Natural Nutmeg January 2024

January/February 2024

EL

EBRATIN

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G

18 YEARS

G

P

U B OF LISHIN

CT’s Top Functional Medicine and Holistic Weight Loss Centers Chiropractic Care: The Maintenance Model Dr. Phillip Ruggiero, DC, LMT

Understanding the “Why”: Exploring Your Weight Loss Motivations Karen Myrick, APRN

The Never-Ending Trend in Healthcare: Pay More, Get Less Dr. Michael Kane, ND

Unveiling the Hormonal Symphony: A Prelude to Breast Health April Beaman, RDH, CTT

The Scoop on Abusing Sugar Erika Dworkin, BCHN®

Health

Purpose

Spotlight

Buzz

+ Pregnancy Precautions

+ Healing the Sacred

+ Mary Gilbertson

+ CT Parent

> 32

+ Make Sustainable

Change with a Holistic Coach > 35

Space of Your Womb > 16 + Acceptance Is Not Resignation > 42

Wellness > 8 + Uzma Zakir, RPh, bloomHigher > 9

Connection > 6 + Reiki and Trust > 6

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CONTENTS

January/February 2024

Feature

20 Understanding the “Why”: Exploring Your Weight Loss Motivations

Departments

26 My Reading with Psychic Medium Counselor Agnes Daddona

LETTER

6

BUZZ CT Parent Connection Reiki and Trust: Be One with the Flow Mediterranean Detox Program: Artemis Wellness Center

8

SPOTLIGHT CT’s Top Holistic Weight Loss and Functional Medicine

48 COMMUNITY

RESOURCES 51 HAPPENINGS

Submitted By Agnes Daddona, MA, Intuitive Counseling

28 Can Hypnotherapy Help Us Move Away from Codependency?

By Marcel Touponse

42 Acceptance Is Not Resignation, and Resignation Is Not Acceptance

By James Osborne, MS, LPC

Health 12 Hypothyroidism: Healing Pain with Food, Emotions, and Mindfulness

Purpose

25 Weight Loss Isn’t Just About the Numbers on the Scale

10 Creating Landscape Design Perfect for Your Space

30 Chiropractic Care: The Maintenance Model

16 Healing the Sacred Space of Your Womb

By Lydia Remembrance

18 Energy, Breathing, and Yoga: A Guide to Self

By Charleen K. Miele, LPC

35 Make Sustainable Change with a Holistic Coach

By Elise Cusimano, MA, NBC-HWC, RYT

36 The Never-Ending Trend in Healthcare: Pay More, Get Less

By Dr. Michael Kane, ND

38 Looking in the Mirror

By Sharon Sklar, BFA, LMT, CAR

40 The Future of Healing: Experience the Power of Natural Healing

By Lori Hubbard, MA

44 Unleashing Kinesthetic Intelligence Through ATSI

By Ryan McDonald, BCSI, LMT

By Ray Beyor

14 Unveiling the Hormonal Symphony: A Prelude to Breast Health

By April Beaman, RDH, CTT

By Jim Doenges

By Erika Dworkin, BCHN®

By Karen Myrick, APRN

By Lyndsey Maher, ND, MSAc

By Dr. Phillip Ruggiero, DC, LMT

32 Pregnancy Precautions: Exposing Your Unborn Baby to 3 Common Products Can Decrease THEIR Fertility

By Dr. Nicole Kerr, ND, LAc

Travel 45 An Adventurous Escape at the Sorrel River Ranch Resort & Spa

By Dr. Diane Hayden, PhD

3 2024 JANUARY / FEBRUARY

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22 The Scoop on Abusing Sugar

NATURAL Nutmeg

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LETTER NATURAL Nutmeg JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2024

4

Hey, I’m Dr. Diane!

I

“Far too many people go through life without making any effort to truly live passionately... to get that fire in their soul for enjoying life and living it to the fullest.”

—Dr. Diane Hayden, PhD

love to start a new year by taking some time to acknowledge everything I accomplished in the past year and celebrate my “wins”!

I spend the last week of December and first week of January thoughtfully examining where I am in my life currently and more importantly, am I still passionate about it. This year I’m excited about three major accomplishments: 1. We produced our best 10BEST issue ever—76 PAGES (the biggest we’ve ever done), with a 33% increase in revenue!

2. We had our first 10BEST Awards Gala at Farmington Gardens with an amazing awards ceremony, delicious food and drink, and a DJ and dancing—we had over 130 people attend dressed in Great Gatsby attire and it was such a blast!

3. I was able to surf outside the wake and turn with my non-dominant leg forward for the first time ever—it’s the little things!

Here are some of the questions I ask myself during my year review, and I hope you will take some time to ask these of yourself as well: What if I only had one year to live? What would I do? What places would I visit? Who would I spend my time with?

How many of you have contemplated these questions? In our crazy, busy, jam-packed lives, many of us are just going through the motions.

Far too many people go through life without making any effort to truly live passionately…to get that fire in their soul for enjoying life and living it to the fullest. The worst tragedy in the world is the person who has lost his passion. How do you get your passion back? Spend a weekend, a month, a year identifying what you love—and then do it.

I hope this issue inspires you to chase your dream.

After the last few years, I’ve realized—or I should say I’ve been reminded—that life is short. Don’t let fear stop you.

Was I afraid to do some of the things I needed to do to accomplish what I listed above? Heck yeah! But I stopped listening to those voices and I focused on one thing—the end result. You’ll be afraid—do it anyway. You’ll say you don’t have time—stop watching TV or scrolling social media. You’ll worry about the money—you’d spend it on something else, trust me. The years will go by, whether you chase your dream or you don’t. And at the end, do you really want to be asking yourself, “What if?”

Wishing you health and happiness,

Dr. Diane Hayden, PhD Publisher & Owner, ELM Publishing

Our mission is to provide valuable insight, information, and resources that will allow our readers to maintain a healthy, active, sustainable lifestyle. Natural Nutmeg contains timely information on natural health, complementary and alternative medicine, nutrition, fitness, personal growth, green living, and the products and services that support a healthy lifestyle.

PUBLISHER/OWNER

Dr. Diane Hayden, PhD Diane@naturalnutmeg.com DIR. INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY/OWNER

Christopher Urso Curso@naturalnutmeg.com

Lori Hubbard lori@naturalnutmeg.com DESIGN DIRECTOR

Ashley Frament layout@naturalnutmeg.com

Mar/Apr

The Longevity and Brain Health Issue

May/June

The Healing Lyme and Autoimmune Disease Issue

July/Aug/Sept

The Healing Your Body with Energy Medicine Issue

ADVISORY BOARD

DISTRIBUTION

Greater Hartford and surrounding counties, please contact Natural Nutmeg.

FFC—Tom Cossuto, Man In Motion, LLC In keeping with our concern for the environment, Natural Nutmeg is proudly printed on recycled paper with soy-based inks.

Oct/Nov

The Boosting Your Immune System Naturally Issue

December

The 10BEST/Essential Living Guide and The Mind/Body/Spirit and Stress Reduction Issue

Natural Nutmeg is a free publication supported solely by our advertisers and distributed throughout Connecticut.

Please call for a location near you. (860) 508-0894 or email to publisher@naturalnutmeg.com. © 2007—24 by Natural Nutmeg, LLC. All rights reserved.

Parts of this publication may be reproduced and reprinted, with permission. 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 feedback.

TM

Contact diane@naturalnutmeg.com to feature your business in Natural Nutmeg!

5 2024 JANUARY / FEBRUARY

Frank Aieta, ND Adam Breiner, ND Mark Breiner, DDS Deanna M. Cherrone, MD Erika Dworkin, Dip. C.N. Steven R. Frank

NATURAL Nutmeg

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Here’s What’s Coming Up in Natural Nutmeg!

BUZZ NATURAL Nutmeg JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2024

6

CT Parent Connection

D

orrie Carolan realized that her son was suffering from addiction in 1993.

At about this time, she had a lot of people who were talking about their kids and drug use, so she found some space where she could hold a meeting once a month and discuss how parents can handle this insidious disease.

She held town-wide meetings for the community that later led to policy changes at the local schools, including the addition of a security guard at the high school in Newtown.

Her son, Brian, lost his battle with addiction in May of 1999. In 2003, after thirteen other substance abuse-related deaths in the Newtown area, Dorrie officially formed Newtown Parent Connection, a 501(c)3 nonprofit substance abuse organization that would later become known as CT Parent Connection.

Parent Connection has three “Hope and Support” groups that meet weekly and are facilitated by a licensed therapist. This is a confidential venue that encourages communities all over Connecticut and beyond to grab the support they so desperately need, as some people do not want to share the private details of their families in their own community—which is understandable!

They also host a monthly bereavement group in Newtown that provides support for those who have lost a child or loved one to substance abuse.

Parent Connection works closely with Al-Anon Family Groups, Alcoholics Anonymous Answering Service, The Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration, The Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, and 211 of Connecticut.

Support goes hand-in-hand with Dorrie’s other remarkable job—placing people in detox, residential treatment, and sober living homes.

Teens are being mandated to treatment instead of incarceration, but how can you mandate someone into treatment or to jail when they can’t get a bed in any rehab center? Dorrie continues to work on this issue as parents are at a loss to find a solution to this difficult problem.

Dorrie has made overwhelmingly important connections with treatment centers, sober living homes, and outpatient care that have enabled her to be able to call in favors when she needs to.

Even after 28 days, most are more likely to relapse than those who complete continuing care for six months to a year. It generally takes at least 90 days before patients are truly feeling better. It is Dorrie’s great hope to have more sobering centers and intensive outpatient programs.

CT Parent Connection is currently focusing on combating the widespread vaping that is so popular among teenagers and young adults. Many vaping stores are selling products with a higher level of THC than what is approved, which is contributing to addiction amongst teens and young adults.

If you’re interested in attending any support groups or upcoming events hosted by CT Parent Connection, check out the website below. There are Zoom options, too!

CT Parent Connection • 2 Washington Square, Newtown, CT 06470 203.270.1600 • https://www.ctparentconnection.org/ Dorrie Carolan and her husband raised their four children in Newtown, CT. Starting the Parent Connection was never part of her plan. The issue of substance abuse became personal when her eldest son, Brian, became addicted and subsequently died at age 28 of a prescription drug overdose. Through the struggles caused by Brian’s addiction, Dorrie became aware that this was an issue that affected many others in the community. She founded the Parent Connection in 1993 in an attempt to network with other concerned parents.

It was the impetus behind many policy changes in town and within the schools.

See ad on page 11 >

T

Reiki and Trust

hrough attunements given by a Reiki Master to a student, Reiki is a specific energy available to align with and use for oneself and others, including animals, by placing hands on the head and body.

Reiki is the energy of unconditional love.

This is why it feels so good. Its feelings of comfort, deep relaxation, and tension release are unique and wonderful.

December 1990 is when I was initiated into the first level of Reiki. I remember driving home from my training as the sun was setting, creating a sky of orange and pink in the White Mountains in New Hampshire, and knowing that Reiki was special.

I’m glad I have made room for Reiki as it has stepped forward to be a reliable and trustworthy guide and companion.

Small and large awarenesses and happenings while treating others and myself over the last thirty-three years have supported me in trusting Reiki.

I was not aware of how little trust I had.

My upbringing chiseled away at my trust.

Over time, many relationships of various kinds have destroyed trust.

With its high intelligence, Reiki knew this and set me up with scenarios that would delight and heal me in birthing trust. I have learned to trust myself and life through Reiki practice.

Reiki is worthy of trust. Unlike horizontal or human relationships, Reiki can be relied upon in its only intention to support one’s healing into love.

The translation of Reiki is a spirit-guided life force.

When you are anchored in this, knowing that spirit is living life with you, you are not as vulnerable to the fluctuations of human reliability.

Absolutely, abandonment and betrayal still hurt, but their context is different. With Reiki, you are anchored in a source of love.

Ann Moureau has been practicing Reiki for thirty-three years and because of the healing received through Reiki, experienced through her health, personal and spiritual growth, she offers the gift of this profound modality to others.

Visit www.beoneflow.com or email Ann at awm440@hotmail.com. See ad on page 19 >

A

Mediterranean Detox Program

re you ready to make changes that are good for your mind, your body, and the planet?

NATURAL Nutmeg

Our 24-unit energy system uses the power of scalar wave energy to promote:

7 Visit Our Website www.sanare.life

• Cellular regeneration• Reduced inflammation• Pain relief • Improved immune function and memory • Better circulation • Increased energy • Improved sleep • Mental clarity • Feeling of calmness and peace Sanare Wellness • 92 North Summit Street, Southington, Ct 06489 860-600-0106 • admin@sanare.life • www.sanare.life @sanarewellnessct @sanarewellness < PAGE 40 “The Future of Healing: Experience the Power of Natural Healing” BY LORI HUBBARD, MA

Dr. Artemis Morris is a seasoned naturopathic physician, licensed acupuncturist, professor of nutrition, researcher, author, public speaker, and the co-academic director of the Integrative Health and Healing Program at The Graduate Institute. Artemis Wellness Center specializes in holistic primary care, chronic disease, and women’s health and wellness using acupuncture, craniosacral therapy, nutrition, and nutritional supplements.

< PAGE 16 “Healing the Sacred Space of Your Womb” BY LYDIA REMEMBRANCE

2024 JANUARY / FEBRUARY

• Embark on a transformative journey to a healthier, revitalized you with our exclusive Mediterranean Detox Program in January 2024!

• Reset your metabolism, rid yourself of the sugar cravings that have held you captive for too long, and welcome a sweeter, healthier chapter in your life that minimizes processed foods and toxins.

• Achieve hormonal balance and maximize fertility by empowering your body to function at its peak. This program addresses metabolic detoxification of endocrine disruptors ever present in our food and environment.

• This easy, fun, and delicious twelve-day online program is a scientifically researched way to prevent chronic diseases and take proactive steps toward a longer, more vibrant future.

Clinically proven to lower cholesterol and inflammation to pave the way for a hearthealthy lifestyle that resonates with the time-tested Mediterranean way of living.

• Boost your immunity and fortify your body’s defenses against the challenges of the modern world. As you embrace the nourishing goodness of Mediterranean-inspired nutrition, watch your vitality return with renewed vigor.

• Join us on this journey of self-discovery and transformation that is good for your health and our planetary well-being. Sign up today for the Mediterranean Detox Program in January 2024—because the best version of yourself is waiting to be unveiled!

• Visit artemiswellnesscenter.com/ mediterranean-detox-program

< PAGE 9 “bloomHigher” BY UZMA ZAKIR, RPh

SPOTLIGHT

CT’s Top Holistic F Weight Loss and Functional Medicine

unctional medicine is an individualized, patient-centered, science-based approach that empowers patients and practitioners to work together to address the underlying causes of disease and promote optimal wellness. It requires a detailed understanding of each patient’s genetic, biochemical, and lifestyle factors and leverages that data to direct personalized treatment plans that lead to improved patient outcomes. By addressing root cause, rather than symptoms, practitioners become oriented to identifying the complexity of disease. They may find one condition has many different causes and, likewise, one cause may result in many different conditions.

As a result, functional medicine treatment targets the specific manifestations of disease in each individual.

NATURAL Nutmeg

Mary Gilbertson Wellness

JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2024

8

I

f you’re looking for a holistic approach to your healthcare, check out our functional medicine, nutrition, and lifestyle clinic in Trumbull, CT. Our Mission: At Mary Gilbertson Wellness, our mission is to empower others to improve their health by focusing on four holistic core concepts: the physical body, mental and spiritual health, and nutrition.

We offer holistic primary care and specialize in environmental medicine (detox), gut health, thyroid health, and cardiac and metabolic disorders, including a cardiometabolic weight loss center and hormone balancing for men and women.

Additional therapies include: IM therapies: Vitamin B12, vitamin D3, glutathione, and lipotropic fat burners Sunlighten two-person sauna: Infrared and red-light therapy; includes protocols for weight loss, immune function, sports recovery, inflammation and pain, detoxification, and relaxation.

The Celluma Pro: Photodynamic light therapy for facial collagen rejuvenation, fine wrinkles to face and décolleté, acne, scarring, migraine treatment, wound healing, and pain and inflammation.

We also offer: • Customized supplement prescription plans using Fullscript • IN-Body 570 Scale for metabolic testing, weight loss, muscle and skeletal mass, BMI, and body fat analysis • Functional lab testing • Thermography, also known as digital infrared thermal imaging (DITI), is an FDA-approved, safe (no radiation), non-invasive (pain-free) clinical imaging procedure that can detect and monitor a number of diseases and physical injuries, including back injuries, arthritis, headache, nerve damage, fibromyalgia,

unexplained pain, dental infection, artery inflammation, carpal tunnel disease, disc disease, skin cancer, sprain/strain, and digestive disorders • Testing for heavy metals, food allergies, food sensitivities, gluten and celiac, stool testing, hormone testing, and much more Mary Gilbertson is an integrative nurse practitioner (APRN), clinical nutritionist, certified health coach, and lifestyle educator. She is trained in integrative, functional, and lifestyle medicine, *Voted 10Best holds specialty certifications in environmental Holistic Weight Loss Center in medicine, and has been trained in detoxification Natural Nutmeg at The Sanoviv Medical Institute in Baja California, in 2023!

Mexico, and The Swiss Mountain Clinic in Mary Gilbertson Castaneda, Switzerland. She is board-certified in Wellness family medicine and is currently training for board 6515 Main St. certification in obesity medicine.

Trumbull, CT 06611 Mary enjoys working with people of all ages 203.521.4733 to attain optimal health through using lifestyle gilbertsonmary modalities and foods to heal. A lifelong student @yahoo.com of healing modalities around the world, Mary marygilbertson has spent years researching and practicing many wellness.com medicinal therapies, including natural medicine, Tuesdays and Thursdays, herbals, spiritual wellness, and breathwork.

10:00 am–5:30 pm In her earlier years as a nurse, Mary cared for Wednesdays and Fridays, all ages in both acute and chronic care. She saw 12:00 pm–5:00 pm so many people suffering needlessly because they Saturdays, 9 am–12 noon (For Sauna and Red Light did not have the education or tools necessary to Therapy Only) change lifestyle behaviors that promoted illness or learn the behaviors necessary to support wellness.

Mary Gilbertson Wellness was born out of a vision to create a full-service wellness clinic dedicated to treating the whole person while supporting the community in which she grew up.

You can schedule a 15-minute Complimentary Discovery Session to see how Mary can help you reach your wellness goals by visiting her website at www.marygilbertsonwellness.com.

Uzma Zakir, RPh, bloomHigher

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Uzma Zakir, RPh, founder of bloomHigher, is passionate about sharing her expertise on the healing benefits of the cannabis plant to educate and empower people on their brave choice to use cannabis as their medicine. By combining current research, her experience in treating patients in the CT MMJ landscape since 2015, and her traditional pharmacy background, she has developed a unique approach to patient care and speaks extensively on best practices and cannabinoid science. In 2023, she presented at UCONN, xpoCanna, NECANN, the National Cannabis Festival, and the Cannabis Science Conference. Uzma hosted a popular monthly webinar until she left the corporate cannabis world to start her own endeavor to bring the plant back to the people. Uzma is now in private practice in collaboration with two internal medicine physicians in Stamford, CT, at Ultimate Solutions Medical Spa. She provides care for those with chronic illnesses, anxiety, cannabis use disorder, autism, and much more. She is available for inperson and virtual sessions. Uzma is also available for educational seminars.

See ad on page 7 >

BloomHigher 203.751.1369 uzma@ bloom-higher.com bloom-higher.com

9 2024 JANUARY / FEBRUARY

The cannabis plant contains more than 100 phytocannabinoids, and each cannabinoid interacts uniquely within the eCBome. THC, CBD, CBDA, THCA, CBN, and CBG are the top studied and widely available to the consumer. For example, THC interacts with the CB1 and CB2 receptors, while CBD interacts with more than 65 receptors.

The key to using cannabis medicinally is to understand the physiological effects of each cannabinoid, its immediate clinical effects, product integrity, and dosing. This is what I have been studying for the past eight years, and it’s why I founded bloomHigher.

In 2023, I presented at UCONN, xpoCanna, NECANN, the National Cannabis Festival, and the Cannabis Science Conference. I also hosted a popular monthly webinar until I left the corporate cannabis world to start my own endeavor to bring the plant back to the people. I am now in private practice in collaboration with two internal medicine physicians in Stamford, CT, at Ultimate Solutions Medical Spa. I provide care for those with chronic illnesses, anxiety, cannabis use disorder, autism, and much more. I am available for in-person and virtual sessions. I am also available for educational seminars.

NATURAL Nutmeg

’m Uzma Zakir, RPh, founder of bloomHigher. I am passionate about sharing my expertise on the healing benefits of the cannabis plant to educate and empower people on their brave choice to use cannabis as their medicine. By combining current research, my experience in treating patients in the CT MMJ landscape since 2015, and my traditional pharmacy background, I have developed a unique approach to patient care and speak extensively on best practices and cannabinoid science.

Cannabis as medicine is a controversial field that stands on decades of misinformation and propaganda, as well as centuries of documented medicinal use. I am a traditionally trained pharmacist and have been specializing in medical cannabis for eight years. I’ve had the honor to work with thousands of people to greatly improve their quality of life.

To be able to do this to the best of my ability and out of respect for my patients, I learned all I could about the human endocannabinoid system (ECS) and the purpose our endogenous cannabinoids serve in our physiology. Endocannabinoid deficiencies may contribute to many physical, mental, and emotional symptoms. I’ve developed a methodology to treat patients with phytocannabinoids to maximize the functions of the ECS to provide immediate symptomatic relief and long-term therapeutic benefits while avoiding unwanted effects.

The endocannabinoid system boasts over 20,000 scientific published reports since its discovery in the early 1990s. It is composed of endogenous cannabinoids named anandamide and 2-AG, cannabinoid 1 and 2 receptors, and degrading enzymes. Its title has recently been expanded to the Endocannabinoidome (eCBome) to include orphan receptors, transporters, and proteins, which indeed emphasizes its level of importance and ubiquity. It is a complex molecular signaling system with neuromodulatory functions throughout the body and brain to maintain homeostasis in systems such as the sleep-wake cycle, energy/metabolism, memory processing, stress response, pain thresholds, inflammatory response, and many more.

NATURAL Nutmeg

Purpose

JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2024

10

Creating Landscape Design Perfect

for Your Space

By Jim Doenges

“The views from the windows of your home can be magically healing.

For example, the window over your kitchen sink could be called a power window because so much time is spent there. That view can be magical.

From a landscape design perspective, we would want to make sure there’s a garden design that gives us a serene impression, giving us a calming result—let’s call it a Zen moment. “ —Jim Doenges

I

f you’re thinking of landscaping your home, here are a few tips to consider. The first thing you should do is build a base map of your property showing all soft and hardscape elements.

Knowledge of the elements and principles of design are essential to designing a landscape and working through the design process.

Determining the Features

The design process begins by determining the needs and desires of the end-user as well as the conditions of the site. With this information, the designer should organize the plants and hardscape materials, which are collectively referred to as the features. The features can be physically described by the visual qualities of line, form, color, texture, and visual weight—the elements of design. The principles are the fundamental concepts of composition—proportion, order, repetition, and unity—that serve as guidelines to arrange or organize the features to create an aesthetically pleasing or beautiful landscape.

The overall landscape design should be treated as an extension of the architectural style of the home. Emphasis should be on enhancing primary views and masking the undesirable ones while creating privacy with a feeling of openness.

Architectural garden elements such as water features, statuary, and furnishings should also be incorporated wherever possible.

The Purpose of Plantings

The planting design should achieve an aesthetically pleasing space by using a mix of in-ground and containerized plantings to include shrubs, perennials, vines, turf, groundcover, and trees that will provide lush foliage as well as seasonal color in flowers, leaves, and fruit. Other such design considerations may include a rose garden, herb garden, cut flower garden, vegetable garden, or orchard. If local guidelines dictate water conservation efforts, the plant materials specified should have low water requirements or be drought tolerant. This design element will project the probable maintenance requirements for the landscape and the budget.

Bringing It All Together

A well-designed landscape is all about creating a sense of harmony. When all the elements come together in perfect balance, it creates a visually appealing and inviting space. The key to achieving this harmony lies in the principles of symmetry and balance. By incorporating these design principles, we can create a landscape that not only looks beautiful but also feels comfortable and harmonious. Achieving visual harmony involves careful consideration of proportion, order, repetition, and unity in the design composition. With skillful manipulation of these design elements, we can create a symphony of visual appeal that brings tranquility to any outdoor space.

Make space within your body so that it can realign with gravity.

Ryan McDonald Structural Integration

@ryanmcdonaldlmt

302 West Main St, Suite 150, Avon, CT 06001 860.709.1648 ryanmcdonaldstructuralintegrationllc.com facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063472661560

< PAGE 44 “Unleashing Kinesthetic Intelligence Through ATSI” BY RYAN MCDONALD, BCSI, LMT

BEVERLEY BLASS:

A Modern Renaissance Woman with an Eclectic Background in Healing.

Offering: Body-Centered Psychotherapy, Soul-Centered Hypnotherapy, & Colon Hydrotherapy Release emotional baggage / Cultivate inner peace Awaken self-discovery / Enhance digestive harmony Promote vitality and clarity

Together we will create an all-encompassing tapestry of transformation.

Call 860-206-1129 for a Free 15-Minute Consultation

Hartford Family Institute 17 S. Highland Street, West Hartford, CT 06119

Beverley Blass Integrative Health justbeokay beverley_blass 860.206.1129 • BeverleyBlass.com

We offer a Bereavement Support group for those who have lost a loved one to catastrophic circumstances or substance abuse. Please visit our website for locations and times. Our support groups are open, free and all are welcome.

Educate, Empower and Embrace The Mission of Parent Connection is to educate and empower our community in the prevention of substance abuse to embrace families stuck in crisis. At our Hope & Support groups we provide a safe place to work with individuals and families, helping with questions/concerns and to build resiliency and strength.

We have three weekly locations: Milford, Newtown and Middlebury.

(203) 270-1600 www.ctparentconnection.org < PAGE 6 “CT Parent Connection”

11 2024 JANUARY / FEBRUARY

Jim Doenges, owner of Sustainable Landscape Garden Design, has a deep passion for the details and brings decades of hands-on experience to every garden composition. He strongly believes in the principles of sustainability and in the commitment to managing each property in a way that maintains environmental integrity. Jim believes garden design is living art and treats the design as an artistic composition. He enjoys the result of seeing end users embrace all of their senses when interacting with the results of the composition.

Jim specializes in landscape design and embraces the philosophy of using “color, balance, harmony, serenity, and peace through quality horticulture.” His extensive knowledge and understanding of nature, with all its elements, allows the end-user to experience four seasons of interest with every garden. Jim believes garden design is living art and treats the design as an artistic composition. He enjoys the result of seeing end users embrace all of their senses when interacting with the results of the composition. Contact Jim at 203.836.7640 and visit www.sustainablelandscapegardendesign.com to learn more. See ad on page 13 >

Plan your Practice Today!

Text or Call 860.709.1648 to book a session, or visit massagebook.com/ biz/ryan-mcdonald-lmt

NATURAL Nutmeg

The views from the windows of your home can be magically healing. For example, the window over your kitchen sink could be called a power window because so much time is spent there.

That view can be magical. From a landscape design perspective, we would want to make sure there’s a garden design that gives us a serene impression, giving us a calming result—let’s call it a Zen moment.

What could we classify as a power window? The breakfast nook, where we start our day; the dining room table, where we have family gatherings; a window opposite our desk or thinking chair where we contemplate life.

A well-designed landscape incorporates essential elements such as line, form, color, texture, and scale. These design elements work together to create a visually appealing and harmonious outdoor space. Additionally, symmetry and balance play an important role in landscape design by creating a sense of unity and order. By integrating water features and considering factors like proportion and composition, you can achieve a truly stunning landscape that enhances your home’s aesthetic appeal and brings a sense of peace, joy, and inspiration to your day.

Discover how you have been storing issues in your body and work your way to releasing them.

Do the Work, See and Feel the Results

Health

Hypothyroidism:

NATURAL Nutmeg

Healing Pain with Food, Emotions, and Mindfulness

JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2024

12

By Ray Beyor

“Overwhelmed with resentment and desperation, I injured my back in a seemingly simple act—tying my shoes. This incident wasn’t merely physical; it was the physical manifestation of my emotional turmoil. Society conditions us to push through without questioning the norms. However, such neglect comes at a cost.

—Ray Beyor

T

en years ago, I found myself in a large waiting room at a chiropractic office as I filled out my intake paperwork. I could see and hear people being adjusted by the practitioners right over the pony wall. My thoughts raced, “Really? I’m expected to get an adjustment in front of all these people when I am probably going to start crying from all the pain?” My anxiety and anger bubbled up, stemming from my inability to assert my needs—the very issue that caused my pain in the first place. This moment marked the start of my decade-long exploration into unconventional pain management, which I fondly refer to as FEM: Food, Emotions, and Mindfulness.

Throughout this period, I sought advice from traditional and naturopathic doctors. Yet, I learned that my intuition was the most valuable guide.

Regrettably, many health professionals overlook the significance of what we ingest, our self-talk, and emotional management. They seldom asked the right questions or acknowledged our innate ability to heal ourselves.

Listen to Your Body

Looking back now, I can tell you that the stress of starting a new business while enduring micromanagement at a part-time job brought me to that chiropractor’s office. Overwhelmed with resentment and desperation, I injured my back in a seemingly simple act—tying my shoes.

This incident wasn’t merely physical; it was the physical manifestation of my emotional turmoil.

Ignoring my body’s warning, I proceeded to a job interview, which only reinforced my initial reservations. I had felt a condescending tone n an earlier phone call with the employer, yet I dismissed my instincts.

This experience taught me that we often ignore our body’s signals, even when they are glaringly apparent. Society conditions us to push through without questioning the norms. However, such neglect comes at a cost.

As I delved deeper, I noticed a pattern: my pain resurfaced whenever I engaged in activities misaligned with my values. Addressing my pain required tough choices and self-advocacy. I adopted a reflective approach, questioning my actions, thoughts, and feelings surrounding painful incidents and the life decisions I was avoiding.

This introspection led to a profound realization— I needed to fully embrace entrepreneurship and acknowledge my worth instead of accepting what I am given.

Food, Emotions, Mindfulness

Years later, after being diagnosed with hypothyroidism and studying chakra energies, I understood the connection between my intake (food, emotions, thoughts) and my health.

Put simply, hypothyroidism, or underactive thyroid, is when the thyroid gland doesn’t make enough thyroid hormones to meet your body’s needs. This can disrupt such things as heart rate, body temperature, and all aspects of metabolism,

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13 2024 JANUARY / FEBRUARY

as well as fatigue, cold sensitivity, dry skin, and unexplained weight gain.

The pandemic served as a catalyst for change.

Blood tests prompted dietary adjustments, and I learned that certain foods, behaviors, and thoughts were the true culprits behind my recurring pain and injuries.

To sustain my well-being, I began to inquire: • How do I determine the quality of my food?

• What does my food routine look like, and how has it evolved?

• What emotions and thoughts arise when I eat certain foods?

• What is the atmosphere like during my meals?

Confronting the reasons behind the toxicity in my life was challenging. The most difficult realization was that fear—fear of being my authentic self—was a significant obstacle. This fear seemed rational, rooted in the concern that others might leave if I realized my full potential. However, by limiting ourselves, we foster codependency and disempowerment. Embracing our truth is an act of authentic love and freedom.

Healing is complex, and achieving clarity is seldom straightforward. Yet, persistent selfinquiry, attentive listening, and mindful actions gradually reveal the complete picture.

If you’re interested in integrating FEM into your life to reclaim your power and vitality, I invite you to explore my Free Digital Training at raylifecoaching.com/free-resources. You’ll find resources like “Don’t Shut Up, Just Stand Up: Confidence Toolkit for People Pleasers” and “Get Out of My Way, I Got My MOJO Back, Baby!

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Health

Unveiling the Hormonal Symphony: A Prelude to Breast Health

By April Beaman, RDH, CTT

NATURAL Nutmeg

I

JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2024

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“By adopting lifestyle strategies for hormonal balance and embracing advanced screening technologies like thermography, individuals can take proactive steps toward vigilant breast health monitoring.”

—April Beaman, RDH, CTT

n the intricate symphony of our body’s functions, hormones play a pivotal role, orchestrating a delicate balance that influences our well-being.

Central to this performance is estrogen, a hormone vital for reproductive health and overall balance.

However, when the harmony is disrupted and estrogen takes center stage without restraint, a condition known as estrogen dominance emerges, casting shadows over breast health and potentially orchestrating a path toward breast cancer. Here, we delve into the nuances of estrogen dominance, explore strategies for hormonal balance, and highlight the role of thermography in the vigilant monitoring of breast health.

Understanding Estrogen Dominance

Estrogen dominance arises when there is an imbalance between estrogen and progesterone levels in the body. Typically, these hormones maintain a delicate equilibrium, regulating various physiological processes. However, stress, environmental exposures, and lifestyle choices can tilt this balance, allowing estrogen to exert its influence disproportionately. This hormonal imbalance can manifest in symptoms such as irregular menstrual cycles, mood swings, and weight gain, signaling potential risks to overall health, including the possibility of the development of breast cancer.

The Breast Cancer Connection

Estrogen dominance is not merely a matter of hormonal inconvenience; it has been implicated in the increased risk of breast cancer. Estrogen, in its proliferative role, stimulates the growth of breast tissue. When unopposed by sufficient levels of progesterone, this unbridled growth can create an environment conducive to the initiation and progression of cancer cells. Recognizing the implications of estrogen dominance becomes critical in the proactive pursuit of breast health.

Balancing the Hormonal Ensemble

Empowering individuals with the knowledge and tools to balance hormones is paramount in the pursuit of breast health. Here are key strategies to harmonize the hormonal ensemble: • Nutrient-Rich Diet: A wholesome diet, rich in nutrients, plays a pivotal role in hormonal balance. Include cruciferous vegetables, omega-3 fatty acids, and foods with high fiber content to support optimal hormone metabolism.

• Regular Exercise: Physical activity is a potent regulator of hormones. Regular exercise helps maintain a healthy weight, which, in turn, contributes to hormonal equilibrium. Aim for a combination of aerobic and strength-training exercises.

• Stress Management: Chronic stress is a disruptor of hormonal harmony. Incorporate stress-reducing practices such as meditation, yoga, or deep-breathing exercises to mitigate the impact of stress on hormonal balance.

• Adequate Sleep: Quality sleep is an essential aspect of hormonal regulation. A consistent sleep routine and a sleep-friendly environment support the body’s natural hormonal rhythms.

• Mindful Exposure: Minimize exposure to endocrine-disrupting substances in certain plastics, pesticides, and personal care products.

These disruptors can interfere with hormonal balance and contribute to estrogen dominance.

The Role of Thermography in Breast Health

In the quest for proactive breast health, thermography emerges as a powerful tool for assessment and monitoring. Unlike traditional screening methods, thermography is non-invasive and utilizes infrared imaging to detect temperature variations and blood flow patterns in breast tissue.

This technology offers a unique advantage in

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15 2024 JANUARY / FEBRUARY

April Beaman, RDH, CTT, medical thermographer, is certified by the Professional Academy of Clinical Thermology and a professional member of Breast Thermography International.

Beaman has worked in the healthcare industry for over 15 years and provides medical thermal imaging and wellness support for both women and men.

She is the founder of CT Thermography, located in Farmington, with satellite offices throughout Connecticut and Massachusetts. Connect at 860.415.1150 or CTThermography.com.

Our physicians are trained to provide the best in natural family medicine to men, women, and children. We see patients with minor ailments, severe illnesses, and everything in between.

NATURAL Nutmeg

identifying early signs of potential issues, including those related to hormonal imbalances.

• Early Detection: Thermography can detect subtle changes in breast tissue temperature, serving as an early warning system for potential issues. Early detection is crucial in addressing hormonal imbalances before they escalate.

• Holistic Monitoring: Thermography provides a holistic view of breast health by assessing thermal patterns across the entire breast.

This comprehensive approach goes beyond the limitations of traditional screenings, offering a more nuanced understanding of potential hormonal irregularities.

• Proactive Health Management: Integrating thermography into routine breast health assessments empowers individuals to take a proactive stance. By monitoring thermal patterns over time, individuals and healthcare providers can identify trends and address hormonal imbalances before they manifest as symptomatic concerns.

• Safe and Comfortable: Thermography is a safe, radiation-free, and comfortable screening method suitable for women of all ages.

It poses no risk of compression or exposure to ionizing radiation, making it an appealing option for those seeking a gentler approach to breast health monitoring.

Balancing the hormonal symphony within our bodies is not just a matter of reproductive health but a crucial element in the safeguarding of breast health. Estrogen dominance, if left unchecked, can tip the scales toward increased breast cancer risk.

By adopting lifestyle strategies for hormonal balance and embracing advanced screening technologies like thermography, individuals can take proactive steps toward vigilant breast health monitoring.

In this ongoing symphony of health, let us empower ourselves with knowledge, awareness, and the tools necessary to dance in harmony with our hormonal rhythms, ensuring a future of breast health and vitality.

Purpose

Healing the Sacred Space NATURAL Nutmeg

of Your Womb

JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2024

16

By Lydia Remembrance

“The fullness of the sacred feminine intuition has been hidden, lost, or deliberately erased from many traditions. This disconnection has manifested into energetic emotional blocks that can, in part, present as shame, guilt, anger, judgment, fear, embarrassment, escapism, stagnation, and repeated negative thoughts.”

—Lydia Remembrance

M

y understanding and remembrance of this beautiful phenomenon unfolded as I approached the midway mark of my certification to become a quantum master healer and quantum hypnotist. At the time, I was a reiki master/teacher, and I believed I understood the chakras—particularly the sacral chakra—quite well. After all, that’s where the womb is located, right? However, I have always had a knowing that there might be more to understand and uncover within this chakra or energetic wheel. The womb holds sacred and beautiful energy, so much more than what the mainstream calls the uterus.

The womb is much more than a physical organ.

It is a sacred, energetic space that lives within everyone. As I continued to heal and work on myself, I noticed similarities between my journey and those of my clients. There was an inner awareness that a lost knowledge or inner knowing would resurface and say, “Remember me?”

It was my increased understanding as to when and how trauma originates that led me to begin to realize that past trauma often continues into the birthing process and can affect the mother and the baby throughout their lives. Mothers who have given birth by way of cesarean section and babies who were born by way of cesarean section also experience trauma in this lifetime, lifetimes already lived, and lifetimes yet to come. For some individuals, their first experience with trauma is during the birthing process. Generational trauma and collective trauma are often stored in an individual womb as well as the womb of the collective, including Gaia.

The Untapped Power of the Womb

It’s time for the rise of the Wise Woman…to awaken and restore balance between the inner feminine and masculine…to remember wisdom to heal our wounds of separation and restore the source of consciousness and intuition. To experience a deep connection to Mother Earth’s womb and the womb as a collective consciousness, we must have a respectful relationship with our own womb. This energy is still imprinted within our energy field even after the woman has had a hysterectomy.

The same can also be true for women who have transitioned into their rite of passage and no longer bleed. When a woman reconnects with her womb, possibly for the first time, she reclaims her inner power. Here, she is grounded, centered, and connected to all life. The womb holds the ability of transformation, not only in the creation of a human being but in the manifestation of our dreams and the evolution of consciousness.

Unblocking Your Womb’s Energy

The West’s rational and mechanistic worldview has wreaked havoc with the birthing process and has all but obliterated how our ancient ancestors viewed the womb. In our modern times, we have become disconnected from this knowledge.

The fullness of the sacred feminine intuition has been hidden, lost, or deliberately erased from many traditions. This disconnection has manifested into energetic emotional blocks that can, in part, present as shame, guilt, anger, judgment, fear,

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2024 JANUARY / FEBRUARY

Lydia Remembrance is the owner of Lady Down the Lane. She is a holistic/ shamanic practitioner whose passion is to create a sacred space as you embark on your healing journey. Lydia is a reiki master/teacher, holistic birth doula, a master practitioner in quantum energy healing, and a quantum hypnotist. Lydia is also an herbalist and a professional plant-based cook. Lydia holds a heartfelt safe space for those wishing to connect with their womb and, often, their inner child. Lydia offers a complimentary strategy call and office hour complementary consultation is also available upon request and by appointment. She also offers a workshop for children, individuals, or groups that expands upon their interest in nature and the wonderful gifts that mother nature has to offer. Lydia welcomes your questions regarding “a blessings way” for expectant moms. For more information, please contact Lydia Remembrance at 156 East Avenue, 2nd floor, Norwalk, CT 06851 or ladydownthelane.com, or call 475.301.4952.

Online services are also available. Don’t let distance hinder us from connecting.

NATURAL Nutmeg

embarrassment, escapism, stagnation, and repeated negative thoughts. Energetic blocks that are not brought into the conscious mind for assimilation and integration will eventually manifest into physical symptoms such as menstrual imbalance, discomfort with birth preparation and labor, organ prolapse, and infertility, to name a few.

It is these spiritual and energetic manifestations that lead me to offer womb healing as one of my services within my healing practice. I honor the spiral path of healing and acknowledge the ebb and flow of the process. I weave together various holistic and shamanic techniques dependent on your desires and needs.

Womb healing can help release emotional blockages, connect with female energy, create awareness and consciousness, achieve greater emotional balance and well-being, and heal scars from pregnancy, birth, traumas, and relationships.

It can also encompass various types of healing depending on each client’s needs, including physical, energetic, and emotional healing.

Techniques you may experience in a session may include but are not limited to hypnosis, soul journey, and intuitive dialogue facilitation between your womb and your inner child.

Most importantly, you and your womb will be acknowledged and validated.

Purpose

Energy, Breathing, and Yoga: NATURAL Nutmeg

A Guide to Self

JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2024

18

By Charleen K. Miele, LPC

“We are a culture that has become greatly disconnected from our bodies.

I believe yoga is a practice about the constant conversation between the body and the mind.”

—Charleen K. Miele, LPC

I

n a recent conversation with a yoga instructor, I said, “I have a love/hate relationship with yoga!” After thinking about it, I clarified that it was more of a “desire/resistance” relationship.

In keeping with the IFS (Internal Family Systems) language and framework through which I see life, there is a part of me that greatly desires to practice and “master” yoga, and there is another part that resists because I find it difficult! Both parts want what they think is best for me, and both have something to teach me.

A Conversation Between Body and Mind

In working with my therapy clients, I am always encouraging them to notice what they are experiencing in their bodies and to notice what they are saying to themselves. More often than not, I will receive the response “I don’t know” in reference to what they’re experiencing in their bodies.

We are a culture that has become greatly disconnected from our bodies. I believe yoga is a practice about the constant conversation between the body and the mind. There is a part of me that wants it to flow, a part that wants the peacefulness and calm I tend to associate with yoga, and that doesn’t always happen. My mind tells me it should come naturally, it should feel good…and yet my body doesn’t always reflect that.

In the psychotherapy world, we often refer to “top-down” or “bottom-up” processing. This refers to either starting with the mind (top) and then moving into the body (down) or vice versa. We are a “figure it out” society and approach most things from the mind. However, it is evident to me, more often than not, that our bodies hold the answers we are seeking. My clients will ask me to help them “figure it out,” or sometimes they ask me to figure it out for them! I invite them to notice their body, to notice what they are feeling, what the body is telling them. For some, this is a journey of many figurative miles as they have not paid much attention to their bodies. It is like learning a new language. It takes time, attention, mindfulness, listening…not just with our ears, but with the “ear of the heart.”

Self-Energy

In IFS, we work toward experiencing our SELF-energy, which has been described and defined in many different ways. I like to think of it as who we are at our core, the divine within, the life force within. It is an energy that holds space.

Our ego structure forms as we live our lives, and parts of us take on different roles to help us manage this human journey. Sometimes, through trauma (big T or little t trauma), these parts are forced into extreme roles. They work hard to be sure their human never experiences that type of pain again. Obviously, that eventually fails, as pain is inevitable on this human journey.

My work is to help clients identify parts in their system, especially those who have been forced into an extreme role, assist the client in accessing his/her self-energy, and then supporting what we call “unburdening” of the roles, beliefs, fears, and so on. It’s a beautiful process that can sometimes feel like peeling away layers of protectors (gently and compassionately) by connecting with them, learning about them, and permitting them to release the extreme role they have been doing for us. Beautiful.

Eddie Stern, in his book One Simple Thing, defines the word “sadhana” as “spiritual practice,” and the purpose of this practice is “liberation from suffering… which is liberation from identification with everything that is other than awareness.” Another word, “vishesha,” or “that which is left over after all the changing objects of the world no longer color our experience,” feels to me like the experience of SELF.

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2024 JANUARY / FEBRUARY

Charleen K. Miele, LPC, is a Licensed Professional Counselor who started her journey as a teacher, church music director, and fitness instructor.

Charleen works with clients both in person and via telehealth and has recently added Trauma Informed Breathwork to her work. She offers her clients the opportunity to experience IFS and/or breathwork through in-person and online sessions and is currently offering group breathwork sessions online and will be hosting workshops and group sessions in person in the new year. Life coaching and spiritual life coaching, including breathwork and IFS work, are also available both as individual sessions and as packages of two, four, or six sessions. Charleen will soon be offering self-paced online courses as well as interactive groups that will meet for a series of weeks and will include lectures, discussions, journaling, and experiential somatic work through breathing and movement. Visit thesacredselfllc.com. Contact Charleen at thesacredselfllc@gmail.com or call 860.614.8382. Located at 171 Market Square #102, Newington, CT. See ad on page 39 >

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NATURAL Nutmeg

Yoga is an ongoing journey that feels new to me all the time. I am fascinated by the words, the postures, the history, and the breathing. For me, it begins with breath. Whether I am in my office with a client, helping them connect to their body through the breath, sitting alone in quiet meditation, or on my mat engaging once again in the practice of yoga…it is the breath that invites me and supports me as I learn more, struggle more, rest more, and just breathe. It is there that I welcome both the part that desires and the part that resists. And for the record, I love them both.

Be One with the Flow

Feature

Understanding the “Why”— Exploring Your Weight Loss Motivations

NATURAL Nutmeg

By Karen Myrick, APRN

JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2024

20

I “My inner thighs are more toned and have made my leg workouts a little easier. The inner thigh is such a difficult area to work out, and the EMSCULPT NEO™ definitely gave me the boost I was looking for in that area. I can’t wait to see my final results after four sessions in each area!”

—Amanda M.

t’s the start of the new year, so you’re likely putting your resolutions together. If one of your resolutions is to lose weight…why? Whenever I hear someone wants to lose weight, be it a resolution or at any other time, my immediate thought is: why?

To lose weight, we first need to peel back the onion to understand the why. Do you want: • More energy?

• To be able to play with your children/grandchildren?

• To get in and out of a chair independently?

• To potentially eliminate your back and/or knee pain?

• To reduce your risk for diabetes and high blood pressure?

• To increase your health span?

One of the most significant common denominators in all the “whys” is lack of muscle tone. As we age, as early as 30, our muscle mass begins to atrophy. Our sedentary lifestyle is also a significant contributor to this decline. And as our muscle declines, our ability to move freely and with enthusiasm diminishes, resulting in weight gain, risk of injury, lack of independence, and, most importantly, a compromised quality of life.

The Role of Muscle Tone—Aging, Muscle Atrophy, and Its Impact on Lifestyle The following ten muscle groups are critical to our everyday lives. From simply standing, walking, and getting dressed to running, breathing, and even digesting our food, our muscles matter!

1. Abdominals and 2. Obliques: These are referred to as “core” muscles for a reason. They are vital to every movement you make. Think posture, reaching to grab your bag from the back seat of your car, protecting your back, increasing your balance and stability, improving your respiratory function (breathing), minimizing your risk of injury, promoting improved digestion, helping to reduce bloating, and so much more!

3. Quadriceps: This muscle protects your knees!

Strong quadriceps help you get up from a chair, lift something off the floor, climb stairs, and maintain your gait.

4. Glutes: Your glute muscles are and should be the strongest muscles in your body. They’re the key to any propulsive movement…yes, running and jumping, but walking, too! Strong glutes improve posture, alignment, balance, and stability, which protects you from injury in your lower back, hips, knees, and ankles.

5. Hamstrings: When building a muscle, you employ the mind-body connection…however, the hamstring is a difficult muscle to build on your own because of the body’s lack of ability to “feel” and contract this muscle. Yet, strong hamstrings are vital to our everyday functions, such as enabling us to pick up a bag of groceries and get in and out of our cars while simultaneously protecting us from injury.

6. Outer Thighs and 7. Inner Thighs: We give little thought to these muscle groups outside of how they look in the mirror. Yet, these muscle groups create stability in our gait and protect our knee, ankle, and hip functions while enabling us to stabilize our pelvis, leading to core strength and balance.

8. Calves: This is another overlooked muscle… yet the calf muscle’s strength helps avoid injury and protects the foot and ankle while increasing stability, posture, and movement. It helps you to walk, run, jump, and stand up straight.

9. Biceps and 10. Triceps: These muscles work together: while one is contracting, the other is relaxing. Without even realizing it, you use these muscles all the time! Be it lifting groceries or laundry, using your arms to get out of a chair or off the floor, getting dressed, and so much more!

Remember: When there is a weakness in one of the muscle groups, other muscle groups have to jump in to play a compensatory role they were not designed to do. Eventually, this compensation will lead to injury from using the wrong muscles at the wrong time.

Empowering Change— The EMSCULPT NEO™ Solution

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It is inevitable that when we focus on the intent of the muscle group we want to improve, not only do we gain function, mobility, stability, and protection from injury, the muscle will continue to burn fat—all of which contribute to a healthier lifestyle, increased confidence, and more enthusiasm when working out on our own.

If you’re ready to transform your body, gain muscle, and achieve your health goals, don’t wait!

Call Imagine Float at 860.255.7771 to book your complimentary consultation and experience a demo of the EMSCULPT NEO with our Medical Director, Karen Myrick, APRN. Let this year be your year of positive change. Seize the opportunity to kickstart your journey toward increasing energy, independent living, and, ultimately, an investment in your health span!

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NATURAL Nutmeg

Staying well for as long as possible is hard work.

For this reason, we LOVE the EMSCULPT NEO™.

We believe it can help get you back on your feet, get you excited again, feel the power of movement, and ultimately solve your “why” you want to lose weight. The EMSCULPT NEO™ targets these ten crucial muscle groups and provides individually tailored treatments to help you eliminate fat and build muscle in several body areas.

The EMSCULPT NEO™ uses radiofrequency and a high-intensity focused electromagnetic field to non-invasively reduce fat by 30% and build muscle by 25% in 30-minute sessions on average. A single session provides 20,000 supramaximal contractions. These contractions bypass the brain’s limitations and provide intensities not achievable during a voluntary workout safely and, most importantly— comfortably!

Feature

The Scoop on

Abusing Sugar

NATURAL Nutmeg

By Erika Dworkin, BCHN®

JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2024

22

“Sugar is…a substance that releases opioids and dopamine and thus might be expected to have addictive potential... The evidence supports the hypothesis that, under certain circumstances, rats can become sugar-dependent.

This may translate to some human conditions, as suggested by the literature on eating disorders and obesity.”

—Neuroscience & Behavioral Reviews, Evidence for Sugar Addiction: Behavioral and Neurochemical Effects of Intermittent, Excessive Sugar Intake (2008)

D

id you splurge over the holidays? If you’re like 75% of the American population, you ate too much sugar in the form of sweets or simple carbohydrates, which convert to sugar—foods like chocolate, ice cream, cake, candy, or rice, pasta, potatoes, and bread. Now that the holidays are over, you might want to consider reducing your sugar intake to enhance your vitality and longevity to lower your risk of full-body acidity (acidosis) that can lead to depression, concentration and coping difficulties, fatigue, pre/diabetes, metabolic syndrome, obesity, and various immune challenges.

The Need for Sugar and Sugar Balance

Glucose, a sugar derived from the digestion of carbohydrates, is our body’s primary energy source. When the small intestine absorbs nutrients and glucose through digestion, and special cells called enterocytes help them cross the intestinal lining into the bloodstream, the pancreas produces insulin. Insulin enables muscle, liver, and fat cells to take up glucose so they can function properly.

It is critical to maintain glucose within a normal range. The body adapts to high glucose levels in the blood either by storing it in the muscles or liver as glycogen (for later reabsorption when levels drop) or by speeding the release of insulin. If muscle and other cells stop responding to insulin (insulin resistance), blood sugar and insulin levels stay high long after eating, which can undermine physical and mental function. Over time, the demands on insulin-making cells in the pancreas can wear them out, potentially causing insulin production to stop and prediabetes and type 2 diabetes to develop.

Generally, the lower the glycemic index (GI) of a food containing sugar, the slower its impact on your blood sugar and, thus, the less damaging to your body. A carbohydrate is considered to be high glycemic if its GI is 70 or higher (processed foods like baked goods, candy bars, soda/energy drinks), while low glycemic foods that contain more fiber, water, protein, or fat (beans, nuts, fresh vegetables) have GIs below 55. Glycemic load (GL), considered by many to be a better gauge for measuring a food’s impact on blood glucose and insulin response, indicates both how quickly a food makes glucose enter your bloodstream and how much glucose per serving it can deliver. GL thus provides a more accurate picture of a food’s real-life impact on your blood sugar.

Potential Health Problems from Excess Sugar Consumption

In addition to pre/diabetes, space permits only a brief discussion of the numerous potential problems that can stem from sugar abuse. Below is a primer of some key concerns to keep in mind and some natural means of curbing the negative impact of sugar.

Addiction While the topic of sugar addiction is controversial, some research has suggested that eating sugar stimulates the brain to produce endorphins and large amounts of the neurotransmitter dopamine (similar to how it reacts to heroin and cocaine). You repeat sugar intake to feel the high it produces, and as you eat more sugar more often, your brain releases less dopamine, possibly in response to reduced sweet taste bud cell

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function. As eating excess sweets causes your brain to become increasingly hardwired to crave sugar, you develop a tolerance, as with any other drug, and the only way to feel the same high as before is to repeat the behavior in increasing amounts and frequency. At the same time, addictive sugar intake causes a rise in insulin levels and a drop in blood sugar, resulting in a repeat of the addiction cycle.

Compulsive behavior can thus develop despite its negative consequences, including hormone imbalances, depression, headaches, and weight gain.

The Natural Approach: Sugar detox; foods high in L-tyrosine; supplements to boost mood and manage blood sugar.

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< PAGE 38 “Looking in the Mirror” BY SHARON SKLAR, BFA, LMT, CAR

2024 JANUARY / FEBRUARY

Reduced Brain Function/Focus Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is responsible for the development of new nerve tissue in the brain and thus for the capacity to expand memory, learn, and grow. Research has shown that high-sugar diets decrease BDNF. Although the issue is controversial, Lendon Smith, M.D., a well-known pediatrician, even maintained that sugar can cause hyperactivity/ ADHD by impacting the mid-brain, which controls emotions and the ability to focus.

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Body Acidity and Weakened Immunity Sugar is highly acidic, and disease states thrive in an acidic environment. Sugar thus not only generally suppresses the immune system but specifically feeds cancer. It has been connected with the development of cancer of the breast, ovaries, prostate, rectum, pancreas, lung, gallbladder, and stomach.

The sugar-based acidic environment is also a breeding ground for the parasitic, yeast-like fungus Candida albicans. Since Candida survives on carbohydrates and sugar, it can overgrow and develop into systemic candidiasis, also known as Candida-related complex (CRC). CRC can significantly undermine immune function, causing a wide range of health conditions.

If candidiasis is causing sugar cravings, it follows that controlling it can significantly reduce them and improve health. Generally, managing CRC involves five critical steps: (1) kill the yeast; (2) starve the yeast; (3) replace the good intestinal bacteria that the yeast has crowded out; (4) address the toxic die-off symptoms that can arise from killing yeast; and (5) manage stress.

The Natural Approach: A therapeutic lifestyle change program that incorporates a high-alkaline diet and/or a CRC protocol; supplements that strengthen immunity against fungi, viruses, and bacteria.

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NATURAL Nutmeg

Feature

JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2024

24

“As eating excess sweets causes your brain to become increasingly hardwired to crave sugar, you develop a tolerance, as with any other drug, and the only way to feel the same high as before is to repeat the behavior in increasing amounts and frequency. At the same time, addictive sugar intake causes a rise in insulin levels and a drop in blood sugar, resulting in a repeat of the addiction cycle.”

—Erika Dworkin, BCHN®

The Natural Approach: Supplements that manage blood sugar and enhance brain function and focus (chromium polynicotinate, B-complex, and a blend of GABA, L-taurine, L-glycine, inositol, and valerian).

Metabolic Syndrome and Obesity Metabolic syndrome, which causes premature aging, is generally diagnosed when a patient has three of five interrelated conditions, which the intake of excess sugar can exacerbate: (1) excessive belly fat (waist circumference – women > 35”/ men > 40”); (2) high triglycerides > 150; (3) low HDL < 50 (“good” cholesterol that carries LDL out of the body); (4) high blood pressure over 130/85; and/or (5) fasting glucose > 100 [indicates insulin resistance (pre-diabetes)].

Waist circumference is but one indicator of whether one might be overweight or obese due to excess consumption of sugar. Overweight can also be defined as a body mass index (BMI) of 25-29, while obesity can be defined as a BMI equal to or greater than 30. Since the liver can only store 100 g of glucose as glycogen, and the muscles can store only 500 g of glycogen, any excess sugars are converted to and stored as fat. There is practically no limit to how many calories the body can store as fat.

The Natural Approach: Regular aerobic exercise; a calorie-restricted, healthy diet; a stress reduction regimen; and supplements to reduce insulin resistance and control blood sugar [“carb-blockers” (white bean extract, Irvingia/African mango, brown seaweed); resveratrol [mimics calorie restriction, combats unhealthy levels of cholesterol, triglycerides, and insulin)]; alpha lipoic acid (helps burn glucose); Gymnema sylvestre (stimulates insulin production); vanadyl sulfate (mimics insulin); chromium polynicotinate (combats insulin

resistance, binds to insulin to facilitate muscle use of glucose, promotes weight loss); magnesium; and milk thistle standardized for silymarin content (lowers/stabilizes blood glucose levels; protects the liver, the most important tissue involved in insulin utilization).

Incremental lifestyle changes can empower you to combat sugar abuse and thus improve and prolong your life. Consult your physician, a holistic nutritionist, and a dietary supplements specialist for support. Once the health effects of your new lifestyle begin to kick in, you’ll crave nutritious foods rather than sugar and wonder how you ever ate all those sweets!

Submitted by Erika Dworkin, BCHN (Board Certified in Holistic Nutrition®), Wellness Guide and former owner of the Manchester Parkade Health Shoppe in Manchester, CT (www.cthealthshop. com), which operated for 65 years. See this full article online at www.naturalnutmeg.com. To read more about this topic, contact to get a copy of her chapter in the 25 practitioners’ collaborative book, The Energy Medicine Solution: Mind-Blowing Results to Live Your Extraordinary Life. All statements in this article are practice- or scientific evidence-based, and references are available upon request. The statements in this article have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration, are for educational purposes only, and are not intended to take the place of a physician’s advice. Erika is available for nutrition consultations and to speak to groups, in person or via Telehealth or Zoom. She can be contacted by phone at 860.646.8178, or by email at edworkin@vitathena. com. Office Hours By Request. Visit www.vitathenawellness.com to contact Erika for a Complimentary 20-Minute Wellness Assessment.

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Weight Loss Isn’t Just About the Numbers on the Scale W

As women, it is very easy to let these specific needs fall by the wayside when we’re responsible for others. When this happens, our emotional and energetic cup can become drained, and the only sure way to bring it back up is to have it filled for us. This can be from great friendships, romantic partners, or extended families.

We have to take some time out of our busy schedules to allow these relationships the chance to grow and, in turn, help us be fulfilled. When we don’t, we subconsciously hold onto things—feelings, emotions, hurt energy, resentment—which have a way of not leaving us; hence, those stubborn few pounds.

Do You Feel Safe?

Safety doesn’t just mean ensuring we or our loved ones are out of the way of an obvious danger or threat, but rather, do we find it necessary to always

Do You Have Goals?

Goal setting is one of the most underutilized tools for growth in all aspects of life; just like a map, we can’t get to our final destination without instructions to do so. If our minds and selves lack direction, which is what goals provide us, we might grow stagnant and comfortable.

This doesn’t have to be a laborious process, just about five minutes out of your morning to write down what you desire for your life. These constant reminders generate accountability and promote the motivation to move forward. These goals don’t need to have anything to do with your health at all—they could simply be about life in general.

But because “how you do one thing is how you do everything,” if we are only giving 50% into some parts of our lives, we can’t expect to receive 100% satisfaction from the others.

By Dr. Lyndsey Maher, ND, MSAc

“We have to take some time out of our busy schedules to allow these relationships the chance to grow and, in turn, help us be fulfilled.

When we don’t, we subconsciously hold onto things— feelings, emotions, hurt energy, resentment—which have a way of not leaving us; hence, those stubborn few pounds.”

—Dr. Lyndsey Maher, ND, MSAc

Dr. Lyndsey Maher is the medical director of Soleil Acupuncture and Naturopathic Wellness in Hamden, CT, an integrative medical clinic. Her health concerns in adolescence led her to naturopathic medicine so that she could give others the tools to make the most empowered and educated decisions for their own health. She sees various health matters in practice, including but not limited to hormonal health, fertility, and diseases of metabolism. See ad on page 21 >

25 2024 JANUARY / FEBRUARY

Are Your Emotional Needs Being Met?

be alert as if something is about to happen to us?

This is an evolutionary adaptation put in place with the intention of prioritizing our survival—which is wonderful—but not always necessary when we no longer live in a cave with wild, hungry animals running around. When our bodies don’t feel safe, just like with emotions, we will hold onto extra weight until we feel we’re in a place to let it go.

Safety can look different for everybody, but one of the most common challenges to our safety is our stress levels. Movies will have us believe that high stress is the financiers on Wall Street who are in danger of losing their houses and fear telling their wives and children; so, naturally, we all assume our stress is low in comparison. But the reality is stress is anything ranging from being stuck in traffic on I-95, ensuring major deadlines are met, or having just had a fight with a partner; they all elicit the same biological response within our bodies, regardless of how we perceive them to be different from each other.

NATURAL Nutmeg

hile any weight loss approach should be individual, we must have to take into account other factors. Women are especially dynamic in their being, with their hormones ever in flux, their natural caretaker instincts, and the need to hold space for those who matter most in their lives.

However, in many ways, these beautiful characteristics can be a very heavy burden to bear, which can result in putting themselves last—including their health and wellness.

There’s a saying, “You’re no good to others if you’re not good to yourself,” and this couldn’t be more evident than when we talk about women and their own struggles with their weight and body image. Just because all the “right things” are being done doesn’t mean the transformation is guaranteed. Sometimes, we must address the messy parts of our lives before the other, more obvious ones will result in our desired outcomes.

If the struggle is real, consider the following:

Purpose

My Reading

with Psychic Medium Counselor Agnes Daddona

NATURAL Nutmeg

Submitted by Agnes Daddona, MA, Intuitive Counseling

JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2024

26

“Everything resonated so deeply with me. We started talking about my soul lessons, and suddenly, something wonderful and unexpected happened. My mom, who is on the other side, came through, which made me cry, but these tears were tears of joy.”

—Irvine, West Hartford

I

was about to embark on a journey that would have a profoundly positive impact on my life. I heard about Agnes from my dear friend, who had a wonderful experience with her doing Intuitive Readings and healing grief after the loss of her husband. Connecting with a psychic for the first time felt a little intimidating to me, though. I heard negative things about psychic readers in the past, so it was hard to trust, but my friend convinced me. She said, “Trust me, Agnes is an angel.” I decided to try it.

Preparing for the Session

I went to Agnes’s website, www.AgnesDaddona. com, and immediately, I felt good. Her site is beautiful and really impressed me. I almost felt like my energy had shifted already! I enjoyed reading Agnes’s story and the details of the Intuitive Reading session. She also does so many other wonderful things in her holistic spa. I got excited about my experience and booked my session for the upcoming Friday.

I came for my Intuitive Reading a few minutes early with butterflies in my stomach. I opened the door to Agnes’s spa and instantly felt at home. It felt so beautiful and comfortable there. I took my list of questions for Agnes. I was ready. Agnes came out of her room with another client who just had a session with her and gave that woman a big hug. I saw her client was laughing and in a good mood. I immediately thought: “Hopefully, my experience will be similar and not as scary as I think.”

Agnes greeted me warmly, showed me where the bathroom was, and took me on a little tour of her spa. I felt more grounded after that. She showed me the room where we will be having our session, and I loved the room’s energy!

The Reading

Agnes started my Intuitive Reading by telling me about the session’s structure and what to expect. She assured me that she works only with light and angels and that she is here to be a channel to help me with my needs. She also told me that my Intuitive Reading is confidential. I felt good and relaxed.

Agnes then told me a bit about her and mentioned that we would be working with my personal angels.

Then she took me on the journey, as she stated, to discover my soul’s history. Agnes revealed some of my past lives and their connection to this lifetime; she told me about my gifts and talents. Everything resonated so deeply with me. We started talking about my soul lessons, and suddenly, something wonderful and unexpected happened. My mom, who is on the other side, came through, which made me cry, but these tears were tears of joy. I didn’t have a chance to say goodbye to my mom, as she had died suddenly. It was so good to hear from her, and Agnes described details about my mom that she could never have known.

My mom loved roses, but for some reason, only the yellow ones. That was her thing, and Agnes picked it up. I knew then that it was my mom! It was a truly remarkable experience.

Agnes then talked to me about my aura and chakras and told me what was working and what was a bit blocked. She revealed why some of my chakras are blocked, and that made so much sense to me because she started describing situations from my life that I struggle with as if she was reading from my list of questions, even though I hadn’t revealed it to her yet. She even talked about my knee surgery, for which I was preparing myself.

My Questions for Agnes

Next, I was invited to open my list of questions, many of which she had already answered.

We talked about my life, problems, and concerns, and Agnes clarified things for me. She showed me how things connect to my soul agreement and soul lessons. I started crying and didn’t even know why—I believe they were tears of relief.

I felt like something heavy had just shifted from my heart, and I could breathe again.

Agnes told me profound healing takes place when we discover our truth and find our soul’s purpose.

I was amazed that the same things I looked at in my life seemed so different from my soul perspective.

I used to feel guilty because of the past, and suddenly, after Agnes clarified things for me, I felt somehow different. I felt freer. She invited me to talk about my

hopes and dreams. I wasn’t prepared for that, but with Agnes’s help, I could discover, as Agnes said, the true needs of my soul.

As my session continued, Agnes told me we were ready to do angel cards. She gave me the cards so they could absorb my energy, and then she told me to pick my cards myself and that my angels would confirm what we discussed in our reading. I pulled out my first card and almost fainted because it was a card with a message—release guilt! My following cards revealed the need for healing, and that was accurate because of my knee surgery. There was even a card with yellow roses and love, which immediately made me think about my mom. I felt like my angels were talking to me directly. Agnes assured me that they are. I trusted it with all my heart.

Agnes’s beeper started beeping, and I knew our session was over.

My Experience with Agnes

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Agnes Daddona, MA, Intuitive Counseling, is one of the best Psychic/ Mediums in New England. The gift of intuition runs in her family for generations. For more than 20 years, Agnes has worked with thousands of people worldwide through Psychic Readings, Mediumship, Channeling Angels, Counseling, Healing, and Teaching in English and Polish. Agnes has transformed many people’s lives to meet their dreams. She continues to solve the most difficult issues when it seems no one else can help. To book your Intuitive Reading, contact Agnes at www.AgnesDaddona.com, email at agnes@IntuitiveCounselingllc.com, or call 860.941.2667.

BREAST THERMOGRAPHY NATURAL Nutmeg

I felt so fulfilled!

I told Agnes that I would love my daughter to have a Reading with her and that she lives abroad.

Agnes said she works with people worldwide via Zoom or phone and that the reading works the same way since she connects to her client’s angels.

I was happy to hear that. I couldn’t wait to tell my daughter about her. I also wanted to share with my friend.

My psychic reading was undoubtedly a unique experience. Although I was talking to Agnes about my troubles and concerns, the session was positive, and I gained so much inside and still feel much lighter. Agnes told me to drink a lot of water as we also did energy work. She even invited me for a healing session to work on my love life, and I was so grateful for that. I’m looking forward to our next session and changing my life for the better.

I recommend Agnes to anyone seeking clarity, healing, and creating a positive future. My session was life-changing, and I am incredibly grateful for that.

< PAGE 12 “Hypothyroidism: Healing Pain with Food, Emotions, and Mindfulness” BY RAY BEYOR

Purpose

Can Hypnotherapy Help Us Move Away

NATURAL Nutmeg

from Codependency?

JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2024

28

By Marcel Touponse

“Making ourselves the first priority in our lives and becoming our own best friends will inevitably balance some of those unhealthy relationships. It will also prevent the need to constantly seek validation from others.”

—Marcel Touponse

E

verything I do is for you.

You’re my reason for living.

I don’t need anyone else as long as I have you.

A few more of these sappy, romantic quips, and I’m halfway to an epic power ballad! As lyrics in a corny love song, they’re great—but as an attitude or position, not so much. This is one of the many ways codependency can manifest itself, and unlike the spandex-laden power ballads of yesterday, this doesn’t always end well.

What Does Codependency Look Like?

Codependency is a bit tricky to recognize for those of us in its grasp, but these tendencies are rooted in the positive behaviors and coping mechanisms of childhood. Taking the feelings of others into account as a young person will earn you high praise from the relatives and teachers in your life. But that’s a good thing, right? How did we make the leap from considerate to codependent?

It’s different for all of us, but let’s assume for a moment that there was a need for the child to determine the emotional state of their parent(s) on a regular basis. The list of potential reasons is long.

Perhaps there’s chemical dependency, physical/

emotional abuse, divorce, or a combination of any of these factors. Watching a parent go through something traumatic or difficult can cause the parent/child relationship to take a turn toward codependency as well. Single parent households, only child households. The fact is codependency is extremely common. When children are allowed to see some of the messy details of adult life, or these circumstances impact them directly, a reaction is only natural.

When kids demonstrate the ability to be thoughtful, loving caretakers, they’re often rewarded or praised. It would be strange to admonish a child for showing genuine concern for someone they love, right? What’s taken as thoughtful, mature, and understanding in a ten-year-old may be a case of codependency blossoming before our very eyes.

Left unchecked, this will result in low self-esteem, a persistent need for validation from others, and a series of unhealthy relationships.

The Antidote

OK, we get the causes and signs, but what do we do now? The great news is that there is an antidote for codependency—self-esteem! It seems simple, right? Conceptually, it is. Making

Erin Touponse is a Mystic Healing Reiki, is a Reiki Master/Teacher, Hypnotherapist, Pranic Healer, Tarot Scholar, and student of Shamanic studies. She is co-owner of The Blackbird House in Old Wethersfield and author of Soul’s Journey—A Practical Guide to Reading the Tarot. Her goal is to help you “awaken your inner healer.” Erin offers classes including Reiki, Tarot, and Master Healer Workshops.

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29 2024 JANUARY / FEBRUARY

Marcel Touponse is a Hypnotherapist, Sound Healer, Life Coach, and Tarot Reader. He co-owns The Blackbird House in Old Wethersfield and operates Blackbird Hypnosis. Marcel’s goal is to assist you in “becoming aligned with your mind.” He offers regular workshops on Self-Hypnosis and is available for small and large group tarot readings.

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NATURAL Nutmeg

ourselves the first priority in our lives and becoming our own best friends will inevitably balance some of those unhealthy relationships.

It will also prevent the need to constantly seek validation from others.

Hypnotherapy is a highly effective tool in supporting this empowering transformation.

Stepping into the present moment and giving ourselves a much-deserved pat on the back for all we’ve done for others, our noble tendencies and caring nature, while acknowledging that it’s time to divert some of that energy back to ourselves, is where we begin. Just as we all did what was needed to survive childhood and adolescence, all of us can do what is necessary to become our ideal selves more consistently. A combination of post-hypnotic suggestions during appointments, self-hypnosis, diagnostic journaling, breath control exercises, and some support can accomplish a lot in a short time. Remember, in hypnotherapy, we talk in terms of weeks, not years. Behavior will change, and things will get better.

Think of all the people in your life. Consider your role and think of what’s expected from you.

What happens if you’re not there? The irony is that the relationships we’ve been sacrificing ourselves for inevitably suffer from our lack of self-love. An empty lantern shines no light, and we all have important roles to play in each other’s lives. We all deserve our own love and support.

We all deserve to feel contentment and peace in ourselves. It’s the only way to feel a true and balanced love with others!

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Health

Chiropractic Care: NATURAL Nutmeg

The Maintenance Model

JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2024

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By Dr. Phillip Ruggiero, DC, LMT

“After an adjustment is administered to the neck or lower back, that feedback loop causes an influx of parasympathetic communication to all the organs supplied by those nerves and allows our body and mind to switch from fight or flight to rest and digest.”

—Dr. Phillip Ruggiero, DC, LMT

T

ypical patients in and out of chiropractic offices are those who have acute/chronic injury, trauma, or developmental deformities.

They rely on chiropractic care to help facilitate their healing by increasing healing times, improving their range of motion, and reducing the amount of pain they may have. Some cases resolve quickly; others take time, but if you’re fortunate enough to return to proper function without residual complications, why should you continue with monthly care? Great question! Maintenance care, or wellness care, is a once a once-a-month visit recommendation the same way you’d see your massage therapist, psychologist, esthetician, and so on.

Monthly spinal hygiene is recommended to help reinforce a full range of motion in your joints and help stimulate the “rest and digest” part of your nervous system, otherwise known as the parasympathetic nervous system. Daily stressors such as leaning over a desk all day, driving for your sales job, or holding a baby in your arm all add stress to your joints and muscles, causing them to contract and pull on your joints in different directions with varying amounts of force.

As a protection mechanism, the muscles surrounding the loaded joint will contract to help the joint from operating outside of its normal range of motion. If a joint exceeds the tolerable threshold, a dislocation or other injury could occur.

The supporting soft tissues surrounding a joint become fatigued and weakened from the constant demands of aberrant movement and begin to break down or cause dysfunction either in the joint or in surrounding structures.

Post-Adjustment Relief

Once a chiropractic adjustment is administered to a restricted joint, the joint will be temporarily relieved of restriction, allowing a pain-free, increased range of motion. The stimulation of the joint causes a rapid series of communication between that joint, the brain, and the nerves that exit that joint. With spinal manipulation, the parasympathetic nervous system, the rest and digest response, innervates structures from the cervical and lumbar spine.

After an adjustment is administered to the neck or lower back, that feedback loop causes an influx of parasympathetic communication to all the organs supplied by those nerves and allows our body and mind to switch from fight or flight to rest and digest. When operating in a rest and digest state, your blood pressure decreases, digestion improves, adrenaline hormones cease fire, and your autonomic nervous system can sit back and perform its duties without obstruction.

Pain-Free Pain Relief

The pain-free patient who finished a trial of care might wonder why it’s important to return on a monthly basis if “I’m feeling great.” The “I feel great” claim before an adjustment turns into “I didn’t realize how tight my back was” or “Wow, I feel like I can take a deep breath again.” People who assume repetitive postures or motions for work or hobbies tend to hold that stress as a new baseline. They are constantly putting their body through the same demands; it is hard for them to recognize the subtle tensions they are now holding because of habitual patterns.

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NATURAL Nutmeg

Monthly adjustments can help train the body not to restrict itself to the used motion but rather operate to the full potential the joint can offer.

With the feedback loop occurring after an adjustment, the muscle tissues supplied by that nerve root will also receive an increase in communication, typically causing the muscle to feel less tense.

The more time you spend void of tension, you’ll learn when your body is starting to become tense and restricted again.

The accessibility to chiropractic care and the amount of time spent inside a chiropractor’s office is an efficient and cost-effective way to ensure your body is functioning at its highest potential with as little interference as possible. If you treat yourself to a massage once a month, it takes anywhere from 60 to 90 minutes to achieve the same parasympathetic response that a 15-minute appointment will deliver at a fraction of the cost. If you truly have a joint restriction or a nerve entrapment, as great as massage is, you cannot massage away joint dysfunction. Having over a decade in massage therapy, I believe it is a great modality to help alleviate stress and promote relaxation, but you’re missing the “spa day” your skeleton and brain deserve. If the foundation and framework of your home need repair, no matter how many times you paint the walls, your dysfunction will remain within the most important structures of your home.

Monthly chiropractic visits could also be used as a wellness check-in. Your doctor will ask about your workout routine, nutritional intake, hydration, sleep quality, and overall stressors. If you notice anything different with your body, your chiropractor is qualified to assess your symptoms and refer out as necessary. A monthly visit to assess musculoskeletal function, nutrition, exercise, and sleep is a great reinforcement to prioritize habits that promote health. A pain-free visit to the chiropractor is not a bad thing, considering it would be a mini-monthly physical that usually occurs once a year with a primary care doctor. Starting your pain-free journey with a chiropractor could just be the eye-opening visit you didn’t know you needed.

Health

Pregnancy Precautions:

NATURAL Nutmeg

Exposing Your Unborn Baby to 3 Common Products Can Decrease THEIR Fertility

JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2024

32

By Dr. Nicole Kerr, ND, LAc

D “The unfortunate

thing about what we consume as pregnant women is we don’t always hear what longterm effect is associated with many commonly consumed products. You aren’t told about the side effects and negative impact they will have on the future health of your children.”

— Dr. Nicole Kerr, ND, LAc

o you want to do everything possible to have the healthiest pregnancy and baby?

My patients typically answer with an enthusiastic “yes!”

“Do you want grandbabies someday?” My patients usually pause, look at me inquisitively, and then say, “I/we haven’t thought about that yet.”

To put it in perspective, what a couple chooses to do three months prior to conception through the entire pregnancy can influence not only the child being grown but also their chance for grandchildren. Many do not consider the impact their actions will have on their children’s children and beyond.

This isn’t about environmental changes, though we could work on that as a society too, but the potential to have grandchildren is influenced by what you do before and while pregnant.

When you consider having a baby, shifting the “self-first” mindset and considering the health and well-being of the growing human within is essential. Women have the remarkable ability to put aside many things they desire during pregnancy—for example, deli meat, soft cheeses, and alcohol, to ensure their baby remains healthy.

This is a wonderful gift we give our growing babies—prevention by avoiding what has known side effects or increases negative outcomes.

The unfortunate thing about what we consume as pregnant women is we don’t always hear what long-term effect is associated with many commonly consumed products. You aren’t told about the side effects and negative impact they will have on the future health of your children.

Three commonly consumed and marketed as safe-in-pregnancy products can potentially alter your child’s reproductive system, making it difficult for them to become pregnant and for you to become a grandparent.

1. Caffeine

The most popular pharmacologically active substance consumed in the world. It is a stimulant that is often used to enhance mental alertness.

Drinking caffeinated beverages has been implicated in fertility struggles, and if consumed while pregnant, has been associated with the following conditions in the child: • Increased risk of miscarriage • Obesity of offspring as an adult • Congenital malformations • Fetal growth restriction • Stillbirth • Long-term behavioral effects in offspring • Diminished ovarian reserve • Decreased sperm density • Decreased % of motile sperm Caffeine can accumulate in fetal tissues and produce diverse pharmacologic effects that could interfere with fetal growth and development. Male and female children have higher infertility rates as adults when exposed to caffeine in utero.

Altered brain wiring, leading to obesity as adults, has been shown in babies exposed to caffeine.

Reducing your intake to less than 200 mg per day, or better, none, is the best way to avoid these potential negative results for your baby.

2. Acetaminophen (APAP)

BPA and BPS are also known as endocrine disruptors, meaning they alter hormone production and receptor function, where hormones influence cell function. They are polycarbonate resins mainly used for plastic bags, bottles, and packaging, water and milk bottles, coated tins, particularly food and drink cans, and microwave-safe plastics.

As stated in the Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology article “Bisphenol A: an emerging threat to female fertility” from March 2020, “experimental studies suggested that prenatal, perinatal and postnatal exposure to BPA can impair several steps of ovarian development, induce ovarian morphology rearrangement and impair ovarian

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33 2024 JANUARY / FEBRUARY

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NATURAL Nutmeg

Widely considered safe in pregnancy, this Category B medication has been over-the-counter for less than 62 years (less than three generations).

Though two-thirds of pregnant American women use APAP, most commonly known as Tylenol, more and more studies are showing the detriment of this substance on the health of the offspring when taken in early pregnancy. Potential adverse outcomes seen in children as a result of their mother’s acetaminophen use: • Autism • ADHD • Congenital disabilities • Low birth weight • Preterm birth • Ovarian fertility concerns • Decreased follicular (egg) reserve • Low testosterone levels • Malformation of penis • Undescended testicles (increasing infertility and future cancer risk) Knowing that these conditions are elevated in children exposed to APAP prenatally, there needs to be a more extensive investigation into the extent this impact has across generations to ensure longterm adverse effects can be identified and avoided.

Research is showing how the use of this medication is altering the genetics of the offspring, negatively impacting the hormone profiles and future fertility potential of the offspring. Could the last 62 years of unregulated use of acetaminophen be a reason for the increased infertility seen now?

A critical concluding sentence in a 2022 article from the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology Medicine titled “Acetaminophen (APAP, Paracetamol) Interferes with the First Trimester Human Fetal Ovary Development in an Ex Vivo Model” explains the most crucial piece of information when considering taking APAP while pregnant: “Overall, APAP behaves as an endocrine disruptor in the fetal human ovary.”

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NATURAL Nutmeg JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2024

34

function, particularly folliculogenesis, as well as can impair uterus morphology and function, in female adult animal and OFFSPRING.” The article also notes both endometriosis-like lesions and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) presentations increased after BPA exposure.

Among other things, endometriosis can cause painful periods with heavy bleeding, pain during sex or when having a bowel movement or urinating, and may even result in difficulty in becoming pregnant.

Women with PCOS may not ovulate and may have small cysts on their ovaries. PCOS can also cause missed or irregular periods, excess hair growth, acne, infertility, and weight gain.

Fortunately, BPA was removed from baby bottles and sippy cups in 2012, but did these products increase endometriosis and PCOS risk in girls prior to this removal?

As for male offspring, BPA and BPS exposure in utero alters sperm maturation and sperm quality, decreasing fertility as an adult male.

To avoid exposure to these chemicals, skip microwaving anything in plastic, regardless if your veggies or frozen dinners come in a microwavable-safe package. It is microwave safe because it won’t melt—not that it won’t cause cellular harm. Skip take-out food, too, as these containers are lined with BPA/S. So is your to-go coffee cup— reason #2 to skip the caffeine.

With fertility struggles on the rise, it is imperative to identify and expose the actual impact commonly used substances are having on our future generations’ ability to conceive. Acknowledging that products we commonly use may not be as safe as always believed is a hard pill to swallow, pun intended. But a pill that needs to be swallowed if we want to see a change and improvement in the future of fertility.

Dr. Nicole Kerr, ND, LAc, operates an all-natural fertility clinic in Wallingford, CT, Fertility Oasis.

At Fertility Oasis, Dr. Kerr teaches her patients the importance of preconception care and all treatment options available to couples struggling to conceive. Male and female infertility factors are addressed by Dr. Kerr to offer comprehensive fertility care to her patients.

Fertility Oasis, 857 N Main St Ext Suite 1, Wallingford CT, 203.265.0459. www.fertilityoasis.com.

See ad on page 19 >

Health

Make Sustainable Change with a

Holistic Coach

By Elise Cusimano, MA, NBC-HWC, RYT

are helping people rediscover and reclaim the valuable wisdom of attuning to our inside world— one conversation, one practice at a time.

It’s no coincidence that some of the most effective self-care tools in this space are right in front of us: movement, mindfulness, breathing well, and awareness of attention. When practiced with intention, they become the foundational supports of living well and with purpose. Today, we have no shortage of fancy tools, gadgets, and gizmos at our disposal, just one click away. Having the right tool for the right job is, of course, a valuable thing.

In a world full of quantity, it’s more important than ever to seek quality—skillfully selecting from a few key tools, knowing which tool is right for the challenge at hand, and holding it well. This is a skillset worth working toward.

All conversation has the inherent potential to transform, but how many generate a ripple effect of change? Where one strong step after another grows the self-efficacy to shift again and again in the kaleidoscope of life. Along the way, all truths and values are honored as we co-create solutions to self-support.

Clients who receive the best results from coaching are deeply invested in feeling well, open to investigating all things, both significant and subtle, and want to bridge the gap between just getting by and feeling incredibly alive. They’re curious about living consciously, in pursuit of accountability, and willing to explore and sift through societal messaging.

Could this also be you?

Join a group of many, who never knew the support they were missing through coaching until they found their coach. It just might be the partnership, connection, and insight you’ve been looking for.

Will this be the year you bridge the gap between just getting by and living extraordinarily well?

“We can sum up coaching in a few short words: collaborative, intuitive, selfgenerated change.

Where sustainable change is the name of the game in a world where quick fixes are a dime a dozen.”

—Elise Cusimano, MA, NBC-HWC, RYT

Elise Cusimano, MA, NBC-HWC, RYT, is a board-certified wellness coach, meditation and yoga teacher helping clients bridge the gap from just living to living extraordinarily well. She specializes in teaching mindful, integrative and accessible self-care practices both in coaching conversation and in the larger mission of advancing health equity. See ad on page 13 >

35 2024 JANUARY / FEBRUARY

olistic lifestyle and wellness coaching is still relatively new and understandably, you may have questions. Many associate this type of coach with the approach and attitude of an athletic coach, when in fact, it’s quite different. Generally speaking, coaching is incredibly collaborative in nature and each coach carries their own style and niche. Some zero in on one particular dimension of health, while others cover a vast landscape.

Broadly, think of coaching as less of a health Q&A and more of a deeper dialogue to sift through stories, beliefs, circumstances standing between you and how you want to feel every day. We can sum up coaching in a few short words: collaborative, intuitive, self-generated change. Where sustainable change is the name of the game in a world where quick fixes are a dime a dozen.

The focus of private and group conversations range from living well in the broadest sense to a deep dive in one particular practice. Coaching is also incredibly effective alongside those experiencing grief, working through a chronic condition, and those already in therapy but needing help implementing action steps from other health professionals into a supportive daily routine. Coaching is excellent as a stand-alone conversation and works just as well in conjunction with other professional supports.

The expertise of a holistic coach lies in the process of change, guiding and providing accountability through every shift that will elevate and enrich your life. Together, a detailed vision of how you want to feel is deliberately designed before setting out a path of small stepping-stone goals. A new “OS,” if you will, is built as a result of this intentional work, producing the tools and confidence necessary for self-generated change long after coaching is complete.

More and more, we’ve come to reflexively seek the outside solution before consulting ourselves.

Coaches, and a few other key holistic professionals,

NATURAL Nutmeg

H

Health

NATURAL Nutmeg

The Never-Ending Trend in Healthcare:

JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2024

36

Pay More, Get Less

By Dr. Michael Kane, ND

“As patients, we must advocate for a healthcare system that prioritizes quality care over profit margins. Support initiatives that seek fair reimbursement for all healthcare providers, irrespective of their specialty.”

—Dr. Michael Kane, ND

W

hen was the last time you had an appointment with a doctor in an independently-owned private practice? Did you know that fewer than half of practicing physicians work in their own practice?

What’s happening is that many doctors are choosing to work or sell their private practices to hospitals or big corporations because they cannot financially survive due to higher costs and the low fees insurance companies are willing to pay.

The expansion of the big healthcare companies, like Hartford or Yale Health, and rapidly growing mid-sized medical groups such as Midstate and ProHealth, as well as some newer, smaller companies, are changing the model of how healthcare is delivered in this country.

I’m sure we don’t have to tell you this. Most of you have experienced it. We hear our patients complaining about the lack of quality face-to-face time they have with their providers. Typically, you get to address one concern, and it is often met with a quick nod and a prescription for a drug.

Independent research quite broadly shows that as more doctors concentrate into these big systems, prices go up for patients. Why? Unlike independent practices, these larger healthcare companies have the power to demand higher rates from insurance companies, who, in turn, pass it on to their patients through increased premiums.

So, you are paying more and getting less.

The other side of the story: The crunch on private practice.

Private Practices Are Suffering, Too

Meanwhile, the smaller private practice groups without any market power have to fight for rate increases from insurance companies who have little incentive to comply. To balance the market, some advocacy and physician associations have banded together to lobby for rate increases. This has been effective for some allopathic medical groups. But the population of what insurance companies have labeled “complementary providers,” including therapists, naturopaths, chiropractors, acupuncturists, and massage therapists, do not have market power and, therefore, have been left behind.

Think about this: The naturopathic physicians in our practice have not had an increase in insurance reimbursement rates in over 20 years! It seems unimaginable to those who are aware of the importance of preventative medicine, but trust me, it is the sad and honest truth.

If the expenses it takes to run an office were locked in at rates from 20 years ago, we would be in good shape. But between 2000 and today, the prices have had a cumulative increase of 76.61%.

For this very reason, many “complementary medical practices” are opting out of insurance participation simply because it is not sustainable.

Pay More, Get Less

The landscape of healthcare in our country is undergoing a significant transformation, and unfortunately, it’s not necessarily for the better.

Advocate for Each Other

Dr. Michael Kane is a Naturopathic Physician at the Connecticut Center for Natural Health in Middletown. A graduate of Bastyr University in Washington State, Michael continually learns from his patients and takes the art of listening very seriously. Connecticut Center For Natural Health is located at 210 S. Main St. Visit yournaturalhealth.com or call 860.347.8600. See ad on page 33 >

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2024 JANUARY / FEBRUARY

This stagnation is unsustainable, considering the cumulative increase in prices over the same period. The reality is that many complementary medical practices are forced to opt out of insurance participation, leading to a situation where preventative and holistic healthcare becomes financially unviable for both providers and patients.

It’s time to take action. As patients, we must advocate for a healthcare system that prioritizes quality care over profit margins. Support initiatives that seek fair reimbursement for all healthcare providers, irrespective of their specialty. Encourage legislation that addresses the growing disparities in reimbursement rates and market power among healthcare professionals.

Moreover, engage with healthcare policy discussions and demand transparency and accountability from both insurance companies and healthcare providers. By raising awareness and collectively pushing for positive change, we can contribute to a healthcare system that values accessibility, affordability, and the overall well-being of patients and practitioners alike. The never-ending trend of paying more for less in healthcare can only be reversed through a concerted effort to reshape the system for the benefit of everyone involved.

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NATURAL Nutmeg

The shift toward consolidation within larger healthcare entities, coupled with the financial struggles faced by independent practitioners, has led to a disturbing trend: pay more and get less.

Many of us have experienced the diminishing quality of face-to-face time with our healthcare providers, a consequence of the financial strain they face. The increasing number of doctors joining big healthcare systems results in higher prices for patients. These large entities can demand higher rates from insurance companies, causing a ripple effect that ultimately burdens patients with increased premiums.

On the flip side, smaller private practices, lacking market power, struggle to negotiate for fair reimbursement rates from insurance companies. This struggle is especially evident for “complementary providers” such as therapists, naturopaths, chiropractors, acupuncturists, and massage therapists, who find themselves left behind in the ongoing healthcare transformation.

Health

Looking in the Mirror NATURAL Nutmeg

By Sharon Sklar, BFA, LMT and CAR

JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2024

38

“It is said that body perception could be a distortion created by our past observations of ourselves. I was fooled by my brain to remember the younger me, so as I grew older, there was an illusion that I was thinner than I actually was.”

—Sharon Sklar, BFA, LMT and CAR

F

or the past forty-three years, I have worked with people to help them better understand their bodies. I teach them how to be more comfortable not only with the direct manipulation of the hands-on techniques of Rolfing® but also how to sleep, walk, sit, and stand in ways that they feel supported.

I have come to know something about myself that I must admit has shocked me. I have spent a good part of my life not knowing what I look like in terms of my weight or body mass. When I think I feel heavy or puffy, people tell me I’m thin. There is some weird disconnect there, and I’ve begun to look at it more closely.

constantly checking yourself in the mirror, avoiding mirrors, or trying to hide your body under a hat or scarf or by using make-up.

Basically, I had no clue what I looked like from the shoulders down! I did my best to avoid looking at mirrors and found solace in just seeing my face. Thank goodness big shoulder pads were in fashion in those days as they worked to even out proportions so women looked more balanced and structured—or so fashion said, and so we thought!

We Are What We Eat. We Are Who Made Us. But Most of All, We Are Ourselves!

Genetics dictate the shape of where and how fat is stored in your body. My dad was a four-letter man in high school and a three-letter man in college, When I graduated from college and moved back so he was naturally athletic but got bulkier as he to the Hartford area, I lived on the bottom floor aged. My mom was naturally lean, petite, health of a two-family house. It was pleasant and safe, conscious, and had beautiful posture. Now, at 95 but like most renters, I had no control over many years old, she is still trim and just ended her 60things. I lived there for eighteen years, which year love of playing tennis five years ago at age saw me through so many changes over so many formative years—my parents’ divorce, my Rolfing 90! As I gained weight with age and dealt with the stresses and traumas of life, I just got bigger all training, and my adulthood. over my athletic frame.

The medicine cabinet over the sink in the There were three members of my dad’s family bathroom of my apartment was my only mirror.

I existed from my clavicles to the top of my head who weighed 500 pounds and one who was about 425 pounds. When I was growing up, they as the cabinet was mounted on the high side. all lived a couple of blocks away from us, so we All I ever saw was my shoulders to my face— visited frequently. There were always lots of a floating head. We are so much more than that, goodies when we visited, and “food was love” but that was the only image I had of myself. I for the Sklars. looked the same every day.

Mom would yell at me and my sister when When I saw rare photos of myself (I hated having we were young that if we didn’t stop eating all my picture taken), I would not recognize that person. She had my face, but she had a body I could the junk and bad food, we would look like the Sklars! That was a frightening idea for a young not identify. She was quite large and had a good girl to face because my relatives were so big it structure, but did not look all that familiar to me. was almost scary. But how do you stop eating all After some reflection on those early years, I that homemade cake, candy, and ice cream when realized I had a body image problem that some would call body dysmorphia or body dysmorphic it was bountiful and delicious, and fruits and veggies were so boring? disorder (BDD). A few common symptoms are

The Floating Head

So, in my twenties and thirties, I only existed from the neck up in my mind. It is said that body perception could be a distortion created by our past observations of ourselves. I was fooled by my brain to remember the younger me, so as I grew older, there was an illusion that I was thinner than I actually was.

Clothing at that time was a popular brand with elasticized waist slinky pants and skirts and boxy jackets, so there was no tight this or that to give me a clue. Many times, I blamed my dryer for over-drying my clothes because they felt tighter—especially in the months after Halloween and the holidays. I still had no clue what I looked like in the world.

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Shift Your Reality

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39 2024 JANUARY / FEBRUARY

Sharon Sklar is in her 43rd year of private practice as a Certified Advanced Rolfer. She has been voted one of Natural Nutmeg’s 10BEST Bodyworkers for the last five years. Sharon works with direct manipulation of the soft tissue of the body and movement re-education over a ten-session series to help her clients feel freer, get more balanced, and reduce chronic pain. Great for athletes, children, and adults recovering from the stress, injuries, or traumas of life. Inquiries are encouraged! State Licensed. Call 860.561.4337 for more info or to schedule a consultation. www.SharonSklarRolfing.com

NATURAL Nutmeg

When I bought my home twenty-seven years ago, I had a bathroom mirror that was from the top of the counter to a foot below the ceiling. Getting out of the shower was a nightmare, so I made sure it was foggy after my shower. We go to great lengths to hide.

About fifteen years ago, I had a huge epiphany (after having had breast cancer) and shifted the importance of food in my life, letting nourishment take center stage. I reduced my weight by forty pounds and have kept it off. I wear fitted clothing that helps keep me in check. I look in the mirror.

I deal with my emotions without stuffing them. I have made conscious choices to feel healthy and chose a lifestyle that better represents me. I still eat my chocolate and sweets at times, but sugar does not run me, pizza does not run me, cheese does not run me. There are now plenty of photos of me to share with friends and family.

It takes work to shift your reality; it takes work to keep focus on what’s important to you. I urge you to look at yourself, see what it is that serves you, and make some changes. It is time for a reset, perhaps one that can reshape your life, your health, and your happiness. Go for it! It’s never too late.

Charleen K. Miele, LPC Licensed Professional Counselor (IFS level 2 trained) Trauma Informed Breathwork Facilitator Life, Spiritual Life, and Wellness Coach

Now Offering Somatic Healing Through Transformational Breathwork thesacredselfllc@gmail.com 860-614-8382 • thesacredselfllc.com

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< PAGE 18 “Energy, Breathing, And Yoga: A Guide to Self” BY CHARLEEN K. MIELE, LPC

Health

The Future of Healing

Experience the Power of Natural Healing

NATURAL Nutmeg

By Lori Hubbard, MA

JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2024

40

“Healthy cells have the ability to heal themselves and make new cells that replace those that have been permanently damaged or destroyed. Even when a large number of cells are destroyed, the healthy surrounding cells replicate to make new cells, quickly replacing those that were destroyed. Through optimal energy enhancement and changes to our lifestyles, our bodies can heal and correct imbalances.”

—Lori Hubbard, MA

T

he Energy Enhancement System (EE System) generates multiple bioactive, regenerative energy fields, including scalar waves and biophotons, that assist your body’s ability to repair and heal itself from disease. Biophotons are light particles generated (and emitted) by a biological system.

As cells become charged with this energy, they release toxins. Research indicates that exposure to scalar fields can promote the repair of DNA and lengthen telomeres. This incredible technology gives our bodies the ultimate support for improving circulation, oxygenation, and increasing cellular energy. At optimum energy levels (higher frequencies), the body can begin rejuvenating and recalibrating itself back to homeostasis.

What Are Scalar Waves, and What Do They Do?

The discovery of scalar waves is attributed to James Clerk Maxwell, a 19th-century Scottish scientist responsible for the classical theory of electromagnetic radiation. Many years later, Nikola Tesla demonstrated the existence of scalar energy, expounding upon Maxwell’s discovery and referred to this energy as universal waves, or standing energy. He demonstrated the existence of scalar energy and harnessed it without using any wires or cables. Due to his work, Tesla is called the “father of electromagnetics” or scalar or radiant energy. He believed that if harnessed correctly, this energy could offer endless possibilities.

Later, Einstein also acknowledged the existence of this energy, which then led to the discovery and development of quantum physics.

The revolutionary Energy Enhancement System technology was developed over 20 years ago by Dr. Sandra Rose Michael, Ph.D., DNM, DCSJI. The system uses custom-installed computers that

generate bio-active energy fields called scalar waves, which promote wellness for cell rejuvenation, improved immune function, pain relief, body detoxification, elevated mood and consciousness, and balancing of the brain hemispheres for increased energy levels. Ultimately, it aids in facilitating an optimal healing environment that can assist the body to begin healing itself.

Scalar energy is formed when two identical frequencies come from opposite directions together and collide, creating a stationary and static energy field. Unlike sound or light waves, scalar waves carry out transmissions of energy without decaying over distance or time. Scalar energy is highly effective because human cells have a crystalline structure that holds energy. When a human cell is operating at maximum potential, it holds an energy charge between 70–90 millivolts. The potential for disease occurs when millivolts drop below this ideal range. When you sit in an EE session, scalar waves move through the cell, exciting and recharging it. A recharged cell will release toxins into the bloodstream that can then be released through detoxification. Research shows that exposure to scalar fields can help repair damaged DNA and that scalar energy can assist in neutralizing harmful, human-made electromagnetic frequencies.

The Power That Makes the Body Heals the Body

Health starts within your cells. A high electrical charge in your cells leads you to experience health, while a low electrical charge leads you to experience disease. One of the primary intentions of the EE System is to charge the cells based on the principle that we interact with the energetic resonance of our environment. When you’re in an environment charged at 70–90 millivolts and

spend enough time in that environment, your cells will begin to assimilate and sync to their optimal charge levels, allowing the body to heal itself.

Healthy cells have the ability to heal themselves and make new cells that replace those that have been permanently damaged or destroyed. Even when a large number of cells are destroyed, the healthy surrounding cells replicate to make new cells, quickly replacing those that were destroyed. Through optimal energy enhancement and changes to our lifestyles, our bodies can heal and correct imbalances.

Behind Sanaré Wellness

Dr. Ruggiero's background in massage therapy and working in prosthetic sales inside operating rooms alongside some of the best surgeons in the country have allowed him to understand the way the body works in a new and comprehensive way.

Call 860-966-8791 to book an inital consultation with Dr. Phil today!

49 Welles Street, suite 207, Glastonbury, CT, 06033 • 860-966-8791 @Prchiropracticct • Prchiropractor@gmail.com • prchiroct.com < PAGE 30 “Chiropractic Care: The Maintenance Model” BY DR PHILLIP RUGGIERO, DC, LMT

NATURAL Nutmeg

41 2024 JANUARY / FEBRUARY

Kathleen and Mark Stalter opened their healing center after watching a program about the EE System and then experiencing it for themselves, giving them greater mobility, relieving their pain, and even improving her vision. Kathleen states, “Everything, from PTSD, depression, anxiety, autism, anything on that side of the spectrum to cancer, bursitis, Lyme disease…” If it’s a disease, the system can help.

Kathleen believes this technology’s ability to heal and give people their happiness—and their quality of life—back so quickly is a gratifying and beautiful experience, and she loves sharing it with her clients.

Scalar energy sessions can be scheduled according to your needs. For clients experiencing chronic conditions, we recommend working toward a goal of 20 hours. The closer together the sessions are, the more optimal your results will be. Local clients can schedule four-hour sessions twice weekly, while out-of-state clients can schedule their sessions closer together.

Sanaré Wellness recommends a day of rest between sessions.

The effects of the scalar energy are cumulative and are greatly influenced by your lifestyle.

You’ll get the best results when you completely relax during your session to give your body the best opportunity to respond to the energy.

We highly recommend supporting your energy enhancement sessions with diet and lifestyle changes through our holistic coaching program.

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Purpose

Acceptance Is Not

Resignation,

and Resignation

NATURAL Nutmeg

Is Not Acceptance

42 JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2024

By James Osborne, MS, LPC

“To make changes, we must use our resources, including reaching out to others— be they friends, family, sponsors, or therapists—and explore what it is we are seeing, thinking, and/or feeling. We need to ground ourselves and process our perceptions, projections, and prejudices.”

—James Osborne, MS, LPC

T

hough acceptance and resignation may appear to mean the same thing, there are huge differences in terms of attitudes and perspectives, especially when considering the psychological aspects of our lives.

Acceptance

Acceptance typically contains the concept of assent, approval, or saying yes. The term implies a non-judgmental mindset. According to Eckhardt Tolle, acceptance is “surrendering to the now.”

Sharon Salzburg, Tara Brach (Radical Acceptance), and Jack Kornfield, all with Buddhist orientations, view acceptance as embracing a situation as it presents itself in the here and now, without judgment. Acceptance involves an awareness, or mindfulness state, that everything changes— impermanence is the only certainty. Acceptance is a positive interactive choice on how to view the present, past, and potential future.

Acceptance is the key to serenity in twelve-step programs. Michael J. Fox said, “Acceptance doesn’t mean resignation; it means understanding that something is what it is, and there’s got to be a way through it.” This is especially true in coping with terminal illness. It implies holding a space for hope.

Marsha Linehan discussed the practice of radical acceptance in dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) as letting go of what isn’t possible. She stated, “Radical acceptance rests on letting go of the illusion of control and a willingness to notice and accept things as they are right now, without judging.”

Renowned psychiatrist Elizabeth Kübler-Ross related that acceptance is the fifth stage of processing grief. One cannot resolve or process grief without first acknowledging what has happened and establishing itself as reality. The question that often arises is: Is there really a choice when there is only one option? Oddly enough, the answer is yes. In the case of acceptance, we are saying yes to an attitude or perspective. We are acting like the Stoic philosophers. We are identifying “the thing in itself” and “choosing our responses.” Acceptance can be applied to things past and present as an affirmation of what is or what has happened.

It is not a judgment of good or bad.

Resignation

Resignation, on the other hand, seems grounded in, focused on, and determined by the past and carries on into infinity. It is tied to the judgment that the current situation is not good and will

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43 2024 JANUARY / FEBRUARY

James W. Osborne, MS, LPC, has been one of Natural Nutmeg’s 10Best Winners for Holistic Psychotherapy/LCSW/ Counseling every year since 2018.

He is a Licensed Professional Counselor with over 40 years of clinical experience.

He employs mindfulness, Jungian psychology, gestalt psychology, ACT, EMDR, and value-based techniques unique to the individual to support positive health changes. His undergraduate degree is in philosophy, and he views psychotherapy as philosophy in action. You can contact James at ProNatural Wellness Group in Berlin, CT, at 860.829.0707.

Are you SICK from feeling SICK TIRED of being TIRED Do you go from Here to There with NO Results at all?

NATURAL Nutmeg

continue to persist throughout eternity. It is a passive, helpless, hopeless, powerless state of being associated with fatalism and nihilism.

These are defeatist attitudes that live in the realm of “nothing will change, so why bother?”

This often leads to states of depression and/ or anxiety. Even in playing chess, resignation is surrendering to the fact that the game is lost without the ability to win or draw. It is accepting the hopelessness of the situation.

To move from resignation to acceptance, one must first be aware and mindful of the current situation and reflect on it clearly, without prejudice or predetermined ideas. We can employ a sense of tolerance and gratitude in our examination of the situation. We focus on what may be possible to change and create a plan of action that has the potential to positively impact the situation. This is not a passive process. It requires courage, hope, and perseverance.

To move out of resignation, we need to stop judging outcomes or situations that happen as good or bad. We also need to understand that everything is constantly changing and evolving, including the situation that we find ourselves in.

The clearer we see the situation and its cause, the more likely we will be to influence the direction of change. To make changes, we must use our resources, including reaching out to others— be they friends, family, sponsors, or therapists— and explore what it is we are seeing, thinking, and/or feeling. We need to ground ourselves and process our perceptions, projections, and prejudices.

We end with, “I may not like this situation, and this is what I must deal with. Life is worth living even when there are painful events.” We can then move through despair, loss, grief, and denial (resignation) to what is now possible (hope, acceptance).

A window opens.

Health

Unleashing Kinesthetic Intelligence Through ATSI

NATURAL Nutmeg

By Ryan McDonald, BCSI, LMT

JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2024

44

“ATSI, with its holistic view of the body’s fascial network, aims to restore our innate kinesthetic awareness. This enhanced body intelligence can lead to improved posture, fluidity in movement, and a deeper connection to how we move and inhabit our physical selves.”

—Ryan McDonald, BCSI, LMT

I

n a world where physical disconnect is commonplace, cultivating kinesthetic intelligence— our body’s innate ability to gauge movement, weight, and physical space—is more crucial than ever. As a Board-Certified Structural Integrator, I employ the principles of Anatomy Trains Structural Integration (ATSI) to unlock this primal understanding within my clients.

Particularly through the ATSI 12 series, I guide individuals on a transformative journey to heightened body awareness and pain-free movement.

Kinesthetic Intelligence and Its Importance

Kinesthetic intelligence represents our ability to coordinate timing, balance, and precision in physical activities. It’s an essential skill for everyone, from athletes and performers to individuals seeking to navigate daily life with ease.

Unfortunately, modern lifestyles often impair this natural intelligence, leading to disconnection and dysfunction. ATSI, with its holistic view of the body’s fascial network, aims to restore our innate kinesthetic awareness. This enhanced body intelligence can lead to improved posture, fluidity in movement, and a deeper connection to how we move and inhabit our physical selves.

The ATSI 12 Series Approach

The ATSI 12 series is a comprehensive program designed to systematically reintegrate the body. Spanning twelve sessions, each focuses on different fascial planes and structures within the body, building upon the last to achieve full-body

harmony. The series begins with superficial layers, progressing into deeper tissues, culminating in integrative sessions that tie together the entire body’s movement patterns. This progressive approach allows for gradual improvement in kinesthetic intelligence, offering clients a profound understanding of their body mechanics.

Benefits of the ATSI 12 Series

Clients who engage in the ATSI 12 series often report a significant increase in kinesthetic intelligence. They notice enhanced athletic performance, reduced incidence of injury, and a newfound ease in daily movements. The series particularly benefits those with chronic pain or movement restrictions, as it addresses underlying fascial imbalances contributing to discomfort. By the series’ end, clients not only feel different but also possess a greater ability to perceive and correct their alignment and movements independently.

Why Embrace ATSI for Kinesthetic Intelligence?

Embracing ATSI for kinesthetic intelligence is more than correcting posture or easing pain; i t’s about rekindling the conversation between body and mind. It empowers individuals to move with intention and precision, fully in tune with their physical being.

The journey of ATSI is an invitation to rediscover your body’s language. Through the ATSI 12 series, I am committed to guiding clients toward a harmonious symphony of movement and self-awareness, paving the way for a life of fluidity and grace.

Ryan McDonald, BCSI, LMT, offers expert Anatomy Trains Structural Integration in Avon, CT. His practice focuses on enhancing movement and well-being, guiding clients through the ATSI 12 series to cultivate kinesthetic intelligence and structural harmony. With a compassionate approach, Ryan empowers individuals to achieve a balanced, pain-free life.

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Travel

An Adventurous Escape at the Sorrel River Ranch Resort & Spa

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“With nearly 10,000 acres of beautiful terrain to explore and a crew of good-natured and fun-loving wranglers, the wild is at your fingertips for some of the best horseback riding in Utah.”

Deluxe Accommodations

You can stay in their luxurious River View Spa Suites, which include a sprawling balcony overlooking the Colorado River. These are ideal for honeymooners and couples seeking stunning views and solitude. Or, if you’re traveling with the kids, experience the River View Family Suites.

These expansive suites are perfect for families or groups of friends traveling together with separate sleeping areas and bi-level layouts.

Take in spectacular views of the surrounding mesas or the meandering Colorado River from your slowly swaying front porch rockers or porch swing on your private veranda.

Unforgettable Activities

The list of things to do here is virtually endless!

Sorrel River Ranch is a gateway to activities suited to all desires and experience levels. Simply

—Dr. Diane Hayden, PhD spend a summer day at the beautiful pool, raft down the winding Colorado River, head out on an ATV ride, or explore numerous hiking and biking trails. And don’t forget the horseback riding!

We did a sunset ride through the winding canyons and towering mesas, which was breathtaking.

With nearly 10,000 acres of beautiful terrain to explore and a crew of good-natured and funloving wranglers, the wild is at your fingertips for some of the best horseback riding in Utah.

After all this, unwind at the peaceful and serene Colorado River Spa on the property. You can also take a yoga class right on the banks of the river, and they even have an adventure concierge who will help you plan any experience you desire.

Top: King size bed in the River View Spa Suite Bottom: A spacious dining area in the suite.

45 2024 JANUARY / FEBRUARY

estled amidst the breathtaking backdrop of Moab, Utah, is the amazing Sorrel River Ranch Resort & Spa, which spans 240 acres of majestic landscapes featuring iconic arches, winding canyons, and stunning red-rock mesas— not to mention that the resort sits right along the banks of the beautiful Colorado River.

If you’re looking for privacy and exclusivity, this is the place to stay. Authentic western, rustic elegance is their tagline, and with accolades like the Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star Award and being voted one of the Top 10 Luxury Wilderness Lodges in the USA by Luxury Travel Magazine, it’s easy to see why this is a coveted location.

NATURAL Nutmeg

View from our porch at the Sorrel River Ranch Resort

By Dr. Diane Hayden, PhD

NATURAL Nutmeg

Travel

JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2024

46 “Many of the locally sourced ingredients used in the restaurants and bar come directly from their all-natural garden, an expansive plot of produce and herbs that Chef Luca and the culinary team incorporate into each restaurant and banquet menu.”

—Dr. Diane Hayden, PhD

Top: Dr. Diane petting the friendly and gentle horses on the ranch.

Right: Dr. Diane and Master Gardener Jamie

The Incredible Organic Garden

Now, let’s get to the food—one of the main reasons I wanted to experience this fantastic property. Many of the locally sourced ingredients used in the restaurants and bar come directly from their all-natural garden, an expansive plot of produce and herbs that Chef Luca and the culinary team incorporate into each restaurant and banquet menu.

We got a chance to meet the Master Gardener, Jamie, and tour the extensive plots she’s built.

When Jamie came to Sorrel, she spent her first year building the soil foundation with manure, scraps, hay, and compost. She used recycled materials from barn wood and driftwood from the river, and, of course, the gardens are all organic, with no chemical pesticides—she uses diatomaceous earth as a natural pesticide.

We had a long conversation about the importance of growing organic food. She told me when you spray pesticides on plants, not only is that not healthy for us to eat, but all the energy in the plant goes to fighting off the pesticide and not into nutrition for the plant. Just another reason to eat organic if you want to get the most nutrients out of your food.

NATURAL Nutmeg

As you can imagine, growing anything in the desert is a challenge, and you constantly need compost to hold water. I was absolutely amazed by how many different types of fruits and vegetables she is able to grow, including strawberries, raspberries, celery, artisanal lettuces, broccoli, squash, corn, tomatoes, cucumbers, mini pink popping corn, garlic, shallots, pumpkin, butternut squash, apples, peaches, asparagus, elderberry, beets, peas, carrots, cilantro, radish, potato, multitudes of peppers, eggplant, amaranth, edible flowers, and the already-impressive list goes on.

Chef Luca and the culinary team collaborate with Jamie and her gardening team before each coming month to plan seasonal varieties. They also have a brand-new U-Pick Garden experience, offering visitors a unique opportunity to connect with nature and savor the joys of harvesting your own produce.

Dining and Drinks

After a long day of adventures, we relaxed at the Epic bar, which features plush seating, a roaring fireplace, and refined art that complemented a menu of international wines, craft brews, and artisanal mixed drinks. I had one of the best margaritas made with all local ingredients.

For dinner, we had the burrata and heirloom tomato salad with Italian burrata cheese, heirloom cherry tomatoes, garden basil in an EVOO balsamic reduction, and the pan-fried local trout with sautéed farm spinach and blistered cherry tomatoes. Perfection!

The Sorrel River Ranch offers an adventurous escape from the grind of daily life, where you can simply relax on your private porch and watch the Colorado River glide by or explore the amazing landscape all day. Visit www.sorrelriver.com to experience all the ranch has to offer.

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Dr. Diane Hayden, PhD, is an entrepreneur, mindset warrior, perspective shifter, and unshakable optimist. She started a health and wellness publishing business with nothing more than passion, a laptop, and a dream, and has created a socially conscious print and digital platform that has touched thousands of people for nearly 20 years.

Top: Freshly picked and delicious heirloom tomatoes and carrots.

Middle: Outdoor dining at the ranch.

Bottom: Enjoy an artisanal cocktail at the EPIC bar.

COMMUNITY RESOURCES Local Experts In and Around Connecticut ACUPUNCTURE

Acupuncture of Greater Hartford Stan Baker, LAC West Hartford, CT 860.836.1068 acupuncturestanbaker.com

BIOMAGNETIC PAIR THERAPY

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The BioSole, LLC

JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2024

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1176 Farmington Ave., Berlin, CT 06037 lisa@thebiosole.com • 860.840.7878 www.thebiosole.com Biomagnetism uses the body’s natural process of healing to restore pH balance and achieve homeostasis. We believe illnesses and chronic conditions are often rooted in trauma and unaddressed emotional experiences. Conditions treated include Epstein-Barr Virus • Lyme Disease • Respiratory Viruses • Chronic Fatigue • Gastrointestinal • Fungus/Mold • Joint/Chronic Pain • Strep Strains • Skin/Eczema • Autoimmune/Neurological Disorders • Emotional Conflicts/Trauma • Sleep/ Anxiety • Endocrine/Hormonal Imbalances

BREATHWORK

The Sacred Self, LLC Charleen K. Miele, LPC • Newington, CT 860.614.8382 • thesacredselfllc@gmail.com thesacredselfllc.com Licensed Professional Counselor (IFS level 2 trained); Trauma Informed Breathwork Facilitator; Life, Spiritual Life, and Wellness Coach. Somatically release stored trauma and foster healing as you discover your sacred self within.

CBD STORE Nature’s Gifts

304 W Main St., Avon, CT • 860.995.4444 naturesgifts-usa.com/ Nature’s Gifts is an independently owned, family run CBD Store in Avon, CT. Stress, sleep, and pain solutions available. Our knowledgeable staff will happily guide you through our offerings to find the perfect CBD product for your needs. Don’t pay too much for your CBD—stop in, say hello, and let us help you feel like you again.

COACH: LIFE/BUSINESS/ FINANCE/HEALTH Elise Cusimano LLC

Simsbury, CT (primarily virtual services) 716.450.3012 • elise.cusimano@gmail.com elisecusimano.com Elise Cusimano, MA, NBC-HWC, RYT, is a board-certified wellness coach, meditation and yoga teacher helping clients bridge the gap from just living to living extraordinarily well. She specializes in teaching mindful, integrative, and accessible self-care practices in coaching conversation and in the larger mission of advancing health equity.

COLON HYDROTHERAPY Beverley Blass Integrative Health Hartford Family Institute • BeverleyBlass.com 17 S. Highland St., West Hartford, CT 860.206.1129 • BeverleyBlass@gmail.com Beverley Blass is an integrative intuitive healer, offering bodycentered psychotherapy, soulcentered hypnotherapy, and colon hydrotherapy. She focuses on her client’s “whole body” experience— spiritual, physical, mental, emotional health, and healing—working with you to create an all-encompassing tapestry of transformation.

In-person and online sessions.

Vitalized Performance Group Glastonbury, CT • 860.800.6775 VPGwaves.com

VPG Waves offers an open system colonic on the LIBBE device, GAINS/Femi/AcuteWave treatments for head/face pain to toe pain, scar tissue, incontinence, and sexual wellness issues. We have ionic foot baths and biomat/infrared heat, cupping, naturopaths and acupuncture. Combining modalities for thorough healing is key!

CONSCIOUS MOVEMENT & DANCE CT Conscious Movement

Katherine Allen & Lisa Galinski Avon, CT • Azul Certified Conscious Movement Teachers CTConsciousMovement@gmail.com www.CTConsciousMovement.com Conscious Movement is a dynamic practice of free-form, intuitive dance that awakens your aliveness, clarity, expression and connection ~ an empowering body-centered practice of sacred remembering. We are passionate about offering a healing movement practice and building community. Join us for weekly movement classes and women’s embodiment circles in Avon, CT.

ENERGY HEALING Jacqueline M. Kane

Low Back Pain Specialist and Master Energy Healer 111 Main St., Collinsville, CT • 860.307.0232 jacqueline@jacquelinemkane.com jacquelinemkane.com Jacqueline facilitates deep healing of trauma, low back pain, and chronic conditions tied to limiting mindsets impacting health and wealth. Clients’ proven results are reclaimed energy, moving freely and powerfully, and manifesting their goals aligned with soul purpose. If you’re ready to reach your health and wealth goals, visit jacquelinemkane.com.

Sanaré Wellness, LLC 92 N. Summit St., Southington, CT 06489 kathy@sanare.life • 860.600.0106 www.Sanare.Life The future of Energy Medicine is here! This 24-unit Energy Enhancement System creates multiple bioactive, regenerative energy fields, including scalar waves and biophotons, that can assist your body’s ability to repair and heal itself from disease. The body can become capable of rejuvenating and recalibrating itself back to homeostasis.

FINANCIAL PLANNING Dana Mascalo, CFP®, RLP®, AAMS®, C(k)P®

Managing Partner, TrinityPoint Wealth Milford, CT • 203.693.8521 Fax: 203.693.8524 dana@trinitypointwealth.com

HOLISTIC CENTER The Blackbird House

146 Main St., Old Wethersfield, CT theblackbirdhousect@gmail.com TheBlackbirdHouse.com • 860.416.3177 The Blackbird House is a Healing Center and Gift Shop located on The Main Street in Old Wethersfield.

Blackbird We offer Reiki, Hypnotherapy, House Pranic Healing, Massage Therapy, Tarot/Intuitive Readings and more. Our monthly schedule of events include Reiki and Tarot classes, Self Hypnosis, Sound Healing, and Intuitive Development Meetings. Visit us online to learn more.

HOLISTIC COUNSELING

James Osborne, MS, LPC, BCPC ProNatural Physicians Group, LLC Berlin, CT • 860.829.0707 pronaturalphysicians.com James Osborne is a Licensed Professional Counselor, Board Certified Professional Counselor, Board Certified PTSD Clinician, and a Fellow in the American Psychotherapy Association with over 40 years of clinical experience.

HOLISTIC DENTISTRY Dr. Mark A. Breiner, DDS, FAGD, FIAOMT

Fairfield, CT • 203.371.0300 WholeBodyDentistry.com A recognized authority in the field of holistic dentistry, Dr. Breiner treats patients for a myriad of dental concerns including sleep breathing disorders, TMD, mercury toxicity, and hidden infections from cavitations and root canals.

“If you have unexplained symptoms that won’t go away, the answer could be in your mouth.”

Dr. Steven F. Hinchey, DMD South Glastonbury • 860.633.6518 drhinch@agd.org • dochincheydmd.com Thank you to our wonderful patients who trust our team to care for their improved oral health.

A healthy, disease-free mouth will help your overall health. It is all connected—the mouth and the body. And we can help you get there.

HOLISTIC/SHAMANIC PRACTITIONER Lady Down the Lane

1414

156 East Ave., 2nd Floor • Norwalk, CT 06851 475.301.4952 • ladydownthelane.com lydia@ladydownthelane.com

HOMEOPATHY

Abby Beale, CCH RSHom(NA) HomeopathyHealings@gmail.com HomeopathyHealings.com • 413.426.1024 Want to get to the root cause of your chronic symptoms? Homeopathy can relieve the symptoms of depression, anxiety, women’s issues, headaches, digestive troubles, child behavior problems, and so much more.

Appointments possible over Zoom and Skype.

HYPNOTHERAPY

Hartford Family Institute • BeverleyBlass.com 17 S. Highland St., West Hartford, CT 06119 860.206.1129 • BeverleyBlass@gmail.com Beverley Blass is an integrative intuitive healer, offering body-centered psychotherapy, soul-centered hypnotherapy, and colon hydrotherapy. She focuses on her client’s “whole body” experience— spiritual, physical, mental, emotional health, and healing—working with you to create an all-encompassing tapestry of transformation.

In-person and online sessions.

Michele P. Rousseau, MA, CH Middletown, CT • 860.704.9054 mprousseau@sbcglobal.net micheleprousseau.com

INTEGRATED MEDICINE Tamara Sachs, MD

Functional Medicine & Integrative Care LLC 15 Bennitt St., New Milford CT 860.354.3304 • tsachsmd.com Dr. Sachs prevents and treats chronic illness by uncovering and correcting the underlying root causes of your health concerns while respecting the uniqueness and complexity that make us human. She comprehensively and thoughtfully creates personalized plans explaining why and how each area of your healing will be addressed.

• Drug & Laser Free • Noninvasive • Simple In-office Procedure • Long-lasting Results • No Downtime • No Risks or Side Effects

49 Why Dr Steven Hinchey?

Both he and his staff Listen to YOU • Non judgmental assessments • Respect for you and your time Are concerned about YOU • Mercury free dental treatment Centers For • Mercury safe dental conditions • Mercury removal and detoxification Dental Medicine • Biocompatible dental materials Saving Lives One • Minimally invasive procedures Smile at a Time • Implant tooth replacement We want to help YOU get healthy • Same day non-metal crowns Steven F Hinchey DMD • 860.633.6518 drshinchey@gmail.com • dochincheydmd.com

We Offer Financial Flexibility

2024 JANUARY / FEBRUARY

Beverley Blass Integrative Health

• Acupuncture • Colonics • Naturopaths • Shock/ Soundwaves 860.800.6775 VPGWaves.com

NATURAL Nutmeg

Lydia Remembrance is a holistic/shamanic practitioner whose passion is to create a sacred space as you embark on your healing journey. Lydia is also a reiki master/teacher, holistic birth doula, master practitioner in quantum energy healing, and a quantum hypnotist. Lydia offers a complimentary strategy call, complemintary consultations are also available upon request and by appointment.

INTERIOR DESIGN

NATUROPATHIC MEDICINE

NUTRITION

Carolyn Tierney • Simsbury, CT • carolyntierney.com 929.390.1742 • info@carolyntierney.com

Fairfield, CT • 203.371.8258 WholeBodyMed.com

Certified in Holistic Nutrition Vitathena Wellness South Glastonbury, CT • 860.646.8178 edworkin@vitathena.com • vitathena.com

CMT Design Group

CMT Design Group integrates beautiful design and interior style with health and wellness principles that matter to your family’s well-being. With over 20 years of experience focused on residential interior design and healthy, holistic living, our depth of industry knowledge enables us to create functional and stunning modern spaces where your family can thrive.

LIFE COACHING

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Beverley Blass Integrative Health

JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2024

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Hartford Family Institute 17 S. Highland St., West Hartford, CT • 860.206.1129 BeverleyBlass@gmail.com • BeverleyBlass.com Beverley Blass is an integrative intuitive healer, offering body-centered psychotherapy, soul-centered hypnotherapy, and colon hydrotherapy. She focuses on her client’s “whole body” experience—spiritual, physical, mental, emotional health, and healing—working with you to create an all-encompassing tapestry of transformation. In-person and online sessions.

MASSAGE THERAPY

Abundant Health Massage Therapy & Wellness

Dr. Adam Breiner, ND

Focusing on brain health and Lyme disease, Dr. Adam Breiner offers cutting-edge therapies that include hyperbaric oxygen, neurocognitive therapies, including sophisticated brain-imaging equipment to evaluate brain injuries and brainwave patterns associated with metabolic imbalances, infections, and allergies. Conditions treated include concussions, TBI, stroke, PTSD, ADD/ADHD, anxiety, depression, and more.

Naturopathic & Acupuncture Health Center

Dr. Marie Mammone, Dr. Renee Mammone, NDs, John Mammone, Licensed Acupuncturist 274 Silas Deane Hwy., Wethersfield, CT 06109 860.529.1200 • www.NAHcenter.com

Roots Natural Medical Center 106 Route 66 East • Columbia, CT 06237 860.471.1434 • info@rootsmedicalcenter.com rootsmedicalcenter.com Roots is a Naturopathic Medicinal Center that focuses on addressing foundational root causes to complex chronic disease.

The goal of the clinic is to properly identify, diagnose and treat patients with unexplained chronic illnesses. Our services are individualized, and patient focused, as medicine should be.

Soleil Acupuncture and Naturopathic Wellness

Farmington, CT • 860.778.0315 abundanthealthct.com

2661 Whitney Ave., Hamden, CT 203.871.3262 • admin@soleilholistic.com soleilholistic.com

Kristina Mozzicato is Board Certified in Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork by the NCBTMB and has been practicing massage for the past 12 years. She provides professional, therapeutic, customized sessions. In addition to massage, she offers cupping, medicupping, body contouring, Himalayan salt stone massage, and Reiki sessions. Convenient online booking.

Soleil is a holistic clinic specializing in integrative and functional medicine. We are pleased to offer IV and IM nutrient therapy, craniosacral therapy, and general and facial acupuncture, with our roots in naturopathic medicine. We are passionate about using our tools to get our patients feeling their best!

bloomHigher

Dr. Nicole Klughers, ND, PharmD, MSAc Rocky Hill, CT & Virtual Visits (234) 2-ACU-DOC hello@drnicoleklughers.com DrNicoleKlughers.com

MEDICAL CANNABIS

Stamford, CT • 203.751.1369 uzma@bloom-higher.com • bloom-higher.com Uzma Zakir RPh, founder of bloomHigher consulting, is passionate about sharing her expertise on the healing benefits of cannabinoids. By combining current research, her experience in treating patients since 2015, and her pharmacy background, she has developed a unique approach for patient care and lectures extensively on best practices and cannabinoid science. Contact Uzma today to see if cannabis is the missing piece in your health and wellness journey.

Vis Wellness Center, LLC

West Hartford Naturopathic Medicine Frank Aieta, ND 301 N. Main St., West Hartford, CT 860.232.9662 • www.DRAIETA.com

NEUROFEEDBACK Jake Williams, MA, LPC

Rocky Hill, CT • 860.208.6964 CT Neurohealth.com Jake is an experienced therapist, neurofeedback provider, and cat lover.

He has dedicated his life to helping people resolve traumatic experiences and overcome challenges created by focus or anxiety.

Erika Dworkin, BCHN®

Through education, Erika empowers her customers to make the decisions that best enable them to maximize their well-being and longevity. She offers private nutrition consultations and speaks regularly about various health topics.

Grant’s Nutrition & Wellness

Jane Grant, RD CD-N Berlin, CT • 860.357.2282 grantj@grantsnutrition.com grantsnutrition.com Jane is trained in integrative and functional nutrition utilizing a personalized, holistic approach to chronic disease and weight management. Integrative and functional nutrition combines the very best of modern science, clinical wisdom, and integrative therapies to address the root cause of disease and promote abundant health.

ORGANIC PRODUCT CO. Farm to Bath

South Glastonbury, CT, and Virtual 860.266.5682 • info@farmtobath.com farmtobath.com Brenda Sullivan, herbalist and maker of herbal products, uses lavender, one of her primary crops, to make natural soaps, soothing salves, aromatic oils and more. She loves knowing the medicinal benefits of herbs, because it ensures her recipes are made with only the best ingredients.

PSYCHIC/MEDIUM

Intuitive Counseling Holistic Spa Agnes Daddona • 860.941.2667 Avon, CT • AgnesDaddona.com Agnes@intuitivecounselingllc.com Agnes Daddona is one of the best Psychic/Mediums in New England.

She is also a Counselor, Healer, and Spiritual Teacher. For more than 20 years, Agnes has worked with thousands of people across the world in both English and Polish. Her Holistic Spa in Avon, CT, is a one-stop shop and offers high vibrational healing for the mind, body, and soul.

REFLEXOLOGY Holistic Hands

Tara Cornish, Specializing in Reflexology, Reiki, Aromatouch & Human Energy Scans Torrington, Bantam, & Farmington, CT 860.921.8307 • HolisticHandsCT.com Tara Cornish is an IIR Certified Reflexologist and Usui Reiki Master/ Teacher since 2005. She also offers reflexology lymph drainage and energyfield measurement. These therapies are non-invasive & safe. Tara has seen amazing benefits using holistic approaches to help heal, relax, renew, and rejuvenate the body, mind, and spirit.

REIKI

Be One with the Flow Washington, New Preston, Litchfield awm440@hotmail.com • 802.780.7977 www.beoneflow.com Ann Moureau is a Traditional Usui Reiki Master, offering Reiki classes, hands-on and distant treatment.

Ann feels the flow of energy in her yoga, Ai Chi (in the water), and forest bathing classes. Ann has been on her holistic path for thirty-three years and loves to share her practices.

ROLFING®

Rolfing®—The Art and Science of Body Change

SPAS/WELLNESS CENTERS Imagine Float

290 West Main St., Avon 860.255.7771 • imaginefloat.com

THERMOGRAPHY

Farmington and Glastonbury, CT 860.415.1150 • ctthermography.com CT thermography specializes in medical thermal imaging. Breast thermography is a compression and radiation-free screening tool that’s used to monitor breast health to detect physiological changes that may be early warning signs of a disease process. As a Certified Thermographic Technician, I help empower women to take a proactive approach following their thermography screening for optimal breast health.

YOGA STUDIO

Sacred Rivers Yoga East Hartford, CT • 860.657.9545 sacredriversyoga.com Paula Scopino, E-RYT 500-Hour, C-IAYT, CT Licensed LMT, YACEP, is the owner/director of Sacred Rivers Yoga and Allied Health Therapies and “Sacred Rivers Yoga for Every Body,” a Yoga Alliance 200- and 500-hour registered school, as well as a member of IAYT (International Association of Yoga herapy.)

Wednesdays, January 17 and February 21

Online Group Breathwork, 7:30pm Experience a 60-minute breathwork session consisting of a grounding meditation followed by somatic release of stuck energy, stress, and tension through active breathing and ending with a closing meditation for rest and relaxation.

No experience necessary!

Visit thesacredselfllc.com for more information and registration

Shamanism, 6:30–8:30pm, $25 ($20 for those over 65 and veterans) The Shamanism Monthly Study Group is meeting in-person again! (as well as Zoom).

New members are welcome; no experience needed! In this group, you will develop an understanding of cross-cultural shamanism, the importance of ceremony, and become adept at journeying into non-ordinary reality and work with animal allies and spirit helpers, ancestors, and elemental energies. All dedicated and compassionate people who wish to initiate positive change in the world are invited. We will meet on the third Wednesday of every month, unless otherwise noted.

Joyce St. Germaine, M. Ed., CHt., RYT-200. Join our email list and find detailed descriptions at thesacredjourney.biz The Sacred Journey, 29 Davis Road, Burlington, CT 06013.

Pre-registration required to save your in-person spot: 860.675.9706

Wednesdays, January 10 and February 14

Psychic/Spiritual Development, 6:30–8:30pm, $25 ($20 for those over 65 and veterans) The Psychic/Spiritual Development Monthly Study Group Is meeting in-person again! (as well as Zoom). New members welcome! There is a strong connection between spiritual growth and psychic development. Every session starts with a positive, light-filling exercise and includes topics such as palmistry, oracle cards, pendulums, remote viewing, and spirit guides.

Reclaim your natural gifts, assist others, and live your life more joyfully! We will meet on the second Wednesday of every month, unless otherwise noted.

Joyce St. Germaine, M. Ed., CHt., RYT-200. Join our email list and find detailed descriptions at www.thesacredjourney.biz.

The Sacred Journey, 29 Davis Road, Burlington, CT 06013. Preregistration required to save your in-person spot.(860)675-9706

Saturday, January 27 and Sunday, February 4 Lady Down the Lane Holistic/Shamanic Practitioner Grand Opening Meet and Greet, 1:00–3:30pm, Free!

Let’s get acquainted! Bring your questions and bring your story. Let us share our experiences and stories together. A vegan charcuterie board and bottled water are provided.

Location: 156 East Ave., 2nd Floor Norwalk, CT 06851 Contact: 1.475.301.4952 lydia@ladydownthelane.com ladydownthelane.com

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Reach out to us at calendar@naturalnutmeg.com for information on listing your event and sponsorships.

Event listings are in print and online. We also accept classified listings.

51 2024 JANUARY / FEBRUARY

April Beaman, RDH, CTT CT Thermography

Mondays, January 8 and February 12

NATURAL Nutmeg

Sharon Sklar, BFA, LMT, Cert. Adv. Rolfer West Hartford • 860.561.4337 sharonsklarrolfing.com Rolfing®—The Art and Science of Body Change. A dynamic 10-session bodywork series that eases pain, improves movement, and restructures your body when you feel “out of whack.” A hands-on and educational approach that establishes order and balance after life’s injuries, stresses, and accidents. Since 1981.

HAPPENINGS JANUARY & FEBRUARY 2024

Tired of Going to Doctors Who Can’t Resolve Your Health Issues?

ADAM BREINER, ND

JENNIFER LETITIA, MD

DAVID JOHNSTON, DO

ELENA SOKOLOVA, ND

DAVID BRADY, ND, CCN

JOHN D'ANGELO, MS, RPT

Working with our team you can uncover the root cause of your illness and create a plan to get you healthy and prevent more serious illness.

Discover why Dr. Breiner & Whole Body Medicine is a 2023 10BEST Winner for Best Integrative MD/DDS/Functional Medicine, Naturopathic Physician, Holistic Weight Loss, and Physical Therapy

SEAN ALTMAN, PT, DPT, CPT

Now providing treatment for Long Haul COVID, as well as Holistic Physical Therapy

Call Now for YOUR appointment at Whole Body Medicine 203-371-8258 The Team You can TRUST! www.wholebodymed.com

Whole Body Medicine • 501 Kings Hwy E. Fairfield, CT