Natural Awakenings Columbia Edition 0620

EE R F

HEALTHY

LIVING

FAMILY STORIES

Help Kids Cope During Tough Times

Feeding Happiness

Lifting Moods with Feel-Good Foods

HEALTHY

PLANET

EVERYDAY ADVENTURES

Taking to Vans and RVs for Life on the Road

Transformative Staycations Finding Respite and Adventure Close to Home

June 2020 | Columbia Edition | ColumbiaNaturalAwakenings.com June 2020

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Columbia Edition

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June 2020

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Contents 15

15 FEEDING HAPPINESS

Lift Your Mood with Feel-Good Foods

18 EVERYDAY ADVENTURES

Taking to Vans and RVs for Life on the Road

20 TRANSFORMATIVE STAYCATIONS

Finding Respite and Adventure Close to Home

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24 FAMILY STORIES

Help Kids Cope During Tough Times

26 HOMEBODY WORKOUTS Getting Fit Without a Gym

28 SOOTHING SEPARATION Helping Anxious Dogs to Cope

30 POWER UP YOUR BRAIN

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Six Ways to Boost Blood Flow

32 DAVID HAMILTON

on Kindness in the Pandemic Age

39 FATHERS KNOW BEST DEPARTMENTS 7 community news 10 health briefs 12 global briefs 15 conscious

eating 18 green living 24 healthy kids 4

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6 fit body 2 28 natural pet 30 healing ways 31 eco tip 32 wise words 36 calendar 37 natural

directory

Natural Awakenings is a family of more than 70 healthy living magazines celebrating 25 years of providing the communities we serve with the tools and resources we all need to lead healthier lives on a healthy planet.

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ADVERTISING & SUBMISSIONS HOW TO ADVERTISE To advertise with Natural Awakenings, please contact us at 803-309-2101 or email ColaPublisher@NaturalAwakeningsMag.com. Deadline for ads: the 12th of the month.

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June 2020

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HEALTHY LIVING HEALTHY PLANET

COLUMBIA EDITION

letter from publisher

Fathers, Dads and Something …

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PUBLISHER Annette Carter Briggs ummer is finally here! And on Sunday, June 21, we will cele EDITOR Sara Gurgen brate Father’s Day. With that, let me pose this: When I say (or, DESIGN & PRODUCTION Kristina Parella rather, write) “father,” what comes to mind? What about your fa Billy Briggs

ther? What words, thoughts and feelings surface regarding your relationship with him? Hhhmmm, a good question, right?

The dictionary defines a father as “a male animal to its SALES & MARKETING Annette Carter Briggs offspring. ” However, it interestingly expands the definition to

include: “an important figure in the origin and early history WEBSITE Kristina Parella Billy Briggs of something.” Wow, what a stark contrast found within the same word—stiff frigidity on one side of the definition and a sense of warm, inspiring hope and purpose on the other. But, think about it, these contrasting perspectives pretty much define the tale of CONTACT US two fathers. Some fathers can be characterized as simply “offspring bearers,” while others PO Box # 2812 become “important figures” in the lives of what the dictionary labels “something.”

Columbia, SC 29202 Email

Actor and director Beau Bridges said of his father: “My father was my teacher. But ColaPublisher@NaturalAwakeningsMag.com most importantly he was a great dad.” Now that speaks volumes. Yes, there is a difference Annette Briggs Ph: 803-309-2101 between a father and a dad.

Website

The father plays a critical role in the development of a child. The statistics are revealColumbiaNaturalAwakenings.com ing. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 90 percent of homeless and runaway children are from fatherless homes. Moreover, daughters of single parents without a father involved SUBSCRIPTIONS Subscriptions are available by sending $24 are 711 percent more likely to have children as teenagers. (for 12 issues) to the above address.

Sadly, there’s more. According to the Centers for Disease Control, 85 percent of children that exhibit behavioral disorders, 71 percent of high school dropouts, 75 percent NATIONAL TEAM of adolescent patients in chemical abuse centers, and 70 percent of juveniles in state-oper CEO/FOUNDER Sharon Bruckman COO/ FRANCHISE SALES Joe Dunne ated institutions have one thing in common: all are from fatherless homes. Yes, a male did

NATIONAL EDITOR Jan Hollingsworth take part in producing “something,” but how many opportunities were missed to become

MANAGING EDITOR Linda Sechrist “important figures in the origin and early history” of each “something”? Each one has a NATIONAL ART DIRECTOR Stephen Blancett name and a life story—many filled with pain, tragedy and regret due to the absence of one

ART DIRECTOR Josh Pope central developmental piece in their lives: a dad.

FINANCIAL MANAGER Yolanda Shebert

Fathers are everywhere, but dads are rare. To the dads of the world, I say thank you FRANCHISE SUPPORT MGR. Heather Gibbs for understanding the importance of your role and presence in the lives of those that WEBSITE COORDINATOR Rachael Oppy count on you. We need more like you. And, to the fathers that have been nothing more NATIONAL ADVERTISING Kara Cave than “offspring bearers,” to you I say become a loving dad—an “important figure” in the life of a “something.” It means everything! Happy Father’s Day! ONTRIBUTING WRITERS Odell Williams C Kristi Antley

Natural Awakenings Publishing Corporation 4933 Tamiami Trail N., Ste. 203 Naples, FL 34103 Ph: 239-434-9392 • Fax: 239-434-9513 NaturalAwakeningsMag.com © 2020 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. Please call to find a location near you or if you would like copies placed at your business.

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

Check with a healthcare professional regarding the appropriate use of any treatment.

A something, too …

Annette Briggs, Publisher

Natural Awakenings Magazine is ranked 5th Nationally in CISION’S® 2016 Top 10 Health & Fitness Magazines

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community news Join Original Origins on Live Air and Radio

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ome join Ms. Tracy for her Health, Hope and Healing digital radio broadcast. The show will air on Saturdays at 1 p.m. Those interested can tune in to WDRB media, “The Voice of the Community,” on iHeart Radio or TuneIn. Health discussion sessions will cover such critical topics as combating cancer, kidney failure and prevention, diabetes reversal, and more. There will also be a variety of guests from time to time to keep attendees inspired and motivated—optimizing health and wellness together! Change your health, change your life!

For more information, call Ms. Tracy at 833-678-7229 or email her at OriginalOriginshw@ gmail.com. See ad, page 32.

SCWF Hosts Wild Summer's Night Auction and Feast

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oin the South Carolina Wildlife Federation (SCWF) on Saturday, July 25, from 7 to 10 p.m., for its biggest fundraiser of the year—the Wild Summer's Night Auction and Wild Game Feast. A wildly popular event, SCWF will auction off some great items, such as beautiful works of art; jewelry; guided birding and wildlife-watching trips; hunting and fishing excursions, both in South Carolina and other amazing places; guided river and kayak tours; hunting and fishing equipment; and much more. The night’s festivities will also feature great food, music and an open bar. Other activities include live and silent auctions, prize drawings, games and an open bar. As a note, attire is business casual.

As a nonprofit organization, SCWF’s primary source of funding is through memberships and general donations. This critical annual event provides 15% to 20% of the federation’s annual operating budget.

Cost: Call for details. Location: Seawell’s Catering, 1125 Rosewood Dr., Columbia. For more information or to order tickets, call Shannon Keenan at 803-256-0670 or email her at Shannon@scwf.org. Also visit scwf.org.

At the Table LLC

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ooking for a fun and unique educational opportunity for your child? Why not give them the gift of learning how to cook and prepare their very own delicious meals and healthy snacks. At the Table LLC is offering virtual, online Zoom cooking classes for all ages (children and adults).

Sharon Mills-Pinckney, certified cooking and nutrition instructor, brings excitement and happiness into your home with a variety of virtual classes, such as Breakfast on the Go; Simple Meals; Foods Around the World; Plant-Based Cooking; Cooking for Badges (Girl and Boy Scouts); Butterbeans Cafe; Cooking for Diabetes; Cooking for Your Child Athlete; Healthy Desserts; and much more. Each class includes a lesson on nutrition. Give the gift of confidence in the kitchen and health and wellness through building a legacy of healthy food choices!

Cost: Call Sharon Mills-Pinckney at 803-238-5876 or email her at ConnectAtTheTablellc@ gmail.com. To register, visit AtTheTablellc.com. See ad, page 26.

Take Action SC Environmental Educators Workshop

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t’s time to take action! Registration is now open for the Take Action SC Environmental Educators Workshop scheduled for Thursday, July 30, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., at the Watt Family Innovation Center, in Clemson.

Hosted by the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control (SCDHEC) and the Take Action SC Environmental Education Partnership, the annual environmental educators’ summer workshop will feature activities, tours and sessions to help attendees find ways to integrate environmental lessons into everyday teaching.

This year’s workshop will include new partner lesson demonstrations from the Office of Regulatory Staff—Energy Office and Clemson University and lesson demonstrations from SCDHEC educators on waste audits, recycling, composting and more. Other workshop highlights include guided tours of the Watt Family Innovation Center and networking opportunities with other Take Action partners, green vendors and educators. Lunch and goodies will be provided.

The goal of the Take Action Partnership is to provide a program that informs, inspires and empowers students and teachers to protect and preserve the environment.

Cost: $15, $20 (for workshop and pre-event tour; also includes lunch and classroom materials). Location: Watt Family Innovation Center, 405 S. Palmetto Blvd., Clemson. For more information, visit Energy.sc.gov/ events?id=3344 or TakeActionSC.org.

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community news

Clean Beaches Week

Clean Air Lawn Care Columbia: Sustainable Lawn Care Done Right

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nterested in sustainable lawn care? Clean Air Lawn Care Columbia is open, ready and eager to serve the Midlands and surrounding areas. Clean Air Lawn Care Columbia is focused on cleaning up a lawn care industry marked by gas-powered pollutants and harmful chemicals … one home at a time. The professionally trained staff of Clean Air Lawn Care Columbia understands that there is a better way to do lawn care. Homeowners choose the popular locally owned and operated business because they know they will receive all-organic, solar-powered, pet-friendly and safe lawn care.

Clean Air Lawn Care Columbia’s mowers, blowers and trimmers run on clean, renewable solar-powered energy. The electric equipment is quiet, emitting zero pollution.

Clean Air Lawn Care Columbia’s specialized services include organic lawn-fertilizer and soil-builder treatments. Company staff feels that this is the best way to achieve a well-balanced lawn without the use of harsh chemicals. Its organic lawn treatments focus on growing healthy, green grass from the soil up.

Share the good news with friends, family and the local community. Excellent eco-friendly, family- and pet-friendly lawn care services are just a phone call away!

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elebrate Clean Beaches Week!

Recognized the first week of July each year, it is a celebration of the healthy beach lifestyle. Clean Beaches Week is the Earth Day for beaches. The four main themes of the week are: food, recreation, travel and environment.

Founded in 2003, the week has drawn enormous public support: More than 150 coastal governors, mayors and county commissions have now issued proclamations in support of the week. In 2007, by unanimous consent, both the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives passed resolutions enacting the week.

For more information, visit EEinSC.org or CleanBeaches.com/events.html.

For more information or to request an estimate, email Cola.Info@CleanAirLawnCare.com or visit CleanAirLawnCareColumbia.com. See ad, page 15.

About Your Health Balance for Life

Services & Products to Help You Create a Health-Full Life

We Are Open!!

About Your Health has reopened, is fully stocked and ready to assist you with your natural health needs.

All our services are available including Nutritional Counseling, Far Infrared Sauna, Mild Hyperbaric Oxygen Chamber, Thermography and more.

We continue to offer call in orders with curbside pick up or mail out options.

About Your Health, Inc.

803-798-8687

120 Kaminer Way Pkwy, Ste. J, Columbia, SC 29210

aboutyourhealthsc.com

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ICRC Hosts Indoor Garage Sale

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n Saturday, June 20, from 7 to 11 a.m., the Irmo Chapin Recreation Commission (ICRC) will host a garage sale at Seven Oaks Park, located at 200 Leisure Lane, in Columbia. Doors will open to vendors at 6:30 a.m. Residents throughout the Midlands are encouraged to clean out the garage, attic, kids’ rooms and closets, and bring those hidden treasures to Seven Oaks Park to sell. Make sure to drop by and check out all of the great bargains.

Anyone interested in participating as a vendor should call or stop by the park for participation details. Vendor setup will be the day before (Friday, June 19) between 4 and 7 p.m.

Cost: Free to enter. For more information and vendor details, call 803-7721228 (ICRC main office) or 803-7723336 (Seven Oaks Park). Also visit icrc. net. See ad, page 22.

The Rooted Community

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oga, an ancient practice and meditation, has become increasingly popular in today’s current pandemic environment. For many people, yoga provides both mental and physical benefits. There are many types of yoga.

Hatha (a combination of many styles) is one of the most popular styles. It focuses on a series of asanas (yoga postures) and pranayamas (breathing practices), which are followed by savasana (a deep relaxation period).

The goal of yoga is to challenge oneself physically, but not to become overwhelmed.

The primary focus is on breathing while the mind is accepting and calm. The Rooted Community yoga studio is offering daily live yoga classes via Zoom. The sign up and class schedule are located on Mindbody and on the website TheRootedCommuntiy.com.

In addition, free outdoor classes will soon be offered. And beginning in June, limited studio classes will be offered. You are invited to come join the community!

Cost: Call for details. Location: The Rooted Community, 141 S. Shandon St., Columbia. For more information, call Anne Miller at 803-730-3976 or visit TheRootedCommunity.com.

See ad, page 16.

kudos Irmo High School Teacher Receives Local Recognition

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oyce Moran, Green Steps teacher at Irmo High School, was recently highlighted as the WLTX teacher of the week for her work teaching academic, social and life skills in the school’s Sting Deli. Her students had planned to make and donate Earth Daythemed treats for the Columbia’s EARTH DAY Five Oh! celebration, which sadly had to be canceled due to COVID-19.

Kudos to Joyce Moran and to the Lexington County Green Steps mentors (Linda Byars, Traude Sander, John Oxner and Mary Hite) who provided assistance.

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bitt24/Shutterstock.com

health briefs

In a study that for the first time establishes a direct link between the microbes inhabiting our bodies and the genetic alterations that drive cancer development, researchers from the Hubrecht Institute, in the Netherlands, have found that mutations linked to colorectal cancer can be caused by common gut bacteria carried by about one out of five people.

By exposing cultured human mini-guts to a particular strain of E. coli bacteria, they observed that the bacteria induced a unique pattern of mutations in the DNA of human cells that was also found in the DNA of patients with colorectal cancer, implying that these mutations were induced by the “bad” bacteria.

Consume Olive Oil to Fight Off Aging In what might be good news for teetotalers, researchers at the University of Minnesota found that it’s not the resveratrol in red wine that increases the life span of cells of those following the Mediterranean Diet, but the fat in olive oil that activates the critical pathway which prevents age-related diseases. “This pathway has been linked to almost all of [aging diseases]. It’s the roots,” says Doug Mashek, Ph.D., a professor in the departments of medicine and biochemistry, molecular biology and biophysics.

His studies suggest that the benefits of olive oil are most pronounced when coupled with fasting, limiting caloric intake and exercising. “We found that the way this fat works is it first has to get stored in microscopic things called lipid droplets, which is how our cells store fat. And then, when the fat is broken down during exercising or fasting, for example, is when the signaling and beneficial effects are realized,” Mashek explains.

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Eat a Plant-Based Diet to Lessen Stroke Risk People that eat a vegetarian diet rich in nuts, vegetables and soy may have a lower risk of stroke than others with diets that include meat and fish, concluded a new study in the journal Neurology. Taiwanese researchers studied two groups of healthy people over age 50 that lived in Buddhist communities in which drinking and smoking were discouraged and vegetarian diets were followed by about a third of residents. Compared to the meat- and fish-eaters, vegetarians consumed less dairy, animal protein and fat, about the same amount of eggs and fruit, and more fiber and plant protein. In the group of 5,050 people studied for six years, vegetarians had a 74 percent lower risk of ischemic stroke, in which blood flow to the brain is blocked, than non-vegetarians. In the group of 8,302 people followed for nine years, vegetarians had a 48 percent lower risk of overall stroke than non-vegetarians, a 60 percent lower risk of ischemic stroke and a 65 percent lower risk of hemorrhagic (bleeding) stroke. “Stroke can also contribute to dementia. If we could reduce the number of strokes by people making changes to their diets, that would have a major impact on overall public health,” says study author Chin-Lon Lin, M.D.

ANTONIO TRUZZI/Shutterstock.com

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Maintain a Healthy Gut to Sidestep Colorectal Cancer

Coming Together in a Time of Need

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hese are truly challenging times for us all—individually and collectively. We must come together and work together to forge an uncharted path through this very difficult chapter in our history—emotionally, physically, spiritually and even economically. We will survive …

Let’s support one another. Be smart and wise with your health choices and decisions. Natural Awakenings of Columbia magazine, along with its staff and advertisers, is committed to providing readers with helpful information, tools, tips, products and services in innovative ways.

Please support the advertisers and businesses that partner with Natural Awakenings. They are here for you … ready and able to provide you with what you need … when you need it.

Here’s a list of our valued advertisers and what they provide either online, on Facebook, by virtual remote, on Zoom or by phone—or perhaps they are open for business again.

At the Table LLC is offering Online Zoom Healthy Cooking Classes for children and adults. Visit AtTheTablellc.com to register. You can also schedule a private Zoom cooking session for your family or group. See ad, page 26.

Elite Personal Training is offering Zoom classes and is opening its doors in the middle of June. Call 803-749-4279 or visit ElitePersonalTrainingStudio.com for more information. See ad, page 9.

Forest Acres Well Care stem cell appointments, chiropractic care, and salt spa are open. Call 803-820-9811. See ad, page 2.

Joy Lee Conner, Reiki Master, meditation and healing work is offering phone and FaceTime sessions. Call 803-447-6499.

See listing, page 37.

Jubilee! Circle is doing online classes and Sunday 11 a.m. service. Email Info@JubileeCircle.com or visit JubileeCircle.com.

See ad, page 16.

can also catch Ms. Tracy’s Health, Hope and Healing digital radio broadcast on Saturdays at 1 p.m. EST on WDRB media, on iHeart Radio or on the TuneIn app. Original Origins is also offering online, phone and virtual classes. Call 833-678-7229 or visit OriginalOriginshw.com. See ad, page 32.

Rooted Community Yoga will have limited classes in studio beginning in June. Visit TheRootedCommunity.com for dates and schedule. See ad, page 16.

Whole Truth Health and Nutrition is offering online consulting. Visit WholeTruthHealth.org to subscribe. See ad, page 29.

Yoga Mama, Kyla Saphir is offering online yoga classes. Call 312-532-8885 or visit YogaMamaColumbia.com. See listing, page 38.

Businesses that are open or offering curbside pickup or delivery: About Your Health is open for business and is offering call-in orders. Call 803-798-8687 or email Info@AboutYourHealthSC. com. See ad, page 8.

Chiropractic Wellness Center is open and scheduling appointments a little differently to maintain patient flow and comfort, taking extra precautions to sanitize common areas, minimize wait time, and reduce the number of people in the office simultaneously. Call 803-771-9990 or email Doc@DrShellyJones.com to schedule an appointment. See listing, page 37.

Dowdy Rudolph Chiropractic is open and spacing appointments consciously, sanitizing its office and waiting areas throughout the day, and wearing personal protective gear. Call 803-376-6293 to schedule an appointment. See ad, page 22.

The Coffee Connection is offering curbside pickup and is open for business. Call 803-888-7151 to order. See ad, page 33.

Namaste Yoga is offering Zoom classes. Email Amy Sizemore at Amy@IrmoYoga.com. See ad, page 27.

Crepes and Croissants is offering carryout and Grubhub and Uber Eats delivery. Call 803-462-4779 to order. See ad, page 15.

Original Origins Health and Wellness’ Healthy at Home segment is live on Facebook on Tuesdays at 7 p.m. EST. You

Peace of Soul Vegan Cuisine is offering carryout and eGift cards.

Call 803-253-7889 for more information. See listing, page 14.

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global briefs

Heat Converted into Electricity

Mental Relief

Mindfulness Training May Reduce Paranoia In news that may be useful for people dealing with the stress of the global pandemic, researchers from the University of London have found that just one week of practicing mindfulness—moment-to-moment awareness—reduces feelings of paranoia. The research, published in the journal Mindfulness, was based on questionnaires of 494 people, enabling researchers to find a correlation between paranoia and judgemental thinking. They found that higher levels of nonjudgement predicted lower levels of paranoia, even in individuals that had a predisposition for it. Then, 68 people were selected and divided into two groups: one that was asked to go through a prerecorded, guided mindfulness session once per day, and one that acted as a control. The session consisted of a quick body scan, mindful breathing and awareness exercises.

The results showed a drop in judgmental thinking and paranoia in the mindfulness group.

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Pest Alarm

Sentinel Trees Give Advance Warning

The United States, Europe and China are growing “sentinel trees” in strategic locations around the world to receive advance warnings of destructive pests that could destroy native plantings. According to a study published in Plos One, “Sentinel nurseries represent one potential mechanism to address the current lack of knowledge about pests in the countries from where live plants are shipped and the threats they represent to native flora and crops in importing countries.” As global trade intensifies, the risk for accidental importing of and exposure to new invasive pests is a constant worry for entomologists and arborists, stimulating a search for new tactics to prevent future losses.

Amy Lutz/Shutterstock.com

A surprisingly high voltage can be generated from raindrops using a field-effect, transistor-style structure, reports a new study from the City University of Hong Kong in the journal Nature. A single drop can muster 140 volts, enough to briefly light up 100 small LED bulbs. The new design couples an aluminum electrode with an indium-tin oxide electrode layered with polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), a material with a quasi-permanent electric charge.

When a raindrop hits the PTFE/tin surface, it bridges the two electrodes and creates a closed-loop circuit that helps fully release any stored charges. The technology could handle sustained rainfall, as well. If there are continuous drops, the charge accumulates and eventually hits a saturation point. Building rooftops could supplement some of the electricity used inside, and electric boats could extend their range.

Researchers from Japan’s Osaka University have found how the thermoelectric effect, or converting temperature differences into electricity, can be best used to power small, flexible devices, reports the journal Advanced Materials Technologies. Future healthcare applications will require internet connectivity between billions of sensors, and the devices that enable them must be small, flexible, reliable and environmentally sustainable.

Batteries are not optimal because continually replacing them is inconvenient and expensive. Many researchers have optimized device performance solely from the standpoint of the thermoelectric materials themselves. “Our approach is to also study the electrical contact, or the switch that turns the device on and off,” explains Tohru Sugahara, the corresponding author of the study. “The efficiency of any device critically depends on the contact resistance.”

Thermoelectric power generators are self-sustaining, self-powered and have no moving parts. Solar power and vibrational power do not have all of these advantages.

Mix and Match Studio/Shutterstock.com

Generating Electricity from Rain

science photo/Shutterstock.com

Splashy Solution

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Hot Power

business spotlight

CITY ROOTS ORGANIC FARM A Community of Sustainability and Health

by Kristi Antley

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hat if you could honor the Earth, your health, and stimulate the local economy every time you ate? Savory taste enhanced by peace of mind is a result of fresh produce grown without preservatives, synthetic fertilizers, pesticides or herbicides, but can be a challenge to find locally. This is the concept of City Roots Organic Farm, nestled in the Rosewood neighborhood of Columbia. Established in 2009, the 8-acre family-owned farm is not just a business, but a unique opportunity to experience organic farming in action!

From the smiling faces at the register to the dirt-covered hands in the field, City Roots’ team of knowledgeable, devoted employees is ready to serve. Maintaining USDA (U.S. Department of Agriculture) certification for an organic farm requires creativity and ingenuity, along with extensive training, routine upgrading, and process evaluation. The main focus of the farm is to produce high-quality vegetables, microgreens, gourmet pickles, and hemp for the public, but also to provide services and products to top restaurants, chefs, grocers and open-air markets, keeping people’s money circulating in the local economy.

City Roots Organic Farm’s visitors are invited to breathe in the fresh air, absorb the sunshine, and discover how nature can be the answer to many of our struggles. Mental health issues, both temporary and chronic, are on the rise due to the global pandemic.

Symptoms may range from mild anxiety to insomnia, chronic pain and depression, to a loss of appetite. It is important to maintain the delicate balance between mind and body to support the immune system and natural defense mechanisms. CBD (cannabidiol)

hemp oil is a natural, gentle supplement for managing many of these undesirable symptoms, and City Roots Organic Farm has pioneered seed-to-shelf organic hemp production to bring you pure, full-spectrum hemp extract oil without synthetic chemicals.

Using only Carolina-grown hemp plants, extraction of the hemp plant to CBD oil is performed by a Duke fellow doctorate of chemistry with 20 years in the pharmaceutical industry, meeting the highest manufacturing standards.

Final City Roots Organic Farm CBD oil products are tested by an independent third-party ISO/IEC-certified laboratory prior to bottling with “soil to oil” integrity principles for farming and extraction to produce only the highest quality products.

Safety is always top priority; each bottle has a tamper-evident safety seal, child-resistant top, and a 1 milliliter measuring dropper for accurate dosing.

Do your part; give back to the Earth and satisfy your family’s needs with natural, safe products from South Carolina’s first urban farm, City Roots Organic Farm, right here in Columbia, adjacent to Owens Airfield. Take time to explore the benefits of a community that utilizes environmentally friendly farming practices, like cover cropping, composting, crop rotations, and solar panels, to reduce carbon footprint.

Complete with tours, educational programs, special events, and venue rental, there is something for everyone that is interested in protecting the environment, keeping money local, and staying healthy.

City Roots Organic Farm is located at 1005 Airport Blvd., in Columbia. For more information, call 803-254-2302 or visit CityRoots.org. See ad, page 33.

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conscious eating

Feeding Happiness

Lifting Moods with Feel-Good Foods

by Marlaina Donato

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hether it’s a pandemic, a breakup or a busy day with the kids, heading to the kitchen for a carb fix or a pint of ice cream is a common knee-jerk response to stress. It’s easy to get caught in a whirlpool of poor eating when our bodies need nutritional support more than ever.

Sustained or chronic stress can reduce levels of dopamine and serotonin—neurotransmitters linked to feelings of both satiety and happiness. “When serotonin levels are normal, it leads to both emotional satisfaction and a sense of fullness after a meal,” says Certified Integrative Nutrition Health Coach Maria Marlowe, in New York City and Dubai. “Conversely, when serotonin levels are low, it can lead to depression and a tendency to reach for sweet and starchy foods.”

Avoiding Extremes

Stress-eating sparks only temporary physical and emotional fulfillment. “When your brain is in need of energy, it can mimic the symptoms of depression and anxiety,” notes Tara Waddle, holistic life coach at The

Center of Balance, in Greeley, Colorado.

“Finding healthier substitutes that are less processed can make a huge impact.”

Experts agree that concentrating on weight loss or super-strict diets during times of adversity might do more harm than good. “Focusing on the need to lose weight during crisis will only do two things—make you feel guilty if you’re not eating what you think you’re supposed to and potentially make you eat more out of guilt,” says Registered Dietitian Nutritionist Jennifer Neily, in Dallas.

Opting for healthier versions of favorite comfort foods is a doable compromise that can prevent endorphins from plummeting after the usual temporary spike.

“With the right ingredients and recipes, we can satisfy our cravings for sweet, salt, creamy or crunchy with healthier upgrades of our favorite junk foods,” says Marlowe.

Full-Service Solar-Powered Lawn Care & Organic, Safe Fertilization Programs Organic Fertilization & Weed Control Programs · Solar-Powered Mowing · Seasonal Clean Up · Aerations · Bed Maintenance · Compost Topdressings · MORE GET YOUR ESTIMATE:

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Friendly Fare

Eating to stay healthy during hard times can tickle the taste buds without a lot of invested time. Marlowe’s go-to favorites like homemade banana ice cream or chocolate

THE NEIGHBORHOOD’S HEALTHIEST LAWN®

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truffles not only take minutes to prepare, but fortify the brain. For must-have salty favorites, she suggests opting for snack foods seasoned with unrefined or pink Himalayan salt, fresh guacamole, salsa, olives or pickles.

Filling a seaweed sushi wrap with avocado can be a satisfying and easy snack.

For easy-exotic, Marlowe says, “I always keep coconut milk and unsweetened curry paste on hand to whip up a red Thai curry, my favorite 15-minute dinner.

Simply add fresh or frozen vegetables and protein of choice and you have a satisfying, flavorful meal that is faster than delivery.”

Waddle’s healthy comfort foods include nuts of different flavors, dried fruits and baked Brussels sprouts with nitrite-free bacon, black pepper and a sprinkle of nutmeg. “The food you consider comfort food is comforting because it’s familiar,” she says. “When you start eating healthier food more often, it will become comfort food.

Just keep trying new things.”

Keep it Simple

The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step. ~Lao Tzu 16

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The kitchen can be our greatest ally during any life-storm, but having a stress-free strategy is key, especially paying attention to emotional states. “Ask yourself, ‘Is it head hunger or belly hunger? Above the neck or below the neck?’ If it’s the latter and that’s truly what is desired, don’t deny yourself, but choose with conscious understanding.

Savor the flavor,” says Neily.

Marlowe recommends easy meal planning and maintaining an eating schedule. “This helps remove some of the stress and decision fatigue that comes with figuring out what to eat in the moment, especially with random ingredients in the fridge.” Food shopping can be an instant junk food trap. Waddle’s approach is a sure way to outsmart impulse buying based on habit. She says,“Start with the produce department first. This fills your cart with fresh foods and your cart will be full by the time you get to the snack aisle.”

Self-compassion can be one of the most important, yet overlooked considerations. “Regardless of what you choose to eat, be gentle with yourself,” notes Waddle.

“The guilt of eating poorly is more damaging than the food.”

Marlaina Donato is an author and a composer. Connect at AutumnEmbersMusic.com.

Deborah Lee Rossiter/Shutterstock.com

Sweet Recipes for Healthy Snacking Banana Ice Cream 2 overripe bananas ¼ tsp vanilla extract

photo courtesy of Maria Marlowe

Add-Ins: choose as many as desired 2-3 tsp cacao powder 1 Tbsp almond butter 2-3 tsp carob powder 3-4 pitted dates ¼ tsp cinnamon 1 cup frozen strawberries 6 mint leaves 1 Tbsp coconut flakes (or coconut butter or shredded coconut) 1 Tbsp ginger 1 Tbsp almond butter or almonds ½-inch peeled ginger piece

Five-Minute Chocolate Truffles Truffle

3 Tbsp cacao powder 1½ cups dates, pitted 3 Tbsp shredded coconut, unsweetened

sonchacha/Shutterstock.com

photo courtesy of Maria Marlowe

Toppings (choose a few) Cacao nibs Cacao powder Sesame seeds Shredded coconut Pistachios, crushed Walnuts, crushed Acai powder Goji powder Maqui powder Pomegranate powder

Peel bananas, break in half and put in a zip-top freezer bag. Freeze for at least 4 hours or overnight. Place all ingredients (banana base plus the add-in ingredients of choice) into a high-speed blender such as a Vitamix, and blend on high until soft-serve ice cream consistency is reached, which should be in about 30 to 60 seconds.

Taste to determine whether any more add-ins are needed and re-blend if desired.

Spoon out and serve.

Source: Certified Integrative Nutrition Health Coach Maria Marlowe

Add cacao powder, dates and coconut to a blender. (A bullet blender works well.)

Blend until a paste is formed, which should only take a few seconds. Roll about a tablespoon or so of paste into a ball. Repeat.

Choose a topping, sprinkle it onto parchment paper and roll date ball in it to coat.

Fast, Healthy Pasta Gluten-free bean and legume-based pastas provide more fiber and protein compared to traditional pasta, points out Marlowe. She suggests placing a steamer basket full of chopped veggies like broccoli, cauliflower and squash over boiling pasta water for a quick pasta primavera.

Add some garlic sautéed in olive oil and a little salt and pepper.

Feel-Good Foods Serotonin boosters for better mood and digestive harmony:

kiwi, bananas, pineapple, kiwi, plums, all types of berries, tomatoes, raw cacao nibs, 90 percent dark chocolate, chia seeds, pumpkin seeds, butternuts (related to walnuts), almonds, eggs, beans, oats, protein-rich foods, sea vegetables, avocados, Swiss chard, beets, green tea and spices like turmeric.

Dopamine boosters for better mood and memory, and warding off neurodegenerative diseases: artichokes, ripe bananas, tahini, wheat germ, almond butter, leafy greens, lentils, chickpeas, black beans, papaya, red beets, apples, watermelon, blueberries and prunes.

Natural Awakenings recommends using organic, non-GMO (genetically modified) and non-bromated ingredients whenever possible.

June 2020

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Everyday Adventures Taking to Vans and RVs for Life on the Road

M

by Sandra Yeyati

any Americans choose to travel in recreational vehicles (RVs) or well-equipped vans with all the comforts of home—no hotels, just the open road and a tank full of gas. Cindy Jane is a Florida naturalist, vegan advocate, accomplished artist and wife to land surveyor Kevin Georgeson. Now 50 years old, she’s had a dream since she was 18 to travel the country in a van, visiting state and national

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parks, hiking trails and spending quality time in nature. She envisions setting up an easel and painting in inspiring settings. “It’s about getting out of that social norm of always knowing what the next day is going to be like, doing the same thing every day. I like a little bit of the unknown, the unexpected. I want to see things. I want adventure. I want the freedom that comes with going,” she says.

The couple purchased a 2018 Ford

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Transit van with low mileage and a little warranty left on it. Together, they are customizing it to create a comfortable home away from home to satisfy Jane’s wanderlust. Crafty and resourceful, they voraciously watch YouTube videos to learn the ins and outs of solar panels, electrical hookups, kitchen countertops, insulation and 1,000 other details that go into a successful buildout. They’re taking their time to do it right after investing thousands of dollars already. To document their progress and hopefully inspire others, they record videos on Jane’s smartphone and post them to her website (ArtfulVeganNomad.com).

Val and Nick Wheatley are veteran nomads, having travelled the world for almost four years in all kinds of rides, including the 1994 Ford Bronco they drove across the U.S. for six months. Camping outdoors was challenging, and they vowed never again to travel in a vehicle without a bed. They purchased a Ford Econovan to explore New Zealand and sold it three months later when they left. In Germany, where beautiful campgrounds and free public lots with inexpensive electric and water hookups are plentiful, a rented RV was the way to go. With experience, the couple has come to prefer converted vans or smaller RVs, thanks to their fuel savings and easier maneuverability in cities and on narrow country roads.

According to the Wheatleys, traveling and living in close quarters has its drawbacks. Cleaning out portable toilets

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green living

and taking showers at truck stops can be challenging, but for the avid explorers, these inconveniences were always eclipsed by jaw-dropping scenery and cultural immersion in new countries. “Because we had wheels and time, we got to see some cool stuff off the beaten track that most people that were visiting for a weekend or week never see,” says Val.

Offering tips, tricks, candid descriptions and inspiring photography of their many world-trotting experiences, the couple’s travel blog (WanderingWheatleys. com) tallied more than 600,000 visitors last year. Through online advertising and affiliate programs, they earned enough money for living and travel expenses. “The world actually isn’t a scary place at all. People all over the world in every culture are friendly and welcoming,” Nick says.

For those looking to connect with fellow travelers, there are numerous recreational clubs that offer base camps, programming and social opportunities. One such club is Sisters on the Fly (SistersOnTheFly.com), an all-women outdoor adventure club founded in 1999 by Maurrie Sussman and her sister Rebecca Clarke with a penchant for small, vintage trailers that are restored and embellished by their owners.

With 9,000 active members and an organizer in each state, these resourceful and festive ladies hold more than 1,000 events nationwide every year, including fly fishing, guided tours, kayaking, mountain climbing, biking and more. “It’s about being outdoors and meeting amazing women. We love going into the national parks, taking back roads and visiting all the small towns,” Sussman says.

Living in an RV or van full-time has become an attractive option for many people, including college kids looking for inexpensive housing or retirees on limited incomes. “I think more and more we’re seeing people who value their time more than a bunch of possessions,” says Jane. “Maybe that means working less and living more frugally, so you see a rise in minimalism and van life.”

For a wealth of information on vans and RVs as full-time options, as well as in-depth interviews with van lifers, visit Bob Wells’ YouTube channel CheapRVLiving.

Sandra Yeyati is a freelance writer. Reach her at SandraYeyati@gmail.com.

June 2020

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Transformative Staycations

Finding Respite and Adventure Close to Home

by April Thompson

S

taycations—sticking close to home for new travel experiences—was a growing trend even before the COVID-19 pandemic turned it into a practical necessity for many of us. Staycations reduce costs, minimize travel time and also lower our carbon footprint by eliminating international travel. Happily, they don’t reduce the pure pleasure of finding new adventures, exploring untrammeled nature, seeing the familiar with fresh eyes and meeting people from all walks of life. All of that is close at hand, and especially when compared to foreign jaunts, the price is right.

A good place to start is by checking out state and regional parks, often overlooked gems offering scenic miles of trails for hiking, biking, birding, fishing, picnicking and other activities. “Whether mountains, prairies, rivers, forests in the country or heart of the city, there is always a state park waiting to welcome you, no matter what kind of recreation you enjoy,” says Jason Clay, spokesperson with Colorado Parks and Wildlife. In Colorado parks, people can, for example, river raft in the Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area; boat, fish and hammock camp in Jackson Lake State Park;

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and rock climb in Eldorado Canyon.

Parks can be discovered and trail maps downloaded by visiting TrailLink.com, run by the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy. It provides searches for nearby trails using parameters such as distance, types of activity and wheelchair accessibility. Its smartphone TrailLink app is free to download and $30 per year for unlimited customized use.

State, local and regional parks across the country offer rich educational opportunities for kids and adults alike, including naturalist-guided activities, bird and botany walks, lessons in local history, ecology and geography, and more. Several states offer free admission to all state-run parks, including Hawaii, Tennessee and Illinois. State-by-state listings of fees and policies can be found at Tinyurl.com/StateParkPasses.

Making a Quick Getaway

Weekend forays into natural and rustic settings can be ideal escape valves for people needing a simple, quick change of venue.

Camping, of course, is always an option, but for those that want to be in nature in a more comfy fashion, using “cabin” as a search word works well in websites like

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Airbnb.com and TripAdvisor.com. The option of glamping—or glamorous camping—offers surprisingly luxurious stays outdoors in tents, pods and domes; check out Glamping.com.

Getaway.House offers woodsy outposts in 10 locations equipped with “tiny house” cabins around the country designed for quick escapes from cities. “If you were at your desk in need of an escape, you could cut out early and be there by 6 p.m.,” says Vice President of Marketing Rachel Mansfield. The private experience, with no check-in desk or communal areas, enables it to continue operating safely during the pandemic. The cabins, designed to blend in with their natural surroundings, are equipped with food for purchase, stove, books, radio, firewood, fire pit and Adirondack chairs, as well as a map for local hikes and adventures.

“I did a getaway at a point in my life where I wanted some time alone, away from commitments, to figure out what my next chapter in life was going to be,” says Paige Conner Totaro, of Alexandria, Virginia, the founder of Unquote Travel, a web-based tour agency focusing on small group, off-the-beaten-track adventures.

Rawpixel.com/Shutterstock.com Iakov Filimonov/Shutterstock.com

“You can change your environment without going very far, and that in turn can change the way you think about things. Little things like sleeping on the other side of the bed can help you shake up your brain.”

Local Attraction

Local-led excursions are another way to see our home turf through a new lens. Airbnb Experiences, offered virtually everywhere

that Airbnb lists lodging, are one-of-a-kind tours and classes designed and hosted by locals with unique expertise. Experiences run the gamut from neighborhood tours on foot or bikes with athletes to museum tours led by local artists or art historians. Many include a hands-on learning component, like how to make mosaics in a community art space or cook a local delicacy from a family recipe. Similar tours and experiences can be found on TripAdvisor’s Things To Do listings. WithLocals.com, whose mission is “to break down the barriers between travelers and locals worldwide,” also offers foodie fun and off-beat adventures.

Kelly Kniewel stumbled onto tour guiding after experiencing burnout in her previous career in the beverage industry. An Airbnb Experiences host, Kniewel now leads small group tours of Chicago, introducing locals and visitors alike to many of its little-known facets.

“I’ve fallen in love with my city all over again doing these tours,” says Kniewel, a self-proclaimed history geek.

She loves to take guests inside Art Deco and Beaux Arts buildings they may have passed before without realizing the gorgeous art and architecture that exists inside, such as the library-turned-cultural center, Chicago Cultural Center, boasting two impressive glass domes, one designed by Tiffany Glass.

Another favorite excursion is taking guests on a water taxi tour. “It’s a cheap and unique way to see Chicago. The water, both the

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Gut Health

Chicago River and Lake Michigan, is so much a part of who we are as a city.�

During the limitations imposed during the COVID-19 period, Airbnb and other websites began offering experiences online, allowing people from all over the world to connect and make pastries with a Swedish baker, draw with a Mexican cartoonist, learn about apartheid from a South African or experience a day in the life of an American Olympic bobsledder.

Traveling the World Without Leaving Home

Hosting travelers can bring new meaning to a staycation, offering a rich opportunity for cross-cultural exchange without any exchange of currency. The popular CouchSurfing.com connects travelers with locals offering free use of a couch, air mattress or spare bedroom. Available in more than 200,000 cities worldwide, it has 14 million members and sponsors local language exchanges, dance classes, hikes and dinners, so there are opportunities to make new friends and have new experiences even without offering a place to sleep. (During COVID-19 restrictions, these activities were moved online.)

Similar organizations that offer opportunities for local hosting (including low- or no-cost lodging) include Servas.org, established in 1949, which stresses world peace and cultural exchange, and pre-interviews potential guests and hosts to ensure safety; GlobalFreeloaders.com, a free registry for hosts and guests that do 22

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Chepko Danil Vitalevich/Shutterstock.com

plus: Beyond Factory Farming

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their own online screening and matching; and EvergreenClub.com, in which hosts provide a bed-and-breakfast homestay for travelers over age 50 for $20 a night.

An exciting option for homeowners is HomeExchange.com, a $150-a-year service that allows people in far-flung places to switch homes, either directly or through a staggered point system so they can truly live like locals.

John Fackenthal, of Rockville, Maryland, has hosted more than 100 couchsurfers from 29 countries, and loved every experience. “I had a big apartment in the heart of Washington, D.C., when I first started hosting, but lived alone and felt a little isolated. I wanted to bring back the youth hostel feel from travels in my younger days, where you’d hang out with fellow travelers and go hiking, share a meal or play cards,” he says.

A web developer, he recalls such memorable guests as a carpenter in his 60s from the Pacific Northwest that helped him with fixer-upper projects, a pair of pro volleyball players from the Czech Republic and two young women from China that prepared him a massive traditional Chinese feast “with all four burners going,” he says. “It’s restored my faith in humanity.

I’ve encountered nothing but wonderful people, all with such different personalities and backgrounds.”

Be a Weekend Farmer

Agrotourism, in which working farms open the barn doors to visitors for day or overnight trips, has the added advantage of supporting local agriculture. AgritourismWorld.com and FarmStayUS.com provide listings for farm stays worldwide searchable by type, such as Christmas tree farm, vineyard, orchard, dude ranch or alpaca farm.

The 40-acre Taos Goji Farm and EcoLodge Retreat, in Taos, New Mexico, is one such venue. “My husband and I returned to the land nine years ago after many years working as professionals in stuffy offices. The farm has been developed for our family and others who wish to be close to nature and to live off of the land,” says co-owner Elizabeth vom Dorp.

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Beyond Factory Farming Plus: Gut Health

The farm is open for paid guests, as well as to the volunteers known as “Wwoofers” that come through Worldwide Opportunities on Organic Farms to help raise goji berries, fruits, vegetables and free-range chickens. All cabins date from the early 1900s, including an old dairy barn converted into a duplex and five sheep herder cabins. The farm is surrounded by a national forest, so many guests visit to enjoy hiking, biking, fishing, rafting and ballooning. “Families with children love to come and pick berries, collect eggs and pet the animals. We have rescue alpacas, sheep, goats, chickens and turkeys,” says vom Dorp.

While the world may still be at the mercy of unfortunate circumstances this summer, travel is ultimately a state of mind. By staying open, curious and present, there are always new encounters and discoveries underfoot very close to home.

Connect with Washington, D.C., freelance writer April Thompson at AprilWrites.com.

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FAMILY STORIES Help Kids Cope During Tough Times I

by Ronica O’Hara

n these challenging times as our children struggle to cope with a swiftly changing world, one of the best things we can do is simply to let them know what strong stuff they come from. Decades of research show that children that know their family’s stories—especially how their parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles and other forebears overcame adversity—have the ability to handle societal and personal trauma better.

“Family stories help children feel safe, secure and grounded,” says psychology professor Robyn Fivush, Ph.D., director of the Family Narratives Lab at Emory University, in Atlanta. “The stories provide a sense that they belong to something larger than themselves.” In the midst of unsettling events, she says it’s especially important for children to know that the family has been through hard times before and persevered.

Emory research shows that children, teens and young adults that know more of their family’s narratives have a greater sense of control over their lives, more self-esteem, better grades, higher social competence, less anxiety and depression,

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and fewer behavior problems. After 9/11, children that tested high in measures of family narratives proved to be more resilient and less stressed.

Family stories can be of loss—“Once we had it all”—or of triumph—“We came up from nowhere”—but the most powerful stories are those that show both the peaks and the valleys, the hilarious escapades and deep losses. “Even simply hearing what other people wish they could have done differently helps to offer children a broader perspective to current experiences,” says Carrie Krawiec, a family therapist at Birmingham Maple Clinic, in Troy, Michigan. Accounts of the deepest trauma also prove formative: Knowing how their great-grandparents survived the Holocaust gave young adults a sense of gratitude, pride, courage and a greater religious commitment, a University of Pennsylvania study found.

Stories unfold easily at holiday dinners and during long car rides; even during an ordinary dinner, some kind of story—“Guess what happened today at the store?”—occurs about every five minutes,

Fivush’s research shows. But summer vacation or days spent together inside a house provide a special opportunity for kids to dive deeper into their family background.

For example, they can write an essay about a grandparent or aunt, write and direct a play with siblings, make a scrapbook, read history or novels to study events that took place during a specific time period, write a song or story from the ancestor’s point of view, research and draw a family tree or create a mini-documentary based on an interview with an older relative.

This is the quiz used in family narrative research, but Fivush cautions that the 20 questions are only a starting point, and many more can be created. Nor does getting the facts exactly right matter— those can easily be in dispute among family members. “It is the telling, the sharing and the listening that is more important than the story itself,” she says.

Do you know some things about what happened when your brothers or sisters were being born?

Do you know how your parents met?

Do you know some of the jobs that your parents had when they were young?

Do you know where your mother grew up?

Do you know where your father grew up?

Do you know where some of your grandparents grew up?

Do you know where some of your grandparents met?

Do you know where your parents were married?

Do you know what went on when you were being born?

Do you know the source of your name?

Do you know which person in your family you look most like?

Do you know which person in the family you act most like?

Do you know some of the illnesses and injuries that your parents experienced when they were younger?

Do you know some of the lessons that your parents learned from good or bad experiences?

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Do you know some things that happened to your mom or dad when they were in school?

Do you know the national or ethnic background of your family?

Do you know some awards that your parents received when they were young?

Do you know the names of the schools that your mom went to?

Do you know the names of the schools that your dad went to?

Do you know about a relative whose face “froze” in a grumpy position because he or she did not smile enough?

Ronica A. O’Hara is a Denver-based health writer. Connect at OHaraRonica@gmail.com.

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Move to the Beach

Read more about family narratives at Robyn Fivush’s Psychology Today blog: PsychologyToday.com/intl/blog/the-stories-our-lives Ideas for writing and craft projects: Tinyurl.com/ CreatingAFamilyNarrative Questions kids can ask family grownups: Tinyurl. com/ClassroomRoots

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fit body

A diamond is a chunk of coal that did well under pressure. ~Henry Kissinger

Homebody Workouts Getting Fit Without a Gym

W

by Marlaina Donato

hen getting to the gym is not possible, there are plenty of options to explore for at-home workouts. From finding fun ways to stay fit to getting loved ones involved, figuring out what works and committing to a few simple goals is a good start.

Although it may be hard to pull ourselves up from the couch during periods of adversity, sticking to an exercise program can help boost immunity and emotional resilience. “Not feeling like exercising is common during stressful times, but try to remember how good you feel afterward and the sense of accomplishment. Remember the why,” says life coach Suzanne King, in Marlton, New Jersey.

Begin With the Basics Trainers agree it’s important to see working out and taking care of our health as an investment, and having a plan goes a long way. “You would never just brush off a business appointment if it was in your calendar and you knew you had to attend,” says personal trainer Chris Wong, in Oakville, Ontario. “The simple act of 26

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putting it in your schedule makes it real.

Now you have a responsibility. Now you have structure.”

Stephanie Mansour, host of the PBS fitness and health show Step it up with Steph, concurs: “Once I started viewing workouts as my own personal confidence-boosting time, a lightbulb went off in my head and I became addicted to this time with myself.” The Chicago-based personal trainer recommends lightening up.

“Find something fun. Do something goofy like dancing around. Schedule this in and instead of ‘workout’, call it ‘pump-up time for me’.”

Getting outside and hitting the trails or walking every evening after dinner is a great way to get oxygen-infused aerobic time. “Use outdoor space to your advantage,” says Wong. “I’ve taught boot camps at parks, and one game I like doing is Touch 20 Things. Run around and touch 20 things at least 15 to 20 feet apart, but don’t touch the same thing twice. He also suggests doing sprints or bear crawls for distance exercise and step-ups on park benches or large rocks. “If a park is not

available, similar things can be done in your backyard. Just have fun with it.”

Tetiana Rostopira/Shutterstock.com

Exercising Outside the Box Working out with a different rule set offers an invitation to add a new twist to a usual favorite. “I personally practice martial arts every day, but that can be done in a variety of ways,” says Wong, pointing to gentle qigong, shadow boxing, breathing exercises, footwork drills and heavy bag training.

He recommends exercising every day, but limiting more intense workouts to three or four times a week. Cardio exercises such as walking and bicycling are a good daily choice, while high-intensity interval training workouts can be accomplished with minimal or no equipment. There are a variety of methods with timing elements that can be used to get a good workout.

For example, with the As Many Rounds As Possible regimen, three exercises are done back-to-back for as many rounds as possible in a 10-to12-minute period.

Exploring free online classes on YouTube and other platforms opens up even

more options, including yoga, Pilates and dance classes. Many trainers offer virtual workouts over Zoom or Skype live in real time. There are also mobile apps with workouts available for download.

The Support Factor Partners or family members can help each other to stay on a workout schedule.

“You can set up a chart for you and your family members to put a star or checkmark once you’ve finished a workout.

Turn it into a competition, and whoever has the most stars at the end of a few weeks gets to pick the workout for the whole family to do,” suggests Mansour.

Partners can also make a pact to take care of the kids when it is the other’s turn to grab some fitness time.

Being motivated is easier with some self-love, King reminds us: “You can begin something new by fully appreciating yourself with daily gratitude.”

A Home Workout

Stephanie Mansour suggests this quick workout: 4 Run and march in place, punching your fists in the air.

4 Hop over a tile line on the floor and back. Both of these count as cardio.

4 After 60 seconds, add in some strength training, like 10 squats or half push-ups on your hands and knees.

4 After that, do 10 repetitions of an ab exercise such as crunches or toe taps.

4 Then repeat the circuit for as much time as you have. This adds aerobic and strength aspects to the workout.

Marlaina Donato is an author and composer.

Connect at AutumnEmbersMusic.com.

June 2020

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natural pet

dogs simply need more help coping.

Changing the brain might be the way to go. Calmer Canine is a device that sends targeted, pulsed, electromagnetic field (tPEMF) signals to the dog’s brain. Unlike approaches like medications, supplements and cannabidiol (CBD) that have to be administered repeatedly as needed, “the dog gets two, 15-minute treatments per day for four to six weeks,” says veterinarian Judy Korman, at Assisi Animal Health, in New York City and Santa Fe, New Mexico.

A 2019 pilot study of nine dogs that she conducted in cooperation with the North Carolina State University of Veterinary Medicine, which developed the device, showed that the tPEMF signals reduced anxiety and restored calm.

Exercise

Soothing Separation Helping Anxious Dogs to Cope

by Julie Peterson

S

eparation anxiety is a common canine problem, diagnosed in as many as 40 percent of dogs seen by veterinary behavioral specialists. When the dog is left alone, it may serenade the neighbors, soil the house or cause damage.

Stories abound of unstuffed couches, dugup floors, destroyed window coverings and dog injury from chewing out of a crate or trying to escape through windows.

In an article on separation anxiety syndrome (SAS) in the Journal of American Veterinary Medicine, Stefanie Schwartz, DVM, cites several studies that agree on common risk factors for SAS in dogs: history of traumatic separation, inexperience with being alone, excessive greetings and prolonged departures by owners, relocation and changes in routine or family structure.

Symptoms vary in scope and degree, but SAS is painful for both dog and parent.

Repeatedly returning home to complaints from neighbors or considerable damage can cause owners to surrender their dogs.

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Get the Diagnosis

If a dog is acting out, an assessment is needed to ensure that what seems like SAS isn’t caused by underlying conditions.

Boredom, illness or canine cognitive dysfunction could result in actions and symptoms such as pacing or excessive salivating that mimic anxiety. If SAS is diagnosed, owners must understand that dogs aren’t exacting revenge and should never be punished for behavior exhibited when they are terrified, advise veterinarians.

Natural Solutions Human Tricks

A 2018 study in the Journal of Veterinary Behavior suggests that petting a dog for one minute before leaving may make the dog calmer during separation. Some dogs feel safest when left in a crate covered with a blanket. The human attitude toward separation can be felt by the dog, as well, but some

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“I’ve tried medication and natural supplements, and have found that what works best for all three of my dogs is plenty of exercise. Long walks, especially in new locations with new smells, are a favorite,” says Kimberly Gauthier, a blogger at Keep the Tail Wagging and Dog Mom Style, in Marysville, Washington.

There is a physiological reason for engaging in walks guided by the dog’s nose. “The more the dog is able to take in scent, the more it triggers the seeking part of the brain, the more enriching life is for the dog and the more it calms them down,” says Mittsy Voiles, a behavior specialist at the Lake Mills Veterinary Clinic, in Wisconsin.

Food and Supplements

Good nutrition allows dogs to be more successful citizens. “If you make the baseline fundamentals good, it gives the dog the ability to think, process its environment and have less anxiety,” says holistic veterinarian Catherine Alinovi, at Healthy Pawsibilities, in Clearwater, Florida. Processed kibble with food coloring is doggie junk food. “Kibble Quandary: A Fresh Look at Pet Food,” at NaturalAwakenings. com, suggests healthier feeding options.

How a dog is fed can also have an impact. Putting food in puzzle toys facilitates a brain exercise that improves confidence.

“Dogs who spend part of their day work-

ing out puzzles are really engaging that opportunistic scavenger part of their biology,” says Voiles.

Commonly, pet owners are turning to the hemp plant derivative CBD as a calming aid. For those considering nutraceuticals, herbs and supplements, a holistic veterinarian can make recommendations.

Accessories

Diffusing calming essential oils may relax some dogs, but a mild scent for humans could supersaturate a dog’s olfactory organ, preventing them from smelling what’s necessary. Learning how to use essential oils safely around pets is critical. But the pacifying scent of natural pheromones that mimic the comfort of nursing are hard to beat; pheromone-based products in sprays, diffusers, wipes and collars can be found in natural-health stores and pet stores. “It’s effective for dogs who need to feel safe or when adjusting to a new environment,” says Voiles.

ThunderShirts, special blankets and Dog TV are tried by many, but no one option works for every dog. “When people try things and don’t get improvement, they should seek a holistic veterinarian who can help figure out what is going on,” says Alinovi.

Julie Peterson writes about wellness and the environment. Reach out at JuliePeterson2222@gmail.com.

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POWER UP YOUR BRAIN Six Ways to Boost Blood Flow

by Ronica O’Hara

meat for soy and fish protein, eating antioxidant-rich produce such as pomegranate, blueberries, spinach and kale, and consuming lots of nitrate-rich food like celery and leafy greens which are converted to NO in the body. He especially recommends beets—one study reported that in juice form, it increases nitric oxide levels by 21 percent in 45 minutes—as well as dark chocolate. In a Harvard study, older people that drank two cups of hot chocolate a day for 30 days had improved blood flow to the brain and better memory.

2

Take amino acid supplements. “Consuming sup-

plements containing both L-arginine and L-citrulline are well-documented to boost the production of endothelium-derived NO,” says Ignarro. “Adding antioxidants to the amino acid mix provides added benefit by increasing NO levels.” He recommends pomegranate extract, cocoa flavonols and omega-3 supplements.

3

Move the body. Fast walking, running, cycling, swimming,

ball playing, weight lifting and yoga all help improve cranial blood flow, says Ignarro: “Physical activity stimulates the production of NO in all arteries, including those in the brain.” In one study, women over 60 that walked for 30 to 50 minutes three or four times a week increased ongoing cranial blood flow up to 15 percent. Yoga exercises like downward dog and shoulder stands also raise blood flow in the head.

O

ur brain has many well-known structures like the amygdala that detects danger and the prefrontal cortex that enables planning, but we often take for granted the 400 miles of blood vessels that push through a liter of blood per minute, carrying in oxygen and nutrients, and porting out wastes. “Our brains are highly metabolic organs, so they require lots of nutrients and oxygen to function properly, and those can only get to our brain when we have good blood flow,” says naturopathic physician Emilie Wilson, of the Synergy Wellness Center, in Prescott, Arizona.

When that blood flow is optimal, we feel energized and clear-headed; when it’s low, we feel foggy and listless. Low levels of cranial blood flow have been linked in brain imaging studies to strokes and dementia, as well as bipolar disorder, depression and suicidal tendencies. The first imperative for healthy cranial blood flow is to make sure our blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol numbers are in a healthy range. Health practitioners can help us address that, as well as the conditions linked to reduced blood flow—heart disease, hypothyroidism, diabetes, anemia, depression and smoking. To boost brain blood flow, specific lifestyle strategies have proven to be highly effective:

1

Eat strategically, especially beets and chocolate.

Nitric oxide (NO) is made in the endothelium, the thin layer of cells that line blood vessels; it relaxes the inner muscles of those vessels, maximizing blood flow. “The continuous formation of NO in the brain is essential to life,” says prominent pharmacologist Louis Ignarro, Ph.D., who received the Nobel Prize in Science in 1998 for discovering that humans produce NO and that it lowers blood pressure and improves blood flow. He advocates passing up 30

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4

Play music. Research using functional magnetic resonance imaging published in Scientific Reports found that blood flow in the brain increases when people listen to music they love, whether it’s Mozart or Eminem. In a recent study, Weightless, a song written by the British group Macaroni Union along with sound therapists, reduced participants’ anxiety levels by 65 percent and physiological resting rates by 35 percent.

5

Do a chanting meditation. Kirtan Kriya, a 12-minute

daily meditation that includes chanting, finger movements and visualization, “has been researched for over 18 years and has documented benefits in increasing blood flow to the brain,” says Krystal Culler, senior Atlantic fellow with the Global Brain Health Institute, in San Francisco and Ireland. YouTube offers several versions, as does the Alzheimer’s Research and Prevention Foundation (Tinyurl.com/12MinuteYogaMeditation).

6

Consider acupuncture and craniosacral therapy.

“Acupuncture has been used for thousands of years to boost blood flow, and it can also relax tense muscles in the neck and head, which can impair blood flow more than we realize,” says Wilson. She also recommends the gentle, hands-on-head approach of craniosacral therapy: “It can directly improve blood flow by removing restrictions, and it can also rebalance sympathetic and parasympathetic functions, which has beneficial effects on our nervous system and on blood flow.”

Ronica O’Hara is a Denver-based health writer. Connect at OHaraRonica@gmail.com.

Orla/Shutterstock.com

healing ways

eco tip

Biking During the COVID-19 Crisis Regular Tips Apply to Pedaling

Ljupco Smokovski/Shutterstock.com

During the coronavirus crisis, biking is especially recommended, as it provides exceptional aerobic and cardio exercise, relaxation and because it maintains social distancing. Keeping in mind proper equipment, fitness, safety and other factors can make it even more fulfilling during this difficult period.

Choose the right bike. Those designed for roads and pavement are generally lighter and have more gears than mountain bikes, which have more shock-absorbing features, plus more lower gears to help traverse inclined terrain. Urban and commuting bikes feature a slightly more upright riding position that allows better sightlines and improved visibility by motorists.

Use a bike shop with mechanics that test and adjust the bikes they sell, including determining the proper seat height—which facilitates proper alignment of hips and a full rotation—and the ideal distance from the handlebars to the seat tube.

Back, knee or hip pain

may develop if a cyclist has to stretch his or her legs to get to the pedals, according to the League of American Bicyclists. A biker doesn’t get proper leg extension if the seat is too low.

The legs should be almost, but not totally extended at the lowest point in pedaling.

Safety takes many forms. Even well-marked bike lanes don’t guarantee safety, so use caution. Some motorists are careless about entering bike lanes and don’t correctly stop at crosswalks or look behind before opening doors. Keep at least five feet from the sides of cars to avoid being hit. Don’t weave in and out of traffic, always don a helmet, signal turns and watch out for runners and walkers.

Use the stop signal (left arm extended downward) to alert bikers that may be traveling behind.

Proper pedaling can help prevent strains. In addition to

ensuring they’re employing proper leg extension, it’s advised that bikers pedal a little faster in a lower gear; ideally, 75 to 90 revolutions per minute, which is easier on the knees with less muscle fatigue than traveling slower in a higher gear.

Routine maintenance includes

“cleaning and lubing the chain, replacing brake pads, and changing and fixing a flat tire,” according to major bike and outdoor retailer Recreational Equipment, Inc. (rei.com). The website has helpful tips on tools to obtain, along with basic information on bike maintenance, cleaning and fixing a flat tire.

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cial distancing and isolation?

wise words

David Hamilton on Kindness in the Pandemic Age

D

by Sandra Yeyati

avid Hamilton has authored 10 books, including The Little Book of Kindness, How Your Mind Can Heal Your Body and The Five Side Effects of Kindness. He holds a doctorate in organic chemistry and spent four years in the pharmaceutical industry developing drugs for treating cardiovascular disease and cancer.

During clinical research trials, he noticed that a significant number of people experienced health improvements while on fake, or placebo, drugs. This inspired a career change more than 20 years ago, when he became a writer and public speaker teaching people how to understand and harness the mindbody connection to improve health.

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Have you noticed an increase in kindness during the current pandemic emergency?

I think so. In the past, you said things like, “Hello, how are you?” as a greeting. But now, when people say it, they really mean it. There’s a sense of genuine compassion that I think is coming out in everyone on a scale that I’ve never seen before. We’re feeling empathy for people that are suffering, but also feeling empathy for each other, because we realize that everyone is in a similar place.

How do you explain this upsurge in kindness during so-

ColumbiaNaturalAwakenings.com

We are genetically wired for kindness. The genes that produce the kindness hormone are some of the oldest in the human genome, like 500 million years old. So, our natural state is to care, to be kind and compassionate. But in life, we get caught up in everyday stresses and worries—financially, work-wise and in relationships—that often obscure that natural tendency to care.

When a lot of that stuff is taken away, people’s natural sense of kindness and compassion come to the surface.

Do you see an opportunity for a shift in collective consciousness?

Absolutely. We’ve been called to unify, to recognize that we are part of the same human family. There’s a global outpouring of compassion. We’re transforming, becoming more aware of our own kindness and the needs of other people.

On another level, I saw a meme that said, “It feels like the universe has sent us home to our rooms to think about what we’ve done.” There’s research that correlates an increase in viruses and parasites over the last couple of years to a loss in biodiversity due to human action, like knocking down rain forests and human-induced climate change. Species extinctions are 1,000 to 10,000 times greater today than they’ve ever been in recorded history, except for 65 million years ago when an

asteroid crashed into the Earth and wiped out the dinosaurs. Parasites, viruses and bacteria have nowhere else to go, so they’re jumping species, from bats to humans, for example. We’re being called spiritually not only to be more compassionate and kind to each other, but also to recognize the damage we’re doing to the planet and to be more respectful of nature, the environment and animals.

What are the positive physical effects of kindness?

Physiologically speaking, kindness is the opposite of stress. Where feeling stressed can increase blood pressure, tense the nervous system and suppress the immune system, feelings induced by kindness reduce blood pressure, calm the nervous system and elevate the immune system.

Are certain acts of kindness better than others?

It doesn’t matter what you do. What matters most is that you do it because you mean it; you genuinely have a sense of empathy and want to help someone. All of the physiological benefits of kindness come because the feelings induced by kindness generate what I call kindness hormones, the most important one being oxytocin, which is a female reproductive hormone that also plays a big role in cardiovascular health.

Can a small act of kindness really make a difference in the world?

Absolutely. It’s been charted scientifically that if you do something kind for somebody, that person will be kind or kinder to five other people over the next day or two because of how you made them feel. Those five people will be kind or kinder to five further people, which turns into 25 people, and each of those 25 will be kind to five people, which takes it to 125 people’s lives that can be changed and affected in small and large ways three social steps away from you simply because of one tiny little thing you did.

Sandra Yeyati is a freelance writer in Naples, Florida. Connect at SandraYeyati@gmail.com.

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calendarofevents NOTE: All calendar events must be received by June 10 (for July issue) and adhere to our guidelines.

To submit listings, email ColaPublisher@NaturalAwakeningsMag.com. Costs $20 for 35 words each month.

ALWAYS CALL AHEAD BEFORE ATTENDING EVENTS TO AVOID LATE CANCELLATIONS AND CHANGES At the Table Online Classes–Sharon is offering Zoom cooking classes for kids, Zoom plant-based cooking classes, virtual summer cooking camps for children, and family and group online Zoom cooking parties. Info: Call Sharon at 803-238-5876 or visit AtTheTablellc.com.

Canvases With Candace Virtual Art School–We are providing art “at-home” kits. Our kits include online instruction with live teaching and interaction.

Enrolling students daily hoping to connect to the home school population and collaborate with their learning styles and structures. Join on Facebook at Facebook.com/canvaseswithcandace, or Candace at 718-924-1752 or CanvasesWithCandace@ gmail.com.

Chiropractic Wellness Center–Our office is open.

We are scheduling appointments a little differently to maintain patient flow and comfort. We are taking extra precautions to sanitize common areas, minimize wait time, and reduce the number of people in the office simultaneously. Call 803-771-9990 or email Doc@DrShellyJones.com to schedule an appointment.

Dowdy Rudolph Chiropractic–We are open and spacing appointments consciously. We are sanitizing our office and waiting areas throughout the day and wearing personal protective gear. Call 803-3766293 to schedule an appointment.

Elite Personal Training Online Coaching–We are offering classes on Zoom. Get in shape and destress while being home in this strange time that we’re all in together. Call for opening date at 803-749-4279 or visit ElitePersonalTrainingStudio.com.

Rooted Community Virtual Yoga Classes–Studio is open. Info: Call Anne Miller at 803-730-3976.

Whole Truth Health and Nutrition Online Coaching–Get healthy with a 7-Day Detox, with approved dinner guide with recipes, or take advantage of the Spring Coaching Specials while being stuck at home. Visit WholeTruthHealth.org to subscribe.

SATURDAYS JUNE 6, 13, 20 & 27

Murraywood Health Foods 20% off Saturdays–10am-6pm. 20% off all grocery items, excluding local honey. Murraywood Shopping Center, 7001 St Andrews Rd, Columbia. Info: 803-732-3847.

SATURDAY, JUNE 13

Drive-In Movie Night Melvin Park–Come out and enjoy a night out at the movies in your own vehicle.

Melvin Park, 370 Eptings Camp Rd, Chapin. Info/ cost/times: 803-345-8113, icrc.net.

SATURDAY, JUNE 20

Drive-In Movie Night Saluda Shoals–Come out and enjoy a night out at the movies in your own vehicle. Saluda Shoals Park, 5605 Bush River Rd, Columbia. Info/cost/times: 803-772-1228, icrc.net.

ICRC Indoor Yard Sale–7-11am. Clean out the garage, attic, kids’ rooms and closets, and bring

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Columbia Edition

those hidden treasures to Seven Oaks Park to sell.

Make sure to drop by and check out all of the great bargains. Anyone interested in participating as a vendor should call or stop by the park for participation details. Vendor setup will be the day before (Friday, June 19) between 4 and 7pm. Admission is free to buyers. Seven Oaks Park, 200 Leisure Ln, Columbia. Info: 803-772-1228, icrc.net.

SUNDAY & MONDAY, JUNE 21 & 22

Reiki I Online Class–Sun, 11am-3pm; Mon, 12:30-3:30pm. Instructed by Joy Lee Connor, reiki master. Learn the principles of practitioner-level reiki, with advanced interpretations of the reiki healing symbols and absentia healing protocol. Info/ preregistration/cost: Call Connor at 803-447-6499.

planahead SATURDAY, JULY 25

Wild Summer's Night Auction and Feast–7-10pm.

The South Carolina Wildlife Federation will auction off some great items, such as beautiful works of art; jewelry; guided birding and wildlife-watching trips; hunting and fishing excursions, both in South Carolina and other amazing places; guided river and kayak tours; hunting and fishing equipment; and much more. Great food, music, an open bar, live and silent auctions, prize drawings, games and more.

Seawell’s Catering, 1125 Rosewood Dr, Columbia.

Info/tickets: Contact Shannon Keenan at 803-2560670 or Shannon@scwf.org. Visit scwf.org.

ongoing events sunday Writing as a Spiritual Practice–10am-12:30pm.

Visit the website or email to see if this is temporarily offered online. Every 2nd Sunday. Spiritual Director Candace Chellew-Hodge, published author and songwriter, leads workshop to help participants use creative writing as a way to grow their spiritual practice. Bring pen and paper or laptop for writing exercises. Free, but donations are accepted.

Jubilee! Circle, 6729 Two Notch Rd, Columbia.

Info/register: RevCandace@JubileeCircle.com, JubileeCircle.com.

A Course in Miracles–Original Edition– 4:306pm. Every Sunday. This session will be via telephone in June. We read together and discuss questions, insights and experiences. Donations are accepted. Call to schedule introductory sessions with Joy Lee Connor. Info: 803-447-6499.

ColumbiaNaturalAwakenings.com

tuesday

Healthy at Home Facebook Live–7pm. Every Tuesday. Please join Ms Tracy for her Healthy at Home segment live on Facebook. Info/cost: Call Ms Tracy at 833-678-7229 or email OriginalOriginshw@gmail.com.

wednesday Debtors Anonymous–6-7pm. Visit the website or email to see if this is temporarily offered online.

Every Wednesday. Debtors Anonymous offers hope for people whose use of unsecured debt causes problems and suffering. Find relief by working the DA recovery program based on the 12-step principles. Cost: Free. Jubilee! Circle, 6729 Two Notch Rd, Columbia. Info: RevCandace@JubileeCircle. com, JubileeCircle.com.

friday

A Talk on A Course in Miracles–6:30pm. Visit the website or email to see if this is temporarily offered online. Every 2nd Friday. Facilitator Gina Gibson continues a series of monthly talks. Q&A to follow. Free and open to the public; donations are accepted. Jubilee! Circle, 6729 Two Notch Rd, Columbia. Info: RevCandace@JubileeCircle.com, JubileeCircle.com.

saturday

Writing as a Spiritual Practice–10am-12:30pm.

Visit the website or email to see if this is temporarily offered online. Every 2nd Saturday. Minister Candace Chellew-Hodge, published author and songwriter, leads workshop to help participants use creative writing as a way to grow their spiritual practice. Bring pen and paper or laptop for writing exercises. Free, but donations are accepted. Jubilee!

Circle, 6729 Two Notch Rd, Columbia. Info/register: 803-569-6385, RevCandace@JubileeCircle. com, JubileeCircle.com.

Columbia Resilience Integrated Health Community Clinic–10am-2pm. Every 1st Saturday beginning June 6. CranioSacral Therapy, energy-based modalities, self-care techniques, and a simple meal are offered by trauma-trained practitioners for the relief of chronic stress and post-trauma care. Suggested donation: $15/session. First-come, first-served. Only six participants permitted in clinic at any one time according to new COVID-19 guidelines. Call for waiting times. St Mark United Methodist Church, 3200 Lyles St, Columbia. Info/ appointment: Call Pamila Lorentz at 803-749-1576.

Health on Digital Radio–1pm. Every Saturday.

Health, Hope and Healing digital radio broadcast.

WDRB media on iHeart Radio or TuneIn app.

Info/cost: Call Ms Tracy at 833-678-7229 or email OriginalOriginshw@gmail.com.

naturaldirectory Connecting you to the leaders in natural health care and green living in our community. To find out how you can be included in the Natural Directory, call 803-233-3693 or email ColaPublisher@NaturalAwakeningsMag.com.

ACUPUNCTURE THE ACUPUNCTURE CLINIC

William D. Skelton, DAc 620 Sims Ave, Columbia 803-256-1000 • SCAcupuncture.com

Bill Skelton is dedicated to helping people live happier, healthier, active lives with safe, gentle and effective techniques.

He has 38 years’ experience and trained in the Republic of China.

Call to schedule an appointment. See ad, page 6.

AROMATHERAPY GARNER’S NATURAL LIFE

4840 Forest Dr, Ste 15-A, Columbia Trenholm Plaza, in Forest Acres 803-454-7700 • GarnersNaturalLife.com

Improve your level of stress, depression and mood with natural products from a locally owned family business. Our knowledgeable staff will guide you using aromatherapy for pain, anxiety, energy enhancement and more.

We carry several brands of essential oils, including doTERRA. See ads, page 3 and back page.

CHIROPRACTIC CHIROPRACTIC WELLNESS CENTER INC

Dr. Shelly Jones, DC 5209 Forest Dr, Ste C, Columbia 803-771-9990 • DrShellyJones.com

Webster Technique certified, Dr. Jones provides family chiropractic care, health information and wellness resources to support the body’s natural ability to heal, allowing one to feel better and enjoy living a more active lifestyle! Call to schedule your appointment or discuss bringing our onsite chiropractic care and health-education services to your business, school or athletic team.

DOWDY RUDOLPH CHIROPRACTIC LLC Dr. Dowdy Rudolph, DC 1444 Barnwell St, Columbia 803-376-6293 • DowdyRudolphChiro.com

Dr. Gerald Rudolph, DC, focuses on finding the root cause of your problems and not just treating your pain. He utilizes digital X-rays to help diagnose problems, spinal adjustments to stimulate proper movement of spinal and extremity joints, active therapeutic movement exercises to correct movement disorders, and spinal decompression to help relieve numbness and tingling down your arms and legs. Dowdy Rudolph Chiropractic also offers a state-of-the-art full-body lounge hydromassage table that can help you feel more rejuvenated and relaxed. See ad, page 22.

FLEX CHIROPRACTIC

Dr. Angela Larson Dr. Felicia Danio 1811 Bull St, Columbia 803-252-0108 • FlexChiros.com

With more than 22 years of experience in the chiropractic i n d u s t r y, o u r t e a m i s knowledgeable, experienced and courteous. Combining a passion for healing and alleviating pain with two decades of good oldfashioned know-how, we give you the customized chiropractic treatment you truly deserve. Our vast list of services includes: decompression; Pro Adjuster; pregnancy care; newborns, infants and toddler care; massage therapy; ultrasound; Kinesiology taping; and cold laser. Call today to schedule your appointment with Dr. Larson or Dr. Danio. Let our team help you achieve a happy, healthy life through chiropractic care!

COLLABORATIVE LAW LAW OFFICE OF SHANNON K. BURNETT

109 N Main St, Blythewood 803-786-1758 • ShannonBurnettlaw.com Shannon.skblaw@gmail.com

Shannon Burnett helps families through legal issues that normally tend to tear families apart. She works in a collaborative fashion with other trained professionals to minimize the damage done to your family; it is her goal for your family to achieve a successful outcome and healthy resolution.

COLON HEALTH SPRING RAIN HYDROTHERAPY

Linda Salyer 120 Kaminer Way Pkwy, Ste H, Columbia 803-361-2620 • LSalyer@ymail.com

All disease begins in the colon.

Constipation; slow, sluggish bowel; gas and bloating? A colonic will help to rid you of these problems. Colonics promote good digestion, help speed metabolism, help lower cholesterol, and help relieve joint pain. Linda Salyer is IACN certified and a retired nurse. Saturday appointments available with an additional small convenience fee. See ad, page 22.

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CRANIOSACRAL CHI ENERGY BALANCE

Pamila Lorentz, MSW, RN, LMBT 1544 Highway 6, Gaston 803-749-1576 ChiEnergyBalance.com

Pamila is a former hospice and home-health nurse who now provides CranioSacral Therapy (CST), energy balancing, and sound vibrational healing techniques at her clinic in Gaston and in in-home settings. CST and sound healing are "light touch" therapies that are offered while the client is fully dressed and resting on a massage table or chair. CST has a profound positive effect in facilitating relief of conditions related to chronic stress, physical and emotional trauma, and neuromuscular and nervous system impairment. Group sessions for sound and vibrational healing are limited to three participants due to COVID-19 guidelines. Individual home sessions are offered with restrictions. Remote energy healing sessions are scheduled according to the client’s need. Schedule appointments online at ChiEnergyBalance.com or text to 803-749-1576.

DISTANCE HEALING JOY LEE CONNOR, LMT (SC#1229)

Touch for Health Instructor and Consultant Reiki Master, A Course In Miracles Teacher Chopra Instructor, Meditation, Yoga, Ayurveda 803-447-6499 • JoyLeeConnor@BellSouth.net

Joy is committed to being the "Light of the World" during this time of need, offering miracles (shifts in perception). When we see differently, our mind, emotions and even our body can shift, change and HEAL. While Joy has practiced as a Licensed Massage Therapist in the Columbia area for many years, she has also worked with friends and clients around the globe doing healing work. By phone, FaceTime, email, Joy offers healing sessions and consultations from 20 minutes to two hours.

ECO-RICH SKIN CARE PRODUCTS JUST WANNA MELT LLC Misty Rawls • 803-331-0063 Info@JustWannaMelt.com JustWannaMelt.com

A green skin care company that creates high-quality, non-GMO, all-natural products that are gentle to the skin and safer for the environment. Our brands include ingredients such as organic oils, butters, flowers, herbs, botanicals, local grains, beeswax and honey. Find our products at such stores as Garner’s Natural Life, Four Oaks Farm,

June 2020

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naturaldirectory Wingard’s Nursery, Whole Foods and more. For a complete list of retail locations, visit our website.

HEALTH FOOD STORE MURRAYWOOD HEALTH FOODS

Richard Beale, Owner • 803-732-3847 7001 St. Andrews Rd, Irmo In Murraywood Shopping Centre Hours: Mon-Sat, 10am-6pm

Locally owned and proudly serving Irmo and the Midlands area for more than 25 years, Murraywood Health Foods is a health and specialty food store featuring the very best natural product brands, vitamins and minerals, herbs and homeopathic remedies. The store also carries natural and organic gluten-free foods and health and beauty products. Call today for more information or to schedule a special appointment. See ad, page 31.

HEALTH & FITNESS THE FITNESS FACTOR LLC Certified Holistic Health Coach Jermika Kennedy 803-804-8027

Are you a woman age 30 to 65 suffering from Endometriosis or Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) and tired of the painful menstrual cycles? Getting into shape may help. Ready to get fit?

Contact Jermika (registered nurse, certified personal trainer for women, and certified holistic health coach). Her services include mobile personal training sessions and personal health coaching sessions with recipes and discussion topics. Call today!

HEALTH & WELLNESS ABOUT YOUR HEALTH INC.

120 Kaminer Way Pkwy, Ste J, Columbia 803-798-8687 • AboutYourHealthSC.com

Our main focus is health education and health-enhancing services. One-on-one nutritional counseling, Mild Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy, Reams pH testing, parasite programs, aqua-chi footbaths, far infrared sauna, weight-loss programs, and thermography. Hard-to-find natural, organic, whole food nutritional supplements, raw foods and natural household items. See ad, page 8.

ORIGINAL ORIGINS HEALTH AND WELLNESS Tracy R. Jacox • 833-678-7229 OriginalOriginshw@gmail.com OriginalOriginshw.com

Ms. Tracy has over 30 years of experience in the medical field. The mission of Original Origins Health and Wellness is to educate, equip and empower the community to adopt a predominately whole food, plantbased lifestyle, which will improve

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and optimize your quality of life, health and wellness while preventing, delaying, reversing or eliminating chronic illnesses. Original Origins can assist you with maximizing your health and wellness holistically! Our wide range of services include health coach partnering, comprehensive health evaluations, comprehensive cooking experiences, and a comprehensive kitchen evaluation. Your health is your wealth! See ad, page 32.

HOLISTIC FOOT CARE SWEET FEET FOOT CARE

Mona Patterson/Master Pedicurist 9153 Two Notch Rd, Ste 11-C, Columbia 803-394-4421 • SweetFeetCare.com

Columbia’s foot care service with a holistic approach.

Here at Sweet Feet Foot Care, we focus on Preventive Care, Effective Pedicure Treatments and Cleanliness. With advanced knowledge and skills, we help correct disorders of the feet and lower limbs with pedicure treatments and orthotics. Services are ideal for Diabetics, Seniors and Knee- and Back-Pain Issues.

Call today to learn more about our services.

HOLISTIC HEALING CHAPIN HOLISTIC HERITAGE Apothecary and Wellness Center 211 E Boundary St, Chapin

803-941-7083 • ChapinHolisticHeritage.com Our center focuses on holistic health and spiritual awareness. We provide a wide array of services, including chiropractic care offered by Dr. Aleisha Taylor, Reiki sessions hosted by certified practitioners, herbalist consultations with Ashley Adams, tinctures, herbal medicines available for purchase and much more. Come see all of the different services the center has to offer for all of your health and wellness needs.

INTEGRATIVE & HOLISTIC MEDICINE EXPECT WELLNESS

Dr. Rachel Hall 130 Suber Rd, Columbia 803-796-1702 • DrRachelHall.com ExpectWellness@sc.rr.com Find us on Facebook for great health tips.

Integrative/Holistic medicine consults for anyone wanting to approach their health more naturally. Dr. Rachel Hall is board certified in both family medicine and integrative holistic medicine. Together we will focus on finding the root of the problem, not just treating symptoms. Call today for a consult if you are looking to achieve balance. In-house diagnostic labs and therapies. See ad, page 4.

ColumbiaNaturalAwakenings.com

SPIRITUAL ECKANKAR THE PATH OF SPIRITUAL FREEDOM

Contact Dee 803-749-2459 • ECK-SC.org Meetup.com/columbia-spiritual-seekers.com

Eckankar has suspended ALL group events worldwide through May 31 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We will update this information as changes occur on our websites listed above and in this Natural Awakenings of Columbia listing. See ad, page 21.

THERMOGRAPHY ABOUT YOUR HEALTH INC.

120 Kaminer Way Pkwy, Ste J, Columbia 803-798-8687 • AboutYourHealthSC.com

Our main focus is health education and health-enhancing services. One-on-one nutritional counseling, Mild Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy, Reams pH testing, parasite programs, aquachi footbaths, far infrared sauna, weight-loss programs, and thermography. Hard-to-find natural, organic, whole food nutritional supplements, raw foods and natural household items. See ad, page 8.

VITAMINS & SUPPLEMENTS GARNER’S NATURAL LIFE

4840 Forest Dr, Ste 15a, Columbia Trenholm Plaza 803-454-7700 • GarnersNaturalLife.com

At Garner’s Natural Life, we offer the purest, most innovative highquality natural products. With more than 130 collective years of wellness experience! Allows us to encourage your healthy choices. See ads, page 3 and back page.

YOGA YOGA MAMA COLUMBIA

Kyla Saphir Pre- and Postnatal Yoga Instructor 312-532-8885 YogaMamaColumbia.com

Kyla is passionate about teaching women in her prenatal and postnatal yoga classes since she experienced the benefits when she was pregnant with her daughter. She is the founder of Yoga Mama Columbia, which supports expectant women and new moms through yoga around the Columbia area. The classes focus on using breathwork to relax, strengthening the body for labor and healing afterward, and building a community of new moms. Visit her website for more information on classes and upcoming workshops.

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Fathers Know Best

D

by Neal Allen

ads, lighten up. Yes, all dads project their own fears and hopes on their children. If Dad dreamed of becoming a first baseman for the Yankees, he’ll push Johnny into baseball, ignoring his son’s preference for woodworking. If Dad harbored hopes of being the next Hemingway, he’ll praise Mary’s poetry, and maybe skip a few of her tedious soccer games.

Those are the facts, ma’am. Dads have a habit of imposing their own success goals on their kids. It’s not built into fatherhood to let kids willy-nilly develop their own talents and dreams. Does that ruin the kids?

Who knows? It happens in just about every family, so good luck finding a control group for the experiment.

There may be no hope for the kids, but how about the dads? What might happen if they notice this odd behavior and how might that lighten their own loads?

Most of us dads, most of the time, initially take on the responsibility of fatherhood—income, protection, education—with drive and purpose. We make compromises with our pre-dad selves. The sports car gets traded in for a minivan. Playing guitar becomes a hobby, not a professional goal. We sign on at the warehouse. New dads around the country are making these changes every day, and mostly with alacrity.

It’s later, when the perfect infant becomes the complaining toddler or reject-

ing teenager, that the vexing notion arises that another life could have been lived. This form of nostalgia—for what never came—is bitter. The word “nostalgia”, after all, comes from the Greek for “the pain of going home”.

But by seeing himself project his dreams on his children, a father can also see how he’s holding onto a suspect belief that another life would have been better. With maturity, a dad can revisit his adolescent dreams; not nostalgically, but with the wisdom that comes with age. Did I really have a chance at the Yankees? Be real. Weren’t there two guys in high school alone who had more talent?

Asking these questions, a father might even notice that no one in the family measures his worth in worldly achievements.

A dad is best remembered in his capacity for love, kindness, forgiveness, everyday strength and friendliness. Your child may know you’re a master carpenter. But what she remembers is that day when you gently showed her the right way to hold a hammer.

Neal Allen is a spiritual coach and author who shares seven children, step-children and grandchildren with his wife, writer Anne Lamott. His book on a new path to personal freedom will be released by Hierophant Publishers in spring 2021. For more information, visit ShapesOfTruth.com.

June 2020

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