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June 2015
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contents 9 6 newsbriefs 9 healthbriefs 10 globalbriefs
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19 wisewords 20 healthykids
Natural Awakenings is your guide to a healthier, more balanced life. In each issue readers find cutting-edge information on natural health, nutrition, fitness, personal growth, green living, creative expression and the products and services that support a healthy lifestyle.
12 PROTECT OUR PARKS! Visit an Alabama State Park this Summer by Tom Maples
22 fitbody
16 RETHINKING RECOVERY
24 healingways
by Lisa Marshall
24
27 calendar
28 classifieds 30 resourceguide
12
Holistic Approaches to Healing Addictions
19 THE GUT-MIND CONNECTION
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David Perlmutter on How Stomach Microflora Affect Brain Health by Linda Sechrist
advertising & submissions
20 NATURAL DADS
HOW TO ADVERTISE Display Ads due by the 10th of the month prior to publication. To advertise with Natural Awakenings or request a media kit, please contact us at 256-476-6537 or email Editor@Natvalley.com.
EDITORIAL SUBMISSIONS* Newsbriefs due by the 10th of the month. Limit 50-250 words. Content limited to special events and other announcements. No advertorials, please.
How They Raise Conscious Kids by Lane Vail
19
22 YOGA FOR THE BROS Men Find it Builds All-Around Fitness
by Meredith Montgomery
Articles and ideas due by the 5th of the month. Articles generally contain 250-850 words, with some exceptions. No advertorials, please.
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.
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24 DON’T GET TICKED OFF Natural Ways to Avoid and Treat Lyme Disease by Linda Sechrist
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letterfrompublisher I have put together what I hope is a fairly comprehensive overview of the state parks funding crisis in this month’s Natural Awakenings. After writing it, I stopped to reflect on why I care so much about this issue. Why do the state parks mean so much to me? There is only one park that I use regularly: Monte Sano. Monte Sano State Park is in no immediate danger of closing. It is one of the seven parks that would remain open after the other 15 are closed this fall if the plan goes through to extract close to $10 million from the state parks budget to fill holes in the state’s general fund. Monte Sano is one of the most profitable of the state parks. It is a beautiful park, to start with, and it sits on top of a sizeable population center, Huntsville. It is unlikely that Monte Sano State Park will ever close, because the city of Huntsville would probably find a way to take over its operation if it ever came to that. So my favorite park is safe. Why do I care about these other state parks that I don’t use and, in many cases, have never visited? Why is the idea of Alabama having a healthy state park system is incredibly important to me? It has to be because of the memories. State parks make the very best kind of childhood memories. A day at a state park with the family is pure magic. I have a rich store of memories of state park visits with my own family as a child, and an even better set of memories from my time as a Boy Scout in a troop based in Huntsville. We spent a lot of time on the trails and campsites of Monte Sano. We also spent a lot of time hiking, backpacking, camping, and canoeing at many of the state and national parks and waterways in Alabama and Tennessee. Greg Lein, the current Director of Alabama State Parks, was also in that troop at the same time that I was, and he shares many of the same memories that I have of visits to state and national parks. It is one of the reasons that he went into a career in conservation. When I first learned about the state parks funding crisis, my first thought was to call Greg and ask him what was going on from his perspective. From talking to Greg, I found out that situation is very real and that parks could actually close starting this fall. But he is not without hope that the parks can be saved. We agreed that the main issue is public awareness about the problem. When the public is aware and make their will known, good things happen. Greg suggested that the very best way people can help is to increase their usage of the parks this summer. What a great way to make some memories and help save the parks, too.
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 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. 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.
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June 2015
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newsbriefs Foods for Life Under New Management 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
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Rev. David Leonard Transforming Lives and Making the World a Better Place
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n April of 2014, the owner of Foods for Life health food store in Huntsville, Glen Patterson, passed away. Foods for Life has been a local destination for Huntsvillians for over four decades. Glen was a true pioneer in his industry and he will be truly missed. Since his passing, the store has languished and finally closed in March of 2015. Since then, it has been bought by Nature’s Apothecary Health Food Store in Madison. Nature’s Apothecary reopened the store on May 8. The CEO of Nature’s Apothecary, Derrick I. Mitchell, was friends with Glen and is committed to keeping the store alive. Derrick said, “The Natural Foods Market in Huntsville has changed enormously over the last five years. There will have to be some changes in order to make it a viable business, but the local flavor will always remain. I absolutely believe that the people of Huntsville still want a local health food store that has a deep history in the community.” Come by and check out what’s going on in your local health food store. Nature’s Apothecary (formerly Foods for Life) is located at 1407 Memorial Parkway, Suite C, Huntsville. 256-722-9198.
The Paranormal Study Center Hosts Angelique (Angel) Moselle: “Messages from Your Heart”
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or over two years, Angel has been holding “The Messages from Your Heart” seminars where she moves to the side and allows the messages of humanity’s hearts to come through. Angel had a near death experience via drug overdose when she was 20 years old and upon almost dying met “Ghashikta.” (Everyone and more that she had prayed to in order to live). She trained with them for 13+ years and was guided to a very special teacher who helped her develop her enlightened gifts and abilities, the best of which was the ability to listen to hearts. She also Angelique (Angel) Moselle learned how to intuitively interact with energy by going within the human body, how to listen to it and connect to people’s emotional frequencies in order to help them shift out of their imbalance and discomfort. After learning from Ghashikta, she also became a mystical Qigong instructor and therapist, thereby amplifying her healing and intuitive abilities even stronger. Today, Angel is an active conduit for valuable information and Qi energy transmitted from the human heart field. Her invisible friends, Ghashikta, are the guides that help blend it all together and connect to the messages that she provides for her audience. Location: Hilton Garden Inn, 4801 Governors House Dr (next to Landry’s Seafood). Date: Friday, June 26 at 6:30pm. Public Admission is $10. Info: Parapsychology StudyGroup.com or Meetup.com/Huntsville-Paranormal-Study-Center.
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Balancing Hormones Naturally
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hen hormones are out of sync, you can experience weight gain around the waist, bone loss, hot flashes, PMS, ovarian cysts, headaches, allergies, loss of libido, fatigue and depression, sleep problems, urinary tract problems and many other dis-eases. Roslyn Rogers, certified nutritional consultant board certified in integrative medicine, will be sharing her wisdom on how to balance your hormones naturally beginning at 5:30pm, Thursday, June 25 in the conference room at Rosie’s Cantina, 7540 South Memorial Parkway. Following the talk, attendees can cross the parking lot and gather at Ruth’s Nutrition, the event’s Roslyn Rogers sponsor, to get more personal attention from Roslyn. Known for her motivational skills and her sensitive, caring outlook on life, Roslyn’s seminars cover anti-aging strategies, weight management, PMS, menopause and most women’s health issues. In addition, she will teach you how to have healthy bones throughout your life, what nutrients help nourish your skin and bring out a youthful glow, what you can eat to pump you with energy (or what you eat that zaps it) and natural alternatives to HRT. Roslyn’s seminar is free and open to everyone. Mark your calendars for Thursday, June 25 and come join us at Ruth’s Nutrition for an evening filled with women’s wisdom and a lot of fun. Call Ruth’s Nutrition, 256-883-4127 for more information. See ad, this page.
with Roslyn Rogers Certified Nutritional Consultant, Board Certified in Integrative Medicine
FREE SEMINAR! 5:30pm, Thursday June 25, in Rosie’s Cantina Conference Room Learn how balancing your hormones can improve:
Marsha Mathes Received CranioSacral Therapy II Training
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Balance Hormones Naturally
n February 2015, Marsha Mathes attended the CranioSacral Therapy II workshop taught by the Upledger Institute in Birmingham, AL. Few body structures have more influence over you health and well-being than your central nervous system. And few body systems have more impact on your central nervous system than the craniosacral system—the soft tissues and fluid that protect your brain and spinal cord. Every day you endure stresses and strains and your Marsha Mathes body absorbs them. But your body can only handle so much tension before the tissues begin to tighten and potentially affect the brain and spinal cord. Unfortunately, this can compromise the function of the central nervous system and the performance of nearly every other system in your body. CST releases those tensions to allow the entire body to relax and self-correct. Using a gentle touch—starting with about the weight of a nickel—the practitioner evaluates your internal environment. Then she uses distinctive light-touch techniques to release any restrictions found. By freeing the central nervous system to perform at its best, CST naturally eliminates pain and stress, strengthens your resistance to disease and enhances your health and well-being. CST improves your body’s ability to take better care of you. It helps relieve a full spectrum of pain, illness and dysfunction, including migraines and headaches, chronic neck and back pain, stress and tension-related disorders, motor-coordination impairments, chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, TMJ, scoliosis, central nervous system disorders, learning disabilities, ADD/ADHD, PTSD, and much more.
• weight loss • low libido • fatigue • depression • aging skin • allergies & much more!
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
Please RECYCLE
Please contact Marsha Mathes at 256-698-2151 or mathes79@knology.net to schedule your CST appointment. See listing, page 31. natural awakenings
June 2015
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Jin Shin Jyutsu® of Huntsville 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
newsbriefs Gail Butler Art Show and Sale
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he Light of Christ Center is proud to present an art show and sale featuring the work of the late Genine Gail Butler. Gail was a longtime member, student and teacher at the center and her work was profoundly influenced by metaphysical teachings. Gail felt a special affinity with nature and would often drive through the countryside looking for trees to photograph for later use in her art. Many of her paintings have spiritual symbols hidden in plain sight. Gail was employed in the aerospace industry as a graphic artist, and her metaphysical paintings and prints were a labor of love. Other items from Gail’s personal collection that will be offered for sale include a dragon collection and costume jewelry. On Friday, June 12, there will be a wine and cheese reception from 6-9pm. Tickets at the door are $5. Saturday will be an open showing from 10am-4pm, and admission is free. All proceeds of the art sale will benefit Gail’s family. Date: Friday, June 12, 6-9pm, and Saturday, June 13, 10am4pm. Location: Light of Christ Center, 4208 Holmes Ave, Huntsville. 256-895-0255. See ad, page 17.
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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 8
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Opening Soon
Hatha Yoga Boosts Brainpower
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esearch from Wayne State University, in Detroit, has found that hatha yoga can significantly improve cognitive health in as little as two months. Researchers tested 118 adults with an average age of 62 years. One group engaged in three, hour-long hatha yoga classes per week for eight weeks, while the other group did stretching and strengthening exercises for the same duration. The participants underwent cognitive testing before and after the eight-week period. At the end of the trial, the hatha yoga group showed significant improvements in cognition compared to the other group. The yoga group also recorded shorter reaction times, greater accuracy in high-level mental functions and better results in working memory tests. Source: Journal of Gerontology
Acupuncture Treats Prostate Enlargement
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esearch from China has found that a combination of acupuncture and moxibustion, a form of heat therapy in which dried plant materials are burned on or near the surface of the skin to warm and invigorate the inner flow of qi, or energy, can effectively reduce the symptoms of benign prostate enlargement. Researchers tested 128 patients with prostate enlargement for three months, dividing them into two groups. One group was given acupuncture and moxibustion; the other took a traditional Chinese herbal medication for prostate enlargement called Qianliekangi. The patients’ prostate symptoms were tested using the International Prostate Symptom Score, maximum urine flow rate and residual urine tests. At the study’s end, the patients given the acupuncture/moxibustion treatment reported significantly reduced levels in all three tests—calculated at an 89 percent total effective rate—compared to the herbal medication group.
ANTIOXIDANT-RICH BERRIES THWART ALZHEIMER’S
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n international team of scientists has confirmed that consuming berries such as strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, blackcurrants, mulberries and raspberries can significantly reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. Blueberries, in particular, were found to be associated with increased memory and learning. Researchers from Washington State University, the U.S. National Institutes of Health, India’s Annamalai University and Oman’s Sultan Qaboos University’s College of Medicine and Health Sciences reviewed two decades worth of research relating to consuming berries and dementia. They found that the many biochemicals contained in berries provide antioxidant protection to neurons and prevent the formation of beta-amyloid fibrils found in the brains of Alzheimer’s disease patients.
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June 2015
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globalbriefs News and resources to inspire concerned citizens to work together in building a healthier, stronger society that benefits all.
Solar Harvest
New Technology Makes Windows Power Producers
SolarWindow Technologies, Inc.
SolarWindow Technologies’ new window coatings are a “first of its kind” technology that could turn the buildings we live and work in into selfsufficient, mini power stations. They can generate electricity on see-through glass and flexible plastics with colored tints popular in skyscraper glass. The coating can be applied to all four sides of tall buildings, generating electricity using natural and artificial light conditions and even shaded areas. Its organic materials are so ideal for lowcost, high-output manufacturing that the technology is already part of 42 product patent applications. When applied to windows on towers, it’s expected to generate up to 50 times the power of conventional rooftop solar systems while delivering 15 times the environmental benefits. For example, a single SolarWindow installation can avoid the amount of carbon emissions produced by vehicles driving about 2.75 million miles per year, compared to 180,000 miles for conventional rooftop systems.
Lost Lands
Salinity is Eating Away Farmland Worldwide Every day for more than 20 years, an average of almost eight square miles of irrigated land in arid and semiarid areas across 75 countries have been degraded by salt, according to the study Economics of Salt-Induced Land Degradation and Restoration, by United Nations University’s Canadianbased Institute for Water, Environment and Health. Salt degradation occurs in arid and semi-arid regions where rainfall is too low to maintain regular percolation of rainwater through the soil and where irrigation is practiced without a natural or artificial drainage system, which triggers the accumulation of salt in the root zone, affecting soil quality and reducing productivity. In the Colorado River Basin alone, studies peg the annual economic impact of salt-induced land degradation in irrigated areas at $750 million. The cost of investing in preventing and reversing land degradation and restoring it to productive land would be far lower than letting degradation continue and intensify. Methods successfully used to facilitate drainage and reverse soil degradation include tree planting, deep plowing, cultivation of salt-tolerant varieties of crops, mixing harvested plant residues into topsoil and digging a drain or deep ditch around salt-affected land. 10
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Farm Therapy Veterans Heal Through Agriculture
Of the 19.6 million veterans in the United States alone, approximately 3.6 million have a service-related disability, 7.6 percent are unemployed and they collectively make up 13 percent of the adult homeless population, according to the Independent Voter Network. Organizations worldwide are helping veterans heal their wounds through farming and agriculture. The goal is to create a sustainable food system by educating them to be sustainable vegetable producers, providing training and helping families rebuild war-torn lives. Eat the Yard, in Dallas, Texas, was founded by Iraq War veterans James Jeffers and Steve Smith to cultivate fresh produce in community gardens. The two began organic farming in their own backyards for both therapeutic and financial reasons, and then slowly began to build more gardens in their community. They now sell their produce to local restaurants and businesses. The Farmer Veteran Coalition (FVC) is working with veterans across the U.S. to transition them into agriculture. The coalition partners veterans with mentors experienced in farming and business, matches them with agriculture-related job opportunities and organizes equipment donations in Iowa and California. FVC is helping former members of the armed forces in 48 states. Source: FoodTank.com/ news/2014/11/veterans-day
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Protect Our Parks! Visit an Alabama State Park This Summer by Tom Maples
Gulf State Park Beach
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s it actually possible that most of our state parks could close this fall? To get an answer to that, I did some research and talked to Greg Lein, who is the Director of Alabama State Parks. After speaking with Greg, it became clear to me that what we are facing in 2015 is a perfect storm composed of the state’s general fund budget crisis, depleted state park reserve funds, political ideology, lack of public awareness, and very bad timing. All that taken together could very well result in the closure of 15 out of 22 of our state parks if the legislature goes through with its proposal to siphon off $9.2 million out of the state park system budget during the 2016 fiscal year. The park system’s emergency plan has 15 parks that would close: Bladon Springs, Chickasaw, Buck’s Pocket, Paul
Lake Guntersville State Park 12
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15 out of 22 of Alabama state parks will close if the legislature goes through with its proposal to siphon off $9.2 million out of the state park system budget during the 2016 fiscal year. Grist, Florala, Blue Springs, Roland Cooper, Rickwood Caverns, Cheaha, Lake Lurleen, DeSoto, Lakepoint, Guntersville, Joe Wheeler and Frank Jackson. These 15 parks are those that do not consistently generate sufficient revenue to cover their operation costs. The seven parks that would remain open are Meaher, Wind Creek, Chewacla, Monte Sano, Cathedral Caverns, Oak Mountain and Gulf State Park. These are the parks that are currently profitable. Only two of them, Monte Sano and Cathedral Caverns, are in the North Alabama region. Some of the parks slated to be closed have raised eyebrows. Lake Guntersville? Joe Wheeler? These are two of the largest and most prominent parks in the system, both with highly developed infrastructure, including lodges, golf courses and marinas. But, even with all that infrastructure, these two parks are not consistently profitable year in and year out. A state park is different from pure wilderness areas because of its infrastructure. Alabama has purchased and set aside many beautiful wilderness areas such as the Walls of Jericho through the highly successful Forever Wild program, which is funded by natural gas royalties paid to the state. But pure wilderness and wildlife management areas do not offer the facilities and the infrastructure that make them practicably accessible to a majority of people. Parks have
Buck’s Pocket State Park the amenities that people need to enjoy nature with some degree of comfort: picnic tables, pavilions, electricity, bathrooms, RV hookups, roads, parking lots, information centers, restaurants, country stores, boat ramps, docks, lifeguards, trashcans, cabins, lodges, marinas, and staffed park personnel greatly improve a family excursion into the outdoors, whether it be a day trip or an overnight adventure. All of that infrastructure, including facilities, services and personnel costs about $38 million to operate each year for the whole Alabama State Parks system. The parks generate $30 million of that themselves from user fees, which include gate entry, overnight lodging, meeting room rental, boat launch access, RV and camp site fees, etc. Another $8 million comes from the state, earmarked from retail sales and cigarette taxes. That means that the Alabama State Parks are at least 80% self-funded. This is an unusually high degree of self-sufficiency for a state park system. Tennessee, by comparison, has a $78 million annual budget for its 38 state parks, with less than half of the revenue coming from user
Unity Church on the Mountain 1328 Governors Dr. SE, Huntsville, AL 35801
What’s Happening at Unity Sunday, June 14: Speaker Susan Holliday Sunday, June 28: Speaker Rev. Grace Gifford
Five Basic Unity Principles: God is good and active in everything, everywhere.
fees. That means the State of Tennessee gives $44 million to its park system each and every year. The State of Alabama gives only $8 million per year to its parks, and now wants to take back $9.2 million in quarterly installments during the next fiscal year. That’s a hit that the park system as we know it simply cannot survive, especially since this is not the first time the state has raided the parks’ revenues. The state has taken money out of the parks to shore up holes in the general fund for each of the past four years. Twelve million dollars was taken out of the park system budget in fiscal years 2012 and 2013 alone. This has completely depleted the parks reserve funds, according to Greg Lein. “The Alabama State Parks System’s cash balance is at its lowest point since 2000,” says Greg. We are now operating on an efficient, bare bones budget, and we can continue to do so if they would leave our funding alone as it is. But since our cash flow patterns are seasonal, and we have no reserves left, we simply cannot absorb the proposed transfer of $9.2 million from State Park System funds without major cuts to our parks and personnel.” Essentially, the parks make their money as they go, from month to month, and the revenue varies widely depending on the time of year. Usually, the money that the parks make in the summer carries them through the rest of the year. So the proposal to take millions out of the parks’ coffers in the fall will leave the parks short of cash for the start of fiscal year 2016, with no way to make up the difference. There are those in the legislature who do understand the impact that this will have on the parks but are not concerned by it. Some don’t think the state should be in the park business at all, and advocate privatizing the parks. Others, like State Representative Joe Faust thinks that the parks should be 100% self-supporting. “We should be looking at ways they could be self-sustaining and not cost the taxpayer money,” says Rep. Faust.
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Joe Wheeler State Park Picnic Shelter The only problem with that is that it is not the model that most states follow to fund their parks. Data from 2010 show that our neighboring states, Florida, Georgia and Mississippi each subsidize 35% of their state parks’ funding, while Tennessee provides 56% of the revenue its parks need to operate. Across the nation, the average state park system gets around 40 percent of its budget from state general funds. There are a lot of good reasons why states subsidize their parks so significantly. The first is purely economic. A healthy and popular state park system brings in hundreds of millions of dollars to a state. A 2011 study by the University of Alabama found that visitors to Alabama’s state parks spent an estimated $152.4 million. Out of 4.6 million annual visitors to the parks, fully half are from out of state. In total, Alabama’s State Parks supports 5,340 jobs and generates $375 million in economic activity, according to the U of A study. That’s a tenfold return on investment for a park system that operates on a $38 million budget—especially when it and generates $30 million of that on its own. So keeping the parks system intact would seem to make good economic sense. But there are other reasons beyond economics for having a healthy state park system. The reason that the parks were created in the first place was to enhance the quality of life of the people of our state. When the parks were first proposed in 1939, the main idea was not to make money. The entire purpose of the parks is to provide a platform for the people to be able to enjoy the outdoors and the abundance of natural beauty in Alabama. Alabama’s State Parks have achieved that purpose exceedingly well. “Our philosophy and our orientation is to operate the parks as a public service, even though we do have to run them like a business,” says Greg Lein. “So the end product is a low-cost, high-service park experience for our visitors from a park system that is mostly self-sufficient.” Greg and his staff are extremely proud of the “park product” that they offer to the public. He is especially pleased with the fact that nine Alabama state parks earned 14
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Trip Advisor Awards of Excellence in 2014. Trip Advisor is a highly coveted award that is based on unsolicited positive reviews of visitors to the parks. But the people of Alabama don’t need anybody to tell them that they should be proud of their parks. That’s why there has been such an outpouring of public support for the parks when it was first reported that four of the parks would have to close on May 1 of this year. More than 350 people packed the meeting room at the Guntersville Lodge when Governor Bentley came to talk about the danger facing the parks from the state budget crisis. A Facebook page, Alabama State Parks Partners, received more than 22,000 “likes” in less than two weeks. Many people expressed their concern to their state representatives and local government officials. Because of the public outcry, the Governor told Greg Lein to keep the four parks open until the budget crisis is resolved over the next few months. What has to happen over that time to save the parks? The Governor is pushing a comprehensive tax increase of $541 million, which he says would solve all of the state’s problems, including the parks. To his credit, Greg Lein has tried to de-link the idea of saving the parks from the need to raise taxes. He has been focusing like a laser on bringing awareness of the continuing revenue transfers from his department to the general fund. “Folks need to see the root problem as the transfers of cash from one agency fund—such as the parks—to the general fund,” says Greg. “If a philanthropist gave the parks $1 million tomorrow, I can provide no assurance that it wouldn’t be transferred to general fund. That is a key message.” Essentially the park system have no protection from these raids on its revenues, and it should have it, in order to ensure that all 22 Alabama State Parks stay open for generations to come. What can we do to help? The best way to help the parks is to use them early and often this summer. “This summer is critical,” says Greg. “If we can get people to increase their usage of the parks during our peak season this summer, it will help in two important ways. First, it will generate much-needed revenue for the parks that will
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Across the nation, the average state park system gets around 40 percent of its budget from state general funds. Alabama provides only 20 percent, and in recent years the state has taken a significant portion of that funding back to shore up holes in the state general fund. set us up in a strong position for whatever happens in the budget battles through September. Second, an uptake in public usage of the parks will send an unmistakable signal to the legislature that the people of Alabama love their state parks and want them to stay fully funded and open.” So, please, if you love your state parks, by all means use them this summer. Plan a vacation at one of the parks, or schedule some day trips. It doesn’t matter which parks your choose, use of any of the parks will help the whole park system. Enjoy your favorite local park, such as Joe Wheeler, Lake Guntersville, or Monte Sano, but also make a point to visit another park nearby, such as beautiful Buck’s Pocket, Cathedral Caverns, or DeSoto Falls. If you are able to travel further this summer, plan a trip to one of our unique state parks in another region of the state, such as Mount Cheaha. Gulf State Park is always an excellent option for a summer getaway. According to Greg, because of past bond supported renovations, natural and unnatural disasters, this summer will be the first time that all 22 parks are open and fully operational in the last 20 years. Let’s keep them open. We have all the power we need to protect our parks. All we have to do is enjoy them for all of the fun, relaxation, and gorgeous natural beauty they have to offer. Find a park you’d like to visit this summer on Alapark.com. State Parks Director Greg Lein can be reached at Greg.Lein@ dcnr.alabama.gov.
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RETHINKING RECOVERY Holistic Approaches to Healing Addictions by Lisa Marshall
T
hrough 15 years of alcohol and prescription drug addiction, one prominent Virginia business owner tried it all to get clean: three inpatient rehab centers; talk therapy; Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and Narcotics Anonymous (NA), spending roughly $200,000 in the process. “I would follow through for about a year, and then start to feel like I was on top of things and get complacent,” says the 52-year-old, who asked that her name not be used. She’d treat herself to “just one drink” and soon find herself in a familiar downward spiral. She last relapsed in October 2012. Three months later, she was on the interstate in the morning, a half-empty four-pack of mini wine bottles on her front seat, when she swerved and slammed head-on into a semi-trailer truck. She escaped her flattened car with minor head trauma, gratitude that her children didn’t have to “bury their drunk mother,” and a renewed will to sober up and rediscover happiness. Today, she’s done just that, thanks to a comprehensive, holistic approach that included hiring a life coach that specializes in addiction, overhauling her diet, making time for daily physical and spiritual exercises and reframing her addiction, not as a disease she is cursed 16
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with, but as a predisposition she has the power to keep at bay. “Yes. I was passed a gene by my alcoholic father. Yet that only becomes a threat to me when I make a choice to ingest something that cuts the beast loose,” she says. “I work hard every day, using a whole bunch of different tools to keep that from happening again.” She is one of a growing number of alcoholics and addicts reaching beyond the standard trifecta of 28-day rehabs, 12-step programs and psychotherapy toward an approach that addresses mind, body and spirit. More than 40 million Americans over the age of 12 (16 percent of the population) are addicted to alcohol or drugs, according to the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at New York City’s Columbia University. Yet the standard treatments yield lessthan-stellar success rates. Sixty percent of addicts return to drug use within a year after rehab, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, and only 5 percent of AA attendees continue with meetings after 12 months, according to AA research. David Essel, a Fort Myers, Florida, life coach who specializes in working with substance abusers, says that when
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examining all the data, only about one in 10 addicts or alcoholics that use conventional means alone are still clean after one year. Fortunately, because people vary widely in emotional needs and physiologies, other complementary options are also catching on.
Mending Brain and Body
Enter a group meeting for recovering addicts or alcoholics and chances are there will be a pot of black coffee, plus donuts or cookies. “Having poor eating habits is a primary contributing factor to relapse,” says Registered Dietitian David Wiss, founder of NutritionInRecovery.com, which provides nutrition consulting for recovery programs in Los Angeles. Because substance abuse can deaden appetite and many of the same neurological circuits that drugs and alcohol stimulate are also activated by salty or sugar-laden foods, newly recovering addicts tend to be ravenous and drawn to junk food. “After 30 days in treatment, people can gain 10 to 30 pounds. They often turn back to addictive substances they’ve abused to get their appetite back under control,” says Wiss. (Because smoking deadens taste buds, drawing people to seek out more intense salty or sugary flavors, it exacerbates the problem.) In a subconscious attempt to get maximum stimulation of now-neglected reward centers in the brain, users often eat little most of the day, then binge later, leading to erratic blood sugar levels that can impact mood, further sabotaging recovery. After years of abuse, addicts also tend to suffer deficiencies of proteins and good fats—key building blocks of a healthy brain. “The brain has been rewired due to the use of substances. Without healing it, you can attend all the meetings in the world and you’ll still struggle with cravings,” reports Essel. He starts new clients with 500 milligrams (mg) daily of the dietary supplement DLphenylalanine, an amino acid precursor to feel-good neurotransmitters such as norepinephrine. He also gives them tyrosine, an energizing amino acid said to quell sugar cravings. For relieving a craving in progress, he recommends 500 to 1,000 mg of glutamine, placed under the tongue. Wiss says he generally recommends food over supplements, yet asking newly
recovering addicts to also revamp their diets can be tough. “I wouldn’t expect anyone to make a big nutritional change in their first week of sobriety,” he says. After that, he encourages small steps: Drink eight glasses of water per day. Eat three meals and three snacks to keep blood sugar stable. Load up on fiber, which can help heal the gut and replenish it with healthy bacteria. Eat plenty of lean protein to promote production of feel-good brain chemicals. Load up on nuts, seeds, fatty fish and other omega-3 fatty acids that suppress inflammation in the brain and have been shown in some studies to quell depression. Daily exercise is also key as Wiss notes that it “circulates our blood and gets all those healthy nutrients into our brain.” Physical activities can also help fill the void and even provide a new sense of identity for someone whose selfesteem has been shattered, says Scott Strode, founder of Denver, Colorado’s Phoenix Multisport, which hosts group cycling, running and climbing outings for recovering addicts and alcoholics. Strode kicked his own cocaine habit 18 years ago by immersing himself first in boxing, then climbing and triathlons. He founded Phoenix in 2007 to help fill what he sees as a gaping hole in recovery support services—a place where people with similar pasts can gather and talk without dwelling exclusively on their dependence issues. He has since served 15,000 people in Colorado, California, and Boston, offering 60 free outings a week for anyone at least 48 hours sober. “By being part of something like this, you can let go of the shame of
being the addict, the junkie or the one that let down the family. Now you are the climber or the mountain biker,” says Strode. He stresses that Phoenix programs aren’t intended to replace treatment. Still, “For some, just that redefining of self may be enough. For others, it’s a powerful tool in a broader toolbox.”
Beyond AA
Co-founded in 1935 by an alcoholic named Bill Wilson, Alcoholics Anonymous now has 2 million members and has played an important role in many successful recoveries. However, its Godbased approach (five of the 12 steps refer to God or Him), a credo that alcoholics must admit “powerlessness” and its emphasis on alcoholism as a defining disease aren’t for everyone. Naysayers point to a 2006 finding by the nonprofit Cochrane Collaboration that states, “No experimental studies unequivocally demonstrated the effectiveness of AA or 12-step approaches for reducing alcohol dependence or problems.” Such concerns have prompted some alternative recovery fellowships, including Moderation Management (Moderation.org), which helps people that want to drink less; and Smart Recovery (SmartRecovery.org), which supports an ethos of self-empowerment via cognitive behavioral therapy, nutritional changes and group discussions. Other programs focus on renewing the soul by applying metaphysical practices to the traditional 12 steps. “The conventional 12 steps talk about a higher power outside of you,” says Ester Nicholson, a singer, author and addictions counselor. In her book
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Soul Recovery: 12 Keys to Healing Addiction, she describes a descent into crack cocaine addiction beginning in her teens, and the long climb out of it. At first, she says, the 12 steps helped her break free of what she calls the “spiritual malady, mental obsession and physical allergy,” that is addiction. But after a decade of being clean, followed by a near-relapse, she discovered meditation and other spiritual practices. “I realized that this higher power can restore me to sanity, but the higher power is actually within me. I found this wonderful bridge between the 12 steps and universal spiritual principals, and it is rocking my world.” Patti Lacey, 54, an Essel client, likewise found lasting sobriety by extending her toolbox, learning to focus not only on past pain, but on bringing forth her best self. According to the International
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Lisa Marshall is a freelance health writer in Boulder, CO. Connect at LisaAnnMarshall.com.
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Coach Federation, which reports an uptick in interest in recovery coaching, a coach helps to establish individual goals and map a journey to success. Two years into recovery, Lacey still takes her supplements daily, rises at dawn to meditate, attends 12-step meetings and is part of a nondenominational church community. She also regularly meets with her coach to report progress and update goals, including getting a handle on her finances, a frequent casualty of addiction. “Everybody’s journey is different,” Lacey confirms. “What I needed was someone to tell me exactly what to do in the beginning, and then be around to hold me accountable. That changed everything.”
Ear acupuncture: Since 1974, addiction specialists have used an ear acupuncture needling protocol to ease cravings, decrease anxiety and improve sleep during withdrawal. Numerous published studies in The Lancet, the Archives of Internal Medicine and others support its efficacy. More than 1,000 U.S. programs now use it, according to the National Acupuncture Detoxification Association (AcuDetox.com). Neurofeedback: Also known as EEG biofeedback, this technique uses electroencephalography sensors attached to the head to enable someone to observe their own brain wave activity on a computer and learn to intentionally alter it via visualization and relaxation techniques (isnr.net). Aromatherapy: Life coach David Essel recommends three aromatherapy oils to clients in recovery: lavender, a relaxant; lemon grass, for energy; and frankincense, a mood-balancer. Ibogaine: This psychoactive brew derived from the West African shrub Tabernanthe iboga has been used cer-
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emonially for centuries. In the 1960s, an opioid addict accidentally discovered that after experiencing an intense, four-to-eight-hour dreamlike “trip”, his cravings for heroin ceased. Deborah Mash, Ph.D., a professor of neurology and molecular and cellular pharmacology at the University of Miami, traveled to Amsterdam in the early 1990s to see if there was any truth to such cases. “I saw a man that was on heroin and cocaine and addicted to benzodiazepines undergo detox with no withdrawal signs, and in 36 hours look like a new person,” she recalls. She has been studying it ever since. The drug is believed to serve as an addiction interrupter, acting on opioid receptors in the brain to quell withdrawal symptoms. Some describe it as “resetting the brain” to a pre-addicted state. Ibogaine is illegal in the U.S. Some offshore clinics are providing it, but Mash warns that some are unscrupulous, so buyer beware. (ClearSkyIbogaine.com offers medically supervised Ibogaine therapy in Cancun, Mexico).
wisewords
The Gut-Mind Connection David Perlmutter on How Stomach Microflora Affect Brain Health by Linda Sechrist
D
r. David Perlmutter, a board-certified neurologist and recipient of the Linus Pauling Award for his innovative approaches to addressing neurological disorders, has recently released Brain Maker, the latest in a series of books on brain health. This medical advisor to the Dr. Oz Show demonstrates how brain problems can be prevented by adopting lifestyle changes that nurture the bacteria living in the digestive system.
Why did you begin your book with the quote, “Death begins in the colon,” rather than “Brain health begins in the gut”? I wanted to draw attention to the real life-or-death issues mediated by what goes on inside the gut. Individuals with an immediate concern for their heart, bones, immune system or brain must recognize that the health of these parts and functions are governed at the level of commensal gut bacteria, the normal microflora that eat what we eat. This relationship is the most powerful leverage point we have for maintaining health.
How were you led to expand from studying the nervous system and brain to investigating gastrointestinal medicine? Early on in my career, I was taught that everything that goes on in the brain stays there. But leading-edge research now reveals that seemingly disparate organs are in close communication, regulating each other’s health. As scientific literature began supporting the notion that gut-related issues
have a huge bearing on brain health, and specifically on brain disease, it became important to me to be able to leverage deep knowledge of this empowering information in terms of being able to treat brain disorders.
What is the Human Microbiome Project (HMP)? HMP, launched in 2008 by the National Institutes of Health, is a $115 million exploration of the gut microbiome. In the ongoing research project involving genetic and DNA assessment, researchers are looking at the microbiome array in the gut of individuals suffering from various diseases. They are drawing correlations between emerging patterns in the abnormalities of gut bacteria and specific diseases. For example, autism correlates with an overabundance of the Clostridia species. In diabetes, there are more Firmicutes than Bacteroidetes, which we also see in obesity characteristic of the Western cosmopolitan diet. This is paving the way for interventions designed to restore a normal balance of gut bacteria. An example in my book is Dr. Max Nieuwdorp’s research at the University of Amsterdam, in which he discovered an array of abnormal bacteria that characterize Type 2 diabetes. In the more than 250 individuals diagnosed with diabetes that he treated in a double-blind study, he was able to reverse the disease by inserting a series of fecal material transfers from healthy, lean donors into diabetic patients.
What is the most eye-opening information about the roles played by gut organisms? More than 100 trillion bacteria live in our gut. Plus, there are viruses, yeast species and protozoa. When we factor in their genetic material, it means that an astonishing 99 percent of the DNA in our body is bacterial. It’s humbling to realize they influence all manner of physiology, from our immune system to our metabolism, making vitamins, maintaining the gut lining and controlling inflammation, the key mechanism involved in Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, multiple sclerosis and any number of brain degenerative disorders. They also exert influence over the expression of our 23,000 genes, in effect regulating the expression of the human genome. The latest startling discovery— which is so new that it’s not in the book—is that bacterial DNA sequences have now been found in the human genome, meaning we are partly bacterial. It reveals the most sophisticated symbiotic and intimate relationship at the deepest level imaginable. It turns the previous way of thinking about who we are upside-down. Our perceptions of the world, moods, hunger or satiety, even our metabolism, are dictated by gut bacteria, which deserve careful stewarding. They don’t deserve, for example, to be bombarded by the capricious use of antibiotics whenever we have the sniffles.
How can we reestablish good gut health? Better food choices bring about significant changes in our body’s microbiome. By incorporating prebiotic foods such as Jerusalem artichokes, dandelion greens, garlic, leeks, onions, jicama or Mexican yam, as well as fermented foods such as kimchi, kombucha tea, yogurt and kefir, individuals can reestablish good gut health that helps them gain control over inflammation, the cornerstone of all degenerative conditions. Inflammation originates in the gut. Balancing bacteria and reducing intestinal permeability, which allows substances to leak through the lining of the small intestine into the bloodstream, can reduce it. Visit Linda Sechrist’s website, ItsAllAbout We.com, for the recorded interview.
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June 2015
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How They Raise Conscious Kids by Lane Vail
F
athers are more involved in their children’s lives than ever before, embracing their roles of leader, nurturer and protector, and they’re reaping extraordinary benefits. According to a 2014 study published in the Academy of Management Perspectives, fathers that spend more time with their kids are both happier at home and more satisfied at work. Today, many mindful dads engaged in a natural lifestyle apply that same health consciousness to their parenting. Support Mama. Natural fathering begins during pregnancy, with an informed birth plan. “Support whatever birthing decision the woman feels will provide her the most comfort and relaxation,” advises Dr. John Douillard, an ayurvedic chiropractor and author of six books, including Perfect Health for Kids. Hold her hand, rub her back, advocate for her rights and after the birth, support her efforts to breastfeed whenever, wherever and however long she wants. “Fathers should recognize that the burden of care is clearly on the mother for at least the first year, so her opinions and wishes deserve special consideration and respect,” says Ben Hewitt, father of two, home unschooler and author of The Nourishing Homestead. Embrace physical closeness. Bonding through nurturing touch is powerful and rewarding for father and child. A recent study published in the Journal of Perinatal Education found that fathers that practiced infant massage experienced significant stress release and bonding with their offspring. Wearing a baby or toddler
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in a sling, wrap or carrier is another comforting way to spend time together. Co-sleeping helps foster a more natural sleep rhythm with a nocturnally hungry baby, while also offering another way to connect. “Any stress my family may have experienced during the day dissipated when we reconnected at nighttime,” Hewitt attests. “Looking back, I can’t imagine having missed out on that opportunity to be so close with my kids.” Feed healthy habits. Natural dads are educated about both naturopathic and Western medicine to make informed choices regarding prevention and intervention. Douillard applies the ayurvedic principle of seasonal eating in order to bolster the immune systems of his six children and clients. Cooling foods like fruits and vegetables in summer prevent overheating; warming foods like soups, nuts and meats in winter lubricate mucus membranes and facilitate fat and protein storage; light foods like leafy greens in spring detoxify the body. His experience is that when kids with robust immunity catch the occasional malady, its severity and duration are reduced, and natural herbs often provide a gentle first step toward recovery. Douillard treats colds with a spoonful of equal parts turmeric and honey mixed into a paste. “Turmeric is a powerful anti-inflammatory and antiviral herb that also helps liquefy mucus in the respiratory tract,” he says. For tummy troubles, he suggests offering kids an herbal tea of cumin, coriander or fennel. Above all, parents must exemplify good health habits. “Eat better, exercise
When dads are calm and present, they become a calming presence.
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regularly, change your diet with the local season and your kids will follow along,” says Douillard. Impart green morals. Earth-conscious parents teach their children how to leave a faint ecological footprint by supporting local eco-friendly companies, reducing the presence of toxic chemicals in the home and consuming and wasting less. However, wagging a finger and imploring kids to be ecofriendly is not enough; model helpful behaviors and illustrate the implications of their choices. “Instead of saying, ‘You should recycle,’ show kids online pictures of the giant flotillas of plastics polluting the oceans,” says Hewitt. Maintain an experiential dialogue about respecting, preserving and enjoying nature. Encourage adventure and resourcefulness. “Historically,” says Hewitt, “children learned alongside their parents and community, immersed in their environment, an arrangement that allowed them continual opportunities to prove their own resourcefulness.” All dads, like homeschoolers, will find satisfying fun in sharing problem-solving, hands-on projects with their kids, like building a debris shelter in the woods, planting a garden, or using repurposed materials to engineer something with form and function. Learning doesn’t have to be a hierarchical activity, wherein dads teach children, says Hewitt. “The opportunity to learn and explore together is powerful.” Play. Hewitt encourages dads to look for opportunities to relieve kids of their often overwhelming and scattered schedules. “It’s incredibly important for kids and adults to set aside time for free play and exploration,” he says. “Go outside with them,” says Douillard. “Make up games, goof off, run around, roll around and just be with them. It makes a world of difference in their lives.” Lane Vail is a freelance writer in South Carolina and blogger at Discovering Homemaking.com.
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n terms of discipline, natural fathering is neither tough nor timid, punishing nor permissive. The mindful dad is calm, connected and capable. He’s able to harness introspection and observe himself as he parents, because he focuses more on managing his own behavior than that of his kids. “Fathering is a leadership role, not a management role,” says Hal Runkel, a licensed marriage and family therapist and author of the bestseller ScreamFree Parenting. “If I manage myself with calmness and clarity, I can lead my children to learn to manage themselves.” Runkel says the first step is “committing to cool.” Find an anxiety- or anger-managing technique that feels natural, such as meditation, yoga, deep breathing, visualization, prayer or counting beads on a bracelet, and call on that skill to maintain coolness when challenged by a child, advises Runkel. It’s a misconception that emotions need to be released or they will consume us, he says. “Emotions just are; it’s the thoughts about emotions that drive us crazy.” Learning to name, tame and befriend feelings through introspection and mindful exercises allows space for calm conversations with children to emerge. “We fathers have a special responsibility to lead with calm because we are physically imposing in children’s eyes,” he says. “The approachable dad has teachable kids, and he lets natural and logical consequences do the teaching.”
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F
ive thousand years ago, most yoga teachers and students were men. Today, of the 15 million American practitioners, less than a third are males. However, this figure has increased in the past decade, with teachers in some areas reporting a balanced ratio of men and women in their classes. Yet, even as professional athletes add yoga to their training regimen, Power Yoga founder Bryan Kest, in Santa Monica, California, points out, “To the mainstream man, yoga is not masculine. You see men in ballet performances, but it doesn’t mean men are attracted to ballet.” Eric Walrabenstein, founder of Yoga Pura, in Phoenix, agrees. “To achieve the widest adoption of the practice, we need to shift away from the notion that yoga is a physical exercise primarily for women, to one that embraces yoga’s holistic physical, mental and emotional benefits for anyone regardless of gender.”
Life Benefits
Physically, yoga can complement traditional workout routines by increasing flexibility, strength and balance, and also play a role in pain management and injury prevention. Kest says, “Yoga is the best fitness-related activity I know of, but the tone and shapeliness that results is a byproduct. The focus is on balance and healing.” He encourages students to challenge themselves without
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being extreme. “The harder you are on anything, the faster you wear it out. If our objective is to both last as long and feel as good as possible, it makes no sense to push hard. Instead we should be gentle and sensitive in our practice.” Men will do well to learn how to stop what they’re doing and breathe, says Kreg Weiss, co-founder of My Yoga Online (now on Gaiam TV), from Vancouver. He emphasizes the importance of modifying poses as needed during classes and notes that doing so takes vulnerability that doesn’t come naturally to most men. “If you find yourself shaking while holding downward dog, allow yourself to go down to the floor without worrying about what others will think.” Societal pressures of masculinity sometimes dictate who a man thinks he should be. Breaking through such barriers enables a man to be relaxed with himself and unafraid as, “It changes what goes on off the mat, too,” observes Weiss. Bhava Ram (née Brad Willis), founder of the Deep Yoga School of Healing Arts, in San Diego, points out, “Men need yoga because it helps us deal better with stress and emotional issues. When we have more inner balance, we show up better for ourselves, spouses, friends and loved ones.”
Therapeutic Benefits
As modern science begins to document yoga’s healing effects, it’s being used in treatment plans for conditions ranging from addiction and trauma to multiple sclerosis and cancer. Ram was a Type A
aggressive reporter and network war correspondent and, “Like many men with similar personality types, I struggled with anger and control issues. I had no interest in yoga; it seemed strange and unnecessary to me,” he recalls. After a broken back, that ended his journalism career, failed surgery, advanced cancer and dependance on prescription drugs, he found himself facing death. Inspired by his young son to take control of his health, he embraced yoga as a healing way forward. After two years of dedicated practice, Ram says he turned 80 pounds of physical weight and 1,000 pounds of emotional toxins into gratitude, forgiveness and loving kindness. “I left 90 percent of my back pain behind and the cancer is gone.” Kest explains that yoga’s significant therapeutic value is based on its capacity to reduce stress and its effects, while teaching and strengthening techniques to cope with it. “Ninety
percent of the stress we put on our bodies originates in the stress we put on our minds,” he says. “If you want to be healthy, you have to look at mental fitness, not just the size of your biceps or the strength of your cardiovascular system. It’s calmness and peacefulness of mind that matter.”
Tips for First-Timers
Weiss urges men new to yoga to take time to find the right class. “When men that can’t touch their toes walk into some preconceived notion of a class full of women Om-ing, they feel apprehensive and the experience does them no service.” Regardless of one’s state of fitness, it’s important to start slowly, with a focus on the breath. “If you don’t have a good foundation, you can miss a lot of yoga’s benefits. Seek teachers with a solid yoga background educated in anatomy.” Walrabenstein recommends that first-timers find a class that meets their expectations of targeted benefits. “Re-
Yoga Helps Vets Heal by Meredith Montgomery
A
ccording to the International Journal of Yoga Therapy, an essential aspect of recovering from trauma is learning ways to calm down, or self-regulate. As suicide, divorce, domestic violence, drug abuse, homelessness and violent behavior continue to plague veterans and members of the military, yoga is being regarded as a promising treatment or adjunctive therapy for addressing symptoms associated with trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Numerous studies indicate that veterans that practice yoga (including postures, breath work, guided visualization and affirmation) can better cope with PTSD and other emotional challenges, and realize enhanced physical and mental stability. Former war correspondent Bhava Ram founded Warriors for Healing (W4H). Launched online and through trained teachers this year, “We want
to spread the word that yoga science is proven to be extremely effective for coping with PTSD and life-based trauma,” he says. The intention is to help people unlock their inherent power to heal, and to assist in a journey of self-empowerment as they establish new lives. W4H and its foundation partners provide resources for veterans and their families to implement yoga’s transformational lifestyle practices, including nutrition, philosophy, breath work and postures. Studies from leading institutions including the University of California, Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital have shown that these practices can change the organism that is us down to the level of our genomes. “We’re not stuck where we are,” says Ram. “My own history illustrates this, and I’ve seen many others heal from remarkable challenges.”
member that yoga is supposed to serve you in enabling your best life possible. If for you that means a vigorous workout, go for it. Even the most physicallyoriented yoga styles can carry profound mental and spiritual benefits—and can lead to a deeper, more rewarding practice over time.” Arrive early to class to get settled and talk with the teacher about physical status, potential limitations or other concerns. Yoga is practiced barefoot and clothing should be loose and comfortable, allowing the body to sweat and move. Walrabenstein reminds men to have fun. “Yoga, like anything, can be awkward at first. Make space for your learning curve and remember, no one in class is judging you.” Meredith Montgomery, a registered yoga teacher, publishes Natural Awakenings of Mobile/Baldwin, AL (HealthyLivingHealthyPlanet.com). Bootstrap, an online yoga system specific to the challenges of military duty-related stress, has distributed 70,000 yoga sessions to troops and veterans and their families since 2013. Designed to fill the many gaps left by traditional treatment strategies, it’s tailored to empower users to manage stressors and stressful episodes in a productive and ongoing way. Founder Eric Walrabenstein, a former U.S. Army infantry officer, notes that the program is curriculum-driven. Beyond breath and body postures, its 10-week structure makes it accessible to those that wouldn’t necessarily step into a studio. “The multimedia program has been clinically proven to derail chronic stress caused by military service in less than one hour per day,” he says. Bootstrap is presented as a stressmanagement program that just happens to use yoga techniques. “We did this because many men tend to self-select themselves out of the practice,” he says. “We wanted to avoid that as well as the idea that yoga is primarily about postures, when that’s only a small fraction of what the practice is.” Visit WarriorsForHealing.org and BootstrapUSA.com.
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healingways
Calendar A wonderful resource for filling your workshops, seminars and other events.
Don’t Get Ticked Off Natural Ways to Avoid and Treat Lyme Disease by Linda Sechrist
I Two styles available: Calendar of Dated Events: Designed for events on a specific date of the month. 50 words. n
Calendar of Ongoing Events: Designed for recurring events that fall on the same day each week. 50 words. n
Contact us for guidelines so we can assist you through the process. We’re here to help!
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n 1977, two Yale School of Medicine scientists identified the infected blacklegged deer tick carrying the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi as the disease-transmitting organism of Lyme disease. Since 1982, this most commonly reported vector-borne disease in the U.S. has gained notoriety, with its own resource book, Disease Update: Science, Policy & Law; research center (Columbia-Lyme. org/index.html); International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society website, ilads.org; Lyme Times print journal (LymeDisease.org); and national informational organization, the Tick-Borne Disease Alliance (TBDAlliance.org). The surge of activity appears justifiable. According to scientists at the Centers for Disease Control, approximately 300,000 cases are diagnosed annually in this country alone. Amy Tan, author of The Joy Luck Club, is a post-treatment Lyme disease patient and co-founder of LymeAid 4Kids (Tinyurl.com/LymeAid4Kids) that funds the diagnosis and treatment of uninsured children with Lyme. She disagrees with physicians that downplay late-stage cases and insist that the disease is cured with a simple round of antibiotics, as does Katina Makris, a classical homeopath from New Hampshire and host of Lyme Light Radio.
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After experiencing mysterious symptoms, Makris spent five years suffering from debilitating symptoms familiar to individuals with Lyme—undiagnosed, relapsing fevers, lingering fatigue, joint pain, headaches, neurological symptoms and cognitive impairment. “Then I finally began my 10-year healing journey,” she says. Her book Out of the Woods: Healing from Lyme Disease for Body, Mind, and Spirit, is a recovery memoir and resource guide for alternative medical, emotional and spiritual support. Lyme evades detection by standard blood tests for bacterial antigens and antibodies. “The ELISA [enzyme-linked immuno assay] test is only accurate between two weeks and two months after the bite,” says Makris, who notes that the Western Blot test is somewhat more accurate, while the IGeneX Laboratory test is superior. She believes the best laboratories for testing are Clongen Laboratories and IGeneX Laboratory Services. Dr. Richard Horowitz has treated more than 12,000 Lyme disease patients as medical director of the Hudson Valley Healing Arts Center, in Hyde Park, New York. The author of Why Can’t I Get Better? Solving the Mystery of Lyme and Chronic Disease raises another red flag regarding detection.
Testing for coinfections frequently transmitted along with Lyme is unreliable. Horowitz, who will conduct a workshop with Makris at New York’s Omega Institute for Holistic Studies, in Rhinebeck, and online, from June 26 to 28, counsels that antibiotics are not effective because they don’t address all of the infecting organisms now frequently found in ticks. Stephen Harrod Buhner, of Silver City, New Mexico, an independent scholar and citizen scientist and author of Healing Lyme Disease Coinfections, says that the bacteria have jumped species and found new hosts that live in habitats formerly occupied by wild animals: “They have learned to exist in humans and are teaching each other how to resist antibiotics and more easily infect us. What they do together in the body is a great deal more complex than what they do alone, making them difficult to treat. Bartonella species utilize the immune system of whatever mammal they infect as part of their infection strategy. Any existing inflammation in the body, such as arthritis, facilitates the growth of Bartonella.”
Essential Oils to Repel Ticks 1 cup distilled water 2 drops geranium essential oil 2 drops Palo Santo essential oil 1 drop myrrh essential oil 4 drops grapefruit essential oil 1 drop peppermint essential oil 1 drop Thieves hand soap or castile soap Place all ingredients in a spray bottle and shake. Spritz on socks, sneakers/ hiking boots, ankles and legs at a minimum and consider other exposed skin. The weaker or more compromised one’s immune system, the more likely a debilitating course of illness will occur. An improved immune system can identify the outer membrane proteins of the offending bacteria and create countering antibodies in four to eight months. “Once the immune system creates the proper antibodies, the bacteria
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are then eliminated fairly rapidly,” advises Buhner. Makris is grateful that she saw a nutritionist trained in functional medicine. “He worked slowly and methodically to reduce the inflammation, build up my immune system and restore my digestive, endocrine and nervous systems before killing the bacteria and opening up natural detoxification pathways to flush out the bacteria and their endotoxins. We used weekly acupuncture appointments, good nutrition and homeopathic formulas, plus various herbs, vitamins and mineral supplements,” says Makris. Ticks in high-vegetation areas wait for a passing host. To avoid these hitchhikers, wear light-colored long pants tucked into socks. A shirt should also be tucked in. Later, strip down and search hair, underarms, legs, behind the knees and ears, and in the belly button. As commercial tick repellants contain toxic ingredients, a targeted mixture of topically applied, therapeutic-grade essential oils is preferred. Linda Sechrist is the senior staff writer for Natural Awakenings.
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calendarofevents Email Editor@Natvalley.com for guidelines and to submit entries. Society. Free. Huntsville Main Library, Atrium, 915 Monroe St. 256-532-5940.
MONDAY, JUNE 1 Exhibit: From Cotton to the Cosmos, A Huntsville Retrospective – daily through Sept 6. This exhibit takes a look back at over 200 years of Huntsville, from its humble beginnings as a trade city to the Rocket City USA. Admission charged. Burritt on the Mountain, 3101 Burritt Dr SE, Huntsville. 256-536-2882.
THURSDAY, JUNE 18 Summer Sounds Concert Series – Thursday evening. Dulci-Jam’rs will entertain us with their Appalachian Old Time Celtic tunes played on a variety of dulcimers. Huntsville Botanical Garden, 4747 Bob Wallace Ave, Huntsville. 256-830-4447.
Rocket City Yoga Week – June 1-7. A week of free yoga and meditation events in Huntsville and Madison. RocketCityYogaWeek.com.
Girls Night Out: Basic Orchid Care – 6:308:30pm. Grab your best girlfriend and head to the Garden for an evening of fun and creativity. Make a take-home craft and enjoy light hors d’oeuvres. Beer and wine will be available for purchase. Huntsville Botanical Garden, 4747 Bob Wallace Ave, Huntsville. 256-830-4447.
TUESDAY, JUNE 2 Artist Market – 5:30-8pm, 6/2 and 6/16. Meet artists and shop local art during the Tuesday Evening Concert Series. Free. Huntsville Main Library, 915 Monroe St. 256-532-5940.
SATURDAY, JUNE 20
Tuesday Evening Concerts at the Library – 6-8pm. Dancing with the Library Stars I with Rocket City Jazz Orchestra & the Huntsville Swing Dance Society. Free. Huntsville Main Library, Atrium, 915 Monroe St. 256-532-5940.
Open market with local artisans. Stage demos by local chefs. Jazz and blues DJ. Admission charged. The Historic Depot Roundhouse, 398 Monroe St NW, Huntsville. 256-715-8089. HuntsvilleCheese Festival.com.
THURSDAY, JUNE 4
THURSDAY, JUNE 11
Master Gardeners Weekend – 10am-4pm (Sat), 12-4pm (Sun). Enjoy tours of the Demonstration Vegetable Garden and get information on vegetable gardens and other topics from the Alabama Cooperative Extension. Visit the garden and bring your vegetable questions. Huntsville Botanical Garden, 4747 Bob Wallace Ave, Huntsville. 256-830-4447.
Summer Sounds Concert Series – Thursday evening. Local musician and instructor Wendy Hogan is joined by many of her students to perform solo and harmony flute music with additional trombone and clarinet performances. Huntsville Botanical Garden, 4747 Bob Wallace Ave, Huntsville. 256-830-4447.
Summer Sounds Concert Series – Thursday evening. PMB, also known as the Garden Band, performs its eclectic style of rock and folk. Huntsville Botanical Garden, 4747 Bob Wallace Ave, Huntsville. 256-830-4447.
NASA Day on the Square – 11am-4pm. NASA will celebrate and showcase its latest endeavors in a festive, family-friendly atmosphere. Exhibits, speakers, food trucks, music and more. Historic Square, Downtown Huntsville.
FRIDAY, JUNE 12
Concert at Three Caves with Muscle Shoals Revue and the famous “Swampers” – 7-9pm. The Swampers, best known for crafting the “Muscle Shoals Sound” and recently featured in the documentary Muscle Shoals, will be jamming the night away. Admission charged. Historic Three Caves, 905 Kennamer Dr SE, Huntsville. LandTrusNAL.org.
FRIDAY, JUNE 5 Friday Night Art Walk – 5-8pm. This open-air art market with a wide variety of artisans and live music will take place the first and fourth Fridays of June, July and August. Free. Downtown Square, Huntsville. Wade Mountain Night Hike: Insect Safari – 8:30pm. (2.5 miles / Moderate). Doug Horacek shows us some cool little creatures that go bump in the night. Don’t forget your flashlight. Directions: LandTrustNAL.org.
SATURDAY, JUNE 6 Family Fun Festival & Expo – 10am-7pm. This is a free community event that offers face-to-face interactions with exhibitors that support families, fun, and learning. Local artisans, free kids’ activities, and live performances. Food available for purchase. Parking: $7 per car. Von Braun Center South Hall, 700 Monroe St, Huntsville.
SUNDAY, JUNE 7 Hidden Gardens of Old Town – 1-5pm. Come explore the hidden gardens of beautiful Old Town Historic District. There will be nine lovely spring gardens to view. Gardens located on Calhoun St, Clinton Ave, Holmes Ave, Steele St, and Walker Ave. $10. Old Town Historic District, Huntsville. Questions: Info@OldTownHuntsville.org. 1st Annual Downtown Huntsville Cheese Festival – Sample cheese, meet local dairy farmers and cheese makers. Craft beer and wine tastings.
All Has Meaning – 7:30-8pm. Inspiring stories and insights from Harold Klemp, spiritual leader and acclaimed author of more than sixty books on Eckankar. Learn for yourself why all has meaning for the Soul going home to God. Free. WOW (Knology) Cable Channel 11 (Huntsville / Madison). Info: 256-534-1751. Eck-Alabama.org.
SATURDAY, JUNE 13 Living Healthy Together Picnic – 4-6pm. Join us for Huntsville’s largest family picnic, ever! Bring your picnic, blankets and chairs, baskets, and a healthy dinner for your family and friends. Kids’ activities live acoustic music and giveaways. Concert following picnic, 6-8pm. Big Spring Park, Huntsville. Concert: Madison Community Band – 6pm. The Madison Community Band will perform songs commemorating the 150th anniversary of the close of the Civil War in 1865, along with Broadway show tunes, military marches, and more. Free. Bridge Street Town Centre, 365 The Bridge Street, Suite 106, Huntsville. Grotto Lights Concert Series: Seryn – 6-9pm. Free concert in the newly renovated Big Spring Park East Grotto area in downtown Huntsville. Bring blankets, chairs, pets on a leash, and a picnic.
TUESDAY, JUNE 16 Tuesday Evening Concerts at the Library – 6-8pm. Dancing with the Library Stars II with Moondust Big Band & the Huntsville Swing Dance
SATURDAY, JUNE 27 The BRIC Teen Fashion Show, Expo & AfterParty – 6-10pm. Fundraiser for The BRIC, a nonprofit benefiting teens in Madison County. Vendor booths open 5pm, Show starts 6pm, Teen After-Party with DJ 8-10pm. $10. After-Party is free for teens. Design Lab (2nd floor of Lincoln Mill), 1300 Meridian St, Huntsville. TheBRIC.info.
SUNDAY, JUNE 28 Artist Demonstration: Susie Garrett, Colored Pencil and Reclaimed Materials – 1-3pm. Susie Garrett, an artist featured in the Celebrating Our Own: Huntsville Women Artists exhibition will conduct an art demonstration. Huntsville Museum of Art, 300 Church St, Huntsville. 256-535-4350.
TUESDAY, JUNE 30 Tuesday Evening Concerts at the Library – 6-8pm. Roland Gresham. Free. Huntsville Main Library, Atrium, 915 Monroe St. 256-532-5940.
GOT EVENTS? GET NOTICED! Advertise in our calendar.
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ongoingevents Email Editor@Natvalley.com for guidelines and to submit entries.
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. HEALTH COOKWARE SALADMASTER sales and service. 256-502-9845.
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. LightOfChristCenter.org. 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.
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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 Beginner’s Class Tai Chi – 9:30-10:30am. $10 per class. Monte Sano Methodist Church administrative building, 601 Monte Sano Blvd SE, Huntsville. Register with Lynn at the Yurt Garden, 256-424-2221. 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.
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Decatur Concerts by the River – 6-8pm. Bring a picnic, blankets, lawn chairs and pets on a leash. 6/1: Taylor McLain & Sophisticated Swingers. 6/8: Papa Rox. 6/15: Bimini Road. 6/22: Jeff Whitlow.
6/29: Dorothy Cole and Friends. Free. Rhodes Ferry Park, 100 Market St, Decatur 35601. Concerts In the Park – 6:30-8pm. A 10-week free concert series featuring 20 local bands. Bring your own seating and picnic dinners. Food trucks and vendors on site. Leashed pets are welcome. Held on the rear patio of the Huntsville Museum of Art, facing the lagoon in Big Spring Park.
tuesday Latham UMC Farmers’ Market – 3-6pm. Buy from farmers who sell the fruit, vegetables, meat, and poultry grown on their own farms. Latham United Methodist Church, 109 Weatherly Rd SE, Huntsville. Tuesday Farmers Market at Meridianville – 4-7pm. Fresh locally grown fruits, vegetables, soap, fiber arts, flowers, Artisan Bread, honey, flowers, jelly, jams and more. First Baptist Church of Meridianville, 175 Monroe R, Meridianville, AL. Meditation – 6pm. Center for Spiritual Living, 308 Lily Flagg Rd, Huntsville. 256-883-8596. CSLHuntsville.org. Prayer and Meditation Hour – 7-8pm. Led by Rev. Clifford Stocking and assisted by Rebecca Oxford. Unity Church on the Mountain, 1328 Governors Dr SE, Huntsville. 256-536-2271. UnityOnThe Mountain.org. BodyFlow – 6-7pm, Tuesdays and Thursdays. Yoga/Pilates/Tai Chi-based exercise class that builds strength, tones your body and leaves you
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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.
thursday HealthWorks Farmers Market – 7:30am-12pm. Fresh & local produce, delicious artisan breads, herbs, gourmet slaw, cheese, jams, jellies and more. Cash and checks only. Plaza Resource Center Tram Station at Huntsville Hospital, 101 Governors Dr. Gentle Yoga – 11:30am-12:45pm. This class is great for beginners. It focuses on stretching, relaxation, and learning the basic postures and poses of yoga. You may bring your own mat or use one of the library’s. Free. No registration required. Huntsville Main Library, Second Floor Meeting Room, 915 Monroe St. Asprogramming@hmcpl.org. Greene Street Market at Nativity – 4-8pm. Find fresh, locally-grown vegetables, fruits, herbs, and flowers. Meet farmers with organically raised beef, pork, chicken and eggs; pick up freshly prepared
meals, gourmet popsicles, traditionally made relishes, cheeses, preserves and breads. Church of the Nativity, 304 Eustis Ave, Huntsville. 256-682-4429. GreeneStreetMarket.com. 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. Artist’s Way Class – 6:30-8:30pm. Led by Renee Beckham. There will be a $20 materials fee the first class. Love offering for the rest of the classes. Unity Church on the Mountain, 1328 Governors Dr SE, Huntsville. 256-536-2271. UnityOnThe Mountain.org. Madison Gazebo Concerts – 6:30-8:30pm. Bring a lawn chair or blanket. Food vendors on-site. Madison Arts Council free kids’ activities. 6/4: US Army Material Command Band & Winslow Davis. 6/11: Max Russell & Tres Locos. 6/18: The Beasley Brothers. 6/25: Microwave Dave. Free. Historic Downtown Madison, Village Green along Front St.
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.
saturday Bailey Cove Farmers Market – 8am-12pm, Saturdays starting May 30. Locally grown fresh fruits, vegetables, meats, flowers and other locally produced products. St. Thomas Episcopal Church, 12200 Bailey Cove Rd, Huntsville. Madison City Farmers Market – 8am-12pm, Saturdays starting May 9. Fresh produce, handmade treasures, and local live music featured each week. Trinity Baptist Church, 1088 Hughes Rd, Madison. 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. 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. 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. Ballroom Dance Party – 7:30-10pm. Beginner group class 7:30-8pm, introduction to different ballroom dances each week. Practice dance party 8-10pm, for all levels of dancers. No partner needed. $10/person for group class and party. Madison Ballroom, 9076 Madison Blvd Suites C/D, Madison, AL. 256-461-1900. MadisonBallroom.com.
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communityresourceguide Connecting you to the leaders in natural healthcare and green living in our community. To find out how you can be included in the Community Resource Guide, email Editor@Natvalley.com to request our media kit.
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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.
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.
COLON HYDROTHERAPY 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 15.
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.
ENERGY HEALING CENTER FOR DIRECTIONAL HEALING™ Susan Spalding 2225 Drake Ave SW, Ste 18 Huntsville, AL 35805 256-882-0360 • DirectionalHealing.com
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 22.
FAMILY MEDICINE MADISON FAMILY CARE
Chad Gilliam, M.M.S. PA-C 1230 Slaughter Road, Suite C, Madison, AL 256-722-0555 MadisonFamilyCare.com Madison Family Care provides medical care for patients of all ages and uniquely blends Natural and Prescription medicines together to help speed the patient’s recovery. Madison Family Care is the patient’s clinic of choice when they would like to understand how natural medicines work along with prescription drugs.
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.
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Tennessee Valley
Facebook.com/natvalley
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 25.
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 CENTER FOR INNER WELLNESS Becky Waters Certified Hypnotherapist and Professional Breathworker 3322 S. Memorial Parkway, Suite 643 Huntsville, AL • 256-348-5236
Creating positive change through hypnotherapy and Breathwork. Empowering you to live to your highest potential. Relieve stress and anxiety, release negativity, pain management, pre/post medical procedure, fears/phobias, weight loss, smoking cessation, and more. See ad, page 20.
MARSHA MATHES
Certified Hypnotist 3313 Memorial Parkway, Ste 116 Huntsville, AL 35801 256-698-2151 MarshaMathes.SkinCareTherapy.net 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 8.
MASSAGE DIXIE PHILLIPS (LMT #2151)
Dixie’s Sunrise Massage Therapy 3313 Memorial Parkway, Ste #116 Huntsville, AL 35801 256-585-0504 • Hoss2ride@otelco.net 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.
editorial calendar
MENTAL HEALTH CARE
2015
TREE OF LIFE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES
256-278-2802 TreeOfLifeBehavioral.com TreeOfLifeBehavioral@gmail.com At Tree of Life Behavioral Health, we believe that quality mental health care should be available to all people who need it. We offer counseling and medication management to families, children, adolescents, and adults on a sliding scale to meet all income needs. Don’t let yourself suffer any longer!
JUNE
healing addiction
plus: balanced man JULY
food democracy
plus: inspired living
NATUROPATHIC DOCTOR ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE ASSOCIATES Dr. Deb Gilliam, N.M.D. 1230 Slaughter Rd, Ste E, Madison, AL 256-325-0955
AUGUST
parenting with presence plus: creativity
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 15.
SEPTEMBER
agelessness
plus: yoga benefits OCTOBER
working together
plus: natural antidepressants
STRUCTURAL INTEGRATION NOVEMBER
JACI HOGUE
true wealth
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.
plus: beauty
DECEMBER
prayer & meditation plus: holiday themes
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 11.
natural awakenings
June 2015
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HEALTHY EATING STARTS WITH NATURAL FOODS
Have healthy food and products to sell? Advertise in
Natural Awakenings’July
Food Democracy and Inspired Living Issue Help Conscientious Consumers Seeking Products & Services such as: • Community Supported Agriculture • Herbalists • Dietitians & Nutritionists • Homeopathy • “Eat Local” Chefs & Cooks • Natural/Organic Restaurants • Garden Supplies • Natural Supplements • Health Food Stores • Organic Food/Farmers’ Markets — and many more leading suppliers and providers
Contact us at: 256-340-1122 Editor@Natvalley.com