Natural Awakenings August 2014

H E A L T H Y

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H E A L T H Y

P L A N E T

feel good • live simply • laugh more

Learning that Transforms Us

Eat Better Feel Better

Dr. Mark Hyman Sees Cures in the Kitchen

Toxin-Free Fish

Nearby Getaways

How to Find the Safest Seafood

August 2014

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Mini-Vacations Afford Maxi-Benefits |

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contents Natural Awakenings is your guide to a healthier, more 8 5 newsbriefs balanced life. In each issue readers find cutting-edge information on natural health, nutrition, fitness, personal 8 healthbriefs growth, green living, creative expression and the products and services that support a healthy lifestyle.

1 1 globalbriefs 14 12 business 14 LEARNING THAT

spotlight TRANSFORMS 11 HEARTS AND MINDS 17 wisewords

Rethinking How We See Our World Changes Everything 18 consciouseating 20 healthykids 17 CURES IN THE KITCHEN 17 22 healingways Dr. Mark Hyman is Fed Up with Our National Health Crisis 24 24 fitbody 26 calendar 18 SAFE & SUSTAINABLE 27 classifieds SEAFOOD Navigate Today’s Best Choices 29 resourceguide Using Updated Guides

by Linda Sechrist

by Judith Fertig

by Judith Fertig

advertising & submissions HOW TO ADVERTISE Display Ads due by the 10th of the month prior to publication.

To advertise with Natural Awakenings or request a media kit, please contact us at 256-476-6537 or email Editor@Natvalley.com.

20 SUPER-IMMUNITY FOR KIDS

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by Lisa Turner

20

Simple Ways to Boost a Child’s Long-Term Health

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.

22 SUMMER MINI-

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

Green Travelers Recharge at Spas, Parks and Vineyards

GETAWAYS

by April Thompson

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.

24 RUNNER’S HI

ADVERTISE WITH US TODAY 256-476-6537 -or- Editor@Natvalley.com

by Debra Melani

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Women and Social Media Revolutionize the Sport

*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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August 2014

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letterfrompublisher “Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.”

–Hippocrates

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

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I have written quite a lot about food lately, and I wasn’t going to write about it again until I read our Wise Words article for August, “Cures in the Kitchen.” This timely, important article sums up the situation perfectly—that what passes for food in America is an addictive, toxic mess that traps millions of people and families in obesity, poor health, and desperation.

I am one of these people. The story of the family from South Carolina that Dr. Mark Hyman rescues with his prescription of Real Food is my own story.

Six years ago I was living in downtown Atlanta in one of the “food deserts” that Dr. Hyman mentions in the article. A food desert is a geographic area where affordable, good-quality fresh food is difficult to obtain, especially for low-income people who may not have access to transportation. I had no excuse; I had a car and an income, and could have gone to where healthy food was. I just didn’t. For me, the trap was not an economic one but a mental one. The fact that I lived in a food desert was not a logistical barrier for me, as it is for many people, but rather a reality-shaping symbol of my own complete disconnectedness from the vitality of real food.

For several years I ate virtually nothing but fast food, a few decent meals in restaurants, and frozen entrees in a box, microwaved. There were two or three kinds of the frozen dinners that I liked, and those were all you would find in my freezer. In my refrigerator you would have found nothing but bottled drinks, most of them sugary, none of them water. For years I drank no water at all. I was getting almost zero nutrition across the board because what I thought was food didn’t actually fit that definition.

I became one of the millions of Americans who are obese and starving at the same time, because their food is fattening but not at all nutritious. I had no vision or animus to change. That’s part of the trap…you lose your perspective on what’s going on, and then lose your initiative to do anything about it.

This is the food you ate as a kid, after all. It’s got deeply positive associations.

It’s familiar and comforting. It’s what people eat. It’s what they drink. It’s the available food you see when you’re in the car and hungry. It’s the food that’s on the television.

When you do finally wake up and think about trying some real food, you don’t know what to do with it. What to buy, how to prepare it, how to cook it, what recipes to use.

That’s where—just as Dr. Hyman helped the family in South Carolina—we can all help each other to reconnect our lives to Real Food.

Natural Awakenings is printed on recycled newsprint with soybased ink.

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newsbriefs Max the Crystal Skull Comes to Huntsville

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ax is a crystal skull that has been researched by many experts in the field of carving, including the British Museum in 1996. He is estimated to be at least 10,000 years old and was given by indigenous healers to an American Buddhist healer named Norbu Chen.

Chen set up a healing center in Houston Texas where he used Max as a healing and spiritual tool. JoAnn Parks met Chen through their family doctor when their 12-year old daughter was dying of bone cancer. Given three months to live, Chen extended her daughter’s life for 3 more years with the help of Max. JoAnn began working with the Lama for over four years. Before his death he gave Max to JoAnn. For more than 25 years, Joann has shared Max with the world. He has been featured in documentaries, articles and books worldwide. Max is a tool of focus and service, reminding people of the true treasures in life.

Private sessions with Max start at 12 noon Friday, September 5, at the Healing Arts Center, along with healing sessions, classes and other lectures. JoAnn’s lectures about her journey with Max will be 6:30pm Friday at the Light of Christ Center and 6:30pm Saturday at the Healing Arts Center.

All proceeds collected support JoAnn’s and Max’s travel expenses. For more info and to schedule an experience with Max the Crystal Skull, please contact Melissa Posey: 256-652-5125 or m3esu@yahoo.com.

Locations: The Light of Christ Center, 4208 Holmes Ave, Huntsville. The Healing Arts Center, 525 Fountain Row, Huntsville. See Calendar listings for pricing. See ads, pages 16 and 22.

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

ONGOING SERVICES AND CLASSES! New Thought Classes

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

Revealing Services Sundays 9:45am

Celebration Services Sundays 10:30am

Meditation

Tuesdays & Wednesdays 6:00pm

Satsang

Wednesdays 6:30pm

Try BodyFlow at Madison Ballroom

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ooking for a new way to get in shape and relieve stress? Try BodyFlow, the yoga/ Pilates/TaiChi-based exercise class that builds core strength, improves flexibility, and leaves you feeling centered and calm. Part of the Les Mills Fitness Program, BodyFlow combines modern music with a series of stretches, moves, and poses to create a full-body workout suitable for people of all ages and fitness levels. Each class ends with relaxation and meditation, sending you back out into the world feeling balanced and refreshed.

Instructor Kim Kerr says, “I love BodyFlow because it encourages participants to focus on the journey, not just the goal. There’s more to fitness than looking good in a bathing suit. We’re looking to improve our overall wellness and quality of life through strong, balanced bodies and minds. BodyFlow takes the focus internal, connecting body and breath for a holistic experience instead of worrying only about the external results.”

The public is invited to learn more about BodyFlow at an Open House on August 16, 11am-1pm at Madison Ballroom. Meet the instructor, learn a few basic moves, and decide if BodyFlow is right for you. There will be door prizes and light refreshments will be served. Regular classes meet Tuesdays and Thursdays at Madison Ballroom from 6-7pm and cost $10. There’s no contract and new participants are always welcome.

For more information, visit MadisonBallroom.com, email Dance@Madison Ballroom.com or call 256-461-1900. See ad, page 13.

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

www.cslhuntsville.org

308 Lily Flagg Rd.

883-8596

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newsbriefs The Paranormal Study Center Welcomes Gene Skaggs: “Understanding Quantum Touch”

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ene Skaggs has a private counseling practice, PSYCH-K facilitator, A Certified Quantum Touch facilitator, teaches A Course in Miracles, and has written four books on the Course.

“My youngest son, Anderson, in 2009 laid his body down, and afterward he came to me with various messages from the other side,” writes Gene. He’s written two books about those messages and who he was as a person while he Gene Skaggs walked this planet.

Quantum Touch is a method of hands-on healing that literally must be experienced to be believed. Employing only a very light touch on yourself or others, you can profoundly accelerate the body’s own response. The effect is so immediate and extraordinary, you can actually see bones in the body spontaneously realigning themselves with only a light touch. Since the body decides where to place these bones, you need never worry about doing it right. Beyond structural realignment, pain and inflammation are quickly reduced, while organs, systems, and glands become balanced. In addition, this process eliminates the emotional and causal beliefs attached to the physical discomfort.

Come and listen to a unique presentation by Gene as he shares his knowledge and wisdom about Quantum-Touch and how to use it for a healthier life.

Location: The Hilton Garden Inn, 4801 Governors House Dr (next to Landry’s Seafood), Friday, August 22 at 6:30-9pm. Public Admission is $10. Parapsychology StudyGroup.com. Meetup.com/Huntsville-Paranormal-Study-Center.

Are You Grounded?

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re you easily distracted, unable to stay on task? Do your emotions often get the better of you, swaying you in directions you would never take if you were in a calmer state? Do you spend a lot of time dwelling on past situations, finding it difficult to move out of those thoughts and live in the present?

Grounding means that you are present right now. It is saying, “I AM here now,” not in the past, not in the future. It connects you to your physical body. It is asking, “What do I feel, see, hear, taste, smell, and know in this very moment?”

When you are disconnected from your physical body, your life on earth can feel painful and overwhelmingly stressed out. Grounding is having the awareness that at this very moment, you are safe, peaceful, calm, and ready to respond to life circumstances. Grounding allows you to be able to be fully conscious of yourself, your surroundings, and the earth so that you can make the best choices possible to live life in a place of freedom, joy, and peace, no matter what is happening.

Join us September 27 from 9-4, as we experientially explore together ways to “GROUND,” through grounding meditations, breath work, bio-feedback, emotional balancing points, and more. A notebook with exercises will be provided for you to take home.

Location: Peaceful Journey Center, 915 Merchant Walk Way, Suite A, Huntsville, Al. 35801 Cost: $100. To attend, please call Shari Prior at 256-289-3331 or email Shari1717@gmail.com. See listing, page 29.

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Specialized Foot Care Now Open in Decatur

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pecialized Nail Care provides services for those that need a more specialized care to their nails and feet. They provide nail care and callus care to those with diabetes/pre-diabetes, circulatory problems, visual impairments, arthritis, Parkinson’s Disease, Alzheimer’s Disease/Dementia, strokes, hip/ knee replacements, diminished hand strength, changes in dexterity, or long thick nails. Patients receive individual care tailored to their specific needs. The nurse will take a medical history, review medications, examine feet, conduct sensory and vibrational testing, educate patients on proper footwear as well as trim nails and remove calluses and corns. It’s more than a pedicure.

Care is done by a registered nurse who has obtained a national certification in foot care. A physician’s order is required to receive care, and patients may schedule a clinic visit or a home visit. Visits are usually required every 6-8 weeks but may vary depending on the individual.

Specialized Nail Care is located at 1900 Flint Rd SE in Decatur directly behind Wiley’s Sporting Goods. For more information or to schedule an appointment call 256-476-6537.

Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has. ~Margaret Mead

A Book Study/Class with Gloria (Gloriji) Agrelius: “Tools For Sanity” by Kiran, Mystic Girl in the City

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eace, freedom, and fulfillment are available to you in every moment. This class is an invitation to see yourself and the universe in an entirely different light.

“I read Tools for Sanity last year and knew I wanted to teach this book as an experiential class,” explains Gloria (Gloriji). “Like the author, Kiran, I had a spontaneous awakening several years ago and discovered a dimension of myself I had never known before. In this Gloria (Gloriji) Agrelius class we’ll delve deeply into four tools that can lead us directly to personal liberation: Awareness, Acceptance, Alchemy, and Alignment. There will be a live Skype session with Kiran during one the classes.”

Gloriji is a student of Rev. David Leonard at the Center for Spiritual Living. She has also studied with: Adyashanti, Mukti, Roy Eugene Davis, David Frawley, and Thich Naht Hahn.

In her own teachings, Gloriji points audiences back to their natural state of wholeness or undivided consciousness. Her classes and satsangs give seekers a direct experience of their own innate wisdom and clarity.

Class: Tuesday evenings at 6:30pm, 9/2 to 9/30. Meditation is at 6pm for those who wish to sit in silence. Donations welcomed. Location: The Center for Spiritual Living, 308 Lily Flagg Rd, Huntsville. Contact: Gloriji 256-503-3083 or Gagrelius@ yahoo.com. See ad, page 5.

Mandala Workshop

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oin us for a 2-day workshop while we explore the Mandala Process as a tool to transform, transcend, and integrate parts of self currently held within the subconscious mind to unlock the door for expression of your creative self.

The mandala is a meditative and creative process or practice that helps one to rediscover, experience and regain a sense of wholeness within oneself, connection with the “authentic self” and oneness with all of creation. Students will come away with enough information to continue mandala work for healing on their own following the workshop provided.

Benefits include: • An increased sense of gratitude and wellbeing • A sense of deep peace • A return to the luminous core of your true self • Experience heart opening creativity

No art experience is necessary. The process is about healing and creating from your sacred core.

Date: Aug 30-31, 9am-2pm. Location: Peaceful Journey Center, 915 Merchant Walk Way, Suite B (upstairs), Huntsville. Cost: $120. To attend, please respond by 8/15 to Shari Prior at 256-289-3331 or email Shari1717@gmail.com. See listing, page 29.

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

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Elite Bioidentical Hormone Center of Madison

healthbriefs

Medicinal Mushrooms Boost Athletic Performance

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esearch from Italy’s Pavia University found two medicinal mushroom species—cordyceps (Cordyceps sinensis) and reishi (Ganoderma lucidum)—significantly improve race performances and recovery times among competitive cyclists.

The researchers studied seven male cyclists that had competitively raced for more than 10 years. For one month, they were given placebo supplements, after which the researchers tested their performance and recovery during races and workouts. Then, for the next three months, the cyclists daily used medicinal mushroom supplementation. The researchers found the mushrooms significantly increased performance and recovery in both workouts and races compared with the placebo period.

The two types of mushrooms both boosted testosterone levels and reduced post-workout cortisol levels. The mushroom supplementation also increased their antioxidant status, reducing their risk of exhaustion.

Flaxseed Lowers Blood Pressure

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ating flaxseed reduces blood pressure, according to researchers from Canada’s St. Boniface Hospital Research Center. They attribute the effect to its omega-3 fatty acids, lignans and fiber.

The researchers examined the effects of flaxseed on systolic and diastolic blood pressure in patients with peripheral artery disease, a condition typically marked by hypertension. Patients consumed a variety of foods that collectively contained 30 grams of milled flaxseed or a placebo each day for six months.

The flaxseed group experienced significantly increased plasma levels of certain omega-3 fatty acids and lower average systolic blood pressure (by 10 mmHg) and diastolic blood pressure (by 7 mm Hg). Those in the flaxseed group with initial systolic blood pressure levels over 140 mmHg saw reductions averaging 15 mmHg.

Heelless Shoes May Help Prevent Runners’ Injuries

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256-722-0555 1230 Slaughter Rd, Suite C Madison, AL 35758

MadisonFamilyCare.com 8

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British study published in Footwear Science analyzed the effects of running in experimental heelless footwear compared with conventional running shoes with reinforced heels. The objective was to see if the heelless footwear would reduce the risk of chronic injury related to the habitual rear-foot strike pattern associated with conventional heeled shoes.

Using eight cameras with opto-electric running motion capture technology,12 male runners were tracked at four meters per second. The heelless running shoe resulted in less impact, greater plantar flexion and greater ankle eversion (rolling outward). The researchers concluded that the heelless shoes decreased the risk of chronic running foot injuries linked to excessive impact forces, but concede they may increase injury potential associated with excessive ankle eversion.

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therapyspotlight

Hormone Pellet Therapy

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hen we hear the word “hormones” we almost always think about women and menopause but that is not the case. Hormone imbalance affects men as well. There are many factors that play a role in hormone balance such as sedentary lifestyle, unhealthy eating, stress, inconsistent sleepy habits, and of course, age. Hormone imbalance can be exhibited as hot flashes, night flashes, weight gain, insomnia, fatigue, low libido, PMS, mood swings, depression, foggy memory and depression. These are just a few of the unpleasant signs and symptoms.

What is Hormone Pellet Therapy?

Pellet Therapy uses hormones derived from natural plant sources to replicate the body’s normal hormonal levels.

Patients have found that bio-identical hormone replacement therapy with pellet implants is extremely effective. Implants, placed under the skin, consistently release small, physiologic doses of hormones providing optimal therapy.

Unlike typical oral and transdermal forms of therapy— which produce “roller coaster” hormone levels, resulting in mood and energy fluctuations for the patient—BioTE® Medical Hormone Pellet Therapy is the only method of hormone therapy that provides sustained hormone levels throughout the day, for up to 4 to 6 months, without any “roller coaster” effect.

Because the hormones used are completely natural, Pellet Therapy is ideal for patients wanting the benefits of a natural hormone, without the drawbacks of a synthetic.

What are Hormone Pellets?

Pellets contain a natural plant source of estrogen and testosterone. These pellets, which are smaller than a grain of rice, are placed in the fatty tissue underneath the skin and most closely mimic the actions of healthy ovaries and testicles with regards to hormone release into the bloodstream. The hormone pellet implantation procedure is easily performed in the office.

Hormone Pellet Therapy for Women:

In studies, when compared to conventional hormone replacement therapy, pellets have been shown to be extremely effective for relief of menopausal symptoms, maintenance of bone density, restoration of sleep patterns, and improvement in sex drive, libido, sexual response and performance, relief of depression,

anxiety, irritability, mood swings, and many others. Pellet implants have been used to treat migraine and menstrual headaches. It also helps with vaginal dryness, incontinence, urinary urgency and frequency, to name a few. Moreover, hundreds of studies show natural testosterone to be highly preventative against breast cancer, osteoporosis, and Alzheimer’s dementia, to name a few.

Hormone Pellet Therapy for Men:

Testosterone levels begin to decline in men beginning in their early 30s. Most men need to be tested around 45 years of age. Symptoms of testosterone deficiency in men include fatigue, lack of mental acuity, loss of libido, and difficulty achieving, or sustaining erection. It is never too late to benefit from hormone therapy.

Pellet Therapy achieves the sustained levels of testosterone that would be produced by normally functioning testicles. This form of therapy is the only kind that produces the natural level of hormone that men need. Because the testosterone used is totally natural, Pellet Therapy is ideal for men wanting the benefits of a natural hormone, without the drawbacks of a synthetic. Moreover, many studies show optimal testosterone levels in men (over 800) have preventative effects for many disease states such as: cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer’s disease, prostate cancer, osteoporosis, and more.

BioTE® Medical Hormone Pellet Therapy is now available at Madison Family Care and Wellness Center, located at 1230 Slaughter Rd. Suite C in Madison. For more information or schedule your appointment, call 256-722-0555. Madison FamilyCare.com. BHRTvideos.com. See ads, pages 8 and back cover.

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globalbriefs Cycling Rx

Doctors Order Up a Bike for Patients The Prescribe-a-Bike program (Tinyurl.com/Prescription Bikes) allows doctors at Boston Medical Center, in Massachusetts, to write low-income patients prescriptions for a one-year membership to Hubway, the city’s bike-sharing system, for $5, which is $80 less than the regular charge. A free helmet is part of the deal.

According to The Boston Globe, one in four Boston residents is obese, and Kate Walsh, chief executive of Boston Medical Center, believes the program can help.

“Regular exercise is key to combating this [obesity] trend, and Prescribe-a-Bike,” she says, “is one important way our caregivers can help patients get the exercise they need to be healthy.” Source: The Atlantic Monthly

Flight Zone

Airports Establish Bee-Friendly Acres The Common Acre is a nonprofit partnering with the airport serving Seattle, Washington, and the Urban Bee Company (UrbanBee.com) to reclaim 50 acres of vacant land to plant native wildflowers as pollinator habitat for hummingbirds, butterflies and disease-resistant bee colonies. A GMO-free (no genetic modification) wildflower seed farm is also in the works. Bees present no threat to air traffic and the hives discourage birds that do pose a danger to planes.

Beekeeper Jim Robins, of Robins Apiaries, in St. Louis, Missouri, rents an area with a plentiful supply of white Dutch clover, and Lambert Airport views his enterprise as part of its sustainability program. O’Hare Airport, in Chicago, the first in the U.S. to install hives, is rebuilding to its full complement of 50 hives after losing about half of them to 2014’s extreme winter. It’s a project that could be a model for airports everywhere—using inaccessible scrubland to do something revolutionary, like supporting a local food system. One hundred foods make up 90 percent of a human diet, and bees pollinate 71 of them. Learn more at CommonAcre.org.

Harvesting Fog photo: ArchitectureAndVision.com

Simple Device Provides Safe Water in Africa The WarkaWater tower is providing an innovative new way to harvest safe drinking water, normally an onerous task in Ethiopia and many other parts of Africa. Obtaining water via repeated trips to the nearest source is extremely time-consuming and what’s collected is often highly contaminated and harmful to drink. Also, this task is commonly carried out by females, putting them in danger of sexual harassment or worse enroute.

The towers, inspired by the native warka tree, are a vertical bamboo system that harvests potable, clean water from the air through condensation, using a fog-harvesting fabric that can collect up to 25 gallons of safe drinking water per day. Each tower costs about $550, and can be built in a few days by village residents using locally available materials. Source: Inhabitat.com

True Grit

Why Persistence Counts Some educators believe that improvements in instruction, curriculum and school environments are not enough to raise the achievement levels of all students, especially disadvantaged children.

Also necessary is a quality called “grit”, loosely defined as persistence over time to overcome challenges and accomplish big goals. Grit comprises a suite of traits and behaviors that include goal-directedness (knowing where to go and how to get there); motivation (having a strong will to achieve identified goals); self-control (avoiding distractions and focusing on the task at hand); and a positive mindset (embracing challenges and viewing failure as a learning opportunity).

A meta-study of 25 years of research by John Hattie and Helen Timperley, professors at the University of Aukland, New Zealand, has shown that giving students challenging goals encourages greater effort and persistence than providing vague or no direction. Students aren’t hardwired for these qualities, but grit can be developed through an emerging battery of evidence-based techniques that give educators a powerful new set of tools to support student success.

A famous example of the power of self-regulation was observed when preschoolers that were able to withstand the temptation of eating a marshmallow for 15 minutes to receive a second one were more successful in high school and scored about 210 points higher on their SATs later in life than those with less willpower (Tinyurl.com/Stanford MarshallowStudy).

Source: ascd.org.

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businessspotlight

ROCKET CITY MARTIAL ARTS

by Tom Maples

Head instructor Matt Gilliard demonstrates a grasp escape

“In Aikido training, we learn from everyone. We learn from the most experienced people, but we also learn from new students. Everyone is connected through the heart and develops a mutual understanding. It is important to create a place where that can happen.”

—Linda Holiday, Journey to the Heart of Aikido: The Teachings of Motomichi Anno Sensei

R ing a dent help tu s y it c t e Rock basics guest with

Sensei dem onstrating a techniqu ideal for s omeone s mall in sta e ture

Right: Children’s techniques are designed to be effective against a larger opponent 12

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ocket City Martial Arts has created a place where teaching and learning can happen. The style of martial art is Yoseikan Aikido, which specializes in using an opponent’s energy against them to neutralize an attack while using a practiced series of joint locks, take downs, and control holds. Since the emphasis is less on striking and kicking, Aikido requires less pure strength than other forms of martial arts to be effective. For that reason, Aikido in the style taught at Rocket City Marital Arts attracts students of all types and ages, including women and older men.

Head Instructor Matt Gilliard places a strong emphasis on individual instruction, and he has structured his classes in a way that can best accommodate the unique needs of each student. The class is not segregated by skill levels or belt colors, and all students practice together regardless of their degree of experience. Sensei Gilliard expertly choreographs a flowing sequence of exercises and activities that alternately involves the whole class, smaller breakout groups, and one-on-one pairs. The result is a fun, highly effective, customized teaching and learning program that students really seem to enjoy.

Brittany, age 24, tried other martial arts schools and styles before finding her comfort zone at Rocket City. “Other schools teach mainly strikes and blows, and I didn’t like that as much as the style of Aikido taught here, which focuses more on holds and throws. It’s a more useful style for women, because it allows us to take on bigger opponents.”

“We take into account a student’s height, weight, age, personality, and physical limitations and tailor the instruction accordingly,” Matt explains. “We can modify each technique to best suit the student’s capabilities, in order to give them the best fighting chance in a self-defense situation against an attacker of much larger size and strength.”

The true goal, however, is to avoid ever having to fight.

“The best defense is to walk away,” says David, age 34, who’s been taking the class since 2011. “If you can’t walk away, you need to be able to de-escalate a situation, and that takes presence of mind and self-confidence. I’ve gained a lot of that here with what I’ve learned.” he says.

That is the real end benefit of training at Rocket City Martial Arts: personal self-confidence. Poise, discipline, fitness, mental sharpness and clarity, inner strength and gracefulness are the things cultivated and imparted over the course of the training program. These attributes are all just as valuable as knowing how to physically defend oneself, which in itself can be a life-saving skill.

There is a children’s class for kids 6-13 years old that omits joint locks and other techniques that are not good for growing bones and that will emphasize focus, attention and listening skills. There is also an innovative women’s only

Sensei Gilliard leads walk-in guests in a breakout group class that is not based on a belt system or other traditional martial arts protocols. The class is for women only and focuses on fitness, practical self-defense techniques, and staying sharp with what you’ve learned. The women’s classes meet on Wednesdays at 6pm and Saturdays at 10:30am. The kid’s classes meet Mondays at 6pm and Saturdays at 9:30am.

Stop by to observe the congenial learning environment at Rocket City yourself anytime on Sundays 10am-12pm, Mondays 7-9pm, and Wednesdays 7-9pm. If you decide to try it out, your first week is free.

Rocket City Martial Arts is located at 8006 Old Madison Pike, Madison, AL. 256-710-2454. RocketCityMartialArts.com. See ad below.

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256-337-1699 natural awakenings

August 2014

13

Learning that Transforms Hearts and Minds Rethinking How We See Our World Changes Everything

by Linda Sechrist

I

n the 30 years since Harrison Owen introduced Open Space Technology (OST), it has been used hundreds of thousands of times by three-quarters of the world’s countries. Whether a few people gather in a circle to share ideas and brainstorm personal issues or thousands discuss a bulletin board of topics around tables, OST is a safe, informal venue for transformative learning.

Guided by purpose-based, shared leadership, it allows individuals focused on a specific task to freely speak their thoughts and be heard. It also encourages breakout groups to mine for more information—learning individually, as well as collectively, and self-organizing in order to concentrate on more complex topics. “Boeing engineers used OST to learn how to redesign airplane doors and young Egyptians used it to strategize for their Arab Spring,” as examples, comments Owen.

Circle Principle

For Owen, like Jack Mezirow, author of the paper, “Core Principles of Transformative Learning Theory,” 20th-century Brazilian educator Paulo Freire and Juanita Brown, co-founder of The World 14

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Café, learning is transformation, the keystone of life, and the essence of meaningful education. “The circle principle contains the predictability of fresh, emerging thoughts and learning that never occurred previously,” explains Owen.

He points to an experiment regarding children’s capacity for selflearning initiated by Sugata Mitra, Ph.D., the former science director of an educational technology firm in India.

On the outside wall of the building where he worked, Mitra installed a computer facing a New Delhi slum where most children were unschooled and illiterate and had never seen a computer. He turned it on and told children they could play with it.

Via a noninvasive video camera, he watched 7-to-13-year-olds discover how to use the computer and teach each other how to play music and games and draw using Microsoft’s Paint program. Repetition of the experiment in other impoverished sections of India yielded similar results. Wherever he established an Internet connection, children that could not read English, the Internet’s default language, taught themselves how to use the Web to ob-

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tain information through their interactions with each other and the computer.

“I agree with what Mitra surmised from his experiment—learning is emergent, which is another word for selforganizing,” remarks Owen. Like Freire, Owen likens traditional education to the “banking” method of learning, whereby the teacher passes information to students that become dependent on someone else rather than learning how to think on their own.

Suzanne Daigle, a Sarasota, Florida-based consultant with a Canadian multidisciplinary consulting firm, explains how the OST learning environment changed her life: “My personal transformation began in 2009. Even though I was a leader in my corporate career, I doubted myself and often believed that what others had to say was more significant and interesting than what I could express.”

Now she says she has shed her people-pleasing tendencies and former attempts to control other people’s agendas and discovered the freedom and courage of her own voice. “As an OST facilitator, my life work now occurs in the moments I am collaboratively learning and listening for opportunities to enter into meaningful conversations that can lead to actions,” says Daigle. “I invite others to do the same.”

Co-Learning

In a compulsory two-year Theory of Learning class for an International Baccalaureate degree at California’s Granadas Hill Charter High School, math and science educator Anais Arteaga helps students apply two major elements of transformative learning: self-reflection to critique one’s own assumptions and discourse through which they question or validate their judgments. She focuses on the roles that perception, language, reason and emotion play in a student’s learning and decision-making abilities.

“Questions and lively discussions are the basis of the class,” Arteaga says.

“We begin with a question and explore what we know, how we know it and any conclusions drawn from the process.”

Using a democratic model in which the teacher welcomes critical discussion, Arteaga and her students have mutually discovered that knowl-

edge is not static, but has a history and changes over time. “When we first started the class, it was challenging to accept that in many situations there is no right or wrong, just relativity and a matter of perception. We don’t really know anything for certain,” she remarks.

Worldview Explorations

Katia Petersen, Ph.D., is the executive director of education at the Institute of Noetic Sciences (IONS), headquartered in Petaluma, California. She codeveloped the tools, practices and 22 lessons in the pioneering organization’s Worldview Explorations (WE) project.

Founded on 40 years of IONS research, WE engages everyone in age-appropriate ways in reflecting upon long-held assumptions and how beliefs create the lens they see through, ultimately improving how they understand and respond to the world.

“When individuals understand the power of offering their story and are open to the worldview stories of others, they no longer focus attention on differences and limitations,” says Petersen. “They realize that everyone has their own truth.

“WE’s transformative learning experiences draw from the heart and soul of individuals, rather than stuffing heads with ideas and perspectives, which serves them well as they embody and apply these tools and practices in their daily lives.”

She cites a particularly powerful moment for a group of young people she worked with. “A student was killed in a drive-by shooting two weeks before their certification. The transformative moment came when they said that their new awareness and capacity for compassion and understanding would not allow them to seek revenge. Instead, they chose to save lives in their communities using their new skills.”

World Café

Like OST, the World Café, co-created

by Brown and David Isaacs, of Burns-

ville, North Carolina, creates a transformative learning environment for individuals of all ages. Its primary principles are: set the context, create hospitable space, explore questions that matter, encourage everyone’s contributions, connect diverse perspectives, listen together for patterns and insights and share collective discoveries. Webs of conversation created around actual or occasionally virtual tables resemble those found in coffeehouses.

“Conversation is a core meaningmaking process, and people get to experience how the collective intelligence of a small or large group can become apparent,” says Brown. After several rounds of conversation on one or more topics, participants offer their harvest of key insights, learning and opportunities for action with the full group gathered to reflect together on their discoveries.

“World Café provides an environment in which you are comfortably drawn forward by the questions you are asking together. When enough diversity is present, varied perspectives are offered and people feel listened to and free to make their contribution,” observes Brown.

What participants learn in this setting creates the climate of conditions that support the kinds of transformations that can changes lives. Brown remarks, “When it happens to me, I feel like my brain cells have been rearranged. I know something in the collective, as well as the individual, has been evoked, so that something never before imagined becomes present and available.”

Transformative learning has been compared to a sea journey without landmarks. Adventurous individuals that are open to traversing its highly engaging processes can emerge as autonomous thinkers, capable of contributing fresh, new ideas that just might transform the world we live in.

Linda Sechrist is a senior staff writer for Natural Awakenings. Visit ItsAllAbout We.com for the recorded interviews.

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natural awakenings

August 2014

15

Max the Crystal Skull

by Melissa Posey

I

and embraced meetfirst met Max the ing the various types of Crystal Skull about 3 skulls. A large Smelted years ago after meeting Quartz skull caught my Debra Morris, a friend of attention. When I held JoAnn Parks and a previthis, and other minious facilitator of Max’s Maxes, I was pleasantly events. Frankly, the idea surprised to sense an of skulls of any kind was amazing warm and fuzzy a bit freaky to me. They feeling. I felt comforted, brought to mind horror protected and calm, as if movies and other dark someone was watching unpleasant things and over me. Debra loaned just seemed a little macame several of these minibre. I was unfamiliar with Melissa and Max Maxes to “play” with at crystal skulls until Debra home, and I have been told me about Max, an hooked ever since.

18-pound clear quartz skull discovered

Soon after that, Debra announced in Guatemala. Comprised of 5 different she was bringing Max and JoAnn to quartz matrixes, Max is estimated to her house in Tennessee. I was ecstatic, be at least 10,000 years old. 18-pound but also confused. What exactly was I quartz, you say? As a crystal lover, I definitely wanted to see this skull! supposed to get out of this experience?

Everyone’s experience is different, and

The following weekend a friend subjective experiences are hard to deand I went to Debra’s house for lunch, scribe and relate to others. and she showed me various types of

Upon meeting JoAnn, I found that crystal skulls that had been “charged” she is an enthusiastic and lively womby Max. (I now refer to such skulls as an. Her energy and the joy she expressmini-Maxes.) I set aside my skepticism

es around Max is contagious. I found myself laughing hysterically at her stories about Max and their journeys together. During my meditation time with Max I was able to touch and feel him. The crystal was cool underneath my fingers and every time I put my forehead to his I saw something new inside the crystal. As promised, my experience really is hard to put into words.

What I can tell you is that the experience far surpassed all of my expectations. Meeting Max has enhanced my healing practice, and helped me along my spiritual path. I have since purchased several “mini-Maxes” and have incorporated them into my crystal healing practice, energy work and meditation practice. Many people who are apprehensive about skulls have also been won over by holding mine and often eventually purchase one for themselves. It is no exaggeration that meeting Max has changed my life in many positive ways. I whole-heartedly invite you to have an experience with Max of your very own.

Max the Crystal Skull will be in Huntsville on Sept 5-6 at the Light of Christ Center and the Healing Arts Center.

Two public lectures are scheduled.

Private sessions with Max are also available, as well as healing sessions, and readings by local practitioners. See Newsbrief and Calendar listings for details. See ad below and on page 22.

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wisewords

Cures in the Kitchen Dr. Mark Hyman is Fed Up with Our National Health Crisis

by Judith Fertig

I

n the groundbreaking new documentary film, Fed Up, Dr. Mark Hyman prescribes a major overhaul of the diets of all family members in communities across America to prevent far-reaching unwanted consequences. Hyman practices functional medicine, which takes a wholesystem approach to treating chronic illnesses by identifying and addressing their root causes, starting with poor diet. He is also the bestselling author of a series of books based on The Blood Sugar Solution.

What has your experience with Fed Up shown you about the root cause of many diseases?

In Fed Up, I met with a family of five to talk with them about their health and understand the roots of their family crisis of morbid obesity, pre-diabetes, renal failure, disability, financial stress and hopelessness. Rural South Carolina, where they live, is a food desert with nearly10 times as many fast-food and convenience stores as supermarkets.

The family’s kitchen was also a food desert, with barely a morsel of real food. There were no ingredients to make real food—only pre-made factory science projects sold in cans and boxes with unpronounceable, unrecognizable ingredient lists.

This family desperately wanted to find a way out, but didn’t have the

knowledge or skills.

They lived on food stamps and fast food and didn’t know how to navigate a grocery aisle, shop for real food, read a label, equip a kitchen or cook nutritious meals. Their grandmother has a garden, but never taught her children how to grow food, even though they live in a temperate rural area.

What results did the family see when they changed their eating habits?

I got the whole family cooking, washing, peeling, chopping, cutting and touching real food—onions, garlic, carrots, sweet potatoes, cucumbers, tomatoes, salad greens, even asparagus.

After 12 months, the mother had lost 100 pounds and was off of blood pressure medication, and because the father had lost 45 pounds, he finally qualified for a kidney transplant. The son originally lost 40 pounds, but because he was stuck in a toxic food environment at school and only able to get a job at a fast-food eatery, he gained much of it back. I’m happy to report that he is now working to get back on track.

How is sugar a primary factor in creating obesity?

Of some 600,000 processed food items on the market, 80 percent contain added sugar. Sugar calories act differently from fat or protein calories in the body.

Sugar calories drive food addiction, storage of belly fat, inflammation and fatty liver (now the number one reason for liver transplants). They also disrupt appetite control, increasing hunger and promoting overeating, and are biologically addictive. Sugar calories are the major contributor to heart attacks, strokes, cancer, dementia and Type 2 diabetes. Sugar is a root cause behind the tripling of obesity rates in children since the 1970s.

As just one example illustrating government policy culprits, although poor people are disproportionately affected by obesity, the food industry vigorously opposes any efforts to limit the use of food stamps for soda. Every year, the U.S. government pays for $4 billion in soda purchases by the poor (10 billion servings annually) on the front end, and then pays billions more on the back end through Medicaid and Medicare to treat related health consequences that include obesity and diabetes.

What are the consequences if we don’t attack the problem of poor diet now?

The costs of a poor diet are staggering: At the present rate, by 2040, 100 percent of the nation’s federal budget will go for Medicare and Medicaid. The federal debt soars as our unhealthy kids fall heir to an achievement gap that limits America’s capacity to compete in the global marketplace. At the same time, having 70 percent of young people unfit for military service weakens national security.

In a detailed scientific analysis published in The New England Journal of Medicine, a group of respected scientists reviewing all the data affecting projected life spans concluded that today’s children are the first generation of Americans ever that will live sicker and die younger than their parents.

Health issues due to poor diet comprise a national crisis. They threaten our future, not just for those fat and sick among us, but all of us.

For more information on Fed Up, visit FedUpMovie.com.

Judith Fertig blogs at AlfrescoFood AndLifestyle.blogspot.com from Overland Park, KS.

natural awakenings

August 2014

17

consciouseating

The truth is that no one fish can be seen as a sustainability darling, because if it is, it’s sure to be overfished. ~ DailyFinance.com

Safe & Sustainable

SEAFOOD Navigate Today’s Best Choices Using Updated Guides

by Judith Fertig

We love our seafood, a delicious source of lean protein. The latest data reports U.S. annual consumption to be more than 4.8 billion pounds of it, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, with the average American eating 3.5 ounces of seafood a week. About half of the catch is wild-caught and half farmed. How do we know which fish and shellfish are safe to eat and good for ocean ecology?

T

he best approach is to choose seafood carefully. Oil spills, waste runoff and other environmental disasters can compromise the quality of seafood with toxic contaminants like mercury and other heavy metals and industrial, agricultural and lawn chemicals. These pollutants can wash out from land to sea (and vice versa). As smaller fish that have eaten pollutants are eaten by larger ones, contaminants accumulate and concentrate. Large predatory fish like swordfish and sharks end up with the most toxins.

Beyond today’s top-selling shrimp, canned tuna, salmon and farmed tilapia, more retailers and restaurants are also providing lesser-known seafood varieties like dogfish and hake as alter18

Tennessee Valley

natives to overfished species such as sea bass and Atlantic cod. These newto-us, wild-caught fish can be delicious, sustainable and healthy.

Choices Good for Oceans

An outstanding resource for choosing well-managed caught or farmed seafood in environmentally responsible ways is Seafood Watch, provided through California’s Monterey Bay Aquarium.

Information on the most sustainable varieties of seafood is available in a printed guide, updated twice a year. The pocket guide or smartphone app provides instant information at the seafood counter and restaurant table. Online information at SeafoodWatch.org and via the app is regularly updated.

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The Blue Ocean Institute, led by MacArthur Fellow and ecologist Carl Safina, Ph.D., supports ocean conservation, community economics and global peace by steering consumers and businesses toward sustainably fished seafood. It maintains a data base on 140 wild-caught fish and shellfish choices at BlueOcean.org.

Hoki, for instance, might have a green fish icon for “relatively abundant” and a blue icon for “sustainable and well-managed fisheries,” but also be red-flagged for containing levels of mercury or PCBs that can pose a health risk for children. As species become overfished, rebound or experience fluctuating levels of contaminants, their annual ratings can change.

Choices Good for Us

To help make choosing easier, Seafood Watch has now joined with the Harvard School of Public Health to also advise what’s currently safe to eat. Entries on their list of “green” fish, which can shift annually, are low in mercury, good sources of long-chain omega-3 fatty acids and caught or farmed responsibly.

If the top-listed fish and shellfish aren’t locally available, look for the Seafood Safe label, started by EcoFish company founder and President Henry Lovejoy, which furnishes at-a-glance consumption recommendations based upon tests for contaminants. Labels display a number that indicates how many four-ounce servings of the species a woman of childbearing age can safely eat per month. (Find consumption recommendations for other demographics at SeafoodSafe.com.) Expert-reviewed independent testing of random samples of the fish currently monitors mercury and PCB levels. Lovejoy advises that other toxins will be added to the testing platform in the future.

“My dream is to have all seafood sold in the U.S. qualify to bear the Seafood Safe label, because consumers deserve to know what they’re eating,” says Lovejoy. “We need to be a lot more careful in how we use toxic chemicals and where we put them.”

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Some retailers also provide details on their seafood sourcing.

Whole Foods, for example, offers complete traceability of the fish and shellfish they carry, from fishery or farm to stores.

Their fish, wild-caught or farmed, frozen or fresh, meet strict quality guidelines in regard to exposure to antibiotics, preservatives and hormones. They also display Seafood Watch and Blue Ocean Institute ratings at the seafood counter.

Wise seafood choices feed and sustain our families, foster a healthier seafood industry, support responsible local fisheries and keep Earth’s water resources viable.

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August 2014

19

healthykids

Pinpoint Allergies

Super-Immunity for KIDS Simple Ways to Boost a Child’s Long-Term Health

Shore Up with Supplements

by Lisa Turner

We’d love it if our kids had fewer sick days away from school, but what if by bolstering their immune systems now, we could also protect them from serious diseases going forward?

D

“

uring childhood, when the immune system is still developing, there’s a great opportunity to set the stage for improved health and resilience,” says Dr. Joel Fuhrman, a family physician and nutritional researcher in Flemington, New Jersey, and author of Disease-Proof Your Child. “A healthy diet and lifestyle can help kids avoid common childhood illnesses like colds, ear infections and allergies, as well as ensure greater resilience against disease later in life.”

Focus on HighQuality Foods

Fruits and veggies have a wealth of protective phytochemicals that enhance immune cell function and protect against disease. In a study published in

20

Tennessee Valley

Food allergies and sensitivities can suppress the immune system by increasing inflammation in the body and call for consultation with a health specialist.

“Whenever there is extra inflammation, the body has less available energy to keep the immune system functioning as well as it should,” says Dr. Fred Pescatore, a New York author of The Allergy & Asthma Cure. “It’s like putting the wrong type of gasoline in the car; it hinders your performance.”

the Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health, kids that ate the most fruit had a 38 percent lower risk of cancer later in life. Berries, cherries, plums and pomegranates are among the most powerful immune-boosting fruits.

For veggies, eat more dark leafy greens, tomatoes, carrots and cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli and cauliflower.

Also emphasize whole grains and healthy fats such as those found in nuts, seeds and avocado, advises Fuhrman.

Sugar-laden calories depress the infection-fighting activity of white blood cells, says Dr. Alan R. Gaby, of Concord, New Hampshire, author of the textbook, Nutritional Medicine.

Even natural sweeteners such as honey and juice have similar effects when consumed in excess, he says. Try healthy options like pomegranate and kiwi fruit salad; trail mix with raw almonds; dried cranberries and air-popped popcorn; and hummus with red pepper strips and baby carrots for dipping.

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Probiotics can enhance immune function in children by stimulating white blood cells and reducing inflammation, says Gary B. Huffnagle, Ph.D., a University of Michigan Medical School immunology research professor and author of The Probiotics Revolution. They are especially protective against allergies, diarrhea and respiratory tract infection.

Start with yogurt: Serve with cereal; mix with mashed bananas and freeze in ice cube trays for a cool treat; or make smoothies with unsweetened, non-dairy yogurt and frozen berries.

Or consider a Lactobacillus acidophilus supplement; aim for 5 billion CFUs per day of Lactobacillus or bifidobacterium.

Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera), an ayurvedic herb, boosts immunity by supporting and balancing adrenal function, says Dr. John Douillard, Ph.D., a Boulder, Colorado, chiropractor, ayurvedic physician and author of Perfect Health for Kids. The adrenal glands produce cortisol, and overproduction of this “fight-or-flight” hormone can dampen immunity.

Ashwagandha is particularly helpful for preventing colds and can also be used when kids are stressed or tired. For children ages 6 to 12, give 500 milligrams per day with breakfast; children over 12 can take 1,000 mg a day.

Stabilize Hormonal Changes

“Puberty and adolescence are marked by dramatic shifts in and surges of hormones,” says Dr. Richard Shames, of Sebastopol, California, co-author of Feeling Fat, Fuzzy, or Frazzled? “This is monumental, as far as the developing immune system is concerned. As the immune system is directly linked to hormonal in-

Tell kids they’ll get sick, and chances are it’ll happen.

Instead, nurture an attitude of wellness and help them learn they have control over their own health. fluences, any hormonal imbalance will affect overall immunity.” Shames recommends selenium—a potent antioxidant and general immune booster—to help balance hormones. For children ages 8 to 18, aim for 100 mg per day.

Let ’em Get Dirty

“Once a child has been exposed to dirt and germs, the immune system responds by trying to expel those bacteria from the body, which strengthens immunity,” counsels Jane Sheppard, owner of HealthyChild.com and founding executive director of the Holistic Pediatric Association.

Avoid antibacterial soaps, cleansers and gels; most contain the chemical triclosan, which some researchers suspect of contributing to development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Instead, use a natural antibacterial gel or make one, by combining witch hazel or alcohol, tea tree oil and lavender essential oil.

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Stay in the Sun

“The sun is our primary source of vitamin D, which has broad effects on the immune system,” Fuhrman says.

“Depending on your skin tone and the local climate, about 15 minutes of full sun exposure a day will lead to natural production of sufficient amounts of vitamin D.” If kids have dark skin or live in a cloudy region, they may need vitamin D supplements—at least 200 IU per day.

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Laugh Out Loud

“You can give your kids the best food and nutrition, but if they have underlying sadness, their immune system will suffer,” remarks Sheppard. “When you’re happy and when you laugh, your brain releases chemicals that increase immunity.”

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Lisa Turner is a Colorado-based health writer. natural awakenings

August 2014

21

Light Of Christ Center

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Every Sunday: A Course In Miracles Study Group

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22

Tennessee Valley

by April Thompson

C

arving out time from crammed calendars for a week or more away from home can pose such a hurdle that more than half of all American workers forfeit hard-earned vacation days every year. Sometimes a long weekend in an inspiring locale is all we need to recharge our batteries.

Short vacations invite welcome rest and relaxation and are often more sustainable, according to Gary Diedrichs, publisher of the online Green Traveler Guides (GreenTravelerGuides.com).

“Airplanes pollute more than any other form of travel. When you take shorter trips by other means, whether bicycle or a hybrid rental car, you’re way ahead environmentally,” says Diedrichs, whose family enjoys road-tripping in an old Mercedes converted to run on recycled vegetable oil.

For families, short, sweet trips are also easier to do with the kids in tow. “It’s also an opportunity for parents to reinforce that living sustainably isn’t just something you do at home,” notes Diedrichs.

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We can prescribe—and reward— ourselves with one of the following minivacations, whether it’s a trip to a green spa if we’re stressed or a hike in a park or the woods if we’ve been sedentary.

Travel on tracks to trails. Leave behind stressful traffic and uninspiring highway views by hopping a train to a nearby state or national park. Riders can venture through a variety of terrains without leaving their seats. Amtrak reaches more than 237 national parks and monuments (AmtrakToParks.com), many of which offer stunning backdrops for outdoor music festivals.

A rail-to-park adventure can rekindle old friendships with faraway, but not forgotten friends. Draw a circle encompassing everyone’s location and pick a park within the perimeter as the meet-up spot, distributing the travel burden equally. Agree beforehand which friends bring which essential camping equipment, food and other provisions so that everyone travels light. Traversing trails is a fun, bonding experience.

Go farm to fork. Escape city crowds, live bucolic fantasies and learn about sustainable agriculture during a farm stay. Organic family farms across the country offer overnight accommodations to supplement farming incomes and connect with local consumers.

Farm life is about simple pleasures, like waking to a rooster’s call and then digging into a farm-fresh breakfast of free-range eggs, accompanied by homemade bread, cheese, jam and honey.

Afterwards, stroll an apple orchard or fragrant field of lavender. Most farms allow guests to pitch in with the chores, maybe feeding chickens, milking cows, picking cherries or making yogurt. Find a place nearby at FarmStayUS.com.

Renew your spirit. Reconnect with your faith or explore a new spiritual calling with a short stay at a retreat center. Some furnish structured guided sessions, such as vipassanã Buddhism’s silent retreats, at which participants sit in meditation eight hours a day without access to me-

dia or other distractions. Other centers assist guests in creating self-directed retreats tailored to personal goals.

Grounds often feature sacred spaces like labyrinths or meditation gardens, providing an inspiring environment to contemplate one’s spiritual journey.

RetreatFinder.com supplies a comprehensive listing of possibilities conducive to every spiritual persuasion, from Anglican to Zen, across the country and worldwide.

Taste the terroir. A long weekend amidst vineyards can be a refreshing way to simultaneously explore the countryside and refine our wine palate. Along with tastings, some vintners provide tours of their vineyards and cellars, including insights into the characteristics of local terroirs that give each vintage its distinctive taste.

Some also have bed and breakfast inns onsite, eliminating the need for a designated driver.

The site WineriesByState.com lists domestic wineries in all 50 states; KennUncorked.com provides information about biodynamic and organic winemakers.

Pamper your body.

Visiting a green destination spa is a soothing way to detox from stress while indulging in corporeal treats like a hot stone massage, aromatherapy treatment or rose petal bath. Green spas use natural products such as unbleached organic linens and botanically derived oils, which are gentler on skin.

Most practice sustainability in other areas as well, such as water management, energy use and waste reduction.

Search for the perfect getaway treat at GreenSpaNetwork.org.

Numerous farms, spas, parks and vineyards are waiting to be explored; many nearby that we may overlook draw visitors from around the world. “Local travel gives us a chance to dig more deeply into the places that surround us,” says Diedrichs. “We can have fun playing tourists in our own backyards and support sustainable, local businesses we discover along the way.”

Connect with freelance writer April Thompson at AprilWrites.com.

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natural awakenings

August 2014

23

fitbody

Runner’s Hi Women and Social Media Revolutionize the Sport

Boosts Bonding

by Debra Melani

W

hether donning colorful tutus or making a marathon a girls’ day out, the current running scene is attracting a broader group of fitness-seekers mindful of the enhanced benefits of a more well-rounded approach. Rather than pursuing fierce competition and personal bests, these runners are focusing on social bonding and overall well-being, likely boosting their fitness success.

Two main factors are fueling what’s shaping up as a new running boom: women and social media. “The first running-boom era was male-centric and competitive,” observes Ryan Lamppa, of Running USA. He’s referring to the 1970s, when, largely thanks to 1972

“Women tend to be more social and more in tune with their health overall, and that’s definitely a driving force,” Lamppa says.

Couple the female factor with social media-driven, nontraditional race events and the result is explosive.

“Events are fun, community-centered and sometimes charity-driven,” Lamppa says of the many innovations, from paint-splashing 5Ks to mud-slinging obstacle course action, which attracted 4 million entrants last year.

Summer Olympic marathon gold medal winner Frank Shorter and The Complete Book of Running, by James Fixx, many were inspired to hook up Walkmans, lace up sneakers and train for distance races. “Today’s running boom is femalecentric, much bigger and more focused on health and fitness and completion, rather than competition.”

Forget elapsed running time; just cross the finish line and have fun doing it, seems to be a growing mantra.

Women’s participation hit an all-time high in recent years, comprising 56 percent of the more than 15.5 million runners finishing U.S. races sanctioned

by Running USA in 2012 and 61 percent of U.S. half-marathoners in 2013.

These trends could indicate America’s collective progress toward fitness as studies show the social factor plays a huge motivational role in participation.

“I think running adherence strengthens when there is accountability and social support,” remarks Englewood, New Jersey, sports psychologist Greg Chertok, citing a meta-analysis of data in Sport & Exercise Psychology Review that backs his notion.

For example, such social exercise events inspire happiness. “If you are physically close to someone that is happy, eager and optimistic, you are naturally going to share those feelings,” explains Chertok, who is also a spokesman for the American College of Sports Medicine. “Just through social connectedness alone, you’ll gain boosted performance and mood.”

As a finisher of two Tough Mudders (an intense obstacle course challenge), Chertok can personally testify to the benefits of camaraderie. “It’s just like if

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

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Tennessee Valley

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a married couple got stuck in a storm and had to brave the elements; the act of doing something challenging together is very bonding.”

Simply joining a recreational running group—also increasingly popular and often social media-driven—can bolster success. “When a bunch of individuals work together to pursue a common goal, they are incentivized by the group,” Chertok remarks. “You’ll run at a faster clip or go a longer distance if you are with a group, because each runner values the group and doesn’t want to let members down.”

Brings Balance

Mixing things up can also improve running performance and decrease risks of injury, enhancing long-term staying power. One study found that eight weeks of simple strength-training exercises by conditioned runners boosted their running performances over their conditioned, but non-strength-training peers, as noted in the Health & Fitness Journal of the American College of Sports Medicine.

As for injury prevention, every-

body, regardless of sport, needs to cross-train, advises Mindy Caplan, a wellness coach in Albuquerque, New Mexico. “In any sport that you engage in, you end up working certain muscles the same way all the time. Then those tighter muscles start to pull on the joints and without stretching, you end up with problems.” Moving the body in different ways helps, and working on stretching and flexibility can elongate muscles and protect tendons and joints.

“The new runner of this second running boom has much more information about training, health and fitness, and injury prevention,” says Lamppa, who occasionally cross-trains by biking and includes some yoga-related stretching as part of his regular routine. “You have to have balance in your running as in your life. If you can get to that point, you will get a very positive response from your body and mind.”

Freelance journalist Debra Melani writes about health care and fitness from Lyons, CO. Connect at Debra Melani.com or DMelani@msn.com.

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August 2014

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

picnic dinner. Free parking is available at Huntsville Hospital’s lots at Lowell & Adams Streets.

Shuttles to the Caves begin at 6:15pm. $30. Historic Three Caves, 905 Kennamer Dr SE, Huntsville.

LandTrustNAL.org.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 1

SUNDAY, AUGUST 10

Watters Felts Project – 7:30-9pm. The Watters Felts Project will be playing in the Flying Monkey Arts theater on the second floor of Lowe Mill. $10.

Flying Monkey Arts, 2211 Seminole Dr, Huntsville.

256-489-7000.

Harvey Cotten: Getting Ready for Fall in the Garden – 2-4pm. Lawns, weeds, bugs, pruning, planting, composting...and lots of time for Q&A. Free. Huntsville Main Library, 915 Monroe St. 256-532-5940.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 2

TUESDAY, AUGUST 12

First Saturday Fitness Classes: Pilates – 10-11am.

As a personal trainer specializing in core issues, Terrie Moultrie will put you on the right path with Pilates. Free. Big Spring Park East by the rock fountain in Huntsville.

Featuring the Maple Hill Band. Free. Huntsville Main Library, 915 Monroe Street Huntsville, AL 35801. 256-532-5975.

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

SUNDAY, AUGUST 3

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 6

Guest Speaker, Rev. Brenda Strickland – 11am.

Author of “Life, Love and Lilies: Everyday Spirituality” and “Myrtle Fillmore’s Healing Letters.”

Adult Discussion begins at 9:30am. Unity Church on the Mountain, 1328 Governors Dr SE, Huntsville.

256-536-2271, UnityChurchOnTheMountain.org.

The Art of Spiritual Dreaming – 6-7pm (8/6 and 8/13). Discover how dreams help you gain insights from the past, glimpse the future, heal spiritually, and gain confidence in handling everyday affairs.

Free class using book by Harold Klemp. Huntsville ECK Center, 900 Wellman Ave NE #3 (Five Points).

256-534-1751. Eck-Alabama.org.

Why Care About Caregivers? Raising Awareness about Resources, Concerns and Relief – 9-11am.

A unique opportunity for caregivers to meet and educate local policy makers on the issues and concerns they face. Registration required with Melissa Terry at 256-859-4900 or MTerry@ucphuntsville. org by 8/7. Trinity United Methodist Church, 607 Airport Rd, Huntsville.

THURSDAY, AUGUST 7

THURSDAY, AUGUST 14

Downtown Huntsville Sounds of Sumer Series: Jam Session on the Square – 5-7pm. Featured band: Flannel Umbros. Free. Westside Square in downtown Huntsville. 256-886-8022.

Downtown Huntsville Sounds of Sumer Series: Jam Session on the Square – 5-7pm. Featured band: Toy Shop. Free. Westside Square in downtown Huntsville. 256-886-8022.

“Leading the Next Generation” with Dr. Tim Elmore – 6:30pm. Dr. Elmore is a best-selling author, international speaker, and president of Growing Leaders, an organization that helps develop emerging leaders in the belief that all children are born with leadership qualities. Free. Randolph Thurber Arts Center, 4915 Garth Rd, Huntsville. 256-799-6100.

Movies in the Park: Wizard of Oz – 8:30pm.

Shown on an outdoor screen behind the Museum.

Free. Big Spring Park, 300 Church St, Huntsville.

256-519-2787.

Splendid Shindig – 12-9pm. Piper and Leaf’s Grand Opening is a showcase of local artisans, craftsmen, and farmers. Spend a day in the sun drinking sweet tea and sampling a smorgasbord of what Huntsville’s local businesses have to offer. Lowe Mill East Lawn, 2211 Seminole Dr, Huntsville. 256-698-9209.

Geocaching 101 – 1-2pm, each Saturday in August.

Attend the Geocaching 101 tutorial and search for caches throughout our campus while learning about the history and application of Global Positioning System (GPS) technology. Free after admission.

US Space and Rocket Center, 1 Tranquility Base, Huntsville. 800-63-SPACE. Studio Sessions: Ann Moeller Steverson, Portrait Demonstration – 1-4pm. Painting with the soft, glowing warmth of the old masters, Ann creates rich and dramatic paintings with bold and definitive brushstrokes. Join us for a free portrait demonstration. Free. 1st Floor West Gallery, 2211 Seminole Dr, Huntsville, AL 35805. 256-533-0399.

Les Johnson at Huntsville AL L5 Society – 7-8:30pm. Les Johnson, author, futurist and NASA technologist, will discuss past, present and potential future Mars exploration, “Mars: Are We Ever Going to Get There?” Free. Huntsville Main Library, 915 Monroe St. 256-532-5940.

SUNDAY, AUGUST 3

FRIDAY, AUGUST 8

Sonia Inc. 2nd Annual Back To School Jam – 1-5pm. The Back to School Jam will help low income families have an outlet to receive school supplies they would not otherwise receive. This is a free event with free food. Huntsville Botanical Garden, 4747 Bob Wallace Ave, Huntsville. 256-830-4447.

Hartselle Health Fair – 9am-12pm. The Hartselle Health Fair includes: Basics of Alzheimer’s Presentations, Brain Games, Exhibitor Booths, Music, Refreshments, Door Prizes. Free. Sparkman Civic Center, 406 Nance Ford Rd, Hartselle, AL 35640.

MONDAY, AUGUST 4 Market at Good Shepherd – 2-6pm. An open air Farmers and Artisan market on the lawn of Church of the Good Shepherd Episcopal Church at 3809 Spring Ave, Decatur, AL. Featuring fresh produce and arts and crafts from around the valley.

Concerts in the Park – 6:30-8pm. Bring your lawn chair or blanket and a picnic basket and enjoy the sounds of The U.S. Army Materiel Command Band.

Free. Big Spring Park, Huntsville. 256-519-2787.

TUESDAY, AUGUST 5 Tuesday Evening Concerts at the Library – 6pm.

26

Tennessee Valley

Summer Concerts-Grotto Lights – 6-9pm. Featuring The Muddy Walkers. Bring blankets, chairs, pets on a leash, a picnic. Drinks can be purchased from establishments inside the Entertainment District. Free. Big Spring Park East, Huntsville.

256-886-8022.

Homegrown Comedy – 8-10pm. Homegrown Comedy second anniversary show is in the Flying Monkey Arts theater on the second floor of Lowe Mill. Admission is $7. Rated: R. Flying Monkey Arts, 2211 Seminole Dr, Huntsville. 256-489-7000.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 9 Jazz at Three Caves: Saxophonist Marion Meadows – 7-9pm. Bring your own seating and

Facebook.com/natvalley

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 13

FRIDAY, AUGUST 15 Singing on the Square – 6-8pm. This family friendly event features a variety of artist and musical styles, performing on the steps of the Limestone County Courthouse. Free. 100 W Washington St #3, Athens, AL. 256-232-5411.

The Road to Spiritual Freedom: A History – 7:308pm. Inspiring stories and insights from Harold Klemp, spiritual leader and acclaimed author of more than sixty books on Eckankar. Discover some of the milestones on your road to spiritual freedom.

Free. Knology Cable Channel 11. 256-534-1751.

Eck-Alabama.org.

City Lights and Stars Concert – 7:30-9:30pm.

Featuring Eric Essix. Bring a blanket or lawn chair, a picnic supper and enjoy the spectacular nighttime view of the city. Admission charged. Burritt on the Mountain, 3101 Burritt Dr, Huntsville. 256-536-2882.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 16 BodyFlow Open House – 11am-1pm. Learn about BodyFlow, the Yoga/Pilates/Tai Chi-based fitness program that builds strength, tones your body and leaves you feeling centered and calm. Meet the instructor, learn some basic moves, and decide if BodyFlow is right for you. Door prizes and refreshments. Free. 256-461-1900. MadisonBallroom.com.

Studio Arts @ the Bailey Cove Library: Mandala Collage – 2-4pm. Learn techniques for creating your own Mandala Collage with assorted art pa-

pers, magazines, stamping, and our own limitless imaginations. Ages 14 to adult. Call 256-881-0257 to reserve. Free. Bailey Cove Branch Library, 1409 Weatherly Plaza SE, Huntsville.

SUNDAY, AUGUST 17 Medicine Cabinet Makeover with Essential Oils – 2-3pm. Learn about how to replace over the counter medicine with a healthier options using essential oils. Class is free and will be held at 1900 Flint Rd SE Decatur, 35601. For more information or to RSVP call 256-476-6537 or email Cindy@ AlabamaAwakenings.com.

TUESDAY, AUGUST 19 Tuesday Evening Concerts at the Library – 6pm.

Featuring SlipJig. Free. Huntsville Main Library Atrium, 915 Monroe St, Huntsville. 256-532-5975.

THURSDAY, AUGUST 21 Arts Stroll – 4:30-8:30pm. Stroll, sip and shop in the shade. The Sidewalk Art Stroll is held at Constitution Village and is part downtown Huntsville’s Entertainment District. Free. Constitution Village, 109 Gates Ave, Huntsville. SideWalkArtsStroll.com.

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

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

STAR KNOWLEDGE CONFERENCE STAR KNOWLEDGE CONFERENCE – Nashville, TN. Sept 18-20. Indigenous Chiefs & Wisdom Keepers, more than 30 speakers, 20 vendors. Montgomery Bell State Park. Register: StarKnowledge Nashville.com. 1-800-221-6801. onstration of this useful skill. Admission charged.

Burritt on the Mountain, 3101 Burritt Dr, Huntsville.

256-536-2882.

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 27 Free Health Screening – 9:30am-12pm. Huntsville Hospital’s Mobile Medical Unit will be offering free health screenings to the public. Madison Senior Center, 1282 Hughes Rd, Madison, AL.

GET WITH THE PROGRAM Teach others how to live a healthy lifestyle by advertising your products and services in Natural Awakenings’ September Caregiving and Yoga Edition

SATURDAY, AUGUST 30

Downtown Huntsville Sounds of Sumer Series: Jam Session on the Square – 5-7pm. Featured band: Milltowne. Free. Westside Square in downtown Huntsville. 256-886-8022.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 23 Mayors Back to School Bike Ride & Kids Rodeo – 9am-12pm. Join Mayor Tommy Battle for the Healthy Huntsville annual “Mayor’s Bike Ride” throughout Downtown Huntsville. Kids activities begin at 9am in the Holiday Inn parking lot.

Bike ride 10am. Big Spring Park, 200 Church St, Huntsville.

Adult and Teen Workshop: Natural Dyeing – 1-2:30pm. A hands-on class about natural dyeing.

Students will take home one dyed silk handkerchief, samples of dyed wool and cotton and an instructional handout. Ages 13 and up. $18. Burritt on the Mountain, 3101 Burritt Dr, Huntsville. 256-536-2882.

Jazz at Three Caves: The Claire Lynch Band – 7-9pm. Bring your own seating and picnic dinner.

Free parking is available at Huntsville Hospital’s lots at Lowell & Adams Streets. Shuttles to the Caves begin at 6:15pm. $30. Historic Three Caves, 905 Kennamer Dr SE, Huntsville. LandTrustNAL.org.

Winslow Davis in Concert – 7:30-9:30pm. The Winslow Davis music experience blends electric violin with electric guitar pedal effects, samples, drum and loop machines. $10. Flying Monkey Theatre, 2211 Seminole Dr, Huntsville. 256-489-7000.

SUNDAY, AUGUST 24 Preserving the Summer’s Bounty: Stringing Beans and Drying Apples – 1:30-2:30pm. A dem-

Monte Sano 10K & 5K Road Races and Fun Run – Registration begins 6:30am. 10K 8am. 5K 9:30am.

Fun run 10:30am. Awards/Door Prizes 10:45am.

Info: Monte Sano State Park Lodge, 5105 Nolen Ave, Huntsville, Beth Benefield, 256-881-2642.

SUNDAY, AUGUST 31 Guest Speaker, Susan Holliday –11am. Adult Discussion begins at 9:30am. Unity Church on the Mountain, 1328 Governors Dr SE, Huntsville.

256-536-2271. UnityChurchOnTheMountain.org.

plan ahead FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 5 Sessions with Max the Crystal Skull – Fri-Sat. 30min private session with Max: $65. The Maximum Max Experience: $150 (includes lecture, private session with Max, and healing or reading session of your choice). The Healing Arts Center, 525 Fountain Row, Huntsville. For reservations info, contact Melissa Posey: 256-652-5125 or m3esu@yahoo.com.

Lecture on Max the Crystal Skull – 6:30pm. Learn about Max the Crystal Skull from JoAnn Parks. $25.

Light of Christ Center, 4208 Holmes Ave, Huntsville. For reservations info, contact Melissa Posey: 256-652-5125 or m3esu@yahoo.com.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 6 Lecture on Max the Crystal Skull – 6:30pm. Learn about Max the Crystal Skull from JoAnn Parks. $25. The Healing Arts Center, 525 Fountain Row, Huntsville. For reservations info, contact Melissa Posey: 256-652-5125 or m3esu@yahoo.com.

To advertise or participate in our next edition, call

256-340-1122

natural awakenings

August 2014

27

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

Huntsville Hospital HealthWorks Farmer’s Market – 7:30am-12pm. Fresh local produce, delicious artisan breads, herbs, gourmet slaw, cheese, jams, jellies and more. Plaza Resource Center Tram Station at Huntsville Hospital, 101 Governors Dr, Huntsville.

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.

tuesday

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. UnityChurch OnTheMountain.org.

1-Hour Mystery School – 11am. A different service each week including ritual, music, and a message in an open, loving environment. Light of Christ Center, 4208 Holmes Ave, Huntsville. 256-895-0255.

LightOfChristCenter.org.

Community Grief Support Group (No Charge) – 2pm, second and fourth Sunday of each month.

Those who have lost a loved one to death share the grief and love, and join the journey forward. Trinity United Methodist Church, 607 Airport Rd SW, Huntsville, Room 122. 256-837-1713.

monday Habitat on Pratt Farmers Market – 1-6pm. Featuring fresh fruit, vegetables, and preserves locally grown and produced by North Alabama area growers. Weekly events include food sampling, cooking classes, and more. EBT/SNAP accepted. Habitat for Humanity of Madison County, 400 Pratt Ave NW, Huntsville.

Latham UMC Farmers Market – 3-7pm. Farmers selling 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 Rd, Meridianville, AL 35759.

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

BodyFlow – 6-7pm, Tuesdays and Thursdays. Yoga/ Pilates/Tai Chi-based exercise class that builds strength, tones your body and leaves you feeling centered and calm. Part of the Les Mills Fitness Program. $10/class and no contract. New participants are always welcome. Madison Ballroom, 9076 Madison Blvd Suite E, Madison, AL. 256-461-1900.

MadisonBallroom.com.

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

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

Do not seek to follow in

the footsteps of the wise.

Seek what they sought. ~Matsuo Basho

28

Tennessee Valley

thursday

Thursday Night Bike Night – 4-8pm. Borrow a bike and take a spin around downtown, Twickenham, Old Town or Five Points. Registration is required to borrow a bike from the station at the Greene Street Market. Free. Corner of Green Street & Eustis Huntsville. 256-682-4429.

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.

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 Saturday Morning Satsang – 8-8:45am. Spiritual Talk and Meditation Circle at Yoga Fire. Discover the True Nature within you in a safe and welcoming environment that is open to all belief systems.

Free. Yoga Fire, 1874 Slaughter Rd, Madison.

YogaFireHsv.com. Gatlianne@yahoo.com.

Bailey Cove Farmers Market – 8am-12pm. Locally grown fresh fruits, vegetables, meats, flowers and other locally produced products. St. Thomas Episcopal Church, 12200 Bailey Cove Rd, Huntsville.

Athens Saturday Market – 8am-12pm. Fresh, locally grown fruits, vegetables, flowers, breads, honey, jelly, jams and more. 409 Green Street, Athens, AL. 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 (except 8/30). Huntsville ECK Center, 900 Wellman Ave NE #3 (near Five Points). 256-5341751. Eck-Alabama.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.

Facebook.com/natvalley

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.

COLON HYDROTHERAPY

ENERGY HEALING

CENTER FOR OPTIMAL WELLBEING

CENTER FOR DIRECTIONAL HEALING™

Center for Optimal Wellbeing is the longest operating colonic therapy provider in Huntsville.

First time clients have expressed immediate feelings of increased energy levels and improved efficiency in waste elimination. You will enjoy the experience of your own “personal cleansing spa” as you receive colon hydrotherapy (colonic), far infrared sauna, an optional massaging shower, and ionic footbath services—in a clean, comfortable, and relaxing private environment. Call for directions and a 10% discount on your first service when you mention Natural Awakenings or use code COWB.

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.

HOPE FOR LIFE COLONICS

PEACEFUL JOURNEY CENTER

U’Jeana Wilson Owner/Certified Colon Hydrotherapist Degree in Psychology 256-658-8600

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 19.

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.

CYMATIC THERAPY CYMATIC THERAPY BY LIL Lil Stone, Certified Practitioner 256-656-1606 Lvs@knology.net CymaticsByLil.com

Cymatic & Bioresonance Therapy is based on the study of the structure and dynamics of waves and vibrations. Specific programmed treatments are used for various disorders. 50 years of success in Europe.

Non-invasive. Great for pain.

Susan Spalding 2225 Drake Ave SW, Ste 18 Huntsville, AL 35805 256-882-0360 • DirectionalHealing.com

ENERGY PSYCHOLOGY

FARMERS MARKET MADISON CITY FARMERS MARKET

Saturdays 8am-12pm 1088 Hughes Rd, at Trinity Baptist of Madison MadisonCityFarmersMarket.com 256-656-7841 Local producers provide a diverse selection of vegetables, fruit, herbs, meats, cheese, milk, eggs, honey, jams, pickles, relishes, flowers, plants, baked goods, cards, soaps, woodwork and more. Everything sold at the market is grown or crafted within 100 miles of the market!

MORGAN CO/DECATUR FARMERS MARKET

211 1st Ave SE, Decatur, AL 35601 Burl Slaten, 256-476-5595 Open Monday-Saturday from 6am-5pm starting April 19. A variety of vendors selling their homegrown foods. Peas and beans shelled for a fee.

Please support you local farmers.

FENG SHUI

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

FENG SHUI BY TRUDI GARDNER Trudi Gardner, M.S. 256-772-6999 Tygard2000@aol.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.

FAMILY MEDICINE

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.

HAIR SALON CJ HAIR AND ART STUDIO

MADISON FAMILY CARE

Chad Gilliam, M.M.S. PA-C 1230 Slaughter Road, Suite C, Madison, AL 256-722-0555 MadisonFamilyCare.com Progressive Family Medicine provides medical care for patients of all ages and uniquely blends Natural and Prescription medicines together to help speed the patient’s recovery. Progressive Family Medicine is the patient’s clinic of choice when they would like to understand how natural medicines work along with prescription drugs. See ads, page 8 and back page.

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.

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HOLISTIC MEDICINE BE WELLNESS CLINIC OF HUNTSVILLE 8 Parade St, Huntsville, AL 35806 256-382-3710 Info@HolisticAlabama.com

We offer an innovative model for health care that encompasses an individualized approach in order to balance and harmonize the mind, body and spirit thru a comprehensive assessment of your nutritional, hormonal, intestinal and immunological systems for the prevention and reversal of diseases.

MARTIAL ARTS ROCKET CITY MARTIAL ARTS Matt Gilliard, Head Instructor 256-710-2454 RocketCityMartialArts.com RocketCityMartialArts@gmail.com

Rocket City Martial Arts teaches a skill set that is tailored to the student based on his or her height, weight, and most physical limitations. We offer instruction in aikido and karate.

Visit our website. Inquire about our free introductory program!

See ad, page 13.

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 15.

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®

MASSAGE CLOUD NINE IN HOME MASSAGES Evening and Weekend Appointments 256-337-6989

Finally, someone who makes housecalls! Swedish, Ortho and Deep Tissue massage in the privacy of your own home. Gift Certificates also available for any occasion.

DIXIE PHILLIPS (LMT #2151)

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

MEETING ROOMS/ EVENT SPACE LIGHT OF CHRIST CENTER

4208 Holmes Ave, Huntsville 256-895-0255 • LightOfChristCenter.org

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 13.

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Tennessee Valley

Facebook.com/natvalley

Rent our beautiful vintage Centenarian House facility as the ideal venue for weddings, receptions, memorial services, classes/workshops and other gatherings. Call and leave a message if you’re interested in a tour or to speak with someone about your event. See ad, page 22.

NATUROPATHIC DOCTOR ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE ASSOCIATES Dr. Deb Gilliam, N.M.D. 1230 Slaughter Rd, Ste E, Madison, AL 256-325-0955

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 19.

SHAMANIC HEALING SHAMANIC HEALING & Therapeutic Massage Jeffrey Rich, LMT 256-­337-­1699 WaterWillowMoon.com Jeffrey.Rich@gmail.com

Imagine finding your wholeness!

Shamanic Healing is “Medicine f o r Yo u r S p i r i t , ” s a c r e d technology which helps you heal because it addresses the spiritual causes of what is affecting you.

Searching for joy? Something “just not right” with you? Have you “not been the same since” that significant event? Does something block you again and again? Lets unravel it and find the answers for you! Offering you Soul Retrieval, Unraveling of Energetic Blocks, Shamanic Training, experienced Therapeutic Massage. See ad, page 13.

STRUCTURAL INTEGRATION JACI HOGUE

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

SUSAN K. JEFFREYS

Advanced Practitioner Lic.#249 Dr. Ida P. ROLF method 2336A Whitesburg Drive 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 24.

WOMEN’S FITNESS TRAINER LINDSEY ELLEGOOD

“House Calls” 256-221-6805 EllegoodLindsey@hotmail.com Certified in Personal Training, Zumba Fitness, and Nutrition.

Decatur, Madison, Hartselle and Priceville area. Private personal training instruction is an opportunity to address your health and fitness needs, in the privacy of your home. Get quick results, feel better, and have more energy with an experienced professional, who will come up with an individual plan for personal training, healthy eating and overall fitness, that specifically meets your needs. Busy schedule? No problem. I’ll work around your schedule, and at a price you can afford.

A Few Drops Can Change Your Life!

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

An essential component of the thyroid, iodine replacement has been reported to give relief from: • Depression • Weight Gain • Low Energy • Fibromyalgia • Hypothyroidism • Hyperthyroidism • Radiation • Bacteria & Viruses • And More!

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NAWebstore.com or call: 888-822-0246

Shop Natural Awakenings’ Online Webstore for More Special, Natural Products

1-11 bottles ...... $19.99 ea.

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24 + bottles .........$9.99 ea. $ 5 Shipping/up to 8 bottles 1 bottle = 6-8 wk. supply

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Editor@Natvalley.com

A fast, delicious way to get your fruits and veggies!

Extracts of greens, fruits and vegetables are possibly the most important and most needed supplement for today’s lifestyles. With the NEW Natural Awakenings Green Powder dietary supplement, one serving a day supplies your body with essential vitamins and minerals you might ordinarily be missing from your regular diet.

Order it today and get back on track to a more balanced and healthy body.

Made with certified organic non-GMO ingredients, Natural Awakenings Green Powder nourishes and strengthens every system in your body resulting in:

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MADISON FAMILY CARE and WELLNESS CENTER

Complete Family Practice Sick Visits Hypertension Asthma Thyroid Seasonal Allergy Testing & Drop Treatment

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

• • • •

Laboratory Testing Gynecological Care Chronic Fatigue Fibromyalgia

NEW!

• • • • • •

Dr. Gary Adams, M.D.

Bio-Identical Hormone Pellets 100% Financing Available BHRTvideos.com

Amy Beck, NP

256-722-0555 1230 SLAUGHTER RD, SUITE C MADISON, AL 35758

MadisonFamilyCare.com Progress Toward Wellness & Prevention