Natural Awakenings Twin Cities June 2020

EE R F

HEALTHY

LIVING

HEALTHY

Power Up Traveling Your Brain In Place Six Ways to Boost Blood Flow

PLANET

Family Stories

Finding Adventure Help Kids Cope Close to Home During Tough Times

June 2020 | Twin Cities Edition | NAtwincities.com

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June 2020

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letter from the publisher

HEALTHY LIVING HEALTHY PLANET

TWIN CITIES EDITION

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Check with a healthcare professional regarding the appropriate use of any treatment.

T

his month’s cover was chosen in honor of all the men and women who play the role of father in someone’s life. Though my father was never a kayaker, the image of a man with a cap that adjusts in the back, a colorful lifejacket, large weathered hands and the colors of the surrounding Minnesota lakes certainly reminds me of him.

We spent many hours with my dad each summer on the lakes of northern Minnesota fishing for his favorites—sun fish and crappies.

Candi Broeffle Once our haul was made, we would bring our loot home and stand outside next to the chicken coop; we kids scaled the fish and Dad cleaned them, throwing the heads and innards over the fence to the waiting hens. Once everything was cleaned, Mom would bread and fry them in one of her many cast iron skillets. I can still taste the tart rhubarb punch we enjoyed as we waited to eat ourselves silly and talk about all of the adventures of the day.

Summers on the farm were filled with hard work and a whole lot of fun. Our family was together, enjoying each other’s company most of the time, and arguing some of the time. But no matter what, the days were filled with love.

As we face a summer of continued social distancing, cancelled camps and outdoor activities, I hope your family will become even closer. Enjoy each other’s company, play in the yard or at the park, eat dinner together, enjoy an evening fire. Perhaps you will even take time to teach your children all the things your parents taught you.

It wasn’t long after stay-at-home orders were put into place that the phrase “The Great Pause” made the rounds, which I think perfectly encompasses this time in our history: a time to pause, rest, reflect and come together in a more meaningful way.

To the pause!

Candi Broeffle, Publisher

Natural Awakenings Magazine is ranked 5th Nationally in CISION’S® 2016 Top 10 Health & Fitness Magazines

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Natural Awakenings is a family of nearly 70 healthy living magazines celebrating 26 years of providing the communities we serve with the tools and resources we all need to lead healthier lives on a healthy planet.

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Contents 13 ERGONOMICS

13

FOR HEALTHY WORK FROM HOME

14 DAVID HAMILTON

on Kindness in the Pandemic Age

15 WHEN WILL IT END? A Chinese Metaphysics Look at the COVID-19 Pandemic

16 TRANSFORMATIVE STAYCATIONS

19

Finding Respite and Adventure Close to Home

19 POWER UP YOUR BRAIN

Six Ways to Boost Blood Flow

20 ‘NOW, WHERE ARE THOSE CAR KEYS?’

The Heart of the Matter of Good Cognitive Functioning

22 FAMILY STORIES ADVERTISING & SUBMISSIONS HOW TO ADVERTISE To advertise with Natural Awakenings or request a media kit, please contact us at 763-270-8604 or email Publisher@NAtwincities.com. Deadline for ads: the 15th of the month.

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Help Kids Cope During Tough Times

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23 HOW WE CAN ALL

SUPPORT LGBTQ SENIORS

24 SOOTHING SEPARATION Helping Anxious Dogs to Cope

26 SUPPORT YOUR

LOCAL BUSINESSES

DEPARTMENTS 6 news brief 8 health briefs 10 global briefs 12 eco tip 14 wise words

19 healing ways 22 healthy kids 24 natural pet 27 calendar 28 resource guide June 2020

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news brief

JULY

THE FOOD CONNECTION ISSUE

Coming Next Month

Beyond Factory Farming Plus: Gut Health

Natural Awakenings Publishing Corp.

Partners with KnoWEwell Collaborative

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atural Awakenings Publishing Corp. (NAPC) is entering into a partnership with KnoWEwell, P.B.C., and is a Founding Patron of The KnoWEwell Collaborative.

KnoWEwell, a 1% for the Planet company, received the Top 50 Healthcare Companies award from the International Forum on Advancements in Healthcare.

Founder and Chief Executive Officer Kimberly Whittle says, “It’s one centralized, private, secure online platform to inspire and empower individuals with today’s knowledge, evidence-based resources and collaborative wholistic community to help address the root causes of chronic diseases and achieve optimal health and well-being.”

Whittle points out that KnoWEwell is “the missing link designed to provide people with peace of mind throughout their life journey—a collaborative with personal and professional benefits for all in the wholistic ecosystem: individuals, families, providers and organizations. Our purpose is to improve the health of humanity and our planet.”

NAPC and KnoWEwell are perfectly mission-aligned, adds Whittle. “Natural Awakenings’ well-researched, practical information about the latest natural approaches to nutrition, fitness, personal growth and sustainable living played a significant role in fueling the wellness revolution. We’re grateful to collaborate with them.”

NAPC Chief Executive Officer Sharon Bruckman shares, “Our Natural Awakenings family of 60 publishers is excited about the new resources and opportunities this new partnership brings to our community of readers, providers and organizations. We are honored to be playing such a significant role in the launch and future growth of this incredibly sophisticated platform which will result in tremendous benefits to members.”

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Natto, a fermented soybean dish of Japan, offers postmenopausal women protection from bone fractures, concludes a new study in The Journal of Nutrition. Studying 24 years of records of 1,417 Japanese women older than 45, researchers found that compared to those women that rarely ate natto, those that consumed one to six 40-gram packs a week had 21 percent fewer fractures and those consuming more than seven packs had 44 percent fewer fractures. Tofu and other soybean products had no effect on fracture risk. With its strong smell and sticky consistency, natto is an acquired taste, but is also one of the few plant sources of vitamin K2, which activates bone-building proteins. Other studies have linked it to healthier gut flora, lower cholesterol and blood pressure levels, and a stronger immune system.

Consume Olive Oil to Fight Off Aging In what might be good news for teetotalers, researchers at the University of Minnesota found that it’s not the resveratrol in red wine that increases the life span of cells of those following the Mediterranean Diet, but the fat in olive oil that activates the critical pathway which prevents age-related diseases. “This pathway has been linked to almost all of [aging diseases]. It’s the roots,” says Doug Mashek, Ph.D., a professor in the departments of medicine and biochemistry, molecular biology and biophysics.

His studies suggest that the benefits of olive oil are most pronounced when coupled with fasting, limiting caloric intake and exercising. “We found that the way this fat works is it first has to get stored in microscopic things called lipid droplets, which is how our cells store fat. And then, when the fat is broken down during exercising or fasting, for example, is when the signaling and beneficial effects are realized,” Mashek explains.

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Eat a Plant-Based Diet to Lessen Stroke Risk People that eat a vegetarian diet rich in nuts, vegetables and soy may have a lower risk of stroke than others with diets that include meat and fish, concluded a new study in the journal Neurology. Taiwanese researchers studied two groups of healthy people over age 50 that lived in Buddhist communities in which drinking and smoking were discouraged and vegetarian diets were followed by about a third of residents. Compared to the meat- and fish-eaters, vegetarians consumed less dairy, animal protein and fat, about the same amount of eggs and fruit, and more fiber and plant protein. In the group of 5,050 people studied for six years, vegetarians had a 74 percent lower risk of ischemic stroke, in which blood flow to the brain is blocked, than nonvegetarians. In the group of 8,302 people followed for nine years, vegetarians had a 48 percent lower risk of overall stroke than nonvegetarians, a 60 percent lower risk of ischemic stroke and a 65 percent lower risk of hemorrhagic (bleeding) stroke. “Stroke can also contribute to dementia. If we could reduce the number of strokes by people making changes to their diets, that would have a major impact on overall public health,” says study author Chin-Lon Lin, M.D.

ANTONIO TRUZZI/Shutterstock.com

Decrease Bone Fractures with Natto

K321/Shutterstock.com

bitt24/Shutterstock.com

health briefs

Aleksandrs Muiznieks/Shutterstock.com mi_viri/Shutterstock.com

Try Chinese Herbs for Ulcerative Colitis A Traditional Chinese Medicine herbal mix known as Gegen Quinlian decoction, when combined with standard Western pharmaceuticals, is more effective in treating the painful condition of ulcerative colitis than pharmaceuticals alone, concluded a Chinese review of 22 studies that included 2,028 patients with the disease. Typically used to heal diarrhea and gastrointestinal inflammation, the herbal mix produced few adverse reactions and resulted in low recurrence rates, researchers said.

Green Up Cities to Reduce Violent Crime Well-designed and maintained green spaces in cities such as parks, community gardens and tree-lined streets lower the rate of violent crimes, make communities safer and keep people healthier, concluded Cornell University and University of Virginia researchers that conducted a meta-study of 45 papers studying the links between greenery and crime. In particular, more green spaces, such as community gardens converted from vacant lots, decrease gun violence, six studies found. But poorly designed green space with inadequate maintenance, bad lighting and excessive nearby traffic can help crime take root and spread.

Andrii Zastrozhnov/Shutterstock.com

Maintain a Healthy Gut to Sidestep Colorectal Cancer In a study that for the first time establishes a direct link between the microbes inhabiting our bodies and the genetic alterations that drive cancer development, researchers from the Hubrecht Institute, in the Netherlands, have found that mutations linked to colorectal cancer can be caused by common gut bacteria carried by about one out of five people.

By exposing cultured human mini-guts to a particular strain of E. coli bacteria, they observed that the bacteria induced a unique pattern of mutations in the DNA of human cells that was also found in the DNA of patients with colorectal cancer, implying that these mutations were induced by the “bad” bacteria.

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Generating Electricity from Rain

A surprisingly high voltage can be generated from raindrops using a field-effect, transistor-style structure, reports a new study from the City University of Hong Kong in the journal Nature. A single drop can muster 140 volts, enough to briefly light up 100 small LED bulbs. The new design couples an aluminum electrode with an indium-tin oxide electrode layered with polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), a material with a quasi-permanent electric charge.

When a raindrop hits the PTFE/tin surface, it bridges the two electrodes and creates a closed-loop circuit that helps fully release any stored charges. The technology could handle sustained rainfall, as well. If there are continuous drops, the charge accumulates and eventually hits a saturation point. Building rooftops could supplement some of the electricity used inside, and electric boats could extend their range.

Sentinel Trees Give Advance Warning

The United States, Europe and China are growing “sentinel trees” in strategic locations around the world to receive advance warnings of destructive pests that could destroy native plantings.

According to a study published in Plos One, “Sentinel nurseries represent one potential mechanism to address the current lack of knowledge about pests in the countries from where live plants are shipped and the threats they represent to native flora and crops in importing countries.” As global trade intensifies, the risk for accidental importing of and exposure to new invasive pests is a constant worry for entomologists and arborists, stimulating a search for new tactics to prevent future losses.

Amy Lutz/Shutterstock.com

Splashy Solution

ifong/Shutterstock.com

Pest Alarm

global briefs

Beware the Air Mindfulness Training May Reduce Paranoia In news that may be useful for people dealing with the stress of the global pandemic, researchers from the University of London have found that just one week of practicing mindfulness—moment-to-moment awareness—reduces feelings of paranoia. The research, published in the journal Mindfulness, was based on questionnaires of 494 people, enabling researchers to find a correlation between paranoia and judgemental thinking.

They found that higher levels of nonjudgement predicted lower levels of paranoia, even in individuals that had a predisposition for it.

Then, 68 people were selected and divided into two groups: one that was asked to go through a prerecorded, guided mindfulness session once per day, and one that acted as a control. The session consisted of a quick body scan, mindful breathing and awareness exercises.

The results showed a drop in judgmental thinking and paranoia in the mindfulness group.

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Twin Cities Edition

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People continuously exposed to air pollution are at increased risk of dementia, especially if they also suffer from cardiovascular diseases, reports a new study from the Karolinska Institute in Sweden, published in the JAMA Neurology. Researchers examined nearly 3,000 adults with an average age of 74 living in the Kungsholmen district in central Stockholm for up to 11 years. Of those, 364 people developed dementia. The district’s annual average level of particulate matter 2.5 microns or less in width is high by Swedish standards, but low compared to international standards.

Heart failure and ischemic heart disease both enhanced the dementia risk, and stroke explained almost 50 percent of air pollutionrelated dementia cases, according to the researchers.

Mix and Match Studio/Shutterstock.com

Dementia Linked to Air Pollution

Mental Relief

stockcreations/Shutterstock.com

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Tofu Takeaway Isoflavones Lower Risk of Heart Disease

Observational research published in Circulation, the flagship journal of the American Heart Association, states that tofu and other foods that contain higher amounts of isoflavones are associated with a moderately lower risk of heart disease, especially for younger women and postmenopausal women not taking hormones.

Researchers at Harvard Medical Schools’ Brigham and Women’s Hospital analyzed data from more than 200,000 people that participated in three health and nutrition studies; all participants were free of cancer and heart disease when the studies began. Consuming tofu, which is high in isoflavones, more than once a week was associated with an 18 percent lower risk of heart disease, compared to a 12 percent lower risk for those that ate tofu less than once per month.

Tofu and whole soybeans are rich sources of isoflavones. Chickpeas, fava beans, pistachios, peanuts and other fruits and nuts are also high in isoflavones.

Hot Power science photo/Shutterstock.com

Heat Converted into Electricity

Researchers from Japan’s Osaka University have found how the thermoelectric effect, or converting temperature differences into electricity, can be best used to power small, flexible devices, reports the journal Advanced Materials Technologies. Future healthcare applications will require internet connectivity between billions of sensors, and the devices that enable them must be small, flexible, reliable and environmentally sustainable.

Batteries are not optimal because continually replacing them is inconvenient and expensive. Many researchers have optimized device performance solely from the standpoint of the thermoelectric materials themselves. “Our approach is to also study the electrical contact, or the switch that turns the device on and off,” explains Tohru Sugahara, the corresponding author of the study. “The efficiency of any device critically depends on the contact resistance.”

Thermoelectric power generators are self-sustaining, self-powered and have no moving parts. Solar power and vibrational power do not have all of these advantages.

Down-Under Drought

Australian Wildfires Linked to Climate Change Australia’s devastating wildfires during 2019 and 2020 were at least 30 percent more likely to occur because of human-caused climate change, report researchers in a new study published in the online journal Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences. An intense heat wave was the primary factor in raising the fire risk, says climate scientist Geert Jan van Oldenborgh, with the Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute. The study linked to climate change the extremity of that heat wave, which is 10 times more likely now than it was in 1900. Van Oldenborgh notes that climate simulations tend to underestimate the severity of such heat waves. “We put the lower boundary at 30 percent, but it could well be much, much more,” he says. The year 2019 was Australia’s hottest and driest since modern recordkeeping began in the country in 1910.

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eco tip

(left arm extended downward) to alert bikers that may be traveling behind.

Regular Tips Apply to Pedaling During the coronavirus crisis, biking is especially recommended, as it provides exceptional aerobic and cardio exercise, relaxation and because it maintains social distancing. Keeping in mind proper equipment, fitness, safety and other factors can make it even more fulfilling during this difficult period.

Choose the right bike. Those designed for roads and pavement are generally lighter and have more gears than mountain bikes, which have more shock-absorbing features, plus more lower gears to help traverse inclined terrain. Urban and commuting bikes feature a slightly more upright riding position that allows better sightlines and improved visibility by motorists.

Use a bike shop with mechanics that test and adjust the bikes they sell, including determining the proper seat height—which facilitates proper alignment of hips and a full rotation—and the ideal distance from the handlebars to the seat tube. Back, knee or hip pain may develop if a cyclist has to stretch his or her legs to get to the pedals, according to the League of American Bicyclists. A biker doesn’t get proper leg extension if the seat is too low. The legs should

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Twin Cities Edition

be almost, but not totally extended at the lowest point in pedaling.

Safety takes many forms. Even well-marked bike lanes don’t guarantee safety, so use caution. Some motorists are careless about entering bike lanes and don’t correctly stop at crosswalks or look behind before opening doors. Keep at least five feet from the sides of cars to avoid being hit. Don’t weave in and out of traffic, always don a helmet, signal turns and watch out for runners and walkers. Use the stop signal

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Proper pedaling can help prevent strains. In addition to

ensuring they’re employing proper leg extension, it’s advised that bikers pedal a little faster in a lower gear; ideally, 75 to 90 revolutions per minute, which is easier on the knees with less muscle fatigue than traveling slower in a higher gear.

Routine maintenance includes

“cleaning and lubing the chain, replacing brake pads, and changing and fixing a flat tire,” according to major bike and outdoor retailer Recreational Equipment, Inc. (rei.com). The website has helpful tips on tools to obtain, along with basic information on bike maintenance, cleaning and fixing a flat tire.

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Biking During the COVID-19 Crisis

Ergonomics for Healthy Work from Home

by Lori Kurszewski

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any adults have been displaced from their normal working lives and are working from home on laptops in settings that are not set up for computer work.

Additionally, spending more hours in front of a screen with video conferencing, all without the normal “walking commutes” naturally built into the workday, can result in headaches, neck aches, fatigue and eye strain.

Some simple ergonomic upgrades can help at-home workers be more comfortable when working on a laptop, leading to more energy to do the things they want to do, sleep better and get through their days with less aches and pains.

Environment considerations. If possible, a separate area for working hours is preferable. It allows the worker to settle into a routine and allows an acknowledgement that it is “work time” when entering that space. It also allows a physical separation for the end of the workday. When choosing a work location, natural and overhead lighting, without adding glare to the computer screen, can help in setting up a favorable working environment.

Work surface. Work surfaces can be a desk, table or something else to hold the laptop. There should be comfortable clearance of the thighs underneath the work surface, typically a few inches can be sufficient.

Chair and arms. Adjust the chair so when sitting at the work surface, the elbows are at a comfortable 90-degree angle when the hands are on the keyboard. The elbows and hands should be in a straight line to each other. If the hands are higher than the elbows when sitting at the work surface, raise the chair height or sit on a cushion, pillow or towel to help raise the body and to bring the elbow into a 90-degree angle. If the hands are below the elbows, use books or sturdy boxes to raise the laptop to a neutral position.

Shoulders. Shoulders should feel relaxed. When working on a laptop, that is at times difficult. Take frequent breaks, look toward the ceiling and complete pain-free shoulder rolls to help with shoulder discomfort.

Wrists and hands. Wrists and hands should stay neutral—not forced upwards or reaching down towards the keyboard. If a mouse or other pointer device is used, settings on the computer should be changed to allow for ease of movement of the cursor without excess side-to-side movement.

Legs and feet. If the feet do not touch the ground or if there is extra pressure on the back of the legs when sitting in the chair, use books or a sturdy box on which to place the feet while sitting. This will lift the thighs and help the legs and low back.

Back. A small, rolled-up towel or small pillow can suffice to support the low back while seated. Place the support just above the hip bone for true low back support, as that is where your lumbar spine begins. Adjust the depth of support if it does not feel appropriate.

Movement. Part of ergonomics is providing the body with posture breaks. Walking during meetings, moving up and down stairs, or changing position in the chair can all provide the body with position changes. This allows joint movement and increased oxygen flow to the muscles and joints, which can reduce the fatigue from sitting. If the worker has a stretching program they normally perform, those stretches can also work to bring oxygen back to the muscles and move joints.

Working from home is a great opportunity to maintain routine and income during the pandemic. At-home workers can further support their bodies and feel good by making small changes to support ergonomic, neutral positions. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has eTools available for further work station considerations at Osha.gov/SLTC/Etools/ ComputerWorkstations.

Lori Kurszewski is a nationally board-certified health and wellness coach, athletic trainer and certified ergonomic assessment specialist and is part of the Health and Wellness Collaborative (HWC) and owner of Healthy Connections Coaching, LLC. With over 15 years of industrial athletic training and over four years of health and wellness coaching experience, her expertise is in using a coaching model to guide health and wellness changes that allow individuals, groups and organizations to achieve their health and wellness goals. To schedule a virtual Ergo Coaching session or a general Discovery Session, call 612-298-3818 or visit HWCollaborative.com.

June 2020

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wise words

David Hamilton on Kindness in the Pandemic Age

by Sandra Yeyati

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avid Hamilton has authored 10 books, including The Little Book of Kindness, How Your Mind Can Heal Your Body and The Five Side Effects of Kindness. He holds a doctorate in organic chemistry and spent four years in the pharmaceutical industry developing drugs for treating cardiovascular disease and cancer.

During clinical research trials, he noticed that a significant number of people experienced health improvements while on fake, or placebo, drugs. This inspired a career change more than 20 years ago, when he became a writer and public speaker teaching people how to understand and harness the mindbody connection to improve health.

We are genetically wired for kindness. The genes that produce the kindness hormone are some of the oldest in the human genome, like 500 million years old. So, our natural state is to care, to be kind and compassionate. But in life, we get caught up in everyday stresses and worries—financially, work-wise and in relationships—that often obscure that natural tendency to care. When a lot of that stuff is taken away, people’s natural sense of kindness and compassion come to the surface.

Have you noticed an increase in kindness during the current pandemic emergency?

Absolutely. We’ve been called to unify, to recognize that we are part of the same human family. There’s a global outpouring of compassion. We’re transforming, becoming more aware of our own kindness and the needs of other people.

On another level, I saw a meme that said, “It feels like the universe has sent us home to our rooms to think about what we’ve done.” There’s research that correlates an increase in viruses and parasites over the last couple of years to a loss in biodiversity due to human action, like knocking down rain forests and humaninduced climate change. Species extinctions are 1,000 to 10,000 times greater today than they’ve ever been in recorded history, except for 65 million years ago

I think so. In the past, you said things like, “Hello, how are you?” as a greeting. But now, when people say it, they really mean it. There’s a sense of genuine compassion that I think is coming out in everyone on a scale that I’ve never seen before. We’re feeling empathy for people that are suffering, but also feeling empathy for each other, because we realize that everyone is in a similar place.

How do you explain this upsurge in kindness during social distancing and isolation?

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Do you see an opportunity for a shift in collective consciousness?

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when an asteroid crashed into the Earth and wiped out the dinosaurs. Parasites, viruses and bacteria have nowhere else to go, so they’re jumping species, from bats to humans, for example. We’re being called spiritually not only to be more compassionate and kind to each other, but also to recognize the damage we’re doing to the planet and to be more respectful of nature, the environment and animals.

What are the positive physical effects of kindness?

Physiologically speaking, kindness is the opposite of stress. Where feeling stressed can increase blood pressure, tense the nervous system and suppress the immune system, feelings induced by kindness reduce blood pressure, calm the nervous system and elevate the immune system.

Are certain acts of kindness better than others?

It doesn’t matter what you do. What matters most is that you do it because you mean it; you genuinely have a sense of empathy and want to help someone. All of the physiological benefits of kindness come because the feelings induced by kindness generate what I call kindness hormones, the most important one being oxytocin, which is a female reproductive hormone that also plays a big role in cardiovascular health.

Can a small act of kindness really make a difference in the world?

Absolutely. It’s been charted scientifically that if you do something kind for somebody, that person will be kind or kinder to five other people over the next day or two because of how you made them feel. Those five people will be kind or kinder to five further people, which turns into 25 people, and each of those 25 will be kind to five people, which takes it to 125 people’s lives that can be changed and affected in small and large ways three social steps away from you simply because of one tiny little thing you did.

Sandra Yeyati is a freelance writer in Naples, Florida. Connect at SandraYeyati@gmail.com.

WHEN WILL IT END? A Chinese Metaphysics Look at the COVID-19 Pandemic

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by Amy Thiesen

tores shuttered, toilet paper shortages and masks being worn to enter banks are no longer just the scenes of Hollywood movies.

2020’s Metal Rat brought a pandemic across our world with a response unlike any seen in modern history. In response to repeated requests to know when it will end, we turn to a metaphysical chart called the Qi Men Dun Jia to find answers. For those not familiar with Chinese astrology, don’t worry about understanding names and terms unknown to you. The message will still come through.

It all began in December of 2019, the year of the Earth Pig— a combination that denotes contaminated water which represents illness in Chinese metaphysics. “Were we looking for this specific issue?” asks Dato Joey Yap, premiere Chinese metaphysics consultant. “No, of course not. But once it happened, we can reverse engineer and see the issue loud and clear.”

In all astrology, whether you are talking about Western, Indian or Chinese, an eclipse is not a favorable phenomenon. Whatever planets it goes through, the negative energy is enhanced. The eclipse on December 26, 2019, signaled the escape of the virus on a global scale. In the ancient practice of Qi Men Dun Jia, the chart shows that the following entered what is called Death and Emptiness (a metaphysics term that signals significant decline): • The Heavenly Heart – Represents doctors and hospitals/health • Life Door – Represents finances • 9 Earth – Represents real estate • Yang Metal and Yang Fire – Represents money and people When seeking the answer to when this virus will be ending, the chart shows that in the Horse Month (June or early July), we can expect to see a flattening of the curve. Unfortunately, there is another eclipse in June which affects much the same issues as the December 2019 eclipse. This means while we see a flattening of the curve overall, we are likely to see an uptick in cases in June and a larger issue arising in December that may or may not be related to the virus.

While the COVID-19 issue is weighing on most people’s minds, 2020 was predicted to be a roller coaster of a year and we can see there is a far more significant issue looming: a recession.

Participants at the 2020 Metal Rat Summit, a three-hour event that

focused on what to expect and how to prepare for a successful year, learned the three most important things to handle immediately: clear any large debt; have access to at least three to six months of cash; build a strong network of connections.

We have a window of opportunity that is shrinking quickly and those that are focused will be able to complete this list and be ready for what is next. Those that are distracted and only worried about when the health crisis will end will be surprised that our economy does not bounce back. “It does not matter when it ends… according to the Qi Men Chart, every country has a different ending so just focus on how you can see the opportunities,” Yap states. “You can be healthy with money or sick with no money.”

This coming December will see yet another eclipse that has a more dire tone to what it is affecting. “We will look at this more in depth in July as the energy then will be supporting our ability to see more clearly what we are dealing with, than if we were to look today,” Yap explains.

The ones that are simply sitting back and enjoying time off may have a harder time than those who are using this time to acquire better skills and expand their abilities to fit the changing economy. We are entering Period 9 in feng shui and this signals that our economy on a global scale will be embracing technology like never seen before. The COVID-19 issue has accelerated the use of technology and those that do not adapt will have a much harder time in the new economy.

Perhaps a better question to be asking now is, “How do we make ourselves and our skills better?” That simple shift will open up doors to opportunities that may be missed when simply focusing on when it will end. Tough times don’t last; tough people do. This will pass but things will change. Right now, be the voice of sanity, calm and inspiration and we can all thrive in 2020.

Amy Theisen is the owner of Infinity Life Design, a Chinese metaphysics consulting company specializing in feng shui, Chinese astrology and Qi Men Dun Jia. She is a 13-year student of Dato Joey Yap and the Mastery Academy of Chinese Metaphysics in Malaysia. She holds master’s degrees in Feng Shui and Chinese Astrology as well as Date Selection. She conducts a free COVID-19 seminar that contains personalized information for anyone wishing to better understand how they can prepare to thrive the rest of this year. For more information and to register, visit InfinityLifeDesign.com or follow her on Facebook.com/InfinityLifeDesign.

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Transformative Staycations

Finding Respite and Adventure Close to Home

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taycations—sticking close to home for new travel experiences—was a growing trend even before the COVID-19 pandemic turned it into a practical necessity for many of us. Staycations reduce costs, minimize travel time and also lower our carbon footprint by eliminating international travel. Happily, they don’t reduce the pure pleasure of finding new adventures, exploring untrammeled nature, seeing the familiar with fresh eyes and meeting people from all walks of life. All of that is close at hand, and especially when compared to foreign jaunts, the price is right.

A good place to start is by checking out state and regional parks, often overlooked gems offering scenic miles of trails for hiking, biking, birding, fishing, picnicking and other activities. “Whether mountains, prairies, rivers, forests in the country or heart of the city, there is always a state park waiting to welcome you, no matter what kind of recreation you enjoy,” says Jason Clay, spokesperson with Colorado Parks and Wildlife.

In Colorado parks, people can, for example, river raft in the Arkansas Headwaters Recre-

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ation Area; boat, fish and hammock camp in Jackson Lake State Park; and rock climb in Eldorado Canyon.

Parks can be discovered and trail maps downloaded by visiting TrailLink.com, run by the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy. It provides searches for nearby trails using parameters such as distance, types of activity and wheelchair accessibility. Its smartphone TrailLink app is free to download and $30 per year for unlimited customized use.

State, local and regional parks across the country offer rich educational opportunities for kids and adults alike, including naturalist-guided activities, bird and botany walks, lessons in local history, ecology and geography, and more. Several states offer free admission to all state-run parks, including Hawaii, Tennessee and Illinois. State-by-state listings of fees and policies can be found at Tinyurl.com/StateParkPasses.

Making a Quick Getaway

Weekend forays into natural and rustic settings can be ideal escape valves for people needing a simple, quick change of venue.

website address NAtwincities.com

Camping, of course, is always an option, but for those that want to be in nature in a more comfy fashion, using “cabin” as a search word works well in websites like Airbnb.com and TripAdvisor.com. The option of glamping—or glamorous camping—offers surprisingly luxurious stays outdoors in tents, pods and domes; check out Glamping.com.

Getaway.House offers woodsy outposts in 10 locations equipped with “tiny house” cabins around the country designed for quick escapes from cities. “If you were at your desk in need of an escape, you could cut out early and be there by 6 p.m.,” says Vice President of Marketing Rachel Mansfield. The private experience, with no check-in desk or communal areas, enables it to continue operating safely during the pandemic. The cabins, designed to blend in with their natural surroundings, are equipped with food for purchase, stove, books, radio, firewood, fire pit and Adirondack chairs, as well as a map for local hikes and adventures.

“I did a getaway at a point in my life where I wanted some time alone, away

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by April Thompson

Rawpixel.com/Shutterstock.com Iakov Filimonov/Shutterstock.com Iakov Filimonov/Shutterstock.com

from commitments, to figure out what my next chapter in life was going to be,” says Paige Conner Totaro, of Alexandria, Virginia, the founder of Unquote Travel, a web-based tour agency focusing on small group, off-the-beaten-track adventures.

“You can change your environment without going very far, and that in turn can change the way you think about things. Little things like sleeping on the other side of the bed can help you shake up your brain.”

Local Attraction

Local-led excursions are another way to see our home turf through a new lens. Airbnb Experiences, offered virtually everywhere that Airbnb lists lodging, are one-of-a-kind tours and classes designed and hosted by locals with unique expertise. Experiences run the gamut from neighborhood tours on foot or bikes with athletes to museum tours led by local artists or art historians. Many include a hands-on learning component, like how to make mosaics in a community art space or cook a local delicacy from a family recipe. Similar tours and experiences can be found on TripAdvisor’s Things To Do listings. WithLocals.com, whose mission is “to break down the barriers between travelers and locals worldwide,” also offers foodie fun and off-beat adventures.

Kelly Kniewel stumbled onto tour guiding after experiencing burnout in her previous career in the beverage industry.

An Airbnb Experiences host, Kniewel now leads small group tours of Chicago, introducing locals and visitors alike to many of its little-known facets. “I’ve fallen in love with my city all over again

doing these tours,” says Kniewel, a selfproclaimed history geek.

She loves to take guests inside Art Deco and Beaux Arts buildings they may have passed before without realizing the gorgeous art and architecture that exists inside, such as the library-turned-cultural center, Chicago Cultural Center, boasting two impressive glass domes, one designed by Tiffany Glass.

Another favorite excursion is taking guests on a water taxi tour. “It’s a cheap and unique way to see Chicago. The water, both the Chicago River and Lake Michigan, is so much a part of who we are as a city.”

During the limitations imposed during the COVID-19 period, Airbnb and other websites began offering experiences online, allowing people from all over the world to connect and make pastries with a Swedish baker, draw with a Mexican cartoonist, learn about apartheid from a South African or experience a day in the life of an American Olympic bobsledder.

Traveling the World Without Leaving Home

Hosting travelers can bring new meaning to a staycation, offering a rich opportunity for cross-cultural exchange without any exchange of currency. The popular CouchSurfing.com connects travelers with locals offering free use of a couch, air mattress or spare bedroom. Available in more than 200,000 cities worldwide, it has 14 million members and sponsors local language exchanges, dance classes, hikes and dinners, so there are opportunities to make new friends and have new experiences even without offering a place to sleep. (During COVID-19 restrictions, these activities were moved online.)

Similar organizations that offer opportunities for local hosting (including low- or no-cost lodging) include Servas.org, established in 1949, which stresses world peace and cultural exchange, and preinterviews potential guests and hosts to ensure safety; GlobalFreeloaders.com, a free registry for hosts and guests that do their own online screening and matching; and EvergreenClub.com, in which hosts provide a bed-and-breakfast homestay for travelers over age 50 for $20 a night.

An exciting option for homeowners is HomeExchange.com, a $150-a-year service that allows people in far-flung places to switch homes, either directly or through a staggered point system so they can truly live like locals.

John Fackenthal, of Rockville, Maryland, has hosted more than 100 couchsurfers from 29 countries, and loved every experience. “I had a big apartment in the heart of Washington, D.C., when I first started hosting, but lived alone and felt a little isolated. I wanted to bring back the youth hostel feel from travels in my younger days, where you’d hang out with fellow travelers and go hiking, share a meal or play cards,” he says.

A web developer, he recalls such memorable guests as a carpenter in his 60s from the Pacific Northwest that helped him with fixer-upper projects, a pair of pro volleyball players from the Czech Republic and two young women from China that prepared him a massive traditional Chinese feast “with all four burners going,” he says.

“It’s restored my faith in humanity. I’ve encountered nothing but wonderful June 2020

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Agrotourism, in which working farms open the barn doors to visitors for day or overnight trips, has the added advantage of supporting local agriculture. AgritourismWorld. com and FarmStayUS.com provide listings for farm stays worldwide searchable by type, such as Christmas tree farm, vineyard, orchard, dude ranch or alpaca farm.

The 40-acre Taos Goji Farm and Eco-Lodge Retreat, in Taos, New Mexico, is one such venue. “My husband and I returned to the land nine years ago after many years working as professionals in stuffy offices. The farm has been developed for our family and others who wish to be close to nature and to live off of the land,” says co-owner Elizabeth vom Dorp.

The farm is open for paid guests, as well as to the volunteers known as “Wwoofers” that come through Worldwide Opportunities on Organic Farms to help raise goji berries, fruits, vegetables

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Iakov Filimonov/Shutterstock.com

Be a Weekend Farmer

and free-range chickens. All cabins date from the early 1900s, including an old dairy barn converted into a duplex and five sheep herder cabins. The farm is surrounded by a national forest, so many guests visit to enjoy hiking, biking, fishing, rafting and ballooning. “Families with children love to come and pick berries, collect eggs and pet the animals. We have rescue alpacas, sheep, goats, chickens and turkeys,” says vom Dorp.

While the world may still be at the mercy of unfortunate circumstances this summer, travel is ultimately a state of mind. By staying open, curious and present, there are always new encounters and discoveries underfoot very close to home.

Connect with Washington, D.C., freelance writer April Thompson at AprilWrites.com.

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people, all with such different personalities and backgrounds.”

POWER UP YOUR BRAIN Six Ways to Boost Blood Flow

by Ronica O’Hara

meat for soy and fish protein, eating antioxidant-rich produce such as pomegranate, blueberries, spinach and kale, and consuming lots of nitrate-rich food like celery and leafy greens which are converted to NO in the body. He especially recommends beets—one study reported that in juice form, it increases nitric oxide levels by 21 percent in 45 minutes—as well as dark chocolate. In a Harvard study, older people that drank two cups of hot chocolate a day for 30 days had improved blood flow to the brain and better memory.

2

Take amino acid supplements. “Consuming supple-

ments containing both L-arginine and L-citrulline are welldocumented to boost the production of endothelium-derived NO,” says Ignarro. “Adding antioxidants to the amino acid mix provides added benefit by increasing NO levels.” He recommends pomegranate extract, cocoa flavonols and omega-3 supplements.

3

Move the body. Fast walking, running, cycling, swimming,

O

ur brain has many well-known structures like the amygdala that detects danger and the prefrontal cortex that enables planning, but we often take for granted the 400 miles of blood vessels that push through a liter of blood per minute, carrying in oxygen and nutrients, and porting out wastes. “Our brains are highly metabolic organs, so they require lots of nutrients and oxygen to function properly, and those can only get to our brain when we have good blood flow,” says naturopathic physician Emilie Wilson, of the Synergy Wellness Center, in Prescott, Arizona.

When that blood flow is optimal, we feel energized and clear-headed; when it’s low, we feel foggy and listless. Low levels of cranial blood flow have been linked in brain imaging studies to strokes and dementia, as well as bipolar disorder, depression and suicidal tendencies. The first imperative for healthy cranial blood flow is to make sure our blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol numbers are in a healthy range. Health practitioners can help us address that, as well as the conditions linked to reduced blood flow—heart disease, hypothyroidism, diabetes, anemia, depression and smoking. To boost brain blood flow, specific lifestyle strategies have proven to be highly effective:

1

Eat strategically, especially beets and chocolate.

Nitric oxide (NO) is made in the endothelium, the thin layer of cells that line blood vessels; it relaxes the inner muscles of those vessels, maximizing blood flow. “The continuous formation of NO in the brain is essential to life,” says prominent pharmacologist Louis Ignarro, Ph.D., who received the Nobel Prize in Science in 1998 for discovering that humans produce NO and that it lowers blood pressure and improves blood flow. He advocates passing up

ball playing, weight lifting and yoga all help improve cranial blood flow, says Ignarro: “Physical activity stimulates the production of NO in all arteries, including those in the brain.” In one study, women over 60 that walked for 30 to 50 minutes three or four times a week increased ongoing cranial blood flow up to 15 percent. Yoga exercises like downward dog and shoulder stands also raise blood flow in the head.

4

Play music. Research using functional magnetic resonance imaging published in Scientific Reports found that blood flow in the brain increases when people listen to music they love, whether it’s Mozart or Eminem. In a recent study, Weightless, a song written by the British group Macaroni Union along with sound therapists, reduced participants’ anxiety levels by 65 percent and physiological resting rates by 35 percent.

5

Do a chanting meditation. Kirtan Kriya, a 12-minute

daily meditation that includes chanting, finger movements and visualization, “has been researched for over 18 years and has documented benefits in increasing blood flow to the brain,” says Krystal Culler, senior Atlantic fellow with the Global Brain Health Institute, in San Francisco and Ireland. YouTube offers several versions, as does the Alzheimer’s Research and Prevention Foundation (Tinyurl.com/12MinuteYogaMeditation).

6

Consider acupuncture and craniosacral therapy.

“Acupuncture has been used for thousands of years to boost blood flow, and it can also relax tense muscles in the neck and head, which can impair blood flow more than we realize,” says Wilson. She also recommends the gentle, hands-on-head approach of craniosacral therapy: “It can directly improve blood flow by removing restrictions, and it can also rebalance sympathetic and parasympathetic functions, which has beneficial effects on our nervous system and on blood flow.”

Ronica O’Hara is a Denver-based health writer. Connect at OHaraRonica@gmail.com.

June 2020

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healing ways

‘NOW, WHERE ARE THOSE CAR KEYS?’ The Heart of the Matter of Good Cognitive Functioning

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by Fran Bieganek & Guy Odishaw

n recent years, with every beat. This Technology is paving there has been variation in the time the way for clearer much focus interval between heart understandings of how in healthcare litbeats is known as heart erature on how to rate variability (HRV). the brain and heart work improve cognitive This reflects the heart’s together to influence brain ability to respond to functioning and functioning. slow down the different situations. One negative effects of can get a sense of their aging on the brain. The good news is not own HRV by feeling the pulse on their wrist only is there hope, but actual action that while taking a few deep breaths. When a can be taken to enhance brain functionperson exhales, the intervals between the ing. There is a brain-heart connection that heart beats get longer (heart rate slows is key in efficient cognitive functioning, a down) and when a person inhales, the simple and accessible intervention which heartbeat gets shorter (heart rate increases). aids in cognitive functioning.

There is a strong relationship between heart A healthy heart doesn’t beat at a conrate and diaphragmatic breathing phases stant rate; it actually changes its rhythm (inhaling and exhaling). This is referred to

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as the respiratory sinus arrythmia (RSA).

HRV results from a dynamic interaction between the sympathetic and parasympathetic inputs to the heart via the sinoatrial node. It’s linked to the autonomic nervous system (ANS)—specifically the sympathetic (fight or flight) and parasympathetic (rest and digest) branches. The ANS greatly influences how the heart beats.

The rest and digest system tells the heart to slow down. This allows for more variability between beats—referred to as higher HRV. The fight or flight system tells the heart to speed up, which limits space for variability—referred to as lower HRV. In general, higher heart rate variability is associated with cognitive and behavioral flexibility, physiological resiliency and psychological well-being, reflecting an individual’s capacity to adapt effectively to stress and environmental demands. Lower HRV, as well as too much variability, is associated with chronic pain, anxiety and depression as well as numerous other symptoms. There are some situations, however, when a lower HRV is preferred—for example, when an elevated sympathetic nervous system will help your body keep up with the physical demands when stressed (exercise is a good case in point).

The heart and brain are connected via the vagus nerve, the longest of 12 cranial nerves. It functions as part of the autonomic nervous system. The vagal nerve has two branches: ventral vagal and dorsal vagal. The ventral vagal branch aids in the activation of the parasympathetic (calming) branch of the autonomic nervous system. So, a well-toned ventral vagal nerve sets the stage for better cognitive and emotional functioning.

While many factors can contribute to the physiological decline of cognitive functions, a study published in 2012 in the European Heart Journal, found the dysfunction in the autonomic nervous system has been correlated with significant impairment in brain functioning.

HRV correlates with improved vagal nerve functioning (vagal toning). Research also shows that HRV correlates with improved cognitive functioning, including executive functioning. This means that having optimal HRV promotes better working memory functioning (no more wondering where the keys are), better emotional self-regulation, better planning and problem solving, and better mental flexibility (for example, being able to

smoothly switch between tasks). Much of this is due to improved functional connectivity resulting in increased blood flow volume between brain regions involved in working memory and emotion regulation.

What’s so encouraging about all of this is that HRV can be modified. There is a simple yet profound way to train for increased HRV. The first step is to determine a person’s “resonance frequency.”

This is the term used to describe when one’s heart rate and breathing (inhalation and exhalation) become synchronized.

The average resonance frequency for adults is 6 breaths per minute (0.1Hz), but it can vary from 4.5 to 7.0 bpm. It is a bit higher for children.

After a resonance frequency is determined, a computerized, paced-breathing program can be used to give real-time feedback. This feedback teaches the person’s system to pace inhalation and exhalation (breath) to be synchronous with heart rate—aka coherence. The idea is to train the person to regularly breathe at the rate that reflects the resonance frequency previously determined. This process can be accomplished effectively either with the help of a professional who does biofeedback or by using one of several devices that are on the market for training heart rate variability. Hometraining using a breath pacer app either on a cell phone or computer has been shown to be an effective training strategy.

Home practice in heart rate variability consists of daily 20-minute sessions that can be done at a time that is convenient for the individual.

Technology is paving the way for clearer understandings of how the brain and heart work together to influence brain functioning. This has led to the development of techniques that greatly improve overall well-being. Heart rate variability training is one of them—such an accessible intervention that can have profound results on brain health, cognitive functioning and overall well-being.

Fran Bieganek is a licensed psychologist practicing holistic psychotherapy, neuroimaging (brain mapping), neurofeedback and heart rate variability training at Bhakti Wellness Center. She has been practicing for over 20 years and currently specializes in the areas of

(TBI) to psycho-emotional trauma to orthopedic trauma, using neuroimaging (brain mapping); neurofeedback (brain training); neuromodulation (neurotherapy); integrated manual therapies; and bioelectric medicine. For more information, call 612-895-7709 or email GOdishaw@BhaktiClinic.com. To make an appointment, visit BhaktiClinic.com. See ad, page 2.

trauma, anxiety, depression, grief and loss, stress management, developmental transitions and well-being. She works with both individuals and couples. In addition to her therapy practice, she has also taught psychology courses at several colleges in Minnesota. For more information, call 612-564-9947 or email FranBieganek mslp@gmail.com.

Guy Odishaw, CST, NFP, has been a complementary and alternative medicine provider for over 28 years.

He practices at Bhakti Wellness Center, specializing in treating trauma, ranging from traumatic brain injury

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FAMILY STORIES Help Kids Cope During Tough Times

by Ronica O’Hara

I

n these challenging times as our children struggle to cope with a swiftly changing world, one of the best things we can do is simply to let them know what strong stuff they come from. Decades of research show that children that know their family’s stories—especially how their parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles and other forebears overcame adversity—have the ability to handle societal and personal trauma better.

“Family stories help children feel safe, secure and grounded,” says psychology professor Robyn Fivush, Ph.D., director of the Family Narratives Lab at Emory University, in Atlanta. “The stories provide a sense that they belong to something larger than themselves.” In the midst of unsettling events, she says it’s especially important for children to know that the family has been through hard times before and persevered.

Emory research shows that children, teens and young adults that know more of their family’s narratives have a greater sense of control over their lives, more self-esteem, better grades, higher social competence, less anxiety and depression, 22

Twin Cities Edition

and fewer behavior problems. After 9/11, children that tested high in measures of family narratives proved to be more resilient and less stressed.

Family stories can be of loss—“Once we had it all”—or of triumph—“We came up from nowhere”—but the most powerful stories are those that show both the peaks and the valleys, the hilarious escapades and deep losses. “Even simply hearing what other people wish they could have done differently helps to offer children a broader perspective to current experiences,” says Carrie Krawiec, a family therapist at Birmingham Maple Clinic, in Troy, Michigan. Accounts of the deepest trauma also prove formative: Knowing how their great-grandparents survived the Holocaust gave young adults a sense of gratitude, pride, courage and a greater religious commitment, a University of Pennsylvania study found.

Stories unfold easily at holiday dinners and during long car rides; even during an ordinary dinner, some kind of story—“Guess what happened today at the store?”—occurs about every five minutes,

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Fivush’s research shows. But summer vacation or days spent together inside a house provide a special opportunity for kids to dive deeper into their family background.

For example, they can write an essay about a grandparent or aunt, write and direct a play with siblings, make a scrapbook, read history or novels to study events that took place during a specific time period, write a song or story from the ancestor’s point of view, research and draw a family tree or create a mini-documentary based on an interview with an older relative.

This is the quiz used in family narrative research, but Fivush cautions that the 20 questions are only a starting point, and many more can be created. Nor does getting the facts exactly right matter—those can easily be in dispute among family members. “It is the telling, the sharing and the listening that is more important than the story itself,” she says.

Do you know how your parents met?

Do you know where your mother grew up?

Do you know where your father grew up?

Do you know where some of your grandparents grew up?

Do you know where some of your grandparents met?

Do you know where your parents were married?

Do you know what went on when you were being born?

Do you know the source of your name?

Do you know some things about what happened when your brothers or sisters were being born?

Do you know which person in your family you look most like?

Do you know which person in the family you act most like?

Do you know some of the illnesses and injuries that your parents experienced when they were younger?

jannoon028/Shutterstock.com

healthy kids

Do you know some of the lessons that your parents learned from good or bad experiences?

Do you know some things that happened to your mom or dad when they were in school?

Do you know the national or ethnic background of your family?

Do you know some of the jobs that your parents had when they were young?

Do you know some awards that your parents received when they were young?

Do you know the names of the schools that your mom went to?

Do you know the names of the schools that your dad went to?

Do you know about a relative whose face “froze” in a grumpy position because he or she did not smile enough?

jannoon028/Shutterstock.com

Ronica A. O’Hara is a Denver-based health writer. Connect at OHaraRonica@gmail.com.

Getting Started with Family Narratives

Read more about family narratives at Robyn Fivush’s Psychology Today blog: PsychologyToday.com/intl/blog/thestories-our-lives Ideas for writing and craft projects: Tinyurl.com/CreatingAFamilyNarrative Questions kids can ask family grownups: Tinyurl.com/ClassroomRoots

How We Can All Support LGBTQ Seniors

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by Emma Friend

s we age, all of us will face challenges. Finding affordable, high-quality home services, accessing health care and staying connected to our communities are just a few hurdles older adults face when striving to live fulfilling, enriched lives. These challenges, however, grow significantly when one is part of the LGBTQ community.

Although about 2.4 million people over 65 identify as LGBTQ, their population is “largely invisible and immensely underserved,” says Dr. Karen Fredriksen-Goldsen of the University of Washington. They face “higher rates of aging and health disparities,” yet the “serious adversity they have encountered can jeopardize their willingness to seek care in old age,” Fredriksen-Goldsen states.

Some of the challenges LGBTQ older adults face are systematic and not easy for any one person to change. Lucky for us, there are some simple but effective ways to make our immediate communities more welcoming for LGBTQ older adults.

Listen to their needs. Being both LGBTQ and an older adult puts one in a unique situation. Their needs often differ from someone who is just LGBTQ or just an older adult.

Listening to what they need is the best way to prevent stereotyping and assumptions.

Use their language. LGBTQ older adults may use language or terminology that seems taboo or outdated. This is done not out of malice, but familiarity. They have often been using this terminology for decades. If you’re not sure what terms they prefer to use, just ask.

Invite them into your community. Thriving socially, as well as physically, is a challenge for LGBTQ older adults. Issues with mental health increase when an older adult identifies as LGBTQ. They often feel unwelcome in social groups because of their gender identity or sexual orientation. Being clear and intentional about welcoming people of all identities is important in making everyone feel welcomed.

Maintaining our warm and welcoming communities is vital here in Minnesota, especially in cold winter months. It is everyone’s duty to celebrate diversity and champion inclusion to maintain these communities. We strive to do this every day at Senior Community Services, for those we serve and those who help us serve them, because when we all come together for a common cause, our impact is greatest.

“It’s important across the nonprofit sector to meet the unique wants and needs of all people,” Senior Community Services CEO Deb Taylor says, “but nowhere do I believe it’s more important than when serving LGBTQ older adults. These are integral members of our community and it’s absolutely crucial that they experience that in the services that they receive.”

Time and time again we have seen that valuing inclusivity only makes us stronger.

Because when we take care of everyone in our community, we take care of ourselves.

Emma Friend is a volunteer coordinator for Senior Community Services, through Americorps Public Allies. Senior Community Services is a local nonprofit that helps older adults and caregivers navigate aging to maintain independence and quality of life. For more information, go to SeniorCommunity.org.

June 2020

23

and changes in routine or family structure.

Symptoms vary in scope and degree, but SAS is painful for both dog and parent.

Repeatedly returning home to complaints from neighbors or considerable damage can cause owners to surrender their dogs.

natural pet

Get the Diagnosis

Soothing Separation Helping Anxious Dogs to Cope

by Julie Peterson

S

eparation anxiety is a common canine problem, diagnosed in as many as 40 percent of dogs seen by veterinary behavioral specialists. When the dog is left alone, it may serenade the neighbors, soil the house or cause damage. Stories abound of unstuffed couches, dug-up floors, destroyed window coverings and dog injury from chewing out of a crate or

trying to escape through windows.

In an article on separation anxiety syndrome (SAS) in the Journal of American Veterinary Medicine, Stefanie Schwartz, DVM, cites several studies that agree on common risk factors for SAS in dogs: history of traumatic separation, inexperience with being alone, excessive greetings and prolonged departures by owners, relocation

If a dog is acting out, an assessment is needed to ensure that what seems like SAS isn’t caused by underlying conditions. Boredom, illness or canine cognitive dysfunction could result in actions and symptoms such as pacing or excessive salivating that mimic anxiety. If SAS is diagnosed, owners must understand that dogs aren’t exacting revenge and should never be punished for behavior exhibited when they are terrified, advise veterinarians.

Natural Solutions Human Tricks

A 2018 study in the Journal of Veterinary Behavior suggests that petting a dog for one minute before leaving may make the dog calmer during separation. Some dogs feel safest when left in a crate covered with a blanket. The human attitude toward separation can be felt by the dog, as well, but some dogs simply need more help coping.

Changing the brain might be the way to go. Calmer Canine is a device that sends targeted, pulsed, electromagnetic field (tPEMF) signals to the dog’s brain. Unlike approaches like medications, supplements and cannabidiol (CBD) that have to be administered repeatedly as needed, “the dog gets two, 15-minute treatments per day for four to six weeks,” says veterinarian Judy Korman, at Assisi Animal Health, in New York City and Santa Fe, New Mexico.

A 2019 pilot study of nine dogs that she conducted in cooperation with the North Carolina State University of Veterinary Medicine, which developed the device, showed that the tPEMF signals reduced anxiety and restored calm.

Exercise

“I’ve tried medication and natural supplements, and have found that what works best for all three of my dogs is plenty of exercise. Long walks, especially in new 24

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locations with new smells, are a favorite,” says Kimberly Gauthier, a blogger at Keep the Tail Wagging and Dog Mom Style, in Marysville, Washington.

There is a physiological reason for engaging in walks guided by the dog’s nose. “The more the dog is able to take in scent, the more it triggers the seeking part of the brain, the more enriching life is for the dog and the more it calms them down,” says Mittsy Voiles, a behavior specialist at the Lake Mills Veterinary Clinic, in Wisconsin.

Food and Supplements

Good nutrition allows dogs to be more successful citizens. “If you make the baseline fundamentals good, it gives the dog the ability to think, process its environment and have less anxiety,” says holistic veterinarian Catherine Alinovi, at Healthy Pawsibilities, in Clearwater, Florida. Processed kibble with food coloring is doggie junk food. “Kibble Quandary: A Fresh Look at Pet Food,” at NaturalAwakenings.com, suggests healthier feeding options.

How a dog is fed can also have an impact. Putting food in puzzle toys facilitates a brain exercise that improves confidence. “Dogs who spend part of their day working out puzzles are really engaging that opportunistic scavenger part of their biology,” says Voiles.

Commonly, pet owners are turning to the hemp plant derivative CBD as a calming aid. For those considering nutraceuticals, herbs and supplements, a holistic veterinarian can make recommendations.

Accessories

Diffusing calming essential oils may relax some dogs, but a mild scent for humans could supersaturate a dog’s olfactory organ, preventing them from smelling what’s necessary. Learning how to use essential oils safely around pets is critical. But the pacifying scent of natural pheromones that mimic the comfort of nursing are hard to beat; pheromone-based products in sprays, diffusers, wipes and collars can be found in natural-health stores and pet stores. “It’s effective for dogs who need to feel safe or when adjusting to a new environment,” says Voiles.

ThunderShirts, special blankets and Dog TV are tried by many, but no one option works for every dog. “When people try

things and don’t get improvement, they should seek a holistic veterinarian who can help figure out what is going on,” says Alinovi.

Julie Peterson writes about wellness and the environment. Reach out at JuliePeterson2222@gmail.com.

Once you’ve been through tough times, you can only become stronger. ~Alesha Dixon

GROW Your Business Contact us for special ad rates.

763-270-8604

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neighborhood, including local restaurants, gift shops, bookstores, florists, hardware stores—you get the idea. We are all aware that one person cannot do it all, but when each of us does something, those somethings add up and make a substantial difference.

What Can You Do?

SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL BUSINESSES

by Jackie Flaherty

T

he COVID-19 pandemic has upended lives and businesses alike. Some businesses are thriving while many are hurting or struggling. Unemployment is at an all-time high. For those who are working or who have income through other means, it would be helpful to spend money at your community businesses.

For every $100 spent locally, 70 percent stays in the area. For that same $100 spent online (not to a local business), that money does not stay in the community, nor will the businesses remain that are currently here if they aren’t shown some love in the form of purchases.

Online sales are booming because people are home shopping, but this is not serving our local financial well-being. If you’re spending money on things you want and need, why not do it with discretion of where you want your money to go. If you’re not spending money except on essentials, then consider for the future where you will start spending your money when the time has come to purchase a non-essential. Consider businesses you drive by in your

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1. List your local shops and then see which ones are open to phone orders and/or have an online shopping option. Make a plan to get something at one of them each week or each month.

2. Share your favorite stores with your social circle on social media, in an email request or some other format to encourage them to shop there.

3. Buy gift cards and give them as gifts or save them for yourself to use later.

4. Encourage others to list their own favorite places and ask them to share their list with you.

5. If you belong to a church or an organization that can share and support the small businesses of its members, suggest that they share these businesses online or in their weekly or monthly newsletter to encourage them to shop local and support their club or congregant members.

6. Find other ways to promote shopping local in your circle of influence and encourage others to do the same.

Jackie Flaherty is a freelance writer in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area.

calendar

ongoing events

MONDAY, JUNE 1

Please call or check the websites to ensure the classes or events are still scheduled for that week.

Cosmic Weather Report – 6:30-9pm. An in-depth presentation about the major transits that are showing up in our headlines, and some ways these developments might find expression in the chapters to come. We’ll look at some relevant astrological events from history and explore the evolutionary lessons that are on the plate for our collective now. $15. Holistic Gateway, 11 Little Canada Rd E #11, Little Canada. Also offered online via zoom, email astrologersaleem@gmail.com to arrange this option. Holistic-Gateway.com/Calendar.

save the dates Message from Sri Harold Klemp, Spiritual Leader of Eckankar Experience the divine love and wisdom of Sri Harold Klemp and learn about Eckankar, the Path of Spiritual Freedom. For more information, visit Eckankar.org, TempleofECK.org and Facebook.com/Eckankar.

See ad, page 7.

Fridays, June 5, 12, 19 & 26 7-7:30pm.

Watch on MCN Channel- 6 TV

FRIDAY, JUNE 5 Sound Healing: Heart-Centered AwarenessSound Invoking Silence – 7-8pm. Calm your work week by coming into soft, relaxing, inner stillness.

Vibration as stress reduction-a peaceful callingin-the-weekend guided meditation/visualization going inward, discovering our infinity. $10. Holistic Gateway, 11 Little Canada Rd E #11, Little Canada.

Holistic-Gateway.com/Calendar.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 10 Total Health Workshop – 6:30-8pm. Designed as an opportunity to expand our understanding of the most current natural health solutions available, you will be able to ask questions, receive answers and experience incredible demonstrations of life-changing techniques. Free. Hope Clinic, 9220 Bass Lake Rd #245, New Hope.

DrEthanSkog.com.

monday

Qigong classes for Health – 10:30-12pm. A fabulous way to begin each week! Learn how to use the power of your breathing, mind and simple movements to enhance and balance the flow of energy in your body. $15. Holistic Gateway, 11 Little Canada Rd E #11, Little Canada. Holistic-Gateway.com/Calendar.

tuesday ongoing Free Online Classes – The University of Minnesota is among the largest public research universities in the country, offering undergraduate, graduate, and professional students a multitude of opportunities for study and research. Class-Central.com/ University/Minnesota.

GROOVE Movement Class – Various days, times and locations. A fun, simple and exciting way to experience dance that nurtures body, mind, heart, and soul. No dance experience required. All fitness levels welcome. Classes use all genres of music and include a warmup, dance, stretching, and a brief meditation.

AeroDanceFitness.com/Schedule.

Midtown Global Market – Mon-Sat 10am-8pm. & Sun 10am-6pm. If you’re looking for a more unique shopping experience, head to the Midtown Global Market, where more than 50 vendors sell food and trinkets ranging from local produce to Somalian pastries, Middle Eastern olives and Asian spices. There are also cultural events – from musical performances to Irish step-dancing lessons. Free. 920 East Lake St, Minneapolis.

MidtownGlobalMarket.org/visit.

Virtual Open House – Online anytime. Stop in to our YourTube channel to meet our practitioners. Learn about the services we offer, what you can expect, and “virtually” visit our new location. Free. YouTube.com/channel/UC3p504Okp6ldZNhLZn00hw.

Weekly Guided & Silent Meditation – 1111:30am. Led by a Prayer Chaplain in the Meditation Room, this meditation is the same one going on concurrently at Unity Village. It alternates affirmative prayer and silence. Donation based. Unity of the Valley Spiritual Center, 4011 W Hwy 13, Savage.

UnityOfTheValleyMN.org.

thursday Meditation and Stress Reduction – 12:30-1:15pm.

Experience meditation and mindfulness directly through discussion and practice of simple stress reduction techniques. Discover and activate your ability to be patient and to truly enjoy. $15. Holistic Gateway, 11 Little Canada Rd E #11, Little Canada.

Holistic-Gateway.com/Calendar.

Hatha for Everyone – 6-7pm. Everyone is welcome to this weekly drop-in class. All levels.

Relieve stress, achy joints, improve balance at all levels and increase your sense of well-being. $10. Meditation Center, 631 University Ave NE, Minneapolis. TheMeditationCenter.org.

Free Meditation – 7-8:30pm. Join us for a free weekly meditation. Sahaja Yoga Meditation, Eden Prairie City Hall, 8080 Mitchell Rd, Eden Prairie. Contact: JPatpatia@gmail or 651-730-2078.

FreeMeditation.com.

friday Gentle Yoga for Every Body – 10:30-noon. A welcoming environment for students of all shapes and sizes. $15 drop-in. River Garden Yoga, 455 W 7th St, St. Paul. RiverGardenYoga.com.

FRIDAY, JUNE 19 Divine Messages with Nea Clare – 6:30-9pm.

Nea Clare is a channel for Spirit and works predominately with The HAO-a collective, multidimensional force that shares verbal and energetic messages through her. These events are designed for you to be able to have a personal audience with Spirit, to receive teachings that will awaken your consciousness to the Truth of You. Everyone who attends will receive an audio recording from the event. $30 in advance/$35 at the door. NeaClareScheduling.as.me/Archangels.

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community resource guide

CHIROPRACTIC

Connecting you to the leaders in natural health care and green living in our community. To find out how you can be included in the Community Resource Guide, email Publisher@NAtwincities.com. to request our media kit.

BODY WORK

BREAST HEALTH

MYOFASCIAL RELEASE & CRANIOSACRAL THERAPY

Barb Ryan, LMT • 612-922-2389 Bhakti Wellness Center 7550 France Avenue S, #220, Edina

AROMATHERAPY NATURE’S WAY Healthy Girls’ Breast Oil Joyce Sobotta • 715-878-4474 AromaTherapyNaturesWay.com

Specializing in persistent, chronic pain relief and mysteries of the body. Serving clients covered by auto insurance and worker’s compensation with a doctor’s referral. Also serving clients seeking the experience of deep relaxation and more selfconnection. Skilled and compassionate care. See ad, page 2.

Healthy Girls’ Breast Oil when applied with a self-breast massage helps to balance, detoxify, soften breast tissue, improve lymphatic circulation and stimulate the immune system. Improved circulation helps your entire body! See ad, page 15.

GOLDEN SUN CHIROPRACTIC

Una Forde, DC • 952-922-1478 International Village Arcade Building 220 West 98th St, Suite 7, Bloomington Quality chiropractic care. Experience holistic healing and gentle chiropractic adjustments that allow the nervous system to relieve such symptoms as headache, back, neck pain and numbness which allow your body to return to a state of balance and well-being. 25 years’ experience.

COACHING CHANNEL OF DIVINE WISDOM Nea Clare NeaClare.com Nea@NeaClare.com • 612-227-3854

You can have a personal audience with your guides and the Archangels and Ascended Masters.

Get clarity. Take action. Feel connected. Book your session today and save 25%, using code: IAMWISE17. Or call Nea for a free consult. See ad, page 27.

Caring for your loved one like family Providing assistance with: personal cares meal prep and feeding assistance medication administration transfers and mobility transportation advocacy at medical appointments. and more!

To learn more, call 763-600-6967 28

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COACHING COMPOSURE COACHING

Candi Broeffle, MBA, CPC Candi@ComposureCoaching.com 763-270-8604 ComposureCoaching.com Master your business so you can practice your passion. Business coaching for purpose-driven entrepreneurs to clarify your vision, build your confidence and create a soul-centered strategy. Call today for a free Discovery Session and get on your path to business success. See ad, page 24.

SOUL PURPOSE COACH & HOLISTIC HEALER

Barbara Brodsho, MA 612-444-9751 • BarbaraBrodsho.com Providing spiritual guidance to help live your purpose and thrive utilizing your soul’s Akashic Record. Discover your soul’s innate gifts, create a vocation that aligns with your soul’s passion, and gain new perspective, clarity and insight about your life’s challenges by understanding the lessons your soul chose to experience. Schedule a free discovery session to learn how to create a purpose-filled life. See ad, page 9.

COLORPUNCTURE PSINERGY NATURAL HEALTH & HOLISTIC WELLNESS SchaOn Blodgett, CCP, BTAT 93 Little Canada Rd West - Ste. 100 Little Canada/Roseville 612-217-4325 • PsinergyHealth.com

Offering empirical & sciencebased natural health therapies including Esogetics/Colorpuncture, basic Ayurvedic Medicine, as well as spiritual/energy-based therapies like Access Consciousness Bars, I-Ching, reiki and more. See ad, page 28.

COMPUTER REPAIR PSINERGY TECH

André Thomas - A+ Certified 93 Little Canada Rd West - Ste. 100 Little Canada/Roseville 612-234-7237 • PsinergyTech.com “Do you have a sick Computer?”

We Keep Computer Repair Simple. Onsite/In-Home or Office, Bring-to-Us Computer Repair Services. 2011-17 Angie’s List Super Service Award Winner.

Local • Greener • Highly Rated.

DENTIST HEALTH CENTERED DENTISTRY N7915-902 St River Falls, WI • 715-426-7777 HealthCenteredDentistry.com

Whole Person Dentistry observes and deals with the mind, body and spirit, not just your teeth. This approach to dentistry encompasses both modern science and knowledge drawn from the world’s great traditions in natural healing. See ad, page 26.

ENERGY HEALING EMOTION CODE HEALING

Master Hong Certified Emotion Code Practitioner 9672 63rd Ave N, Maple Grove 763-208-4246 or 914-708-9463 Chronic pain? Suffering from emotions? Relationship problems?

Life not going as planned? The Emotion Code is a tool I use to help you break through any emotional and spiritual blocks so you can live your best life. Trial session only $35.

NATURAL SMILES DENTAL CARE 4700 Lexington Ave N, Suite D Shoreview 651-483-9800 NaturalSmilesDental.com

We ’ r e a n i n t e g r a t i v e practice committed to promoting dental wellness and overall assistance to the whole person. We desire to participate in the creation of healthier lives, while being sensitive to physical, philosophical, emotional and financial concerns.

PURE DENTAL

Dr. Amy Ha Truong 6230 10th St. N., Ste 520, Oakdale 651-731-3064 • PureDentalMN.com Pure Dental offers integrative, holistic, alternative and biological dentistry for your dental health.

We take pride in providing quality, holistic dental care and service for our patients. See ad, page 12.

SEDATION AND IMPLANT DENTISTRY 1815 Suburban Ave, St. Paul ToothBuilder.com 651-735-4661

We are a holistic dental practice devoted to restoring and enhancing the natural beauty of your smile using conservative, state-of-the-art dental procedures that result in beautiful, long lasting smiles! We specialize in safe removal of infected teeth as well as placing ceramic implants and restorations. See ad, page 25.

TOOTH BY THE LAKE

1401 Main St, Hopkins 952-475-1101 • ToothByTheLake.net We build a foundation of trust by treating our patients as individuals. Understanding how uneasy some patients may feel about their dental visits, we make a difference by providing a relaxing and positive experience. See ad, page 20.

ENVIRONMENTAL HEALING SOUL WHISPERER: RELEASING LOST SOULS Annette Rugolo ReleasingLostSouls.com

Children and some adults have the ability to see the spirits that are living among us. Others will hear or see unexplained noises or movement. Read the first two chapters in my book for free at ReleasingLostSouls.com. I share many experiences that explain what’s happening and what can be done. See ad, page 9.

ESSENTIAL OILS AROMATHERAPY NATURE’S WAY Essential Oils Joyce Sobotta • 715-878-4474 AromaTherapyNaturesWay.com

100% pure, quality, essential oils, and ultrasonic diffusers available on my website. I offer essential oil classes online and in person.

Sign up for an essential oil consultation and let me help you create a blend of essential oils that works synergistically for a wide range of health concerns. See ad, page 15.

GRAPHIC DESIGN CAMPFIRE STUDIO

Sara Shrode, Graphic Designer Minneapolis, MN 612-554-6304 • CampfireStudio.net Sara@CampfireStudio.net Ignite the possibilities of your next project by having Campfire Studio design it! Innovative, fullservice graphic design studio that takes the essence of a campfire—warmth, stories, community—and infuses it into every design project we do.

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INTEGRATED HEALTH

HEALTH FOOD STORES MASTEL’S HEALTH FOODS 1526 St Clair Ave, St Paul Mastels.com • 651-690-1692

Mastel’s Health Foods is Minnesota’s oldest health and wellness store. We carry a full line of vitamins, minerals, supplements, herbs and more. We emphasize organic, biodynamic, biodegradable, holistic and hypoallergenic products and pride ourselves on stocking hardto-find items. See ad, page 11.

HOUSING - SUPPORTIVE

HOLISTIC GATEWAY, CENTER FOR THE HEALING ARTS

FRAN BIEGANEK, MS, LP

We are a healing arts collaborative offering a variety of services like Esogetics Colorpuncture, Energy Emission Analysis, Reiki, Qigong, Acupuncture and more. As a community-building center, we offer classes and workshops on astrology, meditation, reiki and energy healing, as well as yoga. See ad, page 6.

As a Licensed Psychologist and holistic practitioner, Fran works with clients to identify areas of potential growth, obstacles to growth, and processes that facilitate healing and transcendence of those obstacles. She provides traumainformed therapy that supports your goals of resiliency, healing and feeling better. See ad, page 2.

11 Little Canada Rd. E., Little Canada Cornelia@Holistic-Gateway.com 763-807-9866 • Holistic-Gateway.com

MACULAR REGENERATION

BROEFFLE LATIMORE ADULT FOSTER CARE

License #1102359 • 763-600-6967 8600 Northwood Parkway, New Hope

PSYCHOTHERAPY

CASSANDRA ROSE, L.AC.

Bhakti Wellness Center • 7550 France Ave. S. Suite 220, Edina 612-564-9947 • FranBieganekTherapy.com

RADIO/PODCASTS

Providing a caring and supportive home for adults, no matter their abilities. With 28-plus years of experience, we offer a nurturing and family-like environment for up to four residents who are elderly and/or have developmental disabilities.

Residents receive assistance with personal cares, meal prep and feeding assistance, medication administration, transfers and mobility, transportation and advocacy. We treat your loved one like family. See ad, page 28.

612-564-8714 • RoseLAc.com Bhakti Wellness Center 7550 France Ave. S., #220, Edina

AM950 THE PROGRESSIVE VOICE OF MINNESOTA

Cassandra specializes in Macular Regeneration, a program using Acunova and Micro-Acupuncture, microcurrent therapy, herbs and supplements to benefit degenerative eye diseases such as macular degeneration, retinitis pigmentosa, Stargardt’s, conjuntivitis, post-herpetic eye pain, dry eye and more. See ad, page 2.

The only Progressive Talk Radio station in Minnesota. We strive to provide the best progressive programming available and feature national talkers Bill Press, Thom Hartmann, Stephanie Miller, Norman Goldman, and more. We are also dedicated to local programming that creates a community forum for important Minnesota Progressive issues. See ad, page 31.

INTEGRATED HEALTH

MASSAGE/STRETCHING

BHAKTI WELLNESS CENTER 7550 France Ave. S., #220, Edina 612-859-7709 • BhaktiClinic.com

Bhakti provides a holistic environment where independent practitioners come together to offer an integrative path to wellness; mind, body and spirit. Our providers offer chiropractic, energy therapy, massage, microcurrent therapy, acupuncture, psychotherapy and much more so that you can feel your best, remain healthy & thrive. See ad, page 2.

Would your clients enjoy Natural Awakenings magazine?

Email Publisher@NATwinCities.com and get free copies delivered right to your door.

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HEALING TAJ

Theodore Rick Active Isolated Stretching (AIS) International Village Arcade Building 220 West 98th St, Ste. 7, Bloomington HealingTaj.com • 763-913-6722 “I love massage, but too often it feels good temporarily and then the pain and tightness comes back again. I have found with AIS that by stretching and lengthening the fibers, almost like a yoga/massage that the pain doesn’t come back again,” Warren King.

ORTHOPEDIC ACUPUNCTURE & BODYWORK JOHN MONTES, L.AC.

612-568-8889 • monteslac.com Bhakti Wellness Center, 7550 France Ave S., #220, Edina John is a licensed Acupuncturist, Medical Massage Therapist and Herbalist. With orthopedic acupuncture and body work he provides a whole-person approach to pain management taking into consideration mental and emotional health. His work is a carefully crafted balance between science and intuition. John is fluent in English and Spanish. See ad, page 2.

NAtwincities.com

AM950Radio.com

SOLAR ALL ENERGY SOLAR

1264 Energy Lane, St Paul 800-620-3370 • AllEnergySolar.com All Energy Solar is a trusted leader in the solar energy industry. We provide clean, green, solar energy solutions for residential, commercial, agricultural, and government clients.

Our team of industry professionals have been focused on providing long-term, trusted relationships since 2009. Our industry experience allows us to confidently handle every aspect of the solar process.

See ad, page 18.

SPIRITUAL TEACHINGS ECKANKAR TEMPLE OF ECK 7450 Powers Blvd., Chanhassen 952-380-2200 • Eckankar.org

Are you looking for the personal experience of God? Eckankar can help you fulfill your dream. We offer ways to explore your own unique and natural relationship with the Divine through personalized study to apply in your everyday life. See ad, page 7.

AM950 is the only Progressive Talk Radio station in Minnesota. We strive to provide the best progressive programming available. We feature national talkers Thom Hartmann, Stephanie Miller, Norman Goldman, Amy Goodman, and Brad Friedman. We are also dedicated to local programming that creates a community forum for important Minnesota Progressive issues.

As one of the few independently owned radio stations in the country, we are proud to cover news, issues, and stories that are not carried by the corporate media. The talk radio format allows us to air diverse voices and challenge conventional and establishment thinking, all with the goal of creating progressive change in our community.

Weekend Lifestyle Shows

SATURDAYS 8AM - 9AM

SATURDAYS 9AM - 10AM

SATURDAYS 1PM-3PM

SUNDAYS 10AM - 11AM

AM950Radio.com

SUNDAYS 11AM-12PM

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ONE ONLINE DESTINATION FOR TODAY’S TRUSTED “WHOLISTIC” KNOWLEDGE, RESOURCES AND COMMUNITY A NEW

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