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DECEMBER 2012 | Emerald Coast Edition | www.NWFNaturally.com Okaloosa/Walton/Bay County
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contact us PUBLISHER Daralyn Chase Publisher@NWFNaturally.com NWFNaturally.com 850-279-4102, office 888-228-8238, toll free 888-370-0618, fax DIRECTOR OF aDVERTISING Scott Chase Scott@NWFNaturally.com (ext. 702) MANAGING EDITOR Jude Forsyth Editor@NWFNaturally.com (ext. 701) COMMUNITY LIAISONS (Okaloosa/Walton County) Emily Schultz Emily@NWFNaturally.com (ext. 704) (Pace/Milton/Crestview) Maria Perez Maria@NWFNaturally.com (ext. 706) (Bay County) Melisa Caporella Melisa@NWFNaturally.com (ext. 707) Editor Martin Miron LAYOUT & PRODUCTION Judith Johnson NATIONAL AD SALES 239-449-8309 FRANCHISE SALES 239-530-1377 © 2012 by Natural Awakenings. All rights reserved. Although some parts of this publication may be reproduced and reprinted, we require that prior permission be obtained in writing. Natural Awakenings is a free publication distributed locally and is supported by our advertisers. It is available in selected stores, health and education centers, healing centers, public libraries and wherever free publications are generally seen. Please call to find a location near you or if you would like copies placed at your business. We do not necessarily endorse the views expressed in the articles and advertisements, nor are we responsible for the products and services advertised. We welcome your ideas, articles and feedback.
SUBSCRIPTIONS Subscriptions are available by sending $24 (for 12 issues) to the above address. Natural Awakenings is printed on recycled newsprint with soybased ink.
ear Santa, It’s been many years since I’ve written a list and you probably won’t need to check this one twice. This year, instead of “my” list, I’m writing “our” list. I was recently inspired to focus on a much more meaningful, heartfelt wish list by our own local healthy living community. Earlier this season, we interview several new leaders and professionals in our industry and asked them how they see their life’s purpose fitting into the betterment of humankind. And as our December issue is focused on the “We” instead of “Me,” so goes my list. Teri Haggerty, author of Your Key, Your Door: Life Purpose Discovery Book for Teens, so profoundly states: “I discovered that teenagers need hope, engagement and well-being to thrive. Now I want to change the face of education so the greater society of young people, educators and parents will be better. I don’t want it for myself anymore.” My first wish is that as we place our wants aside, we may begin to truly value each other and honor everyone daily with simple dignity, respect and kindness, just as we teach our children these ways by example. “It’s a big world with a lot of people. The best I can do to help humankind is to be all I know to be in my little corner of the world—to be kind to those I meet and to the environment,” expresses Linda Mix, author of Medicinal Herbs for Life. This leads me to my next wish, that as keepers of the Earth, we awaken to the realization that because what we do today and what we set in motion tomorrow will effect the generations ahead, we consciously work toward a better future for all creatures and our living planet. “I feel the impact that the science and art of yoga has on people’s lives. Bodies, hearts and minds are opening to new possibilities,” is mindfully spoken by Dawn Brooks, a yoga teacher at Yoga Elements. “This is where I belong in this world, and I will connect with others who desire a life of joy and adventure and assist them in attaining their highest potential, encouraged this wish.” My next wish is that as conscience citizens of this country and of the world, we can put aside our differences and refocus on our common concerns as we work toward lasting economic, spiritual and social healing. Santa, I never question how you fulfill so many wishes every year, but know that when you arrive at our home, a glass of organic milk and gluten-free cookies will be there, next to many extra copies of Natural Awakenings. Please give a copy to Mrs. Claus, because we are certain she will enjoy our yummy baking recipes, like the Healthy-er Sugar Cookies. Oh, and the elves may get some great ideas from our Green Living article about creating homemade stocking stuffers from recycled and reusable stuff. Please share a few copies with Rudolf and the team, as they may find a few helpful hints from our Fit Body section about breathing easier when they exert themselves by flying around the world. Sometimes even Santa needs help, so if you find you’re looking for more meaningful gifts, please be sure to visit our Natural Awakenings advertisers. They’ll help you find the perfect gift for everyone on your list and save you some money with special offers in our Holiday Gift Guide. Wishing you a magical holiday season, and worlds of happiness in 2013!
LET THERE BE PEACE ON EARTH AND LET IT BEGIN WITH ME
“Where people come together to grow their life and make the world a better place through spiritual social action” From the Unity Centers of the Gulf Coast
Merry Christmas Contact us or view our websites for specific events and times.
UNITY OF PANAMA CITY
UNITY OF PENSACOLA
1764 Lisenby Ave Panama City FL 32405
716 North 9th Avenue Pensacola, Florida 32501
www.unityofpanamacity.org panamacityunity@knology.net ______________________
Information Line (850) 432-4252 www.unitypns.org unity@unitypns.org ______________________
850-769-7481
UNITY IN FT. WALTON
1797 Hurlburt Road Fort Walton Beach, FL 32547
850-864-1232
www.unityinfwb.org
850-438-2277
UNITY OF GULF BREEZE
913 Gulf Breeze Pkwy # 26 Gulf Breeze, FL 32561
850-932-3076
www.unityofgulfbreezefl.com unityofgb@yahoo.com
contents
ANTI-AGING • PAIN RELIEF STRESS REDUCER
Natural Awakenings is your guide to a healthier, more balanced life. In each issue readers find cutting-edge information on natural health, nutrition, fitness, personal growth, green living, creative expression and the products and services that support a healthy lifestyle.
OVER 50 YEARS OF PROVEN RESEARCH LED Light Therapy delivered by the cutting edge AVALON system
17 ARE FOOD SENSITIVITIES MAKING US SICK?
18
by Nitin Bawa, M.D.
18 IT’S ALL ABOUT WE
Now available for light sessions, rentals, sales & presentations
AVALON LIGHT KEEPERS Golden Almond Health Food Store Monday - Friday, 10am - 4pm
850-424-8261
Conscious Evolution:
Why We’re Better Together
by Linda Sechrist
21 HOMEMADE
AND HEARTFELT
Do-It-Yourself Stocking Stuffers
AvalonLightKeepers.com l info@AvalonLightKeepers.com Receive a free session at one of our events found online at www.avalonlightkeepers.com/events/
by Meredith Montgomery
22 HEALTHY HOLIDAY
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BAKING A Cornucopia of Delicious Treats
24 MAKING THE EXPERIENCE NATURAL HEALING!
“Building Strong, Healthy Families”
Acupuncture and Non-Needle Procedures Pharmaceutical Grade Herbs Also Formulated For Children Acupressure & Reflexology That Patients Can Do At home
KATHERINE SEMMES, MTOM ACUPUNCTURE PHYSICIAN
TREATING:
• Respiratory Issues
Chronic Colds & Ear Infections, Asthma, Allergies
CHILDREN TEENS ADULTS 4
• Digestive Disorders • Stress-related Ailments
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NEXT LEAP IN CONSCIOUSNESS by Darby Neptune
26 HOW UNCONDITIONAL
LOVE HARMONIZES OUR WORLD
26
Marci Shimoff Explores its Transformative Power by Judith Fertig
29 MINDFUL HOLIDAY TRADITIONS
Simple Ways to Add Meaning and Family-Centered Fun by Barbara Amrhein
30 BREATHE EASIER
Try These Tips for Better Workouts
32 CRITTER
COMPANIONS Alternative Adoptions Fit for Families
by Sandra Murphy
www.NWFNaturally.com
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6 newsbriefs 11 healthbriefs 12 globalbriefs 13 ecotip 14 spotlights 17 healingways 21 greenliving 22 consciouseating 24 inspiration 26 wisewords 29 healthykids 30 fitbody 32 naturalpet 36 calendar 37 classifieds 38 naturaldirectory
advertising & submissions how to advertise Pricing is available online on our Advertising page. To advertise with Natural Awakenings call 850-279-4102 or email advertise@NWFNaturally.com. Deadline for ads: the 15th of the month. Editorial submissions Email articles, news items and ideas to: editor@ NWFNaturally.com. Deadline for editorial: the 15th of the month. calendar submissions Submit calendar entries online only at NWFNaturally.com. The links are on the left side of the web page. Deadline for calendar: the 15th 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 239-449-8309. For franchising opportunities call 239530-1377 or visit NaturalAwakeningsMag.com.
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natural awakenings
December 2012
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newsbriefs Acupuncture Does Wonders Where Traditional Care Falters
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erry Abaco, AP, is an experienced acupuncturist practicing in Panama City, whose mission is to help people above all else. His current goal is to focus on several problematic ailments that he frequently sees in the community and for which he possesses unique tools to alleviate. As a result, Abaco has patients that have sought out his treatments from as far away as Tallahassee. “There are diseases that can’t be fixed with Western medicine, such as Bell’s palsy, the most common cause of acute facial nerve paralysis, and stroke, for which physical therapy is the traditional Western treatment,” states Abaco. “Two others are trigeminal neuralgia, which causes a stabbing or electric-shock-like pain in parts of the face, and reflex sympathetic dystrophy syndrome (RSD), an affliction that brings burning pain, tenderness and swelling of an extremity.” It has been his personal experience to work with stroke victims that have been able talk again in six months under his treatment, and RSD patients that have avoided the loss of a limb—not an uncommon occurrence with traditional treatment. Abaco Acupuncture is located at 2633 Hwy. 77, Ste. 8, in Panama City. For more information, call 850-628-8412, email AbacoAcupuncture@yahoo.com or visit AbacoAcupuncture.com.
Experience the Way Coffee Should Be Enjoyed
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air trade fresh-roasted organic coffee is available at Coffee Grounz & Bakeshop, in Fort Walton Beach—by the cup to drink or by the ounce to take home. Owner Drew Willard, who has been in the coffee business since 1984, turned his hobby into a business two years ago and discovered how to make the perfect cup. It starts with controlled growers and direct imports, proper storage during transport and roasting properly, using the perfect profiles and temperatures onsite. Their coffees are rainforest-friendly, bird-friendly varieties from all over the world. Customers will find between nine and 15 origins in stock at any time in the shop from Africa, Indonesia, Central and South America. There are also a variety of all organic, loose-leaf Asian teas available. Coffee Grounz has gift baskets for the holidays and fresh baked goods, made with real ingredients and no fillers or preservatives. Location: 74 Eglin Pkwy. NE, Ste. 106 (JG Plaza at Uptown Station). For more information, call 850-200-4800 or visit CoffeeGrounz.com.
ROLFING
Gluten-Free Pet Bakery Caters to Special Needs
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he Doggy Bag, in Destin, is a local dog bakery and boutique that offers premium, healthy dog and cat food and treats, including grain-free and gluten-free products made with no fillers or preservatives, sugar, salt or dyes, as well as products to accommodate dogs with allergies or diabetes. Many of their products are of humangrade quality, and they also stock raw frozen food, marrowbones and beef and buffalo knuckles. The Doggy Bag carries popular brands such as Taste of the Wild, Origin, Great Life and other high-quality foods to fit any price range. They bake treats and birthday cakes and create puppy gift baskets and holiday-themed personalized gifts for pets and their owners. Owner Carol Gentemann helps place dogs and cats in loving homes, and her daughter Ally pet-sits on the side. Their motto is: “Pay now for quality or pay later in vet’s bills!” Location: 34904 Emerald Coast Pkwy., Ste. 126. For more information, call 850837-9833, email TheDoggyBagBakery@ yahoo.com or visit TheDoggyBag.com.
Integrative Care with Felicia McQuaid “Balance for the Body, Mind & Spirit Massage, Reiki & Yoga”
EvolveYoga-Reiki.com
IMPROVE BALANCE, FLEXIBILITY AND MOBILITY Optimize your ability for Yoga, Tennis, Golf and Daily Activities!
Offices in Fort Walton Beach Outcalls to surrounding areas
850-217-2771
NANETTE SAVAGE Certified Advanced Rolfer™
Call Now for your consultation and evaluation
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FIRST SESSION ONLY • MA61060
Center for Lifelong Learning Hosts Integrative Medicine Program
Experience Light Therapy in FWB
ntegrative medicine is where East meets West, making the best of both medical traditions available to address life’s challenges and improve overall health. The University of West Florida Center for Life-long Learning is hosting a program that begins January 18, 2013, on their Fort Walton Beach campus, where participants will learn from local practitioners of Oriental medicine, acupuncture, whole food nutrition, homeopathy, Tai chi, mediation and cutting-edge healing modalities. Daralyn Chase, publisher of Natural Awakenings of Northwest Florida magazine, will host the program. She has made it her mission over the past six years to provide insights and information about local practitioners, services and products that support a healthier, more balanced lifestyle. “There is keen interest in this subject in our area and I am excited about providing guest speakers who will answer audience questions and speak about their specialty field,” said Chase.
u d dy B ow man, Lt. Col., USAF (Ret.) a former test pilot and aeronautical engineer, has opened a new light energy therapy practice, Light for Life, in Fort Walton Beach, inside the Blossom Yoga Studio. One of the first light therapy practitioners on the Emerald Coast, Bowman is accepting clients for his services as a quantum light energy coach, asserting that light therapy increases circulation and reduces inflammation, pain, and stress. Experience the soothing, healing, light energy photons that gently reduce stress and help bring the body back into balance. This promotes the natural healing of the body by itself, the way it was designed to do and nature intended. The treatment is painless, convenient, affordable, non-invasive and drug-free.
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For reservations, call 850-474-3491 or enroll online at uwf.edu/emeraldcoast/aboutus/ community.cfm. For more information, visit nwfnaturally.com.
Meet Artists at Fiddly Bits
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iddly Bits & Tea Art Gallery-Café, in Fort Walton Beach, is holding a Meet the Artist Night from 6:30 to 8 p.m., December 12. Local creatives will be on hand at the gallery to chat and offer some special deals on many unique pieces of art and jewelry, including freshwater pearls, beautiful watches, colorful beads and more. It’s a great opportunity to find that perfect one-of-a-kind gift. The gallery is adding artists every week and expects to get more exposure with their new tearoom. There, they serve tea, jam tarts, teacakes, tea sandwiches, tea cookies and crumpets, with more healthy varieties on the way. Fiddly Bits is also serving wine and beer, with special house vintages. Location: 222 Miracle Strip Pkwy. For more information, call 850-226-7375 FiddlyBitsAndTea.com. Look for updates on Facebook.
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Location: 325-A Racetrack Rd. For more information, call 850-582-4929, email Consultant@cox.net or visit BuddyBowman.com.
Versatile Yoga Studio Opens in PCB
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New Therapy Available at M&M Chiropractic
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r. Amanda Hill and Dr. Martina Castro, of M&M Chiropractic, in association with Sheldon Chiropractic, in Fort Walton Beach, have introduced a new modality, LED light therapy, which has been proven effective in treating peripheral neuropathy. Their medical-grade lights are different than other existing LED light therapies in that they do not generate heat, which can be hazardous in cases of neuropathy. Peripheral neuropathy is caused by many factors, including statin medications and diabetes, and until now it was believed that there was way to stop its progression. Using specialized therapeutic procedures that include light therapy, Hill and Castro can possibly stop the progression of and potentially reverse neuropathy, although results vary by individual. As they assimilate into the practice of Dr. Richard Sheldon, the new partners pledge to keep up with the latest developments trends in chiropractic care, incorporating new modalities and offerings as their patients’ needs change. Location: 350-D Racetrack Rd. For more information, call 850-863-1920 or visit MandMChiropractic.com.
oga Elements, LLC, has opened at 108 Carillon Market Street, in Panama City Beach, giving practitioners a chance to try aerial yoga, assisted by a hammock, or balanced on a standup paddleboard. Co-owners Dawn Brooks and LauraLynn Jansen say it’s a new way of making yoga fun and adding a different challenge. There’s also yoga on the mat and in the water. Brooks is a registered nurse and provides yoga therapy and private yoga instruction. Brooks and Jansen are passionate about providing yoga classes to assist people in achieving their highest potential, both on and off the mat. For more information, call 850-866-2199, email Hello@yogaelements108.com or visit YogaElements108.com.
natural awakenings
December 2012
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newsbriefs Dr. Bawa Introduces Korr Metabolic Testing
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resting metabolic rate (RMR) test measures how many calories of food energy are required to maintain basic body functions such as heartbeat, breathing and maintenance of body temperature while in a state of rest. This information is useful for proper diagnosis and counseling for weight loss, detection of slow metabolism and with nutritional assessments. “Often, overweight people are convinced they have slow metabolism. A patient can see the level at which they burn calories and it can be very encouraging and motivating,” explains Bawa. The doctor also uses the information to improve the use of hormone adjusting medication and natural supplements. The test administered by Bawa uses a precision airflow sensor that measures the volume of expired air and another sensor that measures the concentration of oxygen. Once the factors of temperature and relative humidity are accounted for, the testing instrument provides accurate results. In many cases insurance pays for the test and the doctor accepts most plans. For more information, call 850-424-7320 or visit DrBawa.com.
Y G R E N E E V SA E R U S N E & T FOR
NMEN O R I V N E R E F A SA USINESS B R O E M O H YOUR • Guaranteed Energy Savings • Reduce Harmful Electromagnetic Fields (EMF) • Qualifies for Green Certification
Electromagnetic Field (EMF) ... Hazardous to your Health What are EMF’s? EMF’s are invisible lines of force created whenever electricity is generated or used. EMF’s are produced by power lines, electric wiring, and electric and magnetic fields. Did you know? In 1996, the World Health Organization (WHO) established The EMF Project, a global study of the health risks of EMF exposure, due to the ongoing concerns among the worldwide scientific community. Health Risks? Exposure to EMF’s has been associated with many possible health risks, some of which include cancer, diabetes, fibromyalgia, heart disease and a variety of many serious health illnesses!
There is a solution! TO LEARN MORE CONTACT: Debby McKinney, Certified Representative Visit: energygonegreener.info Call: (850) 598-0200 Email: energygonegreener@gmail.com
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Bee Ready for the Holidays at Mint to Bee
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he U.S. Department of Agriculture confirms that bee pollen is one of the most nutritious foods we can eat, because it contains every nutrient required to sustain and support life in a pure, raw and unaltered form. The Mint to Bee gift shop is a hidden treasure in Fort Walton Beach for honey-related gift-giving ideas this holiday season. They feature local, raw honey in tupelo, tulip poplar, gall berry and wildflower flavors, as well as bee pollen, honey sticks, beeswax candles and gift baskets. Other giftware such as Willowtree figurines, retro toys and furniture, candles, GreenLeaf scented oils and warmers, sterling silver jewelry and gifts, handcrafted Americana gifts and Christmas décor round out the selection. As a holiday incentive, Mint to Bee has expanded its hours to 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday through Friday, and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday. Everything in the shop is half-off in December (some exclusions apply). Location: 1303 Beverly St. For more information, call 850-8644735 or follow them on Facebook.
Emerald Coast Chiropractic Adds Donaldson to Staff
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r. Kelly Donaldson, the first female chiropractor in Destin, has joined the staff of Emerald Coast Chiropractic. She is a graduate of Logan University, in Missouri, with a Doctorate of Chiropractic degree and master’s degree in sports science and rehabilitation. Donaldson focuses on the holistic, natural approach to healthcare and overall wellness. She likes to help people with all types of conditions, not just musculoskeletal pain. She believes in preventing problems instead of reacting to them, and loves working with children and pregnant women. Donaldson is a lifetime member of the Arkansas Alumni Association, the Logan Alumni Association, the American Chiropractic Association and the Florida Chiropractic Association. Donaldson’s community involvement includes the Junior League of the Emerald Coast, Kiwanis Club of Destin, Destin Chamber Ambassador, YP at the Beach, city of Destin Park & Recreation Committee and city youth basketball coach. Locations: 501 Harbor Blvd., Ste. C., Destin; 7720 U.S. Hwy. 98 W., Ste. 300B (at Sacred Heart Hospital), Miramar Bch. For more information, call 850-654-1850, email Info@destinchiropractor. com or visit DestinChiropractor.com.
www.NWFNaturally.com
Earthen Cloth Expands with Organic Diaper Service
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arthen Cloth, a new cloth diaper service for Panama City, Panama City Beach, 30A and some surrounding areas, is
Armand and Angelina at Unity of Panama City
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opular entertainers Armand and Angelina will share an extraordinary spiritual message of oneness, blended with incredible music, at 11 a.m., December 30, and an amazing concert at 1 p.m., as part of their national tour, themed A Time For Us. Armand is a musical minister, singer/songwriter and native flautist. He is a master of presenting the humorous side of life, and writes thoughtprovoking material about his spiritual journey on this planet. Angelina is a classically trained vocalist and classical guitarist, whose voice has been compared to those of Sarah Brightman and Charlotte Church. Together, they travel across the country, sharing their fusion of classical, popular and world influences. The purpose, they say, is to help the world experience Heaven on Earth. Their spirit-affirming lyrics and melodies are sure to lift the audience with love and joy. Cost: $25 love offering for concert. Location: 1764 Lisenby Ave., Panama City. For more information, call 850-769-7481 or visit UnityOfPanamaCity.org.
now offering to deliver unbleached, organic cloth diaper prefolds, in the appropriate size, to the customer’s doorstep each week and pick up the dirties in a hamper bag they provide. The customer does not need to be home. The prefolded diapers they provide are extremely soft and absorbent, held closed with provided “Snappis” No pins are required. Owner Melinda Hallman states that disposable diapers contain traces of dioxin, a byproduct of the paper-bleaching process, listed by the EPA as the most
toxic of all cancer-linked chemicals. She notes that it is banned in most countries, but not the United States. During the cleaning process, Earthen Cloth uses no chlorine bleach, perfumes, dyes, enzymes or softeners. The diapers are ideal for babies with sensitive skin. Gift certificates are available for the diaper service and an online Etsy store features organic cloth diaper, accessories and gift items. For more information, call 850-624-3583 or visit earthencloth.com or Etsy.com/ shop/EarthenCloth.
Increase your
Nitric Oxide Levels FOR BETTER HEART HEALTH
with light therapy
Now on thed Emeralt Coas
Used by: NASA, Mayo Clinic, Navy SEALs, Army Rangers, Olympic Athletes National Cancer Institute, FDA-cleared equipment
Light for Life LIGHT THERAPY INCREASES CIRCULATION, AND REDUCES INFLAMMATION, PAIN, AND STRESS Stress is the silent killer. It will shorten your life. Come experience the soothing, healing, light energy photons that gently reduce stress and help bring your body back into balance. This promotes the natural healing of the body by itself the way it was designed to do and nature intended. Painless, convenient, affordable, non-invasive, and drug-free.
Call today sched to ule your sessio n
850-582-4929
315-A Racetrack Road • Ft Walton Beach
Located inside Blossom Yoga Studio
Buddy Bowman Quantum Light Energy Coach, Lt Col, USAF Retired. Former Test Pilot, Fighter Pilot, and Aeronautical Engineer.
www.buddybowman.com natural awakenings
December 2012
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newsbriefs
kudos
New Radio Program Champions Health and Wellness
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atural Awakenings of Northwest Florida is sponsoring a radio show at 9:30 a.m. on two Mondays a month on 1620AM radio. Hosted by Publisher Daralyn Chase, the program’s content mirrors the healthy and sustainable living themes of the magazine. Chase will interview local newsmakers and experts to answer questions about their field of expertise. “The show is a perfect blend of our mission to provide information to the public on the healthy and green living industry, while supporting the local businesses that bring those services and products to our area,” explains Chase. The guest interviewee for the December 10 show will be Jordan Rubin, owner of Beyond Organic. Rubin will answer questions about organic topics such as the difference between grass-fed and green-fed beef, and how eating organic and green-fed meat can make a difference in one’s diet. Chase is offering a $100 gift certificate contest for callers on a question taken from the magazine’s current edition. “It’s a great prize, as the winner can spend it on any product or service they see in the magazine,” says Chase.
New Fort Walton Beach Certified Green Business Program
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tarting in January 2013, local business owners will have the opportunity to let their customers know that they doing their part to make our community more sustainable by becoming a Greater Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce Certified Green Business, allowing consumers to shop with confidence that rigorous criteria have been tested and met to avoid “greenwashing”, a term for inflated or misleading environmental claims. Becoming a part of this exciting program is easy and has a very low cost of entry. Businesses fill out and sign an electronic checklist that will be displayed on the Greater Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce website under the Environment Committee link and send it back to the Chamber for verification. If the business meets the 25 minimum sustainability measures and submits an application fee of $25, it will be certified as a Greater Fort Walton Beach Certified Green Business. Members are authorized to use the FWB Certified Green Business logo for their company’s website and will receive a Certified Green Business window sticker that clearly states the year of certification. For more information, call 244-8191 or visit fwbchamber.org.
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Natural Awakenings of Northwest Florida
eborah Daniels, Don Daniels and Arlene Carmichael, of Avalon Light Keepers, LLC., have trained at the Solas Academy and become certified light energy technicians through the board of Advanced Natural Health Sciences. Deborah states, “We can keep our clients informed on all the ways to increase circulation, decrease inflammation and assist with stress management. By using these cutting-edge LED lights, using proper pad placement and special settings, we can assist our clients to bring the body back to homeostasis and move towards wellness.” Light sessions are available at the Golden Almond Health Food Store, 339 Racetrack Rd. NW, in Ft. Walton Beach, Mon. through Fri. from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. For more information, call 850-424-8261 or visit AvalonLightkeepers.com.
Community Liaisons Hired
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atural Awakenings of Northwest Florida has filled three new community liaison positions to provide the opportunity for businesses to learn more about becoming contributors to Natural Awakenings magazines, radio and television programs. They will also help local merchants and practitioners market themselves to the magazine’s 40,000 readers in Okaloosa, Walton and Bay counties. “Now, with two editions, we are seeking more local stories, news and events to cover. The liaison interviews will help us learn more about businesses of interest to our readers,” says Publisher Daralyn Chase. “We have grown tremendously this year, and I am delighted to be able to offer more people an opportunity to work with our magazine.” Emily Schultz, in Fort Walton Beach, will interview businesses in Okaloosa and Walton counties. She holds a degree in exercise science and teaches fitness classes part-time at the Fort Walton Beach Family YMCA. “I am learning so much about so many people—we have a great wellness community here!” says Schultz. Melisa Caporella, in Panama City Beach, will conduct interviews in Bay County. An experienced journalist, she is dedicated to a healthy lifestyle through exercise and nutrition. “I’ve always loved learning about natural health remedies and prefer them over traditional medicine,” says Caporella. Marie Perez, a Miami native, will interview businesses in the Pace, Milton and Crestview area. She has a background in publications and sales. While she enjoys traveling and scuba diving, Perez states, “I love to help others, and this is a great chance to do that.” Business owners interested in interviewing with a community liaison should contact Scott Chase at 850-687-0825 or email Scott@NWFNaturally.com.
www.NWFNaturally.com
healthbriefs A Wise Man’s Gift
for Arthritis One-Size Sufferers Meditation Does Not Fit All F
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n intriguing study recently posted online by Explore: The Journal of Science and Healing, suggests that new meditators are most likely to stick with the practice and reap its healthful benefits if they select methods with which they are most comfortable, rather than those that are most popular. In one of the first studies to compare meditation techniques head-to-head, author Adam Burke, a professor of health education at San Francisco State University and the director of its Institute for Holistic Health Studies, taught 247 participants four popular methods—mantra, mindfulness, Zen and qigong visualization. He asked them to choose which they preferred to practice at home for six weeks before techniques were evaluated. The simpler methods, mantra and mindfulness, each were preferred by 31 percent of study participants. Zen and qigong were selected by about 22 percent and 15 percent, respectively. Burke says the results showed the value of providing people new to meditation simpler and more accessible methods, and also emphasized that no one technique is best for everyone. He hopes to see more comparative meditation studies, especially to determine if particular methods are better at addressing specific health issues such as addiction. “If that’s the case,” he advises, “healthcare professionals would be able to guide patients toward techniques that will be most effective for them. Additional studies are also needed to determine if there is a way to predict which method will be best suited for any particular individual.”
rankincense, an aromatic resin obtained from Boswellia trees native to Africa, is an age-old herbal remedy that may help alleviate the pain of arthritis, according to scientists at Cardiff University, in Wales. “The search for new ways of relieving the symptoms of inflammatory arthritis and osteoarthritis is a long and difficult one,” says Dr. Emma Blain, who led the research with coinvestigators Professor Vic Duance, from Cardiff University’s School of Biosciences, and Dr. Ahmed Ali, of the Compton Group. The team believes they have been able to demonstrate that treatment with an extract of Boswellia frereana—a rare frankincense species—inhibits the production of key inflammatory molecules and helps prevent the breakdown of cartilage tissue that causes the condition. The African Somali people have long used extracts of frankincense as a traditional remedy for arthritis. “Our research achieved the use of innovative chemical extraction techniques to determine the active ingredient in frankincense,” says Ali. “We will now be able to further characterize the chemical entity and compare its success against other anti-inflammatory drugs used for treating the condition.”
Giving Begets Happiness at Every Age
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o give is better than to receive,” is a maxim that appears to hold true even for the very young. A new study coauthored by three psychologists at Canada’s University of British Columbia observes that giving makes toddlers happier. The study, published in PLOS One, an online journal of the Public Library of Science, found that toddlers younger than 2 were happier when giving treats to others than when receiving them. They were also happier when they gave their own treats away, rather than an identical treat that didn’t belong to them.
natural awakenings
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healthbriefs globalbriefs News and resources to inspire concerned citizens to work together in building a healthier, stronger society that benefits all.
Smog Begone
Dramatic Decline in Los Angeles Air Pollution
Nutty Way to Help Preserve Cognition
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alnut consumption is associated with better memory scores and cognitive function, according to recent findings published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease. In the Prevención con Dieta Mediterrnáea study, funded by the Spanish Ministry of Health, results show that a Mediterranean diet, supplemented with olive oil or one ounce of mixed nuts, half of which are walnuts, is more beneficial than a low-fat diet when it comes to body weight, blood pressure, insulin resistance and systemic inflammation. The nutrient-dense walnuts provide antioxidants and alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), the plant-based omega-3 fatty acid. Both are key nutrients with anti-inflammatory properties that help protect brain cells from the oxidative damage associated with cognitive decline.
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Legendary late-night TV host Johnny Carson made the thick, automobile-generated smog that covered Los Angeles the butt of jokes for decades, but times have changed. In the past 50 years, California’s Los Angeles Basin has shown a 98 percent decrease in levels of some vehicle-related air pollutants even as area denizens now burn three times as much gasoline and diesel fuel. Between 2002 and 2010 alone, the concentration of volatile organic compounds (VOC) dropped by half, according to a new study led by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and published in the Journal of Geophysical Research-Atmospheres. “The reason is simple. Cars are getting cleaner,” says Carsten Warneke, a NOAA-funded scientist with the Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences, at the University of Colorado at Boulder. Primarily emitted from the vehicle tailpipes, VOCs are a key ingredient in formation of ground-level ozone, which at high levels can harm people’s lungs and damage crops and other plants. The magnitude of the drop in VOC levels was surprising, although it doesn’t mean that ozone levels have dropped as steeply, because the air chemistry is complex. Levels of ozone pollution in the basin are down, but don’t yet meet U.S. Environmental Protection Agency standards. Warneke expects the decrease in VOC emissions by cars to continue, given that engine efficiency continues to improve and older, higher polluting vehicles will be taken off the roads. Source: American Geophysical Union (Tinyurl.com/SmogBegone)
Coming Clean
Environmental Hall of Shame From shampoo, deodorant and toothpaste to laundry detergent and window cleaners, hundreds of chemicals of unknown origin and effect can be found everywhere in our daily lives. Some are regulated by government agencies, but many are not; some cleaning products, for example, are not even required to list their ingredients on labels. The research team at the nonprofit consumer watchdog Environmental Working Group has released a new Cleaners Hall of Shame database (Tinyurl.com/CleanerHallOfShame) that ranks more than 2,000 household cleaners by how hazardous their ingredients are and how much information is on their labels. Many products contain ingredients known to cause asthma or are contaminated with carcinogens. Even so-called “green” products aren’t necessarily any better. Many of them boast of ingredients made from plants, rather than petroleum, but there is little or no safety data for some plant-based ingredients. A truly green product poses few risks to health or the environment and transparently informs users of its content.
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ecotip Green Christmas Holiday Planet Savers
Here are some fresh ways to tweak family traditions for a greener holiday this and every year. Incorporate local, sustainable cuisine into the family feast. Ingredients for a traditional holiday dinner can travel up to 30,000 miles. Instead, show support for local community farmers and reduce food transportation miles by choosing a heritage turkey or meatless entrée. Stellar complements may include organic cranberry jelly, mulled apple cider or wine from an area farm, orchard or vineyard.
Bird Brains
When the Warm Get Going Global climate change is a real, measurable phenomenon, according to a new study, based on the National Audubon Society’s North American Christmas Bird Count. It found that avian species have taken decades to adjust their ranges northward in response to warming winters. Frank La Sorte, a researcher at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, in Ithaca, New York, and lead author of a study supported by the National Science Foundation, says in the Journal of Animal Ecology that because birds are highly mobile and migrate north and south with the changing seasons, they are better able to shift their ranges than less mobile, non-migrating species, such as amphibians. “It makes sense that species move slower than the rate at which climate is changing,” says La Sorte. “Many of them need to follow a prey base and a type of vegetation, or they need certain kinds of habitat that will create corridors for movement. Species are responding under their own time frame.” The challenge for humans is daunting. “We have to give species the opportunity to respond by providing corridors for movement and longterm maintenance of those corridors,” says La Sorte. “That requires cooperation across political boundaries.” Source: ABC News
Adopt or recycle the Christmas tree. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, as many as 33 million live-cut Christmas trees are purchased each year in North America, and most end up in landfills. Fortunately, Christmas tree adoption services like Central California’s Rent a Living Christmas Tree are popping up across the country, allowing them to go on living. The potted trees can be rented and delivered. If tree adoption services are not yet available locally, make sure to recycle a live holiday tree so it’s turned into landscape mulch for reuse as ground cover to hinder weeds and nourish plantings. Reduce energy costs through efficient cooking. Wait to fire up the oven until the heritage turkey or organic ham is ready to go in; preheating is unnecessary for these slow-roasting items. For baked goods, opt for glass or ceramic pans, which allow cooking time to remain the same while lowering the heat by about 25 degrees. Another energy-saving trick is to place stovetop cookware on the smallest burner possible; more heat will embrace the pan, while less is lost to the surrounding air. A six-inch pan on an eight-inch burner typically wastes more than 40 percent of the energy generated. Crockpots work well for serving other small family dinners during the busy holiday season or anytime; an entire meal requires about 17 cents worth of electricity. At cleanup time, load up the dishwasher fully. One load of dishes scrubbed in a dishwashing machine uses 37 percent less water than washing the same dishes by hand. Send plant-able holiday cards. According to CalRecycle, an estimated 2.6 billion holiday cards are sold each year in the United States, enough to fill a football field 10 stories high. This year, instead of the usual snail mail, send a bouquet of flowers for the price of a stamp. Recipients can plant a GreenFieldPaper.com grow-a-note holiday card in the ground and see wildflowers bloom. For plant-able holiday cards that can be personalized with a corporate logo, BotanicalPaperworks.com offers card sets and party favors.
natural awakenings
December 2012
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Community Spotlight
Stacey Vann Lives the Mahabhuta Vision by Jude Forsyth
Photos by Stephen Dunn Moody, Dunn Media
Gary Young and Stacey Vann
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ore than a year ago, Stacey Vann, awakened by a dream at 4 a.m., clearly knew what she would be doing the next year. “It was so clear to me how I was supposed unite all the yoga communities in the region. I visualized a neutral space to celebrate and heal with yoga, warm water and sun, great food and kids and so much more,” explains Vann. Then Vann wrote her vision into existence so she could inspire the regional yoga community to join her in her vision to “celebrate yoga, music, art and the environment; elevate consciousness, unify local communities, create abundance through mutual support, education and conscious consumerism, and inspire you to be great.” With that, the first annual Mahabhuta Yoga festival came into being, and Vann sprang into action to make her vision come true. AAAAs a yoga teacher at Abhaya Yoga Center, in Pensacola, Vann had a busy practice of her own, but persisted in making the festival a reality. “There was such a wonderful response as I reached out the yoga communities Kim Lee and Aaron Lind 14
Natural Awakenings of Northwest Florida
across the Gulf Coast,” says Vann. “Most things happened pretty easily, at the right time, wherever I was in the project.” The inaugural Mahabhuta Yoga Festival, co-sponsored by Natural Awakenings of NW Florida, was held from November 16 to 18, at the Sanders Beach-Corinne Jones Resource Center, in Pensacola. More than 20 regional and local yoga instructors and studio owners provided classes, music, healing arts, food, kid’s activities and an artisan village. Registration topped 400; in addition, more than 100 children enjoyed activities like yoga swings in the trees and marionettes. “We had people from across the Gulf Coast, including Texas. We had attendees from Oregon, Washington, Wisconsin, Illinois, even New York,” says Vann. “Whenever we would ask students to raise their hands if they were from our area, only about a third of the group did. The warm water and the many activities drew more people from much further than I thought.”
Water Studio Yoga Workshop
Vann chose the element of water for this first festival, because 2012 is the Chinese Year of the Water Dragon, and she wanted to honor the sacred waters of the Gulf of Mexico and bring healing to all the waters along the Emerald Coast. She says, “Waters carries energy, it is a conduit of awareness, and that is part of the resiliency of our area.” Participants honored the environmental and spiritual water theme by bringing their own bottles and filling them with free, alkalinized Kangen water. “We kept the water flowing for everyone without adding more plastic into our environment,” states Vann.
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Along with flowing water, Vann made sure the yoga movements flowed constantly throughout the three-day event. Participants had many choices of yoga levels, practices and instructors, in several choices of rooms, including the main studio that held art by the visionary artist Geoglyphiks, aka George Atherton, Sean Johnson and The Wild Lotus Band the creator of the festival poster. “His art brought its own energy and peacefulness in to the studio,” says Vann. Friday night provided the first insight for Vann. “I was so inspired by how the group created the medicine wheel Friday evening—we set the intention for the weekend, and then it came about as it was supposed to,” she says. One exciting surprise for Vann was the unexpected visit of D. Gary Young, founder and president of Young Living Essential Oils. “It was extraordinary that he changed his whole world to be here to share with our group,” explains Vann, also a Living Oils representative. Young co-taught sessions about essential oils, and attendees enjoyed a drop of lavender oil as they started their yoga classes. Perhaps the most challenging part of the long weekend for Vann was trying to keep herself well for the event. “I was sleeping two hours a night; I had great focus and energy,” she says. “I was so blessed to have dedicated crew and family members who kept me well fed, hydrated and supported throughout the event.” Food at the festival also followed a healthy theme. Many local groups offered gourmet vegetarian cuisine, including Cafe Organic (FWB), End of the Line, Beach Pops and Wild Roots (Pensacola), Raw and Juicy (Seaside) and Sweetwater Baking Company (Floyd). “If some of the attendees weren’t vegetarian before, they probably had their eyes open this weekend. The food was excellent,” says Vann. Saturday night offered an evening of music with the transcendental sounds of The Human Experience, Kaminanda & Govinda. “Yogis are pretty mellow anyway, but
it was perfect for the mood of the group,” says Vann. The festival may be over for this year, but its memory will live on when Vann donates a portion of the proceeds to the Mahabhuta Yoga Foundation to provide each participating studio with a scholarship fund for Gulf Coast residents or regional teachers to participate in yoga teacher trainings, workshops and continuing education. “If they grow, so will the festival grow—every year, more new students and instructors will enjoy Mahabhuta,” explains Vann. Plans for next year might not see many changes, because Vann feels the festival was close to flawless this time around. She added she might keep the after party onsite next year and add video streaming of the classes. A tired and satisfied Vann shares what was her most inspirational point of the festival, “There was a moment when I found myself just watching it all unfold, just like I saw it, just like I dreamed it; it was so true to my vision, and that gave me such a peaceful feeling.” To attend yoga sessions with Stacey Vann, visit AbhayaYoga Center.com To see pictures and read comments about the festival, visit Facebook.com/Mahabhuta. Pictures of the festival will be available on Mahabhutayogafestival.com soon.
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December 2012
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Practitioner Spotlight Dr. Bawa is Dedicated to Innovation
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r. Nitin Bawa, practicing in Santa Rosa Beach, Destin and now Panama City, provides general medical services with a special focus on hormones and supplements for anti-aging. Patients seeking his services have a wide variety to choose from, including medical weight-loss programs and aesthetic services, with the comfort of knowing that he also provides acute care. Bawa has a special interest in bio-identical hormones and supports the use of complementary and holistic medicine. He uses natural treatments whenever possible and attends numerous conferences, including those of the American Association of Anti-aging Medicine. Bawa states, “I believe in providing the highest quality of care in a caring, efficient setting while integrating natural, holistic and alternative medicine concepts that have scientific merit.”
The doctor believes in bringing innovative programs and state-of-theart equipment to his patients. He is one of the first in the area to start using genetic testing as a routine part of a complete physical. He uses saliva testing, rather than blood testing, to check hormone levels, and wants to help make bio-identical hormone replacement therapy available to everyone by keeping it cost-effective. Bawa’s interest in weight-loss treatments resulted in the development of diet plans to help people lose weight. “I utilize varied methods of weight loss while customizing treatments, based on each person’s biochemical and lifestyle information,” he says. He is one of the first to incorporate the Zerona weight-loss laser treatment in the community and introduce metabolic testing. He chooses from numerous options including medications such as phentermine and hormones such as HCG to help with imbalances. Lipotropic injections are also used. “Different methods can be used to boost growth hormone production, making it even easier to shed extra pounds,” explains the doctor.
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As a runner and swimmer, Bawa has an interest in sports medicine and nutrition for athletes. He administers tests to optimize performance for athletes and can advise on supplements for the improvement of athletic performance. Bawa matriculated from the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) Medical School in 2001. He did his residency in internal medicine at UIC and holds a master’s degree in health services management and finance from Loyola University, in Chicago. While completing a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Northwestern University, he did research on Alzheimer’s disease and co-authored a research paper published in the journal Experimental Neurology. He also did an externship at the Kennedy Space Center, and has participated in research with flight surgeons. He has also volunteered with the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent.
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healingways
Are Food Sensitivities Making Us Sick? by Nitin Bawa, M.D.
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his is the time of the year that we often overeat and feel bloated and miserable. However, many people feel bad after eating even small amounts of certain foods. Just like some people get a rash with certain skin care products, individuals can have an allergic reaction to something that is eaten. Because we cannot look inside our gut easily, it is very difficult to determine exactly what is going on and what the sensitive foods are. If we put something on our skin that does not agree with us we know it fairly soon, because we get a rash and can see the difference. The same kind of process occurs in the digestive tract. About three-fourths of all immune cells are found in the gut, where the body has to fight against bacteria and decide if certain foods are not good for us and should be eliminated rapidly in the form of diarrhea. These immune cells are helpful to most people because they help ward off the numerous bacteria that are in our intestine. However, for some people, they go haywire. Many people have food allergies and insensitivities that are never detected. When the immune cells in the
gut are irritated by some foods, they produce inflammatory cytokines that cause inflammation in the body and can contribute to pain. There is a unique test called the ALCAT that attempts to answer this question. This is a blood test where white cells from blood are grown in a tube and exposed to extracts from different foods. It is possible to look at the white cells under a microscope and see which foods cause the white cells to get irritated, or degranulated. The ALCAT test checks the cells against a few hundred foods, chemicals and preservatives and gives a report that describes for the client which foods may cause a mild, moderate or severe allergy reaction. The report also gives a recommended rotational diet that helps gradually rotate some of the sensitive foods into the body. Dr. Bawa practices in Santa Rosa Beach, Destin and Panama City. He contributes to local newspapers and his articles can be found on the Internet. For more information, call 850-424-7320 or visit DrBawa.com.
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natural awakenings
December 2012
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It’s All About We Conscious Evolution: Why We’re Better Together by Linda Sechrist
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fter decades of studying issues of environmental destruction, poverty and war, Malcolm Hollick, Ph.D., author of The Science of Oneness: A New Worldview for the Twenty-First Century, concluded in 2006 that a better future for humanity requires a more holistic worldview. It must be one that reflects the evidence of both new sciences and established spiritual traditions, all of which point to a deep unity, or Oneness, the grand reality underlying and often belying the superficial testimony of the senses. Hollick concluded, “We become open to the experience of this unity only when we recognize at the deepest intuitive level that we do not exist as separate selves.” The founder of the Findhorn College Foundation, in Scotland, recognized that while the old worldview has disintegrated, the concrete of a new one has not yet set. He also observed how the acceleration of scientific findings— advancing knowledge and understanding of the universe, as well as the meaning and purpose of life—would continue to influence the general worldview. Within a decade of the publication of his book, hard scientific evidence across many disciplines—particularly physics and biology—as well as pioneering ideas and anecdotal evidence presented by leading philosophers and
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authors, affirmed the existence of a reality in which everything is connected and linked in a coherent whole. Such thinking further revealed that evolution has equipped humans with genetic wiring for co-creation, cooperation and collaboration. Martin A. Nowak, a professor of biology and mathematics at Harvard University and co-author of Super Cooperators: Altruism, Evolution, and Why We Need Each Other to Succeed, explains that most great innovations of life have resulted not from competition, but cooperation, the real “master architect” of evolution. Nowak believes that figuring out how cooperation comes about and breaks down is the key to human survival as a species. Books such as The Bond: Connecting Through the Space Between Us, by Lynne McTaggart, a scientific researcher and award-winning journalist, and The Golden Motorcycle Gang: A Story of Transformation, co-authored by motivational speaker Jack Canfield, are helping individuals to see through the illusions of the old “survival of the fittest” and “I win, you lose” paradigms into one expressed in terms of connectedness and relationships. This new “Me-We” thinking and way of being has been spreading; it now informs everything from enlightened environ-
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mental stewardship to economics, as well as health and spiritual well-being.
How Community Works Canfield emphasizes the valuable lesson of collaboration and cooperation he learned while working for W. Clement Stone, a philanthropist and self-help author: When working together, focus on overlapping goals and interests, and not on differences. In Chicago, Illinois, where the Eat Fresh Eat Local movement sparks successful collaborations, the focus is on food, rather than issues of race, sex or economic disparity. There, hundreds of people are growing food together in communal spaces on city-owned land, privately owned empty lots and rooftops, as well as in school gardens, food forests and urban farm sites. “Self-reliant, community-operated urban farms and the food centers that retail the produce to residents in surrounding neighborhoods—some in the city’s most isolated and impoverished communities— are economic drivers that create jobs,” says Erika Allen, projects manager of Chicago’s Growing Power office. The daughter of national organization founder Will Allen notes that local workshops resemble a cross-section of the world. “Participants from different countries, cultures and economic levels come together for three meals a day, where we connect, share perspectives and learn from one another.” Another successful initiative, Building a Healthier Chicago (BHC), brings together the Chicago Department of Public Health, the Office of the Regional Health Administrator of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Chicago Medical Society and the Institute of Medicine of Chicago. The BHC agribusiness project develops and maintains a system of more accessible food supply, distribution and markets where people live, work, play, pray and learn. Neighbors in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, organized park cleanups with the long-range goal of replacing crime and litter with learning. Now, Riverside Park, once an area of urban blight, has both a college-level field research station and grade school outdoor classroom, offering innovative school, adult and community programs operated by the Urban Ecology Center (UEC). Programs serve 44 schools and have spawned two branches in Washington Park and Menomonee Valley to
“The transformation of our society, world and universe starts and ends with the transformation of ourselves… and in this way to co-create with others and Spirit a person, a community, a civilization, a planet and a cosmos that are whole and harmonious.” ~ Malcolm Hollick serve residents in those areas. The UEC’s latest project, in partnership with the Rotary Club of Milwaukee, the River Revitalization Foundation, Milwaukee County Parks, private businesses and local landowners, is an arboretum that will protect and restore 40 acres of land for native species and wildlife habitat along the Milwaukee River. “With the creation of the Milwaukee Rotary Centennial Arboretum, southeastern Wisconsin has a new, biologically diverse space for growing future environmental stewards,” says UEC Executive Director Ken Leinbach. He particularly likes creating spaces and resources that give people that wouldn’t normally connect a place to bump into one another.
Expanding Worldview College settings are similarly intended to encourage stimulating and expansive dialogue among diverse populations. At Mount Holyoke College, in South Hadley, Massachusetts, recent environmental study grads Dana Rubin and Hannah
Blackmer met Frances Moore Lappé when she visited to share the message of her book EcoMind: Changing the Way We Think, to Create the World We Want. As a result, the pair embraced the need to shift their view of the world away from looming negatives to focus on creating positive connections and meaningful relationships that recognize life’s interdependence and fuel constructive change. After more research, the duo built a simple website named ConvenientResilience.com and created a blog before commencing a coast-to-coast, 100-day, solutions-oriented journey last summer. They posted nearly 30 “webisodes” of heartfelt interactions with individuals and organizations with stories to tell, like the group at 2100 Lakeside Emergency Men’s Shelter, in Cleveland, Ohio, that is using small-scale, practical and cost-effective solutions to lessen their impact on the environment. “The personal stories we heard affirm what we learned from Frances—that it’s possible to locally solve global problems together,” advise the sojourners, who travel in a grease-powered car. “Learn to think beyond negative thought traps that engender fear,” advises Lappé. “Thinking, ‘There isn’t enough to go around, so I have to grab what I can now,’ for instance, focuses on separateness and lack, which is precisely what got us into the state we are in.”
Starting Within A big-picture, more-whole-systems perspective forms naturally when individuals come together to explore the power of building intentional coherence. The Art of Hosting (and convening conversations that matter), World Café, Vistar Method for Circles and OpenSpace collaborations leverage technology for the practice of
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mindfulness to foster deeper connections, authentic conversations and outsidethe-box ideas, all contributing to a more enlightened collective intelligence. One’s own new world perspective can even emerge as a result of a dark night of the soul, as Patricia Ariadne, Ph.D., author of Drinking the Dragon, has observed with clients that have undergone a personal metamorphosis as a result of the economic downturn. “Often, the entire process of transformation indicates a spiritual initiation—a renewal or rebirth—that acts as an induction into a level of expanded consciousness and new relationship with Spirit,” remarks Ariadne. “True spiritual progress inevitably leads to a desire to be of greater service to others, to go from ‘Me to We,’ which I believe is our mandate for the 21st century.” Living mindfully can literally change our brains, states Jon KabatZinn, Ph.D., in the introduction to A Mindful Nation, by Ohio Congressman Tim Ryan, which reports on the supporting science. “Mindfulness… can improve our capacity for perspective taking and decision making, and enhance our emotional intelligence and our ability to act with clarity and wisdom, alone and in concert with others.” Kabat-Zinn is the founding director of the Center for Mindfulness in Medicine, Health Care and Society, at the University of Massachusetts Medical School, in Worcester. “A peaceful revolution is being led by ordinary citizens across our nation,”
confirms Ryan. “At the core of it is mindfulness—finding ways to slow the mind, pay attention to the present moment and see how you are connected to others and can work in a spirit of cooperation to get things done.” The inner impulse to recognize the deeper unity of all life and sense the reality of Oneness is bubbling up within individuals, small groups and organizations, and finding expression in writings and teachings, according to Barbara Marx Hubbard, author of Birth 2012 and Beyond: Humanity’s Great Shift to the Age of Conscious Evolution. Individuals that feel compelled to join with others in expanding their consciousness to help foster systemic change and a culture of a higher order are invited to find a compatible group. Hubbard offers webcast training for Agents of Conscious Evolution (ACE), now 3,000 members strong; Craig Hamilton, founder of Integral Enlightenment, provides an online telecourse called Awakening to an Evolutionary Relationship to Life. “Evolutionaries sense that we are facing a critical moment in the unfolding of our human story and feel called to create pathways to a better future,” says Hamilton. He notes that the 35,000 participants in his most recent introduction to his webcast were interested in where they could find a supportive community of kindred spirits committed to living life on the same level. He states, “We instinctively know that we can accomplish more together.” A partnership with The Shift
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Network, which empowers a global movement of those intent on creating an evolutionary shift in consciousness, has enabled Hubbard, a featured sage in the documentary Awaken Soul to Soul, and her ACEs to launch a global initiative to mark the inauguration of a sustainable planetary civilization on December 22. Thousands of individuals are now working in collective hubs across the United States to prepare for the Planetary Birth Day celebration. An initial concern for many individuals seeking to experience Oneness is, “What happens to my identity?” Christopher M. Bache, Ph.D., professor emeritus in the department of philosophy and religious studies at Youngstown State University, in Ohio, reassures us that within the matrix of connectivity, individuality is not suffocated, but paradoxically liberated into deeper forms of self-expression. “While opening to the collective fields that surround us melts the boundaries of the private ego, bringing about the ‘death of self’ noted in spiritual literature, as the ego dies, a deeper form of individuality is born—not an isolated individuality, but one that thrives in subtle give-and-take,” explains the author of The Living Classroom: Teaching and Collective Consciousness. While the idea of a future in which American and other cultures reflect oneness can seem distant and idealistic, it is already present in South Africa’s Xhosa community in the form of Ubuntu, a worldview which means, “I am what I am because of who we all are.” According to South African Archbishop Desmond Tutu, recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize in 1984, Ubuntu iterates the essence of being human and speaks to the fact that it’s impossible to exist as human beings in isolation. We are people through other people. “We think of ourselves far too frequently as just individuals, separated from one another, whereas you are connected, and what you do affects the whole world,” he observes. “When you do well, it spreads out; it is for the whole of humanity.” Linda Sechrist is a senior staff writer for Natural Awakenings. For more information and in-depth interviews on It’s All About We, visit ItsAllAboutWe.com.
greenliving
temperature or place it in the freezer to use as a cooling or freezer pack. For aromatherapy, mix the rice with a couple of drops of lavender essential oil before filling. At room temperature, the scented version doubles as a soothing eye pillow.
Seeds to Throw and Grow
Homemade and Heartfelt Do-It-Yourself Stocking Stuffers by Meredith Montgomery
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ith the volume of household waste soaring 34 percent beyond normal levels in the weeks between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day it’s particularly important to remain ecoconscious during the holidays,” says Anna Getty, author of I’m Dreaming of a Green Christmas. “It’s easy to get so wrapped up in buying gifts and decorations that eco-friendliness goes out the window.” This year, consider giving the family’s stocking stuffers a sustainable makeover by gifting homemade items. Getty observes, “Useful, thoughtful homemade gifts can be really sweet… and green.”
A Jar for Everyone With a ribbon and label of instructions, inexpensive canning jars and glass containers filled with homemade goodies can become creative and practical gifts for everyone on the list. Sugar body scrubs offer a simple and affordable home spa experience. Combine two cups of sugar with one cup of oil (sweet almond, grapeseed or olive) and add 10 to 20 drops of essential oils to scent. Try a combination of rosemary and peppermint for an invigorating morning scrub or lavender and vanilla to unwind later. Fill jars with ingredients for some simmering home aromatherapy. Labels instruct recipients to boil the contents in a small saucepan of water, and then reduce heat to simmer, adding water as needed. Combine evergreen sprigs,
cinnamon sticks, cloves, dried apple peels and citrus rinds for a festive holiday scent. Lemon, rosemary and vanilla afford a refreshing alternative. For family grill masters, obtain bulk spices for barbecue rubs at a health food store. A basic recipe from DadCooksDinner.com combines four tablespoons paprika, four tablespoons brown sugar, two tablespoons chili powder, one tablespoon freshly ground black pepper, two teaspoons garlic powder, two teaspoons onion powder and one teaspoon dried thyme.
Upcycled and Sewn Experienced crafters can follow online guidelines to upcycle fabric scraps and unwanted clothing and linens. An old sweatshirt or sweater becomes an iPad case and colorful T-shirts morph into tote bags and scarves. Creating therapeutic hot/cold bags can be fairly simple, even without a sewing machine. Cut a 16-byeight-inch piece of flannel, cotton, fleece or terrycloth and fold it in half with the finished side inside, lining up the edges. Using sturdy thread, sew a quarter-inch seam along the open edges, leaving a half-inch opening. Carefully turn the fabric rightside-out through the opening and fill the bag three-quarters full with long grain white rice. Tuck in the opening’s unfinished edges and sew closed. To treat aches and pains, the giftee can microwave the bag for 30 seconds at a time until achieving the desired
Guerilla Gardening’s (GuerillaGardening.org) recipe for seed bombs makes fun gifts for gardeners and nature lovers. Choose flower and herb seeds that grow well in each recipient’s region. Combine five parts clay soil or potter’s powder (from art supply stores), one part compost and one part seeds, with water to bind. Form the mixture into balls approximately one inch in diameter and let dry for one to two days in an empty egg carton. Wrap seed bombs in recycled paper or cloth tied with a ribbon and instructions. Toss them in the yard or garden and watch them grow.
Creative and Kid-Friendly Enlist Santa’s elves to assemble a fort-building kit for children, inspired by Saltwater-Kids.com. Stock a pillowcase with two sheets, clothespins, plastic clamps, rope, suction cups and a flashlight. Tie up the pillowcase with rope and a cute label, and watch old linens come to life with a little imagination. Give broken and unwanted crayons a second life with fun-shaped recycled crayons. Fill greased muffin tins or cookie cutters on a foil-lined cookie sheet with broken crayon pieces (paper removed). Bake at 150 degrees for 15 to 20 minutes or until the crayons melt. Allow them to cool completely before removing from the molds. “I like to encourage families to focus on creating memories and rituals as a way to avoid excessive holiday consumption,” says Getty, who is renowned for her home-cooked gifts packaged in reusable tins with recycled bows. She notes, “These become a tradition that people know and love.” Such heartfelt gifts open the door to special moments and memories celebrating the true spirit of the season. Meredith Montgomery is the publisher of Natural Awakenings of Mobile/ Baldwin, AL. Connect at HealthyLivingHealthyPlanet.com. Holiday waste report source: epa.gov
natural awakenings
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consciouseating
HEALTHY HOLIDAY BAKING
A Cornucopia of Delicious Treats
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here’s nothing so comforting as the scent and taste of homebaked treats. To fill a home with cheer, try these delectably healthy recipes. Some are gluten- or dairy-free, others pack less butter and sweeteners (thus fewer calories) than their typical counterparts, and a few are vegan (containing no animal products, including honey). All are perfect for holiday celebrations, hostess gifts or exchanges.
Apple-Walnut Coffee Cake
Here’s a favorite yummy treat for festive brunches. Guests and family will never guess that this decadent indulgence contains much less butter and sugar than a typical coffee cake. Yields 16 servings (239 calories per serving) ¼ cup light brown sugar 2 tsp ground cinnamon 2¼ cups whole-wheat pastry flour (divided) ¼ cup (½ stick) cold unsalted butter ½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter at room temperature 1 cup maple sugar 2 eggs ¼ cup plus 1 Tbsp low-fat buttermilk (1 percent) 2 tsp vanilla extract 1 tsp baking soda ½ tsp salt 2 cups Granny Smith apples, peeled and diced ½ cup walnuts, chopped and toasted Preheat oven to 350° F. Line a 9-inch springform pan with parchment paper. Butter pan sides and top of parchment. 22
In a medium bowl, whisk together brown sugar, cinnamon and ¼ cup flour. Cut in ¼ cup cold butter until mixture becomes crumbly and resembles a streusel topping. Refrigerate until ready to use. In a large bowl, use a mixer to cream together ½ cup room-temperature butter and maple sugar until fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, mixing until fully incorporated. Beat in buttermilk and vanilla. Sift remaining 2 cups flour, baking soda and salt into egg-butter mixture. Mix until just combined. Fold in apples and walnuts. Pour batter into prepared pan and sprinkle with streusel topping. Bake for 50 to 55 minutes or until an inserted toothpick comes out clean. Cool before releasing from pan.
Vegan Trail-Mix Cookies
These crunchy-chewy cookies are perfect for snowshoe hikes or cross-country ski trips. Yields 36 servings (135 calories per serving)
photos by Stephen Blancett
baking powder and salt. In a separate bowl, mix together water, oil and vanilla. Add wet mixture to dry. Mix to combine. Fold in chocolate chips, pecans and cherries. Scoop batter by 2 tablespoons each onto a baking sheet, pushing in any stray pieces. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes or until lightly golden. Cool for 2 minutes and then remove to a rack to cool completely.
Vegan Pumpkin Spice Muffins
These lightly sweetened, butter-free muffins evoke the scents and tastes of the holidays. With fewer carbs and calories than regular sugar, the concentrated fruit-juice reduction also adds moistness; look for all-natural options, such as Wax Orchards’ Fruit Sweet. Yields 16 servings (145 calories per serving)
¾ cup all-purpose flour ¾ cup whole-wheat pastry flour 1 cup carrot, shredded 1½ cups unsweetened coconut, shredded 1½ cups natural cane sugar 1½ cups rolled oats 1 tsp baking powder ½ tsp salt ½ cup water ½ cup canola oil 1 Tbsp vanilla extract 1 cup grain-sweetened chocolate chips 1 cup chopped pecans, lightly toasted 1 cup cherries, dried
1 cup all-purpose flour 1 cup whole-wheat pastry flour 1 tsp baking soda ½ tsp salt ½ tsp ground nutmeg 1 tsp ground cinnamon ½ tsp ground ginger ½ tsp ground allspice 1 cup pumpkin purée 2 /3 cup fruit-juice reduction (or light agave nectar) ½ cup canola oil ¼ cup coconut milk ½ cup unsweetened coconut, shredded 1 cup walnuts, chopped and toasted ¾ cup dried cranberries
Preheat oven to 350° F. Mix together flours, carrot, coconut, sugar, oats,
Preheat oven to 350° F. Line a 12cup muffin tin with baking cups.
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Sift together flours, baking soda, salt, nutmeg, cinnamon, ginger and allspice in a bowl. In a separate bowl, mix together pumpkin purée, fruit-juice reduction or agave, oil and coconut milk. Stir wet mixture into dry until just incorporated (do not overmix). Fold in coconut, walnuts and dried cranberries. Divide batter evenly among muffin tins. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until an inserted toothpick comes out clean.
Healthy Red Velvet Cupcakes
These moist cupcakes use spelt flour for a lighter texture, more protein and fewer calories than wheat flour. Avoid artificial colors by using vegetable-based food coloring, or make your own. Yields 8 to 10 servings (352 calories per serving) Cupcakes 1½ cups white spelt flour 1 tsp baking powder ¼ tsp salt 1 Tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder (not Dutch-processed) ½ cup natural cane sugar ½ cup melted coconut oil (or safflower oil) 2 eggs at room temperature ¾ cup buttermilk at room temperature 2 tsp vanilla extract 2 tsp lemon juice 3 tsp natural red food coloring Agave Cream-Cheese Frosting 8 oz Neufchâtel (reduced-fat) cream cheese at room temperature 3 Tbsp plus 1 tsp agave nectar 1 tsp vanilla extract 2 tsp cornstarch Preheat oven to 350° F. Line a muffin tin with 8 to 10 cupcake liners or coat with cooking spray. Place flour, baking powder and salt in a medium bowl. Sift cocoa powder into the bowl. Whisk until well blended. Place sugar, oil and eggs in a separate large bowl. Whisk until smooth. Add buttermilk, vanilla, lemon juice and food coloring. Whisk lightly until combined. Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients and stir just until mixture comes together. Do not overmix. Gently spoon batter into muffin cups. Bake 10 minutes and test with a toothpick. If it doesn’t come out clean, turn pans and bake another 3 to 5 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool on rack for 2 minutes. Remove from pan and cool completely before frosting. (Or store in an airtight container until ready to frost. Do not refrigerate, which dries them out.) Beat cream cheese, agave and vanilla together. Sift cornstarch over mixture and blend until smooth. Frost cupcakes just before serving.
Healthy-er Sugar Cookies Yields 24 cookies Ingredients: 1½ cups white, whole wheat or spelt flour ½ tsp baking soda ½ tsp baking powder ¼ tsp salt ½ cup evaporated cane juice or cane sugar 1 tsp pure vanilla extract 3 Tbsp almond or skim milk ¼ cup unsalted sweet cream butter 1 cup fat-free plain Greek yogurt or unsweetened applesauce Instructions: Combine wet ingredients. Cream/blend in sugar. Add in dry ingredients. Do not over-stir. Form into balls and smush onto cookie sheet (do not grease). Bake at 350 F for 7 to10 minutes (7 is chewy, 10 is crispy). Note: Wheat flour cookies tend to have a grainier texture. If batter is too dry, add more milk a splash at a time. For an added twist, add in 1 Tbsp of honey or cinnamon! Batter makes about 24 rounded teaspoonful cookies. Happy Holidays! Contributed by Emily Schultz, community liaison for Natural Awakenings of Northwest Florida.
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inspiration
Making the Next Leap in Consciousness by Darby Neptune
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pocalyptic predictions have been around for centuries, and this year’s Mayan calendar “end of the world� scenario is no different. And yet, a new era is coming that could be as dramatic as the shift from the Dark Ages to the Renaissance. There have been many transitions that mark our progress as humans, including from tribal to agrarian, industrial, technological and information eras. The current good news is the awakening of humanity to the next level of consciousness. In Spiral Dynamics, by Don Beck and Christopher Cowan, the next two levels of consciousness are expected to unfold very rapidly. These are the first two levels that
move us from survival mode to a more spiritual being state. Awakened humans with this consciousness are now able to understand, appreciate and communicate with anyone still functioning at the prior levels. They also experience the world as an interconnected whole. Whether in medicine or family therapy, an issue is viewed as connected to and impacted by multiple factors. Thus, the solutions will be multi-pronged and more effective. For decades, futurist Barbara Marx Hubbard has predicted a new Universal Human and a new consciousness that focuses on issues in new and creative ways. She notes that we are the generation that is finally aware of our conscious evolution, and therefore capable of cocreating our next stage of transformation. In the Birth 2012 movement, Hubbard encourages people to participate in innovative solutions in one of the 12 sectors of her Wheel of Co-Creation. This sort of thinking permeates many seemingly divergent fields. The Center for Mind/Body Medicine, founded by Dr. James Gordon, uses natural remedies, food as medicine, stress management and guided imagery to restore health.
For more information about advertising and how you can participate, call 850-279-4102 24
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Victim-offender reconciliation rehabilitates criminals, rather than punishing them. For example, The Restorative Justice Institute brings together victims and offenders of a crime for dialogue and reconciliation, greatly reducing the number of repeat offenses. Renewable power sources such as solar, wind and thermal energy promise unlimited energy to meet growing needs. For example, Oyster wave power technology from Aquamarine Power, harnesses the oceans tides for electrical energy off the northern coast of Scotland. One New York Times bestseller, Abundance: The Future is Better than You Think, by Peter H. Diamandis and Steven Kotler, gives concrete examples of ways that humanity is being uplifted and how the seemingly insurmountable gap between the haves and have-nots is closing and quickly. If we believe that a new consciousness is being born and can change our world positively, our holiday to-do list should involve to include: explore the new possibilities; stay optimistic in
the face of present challenges; do our own spiritual development work; ask constructive questions, such as, “What would I like to see?” and take some time apart from the hectic pace of the season to listen to our inner guidance and be aware of answers coming from other sources. We are on the cusp of a new, exciting era. It is a time when we recognize our interconnectedness and interdependence. We are finally able to see the complex answers to difficult issues. It is a time when those solutions are coming forth at a rapid speed. It is
time to give birth to this new awakened human and beautiful world. There is a new way of thinking, believing and becoming already in motion. It is time for individuals to join with evolutionary thinkers such as Michael Beckwith, Corrinne McLaughlin, Deepak Chopra and Don Miguel Ruiz in creating a new human era. Rev. Darby Neptune is the senior minister at Unity of Panama City, located at 1764 Lisenby Ave., Panama City, For more information, call 850-769-7481 or visit UnityOfPanamaCity.org
Center for Lifelong Learning
Integrative Medicine Class Integrative medicine is where East meets West and the best of both medical traditions are available to address life’s challenges and improve overall health. Facilitator Daralyn Chase is the publisher of Natural Awakenings Magazine for Northwest Florida. In alignment with Natural Awakenings' mission our local experts will provide insights, information and simple traditions that support a healthier more balanced lifestyle. More information is available at NWFNaturally.com.
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lose faith in humanity. Humanity is an ocean; if a few drops of the ocean are dirty, the ocean does not become dirty. ~ Mahatma Gandhi
Class begins January 18th 9am-10am 8 Class/Course on Fridays UWF Auditorium 1170 MLK Blvd, FWB
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wisewords
How Unconditional Love Harmonizes Our World Marci Shimoff Explores its Transformative Power by Judith Fertig
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selfdescribed “seeker from the get-go,” Marci Shimoff, is an expert at helping others effect greater personal fulfillment and professional success. The noted transformational leader, speaker and author has written two bestselling books on happiness and unconditional love—Happy for No Reason: 7 Steps to Being Happy from the Inside Out and Love for No Reason: 7 Steps for Creating a Life of Unconditional Love, and coauthored six bestselling titles in the Chicken Soup for the Woman’s Soul series.
What is the old way of looking at love, versus the new paradigm shift you propose? We’ve been trained to think of love solely as energy between two people, usually experienced as conditional love—we feel love if the other person agrees with us, treats us a particular way or loves us back. 26
But love is actually the essence of who we are, and when we live in a state of unconditional love, what I call “love for no reason,” we experience our essence that is love, which doesn’t depend on another person, situation or romantic partner. It is the core of every spiritual tradition.
Why do our ways of loving often seem inadequate? We each have a “love set-point,” the upper limit of our ability to give and receive love. We can’t feel more love by trying to change the outside—by relying on others to fill us up—because it will never work in the long run. We need to raise our love set-point higher; then we experience everything more through the eyes of love.
Do challenging economic times help us grow spiritually? We can use any life challenges to
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help us grow and find fresh avenues of lasting fulfillment. Success and money don’t guarantee happiness, and I know that from my own wakeup call. In 1998, I had three of my Chicken Soup for the Soul books on The New York Times bestseller list at the same time. One day, I spoke to 8,000 people and autographed 5,432 books and felt like an author rock star. Yet when I returned to my hotel room that night, I burst into tears. All of the success was great, but it still hadn’t made me happy. That’s when I began my intensive study of happiness and love.
Does science support our capacity to daily experience and deepen a love for all things? Science is finding that there is a neurophysiology of love. Studies by researchers in major institutions worldwide show that we can do simple things like breathe more deeply, walk barefoot on earth, listen to uplifting music or practice meditation that will support us in experiencing more unconditional love. These activities create greater heart rhythm coherence and new neural pathways in the brain.
How does having a heart that’s open to unconditional love benefit us?
The Institute of HeartMath has discovered that the magnetic field generated by the heart—what’s measured on a magnetometer—is 5,000 times stronger than that of the brain. HeartMath research has also demonstrated that when we’re in a positive emotional state, our hearts beat in a coherent rhythm that causes all the other systems in the body—including the brain, immune system and hormones—to work more efficiently and harmoniously. Their research shows that experiencing this regularly leads
to better health, slows the aging process and brings us greater creativity, resilience and happiness.
What are the seven doorways to practicing unconditional love revealed by your own research? I’ve interviewed hundreds of people that are living examples of unconditional love. I’ve found seven access points to experiencing more love: safety, being grounded and present; vitality, energy and well-being; unconditional self-love, feeling empowered; openness, being comfortable giving and receiving love; communication, listening and speaking with love; vision, seeing through the eyes of love; and oneness, feeling connected with the greater wholeness of life.
How does one person’s loving larger bless our families, communities and world? The more we experience love, the more we spread love to others. Our feelings are contagious. This idea is beautifully expressed in an ancient Chinese proverb: “When there is light in the soul, there will be beauty in the person. When there is beauty in the person, there will be harmony in the house. When there is harmony in the house, there will be order in the nation. When there is order in the nation, there will be peace in the world.”
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Judith Fertig, of Overland Park, KS, is a regular contributor to Natural Awakenings.
Connect with Marci Shimoff at HappyForNoReason.com.
Seniors Benefit from Community Connection by Brooke Hicks
Blake residents prepare for wreath making class at Oriole Beach Elementary.
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arci Shimoff’s reflection on unconditional love provides seven access points to experiencing more love. The last one is, “Oneness, feeling connected with the greater wholeness of life.” This connection is very important for elders that live in senior and assisted living communities. Beyond the connection felt with inclusion in family life and socializing with
friends, research shows that seniors that feel a sense of purpose and learn new things are healthier, both physically and mentally. Glenn Barclay, owner and CEO of The Blake at Gulf Breeze, a retirement, assisted living and memory care community, has an understanding of what can make a difference for the seniors. Barclay has been involved with elder care for many years and feels that the primary factor for an enjoyable retirement is older adults’ health and wellness. Barclay believes older adults must be part of a community, and that means giving back. “One of the best programs we have is our service that bring together our residents with the many groups that need volunteers. Older adults have so much to contribute and their services are so appreciated. I think making a difference for others is what
makes a difference in how connected they feel,” says Barclay. The Oriole Beach Elementary School program is an example of a Blake volunteer group. The Blake residents volunteer once a month at the school. “The children at the school and our residents love it when we come to visit and do crafts, read stories or play games,” says Stacey Secord, recreation therapist at The Bake. It can be a challenge to help seniors stay connected in the community once they make the transition to a senior or assisted living facility. This is best accomplished by a combination of a variety of successful outbound programs and the commitment of both staff and family members. Brooke Hicks is a director at The Blake. For more information, visit BlakeLiving.co. Contact Brooke Hicks at 850-934-4306 or visit BlakeLiving.com.
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December 2012
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Healthy, Local, Fresh, Seasonal, Glutenfree, Vegetarian, Raw & Farm-to-table Dining Options Our Hawaiian Fusion grill serves fresh Hawaiian classics and unique creations such as the Mahi Taco, and saute salad. All dishes and sauces are hand crafted with only fresh ingredients. PANAMA CITY BEACH David’s New Orleans Style Sno-Balls E Back Beach Rd 850-236-1998 Lotus Cafe 707 R. Jackson Blvd 850-234-1651 ZenGardenMarket.com/Lotus.html PENSACOLA FORT WALTON BEACH CafE Organic 113 Truxton Avenue 850-585-3645 CafeOrganicFWB.com 8 a.m.-2:30 p.m., Mon-Fri. Café Organic Focuses on real food that is organic, fresh, and 100% made from scratch; includes full juice and smoothie bar, vegan and gluten free, organic meats and dairy. Classes and personal consultation on healthy cooking and lifestyle are available. Golden Almond Health Food Store 339 Racetrack Rd NW # 3 (850) 863-5811; GoldenAlmond.com Mon-Fri, 9 a.m.-6 p.m.; 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sat. We have natural and organic foods and the largest selection of herbs and supplements in the area. Enjoy our new fresh juice bar (Mon-Fri, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.) while shopping for your health needs with the help of our knowledgeable and personable staff.
East Hill Market 1216 N. 9th Ave 850-469-1432 9 a.m.-7 p.m., Mon-Sat. End of the Line Cafe 610 E. Wright St 850-429-0336; EOTLCafe.com A unique little place in the Old East Hill area for 10 years, we prepare healthy, creative foods daily and our own vegan cheese. Enjoy our Sunday brunch, Thursday dinner, RSVP for our monthly raw foods dinner, beer and wine, and free WiFi. PENSACOLA BEACH BeachPops 5 Via Deluna Dr 888-935-8827; BeachPops.com 10 a.m.-10 p.m., Mon-Sun. Wild Roots 5 Via Deluna Dr 888-935-8827 10 a.m.-10 p.m., Mon-Sun. 850-267-0558 SANTA ROSA BEACH
GULF BREEZE Papa Nalu Aloha Grill 3499 Gulf Breeze Pkwy 850-932-4837 Find Us on Facebook 28
FOR THE HEALTH OF IT 2217 W. County Hwy 30A 850-267-0558 ShopForTheHealthOfIt.com
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Cafe Organic is as Good as its Name by Jude Forsyth
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afe Organic, in Fort Walton Beach, boasts several reasons for visiting. It may be to enjoy a healthy and delicious meal or to drink an organic juice, smoothie or coffee. Maybe it’s because the cafe offers gluten-free selections, or provides grass-fed beef or cheese homedelivered. Pop in for a ginger and wheatgrass shot after collecting a box of fresh vegetable and fruits at the Emerald Coast Organic Food Coop next door. Because they now offer organic produce and pantry items for sale, there are organic quinoa, beans, rice, tofu, tempeh, coconut water or milk, vegetable stocks, seaweeds and many other items for purchase. Because co-owner Amy Likins is a holistic nutritional consultant with a master’s degree in holistic nutrition, she is not only dedicated to superb food at the café, but also to the education of her guests. Likins leads seminars on raw foods, organic whole food preparation and cleansing and detoxifying our bodies with fresh juices, as well as giving personal consultations for nutrition and wellness. She keeps a fresh, organic pantry that will delight anyone seeking good-tasting, healthy food and drink choices. Drop by to enjoy the Cafe’s daily special, like chicken or tofu with roasted sweet potato, kale, rice noodles, fresh herbs, garlic and ginger, all wrapped in rice paper and served with a sweet chili and ginger dipping sauce. Location: 113 Truxton Ave., FWB. For more information, call 850585-3645 or visit CafeOrganic FWB.com.
healthykids
Mindful Holiday Traditions Simple Ways to Add Meaning and Family-Centered Fun by Barbara Amrhein
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oo many winter holidays whiz by in a blur of presents, parties and rich foods, muting the season’s true messages of love, hope and peace. By slowing down and refocusing on what makes this time of year so special, we can help our children—and ourselves—create fresh, meaningful traditions and experience genuine joy. “If the spirit of the season at your home is more ‘Gimme, take me, buy me,’ instead of ‘Deck the halls,’ don’t despair,” advises internationally renowned educator and child expert Michele Borba, Ph.D., author of The Big Book of Parenting Solutions:101 Answers to Your Everyday Challenges and Wildest Worries. “There are more subtle ways to encourage your kids to appreciate the greatest gifts of the holiday season. The simplest way is to focus on gifts of the heart and letting your kids be participants, not just recipients.” Try these tips for helping youngsters co-create traditions that celebrate family, friends, sharing with others and the holidays’ festive delights. Emphasize experiences, not things. Presents can never take the place of presence. Years from now, children will rarely recall what they unwrapped, but will remember special times spent together as a family. Take a nature walk to collect pinecones and other seasonal items for holiday décor. Designate a Family Night and let the kids choose the activity, like seeing a movie or a holiday performance such as The Nutcracker, playing a favorite board game or building a gingerbread house. At dinner, ask youngsters to relate their favorite holiday memories, and then build upon their responses to plan this year’s celebrations. Treat cards as treasured gifts. Gather the family ‘round when opening cards from others, catching up on their news and recalling funny or enjoyable shared moments. Skype calls and videos offer pleasurable immediacy while mailed cards become an appreciated, permanent memento.
Encourage children to create handmade or personalized cards for grandparents and other relatives, enclosing photos or drawings and a short note describing the reasons that person means so much to them. Hand deliver other cards to neighbors, accompanied by a plate of homemade, healthy treats. Children can also send cards to military personnel overseas via a Red Cross program at Tinyurl.com/HolidayHeroMail. Practice creative giving. Adopt a less fortunate family or child for the holidays (local churches or social service agencies can provide information) and ask youngsters to be “Santa’s little helpers” by picking out and thoughtfully wrapping books, toys and other gifts. Help children research good causes and earmark a small amount of money for them to gift to the cause of their choice, such as an animal shelter or other local nonprofit. Honor the gift of time, as well: Youngsters that spend a few hours helping out at a food pantry, caroling at a nursing home or wrapping gifts for Toys for Tots will experience and remember the true joy of giving. Nurture a sense of the spiritual. Worship services aren’t the only venue for sharing family values and beliefs with children. On the night of the Winter Solstice, December 21—the shortest day and longest night of the year—enjoy dinner by candlelight. Afterwards, stargaze in the backyard and make some holiday wishes. On another evening, turn off all the lights except the Christmas tree, menorah or other special candles and talk quietly about your blessings. Listening to a CD of carols from around the world reinforces a spirit of unity and invites lively discussions about how other cultures observe their holidays. Celebrate the season’s sights, sounds and fun. Ask children to help choose a tree and make or buy an ornament with special meaning for them. Then join in an informal decorating party with holiday tunes (kids get to choose some favorites), cocoa and cookies. Set aside an evening to walk or drive around
the neighborhood to admire holiday lights and displays. Those in northern climes can build a family snowman, forge a “snow angel” chain in the yard or go sledding at an area park. As a fun twist on traditional caroling, grab some kazoos and go humming with the kids and their friends. To capture these great holiday moments, ask each child to take turns as the official family photographer. Borba believes these types of shared experiences help children understand the true meaning of the season and bring back the heartfelt joy it represents. “In the end,” she advises, “remember that the holidays are really meant to be about love, togetherness and wonderful memories.” Barbara Amrhein is a freelance writer and editor for Natural Awakenings.
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fitbody
BREATHE EASIER Try These Tips for Better Workouts
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t’s easy to take breathing for granted. But tune in to your breath— when, say, halfway through a sun salutation or headed for a finish line—and you’ll find that it not only feeds muscles fresh oxygen, but also indicates whether it’s time to increase the intensity of the activity. To get the most out of every breath, follow these exercise tips from acknowledged experts.
Running With closed lips, breathe in sharply and deeply through the nose. Then purse the lips as if trying to blow out a candle and exhale through the mouth.
While running, breathe in for one step and out for two. “The rapid inhale and slower exhale in this technique fills lungs from the bottom,” explains Danny Dreyer, author of ChiRunning: A Revolutionary Approach to Effortless, Injury-Free Running. “Breathing exercises help take in more air when inhaling and empty lungs completely when exhaling. Muscles receive more glycogen, which lowers the chances of their cramping up.”
fully expanded. First, inhale once with the mouth open, and then exhale the same way, making a “Ha,” sound. Then close your mouth and continue making the same sound while inhaling and exhaling through the nose (it will resemble the rushing sound that Darth Vader makes in Star Wars movies). “Your breathing is the barometer of all your poses,” says Elena Brower, founder and co-owner of Virayoga, in New York City. If you’re gasping for air, back out of the pose. “Always give preference to deeper breathing over deeper postures,” advises Brower. This controlled breathing technique is largely responsible for the yoga buzz that helps keep students coming back for more.
Strength Training
Yoga
Exhale through the mouth when lifting weights and inhale through the nose when lowering them. As a rule of thumb, take two seconds to raise weights and three to four seconds to lower them. “Focusing on your breath keeps your brain in the game, so you’re more likely to pay attention to overall form,” says Tom Holland, an exercise physiologist, personal trainer and fitness consultant in Darien, Connecticut.
Use the Hindu breathing method called ujjayi, in which the lungs are
Cycling “The key to breathing on a bike is to go in through the nose and out through the mouth, and to be as relaxed as possible,” Holland counsels. As intensity increases on climbs or long rides, breathe more forcefully— deeper, quicker inhalations through the nose and rapid exhalations through the mouth. “The more relaxed your breathing is, the more relaxed your entire body will be,” says Holland. “Relaxed breathing conserves energy, prevents fatigue and improves endurance.” Using forceful breaths when you’re tired also sends more energizing oxygen to muscles to help counter fatigue.
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Source: Women’s Health online © 2012 Rodale Inc. All rights reserved; used with permission.
Running Away With It Join the FWB Run/Walk Community
Get acquainted with the local running community and meet some cool, positive people at Run With It every Tuesday at 6 p.m. All ages and abilities are welcome; water at the turn around and refreshments at the end. RunWithItFL.com _____________
Helping Ourselves Helping Others
Your resource for local run/walk events FOR INFO ON THESE RACES SEE EVENTS AT RUNWITHIT.COM December 01 - Jingle Bell Run For Arthritis, 5K/10K, Fort Walton Landing
December 08 - Luminaria Run for Shelter House 5K/9K, Baytowne Sandestin
December 01 - Navarre Chamber Foundation 5K, Navarre
December 11 - Saucony Night at Run With It
December 01 - Crestview Family Reindeer Run, 5K/10K
December 22 - Egg Nog Jog 5K, FWB
December 08 - 7th Special Forces Jingle Bell Jog 5K/10K, FWB
December 29 - Round the Bay Relay Race, Fudpuckers Okaloosa Island
Run With it carries a full line of Technical Running Shoes, Apparel and Accessories from Asics, Brooks, Mizuno, Pearl Izumi, New Balance, Nike, Merrell, Innov8, Saucony and Vibram 5 Fingers. LOCALLY OWNED AND OPERATED
• Free Gait Analysis • Individualized Shoe Fitting
M-F 11:00 - 6:30pm • Sat 10:00 - 6:00pm
Our mission is to promote a healthy lifestyle in our community through running and walking while providing social interaction in a casual and enjoyable atmosphere.
142 Miracle Strip Pkwy • Fort Walton Beach
(850) 243-1007
natural awakenings
December 2012
31
naturalpet
Critter Companions Alternative Adoptions Fit for Families by Sandra Murphy
W
hile dogs, cats, fish and birds populate most pet homes, other animals can be just as much fun to own.
Rabbits
“Rabbits are social and love routine. Be late with dinner and a bunny will show displeasure by stomping its feet,” says Pamela Hood, founder of Sweet Binks Rabbit Rescue, a statelicensed shelter in Foster, Rhode Island. Her four rules for happy, active bunnies are: Find a veterinarian that knows rabbits, adopt rather than buy, get a bonded pair and spay/neuter them.
Since 2000, Sweet Binks has rescued more than 1,700 rabbits as recaptured strays or from shelters meant for dogs and cats. Bunnies can live more than 14 years. “Rabbits eat more than just carrots. Pellets should be timothy hay-based, not alfalfa, for adult rabbits,” explains Hood. “But limit the amount. Hay should be 85 to 90 percent of their diet, because the side-to-side chewing of hay keeps teeth worn down to a livable length and ensures proper digestion.” Rabbits can be litter boxtrained and run free if the home is pet-proofed. For example, keep electrical cords out of reach or covered with plastic tubing. A lonely, bored bunny can be destructive, so provide wooden and chemical-free wicker toys for chewing. Play with them daily, although most shy away from cuddling. Bonded pairs need to be in sight of one another.
Miniature Horses
Miniature horses are not to be confused with Shetland ponies. Minis are fully grown horses, bred for pulling carts, not riding. They require the 32
Natural Awakenings of Northwest Florida
www.NWFNaturally.com
same care as a larger horse and make good therapy animals. An adult mini is about the same size as a standardsized horse’s newborn foal—about 34 to 38 inches tall at the withers (between the shoulder blades), although some are smaller. “Trained minis are good, gentle interpreters of emotion,” says Veronique Matthews, founder of Hearts & Hooves, a nonprofit equine therapy organization in Austin, Texas. “We visit abused or autistic kindergartenage children with a ratio of one child, one horse, one handler.” Walking on a handheld leash, a mini can help a child to cope with fear and anxiety.
Alpaca
A few years ago, alpacas were regarded as the next moneymakers when breeding and sales brought high prices for fleece, along with their waste, sold as soil-enriching manure. After the trend peaked, many herds were sold, often to ill-suited owners, and some needed rescuing. Michelle Zumwalt, a job consultant for people with disabilities in Spanish Lake, Missouri, has hosted rescued alpacas for eight years; the number fluctuates, based on new arrivals and adoptions. “There are enough of them to help supply local organic farms with fertilizer,” says Zumwalt. “These gentle creatures feel safest in numbers; when in danger, they will kick or spit.”
Hermit Crabs
Hermit crabs are likeable for their social, nonaggressive character, ease in handling and low maintenance. All crabs are born in the ocean, although some species leave the water as adults. Pet crabs in the United States are either Caribbean land crabs or the faster and more agile Ecuadorian crabs, which require access to both salt and fresh water. A 10-gallon fish tank with sand of a consistency suitable for castle building that’s three or four times deeper than the height of the largest crab works well. Crabs can grow to six inches in length
and live 10 years or more, although they don’t reproduce in captivity. As colony animals, they’re much happier in a group. Hermit crabs periodically need to replace the shell they carry on their back. Provide a shell that is 10 to 15 percent larger and watch as the crab tries it on for size. When crabs molt their underside ectoskeleton, they burrow beneath the sand for four to eight weeks; place these crabs in a separate tank. “Because crabs are scavengers, we feed them chicken, turkey, seaweed, scrambled eggs and fish. They love carrots, bell peppers, kiwi and coconut,” says Christine Richards, a maintenance management analyst and hermit crab caregiver in Montgomery Village, Maryland. “Crabs are nocturnal, so use a small flashlight to watch their antics,” she adds. “They love to climb.”
Chinchillas
Chinchillas, another night creature, can live up to 20 years. A round body, tiny hands and large ears make them easy to love, remarks Christina Pierce, a federal examiner of financial institutions in Little Rock, Arkansas. “My chin, Gizmo, wants to be where the commotion is and likes to travel,” she laughs. A specialty vet is required for chinchillas, with attention given to their teeth, which grow throughout their life. Give them things to chew on and fresh hay to help file down teeth. Gizmo’s favorite chews are willow twigs, peanuts in the shell, alfalfa sticks and lava blocks. “A twice-daily dust bath keeps his fur clean,” notes Pierce, “plus, it’s fun to watch.” It seems that everyone can find a pet that’s perfect for them. It’s just a matter of thinking outside the litter box.
WUWF is an important source of local news and information about our community—past and present. From Rick Harper’s reports on our regional economy, to the light Jocelyn Evans frequently sheds on local and national politics, or Enid Sisskin’s Eco Minute, UWF experts are helping to keep our community informed on 88.1 FM—and don’t forget Unearthing Florida! Educating our community is one important reason why I pledge my support.
WUWF 88.1 is My Public Radio and I Make it Possible.
Dr. Judy Bense
Listener, Member and Contributor
An individual has not
started living until he can rise above the narrow confines of his individualistic concerns to the broader concerns of all humanity. ~ Martin Luther King Jr.
Sandra Murphy is a regular contributor to Natural Awakenings. natural awakenings
December 2012
33
Local Produce & Farm Resources CSAS & FOOD CO-OPS EVER’MAN NATURAL FOODS CO-OP 315 West Garden Street, Pensacola 850-438-0402 Everman.org
We offer a large variety of natural and certified organic products, vitamin supplements, natural groceries, local and organic produce and environmentally friendly products for the community. Mon-Sat. 7am-9pm, Sun 10am-7pm.
FLORIDA FRESH MEAT COMPANY
850-374-2181 OffTheVine.org We produce USDA inspected, hormone & antibiotic free, gourmet 100% grass fed Angus beef, grass fed lamb and natural pastured pork & pastured chicken. This beef is a product of the Angus cattle ranches located in North Central Florida. These exceptional animals feast on a salad bar of pesticide-free “gourmet” forage including clover, wheat, oat & rye grass, millet and more.
SUPERGANIC FARMS BUYING CLUB
West Pensacola Superganicfarms.com Certified Superganics. Join this Buying Club for $10 and have access to a variety of fresh harvest and superganically grown produce. Every Saturday between 7am-11am beginning May 19, 2012. No pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, chemical fertilizers, or genetically modified organism(GMO). Seasonal produce prices available online.
All natural beef and hogs, free roaming grain and grass fed. Meet the farmer, know exactly what you getting and choose your dinner. Taking orders now.
Bartlett Meadows Cut Flower Farm
Farm Fresh Flowers in Pace, FL 850-390-5361 Gmb3450@aol.com BartlettMeadowsFarms.com Pick up fresh cut flowers form out farm or other locations in Pensacola. Flowers are perfect for all occasions including weddings, birthdays, anniversaries and events. Wholesale accounts offered. Call for availability.
CAMBRIDGE FARMS
3200 Deloach Ln, Milton, FL 850-855-6420 Cambfarm@gmail.com CambridgeFarms.web.com As a certified grower for the State of Florida, we grow and sell pesticide free, safe to eat right off the bush or vine, all natural fruits and produce. Farmer Market Program with ongoing classes and education. Visit our website to learn about the Food Safety Act that will impact the way food is grown.
TWIN OAKS FARMS
3207 creek road Bonifay, FL 32425 850-547-5636 Cell: 305-282-5999 renee@twinoaksfarm.net TwinOaksFarm.net We raise chickens and ducks for eggs and meat. They roam freely on pasture, grass, bugs and sunshine is part of the diet. They are fed certified organic real grain without soy. We are USDA certified organic and 100% soy free farm.
OFF THE VINE ORGANIC PRODUCE
HASTING’S FARM
FARMS and FARm Tours
Local farm raising certified organic 100% grass fed cattle and lamb. Raising all natural Rotakwa Red Devon cross cattle with no hormones or antibotics. You will find the meat from the Red Devon cattle to be very tender and lots of taste. Individual cuts, quarter, half or whole. Call for availability.
850-374-2181 OffTheVine.org We are the original Organic Box Program. All organic - all the time! 100% Guaranteed. Celebrating 10 years of bringing the farmers market to you. Simply check our weekly list every Friday and place your produce order over the weekend. Pick up locations available across the Gulf Coast or for delivery. Like us on Facebook and read our OTV Blog.
ANITA & MARK’S HAPPY BOVINE & SWINE FARM 8770 Redfish Point Rd., Lillian, AL 36549 251-942-2126
40701 Pine Grove Rd, Bay Minette, AL 36507 251-937-8728 Rhastings4@Yahoo.com
MOONLIGHT MICRO FARM
6618 Beach Dr., Panama City Beach, FL 850-624-7075 Chandra@MoonlightMicroFarm.com
Moonlight Micro Farm is dedicated to community building, environmental stewardship and the cultivation of real food. We offer open pollinated and organic gardening seeds, sprouting seeds, gardening accessories & gifts, and garden design. Visit us at Seaside Farmers Market. We ship!
ROAMIN’ ROAN ACRES
Milton, FL 850-621-2296 RoaminRoanAcres.web.com Raw goat milk and products from healthy, Nubian dairy goats. Licensed in Florida for milk sales; not for human consumption per Florida law. We also offer soaps, lotions, and locally made bath & body products.
FARMERS’ MARKETS CRAZY FARMER HYDROPONIC GARDENING & FARMER MARKET
1308 W. Government St. Pensacola, FL (G st & Govn.) 850-438-8739 crazyfarmerspensacola@yahoo.com As your local farmers market, we grow organically and hydroponically in a sustainable and responsible method. Available currently: Tomatoes, Swiss chard, basil, mint, bok choy, cabbage, mustards, collards, honey, eggs & homemade bread. Open daily 8am-5pm. Mon,Wed, Fri. 8am1pm. Tues & Thurs.
SEASIDE FARMER’S MARKET Every Sat. Morning Year Round jlkuntz@mac.com or facebook us
The Seaside Farmers Market is comprised of local growers and crafts people who offer locally grown produce and farm products that are healthy and environmentally conscious. We are located in downtown Seaside behind “Raw & Juicy” at the amphitheater. Please come and support your local community. Saturdays 9am-1pm.
MEET UP gROUPS REALFOOD, PANAMA CITY Meets Every 3rd Saturday, 850-532-4633 Unity, 1764 Lisenby Ave, Panama City Meetup.com/RealFood-GroupPanama-City
Offers what your body needs: organics, non-GMO/industrialized, lowprocessed, high nutrient, local & whole foods. Committed to the local food community, environment, and sustainable quality foods.
turn your passion into a business Own a Natural Awakenings Magazine! • • • • •
As a Natural Awakenings publisher, you can enjoy learning about healthy and joyous living while working from your home and earn a good income doing something you love! Your magazine will help thousands of readers to make positive changes in their lives, while promoting local practitioners and providers of natural, Earth-friendly lifestyles. You will be creating a healthier community while building your own financial security. No publishing experience is necessary. You’ll work for yourself but not by yourself. We offer a complete training and support system that allows you to successfully publish your own magazine. Be part of a dynamic franchised publishing network that is helping to transform the way we live and care for ourselves. Now available in Spanish as well. To determine if owning a Natural Awakenings is right for you and your target community, call us for a free consultation at:
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Low Investment Work from Home Great Support Team Marketing Tools Meaningful New Career
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Birmingham, AL Huntsville, AL Mobile/Baldwin, AL* Little Rock/ Hot Springs, AR Phoenix, AZ Tucson, AZ East Bay Area, CA Los Angeles, CA San Diego, CA* Denver/Boulder, CO Hartford, CT Fairfield County, CT* New Haven/ Middlesex, CT Washington, DC Daytona/Volusia/ Flagler, FL NW FL Emerald Coast Ft. Lauderdale, FL Jacksonville/ St. Augustine, FL Melbourne/Vero, FL Miami & Florida Keys Naples/Ft. Myers, FL North Central FL* Orlando, FL Palm Beach, FL Peace River, FL Sarasota, FL Tallahassee, FL* Tampa/St. Pete., FL FL’s Treasure Coast
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Atlanta, GA Western NC/No., GA Chicago No. Shore, IL Indianapolis, IN* Louisville-Metro, KY Lafayette, LA New Orleans, LA Boston, MA Western, MA Ann Arbor, MI Grand Rapids, MI East Michigan Lansing, MI* Wayne County, MI Minneapolis, MN Asheville, NC* Charlotte, NC Raleigh/Durham/ Chapel Hill, NC Mercer County, NJ Monmouth/Ocean, NJ North NJ North Central NJ Somerset/Middlesex Counties, NJ South NJ Santa Fe/ Albuquerque, NM Las Vegas, NV* Long Island, NY Manhattan, NY Rockland/ Orange Counties, NY
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calendarofevents
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 23
All Calendar events must be received by the 15th of the month prior to publication. Limited to approximately 50 words. See exact character count on website. Submit from our website at NWFNaturally.com. $10 per regular listing. $50 Save the Date ad.
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 1
Reiki I & II Class – Dec 1-2. Ft Walton/Destin Area,. CE’s for LMT & RN available. Learn what Reiki is & how to use it for self healing & others; for pets, plants, everyday living. Learn 3 symbols to enhance your Reiki. $350. Register at 850-217-5419. Navarre 5K Jingle Bell Run – 8am.This family friendly, non-timed 5K fun run/walk is great for kids and adults. Participating child runners may take a shortcut to grandma’s house for refreshments.$20. Fire Station, 8618 Esplanade St, Navarre.
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 2
Learn to Meditate – 3-5pm. On 3 Sundays: Dec 2, 9,16. Learn a powerful method to quiet your mind & turn inward to your own blissful essence.This course will make meditation easy & accessible even for brand new meditators. $65. Blossom Yoga, 315 A Racetrack Road, NE, FWB. 850-420-6046.
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 7
Stress Buster – 6-8:30pm. Feel great again with yoga, breath,relaxation & simple organic beauty treatments with healthy ingredients in your kitchen. Pure therapeutic grade essential oils, fresh prepared organic juice elixirs, and light organic raw food snacks. Cafe Organic, 119 Truxton Ave, FWB. 850-585-3645. AllOneYogaFWB.com.
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 8
LED Light Therapy – 10am-noon. Presentation/20 min complimentary LED session. LED is a state-of-the-art, non-invasive advancement in increasing circulation, controlling pain, reducing stress & increasing overall wellness by using light & sound therapy. Avalon Light Keepers, LLC. The Golden Almond, 339 Racetrack Rd. NW, FWB. 850-424-8261. AvalonLightkeepers.com.
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 9
Healthy Holidays Workshop – 2-5pm. Cooking class & healthy holiday recipes. Build strategies
Drop in.
R est o ra t i v e Yo g a w i t h F el i cia M cQ uaid – 10am-12pm. $25 adv. The poses of restorative yoga are soothing, relaxing and wellsupported. Take the opportunity to soak in the experience and enjoy the simplicity of it. Dragonfly Yoga. 850-244-1084. FeliciaMcquaid.net.
WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 12
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 30
Meet the Artist Night – 6:30-8:00pm. Local Artists will be at the gallery to help you find a unique gift for a special someone. Special discounts, great food and drinks at this special place. Fiddly Bits & Tea Art Gallery-Cafe, 222 Miracle Strip Pkwy, FWB. 850-226-7375. FiddlyBitsAndTea.com
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 13
Metaphysical Café – Noon. Join us as we muse on the metaphysics of life. Free, Unity of Panama City, 1764 Lisenby Ave. 769-7481. Introduction to Tai Chi – 6-7:15pm. New beginners’ class offers gentle moving meditation with gentle instruction only for beginners. 7-8:30pm. All other levels of students welcome. Eastern Traditions, Heritage Village, across from VinnieRs, Navarre. 850-226-9355. BlueWillowWellness.com.
Sunday Service – 11am. Concert at 1pm. Be prepared for an extraordinary spiritual message with music. Featuring Armand & Angelina. Love offering. Unity of Panama City, 1764 Lisenby. 769-7481.
MONDAY, DECEMBER 31 Yoga Begin or Renew – 9-11am.You can always choose to approach the world as a beginner.This 2 hr immersion covers building a yoga practice at home or in the studio.$25.Yoga Elements, 108 Carillon Market Str, Panama City Bch, 415-596-2832. Hello@YogaElements108.com.
UPCOMING TUESDAY, JANUARY 1
It’s All About You Day Spa – 9am.Visit us for our two day open house for complimentary services & refreshments.We will have special offers, inc.$50 Gift Certificates for $35 and 20% off retail items. 850-314-6642.
A New Year’s Yoga Cleanse Class & Vision Board Workshop – 11am Yoga, 1:30pm Workshop. Life changing tools used to release the unwanted & manifest the future you envision. Laura Tyree & Ed Daily will teach, inspire & support transformation. $20 adv/$25 day of. Dragonfly Yoga, 184 Brooks St. FWB. 850-244-0184. DragonflyYoga.com.
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 15
FRIDAY, JANUARY 4
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 14
Introduction to Tai Chi – 9-10:15am. New beginners’ class offers gentle moving meditation with gentle instruction only for beginners. 10am-Intermediates; 11:15am-senior level. St Simon’s parish hall, 28 Miracle Strip Pkwy, FWB. 850-226-9355. BlueWillowWellness.com.
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 16
Eckankar Worship Service:Maintaining Harmony and Balance in Our Lives – 11am. Every 3rd Sunday. All are welcome. Presented by local members of ECKANKAR. Free.Hampton Inn, 7710 Navarre Pkwy, Navarre.850-862-0446.
850 244 0184
downtown brooks st
ft. walton beach
dragonflyyoga.com
Natural Awakenings of Northwest Florida
the
Save Date
Unity Birth 2012 Celebration – 11am-3pm. Help us celebrate the birth of a new consciousness. Love offering, Unity of Panama City, 1764 Lisenby Ave. 769-7481.
36
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 29
to stay healthy & fit during this Holiday season. Enjoy a full dinner sit down meal with nutritionist Amy Likens & Chef Christian Echele. Cafe Organic, 119 Truxton Ave, FWB. 850-585-3645. AllOneYogaFWB.com.
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 22
Dragonfly Yoga
Christmas Service – 11am. Christmas music and message. Love offering. Unity of Panama City 1764 Lisenby Ave. 769-7481.
Advanced Studies Program -
Foundations of Svaroopa® Yoga – 1/4 -1/8. Leslie Johnson & Elizabeth McKenty, leading teachers & trainers for Master Yoga Foundation present a 5-day yoga immersion offering a profound experience to deepen your yoga practice as well as prepare you to share it with others. $695. Blossom Yoga, 315 Racetrack Rd, NE, FWB. 850-420-6046. BlossomYogaFL.com.
savethedate SATURDAY, JANUARY 12
New Year, New You Workshop – 1-4pm. Join Tammy Binkley & Amy Likins for an inspiring workshop & yoga practice; set & attain your 2013 health goals with diet, yoga & meditation. With over 25+ yrs combined exp. you’ll get the tools to make your new year the best ever! $45. Balance Health Studio, 3547 E. County Hwy 30A, Seagrove. 850-231-9288. Balance30a.com.
Dragonfly Yoga 2012
Dragonfly Yoga offers extensive, comprehensive, and enriching yoga workshops tailored to both teachers and serious students of all levels
classes :: workshops :: trainings The Four Diaphragms of the Body - DEC 1 8–1pm Thai Yoga Bodywork and Traditional Yoga: Opposites Attract - DEC 8 www.DragonFlyYoga.com ::: 850-244-0184 Located Downtown Ft Walton Beach, Florida :: 184 Brooks St SE
www.NWFNaturally.com
ongoingevents
sunday
All Calendar events must be received by the 15th of the month prior to publication. Limited to approximately 25 words. See exact character count on website. Submit from our website only at NWFNaturally.com. $10 per entry.
monday
Suncoast
Healthcare
wednesday
Professionals
Yoga Fundamentals Yoga Basics – 9-10:30am. $15, Yoga Elements, 108 Carillon Market St, Panama City Bch. YogaElements108.com.
New QiGong Healing Movement Body Classes – 8am. Gentle way to facilitate healing in the body. Open to all levels. $10. 119 Truxton, FWB. AllOneYogaFWB.com.
Yoga for Beginners – 10am. Here’s a class at the right pace for those just starting to enjoy yoga. Simple and fun. DragonflyYoga.com.
Gentle Flow Yoga with Felicia McQuaid – 9am. Start the weekend off right, beginner friendly. Dragonfly Yoga. 850-217-2771. FeliciaMcquaid.net. Beginner’s Yoga with Felicia McQuaid –10am. Foundational postures, breath awareness, meditation. Dragonfly Yoga. 850-217-2771. FeliciaMcquaid.net.
Pilates Mat Class – 11am. Bring a mat, lose some fat. $10. Eastern Traditions, 7552 Navarre Pkwy, St 6, (across from VinnieR), Navarre. 850-217-6341. Kids Martial Arts Combat Class – 4:45pm (ages 4-8); 5:45 & 6:45pm (ages 9-13). Mon/Wed/Fri. Friendly family oriented with small classes, all levels. Great for fitness, confidence, & camaraderie. Free introductory class. No contracts. Martial Arts Combat Academy, 1605 N. Partin, Niceville. 850-797-9430. Reiki Share – 6:30-8:30pm. 3rd Mon. A time to experience Reiki energy in a group setting with other Reiki practitioners. All Reiki students welcome. Love offering. Mana Lomi Reiki and Massage, FWB. 850-217-5419. A Course in Miracles – 7-8pm. Unity in FWB, 1797 Hurlburt Rd. FWB. 850-864-1232.
Svaroopa® Yoga – 4:30pm. A relaxing and therapeutic style of yoga. $12. Blossom Yoga, 315 Racetrack Rd, NE, FWB. BlossomYogaFL.com. 850-420-6046. Community Acupuncture Clinic – 5-7pm. $20. Great way to sleep better, quit smoking, & de-stress. Eastern Traditions, 7552 Navarre Pkwy, Ste 6, Navarre. 850-554-3464. PTSD Acupuncture Clinic – 5-7pm. Improves sleep & emotions for military and other victims of trauma. Eastern Traditions, 7552 Navarre Pkwy suite 6, Navarre. 850-554-3464. Meditation Class – 7pm. Free. All One Yoga, 119 Truxton Ave Bld 2, FWB. Sonny, 850-314-0321.
thursday
tuesday Personal Nutritional Consultation – 1st & 3rd Tues. monthly. Dr. Kenawy, Ph.D. provides in-depth nutritional evaluations and consultations. $50. 634 W. 23rd St, Panama City. Call for an appt. 850-763-8871. OliveLeavesPC.com. Green Awareness Taskforce – 8:15am. 1st Tues. Monthly meetings. Open to the public. FWB Chamber. 850-5860501. GoGreenOkaloosa.com. Svaroopa® Yoga – 10am. A relaxing and therapeutic style of yoga. $12. Blossom Yoga, 315 Racetrack Road, NE, FWB. 850-420-6046. BlossomYogaFL.com. Pilates Mat Class – 6pm. Bring a mat, lose some fat. $10. Eastern Traditions, 7552 Navarre Pkwy, St 6, (across from VinnieR), Navarre. 850-217-6341. Women’s Depression Group – 5pm. Stepping Stones Professional Counseling, Mary Esther. SteppingStonesCounseling.org. Weekly Walk/Run – 5:30 or 6pm. Choose the time best for you & meet at Landing Park, behind Run With It store. All ages and abilities are welcome at a very relaxed & noncompetitive get together. Free. 142 Miracle Strip Pkwy SE, FWB. 850 243-1007. RunWithIt.com. Open Mike at Crestview Library – 6-8pm. 2nd Tues. Poets and musicians are invited to a free, open-mike poetry reading and music improvisation. Crestview Library, 445 Commerce Dr., 850-682-4432 or visit the library’s Facebook page. Personal and Planetary Peace – 7pm. Meditation, stress release, energy work, Reiki sharing and certification, networking, healthy food support. Free. Crystal Cottage, 7338 Hwy. 2301, Panama City. Darce Blakely, Reiki Master. 850-763-4504. Zumba Class – 5:30pm. Tues,Thur. Ditch the workout, join the party. Gloria Overfield combines Latin & International music with a fun & effective workout system. Free Introductory Class. No Contracts. Martial Arts Combat Academy, 1605 N. Partin, Niceville. 850-865-0438. Teen and Adult Martial Arts Combat Class – 7pm. Tues,Thur. Ages 15 and up. Friendly family oriented with small classes, all levels. Defense techniques, fitness, confidence, and camaraderie. Free Introductory Class. No Contracts. Martial Arts Combat Academy, 1605 N. Partin, Niceville. 850-797-9430.
PTSD Acupuncture Clinic – 5-7pm. Improves sleep & emotions for military and other victims of trauma. Eastern Traditions, 7552 Navarre Pkwy suite 6, Navarre. 850-554-3464. Yoga for Beginners – 5:30pm. Here’s a class at the right pace for those just starting to enjoy yoga. Simple and fun. Dragonfly Yoga, 184 Brooks St. FWB. DragonflyYoga.com. Mood Management with Essential Oils – 6-7pm. 2nd Thurs monthly. dōTERRA’s, Amy Gouker, presents the Mood Matrix. Free. The REACH Institute, 870 Mack Bayou Road, Suite D, SRB. RSVP. Ann Rector, 850-622-227. Svaroopa® Yoga – 6:30pm. A relaxing and therapeutic style of yoga. $12. Blossom Yoga, 315 Racetrack Road, NE, FWB. 850-420-6046. BlossomYogaFL.com. .
saturday Aerial Yoga – 9am. Experience Yoga off the ground. 90 min. $25.Yoga Elements, 108 Carillon Market St, Panama City Bch. YogaElements108.com. Calm Water Tai Chi Class – 9am. Designed for selfdefense, realize the health benefits, stress reduction and strength improvement with gentle movement. New class. All ages & levels. Free introductory class. No contracts. Martial Arts Combat Academy, 1605 N. Partin, Niceville. 850-797-9430. Teen and Adult Martial Arts Combat Class – 10:30am12pm. Ages 15 and up. Friendly family oriented with small classes, all levels. Defense techniques, fitness, confidence, and camaraderie. Free introductory class. No contracts. Martial Arts Combat Academy, 1605 N. Partin, Niceville. 850-797-9430. 12 Dimensions of Wellness –1:45-3:00pm. Third Sat. monthly. Take inventory of where you are in each dimension and build a wellness plan to overcome resistance to change. $45 for assessment. FWB. Jude 850-226-9355. BlueWillowWellness.com. Gentle Flow Yoga – 9am. Gentle movement, restorative poses, breathe work, and meditation for balance & health. Dragonfly Yoga, 184 Brooks St SE, FWB. 850-244-0184. .
Free Yoga Event – 4:30pm. $5 donation to Paws. Dragonfly Yoga, 184 Brooks St. FWB. DragonflYoga. com. 850-244-0184. DragonflyYoga.com. Metamorphosis Book Club – 4:30pm. First Sunday monthly. Free. Dragonfly Yoga, 184 Brooks St, Se, FWB. 850-244-0184. DragonflyYoga.com.
classifieds BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY HIGHLY MOTIVATED, SELF RELIANT, TEAM PLAYER for publicly traded $3B Green Energy Company. Apply at EnergyBusinessConsultant.com. Go-getter? Call Debby McKinney 850-598-0200.
EDUCATION THE MONTESSORI SCHOOL FOR THE ARTS – Niceville. Teaching peace & the love of learning. Limited openings for preschoolers; private or small group tutoring for older children. Elena Roser 850-6787011. MontessoriArts@aol.com.
FOR SALE CALLING ALL RE-PURPOSERS – FWB Flea Market has 14,000 square feet of inventory with tons of items for your projects, all at affordable prices. Call 850-301-3729. HUGE JEWELRY SALE – 15-40 percent off. Best prices in the area for lightly worn gold & silver jewelry. Every piece is 100 percent guaranteed in writing. Call 850-301-3729. VINTAGE GUITARS –FWB Flea Market has over 50 vintage guitars by all makers. Prices range from $50-$1200. We also repair damaged guitars. Call 850-301-3729.
products LOCAL HONEY AVAILABLE – FWB Flea Market’s bees produced 245 pounds of Wildflower honey this year. Harvested 12 August...it will not last long. Call 850- 301-3729. SCIATICA? BACK PAIN? POOR POSTURE? – If you suffer with any of these symptoms the Sacro Wedgy® could be a simple solution to a not so simple problem. Relax 20 minutes daily and let gravity do the work of relaxing tight muscles to help correct a problem rather than treat the symptom. Spend $29.95 once to use for years of prevention. This has helped when all else failed. For info: 800-737-9295 or SacroWedgy.com.
SERVICES BE MORE COMFORTABLE IN YOUR BODY! – Find relief from injuries, pain, movement restrictions and postural/structural imbalances with ROLFING. Sharalee Hoelscher, Certified Rolfer™, RCST®, (Lic. #MA34039). 850-450-8508. HealingWithBodywork.com.
WANTED SCRAP GOLD & SILVER – FWB Flea Market pays top dollar for your scrap. Honest buyer; metals will be tested & weighed in your presence. The entire process will be explained to you. Call 850-301-3729.
natural awakenings
December 2012
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naturaldirectory
CHIROPRACTIC BEAUTY
ACUPUNCTURE BLUEWATER CHIROPRACTIC WELLNESS CENTER April Lee, DC 4400 Hwy 20 E, Niceville 850-897-1177 • BluewaterChiropractic.com Natural and holistic health care. Offering chiropractic care, acupuncture, lumbar decompression, physical therapies, nutritional education and supplementation. Allow the body to heal the way it was designed.
DR. SHERYL ROE
SALON VEDAT 114-B Benning Dr, Destin 850-837-2690; cell: 813-841-4890 SalonVedat@gmail.com SalonVedat.com Organic Salon Systems has started a revolution of healthier, cleaner, natural, organic, and better performing professional salon products. Beauty without sacrificing health. Coloring and smoothing treatments for silky, healthy hair. No SLS, ammonia, parabens or plastics. See ad page 15.
Acupuncture Physician 850-225-3460 • DrSRoe.com Acupuncture Works! Learn how it can work for you at either office (Mary Esther Blvd. or Navarre Healing Center in Harvest Village). Treating all types of pain, addiction, sleep disorders, stress, fibromyalgia, PTSD. Feel better soon. See ad page 27.
BODYWORKERS INTEGRATIVE CARE Downtown Fort Walton Beach Felicia McQuiad (MA61060) 850-217-2771 EvolveYoga-Reiki.com Professional, compassionate, experienced care for your body, mind and spirit; specializing in Massage/Reiki Integrative Sessions. Ninety minutes to perfect balance, peace and health. See ad page 6.
EASTERN TRADITIONS Katherine Semmes, Acupuncture Physician 7552 Navarre Parkway, Ste 6. Navarre 850-554-3464 Restore your family’s health using simple techniques to stimulate the body’s own healing capacity; safe and effective for common childhood and parenthood complaints. Acupressure, reflexology, organic herbs also utilized. See ad page 4.
NANETTE SAVAGE CERTIFIED ADVANCE ROLFER 850- 621-6101 MA-0028169
Let me help you achieve greater balance and mobility by creating a more lifted and symmetrical alignment. Appointments made for 75-minute session. See ad page 6.
THE TORTOISE CLINIC Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine Waterside Business Center Santa Rosa Beach 850-267-5611 • TheTortoiseClinic.com Serving the Emerald Coast for over 20 years. Currently offering multiple styles of acupuncture, bodywork, hypnotherapy, diet counseling, and the area’s largest raw herb pharmacy. See ad page 16.
THE REACH INSTITUTE Ann M. Rector, LMT, MMP, BA 850-622-CARE (2273) TheReachInstitute.com NW Florida’s solution for Medical Massage Therapy and Kinesiology. Dedicated to providing quality care to clients to resolve specific conditions and improving quality of life.
AIR CONDITIONING PEADEN HEATING AND AIR CONDITIONING Panama City - 850-872-1004 Ft Walton Beach - 850-362-6646 Gulf Breeze - 850-396-6126 Peaden.com Licensed, insured residential and commercial air conditioning, heating, plumbing, and electrical contractor. NATE-certified, Comfort Institute Certified, and NADCA technicians, consultants, and customer service professionals with a primary focus to provide quality service and installation combined with the best products in the industry.
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BLUEWATER CHIROPRACTIC WELLNESS CENTER April Lee, DC 4400 Hwy 20 E, Niceville 850-897-1177 • BluewaterChiropractic.com Natural and holistic health care. Offering chiropractic care, acupuncture, lumbar decompression, physical therapies, nutritional education and supplementation. Allow the body to heal the way it was designed.
HENARD FAMILY CHIROPRACTIC Dr. Karen Henard, DC 4566 Hwy 20 E, Ste 205, Niceville 850-897-1105 • HenardChiro.com
As a second generation chiropractor, D r. H e n a r d i s c o m m i t t e d to lifetime chiropractic wellness c a r e f o r t h e e n t i r e f a m i l y, improving their health naturally. Over 16 years’ experience in pediatrics, sports and automobile injuries. Most insurance accepted and affordable cash plans.
colonic therapy SKINDEEP CLINIC WELLNESS CENTRE Cindy Butler, Owner/Therapist 4012 Commons Dr W, Ste 120, Destin 850-269-1414 • SkinDeepDestin.com Colonics, ionic footbaths, infrared saunas. Organic non-surgical facelift, weight loss (lose 20 lbs in 40 days), body wraps, massage, teeth whitening, airbrush tan, makeovers.
DENTISTRY DR. DAYTON HART, DMD IAOMT Protocol 225 W Laurel Ave, Foley, AL 36535 251-943-2471 • DrDaytonHart.com
Free book for new patients: Mercury Free Dentistry. Ozone, Laser No-Suture Gum Surgery, Test for compatible materials, cavity-causing bacteria. Examine for gum disease bacteria Laser Cavity Diagnoses, Saliva, pH Check, Oral Galvanic Screening, no fluoride.
energy CONSERVATION URBAN OASIS Laura Tyree, LMT (MA68035) Downtown Ft Walton Beach 850-244-0184 or 850-642-1015 UrbanOasisHealth.com
Natural Awakenings of Northwest Florida
A unique environment for relaxation and healing of body, self, and soul. Revel in relaxation and enjoyment. Find the relief and good health you have always wanted.
www.NWFNaturally.com
DEBBY MCKINNY Energy Gone Greener Marketing Representative 850-598-0200 • Energygonegreener.info
Guaranteed savings on electricity for residential/commercial applications without reducing electrical consumption. Advanced technology backed by largest green energy provider in the world; one of 2012 Forbes Magazine’s best business ideas. Save energy while
ensuring a safer environment in your home or business by reducing harmful Electromagnetic Fields (EMF). Qualifies for green certification for home or business. See ad page 8.
energy HEALING BACK TO BASIC WELLNESS Susan Giangiulio MEd, CECP, CLP 850-240-2279 • Back-To-Basic-Wellness.com Certified Lifeline Technique™ and an Emotion Code Practitioner applying kinesiology, known as muscle testing, to communicate with the subconscious. One or more sessions release trapped emotions, helping to eliminate personal obstacles and limiting behaviors.
Essential Oils LAURIE AZZARELLA, LMT, CRR Young Living Educator, Sponsor #327923 850-380-4943 • LaurieAzzarella@gmail.com WellnessPurposeAbundance.com/YL/123 Experience the healing, uplifting and detoxifying benefits of therapeutic-grade essential oils and supplements. Contact us for personal consultations, in-home classes, household products, health supplements, diffusers, group presentations and business training.
family counseling STEPPING STONES PROFESSIONAL COUNSELING, iNC. REGINA BRIGHT, MS, LMHC 850-226-6430 • Counselingyou@aol.com SteppingStonesCounseling.org Stepping Stones Professional Counseling provides individual, group, couples and family therapy for both children and adults experiencing a wide variety of developmental and emotional problems.
FITNESS & TRAINING MARTIAL ARTS COMBAT ACADEMY 1605 N. Partin Dr, Niceville 850-797-9430 MartialArtsCombatAcademy.com
Adult and teen modern day self-defense. Kid’s classes tournament base with an emphasis on “Stranger Danger” and “Bully Defense”. Tai chi classes. Free introductory week and no contracts
FOODS & SUPPLIMENTS BODY-B-HEALTHY 2227 Ferdon Blvd, Crestview 850-682-8893 Find Us on Facebook Knowledgeable staff and cutting edge digital health assessments. Dairy free and gluten free food items, supplements, homeopathic solutions and anti-aging products, plus delicious nutritional smoothies. See ad page 17.
GOLDEN ALMOND HEALTH FOOD STORE
Garry Hendricks, ND Golden Almond 850-736-5700 HendrxNutrition@yahoo.com Helping you with all your health care needs. Seeing clients and offering complimentary heath lectures at Golden Almond Health Food Store, FWB. Call for appointment.
NITIN BAWA, MD DrBawa.com Destin 850-424-7320 Panama City 850-534-4170 Santa Rosa Beach 850-534-4170 General medicine with a holistic wellness approach and specialized services in Bio-Identical Hormone Therapy, weight loss, food allergies, nutritional analysis and antiaging procedures. Most Insurance Accepted. See ad page 19.
339 Racetrack Rd NW # 3 (850) 863-5811 GoldenAlmond.com Hours: Mon-Fri 9-6, Sat. 10-4, closed Sun. We offer natural and organic foods and the largest selection of herbs and supplements in the area. Enjoy our new fresh juice bar (Mon-Fri 10am-4pm) while shopping for your health needs with the help of our knowledgeable and personable staff. See ad page 41.
ORGANO GOLD Dave & Becky Scholtes 850-324-5336 Dscholtes.organogold.com Drink healthier Coffee. 100% Arabica coffee infused with 100% organic Ganaderma Lucidum, a Chinese herb noted for healing properties. See ad page 20.
healing arts HEALING PATH, ALICE MCCALL Transformational Energy Healer and Counselor BS Psychology, MBA, Hypnotherapist 850-585-5496 HealingPath.info Phone sessions to heal serious health issues, unwanted patterns, and more. Authored Wellness Wisdom on natural health and healing; inspired by her journey with cancer.
HOLISTIC HEALTH BLUEWATER NATURAL HEALTH Dawn M. Dalili, N.D. 850-897-1177 4400 Hwy. 20E, #207, Niceville BluewaterNaturalHealth.com
HYPNOSIS BRENDA Q. BISCHOFF, CLC, CHT CI Hypnosis, Hypnobliss™, Life Coaching, NLP 850-637-1631, 850-501-3662 Brenda@TransformYourLife.net TransformYourLife.net Time Line Therapy, Certified NGH Hypnosis Instructor. Imagine living the life you have already dreamed of. Take the first step now. Call for a free consultation. See ad page 11.
INTUITIVE/MEDIUM ERICKA BOUSSARHANE Professional Psychic Medium 850-941-4321 ColdCasePsychic.com As an internationally known psychic medium, Ericka has been featured on national TV and radio stations across the country. She studied through the Astrological Institute of Integrated Studies where John Edward received training in Psychic Development.
TERESA BROWN 3 W Garden St, Pensacola 850-206-1853 TeresaBrown.net
Look better, feel better, and function at your very best without pharmaceuticals and without spending a fortune on supplements.
natural awakenings
Experienced intuitive medium, public speaker, and author. Find peace, healing and renewal of energy through energetic clearing, past life regression and spiritual counseling. Consultations in person or phone.
December 2012
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LIGHT FOR LIFE
Buddy Bowman, Quantum Light Energy Coach 315-A Racetrack Rd, FWB 850-582-4929 BuddyBowman.com
Come experience the soothing healing light and energy photons to gently reduce stress and bring your body into balance. This promotes the natural healing of the body by itself, the way it was designed to do and nature intended. Located inside Blossom Yoga, this treatment is painless, convenient, affordable, noninvasive and drug-free. See ad page 9.
REflexology LAURIE AZZARELLA, LMT, CRR 251-625-0080 or 850-380-4943 LaurieAzzarella@gmail.com WellnessPurposeAbundance.com/YL/123
Certification in Ingham Reflexology through the International Institute of Reflexology. Phase I & II. 16 CEUs per workshop. Daphne, AL. Available to everyone, workshops provide education in better health naturally.
REIKI FLORIDA CENTER FOR REIKI TRAINING
THE BLAKE AT GULF BREEZE Brooke Hicks 850-934-4306 BlakeLiving.com
Love and compassion are necessities, not luxuries. Without them humanity cannot survive. ~ Dalai Lama
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ESCAPE AT WINDCREEK
1-855-EZ-ESCAPE (1-855-393-7227) EscapeatWindCreek.com
Escape at Wind Creek boasts over 15,000 square feet of pure ah! Including a world class spa, culinary studio, fitness center, discovery programs and adventure experiences. See ad back page.
A retirement, assisted living, and memory care community inspiring wellness in an enriched environment. Also, short-term respite program for caregivers to have their loved one stay as a guest; enjoy the many services and personalized care. See ad page 5.
schools
spiritual center UNITY IN FORT WALTON BEACH 1797 Hurlburt Road, FWB 850-864-1232 • UnityInFWBFL.org
We welcome all interested in seeking an inner awareness of God. We promote love, joy, and peace through our thoughts, words, and deeds. See ad page 41.
NWF SCHOOL OF MASSAGE THERAPY AND BODYWORKS Matthew Wilson 1031–A West 23rd Street, Panama City NWFschoolofmassage@gmail.com Source Institute of Massage and Bodywork NWFschoolofmassage.com Enroll Join today. No Now credit check. In house Next Class Begins financing available for all students. January 23, 2012 MYCAA approved. Day and eve1 Hour Student Massage ning part $35.00 time classes. 30 Beal Pkwy, FWB 850.598.0738 www.SourceInstitute.com
SOOTHING ARTS HEALING THERAPIES SCHOOL OF MASSAGE 12605 Emerald Coast Pkwy W, Ste 2 850-269-0820 SoothingArts.com Have a new career in as little as 5 months. Massage Therapy program and Skin Care program. Day and night classes available. Approved for V.A. benefits and MYCAA.
Sandra Trimble 850-217-5419 • ReikiInFlorida.com
Reiki Master and Licensed Massage Therapist. Reiki classes and Reiki sessions for relaxation, stress reduction & healing. Over 18 years experience with Reiki. 11 years experience in massage. Florida & National CEUs provided. Monthly Reiki shares and classes.
SPA RETREATS
RETIREMENT LIVING
LIGHT THERAPY
SOURCE INSTITUTE OF MASSAGE THERAPY AND BODYWORK Matthew Wilson 30 Beal Parkway SW, FWB 850-598-3633 Sourceinstitute @gmail.com SourceInstitute.com Join today. No credit check. In house financing available for all students. MYCAA approved. Day and evening part time classes. See ad page 17.
sKIN CARE OCEANA NATURALS, LLC Michael J Russ 866-242-3776 PureSunscreen.com MelanSol® is certified chemical free skin care that brings hope and peace of mind to everyone who wants to enjoy a safe relationship with the sun. See ad page 30.
Natural Awakenings of Northwest Florida
www.NWFNaturally.com
UNITY OF PANAMA CITY
1764 Lisenby Ave., Panama City 850-769-7481 PanamaCityUnity@knology.net
Committed to helping people find the way to their own understanding and experience of God and offering positive, practical resources for an abundant and meaningful life. See ad page 3. .
WELLNESS CENTERS SKINDEEP CLINIC WELLNESS CENTRE
Cindy Butler, Owner/Therapist 4012 Commons Dr W, Ste 120, Destin 850-269-1414 • SkinDeepDestin.com
Colonics, ionic footbaths, infrared sauna. Organic non-surgical facelift, weight loss (lose 20 lbs in 40 days), body wraps, massage, teeth whitening, airbrush tan, makeovers. MM27113. MA49032.
THE WELLNESS CENTER
Thomas Easley, Clinical Herbalist 850-994-5656 PaceWellnessCenter.com Facebook/The-Wellness-Center
Offers supplement/herbal wellness; assessment practices: iridology, tongue/ fingernail/pulse analysis, glandular body typing. Healing therapies: ionic footbath, hot house, chi machine and massage therapy.
WELLNESS CENTER AT NAVARRE Pam Svendsen. MD 7552 Navarre Pkwy, Ste 21 850-936-8343 • NavarreWellness.com
Committed to patient centered care as well as disease focused treatment, we offer family practice, weight loss, anti-aging, skin solutions and events. See ad page 29.
WELLNESS PROFESSIONALS AVALON LIGHT KEEPERS 850-424-8261
AvalonLightKeepers.com
Light emitting diodes, or LEDs, are used to apply concentrated doses of lights and healing sound frequencies to help increase circulation, control pain, reduce stress and increase overall wellness. Ongoing sessions are given at The Golden Almond Health Food Store. Contact us to learn about our free presentations. See ad page 4.
BLUE WILLOW WELLNESS 850-226-9355 • BlueWillowWellnes.com Working with individuals and groups to promote wellbeing through assessment and training to overcome resistance to change. Ask about our Tai Chi classes.
markeTplace products for body, mind, spirit
Fort Walton Beach
FLEA MARKET 850-301-3729 • www.fwbFLEAMARKET.com ANTIQUES • COLLECTIBLES • VINTAGE CLOTHING • JEWELRY • COINS • FURNITURE All Indoor & Air Conditioned 14000 sq ft - 70+ Vendors
125 Eglin Pkwy S.E. • FWB, FL 32548 Open 7 Days/Week: Mon-Sat 10am-6pm • Sun 11am-5pm
EMERALD COAST RELAX
Healing with Stem Cell Hypnotherapy
Quantum Wellness Technology INDIGO Quantum Biofeedback Device and Quantumwave Laser Therapy & Sales 850-803-6459 • EmeraldCoastRelax.com Libbie Hambleton, Certified Biofeedback Technician, providing sessions at a variety of locations. Devices to assist with stress, pain, relaxation, inflammation, rejuvenation, sleep, wellness.
yoga studios BLOSSOM YOGA
315 A racetrack Road, NE, Ft Walton Beach 850-420-6046 • Louise@BlossomYogaFl.com BlossomYogaFL.com Offering classes in Svaroopa® yoga, yoga therapy and meditation. Also offer Migun Thermal massage. MM123789. See website for yoga schedule. See ad page 16.
& sustainability
By Dr. Lon Anderson, Ph.D. • Health Foods & Natural Vitamins • Herbs & Homeopathic Remedies • Organic Meats • Aroma Therapy • Gluten Free Products • Organic Wines
AVAILABLE AT today Order hisNOW Book and start the healing process AMAZON.COM AND Shipping and BOOKSTORES $26.00 handling included NATIONWIDE
with for withtherapies therapies cancer, brain tumor, for cancer, brain diabetes, Parkinson’s, tumor, diabetes, Alzheimer’s & stroke Parkinson’s, Act now & Alzheimer’s and receive his strokeTherapeutic Audio
New Juice Bar M-F 10-4 MON-FRI 9AM - 6PM • SAT 10AM - 4PM
850-863-5811
339 NW Racetrack Rd. Ste. 3 Ft Walton Beach, FL
CD - FREE
850-607-8682 850-607-8682 Lonanderson@ymail.com
www.GoldenAlmond.com
Shop with a Conscience at Natural Awakenings’ New Webstore DRAGONFLY YOGA STUDIES Downtown Ft Walton Beach 850-244-0184 (MM16502) DragonFlyYoga.com Drop in.
A professional yoga studio offering a serene environment for the study and practice of Hatha yoga. Certified instructors. Owner/Director Laura Tryee, E-RYT 500. See ad page 36.
As a leader in green and healthy living, it makes perfect sense for us open a webstore that features items that support sustainability and natural health. You’ll love our easy-to-navigate site. Shop by product categories that include beauty and skin care, home and office, books and music, fitness, clothing, cosmetics, kids and pets. It’s your one-stop eco-friendly and healthy living destination!
nawebstore.com
..
a Eco Pilates Yog
Organic Clothing Beauty & Skin Care
R H WITH OU THIS MONT .. .. .. .. TONE UP .. .. .. .. .. ..
D Set Ball with DV
Books & Music Green Home & Garden
Green Toys
Dragonfly Yoga
850 244 0184
downtown brooks st
ft. walton beach
dragonflyyoga.com
Do you want to know who you are? Don’t ask. Act! Action will delineate and define you. ~ Thomas Jefferson
Support our community
shop locally natural awakenings
December 2012
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Here’s what people are saying about Natural Awakenings’ Detoxified Iodine “Since I started taking the detoxified iodine drops, I feel more naturally energized throughout the day. I’m very glad I found this product!” Rachael on 8/17/12 “I was going through fatigue for a while, and I thought if this product could do anything to help I’d try it. Turns out I have so much more energy now, and my mood has stabilized as well. I haven’t lost weight, but I wasn’t looking for a miracle. This product has helped greatly! Thank you.” Amanda on 9/26/12 “I am very glad that I ordered the Iodine Supplement which came to my attention when I needed it most. I am in my 80s and everyone will tell you that with age one has less energy. But now after I have followed instructions and I’m finishing my third week, I certainly have more energy and all around feel much better. I highly recommend this wonderful supplement!” Irmgard on 10/2/12
Visit NAWebstore.com for Hundreds of Natural, Eco-Friendly Products
Beauty & Skin Care
Organic Clothing
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2012 Holiday Gifts
Conscious Giving: Meaningful gifts for the most meaningful people in your life. This holiday season give gifts of health, well-being and sustainability. Perfect Gift—Medicinal Herbs for Life.
Along with color photos, the book describes 98 herbs, plants and weeds - how to grow them, their medicinal properties and how to use them. Particularly written for the Florida Panhandle area. Makes a great gift for those concerned about improving and maintaining their health. MedicinalHerbsForLife.com. Linda@MedicinalHerbsForLife.com. 850-381-9191.
HAIR COLOR TOUCH UP
$49.00
Non-Toxic Organic Based Color System That Last Up To 30% Longer No fumes – No Burn
Salon Vedat 850-837-2690 SalonVedat.com
LA PLACE HOT SAUCE—Struggling with what to give this holiday season? Spice up your loved ones’ life with a unique and personalized gift! Build your own gift basket and choose from 10 hot sauce flavors, BBQ sauce, over 15 imported sea salts, and a variety of proprietary blends including blackened, jerk, and curries. Something to suit every price range and personality! Located at 64 Eglin Pkwy NE, Fort Walton Beach and also on base at the BX. Call 850-2266345 or visit laplacehotsauce.com.
GIVE THE GIFT OF HEALTH! Special Holiday pricing for Reiki & Massage Sessions! $55 (1) hr. $75 (90) Min. Integrative Care with Felicia McQuaid. 850-217-2771. EvolveYoga-Reiki.com. MA61060.
Expires Dec 31, 2012
Flamingo’s Tropical Wines & Gifts
Add some bubbly to your holidays with one of our gluten and tannin-free sparkling wines! 10% OFF on ALL sparkling wines; limit 3 bottles. 34904 Emerald Coast Pkwy., #140, Destin, FL 850-424-7035;
MINT TO BEE GIFT SHOP Give a unique gift this holiday season! Features local raw honey, Willowtree figurines, sterling silver jewelry, children’s toys and clothing and handcrafted gifts. Everything 50% off for entire month of December. Hrs: Tue-Sat;10 a.m.-5 p.m. Corner of Beverly St. and Green Acres Rd.850- 864-4735.
Pilates Core Training—Align your new year with a new body. Gift certificates make excellent gifts - they can be used for Pilates classes or private sessions, bodywork, essential oils, equipment or apparel. 850-287-5836. 2130 Summit Blvd., Pens.
www.Flamingos WineAndGifts.com
Happy Holidays from NWF Natural Awakenings. natural awakenings
December 2012
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D idier
became interested in yoga as a teenager, practicing Yoga Asanas in Casablanca, Morocco,where he grew up. In the early eighties, Didier traveled to India and Asia. In 1985, he met Gurumayi Chidvilasananda in Ganeshpuri, India.He spent the next ten years living in Her ashrams (monasteries) in India, France, and the United States. While living in the ashrams, Didier had the opportunity to study Hatha Yoga with several teachers, notably John Friend - the founder of Anusara Yoga. At one time, Didier was an Anusara affiliated teacher. He is presently certified through the Sivananda and Sri Mahesh Schools of Yoga. In 2000, Didier created his own yoga school that he named “Two Suns Rising Yoga”. Rumi, a great Sufi poet saint (12071273) wrote a beautiful poem which alludes to this same theme.
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Natural Awakenings of Northwest Florida
www.NWFNaturally.com (855) 393.7227
Rejuvenation YOGA Retreat • Includes 2 night stay on Level 15, a four diamond boutique hotel in a hotel • 6 healthy meals • Healthy snacks • Unlimited meditation and yoga classes by Didier • Discovery classes
• www.EscapeAtWindCreek.com