Natural Awakenings Greater Pittsburgh July 2022 by naturalawakeningsswpa

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HEALTHY

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THE HEALING OF THE MODERN MAN

MEN REDEFINE THEIR EMOTIONAL POWER

HEALING TRAUMA THE EXERCISE POWER OF EBIKES PLANETFRIENDLY POURS HOW TO RAISE

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PITTSBURGH, PA EDITION Publisher Michelle Dalnoky Managing Editor Sven Hosford Lead Editor Martin Miron Production Assistant Joann Dalnoky Design & Production C. Michele Rose Sales & Marketing Michelle Dalnoky

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©2022 by Natural Awakenings. All rights reserved. Although some parts of this publication may be reproduced and reprinted, we require that prior permission be obtained in writing. Natural Awakenings is a free publication distributed locally and is supported by our advertisers. Please call to find a location near you or if you would like copies placed at your business. We do not necessarily endorse the views expressed in the articles and advertisements, nor are we responsible for the products and services advertised. Check with a healthcare professional regarding the appropriate use of any treatment.

letter from publisher

Happy Anniversary to Natural Awakenings Magazine Greater Pittsburgh Edition!

his month marks the third anniversary of our amazing magazine, and that is definitely cause for celebration. As with so many things, the pandemic hit the magazine industry hard. Many went out of business or printed fewer issues by going to quarterly instead of monthly. We have not missed an issue of our monthly publication. But the bumpy ride isn’t over yet. The publishing industry, like many other industries, is facing rising costs from every direction. Who knew there would be a paper shortage and skyrocketing fuel costs? On top of that, we started this magazine in a brandnew market. Nobody had even heard of Natural Awakenings magazine in this area, so we had to find our place to fit in. I lived in Tampa for many years and really enjoyed the Tampa Bay edition of Natural Awakenings. Many of you may not even know that the magazine was started 28 years ago in Naples, Florida, and can be found all over the U.S. Our founding publisher, Sharon Bruckman, prints her own edition today and it’s going strong. It was our goal from the beginning to bring together a community of people that seek a better life through natural lifestyle choices and sustainable living methods. After all, the motto of the Natural Awakenings Publishing Corp. is “Healthy Living – Healthy Planet”. Our first and second anniversary kind of just passed by during difficult times. Despite these challenges, we have managed to maintain a high level of professionalism, made many connections in the community, supported other businesses and organizations that could use a little love and attention and highlighted many urban and rural farms that are important in providing education, healthy food and setting an example of resilience, which I feel is at the core of this region. My family were Hungarian and Italian immigrants who arrived in this area in the early 1900s. Their life was not easy, but they were resilient and hard-working, enduring the Spanish flu pandemic, the Great Depression and two world wars, living into old age. The city of Pittsburgh and this entire area are beautiful, abundant and so resilient. The struggles will go on, but if there is any place that has the character to persevere, it is here. We simply need to continue to be strong and take care of each other and these beautiful mountains and rolling hills. Thanks to all of those in the community who have supported Natural Awakenings magazine, too. We appreciate our advertisers and contributors, and our loyal readers. So far, our vision to connect the community of people who share a desire to seek out natural and holistic methods to achieve a healthy and sustainable lifestyle and to share the knowledge and stories of those who are on those paths is on point. Here is our very first cover and a couple of other favorites. Enjoy.

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

Natural Awakenings is printed on recycled newsprint with soy-based ink.

Pittsburgh, PA

Michelle Dalnoky, RN, BA, Publisher

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Natural Awakenings is a family of 55-plus healthy living magazines celebrating 26 years of providing the communities we serve with the tools and resources we all need to lead healthier lives on a healthy planet.

Contents 8 UNPLUGGED

ADVENTURES

Eco-Tripping for a Digital Detox

10 PITTSBURGH AREA

FARMERS MARKETS 2022

11 URBAN FARMING

COLLECTIVE IN PITTSBURGH

12 PLANET-FRIENDLY POURS

The Rise of Sustainable Wine and Spirits

16 THE HEALING OF THE MODERN MAN

Men Redefine Their Emotional Power

19 THE GIFT OF AN IMPERFECT FATHER

20 HEALING TRAUMA

Emerging Therapies Offer Fresh Hope

22 THE EXERCISE POWER OF E-BIKES

Get a Workout on an Easier Ride

ADVERTISING & SUBMISSIONS

24 HOW TO RAISE EMPATHETIC KIDS

HOW TO ADVERTISE To advertise with Natural Awakenings or request a media kit, please contact us at 724-271-8877 or email Publisher@NaturalAwakeningsSWPA.com. Deadline for ads: the 10th of the month.

Simple Ways Parents Can Cultivate Compassion

EDITORIAL SUBMISSIONS Email articles, news items and ideas to: Publisher@ NaturalAwakeningsSWPA.com. Deadline: 15th of the month.

Ways Humans Get it Wrong

CALENDAR SUBMISSIONS Email Calendar Events to: Publisher@NaturalAwakenings SWPA.com or visit NaturalAwakeningsSWPA.com. 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 239-434-9392. For franchising opportunities call 239-530-1377 or visit NaturalAwakenings.com.

26 MISBEHAVING DOG WALKS

DEPARTMENTS 6 news briefs 7 health brief 8 green living 11 community

20 22 24 26 spotlight 27 12 conscious eating 30 14 plant medicine 31 19 inspiration

24 healing ways fit body healthy kids natural pet calendar resource guide classifieds June 2022

news briefs

YHL Boutique Finds New Digs

HL The Mind & Body Boutique (formerly Youghiogheny Holistic Living) has moved to 110 South Pittsburgh Street, in Connellsville, walking distance from the Yough River bike trail and GAP trail, and 30 minutes from Ohiopyle and Seven Springs. Owner Emily Saylor-Richter says, “You can find our shelves stocked with products we absolutely adore. Handcrafted jewelry, herbal apothecary, clothing, locally made soaps, skin care, metaphysical items and inspirational gifts. We are dedicated to offering a space where you can nourish all aspects of yourself—mind, body and spirit.” YHL is dedicated to providing empowerment, selfnourishment and growth through mind and body wellness. Over the past three years, they have specialized in massage, herbalism, yoga, reiki, meditation and building the wellness plus lifestyle boutique. For more information, call 724-707-4338, email Emily.RiverWellness@ gmail.com or vsit YoughioghenyHolisticLiving.com.

Urban Homestead Plans June Events

hen Tyleda Worou founded 360 Urban Homestead 2018, she saw the necessity to help make affordable organic locally grown produce available to eastside communities in Pittsburgh and surrounding neighborhoods. She says, “Our goal is to educate individuals on the mental, physical and spiritual benefits of growing their own food. During the grow season, we offer affordable local organically grown produce and eggs that are laid daily by our hens.” Starting in June, they will host biweekly events such as canning, permaculture, chicken keeping and farm stand hours. For more information, email 360UrbanHomestead@gmail.com, call 724-374-8089 or visit Facebook.com/ahicp to book events.

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health briefs

Cut Back on Booze to Protect the Brain

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It is widely known that heavy drinking harms the brain, but even drinking as little as a few beers or glasses of wine per week will reduce brain volume, according to a new study of 36,000 adults. Researchers led by a University of Pennsylvania team reported in Nature Communications that alcohol consumption even at modest levels may carry risks to the brain, shrinking it in ways similar to the aging process. The study was conducted using the UK Biobank, a dataset from 500,000 British middle-aged and older adults that includes genetic and medical information, including white and gray matter volume in different regions of the brain. The researchers found that the more alcohol people consumed on average, the greater the brain damage. Going from zero to a daily average of one alcohol unit (half a beer or half a glass of wine) is linked with the equivalent of a half a year of aging in 50-year-olds. Drinking an average of two units a day (a pint of beer or glass of wine) produces changes in the brain equivalent to aging two years. The difference between zero and four units (two beers or glasses of wine) was equal to more than 10 years of aging. “It’s not linear,” says study co-author Remi Daviet. “It gets worse the more you drink. There is some evidence that the effect of drinking on the brain is exponential. That means that cutting back on that final drink of the night might have a big effect in terms of brain aging.”

Pump Iron to Boost Sleep For the one in three Americans that are sleep-deprived, working out with resistance exercises to strengthen muscles may produce longer and deeper shuteye than aerobics, new research from the American Heart Association shows. In a 12-month study, researchers randomly assigned 386 inactive, overweight adults with high blood pressure to one of several groups that worked out for an hour three times a week. A resistance exercise group did three sets of eight to 16 repetitions on 12 machines; the aerobics group used treadmills, bicycles or elliptical machines; a combo group used both; and a control group did no supervised exercise. Among the 42 percent of participants that were not getting at least seven hours of sleep at the study’s start, sleep duration increased by an average of 40 minutes for the resistance exercise group compared to an increase of about 23 minutes in the aerobic exercise group and about 17 minutes in the combined exercise group. “If your sleep has gotten noticeably worse over the past two stressful years, consider incorporating two or more resistance exercise training sessions into your regular exercise routine to improve your general muscle and bone health, as well as your sleep,” says study author Angelique Brellenthin, assistant professor of kinesiology at Iowa State University, in Ames.

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Try Neem and Walking to Ward Off COVID-19 Symptoms Two new studies suggest that neem (Azadirachta indica), a plant used for centuries in India to treat malaria, intestinal ulcers and skin diseases, may offer protection against COVID-19 and future variants. At the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical campus, researchers found that neem bark extract tested on COVID-infected human lung cells proved as effective as a preventive drug. It targeted a wide range of viral proteins and also decreased virus replication and spread after infection. In an Indian double-blind study of 190 healthcare workers or relatives of COVID-19 patients, researchers at the All India Institute of Ayurveda, in Delhi, found that those given a neem extract of 50 milligrams twice daily for 28 days had a reduced risk of 55 percent for infection compared to the control group. For people dealing with the lingering symptoms of long COVID such as fatigue, brain fog and muscle pain, a solution may be daily exercise of at least 30 minutes, because it lowers inflammation and blood glucose levels, suggest Louisiana State University researchers in the journal Exercise and Sport Sciences Reviews. “If you can only walk 15 minutes once a day, do that. The important thing is to try. It doesn’t matter where you begin,” says article author Candida Rebello, Ph.D. June 2022

green living

UNPLUGGED ADVENTURES ECO-TRIPPING FOR A DIGITAL DETOX

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by Sheila Julson

martphones come in handy for emergencies or checking directions while traveling, but a brief glance at a website or social media can quickly turn into a lengthy scroll session, distracting us from why we go on vacation in the first place. For those that want to truly unplug, unique off-grid, eco-options beckon.

Remote and Quirky Camping The National Park Service has many affordable campgrounds at parks, forests and lakeshores with little to no cell connectivity, allowing visitors to immerse themselves in nature. Listings of wilderness/backcountry camping sites, as well as front-country sites easily accessible by vehicles, can be found at nps.gov/subjects/camping/campground.htm. State parks offer closer-to-home refuge from the digital world. California’s Hendy Woods State Park, in Philo, is brimming with old-growth redwoods. “A lot of people head way up north to Sequoia National Forest to see old-growth redwoods, but there are also redwood forests closer to Sonoma and Mendocino counties, and similarly along the coast,” says Milwaukee-based travel writer Kristine Hansen, contributor to Fodors.com, NationalGeographic.com and other travel outlets. “Standing beneath these towering trees, you can’t help but feel like a small part of this large and wild world.” Hendy Woods’ proximity to wine country allows explorers to drop by a winery or creamery and put together a quick picnic, she notes. 8

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Locally owned campgrounds can offer an escape to a pre-cellphone era. Camp Wandawega, in Elkhorn, Wisconsin, has a storied past of hosting both sinners and saints, opening in 1928 as a speakeasy and later becoming a Catholic youth camp. The historic charm remains intact. “Spending a night here is like dialing it back to the 1950s. Think The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel’s upstate New York summer camp,” Hansen says. “You can climb into a treehouse or a glamping tent to completely unplug.”

Immersive Getaways River rafting tours provide an escape from the virtual world, says John O’Brien, a scientist and environmental advocate who, with his wife, Kellie, owns Fairbanks Trails and Rivers Tour Company, in Fairbanks,

passes through the diverse terrain of the Appalachian Mountain Range. Hikers of all levels can take advantage of day hikes or longer treks.

MONTHLY PLANNER july

Getting Our Hands Dirty

food connection

For an immersive nature experience that also does good, the American Hiking Society offers the Volunteer Vacations program, in which people join in public land stewardship projects. Working in small crews of six to 15 people, volunteers handle a variety of land conservation and trail maintenance needs. Project access ranges from backpacking to day-hiking, and accommodations vary from primitive campsites to bunkhouses or cabins. “Some of our Volunteer Vacations are remote backcountry trips that are only accessible via foot, and some are offered at local, state and national parks as well,” says program manager Ellie Place. “There is a Volunteer Vacation for everyone, whether you want to sleep in a cozy cabin with amenities or sleep under the stars miles away from it all.” The American Hiking Society has more than 35 Volunteer Vacations planned this year; more information can be found at AmericanHiking.org.

august

self-empowerment

september inspired living

Sheila Julson is a Milwaukee-based freelance writer and contributor to Natural Awakenings magazines throughout the country.

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Alaska. “The moment that we shove off from the shore, we’re immediately on what we call ‘river time.’ It’s best at that point to put your phone and camera in airplane mode. We’re often in areas where there is no cell coverage,” he says. “There’s something to be said about just unplugging and being in the moment.” Eco-activities such as river rafting might conjure up images of young, physically fit adventurers in rafts slapped by wild waves, but O’Brien notes river rafting is suitable for all ages and abilities. In tours with frame-style rafts, the guide does all the rowing. “If you are able to stand, walk and climb into and out of a raft, even with some assistance, you can go river rafting,” he says. Trekking is another proven eco-trip strategy. Sometimes confused with hiking, it involves a long journey across a large swath of land that often requires participants to pare down to the absolute basics, which means ditching the cell phone and charger. There’s often little to no service in these remote stretches. North American treks include Canada’s the Long Range Traverse, a 22-mile, unmarked, backcountry trail in Newfoundland with moose, bears and caribou. The Appalachian National Scenic Trail is a 2,100-mile stretch that takes explorers through 14 states. Stretching from Springer Mountain, Georgia, to the northern terminus at Katahdin, Maine, the trail

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June 2022

Pittsburgh Area Farmers Market Guide 2022 Most accept SNAP/EBT

sunday

friday

Squirrel Hill (CitiParks) Farmers Market – 9am1pm. May-Nov 20. Great line-up of fresh produce and on-site cooked foods from Greek to Jamaican. Beacon/Bartlett lot behind 1900 Murray Ave. Keystone Farmers Market, Derry – 10am-2pm. Jun-Sep. A make it, bake it, or grow it market. 1150 Keystone Park Rd, Derry. Carnegie Farmers Market – Noon-3pm. Jun 12, Jul 10-Sep 25, and special holiday market Nov 20. East Main St between Broadway and Mary Streets.

The Block Northway Farmers Market – 3-6pm. Jun-Sep. Indoor/outdoor market with local produce, dairy, food trucks, live entertainment. 8013 McKnight Rd, upper level between DSW and Land’s End. Cranberry Township Farmers Market – 3-7pm. Jun-Sep. Produce, dairy, special events. Front parking lot, 2525 Rochester Rd. South Fayette/Cecil: Original Farmers Market – 5:30-8:30pm. May Fridays only. Jun-Sep, Mon, Wed, and Fri. Oct-Nov, Mon and Fri. Open air covered space market. Cash only. 151 Parks Rd, McDonald.

monday Robinson Farmers Market at Holy Trinity – 3-7pm. May-Oct. Produce, diary, ice cream, wine, whiskey baked goods. Holy Trinity, 5718 Steubenville Pike, McKees Rocks. City of Pittsburgh: East End – 3:30-6:30pm. JunOct 24. Farm-fresh fruits, vegetables, meat, cheese, baked goods. Liberty green Park, 100 Larimer Ave. Zelienople-Harmony Farmers Market – 3:307pm. June-October 10. Fruit and vegetables from McKinney Family Farm, rotating vendors like Awesome Acres, Becky’s Baked Goods, Belle Fleur Gardens, and The Enchanted Olive. 402 E Beaver St, Zelienople.

tuesday Bethel Park Farmers Market – 3-7pm. May-Sep. Fresh produce, baked goods, prepared foods, dairy. South Park VIP parking lots off Corrigan Dr near skating rink. Lawrenceville Farmers Market – 4-7pm. MayNov 22. Fresh fruits and vegetables, flowers, prepared foods. SNAP accepted. Bay 41, 115 41st St, Lawrenceville.

wednesday Mount Pleasant Farmers Market – 2-6pm. JunSep at the American Architectural Salvage lot, 23 W. Main St.

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saturday Bellevue Farmers Market – 3-7pm. Jun-Oct 26. Locally grown food, hand-crafted items. Bayne Park, 34 North Balph Ave, Bellevue. Hampton Community Center Farmers Market – 3-7pm. Jun-Oct 12. 3101 McCully Rd. Ross Twp Farmers Market – 3-7pm. May-Oct. Produce, prepared foods, baked goods. St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church parking lot, 920 Perry Hwy, Ross Twp. City of Pittsburgh: Carrick Farmers Market – 3:30-6:30pm. Jun 1- Oct 26. Snap accepted. Carrick Dairy District, 1529 Brownsville Rd. Moon Township Farmers Market – 3:30-6:30pm. Jun-Sep (except Jun 22). St. Philip’s Church, 1629 Beaver Grade Rd. Midweek Market at Southside Works – 4-7pm. Every other Wed. Jun-Oct 6. Town Square area of SouthSide Works, 424 S. 27th St. Mt. Lebanon Lions Farmers Market – 4-7pm. Jun-Oct. Special events including music and entertainment. United Lutheran Church, 975 Washington Rd, Mt Lebanon.

thursday Market Square Farmers Market – 10am-2pm. May-Oct. Forbes Ave and Market St. Main Street Farmers Market, Washington – 3-6pm. May-Oct. Municipal lot at 139 S Main St. Murrysville Farmers Market – 3-7pm. Jun-Sep. Produce, dairy, food trucks, live entertainment. 3235 Sardis Rd. Shiloh Farm Stand GROW Pittsburgh – 3-6pm. Jun-Oct. 7290 Thomas Blvd, Point Breeze. Wilkinsburg Farmers Market – 4-6pm. Jun 16Oct 13. Harold Young Sr Parklet, 739 Penn Ave. Ambridge Farmers Market – 4-7pm. May-Nov. St. Mary’s Byzantine Catholic Church, 624 Park Rd. Green Tree Farmers Market – 4-7pm. May-Oct. Green Tree Park, lower level, Greentree Rd. Upper St. Clair Rotary Farmers Market – 4-7pm. May-September. 2040 Washington Rd.

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East Liberty Farmers Market Cooperative – 5am-noon. Year-round. Western PA’s oldest continually operating Farmer-owned indoor cooperative. 344 N Sheridan Ave. Irwin Farm Market – 8am-noon. May-Oct. 100 Pennsylvania Ave. Morgantown Farmers Market – 8:30-noon. Through October. Wide variety of food and farm products grown and made by vendors within 50 miles of the market. 400 Spruce St, Morgantown, WV. Info mfmgamanager@gmail.com. Monroeville Lions Farmers Market – 9am-noon. Jun-Nov 19. Monroeville Community Park, 2399 Tilbrook Rd. 18th Annual Sewickley Farmers Market – 9am1pm. Apr-Nov. St James Parish lot, 200 Walnut St. Bloomfield Saturday Market – 9am-1pm. JunNov 19. 5050 Liberty Ave. Swissvale Farmers Market – 9am-1pm. Jun-Oct. Fresh produce, good food, live music and other events. 2036 Noble St. Black Urban Gardeners and Farmers of Pittsburgh – 10am-2pm. Jun-Oct. 501 Brushton Ave at Susquehanna St, Homewood.

community spotlight

Urban Farming Collective in Pittsburgh by Martin Miron

afael Vencio, of AmBoy Urban Collective, LLC, has a vision for the urban farm-driven collective to serve an accompanying brick-and-mortar location housing a Filipino-focused restaurant, market, bodega and bar. He says, “I hope to bring people of different backgrounds together through the richness and beauty of Filipino food and culture by beRafael Vencio coming a successful and sustainable multifaceted urban business. I strive to help close the gap on income and food insecurities in dense urban areas where access and education are scarce by establishing various platforms that enrich cultural diversity and socially driven economies, thus creating a sustainable small business that offers high-quality standards to food and farming professionals in today’s unpredictable economy.” His goal is to establish a permanent location for the collective to design and build a centralized facility for all business operations. The start-up will collect historical data and provide a financial identity that is available for others to use via their own background in urban farming to develop a business that will provide enough income to be viable and improve the quality of the urban environment.

Vencio explains, “I got into farming during the pandemic and I wanted to focus on the sustainability of my work as a lifelong career. When I was an aspiring chef, I remembered an idea I had about a small farm directly producing for a restaurant, and it reminded me of my grandparents, who were farmers in the Philippines. Since I had no prior background in farming, I was fortunate to find a farm incubator within the city.” He started growing mushrooms at home as an introductory to urban farming and then entered for the nonprofit Hilltop Farm Incubator and program in 2021. Now Vencio grows vegetables that are culturally common in Filipino cuisine on a quarter-acre lot using no-till, highintensity farming, organic methods and a market gardener strategy, complementing that with other Western cultivars that are conducive to this zone or nutritionally significant. He notes, “I scale my farming operations based on three revenue streams of my small business: the farmers market, community supported agriculture (CSA) subscriptions and value-added products, including popup dinner events.” Vencio provides volunteer work, and started the season this year with an intern from Chatham Food studies through the summer. He says, “I sell at the farmers market in Lawrenceville, and will be there on Tuesdays up until early November.” For more information, visit AmboyUrbanCollective.com. June 2022

conscious eating

Planet-Friendly Pours THE RISE OF SUSTAINABLE WINE AND SPIRITS

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by Sheila Julson

conic food and beverage magazines such as Bon Appetit and Food & Wine affirm that sustainable and socially responsible wines and spirits are becoming a major force in the market, yet consumers wanting to pour an Earth-conscious tipple need a sobering amount of research to sort through what’s truly eco-friendly. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration does not require wine makers to list ingredients on labels or regulate the use of terms such as “natural” and “sustainably grown”. “There are more than 70 additives that are allowed in wine that don’t have to be disclosed on the label,” explains Brad Kruse, who with his wife, Allie, owns Nonfiction Natural Wines, a Milwaukeebased specialty wine retailer. “The only real requirement relating to additives is the declaration of sulfites, which makes it trickier, because even wines with no added sulfites have to have the warn12

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ing on the label because some naturally occur in the wine.” Some wine labels tout that they’re made with organic grapes or grapes that are farmed sustainably. “But those may still have a host of other additives or lots of added sulfites,” says Kruse. Certifications can act as a shortcut to locate eco-friendly wines. Demeter USA, for example, certifies vineyards that follow strict biodynamic rules for how the wine is farmed and processed, including limiting sulfites. But many small producers that operate naturally don’t bother obtaining certification. Independent wine shops with knowledgeable employees can help consumers choose wisely. Kruse recommends looking for the name of the importer on the back label, saying, “If you learn a handful of importers that focus on naturally made wines, such as Louis/Dressner, Zev Rovine or Jenny & Francois, it can be a quick way to find a good option.”

Sustainability in the Vineyards

CLASSIC MANHATTAN

Rudy Marchesi, the former chairman of Demeter USA, practices biodynamic farming at his vineyard, Montinore Estate, in Forest Grove, Oregon. “We view our farm as one whole organism, below and above the ground,” he says. Biodynamic farming, founded by philosopher Rudolf Steiner a century ago, requires using nutritionally rich compost teeming with microbiology of fungi and bacteria, as well as synchronizing specific farming practices with the seasons. These practices help the vineyards buffer droughts and weather swings, resulting in a consistent product that reflects the region. “Wine connoisseurs and collectors look for wines that have a sense of place and tell the story of where they’re from,” Marchesi says.

¼ oz cherry liqueur 2½ oz sustainably produced rye 1 oz sweet vermouth 2 dashes angostura bitters 1 dash cherry bitters 1 maraschino cherry

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Distillers Move Toward Sustainable Practices Alcohol is an agricultural product, so producing a sustainable spirit starts with the grain itself, says Herman C. Mihalich, founder and distiller of Mountain Laurel Spirits, in New Hope, Pennsylvania. “Rye is a much less resource-intensive grain to grow compared to crops like corn,” he says. The recipe for the company’s signature Dad’s Hat Rye Whiskey calls for malted barley and rye, but no corn. “Rye doesn’t need much fertilizer and few, if any, pesticides. It’s easy to grow and it preserves soil because it’s a fall planting crop that helps prevent erosion,” he says. Their grains are sourced from a nearby farmer, and they save water by capturing cooling water from the still’s condenser and storing it in a tank, then using it to clean tanks and make spent mash that can be used for livestock feed. The bottles are made locally by Stoelzle Glass, in Monaca, Pennsylvania. When seeking sustainably produced spirits, customers have to do their due diligence, Mihalich says. “It requires a little digging and asking the right questions: What grains are you using and from where? How are you using water?” When Extreme Chef host Marsh Mokhtari and his wife, Jan, founded Gray Whale Gin, they rotated proprietorship with two existing distilleries instead of using land and resources to build a new one. A vacation in Big Sur inspired the couple to “capture California in a glass” and make a product with ingredients found along the gray whale migratory route between the Baja Peninsula and Oregon. They hired a professional forager to collect juniper berries along the coast. “Juniper for most gin is sourced from Italy or Macedonia,” says Mokhtari. “We predominantly use juniper berries from California, which are light purple and larger, with a cedar component.” They also source mint and limes from sustainable farms in California. Gray Whale Gin gives back through a partnership with the environmental nonprofits Oceana and 1% for the Planet. They recently joined with Oceana and former California governor Jerry Brown to support responsible swordfishing practices off the California coast.

Coat a chilled cocktail glass with cherry liqueur. Add the remaining ingredients over ice in a a shaker. Stir and strain into the cocktail glass. Garnish with the cherry. Recipe and photo courtesy of Dad’s Hat Rye Whiskey.

WHALE HELLO THERE 2 oz sustainably produced gin ½ oz fresh lime juice ½ oz fresh lemon juice ½ oz agave syrup Fill a cocktail shaker with ice and pour in the gin, lime juice, lemon juice and agave. Shake vigorously and strain into a chilled martini glass, or over a glass filled with ice. Garnish with a lemon twist and serve immediately. Recipe and photo courtesy of Gray Whale Gin.

Sheila Julson is a Milwaukee-based freelance writer and contributor to Natural Awakenings magazine. June 2022

green living

plant medicine

Herbs Can Assist with Men’s Health

he leading causes of male health issues in the United States are heart disease and diabetes, followed by a lack of sex drive. It is discouraging to spend a lifetime working hard only to retire overweight and out of breath, with myriad aching joints, poor eyesight, high blood sugar and a lack of libido. But it is possible to kick start the body into wellness. Many natural remedies are available to consumers, but plant medicine has been around since the beginning of humanity, and it aids the body in healing itself. Many diseases originate in the biome, so gut health and proper nutrition are crucial to achieving a balanced body. Herbs that promote a healthy, detoxifying cleanse include kelp, burdock, reishi and shitake mushrooms, milk thistle and nettles. Ashwagandha is an easily accessible herb. Preparations of the roots are used as an aphrodisiac, antidepressant, antidiabetic and antioxidant. Powdered sources enhance the male libido and treat infertility issues. In addition, it is a natural antioxidant that improves the production of male hormones, which increases stamina and virility. For the management of diabetes, ashwagandha aids in lowering blood sugar levels. It also lowers cholesterol and aids in reducing the risk for heart attacks and blood clots. Other herbs to consider are sarsaparilla, saw palmetto and damiana. Milk thistle, Silybum marianum, is used as a complementary therapy to aid individuals with Type 2 diabetes but may cause a reaction in people allergic to the Asteraceae/Compositae family of plants. These herbs can be found in several different forms, but the quickest way is to use capsules, liquid extracts or tinctures. Focusing on what promotes our health can seem like a daunting task, but it doesn’t have to be. Begin with a positive mindset: “I am a self-healing machine in a complete state of wellness- mind, body, and soul.” We are part of nature, and she is a part of us. Embrace these simple natural remedies with balanced nutrition to promote overall health and wellness and notice a more robust, younger vibrant self. Herbal medicine is a time-honored tradition to strengthen and renew the body’s capability to health itself, but consult with a herbalist before use. April Smith is an herbalist in Morgantown, WV, and owner of Native Holistics. See ad, page 19.

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June 2022

The Healing of the Modern Man Men Redefine Their Emotional Power by Marlaina Donato

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or generations immemorial, men have been builders of culture, solid providers and inspired adventurers, but gender roles and sometimes-conflicting cultural expectations have taken a heavy toll on both the individual and community. The pervasive “tough guy” paradigm has denied half the human race its full emotional expression, resulting in amplified stress levels, compromised physical health, toxic aggression, broken families and a higher risk for addiction. According to research published in the American Journal of Men’s Health in 2020, death by suicide among men is almost four times higher than that of women and is partly attributed to the stigma of seeking treatment for depression. African American men carry the additional burden of racial and economic inequality, and their depressive symptoms are often more persistent and incapacitating. Contrary to common myth, men are deeply emotional and responsive beings by nature. Centuries overdue, restrictive cultural definitions are slowly shifting to a broader psychosocial view of authentic manhood. Thanks to guy-friendly mental health resources, virtual and in-person support communities and diverse options in the alternative health field, more men are taking responsibility for their well-being and learning how to embody emotional freedom. They are stepping up to the plate as strong, sensitive leaders, something our world needs now more than ever.

Breaking the Chains and Choosing Authenticity

The masculine expectation and requirement have been for most boys to “buck up and tough it out” during childhood and adolescence, and this overt or sometimes very subtle conditioning can promote disproportionate power plays, homophobia and resistance to emotional intimacy well into adulthood. “Every society has ‘feeling rules’ that govern how emotions can be expressed publicly,” says psychologist Michael Reichert, executive director of

the Center for the Study of Boys’ and Girls’ Lives at the University of Pennsylvania and author of How to Raise a Boy: The Power of Connection to Build Good Men. “Research tells us that boys are born as emotionally expressive as girls, but in a short time receive constant messages from their loved ones, schoolmates and TV shows that only certain emotions are okay for boys.” Such emotional restrictiveness has a profoundly negative impact on male development, he says. For Todd Adams in Elmhurst, Illinois, cofounder of MenLiving. org and a Tony Robbins-certified life coach, recognizing societal trappings is key. “The first step is to have the awareness that we have been lied to for as long as we can remember about what it means to be a man. We have been conditioned to stay in the ‘man box’, which means if we show any type of vulnerability, our value from the outside, as well as from the inside, plummets.” Reichert concurs. “My belief is that tragic outcomes—addictions, violence, suicide and premature mortality—are a reflection of how men’s human natures are thwarted by cultural norms. Being confined to a man box is hazardous. We humans, including men, are built to express our hearts in close connections to others we love and who love us.” The notion of going the distance solo is discouraged by Adams, whose organization helps men from all walks of life find support and connection through online meetings and adventure outings. “Once the awareness is there, I would invite family, partners, et cetera, to invite us to show up in a more authentic and human way,” he says.

Stress and the Physiology of Feelings For many men, emotions—other than “socially acceptable” anger and irritation—rarely see the light of day and instead morph into physical maladies such as digestive trouble, headaches, chest pain and high blood pressure. Unmanaged stress can also zap any zing in the bedroom. “I’m certainly not a doctor, but I’m sure there is a correlation for some about their emotional/mental/financial wellbeing being related to erectile dysfunction. The men that I work with often have a habit of not taking good care of themselves, and that lack of self-care ripples into other parts of their life, including their sexual life,” observes Adams. In spite of the fact that many others are struggling with the same condition, out of shame, it is often kept in the shadows. “My advice is that men find safe spaces to discuss these challenges with others. My hope is that men can discuss sexuality and intimacy as openly as women do.” Josh Beharry, project coordinator of HeadsUpGuys.org, in Vancouver, Canada, an online resource hub for men battling depression, has spearheaded online stress assessment tests for more than 26,000 men over the age of 18 and found surprising consistency. “The results suggest that the two most common stressors faced by the men are a lack of meaning and feelings of loneliness, followed by financial strain, relationship difficulties and problems at work,” he says. According to data gathered by Tulane University, human connection boosts immunity and wards off cardiovascular disease, anxiety, depression and cognitive impairment. For men especially, June 2022

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social bonds are critical in coping with life stresses. Forging new alliances and maintaining old ones can be challenging with or without a pandemic, but online communities offer additional support, camaraderie and nonjudgmental sharing, which can be especially helpful for those suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), addiction and depression.

Beyond Talk Therapy Male depression can be hidden in plain sight, disguised as hitting the bottle to “relax”, or by working compulsively, engaging in highrisk behaviors or easily flying off the handle at loved ones. Beharry knows firsthand how insidious the disease can be and why seeking help sooner than later is vital. After miraculously surviving a horrific suicide attempt, he unexpectedly found hope and the will to live through walking, breathwork and human connection. Being honest with others, as well as himself, was a turning point in his recovery. “For a lot of men, talking about dealing with depression feels like an admission of weakness or something to feel guilty about,” he says. “Try to think of emotional pain like physical pain. If you get cut, you bleed; that’s part of being human. Then you do something to treat the wound. Or if it’s deeper, you go to a 18

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doctor or a hospital. Denying painful emotions is like trying not to bleed when you get cut or trying to pretend you’re not bleeding.” For family members or friends concerned about a man’s mental health, he advises, “Vague assertions like, ‘You seem depressed,’ can make a guy feel attacked or put on the spot. Instead, it’s helpful to start by pointing out specific observations you’ve had about changes to his mood or behavior, such as, ‘You seem stressed out,’ or, ‘You haven’t been eating much,’ or, ‘You’ve been isolating yourself from friends or turning down plans more than usual.’” It is estimated that 4 percent of men suffer from the physical and psychological consequences of trauma, and PTSD is certainly not reserved for combat veterans. While traditional therapies like cognitive behavioral therapy and exposure therapy are excellent for treating depression, other modalities offer light at the end of the tunnel for men plagued by traumatic overwhelm. Somatic Experiencing, developed by PTSD psychologist Peter Levine during the last 50 years, targets trauma stored in the nervous system and gently helps a person to increase their tolerance for difficult physical sensations and buried emotions. It is also highly useful in addiction recovery. Therapeutic massage, yoga and regular exercise are all allies for men to combat stress, anchor into their bodies and access unconscious feelings. In the end, little things add up to a whole lot of change for a man. “You are not alone. Take your responsibility in how you experience life. Empower yourself with resources—podcasts, books, therapy, coaching—whatever support might look like for you,” advises Adams. There is no better time than now for the masculine to rise to a new level of greatness. “There is ample evidence that we are in a paradigm-shifting moment in the history of manhood,” says Reichert. “When I speak with parents, I say that there has never been a better time in all of human history to raise a son.” Marlaina Donato is an author and multimedia artist. Connect at WildflowerLady.com.

HELPFUL RESOURCES MenLiving, MenLiving.org A national program of virtual and in-person opportunities for men to forge healthy and nourishing connections. EVRYMAN, Evryman.com An online men’s community group. Good Men Project, GoodMenProject.com Includes articles on many topics including relationships, dads and families, advice and confessions, and ethics. HeadsUpGuys, HeadsUpGuys.org A program at The University of British Columbia that provides support for men to prevent and manage depression.

inspiration

The Gift of an Imperfect Father

or many of us, Dad was the first person to throw us a ball, take us fishing or treat us to ice cream after a game. If we were fortunate, he was the one who made a bad day better, was a strong protector who kept the metaphorical wolves from the door and, by example, secured our place in the world. Fathers give us many “firsts”, and for some of us, that also means a broken heart. Parents, like all human beings, are fallible, learning as they go, never quite getting it right, but doing the best that they can. Sometimes their “best” is tangled in a net of unresolved personal trauma, addiction or mental illness, and we learn to bear the bitter with

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by Marlaina Donato

the sweet. “Someone I loved once gave me a box full of darkness. It took me years to understand that this, too, was a gift,” wrote poet Mary Oliver, and her words can be a beacon as we journey through healing the father wound. Once we come out the other side of childhood, it might be difficult to love someone that destroyed our trust and even more difficult to love ourselves. This “gift” might take decades for us to unwrap. Children of difficult dads sometimes blossom like lotuses into more compassionate beings from the mud of absence, cruelty or indifference. Perhaps with a shift in perspective, we may realize how their weaknesses might have given us survival tools and resilience. Flipping the coin to examine what they have done right and giving credit where it is deserved can also help us to open that dead-bolted door to forgiveness. Taking inventory, both positive and negative, can encourage us to become a different kind of parent. In a black-and-white world, the heart’s gray areas can teach us how to lean into our own healing. We inherit a lot from our wounded fathers, including an energetic opportunity to change the familial emotional code, and it can be beautiful. Marlaina Donato is an author, composer and painter. Connect at WildflowerLady.com.

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June 2022

Healing Trauma EMERGING THERAPIES OFFER FRESH HOPE

by Ronica O’Hara

efugee children with tear-stained faces, the frail elderly being wheeled away from floods or fires, the sobbing families of gunshot victims—the faces of trauma are seen in every heartbreaking newscast. And the faces are even closer to us than that, walking down the street: a woman that recoils from touch, a child that has withdrawn into himself, a man with incoherent bursts of anger. The trauma of death, cruelty and destruction has always been part of the human experience. In the U.S., surveys show that as many as 60 to 70 percent of people report being traumatized by sexual assault, accidents, violence, war combat or other causes, and as many as one in 11 may be diagnosed in their lifetime with the more severe post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The encouraging news is that in the last few decades, a revolution has occurred in the recognition of how widespread trauma is and how deeply embedded it can be, not only in our behaviors but in our bodies. That, in turn, has led to effective and ever-evolving approaches to heal what’s been broken. “Although trauma and PTSD are visible in the culture everywhere now, from films to popular literature and from legal to mental health fields, until 1980 the topic was virtually nonexistent,” says San Francisco psychologist, PTSD researcher and 20

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author Harvey Schwartz, Ph.D., who has treated trauma clients in clinical practice for 35 years. “After it became a legitimate diagnosis in 1980, long-overdue research and development of clinical protocols occurred, and today, almost every tradition and subculture within the mental health field has its own model of how to treat trauma.” Shaping the ongoing dialogue has been the research of Boston psychiatrist Bessel van der Kolk, whose 2014 book, The Body Keeps the Score, has occupied the top rung of The New York Times bestseller list for three years. In magnetic imaging studies, he found that when a person is thrust into a terrorizing incident, the cognitive functions in the brain’s temporal lobe shut down and activity shifts to the self-defense mode of the amygdala. When the person responds by fighting, fleeing or freezing, physiological reactions kick in, which armor the body and trap emotions and thinking in that fraught moment, distorting future perceptions and experiences. He argues that any true healing of trauma must include “bottom-up” modalities focusing on the body rather than only mental “top-down” insights. He also insists that no single treatment alone is likely enough and no combination of treatments will be the same for every person. Christine Songco, a Los Angeles dental hygienist and wellness coach, used cognitive therapy, journaling and meditation to relieve the trauma of a grueling bout with cancer, but hearing loud and angry voices still made her panic. What ultimately proved healing was an hour-long session of Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), in which she followed a therapist’s prompt to move her eyes back and forth while memories surfaced. “It got to the root of my fear and anxiety and the source of my trauma without hours of therapy talking sessions, but I do think the other work I did set the stage for EMDR to be effective for me,” she says. Schwartz says that two major approaches to treating PTSD have emerged: cognitive and experiential. Cognitive, or “talk therapies”, supported by academic research and insurance companies, emphasize mentally processing painful memories to manage such symptoms as nightmares, flashbacks and explosive anger, often using anti-anxiety and antidepressant medications. They can include such strategies as narrative recall, slowly increasing exposure to the traumatic material, mindfulness training and deep breathing exercises. “Cognitive approaches help survivors learn how to become an expert of themselves so that they can respond to their trauma in a healthier way,” says psychologist Sabina Mauro, of Yardley, Pennsylvania, author of The Mindfulness Workbook for PTSD. This type of therapy can take months to years and effectively treats about half of PTSD sufferers. Experiential approaches, which have been researched less, but have engendered substantial therapist enthusiasm, do a “deep dive” to work through traumatic patterning embedded in a person’s mind, body and psyche. “They help people restore

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healing ways

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not only their nervous systems, but their capacity for self-trust and self-forgiveness and their capacity for connection to their bodies and others,” says Schwartz. These modalities mostly focus, at least at first, on physical sensations rather than intellectual comprehension. For example, Somatic Experiencing defuses deeply held, fear-based contractions in the body by integrating those sensations with peaceful alternatives. EMDR, once an outlier but now practiced globally and endorsed by the World Health Organization, uses eye movements to lower the emotional charge of a traumatic memory. Internal Family Systems repairs a wounded psyche by relating a person’s deeply felt, damaged “child parts” to their essential goodness. To re-inhabit parts of the body frozen in the past by trauma, patients may be encouraged to use somatic meditations, trauma-informed yoga, acupuncture, massage and martial arts, as well as art, music, dance and other forms of expression.

Psychedelics, which if used carefully can open a trauma sufferer to a larger sense of purpose, may become a legal option in a few years. In a recent U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved Phase 3 clinical trial on MDMA (previously called ecstasy), 67 percent of participants no longer met the criteria for PTSD after three therapist-guided sessions.

Says Schwartz, “It can feel like a supermarket of options out there, so people need to read, become informed consumers and combine treatments at times. We have to think of the mind, the body and the spiritual as all needing attention and integration.” Health writer Ronica O’Hara can be contacted at OHaraRonica@gmail.com.

June 2022

fit body

The Exercise Power of E-Bikes GET A WORKOUT ON AN EASIER RIDE by Sandra Yeyati

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photo courtesy of Gail Coleman

he familiar adage, “No pain, no gain,” doesn’t really apply to e-bikes. Although a pedal-assist electric bicycle is zippier and easier to ride than a conventional model, researchers are finding that as long as we’re pedaling, we’re still getting our heart pumping, building stamina and experiencing some of that cardio magic. That’s good news for those of us that like to work smarter, not harder. What’s more, that batteryenabled oomph supplies riders with the enjoyment, motivation and self-confidence to venture out more frequently and for longer periods of time, give hills and inclines a try and even pedal to work for an active, eco-friendly commute. It’s a win-win-win. In 2018, researchers at Brigham Young University (BYU), in Provo, Utah, sought to quantify just how good a workout was possible on an e-bike, and they discovered that the average heart rate was only 6.21 beats per minute lower than on a conventional cycle. “The e-bike and conventional bike averages both fell within that 50 to 70 percent maximumheart rate threshold which is indicative of moderate-intensity cardiovascular activity, so there seems to be a similar amount of benefit for heart health when riding an e-bike, despite the fact that the perceived exertion was significantly lower than on a conventional bike,” says Taylor Hoj, lead author of the study published in the journal JMIR Public Health and Surveillance. The college-aged men and women that participated in the study rode the same 10-mile trail on each type of bike, so it was easy to compare how much faster the e-bikes were. Cyclists averaged 12 miles per hour (mph) on the conventional bike and 16 mph on the e-bike, reaching top speeds of 22 mph and 27 mph, respectively. On average, the same route took 54 minutes to complete on the conventional bike and only 39 minutes on the e-bike—a 30 to 40 percent time savings. For people considering using an e-bike to commute to work, that reduction might make it easier to give it a shot. Using questionnaires given before and after each ride, the BYU researchers found,

“In general, participants agreed that they could ride an e-bike on most days, in the cold, when they were tired or dressed in formal attire, while carrying groceries or books, or on hilly terrain,” says Hoj, a health equity epidemiologist at the Utah Department of Health and adjunct faculty member at the BYU College of Life Sciences. Notably absent from the study were e-bikes with throttles, which with a twist of the handle or the push of a button, provide a boost even when the rider isn’t pedaling. These bikes would probably not provide the same level of exercise benefits. In 2019, the same BYU researchers

conducted a similar study with experienced mountain bikers, published in the JMIR Formative Research Journal. “Our results in that study supported the idea that using a pedal-assist electric mountain bike (EMTB) retained the cardiovascular benefit and that the participants overwhelmingly perceived the potential of EMTB use to be positive,” Hoj says. “Some of them said an EMTB could help get them out on the trails more or perhaps get them to ride longer and go further, and also would allow older, injured, disabled or less-fit riders to enjoy mountain

biking on dirt trails, whereas maybe their age, injuries or fitness levels limited their capability on a conventional mountain bike.” According to Hoj, e-bikes offer a great set of benefits for fitness buffs. “Even if you’re a very serious athlete and in training programs, there are days where maybe you’re recovering from a more intense ride and your muscles are really sore, but you still want to continue to train your heart and that aerobic side of things, and an e-bike could be a great use for a more laid back aerobic day while the legs are recover-

ing,” he says. “And if someone is wanting to get into mountain biking but doesn’t feel like they have the fitness to get there or doesn’t know how to start, that pedal assist could remove that initial barrier.” Ultimately, the decision to buy an e-bike—good ones start at $1,000—may come down to emotional considerations. “They’re a lot of fun to ride,” Hoj says. Sandra Yeyati, J.D., a professional writer and editor, can be reached at SandraYeyati@ gmail.com.

June 2022

healthy kids

How to Raise Empathetic Kids SIMPLE WAYS PARENTS CAN CULTIVATE COMPASSION by Carrie Jackson

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mpathy is the foundation of a caring society. While we are all born with a certain amount, cultivating it is a skill that can be strengthened with practice, and it is critical that the learning process start early, say childhood educators. An empathetic child can better manage their own emotional responses and understand how someone else might be feeling. Studies show that children that practice empathy are less likely to bully and better suited to collaborative environments, setting them up for academic and professional success. According to educator Traci Baxley, of Boca Raton, Florida, empathy in children is developed over time and with repetition. “The earlier we begin to model empathy with our children, the more they will mimic the characteristics associated with the awareness and care of others. Teaching and modeling empathy early supports children’s emotion regulation development and contributes to creating safe spaces in our homes for children to feel nurtured, valued and cared for,” she says. As a speaker, coach and author of Social Justice Parenting: How to Raise Compassionate, Anti-Racist, Justice-Minded Kids in an Unjust World, Baxley uses empathy as a tool for fostering civic-minded awareness. “Empathy is foundational to achieving social justice and creating a world where everyone has a fair chance to live a full, productive life. Social justice requires us to see each other’s perspectives, circumstances and lived experiences through the lens of empathy and compassion. It’s the only

Empathy often starts with listening. way to live in the space of active hope that we can create a world free from inequities and injustices,” she says. One innovative program, Toronto-based Roots of Empathy, began in 1996 after a mother brought her baby into a kindergarten classroom for children to relate to. With the aid of an instructor, they were encouraged to understand the baby’s needs and feelings, and to take the baby’s perspective. So successfully did the interaction reduce bullying behavior that the program has since spread globally, reaching 1 million children in K-8 classes. “In school, students are taught to read, but if we don’t teach them to relate, then we can expect failed societies,” says founder Mary Gordon. “By interpreting the feelings of the tiny baby and sharing when they had the same feelings, the students develop emotional literacy and awareness. This enables them to build connections and healthy relationships, which leads to inclusion and integration.” By parents modeling empathy and vulnerability around their children, the foundation is laid for open conversations, she says. “At the dinner table, say, ‘Today I felt embarrassed when I was called on at work and felt unprepared.’ Identifying and normalizing feelings is the best way to show them it’s something you value and encourage their natural instincts. Kids learn best through observation rather than instruction.” At The Children’s Museum, in Oak Lawn, an Illinois nonprofit, play is an essential part of childhood development. Executive Director Adam Woodworth says the institution focuses on kindness and gratitude to build a foundation of empathy. “Helping children find their empathy for others develops strong friendships built on trust and understanding. Parents can incorporate empathy into explanations for everyday interactions such as sharing toys. Instead of focusing on the negative of giving up their toy for someone else, talk about how happy the other child would feel,” he suggests. Empathy often starts with listening. “Teaching children how to listen for context is a skill that is developed over time. Parents can help by asking open-ended questions while reading, such as, ‘Why do you think Frog didn’t want to invite Snake to the party?’ This helps cultivate both understanding and empathy, acknowledges their feelings as real and validates them in a way that they know we care,” he says. Baxley stresses that it is imperative for parents to model the behaviors they want to cultivate in front of their children. “The way we show up for our children is how they will show up for others,” she says. “We have to pour these habits of empathy and compassion into our children in the privacy of our homes if we expect them to know how to show up for others in that way out in the world.” Carrie Jackson is a Chicago-based freelance writer and frequent contributor to Natural Awakenings magazine. Connect at CarrieJacksonWrites.com. June 2022

natural pet

WAYS HUMANS GET IT WRONG by Karen Shaw Becker

ne of the primary activities we do with canine family members is to take walks because they love them and benefit from them. But just as some dogs, for a variety of reasons, are difficult to walk, some people are less-than-ideal dog walkers. When we’re teaching our canine BFFs how to behave at the end of a leash, most of us aren’t nearly as concerned with our own behavior during these outings. We assume we’re doing everything right, and it’s our furry sidekicks that need correcting. But believe it or not, we’re just as capable of bad behavior during walks as the other way around. Here are a few reasons why. NOT ALLOWING SNIFF TIME. A dog’s most acute sense is that of smell. She explores and experiences the world through her nose. Smell is a dog’s “first sense”, much as sight is ours. Just as we depend on our eyes to inform us of the world around us, dogs depend on their noses. If we can imagine how it would feel to take walks with our eyes half-closed, then we can empathize with how it feels to our dog to be prevented from stopping to sniff things. It’s unnatural, slightly intimidating and, ultimately, boring. Dogs need lots of outdoor sniffing opportunities to help them learn about the world around them and stimulate their minds. For a change of pace, instead of a normal walk, try taking the dog on a “sniffari”, letting him take the lead. Allow him to sniff whatever he pleases and make all the navigational and investigational decisions. IGNORING THE DOG. Unfortunately, there are pet parents that do everything but pay attention to their dogs during walks. The daily activity becomes so routine that they do it without giving much thought to the furry fellow at the other end of the leash. This is a bad habit primarily for the danger it can pose to the dog that is often busy looking for dead or possibly deadly things to pick up in his mouth or interesting places to lift his leg (like a car door). There is also the potential on walks for unexpected things to happen, like an unfriendly dog appearing seemingly out of nowhere or a car swerving dangerously close. Staying focused on our dog and our immediate environment affords the opportunity to react quickly when necessary, keeping both owner and pet out of harm’s way. If boredom prevents being fully present on a walk, change the scenery. Instead of heading outside in the same old direction, buckle the dog in and drive a few blocks away or 26

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CHOOSING THE WRONG TYPE OF COLLAR, HARNESS OR LEASH. Many pet parents don’t realize the importance of choosing the right type of collar, harness and leash for their dog. Certain dogs should wear a harness and should never be leashed or even handled by the collar. These include dogs that pull or lunge while on a leash, those prone to tracheal collapse or a seizure disorder, and dogs with chiropractic issues involving the neck or back. Choke collars and other outdated training devices can cause pain and injury to a dog’s neck and in extreme cases, strangulation. They should be replaced with safer alternatives. For walks, training sessions and whenever the dog will be on leash, use either a head collar or no-pull harness. Be wary of retractable leashes, which have the potential to injure both dogs and their owners. Flat leashes should be no longer than six feet. MULTITASKING. This almost always involves a cell phone. If we have a phone to our ear while walking, we have only one hand available for our dog. And even if earbuds are being used and the phone is in a pocket, it’s impossible to be present for both the pet and the person on the other end of the line. The dog will inevitably be the loser in this deal. And if texting, searching the internet or even listening to a podcast or audiobook while walking, our attention is not on the dog. One of the most important gifts that can be given to our dog whenever we interact with him, including on walks, is our undivided attention. Put down the phone and other distractions and let him know through our focus how much he means to us. Veterinarian Karen Shaw Becker has spent her career empowering animal guardians to make knowledgeable decisions to extend the life and well-being of their animals. Visit DrKarenBecker.com.

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Misbehaving Dog Walks

to a neighborhood park or nearby hiking trail. Everyone will find new things to see, smell and experience.

calendar of events NOTE: Events were accurate at the time the magazine went to press – please call ahead to check for date or time changes. All calendar events must be received by the 10th of the month and adhere to our guidelines. Review submissions guidelines at NaturalAwakeningsSWPA.com or email Publisher@NaturalAwakeningsSWPA.com for more information.

THURSDAY, JUNE 2 Dance & Be Fit with Roland Ford – 6:30-7:30pm. Hosted by Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy. Get active during spring and summer with movements for every ability. Free event at Schenley Plaza, intersection of Forbes Ave and Schenley Dr, Oakland. Info and registration at support.PittsburghParks. org/site/Calendar.

SATURDAY, JUNE 18

FRIDAY, JUNE 3 Dollar Bank Three Rivers Arts Festival – Jun 3-12. Ten days of free art and music. Hosted by the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust featuring world-class, multi-disciplinary performing and visual arts in the Cultural District. Venue and artist information at Traf.TrustArts.org/events.

SUNDAY, JUNE 5 Senior Fit – 9-10am. Hosted by Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy. Improve health, increase longevity, reduce pain, and sleep better – with exercise. Movements for every ability. Free event at Schenley Plaza, intersection of Forbes Ave and Schenley Dr, Oakland. Info and registration at support.PittsburghParks.org/site/Calendar.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 8 #HillYoga – 6-7pm. Hosted by Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy. Enjoy yoga and sunset with Naomi of Apple Tree Yoga Studio. Free event at August Wilson Park, 1801 Cliff St. Register at support. PittsburghParks.org/site/Calendar.

THURSDAY, JUNE 9 Plant Walk with Community Herbalist Annie Fox – 6pm. Hosted by Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy. Identify local edible and medicinal plants, review safe and ethical foraging practices, connect with plant life. Free event at McKinley Park, 900 Delmont Ave. Register at support.PittsburghParks. org/site/Calendar. Past Life Meditation – 6-7:30pm. Hosted by Salt of the Earth and Sacred Centered You. Join Leza with an open mind for a psycho-spiritual journey through time and space using a form of hypnotherapy coupled with Akashic Records exploration. $75. Info: 412-258-0755. Tickets at clients.MindBodyOnline. com/classic/ws. Salt of the Earth, 504 Valley Brook Rd, McMurray. Dig: An Evening of Jazz in the Garden – 7-10pm. 21+. Hosted by Pittsburgh Botanic Garden. Enjoy the musical styling of Benny Benack Jr & Benny Benack III and their 8-piece jazz band in the Peirce Celebration Garden. Pop-up café’ and bar in the Davidson Events Center. VIP seating available. $120/nonmembers, $100/members. General admission $85/65. Tickets and info PittsburghBotanicGarden.org.

FRIDAY, JUNE 10 Juneteenth From Slavery to Freedom Garden Tour – 5-6pm. Event by Frick Environmental Center and Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy. Honor Juneteenth with a tour of the From Slavery to Freedom

Market Square. Free family-friendly celebration featuring African American Culture, music, speakers, and vendors. Funk-soul band War headlines performances by Arrested Development, DJ Holiday and more. Over 200 minority small business artisans and vendors along Liberty and Penn Avenues. 10am Saturday Grand Jubilee Juneteenth Parade through downtown Pittsburgh followed by a voting rights forum at 1pm. Info at WPAjuneteenth.com. Group Sound Bath – 6:30-8pm. Hosted by Youghiogheny Holistic Living and The Mind & Body Boutique. Enjoy a group sound bath meditation with Tibetan singing bowls, crystal bowls and tuning forks. $45 at the door. 110 S Pittsburgh St, Connellsville. 724-707-4338. YoughioghenyHolisticLiving.com.

Garden – an extension of the Heinz History Center’s exhibit. Enslaved people from Africa, unfamiliar with their new environment, amassed knowledge that proved essential for survival and was key to the journey from slavery to freedom. Free at Frick Environmental Center, 2005 Beechwood Blvd. Register at Support.PittsburghParks.org/site/Calendar. TMC for Peace and Social Justice – Open House and Fundraiser – 6-8pm. Thomas Merton Center for Peace and Social Justice – celebrating 50 years and a new location. 50 members can register for the cocktails and light hors d’oeuvres mingle, followed by the ribbon-cutting, open to the public. The goal is to cover one year’s rent. Free parking. Join or renew your membership at conta.cc/3uGCCgK. Community Forge, 1256 Franklin Ave. info@ ThomasMertonCenter.org.

SATURDAY, JUNE 11 Law of Attraction – 9:30-11am. Hosted by Youghiogheny Holistic Living and The Mind & Body Boutique. Come together to learn the basics of law of attraction, understand manifesting, and leave ready to create. $10 at the door. 110 S Pittsburgh St, Connellsville. 724-707-4338. YoughioghenyHolisticLiving.com.

TUESDAY, JUNE 14 Chakra Balancing Meditation with Crystal – 6:15-7:15pm. Hosted by Youghiogheny Holistic Living and The Mind & Body Boutique. Restorative meditation focused on balancing chakras, promoting wellness and overall relaxation. $22 at the door. 110 S Pittsburgh St, Connellsville. 724-707-4338. YoughioghenyHolisticLiving.com.

Allegheny SolarFest – Noon-6pm. Hosted by Breathe Project. Bringing the Solar industry and the general public together for a festival of learning, music and celebration at Hazelwood’s Green Plaza. Check out the largest solar installation in the country, the region’s largest EV car show and live entertainment. $5 donation requested to benefit Solar United Neighbors of PA. Located at Mill 19 (formerly J&L Steel Mill) 4501 Lytle St. Info at AlleghenySolarFest.com.

MONDAY, JUNE 20

savethedate

MONDAY, JUNE 20 Summer Detox/Cleanse – June 20-24. Hosted by Steve Manns, the Wellness Warrior Coach. This is not a juice cleanse. Manns will host a pre-detox training, supply a shopping list and recipes, and provide support throughout. Get reset for summer. Early-bird registration $79 until June 16, then $99. Register at WellnessWarrior. coach/summer-detox.html.

TUESDAY, JUNE 21 Summer Solstice Starlight Stroll – 9-10pm. Join an Allegheny Land Trust Environmental Educator on a sunset hike celebrating Summer Solstice. Learn the history and folklore, enjoy fireflies lighting up Audubon Greenway, 160 Magee Rd, Sewickley. $5. No walk-ins. Register at AlleghenyLandTrust. NetworkForGood.com/events/39118-summersolstice-starlight-stroll.

SATURDAY, JUNE 25

Salt Cave Crystal Bowl Sound Bath Meditation w/Brooke Smokelin – 6-7pm. Hosted by Salt of the Earth, Chakra Yoga Healing, and Vox Lumina. Come relax, unwind with beautiful crystal bowl sound bath in the salt cave. $55. 504 Valley Brook Rd, McMurray. 724-260-0472.

Flower Fireworks Summer Gardens Walk – 10am-Noon. Join West Virginia Botanic Garden Gardener David Davis for an early summer walk through our daylily collection and pollinator beds. Appropriate for adults. $5/members, $15/nonmembers. Tickets and info at WVBG.org. 1061 Tyrone Rd, Morgantown, WV. 23rd Annual WYEP Summer Music Festival – 3-10:30pm. Hosted by 91.3 WYEP and Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy. Free event presented by UPMC Health Plan at Schenley Plaza. 3898 Boulevard of the Allies. Info at WYEP.org/WYEP-SummerMusic-Festival-2022.

FRIDAY, JUNE 17

MONDAY, JUNE 27

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 15

Western Pennsylvania Juneteenth Homecoming Celebration – Jun 17-19 at Point State Park and

Maxo Monday – 6-7pm. Hosted by the Society to Preserve the Millvale Murals of Maxo Vanka, and St

June 2022

WVU Core Aboretum, intersection of Monongahela Blvd and Evansdale Dr, Morgantown WV. 304-293-0387. Laser Cutting Workshop – Thru Nov. 7-9pm. Meets once a month. Hosted by Prototype PGH. Learn to use the Full Spectrum Muse CO2 Laser at Prototype PGH for etching and cutting. This laser cutter can cut acrylic, fabric, leather, paper, rubber and wood. It can also etch coated metals, glass, and stone. $10 at Eventbrite. 460 Melwood Ave, Oakland. Info: PrototypePGH.com.

wednesday Nicholas Croatian Church. Join Director of Education & Interpretation, Becky Gaugler, for an evening tour. $15, children under 5 free. 24 Maryland Ave, Millvale. Tickets at MillvaleMuralsOfMaxoVanka. SalsaLabs.org/MaxoMondays/index.html. Forest Therapy Walk – 6-8pm. Hosted by West Virginia Botanic Garden. Join certified nature and forest therapy guide Charlie Yuill in “Forest Bathing” to enhance health, wellness, and happiness. Age 12+. $5/members, $15/nonmembers. Tickets and info at WVBG.org. 1061 Tyrone Rd, Morgantown, WV.

ongoing events

sunday Sacred Sounds – 1-2:30pm. 3rd Sun. Hosted by Sacred Centered You and Visions Reiki & Soul Spa. $25. Join Leza for a relaxing, powerful meditative experience, sound immersion with crystal bowls, and individual healing vibrations through the gong. 206 Alexander Ave, Strabane. 724-745-1785. Tickets at Eventbrite. Sunday’s Restorative Rejuvenation – 5-6:30pm. 3rd Sun. Hosted by Morgantown Power Yoga. All levels welcome. Learn to use breath, props, and focused awareness to decrease stress and anxiety in the body and the mind. Compliment your power yoga practice with restorative rejuvenation. $25. 235 Spruce St, Morgantown, WV. Tickets: Clients. MindBodyOnline.com.

monday Monday Evening with the Wellness Warrior – 6:30-7:15pm. Learn about a different health and wellness topic every week. Zoom in at Zoom. us/j/92446493853. Meeting ID: 924 4649. Steve@ WellnessWarrior.coach. 1 Hood Power Hour – 7-8pm. A virtual forum hosted by 1 Hood Power to discuss all things political in SWPA and beyond. A virtual public affairs forum featuring elected officials, policymakers and thought leaders. 617-517-7600. Facebook. com/1HoodPower.

tuesday Spring Bird Walks – 7:30am. Led by Mountaineer Audubon at WVU Core Aboretum, Tuesdays from April 19 thru May 17. No registration required.

Pittsburgh, PA

Yoga and Sound Bath – 7-8:15pm. 1st Wed. With Susannah Azzaro. $25. Himalayan Institute of Pittsburgh, 300 Beverly Rd. 412-344-7434. THRIVE Carmichaels Community Garden Project Meeting – 6-7pm every 2nd Wed. Hosted by Domestic Violence Services of Southwestern PA. Attend in person or via Zoom. Fellowship Hall, 101 W South St, Carmichaels. Info: 724-223-5477. Evening Yoga in the Garden – 6:30-7:30pm at West Virginia Botanic Garden. Use breathing techniques to relax, postures to strengthen muscles, and guided meditation to calm the mind, body, and spirit. $12/members, $15/nonmembers. Tickets and info at WVBG.org. 1061 Tyrone Rd, Morgantown, WV.

thursday Yoga Classes – 9:30-10:30am. 1st & 2nd Thurs. Hosted by Spruce Street United Methodist Church. All ages and abilities with variations to accommodate health and movement issues, with students sitting or standing next to a chair. Emphasis on meditative practices. Wear comfortable clothing. 386 Spruce St, Morgantown, W Virginia. 304-292-3359. Millvale Weekly Block Party – 5-9pm. May 12Aug 25. Hosted by Abeille Voyante Tea Co, Cousins Lounge and Maude’s Paperwing Gallery in the 200 block of Grant Ave, Millvale. Check the hosts’ Facebook pages for details. Restorative Yoga in the Salt Cave – 6:45-7:45pm. Through Dec. Hosted by Salt of the Earth. Revive and restore with awesome and unique combination of restorative yoga and detoxifying salt. Tickets clients.MindBodyOnline.com/classic/MainClass. Salt of the Earth, 504 Valley Brook Rd, McMurray. Sound Bath Thursdays – 7-8pm. Hosted by Harmonic Egg Wellness and Rooted in Sound. Visit us in The Strip’s newest Wellness Center. Gongs and therapy grade Himalayan singing bowls create space for deep meditation and relaxation. $30. Tickets at: WellnessLiving.com/schedule/harmonic_egg_ boardman. 412-609-8999.

friday 6th Annual Yoga in the Park Series – 10-11am at Allegheny Commons Park, May 28-August 27. Hosted by Counseling and Wellness Center of Pittsburgh and Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy. Free. Meet at Allegheny Commons West near Brighton & Ridge. CounselingWellnessPGH.com. First Friday Walk/Hike – 10-11:30am. Hosted by Allegheny Land Trust at various interesting parks and green areas around greater Pittsburgh. For info on location, focus, and cost go to Al-

NaturalAwakeningsSWPA.com

leghenyLandTrust.networkforgood.com/events. 412-741-2750. Friday Family Walk – 10am-Noon. Hosted by West Virginia Botanic Garden. First Friday of every month. Enjoy a short story followed by a walk around the Garden, conclude with a simple craft. Trail accommodates off road strollers. Members/ free, $15/donation per family suggested. Preregistration required: wvbg.org or Forms.donorsnap. com/form. Friday 101 – Carnegie Science Center Fab Lab Public Workshops – 1-2pm. Hosted by BNY Mellon Fab Lab Carnegie Science Center. Take a crash course in maker technology – learn the basics of 3D printing, laser cutting, vinyl cutting, and more. $30/ nonmembers, $25/members. One Allegheny Ave. 412-237-3400. Register: CarnegieScienceCenter.org.

saturday Morgantown Farmers Market – 8:30-Noon. Saturdays thru Oct. Wide variety of food and farm products grown and made by vendors within 50 miles of the market. 400 Spruce St, Morgantown, WV. Info: mfmgamanager@gmail.com. 3D Printer Workshop – Noon-2pm. Hosted by Prototype PGH. Learn to use the Elegoo UV Photocuring 3D resin printer. $10 at Eventbrite. 460 Melwood Ave, Oakland. Info: PrototypePGH.com. Prototype PGH – Monthly Open House – Noon2pm, 2nd Sat of the month. Meet with members of our team to ask questions about Prototype and the events, workshops and services offered. Donations appreciated to cover free events and workshops. 460 Melwood Ave, #208. RSVP on our Facebook page. Chakra a Month Workshop Series with Brooke Smokelin – Thru July. 1-3pm, Sat; 7:30-8:30pm, Wed. Online or in person: sessions recorded. Take a transformational journey of self-discovery, deep dive into self, activate and explore chakras one at a time, learn specific yoga poses and practices for each chakra. 25 CEUs for yoga instructors. Two levels: $385 or $1060. Info/register: Brookesmokelin.kartra.com/page/2022ChakraAMonthONLINEJan-July. Sacred Sounds Healing Meditation Series – 7-8:30pm, 1st Sat through Jul with Visions Reiki and Soul Spa and Sacred Centered You. Explore higher levels of guided meditation using Sound Healing, Reiki, and Self-awareness. $25 at SacredCenteredYou.com/registration. Visions Reiki and Soul Spa, 206 Alexander Ave, Strabane. 724-745-1785.

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June 2022

community resource guide

HERBS

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

BIOLOGIC DENTISTRY JANET LAZARUS – BIOLOGIC DENTIST Dr Janet Lazarus, DMD, NMD Mail: 4313 Walnut St, Ste 178 Office: Olympia Shopping Ctr Arcade, McKeesport • 412-754-2020 • Dr.Lazlo@hotmail.com

Dr. Lazarus practices compassionate biologic dentistry by looking at the whole body to offer preventative care and health maintenance. She offers compatibility testing on dental material, safe mercury removal, extraction and a host of other treatments including ozone therapy. She has been practicing for 28 years. See ad, page 6.

CHIROPRACTIC PANTHER FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE AND CHIROPRACTIC Dr Danielle Marra, DC Murrysville • Greensburg 724-387-1014 • PittsburghHealthPro.com

Dr. Danielle Marra has nearly 20 years’ experience helping patients regain their health through conservative and holistic approaches utilizing functional medicine, chiropractic, diet modifications, and nutritional support. The practice provides advanced lab testing, allergy relief, spinal decompression, CDL physicals, massage therapy, thermography and more. Their philosophy is treating the root of your symptoms, naturally. See ad, page 6.

FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE PANTHER FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE AND CHIROPRACTIC Dr. Danielle Mara, DC Murrysville • Greensburg 724-387-1014 • PittsburghHealthPro.com

Dr. Danielle Mara has nearly 20 years’ experience helping patients regain their health through conservative and holistic approaches utilizing functional medicine, chiropractic, diet modifications and nutritional support. Plus advanced lab testing, allergy relief, spinal decompression, CDL physicals, massage therapy, thermography and more. Their philosophy is treating the root of your symptoms, naturally. See ad, page 6.

HEALTH COACH WELLNESS WARRIOR COACH

Steve Manns, NB-HWC, PHC2, CPT Monroeville and Online Health and Wellness Coaching 724-516-2244 • WellnessWarrior.Coach A national board-certified health and wellness coach offering well-being collaboration through behavior change. A healthy body and mind lead to a happy and healthy life. Come start your adventure to reconnect with a better you through education, nutrition, coaching and accountability. See ad, page 14.

HEALTH FOOD EVEREST EATS

EverestEats.com • Orders@everesteats.com

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can do you good Join the Natural Awakenings Franchise Family

A local Pittsburgh plant-based meal delivery service providing, sourced, sustainable, flavorful, and nutritious meals to the Pittsburgh community.

THE KEFIR CHICKS

Connellsville, PA TheKefirChicks.com TheKefirChicks@gmail.com Facebook.com/TheKefirChicks

For more info, visit: NaturalAwakenings.com 30

Pittsburgh, PA

NaturalAwakeningsSWPA.com

Kathy and Haley, The Kefir Chicks, are two chicks on a mission to bring awareness to everyone about whole foods and gut health through whole, probiotic-packed food medicine – water kefir. See ad, page 15.

OLD THYME HERB SHOP, LLC Lisa Cunningham Old-Fashioned Family Herbalist 308 Liberty St, Perryopolis, PA 724-736-2400

Nothing fancy here; just hundreds of organic bulk medicinal herbs at your beck and call. Heal yourself ~ help others. In service and gratitude always. No Facebook, no website, no social media. Not enough thyme! Just you and I and your blessed healing herbs.

HOMEOPATHY MELANIE KRNETA

DIP HOM. ACH, Reiki Master 1215 B Liberty St, Franklin, PA • 814-428-9895 Facebook: Melanie Krneta Homoeopathy Plus Classical homoeopathic consultations providing individualized care for t h e e n t i r e f a m i l y. Migraines, hormonal imbalances, PTSD, grief, arthritis, digestive imbalance. Reiki sessions are beneficial for relaxation and pain management. Other services provided are far infrared sauna with medical grade color therapy and Himalayan salt and ear candling.

NATURAL BEAUTY PRODUCTS NAPTURAL BEAUTY SUPPLY 724-307-8487 NapturalBeautySupply.com

Naptural Beauty Supply was created to end the stigma around natural hair by empowering men and women to love themselves naturally. We do this by instilling confidence in our community and increasing convenience by having the tools and services in one place, such as hair and body butters, beard care and apparel. We are beauty supply with naturals in mind! See ad, page 25.

NATUROPATHIC MEDICINE DR. ARETI, LLC

Dr. Areti Fitsioris 421 Cochran Rd, Pittsburgh 412-419-1537 (call/text) • Facebook.com/Dr.Areti Dr. Areti is a board-certified naturopathic physician who implements manual therapy, lifestyle medicine, nutritional analysis, and non-invasive methods to address functional and structural imbalances – services are 100% grounded in evidence-based science. She goes the extra mile to identify and address root causes of conditions and to provide ongoing support.

Green was the silence, wet was the light, the month of June trembled like a butterfly. ~Pablo Neruda

SPIRITUAL SACRED, CENTERED, YOU, LLC

412-258-0766 • SacredCenteredYou.com Leza is known widely for her abilities as a sound healer, inspirational speaker and interfaith spiritual counselor. Healing arts services include vibrational sound healing, past life and soul regression, journey work counseling and conscious relationships counseling. Private and group services offered. Lesa Vivio, MS, LPC, CMHIMP, DDiv, DSM.

URBAN FARMING GROW PITTSBURGH

Raqueeb Bey, Garden Resource Coordinator 6587 Hamilton Ave, Ste 2W, Pittsburgh 412-362-4769 ext 215 • GrowPittsburgh.org Raqueeb@GrowPittsburgh.org Grow Pittsburgh is an urban, agriculture nonprofit that teaches people how to grow food. They envision the day when everyone grows and eats fresh, local and healthy food. Get involved. Take a tour, become a member, learn, volunteer! Visit their website for workshops and events.

VIBRATIONAL MEDICINE ROOTED IN SOUND

Wyatt Melius 2000 Smallman St, Pittsburgh 412-609-8999 • RootedInSound.com Sound massage, Nada yoga, forest bathing, and acoustic-induced meditation. Check the calendar for sound baths on Sundays and Thursdays. See ad, page 25.

SACRED, CENTERED, YOU, LLC 412-258-0766 SacredCenteredYou.com

Offering individual and group experiences that promote healing through self-discovery and personal acceptance. Special focus on sound healing, life coaching, qigong, and vibrational medicine.

WELLNESS 360 CAFÉ LLC

Tyleda Worou Pittsburgh • 724-374-8089 • 360CafeLLC.com 360 Café LLC is an alternative health and wellness business with the goal of helping others to heal from the inside out while taking a holistic approach to healing by offering distance reiki, and crystal healing sessions to help our consumers restore physical and emotional balance.

SALT OF THE EARTH

Himalayan Salt Cave and Crystal Boutique 504 Valleybrook Rd,McMurray, PA 15317 724-260-0472 • SaltOfTheEarthPgh.com Experience the known ancient healing benefits of halotherapy in the Himalayan salt cave, built from 16 tons of pure Himalayan salt. 45-minute sessions scheduled on the hour. Can be rented for private groups up to 10. Provides an inviting and relaxing environment for events and classes: yoga, meditation, sound healing, and reiki. The crystal boutique offers an array of authentic crystals, jewelry, candles, locally-made bath and body, and Himalayan salt products. The knowledgeable staff will help find the right crystal for you or your home décor. See ad, page 21.

VISIONS REIKI AND SOUL SPA

206 Alexander Ave, Strabane 724-745-1785 • VisionsReikiAndSoulSpa.com As a full-service energy-health and wellness center, our goal is to empower people to be the best version of themselves. With the understanding that all wellness begins with a healthy energy system, Visions Reiki and Soul Spa offers holistic services, workshops, and coaching to help you establish a healthy and well-balanced lifestyle.

YOGA AND MEDITATION CHAKRA YOGA HEALING Brooke Smokelin

For more than 15 years helping people feel better and shine brighter through a unique combination of chakra activation tools and vibrational restoration techniques. Come in for a chakra tune-up and get your chakras right and bright for the New Year! How brightly do you want to shine?

JENNY DAYTON YOGA

Jenny Dayton, E-RYT, YACEP MountainYogaShala@gmail.com 724-550-3661 Jenny offers indoor and outdoor yoga throughout the Laurel Highlands. She also offers private therapeutic yoga lessons, Ayurveda and aromatherapy sessions by appointment. Virtual options are also available. For more information and to view the class schedule and locations, visit JennyDaytonYoga.com.

THE HIMALAYAN INSTITUTE OF PITTSBURGH 300 Beverly Rd, Pittsburgh 412-344-7434 • HipYoga.org

The Himalayan Institute of Pittsburgh is committed to creating and supporting programs for wellness in body, mind and spirit. Their purpose is to promote personal peace and global unity. Offering a daily schedule of yoga and meditation classes and healing services including massage, reiki and Ayurvedic health consultations. They are a leader in education, providing authentic yoga and Ayurveda certification programs.

classifieds

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@NaturalAwakeningsSWPA.com.

OPPORTUNITIES ADVERTISING SALES – Natural Awakenings magazine is looking for experienced advertising salespeople covering the Greater Pittsburgh area, SW Pennsylvania and Morgantown WV to help others grow their natural health & wellness and sustainable living or green businesses. Commission-based. Full- or part-time. Paying 25% commission. Unlimited potential income. Be a part of something magical! Send resume to Michelle: Publisher@ NaturalAwakeningsSWPA.com.

PRODUCTS McCORMICK FAMILY FARM – 100% grass-fed/finished beef, pasture-raised chicken, and pure maple syrup following beyond organic, regenerative farming practices. 293 McCormic Rd, Portage, PA. 814-472-7259. Facebook: @ TheMcCormickFamilyFarm.

SERVICES READING POETRY RELAXES – Inquire at: wewuvpoetry@hotmail.com or P.O. Box 4725, Pittsburgh, PA 15206-0725.

Natural Awakenings Client Testimonial I have been advertising since the beginning of Natural Awakenings and I have to say. that it has been a great choice! I have gotten a lot of new patients from her magazine. The covers are always colorful and fun! Michelle has been very helpful and she is always available when I need to talk to her. I would highly recommend this magazine if you are considering advertising. ~Dr Janet Lazarus

June 2022

Natural Awakenings Greater Pittsburgh July 2022

Articles inside

THE EXERCISE POWER OF E-BIKES

PITTSBURGH AREA FARMERS MARKETS 2022

HEALING TRAUMA

HOW TO RAISE EMPATHETIC KIDS

PLANET-FRIENDLY POURS

UNPLUGGED ADVENTURES

URBAN FARMING

THE HEALING OF THE MODERN MAN