March 2011

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crape dirt, hold the tender shoots in one hand, plant, and fill up the hole. Now gently pat the dirt around the base. That's right. Now dig another little hole with the trowel, and plant the next one. Time to finish the box for the tomatoes. The squared, wooden frame lies like a digital C with one strut missing. Get the other board and nail it to one end using two long nails. Then the other one. Now, to fashion a sacrifice strip. This is a smaller strut of wood attached to the bottom of the frame and is the only wood that actually comes in contact with the dirt, and thus the only part that eventually rots. After this sacrifice, just replace with another strip. I am very proud of this garden. It was very carefully crafted. Did you know that a garden sloped at only 5 degrees downward has the same solar climate of a completely level garden 300 miles farther south? Strawberries are a favorite. They are by far the most deliciously sweet food that grows so close to the dirt. Strawberries are temperamental, though. You really have to know strawberries to grow them. I remember that my grandfather had a muscadine vine. I don't know how many years it had taken him to grow the vine, but I know that they don't mature overnight. There are two ways to eat a muscadine. One way is to use your fingernail to peel the skin off, exposing the solid sweet globe of pulp, which you pop in your mouth like candy. Or the other, more popular way is to employ your tongue and teeth in a delicate operation whereby you carefully slit the skin open and suck out the contents, and then spit the skin out almost whole. This second method takes more practice. When I was twelve I drank some of my grandfather’s muscadine wine. It was sweet and smooth and gave me a pleasant feeling in my head. I have never found any wine that I like better than his. My father used to have the most wonderful garden. His house sat in a shady spot among the trees on the edge of a hundred acre open pasture. In the middle of the pasture was a pond where the ducks would swim. There were scores of birds around, including ducks, geese, chickens, and colorful little Bandy hens. He even had a pair of peacocks and a six-foot tall Emu named Tiny Bird. The birds were always underfoot outside. They would follow my Dad around and he would toss birdseed from five-gallon metal storage cans that he kept around the outside of the house. The Bandy hens liked to hang out in the garden, always pecking at the ground. The garden itself took up about a half acre between the house and the pasture. It was divided into four main areas. A vegetable section where he grew bloodred tomatoes bigger than your fist, along with cucumbers, yellow squash, green onions, garlic, cabbages, string beans, strawberries, and a few rows of corn. Next was an herb garden with spice plants like basil, cilantro, parsley, mint, and rosemary. The third area was a bed of wildflowers in a pallet of painter’s colors. Finally there was a small stone rimmed pond with goldfish, lilies, and watercress. Beside the pond there was a vine threaded trellis of white latticed wood and a wrought iron table topped by a carved sandstone angel. I think that I have been trying to recreate that garden all my life. —Excerpts from "The Garden," in The Weight of the Light, by Tom Maples.

contact us Publisher Tom Maples Tom@Natvalley.com Cell: 404-395-9634 New Business Development Advertising Sales Cindy Wilson Cindy@Natvalley.com Cell: 256-476-6537 Design and Production Karen Ormstedt 256-997-9165 Natural Awakenings in the Tennessee Valley 14 Woodland Ave. Trinity, Alabama 35673 Office: 256-340-1122 Fax: 256-217-4274 Natvalley.com

© 2011 by Natural Awakenings. All rights reserved. Although some parts of this publication may be reproduced and reprinted, we require that prior permission be obtained in writing. Natural Awakenings is a free publication distributed locally and is supported by our advertisers. It is available in selected stores, health and education centers, healing centers, public libraries and wherever free publications are generally seen. Please call to find a location near you or if you would like copies placed at your business. We do not necessarily endorse the views expressed in the articles and advertisements, nor are we responsible for the products and services advertised. We welcome your ideas, articles and feedback.

SUBSCRIPTIONS Subscriptions are available by sending $25 (for 12 issues) to the above address. Natural Awakenings is printed on recycled newsprint with soybased ink.

March 2011

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contents 13

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

3 writerscorner

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5 newsbriefs 11 naturalpet

RAISED ON PASTURE Goose Pond Farm by Kimberly Ballard

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LASER POWER 21st Century Pet Therapy Options by Dr. Matthew Heller

21

13 fitbody 21 wisewords

14 AMERICA’S GROWING FOOD REVOLUTION An Insider’s Guide to Sustainable Choices by Lisa Marshall

25 globalbriefs

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28 greenliving 33 inspiration

18 FROM FARM TO PLATE

14

IN ALABAMA by Meredith Montgomery

21 SUSTAINABLE FOODS & SOCIAL PHILANTHROPY A Conversation with Nell Newman by Ellen Mahoney

ADVERTISING & SUBMISSIONS HOW TO ADVERTISE Display Ads due by the 10th of the month prior to publication. To advertise with Natural Awakenings or request a media kit, please contact us at 256-476-6537 or email Editor@Natvalley.com.

EDITORIAL SUBMISSIONS* Newsbriefs due by the 10th of the month. Limit 50-250 words. Content limited to special events and other announcements. No advertorials, please. Articles and ideas due by the 5th of the month. Articles generally contain 250-850 words, with some exceptions. No advertorials, please.

23 TOUCHPOINTS REFLEXOLOGY- PRACTICAL TIPS FOR EVERYDAY LIVING Rub Your Pains Away by Jim Barnes, Certified Reflexologist

24 DISCOVERING THE “SELF” THAT ALWAYS IS Weekend Satsang and Retreat with Mukti by Reverend David Leonard

28 GREEN DRINKS

Cheers to Making Eco-Conscious Connections by Judith Fertig

CALENDAR SUBMISSIONS Calendar of Events and Ongoing Calendar listings due by the 10th of the month. Limit 50 words per entry. Please follow format found in those sections.

ADVERTISE WITH US TODAY 256-476-6537 -or- Editor@Natvalley.com *All submissions are subject to editing and will be printed at the publisher’s discretion. Article space often fills in advance. Deadline dates refer to the month prior to next publication and may change without notice due to holidays, shorter months, or printing schedules.

30 A THIRD SUNDAY AT THE YURT GARDEN by Michele Monticciolo, NC MH

32 POSTURES BY GATLIANNE Corpse Pose by Gatlianne

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newsbriefs Increase Your Business by Increasing Your Web Presence

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re you considering creating a website for your business, or do you have a website already, but you are not happy with its traffic? First, if you are not online, you are at a disadvantage when compared to your competitors. Second, if you do not have an attractive, user-friendly website, then your website presence will be of little value. If you are in the market for a new website or need to revamp an existing one, find a web development firm that cares about its clients’ needs, one that will be there to answer the simplest to the most complex questions on web development and search engine marketing. Hire a web development firm that at least meets the following criteria: willing to meet with you and give a free consultation, has expertise in creating dynamic pages, has a good understanding of search engine marketing, has the ability to finish a job within 30 days, lives in your state or local area, and willing to go the extra mile to get the job done. It is a benefit for every company to have an online presence, but it is even better if the company’s website can be found on the first page of Google for relevant search terms related to its business. To increase your website Google ranking and crank up your online business contact HUNTSVILLE PR for a free consultation on the value that can be created for your business. 256-361-9080. www.HuntsvillePR.com. See ad on page 22.

Mindfulness in March at the Paranormal Study Center

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ary Beard will be presenting Mindfulness at Paranormal Study Center, meeting at the Radisson Inn, Friday, March 25, at 6:30pm. With over 23 years of practice in meditation, Gary will show PSC members and guests how Mindfulness works and how to put it into practice. He will share what Mindfulness and the Path of Soto Zen meditation has done for him, and present a brief on the development of Zen, the migration of Buddhism from India to all parts of Asia and more recently to the West. Participants will learn the mental health and medical benefits of meditation by trying it themselves! Come learn about how practicing this 2500 year old religion helped Gary cultivate mindfulness, tolerance, compassion, and balance in his own life. Mr. Beard works in Huntsville as an embedded software engineer for a local government contractor. The Paranormal Study Center meets every fourth Friday at the Radisson Inn’s Olympus Room for a presentation from 6:30pm to 8:30-8:45pm. Admission is $5. A special $8 menu for PSC members and guests in Fellowship Hour before the meeting begins. For more information, please contact Greg Rowe at 256-326-0092 or visit www. ParapsychologyStudyGroup.com.

Sean O’Shea to Teach at Unity Church on the Mountain

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nity Church on the Mountain is proud to offer a new wonderful workshop to North Alabama, “Spiritual People Skills," with Sean O’Shea, March 27, following the Sunday Service. The Master Teacher, Jesus the Christ, said Himself "You shall do as I have done, and far greater things shall you do." Many of us feel inept when we are unable

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to heal someone with our hands or to part the sea. But Jesus' most mighty works were done one-on-one, by giving hope to those who mistakenly believed there was none. We have been Empowered and Anointed to go forth and do good things. We don't need to be rich and we don't need to be all-knowing or all-powerful to show up as a Miracle in someone else's life. Sean O’Shea will share some simple ways for us to change our thinking and our habits so we may more often "Walk the Walk" (as opposed to simply "talking the talk"). His book "Spiritual People Skills" is being compiled from talks, seminars, songs, and experiences of his journey of Spiritual awakening over the past couple of decades. Sean has twice opened for author and television personality Dr. Wayne Dyer and has been interviewed live on ABC’s Good Morning America. The workshop will be held on Sunday, March 27, 12:30pm, on a love offering basis and is open to anyone and everyone. Unity Church on the Mountain is located at 1328 Governors Drive SE, Huntsville, Alabama. For more information about Sean, visit SpiritualPeopleSkills.com. Visit www.UnityChurchOnTheMountain.com for more information on Unity. See ad on page 15.

Variety is the Spice of Exercise

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t’s easy to enjoy foods that are good for us and taste good. Likewise, it’s easy to enjoy exercise that is fun! Different people have different tastes. At Madison Ballroom Dance Studio, several fitness options are available for men and women of all ages with different interests and schedules. Ballroom Dancing – Feed your “inner dancer” with weekly private lessons, group classes, and Saturday dance parties. Singles and couples, beginners to advanced, are welcome. Learn a variety of dances, such as waltz, cha cha, foxtrot, rumba, tango, merengue, samba, Viennese waltz, and swing. For more information, visit www.MadisonBallroom.com. Salsa 101 – This beginner group class for singles and couples teaches salsa basic fundamentals and fun and easy but cool

dance patterns and combinations. www.GabrielaDance.com. Cardio Ballroom – During this group class, dancing the cha cha, samba, jive, and salsa will get your heart racing and blood pumping. No partner and no previous dance experience needed. www.GabrielaDance.com. Fitness Fusion Ultimate Boot Camp – This workout combines cardio drills, calisthenics, plyometrics, agility, resistance, and core training. All fitness levels are welcome – no workout experience necessary. www.MadisonFitnessFusion.com. Madison Ballroom Dance Studio is family-friendly: no smoking or drinking. The Studio is located at Madison Village, 9076 Madison Blvd, Suites C/D, Madison, Alabama (in the same shopping center as Old Time Pottery). For more information, visit www.MadisonBallroom.com. See ad on page 33.

Have You Had a Spiritual Experience?

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n Saturday, April 2, 1:00-8:30pm, the Alabama affiliate of Eckankar, Religion of the Light and Sound of God, will host a spiritual seminar entitled “Have You Had a Spiritual Experience?” This seminar will be held at the Holiday Inn Huntsville West, 9035 Madison Boulevard (Hwy 20 near I-565 Exit 8) in Madison, and is free to the public. Inspirational talks, personal stories and panel discussions will offer spiritual tools and insights for understanding the spiritual purpose behind every experience in life. Some of the topics included on the program are Past Lives, Dreams and Soul Travel—Your Journey as Soul; Understanding Life’s Messages; Make God an Everyday Reality; and Soul’s Golden Voyage to Love and Freedom. Small group discussions will provide attendees an opportunity to explore a variety of spiritual experiences that they may have had—a sense of having lived before, out-of-body or near-death experiences, dreams of departed loved ones, or experiences with an inner light or inner sound, among others. These small group discussions will also include a chance for at-

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tendees to learn new and advanced ways for exploring their inner worlds. Interspersed among the talks and discussions will be live musical performances. Amanda Morris, local Eckankar clergy, says, “This seminar will highlight ways of recognizing the divine in every moment of your life. Anyone interested in finding keys to a life of greater love, wisdom and freedom is invited to attend.� For more information about the seminar or Eckankar events in Alabama, visit Eck-Alabama.org online or call 256-534-1751.

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nity traces its roots to the moment our co-founder Myrtle Fillmore understood the concept that she was a holy child of God and therefore must inherit from the Divine, and that the sickness with which she had been plagued with for years was not her birthright. As she restored herself to health through the application of prayer and affirmations, many saw her recovery and asked her and her husband, Charles Fillmore, to pray with them. Thus began Unity. At Unity Church on the Mountain, they continue the tradition of praying with others. They are very pleased to host Rev. Eric Donaldson, who currently serves as the Senior Minister at Unity Christian Church in Memphis, Tennessee. Rev. Eric is the creator of “The Healing Workshop,� which is based on the teachings of New Thought Christian pioneers, as well as his own personal and professional revelations. “The Healing Workshop� is both an instructional and experiential seminar where participants explore the science and the spirituality of healing. “An Afternoon of Forgiveness and Healing� is a potent combination of lecture, workshop, and worship that will allow participants to learn, assess, decide, and act − all in one wonderful afternoon. This event is a sample of the Healing Workshop Weekends that Reverend Donaldson and a host of Healing Workshop Graduates conduct with great success nationwide. If you are ready to begin your healing and be restored to your original purity, purpose, and perfection in every area of your life, this is a must-attend event. This powerful workshop will be held on March 13, 12:30pm, at Unity Church on the Mountain, 1328 Governors Drive SE, Huntsville, Alabama. It is based on the works of Charles Fillmore in the defining work “Christian Healing.� Rev Donaldson will also offer the Sunday Message at 10:30am. For more information, visit www. UnityChurchOnTheMountain.com. See ad on page 15.

“An Afternoon of Forgiveness and Healing� at Unity Church on the Mountain

Tennessee Valley

Make your $25 check payable to: Natural Awakenings 14 Woodland Ave Trinity, AL 35673

*Please remember to include your name and mailing address. Addtional contact info, such as Email address, is encouraged.

Goose Pond Farm By Kimberly Ballard

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he problem with farming is that it works in opposition to American consumerism. It is difficult for a cattle farmer to satisfy your craving for a steak tonight when his cattle are still six months from maximum harvest time. In Europe, customers go out to the farm and pick out a couple of plump chickens. The farmer kills it, but you take it home, pluck the feathers, and prepare it. In the 21st Century United States, this is not a marketable way to sell free-range chickens. On the other hand, if you get to know your local farmer and realize he is raising healthy animals in a completely natural setting − harvesting his herd only after it has achieved its maximum nutritional density − then, as a consumer, you learn to adjust. “Get to know your local farmer and he will take care of you,” says Charles Ritch of Goose Pond Farm in Hartselle. “At Goose Pond Farm, we take care to provide you with only the purest and healthiest chicken, lamb, beef, pork, turkey, and eggs.” Buying meat from Goose Pond Farm, located a half hour south of Huntsville, is a slightly different experience, but an experience you will definitely want to try. If you don’t already

have one, you will want to grab yourself a nice large freezer first, and then call Goose Pond Farm for an appointment. If you have never bought your meat fresh off the farm, Charles Ritch tiptoes you through it. “You assume that because it is organic, it is better. You assume that because it is grass-fed, it is better. You assume that because the farmer looks ‘farmy,’ it is better,” he explains, “but you are introducing sustenance… meant to fuel your family, give them the energy they need to be high achievers, keep them healthy, and allow for natural growth and cell reproduction. What we place into our mouths, stomachs, and intestines are eventually transformed into our bones, blood, and brains.” Keeping this in mind, Ritch feels it is important to visit the farm from which you are buying, because you may be surprised. Take free-range chicken for instance. The term “freerange” suggests that chickens and turkeys roam “freely” about the barnyard with plenty of sunlight, fresh air, and open spaces. The term “cage-free” sounds even better, leaving the impression of hens running about freely as nature intended. “This is not always the case,” Ritch explains. “One

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“What we place into our mouths, stomachs, and intestines are eventually transformed into our bones, blood, and brains.” of my first eye-openers as a farmer was experiencing the conditions and treatment of farm animals. They often live in filth, under overly crowded and deplorable conditions.” According to United Poultry Concerns, “Birds raised for meat may be sold as ‘free-range’ if they have government-certified access to the outdoors. The door may be open for only five minutes and the farm still qualifies as ‘free-range.’ Apart from the ‘open door,’ no other criteria, such as environmental quality, number of birds, or space per bird, are required. Ritch says this is very true. Many consumers assume the bulk of the contamination occurs inside the processing plant, but in truth, you can often eat off the floors of a processing plant. The bacteria and problems come in from the farms themselves. This is why Ritch encourages potential customers visit his organic, natural, pasture-raised farm, and see for themselves the healthy and humane conditions of his flocks. Ritch recently sent one of his chickens out for bacterial testing, and the testers called because they thought there had been a mistake in the readings. “Our chickens are bacteria-free, raised in bio-active soils and fed a smorgasbord of green, vegetative grasses and clovers, as well as bugs and worms, under fairly mild temperatures. The independent lab who did the testing was baffled. My bird was significantly cleaner than the average chicken tested.” In terms of cattle, pork, and lamb, they are all raised on

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Goose Pond Farm’s fertile green pastures. Ritch never rushes the natural nutritional cycle. All animals fatten up in the spring in order to build up energy to mate by late summer. They usually bear the calf, lamb, or piglets through the winter months, utilizing that stored energy in order to survive the winter. The consumer comes to learn that in order for Ritch to provide you with the freshest, healthiest meat at its peak in vitamins and minerals, there are certain seasons in which he harvests the flocks. “It sometimes takes a new customer some trial and error in determining exactly how much to buy based on family consumption,” Ritch says. “We only sell pork in the fall because piglets born in the spring will grow throughout the summer, ready to harvest in the fall. On the other hand, we harvest lamb in early spring, hopefully before Easter, because in order for pasture-raised lamb to have the highest nutritional density and taste, it must be harvested off of our best grasses, which here in North Alabama are springtime grasses.” Also raised on springtime grasses, cattle too, are harvested in late spring, while chicken season is April through October; and of course, turkeys are raised specifically for Thanksgiving. Eggs are sold year round, since laying hens are rarely sold as poultry. “It seems funny that it is so tricky getting consumers adjusted back to a cycle that is actually the way it was intended it to be,” Ritch says. “But the difference in taste,

the caloric intake of vitamins and minerals that are good for you, are well worth the wait. After going through a full year, our customer base learns exactly how much to buy for a season.” Meat is not processed at Goose Pond Farm, but taken to a processing plant and made available for customers to pick up later at the farm. You can buy a side of beef, pork, or lamb, and have it sliced into a variety of cuts so you are never lacking for ribeyes, sirloins, chops, T-bones, ribs, legs, or roasts. Chickens are sold monthly, April through October. A person can buy in bulk quantities, or a single bird, as they may wish. For 40 years, Charles Ritch lived the life of a businessman before adopting the agrarian lifestyle. Problems with allergies throughout the 1970s sent him searching for a healthier lifestyle, but it wasn’t until the 1990s that he actually bought Goose Pond Farm. “They say ignorance is bliss and that was certainly true for me,” Ritch admits. “There is a steep learning curve, and the truth is, no matter how many books you read or how successful you are as a micromanager in the corporate world, none of it matters on a farm. When a cow

“Get to know your local farmer and he will take care of you.” gets herself tangled in a wire fence, rain unexpectedly turns to snow, or a tornado passes through the barnyard, you respond accordingly. I did my research and read a lot about organic farming, but I was really just on the fringes looking in. In some things only God and nature can direct you.” For information on how to order pasture-raised food, contact Goose Pond Farm at 256-751-0987 or visit www.RaisedOnPasture.com. See ads on pages 16 and 26. ___________________ Kimberly Ballard is a Professional Writer & Marketing Consultant and is available for consults. Call 256-653-4003 and receive a free press release with any marketing project. Visit www.KimberlyWritesCreative.com, or email Kimberly@ KimberlyWritesCreative.com.

naturalpet

LASER

POWER 21ST CENTURY PET THERAPY OPTIONS by Dr. Matthew Heller

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et owners around the country are discovering a new wrinkle in an existing technology to deliver both pain relief and healing for their furry, feathery or scaly companions. Laser technology has been used in the veterinary field for many years for surgery. Now, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved Class IV laser therapy to deliver non-invasive relief for pain and inflammation, as well. Treatments benefit pets suffering from arthritis, back injuries, acute sprains or spasms and dermatological hot spots and wounds, plus enhance post-operative rehabilitation.

How It Works The science is fairly straightforward. In a Class IV laser therapy session, a concentrated beam of light emanates from a wand that is slowly moved over the animal’s body, and several processes occur that accelerate healing and pain relief. Effects include an increase in circulation and metabolism, stimulation of nerve cells and a boost in collagen production, all of which facilitate wound healing. The associated production of oxygen encourages cells to regrow, while a release of endorphins stimulates cells to heal more rapidly, reducing pain. Unlike pharmaceutical, non-

steroidal, anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) that provide relief from pain and inflammation, laser therapy does not pose serious side effects for the liver or kidneys, nor is it painful or typically require sedation. Because it promotes cellular activity and increases blood flow, laser therapy should not be used on tumors or pre-surgical sites where it could be detrimental.

Frequency, Duration and Intensity The duration and frequency of a therapeutic laser session depends on the type of injury or illness being treated. A certified operator will select a preprogrammed protocol, established to regulate the power of the laser (typically from six to 12 watts). The desired wattage is often determined by the size of the area to be treated, along with the nature of the injury and the pet’s coat type and body weight.

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As with most medical therapies, one size does not fit all. Initially, a laser therapy session will begin with a thorough physical examination and radiographs, if indicated, to ascertain the extent of the injury or condition, and develop an individualized plan to return a pet to a heightened state of wellness. For instance, a pet suffering from degenerative arthritis that is experiencing great discomfort in walking may initially be treated for five to 10 minutes every two or three days for a few weeks. As the pet’s situation improves, the frequency of the sessions may de-

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crease to once weekly, and then every two weeks, until the pet receives a laser treatment on a monthly basis. For chronic conditions, laser therapy may not cure the pet, but it will help alleviate its discomfort. For more acute situations, such as a hot spot or a sprain, the animal may be treated for three to five minutes every three days over a 10-day period. A pet that has recently undergone invasive surgery, such as an ACL (anterior cruciate ligament, or connective knee tissue) repair or tumor removal, may be treated just minutes after the sutures are closed, to promote circulation, stimulate nerve cells and boost collagen production, reducing healing time. Over the next seven to 10 days, the pet may receive a laser treatment every few days until the skin around the incision is less inflamed. Results of laser therapy treatments are cumulative, but most pet owners report significant improvement after two to four sessions. An article in the Newark Post, in Delaware, quoted pet owner Cricket Barazotto as saying, “I was desperate to get [my dog] Clare out of pain. It was hard for her

to walk through our neighborhood. But after the first week of laser therapy, she started jumping back up on our bed.” Pet owners who previously relied upon more traditional means of relieving inflammation or pain, such as drugs, prescription diets for skin allergies and other types of palliative care, are often surprised by the affordability and availability of laser therapy. Treatment costs vary by location, generally ranging from $50 to $75 a session. To find an area veterinarian that uses non-surgical laser therapy, visit the websites of the two main manufacturers: K-LaserUSA.com/ locator/locator/index.php and CompanionTherapyLaser.com/Pages/pet-owners. This federally approved safe and effective technology delivers results, increasing mobility, accelerating wound healing and decreasing pain. To see if a family pet could benefit from laser therapy, contact a veterinarian to discuss the best application of this innovative approach. Dr. Matthew J. Heller is a holistic veterinarian and owner of All About PetCare, in Middletown, OH. For more information, call 513424-1626 or 866YOUR-VET, or visit AllAboutPetCare.com.

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EXERCISE

DETOX Six Ways to Burn Calories and Clean Out Your System by Annie B. Bond

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here are as many different types of exercise as there are ways to move. Although all types of exercise will help to detoxify your body, some are clearly more beneficial than others. Try one of these today and feel better immediately.

Walk This Way Generally speaking, aerobic exercises like walking, jogging, cycling and swimming are the most detoxifying. Of the wide array of choices, walking is hands-down the most popular. It is something almost everyone can do to get a daily dose of healthy detoxification. Jump for Joy Bouncing on a trampoline, such as a mini-tramp or rebounder, is one of the least appreciated exercises for cleansing and strengthening every cell of the body. Experts point out that it is also one of the best workouts for activating the lymphatic system. Let Your Body Flow For centuries, yoga has been prescribed as moving medicine for the immune system. Yoga has been reported to lower stress hormones that compromise immunity, while stimulating the lymphatic system to purge toxins and bring fresh, nutrient-oxygenated blood to each organ to help ensure optimum functioning.

Pick Up the Pace There’s a longstanding myth among participants that exercising at a lower intensity for a longer duration maximizes the burning of fat and releases toxins. Not true. To really rev up metabolism, burn more calories and keep the fatburning switch turned on longer after an exercise session, try picking up the pace for one or more shorter periods.

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America’s Growing Food Revolution An Insider’s Guide to Sustainable Choices by Lisa Marshall

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e’ve heard the buzz. America is in the midst of a food revolution. Sales of natural and organic foods are up by double digits. The once-obscure Locavore (eat local) movement has become a national phenomenon. Community supported agriculture (CSA) initiatives and farmers’ markets are proliferating. Even the federal government and some of the country’s largest grocery retailers have jumped on board, with First Lady Michelle Obama helping to plant the first garden on White House grounds since World War II, and Walmart vowing in January to double the percentage of locally grown produce it sells to 9 percent. The statistics are motivating indeed: According to University of Wisconsin researchers, produce travels an average of 1,500 miles from farmland to plate today, up 22 percent from 1981. Half of our land and 80 percent of our water is used for agriculture, reports The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, and pesticide use has increased 33-fold since the 1940s.

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Meanwhile, health problems associated with agricultural chemicals are on the rise. “We have been through 100 years of industrialization of our food supply, and consumers have begun to wake up and realize they have no idea how their food is made,” says historian and food policy writer

even bigger impact? In reality, there are no easy answers, but, “Consumers need to be prepared to take on a bit more complexity in how we think about food, and not fall so easily for simple mantras (like Eat Local and Buy Organic),” advises McWilliams.

Is it better to buy “organic,” “natural” or “local”?

Ask Rodale Inc. CEO Maria Rodale what consumers can do to improve their health and environment, and her answer is unequivocal. “If you do just one thing—make one conscious choice—that can change the world, go organic,” she writes in her new book, Organic Manifesto: How Organic Farming Can Heal Our Planet, Feed the World, and Keep Us Safe. Rodale’s grandfather founded Organic Farming and Gardening magazine (today’s Organic Gardening) in the 1940s, jump-starting an organic movement that by the 1960s was nearly synonymous with environmentalism. But today, Rodale concedes, the organic industry faces a public re-

James McWilliams, an associate professor at Texas State University. “Historians will look back on this time as momentous.” But with every revolution come tough questions—and fiery debate— on how best to participate. Is it better to buy “organic,” “natural” or “local”? Is shopping at a farmers’ market inherently more green? Are there other ways, such as planting a garden or eschewing meat, that can make an

The Case for Organic

lations challenge, as consumers trade from USDA Organic-certified foods to “locally grown” or cheaper “natural” options. One 2009 survey by The Shelton Group found that out of 1,000 shoppers, 31 percent looked for the “natural” label, while 11 percent looked for “organic.” “There is a giant misperception among consumers that somehow natural is the word that is regulated and organic is not. In fact, it is actually the other way around,” says CEO Suzanne Shelton. Law mandates that U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) products labeled organic be free of pesticides, hormones and genetically modified organisms (GMOs), and that animals be given access to the outdoors. By contrast, the Food and Drug Administration vaguely describes natural as, “Nothing artificial or synthetic has been included in, or has been added to a food that would not normally be expected to be in the food.” With the exception of meat, it is up to the manufacturer to define what natural means. (In 2009, the USDA defined “naturally raised” meat as, “… raised entirely without growth promoters, antibiotics, and never been fed animal byproducts.” It says nothing about GMOs or humane animal treatment.) Organic advocates point out that a genetically modified animal could be fed genetically modified feed and confined to a narrow pen and still be billed as natural. A loaf of natural bread could be made with grains repeatedly sprayed with pesticides and man-made fertilizer. “Natural refers to the end product,” explains the Organic Trade Association. “It does not provide any information about how the product was produced.” What about buying local? Rodale argues that, while focusing on local is great for reducing farm-to-plate miles, if it isn’t organic, it isn’t necessarily addressing the larger issue of pesticide and antibiotic use. Noting that more than 4 billion pounds of pesticides are used annually in the United States, she points

to studies from the National Institutes of Health and the Mount Sinai Medical Center Children’s Environmental Health Center that suggest links between agricultural antibiotic use and the rise in drug-resistant staph infections in humans, and between oganophosphate pesticides and cancer and diabetes. “It is fine to buy local, but if there are chemicals in it, then the farmer is contaminating your own community,” Rodale says. “That’s even worse.”

The Locavore Way In early 2005, Jennifer Maiser and a handful of friends in San Francisco decided to limit what they ate for a month to what was produced within 100 miles of home base. By August, 1,000 people had signed on at Maiser’s EatLocalChallenge.com. By 2007, “locavore” was the Word of the Year of the New Oxford American Dictionary. “It just snowballed,” recalls Maiser. “I think it had a lot to do with changes

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March 2011

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in the organic movement. In the 1990s, if you were eating organic, you pretty much were eating food from a local farmer. But when the big companies came in and you could get organic produce grown in Mexico, it wasn’t the same anymore. We still wanted to know where our food was coming from.” Professional dancer-turnedethnobotanist Leda Meredith started a 250-mile challenge in 2007, in part to see if a time-crunched professional in wintery Brooklyn could achieve what Locavores in warmer climes had. At first, adjusting to the realities was rough. Local cooking oil was hard to find (she saved the rendered fat from her locally raised duck and used it to pop locally grown popcorn) and her one-bedroom apartment was not ideal for stockpiling canned produce (she keeps canned local tomatoes and dried wild mushrooms under her bed). “But, by year’s end, it had become my new normal,” says Meredith, author of The Locavore’s Handbook: The Busy Person’s Guide to Eating Local on a Budget. She chooses organic and local whenever possible, and if the

food is on the Environmental Working Group’s dirty-dozen list of most pesticide-drenched food, she might even buy organic from afar. Yet, she is a Locavore at heart. “It has an impact, on local economies and small farmers, and from a cook’s point of view the food is just fresher,” she says. McWilliams, a vegan and author of Just Food: Where Locavores Get it Wrong and How We Can Truly Eat Responsibly, agrees. But he takes issue with the notion that, because it necessitates fewer transportation miles, eating local is a better choice for the environment. He notes that the shipping of food constitutes just 9 to 11 percent of its “life-cycle assessment” (the toll it takes on the environment), while things like water use, fertilizer application and harvesting techniques suck up far more. Is it really greener to buy local hothouse tomatoes if, according to McWilliams, they can require up to 10 times the energy? Is it really more sustainable to buy local rice from an arid state if aquifers were drained to grow it? Another issue concerns economies of scale. For instance, a ship-

Key Food Websites EatLocalChallenge.com encourages us to eat what is produced within 100 to 250 miles from home. FoodCoopInitiative.coop helps communities start their own nonprofit co-op. LocalHarvest.org connects consumers to CSAs, co-ops and farmers’ markets in their area. ota.com offers info about what organic is and is not. TrueFoodNow.org operates a grassroots action network by The Center for Food Safety. UrbanFarm.org gives advice on how to start an urban farm.

per sending a truck with 2,000 apples across 2,000 miles would consume the same amount of fuel per apple as a local farmer who takes a pickup 50 miles to sell 50 apples. “Local is not necessarily greener,” accounts McWilliams. So, what is? Eating less meat, he contends. And mounting studies back up his point. Most recently, a 2009 study in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that a carnivorous diet requires 2.9 times more water, 2.5 times more energy, 3 times more fertilizer and 1.4 times more pesticides than a vegetarian diet. “If I eat less meat or eat a vegan diet, I am automatically shrinking the carbon footprint of my diet, no matter where it comes from,” says McWilliams.

Erin Barnett is the director of Minnesota-based LocalHarvest, which connects consumers with family farms, co-ops (collectively owned nonprofit grocery stores or buying clubs that give members discounted prices on health-conscious products in exchange for a fee and work crew hours) and CSAs (in which members buy a share and receive a box of local farm produce each week). She says that these can be excellent ways to benefit our health, environment and local economies. But there can be downsides. For example, a co-op can take years to form and is typically volunteer run, which involves a significant learning curve; it also often requires members to put up several hundred dollars long before the doors open. Belonging to a CSA includes collective risk, so if it’s a bad crop year, member shares are affected. At a farmers’ market, occasionally a vendor will pass off conventional produce shipped in from afar as local or organic. As someone who buys eggs from a farmers’ market, grass-fed meat from a local farm, dry goods from a co-op, nuts from a natural food buying club, and has a garden that dwarfs her own house, Barnett puts it this way: Ask questions first. Then make a plan. “Everyone is going to concoct their own way of meeting their needs by balancing their relationships with local people and their beliefs about organic,” she says. “It is very complex. But at least people are talking about it.” Connect with the writer at LisaMarshall08@gmail.com.

Growing Our Own Greg Peterson says that there is another perspective often left out of the puzzle when people postulate how they can change the world by what they eat: “Food grows for free. You just have to buy a little seed and put a little water on it. People should grow their own food, share it and give it away.” From his 80-by-60-foot yard in the heart of Phoenix, Peterson grows 50 to 100 individual crops, from citrus trees to snow peas and greens. His neighbors pop in for a bowl of peaches or a few fresh eggs. He further spreads the word by hosting gardening classes for everyone from wealthy retirees with big yards to thrifty condo dwellers wanting to grow herbs on their porches. “For me, it’s about building local food systems and making neighborhoods more resilient,” he says. “There is also something inherently spiritual about being able to go out in my front yard and pick carrots, beets and greens to make dinner.”

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From Farm to Plate

in Alabama by Meredith Montgomery

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ith most farmers markets open only a few months out of the year and the availability of local produce in stores varying seasonally, the spring return of Grow Alabama receives a warm welcome by those conscious of the distance their food travels from farm to plate. Typically, a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) operates with individuals purchasing a share or subscription from a farm for a yearly fee in return for a box of seasonal produce each week during the growing season. Grow Alabama is a multi-farm CSA, working with more than 100 farmers throughout the state that grow pesticide-free produce year-round. “We are your direct connection to the family farms in Alabama,� says founder Jerry Spencer.

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Spencer, who worked as a chiropractor in San Francisco for 20 years and had no gardening experience, decided to give vegetable gardening a try 15 years ago after returning to Birmingham, his hometown. The result was bountiful, producing far more vegetables than his family of eight could eat. Spencer sold his surplus to Birmingham restaurants for a few years before transitioning into a CSA. With enthusiastic support from the community, his garden and membership grew, as did his partnership with other farmers. In 2004, Grow Alabama was born, with 25 farms supplying produce and meat to 400 members. Spencer is on a mission to improve the ratio of foods consumed in Alabama to the foods grown in Alabama. According to the Grow Alabama website, more than 95 percent of foods consumed in the state come from another state or country. By reversing this relationship, economic and environmental sustainability will be generated while providing the people of this state with a higher quality of food. Members are able to choose from three different subscription levels, depending on how many items and servings are desired. The deliveries are then customizable by logging onto the Grow Alabama website each week. Additional produce and grocery items such as eggs, honey, coffee and baked goods can be added to weekly deliveries, based on availability, for an additional cost. All of Grow Alabama’s produce is grown without chemicals or pesticides and delivered within 48 hours of harvest. While at least eight months out of the year orders are filled with exclusively Alabama-grown food, Spencer points out that, “Until our Alabama farmers are able to meet the demand, we will substitute with nearby, but out-of-state, produce when necessary, to provide the quantity and variety we know you want for your family.”

Members can check the origin of their items on the website each week during customization. Grow Alabama’s relationship with its farmers is hands-on and its mission goes beyond putting fresh produce on its subscribers plates. Spencer works with the farmers to educate them on sustainable farming, replacing their conventional practices with organic standards and informing them of the detrimental effects pesticides can have on the state’s rivers and ultimately, the Gulf of Mexico. OrganiCorps is the organization’s intern program that pairs individuals wishing to pursue farming as a career with farmers working to gain organic certification. This beneficial partnership provides interns with invaluable experience in the field, while providing support for local farmers going through the tedious and expensive process of gaining organic certification. In addition to helping farmers and locavores, Grow Alabama lends a hand to those who cannot afford fresh produce at all. Greater Birmingham Ministries (GBM) is an ecumenical community needs provider supported by more than 1,000 congregations. After sporadically donating to GBM for several years, the statewide CSA now partners with the supporting congregations by tithing to GBM’s foodbank. This program will be instituted in all areas of the state, allowing more and more cans at local food banks to be replaced with fresh fruits and vegetables each week. Plans are currently in the works to build a similar program for local schools in an effort to increase the amount of fresh produce available in cafeterias. For like-minded people that want to support Grow Alabama’s commitment to sustainable agriculture and rural community development, Spencer is kicking off For the Love of It, an ambassador program. Ambassadors will be trained and empowered as spe-

March 2011

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cial representatives through a program of knowledge, public speaking and on-the-farm experience. They will learn all there is to know about Alabama farming and why improving the rural environment is a necessity. “The Grow Alabama ambassador program will give individuals a chance to put their love for our state, its people and its communities to work. It is a powerful program for those who want to make a real difference,” he says. This is a paid opportunity and requires a four month commitment, beginning in April. Spencer says, “I look forward to when more and more Alabama farmers can send their kids to college, as I was able to do for my son, and when all people have access to fresh, locally grown and sustainably grown farm products.”

The chiropractor turned farmer continues to be involved in all aspects of the business, hopping from farm to office to delivery truck and back again. “I couldn’t do this all by myself,” Spencer says. Gesturing upward, he explains, “God is my partner. The answers that led me to what I do today and what I dream of doing in the future, couldn’t have come from anyone or anywhere else.” This inspiring partnership between the heavens and Earth offers an opportunity for everyone in the area to provide fellow Alabamians with healthier, more abundant lives. To learn more about Grow Alabama and it’s programs, visit GrowAlabama. com, call 205-991-0042 or email Info@GrowAlabama.com. See ad on page 31.

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All gardening is landscape painting. ~William Kent

Sustainable Foods and Social Philanthropy A Conversation with Nell Newman by Ellen Mahoney

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ollowing in her famous parents’ footsteps, Nell Newman, daughter of actors and environmental activists Joanne Woodward and Paul Newman, launched Newman’s Own Organics in 1993 with business partner Peter Meehan. She is also the author of The Newman’s Own Organics Guide to a Good Life: Simple Measures that Benefit You and the Place You Live. Since 1982, the Newman’s Own Foundation, which originated with her father’s company, Newman’s Own, has donated more than $300 million to educational and charitable organizations worldwide.

Why did you decide to create Newman’s Own Organics? In 1989 I worked as the development director for the Santa Cruz Predatory Bird Research Group, trying to raise money for this small nonprofit. I was very motivated to do this work because I was dumbfounded by how the peregrine falcon and the bald eagle populations were being decimated due to the use of the synthetic pesticide DDT. But raising money for this organization wasn’t easy. I started to look closely at the business model Dad was working on at the time to produce and sell high-quality products, with profits going to various charities. I thought it was a great idea that could be done a little differently, and decided to create an organic line of food products. My hope was to have the line support organic agriculture and better the environment, while providing funds to worthy nonprofits.

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associated all health food with nut loaf topped with yeast gravy and “atomic” muffins, made with heavy whole wheat. He had some stubborn ideas about what he thought organic food really was. So, one year, I secretly prepared a totally organic Thanksgiving dinner for the family. When Dad finished his plate I asked, “So, how did you like your organic dinner?” He was surprised and knew he’d been had, but also realized that organic food didn’t have to taste funny. Our first product for Newman’s Own Organics, an organic pretzel, became Dad’s favorite snack.

How do you advocate for the principles of sustainable agriculture? My big goal in life is to support the growth of organic agriculture, because the impact is profound. Our company uses as many organic ingredients in our products as we possibly can. Today, I also love to farm organically in my backyard. I have nine chickens, a peach tree, a couple of citrus trees and four raised beds for fruits and vegetables.

What role did social responsibility play in your family life? I knew my parents were politically active, but “socially responsible” wasn’t even a term when I was growing up. They never lectured or made a big deal about their philanthropy; I only learned about it through their example. Dad’s company began because people loved his homemade salad dressing; he was always putting it in big wine bottles and giving it away. Although he thought it was a harebrained idea and was told that celebrity products usually fail, he eventually decided to sell it. In the first year he made $890,000; at that time he was at the peak of his acting career and instead of pocketing the money, he donated it to selected charities.

Why did you decide to develop a line of organic pet foods? When I was a kid, we had five dogs, six cats and a pet skunk. I was also a budding ornithologist, and as a teenager I practiced the art of falconry, because the peregrine was my favorite bird. I’ve always loved animals, so organic pet food seemed like a natural product line extension to me. It was a challenge to convince Dad, but we finally launched the pet line in 2005 and it’s been highly successful. Because the type of food an animal eats affects its quality of life, it’s vital to make sure pets receive the highest quality of foods that are closest to what they would eat in the wild. Plus, the happier our animals are, the happier we are. For more information, visit NewmansOwnOrganics.com/index.php. Ellen Mahoney is a writer and radio producer. Email evm@infionline.net.

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• Br Braaiin Brai

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Spin Sp Spine in nee • • Liver Liver Li vveer

Touchpoints Reflexology - Practical Tips for Everyday Living

by Jim Barnes, Certified Reflexologist

Rub your pains away!

A

cupuncture and Acupressure are key elements in Traditional Chinese Medicine. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, illness and pain are seen as the result of interrupted flow of qi (energy). As with acupuncture, the aim of reflexology is to restore and balance the flow of qi through the body. Pressure points are places where the flow of qi can be influenced to regulate body functions in additon to relieving pain. Various points on the body are used to address various pains. The Hoku Point is an acupressure point for pain management, relieving aches and pains anywhere on your body. Acupressure massage at the Hoku point is commonly used for back pain relief, toothaches, and migraines among other pains.

Finding and Using the Hoku Point The Hoku Point (also called LI4 because it is the 4th point on the Large Intestine meridian) is good for relieving many kinds of pain as well as other discomforts. It is located on the back of the hand, in the webbing where the thumb and index finger meet. Find the exact point by bringing your thumb and index finger together. The muscle will bulge a little – that's the spot. It

can c relieve joint and a muscle pain anywhere a in the body. b Squeeze LI4 L by putting your y thumb on the t point, and your y index finger on o the palm side of your hand. You can hold for up to a few minutes, or until you feel relief. You should press it firmly enough to cause mild discomfort. It is recommended that while you are pressing LI4, you also move the joint nearest the part of your body that's in pain. For example, if your upper calf is in pain, you would bend and unbend your knee. WARNING: Do not use LI4 if you are pregnant.

Acupressure massage at the LI4 (Hoku point), can be done in a few simple steps. 1. Locate the Hoku Point on your hand. To do this, gently press the thumb against the index finger. This will cause the flesh between the two fingers to mound. The LI4 (Hoku Point) is at the top of that mound. 2. Spread the thumb and index finger to form a "V." Using the thumb and index finger of the other hand, apply pressure to the Hoku Point (LI4), which is now behind the webbing between the two fingers.

3. Use the grasping thumb to squeeze close to the bone attached to the index finger, angling the pressure underneath this bone, so as to find the most sensitive spot. 4. Apply firm pressure to this spot for at least a minute. At the same time, move the joint that is closest to the area that hurts. For example, move your neck for a headache. 5. Repeat the steps using your other hand. Repeat as needed till the pain dissipates. 6. See a doctor immediately if you experience severe or persistent pain. This may be a symptom of a more serious underlying condition that cannot be treated with acupressure massage. This is an easy way that may help relieve pain anywhere in your body. So find your Hoku Point and rub your pains away! Touchpoints is monthly column bringing you information on reflexology—the therapeutic application of pressure to specific points on the hands and feet to effect physical changes in the body. Jim Barnes is a Certified Reflexologist with a fast-growing practice in Decatur, Alabama. Contact Jim at Reflex Action for more information and appointment scheduling. Reflex Action Reflexology and Massage Therapy: Main Office 256-309-0033, Cell phone 256-227-2920. See CRG on page 39.

March 2011

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Discovering the “Self” That Always Is Weekend Satsang and Retreat with Mukti By Reverend David Leonard

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he Center for Spiritual Living is honored to sponsor an enlightened teacher of Truth, Mukti, for a Weekend Satsang and Retreat. Join the Center for Spiritual Living (CSL) on Friday, April 15, 7pm and Saturday, April 16, 9:30am to 5pm for this unforgettable experience. Mukti is the Sanskrit word that means “liberation.” She is the wife of Adyashanti and has been leading awakening hearts and minds of individuals who are ready to discover their “true” nature. Mukti travels the world offering Satsang to those who seek to live a great life by discovering the Reality of their being. She spent 20 years studying the teachings of Paramahansa Yogananda before discovering the non-dual teachings of Ramana Maharshi and others. Through the application of gentle self inquiry and meditation, she takes individuals deeply to the center of their own being, the core of consciousness, where all is one. Licensed in acupuncture and certified to teach hatha yoga, Mukti has a love of the whole experience in form, as well as the formless. We are deeply honored to have this Spiritual Teacher come to our community and offer this weekend where all are invited to awaken to Truth. This “awakening to our true nature” is what all the great spiritual leaders have brought to the world, and now we get to explore it for ourselves. As one enlightened master said, “If all your scriptures and teachings

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do not take the self to the Self, they are worthless.” This has been described by some as the Christ Consciousness, the Buddha Consciousness, or simply, the Awakened Presence. It is the Truth of who we are, but we must discover it for our self. Satsang is a Sanskrit word that means “to sit in Truth.” Individuals gather together in the presence of an awakened teacher and open to the Self that exists within each of us all the time. Through meditation and self inquiry, as well as dialogue, the individuals wake up to the Truth of their own Being. By meeting what arises we are brought to an awareness of an underlying Presence. The Presence that does not come and go with thought, emotions, or any experience, but rather remains as the changeless constant throughout our lives. It’s a discovery made in the heart of each of us and cannot be given to us by another. The awakened Satsang teacher holds the space for such a discovery, which brings an end to seeking and the beginning of endless fulfillment. CSL has been offering weekly Satsangs on Wednesday evenings at 6:30pm for several years. All are welcome. In these gatherings, individuals discover the Love that is always there amidst the shifting conditions of life.

They discover what lies at the heart of life. As this becomes the living reality in their life, a sense of freedom and happiness is experienced within and without. Life begins to unfold with grace and ease. We begin to see life through new eyes and the world around us reflects the beauty we discover within. Satsang, or sitting in Truth, opens us to the deeper awareness that we are not our thoughts or our belief systems. Many of our beliefs have been given to us by others and we live them without question. We inquire deeply into the source of those beliefs to reveal what is true in our hearts. We start to live in integrity with the truth of our own hearts. When our choices are in harmony with the truth of what is known in the heart, we live our freedom to express as our authentic self in every moment. This current of harmony fills our lives and touches the lives of all around us. In a world where things are shifting and changing rapidly, it is essential that we discover what never changes, what is “still” and peaceful. By aligning with the Peace, Love, and Joy that are our true nature, we bring that vibrational frequency to the world that so deeply needs this energy. As each of us awakens to the Truth of our being, we bring that Truth to the world through the equanimity that is the pure essence of Life. We are each other. We become the change one heart at a time. "When two or more come together in my name" (nature), as the Master Teacher reminded us, there is a coming together in Self. This One knows no other. In that place, we recognize the “Truth” that sets us free of our own “sin” (self-inflicted nonsense). We hope everyone will take advantage of this unique opportunity to sit with this awakened teacher of Truth. Mukti’s presence in Huntsville will bring a transmission of the Love that we are by nature. This love, as close as your own breath, simply awaits that recognition by all who are ready for that great inner journey of awakening to the Truth of who you are. If you would like to know more about the Mukti event or the ongoing Satsangs, please contact us at www.CSL-Huntsville.org or call 256-503-3083. See ad on page 5.

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

Meatless Mondays World’s Largest Grassroots Diet Education Blitz Hits March 20

The annual global Meatout WE MEATLESS MONDAYS observance has grown explosively since its inception in 1985, with people in 30 countries and all 50 U.S. states participating last March. The latest U.S. twist in the 2011 Meatout edition will be events aiming to serve vegan food to 10,000 veg-curious passersby and newcomers to veganism as a way to introduce them to the idea of Meatless Mondays. In the United States, national sponsor Farm Animal Reform Movement (FARM) reports that 30 million Americans have at least explored a meat-free diet, and one in five teens thinks that vegetarianism is “cool.” Major manufacturers and retailers have come to support the concept by adding meat- and dairy-free meals. Several national fast food chains now offer veggie burgers and some major baseball venues even have veggie ballpark dogs. Meanwhile, national beef and veal consumption are declining, according to the Meatout 2009 International Report. “Going meatless once a week can reduce your risk of chronic, preventable conditions like cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and obesity,” reports the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health’s Center for a Livable Future. “It can also help limit your carbon footprint and save resources like fresh water and fossil fuel.” The average American currently eats eight ounces of meat a day, 45 percent more than the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s recommended amount. For more information, visit Meatout.org.

Dietary Shift

Home Preparation of Fresh Veggies on the Decline A new U.S. Department of Agriculture study reports that households headed by older generations spend more money per person on fresh vegetables prepared at home than their younger counterparts. After accounting for income and other demand factors, its Economic Research Service found that households headed by a person born in 1960 spent 66 cents per week less than those with a household head born in 1930. Younger generations continue to spend different amounts in each subsequent age point, with the youngest spending the least. Because of younger people’s continued reliance on convenience foods, the researchers project that, as they age, they will spend more on fresh grocery veggies than they do now, but when they reach their parent’s current age, they will still spend less on such foods than their parents do now. Several mainstream health advocacy organizations now promote consumption of plant-based foods, aiming to turn this trend around; they include the American Cancer Society, National Cancer Institute, Johns Hopkins University and American Heart Association.

Double-Duty Label Fair Trade Goes Domestic

Many people today are familiar with International Fair Trade, as it applies to the importing of items such as coffee, tea and cocoa. However, as the movement has grown, it has become apparent that many of the challenges facing producers in developing countries are also shared by North America’s family farmers. Big agribusiness continues to thrive, while small farmers have gone out of business. Consumers pay more, while farmers receive less. Meanwhile, farm workers are often denied fair wages and basic rights. So, a group of Canadian farmers, convinced that organics had been co-opted by large corporatestyle interests and that cheap organic grain imports were undercutting their homegrown organic production, have given birth to Domestic Fair Trade certification. To aid organic food shoppers, they have developed the fairDeal food label. It will most likely show up in the organic bins of local food co-ops. Initial products include flax, wheat, barley, oats, beans, peas, lentils, hemp seeds and mustard. Domestic Fair Trade Association (DFTA) members include farm workers and their organizations; farmers and farmer groups; retailers; non-governmental organizations; marketers; and processors and manufacturers. Qualifying standards commit members to the principles of Domestic Fair Trade and continual improvement of their day-to-day practices. For more information, visit thedfta.org.

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Pasture-Raised Chickens • Locally Raised on Pasture! • Fresh and Natural! • Great Tasting! • No Drugs! Period!

256-751-0987 www.RaisedOnPasture.com

Sold fresh at our family farm. Reservations required. Located off I-65 outside Hartselle in North Alabama

Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.

Canned Chemicals

New Packaging Moves Away from BPA The chemical Bisphenol A (BPA), used for years in clear plastic bottles and food can liners, has been restricted in Canada and some U.S. states and municipalities because this synthetic estrogen is a suspected endocrine disruptor—a chemical that can interfere with the body’s gland and hormone functions. The Food and Drug Administration will soon decide what it considers is a safe level of exposure, based on a mounting body of independent research. Now, Consumer Reports has released results of its tests of 19 common canned foods; almost all of them contained BPA—even those labeled BPA-free and organic. The highest levels were found in canned soups and green beans. According to the most recent National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 93 percent of Americans have detectable levels of BPA in their bodies. Among Japan’s population, after BPA was voluntarily removed from the linings of food and beverage cans in 1997, a 2003 study showed that levels of BPA were down 50 percent. In the U.S., major food suppliers are starting to respond with non-BPA packaging for select products ranging from juice to tuna and pasta sauce.

~Albert Einstein

TAP into WELLNESS, WEALTH & WHOLENESS Self-Healing Awareness with EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques)

Have your own Personal Healing Coach

Judith Pflum, EFT-ADV 256-774-3392 www.tapintohealing.com

Painless, Drug-free, Self-administered Method Improve any Emotional or Physical Issues: • Stress, relationships, fears • Self-image/esteem/confidence • Work or school performance, etc. • Confidential individual sessions • Corporate workshops on stress • Speaker for your organization • Be a hostess of a small group class • Gift certificates available

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The Buzz

Trouble for Wild Bumblebee Populations Bumblebees, those ace field hands that pollinate apple orchards, berry crops, tomato fields, wildflowers and flowering yard plants, are facing hard times in the United States. Nearly 10 percent of wild bumblebee species have suffered serious declines in numbers and geographic range, according to the first attempt at gauging the health of such populations nationwide. Research surveying 78,000 specimens across eight species—and correlating reductions in numbers with potential causes—found that four of the species are in decline. Each had significantly lower genetic diversity than the four more robust species. This factor may make them more vulnerable to environmental stresses, including fragmented habitat and the intracellular parasite, Nosema bombi, sometimes present in high numbers in the troubled species. The bees’ ranges have dropped by as much as 87 percent below their historically greatest extent, much of the decline occurring within the past 20 years. At the same time, the relative abundance of bees as compared with estimates of their known numerical peaks has plunged by as much as 96 percent. Sydney Cameron, Ph.D., an entomologist at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, characterizes bumblebees as “incredibly resilient.” Yet, he remarks, “There’s a threshold, and above that threshold? Bang, that’s it. We just don’t know what the thresholds are for these species.” The study is considered an environmental warning and wake-up call. Source: The Christian Science Monitor

Crash By Gatlianne

Jin Shin Jyutsu® of Huntsville Along our path We crash Fall Tumble head over heels

Aiding Healing through Body Harmony & Relaxation

SANDRA COPE

Certified Jin Shin Jyutsu® Practitioner (256) 534-1794 Office (256) 509-3540 Cell

Huntsville, Alabama

Land in helpless piles Feel the urge to just sink Forever Into sorrow Let it pull us under But we stand Move on

Nomadic Tapestry Bellydance - Drumming - Yoga 1219 B&C Jordan Lane, Huntsville 256-318-0169 For class schedules and pricing go to: www.nomadictapestry.com

Limping Anticipating the next crash That will threaten to knock us off course Knowing That each crash makes us Who we are at the end Of the path

Pets are humanizing. They remind us we have an obligation and responsibility to preserve and nurture and care for all life. —James Cromwell

February 2011

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greenliving

GREEN DRINKS

Cheers to Making Eco-Conscious Connections by Judith Fertig

W

hether attendees at a typical Green Drinks gathering choose to sip a fine wine or organic lemonade, the emphasis is on socializing and networking for a “greener” world, one community at a time. Founded by friends Edwin Datschefski and Paul Scott at a London pub in 1989, Green Drinks currently includes more than 700 chapters worldwide. The first and largest North American group, Green Drinks New York City, was launched by Margaret Lydecker in 2002 and currently counts 14,000 members. After moving to the Big Apple, “I was having a hard time finding a community of like-minded people,” confesses Lydecker, a sustainability advisor who helps companies find greener options in the way they source products and services. She adds, “When you have an active dialogue with other

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environmentally conscious people in business or government, you begin to find answers and solutions.” Typically, groups around the country partner with a community sports bar, restaurant, or other food and drink establishment to host a Green Drinks event in a private room. The word goes out via email, Facebook, phone calls or postcards, and people come to meet other environmentally conscious people. Although these soirées sometimes include short talks by sustainability experts, they’re essentially casual. Yet in this setting, attendees can make connections that benefit the environment, businesses, the community—and themselves. John O’Neill reports that at one recent Green Drinks social hour in Port St. Lucie, Florida, the owner of a local environmental service business struck up a conversation with a restaurant owner. “The business agreed to take the

leftover grease from the restaurant and use it on their farm,” reports O’Neill. “That’s exactly the kind of thing we want to see happen.” Jim Horlacher, the founder of Kansas City’s Green Drinks, admits, “I primarily do Green Drinks because I like it.” Although the relationship-building is definitely there, he adds, “It’s hard for me to quantify.” Horlacher is a financial planner for First Affirmative Financial Network, a group that helps individual investors put their money where their socially and environmentally responsible values are. “People get to know me at Green Drinks events as someone who walks the walk and talks the talk,” he says. Although Green Drinks’ environmental mission is deliberately simple—attend, engage, connect— some groups take it further. The Seattle Green Drinks chapter also offers a host of more narrowly targeted member groups, including those who want to hear speakers on innovation in sustainability, support Native Americans or conserve wildlife. GreenDrinks-Denver.com offers an It’s Your Business listing on its Web pages for green businesses and products, building public awareness for greener options, including tips for cleanup and recycling during and after public events. Likewise, Green Drinks of Victoria, British Columbia, has a work and career forum that continues to encourage the forging of the links that people make at face-to-face gatherings. Says Seattle Drinks founder Gabriel Scheer, “I’m immensely proud of how the organization has taken a central role in growing our local environmental community.” A founding partner in ReVision Labs, which helps business and organizations incorporate social media and community organizing into their business models, Scheer concludes, “Green Drinks events are helping each community see itself.” For more information visit GreenDrinks.org. Judith Fertig is a freelance writer in Overland Park, KS; see AlfrescoFood AndLifestyle.blogspot.com.

A Toast to GREEN DRINKS What happens at a Green Drinks gathering? Attendees like these attest to the power of networking in support of a common goal—and to some surprising outcomes.

“One guy found his girlfriend, his job and his roommate at Green Drinks. I love that.” Margaret Lydecker, founder, New York City chapter

“I think the strangest thing about Green Drinks is that the goals are vague and the benefits hard to quantify— but they are undoubtedly there.” Edwin Datschefski, international coordinator, Green Drinks, London, England

“I came away with seven business cards, five new Facebook friends and information about green building, green certifications and some really cool new green products.” Maria Booker, Tampa.CreativeLoafing.com blogger, Green Drinks event, Tampa

“All sorts of things happen. People find jobs. We’ve had one wedding. A lot of our advertisers and sponsors report increased business dealings.” Gabriel Scheer, founder, Seattle Greendrinks

“I run an environmentally friendly printing company and found more clients through networking at one Green Drinks event than I did in the previous nine years. My business grew so much so that I was able to relocate my operations to a larger facility to accommodate all the work. It is truly extraordinary!”

A Toast From the

HUNTSVILLE CHAPTER

“I

n January I had the pleasure to attend the Huntsville Chapter of Green Drinks. Not only did I meet some very interesting people, but I got the chance to connect with others in our community that have a common interest in green living. I met Lee McBride from Foodscapes, Inc., and Lisa McClelland from Return to Eden, a certified organic farm. Habitat for Humanity brought a group of student from the University of Kentucky to share with us about their building project. Green Drinks gatherings are held on the second Monday of each month at Brix restaurant on Airport Road in Huntsville, starting around 5:30pm. Eating and drinking are optional. If you are interested in attending, or would like additional information, you can contact Ellen Cain via email at HuntsvilleGreenDrinks@ gmail.com.”

Greg Barber, Green Drinks attendee, New York City Cindy Wilson, Green Drinks attendee, Huntsville, Alabama

March 2011

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|yoŏrt; yərt| yurt noun a circular tent of felt or skins on a collapsible framework, used by nomads in Mongolia, Siberia, and Turkey.

The Yurt Garden

ORIGIN from Russian yurta, via French or German from Turkic jurt.

A Third Sunday at the Yurt Garden by Michele Monticciolo, NC MH

L

ynn Leach and I met three years Lynn is a licensed massage theraspending a week in the hospital with ago. At the time, it seemed like pist and has been involved in energy my son. My husband would switch I was just adding another colwork for over 35 years now. She is no places with me and I would go to league to my life. I sought her out stranger to struggle or to overcoming the Yurt and send my prayers to the because I was planning a women’s fear. Her son Steve was diagnosed Divine, asking for my son’s healing and retreat, and the Yurt Garden seemed with bone cancer at the tender age of the healing of all other children with like the perfect place to hold it. seven. His leg had to be amputated. cancer. I’d ask for courage, so my son Within minutes of meeting each Then fifteen rounds of high-dose would never see any fear inside me. . . other, Lynn and I began an enriching chemotherapy. Lynn reflects on the Songs would come through me and I esoteric discussion. Not in that heavy intensity of that experience: would spin like a Sufi, giving the burway of esoteric exploration; it was just The Yurt Garden became my dens of my heart to Creator. a gentle, peaceful talk. In fact even place of solace and self-healing. I’d My friend Lynn has taught me now, gentle is the word that comes come home on the weekends after much about acceptance. to mind when I think of Of course, Lynn would Lynn’s energy. Everything say that she’s just on her she touches seems to journey – a courteous way to calm itself. dismiss my accolades – but Lynn's creation, the therein lies the essence of her Yurt Garden, bridges the peaceful grace. Peace is pergap between a retreat and vasive at Yurt Garden. Peace. a healing center. Imagine Permeating everything; inpulling into the winding vesting every particle. When driveway and being greetI step foot into the Yurt – even ed by a hand-built yurt, a before I actually arrive at the lovely garden landscape, property – the all-pervading and a labyrinth. It’s gorpeace seems to soak into geous. But I’d be dumbing my cells. Before long, I’m down the magnitude of walking slower. Noticing wonderful possibilities little details. In the trees. The this place holds if I didn’t landscape. I begin to breathe Third Sunday Group from left; Billy Ward, Lynn Leach, Karen Lovell, more deeply. I am home. mention what happens Paul De Moore, Emily Watson and Rev. Carol Landry. inside the Yurt itself. Recently, I received an

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invitation from Lynn to attend Third Sunday, a monthly gathering that's been going on at the Yurt for about six months now. Honoring all paths to the Divine, Lynn’s Third Sunday meetings embrace all spiritual faiths, along with their traditions and rituals. The first month's gathering centered around walking a labyrinth. Since then, themes have included the practical applications of Tibetan Singing Bowls, a Native American Peace Pipe Ceremony, and a ceremonial burning and releasing ritual held by Rev. Carol Landry of the Unity Church. It was this latter event that I awaited attending so eagerly. That day, I awoke feeling scattered and full of too much thought. I became directionally challenged during my drive out to the Yurt; even though I had been there before, I got lost on the way, and wound up driving 30 minutes in the wrong direction before doubling back. Upon pulling onto the Yurt Garden, I felt a wrestling match going on between my overstressed, overactive mind and a powerful, pure-distilled peace that was attempting to call me home. I stepped into the Yurt halfway through Rev. Carol’s ceremony, my face red with embarrassment at my tardiness, feeling that I had “interrupted” the flow. The awkwardness was entirely self-imposed, however. No one seemed bothered by my statically-charged energy. The pervasive peace had already seeped into their pores, eliminating all negativity. Everyone was fully engaged in the energy of the ceremony. Five minutes later, I’d surrendered as well. It is just so effortless there. The burning ceremony represented releasing the quality in us that we would like help with letting go of this year. The second half of the ceremony was about embracing a new, preferred quality. We were to each choose a rock to imbue with this word or quality. I gave my own stone a word that will now be my mantra for 2011. A potluck lunch followed, and a lively conversation ensued. We were all instant friends, leisurely tossing about ideas on the meaning of wholeness. I was in heaven. After lunch, more conversation followed, focused on the topic of “epic books that changed my life.” I was roused from my drowsing tranquility by new ideas. Big ones! I was feeling energized. Needless to say, I left the Yurt that day with a reading list that will take up at least the next year! My Third Sunday experience is still with me as I write this. If you are looking to find a sacred space to do healing work, and a truly effective healer to work with, I recommend Lynn and her Yurt. If you’re looking for a recurring, regularly scheduled, social/spiritual event to open your mind and your heart, I recommend Third Sundays at the Yurt Garden. And please bring a dish to share! The Yurt Garden Retreat and Wellness Center, Gurley, Alabama. For information about services and scheduling, call Lynn Leach at 256-424-2221 or visit the Yurt online at www.YurtGarden.com. See CRG on page 39.

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By Gatlianne

Corpse Pose

Y

oga is the connection of mind, body and spirit − the culmination of limitless consciousness that combines the physical body through intentional movement in alignment with the conscious mind and subconscious spirit. Yoga is a pathway to becoming one with the self, leading to one with the All. The main objective of all yoga techniques is to produce tranquility. Yoga is a way to reconnect with, strengthen, and awaken the self in order to reach our highest, most authentic self ...the person we are when we don't allow reactivity, resentment, or anger to overcome us, but instead maintain a state of compassion, love, and inner peace. You can awaken yourself and find self-compassion and self-love by making a conscious intention to get on the mat. Spring is a time of awakening and rebirth. What better time to pull out the yoga mat and begin a path of awakening and rebirth

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within your own being? One pose to use to get back to the self is Corpse Pose. Though the name can be misleading, Corpse is a very alive pose. "Corpse pose restores life. Dead parts of your being fall away; the ghosts are released." -Terri Guillemets Corpse pose is a relaxation pose that is often used at the end of a yoga practice, but can be an excellent pose in which to begin because it puts you in a state of self and bodily awareness. Continuing its versatility, Corpse Pose can also be used before bed with step-by-step relaxation to produce a languid body ready for deep, restful sleep. To begin step-bystep relaxation, lie in Corpse Pose. Lie on your back with your arms down at your sides a few inches from your body, with palms facing up. Allow your feet to

fall apart. Pull the lower back toward the floor, allowing your back to release. Close your eyes and breathe in and out slowly through the nose all the way into the lower abdomen. Be aware of your breath; allow it to rise and fall as it will. Take two conscious breaths, breathing fully in and exhaling completely. Do this by expanding the abdomen entirely on the inhalation, pulling the abdomen in toward the backbone on exhalation. Be aware of the breath again, allowing it to become soft and even. Focus your awareness over the body, looking for tension and releasing it as you progress. Notice the difference between tension and relaxation. Notice the areas that hold the most tension. Go through your body from scalp to feet. Then, focus again on your breathing for several minutes before scanning back over the body from feet to scalp, releasing any spots of tension remaining as you go by tensing the muscle hard and releasing it fully. Follow with another two deep, conscious breaths and open your eyes restored. You are now in tune with your body and breath, and have a new awareness that you can take into your world and use on or off the mat. —PHOTOGRAPHY BY LEWIS METTS.

Gatlianne is an author and Yoga & Reiki practitioner based in Athens, pr AL. A For more information or to t schedule a private yoga or Reiki session, please co contact her at M@ G Gatlianne.com or visit w www.Gatlianne.com.

inspiration

Consciousness Cleanse Three Weeks to a Better Future by Debbie Ford

T

his month is a powerful time to assess where we’ve been, acknowledge where we are right now and dream our most beautiful life into being. Starting now, we can move from the outdated modes of our limited thinking mind to tune into our eternal divine mind. Acting on these three recommended cleansing phases—one a week for the next three weeks— will work to lift us out of resignation and mediocrity into hope and excitement, and connect us with a future filled with surprises, possibility and deep purpose.

Week One: The Past. The first seven days of what I call The 21-Day Consciousness Cleanse are dedicated to creating a powerful magnet of desire and cleaning out the turbulent emotions, outdated beliefs, unresolved incidents and restricting thoughts that have taken root in our minds and hearts. Write a list of the grudges and resentments you have been carrying around that you are ready to let go. Release them by tearing up the paper into tiny little pieces. Understanding that your outer world is a reflection of your inner world, release 100 pieces of clutter from your past that now occupy your home, office and surroundings.

Surprise yourself by challenging preconceptions of yourself; take measured risks and do something differently today. In this enhanced sense of the present, you can listen more deeply to the calling of your soul.

Week Three: The Future. In this final phase, you have the opportunity to look into the future and see who you want to be from this day forward.

Liberated from the confusion, fear, guilt and self-doubt of the past, you will naturally open up to new realms of awareness, emotional freedom and spiritual liberation.

Week Two: The Present. Having released everything that has depleted your vitality and held you back, stand firmly in the present moment. Take an honest look at where and who you are today, observing what is and is not working in your life. Begin an ongoing present-moment awareness practice today. Set an hourly alarm; then, each time it reminds you, become present for five minutes to nature, to your body and breath or to the present moment itself.

Choose a sacred value that can serve as the foundation for your future, such as abundance, compassion, grace or integrity, and surround yourself with images, prayers, songs and scents that invoke it for you. Identify and act on choices that allow you to express that value. Spend time each morning, afternoon and evening checking in with your natural divine GPS. See if you made wrong turns and find out where that still, small voice wants you to go next. Reconnecting with your highest self, you will experience more love, contentment and compassion as you step into the brilliance of your soul’s purpose. Why not seize this extraordinary opportunity to till the soil of your consciousness and plant the seeds of a whole new future? Debbie Ford is a New York Times bestselling author of eight books, including The Shadow Effect, co-authored with Deepak Chopra and Marianne Williamson, and The 21-Day Consciousness Cleanse. Visit DebbieFord.com.

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calendar SATURDAY, MARCH 5

SUNDAY, MARCH 27

Community HU Song– 1:30-2pm. Join others in singing HU, an ancient love song to God that can help and uplift you in countless ways. Held each Saturday. Huntsville ECK Center, 900 Wellman Avenue, #3, Five Points. 256-534-1751. www.Eck-Alabama.org

"Spiritual People Skills" Workshop –12:30pm. With Sean O’Shea, SpiritualPeopleSkills.com. Unity Church on the Mountain, 1328 Governors Dr. SE, Huntsville. 256-536-2271. www.UnityChurchOnTheMountain.com. Love Offering.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 9 Journey into Possibility – Multi-cultural monthly ceremony. Second Wed. of each month at 7pm. Followed by experiential class on energetic techniques. Come feel the healing, wisdom, and clarity which are your birthright. 256-426-0232. KatyShamanHealer.blogspot.com.

SUNDAY, MARCH 13 "An Afternoon of Forgiveness and Healing" Workshop – 12:30pm. With Rev. Eric Donaldson, Senior Minister at Unity Christian Church in Memphis, TN. Unity Church on the Mountain, 1328 Governors Dr. SE, Huntsville. 256-536-2271.www. UnityChurchOnTheMountain.com. Love Offering.

MONDAY, MARCH 14 Huntsville Green Drinks – 5:30pm. An organization for anyone interested in sustainable living to share their interest and expertise with like-minded individuals. Eating and drinking are optional. Come learn about various topics such as green building, eating locally, environmental education efforts in local schools, and local green businesses. To join our mailing list, email HuntsvilleGreenDrinks@ gmail.com. Venue: Brix on Airport Road, Huntsville. www.BrixHuntsville.com.

FRIDAY, MARCH 25 “Mindfulness for Moderns”– 6:30pm. Gary Beard of Green Mountain Zen Center will discuss how being mindful improves your life. Presented by Paranormal Study Center at the Radison Inn on Madison Blvd. in Madison, AL. Admission is $5.00. www.ParapsychologyStudyGroup.com

BERKELEY BOB'S MARCH MUSIC LINEUP

To keep the body in good health is a duty... otherwise we shall not be able to keep our mind strong and clear. ~Buddha

Located in Cullman, Alabama, Berkeley Bob's Coffee House and Whole Earth Store is a 1960's style California Coffee House where we "celebrate nature, coffee and folk music." Open Mike Nites every first and third Monday from 7-9pm. Bring your guitar, bongos, poems, whatever, and share your talents with us. Saturday night concerts feature local and out of area musicians playing a wide variety of styles. All shows 7-9pm, family oriented and free. To inquire about a booking call Bob at 256-775-2944. www.BerkeleyBob.com. March 5 March 7 March 12 March 19 March 26

Josh Brooks and Friends Open Mic Elle Claytor Bimini Road Roy Crawford and Scott Miller

SATURDAY, APRIL 2 Have You Had a Spiritual Experience?– 1-8:30pm. Discover how every situation in your life has some spiritual purpose to it. Free seminar sponsored by the Huntsville ECK Center. Holiday Inn Huntsville West, 9035 Madison Boulevard, Madison (Hwy 20 near I-565 Exit 8). 256-534-1751. www.Eck-Alabama.org

I always say centered

food equals centered behavior. ~Marilu Henner

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ongoingevents SUNDAY Al-Anon – For those who have a loved one faced with a drinking problem. 256-885-0323. AAHuntsvilleAL.org. A Course in Miracles Study Group – 9:15am. Shared reading and group discussions. Extra books available. Light of Christ Center, 4208 Holmes Ave, Huntsville. 256-895-0255. LightOfChristCenter.org. Unity Church Service– 10:30am. Practical Christianity from a transformative new thought metaphysical perspective. Our doors are open with love for all. Unity Church on the Mountain, 1328 Governors Dr. SE, Huntsville. 256-536-2271. UnityChurchOnTheMountain.com. Celebration of Spirit – 11am. A different service each week including ritual, music, and a message in an open, loving environment. Light of Christ Center, 4208 Holmes Ave, Huntsville. 256-895-0255. LightOfChristCenter.org. Kadampa Meditation Group – 3-4:30pm. Sunday book study class. Books-A-Million, University Dr, Huntsville. 3rd Sunday at Unity Church on the Mountain, 1328 Governors Dr SE, Huntsville. 256-5362271. UnityChurchOnTheMountain.com. Power Yoga – 4:30-5:30pm. Marcy White. The Yoga Center of Huntsville, 500-A Pratt Ave, Huntsville. 256-653-9255 or 256-533-7975. YogaCenterOfHuntsville.com.

MONDAY

Healing, 3322 S Memorial Pkwy, Ste 532, Huntsville. 256-882-0360. DirectionalHealing.com.

Huntsville, 500-A Pratt Ave, Huntsville. 256-533-7975. YogaCenterOfHuntsville.com.

Intermediate Mat Class– 5-6:15pm. Work at a faster pace incorporating exercises that will challenge one’s strength, flexibility and coordination. Body Language Pilates, 305 Jefferson St, Ste C, Huntsville. 256-7045080. BodyLanguagePilates.com.

Yoga with Mitzi – 9am. The Art of Yoga. All levels welcome. Huntsville Museum of Art, 300 Church Ave S, Huntsville. More info: 256-361-YOGA or MitziConnell.com.

Basic Bellydance – 5:30-6:30pm. Mon-Thurs. Intro to basic bellydance technique. Nomadic Tapestry, 1219 B&C Jordan Ln, Huntsville. Class info: NomadicTapestry.com. Beginner Yoga – 5:30-6:30pm. Laughing Lotus Yoga, 303 Second Ave, Decatur. BodyInBalanceStudios.com. Intro to Yoga– 5:30-6:30pm. Laughing Lotus Yoga, 303 Second Ave, Decatur. BodyInBalanceStudios.com. Affinity Circle – 6pm.A safe space where individuals can open up and reveal what they are experiencing in life. Confidentiality is assured. Center for Spiritual Living, 308 Lily Flagg Rd, Huntsville. 256-883-8596. Conscious-Living.org. Level I Yoga – 6:30-8pm. All levels. Tom Musgrove. The Yoga Center of Huntsville, 500-A Pratt Ave, Huntsville. 256-533-7975. YogaCenterOfHuntsville.com. Yoga with Mitzi – 6:30pm. Center for Spiritual Living, 308 Lily Flagg Rd, Huntsville. More info: 256-361YOGA or MitziConnell.com. Activating and Utilizing Your Psychic Power – Thru Nov 15. 7pm. $100. Light of Christ sponsored. Contact: 256-881-2658 or Fayeglas@Knology.net.

Detox Footbaths, Nutritional Counseling, Wellness Coaching –Wellness is always available, if we know the tools to access it! Contact Michele Monticciolo, NC, MH via email at Michele@NewFocusNewYou. com or call Healing Arts at (256) 534-2954 for your consult or appointment.

NEWtritional Health Care Conference Call –7pm. Listen to Roy Williams, owner of NHC, talk on the weekly health topic. Ask him questions on how NHC products can help you reach your optimum health. Call 760-569-6000 and enter PIN number 411810 #. To hear previous week call: 760-569-6099 and enter PIN number 411810 #. Visit MyHealthyKingdom. com/10003 (Invitation # 10003).

Al-Anon – For those who have a loved one faced with a drinking problem. 256-885-0323. AAHuntsvilleAL.org.

TUESDAY

Reduce Stress with EFT – Private phone sessions. To schedule, call Self Healing Awareness with EFT, 256-774-3392. Info: TapIntoHealing.com. Spring City Cycling Club – Times and schedules at SpringCity.org. Level 1 Pilates – 7-8am. All levels. Michelle Camper. The Yoga Center of Huntsville, 500-A Pratt Ave, Huntsville. 256-533-7975. YogaCenterOfHuntsville.com. Mixed Flow Yoga– 8-9:30am. Laughing Lotus Yoga, 303 Second Ave, Decatur. BodyInBalanceStudios.com. Energy Lunch Lift – 12pm. Group Resonance Healing. Donations accepted. The Center for Directional

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Power Yoga – 9:10-10:10am. Laughing Lotus Yoga, 303 Second Ave, Decatur. BodyInBalanceStudios.com. Level I Yoga – 10:15-11:30am. Tatum Crigger. The Yoga Center of Huntsville, 500-A Pratt Ave, Huntsville. 256-533-7975. YogaCenterOfHuntsville.com. Lunchtime Belly Basics – 11:30am-12:30pm. Nomadic Tapestry, 1219 B&C Jordan Ln, Huntsville. NomadicTapestry.com. Power Yoga– 5:30-6:45pm. Laughing Lotus Yoga, 303 Second Ave, Decatur. BodyInBalanceStudios.com. Beginner/Intermediate Mat Class– 6-7:15pm. This class adds more exercises from the series and will challenge one’s mind/body connections. Body Language Pilates, 305 Jefferson St, Ste C, Huntsville. 256-704-5080. BodyLanguagePilates.com Meditation – 6pm. Center for Spiritual Living, 308 Lily Flagg Rd, Huntsville. 256-883-8596. ConsciousLiving.org. Science of Mind Classes (Accredited) – 6:30-8:30pm. Reverend David Leonard. Center for Spiritual Living, 308 Lily Flagg Rd, Huntsville. 256-883-8596. Conscious-Living.org. Yoga with Mitzi – 6:45pm. Candlelight Yoga. All levels welcome. The Yoga Center of Huntsville, 500 Pratt Ave, Huntsville.More info: 256-361-YOGA or MitziConnell.com.

WEDNESDAY Al-Anon – For those who have a loved one faced with a drinking problem. 256-885-0323. AAHuntsvilleAL.org.

Al-Anon – For those who have a loved one faced with a drinking problem. 256-885-0323. AAHuntsvilleAL.org. Reduce Stress with EFT – Private phone sessions. To schedule, call Self Healing Awareness with EFT, 256-774-3392. TapIntoHealing.com. Sierra Club Hikes – Tuesday night hikes’ around Huntsville. Alabama.SierraClub.org/NA.html. Spring City Cycling Club – Times and schedules at SpringCity.org. Mixed Flow Yoga – 8-9:30am. Laughing Lotus Yoga, 303 Second Ave, Decatur. BodyInBalanceStudios.com. Pilates – 9-10am. Michelle Camper. The Yoga Center of

Reduce Stress with EFT – Private phone sessions. To schedule, call Self Healing Awareness with EFT, 256-774-3392. Info: TapIntoHealing.com. Spring City Cycling Club – Times and schedules at SpringCity.org. Level 1 Pilates – 7-8am. All levels. Michelle Camper. The Yoga Center of Huntsville, 500-A Pratt Ave, Huntsville. 256-533-7975. YogaCenterOfHuntsville.com. A l i g n a n d D e f i n e Yo g a – 8 : 0 0 - 9 : 3 0 a m . Laughing Lotus Yoga, 303 Second Ave, Decatur. BodyInBalanceStudios.com. Level I Yoga– 9:15-10:30am. Erin Kennedy. The Yoga Center of Huntsville, 500-A Pratt Ave, Huntsville. 256-533-7975. YogaCenterOfHuntsville.com.

Practical Spirituality Class – 10am-12pm. Center for Spiritual Living, 308 Lily Flagg Rd, Huntsville. 256-883-8596. Conscious-Living.org.

TBE Building #1, Sparkman Dr/Lakeshore Dr, Huntsville. Nancy Wade: 256-797-0700 or NWade@ LJStyle.com.

Science of Mind Classes– 10am-12pm. Center for Spiritual Living, 308 Lily Flagg Rd, Huntsville. 256883-8596. Conscious-Living.org.

BellyKids – 4-5pm. Shahala Liz. Nomadic Tapestry, 1219 B&C Jordan Ln, Huntsville. NomadicTapestry.com.

Meditation – 6pm. Center for Spiritual Living, 308 Lily Flagg Rd, Huntsville. 256-883-8596. ConsciousLiving.org. Power Yoga – 6-7pm. Marcy White. The Yoga Center of Huntsville, 500-A Pratt Ave, Huntsville. 256-5337975. YogaCenterOfHuntsville.com. Yoga with Mitzi – 6pm. Yoga Flow. All levels welcome. Chiropractic Wellness Depot, 8210 Stephanie Dr, Huntsville. More info: 256-361-YOGA or MitziConnell.com. Satsang – 6:30pm. Satsang with a video of Gangaji. Center for Spiritual Living, 308 Lily Flagg Rd, Huntsville. 256-883-8596. Conscious-Living.org.

Mixed Flow Yoga– 5:30-6:45pm. Laughing Lotus Yoga, 303 Second Ave, Decatur. BodyInBalanceStudios.com. PFLAG (Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays) – 6pm. Second Thurs. Parents, friends, and gay community members welcome. Bring snack. Huntsville Public Library. 256-881-0939. Yoga and Wine –6pm. All levels welcome. Presented by Yoga with Mitzi and The Huntsville Museum of Art, 300 Church Ave, Huntsville. More info: 256-361YOGA or MitziConnell.com. ZumbaDance Class – 6:30pm. Donations accepted. Center for Spiritual Living, 308 Lily Flagg Rd, Huntsville. 256-883-8596. Conscious-Living.org. Level I Yoga – 6:45-8:15pm. Tom Musgrove. The Yoga Center of Huntsville, 500-A Pratt Ave, Huntsville. 256533-7975. YogaCenterOfHuntsville.com.

THURSDAY Al-Anon – For those who have a loved one faced with a drinking problem. 256-885-0323. AAHuntsvilleAL.org.

Salsa 101 Dance Class– 8pm. Get the moves, feel the heat! Madison Ballroom, 9076 Madison Blvd, Madison, AL 35758. GabrielaDance.com.

Spring City Cycling Club – Times and schedules at SpringCity.org. Piliates– 9am. A fusion of Pilates and Hanna Somatic work teaching one to access and strengthen one’s deepest connections bringing balance to one’s spine and overall posture. Body Language Pilates, 305 Jefferson St, Ste C, Huntsville. 256-704-5080. BodyLanguagePilates.com. Pilates – 9-10am. Michelle Camper. The Yoga Center of Huntsville, 500-A Pratt Ave, Huntsville. 256-533-7975. YogaCenterOfHuntsville.com.

FRIDAY Spring City Cycling Club – Times and schedules at SpringCity.org. Level 1 Pilates – 7-8am. All levels. Michelle Camper. The Yoga Center of Huntsville, 500-A Pratt Ave, Huntsville. 256-533-7975. YogaCenterOfHuntsville.com. Slow Flow Yoga– 8-9:30am. Laughing Lotus Yoga, 303 Second Ave, Decatur. BodyInBalanceStudios.com.

Power Yoga– 9:10-10:10am. Laughing Lotus Yoga, 303 Second Ave, Decatur. BodyInBalanceStudios.com.

Power Yoga– 9:10-10:10am. Laughing Lotus Yoga, 303 Second Ave, Decatur. BodyInBalanceStudios.com.

Level I Yoga – 10:15-11:30am. Tatum Crigger. The Yoga Center of Huntsville, 500-A Pratt Ave, Huntsville. 256-533-7975. YogaCenterOfHuntsville.com.

Public Clearance Session– 7pm. Third Fri each month. Learn effective healing through reception and application of Divine energies. Light of Christ Center, 4208 Holmes Ave, Huntsville. 256-895-0255.

TBE Nooner Toastmasters – 11:45am-12:45pm. Practice public presentation and meeting etiquette.

Paranormal Study Center – 7pm, fourth Friday each

month. Meets at Radisson Hotel/Olympus Room, 8721 Madison Blvd, Madison. For more information, contact Greg Rowe, 256-326-0092.

SATURDAY Al-Anon – For those who have a loved one faced with a drinking problem. 256-885-0323. AAHuntsvilleAL.org. Feel Good Tapping Party – Be the host of a group tapping session. To schedule, call Self Healing Awareness with EFT, 256-774-3392. TapIntoHealing.com. Sierra Club – For weekend hike, canoe, backpacking and other activities, visit Alabama.SierraClub.org/ NA.html. Spring City Cycling Club – Times and schedules at SpringCity.org. Level I Yoga – 9-10:15am. Tom Musgrove. The Yoga Center of Huntsville, 500-A Pratt Ave, Huntsville. 256533-7975. YogaCenterOfHuntsville.com. Cardio Ballroom– 10am. Mega calorie burning dance fun! No more treadmill! Madison Ballroom, 9076 Madison Blvd, Madison, AL 35758. GabrielaDance.com. Yoga with Mitzi – 10am. The Art of Yoga. All levels welcome. Huntsville Museum of Art, 300 Church Ave, Huntsville. More info: 256-361-YOGA or MitziConnell.com. Renewable Energy (RE) & Off-Grid Living – 10am4pm. First and third Sat each month. Take steps to live the dream. Learn RE Basics. Benefit from a decade of experience. See an off-grid home in action. Reduce one’s carbon footprint. $75/class. Giles County, TN. Register: 931-565.4006 or Pharos@ardmore.net. Level I Yoga – 11:30-12:45pm. Bobbie Brooks. The Yoga Center of Huntsville, 500-A Pratt Ave, Huntsville. 256-533-7975. YogaCenterOfHuntsville.com. Community HU Song – 1:30-2pm. Join others in singing HU, an ancient love song to God that can help and uplift one in countless ways. Huntsville ECK Center, 900 Wellman Avenue, Ste 3, Five Points. 256534-1751. Eck-Alabama.org. Ballroom Dancing– 7pm, Beginner Group Class. 8pm, Dance Party. Madison Ballroom Dance Studio, 9076 Madison Blvd. 256-461-1900. MadisonBallroom.com.

L’BRI PURE n’ NATURAL Naturally… the best skincare product. Denise Brown Independent Consultant

256.755.6822 de456brown@aol.com www.denisebrown.lbri.com

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coverartist

COMMUNITY resourceguide

COLON HYDROTHERAPY CENTER FOR OPTIMAL WELL BEING 7910 S. Memorial Pkwy, Suite F-2, Huntsville 256-489-9806 phone 256-489-2873 fax 866-488-9806 toll free The Center for Optimal Well Being is dedicated to improving your health with colon hydro-therapy and body empowerment services. Sessions are conducted in clean, comfortable and relaxing private suites with soft lighting and aromatic fragrances. Our staff is clinically trained and certified by the International Association for Colon Therapists.

JARVIS NATURAL HEALTH CLINIC 1489 Slaughter Road, Madison 256-837-3448

Lucy & Ethel by Stacey Neumiller Stacey Neumiller readily admits that she is smitten with farm life. She grew up on a small, non-working farm and spent hours drawing the animals she adored. After studying art at the University of California, Davis, she enjoyed a successful career as a graphic designer and illustrator for several years. Still, Neumiller yearned to create fine art in a style uniquely her own. Today, the Coupeville, Washington-based artist “breaks the rules” by combining illustrative realism with naïve simplicity, focusing on animals, birds and plants found in agricultural settings. She uses rich, bright oil or acrylic pigments and strong, simple compositions to make her subjects seem larger than life. “I lift my subject above the ordinary and transform it into art through color and design,” Neumiller says, “painting my vision of what rural farm life embodies: animals, birds, crops, fresh air, fragrant grasses and of course, red barns. All of these things ground me and make me whole. My goal through my art is to share my connection to this pure, simple lifestyle.” Visit the artist’s portfolio at Stacey Neumiller.com. Also visit StudioNeu Design.com, call 360-678-1752 or email sneumiller@hughes.net.

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I-ACT Certified colon Hydro Therapists. Do you know that 80% of your immune system is in your colon? Bathe your body from the inside to improve health. Colon irrigation aids in soothing and toning the colon, which makes elimination more effective.

ELECTRODERMAL TESTING HEALTHY CHOICES LLC 3322 S. Memorial Pkwy, Suite 526 Huntsville, AL 35801 256-679-1997 healthychoicesLLC@gmail.com Healthy Choices LLC provides Electrodermal Testing and the Detoxifying Ionic Footbath. Electrodermal Testing uncovers the root cause(s) of health issues and designs a protocol to help the body heal itself. The Detoxifying Ionic footbath helps excrete toxins out of the body bringing you back into balance.

EMOTIONAL FREEDOM TECHNIQUES SELF-HEALING AWARENESS WITH EFT Judith Pflum, EFT-ADV Practitioner 256-774-3392 www.TapIntoHealing.com Tap into healing. Specializing in women’s emotional/physical issues: anxieties, fears, relationships, stress, weight. Painless, drug-free, easy-to-learn technique. Individual, group, or phone sessions.

ENERGY HEALING CENTER FOR DIRECTIONAL HEALING Susan Spalding, Director 256-882-0360 www.DirectionalHealing.com Free the energy within you! Take your health and your life to a new level with Directional Healing. Clears, cleanses, balances, rejuvenates through resonance healing.

EUROPEAN FACIAL TREATMENT EUROPEAN MEDICAL ESTHETICS CLINIC 17 Years in business Huntsville, Alabama 256-880-0709

FAMILY MEDICINE PROGRESSIVE FAMILY MEDICINE Chad Gilliam, M.M.S. PA-C 1230 Slaughter Road, Suite C, Madison, AL 256-722-0555. Progressive Family Medicine provides medical care for patients of all ages and uniquely blends Natural and Prescription medicines together to help speed the patient’s recovery. Progressive Family Medicine is the patient’s clinic of choice when they would like to understand how natural medicines work along with prescription drugs.

FENG SHUI FENG SHUI BY TRUDI GARDNER Trudi Gardner, M.S. 256-772-6999 Tygard2000@aol.com An interior design philosophy that invites serenity and reduces stress. Feng Shui design concepts brings positive energy into your home and office to encourage Prosperity, Well Being, Harmony, and Balance.

IN-HOME MASSAGE CLOUD NINE Evening and Weekend Appointments 256-337-6989 Finally, someone who makes housecalls! Swedish, Ortho and Deep Tissue massage in the privacy of your own home. Gift Certificates also available for any occasion.

JIN SHIN JYUTSU® JIN SHIN JYUTSU OF HUNTSVILLE Sandra Cope Huntsville 256-534-1794 256-509-3540 Certified Jin Shin Jyutsu Practitioner. An easy, effective way of restoring health and well-being by balancing the body’s energy pathways to enhance the body’s natural healing abilities.

MASSAGE CENTER FOR THERAPEUTIC MASSAGE AND BODYWORK 1634 Slaughter Rd., Madison 256-430-9756 Our vision is to provide professional massage services in a comfortable clinical environment to Madison and the surrounding area. Student massages available for 1/2 the regular rate. Lic. E1311.

MASSAGE SCHOOL MADISON SCHOOL OF MASSAGE THERAPY, LLC 1634 Slaughter Rd, Suite C Madison, AL 35758 256-430-9756 www.MadisonSchoolOfMassageTherapy.com Our training will change your life forever in a new career as a Professional. Student massages available for 1/2 the regular rate. AL Board of Massage School Lic# S-117 AL State Board of Ed. School Lic# 1200I

MASSAGE / SPIRITUAL COACHING / RETREAT CENTER

NATUROPATHIC DOCTOR

KATY GLENN WILLIS

Dr. Deb Gilliam, N.M.D. 1230 Slaughter Road, Madison, AL 256-722-0555

256-426-0232 katyglennwillis@yahoo.com KatyShamanHealer.blogspot.com

The Yurt Garden is nestled on five acres at the base of Keel Mountain, ten minutes from Hampton Cove. Here you can unwind and de-stress with a therapeutic massage, energy work session or hot rock massage. Life coaching and cancer support are offered in a healing atmosphere surrounded by a hidden garden and an eleven-circuit labyrinth. Overnight packages for singles and couples available.

MUSIC THERAPY HEALING SOUNDS MUSIC THERAPY Stephanie Bolton, MA, MT-BC 256-655-0648 www.ImageryAndMusic.com Huntsville, AL- based music therapy practice focused on improving personal health and wellness using guided imagery and music techniques.Currently providing workshops and individual consultations.

Spiritualy Assisted Intuitive Readings, Energetic Healing and Balancing for People and Pets, World Culture Shamanic Training, Spirit Midwife: Assistance for individual and caregivers during Death & Dying Process. Forty years of training and experience.

Dr. Gilliam treats a variety of health problems with chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, heart disease, hormone replacement and thyroid issues being at the forefront. Dr. Gilliam sees patients from around the world due to the reputation she has earned by treating hard to treat medical conditions. Dr. Gilliam works to find the cause of medical conditions and does not simply treat the patients’ symptoms.

NUTRITION & WELLNESS DETOXIFYING FOOTBATHS, NUTRITION, WELLNESS COUNSELING Michele Monticciolo, NC MH Certified Nutritionist, Herbalist, Holistic Healthcare Practitioner 256-426-0982 Michele@ NewFocusNewYou.com

THE YURT GARDEN Lynn Leach 256-424-2221 www.YurtGarden.com

SHAMAN HEALER

ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE ASSOCIATES

STRUCTURAL INTEGRATION JACI HOGUE 256-656-4108 jaci@alabamarolfmethod.com www.AlabamaRolfMethod.com A complete system of body education that balances the physical body, improves posture, and helps resolve chronic pain. Created by Dr. Ida P. Rolf in the 1950s, Structural Integration has been scientifically validated and has withstood the test of time, as millions of people have enjoyed the remarkable benefits.

SUSAN K. JEFFREYS

PILATES BODY LANGUAGE, INC. 305 Jefferson St., Ste. C 256-704-5080 sybil@bodylanguagepilates.com www.BodyLanguagePilates.com Our goal is to teach individuals how to take control of their health and well-being through the Pilates method, creating a wholesome person of sound mind, body, and spirit. Private, semi-private and group training on the equipment is available along with group mat classes.

Advanced Practitioner Lic.#249 Dr. Ida P. ROLF method 2336A Whitesburg Drive Serving Huntsville since 1995 256-512-2094 www.RolfGuild.org “When the body gets working appropriately, then the force of gravity can flow through. Then spontaneously, the body heals itself.” Ida P. Rolf

VETERINARY ACUPUNCTURE ACUPUNCTURE FOR ALL ANIMALS

YOGA CENTER OF HUNTSVILLE 500-A East Pratt Ave. 256-533-7975 www.YogaCenterOfHuntsville.com Our focus is on core stability, neutral alignment and patterned breathing. It restores the natural curves of the spine, relieves tension and enhances self-confidence. We feature certified instruction in group and individual training.

Vikki Trupin, DVM 256-710-5378 VTrupin@Ardmore.net IVAS (International Veterinary Acupuncture Society)-certified since 1994. Treatments in the clinic or in your home.

YOGA YOGA CENTER OF HUNTSVILLE

REFLEXOLOGY JIM BARNES, CERTIFIED REFLEXOLOGIST REFLEX ACTION 124 14th St. Suite D3, Decatur, AL 35601 256-227-2920 256-309-0033

500-A East Pratt Ave. 256-533-7975 www.YogaCenterOfHuntsville.com We teach yoga postures and principles designed to bring strength, flexibility, openness, and awareness into the body. Classic yoga postures, modifications are introduced to give the student many options in developing a personal practice.

March 2011

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