Natural Awakenings Philadelphia September 2016

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feel good • live simply • laugh more

Philadelphia Premiere Issue

SUBLIME MUSIC AS RELAX & LIVING MEDICINE UNWIND Savoring Perfect Present Moments

It Soothes, Energizes & Heals Us

Restorative Yoga Fosters Healing

September 2016 | Philadelphia, PA Edition | NAPhilly.com natural awakenings

September 2016

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NATURAL AWAKENINGS MAGAZINE

FRIENDLY-USER GUIDE

Welcome...

...to the premiere issue of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania’s healthy living magazine! From the photos selected for our eye-catching covers to the appealing editorial throughout, you’ve discovered the perfect guide to a healthier and more balanced life for you and your family. Each month, Natural Awakenings’ advertisers and authors provide a helping hand along your personal path to wellness and creative self-expression.

Let’s get started!

Publisher‛s Letter – Each month, Publisher Kimberly Murray shares her thoughts on the featured monthly topic. She‛ll offer her entertaining and informative perspective with a nod to stories from her own experience.

News Briefs – Local and national news keeps you up-to-date on cutting-edge perspectives in the fields of natural health, alternative medicine, fitness and related fields. We welcome everyone‛s contributions of newsworthy information.

Health Briefs – Timely news items introduce and hook you up with the latest treatments and tools for specific health and wellness concerns. They include practical tips that you can use today to advance a healthy living lifestyle.

Global Briefs – The rainforest is half a world away, yet our health depends upon its health.

This department keeps you wired with relevant current events and opportunities for action vital to our planet‛s well-being.

Community Spotlight – Articles packed with insight into local businesses and healing arts practitioners that show how they can be of service to you and your loved ones. You‛ll be amazed by the level of knowledge and expertise to be found right here in Philly!

Healthy Kids – Our children‛s health is paramount. This column helps parents and

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caretakers make wise decisions in protecting children‛s health and well-being.

Natural Pet – We love to see our family pets active and thriving. Surprising alternative therapies, nutrition ideas and resources open new possibilities.

Fit Body – We all know that exercise and physical fitness are essential. The trick is finding the right options for you. We will supply fresh windows of thought that can help get you moving.

Healing Ways – Turn here to learn about therapies and modalities both new and traditional, all focused on enhancing the body-mind-spirit connection for optimal well-being.

Inspiration – Spreading light and encouraging positive perspectives, this column is a beacon that spotlights our interconnections with nature, spirit and community.

Wise Words – Exclusive interviews with renowned national and international leaders, experts and authors offer lively dialogues on topics both current and timeless.

Feature Articles – Interesting, informative, often exclusive articles take advantage of Natural Awakenings‛ national scope and local interest in our community. You‛ll want to read them all.

Calendar of Events – There‛s so much to do in Philly. Check out the exciting classes, weekend workshops and special events that pop up each month.

NAPhilly.com NAP hilly.com www.awakemona.com

Feel good

Live simply

Community Resource Guide – Here‛s a quick reference to the best health and wellness resources in the Philadelphia area.

It‛s a quick way to find gifts of health and fun for yourself or others.

Display Ads – Our advertisers are the absolute best! They not only make this magazine possible, but are the nicest people in town. Please patronize them and tell them you saw their ads in Natural Awakenings.

Distribution Locations – Please ask for Philadelphia Natural Awakenings at every business you visit, and support our distributors with purchases. Our distributors are just as important as our advertisers and readers. All three are essential elements of the wider community we seek to cultivate for the benefit of all.

Thank you for reading, supporting and contributing to Natural Awakenings.

We’re glad you’ve joined us in rousing a real natural awakening of our Philadelphia community.

Laugh more

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newsbriefs healthbriefs ecobrief globalbriefs community spotlight consciouseating healingways healthykids wisewords businessspotlight fitbody inspiration naturalpet calendar resourceguide classifieds

advertising & submissions HOW TO ADVERTISE To advertise with Natural Awakenings or request a media kit, please contact us at 215-902-9137 or email Publisher@NAPhilly.com. Deadline for ads: the 10th of the month.

EDITORIAL SUBMISSIONS Email articles, news items and ideas to: Publisher@NAPhilly.com. Deadline for editorial: feature articles are due by the 5th of the month, news briefs and health briefs are due by the 10th.

CALENDAR SUBMISSIONS Email Publisher@NAPhilly.com or visit NAPhilly.com for more information.

Deadline for calendar: the 10th of the month.

REGIONAL MARKETS Advertise your products or services in multiple markets!

Natural Awakenings Publishing Corp. is a growing franchised family of locally owned magazines serving communities since 1994. To place your ad in other markets call 239-449-8309. For franchising opportunities call 239-530-1377 or visit NaturalAwakeningsMag.com.

Natural Awakenings is your guide to a healthier, more balanced life. In each issue readers find cutting-edge information on natural health, nutrition, fitness, personal growth, green living, creative expression and the products and services that support a healthy lifestyle.

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Plant-Based Choices Provide Midday Boost

by Judith Fertig

14 THE MODERN SHAMAN Ancient Practices Heal Body and Soul

by Linda Sechrist

16 MUSIC AS MEDICINE Music Soothes, Energizes and Heals Us

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by Kathleen Barnes

18 RAISING A MUSIC LOVER Kids Thrive to Rhythms of Head and Heart

by Randy Kambic

20 INSIDE THE CHANT

WITH KRISHNA DAS

Kirtan Music Transports Listeners to a Deeper Place

by Robin Fillmore

22 RELAX AND UNWIND Restorative Yoga Poses Foster Healing

by Meredith Montgomery

23 THE SECRET OF

SUBLIME LIVING

Savoring Perfect Present Moments

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by Carl Greer

25 WATER-WISE KITCHEN A Few Small Steps Can Make the Difference

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by Avery Mack

26 HAPPY FURRY HOME

Tips for Keeping a Pet-Friendly Home Clean

by Sandra Murphy

NAPhilly.com natural awakenings

September 2016

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letterfrompublisher Welcome to Natural Awakenings! I’m overjoyed

contact us Publisher Kimberly Murray Editor Martin Miron Assisting Editors S. Alison Chabonais Julianne Hale Randy Kambic Sara Peterson Linda Sechrist Design & Production Stephen Blancett C. Michele Rose Sales & Marketing Kimberly Murray Multi-Market Advertising 239-449-8309 Franchise Sales 239-530-1377

Natural Awakenings – Philly 1515 Market St., Ste. 1200-533 Philadelphia, PA 19102 Phone: 215-902-9137 Fax: 215-402-3423 Publisher@NAPhilly.com NAPhilly.com ©2016 by Natural Awakenings. All rights reserved.

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

Natural Awakenings is a free publication distributed locally and is supported by our advertisers. It is available in selected stores, health and education centers, healing centers, public libraries and wherever free publications are generally seen. Please call to find a location near you or if you would like copies placed at your business.

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

We welcome your ideas, articles and feedback.

SUBSCRIPTIONS Subscribe online to receive FREE monthly digital magazine at NAPhilly.com.

Natural Awakenings is printed on recycled newsprint with soybased ink.

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to bring Philadelphia the newest link in the chain of expanding consciousness that’s sweeping the country. The free magazine you are holding in your hands or viewing on your screen is a unique publication.

Through the combined efforts of our national office in Naples, Florida, and 100 local and international teams, we bring you original national journalism of the highest quality on topics of healthy and sustainable living for our bodies and the environment, often featuring noted authorities and celebrities.

On the local level, you’ll be able to read about nearby nonprofits, practitioners and purveyors of goods and services that align with our mission of promoting the best life and abundance for everyone. Take a look at our table of contents and decide what interests you the most.

Publishing a magazine is truly a dream come true. I am grateful to be on this journey of discovering what life has in store for me as I began a new chapter in life. My goal is to always try to live in the moment with everything I do to appreciate life and all its lessons. As I travel through Philly, meeting new people and seeing the excitement of the community, I want to remember what the true meaning of life is.

You can fill in the blank, but for me it’s love. One thing I think we all have a love for is music, and this month it’s all about the music. Sounds have the capability to do many things; one important thing it can do is heal, and that’s our focus for September.

Remember, the reason we can distribute Natural Awakenings at no charge is the cooperation of our wonderful advertisers that want to tell you all about the things that will make your life better. Please mention that you discovered them here and let me know your thoughts and suggestions via email at Publisher@ NAPhilly.com.

I would be remiss if I didn’t mention some of the business-building ideas we have to share by partnering with them. For adverting inquiries, call 215-902-9137 or visit NAPhilly.com, which is where readers can find an expanded edition of our magazine, too. It just won’t all fit between the covers!

I want to thank everyone that played a part in helping to make this dream a reality. Thanks to Sharon Bruckman, founder and visionary, and the entire Natural Awakenings corporate team. I would like to send a special thanks to my family— my husband Chris, my two sons Brian and Canon and my mom Edna. Your love and support means the world.

Feel good, live simply, laugh more,

Kimberly Murray, publisher NAPhilly.com

newsbriefs Sai Maa Spreads the Word about Conscious Living

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ai Maa, an international spiritual master and humanitarian leader headquartered in Denver, will conduct a program, Conscious Living: From Reaction to Creation, from August 26 through 28 at the Philadelphia Marriott Downtown. People may receive darshan—a gift from an enlightened master—at 5 p.m. August 27, at no charge.

Participants may attend events individually or receive the full weekend experience.

Enlightened conversations with Sai Maa take place Sai Maa from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m., August 26; From Reaction to Creation, a workshop with Maa’s teachers, runs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., August 27; and a Transform Myself, Transform the World workshop will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., August 28.

During darshan, Maa’s presence brings people into communion with their own spiritual essence and gifts them with a healing grace. Those staying for the entire program will be inspired with a much deeper understanding of themselves, a newfound peace of mind and a renewed inner strength.

Special discounts are available for other programs through Aug. 13, and for firsttime attendees and students. Location: 1201 Market St. For more information including tickets, visit Sai-Maa.com/en/2016tour. See ad, page 15.

Hay House I Can Do It Convention

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or those searching for the inspiration and guidance needed to face today’s personal, political and financial challenges, the Hay House’s I Can Do It! Conference will be held from September 16 through 18 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center. This one-of-a-kind transformational summit is an opportunity to revitalize the soul, enlighten the mind and spirit and obtain creative strategies for prospering and thriving in the current world climate.

Bringing together world-renowned motivational speakers and transformational teachers and healers under one roof allows guests to have personal interactions with some of the world’s most beloved self-help authors. Headliners include Brendon Burchard, Kris Carr, Dr. Mike Dow, Gabrielle Bernstein, Dr. Christiane Northrup, Lodro Rinzler, Robert Holden, Nick Ortner and others.

Highlights include a host of dynamic speakers to entertain and educate; an on-site bookstore with a variety of books, CDs, DVDs and other products from world-favorite authors; book-signing events with the authors after each session; and the companionship of new friends that share interests, insights and experiences to make this a life-changing event of global proportions.

In The Good Old Summertime

Find Your One & Only!

Location: 1101 Arch St., Philadelphia. For reservations and more information, visit HayHouse.com under events. See ad, back cover.

O ne good thing about music; when it hits you, you feel no pain. ~Bob Marley

Try for FREE at NaturalAwakeningsSingles.com

natural awakenings

September 2016

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newsbriefs True Cellular Detox Treats the Source of Stubborn Conditions

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eople doing all the right things that still can’t lose weight, taking all the right supplements but still having zero energy or getting a solid eight hours of sleep but still suffering brain fog may be experiencing the effect of toxins. Rick Dunlap, DC, a certified functional medicine practitioner and owner of InSight Health & Wellness, has been treating and reversing Type 2 diabetes and thyroid dysfunction using a holistic, state-of-the-art, 90-day program called True Cellular Detox (TCD).

Rick Dunlap He says, “No doubt about it, we live in a toxic world, and their assault on our bodies is relentless. At InSight Health & Wellness, we take the detoxification process to a whole new level—the cellular level. Through TCD, embedded toxins are reached and removed at the cellular level while other detoxification programs simply redistribute them throughout your body, proving them ineffective, as well as dangerous.”

Location: 1601 Walnut St., Ste. 514, Philadelphia. For more information or to make an appointment, call 215-564-6680 or visit InSightHealthWellness.com. See ad, page 9.

Nine Car-Free Miles of City Streets

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pen Streets PHL will be providing Philadelphia with an event called Philly Free Streets on September 24. Clarena Tolson, deputy manager for transportation and infrastructure, announced that the likely route appears to stretch from Front Street near the Benjamin Franklin Bridge down to South Street; from South Street to the Schuylkill River Trail; and up Martin Luther King Drive to Fairmount Park.

Philly Free Streets provides a route with some streets closed to vehicles and others allowing light traffic for a total of nine miles. People will be able to shop, dine, exercise and enjoy music, or follow tour guides talking about architecture or sustainability.

Tolson expects Philadelphia to become a national model for this type of event because of the anticipated size and how quickly they were able to plan it. “We think ultimately this is going to be the coolest, hippest event in the country,” she says. The inaugural September event may be the first planned, but more are in the works.

A detailed description of the route is available at OpenStreetsphl.NationBuilder.com.

Seminar on Colon Health

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o Your Health Detox is holding a health seminar from 6 to 9 p.m., September 30, on the healthy uses of colon hydrotherapy and alkaline mineral water. One of the Ethel Wilson main reasons for colon hydrotherapy is a clogged colon.

Naturopathic Doctor Ethel Wilson says, “We can help you identify illnesses that can cause and prolong a clogged colon. This seminar will cover the ways to use colon hydrotherapy and alkaline mineral water to regain health and to stay healthy.”

Admission is free. Location: 3848 Lancaster Ave., Philadelphia. For more information, call Wilson at 610-5850493. See ad, page 7.

Empowered Light Holistic Expo

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n Empowered Light Holistic Expo will take place from 5 to 9 p.m., October 28; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. October 29; and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., October 30, at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center, Hall D. Empowered Light Holistic Expo focuses on healthier lifestyles, including food, physical activities, stress reduction and self-care.

Participants will enjoy inspiring lectures; meditations; yoga; alternative healing treatments such as reiki, massage and reflexology; and angelic and intuitive readings. They can also try healthy food samples and purchase natural products for personal and home care.

Location: 100 Station Ave., Oaks, Pennsylvania. For registration and more information, call Sue Greenwald at 484459-3082 or visit EmpoweredLight.com.

See ad, page 7.

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Ovarian Cancer Conference for Families

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ancer Support Community Greater Philadelphia will present the CSCGP Ovarian Cancer Conference for Patients & Families, including local experts on gynecological oncology and mental health and people with shared experiences, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., September 9, at The Windmill Foundation to educate an often underserved population: women affected by ovarian cancer and their families. Registration and breakfast begins at 9:30 a.m.

Attendees will learn about current research and treatments available, ways to promote emotional well-being during and after treatment and the experiences of survivors and caregivers. “We are privileged to provide information that can improve their quality of life and empower the community to make more informed decisions,� explains Jessica Perrella, director of new projects and initiative at Cancer Support Community Greater Philadelphia.

A Celebration of Hope will be held for people, regardless of their cancer diagnosis or staging, on October 20.

Admission is free. Location: 4100 Chamounix Dr., Philadelphia. For more information, call Perrella at 215-879-7733, ext. 212, or visit CancerSupportPhiladelphia.org. See ad, page 10.

Connect ~ Promote ~ Advance

Learn more at sbnphiladelphia.org natural awakenings

September 2016

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healthbriefs

Vegan Diet Benefits Kids’ Heart Health

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esearch from the Cleveland Clinic has found that a plant-based diet could be more effective than even the American Heart Association’s recommended fivefood-groups diet for

reducing childhood heart disease.

The research, led by Cleveland Clinic pediatrician Michael Macknin, tested 28 obese children between the ages of 9 and 18 that had high cholesterol levels. For four weeks, 14 of the children ate the American Heart Association diet, while the other half ate a vegan, plant-based diet.

Children on the plant-based diet were found to have significantly lower weight, systolic blood pressure and total cholesterol numbers, and improved mid-arm circumference, body mass index and level of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol. They also had lower levels of insulin and two heart disease markers, myeloperoxidase and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein—all indicating improvements in their cardiovascular health.

By comparison, children on the American Heart Association diet saw significantly lower weight, waist circumference, mid-arm circumference and myeloperoxidase levels, indicating enhanced immunity, but did not exhibit the other improvements.

“As the number of obese children with [unhealthy] high cholesterol continues to grow, we need to have effective lifestyle modifications to help them reverse their risk factors for heart disease,” says Macknin. “Cardiovascular disease begins in childhood. If we can see such significant improvements in a four-week study, imagine the potential for improving long-term health into adulthood if a whole population of children began to eat these diets regularly.”

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NAPhilly.com

Music and Audio Books Help Kids Move Past Pain

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study published in Pediatric Surgery International has determined that children that listened to music or audio books experienced significantly less pain after undergoing major surgery than those that did not.

Pain scores were monitored before and after treatments. Fiftysix children, ages 9 to 14, were divided into three groups—one heard 30 minutes of songs chosen by the children from a list of popular music, another listened to audio books and the third (control) wore noisecanceling headphones. Pain scores were monitored before and after treatments.

Those that listened to the music or audio books experienced significant reductions in pain compared to the control group.

Less Sleep Brings on the Munchies

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ecent research from the University of Chicago’s Sleep, Health and Metabolism Center has found that not getting enough sleep increases a cannabinoid chemical in the body that increases appetite. The result is a lack of control in snacking.

The researchers tested 14 young adults by comparing the results of four nights of normal sleep with four nights of only four-and-a-half hours of sleep. The researchers found that after reduced sleep, the subjects’ hunger increased significantly and their ability to resist afternoon snacking decreased.

This surge in snacking urges also matched significantly increased circulating levels of endocannabinoid 2-arachidonoylglycerol, which peaked in the afternoon, coinciding with the increase in snack cravings.

“We found that sleep restriction boosts a signal that may increase the hedonic aspect of food intake,” concludes lead study author Erin Hanlon, Ph.D., from the University of Chicago Medical Center.

coverartist

ecobrief For the Love of Trees

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Beach Blues Glenda Grubbs Cover artist Glenda Grubbs uses oils and acrylics to paint life into her playful works, whose eclectic array of subjects range from yoginis and golfers to bulldogs and roosters, often in an Impressionistic style. She especially loves to paint boats and water scenes such as the cover work, Beach Blues, a nod to her first love, music.

A retired music teacher from California, Grubbs is formally trained in music, but has a lifelong interest in all the arts. “As an artist, everything you look at can inspire a new work,” says Grubbs.

The artist and her actor husband lived in Los Angeles for 25 years before returning to their home state, where she was crowned Miss Mississippi as a college senior. Today they make their home in Hattiesburg.

Her art can be found in stores and galleries in Laurel, Mississippi, and Orange Beach, Alabama.

View the artist’s portfolio at GlendaGrubbsArt.Tumblr.com.

aunched in response to former Mayor Michael Nutter’s Greenworks goal to make sure each Philadelphia neighborhood has at least 30 percent tree canopy coverage, TreePhilly, an initiative of Philadelphia Parks & Recreation, is dedicated to making Philadelphia the “City of Arborly Love”, giving out more than 1,000 free trees for Philadelphians to plant on private property each spring and fall. This flagship program was launched in 2012 in partnership with the Fairmount Park Conservancy and Wells Fargo.

Trees can be planted and maintained on both public and private property.

Planted in sidewalks and other public rights-of-way, street trees beautify neighborhoods and bring communities together. Seasonal maintenance crews work hard to beautify neighborhood parks, playgrounds and recreation centers. The team prunes trees, removes invasive species and assists with special projects across the city. Specific requests can be made year-round.

Yard trees are planted on private property in front, side or back yards by residents or property owners and can be requested twice a year during special registration periods. Applications begins in mid-September for distribution in late October/early November. Available species will be listed on the website.

The TreeKeepers program offers a pipeline to green careers by providing on-the-job training and education to crew members, some of whom are ex-offenders.

For more information, call 215-683-0217 or visit TreePhilly.org.

Fight the relentless assault of toxins with the ONLY detoxification program that REMOVES them at the CELLULAR LEVEL.

• Weight Loss Resistance? • Anxious/Stressed?

• Chronic Fatigue?

• Brain Fog? The TCD program works at the cellular level with a proven “true binder” to safely remove environmental toxins, bio toxins and heavy metals. It is a highly effective and clinically proven natural way to detoxify the body. Other detox programs simply redistribute toxins, never truly removing them from the body, proving to be ineffective as well as harmful. Effective detoxification MUST begin at the cellular level!

Remember...fix the cell to get well!

Call our office today and get your life back!

1601 Walnut St, Ste 514 • Philadelphia

215-564-6680

Insighthealthwellness.com

natural awakenings

September 2016

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globalbriefs

Kinesthetic Kids

News and resources to inspire concerned citizens to work together in building a healthier, stronger society that benefits all.

Educators at Charleston County schools, in South Carolina, know that more movement and exercise makes kids better learners, even as the amount of time devoted to physical education (PE) and recess has been declining sharply in the U.S. “If you ask anyone in education if they prefer PE or class instruction, they say instruction every time,” says David Spurlock, coordinator of health, wellness and physical education for the Charleston County school district. “Yet, what we’re trying to show is that more movement equals better grades, behavior and bodies.”

Charles Pinckney Elementary School, in Charleston, employs Active Brains, a program that uses 15 stations through which students rotate during the class. Each station has a unique exercise component such as a mini-basketball hoop or an exercise bike, and is focused on a different academic task such as spelling or math flashcards. This is the first classroom in the U.S. equipped with only kinesthetic desks. The program has been in operation for three years and has a waiting list of students excited to try the new approach.

Show Stopper

Circuses Cease Exotic Animal Acts The Ringling Brothers Circus made good on a promise to retire their last contingent of performing elephants to the Center for Elephant Conservation, in Polk City, Florida, with the last such show streamed worldwide in May. While Ringling will retain the services of tigers, lions, leopards, horses, camels, dogs and kangaroos, the Mexican Congress has voted to prohibit exotic animals under big tops across their country. That means no more tigers jumping through hoops, elephants used as props or monkeys dressed in tiny outfits. The bill requires circuses to report the wildlife they own, which would then be made available to interested zoos.

Source: The New York Times

Celebration of Hope October 20, 2016

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NAPhilly.com

photo courtesy of Moving-Minds.com

New Desks Aid Learning via Movement

communityspotlight

Learn Reiki Philadelphia Stimpson Builds Career Despite Adversity

by Martin Miron

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anielle Stimpson, owner of Learn Reiki will work for everyone all the time,” remarks Philadelphia and host of Healing Arts Stimpson. “We do the best to be honest with Radio, in Center City, is beginning ourselves and our feelings using the words her eighth year of professional practice this that best reflect our current experience. From fall. Through the years, she has been able to that place, we can move forward to find the overcome a variety of obstacles to refine her best support for our healing needs.” practice, and some consider her to be one of

Stimpson’s approach may seem contrary the most respected healers and educators in to some schools of thought. “Whatever is hapthe region. Clients can experience transformapening to us, whatever we are going through, tive services and enriching classes, choosing it just is. It’s not about blaming others, or from Usui reiki, integrated energy healing, ourselves or karma,” she says. “It’s about crystal healing and shamanic journeying. Tarot healing, soothing and finding balance within readings are also available. ourselves as best we can. Healing does not

From childhood, Stimpson knew she always mean curing. I reject the notion that wanted to help people, but never quite knew we must use the ‘correct’ words to describe how to go about it. In her early 20s, she left our experience; if we are suffering, then the Danielle Stimpson a job in a hometown factory for a position in correct word is suffering, and from there we biomedical manufacturing in Philadelphia, all rise again.” the while hoping to go back to school to become a nurse.

Deftly weaving together reiki, integrated energy therapy, The universe had other plans, and shortly after arriving, she shamanic practice, crystals and other methods that she has began to experience strange events—from electrical malfunc- intuitively honed on her own, Stimpson has built a bustions to items moving on their own. While researching these tling solo practice and teaching space above Philadelphia’s phenomena, Stimpson discovered the art of reiki and imJeweler’s Row and sees a wide spectrum of clients. “From demediately knew it was her calling. After diving into classes, pression to injury to just plain feeling stuck, I get to spend an practicing and reading every book she could find for two hour helping my clients to heal, let go and rejuvenate. I feel years, she started Learn Reiki Philadelphia in 2008 at the a deep sense of gratitude serving my community as they step beginning of the recession. more fully and healthfully into their lives,” says Stimpson.

Rather than open a studio right away, Stimpson opted

“Energy healing is an incredibly transformative experito work from within other holistic businesses during their ence. In as little as one hour, difficult feelings can be reoff hours. This allowed her the opportunity to work with leased and painful conditions improved,” she notes. “Many dozens of other healers and learn elements of acupuncture find that their intuitions are heightened and they feel more theory and yogic philosophy, as well as how to accommoconnected to themselves and their higher guidance. Each date a wide range of client needs. It seemed that the more session is completely unique. And while some of my clients she taught and practiced, the more she learned, and the come in with very specific intentions and needs, many more cycle just kept repeating. That knowledge served her well try the arts out of curiosity, only to return with horizons for the run of her live show Healing Arts Radio in 2011 and broadened and peace in their heart.”

2012. The archived shows can be found on SoundCloud and

Most rewarding of all is seeing her grads go on to open through her website, that hints at a re-launch. their own practices to shine the light of healing further. “I have

Many challenges have informed the way Stimpson apgraduated over 60 reiki masters and trained several in inteproaches energy healing. She is a domestic abuse survivor grated energy therapy, shamanic journeying and more. Many who struggles with PTSD, overcame an eating disorder and of them have opened up shop in the region, and I am honored in 2012 began showing signs of neuropathy which may be to call them my colleagues,” says Stimpson. “We’re often in caused by multiple sclerosis. “I had to end my radio show betouch with one another, growing together into even more cause I could no longer see to run the boards,” she recalls. Yet powerful healers. Every day, I am humbled by their strides.” she persevered and continued teaching and treating clients.

In 2015, she had a hysterectomy and returned to teachLearn Reiki Philadelphia is located 704 Sansom St., in Philaing reiki just two weeks later. “My philosophy is that we delphia. For more information and to make appointments, are a constant evolution. No one system, mantra or method call 267-571-9355 or visit LearnReikiPhiladelphia.com. natural awakenings

September 2016

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consciouseating

A vegan lunch gives an extra boost in the middle of the day for more brain power, clarity and energy. ~Johanna Sophia, of Pine Plains, New York, host of the online series The Raw Lunchbox Summit

VEGAN LUNCHBOX Plant-Based Choices Provide Midday Boost

by Judith Fertig

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e all have good intentions to eat more fruits and vegetables, and it’s easier if we start with just one plant-based meal a day— lunch. Natural Awakenings has enlisted the help of vegan lunchbox experts to help us all enjoy easy-to-make and colorful feasts good for home, office, school and on the road.

“Vegan food offers so much variety, especially at lunch,” says Johanna Sophia, of Pine Plains, New York, who recently hosted the online series The Raw Lunchbox Summit. “A vegan lunch gives an extra boost in the middle of the day for more brain power, clarity and energy.” She and her two children operate Johanna’s Raw Foods, which makes vegan fast food such as veggie burger bites and carrot crackers, available at health food stores.

Laura Theodore, the vegan chef and recording artist who presents The Jazzy Vegetarian PBS television program, lives and works in the New York City area. After a childhood dominated by bologna sandwiches for lunch, she

gradually changed to vegan dishes. “I began to notice a difference when I ate mostly plants,” she says. “I could do more and think better.”

Theodore favors colorful and delicious vegan foods that travel well in a lunchbox with a cold pack, so she can take them to rehearsals or wherever else she goes. She creates her zucchini fettuccine with a vegetable slicer and loves to end a meal with something naturally sweet, like her maple-raisindate truffles. Such experimenting in the kitchen led to her newest cookbook, Vegan-Ease: An Easy Guide to Enjoying a Plant-Based Diet.

Brandi Rollins, Ph.D., a researcher at Penn State, in State College, Pennsylvania, found that switching her lunch habits to plant-based dishes made her feel better. The author of Raw Foods on a Budget determined that one of her favorites is a quick raw vegan pizza. She first marinates ingredients for 20 minutes: three medium mushrooms, thinly sliced, with oneand-a-half tablespoons of balsamic

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

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vinegar, one tablespoon of olive oil, one minced clove of garlic and a big pinch of Italian herb seasoning. Then she spreads half of a mashed avocado on a four-by-four-inch flax cracker and tops it with the marinated mushrooms, plus chopped tomato, peppers or other favorite options. Rollins advises, “You can pack all of the components individually, and then assemble the pizza at work.”

Health Foods Chef Catherine Blake, in Maui, Hawaii, studied with renowned plant-based nutritional scientist T. Colin Campbell, Ph.D. She urges her culinary students to ask, “What can I do to sparkle a little bit more tomorrow?” The author of Healthy Recipes for Friends, answers the question in her online presentation, Cooking for Brain Power, at Tinyurl.com/ChefBlakeBrainPower.

Blake’s favorite brain-power luncheon booster is a wrap with antioxidant-rich fillings, accompanied by homemade almond milk, sunflower seeds or walnuts for vitamin E and some favorite blue berries or purple grapes. She makes fresh almond milk by grinding raw almonds in a nut grinder, and then adding them plus an equal amount of filtered water to a high-speed blender. After processing and straining out the solids, the resulting nut milk is perfect for smoothies.

Changing our diets one meal at a time gives us an opportunity to see if we can feel the difference, as our vegan lunchbox experts have, while we ramp up our taste for healthier eating.

Judith Fertig writes award-winning cookbooks and foodie fiction from Overland Park, KS. Connect at JudithFertig.com.

VEGAN ONCE A DAY

tomatoes, basil, oil and garlic. Toss gently until thoroughly combined.

Pack a Plant-Based Lunch

Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Serve immediately.

more chili powder to taste for a festive presentation.

Recipe by Laura Theodore, The Jazzy Vegetarian

Recipe by Laura Theodore, Vegan-Ease: An Easy Guide to Enjoying a PlantBased Diet

Perfect Purple Smoothie

Photo by Warren Jefferson

Lots of Garlic Hummus Yields: 4 servings Accented with the tangy taste of fresh lemon juice and a bit of heat from the chili powder, this is an easy, readymade sandwich spread for a lunchbox.

Zucchini Fettuccine with Fresh Tomato Salsa

1 cup chickpeas (garbanzo beans), drained and rinsed 1 /4 cup plus 2 Tbsp filtered or spring water, plus more as needed 5 cloves garlic, chopped 2 Tbsp sesame tahini 2 Tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice 1 /2 tsp chili powder, plus more for garnish 1 /4 tsp sea salt

Yields: 4 servings This raw side dish is low in calories, a breeze to prepare and cool fare on a hot summer day. The zucchini strips look and taste a lot like fresh pasta.

2 medium zucchini 2 ripe tomatoes, chopped 10 to 14 leaves fresh basil, minced 1 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil 2 cloves garlic, minced 1 /8 to 1/4 tsp sea salt Freshly ground pepper to taste

Place all the ingredients in a blender and process until smooth. Add a bit more water if needed to achieve desired consistency.

Transfer the hummus to a decorated bowl and sprinkle the top with a pinch

Shave the zucchini lengthwise with a vegetable peeler to make the “noodles”.

Put them in a large bowl and add the

Homemade almond milk is the base and cayenne powder gives it a spicy punch that intensifies the rest of the flavors.

Drink one serving for lunch and chill the other for a fast and easy midafternoon reviver.

12 oz acai juice 6 oz almond milk 1 Tbsp soy creamer 1 cup fresh or frozen wild blueberries 1 frozen banana 1 /2 cup fresh or frozen raspberries 1 Tbsp whole ground flaxseed meal (blueberry variety if available; try Trader Joe’s) 1 cup coconut water ice cubes 1 Tbsp macro greens or other vegan, non-GMO greens powder 1 /2 tsp apple cider vinegar 1 to 3 dashes cayenne powder Combine all ingredients in a high-speed blender and blend until smooth.

Store in two insulated cups and keep chilled until ready to serve.

If You Are Reading This, So Are Your Potential Customers.

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September 2016

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Photo by Stephen Blancett

Photo by David Kaplan

Yields: 2 servings

healingways

Spirituality is an extension of the inner being’s connection to what the conscious mind longs for, to seek a higher awareness and realize one’s full potential. ~Richard L. Alaniz

The Modern Shaman Ancient Practices Heal Body and Soul

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by Linda Sechrist

o longer shrouded in mystery, the ancient spiritual practice of shamanism is attracting the interest of psychologists, registered nurses and medical doctors that study its guiding principles to use personally and benefit others. They train one-on-one and in small groups with indigenous shamans in the U.S. and around the world and enroll in programs offered by established schools such as the Foundation for Shamanic Studies and The Four Winds Society.

Both offer workshops and expeditions for participants to meet the specific shaman that teaches congruent philosophy, practices and principles.

Since 1986, The Four Winds Society, with international headquarters in Miami, Florida, has graduated more than 10,000 practitioners. It teaches a genuine respect for the sacredness of metaphysical forces existing in all natural beings and objects and the connection between the material world and spiritual plane.

Dr. Daniel Rieders, a physician specializing in cardiac electrophysiology and interventional cardiology, completed the society’s basic curriculum in 2014. Having matriculated to advanced master classes, he uses shamanic understanding, tools and skills for personal use and in his complementary medical practices, Life Rhythm Therapies and Jain Ayurveda for Optimum Health, in Palm Coast, Florida. He notes that medical procedures and prescriptions aren’t always the answer to problems.

“I’ve studied various areas of medicine and found them devoid of tools and methods that empower patients to make changes that lead to better health. Studying shamanism means being on my own healing path of cleansing body, mind and spirit. It’s necessary for any empowered healer that aspires to inspire and generate confidence and assertiveness in others, enabling them to do what is needed to live out their life purpose,” he says.

Rieders found shamanism to be an effective complementary therapy for strengthening the body and building resilience. One of his patients was unhappy with his job, feeling it only served to support a costly family lifestyle. Upon

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discerning his true desire was to own a gym and teach people how to get healthy, he took action. “A heart procedure was no longer necessary. Stored anger can create heart disease, as well as cancer,” he remarks.

Seti Gershberg’s life changed dramatically while studying shamanism in the remote Peruvian Andes, where he lived with the indigenous Q’ero people for two years. Taking a break from a career in international investment banking, he set out to learn about a shaman’s relationship to energy, consciousness and the supernatural, with an eye to creating a system of universal reciprocity, balance and harmony. He was also interested in indigenous people’s views of the relationship of the physical world with self, consciousness and multi-dimensional space-time as a single interwoven idea; a continuum.

“Today, I’m an executive producer and creative director in Phoenix, Arizona, working on a video series, TV commercials and films, including two documentaries on shamanic rituals and ceremonies, as well as the Q’ero culture,” says Gershberg.

He practices the Q’ero shaman’s gift of Ayni, giving of our self first without asking for anything in return. His website, ThePathOfTheSun.com, offers a “pay what you can afford” option.

Sean Wei Mah, a Native American Cree, grew up on a reservation in Alberta, Canada, around tribal medicine men that practiced smudging, ceremony and ritual. “Smudging, by burning fine powders, considered sacred medicine, is significant to any shaman as holy medicine to cleanse the body. It’s part of Native American life and the foundation of how we communicate, give thanks to and ask for help and guidance from the Creator. Ceremony is our church and smudging is how we purify it,” says the shaman, artist and actor known as “The Rattlemaker”.

Angaangaq Angakkorsuaq, a shaman, healer, storyteller and carrier of the Qilaut (wind drum), is an elder from the Kalaaleq tribe, in Greenland. His family belongs to the traditional healers from Kalallit Nunaat. Endearingly known as Uncle, he has traveled to 67 countries to conduct ceremonies including healing circles, sacred sweat lodge purification and Melting the Ice in the Heart of Man intensives, where he teaches the spiritual significance of climate change.

He advises, “A shaman’s responsibility is to guide you on your inner path and support you in recognizing your beauty so that you can love yourself and know who you truly are. A shaman guides you to a new level of consciousness through teachings, storytelling and ceremonies, which my grandmother taught me were the key. All of this helps you rely on your own inner guidance.”

Linda Sechrist is a senior staff writer for Natural Awakenings.

Connect at ItsAllAboutWe.com.

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Music as Medicine Music Soothes, Energizes and Heals Us

by Kathleen Barnes

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s primeval drumbeats echo across an African savannah, the rhythms circle the globe, picked up by the chants and rattles of shamans gracing Amazonian jungles and Siberian tundra. They’re repeated in Gregorian chants filling medieval cathedrals and “om” meditations sounding in Himalayan caves and yoga classes everywhere.

They gently echo in the repeated tones of mothers’ lullabies, happy hummings as we go about our day and the melodies of Mozart.

Music is the soundtrack of our lives, whether we’re aware of it or not.

It exists within, uniting and guiding us, and has helped heal body and spirit since the dawn of humanity. National Aeronautics and Space Administration scientists recently discovered that the universe itself has a song.

Pioneering Practitioners

From the soothing tones of a harp to the jarring screeches of a construction site, the stress-reducing or stress-producing properties of sound are familiar to us all.

“Stress is an underlying cause of the vast majority of all illnesses, and sound and music are effective in relieving stress and bringing stillness,” says Jonathan Goldman, an internationally recognized pioneer in harmonics and sound healing and director of the Sound Healers Association in Boulder, Colorado.

Through researching his many books, including The 7 Secrets of Sound 16

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Healing, Goldman is convinced of the profound effect sound has on the human organism. “The simple chanting of the sound ‘om,’ or ‘aum,’ in addition to instilling calmness and relaxation, causes the release of melatonin and nitric oxide. It relaxes blood vessels, releases soothing endorphins, reduces the heart rate and slows breathing,” he explains.

“Sound can change our immune function,” wrote the late Dr. Mitchell Gaynor, former director of medical oncology at New York’s Weill-Cornell Medical College for Complementary and Integrative Medicine in his book The Healing Power of Sound. “After either chanting or listening to certain forms of music, your Interleukin-1 level, an index of your immune system, goes up between 12-anda-half and 15 percent. Further, about 20 minutes after listening to meditative-type music, the immunoglobulin levels in the blood are significantly increased. Even the heart rate and blood pressure are lowered. There’s no part of your body not affected. Its effects even show up on a cellular and sub-cellular level.”

Practical Applications

Consider some of music’s scientifically validated health benefits:

Stress: Singing, whether carrying a tune or not, is a powerful way to combat stress, according to many studies. A recent joint study by German and British researchers published in Frontiers in Human Neuroscience confirms that

simply listening to soothing music results in significantly lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol. The more intense the experience is in singing or playing an instrument, the greater the stress reduction. A collaborative study by several Swedish universities showed that group singing caused participants’ heart rates to synchronize, producing relaxation effects similar to that achieved through group meditation.

Cancer: Gaynor used music to treat even advanced cancer patients for decades, considering it a “disease of disharmony.” He advocated re-harmonizing the body with sound vibrations that affect virtually every cell, especially enhancing immune function and potentially preventing cancer from spreading. Gaynor primarily used crystal bowls to produce deep relaxation and harmonize dysrhythmic cells in patients, but also confirmed the healing effects of certain vibratory tones of drumming and Tibetan metal gongs.

Several studies confirm that listening to any kind of soothing music relieves anxiety in cancer patients; a large study from Philadelphia’s Drexel University confirms that it also relieves pain, lowers blood pressure, improves breathing and minimizes nausea associated with chemotherapy.

Depression: Drumming can better counter depression than the prescription drug Prozac, according to a recent study by England’s Royal College of Music. Those that participated in a weekly drumming group experienced significantly reduced symptoms compared to a control group.

Substance Abuse: University of California, Los Angeles, scientists found that drumming was especially helpful for a group of Native Americans struggling with such issues.

Smartphone Addiction: Korean research found that music therapy is helpful in overcoming this condition.

Immune Dysfunction: The same British study of drumming’s antidepressant effects saw similar improvement in immune function, plus an anti-inflammatory response that continued for at least three months after the study period.

Neuroendocrine Disorders: Researchers at Pennsylvania’s Meadville Medical Center Mind-Body Wellness Group found that drumming effectively

helped drummers (skilled and unskilled) suffering from neuroendocrine disorders such as pituitary tumors and intestinal issues caused by disconnections between the endocrine gland and nervous systems. They further confirmed that group drumming reduced stress chemicals such as cortisol in the drummers.

Muscle Tension Dysphonia: Even tuneless humming sounds like “um-hum” can have a measurable therapeutic effect on individuals that have lost their voices due to overuse.

Pain: When a group of British citizens suffering from chronic pain joined a choir, a Lancaster University study found they were better able to manage their condition for improved quality of life.

Just listening to harp music for 20 minutes decreased anxiety, lowered blood pressure and relieved pain in a group of U.S. heart surgery patients with short-term pain participating in a University of Central Florida study in Orlando.

Alzheimer’s Disease: In addition to reducing the agitation and anxiety frequently accompanying Alzheimer’s disease, researchers at Florida’s University of Miami School of Medicine found that a group of patients that participated in music therapy for four weeks experienced increased levels of the calming brain chemical melatonin.

How It Works

“Humming or singing causes longer exhalations than normal, helping to naturally eliminate toxins and acidity,” says Dr. Madan Kataria, of Mumbai, India, who has spawned 5,000 laughter clubs worldwide.

“We started experimenting with the vowel sounds and humming sound.

An early unpublished humming study I did in Denmark showed that people that hummed anything for just 10 minutes were able to reduce their systolic blood pressure by 10 to 15 points, their

In Nigeria, we say that rhythm is the soul of life, because the whole universe revolves around rhythm; when we get out of rhythm, that’s when we get into trouble. ~Babatunde Olatunji, drummer and social activist diastolic by four to five points and their pulse rate by 10 beats per minute.” Kataria found that people with breathing problems like asthma and emphysema experienced especially positive effects because it strengthened belly muscles used in breathing.

Kataria is also a fan of kirtan—Hindu devotional call-and-response chants often accompanied by ecstatic dancing.

“Kirtan takes away self-consciousness or nervousness and anxiety,” he says.

Dr. Eben Alexander, who recorded his near-death experience in Proof of Heaven: A Neurosurgeon’s Journey into the Afterlife, says the “indescribable” cosmic music he experienced has helped him come to understand the effects of specific sound frequencies on the brain. He now provides audio tools to help bring the brain to a higher state and help it match that higher and more conscious state. In his medical practice in Charlottesville, Virginia, he often employs music from a patient’s past to help them emerge from a brain injury or coma and even “reconnect pathways in a damaged brain.”

Alexander explains that binaural beats and other sound effects combine to create “brain entrainment” and also in theory, “monotonize” it to free awareness and access realms other than the physical. “It’s magical what the right type of music can do to the brain stem to free up our consciousness,” he observes.

No Talent Needed

Experts agree that people without musical talent are able to experience the same

Nature’s Healing Sounds The calming sounds of rushing water and gentle breezes are well known; science is now confirming the therapeutic effects of singing birds. Belgian researchers confirmed that bird song helps drown out the stressful effects of traffic noise, and Korean scientists found it makes people feel less crowded. A study published in the American Journal of Physiology showed that it can even help regulate participants’ circadian rhythms, contributing to restful sleep and overall wellness.

benefits as virtuosos, based on their degree of engagement with music. Anyone can hum, and most research confirms that benefits are enhanced in creating music rather than merely listening to it.

Group singing has become increasingly popular, especially following the hit TV show Glee. Time magazine reported in 2013 that 32.5 million American adults sang in choirs, up about 30 percent from a decade earlier.

The choice of musical genre matters. Recent data from Montreal’s McGill University shows that types of music tend to have specific effects; for example, blues slows heart rate and calms an anxious person, rock and punk can boost energy, and reggae can help control anger.

Spirit Moves

The spiritual aspects of virtually all types of music cannot be underestimated, says Michael Hove, Ph.D., a cognitive neuroscientist affiliated with Harvard Medical School and Fitchburg State University, in Massachusetts.

His research has primarily focused on drumming to induce altered states of consciousness that shamans from diverse cultures use to bring about physical and emotional healing. What Hove calls a “boring and super-predictable” drumbeat of 240 beats a minute induced a deep trance state within minutes in most subjects, and brain scans confirmed that it enabled them to focus intensely and block out distracting sounds within eight minutes.

This aligns with Alexander’s view that, “The sound of music is absolutely crucial in launching us into transcendental awareness. For the true, deep seeker, sound and vibration and the memory of music can serve as a powerful engine to help direct us in the spiritual realms.”

Kathleen Barnes has authored numerous natural health books, including her latest, Our Toxic World: A Survivor’s Guide. Connect at KathleenBarnes.com.

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healthykids healthy

Raising a Music Lover Kids Thrive to Rhythms of Head and Heart

by Randy Kambic

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resounding chorus of research shows that the traditional three R’s of essential early education should also encompass an M for music.

Playing instruments prior to and during school years can put children on a tuneful path to lifelong benefits.

Helpful Resources

A 2015 study by the National Association for Music Education (nafme.org) shows that youngsters harboring an early appreciation for music tend to have larger vocabularies and more advanced reading skills than their peers. The research also revealed that schools with music programs have an estimated 90.2 percent graduation rate and 93.9 percent attendance rate compared to others averaging 72.9 and 84.9 percent, respectively.

A recent study by the Children’s Music Workshop (ChildrensMusic Workshop.com), which provides instructional programming for more than 25 Los Angeles-area public and private schools, cites a host of additional benefits. These highlight music education’s role in developing the part of the brain that processes language; improving

Natural Awakenings Magazine of Philadelphia, PA Edition

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spatial intelligence; thinking creatively; gaining empathy for people of other cultures; encouraging self-expression and teamwork through playing as a group; and achieving higher grades both in high school and on standardized tests.

Higher institutes of learning are equally involved. Boston’s Berklee College of Music (Berklee.edu) offers majors in making it as a music professional, performance music and music therapy, plus postgraduate degrees. Its annual five-week summer performance program in “Beantown” furthers the skills of 1,000 U.S. and international children 12 years old and up. In addition to musical skills, “We see improvement in young people’s confidence and persona,” says Oisin McAuley, director of summer programs. “It’s a truly formative experience.”

In addition, The Berklee City Music online program serves high schools nationwide, assisted by alumni in some cities. It also awards scholarships for participation in the summer performance activities in Boston.

The nonprofit Young Americans (YoungAmericans.org) organization, launched in 1992, operates its own college of performing arts in Corona, California, that fosters artistic, intellectual

Be open-minded enough not to label innovations in genres as junk; whatever kids are drawn to should be fine. ~Dayna Martin and personal growth for those working toward becoming performers or arts educators. Its International Music Outreach Tours have brought workshops to K through 12th grade students in nearly all 50 American states and 15 countries in Europe and Asia.

Starting Out

“Don’t force children to play music.

It’s better when they want to do it on their own. Having instruments around the house can make it easier,” suggests Dayna Martin, a life coach and author of Radical Unschooling: A Revolution Has Begun, near North Conway, New Hampshire. Learning music can also decrease math phobia, similar to the way in which children that love to cook and follow recipes learn math, she points out, because math and music are undeniably interconnected.

As part of a self-taught passion for medieval history, her 17-year-old son Devin is building a replica of a Vikingera log house on the family’s property and has made several stringed instruments steeped in the historical period using mathematical principles. “When children apply math to further their interest in music, it makes more sense to them than when it’s some problems in a workbook, and they pick it up

more readily, which instills a lifelong appreciation of mathematics as an essential tool,” she observes.

Jamie Blumenthal, a boardcertified music therapist and owner of Family Music Therapy Connection: North Bay Music Therapy Services (NorthBayMusicTherapy.com), in Santa Rosa, California, works predominantly with special needs children. “Autistic children love music, and playing wind instruments like flutes and whistles helps work the muscles around the mouth, assisting with speech development,” she says.

Singing, keyboards and percussion instruments are other tools she uses. “Many parents want their child to become accustomed to social settings.

Because their child loves music, they’ll often seek a group music forum,” notes Blumenthal.

Family Music Time (FamilyMusic Time.com), in Fort Myers, Florida, is one of 2,500 affiliated centers nationwide and in 40 countries that follows music CDs provided by Princeton, New Jersey-based Music Together (MusicTogether.com). Drumming and singing sessions with parents and children up to 5 years old help them gain a music appetite and early group music-making experience, according to Director LouAnne Dunfee. At her studio, local professional musicians also conduct private lessons in piano, guitar and trumpet for children ages 6 and up.

Children playing instruments can mean much more than just music to our ears.

Randy Kambic is a freelance writer and editor based in Estero, FL, and regular contributor to Natural Awakenings.

Instrumental Finds Here are some of the organizations that collect and provide musical instruments for youngsters.

Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation, MHOpus.org Hungry for Music, HungryForMusic.org Fender Music Foundation, FenderMusicFoundation.org Music for Minors Foundation, Music4Minors.org VH1 Save the Music Foundation, VH1SaveTheMusic.org

Settlement Music School Promotes Appreciation of the Arts

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he Mary Louise Curtis Branch of the Settlement Music School provides exposure to music in a fun, purposeful and welcoming environment. Branch Director Kris Rudzinski says, “Settlement’s early childhood offerings facilitate parent-child bonding, as well as developing children’s body coordination skills, increasing emotional stability and promoting curiosity, creativity and positive socialization.” Programs include Children’s Music Playshop for ages 6 months to 3 years; Percussion Construction for ages 5 to 7 years; and Children’s Music Workshop for ages 3 to 10 years.

These programs help prepare children to pursue later academic challenges and further exploration of music on the instrument of their choice. Settlement provides more than $2 million in financial aid to students and their families each year, including those in the early childhood program.

Settlement will hold a free open house event from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., September 17, to highlight programs and classes for young children and their families. Participants can also enroll for the fall session.

Location: 416 Queen St., Philadelphia.

For more information, call 215-3202601 or visit SettlementMusic.org.

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September 2016

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wisewords

Inside the Chant with Krishna Das

Kirtan Music Transports Listeners to a Deeper Place

by Robin Fillmore

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How would you introduce your music?

Across the country and around the world, yoga practitioners are chanting the names of God in tongues including Sanskrit, Hindi, Punjabi and English. They’re taking kirtan music out of the temples and the yoga studios and into dance halls, universities, cathedrals and other unexpected places.

In the last decade, India’s traditional call-and-response form of chanting has been reinvented by modern devotional artists blending traditional kirtan with modern genres such as rock, rhythm and blues, hip-hop and electronica—breathing new life and devotion into yoga’s sacred chants.

Photo by Payal Kumar

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nfluential spiritual leader Ram Dass has described Krishna Das (Jeffrey Kagel) as an example of someone whose “heartsongs” open channels to God. The Grammy-nominated kirtan artist, long considered yoga’s rock star, consistently plays to sold-out crowds worldwide. The Long Island native’s journey has gone from being a member of a popular rock band to going to India, where as a student of spiritual leader Neem Karoli Baba, the trajectory of his life and music shifted and expanded.

His 1996 debut album, One Track Heart, focused on updated chants from the ancient tradition of bhakti yoga, followed in 1998 by Pilgrim Heart, with a guest appearance

by Sting. Since then, a steady stream of 14 albums and DVDs produced on his own label have provided the soundtrack for yoga classes everywhere; the soothing rhythmic chants performed in a deep, rich timbre complements instruction in the spiritual element of the exercise.

Das’ specialty, kirtan, updates an ancient tradition of devotional chanting as meditation accompanied by instruments. A kirtan concert invites audience members to join in the experience through chanting, clapping and dancing and is characterized as a journey into the self that also connects us with each other.

What does kirtan mean to you?

For me, kirtan is all about the music.

The more ways I practice sustainable health, balance, love and music and immerse myself in a spiritual life, the more I realize that all issues distill down to simple facts. Everyone wants to be loved and happy, and to avoid suffering and being judged.

Looking at our lives, we start to see how we hurt ourselves and others and how what happens to us in daily life can be difficult to deal with. We recognize that we must find deep inner strength so we don’t get destroyed by the waves that come and try to toss us around.

Little by little, all of our awakening practices work to transform our life. They move us from being externally oriented and reactive to being established within and quietly responsive. We come to have a wider view that life can effectively contain and envelop the different facets of ourselves and the world.

Why do many consider a kirtan event a transcendent experience far beyond the music?

There are two things: the music and where the music is carrying us. In this case, it’s the names of God, of divinity, that are real and inside us. We can call this higher sense anything we like and aim in that direction according to how we identify with it.

If we want peace in the world, then every individual needs to find peace within. We can’t create peace or happiness with anger and selfishness in our heart and mind. We can release ourselves from a limiting storyline, whatever it is, and touch a deeper place for a while. Then, when we return to our day, we are standing on slightly different ground because we have trained ourselves to let go a little bit. It’s a gradual process that takes time and effort, but it’s a joyful practice.

Do you see a shift in thinking echoing that of the 1960s that positions us to do better this time?

In the 1960s, everyone thought they were going to change the external world, but they forgot they have to change themselves, too, and little work was done inside. Today, while most people keep trying to first rearrange the outside world, more are now doing the necessary inside work, as well.

The key is to understand what’s truly possible. If we don’t understand how we can be happy and at peace in the middle of a burning fire, we won’t recognize the tools available to create that kind of light for ourselves and others.

Robin Fillmore is the publisher of the Natural Awakenings of Washington, D.C, edition.

businessspotlight

Sage Integrative Health Center Not a Run-Of-The-Mill Nutritionist

by Martin Miron

S

available and taking time to ask the right age Integrative Health Center, now questions, Romig works diligently to help in its fifth year of operation, offers people start feeling better as soon as posa customized, natural approach to sible. Clients undergo a complete health helping people overcome illness using a assessment and receive a detailed therablend of nutritional counseling, herbal peutic plan for their condition, including treatments and wellness coaching. These routine follow-ups to monitor progress. therapies draw from ancient healing tradi“My biggest challenge is helping tions and modern, evidence-based scipeople to understand what I do. I am not ence. Owner Wendy Romig, MS, certified your run-of-the-mill nutritionist. I use a nutrition specialist, licensed dietitian nufunctional medicine approach to healing tritionist and licensed clinical nutritionist/ Wendy Romig and so I do not follow a conventional herbalist, says, “With this holistic blend, model,” notes Romig. “This approach has enabled me to help we focus our therapies on the individual, not the condition.” a lot of people achieve their health goals.”

Romig completed four years of study under Registered HerbIn the coming weeks, Romig is launching a subscripalist David Winston. She sells remedies from a full herbal tion-based health forum for asking questions, gaining dispensary, essential oils and bulk medicinal teas.

“When clients work with Sage Integrative Health Center, clarification of health trends and reading exclusive articles that she publishes on health, nutrition and natural healing. they will receive care that is thorough, thoughtful and cus“I will also be launching an online store for purchasing bulk tomized to their condition and body,” says Romig, who has dried herbs and essential oils this fall,” says Romig. “I will a strong background in clinical evaluation, assessment and research. While under her care, clients receive a high level of be also offering a wide range of nutritional cooking classes, attention to their unique needs, no matter how complex their workshops and more.” health conditions may be.

Sage Integrative Health Center is located at 538 Carpenter She makes every effort to ensure that no stone has been Ln., in Philadelphia. For more information and to make left unturned in order to get to the root cause of their condition. appointments, call 215-839-3950 or visit SageIntegrative Using a comprehensive process of analyzing existing lab work, Health.com. See ad, page 8. assessing their health, carefully researching the best options

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fitbody

Relax and Unwind Restorative Yoga Poses Foster Healing

by Meredith Montgomery

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n classical yoga, teachers often sequence instruction toward reaching a pinnacle pose such as an inversion or arm balance. In restorative yoga, the peak pose is savasana—in which the practitioner fully relaxes while resting flat on their back. Leeann Carey, author of Restorative Yoga Therapy: The Yapana Way to Self-Care and Well-Being, explains, “This passive asana practice turns down the branch of the nervous system that keeps us in fight-or-flight mode and turns up the system allowing us to rest and digest. It feels like a massage for the nervous system and encourages self-inquiry, reflection and change, rather than perfection.”

The physical, mental and spiritual benefits are similar to those of active yoga, but because poses are held longer and supported by props such as bolsters, blankets, belts and blocks, “There’s no stress on the tissue and joints. Each pose gifts us with longerlasting benefits, including more time for the mind to unwind,” advises Carey.

“Restorative yoga allows both muscles and the brain to recover from fatigue, so we are stronger, sharper and better able to act in the world afterward,” explains Roger Cole, Ph.D., a certified Iyengar yoga teacher in Del Mar, California, and a research scientist studying

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the physiology of relaxation, sleep and biological rhythms. He attests that it also serves as preparation for pranayama (mindful yoga breathing) and meditation, which require a clear, well-rested, focused mind.

Perfect for beginners and used by longtime practitioners to complement other yoga styles, restorative poses are designed to accurately realign and reshape the body. They also can be therapeutically tailored to support natural healing for issues related to tension, premenstrual syndrome, weak immune functioning, back pain, pregnancy and recovery for athletes. “Poses for healing may require targeted gentle stretching, but prop use will coax the body into desired positions without requiring muscular effort,” says Cole.

An early student of B.K.S. Iyengar and familiar with props, San Francisco resident and co-founder of Yoga Journal magazine Judith Hanson Lasater, Ph.D., found herself leading her first class comprised entirely of supported poses during a power blackout at a 1980 workshop. “I didn’t want people walking around in the dark, so I improvised a restorative class and everyone loved it,” she recalls. She revisited the idea several years later when she personally

felt the need for physical, emotional and spiritual restoration.

For a year, 90 percent of her practice was supported poses, and the switch helped her so much that it inspired her first book, Relax and Renew: Restful Yoga for Stressful Times. She’s since written more books and trained teachers in restorative yoga around the world.

As in classical yoga, a restorative sequence should be balanced with asanas (positions) from all pose classifications—backbends, twists, inversions and forward bends. It takes time for the body to comfortably settle deeply into a pose—as long as 15 minutes— therefore, a 90-minute restorative class may include only a handful of asanas.

Lasater says, “Most people don’t need more of anything from the culture in which we live. They need much more to learn to be still and at ease.”

In today’s yoga world, which seems to emphasize power and action, “Restorative yoga has become imperative to balance activity and ambition with stillness and being,” she continues. Lasater notes that while many classes are reducing savasana to as little as three minutes, students need 20 minutes.

Carey clarifies that because this approach focuses on opening and letting go, rather than striving for the biggest stretch, “Sensation-seeking yogis may need to shift their perspective. The biggest challenge is often quieting the mind while the body is still. When a student is uncomfortable because the mind is screaming, it helps to compare it to having tight hamstrings in an active class. We’re not chasing relaxation; just breathe, feel and watch,” she says.

“Eventually, everything will let go.”

“The more our mind rebels against relaxing, the more we need it,” observes Lasater. Students often turn to yoga as a strategy for feeling whole, and she suggests that one of the best ways to find clarity within is to listen in stillness, one savasana at a time. “It’s a gift to ourself, our family and the world,” she adds. “When we feel rested, we’re more compassionate and ready to serve the greater good.”

Meredith Montgomery, a registered yoga teacher, publishes Natural Awakenings of Gulf Coast Alabama/Mississippi (HealthyLivingHealthyPlanet.com).

Yoga Props 101 Yoga props can help new students maintain alignment and reduce strain while allowing veterans to more deeply explore the intricacies of their practice. Always adjust the dimensions and placement of props to ensure comfort via soft curves in the body instead of sharp angles, especially in the spine. Body weight must be distributed equally throughout the pose; key places to check for tension are the lower back, abdomen, neck and jaw muscles. Here are some basic tools.

Yoga mats should have a non-skid surface and not exceed three-sixteenths of an inch in thickness. They cushion the body, serve as a blanket or a base for props or can roll up into a bolster.

Blankets and towels pad hard areas and warm the body. Different ways of folding and rolling transform them into many firm and comfortable shapes with wideranging applications.

Blocks in various sizes and materials can be laid flat, placed on edge or stood on end. They can add height or length to the body, access core stability and provide leverage. A stack of hardback books or phone books tied together can work in a pinch.

Belts stabilize joints, support inflexible body parts and create traction and space. Typically two inches wide, soft belts with a D-ring locking system are easily adjusted; two soft, wide neckties or scarves tied together are suitable. Avoid material that cuts into the skin.

Bolsters, typically cylindrical or rectangular cushions, provide good supports that are long-lasting, if sometimes costly. Combining folded blankets and rolled mats may be suitable alternatives.

Walls provide leverage, vertical support and a structure to rest upon. A closed door or large piece of furniture such as a bookcase or refrigerator works; a room corner simultaneously supports both sides of the body.

Chairs are versatile props for any practice and make yoga accessible to those unable to get down onto the floor. Backless folding chairs are typically used in studios, but any sturdy chair that doesn’t roll is suitable.

Sandbags, strategically positioned, encourage overworked areas to release. Their weight also provides resistance and stability. Homemade versions can be made by loosely filling a smooth cloth bag with coarse sand, pea gravel or rice. Retail bags of beans, rice or sugar are other options.

Eye pillows block out light during resting poses, can gently weight the forehead or hands or support the back of the neck. Typically made of silk or soft cotton, they’re filled with a mixture of flax seeds or rice and soothing herbs such as lavender, peppermint or chamomile.

Sources: Restorative Yoga Therapy, by Leeann Carey; Relax and Renew, by Judith Hanson Lasater

inspiration

The Secret of Sublime Living Savoring Perfect Present Moments

by Carl Greer

L

ife has many sublime pleasures: watching the sun rise over the horizon and observing the changing colors of the clouds; laughing with a best friend; or simply feeling the grass, dirt or sand under bare feet. The Japanese have a term, mono no aware, for that sublime moment of perfection just before it fades. Sometimes it translates as sensitivity or awareness of impermanent things. It could, for instance, refer to the beauty of cherry blossoms in full bloom; the cherry trees will blossom again next year, but we do not always have a chance to see them again. Everyday distractions can cause us to forget to slow down to enjoy moments.

The secret to sublime living is to pay close attention to the sweet pleasures of life, no matter how small, and savor them before they pass. There is no way to know which weather-perfect day will be the last before the season shifts. Enjoying such a fleeting, sublime moment may mean discarding the day’s plans, but the delights of life do not always come around again.

How easy it is to let the mind wander and forget to focus on the pleasure of an experience and the joys that life offers. We’re in danger of missing out on sublime living when we constantly prioritize what “has to be done” instead of that which is most valued. Soon, it may seem as if the stories of our lives are being written by someone else.

We forget our power to be our own storyteller and to mindfully engage in how we spend every hour. Dissatisfying tales can be replaced when we live according to a new story we write each day, called, “My life is an extraordinary adventure,” or “I relish being with my children,” or “I express love through sharing my music,” or “I am being true to myself, and that enables me to help others heal.”

The more we focus on what brings us happiness, revitalization, purpose or meaning, the easier it will be to upgrade priorities and discard any plot lines and events that seem scripted by someone else. We can then make a new commitment to writing and living a more satisfying story for ourselves. We can pause to contemplate our power to be the storyteller and to always remain fully present and conscious of the sublime moments.

Carl Greer, Ph.D., Psy.D., is a practicing clinical psychologist, Jungian analyst and shamanic practitioner. He teaches at the C.G. Jung Institute of Chicago and is on staff at the Replogle Center for Counseling and Well-Being. Connect at CarlGreer.com. natural awakenings

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greenliving

WATER-WISE KITCHEN A Few Small Steps Can Make the Difference

by Avery Mack

T

he United Nations warns that water use is outpacing population growth two to one. At this rate, two-thirds of the world will face water stress by 2025, meaning fewer crops and jobs and higher food prices.

“Globally, 3 million people, mostly children, die each year due to water-related issues,” says Sister Dorothy Maxwell, of the Dominican Sisters of Blauvelt, in New York. “Water is a precious commodity. Every drop in supply should increase awareness.”

Smarter Shopping

For significant savings, use ingredients with a lower water footprint. “Be conscientious about food purchases,” advises Gene Baur, president and co-founder of the nonprofit Farm Sanctuary, in Watkins Glen, New York, and Orland and Los Angeles, California.

“Choosing plant foods instead of animal products can make a huge difference. Estimates show that one person switching to a vegan diet can save at least 1,000 gallons of water every day.”

Before landing on a plate, an eight-ounce steak will have necessitated 850 gallons of water, including growing and processing the animal’s food grain. The amount of water needed to produce a quarter-pound hamburger equals that of 30 average showers.

“Dietary choices have environmental and ethical impacts,” agrees Michael Schwarz, founder of Hudson Valley Treeline Cheese, in Kingston, New York. “The carbon and water footprints of conventional dairy products are also enormous.” His company’s vegan cheeses are basically cashews, probiotic cultures and salt. Unlike American’s 10 million dairy cows, cashews aren’t injected with growth hormones, don’t emit methane and produce no waste runoff to pollute waterways.

Smarter Storage

The Natural Resources Defense Council reports that Americans annually discard more than 35 million tons of uneaten

food that costs local governments $1.5 billion annually in clean up and landfill maintenance. Food waste contributes to climate change through the use of huge quantities of water, fertilizer, land and fuel to process, refrigerate and transport it. Plus, it emits methane gas as it decomposes.

Reducing food waste can have a far-reaching impact.

Applying simple household tips will help minimize waste: Protect all meat, poultry and fish along with dairy products like yogurt, sour cream and cottage cheese from bacteria by storing them in the original packaging until used; seal any leftovers in airtight containers. Wrap hard cheese in foil or waxed paper after opening. Keep fruits and vegetables separate and don’t wash before refrigerating to forestall mold. Activated oxygen, like that used in the small refrigerator appliance BerryBreeze, neutralizes bacteria and mold to keep stored foods fresh longer.

Smarter Cooking

Maxwell’s guidance for savvy water use includes: Don’t prerinse dishes. Run the dishwasher only when full. Use less soap when washing up and make sure it’s biodegradable.

Water-wise experts also offer these cooking tips.

Use a single pot of water to blanch several kinds of vegetables before freezing. Start with the lightest color and end with the darkest, especially odorous veggies like asparagus or Brussels sprouts. “Unless it’s greasy, cooking and drinking water can be reused to nourish plants,” explains Diane MacEachern, founder and publisher of BigGreenPurse.com. “I cool egg and veggie cooking water to pour on herbs and flowers.”

As whole potatoes simmer, set a steamer basket over them to cook other veggies and conserve water. Fewer pots mean less dishwashing, and leftover potato water adds extra flavor to homemade potato dinner rolls.

Cook shorter shapes of dry pasta in less water, first placing them in cold water and lowering the heat to a simmer once it hits a boil, also saving energy (Tinyurl.com/ColdWaterPastaMethod).

Directions for hard-boiled eggs call for enough cold water to cover before boiling, followed by the mandatory icewater bath, using goodly amounts of water and energy.

Steam eggs instead; find instructions at Tinyurl.com/ BestHardCookedEggs. For a large quantity of eggs, try baking them (AltonBrown.com/baked-eggs).

Freezer jam contains more fruit, much less sugar and needs no water bath for canning jars; recipes are available online. Eat watermelon as is or in salads, compost the peel and pickle the rind using only one cup of water with minimal boiling time (Tinyurl.com/WatermelonRindPickling).

Rather than waste warm water to defrost frozen foods, simply move them overnight to the refrigerator. Composting is far more eco-wise than running a garbage disposal and sink water.

More than 70 percent of Earth’s surface is covered in water, but only .007 percent—like a single drop in a fivegallon bucket—is usable for hydrating its 6.8 billion people and all plants and animals. We must be creative to protect that drop by kicking it up a notch in the kitchen.

Connect with the freelance writer via AveryMack@ mindspring.com. natural awakenings

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naturalpet

Happy Furry Home Tips for Keeping a Pet-Friendly Home Clean

by Sandra Murphy

H

ouseholds with multiple pets abound as families often opt for a mix of companion animals.

Currently, more than 70 million dogs, 75 million cats and 6 million birds are kept as pets in the U.S., according to a recent American Pet Products Association survey. While we cherish their affection, downsides include pet hair dust bunnies, scattered litter, spilled seeds and potty accidents. Cleaning up can be

easier with training and planning.

“Living on the beach, it’s easy for the dog to bring sand indoors, so I taught him to shake it off,” says dog expert and trainer Amy Robinson, in Vero Beach, Florida. “I put water in a bottle and misted it lightly on his head, then gave the cue, ‘Shake,’ and shook my shoulders. He mimicked me and got rid of most of the sand. Brushing him with a towel got the rest.” Once the dog understands the cue,

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retire the water bottle.

“I have a Newfoundland/poodle, a great Pyrenees/poodle and a Labradoodle, so I keep old towels outside the door to wipe dirty feet,” says Kathleen Thometz, owner of Doodle Art & Design, in Western Springs, Illinois. “The Newfoundland can open the door, so I have to catch him before he tracks in muddy paw prints.”

Thometz keeps their hairbrush with the towels. “I have them groomed regularly, but a quick brush after a walk means I don’t have to vacuum between weekly house cleanings,” she says.

“Short hair can be even harder to pick up,” reminds Ryan Riley, cofounder of BizBagz.com, in Los Angeles.

“We brush our 50- and 70-pound pit bull mixes outside after play time and they love it.”

“Carpets and pets are a challenging combination, especially when pets get older and accidents happen,” observes Amy Bell, an interior decorator at Red Chair Home Interiors, in Cary, North Carolina. “I recommend hard surface flooring, washable slipcovers for furniture and keeping lint brushes by the door.”

All-natural, sustainably sourced area rugs or hall runners make it easier for dogs to get around on slick surfaces; be sure the backing can withstand wet accidents.

“I use a hair-attracting dry mop to pick up fur on hard floors. It takes me 10 minutes a day to do 2,400 square feet; otherwise, I’d have tumbleweeds of hair blowing around. I use a Quick Vac every two days on area rugs,”

says Joan Fradella, a Florida Supreme Court-certified family mediator in Lantana, Florida. A basset mix, vizla/ Rhodesian ridgeback and boxer/Labrador all shed hair in her house. Fradella also uses a water-soaked microfiber cleaning cloth to remove what she calls sniggle art (dog nose prints) on sliding glass doors.

If a hairy cat balks at brushing, try a cat hair removal glove. Some are designed to massage and remove loose hair; others clean up furniture and fabrics.

Stick with washable cat or dog bedding and use a removable cover for more frequent laundering. Warming temperatures due to climate change are fostering a rise in flea populations worldwide. Food-grade (not pool-grade) diatomaceous earth sprinkled on a pet’s bedding or the pet itself is safe; the silky powder adversely affects only creatures with hard outer skeletons.

Some dogs grab a mouthful of food and join the family, trailing crumbs along the way. Instead, feed them in their crates where they feel at home, allowing 15 minutes to finish. For a dog that eats too fast and then sometimes vomits, use a puzzle-designed feeder so it has to work to get to the food. Fradella uses food and water bowls with wide bottoms because they’re harder to overturn. Stainless steel, washed daily, is best. A waterproof mat with a raised lip helps contain mealtime spills. A static mat removes litter from a cat’s feet upon exiting the litter box.

“Dogs can be trained to put away their toys,” advises Robinson. Cats, not so much. Birds are messy, producing floating bits of feathers and scattered seed. A mesh seed catcher will capture most of it; a dry mop gathers up the rest.

Bell suggests randomly sprinkling about 15 drops of lavender essential oil on a new air filter before installing it for a fresh scent throughout the house, and regularly changing filters. Multiple pets may necessitate more frequent filter replacements, which also reduces dander and related allergy symptoms.

Simple routines and the right tools lead to a safe, healthy home. They also free us up from unnecessary chores to enjoy more time with our beloved pets.

Connect with freelance writer Sandra Murphy at StLouisFreelanceWriter@ mindspring.com.

Healthy Habits for a Clean Pet Household

by Madison Todd

H

ouseholds can be a challenge to keep clean and fresh, especially when pets are involved. With the right tips and tools, keeping a clean house can be rewarding for both owners and four-legged companions.

One of the biggest challenges for pet parents is hair. Regular grooming with a brush or comb can help reduce the amount of hair that settles on the furniture, carpet and floors, curtains and bedding—especially when it is done outside. Regular brushing can also reduce some health problems in pets that are related to hair, such as hairballs and constipation.

Discourage excessive grooming by introducing a new toy or activity.

Pets need a lot of mental and physical stimulation in their environments, which in turn help them to live happier, healthier and more balanced lives. Scratching posts and perches for climbing are great options for cats, while dogs enjoy daily walks and off-leash play times with toys and other four-legged friends. Remember that pets are extremely treat-motivated, so be sure to include some of their favorite snacks when introducing new activities.

Designate a specific area of the house for each pet; this does not mean keeping the pet caged or locked behind a gate or in a room. What this means is to simply give one area of the house for the pet to eat and drink, play, relax or use the litter box. A pet can still have the freedom to roam around the house for stimulation and exercise; however, when it comes time to clean, that way most of their excess

smells and hair will be contained to those specific areas.

Figure out a pet’s cleanliness level. If there is a pet that enjoys spending time inside and outside home, chances are he or she is bringing back a little bit of nature with each return; this could be in the form of dirt, plants, body odors or pesky parasites. Pets with an indoor/outdoor lifestyle should be monitored closely and bathed regularly. On the other hand, pets that prefer an indoor-only lifestyle may not require as much attention to their personal hygiene.

However, there are other things to take into consideration. Pets that are messy eaters or love to spill their water bowls, dump their litter boxes and soil the carpets also require some close monitoring, and a quick spot cleaning.

Developing a cleaning schedule can help keep the home stay organized and tidy. Cleaning up smaller messes as soon as they occur will help leave bigger projects such as dusting and vacuuming for the weekly schedule.

Another great tip is to reward ourselves for sticking to our schedule. After a big clean, play some soothing music, burn a favorite candle and curl up with a cuddly pet. Having this to look forward to can make home a more welcoming environment for everyone.

Madison Todd is the owner of Chestnut Hill Cat Clinic, located at 8220 Germantown Ave., in Philadelphia. For more information, call 215-247-9560 or visit ChestnutHill CatClinic.com. See ad, page 5.

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calendarofevents NOTE: All calendar events must be received by the 10th of the month and adhere to our guidelines. Review guidelines for submissions at NAPhilly.com or email Publisher@NAPhilly.com for more information.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 26 Sai Maa in Philly – Aug 26-28. With Sai Maa, a world-renowned spiritual master, healer and humanitarian. With a unique fusion of Eastern spiritual wisdom, Western therapeutic knowledge and energetic mastery, she shares teachings to uplift and empower others to master their lives as she has her own. Marriott Downtown Philadelphia, 1201 Market St. Schedule/cost: Sai-Maa.com/en/2016Tour.com. mount Park, 4231 Ave of the Republic, Philadelphia.

215-581-3181 or Info@PleaseTouchMuseum.org.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 27

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 7

Free Darshan with Sai Maa – 5pm. See Aug 26 listing. Marriott Downtown Philadelphia, 1201 Market St. Schedule/cost: Sai-Maa.com/en/2016Tour.com.

SUNDAY, AUGUST 28 Transform Myself, Transform the World Workshop – 10am-3pm. With Sai Maa. See Aug 26 listing. Marriott Downtown Philadelphia, 1201 Market St. Schedule/cost: Sai-Maa.com/en/2016Tour.com.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 3 Made in America Music Festival – Sept 3-4. A massive musical celebration that takes place on the Benjamin Franklin Pkwy over Labor Day weekend.

Various top performers and multiple stages. Tickets: MadeInAmericaFest.com.

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 5 Curious George Exhibit – 9am-5pm. Letting curiosity and inquiry be their guides, children explore familiar buildings and locales from the Curious George book series and television series on PBS KIDS in Curious George: Let’s Get Curious! The exhibit presents key concepts in science, math and engineering, which are woven and layered throughout the exhibit. Please Touch Museum, Memorial Hall, Fair-

WE STILL ON? Call ahead to confirm that the event details haven’t changed and tell them you saw it in Natural Awakenings – Philly.

PM at Penn Museum: Trinidelphia – 5-8pm.

Every Wed. Wind down the summer series with Trinidelphia’s blend of Trinidadian Soca, Calypso, Latin jazz, reggae, salsa, and American top 40. Indoors during inclement weather. $10, $5/PennCard holders, Penn Medicine /CHOP employees with ID. 3260 South St, Philadelphia. 215-898-4000.

Creating Your Retirement Paycheck Seminar – 6:30pm. With Deborah Klatz Rounick, Financial Advisor with Klatz Rounick & Associates.

Learn ways to determine how much income you’ll need in retirement; identify income sources that you can combine to create your “retirement paycheck”; and help make your savings last. No cost or obligation. Parkway Central Library, 1901 Vine St, Philadelphia. Preregister: 215-686-5394 or RetirementPaycheck.eventbrite.com.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 8 Careers in Export Sales and Marketing – 6:30pm.

James Chan, PhD, outlines the opportunities and the mindset required to pursue well-paying careers selling and exporting American-made products and services overseas. Free. Parkway Central Library, 1901 Vine St, Philadelphia. Preregister: 215-686-5394 or CareersInExportSalesAndMarketing.eventbrite.com.

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 9 The 2016 Fringe Festival – Sept 9-24. The Fringe Festival is one of Philadelphia’s signature fall arts events that features hundreds of dance, theater, visual arts, music and spoken-word performances from around the globe in traditional venues, as well as on street corners. Also includes cars, galleries, cabarets and restaurants. 140 N Columbus Blvd, Philadelphia. Tickets: 215-413-1318.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 10 Kennett Square Mushroom Festival – Sept 1011. This culinary festival highlights a variety of mushroom dishes cooked in the authentic manner by the vendors at the festival. In addition to dining, guests can learn the skills of growing high-quality mushrooms, visit the antique car show, participate in the run/walk parade or sip and relax at the wine and beer gardens. 101 South Union St, Kennett Square, Philadelphia. Info: 610-925-3373.

Grow Up Great – 11am. Bring your Broadway baby for an hour of family fun. Join at the Kimmel Cen-

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The World Builder’s Writing Club – 2:30pm.

Bring your fiction writing project and be inspired by the feedback of others. Chip away at writer’s block with new and exciting tips and tools. Genres include science fiction, fantasy, the paranormal and other stories with a supernatural element. Bring a work in progress or start a new one. Parkway Central Library, 1901 Vine St, Philadelphia. 215-686-5322.

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 12

Enlightened Conversations with Sai Maa – 7:309:30pm. See previous listing. Marriott Downtown Philadelphia, 1201 Market St. Schedule/cost: SaiMaa.com/en/2016Tour.com.

From Reaction to Creation Workshop – 10am3pm. With Sai Maa. See Aug 26 listing. Marriott Downtown Philadelphia, 1201 Market St. Schedule/ cost: Sai-Maa.com/en/2016Tour.com.

ter’s Commonwealth Plaza for an hour of interactive fun. Kids learn the basics of jazz and musical theater.

Free. Kimmel Center, 300 S Broad St, Philadelphia.

215-569-3188. Info: KimmelCenter.org/free.

Anime and Manga Discussion Group for Kids and Teens – 4pm. Children ages 11 and up and teens are invited to explore Japanese animation, comics and pop culture. Get to know different anime and manga series and try your hand at fun activities. Ramonita G DeRodriguez Library, 601 W Girard Ave, Philadelphia. Info: Sara Palmer, Children’s Librarian: 215-686-1768 or PalmerS@FreeLibrary.org.

Herbal Medicine Class – 7pm. With Wendy Romig, MS, CNS, LDN. Open to all levels. Sage Integrative Health, 538 Carpenter Ln, Philadelphia. Info: 215839-3950. SageIntegrativeHealth.com.

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13 Jonathan Safran Foer, Here I Am – 7:30pm. Renowned for placing “his reader’s hand on the heart of human experience, the transcendent beauty of human connections” – The Philadelphia Inquirer, Jonathan Safran Foer is the bestselling author of the frenetically irreverent, emotionally urgent novels Everything Is… $32/ticketed series general admission. Parkway Central Library, 1901 Vine St, Philadelphia. 215-686-5322.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 17 American Association For Cancer Research Rock ‘N’ Roll Philadelphia – Sept 17-18. The 39th annual AACR Rock ‘n’ Roll Philadelphia Half-Marathon run. Enjoy live bands, music and entertainment along the 13.1-mile course. Celebrate your finish at Eakins Oval with a complimentary beer and a headliner concert featuring a top-named band. Pennsylvania Convention Center, Hall E 1101 Arch St. Info/register: RunRockNRoll.com.

Chess for Adults – 11am-1pm. Whether you are a beginner or a connoisseur, join for some fun and challenging chess for adults at the Parkway Central Library.

Located in the lobby, this event is free and open to the public. The library will provide chess sets for attending visitors to use. Free/drop-in. Preregistration is not required. 1901 Vine St, Philadelphia. 215-686-5322.

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 19 Natural Strategies for Weight Loss – 7pm. With Wendy Romig, MS, CNS, LDN. Sage Integrative Health, 538 Carpenter Ln, Philadelphia. Info: 215839-3950. SageIntegrativeHealth.com.

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 20 Benefits of Alkaline Water – 6-9pm. 2 Your Health, specialists in holistic health and alternative healing, will hold a free seminar about the benefits of alkaline in water. Free muscle testing and chi energy also available. 3848 Lancaster Ave, Philadelphia. RSVP: 215-223-5635.

Nutritional Cooking Class – 7pm. With Wendy Romig, MS, CNS, LDN. Sage Integrative Health,

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The Hidden Deficiency Having the proper amount of iodine in our system at all times is critical to overall health, yet the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition finds that iodine deficiency is increasing drastically in light of an increasingly anemic national diet of unpronounceable additives and secret, unlabeled ingredients. This deficit now affects nearly three-quarters of the population.

Causes of Iodine Deficiency

Radiation

Almost everyone is routinely exposed to iodine-depleting radiation

Low-Sodium Diets

Overuse of zero-nutrient salt substitutes in foods leads to iodine depletion

Iodized Table Salt

Iodized salt may slowly lose its iodine content by exposure to air

Bromine

A toxic chemical found in baked goods overrides iodine's ability to aid thyroid

Iodine-Depleted Soil Poor farming techniques have led to declined levels of iodine in soil

A Growing Epidemic Symptoms range from extreme fatigue and weight gain to depression, carpal tunnel syndrome, high blood pressure, fibrocystic breasts and skin and hair problems. This lack of essential iodine can also cause infertility, joint pain, heart disease and stroke. Low iodine levels also have been associated with breast and thyroid cancers; and in children, intellectual disability, deafness, attention deficient hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and impaired growth, according to studies by Boston University and the French National Academy of Medicine.

What to Do The easy solution is taking the right kind of iodine in the right dosage to rebalance thyroid function and restore health to the whole body.

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September 2016

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538 Carpenter Ln, Philadelphia. Info: 215-839-3950.

SageIntegrativeHealth.com.

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21 Shakespeare in the World Lecture Series – 6pm.

Titus Andronicus: The Elizabethan Chainsaw Massacre featuring Dr Annalisa Castaldo. In the late 1580s, Thomas Kyd wrote The Spanish Tragedy (a play which culminates in a man biting his own tongue off) and started a craze for inventively bloody revenge plays. Shakespeare said, “I can do that” and did. Free.

Parkway Central Library, 1901 Vine St, Philadelphia.

Preregistration required: 215- 686-5322.

ongoingevents NOTE: All calendar events must be received by the 10th of the month and adhere to our guidelines. Review guidelines for submissions at NAPhilly.com or email Publisher@NAPhilly.com for more information.

wednesday University Square Farmers’ Market – 10amsunset. 36th St & Walnut St, Philadelphia. 215-7339599. Info@FarmToCity.org.

True Cellular Detox Lecture – 7pm. Seating is limited. Insight Health and Wellness, 1601 Walnut St, Ste 514, Philadelphia. RSVP: 215-564-6680.

Dilworth Park Farmers’ Market – 11am-2pm.

Jersey-fresh produce, fresh-baked goods and handmade, all-natural soaps and body care products.

Most vendors accept debit and credit cards. West side of City Hall near the fountains, Philadelphia.

215-733-9599. Info@FarmToCity.org.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 24 Frankford Library Minecraft Club – 2pm. Come build and play Minecraft with other kids, ages 8 to 14. Your host will be librarian, Mr. Pagán. We’ll be playing in peaceful mode only. Call or stop into the library to sign up. 4634 Frankford Ave, Philadelphia.

Register: 215-685-1473.

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 26 The Music Monkey Jungle Sing Along –10:30-11am.

A 30-minute, high energy, interactive performance.

Children and adults will sing, dance, laugh, play, move, imagine and create while experiencing original songs, dances and games. We’ll focus on melody, unison, range, dynamics, tempo and call and response through the use of body percussion and singing. For ages 5 months-5 years. $10/child. The Children’s Boutique, 1625 Chestnut St, Philadelphia. Info: Lori: 732-6878134 or Lori@MusicMonkeyJungle.com.

plan ahead

daily The Architecture of Francis Kéré: Building for Community – Thru Sept 25.Collab Gallery and the Skylit Atrium. Explore Francis Kéré’s inventive approach to building. He integrates traditional knowledge and craft skills into innovative and sustainable buildings worldwide. Philadelphia Museum of Art, 2600 Benjamin Franklin Pkwy. Info: 215-763-8100.

Three Photographers/Six Cities – Thru Sept 25.

Julien Levy Gallery. Get an in-depth look at three photographers: Akinbode Akinbiyi, Seydou Camara and Ananias Léki Dago, who create powerful pictures of six African cities: Cairo, Nairobi, Lagos, Johannesburg, Bamako and Tombouctou. Philadelphia Museum of Art, 2600 Benjamin Franklin Pkwy. Info: 215-763-8100.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 20

Creative Africa Exhibit – Thru Sept 25. 7:3010pm. Experience five dynamic, immersive and vibrant exhibitions highlighting art and design from Africa. Funds raised will support a range of programs. Philadelphia Museum of Art, 2600 Benjamin Franklin Pkwy. Info: 215-763-8100.

Celebration of Hope for Cancer Survivors – 9:15am-2:30pm. Presented by Cancer Support Community Greater Philadelphia. Fairmount Park, 4100 Chamounix Dr, Philadelphia. Registration and breakfast will begin at 8:30am. Free parking. Jessica Perrella: 215-879-7733, ext 212 or Jessica@CancerSupportPhiladelphia.org.

Threads of Tradition Exhibit – Thru Jan, 2017. Costume and Textiles Study Gallery. Admire the dazzling patterns of traditional African textiles and uncover the techniques used to achieve them. Also includes exquisite examples of kente cloth worn as a sign of wealth and prestige. Philadelphia Museum of Art, 2600 Benjamin Franklin Pkwy. Info: 215-763-8100.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 20

savethedate

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 28

savethedate FRIDAY, OCTOBER 28 Empowered Light Holistic Expo – Oct 28-30.

5-9pm, Fri; 10am-6pm, Sat; 10am-5pm, Sun. Enjoy inspiring lectures, meditations, yoga, alternative healing treatments like reiki, massage and reflexology, as well as angelic and intuitive readings. Try healthy food samples and purchase natural products for personal and home care. Focus on healthier lifestyles, including food, physical activities, stress reduction and self-care. Greater Philadelphia Expo Center, 100 Station Ave, Hall D, Oaks. Sue Greenwald: 484-459-3082. EmpoweredLightExpo@ gmail.com. EmpoweredLight.com.

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Philadelphia, PA

NAPhilly.com

Essene Market & Café – 8am-9pm, Mon-Fri; 8am-8pm, Sat & Sun. Large selection of organically grown produce, natural foods deli, on-site bakery.

Located in the heart of historic Fabric Row, 719 South Fourth St, Philadelphia. 215-922-1146.

sunday Dickinson Square Farmers’ Market –10am-2pm.

Moyamensing Ave & Morris St, Philadelphia. 215733-9599. Info@FarmToCity.org.

tuesday Rittenhouse Square Farmers’ Market –10am2pm.18th St & Walnut St, Philadelphia. 215-7339599. Info@FarmToCity.org.

The Fountain Farmers’ Market – 3-7pm. East Passyunk Ave at 11th St & Tasker St, Philadelphia.

215-733-9599. Info@FarmToCity.org.

thursday Jefferson Farmers’ Market –11am-3pm. 10th St & Chestnut St, Philadelphia. 215-733-9599. Info@ FarmToCity.org.

Mt Airy Farmers’ Market – 2-6pm. Carpenter Ln at Greene St, Philadelphia. 215-733-9599. Info@ FarmToCity.org.

Powers Park Farmers’ Market – 3-7pm. Almond St & East Ann St, Port Richmond. 215-733-9599.

Info@FarmToCity.org.

Walnut Hill Community Farm Stand – 4-7pm.

46th St & Market St, Phildelphia. 215-733-9599.

Info@FarmToCity.org.

friday Farmers’ Market – 2-7pm. Ridge Ave & Acorn St, Phildelphia. 215-733-9599. Info@FarmToCity.org.

saturday Chestnut Hill Farmers’ Market – 9am-3pm. Yearround market. Featuring local food and products: seasonal produce, herbs, mushrooms and honey plus plants and flowers. Winston Rd between Germantown Ave & Mermaid Ln, Philadelphia. 215-7339599. Info@FarmToCity.org.

Rittenhouse Farmers’ Market – 9am-3pm. Yearround market. Local food and products: seasonal produce, herbs, mushrooms and honey plus local wine. 18th St & Walnut St, Philadelphia. 215-7339599. Info@FarmToCity.org.

High Street Farmers’ Market – 9:30am-1:30pm.

3rd St & Market St in front of Fork Restaurant and High Street Market, Philadelphia. 215-733-9599.

Info@FarmToCity.org.

East Falls Farmers’ Market – 10am-2pm. Kelly Dr & N Ferry Rd in parking lot under Route 1 at Kelly Dr, Philadelphia. 215-733-9599. Info@FarmToCity.org.

Girard & 27th Farm Stand –10am-2pm. 27th St & Girard Ave. 215-733-9599. Info@FarmToCity.org.

communityresourceguide classifieds Connecting you to the leaders in natural health care and green living in our community. To find out how you can be included in the Community Resource Guide, email Publisher@NAPhilly.com to request our media kit.

ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE SAGE INTEGRATIVE HEALTH CENTER Wendy Romig, MS, CNS, LDN 538 Carpenter Ln, Philadelphia 215-839-3950 • SageIntegrativeHealth.com

Sage Integrative Health Center offers a customized, natural approach to helping people overcome illness using a blend of nutritional counseling, herbal remedies and wellness coaching.

Visit our on-site herb shop. See ad, page 8.

ANIMAL HOSPITAL CHESTNUT HILL CAT CLINIC 8220 Germantown Ave Philadelphia • 215-247-9560 ChestnutHillCatClinic.com

We are a full-service veterinary hospital, dedicated to the gentle compassionate care of felines. We specialize in preventative health care and provide exceptional surgical and dental services. See ad, page 5.

Fee for classifieds is a minimum charge of $20 for the first 20 words and $1 for each additional word. To place an ad, email Publisher@NAPhilly.com.

LOCALLY GROWN PRODUCE FARM TO CITY

Weekly Outdoor Farmers’ Markets Philadelphia • 215-733-9599 Info@FarmToCity.org • FarmToCity.org Farm to City connects urban residents with food from local farmers through 15 producer-only farmers’ markets, many CSA farms and its Winter Harvest Buying Club. Visit our website for seasonal schedule and opening days.

OPPORTUNITIES ADVERTISE HERE – Are you: hiring, renting property/office space, selling products, offering services, or in need of volunteers? Advertise your personal/business needs in Natural Awakenings classified ad section. To place an ad, email Publisher@NAPhilly.com.

START A CAREER YOU CAN BE PAS-

NATURAL ORGANIC MARKET

SIONATE ABOUT – Publish your own Natural

ESSENE MARKET

Awakenings magazine. Home-based business,

In the heart of historic Fabric Row 719 S 4th St, Philadelphia 215-922-1146 • EsseneMarket.com

complete with comprehensive training and support

Long-running grocery store focusing on natural health and macrobiotic foods, plus a deli with seasonal fare. See ad, page 6.

a magazine that is currently publishing. Call 239-

system. New franchises are available or purchase 530-1377 or visit NaturalAwakeningsmag.com/ MyMagazine.

ORGANIC PRODUCTS ORGANIC MATTRESS COMPANY

COLON THERAPY TO YOUR HEALTH

Ethel Wilson, ND 2715 W Allegheny Ave, Philadelphia 215-223-5635 • 2YourHealth.us TYH Detox is about holistic health and natural healing remedies. We give the care you need to live and stay healthy naturally through colonics, detox, massage and sauna. See ad, page 7.

FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE INSIGHT HEALTH & WELLNESS Dr. Rick Dunlap, DC, PT, CFMP 1601 Walnut St, Ste 514 Philadelphia • 215-564-66680 InsightHealthWellness.com

Dr. Dunlap, a former Navy SEAL, chiropractor, physical therapist, certified functional medicine practitioner has over 20 years experience in health and wellness.

State-of-the-art FM program focusing on reversal and elimination of Type 2 diabetes and thyroid dysfunction, as well as True Cellular Detox program addressing hormonal dysfunction, weight-loss resistance, fatigue and brain fog. Our focus is on an efficient and effective approach to your health needs. Your wellness goals are with InSight. See ad, page 9.

1075 Main St, Hellertown 484-851-3636.

TheOrganicMattressStore.com

The Organic Mattress Company has been around since 2004. Don’t be fooled by misleading advertising. We are here to answer any of your questions. See ad, page 26.

SUSTAINABLE ORGANIZATIONS SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS NETWORK 2401 Walnut St, Ste 206, Philadelphia 215-922-7400, ext 104 sbnPhiladelphia.org

The Sustainable Business Network (SBN) of Greater Philadelphia is a nonprofit membership organization striving to build a just, green and thriving local economy. See ad, page 7.

has been ranked in the best 50 in its size class among 200 companies named in the Franchise Business Review’s 2015 Top Franchises Report.

For more information visit our website:

NaturalAwakeningsMag.com/ mymagazine or call 239-530-1377 natural awakenings

September 2016

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