Natural Awakenings NYC - December 2019

HEALTHY LIVING

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How Giving Transforms Us

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December 2019 | New York City | NYCNaturalAwakenings.com

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The Bees’ Keys to Preventing Cold and Flu

by Maria Karameros Turkey, home to more than 60 percent of Europe’s native plants. The company is devoted to fair-trade and sustainability.

BEE & YOU collects from their sources ethically and are invested in the health of the local hives, so in supporting them, customers can help “save the bees”.

With the onset of cold and flu season, mothers have enough to do without having to take care of sick family members, so protecting family from getting sick is a top priority. Moms of yesteryear gave their children foul-tasting cod liver oil to ward off sickness. Today, we have bettertasting and more-effective natural options to defend against those pesky viruses and bacteria that cause respiratory illnesses.

One of these remedies comes from one of Earth’s tiniest and hardest working creatures... bees.

Honey has long been widely known as a remedy for those already sick, but other bee products like propolis and royal bee

6

December 2019 | Advertorial

With BEE & YOU’s nasal and throat sprays featuring propolis and honey, warding off a cold or flu has never been easier or tastier. To provide even more defense, they offer royal jelly tablets which can be taken as a daily supplement to boost the immune system. Royal jelly is literally the food of royalty in the bee world as it is the only thing fed to the most important member of the hive—the queen. Royal jelly also promotes enhancing physical energy, mental clarity, and aids in faster recovery time from exercise and enhances our overall sense of well-being. All bee products contain antioxidants, which help fight degenerative disease and aging.

If propolis and royal jelly do well to empower the queen, thus ensuring a thriving a bee colony, our families are ensured to also reap the benefits of these super foods jelly have been getting more attention during the cold flu season. recently in the Western world for their USFDA-registered super foods and suppleamazing illness preventative properties. ments from BEE & YOU are made with The National Institutes of Health has pub- royal jelly, bee pollen, raw honey and lished numerous promising studies that propolis in the purest form, providing show the efficacy of propolis for use against consumers with raw, unfiltered and uninfluenza and support its antimicrobial adulterated products. All products are and antibacterial reputation. Propolis is a 100 percent natural, non-GMO, kosher resin-like substance bees create by mixing and gluten-free. their saliva with collected plant leaves, BEE &YOU products are available at Amastems and buds. It is critical to bee colony zon, CVS, and 3,500 retail outlets in the U.S., health because of its antifungal nature. including independent health food stores BEE & YOU decided to take these bee throughout NY and NJ. For more informasuper-foods to the next level by sourcing tion, visit visit www.BeeAndYou.com ; call all their products from the most fertile 516 263 3490 to order and find discounts on and plant-rich area in Europe—Anatolia, Instagram at @beeandyounatural.

letter from the publishers A Modest Proposal

DECEMBER 2019

DIR ECTORY OF ADVERTISERS

I’ll admit it—I get a little sappy around the holidays. I’m a sucker for Christmas music; I start listening to it before Thanksgiving. It makes Michael crazy!

Thank you for being part of our community!

Abraham’s Natural Foods 39 Anatta 9 Awakening Your True Voice Jean McClelland 41 Aum Shanti Bookshop 34 Barbara Brennan School of Healting 34 Bee and You 6, 42 Carnegie Hall - Never Alone Suicide Prevention 32 Celeste DeCamps Empowerment Mvmt 7 Church of Scientology Harlem - Dianetics 42 CopperZap.com 37 Dr. Biamonte - The Biamonte Center

Inside Front Cover Dr. Howard Robins Ozone Therapy 20 Dr. Michael Mongno 34 Dr. Somesh N. Kaushik - Ayurveda 33 Eastover Estate of Eco-Village 40 Elka Boren - Unity Angel Healing 38 Good Green Cleaners 36 HealthyLine 4 HerbaSway 5 Hilda Demirjian Laser & Skin Care Center 35 Jon Mundy - A Course in Miracles 32 Leaves of Grass 39 Lee Schwalb Healing 41 LifeWorks Wellness Center 43 Modern Acupuncture 7 Monica Maria International 34 My Nature’s Rite 43 Namaste Bookshop 34 Peaceful Ocean View - Spring Yoga Retreat 39 Rev. Jyogan - Traditional Reiki Center 36 Scott Clover Intuitive Energy Healer 35 Skin Spa New York 5 Skinny Pillow 36 Spiritual Tantric Life - Amaku 32 SprinJene 19, 38 Stick Stone Bone 39 Tails of a Dog 36 The Healing Center 3 The Nature Place 38 The Real Truth About Health Free Conference Back Cover Think AT 40 Tribeca Center for Integrative Holistic Dentists 36 United Palace 34 Wholistic Food Therapy 35 Whole Foods Market 40

But it also gives me angst. First I feel an overwhelming need to start a gift list. I find myself buying just to buy, and then I’ve wasted my money on gifts no one really wants. Then comes the strange impulse to keep on buying when it’s really not necessary. At this point our two teenage boys don’t need much, and it’s impossible to shop for them anyway. All they seem to want is money.

Must you only give material items to make someone happy?

I wondered how our boys would feel if we gave them more of our time instead. So this year, rather than making a gift list, I made a proposal to my crew: What if we don’t exchange presents this year, and we go on a trip to experience something together instead? What if we put down our phones and tablets, jump into the ocean, go on a hike, walk on a beach, paddle a boat, try a new cuisine, explore an unfamiliar culture, or just sit and talk—something, anything, that does not involve wrapped gifts?

I’d been mulling the idea over for some time, but I was inspired to act by this month’s article “The Generous Heart: How Giving Transforms Us,” which discusses how we can give and do for others without having to buy things. The article reframes the concept of giving so there are no material expectations—just a desire to make life better or more joyful for the recipient. I know that if my boys tell me, “Hey, Mom, let’s go sit on the beach and watch the sunrise” instead of opening up presents, my heart will blossom.

When our little quad is happy, healthy and safe, and when we have time to be together and connect, that’s the only gift I need.

Wishing you happiness, health and safety this holiday season,

.

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.

Photo by Dmytro Bulanskyi on Canva.com

DEPARTMENTS 12 news briefs 14 special events 16 health briefs 17 global briefs 18 business spotlight 21 reader profile 22 local insights 23 teen voice 26 inspiration 27 wise words 28 conscious eating 29 fit body 30 green living 32 calendars 33 classifieds 34 resource guide 38 holistic marketplace

CONTENTS Natural Awakenings | New York City | December 2019 Issue

18

20

MENDING RELATIONSHIPS BEGINS WITHIN

Enjoy a Healthy Relationship

20 UPLIFT THIS

Lend a Helping Hand

28

22 CAN CBD HELP WITH INSOMNIA? Promising Treatment

26 THE GENEROUS HEART

How Giving Transforms Us

27 SURGEON MARY NEAL On Lessons From Heaven

30 THE MERRY VEGAN People-Pleasing Holiday Sweets

32 INHALING THE JOY OF LIFE Conscious Breathwork

news briefs

Far Infrared Heat Is Good Medicine in Winter Humans, like plants, need sunlight to thrive. So winter’s short days and gloomy weather can take a toll on our health. Far infrared ray (FIR) heat, which mimics the properties of sunlight, can help relieve those physical and mental effects, says Lindsay Griesbach, director of brand development and strategic partnerships for HealthyLine, an FDA-registered company that sells FIR heat therapy mats at its Manhattan storefront.

“That feeling you get when you step outside into the sunlight—the resonating warmth that overcomes you from the inside out—speaks to your body’s need for it,” she says. “With far infrared technology, we harness that feeling to improve wellness.”

HealthyLine heating mats emit far infrared rays, which we typically absorb from exposure to sunlight, she says. They penetrate four to six inches into the body’s tissues, stimulating the circulatory system and boosting blood flow. The mats can be used therapeutically to alleviate pain, inflammation, stiffness and stress, or act as a preventive tool to promote relaxation and support immunity, which is critical in cold and flu season. They can also ease the depressive symptoms associated with seasonal affective disorder (SAD), which according to the National Institutes of Health affects 9 percent of New Englanders.

“Another benefit of FIR heat therapy is that it increases your heart rate, which means you’re burning calories,” Griesbach adds. “It’s like a workout without moving.”

Location: 41 W. 36th St., New York, NY. For more information, call HealthyLine Customer Service at 888-774-4422, email Support@HealthyLine.com or visit HealthyLine.com. See ad, page 4.

‘Awakening Your True Voice’ Offered at New York Open Center This March, Jean McClelland, a faculty member at the Columbia University School of the Arts, will start her 34th year teaching Awakening Your True Voice at the New York Open Center. That’s a long tenure by any standard, so we asked McClelland to tell us about the Open Center and how she found herself teaching there.

“Quite unexpectedly, I came upon an Open Center catalog in a bookstore. As I read through it I was instantly inspired, and I knew I had to be part of this vital place,” she says. “That was reinforced when I met Ralph White, the director of programming and one of the founders of the Open Center. I had never met anyone so knowledgeable and visionary. It has been Ralph’s strong sense of holistic mission that has helped the Open Center thrive and given us such world-renowned programs as the Art of Dying Institute and Esoteric Quest.”

For more than 35 years, the Open Center, located in the Madison Square Park North Neighborhood, has hosted in-depth weekly programs, long-term studies and certificate trainings in holistic learning and world culture.

“I leave every class I teach totally invigorated,” McClelland says. “The Open Center brings together people of all ages and demographics who are committed to exploration. It’s a remarkable environment for learning and leads to tremendous growth and, quite often, transformation.”

The next course of Awakening Your True Voice begins March 23, with a free Introductory session March 16.

Location: 22 E. 30th St. For more information, visit JeanMcClellandVoice.com or OpenCenter.org. See ad, page 41.

12 December 2019

New York City edition

Global Suicide Awareness Movement to Launch at Carnegie Hall Deepak Chopra, Revs. Michael Beckwith and Temple Hayes, actress and humanitarian Gabriella Wright and more than 16 inspirational speakers and musicians will join meditation singer Michel Pascal at his fourth annual Medicine Voice concert in Carnegie Hall to raise their voices for young people battling mental health or contemplating suicide. The concert is set for 8 p.m. December 10.

Created by Chopra, Wright, Pascal and social entrepreneur Poonacha Machaiah, the #NeverAlone global movement is designed to raise awareness of the prevalence of suicide by young people and the fragile mental health of today’s youth, and to reduce the stigma attached to these issues. The goal is to build online and offline communities to let young people know that they are not alone and to give them a safe space in which to share their feelings and tools to work through them, and to bring together a coalition of mental health charities and initiatives to provide support for people affected by mental illness.

The Medicine Voice concert is the first of many concerts to be programmed around the world in support of #NeverAlone, including a second Carnegie Hall concert that Pascal will produce on Christmas Eve. In spring 2020, #NeverAlone will release a new film on the subject, I Am Never Alone, featuring Chopra and Wright.

Cost: $60. Location: Carnegie Hall, 881 7th Ave. For tickets, call 212.247.7800 or visit CarnegieHall.org. For more information, visit MichelPascal.tv/neveralone/.

Tea Art Retreat in the Berkshires Jia Li, a neuroscientist at the University of Massachusetts Medical School and the founder of Tea Tell Truth, will lead a Tea Art Retreat in February at Eastover Estate and Eco-Village, in Lenox, Massachusetts. Li hosts tea lectures, tea mindfulness gatherings and tea parties to help people de-stress.

“My love affair with tea began when I was a child growing up in the mountainous region of Yunnan in China, where tea originated,” Li says. “In today’s fast-paced lifestyle, I believe that spending a few minutes to brew loose tea leaves will help you connect with your inner self. Tea is unlike any beverage, since it has positive effects on one’s mental and physical health. Specifically, my focus is on pu’er tea, which is a high-quality fermented tea from Yunnan. Fermentation significantly improves its health benefits.”

Li’s retreat, which will be held Valentine’s Day weekend, will feature a guided mindfulness meditation with tea to encourage self-reflection, develop mindfulness-based stress-management strategies and promote habit. She will also teach hands-on tea mindfulness (tea brewing and tasting).

“Relaxing is one kind of mindfulness,” she says. “Sometimes we forget to slow down and take time to enjoy the moment. Downshifting your lifestyle will help you to reach more happiness. This unique tea mindfulness will lead you to open more sensations and find your inner peace as you sip the elixir of the Orient.”

Location: 430 East St., Lenox, MA. For more information, visit Eastover.com.

See ad, page 40.

nycnaturalawakenings.com

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special events

Brooklyn Wellness Center to Host Tantra Workshop For those asking themselves, “What about the sex part? Isn’t this a Tantra workshop?” Ukpong replies, “Tantric sexuality will certainly be taught. However, an important concept to understand is that sexual energy can significantly enhance our manifestation potential and our ability to attract positivity into our lives. Overall, Tantra facilitates the transformation of our own consciousness—giving us the tools that we can use to reshape ourselves and the world around us. This workshop will impart traditional wisdom and practical knowledge which will allow us to step into our highest power, enabling us to achieve endless possibilities.”

Cost: $300-$400. Location: 31 Nassau Ave., Brooklyn. For more information, contact Amaku at 917-202-8102 or SpiritualTantricLife@gmail.com.

TRANSFORMING OURSELVES and our experience of love, intimacy

and relationships will be the focus of a December 7-8 workshop to be held at Human@ease in North Brooklyn. Participants can expect “a deep journey into self and practices that facilitate profound levels of intimacy,” says event organizer Amaku Ukpong.

“Tantra is a spiritual path of purification and holistic evolution,” she says. “The authentic tantric path is one that can actually change the world. In order for this transformation to occur, we must start by cultivating the self-love necessary to uplift ourselves and achieve balance. Only in a state of balance can we truly experience self-love. In turn, self-love gives us clarity of mission and action, and only from this place can we genuinely and deeply love others. It is a powerful driving force and the first step in uplifting humanity.”

14 December 2019

New York City edition

PLEASE JOIN 34 TOP DOCTORS, AUTHORS

and scientists at the world’s largest live health conference, which will be held January 24 to February 2 at the Long Island Hilton, in Melville, from 9 a.m. until 9:30 p.m. daily (ends at 5 p.m. the last day). Come for any or all of the 10 days and listen to the latest, most accurate, unbiased information on health, nutrition, the food system, the medical system, and the environment. The entire conference is free to attend in person and all speakers are live on stage. Free vegan breakfast, lunch and dinner are served to all in attendance, as well as free vegan ice cream and vegan cookies.

Why do we need this conference when we already get health information from newspapers, TV news, magazines, universities, government agencies and the big industries themselves? Simple, the information you get is often biased in favor of the food, medical, chemical and fossil fuel industries. There is a lot of money being made today by the world’s biggest industries, and these industries don’t want anything to change. They want you to keep buying their products and not thinking too much about the health and environmental results from using what they sell. The problem with all this is that if the information that is reported

to you from the media, universities, government agencies, scientific studies, and clinical trials is paid for or influenced by the big industries, then it is likely you are getting information that is more favorable to them than to you. This is why we are bringing together true experts that have no financial agenda and whose mission is to spread accurate information on health and the environment.

vent and Reverse Heart Disease); T. Colin Campbell, Ph.D. (The China Study: The Most Comprehensive Study of Nutrition Ever Conducted and the Startling Implications for Diet, Weight Loss and LongTerm Health); Walter C. Willett, M.D. (Eat, Drink, and Be Healthy: The Harvard Medical School Guide to Healthy Eating);

A conference like this would normally charge $7,500. It is only available for free because we believe it is urgent that everyone hears this information.

The health and environmental statistics show dramatic changes for the worse over the last 50 years. Rates of obesity, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, autism, low sperm count, childhood health issues, and many other diseases have all increased dramatically over this time period. Being proactive and learning what foods, supplements and lifestyle choices can prevent disease has never been more important.

Garth Davis, M.D. (Proteinaholic: How Our Obsession with Meat Is Killing Us and What We Can Do About It); Dr. David Katz (The Truth About Food: Why Pandas Eat Bamboo and People Get Bamboozled); Brenda Davis, RD (Becoming Vegan); Brian Clement, Ph.D., LN (Killer Fish: How Eating Aquatic Life Endangers Your Health); Pamela A. Popper, Ph.D., ND (Food over Medicine); Jeffrey M. Smith (Seeds of Deception: Exposing Industry and Government Lies About the Safety of the Genetically Engineered Foods You’re Eating); Devra Davis, Ph.D., MPH (Disconnect: The Truth About Cell Phone Radiation); and Gabriel Cousens, M.D, MD(H), DD (There Is a Cure for Diabetes).

Some of the expert doctors, authors and scientists presenting at the conference include Joel Fuhrman, M.D. (The End of Heart Disease: The Eat to Live Plan to Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease); Caldwell B. Esselstyn Jr., M.D. (Pre-

Location: 598 Broad Hollow Rd., Melville.

For more information or to register to attend for free, call 516-921-1417, email Info@RealTruthTalks.com or visit RealTruthTalks.com. See ad on back cover.

34 of the world’s top authors, all appearing live on stage to tell you the unbiased, accurate, scientifically proven truth about health, nutrition, the food system, the medical system and the environment. nycnaturalawakenings.com

15

Adults that ate nuts two or more times per week had a 17 percent lower risk of dying from a heart attack or stroke, reports an Iranian study that followed 5,432 adults for 12 years. The research was presented in August at the European Society of Cardiology.

“Nuts are a good source of unsaturated fat and contain little saturated fat,” says study author Dr. Noushin Mohammadifard, of the Isfahan Cardiovascular Research Institute. “They also have protein, minerals, vitamins, fiber, phytosterols and polyphenols which benefit heart health.”

Eat a Better Diet to Improve Gut Bacteria

Researchers at the University of Hawaii Cancer Center tested stool samples of 858 men and 877 women in Los Angeles and Hawaii with a mean age of 69— regarded as an ethnically diverse study population with varied food intakes. The study found that those with higher quality diets also had significantly better gut bacteria diversity, a factor linked to reduced risk for a variety of diseases. Diet quality and a reduced risk of developing chronic disease is strongly associated with fecal microbial diversity.

16 December 2019

Hong Vo/Shutterstock.com

Extreme Weather Events Affect Mental Well-Being

People that experience storm and flood damage to their homes are about 50 percent more likely to experience depression and anxiety, British researchers report.

Surveying more than 7,500 people after the 2013-2014 season of severe weather, they found that those with homes damaged by wind, rain, snow or floods had mental health risks similar to living in a disadvantaged area. This occurred even when the effects of the extreme weather were relatively minor and did not force people to leave their homes.

Marry to Halve the Risk of Dementia

Wedlock tends to stave off dementia, according to a new Michigan State University study. Analyzing 14 years of data on 15,000 people older than 52, researchers found those in all unmarried groups—cohabiting, divorced, separated, widowed and never married—had significantly higher odds of developing dementia than their married counterparts. The differences were most acute for those divorced, separated or widowed—about twice as prone as married people to develop dementia, with the men faring worse cognitively than the women.

New York City edition

Fascinadora/Shutterstock.com

Eat Nuts to Reduce Odds of Death From Heart Disease

New research offers potential paths for treatment for the nearly 20 percent of patients with high blood pressure that don’t respond well to medications.

University of Florida College of Medicine researchers, testing 105 volunteers, found that the populations of gut bacteria differed between hypertensive individuals with depression and those without depression. A second study by Italian researchers found that patients with heart attacks had different bacteria in their guts than patients with stable angina.

Daxiao Productions/Shutterstock.com

Researchers followed more than 36,000 Japanese men older than 40 for an average of 13.2 years. They found that those that consumed culinary mushrooms three times a week had a 17 percent lower chance of developing prostate cancer compared to those that ate mushrooms less than once a week. Participants that ate mushrooms once or twice a week had an 8 percent lower risk. The trend was even greater for those men over the age of 50 and was unrelated to other dietary habits.

dencg/Shutterstock.com

Eat Mushrooms to Lower Risk of Prostate Cancer

SK Design/Shutterstock.com

Reduce Blood Pressure and Heart Attacks With Better Gut Bacteria

health briefs

Lab Steak

global briefs

Making Meat Without Animals

Nature Cure

BK foto/Shutterstock.com

Brent Hofacker/Shutterstock.com

Forests and Shrubs Lower Medical Costs

A new study based on the National Land Cover Database of 3,086 of the 3,103 counties in the continental U.S. published in the journal Urban Forestry and Urban Greening found that increases in forest and shrub cover corresponded to decreases in Medicare health care spending, even when accounting for economic, geographic or other factors that might independently influence healthcare costs.

Urban and rural counties with the lowest socioeconomic status appeared to benefit the most from increases in forests and shrubs. University of Illinois graduate student Douglas A. Becker, who led the new research with Matt Browning, a professor of recreation, sports and tourism, says, “It occurred to me that low-income communities are getting the biggest bang for their buck because they probably have the most to gain.”

Other studies have shown that people in intensive care units recover more quickly and have fewer complications after surgery if their hospital rooms look out over trees rather than parking lots and that forest walks can influence potentially health-promoting hormone levels or anti-cancer immune cells in the blood.

Heave Ho Tati9/Shutterstock.com

Cruise Line Abandons Plastic Bottles

As a result of its partnership with Just Goods, Inc., the Norwegian Cruise Line will replace single-use plastic bottles across its fleet by January 1, 2020, beginning with the Norwegian Encore. The company’s ships will feature JUST, which is 100 percent spring water in a plant-based carton made of 82 percent renewable materials from trees grown in responsibly managed forests. The cap and shoulder are made from a sugarcane-based plastic. It’s refillable and recyclable.

Just Goods, located in Glen Falls, New York, has a global presence with bottling facilities in New York, Northern Ireland and Australia, allowing the company to meet demand around the world without shipping water from a single production source. It plans to replace more than 6 million single-use plastic bottles every year. CEO Ira Laufer says, “The company is pushing the boundaries of what’s always been done because it knows we all need to do better.”

Five major food technology companies have converged to form the Alliance for Meat, Poultry and Seafood (AMPS) Innovation, which seeks to create real meat from animal cells without the need to slaughter animals.

The founding members of the coalition are both cell-based seafood companies BlueNalu and Finless Foods and meat makers Fork & Goode, San Francisco-based JUST Inc., and Memphis Meats.

AMPS Innovation (ampsinnovation.org) intends to tackle obstacles presented in the cellular agriculture industry and bring products to the consumer faster with transparency and proper regulatory frameworks for cell-based products. Each member company has made significant strides in the development of these products with the hope they will soon be options in the everyday diets of individuals, as well as a nutrition source for a human population projected to grow to 10 billion by 2050.

Animal Rescue

Government Order Reduces Animal Testing U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Andrew Wheeler has signed a directive reducing the animal testing that the agency has long required on such animals as dogs, birds, rats and fish to gauge the toxicity of chemicals before they can be bought, sold or used in the environment. The agency also authorized $4.25 million in funding for five universities to research the development and use of alternative test methods and strategies that reduce, refine or replace vertebrate animal testing. He says, “Today’s memo directs the agency to aggressively reduce animal testing, including reducing mammal study requests and funding 30 percent by 2025 and completely eliminating them by 2035.”

Any mammal studies requested or funded by the EPA after 2035 will require administrator approval on a case-bycase basis. It directs leadership and staff in the Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention and the Office of Research and Development to prioritize and direct existing resources toward measurable impacts in the reduction of animal testing while ensuring protection of human health and the environment.

nycnaturalawakenings.com

17

business spotlight

STICK STONE & BONE A Gem in West Village

Specializing in rare crystals, Stick Stone & Bone has energized its community for nearly 30 years.

While Stick Stone & Bone specializes in rare gemstone crystals, it also carries Native American artifacts, handmade jewelry high-quality incense, sacred herbs and ornamental items with meditative and natural qualities “We offer a broad selection of hand-picked and unique products for those interested in crystal healing, aromatherapy, Native American or Aboriginal spiritual traditions, and nature-inspired décor,” Miller says.

She and Curti regularly travel to gem and mineral shows across the country to add to the shop’s collection of rare crystals and gifts.

“Our philosophy has always been to provide fair prices, excellent customer service and new and exciting merchandise to appeal to all who visit,” she says.

TAKE AN AVID NATURE LOVER AND A STUDENT OF PSYCHOLOGY a

nd metaphysics, give them a shared spiritual and entrepreneurial vision, and the result is Stick Stone & Bone—the crystal and gift shop that’s been a West Village gem for nearly 30 years.

“Linda (Curti) and I founded Stick Stone & Bone in 1990, with the sacred intention to serve our community and provide customers with the opportunity to connect with and relate to nature, spirit and ultimately themselves,” says Yolanda Miller.

Curti has a master’s degree in psychology from Columbia University and a deep interest in the metaphysical. Miller, a native Manhattanite who grew up spending summers in Virginia, has collected crystals all her life.

“Most of those summers I was in the forest, communing with nature,” Miller says. “Influenced by my Cherokee and Aztec lineage and a deep appreciation for all of nature’s gifts, I had a lifelong dream to open a crystal store.”

18 December 2019

Among the shop’s many regular customers are shamans and other energy healers.

A LOCAL GEM

“Many cultures and religions recognize the relationship between our metaphysical anatomy and our mental, emotional and physical health and well-being,” Miller says. “The focus of Nestled inhealing the heart of the isWest Village many holistic philosophies to ensure that the chakras are balanced and functioning properly.

We offer Carrying a variety of Stones, Crystals, an array of tools, crystals, and reference materials to assist with that.”

Native Crafts and Spiritual tools.

STICK STONE & BONE

New York City edition

Location: 113 Christopher St. (between Hudson and Bleecker), New York, NY. For more information, call 212-807-7024 or visit StickStoneBone.com.. See ad, page 39.

Sacrifice Health for a Whiter Smile?

blend of herbs and safe traditional ingredients that are excellent for maintaining good oral health and aesthetics.

SprinJene contains a patented formula of zinc and black seed oil. Also called black cumin and nigella sativa, black seed oil has historically been used for oral health in Africa and the Middle East. A 2016 study by the Institute of Health states that the oil is anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and antifungal, and may not only prevent dental caries, but heals them as well.

by Maria Karameros

Zinc controls the growth of bacteria, plaque and tartar, while other natural ingredients like coconut oil, provide added anti-inflammatory and antibacterial benefits. Stevia is used to add a sweet taste without sacrificing quality and safety, unlike most major brands. SprinJene is certified cruelty-free, vegan, gluten-free, kosher, halal and free of artificial sweeteners, dyes and preservatives. SprinJene toothpaste also reduces and typically eliminates morning breath, allowing for spontaneous intimacy upon waking.

According to the American Association of Cosmetic Dentists (AACD), half of Americans believe the most memorable part of a first impression is a smile with bright, white teeth. The recent popularity of that “All-American” smile often seen on celebrities has made expensive cosmetic dental work more essential than a luxury.

Data calculated by Statista in 2019 based on the U.S. Census data and Simmons National Consumer Survey shows that 1.94 million Americans spent $250 or more on oral care products in three months.

Also, 45 million Americans have had professional teeth whitening. Since women typically spend more on their overall appearance, it is no surprise the majority of such procedures are done on women.

Since its launch in 2015, SprinJene has introduced new formulas specifically for children and sensitive teeth. Lip balms and oral rinses are currently in developMany tooth whitening products and treat- ment. Existing products are now available ment contain harsh chemicals and addi- on Amazon, at Costco and Bed Bath & tives. To maintain dental health and clean, Beyond. white teeth, only safe, effective oral care The cited NIH studies, “Nigella Sativa and products should be used, such as products its Active Constituent Thymoquinone,” from SprinJene. The company’s president, in Oral Health, and “A Review on the Dr. Sayed Ibrahim, created a toothpaste Cosmeceutical and External Applications inspired by his mother’s Sudanese herbal of Nigella sativa”, can be found at www. home remedies. He says, “I always believed sprinjene.com. For more information, call that the world deserves better toothpaste.” 732-640-1830, email Inquiries@SprinJene.

SprinJene’s ingredients naturally whiten com or visit SprinJene.com. Sprinjene teeth while also effectively reducing tooth Natural Toothpaste with Black seed oil is decay. available on Costco online for 30% less Dr. Ibrahim sets himself apart from many holistic companies with a background as an organic chemist and accomplished research scientist. He won the New Jersey Small Business Development Center’s 2016 Success Award. His products are a unique

than what you can find in stores, and it can be delivered to your door in 48 hours! Use this link to order:

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https://www.costco.com/sprinjene-naturaladult-toothpaste-combo%2c-4-pack.product.100408170.html. See ad, page 38.

ADVERTORIAL

‘Oh, my aching … is killing me.’

Is Prolo-Ozone Therapy the Answer?

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

Y

ou wake up one morning in pain. Your foot, leg, knee, low back or shoulders are just killing you. Perhaps it was from your normal workout at the health club yesterday, or perhaps it was the tennis or golf matches the other day. Maybe you’re just getting old, or who knows what!

What difference does it make? You’re in pain, and it’s not going away like it should!

So you go to the chiropractor, orthopedic surgeon or osteopath, and they do their best but it doesn’t help enough to stop the pain or last for long.

You may now be faced with surgery, and with no guarantees.

Do you have to just live in pain for the rest of your life or risk surgery? Is there another answer?

You bet there is!

Our office provides an amazing treatment for pain and injury in joints, cartilage, muscles, tendons and ligaments called ProloOzone Therapy. Hundreds of doctors are now using this therapy around the world.

It is said that prolo or proli in Latin means to “rebuild” or “regenerate,” thus the word “proliferate.”

Prolo-Ozone Therapy was derived from a treatment called Prolotherapy that’s been used successfully since the early 1900s.

Prolotherapy is a treatment where a natural, safe liquid “irritant” is injected into the soft tissue of an injured muscle, cartilage, tendon or ligament or into a joint. The irritant causes the body to begin a healing response.

It is not a surgical treatment. It has also been described as a “regenerative joint injection or non-surgical ligament, cartilage, muscle and tendon reconstruction.”

Upon treatment, the body will start to strengthen and repair the damaged tissue. Unfortunately this treatment uses a “liquid” requiring guided ultrasound to ensure it is deposited on the EXACT site of injury, much like a U.S. Marine sniper shooting a target. Any distance away may lead to failure.

In the late 1990s in Europe, a published study showed that Prolotherapy using a safe mixture of oxygen and ozone gas instead of the safe liquid on degenerative spinal disks could help stop pain. This was repeated in Canada in the early 2000s, with the same success.

It was followed in Europe and here in the U.S.A. for use on muscle, cartilage, tendon, ligament and joint pain and injuries, with equal success.

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December | Advertorial New York City2019 Edition NA-NewYorkCity.com

One of the major benefits of Prolo-Ozone Therapy over Prolotherapy is that guided ultrasound is NOT needed to place the medicine on the exact site of the problem!

The gas spreads out and stimulates the healing process over the entire injection site. You don’t need a U.S. Marine sniper to hit the target!

So how does it work?

We know that medical ozone acts as a temporary painkiller and antiinflammatory. However, healing is promptly and amazingly stimulated. There have been reports of cartilage repair and replacement occurring in addition to pain often being permanently eliminated, even when everything else has failed.

Research being performed currently in Europe indicates that the ozone gas stimulates “natural stem cell” activity in abundant amounts in the area of injury. This accounts for what we have seen and I call “repairing the un-repairable and fixing the unfixable.”

With any single once-a-week injection, complete recovery may be achieved!

We found that by the third or fourth treatment, noticeable improvement has occurred. However, if no improvement at all is felt, it may be that the problem is too late to help and further treatments may not be worth continuing. It also may be necessary in some cases to return promptly and periodically, if symptoms come back, for another injection or series. It is never too late to try and see if this treatment will work.

While we feel that no promises or guarantees to success should ever be made by any doctor with any treatment, we have seen astounding success with Prolo-Ozone Therapy when all else has failed!

We provide treatment solely for the parts of the body that affect the foot and ambulation, as part of my license to practice in NYS. If you have any questions or wish to set up a consultation, feel free to call my office at 212-581-0101 to discuss your problem and see if this wonderful treatment is right for you.

For more information, call Dr. Howard Robins at 212-581-0101.

Robins is to If you have any questions or wish considered foremost clinical expert on the set up a the consultation, feel free to call office, in 212-581-0101, to with discuss usemy of ozone North America, more problem and see if this and won-185,000 thanyour 25 years of clinical practice derful treatment treatments performed.is right for you. See ad on page Mention Natural Awakenings and3.get $50 off initial consult.

reader profile

Who’s a Natural Awakenings Reader?

Meet Phenix Hall FAVORITE WEBSITES: I don’t have a fa-

vorite website. Instead I try to favor anything that will keep me from going down the same old path continually.

LOCAL CAUSES SUPPORTED: I support

the homeless—Xavier Mission soup kitchen, Coalition for the Homeless, St. Bart’s and Midnight Run. As a passionate volunteer for several organizations that serve the homeless, I discovered that it wasn’t “them” I was afraid of—it was me that was afraid it was catchy.

We are all in some form of pain.

FAVORITE THING ABOUT NATURAL AWAKENINGS: My favorite thing about Natu-

LIFE’S MISSION: My life’s mission is to be open to new ex-

periences and to catch myself when I say things such as, “I don’t like this,” or, “I’m not sure I can do this,” or, “I’m scared,” and go deep within and ask myself why—and then I challenge myself to try it. Instead of thinking about what can go wrong, I choose to think about what can go right.

WORK: As a retiree, I don’t have a traditional job, but

when asked, I say I’m working for the MMI Corporation, which stands for Me, Myself and I. Every day I work on myself to try to get closer to the pure consciousness that exists within.

PROUDEST ACHIEVEMENTS: I was afraid of heights for most

of my life. In 2018, I signed up with a group based in Colorado and went back-country hiking and climbing. It was there that I confronted my fear by climbing a 12,937-foot mountain. Yes, I cried like a baby when confronted with the switchbacks and the extreme cold at the top, but I did it, and I realized that it wasn’t fear of heights that kept me on the ground—it was fear of the unknown.

EXPECTATIONS FOR THE FUTURE: To accomplish the little

ral Awakenings is that it’s always available, always filled with tips and insights that pique my interest and push my boundaries. It's a great magazine that explores our spirituality and the quest to answer that age-old question, “Who am I?” MOST-FREQUENTED HEALTHY-FOOD RESTAURANT: With the explosion of clean

eating and organic products here in NYC, you can enter any bodega and grab a great healthy meal. But when I want to sit down and eat, I head over to Luanne’s Wild Ginger, where everything on the menu is—as the kids would say—“da bomb.”

HOW DO YOU INVEST IN YOUR COMMUNITY? I invest in my community by get-

ting to know my community. When I’m walking through the neighborhood, I speak to people, ask their names and, most importantly, try to engage in a dialogue.

things on my bucket list. All the things that I wished for growing up, I’m now doing, such as learning to swim, touching an insect—yes, I am deathly afraid of all bugs—and immersing myself in another culture. I want to leave my childhood fears and tears behind and take each new experience in the now by relinquishing the past

FAVORITE QUOTE: It’s from Rumi: “Yes-

FAVORITE APP: My favorite app is Insight Timer, and com-

ing that voice within that tells me that I don’t know what a person has gone through in the past, but I do know that my reaction now can affect not only me, but them.

ing in a close second is YouTube University (as I refer to it) and Pinterest. Where else can you learn to knit, make pita bread, and discover how to make DIY products or even how to make your home toxin free?

terday I was clever, so I wanted to change the world. Today I am wise, so I am changing myself.”

WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO BE THE CHANGE YOU WANT TO SEE IN THE WORLD? Honor-

nycnaturalawakenings.com

21

local insights

Mending Relationships Begins Within Left untreated, our own hurt can turn a healthy relationship into a toxic, dysfunctional one.

By Michael Mongno, Ph.D.

A Healing Process Often people don’t really want to look at themselves, as these realizations can be too painful, dredging up old feelings of worthlessness or shame. However, if they can sit with themselves long enough, and look with compassion at the things inside that prevent them from being truly loving, they can begin a healing process that will transform them from within and positively affect every relationship in their life.

But if we choose to take the time to learn— practicing healthy self-dialogue and trying our best to treat ourselves with kindness and care—we can heal the parts of us that have been yearning for attention and love all our lives. Then we’ll project trust and positivity that will impact others and call forth the same from them.

ONE OF THE MOST COMMON THINGS I SEE in my work as a couples’ therapist is the strug-

gle many people go through in their relationships with others. And usually the focus is not on themselves, but on the other—what that person is doing wrong, or his or her inadequacies.

What they often fail to see is that they are actually creating the dynamic from hurt inside themselves, and then projecting that hurt outward, onto the other person. By temporarily displacing the pain, they feel better in the moment; however, this becomes a circular process in which both people end up hurting each other, often more than the initial misunderstanding or discomfort.

As this cycle gets repeated, it can harden into a constant, uncomfortable static or, worse, into a deepening resentment that can turn a healthy relationship into a toxic, dysfunctional one. This is when many couples enter my office in hopes of saving what they once had. But even then, what they really want is for me to help their partners change into something they’d like more.

This, of course, is something that I cannot—and should not—do. My job is to reflect both partners back onto themselves, so they can see the part they play in their co-created dynamic and then decide how they might want to change something in themselves.

22 December 2019

New York City edition

By showing our vulnerability, we can allow others to glimpse our deeper emotional selves, where they too might be touched by the tenderness and humanity that connects us all. Then what becomes recursive is a sensitivity and open heart, which, when shared, can set a new tone for all our relationships—one of compassion and love that contributes to the world around us.

Michael Mongno, Ph.D., counsels individuals and couples.

His office is located on the Upper West Side of Manhattan near Lincoln Center, at 100 W. 67th St., Ste. #2NE. For more information, call 212-799-0001 or visit PresentCenteredTherapies.com.

photo by keto.80 on Canva.com

This process can be challenging for many of us who didn’t grow up with parents or caretakers who knew how to give love, show empathy or express compassion. If we didn’t have good models for loving in our early years, it’s something we don’t know how to do very well. So we must learn the skills of loving ourselves, which can take time to put into practice and to master.

teen voice

CAN CBD HELP WITH MY INSOMNIA?

HOLIDAY CHEER

by Isabella Dussias

Studies look promising

By Mary Clifton, M.D. INSOMNIA, defined as an inability to sleep and habitual sleepless-

ness, is common in all phases of life, but especially during middle age, when people have considerable stress at work in addition to family stressors and living conditions that limit a quality sleep environment. It’s hard to sleep when financial worries loom and there’s a teenager out past curfew, or a toddler in the bed with you.

I’ve found that the answers to two questions are especially indicative of significant insomnia or another sleep disorder needing medical treatment: Do you feel like you could take a nap before noon? Do you wake up feeling refreshed and restored? If you answer yes to the first question and/or no to the second question, it’s time to seek help for your insomnia.

Help might be found in CBD or another cannabinoid formulation.

Published surveys that monitored patients’ response to individual treatment with CBD have shown excellent results in alleviating insomnia.

My favorite study on insomnia involved a group of patients who were dealing with psychiatric conditions; most were also dealing with PTSD. Patients in this study were averaging only about five hours of sleep per night and having intrusive thoughts and nightmares an average of five nights per week. With the administration of a cannabinoid formulation, they were sleeping seven hours per night and having nightmares once per week. CBD appears to be a powerful treatment for insomnia and intrusive dreams in psychiatric patients with PTSD. It could certainly be considered for use in people with insomnia related to mild, ongoing anxiety and stress.

Of course, depending on the intensity of your sleep problem and the size of your pocketbook, you might consider further, more intense sleep evaluation with an app or wearable device or an overnight sleep study with a specialist who can identify any underlying health issues. For example, many people over the years experience weight gain that leads to obstructive sleep apnea, and metabolic disorders like diabetes, or exposure to toxins like alcohol or chemotherapy, can lead to nerve damage and restless leg syndrome.

A comprehensive evaluation with your physician is always a good idea to ensure that you’re barking up the right tree when you’re considering CBD.

Mary Clifton, M.D., is a night owl living in New York City. To follow her work, visit CBDandCannabisInfo.com.

What is cherished the most by teens during the holiday season? Of course, we love our time off from school to relax with family and friends.

It’s a nice break to pull away from what often feels like over-scheduled lives and take time to realize what matters most to us. However, in polling some of my friends, I found that teens have a lot of pride in what makes them unique in how they celebrate the holidays.

There are many families that carry on traditions that have been handed down through generations. Learning how to make those cherished family recipes is important to us as young adults because someday we will be handing these down to future generations. Teens have pride in what we have learned from those who have come before us and taught us about our heritage.

Whether it is making a special meal or going to a certain holiday event each year, it makes us feel special and have a greater sense of connection to our family as a whole. There are certain things my friends look forward to annually. Without them, the holiday season would not feel the same.

So, this year, if you think your teen isn’t interested in that traditional family activity or that maybe they’ve outgrown it, think again. We are just waiting for the custom that we have become used to—the song we always sing or the cookies we always bake or crafts we always make—that embodies holiday cheer.

Home is where the heart is—this is what we cherish. Those special times with family and traditions we have learned, have made us who we have become. Someday we will be the ones ensuring that these endure, that the fabric of our family is maintained and that we build a home full of warmth and happiness.

So, here’s to a season full of love, family, traditions, and holiday cheer! Hope it’s a good one for you and yours!

Isabella Dussias is a 16-year-old singer-songwriter/composer from New Jersey. She enjoys writing about issues that are important to today’s youth, and she believes music is an important outlet to connect people and share messages through the creativity of lyric and melody.

For more information, please visit IsabellaDussias.com.

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23

local insights

UPLIFT THIS

Why am I trying to make everyone love each other?

I’m not a Beatle.

By Celeste DeCamps ment and find out why. We can blame others for our circumstances, or we can learn how to change our lives for the better.

The funny thing is that when we ask for help, we get it. A helping hand can come from the most unlikely places, and it renews our faith in humanity, reminding us that there’s a lot of good in the world. It’s easy to fixate on all the bad news coming at us, but when we take a moment to appreciate what we have and how far we’ve come, we see the world differently. I could see the world better if the person in front of me weren’t blocking my view.

ALL OVER SOCIAL MEDIA, I see quotes and memes saying, “Be Kind,”

“Be the Person That Makes Someone Smile,” “Be Compassionate”—in other words, don’t be a jerk. Why do we have to keep reminding everyone to be nice? Why is there so much hate in the world? Why is the person in front of me walking so slowly?

Why am I trying to write something so prolific that it will make everyone love each other? I’m not a Beatle. (I want everyone to be happy. I want world peace. I want my brother to stop making fun of me. Seriously, it’s like we’re still 8 years old.)

We don’t have control over anyone else’s thoughts or behaviors.

We can only work on ourselves. It seems like an upward battle, going through our day-to-day lives and feeling like no one cares.

It would be great if this person could just move to one side so I can get around him.

Practicing mindfulness is a wonderful way to stay in the moment.

When we’re not fixated on the past or the future, we get clarity on what’s important right now. The focus becomes what we do have control over, which is our own thought process and attitude toward others. If we aren’t in a good mood, we need to take a mo-

24 December 2019

I’m not trying to simplify the human experience. I can’t tackle the big picture of corruption, greed and racism. On a smaller scale, though, we all play a part in this game called life. (Wow, that’s deep!) We all have the power to make someone smile or cry.

We should ask ourselves what pleasure can be derived from hurting someone else. Yes, we get angry and frustrated with people because, you know . . . people. Taking a second to breathe deep might mean the difference between compassion and jail time.

There’s no easy way to understand someone else’s perceptions and thoughts. Keeping a healthy, positive outlook goes a long way toward developing patience with other people. It’s hard for someone or something to ruin your day when you’re in a great mood.

Having said that, I’ll stop planning the demise of the turtle in front of me. World peace can be achieved after all.

Celeste DeCamps is a motivational speaker. She shares her lifetime experience of stage-dance and movement through engaging stories and audience interaction, guiding people as they discover tools that will keep them feeling energized and confident moving forward. For more information, visit CelesteDeCamps.com. See ad, page 7.

New York City edition

Uplifting Humanity Begins with Man in the Mirror

By Michael Biamonte

WHAT IS A COURSE IN MIRACLES?

By Jon Mundy, Ph.D. A COURSE IN MIRACLES—consisting

of a textbook, a workbook and a manual for teachers—was scribed

by Dr. Helen Schucman, professor of medical psychology at Columbia University. Published in 1976, The Course has become a highly respected modern spiritual classic.

It radically changes for the better the lives of anyone who takes it seriously.

“UPLIFTING HUMANITY.” THAT’S A PROMISING PHRASE—but how

is it accomplished? Since humanity consists of individuals that make up groups, and those groups in total are mankind, “uplifting humanity” must start with the individual.

The first way to uplift the individual is to ensure his or her physical well-being. Can we do that with our current healthcare system? President Obama fought to provide health care for all, but he did not see all the pitfalls of our profit-driven healthcare system. He tried to appeal to the masses, but trying to force a system that provides health care to everyone severely hurts the individual. It takes away their responsibility for their own health and places that responsibility on someone else’s shoulders. Last I looked, despite our innovations in medical science, the U.S. healthcare system ranks only 26th in the world.

Uplifting humanity also involves education, and getting people to give up their vested interests and fixed ideas and support plans or policies that promote the greatest good for all, not just the ones promoted by a certain political party.

Most of all, uplifting humanity starts with the man in the mirror and asking him to change his ways!

Michael Biamonte, CCN, is founder of the Biamonte Center for Clinical Nutrition, located at 2185 34th Ave., Suite 14D, Astoria, NY, and the author of The Candida Chronicles. To learn more or schedule an appointment, visit Health-Truth.com or NewYorkCityCandidaDoctor.com.

The Course has sold more 3 million copies and exists different languages. Worldwide, thousands of groups formed to study the Course, and hundreds of books been written about it.

than in 27 have have

Its goal is inner peace. Its central path is a process of gradual purification, the letting go of the non-reality of our egoistic self in order to become aware of who we already are, the self that God created.

According to The Course, the world is a school. Our bodies are learning devices, and the various experiences we go through are the classes we take in order to awaken from the separated selfish-self to an awareness of our eternal identity.

What is most amazing about The Course is that it works. It has at this point transformed the lives of hundreds of thousands of people. Proof of that fact can be found in the slow but steady growth of interest in it over the past nearly 45 years.

There is no hierarchy behind The Course; you can study it with others or completely on your own.

I taught courses in philosophy and religion at the New School University and SUNY from 1967 to 2008, and began working with a manuscript copy of The Course in 1975, with Dr. Ken Wapnick guiding me through this amazing text.

I hold a lecture on The Course one Sunday per month in New York City, I teach an ongoing weekly class online, I regularly post my presentations on YouTube, and I publish a magazine called Miracles. For more information, contact me at MiraclesMagazine.org.

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inspiration

The Generous Heart How Giving Transforms Us

by Cindy Ricardo

Generosity is a quality of kindness, of living from a place of abund a n ce . We s e e t h e world through a clear lens that isn’t clouded by fea r, wa ntin g o r clinging. When we interact with others, our connection is genuine.

ONE OF THE WAYS WE COME INTO BALANCE

and connection with each other and with life is by giving from the heart. When we give to others, whether it’s an act of kindness, generosity or compassion, it helps us live from the heart instead of the ego.

Living from the ego is painful and exhausting. It’s like feeding a hungry monster that’s never satisfied. Ego craves, pursues and clings to status, approval, material wealth and control. It views the world through the eyes of fear—constantly evaluating, judging and acting in ways that are selfcentered, defensive and protective. Like with Scrooge, ego closes our heart and makes us small, fearful and contracted.

By contrast, generosity requires that we open our hearts to the world and each other. We allow ourselves to be vulnerable.

26 December 2019

Being generous arises from the heart, not the wallet. We don’t need to have material wealth in order to be generous. The only requirement is a willingness to open our hearts, to see life as it is and to interact with others from a place of compassion and love. Some examples of generous acts are:

n Doing a household chore without being asked. n Setting aside what we’re doing and listening to someone in need of emotional support.

n Telling loved ones what we appreciate about them. n Listening to children and trying to see the world through their eyes before offering advice.

n Smiling at a stranger. n When asking, “How are you?” looking into the person’s eyes and taking time to truly listen with an attitude of curiosity and compassion.

Generosity awakens goodness in the heart, and this helps us open to life, love and relationships.

Cindy Ricardo is a Coral Springs, Florida-based psychotherapist who blogs at ACaringCounselor.com.

New York City edition

Choen photo/Shutterstock.com

In doing this, we open ourselves fully to life, love and relationships.

We let go of striving and pursuing things .

When we stop striving, we begin to see, value and respond to what’s happening in the present moment in ways that are healthy and healing . Our priority shifts from acquiring things to appreciating what we have and being open to sharing with others.

wise words

Surgeon Mary Neal on Lessons From Heaven

by Kajsa Nickels with other human beings. She lives with her family in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, where she continues to mend broken bones.

How do you think your medical background makes you uniquely qualified to speak on near-death experiences (NDE)?

I am a very concrete thinker and analyze everything. Being a doctor also gave me access to many resources that the common person would not. I spent many months researching scientific and medical literature to try to come up with a logical explanation of what had happened to me. I was forced to conclude that my experience fell outside of the parameters of both science and medicine. I could not find any examples to disprove what happened, especially when the predicted death of my oldest son came to pass.

IN 1999, WHILE KAYAKING ON THE FUY RIVER

in Chile, orthopedic surgeon Mary Neal became trapped beneath a waterfall and drowned. She was underwater for 30 minutes before the current pulled her out.

During that time, Neal experienced what she believes to be a miraculous event in which she penetrated the veil dividing the physical and spiritual worlds. There, she was told that it was not yet her time, and of the future death of her eldest son, a prediction that was fulfilled 10 years later.

The experience gave her a new perspective on the purpose of our Earthly existence and life after death.

She has since written two books on the subject: To Heaven and Back: A Doctor’s Extraordinary Account of Her Death, Heaven, Angels and Life Again; and 7 Lessons from Heaven: How Dying Taught Me to Live a Joy-Filled Life. Her life-altering experience prompted her to pay more attention to those things that are truly important: faith, family and relationships

What was the most profound moment of your experience?

It’s hard to pinpoint the most profound moment of the entire experience, but what impacted me most was the realization that God is real, and He is present to each and every one of us every moment of our daily lives. I realized to the depths of my soul that all God’s promises are true, not just wishful thinking or a vague hope.

How has your NDE made you a better wife, mother and medical professional?

You can’t have an NDE without having your entire life changed. When you realize that there is more to life than what you can see with your physical eyes, it changes your entire perspective on every moment of every day. The things we say and the things we do create a ripple effect that spreads beyond the boundaries of our human sight. Love is ultimately the only thing that matters, to reflect love to the world and other people. I was a “good person”

nycnaturalawakenings.com

before my NDE, but I now see differently.

I see that each human being is incredibly loved, and that we are all one: We are them, and they are us. Everything else in the world is secondary to God’s love and presence in our lives.

How is your approach to everyday life different than it was prior to your NDE? I am able to be entirely present in every moment of my life. I can experience deep and abiding joy regardless of my circumstances. I am able to trust that grace covers my past, that there is life after death and a plan for my life. No matter what is happening, even if it is terrible, beauty will come out of it. Most people are trapped in regrets of the past and worry about the future. With complete trust in God, I am able to fully have joy in each and every moment.

Is there a difference between joy and happiness?

Absolutely. Happiness is an emotion based on circumstances. Happiness can accompany joy, but not always. Joy is a state of being, of trusting in God, of believing that his promises are true. Joy comes from freedom—freedom from disruptive emotions like guilt, remorse, unforgiveness.

Even in the devastation of my oldest son’s death, I can honestly say that I experienced a deep joy from trusting in God’s love and promises.

Why do you believe heaven is written in our hearts?

As a scientist, I firmly believe that we are created beings with physical bodies and spiritual souls. I believe that our spiritual self remembers heaven and remembers joy. Part of our journey here on Earth is to rediscover our connection with God. As adults, we often feel that we have to choose between science and spiritualism.

The truth is that they coexist, answering questions in different ways.

Kajsa Nickels is a freelance author who lives in Northeastern Pennsylvania. Connect at fideleterna45@gmail.com.

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conscious eating

People-Pleasing Holiday Sweets

by Julie Peterson Stick with your favorite recipes that you know are going to be a success and are going to leave everyone’s taste buds happy.~Pamela Reed

The best defense to avoid frustration at social food events is to bring a dish to share that meets your dietary needs, says Megan Gilmore, the author of No Excuses Detox: 100 Recipes to Help You Eat Healthy Every Day and a blogger at Detoxinista.com.

“That way, you can introduce something delicious to your friends, family or co-workers and be sure you’ll have something to eat!”

A batch of simple, delectable, visually appealing and healthful cookies can be that plate to share, a gift to give or something to keep on hand for guests. Keep the focus on simple, advises Pamela Reed, who blogs at BrooklynFarmGirl.com. There are plenty of recipes that will satisfy the sweet tooth and decorate the holiday buffet (until they’re all eaten, that is).

Don’t increase holiday stress by trying a new recipe at the last minute.

“Stick with your favorite recipes that you know are going to be a success and are going to leave everyone’s taste buds happy,” she says.

THE HOLIDAYS MAY SEND TOO MANY SUGAR PLUMS AND FROSTED gingerbread figures dancing in

the heads of people with dietary restrictions. Anyone that chooses to avoid highly processed flours or sugars, artificial ingredients and loads of butter will typically be presented with all of this and more at social gatherings this time of year. They arrive on visually appealing cookie platters that tempt with their cute shapes, vibrant colors and sparkle.

Some, like the gingerbread and reindeer cutouts, will beckon with glazed eyes: “Just one,” they whisper. But one can turn into nine and make someone that may normally avoid sugar or gluten feel bodily regrets. Someone that is vegan or allergic may feel they can’t have treats.

Making healthier choices about food is difficult for reasons many don’t understand. “People

28 December 2019

New York City edition

Transitioning to a more conscious way of eating isn’t about deprivation or leaving tradition behind. Bring on the new and healthful cookie recipes and name one after your grandma.

Julie Peterson writes from her home in rural Wisconsin . Contact her at JuliePeterson2222@gmail.com.

Petrovich Nataliya/Shutterstock.com

THE MERRY VEGAN

have relationships with food—involving family, comfort and traditions— and they don’t want to give that up,” says James Brandon, of Tampa, founder of Facebook’s Vegan and Plant-Based Beginner’s Community.

Brandon says that holiday treats are tough to resist, but staying true to health goals is most important in the long run.

fit body

“Many people have found that a regular breathing practice has helped them increase energy and decrease anxiety. It is a powerful tool to reset the nervous system when we’re overwhelmed and stressed,” says Somatic Breath Therapy (SBT) practitioner Rachael Walter, owner of Breathe-Here-Now, in Keene, New Hampshire. Like many forms of breathwork, SBT bridges the chasm between mind and body. “Conscious breathing can also help people access and understand their emotions,” notes Walter.

Inhaling the Joy of Life

Pranayama, an ancient technique of yoga that focuses on breath control and employs alternate nostril breathing, can be performed while lying down, seated or on the yoga mat. Kundalini yoga teacher Melissa Crowder, owner of 4 States Yoga, in Joplin, Missouri, advises students to start out slowly, three to six minutes a day, and then work up to a longer practice. “Alternate nostril breathing is a great practice for everyone. As little as six minutes of yogic breathing, as needed, can make a profound difference in decreasing pain and stress,” she says.

Conscious Breathwork

by Marlaina Donato

BELLY BENEFITS

AntonioGuillem on AdobeStock

The American Lung Association recommends a variety of exercises, including diaphragmatic (belly) breathing, for conditions like asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Engaging the diaphragm is key in breathing to fullest capacity.

Walter explains, “An open, healthy breath is one in which we use the diaphragm to initiate the breath, followed by the belly expanding and the breath moving into the chest.”

OUR FIRST BREATH IS INSTINCTUAL AND BELLY-DEEP, BUT AS WE

grow into life, everyday stress and trauma can bring us into the shallows. Mindful breathing can help guide our breath back to its original, healthy rhythm. Both the brain and organs benefit from increased oxygen, and the vagus nerve that connects the two—prompted by changes in the body’s pH levels—releases acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter responsible for lowering heart rate.

Breathwork can improve vagal tone, a major component in a wide range of conditions like depression, pain syndromes, sleep disturbances, anxiety disorders and chronic inflammation. A 2016 study by the Medical University of South Carolina published in the journal BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine shows a lower number of proteins associated with inflammation in the saliva of participants that employed breathing exercises.

A study that appeared in the journal Psychophysiology in 2015 found that 20 minutes of mindful breathing at bedtime fostered a good night’s rest for people with insomnia.

BREATHING BREAKS From traditional rebirthing techniques using circular breathing to Middendorf Breath Work for somatic awareness, there are many styles of conscious breathing. The gentler approaches best suit everyday needs and taking a breathing break can actually provide more refreshment than one featuring coffee.

Most of us unconsciously fall into shallow and sometimes selfconscious breathing patterns at an early age. “During my training, I read that by age 6, we pick up on cues telling us to tuck in our tummies. This simple, bad habit begins a cascade of physiological responses. Upper chest breathing can create anxiety symptoms and poor digestion,” explains Colleen Breeckner, owner of Colleen Lila Yoga, in New York City. “Diaphragmatic breathing causes the diaphragm to become flat and wide, and in turn, presses upon the stomach and helps to churn the gastric juices. For this reason, it can aid earlier stages of digestion.”

When used in conjunction with other modalities such as cognitive behavioral therapy, diaphragmatic breathing might be beneficial for irritable bowel syndrome.

BREATHING INTO FEELINGS The depth and quality of the breath can help us to become aware of emotional states that include “holding patterns”. “Conscious breathing is a doorway into deep meditation, which can help alleviate anger and insecurities. It can also be helpful in dropping addictions,” says Crowder. “Linking pranayama with physical movement [asanas] helps to release tension and emotions that can be held in the body’s soft tissues.”

Breeckner agrees, “Developing this awareness can help us to move unpleasant and stuck emotions through the body.”

Well-being can be just a breath away, says Walter. “When we open up our breath, we open ourselves to a fuller experience of being human. It has the capacity to bring us into the present moment to access our joy and our life’s purpose.”

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

nycnaturalawakenings.com

29

green living

WASTE-FREE FEASTING How to Reduce Holiday Food Waste

by Yvette C. Hammett

Just like repurposing excess product requires creative thinking, food waste around the holidays requires out-of-the-box ideas to keep impact low

Monkey Business Images/Shutterstock.com

­­—Reilly Brock

30 December 2019

New York City edition

The heaping platters that cheerfully mark the holidays have an unfortunate downside: Americans increase their waste by 25 percent between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The discarded food and packaging burden landfills with an additional 1 million tons of waste each week.

That’s in addition to the 40 percent of food Americans typically waste each year—nearly half of all the food prepared at home or in restaurants. Monica McBride, senior manager of food loss and waste for the World Wildlife Fund, notes that squandered bounty is grown in areas that were converted from natural habitat into farm fields, so it’s also a waste of natural resources.

“Once you start cooking, you realize the impact on the planet,” says chef and caterer Steven Laurence, owner of Vegan Commissary, in Philadelphia. “My grandmother was the kind of person who, if there was one pea left over, she put it in a container and someone ate it the next day. That kind of informs my co o k i n g . T h e w a y I w a s trained, you didn’t waste anything. You used everything.”

In individual households , small changes can have a big impact, especially during the holidays; all it takes is awareness and a plan. Frugal cooks can make room for a holiday waste reduction strategy by taking inventory of the pantry and boxing up a load for the local soup kitchen or food bank.

with zucchini, tomatoes and eggplant.

Spoilage is another way food finds its way into the garbage can, and that too, can be avoided, Laurence says, pointing out that most food goes bad because it’s not cooked properly or is mishandled in storage. “Mix animal protein with starches and grains in a container and it goes bad because of two different sorts of enzymes. It is a fuel for bacteria.” He also recommends using as many organic ingredients as possible for longer-lasting leftovers. “We guarantee all of our dishes for two weeks,” he says.

Encouraging visitors to take home lef tovers is another effective food-saving strategy, says McBride. “Have Tupperware or to-go boxes you could provide to your guests.”

Reilly Brock, content manager at Imperfect Produce, in New York City, agrees. “Just like repurposing excess product requires creative thinking, food waste around the holidays requires out-ofthe-box ideas to keep impact low,” says Brock, whose company delivers imperfect produce to customers’ doors for a cost savings. “Why end the fun when the meal ends? The best part about leftovers—and the holidays—is keeping the celebration going.”

“Also, make sure you keep food safe,” McBride says. “The CDC [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] has a really great overview of how to do that for parties. Standard guidance is not to leave food out for more than two hours. So, as a party planner, make sure you mentally note when you put food out.”

Coleman recommends taking it a step beyond the holidays by joining a movement to cut food waste year-round. She suggests visiting FurtherWithFood.org to learn more. “Through that and additional outreach, we might be able to start to change,” says McBride.

Then, design a menu with the environment in mind, using portion control to avoid food waste and whipping up dishes that can easily be upcycled into new creations that can be used as appetizers in the coming days or tucked in the freezer for future enjoyment.

Start with the Guest-imator at SaveTheFood.com, a great way to determine portions for a holiday party, says Cheryl Coleman, director of the EPA Resource Conservation and Sustainability Division in the Office of Resource Conservation and Recovery.

The Guest-imator and Save the Food, a program of the Natural Resources Defense Council in conjunction with the Ad Council, tells cooks how much to make to keep guests happy and includes recipes for leftovers, such as Crispy Sheet Pan Hash, made with leftover roasted vegetables, and Ugly Vegetable Pasta, made

Yvette C. Hammett is an environmental writer based in Valrico, Florida. Connect at YvetteHammett28@hotmail.com.

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NEW YORK CITY COMMUNITY

Dates and times may change. Please call ahead to confirm. All calendar events must be received by the 10th of the month and adhere to our guidelines. Go to NYCNaturalAwakenings.com for more information.

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 3 Social Impact Holiday Connector 6:30-9pm. Be Social Change, a membership community devoted to building socially impactful lives and careers, is hosting this networking event for NYCs nonprofit, B Corp, social enterprise, sustainability and corporate social responsibility sector. Prime Produce, 424 W. 54th St. BeSocialChange.com.

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 7

MARK YOUR CALENDAR Deep Tantra: Exploring the Depths of Love, Intimacy and Relationship Experience evolution through tantra and deepen your experience of love, intimacy and relationship.

Learn the foundational philosophies and practices of tantra and the tantric art of expanding into profound states of unconditional love with yourself and the world around you. Open to individuals and couples. The weekend will include lecture, practical exercises, hatha yoga, meditation and pranayama practice. No explicit sexual presentations or nudity. Bring a yoga mat, blanket, water bottle and notebook. $300-$400

December 7 & 8 Sat. 9am to Sun. 7pm Human@Ease Fitness & Wellness Center 31 Nassau Ave., Brooklyn 917-202-8102 SpiritualTantricLife@gmail.com Eventbrite.com/e/deep-tantraexploring-the-depths-of-loveintimacy-and-relationship-tickets-81346412309.

32 December 2019 | Calendars

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 8

and exploration of sonic realities. Experience tunings including Pythagorean, Fibonacci, PlanA Course in Miracles Lecture ets, Asteroids and Overtones. Members $24/ 1:30pm. Jon Mundy, PhD, discusses Listening to Nonmember $30. NY Open Center, 22 E. 30th Inner Guidance, based on A Course in Miracles, St. 212-219-2527. OpenCenter.org. scribed by Dr. Helen Schucman in 1975. Mundy is the author of 10 books based on the Course. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 14 Center for Remembering and Sharing, 123 4th Ave. 212-677-8621. crsny.org or Miracles- Huna and the World of Shaman 9:30am-5pm. Through shamanic journeying, Magazine.org. meditation and sharing, this workshop offers a deep dive into the esoteric wisdom and magical TUESDAY, DECEMBER 10 practices of the Kahunas of the South Pacific.

General public $200/One Spirit graduates $180.

One Spirit Learning Alliance, 247 W. 36th St., 6th Fl. 212-931-6840. 1Spirit.org.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR Never Alone National Suicide Prevention Movement Kickoff

Thought leaders Deepak Chopra, Michael Beckwith and Temple Hayes and actress Gabriella Wright will join forces at Michel Pascal’s annual Medicine Voice concert to raise awareness for Never Alone, a new worldwide movement for youth mental health and suicide prevention. $60

December 10 • 8pm Carnegie Hall, 57th St. and 7th Ave. 212-247-7800 CarnegieHall.org

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 11

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 15 Huna and the World of Shaman 9:30am-5pm. Through shamanic journeying, meditation and sharing, this workshop offers a deep dive into the esoteric wisdom and magical practices of the Kahunas of the South Pacific.

General public $200/One Spirit graduates $180.

One Spirit Learning Alliance, 247 W. 36th St., 6th Fl. 212-931-6840. 1Spirit.org.

Santa, Karaoke Caroling and Elf Screening 4:30pm. Join Buddy the Elf (Will Ferrell) on his journey to find his roots, satisfy his sweet tooth and bring joy to the world. Event begins with a meet and greet with Santa Claus and karaoke caroling. Adults $15/Children 12 and under, seniors & students $8. United Palace, 4140 Broadway. 212-568-6700. UnitedPalace.org.

MONDAY, DECEMBER 16 Open House-200-hour Yoga Teacher Training 6-7pm. Integral Yoga Institute, which has been certifying teachers for 40+ years, invites the public to meet trainers Kali Morse and Rashmi Galliano, learn what makes Integral Yoga Teacher Training special and ask questions about the program. Integral Yoga Institute, 227 W. 13th St. 212-929-0585. iyiny.org.

Stop/Slow, written and performed by Jean E. Taylor 8-9pm. BAC’s Artist in Residence Series presents this study on impulse and deliberation, a recruitment session for new traffic flaggers pairing clown-esque humor with the intensity of a dedicated professional. Learn what dis- THURSDAY, DECEMBER 19 coveries are possible in a stop. Balance Arts TRE® (Trauma or Tension Releasing Exercises) Center, 151 W. 30th St., 3rd Fl. 646-812-5390.

3:30-4:45pm. In this open-enrollment class, BalanceArtsCenter.com.

Paul Lynch teaches a gentle, simple technique to release physical and emotional stress. TRE® FRIDAY, DECEMBER 13 exercises evoke a gentle shaking, the nervous Human TuneIn with John Beaulieu and friends system’s way of discharging long-held tension 7-9pm. A Sound Healing event performed with to restore the body to wholeness. $22. Integral precisely tuned BioSonic tuning forks to create Yoga Institute, 227 W. 13th St. 212-929-0585. sounds for healing, expansion of consciousness iyiny.org.

New York City edition

PLAN AHEAD SAVE THE DATE The Real Truth About Health: Free 10-Day Conference The largest live health and environmental conference in the world, featuring 34 world-renowned speakers.

Free vegan breakfast, lunch, dinner and ice cream served daily. Register free to attend in person.

January 24 - February 2 9am to 9:30pm daily Hilton Hotel, 598 Broad Hollow Rd., Melville, NY TheRealTruthAboutHealth.com

SAVE THE DATE Ayurveda: A Modern Approach with Ancient Healing Wisdom One- or two-day workshop led by Dr. Somesh N. Kaushik, ND, BAMS, MPH, MPA, E-RYT 500, from the Institute for the Advancement of Ayurvedic Sciences. $115/$215.

FEBRUARY 8-9 • 10am-5pm Balance Arts Center, 151 W. 33th St., 3rd Fl. 646-670-6725

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 22 United Palace 90th Anniversary 8pm. Celebrate the 90th anniversary of the United Palace with legendary singer, songwriter and performer Ms. Lauryn Hill. This concert will be the first of numerous events commemorating the venue’s long history. United Palace, 4140 Broadway. $66 and up. 212-568-6700.

UPSpiritualArts.org.

SUNDAY, MARCH 22 Peaceful Ocean View Spring Yoga Retreat in Puerto Rico March 22-27. Devaki Lammet, an internationally experienced yoga teacher since 2000, will lead this retreat in Rincon, Puerto Rico, featuring yoga, meditation, kirtan, Ayurvedic cooking workshops, vegan/vegetarian meals, beach trips, YACEP workshops. Registration deadline March 1. Early-bird registration through Feb. 1.

787-464-5651. PeacefulOceanView.com.

NEW YORK CITY COMMUNITY

Dates and times may change. Please call ahead to confirm. All ongoing events must be received by the 10th of the month and adhere to our guidelines.

Go to NYCNaturalAwakenings.com for more information.

SUNDAY Introduction to Alexander Technique 11am and 3pm. Small-group instructions. First class must be taken before other seven classes, then choose others in any order. Move with more ease, balance and coordination. Improve posture and breathing. Avoid, reduce or eliminate back, shoulder, neck pain. $45. Think AT Studio, 200 Vesey St., 24th Fl. 646-632-5181.

Mona@Think-at.com. Think-at.com.

Namaste Bookshop, 2 W 14th St, Manhattan.

212-645-1014. info@NamasteBookshop.com.

NamasteBookshop.com.

SATURDAY

Introduction to Alexander Technique 10am and 2pm. In this 90-minute class, learn about the internal, built-in organization that helps you move with more ease, balance and coordination. Improve posture, breathe more efficiently and avoid, reduce or eliminate back, Reiki Group Class shoulder and neck pain. $45. Think AT Studio, 2nd Sun, 3-9pm. With Jyogan, Reiki Shihan 200 Vesey St., 24th Fl. 646-632-5181. Mona@ (master teacher). Namaste Bookshop, 2 W Think-at.com. Think-at.com.

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.

MONDAY Free Lunchtime & Evening Meditation Sessions Mon-Sat, 12:15-12:50pm; Mon-Thus, 6-6:35pm.

Meditations include chanting, kapalabhati, nadi suddhi, 15-20 minutes of silence, closing chants. For experienced meditation students.

Others may wish to attend a Meditation I workshop at Integral Yoga Institute before joining an open meditation. Integral Yoga Institute, 227 W. 13th St. 212-929-0585. iyiny.org.

Monday Night Alive! Seminar 7-9:30pm. Ariel and Shya Kane are catalysts for instantaneous transformation of careers, families and relationships. At this fun, lively, interactive seminar, they explain how to have a stress-free, successful, satisfying, easy life. $20.

Skyline Hotel, 725 10th Ave. at 49th St., Penthouse Ballroom. TransformationMadeEasy.com.

WEDNESDAY Jyogan Reiki Treatment 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).

nycnaturalawakenings.com

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N AT U R A L AWA K E N I N G S R E A D E R S We want to spotlight one of you in the next edition. Please email publisher@nanewyorkcity.com to learn more.

33

NEW YORK CITY COMMUNITY

Your source for natural health, nutrition, fitness, personal growth, green living, creative expression and the products and services that support a healthy lifestyle.

Conscious Centers AUM SHANTI BOOKSHOP

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, reikicharged and spiritually energized items such as a semiprecious 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.

BALANCE ARTS CENTER

The Barbara Brennan School of Healing 151 W 30th Street NYC 561-620-8767 Denise.Mollo@BarbaraBrennan.com A premier institute of hands-on healing and personal transformation opening NYC YEAR 1 program at the Balance Arts Center

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.

NEW YORK OPEN CENTER

22 E 30th St, NYC 212-219-2527 • OpenCenter.org The Open Center presents programs of exceptional depth and integrity, concentrating in five major areas: contemplative and spiritual traditions; health and wellness; psychology; society and ecology; and creativity and the arts. Programs and teachers focused on understanding health and mind-body healing, depth psychology, mystical and esoteric traditions, compassionate dying, socially responsible investing, humanity’s impact on the Earth and renewable energy, untapped sources for creativity in the arts and what we can learn from world cultures.

UNITED PALACE OF SPIRITUAL ARTS

fection and offers a powerful mindful path toward mental wholeness through the healing collaboration of body, mind, and spirit. You can read more at PresentCenteredTherapies.com.

Education MONICA MARIA INTERNATIONAL Monica Maria Aparicio NY, NY • 646 210-8888 www.Monica-Maria.com

Spiritual Success and Business Mentoring Programs, Advanced Practitioner Certification and Coaching Programs, Shamanic Healing and Plant Medicine Retreats, Conscious Leadership and Soulful Business Events.

Getaways & Retreats

4140 Broadway, NYC 212-568-6700 • UPSpiritualArts.org

EASTOVER ESTATE AND RETREAT

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.

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.

Counseling & Mental Wellness MICHAEL MONGNO, MFT, PH.D, LP

Present Centered Therapies Upper West Side • 212-799-0001 DrMongno@PresentCenteredTherapies.com PresentCenteredTherapies.com Michael Mongno MFT, Ph.D LP is a licensed psychoanalyst, marriage and family therapist, and holistic counselor based in Manhattan.

Committed to creating a real difference in the world, his “Real change in real time” describes the dynamic, effective synthesis of personal growth and spiritual transformation.

His approach acknowledges our innate per-

34 December 2019 | Community Resource Guide

New York City edition

430 East St, Box 2282, Lenox, MA 866-264-5139 • Eastover.com

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.

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 (body-oriented) 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 wellbeing. 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.

LEE SCHWALB HEALING

370 Lexington Ave, Suite 2300, NYC 10017 150 East 58th Street, Fifth floor, NYC 10155 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 dedicated to teaching the Alexander Te c h n i q u e , m a i n l y through individual lessons. The name is inspired by the focus of Alexander Technique on “thinking,â€? 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

UNITY ANGEL HEALING

Reverened Elka Boren 772-223-4143 ElkaInfo@UnityAngelHealing.com UnityAngelHealing.com Shaman Elka BorenHealer. Psychic Medium.

Clairvoyant. Light Language Teacher & Trainings. Long Distance. Healings & Readings. House 772-223-4143 Clearings. The 7 Archangel Heal ing System. Tea Leaf Readings.

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.

nycnaturalawakenings.com

Health Food Store ABRAHAM’S NATURAL FOODS

9 Long Branch Ave., Long Branch, NJ 732-229-5799 AbrahamsHummos@gmail.com AbrahamsNatural.com We’re passionate about creating healthy foods.

Our hummos boasts the industry’s lowest calories, fat, and sodium, without a drop of artificial preservatives. We use raw apple cider vinegar in every batch to get that wonderful zingy taste and for all the incredible health benefits. Unlike other companies, Abraham’s does not contain any added oils (ie: canola or soy). We only use healthy, nutritious tahini. Abraham’s is located in “middle eastern New Jersey,� and you can find our best-selling Middle Eastern product line in Fairway Market, Whole Foods Market, and many gourmet and natural food stores across the tri-state area.

WHOLE FOODS MARKET 8 Locations in Manhattan WholeFoodsMarket.com

Whole Foods Market is an Eco-minded 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!

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NEW YORK CITY COMMUNITY

Your source for natural health, nutrition, fitness, personal growth, green living, creative expression and the products and services that support a healthy lifestyle.

Natural Dentistry

Natural Products

TRIBECA CENTER FOR INTEGRATIVE HOLISTIC DENTISTS

ANATTA

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.

Anatta is a global online marketplace for natural, organic and raw products from farmers worldwide. The newly-formed company’s products include a variety of essential oils and waters, and its unique business model eliminates overhead costs by connecting customers directly with farmers.

17 Park Place, NYC 212-732-2200 • Holistic-Dentists.com

Natural Pet TAILS OF DOG: FORCE FREE TRAINING and Behavior

646-675-8692 • TailsOfDog.com Tails of Dog provides force- free, 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 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.

447 Broadway, Suite 204 New York City, NY 10013 347-762-1268 • www.AnattaMarket.com

GOOD GREEN CLEANER

844-285-8811 • info@goodgreencleaner.com GoodGreenCeaner.com Good Green Cleaners are nontoxic, 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.

HEALTHYLINE

NYC Midtown Store 41 W 36th St. Ground Fl. Midtown Store: 212-300-5092 Products: 888-774-4422 Support@HealthyLine.com • HealthyLine.com Natural gemstone heat therapy with 5 in 1 technology including far infrared, photon lights, PEMF, negative ions.

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.

36 December 2019 | Community Resource Guide

New York City edition

SKINNYPILLOW

Carlos Shiera cshiera@skinnypillow.com 305-987-3879 • www.SkinnyPillow.com SkinnyPillow is the allnatural pillow made from ultra-soft kapok and organic cotton covers. No synthetics, no chemicals and no animal parts. Free shipping to all the U.S.A.

STICK STONE AND BONE 113 Christopher Street, NYC 212-807-7024

Founded in 1990, Stick Stone and Bone is a boutique oasis located in that heart of the West Village that specializes in rare gemstones, handmade jewelry, high-quality incense, sacred herbs, and ornamental items with meditative and natural qualities.

Traditional 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.

Seven years without a cold?

had colds going round and round, but not me.”

Some users say it also helps with sinuses. Attorney Donna Blight had a 2-day sinus headache. When her CopperZap arrived, she tried it. “I am shocked!” she said. “My head cleared, no more headache, no more congestion.”

Some users say copper stops

By Doug Cornell nighttime stuffiness if used just before cientists recently discovered time. He hasn’t had a single cold for 7 bed. One man said, “Best sleep I’ve had a way to kill viruses and years since. in years.” bacteria.

He asked relatives and friends to try Copper can also stop flu if used early Now thousands of people are using it it. They said it worked for them, too, so and for several days. Lab technicians to stop colds and flu. he patented CopperZap™ and put it on placed 25 million live flu viruses on a Colds start the market.

CopperZap. No viruses were found alive when cold viruses Soon hundreds soon after. get in your nose. of people had Dr. Bill Keevil led one of the teams Viruses multiply tried it and given confirming the discovery. He placed fast. If you don’t feedback. Nearly millions of disease germs on copper. stop them early, 100% said the “They started to die literally as soon as they spread and copper stops colds they touched the surface,” he said. cause misery. if used within 3 People have even used copper on In hundreds hours after the first cold sores and say it can completely of studies, EPA sign. Even up to prevent outbreaks.

New research: Copper stops colds if used early. and university 2 days, if they The handle is researchers have confirmed that viruses still get the cold it is milder than usual curved and finely and bacteria die almost instantly when and they feel better. textured to improve touched by copper.

Users wrote things like, “It stopped contact. It kills germs That’s why ancient Greeks and my cold right away,” and “Is it picked up on fingers Egyptians used copper to purify water supposed to work that fast?” and hands to protect and heal wounds. They didn’t know “What a wonderful thing,” wrote you and your family. about microbes, but now we do.

Physician’s Assistant Julie. “No more Copper even kills Dr. Bill Keevil: Copper quickly kills deadly germs that Scientists say the high conductance colds for me!” cold viruses. of copper disrupts the electrical balance Pat McAllister, 70, received one have become resistant in a microbe cell and destroys the cell in for Christmas and called it “one of the to antibiotics. If you are near sick seconds. best presents ever. This little jewel really people, a moment of handling it may Tests by the EPA (Environmental works.” keep serious infection away. It may even Protection Agency) show germs die Now thousands of users have simply save a life. fast on copper. So some hospitals tried stopped getting colds.

The EPA says copper still works copper for touch surfaces like faucets People often use CopperZap even when tarnished. It kills hundreds of and doorknobs. This cut the spread of preventively. Frequent flier Karen Gauci different disease germs so it can prevent MRSA and other illnesses by over half, used to get colds after crowded flights. serious or even fatal illness. and saved lives.

Though skeptical, she tried it several CopperZap is made in America of The strong scientific evidence gave times a day on travel days for 2 months. pure copper. It has a 90-day full money inventor Doug Cornell an idea. When “Sixteen flights and not a sniffle!” she back guarantee. It is $69.95. he felt a cold about to start he fashioned exclaimed.

Get $10 off each CopperZap with a smooth copper probe and rubbed it Businesswoman Rosaleen says when code NATA15.

Go to www.CopperZap.com or call gently in his nose for 60 seconds. people are sick around her she uses “It worked!” he exclaimed. “The cold CopperZap morning and night. “It saved toll-free 1-888-411-6114.

Buy once, use forever. never got going.” It worked again every me last holidays,” she said. “The kids ADVERTORIAL

Copper in new device stops cold and flu

S

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