May 2018

E HEALTHY LIVING E FR

HEALTHY

PLANET

Hardcore Healing Natural Approaches for Serious Illness

Hubs of Inspiration Local Shops Offer Goods and Support

Medicinal Mushrooms for Lyme Disease

Balancing Cycles

Treating PMS Naturally May 2018 | Greater Hartford County Edition | NAHRT.com

May 2018

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The Holistic Cha er of Co erce has grown to eco e an international trade organi ation focused on holistic, co le entary, alternati e, and sustaina le rofessionals, ractitioners and usinesses. The grou s ission, achie ed through the e orts of local cha ters, is to ake it easier for consu ers to learn a out and access holistic, natural, and eco-friendly roducts, ser ices and solutions.

Crystal/Sound/White Time

CranioSacral Therapy

radford W. Tilden, MM, CMT ni ersal White Ti e e stone, nergy, and Angelic Sound Healing Indi idual, e ote, rou Sessions Classes, Worksho s, Sound ourneys radford CrystalMusicHealing.co - 2 - 2 2 CT MA locations

inda Cio o, C HP CranioSacral Thera y, Cell Talk, eiki Master, Integrated nergy Thera y, th i ensional nergy Thera y linda lifeshealingenergy.co 8 - 2-

Whitney Christina Access Consciousness and e er sessions nergetic ing Center loo eld nergetic ing.co 8 -8 - 8 olisti amber resi ent ar or A on

Hypnosis

Holistic School/Business for Sale ocational Massage School in I For Sale Pro ta le, ewarding Turn-key.

Owner will hel with transition.

The ew ortMassageSchool.co forsale.

Call aryn at - 8.

Energy Healing

Naturopathic Physician r. icole lughers, , Phar , MSAc aturo athic Pro ider Acu uncture S ecialist is Wellness Center at o a S a ocky Hill r icole lughers g ail.co r icole lughers.co 2 2-AC - OC

e ie lein an nlightening Minds Hy nosis, C ocky Hill e ie lein an aol.co nlighteningMindsHy nosis.co 8 - 2-8

Reiki/Sound Therapy

Retreats & Workshops

d Cle eland The d Cle eland eiki Sound Thera y Training Center, Manchester Sound thera y, eiki, Classes, Worksho s d eiki yahoo.co 8 - 8 - 8

T Coaching en ents Torin ee Ian a sden Coaching Certi cation Progra egins May 2 8. www.MyPathForward.net torin en ents.net 8 -8 - 8

Transformative Healing

Transformational Coach Catherine wing, CSW, FT Sacred Heart Alche y Mentor, S eaker, Trau a ert, Thera ist SacredHeartAlche y.co Catherine SacredHeartAlche y.co 8 - -

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Treating Acid Reflux

ordan Taylor eiki, th i ensional Healing, Magni ed Healing, Integrated nergy Thera y, egressions, Sound Healing, Crystal Healing, Psychic Mediu eadings rk str yahoo.co 8 8 8

Susan er an, M. d., CHHC Find your uni ue food and lifestyle triggers Susan HealingAcid e u .co www.HealingAcid e u .co 8 - - 2

embers our information oul be ere A ODA

To join the Holistic Chamber of Commerce, call: itne at

ristina at artfor A on or S irle ew a en S oreline

HCC egional reakfast a a eboo om e ents 2

Hartford County Edition

NAHRT.com

embers

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uests n ite Shirley R. Bloethe & Whitney Christina

Feel Great Today AND ToMorrow Massage, Yoga, Barre, & Belly Dance A Better Way to be Healthy

What Our Clients Say

Enjoy group classes, private yoga lessons and massage offerings to uniquely blend mind, body and spirit to achieve life-long wellness and happiness.

“The teachers at Yoga Center are wonderful and the new studio is the most gorgeous I’ve seen in Connecticut!” – Terry

With each visit, you’ll experience many benefits including increased flexibility and balance, improved strength and relief from joint pain along with increased mental focus, stress relief, lowered blood pressure and a deeper selfawareness.

Enjoy Every Visit. A healthy haven, our beautiful new studio space is designed for the wellbeing of your mind, body and spirit.

Group Classes We provide group classes for beginners and experienced students. Our schedule is flexible and includes 35 weekly classes led by certified teachers. Class times are offered from early mornings to late evenings to fit your busy life. Classes indlude: • GREAT START FOR BEGINNERS! Gentle, Restorative, Yin, and Mixed Yoga • VIGOROUS & CHALLENGING! Vinyasa Yoga, Yogalates, Aligned Flow & Barre Fitness • FUN & LIBERATING! Belly Dance

“When you walk into YCC, there is an immediate feeling of peace. I was comfortable from the very first moment and left feeling very happy and content.” – Abigail “Friendly, non-judgmental and very professional. The entire staff has been SO supportive on every visit.”

– Gary “Best deep tissue massage I’ve ever had. And I’ve had many!” – Kellee

A Destination Location Get Healthy and Stay Healthy! Move, stretch & breathe for long-term health in gentle to vigorous group classes. You’ll leave feeling better then when you arrived!

Each visit to Collinsville will inspire the soul. Take a walk on the rail trail, enjoy views of the Farmington River, browse the shops or enjoy a meal.

We’re located across the street from LaSalle Market. Parking is next to our building, on the street or in any public space that’s not restricted.

Massage Appointments Enjoy a variety of massage offerings in a serene setting: • NEW AT YOGA CENTER! Swedish, Deep Tissue & Sports Massage • UNIQUE! Thai Massage - like a massage in special yoga postures while fully clothed!

50 PRIVATE YOGA INTRO 59 MASSAGE INTRO 59

$ $

Restore Your Body and Mind. Regular massage keeps you healthy by reducing stress and improving muscle, joint and lymph health.

$

10 Front Street, 3rd Floor Collinsville (Canton)

GROUP CLASS INTRO

For Unlimited Classes Your First 30 Days

For Your First 60-minute Private Lesson For Your First 60-minute Massage

TRY US TODAY

Call 860-693-9642

or visit YogaCenterCollinsville.com/new May 2018

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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.

Contents 15

15

SUNSHINE ON OUR SHOULDERS Makes Us Happy and Healthy

16

Natural Approaches Resolve Major Illnesses

16 18

18 20

22

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.

Hartford County Edition

PERSONALIZED HEALTH CARE Functional Medicine Leads the Way

ADVERTISING & SUBMISSIONS

4

HEALING THE HARD STUFF

NAHRT.com

5 MEDICINAL MUSHROOMS FOR LYME DISEASE

22

ILONA SELKE

23

A SOFTER WAY TO PEACE

on the Power of Dreaming Big

23 26

Reconnecting with Earth’s Directions

24

BALANCING CYCLES

Natural Strategies for Premenstrual Syndrome

26

HUBS OF INSPIRATION Local Shops Offer Goods and Support

DEPARTMENTS 7 news briefs 12 health briefs 14 global briefs 15 therapy spotlight 18 healing ways

14 20 conscious 22 29 31 32

eating wise words calendar classifieds resource guide

Integrative Health & Healing Master of Arts Degree and 30 credit programs for teachers

Experiential Learning in a supportive community environment.

Affordable 2 year program – 1 weekend per month

Enrolling for June

Locations: Saint Francis Hospital, Hartford & Bethany, CT

Certificates: Ecotherapy Certificate Program – Begins June 8th Integrative Health & Healing Certificate Program – Begins June & Fall Coaching with Spirit Certificate Program – Begins Fall FACULTY INCLUDES: Bernie Siegel, MD Co-Academic Director, The Graduate Institute. Bernie is a retired pediatric and general surgeon from Yale New Haven Hospital. Bernie’s insights on the nature of human experience and the science of medicine are integrated in his unique approach to the practice of healing. He is a best selling author of numerous books.

Ann Marie Chiasson, MD, MPH, is the Co-Director of the Fellowship at the Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine and is board-certified in Integrative Medicine and Family Medicine. She is co-author of “Self-Healing with Energy Medicine” with Dr. Andrew Weil (Sounds True).

Norman Shealy, M.D., PhD is Founding President of The American Holistic Medical Association, President Emeritus and Professor Emeritus of Energy Medicine, Holos University Graduate Seminary, trained several notable Medical Intuitives, including Caroline M. Myss, and is a best-selling author. He has appeared on numerous national TV programs, including Good Morning America, the Today Show, Oprah to name a few.

Artemis Morris, N.D, Co Academic Director of the Integrative Health and Healing Program at The Graduate Institute, and holds a Masters in Acupuncture from Bastyr University, is a licensed Acupuncturist and author.

Dr. Henry Grayson, An expert of the mind/body/spirit psychology: He has studied neuropsychology, most of the major psychotherapies, the new power therapies (EFT, EMDR, etc.), Quantum physics and Eastern and Western spiritual philosophies. His rich background led him to his work in scientifically & spiritually based mind/body energy psychology and his creation of Synergetic Therapy.

Dr. Grayson is the author of several best-selling books.

Holistic Graduate Studies

M.A. Programs: Consciousness Studies & Transpersonal Psychology, Writing & Oral Traditions, Learning & Thinking, Organizational Leadership, Integrative Health

203.874.4252 • www.learn.edu • info@learn.edu Locations: Bethany • Wesleyan University, Middletown • St. Francis Hospital, Hartford

May 2018

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HEALTHY LIVING HEALTHY PLANET

letter from publisher

M

ay is Women’s Wellness month at Natural Awakenings.

That has had me thinking about what it means in this day and age to be “well”? It seems to me it has become a ubiquitous word but one without real meaning. It’s like answering “I’m fine” when asked, “How are you?”

GREATER HARTFORD COUNTY EDITION PUBLISHER Nicole Miale EDITORS Michelle Bense Ariana Rawls Fine

“How do you feel?” … “I’m well.”

DESIGN & PRODUCTION Kathleen Fellows Erica Mills CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Christopher Harris Gregg Kirk Danielle Sullo SALES & MARKETING Shirley R. Bloethe Alexa Ferrucci Nicole Miale WEBSITE Erica Mills

CONTACT US 137 Danbury Rd, #323, New Milford, CT 06776 Phone: 860-507-6392 Fax: 860-357-6034 Publisher@NAHRT.com NAHRT.com SUBSCRIPTIONS Subscriptions are available by sending $30 (for 12 issues) to the above address.

NATIONAL TEAM CEO/FOUNDER Sharon Bruckman NATIONAL EDITOR Alison Chabonais MANAGING EDITOR Linda Sechrist NATIONAL ART DIRECTOR Stephen Blancett SR. ART/MKTG. DIRECTOR Steve Hagewood ART DIRECTOR Josh Pope FINANCIAL MANAGER Mary Bruhn FRANCHISE DIRECTOR Anna Romano FRANCHISE SUPPORT MGR. Heather Gibbs WEBSITE COORDINATOR Rachael Oppy NATIONAL ADVERTISING Kara Scofield Natural Awakenings Publishing Corporation 4933 Tamiami Trail N., Ste. 203 Naples, FL 34103 Ph: 239-434-9392 • Fax: 239-434-9513 NaturalAwakeningsMag.com © 2018 by Natural Awakenings. All rights reserved.

Although some parts of this publication may be reproduced and reprinted, we require that prior permission be obtained in writing.

Natural Awakenings is a free publication distributed locally and is supported by our advertisers. Please call to find a location near you or if you would like copies placed at your business.

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

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

Nicole Miale

As I’ve been ruminating on the questions, I’ve realized that for me wellness absolutely means feeling in alignment. Not just physical in nature, wellness requires attention to all areas of life and a sense of balance. It means that since I was a busy beaver at many Earth Day-related events during the weekends in April, I gave myself permission to take some weekday mornings off and enjoy time with my dogs. It means knowing when to push through inertia to get things done…and when to respect the body’s need for rest and rejuvenation by soaking in a long bath, visiting a friend or comforting space or seeking out an energy treatment or massage. It means not only asking for help (lesson one), but also being happy to receive it rather than being ashamed at needing to ask (lesson two).

Some of these lessons are easier for me than others; I suspect I’m not alone in having these experiences.

Thanks to the miracle of modern technology, women around the world are now able to share their stories of seeking wellness with each other. These reveal their wisdom, and demonstrate their strength and faith in creating a better world despite sometimes overwhelming obstacles. As amazing trailblazing women show us every day, having a vision and believing in it can be enough to overcome a multitude of challenges, including lack of knowledge, uncertainty, doubting Thomases and limited resources.

If you are seeking support in your quest for balance and wellness, this area is full of terrific practitioners and businesses simply waiting to help you. This month, as always, our local and national contributors provide insight, information and empowering practical ideas to inspire or help you make changes that make you feel truly well. We spotlighted a number of local shops who offer both products and services dedicated to supporting wellness of the individual and larger community. Each in their own way, these brick-and-mortar stores provide special opportunities for connection, healing and personal growth. Check out page 26 for more information.

Being aligned with wellness intention makes life not only easier, but more enjoyable. Seek what contributes to your well-being, whether it is a thought, deed, people, supplements, products and/or services. In doing so, you honor yourself, which in turn nurtures others and creates healthier communities.

Celebrating the well-est version of you and the women in your life!

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

Are you really? What does that truly mean? How does anyone measure a sense of wellness?

NAHRT.com

news briefs

Vision Board Workshop in Simsbury

BreatheMoreYoga Offers Donation-Based Yoga Classes

S

uccess and Wellness Coach Kristin Pomeroy will host a full-day vision board workshop, Intentionally Manifest Your Dreams, from 9am to 4pm on May 4 in Simsbury. At this full-day immersion, Pomeroy will give you the space needed to intentionally define your dreams and create a vision that will effortlessly attract ideal outcomes to you. She explains, “It’s all about Kristin Pomeroy identifying what your ideal life looks like, letting go of what’s in the way, and connecting with your dreams by designing a vision that calls to you.”

Pomeroy will walk you through exercises to help you discover your core genius, uncover where your true passion lies, and put it together so you will finally be able to see your ideal life clearly and manifest your desired results. At the end of the day you will create your own vision board to take home. A vision board is a way to anchor your dreams and allow manifestation to work in your life. Professional athletes, celebrities, CEOs and other high achievers intentionally create amazing outcomes by using this simple tool.

“Most people have fleeting ideas of what they want to be, do or have in their lives. But they remain just that: fleeting,” says Pomeroy. “After all, who has time to get clear about what they want to create? Well, now you do!”

Register at TheVibrantLivingProject.com or bit.ly/FullDayVisionboard.

Tickets: $75. Save $15 with special code: naturalawakenings.

Location: The Simsbury Inn, 397 Hopmeadow St, Simsbury.

See Community Resource Guide listing, page 32.

B

reatheMoreYoga, LLC, is a full-service yoga studio in Tolland near the Vernon town line.

Owner and yoga instructor Mindy Porell encourages teachers and students to practice the yogic principle of “seva”, which translates to selfless service. In that spirit, BreatheMoreYoga partners with From the Heart (FromTheHeartCT.com), a Tolland-based outreach program helping local neighbors in need. The studio now offers donation-based yoga every Wednesday from 11am to noon. A $5-$15 cash donation per person is encouraged and 75 percent of proceeds will go directly to From the Heart. No previous yoga experience is necessary.

Yoga is the practice of uniting the mind, body and spirit.

Benefits of yoga include: increased strength, balance, flexibility, circulation, relaxation, mental focus and the cultivation of inner calm and peace. Yoga is suitable for all skill levels, body types and ages. Yoga props and modifications are offered to help each student feel at ease in each pose.

This holistic community offers an inviting, cozy space for women, men and children to grow and thrive. Regular classes include gentle yoga, heated yoga, Mommy and Me yoga, POP Pilates, Barre Fusion, Yoga Sculpt, nutrition workshops, tai chi and qigong. BreatheMoreYoga also offers alternative healing services such as massage, foot reflexology and Reiki.

For more information, visit BreatheMoreYoga.com. Location: 68 Hartford Tpke, Tolland.

Thousands of Years of Food Wisdom in Twelve Months

The Institute of Sustainable Nutrition

Offering a One-Year Certification Program in Sustainable Health & Nutrition This Innovative School Integrates the Science of Nutrition with:

Practicing Sustainable Gardening Methods

Preparing Traditional Kitchen Medicine

Learning Kitchen Culinary Skills

Identifying Nutrient-rich Wild Plants

Embark on this life-altering journey and be part of the movement to change the paradigm of our food for future generations. Join our experienced staff one weekend a month as you use hands-on education to delve into and explore diverse aspects of how food and herbs enhance the health of your clients, friends, family, yourself and the environment.

Adventures on the Farm May 11, 6-8pm June 9, 10am-12pm

FREE!

Now accepting applications for 2018 -19 | Call 860-764-9070 today! | West Granby, CT | www.tiosn.com May 2018

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CONNECTICUT'S LOCALSUSTAINABLE LIFESTYLE DESTINATION IS SUSTAINNE.COM Our actions and decisions today will shape our future. Visit us to get inspired and shop responsibly.

news briefs

Qigong Open House and Workshop

R

enowned Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) teacher Dr. Ming Wu of Wu Healing Center, in West Hartford is offering a Qigong Introductory Open House on May 19 from 10am to noon, and a full-day Qigong Level 1 Workshop on May 20 from 10am to 6pm. The open house is free and will be in two parts: from 10 to 11am, there will be a qi gong experience class led by Dr. Wu; from 11am to noon, there will be a presentation and time for questions and answers.

The Qigong Level One workshop on May 20 costs $100 for each participant. The experience will be an introduction to the principles and practices of qigong, an ancient discipline focused on empowering Chi, Ming Wu enhancing health and healing the mind, body and spirit.

Qigong helps practitioners develop physical and mental fitness with calmness, balance and awareness.

For more information or to register, call 978-790-8888, email Center@WuHealing.com, or visit WuHealing.com. Location: Wu Healing Center, 45 S Main St, West Hartford. See ad, page 19.

Dragonfly Healing Arts Holistic Fair

T Heartsource

Integrative Wellness LLC Traditional Chinese Medicine Chinese Tui Na Acupressure Usui Ryoho Reiki Medical Qi Gong Therapy Tong Ren Healing System Tai Chi and Qi Gong Instruction Pastoral and Spiritual Counseling

Donna M. Gordon, RMT

Chinese Healing Practitioner

860-978-2938 Wu Healing Center 45 South Main Street Suite 100 West Hartford, CT 06107

myheartsourcewellness@gmail.com www.heartsourceintegrative.com 8

Hartford County Edition

he Dragonfly Healing Arts 2nd Annual Holistic Fair will take place on May 19 in Pine Meadow (New Hartford) from 11am to 4pm. Admission is free and the indoor/outdoor event will take place rain or shine.

Free indoor activities being offered include yoga, meditation, tai chi, a mediumship demonstration and a chakra lecture. There is a clothes swap, so please bring gently used items to exchange; leftovers will be donated to Hands of Grace. Massage, readings, energetic recalibration, henna tattoos and more will be available for purchase inside and outside, as well as wholesome goodies from Honey Bunns Café and Bakery.

Door prizes will include massage, reflexology, a mediumship reading, an angel card reading, a meditation and mindfulness basket, a $25 gift certificate for Poofy Organics, a Himalayan salt lamp, pendulum and sterling silver earrings. Door prize tickets are free.

Some participants include: Naomi McNeil of Naturally Artisan Apothecary, Charlene Plourde of Poofy Organics, Honey Bunns Café and Bakery, Jan Almstedt of Partylite, Unity in the Foothills, Art by Acacia, and readers Denise Atkinson and Evernia Fay. For those interested in attending as a vendor, outdoor 10 x 10 booths are available for $30 each while they last.

Sharon Farber opened Dragonfly in 2013 to provide a safe and sacred space for healing and spiritual growth. Regular offerings include massage, Reiki, reflexology, yoga, and mediumship classes and circles. Crystals, salt lamps and art are for sale. Farber is a massage therapist, healer, artist, medium and author of the forthcoming book Choosing to be a Medium.

To request a vendor application, contact Sharon Farber at 860-989-2358. For more information, visit DragonflyHealingArts.net. Location: 8 Wickett St, Pine Meadow. See ad, page 11.

NAHRT.com

Holistic Health Fair Focuses on Kids

O

n May 12 from 10am to 4pm, New Morning Market in Woodbury will host a children’s holistic health fair featuring resources and fun activities for the whole family.

Discover holistic options for and information about allergies, asthma and food sensitivity treatments with low-dose immunotherapy; autism, ADHD, ADD and SPD health coaching; epigenetics (root causes of disease); essential oils; family nutrition and healthy meal habits; herbalism; holistic psychotherapy; homeopathy; hypnosis; Juice Plus nutrition system; Lyme disease coaching; music therapy; naturopathic medicine; organic personal care products; PANS/PANDAS; and more.

The keynote speakers for the day are Beth Lambert from Epidemic Answers and Gabriella True from New England PANS/PANDAS Association. There will also be other presentations, exhibitors, authors, children’s activities, a parents’ “lounge” and other attractions. Raffle prizes will be awarded all day. A New Morning Market coupon booklet and Children’s Holistic Health Magazine will be available while supplies last. Tickets are free (one per family).

The Children’s Holistic Health Fair’s (CHHF) mission is to help families flourish and thrive by offering holistic resources for health and behavioral challenges. CHHF showcases programs, products and services to meet the demands of raising children with social-emotional, behavioral, learning, developmental and health issues such as ADHD, SPD, autism, executive function, allergies, asthma, motor function, constipation/digestion and ODD. For more information, a full list of participants and to sign up for the event, go to ChildrensHolisticHealthFair.com. Location: New Morning Market, 129 Main St N, Woodbury. See ad, page 13.

Walk to Improve Mental Health Awareness

O

n May 19 from 9am to noon, NAMI Connecticut will hold its 15th annual Walk in East Hartford. The large mental health awareness and fundraising event will help the organization continue to offer no-cost education programs that enhance people’s understanding of mental illness. It will also provide funding to maintain and grow more than 40 peer-led support groups across the state including some for young adults and parents of children and adolescents.

Become a Walk Star by raising $1,000 or more. As a Walk Star, you will get a Walk Star T-shirt to wear on walk day. You will be entered into a raffle to win a two-night stay and paid registration to the NAMI National Convention in New Orleans. (Airfare and meals not included; the drawing will be held on April 15.)

To register, visit Secure.QGIV.com/Event/NAMIConnecticutWalk2018 or Facebook.com/ Events/178622346085646/. Location: Rentschler Field, East Hartford.

Journey of Yoga

Inspiring Health & Happiness

yoga

Yoga Teacher Training Workshops and Events Classes

The Right Touch Celebrates 30 Years

T

he Right Touch of CT in Kensington is a full-service massage therapy destination. Now in its 30th year in business, The Right Touch sees a continued demand for professional massage and growth is still on the upswing.

Originally started by Chaleen Bloethe Abely and now owned by David Kinney, The Right Touch’s beginnings were inauspicious, in the small back room of a hair salon. Within a few years, Abely realized that expansion was inevitable due to increased demand for additional therapists and hours that one person could not address. She found the current location and added therapists to the business model.

The current location has evolved as well. Starting with three therapy rooms, the space has expanded. The unique and traditional modalities offered are: Ashiatsu Oriental Bar Therapy, therapeutic massage and advanced bodywork, neuromuscular therapy, clinical sports massage, orthopedic assessment, trigger point therapy, reflexology, myofascial release therapy, pregnancy massage and Sacred Stone massage.

For more information or to schedule an appointment, call 860-828-7591 or visit RightTouchMassage.com. Location: 928 Farmington Ave, Kensington.

ayurveda consulting body healing Determine nutrition and lifestyle guidelines based on your body’s specific needs.

Massage Therapy Thai Yoga Reiki

See website for complete schedule of classes & workshops.

730 Hopmeadow St. | Simsbury, CT 06070 | 860-680-1482 | journeyofyoga.com May 2018

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Upcoming Adventures at Holcomb Farm

news briefs

Using a New Lens to View Lyme

E

xperts from diverse fields collaborating to advance Lyme disease research, treatment and education will showcase their latest projects at Lyme Connection’s 12th Annual Patient Conference and Health Fair this month. Looking at Lyme Through a New Lens will take place on May 17 at Western Connecticut State University’s Westside Campus Student Center. Doors will open at 5pm, giving attendees time to visit the Lyme-focused health fair, featuring Lymeliterate practitioners, diagnostic laboratories, and manufacturers offering prevention and patient support products.

The evening program begins at 7pm with the presentation of Lyme Connection’s second Courage in Journalism Award to Lew Leone, vice president and general manager of WNYW-FOX 5 TV. Leone conceptualized and was the executive producer of the Emmy Award-winning TV special, Lyme and Reason: The Cause and Consequence of Lyme Disease. His wife also suffers with Lyme.

Attendees will then hear from internationally acclaimed speakers, including Wiltonbased internist and tick-borne diseases specialist Dr. Steven Phillips, Duke University oncologist Dr. Neil Spector (by video) and patient advocate Dana Parish. They will share treatment insights and news about research projects they are collaborating on. The trio is involved in a first-of-its-kind joint-research project through Duke University, Johns Hopkins University and Tulane University, taking the same precision medicine techniques for drug discovery used in the fields of cancer and HIV and directing them toward finding a cure for Lyme disease and Bartonella. A roundtable question-and-answer session with Phillips, Parish and Leone will conclude the evening.

Admission is free thanks to the support of this year’s sponsors: Dr. Roseann CapannaHodge, Global Lyme Diagnostics, Hopkinton Drug, IGeneX, Inc., Nutramedix, SOPHIA Natural Health Center and Tick Box Technology Corporation. The event is open to the public for all parts of the agenda.

For more information and registration, visit LymeConnection.org or Facebook.com/LymeConnection. Location: WestConn Westside Student Center, 43 Lake Ave Extension, Danbury. See ad, page 27.

meet shana EAT WELL. BE HAPPY.

YOUR JOURNEY TO WELLNESS BEGINS HERE

YOUR JOURNEY TO WELLNESS BEGINS HERE

YOUR NUTRITION EXPERT AT SHOPRITE OF CANTON

YOUR NUTRITION EXPERT AT SHOPRITE OF CANTON

meet shana LEARN HOW TO:

Accomplish your health goals

LEARN HOW TO:

Accomplish your health goals

Meet Shana, ShopRite’s Registered Dietitian, providing:

Lighten up your favorite recipes

Lighten up your

favorite recipes • Personal nutrition counseling and motivational wellness support Discover new foods • Free nutrition seminars & classes packed with relevant wellness for better eating tips • neW value-priced organic products & healthy, flavor-packed Wow your kids with Wow your recipes kids with healthy fun foods fun foods • Free KidsFit programs with hands-on nutrition and healthy culinary lessons Discover new foods for better eating

Shana Griffin, RDN,CD-N Retail Dietitian 960-693-3666 shana.griffin@wakefern.com

Shana Griffin, RDN,CD-N ALL FOR FREE! ALL FOR FREE! Retail Dietitian VISIT SHANA TODAY! information 960-693-3666 For more or to schedule aVISIT SHANA TODAY! shana.griffin@wakefern.com

consultation contact: Shana Griffin, RD at 860-693-3666 or email at: shana.griffin@wakefern.com

Owned and Operated by Joseph Family Markets

Owned and Operated by JOseph Family markets • 110 albany turnpike, CantOn, Ct Copyright ® 2016 Wakefern Food Corp. All Rights Reserved.

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Hartford County Edition

Copyright ® 2016 Wakefern Food Corp. All Rights Reserved.

NAHRT.com

T

he Institute of Sustainable Nutrition (TIOSN) will hold two upcoming open houses at Holcomb Farm in West Granby for those interested in their yearlong sustainable food practices program.

The first open house will be May 11 from 6 to 8pm and the second will be June 9 from 10am to noon.

This year’s program begins in September 2018 and participants move through life changing, hands-on practices in the science of nutrition, local/sustainable gardening practices, culinary skills, kitchen medicine and sustainable foraging. Students learn how the body and food work together and change with the seasons.

Additional teaching include the cycles of plants/weeds, soil, bees and planets, preparing and sharing food in the kitchen, making traditional remedies, teas, tonics and brews in addition to outdoor exploration of wild food.

TIOSN has become a regional leader in the field of sustainability and food. All are welcome to attend and learn more about the farm and and any of the programs offered.

To RSVP for the open house or for questions on any of the training programs, call Joan at 860-764-9070, email Joan@tiosn. com or visit TIOSN.com. Location: Holcomb Farm, 113 Simsbury Rd, West Granby.

See ad, page 7.

Success is the sum of small efforts—repeated day in and day out. ~Robert Collier

cover artist

ohn of od Crystal ight ed • Crystal rea ing • Angel ink A une ents doTerra ssential Oils • Traditional sui eiki Classes and Sessions Singing owls and Tuning Forks • ru uilding • ocal Artists allery Our Practitioners are all licensed and insured rofessionals with years of e erience ensuring the highest standards in the natural healing industry

West A on oad | A on, CT

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SAVE 25% on your ˛"b""" rst session with this ad

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Flower Power

Richard W. Schmidt Born in 1967 in Englewood, New Jersey, Richard Schmidt has been drawing inspiration from the world around him as far back as he can recollect. Some of his works reveal an interest in humanity and natural history, while others reflect an appreciation for narrative themes.

Whether abstract or realistic, Schmidt’s art is descriptive in line, color and composition, reflecting the integrity of his commitment to the moment and the concept. Rendered in pencil, pen and ink, watercolor and oil, his fine art and interior murals are in private collections throughout the country. His projects vary from traditional media on paper and canvas to large-scale installations.

“I work in several directions with regard to materials, technique, subject and intent, with themes ranging from the ancient to the contemporary, the real to the imaginary,” Schmidt advises. “I am determined to create until my last day, and desire that my final breath be drawn with an implement of design my hand.”

View the artist’s portfolio at FineArtAmerica.com/profiles/ richard-schmidt.html.

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Whether advancing your career as a therapist/healer or working on personal self-improvement, we have a program to suit your needs. Join us for a free seminar to learn more about HFI and all we have to offer.

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New Guidelines Lower the Bar for Risky Blood Pressure New guidelines that change the criteria for healthy blood pressure mean that nearly half of U.S. adults are now considered to have high blood pressure. The American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association have redefined the condition as being 130/80 instead of 140/90, a change considered by critics as overly beneficial to pharmaceutical companies. This criteria includes 80 percent of people over 65, triples the diagnosis for men under 45 and doubles it for women younger than 45.

The revised guidelines encourage adopting lifestyle strategies in early stages of rising blood pressure like exercise, diet, weight loss and smoking cessation. Evidence-based alternative methods noted in a Canadian study include coenzyme Q10, dark chocolate, qigong, slow breathing, Transcendental Meditation and vitamin D.

Seniors Eating Mediterranean Diet Retain Independence Seniors that ate a Mediterranean diet high in vegetables, fruit, whole grains, nuts and legumes were able to live independently longer, had fewer falls and fractures, and were less frail, according to recent research. In a study published in the Journal of the American Geriatric Society, University College London researchers analyzed the eating habits and health data of 5,789 participants in studies in France, Spain, Italy and China. “People that followed the Mediterranean diet the most were overall less than half as likely to become frail over a nearly four-year period compared with those that followed it the least,” says lead author Katy Walters, Ph.D. The researchers also noted that the plant-based diet may help older people maintain muscle strength, activity, weight and energy levels.

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REDUCE YOUR DISCOMFORT IN JUST MINUTES

health briefs

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Human Growth Hormones Human growth hormone (HGH) has received a great deal of press. With that comes questions. Is it legal?

What exactly does it do?

HGH is a single chain peptide hormone produced from the pituitary gland (the master gland in the body). This is the hormone that helps you grow throughout your childhood. It is at its peak around the age of 20, then begins to plummet around the age of 25. This is when the aging process actually begins, and this hormone slowly declines for the rest of your life.

Cells divide only a certain amount of times in the body. The cell division process takes place at the time of conception and is needed for development and growth of life. As we grow, cells divide and multiply. However, as we continue to get older, cell division slows down.

Telomeres are the stretches of DNA which protect our genetic information from being destroyed. However, when the cells divide, these telomeres get shorter. When they get too short, they can no longer divide. The University of Utah’s Dr. Richard Cawthorne and his colleagues discovered that shorter telomeres are correlated with shorter lives.

HGH is not considered to be dangerous. Amidst all the benefits of HGH, there are still some stigmas that exist and the media has portrayed this hormone in a negative light, mostly due to side effects and inappropriate usage of injectable applications.

There is now an HGH gel available without a prescription; it is the only transdermal FDA-registered human growth hormone product available without a prescription. The molecular breakdown found in HGH gel is a synthetic USP Somatropin, a homeopathic form of the growth hormone that is safe and effective for men and women over the age of 18.

In order to be FDA-registered, the homeopathic product is diluted to a 30x dose—any less of a dilution requires a prescription. The HGH gel is applied topically and absorbed into the bloodstream in 5 to 10 minutes. Typical applications for the gel are on the “furnace” parts of the skin, wherever veins are visible—under the arms, on the wrists and forearms and behind the knees.

This gel has been tested for 25 years and possible benefits include: significant fat loss; enhanced muscle mass; improved mood, energy, memory and sleep; faster recovery time; increased libido and sexual performance; and alleviated joint pain.

For more information and research, contact Shirley R. Bloethe at 860-989-0033 or HGH8609890033@gmail.com. See ad, page 21.

U.S. Midlife Women Choosing Natural Health Care In a survey of 171 midlife American women, more than 80 percent reported using complementary and alternative medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine researchers discovered. The most common choice was herbal teas, followed by women’s vitamins, flaxseed, glucosamine and soy supplements. Only 34 percent of the non-Hispanic white women and 14 percent of the Hispanic women discussed it with their doctors.

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The Black Mamba Anti-Poaching Unit aims not only to protect rhinoceroses in South Africa by patrolling the Balule Nature Reserve, in Greater Kruger National Park, but to also be a role model in their communities. It’s the first majority-female, anti-poaching unit in the country.

Founded in 2013 by Transfrontier Africa NPC to protect the Olifants West Region of Balule, the Black Mambas were invited within a year to expand into other regions, and now protect all boundaries of the reserve.

These 32 young women and two men want their communities to understand that the benefits are greater through rhino conservation rather than poaching, as they address the local social and moral decay that results from poaching. Their concern is also for their children’s sake because the sham economy has corrupted morals and brought narcotics into their communities. To make a donation, visit BlackMambas.org.

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Hartford County Edition

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Africans Unite to Save Rhinos

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Women Warriors

Recycled Plastic Transforms into Prosthetics The emerging technology of three-dimensional (3-D) printing can benefit the world in many ways.

Re:Purpose for Good, in Australia, creates robotically 3-D printed prosthetic devices from recycled plastic and e-waste. It’s difficult to customize prosthetics, so more invasive surgery is often needed to make standard sizes fit the patient. Other companies produce 3-D printed prosthetic hands and arms, but Re:Purpose for Good customizes both hands and feet at a much lower cost.

The company’s robotics and prosthetics engineer Gerardo Montoya, who had been working on 3-D printing prosthetics for children in Mexico, merged the idea with a desire to do something about the 8 million tons of plastic entering the oceans. Along with plastic waste, they also use e-waste such as discarded smartphones that have all the circuitry and microprocessors needed for advanced features. The company even plans to teach their prosthetic-making process to children as part of their science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics (STEAM) curriculum, so they can learn 3-D printing skills.

They’re making it open source so more people can get involved without patent restrictions.

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Helping Hands

global briefs

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therapy spotlight

Sunshine on Our Shoulders

Makes Us Happy and Healthy

by Kathleen Barnes

E

ver since skin cancer scares penetrated the national psyche in the mid-1980s, Americans have been conditioned to cover up and slather on sunscreen when we leave the house. Now experts say we haven’t been doing ourselves a favor, even when strictly using all-natural formulas. We’ve been blocking the sun’s life-giving rays, essential for the body’s production of vitamin D, and possibly prompting a host of health problems.

Safe Exposure Update

“Ninety percent of the vitamin D we get comes from the sun, and exposing arms and legs for a few minutes a day is enough for most people with no risk of skin cancer,” says Registered Nurse Sue Penckofer, Ph.D., a professor in the School of Nursing at Chicago’s Loyola University. She’s the lead researcher for the Sunshine 2 Study, a clinical trial investigating the vitamin’s vital role in relieving depression.

“Every tissue and cell of your body requires vitamin D to function properly,” says Michael Holick, Ph.D., a medical doctor who has pioneered vitamin D research at the Boston University Medical Center. A 40-year professor at the Boston University School of Medicine, he’s a fervent advocate of sensible sun exposure.

“Vitamin D is actually a hormone, essential for bone and muscle health. It plays a significant role in reducing the risk of infectious diseases, including cardiovascular problems and certain cancers, contributes to brain function and memory, and elevates

mood, all while reducing early mortality,” explains Holick, author of The Vitamin D Solution: A 3-Step Strategy to Cure Our Most Common Health Problem. Yet, he says, about half of all Americans are among the 1 billion people worldwide that are vitamin D deficient.

Published vitamin D research in the U.S. National Library of Medicine turns up 74,486 studies and citations dating back to 1922, with nearly half done in the past 10 years; 478 of the total were authored or co-authored by Holick or cited his research. His work confirms that sensible sun exposure and supplementing with natural vitamin D3 brings vitamin D levels to the optimal 40 to 60 nanograms per milliliter (ng/ml). New research from the University of Surrey, in the UK, found D3 twice as effective in raising vitamin D levels as D2, which is often synthetically produced.

While the human body manufactures vitamin D as a response to sun exposure, eating certain foods like fatty fish, egg yolks and cheese can help. Fortifying foods with the vitamin is controversial. “It’s interesting that the right sun exposure will correct D deficiency rapidly, but won’t create an excess. Our bodies stop producing the hormone vitamin D once we have enough,” says Dr. Robert Thompson, an obstetrician, gynecologist and nutrition specialist in Anchorage, Alaska, and author of The Calcium Lie II: What Your Doctor Still Doesn’t Know.

Bare Minimum Holick, who differentiates between unhealthy tanning and healthy sun exposure, recommends exposing arms and legs to noonday sun for five to 10 minutes three times a week for most people. He adds, “Everyone needs 1,500 to 2,000 international units of vitamin D3 [supplements] a day year-round, and obese people need two to three times that much, because their ability to manufacture vitamin D is impaired.”

Penckofer’s research confirms that fair-skinned people absorb the sun’s rays easily and quickly, while darker-skinned people have a natural sunblock, so they need much longer sun exposure to absorb the UVB rays that trigger the production of vitamin D. She remarks that inadequate vitamin D is a possible explanation for the greater risk of high blood pressure observed in African-Americans.

Holick contends that anyone living north of Atlanta, Georgia, cannot get enough winter sun exposure to maintain optimal vitamin D levels. “While vitamin D can be stored in the body for up to two months, a winter-induced deficiency is a convincing explanation for the seasonal affective disorder that strikes many in northern states in January, just two months after the weather turns too cold to get sufficient sun exposure,” explains Penckofer.

“In Alaska, we eat lots of fatty fish and take D supplements in winter. We know there’s no chance we’re getting the D we need from the sun, even when we’re sunbathing in negative 30 degrees Fahrenheit temperatures,” quips Thompson.

Kathleen Barnes is the author of numerous books on natural health, including Food Is Medicine: 101Prescriptions from the Garden.

Connect at KathleenBarnes.com.

May 2018

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HEALING THE HARD STUFF Natural Approaches Resolve Major Illnesses

by Linda Sechrist

A

lthough natural health enthusiasts may recognize alternative healing modalities as a preferred approach to treatment, in the face of major health issues, even they tend to join the crowd that’s turning first to conventional medicine.

Thus, many gentler modalities described in The Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine, co-authored by doctors of naturopathy Michael T. Murray and Joseph Pizzorno, remain largely untapped resources. Ignored because they are unsupported by traditional sciencebased medicine, holistic measures such as acupuncture, energy medicine, essential oils, herbs, detoxification, health-promoting diets, homeopathy, prayer and meditation, supplementation, yoga, massage and naturopathy are sacrificed in favor of often painful medical procedures and prescription drugs which can’t claim to permanently cure anything and can have many harmful side effects.

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Hartford County Edition

Lack of Awareness

“A patient that dabbles in holistic medicine for minor health issues such as indigestion, headache or insomnia often turns to conventional methods after receiving a serious diagnosis such as diabetes, heart disease or cancer because they are scared,” observes holistic physician Dr. Wendy Warner, medical director of Medicine in Balance, in Langhorne, Pennsylvania. The co-author of Boosting Your Immunity for Dummies suggests that relatively few people turn to natural solutions for both preventive and therapeutic measures because they’re unaware they exist.

Integrative oncologists and endocrinologists that are aware of the benefits of natural complementary methods are scarce. Relatively few conventional doctors are educated in functional medicine. “Yet complementary modalities such as acupuncture, massage and some essential oils can support the immune system and help an individual deal with stress experienced from coping with their illness,” says Warner.

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Rob Wergin, an experienced energy medicine practitioner, speaks from experience regarding clients that consult him for lifethreatening diagnoses. “When I see them, they’re desperate and have exhausted all conventional methods. I’m their lastditch effort,” remarks Wergin. The most frequent reason he hears is, “My family, friends and doctor told me not to waste my money on charlatans.”

“People find it challenging to put faith in natural methods and are nervous about going against a doctor’s advice until they feel or see positive results; even these may not provide sufficient motivation to continue with alternative treatments,” he says.

“I believe this is the result of the influence of pharmaceutical ads promising results, the medical community’s belief in proof solely through clinical trials, websites like Quackwatch. com and well-meaning friends insisting that the conventional route is the only way to go. It’s sad to see the gravity of these influences pulling clients back into solely believing in the Western model of medicine,” says Wergin.

Ann Lee, a doctor of naturopathy, acupuncturist and founder of the Health for Life Clinic, Inc., in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, notes, “This mindset continues to get reinforced by insurance companies that do not cover alternatives. Paying out of pocket for medical expenses also influences a patient’s choices.”

Kelly Noonan-Gores and Adam Schomer, director and producer, respectively, of the documentary film HEAL, suggest that unconscious conditioning plays the biggest role in an individual’s choices.

“We are deeply conditioned to view medical specialists and prestigious medical institutions as the ones with all the answers.

Sometimes they do and sometimes they

Tefi/Shutterstock.com

Outside Pressure

don’t,” says Noonan-Gores, who intends to have her film awaken viewers to the possibilities of alternative paths of healing. As just one other example noted in the film, thousands have used the Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT), tapping on their body to help release the trauma and stress often associated with illness.

Resistance to Change

“The conventional medical community wants to maintain the model in which they have heavily invested centuries of time, energy and money. Patients that investigate integrative and complementary medicine may resist hearing that in order to get well, they might need to change their worldview and lifestyle, take a leave of absence from their job, develop a spiritual practice, exercise or maybe even leave a toxic relationship,” says Schomer.

“Conventional medicine says take this pill and keep living your life the same way,” says Schomer. “We are not demonizing doctors, pharmaceuticals or the medical system. We simply believe that individuals are more empowered to heal when they take control of their health.”

Eva Lee, a resident of Los Angeles featured in the documentary, suffers from a rare and unpredictable form of blistering skin inflammation. “I’ve tested negative for faulty genes and all sorts of rare viruses and bacteria, which helped point me towards holistic methods. So far, following the directives of Dr. Mark Emerson, a chiropractor specializing in nutrition, in Maui, Hawaii, who I met while filming, has helped my body become healthier and deal with inflammation levels that rapidly reduced as soon as I detoxed and eliminated meat and dairy from my diet,” says Lee. Still, it’s hard for her to accept that her condition could be due to the type of stress and suppressed emotions that Anthony William explores in his book Medical Medium: Secrets Behind Chronic and Mystery Illness and How to Finally Heal.

“Before, I wasn’t familiar with EFT, which I continue to use and benefit from. However, despite everything I’ve learned, I can’t give up on all Western medicine, put my faith in alternatives and let my intuition and faith guide me to healing. It’s easier to be skeptical than to have faith,” Lee says.

website FloridaOilsRN.com that reaches hundreds of individuals worldwide. She advises, “Reach out to people that you see are having positive results with a different healing system than yours. Ask them to show, help and teach you. I’ve seen many people restored to health by using methods that science is only beginning to understand.”

Quiet Role Models

“Outside of any dominant paradigm, it’s easier to cast suspicion than to make curious inquiry and, over time, working within a dominant worldview creates polarity, the antithesis of ‘wholism’. An inclusive approach integrates all medical and complementary approaches, as well as interaction with the natural world,” says Patrick Hanaway, a family physician and founder of Family to Family Medicine, in Asheville, North Carolina.

Hanaway, the former director of medical education for the Institute for Functional Medicine and the first medical director at the Cleveland Clinic Center for Functional Medicine, explains, “Doctors have a rigorous job filled with responsibility. Change is difficult and investigating vastly different ways of practicing medicine requires a degree of curiosity and openness. I am heartened by thought leaders and heads of top medical schools who are presently opening up to functional medicine, natural medicine and complementary approaches.”

“The paradigm shift we are ushering in has been 50 years in the making,” assesses Hanaway. “Some medical professionals are immersed in a polar view of right and wrong, offering personal attacks and disparaging comments to maintain control of the dialogue. This is not appreciated by patients who look to the doctor as a teacher—the Latin docere means to teach.

“The movement to change medicine and the cultural paradigm of healing is a marathon, not a sprint, and those of us involved are prepared to stay the course.”

Sheila Tucker, a resident of Navarre, Florida, has been a registered nurse for 20 years, practicing in hospital settings such as critical care, emergency and administration. “I know and understand doctors, surgeries and pharmaceutical treatments and hospitals,” says Tucker, who recalls that throughout her life she was taught to believe in a system that suddenly stopped working for her.

“In 2014, I was dying from a rare autoimmune condition, requiring fulltime care, and planning my funeral.

Doctors had tried everything, yet my health continued to decline. When I saw a friend’s Facebook posts about her use of essential oils, I was curious, but reluctant to reach out, and didn’t want anyone to know that I called her for advice,” recalls Tucker.

“Shortly after my friend arrived with her oils, my husband came home with our daughter, who had strep throat and a fever. She made us promise to use selected oils through the night and prayed with us.” Tucker attributes the miracle of her daughter’s turnaround the next morning to shifting her paradigm and opening her up to believing in the healing power of essential oils.

Thanks to her friend and role model, Tucker learned how to use therapeuticgrade oils, supplements and a healthy diet to cleanse her body of the heavy toxic load accumulated from several years of expensive drug treatments. Today, she is a healthy and enthusiastic advocate, and her personal results opened the eyes of her physician to the point where she also shifted her own philosophy of healing.

Tucker now offers educational classes in her office and online through her

It’s a Marathon

Linda Sechrist is a senior staff writer for Natural Awakenings. Connect at LindaSechrist.com.

May 2018

17

New Standard of Care

PERSONALIZED HEALTH CARE

Functional Medicine Leads the Way

by Linda Sechrist

Historical Overview During the last 25 years, a less drug-based grassroots model for dealing with chronic illnesses in the U.S. has emerged. First labeled holistic, the movement gained momentum as alternative approaches morphed into being considered comple-

mentary to conventional medicine, warranting studies by the National Institutes of Health. Responding to public interest, an integrative model of care that focuses on the whole person has taken root in medical institutions such as the Cleveland Clinic, in Ohio.

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One of the best-prepared, traditionally trained medical professionals in explaining this approach is Jeffrey S. Bland, Ph.D., recognized as the father of functional medicine, and author of The Disease Delusion: Conquering the Causes of Chronic Illness for a Healthier, Longer and Happier Life. He co-founded, with his wife, Susan, the Institute for Functional Medicine, in Washington, which provides a system geared to understanding the complexity of chronic illness and design individualized programs for more effective healing.

“Medical science didn’t have the advanced technology 25 years ago to perform the research that now helps us better understand the complexity of chronic illness, as well as our present ecological view of the body. Today we’re examining how all the networks of our biology intersect in a dynamic process that creates health when in balance or disease when out of balance,” attests Bland, whose career has focused on searching for a unifying principle behind all healing that can be used to discern the best possible therapy for specific individuals.

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The latest evolution to a systemsoriented, patient-focused clinical model of functional medicine, which seeks to address causes of illness, rather than simply treat symptoms, has been garnering increasing interest by the public and pioneering medical professionals. It’s now maturing into personalized functional medicine.

healing ways

”Today we’re examining how all the networks of our biology intersect in a dynamic process that creates health when in balance or disease when out of balance” ~Jeffrey S. Bland, Ph.D. Incorporating what he learned from Linus Pauling, Ph.D., two-time Nobel Prize laureate, and Lee Hood, M.D., Ph.D., as well as systems biology and practicing lifestyle medicine, Bland founded the nonprofit Personalized Lifestyle Medicine Institute (PLMInstitute.org) in 2012.

Seeking to transform the entire medical approach to chronic illness, the Seattlebased organization is a virtual and onsite hub for health professionals, researchers, educators and the public to share ideas and converse about how personalized functional medicine can be delivered to everyone as an improved standard of care.

Role of Genetics The National Human Genome Research Institute, in Bethesda, Maryland, maintains that an evolved approach to medicine starts with using an individual’s genetic profile to determine the best path to preventing, diagnosing and treating diseases.

By 2003, scientists had delivered the first essentially complete sequence and map of all the genes in the human body.

Three decades ago, the medical fraternity had few reliable explanations for the origins of chronic health issues. Today, accepted factors include predispositions for a specific disease related to an individual’s genome, along with contemporary epigenetic influences such as nutrition, environment and lifestyle. None of these elements, however, necessarily define our destiny.

“This genomic personalized medicine approach is creating friends among all healing arts practitioners because it facilitates our using information to design a less-toxic environment, lifestyle, diet and treatment to meet an individual’s specific needs and particular circumstances that led to a disease,” says Bland.

“Diseases are only names assigned to a collection of symptoms,” says Bland.

“They don’t indicate how the individual became afflicted. If 10 patients with Type 2 diabetes each had epigenetic variations

that triggered getting the condition, it would be unwise to treat them all the same; it’s far better to treat those factors that specifically led to the disease.”

Addressing the concern that genetic test results might be used to deny someone health insurance, Bland notes, “This is a significant misunderstanding about genetic testing. Our genes don’t tell us how we are going to die. They tell us how

we should live. Understanding how our genes can help us live to 100 is a model of enlightenment. Those that practice this systems biology approach are counting on functional personalized medicine becoming the updated standard of care.”

Physicians often offer genetic testing services. At-home DNA testing can be done using a saliva collection kit mailed to a laboratory, offering both ancestry and health information that must be interpreted by an informed professional.

Linda Sechrist is a senior staff writer for Natural Awakenings. Connect at LindaSechrist.com.

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The health benefits of chaga are well-documented, but conscious eating

conscious eating

perhaps its most impressive abilities are as an actual cancer treatment as identified by the Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.

It is well known to curb cancer growth and can be used as an adaptogen tonic.

Also most impressive is chaga’s ability to activate immune cells to stimulate lagging immune systems, reduce inflammation by limiting cytokine production, protect the liver by increasing antioxidants, and fight gastritis by reducing ulcer-causing Helicobacter pylori bacterium.

Best ways to consume it: By making a tea out of its powder.

Cordyceps

5 Medicinal Mushrooms for Lyme Disease

by Gregg Kirk

S

ince May is Lyme Disease Awareness Month, it seems an appropriate time to review a form of treatment support many Lyme disease patients, doctors and practitioners may have overlooked. Used by ancient Greek and Asian cultures for thousands of years, medicinal mushrooms are just now making their way into our public awareness because of powerful medicinal properties that rival the most popular pharmaceutical and herbal remedies.

The collection of mushrooms mentioned in this article have been “handpicked” for individuals with Lyme disease because of their abilities to curb inflammation, support nervous system repair, and fight viruses and bacteria. We intentionally left off Turkey Tail and Maitake mushrooms, varieties which have strong anti-cancer properties but do not seem as helpful to the average patient with Lyme disease as these following mushrooms.

Chaga Chaga is a mushroom that has been used by ancient cultures for thousands of years and given a reverent nickname, “Gift from God”. Its tough texture is similar to wood, with a dark black outer layer and a golden-brown interior. It is usually found co-existing with birch trees in some of the harshest and coldest climates in the world, including the northern U.S., Canada, Scandinavia and Russia. It not only survives in these climates, but it strengthens itself and its host tree in the process.

20

Hartford County Edition

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Cordyceps mushrooms have been used for centuries as a tonic herb in both Chinese and Tibetan medicine. It grows at high altitudes of over 3,800 meters above sea level in the Himalayan mountains where it was first noticed by yak farmers that noticed the health benefits their livestock enjoyed when consuming it.

Cordyceps is known to boost metabolism, reduce fatigue, increase testosterone in men, and act as an immune stimulant and strong antioxidant.

Well-known Lyme disease doctors, Dr. Stephen Buhner and Dr. Qingcai Zhang, both use cordyceps in their protocols because of the natural killer cell function, immune-boosting properties and anti-inflammatory abilities.

Best ways to consume it: By tincture.

Lion’s Mane The Lion’s mane mushroom grows on broad-leaf hardwood trees in temperate areas of North America, Europe and Asia. It gets its name from its waterfall-like flowing tendrils. It’s also known by other nicknames, such as “bearded tooth” and the “pom pom mushroom”.

Like other medicinal mushrooms, lion’s mane is excellent for the immune system. However, what sets it apart is its health benefits for the brain and nervous system. It has been shown to improve cognition and concentration, and to reduce depression and anxiety. Lion’s mane also has compounds that stimulate the production of nerve growth factor (NGF). NGF is a valuable tool in helping patients with nerve damage, which is a concern of many Lyme disease patients. Lion’s mane can indirectly stimulate the production of NGF without having to pass through the bloodbrain barrier to do so.

And, finally, lion’s mane protects the network of connections that nerves use to send signals throughout the body. These can be compromised in Lyme disease patients. The mushroom is known to promote the growth of this insulation, called myelin.

Best ways to consume it: Must be consumed by tincture to receive full benefits.

Reishi

The Reishi mushroom has been used by physicians for thousands of years in China, where it was nicknamed the “mushroom of immortality” for its effectiveness at preventing illness and curing disease. Initially, it was only available to the ruling class in the Orient, however, more recently reishi mushrooms have become widely available and are one of the most studied natural medicines available.

Reishi is what is known in Chinese medicine as a tonic, meaning it is recommended for it to be consumed regularly and in high quantities to achieve its beneficial effects. Reishi also falls into the category of adaptogen herbs due to its ability to help the body adapt to and blunt the negative effects of stressors, such as anxiety, fatigue, trauma and emotional distress.

Its most impressive feature may be its ability to curb cancer growth. In a 2013 study, reishi mushrooms were found to shrink aggressive breast cancer cells in vitro and in vivo by 50 percent.

Reishi has also been found to have antiviral, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties.

Best ways to consume it: By making a tea out of its powder.

The collection of mushrooms mentioned in this article have been “handpicked” for individuals with Lyme disease because of their abilities to curb inflammation, support nervous system repair, and fight viruses and bacteria.

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

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astrodee24@yahoo.com • www.metaphysicalcntr.net

Shiitake Found growing wild in the mountainous regions of China, Japan, Indonesia and Taiwan, the shiitake is the second-most widely cultivated mushroom in the world. It is commonly used in many Asian cuisines. The Chinese were the first to cultivate this mildly fragrant mushroom more than 600 years ago, and its medicinal properties have also been known for centuries.

Shiitakes are heart-healthy because they can lower cholesterol and decrease the tendency of blood platelets to stick together.

Like all medicinal mushrooms, they can help prevent cancer formation, even going so far as to stimulate cancer cells to destroy themselves.

Shiitakes show strong antiviral properties with an ability to stimulate the immune system, which is important to Lyme disease patients. The mushrooms can even destroy the microbes that cause tooth decay.

THE SLEEP BRACELET Wearers have experienced:

· Falling asleep faster · Increased quality sleep · Waking up more refreshed Recommended by

Best ways to consume it: Fresh in cooking or by tincture.

Gregg Kirk is a Lyme disease advocate, a former patient, and the current practitioner who runs the Lyme Recovery Clinic in Darien, the Ticked Off Foundation nonprofit patient fund and the Ticked Off Music Fest benefit concert series. Connect at 203-858-9725 or LymeKnowledge.com.

Sold exclusively online at If you choose to return your Philip Stein goods, please do so within 30 days of receipt in perfect condition and in the original packaging.

May 2018

21

wise words

Ilona Selke on the

Power of Dreaming Big

by April Thompson

F

or 30 years, international bestselling author, teacher and speaker Ilona Selke has inspired thousands of people worldwide to create a more fulfilling life by discovering the power of their consciousness.

She’s the author of six books, including Dream Big: The Universe is Listening and The Big Secret, co-authored with Jack Canfield.

Her Living from Vision course, available in six languages including Chinese, teaches how to use the power of visualization to tap into our highest potential and deepest dreams in order to manifest miracles.

Born in the Himalayas to German parents, Selke spent her first three years in Afghanistan speaking Persian and German, and then grew up in Germany. She moved to the U.S. at age 20 to study philosophy, where she met her husband and partner, Don Paris.

The couple spent 25 years studying and communicating with dolphins in natural waters, experiences shared through her books Wisdom of the Dolphins and Dolphins, Love and Destiny. They split their time between a geodesic dome home on a Northwest Pacific island and the Shambala retreat center they founded in Bali.

What is key to manifesting our dreams and desires?

It’s a four-step process. First, form a clear description in your mind, positively framed and based on your passion. No matter how big the dream, if you are behind it heart and soul, you will manifest miracles. Next, imagine the scenario as if it has already happened. The third and most vital step is to feel the feeling of your fulfilled wish as if it has already manifested.

Fourth, create a metaphorical image that represents the feeling.

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In practice, it means we can communicate intentionally with the universe. When we learn to do so, it responds to us.

How do our thoughts affect our reality?

All our thoughts, subconscious as well as conscious, affect how things manifest around us. If we have contradictory beliefs, it is hard to manifest things. For example, if we say we want money, but somehow believe that money is dirty, evil or undeserved, then we are pushing and pulling against ourselves.

It’s important to dive into our subconscious mind and heart, and deal with the negative feelings that dwell there, such as hurt, sadness and trauma. Make this a daily activity—cleaning your emotional being. Eventually, your subconscious and conscious mind as well as the superconscious will all point in one direction and you will see your desired results. We guide people to build their success, aspirations and dreams in alignment with their deepest values as well as their purpose in life.

Uniting purpose and direction is tremendous fuel for moving in the direction of your dreams.

Why does choosing goals aligned with our purpose make them manifest more easily?

By applying this method, our clients have manifested a desired pregnancy, funding for an overseas orphanage and redemption of a suicidal teen. In the latter case, the young man went on to focus on his dream of learning jazz piano well enough to play benefit concerts for children being treated for cancer.

Which universal principles are at work behind manifestation?

We live in a conscious, interactive universe, and it is listening. Our Western scientific mindset may not support the idea, but thousands of years of mystical teachings, as well as new understanding via quantum physics, teach that the observer is an intricate part of what appears to be solid matter.

NAHRT.com

Personal goals and inner purpose are not always aligned for everyone. However, when you take time to become aware of your deepest dreams, you may find that a part of your purpose is embedded in them.

Be aware that many people confuse their larger life purpose with their talents.

Our talents are what we love to do, what we are good at. Yet our deeper purpose actually is to shine more light and share more love. That is the common true root to our purpose.

My suggestion is to read books that share success stories from those that are living on purpose and provide step-by-step instructions on how to get there.

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

A Softer Way to Peace Reconnecting with Earth’s Directions

by Christopher Harris

H

ow do we find balance in this chaotic, crazy time of fearbased force-feeding of social pressure? The easiest answer is to bring yourself into balance. However, it turns out that isn’t actually so easy. In a time of quick fixes and daunting responsibilities, many of us are looking for the softer way to peace and ease without a roadmap.

We’re looking for the magic—some sort of lightning bolt of energy which will set the world straight without having to develop any sort of awareness to the Earth and its answers. Well, where do we think all this written knowledge came from? By getting closer to the Earth, we can find the magic. But like anything worth having, it takes work. The good news is, it’s more like noticing than working. It’s paying attention to the symbols right under our noses.

The first step is recognizing when we are unbalanced. Usually, some sort of uneasiness or disease is the tool used to get our attention. When ego overrides the Earthly messages to cause such an unbalance, we are being encouraged in a sometimes not-sosubtle way to pay attention to the signs of the Earth. These signs are so abundant that we take them for granted and start paying less attention.

Our connection to the earth is right there in front of us, every minute of every day. For example, we can look at the four directions to determine where we are out of balance. It is a gift for us all.

As sure as the sun rises every morning, the symbols show up daily.

Let’s talk about recognizing the basic circle of life and how we find balance in the four directions, east-south-west-north, always following the clockwise flow of the sun (in Connecticut).

There are an abundance of signs we can relate to, such as the four seasons. For us that’s probably the easiest way to start.

We can consider the four directions as a pie cut into four equal pieces. The spring season or the eastern direction could be related to the area on the right side. Summer/south is the lower quarter, autumn/west is to the left and winter/north completes the circle. The cycle continues endlessly.

Now all we have to do is add in the blanks. These can be any symbol you want to associate with the corresponding direction.

What happens in the spring? The cycle of life starts here. Babies are born, plants emerge from their cold, dark place of winter’s rest and the sun rises. How many other symbols show up for you as you consider “new beginnings”?

Next look to the summer/south direction, where the sun is high and has the energy of adolescence. What comes to mind for you when you think about summer? Add these thoughts to your association of the summer direction. Consider long days and short nights, maybe a frolic in the waves at the beach with all the other sunbathers, all of Earth’s creatures buzzing with activity, such a contrast to the winter of hibernation and introspection.

Can you see how the seasons correlate to our lives? There is no magic answer, because what occurs in each direction for one person, may not correlate to another’s lifestyle. Take the time to consider what resonates for you in each direction. Then ask yourself the questions.

These quarters can also be considered on a smaller scale.

Take for instance a 24-hour period. The first 6+/- hours are spent in new beginnings, the second 6 hours are spent in activity, the next spent in relaxing and the rest of the time for sleep. The way we schedule our days is a matter of balance. Obviously if we worked 18-hour days and slept the other 6 without any time spent with family or friends, we would quickly become out of balance.

The times are not set in stone because balance is fluid and everchanging. That’s why it’s called balance and not stillness.

To each direction, you may add an element, such as air to the east, fire to the south, water to the west and Earth to the north. If we spend too much time in the east, we can become flighty and unfocused. Ideally, we want to spend equal time in each direction.

One last example for this short lesson is to consider a spinning top. As the top spins, if a little weight was added to one side, it wobbles and eventually topples over. If we were at the middle of the spinning top, we would want to keep the weight distributed evenly on all four sides to create balance.

Next time you feel off kilter, ask yourself what lesson the Earth’s cycles hold for you and try to incorporate a small piece of each direction to your life. You may find that just becoming aware of the cycles will increase the balance within your world.

Christopher Harris, AKA Painted Turtle, is an elder citizen of the Mohegan Tribe. He has been on the journey of actively participating in Native American ritual and ceremony since the early 1990s.

He has trained as an herbalist and hospital chaplain and is active in men’s community building. He resides with his wife Donna in Lisbon. Connect at PaintedTurtle77@gmail.com.

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Menstrual cramping and mood changes can be a sign of elevated estrogen. Another contributing factor to hormone imbalance is elevated testosterone. Women who experience high testosterone levels may experience more acne breakouts, irregular menstrual cycles and hair growth along the chin. Another factor to keep in mind when treating PMS is inflammation. It is key to monitor the blood for markers of inflammation and take measures to reduce inflammation while balancing hormones.

While hormone imbalance and inflammation are the most common causes of PMS, there are others to consider such as fluid retention, vitamin deficiencies, insulin dysregulation and neurotransmitter imbalances.

Balancing Cycles

Natural Strategies for Premenstrual Syndrome

by Carissa Fioritto

P

remenstrual syndrome is an extremely common set of symptoms that the majority of women have experienced. Every woman has a set of unique signs to know that her menses will begin soon, like clockwork. Unfortunately, women suffer PMS symptoms for years before seeking support, as PMS is accepted as a cultural norm—when in actuality it is a sign of imbalance.

The menstrual cycle is a delicate balance of hormones waxing and waning every 28 to 33 days. Day 1 is considered the first day of menses, or a period. During day 1 through approximately day 14, estrogen levels climb to support the thickening of the uterine lining. Sometime between day 14 and 16, a woman will ovulate, release an egg, causing two hormones to spike, then drop: follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH). After these hormones spike, the body signals for a rise in the hormone progesterone. If during ovulation the egg is not fertilized, the body will shed its lining, and the cycle will begin again.

Clinical Picture

Symptoms of PMS vary from woman to woman. These symptoms can include mood changes (swings, irritability, depression, anxiety), cramps, breast tenderness, gastrointestinal changes, bloating, sleep disturbances, cravings or skin breakouts. Symptoms can appear from 10 days before the onset of menses and often resolve once the cycle starts. As most women have experienced, these symptoms can range widely from mildly annoying to debilitating enough to have to miss work or school for a few days.

While there are many factors causing these symptoms, often an imbalance in estrogen and progesterone are to blame.

Symptoms of breast tenderness can be a sign of low progesterone.

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Hartford County Edition

NAHRT.com

Evaluation

While PMS is usually diagnosed based on symptoms alone, bloodwork can also be done to help get to the root cause of the symptoms. Hormones that can be evaluated are estrogen, progesterone, FSH, LH, testosterone and prolactin. Depending on the symptoms, more tests may be run. In addition to bloodwork, a doctor may do a physical to examine for things like endometriosis, ovarian cysts and fibroids. Once other pathologies are ruled out, one can incorporate many naturopathic treatments to help ease symptoms, regulate the cycle and reduce inflammation.

Treatments

It is important to track your cycle and plan ahead. There are many apps available on your phone to help you track symptoms and cycle length. It is important to schedule some vitamin R (rest/ relaxation) on the days you know you will be most symptomatic.

This may be making sure you have an early bedtime, doing a favorite activity like reading or watching a TV show or having a relaxing bath.

While it is important to improve nutrition all cycle, the biggest benefit may be felt in the 7 to 10 days before you start.

Avoiding alcohol and other inflammatory foods, like refined carbohydrates (breads, sugar, white flour) and dairy, is important to decrease cramping and discomfort. If you retain water before your cycle, you will benefit from limiting processed or salty foods. It is beneficial to increase your intake of vegetables, especially those in the brassica/cruciferous family. They contain a compound called indole-3-carbinol that helps the liver process estrogen and clear it from the body. Foods in this family include Brussels sprouts, kale, broccoli, arugula and cabbage. Aim for five servings of vegetables a day with at least one being in the cruciferous family.

Supplements

There are some supplements that can be taken to help manage symptoms.

• B vitamins, specifically B6, can be helpful with mood changes and energy levels. B6 is specific to serotonin production, and a deficiency of serotonin can cause low mood.

• Magnesium and calcium can be taken for menstrual cramps as they relax smooth muscle. Studies have shown that women with magnesium deficiency experience more PMS symptoms than

those with adequate levels.

• Essential fatty acids, like flax oil and evening primrose oil, can be beneficial to reduce inflammation in the body. Flax oil contains alpha linoleic acid, which produces anti-inflammatory prostaglandins in the body. Flax is also a phytoestrogen, which means it helps the body make estrogen but also clear estrogen from the body. Evening primrose oil contains gamma-linolenic acid, which helps create prostaglandins as well as promote progesterone production. For best benefit one can rotate the time of the month you use these oils, using flax during the first half of the cycle and evening primrose the second half.

• Supplements to help promote more estrogen detoxification include calcium-d-glucarate and diindolylmethane (DIM). These are helpful for symptoms of high estrogen.

They bind estrogen and help process it so the body can excrete it.

• Vitamin C, an antioxidant, is excellent to consider if acne is a concern. It can help clear up inflammation and achieve glowing skin.

• Taraxacum, or dandelion leaf, is a diuretic that can help balance the fluid in the body. Drinking one to three cups of dandelion leaf tea can help ease bloating or breast tenderness. It can also help keep the skin clear.

• IV nutrient therapy may be something to consider short-term to help build up key nutrients the body may be deficient in. IV therapy is a quick and effective way to give the body the nutrients it needs. An infusion can have many of the nutrients listed above, like B complex, magnesium, calcium and vitamin C. The results can be rapid if a particular cycle is extremely symptomatic.

If PMS is disrupting your life, consider seeing a naturopathic doctor to help resolve symptoms and promote overall health and well-being.

Dr. Carissa Fioritto, ND, is a licensed Naturopathic Physician practicing at Collaborative Natural Health Partners, LLC. She is an in-network provider with most major health insurance providers and is accepting new patients. Please call 860-533-0179 to schedule an appointment. See ad, back cover.

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2433 Main St. Suite 6 | Rocky Hill, CT | enlighteningmindshypnosis.com May 2018

25

HUBS OF INSPIRATION Local Shops Offer Goods and Support

I

By Danielle Sullo and Nicole Miale

n times of heightened awareness like those we find ourselves in, we are often called to reevaluate where we are spending our energy, and how we can adjust our lives to better align with our true beliefs. Taking an inventory of daily, weekly, even monthly energy expenditure can often uncover opportunities for adjustment and reflection.

The balance between work and life is ever-shifting, so the balance may sometimes need to be re-calibrated to reflect harmony in our thoughts, actions and beliefs. It is rare that anyone would subscribe to the motto “live to work”, as opposed to “work to live”, but which belief does our energy inventory reveal? An intentional work-life balance is paramount to maintaining health in a holistic sense and achieving that end requires support of many kinds, using a variety of tools.

Fortunately in our area there are a myriad of community businesses who offer more than just products for sale. These shops represent philosophies that promote betterment for all and uphold the importance of balance. Through the goods they carry, the classes and workshops they offer, and the way they seek to lead in the community, they can offer vital support in the quest 26

Moon, a practicing herbal practitioner and Reiki practitioner, bought Cauldron’s Flame last July. She combines her business background and practical healing experience to offer visitors a calming ambience, a wide variety of products, and holistic experiences such as Reiki sessions or Mediumship classes. (860-845-2656 Facebook.com/ CauldronsFlamebyPheonixMoon) In Windsor, Mondazzi Book and Bead offers an eclectic array of products and services to help bring balance into the lives of its patrons. Owners Sonja and Ed Mondazzi have operated the shop and workshop space for over 24 years, all while continuously expanding their offerings.

They offer products as well as regular classes and gatherings which foster a sense of learning and community. They carry a wide selection of books, unique crystals from around the world, in addition to tarot

Hartford County Edition

to live more healthfully and vibrantly.

Pheonix Moon, owner of Plainville’s Cauldron’s Flame, says her goal is for those entering her shop to feel even more comfortable than they do in their own homes. To that end, visitors are asked to leave their issues and concerns outside.

The end result is a peaceful environment where people can peruse the herbs, healing stones, candles, and other products at their leisure. “Women come in looking for different things or have questions,” Moon

says. “Our focus is always how we can help.

I strongly believe that we’re all here to help each other even if it’s just listening over a cup of coffee.”

NAHRT.com

decks, incense, candles, oils, herbs, jewelry and more. Creating more opportunities to rest and cleanse the mind, body and spirit, Mondazzi Book and Bead also offers a private salt room that can be booked individually or for a group.

Mondazzi Book holds monthly classes in wire wrapping, jewelry making and crystals, psychic fairs and other social activities, BYOB Sip and Paint Night, yoga classes and more. (860-285-0538, Mondazzi.com, MondazziBooks.com) Passiflora of New Hartford is a tea room, vegan eatery and bakery, as well as herbal shop. Work-life balance among patrons is reflected by Passiflora’s mission to honor the earth and the highest Self.

Seating in the shop is arranged to support conversation or contemplation and comfort, all of which need to be present to truly find balance in our lives. There are a variety of teas and beverages and edible delights to choose from at the counter and a host of vegan baked goods to please any ap-

petite. Community events are promoted to heighten patron awareness of local events that both entertain and enlighten. (860379-8327, PassifloraTeas.blogspot.com) Simsbury’s Wisdom of the Ages has been a “special place to nurture your spiritual side” for more than 20 years.

The shop’s array of items nurture mind, body and spirit, from crystals, gemstone jewelry, Native American-made items, aromatherapy, books, music, cards, tarot

and nature photography to various classes, drum circles and readings. Wisdom of the Ages offers both products and services to awaken and satisfy the desire for a more inspired and empowered life.

Jane and Charlie Siegel have been working in the spiritual field their whole lives, and describe themselves as “sharers of crystals and spreaders of peace, offering positive ways to deal with the funkiness of this world.” Interestingly, they do not use the term “new age”, saying they call upon the “wisdom of the ages” to help the people and world around them. Since opening their doors in 1997, they continue their mission to share wisdom, foster connection between people and the earth, and be, as one patron describes it, “a haven of peace in an often troubled world.” (860-651-1172, WisdomOfTheAges.biz) StellaLuna is a shop in Southington that caters to the spiritual side of life. It opened in 2015 and has been enriching the community with its “magick” ever since.

Shop owner Lauren Josenhans describes herself as “a restless spirit on an endless flight, taken by the sky” and her shop as “adding magick to life”. The store is filled with crystals, herbs, candles, aromatherapy, statuary, fairies, dragons, jewelry, spell kits, yoga supplies and local art to support creative expression and to promote “a space for like-minded people to come vibe with good energy.”

StellaLuna offers more than just shopping; it allows patrons the opportunity to connect with their inner selves, and explore various ways to do so. Josenhans offers weekly yoga classes, a monthly women’s circle, meditation CDs, self-help books and products designed to promote healthy living—such as essential oils for aromatherapy, yoga mats, crystals, Reikiinfused candles and jewelry. StellaLuna is a supporter of the arts, carrying the creations of over two dozen local artists, and supporter of various artistic local events.

Josenhans believes there are mystical and mysterious parts of life that need to be honored beyond the work day, and making time and space to honor those mysteries will not only open channels, but will create opportunities for further expansion and awareness. (860-276-0907, Facebook.com/ StellaLunaLLC)

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read, write or meet. New Morning holds monthly and weekly classes through its Vitality Center to promote all areas of wellness and well-being as well as hosting larger educational and holistic events on a regular basis. (203-263-4868, NewMorn.com) New Morning Market and Vitality Center is an organic, natural market and center located in Woodbury, offering both goods and services that promote balance in the lives of its patrons. The community landmark is living its expressed intention to create an environment that fosters meaningful exchanges of knowledge, services and products to sustain a healthy learning and growing community. The market has become a practicing repository of knowledge for customers and the regional community about the values, philosophy and information needed to live a healthy and wholesome life.

Along with a variety of organic and local grocery options, there is a deli/grill/ prepared food section and people often gather in the adjacent café, taking time to

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The Purple Rose focuses on promoting balance in life through its mission and presence in the New Hartford community.

Laura Rose opened its doors 16 years ago as a leap of faith from her inner knowing.

A former prosecutor, she explains that as she became more sensitive to receiving messages from her inner guidance, the more opening the shop became inevitable—it was a manifestation of her purpose.

The Purple Rose now offers its patrons opportunities to find space and opportunities to listen to their own inner knowing.

NAHRT.com

Rose advises on the use of particular crystals or stones to clear static from work or home, there is a selection of healing bath salts and classes on meditative practices. The process of finding balance is as individual as we are, and offering a variety of ways to do so helps patrons to find what fits. Rose says, “We come to know our best balance by clearing and opening pathways to our own inner knowing.” She believes nature provides us with all that we need to bring balance to our very full lives. The Purple Rose offers crystals, stones, jewelry, aromatherapy products, incense, candles, ritual and altar items, herbs, books, Purple Rose organic soy candles, intention and clearing sprays and more. (860-379-2600, ThePurpleRose.net) Danielle Sullo is an educator, therapeutic writing facilitator and freelance writer in central CT. Connect with her at DSulloNWH@gmail.com.

Nicole Miale is Publisher of Natural Awakenings of Greater Hartford and Fairfield/ Housatonic Valley, CT. Connect with her at Publisher@NAHRT.com.

calendar of events

WEDNESDAY, MAY 23

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

Essential Oils for Health – 7-8pm. Learn how oils improve your physical and emotional well-being.

Free. TFC Health Foods, 230 Farmington Ave, Farmington. 860-471-6164.

THURSDAY, MAY 3

FRIDAY, MAY 11

SATURDAY, MAY 26

Organic Pesticides: New Employee Training Needed by Organic Farmers – 6:30-9pm. With Candace Bartholomew. Workshop includes publications and what you need to know to stay in compliance. Space limited, pre-register. Free. Extension Offices, West Hartford. 203-308-2584. Events@ CTNOFA.org.

Mediumship Demonstration – 7-8:30pm. With Sharon Farber and Marcy Feinman. Free evidential demonstration. Limited to 12. Register in advance.

Bring item for food pantry. Dragonfly Healing Arts, 8 Wickett St, Pine Meadow. 860-989-2358.

DragonflyHealingArts.net.

Beginner Mediumship Class – 11am-4pm. Learn what mediumship is and how to do it. No experience needed.

Lecture and exercises. Ten students max. Taught by Sharon Farber. $75. Dragonfly Healing Arts, 8 Wickett St, Pine Meadow. DragonflyHealingArts.net.

FRIDAY, MAY 4 Intentionally Manifest Your Dreams: Full-day Vision Board Workshop – 9am-4pm. A full day immersion where you will find the space you need to intentionally define your dreams. See your ideal life clearly and manifest your desired results. $75/ person. Save $15 with code: naturalawakenings.

The Simsbury Inn, 397 Hopmeadow St, Simsbury.

TheVibrantLivingProject.com.

SATURDAY, MAY 5 Yoga Basics – 9-10:15am. 6-week series. Great for beginners. This class promotes balance, flexibility, strength and stress release. $15/drop-in; $13.17/per class with pre-registration. Vital Life Center, 100 W Main St, Plainville, 860-479-0466.

markyourcalendar ARM BALANCES AND INVERSIONS WORKSHOP Saturday, May 19 • 11am-1pm This workshop will offer step-by-step instruction of postures for those new to inverting, while also offering creative and challenging transitions for those with a more advanced practice. All levels of yoga practitioners are welcome. Bring your willingness to explore and play, while learning to safely practice inversions. $30 • 10% discount for JOY monthly members Journey of Yoga • 730 Hopmeadow St, Simsbury 860-680-1482 • Register: JourneyOfYoga.com

markyourcalendar UPCOMING ADVENTURES AT THE FARM! Friday, May 11 • 6-8pm and Saturday, June 9 • 10am-Noon Join us for a lovely visit at the farm where you can learn about wild edibles, taste something delicious made by a student, share in a cup of delicious tea and more. You always learn something new when you head out on an adventure!

Free Holcomb Farm 113 Simsbury Rd, West Granby RSVP: 860-764-9070

MONDAY, MAY 14

markyourcalendar

Holistic Moms Network Free Fun Family Event – 6-7:30pm. Family-oriented event where we introduce local holistic and traditional healthcare practitioners. These practitioners educate us about the benefits of adding alternative healthcare options. Childcare is provided with arts and crafts. Facebook.com/HMNEastoftheRiverCT. HolisticMomsNetwork.org.

HEARTFELT COMMUNICATION: DISCUSSING WHAT MATTERS MOST with Maggie Durbas and David Durbas, LPC, NCC, BCPC

WEDNESDAY, MAY 15 Essential Oils for Men – 6:30-7:30pm. Free.

Sharing the Light Holistic Center, 395 W Avon Rd, Avon. 860-471-6164.

THURSDAY, MAY 17 Healing Breathwork – 7-8:30pm. With Ken Dusyn, co-director of Hartford Karma Thegsum Choling Tibetan Buddhist Center. Address stress by using the breath and resting the mind through meditation.

Sponsored by Alliance for Holistic Living. Free/nonperishable food donation appreciated. Hosted at Vibrational Healing Center, 966 Tolland St, East Hartford.

SUNDAY, MAY 20 Sacred Heart Sisterhood Circle – 2-4pm. A time for women to relax, unwind, connect and share.

May’s theme is all about mothers. Each gathering includes meditation, sound healing, inspired readings, tools for emotional healing and sharing. $25.

RSVP required. 860-977-5422. Revival Rm, 100 West St, Ellington.

markyourcalendar UNIVERSAL WHITE TIME GEMSTONE HEALING Saturday, May 12, 19, 26 • 1-5pm UWT is a special healing modality only recently made available to humanity. Bradford Tilden is one of only a handful of people in the world certified to present it. Learn to heal people, animals and the environment with rare and ancient knowledge on how to combine crystals and gemstones for healing! No experience is necessary. $350 (Class is limited to 8 students) Unicorn Meadow Farm 1349 Spruce St, Suffield To register: 860-668-6424 UnicornMeadowFarm.com/bradford-tilden

Friday, May 18 • 6:30-9pm This workshop will start with Maggie’s soothing and flowing yoga practice, with some heartopening poses to get you in touch with your physical body so you can work from your heart. We will then learn a structured, step-bystep, effective and proven method of heartfelt communication to help you discuss what matters most, with people that mean the most to you. $45 per person • 10% off for JOY members.

Limit of 10 students Journey of Yoga • 730 Hopmeadow St, Simsbury 860-680-1482 • Register: JourneyOfYoga.com

markyourcalendar 13TH OCTAVE LAHOCHI PRACTITIONER TRAINING with Dr. Eilis Philpott Soul Healing Journey, LLC Thursday, June, 21 (evening) Friday, June 22 • Saturday, June 23 Sunday, June 24 (all day Fri, Sat & Sun, 10am-5pm) Eilis is one of two teachers approved by Linda Dillon and the Council of Love to teach the 13th Octave LaHoChi. This gift is the anchoring of our divinity in physicality, as we move from the ascension process to the creation process.

The 13th Octave LaHoChi is the next step in energy healing; it is a quantum leap available now to the healers and people of Nova Earth.

Investment: $600 Early bird price $500 - save $100 before 5/1/18 $100 deposit required to register Payment plans available Sharing the Light Wholistic Center, LLC 395 West Avon Rd, Avon Registration required: 203-767-5954 Eilis@SoulHealingJourney.com SoulHealingJourney.com/ Practitioner-Training May 2018

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markyourcalendar INTENTIONALLY MANIFEST YOUR DREAMS: Full-day Vision Board Workshop Friday, May 4 • 9am-4pm A full day immersion where you will find the space you need to intentionally define your dreams. Discover your core genius, uncover where your true passion lies, and put it all together into a beautiful vision board. See your ideal life clearly and manifest your desired results.

ongoing events

sunday 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.

The Simsbury Inn, 397 Hopmeadow St, Simsbury

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.

Register today at: TheVibrantLivingProject.com or bit.ly/FullDayVisionBoard

monday

$75 per person - Save $15 with special code for Natural Awakenings readers: naturalawakenings

markyourcalendar DEEPEN YOUR PRACTICE WORKSHOP SERIES with Todd Norian Saturday, May 12 Twist To Tranquility: 10am-12:30pm.

Discover how to get the most from your twists by learning the subtle nuances of alignment that make even the simplest twist come alive with the mystical power of prana—the life force.

Strengthen Your Pre-Frontal Cortex through Pranayama (breathing) and Meditation: 1:30-4pm. Become the gatekeeper of your mind as we explore the power of these practices and the effect they have on your body, mind and spirit. Strengthen Your Pre-Frontal Cortex through Pranayama (breathing) and Meditation. $50/one session. $90/both sessions.

JOY monthly members receive 10% discount.

Journey of Yoga • 730 Hopmeadow St, Simsbury 860-680-1482 • Register: JourneyOfYoga.com

markyourcalendar THE HARTFORD HAPPINESS CLUB PRESENTS An Afternoon with Dr. Bernie Siegel Saturday, June 23 • 1:30-4pm PMS: Practical, Mystical, Spiritual The Meaning of Life and Death $20 PayPal or Check PayPal link on the Happiness Club website: HartfordHappinessClub.com Town and Country Club 22 Woodland St, Hartford For more information or to pay by check, call Audrey at 860-841-5894

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Hartford County Edition

Morning Flow – 7-8am. Rise and shine with a gentle to moderate asana flow perfect for all levels of a yoga practice. The perfect way to start your day. $20/drop-in. Journey of Yoga, 730 Hopmeadow St, Simsbury. 860-680-1482.

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.

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

Meditation Mondays – 7-8pm. 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. 860-530-1552.

SeaInTheSkyHealing.com.

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

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

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

NAHRT.com

tuesday The Graduate Institute – Call to visit us any day of the week to arrange a visit. We offer Master of Arts Degree programs designed for busy people.

Only one weekend a month; 2 years. The Graduate Institute,171 Amity Rd, Bethany. 203-874-4252.

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.

Early Morning Bird Walks – 8am. Join Andy in search of various bird species. We have access to over 1,650 acres of protected land. Wear drab colored clothing and bring binoculars or a spotting scope. Free/CAS members; $5/non-members.

Center at Pomfret, 218 Day Rd. Free admission.

860-928-4948.

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.

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.

Reiki Share – 6-8:30pm. 3rd Tuesday each month.

Certified Reiki practitioners of all lineages and levels welcome. This is a time to come together with other practitioners as a community, give/ receive Reiki. $10. 47 Upson St, 2nd Fl, Bristol.

860-302-1609.

Monthly Information Sessions at The Graduate Institute – 6:30pm-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.

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.

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.

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

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

Morning Flow – 7-8am. Rise and shine with a gentle to moderate asana flow perfect for all levels of a yoga practice. The perfect way to start your day. $20/drop-in. Journey of Yoga, 730 Hopmeadow St, Simsbury. 860-680-1482.

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.

Chair Yoga – 2-3pm. Chair yoga allows individuals of all physical abilities to enjoy the benefits of yoga. Class features traditional yoga postures and techniques. Chair yoga is gentle, relaxing and strengthening. Facilitated by Michele. $5/suggested donation. Toivo, 399 Franklin Ave, Hartford. 860-296-2338.

Metabolic ZT – 4:30-5:30pm. Our version of a cardio workout. Monitored by individual 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.

Trance Mediumship Circle – 6-7pm. Some mediumship experience needed, not necessarily trance.

Each member will have a chance to actively work toward the trance state with support. $10/donation.

Dragonfly Healing Arts, 8 Wickett St, Pine Meadow.

860-989-2358. DragonFlyHealingArts.net.

Weight Management Class – 6-7:30pm. Weekly series led by a registered dietitian nutritionist discussing topics such as simple meal planning, what and how much to eat, and the skinny of fats and sugar. Free. ShopRite, 110 Albany Tpke, Canton.

860-693-3666.

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.

With Sharon Farber. Mixed level circle to develop evidential mediumship. Beginners welcome. Active since May 2012. $10/donation. Dragonfly Healing Arts, 8 Wickett St, Pine Meadow. 860-989-2358.

DragonFlyHealingArts.net.

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.

Move and Groove - Conscious Conditioning with Sandy Byrne – 8:45-10am. Fusing the expertise of

classifieds 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 spring/summer events all over CT. Please send an email (subject line: COMMUNITY) and resume to NicoleM@ NaturalAwakeningsmag.com.

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.

Kundalini Yoga and Music Meditation – 9:3010:30am. With Leesa Sklover, PhD, C-IAYT, Certified Yoga Therapist, Kundalini Yoga Teacher.

Experience the yoga of awareness weekly to heal your mind and your life. All welcome. Register for first class. $15 per class/monthly discount. Short Beach Union Church, 14 Pentacost St, Branford.

917-860-0488. DrSklover@gmail.com. LoveLifeProductions.net.

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

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

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. Registration required: CTNaturalHealth. com/Event-Calendar.

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.

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.

SEA IN THE SKY HEALING AND WELLNESS CENTER is seeking a massage therapist or acupuncturist to join our team at our lovely new facility in Hebron. Amenities include beautiful treatment room with AC, sink and yoga room for group events. $250/month. Contact Melanie at SeaInTheSkyHealing@gmail.com or 860530-1552. SeaInTheSkyHealing.com.

friday Morning Flow – 7-8am. Rise and shine with a gentle to moderate asana flow perfect for all levels of a yoga practice. The perfect way to start your day. $20/drop-in. Journey of Yoga, 730 Hopmeadow St, Simsbury. 860-680-1482.

Meditative Coloring – Noon-1pm. Coloring for relaxation, stress reduction, meditation and spiritual connection, centering, healing and coming into your true deep self. We will supply coloring pages and supplies or you may bring your own. Facilitated by Heidi. $5/suggested donation. Toivo, 399 Franklin Ave, Hartford. 860-296-2338.

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

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

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

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

EllingtonFarmersMarket.com.

Beginner Yoga – 10:30-11:30am. This fundamental class is appropriate for both beginners and more experienced students who may want to brush up on posture alignment or breath work. $20/ drop-in. Journey of Yoga, 730 Hopmeadow St, Simsbury. 860-680-1482.

See Me As I Am: Meditation and Float Yoga Class (2-3pm) and Women’s Spiritual Wellness Collaboratory (3-4pm) – Experience deep peace in a gentle water themed yoga and meditation class Followed by a women’s group focusing on empowerment, spiritual fitness, creativity through techniques and discussion. Choose one or both. $15/ one session. $30/both. Short Beach Union Church, 14 Pentacost St. Branford.

A drawing is simply a line going for a walk.~Paul Klee May 2018

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community resource guide

HARTFORD FAMILY INSTITUTE

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

ASTROLOGY

COACHING

DEE RANDIS

THE LAVENDER GROUP

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 21.

A trained life coach, specializing in transitions and finding life purpose coaching. Eliminate blocks, work through transitions, and discover your purpose.

Online courses starting in May 2018 to set you on the path to finding your purpose and manifesting your dreams.

Watertown 860-274-1690 MetaphysicalCntr.net

860-818-2709 Siobhan@LavenderGroupllc.com LavenderGroupllc.com

CRYSTAL/SOUND HEALING

AYURVEDA

CRYSTAL MUSIC HEALING

JOURNEY OF YOGA LLC

Margaret Durbas, Owner/Director 730 Hopmeadow St, Simsbury 860-680-1482 JourneyOfYoga.com The sister science of yoga, Ayurveda, is focused on maintaining wellness naturally.

Learn your unique needs to eat the right foods for your physiology, the environment and your digestive system. Plus self-care techniques and lifestyle habits to get and stay healthy. See ad, page 9.

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 19.

Bradford W. Tilden, MM, CMT, Level 4 Practitioner UWT Healing Level 4 Practitioner and Level 3 Teacher UWT Gemstone Healing • Heaven on Earth Healing Center, 72 Center St, Southington • Unicorn Meadow Farm, 1349 Spruce St, Suffield • Western Mass Wellness, 567 Springfield St, Agawam, MA 415-420-6232 Bradford@CrystalMusicHealing.com BradfordWTilden.BandCamp.com (discography) By appointment in person and remotely Intuitive sessions include sound healing, crystal healing and Universal White Time Gemstone and energy healing. Sessions are relaxing and rejuvenating, beneficial for stress and pain reduction, removing blockages, raising your vibration and opening spiritually. Bradford is available for lectures/workshops and public/ private sound healing events.

EDUCATION THE GRADUATE INSTITUTE 171 Amity Rd, Bethany 203-874-4252 Info@Learn.edu Learn.edu

The Graduate Institute is a state-accredited graduate school dedicated to promoting an integrative and holistic worldview through the study of health, wellness, education and personal and professional transformation. Enrolling now for 2018 programs! See ad, page 5.

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Hartford County Edition

NAHRT.com

Center for Psychotherapy and Healing Arts 17 South Highland St, West Hartford 203-236-6009 HartfordFamilyInstitute.com

A cutting-edge psychotherapy and training center since 1969. Treatment includes in-depth body emotional work, energy healing, shamanic spiritual healing, illness and trauma work. Training also offered for psychotherapists and healers. See ad, page 11.

THE INSTITUTE OF SUSTAINABLE NUTRITION 113 Simsbury Rd, West Granby 860-764-9070 Joan@TIOSN.com • TIOSN.com

We offer a unique certification program blending the science of nutrition with the hands-on components of sustainable gardening practices; using food and herbs to make kitchen medicine; culinary skills; and foraging for and using nutrientrich wild food. Now enrolling for fall 2018! See ad, page 7.

KRISTIN POMEROY

The Vibrant Living Project Simsbury 860-966-7098 Kristin@TheVibrantLivingProject.com TheVibrantLivingProject.com Kristin offers workshops and one-on-one coaching to help her clients create success in all areas of life with well-being as the foundation.

ENERGY HEALING WU HEALING CENTER

Dr. Ming Wu 45 S. Main St, Ste 100, West Hartford 978-790-8888 Center@WuHealing.com WuHealing.com Combining Western medical science with ancient Eastern insights into life force or chi energy, Dr. Wu uses energy healing techniques such as Tong Ren and quantum energy healing. These modalities help patients achieve rapid, safe and natural cure by stimulating the body toward self-healing. See ad, page 19.

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.

HOLISTIC HEALTH GEMSTONE THERAPY INSTITUTE 860-646-3063 Education@GemFormulas.com LearnGem.com

Gemstone Therapy is the ground-breaking energy modality applying specific gemstone tools to initiate and sustain greater health. Local beginner and practitioner classes. See ad, page 14.

PAIN STOPS

304 Main St, Unit B 206, Farmington 203-440-2859 PainStops.com Relax and enjoy magnetic pulses from the Pulse XL Pro to charge your cells to encourage repair and regeneration. See ad, page 12.

HORMONE SUPPORT

269 Church St, Ste 3, Hebron 860-530-1552 SeaInTheSkyHealing.com By appointment

COLLABORATIVE NATURAL HEALTH PARTNERS

Experienced practitioners and therapists offering counseling and psychotherapy; Reiki; Celtic Reiki; shamanic healing; sound healing; yoga; facial aesthetics; spiritual readings; meditation; and a variety of classes and workshops. See ad, page 25.

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.

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; John of God Crystal Light Bed; 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 parttime practitioners. See ad, page 11.

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.

MASSAGE & BODYWORK

HOLISTIC HEALING CENTER SEA IN THE SKY, LLC

INTEGRATIVE PSYCHOTHERAPY

315 East Center St, Manchester 860-533-0179 • CTNaturalHealth.com

HYPNOSIS DEBBIE KLEINMAN

Enlightening Minds Hypnosis, LLC 2433 Main St, Ste 6, Rocky Hill 860-302-8590 DebbieKleinman@aol.com EnlighteningMindsHypnosis.com Are you struggling with weight, before or after weight loss surgery?

Would you like to stop smoking and relieve your stress? Hypnosis and holistic health counseling with me can help. See ad, page 25.

JOURNEY OF YOGA LLC

Margaret Durbas, Owner/Director 730 Hopmeadow St, Simsbury 860-680-1482 JourneyOfYoga.com Massage therapy sessions with some combination of deep tissue, Swedish massage and acupressure, as well as Thai yoga treatments to stretch out the kinks and aches and release tension. Reiki for both physical and emotional issues. Memberships for $59 a month.

See ad, page 9.

MENTAL HEALTH/ 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.

However difficult life may seem, there is always something you can do and succeed at. ~Stephen Hawking May 2018

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NATUROPATHIC MEDICINE COLLABORATIVE NATURAL HEALTH PARTNERS

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

ECLECTIC NATUROPATHIC MEDICAL CENTER, LLC

Kathleen M. Riley, ND Susan Yarett, ND 48 Christian Ln, Ste 203, Newington 860-665-1254 We provide gentle, effective, natural treatments for acute and chronic illnesses. We approach each patient and disease process from a variety of perspectives, using nutritional supplements; homeopathics; lifestyle counseling; Bowen therapy; flower essences; IonCleanse foot baths; and Frequency Specific Microcurrent (FSM), among other modalities.

NUTRITION

PRIMARY CARE COLLABORATIVE NATURAL HEALTH PARTNERS

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

REFLEXOLOGY STEVE M. SYLVESTER, CR 57 Pratt St, Ste 407, Hartford 860-269-7222 ReflexologyWorks.net

Reflexology is comforting, relax-ing and rewarding. I have a private, comfortable studio in downtown Hartford where clients can experience this simple but very helpful modality. I have practiced this art form for many years; come enjoy what I have to offer.

TAI CHI/QIGONG WU HEALING CENTER

Dr. Ming Wu 45 S. Main St, Ste 100, West Hartford 978-790-8888 Center@WuHealing.com • WuHealing.com

SHANA GRIFFIN, RDN, CD-N

ShopRite – Joseph Family Markets 46 Kane St, West Hartford 860-233-1713 Shana.Griffin@wakefern.com ShopRite’s registered dietitian is your resource to answer nutrition ques-tions, provide menu ideas and tips to help your family live healthier.

Call today for help. See ad, page 10.

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 19.

POSITIVE PSYCHOLOGY

TRANSFORMATIONAL HEALING

THE HAPPINESS CLUB

Audrey Carlson 860-841-5894 AudreyBCarlson@cox.net HartfordHappinessClub.com

HEARTSOURCE INTEGRATIVE WELLNESS

Come to Hartford’s Happiness Club monthly meeting on the first Thursday of every month from 7-8:30pm, at Town and Country Club at 22 Woodland St in Hartford. Happiness is a choice… make it yours.

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Hartford County Edition

Donna MacLean Gordon 45 S Main St, Ste 100, West Hartford 860-978-2938 MyHeartsourceWellness@gmail.com HeartsourceIntegrative.com I specialize in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) healing modalities such as Tui Na acupressure massage, medical qigong therapy, healing teas, Tong Ren healing, cupping, qigong and tai chi instruction, as well as Reiki healing and pastoral and spiritual counseling. I gently guide clients in the journey to wellness using various modalities, diet and positive lifestyle changes. See ad, page 8.

NAHRT.com

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.

WELLNESS CENTER 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.

YOGA JOURNEY OF YOGA, LLC

Margaret Durbas, Owner/Director 730 Hopmeadow St, Simsbury 860-680-1482 JourneyOfYoga.com Inspiring health and happiness with Beginner, Vinyasa, Slow Flow, Gentle, Restorative, Meditation, Kid and Family Yoga. New Student Special: $50 for 30 days. Experienced students, deepen your practice or become a teacher with our 200 Hour Yoga Teaching Training in August. See ad, page 9.

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 3.

SLEEP GREAT EVERY NIGHT

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Hi, I’m Steve Frank and I suffered from sleep apnea for years, so I know exactly what you’re going through. I even tried the CPAP machine but I could not sleep with anything strapped to my face. It was a serious problem and I was determined to find an answer. As an herbalist, I diligently pursued a group of herbs that would correct this problem and thank goodness, my persistence paid off! My patent-pending formulation has helped thousands and I use it every night. Now you can try it too!

My Mom asked me what to do about persistent leg cramps. She had tried all the suggested supplements but still had problems. I put together a group of herbs to relax nerves, reduce tension and increase circulation. It worked great for her!

Later, I found that it works for Restless Legs as well. Now you can use it too.

You owe it to yourself & your spouse to try these great products!

MyNaturesRite.com 1-800-991-7088 May 2018

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COLLABORATIVE NATURAL HEALTH PARTNERS

HEALTHCARE REDEFINED

PRIMARY CARE MEDICINE NATUROPATHIC MEDICINE ACUPUNCTURE

MANCHESTER, CT (860)533-0179 ctnaturalhealth.com

Osteopathic medicine Craniosacral therapy Nutrition counseling Bowen therapy Customized botanical medicine Natural stress management Nutrigenomic analysis Gender affirming care Compounded customized medications Bioidentical hormone replacement Advanced diagnostic testing including: hormone, gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, tick borne pathogens & nutrient levels.

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Physicians whoNAHRT.com listen, work together and are committed to you.

Hartford County Edition