Natural Awakenings NYC April 2019

EE R F

HEALTHY

LIVING

HEALTHY

PLANET

Ocean Robbins on

Food, Community & Planetary Health Potluck for the 21st Century Breaking Bread, Building Community

Creativity

HEALS Expressive Arts

Hasten Recovery

Celebrate

Earth Day

April 2019 | New York City Edition | NA-NewYorkCity.com

April 2019

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Have you ever desired to live your life from a place of power and freedom? Wouldn’t you like to attain your highest self and feel the flow of life without worry, doubt and fear?

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To schedule your appointment: Text no.: 41411 and text: MeetAlena then you hit send.

To find out more about Alena visit: alena360.com

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When all else has failed,

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Natural Awakenings NYC

letter from publishers

A

nd finally it’s April! Spring is in full bloom, which means fresh flowers exploding from the showers that have brought them back to life from their dormant stage. Our article “Sacred Space,” page 29, explains how to create a “bliss corner” in your home. What better time than spring to bring fresh flowers into your peaceful space? The invigorating fragrance alone lifts the senses.

Just recently, Michael started bringing fresh flowers into the house. Every week he puts them right in the center of our kitchen, the hub of the house, where our family spends countless hours. I never pass them without a sniff and a smile.

While I don’t have a bliss corner, I do have spots of joy scattered throughout my home—photos of our boys, artwork proudly displayed on our mantel, notes and cards written over the years. They make me smile all year long.

Let spring inspire you to become blissful in your own space, and always remember this truth (it’s printed on a shirt I wear): “Life is not easy. Life is not perfect. But life is good”

Cyrece & Michael

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To empower individuals to live a healthier lifestyle on a healthier planet.

To educate communities on the latest in natural health and sustainability.

To connect readers with local wellness resources and events, inspiring them to lead more balanced lives.

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

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Contents 12 EARTH DAY

SPOTLIGHTS SPECIES

16

Protection Is the Focus of 2019 Campaign

14 OCEAN ROBBINS ON Personal and Planetary Health

15 CHILDHOOD IMAGINATION

Evoke Imagination For Healing

16 THE ART OF HEALING

27

Creative Therapy Aids Recovery

20 POTLUCK FOR

THE 21ST CENTURY

Breaking Bread, Building Community

23 GET UP AND FAIL

Lessons That Lead Us To Success

27 LOVING NATURE

29

Outdoor Adventures for Kids

ADVERTISING & SUBMISSIONS HOW TO ADVERTISE To advertise with Natural Awakenings or request a media kit, please contact us at 212-726-1420, email: Publisher@NA-NewYorkCity.com Deadlines for ads: the 15th of the month.

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Now serving 75 publications and over 1.5 million distribution, Natural Awakenings has been serving communities since 1994. To place your ad in multiple markets contact, Publisher@NA-NewYorkCity.com or 212-726-1420.

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DISTRIBUTION To have our magazine placed at your residence or place of business free of cost, please contact Publisher@NA-NewYorkCity.com.

28 INTO THE WOODS

Hiking for Health and Happiness

29 SACRED SPACE

Bringing Bliss to Every Room

DEPARTMENTS 6 news briefs 8 kudos 8 health briefs 10 global briefs 13 eco tip 14 wise words 16 healing ways 20 conscious eating

27 healthy kids 28 fit body 29 inspiration 29 practitioner of the month 30 calendar 32 resource guide 33 directory of advertisers

April 2019

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news briefs

Inner Harmony Expert Brings ‘Empowered Self Relating’ to New York City and Rhinebeck

C

aryn Scotto d’ Luzia, a renowned author and thought leader in inner harmony, shame resolution and trauma recovery, will lead a weekend workshop, “Empower Your Humanness: Unshame Your Life,” at the Omega Institute in Rhinebeck June 21 to 23.

Scotto d’ Luzia has been teaching this workshop in Europe and on the West Coast, but this is the first time she will bring it to New York. She will offer a taste of her innerpersonal development method known as Empowered Self Relating in New York City at The Open Center on April 26th, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Caryn Scotto d’ Luzia

“Empowered Self Relating is unique approach that offers a more life-affirming way to relate to the most important person in your life—you,” Scotto d’ Luzia says. “It helps people with overwhelm, negative self-talk, low self-esteem or other self-focused disharmony experience more inner ease that adds up each day, so the quality of life becomes more positive and empowered from the inside out. The Omega workshop is a fun, informative and transformational way to shift from the inside and experience gentle yet powerful inner harmony.”

To sign up for either or both events, to take a free e-course, or for more information, visit EmpoweredSelfRelating.com. See ad on page 8.

Earth Day in Union Square Will Launch 50th Anniversary Countdown

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his spring’s Earth Day New York, in Union Square, will launch a yearlong countdown to the 50th anniversary of Earth Day in 2020. This landmark anniversary will attract visibility and attention that organizers hope to channel into “doing real and impactful good,” especially as people seem more eager than ever to move environmental policies in a positive direction.

“The idea of a Green New Deal has captured so much attention because people want to see solutions to our most pressing problems,” says John Oppermann, executive director of Earth Day Initiative. “So for the 50th-anniversary countdown, we will provide simple solutions and empower people to give shape to the solutions that they see and that they want to see in their own lives and communities right now.”

The Earth Day events in Union Square are the higes traffic Earth Day events in the country, he says. This spring, Earth Day Initiative will use the platform to launch “a year-long countdown of empowerment,” beginning with a live art installation featuring multiple artists creating large-scale paintings and illustrations around the four pillars of the Green New Deal: green jobs, greening existing buildings, a green transportation system and a guaranteed job for every American.

An action center will be onsite telling people about simple actions they can take to make a positive environmental impact, and encouraging them to submit their own ideas around sustainability solutions they see or would like to see in their own communities.

For more information, visit DoJust1Thing.org.

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Groundbreaking Chinese Artist Opens Exhibit at Eastover

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rtist Zhang Zhaohui, who integrates abstract minimalism with traditional Chinese ink painting, will bring his first major U.S. presentation to Eastover Estate and Eco-Village, in Lenox, Massachusetts. His exhibit, “Lubrication,” showcases 23 pieces created over eight years. Eastover will host a grand opening from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. May 25. The free exhibit will be open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. through June 30,

“Over the last decade, ink art has emerged as one of the most eye-catching phenomena in contemporary art, and Zhang is one of the outstanding practitioners active on the new Chinese art horizon,” says Eastover co-founder Yingxing Wang. “From his indepth research of traditional art history and theory and world modern art, Zhang gradually developed his own art language, which infuses Chinese ink painting with selected elements of Western modernism, producing a hybrid form that revitalizes his culture’s single-most representative medium. His repertoire is an organic integration of abstract, optical, minimal, with ink on rice paper, refreshing ideology-charged, stereotyped Chinese contemporary art.”

Eastover is also hosting an exhibit of inkstone, a synthesis of the man-made and the natural that includes ink painting and calligraphy as well as other collectibles and art. “This exhibit embodies the beauty and creativity of different stone materials in terms of their moisture, for making good ink, color, scarcity and sculpture. It will also let the audience understand how Chinese culture is conveyed through brush and ink,” Ying says.

Location: 430 East St., Lenox, MA. For more information, call Eastover at 800-2645139 or visit Eastover.com.

Experience the Silence Revolution Meditation in Manhattan

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evsah Karamehmet, an international leader in breath coaching and breathing science, author and retreat facilitator, will host The Silence Revolution, a group meditation, from 6 to 8 p.m., May 18, at The Assemblage NoMad, in Manhattan. The meditation includes the music of the ney, a Turkish flute.

For hundreds of years, healing and Nevsah Karamehmet spiritual practices in Turkey have been accompanied by this mystical instrument known to be associated with the prominent Masnavi by the renowned Sufi poet Mawlana Jalaluddin Rumi.

Karamehmet states, “I launched The Silence Revolution project because I believe that the ney is especially made for deep meditation.

It has an utterly remarkable positive impact on human consciousness.

I am very excited to share this magnificent cultural inheritance with the world, as it should be.”

Location: 114 E. 25th St., NYC. 10010. Registration required at Tinyurl.com/silrevny6. For more information, email melike. nyc@gmail.com.

New Software Analyzes Blood Tests to Recommend Diet

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oftware that indicates the best diet for a person based on his or her blood test is now available at The Biamonte Center for Clinical Nutrition, in Queens. Michael Biamonte, a certified clinical nutritionist, originally helped develop the software for NASA.

“The diet can change as the patient’s symptoms improve, and this is where most Michael Biamonte holistic programs can fail,” Biamonte says.

“This new computer software program will not only tell a patient what supplements are needed to correct any imbalances, but it also gives a specific diet based on blood chemistries.”

The database is completely objective, he notes. “It does not favor heavy meat diets or vegetarian diets. It simply recommends what is correct for a patient based on their lab tests and blood chemistries and more than 60 years of research by nutritional experts.” As a result, he says, people with any chronic symptom or disease can benefit, and The Biamonte Center can treat the whole person rather than just managing a specific diagnosis.

“As the patient’s most severe issues improve, we shift our focus to the next set of problems to be addressed,” he says. “Blood tests are expected to be dramatically better in six months and, with a patient’s compliance, mostly perfect in about a year.”

Location: 2185 34th Ave., Queens, NY. For more information, call 347-808-7063 or visit NewYorkCityCandidaDoctor.com. See ad inside back cover.

East Village Is Home to Manhattan’s Only Storefront Food Co-Op

“F

ood for people, not for profit.” That’s the motto of the 4th Street Food Co-op, Manhattan’s only storefront food co-op, which is open to the public and entirely volunteer staffed.

“Not only can anybody shop here, but discounts are given to seniors, students, EBT recipients and members of other co-ops around the world,” says volunteer Jason Trachtenburg.

The produce at the co-op is 100 percent organic and, whenever possible, locally grown, he says. The bulk foods section—also all organic—offers a wide variety of every health food staple, including legumes, rice, grains, flours, pastas, nuts, seeds, dried fruits and even seaweed. There is also a large bulk spice and tea section featuring a hundred varieties of herbs and seasonings.

The store started as the Good Harvest Food Co-op in 1973 and has been in its current East Village incarnation since 1995.

It has retained its original character due to a steady stream of customers from throughout the city and its diverse and knowledgeable volunteers. Working co-op members get a 20 percent discount, while non-working members get an 8 percent discount.

“Everyone is welcome to shop, learn and create a community based on the foundations of health and sustainability.

Whether you’re transitioning to a cleaner and more wholesome diet or have been on the health food scene for decades, 4th Street Food Co-op will exceed your expectations for a healthy, fun and affordable shopping experience.”

Location: 58 E. 4th St. (between 2nd Avenue and Bowery). For more information, visit Instagram.com/4thstreetfoodcoop/.

MAY

Coming Next Month

Mental & Emotional Well-Being

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news briefs

kudos

Empowered Light Holistic Expo Comes to Philadelphia

Tribeca Holistic Dentist Wins Best Product Award

T

he Empowered Light Holistic Expo—a weekend of activities, products, I really like services, lectures and classes promoting healthier lifestyles and spiritual dethis expo! velopment—is coming to the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center April 26 to 28.

It has the best vibe!

You can try mini-sessions in meditation, sound healing and reiki; receive ~2018 an intuitive or psychic reading; browse vendor booths; talk with a life coach or Expo published author; listen to presentations by experts in health or spiritual develAttendee opment; and register for hourly raffles.

Featured speakers will be John Desouza, former FBI special agent and collector of the real-life “X-Files,” and psychic Brad Johnson, the personal channel of the multidimensional consciousness HOLISTIC EXPO known as Adronis. Desouza, now a leading writer and researcher on the paranormal, will present HOURLY PRIZES • FUN • COMMUNITY The X-Man: A Paranormal Life (April 27) and Clear-Hearers Workshop100+ (April 28). Johnson will Vendors Offering: present Channeling Adronis: Shifting into the New Earth (April 27) and Cellular Body RegeneraInspiring Lectures (see full schedule online) tion and Light Codes Workshop (April 28). Anyone on the East Coast can watch and participate in Healthy Food Samples all four presentations via live-stream for $40.

Natural Products for Personal & Home Care

Before founding the Expo, Sue Greenwald operated a wellness center offering Massage,yoga, Reiki, dance, Reflexology, More healing energy treatments, massage and spiritual and self-development classes.

Angelic & Intuitive Readings

“The Empowered Light Holistic Expo started as an idea that grew andYoga wouldn’t leave,” she & Meditations says. “After months, I decided to pursue it, starting with the many contacts I had from26-28 my wellness April Fri 4-9pm, Sat 9-7pm, Sun 10-5pm center. I rented a large space at the Expo Center and learned everything that I needed to do by just Daily and Weekend Passes doing it—alone. The expo is designed so that people can learn, be inspired, tryBrad different types of John Johnson DeSouza Channeling classes, make new friends and have fun doing so.”

Former FBI Adronis;

EMPOWERED LIGHT

Cellular Body

Paranormal Investigator

Location: 100 Station Ave., Oaks, PA. Hours: April 26, 4 p.m.-9 p.m.; AprilRegeneration 27, 9 a.m.-7 p.m.; SKIP THE LINE! Buy tickets online at: April 28, 10 a.m.-5p.m. For more info, visit EmpoweredLight.com. See ad on page 18.

EmpoweredLight.com

Greater Philadelphia Expo Center Hall D & E, 100 Station Ave, Oaks, PA Sponsored in part by

D

r. Lewis Gross, on the leading edge of the holistic dentistry movement for 35 years, can add “inventor” to his list of accomplishments.

Alka-White mouthwash, which he designed as a safe and natural way to fight oral acidity and prevent tooth decay and gum disease, was named Best New Dental Product at the 2018 Indie Beauty Expo.

Alka-White is a mint-flavored, naturally effervescent tablet designed to balance oral pH for better breath and healthier gums and teeth. It includes powerful natural ingredients like essential coconut, peppermint and tea tree oils, as well as potassium and magnesium to promote remineralization. It does not contain fluoride or any of the other chemicals commonly found in toothpastes and mouthwashes. Hydrating, soothing and desensitizing, Alka-White is vegan and safe for daily use, Gross says. Each box of Alka-White contains 30 tablets, enough for two five-day cleanses.

Gross says he developed Alka-White after realizing that people need a safe and convenient way to counteract unhealthy drinking and eating habits that, despite Americans’ growing health consciousness, only seem to be getting worse.

The most important thing about Alka-White is that it’s made for real people and their lifestyles, Gross says. “Unlike many other cleanses, Alka-White does not ask you to change the way you eat, think and drink,” he explains. “In fact, it’s made to help restore your mouth’s alkalinity and health in response to how everyone actually eats and drinks. People want to do the best they can to maintain oral health, and so we created Alka-White in response to that need.”

For more information, visit Holistic-Dentists.com.

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health briefs

Stress May Be Worse Household Cleaning Products Affect Babies’ in the Evening Acute, late-day stress may be harder on our bodies, say researchers at Japan’s Hokkaido University. They measured the levels of the stress hormone cortisol in 27 young, healthy volunteers, and then put them through 15 minutes of stressful events that included making a speech and doing mental math. Half of the volunteers were tested two hours after awakening, the other group 10 hours after awakening.

The subjects’ levels of cortisol, which helps provide the body with energy in the face of a perceived need for fight or flight, rose strongly in the morning, but not in the evening, suggesting that the human body is more equipped to deal with stress early in the day and becomes more vulnerable later.

Sugary Drinks Linked to Kidney Disease Drinking lots of sugar-sweetened sodas and juices significantly increases the risk of chronic kidney disease, reports a new study from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Using health questionnaires for 3,003 African-American adults in Jackson, Mississippi, covering a 13-year period, the researchers found that the top third of subjects, those consuming the most sugar-sweetened drinks, were 61 percent more likely to develop kidney disease than those in the bottom third.

Guts and Weight

The heavy use of household cleaning disinfectants may contribute to changes in infant gut bacteria and weight gain, reports a new study in the Canadian Medical Association Journal. University of Alberta researchers collected fecal samples and studied the gut health of 757 babies between the ages of 3 and 4 months; then restudied the children at 1 and 3 years old. They found that children in households that used disinfectants at least once a week had higher body mass index (BMI) scores and elevated levels of Lachnospiraceae, gut microbes linked in other studies to insulin resistance and metabolic disorders. Babies in households that used vinegar or other eco-friendly cleaners had lower BMI scores and much lower levels of a family of bacteria that includes E. coli.

Curcumin Boosts Fertility in Men Sperm counts have plunged by half in the last 40 years among American and European men, according to a recent review of scientific studies. In a new double-blind study of 56 infertile men, researchers at Iran’s Qazvin University of Medical Sciences found that curcumin, an active ingredient in turmeric, can boost sperm counts. Each day for 10 weeks, half of the men took 80 milligrams of curcumin nanomicelle, in which curcumin is better absorbed; the other 28 were given a placebo. The researchers found that the curcumin significantly boosted sperm count and motility.

April 2019

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global briefs

Worldwide Worry

to the local businesses that display Natural Awakenings Magazines!

Pick up your next free copy in: Namaste Bookshop at 5th/14th or Whole Foods Chelsea, at coffee shops, fitness centers, yoga and Pilates studios, healing centers, vitamin shops and more, as well as at the following locations: Whole Foods @ 3rd/87th Whole Foods @ Columbus/97th Whole Foods @ Columbus Circle Whole Foods @ Union Square Whole Foods @ East Houston Whole Foods @ Btw 2nd/3rd/57th Whole Foods @Tribeca Pure Yoga @ 3rd/86th Metro Drug @ Lex/67th Morton Williams @ 1st/71st Gary Nulls @ Broadway/89th Quest Bookshop @ Lex/52nd Open Center @ Btw 5th/Madison/30th Life Thyme @ 6th Ave/8th Integral Yoga @ 7th/8th/13th Aum Shanti Bookshop @ Btw 2nd/3rd/24th Reflections Yoga @Btw 2nd/3rd/24th Westerly Market @ 8th/52nd Gristedes Market @ South Brooklyn Back to the Land Health Food @ Park Slope Natural Health Food @ Long Island City Sunac Health Foods @ Williamsburg 4th St. Food Co-op

...and many more

Environmental risks are the top three concerns among the 1,000 global decision-makers surveyed in the latest Global Risks Perception Survey of the World Economic Forum (WEF).

For the third straight year, “extreme weather” ranked first, followed by “failed climate change mitigation” and “natural disasters”. The survey was part of a WEF annual report produced in advance of the recent confab of global leaders in Davos, Switzerland. The World Bank has calculated that the real cost of natural disasters to the global economy is $520 billion per year.

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THANK YOU

Environmental Risks Register as Top Threat

Over Dose

Citrus Crops to Receive Human Antibiotics

Scientists at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) expressed concern over a recent ruling by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) that opens the door to widespread use of the antibiotics streptomycin and oxytetracycline to spray commercial citrus crops. The antibiotics, which are often used on people, can kill insects that transmit a bacterium that causes citrus greening, which renders fruit small and bitter. But the EPA ultimately ruled that the economic benefits outweigh concerns about antibiotic resistance and potential harm to the environment, people and wildlife. The USDA says the amount of antibiotic exposure to people who eat fruit or juices still will be far less than what people are exposed to when prescribed antibiotics by their doctor. The antibiotics will have to be sprayed repeatedly over years just to keep the trees alive and producing fruit until they succumb to citrus greening. Public interest groups are protesting the action.

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IS EVERYWHERE

Balancing Act

The Endangered Species Act seems to be working, with more than 75 percent of marine mammals and sea turtles protected by the act recovering, according to a new peer-reviewed study by scientists at the Center for Biological Diversity published in the academic journal PLOS ONE. North Atlantic green sea turtle nests on Florida beaches have increased by more than 2,000 percent and Hawaiian humpback whales more than 1,100 percent between 1979 and 2005.

Digital Edition available @

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Endangered Species on the Rebound

Advertorial

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ADVERTORIAL

April 2019

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Protection Is the Focus of 2019 Campaign

by Ronica A. O’Hara

O

n April 22, eco-conscious citizens will come together again in communities across the country to celebrate Earth Day and work for the planet’s healthy, sustainable future. This year, the Earth Day Network (EDN) is asking people to join its Protect Our Species campaign to raise awareness of the crucial roles that plants and animals play in the ecosystem and the current threats faced by many of them.

The nonprofit cites that the world is facing the greatest rate of extinction in 60 million years because of human activity, including climate change, deforestation, habitat loss, trafficking and poaching, unsustainable agriculture, pollution and pesticides. But the good news, EDN says, is that the rate of extinctions

can be slowed, and many of our declining, threatened and endangered species can still recover if we work together now. This will necessitate a united global movement of consumers, voters, educators, faith leaders and scientists that demands immediate action.

EDN is asking people to advocate for government policies that protect species and their habitats, and to continue to build on the worldwide efforts that embrace the value of nature.

It is also asking people to undertake such individual actions as adopting a plant-based diet and stopping pesticide and herbicide use. More information, including teach-in toolkits and facts on threatened species, from whales to insects, can be found at EarthDay.org.

FIND US AT THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS

SUNDAY, APRIL 21 NYC Earth Day Bazaar – 10am-5:30pm. Come discover and shop both indoors and outdoors where you’ll find talented local artists, makers and independent vintage and antique dealers who creatively use recycled materials to create incredible jewelry, fashion, furniture, art, home accessories and more. Grand Bazaar NYC, 100 W 77th St, Manhattan. Grandbazaarnyc.org.

12th Annual World Peace Earth Day Celebration – 3-8pm. Come join us for a very special day with our conscious community as we gather in unity honoring Mother Earth. Inspirational talks from spiritual, interfaith and environmental leaders, live music and dance performances, meditation and prayers, vendors and food. $15 advance/$20 cash only door/$10 children.

Social Hall, 4 W 43rd St, Manhattan. 212-222-5432.

Earthday@wethworld.org. PlanetHeart.org.

MONDAY, APRIL 22 Visit NYC’s Great Green Sites – Join our Earth Day 5K Green Tour, a fantastic way to get outside on Earth Day and get involved with some of the green groups around the city. Included are a Hudson River ecology school, state-of-the-art waste/recycling center, a zero-waste office and a rooftop farm. Lunch included and provided by Just Salad. In West Village and Chelsea. 212-922-0048. Info@earthdayny.org.

EarthDayInitiative.org/2019-events.

TUESDAY, APRIL 23 Earth Day 2019 – 12-6:30pm. Join us for the most high-traffic Earth Day event in the country! This annual outdoor event features dozens of exhibitors that include environmental non-profits, green businesses, kids’ activities, and live performances.

Free and open to the public. Union Square, E 17th and Broadway, Manhattan. EarthDayinitiative.org.

SUNDAY, APRIL 28 Earth Day Celebration – 1-4pm. Join Prospect Park Alliance and community partners for our annual celebration. Enjoy fun-filled, family-friendly programming that celebrates the environment, including catch-and-release fishing, raptor demonstrations, volunteer cleanups, arts and crafts and nature games.

Prospect Park Boathouse and Audubon Center, 101 East Dr, Brooklyn. Eventbrite.com/e/earth-daycelebration-in-prospect-park-tickets-54311661642.

• Chelsea • 3rd/87th • Columbus/97th • Columbus Circle • Union Square • East Houston • Btw 2nd/3rd/57th

April 22, 2019 12

New York City Edition

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Khanthachai C/Shutterstock.com

EARTH DAY SPOTLIGHTS SPECIES

Help New York City celebrate and promote progress in species sustainability efforts by participating in these local Earth Day 2019 events.

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Healthier Dry Cleaning Non-Toxic Ways to Lower Risks

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CBD Oil has been used in conjunction with symptoms related to arthritis, chronic pain, inflammation, anxiety, depression, insomnia, digestive disorders and many more difficulties.

Chemicals used in dry cleaning clothes have long been linked to health concerns for both people and the environment. Perchloroethylene (“perc” for short) is most commonly used in this process. Federal regulatory agencies have documented myriad negative effects from exposure to the petroleum-based solvent.

The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration links it to dizziness, blurred vision, loss of coordination and other nervous system effects, including memory loss. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency calls perc a likely human carcinogen “by all routes of exposure.” The EPA also warns that the chemical can leak into the ground, contaminating water supplies, and react in the air to form smog, which has been associated with respiratory effects.

Earthtalk.org suggests there are safer alternatives through products and processes used by independent “green” dry cleaners nationwide. These include a biodegradable liquid silicone—essentially liquefied sand—which doesn’t chemically react with fabric fibers. It’s safe to use on delicate garments like beads, lace, silk and cashmere, and won’t cause shrinkage. GreenEarthCleaning.com includes a store locator function.

Another good option is wet cleaning, whereby fabric is laundered in a computer-controlled washer and dryer that uses water—along with specialized soaps and conditioners instead of solvents—and spins its contents much more slowly than a typical home washing machine.

Because wet cleaning is free of hazardous volatile organic compounds like those in perc, it eliminates health and safety risks, as well as environmental hazards associated with traditional dry cleaning, according to GreenAmerica.org. As an added benefit, the equipment and operating costs are lower.

While the biggest disadvantage to wet cleaning is that it produces waste water, it’s still a highly energy-efficient method.

Another method is liquid carbon dioxide (CO2) cleaning, in which some commercial cleaners use the pressurized gas in combination with other gentle cleaning agents to dissolve and remove dirt, fats and oils in clothing instead of using perc; or consider simply handwashing delicate clothes and fabrics in a mild, non-toxic detergent, and then hanging them outside to dry.

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13

wise words

Ocean Robbins on

Personal and Planetary Health

by April Thompson

Ocean’s new book, 31-Day Food Revolution: Heal Your Body, Feel Great, and Transform Your World, aims to help individuals revamp their diets, and in turn, themselves and their communities. It distills his lifetime of knowledge and wisdom on food, health and activism into an accessible how-to guide.

Learn more at 31DayFoodRevolution.com.

What connections do you see between personal and planetary health?

In many situations in life, we have to compromise—but when it comes to food, the choices that are best for us personally also happen to be best for the planet. Eating a plant-based diet, organically grown when possible, is not only linked to the best statistical outcomes for long-term health and well-being, it also helps ensure healthy topsoil, water and a stable climate for future generations.

F

ood revolutionary Ocean Robbins has dedicated his life to inspiring others to rethink their food choices to transform both personal and planetary health. It’s a path forged in part by his father, John Robbins, who walked away from the family ice cream company, Baskin-Robbins, to become an acclaimed health advocate and author.

Together, father and son founded the 500,000-plus-member Food Revolution Network, an online education and advocacy platform that works for healthy, sustainable, humane and delicious food for all. Ocean launched Youth for Environmental Sanity (YES!) at age 16, and directed the organization for 20 years.

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CelesteDeCamps.com • CelesteDeCamps@gmail.com 14

New York City Edition

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We hear incredible stories from members all over the world who are seeing radical changes in their health—reversing heart disease, losing weight, gaining energy and mental clarity. And we also hear inspiring stories of people turning food deserts into wonderful oases of healthy living; for example, Ron Finley, in South Central Los Angeles, who is known for saying that drive-throughs kill more people than drive-by shootings in his neighborhood.

He planted vegetables for the community in the curbside dirt strip in front of his home—and got cited by the city for it. He ended up getting the laws changed, and has since started The Ron Finley Project to create an urban community food hub where the community can come together to plant, learn and nourish themselves.

What are some ways busy people can connect with like-minded individuals to support healthy lifestyle and diet changes?

Start by finding out if you have loved ones who do share your food values, and nurture those relationships. Lean into those healthy relationships; you might be surprised how

photo by Lindsay Miller

In what ways have you seen members of the Food Revolution Network transform their communities?

many people around you are also quietly trying to achieve similar goals.

You can also ask friends and family to be a food ally; even if they are not a full participant in your health regimen, they might be a fan or friend. That can mean preparing particular foods if you come for dinner or simply checking in on how you are doing with your goals and commitments.

You can widen your circle of healthy eating through meal swaps or other shared meal programs. It’s always easier to cook in larger quantities, and there is the added benefit of greater social connection with shared meals.

If you are looking for new friends and allies, it helps to connect to organizations that are already promoting healthy food hubs. There are many listed in the back of 31-Day Food Revolution.

So many people struggle with loneliness, and some are afraid they will feel even more isolated if they step out into a healthy eating regimen. On the contrary, you can become a magnet for people who care about their world and aren’t content with the status quo. These friendships can often become deeper and more valued than ever.

What has been one of the biggest challenges you’ve faced in living a lifestyle against the societal grain, and how have you overcome it?

Impatience. I grew up eating all-natural food; my parents almost named me Kale, and I ate a lot of it growing up. At a certain point, I saw that I had become judgmental and dogmatic when encountering people whose choices did not align with my own, though as Martin Luther King Jr. said, we have no moral authority with those who can feel our underlying contempt. I have since developed a profound respect for each individual’s unique values, needs, experiences and priorities.

I advocate for people’s right to make their own choices about what they need. My goal is to help facilitate people’s choices, and to do so with compassion.

Connect with freelance writer April Thompson, of Washington, D.C., at AprilWrites.com.

Evoke Childhood Imagination for Healing

by Scott Clover

“Everything you can imagine is real.” —Pablo Picasso

W

hen we are children, our imagination is boundless. A box becomes a castle; an eraser can be a racecar. As we age, however, we let conditioned thinking, societal pressures and the influences of our surroundings inhibit our imagination. Our thoughts become cluttered with limiting beliefs that distance us from our imagination’s creative power and ability to enhance our reality.

Evoking our childhood imagination can be part of a powerful healing technique.

Here’s how it works:

1. Relax

Think of a situation you would like changed in your life or body. Set an intention of healing. Take a few minutes to relax your body, breathing deeply. Close your eyes.

2. Feel the negative

Envision yourself as you are now; feel what is not working in your life. Let your body connect to the negative feelings and emotions you experience.

3. Connect to the positive

Next, allow yourself to connect to your boundless childhood imagination. Create a version of yourself that is healthy and joyous, free of your current entanglements. Place this joyous version of yourself a few feet in front of you.

4. Let the energies merge

Take a deep breath, and allow the two versions of yourself to embrace. Let the “two of you” conjoin, gracefully swirling your two energies together. No need to force any connection—let the mingling energies just happen. Stay in this state until your energies feel harmoniously combined into one. Then take a few moments to curiously observe how you feel. Express gratitude for the gifts that your imagination has allowed you to access.

In somatic healing, techniques like this can be used in a variety of ways: to help resolve past traumas, to heal ailments and to empower a more positive, creative future.

Scott Clover is an intuitive energy healer and a somatic and trauma-release expert based in New York City. His work focuses on helping people feel better in their bodies and align with their creative energies. For more information or to contact him, visit ScottClover.com.

April 2019

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healing ways

RossHelen /Shutterstock.com

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16

New York City Edition

THE ART OF HEALING Creative Therapy Aids Recovery

by Marlaina Donato

F

or decades, creative expression has been a valuable tool in healing, and expressive arts therapy—the integrated application of two or more art forms—is now considered a life-changing modality for veterans and anyone else struggling with anxiety or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Also called creative arts therapy, this form of psychotherapy helps patients to process and express what is often beyond verbal language using music, art, dance, theater and writing as its primary modes of communication. “Individuals need no previous arts experience in order to benefit from working with a certified creative arts therapist,” explains Azizi Marshall, founder

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and CEO of the Center for Creative Arts Therapy, in Downers Grove, Illinois.

The National Intrepid Center of Excellence—an outpatient clinic specializing in traumatic brain injuries at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, in Bethesda, Maryland—ranks creative arts therapy among the top five most effective approaches in helping veterans.

A study of combat veterans and creative arts therapy conducted at Concordia University, in Montreal, reported considerable progress, especially in areas of expressing emotions resulting from trauma and gaining understanding of symptoms such as depression, thoughts of suicide and insomnia.

Psychotherapist Cathy Malchiodi, Ph.D., has authored several books, including The Art Therapy Sourcebook, and uses expressive arts therapy in her Louisville practice. “I’ve worked with soldiers for the past 10 years, and find that much of their healing comes about through telling their stories on stage or participating as an actor within a play or improvisation.” Malchiodi also incorporates mindfulness practices, visual arts, music and some simple forms of yoga in her sessions.

anxiety and increasing feelings of joy and accomplishment.

Psychotherapist Doreen Meister, in Oakland, California, encourages her clients to focus on the process of creating, rather than the result. “Expressive therapies are an extension of the self-discovery continuum. I often hear, ‘I draw like a 2-year-old.’ To this I say, ‘Great! Draw like a 2-year-old!’ I believe that somewhere, many of us are told that creative expression must be a certain way.

Creativity is a natural state, a human quality that we are born with, and the product of

creation is not as important as the process.”

Creativity from a clinical perspective allows for new emotional vantage points, distance from situations and viewing experiences through a different lens. “Bringing in creativity offers a wider palette of tools or access points, and gives us another way to understand ourselves,” says Meister. “Creativity as a life force is accessible to all of us.”

Marlaina Donato is an author and composer. Connect at AutumnEmbersMusic.com.

Creative Arts Therapy for Multiple Diagnoses

Expressive arts therapy is also making a positive impact on those suffering from panic attacks, obsessive-compulsive disorder, addictions, eating and attention disorders, dementia and chronic physical illness.

“Creative arts therapy can be used across life challenges; for example, dance or movement therapy has supported women with breast cancer and eating disorders,” says Marshall, who has also witnessed the power of drama therapy to help reduce feelings of fear in clients diagnosed with anxiety and PTSD.

A 2015 study at Butler University, in Indianapolis published in the Journal of Speech Pathology & Therapy shows the significant effects of theater arts on individuals with autism spectrum disorder. “Creative arts therapy can be successful in supporting children with autism, especially ways to practice social skills,” says Marshall. “The drama therapist uses role play, improv and games in order to facilitate interpersonal communication.”

Dopamine and Creating Art

The multitasking neurotransmitter dopamine is one of the brain’s natural antidepressants and plays a key role in feeling pleasure and reinforcing habits. It reaches its highest levels during the initial stages of love, observing something of beauty or creating art.

A recent Drexel University study published in The Arts in Psychotherapy shows the neurological effects of drawing, coloring and simple doodling. Increased circulation in the area of the brain correlating to pleasure and reward was evident, and this dopamine-dominant response is responsible for decreasing symptoms of

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April 2019

17

18

New York City Edition

NA-NewYorkCity.com

Finding the Best Hike for You

A

by Roger Dubin

pril is when we celebrate Earth Day, so I was not surprised to see two great articles related to the outdoors, nature and hiking in this month’s Natural Awakenings—“Loving Nature: Outdoor Adventures for Kids” and “Into the Woods: Hiking for Health and Happiness.”

So how do you find the best hike for you? This is not a recommendation for a particular hike in, or to a magnificent place.

There are simply too many in our area to list.

Instead, this article will provide you with tools to find the perfect hiking experience given what you and your group are looking for.

Here are a few things to consider before searching:

1. What kind of shape are you in? Do you exercise regularly? Are you a runner or a rock climber, or a casual walker?

2. Who will be hiking with you? If it’s anyone particularly young or with physical limitations, you will want to fit your hike to that person’s abilities or the mismatch can potentially ruin the hike for everyone.

3. How much time do you have? (Remem-

ber to consider both travel time and hiking time.) Are you willing to stay overnight?

4. What type of terrain do you want to experience? Would you prefer well-worn, easily identified trails, or something off the beaten path? Are you afraid of heights or of walking near cliffs or downhill slopes?

5. What do you want to see? Among other features, there are vistas, lakes, waterfalls, historic landmarks and wildlife.

Once you have answered these questions, you’re ready to start your search.

There are many great sources of information online. For a quick and easy answer, simply google “hikes near me.” Chances are you’ll find at least a few local options that you’ve never thought or heard of. There may even be trail ratings and links to maps and more information. If that search doesn’t get you good results, then google “parks near me.”

My favorite website for finding hikes in this area is nynjtc.org. The New York-New Jersey Trail Conference maintains 2,150 of trails and has been doing this since 1920.

Simply click on “Find Hikes” or “Find Parks” and you will be able to set the parameters of your preferred hike, based on the above questions.

Once you hit search, you’ll see a choice of hikes on a map, together with descriptions of each one, including difficulty level and driving directions to the trailhead, as well as any public transportation options.

There are also books and guides that you can buy or borrow from the library. My favorite book is Circuit Hikes in Harriman,

by Don Weise. Harriman Bear Mountain State Park is 52,000 acres with more than 225 miles of marked trails. The area is steeped in beauty and history. It’s less than an hour’s drive from the city and accessible from public transportation. Circuit Hikes in Harriman covers 37 loop hikes, with complete descriptions and a map for each hike.

Now that you have the tools, it’s up to you to put them to use. You won’t be disappointed. Happy trails!

Roger Dubin is marketing director for Natural Awakenings and a volunteer trail supervisor for the New York-New Jersey Trail Conference, managing trails in South Eastern Harriman State Park. Contact him at MrNaturalNYC@ gmail.com or on Instagram @MrNaturalNYC.

Map or App? Whether it’s paper or digital, don’t hit the trail without a guide. The best maps are the official New York-New Jersey Trail Conference maps (available for sale at nyntc.org), which are waterproof and contain useful and interesting information on the revise side. Two popular hiking apps are AllTrails and Avenza, both of which have free and paid features.

April 2019

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Photographee.eu/Shutterstock.com

conscious eating

POTLUCK FOR THE 21ST CENTURY

Breaking Bread, Building Community

by April Thompson

A

mericans are eating alone more than ever, with adults going solo for nearly half of all meals, according to consumer research consultants at the Hartman Group. Yet, fellowship-minded foodies are bucking the trend by finding new and unique ways to bring strangers, colleagues and friends together for healthy, home-cooked meals.

Meal sharing not only builds community and camaraderie; it can also save time and money and minimize food waste.

Eating with others can also encourage mindful consumption, a boon to physical 20

New York City Edition

and mental health. A number of emerging ideas and platforms from around the block to across the globe are helping singles and families young and old connect over food.

Linking Diners Through Technology “I wanted to find a place to create more meaningful conversations and meet new people than bars where people often meet up, and thought home is that place. Who doesn’t like dinner parties or potlucks?” says Jared Gold, co-founder of MealTribes,

NA-NewYorkCity.com

in Washington, D.C.

Within two years, MealTribes has grown to more than 200 members that can host or join potlucks via a private Facebook group open to area residents in their 20s and 30s. To encourage participants to be fully present, the group encourages guests to leave their phones in their bags.

Instead of strict food do’s and don’ts, MealTribes encourages attendees to bring a contribution that makes them proud. However, guests are discouraged from bringing alcohol in lieu of a food dish to avoid it becoming the focus of the table.

Cabeca de Marmore/Shutterstock.com

“Lasting friendships and business opportunities have come from our potlucks,” says Gold. “Even skeptics have come away from events feeling like they got the bestcase scenario; nice people, homey environment, with good food and conversation.”

Jay Savsani, co-founder of Meal Sharing, in Chicago, got the idea for the “Airbnb of meals” after seeking out a home-cooked dinner while backpacking in Cambodia. He was invited to a farm feast in the countryside, connecting with local hosts over great conversation and delicious food. “I returned home wanting to find a way to use technology to recreate that serendipitous moment,” says Savsani.

Today, the platform uses technology to connect curious diners with affordable, home-cooked meals in 150 countries. “The concept is open; we encourage hosts to make whatever they believe in,” says Savsani. “That can be a top chef serving nine-course meals or a simple spaghetti someone offers for a few bucks or even free.”

Savsani says the meal becomes secondary to the deeper social interactions

that can manifest through these gatherings.

“We even got an inquiry from a local fire department interested in hosting meals to get to know people in the community better.”

Organically Grown Gatherings Lilia Fuquen, who directs the Food and Community project in Virginia, participates in several gatherings intended to nurture community through food. Fuquen’s project aims to bring people across the state together to document, celebrate and share traditional, contemporary and emerging foodways, initiating a deeper conversation about and the connections between food, place, culture and community.

Last fall, the project convened more than 200 people around a feast celebrating indigenous foods, people and foodways in Virginia. The meal was prepared from locally farmed and foraged ingredients representative of the diverse native culinary traditions of the region, including greens, mushrooms, wild rice and fish sourced from fields, forests and streams.

On a more grassroots level, an intergenerational family potluck dinner “helps create community and a sense of family among people who often live far from blood relatives,” says Fuquen, who lives on a small farm outside Charlottesville, Virginia.

The workplace can also be a great place to break bread together, says Fuquen. Her office enjoys hosting the Souper Club, where co-workers each bring a key element like salad fixings, a loaf of bread or a pot of soup to enjoy together—away from their desks.

Rebecca Shaloff, a fundraising consultant in Washington, D.C., has participated in work lunch swaps, which she says promote camaraderie, new food discoveries and healthy eating. She also takes part in a closely knit monthly supper club of four young families in her neighborhood.

“We all value each other’s friendship and company, but there’s something about coming together for dinner that makes us feel more like family than friends,” Shaloff says.

Connect with freelance writer April Thompson, of Washington, D.C., at AprilWrites.com.

April 2019

21

Candida Infection

The Answer to Vaginal Infections

by Michael Biamonte

C

hronic yeast infections can have many causes, but traditional medicine typically leaves patients frustrated and confused because it does not address the cause; it simply treats the symptoms. Some patients might even be accused of doing unsanitary things to cause their symptoms, a charge that is not always true. In fact, patients may notice other strange symptoms during a vaginal flare-up, like reactions to foods and drinks, mood changes, extreme fatigue, depression, and mental “fog” or inability to concentrate. Doctors who tell their patients that these symptoms have nothing to do with an infection are very wrong.

First, let’s understand what is normal and what is not.

It is normal for a small amount of white or grayish semi-solid material to be passed from the vaginal opening. This 22

New York City Edition

discharge results from the natural breakdown and repair of cells in the cervix and vagina. A watery or mucous-like secretion from the cervix should occur in response to sexual stimulation. During ovulation, vaginal discharge may be bloodied. These occurrences are normal too.

However, a white, creamy-white or yellow mucous-like discharge indicates an infection in the vagina, cervix, endocervix or endometrium. With yeast infections, the discharge may be frothy and cottage cheese-like. With bacterial infections, or when tampons or contraceptive devices are left neglected, a very foul discharge is common. A watery, mucous-less discharge sometimes occurs when there is malignancy of the upper genital tract; as a result of radiation therapy; or when there is abnormal narrowing of the cervix or endocervix.

NA-NewYorkCity.com

Candida infection is very common today. Years ago, it was thought to occur only in diabetic and pregnant women. However, due to the incorrect treatment of vaginal yeast infections with antibiotics and cortisone, and due to the use of oral contraceptives, which stimulate the overgrowth of yeasts, Candida (also called monilla) has become a household word.

This type of infection may begin with external itching, redness or swelling of the vulva. At times, burning and pain can be so bad that it interferes with walking. A whitish, non-bloody discharge—either light or heavy, and from watery to cottage cheese-like—is common. It will smell like vinegar or yeast.

Pain during intercourse is a very common sign. For chronic sufferers, the symptoms will worsen one week to 10 days prior to menses.

Candida is a sneaky organism. While it is a yeast, it can change forms and become a fungus. As a fungus, it grows into a plant-like structure, digging into the cells to find food.

Women have described it as “having plants growing in there.”

In the fungus form, Candida is sometimes less noticeable but will cause hundreds of symptoms not generally thought of as being connected to a yeast infection. In the yeast form it is easier to control. While antibiotics may reduce the infections for a short time, they often come back with a vengeance.

Patients can get better and get rid of Candida infection, but proper treatment and diagnosis—something our office does on a daily basis—are essential. This problem shouldn’t be taken lightly. What seems like a vaginal infection today can result in chronic ailments a few years from now. There is an answer to Candida infection, and patients can be helped, but only if they are willing to see the matter through with a healthcare professional who understands the nature of the problem.

Michael Biamonte is a certified clinical nutritionist and owner of the Biamonte Center for Clinical Nutrition, located at 2185 34th Ave., Ste. 14D, Astoria, NY. To read an expanded version of this article, and other articles by Michael Biamonte, visit Health-Truth.com.

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Get Up and Fail

by Celeste DeCamps

All our failures, all our cringe-worthy moments, left us with life lessons that inevitably led us to our successes.

N

o one likes to fail. We definitely don’t want to embarrass ourselves in front of someone, or especially a group of people.

Who in their right mind would voluntarily get up and give a speech for an audience? Why would we put ourselves through the agony of knowing that there’s a really good chance we will bomb?

At some point in our lives, we will need to step up and take that chance. Whether it’s an oral report for school, the toast at our friend’s wedding or a nerve-racking presentation for work, there’s a good chance of screwing up.

Let’s talk about failure. I’m sure every one of us can conjure up at least one memory of a time we messed up—yet somehow we survived.

If we could really die of embarrassment, I would’ve died many times.

Looking back, I realized that my failures were all lessons I needed to learn. I wouldn’t change any of them, because those experiences made me a better speaker. I approach every opportunity to present to a group of people as invaluable stage time.

Just like anything else done well, effective public speaking takes practice. The more opportunities we take to refine our speeches, the more chances we have to create impactful messages. We all learn from each other, and the only way we can do that is to communicate and share our experiences.

When we take a look back at our lives and see how far we’ve come, we’ll realize something important: All those failures, all those cringeworthy moments, left us with life lessons that inevitably led us to our successes. It’s that knowledge we need to share with each other. You never know who in your audience needs to hear that message that day.

Keeping ourselves safe from embarrassment will keep us from growing and really knowing our potential. I love Friedrich Nietzsche’s quote “That which does not kill us, makes us stronger.” Yes, we may fall flat on our faces, but we will get up and be better than ever. Let’s give ourselves permission to fail. We may never know where that will lead us until we do.

Celeste DeCamps is co-founder of Authentic Voices.

Along with Michele Marshall, she presents lectures and workshops to help people tell their story. For more information, visit MeetUp.com/Authentic-Voices.

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Living a Reiki-Infused Life

By Rev. Jyogan

R

eiki is everywhere these days, it seems. This hands-on healing art has gone mainstream. It is becoming a household term. It even has a hashtag: #reiki.

Have a headache? Don’t reach for the aspirin—just apply some reiki. It is offered to patients in hospitals and given directly in operating rooms during surgery. It has even found its way into the fictional medical world, with a mention on the ABC soap opera General Hospital.

We celebrate the fact that this beautiful and healing connection to Source Energy— something that originated nearly 100 years ago in Japan—has taken the world by storm.

There are many reasons reiki has blossomed to become as popular as it is today, but simply put, it is easy. It is easy and readily available to anyone and everyone—literally to 24

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every living being on this planet.

Why? Because reiki is, by definition, everything.

Reiki is everything. Reiki is Source Energy, the energy of the universe. This means that the air we breathe is reiki. Inanimate objects are reiki. The vacuum of space is reiki.

Love is reiki.

Reiki can also “charge” and enliven things— crystals, plants and pets, to name just a few.

In fact, pets love it. Why? Because they are it! Go ahead and ask your dog after giving him some reiki healing touch.

Reiki infuses everything, literally everything. Even our loving unions and weddings can (and should) be permeated with it. Why create a beautiful loving union at City Hall?

That’s roughly the equivalent of making a life

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union at the DMV.

Reiki marriages are a beautiful and lifechanging way to solidify the union between life partners. So what exactly is a reiki wedding? It’s one infused with Source Energy, including the vows that are exchanged. It’s a truly customized commitment ceremony based in Source, a wedding filled with Source Energy creating a bond on every level: physical, emotional and spiritual. It is the most sacred of unions.

Just as a crystal that is charged with reiki glimmers multi-dimensionally, so can two souls that are united by it.

Live a reiki-infused life. Love with reiki. Infuse it in everything you do. Live and breathe it.

Jyogan is a reiki shihan (master teacher) and ordained interfaith ministerial director registered as clergy with the New York City Office of the Mayor to perform legal weddings. He serves as ministerial director with the Traditional Reiki Center, located at Fulton Street and Marcy Avenue, in Brooklyn. For more information, email Jyogan@TraditionalReikiCenter or visit TraditionalReikiCenter.com.

Science and Spirituality A New Story

T

by Dr. Jude Currivan

hroughout the ages, the spiritual wisdom and experiences of shamans, sages, seers and pioneering scientists have led them to understand the unified nature of reality.

Mainstream science has upheld that the separate and material appearance of the universe is its essential nature, and that consciousness arises from the brain as an evolutionary outcome. However, new evidence—from physics to biology and complex social systems—is showing that this view is completely wrong.

This evidence is revealing that digitized information, the basis for our communication technologies, is exactly the same as universal and meaningful information, which literally “in-forms” the appearance of the physical world. Demonstrating that infor-

mation is more fundamental than energymatter and space-time, these discoveries suggest that our universe is more a great thought than a great thing, and that mind and consciousness aren’t something we have, but what we and the whole world are.

Just as we combine letters of our alphabet to express meaning in words and songs, the universal alphabet of ones and zeroes illustrate the thoughtful appearance of our entire universe. This new story empowers us to harness our communal wisdom, and inspires us to realize that we are microcosmic co-creators in its evolutionary impulse.

Jude Currivan, Ph.D., is a cosmologist, planetary healer, futurist and author. Read more about her at JudeCurrivan.com.

Futurist Jude Currivan Comes to Washington Heights Explore more of this scientific revolution with Jude Currivan, Ph.D., on April 28 at 3 p.m. at the United Palace of Spiritual Arts, in Washington Heights. By explaining how scientifically based evidence shows that we are all interconnected, interdependent and unified, she empowers people to live, love and evolve together in their universal oneness.

Location: 4140 Broadway at 175th St. For tickets and information, visit UPSpiritualArts.org.

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April 2019

25

You Can Get Rid of Herpes S

From the Desk of Dr. Howard Robins at The Healing Center in New York City

usan has been finding it hard to find a great guy. long—that is unless they are destroyed by medical ozone Now that she finally met one that seems like a man therapy! she could get involved with, she has to tell him she Herpes simplex is most easily transmitted by direct conhas herpes. She already knows that if she doesn’t tell him tact with a lesion or the body fluid of an infected individright away and he finds out later, he might just disapual. Oral herpes is easily diagnosed if the patient presents pear, leaving her alone and looking again. with visible sores or ulcers, though a small pink bump

Justin has no problem attracting beautiful on the tongue may represent an outbreak as well. Genital women, but when he has a herpes outbreak he knows herpes may be harder to spot, as an outbreak may only be it will be the deal breaker. Women are not likely to stay Dr. Howard Robins a small pink or brown bump with no other symptoms.

with a man that has it, and he is finally looking to get Once infected, the virus will remain in married and start a family.

Janet and her husband want to start their family. Her friend the body for life, unless you do medical at work just gave birth and her baby was born blind in one eye ozone therapy to destroy it. It can be due to a vaginal herpes outbreak during birth. This scared Janet eliminated! and got her thinking, “What if this happens to our baby?”

Treatments with antivirals can reduce outbreaks and may alleviate

All these scenarios are taking place every day. Herpes is the severity of symptomatic episodes but will not get rid of the probably infecting one out of three or four people, though govinfection. Medical ozone (a gas) is the only medicine known to ernment figures are about one in six, as most people are not tested destroy and rid the body of this horrible infection. or embarrassed to report it.

Please don’t believe the commercials on TV saying you can Getting infected is very easy! never get rid of it. Though it offers no promises or guarantees, No full-blown lesions have to be present, just a small, unnoticed, ozone has been used all over the world to treat infections that pink bump on the tongue can transmit the virus. No kissing has normally cannot be fixed, i.e., herpes. Medical ozone is a gas that to take place. The simple act of sharing a taste of your friend’s dinwhen it enters the body intravenously acts like glue to all viruses, ner could transfer the virus. bacteria, fungus, yeast, mold, toxins and harmful free radicals. It

destroys or inactivates them so the body can remove them comWhat exactly is herpes? pletely.

Herpes simplex is a viral disease caused by both herpes simplex

More than 45,000 physicians in over 50 countries have been virus Type 1 (HSV-1) and Type 2 (HSV-2). Oral herpes, the visible using ozone therapy for more than 70 years, and reportedly it can symptoms of which are often called cold sores or fever blisters, is successfully and safely treat conditions and diseases such as heran infection of the face or mouth. Oral herpes is the most common pes. So, don’t give up hope and don’t wait! It is absolutely possible form of infection. Genital herpes is the second most common form to eliminate herpes from your body. of herpes. However, both HSV-1 and HSV-2 can be found both orally and genitally.

To learn more about medical ozone therapy, go to OzoneUniver Herpes viruses cycle between periods of active disease with sity.com or buy a copy of Ozone Therapy: The Miracle Medicine, blisters containing infectious virus particles, which may last two available at GaryNull.com, which has testimonials on its benefits to 21 days and be mildly to severely painful, followed by a period and effectiveness. of remission. Genital herpes, however, is often asymptomatic and For more information, call Dr. Howard Robins at 212-581can be found inside and outside of the vagina, as well as on the 0101. Robins is considered the foremost clinical expert penis and around the anus. After the initial infection, the viruses on the use of medical ozone in North America. Mention are transported along sensory nerves, where they may reside lifeNatural Awakenings and get 50 percent off initial consult.

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New York City Edition

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Create mud art. “Make a batch of mud

healthy kids

all about people/Shutterstock.com

All kids like creating special places, going on adventures, befriending animals, following maps and paths, and so on. ~David Sobel

LOVING NATURE Outdoor Adventures for Kids

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by Ronica A. O’Hara

etting kids off the couch and into the great outdoors can be a challenge when they tend to be better acquainted with the popular Angry Birds video game characters than with the real warbling ones. Unfortunately, studies show that digital devices, parental work overload and media-stoked fears of the outside world are currently making our kids nature-deprived.

Yet, they have an instinctive love of the outdoors, experts agree. “When given free access to nature, children’s play follows the same patterns all around the world,” says prominent environmental educator David Sobel, author of Wild Play: Parenting Adventures in the Great Outdoors. “All kids like creating special places, going on adventures, befriending animals, following maps and paths, and so on.”

The more we encourage them, the more likely they’ll discover the thrills of the natural world—and numerous studies show that they’ll then be calmer and less stressed, better able to concentrate and less likely to be obese. Kids also are more “responsive and connected” when they are talking outdoors with adults than talking indoors, according to a recent study published in the Journal of Environmental Psychology.

Here are some simple ideas to get started:

Build fairy houses. In a park, forest or

backyard, ask the child to find a quiet spot, like the base of a tree or under a bush, and build a tiny house using only their imagination and natural materials such as sticks, bark, grass, pebbles, feathers and pinecones.

“The fun is ageless and connects you to nature in magical and memorable ways,” says Tracy Kane of Maine, whose website, FairyHouses.com, offers ideas and books.

Befriend a bug. Help them look for bugs

and crawling things in the dirt and on leaves, then ask them to draw them. Back home or at the library, kids can search in guidebooks or online to learn the critters’ names and traits.

Engage in real-life tweets. Show them

how to listen carefully for bird songs and count how many different ones they hear. See if they can imitate the tweets or find words that describe them. Check out a bird-song beginner’s guide at Audubon.org/news/abeginners-guide-common-bird-sounds-andwhat-they-mean.

and use it to create sculptures, paint a masterpiece or just use it to jump in and get messy with,” suggests MaryEllen Mateleska, director of education and conservation at the Mystic Aquarium, in Connecticut.

Make dolls and critters. Kids can use

hibiscus or hollyhock flowers and toothpicks to make dolls with flowing skirts. Or they can collect leaves of different shapes and sizes and glue them together to create leafy creatures.

“You can take it an extra step by inventing a story and creating a one-of-a-kind storybook,” says Mateleska.

Grow a garden. Using a kid-sized plot of land—it can even be a big pot of dirt—give them a trowel, a watering can and easy-togrow seeds such as radishes and carrots. Not only will they get exercise, a Texas A&M University study shows gardening makes kids more likely to choose veggies for snacks.

Invent a cozy hideaway. Under the limbs of a big tree, old blankets and pillows can be used by a child to build a “secret” hiding place, stocked with lemonade, apples and fun books.

Incorporate digital delights. Rather

than competing with digital devices, integrate them into the nature experience. “A phone app like iNaturalist lets kids take a picture and will identify the creature or plant for them,” says science teacher Jemma Smith, of The Education Hotel, a UK-based tutoring service. “Or have them take three artistic pictures of nature.”

Try geocaching. This game for older kids requires them to use their phones as a GPS to find tiny treasure boxes that have already been hidden all over the countryside. “Most boxes have small trinkets to swap and a tiny book to sign their name,” says Smith.

Time It. Simply set the timer for an hour, open the door into the back yard and let the kids “go at it,” as does writer Attiyya Atkins, a mother of four in Pompano Beach, Florida. “Mostly it’s selfplay, but I come out sometimes and teach them about nature, or we do art projects with leaves, rocks or dirt. It’s always naturally fun, and they’re pretty tired afterwards!”

Ronica A. O’Hara is a Denver-based natural health writer. Connect at OHaraRonica@gmail.com.

April 2019

27

Into the Woods

Hiking for Health and Happiness

by Marlaina Donato

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any of us equate fitness with going to the gym, but a good hike in a natural environment can foster unique benefits for both body and psyche.

Hiking or walking outdoors not only promotes heart health, helping to balance both blood sugar and blood pressure, it increases hip bone density to help reduce fractures, according to research on postmenopausal women from the ongoing Nurses’ Health Study. Navigating uneven terrain also necessitates lateral movement, which can strengthen core muscles and improve balance more significantly than working out on a treadmill or cycling.

Walk and Live Longer

Any kind of walking can be a great boon to health. Recent research by the American Cancer Society involving 140,000 older adults correlates a lower mortality rate with even short intervals of walking. Individuals in the study that walked six hours a week lowered their risk of dying from cancer and cardiovascular and respiratory disease. It also shows that just two hours of walking per week could significantly improve health.

“Walking and hiking balance the body through natural movement, oxygenation of 28

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the cells and the use of our muscles as they were designed to be used,” says Dami Roelse, of Ashland, Oregon, author of Walking Gone Wild: How to Lose Your Age on the Trail. “Walking is in our genes; DNA molecules need to be stimulated regularly to express themselves, and walking does just that. It also improves mood and cognition.”

The beauty of hiking is that it offers a tailored experience according to ability and personal interests. Day hikes, whether in the countryside or in urban botanical gardens or parks, are uplifting and ideal for any fitness level.

Longer or overnight treks with a backpack of supplies offer healthy challenges and opportunities for total immersion in nature.

Bringing the kids on a hike offers family fitness time and a healthy way to unplug from technology and sneak in a fun learning experience about local flora and fauna.

Trek for a Healthier Brain

Exercise stimulates feel-good neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin, but getting a workout in a natural setting fortifies the whole nervous system. A 2015 study published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Science led

by Stanford University

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researchers shows that walking in nature for 90 minutes decreases activity in the subgenual prefrontal cortex, the region of the brain most affected by depression.

In contrast, individuals that walked in an urban environment did not reap the same results. Another 2015 study published in the Journal of Environmental Psychology shows that nature walks improve memory and decrease anxiety in teens.

The Japanese philosophy of shinrinyoku, or “forest bathing”, woven into Japanese Shinto and Buddhist traditions, has become an important part of science-based health care in Japan. A significant 2009 study by Japanese researchers published in Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine shows that just 20 minutes of walking in the woods decreases stress hormones. Forest bathing has also been shown to speed postoperative healing, improve concentration in children with attentiondeficit/hyperactivity disorder and fortify immunity with an increased number of NK, or natural killer cells.

Naturalist Melanie Choukas-Bradley, in Washington, D.C., knows about Mother Nature’s therapeutic gifts firsthand. “I participated in some of the health research both in the field and the lab during a forest bathing trip to Japan,” says the author of The Joy of Forest Bathing: Reconnect with Wild Places & Rejuvenate Your Life. “My vital signs were checked before and after shinrin-yoku walks, and in the lab my brainwaves were measured while viewing urban and forest scenes. My blood pressure was lower after every walk, and my brainwaves calmed while viewing forest scenes.”

Choukas-Bradley emphasizes that forest bathing doesn’t require a forest setting, noting, “You can forest bathe in the desert, at the beach or even an urban park during a lunch break.”

Hitting the trails can also help us see life from another perspective. “Forests are living, breathing organisms. Mountains transcend my humanness,” muses Roelse. “It’s both a humbling and uplifting experience.”

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

Alexander Raths/Shutterstock.com

fit body

inspiration

Practitioner of the Month

FotoHelin/Shutterstock.com

Melyssa Davis

SACRED SPACE Bringing Bliss to Every Room

by Maya Whitman

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acred space is most often associated with places of worship, but it can be any place that connects us to meaning or joy. In the blur of daily living, nooks of inspiration and beauty provide spiritual sustenance, remind us of our dreams or celebrate lovely memories. Having “bliss corners” in the home or workplace is a wonderful way to stay connected to the positive.

Most parents or grandparents can confess to having a bliss corner on the refrigerator door where drawings and accomplishments of young family members are proudly displayed. Having a place of inspiration in any room doesn’t have to take up much space and can easily add to the décor. It can be as simple as a wedding veil hanging on a bedroom wall or a bowl of shells, sea glass or sand from a beach vacation in the bathroom. It can be sentimental with dried flowers from a momentous occasion or a small table dedicated to loved ones with framed photos or letters and a piece of cloth that holds special memories.

Corners of bliss fulfill their purpose best in places where they can remind us to follow our heart’s “true north” or help us to foster in-

ner peace during busy days. Such places are office desks and bedroom nightstands near an alarm clock. The kitchen is an ideal room in the house for sacred space; designating a corner to light a candle during meal prep; filling an old teapot with fresh flowers every week; and displaying the photo of someone who once nourished us are all beautiful ways to bring more meaning into our relationship with food.

Cultivating bliss can be a form of active meditation, simple rituals that can include prayer or other forms of mindfulness. On more practical levels, it can be an opportunity to bond with loved ones.

Creating a bliss corner can be a creative and fun activity for teens to express a passion, whether it be a hobby, sport or favorite singer. Many of us have boxes of mementos or nostalgic things from childhood taking up space in a closet. Making a bliss corner is the perfect way to remind us why we kept them in the first place.

M

elyssa Davis, ARCB, RYT, YBR®, a holistic movement practitioner and personal trainer certified in multiple modalities, specializes in holistic foot therapies and other practices that eliminate pain and promote optimal function, balance, and overall wellness. Melyssa is a registered yoga teacher since 2005, a Reiki practitioner, and an ARCB certified professional foot reflexologist. She is certified to teach Yamuna® Foot Fitness, Integral Hatha Yoga, MELT Method® Hand and Foot, Yamuna® Body Rolling, and Lakshmi Voelker Chair Yoga. Melyssa teaches workshops and group classes at Reflections Center, the NY Open Center and last summer introduced the “Wellness on Wednesdays” pop-up shop at Eneslow Shoes & Orthotics on Park Avenue South, offering private tutorials, exercises and wellness plans for foot and ankle self-care. www.melyssadavis.com 917-975-6204 Wellness@MelyssaDavis.com MelyssaDavis.com

Maya Whitman writes about natural health and living a more beautiful life. Connect at Ekstasis28@gmail.com.

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NATURAL AWAKENINGS NYC calendar of events

FRIDAY, APRIL 5 Healing Through the Medicine Buddha Workshop – April 5-7. With Lama Migmar Tseten. This workshop is for everyone who is interested in self-healing and anyone who is a healer. Learn how to combine the sadhana (spiritual practice) with the technique of blessing medicinal substances to enhance their healing function. Eastover Estate and Retreat, 430 East St, Lenox, MA. 413-212-2903. Eastover.com.

SUNDAY, APRIL 7 2001: A Space Odyssey and United Palace of Spiritual Arts’ 50-Year Anniversary – 12:30pm.

With Jean Houston, Karen Drucker. In 1969 Loew’s Theatre faced uncertainty and the building was falling into disrepair. United Palace of Spiritual Arts purchased and rescued the building, restoring its timeless grandeur. Following the movie, the Palace will be honoring the last 50 years, as countdown begins when United Palace turns 90 in 2020. United Palace, 4140 Broadway at 175th St, Manhattan. 212-568-6700, info@UnitedPalce.org. UPSpiritualArts.org.

MONDAY, APRIL 8 Free Intro - Acem Meditation: Discover the Power of the Wandering Mind – 6pm. With Eirik Jensen, Rolf Brandrud, Mercedes Ozuna. Acem Meditation is practiced in 18 countries around the world. Learn this technique for relaxation and deep stress release, increase energy levels, stimulate creativity and experience spiritual renewal. New York Open Center, 22 E 30th St, Manhattan. 212-219-2527. OpenCenter. org/acem-meditation.

Lobby Series: An Evening of Chants and Songs to Heal, Inspire and Empower – 6:30pm doors, 7pm show. With Karen Drucker. This series showcases local artists for 100-125 guests in our Grand Foyer. Karen sings, speaks and leads workshops at women’s retreats, mind-body-health conferences and various new thought churches. $20 online/$25 door. United Palace, 4140 Broadway at 175th St, Manhattan. 212-568-6700. info@UnitedPalace.org.

UPSpiritualArts.org.

TUESDAY, APRIL 9 Public Speaking: I Can’t Move! – 6-8pm. With Michele Marshall and Celeste DeCamps. Learn the importance of body language, gestures and eye contact. For selection for assistance honing a speech during the workshop, submit your draft and the message you wish to deliver. Limited seating, reserve early. WeWork, 450 Lexington Ave, Manhattan.

(Building entrance between Lexington and Depew Pl.) Meetup.com/Authentic-Voices.

THURSDAY, APRIL 11 The Consciousness of Money – 12pm. With Jeff Vander Clute, Sarah McCrum, Niko Dujmovic. In this workshop, you’ll learn money is very much alive and has something important to say to you. Listening deeply, you’ll change the way you make financial decisions, based on a simple shift in consciousness. $50. United Palace, 4140 Broadway at 175th St, Manhattan. 212-568-6700. info@ UnitedPalace.org. UPSpiritualArts.org.

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SATURDAY, APRIL 13 Shamanic Circle – 4-6pm. With Hereditary Tuvan Shamaness ChokBar. Indigenous cultures always understood the importance of living in balance and harmony with the earth and cosmos. Ancient wisdom, practices and rituals can help remove deeplyrooted fears, attachments and unhealthy patterns that keep you from reaching your highest potential and finding personal fulfillment. $20. United Palace, 4140 Broadway at 175th St, Manhattan. 212-5686700. info@UnitedPalace.org. UPSpiritualArts.org.

SUNDAY, APRIL 14 A Course in Miracles Lecture – 1:30pm. With Jon Mundy, PhD. Jon was introduced to the Course by its scribe Dr Helen Schucman in 1975 and is the author of ten books based on the Course. The topic will be Advaita Vedanta (non-dualism) and the Course. The course states that Heaven is our Home and God’s Will for us is perfect happiness. Center for Remembering and Sharing, 123 4th Ave, Manhattan. 212-677-8621.

Crsny.org or MiraclesMagazine.org.

Chant UP with Gaura Vani – 3:30-5:30pm. Join us for a monthly celebration of the ancient, mystical tradition of mantra music. Elevate your spirit and cultivate community through the joyous, sacred sounds of kirtan at the all-inclusive UPSA. Raise your voice and vibration! $20 advance/$25 day of. United Palace, 4140 Broadway at 175th St, Manhattan. 212-568-6700. info@UnitedPalace.org. UPSpiritualArts.org.

MONDAY, APRIL 15 Acem Meditation: Discover the Power of the Wandering Mind – Apr 15-May 6, 6-7:45pm.

With Eirik Jensen, Rolf Brandrud, Mercedes Ozuna.

Acem Meditation is practiced in 18 countries around the world. Learn this technique for relaxation and deep stress release, increase energy levels, stimulate creativity and experience spiritual renewal. New York Open Center, 22 E 30th St, Manhattan. 212219-2527. OpenCenter.org/acem-meditation.

SUNDAY, APRIL 21 NYC Earth Day Bazaar – 10am-5:30pm. Come discover and shop both indoors and outdoors where you’ll find talented local artists, makers and independent vintage and antique dealers who creatively use recycled materials to create incredible jewelry, fashion, furniture, art, home accessories and more. Grand Bazaar NYC, 100 W 77th St, Manhattan. Grandbazaarnyc.org.

12th Annual World Peace Earth Day Celebration – 3-8pm. Come join us for a very special day with our conscious community as we gather in unity honoring Mother Earth. Inspirational talks from spiritual, interfaith and environmental leaders, live music and dance performances, meditation and prayers, vendors and food. $15 advance/$20 cash only door/$10 children.

Social Hall, 4 W 43rd St, Manhattan. 212-222-5432.

Earthday@wethworld.org. PlanetHeart.org.

MONDAY, APRIL 22 Visit NYC’s Great Green Sites – Join our Earth Day 5K Green Tour, a fantastic way to get outside on Earth Day and get involved with some of the

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green groups around the city. Included are a Hudson River ecology school, state-of-the-art waste/recycling center, a zero-waste office and a rooftop farm. Lunch included and provided by Just Salad. In West Village and Chelsea. 212-922-0048. Info@earthdayny.org.

EarthDayInitiative.org/2019-events.

TUESDAY, APRIL 23 Earth Day 2019 – 12-6:30pm. Join us for the most high-traffic Earth Day event in the country! This annual outdoor event features dozens of exhibitors that include environmental non-profits, green businesses, kids’ activities, and live performances. Free and open to the public. Union Square, E 17th and Broadway, Manhattan. EarthDayinitiative.org.

Public Speaking: I Can’t Move! – 6-8pm. With Michele Marshall and Celeste DeCamps. Learn the importance of body language, gestures and eye contact. For selection for assistance honing a speech during the workshop, submit your draft and the message you wish to deliver. Limited seating, reserve early. WeWork, 450 Lexington Ave, Manhattan.

(Building entrance between Lexington and Depew Pl.) Meetup.com/Authentic-Voices.

FRIDAY, APRIL 26 Empowered Light Holistic Expo – Apr 26-28. Fri 4-9pm, Sat 9am-7pm, Sun 10am-5pm. Alternative healing treatments, inspiring lectures, intuitive readings, meditations, natural products and unique gift items. The expo’s focus is on healthier lifestyles, self-care, stress reduction, new information and ideas and connection. Greater Philadelphia Expo Center, 100 Station Ave, Oaks, PA. EmpoweredLight.com.

SUNDAY, APRIL 28 Awaken Wellness Fair – 10am-5pm. Awaken to your best self! This fair educates people about the many paths to a healthy body, mind and spirit available in today’s world. Included are ancient techniques, as well as amazing cutting-edge technologies. Speakers, healers, readers and vendors. 125+ exhibitors, 1000 quests. Double Tree Hotel, 455 S Broadway, Tarrytown, NY. 914-422-1784. AwakenFair.com.

Earth Day Celebration – 1-4pm. Join Prospect Park Alliance and community partners for our annual celebration. Enjoy fun-filled, family-friendly programming that celebrates the environment, including catch-and-release fishing, raptor demonstrations, volunteer cleanups, arts and crafts and nature games.

Prospect Park Boathouse and Audubon Center, 101 East Dr, Brooklyn. Eventbrite.com/e/earth-daycelebration-in-prospect-park-tickets-54311661642.

Open Heart Conversations: Science and Spirituality – 3pm. With Dr Jude Currivan. What if everything you knew about reality is about to be transformed? What if science finally catches up with universal spiritual truths? What if you’re about to be presented with compelling confirmation that we’re microcosmic co-creators of our Universe? You are. $6. United Palace, 4140 Broadway at 175th St, Manhattan. 212-568-6700. info@UnitedPalace.org.

UPSpiritualArts.org.

plan ahead SATURDAY, MAY 18 MELT® Pain and Stiffness Away in Minutes a Day – 2-3:30pm. With Melyssa Davis, ARCB, RYT, YBR. In this 90-minute focused class, learn how to

support your body’s connective tissue with MELT Method for hand and foot to alleviate common problems. Center for Conscious Living and Yoga, 227 E 24th St (between 2nd and 3rd Aves), Manhattan. Reflectionsyoga.com/event/melt-method-workshop/.

Silence Revolution Meditation in NYC – 6-8pm.

With Nevsah Karamehmet. Nevsah is an international leader in breath coaching and breathing science, author and retreat facilitator and is the host for this group meditation. The meditation includes the music of the ney, a Turkish flute. Registration required. The Assemblage NoMad, 114 E 25th St, Manhattan. Melike.nyc@gmail.com. RSVP: Tinyurl.com/silrevny6.

FRIDAY, JUNE21 Empower Your Humanness, UnShame Your Life – June 21-23. With Caryn Scotto d’Luzia. Caryn is a shame, inhibition and embodiment expert and leads this fun, powerful and highly transformative immersion experience. Register early for best housing options. Omega Institute Campus, Rhinebeck, NY. Empoweredselfrelating.com/workshop/.

TUESDAY, JUNE 25 Phoenix Qigong Workshop – June 25-30. With Sifu Joe Lok. A Qigong of Taoist originally developed mainly for health, this practice directs energy to flow, harmonizing body and mind. The energy is directed to flow in the fascia, clearing blockage and thus relieve pain at the muscles. Clear instructions are provided on the posture and movement for a smooth qi flow so that every student will achieve high accomplishment at workshop end. Eastover Estate and Retreat, 430 East St, Lenox, MA. 413212-2903. Eastover.com.

FRIDAY, JULY 5 The Art of Lucid Dreaming Workshop – Thru July 14. With Andrew Holecek. Lucid dreaming offers unparalleled opportunities for mental, physical and spiritual growth. We’ll explore the science behind lucidity, how to induce lucid dreams, what to do with them, and how to transcend any obstacle.

Transform insomnia, reduce nightmares and other sleep disorders. Eastover Estate and Retreat, 430 East St, Lenox, MA. 413-212-2903. Eastover.com.

FRIDAY, JULY 19 New England Family Dharma Meditation Retreat – Thru July 23. Share quality family time in a supportive community amidst the beautiful Berkshire Mountains. For parents, grandparents and guardians with children aged 5-13 who are interested in cultivating connection, deeper presence, joy and resilience. Dharma activities include art, games, meditation, nature activities, skits, songs, and a campfire. Eastover Estate and Retreat, 430 East St, Lenox, MA. 413-212-2903. Eastover.com.

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 25 Three 5-Day Tai Chi–Qigong Intensive Workshops – Sept 25-Oct 29. With Qigong Master Terry Dunn. Expert Tai Chi instructor and Qigong Master Instructor Terry Dunn will be giving a total of three 5-day intensive workshops at Eastover Estate and Retreat. Workshop 1 is Tai Chi for Health; Workshop 2 is Tai Chi for Health and Flying Phoenix Qigong; Workshop 3 is Flying Phoenix Qigong. 430 East St, Lenox, MA. 413-212-2903. Eastover.com.

ongoing sunday Introduction to Alexander Technique – 11am and 3pm. Small group instructions of 2-3 students. First class must be taken before other 7 classes, then choose others in any order. Learn about your internal built-in organization, move with more ease, balance and coordination. Improve posture, breathe more efficiently, avoid, reduce or eliminate back, shoulder and neck pain. $45 each 90-minute class. Think AT Studio, 200 Vesey St (AMEX Bldg 24th floor), Manhattan. Contact Mona Al-Kazemi, 646-632-5181 or mona@think-at.com.

Reiki Group Class – 2nd Sun, 3-9pm. With Jyogan, Reiki Shihan (master teacher). Namaste Bookshop, 2 W 14th St, Manhattan. 917-723-4342. Jyogan@TraditionalReikiCenter.com. TraditionalReikiCenter.com.

Reiki Share – 4th Sun, 5:30-8pm. With Jyogan, Reiki Shihan (master teacher). Namaste Bookshop, 2 W 14th St, Manhattan. 917-723-4342. Jyogan@TraditionalReikiCenter.com. TraditionalReikiCenter.com.

tuesday Authentic Voices Meetup – 6-8pm, 2nd and 4th Tuesdays. Do you have a presentation to deliver?

One of the biggest fears people deal with on a regular basis is public speaking. Celeste DeCamps and Michele Marshall can help you develop great communications skills, which are keys to financial and emotional wellbeing. CelesteDeCamps.com or Meetup.com/Authentic-Voices.

wednesday Jyogan Reiki Treatments – 5-8pm. Jyogan is a Reiki Shihan (master teacher). $25/15-minute sample sessions; $50/30-minutes (front of the body); $100/60-minutes (front/back of the body). Namaste Bookshop, 2 W 14th St, Manhattan. 212-645-1014. info@NamasteBookshop.com. NamasteBookshop.com.

friday Tarot Card Reader Carmen – 5-9pm, last 2 Fridays monthly. Sometimes we have a good idea of what’s happening but want extra confirmation, and other times, we feel confused and unsure regarding a specific situation or event. Carmen gives clarity on how to resolve your situations for the best possible outcome. Aum Shanti Bookshop, 230 E 14th St (between 2nd & 3rd Aves), Manhattan. 212-5052665 or 212-260-2866. AumShantiBookshop.com.

saturday Introduction to Alexander Technique – 10am and 2pm. Learn about your internal, built-in organization that helps you move with more ease, balance and coordination. Improve posture, breathe more efficiently, avoid, reduce or eliminate back, shoulder and neck pain. $45 each 90-minute class. Think AT Studio, 200 Vesey St (AMEX Bldg 24th floor), Manhattan. Contact Mona Al-Kazemi, 646-632-5181 or mona@think-at.com.

DIRECTORY OF ADVERTISERS Thank you for being part of our community!

Awakening Your True Voice Jean McClelland

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Beauty Plus Aesthetics

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Caryn Scotto Empowered Self Relating

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Celeste DeCamps Empowerment Movement

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Center for Green Building

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Custom Candle Company

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Dr. Biamonte - The Biamonte Center

Inside Back Cover Dr. Howard Robins Ozone Therapy 24 Eastover Estate of Eco-Village

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Empowered Light Holistic Expo

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Good Green Cleaners

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Herbasway 21 Hilda Demirjian Laser & Skin Care Center

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Jon Mundy - A Course in Miracles

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Lee Schwalb Healing

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Namaste Bookshop

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Rev. Jyogan Traditional Reiki Center

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Tails of a Dog

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The Healing Center

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Think AT

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Tribeca Center for Integrative Holistic Dentists

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Alena Chapman 2 Scott Clover Inutitive Energy Healer 32 Skin Spa New York

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Supherbals 13 United Palace

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Whole Foods Market

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Wholistic Food Therapy

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NEW YORK CITY COMMUNITY resource guide Connecting you to the leaders in natural health care and green living in our community. To find out how you can be included in the Community Resource Guide, email Publisher@NA-NewYorkCity.com to request our media kit.

Conscious Centers

Counseling & Mental Wellness

AUM SHANTI BOOKSHOP

MICHAEL MONGNO, MFT, PH.D.

230 E 14th St, NYC 212-260-2866 • AumShantiBookshop.com Aum Shanti Bookshop is a community-oriented spiritual gallery providing offerings that inspire clarity, guidance and inspiration on one’s journey. They offer high-vibration, reiki-charged and spiritually energized items such as a semi-precious gems and tumbled stones, one-of-a kind rare crystal specimens and clusters, beautifully hand-crafted jewelry made with love and empowering energy. Join for tarot, psychic and astrology readings.

NAMASTE BOOKSHOP & HEALING CENTER

2 W 14th St, NYC 212-645-0141 • NamasteBookshop.com Namaste Bookshop and Healing Center offers a unique and large selection of Eastern and Western philosophy books, tarot cards, crystals, pendulums, calendars, wind chimes, incense, greeting cards, yoga accessories, meditation cushions, instructional and music CDs and DVDs, salt lamps, and 20 sections of books – including Spanish. The event space above the bookshop holds classes, workshops and book signings, and provides rooms for regular readers and practitioners.

THE NATURE PLACE DAY CAMP 285 Hungry Hollow Road, Chestnut Ridge NY 10977 845-356-1234 • TheNaturePlace.com

A nature-oriented, non-competitive summer camp for children ages 4-16. The Nature Place is entering its 34th summer of helping children unplug and connect with themselves, with each other, and with the natural world. On 200 beautiful acres in Rockland County, NY with busing service provided throughout Manhattan and Brooklyn.

Year-round programming for kids, adults, and families is also offered.

UNITED PALACE OF SPIRITUAL ARTS 4140 Broadway, NYC 212-568-6700 • UPSpiritualArts.org

New York City Edition

Awarded the 2015 Best Business of New York for Counseling and Mental Health, Dr. Mongno has helped both couples and individuals communicate better, heal faster and achieve a better quality of life for more than 20 years. Dr. Mongno’s practice originates from his personal work over the course of his life journey, and integration of the most effective therapeutic modalities. His clients report he is both compassionate and professional with an ability to create insightful and emotionally corrective experiences leading to lasting change. He is available for appointments in person, by phone and via Skype.

Getaways & Retreats EASTOVER ESTATE AND RETREAT 430 East St, Box 2282, Lenox, MA 866-264-5139 • Eastover.com

Eastover is a 600-acre sanctuary and residential holistic retreat center in Berkshire Lenox, MA, a dedicated facilitator of holistic events and retreats.

Minutes to Stockbridge and Great Barrington, next to October Mountain with views of Mt. Greylock.

Healing & Wellness MICHAEL BIAMONTE, CCN

The Biamonte Center for Clinical Nutrition 2185 34th Ave, Suite 14D Astoria, NY 11106 347-523-4703 – NewYorkCityCandidaDoctor.com Michael Biamonte has been in practice for over 30 years, is the author of “The Candida Chronicles” and is a World Recognized Candida elimination expert. His office has proprietary software developed for NASA that helps identify and treat all nutritional deficiencies.

Offering both online and In-Person appointments.

DR. MARIANA BONEVA

As an inclusive spiritual community, the United Palace of Spiritual Arts seeks to cultivate compassion, wisdom, and peace through spiritual practices born of the great wisdom traditions, sacred service, and joyous connection to spirit through music, arts and entertainment. Join us for Sunday service at 12pm EST or on live stream.

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Present Centered Therapies Upper West Side DrMongno@PresentCenteredTherapies.com 212-799-0001 • PresentCenteredTherapies.com

Beauty Plus Aesthetics 353 Lexington Ave, Suite 1603, NYC 10016 212-371-6097 • BeautyPlusAesthetics.com

NA-NewYorkCity.com

Beauty Plus Aesthetics emphasizes the uniqueness of each person. 3 main principles govern their approach: Holistic – a person’s body, mind & emotions. Personalized – treatment

plans molded to each client’s lifestyle & body type.

Coherent–interrelated advice & treatments. Dr. Mariana Boneva pioneered the most advanced laser treatments 2D and 3D Skin Rejuvenation in Manhattan. Her goal is not only to correct skin’s imperfections, but to create actual improvement in patients’ self image.

SCOTT CLOVER INTUITIVE ENERGY HEALER

West Village, NYC • 917-916-8584 Scott@ScottClover.com • www.ScottClover.com Heal what holds you back. Feel better in your body. Scott reads your energy fields and guides you to a better understanding of yourself, your somatic (bodyoriented) energy, your intuition, and the energetic dynamics that make up your life. Scott’s practical and non-dogmatic approach helps you perceive, address and resolve barriers that prevent you from achieving optimal well-being. Stand-alone or complementary with other healing modalities.

CELESTE DECAMPS EMPOWERMENT THROUGH MOVEMENT

102-10 66th Road Apt. 17B Forest Hills, NY 11375 917-907-4424 • CelesteDeCamps@gmail.com Celeste DeCamps, a professional speaker who helps women find their empowerment through movement. Presentations are interactive and engaging. Learn how to change your attitude for the better in 2 minutes. Book Celeste DeCamps for your next event or workshop.

ROGER DUBIN

Mr. Natural NYC 917-699-6492 • MrNaturalNYC@gmail.com Instagram @MrNaturalNYC Roger Dubin is a volunteer trail supervisor for the New York New Jersey Trail Conference, managing over 55 miles trails in South Eastern Harriman State Park. Follow him on Instagram for pictures and videos of the beautiful land that we live in.

Roger is also the Marketing Director for Natural Awakenings in NYC.

JEAN MCCLELLAND, MMUS., MAMSAT

JeanMcClellandVoice.com Private lessons and workshops: voice, breathing and Alexander Technique. Jean McClelland has more than 40 years’ experience as a performer and teacher. She has helped thousands of students free their bodies, strengthen their breathing, and uncover the natural beauty of their voices.

NATURAL AWAKENINGS READERS

We want to spotlight one of you in the next edition. Please email publisher@na-newyorkcity.com to learn more.

LEE SCHWALB HEALING

370 Lexington Ave, Suite 2300, NYC 10017 315 West 57th Street, Suite 303, NYC 10019 646-577-0142 • LeeJSchwalb@gmail.com LeeSchwalbHealing.com Lee Schwalb is a licensed Acupuncturist, Herbalist and certified Kambo Practitioner. He has over eighteen years of clinical experience and has lectured around the world on the benefits of holistic medicine and detoxification. He specializes in auto-immune disorders and women’s health.

THINK AT

646-632-5181 • Think-AT.com Think AT is a new small business located in Battery Park City, dedicated to teaching Alexander Technique, mainly through individual lessons. The name is inspired by the focus ofAlexander Technique on “thinking,” which affects the way we live, including how we move whether with patterns of tension or ease. Teachers at Think AT have expertise with more than 15 years of training.

Think AT Alexander Technique

WHOLISTIC FOOD THERAPY

280 Madison Ave, Ste 702, NYC 718-482-7197 • WholisticFoodTherapy.com WholisticFoodTherapy@gmail.com Sarah Thacker specializes in working with women who struggle with emotional/stress eating, eating disorders body-image issues, PTSD and anxiety. Using an integrative approach including EMDR, mindfulness/meditation training, nutritional awareness and creativity development you will identify, work through and release the root cause of your struggles with food.

Health Food Store WHOLE FOODS MARKET

Natural Dentistry TRIBECA CENTER FOR INTEGRATIVE HOLISTIC DENTISTS 17 Park Place, NYC 212-732-2200 • Holistic-Dentists.com

Dr. Lewis Gross has more than 31 years’ experience providing holistic dentistry to adults and children with his staff of dental specialists and integrative practitioners. Offering less invasive and more natural solutions for patients with difficult dental issues and those who seek just a good family dentist.

Our recently renovated, state-of-the-art facility, offers among other things, laser dentistry, metal-free implants, non-invasive oral cancer screening, ozone and alternatives to surgery and root canal.

Natural Pet TAILS OF DOG: FORCE FREE TRAINING AND BEHAVIOR 646-675-8692 • TailsOfDog.com Tails of Dog provides forcefree, customized, top-quality dog training and behavioral guidance for owners and their dogs. From puppyhood to the golden years, communicating with your dog involves more than just training; it’s a lifestyle. Tails of Dog invites you to continue your tale whether you are navigating through basic manner cues or a more serious behavioral issue.

Ozone Therapy DR. HOWARD ROBINS The Healing Center 200 W 57th St, Ste 807, NYC 212-581-0101 • DrHowardRobins@gmail.com

8 Locations in Manhattan WholeFoodsMarket.com

Whole Foods Market is an Ecominded chain with natural & organic grocery items, housewares & other products. We support local communities & agriculture, practice and advance environmental stewardship, support & rewards team member excellence, and encourage and educate on all aspects of healthy living.

Laser Skin Care

HILDA DEMIRJIAN LASER AND SKIN CARE CENTER

34 South Broadway, Ste 607 White Plains, NY 914-374-1756 • HildaDemirjianLaser.com Since 1974, Hilda Demirjian has been a leader in the use of laser collagen treatments for better, younger- looking skin. Effective on the face, neck and body for fine lines, wrinkles, sun damage, discoloration, scars, cellulite, rosacea, stretch marks, skin tightening and turkey neck. Non-invasive, fast treatments with no downtime. call today for your confidential consultation!

Products

If you have a disease or condition that you haven’t been able to get rid of, Ozone Therapy will most likely be the answer, even for people that have suffered for years and have lost all hope. If you are questioning if your condition can be treated, call or email Dr. Robins today.

CUSTOM CANDLE CO

25 Depot Plaza, Bedford Hills, NY 914-218-8357 Westchester Mall • 914-245-6739 CustomCandleCo.com Info@CustomCandleCo.com Custom Candle was born from a need to find that perfect candle. An ecofriendly, nontoxic, and longlasting candle that had an aroma that would last long after the candle was extinguished. All candles are hand-poured and only use all-natural soy in high-quality natural productions.

Custom designs allow creativity and give a one-of-akind gift for your home

GOOD GREEN CLEANER

844-285-8811 • info@goodgreencleaner.com GoodGreenCeaner.com Good Green Cleaners are non-toxic, biodegradable, reusable and recyclable cleaners for your home. Our Odor Eliminator & All Purpose Cleaner is the first Probiotic Cleaner on the market eliminating bacteria naturally.

Cleaning is now safer and better than conventional cleaners.

HERBASWAY

800-672-7322 • HerbaSway.com Founded in 1996, HerbaSway Laboratories is located in Wallingford, CT. Our formulas are based on traditional herbal combinations that have been used for thousands of years.

Using only the purest ingredients and wild-crafted herbs, in combination with the latest Western scientific research, HerbaSway’s formulas are synergistically blended to produce optimal balance in your body.

SUPHERBALS

SupHERBals.com 844-857-4325 • info@SupHerbals.com Provides the most premium and sacred CBD oil to love and nourish your mind and body.

CBD oil has been used in conjunction with symptoms related to inflammation, anxiety, insomnia, digestive disorders, and many more difficulties. Don’t just live life…

Live Life SupHERBally!!

Traditional Japanese Reiki REV. JYOGAN

Reiki Shihan (Master Teacher) 917-723-4342 • TraditionalReikiCenter.com Jyogan@TraditionalReikiCenter.com Jyogan is one of only a few reiki master teachers who have studied traditional Japanese-style reiki directly in Kyoto, Japan while he was living in that sacred city where reiki originated. Jyogan passes this direct connection to reiki root practices and teachings on to you. Learn and experience reiki from its source. Other teachers of reiki teach westernized reiki. Reiki group classes are held monthly on the 2nd Sunday and Reiki Shares on the 4th Sunday of every month at Namaste Bookshop’s Healing Center near Union Square. Private classes and treatment sessions can be scheduled at any time. Jyogan is also a Ministerial Director and officiates weddings as well as ordains other Ministers.

MARKETING COORDINATOR POSITION AT NY OPEN CENTER

The NY Open Center is the city’s leading center for integrative learning, professional advancement, personal development, and social transformation. We are seeking an emerging marketing professional to focus on social media marketing, digital advertising, writing and copyediting, coordinating and supporting presenter marketing efforts, community engagement, and marketing outreach. For more information or to apply, visit opencenter.org/marketing.

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Are you creative, driven and passionate about healthy living?

Inspire others to make choices that benefit themselves and the world around them by owning a Natural Awakenings franchise.

Natural Awakenings is a family of more than 70 healthy living magazines celebrating 25 years. This is a meaningful home-based business opportunity that provides training and ongoing support. No previous publishing experience is required.

Learn more today: NaturalAwakeningsMag.com/Franchise

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New York City Edition

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