Natural Awakenings New Haven & Middlesex CT APRIL 2019 by Natural Awakenings New Haven

EE R F

HEALTHY

LIVING

HEALTHY

PLANET

POWER SWITCH Taking a House off the Grid

ESSENTIAL OILS

101

Lyme Disease

Diagnosis & Treatment What the Public Needs to know

Celebrate

Earth Day

April 2019 | New Haven-Middlesex | NaturalNewHaven.com

April 2019

Holistic Community Professionals HCP

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

Joan Ruggiero - Estate Manager Clutter Dietitian Streamline / Organize Sell contents Create harmonious living Space using Feng Shui suggestions JoansEstateSales.com 203-434-8537 Joaniecakes3@yahoo.com

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

EFT Tapping /Hypnosis Therese Baumgart Certified Practitioner Emotional Freedom Technique Hypnosis & Past Lives Clear Stress, Lose weight, Release pain, Stop smoking Free 15 minute strategy session In-person, Skype, Phone 203-710-7438 HypnosisandEFTct.com

Intuitive Counselor & Healer Gayle Franceschetti, MEd, CHt Hypnotherapy, Meditations Reiki/Energy sessions, Essential Oils Group Past Life Regression Individual Past Life Regression Workshops, Spiritual Power Journeys, Private mentoring & counseling Return2love3@gmail.com Return2Love.com 203-265-2927

Passport to Health & Wellness Expo SUNDAY, MAY 5, 2019 10am - 4pm Closing Event - Drumming on the Patio 4 - 5pm The DoubleTree by Hilton 42 Century Drive, Bristol, CT 06010 75 Vendors & Readers • Free Raffles • Drumming GRAND PRIZE A Hilton Overnight Stay for Two!

New Haven/Middlesex

Earleen Wright Distributor - Uforia Ultimate Multivitamin Based on your unique DNA Earleen.UforiaScience.com For more information, call: 203-215-3222 Or email: EarleenWright@comcast.net

Holistic Events in New England

Grief / Loss / Counseling /Workshops Debbie Pausig, LMFT, CT Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Certified Thanatologist (CT) Death, Dying, Bereavement, Grief, Loss: Counseling, Workshops, Facilitator Training 203-985-8246 Debbiepausigmft.com

Shirley Bloethe YourHolisticEvents@gmail.com YourHolisticEvents.com 860-989-0033

Wellness Center

Reiki Master / Teacher Stephanie Rosally-Kaplan Reiki Master / Teacher Universal White Time Gemstone Practitioner Level 2 Wedding Officiant / Workshops Professional Photographer 914-330-1474 RosallyKaplan@gmail.com The Red Barn in Durham 352 Main St, Durham

STATEWIDE HOLISTIC EXPO

DNA Nutritional Supplements

Declutter / Organize / Feng Shui

Coaching & Workshops

The Red Barn in Durham Janice Juliano, MSW, LCSW Holistic Psychotherapist Coordinator MassageTherapy Nutrition / Yoga / Reiki / Sound Healing Professional Photography / Art Classes 860-559-6151 352 Main St, Durham TheRedBarninDurham.com

Presented by the Holistic Community Professionals ADMISSION Advance Early Bird $5 p/p $7 p/p at the door • Children under 5 are FREE FOR TICKETS: Facebook- Passport to Health and Wellness Expo Contact Shirley R Bloethe at 860-989-0033 Email: yourholisticevents@gmail.com Vendors apply at: YourHolisticEvents.com

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We Welcome You! To join the Holistic Community Professionals, call Shirley R. Bloethe at 860-989-0033 ShirleyBloethe.com

3-Days AMAZING Qigong Healing $199 Experience More ENERGY

Reverse Disease with FOOD

Learn Powerful Qigong Exercises, Breathing Techniques, Strength Training and a proven system of Food-Healing! In this seminar 50,000+ people have attended you will learn: 1) BREATH Empowerment to Make Endorphins, Bliss, Gratitude 2) QIGONG Healing Routines Everyone Enjoys Practicing 3) FOOD Healing Science Proven to Help Reverse Disease 4) STRENGTH Training Qi Exercises for Peaceful Warriors 5) MASSAGE Hands on Healing Methods for Pain Free Living

“My stress has gone down dramatically since attending Qi Revolution and learning Qigong. Doing 9 Breath Method gave me a new understanding of what breathing exercises can accomplish.” Perrin Clark, MD, Surgeon

“After attending Qi Revolution... I FEEL THE ENERGY more powerfully now than I ever thought possible!” -Rev. Ojela Frank, Author, Reiki Master

“I learned more about FOOD-HEALING in 4 hours at the Qi Revolution than at Medical School! Science is valid, well documented and many of my patients have restored health on this program.” Claudia Gabrielle, MD Physician

Danbury, CT

Amber Room Colonnade

SATURDAY - SUNDAY- MONDAY $199 All 3-Days 9am-6pm

April 13th-15th, 2019 www.QiRevolution.com (800)-298-8970

*Seating is Limited *CE Approved Program April 2019

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HEALTHY LIVING HEALTHY PLANET

NEW HAVEN/ MIDDLESEX EDITION Brenda Tate Photography

PUBLISHER Gail Heard EDITOR Ariana Rawls Fine DESIGN & PRODUCTION Gail Heard CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Ariana Rawls Fine Nicole Miale SALES & MARKETING Melissa Pytlak DISTRIBUTOR Man In Motion, LLC WEBSITE Chik Shank

NATIONAL TEAM CEO/FOUNDER Sharon Bruckman COO/ FRANCHISE SALES Joe Dunne NATIONAL EDITOR Jan Hollingsworth MANAGING EDITOR Linda Sechrist NATIONAL ART DIRECTOR Stephen Blancett ART DIRECTOR Josh Pope FINANCIAL MANAGER Yolanda Shebert FRANCHISE SUPPORT MGR. Heather Gibbs WEBSITE COORDINATOR Rachael Oppy NATIONAL ADVERTISING Kara Cave Natural Awakenings Publishing Corporation 4933 Tamiami Trail N., Ste. 203 Naples, FL 34103 Ph: 239-434-9392 • Fax: 239-434-9513 NaturalAwakeningsMag.com © 2019 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.

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~David Attenborough

Happy Earth Month!

April is such a lovely time to celebrate our planet, as the bare, quiet, still of nature brought on by winter transforms itself into a mosaic of colors, burgeoning with new life and activity. I am always filled with joy the first time I hear the chorus of peepers outside in the woods—the official sign that spring has sprung! Earth Day’s message is that we must never take the miracle of nature and its delicate balance for granted. It is an urgent reminder for us to develop conscious habits of living that are sustainable and congruent with planetary healing. Primatologist and anthropologist, Jane Goodall once said “You cannot get through a single day without having an impact on the world around you. What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.” We must honor every day as Earth Day. April 22 is the official Earth Day, but events will be happening for weeks, as you will see in our news briefs, community calendar and local Earth Day events section. This month’s profiles feature a diversity of local green resources, such as plant-based medicine (essential oils and CBD products), sustainable cohousing, solar energy leads, gardening and landscaping, certification in sustainable nutrition, and an organic, holistic wellness center that makes all of their products on site using sustainable, organic ingredients. Our April editorial also focuses on Lyme disease, which afflicts many people here in Connecticut. According to scientists, global warming may be contributing to the spread of this tick-borne disease. Climate change is increasing the range in which Lyme diseasecarrying ticks can survive and feed, plus they are moving into warming Canada and other northern locations. For those of you who are suffering from Lyme, this special issue offers hope, healing, education and information provided by holistic practitioners, who have a wealth of knowledge and expertise in treating Lyme. Our Lyme features cover topics such as: what we need to know about the diagnosis and treatment of Lyme, the connection between Lyme and mental health, plus natural modalities for Lyme treatment, such as traditional Chinese medicine (TCM); home remedies; Ayurveda, and energy healing. Be sure to check out the Lyme treatment practitioner profiles for Wave Integrative Medical Center and Spirit of the Lotus. Enjoy our April issue, packed cover-to-cover with great reads and a rich array of local resources, events, classes and workshops. We hope you will attend at least one of Connecticut’s Earth Day events this month—both you and your planet will benefit!

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

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

Contents 14 EARTH DAY

SPOTLIGHTS SPECIES Protection Is the Focus of 2019 Campaign

17 POWER SWITCH Taking a Home Off the Grid

20 NATIVE INTELLIGENCE Planting an Eco-Friendly Yard

22 ESSENTIAL OILS 101 26 CONTROVERSY

SURROUNDS LYME DISEASE DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT Here Is What the Public Needs to Know

28 MISSING LINKS? Connect the Dots Between Lyme and Mental Health

30 WHEN LIFE GIVES YOU LYME

Squeeze It Out of Your Life

ADVERTISING & SUBMISSIONS HOW TO ADVERTISE To advertise with Natural Awakenings or request a media kit, please contact Melissa Pytlak at 203-305-5531 or email PytlakMelissa@gmail.com.com. Deadline for ads: the 12th of the month. EDITORIAL SUBMISSIONS Email articles, news items and ideas to: Gail@naturalnewhaven.com. Deadline for editorial: the 5th of the month. CALENDAR SUBMISSIONS Submit Calendar Events online at: NaturalNewHaven.com. Deadline for calendar: the 10th of the month. 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.

34 SACRED SPACES

How to Create Them Anywhere

36 INTO THE WOODS

Hiking for Health and Happiness

DEPARTMENTS 6 news briefs 12 health brief 14 earth day

events

38 calendar 43 classifieds 44 resource guide

20 green living 22 healing ways 34 inspiration 36 fit body April 2019

news briefs

Earth Day at Madison Earth Care

Cohousing Community in Bethany Begins Construction

ocky Corner cohousing, an organic farm-centered neighborhood, is in its active construction phase. Thirty energyefficient homes and a large, shared common house are clustered in the center of a 33-acre former dairy farm. Cohousing is a proven community design with over 165 neighborhoods established throughout the U.S. and another 140 forming. Rocky Corner is the first in the Connecticut-New York-New Jersey tri-state area. Rocky Corner’s buildings are energy-efficient with passive and active solar design, air-source heat pumps for heating and cooling, tight envelopes with high-R-value insulation, and smaller footprints. “Consume less, share more,” is at the heart of Rocky Corner. Community members share the land for growing and conservation as well as vehicles and tools. They cook and have meals together. In addition, the community members co-own a 4,500-square-foot common house with a commercial kitchen, art studio and woodworking shop. Members will share in the work it takes to create and maintain the community. The neighborhood makes space for play and artistic expression, encouraging continual learning, skill-sharing and teaching. There are only a few homes that remain for sale, ranging in size from one to three bedrooms. Rocky Corner holds frequent information sessions and tours of the construction site for interested buyers. For more information, visit RockyCorner.org. See Profile on page 19.

n Saturday, April 27, Madison Earth Care is inviting the community to join them for their 4th annual Earth Day Celebration. Every year, for the last four years, Madison Earth Care has hosted a variety of local food trucks, artisans, and small and local business owners to celebrate Earth Day. The event emphasizes the diversity of local businesses in the community and offers activities for the whole family, including face painting,

hayrides, a market, food trucks, petting zoo, mini touch-a-truck, giveaways and more. In honor of Earth Day, it also features a raffle to benefit the Madison Land Conservation and Trust. “We love the timing of Earth Day. It is right as the weather is looking up and this event provides a fun opportunity for our community to get outside and enjoy all that nature has to offer! By hosting this event, we are able to not only get people thinking about the outdoors and nature, but we are able to support our local land trust, as well,” says Rachel Blundon, president of Madison Earth Care. The event will take place from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m., with the market open from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. More information can be found on Madison Earth Care’s website, MadisonEarthCare.com, or on their Facebook page. If you wish to participate as a vendor, please email abby@madisonearthcare.com or call 203-421-4358. Madison Earth Care is located at 1250 Durham Rd., Madison, CT. For more information, visit website: MadisonEarthCare.com/Earth-Day. See Profile on page 21.

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Land really is the best art. ~Andy Warhol

news briefs

Organic Hair by Ashley is Growing

rganic Hair by Ashley, owned by Ashley Elizabeth, has just expanded in Milford, Connecticut. The holistic hair salon specializes in USDA-certified organic hair color, DevaCurly hair care, straight dry cutting, hair repair treatments, and seamless hair extensions designed by celebrity hair stylists.

Recently renovated, Organic Hair by Ashley offers a clean air alternative without a smell-heavy and chemical-filled salon atmosphere. The organic hair color used by the salon is free of ammonia, formaldehyde, PEGs, synthetic fragrance and more. It includes instead biodynamic ingredients such as perilla, cotton, date, hibiscus and jojoba. All packaging used is recycled and eco-certified. The first haircut is complimentary with a purchase of any color service. The salon is open Tuesday through Saturday. For more information or to book an appointment with Ashley or Haylee, call 203-283-7355 or email OrganicHairbyAshley@gmail.com. Location: 123 Naugatuck Ave, Milford, CT. See ad on page 9.

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A Taoist Healing Arts Experience

n celebration of World Tai Chi and Qigong Day 2019, A Taoist Healing Arts Experience will provide classes on April 27 where students can learn about balancing qi—the vital life energy of the body—and how adjusting the flow of qi serves as the underlying method of improving health in all Taoist healing arts.

The morning schedule from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. includes introductory sessions in SunDo breath meditation, energy anatomy of the chakras and meridians, foundations of qi theory, and the principles of tai chi and qigong practice. No experience is required to participate in any of the sessions. This event is free; donations are welcome. As methods of mental and physical healing, the Taoist arts are well-established in many cultures around the world with regular acupuncture treatments, herbal medicine and daily movement practices becoming an integral part of modern healthcare. Registration required as space is limited. For a full schedule, visit OneWorld-Wellness.com. Location: One World Wellness & Yoga Collective, 967 N. High St., East Haven, CT.

New Book Benefits Birds of Prey Rehabilitation Center

hree Chairs Publishing announced the publication of its newest book, FLOSSING, featuring a thought-provoking collection of more than 40 artistic, ironic photographs of discarded dental flossers that illustrate the impact of our actions on the world around us. In keeping with its message, 50 percent of all proceeds from the sale of the book will be donated to A Place Called Hope, Birds of Prey Rehabilitation & Education Center. The photos in FLOSSING first appeared in the Evidence of Flossing: What We Leave Behind (2017) poetry book. T hey are part of a collection of more than 150 photographs of flossers found over a three-year period by author/photographer Jen Payne. A Place Called Hope is a rehabilitation and education center

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

April 20, 10am – 12pm

Now accepting applications for 2019-2020 | Call 860-764-9070 today! | West Granby, CT | www.tiosn.com April 2019

To purchase the book, go to 3ChairsPublishing.com. For more information on the center, visit APlaceCalledHopeRaptors.com.

The Cause of Your Back Pain

f you are experiencing back pain that won’t go away, the cause may be multi-factorial and involve other body parts. It is common to also have the pelvis, sacrum, legs or ribcage not functioning properly, which can affect the spine. If you are experiencing back pain and would like a biomechanical evaluation, take advantage of a complimentary 10-minute screening. The 10-minute sessions, given by Phyllis L Quinn, PT, will be held at Physical Therapy Services of Guilford in Branford, Connecticut. They will be held on April 18 and 23 from 4-5 p.m. To reserve a spot or to make an appointment for a more convenient time, call 203-315-7727. Location: Physical Therapy Services of Guilford, 500 East Main St., Ste. 310, Branford, CT. PhysicalTherapyGuilford.com. See ad below.

here is so much information out there about fat with much of it being negative. What are trans-fats and saturated fats? And what about fish oil? On April 16 at 6:30 p.m., join Dr. Elise Panza and Holistic Moms Network’s (HMN) New Haven County chapter to learn what’s good for you and what to avoid. Understand more about fat and how you can use it to reduce inflammation, improve cholesterol, promote overall wellness and even lose weight. Dr. Panza is a naturopath and the director of mind-body medicine at New England Naturopathic Center, LLC. She uses in-depth nutritional and biochemical analysis, together with homeopathy, craniosacral therapy and herbal medicine, to facilitate optimal functioning on physical, emotional and spiritual levels. Her specialties include pain and inflammation, Lyme disease, autoimmune diseases, fibromyalgia, depression, and anxiety. The mission of Holistic Moms Network, a nonprofit support and discussion network, is to connect parents who are interested in holistic health and green living. It welcomes people wherever they are on their own holistic path in an environment that does not judge. The New Haven County chapter follows the Holistic Moms Network’s drive to encourage parents to use their innate sense of what is best for their children and the Earth while learning more about healthcare and parenting options. Living healthy and living green is not an endpoint, but an ongoing journey. For more information, visit Chapters.HolisticMoms.org/Chapters/ CT-New-Haven or Facebook.com/HMNNewHaven. Location: Woodruff Family YMCA, 631 Orange Ave, Milford, CT.

2 IMPORTANT QUESTIONS

TO ASK WHEN SEEKING A PHYSICAL THERAPIST 1. Will my PT work ONLY with me during my treatment? ABSOLUTELY! At Physical Therapy Services of Guilford, we are one of the few remaining practices that spend 40 minutes, one-on-one, with YOU and ONLY YOU.

2. Will I ONLY be doing exercises during my treatment? No. Your physical therapist will be using hands-on techniques to relieve your pain and will provide you with exercises to do at home.

Physical Therapy Services of Guilford • 500 East Main Street • Branford

203-315 7727

New Haven/Middlesex

•

PhysicalTherapyGuilford.com

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A cloudy day is no match for a sunny disposition. ~William Arthur Ward

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for birds of prey, located in Killingworth, Connecticut. Its goal is to rescue, rehabilitate, re-nest and release each bird back into the wild whenever possible. The center is state-licensed and federally-permitted to care for wild birds of all kinds. They are specialists in birds of prey, corvids and vultures, including hawks, falcons, harriers, osprey, kites, eagles, owls, barn owls, ravens, American crows, fish crows, blue jays, black vultures and turkey vultures. A Place Called Hope is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization run entirely by volunteers along with donations of time, supplies and money from supporters.

Fat: The Good, the Bad and the Getting Rid Of

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news briefs

Qi Revolution Comes to Danbury

i Revolution, the largest qigong event in North America, has been praised by experts in yoga and naturopathic medicine. The three-day training will be available in Danbury from April 13 to 15 at the Amber Room Colonnade. During the event, qigong exercises and food-based healing are taught in detail by Qigong Practitioner Jeff Primack and 20 other instructors. With hundreds of people harnessing healing qi, the energy will be strong. Jeff Primack Experiencing ourselves as pure energy for even one minute is the ultimate “reset button” to relieve stress and improve focus. The 9-Breath Method, a signature technique taught to over 50,000 live people at Qi Revolution, supports this transformation. Oxygen retention and pulsation of breath is the secret of the masters and few courses offer this level of comprehensive instruction. Primack, a 20-year qigong practitioner, healed himself of lifelong asthma and through his workshops has helped others discover the secrets of maximizing their own healing potential. During the first day, instructors teach guests level one qigong healing and breathing applications, and move into even more powerful breathing applications on days two and three. The program cost is $199 for all three days. Advance registration is required. For more information, call 800-298-8970 or visit QiRevolution. com. Location: Amber Room Colonnade, 1 Stacey Rd, Danbury. See ad on page 3.

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Energetics of Food Cooking Class

our body is a vessel that receives, stores and distributes energy. Food, exercise, meditation and herbs are some of the many ways to gather this energy. Certain foods, when eaten in certain seasons, help to heal imbalances that cause sickness, stress and energy loss. Although maintaining a healthy diet through seasonal eating is wonderful, imbalances in your body may still occur. When these imbalances occur, you may become ill and look for ways to heal by using over the counter medicine. The problem with these drugs is that

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they provide a temporary fix, leaving the root of the illness untreated. This allows for the illness to manifest within your body and leaves the opportunity for it to return, sometimes worse. Using knowledge based on Traditional Chinese Medicine and over 4,000 years of research, this cooking class will teach you how to use food as medicine to treat some of these ailments. This philosophy is very different than the Western approach to nutrition. It helps you to align the organs, causing them to function properly and work together to heal and strengthen the immune system and fight sickness. In this sense, food becomes your medicine. There are five classes that cover the entire system and are held in each season. Each class is three hours, and participants who sign up will be emailed information a few days before the class to look over and get acquainted with terms. This information is extensive and the pre-study makes it easier to introduce within 3 hours; notetaking is encouraged. No previous experience is necessary. The next class is on April 7 at The Whistle Stop Café from 6-9 p.m. The cost for the class is $75; space is limited to 15 people. For registration and prepayment, visit Venmo.com/HedyWatrous; put email and phone in the comments. Checks can also be mailed to Whistle Stop Café, 108 Main St, Deep River, CT.

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achel Mazzarelli from Whole Health Thermography will be giving a free presentation to the community for those interested in learning more about the benefits of breast thermography. The talk will take place on April 4 from 6:30-8 p.m. in Orange, Connecticut. Unlike mammography, thermography is a radiation-free, touch-free diagnostic imaging procedure. DITI detects the subtle physiologic changes that accompany breast pathology, such as cancer, fibrocystic disease, estrogen dominance, lymph congestion, infection or a vascular disease. The procedure offers women the chance to become aware of worrisome physiological changes before there is a diagnosable cancer. Thermography is 90 percent accurate and all women can benefit from testing. In addition, Tina Kadish will talk at the event about safer skin care and beauty product options. To reserve your spot, contact Gina at 203-553-9300, DrDavidDurso@gmail.com or OrangeFamilyChiropractor@gmail.com. Location: Balance Health Family Chiropractic, 501 Boston Post Rd., Orange, CT.

ADVERTORIAL

QIGONG HEALING

How to Reverse Disease Naturally An Interview with Qigong Practitioner Jeff Primack (Part 2 of 2) MB: What is your favorite Qigong exercise to share with others?

MB: How does Qi heal people? How is Qigong different from yoga or exercise? JP: Qigong is an ancient “energy strengthening art” combining powerful breath techniques and slow movement. Dr. Oz praises Qigong saying, “If you want to live to be 100, do Qigong!” There is a powerful magnetic field in the hands that increases/regulates blood circulation. Doing Qigong a person can circulate as much blood as if jogging for 2 miles, but while standing perfectly still in one place! Ordinary exercises, like jogging, cause the release of Cortisol (also known as the “stress hormone”), which breaks down muscle tissue. In Qigong, your body is totally relaxed, yet blood is mobilized to flow more powerfully. People feel increased pulsation of in their hands while making the movements. Because there is no stress response, the blood can enter areas that may have been blocked off for years. This is why Qigong is so good at reducing body pain. Microcirculation to the forehead is increased and digestion is greatly improved. No other exercise offers this level of circulation to organs and glands.

JP: If there was only one technique I could share with the Earth, it would be 9-Breath Method. The most powerful Qigong systems rely on BREATHING TECHNIQUES to get their effects. Qi Revolution event teaches people a blend of movement, meditation and breathing techniques. Our transmission of this knowledge is precise and exact. Instruction of breathing is specific and we provide all important details needed for success. When performed correctly 9-Breath Method is scientifically proven to improve red blood cell structure in under a minute. Qigong student Peter Blake’s blood sample on the left reveals clumped cells before doing any breathing techniques. After a 45 second round of the 9-Breath Method the image on right side reveals the red blood cells are a much rounder shape. This shows how blood circulation is improving on the cellular level by doing this breath technique. The Qi feeling is awesome! MB: What does Qi feel like to a new person who has never done it? During the Nine-Breath Method this vibration of energy warms up the abdomen. That is from the enlivening of the blood from oxygenating yourself at the highest levels. With further repetitions of breathing techniques this warmth turns into a tangible electrical force that heals. It’s hard to be angry or worried when feeling a lot of Qi, because the vibrational current gives a profound peace and reminds us we have the light of Spirit inside ourselves. When someone “lays hands” on another person while doing these breathing techniques, it sends a wave of healing Qi into that person. Thousands of Qi Revolution attendees have said they were pain-free after doing a breathing session, likely due to endorphin release. Studies show that beta-endorphin, the feel good bliss molecule produced by the pituitary gland, is 10x a more potent painkiller than morphine. A natural high is always its own reward and dissolves stress far better than pharmaceuticals.

MB: Jeff, you also teach a lot about FoodHealing at Qi Revolution. How do specific foods help to reverse specific diseases? JP: Some foods, like Kiwi, have open lungs and have reversed Asthma in 100’s of attendees we’ve seen since teaching Qi Revolution starting back in 2005. It could be the vitamin C in kiwi is very high, but it’s most likely a combination of many phytochemicals that help improve breathing. Asparagus is another time-tested food that helps people reverse cancer and keep the immune system functioning properly. It is rich in Glutathione, a master detoxification enzyme produced by your liver. Eating asparagus raises the body’s level of Glutathione and increases the liver’s capacity to detoxify. We learned from REAL PEOPLE what FOOD PROTOCOLS give live-saving results for cancer, heart disease, diabetes and we share this wisdom at all our events.

Monica Stecker was diagnosed with fast growing Leukemia.Within 7 months following our Food-Protocol for Cancer shea was in complete remission, stunning her doctors

MB: What drives you to charge only $199 for the 3-Day Seminar? JP: My life has been greatly enhanced using the Qigong and Food-Healing knowledge. During my training I vowed to make Qigong accessible to the common people. I feel compelled to make these energizing practices available to all of society, not just for people with thousands of extra dollars to spend on seminars. Money ideally should not be a factor in someone’s decision to learn Qigong healing methods. Our goal is to share it with millions of people. People simply need to try Qigong! This is what drives me to keep it affordable.

“Qi Revolution” comes to DANBURY, CT

Amber Room Colonnade • April 13th-15th Jeff Primack and 20 Instructors will teach 3-days of Amazing Qigong for $199. To reserve tickets and for more info: 800-298-8970 • www.QiRevolution.com Veterans are admitted free of charge. April 2019

health brief

lyme disease treatment

TCM Offers Powerful Relief from Lyme Disease

Wave Integrative Medical Center

Practice summary. Primary services offered: Functional Medicine Evaluation and Treatment of Lyme, co-infections (including Mold), PANS/PANDAS; Herbal, pharmaceutical and compounded treatments; Additional modalities include: FIR Sauna, PEMF, Nutrition, Biostimulation, Low Level Laser Therapy. Does your Lyme disease protocol focus on managing physical, emotional or energetic aspects or some combination of these? My core practice at Wave Integrative Medical Center focuses on Emotional and Hormonal aspects of health. I treat physical aspects holistically for Lyme and Tick-Borne Infections per ILADS guidelines. For energetic aspects I use Pulsed Electromagnetic Field (PEMF) and biostimulation; I collaborate with Reiki and CST.

Spring is prime season for these insects, which are commonly found in grassy areas and on wild animals. TCM offers a different but no-less-aggressive approach to manage the treatment of Lyme disease. Using a combination of antimicrobial Chinese herbs and needles, Lyme protocols can boost the immune system, relieve peripheral neuropathy and support the bodyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s capacity to heal itself. Specific acupuncture points also relieve inflammation and joint pain, common symptoms of Lyme disease. TCM also incorporates acupuncture points to address the mental and emotional stress commonly associated with a debilitating or chronic illness. Licensed acupuncturists may also include dietary therapeutics to address the overall inflammation and underlying gastrointestinal imbalances. For more information, call 203-691-7653 or visit ElmCityWellness.com. Location: Elm City Wellness, 774 Orange St., New Haven, CT. See ad on page 6.

New Haven/Middlesex

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What training and/or certifications do you have? Certified Functional Medicine Practitioner (CFMP); International Lyme & Associated Disease Society CME; PANDAS medical training; Mold & Biotoxin Illness (Shoemaker certification pending). How long have you been practicing? I have been practicing for 4 years. What is most important for Natural Awakeningsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; readers to know about your work? Wave Integrative Medical Center is patient-centered practice that treats the root cause of illness. My patients are supported in their hormone, emotional, nutritional and physiological needs with evidence-based functional medicine. You can book now for Functional Medicine and Lyme disease appointments in Milford this Spring. Cite Natural Awakenings for an appointment booking before April 30th to receive 10% off initial visit.

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While potentially serious, Lyme disease can be treated, especially in the early stages. To learn more about Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), acupuncture and Lyme disease, join acupuncturist Said Faulwell on April 15 at 6:30 p.m. for a free event at Elm City Wellness in New Haven, Connecticut. Lyme disease is a tick-transmitted inflammatory disorder that is found in all of the continental U.S.; it is predominantly found here in the Northeast, with the highest number of disease-carrying ticks in the country.

Cortney Davis, PA-C, CFMP Coming soon to 326 West Main Street, Milford 844-Got-Lyme /203-442-6740 WaveIntegrative.com

lyme disease treatment

Wave Integrative Medical Center

Krista Hewlett Keegan 11 Woodland Road, Suite 202, Madison, CT Coming soon to Milford! 203-442-6740 WaveIntegrative.com

Practice summary. Primary services offered: Health Coaching, Genomics, Reiki treatments How do you help people suffering from Lyme disease? I assist clients in reaching health goals (ex, “reduce brain fog”; “have more energy”; “improve digestive health”); I help “untangle” people dealing with tick borne infections. Health Coaching is more affordable than seeing a Lyme Literate clinician. Does your Lyme disease protocol focus on managing physical, emotional or energetic aspects or some combination of these? The approach is individualized for client goals discussed during an initial consultation. For physical goals, I assist with botanical protocols and/or Genomic analysis (beyond MTHFR). For emotional and energetic aspects I offer Reiki. However, many clients find that connecting with a Lyme recoverer like myself can help them gain a deeper understanding of their health journey. What is most important for Natural Awakenings’ readers to know about your work? After recovering from disability due to neuroLyme that caused me to leave medical school, I co-developed Wave’s Integrative Medicine Program for Tick Borne Infections in 2015. As a published neuroscientist, I have a strong scientific understanding of Lyme disease and have consulted for >500 clients dealing with Lyme Disease. Follow Wave Integrative Medical Center on Facebook for updates on our new location in Milford this Spring!

Parimal (“Pari”) Patel 11 Woodland Rd, Suite 202, Madison CT Coming soon to Milford 844-Got-Lyme /203-442-6740 WaveIntegrative.com

Practice summary. Primary services offered: Wave Integrative Medical Center treats body, mind, and soul with expertise in Tick-Borne Infections offering natural and pharmaceutical treatments; IVIg; PEMF; Low-Level Laser therapy, Far Infared Sauna and Nutrition. These modalities apply to the treatment of Lyme disease, co-infections, PANS/PANDAS, as well as other microbial imbalances (such as viruses, mold, immune deficiencies, etc). What does your Lyme disease practice focus on? My practice focuses on addressing accurate diagnoses to accurately treat: co-infections are often missed, and a combination of prescriptions and natural remedies can be valuable in certain cases. I collaborate for emotional and energetic support, including Reiki and Acupuncture. I commonly use infusion of immune supports known as IVIg, and offer integrative modalities to treat symptoms of pain, such as Low Level Laser biostimulation and PEMF What training and/or certifications do you have? PA-C, ILADS, PANDAS Physician Network, TCM, numerous annual conferences, T3 certification, Shoemaker mold & biotoxin illness treatment. How long have you been practicing? I have been practicing for more than 15 years. What is most important for Natural Awakenings’ readers to know about your work? In my experience, treatment combining both allopathic and eastern medicine provides optimal results for recovery from Lyme disease. I love to see my patients graduate from care! Wave Integrative Medical Center is patient-centered practice that treats the root cause of illness. My patients are supported in their hormone, emotional, nutritional and physiological needs with evidence-based functional medicine. You can book now for Functional Medicine and Lyme disease appointments in Milford this Spring! Book before April 30th and cite Natural Awakenings to receive 10% off initial visit. April 2019

Khanthachai C/Shutterstock.com

EARTH DAY SPOTLIGHTS SPECIES Protection Is the Focus of 2019 Campaign by Ronica A. O’Hara

n April 22, eco-conscious citizens will come together again in communities across the country to celebrate Earth Day and work for the planet’s healthy, sustainable future. This year, the Earth Day Network (EDN) is asking people to join its Protect Our Species campaign to raise awareness of the crucial roles that plants and animals play in the ecosystem and the current threats faced by many of them. The nonprofit cites that the world is facing the greatest rate of extinction in 60 million years because of human activity, including climate change, deforestation, habitat loss, trafficking and poaching, unsustainable agriculture, pollution and pesticides. But the good news, EDN says, is that the rate of extinctions can be slowed, and many of our declining, threatened and endangered species can still recover if we work together now. This will necessitate a united global movement of consumers, voters, educators, faith leaders and scientists that demands immediate action. EDN is asking people to advocate for government policies that protect species and their habitats, and to continue to build on the worldwide efforts that embrace the value of nature. It is also asking people to undertake such individual actions as adopting a 14

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plant-based diet and stopping pesticide and herbicide use. More information, including teach-in toolkits and facts on threatened species, from whales to insects, can be found at EarthDay.org. Help Connecticut celebrate and promote progress in species sustainability efforts by participating in these local Earth Day 2019 events.

11th Annual North Haven Earth Day Celebration Date: April 6, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sponsored by the North Haven Conservation Commission, the free event features creative art and science projects produced by North Haven students, a face painter, scavenger hunt, food trucks, giveaways, reptiles and animals from Meigs Point Nature Center, owls and other birds rescued by A Place Called Hope, and bees and baby goats. There will be recycling games and activities coordinated by the Project Green high school students and other groups. Over 40 civic groups, businesses, and local and state agencies and departments will have exhibits and demonstrations on composting and

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recycling, organic gardening and lawncare, environmentally friendly products and services, invasive plants, energy efficiency and renewable energy, climate change, local history, and more. Location: North Haven High School, 221 Elm St., North Haven Information: HughD41@gmail.com

Thyme & Season Date: April 14, 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. Join us for earth-friendly samples, information, demonstrations and plantyour-own botanical organic seeds in a cup to take home and grow. Location: Thyme and Season, 3040 Whitney Ave,, Hamden Information: ThymeAndSeason.net/events

New Morning Market & Vitality Center Date: April 17, 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Refashion and Upcycle – Did you know Americans throw away 26 billion pounds of clothes annually? Or that almost all

fabric can be recycled? Today only about 1% of clothing is recycled and synthetic materials take over 200 years to break down in a landfill! There are many ways we can better the world with the way we treat our clothes. In this fun kid-friendly class you will discover solutions to the destructive impacts of the beauty and fashion industries. Swapping clothes and upcycling items that are no longer wearable into new things (such as reusable shopping bags!) are two great examples. Children and adults are invited to bring a few pieces of clothing to participate in a clothing swap and to bring an old t-shirt to transform into a reusable bag. For more information, visit Benevolent and Enlightened Beauty. Class is free to attend and donations to Benevolent and Enlightened Beauty will be graciously accepted. Free. Registration Requested. Date: April 17, 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Doody Under Wraps – Cloth Diapering Unfolded – Are you thinking about cloth diapering? In this hands-on workshop you’ll learn about the significant cost savings, health benefits, and environmental impact of cloth diapers as well as how to handle those Number Two’s! From mastering important laundering techniques to learning about the different cloth diapers on the market today (including all-in-ones, pre-folds, and pocket diapers), you’ll leave feeling like a cloth diaper pro. Tickets $15. Date: April 23, 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. DIY Spring Cleaning – Learn how to make a variety of nontoxic household cleaners just in time for spring cleaning! Participants will leave with recipes and will also be able to make and take a few of their own DIY cleaning products home to try. All attendees will receive a $5 coupon valid toward their next purchase at New Morning Market. Tickets $5. Date: April 30, 6 p.m. Potato Planting Primer – Interested in growing your own potatoes? Join us for n informative session! Experienced

The Natural Choice – The Breiner Whole-Body Health Center Optimize Your Smile and Your Health! Whole-Body Dentistry® provides comprehensive oral health care using traditional and holistic approaches. We understand the “mouth-body connection.”

Mark A. Breiner, DDS, FAGD, FIAOMT Speaker and best-selling author of Whole-Body Dentistry® Mercury-free for over 30 years, Dr. Breiner is a pioneer and recognized authority

WholeBodyDentistry.com • 203-371-0300 501 Kings Highway East, Suite 108, Fairfield, CT 06825

The Natural Choice – The Breiner Whole-Body Health Center Naturopathic Physicians Offering the Best in Holistic Healing Get your health back in balance naturally with proven treatments & therapies. FREE CDs on our approach to Lyme Disease

Watch our therapy videos on our website!

Drs. Adam Breiner, Elena Sokolova, and David Brady

WholeBodyMed.com • 203-371-8258

in Fairfield, CT

4th Bi-annual

Passport to Health & Wellness Statewide Beneﬁt* Holistic Expo Presented by the

Holistic Community Professionals

Sunday | May 5 | 10am - 5pm 75+ Exhibitors and Speakers! DoubleTree by Hilton 42 Century Drive, Bristol, CT 06010

FREE Sound Healing from 4-5pm on the patio • Speakers all day Free Raffles • Drumming GRAND PRIZE: A Hilton Overnight Stay for Two! *All door donations to benefit: Hartford Hospital’s Integrative Medicine Angie’s Spa and CT Children’s Medical Center.

ADMISSION Advance Early Bird $5 p/p $7 p/p at the door Children under 5 are FREE FOR TICKETS: Contact Shirley R. Bloethe at 860-989-0033 Email: yourholisticevents@gmail.com Vendors apply at: yourholisticevents.com FB - Passport to Health and Wellness Expo April 2019

local earth day events farmer and gardener Holli will go over prepping, planting, cultivation, and harvest of organic potatoes in your own garden. All attendees will receive a $5 coupon valid toward their next purchase at New Morning Market. Tickets $5. Location: New Morning Market & Vitality Center, 129 Main St. N., Woodbury Information: NewMorn.com/earth-day

Earth Day Celebration: Ansonia Nature and Recreation Center Date: April 27, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Every day is Earth Day at the Nature Center! We invite you to honor Mother Earth with our Friends of the Ansonia Nature Center, Inc. co-hosting this annual event. Enjoy hikes, live animals, music, environmental exhibitors, interactive activities with Nature Center staff, and more! Food and snacks available from local vendors. No park admission fee. All ages welcome; bring family and friends to celebrate Spring! Location: Ansonia Nature and Recreation Center, 10 Deerfield Rd, Ansonia. Information: AnsoniaNatureCenter.org

Hamden’s Earth Day Celebration Date: April 27, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

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Hammonasset Beach Earth Day 2019 Celebration Date: April 27, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. A Celebration of Earth Day 2019 and the arrival of Spring, sponsored by the Friends of Hammonasset with fun events for the whole family. Admission is free. Activities are scheduled for the Meigs Point Nature Center and at other park locations. Bring artifacts for identification from The Archeology Road Show. Look around during the Open House. Visit with Connecticut Audubon Society and Friends of the Office of the State Archaeologist. See an Atlatl demonstration with Gary Nolf. Take part in the beach and trail maintenance, Pitch In Pick Up; volunteers can register at any time during the day to obtain gloves and trash bags. Take a guided geology/nature hike with Don Rankin at 1 p.m. honoring the memory of noted geologist Sid Horenstein. Location: Meigs Point Nature Center, Hammonasset Beach State Park, 1288 Boston Post Rd., Madison Information: MeigsPointNatureCenter.org, 203-245-8743

Earth Day at Madison Earth Care Date: April 27, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The family-oriented, free celebration will feature exhibitors promoting earth-friendly services, products and organizations; food; and music. Free activities include bird guessing games, environmentally themed raffles, scavenger hunt, coloring contest, crafts, activities and more. There will be touch-a-truck with the Hamden fire and police departments, an electric vehicle showcase, the UCONN Master Gardener’s Program and other exhibitors. Other activities include a pre-event bird walk, magic show and a K9 demonstration. Bring older and broken electronics to recycle with TAKE 2 INC. 16

Location: Hamden Middle School, 2623 Dixwell Ave., Hamden Information: Hamden.com/EarthDay

On Saturday, April 27, Madison Earth Care is inviting the community to join them for their 4th annual Earth Day Celebration. Every year, for the last four years, Madison Earth Care has hosted a variety of local food trucks, artisans, and small and local business owners to celebrate Earth Day. The event emphasizes the diversity of local businesses in the community and offers activities for the whole family, including face painting, hayrides, a market, food trucks, petting zoo, mini touch-a-truck, giveaways and more. In honor of Earth Day, it also features a raffle to benefit the Madison Land Conservation

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and Trust. “We love the timing of Earth Day. It is right as the weather is looking up and this event provides a fun opportunity for our community to get outside and enjoy all that nature has to offer! By hosting this event, we are able to not only get people thinking about the outdoors and nature, but we are able to support our local land trust, as well,” says Rachel Blundon, president of Madison Earth Care. The event will take place from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m., with the market open from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. More information can be found on Madison Earth Care’s website, MadisonEarthCare.com, or on their Facebook page. If you wish to participate as a vendor, please email abby@madisonearthcare.com or call 203-421-4358. Location: Madison Earth Care, 1250 Durham Rd., Madison Information: MadisonEarthCare.com/ Earth-Day

11th Annual Rock to Rock Earth Day Ride Date: April 27 Families, college students, serious riders and weekend warriors are welcome to explore New Haven by bicycle. The Ride for Climate Solutions has several bike routes from West Rock to East Rock to choose from, including the family parade ride, 12-mile, 20-mile, 40-mile and metric century. The routes explore New Haven’s parks and greenspaces, back roads and city streets, city neighborhoods and small towns. Along the way, listen to music and eat food. Rock to Rock riders raise support for more than two dozen local groups working to create a greener and healthier community. Start location: Common Ground, 358 Springside Ave., New Haven Information: RocktoRock.DonorDrive.com (fees, schedule and more)

It’s turned out to be one of the best investments we’ve ever made—financially and environmentally.

Herr Loeffler/Shutterstock.com

~Ron Blumenfeld, a six-year solar convert in Fairfield, Connecticut

Power Switch Taking a Home Off the Grid by Jim Motavalli

esse Stafford and Alyssa Craft quit their jobs in 2015, bought five acres of remote land far away from utilities and began building their 36-foot-by-36-foot timber frame home from scratch. Next up was a septic system, then a clean water source and, of course, alternative energy. Their rooftop solar panels are backed up by a reliable Honda generator. They had some setbacks, which is to be expected. Now they’re blogging about it. “We didn’t want corporate jobs, we didn’t want to live in the city, commute to work or have a mortgage payment,” they write in their online homestead journey at PureLivingForLife.com. Off-the-grid living has become downright fashionable, especially for the eco-conscious. But leaving the rat race isn’t easy, and it’s not for everyone. Yet, anyone that wants to become more energy-independent can succeed without moving to an isolated cabin; and there’s never been a better time, because prices keep coming down and technology keeps improving. Choosing the best option depends on several factors, including the specific residence, climatic zone, town and neighborhood.

Preliminary Considerations Power source: Choose from among

solar ($12,000 to $50,000, depending on the system’s size), wind ($6,000 to $22,000, including installation) or geothermal ($20,000 to $25,000).

Ample resources: Find out if there’s

steady wind, plentiful sun, a place to install geothermal pipes and whether the home is properly oriented for solar without obstruction by trees or tall buildings.

Electricity needed: Get a quick average

by adding up the wattage of all appliances, and then add 50 percent. The American average is 10,000 kilowatt-hours annually, although frugal folks can make do with less. The local utility company can also estimate energy needs based on past usage. Realize that alternative energy doesn’t need to be an all-or-nothing proposition. For instance, a solar system doesn’t have to power the whole house. A smaller and cheaper array with battery backup can be connected to essential services like the water heater, refrigerator and electric stove, with the grid handling heavier loads. Ad-

vantages are lower upfront cost and access to the grid when needed. Connecting to the grid makes sense for all alternative power sources, because wind and solar are intermittent, and don’t always provide power. Also, most states offer net metering, which requires the local utility to pay for the electricity a homeowner puts back into the grid.

Solar: Plunging Costs Solar panels for electricity, usually made of silicon, consist of photovoltaic cells that convert sunlight into direct current (DC). Their cost has come down dramatically in recent years. In January, the average solar panel cost $3.14 a watt, a bottom line of roughly $18,000 with a six-kilowatt system big enough for most homes. The price fell 6.5 percent from January 2018, reports EnergySage.com, a solar vendor pricing source. A federal tax credit covers 30 percent of the cost, so the out-of-pocket cost for a system would be approximately $13,000 if installed before year’s end, when the full residential tax credit is available. Partial tax credits will be available until they are phased out in 2022. Ron Blumenfeld, a retired doctor in Fairfield, Connecticut, serves on his town’s sustainability task force and “went live” with his rooftop installation six years ago. “It’s turned out to be one of the best investments we’ve ever made—financially and environmentally,” he says. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is working toward residential solar to generate power at just five cents per kilowatt-hour by 2030, which means it will be far cheaper than grid electricity. Consumers can either buy a system outright or—as a popular alternative—lease the system with no upfront costs. Leasing companies like SolarCity (now part of Tesla) pioneered this approach, in which consumers agree to buy electricity from the system installed on their roof. April 2019

Wind: If the Resource is Right Wind power accounted for the largest share of renewable energy growth in 2017, reports the International Energy Agency, but it’s in its infancy for homeowners, partly due to an average cost of $48,000 to $65,000 per installed project. Residential turbines have been installed in all 50 states, but many parts of the U.S. have marginal resources. Check the Department of Energy wind resource guide for local data at WindExchange.Energy.Gov. The best-case scenario is strong winds plus few neighbors close to a large property (and lenient zoning laws). Wind may work for the 19.3 percent of the population that lives in rural areas and the 21 million American homes built on properties of an acre or more. However, it isn’t for everyone. James Weston, of Greene, Maine, installed his turbine 10 years ago, and considers his rooftop solar panels a better investment. “By the time you put up your 100-foot tower to get the tower above the tree line and optimize the wind resource, the return isn’t there,” he says, noting that his savings from the turbine amount to a few hundred dollars a year. Bergey WindPower, maker of the 10-kilowatt BWC Excel 10 turbine ($31,770), recommends that a property have at least a 10 mph average wind speed, coupled with high electricity prices of 10 cents per kilowatt-hour or more. Also consider the neighbors: The system’s turbine is typically installed on an 80-to-100-foot tower, and so-called “viewshed” objections 18

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Residential wind power is in its infancy in the U.S. have taken down many projects (including Cape Wind, in Massachusetts). With annual maintenance, the DOE reports that small wind turbines should last about 20 years, the same basic lifespan as solar panels. The federal production tax credit for wind is available this year, but won’t be available afterwards. Some states offer incentives. A useful small wind guidebook can be found at WindExchange. Energy.gov/small-wind-guidebook.

Geothermal: Available Anywhere

Some common misconceptions about home geothermal are that consumers need to live in one of the planet’s “hot spots” (think Iceland, California or Utah). But the truth is the Earth’s temperature just below the surface almost anywhere is a constant 45 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit, and the Northeast and Midwest have the highest geothermal adoption rates. Geothermal doesn’t necessarily require a large piece of property. Local geology will be a factor in siting and sizing the system. Geothermal systems use underground pipes filled with refrigerant that absorbs warmth from the ground through a heat exchanger. In summer, that same underground temperature can be tapped to cool

a home, combining heating and air conditioning in one system. While it necessitates a relatively high upfront cost, low operating costs mean the systems can pay for themselves in less than 10 years. Most include a ground-source heat pump with a 50-year warranty. For a 2,500-square-foot home, an average offthe-electrical-grid system will cost $20,000 to $25,000 to install. Bill Martin, in Quincy, California, runs an efficient three-ton geothermal system installed in 2014. “It’s been a very good experience,” he says. “I’m ecstatically happy.” The same 30 percent federal tax credit that applies to solar also applies to geothermal for systems installed by 2020. States also provide incentives. A detailed guide on availability is available at Tinyurl.com/ GeothermalHeatPumpListing.

Special Considerations

Buildings, especially older structures, are usually sieves in terms of energy loss, so before investing in a system, check to see if the local utility provides free energy audits. Even if it’s not free, it’s worth finding out if the home needs new windows or strategically applied insulation. There are scammers in every field, and alternative energy is no exception. Ask providers for references to previous customers and check for online cautions from the Better Business Bureau, Yelp and others. Alternative energy in any form can save money and precious resources. Explore the options thoroughly and choose wisely before pulling the plug. Jim Motavalli, of Fairfield, CT, is an author, freelance journalist and speaker, specializing in alternative energy, clean automotive and other environmental topics. Connect at JimMotavalli.com.

If a Stream Runs Through It

roperties with moving water have a fourth sustainable power source available to them: hydroelectric. If opting to harness the energy in a nearby flowing stream or river, 10-kilowatt microhydropower systems can power even large homes. They combine piping from the water source to a turbine, pump or waterwheel with an alternator or generator, regulator and wiring. According to Home Power magazine, a fully installed hydro system for the average use of a modern household might cost $20,000 to $100,000.

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Whether to add the extra expense of battery backup is important. A pair of Tesla Powerwalls will cost about $14,000 installed and store enough electricity to power a home for seven days. It’s suitable for people looking to go off the grid because the sun doesn’t always shine, and power generated on sunny days can be stored and used when it’s overcast. Off-the-grid solar is not just for those living in sun-rich states. Installers can look at a property—often remotely, through applications like Google Earth—and determine if solar is appropriate. Sometimes a few trees will have to be sacrificed, but the benefits are manifold, and not just because there will be power during grid blackouts.

solar installation

sustainable cohousing community

Best Solar Leads CT

Rocky Corner Cohousing

Jeff Cunningham 860-302-2838 MaverickJ7@gmail.com JeffJCunningham.com

Green business summary primary services offered: I am an entrepreneur. I realized this was my life calling after my brother passed away. You can get anything you want in life, if you help enough people get what they want. I provide leads to Solar that most benefit the house and the consumer. How is your solar business different from that of others in your field? We ALL get annoyed about solar! I get it. This is by far the best looking, commercial grade solar for your house. No rush decisions—only put on if YOU SAVE MONEY. What benefits should customers expect from your services and/or products? I only work with the best. I may run for president one day and put my name behind who I work with. We stay all the way through and follow up to explain the new world to solar and how to control it from an app on your phone! How is your business evolving in 2019? Solar is the future, and we are excited to show you how solar can be embedded in the roof. However, the CT program which allows it to be installed for FREE will expire soon. Email or call me today! What do you most want Natural Awakenings’ readers to know about you and your solar business? I will have the biggest coffee shop / music studio one day. This is my dream. Solar installation helps the world, helps people save money and will bring me closer to my dream. Follow the dream on YouTube. Search JeffJCunningham.com.

58 Old Amity Road Bethany, CT 203-903-2646 Welcome@rockycorner.org RockyCorner.org

Summary of cohousing offered: 1, 2 & 3 bedroom homes for sale—Energy Star rated, with both passive and active solar features. Residents will co-own 33 acres and a 4,500 sf common house. Both market-price and affordable homes are available. How is your sustainable community unique? Rocky Corner is the first cohousing community to be built in the tri-state area. We are an organic farm–centered neighborhood on 33 acres, with a permaculture plan that protects natural habitats. Rocky Corner’s design builds community by promoting interactions between neighbors. What are the benefits of your cohousing community? We designed our cohousing neighborhood to be sustainable, with smaller homes and a large shared common house. Rocky Corner provides the privacy we are accustomed to, together with the community we seek. All ages and abilities will work together to create a supportive, resilient place for people and wildlife, with edible landscapes and individual garden plots. How is Rocky Corner evolving in 2019? Construction is well underway, with move-in expected in the fall of this year. After we move in, the fun of gathering, skill sharing and growing together will begin! Future residents are already coalescing into a vibrant community. What do you most want Natural Awakenings’ readers to know about Rocky Corner? After Rocky Corner is a friendly, cooperative, planet-focused neighborhood. We are devoted to preserving, protecting nurturing and regenerating the natural environment. We consider the Rocky Corner community, the wider human community and the health of the Earth when making decisions and choices. April 2019

green living

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Susane Grasso REIKI MASTER

NATIVE INTELLIGENCE Planting an Eco-Friendly Yard

Relaxation Therapy Chakra Balancing Aura Readings

203.500.6950 2489 Boston Post Road Suite F Guilford CT 06437

Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.

~Albert Einstein 20

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by Avery Mack

aintaining a grassy yard or ornamental shrubs can be time consuming and less than ecofriendly. That’s why conservation-minded gardeners are turning to lush, native landscaping as an aesthetically pleasing alternative to spartan, water-free xeriscaping. Native plants not only save water, they enhance local ecosystems by providing food and shelter for birds, bees, butterflies and wildlife. “Indigenous plants build healthy soil and retain and replenish ground water,” says Michael Fleischacker, chair of landscape architecture and environmental sciences at Delaware Valley University, in Doylestown, Pennsylvania. Accustomed to the climate and nutrients in their habitat, they don’t need the extra fertilizer required by exotic transplants. Natives are also better equipped to fend off harmful insects, reducing the need for pesticides. “When pests did show up, I used insecticidal soap and neem oil. Both are great ecofriendly remedies,” says Kimberly Button, an Orlando-based freelance journalist and author of The Everything Guide to a Healthy Home: All You Need to Protect Yourself and Your Family from Hidden Household Dangers. A genuine indigenous plant in the U.S. predates European settlement. These natives grew in the wildlands of the regions where they evolved and adapted over hundreds or thousands of years.

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However, what’s wild isn’t necessarily native. These days, the woods and forests are rife with alien species that escaped from non-native gardens or were planted to perform some specific purpose that went awry. Kudzu, for instance, was imported from Asia and installed along roadways to prevent soil erosion. The perennial vine, which can grow up to a foot per day, has become the plague of the South, rooting out native plants and toppling trees under the sheer weight of its smothering foliage. In 2013, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency issued a report summarizing numerous studies that concluded that non-native plants disrupt the food web and present a growing problem for “organisms that depend on native plants for food, shelter and places to rear their young.”

Natives vs. Nativars

While the harm caused by many invasive plants that evolved in a foreign habitat is well-documented and profound, the ecological impact of plant variations derived from native species—known as cultivars or nativars—is sometimes more subtle. Cultivars have been developed to highlight specific traits, like larger blooms or longer bloom times. They may be bred for a stronger scent, or have the scent bred out of them in pursuit of another trait, making them less enticing to pollinators and wildlife.

Native varieties have longer growing seasons, a decades-long lifespan and tight plant groupings to prevent weed growth. ~Michael Fleischacker One drawback to cultivars is what those “improved” traits can affect. “The native serviceberry (Amelanchier) has small, bright red berries birds love to eat,” Fleischacker says. “Because they add color to a winter yard or are used for wreaths and décor, cultivars were bred to produce larger berries. Birds choke on the bigger berry, unable to swallow them.” A current, multi-year research project at the Mt. Cuba Center’s native botanical gardens in Hockessin, Delaware, is seeking to determine whether certain cultivars are as attractive to insects as their native counterparts. What’s certain, say the experts: A gardener can’t go wrong with indigenous plants. “Native varieties have longer growing seasons, a decades-long lifespan and tight plant groupings to prevent weed growth,” Fleischacker says. Despite the perception by some that natives are boring, they can be showier than their cultivar cousins and also thrive in their region’s unique conditions. “I keep my yard as natural as possible to co-exist with my neighbor, the Hiawatha National Forest, and its small animals and birds,” says Monica Cady, co-founder of the Herbal Lodge and a member of the Sault Ste. Marie Chippewa tribe in Hessel, Michigan.

Going Native

Transitioning to native landscaping isn’t as daunting as it might seem. Small changes can make a difference, and local plant nurseries can assist. Some may have a staff horticulturalist to help distinguish the natives from the nativars and to steer gardeners clear of invasive, water-guzzling, nutrient-needy non-natives that will spread quickly and overwhelm the landscape. Going native isn’t an all-or-nothing proposition, says Fleischacker. “Consult a local nursery or landscaper about adding natives to the mix. There are plants that love shade or sun, dry areas or damp.” When planning, look past what’s trendy. “The ecosystem is set up to protect and promote beneficial insects and pollinators,” says Button. What was old can be new again.

photo by Kimberly Button

Connect with freelance writer Avery Mack at AveryMack@ mindspring.com.

NATIVE PLANT RESOURCES Tinyurl.com/GardeningWithNativePlants Tinyurl.com/AboutNativePlants Tinyurl.com/NativePlantFinder Tinyurl.com/NativePlantsForPollinators Tinyurl.com/ChickadeesAndNativeTrees

gardening / landscaping services

Madison Earth Care

1250 Durham Road Madison, CT 203-421-4358 Landscape@madisonearthcare.com MadisonEarthCare.com Business summary. Primary services and/or products offered: Madison Earth Care is your go-to business for all things garden and landscape. Whether you’re looking for full service landscape design and install, seasonal maintenance services, do-it yourself help, or gifts to get back to nature, we have it all! How is your gardening/landscaping business different from that of others in your field? We recognize how important it is to be conscious of our impact on the environment. We have implemented several programs, including solar powered electric equipment and zero emissions mowers, which allows us to provide excellent service while lessening our footprint. What benefits should customers expect from your services and/or products? Our customers should expect excellent service and quality from Madison Earth Care. We value them greatly and work hard to provide the best experience that we can, whether they are shopping at the garden center or having landscape work done. How is your gardening/landscaping business evolving in 2019? We are constantly evolving. We understand that neither nature nor the industry are constants. We embrace furthering our extensive knowledge, which has been built through years of experience, and learning new methods and techniques to provide our clients with the best. What do you most want Natural Awakenings’ readers to know about your gardening/landscaping services? How extensive our services and products are! While we are relatively well-known for our landscaping services, our garden center and gift shop is still new and it’s amazing! With a natural touch and focus on quality, there’s something for everyone!

April 2019

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healing ways

Essential Oils 101 by Melford and Concetta Bibens

What exactly is an essential oil?

n essential oil is a concentrated hydrophobic liquid containing volatile organic compounds from plants. Volatility, in this case, means that they readily convert from a liquid to a vapor form at room temperature. Different essential oils can alter brain chemistry in ways that impact our emotional and mental state, hence their therapeutic potential. Essential oils are also readily absorbed into the bloodstream through the skin or stomach, creating a physiological effect with potential medical applications. These botanical sources are made up of genus and species (e.g. frankincense, boswellia). This name tells us exactly which plant the oil comes from and its origin. Essential oils are composed of dozens of naturally-occurring chemical constituents. Each oil has a unique mix of constituents, although some constituents occur in many essential oils. Depending on their biological purpose, essential oils may be concen22

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trated in flowers, seeds, sap, leaves, roots or bark.

Are essential oils similar to oils used for cooking and body products?

They’re very different. Oils used in cooking—such as olive, coconut and avocado oil—are vegetable/fatty oils and they tend to “flash” (burn before full evaporation). Although they may come from the same plants, essential oils are volatile oils, meaning they evaporate very quickly, are not fatty and shouldn’t leave a residue. The small molecular size of essential oils also make them unique, because the tiny oil molecules still penetrate the skin, olfactory sensors, gastrointestinal system and blood/brain barrier even when mixed with a carrier oil, such as fractionated coconut oil.

What are the most important qualities to look for when purchasing essential oils?

There are three factors that determine

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essential oil quality. First, find out if the brand is being used clinically in hospitals and medical offices. Doctors are using medical-grade essential oils all around the country, from orthopedic surgeons to gynecologists, dentists, family practitioners and others. Hospitals represent the ultimate “quality filter” of an oil due to the amount of due diligence and red tape involved with being accepted into a into a medical institution, so this is a great place to start. Secondly, mechanical and organoleptic testing should be performed by both an independent third party lab and the manufacturer of the oils. The results should be readily available to you. The minimum acceptable mechanical tests are gas chromatography and mass spectrometry (also known as GC/MS testing). If you can’t see those tests for yourself from the company, don’t expose your family to those oils. Other advanced testing that you should look for are the FTIR Scan (Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy) and microbial testing.

The second stage of expert testing is an organoleptic test, also known as a “sniff ” test. There are only a handful of people who have been doing this long enough and really know how to do this. The right companies will have an expert on staff as well as evidence of third party review. Thirdly, look on the bottle for the botanical name of the oil and where it’s harvested. This is important information. Before you purchase an essential oil, look at the botanical name. If you cannot find the botanical name on the front of the bottle, don’t buy that oil. How can you do the proper due diligence for your family if you don’t even know what strain of plant they used, where it came from or the source of the therapeutic benefits? Plants grow best—give the most therapeutic benefit—in their country of origin. For example, the best frankincense in the world comes from Somalia and Oman, two small African countries. This means that frankincense grown other than in those countries (or worse in a greenhouse) will not have the medical benefits you’re looking for. If the temperature, altitude, rainfall amounts, soil composition, air quality, water mineral content, solar intensity and other variables change, the plant’s chemistry and thus its medical potency changes

How are essential oils extracted from plants?

The most common method of extracting essential oils is a low-heat steam distillation process. In this process, pressurized steam is circulated through plant material. The essential oils are liberated from the plant and carried away by the steam. When the steam cools, the water and oils naturally separate and the oil is collected. To ensure the highest quality oil extract with the correct chemical composition, the temperature and pressure must be closely monitored. Too little heat or pressure and the oil will not release; too much, and the oil’s composition and potency will be affected. Steam Distillation During the steam distillation process, steam passes through the plant material. The combination of heated steam and gentle pressure causes the essential oil to be released from microscopic protective sacs. As the vapor mixture flows through a condenser and cools, it yields a layer of oil and a layer of water. The essential oil rises to the top, is separated from the hydrosol (floral water) and collected. Using this particular distillation method makes it possible to adjust the temperature based on the plant type, making it an effective and precise way to obtain the purest compounds. Expression Unlike steam distillation, expression, sometimes referred to as “cold pressed,” does not involve heat. In this process, oil is extracted from the product under mechanical pressure. Expression is most often used for citrus essential oils.

Before you purchase an essential oil, look at the botanical name. If you cannot find the botanical name on the front of the bottle, don’t buy that oil. How can you do the proper due diligence for your family if you don’t even know what strain of plant they used, where it came from or the source of the therapeutic benefits? Distillation Proper distillation requires a consideration for the uniqueness of pressure, temperature, time and harvesting practices, each of which may be as diverse as the plants themselves. A poor distillation process can alter or destroy the necessary aromatic compounds that comprise the essential oil, leaving a substance far different from the intended goal; this is something that would not be used to support health and wellness.

What is the best way to use essential oils: aromatically, topically or ingested?

As long as the essential oils you’re using follow “the 3 factors that determine essential oil quality” mentioned above, all application methods are safe when used appropriately, including aromatic, topical and internal methods. Aromatic The sense of smell is a tool that can elicit powerful physiologic, mental and emotional responses. Essential oils are quickly absorbed by the smell receptors, which have a direct link to the limbic system by way of the olfactory nerve. The limbic system is part of the brain that supports a variety of functions including smell, emotions, behavior and memory. For this reason, essential oils have an especially powerful effect via aromatic application. Diffusion This is one of the simplest methods for using essential oils aromatically. Diffusers that use cold air or water are ideal. However, you can achieve the same health benefits by simply placing a few drops of essential oil in the palm of your hand that is then cupped around the nose as you breathe deeply. Topical Topical application is a very effective method for applying essential oils. Because essential oils have low molecular weights April 2019

and are lipid-soluble, they easily penetrate the skin. Using a light massage will increase the blood flow to the area of application, in turn improving distribution throughout the body. It’s always advisable to use several small doses throughout the day rather than a single large dose. Start with the lowest possible dose (1-2 drops). A topical dose can be repeated every 4-6 hours as needed. Because every individual is unique, the dose will vary for each individual based on size, age and overall health status. Internal Essential oil contributes many health benefits when used internally as well as flavoring foods. Essential oils can be used as dietary supplements for more targeted and potent therapeutic health benefits. Internal use is a very safe and effective method of application because of the sophisticated physiologic processes of our bodies. When ingested, essential oils directly enter the blood stream via the gastrointestinal tract, where they are transported throughout the rest of the body. Essential oils are lipid soluble so they are readily transported to all organs of the body, including the brain.

Are there any safe practices/precautionary measures to consider when using essential oils with children? Are there any special dilution requirements?

Essential oils have been used since before recorded history to help support healthy family lifestyles. When using essential oils, proper usage models are key, especially with children. Oils are potent and only a very small amount is needed for efficacy. Children need less oil than adults because of their lower body mass. Also, the skin of children is thinner and more sensitive because their bodies are still developing. It’s important to always dilute oils when first applying them to a child. The feet are a good place to start applying oils on children because that’s where skin is the thickest, yet this is where their biggest pores are. The oil penetrates easily and will be throughout the entire body in less than a minute thanks to the circulatory system. Emotional health is an important component to your children’s overall health because emotions can influence how they feel physically. Kids have a lot of pressure on them, which can manifest as stress, attention difficulties, anger control issues, illness, self-doubt, fear, lack of energy, sleeplessness and more. It may not necessarily be beneficial to add behavioral modification drugs with potential side effects to the mix. These complex chemical reactions in your child’s body and brain can be balanced with the right essential oils applied properly. Melford and Concetta Bibens are master certified health/wellness coaches and national health symposium speakers who have empowered over 18,000 clients to heal their families through natural medicine, nutrition and fitness. Connect at 347-404-2013, Info@ MelfordandConcetta.com, Facebook.com/MelfordConcettaBibens and Meetup.com/The-4-Pillars-Of-Health. See Profile on right. 24

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essential oils

Melford and Concetta Bibens 5 Waterside Road, Branford, CT 347-404-2013 Info@MelfordandConcetta.com MeetUp.com/The-4-Pillars-Of-Health MelfordandConcetta.com

Business summary. Primary services/products offered: With over 20 years in the natural Health and Wellness industry, Melford and Concetta Bibens have empowered over 18,000 wellness clients on healing their families through natural medicine, stress relief, nutrition and fitness. How is your business different from that of others in your field? We have scientific proof and time-tested knowledge of how to use Medical-Grade Essential Oils to help every member of your family (from baby to Grandparent) to treat themselves and get away from using Over-The-Counter and Pharmaceutical drugs. What benefits should customers/clients expect from your services and/or products? You will be empowered to treat your family AT HOME naturally using The ‘4 Pillars Of Health’ model. You’ll have the power to help your family with their specific health ailments and needs, be they physical OR emotional, without piling them into the car and driving to the doctor’s office (never a fun ride!) and then getting a prescription you don’t want to give them! YOU will have control of your family’s health. How is your business evolving in 2019? We have expanded to Connecticut, Rhode Island & New York and partnered with forward-thinking medical facilities around the country. Hospitals and doctors around the northeast are making this shift because 73% of their patients now ask SPECIFICALLY for a natural alternative to drugs. We have all worked together to cause this shift—LET’S CELEBRATE! What do you most want Natural Awakenings’ readers to know about you and your services and/or products? We all know that we’re living in a ‘Health Care Crisis’—this awareness has amplified our passion to reach out and touch as many lives as possible. We empower our clients (health professionals and families) to solve the healthcare crisis by teaching them ‘The 4 Pillars of Health’ model: Physical Health, Emotional/Spiritual Health, Family Safety, and Financial Security.

education – sustainable nutrition

The Institute of Sustainable Nutrition (TIOSN)

113 Simsbury Road, West Granby, CT 860-764-9070 Joan@TIOSN.com TIOSN.com

Summary of education offered: We have a unique education 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.

CBD products

Kannaway

203-651-5803 TheBenefitsofCBD@gmail.com Business summary. Primary products offered: Kannaway offers CBD nutrient-rich supplement blends: oils, salve, chews, capsules, skincare products, vaporizer products, essential packs, oral applicators, pet products and clothing.

How are your CBD products different from others in your industry? Recognized as a leader in the CBD hemp oil industry, our Pure CBD is World Anti-Doping Agency approved for US Olympic What first drew you to this profession? athletes, FIRST to have a CBD product (Pure Gold) published in We wanted to fill a void by creating a food and health education the Physician’s Desk Reference; FIRST to develop strict quality program people had been asking us for. The vision was to create a standards; Only company with license from National Institutes of program that incorporated all aspects of teaching about food and Health to research and develop under US Government Patent on health with the gold standard of experiential, hands-on teaching. “Cannabinoids as Antioxidants and Neuroprotectants,” FIRST to introduce legal medical cannabis internationally; FIRST to offer How is your education program different from Government-subsidized cannabis-based products. Our product is others in your profession? written by prescription in 11 countries. We are US Hemp We give hands-on experience and connect students to the outdoors Authority Certified and received the Best of Cannabis Awards. in order to give a truly meaningful educational experience. It is a practical and embodied experience rather than theoretical. What benefits should customers expect from your CBD products? We also bring in experts from the food world to teach sections All our hemp oil products are made with non-GMO hemp grown of the curriculum for a more well-rounded perspective. free of chemical fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides and put What should students expect from working with you and your program? We hear again and again that what they learn rocks our students’ worlds. They tell us that their life is never the same and they are grateful. How is your program evolving in 2019? We are integrating more of our graduated students into our programming and offering more educational workshops to the public. What do you most want Natural Awakenings’ readers to know about your program? We provide life-altering perspectives and experiences to our students that change how they live their life while building a life-long community.

through a Triple-Lab Tested process to ensure reliability and protect the consumer from contamination. We use CO2 extraction. With a focus on ideal nutrition and healthy choices, I’m completely involved with one-on-one support, free consultations and educational events to guarantee the best decision for your health and wellbeing.

What do you most want Natural Awakenings’ readers to know about your CBD products? Kannaway offers proprietary CBD rich hemp oil complex combined with our exclusive Bĭbong® CBD herbal blend. Bĭbong® formulas are specific herbal formulations handed down for centuries through a family line of doctors. They are the combination of herbs and extraction methods to create a balance that works optimally with the body.

April 2019

Controversy Surrounds Lyme Disease Diagnosis and Treatment Here Is What the Public Needs To Know by Parimal Patel

yme disease is known for leading confused patients to seek second, third and more opinions. Patients consult providers with a myriad of symptoms that span multiple systems, commonly complicated further by “brain fog.” Yet, even in the most endemic of states, it remains challenging to share scientific information with the public about this most formidable foe, the “borrelia” bacteria that causes Lyme disease from a tick bite. Here are the “reasons behind the rift” to help the public navigate the perplexing landscape of tick-ridden Connecticut and its disagreeing clinicians. The rest of the world calls Lyme disease “borreliosis.” Borrelia are present in different strains around the globe and represent the most common tick-transmitted infection. In the U.S., the disease caused by borrelia Burgdorferi takes on its name after Lyme, 26

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Connecticut, where a strain of borrelia was determined to cause a spike in cases of juvenile arthritis that became linked to tick bites and a characteristic “bulls-eye” rash. Unfortunately the term, “Lyme disease,” is thrown around for any symptoms following a tick bite; this is despite the fact that there are endemic co-infections that all types of ticks can transmit. Other endemic tick infections include Erhlicia and Babesia. Some strains of these cannot be tested, and may also be carried by dog ticks. The fool-proof way to ask a provider if there is a Lyme disease concern is to directly ask if the symptoms are related to borreliosis or any other tick-borne infections. Diagnosing borreliosis, however, is not so simple. Not everyone sees a tick, “bulls-eye rash” or spikes a fever. To feed fully, ticks bite with an anesthetic, so we do not feel them like a mosquito

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Rather than looking for the bacteria directly, the test for borreliosis looks at whether your immune system has encountered it. Unlike strep throat, which doctors can sample and grow rapidly in a petri dish, borrelia are very difficult to locate and can take up to four months to culture. Instead, the Lyme test looks for evidence in your blood. The test collects antibodies from your blood, which are made by the immune system to fight specific infections. The antibodies (“key witness”) are presented with proteins from borrelia to see if it recognizes it, a result that could only occur if the patient’s immune system had encountered borrelia before. One problem with this method is that it assumes all immune systems recognize and fight borrelia equally. However, “neurolyme” patients may have weakened immune responses to borrelia, and are less likely to test positive than patients with mainly chronic joint problems. Indeed a study from the University of California Davis found that mice infected with Lyme bacteria were not able to produce antibodies to a separate infection challenge: the flu vaccine. Does borrelia, like other well-adapted infections, find a way to weaken the immune system in some patients? Furthermore, the test has two levels with 35 percent of late Lyme patients never passing the first tier. For those that do, the second tier may in fact show that the “key witness” did recognize proteins

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bite; but if you are fortunate enough to see a bulls-eye rash, be sure to photograph it and track the size. Your provider will not need blood work to confirm that you have contracted borreliosis; the rash is diagnostic. Fever, an immune response to infection, may not ever occur. For those that miss a rash, tick or fever, flu-like illness in the spring or summer should be treated very seriously as it may be your only clue that an infection from a tick has occurred. If a practitioner describes your illness as “viral,” request testing to determine conclusively which virus. Otherwise, seek prompt treatment for a tick bite, since testing for Lyme disease is unlikely to test positive during acute illness.

The fool-proof way to ask a provider if there is a Lyme disease concern is to directly ask if the symptoms are related to borreliosis or any other tick-borne infections. Diagnosing borreliosis, however, is not so simple. from borrelia; however, due to criteria set during the now-cancelled Lyme vaccine trials, critical proteins (called “bands”) were removed from the test interpretation. Importantly, some clinicians will include these otherwise ignored “vaccine bands” as valuable evidence of active Lyme infection, whereas others will not; therefore, clinicians will interpret the Lyme disease testing differently. Providers have a deep divide in the diagnosis and treatment of Lyme disease. Herein reveals the controversy. In fact, two clinicians side-by-side suspecting borreliosis may give contradicting care. To explain, when determining diagnosis and treatment of any illness, medical boards assemble data, debate, and create a standard of care that is largely adopted by insurance companies to gauge rates of reimbursement. More than 25 medical conditions, however, have more than one standard that is supported by scientific literature and expert opinion: Borreliosis is one of them. For Lyme disease, the political rifts were wide enough to result in standards of care that actually conflict. The vast majority of practitioners will refer to the Infectious Disease Society of America (IDSA) Standard of Care, which relies heavily on two-tiered testing using technology more than two decades old. This test, developed for public health surveillance, is used to validate clinical decisions irrespective of patient history or preference for care standards. IDSA clinicians may prescribe anywhere from one capsule to three weeks (rarely longer) of an antibiotic for a positive test or bulls-eye rash. This standard of care is represented in medical school training in the U.S. For

suspected false-negative test results, they advise to “retest later.” The International Lyme and Associated Disease Society (ILADS) published the other standard of care in the heavily scrutinized National Guidelines Clearinghouse in 2014, which requires broad post-graduate training in the diagnosis and treatment of tick-borne infections. ILADS-trained clinicians (sometimes referred to as “Lyme-literate”) acknowledge that borreliosis is difficult to diagnose by indirect laboratory tests that miss infection 40-70 percent of the time. They believe it is difficult to treat, as it can turn dormant in the presence of antibiotics (published in microbiology journals as “cyst form”). They acknowledge that it may require expert clinical judgment to eradicate, and it may be confounded by the presence of co-infections, such as babesia. They also say it may persist within “biofilm” as other recurrent infections do, including chronic ear infections. In 2009, the governor of Connecticut signed a bill requiring insurance companies to extend periods of antibiotic coverage, as well as protecting providers who make clinical diagnoses when suspecting a Lyme test is a faulty negative. This resulted from intense patient advocacy due to destroyed lives in the face of clinicians deferring to treat briefly, and according to labs only. People of New England may deal with the stress of disagreeing clinicians, but they are fortunate to have choice in their selection of care. While cases of borreliosis that are recognized early and treated quickly may not develop complications, many people now actively seek the ILADS standard; this is particularly the case if they recall being treated for Lyme disease as a child and are now dealing with other issues, such as fibromyalgia, irritable bowel or other conditions. Awareness of these two opposing standards of care is vital for New Englanders. Parimal (“Pari”) Patel treats Lyme and tickborne infections using integrative medicine at Wave Integrative Medical Center, located in Madison and Milford, CT. Connect at 203-442-6740 and WaveIntegrative.com. See Profile on page 13.

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April 2019

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MISSING LINKS?

Connect the Dots Between Lyme and Mental Health by Dr. Roseann Capanna-Hodge

s it possible that a tiny little tick could assault the brain and body and cause lingering mental health issues in its wake? Yes. But even with decades of research that demonstrates a causal link between infectious disease and psychiatric issues, our healthcare system still isn’t appropriately identifying and treating those afflicted with Lyme disease. The real question is: why are we missing these individuals? It isn’t an easy answer. Ultimately the complexity of how the disease impacts the brain and body and how uniquely the symptoms can present is a major factor, as some show symptoms right away and while others not until months or years later. A lack of definitive diagnostics is another factor in accurate identification. Lastly, a lack of acceptance of the disease and not enough Lyme-literate medical and mental health professionals is a hurdle in both diagnosis and treatment. 28

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Research on Lyme Disease and Mental Health

Since the early 1990s, research has demonstrated a clear link between psychiatric conditions and Lyme disease, and continues to signify a connection. In 2002, Tomáš Hájek, MD and colleagues found that 33 percent of screened psychiatric patients showed signs of an infection with the Lyme spirochete, Borrelia burgdorferi. Many mental health issues have been linked to tick-borne bacteria, including: depression, mood lability, bipolar disorder, irritability, anxiety, panic attacks, obsessive compulsive disorder, attention and executive functioning problems, memory issues, word finding difficulties and even psychosis. A 2018 study by Shreya Doshi, MA and colleagues found that in patients with post-treatment Lyme symptoms, they had depression symptoms 8 to 45 percent of the time, and suicidal ideation was re-

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ported by 19.8 percent of these patients. In 2017, Dr. Rosalie Greenberg’s study found that 89 percent of participants diagnosed with Pediatric Bipolar Disorder tested positive to one or more pathogens, including tick-borne Babesia, Bartonella and Lyme, as well as Mycoplasma pneumoniae. Even with many research studies over decades that demonstrate a causal link between infectious disease and mental health, the average person sees between five and seven doctors before a diagnosis of Lyme disease.

Lyme’s Effect on the Brain

When Lyme disease affects the brain, it is frequently referred to as Lyme neuroborreliosis or Lyme encephalopathy. Neuroborreliosis is an infection within the brain that can mimic virtually any type of encephalopathy or psychiatric disorder and is often compared to neurosyphilis. Both are caused by spirochetes,

are multi-systemic and can affect a patient neurologically, producing cognitive dysfunction (memory, word finding, attention problems) and organic psychiatric illness (anxiety, depression, OCD). The causative agent of Lyme disease, Borrelia burgdorferi, is a highly neurotropic organism that not only can produce neurologic disease, but also can exist dormant within the central nervous system (CNS) for long periods—even months or years. It is an evolved pathogen that uses several strategies to survive in both human and animal hosts, including using a screwlike mechanism that allows the bacteria to embed in the cell’s membrane. There are multiple ways in which Lyme disease affects the brain and body and produces changes in the CNS that leads to mental health issues. The Lyme spirochete can burrow into the brain and nervous system, causing damage within the brain that leads to long-term issues. It causes brain swelling or inflammation that leads to psychiatric issues, causes immune reactions to the bacteria and impacts the endocrine system and hormones. Lyme can impact any area of the brain, including the emotional center of the brain: the limbic system. The bacteria in Lyme releases toxins in the brain and body, and these exotoxins are continuously released as waste material that may cause symptoms.

Why is Lyme Disease Hard to Identify?

Lyme disease is known as the great imitator because its symptoms mimic and overlap with so many other diseases that it can be hard to diagnose. It is a multi-systemic illness that can affect the CNS, causing a wide array of neurologic and psychiatric symptoms. In 1994, Fallon and Nields noted up to 40 percent of patients with Lyme disease develop neurologic involvement of either the peripheral or central nervous system. Most people don’t realize that there are three stages of Lyme disease: early with dermatological symptoms, disseminated, and late stage. Late stage Lyme is when there is a dissemination of the bacteria to the CNS, which can occur within as little as two weeks. Lyme disease may lie dor-

The causative agent of Lyme disease, Borrelia burgdorferi, is a highly neurotropic organism that not only can produce neurologic disease, but also can exist dormant within the central nervous system (CNS) for long periods—even months or years. mant for months to years before symptoms of late infection emerge when something (head injury, toxins, EMF) causes the bacteria to cross the blood-brain barrier into the brain. Patients with late stage Lyme disease present with a variety of neurological and psychiatric problems, ranging from mild to severe, which makes it very hard to connect to infectious disease. Most patients have no recollection of tick bite or falsely believe that a tick has to be engorged to carry bacteria and parasites that can be transmitted. Moreover, they are often told that their prior Lyme disease was “cured” and can’t be related to their current symptoms. These problems delay treatment and make it more likely to have late stage Lyme with a neurocognitive or neuropsychiatric impact.

Common Features of Psychiatric Issues Due to Lyme

Since tick-borne bacteria affects the CNS as noted previously, a multitude of symptoms can present. Afflicted individuals can show symptoms immediately or months later and can show a combination of physical, cognitive or psychiatric issues. Common symptoms of tick-borne disease include: chronic fatigue, sleep prob-

lems, brain fog, cognitive and memory impairments, slowed cognitive processing, attention or executive functioning deficits, depression or mood dysregulation, anxiety, OCD, sensory sensitivity, irritability, anger and headaches. It is important to note that one can have a pre-existing condition prior to Lyme disease that can exacerbate with infectious disease, which further complicates proper diagnosis and treatment. Lyme and tickborne disease is co-morbid with ADHD, autism, sleep disorders, depression, anxiety disorder, pain and migraines, and can be a source of Pediatric Acute-onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome (PANS).

What Should You Do?

If you or your child has a history of unexplained medical and mental health symptoms or haven’t gotten better with traditional therapies and psychotherapy, consider that infectious disease might be the source of your mental health issue. It is important to note that infectious disease takes many forms and that one may have a single illness, but it is more likely that one is affected by more than one infection, including strep, virus, other bacteria or environmental contaminants such as mold. The first step is to find a Lyme-literate medical or mental health professional for proper diagnosis and treatment. The best way to do that is to seek a referral from a trusted friend or from Lyme organizations at the regional or national level, such as ILADS, your state Lyme organization or PANDAS.org. As many a patient who has taken this path can attest, you waste your time and may cause further damage to your health by going to an untrained professional. Dr. Roseann Capanna-Hodge is an integrative psychologist, certified neurofeedback practitioner and director of wellness centers in Ridgefield and Newtown. She is a member of ILADS and is a co-author of Brain Under Attack: A Resource Guide for Parents and Caregivers of Children with PANS, PANDAS, and Autoimmune Encephalitis for the nonprofit organization Epidemic Answers. Connect at 203-438-4848, Info@DrRoseann.com or DrRoseann.com. April 2019

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WHEN LIFE GIVES YOU LYME Squeeze It Out of Your Life

by Himanshu Bharadwaj

holistic treatment approach is needed to fight Lyme, a complex multi-symptom disease. The right diet, state of mind, quality of sleep, yoga, meditation and Ayurveda can all help cure this disease. Lyme disease is caused by a bacterium named Borrelia that is spread by ticks. It was diagnosed for the first time in 1975; now 300,000 people are estimated to be affected by it in U.S. Lyme disease, which is difficult to diagnose, is multisystemic, including orthopedic, neurological, rheumatological, psychiatric and cardiac-related issues. Common symptoms are joint and muscle pain, fatigue, sleep disorders, memory problems, lack of focus, anxiety, restlessness, ringing in the ears, vertigo, light and sound sensitivity, numbness, weakness, poor digestion, tingling in different parts of the body, and night sweats. A single tick bite can have many pathogens and cause other co-infections. Antibiotics are the primary treatment but some 30

New Haven/Middlesex

patients do not respond well to antibiotics, making treatment difficult. Most medical authorities also advise against long-term antibiotic treatment for Lyme disease. If Lyme disease is not diagnosed and treated early, the condition worsens and treatment becomes difficult. In this advanced stage of the disease, antibiotics donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t help much. Yoga, Ayurveda and a holistic approach can be used to identify specific symptoms and suggest the appropriate treatment. As per Ayurveda, Lyme disease is caused by external toxins. Due to this, Ayurveda treatments are generally focused on detoxification.

Healthy Diet and Lifestyle

When antibiotics are taken over a long period of time, they affect the digestive tract. Care should be taken to replace some good bacteria lost during the treatment. The gut is the largest immunological reservoir and its health should be maintained. Fermented and cultured foods are

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useful to keep the gut healthy. Eat a balanced diet high in antioxidants and probiotics. Immunity boosters like colostrum and maitake mushroom can also help. Ginger and cinnamon in diet will help improve blood circulation. Garlic in diet helps improve immunity. Use turmeric in the diet with other spices to reduce inflammation. Lowering or stopping inflammatory diet of wheat, rice, legumes and nuts also helps. Try anti-inflammatory diet with specific focus on gut healing and liver support. In general, clean up the diet to avoid sugar, fried and junk foods. Start a healthy vegetarian discipline, and avoid refined, processed and meatbased foods. Increase intake of dark colored vegetables like beetroots, carrots, green leaves and kale. You can detox through simple self-care activities like sauna, massage, swimming and light exercises. Sesame oil is a good warming massage oil to ease musculo-

skeletal pain. Gentle yoga and breathing exercises like alternate nostril breathing (anulom vilom) are helpful in improving energy levels and removing toxins.

Healthy Mind

The state of mind, trust and confidence are very important for any treatment. You must learn to stay happy and raise the state of consciousness to feel love, acceptance and courage to accelerate the healing process. Think positive and constantly tell the body that it is healing and progressing towards a complete recovery. It is also useful to maintain a daily journal to write positive intentions, goals and reminders for things you are grateful for in life. Reiterating these thoughts everyday helps develop positive thinking. Keep stress away from your mind. Planned relaxation time or white spaces in the daily calendar helps with getting “you” time. When stress is increasing and there is more acidity in the body, try getting more alkaline content in food and drink to balance it. Engaging in a spiritual practice like spending time with nature, meditation, OM chanting or even a religious practice not only keeps the mind away from the suffering for some time, but also helps develop a positive attitude towards life. During meditation, try to focus on the areas where there is pain and retrain the subconscious mind to communicate with the body with positive encouraging thoughts.

Sound Sleep

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The quality of sleep plays an essential role in strengthening immunity. Practicing yoga nidra/sleep meditation helps cure sleep related disorders. Adequate sleep cycle everyday and meditation are important to control inflammation. Yoga nidra helps the body heal itself, regulate blood pressure, balance blood sugar levels, improve focus and stabilize emotions. Create a daily sleep timetable and abide by it. Sleeping and waking up at the same time everyday is important for overall health. Ensure that the sleep area is clean, organized, dark, quiet and comfortable. Despite changes in season, don’t let it affect your sleep cycle. Sleeping early and waking up with the sunrise helps optimal alignment with circadian rhythms.

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Home Remedies and Ayurveda

It is advised to consult an Ayurvedic practitioner before starting any treatment. Each case of Lyme disease is unique and complex; a tailored treatment is needed. Panchakarma is a traditional detoxification therapy that works on a deeper level to restore, purify and optimize the functioning of cells and tissues. It helps reduce inflammation, strengthen muscles and remove toxins from the body. Boiling a banana peel in water and drinking it like tea in the evening will help you get good sleep and cure sleep disorders. Tart cherry juice and kiwis are also known to help with sleep disorders.

Middle School That Makes A Difference

CONTACT CELC

Connecticut’s ONLY Experientially-based Middle School!

Connecticut Experiential Learning Center

203-433-4658

MONDAY TOURS 9:45-11am Exceptional Academics Real-World Learning Personal Attention

Branford CTExperiential.org April 2019

CONNECT WITH OUR READERS MAY

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REACH MORE THAN 40,000 READERS IN NEW HAVEN AND MIDDLESEX COUNTIES: We offer a variety of different advertising options to help you reach your target customers. We offer display advertising, holistic profiles, classified ads, event listings, resource guide listings and editorial options to best fit your needs.

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New Haven/Middlesex

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DEADLINE FRIDAY, APRIL 12

The state of mind, trust and confidence are very important for any treatment. You must learn to stay happy and raise the state of consciousness to feel love, acceptance and courage to accelerate the healing process. Try immune-augmentative and antimicrobial herbal Ayurveda medications like giloy ghanvati, chandraprabha-vati, punarnavadi-guggulu or gandhak-rasayan. Just having a tablet of giloy ghanvati in the morning and evening alone will be helpful in improving immunity. For problems related to the heart due to Lyme disease, you can try hridyamrit vati, amalaki rasayan or arjunarishta. Use one tablespoon of powder made from equal parts of dried ginger, methi (fenugreek seeds) and turmeric everyday with warm water for any joint pains. Turmeric is anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and antiviral. It even helps reduce platelet aggregation. One teaspoon of guduchi powder, twice daily, is helpful for arthritis and inflammation symptoms; it also enhances the immune system. When symptoms are related to the nervous system, ekang-veer-ras, nirgundi or kaishor-guggulu could be taken. If symptoms and side effects of medicines cause constipation, try triphala powder or amla juice occasionally. A combination of neem and ashwagandha are good detoxification and strength building medicines that can be taken with other Ayurveda treatments. Ashwagandha lowers the stress hormones in the body, reduces fatigue and improves sleep. To remove long-term symptoms of the disease and cure autoimmune problems, try tulsi ghan vati and giloy ghanvati tablets.

One More Thing

Treatment of Lyme disease, especially when it has caused longterm suffering, is a complicated and frustrating experience. Generally, it is said a four-week antibiotic course makes people symptom-free; however, it is difficult to know if Lyme disease is fully erased from the system. It goes dormant but can show up in some form later in life. It is important to be patient, trust the treatment and not get ‘ticked off!” Himanshu Bharadwaj, a designer by profession, teaches yoga, meditation and holistic cures. He also conducts meditation sessions for stress relief and creativity enhancement. Connect at YourCommunityYoga.com/Himanshu or Meetup.com/Yoga-Meditation-CT.

medical intuitive / spiritual coach

Spirit of the Lotus

5 Gavin Drive, Columbia, CT 860-709-3903 Robin@spiritofthelotus.org SpiritoftheLotus.org Practice/business summary of primary services offered: Robin Barros is a hands-on healer, medical intuitive, Shaman, Medium and Spiritually Guided Coach as well as being an Advanced Soul Coach(R), Adv. Past Life Coach(R) and Holographic Sound Healer. What first drew you to this profession? Robin was drawn to this profession after years of her own healing and having lost the family of her youth to Cancer. She wanted to find a better way, She wanted others to know there is a better way How is your work different from that of others? Robin is trained in several modalities, such as Tramatic Brain Injury, Spinal Cord Injury, she works to keep Cancer Patients healthier during regular medical model treatments, especially during Chemo or Radiation Therapy. Robin is also extremely proud of the work she does with those suffering from Lyme disease, her work fits nicely side by side with courses of antibiotics, which works even more efficiently with the Homeopathic series she suggests and the hands on energy work she does to decouple the Lyme buried deep within the joints, organs and brain. Did you know that currently many people with Lyme are not diagnosed because of a simple blood test standard adopted by the FDA, yet, people still suffer from the effects. That’s why Robin’s ability to feel Lyme within the body can be so helpful. There are few practitioners that can feel, hear, touch and heal the levels of body and consciousness that Robin has learned to reach. Her skills as a medical intuitive and medium only adds to her ability as a healer. What should a client expect from working with you? So many of Robin’s clients come to her at wits end, having lost all hope to ever feeling better—Her clients leave feeling better, with their hope restored and with a plan for becoming the best version of themselves they could have ever imagined. What do you most want Natural Awakenings’ readers to know about you and your services? Natural Awakenings’ readers should know they are worth the time and the cost to heal, expand and become more enlightened. They are worth the cost to nourish themselves, even when it means “asking”, for something better. May your readers know they are loved. April 2019

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inspiration

Sacred Spaces How to Create Them Anywhere by Marissa Gandelman

umans create sacred spaces all the time. They do it when making dinner for friends, pouring a cup of tea before curling up with a good book, or putting on a morning playlist while getting dressed. They do it on the job, too, adding plants and pictures to workspaces to create a space that evokes a sense of calm and focus. These spaces aren’t created by accident. Instead, their creation sets in motion and builds upon the energy throughout the day, gently reminding us to stay connected to the quiet inner world of the Divine.

Let’s begin, with purpose

It’s a busy world and most people tend to spread their energy thin. Becoming centered, grounded and focused on the life you want to live starts with the intention to do so. But staying centered, grounded 34

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and focused isn’t easy, which is why it’s so important to create sanctuaries and havens that allow for pause and reflection. The ritual of how you enter something creates the space for what you want to create. In other words, the simple act of entering a space and offering prayers and gratitude acknowledges that this space is sacred to you. When said with purpose and intention, you affect the energy you bring to the space and deepen your connection to it.

Start at home

Your home is more than just a pit stop between work and play; it should feel like a true space to relax and unwind. Whether it’s a dorm room, a castle or somewhere in between, give your space a designated “sanctuary” you can retreat to for comfort and connect to your higher power. Over

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time, you’ll see its calming effects reverberate throughout the entire space—and carry over outside of your home, too. n Find a space that feels good to you. It could be a corner of your bedroom or under a tree in your backyard. Trust your gut on this. n Build an altar. Declutter the space and create a simple altar or an elevated space, such as the top of a dresser, that brings a sense of calm. n Personalize it. Choose a few special pieces to make the space more personal and tranquil. Stones, pictures and special trinkets—whatever soothes your soul. Subtract and add to your altar pieces that inspire, and let it evolve over time.

Your home is more than just a pit stop between work and play; it should feel like a true space to relax and unwind. Whether it’s a dorm room, a castle or somewhere

wellness center

Walnut Beach Wellness Center 41 Naugatuck Avenue, #3A, Milford, CT 203-306-7881 Info@WalnutBeachWellness.com WalnutBeachWellness.com

in between, give your space a designated “sanctuary” you can retreat to for comfort and connect to your higher power. n Add sounds to your space. Meditation music, water fountains and sound machines muffle the outside noise and settle the nervous system. n Add smells as well. Smudge sticks, incense, essential oils and candles heighten the olfactory senses and clear the space of lingering energy. n Light a fire. This is a common way to welcome in the sacred in many cultures. A simple candle can shift a mood or mindset, and it can be effective to help set space quickly. Introduce this practice to the sacred spaces where an open flame is permitted.

Take it with you; Build a toolkit

Build a small pouch of “essentials” to keep on hand to help invoke a sense of tranquility, spirituality and peace on the go. Leave it in your car, desk at work, backpack or purse. Choose pieces that are easy reminders to connect with you, nature and Spirit. You can include a bundle of sage, a tealight candle, a few stones, a picture of your favorite animal, and headphones. Create a “Sacred Space” playlist on your phone and select music to help reinforce those connections when setting space. Let your intention guide your intuition Take joy in creating sacred space. Practice creating them, inviting the opportunity to connect with your higher self in the process and, over time, it will be easier to find balance when things start to feel “off.” Take the time to feel the energy and let each space evolve. You can create sacred space anywhere, as sacredness and spirit know no physical boundaries. Space is inherently sacred, and so are you.

Business summary of primary services/products offered: An organic, holistic wellness center that puts you at our core. We offer an integrative form of supportive and preventive care utilizing powerful techniques to identify, correct imbalances and resolve chronic pain to achieve a pain-free, healthy life naturally. How is your wellness center different from that of others in your field? Experience a true organic, integrated approach to health and healing. We make all products used for therapies on site using sustainably sourced, organic ingredients. Enjoy the healing element of the neighboring beach where we hold classes and events in the summer. What benefits can customers/clients expect from your services/products? We take you the extra mile to get your quality of life back after surgeries, injuries, pre/postnatal. Live your optimum though the in-depth manual and energy healing therapies, Naturopathic and Chinese medicine, feel support and connection through our incredible community. How is your center evolving in 2019? Discover our new yoga studio and expanded schedule offering therapeutic yoga classes, private lessons, yoga therapy. Enjoy educational workshops, monthly events, community offerings on a sliding scale, including our Star Goddess Woman’s Circle and Drum Speak For Spiritual awakening. What do you most want Natural Awakenings’ readers to know about you and your services and/or products? We are an independent, family run center that truly cares about you and your family. We have created a support network through our integrative therapies, classes, workshops and community circles so you may live naturally healthy, happy and pain-free.

Marissa Gandelman, LMT, BCST, is the founder of Elm City Wellness in New Haven, CT, and a certified stress management instructor. Connect at ElmCityWellness.com. See ad on page 6. April 2019

fit body

104 acres of wooded hills and grassy fields, miles of nature trails, streams, a two-acre pond, wet meadows, upland swamp, butterfly & hummingbird garden, woodland wildflower and fern garden, community gardening, childrens’ playscape, visitor center, animals & nature exhibits, classes and more!

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ANSONIA NATURE CENTER

Into the Woods

Hiking for Health and Happiness

(203) 736-1053 AnsoniaNatureCenter.org

New Haven/Middlesex

by Marlaina Donato

any of us Walking and hiking Individuals in the study equate fitness that walked six hours a balance the body with going week lowered their risk through natural move- of dying from cancer to the gym, but a good ment, oxygenation hike in a natural environand cardiovascular and ment can foster unique respiratory disease. It of the cells and the benefits for both body also shows that just two use of our muscles and psyche. as they were designed hours of walking per Hiking or walking week could significantly to be used. outdoors not only proimprove health. motes heart health, help“Walking and hik~Dami Roelse ing to balance both blood ing balance the body sugar and blood pressure, it increases hip through natural movement, oxygenation bone density to help reduce fractures, of the cells and the use of our muscles according to research on postmenopausal as they were designed to be used,” says women from the ongoing Nurses’ Health Dami Roelse, of Ashland, Oregon, author Study. Navigating uneven terrain also of Walking Gone Wild: How to Lose Your necessitates lateral movement, which can Age on the Trail. “Walking is in our genes; strengthen core muscles and improve balDNA molecules need to be stimulated ance more significantly than working out regularly to express themselves, and walkon a treadmill or cycling. ing does just that. It also improves mood and cognition.” Walk and Live Longer The beauty of hiking is that it offers Any kind of walking can be a great boon a tailored experience according to ability to health. Recent research by the Ameriand personal interests. Day hikes, whether can Cancer Society involving 140,000 in the countryside or in urban botanical older adults correlates a lower mortality gardens or parks, are uplifting and ideal for rate with even short intervals of walking. any fitness level.

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Longer or overnight treks with a backpack of supplies offer healthy challenges and opportunities for total immersion in nature. Bringing the kids on a hike offers family fitness time and a healthy way to unplug from technology and sneak in a fun learning experience about local flora and fauna.

Trek for a Healthier Brain

Exercise stimulates feel-good neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin, but getting a workout in a natural setting fortifies the whole nervous system. A 2015 study published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Science led by Stanford University researchers shows that walking in nature for 90 minutes decreases activity in the subgenual prefrontal cortex, the region of the brain most affected by depression. In contrast, individuals that walked in an urban environment did not reap the same results. Another 2015 study published in the Journal of Environmental Psychology shows that nature walks improve memory and decrease anxiety in teens. The Japanese philosophy of shinrin-yoku, or “forest bathing”, woven into Japanese Shinto and Buddhist traditions, has become an important part of science-based health care in Japan. A significant 2009 study by Japanese researchers published in Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine shows that just 20 minutes of walking in the woods decreases stress hormones. Forest bathing has also been shown to speed postoperative healing, improve concentration in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and fortify immunity with an increased number of NK, or natural killer cells. Naturalist Melanie Choukas-Bradley, in Washington, D.C., knows about Mother Nature’s therapeutic gifts firsthand. “I participated in some of the health research both in the field and the lab during a forest bathing trip to Japan,” says the author of The Joy of Forest Bathing: Reconnect with Wild Places & Rejuvenate Your Life. “My vital signs were checked before and after shinrin-yoku walks, and in the lab my brainwaves were measured while viewing urban and forest scenes. My blood pressure was lower after every walk, and my brainwaves calmed while viewing forest scenes.” Choukas-Bradley emphasizes that forest bathing doesn’t require a forest setting, noting, “You can forest bathe in the desert, at the beach or even an urban park during a lunch break.” Hitting the trails can also help us see life from another perspective. “Forests are living, breathing organisms. Mountains transcend my humanness,” muses Roelse. “It’s both a humbling and uplifting experience.”

Helpful Links and Inspiration National trail guide resource: AllTrails.com 13 best hiking apps: AtlasAndBoots.com/best-hiking-apps Hiking with the kids: Tinyurl.com/HealthyHikingWithKids Beginning with day hiking: SectionHiker.com/10-tips-forbeginner-day-hikers Backpacking tips for beginners: REI.com/learn/expert-advice/ backpacking-beginners Practical advice, inspiration and tips for women hikers: GirlsWhoHike.net Walking to stay fit: VeryWellFit.com/walking-4157093 Library of forest bathing articles: TheForestLibrary.com/forestbathing-online-articles

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Marlaina Donato is the author of several books on spirituality and clinical aromatherapy. She is also a composer. Connect at AutumnEmbersMusic.com.

April 2019

calendar of events MONDAY, APRIL 1 CBD 101 – 6:30pm. Join Dr. Kathryn Ronzo, Naturopathic doctor as she explains the health benefits of CBD while answering any questions you may have on the topic. FREE class with free samples included. Space limited. Elm City Wellness, 774 Orange St, New Haven. 203-691-7653. Elmcitywellness@gmail.com. ElmCityWellness.com.

THURSDAY, APRIL 4 New Haven Community Circle Dance – 7:30pm9:30pm. Move in the footsteps of our ancestors as we enjoy traditional dances from many cultures, as well as contemporary pieces choreographed in the spirit of ancient folk dance. All dances are taught and no experience is necessary. Suggested donation $8. Friends Meetinghouse, 225 East Grand Ave, New Haven. 203-467-1069, NHCircleDance.yolasite.com.

FRIDAY, APRIL 5 CT Counseling Association Annual Conference – 8:30am-4:30pm. Counseling Connections 2019: A Focus on Family & Relationships, at the Holiday Inn in Norwich CT. The CCA is a branch of the American Counseling Association and the oldest professional counselor’s association in the country. Members consist of professional counselors in the mental health field, school/university counselors, career counselors, counseling supervisors and counselor educators. Conference attracts about 200 registrants. 888-818-1110. CCACounseling.com.

A Day of Meditation, Reflection, & Gentle Conversation – 10am-5pm. Spend a day with Rev. Jude Smith and engage in a variety of practices designed to live life more effortlessly and to Experience more love, peace and joy. No experience with meditation necessary. $125. Mountain View Wellness, 4193 Whitney Ave, Hamden, CT Register online at: MVWct.com. ACOG Membership Drive – 11am-1pm. Are you interested in getting your own garden plot over by the Ansonia Nature Center? Stop by the ANC, learn about ACOG (the Ansonia Community Organic Gardens), and sign up for a plot! $20 for a 20’ x 40’ plot; $10 for a 20’ x 20’ plot; and $10 per small elevated bed. Ansonia Nature Ctr, 10 Deerfield Rd, Ansonia. Preregister: 203-736-1053. Southington HOLISTIC Benefit Fair – 11am-4pm. 25+ vendors/readers/authors. Free Speakers, Refreshments and Raffles. Benefit (Door Donation $5p/person). Southington Food Pantry and Southington Dog Pound. The Wellness Center, 72 Center St, Southington. TheWellnessCenterCT@gmail.com. Vendors contact Shirley R. Bloethe at: 860-989-0033.

New Haven/Middlesex

FRIDAY, APRIL 12

ACOG Annual Meeting – 10:30am–11:30am. Are you a new or returning member of the Ansonia Community Organic Gardens? Come to their first official meeting of the gardening season! Find out what’s going on at the gardens and how you can help! Open to all ACOG members. Free! Ansonia Nature Ctr, 10 Deerfield Rd, Ansonia. Information/ registration: 203-736-1053.

2-Hour Sound Experience with Ed Cleveland – 6:30pm. Ed Cleveland will lead an hour-long meditation using the 5 elements followed by a discussion of the instruments used and the sounds they make. $30 Pre-registration / $35 pay at the door. Mountain View Wellness, 4193 Whitney Ave, Hamden. 475-202-6155. Register online at: MVWct.com.

Fools Laughter Family Yoga w/ Sherri Sosensky – 1pm-2pm. Faces light up, bodies are moving and grooving, children are singing, jumping, and striking poses, playing musical yoga games, with incredible music created especially for this fun program. $20/per family up to 3 students. Your Community Yoga Center, 39 Putnam Ave, Hamden. 203-287-2277. YourCommunityYoga.com.

Young Living Essential Oils – 6:30pm-8pm. Help align your mind, body, spirit. Learn to take control of you and your pet’s health with therapeutic grade oils. Free class. 36 Cheshire Rd, Wallingford. 203-265-2927 or Return2love3@gmail.com. Return2Love.com.

Cloth Diapering—Unfolded! – 1:30pm-2:30pm. From mastering the laundry to learning the differences between all-in-ones, pre-folds and pocket diapers—confidently care for your littles’ tushies from infancy to potty-training! $15. Breathing Room Yoga Center, 216 Crown St, New Haven. 203-562-LOVE. BreathingRoomCT.com. Whittling 101: Carving a Bird – 2pm. Using local soft pine wood from the Nature Center, Ranger Amie will teach safe carving techniques and show how to make a small bird carving using a mat knife. She will show some of her own carvings for inspiration. This class is geared for teens 16 years of age and up as well as adults. Registration and release forms are required. Class size is very limited. Fee: $10. Ansonia Nature Ctr, 10 Deerfield Rd, Ansonia. Preregister: 203-736-1053.

MONDAY, APRIL 8

SATURDAY, APRIL 6

SUNDAY, APRIL 7

Join CELC and Bushy Hill for an exciting array of educational experiences, to be held at the Bushy Hill Nature Center – Classes include: Kingian Nonviolence Youth Leadership, Current Events, Wilderness Wanders & Wonders. Location: 253 Bushy Hill Rd, Ivoryton. Ages 10-14. $25 per student. Pre-register: 860-767-2148 or bhylan@bushyhill.org. Text Neck: Self-Massage for the Digital Age – 6:30pm. Annie Crocker LMT discusses the rise of neck dysfunction and pain due to chronic technology use. She will walk you through a self-care massage and posture routine to help lengthen and reset muscle memory. Gift bag included. Space limited. $25. Elm City Wellness, 774 Orange St, New Haven. ElmCityWellness.com.

TUESDAY, APRIL 9 The Graduate Institute Information Sessions! – 6:30pm-7:30pm. Enrolling now! Master of Arts & Certificates in Integrative Health & Healing, Learning and Thinking (an ideal program for teachers), Organizational Leadership, Consciousness Studies and Transpersonal Psychology, and Writing and Oral Traditions, Ecotherapy, Coaching With Spirit. We offer off campus locations throughout CT. The Graduate Institute (Bethany, CT), 171 Amity Rd, Bethany. Register on website: Learn.edu.

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DrumSpeak for Awakening – 7pm-9:30pm. De-stress, relax, release, have fun and awaken to your full potential! Djembes, Frames drums and rattles are welcomed. After drumming to our heart’s content, we explore the nature of reality with a guided journey of awakening entrained by the rhythm the drum. New theme every month to help develop ESP, release old patterns or discover aspects of yourself and our world. Walnut Beach Wellness Center, 41 Naugatuck Ave, Milford, 203-693-3893. WalnutBeachWellness.com.

SATURDAY, APRIL 13 Marconics Level I ‘No Touch’ Practitioner Training. Watertown – (April 13-14). Marconics is the “Evolution of Energy Healing” hailed by Spirit as: “The Vehicle of Ascension.” This practitioner training takes place over 2 days. Receive your own personal upgrade, the Quantum Recalibration, before or after class. Class Fee $450. Recalibration $333. Julie 203-533-9633. More details and to register: http:// www.marconics.com/level_1_watertown_ct.html.

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Monday, April 15

3-Days of Amazing Qigong Healing

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Spring Awakening: Awaken the beautiful light inside you –12pm-3pm. We will begin with a removal ceremony of things that no longer serve you. We will guide you to create your own selflove rituals, affirmations, body scrub and more. $50. Red Barn In Durham, 352 Main St, Durham. Register: RosallyKaplan@gmail.com. TheRedBarnInDurham.com.

SUNDAY, APRIL 14 Holistic Benefit Fair – 12pm-4pm. 45+ Vendors, Readers, Free raffles and refreshments. Benefit Plainville Food Pantry. Donations Requested or $5p/person. VFW Hall, 7 Northwest Dr, Plainville. Vendors contact Shirley R. Bloethe: 860989-0033. YourHolisticEvents@gmail.com. YourHolisticEvents.com. Create a Crystal Healing Wand – 1pm-3pm. Learn what elements to add to a wand AND create your own wand to take home. $45. (fee includes supplies). The Red Barn In Durham, 352 Main St, Durham. Please register: RosallyKaplan@gmail.com. TheRedBarnInDurham.com. Spring Fling – 1:30pm-4pm. Join Ali Cramer, Director of the Ayurveda Program at Laughing Lotus NYC, for this workshop designed to shake off the last heaviness of winter and move into Spring feeling lighter and clearer in body and mind. $40-50. Breathing Room Yoga Center, 216 Crown St, New Haven. 203-562-LOVE. BreathingRoomCT.com. Free Community Meals Presented by Master’s Table Community Meals: Dinner – 4pm-5:30pm. Free. Open to the public. No RSVP. Donations graciously accepted. Assumption Church Hall, 61 N. Cliff St, Ansonia. For more information and in case of inclement weather, call for updates. Dinner will not be rescheduled. 203-732-7792. MastersTableMeals.org.

MONDAY, APRIL 15 Spring Nature Days – 9:30am–3:30pm. (April 1518). For children from 6 to 11 years old who love the outdoors and wildlife, these popular classes will not only be educational but also a chance to explore our 156 acres. We will visit a variety of habitats in the park such as wetlands, fields, and woodlands. Great time of the year for amphibian searches too! Tuition: $125 priority students (Ansonia residents and current family-level FANCI members), $150 all others. Ansonia Nature Ctr, 10 Deerfield Rd, Ansonia. Preregister: 203-736-1053. Acupuncture & Lyme Disease – 6:30pm. Said Faulwell L.Ac, shares his experience and answers questions about Lyme Disease through Traditional Chinese Medicine. Learn about the many modalities that effectively treat and manage the emotional and physical pain associated with Lyme. Space limited. Free. Elm City Wellness, 774 Orange St, New Haven. 203-691-7653. ElmCityWellness.com.

TUESDAY, APRIL16 Immigrant and African-American Scientists and Inventors Science Fair/Activity Day – 10:3011:30am. From George Washington Carver to Albert Einstein, learn about famous scientists and inventors as students dress in costume and share about their life and work in a hands-on and interactive display. CELC, 28 School, St, Branford. Free. CTExperiential.org.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 17 Getting Your Garden Ready – 6pm–8pm. Join Massaro Community Farm and the Ansonia Nature Center for a workshop at the Nature Center. We’ll share steps to prepping or starting your garden for spring and summer plantings. Learn organic techniques to grow a healthy and bountiful garden. Ansonia Nature Ctr, 10 Deerfield Rd, Ansonia. Register online at MassaroFarm.org. Spirit Guide Experience – 7pm-8:30pm. For those who know their Spirit Guide and those who don’t. Learn to develop your relationship with your Spirit Guide to enhance your life. Experience Great Bear’s wisdom about Spirit Guides; and gain information about and from your own Spirit Guide. With Christie, a clear intuitive, and her Spirit Guide Great Bear. $25. Limited to 6 people. At Shoreline Unitarian Universalist Society, 297 Boston Post Road, Madison. For more information or to secure your space call 203-481-8827. Circle of Women – 7pm-9pm. Join in sacred space to discover and strengthen your authentic self, learn to listen and speak from the heart. Align yourself with the cycles of the seasons. What you have been looking for is looking for you. Women’s Ways are compatible with all spiritual paths. $25. Central Wallingford. Call Susan to explore/reserve space. 203-645-1230.

THURSDAY, APRIL 18 Full Moon Meditation w/Gayle Franceschetti – 6:30pm-8:30pm. Align w/new energies of Full Moon. Opportunities for letting go of the old and allowing spiritual energies to reach human hearts and minds. $20. 36 Cheshire Rd, Wallingford. 203-265-2927. Return2love3@gmail.com. Return2Love.com.

FRIDAY, APRIL 19 Full Moon Gong Kundalini & Meditation – 7pm-9pm. w/ Barbara, Steve & Mary Jayne. Experience live gong sound healing tones, Kundalini, and meditation to put mind/body at ease. $22/session, $60/3. Your Community Yoga Center, 39 Putnam Ave, Hamden. 203-287-2277. YourCommunityYoga.com.

markyourcalendar

Be Part of the CHANGE A Morning Adventure at the Farm Saturday, April 20 10am to 12pm

FREE

Learn what a day at The Institute Of Sustainable Nutrition is like as we take you through a mini session at the farm. We will make a delicious tea to sip, go on a weed walk to learn some of our local weeds and super foods, make something in kitchen medicine, see what is happening with the bees and in the garden and taste something delicious from the kitchen. Our new class begins in September. Come be part of the change! The Institute of Sustainable Nutrition Holcomb Farm 113 Simsbury Rd, West Granby, CT

RSVP: Call: 860-764-9070

Or email: Joan@TIOSN.com

TIOSN.com

MONDAY, APRIL 22 Self-Care with CBD – 6:30pm. Annie Crocker, LMT, shares her experience with CBD and CBD massage. She walks you through a self-care massage routine to help lengthen muscles that are stuck in chronic tightness due to repetitive strain. Gift bag included. Space limited. $25. Elm City Wellness ,774 Orange St, New Haven. 203-691-7653. ElmCityWellness.com. Young Living Essential Oils – 6:30pm-8pm. Help align your mind, body, spirit. Learn to take control of you and your pet’s health with therapeutic grade oils. Free class. 36 Cheshire Rd, Wallingford 203-265-2927 or Return2love3@gmail.com. Return2Love.com.

TUESDAY, APRIL 23 The Graduate Institute Information Sessions! – 6:30pm-7:30pm. Enrolling now! Master of Arts & Certificates in Integrative Health & Healing, Learning and Thinking (an ideal program for teachers), Organizational Leadership, Consciousness Studies and Transpersonal Psychology, and Writing and Oral Traditions, Ecotherapy, Coaching With Spirit. We offer off campus locations throughout CT. The Graduate Institute (Bethany, CT), 171 Amity Rd, Bethany. Register on website: Learn.edu

THURSDAY, APRIL 25 Vibrational Sound Healing: Tibetan Singing Bowl Talk & Demo – 6:30 pm Marie Menut will be discussing and demonstrating the healing properties of Tibetan Singing Bowls. $10. Mountain View Wellness, 4193 Whitney Ave, Hamden. Register online for this event at mvwct@gmail.com or call 475-202-6155. Next training starts June 8.

April 2019

calendar of events

SUNDAY, APRIL 28

markyourcalendar SPRING INTO HEALING Chinese Medicine and Wild Foraging

Free Community Meals Presented by Master’s Table Community Meals: Dinner – 4pm-5:30pm. Free. Open to the public. No RSVP. Donations graciously accepted. Assumption Church Hall, 61 N. Cliff St, Ansonia. For more information and in case of inclement weather, call for updates. Dinner will not be rescheduled. 203-732-7792. MastersTableMeals.org.

MONDAY, APRIL 29

for Renewal of the Body and Mind

April 26, 2019, 4pm through

April 28, 2019, 2pm Join us at the serene Still Waters Pond for a weekend of Qi Gong, yoga, an intro to Chinese Medicine, guided foraging, drumming, bonfires, organic meals, and more!

Wash. Scrub. Mask: Skin Care at Home – 6:30pm. Estheticians Shannon Preuss and Taryn Dorio host a workshop on simple, daily skin care w/products from your kitchen. Learn about toxic ingredients in skin care products, what to look for when buying and how to make your own at home. Discussion & demo. Gift bag included. $35. Space Limited. ElmCityWellness.com. Group Past Life Regression – 6:30pm-8:30pm. Discover reasons for current fears, recurring dreams or personality tendencies. Attendees explore past lives, learn reasons for repeat patterns or why they were born to a certain family. $20. 36 Cheshire Rd, Wallingford. Gayle : 203-265-2927. Return2love3@gmail.com. Return2Love.com.

$697 Still Waters Retreat Center Voluntown, CT

yasemin@evrenevents.com Facebook.com/evrenevents

markyourcalendar Passport to Health & Wellness EXPO STATEWIDE HOLISTIC EXPO

Sunday, May 5 2019

SATURDAY, APRIL 27 Introduction to the Alexander Technique – 9am-1pm. Explore the Dynamic Forces Related to Movement with Master teacher Elizabeth Huebner, who has over 30 years of experience with Alexander Technique. $125. Massage2Movement, Carol Meade. Holistic Therapies Classroom, 15 South Elm St, Wallingford. 203-415-8666. info@massage2movement.com. Reiki I – 9:30am-1pm. Reiki is the science and art of activating, directing and applying natural, universal life energy, to promote energy balancing, healing and wholeness. Includes certificate and materials $125. 36 Wallingford. 203-265-2927, or Return2love3@gmail.com. Return2Love.com. Earth Day Celebration – 10am–3pm. Every day is Earth Day at the Nature Center! We invite you to honor Mother Earth with our Friends of the Ansonia Nature Center, Inc. co-hosting this annual event. Enjoy hikes, live animals, music, environmental exhibitors, interactive activities with Nature Center staff, and more! Food and snacks available from local vendors. No park admission fee. All ages welcome; bring family and friends to celebrate Spring! Ansonia Nature Ctr, 10 Deerfield Rd, Ansonia. Information/registration: 203-736-1053.

New Haven/Middlesex

10am-4pm

Benefit Holistic EXPO Presented by

The Holistic Community Professionals Held at

The DoubleTree by Hilton, Bristol, CT 75 Vendors & Readers, Free Raffles, & GRAND PRIZE Closing EVENT (4pm-5pm) FREE SOUND HEALING & Drumming on the Patio Door Proceeds will benefit The CT Children’s Medical Center and Hartford Hospitals’ Integrative Medicines’Angie’s Spa fund. CONTACT: Shirley R Bloethe 860-989-0033 EMAIL: yourholisticevents@gmail.com

Exhibitors/Speakers Apply online.

YourHolisticEvents.com

NaturalNewHaven.com

markyourcalendar

GRAND OPENING

Jacques Beaux Cheveux Aveda

Friday, April 26 9am-3pm

Call now to Book your FREE Blow dry By Appointment only!

4pm-7pm - Join us for Ribbon Cutting Ceremony 250 Main St South, Southbury, CT

203-586-1429

www.jbcsalon.com Our mission is to make this planet beautiful one hair style at a time! Aveda is cruelty free, naturally derived, wind powered, recycled and pure-fume aroma Made in USA.

markyourcalendar 13th Octave LaHoChi Practitioner Training with

Eilis Philpott Thursday to Sunday June 20-23

Eilis is one of two teachers approved by Linda Dillon and the Council of Love to teach the 13th Octave LaHoChi. Hidden Gem on Main 33 N. Main St, Suite F Wallingford, CT

$555 investment

$100 deposit required to register Payment plans available Book early; these trainings always sell out! Visit website for more details or to register.

Eilis@SoulHealingJourney.com AcademyForSoulHealing.com

ongoingevents

sunday Mystical Market and Craft Fair — 11am4pm. (The 3rd Sunday of every month). Psychics, vendors, artisans, holistic practitioners & more. Free admission, vendor’s fees vary. The Ruby Tree, Sherman Village Shopping Center, 670 Main St South, Woodbury. 203-586-1655, Christina@therubytreect.com, TheRubyTreeCT.com. Community Acupuncture – 12pm-2pm. (Every last Sunday of the month). Initial appt: $40 flat fee. Follow-ups: Sliding scale $25-$40. Walnut Beach Wellness Center, 41 Naugatuck Ave, Milford. WalnutBeachWellness.com. Meditation to reduce stress + learn to cure one ailment each week – 5pm-6pm. Your Community Yoga Center, 39 Putnam Ave, Hamden. https://www.meetup.com/Yoga-Meditation-CT. Queer Dharma – 7:30pm-9pm. A forum for practice and discussion relating all dharma traditions and the experience and concerns of LGBTQI individuals and their friends. All are warmly welcome regardless of experience, spiritual tradition, age, sex, gender identity, or sexual/affectional orientation. Each meeting will include meditation instruction, practice, readings and discussion. Free. The Shambhala Center of New Haven, 85 Willow Street, New Haven, Building B. NewHaven.Shambhala.org.

mindfulness and how to have a successful practice. No experience necessary. $10 Investment. Healing Room, 10 Carina Rd, North Haven. Please call: 203-214-9486.

on your clothing. Free, with the potential to take home fresh local produce! Ansonia Nature Ctr, 10 Deerfield Rd, Ansonia. Information/registration: 203-736-1053.

Alignment Yoga – 10am-11:30am. With Iyengar Teacher Training Graduate. Refine your yoga practice with optimal alignment practices that make you stronger, more flexible, and more emotionally stable. Yoga in Middletown, 438 Main St, Middletown. 860-347-YOGA (9642). YogaInMiddletown.com.

Healthy-Steps, The Lebed Method w/Susan Sandel – 3:45pm-4:45pm. (Every Tuesday). Gentle therapeutic exercise/mvmnt prog. Helpful for breast cancer survivors/chronic health conditions. Free. Sponsored by Middlesex Hospital Cancer Center of Integrative Medicine. Location: Madison House, 34 Wildwood Ave, Madison. Details: 203-457-1656.

Yoga with Marlene – 10:30am & 7:15pm. Yoga classes for all ages and problems in a serene atmosphere with emphasis on stress-management. 1221 Village Walk. Guilford. Info: 203-453-5360.

Feldenkrais Awareness Through Movement 5 Week Class Series – 6pm-7pm. Learn to move easily with simple movements that help to relieve pain and restore your body to its natural ease. $50 for 5 weeks or $15 drop in. Carol Meade Holistic Therapies Classroom, 15 South Elm St, Wallingford. 203-415-8666 or info@massage2movement.com.

Meditation – 1:30pm. Silent, sitting meditation for anyone to attend. For all levels. Beginners welcome! Meditation begins and ends promptly on time. Donation-based event; no set fees. New England Meditation Center, 455 Boston Rd, Old Saybrook. For more information, visit: https://www.meetup. com/New-England-Meditation-Center/events/ Boutique Yoga Therapy, Kundalini and Meditation with Leesa Sklover Ph,D, LPC, C-IAYT – 5:30pm-6:30pm. Short Beach Union Church,14 Pentacost St., Branford. $18. By reservation or text 917-860-0488 by 4:30pm. Reservation for first and all classes/questions: Drsklover@gmail.com.

monday

Kundalini Yoga Class at Guest House Retreat – 6pm-7:15pm. Through physical movement, breath work and meditative practice, Kundalini Yoga builds strength, stability, and balance. This practice gives us the tools to drastically change our physical, psychological, and spiritual condition. Consider it a full mind/body upgrade. By Donation, no set fees. 318 West Main St, Chester.

Pilates/Barre Community Class – 8am. This class is a mix between pilates moves to strengthen core muscles and the Barre technique to sculpt and lean our arms and legs. Discount price of $10.00 cash/ check or $12.00 credit card. Kneading Hands Yoga & Massage, 760 Main St S, Unit F, Southbury. 203-267-4417. KneadingHands.net.

Monday Reiki Meditation – 6:30pm. Reiki Master and Teacher Thema Haida will take you on an inner journey through the Chakra systems. Explore the ancient energy centers of the body while receiving Reiki to deepen relaxation and connection to self. $5. Elm City Wellness. 774 Orange St, New Haven. 203-691-7653. ElmCityWellness.com.

C o m m u n i t y A c u p u n c t u re a t E l m C i t y Wellness – (Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Friday, and Saturdays). Community Acupuncture is done in a traditional Chinese-style group setting, which amplifies the healing power of the work with the presence of others. Initial $50. Returns $30. Elm City Wellness- 774 Orange St New Haven. 203-691-7653. Elmcitywellness@gmail.com. ElmCityWellness.com.

Qigong for Health – 7pm-8pm. Learn a practice that invigorates the internal energy, relieves stress, tones and stretches the muscles and connects the mind and body. $15/class. Tranquil Mountain Internal Arts. Location: Shoreline Center for Wholistic Health, 35 Boston St, Guilford. Info: 860-301-6433. tmiarts.com.

Monday at the Red Barn in Durham – Meditation: 9am & 7pm; Reiki Share: 12:30pm; Costume Jewelry Repair 101: 4pm-5 pm. The Red Barn in Durham, 352 Main St, Durham. For more information, cost and other Monday classes please go to: TheRedBarnInDurham.com. Thinking About Middle School? Visit Connecticut’s Only Experientially-based Middle School – 9:45am-11am. Monday Tours held. Academically rich real-world learning, personalized approach, 5th - 8th grade. Openings now available for 2019-20. 28 School St, Branford. RSVP: mandm@CTExperiential.org. Call today for more information: 203-433-4658. Guided Meditation Circle – 10am-11am. A weekly meditation Circle in a very relaxed setting using mindfulness meditations, discussions about

tuesday Full, traditional vinyasa flow – 9:30am & 3pm. In a beautiful open space that smells like fresh cedar. Please email Dan if you have any questions: dan.jacobs.jr@gmail.com. At The Red Barn In Durham, 352 Main St, Durham. TheRedBarnInDurham.com. Yoga with Marlene – 9:30am & 6:30pm. Yoga classes for all ages and problems in a serene atmosphere with emphasis on stress-management. 1221 Village Walk. Guilford. Info: 203-453-5360.

Free weekly Tuesday Meditation classes – 6pm7pm. (those who would like instruction can come at 5:45pm). Open to all and fully accessible. Instruction provided for beginners. No reservations necessary. Walk-ins welcome. Program offered in cooperation with New Haven Insight and the New Haven Zen Center. New Haven Free Public Library. 133 Elm St, New Haven. 203-946-8138. Free Reiki Sessions: The Universal Reiki Plan – 7:30pm-8:30pm. (& 8:30pm-9:30pm Thurs). Reiki teachers Jeannette and Jim of ReikiOvertones and students offer free Reiki sessions. Appt. only. Love offering appreciated. 95 Harris St, Fairfield. Details: Jim and Jeannette 203-254-3958. info@ ReikiOvertones.com.

wednesday Be Uplifted by Unconditional Loving Spirit – Release what holds you back. Learn from Loving Spirit about who you are on a deeper level. Be supported and encourage to grow. Christie, a clear intuitive, and her Spirit Guide Great Bear, can make this happen for you. For more information or an appointment call 203-481-8827. P e t W h i s p e r : I n t ro d u c t i o n t o A n i m a l Communications – This is a weekly group of animal loving people who want to develop a telepathic relationship with their animals. $10. Meeting Ros in the Art Loft of The Red Barn in Durham, 352 Main St, Durham. TheRedBarnInDurham.com. Emei Wujigong Qigong Group Practice – 12pm1pm. Experience a qigong form for rebalancing and strengthening body, mind and spirit. For all abilities and levels of health. Schedule Available online. 1st class free (reg. $5). Holistic Therapies Classroom, 15 South Elm St, Wallingford. Info: EmeiQigongChan.com. Meditation – 1:30pm. Silent, sitting meditation for anyone to attend. For all levels. Beginners welcome! Meditation begins and ends promptly on time. Donation-based event; no set fees. New England Meditation Center, 455 Boston Rd, Old Saybrook. For more information, visit: https://www.meetup. com/New-England-Meditation-Center/events/

Family Organic Garden Program – 3:30pm–5pm. (Tuesdays, April. 23–June 18). We’ll lead fun, family-friendly activities in our organic garden. Learn about growing a variety of fruits and vegetables. Dress appropriately; you will get water and/or soil

April 2019

ongoingevents The Caring Network: Free Support Group for adults who have lost a loved one – 6pm-8pm. (4/3 & 4/17). Free support group for adults who have lost a loved one. Information about loss and grief with facilitated open discussion. Bridges Healthcare, 949 Bridgeport Avenue, Milford. Sponsored by CodyWhite Funeral Home, 203-874-0268 or Bridges Healthcare, 203-878-6365. Alignment Yoga – 6pm-7:30pm. With Iyengar Teacher Training Graduate. Refine your yoga practice with optimal alignment practices that make you stronger, more flexible, and more emotionally stable. Yoga in Middletown, 438 Main St, Middletown. 860-347-YOGA (9642). YogaInMiddletown.com. Yoga with Marlene – 6:30pm. Yoga classes for all ages and problems in a serene atmosphere with emphasis on stress-management. 1221 Village Walk. Guilford. Info: 203-453-5360. Developing Your Intuition Series w/Gayle Franceschetti – 6:30pm-8:30pm. (5 Wednesdays: April 10, 17, 24, May 1& 8) Tap into your innate ability of “knowing.” Through meditation, sharing and experiential exercises begin to master techniques of accessing your creativity and intuition. Series $97. 36 Cheshire Rd, Wallingford. 203-2652927, Return2love3@gmail.com. Return2Love.com. Meditation In the World at Guest House Retreat – 7pm-8pm. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced meditator, join us every week as we are led in the practice of focusing our awareness. Helping you find calm within everyday demands and stress. Free. 318 West Main St, Chester. 860-322-5770.

thursday Boutique Yoga Therapy, Kundalini and Float Yoga and Gong Bath with Leesa Sklover Ph,D, LPC, C-IAYT – 8:30am-9:30am. By reservation. Text 917-860-0488 by 10pm the night before. Little Bay Annex- Branford. $18. Reservation required for first and all classes/questions: Drsklover@gmail.com. The Milford Chamber’s ‘Health & Wellness Council’ – 8:30am-9:30am. (2nd Thurs. monthly). Group is comprised of businesses in the health and wellness industry. 5 Broad St, Milford. Milfordct.com. Ropes Yoga – 8:50am-9:50am. With Iyengar Teacher Training Graduate. Experience yoga poses in new and liberating ways. Therapeutic and challenging. Great for scoliosis and back problems. Expert instruction since 1991. Yoga in Middletown, 438 Main St, Middletown, 860-347-YOGA (9642). YogaInMiddletown.com. Yoga with Marlene – 10am & 6:30pm. Yoga classes for all ages and problems in a serene atmosphere with emphasis on stress-management. 1221 Village Walk. Guilford. Info: 203-453-5360.

Spring Term Junior Rangers – 3:30pm–5pm. (Thursdays, April 11-June 6). Calling all children 11-14 years old who love nature! Has your child wanted to work with animals, garden, help maintain our trails, and help with special events? This is the opportunity to help the Nature Center during our 8-week after school program. Parental permission is required. Register now. Class size is limited; this class fills up fast! Free. Ansonia Nature Ctr, 10 Deerfield Rd, Ansonia. Preregister: 203-736-1053. Emei Wujigong Qigong Group Practice – 6:30pm7:30pm. (Every Thurs. except the 1st Thurs. of month). Experience a qigong form for rebalancing and strengthening body, mind and spirit. For all abilities and levels of health. Schedule Available online. 1st class free (reg. $5). Holistic Therapies Classroom, 15 South Elm St, Wallingford. Info: EmeiQigongChan.com. Qigong Group Healing & Silent Meditation – 6:30pm-8pm. (1st Thurs. of the month). All levels of health addressed. No experience necessary. Fee: donation. Holistic Therapies Classroom, 15 South Elm St, Wallingford. Contact Pat for more information if this is 1st attendance: 203-500-6492. Women’s Guided Meditation and Healing Circle – 7pm-8pm. Come sit in a safe space, learn to breathe and set intentions to help focus and regroup. All levels welcome. Meditations run 30-45 minutes in length. Thursdays/ $5. Location: Now n’ Then Therapeutic Massage, 187 Montowese St, Branford. Contact Anna to register 203-871-9367 or register online at DandelionWellnessCT.com. Kirtan in The Yurt – 7:30pm-9pm. Join us in the magical space of The Yurt for weekly Kirtan. Led by Richard Gans on harmonium with The Shemantra Band. Traditionally chanted in Sanskrit, Richard combines the spiritual practice of Kirtan with easy-to-follow Hebrew “mantras.” 550 Amity Rd, Woodbridge. $10 donation. Theyurtinwoodbridge@gmail.com. The Heart of Recovery – 7:30pm-9pm, a weekly meditation and recovery group for those recovering from addictions of all kinds. We will honor the traditions of anonymity, confidentiality and no cross-talk. Meetings will include meditation instruction, practice, readings and discussion. Free. The Shambhala Center of New Haven, 85 Willow St, Building B, NewHaven.Shambhala.org.

friday Mediumship development – Are you interested in exploring your ability to tap into spirit and receive messages form the other side? Did you know that we are all able to tune in and hear message from those who cross for more information cost and times please email Borrowed Time Emporium at the Red Barn in Durham, 352 Main St, Durham: borrowedtimeemporium@gmail.com. Yoga with Marlene – 9:30am. Yoga classes for all ages and problems in a serene atmosphere with emphasis on stress-management. 1221 Village Walk. Guilford. Info: 203-453-5360. Full, traditional vinyasa flow – 9:30am & 3pm. In a beautiful open space that smells like fresh cedar. Please email Dan if you have any questions: dan.jacobs.jr@gmail.com. At The Red Barn In Durham, 352 Main St, Durham. TheRedBarnInDurham.com.

New Haven/Middlesex

NaturalNewHaven.com

Feldenkrais Awareness Through Movement Class – 10:30am-11:30am. It only takes an hour to feel good again. Aren’t you worth it? $15 drop in or class cards. Carol Meade Holistic Therapies Classroom, 15 South Elm St, Wallingford. 203-4158666 or info@massage2movement.com. Intuitive Readings w/Susane Grasso – 11am-3pm. Usui and Karuna Reiki Master and Clairvoyant Susane sees auras/mirrors of soul/emotions and physical being. Now also a certified Doreen Virtue Angel Reader. $1/min. Enchanted, 1250 Boston Post Rd, Guilford. 203-453-4000. EnchantedGuilford.com.

saturday Feldenkrais Awareness Through Movement 5 Week Class Series – 9am-10am. Learn to move easily with simple movements that help to relieve pain and restore your body to its natural ease. $50 for 5 weeks or $15 drop in. Carol Meade Holistic Therapies Classroom, 15 South Elm St, Wallingford. 203-415-8666 or info@massage2movement.com. Alignment Yoga with Iyengar Teacher Training Graduate – 9am-10:30am. Refine your yoga practice with optimal alignment practices that make you stronger, more flexible and more emotionally stable. Yoga in Middletown, 438 Main St, Middletown. 860-347-YOGA (9642). YogaInMiddletown.com. ReikiShare: The Universal Reiki Plan – 11am1:30pm. Pre-register to share Reiki and join in a FREE workshop to make it a Reiki day! The 3rd Sat. of every month. Free (“love offering”). Bloodroot Rest. 85 Ferris St, Bridgeport. Reservation only. Jim or Jeannette: 203-254-3958. info@ReikiOvertones.com. Women’s Boutique Yoga Therapy, Kundalini, Float Yoga and Gong Bath with Leesa – 11:30am12:30pm. $18. By reservation. text 917-860-0488 by 9 am. Reservation for first and all classes/questions: Drsklover@gmail.com. At Annex. Register for address. Meditation – 1:30pm. Silent, sitting meditation for anyone to attend. For all levels. Beginners welcome! Meditation begins and ends promptly on time. Lecture every other Saturday. Donation-based event; no set fees. New England Meditation Center, 455 Boston Rd, Old Saybrook. For more information, visit: https://www.meetup.com/New-EnglandMeditation-Center/events/. Star Goddess Tribe: Monthly Women’s Gathering – 2pm-4pm. (Every last Saturday of the month). A space to be seen, heard, and be a part of a supportive community. Sliding Scale: $5-$15. Walnut Beach Wellness Center, 41 Naugatuck Ave, Milford. WalnutBeachWellness.com.

classifieds

DISTRIBUTORS WANTED

ALS SUPPORT THE ALS ASSOCIATION CONNECTICUT CHAPTER – Leading the fight to treat and cure ALS through research & advocacy while empowering people w/Lou Gehrig’s Disease and their families to live fuller lives w/compassionate care & support. 4 Oxford Road, Unit D4. Milford. 203-874-5050. WebCT.alsa.org.

BEHAVIORAL HEALTH BHcare – A state-licensed, non-profit behavioral health care provider serving Lower Naugatuck Valley, Greater New Haven & Shoreline communities. It provides comprehensive behavioral health, prevention & domestic violence services to improve the lives & health of individuals, families & communities. 203-736-2601. bhcare.org. CONNECTICUT WOMEN’S CONSORTIUM – Aim: ensure the behavioral health system responds to the needs of women & the people & organizations that affect them. Eliminate discrimination/promote excellence in care for women through educ., training, advocacy & policy dev. 203-909-6888, WomensConsortium.org.

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES START A CAREER YOU CAN BE PASSIONATE ABOUT – Publish your own Natural Awakenings magazine. Home based business complete with comprehensive training and support system. New franchises are available or purchase a magazine that is currently publishing. Call 239-530-1377 or apply now at: NaturalAwakeningsMag.com/Franchise.

DISTRIBUTORS WANTED – For monthly deliveries of Natural Awakenings and other local publications. Perfect for a retired person or stay at home mom looking to earn some extra income and connect with their local community. Honesty and dependability are the most important characteristics of our distributors. Thomas@ManInMotionLLC.com.

INTUITIVE READINGS AT ENCHANTED INTUITIVE READINGS AT ENCHANTED DAILY – 11am-3pm. Akashic, Angel, Aura, Clairvoyant, Goddess, Mediumship, Runes, Tarot, Tea Leaf Readings offered from eight world-class intuitives and masters. $1/minute. Enchanted 1250 Boston Post Rd ,Guilford. 203-453-4000. For more information and a schedule of who is available each day visit EnchantedGuilford.com.

MEDICAL/INTUITIVE HYPNOTIST HYPNOSIS THERAPY CENTER – There is a meaning behind every ailment and condition people have. It's your body speaking to you. If you are tired of being sick and are ready to help yourself heal, then consider having a Discovery Session so you can learn the cause and 'cure.' Madison. 203-245-6927.

PARKINSON’S SUPPORT PARKINSON DISEASE ASSOCIATION – Mission: “To Ease the Burden, To Find A Cure” for those w/Parkinson’s Disease and their caregivers in CT. Education, support and socialization. 860-248-9200, ctapda.org.

LYME DISEASE AMERICAN LYME DISEASE FOUNDATION – Dedicated to the prevention, diagnosis and treatment, of Lyme disease and other tick-borne i n f e c t i o n s . Ly m e , C T. I n f o : a l d f . c o m . CT LYME RIDERS, INC. – Founded in 2007 by motorcyclists Sandy Brule & Tony Gargano. A 501(c)(3) non profit public charity aiming to bring awareness to the public about Lyme Disease. Events & info. 860-537-0255, ctlymeriders.com.

WOMEN’S HEALTH ISSUE

Coming Next Month MAY

Personal Empowerment plus: Mysticism and Medicine

To advertise or participate in our next issue, call 203-305-5531 or email PytlakMelissa@gmail.com April 2019

community resource guide APPLIED KINESIOLOGY KC CHIROPRACTIC & WELLNESS Kevin Healy, DC 17 Woodland Road, Madison, CT 203-245-9317 KevinHealy@sbcglobal.net DrHealMe.com

Applied Kinesiology is a neurological evaluation to find and treat dysfunction. Different because it addresses causes instead of chasing pains, Dr. Healy tests if a therapy alleviates dysfunction, finding immediate answers as to which provides the most improvement. Chiropractic, craniosacral, myofascial and acupressure are among the therapies Dr. Healy uses. Generally, no single cure exists as disease and dysfunction typically involve multiple areas of the body. The goal of any therapy—physical, chemical, or emotional—is to improve function; a combination of therapies typically yields the best results. See ad on page 10.

EDUCATION CONNECTICUT EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING CENTER (CELC) MIDDLE SCHOOL 28 School Street, Branford, CT 203-433-4658 mandm@CTExperiential.org http://CTEXperiential.org

CT Experiential Learning Center (CELC) Middle School provides experientially-based education with a personalized approach to learning, designed to empower young people to thrive. Our students come from a variety of towns throughout Connecticut, from families looking for a program that engages and deepens learning, where their children can flourish during these important and impactful 5th - 8th grade years. See ad on page 31.

THE GRADUATE INSTITUTE (TGI)

Accredited, Non-profit Graduate School offering holistic programs in contemporary & emerging fields 171 Amity Road, Bethany, CT 203-874-4252 Learn.edu

GREEN HOUSING ROCKY CORNER COHOUSING 203-903-2646 Homes@RockyCorner.org RockyCorner.org

Are you looking for a sustainab le, fr ien dly, multigenerational neighborhood? Rocky Corner is an organic farm-centered community of 30 energy efficient homes on 33 acres. We care about community, conservation and cooperatively maintaining our neighborhood together. Construction has started in Bethany, just 5 miles north of New Haven. Affordable and market rate homes for sale now. Ready in Spring 2019. For more info, visit RockyCorner.org See Profile on page 19.

New Haven/Middlesex

LIFE DESIGN HYPNOSIS, LLC

Patricia Babey, BS Certified Hypnotist Certified Pain Management Specialist Certified Reiki II Practitioner Madison, CT 203-980-0022 LifeDesignHypnosis.com A client centered practice created to assist you in improving every aspect of your life by tapping into the natural power of your brain. Release weight, stop smoking, reduce stress, and manage pain. You can change just about anything with hypnosis. Each session is personal, customized and tailored for you. Don’t let your brain hold you back any longer from achieving the lifelong dreams you deserve. Free consultations. See ad on page 9.

HOLISTIC DENTIST MARK A. BREINER, DDS, FIAOMT

501 Kings Highway East, Suite 108 Fairfield, CT 203-371-0300 WholeBodyDentistry.com Dr. Mark A. Breiner is a pioneer and recognized authority in the field of holistic dentistry. With over 30 years of experience, he is a sought after speaker and lecturer. His popular consumer book, Whole-Body Dentistry, has been sold worldwide. See ad on page 15.

HYPNOSIS MIND-BODY TRANSFORMATION Diane Bahr-Groth, CHy, TFTdx 1177 High Ridge Road Stamford, CT 203-595-0110 MindBodyTransformation.com

Fast, effective methods for weight, stress, fear, pain, smoking, etc. Certified Hypnotherapist, Thought Field Therapy, Time Line Therapy, NLP and Complementary Medical Hypnosis, since 1989.

The Graduate Institute offers holistic master’s degrees and certificate programs for adult learners. Programs include Integrative Health and Healing, Ecotherapy and Cultural Sustainability, Writing and Oral Tradition, Organizational Leadership, and more. Programs are just one weekend a month. See ad on page 9.

HYPNOSIS

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MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING ANNAHAVEN BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES, LLC

Anna Martin, BSW, MSW, LCSW 410 State St, North Haven, CT 30 Hazel Terrace, Woodbridge, CT 377 Main St, West Haven, CT 203-606-2071 CounselingWithAnnaMartin.com

YOU deserve to be happy. AHBHS helps with depression, anxiety, PTSD, OCD, Obesity, agarophobia, domestic violence, ADD, ADHD and anger management. Phone,internet,skype and office sessions. Evening and weekend hours are available. Most insurance accepted, including Medicaid, Medicare and Husky.

community resource guide NATUROPATHIC PHYSICIANS KARENMARIE LACONTE, ND Office Locations in Bridgeport, Shelton and Orange, CT 203-260-0078 AskDocLaConte@gmail.com TheNaturopathicApproach.com

Dr. LaConte, a Naturopathic Physician, is a UBCNM graduate. Her mission is to facilitate better mind body connections with patients, using only natural remedies, (herbals, homeopathy, hydrotherapy, natural supplements, Far Infrared Sauna). Areas of concentration: Endocrine (thyroid disorders, diabetes: type 1 and 2), GI conditions, allergy testing, stress and anxiety management.

WHOLE-BODY MEDICINE, LLC

Adam Breiner, ND, Director Elena Sokolova, MD, ND David Brady, ND, CCN, DACBN 501 Kings Highway East, Suite 108 Fairfield, CT 203-371-8258 WholeBodyMed.com Using state-of-the-art science combined with centuries-old healing modalities, our caring naturopathic doctors correct underlying imbalances and address issues which may interfere with the body’s abilityto heal itself. Treatment protocols or therapies include: Abdominal Manual Therapy, Acupuncture, Allergy Desensitization, Chinese Medicine, Colonics and other Detoxification Protocols, Electro-Dermal Screening, Energy Medicine, FDA-cleared Phototherapy, Functional Medicine, Herbal Medicine, Homeopathy, Hormonal Balancing, Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy, Metabolic Typing, Nutritional Assessment, RealTime EEG Neurofeedback, and other therapies. See ad on page 15.

PHYSICAL THERAPY PHYSICAL THERAPY SERVICES OF GUILFORD 500 East Main Street, Suite 310, Branford, CT 203-315-7727 (Phone) 203-315-7757 (Fax) PhysicalTherapyGuilford.com

At Physical Therapy Services of Guilford, we specialize in manual therapy using hands-on techniques to help the body’s natural healing process. We also incorporate traditional programs and modalities to maximize health. 40-minute sessions are conducted one-on-one in private treatment rooms. See ad on page 8.

REIKI SUSANE GRASSO, RMT 2489 Boston Post Road Guilford, CT 203-500-6950

Stress is the plague of the 21st century and the cause of physical and emotional woes. Because of this, my sessions combine my ability to see auras with Reiki, Theta Healing, acupressure and Sound Vibrational Healing to provide deep relaxation and balance. “Tension out! Wellness in” is more than a phrase. For my clients it is a statement of fact. See ad on page 20.

SALT HEALING THERAPY WELLNESS CENTER

SMOKING CESSATION LIFE DESIGN HYPNOSIS, LLC

SUSTAINABLE NUTRITION CERTIFICATION PROGRAM THE INSTITUTE OF SUSTAINABLE NUTRITION

113 Simsbury Road, West Granby, CT 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. We use food and herbs to make kitchen medicine, teach basic culinary skills, and practice foraging for and using nutrient-rich wild food. Now enrolling for fall 2019. See ad on, page 7.

SALT OF THE EARTH THERAPEUTIC SPA

787 Main St, S Woodbury, CT 203-586-1172 NaturalSaltHealing.com Combining an array of natural therapies that have been used since ancient times with today’s technology, Salt of the Earth Spa provides a sanctuary for deep transformations, healing and grounding for Mind, Body and Spirit.

April 2019

community resource guide WELLNESS CENTER WALNUT BEACH WELLNESS CENTER

41-43 Naugatuck Avenue, Milford, CT 203-693-3893 Info@WalnutBeachWellness.com WalnutBeachWellness.com @WalnutBeachWellness

GROW Your Business Secure this ad spot! Contact us for special ad rates. Call or text:

203-305-5531

New Haven/Middlesex

An organic, holistic wellness center for supportive, preventive care. Experience the highest quality care though massage, Ashiatsu, manual lymphatic drainage, cranial sacral therapy, Reiki, Thai bodywork, Chinese medicine including acupuncture, Tui na, cupping, Naturopathic medicine, yoga therapy and classes, and holistic skincare. Find your support network through our community circles. Gain knowledge and empowerment through our workshops and classes to gain control of your life, health and happiness. Our store is stocked with organic bulk herbs, supplements, essential oils, raw ingredients and more to support your journey to optimal health. See Profile on page 35.

WHOLE BODY WELLNESS CBD MASSAGE ELM CITY WELLNESS 774 Orange Street New Haven, CT 203-691-7653 ElmCityWellness.com

Elm City Wellness is an independent, womanowned wellness center with a focus on community healing. Services include a variety of skilled massage, CBD massage, community and private acupuncture, Reiki, craniosacral therapy and organic skin care, including signature, microderm and high frequency facials. Skilled therapists specifically tailor each and every session. Our wellness store features local products, candles, wellness supplies and books, smudge kits and a large range of third-party tested, pharmaceutical grade CBD products. See ad on page 6.

YOGA & AYURVEDA WEIGHT LOSS LIFE DESIGN HYPNOSIS, LLC

Patricia Babey, BS Certified Hypnotist Certified Pain Management Specialist Certified Reiki II Practitioner Madison, CT 203-980-0022 LifeDesignHypnosis.com A client centered practice created to assist you in improving every aspect of your life by tapping into the natural power of your brain. Release weight, stop smoking, reduce stress, and manage pain. You can change just about anything with hypnosis. Each session is personal, customized and tailored for you. Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t let your brain hold you back any longer from achieving the lifelong dreams you deserve. Free consultations. See ad on page 9.

NaturalNewHaven.com

BALANCE BY MELISSA

Melissa Pytlak Yoga Instructor Ayurvedic Wellness Counselor 203-305-5531 SeekLifeBalance@gmail.com BalanceByMelissa.com Melissa invites you to come home to yourself and awaken the healer within. Offering private and group instruction in yoga and Ayurveda, Melissa guides you to connect with your True Self and to trust that you already possess all the wisdom you need to heal yourself in order to return to your innate state of harmony and health. Melissa enjoys teaching group classes but particularly loves the magic that unfolds in helping people one on one. If you need a little guidance on your path of wellness, please reach out for a free 10-minute consultation.

Are you creative, driven and passionate about healthy living? Inspire others to make choices that benefit themselves and the world around them by owning a Natural Awakenings franchise. Natural Awakenings is a family of more than 70 healthy living magazines celebrating 25 years. This is a meaningful home-based business opportunity that provides training and ongoing support. No previous publishing experience is required.

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239-530-1377

April 2019

Copper in new device prevents cold and flu last holidays,” she said. “The kids had colds going around, but not me.” Some users say it also helps with sinuses. Attorney Donna Blight had a 2-day sinus headache. When her CopperZap arrived, she tried it. “I am shocked!” she said. “My head cleared, no more headache, no more congestion.” Some say copper stops nighttime stuffiness if used just before bed. One man said, “Best sleep I’ve had in years.” Copper may even stop flu if used earNew research: Copper stops colds if used early. ly and for several days. Lab technicians ew research shows you can went away completely.” It worked again placed 25 million live flu viruses on a stop a cold in its tracks if you CopperZap. No viruses were found alive every time he felt a cold coming on and take one simple step with a soon after. he hasn’t had a cold since. new device when you feel a cold about People have used it on cold sores He asked relatives and friends to try to start. and say it can completely prevent ugly it. They said it worked for them, too, so Colds start when cold viruses get in outbreaks. You can also rub it gently he patented CopperZap™ and put it on your nose. Viruses multiply fast. If you on wounds, cuts, or lesions to combat the market. don’t stop them early, they spread in infections. Soon hundreds of people had tried it your airways and cause misery. The handle is curved and finely texand given feedback. Nearly 100% said But scientists have found a quick tured to improve the copper stops way to kill a virus. Touch it with copper. colds if used withcontact. It kills in 3 hours after the Researchers at labs and universities germs picked up first sign. Even up agree, copper is “antimicrobial.” It kills on fingers and microbes, such as viruses and bacteria, to 2 days, if they hands to protect still get the cold it just by touch. you and your That’s why ancient Greeks and Egyp- is milder and they family. tians used copper to purify water and feel better. Copper even heal wounds. They didn’t know about Users wrote kills deadly germs Sinus trouble, stuffiness, cold sores. that have become viruses and bacteria, but now we do. things like, “It Scientists say the high conductance stopped my cold right away,” and “Is it resistant to antibiotics. If you are near of copper disrupts the electrical balsupposed to work that fast?” sick people, a moment of handling it ance in a microbe cell, destroying it in Pat McAllister, age 70, received one may keep serious infection away. It may seconds. as a gift and called it “one of the best even save a life. Tests by the Environmental Protecpresents ever. This little jewel really The EPA says copper still works tion Agency (EPA) show germs die fast works.” Now thousands of users have even when tarnished. It kills hundreds of on copper. Some hospitals tried copper stopped getting colds. different disease germs so it can prevent for surfaces like faucets and doorknobs. People often use CopperZap preserious or even fatal illness. ventively. Frequent flier Karen Gauci This cut the spread of MRSA and other CopperZap is made in the U.S. of used to get colds after crowded flights. illnesses by over half, and saved lives. pure copper. It has a 90-day full money Though skeptical, she tried it several The strong scientific evidence gave back guarantee when used as directed times a day on travel days for 2 months. inventor Doug Cornell an idea. When to stop a cold. It is $69.95. Get $10 off he felt a cold coming on he fashioned “Sixteen flights and not a sniffle!” each CopperZap with code NATA10. a smooth copper probe and rubbed it Businesswoman Rosaleen says when Go to www.CopperZap.com or call people are sick around her she uses Cop- toll-free 1-888-411-6114. gently in his nose for 60 seconds. “It worked!” he exclaimed. “The cold perZap morning and night. “It saved me Buy once, use forever.

New Haven/Middlesex

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