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elcome to the November issue of Seattle Natural Awakenings magazine! I’m increasingly aware of the necessity of building a life you love, and as the holiday season approaches, this is especially evident in the way I contribute to my community and family. There’s many ways to approach life more consciously during this season: for example, my family draws names for a gift exchange so that we each buy one person a Christmas present they really want, instead of everyone accumulating stacks of trinkets. I also am more conscious of how I spend my time. I used to feel that I had to attend every holiday gathering and party, but I was recently struck by something upon which author Elizabeth Gilbert (Eat, Pray, Love and Big Magic) recently opined on social media, which is that most of us try to be good, but what she discovered she really wants is to be free. The contrast between those two – being good, or being free – is both subtle yet profound, and doesn’t necessarily lead soley to selfish intentions. Someone who is free can still act with the best interests of their family and comnmunity at heart, because they care about them and prioritize these relationships, as opposed to someone who is good, who does these things out of duty and feels unable to turn down events, projects, or relationships that don’t feed their soul. One approach leads to joy and the other can lead to self-neglect and resentment. One of the things that gives me a feeling of freedom is travel, so I am thrilled to bring you an article from Gayle Picken, “Winter Escape for the Soul” (page 11) offering a great roundup of local getaway ideas and events. If you are getting ready to visit friends or family, or perhaps planning a tropical escape, the tips for housing your furry friends in “Boarding Solutions for Beloved Pets” (page 20) will ease your mind about upcoming pet care options.
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© 2015 by Natural Awakenings. All rights reserved. Although some parts of this publication may be reproduced and reprinted, we require that prior permission be obtained in writing. Natural Awakenings is a free publication distributed locally and is supported by our advertisers. It is available in selected stores, health and education centers, healing centers, public libraries and wherever free publications are generally seen. Please call to find a location near you or if you would like copies placed at your business. We do not necessarily endorse the views expressed in the articles and advertisements, nor are we responsible for the products and services advertised. We welcome your ideas, articles and feedback.
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Natural Awakenings is printed on recycled newsprint with soybased ink.
contents
4 newsbriefs
6 healthbriefs
8 globalbriefs
6 9
9 communityspotlight
10 liftyourspirits 11 traveladventure 17 inspiration
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18 greenliving
25 naturalpet
25 fitbody
24 consciouseating 26 healthykids 29 calendar
advertising & submissions HOW TO ADVERTISE To advertise with Natural Awakenings or request a media kit, please contact us at 425-350-5448 or email Dena@ SeattleAwakenings.com. Deadline for ads: the 15th of the month. EDITORIAL SUBMISSIONS Email articles, news items and ideas to: Submissions@SeattleAwakenings.com Deadline for editorial: the 5th of the month.
Natural Awakenings is your guide to a healthier, more balanced life. In each issue readers find cutting-edge information on natural health, nutrition, fitness, personal growth, green living, creative expression and the products and services that support a healthy lifestyle.
12 STAY SHARP
Powerful Ways to Avoid Mental Decline by Lisa Marshall
15 THE ART OF BLESSING
Sanctifying Everyday Life by Dennis Merritt Jones
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16 THE SENSITIVE CHILD How to Nurture Special Gifts by Maureen Healy
18 FESTIVE SIPS
AND NIBBLES
Vegan Holiday Treats that Everyone Loves by Judith Fertig
20 BOARDING SOLUTIONS FOR BELOVED PETS The Best are Pet, People and Planet Friendly
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by Sandra Murphy
22 ONE-PERSON
PAMPER PARTY
Natural Ways to Refresh and Renew by April Thompson
CALENDAR SUBMISSIONS Email Calendar Events to: Calendar@SeattleAwakenings.com or submit online at SeattleAwakenings.com. Deadline for calendar: the 12th of the month.
25 PILATES UNBOUND
REGIONAL MARKETS Advertise your products or services in multiple markets! Natural Awakenings Publishing Corp. is a growing franchised family of locallyowned 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 NaturalAwakeningsMag.com.
26 WORKPLACE WISDOM
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New Fusions with Yoga, Dance and Boxing by Aimee Hughes
Mindfulness in Corporate Life by April Thompson
29 EDWARD HUMES ON THE HIGH COST OF TRANSPORTATION Small Consumer Choices Have Big Impacts
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newsbriefs New Health Coaching Membership Club Launches
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eattle author and board certified Holistic Health and Nutrition Coach Laren Rusch Watson has launched the Organically Laren Membership Club, a new, online program to help people who would like to create and achieve their nutritional goals. Watson’s new program allows members to have access to a health coach at an affordable price and from the comfort of their home. Members of the program will receive monthly challenges, such as reducing sugar, daily cleanliving recipes, live monthly calls with Watson, and an online community that will allow members to share ideas and encourage each other to achieve their goals. Participants will not only receive the tools to help them achieve their goals, but the lasting support to maintain them. “This new program is a great opportunity for those who would like the benefits of working with a health coach, but might not feel like they do not have the time or budget,” Watson explains. New members can sign up at any time to join the club, there isn’t a deadline or opening dates of membership. The cost is $10.13 monthly, locked in for new members who join during the promotional period. For more information: Laren@LarenWatson.com or 206-9630515.
Local Author Releases New Book on Compassion Meditation
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kagit-Based author Amy Pattee Colvin announced the release of a new book, Cultivating Compassion: Everyday Practices for Discovering Peace of Mind and Resilience. Cultivating Compassion shows you how to develop peace of mind and resilience through easy to follow practical tools and techniques. You don’t have to put the rest of your life on hold to create significant change and move into a mindset of acceptance and compassion. In Cultivating Compassion, Amy Pattee Colvin leads readers through a step-by-step 4
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exploration of personal values and thought patterns. She offers guidance through inspirational themes, self-reflection questions, and suggestions for daily action. “If you are ready move away from criticism and judgment for self and others and want to embrace peace and acceptance; or if you’d like to move through and beyond depression and anxiety to discover resilience, creativity, and joy, then Cultivating Compassion is for you,” Colvin says. “Shifting your mindset to a perspective of self-acceptance and self-compassion has a positive impact not only on your own life, but on the lives of family, friends, and community.” Colvin says she wrote the book to share ideas about acceptance and compassion for self and others. “I hear often from meditation students that they don’t have time to meditate, but this book offers the recognition that we can connect more deeply with self and others without having to sit alone on a cushion for an hour a day,” she finishes. Cultivating Compassion is available on Amazon.com. For more information: CompassionateBalance.com.
Sitara & Kalyani Bring Kirtan to East West Bookshop
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ational touring kirtan artists Sitara and Kalyani will be in Seattle for a kirtan music event on Friday, Nov. 11 from 7:30–9 p.m. at East West Bookshop. “Kirtan is an interactive music experience that allows participants to connect with their hearts and drop into a state of deep relaxation, through a practice of singing sacred sanskrit mantras,” music artist Sitara explains. Sitara and Kalyani have played at Bhakti Fest Midwest, The Twin Cities Kirtan Festival, Project Earth, Common Grounds Yoga & Music Festival and Shangri La, as well as yoga studios and wellness centers around the country. They have backed up kirtan greats Dave Stringer, Brenda McMorrow and Suzanne Sterling, as well as opened for Trevor Hall and Grammy Award winning artist, Chris Berry. The band released their first collective Kirtan album, self-titled Sitara & Kalyani with Pavan Kumar, and Kalyani has just released her second solo album. The event takes place Friday, Nov. 11 from 7:30-9 p.m. at East West Bookshop, 6407 12th Ave NE, Seattle. $15. For more information: 206-523-3726 or EastWestBookshop.com or SitaraAndKalyani.com.
Susan Shehata to Give Talk on Transforming Your Space
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usan Shehata, The Space Guru™, and holistic wellness educator, will be in Seattle Nov. 12 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. to present the workshop, “Your Home is Talking. Are You Listening? Transforming Your Life through Your Space.” “Your space reflects your life,” Shehata explains. “All your goals and obstacles are present in your surroundings. This interactive workshop is designed to give you tools that help you recognize what parts of your home and life hold you back and how to create positive changes.” Shehata notes that by creating awareness and supplying concrete tips, she seeks to educate and empower attendees to use your home to transform your life. “Participants will learn the symbolism of the different rooms in their home,” Shehata continues. “They will begin a process of reflection that helps them to identify the areas of their home and life that keep them stuck and how to create constructive changes.” Shehata is a national educator who specializes in helping people identify and release hidden obstacles that hold them back from the life they envision. She does that through space consultations, holistic wellness services and as a writer and speaker. Shehata is the creator of The Fabulous Paper Purge, a free online program that was featured on Fox News and has supported over 1000 participants. Shehata says she is passionate about helping people use their home as a tool to clear the deep patterns of resistance in their lives. The workshop takes place Saturday, Nov. 12 from 11 a.m.–1 p.m. at East West Bookshop, 6407 12th Ave. NE, Seattle. $30 For more information and to register: 206-523-3726 or EastWestBookshop.com.
New Book Empowers Readers to Create Better Relationships With Themselves
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eattle photographer Dave Merrill and California based therapist and author Susan Merrill will release their new
book ‘Reconnecting to Self’ on Nov. 11. Dave Merrill says the new book combines concepts from the field of psychology and mindfulness with beautiful, contemplative photographs to help rebuild the connection to oneself and provide a quiet space for self reflection. “We wanted to create something to help people recognize the power of their own thought patterns and feelings, not just in words, but in beautiful imagery as well,” Merrill notes. “We hope that through the profound but simple messages and the image smorgasbord of light and color, people will be naturally drawn to return to it again and again.” If you’re feeling stuck, unfulfilled, or overwhelmed it’s possible that you’ve lost an important connection―your connection to yourself, according to Merrill. “When you think about it, the most important relationship you will ever have is the relationship you have with yourself,” he continues. “Yet it’s so easy to let life sweep us along and lose sight of where we really want to go. Voices blaring from the news, social media, family, friends, careers and other commitments all serve to distract us away from ourselves. Our own needs and dreams can get lost in the midst of it all.” Merrill says that as readers start their self-inquiry journey, they will begin to discover the patterns holding them back, learn to transform their unhelpful thoughts into supportive ones, and make sense of confusing emotions. Reconnecting to Self: How to Create a Better Relationship with …You! is currently available for preorder in ebook formats from online book sellers. For more information: ReconnectingToSelf.com. See the photo gallery at DaveMerrillPhotography.com.
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November 2016
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healthbriefs
Music Makes Exercise Easier
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istening to music during a workout or any extended, physically demanding activity can reduce fatigue and improve performance. New research published in Psychophysiology shows that as individuals work out, their attention gradually shifts from the activity around them to internal sensations. Over an extended period, this attention shift creates a sense of exertion. Listening to music while exercising can help shift focus away from the internal fatigue and back to the external world. Researchers from the UK’s Brunel University and University of London tested 19 healthy adults that performed two physical exertion tests while listening to either music or silence. The scientists monitored brain activity using EEG and measured task performance. While listening to music, participants showed both reduced fatigue and decreased stressrelated brainwaves. They also performed their tasks more effectively than they did when music wasn’t being played.
Acupressure Eases Fatigue in Cancer Survivors
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reast cancer survivors are often plagued by chronic fatigue that lasts long after their treatment is finished. They have few options to relieve the condition, but acupressure shows promise. A study published this summer in the Journal of the American Medical Association concluded that acupressure can significantly improve two symptoms of fatigue experienced by breast cancer survivors: sleep quality and quality of life. The researchers tested 424 women that had completed cancer treatments at least a year prior to the study. They were divided into three groups—one self-administered relaxing acupressure and another stimulating acupressure, while the control group followed a conventional care plan. After six weeks, fatigue was reduced from 70 percent to 43 percent among those receiving acupressure, with two-thirds of the women in 6
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the acupressure groups reaching levels of fatigue considered normal. The relaxing acupressure group showed substantial improvements in sleep quality compared with the conventional care group at week six, but the two groups reached parity at week 10. The relaxing acupressure group was the only one that showed improvements in quality of life, making it a reasonable, low-cost option for managing fatigue symptoms.
Resolve Neck and Back Pain with Rolfing Structural Integration
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he human body was not designed to be hunched for hours in the same position, whether at a computer at work or watching TV at home. This static position develops poor posture that can cause as much trouble as repetitive motions that strain muscles. When we sit for long periods, the resulting shape gets locked in the body’s fascia, the connective tissue that surrounds every muscle, like vacuum packing. In sitting, the hip flexors are shortened, the spine is often compressed, and if we are at a desk, our head is likely thrust forward, weighing on the neck and back. When locked in place by a habitual posture, the fascia loses its resilience and we feel trapped in a pattern that stresses our muscles, joints and nerves, causing discomfort, pain and ongoing poor posture. Stretching or other exercise is not always a practical solution. A great way to jump-start a positive change is a series of Rolfing Structural Integration sessions. In this handson method, a Certified Advanced Rolfer evaluates the body’s alignment—identifying how the fascia is restricted, causing pain and posture problems—and frees it to sculpt the body back into its natural state of balance and ease, mainly using hands and forearms. These experts also advise patients on better sitting posture and more efficient body movement. Source: Anne F. Hoff, certified advanced Rolfer and member of the Rolf Institute of Structural Integration faculty in Boulder, CO. For more information on Rolfing, call the Rolf Institute at 303-449-5903 or visit Rolf.org.
Silence De-Stresses the Brain
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he human brain does not function optimally in society’s noise-filled environment. The brain, like the body, needs rest to function, and that comes with silence. A recent study in Frontiers in Human Neuroscience discovered that the brain is able to integrate both internal and external information into a “conscious workspace” when resting. Constant distractions and noises can detract from the brain’s ability to process critical information. Noise also elevates stress hormone levels within the brain. Research published earlier in Psychological Science examined the effects that the relocation of the main Munich airport, in Germany, had on children’s health and cognition. Gary W. Evans, researcher and professor of human ecology at Cornell University, notes that when exposed to constant noise, children develop a stress response that causes them to ignore it. The study’s subjects tuned out both harmful sounds and stimuli that they should be paying attention to, including speech. Silence has the opposite effect, releasing tension in brain and body. Exposure to chronic noise can also hinder children’s cognitive development, according to a study from the World Health Organization and the European Commission Joint Research Centre; this includes language skills and reading ability. To help counter modern noise pollution, attention restoration theory suggests that individuals placed in environments with lower levels of sensory input can recover some of the cognitive abilities they have lost.
Gut Bacteria Linked to Toddler Temperament
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hio State University researchers have discovered a correlation between bacteria in the gut and behavior in toddlers. Scientists studied the bacterial microbes in stool samples from 77 girls and boys between the ages of 18 months and 27 months, while mothers filled out a questionnaire describing their children’s level of emotional reactivity. The study found that positive behavioral traits occurred more frequently in children with the most diverse types of gut bacteria. These included mood, curiosity, sociability and impulsivity. The correlation was particularly strong in boys. Lisa Christian, Ph.D., a researcher with the Ohio State Institute for Behavioral Medicine research, and her co-author, Microbiologist Michael Bailey, Ph.D., plan to use the information to help uncover some mysteries related to the origin of chronic illness. “There is substantial evidence that intestinal bacteria interact with stress hormones; the same hormones that have been implicated in chronic illnesses like obesity and asthma,” explains Christian. “A toddler’s temperament gives us a good idea of how they react to stress. This information, combined with an analysis of their gut microbiome, could ultimately help us to detect and prevent chronic health issues [from developing] earlier.” Source: Ohio State University Center for Clinical and Translational Science
Healing Retreats and Classes Yoga, Meditation, Coaching, Tools for Transformation
Upcoming Retreats: Washington, Sedona, Bali, Mexico, Greece Roy Holman v 425-303-8150 HolmanHealthConnections.com
Music is a moral law. It gives soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and charm and gaiety to life and to everything. ~Plato
Are EMFs in Your Home Making You Sick? If you: • Have chronic health issues and need to detox your home • Want to improve your sleep • Suffer from allergies and other chemical sensitivities • Are worried about long term effects of EMFs on you and your children
THERE IS A SOLUTION. Book your FREE “Home Detox” Consult (CALL NOW: 206-799-5363) We diagnose and treat your home for electro-magnetic radiation, mold, multi-chemical sensitivities and more. Book online today: RisaSuzuki.com/schedule
natural awakenings
November 2016
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globalbriefs News and resources to inspire concerned citizens to work together in building a healthier, stronger society that benefits all.
Stark Mark
Record carbon dioxide levels will surpass the symbolic threshold of 400 parts per million (ppm) this year and will likely never fall below it again in our lifetimes, according to a new study published recently in the journal Nature Climate Change. The findings highlight urgent concerns about global efforts to curb climate change as outlined in the Paris agreement negotiated last December and signed in April by nearly 170 nations. Carbon concentrations have passed the 400 ppm limit before, but never permanently. The authors state, “In the longer term, a reduction in CO2 concentration would require substantial and sustained cuts in anthropogenic [humanly influenced] emissions to near zero.� The determined safe level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is a maximum of around 350 ppm, according to climate advocates.
Billion Photos/Shutterstock.com
Carbon Dioxide Passes Climate-Warming Threshold
Source: Nature.com
Safer Citizens
Germany to Ban Fracking Permanently txking/Shutterstock.com
The German government has ruled to ban the practice of hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, for shale gas in the country, but will allow test drilling in certain circumstances, reports Reuters. The industry has lobbied to continue fracking, which involves blasting chemicals and water into underground rock formations to release trapped gas, but strong opposition has persisted throughout the nation, with a powerful green lobby warning of possible risks to drinking water. Germany follows France and Bulgaria, which have already permanently banned fracking.
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communityspotlight
Lauren Dillon-Merrill and husband Scott with their son in a recent family photo.
Growing Community SelLyn to Offer Classes, Jewelry, Crystals and More in Bothell
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new boutique named Se l Lyn is coming to Bothell. Starting in late November or early December, the business will be open for shoppers to experience a range of offerings, including gifts, crystals, jewelry and clothing, as well as find a steady schedule of classes and workshops. “We’ve branched out to have a huge, nice space for people to come shop, spend time and build community,” owner Lauren Dillon-Merrill explains. Se l Lyn represents the expansion of Dillon-Merrill’s current business, 3 Petals Healing, which is currently located in Bothell and is transforming into the new boutique. Dillon-Merrill opened 3 Petals Healing this past January, and has expanded along with their family: Dillon-Merrill’s husband recently left his job to work fulltime with the family business, and Dillon-Merrill was pregnant as of press time with the couple’s second child. “We are just feeling very blessed and lucky to have this opportunity to grow as a business but also as a family,” Dillon-Merrill says, adding that she feels their increasing numbers of clients
will benefit from the new boutique, which includes all of 3 Petals’ energetic and esoteric healing offerings like a John of God crystal healing bed. Her current customers are from all walks of life, seeking healing or personal growth,
and Dillon-Merrill expects to continue to serve a diverse audience. “The common thread is that they
feel good about coming into this place where they can be open and accepted,” Dillon-Merrill says. “Everybody has their own path that they are walking at their own pace, and I think people appreciate coming into a safe space where they can heal and learn.” In a world that makes it hard to honor an individual’s gifts, Dillon-Merrill wants to create a hub for people to learn, grow and become themselves. “I talk about my tribe a lot, which are people who have like minded goals and thrive together in a community,” Dillon-Merril explains. “I like to hold space and help people be the best they can be, with the gifts they are given. If everyone does what they do well, in a community setting, then the community thrives.” In addition to her own background as a healer, Dillon-Merrill credits her desire to build community as one of her biggest reasons for creating 3 Petals Healing and now Se l Lyn. “A lot of people are very energetically sensitive and they just don’t even realize it, so being able to help people understand that better and cope with it and make those decisions for themselves is wonderful,” she explains. “Their transformation might be anything from sleeping better and feeling better to making a huge lifestyle change.” In addition to classes and workshops ranging from esoteric healing to holistic doula certification, Se l Lyn offers ethically sourced and affordable clothing in a wide range of sizes, in a style Dillon-Merrill describes as boho-chic, which includes offerings such as leggings, cardigans, dresses and more. Se l Lyn will also offer gemstone jewelry, also ethically sourced, with pieces ranging from $30-1200 in price. In addition, this coming spring, DillonMerrill plans to start offering custom jewelry and her own clothing line. “We’re excited to build community with everyone,” Dillon-Merrill says. “We’re growing and grateful to be able to offer more to the community.” Se l Lyn will open in late November or early December at 10124 Main Street, Bothell. For more information: SelynBoutique.com.
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November 2016
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liftyourspirits Kauai Healer’s Retreat
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Tune in Every Friday from 8–9 am on KKNW 1150 AM!
Lift Your Spirits with Dena Marie – 8-9am. Discover fascinating people, inspiring activities and places that will lift one’s spirits in this radio show. Tune in to 1150 AM KKNW Alternative Talk Radio every Friday at 8am. 425-350-5448. To listen to archived shows, go to 1150KKNW.com.
eanne Russell, owner of Dolphin Touch Wellness Center, has announced a retreat for practioners of the healing arts that will take place Jan. 16-21 on the island of Kauai in Hawaii. “This is going to be a wonderful opportunity for healers to meet likeminded friends and collegaues and learn more about a variety of exciting areas affecting their future, like how to run retreats,” Russell says. “Kauai is the perfect warm and beautiful setting for recharging, renewing and coming home with some exciting new connections and ideas.” Russell is also offering complimentary breakthrough coaching sessions to attendees to help them set new goals for their practice and their lives. For mor information: DolphinTouch.org or 808-8224414.
Our Energy Matters Certification In this workshop participants will learn how to perform chakra readings for themselves and others, and will be encouraged you to jump in and experience this world! The book Our Energy Matters is a manual on the how to’s of doing your own chakra readings and comes with a beginner set of 21 stones to get started. Course fee includes the book Our Energy Matters and 21 polished stones. Sunday, Nov. 6 from 12:30-4:30 at A Path To Avalon in Arlington. $80. Registration required. 437 N Olympic Ave, Arlington.
Chakra Tune Ups! Saturday, Nov. 5 from 10 a.m.–5 p.m. at The NW Mind Body Spirit Connection Camano Center. $20. 606 Arrowhead Rd, Camano Island. Dena-Marie.com.
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Questions or registration: 425-350-5448 or Dena@ Dena-Marie.com.
traveladventure Winter Escape For The Soul by Gayle Picken
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fter summer is over, the population on Camano Island drops in half. Fewer cars on the roads, shorter lines at the grocery stores, and quieter beaches all create perfect backdrop for solitude and quiet reflection. Even if you can’t spare a full long weekend, a 24 hour trip to Camano Island can be enough to rest, retreat and rejuvenate without adding more stress of having to get caught up with life when you get home. An hour’s drive north from Seattle, Camano Island is home to two state parks with miles of hiking trails and beaches. You can stay in a rustic waterfront cabin at Cama Beach and check out the chef-inspired dinner in the park series for a delicious and nourishing meal. On Nov. 5, a free holistic health fair event called the NW Mind Body Spirit Connection is being held at the Camano Center. You can sample a variety of self-care products and services and learn something new from the incredible line up of speakers, which includes Conscious Talk Radio’s Brenda Michaels and Lift Your Spirits with Dena Marie. The day’s topics include everything from “The Power of Happiness” and “Winterizing Your Body with Ayruveda” to “Shamanic Healing” and “Manifesting what you want in life.” A full schedule of events can be found at NWMindBodySpirit. com. A trip for the soul must include art, and Camano Island has several world-class galleries to explore. On Nov. 5 and 6, local painter Michele Rushworth is hosting an art show at her studio. See MicheleRushworth.com for details. For a special nurturing overnight stay, check out The Nest, located above Z’s Body-n-Soul in Stanwood. Susanna Z. Mantis is a healer and energy worker and also offers
relationship coaching for those wanting to gain perspective. Check PerspectiveWA.net for info. To get in the flow before the holidays, check out Marla William’s special energy and yoga mini-retreat on Sunday, Nov. 20 at the Camano Island Yacht Club. Learn how stress infiltrates your system and how to manage it in a way that will absolutely improve your physical and emotional health during the holiday season. A morning of energy work and yoga with a view of the Puget Sound. You can sign up at PracticalSolutionsZone.com. Whether you choose to bundle up and go for a quiet walk on the beach or cozy up inside with a warm fire place and good book, a winter weekend getaway can be just what you need to have the energy and strength to bring joy to your holiday season. Enjoy! Gayle Picken is an arts promoter, video blogger and travel writer. Connect with her at ArtYogaTravel.com or reach her by email at gayle@66events.com.
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STAY SHARP Powerful Ways to Avoid Mental Decline by Lisa Marshall A slow descent into dementia seemed inevitable for a 66-year-old man that had been misplacing his keys, missing appointments and struggling at work. He failed doctor-administered cognitive quizzes and tested positive for a gene variant linked to an exponentially higher risk of Alzheimer’s disease. A brain scan revealed scattered clusters of sticky, amyloid plaque—a hallmark of the disease. His hippocampus, or memory center, had shrunk to rank in the lowest 17 percent of men his age. Told there wasn’t much that could be done, he sought the help of University of California, Los Angeles Alzheimer’s researcher Dale Bredesen, a neurologist and founding president of the independent Buck Institute for Research on Aging. He recommended a personalized, 36-point plan, including a high-fat/low-carb diet, intermittent fasting, strict sleep schedule, select 12
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dietary supplements and other lifestyle changes. Within three months, family members reported marked improvements in his memory. At 10 months, brain scans revealed his hippocampus had grown 12 percent. “Such improvements are unprecedented,” says Bredesen, who described this and nine other hopeful cases in a provocative paper published in June in the journal Aging. “These are the first examples of a reversal of cognitive decline in pre- and early Alzheimer’s patients.”
Addressing the Sources
Bredesen is among a small but growing group of researchers, physicians, caregivers and patients challenging the conventional wisdom that the road to dementia goes one way, with no cure or repair of damage done. They argue that the key to both prevention and reversal,
SeattleAwakenings.com
at least in early stages, is to pinpoint its numerous drivers—from nutritional and hormonal deficiencies and exposure to infection to environmental toxins and harmful drugs—and attack them simultaneously. It’s a stark departure from the classic, often unsuccessful, one-pill treatment approach. Of the 244 clinical trials for Alzheimer’s drugs between 2002 and 2012, all but one failed. “Imagine having a roof with 36 holes in it, and your drug patched one hole. You still have 35 leaks,” says Bredesen, who believes his synergistic approach—the Bredesen Protocol—can likely make Alzheimer’s drugs work better or render them unnecessary. Skeptical colleagues point out that Bredesen’s paper described only 10 case studies, not a clinical trial. “It is intriguing, but not enough to make recommendations to physicians or patients,” says Keith Fargo, Ph.D., director of scientific programs and outreach for the Chicagobased Alzheimer’s Association. “The current consensus in the scientific community is that we do not have a way to reverse dementia.” While agreeing that a larger study is needed, Neurologist David Perlmutter, of Naples, Florida, whose bestsellers Brain Maker and Grain Brain promote nutritional changes for supporting brain health, considers Bredesen’s study revolutionary. “To reverse Alzheimer’s in one patient is monumental, much less 10,” says Perlmutter. They recently presented together at a conference organized by Sharp Again Naturally, a New York nonprofit that educates patients and caregivers about natural means of slowing and reversing cognitive decline. After losing her mother to Alzheimer’s, the nonprofit’s co-founder, Jacqui Bishop, 74, stopped her own frightening decline by changing her diet and getting her thyroid hormone levels under control via supplements. Now she’s helping others do the same. She says, “We are trying to change the conversation from one of despair to one of hope.”
Mending Body and Brain
Key to Bredesen’s approach is the notion that instead of being one disease, Alzheimer’s consists of three sub-types
Lifestyle changes can prevent and slow cognitive decline. Some say they also reverse it. with distinct drivers: inflammation or infection; harmful environmental exposures; and/or lack of neuron-nurturing hormones. To determine which one to target, he tests patients for blood-sugar, inflammation and hormone levels, heavy metals and critical nutrients such as D and B vitamins. Then he crafts a personalized plan. He notes that the 10 years it can take to progress from subtle decline to full-blown Alzheimer’s provides a huge opportunity. “Ideally, we want people to come in when they have mild impairment or are asymptomatic,” says Bredesen, advising that tests be done for the APOE4, or “Alzheimer’s gene” in one’s 40s. “People have not wanted to know in the past because they’ve been told there is nothing they can do about it. We completely disagree.” One way to stay cognitively sharp is to eat fewer carbs (which boost blood sugar) and eat more fat, says Perlmutter. “There is a clear relationship between elevated levels of blood sugar and increased risk of Alzheimer’s.” One study, published in 2013 in the New England Journal of Medicine, tracked 2,067 healthy adults for seven years and found that the higher their average glucose level, even if they weren’t diabetic, the more likely they were to develop dementia. For instance, those with a level of 115 milligrams per deciliter were 18 percent more at risk than those measuring 100 milligrams per deciliter. A 2012 study published in Neurology followed 266 adults for four years and found that those with higher blood sugar saw certain areas of the brain shrink 6 to 10 percent more than those with lower blood sugar. Gluten can also be problematic, advises Perlmutter, when it’s inflammatory and driving brain degeneration. In contrast, good fat, like that in avocados, fatty fish, coconut oil and walnuts, serves as a foundation for neurons and an efficient, cleanburning fuel source for the brain. This is particularly helpful in someone with early-stage Alzheimer’s, says Bredesen, because the disease can make it harder
for the brain to use sugar for fuel. In some cases, both doctors recommend an extremely low-carb, or “ketogenic” diet (fewer than 60 grams of carbs per day). Starved of carbohydrates, the liver produces fat-like compounds called ketones, a brain-fuel source shown to stimulate growth of new neural networks. Bredesen also recommends 12 hours of fasting each night, with zero food intake within three hours of going to sleep. Fasting promotes a process called autophagy, by which the brain essentially cleans itself of damaged cellular material. Eight hours of sleep is also vital. According to University of Rochester research, the space between brain cells opens up during sleep, allowing cleansing channels of fluid to flow more freely. “If you were operating your house 24/7 with no time to rest or clean, it would be disastrous,” says Bredesen. “The same is true of your brain.” Also, they say, keep teeth clean because bacterial infections, including those in the gums, have been shown to hasten formation of neuron-killing plaque. Also critically examine the prescription drugs being ingested. A recent study of 74,000 people published in JAMA Neurology found that regular use of heartburn drugs like Prilosec and Nexium increased dementia risk by 42 to 52 percent. Meanwhile, anticholinergic drugs like Benadryl and statin drugs prescribed to manage cholesterol have also been linked to increased dementia. “We see ‘statin brain’ all the time,” observes Perlmutter, who says once patients go off the drugs, they tend to get better.
False Hope or Sound Advice
Fargo says researchers are keenly interested in many of the ideas in Bredesen’s paper. Although it’s too early to endorse them, numerous studies are underway. But he wonders if some patients that assert that they’ve reversed dementia actually suffered from something else, like sleep apnea or depression. Bredesen stands by his research, asserting that the 10 patients in his
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paper had all been formally diagnosed with Alzheimer’s or its precursors. One 69-year-old entrepreneur that was planning to close his business after 11 years of mental decline is now expanding it. A 49-year-old woman that scored poorly on neuropsychological tests showed no signs of cognitive decline when she was tested again nine months later. In all, more than 100 people have participated in the program. “We have people that are four-and-ahalf years out and doing very well,” he says, noting that such strategies aren’t
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November 2016
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likely to work for someone with advanced Alzheimer’s. In some cases, the results may be more subtle, but for those caring for a sick loved one, any positive progress means a lot. Paul Tramontozzi knows. After his father, then 75, was diagnosed with Lewy Body Dementia, the New York City financial advisor attended a Sharp Again Naturally meeting seeking advice. “I was skeptical, but when the answer you get from everyone else is, ‘There’s nothing you can do,’ you become more willing to listen.” He took his father off his cholesterol medication, fed him spoonfuls of coconut oil daily and put him on a specific supplement regimen. His balance improved and he could participate in family outings again. “If you had told me a few years ago we’d be able to take Dad to a restaurant for his 80th birthday, I would have said, ‘No way.’ But we did.” Tramontozzi says his father isn’t cured, but the advice he obtained facilitated more time together and insights on how to avoid a similar fate. “These are all things a healthy 37-year-old should be doing right now anyway. I just wish we’d found out earlier.” Lisa Marshall is a freelance health writer in Boulder, CO. Connect at LisaAnnMarshall.com.
Get-Smart Supplements Curcumin: This potent constituent in turmeric (the yellow spice that gives curry its flavor) has been shown to combat many of the problems that contribute to brain degeneration, including inflammation, free radical damage and high blood sugar. It also boosts growth of new brain cells. Take 500 milligrams (mg) twice daily or eat a diet rich in curry. DHA (docosahexaenoic acid): This omega-3 fatty acid serves as a key building block for brain cell membranes. Take 1,000 mg daily (derived from fish oil or algae) or eat lots of fatty fish. Coconut oil: It’s rich in medium-chain triglycerides, an efficient, clean-burning fuel source for the brain. Take one or two teaspoons daily. Probiotics: These help fortify the intestinal lining, reducing the gut permeability and inflammation that can impact cognitive health. They also support production of key neurotransmitters and the brain-derived neurotrophic factor brain growth hormone. Look for supplements or foods containing Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus brevis, Bifidobacterium lactis and Bifidobacterium longum. B vitamins: High levels of the amino acid homocysteine have long been linked to increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease; have levels checked and if they’re elevated, B6 and B12 can reduce them. Source: David Perlmutter
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inspiration
The Art of Blessing Sanctifying Everyday Life by Dennis Merritt Jones
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ost blessings are done quietly, in the silence of one’s own mind and heart; most often others don’t even know about it. How a blessing is done is not as important as the fact that it’s done mindfully. There is nothing magical or mystical about conferring a blessing—it’s simply confirming the presence of God, divine Spirit, at the center of that which is being blessed. Masters, teachers, sages and saints from every spiritual tradition have used
blessings as a way to consecrate, sanctify, purify and heal. Wedding ceremonies, memorial services, christenings and everything in-between have at one time or another been blessed. Anyone can offer a blessing. Ernest Holmes, author of Science of Mind, defined a blessing as constructive thought directed toward anyone or any condition. He says, “You bless a man when you recognize the divinity in him.” When things are good, it can
seem easy to neglect the practice of blessing ourselves and others. Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote: “Never lose an opportunity of seeing anything that is beautiful; for beauty is God’s handwriting—a wayside sacrament. Welcome it in every fair face, in every fair sky, in every fair flower and thank God for it as a cup of blessing.” We can always bless what’s good in our lives, but blessings can become even more meaningful if we remember to bless the bad times as well, when we most need to remember the truth that good is present then and there, too. Getting in the habit of embracing daily blessings is a good spiritual practice as we evolve and go forth and bless our world as we have been blessed. It’s a matter of remembering that the real blessing has already been bestowed; the gift of life itself. Take a moment to contemplate this and seal it in consciousness by silently affirming, “I am blessed and I am a blessing.” I Am is a name of God. In the words of Mary Baker Eddy in introducing her seminal work, Science & Health, “To those leaning on the sustaining infinite, today is big with blessings.” Dennis Merritt Jones, D.D., of St. Petersburg Beach, FL, is the author of Your (Re)Defining Moments, The Art of Uncertainty and The Art of Being, the source of this essay. He has contributed to the human potential movement and field of spirituality for 30 years (DennisMerrittJones.com).
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THE SENSITIVE CHILD How to Nurture altanaka/Shutterstock.com
Special Gifts by Maureen Healy
It is primarily parenting that decides whether the expression of sensitivity will be an advantage or a source of anxiety. ~Elaine Aron Highly sensitive children need extra nurturing care so that they can learn to see their sensitivity as a strength and begin empowering themselves with tools to tap into their positive traits such as insight, creativity and empathy, while simultaneously learning how to manage their rich emotional lives. Elaine Aron, Ph.D., a practicing psychotherapist in Mill Valley, California, who studies sensitivity using functional magnetic resonance imaging, advises, “A highly sensitive child is among the 15 to 20 percent born with a nervous system that’s highly aware
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and quick to react to everything.” She offers a free online questionnaire to help assess a child’s level of sensitivity at HSPerson.com/test/highly-sensitivechild-test. Highly sensitive children are incredibly responsive to their environments, from sounds and smells to the overall mood of people they encounter. Other indicators may range from a preference for quiet play to noticing details or asking many questions. With a sharpened sense of awareness, they are often gifted intellectually, creatively and emotionally, demonstrating genu-
ine compassion early on. The downside is that these intensely perceptive children can also be easily overwhelmed by crowds, noises, new situations or sudden changes. Criticism, defeat and the distress of others deeply affect them. Parenting a highly sensitive child can be highly rewarding, but some parents find it exhausting. Special skills help in gracefully raising a healthy, happy and well-adjusted sensitive child without wearing ourselves out. Accept, rather than seek to change them. Embracing a child as being highly sensitive is step one. No one can change them into less sensitive, more traditional kids. Accept their specialness as part of the family’s shared journey. See it as a gift. It’s easy to get frustrated or angry with a child if they continually cry, withdraw and shy away from social situations. Instead of viewing these behaviors as flaws, see them as providing the child a special gift. Sensitivity often characterizes artists, innovators, prodigies and great thinkers. Partner up. Sensitive children respond far better to requests for desired behaviors when acting in partnership with the adults in their life. Harsh discipline can elicit emotional meltdowns and outbursts of energy in temper tantrums, crying or yelling. Partnering with a child includes learning to avoid their triggers and giving them ready tools to use when they feel overwhelmed, such as breathing exercises. Professional counselors can help shape the relationship. Focus on strengths. Remembering that a highly sensitive child may
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be incredibly talented is essential when they are acting out. Training ourselves to see a child’s strengths first—such as their incredible creativity, perceptiveness and keen intellect—helps us accept their challenges, such as being overwhelmed, highly emotional, introverted at times, shy, picky about clothes and other preferences, or overly active. Create calmness. It’s worth taking the time to create spaces that match a child’s sensibilities. Create a “peace corner” at home designed to deliver the serenity that highly sensitive children crave by using just the right lighting, colors, sounds and surroundings; elements might include headphones, favorite plush toys and coloring markers. Instill inner discipline. Establishing gentle structure and clear limits with respect goes a long way. Reasonable reminders of what’s needed now and why yield better results than shouting and warnings of consequences. Connect with peers. Like everyone else, highly sensitive children are drawn to other “birds of a feather”, and getting these kids together to nurture each other’s strengths is good. It may mean some extra effort by parents to help a child find kids that get along together and make play dates. A highly sensitive child can be steered in a helpful emotional direction by well-adjusted, happy and healthy sensitive adults. Sensitive children need especially good role models because they are learning how to use their incredible gifts in a world that sometimes doesn’t value their inherent worth. Maureen Healy, of Santa Barbara, CA, runs a mentoring program for highly sensitive children based on her social and emotional learning curriculum for K-8 students, child psychology training and current scientific research. She is the author of Growing Happy Kids and The Energetic Keys to Indigo Kids (HighlySensitiveKids.com).
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consciouseating
Festive Sips and Nibbles Vegan Holiday Treats that Everyone Loves by Judith Fertig
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or those that like to eat plant-based meals most of the time, the holidays can present a challenge. Social occasions from Thanksgiving to New Year’s Day abound, including multi-course dinners and potlucks; tree-trimming and baking parties; neighborly hospitality; nibbling on treats while wrapping gifts; and gathering to watch a holiday movie. Because so much is happening in such a short period of time, people often revert to serving traditional foods such as Aunt Mary’s cheese ball or Grandma Daisy’s three-layer chocolate bars. These vintage recipes, however, can be laden with processed ingredients. Foods that signaled holiday cheer ages ago need a tweak or two to satisfy today’s health-minded friends and family members. With traditional flavors of the season like aromatic spices, fresh rosemary and chocolate, plus a plantbased philosophy, family favorites can get a new twist. Natural Awakenings asked cookbook authors, chefs and bloggers from around the country to help us celebrate wonderful holiday moments, big and small. Adding a plant-based nibble or sip not only helps party hosts stay on track, it also helps keep guests from over-indulging, so that everyone ends up enjoying themselves even more. Addictive Nibbles 18
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American-born Sandra Gutierrez grew up in Guatemala and now lives in Cary, North Carolina. As the author of The New Southern Latino Table and Empanadas: The Hand-Held Pies of Latin America, she shows how fresh, seasonal, Latino foods can add grace and flavor to any table. “In the South, appetizers can be as simple as shelled pecans tossed with spices,” she says. She applies the same easy treatment to pumpkin seeds, or pepitas, tossing them with ancho chile powder, cumin, coriander and other flavorings to bake in the oven until crunchy. “These take only minutes to make and will keep for a few weeks if stored in an airtight container.” Then, when people drop by, she has a readymade, plant-based, delicious nibble to offer with drinks. Brother chefs Chad and Derek Sarno, of Austin, Texas, are the co-founders of WickedHealthyFood.com, a website devoted to plant-based eating habits. Chad has co-authored (with Chris Karr) Crazy Sexy Kitchen: 150 Plant-Empowered Recipes to Ignite a Mouthwatering Revolution. Derek is the former global executive chef for Whole Foods Market. “Shoot for 80 percent healthy and 20 percent wicked, and you’ll be 100 percent sexy,” they advise with a wink. A little indulgence is fine during the holidays, they say. “For vegans and vegetarians, think of your 20 percent
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as a chance to let loose every now and again and enjoy whatever makes you feel a bit wicked—fats, sugars, salts, beer; you get the idea—unless you’re following doctor’s orders. We want you to eat for health, and as chefs, we want eating healthy to taste great.” For the holidays, they like to have easy, yet big-flavor nibbles on hand such as homemade popcorn flavored with fresh rosemary and truffle oil, or crunchy, roasted chickpeas that pack a little heat from sriracha, a homemade or bottled hot sauce. Celebratory Sips Sophia DeSantis, of Carlsbad, California, changed to a vegan diet because of her husband’s health issues several years ago. “We ate plant-based for one month and just kept on going,” she says. “Within three months, he was off all meds and hasn’t needed them since.” That victory made her an impassioned vegan cook for their three children, as well. Whether preparing food for family or guests, she says, “I don’t even mention the type of food, because I simply make delicious dishes that just happen to be plant-based. There are a million and one ways to redo traditional favorites.” DeSantis makes her own pistachio milk for a special hot chocolate she serves during the holidays; she blogs her recipes at VeggiesDontBite.com. Other options for plant-based sips include chilled, dairy-free eggnog, perhaps topped with coconut creamer and a dusting of freshly grated nutmeg. Mulled cider or pomegranate juice, warmed in a stove pot with whole spices like cinnamon and cloves, plus slices of citrus fruits, add holiday flavors and aromas. Having already prepared nibbles and sips handy in the pantry, freezer or refrigerator makes both planned and spontaneous hosting easier, as well as providing ready-made goodies to bring to other gatherings. “Then, there’s always something available you can enjoy,” says DeSantis. Judith Fertig writes cookbooks and foodie fiction from Overland Park, KS (JudithFertig.com).
Tasty Holiday Recipes
photo by Stephen
Truffle Spiced Popcorn
Spiced Pepitas These crunchy pumpkin seeds are lemony, salty, spicy and zesty, all at the same time. A handful of these toasted tidbits whets the appetite. Yields: 2 cups 2 cups raw pumpkin seeds 1 Tbsp grated lemon zest 1 Tbsp lemon juice 2 tsp salt 1 tsp ground cumin 1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper 1/2 tsp ground coriander 1/4 tsp ancho chile powder 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper 1/4 tsp garlic powder 1/2 tsp sugar (optional) Preheat the oven to 375° F. In a medium bowl, toss together the pumpkin seeds, lemon zest, lemon juice, salt, cumin, pepper, coriander, chile powder, cayenne and garlic powder. Spread the mixture on a baking sheet and bake for 5 minutes. Remove the baking sheet from the oven and shake to redistribute the seeds, and then bake for another 3 minutes. Pull it out to shake the pan again. Then finish baking for 1 to 2 minutes or until the pumpkin seeds are crispy and golden without burning them.
This wicked, fresh, piping-hot popcorn is kissed with a simple blend of rosemary, onion and truffle oil. Yields: 9 cups 2 Tbsp grapeseed oil A bit less than 1 cup popcorn kernels 1 Tbsp truffle oil 2 Tbsp nutritional yeast 1/2 Tbsp onion granules 1/2 tsp fresh rosemary, minced Sea salt to taste On medium heat, warm the oil in a large saucepan with a lid. Remove from the stove and add all kernels in an even layer on the bottom of the pan. Cover for 20 seconds to allow all the kernels to become coated and reach equal temperature so they all pop at once. Place the covered pan back on the heat and shake it while it’s on the burner. The kernels will slowly begin to pop; once they start, crack the lid slightly to let out a bit of steam. Continue shaking the pan over heat until the popping stops. Remove from the stovetop immediately and pour all popcorn into a large bowl. Drizzle with truffle oil, nutritional yeast, onion granules, minced rosemary and sea salt. Shake and mix well before serving.
Frothy Hot Chocolate with Pistachio Milk Cozy up and indulge in this thick, creamy and rich hot chocolate made with whole food ingredients. Yields: 2 servings Pistachio Milk 1/2 cup raw shelled pistachios 2 cups filtered water Cocoa 1/2 to 1/3¾ cup unsweetened baking cocoa or cacao powder 1/4¼ to 1/2 cup date paste 1 tsp cinnamon 1 tsp vanilla extract Dash Himalayan pink salt For the pistachio milk, soak the nuts overnight in a bowl of water. Rinse before placing them into a highspeed blender with the 2 cups of water. Blend until the mixture is completely puréed and milky. Strain mixture through a nut milk bag or cheesecloth; then add the nut milk back into the blender. Add all other ingredients and blend at a high speed until thick. Note: If using a regular, slower blender, re-warm the hot chocolate on the stove top. It may not be as thick and frothy but will taste good. Courtesy of Sophia DeSantis, who blogs her recipes at VeggiesDontBite.com.
Courtesy of Chad and Derek Sarno, WickedHealthyFood.com.
Transfer to a cool baking sheet and cool completely before storing in an airtight container. Courtesy of Sandra A. Gutierrez, SandrasKitchenStudio.com. natural awakenings
November 2016
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Boarding Solutions for Beloved Pets
photo courtesy of K-9 Resorts Daycare and Luxury Hotels
naturalpet
Ask Questions
The Best are Pet, People and Planet Friendly by Sandra Murphy
he holidays bring buffet feasts, ribboned gifts, stockings of goodies, ornaments and tinsel that to animals all look good enough to eat. Pets can get into trouble, especially if they’re away from home. Boarding may be the best alternative when the family travels for holidays.
Take a Tour
Brad Nierenberg blogs about dogs at PawsitivelyBradleyNierenberg.com, from Wilmington, Delaware. He relates an experience when friends watched Bitsy, his Cavalier King Charles spaniel, and she escaped out the front door. Fortunately, a neighbor found her. Afterward, he says, “I asked other dog-crazy owners which kennel they’d recommend.” Kennels used to be an indoor cage with a dog door to a fenced run area outside. Dogs could see each other, but not play together. Well-heeled facilities 20
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offered fancy amenities, geared more to impress the owner than comfort the pet and were generally bereft of enriching experiences. “Pets are living, breathing, loving creatures, and boarding facilities not yet up to speed need to catch up to how people feel about pets today,” says Charlotte Biggs, COO of the nonprofit International Boarding and Pet Service Association, near Austin, Texas. It helps its members create safe, responsible
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MaxyM/Shutterstock.
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pet care facilities by including holistic, positive and green practices in their safety and training manuals. Susan Briggs, co-founder of the independent Professional Animal Care Certification Council for the pet care industry, in Houston, advises, “Take a tour. Kennels should be clean and organized. You should feel comfortable with the staff.” “Do the employees talk about your pet like you’re bringing the car in for an oil change? If it’s ignored in favor of paperwork, maybe you should keep looking,” says Josh Brown, owner of Far North Kennel, in Anchorage, Alaska. “You want to go where the staff bends down and lets your pet come to them. It should be obvious your dog’s going to get positive human interaction. When you walk out after touring the facility, you should feel better about boarding than when you walked in.” Costs vary, so ask what’s included in the basic fee, such as group play, treats, administered meds, special bedding and feeding the same food as at home. The pet also should be able to have their bed, toys and favorite things with them. Also be clear about medications, health or mobility issues and special bedding or grooming preferences. An apparent bargain can be either less than expected or more expensive once all costs are totaled. “Ask if titers are accepted in lieu of current vaccinations, and don’t feel pressured to over-vaccinate,” advises Briggs, who explains that titers assess levels of immunity from previous vaccinations. She also suggests asking about the facility’s emergency plan, including evacuation. The more information everyone has, the better the pet’s stay will be. Socialized dogs or cats should be able to enjoy group playtime or a communal catio (enclosed indoor/outdoor space for felines); others would rather watch from afar. Stays should be individualized, not uniform. Facility owners suggest first booking a day visit and then an overnight as a test. Before booking, also ask about unseen factors. Josh Parker, co-founder of K-9 Resorts Daycare and Luxury Ho-
photo courtesy of K-9 Resorts Daycare and Luxury Hotels
tels, in Fanwood and other New Jersey locations, recommends that boarding clients look for features such as ecofriendly cleaning products; air purifiers and ventilation systems to prevent spreading of germs; a floor plan that reduces stress by limiting views of other animals; lighting that dims at night for restful sleep; a good ratio of staff to pets that allows employees to spend time with nervous boarders, spot any signs of illness or distress early on and intervene if quarrels arise; and availability of an on-call veterinarian with access to the family vet or nearest emergency facility. Leave a medical directive explaining what should be done if an owner can’t be reached. Flooring at better resorts is antibacterial. Outdoors, artificial grass made of recycled products is soft on paws, drains better than grass and is easier to clean. It’s eco-friendly because it requires no watering, mowing or pesticides.
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“Some facilities like ours offer webcam options so you can ‘visit’ with your dog while you’re traveling,” says Brown. Texting kennel updates and selfies of an employee with a pet can also ease any worries. “I just want my pet in a place where she is safe, secure, well cared for and loved,” says Nierenberg. Though apart, pets and their people can all201609-PS-ME-PA_greenblg_SRB-SRD.indd 2 enjoy a fresh adventure.
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November 2016
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greenliving
One-Person Pamper Party by April Thompson
Pampering ourselves isn’t a luxury so much as a necessity to refresh and renew mind, body and spirit.
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Spas have been synonymous with pampering throughout the ages. “Every civilization around the world has had some kind of communal gathering place for people to practice ‘self-healing’,” says Jeremy McCarthy, group director of Spa & Wellness for the Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group and author of The Psychology of Spas & Wellbeing.
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If You Are Reading This, So Are Your Potential Customers.
Natural Ways to Refresh and Renew
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From ancient Greek bathhouses to Japan’s beloved natural hot springs, spas have long served as sacred places of healing and restoration. Indeed, many treatments provided at today’s eco-spas draw inspiration from traditional uses of herbs, honey and olive oil to care for skin and hair. Locally, natural spas’ pampering services may range from botanically based facials and mud masks to herbal body wraps and hot stone massage.
More Pampering Spots
While busy people tend to put off selfcare, there are treats to suit any sched-
Connect with freelance writer April Thompson, of Washington, D.C., at AprilWrites.com.
Make Home a Spa Zone by April Thompson
B
etween professional spa visits, a doit-yourself spa day at home can be a rewarding and economical treat. “You can create a full day of home spa treatments using ingredients most people have in their kitchen,” advises Lise Andersen, an expert in nature-based cosmetics from Copenhagen, Denmark, and the owner of LisaLise.com, offering custom skin and hair care products, individualized formulations and beginnerfriendly DIY kits. One of Andersen’s home skincare favorites is simple raw honey, used as a cleanser and face mask. “You can use it alone or in conjunction with an added ingredient like almond meal or ground oats. It rinses off beautifully and both softens and cleanses,” she says. A “facial tea” made with herbs like chamomile, lavender and elder blossom is another of the Scandinavian’s at-home favorites. Simply boil water and pour it into a bowl with a handful of herbs, drape a towel over the head,
embracing the face and breathe deeply. “It smells wonderful while opening the pores and hydrating the skin,” Andersen says. Dry brushing with a mitt made with a natural fiber like sisal or jute serves as a quick, everyday pickme-up. It stimulates and exfoliates the body and helps boost circulation. For beautiful cuticles, Andersen suggests a handmade scrub made from raw brown sugar or Himalayan salt combined with a carrier oil like almond or grapeseed. It exfoliates and hydrates, leaving hands feeling silky smooth. To get the most out of a home spa day, prep materials in advance and let family members know that it requires absolute solitude. Complete the spalike atmosphere with relaxing music and naturally scented beeswax candles. Poznyakov/Shutterstock.com
ule or budget—from getting a quick manicure or pedicure at a neighborhood eco-nail salon to visiting a yoga or wellness center. For a quick, healthy pick-me-up, visit an organic juice bar. Opt for businesses that feature fresh, whole ingredients rather than pre-mixed powders or sugar-laden juices; to give the immune system an extra lift, add a natural booster shot of ginger or turmeric. Most grocery stores now carry cold-pressed juices that can pack as much as six pounds of produce into a single bottle. An honored ritual that continues to restore spent spirits is drinking a cup of tea. Whether sipped at home, as part of a British high tea featuring Earl Grey or as part of a traditional Japanese green tea ceremony steeped in Zen, tea time allows us to slow down and savor the moment along with the aromas in our cup. Also, antioxidant-rich tea is fortifying. Salt room visits, another healthy pleasure that has spread throughout the U.S., dates back 150 years to an indigenous Polish practice. Research indicates that salt therapy, or halotherapy, can help improve conditions such as asthma and allergies and support the immune, nervous and lymphatic systems (see Tinyurl.com/SaltRoomPampering). Universally restful salt rooms also offer a unique sensory experience. Another highly accessible way to treat body and mind is to move in a joyful way. Consider taking up a playful new class for de-stressing and stretching such as trapeze yoga, conscious dance or any other dance. Aerial yoga, using suspended trapeze-like supports, helps lengthen the spine and strengthen muscles in ways not easily achieved on the ground. Dance delivers health and fitness bonuses in the midst of having fun. If we’re not in the habit of pampering ourselves, it’s time to stretch our beliefs about what we deserve. We’ll find bliss is an attainable luxury.
Visit Tinyurl.com/Lisa-Lise-Blog for more home spa treatment tips.
Lya Badgley, Independent Consultant 360-348-7059 v lyabadgley@comcast.net https://us.nyrorganic.com/shop/lya natural awakenings
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confidence on many levels. Pilates is recognized as a highly effective way to improve posture.
fitbody
Pilates Unbound New Fusions with Yoga, Dance and Boxing
by Aimee Hughes ith 11,000 studios across experience is necessary; the possibilithe U.S., “Pilates continues to ties are endless,” comments Willcox. grow because an increasingly wide Anderson believes, “The growth spectrum of people are discovering we’re observing is due to the fact that how it can benefit them,” says Elizabeth Pilates addresses fitness across the enAnderson, executive director of the tire body, rather than parts. It creates a Pilates Method Alliance, in Miami. wonderful feeling of overall well-being; Pilates instructor Amanda Januthe exercise is done in a balanced ary, who works at The Carriage Club, in manner on all planes and is coordiKansas City, eventually became an innated with conscious breathing. Plus, structor because, “I love the challenge it doesn’t cause injuries, it prevents of it. I had always been a dancer, and them.” found Pilates provides the movement therapy that my dance classes lack.” Fosters Self-Confidence Current trends are combining Pi“Through focus and breath awareness, lates not only with yoga, but also dance Pilates, not unlike meditation and yoga, and even boxing. “My favorite fusion helps you become more aware of your Pilates class is barre,” says Halley Willbody, which makes you more comfortcox, a certified Pilates teacher originally able in your own skin,” says January. from Austin, Texas, now a grad student Social psychologist Amy Cuddy’s at the University of Arizona, in Tucson. TED talk, “Change Your Posture, Grow Barre classes mix classical ballet exerYour Confidence, Follow Your Dreams,” cises with yoga and Pilates (see Tinyurl. shares the results of her Harvard Unicom/Barre4Fitness). versity research, which demonstrates The boxing variation, called piloxhow people that assume what she calls ing, incorporates pugilistic moves and “power postures” actually change the barefoot interval training. “No prior chemistry in their brains, boosting
W
Val Thoermer/Shutterstock.com
Helps Coordination and Rehabilitation Many dancers and professional athletes access the therapeutic qualities of Pilates to help them recover from injuries and enhance balance and coordination. Anderson remarks, “With a qualified teacher, Pilates can be applied as a post-rehabilitation modality once postsurgery physical therapy is completed, to further strengthen the body. Elite athletes such as professional dancers, baseball and football players, ice skaters and equestrians are also finding ways that Pilates can strengthen and assist them with their performances, well-being and injury prevention.” One of the ways that Pilates helps is by affecting body fascia. “Muscles work together, not individually, within the fascia, and the best way to change the muscle is through resistance,” says January. “It’s why Pilates uses spring tension, resistance bands and even jumping. Pilates improves balance and coordination because all the muscles work together. The entire body is learning how to dance in unison with itself.”
Boosts Immunity “The more I committed to a regular Pilates practice, the more I noticed I wasn’t getting sick as often,” says January. “Pilates helps boost the immune system through reducing stress, a wellknown contributor to disease. It’s accessible to people of all ages. You don’t have to be flexible or strong to begin, just willing.” She offers this advice to beginners. “Check out all the local studios to see what they offer. It’s best to start out taking classes twice a week with a certified teacher for two to three months. That’s easy to commit to. Then you can see if Pilates is right for you.” Aimee Hughes, a freelance writer in Kansas City, MO, is a doctor of naturopathy on the faculty of the Yandara Yoga Institute. Connect at ChezAimee@gmail.com.
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healingways what you have; you’ll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don’t have, you will never, ever have enough.
WORKPLACE WISDOM
~Oprah Winfrey
Mindfulness in Corporate Life by April Thompson
The workplace can be filled with stress, egos and distractions that challenge the productive and happy atmosphere we desire. Both employees and employers are adopting mindfulness to help cope and transform both themselves and their work environment. Rooted in Eastern philosophies like Buddhism, most workplace mindfulness programs have stripped the techniques to a secular form more appealing to skeptics or adherents of other religions. The key practice—simply known as “sitting” or meditation—involves focusing our attention on our thoughts, breathing, emotions or bodily sensations for a set time period, while the term mindfulness refers to the ability to be aware of the present moment, whether meditating or in a business meeting. While Fortune 500 companies like Procter & Gamble, Aetna and General Mills have instituted formal mindfulness programs, Michael Carroll, meditation teacher, executive coach and the author of Awake at Work, says that the mindfulness revolution has been largely seeded from the ground up. It’s emerged through people exploring the practices in their personal lives, and then bringing them to work.
Personal and Professional Benefits Jacqueline Gallo, operational excel26
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lence manager for Whitcraft Group, a manufacturing plant in Eastford, Connecticut, discovered meditation 12 years ago while seeking solace during a traumatic time. Today, Gallo does three short sits a week and occasionally participates in 10-day retreats. Whitcraft doesn’t offer meditation to employees, but Gallo says mindfulness enables her to be available to her staff and solve problems without getting “swept off my feet so easily by all the desires, agendas and emotions confronted at work.” Carroll cautions that it’s not about trying to eliminate our own or others’ emotional agendas or personal biases at work; rather, individuals use mindfulness to become more conscious of and relaxed about them. “Meditation helps develop agility in viewing… to selfregulate, drop fixed mindsets, become self-aware,” explains Carroll, who has coached university presidents, CEOs and nonprofit executives in mindful leadership techniques. “You learn things from a competitor’s perspective or pick up on social cues you may miss if you instead had a fixed lens on a situation.”
Corporate Acceptance
While meditation may be on the upswing in the workplace, it was a battle to legitimize it, according to Tara Healey, program director for mindfulness-based learning at Harvard Pilgrim
Dean Drobot/Shutterstock.com
Be thankful for
Health Care (HPHC). A longtime meditation practitioner, Healey started the Mind the Moment program a decade ago while serving as an organizational capacity building consultant. Surveys had shown that employees were overwhelmed and dissatisfied, but lacked the skills to rectify their situation. “The leadership said, ‘Great, let’s do it, but not tell anyone,’” relates Healey. She notes that meditation, a core component of her multifaceted mindfulness course covering everything from workplace stress to mindful listening, wasn’t accepted in the workplace at that point. Today, 30 percent of her company’s 1,050 employees have completed a sixweek class introducing them to the power of mindfulness; some go on to participate in a guided monthly group meditation practice or use company meditation rooms for individual practice. The health services company also offers the course to its member companies throughout New England. To date, more than 12,350 people in 174 companies have participated, encompassing varied fields from higher education and health to finance and technology. A survey of employees showed that initially 99 percent felt it was a good use of their time; another taken six months later found that 87 percent were still using the techniques. HPHC informatics analyst Stephanie Oddleifson, who took the course nearly 10 years ago, says it transformed her way of thinking and behaving in the workplace and furnished a set of practices she uses every day. In times of conflict, “I was so quick to make up stories in my head and jump to conclusions previously,” she says. “Now I’m able to pause before responding and observe my thoughts without getting caught up in them. I can diffuse tense situations with humor and not take things personally.” Additional research substantiates the anecdotal evidence for meditation’s workplace benefits. In 2015, scientists from Canada’s University of British Columbia and Germany’s Chemnitz University of Technology compiled data from 20-plus neurology studies, finding significant correlations between meditation and areas of the brain related to capacities for self-regulation, introspection and complex thinking. A Rice University study specifically found a positive relationship between workplace mindfulness, job performance and employee retention. While workplace mindfulness programs vary and may incorporate helpful talks, encouraging readings and group discussions, Healey and Carroll both caution that reading or talking about mindfulness or meditation is no substitute for the practice itself, which many find challenging. “You won’t taste the benefits just reading about it,” remarks Healey. “The practice will come into play come showtime.” Connect with April Thompson, of Washington, D.C., at AprilWrites.com.
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wisewords
Edward Humes on the High Cost of Transportation Small Consumer Choices Have Big Impacts by Randy Kambic
E
dward Humes investigates the origins and impacts of the expensive and complex process that brings us everyday products and items in his new book Door to Door: The Magnificent, Maddening, Mysterious World of Transportation. His latest work, which also covers our love affair with cars, is popularizing the eco-conscious term, “transportation footprint”. Aligned with this, he recommends a move to driverless cars to save lives and fuel. In an earlier book, Garbology: Our Dirty Love Affair with Trash, the Pulitzer Prize-winning, Southern California journalist examined the causes and effects of waste. Solutions are showcased by how institutions and families are consciously reducing their wasteful ways.
What are some everyday impacts of the “door-to-door machine” you write about? Transportation is embedded in our lives, both in our personal things and our travel. It can take 30,000 miles to get our morning coffee to the kitchen, with another 165,000 miles attached to all the components of the coffee pot, water, energy and packaging—a worldwide mix involving trains, planes, boats and trucks. Unprecedented amounts of transportation are embedded in everything we do and touch, with many hidden costs to our environment, economy and traffic. Take the world of online retailing. That “buy it now” button seems so convenient, but it’s also a traffic jam generator. Each click births a new truck
trip. What used to be a single truckload of goods delivered efficiently to a store or mall now demands hundreds of single-item deliveries to far-flung homes.
Which transportation footprint surprised you the most in researching Door to Door? The smartphone is a paradox, in that it has reduced our transportation footprint in some ways because of all the separate devices it has replaced, from navigation in cars to calculators to cameras. Phones also empower a transportationfree option for online banking and bill paying, eliminating all sorts of trips in the physical world. On the flip side, making and assembling smartphone components requires a lot of back-and-forth transport between many countries because no one can make the whole “widget”. With its many raw materials, rare earth minerals and manufactured components, we’re talking about an overall transportation footprint for one phone that’s equivalent to a round trip to the moon; a phone that users will trade in for a newer model in just a few years.
What’s a particularly negative impact of the huge distances involved in today’s movement of goods? Cargo container ships create immense amounts of pollution. About 6,000 container ships worldwide ship 90 percent of consumer goods. Natural Resources Defense Council data show that the smog and particulate emissions from
just 160 of these vessels equal that of all of the cars in the world. If the cargo fleet were a country, its carbon emissions would exceed Germany’s, the world’s fourth-largest economy, according to the European Commission. Cargo ship carbon emissions are projected to rise to about 18 percent of the global total in the next 25 years if our appetite for goods continues to grow at current rates.
What are the consequences of the U.S. ranking 16th worldwide in infrastructure quality? Americans are under the illusion that we pay high taxes to build and maintain roads, bridges and rails. However, as a portion of our gross domestic product, we invest about one-fifth of what China does and the poor results are apparent. We have a $3.6 trillion backlog in needed modernization. This drags down the economy and increases harmful emissions through shipping delays and rush-hour jams, as well as raising road safety concerns.
How can we each lessen our “transportation footprint”? We have power as individuals, families and communities to make a difference. Americans walk less than almost any other people on Earth. A Los Angeles study showed that half of its residents’ daily trips are less than three miles, with many under one mile, which is crazy. Using alternative transportation for just 10 percent of those trips would have major positive impacts. Far fewer children walk or bike to school than in the recent past, even as we face a youth obesity crisis. We can also adjust when and how we drive; half the cars on the road during rush hour are not job-related. Driving at other times would ease traffic for everyone and reduce traffic jams, emissions and crashes. All of this is something we could easily change—and that many other countries have changed—with substantial health, economic and traffic benefits. Randy Kambic is a freelance editor and writer in Estero, FL, and a regular contributor to Natural Awakenings.
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calendarofevents NOTE: All Calendar events must be received by the 12th of the month prior to publication and adhere to our guidelines. Email Calendar@SeattleAwakenings.com for guidelines and to submit entries. Alternatively, visit SeattleAwakenings.com to submit online.
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 1 Kundalini Yoga – 10-11:30am, Saturdays through Nov. 10. Considered to be the most comprehensive of all the yogas, Kundalini Yoga incorporates the use of breath, movement, meditation and deep relaxation to awaken the mind, body, and being. During this inspiring class, you will learn how to find inner wisdom, peace and the ability to navigate your life. $120/series. Registration required. Seattle Central College - Mitchell Activity Center, 1718 Broadway, Seattle. 206-934-5448. Our Energy Matters Certification – 12-4 pm. In this workshop participants will learn how to perform chakra readings for yourself and others, and will be encouraged you to jump in and experience this world for for yourself. Course fee includes the book Our Energy Matters and 21 polished stones. $80. Registration required. Stargazers Bookstore in Bellevue. 12727 Northup Way #10, Bellevue. 425-350-5448.
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 4 Messages from Spirit: An Evening with Intuitive Medium Shelly Wilson – 6:30-8:30pm. Join Intuitive Medium, Reiki Master and Spiritual Teacher Shelly Wilson for Messages from Spirit. Using her psychic and mediumistic abilities, healing gifts and teachings, Shelly responds to your questions and offers you messages from your angels, guides and loved ones in Spirit. $25.New Renaissance Bookshop, 1338 NW 23rd Ave in Portland.503-224-4929.
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 5
the heart. Course includes meditation, lecture, discussion, in-class partner exercises. Registration required. $220-$245. Seattle Center for Structural Medicine, 2817 NW Market St, Suite H, Seattle. SCFSM.com.
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 9 Bali Yoga Retreat – Nov. 9-19. Two trips in one: six days on Bali, and four days on the tiny island of Gili Air, next to Bali. Enjoy yoga, meditation, teachings on awakening, snorkeling, hiking, and amazing Indonesian culture and food. $1,695. Bali Eco Stay. 425-303-8150.
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 11 Skin Care 4 Self Care “Make & Take” – 5-7pm. You’ll receive a free skin analysis. You’ll also be walked through the making of a customized enzyme facial mask for the healing and empowering of your beauty for you to take home along with other samples. You’ll also receive a gift certificate towards any facial treatment service. Registration required. $30. Spa Nubia Organic Facial Bar, 1011 S L St, Seattle. 253-470-8431. Kirtan with Sitara & Kalyani – 7:30-9pm. Join us for an evening of interactive, sacred music, led by nationally touring kirtan artists, Sitara & Kalyani. Sitara & Kalyani combine decades of musical expertise and theatrical experience, as well as a passion for yogic traditions, to create an accessible and uplifting kirtan. $15. East West Bookshop, 6407 12th Ave NE, Seattle. 206-523-3726.
NW Mind Body Spirit Connection – 10am-5pm. Learn about and meet local experts in traditional and alternative approaches to health and well-being. Featuring speakers, demos, exhibits, door prizes and more. Free. Camano Center, 606 Arrowhead Rd, Camano Island. NWMindBodySpirit.com. 21 Acres Green Building Tour – 11am-12pm. Get a ‘behind the scenes’ look at the tools and technologies 21 Acres’ LEED Platinum-certified building is employing to maximize efficient use of resources. Make the connections between clean energy, water and food and how they impact our environment, health, and economy. Free. 21 Acres Center for Local Food and Sustainable Living, 13701 NE 171st St. 425-481-1500.
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 7 Cultivating Compassionate Balance – 6:308:30pm on Monday evenings for siz weeks. In this unique blend of Taoist and Buddhist philosophies, psychology, and scientific research you’ll learn to: compassionately engage your inner critic; reduce rumination; and communicate authentically from
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SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 12 Transforming Your Life through Your Space – 11am1pm. Your space reflects your life. This workshop, led by The Space Guru, Susan Shehata, is designed to give you tools that help you recognize what parts of your home and life are holding you back and how to create the positive changes you are seeking. $30. East West Bookshop, 6407 12th Ave NE, Seattle. 206-523-3726. Coming Out of The Closet: The Heroine’s Journey – 2-5pm. Discovering who you are — and loving yourself — can be a treacherous path in a world that is quick to label and judge. Healer, author and LGBT advocate Raven Mardirosian will share her story of coming out of fundamentalist Christianity to embrace her sexuality and gifts of healing, $60. East West Bookshop, 6407 12th Ave NE, Seattle. 206-523-3726.
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 13
SeattleAwakenings.com
Caring for Your Sensitive Empathic Self – 3-6:30pm. When you are empathic you feel other people’s emotions inside your own skin. Talk about confusing! In this workshop intuition teacher and author Aimée Cartier teaches what empaths need so as to not be constantly overwhelmed by other people’s emotions and practices that help these sensitive individuals. $40. East West Bookshop, 6407 12th Ave NE, Seattle. 206-523-3726.
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 16 Vegetarian Dining Event - 7-8:30pm. Come join us at The Upper Crust in Seattle to enjoy a delicious, vegetarian, multi-course meal, hear an insightful speech by our president Amanda on a key vegetarian topic, and meet lots of interesting people. It’s an event not to be missed. Registration Required. $12.95 + tax for members, $16.95 + tax for guests. The Upper Crust Catering Co., 8420 Greenwood Ave N, Seattle. 206-706-2635.
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 19 21 Acres Green Building Tour – 11am-12pm. Get a ‘behind the scenes’ look at the tools and technologies 21 Acres’ LEED Platinum-certified building is employing to maximize efficient use of resources. Make the connections between clean energy, water and food and how they impact our environment, health, and economy. Free. 21 Acres Center for Local Food and Sustainable Living, 13701 NE 171st St. 425-481-1500.
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 3 21 Acres Green Building Tour – 11am-12pm. Get a ‘behind the scenes’ look at the tools and technologies 21 Acres’ LEED Platinum-certified building is employing to maximize efficient use of resources. Make the connections between clean energy, water and food and how they impact our environment, health, and economy. Free. 21 Acres Center for Local Food and Sustainable Living, 13701 NE 171st St. 425-481-1500.
ongoing FRIDAYS Lift Your Spirits with Dena Marie – 8-9am. Discover fascinating people, inspiring activities and places that will lift one’s spirits in this radio show. Tune in to 1150 AM KKNW Alternative Talk Radio every Friday at 8am. 425-350-5448. Dena-Marie.com.
SATURDAYS SewUpSeattle Free Sewing Session – 11am-1pm. On the 4th Saturday of the month, bring your own project and machine or create with our donated fabrics and machines. Men, women and children of all ages and skills are welcome. Free. Sewing Room in Denny Park Lutheran Church, 766 John St, Seattle. Registration required. 206-547-7557. SewUpSeattle@yahoo.com.
and Classes Yoga, Meditation, Coaching, Tools for Transformation
naturaldirectory
RETREATS
Upcoming Retreats: Washington, Bali, Mexico, Greece Connecting you to the leaders in natural healthcare and green living Sedona, HOLMAN HEALTH CONNECTIONS 425-303-8150 in our community. To find out how you can be included in the Natural Roy Holman v 425-303-8150 HolmanHealth@gmail.com Directory, email Publisher@SeattleAwakenings.com to request our HolmanHealthConnections.com HolmanHealthConnections.com media kit.
BEDDING THE SLEEP STORE
10623 NE 8th St Bellevue, WA 98004 425-454-8727 TheSleepStoreUSA.com The Eastside’s largest selection of nontoxic and organic mattresses. Find the one that fits your lifestyle and budget! Featuring adult and child natural and organic mattresses, adjustable beds, organic and natural pillows, comforters, toppers and more.
D
DENTISTS
ECOLOGIC DENTISTRY 8412 Myers Rd E, Ste 301 Bonney Lake, WA 98391 253-863-7005 EcologicDentistry.com
Our dental practice integrates ancient wisdom with leading edge science. We use advanced technology and materials that are least toxic to your body and to the environment. Dr. Yamashiro values patient connection and trust and strives to make you feel comfortable with your dental care options.
DOCTORS Mind-Body Center For Integrative Medicine
3216 NE 45th Pl., Suite #104 (with Aria Integrative) Seattle WA 98105
NATUROPATHIC MENTAL HEALTH: Specializing in Individualized Treatments for Anxiety and Depression with Integrative Medicine and Acupuncture in Seattle. Dr. Emilie Wilson ND, EAMP honors the Mind-Body Connection in your mental health.
Retreats in Washington, Sedona, Bali, Mexico, Greece and more. Yoga, meditation, community and rest and relaxation.
ORTHO TMJ AND SLEEP CENTERS 7513-B SE 27th Street Mercer Island, WA 98040 425-757-2736 240 NW Gilman Blvd #114 Issaquah, WA 98027 425-427-8899 OrthoTMJsleep.com
Sleep apnea can prevent you from spending time in stage 3 sleep. If you snore or have apnea, you will be yanked repeatedly out of your deep restorative and REM sleep into stage 1 or 2. If you are seeking spiritual progress, optimal health and personal growth, then you’ve probably tried many varieties of relaxation, meditation, yoga, dieting and nutrition, and more. Consider the possibility you might just need a good night’s sleep.
ECETI RANCH
509-395-2092 ecetireservations@gmail.com ECETI.org James Gilliliand’s private Hood River, Oregon ranch hosts events, speakers and camping and skywatching weekends. Full event calendar at ECETI.org.
PERSONAL GROWTH LIFT YOUR SPIRITS WITH DENA MARIE!
REAL ESTATE KELLER WILLIAMS REAL ESTATE
April Howard 425-530-5998 1027 State Ave. Ste 102, Marysville, Wash. Are you looking to buy or sell a home? You deserve an agent who will be at your side from beginning to end! Contact April Howard for all your home purchasing needs.
425-350-5448 Dena@Dena-Marie.com LiftYourSpiritswithDenaMarie.com
Dena Marie is a speaker, author of Our Energy Matters and host of Lift Your Spirits With Dena Marie, a radio show airing Fridays from 8–9 a.m. on 1150 AM KKNW.For upcoming classes and events: LiftYourSpiritswithDenaMarie. com.
RESTAURANTS
YOGA
Alta Healthy Cafe Totem Lake Hotel 425-823-3771 12233 NE Totem Lake Way Kirkland, Wash.
KANJIN YOGA
A delicious meal is the starting point for nurturing the soul. We provide a full menu of fresh and healthy Chinese style cooking.
206-722-2665 Info@TheKanjinYogaCenter.com KanjinYoga.com Kanjin Yoga is a path to abundant health and wellness helping people live better inside their bodies. Specializing in Yoga Nidra, Gentle Hatha Yoga, we offer classes and workshops for groups and organizations.
Great spirits have always encountered opposition from mediocre minds. ~Albert Einstein
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Shop with JOY this Holiday
Remember Our New Location: 6407 12TH Ave NE Seattle, WA 98115 206-523-3726 eastwestbookshop.com
Marie Manuchehri 12/2-12/3 Ainslie MacLeod 12/10-12/11
Christmas Eve Candle Light Service Join us for this inwardly focused celebration of the Universal Christ Consciousness in all. All are welcome. There will be an inspirational talk, music and meditation.
Know Thyself
EAST WEST BOOKSHOP
Holidays at Ananda
Sat, Dec 24, 9 - 10 pm, Bothell. Free!
Festive Christmas Service & Pageantry Bring the whole family for this festive Ananda tradition of celebrating the birth of Jesus and the promise of our own immortality in the universal Christ Consciousness. Followed by the annual Christmas party to which all are welcome. Sat, Dec 18, 10 - 11:30 pm, Bothell. Free!
New Year’s Eve Meditation Service
Welcome in the new year with meditation, music, affirmations, readings and inspirational talks by Nayaswamis Hriman and Padma McGilloway - the Spiritual Directors of Ananda Washington. Sat, Dec 31, 10 pm - 12 am, Bothell. Free!
Raja Yoga Classes Begin in January! Three-Month Intensive in Meditation, Yoga, & the EightFold Path. Visit our website www.anandawa.org or call (425) 806-3700 for more information.
Ananda Meditation Temple 23305 Bothell-Everett Hwy Bothell, WA 98021 www.anandawa.org (425) 806-3700