Natural Awakenings August 2019 Edition

E E FR H E A L T H Y L I V I N G

Healthier Relationships Building Blocks and Skills for Everyone

HEALTHY

PLANET

Get Clarity on Your Soulmate!

AUTISM’S GUT-BRAIN AXIS

FUTURE-READY KIDS

Parenting in the 21st Century

August 2019 | Greater Hartford County Edition | NAHRT.com August 2019

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MANY PATHS MANY TRUTHS ONE BRIDGE

BRIDGE HEALING ARTS CENTER Bridge Healing Arts Center is a diverse holistic wellness center, offering the community many choices of complementary and holistic healing modalities, workshops, events, and classes on their journey to wellness.

Meet some of the Bridge community…

Life & Behavioral Coach

Hypnotherapy

Elizabeth Hill, MSW, ACC Green Heart Living - Compassionate Coaching for Overwhelmed Professionals, Parents, and Caregivers liz@greenheartliving.com www.greenheartliving.com • 860-913-6918

Carl Brown Hypnosis Licensed Hypnotherapist Easily change limiting beliefs.

You can have, be, or do anything you want! www.carlbrownhypnosis.com 860-309-9004

Psychic/Mediumship/Events/Workshops

Reiki/Intuitive Readings

Keiko Broyles, Psychic Spiritual Medium Willows Healing Path, LLC - Owner Tested Member of Shay Parker’s Best American Psychics • Usui Reiki Master Teacher keiko@keikomedium.com www.keikomedium.com • 860-280-5548

Deborah Lyons, RMT Owner/Operator of The Lotus Petal, LLC Reiki Master Teacher, Spiritual Counselor, Psychic/Medium, Nutrition Health Coach LotusPetalReiki@gmail.com www.TheLotusPetalReiki.com • 860-335-4060

Spiritual Intuitive, Medium & Psychic Denise Ann Atkinson, Owner of Soul Centered Mediumship. Private and group readings, CT and New York • Reiki Master/Teacher Facebook.com/Deniseaapsychicmedium www.deniseatkinsonmedium.com 860-930-9515

Our Village is Growing!

There is currently a wide variety of services available at The Bridge Healing Arts Center.

Please visit our website at www.BridgeHAC.com for a complete list.

If you are a practitioner who is interested to move your practice to the Bridge, please be in touch today! We have limited space available for you to join our growing village!

��� Main St. | Farmington, CT �6��� | bridgehac.com | 86�-���-���� | info@bridgehac.com 2

Hartford County Edition

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August 2019

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Contents 18 SPIRIT FESTIVAL

Immersion on the Connecticut River

20 AUTISM’S GUT-BRAIN

20

AXIS

A Promising Approach to Healing

The Future Dentist is Here Now!

100% Digital Practice Reducing Waste and Chemical Exposure • Computerized records mean no paper waste • Digital imaging means no film x-rays, dangerous chemical exposure or waste • Digital radiographs use a fraction of the x-ray exposure of traditional film radiographs • Impressions taken digitally with a laser scanner Solea Laser Technology Eliminates the needle and drilling from many procedures by naturally numbing the teeth.

No contact with the tooth like traditional drills.

Sirona CEREC CAD/CAM Scanner and Milling Machine Digital scans of teeth for orthodontic appliances, crowns, bridges and many other treatments.

We can make crowns in a day!

Sirona Orthophos CBCT Scanner (Cone Bean Computerized Tomography) Takes 3D CAT scans of the entire mouth at 1/3 the exposure of a traditional full set of x-rays.

Cutting-edge Natural Alternatives to Flouride & Restorative Materials free of Bis-GMA & BPAs! These technologies all work together to eliminate many of the traditional things that people fear when going to the dentist.

Visit our website for more detailed information about our state-of-the-art services at: glastonburydentalcenter.com

CALL 860-289-8219

to schedule your appointment

Hugh E. Finch Jr. DDS MBA General and Cosmetic Dentistry

Glastonbury Dental Center 195 Eastern Blvd.

Glastonbury, CT 06033

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22 FAMILY MATTERS

What Does It Mean to

Have a Child with Autism?

24 21ST CENTURY PARENTING

Preparing Kids for the Future

28 GET CLARITY ON

YOUR SOULMATE

Inner Work Can Bring External Joy

28

30 THE BUILDING BLOCKS OF A HEALTHY RELATIONSHIP

32 YOUR BODY,

YOUR FRIEND

Create a Healthier Relationship with Food

34

34 RELATIONSHIP

SKILL-BUILDING

The 3 Cs of a Healthy Connection

38 AYSHA AKHTAR ON

Our Symphony With Animals

39 LOVING

OURSELVES MADLY

Practice Intentional Self-Love

DEPARTMENTS 8 news briefs 15 eco tip 16 health briefs 17 global briefs 18 community

spotlight 20 healthy kids

32 conscious

eating 36 fit body 38 wise words 39 inspiration 40 calendar 44 resource guide 47 ad index

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.

24 32

Enter the flow of the River…

39

ADVERTISING & SUBMISSIONS HOW TO ADVERTISE To advertise with Natural Awakenings, please contact our sales team: Ads@NAHRT.com or 860-507-6392.

Our fax is 860-357-6034.The due date for ads is the 10th of the month prior to publication.

EDITORIAL SUBMISSIONS Submit articles, news items and ideas to Editor@NAHRT.com or call 860-507-6392. The due date for editorial is the 10th of the month prior to publication.

CALENDAR SUBMISSIONS Submit ALL calendar events on our website at NAHRT.com.

The due date for calendar is the 10th of the month prior to publication.

REGIONAL MARKETS Advertise your products or services in multiple markets!

Natural Awakenings Publishing Corp. is a growing franchised family of locally owned magazines serving communities since 1994. To place your ad in other markets, call 239-434-9392. For franchising opportunities, call 239-530-1377 or visit NaturalAwakenings.com.

Three days of yoga, wellness and music on the breathtaking Connecticut River.

Dozens of sessions with professional yogi, presenters and performers.

• Yoga tracks for beginners and advanced practitioners • Programs for children

• Yoga for U.S. Veterans

• Evening concerts to move your spirit and your feet • Vendors & Food Trucks • Healing Huts

Presented in affiliation with

September 13–15, 2019

Hartford, CT

One-Day and Weekend passes on sale now:

spirityogafestival.com August 2019

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HEALTHY LIVING HEALTHY PLANET

letter from publisher

N

o matter who you are, on a daily basis you navigate your way through a series of interactions GREATER HARTFORD with the world around you. We can choose to have either COUNTY EDITION a fleeting or a deeper connection to virtually everything PUBLISHER Nicole Miale we come in contact with: You can drive by the turtle in EDITOR Michelle Bense the road or you can choose to help it across. These small DESIGN & PRODUCTION Kathleen Fellows moments in each day compound, and together they form

Erica Mills CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Karenna Alexander our relationship to the world around us.

Roseann Capanna The quality, depth and health of our relationships Hodge can either provide a pulsing cord energizing an active Paige Dest Julie Graham and vibrant life, or typify a stagnant and somewhat lone James Osborne Nicole Miale ly state. The truth is, most people experience both ends Debbie Pausig SALES & MARKETING Shirley R. Bloethe of that spectrum—and many points in between—during their lives. People, places, foods, Nicole Miale animals, and more weave in and out of our fields during the course of years, sometimes Lisa Toczko without regard to our preferences. If we adapt successfully, we likely maintain that more WEBSITE Erica Mills energetic and pleasing experience. If we resist the changes or lack the resilience to cope, CONTACT US we may find ourselves in the more isolated and disappointed camp.

137 Danbury Rd, #323, New Milford, CT 06776

The good news is that we have the ability in any given moment to shift our relationPh: 860-507-6392 • Fax: 860-357-6034 ships. It can be a simple thing, like deciding to appreciate a hot summer day by going Publisher@NAHRT.com to the beach rather than bemoaning the sweat and discomfort experienced outside. Or NAHRT.com perhaps it’s joining a new group, attending a workshop, or visiting a festival that will SUBSCRIPTIONS Subscriptions are available by sending $30 present opportunities to have new experiences, meet people and develop relationships. (for 12 issues) to the above address.

The possibilities are endless. We have the power!

NATIONAL TEAM

This month’s edition looks at several different kinds of relationships, from loving, CEO/FOUNDER Sharon Bruckman human relationships to our bonds with animals and even food. We particularly shine a COO/ FRANCHISE SALES Joe Dunne

NATIONAL EDITOR Jan Hollingsworth compassionate light on families that may include one or more individuals who are autistic or atypical. Yes, the dynamics can be difficult, but as contributor Roseann Capanna MANAGING EDITOR Linda Sechrist NATIONAL ART DIRECTOR Stephen Blancett Hodge writes, “While the needs of a child with autism may complicate all relationships,

ART DIRECTOR Josh Pope especially with siblings, so many of these siblings offer amazing love and support in FINANCIAL MANAGER Yolanda Shebert return. Often, their compassion knows no bounds, and their lives have been enriched by FRANCHISE SUPPORT MGR. Heather Gibbs the love and challenges they’ve experienced.”

WEBSITE COORDINATOR Rachael Oppy NATIONAL ADVERTISING Kara Cave

I love that sentiment. Honestly, I wish it was something that could be said of every Natural Awakenings Publishing Corporation person.

I would put it this way: While the needs of humans in relationship are admit4933 Tamiami Trail N., Ste. 203 Naples, FL 34103 tedly complicated, our love and compassion for each other knows no bounds, and we are Ph: 239-434-9392 • Fax: 239-434-9513 made the better for the challenges we face together.

NaturalAwakeningsMag.com

What a beautiful world we would inhabit if this were the case! As contributor © 2019 by Natural Awakenings. All rights reserved.

Although some parts of this publication may be Karenna Alexander explains, you can’t attract what you desire until you’re clear about reproduced and reprinted, we require that prior what you want. If we can all hold the vision for loving, healthy relationships, then more permission be obtained in writing. of them will be created! It may be that simple. I’m game… how about you? Let’s hold that Natural Awakenings is a free publication distributed locally and is supported by our advertisers. Please intention! 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.

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

Natural Awakenings is printed on recycled newsprint with soy-based ink.

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Hartford County Edition

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With love and light,

See our display advertiser index on page 47, making it easier to find the resources you need.

Holistic Community Professionals HCP

Our professional team of holistic and natural businesses provides community outreach and education. We are committed to improving the health and wellness of body, mind, and spirit in the communities we serve. Visit our Site: www.HolisticCommunityProfessionals.com

Angel Connections/Angelic Realm Reclaim Your Personal Power Ambassador Community Outreach & Engagement Holistic Business Consultant 860-484-1182 or LoraHobson@gmail.com Patricia Spiegel (Spanish/English) Angelic Reader/Angelic Realm Workshops 860-559-9425 or patsp77@yahoo.com

Coaching & Workshops

Bradford W. Tilden, MM, CMT Universal White Time Gemstone, Energy, and Angelic Sound Healing Individual, Remote, Group Sessions Classes, Workshops, Sound Journeys Bradford@CrystalMusicHealing.com CT/MA locations 415-420-6232

Torin Lee TL Coaching /Zen Events www.MyPathForward.net torin@zenevents.net www.torinlee.com 860-861-9038

Healing/Coaching

Healing & Wellness Center

Robin Barros, Spirit of the Lotus Integrative Manual Therapy, Medical Shamanism, Holographic Sound Healing, Advanced Soul Coaching® & Past Life Journeys Medical Intuitive, Medium, Channel SpiritoftheLotus.org Columbia, CT 860-709-3903

Lily Holcomb, The Water Lily Holistic Empowerment Center, Intuitive & Mediumship Readings, Empowerment Energy Healings, Groups, Classes & Events • 129 Tolland Stage Rd. Tolland, CT thewaterlilycenter.com 860-756-6391

Intuitive Psychic Medium

Naturopathic Physician

Celeste Vernale, Celestial Messages Intuitive Psychic Medium, Healer, Animal Communication,Spiritual Guidance, Home Investigator celestialmessagesct.com celestialmessages@att.net 860-770-8997

Reiki/Sound Therapy Ed Cleveland The Ed Cleveland Reiki & Sound Therapy Training Center, Hartford Sound therapy, Reiki, Classes, Workshops EdReiki3@yahoo.com 860-681-3981

Treating Acid Reflux Susan Berman, M.Ed., CHHC Find your unique food & lifestyle triggers.

Offering 1:1 coaching via Zoom, Skype, or a DIY program.

HealingAcidReflux.com Susan@HealingAcidReflux.com 860-670-4152

Crystal/Sound/White Time

Mind • Body • Soul

Dr. Nicole Klughers, ND, PharmD, MSAc Naturopathic Provider & Acupuncture Specialist Vis Wellness Center at Nova Spa Rocky Hill DrNicoleKlughers.com DrNicoleKlughers@gmail.com (234)2-ACU-DOC

Shamanic/Reiki/Sound Healer Denise Cassella, Stairway to Healing Light, LLC Reiki Master Teacher, Sound Healer, Interfaith Minister, Shamanic, Angelic & Spiritual Guide, Qigong Associate Instructor, CT/RI/Cent. & East. MA StairwaytoHealingLight.abmp.com Stairway2Healing@gmail.com 860-965-6398

Integrative Psychotherapy The Enlightenment Counseling Center, LLC Holistic psychotherapy & alternative medicine to enhance our clinical services.

998 Farmington Ave, West Hartford 660 Prospect Ave, Hartford EnlightenmentCenterCT.com EnlightenmentCenterLLC@gmail.com 860-729-3284

Quantum Psychotherapy Celeste E. Mattingly, LCSW Creator of Celestial Psychology® State-of-the-art energy medicine & quantum healing techniques with Tachyon Zero-Point-Energy products & traditional talk therapy Insurance accepted celestialempowerment.com 860-586-8700

Transformational Healing Shari Dorman, LPC Inner Mountain Peak Healing, LLC- Owner Licensed Professional Counselor Reiki Master/Teacher InnerMountainPeakHealing.net InnerMountainPeakHealing@gmail.com 860-324-3309

STATEWIDE HOLISTIC EXPO

We Welcome You!

Passport to Health & Wellness Expo SUNDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2019 10am - 4pm

To join the Holistic Community Professionals, contact Shirley R. Bloethe at 860-989-0033 or ShirleyBloethe.com

Closing Event - Drumming on the Patio 4 - 5pm The DoubleTree by Hilton 42 Century Drive, Bristol, CT 06010 75 Vendors & Readers • Free Raffles • Drumming GRAND PRIZE A Hilton Overnight Stay for Two!

August 2019

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news briefs

FOCUS Center for Autism presents Sensory Friendly Yoga

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anctuary Power Yoga Canton will host Sensory Friendly Yoga with FOCUS Center for Autism, on Fridays from 1 to 2pm in August. This class is offered to teens, adults and their parents; caregivers and staff are welcome to participate as well.

We gently move through a mixture of stretching and standing poses, balancing poses and relaxation postures with an emphasis on mindful attention to the body and the breath.

Yoga studio classes in general can already be considered sensory friendly. The environment is soothing, and, if there is music, it is conducive to mindful movement. In a typical yoga class, students generally stay on their mats and are fairly quiet, other than the sounds of deep breathing and the occasional sigh.

Sensory Friendly Yoga is a little more lenient in its “etiquette”. It is understood that someone may need to step away from the group or may speak up during class. While we remain respectful of the group, the instructor and the practice, we also understand that the needs of the individuals may differ slightly than in other yoga classes.

This class costs $5 per person.

For more information, contact Sharon Cable at 860-693-9128 or Sharon.Cable@FocusCenterForAutism.org. Location: 163 Albany Tnpke, #400, Canton.

Yappy Tails Animal Rescue Inaugural Golf Tournament

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appy Tails Animal Rescue has announced its inaugural “Putts Fore Mutts” Charity Golf Tournament will be held August 24, from 8am to 7pm, at Airways Golf Course. The tournament will be followed by dinner, awards and a four-hour open bar at Skyline Restaurant in Windsor Locks.

Money raised will help the nonprofit save more animals in need.

Yappy Tails Animal Rescue, Inc. was founded in 2018 as a nonprofit, volunteer-based animal rescue organization dedicated to rescuing homeless dogs and cats from overcrowded shelters. They work with southern rescue partners to rescue from high-kill shelters and find loving homes in Connecticut for animals who would otherwise be euthanized.

Registration is $125 per person or $500 per foursome, and includes a golf cart, hot dog, drink and chips. Cash prizes will be awarded to first and second place teams. Raffle tickets will be $20 for 25. Mulligans (three max per player) are $5 each or three for $10. Tickets for dinner only will be $70 (includes open bar).

Sponsorship opportunities are also available for lunch, dinner, beverages, holes and more.

For more information and to register, visit Events.EventEase. com/438. Location: Airways Golf Course, 1070 South Grand St, West Suffield.

Start on the path to a brighter, more fulfilling future this fall.

Whether you’re seeking a career change, more recognition at work, or to achieve your degree for personal reasons — we’ve got the master’s degree programs for you! Join our inclusive graduate programs designed for working professionals: • MS Nursing • MS Organizational Leadership • MS Public Health

Take your next step!

www.goodwin.edu/masters 800.889.3282

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Hartford County Edition

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Open The Door To New Career Opportunities

Fully Online and On-Campus/Online Hybrid Programs

Fall Semester Classes Start September 9

Goodwin College is a nonprofit institution of higher education and is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE), formerly known as the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC). Consumer information about the College and its programs, including gainful employment data, is available at: www.goodwin.edu/institutional-effectiveness/consumer-info-heoa

Newtown Yoga Festival Returns Saturday, he annual Newtown Yoga Festival will take place August 24,Saturday, 2019 August

T

24, at the Newtown Community Center in Newtown. First organized to support the community after the Sandy Hook Community ElementaryCtr. School shootNewtown ing,8 the themeStreet of this year’s festival is Simpson “Grief, Loss, and Renewal.” The theme Newtown, CT 06470 was chosen to honor the memory of Dr. Jeremy Richman, father of a Sandy Hook victim and founder of The Avielle Foundation, who died by suicide earlier this year.

The festival promotes a holistic solution for anyone and everyone through the transformative wisdom and practice of yoga. Yoga, according to the event’s organizers, has been proven presents effective in reducing stress and depression by promoting movement and mindfulness andKnown is a valuable mechanism for coping Internationally Yogis: with physical andCope emotional trauma.

Stephen & Felicia Tomasko

Tickets can be purchased prior to the event for $40, and at • Tickets: $50 daylong at door event will feature the popular “Yoga the door for$40 $50./ The • Under 16 is Free!

Buffet,” an opportunity for participants to sample different types of • Adult and Family Yoga yoga, including The Journey Dance Flow, restorative yin, arm bal• Vendors and Live Music ances, chair yoga and yoga nidra; community classes led by Felicia • Bring Your Own Mat (andaany Tomasko and Stephen Cope; yogablankets/props!) class especially for kids; a sacred sound bath; and a vendor village featuring conscious local www.NewtownYogaFestival.org artisans, food from Aquarian Catering and live music by Hannah’s Field, as well as a drum circle. The silent auction at the end of the day includes VIP tickets to Live with Kelly and Ryan, a luxurious two-night yoga retreat, a yoga gift basket and more.

9am-4pm

For more information, visit NewtownYogaFestival.org. Location: Newtown Community Center, 8 Simpson St, Newtown. See ad, page 13.

Mediumship Demonstration

S

haron Farber, owner of Dragonfly Healing Arts, will give a demonstration of evidential mediumship by connecting to loved ones in spirit for participants. The event will take place August 13 from 7 to 8:15pm, at Dragonfly Healing Arts.

Not everyone may reason a connection. This is a real-life, in-person event, limited to eight participants. Cost is $15 Sharon Farber and pre-registration is required.

Dragonfly Healing Arts is a sacred space for healing and spiritual growth, providing massage, Reiki and other energy healing, reflexology and mediumship, healing classes and a Mediumship Development Circle. Farber is the author of Choosing to Be a Medium: Experience & Share the Healing Wonder of Spirit Communication, released in the spring of this year.

For more information, call 860-989-2358 or visit DragonflyHealingArts.net. Location: 8 Wickett St, Pine Meadow.

Psychotherapy Healing Services, LLC founded in 1999 by

Celeste Emelia Mattingly, LCSW Author & Creator of Celestial Psychology® Founder of The Sanctuary for Celestial Empowerment

Tachyon Healing & Anti-Aging Meditation Sessions Relax in a comfy recliner with headset, eye mask & surrounded with TachyonLiving Energy Products—Protect against EMFs, Reverse Aging & Chronic Physical, Mental, Emotional, & Subtle Body Conditions for Increased Wellness Celeste has been hailed as a metaphysical visionary.

She has been in private practice providing state-of-the-art Integrative & Holistic Psychotherapy for over 20 years.

10 Grassmere Avenue, Suite #300 West Hartford, CT 06110 Sign up for the Celestial Empowerment Newsletter for updates on workshops and events Call 860-586-8700 to schedule appointments & for more info https://celestialempowerment.com

MONDAZZI An

Book , Bead & Crystal Warehouse Showroom

Square Feet amazing 5000 of SHOPPING!

A little bit of everything for the mind, body and spirit.

Beads & Beading Supplies

Hundreds of gemstone beads 50% off strands of beads

Jewelry • Candles Crystals & Minerals

from around the world Books 50% off list price

Essential Oils Herbs & Resins Himalayan Salt Lamps Music • Classes Psychic Fairs • Events Vintage & Handpainted Furniture

Visit our Salt Room!

860-285-0538

Monday - Friday 9am-5pm | Saturday 9am-4pm | Closed Sunday www.mondazzi.com 570 Hayden Station Rd. | Windsor, CT 06095 August 2019

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news briefs

Program Teaches Human Dynamics

A CoHousing Community; Green Homes for Sale

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ocky Corner Cohousing, an organic farm-centered neighborhood located in Bethany, has begun its active construction phase, with only a few homes left for sale. Thirty comfortable, privately owned, self-sufficient homes and a large, shared common house with facilities for shared meals and other community resources are clustered in the center of a 33-acre former dairy farm.

Cohousing is a proven community design with more than 165 neighborhoods established throughout the U.S. and construction of another 140 underway. Rocky Corner is the first in the tri-state metro area.

Rocky Corner Cohousing’s mission is to “create a balance between independence and interdependence.” The community is governed through a sociocracy system, in which decisions are made through consent after discussion by neighbors rather than majority voting. Work is divided by a variety of committees, which any community member is welcome to join.

Rocky Corner’s buildings are energy-efficient, with passive and active solar design; air-source heat pumps for heating and cooling; tight envelopes with high-R-value insulation; and smaller footprints.

The community’s motto is “consume less, share more,” which it achieves by sharing the land for growing and conservation; sharing vehicles and tools; preparing meals together; and working together to create and maintain the community. Homes range in size from one to three bedrooms.

For more information about joining the community, attending an info session or touring the construction site, call 203-903-2646 or visit RockyCorner.org.

free introductory workshop on the Human Relations Training Program will be held Wednesday, August 8 at 6:30pm at Hartford Family Institute in West Hartford. The 27-week program, which starts in September, helps participants work with less effort and more satisfaction, improve relationships, make changes in their career, health and finances, develop tools for transformation, access core wisdom and learn why self exploration is essential to joyful living.

“Your life experiences impact who you are, how you are, the friendships and relationships you have, the work you do, and your success in life,” says Donna Berman, Director of the Human Relations Training Program at Hartford Family Institute.

“Learning the effects of this can profoundly influence how you experience life.”

“In continuous operation for over 20 years, the Human Relations Training Program provides an unparalleled understanding of human dynamics,” explains Berman. “I was a student from 2001 through 2005. It was a life-changing experience for me. That’s an overused term, but it’s really true. I learned so much about myself and how to have better, deeper relationships at home and at work, through this program. I am a better person for it.”

Each week of the program addresses a different theme, with rotating presenters both from Hartford Family Institute and guest experts. Examples include The Transformational Process, Understanding Trauma, Personal Integration, Character Structure, Understanding Body Process, Working with Subtle Energies, and Keys to Excellence.

To register, email Info@HartfordFamilyInstitute.com or call 860236-6009. Location: 17 South Highland St, West Hartford. See ad, page 23.

Undress. Destress.

RECREATION LEAGUE

A family-friendly nudist resort.

Visit solairrl.com for event schedule | Woodstock, CT | 860-928-9174 10 Hartford County Edition

NAHRT.com

Soul Circle: Working with the Divine Feminine

O

n the first Tuesday of each month, Amston’s Sea in the Sky Healing and Wellness Center hosts a Soul Circle, with owner Melanie Lynn, Usui and Celtic Reiki Master, spiritual messenger and shamanic practitioner. August’s Soul Circle is an exploration of the Divine Feminine and will be held August 6, from 6:30 to 8:30pm.

Through Divine Feminine oracle cards, meditation and a special goddess ceremony, participants will reclaim their power, open their heart space and find within themselves the strength, love and compassion of the great goddess. This event is certainly not just for women. Lynn will share sacred goddess light from her Fae guides through ceremony with each participant.

Join for an evening of meditation, journeying, drumming and healing. All levels are welcome. Each month features different methods of meditation and journeying such as connecting with your power animals and spirit guides, healing light guided meditations, mindfulness and more. Cost is $20 per circle.

For more information, email SeaInTheSkyHealing@gmail.com.

Location: 269 Church St, Ste 3, Amston. See Community Resource Guide listing, page 45.

8th Annual Psychic & Beyond Expo

T

he 8th Annual Psychic & Beyond Expo will be a two-day event at the convention center at Mohegan Sun this year, featuring more than 100 vendors and readers and hourly presentations. The event will kick off on Saturday, August 17 from 11am to 9pm and continues from 11am to 6pm on Sunday, August 18.

Readers will include psychics, mediums, intuitives and healers. Metaphysical shopping opportunities will abound, with vendors offering New Age supplies, crystals, jewelry and other items.

The event is free to the public to enter. There will be charges for readings and some presentations/experiences.

For more information, visit TheBeyondCenter.com. Location: Mohegan Sun Casino Expo Center, 1 Mohegan Sun Blvd, Uncasville. See ad, page 12.

DEE RANDIS

Astrologer Certified

Over 40 Years Experience in the Interpretation of Birth Charts.

Past, Present and Future

Call 860-274-1690 for appointment 24 Country Drive, Watertown, CT 06795

astrodee24@yahoo.com • www.metaphysicalcntr.net

The only transdermal, FDA-registered product containing the highest legal dose of Homeopathic human growth hormone available without a prescription.

USAGE MAY • Relieve Headaches • Enhance Muscle Mass • Improve Sleep • Heighten Libido • Promote Significant Fat Loss

Contact Shirley R. Bloethe 860-989-0033 or HGH8609890033@gmail.com

We care deeply about people, helping them to eat well and be happy.

Visit ShopRite Today in Canton & West Hartford, CT Owned and Operated by The Joseph Family

WELLNESS BOUTIQUE

A wellness boutique and collaborative event space.

1000 Farmington Avenue Suite 100 West Hartford, CT 06107 860-338-5499 b.kindct@gmail.com

b. kind is a lifestyle brand, helping others to live healthy, joyous and peaceful lives.

Every item is organic, natural and hand-chosen to promote mindfulness and nourish the mind-body-spirit connection.

We support small businesses across the U.S.A. Victoria Gleixner owner

August 2019

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Organic Lawn, Garden and Land Care Organic Lawn Perennial Plant Care Lawn Maintenance

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Peace Attunements • Crystal Dreaming • Traditional Usui Reiki Classes & Sessions New Meditation Room • doTerra Essential Oils • AngelLink Attunements Singing Bowls & Tuning Forks • Drum Building • Local Artists Gallery Home of the Avon Holistic Chamber of Commerce Our Practitioners are all licensed and insured professionals with years of experience ensuring the highest standards in the natural healing industry!

395 West Avon Road | Avon, CT 06001 | 860-936-0012 | SharingtheLightWC.com

news briefs

Invest in Yourself with a Master’s Degree at Goodwin College

M

any of us tend to put ourselves on the back burner. We may feel we’re not deserving, or that we’re too busy to do something for our own benefit. Fulfilling others’ needs often takes precedence over our own. If you can relate, it’s time for a change!

Goodwin College offers graduate programs designed for working professionals in Organizational Leadership, Public Health and Nursing. They understand that life is a balancing act, so they offer flexible, career focused and affordable graduate degree programs.

Students come to Goodwin because it breaks down obstacles to higher education. You will leave Goodwin with the skill-set, knowledge and hands-on experience needed to be successful—as well as the confidence required to flourish in your career and future endeavors. Goodwin College doesn’t believe in following the road well-travelled; they believe in bravely forging ahead in new directions to better serve students.

Goodwin College is invested in the continued success of its students. They believe you deserve great support services and resources to help you achieve your goals. As a Goodwin graduate student, you will never be left to fend for yourself; you will have help through each step of your journey—academically, personally and professionally.

For more information, call 800-889-3282 or visit Goodwin.edu/masters. See ad, page 8.

The dog lives for the day, the hour, even the moment. ~Robert Falcon Scott 12 Hartford County Edition

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Statewide Holistic Expo Call for Vendors

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he statewide Holistic Expo, to be held Sunday, October 27 from 10am to 4pm at The DoubleTree by Hilton in Bristol, is currently seeking vendors and speakers for the event. The benefit holistic fair, presented by Holistic Community Professionals, will feature 75 vendors and readers, free raffles and a grand prize—a Hilton overnight stay for two.

Attendees will have the opportunity to interact with more than 75 vendors and exhibitors as they learn about available resources promoting healthy living. Visitors will have the chance to gain inspiration by visiting booths and participating in scheduled events, including a keynote speaker and speakers on multiple topics during the day.

Door proceeds will be donated to the CT Children’s Medical Center (ConnecticutChildrens.org) and Hartford Hospitals Integrative Medicine Angie’s Spa fund (AngiesSpa.org). All funds will be used directly for patient care and will be matched to the maximum allowed by the grants for each organization.

Natural Awakenings is proud to be a member of the Holistic Community Professionals and a sponsor of the two statewide expos held each year.

Interested vendors can apply online at YourHolisticEvents.com.

For more information, call Shirley Bloethe at 860-989-0033, email YourHolisticEvents@gmail.com or visit ShirleyBloethe.com.

Location: DoubleTree by Hilton, 42 Century Dr, Bristol.

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Saturday, August 24, 2019

Yoga and Meditation at the Beach

G

ina Burchell of Yoga by Gina will host Beach Yoga and Meditation, from 8:45 to 10:30am, August 17, at Harkness Memorial State Park in Waterford. This all-levels yoga flow will take place on the grass overlooking the ocean, followed by a 20-minute Gina Burchell meditation sitting or lying on the beach. The yoga class is suitable for all levels. Please bring something to sit on at the beach for meditation. Tickets are $20 per person.

Yoga has been a part of Burchell’s life since 2012. When she decided to become a yoga teacher, she knew she wanted to learn and dive deeper not only into the physical asana part of the yoga practice, but the spiritual portion as well by practicing breathwork, energy work and meditation. She traveled to India, and studied there to receive her 200-RYT certification.

Burchell likes to incorporate mantras, breath, sound healing, crystals, herbs and aromatherapy into her practice, as well as into her classes. Her hope is to make you feel empowered, recharged and ready to take on any of life’s challenges with grace and an immense amount of self-love.

For more information, call 860-437-1523. To register, visit tinyurl. com/BeachYogaGina. Location: 275 Great Neck Rd, Waterford.

9am-4pm Newtown Community Ctr. 8 Simpson Street Newtown, CT 06470

presents

Internationally Known Yogis: Stephen Cope & Felicia Tomasko • • • • •

Tickets: $40 / $50 at door Under 16 is Free!

Adult and Family Yoga Vendors and Live Music Bring Your Own Mat (and any blankets/props!)

www.NewtownYogaFestival.org August 2019

13

Qigong and Hand Drumming for Wellness Workshop

news briefs

Awakening to Crystals and Sound in Durham

N

icole Brevetti of Southington and Kelvin Young of Middletown will host an “Awakening to Crystals with Sound” event on August 22 from 7 to 8:15pm at Soulshine Salt Cavern in Durham.

Brevetti is an intuitive energy healer, empathic light-worker and crystal enthusiast. She and recovery coach and sound healer Young will provide a relaxing and Nicole Brevetti informative session for attendees. This event will start with a relaxing sound cleanse, then provide education on how to use crystal healing in your everyday life. The evening will conclude with a sound bath to calm the mind, relax the body and nourish the soul.

Each crystal holds a certain frequency and beneficial vibration for cleansing emotional blockage or providing protection against negative energies. Crystals Kelvin Young may help manifest and align abundance in your life. Working with crystals directly on chakras can aid in physical, emotional, mental and spiritual health. Each participant will receive a crystal/elemental bath pouch that is soundand reiki-charged by both practitioners.

To register or for more information on this or upcoming classes, email Nicole at NicoleMaries711@gmail.com or visit KelvinBYoung.com. Location: Soulshine Salt Cavern, 352 Main St, Durham.

W

u Healing Center, in West Hartford, will host a wellness workshop featuring qigong and hand drumming, on August 18, from 1 to 5pm. The event will feature a qigong class with Ming Wu, PhD, from 1 to 3pm, followed by a hand drum class with Craig Norton from 3 to 5pm.

Since the dawn of time, drumming has been associated with bringing about positive physical, emotional and spiritual well-being. Anyone who has laid hands on a drum will tell you it makes them feel better. Norton offers drumming for wellness programs for all to experience the uplifting joy of rhythm. Drumming helps to align our bodies and minds and connects us in many positive ways. Norton will perform live music during qigong with Wu, then lead a participatory drumming for wellness program.

Norton started Hands on Drumming in 1998, offering community drum circles throughout Connecticut. He leads drum, dance and storytelling programs in schools, libraries, hospitals and community events throughout the Northeast. Hands on Drumming now specializes in participatory drumming for wellness programs, playing at yoga, Tai Chi and ecstatic dance events.

Wu is a doctor of Chinese Medicine and a 20th generation practitioner of Fengyang Taoist Chinese Medicine—the only one teaching in the U.S. He is also a Master Qigong and Tai Chi practitioner and owner of Wu Healing Center.

The cost is $100 per person.

For more information and to register, visit WuHealing.com/shop/ qi-gong-and-hand-drumming-for-wellness-workshop. Location: 45 S Main St, Ste 100, West Hartford. See ad, page 29.

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eco tip

SEPTEMBER

Eco-Camping

Sound, Music, Yoga & Dance Therapies

Keeping It Earth-Friendly

plus: Vibrant at Any Age

SPK Lifestyle Stock PhotoShutterstock.com

HEALING MUSIC & MOVEMENT ISSUE

August is prime time for camping out in the woods or at a music festival. Communing with nature or enjoying the beat outdoors for extended periods can stress the environment—but with proper planning, it doesn’t have to.

The Association of Independent Festivals has launched its Take Your Tent Home campaign in the UK, according to Treehugger.com. The group is urging concertgoers to not discard their tents at venues and retailers to stop marketing camping gear as intended for single-use; festival organizers also have been asked to eliminate single-use cups, bottles and straws.

In America, MindBodyGreen.com reports that carbon credits are being offered to help offset trips to and from Lollapalooza, in Chicago, from August 1 to 4. Pickathon, taking place on the same days outside Portland, Oregon, will have a free bike parking lot, as well as a dedicated shuttle for cars, plus no single-use serving ware.

ChasingGreen.org advises campers to look for tents and related products made with recycled material and natural fibers like hemp, cotton, coconut husks and bamboo. Marmot, Lafuma, Sierra Designs and The North

Face all use recycled materials in making their tents, including coconut shells, polyester, water bottles, garment fabrics and factory yarn waste.

The website also suggests carpooling with family and friends, choosing a site that’s closer to home and packing light to reduce weight in the car, thus improving mileage.

Also, if we bring trash into a campsite where there are no receptacles, leave with it. Don’t burn it in the fire, as that contributes to air pollution; instead, pack it up and dispose of it properly at home. Set up a method for collecting rainwater to use to wash dishes.

EcoWatch.com recommends bringing unbreakable, washable plates, cups, utensils and napkins, a small basin or bucket, sponge and biodegradable soap, and a bag to store items that are too dirty to reuse.

Stock up on batteries to power lights and lanterns or use solar power with a LuminAID light lamp. Follow the “leave no trace” motto: no litter, smoldering fire pits, ripped-up grass, crushed bushes or repositioned boulders. Stay on marked trails, never pick plants, flowers or berries, and never harm or disturb wildlife.

OCTOBER

Chiropractic & Orthopedic Care

plus: Healing With Frequencies ALIGNMENT & LONGEVITY ISSUE

NOVEMBER

Hormonal Health plus: Natural Sleep Solutions & Healthy Home

CONNECT WITH OUR READERS THREE-MONTH EDITORIAL CALENDAR & MARKETING PLANNER

Publisher@NAHRT.com

or 860-507-6392 August 2019

15

health briefs

Needle-Free Allergy Relief With the many environmental changes that come with the changing of seasons, so too come runny noses, red and itchy eyes, nasal and sinus congestion and sneezing for allergy sufferers. Allergies occur when the body’s immune system responds to a substance it considers an invader.

Substances that provoke the immune system in this way are known as allergens. Western medicine utilizes antihistamines to bring about

symptomatic relief, but they may cause undesirable side effects such as dry mouth, drowsiness and constipation.

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) offers different tools to address allergies as a response to the body being out of balance. In this medical system, allergies are perceived as a sign of spleen, kidney or lung weakness. Acupuncture has been used as a classical treatment for centuries and seeks to bring balance to the body by stimulating nerves, muscles and connective tissue; this then works to regulate the sinuses and airways, resulting in reduced mucus production.

What about people who do not like needles? Another way to use TCM to treat allergies is by using cupping—an ancient technique in which a therapist puts special cups on your skin for a few minutes to create suction. It is a multi-purpose tool to help with pain, inflammation,

Eat Plants to Live Longer

The Eclectic Naturopathic Medical Center can help you design a tailored plan to address allergies using a variety of tools including acupuncture, constitutional hydrotherapy, cupping, nutritional counseling, botanicals and specific testing to find out how your body reacts to different allergens. Connect at 860-665-1254. See ad, page 25.

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For the one-third of Americans struggling with obesity, new research on probiotics from the Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, in China, offers a promising approach. In a meta-review of 12 randomized, placebo-controlled studies that tested 821 obese and overweight people, probiotic supplementation was found to significantly reduce body weight, weight circumference and fat mass, and to improve cholesterol and glucose metabolism measures. Probiotics were administered in forms that included sachet, capsule, powder, kefir yogurt and fermented milk, in durations that ranged from eight to 24 weeks.

Daxiao Productions l/Shutterstock.com

Use Probiotics to Shed Pounds

At least one-third of early deaths could be prevented if people moved to a largely plantbased diet, prominent scientists from Harvard University Medical School have calculated. An international initiative, “Food in the Anthropocene,” published in the medical journal The Lancet, linked plant-based diets not only to improved health worldwide, but also to global sustainability. The report advocates a diet high in vegetables, fruits, whole grains, legumes and nuts, and low in red meat, sugar and refined grains. “Unhealthy diets pose a greater risk to morbidity and mortality than does unsafe sex, and alcohol, drug and tobacco use combined,” it concludes.

16 Hartford County Edition

blood flow, relaxation and wellbeing. It can also be employed as a type of deep tissue massage.

If the goal is allergy relief, the focus of cupping will be the lungs. Cups are generally placed on and around the lung area to help draw out toxins, remove stagnant energy and clear out phlegm and other blockages that affect breathing. The lungs are simultaneously soothed and stimulated, as this method increases blood flow and oxygen to the area for rapid healing and recovery.

The main goal is not only to treat one’s acute symptoms and provide immediate relief, but to treat underlying immune system imbalances, which may be the real cause of allergy problems.

global briefs

Hot Topic nd3000v/Shutterstock.com

Farmers Responding to Climate Change

Climate change has inspired farmers to turn to regenerative agriculture, which pulls carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere and stores it in their soil. Regenerative agriculture incorporates the practices of planting trees, cover cropping, no-till farming and rotational grazing.

As the groundswell of support grows, 250 soil health bills have been introduced in state and federal legislatures in the last two years. At a U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee climate change hearing, Nebraska soybean farmer Matthew Rezac said that keeping soil healthy, not just reducing greenhouse gas emissions, was a key part of what farmers could do to cool a warming planet. According to the Union of Concerned Scientists, the bills have different justifications, but they all focus on soil health. As disastrous floods and drought sweep away farmland, the idea that regenerative agriculture could make for more productive farming is gaining traction.

Floating Solar PowerUp/Shutterstock.com

Catching Some Rays on the Water

Solar panels currently generate only about 1 percent of our nation’s energy needs, but new research from the federal National Renewable Energy Laboratory shows that installation of “floatovoltaics”—floating, electricity-generating photovoltaic panels—on only one-fourth of our manmade reservoirs would generate about 10 percent of U.S. energy needs without taking up valuable real estate. Floatovoltaics cost less to install than traditional, land-based solar panels because there’s no need to clear land or treat soil, and research shows that the natural cooling effect of the water below can boost the solar panels’ power production by up to 22 percent. Of the approximately 100 current floatovoltaic installations, only seven are in the U.S., mostly at wineries in California and water treatment facilities. About 80 percent are in Japan, where limited land and roof space make water-based solar panels especially suitable.

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equally value an opportunity to contribute their respective expertise and participate in the creation of something new and unique to the area. Indeed, the outpouring of enthusiasm, benevolence and support from yoga studios, practitioners and artists confirms my faith that this Spirit Festival will be all it is intended to be.

community spotlight

You have been spearheading the programming of yoga, presenters and musical acts.

What has been your guiding philosophy?

SPIRIT FESTIVAL Immersion on the Connecticut River

F

rom September 13 through 15, Hartford, Connecticut’s riverfront will be the site of a brand new experience: Spirit Festival, a three-day immersive event celebrating yoga, wellness, music and dance. Participants are invited to unite at the soul level with others who share the dream of a balanced, healthy and vibrant planet for all. This celebration will provide a safe and moving space for discovering new paths to harmony, healing, creativity and community. Spirit Festival will feature a wide array of conscious teachers, practitioners and performers that will appeal to the novice and experienced alike.

Natural Awakenings caught up with Spirit Festival’s Program Curator Amy Sailor to find out what attendees can expect from the inaugural event.

18 Hartford County Edition

NAHRT.com

What did you think when you first heard about a three-day yoga, wellness and music festival on the Connecticut River?

When I first heard about the festival, I did not think. Rather, I felt a strong sense of hope, anticipation and pride because of the roughly 350 towns and cities considered, the Connecticut River and Hartford’s Riverfront Plaza was selected as the locale for this event. I then envisioned a large gathering of diverse, creative, energetic, curious and caring souls engaged with one another in a safe, affirmative and simply beautiful environment.

I imagined that as much as yoga and wellness practitioners value the offerings of more established venues, they might

In my decades of practice as an educator and cultural professional, I am mindful that individuals naturally gravitate toward and revisit the people, places and experiences that affirm their sense of being in the world. In as much as we have come to rely on technology to maneuver through the complexities of practical living, we maintain the desire to be in fellowship with those who look and think like us even as we make new discoveries or add to our existing stores of knowledge. Having witnessed and experienced the transformative nature of spirit as expressed through music, art, movement, healing and yoga, I am optimistic that Spirit Festival will continue to evolve intentionally and sustainably for all who seek community, balance and well-being for all.

Will this event be good for beginners who are just starting a yoga practice?

This event is intentionally suited for all levels of practitioners. Classes for those new to yoga, including those with mobility issues, will be offered throughout the weekend.

It’s important to note that the asanas, or postures, are but one way of benefitting from the practice of yoga. There will be a variety of modalities available by which participants of all levels and abilities can be guided into self-awareness, concentration, relaxation, play and pure fun.

What can people expect during the evening music programs?

How does this differ programmatically from other yoga festivals?

People can expect to hear, feel and move to an eclectic mix of music genres and performances. You may move in place for a Native American Stomp dance, “jack, jack your body” to some groovy house music, wind your hips to some Soca, Calypso and Reggae. You might even tango!

I think the more distinctive characteristics of this event can be experienced most in its connection to beautiful public park space, the flow of the riverfront and the pulse of a highly diverse and burgeoning urban environment. It represents the best of what our region has to offer.

P

chiropractic/acupuncture/nutrition Raya Clinic - Chiropractic, Acupuncture, Nutrition, Spinal Decompression, Physical therapy, Food-sensitivity testing, Cold-laser and Neuropathy treatments 200 Queen St, Southington RayaClinic.com 860-621-2225

the Holistic chamber of commerce is an international organization focused on supporting holistic, complementary, alternative and sustainable professionals, practitioners and businesses in connecticut.

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drum Building Ed Hare, Fast Eddie Drums Purchase a pre-made drum at Sharing The Light in Avon or sign up to build your own drum. Classes held monthly & by private appointment. sharingthelightwc.com 860-936-0012

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Four connecticut chapters

C

Holistic Health Christy Arnott, LMT, RMT Master Life Coach specializing in Self-Care & Holistic Wellness, Licensed Massage & Reiki Master Teacher The Holistic Connection theholisticconnection.com christy@theholisticconnection.com

Spirit Festival will be held at Riverside Park and Mortensen River Park, in downtown Hartford. Spirit Festival is presented in affiliation with Riverfront Recapture and Bali Spirit Festival. Full weekend and one-day registrations are available. For more information and registration, visit SpiritYogaFestival.com.

See ads, pages 5 and 27.

aVOn President, Cheryl Case 860-936-0012 Avon@HolisticChamberOfCommerce.com HolisticChamberOfCommerce.com/Avon

Hamden President, Lilian Martinez 203-808-1124 Hamden@HolisticChamberOfCommerce.com HolisticChamberOfCommerce.com/Hamden

mOnROe President, Sierra North 203-518-5808 Monroe@holisticchamberofcommerce.com HolisticChamberOfCommerce.com/Monroe

Willimantic President, Lisa Day-Lewis 860-593-5002 Willimantic@HolisticChamberOfCommerce.com HolisticChamberOfCommerce.com/Willimantic

August 2019

19

Chinnapong/Shutterstock.com

healthy kids

AUTISM’S GUT-BRAIN AXIS A Promising Approach to Healing

by Emily Courtney

W

ith the diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) on the rise—now affecting one in every 59 school-age children, according to estimates from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)—identifying effective, integrative remedies is more important than ever.

“You may have five kids with ASD that are very different in how they present and what contributes to the disorder, so one size and one treatment does not fit all,” says Kenneth A. Bock, M.D., of Bock Integrative Medicine, in Red Hook, New York, author of Healing the New Childhood Epidemics: Autism, ADHD, Asthma, and Allergies. The Groundbreaking Program for the 4-A Disorders.

ASD encompasses a range of disorders characterized by repetitive behaviors and impaired social skills and communication.

Although it includes four distinct conditions, one of its hallmarks is how much it varies from person to person and how different the restrictions can be for each child.

The very nature of the condition lends itself to integrative approaches that can be significantly effective, says Bock.

“ASD is really a whole-body disorder that affects the brain, so a whole-body approach makes so much more sense.”

From specialized diet and supplement regimens to a variety of alternative therapies, parents have a wealth of complemen20 Hartford County Edition

NAHRT.com

tary options from which to choose. One integrative approach, however, is showing exceptional, research-backed promise: healing the gut.

The Gut-Autism Connection

Children with ASD frequently experience gut issues such as constipation or diarrhea; a review from the International Society for Autism Research indicated that nearly 47 percent of autistic children exhibited at least one gastrointestinal (GI) symptom.

And, the more severe a child’s GI symptoms, the more severe the autism, according to a study in BMC Gastroenterology.

Not coincidentally, research is finding that these digestive conditions and the accompanying ASD may be connected to the gut microbiome, an ecosystem of trillions of microbes living in the digestive tract.

“Kids with ASD may have inflammation in the brain, and we’ve learned that it can be very much related to inflammation of the gut,” explains Bock. “The gut and immune system—which are intimately connected because the majority of our immune system is in the gut—are two of the most crucial systems involved in autism spectrum disorders.”

It turns out that kids with ASD have less bacterial diversity in their guts than non-autistic kids, along with an imbalance between good and bad bacteria. This

dysbiosis of the gut flora leads to problems with improper immune function, inflammation and a leaky gut barrier.

It all comes down to the gut-brain axis, by which the gut and brain communicate with each other. When the microbiome isn’t balanced, not only is this vital communication system broken, but toxins and pro-inflammatory molecules that trigger ASD-like behaviors can cross the blood-brain barrier.

Experts say prioritizing gut health can relieve both GI issues and ASD symptoms.

Focus on Gut Health for ASD Care

For children with ASD, reinforcing the intestinal barrier and restoring balance to the microbiome can have profound health effects.

“With dysbiosis and an overly permeable gut, inflammatory molecules can leak into the circulatory system, travel up to the brain and cross the blood-brain barrier, causing inflammation. A lot of it originates in the gut, so when we treat the gut, we can restore microbial balance, diversity and resilience to the ecosystem—and in doing so, decrease inflammation, help restore the appropriate blood-brain barrier and bring the brain back into more of a balance,” advises Bock.

Before embarking on a treatment plan, Bock emphasizes the importance of working with a qualified healthcare practitioner to determine where a child fits in terms of subtypes of ASD, along with any other individual contributing factors.

Although autism spectrum disorder is complex, using holistic strategies that address the whole body can make all the difference. “I see thousands of kids on the spectrum, and the vast majority of them improve with an integrative approach to treatment, and more and more kids are actually recovering,” notes Bock.

Emily Courtney is a freelance health and wellness writer and editor living in northern Colorado. Connect at EmilyCourtneyWrites@gmail.com.

stimulation in general seems to really help this group. Barros suggests distance healing for these children because then they can be treated and never leave their comfort zone.

She suggests decoupling fight and flight, to calm their nervous system first. They are so sensitive and live on such high alert, that even a moment of peace and calm is a relief; little by little this becomes the norm rather than the exception.

Robin Barros is the founder of Spirit of the Lotus, in Columbia, CT. She is formally trained in Integrative Manual Therapy, is a medical intuitive, Shaman, Medium and Spiritually Guided Coach as well as being an Advanced Soul Coach, Advanced Past Life Coach and Holographic Sound Healer.

Connect or schedule an appointment at 860-709-3903.

Subconscious Communication and the Autistic Child

P

by Michelle Bense and Robin Barros

arents of a child with autism are in constant search of a way to bring comfort to their child and to help them fit in a world that doesn’t understand them. The child, depending where on the spectrum, needs to be understood.

Robin Barros, of Spirit of the Lotus, was fortunate to work with a young man from Italy early in her career. The child, in his early teens, was in public school, even though his ability to communicate was minimal. He was kind and gentle, but could get frustrated when he tried to communicate and wasn’t understood. Added to the mix, Barros didn’t speak Italian and the client didn’t speak English.

Subconscious communication is a useful tool, used when there is difficulty communicating. Barros uses it with clients that are autistic or those that have difficulty talking about the grief, trauma or abuse they’ve suffered. It is used with hands-on healing—gently resting the hands on the fully clothed body, working energetically— to heal the physical as well as emotional body, calm the sympathetic nervous system and strengthen the immune system to achieve full body, mind and spirit health.

“After a few days of treatment along

with subconscious communication, this young man could point to his nose, he could find his lips and knew where his eyes were and could almost perfectly say my name, and when I said his name, would point to himself,” explains Barros. “Seeing tears in his father’s eyes and the pride and joy in this amazing young man was such a gift.”

Autism manifests with many different behavior patterns, including heightened sensitivity to touch, internal focus of thoughts and awareness, anger, pain and in many cases extreme frustration. It may also include short attention spans and lashing out—even concussion from head banging.

Autistic children can be brilliant and, in many cases, they’re also easily bored.

Give an autistic child a serious challenge; give them three or four and they will be much happier. Many of us can’t comprehend the child with a brain so sophisticated that they need more to keep them going—hence the reason so many parents of autistic children love video games, providing the children do not have outbursts and temper tantrums from overstimulation.

Autistic children with sensory issues may present with a whole other set of needs.

Enclosed swings, weighted blankets and less

Michelle Bense is a freelance writer and editor currently living and exploring in New Mexico. Connect at Editor MichelleBense@gmail.com.

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NaturesHelper_F_CROPS_181209.indd 1August

2019 12/9/18 21 10:17 PM

The Emotional Impact of Autism

FAMILY MATTERS What Does It Mean to Have a Child with Autism?

by Roseann Capanna-Hodge

L

inda ’s intention was to run in and out of the mall to grab a pair of khakis for her oldest child’s choir concert, but her youngest, Alex, was transfixed, watching the elevator. Alex wouldn’t move. His hands were flapping, and he screeched with delight as he watched the glass elevator go up or down.

Alex has autism, and every time Linda tried to pull him away, Alex threw himself to the ground. At 12, Alex was too big for Linda to nudge away physically, so the two were stuck at the elevator until the boy was ready to move. Passersby stared, but none offered to help; that didn’t matter, because he is resistant to strangers.

This can be the life of a parent of a child with autism.

Life Looks Different with Autism

All aspects of family life look different when it includes a child with autism.

Parents, siblings, aunts, uncles, cousins and grandparents are each affected in different ways. The needs of a child with autism can be significant, and the family’s focus 22 Hartford County Edition

NAHRT.com

often shifts as a result. While running to treatments—occupational, physical, and speech therapy, neurofeedback, and many more—can stretch a mom thin, since they help the child, she figures out how to make it work. Some families accomplish this by taking advantage of job flexibility or asking grandparents to drive a kid here or there.

In fact, the parents who most successfully manage to get all their children where they need to go on a daily basis make full use of the “all-hands-on-deck” philosophy.

Families without extended resources may struggle to get through each day.

Aside from juggling logistics, behaviors like those exhibited by Alex can impact every hour of daily life, affecting other family members to varying degrees.

Depending where they fall on the spectrum, children with autism can require a lot of attention due to their lack of independence, as well as medical or behavioral needs. Ideally, family and friends can pitch in to create a much-needed support network, while therapists, clinicians and others provide the additional care each family member will need.

Parents of an autistic child may feel incredibly isolated and filled with fear and worry.

A parent’s head often swirls with questions about today, tomorrow and the distant future: What will happen to Johnny tomorrow at lunch? Will the speech pathologist work on those IEP goals? Who will take care of Johnny when I am gone? These things keep a parent up at night.

The constant process of searching for and trying new treatments can also be an emotional rollercoaster: Will this treatment be the one? I heard this provider is good, but is he too stuffy? Evaluating treatment options is challenging because, just as autism spans a spectrum, the needs and treatments are different for every child. There are also several commonly associated conditions, such as OCD, ADHD, anxiety, or PANS/PANDAS, which can make it even harder for providers to understand a child’s unique needs and recommend the right treatment.

Additionally, friends and family may not understand the behaviors associated with autism, which can lead to stressful interactions. Frustration or even embarrassment about difficult-to-manage behaviors can take a toll on parents and siblings.

Beyond family members, it can be challenging to find caregivers for a child with autism, making it harder for a parent to carve out time for much-needed self-care.

There are many good organizations, such as Talk About Curing Autism (TACA), that can be a wonderful source of information as well as help families make connections with others seeking the same kind of understanding and support. It is so important for special-needs parents to be part of a community that understands them and their children. After all, if you try to explain to non-special-needs parents that you almost didn’t make it to the bus stop because Johnny’s socks didn’t feel right, they might look at you like you have three heads.

It is critically important for family members, especially the primary caregivers, to take time for self-care every day, even if it is only a few minutes of deep breathing or reading. If you aren’t support-

ing your own mental and physical health, you won’t be much good to anyone else.

Parents and Siblings Feel the Strain

As mentioned, the ongoing needs of a child with autism can lead to a whole lot of stress and worry. These can strain a marriage; understanding autism and managing its behaviors is one of the biggest sources of conflict couples face. Who can ever be fully equipped to deal with unending sensory needs, tantrums, arguing for services at IEP meetings and keeping up with all those appointments? And what about supporting the other children at home? Siblings of an autistic child also experience a family’s stress. Parenting is never easy, but it certainly becomes more challenging when you have a child with greater needs; there are only so many ways you can slice the pie, and parents may worry that an autistic child’s siblings feel slighted that they aren’t getting an equal serving. Working with an autism specialist can help parents learn coping skills as well as how to manage behaviors, which can benefit the whole family.

One important note: While the needs of a child with autism may complicate all relationships, especially with siblings, so many of those siblings offer amazing love and support in turn. Often, their compassion knows no bounds, and their lives have been enriched by the love and challenges they’ve experienced. While many parents worry most about the siblings of a child with autism, those children often demonstrate a maturity and understanding that translates into success as an adult.

While the needs of a child with autism may complicate all relationships, especially with siblings, so many of those siblings offer amazing love and support in turn. Often, their compassion knows no bounds, and their lives have been enriched by the love and challenges they’ve experienced.

Friendship and Social Rejection

The nature of autism is that one has difficulty connecting with others, so making and keeping friends can be hard. Children with autism need help connecting with peers—and sometimes even with adults.

This may require a parent always be available to monitor and mediate interactions, which can be a source of frustration and worry, especially when younger siblings exhibit much more adaptable social lives.

This may result in social exclusion for the parent as well. What people don’t understand, they fear. When a child acts out, it can make others uncomfortable, so neighbors and other parents may reject you and your child, excluding your family from events and gatherings. Other parents may not understand your quest to reverse your child’s issues through dietary restrictions, supplements and a long list

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of lifestyle changes: “What do you mean you don’t eat wheat and dairy? So, what do you eat?” No one wants to explain that 23 times at a party! There is a way to cope, however: Build a tribe. Connect with other special-needs parents and get together with their families. Creating your own support system with others who understand your child and family, while also building a social group for your child, is crucial to a happy family life.

Acceptance and Understanding Ultimately, a family with autism needs acceptance and understanding from those around them—from family and friends, as well as teachers, therapists and medical providers. For those who work with autistic children, it is important to learn not just what autism looks like, but what it looks like for that one particular child and family. Autism is a spectrum, and while there are some common features, each child has unique gifts and needs. For parents, it’s critical to create a network of people who love and accept your children so your whole family will thrive.

Dr. Roseann Capanna-Hodge is an integrative and pediatric mental health expert with centers in Ridgefield and Newtown. For almost 30 years, she has helped thousands of children, individuals and families reverse their issues using proven holistic therapies.

She is the co-author of Brain Under Attack: A Resource Guide for PANS/PANDAS. She can be reached at 203-438-4848 or Info@DrRoseann.com.

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23

PARENTING Preparing Kids for the Future T

by Meredith Montgomery

oday’s children have more opportunities to change the world than ever before. Teenagers are organizing global activism movements, LEGO lovers are mastering robotics and young entrepreneurs are launching successful businesses before they’re old enough to drive.

But for Mom and Dad, this fastpaced, technology-driven childhood looks drastically different from their own.

To help kids thrive, parents must learn to mindfully embrace today’s modern advances without losing sight of timeless virtues and skills such as kindness, creativity and critical thinking.

Finding Balance After-school hours used to be filled with outdoor free play in which kids independently developed their natural capabilities as self-learners and creative problem-solvers. The Children & Nature Network has reported that just 6 percent of children ages 9 to 13 play outside on their own. Instead, stress and anxiety are on the rise in our competitive culture as many kids attempt to balance heavy homework loads with an overflowing schedule of extracurricular activities.

With the ability to connect to the world at our fingertips, Thomas Murray, director of innovation for Future Ready Schools, in Washington, D.C., notes that devices can also disconnect us from those right next to us. “It’s a massive struggle to find balance and mindfulness, but it’s vitally important. How often do we see an AP [advanced placement] kid that is

falling apart emotionally? As parents, we need to recognize that kids have a lot on their plate—more than ever before.”

Salt Lake City-based Courtney Carver, author of Soulful Simplicity: How Living with Less Can Lead to So Much More, worries that parents are creating résumés for a life their children probably don’t want. On her BeMoreWithLess. com website, she focuses on living with less clutter, busyness and stress to simplify life and discover what really matters. “It’s challenging to maintain close connections when we’re overwhelmed with what’s in our inbox, or on Instagram or what the kids are looking at online,” she says.

On her own journey to practical minimalism, she gained a greater sense of presence with her daughter. “When you can pay attention to a conversation and not feel distracted and antsy, especially with young kids, that is everything,” says Carver.

Managing Technology The ubiquity of digital devices is a defining difference between today’s youth and that of their

Hartford County Edition NAHRT.com NAHRT.com County Edition 24 Hartford

It’s a massive struggle to find balance and mindfulness, but it’s vitally important. How often do we see an AP [advanced placement] kid that is falling apart emotionally? ~Thomas Murray

Evgeny Atamanenko/Shutterstock.com

21 CENTURY st

elders, making it difficult for parents to relate and know how to set boundaries.

As senior parenting editor at nonprofit Common Sense Media, Caroline Knorr helps parents make sense of what’s going on in their kids’ media lives. “We can think of media as a ‘super peer’: When children are consuming it, they’re looking for cues on how to behave and what’s cool and what’s normal.” Parents need to be the intermediary so they can counterbalance the external messages with their own family’s values.

Rido/Shutterstock.com

Today’s devices are persuasive and addictive. “As parents, we need to set boundaries, model good digital habits and help kids to self-regulate more—which is our ultimate goal,” Knorr says.

To raise good digital citizens, Richard Culatta, CEO of International Society for Technology in Education, in Arlington, Virginia, believes conversations about device use shouldn’t end with screen time limits and online safety. “Ask kids if their technology use is helping them be more engaged and find more meaning in the world or is it pulling them out of the world that they’re in,” he says. “Talk about how to use technology to improve the community around you, recognize true and false info, be involved in democratic processes and making your voice heard about issues you care about.”

Parents are often uncomfortable with their kids socializing digitally, but Culatta encourages the introduction of interactive media sooner rather than later, so they understand how to engage with the world online before they are old enough to have social media accounts.

Geocaching, which uses GPS-enabled devices to treasure hunt, and citizen science apps provide family-friendly opportunities to engage in both outdoor activities and online communities.

“The majority of our kids will need these digital communication skills to be able to work with anyone at any time,” says Murray. He’s witnessed the impact of connecting classrooms around the world, observing, “When students learn to navigate time zones and language barriers to communicate and collaborate, they see that they can solve the world’s problems together.”

Raising Innovators

“The world doesn’t care how much our children know; what the world cares about is what they do with what they know,” says Tony Wagner, senior research fellow at the Learning Policy Institute, an education research and policy nonprofit in Palo Alto, California. In his latest book, Most Likely to Succeed: Preparing Our Kids for The Innovation Era, he emphasizes the

PARENT RESOURCES Common Sense Media

(CommonSenseMedia.org) provides education and advocacy to families to promote safe technology and media for children. They provide independent, age-based, media reviews for TV shows and movies. Each detailed review includes pertinent information for parents, plus talking points to foster critical thinking skills.

Let Grow

We need to create an intentional family culture where virtues like kindness and respect are talked about, modeled, upheld, celebrated and practiced in everyday life. ~Thomas Lickona importance of creative problem-solving and the joy of discovery, especially as more jobs become automated. “We’re born with a temperament of creative problem solvers. But then something happens. The longer kids are in school, the fewer questions they ask, the more they worry about getting the right answer and fewer and fewer think of themselves as creative in any way,” he says.

“Instead of listening and regurgitating, kids need to learn how to find and be a critical consumer of information,” says Murray. Fewer employers are asking for college transcripts—including Google— as they discover the disconnect between what students are taught and what innovative skills they actually need.

While most schools are slow to adapt to the modern needs of the future workforce, parents can proactively foster the entrepreneurial spirit and discourage a fear of failure at home by offering safe opportunities for risk-taking and independence. After speaking extensively with compelling young innovators around the world, Wagner discovered that their parents explicitly encouraged three things: play, passion and purpose.

(LetGrow.org) seeks to restore childhood resilience by pushing back on overprotection, and shows concern that even with the best intentions, society has taught a generation to overestimate danger and underestimate their own ability to cope. Its programs work with schools and parents to give kids more of the independence to do the things their parents did on their own as children—bike to a friend’s house, make themselves a meal or simply play unsupervised in the front yard.

The Choose Love Movement

(JesseLewisChooseLove.org) offers a free social and emotional learning program for educators and parents. Students learn how to choose love in any circumstance, which helps them become more connected, resilient and empowered individuals.

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When you choose love, you transform how you see the world from a scary and anxiety-producing place to a loving and welcoming one. ~Scarlett Lewis practiced in everyday life. What we do over and over gradually shapes our character, until it becomes second nature— part of who we are,” says Thomas Lickona, Ph.D., a developmental psychologist and education professor emeritus at the State University of New York College at Cortland, and author of How to Raise Kind Kids: And Get Respect, Gratitude, and a Happier Family in the Bargain.

Sesame Workshop’s 2016 Kindness Study found that 70 percent of parents worry that the world is an unkind place for their kids, but Scarlett Lewis believes it’s

Teaching Kindness In a culture that is obsessed with selfies and threatened by cyberbullies, it’s a tough task for parents to teach compassion and kindness. “We need to create an intentional family culture where virtues like kindness and respect are talked about, modeled, upheld, celebrated and

all in our mind, saying, “When you choose love, you transform how you see the world from a scary and anxiety-producing place to a loving and welcoming one.”

After losing her 6-year-old son Jesse in the horrific Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, she attributed the tragedy to an angry thought in the mind of the shooter. Her compassion fueled the founding of the Jesse Lewis Choose Love Movement to educate and encourage individuals to choose loving thoughts over angry ones. “Although we can’t always choose what happens to us, we can always choose how to respond,” she says. The evidencebased Choose Love Enrichment Program teaches children to live a life with courage and gratitude, practice forgiveness and be compassionate individuals.

While we don’t want to overwhelm kids with all the evils in the world, Lickona notes that it is valuable to make them aware of human suffering and how we can help. “Cultivate the belief that we’re all members of a single human family. Teach [them] that one of the most important ways to show gratitude for the blessings in our life is to give back.”

Meredith Montgomery publishes Natural Awakenings of Gulf Coast Alabama/ Mississippi (HealthyLivingHealthyPlanet.com).

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Their children were provided with many opportunities to explore new interests, as well as to learn from their mistakes.

“The parents intuitively understood that more important than IQ is grit, perseverance and tenacity. You don’t develop that when Mom is yelling at you to practice; you develop it because you have a real interest.”

To create a culture of innovation, Murray encourages teachers and parents to get to know the interests, passions and strengths of today’s children “and prove to them every day that they matter.” When that interest blossoms into a passion, it can lead to a deeper sense of purpose and a desire to make a difference.

According to Wagner, this happens when parents and teachers instill one simple, but profound moral lesson, “We are not here on this Earth primarily and only to serve ourselves; we have some deep, profound obligation to give back and to serve others.”

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Get Clarity on Your Soulmate

Inner Work Can Bring External Joy

by Karenna Alexander

M

any women seek counsel from friends, therapists, and dating coaches when they’re feeling despair over their love lives. They say they’re struggling to find “The One.” They believe they’re missing that special person in their lives, the one with whom they’ll have a deep connection and a spark.

Often they think they need a matchmaker or a makeover.

Sometimes that’s true. Sometimes women only need to make a few external tweaks. Or maybe the divine timing’s off and their special person just hasn’t shown up yet. Other times, however, women may need to go to the “spiritual gym” for an inner workout.

One of the key aspects of winning the inner game is women getting crystalclear on what they want. When they are 28 Hartford County Edition

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absolutely clear on the desired outcome, they have a better chance at manifesting it. If they can think it, it exists.

There are several reasons clarity is a powerful tool in finding love. First, when women are clear on what they want, they get excited about their goal. Picturing the ideal lover on an ideal day can be thrilling and gives renewed hope that person exists. When searching for their soulmate, women should feel hopeful. In fact, it’s crucial to feel optimistic. It’s harder to find love when you’re in a low-vibe, wishy-washy space.

Clarity also leads to confidence.

When women are very clear on what they want, it’s easier to build a roadmap to get there. When they’re no longer confused about what they want, their day-to-day actions are filled with a purpose.

Finding clarity on the ideal mate can also illuminate hidden fears and blocks.

This is where we mine gold. These hidden obstacles are often blocking women from finding the ideal partner. For example, a woman who has been cheated on in the past may fear she’ll get cheated on again.

She subconsciously may fear getting involved in another relationship, due to the turmoil she experienced the last time.

Because of these fears, she may avoid singles-oriented events and forego online dating, which greatly lessens the chance of meeting her soulmate.

Everyone’s blocks are different. Some struggle with a fear of betrayal. Others fear losing independence or having to compromise. Or they could be concerned about merging families. Uncovering and facing these hidden fears is half the battle. Once identified, women can start the process of working to get rid of them, sometimes with the help of a therapist or dating coach. Many times, people aren’t consciously aware of their fears until a professional helps them do the juicy work of feeling their ideal lover into existence.

There are many tools you can use to get one step closer to your dream relationship. Vision boards—either digital or on poster board—can be a fun and useful way to get clarity about your dreams. So can visualization exercises. It’s possible to feel so good about this new clarity, women may find themselves dreaming more— while sleeping—about their ideal mate.

These exercises also can help in identifying worries and blocks. Some women put together amazing vision boards that give them goosebumps, yet they also confess to fearing their vision won’t come true.

Journaling through worries and fears can help; journal about why you deserve a great relationship and why you’re worthy. If anything negative comes up, re-write the negative in a positive way. Don’t bury the pain, but after feeling the feeling, reframe it. For example, rather than fearing a cheating partner, rewrite the thought as: “My next lover will be faithful and loving.”

Other tools include forgiveness and gratitude. Forgiveness often helps people leapfrog ahead, releasing blocks. Forgiveness doesn’t mean letting the person who hurt you back into your life. But it means you forgive so anger loses its grip, allowing yourself to heal.

Gratitude is another helpful, clarifying practice that can be incorporated into daily life, by writing a gratitude list each morning. When people are filled with gratitude, they see the glass half full instead of half empty. They see an abundance of good partners out there rather than thinking there’s no one out there for them. When you visualize sunny and positive possibilities, you’re more likely to manifest a sunny and positive outcome.

There are several reasons clarity is a powerful tool in finding love. First, when women are clear on what they want, they get excited about their goal.

Get started right now with this quick exercise: What are 10 gratitudes related to your dating life you can think of right now? Write them down. The list can include items like: “Even though I’m reeling from a breakup, I’m glad I weeded out a horrible match,” or “I’m lucky I live in an area where I can meet single people,” or “Thank goodness for dating apps: Where else can I meet so many single people while never leaving the house?”

Don’t you feel better already?

Karenna Alexander is a dating coach based in Connecticut. She helps smart, successful women weed out time-wasters and find lasting love. Connect at CoachKarenna@KarennaAlexander.com or KarennaAlexander.com.

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When we talk about a relationship, we say such things as, “our relationship is growing; we are building our relationship; a relationship is not 50/50, it’s 100/100.”

The language points to the fact that a relationship is a living entity. It requires participation, nurturing and commitment.

A relationship may evolve, or devolve into something toxic.

What constitutes a healthy relationship?

The Building Blocks of a Healthy Relationship

by James Osborne

P

eople are often concerned about the quality of their relationships. When asked to draw, using circles, what a relationship looks like, most people draw two circles that intersect, like figure A.

is both inside and outside the circle of relationship. This means they interact with others and bring new material/energy into the circle. To be in a relationship is a choice that they make and commit to. One

Figure A

Figure B

This is romantic. Two individuals joined as one, in many aspects indistinguishable. In clinical terms, this is called enmeshment, a condition in which personal boundaries are permeable and unclear.

Perhaps what better constitutes the picture of a healthy relationship is figure B.

Figure B represents two autonomous individuals joined together by a third entity, which is the relationship. Each

can play with the drawing to demonstrate people in relationship. For example, one individual could be tangential or outside of the circle of relationship, limiting their involvement and commitment. Another might be completely within the circle without any outside influences, completely dependent in and on the relationship.

Neither of those scenarios bodes well for a healthy relationship.

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Most people say that a healthy relationship is built on trust, respect, honesty, acceptance, good communication, love, comfort and safety. These building blocks need to be supported by behaviors. A woman has facial bruising and a broken arm, and says she fell down the stairs. You’ve known her for five years and know she can walk up and down stairs. You ask, “Who pushed you?” She replies, “My new boyfriend, but he says he loves me.” Words need to be supported by actions and behaviors.

Trust – Trust is synonymous with confidence, belief, faith, assurance and reliance. It is the belief that the other will be there, be reliable. Trust is built on actions over time that demonstrate a commitment of reliability. “If you need help and call, I will do everything in my power to be there for you.”

Respect – Respect is synonymous with admiration, appreciation, reverence and honor. Respect is saying, “You matter to me and the things that matter to you I will honor. That means I will pay attention to your family, friends, work and all that you do because they are important to you. I do not have to like everything that you like. I choose to support you.”

Honesty – Honesty is synonymous with honorableness, integrity, ethics, truthfulness, trustworthiness, directness and openness. “Honesty is conducting my life and being with you, showing you who I really am. I do not hide or misrepresent myself to you.”

Acceptance – Acceptance is to tolerate imperfection and still move forward in life. It is a tribute to what we value, what is important to us. “My desire to be with you is greater than the fact you smoke cigarettes.”

Good Communication – The ability to express oneself effectively, to hear and understand others in a respectful and supportive manner. It allows us to let others know how we perceive them. It is not an assignment of blame, shame or rejection. Using a leveling technique can assist. “I feel… when… and it means to me…” is a simple format allowing us to communicate how we feel, when an event or behavior happens and how we interpret that event. No one can tell us how we feel. That is an internal process only we can know. It is important in a relationship not to hide our feelings, even when they are unpleasant. When we link our feeling to an event and give our interpretation, we give the other the opportunity to clarify their intent. People can debate interpretation and meaning.

For example, if I say “I am upset and angry when you tell me that you will do something with me and then cancel at the last minute. It means to me that I am not as important to you as I want to be.” The other might respond, “That’s not what I intended. I didn’t want to worry you. I have not been feeling well and I received a call from my doctor that she could see me right away. I know that I used to cancel things at the last minute in the past. I am sorry for that. This time I was I trying to protect you. I realize now that was not a good idea. I need to include you in what is going on with me, because you are important to me.”

Love – Love is a feeling of deep affection. Love is holding the other person’s heart and soul gently in the palm of your hand and allowing them to hold yours. It is a dance of caring and vulnerability.

Comfort and Safety – Comforting the other is loving them, easing their burdens and pain. Safety is protecting them from damage, risk or injury. To keep someone safe is an act of unselfishness. It is important to marry protection with honesty. Lying about a situation by omission to protect someone is a breach of trust, respect and honesty. One can only truly feel safe and comforted when they know what is true.

Maintaining a healthy relationship requires awareness, thoughtfulness, dedication, commitment, self-reflection and risk taking. One must exit comfort zones and engage in meaningful conversation about thoughts and feelings, likes and dislikes, hopes and fears. It is not a battle for individual attention. Relationship is a shared space built on commitment and behaviors.

James Osborne, MS, LPC is a psychotherapist with ProNatural Physicians Group in Berlin, CT. Connect at 860-829-0707.

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conscious eating

YOUR BODY, YOUR FRIEND

Create a Healthier Relationship with Food

H

by Julie Graham

ealthy, or “clean” eating is at an all-time high, but have you ever considered if your relationship to food is healthy? In spite of mainstream focus on diet, weight loss and the substances we put into our bodies, several studies have shown that social connection is actually the strongest predictor of health and longevity.

Often when people want to get healthy, they take on a weight loss diet or clean eating regimen that has the effect of interfering with family and social events.

Think of the person eating from containers while everyone else shares food, drink and dessert or the person who skips an 32 Hartford County Edition

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event altogether in order to avoid tempting foods.

Certainly there are genuine medical conditions that require such precautions.

However, many people isolate themselves to varying degrees in the name of “health”, only to have their social life suffer as a result. Furthermore, the track record is nothing short of dismal when weight loss is the number one motivator of dieting: at least 95 percent of weight loss attempts fail, with most resulting in long-term weight gain.

Meanwhile, more recent studies have suggested that body mass index (BMI), or body weight, is not nearly as important

to lifespan and health risks as things like chronic stress, socioeconomic status, access to quality food and medical care.

The shame people feel about their bodies before going on a diet is only surpassed by the level they feel after they’ve regained the weight—and then some, in most cases. Talk about chronic stress!

Rigid rules, such as no eating after 7pm, cutting out carbs or other food groups, or adhering to a calorie limit, have the effect of undermining the relationship between brain and body (not to mention creating more stress). Our brains have the responsibility to interpret the body’s signals and provide appropriate response and nourishment. Likewise, our bodies have the ability to provide accurate signals about what, how much and when to eat—if only we would allow ourselves to trust and honor that.

There is good news: we can repair our relationship with food and body and learn to self-regulate again. Using the Intuitive Eating framework and focusing on establishing communication, respect, trust, honesty and quality time with our bodies, we can pivot away from the losing proposition of diets and food rules, and begin autonomous management of our own bodies.

The human body communicates via sensation, which is interpreted by the brain. Hunger can be signaled by a rumble in the tummy, a hollow feeling, light-headedness, shakiness, a mild sense of wanting food or otherwise. How does a satisfied stomach feel? It may be a bit harder to describe in words, but can you sense the feeling in your abdomen of being happily satisfied after a meal? By beginning to acknowledge the signals coming from the body, we can re-establish its direct communication and answer: What is my body asking for? What does my body need (if anything) in this moment? Have I had enough for now?

Over time, trust and respect can grow from becoming more attuned to the body’s signals. Contrary to popular belief, trusting the body’s signals will not result in

eating non-stop junk food from here to eternity. While there may be a brief honeymoon period with previously restricted foods, the body naturally craves variety and balance in the diet. It’s all those crazy diet rules that make us act—and believe—otherwise.

Trust in the body is a two-way street. First, the brain has to trust and respect the signals it is receiving from the body regarding hunger, fullness and satiety. Next, and perhaps more importantly, the body has to trust that it will receive the nourishment it is asking for. The latter is such a key piece to the puzzle of stabilizing the relationship with food and body, and yet, it can be really scary. After all, diet culture has instilled the belief that our bodies cannot be trusted, but instead require intense monitoring and management in order to stay healthy. When it comes to post-diet eating, it can be a case of “feel the fear and do it anyway”.

Honesty is another cornerstone of healthy relationships, and the one with your body is no different. Humans are really good at overriding body signals; the best example is pressing forward when the body is asking for rest.

This disconnect drives all sorts of dysfunctional adaptations, including consuming extra meals and snacks. Taking on less, getting enough sleep and living in alignment with our personal values are, sadly, not often rewarded in our society. Getting honest about the signals of the body takes courage, but alleviating chronic stress is the potential reward.

Finally, it’s important to take quality time for self-care and attunement. It’s hard to tune in to subtle signals if we’re always moving. Stillness, meditation, journaling and reflection are great activities to reconnect and get centered. In the spirit of balance, physical activity continues to be an important piece of the health and wellness puzzle. Finding movement that is enjoyable—even fun—is the primary goal.

Not only do diets not work, but they are harmful on multiple levels. Becoming intentional about pursuing the full spectrum of evidence-based wellness, and learning to trust in the body’s ability to self-regulate, holds the power to transform our relationship to food and body in a way that’s beyond our wildest dreams. Will you take the leap?

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Julie Graham is a Registered Nutrition & Dietetics Technician and owner of Nx by Julie, LLC, in Bristol. After overcoming her own long-term history of dieting and binge eating, she is committed to sharing the amazing gift of Intuitive Eating with her clients. She is also an advocate for the Health At Every Size approach to medical care. Connect at Info@NxByJulie.com.

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Relationship Skill-Building

The 3 Cs of a Healthy Connection

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by Paige Dest

umans need social connections to survive. They help ensure our health and happiness. But not all social connections are beneficial; in fact, some connections can be unhealthy. So how do you identify and avoid unhealthy relationships? What steps can you take to establish healthy relationships?

There are three key skills you can use to strengthen your relationships and build beneficial bonds: communication, conflict resolution and collaboration. It’s no surprise that these are among the competencies of emotional intelligence.

Communication

This involves first opening and listening deeply to the other person. This can often be difficult, because naturally the mind tends to wander or will attempt to prepare a response based on pre-assumed judgements. It takes focus and practice to listen fully to the other person, but it is so important when building a full and trusting relationship. As the saying goes, “Seek first to understand.”

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Listen not only to what the person is saying verbally, but also nonverbally.

Often there is discontinuity in the speech —between the words spoken, the body language presented and/or the tone being used. Be sympathetic to the person’s opinion, even if you don’t agree with it.

Everyone has a right to their thoughts.

Seek a mutual interest or goal to build a bridge of understanding. Ask questions to clarify and repeat back or paraphrase to ensure an understanding. If there is no mutual interest or goal, perhaps it is not the best connection for you personally.

In that case, learn to walk away. Maintain your composure and keep your words kind and constructive, but gravitate away from the person.

Conflict Resolution

Everyone faces conflicts in relationships, but it’s how you handle them together that can make the relationship either healthy or unhealthy. People manage conflict in various ways, each with their own approach and preferred style of influencing others. It’s important to recognize your

style by becoming more self-aware—especially in the moment. There are five main conflict styles, each having its purpose: Competitive – best used when quick decisive action is required Collaborative – best used when issues are too important to be compromised Avoidance – best used when the issues are not important or when a “cooling down” period is beneficial Accommodating – best when the issues are more important to the other party or when you wish to be seen as reasonable Compromising – best when the relationship is more important than the issue or there is no clear solution to the conflict

Collaboration

The state of collaboration is a beautiful togetherness among two or more people working cooperatively toward a shared goal.

It involves being courteous and respectful to others, soliciting the other points of view and being open and honest with your resources and information. It involves putting the needs of the team above one’s own and committing to the team identity.

Building healthy relationships may take time and effort, but it is worth it in the end. Always remember the most important relationship, and the one that matters most to your health—your relationship with yourself. Always listen deeply to your heart, be patient with yourself and surround yourself with those who lift you up.

Paige Dest is a Certified Emotional Intelligence Coach and Core Values Index Practitioner. She is the owner of BYODestiny, through which she provides emotional intelligence coaching to individuals and presents retreats, workshops, and national webinars on emotional intelligence and related topics. She is also the founder of The Flutter Foundation, Inc., a non-profit that promotes and supports social and emotional learning (SEL) programs in Connecticut schools. She will present a workshop on the Circle of Happiness at Spa Soli in West Hartford, CT on October 15. Connect at Paige@BYODestiny.com or purchase tickets at http://bit.ly/HappinessCircle1910.

A Forever Bond Connected in Life and After Death

by Debbie Pausig

L

ife, love, death. They are chronological and linear, yet not finite. But the bond with a loved one after death is indeed “infinite”.

Ask the person whose “love of their life” died in their arms, who saw their “spirit” leave their body and ascend into the universe to find “their” place in the stars outside their window. They are the hawk at the entrance ramp of the highway guiding the day’s journey. They are the street sign with their name or initials that appear, or number combinations that pop up, or the name on a caller ID.

Ask the mother whose child died, no matter the age, about the hole in the center of their being, whose energy manifests in synchronicity with a special feeling. Ask the adult child whose elder parent and “best friend” appears as an angel in cloud formation.

What about the feathers, pennies from heaven, songs, birds (cardinals, hawks, hummingbirds), animals, butterflies, dragonflies, moved objects, recipes, books that appear out of nowhere, and so many more examples? If you speak about these things to a person who has not experienced the profound death of a loved one, they may look at you askance, as they don’t understand.

In their book Hello from Heaven (1997), Bill and Judy Guggenheim researched the field of after-death communication, confirming that life and love are eternal. They identified the 12 most frequent types of after-death communication people report having with their deceased loved one: sensing a presence, hearing a voice, feeling a touch, smelling a fragrance, visual experience, visions, twilight experience, experience while asleep, out-of-body experi-

ence, telephone call, physical phenomena and symbolic experience.

In The Invisible String (2000), Patrice Karst created a simple story for children and adults alike that, “People who love each other are always connected by a very special string made of love.

Even though you can’t see it with your eyes, you can feel it deep in your heart and know that you are always connected to the ones you love.” The intention of the story was to calm a child’s fear of being apart from the ones they love, but it serves a wider purpose in aiding those who would like to explain their sense of connection to someone who has left the physical plane.

In Tuesdays with Morrie (2005), Mitch Albom quoted Morrie Schwartz: “Death ends a life, not a relationship. All the love you created is still there. All the memories are still there. You live on in the hearts of everyone you have touched and nurtured while you were here.”

What connects us to a person that died? It’s the relationship and love. It’s all about love. This is not about romantic love, nor hedonistic wanting and desire perceived as love; this is a deep, caring connected love that transcends time and death. It is a forever love that was created in life that continues after death—a forever and continuing bond.

In recent times, memorials are posted on social media platforms such as Facebook to connect the memories and photos of a dead loved one to the living. This type of online mourning and connectedness gives comfort to those left behind. Many photos of “signs” are posted that give the bereaved hope that the bond of love continues.

Others may find journaling, writing poems or songs, or even authoring a book very cathartic. Creating a special email between the bereaved and deceased to share in cyberspace is another way to maintain communication, even though it is one-way. The use of all these mediums can be of great comfort as sorrow is put into words.

A lady talking to a dragonfly perched atop an orange daylily is an illustrative example. That daylily was planted by her now deceased mother. The woman carried on, swearing her deceased husband was connecting with her through the dragonfly, which nodded its head, as she spoke into its eyes only three feet away. Dragonflies are regarded in some traditions as transitional creatures.

We indeed are and will always be connected by an infinite invisible string because our loved ones are in our hearts and our memories. We continue to share stories that came from generations before. We create new stories in the name of our loved one.

We have forged a forever bond, connected in life and after death.

It is all about love.

Debbie Pausig, MFT, LMFT, CT, is a licensed marriage and family therapist, certified thanatologist, grief counselor, national speaker, workshop presenter, Huntington’s disease support group facilitator, bereavement facilitator trainer and VNA Community Healthcare & Hospice bereavement coordinator. She is the author of An Affair Worth Remembering with Huntington’s Disease. Connect at 203985-8246 and DebbiePausigMFT.com.

August 2019

35

Cycle for Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s Diseases

Monkey Business Images/Shutterstock.com

fit body

Take a Cerebral Spin

Cycling for a Healthier Brain

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by Marlaina Donato

opping on a bicycle on a beautiful day or taking a spin class at the gym offers proven cardiovascular benefits like lowering cholesterol and blood pressure. Now, growing research shows that it also packs a powerful punch for brain health.

Aerobic exercise has been found to have the greatest impact on cognitive ability, and low-impact cycling leads the way. David Conant-Norville, M.D., a Portland, Oregon psychiatrist, recommends cycling to help children challenged by attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Depression and Memory

“Cycling brings more oxygen and nutrients to the cells,” says Carmen Ferreira, owner of SunShine Barre Studio, in Rocky Point, New York. “When we ride our bikes, our brains also increase their production of proteins used for creating new brain cells.”

Cycling has been shown to significantly boost the neurotransmitters dopamine and serotonin, as well as brain-derived neurotrophic factor—BDNF—a protein that increases during aerobic exercise. Low levels of BDNF have been linked to obesity, excessive appetite, clinical depression, anxiety and cognitive decline. According to a 2016 study by the New York University Langone Medical Center published in the journal eLife, higher levels of BDNF help decrease symptoms of depression while improving memory function.

BDNF helps maintain brain health and stimulates the growth of new neurons. Pedaling regularly can fire up brain cell production by at least twofold; cycling only 20 to 30 minutes a day can decrease symptoms of depression—and might even prevent it.

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“For years, we’ve been touting the benefits of mental exercises for Alzheimer’s disease, but physical exercise is also highly beneficial. There is not one neurological disease that cannot benefit from aerobic exercise, from Parkinson’s disease to Lou Gehrig’s disease,” says Laurence Kinsella, M.D., a neurologist at the SSM Health Medical Group, in Fenton, Missouri.

According to 2017 Canadian studies involving Parkinson’s patients, cycling improved motor function during a 12-week period. The results, published in Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, also show a marked improvement in gait.

Promising 2018 research published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society reveals cycling and other forms of aerobic exercise to be the most effective activity in slowing Alzheimer’s-related cognitive decline.

Build Stress Resistance

In general, living a sedentary life sets up a hair-trigger stress response in the body, while forms of exercise like cycling help to regulate excessive levels of age-accelerating stress hormones cortisol and adrenaline. Kinsella says, “Exercise like cycling makes us channel that part of the ancient brain that helped our ancestors run from a tiger, and when we engage the brain to run, chase or survive, the aging process slows down.”

Cycling can also be beneficial for people with fibromyalgia.

Ferreira notes, “I have a few students with fibromyalgia who have reported having more energy, as well as better mood.”

Shorter Sessions, Better Results

While cycling can be a memory booster, it can also temporarily impair cognitive function if sessions are too intense or long.

Kinsella recommends that his students work up to 75 percent of maximum heart rate. He also emphasizes common sense. “Strive for a reasonable pace, and by that, I mean ramping up your heart rate gradually over three weeks. Go slowly with beginning any vigorous exercise and accept that it will take months.” For Alzheimer’s patients, he recommends breaking a sweat with five, 30-minute sessions a week.

Ferreira also advises moderation. “Do as much as your body allows—15, 20 or 45 minutes, the latter being the duration of a full-length class. Have clear communication with the instructor to help you reach your goals.”

Whether objectives are accomplished on an outdoor or stationary bike, it is important to be consistent. Kinsella suggests making it enjoyable. “You can get on your bike and watch your favorite television show for 30 minutes or more and get a good workout.”

Marlaina Donato is the author of Multidimensional Aromatherapy and several other books. She is also a composer. Connect at AutumnEmbersMusic.com.

New discovery stops colds “It worked!” sinuses. Attorney Donna Blight had he exclaimed. a 2-day sinus headache. When her “The cold never CopperZap arrived, she tried it. “I am got going.” It shocked!” she said. “My head cleared, worked again no more headache, no more congestion.” every time. He Some users say copper stops nighthas not had a time stuffiness if used just before bed. single cold for 7 One man said, “Best sleep I’ve had in years since. years.”

New research: Copper stops colds if used early.

He asked Copper can also stop flu if used early cientists recently discovered a relatives and friends to try it. They said and for several days. Lab technicians way to kill viruses and bacteria. it worked for them, too, so he patented placed 25 million live flu viruses on a Now thousands of people CopperZap™ and put it on the market.

CopperZap. No viruses were found alive are using it to stop colds and flu.

Soon hundreds of people had tried it soon after.

Colds start when cold viruses get in and given feedback. Nearly 100% said Dr. Bill Keevil led one of the teams your nose. Viruses multiply fast. If you the copper stops colds if used within confirming the don’t stop them early, they spread in 3 hours after the first sign. Even up to discovery. He placed your airways and cause misery.

2 days, if they still get the cold it is millions of disease In hundreds of studies, EPA and unimilder than usual and they feel better. germs on copper. versity researchers have confirmed that Users wrote things like, “It “They started to die viruses and bacteria die almost instantly stopped my cold right away,” and “Is literally as soon as when touched by copper. it supposed to work that fast?” they touched the That’s why ancient Greeks and Egyp“What a wonderful thing,” wrote surface,” he said. tians used copper to purify water and Physician’s Assistant Julie. “No more People have even Dr. Bill Keevil: Copper quickly kills used copper on cold heal wounds. They didn’t know about colds for me!” cold viruses. viruses and bacteria, but now we do.

Pat McAllister, 70, received one sores and say it can Scientists say the high conductance for Christmas and called it “one of the completely prevent outbreaks. of copper disrupts the electrical balance best presents ever. This little jewel really The handle is curved and finely in a microbe cell and destroys the cell in works.” textured to improve contact. It kills seconds.

Now thousands of users have simply germs picked up on fingers and hands to Tests by the stopped getting colds. protect you and your family.

EPA (EnvironPeople often use Copper even kills deadly germs that mental Protection CopperZap preventivehave become resistant to antibiotics. If Agency) show ly. Frequent flier Karen you are near sick people, a moment of germs die fast Gauci used to get colds handling it may keep serious infection on copper. So after crowded flights. away. It may even save a life. some hospitals Though skeptical, she The EPA says copper still works tried copper for tried it several times a even when tarnished. It kills hundreds of touch surfaces day on travel days for 2 different disease germs so it can prevent Sinus trouble, stuffiness, cold sores. months. “Sixteen flights serious or even fatal illness. like faucets and doorknobs. This cut the spread of MRSA and not a sniffle!” she exclaimed.

CopperZap is made in the U.S. of and other illnesses by over half, and Businesswoman Rosaleen says when pure copper. It has a 90-day full money saved lives. people are sick around her she uses back guarantee when used as directed The strong scientific evidence gave CopperZap morning and night. “It saved to stop a cold. It is $69.95. Get $10 off inventor Doug Cornell an idea. When me last holidays,” she said. “The kids each CopperZap with code NATA11.

Go to www.CopperZap.com or call he felt a cold about to start he fashioned had colds going round and round, but toll-free 1-888-411-6114. a smooth copper probe and rubbed it not me.”

Buy once, use forever. gently in his nose for 60 seconds.

Some users say it also helps with

S

ADVERTORIAL

August 2019

37

wise words

Aysha Akhtar on

Our Symphony With Animals

by Julie Peterson

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s a neurologist, Dr. Aysha Akhtar wanted to acknowledge that medicine has largely overlooked our relationships with animals and their impact on our health. As a survivor of childhood sexual abuse and bullying, she gained strength and courage to change her situation after forming a deep bond with an abused dog. She found there were more stories like hers that explain how the health and happiness of humans and animals are interlaced.

After traveling to interview people whose lives have been profoundly influenced by animals, Akhtar used her experiences and those of others to demonstrate the science behind the intricate and mutually beneficial associations between humans and animals. The result is her book, Our Symphony with Animals: On Health, Empathy, and Our Shared Destinies. After time spent with homeless people, a former mobster, a Marine veteran, a serial killer, animal sanctuary workers and farmers, she relates what happens when people forge (or break) bonds with animals, and how the love we give them comes full circle back to us.

How do you explain that an untrained animal, like Sylvester, the abused dog you bonded with, can help a person heal and recover?

It’s the fact that the animal is not a human being. Animals help diffuse the humangenerated pressure in our lives. If you treat an animal with kindness, that is the only thing that the animal will judge you by.

Animals don’t care about your past, your money, your mistakes in life—they have no preconceived notions about you. Animals 38 Hartford County Edition

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have a purity that helps us be our true selves without worrying about being judged.

What is the most memorable moment of your journey to discover more stories like your own?

It was a beautiful, warm, summer evening, and I was just sitting at an animal sanctuary with a pig named Ivy. She was such a sweet girl and such an emotional being, she reminded me of Sylvester. While Ivy was sleeping, I was listening to the sounds around me— ducks, chickens, cows, horses, dogs and nature. The sun was setting. I became immersed in the moment and felt a profound sense of connectedness. All the sounds came together for me like a Mozart symphony. I had never felt that kind of peace. It was beautiful.

What is the science behind the neurological and biological phenomena you describe in this interaction between humans and animals?

First, studies are emerging that suggest that the way we feel empathy toward each other is not very different from the way we feel empathy

toward other animals. It appears that we may feel stronger empathy toward other animals because, like children, we see them as vulnerable.

Second, medical studies show that just being with animals provides measurable physiological changes within us, showing a boost to our well-being. For example, just being with a dog for five to 10 minutes can decrease blood pressure and stress hormones, and provide a long-term boost to cardiovascular health. It also leads to increases in positive neurochemicals like dopamine and oxytocin—the chemicals that make us feel happy.

What’s even more interesting, studies suggest that the same positive effects are also happening in the animal.

How did you come to believe that compassion for animals is the next step in the moral evolution of humans?

Animals are more on the radar of the current younger generation than they used to be. This means that empathy for animals is growing with each generation. Part of the reason is that there is a moral consciousness growing within our species. We are waking up to the fact that how we treat each other needs to be more ethical, and that includes animals.

We’re witnessing that the destruction of other species is causing the unraveling of ecosystems, and that is causing increases in things like mosquito-borne diseases. In other words, our disruption of other species is coming back to hurt us. Slowly, our collective consciousness is waking up to recognize that how we treat nonhumans affects us, as well.

If readers could learn just one thing from Symphony, what would you like it to be?

Go forward in life feeling a sense of empowerment and hope, recognizing that our well-being is very much tied in with the well-being of other animals.

Julie Peterson lives in rural Wisconsin with her husband, dogs and chickens, and has contributed to Natural Awakenings for more than a decade. Contact her at JPtrsn22@att.net.

inspiration

LOVING OURSELVES MADLY

by Scott Stabile

I

t’s not enough to wish for more selflove. We must be intentional about creating it and commit to loving ourselves by practicing these habits every day.

Don’t believe our thoughts. Our minds lie to us all the time, especially where our self-worth is concerned. The moment we become aware we are mentally abusing ourselves, we can refuse to believe these thoughts. The fact is, we are worthy and enough exactly as we are. Any thoughts that contradict this truth are lies. We must not go to war with our mind, but should definitely get in the habit of challenging our mind’s lies and not believing them when they run amok.

Replace self-abuse with self-love. Not believing our cru-

eler thoughts is step one. Replacing them with kinder, more compassionate and loving thoughts is step two. When our minds call us ugly, we must sink into our hearts and remind ourselves that we are beautiful, as we are. When our minds insist we’re weak, we must declare our strength. Every single thought and word that speaks to our worth is a powerful and sustaining reflection of self-love. Substitute self-abuse with love as often as possible and then watch our lives change in powerful ways.

HBRH/Shutterstock.com

Practice Intentional Self-Love

Find freedom and flexibility with Natural Awakenings franchise opportunities. Be your own boss and earn a living doing something you are passionate about while making a difference in your community. This rewarding home-based franchise opportunity provides training and ongoing support, following an established and proven business model. No previous publishing experience is required. Natural Awakenings is a franchise family of more than 70 healthy living magazines, celebrating 25 years of publishing.

Set boundaries and enforce them. To love ourselves, we have to set clear boundaries with the people in our lives. State what works and what doesn’t work. If we don’t clearly speak our boundaries, people will trample them, and we’ll only have ourselves to blame.

Boundaries show respect for all involved. A lack of boundaries will almost certainly lead to resentment.

Make time for happy places. We all have places that tend to bring us peace and/or joy: a walk among the trees, curled up with a good book, coffee with a close friend. Make time for these experiences.

Every second we spend giving energy to the people, places and things that bring us joy is a second of dedicated self-love. It matters. Just as important, pay attention to the people, places and things that are depleting, that feel unhealthy and toxic, and give less energy to them. Knowing what to eliminate can be as impactful as knowing what to add.

How we love ourselves is our responsibility. The greater commitment we make to self-love, the greater chance we create of living a more peaceful, joyful and meaningful life.

Scott Stabile is the author of Big Love: The Power of Living with a Wide-Open Heart. Learn more at ScottStabile.com.

Elaine Russo San Diego, CA Publisher

Kelly Martinsen Long Island, NY Publisher

Waleska Sallaberry & Luis Mendez Puerto Rico Publishers

239-530-1377 Learn more today: NaturalAwakeningsMag.com/Franchise

August 2019

39

markyourcalendar calendar of events SPIRIT FESTIVAL September 13-15 Experience a celebration of wellness, yoga, music and dance – in affiliation with Riverfront Recapture and BaliSpirit Festival.

Riverside Park & Mortensen Riverfront Plaza, Hartford SpiritYogaFestival.com

NOTE: All Calendar events must be received by the 10th of the month prior to publication and adhere to our guidelines. Submit ALL entries at NAHRT.com

THURSDAY, AUGUST 1

THURSDAY, AUGUST 8

Small Group Mediumship Demonstration – 7-8:15pm. Sharon Farber will connect with loved ones in spirit for participants. Limited to 8 people.

860-989-2358. $15. Dragonfly Healing Arts, 8 Wickett St, Pine Meadow. SharonFarber.net.

Digby from Avalon Trading Returns to Mondazzi – 8/8-8/11. 8/8: 12-5pm, 8/9: 9am-7pm. 8/10: 9am-7pm. 8/11: 10am-6pm. Digby has many one of a kind beautiful gemstone and sterling crystal jewelry and so much more. Wholesale is available with a copy of resale certificate. Mondazzi Books, 570 Hayden Station Rd, Windsor. 860-285-0538.

Mondazzi.com.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 2

markyourcalendar A YEAR OF HEALING IN 2020 With Dr. Eilis Philpott Soul Healing Journey, LLC We will meet one weekend a month for 12 months. We will meet once a month and spend Friday evening together and all day Saturday and Sunday.

The 2020 dates are: January 10-12 • February 7-9 • March 13-15 April 3-5 • May 1-3 • June 12-14 • July 10-12 August 7-9 • September 11-13 • October 9-11 November 13-15 • December 11-13 I will share with you what I have learned from trainings, from life and from guidance in a way that integrates the various modalities. By the end of this 12 months of training you will have catapulted your personal, professional and spiritual journey into the stratosphere.

Location: TBD Investment: Early bird rate - Pay in full $4,200 or pay quarterly $1,050 or pay monthly $350 Regular rate - Pay in full $4,800 or pay quarterly $1,200 or pay monthly $400 ​Reviewer rate - Pay in full $3,000 or pay quarterly $750 or pay monthly $250 To Register: Choose an option to pay (full, quarterly or monthly) and make that first payment.

Be prepared to commit to one full year of healing.

NOTE: If you take advantage of the early bird rate and make the initial payment you will be locked into that rate for the year.

Registration required. 203-767-5954 Eilis@SoulHealingJourney.com AcademyforSoulHealing.com 40 Hartford County Edition

NAHRT.com

Free Acupuncture – 2:30-6:30pm. Always wanted to try acupuncture? Experience it for free. Our expert acupuncturists will give you a customized, hour-long treatment tailored to your health needs.

Free. Many Rivers Community Acupuncture, 3 Barnard Ln, Ste 205, Bloomfield. 860-683-0011.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 3 Mondazzi’s Summer Psychic Fair –10am4:30pm. A variety of readers to choose from. Tarot, tea leaf, spirit art readings, astrology, palmistry, intuitive medium, Aura photography. Please call us at (860) 285-0538 to book your appointment(s) to ensure you get the reader you would like. Mondazzi Books, 570 Hayden Station Rd, Windsor. 860-2850538. Mondazzi.com.

Jerry Marchand Returns to Mondazzi – 10am5pm. Marchand will be selling his rare and unusual collections of rocks & minerals from around the world. Retail shops are welcome to shop wholesale as well. Please bring your tax ID #. Mondazzi Books, 570 Hayden Station Rd, Windsor. 860-2850538. Mondazzi.com.

Fascinated by Ferns – 2-3:30pm. Charlotte Pyle, retired ecologist will lead an easy hour and a half walk, including fern ID, their unique methods of reproduction and more. Bring a camera or magnifier if you have one. $5/CAS members; $10/nonmembers. Trail Wood, 93 Kenyon Rd, Hampton.

860-928-4948. CTAudubon.org.

SUNDAY, AUGUST 4 Expressive Movement Class – 2-3pm. 8/4, 9/1 and 10/6. Release tension and stress, have fun and explore creative movement in our monthly workshop. Please register online. $32/per class. Wilcox Wellness Center for Personal Growth, 92 North Summit St, Southington.Help@WilcoxWellness. com. WilcoxWellness.com.

MONDAY, AUGUST 5 Healing Circle Focused on Sound – 6:30-8:30pm.

First Monday. Includes but not limited to Holographic Sound Healing, Crystal Bowls, Tibetan Bowls, Chanting, Drumming and perhaps even a Gong or two. Bring your instruments, there will be group sound, guidance, sharing and teaching. $20.

Spirit of the Lotus, 5 Gavin Dr, Columbia. Robin: 860-709-3903.

Evening Bird Walk – 6pm. Join Andy in search of a variety of bird species. $5/CAS members; $10/ non-members. Grassland Bird Conservation Center, 218 Day Rd, Pomfret Center. 860-928-4948.

CTAudubon.org.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 9 National Women’s Day Appetizer & Cocktail Pairing – 7-9pm. Get your gals together and come celebrate at b. kind with registered dietitian and nutritionist, Jackie Longworth. Event includes instructions on how to prepare and pair two nourishing appetizers and two flavorful cocktail mixers. Pre-registration required. $45. b. Kind, 1000 Farmington Ave, West Hartford. Facebook. com/WellnessBoutiqueCT.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 10 Nature Sketchbook Journaling – 9am-12pm.

Roxanne Steed will show you how to simplify what you see using drawing and watercolor techniques.

Call to register and for a list of materials to bring. $10/CAS members; $20/non-members.Trail Wood, 93 Kenyon Rd, Hampton. If rain move to center at Pomfret. 860-928-4948. CTAudubon.org.

Aromatherapy Bracelet Making Class – 1011:30am. With Melissa. Workshop includes all the materials needed to create your own bracelet with high-quality semi-precious gemstones, lava rocks and charms. Infuse your lava rock beads with your favorite essential oil. $25/materials to create one bracelet. $10/each additional bracelet. Mondazzi Books, 570 Hayden Station Rd, Windsor. 860-2850538. Mondazzi.com.

MONDAY, AUGUST 12 Healing Circle with Drumming: All Levels – 6:30-8:30pm. Second Monday. All Levels Welcome, Interested in Reiki, Shamanism, Sound Healing or Channeling? This circle has very talented healers that love to learn and love to share the Wisdom that has been handed down for eons.

Beginners are welcome. $20. Spirit of the Lotus, 5 Gavin Dr, Columbia. Robin: 860-709-3903.

TUESDAY, AUGUST 13 The Graduate Institute Information Session – 6:30–7:30pm. Join us for an information session about New England’s Award-Winning School for Holistic Studies. Offering Transformative Education. Affordable. One Weekend Per Month.

Master of Arts Degrees, Certificates and Sixth-Year Equivalent Programs (ideal for teachers) in Integrative Health and Healing, Learning and Thinking, Organizational Leadership, Consciousness Studies, Transpersonal Psychology, Writing and Oral Traditions and Coaching with Spirit. Free. The Graduate Institute, 171 Amity Rd, Bethany. Learn.edu.

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 14 Info Session: Green Homes for Sale at Rocky Corner Cohousing, Bethany – 7–9pm. Friendly neighborhood with an organic farm just 5 miles north of New Haven with a remote info session. A great place to raise kids, to be creative, to grow, to retire. Zoom link provided after you RSVP. Free.

Rocky Corner Cohousing, Bethany. 203-903-2646.

Welcome@RockyCorner.org.

THURSDAY, AUGUST 15 Trauma And Resilience – 7-8:30pm. Published author, Dave Kaczynski, brother of the convicted “Unabomber”,Ted Kaczynski, will speak on Trauma and Resilience. He will draw on his experiences working with abused youth and family survivors of murder crimes and his own family crisis. Free.

Sponsored by Alliance for Holistic Living. South Windsor Public Library, Friends Room, 1550 Sullivan Ave, South Windsor.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 17 Info Session and Tour: Green Homes for Sale at Rocky Corner Cohousing, Bethany – 10am–1pm.

Friendly neighborhood with an organic farm just 5 miles north of New Haven. A great place to raise kids, to be creative, to grow, to retire. Find out more. Please RSVP. Free. Rocky Corner Cohousing, 58 Old Amity Rd, Bethany. 203-903-2646.

Welcome@RockyCorner.org.

MONDAY, AUGUST 19 Healing Circle with Drumming: Advanced Healers Only – 6:30-8:30pm. Third Mondays. Advanced Practitioners are welcome to expand their knowledge and practice. This is not for beginners; this is for those that work on others and can use a little extra for themselves. Advanced Healers Only. $20. Spirit of the Lotus, 5 Gavin Dr, Columbia.

Robin: 860-709-3903.

THURSDAY, AUGUST 22 Eyes on Wellness – 7-8:30pm. With Dr. Stephanie Brown, an optometrist who dedicates her practice to safeguarding visual health. Llearn how visual health is affected by diet and lifestyle. Optional for a fee: have your levels measured and see if supplements are necessary for you. b. Kind, 1000 Farmington Ave, West Hartford. Facebook.com/ WellnessBoutiqueCT.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 23 Crystal Breathwork – 7-90pm. Drift into bliss and total embodiment while energizing yourself in this 2-hour event to connect mind, body and soul. We will be pulling oracle cards, doing journal prompts, and working with the power of our breath and crystal energy. Pre-registration is required. b. Kind, 1000 Farmington Ave, West Hartford. Facebook. com/WellnessBoutiqueCT.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 24

THURSDAY, AUGUST 29

Mindful Walk – 3-4:30pm. Join Lisa Cohen, certified by the Kripalu School of Yoga and Ayurveda, for a mindful walk to enjoy nature and self-reflection. No prior experience is needed. Registration required. Contact Laura at LauraTedeschi106@ gmail.com. Raindate: 8/25. $10/CAS members; $20/non-members. Trail Wood, 93 Kenyon Rd, Hampton. 860-928-4948. CTAudubon.org.

Evening Bird Walk / Nighthawk Watch – 6pm.

We’ll hike around looking for birds, keeping one eye on the sky for nighthawks. $5/CAS members; $10/non-members. Grassland Bird Conservation Center, 218 Day Rd, Pomfret Center. 860-9284948. CTAudubon.org.

Reclaimed Wood Workshop – 6-8pm. Join WithLove and b.kind for a night of shopping, creativity and relaxation. Create your own 6x20in reclaimed wood hanging sign and enjoy a complimentary cup of tea while shopping at West Hartford’s newest wellness boutique. Choose from a variety of words, wreaths and colors to make your sign one of a kind. b. Kind, 1000 Farmington Ave, West Hartford. Facebook.com/ WellnessBoutiqueCT.

Yin Yoga at b. Kind – 7-8:30pm. Yin yoga is a yoga practice consisting of a series of long-held and passive yoga poses to help stretch and target the deep connective tissues throughout the body. Enjoy all the benefits of yin yoga as Jackie Longworth, a registered yoga instructor, walks you through a calming and mindful practice. Bring your own mat. $25. Pre-registration required. b. Kind, 1000 Farmington Ave, West Hartford. Facebook.com/ WellnessBoutiqueCT.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 31

Non-Fiction Book Club – 2-4pm. Join us for a lively book discussion lead by Jacqueline Jacobsohn. August book selection: Every Man Dies Alone by Hans Fallada. Free. Trail Wood, Teale House, 93 Kenyon Rd, Hampton. 860-928-4948.

CTAudubon.org.

Info Session and Tour: Green Homes for Sale at Rocky Corner Cohousing, Bethany – 10am–1pm.

Friendly neighborhood with an organic farm just 5 miles north of New Haven. A great place to raise kids, to be creative, to grow, to retire. Find out more. Please RSVP. Free. Rocky Corner Cohousing, 58 Old Amity Rd, Bethany. 203-903-2646.

Welcome@RockyCorner.org.

MONDAY, AUGUST 26

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 1

Drum Circle & Sacred Fire – 6:30-8:30pm.

Fourth Mondays. Sacred Fire and Drum Circle in the style of the Wisdom Keepers of Native Americans and Shamans of the World. Learn Ceremony, learn how rhythm heals thru journeys, respect, friendships and circles. Bring a chair, your drums or rattle, mesas, sacred carved pipes and an open mind. $20. Spirit of the Lotus, 5 Gavin Dr, Columbia. Robin: 860-709-3903.

Expressive Movement Class – 2-3pm. 8/4, 9/1 and 10/6. Release tension and stress, have fun and explore creative movement in our monthly workshop. Please register online. $32/per class. Wilcox Wellness Center for Personal Growth, 92 North Summit St, Southington.Help@WilcoxWellness. com. WilcoxWellness.com.

SUNDAY, AUGUST 25

TUESDAY, AUGUST 27 The Graduate Institute Information Session – 6:30–7:30pm. Join us for an information session about New England’s Award-Winning School for Holistic Studies. Offering Transformative Education. Affordable. One Weekend Per Month.

Master of Arts Degrees, Certificates and Sixth-Year Equivalent Programs (ideal for teachers) in Integrative Health and Healing, Learning and Thinking, Organizational Leadership, Consciousness Studies, Transpersonal Psychology, Writing and Oral Traditions and Coaching with Spirit. Free. The Graduate Institute, 171 Amity Rd, Bethany. Learn.edu.

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 28 Info Session: Green Homes for Sale at Rocky Corner Cohousing, Bethany – 7–9pm. Friendly neighborhood with an organic farm just 5 miles north of New Haven with a remote info session. A great place to raise kids, to be creative, to grow, to retire. Zoom link provided after you RSVP. Free.

Rocky Corner Cohousing, Bethany. 203-903-2646.

Welcome@RockyCorner.org.

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 2 Healing Circle Focused on Sound – 6:30-8:30pm.

First Monday. Includes but not limited to Holographic Sound Healing, Crystal Bowls, Tibetan Bowls, Chanting, Drumming and perhaps even a Gong or two. Bring your instruments, there will be group sound, guidance, sharing and teaching. $20.

Spirit of the Lotus, 5 Gavin Dr, Columbia. Robin: 860-709-3903.

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 4 Get Ready For Winter Detox – 6:30pm. Dr. Cora Stover will be conducting a 6 week Seasonal Detox from 9/4-10/9. This program will prepare your immune system for the winter ahead. Please call to register. Pronatural Physicians Group, 120 Webster Square Rd, Berlin. 860-829-0707.

August 2019

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ongoing events

tuesday

sunday

monday

Bhakti Yoga and Japa Meditation – 8:30-10am.

Donations gratefully accepted. Bhakti Center CT, 750 R Main, Willimantic. 860-593-5002.

Sunday Sadhana – 9-10:15am. This all-levels class combines gentle yoga with mantra, mudra, meditation and shamanism. Each heart-centered class is designed to bring balance and harmony to the mind, body and spirit. $15/drop-in. Bhakti Center CT, 750 Main St Rear, Willimantic. 860-593-5002.

Complete Strength Class – 9:30-10:30am. Total Strength classes are the #1 priority to burn calories and build lean muscle to boost your metabolism for the long-term. $20. YES Fitness, 292 Spielman Hwy, Burlington. 860-673-4293.

Qi & Tea – 10am-12pm. First and third Sunday.

Qigong is much more beneficial when practiced in groups. Our mission is to create the qi community and give people from all places an opportunity to learn and share this ancient healing art form. $20/ drop-in. Registration required. 280 Garden Grove Rd, Manchester. 860-558-6146.

Children’s Yoga – 10am-4pm. Ages 3-11yrs. With Melanie Morales, certified kids yoga instructor.

Little ones learn to control big emotions, using breath, stretches, mindfulness and movement. $10.

Enlightenment Center of CT, 660 Prospect Ave, Hartford. EnlightenmentCenterCT.com.

Introduction to Chinese Calligraphy – 10-12pm.

Second and fourth Saturday. Chinese calligraphy has 5,000 years of history. It’s one of the most beautiful ancient art forms that has lasted to this day. It’s also known as one of best methods to calm one’s heart and release stress. $20/drop-in.

Registration required. 280 Garden Grove Rd, Manchester. 860-558-6146.

Creative Collaboratory – 3-4:30pm. Second Sundays. Online and some in person (register).

Support for creative artists. Guest speakers, themed programs, meditation, yoga therapy, visualization and supportive counseling for the vows and manifestation process of creative artists. $40/monthly membership includes one private 30-minute coaching session. Phone interview/sign up: 917-8600488. Call for address. DrSklover@gmail.com.

Create Financial Freedom with Healthy Products – 4-5pm. Learn how to build a business and create financial freedom for you by distributing natural Aloe Vera nutritional supplements to help others be healthy. Free. Bristol (call for address). RSVP: 860-372-8171.

Qigong - All Levels – 5:30-6:30pm. Deep breathing and flowing movements derived from ancient Chinese healing exercises for increased balance, flexibility, muscle and bone strength, immune function, decreased pain and stiffness. $17 drop-in. Yoga Center of Collinsville, 10 Front St, Collinsville. 860-693-9642.

Women’s Global Circle – 6:30-8pm. Live/inperson first Sunday. Online the rest of the month.

For heart-centered activism and manifestation.

Women wanting to make their dreams for self and world come true. $60/monthly fee. Phone interview/sign up: 917-860-0488. Call for address.

DrSklover@gmail.com.

42 Hartford County Edition

NAHRT.com

Kundalini Yoga – 9:30-11am. Free. Windham Recovery Community Center, 713 Main St, Willimantic. 860-423-7088 or 860-423-9843 for more info.

Open Play! For Ages 10 Months to 5 Years – 1011:15am. Join open play in our creative arts studio.

Non-instructional play will include gross motor equipment like tunnels and balance beams, dress up and art projects. Donation of canned good. Imagine Studio, 97 South St, West Hartford. ImagineStudioCT.com.

Gentle + Restorative Yoga – 10:30-11:45am.

Gently held postures for joint health and nurturing.

Great for any experience level. $50 for 30 days, unlimited classes/new students. Yoga Center of Collinsville, 10 Front St, Collinsville. 860-693-9642.

Meditate Through the Madness – 6pm. Hosted by Torin Lee. Learn to manage the stress of life through mediation. $10. Oneida Holistic Health Center, 16 West Rd, Marlborough. To register: 860-467-6518.

Meditation Mondays – 7-8pm. First Monday.

Meditation for all. Beginners and drop-ins welcome.

Begin each week with a meditation practice to quiet your mind and let go of all that does not serve.

Facilitated by Melanie VanOstrand. $10. Sea in the Sky Healing and Wellness Center, Hebron. 860530-1552. SeaInTheSkyHealing.com.

Tong Ren Healing Class – 7-8pm. Dr. Ming Wu leads this class focusing on internally healing the body’s energy system by using the collective unconscious. Wu Healing Center, 45 S Main St, West Hartford. To register: 978-790-8888.

Vinyasa Yoga For Everyone – 7-8:15pm. Classic yoga postures in flowing sequence linked by breath.

Learn breathing techniques that keep you invigorated and calm in your daily life. $50 for 30 days, unlimited classes/new students. Yoga Center of Collinsville, 10 Front St, Collinsville. 860-693-9642.

markyourcalendar HOLISTIC CANCER SUPPORT GROUP Tuesdays • 6:30-8pm Do you offer a healing modality or service which will aid those in recovery from cancer?

If so, please attend and work with us to build CT’s first holistic cancer support group.

BRIDGE Healing Arts Center 304 Main St, Farmington For more information, call Rod Kelly at 860-216-8671 or email Rod@EyeOftheEagle.org

Chair Massage – Treat yourself to a relaxing break.

You decide how long. $1/minute. Oneida Holistic Health Center, 16 West Rd, Marlborough. Walk-ins welcome or call for an appointment: 860-467-6518.

Express Vinyasa Yoga – 6-7am. Touches on all the essentials of the core standing, balancing, and seated postures. Build strength, heat and focus moving through sun salutations linked with breath and clarity. Some yoga experience recommended. $50 for 30 days, unlimited classes/new students. Yoga Center of Collinsville, 10 Front St, Collinsville. 860-693-9642.

Tai Chi and Qigong – 11am-12:15pm. Experience the proven benefits of Wu Style Tai Chi and Taoist Neigong practices for health and meditation. Don Myers, Certified Instructor, Bruce Frantzis Energy Arts. $15/class. Universalist Church, 433 Fern St, West Hartford. GreatPondTaiChi.com.

Tai Chi for Kids (Ages 6-12) – 4-4:45pm. Learning the Chinese art of Tai Chi is a great way for children to relax, have fun and strengthen body and mind. Wu Healing Center, 45 S Main St, West Hartford. To register: 978-790-8888.

Ayurveda 101 – 5-6pm. 8-week series. Register online at ScheduleBliss.com/BhaktiCenterCT. $108. Bhakti Center CT. 750 Rear Main St, Willimantic. BhaktiCenterCT@gmail.com.

Vinyasa Flow Yoga – 6pm. The Bridge Healing Arts Center, 304 Main St, Farmington. 860-4042578. BridgeHAC.com.

Ayurveda 102 – 6-7pm. 8-week series. Register online at ScheduleBliss.com/BhaktiCenterCT. $108. Bhakti Center CT. 750 Rear Main St, Willimantic. BhaktiCenterCT@gmail.com.

Tai Chi with Dr. Ming Wu – 6-7pm. Learn from a Tai Chi master who has studied the art of Tai Chi for more than 40 years. Wu Healing Center, 45 S Main St, West Hartford. To register: 978-790-8888.

Authentic Movement – First, second and third Tuesdays. 6-7:15pm. Authentic Movement is a simple, self-guided moving meditation practice. By nurturing presence in our physical bodies, we open pathways for self-understanding, creative expression and inner peace. $12/drop-in. Bhakti Center CT, 750 Main St Rear, Willimantic. ScheduleBliss.com/index.php/bhakticenterct.

Monthly Information Sessions at The Graduate Institute – 6:30-7:30pm. Join us for an info session every 2nd Tuesday of the month at The Graduate Institute. Please contact us to let us know that you’ll be attending. The Graduate Institute, 171 Amity Rd, Bethany. Call 203-874-4252.

Holistic Cancer Support Group – 6:30-8pm. Do you offer a healing modality or service which will aid those in recovery from cancer? If so, please attend and work with us to build CT’s first holistic cancer support group. BRIDGE Healing Arts Center, 304 Main St, Farmington. Call Rod Kelly, 860-216-8671 or email Rod@EyeOftheEagle.org.

Soul Circle: A Meditation and Journey Group – 6:30-8pm. First Tuesday. Join us for an evening of meditation, journeying, drumming and healing.

Explore power animals and spirit guides, healing light meditations, nature spirit allies and more.

Facilitated by Melanie VanOstrand. At Sea in the Sky Healing and Wellness Center, Hebron. $20.

860-530-1552. SeaInTheSkyHealing.com.

Free Spirit Dance – 7:15-8:30pm. A non-judgmental community gathering to explore our unscripted authentic movement as a heart opening meditation amidst a blend of world music. No experience necessary. All Welcome. Donation based. Luna & Lotus, 50 Depot St, Collinsville. 860-803-9947.

Turbo Kick Boxing with Mary – 7:15-8:15pm. Extreme aerobic workout is fun and will get you in shape.

Great music. Tuesdays are for beginners and Thursdays are advanced classes. $5. Center for Progressive Therapies, 192 Hartford Rd, Manchester. 860-883-9664.

Guided Meditation – First, second and third Tuesdays. 7:30-8:45pm. Discover how the simple practice of deep presence can open us to profound peace, compassion and love within ourselves. $12/drop-in.

Bhakti Center CT, 750 Main St Rear, Willimantic.

ScheduleBliss.com/index.php/bhakticenterct.

Meditation as a Way of Living with Tom Dest – 7:30-8:45pm. Promoting access to intention from deep inside and heart to heart communication - soft live music. Contemplation on our eternal nature and keys to peace. $15. Center for Progressive Therapies, 192 Hartford Rd, Manchester. 413-822-8486.

wednesday Coffee with Coach – 7am. Early morning session facilitated by Torin Lee, Life Coach. Learn ways to handle stress, navigate change and make each day count. $10. Oneida Holistic Health Center, 16 West Rd, Marlborough. To register: 860-467-6518.

Gentle Yoga – 10:30-11:45am. Gently held postures for joint health and nurturing. $50 for 30 days, unlimited classes/new students. Yoga Center of Collinsville, 10 Front St, Collinsville.

860-693-9642.

Noon Walks at Grassland Bird Conservation Center – 12pm. Join our volunteers for fresh air, exercise and good company. Seniors and parents with babes in backpacks welcome. Free/CAS members; $3/non-members. Grassland Bird Conservation Center, 218 Day Rd, Pomfret Center.

860-928-4948. CTAudubon.org.

Weight Loss Meetings – 5:30-6:15pm. Second and fourth Wednesdays. Join Dr. Stacey Munro for an informational meeting about effective food-based weight loss and body composition change programs. We will go over program basics, cost and answer questions.

All welcome. Please RSVP: 860-758-7808. Nature’s Helper Medical Clinic, 178 Mountain Rd, Suffield.

Qigong – 6pm. The Bridge Healing Arts Center, 304 Main St, Farmington. 860-404-2578.

BridgeHAC.com.

LivFree All Levels Yoga – 6-7pm. With Tracey.

Recharge your batteries midweek in this energetic, then relaxing yoga class. Walk-ins welcome. $10.

TriCity Massage and Wellness, 220 Hartford Tpke, Vernon. Tri-CityMassage.com.

All Levels Vinyasa – 6-7:15pm. Yoga is quite simply a moving meditation. Vinyasa is a flowing yoga that connects breath with movement to flow from one pose to the next. $15 per class. The Water Lily Holistic Empowerment Center, 129 Tolland Stage Rd, Tolland. 860-756-6391.

Epiphany – 6-8:30pm. Second Wednesday. Experience craniosacral therapy, reflexology, Reiki, acupuncture and more. Call for your 30-minute appt during “epiphany”.$20-$40/suggested. 101 River Rd, Canton. 860-693-8040.

Yoga Nidra – 6:30-7:30pm. Experience the calming effects of Yoga Nidra. Activate your parasympathetic nervous system and relax your body. $20.

Enlightenment Center of CT, 660 Prospect Ave, Hartford. EnlightenmentCenterCT.com.

Support Group More Better Happy – 7:158:30pm. When people and circumstances are sucking the energy, motivation and life right out of you, come here. You can recharge while getting what you want. Registration required. Free. Yoga Born, 1735 Ellington Rd, South Windsor. 860-432-5678.

Mediumship Development Circle – 7:30-9pm.

Mixed level circle with Sharon Farber to develop evidential mediumship. Beginners welcome. Active since May 2012. $10-$15/donation. Dragonfly Healing Arts, 8 Wickett St, Pine Meadow. 860-9892358. DragonflyHealingArts.net.

Qigong Variation – 8-9pm. Class offers students an opportunity to learn different qigong forms.

Each form will be taught over five to 10 class periods, depending on the length of the form. $20/drop-in; $65/monthly. 280 Garden Grove Rd, Manchester. 860-558-6146.

thursday Complete Strength Class – 5:30-6:30am. Total Strength classes are the #1 priority to burn calories and build lean muscle to boost your metabolism for the long-term. $20. YES Fitness, 292 Spielman Hwy, Burlington. 860-673-4293.

Gentle Yoga – 9am. The Bridge Healing Arts Center, 304 Main St, Farmington. 860-404-2578.

BridgeHAC.com.

Qigong, All Levels – 9:30-10:30am. An ancient practice that has flowing, focused movements that reduce chronic pain, stress and blood pressure, along with creating an overall state of wellness. In Stafford.

Call to register and for directions. 860-970-7383.

Bump Day – 10am-6pm. 60-minute prenatal massage or reflexology by Colleen Dumas, LMT and certified in prenatal care. Refreshments, raffle. $40. Oneida Holistic Health Center, 16 West Rd, Marlborough. For an appointment: 860-467-6518.

Tai Chi & Meditation – 10:30-11:30am Instruction is focused on empowering Chi and enhancing health and healing of the mind, body and spirit. Wu Healing Center, 45 S Main St, West Hartford. To register: 978-790-8888.

Kids Yoga Summer Program – 1:30-3:30. 6/208/15. Kids ages 4-8 are invited to come explore the world of yoga in a fun and exciting way with a teacher certified in both Art and Yoga. $20/drop-in; $95/eight classes. Journey of Yoga, 730 Hopmeadow St, Simsbury. 860-680-1482. JourneyOfYoga.com.

Tween Yoga Summer Program – 1:30-3:30pm.

6/20-8/15. Growing up can be overwhelming – figuring out who you are while navigating school, friends and family. Young people, ages 9-12 are invited to come and explore the world of yoga in a fun and exciting way. $20/drop-in; $95/eight classes. Journey of Yoga, 730 Hopmeadow St, Simsbury. 860-680-1482. JourneyOfYoga.com.

Belly Dance Classes with Elisheva – 6-7pm.

Learn the ancient art of belly dance in this beginner class. All levels and abilities warmly welcomed. $17. Spotlight Dance, Art & Wellness, 45 S Main St, Unionville. Register: 860-967-9424.

Community Acupuncture – 6-7pm. Every other Thursday. 315 E Center St, Manchester. 860533-0179. RSVP required: CTNaturalHealth.com.

Blended Style Yoga Classes – 6-7:15pm. Our many styles meet you where you are. Gentle sound allows tuning and awakening improving life and self.

Also every weekday. See our website. $5 or $8.

Center for Progressive Therapies, 192 Hartford Rd, Manchester. 860-649-9600.

Tai Chi and Qigong – 6:30-7:30pm. Experience the proven benefits of Wu Style Tai Chi and Taoist Neigong practices for health and meditation. Don Myers, Certified Instructor, Bruce Frantzis Energy Arts. $15/class. Universalist Church, 433 Fern St, West Hartford. GreatPondTaiChi.com.

Sound Bath Session – 6:30-8:30pm. 3rd Thursday of the month. Enjoy a monthly group sound bath with Karen Fox, Sister of Sound. Let singing bowls, bells, drums, chimes bathe you in angelic healing vibrations. $20 advance, $25 at door. Oneida Holistic Health Center, 16 West Rd, Marlborough. 860-467-6518.

Vinyasa Yoga For Everyone – 7-8:15pm. Classic yoga postures in flowing sequence linked by breath.

Learn breathing techniques that keep you invigorated and calm in your daily life. $50 for 30 days, unlimited classes/new students. Yoga Center of Collinsville, 10 Front St, Collinsville. 860-693-9642

friday

Intelligent Qigong Level 2 – 10-11:15am. Students continue to study “Lifting Qi Up and Pouring Qi Down” method while learning some basic exercises of Intelligent Qigong Level 2, Xing Shen Zhuang, Physical and Spiritual Stance Method. Intelligent Qigong level 1, prerequisite. $20/drop-in; $75/monthly. 280 Garden Grove Rd, Manchester. 860-558-6146.

Self-Care Qigong and Shiatsu – 11:15am-12pm.

Class introduces some most profound and easyto-apply methods from Five Element Meridians originated from Traditional Chinese Medicine and shiatsu massage. $20/drop in; $65/monthly. 280 Garden Grove Rd, Manchester. 860-558-6146.

August 2019

43

ongoing events

community resource guide

saturday Monthly Eco Yoga and Meditation Workshop – With Leesa Sklover, PhD, LPC, C-IAYT, IKYTA. Elemental imagery themes of ether, air, fire, water and earth, along with meditations, Kriya and mantra. Different theme each workshop. Registration required. 917-860-0488. Call for address.

DrSklover@gmail.com.

Morning Express Vinyasa Yoga – 7:45-8:45am.

Touches on all the essentials of the core standing, balancing, and seated postures. Build strength, heat and focus moving through sun salutations linked with breath and clarity. $50 for 30 days unlimited classes (new students). Yoga Center of Collinsville, 10 Front St, Collinsville. 860-693-9642.

Tai Chi and Qi Gong – 8-9am. Dr. Ming Wu is a Tai Chi and Qi Gong Master who has dedicated his life to teaching others how to live healing and healthy lives. Wu Healing Center, 45 S Main St, West Hartford. To register: 978-790-8888.

Massage Ball Yoga – 9am. The Bridge Healing Arts Center, 304 Main St, Farmington. 860-4042578. BridgeHAC.com.

Ellington Farmers’ Market – 9am-12pm. Over 40 vendors bringing local and fresh products in a quaint, shaded country setting. Matching SNAP dollars, Kids Power of Produce Club, weekly themes and entertainment. Arbor Park, Main St, Ellington. EllingtonFarmersMarket.com.

32 Movement Tai Chi Sword with Cynthia – 10am. Laoshi Cynthia will be teaching the 32 movement Tai Chi Sword, which is a competition form she used in the Chengdu, China tournament in 2014. If you have experience with the 24 Yang style, you will be able to learn this sword form. $98/6 classes. $20/drop-in. Sharing The Light Wholistic Center, LLC, 395 W Avon Rd, Avon. 860-936-0012.

Yoga and Meditation – 10-11:30am. All-level class offers an introduction to the Advanced Yoga Practices to support those interested to establish and/or deepen their meditation and yoga practice and knowledge. Modifications of the postures accommodate every level of practice. Drop-ins welcome. Bhakti Center, 750 Rear Main St, Willimantic. YogaPractices.weebly.com.

Qigong, All Levels – 11am-12pm. An ancient practice that has flowing, focused movements that reduce chronic pain, stress and blood pressure, along with creating an overall state of wellness.

In Stafford. Call to register and for directions.

860-970-7383.

44 Hartford County Edition

NAHRT.com

Connecting you to the leaders in natural healthcare and green living in our community. Create your Community Resource Guide Listing online at NAHRT.com.

ASTROLOGY PETER MARKS

103 Nova Scotia Hill Rd, Watertown 860-274-3663/203-206-9353 Peter_Mrks@yahoo.com As an Astrologer, Medium, Intuitive and Numerologist, I work with your spirit guides and convey messages from them. We are all born with spirit guides, and with assistance we can understand our karmic mission to achieve the ultimate happiness in our lives. See ad, page 31.

DEE RANDIS

Watertown 860-274-1690 MetaphysicalCntr.net Dee Randis is an astrologer and psychic medium with over 40 years of experience specializing in personal and relationship counseling. She provides guidance on business matters, real estate decisions, legal issues, as well as missing persons. She does private parties and organizes well-attended holistic/psychic fairs.

See ad, page 11.

CHINESE HERBALIST WU HEALING CENTER

Dr. Ming Wu 45 S Main St, Ste 100, West Hartford 978-790-8888 • Center@WuHealing.com WuHealing.com Chinese herbal therapy accounts for the majority of treatments in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Dr. Wu is a master herbalist with decades of experience and thousands of years of wisdom. The herbs he prescribes help stimulate the body toward self-healing. See ad, page 29.

EDUCATION ACADEMY FOR SOUL HEALING

Eilis Philpott Fairfield 203-767-5954 • Eilis@SoulHealingJourney.com AcademyforSoulHealing.com The academy hosts many trainings including 13th Octave LaHoChi and A Year of Healing in various locations throughout the U.S. The vision for the Academy for Soul Healing is the integration of many modalities, in their purest form, in order to support the growth and expansion of humanity, individually and on a global scale.

EMOTION CODE KEY ENERGY MEDICINE

Margaret Loos 860-386-8330 KeyEnergyMedicine@yahoo.com The Emotion Code is a simple way to get rid of your emotional baggage, helping you feel freer, happier and healthier. As a Certified Emotion Code practitioner, I am trained to discover and release your trapped emotions. The process is noninvasive, safe and requires very little time or effort on your part.

ENERGY HEALING SOUL HEALING JOURNEY, LLC

Eilis Philpott Fairfield 203-767-5954 • Eilis@SoulHealingJourney.com SoulHealingJourney.com Eilis is a master healer and teacher and certified in numerous modalities as both a practitioner and teacher. She offers soul level healing, which clears any blocks, obstacles and challenges that are preventing you from living your life to its fullest potential.

WU HEALING CENTER

Dr. Ming Wu 45 S. Main St, Ste 100, West Hartford 978-790-8888 • Center@WuHealing.com WuHealing.com Combining Western medical science with ancient Eastern insights into life force or chi energy, Dr. Wu uses energy healing techniques such as Tong Ren and quantum energy healing. These modalities help patients achieve a rapid, safe and natural cure by stimulating the body toward self-healing. See ad, page 29.

FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE TAMARA SACHS, MD

HOLISTIC HEALING CENTER SEA IN THE SKY, LLC

269 Church St, Ste 3, Hebron 860-530-1552 SeaInTheSkyHealing.com By appointment Experienced practitioners and therapists offering counseling and psychotherapy, Reiki, Celtic Reiki, shamanic healing, sound healing, yoga, massage, acupuncture, spiritual readings, meditation and a variety of classes and workshops.

SHARING THE LIGHT WHOLISTIC CENTER, LLC

Functional Medicine and Integrative Care LLC 15 Bennitt St, New Milford 860-354-3304 TSachsMD.com

395 W Avon Rd, Avon 860-936-0012 Cheryl@SharingTheLightWC.com SharingTheLightWC.com

Using Functional Medicine, Dr. Sachs prevents and treats chronic illnesses by addressing their underlying root causes, remaining respectful of the uniqueness, complexity and intuitions that make us human. Trained at Mt. Sinai Medical School and Yale University Hospital in Internal Medicine, in 2003 she opened Functional Medicine and Integrative Care LLC. She has great success with IBS, Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue, autoimmune problems, toxicity and more, by creating individualized, realistic and comprehensive personalized wellness plans. She consults in her New Milford, CT office, and also by phone or video using telemedicine.

Sharing the Light is your premier healing destination specializing in Traditional Usui Reiki Practitioner certification classes and sessions with Reiki Master Teachers; Crystal Dreaming; singing bowls; tuning forks; tai chi; yoga; reflexology; drum building; psychic readings; and AngelLinks. Visit website to view our calendar of events that includes programs with full-time and part-time practitioners. See ad, page 12.

HEALING ACID REFLUX HEALING ACID REFLUX NATURALLY

Susan Berman, Med, CHHC 860-670-4152 Susan@HealingAcidReflux.com HealingAcidReflux.com I work with health conscious individuals to help heal their acid reflux or GERD in order to avoid further damage to their esophagus and prevent esophageal cancer. Find your unique food and lifestyle triggers. Offers 1:1 coaching via Zoom, Skype, or a DIY program.

HOLISTIC HEALTH LOIS GRASSO AKA MIMI STEVENS Holistic Health Coach, Speaker, Author East Hartford-Glastonbury line 860-796-1480 Lois@LoisGrasso.com LoisGrasso.com

Eliminate painful symptoms and self-sabotage by transforming your breathing, thinking, and eating patterns into powertools. Experience unconditional acceptance and spiritual connection as together we upgrade your subconscious, using Transformational Breathwork, EFT/Tapping, Anger Clearing, Reverse Therapy and superfoods.

HOLISTIC STRESS REDUCTION THE ENLIGHTENMENT COUNSELING CENTER LLC

998 Farmington Ave, Ste 207, West Hartford 660 Prospect Ave, Hartford EnlightenmentCenterCT.com EnlightenmentCenterLLC@gmail.com We are experienced psychotherapists and practitioners providing integrative and holistic psychotherapy clinical services, as well as a wellness center offering complementary alternative medical services. We view mental illness as affecting not just the mind but also the body. We are mindful about the importance of external and internal balance.

HOLISTIC & WELLNESS CENTER RAYA CLINIC

200 Queen St, Southington 860-621-2225 RayaClinic.com Our 30-year-old Wellness Center consists of a team of doctors combining chiropractic, acupuncture, nutrition, food-sensitivity testing, physical therapy, cold-laser, spinal decompression and neuropathy treatments.

HORMONE SUPPORT COLLABORATIVE NATURAL HEALTH PARTNERS 315 East Center St, Manchester 860-533-0179 CTNaturalHealth.com

The clinic offers the best of both worlds; our physicians are trained in both conventional and natural approaches for diagnosis and treatment of many conditions. We combine science with the wisdom of nature to address the causes of disease, not only the symptoms. See ad, back cover.

The most important thing that I learned in growing up is that forgiveness is something that, when you do it, you free yourself to move on. ~Tyler Perry August 2019

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INTEGRATIVE PSYCHOTHERAPY THE ENLIGHTENMENT COUNSELING CENTER LLC

998 Farmington Ave, Ste 207, West Hartford 660 Prospect Ave, Hartford EnlightenmentCenterCT.com EnlightenmentCenterLLC@gmail.com We are experienced psychotherapists and practitioners providing integrative and holistic psychotherapy clinical services, as well as a wellness center offering complementary alternative medical services. We view mental illness as affecting not just the mind but also the body. We are mindful about the importance of external and internal balance.

MEDIUMSHIP KEIKO BROYLES

Willows Healing Path, LLC 860-280-5548 • Keiko@KeikoMedium.com KeikoMedium.com I am a Psychic Spiritual Medium and also a certified Usui Reiki Master and teacher.

As a natural psychic and medium, my sincere wish and desire is to promote healing for people in both the physical and spirit worlds. I am a tested member of Shay Parker’s Best American Psychics. See listing, page 2.

NATURE SCHOOL TWO COYOTES WILDERNESS SCHOOL

P.O. Box 711, Monroe TwoCoyotes.org Facebook.com/TwoCoyotes Instagram.com/TwoCoyotes Two Coyotes Wilderness School is a nonprofit nature organization dedicated to creating a healthier, more connected future by connecting people to nature, community and their personal empowerment. We offer yearround, wilderness-based mentorship programs, including summer camps, for all ages. Now enrolling for summer camp programs at Holcomb Farm in Granby.

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NATUROPATHIC MEDICINE COLLABORATIVE NATURAL HEALTH PARTNERS

315 East Center St, Manchester 860-533-0179 • CTNaturalHealth.com Receive sustainable and natural solutions for health conditions to address the cause of disease, not only the symptoms. We combine science with the wisdom of nature. See ad, back cover.

ECLECTIC NATUROPATHIC MEDICAL CENTER, LLC

Kathleen M. Riley, ND Wilberto Lugo, ND 48 Christian Ln, Ste 203, Newington 860-665-1254 At ENMC, we specialize in providing gentle, effective treatments for acute and chronic illnesses for pediatrics through geriatrics. The doctors here use nutrition, botanical medicine, homeopathy, hydro-therapy, acupuncture, Bowen, and Frequency Specific Microcurrent. Our therapies are effective in treating allergies, digestive issues, muscle aches and pains, tick-borne illnesses, diabetes, hypertension, and other conditions. See ad, page 25.

NICOLE KLUGHERS, ND, PHARMD, MSAC

Vis Wellness Center 1845 Silas Deane Hwy, Rocky Hill (234)2-ACU-DOC DrNicoleKlughers.com Info@DrNicoleKlughers.com Dr. Nicole Klughers offers comprehensive naturopathic care to restore optimal health and prevent disease. Dr. Nicole’s approach addresses the root cause of symptoms with all-natural solutions such as “Food as Medicine” with individualized nutrition, herbal medicine, nutrient therapies, acupuncture and more.

In-depth assessment is often done with detailed testing to evaluate the status of nutrients, hormones, inflammation, food sensitivities, toxins or digestive function.

NATURE’S HELPER MEDICAL CLINIC Stacey Munro, ND 178 Mountain Road, Suffield 860-758-7808 Info@NaturesHelperMedical.com NaturesHelperMedical.com

Dr. Stacey Munro, a Naturopathic Physician, specializes in prevention and treatment of chronic health conditions with safe and effective natural treatments.

She looks at the whole patient, rather than individual parts and tries to address the root cause. Treatments include: dietary and lifestyle changes, nutritional supplements, herbs, and other natural therapies. Many commercial insurance plans accepted. See ad, page 21.

POSITIVE PSYCHOLOGY THE HAPPINESS CLUB

Audrey Carlson 860-841-5894 AudreyBCarlson@cox.net HartfordHappinessClub.com Come to Hartford’s Happiness Club monthly meeting on the first Thursday of every month from 7-8:30pm, at Town and County Club at 22 Woodland St in Hartford. Happiness is a choice… make it yours.

PRIMARY CARE COLLABORATIVE NATURAL HEALTH PARTNERS

315 East Center St, Manchester 860-533-0179 • CTNaturalHealth.com The clinic offers the best of both worlds; our physicians are trained in conventional and natural approaches for diagnosis and treatment of many conditions. We combine science with the wisdom of nature to address the causes of disease, not only the symptoms. See ad, back cover.

Opportunities are usually disguised as hard work, so most people don’t recognize them. ~Ann Landers

QUANTUM PSYCHOTHERAPY PSYCHOTHERAPY HEALING SERVICES, LLC Celeste Emelia Mattingly, LCSW 10 Grassmere Ave, Ste 300, West Hartford 860-586-8700 Fax: 860-236-1909 CMattingly100@comcast.net CelestialEmpowerment.com

The Sanctuary for Celestial Empowerment is a safe, uplifting, high-frequency environment for individual psychotherapy, Tachyon Anti-Aging and Reconnective Energy Healings, workshops and more. Distance healings, evenings and some Saturday appointments available. Celeste accepts insurance including Medicare and Husky. See ad, page 9.

TAI CHI/QIGONG WU HEALING CENTER

Dr. Ming Wu 45 S. Main St, Ste 100, West Hartford 978-790-8888 Center@WuHealing.com WuHealing.com Tai chi and qigong focus on empowering Chi, enhancing health and healing the mind, body and spirit using diverse bodywork therapies. Develop physical and mental fitness with calmness, balance and awareness. Dr. Wu is now offering regular classes, workshops and retreats for all levels. See ad, page 29.

THERMOGRAPHY CT THERMOGRAPHY HEALTH SCREENING CENTER April Beaman, CTT, RDH Farmington 860-415-1150 April@ctthermography.com CTThermography.com

Thermography is a FDAapproved, radiation free, notouch screening procedure.

Used as part of a routine health screening program, thermography can increase the chances of detecting breast abnormalities, disease and cancer up to 10 years earlier than traditional methods. See ad, page 14.

TRANSFORMATIONAL HEALING

display ad index B. kind Wellness Boutique

HEARTSOURCE INTEGRATIVE WELLNESS

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BRIDGE Healing Arts Center

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Donna MacLean Gordon BRIDGE Healing Arts Center 304 Main St, Farmington 860-978-2938 MyHeartsourceWellness@gmail.com HeartsourceIntegrative.com

Cloud 9 App

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Copper Zap

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I specialize in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) healing modalities such as Tui Na acupressure massage, medical qigong therapy, healing teas, Tong Ren healing, cupping, qigong and tai chi instruction, as well as Reiki healing and pastoral and spiritual counseling. I gently guide clients in the journey to wellness using various modalities, diet and positive lifestyle changes.

CT Psychic & Beyond Expo

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CT Thermography

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SOUL HEALING JOURNEY LLC Eilis Philpott 40 Livingston St, Fairfield 203-767-5954 Eilis@SoulHealingJourney.com SoulHealingJourney.com

Eilis, a certified Rebirther, has completed Rebirthing and Advanced Rebirthing training.

She is a Reiki Master in Usui/ Raku-kei Reiki and Angelic Reiki. She teaches 13th Octave LaHoChi, Angel Light Healing, chakra balancing and other healing techniques. A transformational healing session supports you in healing all aspects of your life.

YOGA

Collaborative Natural Health Partners

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Eclectic Naturopathic Medical Center 25 Enlightenment Method/Back to Eden 13 Glastonbury Dental Center

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Goodwin College

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GO Organic LLC

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The Graduate Institute

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Hartford Family Institute

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HGH Gel

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Holistic Chamber of Commerce

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Holistic Chamber of Commerce August Social

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Holistic Community Professionals

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The Institute of Sustainable Nutrition 26 Peter Marks

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Mondazzi Book, Bead & Crystal Warehouse Showroom

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Natural Awakenings’ Franchise Sales

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10 Front St, Collinsville 860-693-YOGA (9642) info@YogaCenterCollinsville.com YogaCenterCollinsville.com

Natural Awakenings’ National Advertising Sales

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Nature’s Helper Medical Clinic

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Experience yoga in the vibrant surroundings of historic Collinsville. Morning / evening classes available: Beginners, Gentle, Mixed, Advanced, Yogalates, Belly Dance and Yoga for Kids. Drop-ins welcome! New student special: $50 for one month of unlimited yoga classes. See ad, page 17.

Newtown Yoga Festival

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Philip Stein Sleep Bracelet

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YOGA CENTER OF COLLINSVILLE

Psychotherapy Healing Services

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Dee Randis/Metaphysical Center

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Sharing the Light Wholistic Center LLC

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ShopRite 11 Solair Recreation League Spirit Festival

10 5 & 27

Wu Healing Center

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Yoga Center of Collinsville

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August 2019

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