Natural Awakenings New Haven & Middlesex JAN 2020 by Natural Awakenings Central-Eastern Connecticut

EE R F

HEALTHY

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Exercise as Medicine BOOST YOUR IMMUNE HEALTH

Ways to Support the Bodyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Defenses

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January 2020 | New Haven-Middlesex | NaturalNewHaven.com January 2020

Copper in new device stops cold and flu

had colds going round and round, but not me.” Some users say it also helps with sinuses. Attorney Donna Blight had a 2-day sinus headache. When her CopperZap arrived, she tried it. “I am shocked!” she said. “My head cleared, by Doug Cornell no more headache, no more congestion.” Some users say copper stops nighttime stuffiness if used just before cientists recently discovered bed. One man said, “Best sleep I’ve had time. He hasn’t had a single cold for 7 a way to kill viruses and in years.” years since. bacteria. Copper can also stop flu if used early He asked relatives and friends to try Now thousands of people are using it it. They said it worked for them, too, so and for several days. Lab technicians to stop colds and flu. placed 25 million live flu viruses on a he patented CopperZap™ and put it on Colds start CopperZap. No viruses were found alive the market. when cold viruses soon after. Soon hundreds get in your nose. Dr. Bill Keevil led one of the teams of people had Viruses multiply confirming the discovery. He placed tried it and given fast. If you don’t millions of disease germs on copper. feedback. Nearly stop them early, “They started to die literally as soon as 100% said the they spread and they touched the surface,” he said. copper stops colds cause misery. People have even used copper on if used within 3 In hundreds cold sores and say it can completely hours after the first of studies, EPA prevent outbreaks. sign. Even up to New research: Copper stops colds if used early. and university The handle is 2 days, if they researchers have confirmed that viruses curved and finely still get the cold it is milder than usual and bacteria die almost instantly when textured to improve and they feel better. touched by copper. contact. It kills germs Users wrote things like, “It stopped That’s why ancient Greeks and picked up on fingers my cold right away,” and “Is it Egyptians used copper to purify water and hands to protect supposed to work that fast?” and heal wounds. They didn’t know you and your family. “What a wonderful thing,” wrote about microbes, but now we do. Copper even kills Physician’s Assistant Julie. “No more Dr. Bill Keevil: Copper quickly kills deadly germs that Scientists say the high conductance colds for me!” cold viruses. of copper disrupts the electrical balance have become resistant Pat McAllister, 70, received one in a microbe cell and destroys the cell in for Christmas and called it “one of the to antibiotics. If you are near sick seconds. best presents ever. This little jewel really people, a moment of handling it may Tests by the EPA (Environmental keep serious infection away. It may even works.” Protection Agency) show germs die save a life. Now thousands of users have simply fast on copper. So some hospitals tried The EPA says copper still works stopped getting colds. copper for touch surfaces like faucets even when tarnished. It kills hundreds of People often use CopperZap and doorknobs. This cut the spread of preventively. Frequent flier Karen Gauci different disease germs so it can prevent MRSA and other illnesses by over half, serious or even fatal illness. used to get colds after crowded flights. and saved lives. CopperZap is made in America of Though skeptical, she tried it several The strong scientific evidence gave pure copper. It has a 90-day full money times a day on travel days for 2 months. inventor Doug Cornell an idea. When back guarantee. It is $69.95. “Sixteen flights and not a sniffle!” she he felt a cold about to start he fashioned Get $10 off each CopperZap with exclaimed. a smooth copper probe and rubbed it Businesswoman Rosaleen says when code NATA16. Go to www.CopperZap.com or call gently in his nose for 60 seconds. people are sick around her she uses “It worked!” he exclaimed. “The cold CopperZap morning and night. “It saved toll-free 1-888-411-6114. Buy once, use forever. never got going.” It worked again every me last holidays,” she said. “The kids ADVERTORIAL

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2020 Natural Living Directory Coming in the February 2020 issue of Natural Awakenings. ATTENTION LOCAL BUSINESSES! Don’t miss out on this opportunity to reach more than 50,000 Natural Awakenings readers all year long. Attract new customers and increase your business with our cost effcient advertising, in print and online.

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HEALTHY LIVING HEALTHY PLANET

“The art of being yourself at your best is the art of unfolding your personality into the person you want to be … Be gentle with yourself, learn to love yourself, to forgive yourself, for only as we have the right attitude toward ourselves can we have the right attitude toward others.” ~Wilfred Peterson

Brenda Tate Photography

NEW HAVEN/ MIDDLESEX EDITION

PUBLISHER Gail Heard EDITOR Ariana Rawls DESIGN & PRODUCTION Gail Heard CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Ariana Rawls Happy New Year! 2020—New Year, new decade and Nicole Miale Patricia Staino (deep sigh) election year. SALES & MARKETING Melissa Pytlak Melissa Toni The New Year is an opportunity to make a fresh start, DISTRIBUTOR Man In Motion, LLC which is our editorial theme this month. However, our WEBSITE Chik Shank January focus is not about the typical New Year’s obsession with weight loss, but about

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 © 2020 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.

taking care of your whole self. During the first month of the year we are inundated with advertisements and articles about taking excess pounds off. However, if we place greater emphasis on being healthy, happy and honest with ourselves, then we will likely practice more beneficial behavior— and the weight will come off naturally. Conscious living is about awareness. It’s not just about doing things differently, but bringing to light that which drives our behavior and creates our life experience. Modalities such as meditation, yoga, hypnosis, EFT, Reiki and sound healing have all been very helpful for me. During the winter months here in New England there is a tendency to go into hibernation mode, which can bring on the blues and feelings of social isolation. We have a cure for that—Our community calendar and news briefs, a treasure trove of workshops, events and classes in diverse areas such as fitness, healthy cooking, mindfulness, personal and spiritual growth and more. Have fun exploring! When the seasons change we need to modify our health habits in order to feel balanced, especially in the winter when it is cold and we receive significantly less sunlight every day (about 6 hours less compared to summertime). Since this past December (when the weather felt more like the middle of February), I have been religious about staying well hydrated with water throughout the day. Artificial heat is very drying and can drain your energy. Water also flushes out toxins and is the best natural diuretic. I am now talking walks outside during daylight hours a few times a day, even if it is just for 15 minutes. The cardio workout and exposure to natural light a great mood booster, plus getting out in nature and away from technology is a great way to de-stress. Enjoy our abundance of great reads and making a fresh start! Remember that every day is an opportunity to make a fresh start, so don’t be hard on yourself if you have made little or no progress in achieving your New Year’s goals by next month or even after that. As the old Jerome Kern tune goes, just “Pick yourself up. Dust yourself off —And start all over again.” On that note, I’m off to get myself another glass of water and go for a short walk before the sun sets. Cheers!

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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 16 TIDYING UP

THAT BUCKET LIST

Deciding What We Really Want

18 BOOST YOUR IMMUNE HEATH

Ways to Support the Body’s Defenses

20 BEAT THE ‘BUG’ THIS WINTER With Nutrition

22 A ROAD MAP TO

CONSCIOUS EATING Set Goals, Not Resolutions

24 GUT CHECK

Feeding the Immune System

26 EXERCISE AS MEDICINE

28 CONSCIOUSLY UNCOUPLING

The New Divorce?

30 BILL MOYERS

On Covering Climate Now

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 GREEN THERAPY

Ecopsychology and the Nature Cure

DEPARTMENTS 8 news briefs 12 health briefs 13 global briefs 15 community

spotlight 16 inspiration 20 healing ways 24 conscious eating

26 fit body 30 wise words 32 natural pet 34 green living 37 calendar 43 classifieds 44 resource guide January 2020

Qi Revolution Comes to Hartford for Three-Day Training

news briefs

New Reiki Classes in Middletown and Wallingford

ileen Anderson, RN, a Reiki master practitioner and teacher, will be offering Reiki Level 1 and 2 classes in two locations in March 2020. Reiki is a healing practice originating in Japan. It restores balance to the body physically and emotionally, thereby promoting rest, relaxation and stress reduction. The beginner Reiki Level 1 class will take place at The Buttonwood Tree Performing Arts Center (Buttonwood.org) Eileen Anderson on March 22 and 29 from 1-6 p.m. in Middletown, Connecticut. The other class will take place through Wallingford Adult Education (WallingfordAdultEd.org) on March 10, 17, 25 and 31 from 6:30-9 p.m. in Wallingford, Connecticut. For the Reiki Level 1 class, learn the benefits of Reiki treatments, what it is used for, the history, Reiki precepts, and protocol for hand placements for others and yourself. Reiki 1 is the foundation for Reiki practice and self-care. You will receive a certificate to practice Reiki 1 (must attend all sessions). Tuition includes a manual, which you will receive at the beginning of the course. For Reiki 1 practitioners who want to deepen their practice, Reiki Level 2 is being offered at The Buttonwood Tree Performing Arts Center on March 15 from 1-7 p.m. You will learn how to use Usui symbols and send distant Reiki. You must be a Reiki 1 practitioner with four months of practice (on self or others). You will receive a certificate to practice Reiki 2. Individual classes for one or more students will be offered at The Buttonwood Tree Performing Arts Center throughout the year upon request. Anderson retired in 2017 after 32 years as a critical care nurse at Yale New Haven Hospital. Since 1999, she had been giving Reiki treatments to patients, families and staff until her retirement. She offers Reiki treatments at Orange Chiropractic Center, Wallingford Senior Center and Wallingford YMCA in addition to community presentations on Reiki. For more information, call 203-314-5401, email Eilande@comcast. net or visit ReikiwithEileenAnderson.com.

i Revolution, the largest qigong event in North America, has been praised by experts and has transformed the lives of thousands of participants. The three-day training will be available in Hartford from February 1-3, at the Downtown Marriott Hotel. During the event, qigong exercises, breath empowerment and foodbased healing are taught in detail by Qigong Practitioner Jeff Primack and many Jeff Primack other instructors. With hundreds of people harnessing healing qi in the same room, the energy won’t be stronger anywhere. 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, allows for 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 as well as food healing to reverse disease. Days two and three will feature hands-on healing and powerful breathing applications. Location: Downtown Marriott Hotel, 200 Columbus Blvd, Hartford. For more information, call 800-298-8970 or visit QiRevolution.com. Cost is $199 for all three days. Advanced registration is required. See back cover ad.

We don’t beat the reaper by living longer, we beat the reaper by living well and living fully. ~Randy Pausch

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news briefs

Drug-Free Pain Control for Acute and Chronic Pain

ichael A. Thorns, RN, LAc, owner of Focus On You Acupuncture (FOYA), is excited to announce a new certification in Battlefield Acupuncture (BFA). BFA is a protocol developed by the United States military for drug-free pain control. The treatment requires the placement of semi-permanent needles in the ear(s). This can be done quickly in a seated position and without clothing removal. Starting in January 2020, FOYA will be offering readers who mention Natural Awakenings (when booking) a 90-minute initial evaluation and treatment for $80 (regularly $120) and follow-up Battlefield Acupuncture appointments for $40. Packages can be made to make your drug-free pain control as affordable as possible. For more information and appointments, call 203-626-2072, email Michael.FOYAcupuncture@gmail.com or visit FOYAcupuncture. com. The office is located within Olympic Health & Sports Therapy, PC at 262 State St., Ste. B, North Haven, CT. See ad on page 13.

CT Runners Fend Off Climate Change

assionate about saving the planet, Steven Barrett of East Hartford has committed to raising awareness of climate change—and $3,500 in donations—by running 50 miles over three consecutive days along a single-track trail near Grants Pass, Oregon. The Climate Run: Rogue River event takes place May 8 to 10. Steven’s sister, Lisa Barrett, also will participate. The funds raised by Barrett will support three non-profits dedicated to climate change solutions and advocacy: 350.org, WRiSE (Women of Renewable and Sustainable Energy) and

Youth Voices for the Planet. After completing six marathons, 10 half-marathons and 10 triathlons since 2006, the Climate Run will be Barrett’s biggest challenge yet: “While the daily mileage and wilderness conditions are daunting,” he says, “this is something that I can do to support Mother Earth. It’s a big deal for me, but a relatively small challenge compared to the problem of climate change.” A licensed massage therapist and registered nurse, Barrett also was recently certified to deliver Marconics Energy Healing, which is designed to “trigger profound spontaneous healing and alignment with the Higher Self.” As a thank-you to Natural Awakenings readers who donate $50 or more on his Climate Run webpage, Barrett will offer a complementary session of Marconics, massage, or foot reflexology. Otherwise, they can choose to receive one entry into a drawing for every $10 donated. One winner will be drawn for every 20 entries. Visit Earth-Runner.com for more details or to make a donation. Valid email address must be included to receive free session or notice of winning. Contact Steven Barrett at 860-656-6733 or CrowBarr64@gmail.com.

Hammonasset Beach First Day Hike

s part of the America’s State Parks First Day Hike program, the Meigs Point Nature Center at Hammonasset Beach State Park in Madison, Connecticut, is hosting a one-hour hike on New Year’s Day. Led by Ranger Russ Miller and Nature Center volunteers, the 1 p.m. hike through Meigs Point trails will include searching for wintering birds and seals while enjoying the fresh air and natural beauty of the park. Binoculars are suggested for enhanced viewing opportunities.

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Individuals planning to participate in the First Day Hike should arrive at least 15 minutes before start time; bring water; and dress appropriately for forecasted weather and conditions in warm clothing, adequate footwear, hats and gloves. Hikers will meet at the new Meigs Point Nature Center building. The hike will depart on time at 1 p.m. and return to the starting point. Anticipate wintry conditions; trails may be icy in spots. Hikers participate at their own risk. Please note that dogs are not permitted on the hike. This event is supported by the Friends of Hammonasset. This event is free and open to the public. There is no need to pre-register. Entrance to the park and parking are free. Refreshments will be available in the Nature Center after the hike. For additional information, call 203-245-8743, or visit Hammonasset.org or MeigsPointNatureCenter.org. Location: Meigs Point Nature Center, Hammonasset Beach State Park, 1288 Boston Post Rd., Madison, CT.

Adventures in Alternative Baking

ith Valentine’s Day right around the corner, there are heart-shaped chocolates, cakes and baked goods all around. Do you love these treats but have food sensitivities keeping you from enjoying them or find it hard to find suitable substitutes to cater to your chocolate tooth while avoiding the sugar overload? Come join nutritionist Drew Mulvey, MS, CN, on February 11 from 6-7 p.m. to learn about nutrient-dense swaps for chocolate. Mulvey will also focus on the use of alternative flours, unrefined sugars and healthy fat substitutes in recipes suitable for special dietary preferences such as gluten-free and vegan. Enjoy samples of alternative snacks and receive a tutorial on how to make your own alternative, nutrient-dense, refined-sugar-free Valentine’s Day chocolates. The fee is $15 per person. Snacks will be from Drew’s Personal Recipes. If you register on the New Morning website, you will receive a $10 gift certificate to the store. For more information and to register for the event, visit NewMorn.com. Location: New Morning Market, 129 Main St. South, Woodbury, CT. 10

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Marconics Practitioner Training in Wallingford

or those interested in becoming a Marconics practitioner, the next area training will take place on February 22 from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and February 23 from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Divinely Rooted Yoga Studio in Wallingford. This training is an opportunity to begin your journey back to Source: “Everything that came before has been in preparation for this moment, a step along the path. This is ascension! Scale the Mountain and claim soul sovereignty.” For more information, call Julie Oakes at 203-533-9633 or email SNETeachers@Marconics.com. To register, visit Marconics.com/ level_1_providence_ri.html. Location: Divinely Rooted Yoga Studio, in Hidden Gem on Main, 33 N Main St, Suite D, Wallingford. ee Mark Your Calendar ad on page 37.

HCP Meeting to Feature Natural Awakenings’ Publisher Nicole Miale

he Holistic Community Professionals (HCP) will hold their first Regional Breakfast/ Brunch/Speaker meeting of the new year on Sunday, January 26 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and will feature Hartford and Fairfield Natural Awakenings’ Publisher Nicole Miale as the event’s member-speaker. Miale has spent more than a decade supporting holistic business owners in the area as they launch and expand their practices; she will share some “tips and tricks” for success with all the attendees. “I’m looking forward to the chance to address the group about opportunities available in Natural Awakenings, as well as how being an active member of a group like the HCP supports individual businesses as well as the whole community,” Miale says. “I’ll cover some common missteps I’ve witnessed over the years and provide some specific guidance about getting the most from any marketing you’re putting in place for the new year.” This networking event includes a full buffet breakfast for all attendees (breakfast must be purchased in advance). The cost is $32 non-members/guests and $26 HCP members, which includes sales tax and gratuity. The breakfast menu includes: seasonal sliced fresh fruit, Greek yogurt, housemade granola and muesli, scrambled local farm-raised eggs, crispy applewood smoked bacon, herbed crispy home fried potatoes, orange juice, freshly brewed regular, decaffeinated LavAzza coffee and Mighty Leaf fine teas.

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news briefs

news briefs Doors will open at 10:30 a.m. and there is a display table available for business cards/brochures etc.

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inter weather can bring snow shoveling and heavy lifting. Often times, this can lead to upper back knots and chest pain not associated with cardiac problems. If this has affected you and has not resolved on its own, take advantage of a complimentary 10-minute screening to get to the root of the cause and alleviate your pain. Meet with Phyllis Quinn, PT, for a 10-minute screening to discuss your symptoms to help you decide if physical therapy might be a good option for you. The complimentary 10-minute screening will be held on January 21 and 30 from 4 to 5 p.m. in Branford, Connecticut. To reserve a spot or to make an appointment at a more convenient time, call 203-315-7727. Location: Physical Therapy Services of Guilford, 500 East Main St., Ste. 310, Branford, CT. See ad on page 29.

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New Women’s Networking Group in Woodbury

Women Empowering Women networking group has launched in Woodbury, meeting the first and third Wednesday of each month. By committing to meet regularly, members form trusting relationships in the all-women, one-industry group, where they learn about each member’s products and services so they can pass on a business lead or referral when asked. “One-industry” means that only one person representing a business niche will be allowed to join the group. Some industries are more diverse and can be represented in different fields; for example, insurance might be represented by a number of people, one who represents car insurance, another home insurance, a third for health insurance, etc. Women Empowering Women Now Woodbury currently has representatives in the following industries: yoga, fine art and home furnishings, home and auto insurance, fitness training, and metaphysical shop. The group is looking for members representing computer repair, HVAC, tutors, nursing, spas, salons, massage, chiropractic care, counseling, and many more. Claim your industry by attending meetings and submitting your application. For more information, call 203-558-5025. Meeting location: Ready To Exhale, 107 Main Street North, Woodbury.

January 2020

Drink Pomegranate Juice to Protect Fetal Brain Growth About one in 10 babies in utero struggles with a dangerous condition known as intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), in which the flow of oxygen and nutrients through the placenta is restricted, hampering development of the growing fetus. Now, a simple solution—of mom drinking an eight-ounce glass of pomegranate juice a day—offers hope of a way to reduce infant deaths and lower the need for infant surgery. Researchers at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, in Boston, studied 77 mothers with IUGR at St. Louis’ Barnes-Jewish Hospital that received either one cup a day of pomegranate juice or a placebo. Evaluating 55 of the babies’ development with MRIs after birth, researchers found that the babies with pomegranate-drinking moms had evidence of both better brain connectivity and development of white matter—tissue through which messages pass in the central nervous system. Pomegranate juice is a rich source of polyphenols, a class of foods also found in nuts, berries, vegetables and teas that’s known to cross the blood-brain barrier and have neuroprotective effects.

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Eating and drinking fermented probiotic dairy products such as yogurt, kefir, cheese and sour cream reduces the risk of heart disease for women, report researchers from the Netherlands that analyzed data from nearly 8,000 Australian women over a 15-year period. The effect was particularly strong for those that were obese and had Type 2 diabetes, according to the research. “In the process of dairy fermentation, beneficial compounds are released that have shown promise for improving glycemic control, blood lipids, cholesterol concentrations and blood pressure,” write the study authors.

Chomping on more nuts daily keeps the pounds at bay, according to research published in the journal BMJ Nutrition, Prevention & Health. Using records from three long-term longitudinal studies spanning 20 years and including nearly 300,000 health professionals, the report from Harvard University’s T.H. Chan School of Public Health found that increasing nut intake by a half serving a day—about 12 almonds or seven walnut halves—was linked to lower instances of weight gain and obesity. Swapping out a serving of meats, refined grains or desserts for half a serving of nuts was associated with staving off weight gain of between 0.9 and 1.5 pounds in any four-year period. A consistently higher nut intake of at least half a serving a day was associated with a 23 percent lower risk of putting on 11 or more pounds and becoming obese in the same timeframe. No such links were found for eating more peanut butter. The researchers suggest the high fiber content of nuts can make a person feel full longer, and that that the fiber also binds well to fats in the gut, affecting a greater discharge of calories.

onair/Shutterstock.com

Eat Fermented Dairy to Lower Heart Risk

Munch More Nuts to Stave Off Weight Gain

Live Near Green Spaces to Stave Off Metabolic Syndrome Middle-aged and older adults that live in greener neighborhoods have a lower risk of metabolic syndrome, reports research from the Barcelona Institute for Global Health in the journal Environmental Pollution. The study followed more than 6,000 British adults in a cohort initially between ages 45 and 69 for 14 years, and correlated health records and interviews with satellite images of greenery. They found that exposure to green spaces seemed to help prevent metabolic syndrome and its individual components such as large waist circumference, high levels of blood fats and hypertension. The results “could be related to better opportunities provided by green spaces to perform physical activity, as well as a decrease in exposure to air pollution,” notes Carmen de Keijzer, first author of the study. Women fared even better than men, perhaps because women may spend more time in green spaces.

Evgeny Karandaev/Shutterstock.com

health briefs

global briefs

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Renewable Energy Should Speed Progress

The International Energy Agency predicts that renewable energy will surpass coal as the world’s leading source of electricity by 2030. Its 810-page annual World Energy Outlook also notes that even though offshore wind farms, solar installations and battery-powered cars keep getting cheaper, they aren’t progressing fast enough to slash global greenhouse gas emissions and bring global warming under control because the world’s appetite for energy keeps surging. Bright spots include large, offshore European turbines that can harvest the stronger and steadier winds over the ocean; electric car factories in China; and new building codes and fuel economy standards. Africa currently poses about 40 percent of the world’s potential for solar energy, but has less than 1 percent of the world’s solar panels.

Beach Junk Maarten Bell/Shutterstock.com

Microplastics Found in Brand-New Sand

A Hawaiian beach that was formed by lava from the erupting Kilauea volcano in 2018 is already littered with invisible pieces of tiny plastic. The black sand beach named Pohoiki, which stretches for 1,000 feet on Hawaii’s Big Island, was created from shards of hot lava coming in contact with seawater, and looks pristine. Nic Vanderzyl, a University of Hawaii at Hilo student, saw the new beach as an opportunity to study sediment that was perhaps untouched by human influence, and discovered 21 bits of microplastics per 50 grams of sand on average. The microplastics were smaller than five millimeters and rarely larger than a grain of sand. Most of them, he says, were microfibers, the hair-thin threads shed from common synthetic textiles like polyester and nylon. This invisible plastic has washed ashore on some of the world’s most remote beaches, uninhabited by humans. It’s still unclear how it will affect marine ecosystems, but scientists think it may have dangerous consequences for wildlife and human health.

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ADVERTORIAL After Paul flew back to China I craved to find another Qigong expert who could explain more. Master Weizhao Wu was my most influential teacher for Qigong and he practiced since age 7. Although he passed away, his memory lives in the most excellent posture corrections that he carefully gave. He would open my thumb and relax it so the tendons were not hard anymore. That thumb correction makes a huge improvement to Qi flow and has been passed to my forms.” DD: Through this process of education and discipline, how long did it take for you to create the Supreme Science Qigong healing forms? JP: “After 5 years traveling and producing seminars for other Qigong masters, I finally created my Level-1 Qigong Healing Form. It was first published in our books 2003 and only a few dozen instructors memorized it, but by 2007 we had certified a thousand people to teach the routine. Our videos were ‘Qi-Animated’ to show energy graphically and it assisted people in becoming sensitive to energy. In 2013, we upgraded our Qigong videos to HD animation and in 2017 we finally released our remastered Level-2 video with Ultra HD 4K animation. Spirit Interview with Qigong continues to reveal better ways for us to share these healing practices.” Practitioner Jeff Primack

The Force Behind Blood Flow and Higher Intelligence (Part 2 of 2) Conducted by Publisher Damon Damato

DD: How did your father’s work impact you by working in the medical field growing up as a child? JP: “My dad is a pharmacist at a hospital and he loves people. He knows pharmaceuticals have side effects and believes in preventing disease using food. At first, my dad didn’t believe in Qigong. Once he felt the energy for himself he began practicing Qigong and studying Chinese medical models. My choice to enter the wellness field was influenced by my dad and his emphasis to a scientific approach. I have a healthy skepticism and present with scientific method. DD: What was the driving force for you to absorb so much from the most respected masters of Qigong? JP: “As a graduate from University of Florida College of business, I founded Supreme Science Qigong Center to be successful and took my job seriously. Many Qigong teachers I found did not provide the training I was looking for. I did a lot of research and found a Qi master, Paul Dong, who wrote a book entitled, ‘Empty Force’. I flew him from China to Florida in 2001, because he claimed to have practiced Qigong every day for over 20 years. We arranged a seminar and I gathered a hundred people to hear Paul share his forms, which were light years ahead of any Qigong learned previously. His presence activated my Qi and I practiced more because of coming in direct contact with him.

DD: Will participants get to experience these Forms at the Qi Revolution Event? JP: “All 3-levels of our Qigong program are shared in detail along with Breath Empowerment, Nine-Breath Method, Acupressure, Foot Reflexology and Food-Healing. Qi Revolution is balanced in presentation and practice. After the event, most people choose to continue practicing Qigong at home.” DD: Fitness classes normally get me amped up. Strength Training you share at Qi Revolution challenges me, but it has more mastery of breath than any workout I’ve done. What is significant in your Qigong strength practices for longevity? JP: “Most important is to slow down breathing in Qigong Strength Training, but most athletes increase respiration when using force. Slowing breathing during pushups changes hormones we make. To demonstrate this relaxing skill during exercises, I performed 750 pushups with twenty students counting and making sure I went up and down all the way. Qi Breathing allows for the ATP to replenish faster so that muscle contractions can occur sooner. This also dilates arteries and increases production of Nitric oxide to lower blood pressure during strenuous exercise.”

DD: If there was one take away at the end of the Qi Revolution, what would you wish for each person to embody? JP: “The most important embodiment I’d like people to walk away with is that we can BREATHE through life’s challenges and allow God’s Healing Qi to bring strength and guidance. Attendees will personally experience a higher energy from the Qigong. For the last 15 years, people write us thanking us for the powerful breathing exercises at crucial life challenge points. Qigong DD: Why is Qigong Healing so profound compared to other remedial modalities? helps people process stress, but most of all it brings us into a higher state of JP: “Qigong works directly with your LIFE ENERGY to a greater degree than wellbeing. We make our seminar affordable at 3-Days for $199 so that more yoga or traditional exercise by using slower movements. Postures are ‘Rooted’ people can reclaim their Qi.” in one place where grounding and electrical charges build stronger. Graceful hand motions move the Qi and blood in profound ways while the person is very relaxed. Qigong’s relaxation response allows for greater microcirculation in the frontal lobes of the brain. Qigong practice can improve intelligence and even deepen one’s connection with God, the source of life. DD: You coined the phrase, “Press on Qi!” Why is this emphasized so often in your healing forms? JP: “Press on Qi is describing subtle movement on the edge of your magnetic field. When a person practices Qigong and learns to PRESS on the energy field it immediately strengthens blood circulation, digestion, metabolism and improves important body functions. I trademarked the term, ‘Press on Qi’ as our way of expressing this idea unique to our Qigong style.” 14

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February 1st-3rd • HARTFORD, CT Downtown Marriott Hotel For more information: www.QiRevolution.com (800) 298-8970

that colon hydrotherapy can be used as a gentle but effective preparation for colonoscopy, eliminating the need to drink the sometimes difficult oral preparation solutions. Colon hydrotherapy as colonoscopy preparation is an option for anyone who needs a colonoscopy, but is especially nice as an option for people who have either had previous difficulty with colonoscopy preparation or who have medical conditions, including chronic nausea, that may affect their ability to tolerate the preparation,” Dr. Bogardus said to me.

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community spotlight

What is the protocol for using colon hydrotherapy as prep for a colonoscopy?

COLON HYDROTHERAPY An Alternative to Colonoscopy Prep

atti Hartman, an I-ACT-certified colon hydrotherapist and the owner of Connecticut Colon Hydrotherapy (ColonicsinCT.com) in Guilford, Connecticut, has performed over 200 colonoscopy preparations. She spoke with Natural Awakenings New Haven and Middlesex Counties about colon hydrotherapy and how it can help patients as they prepare themselves to undergo a colonoscopy.

Why is there a fear of colonoscopies and how can colon hydrotherapy help?

A colonoscopy is an effective way to help detect and prevent colon rectal cancer at an early stage. It is an integral part of keeping us healthy. For the procedure to be effective, prepping the bowel efficiently is very important so that the doctor has a clear view of the intestinal wall for possible polyps and other abnormalities. However, many people resist having a colonoscopy because of the difficult preparation that the doctor prescribes; the side effects can include severe diarrhea, cramping, nausea, vomiting and dizziness, to name a few. The good news is that there is an

alternative. Colon hydrotherapy has been found to be effective in clearing out the bowels for scoping. Colon hydrotherapy, also known as colonics or colon irrigation, is a gentle infusion of warm filtered water into the colon to loosen and soften waste, allowing it to pass through the intestine with no discomfort. Colon hydrotherapy methods extend beyond the rectum to cleanse the entire colon and offer greater cleansing and therapeutic benefits. Many of my clients were unwilling to have another colonoscopy because of the prescribed preparation. This can be dangerous if they have a history of polyps. It was a great relief for them to know that there is an easier way to prepare for their colonoscopy.

How do local physicians support the use of colon hydrotherapy?

Dr. Sydney Bogardus, Jr., M.D., AGAF, FACP, president of Connecticut Gastroenterology Consultants in Guilford, Connecticut is a supporter of colon hydrotherapy for colonoscopy preps. “One reason that people may not think of right away is

It varies with each patient. It starts with a phone consultation to gather information, such as medical history, bowel history, and any questions or concerns the patient may have followed with my recommendations. Most people have two to three colonics prior to their colonoscopy, including one on the day of the procedure. Patients do need a doctor’s approval to ensure that the doctor supports this option for a colonoscopy preparation. In terms of effectiveness, 97 percent of my clients have had success. The remaining 3 percent account for those who did not follow the given instructions. As for how much it costs, that depends on the patient’s location. Unfortunately, insurance does not cover colonics. However, they can use a flexible spending account or health savings account to pay for the sessions.

How can people find a certified colon therapist?

The International Association for Colon Hydrotherapy (I-ACT) has a referral list on their website at I-ACT.org. It is important to look for a therapist that is I-ACTcertified, and is using a FDA-registered device and disposable speculum kits. Connect with Patti Hartman at 203-500-0005, PHartman57@comcast.net or ColonicsInCT.com. She is located at Shoreline Center for Wholistic Health, 35 Boston St., Guilford, CT. See ad, page 13. January 2020

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TIDYING UP THAT BUCKET LIST Deciding What We Really Want

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by Carl Greer

any people have a bucket list of things they want to make sure they experience in this life. Tidying up that bucket list when it no longer reflects a person’s values and deepest desires makes sense. When reviewing our bucket list, we might feel inadequate or embarrassed because we haven’t accomplished what we thought we would. It’s okay if a goal is no longer as exciting as it once was. Guilt, frustration or embarrassment about what’s been lingering on a bucket list for years might be signs that it’s time to dream different dreams. What’s on a bucket list might have been based on a need to prove ourselves to others. If we no longer feel the need to impress people or win their approval, we can move on to new goals. Maybe our family has always talked about traveling to the land of our ancestors as an important thing to do someday, but we don’t feel the same way. We might prefer to travel someplace where we can swim with dolphins or meet people from a completely different culture than our own. Releasing the weight of having a bucket list heavy with other people’s expectations can help us feel much lighter. Maybe those bucket list items still spark some excitement, but it’s time to

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change the form of the experience. A goal to write a novel might turn into a goal to write our life story and turn it into a book. A goal to marry again might become a promise to ourselves to enjoy life with a new romantic partner, regardless of whether that leads to marriage someday. As we go down our bucket list reviewing each item, we can acknowledge which goals still inspire us and which make us feel dispirited. Tidying up a bucket list written in the past can be a good exercise in becoming more conscious of what we want to experience and why—and what dreams we are ready to release—because we have new aspirations now. If we’re spending our time doing what gives us a sense of vitality, happiness and well-being and there is something we haven’t done that generates a feeling of joy and anticipation, it should go at the top of our bucket list—and we should find a way today to start making it happen. Carl Greer, Ph.D., Psy.D., is a practicing clinical psychologist, Jungian analyst and shamanic practitioner. He teaches at the C.G. Jung Institute of Chicago and is on staff at the Replogle Center for Counseling and Well-Being, in Chicago. Learn more at CarlGreer.com.

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January 2020

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Boost Your Immune Health Ways to Support the Body’s Defenses by Dr. Marcia Prenguber

he new year brings new opportunities: perhaps a new start on goals we have been pondering, or maybe a new angle on something we previously hoped to accomplish. This time of year also follows occasions when many of us have been celebrating the holiday season with family and friends, including exposure to the colds and the flu shared by those around us. The body’s ability to address those challenges—bacteria, viruses, toxins—is dependent on our immune health. Refreshing your defense system and boosting your immune health is a great way to start fresh in the new year!

Our Finely Tuned Machine

The complex network of cells and tissues that work together to keep us healthy is a collaborative effort to defend our bodies. Because our bodies are challenged by such a broad variety of bugs, pollutants and toxins, our immune system first identi18

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fies potential invaders that pose a threat to our health and responds appropriately. The immune system’s first line of defense is a series of barriers to stop any potential invaders from entering the system. The physical and mechanical barriers include the skin and mucous membranes—for example, the layers of cells that line the nose and the mouth. The mucous helps to trap and expel bacteria, viruses and toxins. The nasal hairs help to trap particles, and the tiny hair-like structures in the respiratory tract help to move invaders back out. Our bodies are also equipped with chemical barriers, such as pH levels, more often thought of as the level of acid in the stomach. The pH level on the skin, based on the production of oil and sweat glands, also offers protection against potential intruders. Defense molecules within the respiratory and gastrointestinal tracts, in addition to those on the skin, provide additional protective mechanisms. The

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GI tract, as well as other entryways into the body, contains hundreds of different species of microbes, which offer additional forms of protection. These same microbes also assist in the digestive process. Should any of the invaders pass through these barrier systems of defense, additional chemical and molecular defenses that support the immune system, such as our white blood cells, take up a role in resisting intruders. Ours is a finely tuned system, presenting one line of defense after another.

Immunity-Boosting Habits

However, let us not take the immune system for granted. Our day-to-day lifestyle and habits can significantly affect the health of our immune system and consequently how well we feel, and function, every day. How can we improve our immune health? The three most basic lifestyle

How can we improve our immune health? The three most basic lifestyle habits that influence immune health are diet, exercise and sleep. habits that influence immune health are diet, exercise and sleep. Additional lifestyle factors that affect immune health include maintaining a healthy weight, the use of tobacco products and consumption of alcohol, stress management and, of course, hand-washing.

Start With Your Diet

A diet rich in natural colors is a great place to start. Consume a wide variety of fruits and vegetables, typically rich in antioxidants, to support your ability to resist infection. Think colorfully and include fruits such as the broad range of berries, citrus fruits, apples and papaya. Include vegetables such as kale, spinach, arugula, sweet potatoes, red bell peppers, broccoli, carrots and beets to support your immune system. Incorporate approximately two to three cups of vegetables daily in your diet. Other foods, such as garlic, onions or any of the wide variety of mushrooms, including button and shiitake mushrooms, have been found to have antimicrobial and immune enhancing properties and are easy to add to the diet. They can provide a significant boost to your ability to resist infections; adding them to winter soups is a simple way to include these nourishing foods in your diet. Foods to limit in the diet are those that are largely empty calories and contain high percentages of refined flours and added sugars. These are generally found in prepared foods, like holiday cookies, candies and pies! Maintaining a healthy weight is another key factor in supporting immune health.

Addressing dietary choices and incorporating exercise into daily lifestyle habits can go a long way in helping to achieve a healthy weight. Limiting alcohol intake can reduce the risk of a variety of health conditions, including cardiovascular diseases and cancer, and is a sound strategy to support overall immune health.

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Get Moving

Adopting a habit of exercise in your daily life is important for supporting your immune system, in addition to achieving and maintaining an appropriate weight and reducing the risk of a whole host of conditions and diseases. Talking a walk each day, or a series of short walks, can boost immune health. For motivation, measure your walks by distance or time, count your steps with a handy counter built into your watch or phone or make a pact with a friend to walk daily. Join and use the gym, find a pool and swim regularly, take a yoga class or try any other of a multitude of ways to simply get moving.

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Get Some Shut-Eye, Too

Although we may think of it as simply a passive activity, sleep plays a critical role in supporting the immune system. Without adequate sleep, we are more vulnerable to infections and diseases, in addition to simply feeling fatigued. Experiencing deep sleep, as well as ensuring an average of seven hours of sleep each night, has been found to support health in ways that reduce the risk of a broad range of health conditions and diseases. Sleep hygiene habits that foster the ability to fall asleep, get deep sleep and wake up refreshed are important to maintaining a health immune system.

Beware Stress

Managing stress is another important strategy in supporting immune health. While we cannot eliminate all the stressors in our lives, the ways in which we respond to those stressors can make a significant difference in our overall health. Regular physical exercise, breathing exercises, practicing meditation, mindfulness, gratitude, incorporating spiritual practices and

developing and maintaining supportive relationships are all tools that can help us to cope with the stressors we encounter.

And the Not-So-Little Things

Avoidance of all forms of tobacco products, including smoking, vaping and chewing, also reduces the stress on the immune system. Last, but certainly not least, be vigilant about hand-washing. Be mindful of ways that viruses and bacteria are shared in dayto-day actions and interactions, such as a sneeze or a cough; minimizing exposure is a critical part of prevention. Start the new year right by putting into practice some of these strategies to boost your immune health and reduce risk of infection. A few changes in your lifestyle and habits can make a significant difference! Marcia Prenguber, ND, FABNO, is the director of the School of Naturopathic Medicine at the University of Bridgeport College of Health Sciences. January 2020

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healing ways

BEAT THE ‘BUG’ THIS WINTER With Nutrition by Drew Mulvey

ow that the weather is getting colder, there is a higher incidence of sicknesses and illnesses. The change in temperature alone can be an additional stressor on the body, which can contribute to this rise in sickness. It is not only important to eat nutritiously during this season, but to also keep the gut functioning properly. In fact, 80 percent of the immune system is in the gut and is strongly correlated to proper nutrition. Here are some dietary recommendations for keeping the body functioning optimally this season.

Diet Variation

With farmers’ markets now closed down, the diversity of local fruits and vegetables is diminishing. However, variety in produce is key in any season for maintaining optimal health. The typical go-to recipes in the winter are warm soups with potatoes, carrots and onions. Squashes are also a staple during the 20

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wintertime; they can be used in dishes such as sautés, soups and baked side dishes. Try adding different varieties of seasonal winter veggies (squashes, potatoes, kale, rutabaga and parsnips) and fruits (kiwis, black currants, grapefruit and tangerines), experimenting with different grains, and keeping the dinner plate as colorful as possible. Why is this beneficial? By keeping this variety in the diet, it helps to diversify gut bacteria. The more species of beneficial bacteria in the gut, the greater the body’s ability is to fight off pathogens and to increase generation of bacterial metabolites to keep the gut and intestines healthy. These foods also contain beneficial fibers, also known as prebiotics, which act as fuel to the bacterial community in the gut. The body is also getting an array of phytochemicals, or plant nutrients, when the diet is filled with an abundance of colored foods. According to recent studies, fiber is more of a determining factor in bacterial

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diversification than the nutrients in the food. Each week this winter, try a new type of potato or sweet potato, add in a different variety of squash, and switch up the seasonal green leafy vegetables. Experiment and introduce the body to new variations of these fruits and veggies.

Bone Broth

Bone broth is made by cooking the bones in water for about 18-24 hours; this exposes the bone marrow, which leaks the marrow’s immune components into the broth. Bone broth is also high in glutamine, which enhances the production of the body’s natural antioxidant, glutathione, and keeps the intestinal tract intact; the latter is important in the prevention of acquired food sensitivities and chronic disease. Low glutathione levels have also been linked to increased susceptibility of acquiring infection. Bone broth can also be used as a base for soups to gain these

added benefits and extra protein.

Golden Milk

This drink is composed of turmeric, ginger, cinnamon and a dash of nutmeg heated in nondairy milk. These spices act as adaptogens, or substances that help our body better adapt and slow down its response to stress. They are used in common Indian dishes such as daal, soup, oatmeal or as a hot drink before bed. Each of these components has antimicrobial, antiviral, antiparasitic and antioxidant properties that can further enhance resistance to foreign invaders. Turmeric, in particular, has been touted in India and China for its multiple medicinal properties. This spice contains polyphenolic compounds, known as curcuminoids, which have been shown to have antiviral and antimicrobial properties; these are helpful in terms of scavenging harmful compounds that increase oxidative stress and protecting the body from bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus, the culprit of pneumonia. Pairing this with ginger and cinnamon enhances the antimicrobial effects of the milk. Cinnamon contains a compound known as cinnamaldehyde; it further protects the body from pneumonia-causing bacteria and ginger, in one study, enhanced immunity against the flu in mice models when combined with red grape, pomegranate, dates, olives and figs. Golden milk is beneficial for keeping harmful bacteria in check. In addition, it is excellent as a calm drink before bedtime to improve circadian rhythm and increase immunity by encouraging restorative sleep. Turmeric needs to be paired with specific components to activate the medicinal curcuminoids. For best results, add in coconut oil or a dash of black pepper.

4:105-113. Article accessed from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/ pmc/articles/PMC3048347/. 2. Moghadamtousi, SZ. et. al. A review on Antibacterial, Antiviral, and Antifungal Activity of Curcumin. Biomed Research International. 2014. 186864. Article accessed from https://www. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4022204/. 3. Awang, AFI, Taher, M, Susanti, D. The Mode of Antimicrobial Action of Cinnamomum bermannii’s Essential Oil and Cinnamaldehyde. Journal Teknologi. 78(11-2). Abstract retrieved from https://jurnalteknologi.utm.my/index.php/jurnalteknologi/ article/view/9942. 4. A Functional Food Mixture “Protector” Reinforces the Protective Immune Parameters against Viral Flu Infection in Mice. Nutrients. 2018. 10(6). Abstract retrieved from https://www.ncbi. nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29890620. 5. Patak, P., Willenberg, HS, Bornstein, SR. Vitamin C is an important cofactor for both adrenal cortex and adrenal medulla. Endocrine Research. 2004. 30(4):871-5. Abstract retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15666839. 6. Lenton, KJ, et al. Vitamin C augments lymphocyte glutathione in subjects with ascorbate deficiency. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 2003. 77(1):189-95. Article retrieved from https:// academic.oup.com/ajcn/article/77/1/189/4689652. Drew Mulvey is a certified nutritionist and founder of Redeeming Life Nutrition, LLC in Southbury, CT. Connect at Drew.Mulvey@RedeemingLifeNutrition.com or RedeemingLifeNutrition.com.

Sources of Vitamin C

When sickness comes in, this vitamin is a go-to support for many people. Vitamin C helps to boost immunity and is a potent antioxidant. It acts as a powerful antioxidant to help fight off harmful compounds generated from internal and external sources of oxidative stress. It is also important for adrenal health, which may contribute to increased immunity. In one study, increased ascorbate levels decreased the levels of catecholamines in the adrenals, also known as cortisol. This is the same concept as the role of adaptogens enhancing the efficacy of the immune response. Vitamin C also plays a crucial role in recycling antioxidant glutathione and reactivating the compound, thus demonstrating an added immune boost. As an antioxidant in and of itself, it may also spare glutathione, thereby passively maintaining proper levels of it. Some great sources of this vitamin include broccoli, spinach, citrus fruits, and a South American fruit known as camu camu, which alone contains about 740 percent of the daily recommended intake for Vitamin C. Use them in whole grain or gluten-free pasta dishes as a sautéed topping, mix in with soups for added nutrition or add them in to morning smoothies. References: 1. Ghezzi, P. Role of glutathione in immunity and inflammation in the lung. International Journal of General Medicine. 2011.

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January 2020

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A Road Map to Conscious Eating Set Goals, Not Resolutions

by Jennifer Ponte Canning

ere we are again at the start of a new year, promising ourselves that this year we really will eat healthier. Most of us will not keep that promise—at least not for more than a week or two. Then we’ll beat ourselves up about it for a few months before starting the cycle all over again. Why does this pattern keep repeating? It’s because we’re jumping into the deep end before learning how to swim. Sure, we might tread water for a while, but before long, our arms will get tired and we’ll end up back-floating to the shallow end. Real change comes gradually. “I always make goals, not resolutions,” says Fairfield County resident and certified health coach Maia Lagerstedt, author of Conscious Shopping: Making Decisions About What You Eat and How You Buy It. “Start with something small, like ‘I’m going to eat more green vegetables.’” Lagerstedt encourages her clients to begin by adding good food to their diets, rather than taking out all the bad stuff right away. She also asks them to focus 22

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on what they already know about their relationship to food. Then she gives them tools they need to make achieving a delicious, healthy diet not just attainable, but affordable, too.

crave the nutrients within. The reward for making the right choice is a feeling of wellness in place of the usual sugar crash or stomachache brought on by the wrong one.

Here are some key points to assist you in your efforts to make change this year:

Take inventory of what you have in your pantry and fridge.

Reflect on what you already know.

Acknowledge your weak points—such as an addiction to sweets—along with any adverse reactions you have to certain foods. “I really believe that just about everyone knows what they should and shouldn’t eat,” says Lagerstedt. “I tell them to take some time to reflect on what they know. For instance, I’m sensitive to wheat, so I don’t eat bread. Your body knows what makes you feel good.” When given a choice between readily available produce (such as freshly cut carrot sticks) and packaged, processed foods, many people will naturally gravitate toward the healthy option. Their bodies

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Back when Lagerstedt was a “starving writer,” working for journalist’s wages at The Fairfield County Weekly, each Sunday she would sit down with a piece of notebook paper and a pencil to plan her meals for the week. The first step was to take note of what was already in her pantry and her refrigerator. “I figured out that when I didn’t do that, I’d spend about 35 percent more on groceries,” she recalls. “I’d buy more than I needed of something I already had or realize too late that I had run out of a crucial ingredient. I had a low budget, but I liked good food—so this is how I shopped.” Later, she would take clients shopping and personalize the process for them, helping them create their own weekly

Lagerstedt encourages her clients to begin by adding good food to their diets, rather than taking out all the bad stuff right away. She also asks them to focus on what they already know about their relationship to food. menus. Many recommended that she share her methods and her recipes in a book. The result is Conscious Shopping, which contains shopping tips, worksheets for grocery lists and meal plans, and original recipes designed with leftovers in mind.

Plan a healthy, balanced menu around a few key ingredients.

Take time to think about how you can use these ingredients in different ways throughout the week. Find recipes that maximize their use, especially the leftovers. “Go for the bigger chicken,” Lagerstedt recommends. “Don’t think of it as only one meal; there are tons of things you can do with one chicken. You can roast it, then you have all these leftovers you can use for dishes like curried chicken salad and homemade chicken soup.” Even produce can have a starring role in a string of meals. For instance, an armful of red bell peppers can yield such dishes as stuffed peppers, roasted peppers, red pepper vermillion stew, and Lagerstedt’s red pepper salad with black olives and feta.

Make a list from that menu.

Be sure not to buy more than you can use in any given week. If possible, go for fresh, organic and locally sourced meat and produce, in only the amounts called for in your menu. Be aware of what food will keep in the fridge for a few days, and what needs to be consumed right away. Don’t let the lure of grocery-store specials and volume discounts at big box stores lead you astray. “A lot of times, we go for the ‘buy-one, get-one-free’ deals. I tell people: If you go to a big box store and get nine bunches of broccoli or something, you’re just not going to eat all that before it goes bad,” Lagerstedt says. The key to successful conscious shopping is to stick to your list, and your menu, no matter the temptations you encounter in the aisles or at the register. Lagerstedt acknowledges “it’s going to take a little practice,” so keep your expectations realistic and be kind to yourself if you veer off course. Eventually you’ll get there. Just “don’t forget to have fun!” along the way. For more inspiration, visit Lagerstedt’s blog “Just One Bite” at conscious-shopping.com. Jennifer Ponte Canning is a freelance writer from Fairfield County who appreciates all the menu-planning help she can get to keep her two teenage sons from “starving!”

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January 2020

The level of germ-fighting activity your immune system is able to maintain after a sugary meal decreases for a number of hours.

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GUT CHECK Feeding the Immune System

by Julie Peterson

educing stress, sleeping enough, exercising and getting sunlight are all known strategies for improving the body’s ability to protect itself from harm. However, the most important factor in building a rock-star immune system is nutrition. Here is a guide to the care and feeding of the inner fortifications that fight off disease, supporting long-term wellness.

Ground Zero: The Gut

About 70 percent of the immune system resides in the gastrointestinal tract—home to a microbiome that contains trillions of bacteria. It works as a complex ecosystem in which the good bacteria prevent the bad bacteria from taking hold and causing illness or disease. Eating plants promotes the robust growth of that good bacteria. “The GI microbiome evolved closely with our immune systems and under the influence of the plants our ancestors ingested,” says Holly Poole-Kavana, who practices herbal medicine in Washington, D.C. Yet about 90 percent of Americans don’t eat enough fruits and vegetables, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The consequent weakening of the microbiome is a double-edged sword, because the processed foods Americans commonly consume promote the growth of harmful microbes. The 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans indicates that added sugars, saturated fats and sodium eaten by most Americans are far above recommended amounts. This tipping of the scales causes weight gain, toxin buildup and immune system dysfunction.

What Not to Eat

Plants and grains on grocery shelves today are typically processed into bread, cereal, pasta, desserts and snacks, abundant in added sugars, salt, detrimental fats and chemical additives. These altered foods slam the gut’s immune protection and increase the risk of chronic disease. A Czech Republic study on food additives found that gut microbes 24

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that fought inflammation were harmed by additives. According to the research, “Permanent exposure of human gut microbiota to even low levels of additives may modify the composition and function of gut microbiota, and thus influence the host’s immune system.” And of course, be wary of sugars. Anything that turns into sugar in the system—think carbs like refined bread products and pasta, not just sweets—is an immune-depressing culprit, says Heather Tynan, a naturopathic doctor at Evergreen Naturopathic, in San Diego. “The level of germ-fighting activity your immune system is able to maintain after a sugary meal decreases for a number of hours.” Saturated fats also alter immune cells, disrupting their functions and triggering inflammation. Getting away from processed food cravings can be a challenge, because the foods provide a temporary energy boost. Dorothy Calimeris, of Oakland, California, a certified health coach and author of three anti-inflammatory cookbooks, suggests that cravings mean the body needs something, but it may be rest or water. “By focusing on eating higher-quality nutrients, we can limit and eventually eliminate the cravings.”

Eat the Rainbow

Fruits and vegetables get their colors from phytochemicals, which provide the human microbiome with antioxidants, minerals and vitamins that keep the gut healthy and help the immune system combat cellular damage. National guidelines suggest Americans eat 10 servings of plants a day, ideally two each from the green, red, white, purple/blue and orange/yellow categories. But data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys show that eight out of 10 people in the U.S. don’t get enough of any color category. “A good strategy is to add one new vegetable a week to your grocery cart,” suggests Canadian nutritionist Lisa Richards, founder of TheCandidaDiet.com. “Blending fruits and vegetables into shakes or smoothies is also an effective way to eat the rainbow for those who are busy.” Whatever goes into the grocery cart should be certified organic, the only sure way to avoid ubiquitous genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in the food chain, which animal studies have linked to immune system damage. Herbs are also helpful to boost the body’s inherent ability to protect itself. Poole-Kavana points to medicinal herbs like astragalus and reishi mushroom, which support immunity and balance gut bacteria; antimicrobial herbs like garlic, thyme and oregano; and elderberry, an anti-inflammatory fruit that boosts the body’s ability to identify and eliminate viruses and bacteria. “The single greatest thing anyone can do for their health is to eat whole foods, including organic vegetables, fruits, high-quality proteins, whole grains and healthy fats,” says Calimeris. Julie Peterson writes from rural Wisconsin and can be reached at JuliePeterson2222@gmail.com.

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~Heather Tynan

IMMUNE-BOOSTING RECIPES Add the cauliflower, garlic, ginger, turmeric, salt, pepper and cumin, and sauté to lightly toast the spices, 1 to 2 minutes. Add the broth and bring to a boil.

photo by Jennifer Davick

Reduce the heat to a simmer and cook until the cauliflower is tender, about 5 minutes. Using an immersion blender, purée the soup in the pot until smooth. Stir in the coconut milk and cilantro, heat through, and serve. Total cooking time is about 15 minutes.

Creamy Turmeric Cauliflower Soup Turmeric is the darling of the anti-inflammatory spices. For best absorption, it should be combined with pepper. This soup gets its creamy texture from coconut milk, but other nondairy milk can be used instead.

photo by Stephen Blancett

Yields: 4 servings 2 Tbsp extra-virgin olive oil or coconut oil 1 leek, white part only, thinly sliced 3 cups cauliflower florets 1 garlic clove, peeled 1¼-inch piece fresh ginger, peeled and sliced 1½ tsp turmeric ½ tsp salt ¼ tsp freshly ground black pepper ¼ tsp ground cumin 3 cups vegetable broth 1 cup full-fat coconut milk ¼ cup finely chopped fresh cilantro In a large pot, heat the oil over high heat. Add the leek, and sauté until it just begins to brown, 3 to 4 minutes.

Excerpted from the book The Complete Anti-Inflammatory Diet for Beginners: A No-Stress Meal Plan with Easy Recipes to Heal the Immune System, by Dorothy Calimeris and Lulu Cook.

Lentil Stew Most stews take hours to cook, but this restorative dish, perfect for dinner or lunch, cooks up in a hurry. The plant-based recipe takes advantage of canned lentils and is loaded with nutritious, anti-inflammatory power foods. Yields: 4 to 6 servings 1 Tbsp extra-virgin olive oil 1 onion, chopped 3 carrots, peeled and sliced 8 Brussels sprouts, halved 1 large turnip, peeled, quartered and sliced 1 garlic clove, sliced 6 cups vegetable broth 1 (15-oz) can lentils, drained and rinsed 1 cup frozen corn 1 tsp salt ¼ tsp freshly ground black pepper 1 Tbsp chopped fresh parsley

In a Dutch oven, heat the oil over high heat. Add the onion and sauté until softened, about 3 minutes. Add the carrots, Brussels sprouts, turnip and garlic, and sauté for an additional 3 minutes. Add the broth and bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer and cook until the vegetables are tender, about 5 minutes. Add the lentils, corn, salt, pepper and parsley, and cook for an additional minute to heat the lentils and corn. Total cooking time is about 15 minutes. Serve hot. Another tip: This soup is as versatile as it is simple. Feel free to use any kinds of beans or vegetables you have—it’s a great way to use up leftover vegetables at the end of the week. Store in a covered container in the refrigerator for a week, or in the freezer for longer. Nutritional information per serving (4 portions): calories: 240; total fat: 4g; total carbohydrates: 42g; sugar: 11g; fiber: 12g; protein: 10g; sodium: 870mg Excerpted from the book The Anti-Inflammatory Diet One-Pot Cookbook: 100 Easy All-in-One Meals, by Dorothy Calimeris and Ana Reisdorf. Also visit DorothyEats.com.

Natural Awakenings recommends using organic, non-GMO (genetically modified) and non-bromated ingredients whenever possible. January 2020

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EXERCISE AS MEDICINE

by Shirley Chock

hen we hear the term “medicine,” we typically think of a chemical compound that is ingested, whether it is pharmaceutical or herbal. Only in recent years have Americans started to think of exercise as medicine. In 2007, the American College of Sports Medicine and the American Medical Association launched an initiative called Exercise is Medicine; it calls for physical activity to be included as part of patient care. There has been mounting evidence from multiple research studies demonstrating that exercise can help prevent death from chronic diseases. Looking across to the other side of the world, we can learn from China where the concept of exercise as medicine has been practiced for over 2,000 years. Many people have heard of the Chinese wellness practice called qigong. However, qigong is often misunderstood and 26

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shrouded in a veil of mysticism. In order to unshroud the mystery, we must first understand its origin. “Yang sheng,” which means cultivation of life, is an ancient Chinese term for wellness; it encompasses physical exercises, breath work, meditation, nutrition and traditional Chinese medicine principles. For cultivation of body, breath and mind, people practiced a myriad of diverse exercises developed by Taoist priests and Buddhist monks. In 1949, these varied exercises were all grouped into one category and coined with the “qigong” term. Because of its Taoist and Buddhist origins, the term is often misinterpreted as a uniquely religious or spiritual practice. Since qigong is a modern term used to classify thousands of disparate exercises, its routines can be bafflingly different from one another. Over 2,000 years before the “qigong” term was coined, Taoists practiced “daoyin” (guiding and leading) exercises.

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A silk scroll dating back to 168 BC was unearthed in a tomb depicting 44 figures, each in a particular pose, and each pose aimed to cure a specific disease. The Daoyin Illustrations scroll is the world’s oldest recorded exercise chart. Three hundred years later, legendary doctor Hua Tuo created a series of daoyin exercises based on the movements of five animals— tiger, deer, bear, monkey and crane—for people to achieve optimal health. Almost 400 hundred years after that, the Buddhist monk Bodidharma traveled to the Shaolin Temple from India where he found the monks to be weak, sickly and in terrible health. Bodidharma developed three sets of mind-body-breath exercises for the monks to practice to improve their health and strength. Although each of these examples were created independently of each other hundreds of years apart and were unique in their origins, they all shared the idea of exercise as medicine.

There has been mounting evidence from multiple research studies demonstrating that exercise can help prevent death from chronic diseases. Looking across to the other side of the world, we can learn from China where the concept of exercise as medicine has been practiced for over 2,000 years. Fast forwarding to the modern era, China has been battling the problems of modern society such as an increase in chronic diseases, shortage of doctors and rising healthcare costs. At the turn of this millennium, the Chinese government looked back into Chinese history and elevated the concept of exercise as medicine as a central theme of its public health policy. In China, qigong is classified into two categories: medical qigong used by traditional Chinese medicine doctors as part of medical treatment and health qigong, practiced for health preservation. The Chinese government placed priority on having its citizens practice health qigong as a way to improve the overall health of the population. Thus, the Chinese Health Qigong Association was established, consisting of the greatest qigong masters, distinguished traditional Chinese medicine doctors, and scientists and sports medicine experts from Chinaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s top sports universities. Extensive research was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of popular qigong exercises and their effects on blood and qi (energy) flow and their ability to improve the functioning of vital internal organs. Through this extensive and ongoing research study, the Chinese Health Qigong Association canonized 10 health qigong routines. The routines are based on the ancient exercises, but updated to maximize the effectiveness of every movement per the results of the studies.

In all of the health qigong exercises, each movement is designed to accomplish four important objectives: strengthen the physical body, stimulate qi flow through the bodyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s meridian channels, improve the functioning of vital internal organs and develop calm clarity in the mind. Practicing these health qigong exercises is an efficient way to achieve optimal fitness and health as the movements are specifically designed to marry traditional Chinese medicine principles and ancient exercise techniques with modern sports medicine research. Because this is a large scale, ongoing research project, the movements are systematically updated to incorporate the newest research results. This ensures these health qigong routines do not follow the demise of some of the other qigong practices that promise almost mystical benefits but produce very little actual result. The health qigong routines are currently practiced in 53 countries around the world, with strict oversight by the Chinese Health Qigong Association to ensure proper instruction. This year, China will be expanding health qigong programs into rural areas experiencing the greatest health problems due to lack of resources, education and access to quality healthcare. Professors from Chinaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sports universities have been assigned to spend time in rural areas to teach health qigong to more of the Chinese population. The Chinese have looked back into their history to revive the tradition of yang sheng and implement the concept of exercise as medicine through the practice of health qigong. As people in other parts of the world also suffer from increasing chronic diseases and rising healthcare costs, they should look at the Chinese practice of yang sheng and elevate the value of exercise as medicine to improve their own health. Shirley Chock is the disciple of Grandmaster Aiping Cheng and co-owner of Aiping Tai Chi Center, a tai chi school located in Orange, CT. Chock is a certified health qigong instructor under the Chinese Health Qigong Association. Connect at 203-7950203, AipingTaiChiCenter@gmail.com or Aiping-Taichi.com. See ad on page 31.

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CONSCIOUSLY UNCOUPLING The New Divorce? by Attorney Renee C. Bauer

reaking up. Splitting up. Dissolving the marriage. Each phrase exudes destruction and the death of a marriage. Perhaps a change in perception can change the course of the divorce for a couple who does not wish to spiral into the chaos of litigation. Consciously uncoupling was a term associated a few years ago with the divorce of the famous couple, Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin. While they may have brought a certain notoriety to the term used to describe their amicable break-up, the concept of undoing the “I do” with dignity and respect is not a new one. It’s been around since the seventies when sociologist Diane Vaughan coined the “uncoupling theory” term. Imagine vines entangled together so intricately that there is no way to determine where the beginning of each individual plant begins. That is marriage. Uncoupling slowly and methodically disentangles these vines so they once again become separate and solo organisms from which they initially started. The process is 28

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gentle and the untangling is deliberate. No one is jerking the roots to free themselves from the other. The adversarial system often fails to meet the psychological needs of a divorcing couple and redesigned family. The successful adjustment of divorcing couples depends on both parties accepting the divorce as their new reality. Sometimes the emotional process and legal process are not running on the same course. Uncoupling is more than just playing nice with each other. Uncoupling requires individuals to recognize that the marital undoing is a result of a dynamic between two people who individually are not perfect people. The partners are choosing to acknowledge and accept their spouse for all of their shortcomings. But how can one do that when they have been so wronged in their marriage? Would anger and resentment catapult the couple from uncoupling amicably to divorcing disastrously? Attorneys can provide support, sympathy and encouragement to their clients.

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They can also escalate the confrontation and heighten the discord and drama the couple is already experiencing. Mutual respect between parties and counsel helps pave the way to a resolution that is emotionally fulfilling. An emotionally fulfilling divorce sounds like a contradiction for a time in one’s life when they may feel despair, anxiety and uncertainty about the future. However, when children are left in the wake of a dissolution, the parties’ efforts to move forward amicably is unequivocally in the children’s best interest. What type of fulfillment can a divorcing couple take from this process? They can walk away knowing that their children will not be victims to conflict. They can be certain that their children will never feel caught in the middle of an impossible choice. They can be assured that just because they will no longer be so intricately entwined with their spouse, they still have enough respect for that person that they can move forward and co-parent in a healthy manner. Is conscious uncoupling easy work?

Most certainly not, especially when uncoupling involves one spouse being forced into the undoing of their former marital life. Can it be done without assistance? Most likely it cannot. In conjunction with supportive counsel, some couples may need some additional therapy to assist with communication and co-parenting. Conscious uncoupling is emotional work. It won’t obliterate the sadness and guilt one may feel; but, then again, it isn’t meant to. Instead, it allows that person to acknowledge their emotional state and then consciously work through their feelings so they can make a decision that is best for the family, no matter what that unit looks like now. The notion of conscious uncoupling may sound a bit idealistic. However, there are couples that do it. It doesn’t mean they didn’t experience pain or grief over the loss of their marriage; it does mean they chose something different for their family. It also doesn’t mean that conflict never arises following the divorce. Uncoupling does mean that as each new challenge arises, the couple figures out how to work through it and unravel the vines. Arguably, a conscious uncoupling can lead to a more peaceful and supportive re-coupling of blended families. Couples can embrace their uncoupling in this way through mediation, through the collaborative process and through the traditional adversarial process. It’s not the method that matters but rather the players involved. Litigation begets litigation. “Once you make a decision, the universe conspires to make it happen,” Ralph Waldo Emerson said. If a couple decides to untangle their vines cautiously, they will attain the result that is best for the family. Renee C. Bauer is a principal and the founder of the Bauer Law Group, LLC, located in Hamden, CT. She is an attorney and author. She authored Percy’s Imperfectly Perfect Family (Archway Publishing), a children’s book about divorce, and Divorce in Connecticut (Addicus Books).

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January 2020

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by Julie Marshall

ill Moyers, an American icon of broadcast journalism, continues to inspire generations through his political commentary, documentaries and award-winning books, including the landmark 1988 PBS series Joseph Campbell and The Power of Myth. Beginning his career at 16 as a cub reporter in Marshall, Texas, he went on to earn more than 30 television Emmys, as well as prestigious career awards in film and television. Moyers announced his retirement in 2017 at the age of 83. However, this past spring, the journalist spoke at a Columbia Journalism Review conference, calling upon the nation’s reporters and news outlets to join the Covering Climate Now project in order to push a cohesive message of science and truth—that it’s not too late for our planet and all of its inhabitants, but first we all need to grasp what’s at stake.

When did you first hear of global warming?

Early in 1965. I was a special assistant to President Lyndon Johnson, and famous oceanographer Roger Revelle was a member of the White House science advisory committee. The scientific community had largely believed that we didn’t have to worry about carbon dioxide because the oceans would quickly absorb any excess. Revelle blew that consensus apart with his discovery that it was instead rising into the atmosphere— which meant slowly, then more swiftly turning up the temperature of the planet, as

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if the Earth was now a vast furnace; warming oceans, melting Antarctica, rising seas.

What was your response?

A twinge of disbelief, a little shock. But this was no wild alarmist sitting at that table. Well, LBJ took science seriously. As president, he gave the green light for the first official report on the potential threat to humanity from rising CO2 levels. Go online to “Restoring the Quality of Our Environment—1965,” and read Appendix Y4—Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide. He told us to distribute the report widely. One year later, his energy and attention and our resources were diverted to the war in Vietnam.

What prompted your sense of urgency now in taking the media specifically to task for its general lack of coverage of the climate crisis?

Reality. The hottest temperatures on record, fueled by greenhouse gas emissions. Hurricanes of extraordinary force and frequency. Floods, tornados, wildfires. Mass migration as a result of crop failures. A president who calls climate disruption a hoax. A cabinet and Congress protecting the profits of the fossil fuel industry. David Attenborough told the UN Climate Summit, in Poland, that we’re talking about “the collapse of our civilizations and the extinction of much of the natural world.” But our corporate media was more obsessed with the new “royal” baby born in Britain.

photo by Dale Robbins

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Bill Moyers on Covering Climate Now

What is the nature of the Covering Climate Now project?

Covering Climate Now is a big cooperative effort to tell the true story of what is happening and what we can do to change it—the story of fighting back against extinction, of coming to our senses. Our aim is to help beleaguered journalists and news organizations to abandon old habits, adopt best practices and overcome the usual obstacles—such as how to convince their own management to invest in better climate coverage and how to pay for it.

How crucial will the role of media be in influencing meaningful action on the most critical issue of our time?

Who else will sound the trumpet and be heard? We can take our readers, viewers and listeners to the ends of Earth, where oil palm growers and commodities companies are stripping away forests vital to carbon storage—and connect the dots. We can take them to the American Midwest, where this past spring’s crops brought despair and bankruptcy as farmers and their families were overwhelmed by floods—and connect the dots. And we can take them to Washington, D.C., and a government that scorns reality as fake news, denies the truths of nature and embraces a theocratic theology that welcomes catastrophe as a sign of the returning Messiah—and connect the dots.

What accounts for your own sense of urgency?

Photographs of my five grandchildren above my desk. Facts taped to the wall, like this one: The UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change—an essentially conservative body—gives us 12 years to make the massive changes to drastically reduce global greenhouse gas emissions 45 percent below 2010 levels. And something Roger Revelle said many years ago that is lodged in my head: “Earth’s our home. Let’s not burn it up.” Julie Marshall is a Colorado-based journalist and author. Connect at FlyingBurros@gmail.com.

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WHEN OLDER PETS GET QUIRKY Dealing With Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome

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by Julie Peterson

s dogs and cats get older, they may slow down or have other physical issues. Some experience cognitive decline which resembles Alzheimer’s disease in humans. It presents differently in every pet and can include numerous symptoms that begin gradually, sometimes just seeming like quirky behavior instead of a disease. Cognitive dysfunction syndrome (CDS) can affect dogs or cats, and there is currently no known cause or prevention. Progress has been made on Alzheimer’s research in humans, with neurologists discovering that plaque buildup in the brain does not cause the disease: That is the immune system’s response to the disease. Necropsies on dogs with CDS have shown similar plaque buildup in the brain. “Unfortunately, little research has been done regarding this condition, so we can only hope to use human studies to gather information that will help our affected pets,” says Dennis W. Thomas, DVM, a holistic veterinarian in Spokane, Washington, and author of Whole-Pet Healing: A Heart-to-Heart Guide to Connecting with and Caring for Your Animal Companion.

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With no test available for CDS, pets are diagnosed by excluding medical and behavioral problems that can resemble having the ailment.

Signs to Watch For

Issues that could point to CDS include: n Confusion or disorientation: standing in a corner, difficulty walking through doorways, walking in circles or trouble following familiar routes n Decreased activity: sleeping excessively, seeming withdrawn, lack of grooming, loss of interest in toys, people or food n Restlessness, anxiety or compulsiveness: waking often at night, whining or yowling, new fears, pacing or constantly licking n Attention seeking: wanting to be near humans and showing high distress when left alone n Incontinence: soiling the house after previously being house-trained n Irritability or aggression: growling/ hissing or biting without cause These troubles could also be indicative of a treatable condition, such as a

Keep your dog’s mind active by providing games and opportunities for play. Daily walks provide not only exercise, but also mental stimulation.

urinary tract infection or an injury, so it’s essential to have the pet examined.

Caring for the Patient While CDS will continue to alter brain and nerve function, there is some hope for pet lovers faced with the diagnosis in the early stages. Thomas recommends a natural approach that includes diet modification, filtered water, vitamin and herbal supplements, and eliminating stress. Diffusing calming essential oils can be helpful for dogs (and humans), but is not recommended for cats. Kathryn Sarpong, DVM, a veterinarian at Metro Paws Animal Hospital, in Dallas, also recommends dietary changes to her patients. “Recent studies have shown that medium-chain triglycerides may be helpful, and they are in some senior pet foods. Supplementation of melatonin may help with sleep-wake cycles.” Anxiety often becomes part of the animal’s new normal, but pet parents can help cats and dogs with this by keeping them as active as possible, introducing new toys and interacting. “Keep your dog’s mind active by providing games and opportunities for play.

With time, CDS patients may lose hearing or sight in addition to experiencing a progression of symptoms. “Make sure your home is predictable and safe,” says Lunghofer. Use gates to close off stairs or move furniture or other items that could be hazardous.

Prevention on the Horizon

~Lisa Lunghofer Daily walks provide not only exercise, but also mental stimulation,” says Lisa Lunghofer, Ph.D., executive director of The Grey Muzzle Organization, in Washington, D.C. Pets with anxiety or pain may benefit from cannabidiol (CBD) products. Clarissa Valdes, a homemaker in Homestead, Florida, has a 15-year-old cat with CDS. Minini would wander around in the house, looking lost. Then, the all-night howling sessions began. “We started to worry that she was in pain,” says Valdes. However, a veterinarian diagnosed CDS. “The vet suggested medication, but I wanted to go in a natural direction,” says Valdes, who started Minini on CBD oil. The cat finally slept through the night. A month in, Minini is doing better overall.

Because inflammation caused by an inappropriate diet is the underlying problem of most chronic diseases in pets, Thomas believes that prevention for CDS is possible. “Feeding a non-inflammatory, speciesspecific, balanced diet that is fresh and not heat-processed is critical,” he says. In addition, he advises his patients get probiotics, digestive enzymes, omega3s and antioxidant nutrients. Vaccinations, when necessary, should not contain heavy metal preservatives. “The goal is to keep the gut and immune systems healthy, avoid toxins that affect the nervous system and minimize environmental stress.” Julie Peterson writes from her home in rural Wisconsin. Contact her at JuliePeterson2222@gmail.com.

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January 2020

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!

(203) 736-1053 AnsoniaNatureCenter.org

After my time outdoors, I feel grounded, renewed, energized and much more clearheaded than before I started. ~Laura Durenberger

GREEN THERAPY Ecopsychology and the Nature Cure

by Ronica A. O’Hara

or clients of family therapist Christian Dymond, the path to wellness begins on his 10 acres of woods and meadows in Milton, Vermont, walking alongside him, sitting by a babbling brook, watching squirrels gather nuts or the sun slowly set, breathing in the piney air. “There is a sense of safety that comes from being in the forest,” Dymond says. “Safety is necessary in order for the client to open up and share themselves with another human being.” Children, too, readily respond: “Getting a child outside into nature can bring life back into their eyes. Every day I see this happen.” The sweeping Santa Barbara beach is the office of clinical psychologist Maria Nazarian, Ph.D., as she accompanies clients on hour-long barefoot walks that might include a mindfulness exercise, goal-setting and meditation—all while watching waves foam, pelicans glide and sun-sparkles on the water. “When we feel connected to the world around us, we experience more joy and belonging, less depression and less anxiety, all of which increase our thinking, creativity, wellbeing and generosity,” she says.

New Haven/Middlesex

NaturalNewHaven.com

Their practices, known as ecotherapy, green therapy or nature-based therapy, are an outgrowth of a ballooning branch of psychology known as ecopsychology, which investigates the critical links between nature experiences and human well-being. In examining such matters as our neurological responses to nature, how climate change and weather disasters lead to anxiety and depression, how nature deprivation affects children, and why nature can produce transcendent awe, the field is reshaping the way that therapists and doctors help both adults and children heal. Ecopsychology is a relatively new discipline. Little more than two decades ago, historian Theodore Roszak pointed out in Psychology Today that in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of the American Psychiatric Association, one of the most-diagnosed categories involved sex: “In mapping sexual dysfunction, therapists have been absolutely inspired… [but] the volume contains only one listing remotely connected to nature: seasonal affective disorder.” Now, as the planet’s dire plight becomes a source of mounting concern, that

Song_about_summer/Shutterstock.com

ANSONIA NATURE CENTER

green living

professional neglect is rapidly changing. Institute at the Golden Gate National There is a sense of safety The field of ecopsychology has produced Parks Conservancy. that comes from being in more than 100 authoritative studies Ecopsychology research programs the forest. Safety is necessary are opening at medical centers and linking nature to not only physical, but in order for the client to open universities, and ecotherapy classes are mental health. Researchers have found that spending time in nature settings up and share themselves with being added to academic degree programs helps lower stress, anxiety and depression, for therapists. Major health insurers are another human being. boosts positive mood, improves resilience financing pilot programs to measure time~Christian Dymond and immune response, increases life exin-nature outcomes, and electronic health pectancy, decreases anger, reduces blood records are starting to include nature pressure, eases computer fatigue and enhances energy, concenprescriptions, as well as pharmaceuticals. tration and cognitive functioning. Happily, it’s a therapy that can be self-prescribed. After Laura Recently, Danish researchers found that children raised in Durenberger, who blogs at ReduceReuseRenewBlog.com, gave the least-green neighborhoods were 55 percent more likely to birth to her son, she found symptoms of her generalized anxiety develop a serious mental illness than children that grew up in disorder at an all-time high, and ultimately linked it to rarely the greenest neighborhoods, regardless of social standing, affluleaving her house. When she goes too long without being outside, ence or parental mental illness. A British study of nearly 20,000 she says, “My anxiety spikes. I am irritable. My energy is low. people published in Scientific Reports concluded that spending at I don’t feel motivated or creative.” least two hours a week in nature, whether in brief breaks or long Now, even during the fierce Minneapolis winters, she is stretches, is an optimal amount of time to feel a sense of better dedicated to spending half an hour a day in nature: “After my time health and well-being. outdoors, I feel grounded, renewed, energized and much more Putting these findings in motion, doctors, therapists, clearheaded than before I started.” naturopaths, nurse practitioners and other health providers As ecotherapist Dymond puts it: “Nature is always there for are increasingly suggesting and prescribing time in nature, espepeople to heal themselves in.” cially for children. As of July 2018, there were 71 provider-based nature-prescription programs in 32 states, potentially involving Ronica A. O’Hara is a Denver-based health writer. Contact her at hundreds of thousands of patients, according to a survey by the OHaraRonica@gmail.com.

How to Practice Personal Ecopsychology n Spend two hours or more each week outdoors in natural settings, in either short or long blocks of time. n Take a free online course to gain an in-depth understanding of ecopsychology at Tinyurl.com/IntroEcopsychology. n Read books like Vitamin N: The Essential Guide to a Nature-Rich Life, by Richard Louv, or The Nature Fix: Why Nature Makes Us Happier, Healthier, and More Creative, by Florence Williams. n Bring plants, flowers, seashells, pebbles and other reminders of nature into work and home settings. n Garden outdoors or keep a kitchen herb garden indoors. n Join a local birdwatching group. n Use nature scenes as wall art and screensavers. n Visit WalkWithADoc.org to join in a one-hour group walk with a local doctor.

GROW Your Business Call or text us for special ad rates. 203-305-5531

n Find more ideas at RunWildMyChild.com/incorporatingnature-into-daily-life.

January 2020

2020 EDITORIAL CALENDAR March January February

HEALTHY LIFESTYLES ISSUE

NATURAL LIVING DIRECTORY

• Fresh Start • Refresh the Immune System

• Shifting into Positive • Regenerative Medicine

April

May

• Plant-Based Nutrition • CBD

June

WOMEN’S WELLNESS ISSUE

• Inspired Lifestyle • Brain Health

• Grassroots Climate Strategies • Creatures Great and Small

• Autoimmune Breakthroughs • Lyme Disease

July

August

September

• Education Out of the Box • Prospering through Transition

• Expressive Arts and Movement • Emotion Quotient

November

December

• Food Connection • Gut Health

October

• Exploring Other Realms • Transcending Physical Health

• The Sugar Challenge • Stress Management

• Community & Connection • Get Your Glow On

New Haven/Middlesex

NaturalNewHaven.com

calendar of events

markyourcalendar

THURSDAY, JANUARY 2

Become a Marconics Practitioner!

Mandala Arts Inner Journeys | Outer Expressions

21 Day Yoga Challenge – Choose from either 21-day challenge: Jan 2-22 or Jan 23- 2/14. During this annual event, access 50+ weekly yoga and meditation classes plus exclusive info and offerings via weekly emails! Delve in and dedicate this time to your wellbeing. $49-$88. Breathing Room, 216 Crown St, New Haven. 203-562-LOVE. BreathingRoomCT.com/sadhana.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 3 Salt Cavern Meditation w/Gayle Franceschetti – 7pm-8pm. Letting Go of the Old Year and bring in the New Year. Clear your mind and let go of tension and the stress of the past year - bring in the New Years’ Energy while relaxing in a zerogravity chair during a powerful meditation in a Himalayan Salt Cavern. Salt therapy is great for overall wellness, respiratory and skin. $45. The Red Barn, Durham. Contact Gayle 203-631-7803. Return2love3@gmail.com. Return2Love.com.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 4

Saturday February 22, 2020 9:30am-5pm

Sunday February 23, 2020

9:30am-4:30pm

Begin your journey back to Source. Everything that came before has been in preparation for this moment; a step along the path. THIS IS ASCENSION! Scale the Mountain and claim SOUL SOVEREIGNTY.

Registration: Marconics.com/level_1_providence_ri.html

Marconics: Birthing the Avatar Race. Talk & Sessions – 1pm-3pm. Discuss how to: Anchor expansive ascension frequencies for you and the planet; Entrain others to raise their vibrations through the field of connectivity. Talk: Free. Energy Session: $33. Hidden Gem on Main, 33 N Main St, Suite D, Wallingford. 203-533-9633. SNETeachers@Marconics.com.

Divinely Rooted Yoga Studio Located in: Hidden Gem on Main 33 N Main St,Suite D Wallingford, CT

SUNDAY, JANUARY 5

203-533-9633 or

Restorative Yoga Workshop w/ Saskia Bergmans Smith – 2pm-4pm. Relax and retreat from everyday life, using guided passive stretching to release tension and nurture the body from the inside out. $27adv./$33 – Pre-Registration Recommended. Your Community Yoga Center, 39 Putnam Ave, Hamden. 203-287-2277. YourCommunityYoga.com.

MONDAY, JANUARY 6 TAKE $50 OFF! Partner’s Massage Class – 6:30pm- 8:30pm. Join us as we teach you and your partner easy-to-learn massage techniques. This class is designed to share the nurturing, relaxing, therapeutic benefits of massage w/ someone special. Gift bag included. Was $249, now $199/couple. Elm City Wellness, 774 Orange St, New Haven. Elmcitywellness.com.

TUESDAY, JANUARY 7 Young Living Essential Oils – 6:30pm-8pm. Help align your mind, body, spirit. Learn to take control of your health with therapeutic grade oils. Free class. Gayle Franceschetti, 36 Cheshire Rd, Wallingford, 203-631-7803, or Return2love3@gmail.com. Return2Love.com. Snow Date: January 14th.

Contact Julie Oakes

SNETeachers@Marconics.com

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8 MYO Vitamin C Pastilles for Cold & Flu – 6pm7:30pm. Organic herbs that are highly concentrated in vitamin C and bioflavanoids along with the power of raw local honey for you to make lozenges for self-care this winter. Herbal history, instructions, materials and guidelines included with a jar for you to take home your creations! $30. New England Naturopathic Center, 92 Main St, Cheshire. Register at NENaturalMed.com/events.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 10 Full Moon Hike: Full Wolf Moon – 5:30pm. Join Wendy and Ranger Evelyn, our Nature Center naturalists, on a hike by the light of the moon! Listen for coyotes howling while we gather around the fire at pavilion #1 to warm up before the hike begins. Wear warm clothes and proper foot gear! Inclement weather or dangerous conditions will cancel the hike. Fee: $1 per person; all ages are welcome. Children must be with an adult. Ansonia Nature Ctr, 10 Deerfield Rd, Ansonia. Preregister: 203-736-1053.

6-Class Series Begins Monday January 27, 2020 6:30-8:00pm The mandala is a holistic art form that connects us to each other, to the creative life force and to the world around us. Draw your own mandala art for the life you dream of manifesting. Experiment with drawing basics, color, light, symmetry and inspirational themes.

Donation-based

after $5 Materials Fee Register Online OneWorld-Wellness.com

One World Wellness Studio 967 N. High St, East Haven

Full Moon Meditation w/Gayle Franceschetti – 6:30pm-8:30pm. Align w/new energies of this first Full Moon of the year. Opportunities for allowing spiritual energies to reach human hearts and minds. Tap into this vast pool of energy. $25. 36 Cheshire Rd, Wallingford 203-631-7803, Return2love3@gmail.com. CENTER Yoga + Wellness – Clinton: Gentle Yoga & Yoga Nidra – 7pm-8:30pm. Join us to experience this powerful practice that induces complete physical, mental and emotional relaxation. We will begin our evening with gentle yoga to warm the body and calm the mind. Register at CenteryYogaWellness.com/events.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 11 Beginner Yoga Series – 8:30am-9:30am. (Saturdays, Jan 11-Feb 1). In this 4-week series with Tobie you will learn the basics of starting a yoga practice. It is perfect for a complete beginner who has just discovered their interest in yoga or for those who would like a refresher on the fundamentals. $108. Breathing Room, 216 Crown St, New Haven. 203-562-LOVE. BreathingRoomCT.com.

January 2020

calendar of events Farmhouse Facial Party: Combating Winter Dryness –10am-11:30am. Learn how to gently exfoliate and moisturize skin using organic, gluten-free herbal facial products! Special MYO honey mask and finishing Pearl Powder will be part of this facial party too! All skin types welcome! Class is for teens 16+ and adults. Limited to 6 participants. $40 per person. Pre-register at NENaturalMed.com/events. Visionary Vinyasa: Yoga and Art Therapy – 6pm. Enjoy a gentle and mindful Yoga practice that brings balance to the chakras and lets creativity pour from the Soul and onto the canvas. No yoga or art experience needed. All supplies are included. $30. Good Vibes Yoga Studio, 4 Cooke Rd, Wallingford. 203824-1929. GoodVibesYogaStudioCT@gmail.com. Yoga Singing Kirtan Yoga Mantras to welcome the New Year/Decade with Kailin Garrity – 7pm-8pm. Learn Mantras, Sing Along or just listen to the beautiful chants at Life Full Yoga & Pilates, 119 Samson Rock Dr, Madison, 2nd Floor. Door on left-hand side of building. $15/ $20 door. 203-350-3616. LifeFullYoga.com/schedule.

SUNDAY, JANUARY 12 Discover the “Pure Diamond” of your True Self – 9:30am-3:30pm. Laurie Blefeld , MA Writer, Counselor, hopes to inspire fellow seekers to discover the “pure diamond” living in oneself.$65 includes program and lunch. Mercy by the Sea, 167 Neck Rd, Madison. For more information and to register: MercyBytheSea.org.

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 15

MONDAY, JANUARY 20

In the Kitchen: New England Provision Soup – 6pm-7:30pm. Based on Creole cuisine, we will create a New England version of provision using broth, root vegetables, root spices, aerial herbs & gluten-free dumplings. This is a hearty recipe that also strengthens the immune system so it’s perfect for the winter! Recipe including variations included. New England Naturopathic Center, 92 Main St, Cheshire $20- register at NENaturalMed.com/events.

FREE Fire Cider Workshop – 6:30pm. Join Dr. Kathryn Ronzo, Naturopathic Doctor, as she talks about the benefits of Fire Cider & teaches you how to make your own to stay healthy through this cold and flu season. Bring a glass container to take home your cider. Elm City Wellness, 774 Orange St, New Haven. 203-691-7653. ElmCityWellness.com.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 17 Expanded Intuition – 6:30pm-8pm. If you took Intuition I Class, or feel very intuitive already. Develop greater confidence in your psychic abilities, identify which intuitive practices to focus on, survey other topics and meet other like-minded individuals. $97 for 7 sessions series. 36 Cheshire Rd, Wallingford 203-631-7803, Return2love3@gmail.com. Snow Date: January 24th.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 18

SUNDAY, JANUARY 19

CELC Middle School Hosts National Geographic Society’s Geography Bee for students ages 10-14 – 1pm. At the Willoughby Wallace Memorial Library in Branford. Public is invited to attend. Come support these young geographers! For more information: CTExperiential.org or NationalGeographic.com/geobee.

Hike: Trees in Winter – 1pm. Join our Nature Center naturalist, Ranger Evelyn, for this winter hike. Come see the different ways trees have adapted to the changing seasons. Learn what to look for to identify trees without their leaves. Wear appropriate shoes for this moderate hike and dress for the weather. For all ages; children must be accompanied by an adult. Free. Ansonia Nature Ctr, 10 Deerfield Rd, Ansonia. Preregister: 203-736-1053.

Jody will take you on an inspirational journey of poetry and meditation while relaxing in the Salt Cavern – 11am-12pm. Stephanie Rosally-Kaplan Reiki Teacher, Shamanic Healer, UWT Crystal Practitioner will be giving healing energy and a Reiki charged crystal. $45. SoulShine, 352 Main St, Durham. Must RSPV RosallyKaplan@gmail.com.

Stress Management with Acupuncture – 6:30pm. Join Maureen Santucci, LAc, as she answers all questions and discusses the benefits of acupuncture when it comes to stress, anxiety, depression and more. Elm City Wellness, 774 Orange St, New Haven. 203-691-7653. ElmCityWellness.com.

New Haven/Middlesex

Circle of Women – 7pm-9pm. Join in sacred space to discover and strengthen your authentic self, learn to listen and speak from the heart. Anniversary Celebration and Potlatch Circle. $25. Central Wallingford. Call Susan to explore/reserve space. 203-645-1230.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 23

The Fifth Agreement Intensive w/Gayle Franceschetti – 9:30am-8pm. This Intensive will deepen your understanding and rapidly transform your life to new experiences of freedom, happiness, and love. $200. 36 Cheshire Rd, Wallingford. 203-265-2927, Return2love3@gmail.com. Return2Love.com. Snow Date: January 26th.

MONDAY, JANUARY 13

See CELC Middle School in Action – Open House! – 9am-12pm. 28 School Street, Branford. Middle school specialists, 5th – 8th grade. Small class sizes, personalized instruction, robust academics. Contact CELC today! RSVP mandm@CTExperiential.org or call 203-433-4658. CTExperiential.org.

Inspiration Raptors: A Place Called Hope and Sophia Zyla – 12pm. Visit the Nature Center to meet a few live raptors up close and personal and the artist who was inspired by them. These animal ambassadors from A Place Called Hope, as well as images of the different raptor feathers, were photographed by Sophie Zyla. Free. For all ages. Ansonia Nature Ctr, 10 Deerfield Rd, Ansonia. Preregister: 203-736-1053.

ECKANKAR Path of Spiritual Freedom invites you to our Light and Sound Service – 10am11:15am. With fellowship afterward. Hear inspirational talks and uplifting music to awaken spiritual understanding in everyday life. Free. Eckankar Temple at Rt.66 & Harvest Wood Rd, Middlefield. Eckankarct@gmail.com. CT-Eckankar.org.

Free Community Meals Presented by Master’s Table Community Meals: Dinner – 3:30pm-5pm. 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. 203-732-7792. MastersTableMeals.org.

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 22

New Year’s Day Family Yoga w/ Sherri Sosensky – 11am-12pm. 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. $25/per family up to 3 students. $60/3 sessions per family. Your Community Yoga Center, 39 Putnam Ave, Hamden.203-287-2277. YourCommunityYoga.com. Reiki I Classes – 1pm-6pm. For Individuals interested in a simple yet beneficial healing therapy to treat and balance the mind, body and spirit. Taught by Reiki Master/Teacher Steph Rosally-Kaplan The Red Barn in Durham, 352 Main St, Durham. For more information, email Rosallykaplan@gmail.com. TheRedBarnInDurham.com.

NaturalNewHaven.com

Young Living Essential Oils – 6:30pm-8pm Help align your mind, body, spirit. Learn to take control of your health with therapeutic grade oils. Free class. Gayle Franceschetti, 36 Cheshire Rd, Wallingford. 203-631-7803, or Return2love3@gmail.com. Return2Love.com. Snow Date: January 30th.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 24

CENTER Yoga + Wellness – Clinton – Fri, 6pm8pm: Make Space in Your Hips. Sat, 10am-12pm: Open Your Heart. Sat, 2pm-4pm: Low Back and Hamstring Release. Sun, 10-12pm: Inversions. Join us for our annual weekend gathering with worldrenouned yoga leader, Amy Ippoliti. Register at: CenteryYogaWellness.com/events. New Moon Women’s Healing Circle: Winter – 6pm-8:30pm. Healing & supportive gathering with Dr. Debra using Ancient wisdom and the creative power of nature on the new moon. Set intentions for the month and use medicinal herbal teas, aromatherapy, crystals, sound healing, prayerful intentions and more for personal healing. $40/session. New England Naturopathic Center, 92 Main St, Cheshire. Pre-register at NENaturalMed.com/events. Stargazers’ Astronomy Night – 6:30pm-8pm. Join us at One World Café for a public stargazing event with the Astronomical Society of New Haven. Hot café beverages like lattes, teas, hot chocolate and apple cider will be served. Free Admission. One World Coffee Roasters, 967 N High St, East Haven. Learn more: OneWorldRoasters.com.

A Weekend with The Mary Paintings - Shamanic Journeywork – 7pm. (Fri-Sun). This retreat is facilitated by the artist, Catherine Steinberg. These paintings were conceived through shamanic journeywork. Ms Steinberg is a psychotherapist and artist. $375 Single, $325 pp Double $220 Commuter. Includes program and meals. Mercy by the Sea, 167 Neck Rd, Madison. Register at: MercyBytheSea.org. HU Chant – 7pm-7:30pm. (4th Friday). Join us for a group chant of HU a love song to God. Singing HU can open your heart to God’s love and transform your life. It can help you experience more divine love, joy, and spiritual freedom. Free. Eckankar Temple, Rt. 66 & Harvestwood Rd, Middlefield. CT-Eckankar.org.

SUNDAY, JANUARY 26 Hike: Snowshoe Sunday – 1pm.Need to get out and breathe the fresh air? Enjoy the winter with this guided hike through our beautiful woodland and fields. Great exercise after the holidays. This program is geared toward adults and older children. We have a limited number of snowshoes to borrow, so please register in advance. Free. Ansonia Nature Ctr, 10 Deerfield Rd, Ansonia. Preregister: 203-736-1053. Free Community Meals Presented by Master’s Table Community Meals: Dinner – 3:30pm-5pm. 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. 203-732-7792. MastersTableMeals.org.

MONDAY, JANUARY 27 Decompress, Not Stress! – 6:30pm. Join Dr. Kathryn Ronzo, Naturopathic doctor and Alyssa Fishman, 500hr RYT, as they talk about stress, its different presentations and natural alternatives to combating the “hamster wheel of life”. Elm City Wellness, 774 Orange St, New Haven. 203-691-7653. ElmCityWellness.com. Mandala Arts: Inner Journeys | Outer Expressions – 6:30pm-8pm. Learn to draw mandalas using a variety of materials like colored pencil, paint, chalk. Work on paper and textured surfaces such as wood and river rock. $5 Material Fee. One World Wellness Studio, 967 N High St, East Haven. Register: OneWorld-Wellness.com.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 31

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QI REVOLUTION BE PART OF THE LARGEST QI GONG EVENT IN NORTH AMERICA!

February 1-3, 2020

$199 For 3 days of life-changing experiences, exercises and information. Downtown Hartford Marriott 200 Columbus Blvd, Hartford

To Register:

Call 800-298-8970 or visit QiRevolution.com

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 7 The Resilient Practitioner: A Clinician’s Guide to Emotional Well-Being – 9am-4pm. 6 CECs. This workshop combines Core Energy coaching techniques, mindfulness, learned optimism practices, and brain science to provide practical and effective ways of maintaining calm, addressing core issues and contributing to a peaceful environment. $90. Register at 2321 Whitney Avenue, Suite 401, Hamden. Register at WomensConsortium.org.

Your Market is Our Readers. Let Us Introduce You to Them!

Expanded Intuition – 6:30pm- 8pm. If you took Intuition I Class, or feel very intuitive already. Develop greater confidence in your psychic abilities, identify which intuitive practices to focus on, survey other topics and meet other like-minded individuals. $97 for 7 sessions series. 36 Cheshire Rd, Wallingford 203-631-7803, Return2Love.com. Snow Date: February 7th.

Call or text us today to advertise in our next issue.

203-305-5531 January 2020

ongoingevents

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 cash/ check or $12 credit card. Kneading Hands Yoga & Massage, 760 Main St S, Unit F, Southbury. 203-267-4417. KneadingHands.net.

sunday Organic facials & skin care at Elm City Wellness – Our estheticians use local organic skincare products from Solavedi Organics to help rejuvenate, hydrate, and brighten one’s skin. Prices start at $50 for an express facial, $90 for a Signature Facial. Microdermabrasion and High Frequency facial options available. Elm City Wellness, 774 Orange St, New Haven. 203-691-7653. ElmCityWellness.com. Health Qigong – 10am-11am. Developed through scientific research by China’s top sports universities and Qigong masters to create the most effective sequence of movements to gently strengthen the body, improve flexibility, and cultivate qi flow. Free trial class. Aiping Tai Chi Center, 518 Boston Post Rd, Orange. 203-795-0203. Aiping-TaiChi.com. Community Vinyasa Yoga – 10:45am -11:45am. Strengthen your yoga practice with Renee every Sunday! Sliding scale of $10-$17. Walnut Beach Wellness & Boutique, 41 Naugatuck Ave, Milford. WalnutBeachWellness.com. 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. Sunday Guided Hikes – 1pm. Join a Nature Center guide on Sunday afternoons for fun, exercise, and learning about our trails! Ansonia Nature Ctr, 10 Deerfield Rd, Ansonia. Information/registration: 203-736-1053. 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.

monday Homeschool Mondays at CELC Middle School for ages 9 – 14 – Register now for January 2020 start. Classes include Writers’ Workshop, Kingian Nonviolence, and Music. Contact mandm@CTExperiential.org or call 203-433-4658. For more information, Visit CTExperiential.org.

New Haven/Middlesex

CELC Middle School Monday Tours – 9:45am – 11am. Middle school specialists, 5th – 8th grade. Small class sizes, personalized instruction, robust academics. Tours are also scheduled by appointment. 28 School St, Branford. RSVP and contact mandm@CTExperiential.org or call 203-433-4658. Visit CTExperiential.org. Guided Meditation Circle – 10am-11am. A weekly meditation Circle in a very relaxed setting using mindfulness meditations, discussions about 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. Iyengar Yoga – 10am-11:30am. (Starts Jan 6). With Shiela Bunnell (Iyengar Certified). Refine your practice with optimal alignment practices that make you stronger, more flexible, and more emotionally stable. Yoga in Middletown, 438 Main St, Middletown. Info@yogainmiddletown.com. YogaInMiddletown.com. 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. 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. Healing Sessions – 2pm-5pm. Other days are available. Reiki Master Teacher/ Psychic, Shamanic healer Stephanie. Reiki or Magnified Healing with Gong Sound baths, Healing Tuning Forks and UWT high frequency crystal lay. $50 for 30 minutes. The Red Barn In Durham, 352 Main St, Durham. Appt. are best but walk ins are ok. Rosallykaplan@gmail.com. Iyengar Yoga – 5:30pm-7pm. (Starts Jan 6). With Shiela Bunnell (Iyengar Certified). Refine your practice with optimal alignment practices that make you stronger, more flexible, and more emotionally stable. Yoga in Middletown, 438 Main St, Middletown. Info@yogainmiddletown.com. YogaInMiddletown.com. 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. Reiki Share – 6pm-7pm. All Levels and Styles of Reiki are welcome. Facilitate by Reiki Master Teacher/ Spiritist/Shamanic healer Stephanie Rosally-Kaplan and Reiki Master/Teacher Sharon McKernan. Cost $10. The Red Barn In Durham, 352 Main St, Durham. Best to RSVP: email: RosallyKaplan@gmail.com. TheRedBarnInDurham.com.

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tuesday Yang Style Tai Chi – 9am-10am and 6pm-7pm. Learn the principles of Tai Chi as moving meditation to increase strength and flexibility and decrease stress. Classes focus on teaching you how to move through yielding and releasing tension in your body. Free trial class. Aiping Tai Chi Center, 518 Boston Post Rd, Orange. 203-795-0203. AipingTaiChi.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. 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. Mediumship Development 101 – 6pm-8pm. (Must attend all days Jan 7, 14, 21& 28). Did you know that we are all able to tune in and hear message from those who have crossed over? In this class you will learn how to connect. Taught by Stephanie RosallyKaplan. $200. The Red Barn In Durham, 352 Main St, Durham. Rosallykaplan@gmail.com. Yogic Healing: All levels flow for your Soul – 7 pm. (every Tues & Wed). Yogic movement that incorporates the healing modalities of Reiki, sound healing, and crystal healing allowing us to create a connection with the mind, body, and Soul. $15. Good Vibes Yoga Studio, 4 Cooke Rd, Wallingford. 203-824-1929. GoodVibesYogaStudioCT@ gmail.com.

wednesday 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/ Iyengar Yoga: 5-Week Beginner Class – 4:30pm5:30pm. (Jan 8-Feb 5). With Sheila Bunnell (Iyengar Certified). Yoga in Middletown, 438 Main St, Middletown. Info@yogainmiddletown.com. YogaInMiddletown.com.

Iyengar Yoga – 6pm-7:30pm. (Starts Jan 8). With Lois Joy (Iyengar Certified). Refine your practice with optimal alignment practices that make you stronger, more flexible, and more emotionally stable. Yoga in Middletown, 438 Main St, Middletown. Info@yogainmiddletown.com. YogaInMiddletown.com. The Caring Network: Free support group for adults who have lost a loved one – 6pm-8pm. (Jan. 15). Bridges Healthcare, 941 Bridgeport Ave, Milford. Info about loss and grief; facilitated open discussion. Info: Cody-White Funeral Home, 203-874-0268, or Brooke Torres M.Ed. 203-878-6365 x480. 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. 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 Health Qigong – 9am-10am. Developed through scientific research by China’s top sports universities and Qigong masters to create the most effective sequence of movements to gently strengthen the body, improve flexibility, and cultivate qi flow. Free trial class. Aiping Tai Chi Center, 518 Boston Post Rd, Orange. 203-795-0203. Aiping-TaiChi.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. 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. Emei Wujigong Qigong Group Practice – 6:30pm-7:30pm. (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. Are you looking for a place to gather with other spiritually minded people? – 6pm-7pm. Are you an Empath, Psychic, opening spiritually? If this sounds like you, join us at the Red Barn in Durham, 352 St, Main Street Durham. $5. Hosted by Spiritist Stepanie Kaplan and Psychic Jennifer Gaylord. For more information, call Jen of Borrowed Time Emporium: 860-929-6623. TheRedBarnInDurham.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.

Free weekly Meditation classes – 10:30am-12pm. Open to all and fully accessible. Instruction provided for beginners. No reservations necessary. Walk-ins welcome. Program offered in cooperation with New Haven Insight. New Haven Free Public Library. 133 Elm St, New Haven. 203-946-8138.

friday

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.

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.

Creature Features – 12pm. Come to meet our furry, scaly, and feathery animal ambassadors. You’ll have the chance to touch and hold them in this Free family program for all ages. Ansonia Nature Ctr, 10 Deerfield Rd, Ansonia. Information/registration: 203-736-1053.

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. 203-415-8666 or info@massage2movement.com. Learn the Intuitive Art of Tarot – 6pm-7pm. (Jan 10, 17, 24, & 31). You will gain a deeper understanding of the Tarot. The Rider-Waite tarot deck is needed. Each Friday we will look at a different part and the last class we will put it all together Class size 6. Cost is $20. 352 Main St, Durham. RosallyKaplan@gmail.com. Yang Style Tai Chi – 6pm-7pm. Learn the principles of Tai Chi as moving meditation to increase strength and flexibility and decrease stress. Classes focus on teaching you how to move through yielding and releasing tension in your body. Free trial class. Aiping Tai Chi Center, 518 Boston Post Rd, Orange. 203-795-0203. Aiping-TaiChi.com. DrumSpeak For Awakening – 7pm-9:30pm. (Every 2nd Friday of the month). For personal growth and awakening to de-stress, relax, release, and have fun. Suggested $5-$20 donation. Lead by Chantal Guillou-Brennan, IEMT, CHT, QHHT. Walnut Beach Wellness & Boutique, 41 Naugatuck Ave, Milford. WalnutBeachWellness.com.

Community Acupuncture – 12pm-2pm. (Every Other Saturday). Treatments are given in a group setting, where multiple clients are treated simultaneously in reclining chair or cushioned yoga mats. Initial visit is $40, follow-ups are on a sliding of $25-$40. Dr. Suzanne Woomer, ND, L.A.c. Walnut Beach Wellness & Boutique, 41 Naugatuck Ave, Milford. 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.

Gut health is the key to overall health. ~Kris Carr

saturday Yang Style Tai Chi – 9am-10am. Learn the principles of Tai Chi as moving meditation to increase strength and flexibility and decrease stress. Classes focus on teaching you how to move through yielding and releasing tension in your body. Free trial class. Aiping Tai Chi Center, 518 Boston Post Rd, Orange. 203-795-0203. Aiping-TaiChi.com. Iyengar Yoga – 10am-11:30am. (Sheila Bunell – Jan 4 & every other week; Lois Joy – Jan 11 & every other week). Refine your practice with optimal alignment practices that make you stronger, more flexible, and more emotionally stable. Yoga in Middletown, 438 Main St, Middletown. Info@ yogainmiddletown.com. YogaInMiddletown.com.

January 2020

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BOOKS THE GREAT COSMIC TEACHINGS OF JESUS OF NAZARETH – The one who does not live in God lives in his self-made world of sensations, thoughts, words, and deeds—the small world of the human ego. Toll-Free: 844-576-0937. Gabriele-Publishing-House.com.

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Coming Next Month FEBRUARY

2020 NATURAL LIVING DIRECTORY PLUS: • Shifting into Positive & • Regenerative Medicine

To advertise or participate in our next issue, call 203-305-5531 or email PytlakMelissa@gmail.com January 2020

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 33.

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

GREEN HOUSES FOR SALE ROCKY CORNER COHOUSING 203-903-2646 Homes@RockyCorner.org More Info: RockyCorner.org

Rocky Corner’s sharing and caring neighborhood: Meet friendly, creative people. Feel welcomed, included. Eat from our organic farm and gardens. Own a green home. Co-own amazing common buildings and 33 acres. Bethany, 5 miles north of New Haven. Nurture kids, retire, have fun, work together. Last remaining homes for sale. Contact us now!

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 31.

HYPNOSIS

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 23.

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

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 13.

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HYPNOSIS LIFE DESIGN HYPNOSIS, LLC Patricia Babey, BS Certified Hypnotist Certified, Medical Hypnotism Certified, Pain Management 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. Lose 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 23.

LIGHT LANGUAGE ENERGY HEALER CHRISTOPHER TREMBLAY 43 Stewart Street New Haven, CT 203-605-2677 ChrisTremblay25@gmail.com

This is a unique light language energy healing gift that has been channeled to me over the course of 5 years, which deeply heals blockages, providing clients with a loving DNA boost from Heaven and the Masters. Combining the use of channeled encodements from the stars with hands on healing, this powerful modality helps to unleash your inner power. Fair energy exchange of love based donations welcome.

community resource guide NATUROPATHIC PHYSICIANS 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, Real-Time EEG Neurofeedback, and other therapies. See ad on page 31.

PET EUTHANASIA SERVICE FINAL JOURNEY, LLC Kristen Klie, D.V.M. 203-645-5570 FinalJourneyLLC.com

Final Journey, LLC is an in-home euthanasia service for your animal companion that brings comfort and peace during a sensitive and challenging time. See ad on page 33

PET SITTING MELISSA’S PET SITTING AND DOG WALKING 203-710-7642 MelissaToni@comcast.net PetSittingMelissa.webs.com

Melissa Toni has been pet sitting full-time for six years, but her love for animals began long before that. She grew up around all kinds of animals, including cats, dogs, reptiles, amphibians, and horses, and volunteered her spare time to a local cat shelter. She recently moved her pet sitting business from Newport, RI to Clinton, CT, where she looks forward to meeting all new furry friends. Contact her now! Free consultations. See ad on page 29.

SALT HEALING THERAPY WELLNESS CENTER 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.

SMOKING CESSATION 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 29.

LIFE DESIGN HYPNOSIS, LLC Patricia Babey, BS Certified Hypnotist Certified, Medical Hypnotism Certified, Pain Management Certified Reiki II Practitioner Madison, CT 203-980-0022 LifeDesignHypnosis.com

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 16.

TAI CHI AIPING TAI CHI CENTER 518 Boston Post Road Orange, CT 203-795-0203 Aiping-TaiChi.com

Aiping Tai Chi Center (est. 1996), teaches authentic Tai Chi and Health Qigong. Alleviate stress, increase strength, improve balance, and harness internal power. Regain your health from the inside out. Free trial class. See ad on page 31.

January 2020

community resource guide WELLNESS CENTER WALNUT BEACH WELLNESS CENTER

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

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.

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, woman-owned 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 31.

YOGA & AYURVEDA BALANCE BY MELISSA

WEIGHT LOSS

Melissa Pytlak Yoga Instructor Ayurvedic Wellness Counselor 203-305-5531 SeekLifeBalance@gmail.com BalanceByMelissa.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. Lose 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 23.

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.

I have two hands: one for me, one for other people.

~Millie Bobby Brown

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YOGA~REIKI~HENNA GOOD VIBES YOGA STUDIO

4 Cooke Road Wallingford, CT 203-824-1929 GoodVibesYogaStudioCT@gmail.com GoodVibesYogaStudio.massageplanet.com Good Vibes Yoga Studio creates sacred space to allow for healing through holistic practices. Soothe your Soul through yoga, Reiki, sound healing, crystal healing, essential oils, food and wine tastings, animal welfare fundraisers, jewelry making classes, henna, and more in our cozy indoor space or outside gazing up at the magic of the Sun and Moon. See ad on page 11.

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