E E HEALTHY LIVING FR
ALL ABOUT WE
HEALTHY
Hartford Family Institute
Coming Together for Creative Change Celebrates 50 Years!
PLANET
THE MERRY VEGAN Healthy Holiday Sweets
December 2019 | Greater Hartford County Edition | NAHRT.com December 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… Chinese Medicine
Author & Alignment Coach Elizabeth Hill, MSW, ACC Green Heart Living - Compassionate Coaching to Align Your Body, Mind & Spirit liz@greenheartliving.com www.greenheartliving.com 860-913-6918
Donna M. Gordon, RMT, Tui Na Acupressure, Usui Ryoho Reiki, Qi Gong Therapy, Tong Ren Healing, Tai Chi and Qi Gong Instruction myheartsourcewellness@gmail.com www.heartsourceintegrative.com 860-978-2938
Psychic/Mediumship/Events/Workshops
Hypnotherapy
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
Carl Brown Hypnosis Licensed Hypnotherapist Easily change limiting beliefs. You can have, be, or do anything you want! www.carlbrownhypnosis.com 860-309-9004
Reiki/Intuitive Readings
Spiritual Intuitive, Medium & Psychic
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
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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December 2019
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Contents
What’s the hardest part of staying healthy?
12 HARTFORD FAMILY
INSTITUTE CELEBRATES 50 YEARS
15
Creative and Innovative Psychotherapy Supports Human Transformation
Showing Up! Commit to Being Strong, Flexible & Happy. Yoga, Barre & Belly Dance Classes Daily 7 Days, 15 Teachers, 34 Classes, 0 Excuses
50
$
For Your First 30 Days of Classes Offer Expires 12/31/19. Mention “Natural Awakenings”
Call 860-693-9642
or visit YogaCenterCollinsville.com/new 10 Front Street, 3rd Floor, Collinsville
15 SELF-DISCOVERY AS
THE JOURNEY TO YOU
16 THE EMERGING
POWER OF ‘WE’ Awakening to the Evolution of Community
18 10 WAYS TO SUPERCHARGE YOUR CREATIVITY
18
20 CIRCLE OF LIFE
Regional Hospice Offers Families a
Meaningful End-of-Life Experience
If you don’t take care of you, who will?
24 THE SANDWICHED GENERATION
A Tale of Midlife Caregivers
26 CLOSING 2019
20
An Astrological Observation
28 WASTE-FREE FEASTING
How to Reduce Holiday Food Waste
30 THE MERRY VEGAN Let us. You’re in good hands. Swedish, Deep Tissue, Sports & Thai Massage All the luxuries in a beautiful setting
64 For Your First 60-minute Massage
$
Offer Expires 12/31/19. Mention “Natural Awakenings”
Call 860-693-9642
or visit YogaCenterCollinsville.com/bliss 10 Front Street, 3rd Floor, Collinsville 4
Hartford County Edition
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People-Pleasing Holiday Sweets
DEPARTMENTS 7 news briefs 12 community spotlight 14 health briefs 20 community spotlight 28 green living
30 conscious
eating 31 calendar 35 classifieds 35 resource guide 38 display 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.
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45 S. Main Street, West Hartford, CT
$ 32 New Student Special: Tai Chi & Qigong
28
30
To Register for Workshops CALL 978-790-8888 center@wuhealing.com wuhealing.com
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. December 2019
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HEALTHY LIVING HEALTHY PLANET
letter from publisher
W
hen the world was smaller and most individuals didn’t venture too far from where they started GREATER HARTFORD out, the word “community” was easily defined as the COUNTY EDITION people and businesses located nearby. In today’s hyper PUBLISHER Nicole Miale connected modern world, the word is characterized MANAGING EDITOR Patricia Staino more by similarity of purpose and mission than EDITOR Michelle Bense physical proximity. Community—while it may still DESIGN & PRODUCTION Kathleen Fellows incorporate a physical place—more typically these days Erica Mills CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Sandi Coyne-Gilbert encompasses a feeling, a synergy of hearts and minds, Randy Laist an ethos. Community brings people together, con Debbie Pausig nected by an idea, a common goal, a sense of purpose, Patricia Staino Nicole Miale SALES & MARKETING Shirley R. Bloethe a need for joy, solace or escape. Nicole Miale This month we feature Linda Sechrist’s uplifting article, “The Emerging Power of Lisa Toczko ‘We’: Awakening to the Evolution of Community,” to further explore this concept of SOCIAL MEDIA Amy Hass community. Her piece makes a compelling argument that collective wisdom, collabora WEBSITE Erica Mills tive change and the need to evolve from a culture of “me” to a culture of “we” may well CONTACT US be the key to addressing the major challenges that confront humankind. What I wish 137 Danbury Rd, #323, New Milford, CT 06776 and intend for our collective future is that more people are able to embody that Ph: 860-507-6392 • Fax: 860-357-6034 humanity is a community unto itself. The stuff we collect and the subsets we choose to Publisher@NAHRT.com • NAHRT.com form—the “tribes” we seek and hold dear—may be precious indeed, but at this time SUBSCRIPTIONS Subscriptions are available by sending $30 they serve to divide us more than help. The time has come for us to search for common (for 12 issues) to the above address. ground and connection with all others. While as individuals we may be mighty, as a human collective we could be unstoppable. NATIONAL TEAM CEO/FOUNDER Sharon Bruckman The Wise Words department this month takes us on an inspiring spiritual COO/FRANCHISE SALES Joe Dunne journey, with the story of Mary Neal, an orthopedic surgeon and author of 7 Lessons NATIONAL EDITOR Jan Hollingsworth from Heaven: How Dying Taught Me to Live a Joy-Filled Life. Neal shares her account of MANAGING EDITOR Linda Sechrist a near-death experience during which she believes she penetrated the veil dividing the NATIONAL ART DIRECTOR Stephen Blancett physical and spiritual worlds. Her life-altering experience prompted her to pay more ART DIRECTOR Josh Pope attention to those things that are truly important to her: faith, family and relationships FINANCIAL MANAGER Yolanda Shebert with others. Having recently experienced a major medical trauma of my own (not ASST. DIRECTOR OF OPS Heather Gibbs nearly as major as Neal’s, I’m relieved to say!), I can corroborate that nothing helps put WEBSITE COORDINATOR Rachael Oppy things in perspective like the clear understanding that your time is not as infinite as you NATIONAL ADVERTISING Kara Cave might have fooled yourself into thinking. Natural Awakenings Publishing Corporation 4933 Tamiami Trail N., Ste. 203 I hope this month’s articles provide pearls of wisdom or bits of inspiration to light Naples, FL 34103 your path as you expand your communities both near and far. From the whole Natural Ph: 239-434-9392 • Fax: 239-434-9513 NaturalAwakeningsMag.com Awakenings team to you, your family and communities, we wish you the happiest of © 2019 by Natural Awakenings. All rights reserved. holidays and peace on earth for the coming year. Although some parts of this publication may be reproduced and reprinted, we require that prior permission be obtained in writing. Natural Awakenings is a free publication distributed locally and is supported by our advertisers. Please call to find a location near you or if you would like copies placed at your business. We do not necessarily endorse the views expressed in the articles and advertisements, nor are we responsible for the products and services advertised. Check with a healthcare professional regarding the appropriate use of any treatment. 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 38, making it easier to find the resources you need.
news briefs
Local Filmmaker Documents Rhythms of Life
C
onnecticut-based drummer and filmmaker Craig Norton has released a feature-length documentary about the healing power of drumming and how rhythm affects our well-being. “Rhythms of Life” features inspiration from internationally recognized drum-circle leaders, music therapists, professional musicians and lots Craig Norton of people who love to drum. With an emphasis on the wellness aspects of music, drummers talk about their healing journeys while continuing to play with diagnoses of cancer, Parkinson’s, depression and other challenges. The aesthetic is unique—a musically fueled documentary with lots of high-energy drumming and inspiration from those who practice in a variety of ways. It will appeal to those who love to drum and those who are curious about the community musicmaking movement that is sweeping the planet. The film was shot over the course of three years throughout the U.S. and Senegal, West Africa. Norton is offering filmscreening experiences which feature the film, a director’s talk and drum circle, so viewers can experience first-hand what they see in the film. A screening is scheduled for December 5 at 6pm at Community Health Center in Middletown. Norton has been leading drum circles throughout New England and making documentaries for more than 20 years. This film combines his passions for filmmaking and music. Visit RolDoc.com to learn more about local screenings and connect with Norton. Location of the screening: Community Health Center, 675 Main St, Middletown.
Holistic Fair Benefit for Plainville Food Pantry
A
holistic fair and expo to benefit the Plainville Food Pantry will take place on December 15 from 12 to 4pm at the Plainville VFW Hall. More than 45 vendors will be on hand, including readers, healing modality practitioners, wellness centers, authors, hypnosis, custom jewelry, crystals, essential oils, organic home care, reflexology, Reiki, organic skincare, BEMER therapy and more. Free raffles, refreshments and a kid-friendly environment add to the fun. A donation of non-perishable food or beverages or $5 per person is requested. Organizers will also accept clothing for men, women and children. For more information, visit YourHolisticEvents.com/fairs-ct. Location: 7 Northwest Dr, Plainville.
Journey of Yoga
Inspiring Health & Happiness
Give Yourself or a Loved One the Gift of Health by Giving Them Yoga! Take advantage of our specially priced offers for the holidays: 22 Class Pass $260 11 Class Pass $140 5 Class Pass $65 3 Sessions of Massage or Thai Yoga for $195 Bring this ad into the studio and take your first class for $9! (expires 1/31/20)
730 Hopmeadow Street, Simsbury, CT 06070 860-680-1482 • journeyofyoga.com YoGa • aYurveda counselinG • bodY HealinG
next Yoga Teacher Training begins January 2020
Psychotherapy Healing Services, LLC founded in 1999 by
Celeste Emelia Mattingly, LCSW Quantum Psychotherapist Multidimensional Healing Facilitator & Author of Celestial Psychology®
A Guidebook for Creating Miracles, Luminosity & Conscious Evolution Tachyon Healing & Anti-Aging Meditation Sessions
Relax in a comfy Zero-Gravity Chair under the Tachyon Crystal Generator. Listen to specially prepared music with Bose headset and be surrounded with Tachyon-Living Energy Products—Protect against EMFs, Reverse Aging & Chronic Physical, Mental, Emotional, & SubtleBody Conditions for Increased Quality-of-Life and High-Level 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.
The Sanctuary for Celestial Empowerment 10 Grassmere Avenue, Suite #300 West Hartford, CT 06110 Call 860-586-8700 to schedule appointments
Insurance and Sliding Scale Accepted Sign up for the Newsletter for updates on workshops and events. Order the Celestial Psychology® Guidebook on Amazon
https://celestialempowerment.com
December 2019
7
Flautist and Meditation Guide Visits Plainville
news briefs
Prescriptions for Produce in Hartford
H
artford Hospital and Wholesome Wave have announced a collaboration designed to improve the affordability of fruits and vegetables for 500 low-income diabetic patients. Wholesome Wave is launching its Wholesome Communities Connecticut initiative in partnership with Hartford Hospital to empower healthcare providers to write prescriptions for produce. The produce purchases and all program expenses are funded by Hartford Hospital. “By making this commitment to move the needle on critical social determinants of health like food insecurity, Hartford Hospital will deeply impact the city of Hartford and surrounding areas, as well as take a leading role alongside Wholesome Wave in growing the ‘Food is Medicine’ movement across the country,” says Bimal Patel, president, Hartford Hospital. The Wholesome Communities initiative strives to reach critical populations of people in need with affordable access to nutritious produce. Registered patients facing food insecurity and unmanaged diabetes can receive $60 worth of Wholesome Rx vouchers monthly, which can only be used to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables at CTown and Hartford Mobile Market Stops. Each month, participants may receive a $60 voucher “refill” by meeting requirements such as meeting with their clinician or attending nutrition education classes, and data will be collected throughout the program. This three-pronged approach—inform, activate and measure—ensures success in catalyzing increased consumption of fruits and vegetables, thereby reducing healthcare costs and utilization. The goal of the produce prescription program will be to demonstrate the impact of additional produce purchasing on fruit and vegetable consumption, healthy behavior change and longer-term healthcare utilization. This new initiative will build upon Wholesome Wave’s successful three-year produce incentive program in Hartford and Vermont that was funded by the USDA. For more information about Wholesome Wave, visit WholesomeWave.org.
T
wo-time Grammy nominee, flautist and meditation guide David Young will present his signature workshop, “A Portal Between David Young Heaven and Earth,” at Vital Life Center in Plainville on December 22 at 4pm. Attendees will delve into the experience as Young breathes life into the angelic frequencies forged by his ability to play two flutes simultaneously. His capacity to channel the ethereal and translate his message through guided meditations will heal and transport you to spiritual clarity. No matter where someone is on their meditative path—a beginner or seasoned practitioner—participants consistently experience deeply insightful revelations through Young’s guidance. For more information about this workshop and other offerings, call 860-479-0466 or visit VitalLifeCenter.org. Location: Vital Life Center, 100 W Main St, Plainville.
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ctthermography.com 860-415-1150
2 Forest Park Drive, Farmington, CT 06032 • 212 New London Turnpike, Glastonbury, CT 06033 8
Hartford County Edition
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Tolk Chiropractic and Wellness Expands Services
F
A holistic approach
or more than 30 years, Tolk health to Chiropractic and Wellness Center in Weatogue has dedicated its practice Offering treatments for food to serving patients with top-quality sensitivities, digestive problems, natural healthcare. Founded by Dr. L. allergies, fatigue/stress, hormone Andrew Tolk, the former chiropractor imbalance, thyroid disease, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. for the NHL Hartford Whalers, the Center offers natural treatments such • Healing from the inside out • Safe and effective natural as chiropractic care, applied kinesioltreatments for adults and children ogy, Neuro Emotional Technique, • Weight loss programs quantum neurology and more. Recently, with the help of OakLeaf Wellness + Health, Tolk Wellness Center has Call 860.758.7808 or visit NaturesHelperMedical.com been completely renovated and has added a host of new well care services. for more information. “We’re so appreciative of OakLeaf Wellness for transforming the Center into what it is today. Our patients look forward to coming here for a complete wellness experience,” says Dr. David Tolk, DC. Additionally, Tolk Rewards, a free digital rewards program that gives back to loyal patients, will launch on iOS and Android by December 1. Members earn points for every dollar spent for attending workshops and coming in for appointments. Points can Dr. Stacey Munro be redeemed for wellness products, selected supplements and services such as theraNaturopathic Physician peutic massages and ionic footbaths. Tolk Wellness Center continues to grow with monthly wellness workshops and 178 Mountain Road • Suffield, CT corporate wellness programs at local health fairs. Last month’s workshop focused on Most major medical insurance accepted. CBD education and Vitalibis’ premium organic hemp oils and creams. “Our goal is to bring true healing to the mind and body,” says Adam Tolk, managing partner of OakLeaf Wellness. “We want to offer our patients a special place where NaturesHelper_F_CROPS_181209.indd 1 12/9/18 10:17 PM they can relax, recover and heal.” Quality of life actually begins
your
To schedule an appointment or for more information, call 860-651-3521 or visit TolkWellnessCenter.com. Location: 102 Hopmeadow St, Weatogue.
at home—it’s in your street, around your community. ~Charles Kennedy
Start on the path to a brighter, more fulfilling future. 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 • Master’s in Public Health
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Open The Door To New Career Opportunities
Fully Online and On-Campus/Online Hybrid Programs
Spring Semester Classes Start January 13
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 is available at: www.goodwin.edu/institutional-effectiveness/consumer-info-heoa
December 2019
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news briefs
Spiritual Saturday and Open House in Tolland
T
he Water Lily Holistic Empowerment Center in Tolland will host a Spiritual Saturday and Open House on December 14 from 10am to 4pm. With the holidays upon us, The Water Lily honors your need for self-care during what can be a very stressful and selfless time. The Center will offer one-on-one individual services and free workshops throughout the day, to help you feel more open, enlightened, relaxed and prepared to tackle the physical and emotional hustle and bustle of holiday preparations and gatherings. Walk in for one-on-one services, including intuitive readings with Lily Holcomb and/or chair massage with Natalie Poitras. Services will be $1 per minute (with a minimum of 10 minutes and maximum of 25 minutes). Free workshops include chakra yoga with Caroline Hannon from 10 to 11am; Clear Out and Manifest with Sarah McComb from 11:15am to 12:15pm; Essential Oils for Wellness with Jillian Hubbard from 12:30 to 1:30pm; a drum circle with Becki Tendrich from 1:45 to 2:45pm; and a feminine divine movement class from 3 to 4pm. Come for one or all! Gift certificates, crystal trees of life and genuine stone jewelry from local artisans will also be for sale. Nosh on holiday goodies and have a cup of coffee or tea. There will be no preregistration for services or workshops. Some workshops are limited in the number of participants that may attend. For more information about the center, the services or the practitioners, visit TheWaterLilyCenter.com. Location: 129 Tolland Stage Rd, 2nd floor, Tolland.
ACUPUNCTURE
Anxiety & Depression | Chronic Pain | Fatigue | Insomnia | Internal Disorders
Stan Baker, L.Ac., Dipl.Ac. 860-836-1068 91 South Main Street, West Hartford, CT 06107 Zen: Body + Mind AcupunctureStanBaker.com | ZenWH.com Stan Baker has over 30 years experience in the Oriental Healing Arts and specializes in difficult cases.
Become a Heart Flame Energy™ Master at Sharing the Light Why Become A Heart Flame Energy™ Master? . You can heal your world and become the ripple
effect, sending healing out to those in your family and community. . Your dramatic shift is the beginning of a new YOU that commands and controls a lasting healing in mind, body and spirit. . Once you integrate these 15 techniques in all you do, you will be the healer people seek! For more information please see our website.
Starting in January 2020 on the second Saturday of each month from 10am - 6pm Total package price is $1740 $145 monthly when you sign up by November 30, 2019 $175 monthly when you sign up from December 1, 2019 - January 1, 2020 $200 a month if you register after January 1
SharingtheLightWC.com | 395 West Avon Road | Avon, CT 06001 | 860-936-0012 10 Hartford County Edition
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UWT Energy Healing Training in Bristol
F
rom March 20 to 22, 2020, Bradford Tilden of Crystal Music Healing will offer a Level 1 Universal White Time Energy Healing Certification course for the first time at his Bradford Tilden center in Bristol. “This is a wonderful opportunity for you to grow along your personal spiritual path,” he says. Participants learn the skills to be a certified practitioner and member of this rapidly growing global community of healers working with the energy of Divine Unconditional Love to bring about the New Earth. “UWT is a special healing art with a unique origin, more possibilities, and higher vibration than other modalities like Reiki and IET,” says Tilden, who is the highest-ranking UWT practitioner and teacher in the Northeast. He received his training with the head gemstone healing teacher in Aptos, Calif., making him a Level 3 gemstone teacher. He also trained with one of two Supreme Teachers in the U.S., making him a Level 4 Energy practitioner and now a Level 2 Teacher. Tuition is $400 if registered by January 5, and $450 for those who register later. The tuition cost includes initiation and certification. For more information, call 860-830-5841 or visit CrystalMusicHealing.com. Location: 305 Redstone Hill Rd, Bristol.
Tired minds don’t plan well. Sleep first, plan later. ~Walter Reisch
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
Astrologist/Psychic/Reiki Practitioner Bren Meadows Psychic Reading Tarot since 1984 Psychic Parties, Individual Sessions, Spiritual Guidance Sessions Terryville, CT or by Skype rainmakers2413@gmail.com 860-983-3030
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 860-830-5841
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
Naturopathic Physician
Mind • Body • Soul
Quantum Psychotherapy
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
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
Shamanic/Reiki/Sound Healer
Transformational Healing
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
Shari Dorman, LPC Inner Mountain Peak Healing, LLC- Owner Licensed Professional Counselor Reiki Master/Teacher InnerMountainPeakHealing.net InnerMountainPeakHealing@gmail.com 860-324-3309
SAVE THE DATE - STATEWIDE HOLISTIC SPRING EXPO Passport to Health & Wellness Expo SUNDAY, APRIL 26, 2020 10am - 4pm
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!
Crystal/Sound/White Time
ADMISSION Advance Early Bird $5 p/p $7 p/p at the door • Children under 5 are FREE For Tickets: Facebook.com/events/443393576471517 Contact Shirley R Bloethe at 860-989-0033 Email: yourholisticevents@gmail.com Vendors apply at: www.yourholisticevents.com
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
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
We Welcome You! To join the Holistic Community Professionals, contact Shirley R. Bloethe at 860-989-0033 or ShirleyBloethe.com December 2019
11
community spotlight
Hartford Family Institute Celebrates 50 Years
Creative and Innovative Psychotherapy Supports Human Transformation
H
artford Family Institute’s Center for Healing Arts has created an approach to psychotherapy, known as HFI Body-Centered Psychotherapy, that balances emotions, energy and body with healing and spirituality. The center is celebrating 50 years of providing individuals, couples and families with its cutting-edge approach to psychotherapy while training hundreds of new practitioners in this innovative modality. Co-founders Stuart Alpert, PsyD, LCSW, and Naomi Lubin-Alpert, PsyD, LMFT, met while working at Child and Family Services in Hartford and providing psychological services to school systems in eastern Connecticut. They joined forces with two other therapists, George Rogers III, PhD, and Ron Long, LCSW, to form what eventually became Hartford Family Institute. Prior to the current training program, Alpert had developed a training program in marriage and family therapy, which became the first family therapy training program in Connecticut. The center began expanding with a few gradu12 Hartford County Edition
NAHRT.com
ates of the training program becoming associates of HFI. “As our reputation grew, we were invited to begin training programs in Germany, Kansas City and New York City, and intensive summer workshops were held throughout the U.S. and Canada,” says Alpert. Still, although couples, families and students responded very positively to the work and training, he had the sense that there was a way he could go deeper with clients to create more profound and lasting transformation. Trainings began spontaneously and organically. “I would do a workshop on something we’d learned, and students would take it in and then ask, ‘What’s next?’,” says Alpert. In response to that question, additional phases of training were developed. As time went on, Alpert and LupinAlpert realized something deeper was happening. It was the early days of humanistic theory and the pair began to integrate the techniques of Gestalt and Bioenergetics, along with developmental
psychology and attachment theory, into a new form of body-centered psychotherapy. “Eventually what we had studied became the basis of an integrated understanding and approach to transformation at the core of our being,” says Alpert. “The original name of the therapy was BodyOriented Gestalt Therapy. We were on the forefront of a paradigm shift in emotional and physical healing.” In the mid 1990s, Sylvia Gingras-Baker, MA; Donna Baker-Gilroy, PsyD, LPC; and David Gilroy, PsyD, LPC, graduates of the training program and former associates of HFI, were invited to become equal partners—legally, emotionally and in terms of personal power. “The therapy, training program and our personal growth continues to this day,” says Lupin-Alpert. “We are involved in a never-ending process.” Two of the key differences between their innovative approach and the conventional psychotherapy in which they were all initially trained is the relationship to resistance (also known as the shadow) and recognition of the importance of supports, which was an integral part of the system they use and teach. “It was a common belief that it was enough to work with an individual and define the issue they were presenting,” says Baker-Gilroy. “What we came to understand is that without proper supports in place, lasting change could not occur.” Alpert says that resistance to change is often misunderstood: “We understand that resistance is an individual’s ally, created as a result of the impact of abuse, and it eventually becomes the way we protect ourselves. We further understand that pressuring resistance doesn’t work because it feels as if our very survival seems at stake. We’re interested in approaching resistance respectfully, helping clients integrate new forms of safety and support. “It’s all about energy. All of us understand how blocked energy creates physical pain and illness, so we are focused on identifying and removing the emotional and spiritual blocks that prevent the individual from healing.” Lubin-Alpert agrees and adds, “What happened to someone in their childhood
will either support or undermine the person later on in their life. We want to help shift the energy so the molecules of health vibrate freely at the higher frequency. The goal is to release darker, denser energy to make more space for the light.” The partners all see clients in private practice, teach and conduct supervision with students/associates. Alpert, Gilroy and Baker-Gilroy have also written books. They continue to study various philosophies and teachings, integrating Native American, Buddhist and other principles into the work they do and train others to do. They are always seeking the edge of what has been done, with an eye toward combining and adapting principles that support each other, no matter their origin. “For example, we studied with a teacher named Steven Gallegos from New Mexico, who has put together a system for integrating Native American power animals and Eastern philosophy,” says Gilroy. “It is a unique way of looking at things, which seems to resonate with many.” “Our work is transformative at the core,” says Alpert. “We are interested in energy and how we form characterological patterns. We want to heal illness and relationships; to do that we are really healing whole beings.” “All healing is done when a person is met with acceptance,” says Gilroy. “We have diverse backgrounds and practices but we all include our spiritual practice in who we are and what we do.” The approach has served them and countless others well. In 2000, the Institute was growing out of their space, so they purchased the building next door. Their renovations of that building earned them a first-place award for historic renovation from the Town of West Hartford. Their larger events take place in space rented from the church across the street and the synagogue behind their buildings. The Professional Training program currently has 53 students. It is available to licensed psychotherapists and other professionals such as energy healers, nurses and bodyworkers. Additionally, interested individuals without a need for professional training can participate in the Human Relations program, which includes the same lecture material but a different group experiential component. Both programs meet every Wednesday evening from 5:30 to 9pm. There are multiple phases to the professional training program; individuals typically sign up for one year at a time after completing an application and participating in an intake interview. A three-day winter workshop is scheduled for the second week of January at the Guest House in Chester; this event is open to the public with no prerequisites. A six-day workshop is planned for mid-summer at the Drury Hotel in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
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health briefs
Food Sensitivities Affect Mood by Stacey Munro As we prepare for the winter months ahead, some people begin to experience Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). Many individuals are fearful of this transition from light days to dark ones, which begins as early as the end of August. They seek treatment to counteract the effects of long New England winters. Additionally, SAD can be made worse by food sensitivities; but there are treatments that can improve anxiety, depression and fatigue for those afflicted. Adverse food reactions can take many forms. Digestive conditions such as constipation, diarrhea, abdominal pain and bloating are often linked to food sensitivities. Other common symptoms include joint pain, rashes, headaches and respiratory problems. Testing for food sensitivities will identify hidden food reactions that won’t show up on allergy testing. Common food sensitivities include wheat, gluten, cow’s milk, corn, eggs and soy. Many patients report improvement in mental symptoms and energy as a welcome side effect once they remove the culprits of their food sensitivities from their diets. This specific association has not been tested in a controlled study, however. There is evidence that the Mediterranean diet, based around natural, unprocessed foods such as vegetables, legumes, fruit and healthy fats, may reduce depressive symptoms. Processed foods high in gluten, soy, dairy, corn and refined sugars should be limited. Eating a diet lower in processed food offers many health benefits. There are other natural treatments that can also improve SAD. Studies show that regular exercise improves anxiety, stress and depression. Vitamin D and light therapy have also been shown to help those suffering with wintertime SAD. Dr. Stacey Munro is a naturopathic doctor in Suffield. She sees patients, both adults and children, for chronic health issues and preventative medicine. Getting to the root cause of imbalance or disease is the focus of her approach. For more information, call 860-758-7808 or email Info@NaturesHelperMedical.com. Location: Nature’s Helper Medical Clinic, 178 Mountain Ave, Suffield. See ad, page 9. 14 Hartford County Edition
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Naturopathy Treats Causes of Fatigue Fatigue is one of the most common health complaints addressed at a physician’s office. However, because fatigue has so many causes, it is arguably one of the most difficult complaints to treat. When fatigued, it is tempting to reach for a quick fix in caffeine, sugar and carbohydrate-rich foods. This can provide short-term energy, but it is not a sustainable fatigue-combatting plan. While there is a time and place for using short-term energy boosters, it is best to dig deeper into the cause of the fatigue. In naturopathic medicine, the goal is to find the root as to why we are experiencing symptoms and to avoid suppression or masking of the symptoms. Where to begin on your fatigue-fighting quest? Start by looking at lifestyle habits including sleep, diet and hydration as well as exercise and stress levels. Rather than seeking perfection in all these areas, take the time to create an action plan for habits that could be improved to boost energy levels. Once the foundation is set, investigate potential nutritional deficiencies, hormone imbalances and infectious causes. Vitamin and hormone deficiencies are quite common, and infectious causes such as tick pathogens or chronic viral infections like EBV (Epstein-Barr virus) can be addressed by doctors if they are found to be the cause. Naturopathic doctors are experts in building a healthy lifestyle foundation, selecting appropriate testing measures and addressing imbalances based on the individual needs of each patient. If you find yourself tired of being tired, consider a consult to create your fatiguefighting plan. The naturopathic doctors at Collaborative Natural Health Partners, LLC are in-network providers with most major health insurances and are accepting new patients. Call 860533-0179 to make an appointment. Location: 315 E Center St, Manchester. See ad, back cover.
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On your journey, think about the tools you have to bring with you. What are the skills, knowledge, abilities and attributes you can bring along?
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Self-Discovery as the Journey to You
“T
by Sandi Coyne-Gilbert
he journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” This quote, attributed to the philosopher Lao Tzu, reminds us that, try as we might to begin with the end in mind, there is unfathomable power in that first step. Not every worthwhile quest means leaving your zip code! Self-discovery is a long journey that means digging deep into the essence of your being. How do we explore the first step in this journey? Why do we need to really know ourselves? One possible answer is that the more we know, the more we can experience. John Lennon offered, “Life is what happens to you when you are busy making other plans.” Self-discovery is work—hard work— but the outcomes can be amazing. In many cases, people who have encountered an obstacle and been unable to move beyond it experience an intense desire to really know themselves. Your relationship sours, your job is not secure, you struggle with finances—and suddenly you begin to feel you might not really be the sunny, positive winner you always imagined you were. You feel off the path, separated from the people you know, and frightened that no one understands. Actually, the chances are good that many people in your circle do know what it means to realize you do not know yourself as well as you believed. We have a tendency to follow up
the question “Who am I?” with a desire to blame someone—anyone. We want to remove the focus from ourselves and create a feeling of being on level ground again. Following a breakup in a relationship, many people find fault in their former partner rather than ask what they could have done differently. People do not like to examine the areas where they do not have great abilities or, worse yet, where they might be at fault. You might think you know a few “perfect” people—the ones who never look harried, are always dressed right, seem to have it all together. While their lives may look perfect, in reality they are flawed. Hey, so are you—we all have flaws, large and small. If we are lucky, we recognize those flaws and begin working to improve ourselves. Remember Lao Tzu’s “journey of a thousand miles”? Well, it’s unlikely that you will find perfection awaiting you at the end, but you might gain a better understanding and appreciation of yourself. You might even find that your greatest challenges bring about your greatest strengths. Here are six steps to consider on your journey:
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Ask yourself, “What do I really want, deep down?” Be specific in each area of your life. Many people convince themselves about what they want based on what others have or what advertisements tell us we need.
Know your purpose. Purpose is a powerful element, coloring everything and giving beauty to the tools you have. What do you love to do? What makes you want to get up in the morning? Let that sentiment guide you forward.
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Try new things. We can’t find our purpose or react with clarity when our daily routine becomes a matter of rinse and repeat. Eleanor Roosevelt said, “Do something that scares you every day.” If you did, how far would you go?
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Ask people who truly know you what they think you are best at and what they count on you to provide to them and others. It is surprising how often this guides us. Kaplan Mobray, a fabulous motivational speaker, states that you should always ask yourself (and others), what do people say when you leave the room?
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Be compassionate and caring with yourself. Undertake this journey with the understanding that you might be hit with some hard realities about what you need to work on. Your kindness and loving care can help self-discovery to be less daunting and more effective. Self-discovery will take you on an amazing path. Often it seems the end is ridiculously far away, and other times it almost seems like it is just within your grasp. But as Lao Tzu says, the journey begins with a single step. Perhaps it is time to take that first step now? Sandi Coyne-Gilbert, MBA, DM, is the MS Organizational Leadership Program Director at Goodwin College in East Hartford. She specializes in working with adult learners and is enthusiastic about instilling a passion for lifelong learning in her students. Learn more by calling 800889-3282 or visit Goodwin.edu/leadership. See ad, page 9. December 2019
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THE EMERGING POWER OF ‘WE’
Awakening to the Evolution of Community by Linda Sechrist
Z
en master Thich Nhat Hanh’s suggestion that the next Buddha would likely not take form as an individual but rather as a sangha, a community practicing mindful living, led many people to ask, “Why a community?” The author of more than 100 books that explore the Buddha’s core teachings on mindfulness, kindness and compassion, Hanh clarified the meaning of sangha as a good community necessary for helping individuals learn how to encounter life in the present moment, resist the unwholesome ways of our time, go in the direction of peace and nourish seeds of enlightenment. Even the best intentions, he noted, can falter without such a group of trusted family, friends and co-practitioners experiencing mindfulness together.
personal growth and spiritual awakening. Myriad individuals have been able to experience some aspect of community through international organizations such as MindValley, Hay House, the Shift Network and Dr. Deepak Chopra’s Jiyo, a wellness-focused mobile app intended to extend the reach of his ideas on health and social transformation from millions of people to more than 1 billion. In MeetUp, spiritual awakening groups recently comprised 1,113,972 members in 3,631 groups worldwide. Additionally, co-housing communities, spiritual residential communities and eco-villages continue to form around the intention of designing and implementing pathways to a regenerative future.
A Migration to Forming Community
The Old Story Versus the New Story
Today’s trend toward collaborative processes and opportunities for transformation through online communities is made easier by the availability of affordable video conferencing providers such as Zoom, Skype and Mighty Networks, as well as online platforms like Facebook and MeetUp. Although many groups form for marketing, political, civic or social purposes—allowing participants to share values and common interests—thousands more gather as online intentional communities associated with 16 Hartford County Edition
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The increased interest in intentional communities may hint at a possibility that the human desire for community might be nature’s evolutionary nudge toward a collective leap that helps us to survive a changing climate and Earth’s potential sixth mass extinction. If so, this possibility needs a new supportive story that includes humans as part of nature, with its evolutionary impulse as a guide for body, mind and soul. With our modern scientific worldview, when people talk about nature, they
A Guiding Light
Seijaku Roshi, the abbot and founder of the Pine Wind Zen Community, aptly named for its location in a pine forest in Shamong, New Jersey, advises, “People are searching and hungering for community, which is number one on my agenda. If we aren’t talking about community, we’re squandering the moment. Whether it’s an evolutionary nudge or not, it appears that our tragic world situation is pushing us towards an alternative vision for living a meaningful life that meets the needs of people, society and the environment. We are awakening to the fact we’re interconnected, interdependent and need community, which is the spirit and guiding light whereby people come together to fulfill a purpose, to help others fulfill their purpose and to take care of one another.”
Conscious Evolution
Craig Hamilton, the guiding force behind the movement known as Integral Enlight-
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typically mean animals, plants, geological features and natural processes, all happening independently of humans. A more suitable new story is cultural historian Thomas Berry’s moving and meaningful narrative in The Great Work: Our Way Into the Future, in which humans aren’t above nature by virtue of superior intellect, but instead are equal partners with all that exists in a materially and spiritually evolving universe. From Berry’s perspective, humans are the eyes, minds and hearts through which the cosmos is evolving so that it can come to know itself ever more perfectly through us. Apollo 14 astronaut Edgar Mitchell shared Berry’s perspective. Traveling back to Earth after walking upon the lunar surface, Mitchell gazed out of the spacecraft window, whereupon he was flooded with an ecstatic awareness. “I was a part of the universe I was observing, and I became aware that everything that exists is part of one intricately interconnected whole,” recounts Mitchell, who founded the groundbreaking Institute of Noetic Sciences to explore the nature of human consciousness.
enment, is the founder of the telecourse training program Academy for Evolutionaries. His spiritual guidance and teachings reach a growing international online community spanning 50 countries. “Transforming ourselves in the deepest possible way is, in fact, an evolutionary imperative, and we need to be able to identify the indicators of emergent shifts and participate creatively with change as an evolutionary force. Evolution up to this point has been playing out unconsciously. We’re now waking up and realizing that we can collaborate and participate in an emerging future.” Hamilton’s experience is that where humans awake to the one that is expressed through the many, they also begin to engage together. “Practicing community isn’t as simple as it seems. In online communities, a lot less can go wrong. The stakes aren’t as high. People come and go, share and engage as they like.”
A Community of Sisterhood
Laurie McCammon, author of Enough! How to Liberate Yourself and Remake the World with Just One Word, feels certain that humans are evolving. “We were last to the party with our big brains, and now we’re trying to intellectualize our way to an uncertain future without important feminine values such as feeling, intuiting, nurturing, interdependency and vulnerability,” says McCammon, who is deeply involved in the circle movement, in which women gather in small groups to empower each other. A regular participant in Gather the Women Global Matrix, a worldwide sisterhood that connects thousands of women sharing meaningful conversations and celebrating the divine feminine with the intention of bringing about personal and planetary transformation through cooperation and collaboration, McCammon says, “No one of us can bring about large-scale transformation alone. It’s time to tell the new story wherein our lives and actions demonstrate that together we are enough. Nonhierarchical circles that encourage authentic communication are part of this new story.” Citing other important circle communities such as Tree Sisters and The Mil-
lionth Circle, McCammon suggests that women tap into The Divine Feminine app, which allows them to find circle communities and events anywhere in the world.
Co-Creating With the Intelligence of Nature
Teacher and futurist Peter Russell writes books that are focused on consciousness and contemporary spirituality. His lectures help humans free themselves of limited beliefs and attitudes that belie many of humanity’s personal, social and global problems. The author of The Global Brain: The Awakening Earth in a New Century, Russell posits that the evolutionary process naturally draws humans together. “Humans are social creatures that need community, which I find very energizing,” says Russell, who cites the Findhorn Foundation eco-village, in Scotland, as a dynamic experiment in community. “Although residents went through hard times, they recognized the need for honest communication so they could attune to one another in loving ways that would allow everyone to work through their difficulties. Today, life at Findhorn is guided by the inner voice of spirit, and residents work in co-creation with the intelligence of nature,” he says.
The Collective Wisdom of Community
An uncertain future is emerging, making it necessary for new and more intuitive methods and spiritual practices for developing collective wisdom, human potential and the skills for practicing community. “I’m in the process of finalizing 118 chapters from 90 different authors for a Collaborative Change Library: Transforming Organizations, Revitalizing Communities, Developing Human Potential,” says associate editor Carole Gorelick, who clarifies that spiritual practices are now playing a part in bringing about collaborative change. She notes that several chapters are updated versions of The Change Handbook: The Definitive Resource on Today’s Best Methods for Engaging Whole Systems (2007 second edition), which included modalities such as World
Café, Open Space Technology, Art of Hosting, Appreciative Inquiry and many others. A living handbook for developing human potential and the skills to practice community, Fred Eppsteiner has been teaching Buddhism for 23 years. A student of Hanh’s since the 1960s, he is the founder of the Florida Community of Mindfulness, in Tampa. Eppsteiner sums up why the next Buddha could be a community: “A better future will be created by people who are living the values they want for the world, not just abstractly using only the intellect. In community, we ask ourselves, ‘Can I be what I want to see in the world? Can I practice these things mindfully in community with love, acceptance, deep listening, compassion and kindness?’ These are values that every Buddha has lived for centuries, and certainly ones we need to evolve from a culture of, ‘It’s all about me’ to a culture of, ‘It’s all about we’.” Linda Sechrist is a senior staff writer for Natural Awakenings. Connect at LindaSechrist.com.
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sity that activate parts of the brain that go unused in standardized, artificial environments. Since the dawn of time, creative people have recognized plants, animals and open space as powerful sources of inspiration.
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Freewrite – Generating words and sentences can be an effective way of excavating the resources of the inner mind. Freewriting is a kind of uncensored personal writing in which you just write whatever comes to mind, free-associating from one idea to the next. Many times, people discover that the sentences they write contain ideas they didn’t know they had.
10 Ways to Supercharge 4 Your Creativity by Randy Laist
W
hat is creativity? Where do our ideas come from? How can we harness our mental power to invent new ways of thinking and new ways of seeing ourselves, the world and other people? You may be a writer or an artist looking for your next great idea. But no matter who you are, nurturing your creativity can enhance your life in many ways. Creativity can help you:
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• Break out of habitual routines • Identify solutions to problems at work • Enliven personal relationships • Achieve spiritual insights • Make inspired lifestyle choices • Live with mindfulness, gratitude and joy
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Unfortunately, creative ideas cannot be deliberately hunted down and trapped. Creative people practice strategies that allow creative ideas to come to them. Meditate or pray – Modern life is full of stimuli that are constantly pulling on our attention. These everyday distractions are often so insistent that they completely occupy our thoughts with mundane details. Meditation and prayer can help to bring the mind back to itself, allowing opportunities for the mind to integrate our thoughts in new, creative ways. Get into nature – Nature is the source of all of life’s creativity. The various textures, smells, sights and sounds of the natural world contain a richness and den-
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Brainstorm – Most of the time, when we are trying to come up with an idea, we snatch at the first idea that occurs to us and run with it. Sometimes, the first idea you have will be the best one, but other times, the second, third or fourth idea might be better. You will never know, however, unless you take the extra step of spit-balling multiple solutions to any given creative challenge. Like freewriting, brainstorming should be an uncensored free-for-all in which you give your imagination permission to run wild, and then see what happens.
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Identify small creative projects – Your ultimate goals might be to write a novel, to forge a career, to find yourself or to live a meaningful life. Thinking big is critical if you want to become and remain motivated and inspired. Identifying and achieving small goals, however, can provide a more immediate kind of satisfaction that can help us to feel like we are making actual progress.
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Talk with friends or family about your ideas – For most of us, the most immediate source of inspiration is the people who surround us every day. Including our loved ones in our creative process can be a stimulating way of discovering new perspectives and points of view, as well as strengthening these relationships. When we talk about our ideas with the people we love, this love seeps into our ideas, making them fresher and more alive.
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Keep a dream journal – Dreams are one of the most dramatic illustrations of the creative capacity of the human brain, but they also are strangely ephemeral. Keeping a dream journal allows you to harness the surreal energies of dream imagery in ways that can provoke more creativity in your waking life. Getting into the habit of writing notes to yourself immediately after you wake up in the morning can stimulate thoughtfulness and creativity throughout the day.
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Get side-tracked – Throughout the routine of daily life, we may catch our minds wandering and forcibly re-direct them to more immediate concerns. The wandering mind, however, is a mind on the scent of a creative idea. When the mind wanders, therefore, the most productive thing to do is to follow it, as if it were a butterfly sniffing out an exotic flower. If you can unobtrusively follow your wandering mind to wherever it wants to go, it may be able to show you something you never noticed before.
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Go for a long walk – Walking is a time-honored technique for stimulating creative thinking. It may be something about the ancestral bodily rhythm of walking or the shifting sensual experiences that walking exposes, or maybe it is just a cue to the brain that it can take a little vacation until the body arrives at its destination, but a long walk is the best prescription to cure a lack of inspiration.
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Trust yourself – Most importantly, creative people tend to believe in their own capacity for creativity and to believe that their ideas are good simply because the ideas are theirs. A lot of bad ideas are just good ideas that lack conviction, and somewhere there is an intellectual limbo filled with the spirits of world-changing ideas that were never acted upon because the people who had them didn’t believe in themselves enough to perceive their value. When you have an idea, believe in it, nurture it, listen to it, and devote yourself to teaching your idea to fly. Creativity is nothing less than the power to change the world. Human creativity has produced the world we live in, and human creativity will produce the future we invent for ourselves. The more tools we have at our disposal to imagine creative possibilities for ourselves and our world, the more likely we will be as a species to use this tremendous gift wisely. Randy Laist is a professor of English at Goodwin College in East Hartford. He is the author of The Twin Towers in Film: A Cinematic History of New York City’s World Trade Center. He can be reached at RLaist@Goodwin.edu.
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community spotlight
CIRCLE OF LIFE
Regional Hospice Offers Families a Meaningful End-of-Life Experience
C
by Patricia Staino
ynthia Emiry Roy wants to talk to you about death: “I believe it’s a topic we need to talk more about, because while we’ve come a long way in terms of being a death-defying culture, we have a long way to go,” says Roy, the President and CEO of Regional Hospice, located in Danbury. She has very definite ideas about death, and she’s committed to making end-of-life care joyful, uplifting and fulfilling for patients, staff and family, no matter what their age.
Do It Differently As a licensed social worker, Roy has worked in hospice for 23 years. She turned her attention to building a standalone inpatient center in 2015 after determining that at-home hospice care may not offer the full range of services some families need. At the time,
the only options in the area were at-home hospice care or hospice beds in hospitals. “When I came to this work, I had a number of patients who were young, and there really was no place to send them,” Roy remembers. “I had a patient with terminal breast cancer who was in her 40s; she had three teenaged girls, and her husband had predeceased her on a basketball court the year before. Dying at home was a wonderful concept, if there were other caregivers there to help the girls through the process. But in this case, they were all alone. I remember coming back to the office after visiting her and saying to my colleagues, ‘it has to be done differently. This is ridiculous. We have no options for families.’”
A Holistic Model Most U.S. hospices in the northeast are
operated by nurses and follow a medical model. Roy, a family therapist by training, wanted to create a more holistic model. “When you look at hospices around the country,” she says, “the nurse is the central figure, but with our team, every member is important in bringing their relevant expertise to patient care.” When a patient is admitted to Regional Hospice, for example, it’s a joint admission, meaning that a social worker and a nurse do the visit together. Due to the added staffing expense, most hospices don’t do this, but Roy believes double-admission sets the tone for holistic hospice care. “Often a family would say they didn’t need a social worker because they had no social service needs,” she says. “Sometimes people don’t understand that social workers are therapists, and that the dying process is an emotional one. While medical needs are extremely important, the emotional needs of the patient and family can be much greater.”
A Beautiful Experience Regional Hospice has been designed to meet the physical, medical, emotional and spiritual needs of patients and families, and no detail is too small for Roy’s attention. “You never forget the moment your loved one dies. It’s imprinted in your brain forever, so it has to be done right; it has to be done in a beautiful way. It’s very important that we shape that experience with the family.” Roy came to Regional Hospice in 2007 precisely because the board of directors was supportive of her innovative ideas.
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Regional Hospice’s in-patient facility, the Center for Comfort Care & Healing, opened in 2015 after Roy employed a feng shui expert to ensure the energy flow worked for the space. Its serene “hotel-and-spa” vibe is meticulously cultivated, with features that set it apart from other hospices around the country. Patient beds can be moved anywhere inside the building and throughout the facility’s grounds and garden, ensuring fresh air and sunshine can reach even the sickest patients. Rather than hiring “health care chefs,” Roy set up a gourmet kitchen open 14 hours a day (and serving hundreds of meals a week) to prepare and serve anything patients and their families desire. Teatime takes place every afternoon at 3, serving homemade, “world-famous” peanut butter cookies and other treats, as well as coffee and tea. And in addition to world-class health care and emotional support, Regional Hospice has a full-time licensed massage therapist on staff who practices aromatherapy with hydrosols; the facility also offers Reiki, hands-on healing and energy work to patients. As much as they’ve accomplished, Roy and her team feel there’s still more to do, so now they’re building a welcoming final home for the youngest patients they serve.
Caring for Kids About 10 years ago, Regional Hospice started its perinatal hospice program, an in-home program for mothers who know their babies may be born with a limited life expectancy. They begin working with parents when the diagnosis is first received, walking them through the journey until the baby is born, staying with them through the birth, the subsequent death and the painful grieving process. Because of the program, Regional Hospice started caring for children. On average, 150 to 300 children in Connecticut die each year due to terminal illness. “If it were even just 10 kids, we should have support available to them,” says Roy. “It doesn’t have to be a particular number to make it worthwhile.” Regional Hospice has a dedicated pediatric nurse who manages all of the care for the children referred by pediatric hospitals. After a few children stayed in the Center, Roy and her team saw the value in giving them their own patient suite area, “just so kids can be loud and run around—we allow that throughout the whole building, but we thought it would be nice to have an area they could call their own.” Regional Hospice’s children’s wing—named the North Star pavilion—began as an idea a few years ago. Although Roy knew insurance companies didn’t reimburse nearly as much as they should for pediatric hospice patients—despite the critical need for respite care for families with terminally ill children—she and her team were determined to make their vision a reality. On average, Regional Hospice cares for sick children for about two years, much longer than the usual 30 to 60 days for adults. This is possible because unlike the regulations for adult hospice care, the state of Connecticut allows children to receive hospice care while
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concurrently receiving ongoing treatment for their illnesses. “If a child has a terminal illness and the family knows that the child is going to die, they may still want to do another treatment in hopes of a miracle,” says Roy. “It’s an amazing program and I think it’s one we need nationally because it allows families to have hope, while providing the necessary services and support patients need at the end of life.” There are few pediatric hospice facilities because the need is significantly less
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than in the adult population. Additionally, Roy notes, many families keep their children at home until the very end because there aren’t resources available to them. “I think the real issue is financial,” she says. “The insurance companies will only cover the acute therapy, not the respite care. And that’s something our pediatric unit will do differently: We will have a respite fund for families when the insurance doesn’t cover the cost. This way, we can make sure that patients and families get what they need.”
The North Star pavilion will be an 18,000-square-foot, four-suite facility on the second floor. It will have patient suites, living rooms, play areas and a library. Designed by renowned architect Roger Ferris, it has many unique and charming touches, including “starry” ceilings that provide a planetarium-like view of the night sky that can be turned on and off at any time of day. Some of the children who will stay in the wing are too sick to know if it’s day or night outside. Roy hopes the starry ceilings show them “the sky is infi-
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22 Hartford County Edition
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nite, and life is infinite, and you can go anywhere. Life continues long after we leave this planet.”
Changing the Conversation For Roy and her team, hospice is about living, not dying. She strives to help patients make the most of the time they have left, and she wants to support their families as they move through the transition of end of life. “Hospice is not giving up,” she says. “You always hope for a miracle, you always hope for the best. But I would love for people to see the culture of death change. Death is like birth: You’re creating an experience that the family will never forget; they’ll be impacted by this for the rest of their lives. We want to ensure it’s a beautiful experience where they can look back and say, ‘My loved one received the best care possible.’” For more information about Regional Hospice and the North Star pavilion, call 203-702-7400 or visit RegionalHospiceCT.org. Patricia Staino is a freelance writer and the managing editor of Natural Awakenings’ Hartford and Fairfield County editions. She can be reached at PatriciaStaino@gmail.com.
Emily’s Last Wish
R
egional Hospice’s capital campaign to raise funds for the North Star pavilion will launch on December 4, with a very special story to share its message of hope. Regional Hospice is publishing its first children’s book, entitled Emily’s Last Wish, which tells the true tale of one of the Center’s most special patients, a young girl named Coryn. The book addresses the girl’s stay at the Center for Comfort Care & Healing, which lasted around two months over the holiday season a few years ago. Regional Hospice president and CEO Cynthia Emiry Roy says the storybook was a much more honest and telling way to relay the importance of hospice for terminally ill children; she believes it will help parents talk to children about death and the end-of-life experience, and she hopes this will be the first in a series of books published by Regional Hospice. “I think this is a special way to honor Coryn and all the kids we’ve cared for,” she says. “I’ve cared for a lot of people in my career, and dying children are full of resilience and hope. They have an amazing ability to see through stuff that adults can’t.” To purchase your copy of Emily’s Last Wish in support of Regional Hospice’s North Star pavilion, call 203-702-7432.
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HEALTHY LIVING
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• Fresh Start • Refresh the Immune System
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• Shifting into Positive • Regenerative Medicine
A Tale of Midlife Caregivers
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24 Hartford County Edition
The Sandwiched Generation
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“T
by Debbie Pausig
he Sandwich Generation” is a well-recognized term derived from caring for one’s aging parents and their own children at the same time. It was first coined in 1981 by social worker Dorothy Miller; she originally referred to younger women in their 30s and 40s taking care of both their children and parents. Which “sandwich” are we? Is it the single, the double or triple decker? Perhaps a more accurate question is what type of bread is our sandwich made of? Is it a “flatbread” with a thin support system on each side? Maybe it is “white bread,” a familiar staple of childhood, which is susceptible to getting mushy from external and internal sources. A robust “hard roll” has a well-formed crust on the outside and is soft on the inside. How well do we stand up to the challenges of being “sandwiched” in between two age groups? The Pew Research Center published “Rising Financial Burden for Middle-aged Americans” in January 2013. Nearly 47 percent of adults in their 40s and 50s have a parent age 65 or older and are either raising a young child or financially supporting an adult child. In “The Boomerang Generation” from March 2012, the older of the children, 25 to 34 years old, are approxi-
mately 29 percent of young adults who live with their parents. The parents of these young adults are being held responsible to care for their children longer than expected. Carol Abaya (SandwichGeneration.com), an expert on the sandwich generation, aging and elder/parent care issues defines three types of “sandwiches”: • Those sandwiched between aging parents who need care and/or help and their own children are considered “traditional.” • “Club sandwich” refers to those in their 50s or 60s, sandwiched between aging parents, adult children and grandchildren. It also refers to those in their 30s and 40s with young children, aging parents and grandparents. • Anyone else involved in elder care is considered an “open-faced” sandwich. We can commonly identify a familial generation average being 25 years. However, a current norm is delayed parenting with families starting in their mid-30s. We see increased life span as a result of advances in medical science, healthcare and technology. Just picture this multilayer sandwich divided between 25 years: 100,75,50,25,1. Five living generations could be present within a family. Today,
more Baby Boomers are not only part of the sandwich generation but are seniors themselves experiencing their own health challenges. So who is taking care of whom and what is involved in this care? Challenges to those “sandwiched” can often include caregiving (physical) and financial support to both the elder and younger on each side. Then there is added need for emotional support. This can result in caregiver stress, burnout, depression, isolation, guilt and financial hardship. Personal time and time with a partner becomes challenged. Time for the “fun stuff ” such as hobbies, relationships and self-care become a challenge. The “sandwiched” person’s health, career status and/or opportunities are affected. There is a great strain on the “sandwiched” person’s mental, emotional and physical health. Several resources for help include the Connecticut Area Agencies on Aging (UWC.211ct.org/Area-Agency-On-Aging), local caregiver support groups and Caregiver.com. For those sandwiched in between, we need to remember the following:
1. Be kind to ourselves 2. Drink water 3. Be spontaneous 4. Give ourselves permission to take a break 5. Drink water 6. Take a walk 7. Eat a healthy snack 8. Drink water 9. Remember a little mindfulness goes a long way 10. Meditate using an app, such as Insight Timer 11. Drink water 12. Carry a “me bag” with lotion, lip balm, water, a journal, a novel or anything else soothing 13. Laugh at ourselves, laugh with others 14. Drink water 15. Ask for help 16. Know “go-to peeps” for support 17. Seek counseling with someone who works with lifecycle transitions, caregiving and similar situations Caregiver burnout is not an option. Help is only a call, text, email or the turn
of a doorknob away. We need only open the door to see help on the other side. It is truly an honor and privilege to witness and be part of our loved one’s aging on one side and growth on the other. But we also need to look out for being a “burned-out overcooked piece of sandwich meat.” It is a choice. There are plenty of useful and legitimate resources online to turn to for information. It will help us enjoy our time with our family and allow us to be who we are without losing ourselves. Perhaps the robust “hard roll,” a well-formed crust on the outside with a soft inside, is just the right kind of sandwich bread to be. 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 or DebbiePausigMFT.com.
December 2019
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CLOSING 2019
An Astrological Observation
H
by Agneta Borstein
ow has 2019 treated you? Let’s hope your nerves are intact and you are still smiling! The most-observed planetary movement during 2019 was fast-moving Jupiter and often-confused Neptune meeting together in a 13-year cycle, with its strongest effects in January, June and September. Jupiter is a happy camper as he travels in his own sign of Sagittarius until December 2, and then moves into stern Capricorn. Some zodiac signs took over the sky—Capricorn in particular—while Aquarius and Leo didn’t experience significant transits during the past year,
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but no doubt most individuals felt exhausted with the world news. Did you notice? Sagittarius folks are enthusiastic and most likely had a successful year. Some create their own stories, and we might simply have to believe them. Jupiter is known as the god that showers us with expensive gifts, the promise of a new career or promotion. A good luck indicator and an optimist, it’s no wonder he is the favorite of the basic 10 planets in a horoscope. Gemini, Aries and Leo people brushed their good luck from Jupiter—if deserved. However, the other side of Jupiter is the trickster that runs too fast, often overspends, is obnoxiously flirtatious (and it works at times), exaggerates and often brags about their achievements. Neptune in Pisces signifies confusion, addiction, drugs, dreams, illusion and deception. The god of the ocean also indicates faith, spirituality, psychic impressions, meditation, alternative healing modalities, hatha yoga and any type of recovery. Neptune started his journey in 2012 in his own zodiac sign of Pisces and will continue his crucial quest of cleaning his environment—water—until 2026. Pisces individuals managed to gain success by following their passion. Further, some Pisces became overjoyed regarding the increased availability of CBD oils and new controversial laws legalizing marijuana. During 2019, Saturn, in his own earth sign of Capricorn, continued to show his basic personality of control, structure, foundations, walls and demand to oversee circumstances, as he is the father, boss and the government. Saturn governs our entire structure down to our bones and demands basic human rights.
The beneficial action of Saturn is the success of discipline and is often known as “Father Time”. He supports us when we are on time at work, school or the anticipated hot dinner date. We all know it helps to be on time, right? Let’s look at another planet in the element earth: Pluto, the eternal killer god pushing issues to the surface, especially after his visit to the dark Underworld, where he is the most content with topics such as taxes, oil, corruption, rape and manipulation. He also governs cleansing, healing, honesty and secrets revealed. Pluto, Saturn and the Moon’s nodes (issues from the past, moving into the future) in Capricorn/Cancer might explain the burden any type of Capricorn energies endured during 2019. Pluto has been on a metamorphic cleansing spree since 2009, which will continue for a few more years. Some will face Pluto’s destructive personality and metaphorical challenges head-on while some avoid the damage by not resisting changes, but becoming part of them. Uranus, representing inventions, medical breakthroughs and the positive awareness of alternative healing modalities, continued to show his effect on the fire sign—Aries—during the last seven years. He confirms that the uniqueness and eccentric aura through Aquarius demands freedom of choice, gender and race equality. The planet of hurricanes, uncertainty and revolution, Uranus showed his effect in the element fire, and now, the radical planet travels in Taurus (yes, another earth sign) until late 2025. During 2019, Taurus Sun, Moon or Ascendant (physical appearance) had unexpected, exciting and liberating opportunities. Humanity’s karmic, fate and destiny paths are factors during personal and cyclical planetary beginnings and endings. The effects on economic, social, political and religious matters, as well as personal issues, lingers into 2020, so 2019 prepared us for further significant cycles that are brewing for next year. We close 2019 with the reminder that we have observed a two-sided coin of planetary energies with confusing possibilities and choices: peace or war, challenge or benefit, true or false, and laugh or cry. A New Moon eclipse on December 26 in Capricorn leads us into a Full Moon eclipse on January 10, 2020, in Cancer, the sign of the home, mother, our emotions and perhaps, during these challenging times, Mother Earth. The United States is a Cancer country and has been affected by the transits of Capricorn (authorities) and Cancer (the people) since the beginning of this year, and that will continue. Eclipses are known to be more powerful than regular Full or New Moons, and depending on the degrees of the eclipse, it can cause significant changes in areas of our lives where necessary. May the sky embrace Earth with peace and harmony throughout the many Holidays of Lights! Agneta Borstein is an astrologer, author and teacher, and former owner of Agneta’s Books & Things, an alternative bookstore in the Hartford area. Borstein has lectured and presented workshops at numerous conferences and is the author of The Moon’s Nodes: Understanding the Dynamic Ties That Bind. Agneta can be reached by calling 860-983-5666 or visiting AgnetaBorstein.com. See ad, page 13.
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Waste-Free Feasting How to Reduce Holiday Food Waste
T
by Yvette C. Hammett
he heaping platters that cheerfully mark the holidays have an unfortunate downside: Americans increase their waste by 25 percent between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The discarded food and packaging burden landfills with an additional 1 million tons of waste each week. That’s in addition to the 40 percent of food Americans typically waste each year—nearly half of all the food prepared at home or in restaurants. Monica McBride, senior manager of food loss and waste for the World Wildlife Fund, notes that squandered bounty is grown in areas that were converted from natural habitat into farm fields, so it’s also a waste of natural resources. “Once you start cooking, you realize the impact on the planet,” says chef and caterer Steven Laurence, owner of Vegan Commissary, in Philadelphia. “My grandmother was the kind of person who, if there was one pea left over, she put it in a container and someone ate it the next day. That kind of informs my cooking. The way 28 Hartford County Edition
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I was trained, you didn’t waste anything. You used everything.” In individual households, small changes can have a big impact, especially during the holidays; all it takes is awareness and a plan. Frugal cooks can make room for a holiday waste reduction strategy by taking inventory of the pantry and boxing up a load for the local soup kitchen or food bank. Then, design a menu with the environment in mind, using portion control to avoid food waste and whipping up dishes that can easily be upcycled into new creations that can be used as appetizers in the coming days or tucked in the freezer for future enjoyment. Start with the Guest-imator at SaveTheFood.com, a great way to determine portions for a holiday party, says Cheryl Coleman, director of the EPA Resource Conservation and Sustainability Division in the Office of Resource Conservation and Recovery. The Guest-imator and Save the Food, a program of the Natural Resources Defense Council in conjunction with the Ad Council, tells cooks how much to make to
keep guests happy and includes recipes for leftovers, such as Crispy Sheet Pan Hash, made with leftover roasted vegetables, and Ugly Vegetable Pasta, made with zucchini, tomatoes and eggplant. Spoilage is another way food finds its way into the garbage can, and that too, can be avoided, Laurence says, pointing out that most food goes bad because it’s not cooked properly or is mishandled in storage. “Mix animal protein with starches and grains in a container and it goes bad because of two different sorts of enzymes. It is a fuel for bacteria.” He also recommends using as many organic ingredients as possible for longer-lasting leftovers. “We guarantee all of our dishes for two weeks,” he says. Encouraging visitors to take home leftovers is another effective food-saving strategy, says McBride. “Have Tupperware or to-go boxes you could provide to your guests.” Reilly Brock, content manager at Imperfect Produce, in New York City, agrees. “Just like repurposing excess product requires creative thinking, food waste around the holidays requires out-of-the-box ideas to keep impact low,” says Brock, whose company delivers imperfect produce to customers’ doors for a cost savings. “Why end the fun when the meal ends? The best part about leftovers—and the holidays—is keeping the celebration going.” “Also, make sure you keep food safe,” McBride says. “The CDC [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] has a really great overview of how to do that for parties. Standard guidance is not to leave food out for more than two hours. So, as a party planner, make sure you mentally note when you put food out.” Coleman recommends taking it a step beyond the holidays by joining a movement to cut food waste year-round. She suggests visiting FurtherWithFood.org to learn more. “Through that and additional outreach, we might be able to start to change,” says McBride. Yvette C. Hammett is an environmental writer based in Valrico, Florida. Connect at YvetteHammett28@hotmail.com.
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green living
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QI
The Force Behind Blood Flow and Higher Intelligence Interview with Qigong Practitioner Jeff Primack (Part 1 of 2) Conducted by Publisher Damon Damato DD: Can you bring a Universal meaning to describe what is Qi? JP: Qi is the electric LIFE PRESENCE that beats the human heart and charges the air we breathe. Gong, like Gong Fu, is a REPEATED ACTION to activate higher energy. Qigong generates a powerful magnetic field in the hands and this energy “dilates arteries” healing what it touches.The effects of Qi are profound for increasing circulation and improving endocrine imbalances. Science will discover Qi is related to static electricity and can be harnessed with hand postures. DD: Qi Revolution is coming to Hartford, Connecticut at the Downtown Marriott on February 1st-3rd, 2020. What is your higher vision for sharing this kind of healing with hundreds of people? JP: I believe when more human beings develop “Qi Awareness” human evolution will go higher. Our intention is to experience the authentic healing and stressdissolving practices of Qigong in a strong group energy field. Sound, light and Qi graphics are used to improve learning so everyone can feel what is going on without any previous experience. It’s rare that 300+ people all simultaneously inhale at the same second, while holding the same healing prayer. Many people that attend heal old injuries and nearly everyone is strengthened by the energy. Our vision for this event is to uplift the group energy to the highest level to benefit all who attend. DD: Is there significance to practicing Qigong in large groups? JP: During 1980-1999 the Chinese people gathered for Qigong events inside arenas and stadiums with tens of thousands of people. Dr. Yan Xin led this first wave of Qi awareness with integrity, but other fake masters misused Qigong to protest the government and Qigong was banned in large group settings. Chinese people had discovered the secret of “Group Energy” and it went beyond the roar of a rock concert or the cheers in a football game. Qigong was a weekly outing in China for two decades and people viewed Qigong as an opportunity to be strengthened and healed while enjoying fellowship with friends. Qi sensations and internal benefits reach into the scientific minds of truth seeking men and women. Where two or more practice Qigong sincerely there exists a larger living field of energy and I believe it’s stronger when more people practice. DD: The breath work at the Qi Revolution is transformative. Since every person is connected to it, do you believe the answers to healing & overcoming negative emotions are found here?
DD: Can one become more peaceful and increase awareness from the breath? JP: A renown surgeon named Perrin Clark, MD from Daytona Beach, Florida recently attended our national event. He told us he was super-stressed from telling 5 patients (on average days) they had some type of cancer. Dr. Clark’s job was to give bad news to patients and this caused him to hold his breath a lot! He now reports his stress has gone down dramatically since after attending Qi Revolution and learning Qigong. As a result, he attended our trainings and was certified in both our Qigong and Food Healing programs. DD: There are a number of healing routines within the Qi Revolution experience. Do you need to be fit to participate? Can one receive healing attributes if they are out of shape, ill or have other physical impairments? JP: People with injuries often experience pain relief doing Qigong in the first morning practices.We are okay with people practicing where their body is at and provide modified postures for those who need special assistance. People of all ages can benefit from Qigong’s challenge. DD: I’ve seen a shift over the past few years where your focus has really zeroed in on food healing, especially in regards to food science. Why do you feel this is so important in today’s world and how does it relate to one’s personal Qi? JP: Food is key to excellent health, especially natural foods made before the inventions of man. Kiwi for example, helps to “Reverse Asthma” in hundreds of students I’ve counseled. Moreover, prestigious medical journal THORAX indicates children who eat Kiwi 3-5 times a week vs. those who didn’t eat any, have a much lower incidence of asthma. My theories have science to back it. Proof is really in whether or not God’s kiwi really helps people breathe. Evidence shows kiwi should be suggested by allergists and breathing therapists to help children with this disease. *Kiwi’s Effect on Breathing. Thorax J. Respiratory Medicine 2004 Food effects our Qi by becoming our blood and the cells which carry oxygen to our brain. I teach that eating RED FOODS (high in carotenoids) are the best way to stop the oxidative processes responsible for heart disease and brain degeneration. We make smoothies and serve sweet red pepper paste to all attendees at Qi Revolution so they can taste for themselves how delicious natural foods can be prepared. DD: You perform a Global Healing Circle that is legendary. How does it connect participants using the 9-Breath Method with an expanded process? JP: The living electricity felt in the hands of the healing circle is unlike anything else we teach. After everyone is proficient in using the 9-breath method, our signature breathing technique, we hold hands while doing it many times. The feeling is like an electric current going through everyone’s legs, arms and hands. It feels so very good! Delicious I might say. We focus our mind to God and ask for healing of people we love and send light to noble groups and nations worldwide. DD: You have vowed from the beginning to keep the cost of Qi Revolution in reach for all people and have even gone as far as to offer this healing for Veterans free of charge. You offer CE HOURS for message therapists and nurses for an incredible value. Share with me the importance of putting people over profit. JP: Qigong is not only for rich or materially successful people. Qi Revolution is $199 for 3-Days is made affordable to open the “Qi Door” for more people. Massage Therapists love our training and earn 24 CE hours when they attend. We allow U.S. veterans to attend free and each year hundreds of veterans do attend and many of them have become our best Qigong instructors.
February 1st-3rd • HARTFORD, CT Downtown Marriott Hotel For more information: www.QiRevolution.com (800) 298-8970 December 2019
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Petrovich Nataliya/Shutterstock.com
Stick with your favorite recipes that you know are going to be a success and are going to leave everyone’s taste buds happy. ~Pamela Reed
THE MERRY VEGAN People-Pleasing Holiday Sweets
T
by Julie Peterson
he holidays may send too many sugar plums and frosted gingerbread figures dancing in the heads of people with dietary restrictions. Anyone that chooses to avoid highly processed flours or sugars, artificial ingredients and loads of butter will typically be presented with all of this and more at social gatherings this time of year. They arrive on visually appealing cookie platters that tempt with their cute shapes, vibrant colors and sparkle. Some, like the gingerbread and reindeer cutouts, will beckon with glazed eyes: “Just one,” they whisper. But one can turn into nine and make someone that may normally avoid sugar or gluten feel bodily regrets. Someone that is vegan or allergic may feel they can’t have treats. Making healthier choices about food is difficult for reasons many don’t understand. “People have relationships with food—involving family, comfort and traditions—and they don’t want to give that up,” says James Brandon, of Tampa, founder of Facebook’s Vegan and PlantBased Beginner’s Community. Brandon says that holiday treats are tough to resist, but staying true to health goals is most important in the long run. The best defense to avoid frustration at social food events is to bring a dish to 30 Hartford County Edition
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share that meets your dietary needs, says Megan Gilmore, the author of No Excuses Detox: 100 Recipes to Help You Eat Healthy Every Day and a blogger at Detoxinista.com. “That way, you can introduce something delicious to your friends, family or co-workers and be sure you’ll have something to eat!” A batch of simple, delectable, visually appealing and healthful cookies can be that plate to share, a gift to give or something to keep on hand for guests. Keep the focus on simple, advises Pamela Reed, who blogs at BrooklynFarmGirl.com. There are plenty of recipes that will satisfy the sweet tooth and decorate the holiday buffet (until they’re all eaten, that is). Don’t increase holiday stress by trying a new recipe at the last minute. “Stick with your favorite recipes that you know are going to be a success and are going to leave everyone’s taste buds happy,” she says. Transitioning to a more conscious way of eating isn’t about deprivation or leaving tradition behind. Bring on the new and healthful cookie recipes and name one after your grandma. Julie Peterson writes from her home in rural Wisconsin. Contact her at JuliePeterson2222@gmail.com.
Oh-So-Healthy Holiday Treats Peanut Butter Cookies (Vegan, Gluten Free) Yields: About 18 cookies 1 cup creamy peanut butter ½ cup coconut sugar ½ cup brown sugar 2 tsp vanilla ⅔ cup oat flour 1 tsp baking soda ¼ tsp salt ¼ cup almond milk Additional sugar to roll cookies in Preheat oven to 350° F. In a large bowl, cream together peanut butter and sugars with a hand mixer. Once combined, add vanilla and continue mixing. Add flour, baking soda, salt and almond milk into the bowl and mix for a few seconds, until combined. The cookie dough will be a little crumbly. Prepare 2 cookie sheets with silicone baking sheets or spray with nonstick spray. Roll the dough into large balls, and then gently roll in sugar to cover them. Use a fork to gently press down
photo by Pamela Reed
conscious eating
on each cookie a little bit—not too much, or they will crumble. Bake cookies for 12 minutes. Once out of the oven, allow to cool for 15 minutes. This is important, as the cookies will be very soft when they come out of the oven, but they will harden up as they cool. Store in an airtight container or freeze.
photo by Megan Gilmore
Recipe courtesy of BrooklynFarmGirl.com.
until a moist dough is formed. Press the dough evenly into the bottom of the lined loaf pan and place it in the freezer to set. To prepare the filling, you can use the same bowl to stir the peanut butter, maple syrup, coconut oil and salt. Depending on whether you’re using salted or unsalted peanut butter, consider adding more salt to taste. Store-bought peanut butter cups are quite salty, so I like to add a generous pinch of salt to mimic that flavor. Remove the crust from the freezer and pour the peanut butter filling over the top, using a spatula to spread it out evenly. Return the pan to the freezer to set. Rinse the mixing bowl and use it again to make the final layer. Combine the cocoa powder, melted coconut oil and maple syrup, whisking well to break up any clumps. Once the mixture has become a smooth chocolate sauce, pour it over the peanut butter layer, and return the pan to the freezer to set until firm, about an hour or two.
No-Bake Peanut Butter Cup Bars (Vegan, Gluten Free) Chocolate Crust: ¾ cup ground almond meal 2 Tbsp cocoa powder 2 Tbsp pure maple syrup 1 Tbsp melted coconut oil Pinch of sea salt Peanut Butter Filling: ½ cup creamy natural peanut butter 3 Tbsp pure maple syrup 1 Tbsp melted coconut oil Pinch of sea salt Chocolate Topping: ¼ cup cocoa powder ¼ cup melted coconut oil 3 Tbsp pure maple syrup Line a standard loaf pan with parchment paper and set it aside. In a medium bowl, stir together the chocolate crust ingredients
Once the bars are firm, grab the edges of parchment paper to easily lift the solid bar from the pan, and use a sharp knife to slice the bars into your desired size. Store them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to two weeks, or in the freezer for up to a month. (The bars become very firm if frozen for too long, so I prefer serving them from the fridge after the initial firming-up time.) Source: Detoxinista.com/no-bake-peanutbutter-cup-bars-vegan
For additional recipes and other content visit NAHRT.com Natural Awakenings recommends using organic, non-GMO (genetically modified) and non-bromated ingredients whenever possible.
calendar of events 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
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 1 Spirituality of the Season Exploration – 2-3pm. Discover hope in creative and concrete ways at various stations (visual arts, crafts, movement, writing, charity) and in a small group discussion. Free. First Congregational Church of East Hartford, 837 Main St, East Hartford. ChurchCorners.org.
MONDAY, DECEMBER 2 Intuitive Mondays: Intuitive Development Circle – 6-7:30pm. Monthly group meets via Zoom video chat. All levels welcome. Explore new techniques each month to develop your sixth sense in a supportive atmosphere. $10. Pre-registration required. Online. Creative-psyche.com.
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 7 Holiday Pop Up Show – 12-4pm. Chi for healing with Erik Harris and Crystal Grids with Carrie Borgen are hosting a pop up show for the holidays. We will have sales on tinctures, teas, gift certificates, crystals, grid cloths, jewelry and more. Free Ear reflexology sessions will be available. Dream Circle – 3-4:30pm. Come share your dreams with others in a sacred space. Learn ways of working with dreams, and explore different types: intuitive/ psychic, psychological, healing, creative. $20/ pre-register; $25/at the door. Twisted Dog Yoga, 15 Broadway St, #2, Colchester. TwistedDogYoga.com.
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 8 Spirituality of the Season Exploration – 2-3pm. Discover peace in creative and concrete ways at various stations (visual arts, crafts, movement, writing, charity) and in a small group discussion. Free. First Congregational Church of East Hartford, 837 Main St, East Hartford. ChurchCorners.org. YTT Information Session – 10:30-11:30pm. Come and learn about our next 200 hour Yoga Teacher Training or 100 hour Deepen Your Practice track, which starts in January. JOY’s YTT program has a class limit of 12, a trip to Himalayan Institute, Ayurveda included. Free Session. Journey of Yoga, Simsbury. 860-680-1482. JourneyOfYoga.com.
markyourcalendar TACHYON HEALING CHAMBER FIELD DAYS December 1 • January 12 • 1-5pm
Bring energy into matter! Learn the basics of Tachyon, Zero Point Energy and Quantum Physics. Participate in a “Seeing in Believing” demonstration. No cost to enter and get one free raffle ticket for door prizes. To Register: CelestialEmpowerment.com/calendar-events Call Celeste Mattingly at 860-586-8700 for more information
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calendar of events TUESDAY, DECEMBER 10 Holistic Statewide Event – 4-8pn. Calling all wellness practitioners and wellness centers to meet and mingle, connect and reconnect. Rejuvenate and reIgnite your passion and business. $10 p/p includes ongoing buffet. RSVP by 12/5. The Guest House Retreat and Conference Center, 318 Main St, Chester. YourHolisticEvents@gmail.com. Channeled Poetry Class – 6:30-8:30pm. It’s time to use your voice. It is power. Learn about channeled writing and connect with your inner poet. Everyone will write and then recite their piece of poetry at the end of the class. $20. TheWaterLilyCenter.com.
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 13 Meteor Shower Watch/Hike – 7pm. Rain/snow date 12/14. Hike one mile to the scenic vista on Bull Hill. The Geminid meteor shower should be good, since there will be very little moon showing. Bring a lightweight chair if you like. $5/CAS members; $10/non-members. Grassland Bird Conservation Center, 218 Day Rd, Pomfret Center. 860-9284948. CTAudubon.org/Pomfret-Home. Small Group Mediumship Demonstration – 7-8:15pm. Sharon Farber will connect with loved ones in spirit for all or some of the participants. Limited to 10 people. $15. Dragonfly Healing Arts, 8 Wickett St, Pine Meadow. 860-989-2358. SharonFarber.net.
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 15 Online Beginner Mediumship Class – 11am4pm. Learn what mediumship is and how to do it. No experience needed. Lecture and practice. 5-10 students. Taught by Sharon Farber. $75. Online in a Zoom room. 860-989-2358. SharonFarber.net. Spirituality of the Season Exploration – 2-3pm. Discover joy in creative and concrete ways at various stations (visual arts, crafts, movement, writing, charity) and in a small group discussion. Free. First Congregational Church of East Hartford, 837 Main St, East Hartford. ChurchCorners.org.
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 17 Freestyle QiGong – 6:30-7:30pm. Learn how to heal yourself with healing breath and cultivate and balance the ancient flow of qi (chee) translated as “life energy”. In this introductory class you will learn slow flowing and moving mediation, deep rhythmic breathing and how to calm yourself using a meditative state of mind. The class is open to all with modifications as needed. Free. TheWaterLilyCenter.com.
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 19 Winter QiGong Essence Meditation – 6:30-8pm. Embrace the winter season by joining John Odlum of Tru Elements and Erik Harris of Chi for Healing for a guided meditation/journey aided by pure essential oils. Bring blankets, pillows and anything else you might need to make it as comfortable an experience as possible. $30. Wu Healing Center, 45 S Main St, West Hartford. 860-593-8397.
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Gentle Yoga – 7:30-8:45pm. The interwoven fabric of traditional, yin and restorative yoga styles gives this class pizzazz. It’s great for beginners, seniors and experienced students alike. $15/per class. Vital Life Center, 100 West Main St, Plainville. VitalLifeCenter.org.
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20 Winter Solstice Workshop – 6:30-8pm. Take time to nurture yourself and adjust to cooler temps. This workshop includes a mixed level vinyasa practice, meditation, pranayama, personal reflection and intention setting. $25. Journey of Yoga, Simsbury. 860-680-1482. JourneyOfYoga.com. Christmas Caroling – 6:30-8pm. Join Becki for an evening of light hearted and fun Christmas caroling. We will sing your favorites, old and new while taking some time to connect to fellow neighbors, friends and families. This event is for carolers young and young at heart and requires no experience. Light refreshments will be served. Free. TheWaterLilyCenter.com.
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 21 Winter Solstice Celebration – 6-9pm. Celebrate the beginning of the sun’s return. Hot cider and chili by the fire. Stargazing with clear skies permitting. Potluck items welcome. Free. Trail Wood, 93 Kenyon Rd, Hampton. 860-928-4948. CTAudubon. org/Trail-Wood-Home. Owl Walk – 7pm. Join us in search of wintering owls. We’ll attempt to find screech, barred, and great-horned owls. Most of the calling is done from the road. $5/CAS members; $10/ non-members. Grassland Bird Conservation Center, 218 Day Rd, Pomfret Center. 860-928-4948. CTAudubon.org/ Pomfret-Home.
Multidimensional Manifesting – 1:30-3pm. Gain the inspiration, expertise, and support you need to manifest your goals and visions. Monthly group integrating approaches from metaphysics, psychology and coaching. $35. Pre-registration required. Five Elements Healing Center, 111 Loomis Rd, Colchester. Creative-psyche.com.
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 1 New Years Day Meditation – Let’s connect in community and raise the vibration as we head into 2020 and meditate together. Lily will guide you, offering messages along the way to help you deepen your connection to self, others and spirit. Free. TheWaterLilyCenter.com.
markyourcalendar MARCONICS LEVEL 1 Practitioner Certification Training Class Saturday, January 11 • 9:30am-5pm Sunday, January 12 • 9:30am-4:30pm Begin your journey back to Source. Everything that came before has been in preparation for this moment; a step along the path. THIS IS ASCENSION! Scale the Mountain and claim SOUL SOVEREIGNTY. $450 Registration Fee Quantum Recalibration, performed over two 1-hour sessions, also available for $333. Registration: Marconics.com/Level_1_Providence_RI.html Thrive Tribe RI 172 Taunton Ave, East Providence, RI Contact: Julie Oakes 203-533-9633
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 22 Spirituality of the Season Exploration – 2-3pm. Discover love in creative and concrete ways at various stations (visual arts, crafts, movement, writing, charity) and in a small group discussion. Free. First Congregational Church of East Hartford, 837 Main St, East Hartford. ChurchCorners.org.
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 27 Monthly Bird Walk – 1pm. Come out in search of wintering bird species. We’ll look for horned larks, ducks, hawks, sparrows, yellow-bellied sapsuckers and more. $5/CAS members; $10/non-members. Grassland Bird Conservation Center, 218 Day Rd, Pomfret Center. 860-928-4948. CTAudubon.org/ Pomfret-Home.
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 28 Yoga Basics – 9-10:15am. Interested in a class that teaches the building blocks of yoga? Perfect for beginners and those who seek to polish up their already glowing practice. $15/per class. Vital Life Center, 100 West Main St, Plainville. VitalLifeCenter.org.
markyourcalendar MARCONICS LEVEL 1 Practitioner Certification Training Class
Saturday, February 22 • 9:30am-5pm Sunday, February 23 • 9:30am-4:30pm Begin your journey back to Source. Everything that came before has been in preparation for this moment; a step along the path. THIS IS ASCENSION! Scale the Mountain and claim SOUL SOVEREIGNTY. $450 Registration Fee Quantum Recalibration, performed over two 1-hour sessions, also available for $333. Registration: Marconics.com/Level_1_Wallingford_CT.html Divinely Rooted Yoga Studio located in Hidden Gem on Main 33 N Main St, Suite D, Wallingford Contact: Julie Oakes 203-533-9633
ongoing events
daily Toys for Tots Collection – Through 12/10. The Raya Clinic will be collecting toys as an official drop off center for Toys for Tots. Raya Clinic, 200 Queen St, Southington. 860-621-2225. RayaClinic.com. Annual Holiday Nature Store – Through 12/20. 10am4pm. Gifts for all ages with Mother Nature in mind. Many unique items. Stock changes daily. Grassland Bird Conservation Center, 218 Day Rd, Pomfret Center. 860-928-4948. CTAudubon.org/Pomfret-Home. Winter Art Show and Sale Featuring Local Artists – Through December 31. Come see the talents of three local Connecticut artists. A variety of artwork and cards for purchase with holiday gift-giving in mind available. Free admission. Grassland Bird Conservation Center, 218 Day Rd, Pomfret Center. 860-928-4948. CTAudubon.org/Pomfret-Home.
sunday 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. 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.
markyourcalendar UNIVERSAL WHITE TIME ENERGY HEALING LEVEL 1 with Bradford Tilden Friday, March 20 • 6-9pm. Saturday, March 21 • 9am-6pm Sunday, March 22 • 9am-6pm UWT is a special healing art with a unique origin, and higher vibration than other modalities like Reiki and IET. This is a wonderful opportunity for you to grow along your personal Spiritual Path. Tuition: $400 includes initiation and certification. Prer-egistration is required by January 5. Tuition increase to $450 after that. The Amethyst Center 305 Redstone Hill Rd, Bristol
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. Spirituality of the Season Exploration – 2-3pm. Sundays in December explore a seasonal theme (hope, peace, joy, love) in creative ways at various stations (visual arts, crafts, movement, writing, charity) and in a small group discussion. Come to one or all. Free. First Congregational Church of East Hartford, 837 Main St, East Hartford. ChurchCorners.org. Creative Collaboratory – 3-4:30pm. Second Sundays. Online and some in person. 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.
monday Monday Morning Walks – 8:30am. Stretch your legs, breathe in the early morning air and look for signs of wildlife on the sanctuary with Fran and Nate. Free to CAS members; $5/non-members. Grassland Bird Conservation Center, 218 Day Rd, Pomfret Center. 860-928-4948. CTAudubon.org/Pomfret-Home. 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.
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. 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. Connection and Meditation – 7-8:30pm. First and third Monday. Connect with self, Spirit and other like minded souls as we let go and set intentions before Lily leads you into yourself for meditation. Free. TheWaterLilyCenter.com. 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.
tuesday 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. Dragon and Tiger Medical Qigong – 11:15am12:15pm. Gentle movements performed standing or sitting activate the acupuncture meridians. Improve your balance, coordination, energy and health. Don Myers, Certified Instructor, 30 years of teaching experience. $15/class. Universalist Church, 433 Fern St, West Hartford. Register at 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.
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ongoing events 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.
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 34 Hartford County Edition
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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. Online Mediumship Development Circle/Class – 9-10:30pm. Mixed level circle/class with Sharon Farber to develop evidential mediumship. Support, instruction, practice. $13/per session. $100/ten sessions. Online in a Zoom room. 860-989-2358. SharonFarber.net.
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. Qi Gong Class – 9:30-10:30am. Class starts with standing Qi Gong exercises for beginners and then flows into Yang Style Tai Chi. Brief meditation with a gong, aromatherapy and an inspirational passage reading at the end of each class. $32 first month for new students then $92 month thereafter. $15/walkins. Wu Healing Center, 45 S Main St, West Hartford. 860-593-8397. Erik@ChiForHealing.com. 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. Yoga by Caroline, All Levels Vinyasa Flow – 4:45-6pm and 6:15-7:15pm. 12/4, 12/11, 12/18. 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. First class free or $15 per class. TheWaterLilyCenter.com. Yoga for Healthy Bones – 5-6pm. Learn yoga poses that will help you prevent osteoporosis and osteopenia. You will also learn to improve your balance and coordination, which will help you prevent falling, a major cause of fractured bones. Journey of Yoga, 730 Hopmeadow St, Simsbury. 860-680-1482. 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. 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. 860-989-2358. SharonFarber.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. 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. Online Mediumship Development Circle/Class – 1:30-3pm. Mixed level circle/class with Sharon Farber to develop evidential mediumship. Support, instruction, practice. $13/per session. $100/ten sessions. Online in a Zoom room. 860-989-2358. SharonFarber.net. 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. 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. Tai Chi for Health and Meditation – 6:45-7:45pm. Experience the proven benefits of Wu Style Tai Chi and Qigong for superior well-being and stress relief. Don Myers, Certified Instructor, 30 years of teaching experience. $15/class. Universalist Church, 433 Fern St, West Hartford. Register at GreatPondTaiChi.com. 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
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Morning Flow Yoga – 6:30-7:30am Start your day with an all levels class that emphasizes the powerful connection between breath and movement. You will move mindfully while building both strength and balance on the yoga mat. Journey of Yoga, 730 Hopmeadow St, Simsbury. 860-680-1482. 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.
Seva Saturday $7 Yoga – 10:30-11:30am. Alternating Saturdays. Cultivate a conscious lifestyle on and off the yoga mat as you experience the JOY of yoga and the satisfaction of giving. Your donation of $7 will go directly to the Simsbury Food Closet for the remainder of 2019. Journey of Yoga, 730 Hopmeadow St, Simsbury. 860-680-1482. 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.
classifieds To place a Classified Listing: $1 per word. $25 minimum. Magazine deadline: 10th of month prior to publication.
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 21.
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 18.
BODYWORK WU HEALING CENTER
Rich Kevorkian LMT Certified Tui Na Therapy 45 S. Main St, Ste 100, West Hartford 860-462-3934 RichKevork@yahoo.com WuHealing.com
BOOKS THE GREAT COSMIC TEACHINGS OF JESUS OF NAZARETH - In all of infinity, there is only one principle: Sending and receiving. Each person sends himself - what he is, his sensing, thinking, speaking and acting. Gabriele-Publishing-House.com. Toll-Free: 844-576-0937.
Tui na is a hands-on CH body RI TSI STM A OMC treatment that uses ChineseS STaoist principles in an LC A L S E O ON ITC LLEC SNof Traditional effort to bring the eight principles W NO T O W LFbalance inIOthe N Chinese Medicine into FLbody. Tui na A AK EK E chronic is a treatment strategy for both acute and musculoskeletal conditions, as well as non-musculoskeletal conditions. See ad, page 5. C
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HELP WANTED DO YOU LOVE NATURAL AWAKENINGS? Help us spread the word! We’re looking for Community Street Team Members to work with us at upcoming events all over CT. Please send an email (subject line: COMMUNITY) and resume to NicoleM@NaturalAwakeningsmag.com.
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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
Massage Ball Yoga – 9am. The Bridge Healing Arts Center, 304 Main St, Farmington. 860-4042578. BridgeHAC.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.
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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.
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Friday Afternoon Walks – 1pm. Join plant enthusiast Anne Christie and nature photographer Amy Porter for a leisurely walk on the trails. We’ll see what’s of interest in the plant world and share tips on how to get good nature shots. All ages welcome. Free CAS members; $3/ non-members. Trail Wood, 93 Kenyon Rd, Hampton. 860-928-4948. CTAudubon.org/Trail-Wood-Home.
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.
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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 5.
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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.
ENERGY HEALING SOUL HEALING C JOURNEY, LLC Eilis Philpott RH Fairfield SI T 203-767-5954 M A Eilis@SoulHealingJourney.com S OC S ELL SoulHealingJourney.com N
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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.
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FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE TAMARA SACHS, MD
Functional Medicine and Integrative Care LLC 15 Bennitt St, New Milford 860-354-3304 TSachsMD.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.
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 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
395 W Avon Rd, Avon 860-936-0012 Cheryl@SharingTheLightWC.com SharingTheLightWC.com 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 10.
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
MEDIUMSHIP KEIKO BROYLES
Willows Healing Path, LLC 860-280-5548 • Keiko@KeikoMedium.com KeikoMedium.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.
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 ad, page 2.
HORMONE SUPPORT
NATURE SCHOOL
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.
INTEGRATIVE PSYCHOTHERAPY THE ENLIGHTENMENT COUNSELING CENTER LLC
998 Farmington Ave, Ste 207, West Hartford 660 Prospect Ave, Hartford EnlightenmentCenterCT.com C EnlightenmentCenterLLC@gmail.com H
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We are experienced psychotherapists and practitioners providing S LOC S integrative and holistic N TCEL psychotherapy clinical OI N 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.
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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.
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 17.
NATUROPATHIC MEDICINE 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 Rd, 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 9.
POSITIVE PSYCHOLOGY C H
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Audrey Carlson M 860-841-5894 SALOC S EL AudreyBCarlson@cox.net ONOITC HartfordHappinessClub.com
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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.
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PRIMARY CARE
THERMOGRAPHY
COLLABORATIVE NATURAL HEALTH PARTNERS
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.
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 7.
TAI CHI/QIGONG WU HEALING CENTER
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Dr. Ming Wu 45 S. Main St, Ste 100, West Hartford 978-790-8888 Center@WuHealing.com WuHealing.com
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Stan Baker Acupuncture
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April Beaman, CTT, RDH Farmington 860-415-1150 • April@ctthermography.com CTThermography.com
B. kind Wellness Boutique
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Agneta Borstein
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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 8.
BRIDGE Healing Arts Center
CT THERMOGRAPHY HEALTH SCREENING CENTER
315 East Center St, Manchester 860-533-0179 CTNaturalHealth.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 5.
TRANSFORMATIONAL HEALING SIMPLY PEACEFUL HEALING LLC
Joan Witherell, RMT 2433 Main St, Ste 6, Rocky Hill 860-685-0604 • JoanWitherell@gmail.com Joan has a professional office in Rocky Hill, where she offers Angel & Tarot Card Readings, Reiki Healing Sessions, Reiki Certification Training, Transformational Life Coaching Sessions and she also facilitates a variety of inspirational classes.
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 YOGA CENTER OF COLLINSVILLE 10 Front St, Collinsville 860-693-YOGA (9642) info@YogaCenterCollinsville.com YogaCenterCollinsville.com
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 4.
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display ad index
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Collaborative Natural Health Partners 40 CopperZap 39 CT Thermography
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Eclectic Naturopathic Medical Center 17 Enlightenment Method/Back to Eden 23 Glastonbury Dental Center Goodwin College
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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 Community Professionals
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Journey of Yoga
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LifeWorks Wellness Center
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Peter Marks
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Mondazzi Book, Bead & Crystal Warehouse Showroom
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Nature’s Helper Medical Clinic
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Nature’s Rite
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Optimal Living Center
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Psychotherapy Healing Services
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Qi Revolution
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Dee Randis/Metaphysical Center
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Sharing the Light Wholistic Center LLC 10 ShopRite 18 TriCity Massage & Wellness
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Vitalized Performance Group
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Wu Healing Center
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Yoga Center of Collinsville
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Seven years without a cold?
had colds going round and round, but not me.” Some users say it also helps with sinuses. Attorney Donna Blight had a 2-day sinus headache. When her CopperZap arrived, she tried it. “I am shocked!” she said. “My head cleared, no more headache, no more congestion.” Some users say copper stops By Doug Cornell nighttime stuffiness if used just before cientists recently discovered time. He hasn’t had a single cold for 7 bed. One man said, “Best sleep I’ve had a way to kill viruses and years since. in years.” bacteria. He asked relatives and friends to try Copper can also stop flu if used early Now thousands of people are using it it. They said it worked for them, too, so and for several days. Lab technicians to stop colds and flu. he patented CopperZap™ and put it on placed 25 million live flu viruses on a Colds start the market. CopperZap. No viruses were found alive when cold viruses Soon hundreds soon after. get in your nose. of people had Dr. Bill Keevil led one of the teams Viruses multiply tried it and given confirming the discovery. He placed fast. If you don’t feedback. Nearly millions of disease germs on copper. stop them early, 100% said the “They started to die literally as soon as they spread and copper stops colds they touched the surface,” he said. cause misery. if used within 3 People have even used copper on In hundreds hours after the first cold sores and say it can completely of studies, EPA sign. Even up to prevent outbreaks. New research: Copper stops colds if used early. and university 2 days, if they The handle is researchers have confirmed that viruses still get the cold it is milder than usual curved and finely and bacteria die almost instantly when and they feel better. textured to improve touched by copper. Users wrote things like, “It stopped contact. It kills germs That’s why ancient Greeks and my cold right away,” and “Is it picked up on fingers Egyptians used copper to purify water supposed to work that fast?” and hands to protect and heal wounds. They didn’t know “What a wonderful thing,” wrote you and your family. about microbes, but now we do. Physician’s Assistant Julie. “No more Copper even kills Dr. Bill Keevil: Copper quickly kills deadly germs that Scientists say the high conductance colds for me!” cold viruses. of copper disrupts the electrical balance Pat McAllister, 70, received one have become resistant in a microbe cell and destroys the cell in for Christmas and called it “one of the to antibiotics. If you are near sick seconds. best presents ever. This little jewel really people, a moment of handling it may Tests by the EPA (Environmental works.” keep serious infection away. It may even Protection Agency) show germs die Now thousands of users have simply save a life. fast on copper. So some hospitals tried stopped getting colds. The EPA says copper still works copper for touch surfaces like faucets People often use CopperZap even when tarnished. It kills hundreds of and doorknobs. This cut the spread of preventively. Frequent flier Karen Gauci different disease germs so it can prevent MRSA and other illnesses by over half, used to get colds after crowded flights. serious or even fatal illness. and saved lives. Though skeptical, she tried it several CopperZap is made in America of The strong scientific evidence gave times a day on travel days for 2 months. pure copper. It has a 90-day full money inventor Doug Cornell an idea. When “Sixteen flights and not a sniffle!” she back guarantee. It is $69.95. he felt a cold about to start he fashioned exclaimed. Get $10 off each CopperZap with a smooth copper probe and rubbed it Businesswoman Rosaleen says when code NATA15. Go to www.CopperZap.com or call gently in his nose for 60 seconds. people are sick around her she uses “It worked!” he exclaimed. “The cold CopperZap morning and night. “It saved toll-free 1-888-411-6114. Buy once, use forever. never got going.” It worked again every me last holidays,” she said. “The kids ADVERTORIAL
Copper in new device stops cold and flu
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COLLABORATIVE NATURAL HEALTH PARTNERS
HEALTHCARE REFINED INTEGRATIVE PRIMARY CARE & NATUROPATHIC MEDICINE
"At the heart of medicine is trust. Trusting your physicians, your body and your path. We are honored to work with people, meeting them where they are &helping them navigate their health journey." Manchester - Stonington - West Hartford County Edition NAHRT.com 40 Hartford ctnaturalhealth.com - (860)533-0179
Dr. Lauren Young Naturopathic Physician