of potassium, magnesium, iron, boron, zinc, sulfur and copper. n All fruit contains fructose, but in a natural state—not synthesized as a vegetable product like corn syrup. Fruit also

comes loaded with health benefits, so eating it in moderation works, especially fruits and berries that are low on the glycemic index, a measure of carbohydrate effects on blood sugar levels. Kathleen Barnes has authored many natural health books. Connect at KathleenBarnes.com.

Corn Syrup Hides in Processed Foods Most of us might suspect that high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) lurks in soft drinks, baked goods, candy and other sweets, but substantial amounts permeate many processed foods. Key culprits include: 4 Applesauce 4 Bottled steak and barbecue sauces 4 Breads 4 Breakfast cereals (including low-calorie ones) 4 Canned soups

4 Catsup 4 Canned vegetables 4 Cottage cheese 4 Flavored yogurt 4 Juice drinks 4 Salad dressings 4 Spaghetti sauce

Notes: HFCS sometimes hides on labels as inulin, glucosefructose syrup, isoglucose and fruit fructose, among others. Sources include several online publications and food product labels.

September 7-8

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September 2013

Go Plastic-Free Game On: Ways to Shrink Our Footprint by Randy Kambic

Looking around us, we see plastic everywhere.

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Fairfield County Edition

esides the custom“The biggest plastic-free ever since. ary food and product “I made a game of it; a lesson since fun, creative, step-by-step packaging, plus store bags, consider all the nooks I started is the challenge,” she advises. and crannies of our lives “You can’t go through the joy of less—of house and think you can that plastic now permeates: eating utensils; baby buying less stuff get rid of all plastic immeand pet toys; computer diately. As items get used and making do up, you’ll find alternakeyboards and accessories; pens; eyeglasses; athletic tives.” Once we are in the with what I footwear; backpacks; lighthabit of staying alert to already have.” the plastic scourge, we’ll ers; beauty care and pill containers; household naturally spot opportunities ~ Beth Terry cleaning bottles; ice cube for healthy change-ups. trays; shaving razors; tool handles; hairbrushes and toothbrushScience Sounds the Alarm es—even some facial scrubs, shampoos In 2011, Harvard School of Public and chewing gum. Health researchers made news by Beth Terry, author of Plastic Free: discovering that consuming one serving How I Kicked the Habit and How You of canned food daily for five days led Can Too, points out compelling reato significantly elevated urinary levels sons to take personal action. In 2007, of bisphenol-A (BPA). This plastic and this Oakland, California, resident saw epoxy resin ingredient is found in the a photo of the decomposed carcass of liners of many food and drink cans and a Laysan albatross riddled with plastic sometimes in plastic bottles. It’s known bits in an article on water pollution. to be a serious endocrine disrupter. “For several seconds, I could not Cardiovascular disease, diabetes, breathe,” she writes. This seminal moaltered functions of reproductive organs ment led her to further research, by and other ailments have been linked to which she realized, “This plague of high BPA levels in several studies, inplastic chemicals is harming everyone, cluding one cited in Endocrine Reviews and especially the most vulnerable journal. The Manchester Guardian members of our planet—children and also recently reported that the French animals—and that is both unacceptable Agency for Food, Environmental and and unfair.” She’s been working on going Occupational Health Safety has stated

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that an unborn baby’s exposure to BPA through the mother could be linked to many health problems, including breast cancer later in life. When plastics are subjected to stress—like heat, light or age—undisclosed additives used in their production for strength, flexibility and color can leach out and even contaminate lab results, as the University of Alberta’s Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry found. Such chemicals can migrate into our digestive systems and through our skin; they can also off-gas into the air, according to a recent study by Weber State University’s Energy & Sustainability Office, in Ogden, Utah. Plus, unrecycled plastic materials can enter waterways and kill marine life through ingestion or entanglement (ocean garbage patches are major examples). Reducing our own plastic footprint can both safeguard family health and prove that we are serious about pressuring industry to produce less of it. The key, according to Terry, is not to be intimidated or overwhelmed by plastic overload, but persist in taking baby steps (see MyPlasticFreeLife.com).

Milo Cress, of Burlington, Vermont, launched the national Be Straw Free campaign at age 10, when he realized that restaurants routinely give customers a plastic straw whether they want it or not. How to Begin

As a starting point, Terry notes that plastic enables the long-distance food distribution system. Reducing food miles associated with our meals helps cut down on the use of plastic. In the kitchen, use airtight stainless steel containers or glass jars or simply refrigerate a bowl of food with a saucer on top to hold leftovers for the next day. Compost food waste. Reuse empty plastic food bags and line garbage cans with old newspapers instead of plastic bags.

Terry cautions, “People assume everything that carries the triangular symbol is accepted at all recycling facilities. This is not the case. What isn’t accepted is landfilled or even incinerated.” Also, according to the city of Oakland’s Waste Management Department, she learned that “Much of what we put out for recycling goes to China, and their processing standards are not as strong as ours.” In Plastic Free, the author provides scores of tips for borrowing, renting and sharing products; buying used plastic equipment if it’s a necessity; and avoiding disposable packaging and paper products. Areas for improvement range from personal care and household cleaning products to bags, bottles, grocery shopping, takeout food, portable leftovers and lunches, plus durable goods. Activists will move on to also participate in area cleanups, donate to green organizations and write their legislators. Randy Kambic, a freelance editor and writer in Estero, Florida, regularly contributes to Natural Awakenings.

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September 2013

Coming in October

Sustaining a Healthy Environment

naturalpet

FAT FIGHT Like Us, Pets Must Eat Right and Keep Moving by Dr. Shawn Messonnier

Daily Choices We Make Determine the Well-Being of Our Planet.

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

203-885-4674 50

Fairfield County Edition

besity, a severe and debilitating illness, is the most common nutritional disease in both animals and people. The latest survey of 121 veterinarians in 36 states by the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention (APOP) and corroborating American Veterinarian Medical Association data reveal we have 80 million fat cats and obese dogs; that’s more than 58 percent of dogs and 52 percent of domesticated cats. “Pet obesity remains the leading health threat to our nation’s pets,” says Dr. Ernie Ward, APOP’s founder, from the organization’s headquarters in Calabash, North Carolina. Current medical consensus states that an animal is obese if it weighs at least 15 percent more than its ideal weight. But looking at body composition is more accurate, based on measurements topto-bottom and side-toside and depth to the ribs and spine.

Health Issues

Animals aren’t born fat. Obesity results from too many calories in food, snacks and treats, paired with a lack of aerobic exercise. People may believe they are showing love

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by rewarding begging with treats, but they actually may be slowly killing their companions with kindness, putting them on a path toward painful and costly medical problems. These can include cancer, cardiac problems, complications from drug therapy, difficulty breathing, heat intolerance, hypertension, intervertebral disk disease, orthopedic conditions (including arthritis), lethargy and ruptured ligaments. Also, because excess body fat first deposits in the cavities of the chest and abdomen and under the skin, hypothyroidism and diabetes mellitus can develop, so screen overweight animals for these disorders prior to treatment for obesity. Tackling obesity involves restricting calories and increasing the metabolic rate with a controlled exercise program. Diet and exercise are the two most vital factors in fighting fat.

Eating Right

Simply switching to a store-bought “lite” pet food is inadequate because many are designed to maintain, not lose, weight. Also, many products contain chemicals, byproducts and unhealthy fillers that are contrary to a holistic program. A homemade restricted-calorie diet is the best choice for obese animals. The second

Among owners of chubby pets, 45 percent believe their dog or cat is of a normal weight. ~ Association for Pet Obesity Prevention is a processed “obesity-management” diet available through veterinarians, although many of these also contain chemicals, byproducts and fillers. Such diets can be used to attain the target weight, and then replaced with a homemade maintenance diet. Foods high in fiber work well for shedding pounds because they increase metabolism. Vegetable fiber decreases fat and glucose absorption. Fluctuating glucose levels cause greater insulin release that can lead to diabetes; because insulin is needed for fat storage, low, stable levels are preferred. Fiber also binds to fat in the intestinal tract and increases the movement of digested food through the intestines.

Supplement Options

Several natural therapies may be helpful for treating animal obesity. These include herbs such as cayenne, ginger and mustard; white bean extract; chromium; carnitine; hydroxycitric acid (HCA); epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG); and coenzyme Q10. All have been widely used with variable success, although not yet thoroughly researched or clinically proven. A supplement called Vetri-Lean appears promising. Based on a white bean extract, it has cut starch digestion by up to 75 percent in the company’s clinical tests. The formula also has EGCG from green tea extract to boost metabolism, inhibit carbohydratedigesting enzymes and help maintain normal blood insulin levels, all to help dissolve fat and control appetite. Chromium polynicotinate, another ingredient, also helps to curb appetite, build muscles and reduce fat.

health. Experience shows that it must be combined with a diet and supplement plan to achieve maximum results for overweight pets. Along with burning off excess calories, even mild exercise works to reduce hunger, improve muscle strength and aerobic capacity and improve functioning of organs. Plus, as veterinarians further attest, the activity is mentally stimulating for both animals and guardians, while decreasing behavioral problems. There is no one best exercise program for every animal; a sensible plan must be personalized to needs

and abilities. Consult a veterinarian to determine the best regimen. As always, prevention is better than a cure, so staying alert to signs of additional pounds and keeping an animal from becoming obese in the first place is optimum. Dr. Shawn Messonier has authored The Arthritis Solution for Dogs, 8 Weeks to a Healthy Dog, and the award-winning Natural Health Bible for Dogs & Cats. His Paws & Claws Animal Hospital is located in Plano, TX. Find helpful tips at PetCareNaturally.com.

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Exercise is Key

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September 2013

greenliving

Schools Go Green Homework, Lunch, Buses Get an Eco-Makeover by Avery Mack

With paperless homework, bookless backpacks, zero waste lunches, plastic-free filtered water and classrooms without walls, today’s parents and teachers are bringing eco-friendly ways to schools and giving students an early appreciation of the importance of environmental health.

oing green goes both ways— home to school and school to home. Alysia Reiner, an actress and eco-advocate from New York’s Harlem neighborhood, became involved

with the Bank Street School for Children when her daughter enrolled at age 3. “I’m green at home, so in my mind her school had to be green, too. With no programs in place, I made sugges-

GROUP DETOX

tions, which got me elected co-chair of the green committee,” says Reiner, with a smile. “Today, we have a school-wide composting program serving 1,500 students that has reduced previous levels of food waste by 75 percent. To raise awareness and funds to support it, we sold reusable snack sacks, stainless steel water bottles and home composting bags.” An innovative chef focuses on organic foods with vegetarian options for school lunches. The next step is a rooftop garden. When Sheila Hageman, an author, teacher and public speaker living in Milford, Connecticut, first read the memo requesting garbage-free lunches for her three children at the New England School-Montessori, she couldn’t imagine packing food without the use of plastic wrap, sandwich bags or paper napkins, but, “Now, it’s no big deal,” she says. “I use glass containers and cloth napkins. The kids eat better quality food. It costs less, too, because prepackaged snacks are out.” She notes that the governing rule is one protein, one fruit and one vegetable. The school even has a natural composter—a class guinea pig that loves to eat leftover veggies. Students often bring the first of their homegrown vegetables each season for show and tell in the classroom, where they normally eat lunch. It’s a neat way to avoid mass-produced food; the school has no cafeteria. “A little

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Fairfield County Edition

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change becomes part of a lifestyle,” remarks Hageman. Oxbridge Academy of the Palm Beaches, for grades nine through 12, in West Palm Beach, Florida, provides a nearpaperless experience for students, all of which are issued computers. Homework is assigned, completed, graded and returned; tests are given and graded; report cards are sent and textbooks studied—all online. “Technology has created an atmosphere of modern education,” observes Teresa Thornton, Ph.D., the science teacher who spearheaded many of the school’s green initiatives. “We buy one set of print books, since not all students learn the same way. But e-books can be easily updated electronically each year, saving the educational costs of outdated materials and financial costs of replacement. By the end of the year, they know how to use PowerPoint, Excel, Word and statistics programs to organize and analyze information.” In Pittsburgh, Chatham University follows the example of eco-pioneer and Silent Spring author Rachel Carson, a class of 1929 alumna, to preserve, maintain and restore nature. With the goal to be carbon neutral by 2025, sustainability becomes part of every decision. The Chatham Eastside facility, located in a revitalization area, reclaimed a former manufacturing complex. “We are the first school in Pennsylvania to have a solar hot water system,” says Mary Whitney, the school’s sustainability coordinator. “Bottled water was banned in 2011 and filtered water stations provide free refills for stainless steel bottles. The rent-a-bike program is especially popular with international students.” The two campus Zipcars, a Honda Insight and Scion xD, shared by students, can be reserved for a fee. Students also ride free on public transportation. In Tennessee, Ivy Academy Chattanooga strives to integrate nature into every class. “In geometry, for example, students use a protractor to measure the angle of leaves or the photo of a flower for a mapping exercise,” says Executive Director Angie Markum. “Because we are located next to 4,000 acres of forest, we can often teach classes outdoors. We also work with the region’s forestry division to treat diseased hemlocks and monitor growth, then upload the information to the Smithsonian.” Classes tend to be linked together. Daily hikes improve fitness and emphasize how alternative means of travel reduce the harmful impacts of burning fossil fuels. To get to school, many students walk while several teachers run up to 10 miles. Also in Chattanooga, at the Calvin Donaldson Environmental Science Academy, students gain the knowledge and experience to extend the difference they make beyond greening their school. Anne Vilen, a designer for expeditionary learning schools like Donaldson, says, “It’s empowering for students to discover they can make a real impact.”

Savory Fall Flatbread (Serves 8) Enjoy the flavors of fall with this unique savory flatbread, great for a quick appetizer or light meal. Grapes added at the end of baking provide a sweet, juicy bite.

1 Bartlett pear, halved, cored and thinly sliced 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil 2 cloves garlic, crused with a press 1 cup thinly sliced butternut squash 1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt 1 Granny Smith apple, halved and thinly sliced Flour, for rolling dough 1 cup thinly sliced Yukon Gold potatoes 1 pound whole wheat pizza dough 1 cup red grapes, halved • In a small skillet, heat oil, garlic and salt over medium heat for 2 minutes until garlic is golden brown. Remove from heat. • On a lightly floured surface with a lightly floured rolling pin, roll dough out to a circle about 14 inches in diameter. If the dough pulls back strongly, stop rolling, cover the dough with a kitchen towel and let rest 10 minutes before continuing. Transfer dough to a round pizza pan, stone or large baking sheet; reshape dough as needed. • Preheat the oven to 400°F and place a rack in the lowest position of the oven. • Brush dough with 1 tablespoon garlic-infused oil. Spread sliced apple, pear, potatoes and butternut squash in concentric circles, leaving a 1-inch border. Brush entire surface with remaining oil. Bake 20 minutes. Add grapes and bake 10 minutes longer. Let cool for 5 minutes; slice and serve.

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September 2013

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Fairfield County Edition

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Pre-K to College Eco-Lessons n San Francisco was the first city in the nation to put green bins in school cafeterias. Currently, more than 85 percent of its schools participate in SF Environment’s Food to Flowers! lunchroom composting program. Leftover food and empty milk cartons are turned into compost, and then sold to area farmers. Schools can receive free compost for their own gardens. n The Alliance to Save Energy, a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit, conducts a PowerSave Schools Program that teaches kids how to conduct energy audits at school and home. Participating schools typically realize 5 to 15 percent reductions in energy costs, and students learn math and science skills. n The National Wildlife Federation shows K–12 students how they can actively support nature by establishing schoolyard wildlife habitats. Pupils evaluate the environment, make a plan and then implement it. They can grow food and create shelter for wildlife such as bird feeders and baths and observe the results. A habitat can be as small as 20 square feet or as large as students are able to maintain. n Schools should be as clean as possible to prevent the spreading of germs, but traditional cleaning agents contain harmful chemicals. Makers of the ZONOsanitech machine attest that it kills nearly all common bacteria and viruses and meets U.S. Environmental Protection Agency standards. Using super oxygen (ozone) and less than eight ounces of water per day, the ZONO can clean and sanitize most types of school furniture and materials within 30 minutes, while drawing less than three cents worth of electricity. n “Studies show that 70 percent of ambient air pollution comes from diesel emissions alone,” says Ron Halley, vice president of fleet and facilities at Student Transportation of America (STA), of Wall, New Jersey, with offices in America and Canada. “STA will have a fleet of more than 1,000 alternative-fueled school buses operating in California, Minnesota, Nebraska, Pennsylvania and Texas this coming school year.” Propane-powered buses emit virtually no particulate matter. STA estimates a savings of more than $2,600 per year for each bus with the use of propane; it historically costs 30 percent less than diesel fuel. Omaha, Nebraska public schools have 435 propane-fueled buses, so the fuel and maintenance savings could exceed a million dollars annually. “Omaha Public Schools’ buses will also reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 2.3 million pounds a year,” says Halley.

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markyourcalendar Awaken Fair New Jersey

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 15 • 10am -5pm Bringing all the fun, education and experiences of the Westchester Awaken Fair to Ft. Lee, NJ Over 100 exhibitors, 1000 guests!

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 3

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 7

Intuitive Drawing – 7-8:30pm. Intuitive drawing allows you to channel your higher self, the realm of possibility and your past. Learn to do readings for yourself and others in a fun, creative way. No experience necessary. Bring paper and crayons or colored pencils. $25. SOUND Center for Music, Creative Arts & Mindfulness, 31 Hawleyville Road, Newtown. 203-414-5694.

Spiritual Psychic Fair – 12-5pm. Come and experience a reading with gifted and caring psychics. Mediumship, tarot cards, pendulum, soul mandala drawings, pranic healing, angel cards. Sessions approximately 25 mins. $30-$50. Albertson Church of Spiritualism, 293 Sound Beach Ave, Old Greenwich. 914-909-0914.

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 6 Reiki Level 1 workshop – 10am-4:30pm. With Gigi Benanti, Reiki Master/Teacher. Learn Reiki Level 1 in the Western style. Learn how to use Reiki for selfhealing and healing for others. Includes 4 powerful energy connections. Receive 2 manuals and certificate. $115. Angelic Healing Center, 7 Morgan Ave (enter private office downstairs in back), Norwalk. RSVP: 203-852-1150. Mulan Chuan Dance Performance – 7pm. Performing “Buddhist Dust”. Free. Donations are appreciated to support the Center’s ongoing programs. Redding Center for Meditation, 9 Picketts Ridge Rd, W. Redding. Sharon: 203-244-3130.

Community Drum Circle and Pot Luck Dinner – 5:30-9pm. Dinner at 5:30pm. Fun family evening of playing drums in the Stone Barn with Mark Zarillo at 7pm. Beginners dancing and hooping welcomed. Bring drums or hoops. $15/Adults,.$5/Seniors & Kids under 12. Cash Only. Sticks and Stones Farm Retreat, 201 Huntingtown Rd, Newtown. RSVP Annie: 203-270-8820.

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 8 The Power of Saturn-Rebirth and Regeneration – 1-4pm. Astrology workshop featuring gifted astrologer Rev. Tom Kearns. Saturn is the Lord of Karma—he rules rewards and consequences. Find out how he is affecting your life this year. Please bring your birth date, time, place. A chart will be

Ready to Heat or Freeze

914-422-1784 or AwakenUSA@aol.com prepared for each attendee. $40. Albertson Church of Spiritualism, 293 Sound Beach Ave, Old Greenwich.

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10 Facebook Marketing for Wellness – 6-7:30pm. Use Facebook as a tool to grow your business. Rob Young of Social Results Today will give you simple tips to create, maintain and grow your Fan Base. This will give you the ability to reach your market, promote your products and services. $50. Move2wellness Center, 470 Main St, Suite 304, Ridgefield. 203-548-7785.

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 13 Sound Healing with Crystal Cymbalogy – 8 pm. Cynthia and Rick help audiences experience their highest vibration by playing original compositions

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September 2013

using patterns of sounds through a combination of crystal bowls, drums, cymbals, voice and other instrumentation. Surrounded by healing Himalayan salt. Saltana Cave, 590 Danbury Rd, Ridgefield. 203-969-4327.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 14 Journey from Suffering to Wholeness – 8:30am4:30pm. Includes materials, lunch and refreshments. $135. The Mercy Center, 167 Neck Rd, Madison. Contact Insight Counseling: 203-431-9726.

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 15

markyourcalendar Sustainable Health & Nutrition

12-mo Certification Program Begins

Saturday, September 21 Learn thousands of years of food wisdom in twelve months. Embark on this life-altering journey and join the movement to change the paradigm of our food. $7,000/for the year certification, Tuition assistance available.

Pendulum Workshop with Elyse Sgandurra – 1:15-3:15pm. Learn the many uses of dowsing while using the pendulum. Self- and long-distance healing, diagnostics and the use of charts will be explored. For beginners and those already using pendulums. Pendulums will be supplied. $30. Albertson Church of Spiritualism, 293 Sound Beach Ave, Old Greenwich.

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 16 Introduction to Reiki – 7:30-9:15pm. With Gigi Benanti. Learn why Reiki is an accepted popular healing method and receive a mini Reiki Session from a Reiki Master/Teacher. Must pre-register (enter office downstairs in back). $15. Angelic Healing Center, 7 Morgan Ave, Norwalk. RSVP: 203-852-1150.

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 18

The Institute Of Sustainable Nutrition Located at Holcomb Farm 113 Simsbury Rd, West Granby Register by 9/13: 860-764-9070

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 21 Stamford Hospital Health Wellness & Sports Expo 2013 – 11am-5pm. Exhibitors covering nutrition, weight management, children’s health, pet wellness, fitness programs, spa and beauty treatments, green technology, alternative medicine plus fitness demos. Bring non-perishable food items & win raffle prizes to benefit The Food Bank of Lower Fairfield County. September 21, 22. Free. Chelsea Piers, 1 Blachley Rd, Stamford. 203-531-3047.

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 22

Community Healing Service – 7:30-8:30pm. Our monthly healing service offers a guided meditation and the opportunity to sit in one of our healing chairs either for yourself or another. All are welcome to join us as we quiet our minds and the inner peace of spiritual connection. Free. Albertson Church of Spiritualism, 293 Sound Beach Ave, Old Greenwich.

Sweat and Sweet Yoga – 1-3:30pm. With Jeanine Oburchay. Enjoy a 75-minute vigorous vinyasa practice to get your heart pumping followed by another 75 minutes of meditative, restful, restorative renewal. Dress in layers. Some yoga experience is recommended. $35 if paid by Sept 15, $45 thereafter. Yoga for Everybody, 27 Unquowa Rd, Fairfield. 203-254-9642.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 19

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 23

Mantrafest 2013 – 7pm. An evening with Devaa Primal & Miten with special guests, The Guruganesha Band. Experience the beauty and bliss of the world’s most sacred mantras. $30-$108. Reserved seating only. Klein Memorial Auditorium, 910 Fairfield Ave, Bridgeport, CT. Tickets: BrightStarEvents.net.

Mystical Bellydance – 8:30-9:30pm. Together we will explore and create dances inspired by our lives, feelings and the elements of earth, air, water, and fire. Prerequisite: Goddess Bellydance or previous dance experience. Starting September 23 on Mondays. $97/6 weeks. SOUND Center for Music, Creative Arts & Mindfulness, 31 Hawleyville Rd, Newtown. 203-270-1119.

Full Moon Beach Yoga – 7:30-10pm. Yoga & Drum Circle at Jennings Beach around the bonfire. Bring a blanket or low chair and picnic for after class. Beach stickers req. If don’t have a sticker, park in lot at the end of Turney Rd. Rain (message on answering machine by 6pm): move to the annex. Kids 5-12 practice with Louisa: $10/advance online, $20/at beach (exact change or check); Adults: $25/advance, $35/at beach. Yoga for Everybody, Jennings Beach, meet at volleyball nets, Fairfield. 203-254-9642.

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 20 Fall Three Day Retreat – Meditation allows the mind more time to drop daily thoughts and develop deeper levels of awareness of our body, mind, thoughts and feelings. September 20-22. Redding Center for Mindfulness & Meditation, 9 Picketts Ridge Rd, West Redding. RSVP: Sharon 203-244-3130.

Fairfield County Edition

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24 Soul Portrait Drawing – 7-8:30pm. What does your soul look like? Learn to capture your soul’s patterns, colors and frequency on paper. Decode the drawing and do readings for others. No experience necessary. Bring paper and crayons or colored pencils. $25. SOUND Center for Music, Creative Arts &Mindfulness, 31 Hawleyville Rd, Newtown. 203-414-5694.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 26 Beautiful Hair & Skin from the Inside Out – 7pm. Learn tips to keep you looking young and healthy. Featuring Lisa Cummings, author of the book From Okay to Fabulous. Free. Pear Tree Salon, 1950 Post Rd, Darien. RSVP: 203-655-7444.

natural awakenings

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 27 Reiki Refresher for All Levels – 7:30-9:45pm. Reiki practitioners only group class. Techniques taught that will help raise one’s Reiki vibration and deepen your Reiki. Please bring Reiki Certificates from in-person classes. Shared by Gigi Benanti, Reiki Master. A re-attunement is included. $38 + $8 material fee. Angelic Healing Center, 7 Morgan Ave (enter office downstairs in back), Norwalk. Must RSVP: 203-852-1150.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 28 Reiki Second Degree Workshop – 9am-5pm. Learn Reiki 2nd Degree in the Western style from experienced Reiki Master/Teacher Gigi Benanti. Learn how to send distance Reiki healing. Deepen your use of Reiki for others. Included 2 powerful energy connections and receive 2 manuals and certificates. $215. Angelic Healing Center, 7 Morgan Ave (enter private office downstairs in back), Norwalk. RSVP: 203-852-1150. Listening to Dreams: Healing our Lives – 10am3pm. Weekend workshop with Certified Dream Specialist Tzivia Glover. Listen to and understand your dreams. Improve your physical and emotional health while you sleep. Saturday is a pre-requisite to Sunday’s intensive. $65/Saturday or $120/ Saturday and Sunday. SOUND Center for Music, Creative Arts & Mindfulness, 31 Hawleyville Rd, Newtown CT. 203-270-1119. Creating Abundance Now – 1-4pm. A fun and experiential workshop! Learn and practice the art of manifesting and transform your life. Your desires can become reality! Facilitated by Roberta Russell, Law of Attraction Success Coach. Registration required. $55. Sticks and Stones Farm, 197 Huntington Rd, Newtown. 203-438-2354. Connect to Clarity Workshop – 1-5pm. With Lisa Jones, author of The Art of Living Happy. Learn to tap into your intuitive abilities. Redding Meditation Center, 9 Picketts Ridge Rd, Redding. 203-548-7785. Trance Mediumship Practice – 1-5pm. A workshop by gifted medium Pamela Marie Edmunds. Practice Trance Mediumship in a nurturing environment. Witness uplifting messages from Master teachers and guides. Pamela assists students to obtain an appropriate state in order to bring spirit communication. $50. Albertson Church of Spiritualism, 293 Sound Beach Ave, Old Greenwich. Yoga Inversions Workshop – 2:30-4:30pm. With Lauren Lanham. Learn a variety of poses including Headstand, Shoulderstand and Plow. Inversions can improve circulation, calm the brain, elevate your mood, build core and upper body strength. Prior yoga experience is required. $35 by Sept 21, $45 thereafter. Yoga for Everybody, 27 Unquowa Rd, Fairfield. 203-254-9642. Afro Flow Yoga™ – 3-5pm. With Leslie Salmon Jones and Pilin Anice. A unique fusion of Kundalini and Vinyasa Flow Yoga and the dances of the African Diaspora, with live drumming and chanting. Leslie was trained at the Alvin Ailey American Dance Center. Open to all levels. $30 by Sept 21, $40 thereafter. Yoga for Everybody, 27 Unquowa Rd, Fairfield. 203-254-9642.

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 29 A Day of Oneness - The Workshop – 9:30am3:30pm. Weekend workshop with Joan Goss, Earl Purdy, June Fagan and Tracy Mignone to apply A Course in Miracles in the areas of work, money, relationships and spirituality. Release anger, guilt and fear. Learn the Prema Agni sacred symbol. $75 offering suggested. The Center for Energy Healing, 180 Post Rd East, Westport. 203-543-2055. Expanding Your Relationship with your Spiritual Team – 1-3:30pm. Who are the members of your spiritual team? How can you deepen your relationship with them? Join Pamela Marie Edmunds, medium, for hypnosis to help connect and receive information from your spiritual team. Bring a pillow and blanket. $40. Albertson Church of Spiritualism, 293 Sound Beach Ave, Old Greenwich. Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) Program – 6:30-8:30pm. Want to live a more engaged and balanced life? There is a way to live more fully through practicing mindfulness. Learn to pay attention to what is happening in the present moment. Free Intro. $295/8-week program. SOUND Center for Music, Creative Arts & Mindfulness, 31 Hawleyville Rd, Newtown. 203-216-6243.

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 1 Community Plates’ FOOD FOR ALL 2013 – 7-10pm. Night to End Hunger in Fairfield County. $250/VIP ($200 pre-sell) $150/General Admission ($125 pre-sell). The Loading Dock, 375 Fairfield Ave, Stamford. 800-280-3298.

ongoingevents sunday Angelic Reiki Meditation with Essential Oils – 8-9am. Receive short, hands-on Angelic Reiki, experience powerful techniques to reduce stress and relax. $10. Angelic Healing Center, 7 Morgan Ave (in the back, downstairs), Norwalk. Pre-register: 203-852-1150. Yoga & Pranayama – 9:30-10:30am. Yoga and Pranayama with Wendy, Deb and Alok. Move with the breath, open heart, release stress. Free and open to all. Hindu Cultural Center, 96 Chapel St, Stratford. 203-375-9898. Interfaith Service Gathering – 10-11am. A community to celebrate life, hope, healing,love and Spirit. Followed by a community hour from 11am-12pm. My Little Light Children’s Program is available during the service. ARC Sacred Center, Monroe. 203-268-1272. Reiki Volunteers – 10am-12pm. Pledge time to volunteer Sundays at various homes for the elderly and nursing homes in Fairfield and Southbury. Receive credits towards Reiki training. Reiki Overtones, Fairfield. Reservations, Jim or Jeannette: 203-254-3958.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 4

Celebration Service – 10:30am-12pm. With Rev. Shawn Moninger. Inspiring message supports one’s spiritual unfoldment. Great music. Fellowship hour after the service. Unity Center, 3 Main St (above Ford dealership), Norwalk. 203-855-7922.

FAP Annual Benefit Gala – 6:30-9:30pm. Help build the farm for adult children with autism. Join us for the annual FAP (Friends of Autistic People) benefit gala. A fun evening with renowned comedian Jane Condon. Great food and drink. For tickets: 203-661-8510.

Albertson Church Service – 11am-12:15pm. Includes an inspirational talk from caring ministers, guided meditation, time to receive healing energy and spirit messages from those we continue to love. Free. Albertson Church of Spiritualism, 293 Sound Beach Ave, Old Greenwich. 203-637-4615.

The New Warrior Training Adventure – 5pm Fri4pm Sun. A life-changing 48 hours brought to you by the ManKind Project, an international nonprofit organization. Men, stop living vicariously through television, addictions, distractions. Step up into a life of intention, leadership, commitment. A real time hero’s journey for men which is safe, supportive and cutting edge. Not a retreat. October 4-6. $675. Cold Spring, NY. Call Andras B: 631-220-5220.

markyourcalendar Returning Home to Your Authentic Self Playshop Sat October 5 • 9:30am-6:30 pm A full day of inspiration, renewal and empowerment through sound, art, movement, drumming, aromatherapy, meditation and ceremony. Co-facilitators include healers and artists Robin Spiegel, Greer Jonas, Auriel Morgana and DeeAnn Macomson. Early rate: $190; After 9/9 $222.

Contact The Lotus Wellness Center at Info@LotusWellnessCtr.com or 203-531-4784

Tai’ Chi Level I – 1-2pm. Come join us the first week in September for the start of a new Tai’ Chi level 1 class. Class will be held on Sundays from 1-2 pm. $115.00. Pirouette Pilates and More, 33 Danbury Road, Wilton. 203-295-4052.

monday Yoga – 7-8:15pm. With Charles Sikorski, RYT. Weekly. Charles encourages one to find one’s true self: physically, mentally and spiritually. $13/class, discount with 6+ weeks. ARC Sacred Center, 458 Monroe Tpk, Monroe. 203-414-6790. Transformation and Healing – 7:30-8:15pm. Rev. Ed O’Malley uses a Shamanic Illumination Process which removes heavy energies from our luminous energy fields, returning the body and soul to its initial state of wellness. ARC Sacred Center, Monroe Tpk, Monroe. 203-268-1272. Guided Meditation at Sabita Holistic Center–7:30-8:30pm. Give yourself the gift of meditation at Sabita Holistic Center. Internationally known Dr. Levy has worked for over the past 35 years in stress reduction, deep relaxation and meditation. Free. Sabita Holistic Center, 3519 Post Road, Southport. 203-254-2633.

Monday Meditation for Everyone – 7:30-9pm. This is Meditation Guided imagery for relaxation and stress reduction. It also helps you move forward on your Spiritual path. No experience necessary. $20. Soul Focus, 145 Grassy Plain St, Bethel. 203570-3868. Mystical Bellydance – 8:30-9:30pm. Starting September 23rd. We will create dances inspired by our lives and the 4 elements of earth, air, water and fire and will heal, understand, celebrate and be whole. Prereq: Goddess Bellydance or previous Dance experience. $97 for 6 weeks. SOUND Center for Music, CreativeArts & Mindfulness, 31 Hawleyville Rd, Newtown CT. 203-270-1119.

tuesday TLC Monthly Networking Breakfast – 8:30am. 1st Tues. A relaxed, supportive community of healthy living professionals. Grab a friend, your biz cards and join us for a fun morning of connecting. Free. TLC Center, 152 East Ave, Norwalk. 203-853-4852. Gentle Yoga Class in Trumbull – 6-7pm. Perfect for beginners and people with physical difficulties such as back pain and knee pain. $10. Fairfield County Integrative Family Medicine and Healing Therapies, 2 Corporate Dr, Trumbull. Registration required: 203-445-9060. Reiki Shares – 7:30-10pm. 1st & 3rd Tues. Gigi Benanti Usui/Karuna Reiki Master/Teacher. For Reiki practitioners only. Exchange ongoing since 1996. Instructions included. $10. Angelic Healing Center, 7 Morgan Ave, Norwalk. Pre-register: 203-852-1150.

wednesday Buddhist Chanting – 10:30am-12pm. Hosted by June Fagan. All welcome. Starting again this September. Free. Kindred Spirits, 59 Ledgewood Rd, Redding. Please call for start date: 203-938-3690. Guided Meditation at Sabita Holistic Center – 1-1:45pm. Give yourself the gift of meditation at Sabita Holistic Center. Internationally known Dr. Levy has worked for over the past 35 years in stress reduction, deep relaxation and meditation. Free. Sabita Holistic Center, 3519 Post Road, Southport. 203-254-2633. Albertson Church Healing Service – 7-8pm. 3rd Wed. Guided meditation, receive healing energy from our church-sanctioned healers and the gift of saging. All are welcome. Free. Albertson Church of Spiritualism, 293 Sound Beach Ave, Old Greenwich. 203-637-4615. On the Path: A Monthly Gathering of Sharing and Support – 6:30-8pm. 1st Wed. An opportunity for students and teachers to share insights “on the path.” Facilitated around a theme (being present, getting unstuck, staying grounded) in a supportive setting by Kerri Gawreluk. Free; donations gratefully accepted. Yoga for Everybody, 27 Unquowa Rd, Fairfield. 203-253-9642.

eNaturalAwakenings.com

September 2013

wednesday Goddess Bellydance – 7-8pm.. Inviting women to join in and unlock this ancient feminine dance’s mystery . No matter your size, shape, color, dance experience or background, feel sexy, powerful and joyful through bellydance. 6 classes. $16/class. SOUND, 31 Hawleyville Rd, Newtown. 203-270-1119. Journaling with Spirit – 7-8pm. Journaling is one of the fastest and easiest ways to get in touch with the highest voice within ourselves. First-time attendees receive a new journal. Love offering. Unity Center for Practical Spirituality, Norwalk. 203-855-7922. Journey within -Do You Feel Stuck? – 7-9pm. 1st Wed. 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.

thursday Thursday Morning Meditation for Moms – 9:3011am. Come and unwind with a Guided Meditative Journey geared to release stress and bring you toward a healthful more positive understanding of self. $20. Soul Focus, 145 Grassy Plain St, Bethel. 203-570-3868. Joyful Baby Massage – 11am-12pm. Begin baby massage as you feel ready to enjoy huge emotional and physical benefits. Oil and laminated massage notes provided. Bring soft towels to wrap around your baby. Linda Thomas, Licensed Massage Therapist. 4 classes. $90/members, $25 or $30/drop-ins. Wainwright House, 260 Stuyvesant Avenue, Rye. 914-967-6080. Detox With Dr. Dave – 6pm. Join us for discussion on the importance of cleanses, facts on nutrition and supplementation and support for weight loss. No fee; no registration. Osteopathic Wellness Center, 158 Danbury Rd, Ridgefield. 203-438-9915. T’ai Chi with Mike – 7-8pm. Qigong meridian cleansing exercises. T’ai chi postures through breathing with movement. Open the pathway from internal to external energy and unlock the body’s hinges. $13/session. ARC Sacred Center, 458 Monroe Tpk, Monroe. 203-515-0818. Reiki Healing/Exchange – 7-9pm. 1st Thurs. All welcome. Love offering. Unity Center for Practical Spirituality, 3 Main St, Norwalk. Gigi: 203-852-1150.

friday

Discussion with Spirit – 7:30pm. An evening of messages from Spirit and loved ones. Bring questions, receive channeled information to help you understand who you are, why you’ve come to the earth plane and empower yourself. $35. Private residence, Monroe. Call for information/RSVP: 203-268-3262. Circle of Life – 7:30-9:30pm. Explore topics such as love, trust, permission and forgiveness as tools in navigating through life’s opportunities, losses and changes. Learn how to bring love, life and happiness. Location given with registration: 203-268-3262.

saturday Angelic Reiki Meditation with Essential Oils – 8-9am. Receive short, hands-on Angelic Reiki, experience powerful techniques to reduce stress and relax. $10. Angelic Healing Center, 7 Morgan Ave (in the back, downstairs), Norwalk. Pre-register: 203-852-1150. Tween Talk: Social Skills Group for Girls 10-12. – 10-11:15am. Starting Sept. 14. Led by Allison Spitzer, Expressive Therapeutic Coaching. For girls who find making and keeping friends challenging. An active forum to discuss and practice relating to peers during relaxed, playful art, drama, games and reflection. $200/4 sessions, additional (optional) parent session. Periwinkle Health, 15 Lake Ave, Trumbull. Pre-registration required: 203-218-2200. The Universal Reiki Plan – 11am-1pm. 3rd Sat. 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. The Universal Reiki Plan – 1:30-4:30pm. 3rd Sat. Reiki practitioners only. Workshop and Reiki Share. Free. Love offerings appreciated. Bloodroot Vegetarian Restaurant, 85 Ferris St, Bridgeport. Reservations, Jim or Jeannette: 203-254-3958. Reiki Session – 5-6pm. Reiki Overtones offering free Reiki sessions during classes. Students participate as part of class syllabus. 1st reserved. Fairfield. Reservations, Jim or Jeannette: 203-254-3958. Kirtan with the Bindu Band – 7-9pm. Come join The Bindu Band on their vibrational journey back to the heart. Love offerings accepted. ARC Sacred Center, 458 Monroe Tpk, Monroe. 203-268-1272. Open Mic Night – 7-9pm. 3rd Sat. Bring music printed out in your key and Kenneth Gartman will accompany you on the piano. Comedians, poets and writers welcomed as well. $10. Unity Center, 3 Main St (above the Ford dealership), Norwalk. 203-855-7922.

A Course in Miracles Study Group – 9:15am. Meets bi-weekly in Westport. Facilitator: Henry Grayson, PhD. Free. To reserve seat, for dates & location call: 203-454-1745. TLC Tarot Fun & Fabulous Tarot Friday – 7-9pm. Have you wanted to explore the Tarot or develop a deeper relationship with your cards? Have fun with Beth with this self-help tool for novices to longtime tarot friends. $40. TLC Center Norwalk, 152 E Ave, Norwalk. 203-856-9566.

Fairfield County Edition

natural awakenings

classifieds To place a Classified Listing: $1 per word. $25 minimum. Magazine deadline: 12th of month prior to publication. Email copy to NicoleM@NaturalAwakeningsMag.com. for rent 1st month & one month security to move in. Newly refurbished, paint and carpeted office spaces from 1100 to 4800sf available. Great for Prof. office space, Medical, Counselling, Nutritionist, Chiropractor, Dental, Insurance, Real Estate,Telemarketing, Technology, Accountant, Lawyer, etc. 1st floor. Immediate occupancy. Good parking. Call Donna Anderson for info: 203-609-8075. Located at 85 Old Long Ridge Road, 3 miles west of Exit 34 Merritt Parkway. Next to Giovanni’s /LaRocco’s Country Market. Easy ride to and from the Merritt. Part-time rental space for Holistic health practitioner. Weekday/weekends available. $175 month. Newtown. 203-270-1119. Rental space available in beautifully renovated holistic arts center. Perfect for holistic health practitioner, arts therapist. Supportive & Healing Environment. Part-time options available. Great location off I-84. Only serious inquiries please. 203-240-8747 Space Available in small Wellness Center 2-3 days/week in Bethel location in time slots of 4-hr minimum. Open area perfect for Yoga, Pilates, Offices for Reiki, Massage, Counseling and Readings, etc. 203-570-3868.

help wanted Distributors Wanted for monthly deliveries of Natural Awakenings. Just a few hours/month. Perfect for a retired person or stay-at-home mom looking to earn some extra income and connect with their local community. Honesty and dependability are the most important characteristics of our distributors - if you don’t have it in spades, please do not apply! Thomas@ManInMotionLLC.com.

Peace begins with a smile. ~Mother Teresa

communityresourceguide Connecting you to the leaders in natural healthcare and green living in our community. To find out how you can be included in the Community Resource Guide (CRG) in print and online email FFCadvertising@NaturalAwakeningsMag.com to request our advertising rates. ACUPUNCTURE Ingri Boe-Wiegaard, LAc  Fairfield, Wilton, Bethel 203-259-1660 CTAcupuncture.com 25 year full time practice

Ingri treatments help alleviate Pain, Depression, Neck & Back, Anxiety, Headaches, Stress, Allergies, Asthma, Arthritis, Digestive, Menstrual, Infertility, and Smoking & Weight Loss Issues. See ad page 23.

Jody Eisemann, LAc

AcupunctureHealingCT.com Offices in Norwalk and Fairfield 203-216-2548 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 page 40.

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.

ASTROLOGICAL LIFE COACH

CHIROPRACTIC PHYSICIAN

Joy Yascone MA

914-341-2070 3rd generation Intuitive/ Astrological Life Coach/ MA Holistic Health As an astrological life coach and gifted intuitive I provide accurate guidance with precise timing. I utilize my intuitive gift and your astrological chart to coach you to success in love, marriage, career, finance & health. These coaching sessions are transformative and priceless. Please call for monthly specials. Sessions available by phone or Skype.

LIVE WELL CHIROPRACTIC CARE

Meri Rosco, DC 31 Hawleyville Rd, Newtown 203-994-4541 • LiveWellChiropracticCare.com Dr. Rosco practices evidencebased medicine. She relieves pain, tension and improves mobility in joints and muscles with various gentle techniques. She provides her patients with extensive nutritional and fitness advice.

COLONICS

BREAST THERMOGRAPHY ALBA THERMAL IMAGING LLC

Safe, painless early detection 71 East Ave, Suite D, Norwalk 203-856-1421 • AlbaThermalImaging.com

ALLERGIES BioSET Allergy Elimination Program

BREAST THERMOGRAPHY

FDA registered.

Thermography can detect breast disease at its earliest stages and monitor and assess pain in any part of the body. Safe, painless, non-invasive,

Dr. Mark Joachim Advanced Certified Practitioner 156 East Avenue, Norwalk 203-838-1555 • AllergyEliminationNorwalk.com

SOPHIA NATURAL HEALTH CENTER

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 page 7.

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.

31 Old Rt. 7, Brookfield CT 203-740-9300 SophiaNaturalHealth.com

COLONICS

914-921-LIFE (5433) LifelineHygienics.com Experience and personalized service you can trust. The finest in colonic irrigation and personal care. Serving the tri-state area since 1993.

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 page 2.

EDUCATION Housatonic Valley Waldorf School

40 Dodgingtown Road, Newtown 203-364-1113 • WaldorfCT.org

NA Fun Fact: The Natural Awakenings’ iPhone/iPad app is used by over 30,000 people and growing. To advertise with us, call: 203-885-4674

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 page 23.

eNaturalAwakenings.com

September 2013

Fitness

Hypnosis

Camillo Health & Fitness

Gary Camillo 85 Mona Terrace, Fairfield 203-259-9906 • CamilloHealthAndFitness.com

MIND BODY TRANSFORMATION HYPNOSIS

Diane Bahr-Groth, CHy, TFTdx 1177 High Ridge Rd, Stamford 203-595-0110 • MindBodyTransformation.com

Get motivated! Get moving! Feel better! We’ll help you discover the food, exercise and lifestyle choices that best support you. Train with us, and finally reach your goals! See ad page 10.

KOKO FITCLUB

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 page 14.

Maryann Barrett, RN

We offer sensible weight loss and fitness regimens which incorporate exercise and nutrition programs customized to your body and goals. We call it Smartraining. It is fun, fast, and so effective, it’s patented! See ad page 35.

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 page 20.

SOUND - A Center for

Music, Creative Arts & Mindfulness 31 Hawleyville Rd, Newtown 203-2700-1119 • SoundCenterArts.com

SOUND is a holistic center for arts and spiritual awareness. We offer individual classes and group workshops for children and adults in music, creative arts, intuitive development, sound and energy healing, meditation yoga and much more.

HOLISTIC DENTIST

Wilton, Newtown offices 203-788-7119 EarthBodySpiritConnections.com  A graduate of the Barbara Brennan School of Healing and Registered Nurse, Maryann is able to combine traditional medicine with an alternative practice to treat a multitude of health issues. Maryann has a natural sensitivity and intuitive ability that enables her to connect on an energetic level to her clients.

Integrative Medicine Physician 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 page 4.

STAMFORD INTEGRATIVE MEDICINE Michael E. Doyle, MD Conventional & Alternative Medicine 22 5th St Suite 201 Stamford, CT 06905. 203-324-4747 • GoToDrDoyle.com

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 page 2.

Fairfield County Edition

Eyecare Associates, PC

Drs. Randy Schulman, Steve Carr, Narvan Bakhtiari, Carl Gruning, and C. Lee Mellinger Locations: 6515 Main Street, Trumbull • 203-268-8852 139 Main Street, Norwalk • 203-840-1991 2600 Post Road, Southport • 203-255-4005 CTEyeCareAssociates.com We offer behavioral optometry, comprehensive vision exams, contact lenses, and vision therapy. See ad page 11.

INTEGRATIVE HealTH

Ridgefield: 88 Danbury Road 203-894-5055 Westport: 619 Post Road East 203-557-3994

INTEGRATIVE OPTOMETRY

natural awakenings

Specializing in Natural and Alternative approaches to restoring health. Focusing on underlying causes of illness. Hypothyroidism, hormonal imbalances, nutrition and much more. See ad page 19.

INTERFAITH MINISTRY REV. KAREN S. JUDD, LCSW

Counselor • USUI Reiki Master ReverendKarenSJudd.com Office: Bethel, CT • 203-545-3664 Creates and performs Weddings, Union Ceremonies, Memorial Services and Baby Blessings. Life transitions - bereavement counseling; facilitating a deeper connection with yourself, others and the Divine.

Massage & Bodywork iFloat

163 Main St, Westport 06880 203-226-7378 • iFloatSpa.net Experience this superior form of body/mind relaxation as you float effortlessly in warm water with high concentrations of Epsom salt. Relieve stress, chronic pain, and more. See ad page 40.

JOY CARBINO

Licensed Massage Therapist Holistic Nutrition Consultant & Reiki 203-470-1226 • HealingWhiteLight.com Joy combines her intuitive ability and her expertise in massage therapy to enhance the body’s natural ability to heal itself. Holistic health & nutrition programs also offered. See ad page 17.

Massage & Bodywork

Naturopathic Physician

Laura Carlson, LMT

INTEGRATED HEALTH CENTER

Redding/Monroe/Easton 203-885-7353 (SELF) Facebook.com/LauraCarlsonMassageLLC

K. Pramila Vishvanath, ND 2324 Post Rd, Fairfield • 203-259-2700 IntegratedHealthCenterOnline.com

You deserve to be nurtured and time to be still, to breathe and to restore balance. Relaxing and nourishing massage will encourage positive changes in your mind and body. Individual sessions and massage parties available.

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 page 23.

Robin Ordan, LMT, LCSW, CICMI Licensed Massage Therapist & Reiki Practitioner Old Greenwich/Stamford 203-5610-8535 • RobinOrdanLMT.com

Robin has been providing massage and Reiki for over 15 years. Specializing in Swedish, Pregnancy, Trigger Point, Injuries and Infant/ Child Massage Instruction. Sessions are individualized to meet your needs. See ad page 38.

Zak Walker, LMT

Wellness Institute One Westport Avenue, Norwalk, CT 06851   203-443-6679 • ZaxWeb@gmail.com I combine elements of Swedish and Deep Tissue Massage, Acupressure, and Myofascial Release, according to the goals and preferences of each client. I’m here to help you feel your best!

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 page 38.

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.

Center of Excellence in Generative Medicine University of Bridgeport

115 Broad Street Bridgeport, CT 06604 203-366-0526 • GenerativeMedicine.org Under the direction of Dr. Peter D’Adamo, a leader in naturopathic medicine, we blend time-honored healing techniques with stateof-the-art diagnostics to provide highly individualized patent care. Personalized nutrition, naturopathic medicine, acupuncture, hydrotherapy, and infrared sauna offered. See ad page 6.

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 page 4.

Naturopathic Physician WHOLE-BODY MEDICINE, LLC

Adam Breiner, ND, Director Elena Sokolova, MD, ND David Brady, ND, CCN, DACBN Fairfield/Trumbull town line 203-371-8258 • WholeBodyMed.com Using state-of-the-art science combined with centuries-old healing modalities, our caring naturopathic doctors correct underlying imbalances and address issues which may interfere with the body’s ability to heal itself. Treatment protocols or therapies include: Abdominal Manual Therapy, Acupuncture, Allergy Desensitization, Chinese Medicine, Colonics and other 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 page 2.

PHYSICAL THERAPY Physical Therapy of Southern CT Linda Maude, PT 917 Bridgeport Ave, Shelton CT 06484 203-926-6997 PhysicalTherapySoCT.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.

PSYCHOTHERAPY DENI WEBER, MA, LPC, D-CEP

Holistic Psychotherapist Comprehensive Energy Psychology Fairfield County 203-544-6094 • DeniWeber.com 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.

eNaturalAwakenings.com

September 2013

REIKI

PSYCHOTHERAPY Denise Cirillo-Romaniello, MSW, LCSW 238 Monroe Turnpike, Monroe, CT 203-257-4185 • PyschToday.com DCirillo1@aol.com

Offering hypnotherapy, past life regression, EFT. I can assist you in finding your strengths and releasing your blocks to achieve your goals. Holistic, spiritual approach, 17 years experience.

EMBODY THE SACRED® Deana Paqua, MA, LMT  203-994-5045 EmbodyTheSacred.net

Turn your deepest pain or trauma into your greatest strength. Shamanic Reiki, Usui/Karuna® Reiki, Shamanic Healing and Bodywork. Offerings in Ridgefield, Danbury, and NY areas.

GIGI BENANTI, USUI REIKI MASTER

JUDITH BARR, LPC, CCMHC

Angelic Healing Center 7 Morgan Ave. Norwalk, CT 203-852-1150 • AngelHealReiki.com

Brookfield, Connecticut 203-775-5006 • JudithBarr.com PowerAbusedPowerHealed.com

Psychotherapy’s heart is soulwork. Wounded, you’ve split off part of yourSelf. Psychotherapy helps you reconnect, finally healing, becoming yourSelf, heartful, matured. No quick-fix, defend-against-feelings work. Take time - do justice to yourSelf, mind, body, heart, soul. Journey safely with Judith. See ad page 55.

Maria C. Castillo, MSW, LCSW 238 Monroe Tpke. Suite B Monroe, CT 06468 203-445-8966 • Msisi@AOL.com LifeBetweenLivesTherapy.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.

Gigi is an experienced Reiki Master/Teacher. She offers all levels of Reiki training monthly. All classes and Reiki sessions include the latest techniques including Karuna® , Angelic and Jikiden Reiki.

Reiki Medic

Suzanne Schultz RN, Reiki Master, CCH   Monroe, CT • 203-650-0325 ReikiMedic.com Specializing in Reiki and Hypnosis. Healing from my heart center to yours. Offering private sessions and teaching all Usui Reiki levels. Will travel.

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.

Family, Child, Individual & Couples Therapy Old Greenwich/Stamford, CT 203-561-8535 • RobinOrdanLCSW.com

VICTORIA SHAW, PhD, NCC

Intuitive Psychotherapist and Consultant Westport, CT 203-254-3403 • VictoriaShawIntuitive.com I combine the best of traditional psychotherapy with intuitive guidance in my work with children, teens, and adults. My goal is to connect clients with their own inner source of strength, wisdom, and healing.

Fairfield County Edition

DIANA PISANO

Diana.BeautyCounter.com Diana.BeautyCounter@gmail.com 203-962-2591 A new skin care line that is luxurious, effective, and, most importantly, toxin-free. The U.S. bans only 11 toxic ingredients in all beauty, skin care and children’s products. Beautycounter is the 1st U.S.-based company to leave out more than 1,500 banned ingredients! All products are formulated without parabens, phthalates, synthetic fragrances, PEGs, SLS, or Secrets. Call today to place an order; shipping is complimentary! Samples upon request. If you would like to join the beauty movement, call me to find out about becoming a consultant yourself! See ad page 12.

Transformative Healing Beth Prins Leas

Transformative Healing • Tarot Offices in Norwalk & Ridgefield 203-856-9566 BethLeas.com • TLCTarot.com If not now, when? Inspire change on all levels - greater physical ease, emotional freedom, peace of mind and spiritual connection. 20 years intuitive healing experience with adults and children of all ages. Reiki, Jin Shin Jyutsu, Tarot.

TURNING POINT REIKI, LLC

Robin Ordan, LCSW

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 page 48.

SKIN & BEAUTY

REIKI & JIKIDEN REIKI ARTHUR S GERSTEIN, MANAGER, ACORN LLC

Practicing Reiki at 1 Danbury Rd, Wilton, CT ManOfLight.us Arthur holds mastership levels in Usui (Western) and Karuna Reiki and second level in Jikiden (pure form of Japanese) Reiki. He also is certified to practice Access Bars, a technique used to release useless stuff that gets in the way of living. Arthur uses Tincha bells, Singing bowls, tuning forks, and crystals during sessions customized to each client. See ad page 21.

natural awakenings

Yoga carves you into a different person – and that is satisfying physically. ~Adam Levine

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Fairfield County Edition

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