Natural Awakenings March 2015

H E A L T H Y

FREE

L I V I N G

H E A L T H Y

P L A N E T

feel good • live simply • laugh more

SPECIAL ISSUE:

Animal Welfare

Wildlife Rescue and Sanctuary The Earth Diet Love Your Greens Composting Made Easy

March 2015

|

Tennessee Valley

|

Facebook.com/natvalley

SAFE, FAST, EASY & EFFECTIVE NATURAL WEIGHT LOSS ü NO Shots ü NO Hormones ü NO Cravings ü No Pre-packaged Food ü Doctor Supervised for Safety & Results

All Weight Gain Involves A Hormonal Component

With our NRF Technology and Ultimate Fat Loss System, we target your hormone imbalance and end your weight loss challenges.

NEW BREAKTHROUGH TECHNOLOGY

Treating the Whole Person, and the Whole Family KEITHLEY FAMILY MEDICAL, INC Dr. Larry M. Keithley, DO

Family Practice (Ages 3+) Osteopathic Medicine Holistic Medicine Minor Emergencies Minor Surgical Procedures Physicals (School, Sports, Employment) Drug Screens Diagnostic Services

Thyroid Testing Chronic Fatigue Allergy Shots Vitamin Shots (B12, B-Complex, D3) Gynecology and Hormone Shots Pregnancy Tests STD Testing

Hours by Appointment (Call for Walk-Ins)

WE ARE NOT A PAIN CLINIC

256-881-7579

8210 Stephanie Drive, Suite A Huntsville, AL 35802

natural awakenings

March 2015

3

contents 10 6 newsbriefs 10 healthbriefs 12 globalbriefs 13 therapy

spotlight

12

18 naturalpet

20 wisewords 22 healingways 24 greenliving

26 26 inspiration 28 calendar 29 classifieds 30 resourceguide

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.

14 MISSION:

ANIMAL RESCUE

Big and Small, They Need Our Help

by Sandra Murphy

18 LIFESAVING ACTS Protecting Animals at Home and Abroad

14

by Sandra Murphy

20 THE EARTH DIET Liana Werner-Gray on Simple Eating

by Lane Vail

advertising & submissions HOW TO ADVERTISE

22 LOVE YOUR GREENS!

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.

by Nava Atlas

New Ways to Prepare these Nutritional Powerhouses

18 22

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.

24 A PRACTICAL GUIDE

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

Pick the Best Option for You

TO COMPOSTING

by Tracy Fernandez Rysavy

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

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

Facebook.com/natvalley Tennessee Valley Facebook.com/natvalley

4

26 MIND GARDENING

It Pays to Watch What Is Planted

by Dennis Merritt Jones

24

letterfrompublisher “Dogs offer the precious opportunity of loving and being loved unconditionally.” ~Eckhart Tolle To our readers who are dog lovers, we need your help.

We have six puppies who we need to find good homes for. They were born on January 17, and by the time you are reading this they will be ready for adoption.

They are all adorable pups. Their mother is shown below. We are not sure what her exact mix is. The father of the pups is a beagle. Because of this, we do not expect the pups to grow to more than small to medium size adult dogs. Both their mother and their father are extremely polite and friendly dogs, and the pups all have very sweet dispositions.

They are all extremely healthy. We have fed them and their mother nothing but holistic puppy food from Pets, Love & Happiness. You can really see the result of this in the pups’ appearance and health.

We are offering these pups free to good homes. If you are interested in adopting, or know someone who is, please give us a call.

contact us Publisher Tom Maples Tom@Natvalley.com 404-395-9634 Co-Publisher, Advertising Sales Cindy Wilson Cindy@Natvalley.com 256-476-6537 Design and Production Melanie Rankin

Pup 1 is a serene and easygoing male pup who likes to be picked up and held.

Pup 2 is a male, and one of four pups who look very similar. He is a quiet and friendly pup.

Pup 3 is a fun-loving, adventurous little guy who has a great personality.

Natural Awakenings in the Tennessee Valley 14 Woodland Ave. Trinity, Alabama 35673 Office: 256-340-1122 Fax: 256-217-4274 Facebook.com/natvalley Issuu.com/natvalley © 2015 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.

In my opinion, Pup 4 is the cutest pup of all in a batch of very cute pups. She is incredibly sweet and loves to be cuddled.

She is also very energetic and adventurous. She has stolen my heart, and she’ll steal yours, too.

Pup 5 is an adorable female who looks like her brothers.

She is a charmer and will make whoever adopts her very happy.

Pup 6 is a female who has similar black and tan markings to her siblings, but her tan coloring is much lighter and brighter.

She is one of the prettiest pups in the litter.

Ginger, their mother, is one of the gentlest and most polite dogs I’ve ever met. She rarely ever barks, and only does so when it’s appropriate. I think this trait will be passed on to her pups.

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

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

We welcome your ideas, articles and feedback.

SUBSCRIPTIONS Subscriptions are available by sending $20 (for 12 issues) to the above address.

Natural Awakenings is printed on recycled newsprint with soybased ink.

natural awakenings

March 2015

5

coverartist

newsbriefs Cymatic Therapy Now Available in Huntsville

L

True Friends Carol Broyles

il Stone, previous owner of Pot-O-Gold health food store, is back, bringing with her the latest technologies in alternative healing. Lil is still sharing her knowledge of herbs and supplements as freely as she did when she owned the Pot-O-Gold. This time she doesn’t sell products to make you feel better; she is providing health services to help you to feel and look better.

Lil has trained and certified in Cymatic Therapies.

She is excited about introducing Cymatic Therapy to the Huntsville area. Cymatic Therapy is a popular vibrational treatment used successfully in the UK for better than a Lil Stone half century. It was made famous by the late Dr. Peter Guy Manners, Osteopath of the UK. Although Dr. Manners did not invent Cymatics, he devoted his life to developing the MK6 machine and its 698 programs for healing. His medical practice and clinic was centered around Cymatic therapy.

His medical practice did not include prescriptions because he believed them to be destructive to humans.

Lil has always had the philosophy that if a person looked good and did not feel well they were only half way where they needed to be, and if they felt good and did not look good they were still only half way to where they needed to be.

Lil has trained and certified in Microcurrent and LED light therapies to provide her clients with a Non-Surgical Face Lift using the Knutek MD Protocol and Skin Care Products. Lil feels that she will finally be able to help her clients to reach their goal of Looking and Feeling Great.

Carol Broyles’ portraits each tell a distinctive story, often portraying scenes of innocence and playfulness, such as rural scenes of Amish life or the child embracing his pet on our cover, titled True Friends. Many of her oil paintings are inspired by candid photos taken by her daughter or brother, who is a professional photographer.

“I don’t like to work from posed photos; I like for a painting to tell a real story,” says Broyles. “One of my most popular paintings was inspired by a photo of Korean War veterans pledging allegiance to the flag. My heart broke, seeing the serious looks on their faces and just imagining what they had been through.”

A mainly self-taught artist, Broyles started painting nearly 30 years ago, when she discovered she had a talent and passion for art. She lives in Salem, Missouri, with her husband of more than 50 years, and enjoys spending time with her daughters, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Her work has been shown in Salem and Rolla, Missouri, where she received a Best of Show award in 2013.

O

View the artist’s portfolio at FineArt America.com/profiles/carollbroyles.html.

Date: Saturday, March 14 from 1-8:30pm. Location: Best Western Plus Hotel, 9035 Madison Boulevard (Hwy 20 near I-565 Exit 9) in Madison. The seminar is free to the public. Info: Eck-Alabama.org, 256-534-1751.

6

Tennessee Valley

For more information, Google “Cymatic, Huntsville” or visit CymaticsByLil.com online. See ad, page 20.

Are You Looking for a Sign from God?

n Saturday, March 14, the Alabama affiliate of Eckankar, Religion of the Light and Sound of God, will host a spiritual seminar entitled “Are You Looking for a Sign from God?” The seminar is free and open to the public.

Inspirational talks, personal stories and panel discussions will offer spiritual tools and insights for understanding how to live our lives better by recognizing divine guidance that is provided everyday—through dreams, waking dreams, intuition, and even the voices of other people. Some of the topics included on the program are The Golden Contract and Your Journey Home to God; Dreams, Waking Dreams and the Golden-tongued Wisdom; Seeing Spirit at Work Every Moment; Learn to Listen, Listen to Learn, and Interpreting Your Personal Signs From God. Small group discussions will provide attendees an opportunity to explore ways to realize the benefits of using spiritual consciousness to meet the challenges of daily life. Interspersed among the talks and discussions will be live musical performances.

Amanda Morris, local Eckankar clergy, says, “This seminar will highlight ways of recognizing the divine in every moment of your life. Anyone interested in finding keys to a life of greater love, wisdom and freedom is invited to attend.”

Facebook.com/natvalley

The Paranormal Study Center Welcomes Mystic Sisters, Tamara and Dawnette: “Hypnosis & Past Life Regression”

Advanced Breath & Meditation Workshop

awnette and Tamara have been Reiki Master/ Teachers for 15 years, which led them to Hypnotherapy. They became Certified Hypnotherapists in 2002 through the National Guild of Hypnotists, specializing in Age Regression, Forgiveness Therapy and Past Life Regressions. They complement their hypnosis sessions with assisting the client to reach higher states of awareness, which includes Connecting with the Spirit World, Exploring Your Intuition, and Connecting with your Spirit Guides, along with more conventional forms of hypnosis like Smoking Cessation, Weight Loss, and OverTamara and Dawnette coming Fears and Phobias.

“We have combined our gift of mediumship and our psychic abilities with our Hypnosis training to help our clients connect with loved ones who have passed.

This procedure has brought peace and closure to those suffering from tragic losses, helping them to understand there is no such thing as death, only transformation,” says Dawnette.

Dawnette and Tamara will be offering a one-day class on their teachings in such topics as Mediumship, Past Lives, How to Make Your Life a Spirit Led Adventure by Following the Signs, and more, for only $30 this weekend.

Come and listen to a rare presentation by sisters, Tamara and Dawnette as they share their unique knowledge and wisdom about Hypnosis and Past Life Regressions.

D

D

Location: The Hilton Garden Inn, 4801 Governors House Dr (next to Landry’s Seafood), Friday, March 27 at 6:30-9pm. Public Admission at the door is $10.

ParapsychologyStudyGroup.com. Meetup.com/Huntsville-Paranormal-Study-Center.

Keys to Harmonic Health Workshop with Susan Spalding

G

ood health includes more than having a health body, believes Susan Spalding, and Harmonic Health is about more than conscious eating; it’s about conscious living.

The Keys to Harmonic Health workshop will focus on discovering the energy leaks and blockages, which, over time, lead to ill health and unhappiness. The workshop will also cover Twelve Golden Keys of Healing, why forgiveness is the “frequency that heals,” and the role of energy medicine in the 21st century.

Susan, the founder of Directional Healing™ and author of An Invitation to Heal, began her study of nutrition and natural healing in the early 1970s. A former high school English teacher, her interest in health came out of her own illnesses and life challenges.

During her journey in learning to heal herself and in assisting others, she learned that the true underlying source of healing is love and finding harmony, and the outer methods may vary that one uses to reach that end. If we heal a pain, but our hearts remain empty, are we healed, asks Susan? It is the journey itself that teaches us how to live and grow through life’s challenges, and how to stay in tune with the rhythm of life.

Date: Saturday, March 28, from 10am-12pm. Location: Hilton Garden Inn, 301 Boulevard South in Huntsville. The workshop is free to the public. Info and reservations: 256-882-0360 or email Sspaldingdh@att.net. See listing, page 30.

r. Laj Utreja, founder of Institute of Spiritual Healing (ISH), will be conducting this workshop. Laj has been teaching pranayama (breath regulation) and dhyana (meditation) as part of several programs for total health and rejuvenation. Currently, Laj has initiated an undertaking to establish Institute of Global Harmony in India.

Regular practice of any one of these programs restores the body’s immune system, addresses stress, fatigue, anger, anxiety, insomnia, lack of enthusiasm, concentration and focus. It assists in inhibiting extraneous thoughts leading to mental peace and happiness.

Pranayama significantly improves a number of chronic physical and mental conditions and addictions. In that sense, pranayama is an alternative therapy without any medicine. Mudras (Hand Gestures, positions of the body that influence the energies of the body) and Bandhas (Locks, locking the energy flow to cause flow with an increased pressure to a certain body part) enhance the effectiveness of Pranayama.

Dhyana is an unbroken chain of concentration to relieve you of stresses on the body-mind complex.

In this workshop you will learn how to do pranayama with mudras and bandhas which aid your body’s immune system and experience of wellness.

All profits will be donated to Interfaith Mission Service.

Date: Saturday and Sunday, March 1415, 2015 from 8am-12pm. Location will be determined later. Fee: $25 each day.

Please respond by March 5 to reserve your place: 256-604-6927 or email lutreja7@gmail.com.

natural awakenings

March 2015

7

I found it — The Secret to Anti-Aging!

My cholesterol dropped by 73 points in 1 month, my husband’s morning blood sugar level dropped from 200 to 113 in 3 months, and we are feeling and looking so much YOUNGER! A few months ago, my husband’s blood sugars were out of control after years of controlling it with diet. And his skin had taken on a yellowish-grey pallor… which showed me that his liver and kidneys were also in serious trouble. I was scared!

A friend stopped by, took one look at Charles, and said, “We have to get him on the Micronized Heart of Royal Purple Rice immediately!” Although I had never heard of it, I quickly said, “Get me some now.” I am so grateful that I did!

Within 3 weeks his skin was pink and glowing and he was feeling so much better. I also began eating it and began noticing more energy, sounder sleep, and improved skin.

It is so tiny and powerful that when you eat it … it does not even have to go through your digestive system — it can immediately go into the cells and energize them! Like tiny arrows, these highly charged alpha glucan chains of super nutrients can pierce cell walls and furnish the mitochondria (the cell’s battery) with fuel to create massive amounts of ATP Light Energy, so that the cells can recharge, regenerate, and function at the highest level.

Recharge, Repair, and Regenerate Your Cells

We had our blood tested and after eating this rice product for only a month, my cholesterol had dropped by 73 points! I had been taking several other natural supplements for two years to lower cholesterol to no avail, but after only one month my cholesterol dropped to normal, as did my triglycerides, and three other blood markers that had been way too high. My doctor was shocked. He said no drug would give me those quick and dramatic results!

And Charles, with several medical conditions, had 10 blood markers drop significantly! My doctor said he knew of nothing that could work like that across so many body systems! “Not drugs...but real foods,” I said.

The reason so many people who are eating well and taking good supplements are still sick is ... nutrition can’t get into the cell!

A recent medical study showed — more than 80% of the population is insulin resistant at some level That means that the sugars and nutrients we need for energy cannot get into the cells. (If a cell phone battery cannot be recharged — it powers down and eventually dies). If you are tired, and have dis-eases that have names … your cells are also powering down and dying.

When the sugars (polysaccharides) can’t get into your cells to be used for energy, they cause another problem, too. They float around your blood stream, sticking to proteins and fats—or “glycating”. Wherever they stick they cause problems … if they stick in the bloodstream they cause hardening of the arteries and high blood pressure, in the brain they cause learning and memory issues or dementia, in the eyes—cataracts, in the skin—wrinkles.

With my raw natural product you can recharge your cells and reverse the glycation and aging now!

What’s In This Product and How Does It Work?

Read What This Has Done For My Friends ...

The basis of the product is a ancient, heirloom strain of royal purple rice that is now grown in Thailand in a pristine valley that has never seen chemicals, pesticides, or GMO’s.

Then, the purple husk, which is extremely high in anthocyanin antioxidants, along with the very heart of the rice (the endosperm) is removed—this is the part that carries the super polysaccharide sugars and polypeptide amino acid building blocks. Everything else is discarded.

With only the dense nutrient rice heart left — this is then milled down to the size of a micron! That’s it—that is all that’s in this amazing raw natural product.

When I shared this with my friend, Bonnie, her body used the new cellular energy to reduce her blood pressure and smooth the wrinkles from her face. Nicole’s intense pain from an accident is gone and she is off her debilitating medications. Jeff is no longer experiencing acid reflux or gout. Dee Dee’s night blindness is gone and so are her allergies. Charles morning blood sugars have dropped from 200 to 113. I am looking so much younger that someone asked me if I had a ‘procedure’ done! Even my granddaughter’s dog has gotten rid of his digestive issues because of this product. So … would you like to see what this amazing food will do for you?

It takes 60 pounds of Royal Purple Rice to make ONE Pound of my product.

Call me (Kare) at: 727-798-8764 I’ll send you my FREE book, answer all your questions, and get this product on its way to you so you can begin anti-aging, too!

But What Really Got My Attention…

8

Kare & Charles Possick

Tennessee Valley

Facebook.com/natvalley

www.KaresPurpleRiceProducts.com

newsbriefs Metaphysics: Consciousness Chart and Clearance Class

R

ev. Donell Koch will be teaching a ten-week course entitled “Consciousness Chart and Clearnace” at the Light of Christ Center starting March 24.

The objective of this class is to learn the basics of Clearance Work (psychic healing tool) in order to effectively heal oneself and others, and individual growth. To learn and understand the basics of the Consciousness Chart in order to be aware of the human traits working in the personality and how to change them into divine qualities. This is a review of the Planes & Bodies, Rays & Flames and an in-depth study and practice of using the Consciousness Chart and Clearance.

Sign up soon and come and enjoy a wonderful class.

Date: Tuesdays, 7pm, March 24 through May 26. Location: Light of Christ Center, 4208 Holmes Ave NW, Huntsville. Fee: $100 plus materials. Sign up at the Center, call 256-895-0255 and leave a message, or contact Revdkoch@comcast.net. See ad, page 11.

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

Meditation

Tuesdays & Wednesdays 6:00pm

Satsang

Natural and Organic Retinol Alternative?

Y

es, Eminence Handmade Organic Skin Care of Hungary offers just that. Discover our Age Corrective Collection with collagen-boosting Natural Retinol Alternative Complex and PhytoCellTec™ Swiss Green Apple stem cell technology.

With delicious exotic coconut, bamboo and Neroli flowers, our incredible Natural Retinol Alternative Complex contains chicory root and Tara tree for a complex that mimics—and outperforms—the oft-prescribed conventional retinol to increase collagen synthesis. Plus, we’ve added plant stem cells from the famous Swiss Green Apple to deliver an increase in cell regeneration and longevity.

The Natural Retinol Alternative Clinical Tests revealed that the skin appears tightened and more firm in as little as 5 minutes. Also, collagen levels increase by 25% in just 6 days. Fine lines and crow’s feet dramatically soften in 28 days. The synthetic retinol increases collagen content by 17% while the Natural Retinol Alternative from Eminence increases collagen content by 25% after 6 days of treatment.

Turn back time with organic skin care that repairs the visible signs of aging instantly and restores collagen levels and cell vitality over time for skin that appears, and acts, naturally ageless. The secret is in the science.

To schedule your organic facial and for more information, contact your local Eminence representative, licensed esthetician Marsha Mathes, at 256-698-2151 or MarshaMathes.SkinCareTherapy.net. See listing, page 31.

Wednesdays 6:30pm

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

www.cslhuntsville.org

308 Lily Flagg Rd.

883-8596

natural awakenings

March 2015

9

Inner Wellness Center for

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

Call For More Information.

Becky Waters, CHT, BMSC 256.348.5236 3322 South Memorial Parkway Suite 643 Huntsville, AL 35801 www.centerforinnerwellness.com

Breathe. Love. Live.

Bikram Hot Yoga Feel Great Lose Weight Heal & Prevent Injuries Reduce Stress Increase Energy, Vitality & Stamina Improve Breathing & Lung Capacity Increase Strength, Balance & Flexibilty ONE MONTH OF UNLIMITED YOGA $50 (New Members Only)

8331 Madison Blvd, Ste 600 Madison, AL 35758

256-509-7755

BikramHotYogaHuntsville.com 10

Tennessee Valley

healthbriefs

Ginkgo Biloba Calms ADHD, Boosts Memory

R

esearchers from Germany’s University of Tübingen’s Center for Medicine tested the Ginkgo biloba extract EGb761 on 20 children diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in a clinical trial. The children were given up to 240 milligrams (mg) of the extract for between three and five weeks. Before, during and after the treatment, the scientists evaluated the children by testing the brain’s electrical activity, along with other ADHD-related tests. Those that had received the extract exhibited significant improvement in ADHD symptoms.

A study from Liberty University, in Virginia, previously examined 262 adults ages 60 and over with normal memory and mental performance and found that the same Ginkgo biloba extract improved their cognitive scores. Half of the study participants were given 180 mg of the extract daily and half were given a placebo.

Standardized tests and a subjective, self-reporting questionnaire found the Ginkgo resulted in significant cognitive improvements among the older adults.

BUGS LINKED TO FACTORY FARM ANTIBIOTICS

T

he bacteria E. coli now causes 75 to 95 percent of all urinary tract infections, and research from Iowa State University has confirmed that such occurrences are linked to factory farms that use antibiotics.

The findings support a study previously completed by scientists from the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and George Washington University that shows a strain of antibiotic-resistant E. coli called ExPEC, an extra-intestinal pathogen, was genetically traceable to factory-farmed animals receiving certain antibiotics.

The National Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring System reports that 75 percent of chicken and turkey, 59 percent of ground beef and 40 percent of pork meats tested were contaminated with E. coli, and that the strains were predominantly multi-drug resistant.

Meditation Minimizes Migraines

R

esearchers from the Wake Forest School of Medicine found that mindfulness meditation significantly reduced the number and duration of migraines among 19 episodic migraine patients. Ten were given eight weeks of mindfulness classes with instructions for adding personal meditation in-between sessions.

The other nine received typical migraine care.

Those in the meditation group experienced an average of 1.4 fewer migraines per month, which averaged nearly three hours less than the ones experienced by those in the control group. Pain levels of the headaches reported by those in the meditation group averaged 1.3 points lower on a scale of one to 10.

Facebook.com/natvalley

Even Modest Drinking Raises Risk of Heart Disease

C

ontrary to the hypothesis that moderate drinking can be heart-healthy, a new study published in the British Medical Journal indicates that even light to moderate drinking increases the risk of heart disease.

In a large, randomized meta-study, researchers examined patient data from 261,991 European adults derived from 56 studies. Participants were classified as non-drinkers, light drinkers, moderate drinkers or heavy drinkers. The researchers also used a gene variation to determine alcohol intake—a genetic marker that indicates low alcohol consumption of less than 10 milliliters (about a third of an ounce) per week.

They found that those with the gene variation—and thus are virtually non-drinkers—had a significantly lower risk of heart disease, including stroke and hypertension, and that even light drinking significantly increased heart disease risk. The researchers concluded: “These findings suggest that reductions of alcohol consumption, even for light to moderate drinkers, may be beneficial for cardiovascular health.”

A Course In Miracles 9:15am Sundays 1-Hour Mystery School 11am Sundays

Affirmations, Music, Mystery Message, Fellowship, An Open Communion Table

Guest Speaker, Gene Skaggs 11:00am, Mar 1 Building Fund Luncheon 12:30pm Sun, Mar 1, $6 Full Moon Circle 6:30pm, Mar 5th Book Club Wealthy Spirit by Chellie Campbell 6:30pm, Mar 9th

Register Receipts Low Risk for BPA

R

esearch from the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health has determined that handling cash register receipts, common in credit card transactions, can increase exposure of the hormone disruptor Bisphenol A (BPA), but that exposure is well within limits considered safe when the receipts are handled under normal conditions.

The researchers tested 121 people exposed to the synthetic chemical through their skin and found their average BPA urinary excretion levels averaged 2.6 micrograms (mcg) per liter. The researchers then had test subjects handle thermal paper three times every five minutes, simulating a store cashier’s handling of receipts.

The researchers found those that handled the thermal paper during the simulation test had an average increase in their BPA urinary excretions of just under 0.2 mcg per liter per kilogram of body weight. The researchers noted that this was still 25 times lower than the European Food Safety Authority’s proposed temporary tolerable daily intake of 5 mcg per liter per kilogram of body weight per day.

Primary sources of BPA exposure are plastics used in water bottles and many other consumer goods.

Tarot Club 7:00pm, Mar 13th Spring Equinox Celebration 7:00pm, Mar 20th New Class Begins Metaphysics 201

Consciousness Chart & Clearance

7:00pm, Mar 27th Open Clearance 7:00pm Mar 27th

Our labyrinth is always open for your meditative walks.

WILD THYME KILLS BREAST CANCER CELLS

A

study published in the Nutrition and Cancer Journal reveals that the herb thyme is more than a cooking spice. Scientists tested a methanol extract of Thymus serphyllum—also referred to as wild thyme—on two types of breast cancer cells and found that it was able to kill them in laboratory testing. The testing also found the extract to be safe for healthy normal breast cells. The researchers state that wild thyme may provide the means for a promising natural cancer treatment.

Let the Magic Begin 4208 Holmes Ave. NW Huntsville, Alabama 256-895-0255 www.lightofchristcenter.org

natural awakenings

March 2015

11

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

Salty Harvest

Seaweed May Be the New Lettuce Food items such as kelp, dulse, alaria and laver may be unfamiliar now, but likely not for long, as these and other varieties of edible seaweed and sea vegetables appear on more shopping lists and restaurant menus.

These ingredients are already favored by cooks for the jolt of salty goodness they bring to soups and salads and by health food advocates that appreciate their high levels of essential minerals. Goodies in the pipeline include seaweed-filled bagels, ice cream and chips.

The trend toward farming seaweed instead of harvesting in the wild is making news. Working waterfronts often go dormant in the winter as lobstermen that work during warmer months move inland out of season for part-time jobs. Seaweed is a winter crop that can keep boats out on the water, providing year-round aquaculture employment.

Entrepreneur Matthew Moretti, who operates Bangs Island Mussels, a shellfish and kelp farm in Casco Bay, near Portland, Maine, explains, “Mussels are monoculture,” so he has been growing sugar kelp between mussel rafts to create a more ecological model.

Source: Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Center for a Livable Future

Cultivating Youth

Farming Seeks to Recruit a New Generation With an aging population of farmers, it’s clear that agriculture needs to attract more young people, because half the farmers in the U.S. are 55 or older. But for much of the world’s youth, agriculture isn’t seen as being cool or attractive—only as backbreaking labor without an economic payoff and with little room for career advancement. However, with some effort, young farmers can explore contemporary career options in permaculture design, biodynamic farming, communication technologies, forecasting, marketing, logistics, quality assurance, urban agriculture projects, food preparation, environmental sciences and advanced technologies.

“Increased access to education and new forms of agriculture-based enterprises means that young people can be a vital force for innovation in family farming, increasing incomes and well-being for both farmers and local communities,” says Mark Holderness, executive secretary of the Global Forum for Agricultural Research.

The New Entry Sustainable Farming Project (nesfp.org), in Massachusetts, trains young farmers in how to run a small farm operation, from business planning to specialized advanced workshops in livestock and healthy food. Likewise, the Southeastern New England Young Farmer Network (YoungFarmerNetwork.org) hosts free social and educational events that bring together farmers of all ages and experience levels to network and collaborate.

Source: FoodTank.com 12

Tennessee Valley

Facebook.com/natvalley

Frack Attack

Drilling Poisons Both Water and Air Major concerns about hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, as a means of extracting natural gas have centered on how toxic fracking fluids and methane injected into the ground can pollute water supplies. Now a new study published in the Journal of Environmental Health attests how fracking adversely impacts air quality, too.

Lead author David Carpenter, director of the Institute for Health and the Environment at New York’s University at Albany, is concerned that fracking sites show potential to develop cancer clusters in years to come. The study found eight different poisonous chemicals in groundwater near wells and fracking sites throughout Arkansas, Colorado, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wyoming at levels that exceeded federal limits, including levels of benzene and formaldehyde, both known carcinogens.

Approximately half of the air samples Carpenter analyzed exceeded federally recommended limits. Benzene levels were 35 to 770,000 times higher; hydrogen sulfide levels were 90 to 60,000 times higher; and formaldehyde levels were 30 to 240 times above a theoretically safe threshold.

“Cancer has a long latency, so you’re not seeing an elevation in cancer in these communities [yet],” says Carpenter. “But five, 10, 15 or more years from now, elevation in cancer incidence is almost certain to happen.”

Source: Grist.org

therapyspotlight

has shown to be tremendously effective for the relief of pain and inflammatory symptoms in a variety of illnesses.

Cryotherapy has been clinically evaluated in the treatment of arthritis, fibromyalgia, ankylosing spondylitis, multiple sclerosis, tinnitus, anxiety/ depression, and many other disorders.

In these studies, many patients experienced significant temporary relief of their symptoms. Cryotherapy helps athletes recover faster from exercise

Cryotherapy Birmingham

by Tom Maples

R

emember how energized you feel after a short immersion in cold water?

That’s the same general principle behind Whole Body Cryotherapy, without the discomfort of getting wet. The difference is that Whole Body Cryotherapy is much more effective than ice baths or cold water at reducing pain and inflammation, stimulating the metabolism, and promoting that general feeling of rejuvenation.

And it only takes three minutes.

Whole Body Cryotherapy is a completely non-invasive therapy has been shown to have a wide range of beneficial effects in the categories of athletic performance and recovery, health and pain management, and beauty and wellness.

Whole Body Cryotherapy involves a brief exposure to extremely cold air in a “Cryosauna.” The Cryosauna experience involves lowering the body’s surface skin temperature from approximately 90.5° F to around 32° F for 2-3 minutes. This is achieved by the use of Nitrogen mist which gently surrounds the body at -133° F to -274° F.

During this process, thermoreceptors in the skin send signals to the brain

to release endorphins and beneficial biochemicals. In response to the cold, the body shunts blood to the core to protect the vital organs and to maintain core body temperature.

In the process, the blood is supercharged with anti-inflammatory proteins and higher levels of oxygen. The vessels and capillaries in the skin undergo a period of severe vasoconstriction followed by vasodilation. This causes toxins in the body to be broken down and carried away through these vessels. The body activates all of its natural healing abilities and releases endorphins for further protection. As a result, Cryotherapy is very effective for athletic recovery and muscle repair, reduction of chronic pain and inflammation, and skin health improvement through increased collagen production, leading to a reduction in cellulite and tighter and healthier skin.

Cryotherapy essentially tricks the body into triggering its protective and rejuvenating processes, including the release of analgesic “feel-good” brain chemicals such as endorphins, dopamine, and adrenaline, Because of this, the three-minute Cryosauna experience

“My training intensity has picked up tremendously this year, and so has my recovery. With Cryotherapy I can train harder & recover faster for better performance.” ~Blake Matthews, Owner, Coach, Crossfit Furious, Helena, AL

“I was left with tremendous pain from back surgery 8 years ago. Now, two months after repeated Cryotherapy, I am 27 lbs lighter, I have more energy, my pain has decreased significantly and I’m able to exercise and move around like I want to.” ~Brandon Greenhill and injury, and it helps surgical patients heal faster and recover quicker. For those seeking a metabolic boost, Cryotherapy burns 500-800 calories from one three-minute session. People undergoing Cryotherapy typically notice a sharp increase in their appetite about 1-2 hours after their session, along with a noticeable energy boost that lasts for up to eight hours following treatment.

Cryotherapy has been proven safe and effective in clinical practice and studies in Asia and Europe for more than 30 years since it’s discovery in Japan in 1978. The Cryotherapy technology and process have been researched and refined since that time, culminating in the advanced Cryosauna system at Cryotherapy Birmingham—the ultimate three-minute health boost.

Cryotherapy Birmingham is located at 1816 28th Ave South Suite E in Homewood across from SOHO Square. For more information or to schedule an appointment, call 205-414-0404, email Info@CryotherapyBirmingham.com, or go online to CryotherapyBirmingham.com.

natural awakenings

March 2015

13

infusion into the pet’s testicles causes them to atrophy. It’s less invasive, with a lower chance of infection and less pain, and reduces testosterone.

For feral cat populations where traps haven’t worked, megestrol acetate, derived from progesterone, added to food acts as birth control to slow or stop colony growth.”

Treatment of laboratory animals has also improved. “There have been three significant changes since 1984,” says Cathy Liss, president of the nonprofit Animal Welfare Institute, in Washington, D.C., founded in 1951 (awionline.org).

“General housing conditions are better, the number of government-owned chimpanzees has decreased and laboratories no longer obtain dogs and cats from random sources, so no stolen pets end up in labs.”

MISSION: ANIMAL RESCUE Big and Small, They Need Our Help

by Sandra Murphy

E

very creature in the animal kingdom has an essential purpose, yet through human interference, animal life overall has become so imbalanced as to signal a tipping point for Earth. Extreme care for the rapidly growing population of a relative handful of pet breeds stands in stark contrast to trending extinction of dozens of other species. Fortunately, in addition to the efforts of dedicated volunteers, conservationists and supportive lawmakers, every one of us can make a real difference.

Home Pet Rescues

Zack Skow started by volunteering with a nearby dog rescue organization.

He became director, and then in 2009 founded his own nonprofit, Marley’s Mutts (MarleysMutts.org), in Tehachapi, California, pulling many kinds of dogs out of Los Angeles shelters. “A lot of rescues are breed-specific; I think mutts deserve an equal chance,” says Skow, now the executive director.

“Small dogs get adopted faster, so we 14

Tennessee Valley

get the larger mixes, including pit bulls and Rottweilers.”

Currently, the facility continues to expand its services, working with pet foster homes; providing medical care for severely abused animals in need of rehabilitation and socialization; and managing visits to prisons, mental health facilities and schools. “We take in who we can help. To see a dog triumph over tremendous odds gives people hope,” says Skow. Recently, volunteers pulled 70 dogs from Los Angeles shelters, fostered them for a month and then transported them east to adoption facilities where conditions were less crowded.

Spay/neuter is the best solution to pet overpopulation, says Ruth Steinberger, national founder of Spay First, headquartered in Oklahoma City (SpayFirst.org). From 20 years of experience, she explains that in locations and situations in which surgery is impractical, “We’ve had great results using calcium chloride in ethyl alcohol, done under sedation. A slow

Facebook.com/natvalley

She reports that animals now are subject to only one experiment, retired for adoption instead of being euthanized, and furnished with natural living conditions on-site—vertical space, an enriched environment with mental and physical stimulation, interaction with other animals and appropriate food and bedding. “Most lab animals are rats and mice,” says Liss. “Any animal has the capacity to suffer. It’s up to us to treat them humanely.”

Farm Animal Stewardship

“Animals become ambassadors,” says Gene Baur, president and co-founder of Farm Sanctuary’s three locations in New York’s Finger Lakes region, Los Angeles and northern California (FarmSanctuary.org) and author of Farm Sanctuary: Changing Hearts and Minds About Animals and Food. “People are distanced from food sources.

Once you learn that sheep love to be petted and pigs like belly rubs, you know an animal as an individual. The best way to help is to share information, farm animal videos and plantbased recipes, so people can see that going meatless is about far more than just eating produce.”

Musician Sir Paul McCartney, author of The Meat Free Monday Cookbook, took the message to schools in 2012. Now students around the world participate in meat-free lunch programs. The adult initiative of going meatless for one or more days extends to 35 countries on six continents.

Pigs, cows, horses, peacocks and an alpaca live in harmony at local nonprofit Cracker Box Palace Farm Animal Haven, in Alton, New York (CrackerBox Palace.org), which spurs recovery from illness, neglect or abuse. “People get animals without doing research on their care or habits. That’s how we got the peacocks—they have a bloodcurdling scream,” says Farm Manager Cheri Roloson, who rents out their goats as nature’s landscapers to clear brush.

Mistreated animals also provide therapy for returning military veterans and abused children at Ranch Hand Rescue, in Argyle, Texas (RanchHand Rescue.org). Kids find it easier to talk about their experiences with an animal that has also endured cruel treatment, like Spirit, a horse that received precedent-setting surgery to repair a leg that had improperly healed after being broken by a baseball bat.

Conscious chicken farms, too, are making an impact. “Chickens can be well-treated and have a healthy, decent life,” says Jason Urena, marketing manager with NestFresh, which operates 20 small farms and five processing plants, concentrated in Colorado, Iowa, Illinois, Wisconsin and Texas to reduce its carbon footprint (NestFresh.com).

Starting with cage-free hens, the Denver company grew based on nationwide customer requests for certified cage-free, free-range, organic, pastureraised and nonGMO (genetically modified) eggs.

“We’re the first in the country to offer certified non-GMO eggs,” attests Urena.

He explains that in the process for certification, feed is inspected at every step, from planting seed (usually corn

“Pets are considered property, and until that changes, it’s harder to make a difference. Farm animals have no rights at all. Animals are sentient beings with rights commensurate with the ability to feel pain and even be valued members of the family. They deserve far more than a property classification.” ~Diane Sullivan, assistant dean and professor, Massachusetts School of Law or soy) to storage in silos and mill grinding, to allow traceability for potential problems and avoid cross-contamination.

Wildlife Habitat Preservation There are few places on Earth that humans haven’t impacted fragile ecosystems. Loss of habitat and lack of food sources are critical issues. Bats are a bellwether for the impact on wildlife from human-induced diseases. The Wildlife Conservation Society studies the loons in New York’s Adirondack Mountains to monitor their exposure to disease and pollution.

The mission of the National Wildlife Federation (NWF) is to use conservation and education to protect present and future wildlife.

Of the 410-plus species of mammals in the United States, 80 are on the endangered species list, reminiscent of the bison that used to number in the millions,

but now mostly exist in small bands on private and public lands.

NWF aims to build on the bison restoration efforts achieved to date (now numbering tens of thousands) by reintroducing them onto more public lands, reservations and protected habitats, and likewise build up populations of other wild threatened and endangered animals. Its programs feature green corridors to give native species a home and migrating species a rest stop.

“The important message is not how many species have gone off the list, but how many didn’t go extinct,” says David Mizejewski, a celebrity naturalist for NWF. “It’s important to understand species require different ecosystems.

When we quit draining swamps and rerouting rivers and leave them alone in a proper habitat, alligators will come back. Eagles have fewer young, so it’s not easy for them to recover.”

The success in restoring populations of the bald eagle, our national symbol, during the second half of the last century was significant. Measures

What You Can Do 4 Volunteer to walk a dog, foster a cat, make phone calls or help with shelter paperwork.

4 Spay/neuter pets and consider adopting before shopping at a pet store.

4 Donate to support rehabilitation of an abused animal.

4 Pick up litter, especially harmful in and near waterways.

4 Be a conscious consumer and don’t let factory farm prices influence decisions.

4 Tell companies what is accept able or not via purchases, emails and phone calls.

4 Lobby politicians to support worthy animal causes.

natural awakenings

March 2015

15

that included banning the poisonous DDT pesticide that contaminated their food and affected reproduction, improving native habitats and prohibiting hunting of the bird allowed its removal from the endangered list in 2007. They are still protected by the 1918 Migratory Bird Treaty Act.

Another raptor, the peregrine falcon, has adapted to urban living in order to survive. Nests adorn tops of buildings and pigeons are a plentiful food supply.

Bears, mountain lions and wolves have been dwindling, hunted as dangerous, a nuisance or for sport. With fewer of these natural predators, whitetailed deer can overpopulate their habitat and starve. Deer and other displaced animals may migrate into suburban areas in search of food, prompting hurtful human reactions to reduce their numbers.

The American Bear Association provides safe, seasonal habitats for black bears (AmericanBear.org).

Located near Orr, Minnesota, the 360-acre sanctuary

The 1966 Animal Welfare Act improved the lives of many commercial animals, but more laws are needed.

See SustainableTable.org/ 274/animal-welfare. also hosts white-tailed deer, bald eagles, beavers, mink, pine martens, fishers, timber wolves, red squirrels, bobcats, blue jays, owls, ducks, songbirds and ravens.

Among movements to protect smaller endangered and threatened animals, the American Tortoise Rescue lobbies for legislation to ban the importation of non-native species (Tortoise.com). “Turtles and bullfrogs are imported as pets or as food, and many end up in streams or lakes, where they

Did You Know… n San Francisco’s SPCA is one of many organizations that offer free or low-cost spay/neuter for specific breeds most frequently seen in shelters, like pit bulls, and special programs offer free surgeries. Find locations at Tinyurl.com/SpayNeuterServices. n One female dog can produce litters of up to 10 pups twice a year; cats can have three litters a year of up to five kittens each. n An estimated 2.7 million healthy shelter pets remain unadopted each year, yet only about 30 percent of pets in homes come from shelters or rescues, according to The Humane Society of the United States. n Factory farms account for 99 percent of farm animals, yet less than 1 percent of donated money directly assists them, reports Animal Charity Evaluators, in San Diego. The highly rated Mercy for Animals, dedicated to prevention of cruelty to farmed animals, reports, “Despite the fact that these are the most abused animals in the United States, they actually have the fewest number of advocates.” n Sandra, a 29-year-old Sumatran orangutan at the Buenos Aires Zoo, was recognized as a “non-human person” unlawfully deprived of her freedom by Argentine courts. “This opens the way not only for other great apes, but also for other sentient beings that are unfairly and arbitrarily deprived of their liberty,” says Paul Buompadre, an attorney with the Association of Officials and Lawyers for Animal Rights. “The question is not ‘Can they reason?’ or ‘Can they talk?’ but ‘Can they suffer?’” says Barry MacKay, director of the Animal Alliance of Canada.

“That to me is the ultimate question.”

16

Tennessee Valley

Facebook.com/natvalley

kill native species,” says cofounder Susan M. Tellem, in Malibu, California. “They can carry salmonella, parasites and tuberculosis,” she explains.

Unfortunately, a California law passed to limit importation was revoked within weeks due to claims of cultural bias by politicians lobbying for Asian food markets that sell live turtles and bullfrogs.

As the only Association of Zoos and Aquariums-certified wolf facility in the world, The Endangered Wolf Center, in Eureka, Missouri, has been breeding and reintroducing wolves into the wild for 40 years (EndangeredWolfCenter. org). Founded by zoologist and television host Marlin Perkins and his wife, Carol, they helped increase both the Mexican gray wolf population from nine to 235 in managed care, plus at least 75 in the wild, and the red wolf population from 14 to 160 in managed care, with more than 100 in the wild.

Every pack of Mexican gray wolves roaming the Southwest and 70 percent of North Carolina red wolves can be traced back to the center.

Wildlife protection laws vary by state. Key conservation successes typically begin with local and regional initiatives promoted by farsighted individuals that care enough to get the ball rolling and back it up with supportive legislation.

Christian Samper, Ph.D., CEO of the Wildlife Conservation Society, observes, “Zoos and aquariums help the public better understand the natural systems that make all life possible. The hope is that what people understand, they will appreciate and what they appreciate, they will work to protect.”

One person’s care can make a difference. For an animal, it can mean life itself.

Sandra Murphy is a freelance writer in St. Louis, MO. Connect at StLouis FreelanceWriter@mindspring.com.

Publish a Natural Awakenings Magazine in Your Community Share Your Vision and Make a Difference • Meaningful New Career • Low Initial Investment • Proven Business System • Home Based Business • Exceptional Franchise Support & Training

Natural Awakenings recently won the prestigious FBR50 Franchise Satisfaction Award from Franchise Business Review. To learn more visit: franchisebusinessreview.com

Natural Awakenings publishes in over 95 markets across the U.S. and Puerto Rico • • • • • • • • • • •

• •

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Huntsville, AL Mobile/Baldwin, AL* Little Rock/Hot Spg., AR* Phoenix, AZ* Tucson, AZ East Bay Area, CA San Diego, CA Denver/Boulder, CO Fairfield County, CT Hartford, CT New Haven/ Middlesex, CT Washington, DC Daytona/Volusia/ Flagler, FL NW FL Emerald Coast Ft. Lauderdale, FL Jacksonville/St. Aug., FL Melbourne/Vero, FL Miami & Florida Keys* Naples/Ft. Myers, FL North Central FL* Orlando, FL* Palm Beach, FL Peace River, FL Sarasota, FL Tampa/St. Pete., FL FL’s Treasure Coast Atlanta, GA Hawaiian Islands Chicago, IL Indianapolis, IN Baton Rouge, LA

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

• •

Lafayette, LA New Orleans, LA Portland, ME Boston, MA Ann Arbor, MI East Michigan Wayne County, MI Western MI Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN Charlotte, NC Lake Norman, NC Triangle NC Central NJ Hudson County, NJ* Mercer County, NJ Monmouth/Ocean, NJ North NJ* North Central NJ South NJ* Santa Fe/Abq., NM Las Vegas, NV Albany, NY Buffalo, NY Central NY Long Island, NY Manhattan, NY Queens, NY Rochester, NY Rockland/Orange, NY Westchester/ Putnam, NY Central OH Cincinnati, OH

• Toledo, OH • Oklahoma City, OK • Portland, OR* • Bucks/Montgomery Counties, PA* • Harrisburg/York, PA • Lancaster, PA • Lehigh Valley, PA • Pocono, PA/ Warren Co., NJ • Scranton/ Wilkes-Barre, PA • Rhode Island • Charleston, SC • Columbia, SC • Grand Strand, SC* • Greenville, SC • Chattanooga, TN • Knoxville, TN • Memphis, TN • Austin, TX • Dallas Metroplex, TX • Dallas/FW Metro N • Galveston, TX • Houston, TX • San Antonio, TX • Richmond, VA • VA’s Blue Ridge • Seattle, WA • Madison, WI • Milwaukee, WI • Puerto Rico *Existing magazines for sale

For more information visit our website NaturalAwakeningsMag.com/mymagazine or call 239-530-1377

natural awakenings

March 2015

17

naturalpet A health food store with more!

Massage , tox e Reflexology d o ds! ime t Herbalist n u TClinical o p

me o s p dro

LIFESAVING ACTS Known for Knowledge & Service that sets us apart Locally owned Serving Huntsville for nearly 50 years!

256-883-4127 7540 South Memorial Parkway Rosie’s Shopping Center Huntsville, AL 9:30-5:30 M-F; 9:30-2:30 Sat.

RuthsNutrition.com

Make your community a little GREENER …

Support our advertisers For every $100 spent in locally owned business, $68 returns to the community source: the350project.net

18

Tennessee Valley

Protecting Animals at Home and Abroad

by Sandra Murphy

E

ach year, more dogs, cats and other pets end up in shelters as lost, stray or owner-surrendered than leave them for a new home. What can be done to reverse this trend?

How to Help

Immediate steps: Have a vet implant a tiny RFID (radio frequency identification) microchip. It’s safe, affordable and helps reunite the owner with a lost pet. Spay/ neuter pets to avoid unwanted litters.

Spread the word: Only about 30 percent of household pets come from shelters or rescues, according to the ASPCA. To help, suggest that shelters post photos in the lobby, supported by a note about each animal’s good points and special needs to entice potential adopters. Also share YouTube videos that celebrate adoption and advocate controlling the pet population (see Tinyurl. com/SpayNeuterStreetMusic1 and Tinyurl.com/SpayNeuterStreetMusic2).

Volunteer: The Motley Zoo, in Redmond, Washington, provides medical care and behavioral training for ill, injured, neglected, abused and unwanted animals mainly from overflowing shelters.

About half of its 150 volunteers foster

Facebook.com/natvalley

pets; others plan educational events or handle administrative tasks. “Each person has a specialty,” says Jamie Thomas, executive director. “We match fosters and animals to get the best results.”

No kill shelters are becoming more common, even though they require uncommon commitment. As part of implementing effective procedures and infrastructure, shelter leadership works to secure the support and involvement of the community. By joining together to implement lifesaving programs and treat each life as precious, a shelter can transform a community. Find a no kill shelter primer at Tinyurl.com/NoKillReform.

In Faraway Lands

Illegal wildlife trading and loss of habitat are huge and escalating problems wild animals face every day. Small repopulation success stories exist, but progress is slow. Here are some of the most urgent and dramatic perils topping the lengthy endangered species list.

Elephants are hunted for their ivory tusks. “China is the largest consumer of ivory, but the United States is second,” says Jeff Flocken, J.D., North American regional director with the International Fund for

Ne Sh w op W ly U Ou eb pg r Sto rad re ed

Animal Welfare (IFAW), headquartered in Yarmouth Port, Massachusetts (ifaw.org).

“Every year, 35,000 elephants are killed; an average of one every 15 minutes.”

Northern white rhinos once freely roamed East and Central Africa south of the Sahara. Until 1960, there were more than 2,000; today, only five exist—one in the San Diego Zoo’s Safari Park, one in a Czech Republic zoo and three at a wildlife conservancy in Kenya.

Imported as pets or show attractions, “There are between 10,000 and 20,000 big cats in private hands in America at facilities/businesses not accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums,” says Carson Barylak, with IFAW’s Washington, D.C., office. “There are more tigers in private possession in the U.S. than in the wild.”

Pangolins eat ants and termites.

Hunted for meat and their scales (used in Asian medicines), they are one of the world’s most endangered mammals (see Tinyurl.com/SavePangolins).

Thirty years ago, the world population of lowland gorillas numbered 240. Thanks to the Mountain Gorilla Veterinary Project, in Rwanda, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the population has grown to an estimated 880 (GorillaDoctors.org is supported by SaveAGorilla.org). Led by Ruth Keesling, the project has shown the inestimable value of the species.

“Once you’ve looked into the eyes of a gorilla, you’re forever changed,” says her son Frank, in Denver, Colorado.

How to Help

Make saving animals a priority. Contact legislators. Be a law-abiding consumer—don’t buy ivory or other endangered-animal products. Support conservancy groups. Share information.

Donate time and money.

“IFAW is working to advance legislation to prohibit private ownership of big cats in the U.S. The bill received bipartisan support and we hope to see it become law,” says Barylak. “We’ve asked the U.S. Department of Agriculture to ban direct contact with big cats. It’s harmful to the animals and the people that handle them.”

Annual running events with participants donning gorilla costumes raise funds and awareness. Following the Austin, Texas, event in January, runs will be held in Cincinnati, Ohio, on March 29 and in Denver, Colorado, on November 1. “Another way to help gorillas is to recycle cell phone and computer batteries. Coltan [tantalite] is used to make batteries—13 percent of the world’s supply of coltan is in the park area of the Congo,” says Frank Keesling.

Barriers to improving the lives of animals can be overcome and banished when we believe it’s possible and everyone helps. The animals are counting on us.

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

A Few Drops Can Change Your Life!

You could feel better, lose weight or increase energy and mental clarity with a few drops of Natural Awakenings DETOXIFIED IODINE daily when used as directed.

The replacement of iodine, an essential component of the thyroid, has been reported to give relief from depression, hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism, radiation, viruses and more.

Want a Life of Wellness, Purpose and Abundance?

Explore the benefits of Young Living’s Therapeutic Grade Essential Oils

Call today to schedule your one-on-one session or host a group class.

Business opportunities available.

Cindy Wilson #1873782

256-476-6537 Cindy@AlabamaAwakenings.com

Katerra Martin

Attorney-at-Law

Serving Northern and Central Alabama

Animal Law -­‐ -­‐ -­‐ -­‐ -­‐ -­‐

Cruelty Discrimination and Housing Disputes Defense from Dog Bite Suits Pet Trusts Custody Disputes Wrongful Death or Injury

Elder Law -­‐ -­‐ -­‐

Estate Planning, Wills & Trusts Advance Medical Directives Mistreatment

Family Law Personal Injury

(256) 565-4819 KaterraMartin@aol.com

from $19.99 plus $5 shipping for up to 8 bottles Order online today at

ShopNaturalAwakenings.com

or call: 888-822-0246

natural awakenings

March 2015

19

Pain Relief and Non-Surgical Facelift without Surgery or Prescriptions Book Your FREE Consultation Online Today!

Cymatic Therapy & Dermacycling

614 Madison St, Suite #2 Huntsville, AL 35801 256-656-1606 v CymaticsByLil.com

wisewords

The Earth Diet Liana Werner-Gray on Simple Eating

by Lane Vail

Sandra Cope

Certified Jin Shin Jyutsu® Practitioner

Assists healing through relaxation and restoring body harmony.

Animal companion sessions are available.

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

1108 McClung Avenue SE Huntsville, Alabama 35801

HEALTH COOKWARE

Vapo Valve™ Cooking Preserves Maximum Nutrition

256-412-4896

L

iana Werner-Gray, an Australian-born beauty queen, actress and environmentalist, lectures worldwide on healthy eating and is supported by a corps of nutrition coaches.

Her book, The Earth Diet, describes a nature-based eating and lifestyle plan that has helped thousands realize greater vitality, harmony and peace.

How did you discover the Earth Diet?

Six years ago, I was completely addicted to junk food and chronically sick, tired, bloated and miserable. It wasn’t until I was diagnosed with a golf-ball-sized precancerous tumor that I decided to take a serious look at my life and make a change.

I began to blog about my journey into self-healing through natural foods and my readers held me accountable to sticking with it. I also started creating healthy recipes that delivered my favorite junk food flavors so I didn’t feel deprived.

Slowly, I stopped craving artificial junk foods and started craving natural versions of those flavors. Within three months, the tumor disappeared.

I had demonstrated that I could undo the damage of toxic junk food by restoring proper nutrition into my cells and knew that by going back to nature, I could experience healing. Now people from around the world have testified that The Earth Diet has helped them heal ailments from A to Z.

Why is it important to define our eating plan?

Everyone on the planet is on a diet; it’s just a matter of which one. Are you on a junk food diet or a disorderly eating diet?

Most people deprive themselves at some point and end up binging later.

Having a name for the lifestyle I wanted to live helped me commit to it. When you’re lost and disconnected from 20

Tennessee Valley

Facebook.com/natvalley

photo by Roxxe NYC Photography

Jin Shin Jyutsu® of Huntsville

nature and your body, you need rules and guidelines. Day one, eat this; day two, eat that. The Earth Diet’s rules and guidelines helped me to break a disempowering addiction to junk food. After following the guidelines for a while, the whole lifestyle becomes natural and choices become easy.

How can busy people prepare and eat fresh foods more frequently?

Try making a huge batch of smoothies or vegetable juice on a Sunday; put a few servings in the fridge and the rest in the freezer. Then, take one to work each day. Fresh is best, but a thawed frozen juice is better than nothing.

Also, simplify eating. I grew up in Australia’s Outback, alongside aboriginal people that ate “mono foods”—singular, whole, raw foods sourced directly from nature, and they had slim, resilient and healthy bodies. Eating mono foods gives the digestive system a break; we feel energized because the body doesn’t have to break down a complicated meal. Try, for example, eating a watermelon for lunch or an avocado for dinner.

Name some foods we’d be surprised to read about in The Earth Diet.

My readers especially enjoy the chicken nuggets, burgers, gluten-free cookie dough, cashew cheesecake and vegan ice cream. The raw chocolate balls are popular, made with just three ingredients: almonds or sunflower seeds ground into flour, cacao powder and a favorite natural sweetener like maple syrup, honey or dates. Sometimes I add salt, mint, coconut or vanilla. I make a batch in 10 minutes and keep them in the freezer so I can have chocolate whenever I crave it.

Transforming the way we eat can be overwhelming; what are some simple first steps for the novice?

Lemon water is incredibly powerful. It’s high in vitamin C, so it boosts the immune system, and it’s energizing, alkalizing and detoxifying. Just squeeze the juice of a lemon into two cups of water first thing in the morning and drink. I also recommend eating a whole, raw, mono food in its natural state every day, like a banana, orange or strawberries. Eat something that hasn’t been sliced, diced, processed and packaged.

Lastly, practice eating only when hungry and eat what you’re craving in the most natural way possible (for example, upgrading from conventional pizza to organic storebought brands to raw homemade pizza). On Sunday I woke up and made a big brunch for friends; we had organic eggs, salsa, herbal tea and organic cookies. For dinner, I ate an avocado. That’s all I was craving, and it ended up balancing out my day.

If you’re craving chocolate, there’s a reason. If you’re craving a smoothie for dinner, have one. You can both fulfill cravings and nourish and love your body at the same time.

Lane Vail is a freelance writer and blogger at Discovering Homemaking.com.

Alternative Medicine Associates ...Treating Causes Not Symptoms

Natural Health Care IBS • Reflux Anxiety Fibromyalgia Depression Skin Allergies Candidiasis Hormone Imbalance Chronic Fatigue Restless Leg Syndrome Adrenal Fatigue Nutritional Assessment Thyroid Problems Multiple Chemical Sensitivities

Call for your appointment Today!

Debra V. Gilliam N.M.D. Naturopathic Physician 1230 Slaughter Road, Ste E Madison, AL

256-325-0955

When you need more than a Pedicure Providing nail and callus care to those with • Diabetes/Pre-Diabetes • Circulatory Problems • Visual Impairments • Arthritis • Parkinson’s Disease • Dementia • Strokes • Hip/Knee Replacement • Diminished Strength • Thick/Long Nails Call Today for Your Appointment!

pecialized Nail Care 1900 Flint Rd., SE Decatur, AL 35673 256-476-6537

Physician’s Order Required natural awakenings

March 2015

21

healingways

LOVE YOUR

GREENS! New Ways to Prepare these Nutritional Powerhouses

by Nava Atlas

F

or seasonal eaters, farm market shoppers and members of community supported agriculture, vegetable greens have become a normal part of everyday diets. Recognized as the most nutrient-rich group of veggies, they deliver multiple benefits.

Greens are a top source of vitamin K, essential to bone health, and are abundant in vitamins A, B (especially folic acid) and C. They deliver considerable antioxidants and chlorophyll, widely known to protect against cancer, and are anti-inflammatory, according to Dr. Joel Fuhrman, a family physician in Flemington, New Jersey, who specializes in nutritional medicine.

Fuhrman notes, “The majority of calories in green vegetables, including leafy greens, come from protein, and this plant protein is packaged with beneficial phytochemicals. They’re rich in folate and calcium, and contain small amounts of omega-3 fatty acids.”

Hardy greens, like kale, chard and collards, are good sources of accessible calcium. Only about 30 percent of calcium from dairy products is absorbed, but according to Registered Dietitian Ginny Messina, “For certain leafy green vegetables, rates are considerably higher. We absorb between 50 and 60

22

Tennessee Valley

percent of the calcium in cruciferous leafy green vegetables like kale and turnip greens.” Tasty and versatile, greens can add interest and value to every meal. Here’s how.

Smoothies and juices. Spinach tastes so mild in smoothies and juices that we barely know it’s there. Kale and collards add a mild greens flavor.

A big handful or two of spinach or one or two good-size kale or collard leaves per serving is about right.

Greens blend well with bananas, apples, berries and pears. A high-speed blender is needed to break down kale and collards; a regular blender is sufficient for spinach. An online search for “green smoothies” will turn up many recipes.

Use “massaged” raw kale in salads. Rinse and spin-dry curly kale leaves stripped from their stems, and then chop into bite-sized pieces. Thinly slice the stems to add to another salad or lightly cooked vegetable dishes or simply discard. Place the cut kale in a serving bowl. Rub a little olive oil onto both palms and massage the kale for 45 to 60 seconds; it’ll soften up and turn bright green. Add other desired veggies and fruits and dress the mixture.

Facebook.com/natvalley

A favorite recipe entails tossing massaged kale with dried cranberries, toasted or raw cashew pieces, vegan mayonnaise and a little lemon juice.

Massaged kale also goes well with avocados, apples, pears, Napa or red cabbage, carrots, pumpkin seeds and walnuts. It can alternatively be dressed in ordinary vinaigrette, sesame-ginger or tahini dressing.

Add hardy greens to stir-fries. The best stir-fry greens are lacinato kale, collards or chard. Rinse and dry the leaves, and then strip them from the stems. Stack a few leaves and roll them up snugly from the narrow end. Slice thinly to make long, thin ribbons and then cut them once or twice across to shorten; adding thinly sliced stems is optional. Add the strips to the stir-fry toward the end of cooking. They blend well with broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, celery, bok choy, asparagus and green beans. Soy sauce, tamari and ginger add flavor.

Use leafy spring greens in salads.

Look beyond lettuce to create invigorating warm-weather salads. Use lots of peppery watercress (a nutritional superstar), baby bok choy, tender dandelion greens, tatsoi and mizuna (Japanese greens are increasingly available from farm markets). Combine with baby greens and sprouts, plus favorite salad veggies and fruits for a clean-tasting and cleansing repast.

Learn to love bitter greens. Add variety to the meal repertoire with escarole, broccoli rabe and mustard greens. These mellow considerably with gentle braising or incorporation into soups and stews. Heat a little olive oil in a large, deep skillet or stir-fry pan; sauté chopped garlic and/or shallots to taste. Add washed and chopped greens, stir quickly to coat with the oil, and then add about a quarter cup of water or vegetable stock. Cover and cook until tender and wilted, about five minutes. Traditional additions include raisins and toasted pine nuts, salt and pepper and a little apple cider vinegar.

Nava Atlas is the author of the recent book, Plant Power: Transform Your Kitchen, Plate, and Life with More Than 150 Fresh and Flavorful Vegan Recipes, from which this was adapted.

Visit VegKitchen.com.

Unity Church on the Mountain 1328 Governors Dr. SE, Huntsville, AL 35801

What’s Happening at Unity Saturday, February 28th – 6:30pm.

Covered Dish Dinner and special musical concert by Asha Lightbearer.

Sunday, March 1st – Rev. Ray Wiggins, “Building Your Field of Dreams” Sunday, April 19th – Rev. Terrance Padgett Sunday, April 26th – Gene Skaggs, “Embracing Your Greatness in This New Paradigm Shift”

Discussion Class – 9:30am Sunday Worship – 11am

Ne Sh w op W ly U Ou eb pg r Sto rad re ed

Meditative Silence begins at 10:55am

Reverend Carol Landry “Be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”

Ongoing Classes

Weddings A t

Unity ChUrCh on the MoUntAin

Monday 10am-12pm Creating a New Paradigm of Aging Tuesday 7-8pm Prayer and Meditation Hour Wednesday 6:30-8:30pm Book: E3 (E-cubed) by Pam Grout, Showing how spiritual principles work

Contact Us 256-536-2271 UnityOnTheMountain.org UnityChurchontheMountain@gmail.com

The perfect place for couples planning an elegantly simple ceremony.

For more information go to:

UnityChurchWeddings.com or email us at

UnityChurchWeddings@gmail.com Non-traditional, interfaith unions and commitment ceremonies are always welcome!

Fall Asleep Safely, Quickly and Naturally!

Pleasant Dreams™ contains a blend of safe, natural, sleepinducing ingredients including chamomile, valerian root and melatonin which may help to: 60 capsules: $34.99 plus $5 shipping/up to 8 bottles

• Facilitate relaxation without morning drowsiness • Maintain sleep all night • Reduce anxiety symptoms • Improve pain tolerance Order online today at

ShopNaturalAwakenings.com or call: 888-822-0246

Consult a healthcare professional before taking this product. Pleasant Dreams is not intended to cure, treat, diagnose or mitigate any disease or other medical conditions.

These statements have not been evaluated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration

Visit our new location and let us take care of you.

256.534.2954 www.healingartshuntsville.com 525 Fountain Row in Huntsville — between Williams Avenue & Manning Drive downtown

Massage

HAC Ad 7.5x3.25 0714.indd 1

Structural Integration

Reiki

Biomat Sessions

natural awakenings

Reflexology

PM March7/11/14 2015 12:11 23

greenliving

A Practical Guide to Composting Grow Your Own Business Organically

Pick the Best Option for You

by Tracy Fernandez Rysavy

contact me:

Cindy Wilson 256-476-6537 us.nyrorganic.com/shop/cindywilson

Y Wellness Weekends with Dr. Natalie Lenoir-Blackman March 2015 Call 205-907-9442 to schedule appointment Dr. Natalie Lenoir-Blackman is a local veterinarian whose passion is to bring about healing and wholeness in our animal friends using a combination of conventional and alternative modalities of medicine.

Hosted by:

905 Merdian St N Huntsville, AL 256-429-9112 24

Tennessee Valley

ard and food waste make up 25 percent of the garbage destined for municipal landfills, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Pick the right composter and this organic waste will easily turn into rich—and free—garden fertilizer, saving landfill space and reducing the volume of greenhouse gases generated by anaerobic decomposition.

Unless using a specialized bin, maintain a roughly 50/50 compost mixture of “brown” and “green” organic waste for ideal results. Green waste is moist, such as fruit and vegetable peels; brown waste comprises dry and papery material, including grass clippings.

Low-Maintenance Pile

Good for: People that want something simple, don’t need fertilizer immediately and have extra outdoor space; average to large households with yard waste.

Maintaining a compost pile is as easy as its name implies—simply toss organic yard and kitchen waste into a pile in the yard. Aerating or turning the compost with a pitchfork or shovel will provide quicker results, but waste will also decompose if left alone. Within six to 24 months, all of the waste will decompose aerobically into compost. Once a year, composters can dig out the finished compost from the bottom. This method won’t work for households that don’t generate

Facebook.com/natvalley

yard waste because a pile of 100 percent green waste will attract pests.

Holding Bin

Good for: People that want a low-maintenance option that’s more attractive than a pile; average to large households with yard waste.

Make a bin out of wood or buy a plastic holding bin, which can contain up to 75 gallons. One with insulated sides may allow decomposing to continue in colder weather.

Tumbling Barrel

Good for: People that want quick results and can compost in smaller batches; small to average households with yard waste.

These barrel-shaped containers are turned with a hand crank, making aerating and speeding up decomposition a breeze. Some manufacturers promise results in as little as two weeks.

Due to the barrel’s relatively smaller size and capacity, getting the balance between brown and green waste right is critical for optimal results, and users will need to wait for one batch of compost to finish before adding more organic waste.

Multi-Tiered Boxes

Good for: People looking for low maintenance, but quicker results than a pile

WHAT TO COMPOST Do compost: 4 Fruit and vegetable scraps 4 Grass clippings, twigs, leaves and wood chips 4 Eggshells (broken into small pieces) 4 Coffee grounds and tea bags 4 Unbleached coffee filters, paper and cardboard Don’t compost: 4 Pet waste 4 Meat and dairy (except in Green Cone device)

Green Cone

or bin; average to large households with yard waste.

Multi-tiered composters are a series of stacked boxes with removable panels to allow the organic waste to move downward throughout the decomposition cycle. Finished compost comes out of a door at the bottom.

Because the boxes are smaller than a large pile or bin, compost will “cook” faster; some users report their first batch took just four to six months. Collectively, stacked boxes are often comparable in size to a large holding bin, so they can compost a large amount of waste.

Worm Bin

For everyone that has wanted to compost, but had insufficient outdoor space, a five-or-10-gallon bucket and some red worms could be the answer.

Worm composting, or vermicomposting, is so compact that a worm bin can fit under most kitchen sinks. Because red worms are so efficient—each pound of them will process half a pound of food scraps daily—a worm bin doesn’t need aeration and won’t smell or attract pests. Note that worms won’t process brown waste, meat, dairy or fatty foods.

Good for: People that just want to dump their kitchen waste and be done with it; those that want to compost fish or meat; households that don’t generate yard waste.

Solarcone Inc.’s Green Cone system will handle up to two pounds of kitchen waste daily, including meat, fish and dairy products. It won’t compost brown waste. Users bury the bottom basket in the yard, and then simply put green waste together with an “accelerator powder” into a cone hole in the top.

According to Solarcone, most of the waste turns into water. Every few years, users need to dig a small amount of residue out of the bottom that can be added to a garden.

Good for: People that want to compost indoors; apartment dwellers and small households that don’t generate yard waste.

Tracy Fernandez Rysavy is editor-in-chief of the nonprofit Green America’s Green American magazine, from which this article was adapted (GreenAmerica.org).

BASIC COMPOSTING TIPS

by Tracy Fernandez Rysavy

E

nsure that the compost pile retains a moisture content similar to a wrungout sponge. To moisten, add green waste; to reduce moisture, add brown waste.

Turn compost to get air to the aerobic bacteria and speed the process.

Wear gloves and a dust mask to protect against allergens.

Decay generates heat, so a pile should feel warm. If not, add green waste. Decomposition occurs most efficiently when it’s 104 to 131 degrees Fahrenheit inside the pile; use a compost thermometer.

Keep a small container in the kitchen to easily collect green food scraps. Store it in the freezer to keep unpleasant smells and flies at bay.

The best time to start composting is during warmer months. Alternately layering green and brown waste, using the “lasagna method” in colder months, readies the pile to decompose as soon as the weather warms. Consider stockpiling summer yard waste ingredients.

Be aware that low-maintenance composting won’t kill weed seeds, which can then get spread around the garden. A highly managed compost pile will kill some weeds through the generated heat. Put weeds out for municipal yard waste collection where there’s a better chance they’ll be destroyed.

Contributing sources: U.S Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Composting Council

“I was the last person I thought that would benefit from this...

Ten sessions later I am telling everyone about rolfing.” ~S.H., Birmingham

Advanced Rolf Practitioner Susan K. Jeffreys Consultations Available

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

Call (256) 508-3351 Today Susan K. Jeffreys, AL Lic #249 525 Fountain Row • Huntsville, AL 35801

StructuralIntegrationHuntsville.com Structural Integration in the method of Ida P. Rolf natural awakenings

March 2015

25

AD LETTER

COPY SHEET

inspiration

Replaces Previous Copy

COLON HYDROTHERAPY

Cleanse.... Hydrate... Rejuvenate....

DETOX YOUR BODY FROM THE INSIDE OUT Colonics • Bio Cleanse • Infrared Sauna

Mind Gardening It Pays to Watch What Is Planted

by Dennis Merritt Jones

A www.hope4lifeal.com

256-270-8731 10300 Bailey Cove Road, Ste 7A Huntsville, AL 35803

MAD2562708731-A

n unattended mind is like a neglected garden. Potting soil is incredibly receptive to any seeds introduced to it. It has absolutely no discretion when it comes to playing host to seeds; it says, “Yes” to all of them.

So it is with our mind, which is amazingly receptive to whatever suggestions are dropped into it. It has been said that the subconscious mind cannot take a joke. Whatever is introduced to it, it takes as serious instruction to grow that thoughtseed into a full-blown plant, be it a flower or a weed.

When we pause to consider how many thought-seeds are blown, dropped or purposely planted in our mind on a daily basis, it may prompt us to tend to our mental garden with more regularity. These may come from media, negative conversation or overheard comments. The subconscious mind hears it all and takes it personally. The only way to avoid this type of mind pollution is to be consciously focused on what we want to have planted and growing in our flower box called life. It’s a 24/7 proposition to keep it weeded as thousands of mental seeds constantly pour in.

A good full-time gardener plants thought-seeds about their self and others that are rooted in reverence and lovingkindness and skillfully nurtures them. Others will then receive nothing but benefit from the seeds we drop along the way.

Dennis Merritt Jones, D.D., is the author of Your Re-Defining Moments, The Art of Uncertainty and The Art of Being, the source of this essay. He has contributed to the human 48641 Date: Sales Rep.: Mike Underwoodpotential t. Sign.: X movement and field of spirituality as a minister, Please note - quality and size may vary slightly between proof and actual directory teacher, coach and lecturer for 30 years. Learn more at DennisMerrittJones.com.

26

Tennessee Valley

Facebook.com/natvalley

natural awakenings

March 2015

27

calendarofevents Email Editor@Natvalley.com for guidelines and to submit entries.

MONDAY, MARCH 2

St. Patrick’s Day Parade – 11:30am. The parade starts across from the Clinton Ave Post Office and goes through Downtown Huntsville. This will be the largest parade to date with a new expanded route past the VBC, Big Spring Park, the west side of the Courthouse and the Roundhouse. Free.

Storytime with Music Together of TN Valley – 4-4:30pm. A fun program with special guest Music Together of the TN Valley featuring songs, rhythmic rhymes, movement, and instrumental play. Free. Huntsville Main Library, 915 Monroe St. 256-532-5940.

Are You Looking for a Sign from God? – 1-8:30pm. Learn how simple spiritual exercises can help you benefit from the divine guidance available in every moment of your life. Free seminar sponsored by the Huntsville ECK Center. Best Western Plus Hotel, 9035 Madison Blvd, Madison. 256-5341751. Eck-Alabama.org.

TUESDAY, MARCH 3

SUNDAY, MARCH 15

Preparing Garden Soil – 2-3pm. Join us every Tuesday at 2pm in the Historic Park for a free handson look at the skills needed to live on a farm in the 1800s. Free. Burritt on the Mountain, 3101 Burritt Dr, Huntsville. 256-536-2882.

Huntsville Blooms – Daily from 3/15 to 4/30. The garden’s beautiful outdoor spaces take center stage during March and April. Come enjoy spring-blooming trees, shrubs and perennials, colorful bulbs, special flowering displays, and favorite springtime events. Admission charged. Huntsville Botanical Garden, 4747 Bob Wallace Ave. 256-830-4447.

Medicare Help Seminar –2-3pm. A representative from Humana will provide a workshop on Medicare, including an explanation of options available, how to determine the best plan for an individual and how to enroll. Free. Huntsville Main Library, Second Floor Events Room, 915 Monroe St. 256-532-5940.

Social Media Workshop – 5:30-7pm. Get an overview of how you can promote your creative business and make the best use of your brand voice online via social media. $45. Modern & Smart, Studio 2037, Lowe Mill, 2211 Seminole Dr, Huntsville.

256-824-0407.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 4 Kids’ Club with Guests from Sarrell Dental – 3:30-4:05pm. Free. A special meeting of Kids’ Club with guests from Sarrell Dental to teach us about dental health. Huntsville Main Library, 915 Monroe St. 256-532-5940.

From Mess to Mindfulness: Beginning Journaling – 6:30-8pm. A three-class series on Written and Visual Journaling that encourages mindful awareness of the moment in thought, word and action. $120. Beloved Books and Gallery, Studio 257, Lowe Mill, 2211 Seminole Dr, Huntsville.

THURSDAY, MARCH 5 Life After Loss: A Journey to Healing – 3-4pm.

6-week grief class open to the public. Facilitator is Rev. Carl Malm of the Center for Loss, Grief and Change. You may attend weekly or as your schedule permits. Free. Brookdale Place at Jones Farm, 2815 Carl T. Jones Dr, Huntsville. 256-881-6111.

FRIDAY, MARCH 6 Trinity Market Place – 9am-6pm (Fri), 9am-4pm (Sat). Shop for fashion, gourmet cuisine, home decor, gifts, skin care and much more from over 50 vendors. Free. Trinity United Methodist Church, 607 Airport Rd. 256-883-3200.

Church of the Nativity’s Friends of Music presents Guidonian Hand Trombone Quartet – 7:30-9:30pm. Insightful arrangements of Bach,

28

Tennessee Valley

Haydn, Debussy, & Mozart. Free. Church of the Nativity, Episcopal, 208 Eustis Ave SE, Huntsville.

256-533-2455 x216.

SATURDAY, MARCH 7 Friends of the Library 25 Cent Book Sale – 9am3:30pm. The Friends of the Library will offer thousands of used books for sale. There will be books of all genres and all sold for 25 Cents each. The public is invited. Huntsville Main Library, Auditorium, 915 Monroe St. 256-532-5940.

Book Swap – 10am-2pm. For every two books you bring you get to pick out and take one new book home. There will be books are for all ages. Free.

EarlyWorks Children’s Museum, 404 Madison St, Huntsville. EarlyWorks.com/Monthly-Book-Swap.

Kite Festival – 10am-3pm. Bring your own kite or purchase one at the festival. There will be kite flying demonstrations, food, kids activities, entertainment and info booths. Free. John Hunt Park and Jaycees Building, 2180 Airport Rd SW, Huntsville.

256-508-5198.

SUNDAY, MARCH 8 Church of the Nativity’s Friends of Music presents Michael Brown & Mac Phillips – 5-7pm.

Come listen to the wonderful sounds of music by Bach, Stravinsky and Chopin performed by Michael Brown on Violin and Mac Phillips on Piano. Free.

Church of the Nativity, Episcopal, 208 Eustis Ave SE, Huntsville. 256-533-2455 x216.

TUESDAY, MARCH 10 How to Do Things: Twining – 5:30-8:30pm. We’ll twine a small bag. No weaving experience required.

Bring 2 colors of cotton yarn, one light and one dark.

Free. Huntsville Main Library, Second Floor Events Room, 915 Monroe St. 256-532-5940.

FRIDAY, MARCH 13 Winslow Davis Ensemble – 8-10pm. Winslow Davis, a classically trained violinist who previously performed with several regional orchestras, has blazed a new trail with his 5-string electric violin. $10. Flying Monkey Arts Theater, Lowe Mill, 2211 Seminole Dr, Huntsville.

TUESDAY, MARCH 17 Hike Hays – 10am. Join us for a one-hour guided hike over easy terrain in various areas of the Preserve. Meet in the parking lot near the picnic area at 10am. Hays Nature Preserve, 7161 U.S. Hwy 431 South, Owens Cross Roads, AL. Slip Jig’s St. Patrick’s Day Celebration – 7-9pm.

Slip Jig is celebrating St. Patrick’s Day at Flying Monkey Arts theater on the second floor of historic Lowe Mill at 7pm. $10. Flying Monkey Arts, 2211 Seminole Dr, Huntsville.

SATURDAY, MARCH 21 Southern Authors Exposition – 10am-4pm.

Dozens of local authors will be in house to meet the public, sell and sign books. There will be a full line-up of speakers, with a new author speaking at the top of each hour. Free. Huntsville Main Library, Auditorium and Atrium, 915 Monroe St. 256-532-5940.

Annual Auction – Open at 6:30pm, auction at 7pm.

Come and discover all kinds of treasures and services. A fun event. Center for Spiritual Living, 308 Lily Flagg Rd, Huntsville. 256-461-7444.

THURSDAY, MARCH 26 Community Cinema: The Homestretch – 7-9pm.

Three homeless teens brave Chicago winters, high school pressures, and life on the streets to build a brighter future. Free. The Film Co-op, Studio #251, Lowe Mill, 2211 Seminole Dr, Huntsville.

plan ahead FRIDAY, APRIL 10

SATURDAY, MARCH 14

Lessons and Blessings – 7:30-8pm. Inspiring stories and insights from Harold Klemp, spiritual leader and acclaimed author of more than sixty books on Eckankar. Learn about your relationship with the Law of Cause and Effect. Free. WOW (Knology) Cable Channel 11. 256-534-1751. Eck-Alabama.org.

Spring Market & Craft Show – 9am-4pm. The Spring Marketplace & Craft Fair will consist of local crafters and vendors from the Huntsville area.

Free. Southside Baptist Church, 209 Marsheutz Ave SE, Huntsville.

Tennessee Valley Farm Tour – 2-6 pm (Sat-Sun).

Load up the car with family and friends for a self-guided tour of our favorite small farms in the Tennessee Valley. 256-520-2400. RositasFarm. com/farmtour.

Facebook.com/natvalley

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

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

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

Reiki Free Clinic (No Charge) – 2-4pm, every third Saturday of each month. For appointments, contact Shari Feinman-Prior at Shari1717@gmail. com or 256-289-3331. Peaceful Journey Center, 915 Merchant Walk Way, Suite A, Huntsville.

Revealing Service – 9:45am. Center for Spiritual Living, 308 Lily Flagg Rd, Huntsville. 256-8838596. CSL-Huntsville.org.

Celebration Service – 10:30am. Center for Spiritual Living, 308 Lily Flagg Rd, Huntsville. 256-8838596. CSL-Huntsville.org.

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

1328 Governors Dr SE, Huntsville. UnityOnThe Mountain.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. 256-895-0255.

LightOfChristCenter.org.

monday “Creating A New Paradigm of Aging” – 10am12pm. For women over 40 class. An opportunity for women to discuss aging as a spiritual process. Facilitated by Rev. Grace Gifford, using the book, Prime Time by Jane Fonda. Love Offering. Unity Church on the Mountain, 1328 Governors Dr SE, Huntsville.

256-536-2271. UnityOnTheMountain.org.

Kangen Water Wellness Presentation – 6:30pm.

Bring your BPS-free plastic containers and we’ll make three gallons of the remarkable Kangen Ionized, Micro-Clustered, Alkaline Drinking Water.

Attend our Kangen Water Wellness Presentation starting at 6:30pm each Monday night. Call for directions. G. Boyce Bazzell (Bazz). 256-430-8407.

Bazzell@me.com.

tuesday Meditation – 6pm. Center for Spiritual Living, 308 Lily Flagg Rd, Huntsville. 256-883-8596. CSLHuntsville.org.

Prayer and Meditation Hour – 7-8pm. Unity Church on the Mountain, 1328 Governors Dr SE, Huntsville. 256-536-2271. UnityOnTheMountain.org.

BodyFlow – 6-7pm, Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Yoga/Pilates/Tai Chi-based exercise class that builds strength, tones your body and leaves you feeling centered and calm. Part of the Les Mills Fitness Program. $10/class and no contract. New participants are always welcome. Madison Ballroom, 9076 Madison Blvd, Suite E, Madison, AL. 256-461-1900. MadisonBallroom.com.

wednesday Satsang – 6:30pm. Through group discussion and inquiry, we reveal the innate wisdom of the one presence living life as each one of us. Meditation 6pm.

Led by Rev. David Leonard. Center for Spiritual Living, 308 Lily Flagg Rd, Huntsville. 256-8838596. CSL-Huntsville.org.

Book Study: E3 (E-cubed) by Pam Grout – 6:308:30pm. Showing how spiritual principles work.

Unity Church on the Mountain, 1328 Governors Dr SE, Huntsville. 256-536-2271. UnityOnThe Mountain.org.

classifieds Fee for classifieds is $1 per word per month. To place listing, email content to Editor@Natvalley.com. Deadline is the 10th of the month.

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES INDEPENDENT DISTRIBUTORS wanted.

Sell essential oils and other organic products. www.trygodesana.com.

FOR RENT

thursday Thursday Night Swing – 6:30-10pm. Swing dance lesson, 6:30pm; Dance 7:30pm. $5 covers lesson and dance. Lowe Mill/Flying Monkey, 2nd Floor Theatre, 2211 Seminole Dr, Huntsville.

Vinyasa Yoga – 6:30pm. A 75-minute flow yoga class that focuses on unifying breath and the motion of the body. All levels are welcome. Yoga Center of Huntsville, 500 East Pratt Ave,Suite A. 256-533-7975. YogaCenterOfHuntsville.com or Asaniyama.com.

friday 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.

256-895-0255.

MADISON OFFICE SPACE $375.00/month.

12’ x 11’ private office, in a suite with reception and bathroom shared with Massage Therapist, and Certified Personal and Yoga Trainer. Great location on Sullivan St, near downtown. Easy access to I-565.

Phone or Text Lynn, 256-698-9653.

HEALTH COOKWARE SALADMASTER sales and service. 256-502-9845.

Got Events?

Get Noticed!

Thousands of our readers are looking for healthy options.

Call Today!

saturday 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 for sale. Admission free. Flying Monkey Arts Center at Lowe Mill, 2211 Seminole Dr, Huntsville.

256-340-1122 Editor@Natvalley.com

natural awakenings

March 2015

29

editorial calendar

communityresourceguide

JANUARY

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.

2015

whole systems health plus: energy boosters FEBRUARY

enlightened relationships plus: healing grief MARCH

animal rights

ALKALINE DRINKING WATER KANGEN WATER

®

Ionized, Micro-Clustered, Alkaline Water Garvin Bazzell (Bazz) Bazzwater.com Bazzell@me.com Protect your body from high levels of acidity which contributes to many diseases. Kangen Water Systems produce alkaline water that will help neutralize the acidity in your body. Attend our Water Wellness presentation Monday Nights at 6:30pm.

Contact me for the location.

plus: new healthy cuisine APRIL

nature’s wisdom

plus: healthy home MAY

breast health

plus: natural birth JUNE

healing addiction

plus: balanced man JULY

food democracy

plus: inspired living AUGUST

parenting with presence plus: creativity SEPTEMBER

agelessness

plus: yoga benefits OCTOBER

working together

plus: natural antidepressants NOVEMBER

true wealth

plus: beauty DECEMBER

prayer & meditation plus: holiday themes

COLON HYDROTHERAPY CENTER FOR OPTIMAL WELLBEING U’Jeana Wilson Owner/Certified Colon Hydrotherapist Degree in Psychology 256-658-8600

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.

HOPE FOR LIFE COLONICS

Tina Pencola Owner/Certified Colon Hydrotherapist 10300 Bailey Cove Rd, Suite-7A Huntsville, AL 35803 256-270-8731 • 256-684-0020 Hope4LifeAL.com Tina.HopeForLife@outlook.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. See ad, page 26.

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

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.

30

Tennessee Valley

Facebook.com/natvalley

ENERGY HEALING CENTER FOR DIRECTIONAL HEALING™ Susan Spalding 2225 Drake Ave SW, Ste 18 Huntsville, AL 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 greater balance and health through Directional Healing and Reflexology. The Center now includes free SOQI Therapy with each session for the most complete healing experience.

Information on the energy medicine equipment is available at ChiDvd.com/susan. For healing techniques, articles, and more information on the Center, visit DirectionalHealing.com.

ENERGY PSYCHOLOGY PEACEFUL JOURNEY CENTER Shari Feinman-Prior, MRET, REV 915 Merchant Walk Way, Suite A Huntsville, AL 35801 256-289-3331 • ShariPrior.com Shari1717@gmail.com

Offering an individualized integrative approach to health and healing: Rapid Eye Technology, Inner Counselor Process, Mandala Process, Life Skills Coaching, Healing Touch and Reiki. Reiki Attunements and Personal Mentoring are available upon request.

ESSENTIAL OILS CINDY WILSON

Young Living Independent Distributor 256-476-6537 Cindy@AlabamaAwakenings.com Want to know why everyone is talking about essential oils?

Learn more about essential oils, their uses and how to safely use them. Classes held monthly or schedule your class with friends and family. For more information call or email. See ad, page 19.

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.

FOOT CARE SPECIALIZED NAIL CARE

1900 Flint Rd SE Decatur, AL 35601 256-476-6537 Cindy@SpecializedNailCare.com Nail care for those that need more than just a pedicure.

Physicians order required for care. Care includes footbath, trimming nails, thinning of thick nails, and removal of calluses and corns. For more information call or email. See ad, page 21.

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

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.

HOMEOPATHIC CONSULTANT JOAN SCOTT LOWE

1901 Richard Arrington Jr. Blvd. South Birmingham, AL 35209 205-871-1288 Joan@HomeopathyForWellness.com HomeopathyForWellness.com Call or email Joan Scott Lowe, Homeopathic Wellness Consultant, to determine your individual constitutional remedy, the FDA-approved nontoxic homeopathic remedy based on the totality of your mental, emotional, and physical condition, chosen according to the Law of Similars (“like heals like”).

Achieve wellness and freedom from illness!

HYPNOTHERAPY

NATUROPATHIC DOCTOR

CENTER FOR INNER WELLNESS

ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE ASSOCIATES

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. See ad, page 10.

Dr. Deb treats a variety of health problems using natural means.

She looks for why people have symptoms and treats the root cause of those symptoms. Dr. Deb is highly regarded in the integrative and natural approach to wellness. Every patent is unique, and she individualizes treatment for their optimal wellness. See ad, page 21.

Becky Waters Certified Hypnotherapist and Professional Breathworker 3322 S. Memorial Parkway, Suite 643 Huntsville, AL • 256-348-5236

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

MARSHA MATHES

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

STRUCTURAL INTEGRATION JACI HOGUE

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. See ad, page 20.

256-656-4108 JaciHogue@gmail.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 525 Fountain Row 256-508-3351 • RolfGuild.org Serving Huntsville since 1995 “When the body gets working appropriately, then the force of gravity can flow through. Then spontaneously, the body heals itself.” —Ida P. Rolf. See ad, page 25.

MASSAGE DIXIE PHILLIPS (LMT #2151)

PRIVATE YOGA CLASSES

Dixie’s Sunrise Massage Therapy 3313 Memorial Parkway, Ste #116 Huntsville, AL 35801 256-585-0504 • Hoss2ride@otelco.net

YOGA DHARMA DOWNTOWN

Dixie’s Sunrise Massage Therapy: Come in and experience Dixie’s Combo. This is not the typical massage. MediCupping Therapy is used to relax muscles and increase the blood flow, which accelerates healing. It is also effective on bloating, scars, Fibromyalgia, Sciatica, migraine or tension headaches. See details on services, rates, and possible help with your Tissue Issues at DixiesSunrise.MassageTherapy.com.

Suzanne Newton, Director Huntsville, AL • 256-585-3727 Yoga Alliance E-RYT 500 International Association of Yoga Therapists YogaDharmaDowntown.com Suzanne.M.Newton@gmail.com Private Yoga Instruction is an opportunity to receive personalized guidance in traditional techniques of asana, pranayama, and seated meditation. Private sessions designed specifically for you and based on what you aspire to do. 90-min sessions are held in a South Huntsville private studio, near Jones Valley. Contact Suzanne to discuss goals and make appointment.

natural awakenings

March 2015

31

A WALK IN NATURE IS A PATH TO PROGRESS

Explore New Territory advertise in Natural Awakenings’

April Nature’s Wisdom & Healthy Home Issue

Conscientious consumers are seeking Earth-friendly providers like: • Earth-Friendly Landscapers • Eco-Interior Designers • Electric Vehicle Dealers • Energy-Saving Equipment • Green Builders • Lighting Consultants • Organic Bedding Stores • Plant Care Specialists • Recycling Services • Solar Panel Providers • Wood Alternative Sources • Xeriscapers — and many more leading suppliers

Contact us at:

256-340-1122 Editor@Natvalley.com