2015-12 Natural Awakenings of Greater Hartford by Nicole Miale

H E A L T H Y

L I V I N G

H E A L T H Y

P L A N E T

feel good • live simply • laugh more

Touching Spirit

FREE

Prayer and Meditation Unleash Our Aliveness

Recipe for a Happy New Year Fail-Proof Ingredients for a Glorious 2016

Heavenly Fragrances

December 2015 | Greater Hartford County Edition | www.NAHRT.com

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

5 newsbriefs 7 globalbriefs

8 healthbriefs

5 10 healthykids

15 localexpert

18 wisewords

20 fitbody

22 consciouseating 24 healingways 26 calendar

29 classifieds 30 resourceguide

advertising & submissions

PINT-SIZED GIVERS Teaching Kids How to Care and Share by Jennifer Jacobson

13 AWAKENING TO SPIRIT

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Prayer and Meditation Heal and Free Us by Richard Davenport

18 SHARON SALZBERG ON MINDFULNESS Simple Ways to Be in the Present Moment by April Thompson

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Six Easy Stretches Ease the Journey by Cynthia Bowman

22 SWEETLY VEGAN

No-Bake Holiday Treats Worth Celebrating by Judith Fertig

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24 HEAVENLY SCENTS How to Make Your Own Natural Oil Fragrances by Kathleen Barnes natural awakenings

December 2015

letterfrompublisher “…confusion between small self and the larger Self... [the] ‘True Self,’ ‘Essential Self’ or ‘Real I’—is the core illusion of the human condition, and penetrating this illusion is what awakening is all about.”

~ Helen Mathis

Publisher Shawn Cole Publisher@NAHRT.com

Learn more in Awakening to Spirit on page 13.

Managing Editor Debbie Marconi Editor@NAHRT.com

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© 2015 by Natural Awakenings. All rights reserved. Although some parts of this publication may be reproduced and reprinted, we require that prior permission be obtained in writing. Natural Awakenings is a free publication distributed locally and is supported by our advertisers. It is available in selected stores, health and education centers, healing centers, public libraries and wherever free publications are generally seen. Please call to find a location near you or if you would like copies placed at your business. We do not necessarily endorse the views expressed in the articles and advertisements, nor are we responsible for the products and services advertised. We welcome your ideas, articles and feedback.

he holiday season is a great time to reinvigorate your spirit by connecting with others. We begin thinking more about our loved ones, looking forward to coming together and sharing traditions or meals, and that alone has a profound effect. Those cherished memories and emotions are a part of the larger spirit we all embody. For those like me who live far away from family, this might be the only time the family is together. Surrounding yourself with loved ones is often enough to wake up the spirit a bit. My children and I unfortunately will not be visiting my family in Texas for the holidays this year, but we are fortunate to have been “adopted” into a wonderful family here in Connecticut that has made us a part of their holiday traditions for the last nine years. I am very grateful to be spending the holidays with this local extended family. Speaking of connection, this month’s feature article discusses Awakening Spirit and how prayer and meditation work to connect you to “spirit” on a regular basis. No need to wait for the holidays. More and more people are making prayer and meditation a part of their daily life. Those that meditate regularly know how powerful this is. Aside from making time to relax and consciously put the whirlwind of daily thoughts aside for a few moments, regular meditation also can help you release unhealthy, unconscious thought patterns, learn to detach from your thoughts and emotions, gain peace and let go of judgment. All of these things can provide a very powerful change in your life experience. So, whether you’re a newbie or still working to build a regular prayer and meditation practice, check out the feature to reinforce all the reasons to get started and keep practicing. If you’re just not sure how to begin, read our LocalExpert profile of Sandy Duffy. She’s a local mindfulness coach and has been helping many begin their practice and live a richer life. You can also visit any yoga, Buddhist, qigong or tai chi studios in your area. Many offer meditation classes and workshops to help you. I’d like to wish you all a fabulous holiday season and thank you for reading Natural Awakenings each month. I’m looking forward to a wonderful 2016 with you all. In the spirit,

Natural Awakenings is printed on recycled newsprint with soybased ink.

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newsbriefs

Better Choices Make Better Waists

Zero Gravity Float Room Therapy Comes to Central CT

Lose Weight with Healthy Choices

magine yourself floating, free from tension, stress and even gravity itself. The feeling of freedom, weightlessness and sanctuary is something that is difficult to feel in life. But A Healing Trail Wellness Center provides these sensations with the superb Zero Gravity Therapy Float for Health. “With Zero Gravity Therapy, one can find absolute silence, sanctuary, solitude and comfort that can relieve the mind and the body by alleviating pain and stress,” states Franci Tartaglino, LMT, CMS-Ht, owner of A Healing Trail. “With the Zero Gravity Therapy, the medical benefits to be gained are immense. Every muscle in the body feels the burden leaving it and relaxation comes within seconds.” The floatation facility at A Healing Trails is unique. It’s a bath in a relaxing and open but private room - not a confining, enclosed tank or pod as found in many centers. The body floats on smooth, silky water that contains pure Epsom salt. The saltwater is as dense as the Dead Sea, allowing one to float on the surface effortlessly. Clients can control the lighting level and choose to wear earplugs to block sound. The water and air temperature are controlled to match body temperature. “All together, this creates a powerful and unique sensory experience that allows extremely deep relaxation, which in turn decreases the production of stress hormones, cortisol and adrenaline while freeing your creativity,” says Tartaglino. “The therapy not only relieves pain, it also speeds up the healing process of the body. Zero Gravity Therapy also decreases the production of cortisol and adrenaline while increasing the production of endorphins and mood elevators. It boosts the immune function, improves circulation of blood throughout the body, reduces blood pressure, pulse and heart rate and manages oxygen consumption.” People have used float therapy to assist with creativity, visualization, to help with treatment of depression and anxiety and fatigue. It is truly an experience in meditation that everyone should try. A Healing Trail Wellness Center, Route 4, Harwinton, 12 miles west of Farmington and 5 miles south of Torrington. For more information call 860-485-0405 or visit Massage4CT.com. See ad on page 6.

If you’ve tried different diets without success, it’s time to get serious and talk to a professional. Personalized nutrition counseling teaches you how to make permanent lifestyle changes to lose weight and maintain lifelong healthy weight. We provide a safe, non-judgmental setting to address unhealthy habits and behavior patterns that drive your eating. Then you’ll be guided step by step to make the changes needed.

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December 2015

newsbriefs 8 Week Weight Loss Program

eginning on Saturday, January 2, from 9 to 10 a.m., or Monday, January 4, from 6 to 7 p.m., Jane Grant, Registered Dietitian and Certified Health Coach will present the first class in an eight-week series for weight loss. For those who are searching for a healthy way to lose weight and keep it off, this is the program that will provide the tools, resources, coaching and support necessary to help achieve those goals.

New Yoga Teacher Training in Simsbury

he fourth annual 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training begins at Journey of Yoga in January. The training, which is approved by Yoga Alliance, will be offered by Maggie Knoedler Durbas, ERYT 500, assisted by Robin Kirsche, E-RYT 200. This one-year course of in-depth New Yoga Teachers study is available to dedicated students who want to become certified to teach yoga. There is also a 100-hour track available for students who simply want to deepen their practice. Informational sessions will be offered at Journey of Yoga on Wednesday, December 9, at 7:30 p.m., Saturday, December 19, at noon, and Wednesday, January 13, at 7:30 p.m. Journey of Yoga, 730 Hopmeadow St, Simsbury. Registration for these sessions is available at http://bit.ly/1SM7ZL6. Students may request a YTT application by calling the studio at 860-680-1482 or emailing Maggie@JourneyOfYoga.com. See ad on page 13.

Classes will be held at 37 Webster Square Road, Berlin, CT 06037. The cost is $100.00 per person. Seating is limited to 20 people. Call or e-mail to reserve a seat. 860-357-2282. GrantsNutrition.com. See ad on page 5.

Maybe Christmas, the Grinch thought, doesn’t come from a store. ~Dr. Seuss

Stop Pain and Experience Deep Relaxation With Zero Gravity Flotation Therapy Deep Relaxation for the Mind and Soul

Zero Gravity therapy incorporates elements of sensory isolation providing you with a needed escape from stressful external stimuli. In our spacious float rooms, the water is as dense as the Dead Sea, allowing you to float on the surface effortlessly. You control the lighting level and music. The water and air temperature are controlled to match external body temperature. All together, this creates a powerful and unique sensory experience that allows deep relaxation.

Magnesium Replacement for the Body

Doctors estimate that about 70% of adults have magnesium deficiency, which creates symptoms of muscle or joint pain, restless leg, fibromyalgia and inflammation disorders. Soaking in Epsom salt offers a time-tested remedy. A flotation session uses a dense solution of water and 1,000 pounds of Epsom salts. This allows absorption of magnesium through the skin for a faster and more effective therapy than oral supplements and vitamins.

Scientifically Proven

Research shows that flotation therapy provides relief from issues ranging from joint or muscle pain, stress and even creative blocks. Other benefits include reducing inflammation, headaches, depression, insomnia and blood pressure while improving the health of your skin.

Call 860-485-0405 Today to Schedule Your Appointment $25 off your first appointment. A Healing Trail Wellness Center • 500 Burlington Rd (Rt 4), Harwinton • Massage4CT.com 6

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

Fungus Among Us

Mushrooms Offer Pesticide-Free Insect Control Paul Stamets, one of the world’s leading mycologists, invented a fungus (mushroom)-based pesticide in 2006. An industry executive states, “This patent represents the most disruptive technology we have ever witnessed.” This “smart” pesticide provides a safe and nearly permanent solution for controlling more than 200,000 species of insects. Entomopathogenic (insect-destroying) fungi are altered so they don’t produce spores. This actually attracts the insects, which then eat them and turn into fungi from the inside-out. The invention has the potential to revolutionize the way humans grow crops. Source: Earth. We Are One. View the patent at Tinyurl.com/FungusPesticidePatent.

Post-It Progress

3M Requires Paper Sources to Meet Sustainable Standards A new sustainability policy by the 3M Corporation, maker of Post-it notes, has drawn support for its goal of making a minimal impact on forests, wildlife and human rights. 3M paper-based products and packaging require pulp and paper from sources around the world. Working in collaboration with ForestEthics and Greenpeace, the company launched a comprehensive review of all of its pulp and paper procurement expectations to ensure the materials are produced from sustainably logged timber. 3M will now hold paper and pulp suppliers accountable to one of the highest standards in the industry for environmental protection and respect of human rights, including tracing origins and obtaining consent of indigenous peoples and local communities before logging operations occur. The company intends to publish semiannual updates of its progress online. Source: ForestEthics.org

Sentient Beings

New Zealand Enacts Bill Recognizing Animal Intelligence The New Zealand Animal Welfare Amendment Bill that passed into law this year states that animals, like humans, are sentient beings. Dr. Virginia Williams, chair of the National Animal Ethics Advisory Committee, says this acknowledges, “Animals can experience both positive and negative emotions, including pain and distress.” The bill thus bans the use of animals for testing cosmetics. Williams says the legal recognition of animal sentience provides a stronger underpinning of the requirements of the existing Animal Welfare Act. The bill also provides for penalties to enable low-to-medium-level offenders to be punished more effectively and gives animal welfare inspectors the power to issue compliance notices, among other measures. Find a link to the legislation at Tinyurl.com/NewZealandSentienceBill.

Greener Globe World Powers Vow Cuts in Emissions

This year’s G7 Summit of the U.S., UK, Canada, France, Germany, Italy and Japan, plus the European Union, has agreed in principle that the global economy must be completely fossil fuel-free by the end of this century to curb destructive climate change. To that end, the nations agreed to work toward cutting emissions between 40 and 70 percent by 2050. German Chancellor Angela Merkel also announced that the G7 countries would raise $100 billion from public and private sources by 2020 to help poorer nations adapt. Environmental groups such as Greenpeace praised the action. In a statement, the Sierra Club called it “the first time that the leaders of the world have made clear with one voice that we must get off fossil fuels completely.” Two hundred countries are expected to commit in writing to specific plans for greening their economies at the United Nations Climate Change Conference this month in Paris. Source: TheHill.com

natural awakenings

December 2015

healthbriefs

Superfruit Antioxidants Found in Chilean Maqui Berry

esearch from the University of Arizona’s Health Sciences Center has confirmed that the South American superfruit maqui berry (Aristotelia chilensis) can aid the cardiovascular system and reduce blood sugar. Clinical trials found a group of antioxidants, called delphinidins, significantly reduced levels of oxidized low-density lipoprotein (LDL), or “bad” cholesterol, which is linked to atherosclerosis and other heart diseases. The clinical research found that the delphinidins contained in the maqui berry, known as the richest natural source of the antioxidant, aid the health of blood vessels by increasing nitric oxide and decreasing platelets linked with thrombosis, the clogging of arteries that can cause strokes. The researchers also found that the superfruit may help counteract skin aging from ultraviolet radiation-B (UVB) exposure.

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Spirituality is Beneficial for Cancer Patients

ccording to a new review of research published in the journal Cancer, a strong religious or spiritual belief system may improve a cancer patient’s prognosis physically, emotionally and mentally. Researchers from Florida’s H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute and North Carolina’s Wake Forest School of Medicine reviewed clinical studies that included more than 44,000 cancer patients. The first review focused on physical symptoms and found that patients with stronger religious and spiritual beliefs reported fewer cancer symptoms and better physical health. They also showed enhanced capabilities in managing their daily lives. “These relationships were particularly strong in patients that experienced greater emotional aspects of religion and spirituality, including a sense of meaning and purpose in life, as well as a connection to a source larger than oneself,” states Heather Jim, lead author of the first review. The second review focused on mental health and found reductions in anxiety, depression and distress among those with greater spirituality. Lead author Dr. John Salsman comments, “Also, greater levels of spiritual distress and a sense of disconnectedness from God or a religious community were associated with greater psychological distress or poorer emotional well-being.” In the third review, the researchers found that patients with a stronger spiritual well-being reported better social health, as well.

ASBESTOS FOUND IN CRAYONS AND CHILDREN’S TOYS

esearch from the Environmental Working Group’s Action Fund has determined that some popular children’s toys contain a chemical that previous research has linked to lung disease and lung cancers. The researchers tested 28 boxes of crayons and 21 crime-themed toys at the Scientific Analytical Institute in Greensboro, North Carolina. They found that four of the crayon brands and two of the crime-scene toys contained asbestos. All of the asbestos-containing toys were manufactured in China. The products included the Disney Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and Nickelodeon Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle brands of crayons, the EduScience Deluxe Forensics Lab Kit and the Inside Intelligence Secret Spy Kit. The latter two brands contained asbestos within the fingerprint powders. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, asbestos from all sources is responsible for up to 15,000 U.S. deaths each year.

Mindful Eating

ntuitive eating (also called mindful eating) is structured around the belief that people need to trust themselves enough to believe that they will eat what and how much food they need. When we eat intuitively, we use our internal cues for hunger, appetite and satiety as guides. The truth is, only by eating what we truly want can we adequately nourish ourselves and achieve optimal health, including a healthy weight. Research clearly shows that dieting doesn’t work. While people may lose weight initially when dieting, there’s a good chance they will fail to keep it off, and may regain even more pounds than were lost. “Dieting” is a temporary attempt to lose weight and it often leads to an endless cycle of restriction, bingeing and guilt. It’s all very negative. Intuitive eating, on the other hand, is a positive supportive approach to eating using the body’s cues to guide one in deciding what, when, and how much to eat. It is centered on listening to inner signals of hunger and fullness and responding accordingly. It can include any kind of food that makes you feel well, and can vary from day to day. Jane Grant is a registered dietician, a certified health coach, and owner of Grant’s Nutrition and Wellness. For more information, call 860-357-2282. See ad on page 5.

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natural awakenings

December 2015

healthykids

Generous Pint-Sized Givers Teaching Kids How to Care and Share by Jennifer Jacobson

mong a parent’s greatest rewards is seeing their children grow up to be productive, contributing members of society, including knowing how to give back and enrich the communities in which they live. Children can start participating in the giving process as toddlers. Having them observe regular charitable acts can

make a strong impression and catalyze later independent initiatives. Learning how to give and developing the associated skill set is a lifelong journey. Giving becomes a way of life—of looking at the world and determining how to help the causes they feel passionate about. Here’s how to take those crucial first steps.

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Ask kids how they’d like to help. If giving to a cause is new to the household, explain that the family has many opportunities. Then engage children in a conversation about the general areas they may feel strongly about supporting—perhaps individuals or families in need, animals or wildlife habitat—and start a list of those that the family is interested in. Next, start researching related local organizations, facilities and institutions, and matching them to the topics on the list. Ideas may include food kitchens, pet shelters and animal rescues, nature parks, senior citizens’ residences, camps for low-income or physically or mentally challenged children, zoos, museums, aquariums and local libraries. Make a game plan. Get creative about how to actually help the selected causes. Talk it through together, map out activities—like visiting, donating funds or materials or participating in fundraising efforts—and post the results somewhere at home that is highly visible. “Gamify” it to some degree with tasks that turn into goals that turn into accomplishments that result in chits. Quick tasks can make a big difference. Clear the clutter. Every six to 12 months, launch an all-family household closet cleaning day that includes the toy chest and maybe the garage. Add nonperishable healthy food items they’ve picked out while grocery shopping. Make a “donate box” positioned where kids can add to it and deliver the donations often, even if it’s small. Find ways to raise money for donations. Organize a family or neighborhood yard sale or organic bake sale that involves kids at all stages of the project, and give all or a portion of the proceeds to a selected charity. Associate getting with giving. For birthdays and holidays, include a handwritten “certificate of giving” that specifies the amount of money available for them to gift to their favorite charity. Take the child to the charity site to make the monetary donation in person, if possible. For non-local organiza-

tions, write a check and have the child include a letter with their thoughts and mail it. Volunteer to do community service. Public gardens need weeding, historic buildings need painting and food banks need hands. Find goodwill tasks that are age-appropriate and engaging. Grow the mindset. Tell real-life stories about kids or groups of kids that have found creative ways to give back. Encourage empathy by sharing appropriate stories of struggle. Ask kids, “How would you want people to help you in this situation?” Explain the action the family is taking and the resulting benefit to the recipient. The conversation might be, “We don’t need to store all this stuff when someone else could really use it.” Or, “I bet there is a kid out there who would really like playing with this toy. I know you used to love it, but how about if you pass it along to someone else so they can enjoy it as much as you have?” Keep the focus on the people in need and your child’s ability to share an experience through an item. Establishing an impermanent connection to material things can help kids understand the importance of nurturing relationships over acquiring goods. Develop a language of giving in the household by creating opportunities to incorporate it into regular conversation. Appropriate comments could share concepts such as seeing ourselves as stewards of the planet and the things we think we own; it’s our duty to help those in need when we have abundance; and if there is ever a time when we are without, we hope that others will think of us and help us. Teaching children how their thoughts, words and actions impact those around them is a lesson that bears repeating. Jennifer Jacobson lives in Seattle and has served on the boards of several influential nonprofits and other organizations focused on conservation, education and community.

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December 2015

A DV E RTORIA L

Pamper Your Skin With Natural The Awakenings Best Nature Has To Offer Advanced Healing Skin Cream

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The holidays are occasions for celebrations and good will toward all. Don’t let chapped or dry, flaky skin get in the way of your enjoyment. Natural Awakenings Advanced Healing Skin Cream, a soothing therapeutic balm made with exclusive Manuka Honey from New Zealand, makes a great stocking stuffer for a special someone.

Restore Your Skin to Natural Youthful Beauty You’ll love Natural Awakenings’ therapeutic cream’s clean, fresh botanical fragrance. Discover what our amazing skin cream can do: • Provides Ultra-Hydration of Skin • Enhances Anti-Aging and Skin Renewal • Soothes Dry, Itchy, Cracked Skin • Relieves Most Burns Including Sunburn • Comforts Wounds and Sores MANUKA HONEY is produced by bees that pollinate New Zealand’s Manuka bush. Advocates tout its antibacterial properties.

Therapeutic Qualities

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Manuka Honey is gathered in the wild back country of New Zealand from the native Manuka tree (Leptospermum scoparium). The bees don’t use the pollen from a variety of other flowers or plants, so the content of the honey is very consistent. A 2013 study in the European Journal of Medical Research used Active Manuka Honey under dressings on postoperative wounds for an 85 percent success rate in clearing up infections, compared with 50 percent for normal antibiotic creams.

AWAKENING TO SPIRIT Prayer and Meditation Heal and Free Us

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By its intimate connection with divine love, Spirit infuses human experience with qualities of amazing grace—unexpected clarity, vision, wisdom, peace, compassion, emotional release, inspirational epiphanies, deep understanding and comprehensive healing of mind, body and soul.

hile society abounds with scientific research, products and practices that promise to enhance our mind or body and the mind-body connection, without Spirit in the mix, neither rises to its full potential. A heart open to a higher power exponentially multiplies the effects of this crucial connection. “Just as a candle spreads light in a darkened room, people who are living in-Spirit give off a higher energy that can bring light to our hearts and minds. In other words, we can be inspired just by being in their presence,” according to renowned bestselling author Wayne Dyer, Ph.D. Experiential, non-verbal and lifechanging encounters with the unbounded power and presence of Spirit

in prayer and meditation are difficult to analyze in the same way as mind-body science. However, Dyer points to the works and outcomes of Spirit as visible evidence of how it lifts us up. We see individuals with rapturous hearts sending out signals that they love the world and everyone in it. Those that live in Spirit tend to see the world as a friendly place, are at peace with themselves, appear to be open and accepting rather than judgmental and harsh, and often report being healed of all sorts of diseases, relationship challenges, career fluctuations and questions of purpose and direction. They attest to how Spirit shines a triumphant light in the midst of dark nights of the soul, redefining the essence of life itself and declaring us worthy in our innermost reaches.

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December 2015

Personal Healing

When a 19-year-old woman entered basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, in San Antonio, Texas, and was undergoing initial medical and psychological screening, she was identified as having body and mind issues that would require her to be separated from the service. These problems included organ failures and spinal misalignment, as well as severe consequences of an emotionally abusive upbringing. It was determined that she could not handle the physical and mental demands of military life. Because the policy was to not treat such problems if identified upon entering the service, authorities allowed her to remain in training until her separation from the Air Force could be processed. The woman was impressed and also distressed by the finality of the verdict and assessment tools used by mind and body experts among the medical staff. In talking with a chaplain on the base, she came to understand that she could choose to appeal her case to another jurisdiction, a “higher” court of Spirit. Focusing on the voice of divine love, she grew to see Spirit as more than a higher power. She saw Spirit as a higher authority. She surrendered to divine love’s authority as ultimate law, supremely qualified to reorder her

To feel Spirit’s presence, we must surrender our own sense of how it will work, its timeline and the impact on our ego or status quo. As with anything worthwhile, conscientious practice is essential. whole being. She trusted that aligning with spiritual power could change her view of her identity and the seemingly inescapable consequences of genetics, environment and human history denying her desire to serve her country in this way.

Listening to a higher witness testifying on her behalf and identifying her authentic being as the magnificent expression of the magnificent Creator, she felt encouraged to the point that her mind and body stopped arresting her progress and became more effective servants, responding with greater freedom and joy. One limitation after another fell away, and the military and medical authorities seemed pleased with her progress as she neared completion of training. Finally, performing a mileand-a-half run within a required time remained the only obstacle to graduation, and she was still 45 seconds too slow. This helpful passage from the Hebrew prophet Isaiah became central to her prayer and meditation as she approached her last running attempt: Young people will get tired; strapping young men will stumble and fall. But those who trust in the Eternal One will regain their strength. They will soar on wings as eagles. They will run—never winded, never weary. They will walk—never tired, never faint. ~Isaiah 40: 30-31 (The Voice)

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Through conscious listening we discover that our true nature—as witnessed by Spirit—though sometimes obscured from view, is never altered from its original beauty and wholeness. ~Helen Mathis She passed her final attempt with 18 seconds to spare, running on eagles’ wings. So, how can we all discern such a divine witness to our original authentic being amidst loud testimony of all the voices and labels shouting in our head and body, including those imposed by others?

Prayer and Meditation

There are two approaches to listening to the voice within, whether we name it God, higher power, Spirit, grace, Eternal One, or divine love or Love. Complementary, rather than mutually exclusive, both approaches require a capacity, gained through patient practice, of quieting the inner and outer chatter and learning to hear that which calls us to be more than what human experience suggests is possible. It’s who we are in the eyes of grace. Sanford C. Wilder, of Grafton, Illinois, author of Listening to Grace, offers personal growth and development programs through EducareUnlearning.com that encourage prayer and meditation that emphasize listening. He practices both approaches and makes distinctions between them. “When I pray, I am directing my thoughts toward God, listening and often affirming what I know to be divinely true. I am yearning to surrender my will and affections in conscious connection with the divine such that I or another receives a blessing,” shares Wilder. In such prayerful listening, he hopes to gain something, often a new insight and corresponding manifestation.

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MINDFULNESS IN THE MOMENT Sandy Duffy, Owner of Discovering the Present You, is a mindfulness coach. Mindfulness is the practice of quieting one’s mind and focusing back into the present moment. There are many benefits of learning how to be more mindful including a major reduction of stress, a far better quality of life and a general feeling that time is slowing. Sandy offers one-on-one coaching to help clients create their unique and personal approach to mindfulness. As a very visual and tactile person, Sandy’s approach is not meditative in nature. Instead, she will teaches clients how to use everyday activities (cooking, launSandy Duffy dry, driving, conversations) to help quiet racing minds and add space between thoughts. Her clients also learn how to use their five senses to gently guide themselves back into the present moment. Giving one’s thinking mind a much needed rest makes one less reactive to life’s unexpected twists. It also helps dramatically reduce stress. Sandy believes that life truly doesn’t have to be so hard and that happiness shouldn’t be quite so rare. Together, she will helps each person find the path back to where they’d like to be. For more information on mindfulness, call Sandy at 860-777-7316 or visit ThePresentYou.com. See ad on page 17.

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“When I meditate, my intention is to sacrifice every thought, concept, image and feeling to God, the only consciousness. I trust that listening and observing with nonattachment helps me release conscious and unconscious conditioned thought patterns permeated by a human sense of self.” Through meditative listening, he hopes to release everything rather than receive anything, accepting that everyone is equipped and able to be open to, witness and experience nonstop blessings. Helen Mathis has been an educator in the Philippines and Swaziland as well as the U.S., including an instructor feel better? of religion at Principia College, near St. Louis; health! she is now part of a Centerto better ing Prayer Circle in Stockton, California. She explains that centering prayer may be seen as a hybrid that embraces both prayer and meditation, nourishing what’s beneath the preoccupied self to awaken a deeper and vastly more authentic self. nging issues like joint pain, headaches Mathis appreciates what Cynthia

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and be safe, consent to surrender human will and forgo personal agendas. Only then can spiritual sense come into play. “The goal is to awaken to, open to and get in touch with our innermost being and Spirit,” Mathis affirms. “Clearly, centering prayer assumes we each have a spiritual awareness of the divine within us that acts, as Bourgeault puts it, as ‘a kind of interior compass whose magnetic north is always fixed on God.’” Bourgeault explores in her book Centering Prayer and Inner Awakening, that, “This confusion between small self and the larger Self… [the] ‘True Self,’ ‘Essential Self’ or ‘Real I’—is the core illusion of the human condition, and penetrating this illusion is what awakening is all about.” Like Bourgeault, Mathis believes that it’s not about the absence of thoughts so much as detaching from our thoughts, trusting that we can let go

Core Shift

We often approach a Spirit dimension with the attitude of “what it can do for me.” The higher practice that mystics and other deep thinkers of various faith traditions ultimately arrive at instead centers on transforming our whole self to align with Spirit’s purpose for us, which changes everything. Reverend Dr. Michael Beckwith, founder of the New Thought Agape Spiritual Center, in Los Angeles, and a spiritual mentor to Oprah Winfrey,

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believes, “The relationship we have with the infinite is more about how we are to serve it than it is to serve us.” Beckwith describes three primary stages of realizing the power and purpose of divine Spirit expressed as our spirit. The first is that of a victim (feeling powerless, unable to effect change). The second is when an individual learns the existence of universal law that responds to our thinking, emotions and attitude; we learn how to use it to stabilize life structures and demonstrate health and wellbeing. “Ultimately, in stage three, we become a vehicle of life in service to life. Instead of using the law, the law uses us. Life fulfills its own nature through us,” he says. “All of life is conspiring for our freedom, liberation, wholeness and health.” He urges us not to stop and stagnate at stage two, using divine laws only to manifest personal conveniences, stuff and even people for our use; this can hijack views of abundance into materialism and consumerism. He quips, “We are not here to go shopping.”

Dwelling in Spirit

Grace and Spirit work in us, through us and between us, yet we can’t simply summon them up or outline their outcomes. To feel Spirit’s presence, we must surrender our own sense of how it will work, its timeline and the impact on our ego or status quo. As with anything worthwhile, conscientious practice is essential. Life, defined by Spirit, gives fresh strength and impetus to mind and body. All three are vital elements of the dance of life. Richard Davenport is a spiritual life educator (HigherGroundForLife.com) and the founding executive director of an inclusive nationwide Bible and spiritual life community (BibleAndSpiritualLife.org). Now based in St. Louis, MO, he is a retired Air Force chaplain, having served at Lackland and other U.S. Air Force bases on three continents.

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Sharon Salzberg on Mindfulness Simple Ways to Be in the Present Moment by April Thompson

ew York City-born Sharon Salzberg experienced a childhood full of loss and upheaval, losing her parents and living in five different household configurations. In college, she discovered the power of meditation to transform suffering and cope with life’s neverending changes. Born into a Jewish family, Salzberg first encountered Buddhism in 1969 in an Asian philosophy class, inspiring her

photo by Fabio Fiippi

to undertake an independent study program in India, where she was initiated into the practice via an intense 10day retreat. “It was very difficult and painful. I sometimes doubted that I’d succeed, yet I never doubted that there was truth there,” she says. Upon her return home, Salzberg dedicated herself to the path of vipassana- (insight) meditation, becoming a renowned teacher

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and co-founding the Insight Meditation Society, in Barre, Massachusetts. Today she teaches and speaks to diverse audiences worldwide about the power of mindfulness. Salzberg has authored nine books, including the New York Times bestseller Real Happiness, Real Happiness at Work and Lovingkindness.

How do you define mindfulness? Mindfulness is the quality of awareness. When we are mindful, our perception of the present moment isn’t so distorted by bias, adding our own storyline to reality and pushing away what’s happening.

Is it possible to be mindful without having an established meditation practice? Yes, theoretically, but I suspect it’s hard. I honor my own meditation practice for making mindfulness highly accessible for me. It doesn’t take many hours of prep work and is open to everyone. It’s really a practice, like strength training— you have to exercise the mindfulness muscle to reap the benefits.

What’s the best way to arrange time for meditation, and what can motivate us to practice regularly? Having a sense of structure has helped me the most. I believe strongly in the value of a daily practice, however simple or short. We can ritualize certain practices to help remember to pause and be mindful. For example, every time the phone rings, let it ring three times and use that as a trigger to breathe. When you’ve finished writing an email, take a few conscious moments before sending it. There are lots of ways to cut through the momentum of the busyness and craziness of our lives to return to mindfulness. Make a commitment to practice for a certain period of daily time for a month or two, and then reassess. Look for changes during the active course of daily life and query: How am I speaking to myself or to others? Am I more pres-

ent? Am I more at ease in letting go? It’s important to look for these subtle changes rather than to set unrealistic expectations for ourselves such as being mindful all day.

Do you have other enabling practices for people new to the state of living mindfully? Movement meditation is a good place to start; if you’re walking somewhere, try to be more present and feel your feet against the ground. Also, just focus on one thing at a time; instead of multitasking, just drink the cup of tea. We can also use breath to focus concentration. The breath is a tremendous tool, it’s always with us. If you’re in a contentious meeting and tempers flare, you don’t have to pull out a meditation cushion and sit in a funny position; you can work with your breath right where you are.

How can meditation help to ease suffering? Sometimes, we think we can ease suffering by only having pleasant feelings and beautiful thoughts. Rather, we can ease suffering by changing the way we relate to our thoughts and feelings. If something unpleasant is happening, most of us flip into an internal monologue about how, “Bad things always happen to me,” or “This is my fault,” or “I shouldn’t feel this.” We compound our suffering by adding judgment and by pushing away discomfort. Instead, we can learn to observe our reactions and release them. We also tend not to feel pleasure fully or think that something else or more should be happening instead of simply enjoying the moment. We wait for some sense of intensity in order to feel alive, rather than experiencing the ordinary to the utmost. Meditation trains us to be present with pleasant, unpleasant and neutral experiences and stay connected, no matter what’s going on. Reach freelance writer April Thompson, of Washington, D.C., at AprilWrites.com.

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December 2015

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Events are located at TGI, 171 Amity Road, Bethany CT To learn more and Register Visit www.learn.edu/events

Airplane Yoga Six Easy Stretches Ease the Journey by Cynthia Bowman

he majority of the symptoms we can experience during flying—stiffness, poor circulation and swollen feet—are due to lack of movement rather than the altitude or pressurized cabin air. Knowing this can make healthy flying easier. Drinking lots of water and moving about and stretching every two to three hours on long flights is key; trips to the bathroom naturally help fulfill this. We also can keep blood from collecting in our lower extremities by finding a way to elevate our legs and feet periodically. Wiggle all 10 toes, shift positions and go for these six discreet airplane yoga stretches. Etiquette tip: Do the first two stretches at the back of the plane with adequate space and a wall to lean on. Don’t do these in the aisle; hanging on to someone’s seat back rocks it and can be annoying. A quad stretch involves the shoulders, upper legs, calves and ankles, while elevating each foot and getting the blood moving. Hang on to a wall, grab an ankle and bring the heel as close to the butt as possible. Then rotate the ankle in a circular motion. Do this as long as it feels worth doing, and then switch arms and legs. A calf stretch is a simple way to target calf and hamstring muscles, as well as ankles. Stand facing a wall, placing both hands at shoulder height on the wall for balance,

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Quad Stretch

Calf Stretch

Upper Body Stretch

elbows bent. Take one foot forward and rest it on its heel, with toes pointing up and resting on the wall. Lean forward to the point of feeling a good stretch in the calf. Stretch 30 seconds per foot, gradually going deeper into the pose after a few breaths. Etiquette tip: The next four stretches can be done in an airplane seat or in the back of the plane. The upper body stretch targets wrists, hands, arms, shoulders, back and the upper body in general. Sit upright with feet firmly planted on the floor. Lift arms up and interlace fingers before turning palms to face the ceiling. Relax the shoulders and neck. The arms shouldn’t be covering the ears and can be adjusted by moving them a few inches forward or back. Tall individuals may need to bend their elbows, which still allows for stretching of the upper body. Neck stretches release tension and stiffness by tilting the head from side-to-side. Don’t make circular motions, as they can cause neck and

spine compression. If holding the head to assist a deeper stretch, be considerate of neighbors by pointing the raised elbow forward to cradle the neck instead of resting it on a seatmate. Twisting the torso benefits both the spine and back muscles. Yogis believe that twisting motions also massage internal organs. While twisting, hang on to the armrest with both hands and sit as upright as possible, with legs together and feet firmly planted. Don’t bounce into the pose or shift or lift buttocks off the seat, but make slow, fluid movements. Bending forward while seated gives the back, neck and legs a good, deep stretch. All of these movements work well while we’re in the air and are equally useful on road trips, in the office or whenever we need a break. Cynthia Bowman is a freelance writer in Los Angeles, CA, who specializes in travel, culture and lifestyle topics. Visit JoyJournist.com.

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Twisting the Torso

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natural awakenings

December 2015

No-Bake Festive Vegan Desserts

SWEETLY VEGAN No-Bake Holiday Treats Worth Celebrating by Judith Fertig

“

isions of sugar plums” have been part of holiday mindsets since the advent of Clement Moore’s classic 19th-century poem commonly known as ’Twas the Night Before Christmas. We love to give and receive special treats and our tastes are evolving. Instead of yesteryear’s sugary bonbons loaded with calories that we’ve come to regret, today’s preferred confections focus more on naturally sweet dried fruits, bestquality chocolate, healthful coconut and crunchy nuts. Vegan, gluten-free delicacies from chefs and culinary experts the world over help us celebrate the season in a deliciously healthy way, including those we highlight this month. “Christmas isn’t Christmas without a traditional pudding,” says Chef Teresa Cutter, author of Purely Delicious. Cutter is founder and director of The Healthy Chef company, in Sydney, Australia, which creates functional foods for taste and optimal health. Her no-bake desserts such as miniature Christmas puddings and carrot cake take only minutes to make.

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Emily Holmes, a Queensland, Australia, wellness coach who blogs at Conscious-Foodie.com, says her favorite is Holmes’ Chocolate Cherry Mini-Cupcakes. She serves them with a pot of peppermint tea. Houston-based Joshua Weissman is the author of The Slim Palate Paleo Cookbook and blogs at SlimPalate. com. He shares his philosophy on holiday treats: “My first thought is that I don’t want to feel guilty after eating it. My second is that I still want it to taste and look good.” His Almond Butter Pumpkin Pie Truffles fit the festive bill. In New York City, noted vegan cookbook author and Pastry Chef Fran Costigan is an expert in all things chocolate, including her Chocolate Orange Sesame Truffles. “When you make something really delicious with real ingredients, your mouth knows it, your brain knows it, your body knows it. You feel satisfied,” she says. Judith Fertig blogs at AlfrescoFood AndLifestyle.blogspot.com from Overland Park, KS.

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consciouseating

Teresa Cutter’s Healthy Christmas Puddings Yields: 6 to 8 small puddings 8 oz fresh pitted dates—approximately 10 to 15 dates, depending on their size Zest from 1 orange 9 oz dried apricots, chopped 1½ cups almond meal/ground almonds 1 tsp vanilla bean paste or extract 1 tsp ground cinnamon ¼ tsp ground nutmeg ¼ tsp ground ginger 1 to 2 Tbsp orange juice 3 oz white chocolate, melted, for decoration (optional) Combine dates, orange zest, apricots, vanilla, ground almonds, cinnamon, nutmeg and ginger in a food processor. Process until mixture is combined and looks like fine crumbs. Spoon the mixture into a large bowl. Add the orange juice, and then mix again. Pudding mix should come together when lightly hand-squeezed. Divide into 6 small puddings. Line the base of 6 small decorative molds with plastic wrap and firmly press the puddings into them. Once firmly packed in the mold, invert the pudding and remove the plastic wrap. Melt white chocolate in a small bowl set over a simmering pot of water. Spoon a little white chocolate over the tops of the puddings if desired and garnish with goji berries, fresh cherries or another fanciful topper.

Store in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. Serve puddings with chilled mango coconut custard.

Combine all ingredients into a blender and blend until smooth. Serve chilled with the puddings.

Emily Holmes’ Chocolate Cherry Mini-Cupcakes Yields: 2 dozen mini-cupcakes Cake 1 cup raw, shelled, skinned nuts (such as almonds) 1 /3 cup cacao powder 4 fresh dates, pitted Filling 2 cup shredded coconut 1 cup dried cherries 6 fresh dates, pitted ¼ cup coconut cream ¼ tsp vanilla powder Pinch of sea salt Topping 3½ oz melted dark chocolate Process nuts and cacao powder in a food processor until the nuts are finely ground and the mixture is fully combined. Slowly add the dates until the mixture sticks together.

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Process filling ingredients in a food processor until well combined. Spoon the filling onto the cupcake base in the muffin cups and then top with melted dark chocolate.

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Press the mixture into the bottom parts of a 24-cup mini muffin pan. Refrigerate while preparing the filling.

IntroducIng...

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Mango Coconut Custard 1 mango, chopped ½ cup coconut milk Juice from ½ orange

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Place into the refrigerator to set, where it also stores well until served. Adapted from Vegan Chocolate, by Fran Costigan, used with permission.

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

December 2015

healingways

the ingredients they use, but fragrances and trade-secret formulas are exempt. What’s known as a dirty little secret in the fragrance industry is the unlabeled presence of toxic chemicals not only in perfumes, but in any personal care product that includes a scent. Lab tests commissioned by the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics and analyzed by the EWG confirm the presence of parabens that interfere with hormone production, cancer-causing phthalates, and synthetic musks that have been linked to hormone disruption, among many other ills.

Naturally Safe Scents

“Opting for natural scents from organic essential oils not only offers a toxin-free alternative, the oils’ aromatherapy benefits have time-proven therapeutic value,” suggests Dorene Petersen, president and founder of the American College of Healthcare Sciences, in Portland, Oregon. Recent research from the Pontificia Universidade Catolica, in Brazil, conby Kathleen Barnes firms that lavender oil has anti-inflamwhiff of sweetness can comicals,’” warns the Washington, D.C.-based matory, antioxidant and pain-relieving municate a personal signature of nonprofit watchdog Environmental Workproperties similar to those of a mild-dose tranquility, alertness or romance, ing Group (EWG). “A major loophole in narcotic. Plus, it smells heavenly, says or it can cause a bout of miserable sneez- the [U.S.] Food and Drug Administration’s botanical perfumer Roxana Villa, of ing, wheezing or nausea for those in the federal law lets manufacturers of products Woodland Hills, a California-based vicinity and even the unwitting wearer. like shampoo, lotion and body wash inspokesperson for the National Associaclude nearly any ingredient under the term tion for Holistic Aromatherapy. Commercial Chemicals fragrance without actually listing the chemi- “Considering the part of the plant “When you see ‘fragrance’ on a personal cal.” Companies that manufacture personal used will give you an idea of its theracare product label, read it as ‘hidden chem- care products are required by law to list peutic value,” says Villa. “A root base

HEAVENLY SCENTS How to Make Your Own Natural Oil Fragrances

FREE... Sit in on a Weekly Training Lecture Learn how our programs for Psychotherapists and Healers can expand your consciousness and improve your skills.

Professional Training Program in In-Depth Body Psychotherapy and Subtle Energy Healing • Master’s Degree Program in Pastoral Counseling •

Wednesday Evenings 6 –7:30 pm Where: Hartford Family Institute 17 South Highland Street West Hartford, CT 06119

Call to reserve your free seat: (860) 236-6009 www.hartfordfamilyinstitute.com/calendar/wednesdayevenings/

Hartford County Edition

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will be good for grounding. Since bark is like skin, oils such as birch will benefit skin and muscles. Oils from flowers are excellent for anything related to the head and mind.” Oregano and cinnamon oils have powerful antifungal properties, even against Candida-type fungi resistant to prescription drugs, according to Brazilian research from Universidade Federal. A groundbreaking study from the Slovak University of Technology, in Slovakia, even suggests that rosemary oil can kill cancer cells. These are all scents that can be the foundations of do-it-yourself perfumes.

Customized Blends

“It’s fun to experiment with organic essential oils and create that unique blend that becomes a personal signature,” says Charlynn Avery, an aromatherapist with Aura Cacia, in Norway, Iowa. She explains that essential oils have three basic “notes” and blending them correctly will result in a fragrance suited to last throughout the day. “The base note is heavier and lasts the longest. Patchouli, vetiver, sandalwood, cedarwood and jasmine hang around longer in the atmosphere and on the wearer,” she explains. Blending the base with a slightly lighter middle note like lavender, rosemary or clary sage and a light and short-lasting top note like orange, lime or peppermint will create a complex and pleasing blend. “That’s the beauty of the art of it,” says Avery. “You can create synergistic blends that harmonize and complement the attributes of each to such an extent that you may not be able to detect the scents of the individual oils.” There are no hard and fast rules, but our experts offer a few guidelines for creating our own unique blends that will be well-received as holiday gifts. Use a base of oil like jojoba or sweet almond to create a perfumed oil. Note that oils undiluted by a carrier can burn the skin. For oil-based blends, use a ratio of 50 drops of bottom note oil, 30 drops of a middle note and 20 drops of a top note in two ounces of carrier oil. Another option is to use an alcohol base of either isopropyl rubbing alcohol

or 85-proof vodka to make a spray perfume; the alcohol will evaporate quickly. Alcohol-based blends generally last longer, especially with fragile citrus oils. A usual ratio is 10 to 20 drops of essential oil per ounce of alcohol-based carrier. Oil-based blends are ready to use almost immediately. Alcohol-based blends should age a week or two at least and will become more strongly scented in time. Store fragrances in bottles in a dark, cool place. Bottles with tiny roll-on caps are commercially available. “It’s very much trial and error to arrive at a preferred scent, so be creative and keep careful notes of experiments and improve on them as you gain experience,” counsels Avery. “If you crinkle your nose at patchouli, you probably won’t like an oil blend with it, either. Choose scents you like.” Kathleen Barnes is author of numerous natural health books including Food Is Medicine. Connect at KathleenBarnes.com.

Balance Your Whole Being Life Changing Approach

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We offer you a unique, multi-disciplined approach to find the correct balance that facilitates your optimum health and continued wellness in body, mind and spirit with a combination of holistic services that fit your needs.

Our community of experienced practitioners will help you develop a better relationship with yourself, through body awareness, putting your body in motion, food as medicine, touch therapy, energy therapy, and help you to change limiting beliefs regarding your health and all other areas of your life.

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Call Today! 860-467-6518 16 West Road (Rte 2 – Exit 12), Marlborough, CT 06447 TheOCenter.net • OneidaHolisticHealth@comcast.net natural awakenings

December 2015

calendarofevents

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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 www.NAHRT.com

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 1

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 4

Mindfulness Seminar – 7-8pm. Milford Library, 57 New Haven Ave, Milford. 203-874-4252.

Sweats with MedicineHorse – 5:30-8pm. A 4 round sauna following some of the traditional sweat ceremony prayers and song. Soup and community pot luck dinner after. $10/suggested donation. Center for Progressive Therapies, 192 Hartford Rd, Manchester. Reservation: 860-916-2775.

markyourcalendar FREE WELLNESS CLASS FIRST THURSDAY OF EACH MONTH 6-7pm

markyourcalendar HOLIDAY STORE

Learn to train your brain to improve your response to stressors in life. Don’t accept living with stress and don’t let it become your “normal”.

Support Your Local Non-profit Nature Center!

Alternative Health, Inc. 625 New Park Ave, West Hartford

(Family Day)

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 5 TUESDAY - SATURDAY DECEMBER 8-12

1-4pm

markyourcalendar CREATING A HOME PRACTICE – PART 1 FRIDAY, DECEMBER 4

Repurposing new and gently used items as gifts is the ultimate way to lower your holiday impact on the environment. Lovely high-end items with a nature theme. CT Audubon Society 1361 Main St, Glastonbury

6-8pm Learn how to create relaxation, flexibility and strength by starting a home yoga practice. Guided workshop includes discussion, self-reflection, short sample sequences and handouts. $22

860-633-8402

markyourcalendar GONG MEDITATION CONCERT With The Conduit Center SUNDAY, DECEMBER 6

Yoga Center of Collinsville 10 Front St, Collinsville Registration Required: 860-693-YOGA (9642) YogaCenterCollinsville.com

5:30-7pm at Canton Town Hall

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The Conduit musicians use instruments such as ancient Himalayan singing bowls and planetary gongs to guide attendants into a relaxed state.

6:30-8pm

$22 Yoga Center of Collinsville 10 Front St, Collinsville Registration Required: 860-693-YOGA (9642) YogaCenterCollinsville.com

Hartford County Edition

With Franci Tartaglino from A Healing Trail

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 9 6:30-7:30pm Be victorious over tobacco and break the addiction! Learn the tools to stop smoking. Reduced risk of cancer, improved health and lifestyle await you. Free Burlington Public Library 34 Library Ln, Burlington Register: BurlingtonCTLibrary.info 860-673-3331

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 11 Bird Walk and Preparing for the Christmas Bird Count – 7:30am. Host Andrew Dasinger, Sparrows & Other Late Fall Migrants, a birder since 1973, conducting numerous surveys and censuses of wintering, migratory, and breeding bird populations. $5/members, $10/non-members, cash only. Reserve your place: 860-633-8402, ext 206.

markyourcalendar SPIRITUAL MEDIUM PATTI SINCLAIR SATURDAY, DECEMBER 12 3-5pm In this gallery reading, Patti will channel private messages from those who have passed. Patti is an exceptionally gifted medium and brings great comfort. $40/Advance sign-up recommended Sanctuary Power Yoga 23 Franklin St, Torrington Register: SanctuaryPowerYoga.com or 860-496-1500

$34/After

GOING YIN-SIDE OUT A Yin Approach to Yoga FRIDAY, DECEMBER 4 Find your balance between softness and strength, ease and effort with Yin yoga – the perfect companion to an active (Yang) yoga practice, and to our busy lives.

ANOTHER GREAT AMERICAN SMOKEOUT

Yoga Center of Collinsville 10 Front St, Collinsville

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Registration Required: 860-693-YOGA (9642) YogaCenterCollinsville.com

PARTNER YOGA SATURDAY, DECEMBER 12

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 8 Essential Oils 101 Workshop – 5:30-6:30 pm. Learn how pure essential oils can greatly enhance your physical and emotional health - naturally, cost-effectively, and without dangerous side effects. Free. TFC Health Foods, 230 Farmington Ave, Farmington. RSVP: 917-488-5788. Information Sessions – 6-7:30pm. The Graduate Institute, 171 Amity Rd, Bethany. 203-874-4252.

www.NAHRT.com

4-5:30pm We’ll playfully take turns with in yoga postures to help deepen our experience and our bodies sense of balance to support one another with ease. $22 Yoga Center of Collinsville 10 Front St, Collinsville Registration Required: 860-693-YOGA (9642) YogaCenterCollinsville.com

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 17

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 12 The Healing Power of Illness with Dr. Ruediger Dahlke – 7:30-9pm. The Graduate Institute, 171 Amity Rd, Bethany. Tickets: $14.95. 203-874-4252.

markyourcalendar HEALTHY FEETHEALTHY BODY SUNDAY, DECEMBER 13 2-3:30pm

Learn proper biomechanics on aligning your feet for whole body health. This workshop will include healthy foot practices, stretches for your feet, legs, and whole body. $22 Yoga Center of Collinsville 10 Front St, Collinsville Registration Required: 860-693-YOGA (9642) YogaCenterCollinsville.com

markyourcalendar RELAX AND REJUVENATE WITH GENTLE AND RESTORATIVE YOGA SUNDAY, DECEMBER 13 4-5:30pm

Bring peace and balance to your mind and body through gentle stretching, restorative postures, and guided relaxation. $22 Yoga Center of Collinsville 10 Front St, Collinsville Registration Required: 860-693-YOGA (9642) YogaCenterCollinsville.com

markyourcalendar FIGHTING CANCER WITH NUTRITION MONDAY, DECEMBER 14 6-7:30pm

Learn about the power of nutrition to heal and transform during and after cancer treatments to keep the body strong. $25/Person Grant’s Nutrition & Wellness 37 Webster Square Rd, Berlin Register: 860-357-2282 or GrantsNutriton.com

Bird Walk – 1pm. Join Andy Rzeznikiewicz in search of wintering bird species. We will look for horned larks, ducks, hawks, sparrows, yellowbellied sapsuckers and more. $5/CAS members, $10/ non-members. Meet at Pomfret Center, 218 Day Rd, Pomfret. 860-928-4948.

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 19 Amazing Race – 7-8am. Teams will battle it out in a race to the finish line, completing a series of physically challenging tasks. Free. Y.E.S. Fitness, 292 Spielman Hwy, Burlington. RSVP: 860-6734293. Holiday Party & Potluck Buffet – 5:30pm. C4PT invites you to our 15th annual event with live music, presentations, ma puppet theater, wine tasting and caroling. Donations accepted. Center for Progressive Therapies, 192 Hartford Rd, Manchester. 860-649-9600.

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 20 Solstice Potluck & Ceremony – 4-7pm. Celebrate with friends of the Alliance for Holistic Living. Connect in ceremony to the darkest day and the returning of the light Bring a dish to share. Free. Hosted at Ravenwood Holistic Wellness Center, 199 West Center St, Manchester. 860-871-5467.

MONDAY, DECEMBER 21 Winter Solstice Celebration – 7:30pm. Welcome in the beginning of winter and the longest night of the year with songs, dance, stories, music and bonfire. Share a story, poem, reading or song. $8/members, $10/non-members, cash preferred. Connecticut Audubon Society, 1361 Main St, Glastonbury. Reservations suggested: 860-633-8402,ext 206.

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 24 Christmas Eve Unity Celebration Service – 78:15 pm. Come celebrate Jesus as an enlightened role model for oneness, acceptance, sacred selfempowerment and transformation. Be inspired by affirmative prayer, singing, meditation, lesson, community, refreshments. Donations appreciated. Unity Church, 919 Ellington Rd, South Windsor. 860-289-8963.

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 26 Owl Walk – 7pm. Weather permitting, join Andy Rzeznikiewicz in search of wintering owls. Attempt to find screech, barred, and great-horned owls. Most of the calling from the road. Meet at Pomfret Center, 218 Day Rd, Pomfret. $5/CAS members, $10/nonmembers. 860-928-4948.

markyourcalendar GEMSTONE THERAPY STUDY GROUP

Gemstones for Clarity and Clearing

MONDAY, DECEMBER 28 7-8:30pm

Learn how to work with therapeutic gemstones to awaken your innate healing abilities and to resolve energetic causes of disharmony in your life. $20/In advance • $25/At door The Healing in Harmony Center 99 Citizens Dr, Glastonbury Register: 860-646-3063 http://bit.ly/1PjVYwz

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 31 New Year’s Eve “Burning Bowl” Ceremony – 10:30-11:45am. Begin 2016 while releasing 2015. Let FIRE purify your soul during this deeply festive ceremony. Accept, release, transform. Affirmative prayer, music, meditation, lesson, refreshments. Donations appreciated. Unity Church, 919 Ellington Rd, South Windsor. 860-289-8963.

markyourcalendar 8-WEEK WEIGHT LOSS PROGRAM SATURDAY, JANUARY 2 9-10am

We offer the tools, resources, coaching and support necessary to help achieve your goals. $100/Person Grant’s Nutrition & Wellness 37 Webster Square Rd, Berlin Register: 860-357-2282 or GrantJ@grantsnutrition.com GrantsNutrition.com

markyourcalendar AN EXPLORATION OF MEDITATION With Maggie K. Durbas 3 WEDNESDAYS JANUARY 6-20 7-8:30pm

Meditation offers virtually unlimited benefits, revitalizing the body, relaxing the mind, increasing energy, and reducing stress while leading us to greater spiritual connection and serenity. $50 Journey of Yoga 730 Hopmeadow St, Simsbury Register: 860-680-1482 JourneyOfYoga.com

natural awakenings

December 2015

markyourcalendar COMING HOME TO YOURSELF - WINTER WORKSHOP With Stuart Alpert Psy.D., LCSW & Naomi Lubin-Alpert Psy.D., LMFT

JANUARY 8-10 This workshop will help you feel greater self-acceptance and more empowered in relationships. Gain a unique and in-depth understanding of your emotional, mental and energy systems and how they work for or against you. People from all walks of life are welcome to attend. CEU’s Available. Includes workshop, room and board.

Community Yoga – 5-6pm. All levels weekly community practice. Teachers vary. Free. Suggested donation to benefit Simsbury ABC Program. Journey of Yoga, 730 Hopmeadow St, Simsbury. 860-680-1482.

Metabolic Zone – 7-8pm. Our version of a cardio workout. Monitored by heart rate, burn calories, get your metabolism revving, and give you the cardiovascular benefits you are looking for. $20. YES Fitness, 292 Spielman Hwy, Burlington. 860-673-4293.

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.

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. $40/30 days, unlimited classes/new students. Yoga Center of Collinsville, 10 Front St, Collinsville. 860-693-9642.

monday All-Levels Power Yoga – 9:30-10:45am. Our signature, power vinyasa (flow) class in a heated room. Baptiste influenced, it’s strong and challenging, a meditation in motion. No pre-registration required. $18/drop-in. 163 Albany Tpke, Ste 400, Canton. SanctuaryPowerYoga.com.

Guest House 318 West Main St, Chester $400/Deposit with registration $795/Double Occupancy $895/Single Occupancy Register: 860-236-6009 HartfordFamilyInstitute.com

All-Levels Power Yoga – 9:30-10:45am. Our signature, power vinyasa (flow) class in a heated room. Baptiste influenced, it’s strong and challenging, a meditation in motion. No pre-registration required. $18/drop-in. 23 Franklin St, Torrington. SanctuaryPowerYoga.com. 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. $40/30 days, unlimited classes/new students. Yoga Center of Collinsville, 10 Front St, Collinsville. 860-693-9642.

ongoing events sunday Restorative Yoga - All Levels – 9:30-10:45am. A luxurious class with passive postures done over props for a meditative practice allowing you to surrender layers of deeply held tension. Perfect for beginner and advanced yogis. $40/30 days, unlimited classes/new students. Yoga Center of Collinsville, 10 Front St, Collinsville. 860-693-9642. Unity Church Celebration Service – 10:3011:45am. Are you spiritual, but not religious? Experience oneness, acceptance, self-empowerment, transformation. Join us for affirmative prayer, singing, meditation, lesson, community, refreshments. Youth program - ages 2-18. Donations appreciated. Unity Church, 919 Ellington Rd, South Windsor. 860-289-8963. 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.

Hartford County Edition

Gentle Yoga for Strength – Mondays and Fridays. 10:30-11:45am. Enjoy an accessible, gentle practice designed to help you cultivate, maintain, and regain strength throughout the body. $20/drop in or class pass/membership. Journey of Yoga, 730 Hopmeadow St, Simsbury. 860-680-1482. Meditate Through the Madness – 6pm. Hosted by Torin Lee. Learn to manage the stress of life through mediation. $10. Oneida Holistic Health Center, 16 West Rd, Marlborough. Call to register: 860-467-6518. Tai Chi Class – 6-7pm. Practiced to achieve therapeutic benefits, as well as, to promote balance and to improve flexibility and overall strength. $15. Wu Healing Center, 45 S Main St, Ste 100, West Hartford. 800-990-9332. Satsang Meditation – 6:30-8:30pm. 1st & 3rd Monday. Join our community for a group meditation. We will share a chant, a silent sit, a teaching and a discussion to support awakening consciousness. $15. Vital Life Center, 100 W Main St, Plainville. 860-479-0466. Meditation & Tea – 6:45-7:15pm. Meditation that includes gentle stretches, breathing exercises and chanting. You will feel centered and focused. We will serve tea after the practice. Donation - $5 suggested. Culteavo, 29 Mill St, Unionville. 860-470-5121.

www.NAHRT.com

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. $40/30 days, unlimited classes/new students. Yoga Center of Collinsville, 10 Front St, Collinsville. 860-693-9642. Total Strength Class – 4:30-5:30pm. 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. Consortium of Unicorns – 6-7pm. This unique empowerment group will support you while you focus on reconnecting with yourself. Learn what true self worth, self-love looks and feels like. $20. The Beyond Center 281 Hartford Tpke, Ste 5G, Vernon. 860-899-4700. Emei Wujigong Qigong Group Practice – 6:307:30pm. Come and experience a qigong form for rebalancing and strengthening body, mind and spirit. All abilities welcome. All Wednesdays 5-6pm. 1st class free. Unitarian Meetinghouse, 50 Bloomfield Ave, Hartford. For more info, Diana: 860-461-0908. Turbo Kick Boxing with Mary – 7:15-8:15pm. Extreme aerobic workout is fun and will get you in shape. We also plan to offer Tuesdays as beginners class and Thursdays as advanced class. $5. Center for Progressive Therapies, 192 Hartford Rd, Manchester. 860-883-9664. Meditation as a Way of Living with Tom Dest – 7:30-8:45pm. Promoting access to intension from deep inside and heart to heart communication - soft live music. A contemplation on our eternal nature and keys to peace. $15. Center for Progressive Therapies, 192 Hartford Rd, Manchester. 413-822-8486.

wednesday

Tai Chi Class – 9-10am. Standing Qi Gong exercises for beginners flowing into the short form of Yang Style Tai Chi. $15. Wu Healing Center, 45 S Main St, Ste 100, West Hartford. 800-990-9332.

Metabolic Zone – 6-7am. Our version of a cardio workout. Monitored by heart rate, burn calories, get your metabolism revving, and give you the cardiovascular benefits you are looking for. $20. YES Fitness, 292 Spielman Hwy, Burlington. 860-673-4293.

Cat Adoption Open House – 10am-4pm. Protectors of Animals. 144 Main St, East Hartford. POAinc.org.

linsville, 10 Front St, Collinsville. 860-693-9642.

friday

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.

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.

Gentle Yoga – 10:30-11:45am. Gently held postures for joint health and nurturing. $40/30 days, unlimited classes/new students. Yoga Center of Collinsville, 10 Front St, Collinsville. 860-693-9642.

Meditation & Tea – 6:45-7:15am. Meditation that includes gentle stretches, breathing exercises and chanting. You will feel centered and focused. We will serve tea after the practice. $5 suggested donation. Culteavo, 29 Mill Street, Unionville. 860-470-5121.

Emei Wujigong Qigong Group Practice – 12-1pm. Come experience a qigong form for rebalancing and strengthening body, mind and spirit. All abilities welcome. All Thursdays except the 1st of the month, 6:30-7:30pm. $5, 1st class free. Holistic Therapies Classroom, 15 S Elm St, Wallingford. Info: EmeiQigongChan.com. Slow FlowYoga – 6-7pm. A slower, gentler flow that still incorporates many of the poses from our signature power class. No pre-registration required. $18/drop-in. 23 Franklin St, Torrington. SanctuaryPowerYoga.com.

thursday Move and Groove - Conscious Conditioning with Sandy Byrne – 8:45-10am. Fusing the expertise of conditioning athletes with yogic consciousness, this fun, energetic class will jump-start your metabolism and get your body feeling strong and supple. $16/ drop-in, class cards available. River Rock Yoga, 274 Silas Deane Hwy, Wethersfield. 860-757-3339. Bump Day – 10am-6pm. 60-minute prenatal massage or reflexology by Colleen Dumas, LMT and certified in prenatal care. Refreshments, raffle. $40. Oneida Holistic Health Center, 16 West Rd, Marlborough. Call for an appointment: 860-467-6518. 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. Qigong Group Healing and Silent Meditation – 6:30-8pm. 1st Thursday of the month. All levels of health addressed. No experience necessary. Fee: donation. Holistic Therapies Classroom, 15 South Elm St, Wallingford. Contact Pat for more info if this is 1st attendance: 203-500-6492. 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. $40/30 days, unlimited classes/new students. Yoga Center of Col-

Natural Weight Loss Seminar – 10am-12pm. Learn how tasty and vitamin-packed Aloe Vera drinks and supplements help you to lose and manage weight for a healthy, active life. Free. Bristol (call for address). RSVP: 860-372-8171. Belly Dance – 10:45am-12pm. Connect spirit and body through a sensual movement workout. Fusing yoga-based warm ups, belly dance techniques, and a cool-down meditation. Beginners and drop-ins welcome. $40/30 days, unlimited classes/new students. Yoga Center of Collinsville, 10 Front St, Collinsville. 860-693-9642.

Total Strength Class Training – 7:15-8:15am. 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 – 9:30-10:45am. In this class you will experience gently held postures and breathing techniques that will calm your mind, relax your body and improve your flexibility. $15.95. Vital Life Center, 100 W Main St, Plainville. 860-479-0466. Reiki Share – 6-8 pm. 1st Friday. Meet other trusted practitioners and make personal and professional connections. Learn new techniques and get inspiration from the way others practice this healing modality. You will have an opportunity to give and receive reiki. All levels and lineages welcome. Free, donations accepted. Hosted by Andrea Frasier, RMT, CCH at Yoga Born, South Windsor. RSVP by Thursday: 843-467-7918.

saturday Metabolic Zone – 7:30-8:30am. Our version of a cardio workout. Monitored by heart rate, burn calories, get your metabolism revving, and give you the cardiovascular benefits you are looking for. $20. YES Fitness, 292 Spielman Hwy, Burlington. 860-673-4293. 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. $40/30 days unlimited classes (new students). Yoga Center of Collinsville, 10 Front St, Collinsville. 860-693-9642. All-Levels Power Yoga – 8-9am. Our signature, power vinyasa (flow) class in a heated room. Baptiste influenced, it’s strong and challenging, a meditation in motion. No pre-registration required. $18/ drop-in. 163 Albany Tpke, Ste 400, Canton. SanctuaryPowerYoga.com. Power Yoga – 9-10:15am. A vigorous class weaving yoga philosophy and body alignment through sequences that are designed to engage the entire body and to develop your practice. $40/30 days unlimited classes (new students). Yoga Center of Collinsville, 10 Front St, Collinsville. 860-693-9642.

classifieds FOR RENT T R E AT M E N T R O O M F O R R E N T WEST HARTFORD - Beautiful, private, clean room in tranquil setting. Ideal for Professionals: Licensed Massage Therapists, Reflexologists, Hypnotists. $500/month, utilities included. Call Lisa 860-218-2038.

HELP WANTED ACUPUNCTURIST WANTED IN MARLBOROUGH, CT! Terrific opportunity to start a new practice or use as a satellite office. Seeking licensed acupuncturist to join the Oneida Holistic Health Center, a multidisciplinary wellness center near the center of Marlborough, CT. Please call Colleen Dumas at 860-617-2639 for more information. NATUROPATH DOCTOR WANTED IN MARLBOROUGH, CT! Terrific opportunity to start a new practice or use as a satellite office. Seeking licensed Naturopath Doctor to join the Oneida Holistic Health Center, a multidisciplinary wellness center near the center of Marlborough, CT. Please call Colleen Dumas at 860-617-2639 for more information. INSIDE SALES ASSOCIATES WANTED to field phone calls, set up appointments for Natural Awakenings Sales staff and eventually to sell advertising by phone. Must have professional phone voice and good communication skills. Computer knowledge a plus. All leads provided. Work from home, part-time on your own schedule. Fixed fees paid for appointments scheduled, meetings completed plus bonus paid on final sale. Send resume to Ads@NAHRT.com.

natural awakenings

December 2015

communityresourceguide

HAIR CARE

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

350 Silas Deane Hwy., Wethersfield, 06109 860-518-4674 Studio3-Salon.com A full-service salon offering certified organic colors and perm processes that provide the ultimate coverage with no corrosive hair damage while improving the work environment by eliminating hazardous fumes. See ad on page 17.

EDUCATION

BUSINESS COACHING STRATEGIC IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATES, INC.

STUDIO 3 SALON

THE GRADUATE INSTITUTE (TGI)

Accredited, non-profit graduate school offering holistic programs in contemporary and emerging fields. 203-874-4252 Learn.edu

34 Jerome Ave., Suite 304 Bloomfield, 06002 860-269-6544 StrategicImprovementAssociates.com If you’re struggling with profitability or to balance the needs of your business, we can help! We want to be your sustainable business resource. See ad on page 10.

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FITNESS

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EDUCATION HARTFORD FAMILY INSTITUTE

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Hartford County Edition

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HOLISTIC HEALTH

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Medicare Accepted Holistic health center offering Manual Therapy, Physical Therapy, Nutritional Wellness, Natural Health and Lifestyle Coaching, and natural health Community Education programs. Some insurance billing available. See ads on pages 2 and 16.

HOLISTIC HEALTH ONEIDA HOLSITIC HEALTH CENTER 16 West Rd., Marlborough 860-467-6518 TheOCenter.net

Using a holistic approach, our community of practitioners addresses your underlying issues that are keeping you from truly thriving and return you to optimum health. See ad on pages 9 and 25.

SPIRIT OF THE LOTUS

860-4709-3903 SpiritOfTheLotus.org Robin Barros, IMT-C, CSC-C, CSCA, CPLC-A, , is guided to help you release physical, mental & spiritual baggage, carried for years, lives or generations. Are you living life to it’s fullest? See ad on page 13.

LIFE COACHING ALEXANDRA LOWRY

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LIFE COACHING TORIN LEE

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MINDFULLNESS

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YOGA CENTER OF COLLINSVILLE 10 Front St., Collinsville, 06019 860-693-YOGA (9642) info@YogaCenterCollinsville.com YogaCenterCollinsville.com

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NATUROPATHIC MEDICINE DR. ANN ARESCO

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JASON BELEJACK, ND

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CONNECTICUT NATURAL HEALTH SPECIALISTS

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NUTRITION MASSAGE - THAI YOGA

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GRANT’S NUTRITION AND WELLNESS

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WELLNESS CENTER THE CONDUIT CENTER

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YOGA JOURNEY OF YOGA

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YOGA CENTER OF COLLINSVILLE 10 Front St., Collinsville, 06019 860-693-YOGA (9642) Info@YogaCenterCollinsville.com YogaCenterCollinsville.com

Experience yoga in the vibrant surroundings of historic Collins- ville. Morning / evening classes available: Beginners, Gentle, Mixed, Advanced, Yogalates, Belly Dance and yoga for Kids. Drop-ins welcome! New student special: $40 for one month of unlimited yoga classes. See ad on page 21.

natural awakenings

December 2015

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