June 2013

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publishersletter “When I was 5 years old, my mother always told me that happiness was the key to life. When I went to school, they asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up. I wrote down ‘happy’. They told me I didn’t understand the assignment, and I told them they didn’t understand life.” –John Lennon

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n article in one of the New Age blogs that I read defined two groups among those people who’s mission in life is, whether they know it or not, to increase the light quotient on the planet. The two designations were Workers and Blissers. The Workers are those who do something active that raises the positive vibration, such as healers, teachers, meditators, energy workers, creative visionaries, volunteers, and people of faith who pray. The Blissers just stay blissed out. Both types are necessary: the Blissers hold the template for the new, high-vibrational Earth and the Workers work to bring it about.

I am a Blisser. Anybody who knows my work habits compared to my enthusiasm for enjoyment would confirm this immediately. It is true, I have a short path to joy, and many tried and true avenues for achieving it, some more elegant than others; but for a Blisser, they are all legitimate. Joy! Bliss! Not just achieving these happy states of mind, but holding the feeling, sustaining that vibration. Refining bliss, sharing joy, and spreading both all around.

contact us Publisher Tom Maples Tom@Natvalley.com 404-395-9634 New Business Development Advertising Sales Cindy Wilson Cindy@Natvalley.com 256-476-6537 Design and Production Karen Ormstedt

Talk about enjoying one’s job.

Blisser. I like that.

Best part about it, I’ve got science to back me up here. Both our feature article this month, entitled “Life Lift: Being Happy from the Inside Out” and the documentary film Happy (2011, available on Netflix or GaiamTV) explore the new Science of Happiness, or Positive Psychology, a field of study that seeks to quantify or measure happiness in the same way that depression has been quantified and measured for years. In the film, research based on identical twins suggests that at least half (50%) of a person’s happiness falls in a baseline range determined by genetic factors. Some people simply have a higher genetic propensity for happiness, it seems.

Those would be the Blissers.

But the study also suggests that anyone can increase their own happiness levels quite significantly. At least, there is significant room for improvement, you might say. That’s because only 10% of one’s baseline happiness range is determined by the usual suspect factors of income level, social status, where one lives, or age.

Only 10%! And since 50% is set by genetics, that leaves a whopping 40% of the happiness matrix that can be affected by “Intentional Activity,” or what one chooses to do that increases one’s happiness.

Follow your bliss, as they say. Whether you’re a Worker or a Blisser, Happy helps humanity, and a happy humanity helps everything on Earth.

Natural Awakenings in the Tennessee Valley 14 Woodland Ave. Trinity, Alabama 35673 Office: 256-340-1122 Fax: 256-217-4274 Natvalley.com © 2013 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.

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newsbriefs healthbriefs globalbriefs fitbody healthykids naturalpet wisewords inspiration calendar

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.

12 WALK THIS WAY

Step Up to Barefoot Benefits

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by Randy Kambic

13 DAD & DAUGHTER DATES Making the Most of Cherished Time Together

by Clint Kelly

resourceguide

15 DOG SPORTS 12

People & Pets Play Well Together

by Sandra Murphy

16 LIFE LIFT 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.

Being Happy from the Inside Out

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by Judith Fertig

18 POSTURES

Wild Thing Pose

by Gatlianne

19 THE STORIES WE TELL OURSELVES

by Aaron Peavy

Articles and ideas due by the 5th of the month. Articles generally contain 250-850 words, with some exceptions. No advertorials, please.

20 REFRAMING PERSONAL

CALENDAR SUBMISSIONS

PRIORITIES

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.

Craig Hamilton Explores the Gender Gap in Spiritual Growth

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.

by Kim Childs

21 THE FATHERHOOD FACTOR How Raising Children Changes Men

by Armin Brott

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newsbriefs Cassie Ingrum, CRNP, Joins Madison Family Care

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assie attended Auburn University and graduated cum laude in 2008 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing. She started her career as a registered nurse in the newborn nursery and worked at East Alabama Medical Center for three years. During this time she also earned her master’s degree at the University of Alabama at Birmingham where she studied to be a Family Nurse Practitioner. Cassie and her husband moved back to North Alabama in 2012 and planted their roots here in the Athens/Madison area where they both grew up respectively. She has gained experience working in both primary and acute care settings since finishing school. Cassie joined the Madison Family Care team in April 2013. She is currently accepting new patients.

Madison Family Care is located at 1230 Slaughter Rd, Suite C, in Madison, AL. For more information or to set up an appointment, call 256-722-0555. See Ad on back cover.

A Spiritual Community supporting the practice of knowing God in the heart of every person.

ONGOING SERVICES AND CLASSES! New Thought Classes

Tuesdays, 6:30-9:00pm Wednesdays,10:00am-12:00pm

Revealing Services Sundays 9:45am

Celebration Services Sundays 10:30am

Madison Family Care Patients Showing Significant Allergy Relief

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Meditation

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adison Family care offers the Allergy Easy program to treat and prevent seasonal allergies. According to Chad Gilliam, M.M.S., PA-C of Madison Family Care, patients are showing significant improvement in their allergy symptoms this season from the allergy treatment.

“Allergy Easy drops are helping people resolve their seasonal allergy symptoms without the use of medications. You do not have to take steroid nasal sprays and antihistamines in order to go outside during spring and summer,” he says.

“The drops work by giving the body a small oral dose of the allergy they have and slowly increasing that dose, desensitizing the body to those allergens. There is no chance of anaphylaxis, no need to come to the doctor's office weekly, and no painful shots. We had a patient in recently who cuts grass and suffered from rhinitis daily. He stated after only 3 months on the drops he is allergy free. We had another patient in last week who cuts his own grass and stated he would get rhinitis for 3 days after cutting the grass, he is also symptom free after 10 weeks on drops. There are many more cases just like these.”

Madison Family Care is located at 1230 Slaughter Rd, Suite C, in Madison, AL. For more information or to set up an appointment, call 256-722-0555. See Ad on Page 10.

Mindfulness Meditation Circle: Connecting Mind, Body, Spirit

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4-week introductory class to meditation and mindfulness where participants will learn the art of “allowing” and “letting go” as they become more aware of their inner life physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.

Tuesdays & Wednesdays 6:00pm Sundays 8:30am

Satsang

Wednesdays 6:30pm

Rev. David Leonard Transforming Lives and Making the World a Better Place www.cslhuntsville.org

308 Lily Flagg Rd.

883-8596

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• Create more peace and joy • Let go of fear and negativity • Release the past and move forward • Quiet the mind-chatter • Live in the present moment • Become the “calm” in the middle of life’s “storms” The class is offered on two days: Mondays at 7pm beginning June 10 through July 1 or Wednesdays at 4:30pm beginning June 12 through July 3 at the Center for Inner Wellness, 3322 S. Memorial Parkway, Suite 641, Huntsville, AL. Fee for the class series is $80. Pre-registration required. For more information, contact Becky Waters at 256-348-5236, or visit CenterForInnerWellness.com/events.

See Ad on Page 8 and CRG on Page 28.

Adventures in SelfDiscovery: Learn the Secret Tool that Can Transform Your Life

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ome learn the “secret” tool that can transform your life at the Adventures in Self-Discovery workshop on Saturday, June 15, 2013, 9am-12pm at the Center for Inner Wellness, 3322 S. Memorial Parkway, Suite 641, Huntsville, AL. The simple act of putting thoughts and feelings on paper, or “Journaling”, uses a powerful 4-step process that can help release stress and negativity, as well as help heal limiting beliefs and unconscious programming. Through this process, one can learn to make decisions more easily and open doors to higher guidance, intuition, and self trust. It allows a person to know themselves in new and meaningful ways.

Workshop participants will explore basic yet powerful tools that will enable them to go deeper and reach higher to express their unrealized potential and uncover the insights, creativity, and wisdom inside them.

Fee for the workshop is $45. To register or for more information, contact Becky Waters at 256-348-5236, or visit online at CenterForInnerWellness.com/events. See Ad on Page 8 and CRG on Page 28.

How Much Joy Can You Stand: Push Past Fears and Step into Your Dream

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he How Much Joy Can You Stand? workshop held on June 22, 9am12pm, at the Center for Inner Wellness, is designed to reignite your creative process and uncover and defuse the thousand good reasons why we never get down to work. So writing a book, painting a picture, starting a business, making a job change, or making any kind of personal or life change is no longer a far-away “impossible dream.”

The Joy Workshop, with its carefully targeted exercises, guided meditations,

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and fun creative projects will put you back in touch with the source of your inspiration and reconnect you with the remarkable power you already have inside you to create and rekindle the pure joy that it brings.

Fee for workshop is $45. Center for Inner Wellness is located at 3322 S. Memorial Pkwy, Ste 641, Huntsville, AL. For more information, call Becky Waters at 256-348-5236 or visit CenterForInnerWellness.com/events. See Ad on Page 8 and CRG on Page 28.

coverartist

Training Program Approved by Yoga Alliance

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uzanne Newton, director of the Yoga Dharma Intensive Studies Program is pleased to announce that her 200 hours training program has been approved

by Yoga Alliance as a registered yoga school (RYS 200).

The Yoga Dharma Intensive Studies Program is currently the only teacher training program in the Tennessee Valley region. Students who have studied yoga for a minimum of three years and want to deepen their personal practice and become a certified yoga teacher in the future may apply. The next term is set to begin in July 2013. In addition to the 12 month program, teachers who are already certified may take individual modules and classes for continuing education credits for Yoga Alliance.

For more information, visit YogaDharmaDowntown.com or phone Suzanne at 256-585-3727. See CRG on Page 30.

Pets, Love and Happiness Celebrates Ribbon Cutting

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espite the rain on May 17, the Huntsville Chamber of Commerce, SNAP, friends and customers helped Pets, Love and Happiness celebrate a ribbon cutting ceremony.

Pets, Love and Happiness opened it’s doors in January of this year specializing in holistic pet food and earth friendly products for pets and their people. Rebeca Santos loved that so many people came to the ribbing cutting event to welcome her to the neighborhood.

“Most didn’t know the store was here, so I enjoyed showing it off! Everyone seemed to know a 'Crazy Animal Lover' that would go nuts in here,” she said.

Pets, Love and Happiness carries a full line of pet foods, including premium holistic brands such as Evanger’s, Lotus, Fussie Cat, Fromm, and Zignature. These brands are made from natural products without the use of grains. The store also carries many different types of toys, chews, beds, bowls collars, leashes and supplements. Pets, Love and Happiness has a wide range of gifts such as t-shirts, coffee mugs, pillow cases, magnets, books and cards for the pet lover in your life.

Ms. Santos has also supported such programs as SNAP, the Spay/Neuter Action Program and Forgotten Felines by allowing adoptable pets to spend the day at the store to help them find a home.

Pets, Love and Happiness is located at 905 Meridian Street North just past Brooks and Collier in Huntsville. See Ad on Page 8 and CRG on Page 29.

Sailing the Reach Richard De Wolfe The Thousand Islands region of Ontario, Canada, fostered a childhood filled with adventure for Richard De Wolfe, who still identifies strongly with rural life. The forests, fields and mighty St. Lawrence River made the wonders of nature come alive for him.

A self-taught, professional freelance artist who works in both illustration and fine art, De Wolfe produced his first one-man show at age 18. It sold out and he went on to spend 25 years as an illustrator for corporations such as General Motors, Pepsi-Cola, Sears, Labatt and Sony.

Art connects us, acknowledges De Wolfe, adding, “The important thing is to help people see what I see and feel what I feel about a subject. What you paint is far less important than how you paint it.”

Sailing the Reach was commissioned as a retirement gift for a friend’s husband. “It is their sailboat, loaded with their children and grandchildren,” explains De Wolfe. “They have spent every summer on this boat since the children were young. The boat is still considered an important member of the family, even as they enjoy retirement.”

—View the artist’s portfolio at RichardDeWolfe.com.

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Inner Wellness Center for

Creating Positive Change Through Hypnotherapy, Breathwork & EFT/Matrix Reimprinting t Stress and Anxiety t Fears/Phobias t Release Negativity t Let Go of the Past t Pain Management t Weight Loss t Smoking Cessation

Call For More Information.

Becky Waters, CHT, BMSC 256.348.5236 3322 South Memorial Parkway Suite 641 Huntsville, AL 35801 www.centerforinnerwellness.com

Breathe. Love. Live.

healthbriefs

PSA Testing Controversy

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en face a new dilemma at their annual physical this year—should they be screened for prostate cancer? Last year, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommended against routine screening for this form of cancer, regardless of age. Some doctors claim this will cause treatable prostate cancer cases to be missed.

The level of prostate-specific antigen (PSA), a protein produced by the prostate gland, can be measured with a simple blood test. Until the USPSTF issued its recommendation, doctors routinely used the test to screen men 50 and older. The task force, however, concluded there is at least moderate certainty that the potential harms of PSA testing outweigh the benefits; many benign conditions, particularly prostate infections and enlargement, can elevate PSA readings higher than normal, prompting more aggressive testing.

Before deciding on the test, it helps for men to explore this issue with their doctor. Some physicians take a “wait and see” approach and retest several times over a few months before making a recommendation; others suggest an immediate biopsy if PSA levels are high. While a blood test is a benign procedure, a prostate biopsy is not. A high PSA reading coupled with an overly aggressive doctor can cause anxiety and result in additional—and possibly unneeded—medical treatment.

Source: James Occhiogrosso, ProstateHealthNaturally.com

Human Food Especially for Pets Holistic Pet Food (no corn, wheat or soy)

Consciously chosen pet supplies Pet-inspired art, clothing and gifts

905 Meridian Street North Huntsville, AL 35801 (Next to Brooks and Collier)

256-429-9112 256-429-9

SPORTS AND MUSIC: A WINNING COMBINATION

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istening to our favorite music, whatever the genre, can increase both our enjoyment of and performance levels in competitive sports participation. Keele University researchers, presenting these findings at the 2012 British Psychological Society annual conference, noted that playing selected tunes reduces perceived exertion levels, plus increases one’s sense of being “in the zone”. The greatest effects were found with music used during structured training sessions. Previous studies showing that motivational music in general boosts performance did not include exploring the effects of listening to one’s favorite music.

A Father’s Love is Critical

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ased on 36 studies from around the world involving more than 10,000 participants, researchers at the University of Connecticut, in Mansfield, concluded that a father’s love contributes as much—and sometimes more—to a child’s development as a mother’s love. The critical importance of fatherly love to a youngster’s healthy development provides added incentive for men to become more involved in nurturing child care.

Source: Society for Personality and Social Psychology

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FLAVONOIDS PROTECT MEN AGAINST PARKINSON’S

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indings published in the journal Neurology add to a growing body of evidence that regular consumption of flavonoids, found in berries, teas, apples and red wines, can positively affect human health. According to new research on 130,000 men and women undertaken by Harvard University, in Boston, and the UK’s University of East Anglia, men that regularly consumed the most flavonoid-rich foods were 40 percent less likely to develop Parkinson’s disease than those that ate the least.

No similar protective link was found for women. It is the first human study to show that flavonoids can help protect neurons against diseases of the brain.

RESVERATROL CAN AID PROSTATE CANCER TREATMENT

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t’s already known that resveratrol, a compound found in grape skins and red wine, can improve cardiovascular health and help prevent strokes. Now a University of Missouri School of Medicine (Columbia) researcher has discovered that it can make prostate tumor cells more susceptible to radiation treatment, increasing the likelihood of a full recovery from all types of prostate cancer, including aggressive tumors.

GARLIC MAY HELP ALLEVIATE CYSTIC FIBROSIS

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he American Society for Microbiology reports that by age 18, about 80 percent of patients with cystic fibrosis are chronically infected with the bacterium pseudomonas aeruginosa, which promotes an inflammatory response that destroys lung tissue. The infection frequently leads to serious related health issues. According to collaborative research led

by Tim Holm Jakobsen, Ph.D., and Michael Givskov, Ph.D., of the University of Copenhagen, in Denmark, garlic, which acts as a powerful natural antibiotic, could help.

The onion-related herb contains ajoene, the major component of a multitude of sulfur-containing compounds, which is produced when garlic is crushed. Ajoene inhibits the expression of 11 key genes controlled by cell-to-cell communication and is regarded as crucial to the ability of the bacterium to cause disease.

EXCESSIVE DIETARY FAT MAY HINDER CONCEPTION

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ne reason for a couple’s inability to conceive could be linked to too much fat in the male’s diet. A study by Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital of 99 U.S. men uncovered an association between a high fat intake and lower sperm count and concentration. Results were published in the journal Human Reproduction.

Men that consumed the most saturated fats had a 35 percent lower total sperm count and 38 percent lower sperm concentration than men that ate the least amount of such fats.

Moreover, men that ate more omega-3 polyunsaturated fats— the type of healthful fat often found in fish and plant oils—had better-formed sperm than men that ate less. natural awakenings

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globalbriefs

Hot Stuff

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

Eco-House

New Technology Increases Solar Efficiency

One of the most innovative, energy-efficient houses in the United States has been built in the District of Columbia’s workingclass Deanwood neighborhood, which has struggled with foreclosures. The Empowerhouse, a residence that produces all of its own energy, consumes 90 percent less energy for heating and cooling than a conventional dwelling.

Empowerhouse was designed using “passive house� technologies as part of the Solar Decathlon design competition, held on the National Mall in 2011. It’s the work of students at The New School, in New York City, and Stevens Institute of Technology, in Hoboken, New Jersey, in partnership with Habitat for Humanity and the D.C. Department of Housing and Community Development.

Each duplicable unit costs a locally affordable $250,000.

Bringing the community into the design process for both the house and landscape is the basis for collaboration on additional projects in the neighborhood, including a new community learning garden. The designers remark that it all plays a part in creating social sustainability, an aspect often left out of development programs.

There is huge potential in solar power, but our current methods of capturing the sun’s energy are limited as widely used silicon solar cells approach their theoretical limit of 33.7 percent efficiency. Now a Princeton University research team has applied nanotechnology principles to incorporate a design that significantly increases their efficacy.

Led by Stephen Chou, the team has made two dramatic improvements: reducing reflectivity and more effectively capturing the light that isn’t reflected. The new solar cell is much thinner and less reflective, capturing many more light waves via a minute mesh and bouncing off only about 4 percent of direct sunlight. The new design is capable of capturing a large amount of sunlight even when it’s cloudy, producing an 81 percent increase in efficiency even under indirect lighting conditions.

Source: Parsit.Parsons.edu

Source: OpticsInfoBase.org

Green Homes Can be a Bargain

STOP

ALLERGIES & ASTHMA THE EASY WAY ďšş NO SHOTS!

GET FAST, LASTING RELIEF WITH ORAL DROPS r (FU SBQJE BDUJOH MPOH UFSN BMMFSHZ SFMJFG XJUI DMJOJDBMMZ QSPWFO VOEFS UIF UPOHVF ESPQT r 5SFBU UIF TPVSDF PG UIF QSPCMFN‡OPU KVTU UIF TZNQUPNT r /P NPSF TFNJ FíFDUJWF QJMMT OBTBM TQSBZT PS JOIBMFST r /P NPSF USJQT UP UIF EPDUPS GPS BMMFSHZ TIPUT r "MM OBUVSBM ESPQT SFMJFWF SVOOZ OPTF DPOHFTUJPO DISPOJD DPVHI TJOVT PS FBS JOGFDUJPO IFBEBDIF JUDIZ FZFT IJWFT FD[FNB BMMFSHJD GBUJHVF BOE NPSF *Endorsed by the World Health Organization. Featured in Scientific American, Reader's Digest and on NBC and ABC News.

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1230 Slaughter Road, Suite C Madison, Alabama 35758 10

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256.722.0555 profamilymed.com

Moon Fuel

Cowabunga Dude

Two New Sources of Sustainable Energy A new compound of lead telluride— a semiconductor first used in the Apollo moon landings to provide astronauts with a renewable, thermoelectric power source—can transform the heat emitted from car tailpipes and the chimneys of power stations and factories into a power source. According to the scientists engineering the innovation at Northwestern University, in Evanston, Illinois, as much as 15 to 20 percent of the heat currently being lost could be recovered as electricity.

Another team of researchers at Utah State University, in Logan, has created a yeast biodiesel fuel that can be made using the watery waste from the mass production of cheese. One cheese plant’s daily byproduct of up to 1 million gallons of liquid cheese waste can produce 66,000 gallons of fuel.

Tech Trash Recycle All Electronic Products With the average American household owning 24 electronic devices, the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) estimates we are annually producing nearly 3 million tons of e-waste. Tube-type TVs and computer monitors contain lead, while cell phones harbor toxic mercury, cadmium, arsenic and brominated flame retardants, all of which can leach from landfills into groundwater.

Alternatives include selling old phones or trading them in at a store, and buying a new phone only when necessary. For $10, Staples will recycle any brand of computer monitor, desktop and laptop computer, fax machine, printer or scanner. Dell products are accepted at no charge.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency offers information about local e-waste recycling and regulations regarding handling of electronic equipment at Tinyurl.com/EPAeWasteTips. For a global perspective, see the United Nations Environment Programme 2010 update at Tinyurl.com/UNeWasteReport.

Thanks, Dad Norway Recognizes Fatherhood Norway’s liberal paternity leave policy places equal responsibilities on men and women, which in turn progressively redefines traditional gender roles. Pappapermisjon, or paternity leave, is often combined with a mother’s maternity leave to provide seamless childcare at home without overtaxing parents’ work life. The Norwegian government has socially engineered a society in which men and women are expected to have equal domestic and economic responsibilities.

Some specifics of the country’s “fathers’ rights” philosophy include leaving the workplace by 5:30 p.m.; being able to adjust office hours around daycare drop-offs and pickups; and allowing time to organize family dinners and help with housework.

All-Natural Boards Bring Sustainability to Surfing Surfers count themselves among the most ardent environmentalists. Yet their sport is awash in petrochemicals and carcinogens, from neoprene wetsuits and urethane surfboard leashes to polyurethane boards and epoxy resins.

So surfboard shaper Danny Hess is adopting salvaged woods, natural finishes and organic resins to transform how they are made. His boards are built to last, an anomaly in a sport in which enthusiasts’ boards may break once or twice every season. He uses Super Sap, the first U.S. Department of Agriculture BioPreferred Certified liquid epoxy resin, and is experimenting with organic foam and salvaged redwood in seeking to build a truly green surfboard.

“What I’m trying to do is build heirloom surfboards that are passed on from father to son over many generations, rather than these disposable things that we’re just consuming,” Hess says.

Before founding Hess Surfboards, Hess lived in a straw-bale house in Colorado, studied sustainable architecture at the San Francisco Institute of Architecture, built tree houses and worked as a licensed contractor. “One day I had this ‘Aha!’ moment when I realized I could create these molds, like the ones I was using to bend wood for cabinet doors, for surfboards,” he says. Hess has since expanded into also making sustainable skateboards.

Learn more at HessSurfboards.com.

Source: The Christian Science Monitor natural awakenings

June 2013

11

The human foot is a masterpiece of engineering and a work of art.

fitbody

~ Leonardo da Vinci

WStep ALK THIS WAY Up to Barefoot Benefits

by Randy Kambic

B

arefoot walking conjures images of children playing in open fields and families strolling on a beach, yet it can also embrace many other settings as part of a health and fitness routine and lifestyle of optimum wellness.

As Michael Sandler and Jessica Lee attest in their new book, Barefoot Walking, “It’s not just physical; it’s soothing on an emotional and spiritual level.”

In adults, many muscles in our feet may have weakened and atrophied due to disuse from wearing shoes, which substitute the support and mobility that our bodies’ lower parts were created to provide. Years of wearing tight-fitting shoes or high heels can also hamper bone density and proper alignment of each foot’s 28 bones; produce aches and pains in knees, back and neck; and constrict circulation to legs and feet, a condition compounded by desk jobs.

Here are some tips in preparing to go shoeless: Work out feet. Prevention.com advises working to individually wiggle each toe; touch and rub each in its entirety; and flex and move both feet in as many different ways as possible.

This will help them better absorb and distribute weight. Then, suggest Sandler and Lee, try “grabbing” exercises for toes, picking up round objects ranging in size from golf balls to baseballs. Also practice arch lifts, calf raises and ankle rolls.

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Check it out. Walk around a room and note if the weight upon landing moves from the heel to the big toe right away; if so, try shifting bodyweight while walking so that the pressure proceeds from the heel to the little toe and then across to the big toe. This maximizes functioning of the entire foot and keeps the arch from collapsing inward. This subtle change helps support knees, the pelvic floor and even abdominal muscles.

Fields, dirt trails and beaches are ideal sites to start walking barefoot.

Repeated skin-to-ground contact also coincides with grounding, or earthing, a therapy that connects a being with Earth’s electrical field. The concept is that this allows negatively charged free electrons to enter and eliminate free radicals, the positively charged particles that may cause diseases and inflammation. When we’re in shoes, “We’re separated [from the Earth] by an inch of rubber, which is a fantastic resistor to electricity,” the co-authors point out.

Because barefoot walking stimulates foot nerve endings, it’s also a form of self-reflexology, helping to lower blood pressure and anxiety while bolstering the immune system.

For all these reasons, enthusiasts conjecture that it’s wise to follow in the natural footsteps of healers past and present that have chosen to walk this way.

Sandler provides special tips on getting started for some specific groups:

Children: “They haven’t had their feet weakened by wearing shoes for many years, so let them develop their own style.”

Pregnant women: Start with a tiger walk technique (land with the heel barely off the ground, focusing on grabbing traction with the toes) for as much stability and fullest contact with the ground as possible.

Seniors: Use a walk and roll technique (lift the forefoot up before gently landing heel first) to keep weight directly beneath the body’s center of gravity.

“Some seniors are fearful of going barefoot; concerned their feet are soft and sensitive. But they find that it actually helps them regain balance, coordination and body-brain connections.”

A key to expanding onto terrains like gravel and pavement while avoiding injury is to build up stronger plantar skin on the bottom of the feet, because it is “600 percent stronger than skin elsewhere and can grow even thicker, up to half an inch, but only if you use it,” according to Sandler and Lee. “Going about barefoot stimulates additional skin growth (layering) and pushes the moisture out of the skin (strengthening), which together, thicken the soles of your feet.”

Other basic tips to avoid injury include: go slow, build foot strength, focus on form, learn to rest, inspect feet daily for potential nicks or scratches and see a physician if in doubt about anything.

“Once you’re aware of your surroundings and have toughened up your feet, you’ll avoid most sharp objects and be relatively shielded from the rest,” advise Sandler and Lee, who see the activity as a big step toward greater overall health awareness. “You’ll learn more about your body… what’s right and what’s not, what’s working and what can be improved.”

Randy Kambic, in Estero, FL, is a freelance writer and editor who regularly contributes to Natural Awakenings.

healthykids

Dad & Daughter Dates Making the Most of Cherished Time Together

is true of his wife of 27 years. “It is so important to get away from the routine, to focus on each other,” Cornell remarks.

“It’s amazing what is said when we give space for a relationship to deepen.”

His younger daughter believes, “It’s confidence building; it makes me stronger to be with someone who believes and has hope in me.”

Dressing up on occasion, holding the door open and allowing her to order for herself show respect and make her feel treasured. Later, if she doesn’t get that same level of respect on a first date with a boy, she will be less likely to schedule a second.

Cornell often worries that he doesn’t model enough of the love and honor his girls deserve. He finds grace in prayer. “I ask God regularly for wisdom and forgiveness to help me steward my relationship with my daughters and wife.”

The writer’s own family of six, including two daughters, has a long history of carving out precious time for

by Clint Kelly

T

he ancient Greek playwright Euripides, renowned for his Greek tragedies portraying strong female characters, was likely a decent dad. He wrote, “To a father growing old, nothing is dearer than a daughter.”

Entrepreneur and life coach Greg Wright, of Austin, Texas, updates the concept of this precious relationship in Daddy Dates: Four Daughters, One Clueless Dad, and His Quest to Win Their Hearts. He says that before the age of 30, God gave him a lovely wife; four girls, or “beginner ladies”; and a succinct mission statement: “Don’t mess up.”

Possessing an overwhelming compassion and protective instinct for each of his children, Wright decided early on “to teach them the right way to date and to treasure their specialness as much as I do.”

One of his chief assignments was respectfully modeling good dating habits for his daughters, a talent that doesn’t necessarily come naturally to dads. They may understand how significant a fathering relationship is to her self-worth in becoming a dauntless and independent adult, but may be uncertain how to make a proper investment spiritually and emotionally.

Healthcare marketing executive David Kinard, of Seattle, Washington, invests

heavily in both his son and daughter. Having grown up in a separated family with no fatherly role model, he has focused on spending time with both kids, and knows it’s especially important for a girl.

“I wanted my daughter to know that I loved her for who she was and not for anything she said or did, and that she didn’t need to give her body away to find love.” He felt the best way to convey these truths was to provide dedicated time together. Wednesdays were without fail their date nights, beginning at age 4; dates are less frequent now that his daughter is 16, but even when the relationship feels at odds, dates have consistently brought them together.

“She always got to choose where we went to dinner,” Kinard recalls.

“We’d sit for a long time, eat our favorite foods and play a silly card game.”

They talked about anything, nothing, everything. “She glows when she talks about past dates,” he continues. “I have earned the ability to talk with her about the more sensitive subjects in her life such as boys, sex, friends and family.”

Seattle Pacific University Alumni Director Ken Cornell believes that bonding through dating his two girls, ages 14 and 17, is a true privilege. He says the same

refreshing fun. It naturally evolved from movies and petting zoos when they were young to canoeing and college campus events as they grew up.

“My boyfriends knew that if we were going to last, they had to impress my dad,” remembers our youngest daughter Amy, today a wife and esthetician living in Medina, Ohio. “It was important to know that my dad cared enough to engage in my life. When college life was chaotic, it was comforting to have a dad close to my heart. Our dates through the years allowed us to share stories, secrets and sorrows, and to laugh.”

Clint Kelly’s books include Dare to Raise Exceptional Children.

natural awakenings

June 2013

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naturalpet

DOG SPORTS People & Pets Play Well Together

by Sandra Murphy

W

ith most exercise programs, while his person works out, a dog stays home alone, counting squirrels outside the window and wishing Animal Planet wasn’t a rerun. How about bringing some of that exercise home so the pet gets fit, too?

John E. Mayer, Ph.D., a Chicago clinical psychologist and author of Family Fit, maintains that, “Fitness works best as a group event, including the family dog. They love to participate in many things, so be creative. Try swimming, touch football, jumping rope, rollerblading, tag or hide-and-seek.”

Diane Tegethoff Meadows and Susan Riches, Ph.D., each accepted a challenge to exercise with their dogs 30 minutes a day for 30 days. “I walk my three Scotties every morning anyway, so adding minutes was easy,” says Meadows, a retired senior paralegal in Bulverde, Texas. “One of them is in charge of choosing the route, and we seldom go the same way two days in a row.” Riches, a retired Fort Lewis

College professor and archaeologist, in Durango, Colorado, doesn’t let inclement weather interfere. “Inside, we play fetch up and down the stairs,” she says. “I hide treats for tracking games of ‘find it.’” The dogs also like to jump through hoops. “The Scottie and Westie go at it for 30 minutes; the Maltese stops after 15.”

Jeff Lutton, a Dogtopia dog daycare/boarding franchisee in Alexandria, Virginia, conducts a popular running club. “On Sunday mornings we have about 15 people that run with their dogs. My golden retriever used to run six miles, but since she’s 9 now, we’ve cut back to three.”

“Treibball [TRY-ball] is herding without sheep, soccer without feet,” explains Dianna L. Stearns, president of the American Treibball Association, based in Northglenn, Colorado.

“All you need is Pilates balls, a target stick for pointing, a signal clicker and treats. It’s a fun, problem-solving game for all involved.”

The idea is for the dog to direct rubber balls into a goal with its nose,

shoulder and/or paws—eventually, as many as eight balls in 10 minutes.

Treibball can be played in group classes or competitions or at home using a kiddie soccer goal.

Another exercise option is to turn the backyard into an obstacle course for the dog, kids and adults.

Use a clicker to signal the next move.

Four or five hula hoops spaced a bit apart provide a pattern for a sit/stay game as the dog moves into each one on command. A thin wooden dowel across two boxes and anchored to a stick-on photo hook on either end provides a hurdle. A child’s oversized plastic golf club hits a tennis or plastic ball just far enough for the dog to retrieve.

For a doggie triathlon, add more elements, such as yard races between dogs and children on their tricycles or scooters down a straight path, with everyone cooling off in a hard-plastic swimming pool as part of the event.

For dogs that are older or have mobility issues, some stretching before or even after exercise is suggested. “Doga [dog yoga] has become a daily ritual with my 11-year-old golden retriever since the onset of arthritis in her hips and back. Besides keeping her joints limber, it’s good one-on-one time for us,” says latchkey dog expert Eileen Proctor, in Castle Rock, Colorado.

“Whenever she wants to stretch, she will come up and gently paw me,” relates Proctor. “Her favorite is the upward dog pose. Before practicing doga, this dear one had trouble getting to her feet, and then was lame for a minute. Now she is able to get up and move about immediately.”

When exercising with pets, always keep plenty of water handy, start slow and watch out for how the weather or workout affects the participants. Scientists have changed from saying it takes 21 days to form a new habit to admitting it may take up to three times that long. That might be true for people, but try explaining it to the dog standing at the back door on day two—he’s ready to do it again.

See Local Pet Store Ad on Page 8.

Sandra Murphy is a regular contributor to Natural Awakenings.

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LIFE LIFT Being Happy from the Inside Out

by Judith Fertig

An age-old question rides a new wave of bestseller lists, university research and governmental soul-searching. The answers to “What are the secrets of a happy life?” might surprise us.

“

H

appiness is the only true measure of personal success,” advises Geoffrey James, of Hollis, New Hampshire, author of How to Say It: Business to Business Selling. His work confirms that the rollercoaster world of business does not always promote a sense of well-being. James believes, “The big enemy of happiness is worry, which comes from focusing on events that are outside your control.” For him, something as simple as a good night’s sleep contributes to personal happiness.

Each of us has certain things that help make us feel positive, and they often come in small moments, advises Ed Diener, Ph.D., a psychology professor at the University of Illinois and author of Happiness: Unlocking the Mysteries of Psychological Wealth. Based on 25 years of research into the subject, he’s a recognized expert in what he calls “subjective well-being.”

In a recent six-part BBC series on

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happiness, Diener told viewers, “It may sound silly, but we ask people, ‘How happy are you, on a scale of one to 10?’

The interesting thing is that it produces real answers that are valid—not perfect, but valid—and they predict all sorts of real things in their lives.”

Getting to Happy The moment-to-moment path to happiness follows a trail blazed by paradox. A recent University of Missouri College of Business study by Marsha Richins, Ph.D., suggests that happiness is in the wanting, not the getting. As noted Positive Psychologist Martin Seligman, Ph.D., remarks, “Focusing solely on happiness as a foundation of a good life,” won’t get you there.

Gretchen Rubin, the New York City-based author of The Happiness Project and Happier at Home, further finds that, “Happiness doesn’t always make you feel happy.” Trying each day to be emotionally centered, affable,

kind, conscientious, generous, patient, principled, accomplished, spiritual and true to yourself—the kind of person that should be happy and that makes other people happy—can be tough.

Widespread economic and associated financial challenges have made many question whether money can buy happiness, a common core assumption of the “happiness starts on the outside” approach.

Apparently, money can sometimes buy feelings of well-being, but only to a certain degree, according to researchers Angus Deaton and Daniel Kahneman, at Princeton University’s Woodrow Wilson School of Public & International Affairs.

In 2010, they surveyed 450,000 randomly chosen residents across the country via daily questionnaires.

The study revealed that, “Low income exacerbates the emotional pain associated with such misfortunes as divorce, ill health and being alone.”

Yet they also discovered that, “High income buys life satisfaction, but not happiness,” and there is no further progress in happiness beyond an annual income of $75,000 (Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences).

On the other side of the world, in the tiny Himalayan country of Bhutan, where 70 percent of its 717,000 citizens are subsistence farmers and an annual income of $75,000 would be considered a fortune, people say they are generally happy, partly due to the nation’s “happiness starts on the inside” philosophy. Since 1971, Bhutan has been operating based on a gross domestic happiness (GDH) value system. Bhutanese Prime Minister Jigmi Y. Thinley explains that the country has focused on growing both materially and spiritually, and citizen well-being has taken precedence over economic growth.

For decades, this was deemed an oddity by many in the West, although now it appears prescient. “It’s easy to mine the land and fish the seas and get rich,” says Thakur Singh Powdyel, Bhutan’s minister of education. “Yet we believe you cannot have a prosperous nation in the long run that does not conserve its natural environment or

take care of the well-being of its people, which is being borne out by what is happening to the outside world.”

The country measures its success in maintaining GDH by conducting regular surveys of the population. The reigning official definition of happiness involves peace, contentment and living in harmony with all creation.

Seligman, author of Flourish: A Visionary New Understanding of Happiness and Well-Being, has become a believer in GDH. “How can you measure well-being in a person, a family, a country or globally?” he queries. Research by Seligman and his colleagues at the University of Pennsylvania, in Philadelphia, points to four basic elements: positive emotion, relationships, meaning in life and accomplishment, or PERMA. Seligman says there are proven ways to improve each element. For positive emotion, writing down three “blessings”, or things that went well that day, can increase our feelings of gratitude and well-being. For relationships, actively listening and being present for a loved one and having that attention returned can strengthen those bonds. Increasing meaning in our lives, says Seligman, can be a challenge for Westerners.

“We have threadbare spiritual and relationship furniture. We have too much ‘I’ and not enough ‘we,’” he says. But getting involved in something that increases the “we” factor will help make us happier.

Nurturing Signature Strengths Self-surveys at AuthenticHappiness. com can help us identify our strengths and realize what we’re especially good at—and we increase our feelings of accomplishment by doing more of them. “You can even figure out how to do the task you like least by using your signature strength,” Seligman advises.

He shares an example of a grocery store cashier that disliked bagging groceries, but was exceptional at social interaction. She made herself happier by chatting with her customers while she packed their selections.

Lara Blair, a portrait photographer in Camas, Washington, believes in

If I become happy and it makes you happy, it is like tipping the first domino so the next one falls and that happiness spreads. ~ James Fowler, economic behaviorist, University of California-San Diego celebrating strengths. “If making things is what you love, give it the space in your brain, home and life that it deserves.” Blair’s seminars and retreats help people tap ways to increase feelings of creativity, accomplishment and meaning. “If you nurture it and believe that growing this beautiful thing is worth the effort, the rewards will be more than you ever dreamed,” she says.

When, as a happily married lawyer with children, Rubin thought her life was missing something vital, she used her love for reading and writing to explore that wistful, “What if?” She started researching subjective happiness via Marcus Aurelius, Samuel Johnson, Benjamin Franklin and St. Thérèse de Lisieux, whom Rubin refers to as her “spiritual master.” She decided to test-drive her findings at Happiness-Project.com and began blogging about new ways of thinking and behaving that were bringing her and her readers greater self-realization and contentment.

“A great place to start is with your own body,” she counsels. “Are you getting enough sleep? Are you getting good food to eat? When you take care

of those very basic things, you feel energized, and then you can start moving to address other issues.”

Sustaining Happiness Once we’ve upped our happiness quotient, it can still be difficult to stay at that level, says Kennon Sheldon, professor of psychological sciences at the University of Missouri, in Columbia. In a recent study conducted with researchers at the University of California-Riverside, Sheldon and his colleagues found that by both recognizing that the desire for “more” and “better” in our lives won’t stop and also appreciating what we have, we’ll stay happy. It’s equally vital to continually keep things fresh, with positive new experiences at home, work, play and exercise, as well as in relationships. In other words, sustained happiness takes a little work.

“Just before going to bed,” suggests James, “write down at least one wonderful thing that happened that day. It may be anything from making a child laugh to a big sale. Whatever it is, be grateful for the present day, because it will never come again.”

The benefits of individual wellbeing radiate to those around us, notes Seligman. “When individuals are flourishing, they are more productive at work, physically healthier and at peace.” He believes that as we find ways to increase positive emotion, relationships, meaning in life and individual accomplishment, it’s possible for life on Earth to flourish.

Judith Fertig is a regular contributor to Natural Awakenings.

natural awakenings

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by Gatlianne

—PHOTOGRAPHY BY LEWIS METTS

Wild Thing Pose “Let the wild rumpus start!”

– Maurice Sendak, Where the Wild Things Are

I

like to give my yoga students homework, something to carry with them until our next class. Sometimes this homework comes in the form of an affirmation to utilize, quote to ponder, or action to take on. I recently taught a class of dynamic, fun, sassy women who are realizing that as they’ve gotten older they may have lost some of their childlike playfulness to their adulthood. My homework for them was “act a fool!”

Now, in the south the phrase act a fool can have a negative connotation, to wit, when the action is completed one’s mother would snatch one up for acting the said d fool. Due to this I made sure to explain what I meant. I challenged my studentss to play, burst out of their shells and have ve fun, to do something unexpected and out of the ordinary. I encouraged them em to sing loudly, dance crazy and dance nce often, to rip and romp and have a big ol’ good time. I encouraged them to o find their joy.

This is month’s pose ties in, quite fittingly, y, with joyous living. Wild Thing Pose is one in which the heart is open and joy is pronounced.

I can’t help but smile when in this pose. se. Wild Thing is a fun pose that at elicits freedom frree e do om of spirit. t. It’s light hearted d and playful.

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It’s invigorating, energizing and aids fatigue. It also helps create an openness in the body, mind and spirit that perhaps wasn’t there before.

On the physical side, Wild Thing Pose stretches the chest, shoulders, and throat. It opens the hips and stretches the hip flexors. It helps strengthen the spine and increases spinal flexibility.

Wild Thing is a more intermediate pose. It’s not one to jump into at the beginning of a practice when muscles are cold or tight. It’s also not a pose to jump into if you’re just beginning yoga practice or unfamiliar with backbends.

Just as at times we must ease into our wild side we too must ease into Wild Thing. Allow your body to move through a series of postures to prepare it and the spine for this pose. Sun Salutations are remarkable preparatory poses, as are Side Plank and Bow Pose. Those with back or spinal

injuries or high blood pressure please refrain from this pose.

To practice Wild Thing Pose, after warming up, come into Side Plank Pose from Downward Dog by placing the left hand under the head. Bring the feet together and pivot onto the outer left foot to come into Side Plank with right arm extended upward. From Side Plank step the right foot back, and curl the upper back slowly and lift the hips to begin the backbend. Breathing throughout begin to drop the head back, continuing to lift the hips, as the right arm extends out with the backbend. Feel the openness of the heart space, the extension in the body, and the freedom that comes from letting go in a backbend. Feel the joy bubble up and escape in a smile.

This is Wild Thing Pose. Let the wild rumpus start.

M/Gatlianne is an Author, Yoga Instructor, Interfaith Minister and Holistic Health & Reiki Practitioner based in Athens, AL. For more information contact her at M@ Gatlianne.com or visit Gatlianne. com, DeepRiversHealing.com, or DiscoverPath.com.

The Stories We Tell Ourselves

by Aaron Peavy

S

tories can enrich our lives and help us understand the world we live in. On the other hand, stories may sometimes become so entrenched in our thinking that we begin to identify with them. We begin to believe them so deeply that we forget who we were before. It is at such a point that the stories take on lives of their own and we act them out, often without thought, and usually to unwanted ends. Though these can hurt us the most, they are also the ones we so vehemently defend as “part of us” to justify our behavior despite all evidence of their harm. The self-affirmation heard most often when this is the case is something like, “It is just who I am…” But, is it really?

Some common themes these harmful stories have are those involving how we judge ourselves and others. “I am not good\pretty\skinny\ smart enough,” “they all hate me,” “I will not forgive her\him unless she\ he apologizes first,” “I am too good\ weak\afraid\damaged to do it,” “I have\it has always been like that” are a handful heard often enough to note.

Not one of them is the absolute truth, but often we take on our favored one and it becomes a mantra when things get tough.

Why must we allow a story to dictate who we are? If a shirt does not fit anymore, or attracts unwanted at-

tention, we would surely stop wearing it. Pay attention to how often we say or do things over and over to the same destructive or unwanted consequence.

At first, it may appear simply as a lack of awareness. In truth, others may be more aware at times of our own behaviors as much as we of theirs. Therefore, it is in the reflection from others, in their reactions to us, which should reveal the thing to even the least aware of people. Yet, it continues on. Could it be blatant denial of what is so obviously revealed to us? Not necessarily, for people often seek the approval and companionship of others, some to a fault, and rarely intend to affect them in such adverse ways.

We repeat these patterns that seem to always turn on us, while saying to ourselves that this must be how it is and who we are. In reality, we learned them as social or behavioral coping mechanisms to adapt and survive at some point in our lives. They are not, nor have they ever been who we really are; they no longer serve their intended purpose, if they ever did. To think otherwise is a convenient untruth we tell ourselves in an attempt to avoid taking responsibility for how it has affected our day-to-day lives, or to repress the guilt or anger we feel toward ourselves for hurting others and ourselves.

If we are committed to making

positive changes, then there must come a time that the stories end and become just stories. To take such a step is a huge movement through layers of false identifications built up since youth; it is to pierce through a longheld veil of self-deception and come into a new awareness of our thoughts, speech, and actions. Such awareness also requires us to accept absolute responsibility for how we feel and respond to others.

Prior to this point, our ego was on an auto-pilot, enacting a subtle form of fight-or-flight (the adrenal response) to external triggers. When humanity was still living among the wild animals and a tiger might make lunch of us, such a response would have been appropriate. In our modern world, such an equally powerful response to something, often as simple as a word, seems very extreme in its evolutionary context. When we turn off the autopilot, it takes some time and practice to completely take the wheel and let go of those old behaviors and beliefs that the stories supported.

Steady, applied pressure will result in lasting and positive results in every aspect of our lives. The number one priority, once this veil is pierced, is to learn to forgive ourselves as we begin this journey. In addition, we may notice this auto-pilot in others, and begin to find compassion for them, as we can see that they are just as human and susceptible to it as we are. Such compassion is the opening of a door to choosing to understand what others present to us, rather than meet it in kind, with our same-old stories, as we have in the past. By changing the way we meet the challenges presented to us by the world, the world will change. Change your perception, change your reality.

Aaron Peavy has had a lifelong passion for inner exploration and personal transformation.

Having studied various esoteric and exoteric traditions and practices over the years, he enjoys teaching from his experiences and working with people.

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June 2013

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wisewords

they couldn’t see themselves being sufficiently successful at it, or their family discouraged it.

Reframing Personal Priorities

Is pursuing personal growth at odds with being a breadwinner?

Craig Hamilton Explores the Gender Gap in Spiritual Growth

by Kim Childs

C

raig Hamilton is a writer, radio host and workshop leader devoted to helping people evolve their consciousness for the greater good. The former managing editor of What is Enlightenment? magazine, Hamilton went on to found Integral Enlightenment, an online education program for those on a contemporary spiritual path. Since then, thousands of people have participated in his courses and workshops, and the vast majority have been women. Natural Awakenings asked Hamilton for his insights on this trend.

What’s behind the gender imbalance in personal growth and enlightenment circles?

Two years ago, I hosted a summit called The Way of the Evolutionary Man that included a discussion about why more men aren’t drawn to participate in these kinds of things. One of the main points made was that, while many Americans have focused on creating equality for women in the last 50 years, there hasn’t been a comparable men’s liberation movement.

I know that some would say, “Why do we need that? Men are already the ones with the most power, freedom and privilege.” Yet it became clear during our discussion that men do not have freedom when it comes to choosing among valued social roles.

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For example, a woman can feel valued whether she pursues a professional career or something else that we might call a path of the heart, such as following artistic passions, working for a nonprofit or serving as a teacher.

But if men do such things, they risk losing value among women.

Traditionally, women have wanted to be with men that are more economically successful than they are. If a man decides he wants to be an artist or a spiritual practitioner or follow what we might label a higher calling, he’s stepping out of traditionally validated activities for men. So the reason that more men aren’t putting more time into their personal growth could be that they’re not being valued for that.

What might it take to shift this phenomenon?

If women want men to join them on paths of personal and spiritual growth, they might need to start in analyzing the part of themselves that says, “I want a man who makes more money than me, is successful and able to be the family provider.” Many women want their men to be conscious, sensitive, reflective and capable of profound intimacy, plus be a good provider.

I’ve heard from some men that feel seriously pained about this. A few said that they always wanted to be, for example, a musician or a teacher, but

I teach a spiritual path that anyone can pursue in the midst of their busy life. It involves turning everything into a spiritual practice. It means observing your own motivations and distortions and experiencing a different relationship to life that’s no longer rooted in patterns of the past and the ego.

I believe this work appeals to men because, while there is a meditative and interior dimension to it, the bigger part is calling people to step up in life and remove the obstacles inside themselves that keep them from playing their biggest game. Spiritual life isn’t about getting beyond this world; it’s about the evolution of our world through conscious participation. That’s something men and women alike can become inspired by and put their energy behind.

How can men be most effective in a changing world?

In order to be truly effective, each person needs to do the necessary inner work. It’s not enough to focus on trying to do and accomplish and acquire without clarifying what’s getting in the way of your full self-expression and creative engagement.

It’s easy to think about life in terms of our history, identity, desires and concerns, but that’s just a small part of who we are. At our deepest level, we are this unfolding evolutionary process that’s been going on for more than 13 billion years. Now we have the ability to participate in the greatest adventure of all, that of conscious evolution, growing into a future aligned with our highest ideals, visions and aspirations.

While that is mobilizing generations of women, I am finding that it also speaks to the highest aspirations of men.

Connect with Craig Hamilton at IntegralEnlightenment.com.

Kim Childs is a writer and creativity coach in Boston. Visit KimChilds.com.

inspiration

according to the Group for the Advancement of Psychiatry think tank.

Parents should consider various points of view and develop contingency plans.

Return to Childhood Rearing kids presents the opportunity to reread favorite childhood books and disappear back into imaginative worlds.

Creativity A.A. Milne (author of the Winnie the Pooh books) and J.K. Rowling (of Harry Potter fame) first wrote for their kids.

We may also be inspired to play an instrument or take up an art form learned as a child while encouraging our children in their music or art lessons.

Reordering Priorities

The Fatherhood Factor

How Raising Children Changes Men

by Armin Brott

B

ecoming a father is one of the most defining benchmarks in a man’s life.

In their research, University of California-Berkeley Psychology Professors Phil Cowan, Ph.D., and Carolyn Cowan, Ph.D., found that when asked how important each aspect of life felt over a two-year study period, childless men surveyed showed a significant increase in the “partner/lover” aspect. But young fathers squeezed that facet into a smaller life space to accommodate the significant increase in the “parent” element.

Here are a few highlights from what relevant studies by Oregon State University, in Corvallis, the University of Nevada-Las Vegas and Switzerland’s University of Zurich say about how fatherhood changes men.

Confidence and Pride Having a close relationship with our child helps build mutual confidence

and self-esteem. Turning a child’s tears into laughter and feeling proud when he does well confirms that we’re on our way to being a successful father.

Albeit briefly, a child may even share our tastes in culture, entertainment and other areas before mapping his own individuality, but some common attitudes and interests will remain.

Patience and Humor When something goes wrong, we can take it seriously and try to change things, or roll with it and laugh. Doing the latter can increase compassion for our own and others’ mistakes.

Flexible Thinking Early on, it may be nearly impossible to differentiate the needs of our child and partner from our own. In reality, needs are to varying degrees in opposition, thus imposing frustrations and sorrows and forcing mutual adaptation,

Raising kids produces a heightened awareness of others’ perspectives, reports University of Delaware researcher Rob Palkovitz, Ph.D. Many guys admit that they were somewhat selfish and self-centered before having kids, because having people depend on you and putting their needs before yours doesn’t come naturally. (Palkovitz notes that marriage alone doesn’t trigger this realization.)

Changing Values Becoming a father prompts a hard look at one’s fundamental beliefs and values. Our view of what seemed harmless when we were younger, like not caring about money or possessions and potentially harmful lifestyle choices, changes completely when there’s a family to support. We see the world differently. Our health and well-being are no longer just personal concerns; they’re integral to our family.

Interestingly, more mature new fathers—having had more time to hone their philosophy of life—report less of a need for fresh soul-searching than younger fathers.

Superdad Armin Brott has been building better fathers for a decade through his blog, bestselling books and American Forces Network radio show. Learn more at MrDad.com and Tinyurl.com/MrDadApp.

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calendarofevents SATURDAY, JUNE 1 Photography Exhibit: “Colors of Light� by Joe Fikes – A photographer must fall in love with light.

Trained as a physicist, Joe Fikes has had a love affair with light his whole career. His specialty is laser and optical instrumentation. Huntsville-Madison County Public Library, Atrium Gallery, 915 Monroe St, Huntsville, AL. 256-532-5940.

Healthy Huntsville Saturdays in Big Spring Park: Functional Fitness with Lyle Douglass – 8:30-9:30am. Admission free. Big Spring Park, 200 Church St, Huntsville, AL 35801.

MONDAY, JUNE 10

enjoy the music of the “The Cadillacs.� Admission free. Village Green Gazebo, Downtown Madison, AL 35758. 256-527-7802.

FRIDAY, JUNE 7 Bailey Cove Summer Reading Kick Off Party – 2pm. The party starts off with a visit from Alabama Youth Ballet. Learn about the ballet and watch the dancers perform. Afterwards, there will be a craft, a fun “hands on� science experiment, and refreshments. Bailey Cove Branch Library, 1409 Weatherly Plaza SE, Huntsville AL 35803. 256-881-0257.

Mindfulness Meditation Circle – Introductory 4-week Series. Create more peace and joy in your life by learning and practicing the art of “allowing� and “letting go.� Offered on two days: Mondays at 7pm June 10-July 1 or Wednesdays at 4:30pm June 12-July 3. $80. Center for Inner Wellness, 3322 S. Memorial Pkwy, Ste 641, Huntsville AL. For more information, call Becky Waters at 256-348-5236 or visit CenterForInnerWellness.com/events.

TUESDAY, JUNE 11 Free Health Screening – 9:30am-12pm. Huntsville Hospital’s Mobile Medical Unit will be offering free health screenings to the public. Southeast Family YMCA, 1000 Weatherly Rd SE, Huntsville, AL 35803.

SATURDAY, JUNE 8

SUNDAY, JUNE 2 Great Big Play Day – 12-6pm. Pack a picnic basket and join us here at the Garden for a summer day of play, with games and activities planned for all ages.

Free with Garden admission or membership. Huntsville Botanical Garden, 4747 Bob Wallace Ave, Huntsville, AL 35805. 256-830-4447. Hsvbg.org.

MONDAY, JUNE 3 Literature Out Loud!: O Pioneers! – 12-1pm. Join us for a slide show of artworks created in 1913, a cup of tea or two, and a lively discussion of Willa Cather’s O Pioneers! Bailey Cove Branch Library, 1409 Weatherly Plaza SE, Huntsville AL 35803. 256-881-0257.

THURSDAY, JUNE 6 Madison Gazebo Concerts in the Park: The Cadillacs – 6:30-8:30pm. Bring your lawn chair and

Healthy Huntsville Saturdays in Big Spring Park: Body Combat–24/7 – 8:30-9:30am. Admission free.

Big Spring Park, 200 Church St, Huntsville, AL 35801.

First Annual Caribbean-American Family Fair 1-5pm. A Caribbean event to support feeding the Huntsville needy and education about diabetes. Proceeds benefit Take Care Alabama (DOH Projects) Diabetes, Obesity and Hunger in Huntsville. Bring a canned food item to donate to hungry families in Huntsville. Lowe Mill ARTS & Entertainment, 2211 Seminole Dr, Huntsville, AL 35805. LoweMill.net.

TakeCareAlabama.org.

Your Spiritual Experiences with Past Lives, Dreams, and Soul Travel: 2-3pm. Free introductory presentation and discussion for people of all faiths.

Learn how to have real experiences with the divine love that is always available to you. Huntsville ECK Center, 900 Wellman Avenue, #3 (near Five Points).

256-534-1751. ECK-Alabama.org.

THURSDAY, JUNE 13 Free Health Screening – 9:30am-12pm. Huntsville Hospital’s Mobile Medical Unit will be offering free health screenings to the public. Downtown Rescue Mission, 1400 Evangel Dr NW, Huntsville, AL 35816.

Madison Gazebo Concerts in the Park: The Zooks – 6:30-8:30pm. Bring your lawn chair and enjoy the music of the “The Zooks.� Admission free. Village Green Gazebo, Downtown Madison, AL 35758. 256-527-7802.

FRIDAY, JUNE 14 City Lights Concert Series #3 – 7:30pm. Enjoy the view as you listen to “Phil Weaver & Friends� perform under the stars. Bring a blanket or lawn chair, a picnic supper. Admission charged. Burritt on the Mountain, 3101 Burritt Dr, Huntsville, AL 35801. 256-536-2882. BurrittOnTheMountain.org.

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Advanced Rolf Practitioner Susan K. Jeffreys Consultations Available

Find out what Susan K. Jeffreys and Structural Integration can do for you!

Call (256) 512-2094 today

Susan K. Jeffreys, AL Lic.#249 $ :KLWHVEXUJ 'U ‡ +XQWVYLOOH $/

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Structural Integration in the method of Ida P. Rolf

True Wisdom: Learning from the Past—7:30-8pm, Knology Cable Channel 11. Inspiring stories and insights from Harold Klemp, spiritual leader and acclaimed author of more than sixty books on ECKANKAR. Learn how to find true wisdom in your own life in a variety of places—a panorama that stretches from your present dreams to past life experiences. Free. 256-534-1751. ECKAlabama.org.

Jin Shin Jyutsu® of Huntsville

Aiding Healing through Body Harmony & Relaxation

SANDRA COPE

SATURDAY, JUNE 15

Certified Jin Shin Jyutsu® Practitioner Healthy Huntsville Saturdays in Big Spring Park: Yoga with Tiffany – 8:309:30am. Admission free. Big Spring Park, 200 Church St, Huntsville, AL 35801.

(256) 534-1794 Office (256) 509-3540 Cell

Huntsville, Alabama

Adventures in Self-Discovery Workshop – 9am-12pm. Learn the secret tool that can transform your life. Journaling with this powerful 4-step process can help release stress and negativity, as well as help heal limiting beliefs and unconscious programming. $45. Center for Inner Wellness, 3322 S. Memorial Pkwy, Ste 641, Huntsville AL. For more information, call Becky Waters at 256-348-5236 or visit CenterForInnerWellness.com/events.

Healthy Huntsville Saturdays in Big Spring Park: Pilates with Terrie – 1011am. Admission free. Big Spring Park, 200 Church St, Huntsville, AL 35801.

Juneteenth Celebration – 10am-6pm. An all-day celebration featuring a full Bar-B-Que cook-out, educational activities, and music throughout the day.

Scottsboro Boys Museum & Cultural Center, 428 West Willow St, Scottsboro, AL 35768.

Spring Concert at Three Caves – 7-10pm. Featuring Cindy Bradley. Concert goers are encouraged to bring their own chairs, dress “cave casual.” No pets or small children, please. Free Parking & Shuttle from Huntsville Hospital lots at Lowell & Adams. Tickets including a box dinner from Below the Radar may be ordered. Admission charged. Historic Three Caves Huntsville, AL 35801.

256-534-5263.

SUNDAY, JUNE 16 Edwene Gaines at Unity Church on the Mountain – 11am. Please join us for a very special visit from author and Master Prosperity Teacher, Edwene Gaines, who will share her wisdom and knowledge about the Four Spiritual Laws of Prosperity. Unity Church on the Mountain, 1328 Governors Dr. SE, Huntsville, AL. 256-536-2271. UnityChurchOnTheMountain.com.

Daylily Festival – 1-5pm. Stroll through the Daylily Garden at peak bloom.

Our spectacular collection has over 675 varieties in a wide range of colors, sizes and flower forms. Admission charged. Huntsville Botanical Garden, 4747 Bob Wallace Ave, Huntsville, AL 35805. 256-830-4447. Hsvbg.org.

Experience the Relaxation of Therapeutic Massage

Healthy Living Therapeutic Massage, LLC Teresa Randles, LMT #3601 3303 Westmill Dr. Huntsville, AL 35805 256-426-1867

MONDAY, JUNE 17 Free Health Screening – 9:30am-12pm. Huntsville Hospital’s Mobile Medical Unit will be offering free health screenings to the public. New Market Health Screen, 3687 Winchester Rd, New Market, AL 35761.

TUESDAY, JUNE 18 Solar Workshop –10:30-11:30am. Morton Archibald of the Alabama Solar Association shows how you can incorporate solar energy into your own home.

Huntsville-Madison County Public Library Auditorium, 915 Monroe St, Huntsville, AL. 256-532-5940.

AQUAPONICS Aquaponics Training: Learn from table top, to backyard, to commerical scale operation.

Free Farm Tours: Held on the 1st Saturday of each month at 9 a.m.

Be prepared with food independence and save on groceries.

Grow your own fresh fish, shrimp and organic produce.

TodaysGreenAcres.com

a

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THURSDAY, JUNE 20 Sidewalk Arts Stroll; A Downtown Marketplace 4:30-8:30pm. Enjoy free entertainment as you peruse vendor booths with original artwork, pottery, organic produce, fresh cut flowers, handcrafted paper, and much more. Patrons will be allowed to stroll with preferred beverages purchased at bars or restaurants as they visit venues within the district.

Come downtown to “Sip, Stroll & Shop.” Admission free. Alabama Constitution Village, 109 Gates Huntsville, AL 35801. 256-534-8376.

Madison Gazebo Concerts in the Park: Stand Up Chuck – 6:30-8:30pm. Bring your lawn chair and enjoy the music of the “Stand Up Chuck.”

Admission free. Village Green Gazebo, Downtown Madison, AL 35758. 256-527-7802.

published in various reviews, journals and online zines. His first book, Interstate Chokehold, was published by NeoPoiesis Press in 2009. Open Mike at 7pm. Poetry Reading with Frank Reardon at 8pm. Beer tasting to follow. Admission $5. Beloved Books & Gallery, 2211 Seminole Dr SW, Huntsville, AL 35805. 256-323-8199.

SATURDAY, JUNE 22 Black Arts Festival – Sat-Sun. WEUP Radio in conjunction with Alabama A&M University is excited to announce the return of WEUP’s Black Arts Festival to the grounds of Alabama A&M. The festival is a fundraiser for the Harris Home for Children, a non-profit organization serving the greater Huntsville community by providing care for dependent and neglected children. Alabama A&M University, 4900 Meridian St North, Huntsville, AL 35762. AAMU.edu.

FRIDAY, JUNE 21 Open Mike Night with featured poet Frank Reardon – 7-11pm. Frank Reardon has been

guided meditations, and fun creative projects will put you back in touch with the source of your inspiration and reconnect you with the remarkable power you already have inside you to create and rekindle the pure joy that it brings. $45. Center for Inner Wellness, 3322 S. Memorial Pkwy, Ste 641, Huntsville AL. For more information, call Becky Waters at 256-348-5236 or visit CenterForInner Wellness.com/events.

How Much Joy Can You Stand: Push Past Fears and Step Into Your Dream – 9am-12pm. The Joy Workshop, with its carefully targeted exercises,

Healthy Huntsville Saturdays in Big Spring Park: Zumba with Katie – 10-11am. Admission free. Big Spring Park, 200 Church St, Huntsville, AL 35801.

MONDAY, JUNE 24 Literary Giants: Gone With the Wind – 6:307:30pm. After the Civil War sweeps away the genteel life to which she has been accustomed, Scarlett O’Hara sets about to salvage her plantation home.

Madison Public Library, 130 Plaza Blvd, Madison, AL 35758. 256-461-0046.

TUESDAY, JUNE 25 Free Health Screening – 9:30am-12pm. Huntsville Hospital’s Mobile Medical Unit will be offering free health screenings to the public. Robert “Bob” Harrison Senior Wellness and Advocacy Center, 6156 Pulaski Pike, Huntsville, AL 35810.

How to Do Things: Geocaching – 6:30-8pm. Learn the basics of the Global Positioning System and the hi-tech game/sport/hobby of geocaching. Everyone is encouraged to bring a handheld GPS unit; there will be a short practice run after class. Please become familiar with your GPS ahead of time. HuntsvilleMadison County Public Library, Second Floor Events Room, 915 Monroe St, Huntsville, AL. 256-532-5940. Hmcpl.org.

THURSDAY, JUNE 27 Madison Gazebo Concerts in the Park: Rocket City Chorus/Southern Splendor – Bring your lawn chair and enjoy the music of the “Rocket City Chorus/Southern Splendor.” Admission free. Village Green Gazebo, Downtown Madison, AL 35758.

256-527-7802.

SATURDAY, JUNE 29 Healthy Huntsville Saturdays in Big Spring Park: Boot Camp–24/7 – 8:30-9:30am. Admission free. Big Spring Park, 200 Church St, Huntsville, AL 35801.

Healthy Huntsville Saturdays in Big Spring Park: Workout with John – 10-11am. Admission free. Big Spring Park, 200 Church St, Huntsville, AL 35801.

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ongoingevents sunday Meditation – 8:30am. Center for Spiritual Living, 308 Lily Flagg Rd, Huntsville, AL. 256-8838596. CSL-Huntsville.org.

Farmers’ Market at Latham UMC is coming every Tuesday beginning in May. We will be located at Latham United Methodist Church on Weatherly Road. Please come out and see us and support local Alabama Farmers. There will be live entertainment and events weekly. Latham United Methodist Church, 109 Weatherly Rd SE, Huntsville, AL 35803.

A Course in Miracles Study Group – 9:15am.

Shared reading and group discussions. Extra books available. Light of Christ Center, 4208 Holmes Ave, Huntsville, AL. 256-895-0255.

LightOfChristCenter.org.

Meditation – 6pm. Center for Spiritual Living, 308 Lily Flagg Rd, Huntsville, AL. 256-8838596. CSL-Huntsville.org.

Revealing Service – 9:45am. Center for Spiritual Living, 308 Lily Flagg Rd, Huntsville, AL. 256883-8596. CSL-Huntsville.org.

Beginner/Intermediate Mat Class – 6-7pm.

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, AL. 256-704-5080. BodyLanguage Pilates.com.

Celebration Service – 10:30am. Center for Spiritual Living, 308 Lily Flagg Rd, Huntsville, AL. 256-883-8596. CSL-Huntsville.org.

Unity Church on the Mountain Worship Service – 11am, with Metaphysical Discussion at 9:30am. Unity is a positive path for spiritual living.

Reverend Phillip Fischer. Unity Church on the Mountain, 1328 Governors Dr SE, Huntsville, AL. 256-536-2271. UnityChurchOnTheMountain.org.

1-Hour Mystery School – 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, AL. 256-895-0255. LightOfChristCenter.org.

monday

Sierra Club North Alabama Tuesday Night Hike – 6-7:30pm. Depart at 6pm sharp from the Hiker’s parking lot off Nolen Avenue. All dogs must remain on leash. Though not strenuous, hikes may be vigorous. Distance ranges from 2 to 4 miles. Park entrance fee charged. Monte Sano State Park, Huntsville, AL.

Herbs Vitamins Massage 5HÀH[RORJ\ 1DWXUDO )RRGV &OLQLFDO +HUEDOLVW $XULFXODU 7KHUDS\ 0DJQHWLF 7KHUDSLHV 1XWULWLRQDO &RXQVHOLQJ (OHFWUR 'HUPDO 7HVWLQJ

wednesday Yoga Wall class with Bonnie Robertson – 5:306:30pm. Using the traditional yoga asanas, this exploration will allow you to go deeper within the body with the support and assistance of ropes, breaking down barriers of the mind and body.

Body Language Pilates, 305 Jefferson St, Suite C, Downtown Huntsville. 256-704-5080. Body LanguagePilates.com.

Concerts in the Park – 6:30-8:30pm. This 11week series featuring 22 local bands is free to the public. Held on the rear patio of the Huntsville Museum of Art, facing the lagoon in Big Spring Park in downtown Huntsville, the atmosphere just can’t be beat. Attendees are encouraged to bring their own seating, picnic dinners, and dancing shoes. Leashed pets are also welcome. Big Spring Park, 200 Church St, Huntsville, AL 35801.

256-883-4127 7540-P S. Memorial Pkwy.

Rosie’s Shopping Ctr. Huntsville, AL Open Monday-Saturday RuthsNutrition.com

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tuesday Latham UMC Farmers’ Market – 3-7pm. The

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256.509.9807 CronusPersonalFitness.com natural awakenings

AFTER June 2013

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Meditation – 6pm. Center for Spiritual Living, 308 Lily Flagg Rd, Huntsville, AL. 256-8838596. CSL-Huntsville.org.

Satsang – 6:30pm. Satsang is a sanskrit word that means” to sit in truth.” Satsang is a meeting with our true nature that is pure awareness. This sacred circle brings an opportunity to explore our deepest knowing. Through group discussion and inquiry, we reveal the innate wisdom of the one presence living life as each one of us. Led by Rev. David Leonard. Meditation at 6pm. Center for Spiritual Living, 308 Lily Flagg Rd, Huntsville, AL. 256-883-8596. CSL-Huntsville.org.

“You Are A Powerful Creator” – 6:30pm. A class that will guide you how to create the life you want. Unity Church on the Mountain, 1328 Governors Dr SE, Huntsville, AL. 256-536-2271.

UnityChurchOnTheMountain.org.

Flying Monkey Community Garden Meeting 6:15-7:15pm, 3rd Wednesdays of each month.

The Flying Monkey Community Garden needs volunteers, as well as supporters, to help the organization in its worthwhile efforts, including growing in the community garden and building a new garden shed. If you can commit to a few volunteer hours and/or let Anna Sue know in what other way you can support the Flying Monkey Community Garden. Anna Sue is located on the Flying Monkey Arts floor, Studio 269. Flying Monkey Arts, 2211 Seminole Dr SW, Huntsville, AL 35805. Anna Sue: 256-533-0399.

Searching? – The Red Mountain Study Group of Huntsville invites inquiries from men and women, no matter what their beliefs, who are still searching for the meaning of their lives now and here. Our work includes meditation, practice and study based on the teaching of G. I. Gurdjieff.

We are affiliated with the Gurdjieff Foundation of New York. 256-361-9575. Email: rmsg@att.net.

thursday Fusion Pilates – 9-10am. 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, AL. 256-704-5080. BodyLanguage Pilates.com.

Greene Street Market – 4-8pm. The market will be in the parking lot at the southeast corner of Greene Street and Eustis Avenue in downtown Huntsville. 256-682-4429. GreeneStreet Market.com.

friday Monkey Speak – 8-10:30pm, first Friday of every month. Monkey Speak is Huntsville’s

most exciting spoken word open-mic night, an open stage for anyone to read perform or improvise poetry drama or prose or any variation of the spoken word. No experience is necessary.

Mature audiences only. Admission $5. Flying Monkey Theatre, 2211 Seminole Dr, Huntsville, AL 35805. LoweMill.net.

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

saturday Bailey Cove Farmers Market – 8am-12pm. The new Bailey Cove Farmers’ Market will open on June 1. We will have fruits and vegetables of all kinds, all grown and supplied by North Alabama and southern Tennessee farmers, plus artisanal breads, jams, jellies, etc. as well as eggs, meat, flowers, and plants. If you would like more information, please contact us at BCFarmersmarket@gmail.com. St. Thomas Episcopal Church, 12200 Bailey Cove Rd, Huntsville, Al 35802.

Madison Farmers Market – 8am-12pm. Come early for the best in local produce, home baked goods, goat cheese, milk, eggs, meats, fresh herbs, honey, relishes, jams and jellies. Come see creations from local artisans including handmade cards, soaps, lotions, jewelry, candles, wood and iron works and other handmade items. 1282 Hughes Rd, Madison, AL 35758.

Audrey’s Free Pilates in the Park – 10-11am, first Saturday of each month through September, weather permitting. Bring a mat, water, and sunglasses and meet by the big spring. Admission free. Big Spring Park, 200 Church St, Huntsville, AL 35801.

Artist Market – 12-4pm. Local artists and others are invited to set up a booth and sell their wares to the public. There will be art, jewelry, vintage clothing, records, and more interesting things for sale inside our facility. Safe from rain. Free admission. Flying Monkey Arts Center at Lowe Mill, 2211 Seminole Dr, Huntsville, AL. FlyingMonkeyArts.org.

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 (except 5/25). Huntsville ECK Center, 900 Wellman Avenue, #3 (near Five Points). 256534-1751. ECK-Alabama.org.

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communityresourceguide Connecting you to the leaders in natural healthcare and green living in our community. To find out how you can be included in the Community Resource Guide, email Editor@Natvalley.com to request our media kit.

ACUPUNCTURE

COLON HYDROTHERAPY

THE NEELEY CENTER FOR HEALTH

JARVIS NATURAL HEALTH CLINIC

600 Saint Clair Avenue SW, Bldg. 5 Suite 11 Huntsville, AL 35801 256-716-4048 Hours: T-F, 9am-5pm, Sat 8am-12pm House calls by Appointment

1489 Slaughter Road, Madison 256-837-3448

Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine, Chinese Herbology, Pastoral Counseling, Beam Ray Therapy, Rapid Eye Technology, Nutritional Supplementation, Detoxification.

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.

ENERGY HEALING COLON HYDROTHERAPY CENTER FOR OPTIMAL WELLBEING U’Jeana Wilson Owner/Certified Colon Hydrotherapist Degree in Psychology 256-489-9806 Center for Optimal Wellbeing is the longest operating colonic therapy provider in Huntsville. First time clients have expressed immediate feelings of increased energy levels and improved efficiency in waste elimination. You will enjoy the experience of your own “personal cleansing spa” as you receive colon hydrotherapy (colonic), far infrared sauna, an optional massaging shower, and ionic footbath services—in a clean, comfortable, and relaxing private environment.

Call for directions and a 10% discount on your first service when you mention Natural Awakenings or use code COWB.

CENTER FOR DIRECTIONAL HEALING™ Susan Spalding 2225 Drake Ave. SW, Suite 18 Huntsville, 35805 256-882-0360 DirectionalHealing.com For over 20 years, Susan Spalding and the staff at the Center for Directional Healing have been helping people achieve harmonic health through Directional Healing, Reflexology, and now the Amethyst Biomat.

Clients may choose a single service, or combine all three for the most complete healing experience. Healing techniques, articles, and more information are available online at DirectionalHealing.com.

ENERGY PSYCHOLOGY CENTER FOR PERSONAL GROWTH

HOPE FOR LIFE COLON HYDROTHERAPY Amanda Mashburn, owner/certified colon hydrotherapist 10300 Bailey Cove Road, Suite-7A Huntsville, AL 35803 256-270-8731 hope4lifeal.com Our goal is to live long and live strong. Young or old, male or female, healthy or sick, will benefit from an internal cleansing.

Mention this ad and get $10 off your first colonic session.

Shari Feinman-Prior, MS, MRET 915 Merchant Walk Way, SW Huntsville, AL 35801 256-289-3331 Shari1717@gmail.com “SPARK YOUR LIGHT” FROM WITHIN YOUR TRUE BEING and TRANSFORM your life. Offering an individualized integrative approach from energy psychology: Inner Counselor Process, Rapid Eye Technology, Healing Touch, Reiki, and Life Skills Coaching, to create change in deep seated patterns of behavior for a healthy and joyful life.

The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched— they must be felt with the heart.~Helen Keller natural awakenings

June 2013

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FAMILY MEDICINE

HEALTH AND FITNESS

HYPNOTHERAPY

MADISON FAMILY CARE

CRONUS HEALTH & FITNESS

MARSHA MATHES

Chad Gilliam, M.M.S. PA-C 1230 Slaughter Road, Suite C, Madison, AL 256-722-0555 ProFamilyMed.com

Eric J. Collier Certified Personal Trainer 256-509-9807 CronusPersonalFitness.com

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.

Eric has been in the health and fitness industry for over 25 years.

Cronus Health & Fitness offers personally designed nutritional advise, exercise, and fitness programs for clients that already belong to a gym or just getting started that do not want to join a gym because of time constraints or feeling embarrassed. We will come to you instead of you coming to us!

Certified Hypnotist 3313 Memorial Parkway, Ste 116 Huntsville, AL 35801 256-698-2151 MarshaMathes.SkinCareTherapy.net

HOLISTIC MEDICINE

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.

HOLISTIC MEDICAL CENTER OF ALABAMA, P.A. Rodney D. Soto, M.D., ABHIM, FAARFM 12205 County Line Road, Ste. E Madison, AL 256-325-1648 HolisticAlabama.com We offer an innovative model for health care that encompasses an individualized approach in order to balance and harmonize the mind, body and spirit thru a comprehensive assessment of your nutritional, hormonal, intestinal and immunological systems for the prevention and reversal of diseases.

Hypnosis is a tool to assist you in countless ways to heal your past, empower your present and create your future: • HypnoBirthing Classes • Quit smoking • Weight loss • Nail and lip biting • Teeth grinding • Insomnia • Anxiety and stress relief • Phobias and fears • Pain relief • Sports enhancement • PTSD (Post-traumatic stress disorder) • Current and Past Life Regressions

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.

HAIR SALON CJ HAIR AND ART STUDIO CJ Denison 105E Church St Madison, AL 35758 256-603-9018

HYPNOTHERAPY CENTER FOR INNER WELLNESS

Specializing in NATURAL Hairstyles. Cuts with Texture and Movement. Specializing in Fine Hair, Razor cuts, Men's Hair Pieces with A NATURAL Look. Specializing in Hair Color OFF the Scalp. Hair Painting. A Safer way to Color or HiLight Your Hair to Help in Decreasing the Exposure to the Scalp.

HEALTHY HAIR is HAPPY HAIR. Also Original Art Work and Private Art lessons available. Call Today for YOUR Appointment.

Becky Waters Certified Hypnotherapist and Professional Breathworker 3322 S. Memorial Parkway, Suite 641 Huntsville, AL 256-348-5236 Creating positive change through hypnotherapy and Breathwork.

Empowering you to live to your highest potential. Relieve stress and anxiety, release negativity, pain management, pre/ post medical procedure, fears/phobias, weight loss, smoking cessation, and more

LOCAL FARMERS MARKETS FARMERS MARKET AT LATHAM UMC ON WEATHERLY 109 Weatherly Rd SE, Huntsville, AL 35803 256-881-4069 FarmersMarketAtLathamUMC.org Facebook.com/Farmers MarketAt LathamUMC Join us every Tuesday in May through September at Latham United Methodist Church on Weatherly beginning on May 7 from 3-7 pm in the Church parking lot on the Northeast corner of Weatherly Rd and South Parkway. Wide Variety of Fresh, Delicious, Locally grown Fruits, Vegetables provided by local farmers every week. Family Friendly Entertainment, Artisans and Activities.

Happiness is not something you post pone for the future; it is something you design for the present. ~Jim Rohn

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LOCAL FARMERS MARKETS

MASSAGE

NATURAL PET SUPPLIES

MORGAN COUNTY/DECATUR FARMERS MARKET

HEALTHY LIVING THERAPEUTIC MASSAGE, LLC

211 1st Ave SE Decatur, AL 35601 Burl Slaten 256-476-5595

Teresa Randles, (LMT #3601) 3303 Westmill Dr. Huntsville, AL 35805 256-426-1867 HealthyLivingTherapeuticMassage.abmp.com

The Morgan County/Decatur Farmers Market will open on April 20 for the season. The Market is open Monday-Saturday from 6am-5pm. They are a variety of vendors selling their homegrown foods. They also shell peas and beans for a fee.

They will be having the following Festivals this year: Strawberry Festival on May 4, Corn Festival on July 13, Tomato Festival on July 27, and the Watermelon Festival on August 17. Closed on Memorial Day, July 4, and Labor Day. Mark your calendars and remember to support your local farmers.

PETS, LOVE AND HAPPINESS

Healthy Living Therapeutic Massage is the place for relaxation, health, wellness, and stress reduction. Our mission is to give personal attention to each individual’s specific needs. You’re invited to experience the relaxation of therapeutic massage.

Available Monday-Saturday by appointment only. Located inside Huntsville Pool & Land Therapy.

905 Meridian St. North Huntsville, AL 35801 256-429-9112 Facebook.com/PetsLoveandHappiness A Boutique for pets and their people. Pets, Love and Happiness carries a variety of consciously chosen green pet supplies as well as pet-inspired art, clothing and gifts. They also carry a large selection of premium natural pet food for dogs and cats. Brands such as Lotus, Fussie Cat, Fromm, and Evanger’s. Open Mon-Fri 10-5pm and Sat 10am-3pm.

NATUROPATHIC DOCTOR MASSAGE A TOUCH OF CLASS SALON Jacqueline Meurer, LMT #3658 115 Cloverleaf Dr, Athens, AL 35611 256-232-8553 Come on in and treat yourself to a relaxing and restorative massage today. I’ll work with you to meet your therapeutic massage needs. It is our goal that every client leave feeling the restful and stress-free benefits of massage. Call today and book an appointment.

CLOUD NINE IN HOME MASSAGES 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.

DIXIE PHILLIPS (LMT #2151) Dixie’s Sunrise Massage Therapy 3313 Memorial Parkway, Ste #116 Huntsville, AL 35801 256-585-0504 Hoss2ride@otelco.net Massage Offering: MediCupping, Deep Tissue, Swedish. $10 off one hour session for Military Active Duty, Firemen, EMT or Police Officers. Must advise at time of booking and show ID for discount. Since 2006. See DixiesSunrise.MassageTherapy.com for all services.

J. L. JONES (LMT AL#3610)

ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE ASSOCIATES

Chi of Life Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork, LLC ChiOfLifeMassage@gmail.com 2310 Whitesburg Dr, Suite 4 Huntsville, AL 256-812-1284 BodyWorkByJL@gmail.com ChiOfLife.MassageTherapy.com

Dr. Deb Gilliam, N.M.D. 1230 Slaughter Road, Madison, AL 256-325-0955

Chi of Life Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork, LLC practicing at Exhale Day Spa. Please come and see me for relief from discomfort and disfunction from muscular and tendinous stress and injury and for detoxification and energetic assistance.

Offering Swedish and Deep Tissue Massage, Muscle Energy Techniques, Neuromuscular Techniques (Trigger Point Therapy), Reiki and Integrative Reflexology. See Website for discount.

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.

PILATES BODY LANGUAGE, INC. 305 Jefferson St., Ste. C 256-704-5080 sybil@bodylanguagepilates.com BodyLanguagePilates.com

MEETING ROOMS/ EVENT SPACE LIGHT OF CHRIST CENTER 4208 Holmes Ave, Huntsville 256-895-0255 LightOfChristCenter.org The Light of Christ Center is comfortably situated in a vintage Centenarian House conveniently located near the UAHuntsville campus. Our Center facilities are available for rent to both members and non-members. We offer our Spiritual Home as your ideal venue for weddings, receptions, memorial services, classes/workshops and other gatherings. Call 256-895-0255 and leave a message if you’re interested in a tour or to speak with someone about your event. Amenities available: • Kitchen (microwave only) • Solarium • Lounge/Salon • Roundtable Room (meeting/dining) • Chapel (w/up to 50 chairs

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.

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PRIVATE YOGA LESSONS

REIKI

WHOLE FOOD NUTRITION

YOGA DHARMA DOWNTOWN

REIKI FREE CLINIC (NO CHARGE)

ISABODY FOR THE WHOLE BODY

Suzanne Newton, Director Huntsville, AL Yoga Alliance E-RYT 500 International Association of Yoga Therapists Iyengar Yoga National Association of the US 256-585-3727 YogaDharmaDowntown.com Suzanne.M.Newton@gmail.com

Shari Feinman-Prior, MS, MRET 915-A Merchant Walk Way SW Huntsville, AL 35801 Shari1717@gmail.com

Eric J. Collier 256-509-9807 CronusNutrition.com

Private Yoga Instruction is an opportunity to address your specific needs, receive guidance about techniques, and to ask questions. Some reasons to have a private class: chronic pain and/or weakness due to injury or illness, energy imbalances, anxiety, depression, self esteem issues and lack of focus. Private study can help you to refine your asana and pranayama techniques with a practice program designed specifically for you. 90 minutes sessions are held in a Twickenham studio near the hospital district. Contact the Director to discuss your goals and to make an appointment.

Students are accepted at the Director’s discretion.

2-4pm, every Third Saturday of each month. For appointments, contact Shari Feinman-Prior at Shari1717@gmail.com.

SHAMAN HEALER WATER, WILLOW & MOON SHAMANIC HEALING Jeffrey Rich 256-337-1699 WaterWillowMoon.com Jeffrey.Rich@gmail.com "Medicine for the Soul," shamanic healing is the sacred technology which can help you achieve wholeness by addressing the spiritual causes of disease.

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Explore the techniques of shamanic healing and find answers. Offering Soul Retrieval, Thoughtform Unraveling, Illumination, Space Clearing, Past Life Work and much more.

STRUCTURAL INTEGRATION JACI HOGUE 256-656-4108 jaci@alabamarolfmethod.com 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 Advanced Practitioner Lic.#249 Dr. Ida P. ROLF method 2336A Whitesburg Drive 256-512-2094 RolfGuild.org Serving Huntsville since 1995

For more information about advertising, call

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“When the body gets working appropriately, then the force of gravity can flow through. Then spontaneously, the body heals itself.” —Ida P. Rolf

Eric has teamed up with a 10-year-old health, wellness, and nutritional supplement company that offers only high-quality, natural, no-compromise products. Their world-class Research & Development team of 25 full time scientists ensures that the ingredients and products are engineered for safety, purity and potency. The IsaLean meal replacements shakes are made of high-quality un-denatured protein from New Zealand dairy cows that exceed USDA organic standards and sourced exclusively from grass-fed dairy cows not treated with hormones or antibiotics.

JUICE PLUS WELLNESS COACH Nutrition Made Easy Nikki Skidmore 256-527-3822 NikkiSkidmoreJuicePlus.com Simple, whole food nutrition of 25 fruits and vegetables a day helps ensure you get the nutrition your body desperately needs. Juice Plus+ is the best, most affordable way to bridge the gap between what you should and do eat. Kids eat Juice Plus+ free with an adult order. Call Nikki today to find out how.

YOGA TEACHER TRAINING YOGA DHARMA INTENSIVE STUDIES PROGRAM Suzanne Newton, Director Yoga Alliance E-RYT 500 International Association of Yoga Therapists Iyengar Yoga National Association of the US Huntsville, AL 256-585-3727 YogaDharmaDowntown.com Suzanne.M.Newton@gmail.com The Intensive Studies Program is designed for dedicated yoga practitioners with a minimum of three years of classroom training. If your focus is on personal development of your practice and/or earning CEUs for the Yoga Alliance registration requirements, you may attend individual workshops that are offered on a semi-regular basis. Another option is to join a Modules Group for 200 Hours of training and earn a Teaching Certificate upon passing the Assessments. A new Modules Group is forming now for the 2013-2014 year. Questions? Contact the Director by email or a scheduled phone call.

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Also welcoming Dr. Princess Robinson Humphrey, MD

Chad Gilliam, M.M.S., PA-C

Cassie Ingrum, CRNP

256-722-0555 1230 SLAUGHTER RD, SUITE C MADISON, AL 35759

ProFamilyMed.com Progress Towards Wellness & Prevention