Natural Awakenings North West Florida- November 2021

E R F

E

HEALTHY

LIVING

HEALTHY

PLANET

THE HAPPY ENDING

How to Die Well and Wisely

EAT WELL FOR MENTAL HEALTH

Ways to Heal After Losing a Pet November 2021 | Northwest Florida

How to Shop for Eco-Decor | NaturalAwakeningsNWF.com

Individualized Hormone Replacement for Women and Men Why Bio-identical Pellet Therapy?

Because its easy! As a patient, you are pelleted 2-4 insertions per year. This way you don’t have to think about it and the hormone is available when your body needs it.

Hormone replacement therapy can help with:

• • • • • •

Extreme Fatigue Difficulty Sleeping Anxiety & Irritability Low Libido Joint Pain Depression

• Memory Loss, Mental Fog & Confusion • Night Sweats & Hot Flashes • Weight Gain & Loss of Muscle Mass

TELEVISITS

Available in the convenience and privacy of your own home.

Karen Kennedy, MD

.................

Call to schedule your appointment 850-916-7766

GULF BREEZE • 1118 Gulf Breeze Pkwy. #201 • Gulf Breeze, FL

Compassionate and Gentle Care TELEVISITS AVAILABLE

Available during the coronavirus episode to decrease office exposure yet still be connected to Dr. Kennedy and staff. Most insurance now covers Televisits in the privacy of your own home.

• • • •

Gynecological Exams Painful Intercourse Abatement Endometriosis Treatment Hormone Therapy / Bio-identical Hormones • Menopausal Symptoms / Hot Flashes • Screening and Preventive Services • And other GYN services

PREMIER WOMEN'S HEALTHCARE

850-916-7766

KarenKennedymd.com ASK ABOUT INSURANCE FOR COVERED SERVICES

Currently Accepting New Patients

GULF BREEZE 1118 Gulf Breeze Pkwy.

Gynecologist • Board Certified • Registered Pharmacist #201 • Gulf Breeze, FL

Karen Kennedy, MD

NAVARRE In the Harvest Village 7552 Navarre Pkwy, Unit 18

Stop Suffering and Start Living!

Cosmetic Gynecology offers renewed womanhood and helps rejuvenate the most delicate female areas.

Effective Treatment for: • Painful Intercourse TELEVISITS • Vaginal Itching, Irritation, Burning, Dryness Available in the • Lichen Sclerosus convenience and privacy of your own home.

• Reoccurring Bladder Infections or UTIs • Urinary Urgency • FDA Cleared • Alternative for Hormone Replacement (Effective for Breast Cancer Patients)

Karen Kennedy, MD 2

GYNECOLOGIST • BOARD CERTIFIED Natural Awakenings of Northwest Florida

(850) 916-1794

COMMENTS FROM ACTUAL PATIENTS “Best thing I have ever done.”

“Before MonaLisa Touch sex was painful and now after, it is painless and I am enjoying sex again.”

GENTLE LASER THERAPY FOR THE SYMPTOMS OF LOW HORMONES OR MENOPAUSE www.NaturalAwakeningsNWF.com

YOUR

Weight Loss Struggle is

REAL

We can

HELP!

Stop the yo-yo dieting today!

We offer dietary counseling to initiate a healthy diet with the goal of having increased energy, improved mood while achieving and maintaining a healthier weight. Now is the time to take control of your health! A healthy weight is essential to the prevention of complications related to obesity.

Rachel and her staff are committed to helping you on your journey.

Rachel Spikes

NURSE PRACTITIONER (NP) It is my goal as a provider to help patients lose the weight contributing to many chronic health conditions.

• Microneedling

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(850) 541-9814 • spikesmedicalhealth.com November 2021

3

Leveraging science and technology, OsteoStrong® strengthens the human body efficiently, safely, and comfortably.

In just 10 minutes once per week, many Members have experienced improvements in: • • • • •

Bone Density Strength Balance Posture Reducing Back & Joint Pain

• • • • •

Fall & Fracture Risk Type 2 Diabetes Athletic Performance Injury Prevention Vitality

Available Modalities: OsteoStrong® Spectrum, Biocharger®, Joovv® red-light therapy, Hydromassage®, & PEMF

We apply COVID-19 safety protocols through appointment-only sessions, temperature checks, staff wearing masks, regular disinfecting of equipment, etc.

4

Natural Awakenings of Northwest Florida

www.NaturalAwakeningsNWF.com

HYPNOSIS Can change what’s going on INSIDE, So you can see the changes on the OUTSIDE

Read what our clients have to say: “I had no idea hypnosis could do this! I went from a size 12 to a 4 in just six months!!!

Hypnosis made it possible for me to ENJOY eating healthy, exercising, and relaxing my mind. I eat what I want, I’m not on any kind of diet, and oh my goodness…I like being thin!”

“I feel like a new woman in ALL areas of my life! I have a new and “much” improved attitude toward life, eating healthy, and exercise. Why did I wait so long to come here?”

- Linda J-Milton

- Lisa D-Pensacola

“When I came here, I was a hot mess with emotional baggage and health issues. I literally feel like a plug has been pulled out of my head to let all the garbage out. I feel lighter and more relaxed... Oh, and I’ve lost 40 lbs in 5 months!”

- Melinda G-Pensacola

Are you the type of person that can be hypnotized?

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BaysideHypnosis.com Pensacola, FL

850-347-5700

November 2021

5

letter from publisher

HEALTHY LIVING HEALTHY PLANET

This Too Shall Pass

T

he minute we are born, it is said, we begin the process of dying. True enough—but that’s the sort of observation we make when we’re on the far side of midlife. When we’re children, the thought of death never crosses our mind until we lose a loved one, typically a pet. I remember first facing the concept of mortality when I accidentally killed a baby chicken that I’d been Daralyn & Scott Chase given as an Easter present. I was mortified and inconsolable.

I couldn’t grasp the idea that the chick would no longer exist in my world. My parents tried to explain that all earthly things “go away” at some point.

I don’t think I really understood, but after my mother wiped my tears, hugged me and reassured me that it was just a part of life, my world was once again righted and I went back to being a carefree kid. I was fortunate not to experience the loss of a family member until my late teens, when a grandparent passed. But the sad reality for all of us is that the older we get, the more we see the final act of life play out. For me, it moved ever closer to my inner circle until it was my mother who passed, the one who so many years earlier had introduced me to the reality of “going away.”

Her passing was just that, a passing, part of the deal that comes with the awesome ride of life. None of us is immune from death—we are all equal in that sense. Some of us transition sooner than others, but we all “go away.” While it’s difficult to imagine not being here in the physical sense, what happens after we die is even less fathomable, although we have faith and beliefs to help our conscious minds accept the notion.

Our feature article, “Dying Well,” on page 27, offers coping strategies for anyone faced with that reality—as of course we all are. There’s never a “good” time to discuss this side of life, but since we never know when our own ride will end, it’s wise to be prepared for the inevitable, and this article can help you do that. In fact, Marissa Walker, a trauma-informed private yoga teacher in Navarre, offers end-of-life yoga and meditation, tools that reduce the fear associated with death. You can read more about that on page 28. Also, having lost both my beloved dogs this time last year, I can highly recommend this month’s Natural Pet column (page 34), about grieving our animal companions.

And now let’s focus on . . . now. This month’s issue has plenty of articles that will enhance your quality of life. Among my favorites are “Healthy Brain Strategies” (page 24), about preventing cognitive decline; a Q&A with author and botanical medicine expert David Crow on “The Healing Power of Medicinal Plants” (page 32); and our very timely Healthy Kids article, on school-based mindfulness programs to help stressed-out teens (page 36). Reading that last article, I was struck by this quote from a mindfulness expert: “For survival purposes, our brains are naturally wired to the negative, aka ‘negative selection bias.’ Thankfully, we can train our brains to be more tilted to the positive.

In fact, just thinking of a positive memory for 12 seconds can create a benefit for your well-being.” Twelve seconds a day? I can do that. I’ll bet you can too.

Daralyn and I wish you a joyful, stress-free Thanksgiving.

& Scott 6

Natural Awakenings of Northwest Florida

www.NaturalAwakeningsNWF.com

Northwest Florida Edition From Pensacola to Panama City Publisher Daralyn Chase Advertising Scott Chase Editor Allison Gorman Ad Design Courtney Ayers Production C. Michele Rose

CONTACT US P.O. Box 945 Destin, FL 32540 Ph: 850-687-0825 Scott@NWFNaturally.com

NWFNATURALLY.COM SUBSCRIPTIONS Subscriptions are available by sending $30 (for 12 issues) to the above address or order online at NaturalAwakeningsNWF.com.

Digital Subscriptions are free.

NATIONAL TEAM CEO/Founder Sharon Bruckman COO/Franchise Sales Joe Dunne Layout & Design Gabrielle W-Perillo Financial Manager Yolanda Shebert Asst. Director of Ops Heather Gibbs Digital Content Director Rachael Oppy National Advertising Lisa Doyle-Mitchell Administrative Assistant Anne-Marie Ryan Natural Awakenings Publishing Corporation 4851 Tamiami Trail N., Ste. 200 Naples, FL 34103 Ph: 239-434-9392 • Fax: 239-434-9513 NaturalAwakenings.com © 2021 by Natural Awakenings. All rights reserved.

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

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

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

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

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

It’s Official!

SALT ROOM NOW OPEN AT STONE SOUP ISC! [BY APPOINTMENT ONLY]

Halo is the Greek word for salt.

Cilia are responsible for moving mucus out of lungs, when cilia is damaged by toxins, they cannot properly function. Halotherapy - Dry salt aerosol

Halotherapy is breathing Pharmaceutical grade salt that has been ground into micro particles.

improves function of cilia. Inhaled micro particles

(This is not your everyday table salt).

airways. Salt is antibacterial and antifungal.

Comments from Salt Room clients: CLIENT#1 1st Session: It’s great for the first time since post covid I am able to exhale without feeling the need to cough.”

Next day session: “About 90% better. It was amazing! Last night was great with only an occasional cough and no cough medicine”

CLIENT#2

“My sinuses are better and I slept better last night than I have for a week and my chronic headache is gone!”

of salt reduces inflammation, which widens the

Are You Suffering From: COPD • Sleep Apnea • Allergies • Snoring Asthma • Wheezing • Bronchial Infections Sore Throat • Pneumonia • Tonsillitis Sinusitis • Cystic Fibrosis • Emphysema Eczema • Breathlessness • Psoriasis Smokers Cough • Acne

314 Carmel Dr • Ft Walton Beach

850-533-6565 • Ory Salt Therapy is a complementary treatment and is not a substitute for your medication.

Speak with your physician before treatment. Halotherapy has not yet been approved by the FDA.

November 2021

7

ALIGN YOURSELF

WITH THE STruCTurAL ExPErTS AT PILATES COrE TrAININg

PILATES IMPROVES:

CORE TRAINING PILATES • STRUCTURAL INTEGRATION MYOFASCIAL RELEASE • GYROTONIC® 1308 Dunmire St. off 9th Ave.

Posture • Body symmetry • Balance • Body awareness Joint health • Coordination • Lung capacity and circulation Overall strength and flexibility • Mental & Physical Attention Efficiency and grace of movement • Athletic performance Strength of your deep and superficial core muscles

(850) 287-5836

PilatesCoreTraining.com

MYOFASCIAL RELEASE & STRUCTURAL INTEGRATION

PILATES TEACHER TRAINING SCHOOL 450 Hours of comprehensive training covering the fundementals of movement on the mat as well as all pieces of equipment

• Chronic Pain • Arthritis • Fibromyalgia, Myofascial Pain Syndrome • Sports 0r Work Injuries • Headaches/Migraines • Neck Pain and Whiplash

• Shoulder and Arm Pain • Carpal Tunnel Syndrome • Back Pain and Sciatica • Hip, Knee, and Ankle Problems • Plantar Fasciitis • Car Accident Injuries • Post-Surgical Pain and Scarring

“Empowering You To Live Arthritis Free” DR. KENAWY CAN HELP YOU MANAGE...

Bursitis • Gout • Joint & Muscle Pain • Lupus • Osteoarthritis Osteopenia • Osteoporosis • Polymyalgia Rheumatica Psoriatic Arthritis • Rheumatoid Arthritis • Sjogren’s • Vasculitis

Certified in Regenerative Medicine

Aymen A. Kenawy, M.D. 850-215-6400

3890 Jenks Ave • Lynn Haven, FL 32444

DrKenawy.com

8

Natural Awakenings of Northwest Florida

• University of Florida & Shands Hospital-Trained Physician

• Dr. Kenawy is one of the area’s leading specialists and is Board-Certified in Rheumatology and Internal Medicine

www.NaturalAwakeningsNWF.com

Natural Awakenings is a family of 50+ healthy living magazines celebrating 27 years of providing the communities we serve with the tools and resources we all need to lead healthier lives on a healthy planet.

Contents

14 DYING WELL

24

Four Steps to a Good Death

14

18 HEALTHY BRAIN STRATEGIES

How to Prevent Cognitive Decline

20 SACRED DANCE Moving into Divine Energy

22 DAVID CROW on the Healing Power of Medicinal Plants

27

24 ECO-DECOR

18

20

FOR THE HOME

How to Buy Sustainable Furnishings

27 TESTOSTERONE PELLET THERAPY

Is Changing How Men and Women Age

28 EAT WELL TO FEEL WELL Thanksgiving Fare that Boosts Mental Health

34

32 MINDFULNESS FOR STRESSED TEENS

ADVERTISING & SUBMISSIONS HOW TO ADVERTISE To advertise with Natural Awakenings or request a media kit, please contact us at 850-687-0825 or email Scott@ NaturalAwakeningsNWF.com. Deadline for ads: the 10th of the month.

EDITORIAL SUBMISSIONS Email articles, news items and ideas to: Publisher@NaturalAwakeningsNWF.com. Deadline for editorial: the 10th of the month.

CALENDAR SUBMISSIONS Submit calendar entries online only at NaturalAwakeningsNWF.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 239-434-9392. For franchising opportunities call 239-530-1377 or visit NaturalAwakenings.com.

School Programs Teach Healthy Coping Skills

34 HONORING THE LOSS OF A PET

Simple Ways to Grieve and Heal

DEPARTMENTS 11 news briefs 14 health briefs 16 global briefs 18 conscious eating 24 healing ways 30 fit body 32 wisewords

34 36 40 42 46 47

natural pets healthy kids green living calendar classifieds resource guide November 2021

9

FLU SEASON 2021: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW Though Flu and COVID-19 are different viruses, they have very similar symptoms. Both viruses are very contagious, and it can be days before any symptoms appear. You CAN have both viruses at the same time.

There are tests that will check for flu A and flu B, as well as COVID-19.

ProHealth offers a combo rapid test that will determine if you currently have the flu and/or COVID-19.

Flu and COVID-19 have vaccines that you can get at the same time.

Flu 2021: The CDC estimates that 38 million illnesses were associated to the influenza in 2019-2020.

Flu vaccine: The vaccine will not prevent COVID-19 and will NOT make you more susceptible to COVID-19. If suspected or confirmed COVID-19, you should reframe from taking the flu vaccine.

The composition of the 2021 flu shot has been updated to protect against four different flu viruses.

Flu test: You can get tested for both flu A and flu B to determine if you have the flu.

COVID-19 2021: At this time, the CDC estimates 219 million cases of COVID globally.

COVID-19 vaccine: Pfizer (FDA approved), Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson.

10

Natural Awakenings of Northwest Florida

www.NaturalAwakeningsNWF.com

COVID-19 test: There are a range of testing options now available to determine what you need to know about COVID-19. ProHealth offers options to determine live COVID-19 infection, your current level of antibodies, travel requirements, and much more.

COVID-19 symptom that differs from the flu: Change or/loss of taste and/or smell.

Why To Get The Flu Shot: To protect yourself, your loved ones, and others from a potentially deadly virus, with the added benefit of decreasing the likelihood that you'll contract both COVID-19 and the flu at the same time. Additionally, herd immunity can help lessen the outbreaks of flu season 2021.

Medical Help When You Need It: ProHealth offers rapid flu A, flu B, and COVID-19 antigen test as a bundle with a discounted price of $80. One nasal swab will be used to test for all three viruses.

ProHealth offers the flu vaccine at all 7 locations at the price of $37.

ProHealth can come to your business to administer flu shots if you have 10+ people (minor additional fee for LESS than 10 people).

ProHealth offers seven different types of COVID-19 testing, pricing start at $65. Visit ProHealthFL.com to find a location near you.

news briefs

Stone Soup ISC Offers Halotherapy to Ease Breathing

W

hen Jan Myers added a halotherapy room to her Fort Walton Beach business, Stone Soup ISC, her goal was to offer people a natural way to help detoxify their skin and respiratory tract. She says halotherapy—breathing air infused with aerosolized, pharmaceutical-grade salt—can provide relief from a variety of conditions, from acne and psoriasis to pneumonia and COPD. “I had a client tell me that after his very first halotherapy session, he could exhale without feeling the need to cough for the first time since he’d recovered from Covid,” Myers says. “He estimated that he was 90 percent better by his second session. He was able to sleep through the night with only an occasional cough and no cough medicine.”

Airborne substances like viruses, bacteria and environmental toxins can damage the cilia that remove mucus from the lungs. Dry salt particles absorb those damaging substances, helping clear the lungs, Myers says. Other respiratory conditions that can be eased through halotherapy include allergies, sleep apnea, snoring, asthmatic wheezing, bronchial infections, sore throat, smoker’s cough, tonsillitis, cystic fibrosis and emphysema. One of Myers’s clients finally got relief from chronic sinus headaches.

“Halotherapy provides both immediate relief and long-lasting benefits,” she says. “A clean respiratory system naturally results in higher oxygen intake, increased energy and an improved immune system. Some clients report less anxiety and tension.”

The halotherapy room at Stone Soup can accommodate two people. Sessions must be booked in advance.

“Always check with your physician before beginning any new treatment,” Myers says.

Location: 314 Carmel Dr., Ft. Walton Beach, FL. To book a session, call 443-801-1532 or 850-533-6565. See ad, page 7.

BioMat Delivers Spa Benefits through ‘Quantum Therapeutics’

B

onnie Dees, owner of natural health store Body-B-Healthy, in Crestview, calls the biotechnology behind the BioMat “quantum therapeutics.” By integrating numerous therapeutic modalities, this heating pad is designed to accelerate and deepen the body’s healing processes. In essence, it achieves the benefits of a sauna, she says, whether it’s used professionally on top of a massage table or by an individual on a mattress at home.

“The BioMat converts electricity through an EMI, or electromagnetic interceptor, which then passes through a computerized control panel with nine variable heat settings into far-infrared rays and negative ions,” Dees says. “These two components are transferred through the amethyst quartz channels that cover the entire surface of the BioMat. Amethyst also produces naturally occurring far-infrared waves. These frequencies penetrate six inches into the body—stimulating healing, supporting the immune system, reducing inflammation, increasing blood flow and tissue oxygenation, and promoting relaxation and restful sleep.”

BioMat technology allows for more customized temperature regulation without the hazards of heating the head or the negative EMF exposure found in many traditional saunas or heating devices, she says.

“The BioMat represents the highest quality and comfort in a portable pad suitable for a home or clinic setting,” she says. “This technology is being used in spas and professional practitioners’ offices all over the world. Physical therapists, chiropractors and acupuncturists are realizing the benefits of a good night’s sleep or a mere 25-minute nap on the BioMat.” For more information, visit TheBioMatCenter.com. See ad, page 40.

November 2021

11

coming in the december holiday issue

news briefs

Boosting Immune System

plus: Uplifting Humanity

Hyperbaric Oxygen, Light Therapies Now in Pensacola

N

ext Level Oxygen Hyperbaric MedSpa, which offers hyperbaric oxygen and light therapies, is now open on Scenic Highway in Pensacola. Owner Aimee Allenback is an international hyperbaric technician certified through the International Board of Undersea Medicine.

“We’re so excited to be the first of its kind in the Panhandle to bring this technology to the everyday person who wants to reach their highest health potential,” she says.

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) uses pressure to increase the amount of oxygen in the body.

“The hyperbaric chambers increase pressures to 1.3 atmospheres absolute,” Allenback says. “That helps dissolve oxygen into the blood plasma, thereby reaching the most cellular level of your body to promote healing, regeneration and restoring of cellular properties.”

Studies have shown that HBOT can produce positive responses in more than 120 indications, including inflammation, cancer, autism, anti-aging, diabetes, sports recovery, Alzheimer’s, plastic surgery and auto-immune diseases, she says.

Next Level Oxygen Hyperbaric MedSpa offers light therapy either individually or to enhance the HBOT experience.

“Red-infrared light therapy helps open the blood vessels, drawing oxygen to the affected areas to promote faster healing and restoration,” Allenback says. “Light therapy can help with minimizing pain, reducing stress and cellular repair.”

Therapies are available by appointment only and can be booked online. Cost-saving packages and memberships are available as well. All clients will go through a brief medical assessment prior to therapy.

Location: 901 Scenic Highway, Pensacola, FL. For more information, call 850-990-HBOT (4268) or visit NextLevelOxygen.com.

12

Natural Awakenings of Northwest Florida

www.NaturalAwakeningsNWF.com

Equine Therapy Program Accepting Grant-Funded Participants

H

ealing Hoof Steps, a 501c3 organization voted 2021 Best Alternative Medicine Facility on the Emerald Coast, will accept new VA-grant-funded participants in its mental-health counseling program beginning November 1. Working in an outdoor setting in Crestview, HHS’s team of licensed mental health counselors and horses provide a unique approach to traditional in-office counseling through non-riding activities.

HHS ranks third out of 27 equine-assisted mental health counseling programs in the United States receiving funding from the Veterans Administration’s Adaptive Sports Grant. Of the local veterans who’ve completed their eight sessions under this grant, 80 percent reported that their PTSD and/or depression symptoms decreased by half or more.

“The ability to create change in a short period of time has allowed us to make a significant impact on the mental health of our community,” says HHS Founder and Executive Director Narissa Jenkins.

In addition to its mental health counseling program, HHS offers a PATH Therapeutic Riding program designed to teach horsemanship skills that can help participants live fuller lives outside the riding arena. PATH-certified instructors can assist riders in overcoming obstacles in daily life through targeted activities and games on horseback.

“These two programs have introduced, rekindled or continued a love of horses combined with positive change for hundreds of clients, riders and volunteers across the Northwest Florida community,” Jenkins says. “In the words of Winston Churchill, ‘There's something about the outside of a horse that’s good for the inside of man.’”

Early detection can mean life.

Breast thermography is one of the easiest and safest methods for spotting inflammation, a major precursor to disease. It offers earlier detection of breast disease than self examination, doctor examination or mammography.

NON-INVASIVE | RADIATION-FREE | HIGHLY EFFECTIVE NO COMPRESSION | FDA REGISTERED

Thermography Advantage

Mobile & Foley, AL | Pensacola & Destin, FL | Brandon & Hattiesburg, MS | Covington, LA

Location: 3942 Jace Dr., Crestview, FL. For more information, call 850-764-1005 or visit HealingHoofSteps.org.

Carolyn Olson, Founder and Certified Clinical Thermographer

CALL US TODAY: 251-623-2225 Learn more at ThermographyAdvantage.com November 2021

13

mentatdgt /Pexels.com

A reduction of just 200 calories a day combined with aerobic exercise four times a week produced greater weight loss and better heart health in obese, sedentary adults than exercise alone or a 600-calorie reduction plus exercise, reports a new study in Circulation. Researchers from the Wake Forest School of Medicine, in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, tested 160 adults ages 65 to 79.

Those that combined exercise with 200 fewer calories a day lost 10 percent of their weight, about 20 pounds, over five months. They had a 21 percent average increase in the aorta’s ability to expand and contract, a key indicator of heart health. Measures of aortic stiffness did not change significantly for the exercise-only group or the 600-calorie-reduction-plus-exercise group. Weight loss was similar for both calorie-reduction groups, even though one group consumed nearly three times fewer calories per day.

Boost Kids’ Learning Abilities with Exercise yulianto poitier/Pexels.com

The right kind of exercise can help kids learn vocabulary better, suggests research from the University of Delaware. An article published in the Journal of Speech Language and Hearing Research reports that when 48 children between 6 and 12 years of age were taught new words before swimming, they scored 13 percent higher on a test of the words than children that did CrossFit-like exercises or colored pictures.

Lead researcher Maddy Pruitt says that exercise is known to increase levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor, a protein she describes as the “Miracle-Gro of the brain.”

Swimming made a difference, she says, because it is an automatic movement, while the CrossFit exercises were new to them and required mental energy.

14

Natural Awakenings of Northwest Florida

A single dose of 100 milligrams of the compound L-theanine—the amount found in four cups of green tea—improved reaction times and working memory of men and women in new research from Japan’s Central Research Institute, in Shizuoka.

In the double-blind, placebo-controlled study, 69 adults that self-reported cognitive decline reacted more quickly to computer-generated promptings and answered more questions correctly after ingesting the compound compared to the placebo. anna pyshniuk/Pexels.com

Lose Weight with Small Calorie Reduction

Boost Cognition with Green Tea Compound

Eat High-Flavonoid Foods to Reduce Cognitive Decline Eating foods high in flavonoids—the antioxidant-rich plant compounds found in strawberries, oranges, peppers and apples—can reduce the risk of cognitive decline by 20 percent or more, reports new research published by the American Academy of Neurology.

Researchers followed more than 78,000 people in their late 40s and early 50s for 20 years, asking them what they ate and to evaluate their cognitive skills. They found that those foods with more flavones, such as yellow or orange fruits and vegetables and some spices, reduced cognitive decline the most, at 38 percent—the equivalent of being three to four years younger in age.

Anthocyanins, found in blueberries, blackberries and cherries, were associated with a 24 percent reduced risk of cognitive decline. “The people in our study who did the best over time ate an average of at least half a serving per day of foods like orange juice, oranges, peppers, celery, grapefruits, grapefruit juice, apples and pears,” says study author Walter Willett, M.D., a nutrition and epidemiology professor at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

“And it’s never too late to start, because we saw those protective relationships whether people were consuming the flavonoids in their diet 20 years ago or if they started incorporating them more recently.”

www.NaturalAwakeningsNWF.com

trang doan/Pexels.com

health briefs

Live Healthfully to Mitigate Genetic Cancer Risk

r.f ._.studio/Pexels.com

Healthy lifestyle factors such as exercise, proper diet, low body mass index and abstinence from smoking and drinking correlate with decreased cancer incidence, even in those with a high genetic risk, according to a Chinese study published in Cancer Research. The researchers calculated and applied the genetic risks for 16 cancers in men and 18 cancers in women to genotype information from 443,000 citizens from England, Scotland and Wales registered in a databank. Notably, 97 percent of patients in the study had a high genetic risk of at least one cancer type. Among patients with high genetic risk, the five-year cancer incidence was 7.23 percent in men and 5.77 percent in women with an unfavorable lifestyle. That compared with 5.51 percent in men and 3.69 percent in women with a favorable lifestyle, effectively moving them into an intermediate risk category.

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November 2021

15

Sorting Soirée

global briefs

Renovating the Recycling Stream

Knock On Wood

courtesy of Svenskt Tra

A Swedish method of building using cross-laminated timber (CLT) is emerging as a climate-friendly alternative to traditional, concrete-based construction. The foundation is cement, but multistory wooden structures of 13 floors and higher are possible. Using timber has environmental benefits in the form of lowered carbon emissions. Mathias Fridholm, director of Svenskt Tra (Swedish Wood), an industry organization, says, “Wood is in many ways an excellent material for building in dense cities, because we can prefabricate all the elements in factories instead of onsite.” Prefabrication speeds construction and reduces truck traffic. CLT is not only strong and light, it is breathable; it holds heat, but doesn’t need plastic layers to manage moisture like concrete, which also requires sand, a non-renewable resource that requires drudging seabeds. Managed forests are renewable and serve as a carbon storage facility.

Anna Ervast Oberg, a project manager at Swedish real estate developer Folkhem, advises that just changing the structure of a building to wood from concrete would result in an immediate 50 percent reduction in emissions. “What we have to do now is to stop the emissions, very fast. This gives us a hint of where we should be focusing; where we can make the biggest difference.”

Americans use a single recycling stream in which everything goes into one bin to be sorted and cleaned at the designated collection point; a system that requires too much labor with less-than-stellar results. A study conducted by the South Korean SK Group asked 1,500 U.S. adults about sustainable packaging and found that 72 percent prefer products with easily recycled or reused packaging, but don’t understand what can actually be recycled. Forty-two percent were not aware that containers such as plastic bottles cannot be recycled without removing the label. When dirty and labeled recyclables are deposited with clean recyclables, they contaminate the whole batch, creating massive amounts of unnecessary waste.

SKC Inc. has introduced Ecolabel, the first shrink sleeve label that doesn’t need to be removed from plastic bottles to be recycled. This removes the burden from the consumer and recyclers while making the process easier. Recyclops uses independent drivers to service recycling routes, creating income for locals and sustainable living options for residents. They’re innovating the recycling pickup process by using an Uber Eats-type phone app to enable the pickup of recyclables from areas that aren’t being serviced. courtesy of Recyclops.com

Tree House

Wicked Wonders

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has labeled cogongrass (Imperata cylindrica), a native plant of Southeast Asia, as one of the world’s worst invasive weeds. It’s banned as an invasive species by the Federal Noxious Weed Act of 1974, but a study published in the peer-reviewed journal Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment by the University of Massachusetts Amherst discovered that this and about 1,300 other invasive plants are sold at garden centers, nurseries and other retailers.

Lead author Evelyn M. Beaury, a graduate student in organismic and evolutionary biology at University of Massachusetts, says that she and her fellows found cogongrass was being sold by 33 outlets in 17 states. She notes, “This is a tricky case, because plant breeders are marketing a sterile cultivar, but research shows these plants are not completely sterile and can still become invasive.” According to the USDA, there are no known effective biological control methods. Beaury states, “While patchy state regulations definitely contribute to the widespread availability of invasive plants in the U.S., it’s clear we as a public also lack awareness about which plants are invasive and how they spread to new areas. If we want to continue to protect native ecosystems, regulators and managers need more resources to do so.”

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Banned Invasive Weeds for Sale

Storm Clouds

Love Bugs

Lake Urmia, in Iran, has decreased in size by 50 percent from 2,085 square miles in the 1990s to 965 now, and the Department of Environmental Protection of West Azerbaijan is concerned that it may disappear entirely. Scenarios like this are multiplying in the Middle East because the water table is becoming depleted. Persistent drought and high temperatures, in addition to poor water management and overuse, create a bleak outlook unless changes are made.

A study by the Iranian Energy Ministry found the fate of the lake was more than 30 percent attributable to climate change.

Iran, Iraq and Jordan extract copious amounts of water from the ground for irrigation, and Charles Iceland, global director of water at the World Resources Institute, says, “They’re using more water than is available routinely through rain.” In Iran, a network of dams used by the agriculture sector uses about 90 percent of the nation’s supply. “Both declining rainfall and increasing demand in these countries are causing many rivers, lakes and wetlands to dry up,” Iceland says. As areas become uninhabitable in the future, political violence may emerge over how to share and manage rivers and lakes. Transboundary usage must be regulated and monitored if there is any hope to resolve the crisis.

It may come as a surprise to most Americans, but people have been eating insects (entomophagy) for thousands of years, and they are part of the diets of more than 2 billion people. The United Nations predicts that this rapidly growing industry could be worth $6.3 billion by 2030, so bug-based products may soon appear in local stores. Although Western food markets have excluded insects in favor of animal-based protein, insect-based foods offer many health and environmental benefits, especially in light of the pressures from climate change.

Insects produce 80 times less methane than cattle and use less space, feed, water, housing and maintenance.

One pound of beef requires 1,850 gallons of water, one pound of chicken uses 500 gallons and one pound of crickets requires one gallon. Nestlé and PepsiCo are conducting research and development forays into the field, and smaller, nimble startups are making plans to introduce new products. Names to watch include Mighty Cricket, Illegal Oats, Jiminy’s, Aspire (Exo Bar), BeoBia and FarmInsect.

Public acceptance is expected to be gradual.

Kid Safe

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After a multiyear effort, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has ruled that chlorpyrifos, a pesticide linked to neurological damage in children, including reduced IQ, loss of working memory and attention deficit disorders, can no longer be used on food.

EPA Administrator Michael Regan cites the action as an overdue step to protect children and farmworkers from dangerous consequences of the pesticide. “EPA will follow the science and put health and safety first.” The ruling will take effect in February 2022.

Patti Goldman, an attorney for Earthjustice, says, “Chlorpyrifos will finally be out of our fruits and vegetables.”

The pesticide has been sprayed on crops such as strawberries, apples, citrus, broccoli and corn since 1965. Up until 2000, it was used to kill ants, roaches and mosquitos.

The Natural Resources Defense Council notes that it will still be allowed for other uses such as cattle ear tags.

The Food Revolution—Miniaturized egor kamelev/Pexels.com

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Water Shortage is a Global Problem

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conscious eating

Eat Well to Feel Well thanksgiving fare that boosts mental health

by Christy Ratliff

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cross America, people of all ages are struggling with mental health issues. Nearly one in five people is living with a mental health condition, and the number of people seeking help for anxiety and depression is skyrocketing, reports Mental Health America. According to the organization’s 2021 State of Mental Health in America Report, suicidal thoughts are increasing among both adults and children, and 9.7 percent of youth is experiencing severe major depression compared to 9.2 percent last year. The highly contagious COVID-19 Delta variant has only exacerbated these mental health challenges.

The hope and help we seek may be as close as our own kitchen.

Accumulating research shows that a diet rich in highly processed foods may increase the risk of developing or worsening various mental health conditions. But a nutrient-based diet rich in fresh fruits and vegetables; omega-3 fatty acids; nuts, seeds and legumes; whole grains, fresh herbs and spices; fish and olive oil, may help to support and enhance mental health. We can start this Thanksgiving by serving up healthier, nutrient-rich options to alleviate anxiety and depression, stabilize mood and promote mental health and wellness.

“The gut/brain connection helps us understand the food/mood connection,” explains Dr. Uma Naidoo, a Harvard-trained nutritional psychiatrist, professional chef, nutrition specialist and author of the national bestseller This is Your Brain on Food. “The enteric nervous system—that is, the nerves supplying the gastrointestinal tract—totals over 100 million neurons and communicates directly with the brain, or central nervous system, by way of the vagus nerve, which is responsible for our ‘rest-and-digest’ response.

“It’s also vital to note that the gut contains the highest number of serotonin receptors, and the gut itself produces all the neurotransmitters that are also made in the brain, including serotonin, often called the happiness hormone. In turn, these neurotransmitters are implicated in sound mental health or potential problems when they are deficient.”

“What we eat affects mental health in many ways,” adds Amy Spindel, a functional holistic nutritionist in Plano, Texas, and founder of FoodWithThoughtNutrition.com. “Nutrient deficiencies can cause poor neurotransmitter production. Insufficient vitamin B6, folate and vitamin B12 can be implicated in depression and anxiety symptoms, as they are all needed for various stages of neurotransmitter production, especially serotonin, dopamine and GABA.” “Traditional sugary, high-carbohydrate foods promote unstable blood sugar and selectively feed inflammatory gut microbes,”

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Spindel says, suggesting that we skip the typical foods many of us associate with the holidays such as pecan pie, marshmallow-topped sweet potato casserole and canned cranberry sauce. “Blood sugar fluctuations cause the body to scramble in an attempt to re-regulate glucose, which may mean spikes of cortisol or adrenaline, as well as insulin. The end result can be depression and anxiety from excessive stress hormones and a glucose-starved brain.”

But making such changes, particularly during the holidays, isn’t easy. “If the thought of changing up the traditional Thanksgiving menu gives you pause, you are not alone—and this is why I believe in adding in habits (and in this case, dishes) which have a positive ripple effect on our bodies and our brain, allowing for a self-sustaining cycle in our lifestyle,” advises Naidoo.

“As a nutritional psychiatrist, I feel that we are more emotionally nurtured by a feeling of abundance in ‘adding’ new Thanksgiving dishes than thinking about this as ‘excluding’ foods,” she notes.

“For example, tossing a fresh, folate-rich spinach and arugula salad with bits of antioxidant-rich strawberries, crisp roasted chickpeas and omega-3-rich olive oil adds color, flavor and a plethora of mood-nourishing ingredients to the dinner table. Even adding extra veggies to existing dishes, such as allicin-rich garlic to green beans or extra celery and fresh herbs to stuffing, adds in powerful phytonutrients with gut-loving fiber.”

“Thanksgiving favorites that are ample in neurotransmitter-producing nutrients include turkey, shellfish, sweet potatoes and acorn squash, asparagus, leafy greens, oranges and green beans,” Spindel adds.

While it’s true that we cannot control a global pandemic or solve the mental health crisis in America with positive thinking alone, we can minimize our feelings of powerlessness and despair by making small but significant dietary changes—not just on Thanksgiving, but every day of the year.

Christy Ratliff is a professional health and wellness writer based in Central Florida.

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Goat Cheese Appetizer with Honey, Fig and Pistachios 1 medium, fresh goat cheese log (about 11 oz) ¼ cup roasted pistachios, chopped ¼ cup honey (this recipe calls for 2 Tbsp; others call for ¼ cup) 1 to 2 Tbsp fig spread Healthy selection of whole-wheat crackers, vegetable chips, etc.

photo by Christy Ratliff

Spread chopped pistachios on a small plate. Roll goat cheese in pistachios to coat sides and top. Transfer to a serving tray and sprinkle whole pistachios on top and around the cheese.

Drizzle honey over and around cheese log. Warm fig spread for 5 to 10 seconds in a microwave. Drizzle spread over cheese log or half of cheese log, as desired. Serve with whole-wheat crackers or chips.

Courtesy of Susan Randall. For more information, visit SimpleHealthyKitchen.com.

Buzz’s Fresh Herb and Apple Sage Stuffing

photo by Christy Ratliff

1 loaf bread, toasted (whole wheat (WW) or half WW, half French bread) ¼ cup unsalted butter 2 cups celery, chopped 1 large yellow onion, chopped 1 to 2 cloves garlic, chopped (to taste) 3 Granny Smith apples, chopped, with skin on ¼ cup sage leaves, chopped ¼ cup fresh rosemary, chopped 1 to 2 Tbsp fresh thyme, chopped 2½ cups reduced sodium vegetable or chicken broth 2 eggs 1 to 2 tsp salt to taste (may substitute nutritional yeast or fresh dill)

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Preheat oven to 350° F. Grease a large, 2-to-3-inch-deep casserole or baking dish. Toast bread and cut into 1-inch cubes.

Set aside. Melt butter in a large pan. Add celery, onion, garlic, apples and fresh herbs. Stir to mix and cook until softened, about 10 to 15 minutes. Remove from heat and cool. Beat eggs in a large mixing bowl. Add bread cubes and apple/vegetable/ fresh herb mixture into the egg mixture. Add broth and salt (or nutritional yeast or fresh dill) and mix well. Spoon stuffing into prepared casserole dish. Cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes.

Uncover and bake for 20 to 30 minutes more or until golden-brown crust forms. Remove from oven, uncover and cool.

Courtesy of Buzz Spence. For more information on fresh herbs for emotional health, visit MotherEarthLiving.com.

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photo by Christy Ratliff

photo by Christy Ratliff

HoneyMed is a delicious blend of raw honey and three powerful superfoods: Turmeric, Ginger and Cayenne pepper.

Greek-Style Green Beans (Fasolakia Lathera) ⅓ cup olive oil 1 onion, chopped 1 lb green beans 1 medium potato, sliced (¼-inch thickness, cut in half) 3 medium tomatoes, grated, or 12 to 15 oz chopped tomatoes ¼ cup parsley, chopped 1 tsp sugar ½ tsp salt Fresh pepper In a medium pot, heat olive oil on low to medium heat. Sauté onion until softened.

Add potatoes and heat for 2 to 3 minutes.

Add beans and mix with olive oil until coated. Add tomatoes, parsley, sugar, salt and pepper. Mix well. Add just enough hot water to cover the beans halfway.

Cover and simmer for about 40 minutes, or until beans are soft and most of the liquid is absorbed. May be served as a side dish for four people or a vegetarian/vegan entrée for two.

Courtesy of Elena Paravantes, RDN. For more information and Mediterranean recipes, visit OliveTomato.com.

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Bioidentical hormone replacement pellet therapy balances the testosterone and estrogen levels necessary to produce serotonin, a chemical that regulates how we feel. Without adequate serotonin, we tend to be more tired and irritable and less able to focus, remember facts or work efficiently.

Ruslan Huzau | Dreamstime.com

Why Pellets Are Preferable

Testosterone Pellet Therapy Is Changing How Men and Women Age

M

by Dr. Sheila Mohammed

ost people have heard of bioidentical hormones, which have the exact same chemical structure as naturally produced hormones. The raw material is extracted from soybeans and then purified and slightly modified to make hormones like testosterone, estrogen and progesterone, which the body knows how to use.

There are many ways to administer bioidentical hormones. These include pills, injections, creams and patches, and pellets.

Today our focus will be on bioidentical testosterone pellet therapy.

How Testosterone Pellet Therapy Works

Pellets are organic plant material pressed into small, solid units about the size of a cooked grain of rice. They are compounded in a pharmacy, and a doctor inserts them under the skin in a minor, painless procedure that takes about 15 minutes.

The pellets remain under the skin and slowly release testosterone directly into the bloodstream in small amounts, similar 22

to what the ovaries and testes produce in younger adults. (Testosterone, like estrogen, is found naturally in both men and women.) The dose is low enough not to cause voice changes and/or facial hair in women.

Benefits of Testosterone Pellet Therapy Testosterone pellet therapy reduces osteoporosis and cardiac risk; increases sexual desire, function and performance in men and women; and improves erectile dysfunction in men. It lowers body fat, increases muscle mass and strength, and protects against abdominal obesity. It’s also a mood stabilizer, lessening depression and promoting emotional well-being.

As the pellets release testosterone into the body, it better regulates blood sugar, resulting in a decreased risk of diabetes. It also produces more nitric oxide, so more oxygen is delivered to the cells. Mental sharpness and clarity improve as well. Optimal testosterone levels have been shown to protect against Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s disease and cognitive decline.

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Pellet implantation has consistently proven to be more effective than oral, intramuscular and topical hormone therapies. The medical literature has shown that pellets deliver a consistent level of hormone into the bloodstream, avoiding the fluctuations that occur with the use of creams, pills or patches. And by delivering testosterone directly into the bloodstream, pellet therapy avoids the liver changes and increased production of clotting factors seen with oral hormone therapy. The pellets last three to five months in women and four to six months in men.

Hormone pellet therapy has been used since the late 1930s and is often considered one of the most natural ways to deliver hormones to the body. The hormones are identical to the body’s own, both structurally and biologically, and they are absorbed automatically once the sterile pellet is inserted. This increases compliance, as patients don’t have to remember to take a pill, give an injection or apply a cream each day. Data support pellets as the safest and most effective method of hormone replacement therapy.

Remember that “normal” hormone levels are not the same as optimal hormone levels. Hormone pellet therapy, whose aim is to achieve those optimal levels, has significantly changed the way men and women will age. Ongoing advancements in anti-aging medicine, including hormone therapies, will continue to improve our longevity and quality of life.

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healing ways

Healthy Brain Strategies How to Prevent Cognitive Decline

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by Linda Sechrist

A

healthy brain performs mental processes known as cognition, which is the acquiring of knowledge and understanding by means of thought, experience and the senses. This includes functions and systems such as memory, learning, language, problem solving, decision making, rea-

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soning and intelligence. The aging process, a stroke or a brain injury can cause a mild to severe reduction in healthy brain functioning resulting in impaired memory and concentration, and difficulty in learning new things or making decisions that impact daily living.

Functional medicine experts focused on preventive health care agree on the ABC’s for optimizing the brain and protecting against decline: eating a healthy diet, exercising, reducing inflammation and stress levels, balancing hormone levels, cultivating healthy relationships and getting enough restorative sleep. With their expertise, they are helping to shift the old paradigm of inevitable aging and cognitive decline into a new one based on the brain’s neuroplasticity.

Harvard-trained neuroscientist Jill Bolte Taylor, author of the bestseller My Stroke of Insight and the recent Whole Brain Living, is a true poster child for demonstrating the brain’s neuroplasticity and ability to recover from a massive stroke. She writes about the congenital neurological brain disorder that became a problem when an arteriovenous malformation exploded in her brain’s left hemisphere. For four hours, she observed her brain functions systemically shutting down one by one. On the afternoon of her stroke, she could not walk, talk, read, write or recall any of her life. Eight years later, she was not only slalom waterskiing again, but also explaining to the world, “We are the life-force power of the universe, with manual dexterity and two cognitive minds. We have the power to choose, moment to moment, who and how we want to be in the world.”

Devaki Lindsey Berkson, author of Sexy Brain, a hormone formulator and former researcher at Tulane University’s estrogen think tank, advises, “Most people think hormones are sexy, reproductive things and when they get older, they’re relieved that they don’t have to think about them. Not true. The body has a virtual physiological internet system. Hormones are the email signals to most cells. While the robustness of hormones and their signals affects lungs, gut, kidney and vocal cord health, it especially affects the brain. Balancing hormones with bioidentical hormones is one solution.”

David Perlmutter, neurologist and co-author of Brain Wash,

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Caring for someone with dementia is hard.

We are the life-force power of the universe, with manual dexterity and two cognitive minds. We have the power to choose, moment to moment, who and how we want to be in the world cites food as the biggest player in both brain and overall health in his books and PBS workshops. “Eating inappropriately causes intestinal permeability, resulting in inflammation, which in the brain, threatens good decision making—from deciding on the foods we eat to turning off our televisions at night, getting a good night’s rest, making sure that we exercise regularly and connecting with other people. Not good for the gut are dairy products, alcohol, highly processed foods that are low in fiber, high in sugar and refined carbohydrates, as well as antibiotics,” he says, adding that meditation and exposure to nature are powerful ways of reducing inflammation in the body and brain.

As explained by neurologist Dale E. Bredesen, author of The End of Alzheimer’s, stress leads to an increase in cortisol levels that can be toxic to our brains—in particular the memory—consolidating the hippocampus, one of the first structures affected

by Alzheimer’s. Studies show that high stress levels can also contribute to brain fog, involving difficulty concentrating, forgetfulness and mental fatigue. The Bredesen Protocol, available from health practitioners and online, includes exercising, eating a plant-based diet, supplementing to reduce insulin sensitivity and optimize cognitive function, reducing both gut inflammation and exposure to toxins, treating pathogens and optimizing sleep.

HealthyBrains.org, Cleveland Clinic’s Healthy Brains Initiative, is an online resource center with information on how to manage brain health and create a brain span that matches a life span. It offers six pillars of brain health as explained by brain health experts, including exercise, sleep, relaxation, mental fitness and social interaction.

Supplementing for brain health should be done wisely, says Mark Hyman, author of Food: What the Heck Should I Eat? and director of functional medicine at Cleveland Clinic. He recommends at the very least taking a multivitamin and mineral supplement, omega-3, extra vitamins B3, B6 and B12, folate and a good probiotic that enhances the brain-gut relationship.

Mastery of the ABC’s in kindergarten is required as the foundation of language and a lifetime of learning. Living the fundamentals for a healthy brain can result in a brain span that equals our life span.

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

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Four Steps to a Good Death

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by Ronica O’Hara

n his deathbed, Apple founder Steve Jobs looked for a long time at his children, his sister and his wife, then moved his gaze to the space behind them. “Oh wow! Oh wow! Oh wow!” he gasped. No one can know for certain what he was experiencing, but his words point to the deep, mysterious potential of our final hours—the awareness of which can transform our life long before its end.

“An awareness of dying, of death, can wake us up to life. It helps us live a life that’s rich and full and meaningful. When we deny the truth of dying, we live less wholeheartedly, less completely,” says Frank Ostaseski, founder of the pioneering San Francisco Zen Hospice Project and author of The Five Invitations: Discovering What Death Can Teach Us About Living Fully.

The pandemic has 51 percent of us thinking more about our own mortality, a survey shows. The subject of death has been slowly opening up in America: TV programs like Six Feet Under and Alternative Endings: Six New Ways to Die in America present dying and grief more realistically; thousands of small conversational gatherings called “death cafes” are being held each year; people are designing their own funerals and choosing green burial sites; and the field of “death doulas” is emerging to help families navigate the legal and emotional shoals. Half a century after the release of Elisabeth Kübler-Ross’ seminal book On Death and Dying, palliative care to ease pain is offered by two-thirds of American hospitals, and Medicare funding for end-of-life hospice care has grown tenfold over the last two decades.

Yet for many, death remains the last taboo—85 percent of us have not discussed our last wishes yet with loved ones. Thousands of studies in the emerging field of experimental existential psychology have found that when reminded subconsciously of death, people tend to drive faster, drink harder, smoke more and get meaner to out-groups in attempts to lower their anxiety.

But when we look death squarely in the face, that anxiety recedes, the research concludes. Gratitude, self-honesty and the humility of recognizing our place in the larger whole are also proven antidotes. With less fear, we are better able to take the proactive, concrete steps that ease our passage—getting clear on our values and desires, having important conversations, attending to final decisions and opening to our spiritual process. Although death has its own ways and means, these four processes can make it more likely we will die as we would like to.

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Defining What We Value

“Deeply consider what your priorities in life are,” says Tarron Estes, founder and CEO of The Conscious Dying Institute, in Boulder, which has trained more than 6,500 doulas since 2013. “Ask yourself, if I had only three months to live, what’s important to me spiritually, emotionally, physically? What do I still need to do or say?” She recommends Stephen Levine’s book, A Year to Live, for exercises and meditations for that process.

“Don’t wait until the time of your dying to discover what it has to teach you,” advises Ostaseski, who has sat beside more than 2,000 hospice patients in their last hours.

“When I’m with dying people, the things that are important to them are not their spiritual beliefs, but are more about rela-

in 10 of us say we want to die in our homes, but only two in 10 do. “The default systems are all to treat, treat, treat, until someone finally says, ‘No,’ so many people end up on a high-tech conveyor belt to the ICU,” says award-winning journalist Katy Butler, author of The Art of Dying Well: A Practical Guide to a Good End of Life. Among people that undertake such talks, 73 percent describe the experience as positive, reassuring and productive. A downloadable Conversation Starter Guide (TheConversationProject. org) provides practical guidance for these critical conversations.

tionships—‘Am I loved? Did I love well?’

Those two questions are useful inquiries now. They help us to discover where value and meaning can be found.”

By applying our values to the dying process, we can start sorting through options.

Do we want to die at home or in a hospital?

What medical procedures will we accept or decline? What measures do we want to be taken to sustain our life? Who do we want to be at our side? And what do we need to say before that time?

Having Important Conversations

As daunting as the prospect of an end-of-life talk with family and friends may seem, it can start with simple words like “I want to talk with you about something important to me.” Without spelling out our desires, death can become inadvertently medicalized: Nine

Attending to Medical and Burial Decisions

Taking care of business—the paperwork aspects of death known as advance directives—spares loved ones from having to make tough decisions later. A last will and testament precludes pain and infighting among family and friends. A living will specifies what treatments are wanted under what conditions. A medical power of attorney designates a trusted person to make medical decisions if a patient is not capable.

A Do Not Resuscitate order approved by a doctor means emergency medical workers are less likely to give CPR, which frequently causes trauma and broken ribs in elderly or frail patients. Either cremation or a burial can be decided upon; environmental options such as a forest burial in a wooden casket can be explored. Local hospice options can be surveyed in advance; nonprofits generally are rated better than profit-making groups.

Yogic Tools Ease Dying Process

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n yogic tradition, the “bliss sheath” is a very fine level of consciousness that represents happiness and joy. Yoga describes being born as manifesting from the bliss sheath into the physical body. Dying is the reversal of that process.

We can understand and experience death as a return to the bliss sheath by using certain yogic tools:

n Pranayama combines two Sanskrit concepts: prana (vital life force) and yama (to gain control). In practice, pranayama means controlling one’s breathing as both a physical and mental exercise. n Meditation is central to the yogic tradition, but it has also come into its own as a natural way to focus the mind and achieve calm.

n Yoga nidra—whose literal interpretation is “yogic sleep”—is actually a deep state of relaxation, a level of consciousness somewhere between waking and sleeping. Outside conventional yoga practice, yoga nidra is also used therapeutically as a means of stress relief.

Marissa Walker, a trauma-informed private yoga teacher in Navarre, offers endof-life yoga and meditation.

She teaches students these tools so that when it’s their time to go, they can go “peacefully, consciously and with reduced fear.”

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For more information, visit YogiAndHerb.com.

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Opening to the Spiritual Process

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I

Whether or not we have religious beliefs to carry us through waves of loss and sorrow, death can spur spiritual insight. “In dying, we withdraw from our outer circles and come into the inner circles of our lives—the relationships that matter most to us,” says Ostaseski, who has worked four decades with hospice patients. “There’s a growing silence that has us becoming more contemplative and reflective. Our sense of time and space changes and we enter into a kind of free flow. The boundaries we have lived

by begin to dissolve, and we start to feel ourselves as part of something larger—not as a belief, but as a natural occurrence.

Often people realize themselves to be more than the small, separate self they had thought themselves to be.”

Joan Tollifson, a Zen-trained spiritual teacher and author of Death: The End of Self-Improvement, concurs: “When the future disappears, we are brought home to the immediacy that we may have avoided all our lives. With no future left to fantasize about, the focus of attention may finally be fully on right Now, the only place where our life ever actually is. Really getting that ‘This is it,’ there may be a sudden recognition of the absolute preciousness and wonder of every simple ordinary thing and of the people around us, just as they are, with all their flaws and foibles. Old grudges and resentments often melt away, and love shines through.

“All the things which may have been part of our self-image—independence, physical strength, cognitive sharpness, good appearance and so on—have either disappeared or are rapidly collapsing, which invites the discovery that none of that really mattered, that what we truly or more fundamentally are is not dependent on any of that.

“The greatest gift we can give to a loved one who is dying,” says Tollifson, is to “simply be present, listen, follow your heart, trust the process. Everything else will follow from that. There’s no right or wrong way.”

It can be difficult to know what to say to a loved one near the end, but hospice workers recommend five phrases that have deep healing potential, even if a person seems unconscious: “I love you,” “Thank you,” “Please forgive me,” “I forgive you,” and “Goodbye” or “Until we meet again.”

As Butler points out, the first four phrases can be said any time in our lives.

Increasingly in hospice care, loved ones are encouraged to sit with the body after the death, touching it, sharing stories, perhaps gently bathing it and dressing it in favorite clothes. “Touching the body, feeling the coolness, makes the death real to the family,” Ostaseski says. “Research shows that

people that went through that process still grieved, but they were able to be with the emotion and not be overwhelmed by it.”

Facing the reality of death—as hard and heartbreaking as that can be—can free us to truly live life, said Jobs. After his terminal cancer diagnosis, he told Stanford students in a commencement address, “Remembering that I’ll be dead soon is the most important tool I’ve ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life. Because almost every-

thing—all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure—these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important. Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked.

There is no reason not to follow your heart.”

Health writer Ronica O’Hara can be contacted at OHaraRonica@gmail.com.

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fit body

SACRED DANCE Moving into Divine Energy

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by Marlaina Donato

H

eart-healthy dancing of all types is known to promote overall physical and mental health. When they are spirit-infused, forms like African, Middle Eastern, ecstatic and yoga-inspired kundalini dance offer us the opportunity to stay in shape while also fortifying the body’s intrinsic life force.

Classes in these styles of dance, which are most often conducted barefoot, draw upon a deep cultural well and include the infectious heartbeat of live accompaniment. Just about anyone can find their own blissful groove when going with the flow is the focus. “In class, I choose to emphasize the feeling more than the step itself. The goal is always to get a spiritual release,” says Darian Parker, a Brooklyn-based West African dance teacher, professor and choreographer. “I always encourage my students to privilege ‘having a good time’ over succumbing to self-criticism from not perfecting a step.”

Modern Moves, Ancient Roots There are more than 3,000 ethnic groups on the continent of Africa, and each dance style has a purpose that is defined by its unique history. In the West African tradition, dances are designed to heal the individual and from the broader perspective, restore community. Parker, a faculty member of Cumbe: Center for African and Diaspora Dance, in 30

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Brooklyn, celebrates the culture and art of the Mande people. “In short, Mande dance trains your spirit just as much as it trains your body,” says Parker. “In many Mande cultures, the ground is thought to be the habitation of our ancestors, who are thought to animate our bodies when we dance. In this way, you can think of dance as a ritual technology that renews our connections with those who came before us.”

While an African dance class encourages high energy and joyous expression, ecstatic dance can be a portal to self-discovery and connectedness. Springboarding from ancient societies worldwide, modern ecstatic dance is freeform and hallmarked by trance or tribal beats. “Ecstatic dance has

In many Mande cultures, the ground is thought to be the habitation of our ancestors, who are thought to animate our bodies when we dance. In this way, you can think of dance as a ritual technology that renews our connections with those who came before us. offered me a portal to my subconscious, my spirit, my deep knowing. It’s a way to, as Gabrielle Roth, the creator of 5Rhythms, put it, ‘Get out of my head and into my body,’ and in my body there is wonderful wisdom,” explains Heidi Sheldon, a seasoned ecstatic dancer and licensed counselor in Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania. “Your spirit knows what to do when it hears and feels the rhythms. You just need to allow your body to follow.”

dervish (pronounced “darvish” in Persian) dance of the Sufis historically reserved for men—into the hands of women.“In the traditional Sama, the right arm is extended up toward the sky with the palm facing up,” she says. “The left arm is extended out with the palm facing down toward the Earth. In so doing, you transmit and emanate the light you’ve received into the world through your heart. So, this dance is about becoming a channel for light and love in the world.”

In essence, stepping into any dance class can be good for the soul. Sayyad reminds us, “Every movement and dance style, if done with the intention of surrendering one’s sense of separateness into an experience of the greater or dissolving one’s identity as a drop of water into the greater ocean of oneness, can be sacred.”

Marlaina Donato is an author and recording artist. Connect at WildflowerLady.com.

LOVE YOUR GUT

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Belly of Bliss, Heart of Light Middle Eastern dance is comprised of many dance styles—folk and tribal, classical and most widely known, belly dancing. In ancient times, the latter was practiced in rituals for fertile harvests and women’s fertility, including physical preparation for childbirth. In 2017, a pilot study published in the Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies showed that belly dance improves depressive symptoms, fatigue and quality of life in women with breast cancer.

“Belly dancing is a tantric form of dance that empowers women to release shame and accept and love themselves and their bodies just as they are. The movements open us to pleasure and sensual bliss in our very own skin. In this way, it is very healing and therapeutic,” says Banafsheh Sayyad, a Persian dance artist and founder of the Dance of Oneness Academy, in Los Angeles.

Sayyad’s movement, a fusion of Persian and Middle Eastern dance, flamenco, contemporary dance and meditative whirling, is deeply connected to an ancient feminine ethos.

As a teacher, she brings the Sama—the

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wise words

David Crow on the Healing Power of Medicinal Plants

by Randy Kambic

Why do you feel humanity needs to reconnect a sacred relationship with plants?

For our survival as a species. Plants created the biosphere over hundreds of millions of years, including the ozone layer, the oxygen in the atmosphere, the fertility of the soil, the regulation of the seasons and the foundation of the food chain. From those conditions, higher life was able to emerge and evolve: Humans emerged from conditions created by plants. Since we cannot live directly on soil and sunlight as plants do, the structure and function of the human body are designed so that we can extract those energies in forms that plants provide; our physiology, respiration and metabolism is a mirror image of photosynthesis.

We have complete biological dependency on plants in every moment; understanding this is the basis of reverence for nature, which is ecological spirituality, the only long-term solution to the environmental crisis we have created through lack of sensitivity and appreciation of our place in the biosphere.

photo by Simone Anne

How is self-care changing to empower people?

D

avid Crow, author of In Search of the Medicine Buddha, among other books, is a foremost expert in botanical medicine and other natural health applications. As a teacher, telemedicine consultant, researcher, certified master herbalist, aromatherapist and acupuncturist, he has studied Chinese, Tibetan, Ayurvedic and Western herbal medicine for more than 30 years. He is a strong advocate of the safe use of herbs and essential oils, and installing gardens in public and private spaces. As one of the first medical pioneers to use essential oils and aromatherapy in clinical practice, integrating them into comprehensive treatments, he is also the founder of Floracopeia Aromatic Treasures.

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Natural Awakenings of Northwest Florida

The doctor/patient paradigm is changing in many ways as a result of the internet, availability of natural medicines and awareness of the limitations and dangers of pharmaceutical drugs. The availability of nutraceuticals and herbal products from around the world has created a golden age of natural medicine, but has also brought widespread confusion from the overwhelming amount of information combined with marketing of products. People are asking more about drugs and prescribed procedures; they are seeking natural alternatives, and in many cases, either reducing or eliminating their need for pharmaceutical drugs. This change is an important step toward greater health consciousness, which is linked directly to other aspects of creating a healthier society, like the increased demand for organic food that’s driving more organic agriculture.

Why are cultural medical systems inseparable from spiritual and meditative practices?

Classical medical systems such as Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine, along with indigenous and shamanic uses of plants for healing, have evolved and are inseparable from the spiritual practices of their cultures. For example, Chinese medicine evolved from and with the same philosophical roots and practices as qigong and Taoist alchemy, and Ayurveda emerged from and in turn influenced yoga, tantra and Vedic philosophy. The significance of this is that medical practices were used both for healing the body and to support yogic and spiritual practices, and vice versa. Now we have modern scientific research confirming

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the health benefits of spiritual practices such as meditation and prayer, but more importantly, traditional medical systems remind us that there is an ultimate spiritual goal that is higher than mere physical health.

What is your view on the resurgence of psychedelic plant medicines for healing?

All plants have healing properties and also have potential dangers and toxicity, depending on how they are used.

The psychoactive plants, specifically the entheogens (those that awaken the perception of divinity) have been used in ceremonies and mystery cults throughout history for healing conditions of body, mind and spirit, but those traditions have always been under the care of highly trained and experienced priests, priestesses and shamans. The experiences while under the influence of these plants are highly dependent on the container of the environment, the cultural mythologies, the ritual, its leaders and the other people present in the ceremony, and it can be highly unpredictable with both good and bad outcomes.

The use of these medicines at higher doses is an excellent opportunity for deep inner transformation, exploration of consciousness and appreciation of the visionary realms that are available to us, but like all intensive spiritual endeavors, requires preparation, orientation and guidance. Using these plants at lower doses, like microdosing daily with psilocybin mushrooms for treating depression and anxiety, offers great benefits for some people without the risks of the psychological, mental or emotional disruptions that can occur at higher doses.

For more information, visit CrowConsultations.com or Floracopeia.com.

Randy Kambic, in Estero, Florida, is a freelance editor and writer.

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natural pet

Honoring the Loss of a Pet Simple Ways to Grieve and Heal

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by Marlaina Donato

F

rench novelist Anatole France’s sentiment, “Until one has loved an animal, a part of one’s soul remains unawakened,” rings true for anyone that shares a love story with a beloved pet. Whether we lose a cat, dog, horse, bird or lizard, the final parting can be quite emotional. Society supports us with empathy and rituals of closure when we suffer the loss of a human love, but grieving an animal companion can be a uniquely silent passage. Surrendering fully to the mourning process, creating a joyful ceremony and celebrating the life of a loved one invites healing and solace.

Sacred Grief The animal-human alliance is hallmarked by the absence of emotional baggage, and is therefore capable of provoking grief that equals or exceeds losing a close relative. “This is a deep bond that is never judgmental on how we look, spend money or what we do for a living, as long as we love and nurture. And, in return, we receive undying, unconditional love,” says Pam Baren Kaplan, a pet loss grief counselor and life coach in Chicago.

Diane Stout, a pet parent and retired dog groomer in Paupack, Pennsylvania, knows the impact of this unconditional love, especially through life’s changes. “Long after a spouse has died and family have moved away to other lives and preoccupations, the family pet remains the faithful dinner or TV time companion,” she says. “A cherished pet is often the last true companion.”

Cancelling appointments or taking time off from work after a pet’s passing does not connote emotional weakness. “Treat yourself with the same kindness you would show 34

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another person going through this difficult time,” advises Cheryl Wyatt, a certified grief companion at Lap of Love Veterinary Hospice, a national network of veterinarians that provides compassionate end-of-life care. “Allow yourself the time to do your mourning work. Tears are cleansing. If they happen to come 10 hours or 10 years from now, you have permission to shed them.”

Compassionate Transitions Loving an animal until the last goodbye includes relieving their suffering to the best of our ability. In-home euthanasia can make a heartbreaking time more bearable for both pet and owner. “Providing beloved pets euthanasia at home differs from a clinical setting because it allows them to remain in their safe, happy place.

At home, the veterinarian can greet the pet family and provide the loved one’s

kerkezz/AdobeStock.com

peaceful passing wherever they are most comfortable—a favorite bed or spot on the couch—surrounded by all those who love them most,” explains Wyatt.

Pet funerals are becoming more common, and ceremonies are as unique as the animal remembered. Stories, poetry and memories can be shared by family and they can include a living memorial such as a tree planted in the animal’s name.

Stout, also an accomplished artist, finds joy in painting her pets that have gone and suggests “a scrapbook of pictures and memories, because a look back at puppy or kitten pictures can bring an instant smile.”

Kaplan agrees, “Creating what I refer to as ‘a legacy of love’ can be done by the entire family or by one person. This is a book that you put together with favorite photos of your pet and journal the story around the photo. This is a great way to include family member’s memories from their perspective.”

Choosing a unique, handmade vessel for ashes can honor an animal. Mary Jane Panebianco, owner of SpiritpetShop on Etsy.com, was inspired by the passing of a co-worker’s dog. “At the time, I worked in a mixed media art gallery, and she had one of our ceramic artists create her dog Sandy’s memorial urn. It was beautiful and so well done. I did some research on the pet industry, and everything I found was so commercial and mass-produced.

I knew pets and their owners deserved another option.”

Panebianco works with a small number of award-winning American artisans and accepts custom orders for handcrafted urns. “Many of my pet parents have told me how having a beautiful memorial for their beloved pet helps them make peace with their pet’s passing. It’s the last thing you will do for them.”

In the beginning and in the end, it’s all about the love. For Stout, it’s what animals teach us. “To play and dance often, to give unconditional love, loyalty and friendship, to find joy in the little things, and that life is too often short.”

Marlaina Donato is an author and recording artist. Connect at WildflowerLady.com.

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healthy kids

Mindfulness for Stressed Teens School Programs Teach Healthy Coping Skills

T

by Erin Lehn

een stress levels often rival those of adults, concludes data collected by the American Psychological Association in 2017. This is especially true these days with the influx of social media expectations, political unrest and a global pandemic to contend with. Other daily pressures—such as relationship turmoil, bullying, academic challenges, unstable home lives and mood disorders—can add to the stressors. With all of these pressures, it’s no wonder many teens often tune out and turn toward their devices, getting fixated on other people’s lives or compulsively recording their own experiences, but not fully living them.

A wealth of research has demonstrated that one of the most beneficial ways to help teens navigate the ups and downs of

36

these tumultuous years is through mindfulness education. A randomized clinical trial published in the Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology in 2009 was one of the first studies that provided evidence of the effectiveness of mindfulness-based stress reduction treatment of adolescents.

Since then, there has been no shortage of research findings proving its benefits.

“In a nutshell, mindfulness is about being keenly aware of your life, in the present, versus the automatic tendency to ruminate about the past or worry about the future,” says Gina Biegel, CEO and founder of Stressed Teens, a Campbell, California, business that has been disseminating mindfulness-based programs tailored to adolescents since 2004. “It’s noticing your thoughts, feelings and physical

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sensations in the present moment without harmful judgment.”

“Mindfulness is a practice in the art of aligning your energy, mindset and emotions,” says Tris Thorp, the San Diego-based author of Healing Your Heart and a Chopra Center-trained leadership coach. “When teens acquire the skills to better navigate what’s happening in the moment, they’ll have more opportunity available to them because they’re calm, centered and grounded.”

“The best moments come when a teen realizes their own wisdom, sees it emerge and is able to grow stronger as a result,” says Jem Shackleford, head of curricula for Mindfulness in Schools Project (MiSP), a leading nonprofit provider of mindfulness training for schools in the

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According to Biegel, a regular mindfulness-based practice helps rewire the brain when people focus on pleasant, beneficial and positive experiences. “For survival purposes, our brains are naturally wired to the negative, aka ‘negative selection bias’,” she says. “Thankfully, we can train our brains to be more tilted to the positive. In fact, just thinking of a positive memory for 12 seconds can create a benefit for your well-being.”

While there are multiple approaches to weaving mindfulness practices into a school setting, here are two highly effective practices. n Certify teachers in mindfulness training so they can deliver the materials directly to their students. “MiSP curricula are produced by educators that have many years of experience of what works in the classroom. They are also long-term mindfulness practitioners, giving them a unique perspective of how mindfulness can be used and taught effectively in school,” says Shackleford.

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n Implement a school-wide approach.

Stressed Teens offers online mindfulness-based groups and one-on-one therapy and coaching sessions for teens, as well as professional instructor certifications and the Whole-School Mindfulness-Centered Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) program.

This approach, in which an entire school participates for a calendar year, is especially beneficial because everyone is going through the program at the same time.

“Typically, schools complete two lessons per week to fit the curriculum into one semester or one lesson per week to spread learning over two semesters,” Biegel says.

While teens can learn and practice these techniques alone, a whole systems approach that involves the family, school and community has been shown to have the biggest impact. “A teenager with a mindfulness practice can have a beneficial effect on other members of the household. However, there needs to be support from every angle in a teen’s environment for it to be sustainable,” says Thorp. “There’s so much evidence-based research and measurables that demonstrate how impactful these programs are in schools and communities.

There’s a clear reduction in acting out, reduced conflict, and more participation and engagement.”

“Think of the ripple effect of possible benefits if the whole community and systems a teen are in are also learning and practicing mindfulness,” says Biegel.

“Mindfulness-based methods also include and affect positive human values like gratitude, kindness, generosity, self-care, compassion and acceptance. Youth, parents and educators can all benefit from that.”

For more information, including free mindfulness-based resources, visit Stressed Teens. com, MindfulnessInSchools.org and TrisThorp.com.

Erin Lehn is a frequent contributor to Natural Awakenings magazine.

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www.NaturalAwakeningsNWF.com

s

10 Mindfulness Tips for Teens 1. Stop what you’re doing and count your

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2. Devote your awareness to more of

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5. Get some form of exercise every day.

Even a 15-minute walk can do wonders for the mind.

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such as learning an instrument or creating artwork. Bring mindful attention, paying notice to your five senses, to anything you do in your daily life.

Tips courtesy of Gina Biegel, CEO and founder of Stressed Teens; Jem Shackleford, head of curricula for Mindfulness in Schools Project; and Tris Thorp, author and coach. For more helpful mindfulness tips, click on the Stressed Teens Toolbox link at StressedTeens.com, visit MindfulnessInSchools.org/freeresources/ and TrisThorp.com/blog/.

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green living

Eco-Decor for the Home How to Buy Sustainable Furnishings

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by Sandra Yeyati

W

hile comfort and beauty are clear priorities when shopping for furnishings, sustainability and health should be, too. By asking the right questions and doing a little up-front research, consumers have the power to appoint their sanctuaries with non-toxic, ecologically responsible items that are built to last and won’t pollute the environment.

According to the Sustainable Furnishings Council (SFC) (SustainableFurnishings.org), 80 percent of the environmental impact of any product comes from the materials used to make it, so it’s vital to ask about all of the material components in a piece of furniture.

Sustainably Harvested Wood Because it is long-lasting and sturdy, wood can be an excellent, eco-friendly material. The most important consideration is that it hasn’t contributed to deforestation. SFC Executive Director Susan Inglis recommends third-party certification to confirm that wood was sustainably harvested in ways that preserve the forest’s ecosystem and benefit nearby communities. The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC.org) issues one of the industry’s most coveted independent certifications.

Reclaimed wood is another Earth-friendly option. “Perhaps the tree was cut down decades 40

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or centuries ago and made into a building, and now it’s being used to make a piece of furniture,” explains Inglis. A third sustainable choice is wood from a plantation that was established more than 25 years ago. “While it is not sustainable to convert natural forests to plantations today because you’re losing biodiversity, wood from long-established plantations is considered sustainable,” she says, adding that in those settings, new trees are planted to replace those harvested.

Non-Toxic Textiles According to Inglis, the most environmentally sound textiles are made of natural fibers like organic cotton, linen, hemp and wool, which are long-lasting and can be re-

cycled into new textiles. Synthetic fibers are petroleum-based and much less desirable.

Textile manufacturing practices can also be environmentally problematic. “Look for certification that they’re not polluting waters or using toxic dyes,” says Aimee Robinson, owner of EcoBalanza, an organic furniture boutique in Seattle. She points to the Global Organic Textile Standard (Global-Standard.org) as a reliable organization which identifies producers of natural fibers that are organically grown without pesticides, while also considering the social and environmental impacts of their production systems.

brizmaker/AdobeStock.com

Volatile Compounds and Unhealthy Chemicals The SFC has identified five classes of chemicals commonly found in furniture that have been linked to cancer, endocrine disruption and immune impairment: volatile organic compounds like formaldehyde found in paints and finishes; flame retardants; fluoridated chemicals used in performance fabrics; antimicrobials; and polyvinyl chloride, known as PVC or vinyl. Inglis recommends that consumers ask about the potential presence of these chemicals when shopping for furniture and avoid them if possible.

Recycled Plastic Recycling plastic to make furniture is trending, and that’s a plus, according to Inglis. “The best thing would be to avoid making anything out of plastic,” she says.

“Plastic is a huge environmental problem, and our use of it continues to go up, especially in the COVID era. Only a small percentage of it is being recycled, leaving a lot of it to break down into microparticles, unfortunately. So, making things out of our plastic waste is good.”

Robinson, on the other hand, refuses to use any plastic in her handmade, all-natural furniture. “Plastics are a non-biodegradable, petrochemical product,” she says. “They’re polluting everything. The plastics industry is so insidious. Anything we can do on any front to pull away from petrochemicals in every aspect is good.”

Price and Durability “Well-made furniture can get expensive, but you’ll have to replace cheap furniture because it’s not built to last. What’s cheap in the beginning is expensive in the end, because it’s not taking into account the cost of having to replace it or the cost of cleaning up an environment that gets more and more filled with junk,” says Robinson, who also recommends looking for well-made vintage pieces that can be restored and brought back to life.

What is

SLEEP APNEA? SLEEP APNEA IS LINKED TO: n n n n n n n

High blood pressure Atrial fibrillation Sudden cardiac death Erectile dysfunction Low Testosterone Heart failure Weight gain

“I recommend that you spend the most budget you have on a quality product, because that sofa, if it’s made well, can be reupholstered over and over again,” says Robin Wilson, a New York City designer and founder of Robin Wilson Home. “By keeping that sofa, you’re being eco-friendly to the world because it is not going into a landfill.”

Sandra Yeyati, J.D., is a professional writer and editor. Reach her at SandraYeyati@ gmail.com.

It is a common disorder in which your BREATHING STOPS briefly DURING SLEEP. Pauses last 10-20 seconds and occur as many as 30+ times/hour.

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calendar of events SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 6 Infant Massage Workshop – Noon-1:30pm. Taught

by Rena Kersey, OTR/L, CIMI2, CIIT, students will learn technique and the possible benefits in the following areas: Helps relieve gas, colic, + constipation. Enhances development of the nervous system. Increases alertness. Improves circulation.

Aids in digestion. Reduces stress hormones. Improves immune function. Stimulates neurological development. $50. Roots Shoppe, 357 Beal Pkwy NW, FWB. 850-863-1044. RootsShoppe.com.

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 12

special event MAHABHUTA Yoga VegFest Vegan food vendors, yoga, aerial yoga, meditation, artisan village, galactic child tent, performances, art and jewelry.

November 12-14.

Bayview Park 2001 East Lloyd St. Pensacola For more information, visit

MahabhutaYogaVegFest.com

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 13 Tapping or The Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) Workshop – 1-3pm. Just as horses and other animals can be soothed and calmed by touch so too can humans. Discover this excellent method for regulating the nervous system to relax and trigger the immune, digestive, and endocrine system to function at their best. It calms the brain, sending it signals that it is safe to relax. It helps to reduce stress and anxiety. And best of all it is easy and takes very little time. 5 to 10 minutes a day can change your life. Taught by Cassandra Spears. $33. Roots Shoppe, 357 Beal Pkwy NW, FWB. 850-863-1044.

RootsShoppe.com.

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 21 Monthly Meditation – 5:30-6:30pm. Dive deep into an hour-long meditation session. Come sit with us for monthly meditation where we will experience a new meditation modality every month. We will dive deep into an hour-long meditation session.

Love offerings accepted. Roots Shoppe, 357 Beal Pkwy NW, FWB. 850-863-1044. RootsShoppe.com.

plan ahead FRIDAY, DECEMBER 3 Christmas In The Park - 6pm. Lighting of the Tree, Christmas carols, sip hot cocoa, enjoy the lighting of the Christmas Tree, and even a visit with Santa. Free cocoa and snacks for all.Awards for the Christmas Tree Decorating Contest will be given out. Heritage Park in Downtown Foley, Al.125 E. Laurel Ave. Professional & Business Government & Civic

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 4 Serving Love – 1-2:30pm. Learn the basics of starting a vegan or plant-based lifestyle. Helping those who are considering a vegan or plant-based lifestyle. We are here to answer any questions or help with any struggles you may be facing. We will teach you the basics of starting a vegan or plantbased lifestyle. Facilitated by: Laci Barnes + Skye Barnes 25$. Roots Shoppe, 357 Beal Pkwy NW, FWB. 850-863-1044. RootsShoppe.com.

Thank you Bay County for 35 years of Health and Wellness.

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Natural Awakenings of Northwest Florida

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ongoing events

sunday

monday

30A Farmers’ Market – 9am-1pm. Find local grass-fed beef; whole chickens; eggs; goat milk; cheese; produce; hydroponic lettuce; herbs; microgreens; local and regional honey, including Tupelo honey; homemade from scratch breads, pies and pastries; pickled veggies; jams; salsas; BBQ sauces; pesto sauce; tuna and shrimp dips; and the best Maryland crab cakes you have ever had. In addition, beautifully handcrafted soaps. Free. 28 N Barrett Sq, Rosemary Beach. 850-499-4697. 30AFarmersMarket@gmail.com. 30AFarmersMarket.com

Pilates Advanced Equipment Class – 8:30-9:30am.

Mon, Wed & Sat. Plus For those individuals that have a strong foundation in the Pilates fundamentals.

Limited to 6 participants. $30/drop-in, $25/account rate. Pilates Core Training, 1308 Dunmire St, Pensacola. 850-287-5836. PilatesCoreTraining.com.

Thoughts of Peace Beginners Meditation – 1:302:30pm. Redefining meditation for beginners w/ Q&A. If your mind feels scattered, stressed, anxious or fearful and you want to take back ownership of your thoughts then this class is for you. Learn to create a peaceful & calm mind on demand whenever you need it. Facilitator: Lance Bozek. $15/drop-in, packages available. Roots Shoppe, 357 Beal Pkwy NW, FWB. 850-863-1044. RootsShoppe.com.

Community Yoga Class – 4:30-5:30pm. Enjoy a yoga class and support a charity at the same time, with donations for this class going to PAWS, Children in Crisis, Headstart, Southern Dog Rescue and more. Donations accepted. Dragonfly Yoga Studio, 184 Brooks St, Ste 2, FWB. DragonflyYoga.com.

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Pilates Modified Equipment Class – 9:45-10:45am.

Mon, Wed & Fri. For those with conditions such as osteoporosis, disc pathologies, arthritis and joint replacements. Limited to 6 participants. $30/drop-in, $25/ account rate. Pilates Core Training, 1308 Dunmire St, Pensacola. 850-287-5836. PilatesCoreTraining.com.

Pilates Intermediate Equipment Class – noon1pm. Plus Tue & Thur-5:30pm, Fri-9:45am & Sat-9am. Challenging exercises for those that have a foundation in the Pilates fundamentals. Improves strength, posture, alignment and flexibility. Limited to 6 participants. $30/drop-in, $25/account rate.

Pilates Core Training, 1308 Dunmire St, Pensacola.

850-287-5836. PilatesCoreTraining.com.

Redefining Meditation for Beginners w/ Q&A Pilates Multi-Level Mat Class – 5:30-6:30pm. Plus Tue-8:30am. For those that have a basic understanding of fundamentals of Pilates Mat. Uses a variety of different props (stability balls, rollers, rings, etc) to

Natural Awakenings of Northwest Florida

www.NaturalAwakeningsNWF.com

align, strengthen and increase flexibility. Limited to 8 participants. $15/drop-in, $10/account rate. Pilates Core Training, 1308 Dunmire St, Pensacola. 850287-5836. PilatesCoreTraining.com.

Unwind Yoga Class – 5:30-6:30pm. Unhook from the daily grind and sink into this juicy yoga class to find your chill. $15/drop-in, packages available.

Roots Shoppe, 357 Beal Pkwy NW, FWB. 850-8631044. RootsShoppe.com.

Traditional Kundalini Yoga Class – 6:457:45pm. Gain the vitality and mental clarity to face life in the Aquarian Age with fearlessness and grace. $15/drop-in, packages available. Roots Shoppe, 357 Beal Pkwy NW, FWB. 850-863-1044.

RootsShoppe.com.

tuesday Pilates Multi-level & Beginning Mat Class – 8:309:30am/Multi-Level Mat & 9:45-10:45am/Beginning Mat. Increase strength, flexibility, alignment, improve your posture, and love how your body feels after just one hour of corrective movement exercises. Limited to 8 participants. $15/drop-in, $10/account rate. Pilates Core Training, 1308 Dunmire St, Pensacola.

850-287-5836. PilatesCoreTraining.com.

Gratitude Flow Yoga Class – 5:30-6:30pm. Our offering to the veteran community.This yoga class

is free for our veterans with DOD ID. Others may join for a regular class rate. $15/drop-in, packages available. Roots Shoppe, 357 Beal Pkwy NW, FWB. 850-863-1044. RootsShoppe.com.

friday

movement. Uses various props such as foam roller, lacrosse ball, bands and MFR ball. $15/drop-in, $10/account rate.Pilates Core Training. 850-2875836. Pilates CoreTraining.com.

Pilates Intermediate Equipment Class – 5:306:30pm. Tue & Thur. Plus Mon-noon-1pm & Sat9-10am. Challenging exercises for those that have a foundation in the Pilates fundamentals. Limited to 6. $30/drop-in, $25/account rate. Pilates Core Training, 1308 Dunmire St, Pensacola. 850-2875836. PilatesCoreTraining.com.

Pilates Intermediate Equipment Class – 8:309:30am. Challenging exercises for those that have a foundation in the Pilates fundamentals. Improves strength, posture, alignment and flexibility. Limited to 6 participants. $30/drop-in, $25/account rate. Pilates Core Training, 1308 Dunmire St, Pensacola. 850-287-5836. PilatesCore Training.com.

wednesday

Body Rolling and MFR stretch Zoom – 10:45am-11:45am. Releases fascial restrictions in the body which cause pain and restrict joint

Pilates Multi-level Mat Class – 11am-noon.

For those that have a basic understanding of the fundamentals of Pilates Mat. Uses a variety of different props (stability balls, rollers, rings, etc) to align, strengthen and increase flexibility. Limited to 8 Participants. $15/drop-in, $10/account rate Pilates Core Training. 850-287-5836. Pilates CoreTraining.com.

Body Rolling and MFR Stretch Zoom – 10:45am11:45am. Releases fascial restrictions in the body which cause pain and restrict joint movement. Uses various props such as foam roller, lacrosse ball, bands and MFR ball. $15/drop-in, $10/account rate.Pilates Core Training. 850-287-5836. Pilates CoreTraining.com.

SoulShine Yoga Class – noon-1pm. This lunchtime yoga class is the perfect way to unwind from the

Body-Mind-Spirit

Flow On-the-Go Yoga Class – 12:15-1:15pm. Fun, free, flow on the go. Let yourself go in this happy ,carefree setting and learn to connect with yourself.

Hatha Flow yoga with a quirky flare. $15/drop-in, packages available. Roots Shoppe, 357 Beal Pkwy NW, FWB. 850-863-1044. RootsShoppe.com

BOGO LE SA

Wildlings Yoga Class for Kids – 12:30-1pm. This class offers kids ages 5-13 a yoga class designed just for them and perfect for holding attention and engagement. $5/drop-in. Roots Shoppe, 357 Beal Pkwy NW, FWB. 850-863-1044. RootsShoppe.com.

Intro to Traditional Kundalini Yoga Class – 5:306:30pm. This class is a beautiful pause midway through your week. It offers the opportunity to harness your energy and move forward feeling renewed. $15/drop-in, packages available. Roots Shoppe, 357 Beal Pkwy NW, FWB. 850-863-1044.

RootsShoppe.com Relax & Regenerate Meditation Class – 6:457:45pm. A mid-week reset for body, mind, & spirit.

Join us each week as we release stress and reconnect to the divine self through easy body movement and mantra meditation. Leave each class with your body and mind quiet and at ease. No experience necessary. $15/drop in, packages available. Roots Shoppe, 357 Beal Pkwy NW, FWB. 850-863-1044.

RootsShoppe.com.

Find Your

thursday Wildlings Yoga Class for Kids – 12:30-1pm. This class offers kids ages 5-13 a yoga class designed just for them and perfect for holding attention and engagement. $5/drop-in. Roots Shoppe, 357 Beal Pkwy NW, FWB. 850-863-1044. RootsShoppe.com.

YoGay: A Rainbow Flow for EveryBODY – 6:307:45pm. This LGBTQIA-friendly class is for those who identify or ally with the LGBTQIA+ community. Join our community in a protected space where you can let your guard down and get real with your body, mind, and spirit. Together, we will explore various styles of yoga suitable for every body! $15/ drop-in, packages available. Roots Shoppe, 357 Beal Pkwy NW, FWB. 850-863-1044. RootsShoppe.com .

Balance

is now

Massage-Coaching-Reiki

Drop by www.ExaltedGrace.com and book your BOGO session now!

New clients get one service FREE booked in the following week of your first appointment.

#MA94272

MOBILE OR IN OFFICE @ EMPATHIC PRACTICE 2701 N 12TH AVE PENSACOLA 724-809-6344

November 2021

45

week and get centered for the weekend. $15/drop-in, packages available. Roots Shoppe, 357 Beal Pkwy NW, FWB. 850-863-1044. RootsShoppe.com

saturday Pilates Beginner Equipment Class – 7:15-8:15am.

For beginners to improve your posture, strength and flexibility. Limited to 6 Participants. $30/drop-in, $25/ account rate. Pilates Core Training, 1308 Dunmire St, Pensacola. 850-287-5836. PilatesCore Training.com.

30A Farmers’ Market – 9am-1pm. Find local grassfed beef, whole chickens, eggs, goat milk, cheese, produce, hydroponic lettuce, herbs and microgreens.

Also, the best honey, including Tupelo honey; homemade from scratch bread, pies and pastries; pickled veggies; jams; salsas; BBQ sauces; pesto sauce; tuna and shrimp dips; and the best Maryland crab cakes you have ever had. In addition, beautiful arts and crafts, including fusion glass, jewelry, handmade stationery and beautiful soaps. Free. 30A Farmers’ Market at Palm Plaza, 1003 John Sims Pkwy, Niceville. 850-499-4697. 30AFarmersMarket@gmail. com. 30AFarmersMarket.com.

Grand Boulevard Farmers’ Market – 9am-1pm.

Find grass-fed beef, whole chickens, eggs, goat milk, cheese, produce, hydroponic lettuce, herbs and microgreens. Also, the best honey, including Tupelo honey; homemade from scratch breads, pies and pastries; pickled veggies; jams; salsas; BBQ sauces; pesto sauce; tuna and shrimp dips; and the best Maryland crab cakes you have ever had. In addition, beautifully handcrafted soaps. Free. Grand Boulevard at Sandestin, 600 Grand Blvd (in Grand Park between Tommy Bahama and Cantina Laredo), Miramar Beach. 850-499-4697. 30AFarmersMarket@ gmail.com. GrandBoulevardFarmersMarket.com.

Pilates Intermediate Equipment Class – 9:4510:45am. Challenging exercises for those that have a foundation in the Pilates fundamentals. Improves strength, posture, alignment and flexibility. Limited to 6 participants. $30/drop-in, $25/account rate.

Pilates Core Training, 1308 Dunmire St, Pensacola.

850-287-5836. PilatesCore Training.com.

Pilates Beginner Equipment Class – 11am-noon.

For beginners to improve your posture, strength and flexibility. Limited to 6 Participants. $30/drop-in, $25/ account rate.Pilates Core Training, 1308 Dunmire St, Pensacola. 850-287-5836. PilatesCore Training.com.

classifieds Fee for classifieds is $20 for the first 20 word and $1 per additional word per month. To place listing, email content to Publisher@ NaturalAwakeningsNWF.com. Deadline is the 10th of the month.

EVENT SPACE UNITY OF PENSACOLA FACILITY RENTAL AVAILABLE – Beautiful historical sanctuary that seats up to 300 and/or our Fellowship Hall with tables and chairs for up to 65, stage and kitchen area. Weddings, reunions, networking events. For more information, call 850-438-2277. UnityOfPensacola.org.

HELP WANTED A COMPREHENSIVELY TRAINED PILATES INSTRUCTOR WANTED – Join Barbara Bruni’s team at her busy studio, Pilates Core Training, Pensacola. The studio encompasses a warm and caring environment for clients specializing in Pilates, Gyrotonics, Myofascial Release and Structural Integration.

Minimum of three years’ Pilates experience required; preferably trained in Contemporary Pilates with a rehabilitation background. Must be a team player with the ability to retain and recruit new clients. Send resume to Info@ PilatesCoreTraining.com.

LICENSED MASSAGE THERAPIST WANTED – Must like medical/sports massage. We provide everything.You provide desire to work and skills. Contact Bodyworks

by Bull 850.651.2286

ROOM FOR RENT MASSAGE OR ESTHETICIAN ROOM FOR RENT – Located at Pure Pilates Gulf Breeze studio, 221 Gulf Breeze Pkwy. Lots of storage in this private room, comes with

NOTE: All calendar events must be received via email by the 10th of the month and adhere to our guidelines.

Email Publisher@NaturalAwakeningsNWF.com for guidelines and to submit entries. Or visit NaturalAwakeningsNWF.com/advertising to submit online.

46

Natural Awakenings of Northwest Florida

the massage table, laundry on site as well as public restrooms and plenty of parking in front of the building. For more information, call 850-607-2772 or email Info@ PurePilatesPensacola.com.

SERVICES MOBILE MASSAGE THERAPY – A unique professional integrated therapy sessions, mobile or in office, range from deep tissue to light lymphatic to biofield energy work. Mind, body, soul holistic health, selfcare made easy. Following all COVID guidelines for your safety Carlie Nagy LMT. 724809-6344. License # MA94272 SPIRITUAL COUNSELING ANDCOACHING – Spiritual counseling and coaching available with Rev Jamie Sanders. Metaphysical approach, meditation and affirmative prayer.

Jamie1118@aol.com. 850-438-2277.

SUPPLEMENTS ORGANIC PLANT-BASED SUPPLEMENTS - Get greens, chlorophyll, oil blends, electrolytes, cleansers, herbal teas & more. All organic. See special offer for free samples.

TerraLifeStore.com. 954-459-1134.

SUPERFOOD FRUIT POWDERS – Moringa and baobab teas, Kenya purple tea, baobab lemonade, seasonings, fruit bites, moringa tincture, African natural oils and butters for skin and hair. Gift cards available. Wholesale order available for retailers.Call A Gift from Africa, Sabina at 850-347-6850.

WEDDING SERVICE BEAUTIFUL MARRIAGE CEREMONIES – Spiritual marriage ceremonies with Rev Jamie Sanders at Unity of Pensacola or your location of choice. Packages available. 850438-2277. UnityPNS.org.

coming in the december holiday issue

Uplifting Humanity

plus: Boosting Immune System

www.NaturalAwakeningsNWF.com

community resource guide

BREAST SCREENING RADIANT BODY Connecting you to the leaders in natural health care and green living in our com- THERMOGRAPHY munity. To find out how you can be included in the Community Resource Guide, email Advertising@NaturalAwakeningsNWF.com to request our media kit.

NAVARRE ACUPUNCTURE AND WELLNESS Pamela Purser, AP, LAc, 7287 Navarre Pkwy, Navarre 850-710-3288 Navacuwell.com

Navarre Acupuncture and Wellness offers quality acupuncture and Chinese herbology, cupping therapy, moxibustion and Acupuncture Injection Therapy (AIT). See ad, page 19.

BEAUTY ORGANIC CONCEPTS BY CAMY AT LE VOGUE SALON

609 W Chase St, Pensacola 850-582-0177 CamyKilker@gmail.com

Providing an organic solution to beauty in a world full of chemicals. Organic Salon Systems gives you clean and healthy hair with ammonia-free hair color and chemical-free styling products. See ad, page 15.

RAW ORGANIC HAIR STUDIO 707 N. Richard Jackson Blvd, PCB Text: 850-319-5863 RawOrganicHairStudio.com

Jessica Melton- owner “Your Holistic Hair Stylist for over 15 years”. Using farm-to-table products for great organic color that lasts. Certified organic, cruelty free, 100% vegan products See ad, page xx.

If it’s out of your hands, it deserves freedom from your mind too. ~Ivan Nuru

BODY CONTOURING SCULPSURE BODY CONTOURING

Karen Kennedy, MD 1118 Gulf Breeze Pkwy, Ste 201, GB 7552 Navarre Pkwy, Navarre 850-916-7766 KarenKennedyMD.com SculpSure is a non-surgical laser treatment for the reduction of stubborn fat in areas like the abdomen, love handles, back, and inner and outer thighs; and chin contouring.

Amazing results with zero down time and without drugs.

See ad, page 2.

BONE HEALTH OSTEOSTRONG

880 Gulf Breeze Pkwy, Gulf Breeze 850-480-7333 Cordova Pensacola 1151 Office Woods Dr, Ste D 850-480-7119 OsteoStrong® is a scientifically-backed concept with proven technology focused on improving your overall health by focusing on the skeletal system. See ad, page 4.

BRAIN HEALTH MIND PERFORMANCE CENTER, LLC

(Located inside Path to Wellness) 240 W Laurel Ave, Foley, AL 251-597-8787 MindPerformanceCenter.com Our non-invasive, drug-free approach helps brain injury patients improve speech, balance, limb and finger control, memory and mental focus, plus the restoration of personality traits. See ad, page 25.

Candace Parmer Clinical Thermographic Technician 503-775-1812 RadiantBodyThermography.com Call to learn how we can assist you and your doctor in protecting breasts from disease, excess hormonal activity, and overdiagnosis of breast cancer. See ad, page 39.

THERMOGRAPHY ADVANTAGE Carolyn Olson Certified Clinical Thermographer Gulf Coast Area (Louisiana to Florida) 251-623-2225 ThermographyAdvantage@hotmail. com ThermographyAdvantage.com

FDA-registered thermography (digital infrared thermal imaging) offers breast screenings that are non-invasive and radiation-free, without compression or bodily contact. Valuable for detecting early-stage breast disease and more. See ad, page 13.

CBD OIL BODY-B-HEALTHY

Natural Alternative Wellness Center 2225 Ferdon Blvd, Crestview 850-682-8893 • Find us on Facebook We provide a great selection of CBD and Hemp oils in a variety of applications, such as droppers, sprays, capsules, softgels, balms and vape liquids. See ad, page 38.

GOLDEN ALMOND HEALTH FOOD STORE

339 Racetrack Rd NW, Ste 3, FWB 850-863-5811 • GoldenAlmond.com Hours: M-F 9-6, S 10-5, Closed Sun Providing the largest selection of CBD oils, tinctures, sprays, softgels, balms and vape liquid in the area, including high-dose options for pain, anxiety, sleep and much more.

See ad, back cover.

November 2021

47

OLIVE LEAVES HEALTH FOOD CENTER

In the Publix Shopping Center 634 W 23rd St, Panama City 850-763-8871 • OliveLeavesPC.com

DR GABRIEL WATERMAN, DC 850-565-9600 Info@DiscoverDynamic.com DiscoverDynamic.com

Olive Leaves provides the best CBD oil and hemp products from Carun and the finest quality, fresh, natural, organic and whole foods; nutritional products; body care products; and health information in a fun, comfortable, clean, safe environment. See ad, page 42.

Dr. Gabriel and his team focus on the nervous system: the brain, spinal cord, nerves and the spinal structure that protects this delicate system—essential to the body’s ability to function, restore and preserve health. We help individuals and families overcome health obstacles and reach their fullest health potential. See ad, page 15.

CHIROPRACTIC BLUEWATER CHIROPRACTIC WELLNESS CENTER

CRAFTS & GIFTS STONE SOUP INTUITIVE SPIRITUAL CENTER

Dr Letitia Smith, DC 4400 Hwy 20 E, Niceville 850-897-1177 BluewaterChiropractic.com

Quality chiropractic care for infants, children and adults.

Providing support for you to fulfill your health goals and reach overall wellness naturally. Also offering lumbar decompression, massage therapy and nutritional education.

HENARD FAMILY CHIROPRACTIC

Dr Karen Henard-Carter, DC 4566 Hwy 20 E, Ste 205, Niceville 850-897-1105 • HenardChiro.com A second-generation chiropractor, Dr Henard is committed to chiropractic w e l l n e s s f o r t h e f a m i l y, improving health naturally. More than 23 years’ experience in pediatrics, sports and automobile injuries. Most insurance and affordable cash plans.

DR TONY SALAMAY, DC, MS, FASA

520 N Macarthur Ave, Panama City 850-785-9372 TheBayDoctor.com Treating conditions through chiropractic, functional neurology and clinical nutrition, such as fibromyalgia and thyroid issues. We treat the root causes and not just masking your symptoms. Always accepting new patients.

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314 Carmel Dr, FWB 850-533-6565 ShadowBonus@gmail.com

F o r t Wa l t o n ’s newest eclectic intuitive center.

Locally made crafts by local artisans. Intuitive readings, jewelry, paintings, incense, crystals, pottery, semiprecious stones, wind chimes, diaper cakes and hand-painted furniture. See ad, page 19.

CRANIOSACRAL THERAPY SHARALEE HOELSCHER, RCST Certified Rolfer (MA34039) Registered CranioSacral Therapist 850-450-8508 HealingWithBodywork.com

Get out of pain once and for all.

Treat the source, not the symptom.

Enjoy moving freely in a more organized, comfortable and balanced body. See ad, page 53.

COLON IRRIGATION COYLE INSTITUTE

9295 Scenic Hwy, Pensacola 850-637-8258 CoyleInstitute.com

Colon Hydrotherapy(CHT)—a safe process for colon cleansing.

Colon hydrotherapy works by gently introducing warm water into the colon for the purpose of softening and eliminating waste.

Under the direction of Dr. Michael Coyle DO, our patients are in the best possible hands. Call to schedule your session today. See ad, page 31.

Natural Awakenings of Northwest Florida

www.NaturalAwakeningsNWF.com

DEMENTIA MIND PERFORMANCE CENTER, LLC

(Located inside Path to Wellness) 240 W Laurel Ave, Foley, AL 251-597-8787 MindPerformanceCenter.com

Our non-invasive, drug-free approach helps dementia patients that originally scored in the teens on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment be restored to the point of scoring normal (26-30).

See ad, page 25.

DENTISTRY DR SUSAN WELCH, FAGD

106 Wright Pkwy SW, FWB 850-243-1534 WrightParkwayDentalCenter.com

Healthy digestion, well-aligned physical structure, proper breathing and a good night’s sleep begin with a healthy mouth.

We treat snoring, sleep apnea and TMJ disorders, plus crowns, teeth whitening, bridges, veneers, implant restorations, aligner orthodontics, cleanings, digital X-ray imaging and CO2 laser periodontal treatment. No mercury fillings. See ads, pages 29 and 37.

DEPRESSION MIND PERFORMANCE CENTER, LLC

(Located inside Path to Wellness) 240 W Laurel Ave, Foley, AL 251-597-8787 MindPerformanceCenter.com Offering Deep Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (Brainsway—a proven tool in the fight against depression that is non-invasive, painless and drugfree) with functional medicine and brain pathway rehabilitation for the most robust changes possible. See ad, page 25.

If the only prayer you ever say in your entire life is thank you, it will be enough. ~Meister Eckhart

FARMERS’ MARKETS 30A FARMERS’ MARKETS

850-499-4697 30AFarmersMarket.com Locations: Rosemary Beach Town Center 28 N Barrett Square, Rosemary Beach 9am-1pm Sundays (Year Round) 30A Farmers’ Market at Palm Plaza 1003C John Sims Pwy, Niceville 9am-1pm Saturdays (Year Round) Sandestin Grand Boulevard Hwy 98 600 Grand Blvd, Miramar Beach 9am-1pm Saturdays (Year Round)

Serene, beautiful, distinctive and exclusive is the best way to describe the 30A Farmers’ Market Family.

European and coastal-inspired markets feature local farmers, makers, bakers, and specialty vendors in an inviting market experience. See ad, page 21.

FOOD & SUPPLEMENTS BODY-B-HEALTHY

Natural Alternative Wellness Center 2225 S Ferdon Blvd, Crestview 850-682-8893 • Find us on Facebook

We offer cutting-edge testing/screenings, iridology and wellness coaching, along with allnatural supplements, homeopathic solutions and anti-aging products.

Let our knowledgeable staff can help guide your selection of trusted products. See ad, page 38.

GOLDEN ALMOND HEALTH FOOD STORE

339 Racetrack Rd NW, Ste 3, FWB 850-863-5811 • GoldenAlmond.com Hours: M-F 9-6, S 10-5, Closed Sun Natural supplements, herbs, skin care and essential oils, plus organic and specialty foods. In-store 100% organic café (weekdays 9-4) with juices, smoothies, etc. Very knowledgeable staff. See ad, back cover.

HONEYMED

Rosemary and Grand Blvd Farmers’ Market 850-797-2786 HoneyMedBiz@gmail.com HoneyMedBiz.com HoneyMed is a delicious blend of raw honey and three powerful superfoods: turmeric, ginger and cayenne pepper. HoneyMed is true nature’s medicine with anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, revitalizing and immunity-boosting properties. See ad, page 21.

OLIVE LEAVES HEALTH FOOD CENTER

In the Publix Shopping Center 634 W 23rd St, PC 850-763-8871 • OliveLeavesPC.com Olive Leaves is here to provide you with the finest-quality, fresh, natural, organic and whole foods; nutritional products; body care products; and health information in a fun, comfortable, clean, safe environment. See ad, page 42.

HEALTH AND WELLNESS COACH EMPATHIC PRACTICE 2701 N 12th Ave, Pensacola Pensacola • 850-777-3334 Contact@EmpathicPractice.us EmpathicPractice.us

Together we will build a plan and schedule that will fit your needs and help you feel better. Bring more energy, disposition, focus and time to your lifestyle.

HOLISTIC MEDICINE EMPATHIC PRACTICE

2701 N 12th Ave, Pensacola Pensacola • 850-777-3334 Contact@EmpathicPractice.us EmpathicPractice.us

Empathic Practice is focused on wellness beyond medication. We believe that mindfulness, not medication alone, will lead you to your best self. Compassionate care for a new path to healing.

KAREN KENNEDY, MD

Board-Certified Gynecologist 1118 Gulf Breeze Pkwy, GB 7552 Navarre Pkwy, Navarre 850-916-7766 KarenKennedyMD.com Board-Certified Gynecologist MD, offering full GYN services and proud to feature MonaLisa Touch Laser, a non-invasive treatment for symptoms of low hormones or menopause. Stop suffering and start living. Call for an appointment. Offices in Gulf Breeze and Navarre. See ad, page 2.

DR TONY SALAMAY, DC, MS, FASA

520 N Macarthur Ave, Panama City 850-785-9372 TheBayDoctor.com Treating conditions through chiropractic, functional neurology and clinical nutrition such as fibromyalgia and thyroid issues. We treat the root causes and not just masking your symptoms. Always accepting new patients.

SPIKES MEDICAL HERBS ROOTS SHOPPE

357 Beal Pkwy NW, FWB 850-863-1044 C.Gypsymuse@gmail.com CGypsymuse.com Offering a vast selection of quality herbs, self-care products and metaphysical goods, as well as an experience to remember.

See ad, page 13.

850-541-9814 7841 Liberty Ave, Panama City SpikesMedicalHealth.com A primary care clinic provided by a nurse practitioner that offers quality care at an affordable cost for the whole family. Family health care wellness services, diet program, self-care, skincare and nutritional supplements.

Virtual visits available. See ad, page 3.

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HORMONE THERAPY AGELESS SOLUTIONS

Cave, MD • Barber, MD • Janis Cook, RN 8990 Ortego Park Dr, Navarre 850-529-0770 Ageless Navarre.com

We offer multiple techniques and programs to get you on the right track to better health and a better body. Our services include behavioral therapies, nutritional strategies, hormone replacement pellet therapy, stem cell therapy, prescription medications and, best of all, the support of a caring staff. See ad, page 35.

KAREN KENNEDY, MD

Board Certified Gynecologist 1118 Gulf Breeze Pkwy, GB 7552 Navarre Pkwy, Navarre 850-916-7766 KarenKennedyMD.com Board Certified Gynecologist MD, offering full GYN services and proud to feature MonaLisa Touch Laser, a non-invasive treatment for symptoms of low hormones or menopause. Stop suffering and start living. Call for an appointment. Offices in Gulf Breeze and Navarre. See ad, page 2.

HOT YOGA STUDIO HOT YOGA OM

222 Miracle Strip Pkwy SE, Unit A Downtown Fort Walton Beach 850-430-9434 • HotYogaOM.com Hot Yoga Om features far infrared heat, radiant heat, radiant life. Daily classes, amazing teachers, great benefits. Experience it for

DR. PEGGY

Peggy Hyde PhD 850-902-9066, FWB DrPeggyHyde@gmail.com Hypnosis deals with the subconscious mind. You will learn simple methods to calm your mind and body, create visualization and give yourself positive suggestions. The skills you will learn will enhance everyday Life. Call or email for class schedules. See ad, page 35.

INFRARED SAUNA PILATES CORE TRAINING

Barbara Bruni, Owner 1308 Dunmire St, Pensacola 850-287-5836 PilatesCoreTraining.com

Our Sunlighten sauna offers the highest quality and quantity of far infrared heat.

Potential benefits include lowered blood pressure, weight loss, detoxification, inflammation reduction, pain relief and more.

Also included is Sound Therapy for deeper relaxation, as well as Chromotherapy, which uses the full spectrum of colored lights on various energy points to help balance your body, each color of which addresses a distinct need.

See ad, page 31.

EMPATHIC PRACTICE

2701 N 12th Ave, Pensacola Pensacola • 850-777-3334 Contact@EmpathicPractice.us EmpathicPractice.us Soleilune at Empathic Practice provides relaxing and therapeutic body treatments for individuals or couples. Treatments with CBD lotions, essential oils and natural products are available. Call 850777-3334, book your appointment today.

yourself. See ad, page 23.

HYPNOSIS BAYSIDE HYPNOSIS

700 S Palafox St. Ste 200A, Pensacola Michelle@BaysideHypnosis.com BaysideHypnosis.com A full-service weight-loss, smoking-cessation, and anxiety-reduction center. We also help people with changing habits, personal development, confidence and self esteem improvement. See ad, page 5.

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CARLIE NAGY, LMT

Mobile Massage Therapy Empathic Practice 2701 N 12th Ave, Pensacola 724-809-6344

Natural Awakenings of Northwest Florida

Bodywork therapy sessions, mobile or in office, integrating deep tissue, light lymphatic and biofield energy work. Mind, body, soul holistic health, selfcare made easy. Following all COVID guidelines for your safety. License # MA94272. See ad, page 45.

www.NaturalAwakeningsNWF.com

MINI ESCAPE MASSAGE NAVARRE

1929 Ortega St, Navarre 850-376-7785 MiniEscapeMassageNavarre.com Licensed and professional therapeutic massage. We are skilled, experienced therapists.

We are locally owned and operated. We want to help everybody heal. We only do professional massages.

LIC#MM41202. See ad, page 17.

MEDICAL MARIJUANA EMPATHIC PRACTICE 2701 N 12th Ave, Pensacola Pensacola • 850-777-3334 Contact@EmpathicPractice.us EmpathicPractice.us

Let us guide you through the process of obtaining your card and understanding the products available. Our holistic approach includes mindfulness coaching sessions and group-guided meditation sessions.

MEDITATION EMPATHIC PRACTICE

2701 N 12th Ave, Pensacola Pensacola • 850-777-3334 Contact@EmpathicPractice.us EmpathicPractice.us Regardless of your experience, our one-on-one or group sessions will help you to successfully implement a practice that will bring you all the benefits of meditation. .

METAPHYSICAL SHOP STONE SOUP INTUITIVE SPIRITUAL CENTER 700 Beal Pkwy, Unit D, FWB 850-533-6565 ShadowBonus@gmail.com

F o r t Wa l t o n ’s newest eclectic intuitive center.

Locally made crafts by local artisans. Intuitive readings, jewelry, paintings, incense, crystals, pottery, semiprecious stones, wind chimes, diaper cakes and hand-painted furniture. See ad, page 19.

MINDFULNESS COACH EMPATHIC PRACTICE

2701 N 12th Ave, Pensacola Pensacola • 850-777-3334 Contact@EmpathicPractice.us EmpathicPractice.us

A great way to improve your mood, change your behavior for the better and become more productive. Our coach will help you apply mindfulness to your routines.

MYOFASCIAL RELEASE BARBARA BRUNI

Pilates Core Training 1308 Dunmire St, Pensacola 850-287-5836 PilatesCoreTraining.com

Myofascial release treats the entire myofascial mind/body complex, eliminating the pressure of the restricted myofascial system (the straightjacket) that causes painful symptoms. LMT #MA64267. See ad, page 8.

LAURA TYREE

Myofascial Release Massage Therapist LauraTyree Health in Hot Yoga Om (Downtown FWB) 850-642-1015 • LauraTyree.com A healing sanctuary that relieves stress and alleviates damage caused by tension and strain.

Fostering physical, mental and emotional relaxation while performing postures and breathing techniques with the underlying philosophy and relaxed attitude continuing outside of the studio into life. Classes for all levels and private classes upon request. See ad, page 23.

ORIENTAL MEDICINE NAVARRE ACUPUNCTURE AND WELLNESS

Pamela Purser, AP, LAc 7287 Navarre Pkwy, Navarre 850-710-3288 Navacuwell.com

Navarre Acupuncture and Wellness offers quality acupuncture and Chinese herbology, cupping therapy, moxibustion and Acupuncture Injection Therapy (AIT). See ad, page 19.

PHYSICAL THERAPY 365 DIRECT PT Dr. Darnita Spann, PT DPT 850-366-9988 Wellness@Teleptclinic.com Teleptclinic.com

Physical therapy 365 days a year, on your schedule. Free screens, telehealth visits, flexible appointment times, cash payments accepted. Physician referral not required. Call to schedule today. See ad, page 15.

PHYSICIANS COYLE INSTITUTE

Dr. Michael Coyle, DO FACOOG, FPMRS 9295 Scenic Hwy, Pensacola 850-637-8258 CoyleInstitute.com Dr. Coyle offers an unparalleled level of medical care to women all over the Gulf Coast, hoping that, in providing his patients with treatment and relief from the conditions that have so greatly affected their ability to live free from pain, he is offering them renewed hope and enriching their lives. See ad, page 31.

EMERALD COAST RHEUMATOLOGY

Aymen A Kenawy, MD 850-215-6400 3890 Jenks Ave, Lynn Haven/PC Info@ecrheum.com DrKenawy.com Aymen A Kenawy, MD, FACP, FACR, Board-Certified Rheumatologist, specializes in the treatment of arthritis and other rheumatic diseases, and stem cell and infusion therapy. See ad, page 8.

KAREN KENNEDY, MD

Board-Certified Gynecologist 1118 Gulf Breeze Pkwy, GB 7552 Navarre Pkwy, Navarre 850-916-7766 KarenKennedyMD.com

Board-Certified Gynecologist MD, offering full GYN services and proud to feature MonaLisa Touch Laser, a non-invasive treatment for symptoms of low hormones or menopause. Stop suffering and start living. Call for appointment. Offices in Gulf Breeze and Navarre. See ad, page 2.

SPINE & JOINT, LLC

Sheila Mohammed, MD, PhD 4507 Furling Ln, Ste 213, Destin 850-281-8186 DrSheilaMohammed.com We are a medical clinic that treats pain naturally through remedies such as prolotherapy, prolozone, ozone, platelet-rich plasma and stem cell treatments. See ad, page 53.

PILATES STUDIO PILATES CORE TRAINING Barbara Bruni, Owner 1308 Dunmire St, Pensacola 850-287-5836 PilatesCoreTraining.com

Feel what it feels like to move and feel good again. From athletic training to rehab sessions, PCT can accommodate every level. We offer mat, Gyrokinesis and equipment classes. Private or group sessions available for all levels. Visit website for class schedule and pricing. See ad, page 8.

PURE PILATES

Gulf Breeze Proper 221 Gulf Breeze Pkwy • 850-9323424 Downtown Pensacola 426 S Palafox • 850-607-2772 PurePilatesPensacola.com Join us at Pure to experience the largest Pilates studio on the coast. Variety of equipment and mat classes are offered 6 days a week. Tone your core with Pure.

OSTEOPOROSIS OSTEOSTRONG

880 Gulf Breeze Pkwy, Gulf Breeze 850-480-7333 Cordova in Pensacola 1151 Office Woods Dr, Ste D 850-480-7119 OsteoStrong® is a scientifically-backed concept with proven technology focused on improving your overall health by focusing on the skeletal system. See ad, page 4.

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ROLFING SHARALEE HOELSCHER, RCST Certified Rolfer (MA34039) Registered CranioSacral Therapist 850-450-8508 HealingWithBodywork.com

Get out of pain once and for all.

Treat the source, not the symptom. Enjoy moving freely in a more organized, comfortable and balanced body. See ad, page 53.

SKIN CARE SPIKES MEDICAL

850-541-9814 7841 Liberty Ave, Panama City SpikesMedicalHealth.com

A primary care clinic provided by a nurse practitioner that offers quality care at an affordable cost for the whole family. Family health care wellness services, diet program, self-care, skincare and nutritional supplements.

Virtual visits available. See ad, page 3.

YOGI AND HERB

850-450-7357 Marissa@yYogiAndHerb.com Yogi and Herb formulates and provides natural, botanical skincare products free of additives and preservatives for skincare your body will thank you for. See ad, page 23.

SLEEP DISORDERS DR SUSAN WELCH, FAGD

106 Wright Pkwy SW, FWB 850-243-1534 WrightParkwayDentalCenter.com Healthy digestion, well-aligned physical structure, proper breathing and a good night’s sleep begin with a healthy mouth. We treat snoring, sleep apnea and TMJ disorders, plus crowns, teeth whitening, bridges, veneers, implant restorations, aligner orthodontics, cleanings, digital X-ray imaging and CO2 laser periodontal treatment. No mercury fillings. See ads, pages 29 and 37.

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GULF COAST SLEEP CENTER 2202 State Ave, Ste 104 (850) U-SNOOZE 850-876-6693 Gulfcoastsleepcenter.com

Gulf Coast Sleep Center is a state-ofthe-art sleep research and diagnostic facility with the latest technology for the diagnosis and treatment of sleep apnea. A comfortable, new and clean setting. All COVID protocols observed. No referral required, most insurance accepted. See ad, page 41.

SPIRITUAL CENTER UNITY OF PENSACOLA

Jamie Sanders, Minister 716 N 9th Ave, Pensacola 850-438-2277 • UnityOfPensacola. org Unity of Pensacola offers spiritual teachings that empower abundant and meaningful living. We provide philosophy that is spiritual, not religious, and love-based, not fear-based. Rev Jamie Sanders offers spiritual counseling. See ad, page 33.

STEM CELL THERAPY AGELESS SOLUTIONS

Cave, MD • Barber, MD • Janis Cook, RN 8990 Ortego Park Dr, Navarre 850-529-0770 Ageless Navarre.com Stem Cell Therapy is utilized to seek out inflammation in the body and regenerate any damaged tissue, applying our body’s natural internal repair system. Our services include behavioral therapies, nutritional strategies, hormone replacement pellet therapy, stem cell therapy, prescription medications and, best of all, the support of a caring staff. See ad, page 35.

STRUCTURAL INTEGRATION BARBARA BRUNI Pilates Core Training 1308 Dunmire St, Pensacola 850-287-5836 PilatesCoreTraining.com

Ida Rolf’s 10-Series is a method of bodywork that creates profound and lasting results.

Structural Integration is a method of bodywork that creates profound and lasting results.

Restructure your body and discover what authentic freedom of movement feels like again. Call to schedule your session today. LMT# MA64267. See ad, page 8.

Natural Awakenings of Northwest Florida

www.NaturalAwakeningsNWF.com

TEACHER TRAINING PILATES AND BEYOND TEACHER TRAINING SCHOOL Barbara Bruni, Owner 1308 Dunmire St, Pensacola 850-287-5836 PilatesAndBeyond.com

450-hour comprehensive training covering the fundamentals of movement, complete repertoire on the mat equipment, and includes modification movements for osteoporosis, knee and hip replacements and other various special needs. Registered with the Pilates Method Alliance. See ad, page 8.

THERMOGRAPHY RADIANT BODY THERMOGRAPHY

Candace Parmer Clinical Thermographic Technician 503-775-1812 RadiantBodyThermography.com Medical Infrared (MIR) technology developed by NASA provides an early, objective warning system that may show neurochemical signals far in advance of damage to the body.

See ad, page 39.

THERMOGRAPHY ADVANTAGE

Carolyn Olson Certified Clinical Thermographer Gulf Coast Area (Louisiana to Florida) 251-623-2225 ThermographyAdvantage@hotmail.com ThermographyAdvantage.com FDA-registered thermography (digital infrared thermal imaging) offers breast screenings that are non-invasive and radiation-free, without compression or bodily contact.

Valuable for detecting earlystage breast disease and more.

See ad, page 13.

We need society, and we need solitude also, as we need summer and winter, day and night, exercise and rest. ~Philip Gilbert Hamerton

LAURA TYREE

ThetaHealing Healer LauraTyree Health in Hot Yoga Om (Downtown FWB) 850-642-1015 • LauraTyree.com ThetaHealing is a meditation technique and spirituality philosophy, accepting of all religions, with the purpose of getting closer to your beliefs Creator. A holistic healing technique allowing you to clear limiting beliefs with meditation and prayer. See ad, page 23.

TRANSCRANIAL MAGNETIC STIMULATION (TMS) MIND PERFORMANCE CENTER, LLC (Located inside Path to Wellness) 240 W Laurel Ave, Foley, AL 251-597-8787 MindPerformanceCenter.com

DTMS increases the brain’s ability to regenerate and release neurotransmitters. We pair this with brain pathway correction and the nutritional program of Alzheimer’s researcher Dale Bredesen for quick, profound, positive results. See ad, page 25.

WEIGHT MANAGEMENT AGELESS SOLUTIONS 8990 Ortega Park Dr, Navarre 850-529-0770 AgelessNavarre.com

More than 20 years of medical assistance with a weight-loss program that helps you reach your perfect weight while maintaining your energy and health. See ad, page 35.

BAYSIDE HYPNOSIS

700 S Palafox St. Ste 200A, Pensacola Michelle@BaysideHypnosis.com BaysideHypnosis.com Hypnotic weight-loss works because it combines common sense, realistic nutrition, and teaches how to think like a naturally thin person with the most advanced hypnotic technology available, performed by skilled, experienced master hypnotists. See ad, page 5.

SPIKES MEDICAL

850-541-9814 7841 Liberty Ave, Panama City SpikesMedicalHealth.com A primary care clinic provided by a nurse practitioner that offers quality care at an affordable cost for the whole family. Family health care wellness services, diet program, self care, skin care and nutritional supplements.

Virtual visits available. See ad, page 3.

YOGA STUDIOS DRAGONFLY YOGA STUDIES 184 Brooks St SE, Bldg 2 Downtown FWB • 850-244-0184 DragonFlyYoga.com

Serene environment for the study and practice of hatha yoga.

Certified instructors. Owner/ Director Laura Tyree, E-RYT 500. See ad, page 29.

HOT YOGA OM

222 Miracle Strip Pkwy SE, Unit A Downtown FWB • 850-430-9434 HotYogaOM.com Hot Yoga Om features far infrared heat, radiant heat, radiant life. Daily classes, amazing teachers, great benefits.

Experience it for yourself. See ad, page 23.

ROOTS SHOPPE

357 Beal Pkwy NW, FWB 850-863-1044 C.Gypsymuse@gmail.com CGypsymuse.com

AN EFFECTIVE

Alternative TO SURGERY

Heal your back and joints with Prolotherapy, Platelet Rich Plasma Treatment & Stem Cell Therapy "proven safe and effective, less invasive, time and money savers" ...............................

Treat auto-immune diseases, infection and chronic illnesses with: Chelation • Prolozone • Acupuncture Vitamin Infusions • Auto-Hemotherapy Ozone Insufflations • Medical Marijuana ...............................

Male Enhancement and erectile dysfunction, stress incontinence in women, using Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP)

SPINE & JOINT LLC

Sheila Mohammed, MD, PhD SPECIALIZED IN ORTHOPEDIC REGENERATIVE MEDICINE AND TOXICOLOGY

850-281-8186 DrSheilaMohammed.com You can’t stop the waves, but you can learn how to surf. ~Jon Kabat-Zinn

Nestled in nature, daily classes feature stunning views of the water and amazing instructors.

See ad, page 13.

YOGI AND HERB

850-450-7357 Marissa@yYogiAndHerb.com Trauma informed private yoga and sound healing services from Destin to Pensacola. One on one, couples, and small group yoga.

Specialities are end of life yoga, PTSD, Anxiety/depression, strength and stretch, sound baths to help. I provide my students with tools and techniques based in ancient yogic tradition that facilitate self discovery and the ease of suffering. See ad, page 23.

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Practitioners Apply: NAPUB0221P | Individuals Apply: NAPUB0221 Natural Awakenings of Northwest Florida

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Nature’s Virus Killer

not a sniffle!” she exclaimed.

Businesswoman Rosaleen says when people around her show signs of cold or flu, she uses copper morning and night.

“It saved me last holidays,” she said.

“The kids had crud going round and round, but not me.”

Attorney Donna Blight tried copper for her sinus. “I am shocked!” she said.

By Doug Cornell “My head cleared, no more headache, no more congestion.” cientists have discovered a cold never got going. That was A man with trouble breathing natural way to kill germs fast.

September 2012. I use copper in the through his nose at night tried copper Now thousands of people nose every time and I have not had a just before bed. “Best sleep I’ve had in are using it against viruses and bacteria single cold since then.” years!” he said. in the nose and on “We can’t In a lab test, technicians placed 25 the skin. make product million live flu viruses on a CopperZap. Colds start health claims,” he No viruses were found surviving soon when cold viruses said, “so I can’t after. get in your nose. say cause and Dr. Bill Keevil led one of the teams Viruses multiply effect. But we confirming the research. He placed fast. If you don’t know copper is millions of disease germs on copper. stop them early, antimicrobial.”

“They started to die literally as soon as they spread and He asked they touched the surface,” he said. cause misery. relatives and Some people press copper on a lip New device puts copper right In hundreds friends to try it. right away if a warning tingle suggests where you need it. of studies, EPA and They reported unwanted germs gathering there. university researchers have confirmed the same thing, so he patented The handle is curved that viruses and bacteria die almost CopperZap® and put it on the and textured to increase instantly when touched by copper. market. contact. Copper can That’s why ancient Greeks and Soon hundreds of people had kill germs picked up on Egyptians used copper to purify water tried it. The feedback was 99% fingers and hands after and heal wounds. They didn’t know positive if they used the copper you touch things other about microbes, but now we do. within 3 hours after the first sign people have touched.

Scientists say the high conductance of unwanted germs, like a tickle The EPA says copper of copper disrupts the electrical balance in the nose or a scratchy throat. still works even when Dr. Bill Keevil: in a microbe cell and destroys the cell in Early user Mary Pickrell tarnished.

Copper quickly kills seconds. said, “I can’t believe how good CopperZap is made cold viruses.

Tests by the EPA (Environmental my nose feels.” in the U.S. of pure Protection Agency) show germs die “What a wonderful thing!” copper. It has a 90-day full money back fast on copper. So some hospitals tried exclaimed Physician’s Assistant Julie. guarantee. It is available for $79.95. Get copper for touch surfaces like faucets Another customer asked, “Is it supposed $10 off each CopperZap with code NATA23. and doorknobs. This cut the spread of to work that fast?”

Go to www.CopperZap.com or call MRSA and other illnesses by over half, Pat McAllister, 70, received one for toll-free 1-888-411-6114. and saved lives.

Christmas and called it “one of the best Buy once, use forever.

The strong scientific evidence gave presents ever. This little jewel really Statements are not intended as inventor Doug Cornell an idea. When works.” product health claims and have not been he felt a cold about to start he fashioned Frequent flier Karen Gauci had been evaluated by the FDA. Not claimed to a smooth copper probe and rubbed it suffering after crowded flights. Though diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any gently in his nose for 60 seconds. skeptical, she tried copper on travel disease.

“It worked!” he exclaimed. “The days for 2 months. “Sixteen flights and 55 November 2021 ADVERTORIAL

Copper can stop a cold before it starts

S