September 2021 Jacksonville St. Augustine Natural Awakenings Magazine by Jacksonville St. Augustine Natural Awakenings Magazine

E E HEALTHY LIVING FR

HEALTHY

PLANET

HORSES AS HEALERS WHY EQUINE THERAPY IS EFFECTIVE COOKING WITH WILD MUSHROOMS WAYS TO NUR TURE KIDS’ CREATIVIT Y INTEGRATIVE PAIN MAN AGEMENT September 2021 | Jacksonville / St. Augustine | NAJax.com

Natural Awakenings is a family of 50+ healthy living magazines celebrating 27 years of providing the communities we serve with the tools and resources we all need to lead healthier lives on a healthy planet.

Contents 13 DISCOVER THE

TRANSFORMATIVE POWER

of Yoga at Yoga Den Bayard

14 YOGA TO HEAL TRAUMA

Soothing Poses Calm the Nervous System

16 FORAGED FUNGI FARE Cooking with Wild Mushrooms

20 HEALTHY COOKWARE

How to Choose Non-Toxic Pots and Pans

22 HORSES AS HEALERS

Equine Therapy has Physical and Emotional Benefits

24 CREATIVE KIDS

How to Nurture Imagination

26 CONQUERING CHRONIC PAIN

How the Body-Mind Connection Works

24 ADVERTISING & SUBMISSIONS HOW TO ADVERTISE To advertise in Natural Awakenings, please call 386-736-3838 or email Ads@NAJax.com. CALENDAR SUBMISSIONS Email calendar events to: Editor@NAJax.com. REGIONAL MARKETS Advertise your products or services in multiple markets. Natural Awakenings Publishing Corporation is a growing franchised family of locally owned magazines serving communities since 1994. To place your ad in other markets, call 239-449-8309. For franchising opportunities, call 239-530-1377 or visit NaturalAwakenings.com. NAJAX.COM 2

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DEPARTMENTS 4 event briefs 7 health briefs 10 global briefs 12 eco tip 13 business

spotlight 14 fit body 16 conscious eating 20 green living 22 natural pet 24 healthy kids 26 healing ways 28 calendar 30 resource guide

letter from publisher

HEALTHY LIVING HEALTHY PLANET

Welcome to our September edition, packed with infor-

mation to help you live your best life, naturally. Be sure to visit our website for additional content. Have you ever foraged for mushrooms? Wild mushrooms infuse dishes with exciting flavor and texture. Sometimes called chicken of the woods, the species that grow wild throughout North America are also grown commercially. Check out the recipes for seasonally focused dishes featuring the complex flavors and textures of fungi. The organic and locally sourced foods we carefully select deserve to be prepared in the healthy cookware. Learn how to choose non-toxic pots and pans in green living on page 20. As children begin a new school year, whether as homeschoolers or in public school, nurturing their creativity and imagination rests largely on parents and caregivers. Creative thinking skills peak at age 6 and start to decline once a child’s formal education begins. As a parent I find that alarming. Taking in new information should stimulate a child’s imagination, not stifle it. Learn techniques to encourage curiosity and imagination in natural parenting on page 24. In these days of screen learning and connected devices it’s never too early to introduce a child to mindfulness. Local writer Kimberly David’s book The Mountain and Me is featured on page 25. Purchase it on Amazon and help the children in your circle appreciate living in the moment. An unknown author wrote, “A great horse will change your life. The truly special ones define it.” Equine-assisted psychotherapy combines mental health counseling with equine care. Horses are relationship-oriented and intuitively sense and honestly respond to the emotions of those around them, which makes the horse-human bond a powerful healing mechanism. As a horse owner and equine enthusiast, I’ve experienced the healing power of horses. Learn more about it in natural pet on page 22. We hope you enjoy this edition and encourage you to explore new ways to obtain optimum wellness. Connect with our skilled and intuitive advertisers. It’s their partnership that makes this monthly magazine possible. To your health,

Rebecca Young, Publisher

Live for each second without hesitation. ~Elton John

JACKSONVILLE / ST. AUGUSTINE EDITION

Publisher Rebecca Young Publisher@NAJax.com Writer Erin Floresca

Editor Sara Gurgen Calendar Editor Sara Peterson

Design & Production Melanie Rankin

Graphic Design Josh Halay

CONTACT US Natural Awakenings Jacksonville / St. Augustine Office: 386-736-3838 Publisher@NAJax.com P.O. Box 731466 Ormond Beach, FL 32173

NATIONAL TEAM CEO/Founder Sharon Bruckman COO/Franchise Sales Joe Dunne Layout & Design Gabrielle W-Perillo Financial Manager Yolanda Shebert Asst. Director of Ops Heather Gibbs Digital Content Director Rachael Oppy National Advertising Lisa Doyle-Mitchell Administrative Assistant Anne-Marie Ryan

Natural Awakenings Publishing Corporation 4851 Tamiami Trail N., Ste. 200 Naples, FL 34103 Ph: 239-434-9392 • Fax: 239-434-9513 NaturalAwakenings.com © 2021 by Natural Awakenings. All rights reserved. Although some par ts of this publication may be reproduced and reprinted, we require that prior permission be obtained in writing. Natural Awakenings is a free publication distributed locally and is supported by our advertisers. Please call to find a location near you or if you would like copies placed at your business. We do not necessarily endorse the views expressed in the articles and advertisements, nor are we responsible for the products and services advertised. Check with a healthcare professional regarding the appropriate use of any treatment.

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Natural Awakenings is printed on recycled newsprint with soy-based ink.

August 2021

event briefs

Holistic Living & Healing Expo

acksonville Business Connections is hosting a Holistic Living & Healing Expo, featuring more than 50 like-minded holistic businesses in one indoor space, on September 11, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the Renaissance Resort World Golf Village, in St. Augustine. Natural Awakenings is a proud sponsor and looks forward to meeting our readers. Attendees will experience the latest in natural approaches to nutrition, fitness, creative expression, personal growth, sustainable living, and so much more. Admission to the expo is free, and the first 30 guests will receive a free swag bag. In addition, many businesses will be offering free samples and demonstrations, free assessments, free promotional items, and giveaways. Location: 500 S. Legacy Trail. For more information, or to become a sponsor or vendor, visit JacksonvilleBusinessConnections.com/events/holistic-living-healing-expo-2. See ad, back cover.

Unity Celebrates Annual World Day of Prayer September 9

housands of people will join Silent Unity—an international, transdenominational, 24/7 prayer ministry—and Unity churches around the world on September 9 for Unity World Day of Prayer. The theme of the prayer event is All Is Well with My Soul. This year’s affirmation is “No matter the circumstances, all is well with my soul.” Unity Church for Creative Living, in St. Johns, will be offering events at the top of the hour throughout the day on Facebook, YouTube and Zoom that visibly express this year’s theme. The public is welcome to experience any or all events, including Crystal Bowl Meditation, Taize Service, Prayer Vigil, Musical Performances and more. All events are offered on a “value received” basis. Rev. Yvonne McAndrew, Unity Church for Creative Living’s minister, says: “Unity World Day of Prayer gives us an opportunity to come together in celebration of our oneness with God, each other and our world. Through prayer, we unite in celebration and intention. You are invited to take a brief respite from your busy day and join us for a relaxing, rejuvenating, revitalizing, prayerful mini-retreat.” Location: 2777 Race Track Rd. For more information, call 904-287-1505 or visi UnityInJax. com. See ad, this page.

EMPOWER. EDUCATE. CONNECT. To submit content or to learn more, email Rebecca at

Publisher@NAJax.com 4

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Full Moon Women's Gathering with De Luna

omen over 50 looking for sister support, comradery and networking now have the opportunity to meet online monthly the Wednesday before the full moon. Be part of the first Online Full Moon Women’s Gathering with De Luna on September De Luna in Malta 22, from 7 to 8 p.m. “Come and celebrate each other and be in the presence of likeminded sisters. There will be sacred sound ceremony and fun!” exclaims De Luna, certified music practitioner and transformation coach. “The word De Luna means ‘of the moon.’ An interesting thing about the moon is that it doesn't have its own light. It is such that it reflects the light of the glorious sun to us,” explains De Luna, who moved to St. Augustine in 2019 because she found the beautiful flora, fauna and waters reminiscent of the island of Malta, where she was born. “Malta is a fascinating place,” shares De Luna. “There are several ancient temples that date back to about 3600 to 2500 B.C. One of them, the Hypogeum—also referred to as the underground dreaming temple—is composed of several circular chambers all connected with sound holes. It is said that they were used to sound through, and continue to echo through all the chambers. In the center is where the dream oracles would dream. When I visited Malta about five years ago and went to the Hypogeum, I felt so connected, as if I had been a dreamer there myself.” De Luna has been a spiritual creative her entire life, and there has been a thread that has run through her life’s work. So many of her endeavors were intentionally created to help people to reflect on their own essence, as well as to empower them to dream and focus on what their dreams inform them. She has facilitated sacred ceremonies at gatherings and events; created dream journals and spirit reflectors for people to reflect on their own inner light; and played enchanting harp, flute music and singing bowls that transport people to a place of sacred mystery, love, tranquility and peace. Most recently, she has been creating multi-sensory transformational experiences that are a culmination of all her gifts. “My mission is to share them with women to empower and rediscover their authentic self, so that they can live in peace and thrive no matter what!” enthuses De Luna.

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Cost: $15 (must preregister). Those planning to attend the online event should register at PayPal.Me/DeLunaHarps and then send an email to De Luna at DeLuna@DeLunaCoaching.com with their contact information and to inform her that they are coming. For more information about De Luna, visit DeLunaCoaching.com or DeLunaHarps.com. August 2021

Copper Stops Germs Before They Spread

presents ever. This little jewel really works.” Frequent flier Karen Gauci had been suffering after crowded flights. Though skeptical, she tried copper on travel days for 2 months. “Sixteen flights and not a sniffle!” she exclaimed. Businesswoman Rosaleen says when people around her show signs of cold or flu, she uses copper morning and night. cientists have discovered a illnesses by over half and saved lives. “It saved me last holidays,” she said. natural way to kill germs fast. The strong scientific evidence gave “The kids had crud going round and Now thousands of people are using it inventor Doug Cornell an idea. He made round, but not me.” against unwanted viruses and bacteria in a smooth copper probe with a tip to fit in Attorney Donna Blight tried copper the nose and on skin. the bottom of his nose. for her sinus. “I am shocked!” she said. Germs, such The next time “My head cleared, no more headache, no as viruses and he felt a tickle in more congestion.” bacteria, can his nose that felt A man with trouble breathing though multiply fast. like a cold about his nose at night tried copper just before When disease to start, he rubbed bed. “Best sleep I’ve had in years!” he germs get in your the copper gently said. nose they can in his nose for 60 In a lab test, technicians placed 25 spread and cause seconds. million live flu viruses on a CopperZap. misery unless you “I didn’t No viruses were found surviving soon stop them early. get sick,” he after. New device puts copper right where you need it. Hundreds exclaimed. Some people press of studies in the last 20 years by “Due to regulation we don’t copper on a lip right government and university scientists make health claims, so I can’t away if a warning tingle show that copper, a natural element, say if it is cause and effect.” suggests unwanted germs kills germs just by touch. “That was September 2012,” gathering there. The EPA officially declared copper he continued. “I have been using The handle is curved to be “antimicrobial”, meaning it kills it every time and have not had a and textured to increase microbes, including viruses, bacteria, single cold since then.” contact. Copper can and fungus. He asked relatives and kill germs picked up on The National Institutes of Health friends to try it. They reported fingers and hands after Dr. Bill Keevil: Copper kills viruses says, “The antimicrobial activity of the same thing, so he patented you touch things other on contact. copper is now well established.” CopperZap® and put it on the people have touched. Copper’s power to kill germs has market. The EPA says copper still works even been used for thousands of years. Soon hundreds of people had tried it. when tarnished. Buy once, use forever. Ancient Greeks and Egyptians used The feedback was 99% positive if they Made in America of pure copper. copper to purify water and heal wounds. used the copper within 3 hours after 90-day full money back guarantee. Price They didn’t know about microbes, but the first sign of unwanted germs, like a $79.95. Get $10 off each CopperZap now we do. tickle in the nose or a scratchy throat. with code NATA21. Scientists say the high conductance Early user Mary Pickrell said, “I Go to www.CopperZap.com or call of copper disrupts the electrical balance can’t believe how good my nose feels.” toll-free 1-888-411-6114. in a microbe cell by touch and destroys “What a wonderful thing!” exclaimed Statements herein are not intended it in seconds. Physician’s Assistant Julie. Another and should not be interpreted as product Some hospitals tried copper for touch customer asked, “Is it supposed to work health claims, and have not been evaluated by the FDA. Not claimed to surfaces like faucets and doorknobs. that fast?” diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any They say this cut the spread of MRSA, Pat McAllister, 70, received one for disease. which is antibiotic resistant, and other Christmas and called it “one of the best ADVERTORIAL

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health briefs

Plant-Based Meals Reduce Severe COVID-19 Risks

vegan liftz/Pexels.com

Eating more plants than meat is not only good for the planet, it might also be protective against COVID-19 severity, reports a new study in BMJ Nutrition, Prevention & Health. Researchers from Johns Hopkins and other universities analyzed web-based responses from almost 2,900 frontline doctors and nurses in the U.S., France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK that had been significantly exposed to COVID-19, 95 percent of which were doctors and 70 percent males. Those that ate a plant-based diet, described as high in vegetables, legumes and nuts, and low in poultry and meats, were 73 percent less likely to contract moderate to severe COVID-19. Those with pescatarian diets allowing fish were 59 percent less likely. However, those following low-carbohydrate, high-protein diets had 48 percent greater odds of moderate to severe COVID-19. “Our results suggest that a healthy diet rich in nutrient-dense foods may be considered for protection Eating two servings of fruit a day lowers the risk of against severe COVID-19,” researchers concluded. developing Type 2 diabetes by 36 percent in five years

Certain Fruits Can Protect Against Diabetes

doxiao productions/Shutterstock.com

compared to eating less than half a serving, suggests research from Australia’s Edith Cowan University Institute for Nutrition Research. The study followed 7,676 people and found that higher total fruit intake of apples, bananas, oranges and other citrus fruits was linked to better measures of glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity. The same pattern did not hold for fruit juice. Previous U.S. cohort studies have found that eating three servings per week of certain fruits lowers the risk of Type 2 diabetes by the following percentages: blueberries (26 percent), grapes and raisins (12 percent), apples and pears (7 percent) and bananas and grapefruits (5 percent). Three servings of cantaloupe, however, raises the risk by 10 percent.

mikhail nilov/Pexels.com

Healthy Choices Mitigate Cognitive Health Reduction A Chinese study of 6,160 adults 80 or older found that a healthy lifestyle cuts the risk of cognitive impairment by half, even if a person carries the APOE ε4 gene that is linked to cognitive loss and Alzheimer’s. Researchers used data from the ongoing Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey to determine the eating, exercising and smoking habits of subjects. They found that those with healthy lifestyles were 55 percent less likely to be cognitively impaired and those with intermediately healthy lifestyles lowered their risk 28 percent. This reduction was greater than the increased risk of cognitive impairment resulting from the APOE ε4 gene, which was 17 percent. August 2021

THE AFTERLIFE FREQUENCY

Expectant mothers that follow a healthy diet from conception through the second trimester lower their risk of such pregnancy complications as gestational diabetes, hypertension, preeclampsia and preterm delivery, concludes a new study in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. Researchers from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development surveyed nearly 1,900 women at two points in their pregnancies. Their responses were scored according to three measures of healthy eating: the Alternate Healthy Eating Index, Alternate Mediterranean Diet and Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension Diet. All three emphasize consuming fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts and legumes, while limiting red and processed meat.

THE AFTERLIFE FREQUENCY: The Scientiﬁc Proof of Spiritual Contact and How That Awareness Will Change Your Life by

Mark Anthony, JD Psychic Explorer

World-renowned 4th generation psychic medium and Oxford educated attorney Mark Anthony bridges the divide between faith and science in this fascinating afterlife exploration taking you around the globe, from the cosmic to the subatomic, into the human soul itself. Combining physics, neuroscience and riveting true stories this book: • Reveals how our “Electromagnetic Soul” is pure eternal energy which never dies. • Takes spirit communication, near-death experiences, and deathbed visions out of the shadows of superstition and into The Light of 21st Century Quantum Physics. • Teaches Anthony’s “RAFT Technique” to Recognize contact with spirits, Accept it as real, Feel it without fear, and Trust in the experience. • Provides hope for victims of grief, homicide, suicide, PTSD and survivor’s guilt. • Illuminates how contact with spirits is a powerful instrument of healing and love.

Stay in Tune with Our Body Clock to Sidestep the Blues

“To put it bluntly, this is an “amazing book that deserves to be enjoyed by millions of readers.”

“Mark Anthony shows that while we cannot control death, we can control how we understand and react to it in healthy ways.” Bruce Greyson, MD, co-founder of IANDS and author of “After: A doctor Explores what Near-Death Experiences Reveal about Life and Beyond”

Mark Anthony, JD Psychic Explorer author of The Afterlife Frequency and his other best sellers, Never Letting Go and Evidence of Eternity is cohost of The Psychic & the Doc on The Transformation Network and columnist for Best Holistic Magazine. He appears nationwide on TV and radio as an expert in spirit communication, near-death experiences, paranormal phenomena and as a legal expert. ®

To get your copy go to: Amazon, ﬁne book stores or ATERLIFEFREQUENCY.com. Also available on audio, narrated by Mark Anthony, JD Psychic Explorer (Psychic Lawyer ) ®

www.AfterlifeFrequency.com

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Gary E. Schwartz, PhD, Director of the Laboratory for Advances in Consciousness and Health, University of Arizona and author of “The Afterlife Experiments”.

Being an early bird or night owl is more than a matter of preference: A person’s natural rhythms are dictated by 351 genetic variants, scientists have found. New research published in Molecular Psychiatry shows that sleeping out of sync with that inborn body clock makes a person more likely to experience depression, anxiety and reduced well-being. Researchers from the UK University of Exeter used genetic data on more than 450,000 people to determine their natural body clocks, including whether they identified themselves as a morning or evening person. Data from the digital wrist devices of 85,000 people was also used to measure the “social jet lag” of variations in sleep patterns between work and free days— when early birds stay up late to socialize on weekends or night owls wake up early for work. The researchers found that being genetically programmed to be an early riser protects against major depression and improves wellbeing, perhaps because society’s 9-to-5 working pattern coincides with early risers. Generally, morning people had a lower BMI and were older, more likely to be female, of higher socioeconomic status and less likely to be current smokers than evening people.

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Lower Pregnancy Risks with a Healthy Diet

Transcendental Meditation Reduces Stress, Improves Achievement in Teens A new randomized controlled trial published in the journal Education found that ninthgraders that practiced the transcendental meditation (TM) technique had significant improvements in emotional stress symptoms, quality of sleep and academic achievement when compared to students that spent the same time in silent reading. This was the first randomized control trial to investigate the effects of a meditation-based school program on standardized tests. These findings are helpful for teens that, as reported in the online science news service EurekAlert!, “report stress well above what they believe to be healthy. Thirtyone percent of teens report feeling overwhelmed and 36 percent report feeling fatigued as a result of stress. Over a third of teens report that their stress level has increased in the past year, while around half of teens don't feel they are doing enough to manage their stress. This increased stress is linked to poor academics, as well as a number of other measures, including lower attendance, and unhealthy behaviors around sleep, eating and substance use.” The new research corroborates past findings on TM and stress, emotional health, academic performance and social behavior and concludes that learning the transcendental meditation technique positively affects quality of life in all these categories.

YOU BELONG IN THE GREEN MARKETPLACE

The North Florida Green Chamber makes being green cool and convenient. Our creative tools and innovative programs bring our business community together on green initiatives while connecting you with thoughtfully sourced resources, news and data. Become a North Florida Green Chamber member today!

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To Learn More, Contact Publisher@NaJax.com

Source: Jacksonville Transcendental Meditation Center. For more information, call 904-375-9517 or visit Jacksonville@ TM.org. See ad, this page.

EXPAND YOUR AWARENESS Read more health and global news at

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August 2021

global briefs

Happy Homes

Fitter Fodder

Wild Bees Thrive on Forest Deadwood ralph gnonlonfoun/Pexels.com

Scientists from the UniverFarm Waste Doubles as sity of Freiburg surveyed Construction Material the German Black Forest Agricultural waste (agro-waste) such as manure, leaf National Park to determine litter and crop residues may not be thought of as likely the number of tree species, raw materials for sustainable construction, but with how the trees are scattered, traditional materials like concrete eliciting a negative the heights of individual environmental reputation, implementation of agrotree crowns and if there waste is being explored around the world. Recycling, are fallen trees or hollowed-out tree trunks. They found as an important part of agro-waste’s green potential, is that creating deadwood in coniferous forests is a promismaking the use of construction materials more organic ing restoration measure to promote an abundance of and sustainable, and helping reduce landfill issues. aboveground nesting bees. Their findings, “Wild Bees A 2018 study, Agro-industrial wastes and their utilizaBenefit from Structural Complexity Enhancement in a Fortion using solid state fermentation: a review, notes agroest Restoration Experiment,” were published in the journal wastes are an eco-friendly means of manufacturing Forest Ecology and Management. “biofuels, enzymes, vitamins, antioxidants, animal As part of an experiment, structural richness was artifeed, antibiotics and other chemicals.” This same study ficially created in 2016 on several sample plots by felling observed, “Many agro-industrial wastes are untreated and uprooting 20 spruce trees per plot, creating deadand underutilized, therefore disposed of either by wood and small gaps. Six other plots were left in their natburning, dumping or unplanned landfilling, which conural state as a control group. The researchers compared tributes to climate change by increasing greenhouse how many wild bees were in the different plots in June gases.” Another study found that integrating agro2018 and 2019. Results show that deadwood increases wastes such as sugarcane bagasse, rice husks and the abundance and biodiversity of wild bees. Professor Dr. groundnut shells improved the construction materials Alexandra Klein, head of the Chair of Nature Conservation by enhancing their sustainability properties, boosting and Landscape Ecology, says, “In the course of climate their durability and reducing costs. change, forest areas will be increasingly characterized by deadwood and sparse areas caused by storms, droughts or bark beetles. As a result, Wealth Distribution Linked to Urban Canopies forest habitat will increase in It’s not surprising that more urban trees lower the levels of heat and pollution. Although importance for wild bees.” many cities maintain tree-planting programs, not all canopies have equivalent value. A new analysis from the American Forests conservation organization states that the U.S needs to plant more than half a billion trees across 500 metropolitan areas and 150,000 local communities. A new Tree Equity Score data tool (TreeEquityScore.org) allows users to see where urban trees exist and where they don’t. American Forests identified 20 large American cities that are lacking in canopies to protect their populations from hotter temperatures. Tree canopies are particularly effective in reducing health stress associated with urban heat “islands”. It was also found that a pattern of inequitable distribution of trees has deprived many communities of the health and other benefits that sufficient tree cover can deliver. Communities of color have 33 percent less tree canopy on average than majority white communities. Jad Daley, American Forests president and CEO, says, “We need to make sure the trees go where the people are, and more than 70 percent of the people live in cities or suburbs, so it’s a place-based problem with a place-based solution.” mary taylor/Pexels.com

Sweet Shade

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Finny Friendship

Worldwide Shark Extinction Risk

Into the Rhythm Community Drumming & Facilitation

mike/Pexels.com

A study by Global FinPrint (Tinyurl.com/SharkMap) discovered sharks to be absent from many of the world’s coral reefs, indicating they are “functionally extinct”, that is, too rare to fulfill their normal role in the ecosystem. Of the 371 reefs surveyed in 58 countries and territories, sharks were not observed on nearly 20 percent, indicating a widespread decline that has gone undocumented on this scale until now. Other studies of shark populations show a decrease of more than 70 percent over the last 50 years. According to nonprofit Oceana, more than 73 million sharks are killed and traded annually. An article in Nature lists overfishing as the primary cause and found that three-quarters of shark species are threatened with extinction. On June 8, World Oceans Day, the Senate took steps to ban U.S. commercial shark fin trade. The Shark Fin Sales Elimination Act is part of the broader United States Innovation and Competition Act. Similar legislation has been introduced in Congress with more than 130 bipartisan cosponsors, but has not yet become law. Industry resource SeafoodSource notes that fishing industries in the U.S. have traditionally opposed bans, citing our successful management of shark fisheries.

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Penny Pincher

Electric Vehicles Demand Far Less Maintenance

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The U.S. Department of Energy Argonne National Laboratory reports that overall maintenance costs for a light-duty, batterypowered car are around 40 percent less per mile than for a gasoline-powered model. Not only do they not require motor oil, they also have no timing belts, oxygen sensors, fuel filters, spark plugs, multiple-speed transmissions and other parts. The difference is on average for gasoline-powered cars—10 cents per mile; hybrid cars—nine cents per mile; and electric cars (EV)—six cents per mile. EVs may have a higher initial investment cost, but their lower maintenance and increased mileage make them especially attractive to companies or government agencies with large fleets of vehicles. Motor Trend magazine estimates that an all-electric fleet of the federal government’s light-duty vehicles would be $78 million cheaper per year to maintain than if it were entirely gas-powered. August 2021

eco tip

Shedding Light on Lightbulbs The Ins and Outs of Our Options

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Don’t be left in the dark when choosing lightbulbs. Lighting accounts for up to 20 percent of a household’s energy bill, and untold numbers of bulbs end up in landfills. Let’s illuminate some bulb options to increase savings and reduce waste.

Curious about

ECKANKAR?

INCANDESCENT BULBS, the iconic symbol for a bright idea, were the only option until the early 2000s. They’re hot to the touch and no longer easy to find because governments worldwide have ordered them phased out to lower energy consumption.

Energy efficiency: Each bulb lasts one to two years, and 80 percent of the electricity is lost as heat. Cost efficiency: Estimated $4.80 to $7.01 annual cost of operation. Potential health risks: No toxic chemicals. They can cause burns or fires if hot from use. Proper disposal: Not recyclable. Throw away in garbage. COMPACT FLUORESCENT LIGHTS (CFL) were a great answer to the incandescent bulbs that came before them as far as energy efficiency, but they have disadvantages, as well.

Request FREE BOOKS

www.eck-florida.org ECKANKAR

Energy efficiency: About 65 to 75 percent more efficient than incandescent. Cost efficiency: Estimated $1.25 to $1.75 annual cost of operation.

The Path of Spiritual Freedom Jacksonville ECK Information: 904-725-7760

Researchers followed more than 36,000 Japanese men older than 40 for an average of 13.2 years. They found that those that consumed culinary mushrooms three times a week had a 17 percent lower chance of developing prostate cancer compared to those that ate mushrooms less than once a week. Participants that ate mushrooms once or twice a week had an 8 percent lower risk. The trend was even greater for those men over the age of 50 and was unrelated to other dietary habits.

Maintain a Healthy Diet and Weight to Lower Cataract Risk A recent study published in The Journal of Nutrition used adherence to dietary guidelines and total diet scores to assess the effects of diet on cataract risk. The researchers followed 2,173 older Australians for five and 10 years in two phases. They found that maintaining a healthy body mass index (BMI) of less than 25, combined with a healthy diet, reduced the risk of developing cataracts.

Eat a Better Diet to Improve Gut Bacteria

New research offers potential paths for treatment for the nearly 20 percent of patients with high blood pressure that don’t respond well to medications. University of Florida College of Medicine researchers, testing 105 volunteers, found that the populations of gut bacteria differed between hypertensive individuals with depression and those without depression. A second study by Italian researchers found that patients with heart attacks had different bacteria in their guts than patients with stable angina.

Train Students in Mindfulness to Reduce Stress and Improve Grades

A. Schaeffer-Pautz, MD Combining Traditional, Integrative and Anthroposophic Medicine for Well-Being and Balance

LIGHT EMITTING DIODES (LED) bulbs are here to stay and illuminate the majority of households. To compute old bulb wattage compared to LED wattage, divide roughly by five or six. For example, a 60-watt incandescent bulb is equivalent to a 10-watt LED. It’s not an exact equation, but it’s close. Cost efficiency: Estimated $1.19 annual cost of operation per bulb.

health briefs

Eat Mushrooms to Lower Risk of Prostate Cancer

Jacksonville / St. Augustine

Maintain a Healthy Diet and Weight to Lower Cataract Risk

Daxiao Productions/Shutterstock.com

SK Design/Shutterstock.com

A. Schaeffer-Pautz, MD

Combining Traditional, Integrative and Anthroposophic Medicine for Well-Being and Balance

be in balance for ultimate well-being leads to personalized treatments that examine and help each individual to achieve their level of optimum health. This insightful approach often offers relief to patients who have exhausted their traditional western medical options and are seeking help in alternate methods. Patients may also undergo extensive counseling to facilitate profound lifestyle changes and new ways of looking at things. They receive individualized nutritional guidelines in the hopes of facilitating improved health and releasing what needs to be transitioned. The philosophy “you are what you eat” has never been as true as in today’s quick meal society, and few know the effects of dietary choices better than Dr. Pautz. Providing your body with the fuel and tools necessary for its well-being is the first building block toward total health and healing. Combining her knowledge of medicine and nutrition, she targets habits that contribute to particular disorders and advises her patients in their diets to strengthen their immune systems and help their bodies stay strong. In treating her patients, Dr. Pautz has noticed that their nutritional habits have stemmed from a lack of knowledge about how to prepare healthful dishes. After encountering this need for education, she developed classes in the past that were focused on nutritional cooking, emphasizing the use of whole grains, tons of herbs, fresh fruits and vegetables. With a healthy diet as a base to grow from, therapies then perform better as the body becomes more receptive, receiving the aid the therapies provide. Dr. Pautz can easily suggest recipes in-session with wholesome foods that might be a first step in implementation. A. Schaeffer-Pautz, MD

December 2019 9

Another unique remedy at Dr. Pautz’s disposal is therapeutic eurythmy, an expressive form of movement therapy. Based on the philosophy of Rudolf Steiner, eurythmy uses movements to express sounds and music. One of the few medical doctors to be certified in eurythmy, Dr. Pautz uses this approach to supplement the treatment of a variety of physical, medical and emotional ailments. Somewhat like its Asian counterparts, tai chi and yoga, eurythmy helps a person connect to and experience the nontangible realities of spirit and energy that are essential for all souls. Dr. Pautz’s varied background and extensive training provide her with myriad treatment choices to draw from in her practice. Whether addressing cancer, diabetes, asthma, common cold, multiples sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, ALS or any other illness, her treatments are personalized, insightful and far-reaching. By balancing Western and integrative medicine and avoiding chemical drugs whenever possible, Dr. Pautz provides each patient with the opportunity for a road map to longlasting, deep-seated health changes through nutritional and lifestyle advice, naturopathy, homeopathy, counseling, anthroposophic medicine, and art and movement therapy.

Persephone Healing Arts Center is located at 485 6th Ave. N., in Jacksonville Beach. To learn more, call 904-246-3583, visit DrPautz.com or join them for one of their monthly open houses. Join them on Facebook. See ad on the back cover.

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n the east coast of Florida, just a few blocks from the ocean, sits one of the South’s few anthroposophically oriented medical practices. The Persephone Healing Arts Center, in Jacksonville Beach, has a wonderful, natural atmosphere enhanced by the spirit and focus of A. Schaeffer-Pautz, MD. Brought up in a Waldorf school environment, Dr. Pautz is double board certified in both integrative and internal medicine and combines the best of both worlds in her treatment of patients. Her goal is to help her patients achieve their highest level of well-being and balance, using natural approaches whenever possible. This philosophy is evident from the first view of the center: a cozy waiting room looks out onto a lovely garden area where patients can relax in the sun or rest in a spot of shade beneath the trees. Care here is particularly unique—first visits can be two or more hours of one-on-one time with the physician. Dr. Pautz takes time to learn all she can about a patient’s physical, mental and emotional well-being and then fuses her knowledge of traditional, integrative and anthroposophic medicine (a philosophy that embraces physical, emotional and spiritual aspects of the human being) to provide individual recommendations designed to work on the root of the problem. Her treatments are focused on lifestyle changes, counseling and nutrition, and this focus helps her patients not only deal with their health issues, but also maintain their higher level of wellness once the immediate problem is dealt with. Dr. Pautz’s technique has particularly helped those with chronic disorders and diseases such as depression, autism, cancer and any other internal medical disease. Her conviction that all facets of the person must

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December 2019

Sixth-graders that received mindfulness training each day for eight weeks experienced lower stress levels, less depression and improved academic performance compared to their peers in a control group that studied computer coding, report Massachusetts Institute of Technology researchers. In addition to that 100-student study, researchers surveyed 2,000 students in grades five through eight and found those that showed more mindfulness tended to have better grades and test scores. They also had fewer absences and suspensions.

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Train Students in Mindfulness to Reduce Stress and Improve Grades

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Proper disposal: Big-box and local hardware stores often offer free or lowcost recycling, as do online recyclers and local facilities because there are no toxins or hard-to-recycle wires.

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Potential health risks: Age-related macular degeneration is more likely with high exposure to low-intensity “blue light”; however, the warmer glow from LEDs typically used in home light fixtures is not the culprit. The “blue light” LEDs are typically glowing from computer screens, mobile phones and other devices or appliances.

Proper disposal: Go to Earth911.com to search for nearby CFL disposal facilities.

Energy efficiency: Up to 83 percent more efficient than incandescent.

A. Schaeffer-Pautz, MD Another unique remedy at Dr. Pautz’s disposal is therapeutic eurythmy, an expressive form of movement therapy. Based on the philosophy of Rudolf Steiner, eurythmy uses movements to express sounds and music. One of the few medical doctors to be certified in eurythmy, Dr. Pautz uses this approach to supplement the treatment of a variety of physical, medical and emotional ailments. Somewhat like its Asian counterparts, tai chi and yoga, eurythmy helps a person connect to and experience the nontangible realities of spirit and energy that are essential for all souls. Dr. Pautz’s varied background and extensive training provide her with myriad treatment choices to draw from in her practice. Whether addressing cancer, diabetes, asthma, common cold, multiples sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, ALS or any other illness, her treatments are personalized, insightful and far-reaching. By balancing Western and integrative medicine and avoiding chemical drugs whenever possible, Dr. Pautz provides each patient with the opportunity for a road map to longlasting, deep-seated health changes through nutritional and lifestyle advice, naturopathy, homeopathy, counseling, anthroposophic medicine, and art and movement therapy.

A recent study published in The Journal of Nutrition used adherence to dietary guidelines and total diet scores to assess the effects of diet on cataract risk. The researchers followed 2,173 older Australians for five and 10 years in two phases. They found that maintaining a healthy body mass index (BMI) of less than 25, combined with a healthy diet, reduced the risk of developing cataracts.

Eat a Better Diet to Improve Gut Bacteria

Researchers at the University of Hawaii Cancer Center tested stool samples of 858 men and 877 women in Los Angeles and Hawaii with a mean age of 69—regarded as an ethnically diverse study population with varied food intakes. The study found that those with higher quality diets also had significantly better gut bacteria diversity, a factor linked to reduced risk for a variety of diseases. Diet quality and a reduced risk of developing chronic disease is strongly associated with fecal microbial diversity.

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Potential health risks: CFLs contain small traces of mercury and emit puffs of toxic powder when they break. Visit the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s website epa.gov for safe clean-up instructions.

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business spotlight

Discover the Transformative Power of Yoga at Yoga Den Bayard by Erin Lehn

ina Knight and Andrew Jones, coowners of Yoga Den Bayard, never cease to be amazed at the transformative power of yoga they’ve witnessed, both personally and in the lives of their yoga community, over the past 15 months. Knight, who first began practicing yoga in 2003, became a yoga teacher in 2013, and eventually taught classes at the Southside and Mandarin Yoga Den locations. In 2017, Knight’s life began guiding her in other directions, so she took a break from yoga instruction—but that didn’t last long. When an opportunity arose in early 2020 to purchase the Yoga Den Bayard studio, Knight felt a divine nudge to hop back onto the mat—this time as a studio owner. While Jones wasn’t a yoga aficionado at the time, he wholeheartedly supported Knight in pursuing her dreams. “Interestingly, six weeks after we took ownership of the studio, the pandemic hit so we had to close our doors,” recalls this former Marine, whose strong ability to adapt and thrive became an invaluable resource. “We began offering all the classes online, and with my technical background, I was able to help facilitate that,” he says. To ensure classes ran smoothly, Jones monitored many of them live. “Since I was watching them anyway, I figured I might as well join in,” shares this devoted yogi. “At first, it was really challenging. I was dealing with chronic back pain and couldn’t even touch my shins in a forward fold.” But as the

weeks and months progressed, Jones not only noticed an improvement in his yoga practice, but his entire life. “Overall, I feel mentally calmer, I sleep better, I’m physically healthier, and no longer suffer with the back pain. I really learned to read my body more. The studio was Tina's dream, but I ended up taking it over,” he laughs. Knight couldn’t be more thrilled that Jones’ introduction to yoga has been such a profound experience. “He was so inspired that he, too, became a yoga instructor,” says this passionate yogini, who loves that the studio has become such an integral part of both of their lives. While opening a new business during a global pandemic has had its challenges, the pair shares that it has also had an abundance of blessings. “For instance, when we had to shut down, we were able to take our time with the remodel and do it ourselves,” says Jones, noting how much he appreciates the natural, Earth-inspired atmosphere they’ve created inside the space. “It’s been quite an adventure, but we’ve always had just enough of the good stuff to keep us pushing through,” asserts Knight. “Instead of worrying about the future, we stay in the present and work on adapting to whatever comes our way.” Jones agrees.

“We constantly get the opportunity to take the same lessons we teach in our classes and apply them in our own lives.” And speaking of the good stuff, this dynamic duo agrees that their yoga community is nothing short of amazing. “Our teachers are outstanding. The students all support one another. We really couldn’t be more pleased with our tribe. It feels like a very sacred container we’ve created,” affirms Knight. “I’m so glad Tina had the original vision. We want to help as many people as possible—including veterans and active-duty military personnel,” shares Jones. “We all follow the Yoga Den philosophy of no judgement or expectations. This ensures that our studio truly is a welcoming environment for anyone seeking the wide variety of benefits that a regular yoga practice can offer,” says Knight. “Just showing up to your mat is the hardest part sometimes. But once you’re there, the magic happens. We all settle into the space and tap into the energy of the room,” she explains. “As a teacher, my favorite moment is when we move into savasana; when everyone has surrendered and allowed themselves to just let go.” Jones agrees that showing up can often be the hardest part. “Being a teacher helps keep me energized and committed to the practice—especially on the days when showing up can be a challenge,” he says. “Yoga can play such an integral part of any self-care regimen. Our society doesn’t place enough of an emphasis on self-care. It’s so important to make time to take care of ourselves. I invite anyone curious about the transformative effects of a yoga practice to come check us out.” Yoga Den Bayard is located in the Shoppes of Bayard at 12525 Philips Hwy., Ste. 204, in Jacksonville. For more information, call 904806-3702 or visit Yoga-den.com/shoppes-ofbayard. See ad, page 15. September 2021

fit body

YOGA TO HEAL TRAUMA Soothing Poses Calm the Nervous System by Marlaina Donato

pated in a one-hour vinyasa-style yoga session for six weeks showed significantly lowered post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, as well as less insomnia, depression and anxiety.

etting on the yoga mat can be a powerful stress-buster that lowers blood pressure and excessive cortisol, but yoga can offer an added boon for those living with the lasting effects of traumatic events. Trauma-informed yoga (also called trauma-sensitive yoga) is a promising therapeutic branch of the yogic system designed to quell the body’s programmed “fight-or-flight” responses. Founded on yoga, psychology and neurobiology principles, the approach is in harmony with the ancient yogic concept of samskaras, or memories imprinted on our cellular consciousness. People from many walks of life can benefit from traumasensitive yoga including bullied teens, women rebounding from abuse and anyone impacted by pandemic turmoil. Research published in the journal Military Medicine in 2018 reports that U.S. veterans of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq that partici14

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Trauma-Intelligent Fitness

Yoga performed with trauma sensitivity can pick up where talk therapy leaves off, targeting the amygdala, the danger detector in the brain, and the vagus nerve that runs from the brain to the abdomen, which plays a vital role in processing trauma. “Somatic processing and treatment methodologies like yoga are now being used to help repair and rebuild distressed nervous systems, which in turn helps the brain integrate and ‘file’ distressing memories,” says Beth Shaw, founder of YogaFit Training Systems Worldwide, the largest yoga teacher training school in North America, and the author of Healing Trauma with Yoga: Go From Surviving to Thriving with Mind-Body Techniques. The Fort Lauderdale-based yoga therapist and entrepreneur highlights the body’s role in trauma and stress. “The brain rewires itself around the traumatic event and memories stored in the tissues throughout the body. Yoga can help to free those memories, alleviating troubling emotions and thought patterns, as well as chronic somatic tension and hypervigilance.” Shaw draws upon new psychological and neurological discoveries, including polyvagal theory, that help explain the full impact of trauma and most importantly, how and why yoga helps to lessen these impacts. Trauma-informed yoga keeps the nervous system in mind, excluding poses and breathing techniques that might provoke a sense of vulnerability or overstimulation. Trained teachers adhere to non-touch assistance methods and often opt for well-lit studios to avoid a possible triggering atmosphere.

A trauma-informed yoga teacher knows the inner workings of the nervous system,” explains Mandy Eubanks, a trauma-trained yoga educator and certified yoga instructor in Tulsa. “We have respect for the variety of responses that our clients have to yoga, meditation and breathwork practices. For example, we understand deep breathing will be calming to one person and agitating to another. We normalize clients’ responses and work with them to find an effective technique for that individual.” Teachers with specialized training and access to props can also support people on a yoga journey that are limited physically. Eubanks emphasizes, “Yoga truly is for everyone and every body.”

or invitation. “This is important because people who have endured trauma have often not had a say over what happens to their bodies. A good trauma-informed class cultivates somatic and psychological resources, and focuses, above all, on cultivating a sense of physical, mental, emotional and spiritual safety.” The founder of The Center for Yoga and Trauma Recovery believes it’s important to be responsive to individual needs. “Trauma affects so many different individuals and groups of people and in such a variety of ways that it is impossible to give one prescription. Some people might benefit from a weekly, 60- to 90-minute vinyasa-style class. Others might benefit from a short, fiveminute daily restorative practice.”

Shaw also stresses a tailored approach. “How one wishes to practice is up to the individual, but I suggest a combination of both one-on-one instruction and class format. If someone is in the throes of trauma, they will need a private session to start.” Eubanks adds the importance of consistency. “In my experience, it is about finding which yoga practices work best for the client and then encouraging them to find time to practice every day. Yoga for PTSD is not a one-and-done deal. It takes time, effort and belief in oneself.” Marlaina Donato is a body-mind-spirit author and recording artist. Connect at AutumnEmbersMusic.com.

The Power of Choice and Individuality

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Lisa Danylchuk, the Oakland-based author of Yoga for Trauma Recovery: Theory, Philosophy, and Practice, underscores that in a trauma-informed environment, everything a teacher instructs is an offering

September 2021

conscious eating

FORAGED FUNGI FARE

Cooking with Wild Mushrooms

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by April Thompson

ild mushrooms can infuse exciting new flavors and textures into familiar dishes, along with a taste of the local terroir, the natural habitat, from woods to plate. “I first encountered wild mushrooms through local foragers, then later from specialty food purveyors who would fly mushrooms from around the world into our kitchen. They were the most unique ingredients I could find, offering colors, flavors and textures I had never experienced … pure catnip for a chef,” says Alan Bergo, a Minnesota chef and author of The Forager Chef ’s Book of Flora. Recipes at ForagerChef.com feature more than 60 species of wild edible fungi, from common deer mushrooms to prized porcinis. The intriguing flavors of wild mushrooms in part come from their diets, akin to the difference between grain- and grass-fed meats. “For fungi, their food is their habitat. Cultivated mushrooms have less variety of the micronutrients and secondary metabolites that can add flavor to a wild mushroom,” says Eugenia Bone, a New York City food journalist and editor of Fantastic Fungi: The Community Cookbook. Foraged fungi also offer a host of nutritional benefits surpassing commercially grown mushrooms. Wild mushrooms like chanterelles and morels can contain up to 1,200 international units (IU) of vitamin D per serving, whereas commercial mushrooms, typically grown in dark conditions, contain less than 40 IU, according to the Harvard School of Public Health. 16

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While foraging is the most satisfying way to procure wild mushrooms, they are becoming increasingly available through farmers’ markets, online purveyors and gourmet stores. Some species that grow wild throughout North America such as oysters, maitake (hen of the woods) and lion’s mane are also grown commercially; these can be suitable for transitioning from buying to hunting. Sam Fitz, owner of ANXO Cidery & Tasting Room, a neighborhood taproom in Washington, D.C., picked up mushrooming when COVID-19 hit, in part mentored by the restaurant’s wild food purveyor. Fitz started ANXO making hyperlocal ciders from crabapples foraged on bike rides through the nation’s capital, salvaging fruit that otherwise would go to

waste. Today, the seasonally focused menu often features wild fungi and other foraged ingredients from savory tartelettes made with beech and hedgehog mushrooms to cocktails made from bitter boletes. One of ANXO’s signature dishes is a vegan “chicken of the woods” sandwich, served hot, Nashville-style. This orange-colored tree mushroom, also known as sulphur shelf, has a taste, texture and color that so closely resembles chicken that many recipes use it as a meat substitute. “People are so blown away by its meaty texture they can’t believe they are being served mushrooms,” says Fitz. When preparing mushrooms, “Forget what you know about cooking vegetables,” says Bone. “Also forget the notion that mushrooms are too delicate to take washing or high heat. Mushrooms are extremely hardy because of the chitin in their cell walls, a compound that is more like fingernails than the cellulose of plants. You can cook mushrooms twice and they will still retain their integrity.” Because the amino acids in mushrooms respond to heat more like meat than vegetables, Bone suggests searing mushrooms on the grill or under the broiler. “A slice of maitake will cook beautifully on the grill,” she says. When cooking a particular species for the first time, Bone recommends oven-roasting the mushrooms wrapped in parchment paper. “When you open up the parchment, you can really smell the mushroom. It’s a wonderful way to pick up subtle flavor differences and see how the mushroom handles,” she says. Since fungi take on all sorts of shapes and sizes, Bergo suggests letting a mushroom’s morphology inform how to cook it. Lion’s mane, for example, has a texture that mimics crabmeat, so faux crab cakes make a fun dish that honors its form. “Chefs tend to chop things up, but I prefer to cook many mushrooms whole, especially when they have interesting shapes,” says Bergo. One of the chef ’s go-to preparations of oyster mushrooms is to toss large pieces in seasoned flour or brush them with mustard, then bake until crispy. “They turn into coollooking, crispy croutons you can put on a salad or eat as a snack,” he says.

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Wild mushrooms are a culinary delight, but beginning foragers should harvest with caution. The forager’s rule of thumb is to be 100 percent sure of an identification 100 percent of the time given that toxic lookalikes can exist. It’s also important to try a small amount of a mushroom the first time around, as some individuals can respond adversely to a particular species despite its general edibility.

Hen of the Woods Steaks 4-oz pieces of hen of the woods (Grifola frondosa) mushrooms, broken into large clusters Kosher salt Cooking oil as needed, about ¼ cup

If the pan gets dry, add a little more oil. When both sides of the mushrooms are deeply caramelized and browned, serve immediately, with extra finishing salt on the side.

Clean the hens by swishing them in cool water, gently peering inside the caps to make sure they are cleaned, trimming with a paring knife as needed, then allowing to drain on paper towels.

Recipe from Alan Bergo, ForagerChef.com.

Sicilian Chicken of the Woods Here is a traditional Italian preparation for chicken of the woods (Laetiporus sulphureus or Laetiporus cincinnatus), flavored with wild monarda leaves and served with charred bread rubbed with garlic. 1 lb young tender chicken of the woods, sliced ¼- to ½-inch thick 1 large clove garlic ¼ cup mild or extra-virgin olive oil mixed with flavorless oil, like grapeseed (plus 1 or 2 Tbsp extra if the pan threatens to dry out), along with a drizzle at the end 1 large shallot or small yellow onion 1 Tbsp sliced Monarda fistulosa (also known as bee balm or wild bergamot) or fresh mint or oregano Crushed red pepper flakes or hot chili to taste 1 Tbsp capers or a small handful of Castelvetrano olives (or other green olives) 2 dried bay leaves ¼ cup dry white wine ¼ cup water or stock 1½ cups seedless tomato puree or tomato sauce Grilled high-quality bread, preferably slightly charred, for serving 2 whole fresh garlic cloves as needed for rubbing into the bread Heat the oil in a wide pan with high sides. A cast iron skillet will work, but isn’t ideal as the sauce is acidic. Add the mushrooms and cook until they’ve given up their moisture, then push them to the side of the pan, add a little extra oil if the pan looks dry, or if the mushrooms were very 18

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juicy. Add the garlic to the clean spot of the pan, then arrange the pan off-center on the burner so that the heat is focused on the garlic. Sweat the garlic in the oil slowly until it’s light golden and aromatic, then add the shallots and cook for 1 minute. Add the crushed red pepper directly to the garlic and shallot, cook for a moment more, then deglaze the pan with the wine, tossing in the bay leaf. Reduce the sauce by one half, then add the tomato puree, water, capers or olives, bergamot or other herbs and cook until the mixture is thickened lightly and the mushrooms are coated with a rich sauce, about 15 minutes. Meanwhile, lightly oil the bread and char on a grill. It should have good black spots, but not be ashy. Rub a garlic clove gently into the toasted bread slices, pressing down so that it “melts” into the bread a bit—don’t go crazy, a little goes a long way. Double check the seasoning of the mushrooms for salt and chili, adjust as needed, then serve the stewed mushrooms with the grilled garlic bread on the side. Drizzle some oil over the top to give the dish an attractive sheen. Spoon the mushrooms and their sauce on the bread and eat. Leftovers make killer mushroom hoagies a la cheesy meatball sub sandwiches. Recipe from Alan Bergo, ForagerChef.com.

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yield: 4 to 6 servings

photo by Alan Bergo, ForagerChef.com

Alan Bergo, ForagerChef.com

yield: 1 serving per 4 ounces mushrooms

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Heat the oil in a pan or on a griddle until hot, but not smoking. Add the mushroom clump and season with salt, placing a weight—like a rock, log, crumbly wood or cinder block wrapped in foil or a pan—on top, then cook until the underside is deeply caramelized, then flip and repeat.

photo by Evan Sung

Warm Endive and Oyster Mushroom Salad 2 Tbsp olive oil ½ cup minced shallots 1 tsp sliced garlic 1 to 2 tsp grated ginger Freshly ground black pepper 6 oz oyster mushrooms 1 Tbsp white or black sesame seeds 2 marinated white anchovy fillets, chopped 2 Belgian endives, leaves separated and cut into 2-inch sections ½ Meyer or regular lemon Pinch of kosher salt ⅓ cup chopped fresh cilantro or flat-leafed parsley for garnish 2 whole scallions, chopped diagonally for garnish Drizzle of high-quality white truffle oil for garnish (optional) Grated Parmigiano cheese for garnish (optional)

75 th A NNIVERSARY !

In a wide skillet, heat the olive oil over medium high heat. Add the shallots and garlic, and sauté until golden, a few minutes. Stir in the ginger and pepper to taste. Tear the oyster mushrooms into bite-sized pieces and add. Cook for about 5 minutes, flipping the mushrooms over, until they release their liquid. Add the sesame seeds and toast them in a bald spot in the pan for a minute or so. Turn the heat down to medium, add the anchovies and endives, and cook until the endives wilt, a few more minutes. Take off the heat, add the lemon juice and season with salt.

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Garnish with the cilantro and scallions, and optionally, white truffle oil and a sprinkle of the cheese. Recipe by Annaliese Bischoff from Fantastic Fungi: The Community Cookbook, edited by Eugenia Bone.

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Healthy Cookware How to Choose Non-Toxic Pots and Pans

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by Amy Coyle

rganic and locally sourced foods are eco-friendly and contribute to better health, a greener world and thriving communities. However, once the food is cooked, it may no longer be as healthy, depending on the cookware used. The myriad options, from classic pots and pans to the latest modern synthetic materials, can be confusing, but there are some basic factors to watch for in choosing environmentally sound and chemical-free cookware.

Ceramic

Pure ceramic cookware is made with clay and baked in a kiln. If made in Latin America, including Mexico, such items may contain high lead levels. It’s recommended that these pieces not be used to cook, serve or store food. A kit is available to test for contaminants, if desired. Pots and crocks derived from pure, uncontaminated clay are excellent for slow-cooking stews and sauces, particularly recipes containing acidic foods like tomato or cabbage. Cooking foods in earthenware dates back 15,000 years.

For classic, durable and versatile cookware, cast iron, although heavy, will last a lifetime. While some iron can transfer to food, it’s difficult to measure and depends on the pan and the food. Naturopathic doctor Kara Fitzgerald, in Newtown, Connecticut, suggests caution. “If you have a history of iron overload (hemochromatosis), you should avoid cast Jacksonville / St. Augustine

Stainless Steel

Stainless steel cookware is easy to clean and durable. It releases low levels of nickel and chromium if used to cook acidic foods, which is only a concern for those with corresponding sensitivities or allergies.

Copper

Cast Iron

iron cookware, especially for acidic foods.” Enameled cast iron has a nonstick, porcelain coating and is unaffected by acidity. Research published in the Japanese Journal of Hygiene suggests that the risk of acute or chronic toxicity associated with the use of this cookware under normal circumstances is extremely low.

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High-quality copper pots and pans have a long lifespan and heat foods evenly. They are usually lined with stainless steel or tin to prevent toxicity. The U.S. Food and

Drug Administration recommends staying away from unlined copper cookware because copper can leach into acidic foods like tomatoes, fish, processed meats, grains and citrus fruits. When the coating starts to wear off lined copper, it’s time to replace the pot or pan.

Ceramic-Coated Aluminum

Aluminum dipped in a ceramic mixture is safe to use, but wears away over time. To preserve the surface longer, refrain from using metal utensils or scouring pads or putting it in the dishwasher. Once the coating is compromised, the cookware may be unsafe due to aluminum toxicity. Look for ceramic-coated pans that are PFA-, PFOA-, lead- and cadmium-free.

says San Luis Obispo County, California, nutritionist and cookbook author Carrie Forrest of CleanEatingKitchen.com.

Healthiest Choice

“Stainless steel, cast iron and ceramiccoated pans don’t fully match the old-style nonstick ease, but are much better for you,” says kitchenware product researcher and designer Adam Heck, creator of TheGood LifeDesigns.com, in Toms River, New Jersey.

“Grab a nonstick ceramic pan and use it only for busy days or super-delicate foods …. with proper care, you can enjoy years of use. Then, grab cast iron or stainless steel for everything else,” suggests Forrest. In the final analysis, the best cookware choice may be a variety of pots and pans for different meals and varied health concerns. Amy Coyle is a freelance writer in Wynnewood, Pennsylvania.

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MEDICAL

Glass

Glass cookware is a healthy option if it’s new and handled carefully. Glass is an inert material, so nothing reacts with it or leaches from it. However, it can break easily if exposed to extreme temperature changes. If any chips or cracks develop, discard it.

Nonstick

Teflon coating, made from polytetrafluoroethylene, is for many consumers the go-to coating for nonstick cookware, but studies show that the chemical leaks into food at high temperatures or when scratched. Prior to 2013, the “forever chemical” perfluorooctanoic acid was used in the manufacturing process. Although discontinued after studies showed a possible link to cancer, older Teflon pans and those made in foreign countries still may pose a risk. Overall, the American Cancer Society considers Teflon safe. Caution should be used; however, once Teflon reaches 464° F, according to the Environmental Working Group, it begins to deteriorate. At 680° F, at least six toxic gases are released which may cause flulike symptoms. Still, some cooks find nonstick cookware to be convenient because the surface works for most foods. “As long as the coating on your nonstick pots and pans is intact without scratches, then they should be safe to use. Nonstick cookware is budget-friendly and easy to clean,”

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natural pet

Horses as Healers Equine Therapy has Physical and Emotional Benefits

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by Julie Peterson

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orses are being increasingly used to help people work through emotional and physical challenges, and for good reason: Numerous studies have shown that equine-assisted therapy helps with anger, anxiety, depression, posttraumatic stress disorder and dissociative or other emotional problems. It works whether the therapy involves riding or simply feeding and grooming. Building the relationship increases people’s selfconfidence, social skills, trust, empathy and emotional regulation, and helps them establish routines, structure and a sense of responsibility—all skills that are transferable to daily life.

Equine Psychotherapists

Equine-assisted psychotherapy involves counseling with a mental health professional and time riding or caring for a horse. The horse is considered a co-therapist. Forming a relationship with an animal 22

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that weighs 1,000 pounds or more may be intimidating, but the required vulnerability and trust is part of the process. “Horses show us how to live together in harmony. They teach us about acceptance of others and of ourselves,” says Marcy Tocker, clinical mental health counselor and founder and executive director of Grey Muzzle Manor Sanctuary, in Mohrsville, Pennsylvania. “In some cases, I see results more quickly using equine therapy than solely with office therapy. I also see more motivation from typically resistant clients because this can actually be fun, too,” says Meagan Good, a counselor and owner of Take Heart Counseling & Equine Assisted Therapy, in Wernersville, Pennsylvania. “Horses are relationship-oriented and intuitively sense and honestly respond to the emotions of those around them, which makes the horse-human bond a powerful healing mechanism.”

“Horses have similar emotions to humans—they get stressed out, happy, impatient. That’s why equine-assisted services are so popular,” says Traci Leigh, equine manager and instructor at Dream Riders TLC, in Crystal Lake, Illinois.

Therapeutic Riding

Beyond working as co-therapists for emotional issues, horses are excellent for occupational, speech and physical therapy. “Riding a horse rhythmically moves the rider’s body in a manner similar to a human gait. Their pelvic movement is the same as ours, so riders with physical needs often show improvement in flexibility, balance, muscle strength, circulation and breathing,” says Pamela J. Rogan, founder, executive director and certified therapeutic riding instructor at Harmony Farms, in Cocoa, Florida. “It will also enhance a rider’s quality of life, build confidence, independence and self-esteem. This is particularly true of riders with emotional or behavioral disabilities.” Research shows that children and adults with cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, stroke and other conditions that affect motor control saw improvements in balance, gait, gross motor function and posture after several weeks of equine-assisted treatment.

Horses are relationshiporiented and intuitively sense and honestly respond to the emotions of those around them, which makes the horse-human bond a powerful healing mechanism. “In addition to requiring that the horses are quiet, gentle animals and physically and mentally sound, they are trained to be desensitized to noise, wheelchairs, walkers and different types of therapeutic equipment that riders may need for safety or postural assistance,” says Leigh. Her horses get four weeks off every year and work a schedule that ensures ample time to rest and recharge during the day. “The horse is a co-therapist. They are doing a job, and it’s a not an easy job,” says Tocker. “To ensure the well-being of our

equine therapists, they get ample time off and massages. They’re taking on a lot, so we want to make sure they don’t burn out.” “I have horses that seem to step in and ‘protect’ clients when they are feeling vulnerable. I have horses who try to help regulate the anxious client by breathing or yawning or nuzzling,” says Good. “For the most part, we trust the horses to just be themselves, and what they bring is always helpful for the client.” “Horses are able to be present and focus solely on what is going on around them. They do not think about the future or the past or judge people based on what they look like or what experiences they may have had,” says Tocker. “I feel like I witness miracles every time I do a session at the barn.” Julie Peterson writes about health and wellness from rural Wisconsin. Reach out at JuliePeterson2222@gmail.com.

Horses at Work

“I look for horses who are not afraid of new things, but curious about them … a horse that thinks through a new situation, that expresses himself freely and that enjoys interacting with humans,” says Good. “From there, my professional team works on building a relationship with that horse so that the horse feels safe to build relationships with clients who may or may not have any horse background.” There are certifications and advanced courses that ensure appropriate training of the therapists and instructors, the safety of the people receiving services and the training and well-being of the horses. Reputable organizations include the Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association (eagala.org), the Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International (pathintl.org) and Natural Lifemanship (NaturalLifemanship.com).

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healthy kids

Creative Kids

How to Nurture Imagination not only being responsive to kids’ questions like, “Why do strawberries have seeds on the outside?” but also engaging their imagination to explore the world and to solve everyday problems. “Ask them, ‘What would it take to finish this project?’ Make it fun, brainstorm and mind-map, rather than make linear lists,” she suggests. “Ask open-ended questions, perhaps a bit out of the norm. ‘How did you feel when you were writing that short story? What colors crossed your mind as you were singing? What music was flowing through your body as you were painting?’ The idea is to mix things up a bit to allow a new take on your child’s emerging creativity.”

oung children are naturally curious and inventive, yet research shows that their creative thinking skills peak at around age 6 and start to decline once they start formal schooling—a trend that’s accelerating in recent years with kids’ heavy digital use. This doesn’t bode well for their future on our rapidly changing planet. “Our world continues to evolve at an unprecedented rate. It’s estimated that many of the jobs we will need in 10 or 20 or 30 years haven’t yet been invented,” says children’s education psychologist Charlotte Reznick, Ph.D., author of The Power of Your Child’s Imagination. “Kids of today need to stretch their creative juices to come up with these new jobs and prepare for an ever-challenging and changing world.” Parents are integral in nourishing creativity, but according to research from the Lifelong Kindergarten Group at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Media Lab, the role of parents is less about “teaching” creativity and more about creating a fertile environment in which creativity will take root, grow and flourish. Establishing that rich forum involves some simple strategies. Encourage their curiosity. “An attitude of curiosity connected to wonder, acceptance, flexibility and openness can bring out innovation and novelty,” says Reznick. That means 24

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Let them follow their bliss. “The biggest mistake I see parents making in wanting to encourage creativity is leading their children and telling them what to do,” says Jen Lumanlan, host and founder of the research-based parenting podcast YourParenting Mojo.com. “When we instead see our role not as being the Sage on the Stage but rather the Guide on the Side, we don’t have to drag the child through a curriculum kicking and screaming; instead, the child asks us for more opportunities to follow their interest. They will ask insightful questions, read books, watch videos, draw their ideas, consult with experts, put on plays, develop an understanding of the world with their whole bodies (not just their heads) and teach others. It’s truly incredible to see.” Make creativity easy. Having lots of paper, paints, pens and other craft items on hand in a place where a child can easily access them enables creativity to flow when the mood hits. “You don’t have to have a huge budget for supplies. Save old cardboard

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by Ronica O’Hara

inspired reading I turned off the screens and stopped trying to provide entertainment for my children and the results were amazing.

boxes, empty paper towel rolls, cereal boxes and scrap paper. Give your child some markers and masking tape. I bet you’ll be amazed at what can be created from the simplest materials,” says Liam Davies, a Berkeley dad of two who blogs about sustainable family fishing at Fishing Command.com. “Have plenty of loose parts available. Loose parts can be anything your child turns into something else,” suggests Maria Kemery, of Philadelphia, who blogs at the parenting website PlacesWeCallHome. com. “Bottlecaps become money, scarves become a doll’s dress, clean recycle bin items become robot parts or a collection of acorns becomes a bowl of soup. Having an assortment of loose parts encourages your child to engage in symbolic play (substituting one item for another), which builds creativity.” Allow them to be bored. “Kids often complain they are bored. I love that, because bored is also where new ideas come from,” says Reznick. “Our mind abhors a vacuum, so sooner or later, a creative spark will ignite.” That’s what Lorton, Virginia, mom Lauren Schmitz, who blogs at TheSimple Homeschooler.com, witnessed. “I turned off the screens and stopped trying to provide entertainment for my children and the results were amazing. My middle child, who is the most screen-obsessed kid that I know, started doing things like making her own magazine, building dioramas and putting on plays. She suddenly wanted to paint, build a robot and learn about aerial dancing. Boredom is the best way to give a child space to think, create, imagine and build.” Natural health writer Ronica O’Hara can be reached atOHaraRonica@gmail.com.

Review of Kimberly David’s Book

The Mountain and Me by Sara Gurgen

he Mountain and Me, by Kimberly David, is a kid-friendly introduction to mindfulness that helps children learn to manage their emotions. Joy, peacefulness, strength and calm are qualities that are hard to cultivate in today's busy world. The Mountain and Me introduces mindfulness as a tool to help children understand their emotions and find peace even when their environment is unpredictable. The story provides children with tools to manage their emotions and encourages them to set up a space at home to sit and breathe. As young children, they have an opportunity to practice a routine that can help them navigate challenges throughout their lives. In addition to the story, there are several resource pages included with activities to extend the learning, such as an art activity and a breathing exercise. The whimsical illustrations and repetition throughout the

story encourage children to tune in to the present moment and focus on their breath. The motto of the story is to remember that we can be strong, calm, patient and peaceful like the Mountain. For more information, visit TheMountainAndMeBook.com. The book can be purchased on Amazon. See ad, below.

A kid-friendly introduction to mindfulness. “Great illustrations, perfect for kids, and it has great activities at the end to practice getting calm.”

“I wish I had learned [this] when I was so young! Thanks for an awesome book, Kimberly!”

Kimberly David, author “Our 3-year-old often selects this book out of a huge pile of books to read before bed, he likes it so much… Even our 18-month-old enjoys this book and makes a great effort to “breath in” and “breath out” like the kid in the book.”

www.themountainandmebook.com September 2021

healing ways

Conquering Chronic Pain How the Body-Mind Connection Works

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by Ronica O’Hara

or three decades, David Hanscom was a top-ranked orthopedic surgeon in Seattle who daily put the scalpel to injured, deformed and twisted spines. Privately, he writhed in pain himself. He was beset over 15 years with burning feet, insomnia, tinnitus, anxiety, skin rashes, crushing chest pain, depression, sweats, heart palpitations and tension headaches, among other symptoms. That put him among the estimated 50 million American adults afflicted with chronic pain for which relief is hard to come by and often short-lived. The standard medical approaches of surgery and injections often don’t work well or last long for many patients, research shows. Opioids, once a standby, are now prescribed sparingly after being implicated in half a million overdose deaths. Treatment is especially elusive for the one in six adults and 30 to 40 percent of primary care patients with pain or chronic conditions considered “medically unexplained”. As a result, integrative pain management, which focuses on both mind and body and incorporates medical and holistic approaches, is growing in importance. Major medical cen26

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ters such as the Mount Sinai Health System and Cleveland Clinic, as well as practitioners such as chiropractors and homeopaths, offer dozens of modalities to turn around painful conditions. Sometimes a single simple method works quickly for a patient with a straightforward symptom; more often, it takes a combination of approaches over time to reverse pain, especially if it is complex, sustained or recurring. Launching on his own healing path, Hanscom came to a critical understanding: The abuse he had suffered as a child from a rage-filled mother, coupled with emotional repression and a fierce drive to excel as a surgeon, produced his high levels of anxiety. It turbocharged his central nervous system and set off a cascade of reactions that fed ever-rising levels of pain. “Your mind and body function as a unit with no separation,” he says. “Chronic pain results when your body is exposed to sustained levels of stress hormones, excitatory neurotransmitters and inflammatory protein. Your brain is sensitized and the nerve conduction speed is faster, so you physically feel more pain. It’s not ‘all in your mind’—it’s a normal physiological process.” After six months of intense inner work focused on his rage, Hanscom calmed his overwrought nervous system and his symptoms “essentially disappeared.” He began applying his experience to hundreds of spine patients, helping the great majority of them to avoid surgery altogether. In the book Back in Control, he describes his approach, which is designed for people with pain that is not caused by underlying structural or organ issues. He recommends these initial steps.

n Getting at least seven hours of sleep a night, which may require

sleeping pills or natural methods.

PROMISING PAIN RELIEF THERAPIES

n Doing expressive writing twice a day, which involves writing down in longhand whatever is on the mind using graphic and descriptive language for 10 to 30 minutes, and then promptly tearing it up. Neurological research shows that this simple practice rewires the brain. “Some people experience remarkable pain relief right away,” he says.

In the offices of holistic practitioners and in some medical centers, a wide range of integrative modalities to treat chronic pain are healing the afflicted. Some commonly used options, which can be part of a multipronged approach or effective individually, include:

n Practicing “active meditation” throughout the day by mindfully fo-

cusing each time on a sight, sound or sensation for five to 10 seconds.

For deep, sustained healing, he stresses the importance of forgiveness, gratitude, self-discovery, exploring a spiritual path, relearning playfulness and connecting with others. Medication may be necessary initially, he says, and as pain levels recede, most people become ready to improve their diet and exercise more. Understanding the mind/body connection is key in pain management, concurs gastroenterologist David D. Clarke, M.D., author of They Can’t Find Anything Wrong! and president of the Portland, Oregon-based Psychophysiologic Disorders Association. “When medical evaluation shows no problems with organs or structures, then the pain is being generated by the brain, similar to what happens in phantom limb pain, where people feel pain in the location of an amputated arm or leg,” he says. “Chronic pain generated by the brain generally occurs due to stress, an emotional/psychological trauma or strong negative emotions (often toward people the patient cares about) that are not fully recognized. Often, these issues began due to adverse childhood experiences, which can be anything you would not want a child of your own to endure. I recommend people explore these possibilities on their own, with a loved one or with a therapist.” That process might sound daunting, but so is suffering crippling pain. “The most important thing for people to know is that pain can be successfully treated, relieved and often cured with the right techniques,” says Clarke. Health writer Ronica O’Hara can be reached at OHaraRonica@ gmail.com.

Learn More Direct Your Own Care Journey is a free, online course for healing chronic pain. Designed by David Hanscom, M.D., it includes an experiential app, group sessions, video tutorials and webinars at TheDocJourney.com. Stress-Disease Information, including videos, a webinar-based course, recent research and a list of practitioners, can be found at ppdassociation.org, the website of the Psychophysiologic Disorders Association, founded by stress-disease expert David Clarke, M.D. American Chronic Pain Association, at theacpa.org, lists treatments, clinical trials, support groups and other resources.

n CBD. Studies show this cannabis-derived substance, the non-mind-altering form of marijuana, acts on multiple pain targets in the central and peripheral nervous systems. It has demonstrated pain-relieving effects for neuropathy, some cancers, arthritis and irritable bowel disease, among other conditions. A University of Michigan study of 878 people with fibromyalgia that had used cannabidiol (CBD) products found that more than 70 percent had substituted it for opioids or other pain medications, with many stopping them altogether as a result. With research mounting, almost every state now allows CBD use in some form. n TURMERIC/CURCUMIN. The Indian spice that makes curry yellow has potent anti-inflammatory properties, especially in formulations that combine it with piperine (black pepper) to enhance bioavailability. A meta-analysis in Oxford Pain Medicine of eight randomized controlled trials of curcumin involving 800 patients with muscle pain, osteoarthritis or postoperative pain found that it effectively lowered pain levels without adverse reactions, outperforming nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and paracetamol (ibuprofen) for knee osteoarthritis pain. n HYPNOSIS. By lowering the fear and anxiety that aggravate pain sensations, hypnosis reduces pain as effectively as many other approaches at a relatively low cost. A meta-analysis of 18 studies found that 75 percent of people, including those with both acute and chronic pain, received substantial relief from hypnotic techniques without side effects. In a University of Washington study, patients kept practicing self-hypnosis after completing the study even if it had not relieved their pain, saying it gave them better sleep, lower stress and a greater sense of calm and well-being. Hypnotherapy treatment usually involves four to 10 sessions and is often covered in full or in part by insurance companies or Medicare. n LOW-DOSE NALTREXONE. When taken at levels of 50 to 100 milligrams (mg) daily, this medication weans people off opioids and alcohol, but when used at low doses of less than 2 mg, research suggests it can ease the pain of autoimmune and inflammatory conditions like Crohn’s disease, multiple sclerosis and fibromyalgia. Stanford School of Medicine researchers reported it significantly reduced pain for 32 percent of fibromyalgia patients and also improved mood and life satisfaction, noting, “The medication is widely available, inexpensive, safe and well-tolerated.” September 2021

calendar of events

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 12 Pranayama and Meditation – 10-11am. With Elizabeth Henrichson. Pranayama is the conscious awareness of breath. Through guided breathing, you will increase the oxygen to your brain and all your internal organs which facilitates physical healing. Class limited to eight people. Held outside if weather permits. Bring your own mat and accessories. Mask required. $15. Seventh Wonder Holistic Spa, 4236 St. Johns Ave, Jacksonville. Register: 904-381-8686 or Seventh-Wonder.com/events.

To submit calendar listings, or for more information about submission requirements, please email Publisher@NAJax.com.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 2 Transcendental Meditation Introductory Talk by Videoconference – Noon. All the information you need to make an informed decision about learning this highly effective technique for reducing stress and improving health. Free. Register/info: 904-3759517 or Jacksonville@TM.org.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 4 Starseeds and Me – 1:30pm. Learn why you feel a connection to the stars and constellations such as: Arcturus, Sirius, Vega, Cassiopeia, Andromeda, Perseus, Pleiades. Discover this celestial exploration into another world that is all around us! Each of us have connections that we can feel beyond our mind into an intuitive intelligence with the sky. Join this gathering of like-minded souls for an exploration of outer space and receive live channeled guidance messages from beyond by Rev. Judi Weaver, Spiritual Trace Channel. $30. Andrew Jackson Davis Bld, 1112 Stevens St, Cassadaga. Info: Rev.Judi. Weaver@gmail.com or 386-503-4930. Talking Stick Circle – 5pm. Join for a Native American gathering to share ancient teachings as channeled from our elders. We will follow the tradition of cleansing and synchronize our souls through the sacred practice of drumming. Bring your instruments, family, friends; children are always welcome. Andrew Jackson Davis Bld, 1112 Stevens St, Cassadaga. Info: Rev.Judi.Weaver@gmail.com or 386-503-4930.

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 7 Twin Hearts Meditation – 6-7pm. Developed by Master Choa Kok Sui, this advanced meditation technique is aimed at achieving illumination of universal consciousness. This is a free service by instructor Falli Shah, to bring more positive awareness and harmony to the community. Mask required. Free. Seventh Wonder Holistic Spa, 4236 St. Johns Ave, Jacksonville. 904-381-8686. Register: Seventh-Wonder.com/events.

Transcendental Meditation Introductory Talk by Videoconference – Noon. All the information you need to make an informed decision about learning this highly effective technique for reducing stress and improving health. Free. Register/info: 904-3759517 or Jacksonville@TM.org.

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 10 Understanding Naturopathy – 6-7pm. With Sunny Shah. Discover natural, simple, and easy-to-follow information for a healthy life! Learn how to avoid chronic diseases using natural elements. Love offering. Seventh Wonder Holistic Spa, 4236 St. Johns Ave, Jacksonville. 904-381-8686. Register: Seventh-wonder.com/events/.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 11 Holistic Living and Healing Expo – 10am-2pm. Experience the latest in natural approaches to nutrition, fitness, creative expression, personal growth, sustainable living and more. Presented by Jacksonville Business Connections. Renaissance Resort World Golf Village, 500 S Legacy Trl, St. Augustine. Reiki I Class – 10am-5pm. Healing Self and Others hosted by Caring Palms Massage and Reiki. $150 ($75 deposit required). 6 CEUs available for FL massage therapists. Register: 904-246-2206 or Brian@CaringPalms.com. Info/register: Caring Palms.com. Spirit Fest Metaphysical and Holistic Fair – Sept 11-12. 10am-6pm. Rev. Judi Weaver will offer mini-readings. MidFlorida Event Center, 9221 SE Center Place, Port St. Lucie. 386-503-4930. Info/register: SpiritualServices.online or Rev.Judi. Weaver@gmail.com.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 9 Unity World Day of Prayer: All Is Well With My Soul – All day. The full schedule is on the website for events happening throughout the day in-person and via Facebook Live and Zoom. Unity Church for Creative Living, 2777 Race Track Rd, St. Johns. 904-287-1505. UnityInJax.com.

Jacksonville / St. Augustine

NAJax.com

Yoga Nidra – 11:15am-12:15pm. With Elizabeth Henrichson. Guided meditation. Nidra is a Sanskrit term for sleep. In yoga it is a meditation practice that induces a state of deep, but conscious relaxation. The goal is to achieve a state of samadhi (intense concentration), enlightenment, or bliss. Held outside if weather permits. Bring your own mat and accessories. Mask required. $15. Seventh Wonder Holistic Spa, 4236 St. Johns Ave, Jacksonville. Register: 904-381-8686 or Seventh-Wonder. com/events.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 16 Transcendental Meditation Introductory Talk by Videoconference – 6:30pm. All the information you need to make an informed decision about learning this highly effective technique for reducing stress and improving health. Free. Register/info: 904-3759517 or Jacksonville@TM.org.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 18 Jacksonville Makers Market – 11am-3pm. Handmade and homemade goods, talent show, music and food. Presented by Jacksonville Business Connections. Sesquicentennial Park, 1527 N Main St, Jacksonville.

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 19 Soul Empowerment – 10am-1pm. Many have experienced or are currently experiencing stress, anxiety, and depression during these uncertain times. Join Falli Shah to learn techniques to deal with thoughts and issues that bring stress, such as eating mindfully, meditation, and removing clutter from the mind. $55 includes lunch and products for at-home stress relief.Seventh Wonder Holistic Spa, 4236 St. Johns Ave, Jacksonville. 904-381-8686. Register: Seventh-Wonder.com. Fall Equinox Revealing Channeled Messages – 1pm. The Fall Equinox is a powerful time when energies uniquely align allowing for transformative forces to emerge. Since January, Rev. Judi Weaver has been receiving intuitive messages about the golden energies and portal that we are now entering into and the healing energies that will be provided to each of us through this transformation. This will be a powerful gathering. $25. Register: Spiritual Services.online/.

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21 Twin Hearts Meditation – 6-7pm. Developed by Master Choa Kok Sui, this advanced meditation technique is aimed at achieving illumination of universal consciousness. This is a free service by instructor Falli Shah, to bring more positive awareness and harmony to the community. Mask required. Free. Seventh Wonder Holistic Spa, 4236 St. Johns Ave, Jacksonville. 904-381-8686. Register: Seventh-Wonder.com/events.

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22 Full Moon Women's Gathering – 7-8pm. With De Luna. Come and celebrate each other and be in the presence of like-minded sisters. Sacred Sound Ceremony and fun for women over 50 looking for sister support, comradery and networking. Meeting online monthly the Wednesday before the Full Moon. $15/preregister. Link sent to the Zoom Room after registration. RSVP by email: DeLuna@ DeLunaCoaching.com. Register/payment: Paypal. me/DeLunaHarps.

ongoing events To submit calendar listings, or for more information about submission requirements, please email Publisher@NAJax.com.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 25 Reiki IV Class – 10am-5pm. Reiki with Crystals hosted by Caring Palms Massage and Reiki. $150 ($75 deposit required). 6 CEUs available for FL massage therapists. Register: 904-246-2206 or Brian@CaringPalms.com. Info/register: Caring Palms.com. Transcendental Meditation Introductory Talk – 1pm. All the information you need to make an informed decision about learning this highly effective technique for reducing stress and improving health. Free. Postell Market, Casino Bldg, 530 Beachview Dr (by Neptune Park) Rm 112, St. Simons Island, GA. Register: 904-375-9517. Info: Jacksonville@TM.org.

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 26 Heart 4 Souls Spiritual Guidance – 2pm. A virtual monthly event on the 4th Sunday. Guests receive an overall group message from the heart, followed by a live channeling session where Universal Light Beings provide guidance and answer questions for spiritual wisdom and support you with the expansion of your soul. Universal Light Beings may be messages from the God Source, Great Spirit, Arch Angels, Masters, Spirit Guides, Lemurian’s, etc. Free on Facebook Live virtual gathering on Heart4Souls. Info: 386-503-4930. Rev.Judi.Weaver@ gmail.com or SpiritualServices.online. Vegan Cooking Class – 5-7pm. Join spa owner Falli Shah and her husband Sunny Shah for a vegan cooking class. This delicious event includes a meal that is freshly prepared in front of you. The class will be held on their lovely outdoor deck overlooking the garden. Wear a mask, and register to reserve your space. $45. Seventh Wonder Holistic Spa, 4236 St. Johns Ave. 904-381-8686 or SeventhWonder.com.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 30 Transcendental Meditation Introductory Talk by Videoconference – Noon. All the information you need to make an informed decision about learning this highly effective technique for reducing stress and improving health. Free. Register/info: 904-3759517 or Jacksonville@TM.org.

plan ahead SATURDAY, OCTOBER 9 Compassionate Choices Event – 11am-3pm. Bringing the community together to spread knowledge and compassion for all living things and our planet. Enjoy vendors, food and local performances. Brings chairs or blankets. Presented by Jacksonville Business Connections. Stockton Park, Jacksonville.

sunday

friday

Unity Church for Creative Living Sunday Service – 10:30am. Join on Facebook Live to travel the journey of spiritual unfoldment together. Or subscribe to the YouTube Channel. Unity Church for Creative Living, 2777 Race Track Rd, St. Johns. 904-287-1505. UnityInJax.com.

First Friday Garden Walk – 10am. Join a Ranger the first Friday of every month for a garden walk. No registration required. Walk included with park entry fee of $5 per vehicle. Washington Oaks Gardens State Park. Info: WashingtonOaks.org.

wednesday Wednesday Pier Farmers Market – 8am12:30pm. Oceanfront shopping at the St. Johns County Ocean Pier Park. Approximately 60-80 vendors can be found at the market selling locally grown produce, baked goods, prepared foods, arts, crafts and more. Free. 350 A1A Beach Blvd, St. Augustine Bch. 904-315-0952. Spiritual Enrichment Classes – 7pm. Visit the website for class information. All classes are conducted via Zoom. Unity Church for Creative Living, 2777 Race Track Rd, St. Johns. 904-287-1505. UnityInJax.com. Music by the Sea – Thru Sept 1. 7-8:50pm. This annual summer music and food celebration features local bands and performers paired with local food trucks to entertain visitors. A different band will be featured each week, along with a food truck to offer fresh, tasty, food. Guests are welcome to bring coolers and picnic baskets. Chairs and bug spray are encouraged. Free. St. Augustine Beach Pier, 350 A1A Beach Blvd, St. Augustine Bch. 904-347-8007.

thursday Farmers Market – 5-8pm. Vendors offer locally grown produce as well as homemade and handmade products. Yamo Italian and Captain Scallywag's food truck are onsite offering local cuisine as well as two other food trucks, which rotate each week. Local musicians provide entertainment throughout the evening. Free. The Artisan Market Coconut Barrel, 3175 US 1 South, St. Augustine. Concerts in the Plaza – 7-9pm. Bring a chair or blanket to relax on the plaza lawn and enjoy summer evenings filled with music in the heart of historic St. Augustine. Picnic dinners are allowed, but alcoholic beverages are prohibited in the Plaza. Gazebo of St. Augustine's historic Plaza de la Constitución (between Cathedral and King Streets) Downtown St. Augustine. 904- 825-1004.

IllumiZoo Summer Spectacle – 6-10pm. Come summer, when the days are long and hot, cool nights at the Zoo are now home to an incredible scattering of illuminations. At IllumiZoo Summer Spectacle, you can adventure through the park before the sun sets to enjoy the Zoo after hours and see animals out until 8pm. Vibrant hues transform the Zoo into something never before seen, enriching our appreciation of wildlife found all around us. Advance ticket required. Jacksonvillezoo.org/illumizoo. Quackery: The Dark Side of Medicine Tour – 7pm & 8:15pm. The Spanish Military Hospital Museum offers informative tours of outrageous, ridiculous and downright deadly medical treatments. Not for the squeamish or faint of heart, the tour provides a glimpse into some truly bizarre medical treatments from St. Augustine’s Spanish Colonial history. $20. The Spanish Military Hospital Museum, 3 Aviles St, Downtown St. Augustine. Registration required: 904-342-7730.

saturday The St. Augustine Ampitheatre Farmers Market – 8:30am-12:30pm. Shop more than 100 tents loaded with local produce, flowers, baked goods, handmade arts and crafts and more. Admission into the market is free. 1340 A1A South, St. Augustine. 904-315-9252. Quackery: The Dark Side of Medicine Tour – 7pm & 8:15pm. The Spanish Military Hospital Museum offers informative tours of outrageous, ridiculous and downright deadly medical treatments. Not for the squeamish or faint of heart, the tour provides a glimpse into some truly bizarre medical treatments from St. Augustine’s Spanish Colonial history. $20. The Spanish Military Hospital Museum, 3 Aviles St, Downtown St. Augustine. Registration required: 904-342-7730.

PLANS CHANGE

Call Ahead September 2021

community resource guide FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE

ACUPUNCTURE

JACKSONVILLE HEALTH & WELLNESS CENTER

A WAY OF LIFE ACUPUNCTURE

4337 Pablo Oaks Ct, Bldg 200, Jacksonville • 904-373-8415 AWayOfLifeAcupuncture.com Dr Christine Yastrzemski, NCCAOM, AP AP2255 Dr Sarah Thomas, DACM, AP AP4183

Dr Jon Repole, DC, CFMP 9957 Moorings Dr, Ste 403 Jacksonville (Mandarin) 904-268-6568 • DrRepole.com

NCCAOM Board Certified Acupuncture Physician specializing in acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine. We offer the highest quality of care while customizing treatments that best suit your needs. See ad, page 5.

CBD HYDROPONIC UNIQUE GOODS

8622 Baymeadows Rd, Jacksonville 904-829-4847 • JaxHugs.com Hemp is all relaxation without intoxication, research shows numerous health benefits. Garden and hydroponic supplies: Leading brands of soil, nutrients, grow tents and LED lights. See ad, page 23.

ENERGY HEALING

Certified Functional Medicine Practitioner. Find the cause of your health challenge. Our office will create a doctor supervised custom-tailored health program that will include the following: meal planning, supplemental prescriptions, detoxification guidance, food/lifestyle coaching, exercise prescriptions, accountability, on-line patient portal, and more. We utilize the most advanced diagnostics testing available to aid both our diagnoses and treatment. See ad, page 23.

GROCERY NATIVE SUN

1585 3rd St North, Jacksonville Beach 904-853-5497 NativeSunJax.com J a x B e a c h ’s community organic grocer, local food and essential items. Order online for curbside p/u.

HERBS

HEALING ENERGY BY TED

Ted Kostek 7500 Plantation Club Dr, Jacksonville 904-613-7608 • Healingenergybyted.com Certified in Reconnective Healing, The Emotion Code, The Body Code, Reiki Master. Powerful healings, with great compassion and care. Clean chakras, aura, entity removal, in-person and remote sessions for humans and animals.

LAURENCE LAYNE, LMT, HERBALIST Healing Waters Clinic & Herb Shop 26 Clark St, St. Augustine 904-826-1965 • HealingWatersClinic.com MA0010746 MM005595

A holistic center specializing in pain relief and chronic health issues. Certified in neuromuscular and deep tissue bodywork, myofascial therapy, craniosacral balancing, east-west herbalism. Offering attunement energy healing since 1978. See ad, page 22.

HOLISTIC WELLNESS SPA SEVENTH WONDER HOLISTIC SPA 4236 St John’s Ave, Jacksonville 904-381-8686 • Seventh-Wonder.com

A true sanctuary away from the stresses of the world since 2002. Offering: Ayurveda consultation and services, natural alternatives to facelift, massages, facials, eyebrow threading/tinting, reiki, pranic healing, ear coning, sauna, and a Himalayan salt room.

Jacksonville / St. Augustine

NAJax.com

INTEGRATIVE MEDICINE FIRST COAST INTEGRATIVE MEDICINE

Megan Weigel, DNP 14215 Spartina Ct, Jacksonville 904-543-3510 FirstCoastIntegrativeMedicine.com A holistic, heart-centered and evidence-based approach to care for people living with neurological conditions and symptoms. Dr Weigel has nearly 20 years experience in neurology and neurological care. See ad, page 11.

MASSAGE A WAY OF LIFE ACUPUNCTURE 4337 Pablo Oaks Ct, Bldg 200, Jacksonville • 904-373-8415 AWayOfLifeAcupuncture.com

Licensed professional massage therapists provide Swedish, deep tissue, therapeutic, hot stone and other therapies. Massage can play a huge part in your overall health. MM37388. See ad, page 5.

CARING PALMS HEALING ARTS

Brian Dean, LMT MA36835 MM41272 476 Osceola Ave, Jacksonville Beach 904-246-2206 • CaringPalms.com Professional massage and energy work. Many styles of massage, Reiki, meditation, mediumship, massage & Reiki classes. Continuing education for Florida LMTs. See ad, page 10.

MEDITATION TRANSCENDENTAL MEDITATION CENTERS

• Karen & Herb Bandy, Certified Teachers 904-375-9517 • Jacksonville@TM.org • Regine de Toledo & Richard Pinto, Certified Teachers 904-826-3838 • StAugustine@TM.org The TM technique is an effortless, non-religious, evidence-based practice for eliminating stress, increasing well-being and expanding consciousness. Certified Teachers give individual instruction and ongoing support. See ad, page 9.

MONTHLY PLANNER MEDICAL MARIJUANA CARD CERTIFIED MEDICAL MARIJUANA DOCTORS

10695 Beach Blvd • 904-299-5300 920 Blanding Blvd, Ste 4 • 904-420-0044 2085 A1A S, St Augustine • 904-299-7373 CMMDR.com Get your medical marijuana card and re-certify by phone. Medical marijuana treats more than 250 medical conditions such as: chronic pain, PTSD, cancer, seizures, epilepsy, Parkinson’s, MS, HIV/AIDS, Crohn’s, IBS, glaucoma, fibromyalgia, lupus and more. Call for PTSD evaluation. See ad, page 21.

METAPHYSICAL STORE SPIRITUAL UPLIFTS

2186 Park Ave, Ste 102, Orange Park 904-292-4555 SpiritualUplifts.com Metaphysical services, including life coaching, spiritual readings, energy work, crystal healings, biomat, aura photography, chakra and astrology reports and more. World-renowned speakers and demonstrations to further your spiritual journey. See ad, page 5.

NUTRITION/KINESIOLOGY HEALTH BY DESIGN

Dr Kristy A Harvell 2002 Southside Blvd, Jacksonville 904-363-3374 • HealthByDesignFL.com Nutrition Response Testing™ gets to the underlying cause of your condition by testing for food sensitivities, heavy metals, and chemical toxins. A Clinical Nutrition Program will be designed for your individual needs. See ad, page 17.

SPIRITUAL CENTERS UNITY CHURCH FOR CREATIVE LIVING IN ST JOHNS 2777 Race Track Rd, St Johns 904-287-1505 • UnityInJax.com

Unity offers positive, practical teachings that support spiritual evolution and abundant living. They take an extremely positive approach to life, emphasizing our Oneness in God and the goodness in people and all life. Join to travel the journey of spiritual unfoldment together. See ad, page 4.

Heart 4 Souls Inc, Ormond Beach Rev.Judi.Weaver@gmail.com 386-503-4930 • Heart4Souls.com

energy distance.

Channeled spirit messages, crystal light healer, divine personal guidance, shamanic practitioner, spiritual counseling, guided meditations, home/property blessings, vision quest journeys. For individuals or groups—in person, virtual/on-line, phone or

LIVING A SIMPLER LIFE

SPIRITUAL COACH DELUNA – GIFTS FROM THE BELOVED 941-544-7756 DeLunaCoaching.com Serving North Florida & Virtual

Spiritual mentoring, Reiki, sacred sound with harp, flutes, Tibetan bowls. 1:1, groups and custom downloads. Certified Dream Builder Coach, Universal Life Minister, certified music practitioner. New course “The Illuminated Journey” starting soon.

STRUCTURAL INTEGRATION LAUREE MORETTO

Soft Tissue Specialist 321-271-1678 Flagler & Daytona Bch LaureeMoretto.com 90% of pain is linked to structural misalignment. Your pain is really just a symptom. My work addresses the cause to give you lasting relief. Get your life back now. MA20965.

PSYCHIC CHANNEL REV JUDI WEAVER

OCTOBER

healthy planet

YOGA YOGA DEN

Mandarin | Fleming Island | Southside | Avondale | World Golf Village | San Pablo | Bayard | Crossroads | Oakleaf Yoga-Den.com Founded in 2002, all Yoga Den teachers are graduates of YogaDen’s nationally accredited 200-hour TT Program. Members may use their key tags at all locations with Passport Membership. Hundreds of weekly classes. Our philosophy is No Judgement, and all levels will feel welcome. See ad, page 15.

NOVEMBER

mental health

CONSCIOUS DYING DECEMBER holiday

UPLIFTING HUMANITY learn about marketing opportunities at:

386-736-3838

September 2021

Connecting North Florida local businesses & communities

Sat, Sep 11 | St. Augustine

Sat, Sep 11 | Sesquicentennial Park

UPCOMING EVENTS

Sat, Nov 06 | St. Augustine Sat, Sep 20 | World Golf Village Renaissance St. Augustine

Connect with us online to see all upcoming events.

September 2021 Jacksonville St. Augustine Natural Awakenings Magazine

Articles inside

CREATIVE KIDS

HORSES AS HEALERS

DISCOVER THE TRANSFORMATIVE POWER

YOGA TO HEAL TRAUMA