August 2011 - Seattle Natural Awakenings

HEALTHY LIVING HEALTHY PLANET feel good live simply laugh more

FREE

Special Edition

KIDS & FAMILY

Dietary RETHINKING WATER SCHOOL WORKOUTS Supplement Reigniting Love For Non-Swimmers Too Industry At Risk

AUGUST 2011

of Learning

Seattle Edition | SeattleAwakenings.com natural awakenings

FREE

August 2011

1

New! Natural Awakenings Coupons online!

How it works: Visit NaturalAwakeningsCoupons.com Search by category, zip code, city or business Print, save or share your coupons and tag your favorites for future email or text notifications when offer changes!

! y a d o Visit T

Coupons are FREE!

NaturalAwakeningsCoupons.com

Seattle Electric Bike

Evergreen Holistic Vet

SAVE 20 percent on a Bern Brentwood Helmet

Discovery Point Massage School

SAVE $10 on services when you haul your horse into facility

SAVE 50 percent on intro to massage class. Choice of August 6 or 27

Smallclothes SAVE 25 percent on See Kai Run children’s shoes

Unique Plus

Integrative Dentistry

SAVE 25 percent on organic baby and children’s products

FREE 15 minute holistic dentistry consultation

Wellness Restoration Arts

SAVE $15 on acupuncture treatment

SAVE $25 on first Bowenwork visit in August

Dena Marie

Dr. Venessa Wahler

FREE chakra tune-up with purchase of book “Our Energy Matters”

SAVE $130 on physician-supervised HCG weight loss protocol

Wu Hsing Tao

Thrive Natural Medicine

HomEvolution

$30 Well Child exam or $30 sports physical

SAVE $150 on home inspection

Questions? Coupons@SeattleAwakenings.com

Hurry! Many of these offers expire at the end of the month. Print these coupons and learn more today at NaturalAwakeningsCoupons.com

contents

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.

8 5 newsbriefs 8 healthbriefs 10 actionalert 12 ecotip 10 Dietary 10 18 community Supplement Industry at Risk 14

spotlight

by Jonathan Emord, Esquire

19 greenspotlight 20 healthyhomes 22 fitbody 24 calendar 28 classifieds

12

14 DEMOCRACY

IN ACTION

Educating Students to

Think, Create, Initiate

by Lisa Marshall

18 22

18 HELPING STUDENTS

COME ALIVE

Explorations 29 naturaldirectory Academy Online

by Ann Dorn

advertising & submissions

19 GREENHOME 20

how to advertise SOLUTIONS To advertise with Natural Awakenings or request a media

by Lynn Noelte kit, please contact us at 206-788-7313 or email Publisher@SeattleAwakenings.com.

Deadline for ads: the 15th of the month.

20 BREATHE EASIER

Editorial submissions Email articles, news items and ideas to: Submissions@SeattleAwakenings.com Deadline for editorial: 5th of the month.

WITH BETTER INDOOR AIR

by Ann Dorn

22

calendar submissions AQUATIC Email Calendar Events to: FITNESS FUN Calendar@SeattleAwakenings.com or submit online at SeattleAwakenings.com. Deadline for calendar: the 12th of Solutions for the month.

Non-Swimmers regional markets Advertise your products or services in multiple markets!

Natural Awakenings Publishing Corp. is a growing franchised family of locally owned magazines serving communities since 1994. To place your ad in other markets call 239-449-8309. For franchising opportunities call 239-530-1377 or visit NaturalAwakeningsMag.com.

SeattleAwakenings.com

by Martin Miron

22

natural awakenings

August 2011

3

letterfrompublisher Photo by Debbie Cantlin-Carrara

Got quality of life? This month’s editorial focus on kids and family resonates with residents of all ages because it’s a topic with ramifications throughout our community. In my experience, I have noted that most people that are interested in health and sustainability naturally support the well-being of following generations— instilling the knowledge and confidence in our kids to make choices that are good for them and the planet.

I was much more confident about a lot of things before my daughter was born. I was an expert on parenting (mine would surely never cry inconsolably), determined to make my daughter love healthy food, and had a foolproof plan for potty training.

Needless to say, about the only thing I’m an expert on these days is how not to be an expert. My little girl did cry inconsolably on occasion despite my best soothing attempts and she potty trained herself suddenly and without my involvement. I am pleased to say that she does love certain vegetables, at least when they’re not touching each other on her plate. Do you remember the cookbook a few years ago that offered myriad ways to trick your kids into eating healthfully?

I sneered at the thought, but now find myself dumping swiss chard and carrots in the blender with berries for popsicles, because I worry she needs more vegetables. The mighty have fallen.

Whether your extended family includes kids, beloved four-legged companions or a circle of supportive friends, you can support their wellness. I’m a big fan of businesses that educate their clients and the public on ways to improve the health and growth of everyone in the household. This month we feature two of them: Green Home Solutions, a locally-owned green building and home store, (page 19); and Explorations Academy Online, which offers a community-based online high school education (page 18).

The freedom to pursue health in ways that meet our own needs is a privilege we can’t take for granted. I urge you to read attorney Jonathan Emord’s Action Alert on page 10. He shares firsthand knowledge of the crushing impact of recently passed legislation that leading analysts believe will force 20 to 30 percent of existing food supplement companies out of business.

Please join me in petitioning our elected officials this month to repeal the Food Safety Modernization Act (SR 510/HR 2751) and protest implementation of new so-called Good Manufacturing Practices by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that will soon require the licensing of supplement companies, making it illegal to sell any herb or vitamin not approved by the FDA. Only our united voices can prevent these very real threats to our individual and health freedom posed by these measures. The time to speak up is now.

contact us Publishers Ann Dorn David Seregow National Editor S. Alison Chabonais Design & Production Patrick Floresca Multi-Market Advertising 239-449-8309 Franchise Sales John Voell II 239-530-1377

SeattleAwakenings.com 3815 S Othello St. 100-186 Seattle, WA 98118 Phone: 206-788-7313 Fax: 877-531-7691 © 2011 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.

To the health of our children and our world,

SUBSCRIPTIONS Subscriptions are available by sending $30 (for 12 issues) to the above address.

Ann Dorn, Publisher

Natural Awakenings is printed on recycled newsprint with soybased ink.

4

Seattle

SeattleAwakenings.com

newsbriefs Local Author Publishes Potty Trained By Two

S

eattle author Angela Graham has written a new book based on her experiences of gently potty training her daughter. Potty Trained By Two encourages parents to develop awareness of their infant’s elimination patterns and incorporate an intuitive approach into their modern lifestyle.

“Babies possess a fundamental awareness for their elimination needs and actively communicate these needs,” Graham explains. “A change of perspective is all it takes to begin the intuitive, supportive and loving journey into naturally diaper-free potty training.”

Graham adds, “I want readers to understand the physical and psychological struggles children face within a diaper-trained culture, as well as the economical and alarming environmental impact diaper use generates.”

Potty Trained By Two is available in e-book format and paperback at PottyTrainedByTwo.com and everywhere books are sold.

Independent Massage School Opening in September

O

n September 12, Discoverypoint School of Massage will open to new students. Located in Capitol Hill, the independent school expects to enroll up to 14 massage students, creating an intimate and personal environment with nationally recognized instructors, according to Massage Therapist and co-founder Pat Archer.

This vibrant professional learning community embraces students with different learning styles and professional goals,” Archer says. “The seasoned faculty has lots of experience in both the profession and classroom, and the administrators are committed to student support and success.”

Archer is launching the new massage school, along with Lisa Nelson and Julie Ann Darrah, after years of encouragement from the massage community. “When I began at The Brenneke School of Massage in 1986, I was so impressed by Heida’s commitment to the profession, her integrity and her insight,” Archer explains. “After 20 years, I want to recreate that educational experience for students and continue the tradition.”

Archer cites the community’s desire for mission-driven, independent educational experiences as another important factor in the decision to open an educational institution.

“Our school is backed by a diverse community of professional manual therapists who are passionate about supporting a more intimate educational alternative to the large, corporately managed schools,” she says.

Location: 420 E. Pike St., Ste. 3, Seattle. For more information call 206-552-6523 or visit DiscoverypointSchoolOf Massage.com.

New Healthcare Referral Network Forms

L

ocal Seattle resident Dene Hager, author of Building An Amazing Career: Lessons Learned & Marketing Strategies for Health Professionals, has launched Health Care Professionals Referral Networking to connect healthcare practitioners. The group seeks to help healthcare workers build strong referral relationships and increase their knowledge of other treatments and modalities. In addition, the group will promote integrative medicine and help raise funds for medical research.

“Our group is free to join, there are no regular dues, and most of the meetings are free,” Hager says, explaining that many of their events are initiated by members and take place at venues around town. We want to help new talent find success and meet other seasoned professionals,” she adds. “Unlike some groups, there are no monetary fines for being late, not referring or missing meetings. Relationships grow organically, in a positive, supportive environment.”

For more information visit hcprn.org.

TheHealthyLivingSite.com Natural health blog New articles every M-F Natural remedies, natural living, naturally healthy!

TheHealthyLivingSite.com natural awakenings

August 2011

5

Allergy-Conscious Meal Delivery Northwest EcoBuilding Guild Service Launches Showcases Sustainable Projects utritionist Kendal

by Local Builders NSwinski recently launched a healthy meal delivery service for Seattle area residents. Delivered as often as once weekly, the wholesome meals are packaged in reusable glassware, ready for heating or freezing.

“People tend to make poorer food choices when they are tired,” Swinski notes. “We give people a delicious array of quick and healthy meal choices especially helpful to those who are overextended and not eating as well as they would like or should.”

Kendal’s Kitchen offers gluten-free, dairy-free and nutfree options, among others. “Our menu satisfies the omnivore, vegan, vegetarian and people with food sensitivities, with attention to detail that makes a difference,” she says.

Swinski even sprouts beans and grains for maximum nutrition.

“I love breaking the paradigm of ‘healthy-tasting’ healthy food by giving the people amazing flavors and variety,” Swinski says. “To me, flavor is key. Why would anyone stick to a diet of bad-tasting food? I sometimes like to use decadent things like bacon or brandy; I am just careful to use them in moderate quantities and in ways that create balance toward what is healthy.”

For more information call 206-412-0862 or visit Kendals Kitchen.com.

O

n September 9, the ninth sustainable building conference known as 10x10x10 will attract environmentally conscious building professionals and the public to view new green projects. The conference is known for highlighting new ideas; technologies and products are introduced to some of the most sophisticated green experts in the region.

In celebration of the 100-year anniversary of International Women’s Year, this year’s event particularly encourages women to showcase their contributions to the green building revolution.

10x10x10 will be held at Bastyr University, just outside Seattle, in Kenmore, and will include tours of Bastyr’s Student Village—the first student housing in the nation to receive a platinum certification for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), the highest level of recognition for eco-friendly building design. Tours begin at 4 p.m., with a reception at 5 p.m. and presentations at 6 p.m.

The event is hosted by Northwest EcoBuilding Guild—a community of builders, designers, suppliers, homeowners, and partners concerned with ecological building in the Pacific Northwest.

Tickets $20/advance, $30/door. Location: 14500 Juanita Drive NE, Kenmore. Submissions are due by Aug. 10 and should be emailed to 10x10x10@cpsbuilding.org. Requirements may be found at EcoBuilding.org. For more information visit 10x10x10@cpsbuilding.org.

Be Heard!

Our City Council is listening.

Take the Survey SustainableSeattle.org and hit the orange button 6

Seattle

SeattleAwakenings.com

Penny Wise to Help Families Out of Debt

A

new personal budgeting firm, Penny Wise, specializes in budget coaching, frugal shopping and debt reduction. “With little to no financial education, it’s nearly impossible for families to overcome their financial troubles,” says owner Staci Dennett.

Dennett says that 60 percent of American families do not have a budget and that the average American household with at least one credit card has nearly $10,700 in credit-card debt.

For these reasons, she believes, more people want to master the skill of personal budgeting. “We believe it’s crucial for families to start budgeting in order to reach their financial goals and overcome any struggles they are facing due to the recession.”

According to Dennett, Personal Budget Specialists use tough love and a lot of patience to guide clients through the budgeting process and to coach them about sticking to their new budgets.

For more information call 425-351-3081 or email Staci@ PennyWiseBudgets.com.

Dr. T Offers New Health Lecture

D

Dr. Adiel Tel-Oren, known as “Dr. T”, returns to Seattle to offer a lecture and skin blemish treatment. The lecture entitled “Aging Skin, Moles, Growths, Tags, Spots and Blemishes: Why Do They Develop?” will take place from 7 to 9 p.m. on September 6 at University Heights Center. The lecture will cover ways to prevent and treat skin blemishes safely using nutrition and diet while improving overall health.

Dedicated to educating audiences to take individual ownership of their health and well-being, rather than giving away this responsibility to disease-oriented doctors and insurance companies, Dr. T provides lecture attendees with information on being discerning consumers of the health care industry.

In addition to his lectures, Dr. T will be seeing local clients for his safe, gentle, non-medical, non-surgical and aesthetically pleasing method of eliminating skin tags. Appointments can be made on his website.

Cost: $10/lecture. University Heights Center, room 108, 5031 University Way NE, Seattle. Skin blemish evaluation free; discounts available for multiple blemishes. For more information: Seattle.Ecopolitan.com or 425-753-0634.

Experience in every

moment Reveal

your innate balance, poise & vitality

\ Anatomy of Grace \ Bold Ballet \ Awareness Through Movement \ Feldenkrais & Yoga \ CenterWork \ Tribal Bellydance \ InterPlay \ Nia \ Body Mind Centering

In our classes and individual sessions,

our skilled instructors and practitioners guide you towards health and balance. m’illumino is dedicated to your learning and your transformation — through movement!

M ovement is Life.

FEATURED EVENTS:

New Qigong Class, Mondays 12:45 - 2:15 pm Intro to Harmonious Running, August 5th & 12th 7-8:30pm

For more information call:

206–525–0363 m-illumino.com

6921 Roosevelt Way NE Seattle, WA 98115 natural awakenings

August 2011

7

healthbriefs

The Historic Importance of Vitamin D in the Pacific Northwest

L

ocal Naturopathic Doctor Corrine Harpster, well aware of the importance of vitamin D for her patients and herself, reports that most residents of the Northwest are deficient in the nutrient. She explains that, although public awareness about vitamin D continues to increase, the native peoples of the Pacific Northwest had their own method of supplementation.

“Have you ever stopped to wonder, ‘How did the native people of the Pacific Northwest do so well without all the supplements my family and I are taking?’” Harpster asks. “If you were to take a look at the traditional diet of the peoples native to this land, you would see that salmon was dinner and lunch and breakfast and snacks,” Harpster says. “It comprised 60 percent of their nutrients, according to Peter Jones, of the Bauu Institute.”

“When we look at the dietary profile of salmon, we get a better idea of why eating this fish is such a great idea,” Harpster says, pointing out that a four-ounce portion of Chinook salmon contains 411 international units of vitamin D. Salmon is also a great source of Omega-3 oil, protein, B12, B3 and more, according to research from Oregon State University. Other natural food sources of vitamin D include other wild-caught fatty fish, oysters, shrimp, pastured eggs and mushrooms grown or dried in the sun.

Dr. Corrine Harpster practices at Thrive Natural Medicine. Location: 5020 Meridian Ave. N., Ste. 104, Seattle 98103. For more information call 206-257-1488 or visit ThriveNaturalMedicine.com.

Cruciferous Cancer Fighters

A

ccording to a new report in the American Chemical Society’s Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, scientists have discovered how broccoli, cauliflower, watercress and other cruciferous vegetables help stunt cancer growth. The vegetables contain substances called isothiocyanates (ITCs) that appear to target and block a defective p53 gene associated with cancer.

Healthy p53 genes act as tumor suppressors and prevent cells from starting the abnormal growth that is a hallmark of cancer. The mutated genes—which occur in half of all human cancers—do not offer that protection. ITCs appear to work by removing defective p53 genes while preserving normal, protective ones. Researchers believe the substances support the advice of moms throughout the ages: Eat your vegetables.

8

Seattle

SeattleAwakenings.com

Bill Prevents Advertising Medical Marijuana

S

enate bill 5073 took effect July 22, restricting doctors from using advertising to directly promote medical marijuana, also known by its scientific name, cannibas, which is legal for certain medical conditions under a doctor’s supervision.

Naturopathic doctor Venessa Wahler is concerned about the bill’s potential impact on terminally or chronically ill Seattle area residents.

“As it already stands, most health care providers, when asked about medical cannabis by their patients, will not have referrals to provide,” says Wahler. “Thus, patients are left to find a doctor via the Internet or local newspaper advertisements. Without these advertisements, patients with terminal or debilitating conditions seeking medical cannabis may be faced with new challenges.” If patients have to visit multiple doctors in order to find one willing to recommend the drug, Wahler says, they may become discouraged and resort to obtaining the drug illicitly, which could result in legal consequences.

Wahler notes that marijuana is often used by people undergoing chemotherapy, or suffering from anorexia, epilepsy, hepatitis C, HIV and AIDs, Crohn’s disease, severe muscle spasms associated with multiple sclerosis, glaucoma and other forms of pain.

“Patients who use medical cannabis are from all walks of life,” Wahler remarks. “Some are patients with chronic health conditions that have exhausted other treatment options, while others are simply afraid of the side-effects or addictive properties of conventional medicine.”

She acknowledges that some of the drawbacks to the drug’s use include a lack of standardization, which means the amounts of ingredients may vary, and the fact that it is still illegal in most states.

For more information visit Leg.wa.gov.

Are Fit Kids Smarter?

H

ow important is it that kids engage in physical activity? Very, according to a recent study published in the journal, Brain Research. Kids that are more physically active tend to have a betterdeveloped brain, which in turn helps them perform better on memory tests.

The study involved 49 children, ages 9 and 10, who ran on a treadmill to measure their oxygen intake, a standard measure of fitness. Subsequent magnetic resonance imaging data of the children found that the more physically fit kids tended to have a larger hippocampus—about 12 percent bigger, relative to total brain size—than their out-of-shape peers and outperformed them on relational memory tests. The hippocampus is known to be important in learning and memory.

The new findings suggest that interventions to increase childhood physical activity could have an effect on brain development. “We knew that experience and environmental factors and socioeconomic status all impact

brain development,” says Art Kramer, the University of Illinois psychology professor and Beckman Institute director who led the study. “It’s not easy to do something about your economic status, but here’s something that we can do something about.”

Source: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2010

Do you have unsightly moles, skin tags, keratoses, or other skin lesions?

DISCOV ER YOUR PAT H. D ISC O VER M A SSA G E. D ISC O VER YOURS E L F.

Check out the new, independent Massage School on Pike Street in Capitol Hill!

• locally-owned • great location • experienced faculty

Scholarships are available to those who enroll by August 20, 2011.

Call or check out our website for details!

www.discoverypointschoolofmassage.com Now Enrolling — Call 206.552.6523 420 E. Pike Street, Suite 3 • Seattle, WA 98122 www.facebook.com/DiscoveryPointSchoolofMassage

Dr. Adiel Tel-Oren offers a revolutionary method for skin blemish removal safe, gentle, non-surgical, painless and esthetically pleasing Book your FREE evaluation at 425-753-0634 Dr. T will be giving a lecture on nutritional prevention and treatment of aging skin, moles and blemishes Sept. 6, 7:00 PM, University Heights Center 5031 University Way NE, Room 108 Admission: $10

More info at www.seattle.ecopolitan.com natural awakenings

August 2011

9

actionalert Opinion Editorial

Dietary Supplement Industry at Risk

by Jonathan Emord, Esquire

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is poised to remove 20 to 30 percent of existing food supplement companies from the market, force a rise in prices and eliminate the availability of most, if not all, herbal supplements.

T

he most basic of human rights is that of self-government over our own bodies, especially regarding individual choice over what nutrients to ingest and treatments to receive to sustain optimal health. Today, federal and state regulatory agencies constrict those rights by limiting our choices. Those restrictions on freedom are destined to continue.

Recent examples include state dietitian licensing bills, global censorship of health information, and the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA; S. 510/HR 2751). Dietitian licensing bills designate those licensed by the American Dietetic Association as nutritionists and the sole dispensers of nutritional advice and recommendations. Global censorship of nutrient-related disease treatment information by all Western governments that regulate drugs works to preserve a monopoly on therapeutic claims for drug companies. The Food Safety Modernization Act requires that all companies that make food and dietary supplements be registered with the 10

Seattle

SeattleAwakenings.com

federal government for the first time, deprives those companies of access to the courts in favor of administrative tribunals, and forces those companies to pay for mandatory federal investigations.

With passage of FSMA, which made every food and dietary supplement company operating in the United States subject to Food and Drug Administration (FDA) licensing, the regulators’ decades-old dream of ridding the market of supplements and leaving the field to FDAapproved drugs is closer to realization than ever before. The FSMA comes atop aggressive FDA implementation of new and costly current good manufacturing practice (cGMP) regulations, positioning the agency to regulate every aspect of supplement production. Will the public awaken to the threat and compel the FDA to back down, or will the agency succeed in eliminating safe supplement products, to the detriment of the consuming public?

Call for Action

Public outcry has helped stem FDA moves to eliminate dietary supplements from the market on dozens of

occasions in the past, but has failed to reach a fever pitch in response to the latest round of regulatory efforts.

Perhaps that is because the most recent efforts have arisen under a more palatable public interest justification: The argument that consumers must be protected from potentially unsafe products by permitting the FDA to run companies it thinks may threaten public health out of existence.

The FDA’s current approach, using allegations of adulteration, contamination and misbranding—combined with cessation of distribution and recall of unapproved supplements—appears to be far more acceptable to the public than the argument that supplements in general should be removed from the market. It seems that the lesson FDA regulators have slowly learned is that people generally appear to be willing to permit regulatory abuses in the name of public safety.

Moreover, under the Food Drug and Cosmetic Act (FDCA), as interpreted by the federal courts, any promotion that associates a dietary supplement with a disease treatment claim is prohibited. That is so even if the claim is demonstrably true. Censoring information concerning the potential benefit of dietary ingredients shrouds the market in ignorance, depriving consumers of helpful, life-extending or life-saving information. Just one example is the FDA’s censorship of the association established in peer-reviewed scientific literature (some 6,000 articles) between Vitamin D and a reduction in the risk of certain kinds of cancer. All Americans could experience a reduction in cancer risk were that association made known at the point of sale, but FDA’s prior restraint (its ban on all claims associating a nutrient with a disease, even provably true claims) keeps consumers in the dark.

Unfettered by a groundswell of public opposition, the FDA is proceeding at an accelerated pace in inspecting facilities, issuing citations and ultimately driving supplement manufacturers out of business. Companies incapable of affording the associated costs have no choice but to dissolve.

To reverse this course, consumers must contact their elected representatives

in congress and demand an immediate repeal of both FSMA and GMP regulations. Then, vote wisely in the 2012 elections to defeat candidates that voted in favor of limiting our freedoms in these areas.

Worldwide Trend

Many governments around the world currently prohibit essential health claims backed by credible scientific evidence.

For example, claims that glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate may eliminate symptoms of osteoarthritis are forbidden in Europe, as well as in Australia, Canada and the United States.

Groups have formed to protest such censorship and restrictions on access to dietary supplement ingredients. For a global view, consult information provided by the Alliance for Natural Health, which is active in Europe and America.

In the United States, take action via the Alliance for Natural Health USA, Citizens for Health, Freedom of Health Foundation, The Health Keepers Alliance and National Health Freedom Action.

The way back to liberty lies not only in allowing the marketing of all

dietary ingredients that are being used without serious adverse effects, but also in stripping countries of the power to censor nutrient-related disease treatment information. When well-informed consumers make dietary ingredient choices that minimize disease risk and maximize longevity, their improved health reduces their dependence on costly drug therapies which too often carry unwanted side effects.

Imagine a world in which fruits and vegetables, as well as dietary supplements, could lawfully be accompanied by labels summarizing the dietary ingredients present, their effects and their potential for protecting against or fighting disease. In such a world, consumers would be truly active, engaged participants in their own health care.

Jonathan W. Emord is a constitutional and administrative lawyer in Washington, D.C. The author of The Rise of Tyranny and Global Censorship of Health Information, he has defeated the FDA in federal court eight times.

Visit Emord.org.

TAKE ACTION HERE Check these websites regularly to keep abreast of pending state legislation and to sign helpful petitions.

Elected Officials, usa.gov/Contact/Elected.shtml Alliance for Natural Health USA, anh-usa.org Citizens for Health, Citizens.org Freedom of Health Foundation, thefhf.org The Health Keepers Alliance, HealthKeepers.net National Health Freedom Action, NationalHealthFreedom.org

Earn money

+

Help others

=

EVERYONE WINS First 4 New Distributers Share in Lead Pool!

You don’t have to choose between doing good and doing well. Share the opportunity to donate XanGo Goodness Meal Packs and you can create an income stream that helps end hunger in crisis zones around the world. It’s not just a powerful multilevel marketing program, it’s multilevel marketing with a conscience.

Call 206-600-6311 to become part of the paradigm shift. natural awakenings

August 2011

11

ecotip

Chemical-Free Lawns Good for People, Pets and Nature

by Paul Tukey

W

ith cooler Pioneering communities children rolling around in potentially weather just around the across the United States poisonous substances, and fortunately, corner, late August are now embracing manufacturers are through October is an listening. ideal time to tackle organic lawn care.

Here are just a the annual rejuvenafew of the kinder, tion of any lawn and gentler products available this coming consider renovating it into a healthier season: and more sustainable landscape. But Fertilizers – As many as 20 states, before heading out the door for the especially those with numerous lakes next round of seed, soil, conventional or prominent oceanfront, are actively fertilizer and all manner of weed and legislating the amounts of phosphorus insect sprays, it’s good to know that a and nitrogen permitted in lawn fertilmajor positive overhaul is underway izers. Scotts Miracle-Gro, the world’s at our local garden centers. Synthetic largest chemical fertilizer and lawn chemical fertilizers and pesticides are pesticide company, will voluntarily being cast aside in favor of natural, remove phosphorus from lawn fertilorganic materials. izers nationwide, beginning in 2012.

“Organics is by far the fastest Companies like Espoma already are growing sector of the lawn and garden offering 100 percent organic options industry,” says Bruce Butterfield, who made from plant and animal byprodresearches the market for the National ucts that are not prone to leaching.

Gardening Association. The message is

Weed killers – Since 1967, when clear: Today’s parents don’t want their

12

Seattle

SeattleAwakenings.com

the Masters golf tournament was broadcast live in color nationwide for the first time, a toxic herbicide known as 2,4-D—a major component of the infamous defoliant Agent Orange— has been the primary weed-killing ingredient used to give homeowners a “fairway front lawn.” Today the substance, banned in much of Canada, has come under increased scrutiny in the United States. In its place, a product known as Fiesta instead utilizes the gentler option of naturally occurring iron to keep weeds under control while allowing grass to grow.

SAVE 15% with coupon code AWAKE15 (expires 9/1/2011)

Play in the sun all summer long without worrying about toxic chemicals on your skin!

Lullaby Organics is your family’s local resource for chemical-free sun block, bug repellent and more!

LullabyOrganics.com

“Businesses have to take the lead in providing safer lawn alternatives.” ~ Mike Serant, organic landscape supplies distributor, Houston

Insecticides and Fungicides – What is designed to kill one lifeform almost always also poses negative consequences for other lifeforms. Increasing evidence from major research institutions from the American Academy of Pediatrics to Harvard University linking pest killers to childhood diseases such as attention deficit disorders and autism has amped up the demand for safe alternatives. Products like EcoSmart, with insect killers made from foodgrade ingredients; and Actinovate, a natural fungicide that gently removes black spot, fairy ring, brown patch and dollar spot; are meeting the demand.

Enlightened homeowners are further embracing the notion that the whole landscape need not be grass.

Native plants, which generally require less fertilizer and water than import species, are better for the environment, as well as natural animal life.

Natural Choice Directory of Puget Sound Green Resources • Natural Health Food & Supplements • Mind & Spirit

Your Choice for a Sustainable Future 425.373.1987 www.NaturalChoice.net NCD11_NaturalAwakenings.indd 1

4/29/11 5:29 PM

Paul Tukey is a pioneering author of the bestselling The Organic Lawn Care Manual: A Natural, Low-Maintenance System for a Beautiful, Safe Lawn.

His nonprofit educational website is SafeLawns.org.

natural awakenings

August 2011

13

DEMOCRACY IN ACTION EDUCATING STUDENTS TO THINK, CREATE, INITIATE

by Lisa Marshall

14

Seattle

SeattleAwakenings.com

sy of ID courte

interact with adults in a real way—not just as authority figures. I had to learn how to learn.”

To many, the notion of a school without schedules where kids and adults have equal say and “test” is almost a dirty word seems utterly unworkable in our Students practice hands-on present society, where learning outside of classroom walls. education funding is increasingly tied to student academic performance.

But 40 years after the birth of The Free Organization (AERO).

School, and the 1960s “democratic In all, its online education” movement that inspired it, directory has swelled the nearly defunct philosophy appears to 12,000 options, to be making a comeback. including those affili In May, a group of educators ated with Montessori, founded the Institute for Democratic Waldorf, Democratic Education in America (IDEA), which, and other methods through town meetings, social netwhich, while they difworking and online education, aims fer in curriculum, all to help teachers infuse more student share a dedication choice into what they see to a learner-centered as an autocratic K-12 public school approach. system. Meanwhile, new, private

By contrast, acdemocratic schools have opened in cording to the U.S. Seattle, Portland, Denver, New York Department of EducaCity and elsewhere, bringing the tion, the number of number to 85, according to the nonkids enrolled in an asprofit Alternative Education Resource signed public school

photo

A

sk Isaac Graves what seventh grade was like at The Free School in Albany, New York, and he paints a picture that would seem like a dream to many conventional middle schoolers—and a nightmare to their administrators.

There were no tests, no homework and almost no schedules.

On a typical day, students of all ages would scatter around the refurbished inner-city tenement at will, some spontaneously engaging in a game of Dungeons and Dragons in one room, while others planned a trip to Puerto Rico, learned Spanish from a fellow student, or designed a literary magazine on the computer. At weekly, democratic, all-school meetings, they voted on everything from what optional classes the school should offer to what color to paint the walls; not once were they asked to fill in small circles with a number 2 pencil to prove they were learning something.

“We were, at a very young age, in control of our education,” recalls Graves, a remarkably astute 23-yearold who now lives in Oregon and works as an event planner. “I had to figure out what I liked, what my passions were, and how to access information in a variety of ways. I had to

EA

Is a more democratic model of schooling the answer to today’s education crisis?

e School Tubman Fre y of Harriet photo courtes

dipped from 80 percent in 1993 to 73 percent in 2007. “We are at a crucial point,” says Jerry Mintz, who founded AERO in 1989. “Everybody knows there is something wrong with the current educational system, and people are now starting to realize they have choices.”

Old Factory Model of Schooling When parents step into many public school classrooms today, they find neat rows of desks occupied by children, while a teacher in the front of the room presents a lesson. When the bell rings, students file into another room, where the same scene plays out again. That structure, according to education historians, is no accident.

With the Industrial Revolution underway in the 1800s and waves of families moving from rural settings (where life followed a seasonal rhythm) to cities, education pioneers faced a formidable task. “Civic leaders realized that people were not well prepared for this new lifestyle of working in a factory,” explains Ron Miller, Ph.D., a widely published education historian.

“Public education was designed with the idea that people had to learn how to follow a set schedule, follow

orders and come up with a product in the end. The day was broken up into time periods with a bell, because that was what factory work entailed.” Miller observes that the system served its purpose well. “The U.S. became a tremendously productive industrial society.”

But by the 1960s, some critics began to point to what they saw as a glaring hypocrisy: America claimed to be a democratic society, yet our youngest citizens were given no voice. In 1968, a group of parents in Sudbury, Massachusetts, founded the Sudbury Valley School, a K-12 learning center where adults were literally prohibited from initiating activities, while kids chose what to do, where and when (SudVal. org). One year later, a homeschooling mom named Mary Leue opened The Free School in Albany (Albany FreeSchool.com). By the 1970s, as many as 800 democratic schools were in operation. While pioneering models like Sudbury Valley and The Free School have survived and flourished, Miller says the larger movement became usurped by the 1980s trend toward more standardization, with most democratic schools shutting their doors.

Now, growing discontent over standardization has inspired a revival.

“The public school system tends to natural awakenings

August 2011

15

Find your calling.

Bring healing and hope.

Study Five Element Acupuncture in the tradition of JR Worsley at Wu Hsing Tao School.

Experience intimate class sizes, renowned instructors, and meaningful community in a beautiful natural setting.

Weekend classes integrate with work and family.

Fall Classes start Nov 3.

Call 206-324-7188 or email admissions@wuhsing.org for more information.

Wu Hsing Tao School l 4000 NE 41st St. Bldg. D, Seattle l 206-324-7188 www.wuhsing.org

skin care & remedies for everyone natural

My Mama’s Love uses organic ingredients in every remedy.

gentle

All our products are tested to be safe, non-toxic and wholesome.

effective

Our products don’t just mask symptoms, they address the underlying causes.

operate under the paradigm that kids are naturally lazy and must be forced to learn, so they need homework and testing to be motivated,” says Mintz.

“Advocates of democratic education and other learner-centered approaches believe that children have a natural passion for learning and are good judges of what they need to learn.

Our job as educators is to provide them resources.”

Renewed Democracy in Action Rebirth of the democratic school movement can be credited in part to Alan Berger, an idealistic New York teacher who, after reading an article about the 1960s Free School movement in 2002, was inspired to open The Brooklyn Free School in the basement of a small church. Today, the school is thriving, with a diverse student body of 60, a new five-story brownstone to call home, and a sliding fee scale that lets children of all economic backgrounds participate in an education they largely create themselves.

On a typical morning, students gather in the music room for impromptu Beatles jam sessions, do yoga in the hallway, scrawl art across a designated wall or curl up with a book in the wellstocked library. Some attend optional math and writing classes. For others, the year’s lesson plan evolves more organically out of a larger goal. For example, in preparation for a school trip to Tanzania, some students studied Swahili, African cuisine and the region’s history.

“There are just so many things that I love here,” raves student Erin Huang Schaffer in a new documentary about the school called The Good, The True and The

Helpful Resources Visit us at my-mamas-love.com

Use coupon code AWAKE for 10% off 16

Seattle

SeattleAwakenings.com

DemocraticEducation.org DemocraticEducation.com EducationRevolution.org FairTest.org

Beautiful. “I love making art and drawing, and I’ve started making stories…

I’m just finding out so much about the world.”

Thousands of miles away, at a new democratic preschool called The Patchwork School, in Louisville, Colorado, the same principles apply to even the youngest learners. On a recent day, a group of 5-year-olds held a vote and elected to spend the morning crafting miniature cardboard cities. Then their instructor, a precocious 5-yearold named Evan, led the way to the workroom, passing out paints, scissors, Popsicle sticks and glue as an adult watched quietly nearby.

“Everyone here has a voice,” affirms Patchwork co-founder Elizabeth Baker, who was homeschooled in a democratic fashion herself. “If we can validate who they are as people now, they can go out into the world with confidence that their thoughts and opinions count.”

But, will they be prepared for that world?

Good Questions

Will children, given the freedom, choose to learn basic skills like reading and math? What will this revolutionary breed of students have to show a college entrance board if they have no test scores? And how will kids schooled with little structure and no hierarchy thrive in a professional world with so much of both? Skeptics abound, and they have pounced on such questions.

Meanwhile, informal surveys of democratic school graduates have yielded mixed answers.

For his new book, Lives of Passion; School of Hope, Rick Posner, Ph.D., surveyed 431 alumni from the democratic Jefferson County Open School in Denver (one of the oldest public alternative schools in the country) and found that 91 percent went to college, 85 percent completed degreed programs and 25 percent earned graduate degrees.

Many lauded their K-12 education there: “Because of the school, I am much less influenced by the

need to conform and I’m not afraid to take risks,” said Adelle, a 1986 graduate who went on to become a project manager for an entertainment company.

Other comments were less glowing: “I found that I had to scramble to catch up with my peers; the school failed to provide me with even the most basic mathematical skills,” said Mary, a 1991 graduate. Kristin, from the class of 1997 added, “When I was applying to colleges, I wished that I had some documentation other than self-assessment; I think this hurt me.”

But still other democratic alumni contend that the struggle is only temporary and—in hindsight—well worth it.

Meghan Carrico, 47, attended a democratic school in North Vancouver from age 8 to 13. She told Natural Awakenings she did fine academically when she transitioned to a mainstream public high school, but found it “boring and socially barren,” with teachers who didn’t appreciate her tendency to question authority and venture beyond the status quo.

She dropped out in 11th grade, then dropped out of a community college for many of the same reasons.

“If I contradicted the professor, I got a bad grade,” she recalls. Ultimately, Carrico made her way to the highly progressive Antioch College in Ohio (one of 815 colleges now willing to consider students with no high school test scores), where she ended up with a master’s degree in leadership and training. She also landed a job that she

“Montessori really is a ‘no child left behind’ teaching philosophy. If you are ready to keep moving, you keep moving.

If you aren’t, you can stay on task until you get it.” ~ Tanya Stutzman, whose six children have attended Montessori schools in Sarasota, Florida

“The reading, writing and academics all came out eventually, as day-to-day living required that they learned them.” ~ Wonshe, who “unschooled” both of her sons in rural Virginia

“Waldorf understands that there are many ways for a child to express oneself— not just through words and academics, but also through creativity.” ~ Patrice Maynerd, who enrolled her son in Waldorf education at age 3

loves, teaching in a democratic school.

While Carrico relates that her own early schooling may not have prepared her to fit in at a mainstream classroom or top-down workplace, it absolutely

seattle electric bike The

Factory Store

Got Hills?

Come in for a test ride today!

8310 8th Ave NW Seattle 98117 www.SeattleElectricBike.NET

Powered by

1-866-OHM-CYCL or 206-510-0830

prepared her for a changing world in which factory jobs are dwindling and people must think outside the box.

“People who are really successful in the world today are not waiting around to be told what to do,” she comments.

Instead, “they are actively creating social networks and seeking out knowledge on their own; these are the very things they learn from kindergarten on in democratic schools.”

College success and career paths aside, Miller believes the best way to determine if democratic education is working is to pay a visit to a school and ask the question: “Are the kids excited about school or not?”

On a recent May afternoon at Colorado’s Jefferson County Open School, students lounged on puffy couches or sat on the steps with their principal, whom they casually called Wendy. The school year was officially over and warm weather beckoned, but they were in no rush to leave.

To Anna Reihmann, 17, a graduating senior who has attended there since preschool, excelled academically and is headed to college next year, it was a particularly bittersweet day. “I have learned so much about who I am as a person here. It has always felt like home,” she said that day. Then she uttered the three words that many parents and teachers say that they don’t hear often enough from students these days: “I love school.”

Lisa Marshall is a freelance writer in Lyons, CO. Contact her at Lisa Marshall08@gmail.com.

smallclothes resale kids clothing & gifts

excellent prices on quality pre-owned clothing for babies, toddlers and kids up to age 8 fantastic new gift items - organic cotton clothing, non-toxic wooden toys, and more 50 percent off See Kai Run shoes - August only!

206-923-2222 3215 California Ave SW natural awakenings

August 2011

17

communityspotlight

Helping Students Come Alive Explorations Academy Online

by Ann Dorn

T

his fall, Bellingham-based Explorations Academy enters the second year of their online program.

The 17-year-old non-traditional high school seeks to offer a vibrant and meaningful education to teens in Whatcom County and is now available online to students anywhere in Washington.

“It’s about getting kids away from the screen and engaged in doing things in the world with other people,” says David Marshak, board chairman of Explorations Academy, who holds a Ph.D. in education and an M.A. in teaching. About half of the educational program at Explorations Academy Online is experiential, he notes. Students, or “learners,” as Marshak refers to them, work one-on-one with a learning coach that helps them uncover their calling and build an education around their interests, while fulfilling the state of Washington’s requirements for a high school diploma. “In experiential learning, the learner chooses the experiences,” Marshak explains. “They have to fit into categories offered by the school, but there is a great deal of freedom there.”

Coaches that communicate both with the student and his or her parents serve as guides and counselors, helping the student uncover and pursue their calling. “The coach might ask the learner ‘What’s something you really want to learn?’” Marshak says. Typical answers range widely, from learning to throw clay pots, grow apples, repair bikes or make clothing.

Learning coaches help students find a professional or adult in the community that is willing to teach such 18

Seattle

SeattleAwakenings.com

skills, often in exchange for some work.

“It’s the most effective and quickest way to learn. From the point of view of the teen, it’s also exciting,” Marshak affirms.

“A lot of adults who are approached by teens in a respectful way are happy to teach them something.”

Learners also get credit for certain kinds of life experiences, such as starting a nonprofit, traveling, environmental restoration, political activism and a host of other real-world activities, in addition to their required academic work.

This approach ultimately produces a community-based and passion-driven education that is best suited to our current world and changing times, according to Marshak. “If we want a generation of young people who can solve the problems we’ve created, particularly the ecological problems, we need creative, engaged, thoughtful adults who can work effectively together.”

Marshak notes that many creative and intelligent teens feel that an inability to work at their own pace, time consumed by other students’ problems, and a general lack of control over their

education are reasons to opt out of the standard educational system. “We’re seeing an exodus from traditional high schools,” he comments. “In 10 years, we’ve gone from 30,000 or 40,000 kids doing online learning to over 2 million.”

When some parents express concern that their teen will end up evading school work within this unconventional educational model, Marshak points out that coaches communicate with parents and teens alike: “If you have a one-to-one relationship with a coach, you have a lot more structure and accountability than most educational models.”

While many assignments are mandatory, the time students choose to devote to coursework and experiences required by Explorations Academy Online are flexible, enabling them to make the most of opportunities to have fun, follow their interests and make a difference in the community.

Academic studies are presented holistically. Required subjects like math, arts and science are presented in “clusters,” a term which means students apply their learning in English, social studies, science and the arts to one particular topic, creating the sense of an interconnected world. Among the available clusters are media, ownership, food, crime and justice, and the Renaissance.

In order to study through Explorations Academy Online, students need a computer with access to the Internet, as well as the resources to pay for occasional supplementary learning opportunities and materials. A one-month exploratory course is available for students to determine whether Explorations Academy Online is right for them. The school accepts transfer students from other high schools, and the deadline for fall enrollment is September 1.

Marshak’s inspirational vision for students is well reflected in his favorite quote, by Howard Thurman: “Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.”

For more information, visit Explorations AcademyOnline.org.

greenspotlight

Greenhome Solutions

by Lynn Noelte

F

or five years, brothers Tyler and Cameron Reith had a vision for a green building products store that would offer competitive pricing on eco-friendly building products and make sustainability more accessible to Seattle area residents. Joined by their sister, Erin, who continues to be involved behind the scenes, the Reith siblings opened the store two years ago in a location in the West Nickerson neighborhood. “We saw a future in this, and it felt really good to put everything we had into something that we believed in strongly,” Tyler says.

Visitors to Greenhome Solutions will find eco-friendly flooring, cabinetry, countertops, tile, stains, finishes, and insulation along with resourceconserving products ranging from solar attic fans to composting toilets.

Tyler says they are especially excited about several new lines of sustainable cabinetry, for which they are constructing a 1,000-square-foot showroom.

“There really isn’t much along the lines of eco-friendly cabinetry that doesn’t cost an arm and a leg, and the lines we are offering represent great, affordable green options,” Tyler says.

Part of Greenhome Solutions’ mission is providing guidance to customers that want to go green, but may

not be aware of the latest sustainable products and opportunities for saving.

“Everybody wants to do something environmentally friendly, but they don’t necessarily know where to start,” Cameron says. “Helping them understand how their commitment to sustainability correlates to building products is something we love.”

The brothers strongly agree that knowledgeable customer service is one of their passions. “Half of what we do

is education,” Cameron explains.

Tyler adds, “We want to be a local resource center, not just a place that sells building materials. We want to be able to answer questions, not just about the product, but also its application or installation. There’s a need in the Seattle area for that kind of service.”

In addition to advising customers regarding their options and how to implement their green makeovers, the Reiths say they strive to offer quality products at competitive prices. “We wanted to bring some competition to the region by providing affordable, sustainable products for homeowners and builders,” Cameron says.

They source products from myriad suppliers in order to find the best prices, but also give preference to local brands and materials.

“Sticking with tried-and-true, highquality products is very important,” notes Tyler. “We don’t sell any products that we can’t stand behind.”

In the future, the Reith siblings see their enterprise giving back to the community, and Tyler says he looks forward to becoming increasingly involved with community projects.

“There’s a much larger picture than just selling green building products.

We want to help educate people about all aspects of sustainable living.”

Location: 1210 W. Nickerson St., Seattle 98119. For more information call 206-282-2281, email Info@GHS Products.com or visit GHSProducts.com.

natural awakenings

August 2011

19

healthyhome

Breathe Easier With Better Indoor Air

by Ann Dorn

A

lison Kartiganer and Yves Vetter, co-owners of Vesta Home Performance, have a message for local residents: indoor air quality can change your life. Other industry professionals and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) would easily support this assertion.

“Most residents are shocked to learn that indoor air is two to five times as dirty as outdoor air, and we spend 90 percent of our lives indoors,” Kartiganer says. “But often homeowners don’t realize that they’re being affected; they may think their regular ‘outdoor’ allergies or asthma are acting up, or that a damp basement is typical for our region,” she adds. “Occasionally, a resident may even have an acute

reaction, such as high chemical sensitivities or sick building syndrome (SBS).”

Many builders are not aware of some of the important steps involved when considering indoor air quality, and even homes built to exacting green standards can suffer from contaminated air infiltration if not properly constructed. Common problems include low-level contamination with mold spores or insect parts from crawlspaces or other damp places and

contamination with rodent urine and droppings in attics.

It pays to be aware of indoor air quality, especially for individuals with health challenges, pet owners and families with children. According to the

special resource guide: healthy home professionals

A healthy house supports a healthy family. We diagnose and treat your home for electromagnetic radiation, mold, multichemical sensitivities and more.

Introductory offer: $95 electrosmog check-up for house or condo Consulting l Examinations Awareness and Education Project Management

CALL TODAY: 206-604-0836 HomEvolution.biz 20 20

SeattleAwakenings.com Seattle SeattleAwakenings.com

Ultimately, it is our responsibility to try to create a world in which our children can survive and flourish. This means what we do should be as non-toxic, environmentally friendly and have the smallest footprint possible. It is our dream that, in some small way, we can all contribute to this process.

Mention this ad during the initial consultation to receive a 5% discount on the original contract price of any home improvement project.

www.pathwaydc.com 3 206-937-4809 PATHWDCLP

Vesta Home Performance Tips For Better Indoor Air Quality: • Purchase finishes and furniture that don’t off-gas (low- or zeroVOC products).

• Reduce the amount of carpet and rugs in a home (because they trap particles).

• Remove shoes before entering the home.

• Avoid smoking in the home.

• Keep potential chemical pollutants (paint, lawnmower, etc.) in a separate building.

• If cars or other chemicals are stored in the garage, be sure it’s correctly sealed off.

• Keep furnaces maintained and filters clean.

• Have at least one carbon monoxide detector in the homehome (and preferably one for each occupied bedroom plus one by the furnace and water heater).

EPA, older homes often contain lead paint, asbestos siding, or asbestos duct wrap—any of which, if not handled properly, could potentially break down and cause hazardous particles to circulate.

“Healthwise, the danger comes from breathing contaminated air from mold, rot, pollutants and carbon monoxide,” Kartiganer says. “Children are especially susceptible, because their organs are smaller and more fragile and they haven’t built up the same immunity as adults.”

Doug Kennedy, operations manager for Pathway Design & Construction, urges homeowners who suspect problems to bring in professionals for a full diagnosis. He notes that homeowners that don’t understand how to maintain their home are at risk of sucking in dirty air from spaces like the

garage and crawlspace. Kennedy says that vital maintenance steps include cleaning HVAC systems properly; correctly positioning fresh air intakes from the outside; and understanding where the leaking air is entering the house.

Residents who want a quick at-home test to determine where air is leaking can recruit a partner and try the crawlspace smell test. “Spray some air freshener into the crawlspace, garage, or attic,” Vetter says, “and then see if you detect the smell in the house. You may have to wait 10 - 20 minutes, and it may be helpful to go outdoor and breathe “neutral” air before you return inside to see if the air freshener has migrated. If the smell can be detected in the house, they are getting uncontrolled leakage from that area into the living space, which almost always means that contaminants are being brought into the home.”

Kartiganer notes additional challenges unique to the Pacific Northwest.

“Even if it’s not raining, it’s often damp,

At the end of the day, it’s up to homeowners to protect their ability to breathe easily, says Kennedy. “It’s very important for the residents to understand maintenance,” he explains. Without this understanding, all the work a professional can do is for nothing.”

For more information, contact Vesta Home Performance at VestaPerformance.com or 206-919-6770 or Pathway Design and Construction at PathwayDC.com or 206-937-4809.

Your house wastes enough energy to run a car.

Most residents are shocked to learn that indoor air is two to five times as dirty as outdoor air. and if incorrectly managed, that moisture can cause mischief in the form of mold and rot.” Many older northwestern homes have attached garages. “Because building science wasn’t as well understood or practiced back then, there is often no air barrier between those garages and the adjacent living spaces,” she says.

Kartiganer advises that those serious about improving indoor air quality should test for air leakage by hiring a professional with a blower door. “After proper evaluation, we can seal off the areas of the home that should be outside the building envelope,” she affirms, adding that these improvements also reduce heating and cooling needs and increase comfort. Professionals also ensure proper ventilation, notes Kartiganer. The final step is a combustion safety test for homes that use gas or oil for their space or water heating systems.

What’s more, it’s affecting your health, your family and your comfort.

Remember what you paid for heating last winter?

Up to a THIRD of those dollars instantly flew out the holes in your home, while contaminated air is constantly sailing in.

Eliminate those energy leaks, and at the same time, you’ll also ensure that you’re breathing better air while you remove hot and cold spots, and add to the value of your house.

Call Vesta for a FREE phone consultation. No other home improvement is as good for you, your health, your property — and the planet.

206.919.6770

info@vestaperformance.com

vestaperformance.com Vesta Home Performance is fully licensed, bonded, and insured in the state of Washington. Contractor # VESTAHP915K6.

natural awakenings

August 2011

21

kind of land training.”

“You’ll do weight training in the water; you can do core training; you can do water walking and running. If you have balance issues, the water will hold you up, whereas on land, you are dealing with gravity issues and might fall over.”

She notes that hand gloves can create more stability and resistance, making a workout even more interesting.

fitbody

Pool Therapy

AQUATIC

FITNESS FUN Solutions for Non-Swimmers

by Martin Miron

I

t’s summertime, and with a cry of, “Last one in’s a rotten egg,” everybody wants to get into the water.

Along with the fun, swimming is superb exercise. That’s terrific—if you can swim. But many people never learned to swim, have a limiting disability or are just afraid of deep water.

an older crowd in their 30s, 40s and up. You don’t find the younger crowd here much, and they are really missing out on the benefits of aquatic fitness.”

She explains, “It’s perfect for people who are afraid of the water, because they don’t have to immerse their head or take their feet off the bottom of the pool.”

Aquatic Fitness

Aquatic Weight Loss

Tracy Carlson, director of the New Holland (Pennsylvania) Recreation Center and an Aquatics Exercise Association-certified aquatic instructor who teaches at indoor and outdoor pools, observes that, “You tend to find

“As with any weight-loss exercise program, doing aquatic fitness activities at least three days a week is extremely beneficial,” Carlson continues. “It is vertical fitness without the impact on the joints you get with any

ONLINE

Plastic foam pool noodles are popular because they afford convenient, cheap, flexible fun. They can also be used as resistance devices to create workout moves in water up to your neck that are similar to those which gyms offer.

In the National Multiple Sclerosis Society magazine, Momentum, Amy Paturel, a master of public health, notes that, “Participants use water noodles to gain strength.” Exercises performed in the pool produce marked improvements over those achieved on land. With the effects of gravity countered by water’s natural buoyancy, muscles needed to keep the body upright can take a break in order to isolate others for toning.

Saltwater Pool Therapy

In Seattle, m’illumino, a movement arts studio, maintains an outdoor in-ground saltwater pool, heated to 96 degrees, that was custom-built for therapy. Owner Bridget Thompson offers Feldenkrais sessions in the water and a specially adapted form of shiatsu. “Being in the pool is like returning to the womb,” she says. “Sounds are muffled, and it’s almost like sensory deprivation, so you’re really able to sense the inner body.”

explorationsacademyonline.org

A personalized, meaningful, and challenging education for teens...with the guidance of your own Learning Coach.

22

Seattle

SeattleAwakenings.com

At the Lake

Beach surf is an ideal aquatic playground if you have access, but for many, the closest approximation is a lake. Carlson says, “I think the reason that you don’t see the same types of shallow water activities in a lake is that people can’t see very far below the surface of the water, and the bottom may be uneven, bumpy or rocky.” She cautions, “A lake with a beachfront where the underwater portion is well maintained lends itself to aquatic fitness, but be careful in your choice of location, because of the bottom and balance issues. I recommend that you always wear properly fitted and comfortable water shoes, even in a pool.”

On the River

Many rivers and streams also provide fertile opportunities for a little exercise and therapeutic relaxation. Floating downstream in an inner tube, or “tubing,” on a shallow river can give legs and arms a workout, but as Sherry Green, manager of Ichetucknee Springs State Park, in North Florida, states, “Folks truly enjoy floating down the Ichetuknee; some so much so that they have made it a family tradition. There aren’t many places that offer the visitor a cool river, a comfortable float and wildlife viewing while conversing with friends and family. Daily distractions are removed while floating the river.”

When exercising outdoors in a pool or another body of water, remember to stay hydrated by drinking sufficient pure water, too. Keep a reusable water bottle, waterproof sunscreen, towel and appropriate footwear handy. For those that first try non-swimming aquatic activities to overcome inexperience or apprehension, the resulting comfortable familiarity will deliver multiple healthy benefits and may even result in a life-changing payoff: swimming lessons.

The Mayo Clinic provides an instructional, non-swimming, water exercise slide show online at tinyurl.com/42ucg77.

Martin Miron is a freelance writer and editor for Natural Awakenings, in Naples, FL. Contact him at emem. creative@gmail.com. natural awakenings

August 2011

23

calendarofevents SATURDAY, JULY 30 Washington’s Next Generation Hike – 10am.

Join the Conservancy group of young professionals hiking Sauk Mountain during peak wildflower season with special guest Roger Fuller, landscape ecologist. Learn about different plant species and climate change. Free. Registration required: RBrandt@TNC.org.

TUESDAY, AUGUST 2 Be Cistern Savvy – 6-8pm. Learn the basics and benefits of cisterns and how to customize a rainwater harvesting system for your indoor and outdoor needs. $25/member, $36/nonmember.

Bradner Gardens Park, 1733 Bradner Place S, Seattle. Registration required: 800-838-3006 or BrownPaperTickets.com/Event/168063.

THURSDAY, AUGUST 4 Tibetan Sound Healing: Group Session – 7-8:30pm. Experience the dynamic healing power of Tibetan 7-metal signing bowls with master teacher Suren Shrestha. $20. East West Bookshop, 6500 Roosevelt Way NE, Seattle. Registration required: 206-523-3726. EastWestBookShop.com.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 5 Sound Therapy Weekend Workshop – Aug 5-6.

Learn the benefits of sound vibration and introduce the Resonance Silence Technique, a simple practice that can bring peace and clarity of mind. $399/ shared room, $599/private room. Includes meals, classes and accommodations. Thrive Wellness Center, 31463 Barben Rd, Sedro Woolley. Registration required: 206-280-3312 or GenerationThrive.com.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 6 Massage for the Novice – 9am-5pm. An introduction to therapeutic Swedish massage taught by our experienced faculty members. Whether planning to study at Discoverypoint or simply wanting to learn the basics of how to provide a good back and neck rub to friends and family, this class is designed for you. $50 summer special. Discoverypoint School of Massage, 420 E Pike St, Ste 3, Seattle. Registration required: 206-552-6523. DiscoveryPointSchoolOfMassage.com.

Bastyr Class: Dancing for Birth Instructor Training Workshop – Aug 6-7. 9:30am-5:30pm. Become a Certified Dancing for Birth Instructor or enhance and diversify professional skills. Learn to dance your way through a “language of movement” specifically designed to prepare for and facilitate a healthy, comfortable birth and celebrate new motherhood. $399/full registration. Bastyr University, 14500 Juanita Dr NE, Kenmore. Registration required: 425-602-3361 or Bastyr.edu/ContinuingEd/ calendar.asp?cid={4D3BA54A-921F-4B96-845173786DCBE3A5}.

Plant Edible Guilds – 10am-1pm. Explore the permaculture concept of “guilds” and using nature as a model for expanding your garden in this handson workshop. $45/nonmember, $35/ member. Good Shepherd Center, 4649 Sunnyside Ave N, Rm 107, Seattle. Registration required: 800-838-3006 or

24

Seattle

SeattleAwakenings.com

BrownPaperTickets.com/Event/168074.

Planet Home Sustainable Living Festival – 10am5pm. Speakers, workshops, conversations and demonstrations on a variety of different topics such as organic gardening, materials reuse, diy home repair, urban farming, emergency preparedness, food preservation, alternative energy, sustainable transportation, etc. Will have local musicians providing entertainment throughout the day and fun activities for kids. Free. Hunter Tree Farm Property, 7744 35th Ave NE, Seattle. For more info: SustainableNESeattle.ning.com/Events/Planet-Home.

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 10 Container Herb Gardening – 12-1pm. Learn how to grow fresh kitchen herbs successfully in containers. Free. Freeway Park, 700 Seneca St, Seattle. More info: 206-633-0451 x 115. Registration required: Register@SeattleTilth.org.

Pests & Diseases: How To Manage Problems Organically – 6-8pm. Learn about the most common garden pests and diseases, and how to control them organically through smart gardening techniques.

Class will be outdoors. Dress for the weather and messy garden soil. $36/nonmember, $25/member.

Bradner Gardens Park, 1733 Bradner Place S, Seattle. Registration required: 800-838-3006 or BrownPaperTickets.com/Event/168078.

THURSDAY, AUGUST 11 Beekeeping 301: Winterize Your Hive – 6-8pm.

Learn about late summer and fall management, and what should be done to get bee hives through winter. Lecture-style course will cover topics including queen evaluation, colony manipulation, feeding, honey-harvesting and equipment storage. Taught by Corky Luster from Ballard Bee Company. $36/nonmember, $25/member. Good Shepherd Center, 4649 Sunnyside Ave N, Rm 107, Seattle. Registration required: 800-838-3006 or BrownPaperTickets.com/Event/177375.

Understanding Hypothyroidism – 7-8pm. Hypothyroidism is a common and complex disease. In this hour-long workshop, Dr. Moser will take an integrative approach and discuss both conventional and natural treatments. Free. Thrive Natural Family Medicine, 5020 Meridian Ave N, Ste 104, Seattle.

206-257-1488. ThriveNaturalMedicine.com.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 12 Yoga Weekend Workshop – Aug 12-14. Experience the joy, strength, flexibility, and peace of mind that yoga can instill by immersing in this weekend workshop that will cover the philosophy and practice of various types of yoga. $499/shared room, $799/private room. Includes meals, classes and accommodations. Thrive Wellness Center, 31463 Barben Rd, Sedro Woolley. Registration required:

206-280-3312 or GenerationThrive.com.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 13 Bastyr Class: Infant Massage Educator Certification Training – Aug 13-16. Become a certified educator of infant massage (CEIM). Learn about infant massage strokes, infant cues and communication,

group facilitation and teaching, and more. Certification qualifies the student to demonstrate and guide parents and caregivers in the practical application of infant massage. Designed for students 18 yrs or older who want to promote nurturing touch and communication between parents, families, caregivers and their infants and children. Because this is not a hands-on baby course, students do not need to be licensed to touch. $650. Bastyr University Continuing Education, 14500 Juanita Dr NE, Kenmore.

Registration required: 425-602-3152 or Bastyr.edu/ ContinuingEd/calendar.asp?cid={AB4A1A230AEC-4A09-970C-207ED818EE5E}.

Ocean Shores Body & Soul Festival – Aug 13-14.

Explore options in creating a healthier and more conscious lifestyle in this holistic lifestyle event.

832 Ocean Shores Blvd, Ocean Shores. $3/day, $5/weekend. Includes all classes. OceanShoresFestival.com.

Easy Techniques for Preserving the Harvest – 9-11am. Learn simple tips and techniques to preserve fresh produce to enjoy in the future. This fun and interactive class will show how easy it is to dry and freeze fruits and vegetables with supplies on hand. $45/nonmember, $36/member. Good Shepherd Center, 4649 Sunnyside Ave N, Rm 140, Seattle. Registration required: 800-838-3006 or BrownPaperTickets.com/Event/170713.

Herbs in Topical Skincare: Lotions, Salves & Lip Balms – 9:30-11:30am. Class will demonstrate how to make a simple skin cream and salve. Students will leave with a sample of the cream and the salve made in class for them to enjoy at home. $25. Herban Wellness, 103 Lake St S, Kirkland.

Registration required: 206-330-2171 or Info@ HerbanWellness.net.

Ready, Set, Go… Cook! – 10am-12pm. Annual U-District cooking contest features local chefs Dustin Ronspies of Art Of The Table and Seth Caswell of Emmer & Rye facing off against each other in a cooking battle, using only ingredients from the farmers’ market and the shelves of the U-District Food Bank. Free. University District Farmers’ Market.

Yoga Nidra, Yoga Bliss – 2-4pm. Join playful yoga teacher Tracy Hodgeman to learn specific and simple self care techniques to help release pain and suffering from one’s body and mind. $25 through August 7, $35/after. 8 Limbs West Seattle, 4546 1/2 California Ave SW, Seattle. Registration required: 206-933-9642. 8LimbsYoga.com.

SUNDAY, AUGUST 14 Partner Prenatal Workshop – 2:30-4pm. With Mara Benedict. Pregnant women and their partners or special friends share a special time preparing for labor with the practice of yoga postures and relaxation techniques. The instructor will create a safe and supportive environment where couples can connect and have fun during this informative workshop. $35/couple in advance, $40/at door. 8 Limbs Capitol Hill, 500 E Pike St, Seattle. Registration required: 206-325-8221. 8LimbsYoga.com.

MONDAY, AUGUST 15 Preserving Summer’s Bounty: Tomatoes – 6:30-8:30pm. $10/class plus $39/materials. South Seattle Community College, 6000 16th Ave SW. More info: 206-764-5339. Registration required: LearnAtSouth.org.

TUESDAY, AUGUST 16

SATURDAY, AUGUST 20

Gluten Free International: View from a Chef – 6-8pm. Explore Gluten-Free Cooking from ethnic cuisines that are naturally gluten free. Evening will have enough food for a full meal. Indulge in Japanese Soba Noodle Salad, Russian Kasha with Wild Mushrooms, Sicilian Sausage & Tomato Ragu with Polenta, and Indian Rice Pudding. $30. Bellevue Whole Foods Market, 888 116th Ave NE, Bellevue.

Registration required: 425-462-1400.

Tibet Fest – Aug 20-21. Uncover Tibet’s ancient and modern history through music, activities and discussions. Free. Seattle Center, Seattle.

Herbal Syrups, Honeys and Infusions – 6:308:30pm. Learn to make your own herbal syrups and blends to make herbal sodas, herbal cocktails, root beer or ginger ale and experience the beneficial effects of herbs in your cocktail. $20. Herban Wellness, 103 Lake St S, Kirkland. Registration required: 206-330-2171 or Info@HerbanWellness.net.

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 17 Fall and Winter Vegetables in Containers – 121pm. Whether growing on a balcony or windowsill, this class will help to get started planning and planting for fall and winter harvests. Free. Freeway Park, 700 Seneca St, Seattle. Registration required: 206-633-0451 x 115, Register@SeattleTilth.org.

THURSDAY, AUGUST 18 Northwest Herbal Fair – Aug 18-21. Gates open Thurs, 5pm for camping. A family-friendly campout festival featuring over 100 workshops and 50 vendors, music and kids activities. Dogs not allowed. Car and tent camping free, bunks available in rustic cabins. $90/adult, $35/youth. Fire Mountain Scout Reservation, 26027 Walker Valley Rd, Mt. Vernon. More info: NWHerbalFair.com.

Organic Gardening 101 – 6-8pm. Learn the basic principles and techniques of organic gardening and how to grow food, flowers and herbs successfully and abundantly while supporting a healthy ecosystem. $36/nonmember, $25/member. Good Shepherd Center, 4649 Sunnyside Ave N, Rm 107.

Registration required: 800-838-3006 or BrownPaperTickets.com/Event/168083.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 19 Bastyr Class: Pre and Perinatal Massage Therapy Certification Course – Aug 19-22. Become a maternity massage therapy specialist. Tap into the wisdom of over 35 years in the massage and bodywork profession. Meet your continuing education goals in this course designed by Carole Osborne, distinguished expert in prenatal and perinatal massage therapy. Audience: Practicing massage therapists with recommended educational prerequisite of 500 hours. $650/full registration.

Bastyr University Continuing Education, 14500 Juanita Dr NE, Kenmore. Registration required: 425-602-3152 or Bastyr.edu/ContinuingEd/ calendar.asp?cid={11E8265E-B294-4883-853E1ECF5F9119F1}.

Stand In The Presence of The Buddha – Aug 1921. View a collection of relics from the Buddha, his son and followers along with many other Tibetan Buddhist relics. Opening ceremony Fri, 6:30pm.

Pet blessing Sat, 1-3pm. Donations accepted. Seattle Unity Church, 200 8th Ave N, Seattle. More info: 206-622-8475 x 221 or SeattleUnity.org.

Preconception Nutrition – 10-11am. One of the best ways to prepare for pregnancy is to eat wholesome, nourishing foods. Dr. Harpster will focus on ways to improve diet to give the necessary building blocks for conception. Open to both women and men, pregnant or not. Free. Thrive Natural Family Medicine, 5020 Meridian Ave N, Ste 104, Seattle.

206-257-1488. ThriveNaturalMedicine.com.

Body Scrubs and Masks: Fun & Effective Home Remedies – 10-11:30am. Make salt, sugar, and grain-based scrub recipes, and different clays to detoxify, purify, and tighten pores. Students will be trying some of these out, so prepare to get a little messy and have fun. $20. Herban Wellness, 103 Lake St S, Kirkland. Registration required: 206330-2171 or Info@HerbanWellness.net.

Basic Canning 101 – 10am-12pm. Learn the basics of water bath canning, and how to safely can at home. Will discuss food safety, hot packing vs raw packing, and the equipment needed to can jams, tomatoes, chutneys, quick pickles and more. $45/ nonmember, $35/member. Good Shepherd Center, 4649 Sunnyside Ave N, Rm 140. Registration required: 800-838-3006 or BrownPaperTickets. com/Event/170714.

Pests & Diseases: How To Manage Problems Organically – 10am-12pm. Learn about the most common garden pests and diseases, and how to control them organically through smart gardening techniques. Class will be outdoors. Dress for the weather and messy garden soil. $36/nonmember, $25/member. Community Harvest Garden at White Center Cultural Community Center, 9421 18th Ave SW, Seattle. Registration required: 800-838-3006 BrownPaperTickets.com/Event/168085.

City Chickens 101 – 10am-12:30pm. Learn the most important considerations in caring for a small flock of hens in limited space, including chicken physiology, behavior, health, nutrition, housing and city regulations. $40/nonmember, $30/member.

Good Shepherd Center, 4649 Sunnyside Ave N, Rm 107. Registration required: 800-838-3006 or BrownPaperTickets.com/Event/168088.

Pickles and Fermentation – 2-4pm. Learn how to get started preserving pickled and fermented vegetables from your garden or local farm. $45/ nonmember, $35/member. Good Shepherd Center, 4649 Sunnyside Ave N, Rm 140, Seattle. Registration required: 800-838-3006 or BrownPaperTickets.com/Event/170715.

print during The Mountaineers Leave No Trace Trainer Course for teens. This interactive, overnight backpacking course takes place in a backcountry setting, and is one of the only teen-oriented Trainer Courses in the country. Free. Registration required: 206-521-6000. Mountaineers.org.

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 24 Composting For Apartment Dwellers – 12-1pm.

A workshop for apartment and condo dwellers that have limited space, but want to recycle their food scraps into rich compost. Free. Freeway Park, 700 Seneca St, Seattle. Registration required: Register@SeattleTilth.org.

Medicinal & Edible Plant Walk – 7-8pm. A free hike in Discovery Park to learn about the medicinal uses of plants found along the way. At the end of the hike, participants can warm up with a cup of hot herbal tea. Space limited. Children welcome. With Thrive Natural Family Medicine, 5020 Meridian Ave N, Ste 104, Seattle. Register: 206-257-1488.

ThriveNaturalMedicine.com.

THURSDAY, AUGUST 25 Gluten Sensitivity: It’s Not Just a Trend – 7-8pm.

Talk will focus on the difference between allergy and sensitivity, common signs and symptoms of gluten sensitivity, and effective ways to manage a gluten sensitivity. Free. Thrive Natural Family Medicine, 5020 Meridian Ave N, Ste 104, Seattle.

206-257-1488. ThriveNaturalMedicine.com.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 26 Couples Weekend Retreat & Workshop – Aug 26-28. Join Richard & Diana Daffner, authors of Tantric Sex for Busy Couples. Reignite your relationship, rekindle your passion, and connect with your beloved on a soul level. Honor one another with authentic communication, loving touch and sacred sexuality. $650/couple. Silver Cloud Inn, Lake Union. Other dates, locations, brochure: 877-282-4244. IntimacyRetreats.com/Seattle.htm.

Yoga for 50+ Retreat: Embracing Change at the Skalitude Retreat Center – Aug 26-28. Get away from life in the big city to the natural wonders of rustic Skalitude Retreat Center in Eastern Washington in this retreat tailored especially for those over 50 yrs old. Those new to yoga will be gently guided and the more experienced will find challenge and support in their on-going practice. $410/double occupancy. Registration required: 206-325-8221.

8LimbsYoga.com.

SUNDAY, AUGUST 21 Installing Cabinets – 12-3pm. Learn about the rewards and challenges of salvaged cabinets, and help make the installation process straightforward. $10. Second Use, 7953 2nd Ave So, Seattle. Registration required: 206-763-6929 x 13. Elena@ SecondUse.com.

MONDAY, AUGUST 22 Leave No Trace Trainer For Teens – Aug 22-23.

Ages 13-17. From bear hangs to blue bags, learn about techniques to lighten your recreational foot-

Children need models rather than critics. ~Joseph Joubert

natural awakenings

August 2011

25

SATURDAY, AUGUST 27 Northwest LoveFest – Aug 27-28. Music and art festival featuring sustainable practices, alternative energy and bike valet parking. $15/one day, $25/ both days. Corner of Stone Way N & N 34th St, Fremont neighborhood. NWLoveFest.org.

Slow Food Roots Music Festival – Aug 27-28.

Community festival showcasing local organic farmers and sustainable agriculture, slow food authors, music, art and cooking demonstrations. $20/one day, $35/both days. Half price for children and over 65. The Stanwood Camano Community Fairgrounds, 6431 Pioneer Hwy, Stanwood. More info: 360-631-8909 or SlowRootsFestival.com.

Massage for the Novice – 9am-5pm. See Aug 6 listing. $50 summer special. Discoverypoint School of Massage, 420 E Pike St, Ste 3, Seattle.

Registration required: 206-552-6523. Discovery PointSchoolOfMassage.com.

Healthy Parks, Healthy You: Big Day of Play – 9:30am-4pm. Families will have the chance to try out a wide variety of activities that the city’s community centers and parks have to offer. Activities include a fun run, 3-on-3 basketball, water sports, climbing, golf and dance. Participants can earn a “PCC buck” for each activity they try, and redeem them later that day for a nutritious, tasty meal of roasted corn, iced tea, salad, fresh fruit and more from the PCC Deli. Free. Magnuson Park, 7400 Sand Point Way NE, Seattle. More info: 206-6847096 or Seattle.gov.

SewUpSeattle Bag Sewing Session – 11am-1pm & 1-3pm. Share the time by sewing the item of the

day or a project of your choosing. Men and women of all ages and skill levels welcome. Free. Goods for the Planet, 525 Dexter Ave N, Seattle. Registration required: 206-652-2327. SewUpSeattle. blogspot.com.

City Goats 101 – 2-4:30pm. Learn what it takes to keep miniature goats for fun, food or fiber. Class introduces the basics of mini-goat keeping, including city regulations, miniature breeds, yard and shelter requirements, feeding, breeding and babies, milking, and keeping a herd healthy. $40/nonmember, $30/member. Good Shepherd Center, 4649 Sunnyside Ave N, Rm 107, Seattle. Registration required: 800-838-3006 or BrownPaperTickets. com/Event/168089.

SUNDAY, AUGUST 28 Camp Clay: American Earth Plaster Workshop – 1-4pm. Explore the endless looks and possibilities of natural clay plaster. The class canvas ranges from learning basic roll-on and troweling methods, preparation, troubleshooting, and application techniques. $40. Studio located near Carnation.

Registration required: 425-417-8238. More info: CampClay.com.

TUESDAY, AUGUST 30 Health Starts Here Supper Club: Mediterranean – 6-7:30pm. Class focuses on using healthy fats and whole foods to create a plant-strong dinner with little added salt, sugar or oil. Try Lemon Thyme White Bean Hummus, Mediterranean Crunch Salad and No Bake Almond Date Dessert, Baked Salmon with Olive and Tomato Tapenade. Vegan friendly, alternate to Salmon available. $20. Bellevue Whole

Looking for a career in health & wellness?

Ignite Your Passion!

To learn more, visit SuperSup.com 26

Seattle

SeattleAwakenings.com

Foods Market, 888 116th Ave NE, Bellevue. Registration required: 425-462-1400.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 1 Container Salad Gardening – 5:30-7:30pm.

Learn how to grow fresh kitchen salad successfully in containers. Free. Victor Steinbrueck Park, 2000 Western Ave, Seattle. More info: 206-633-0451 x 115. Registration required: Register@SeattleTilth.org.

save the date MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 12 Light Lecture Series – Mondays beginning Sept 12th. 7-9pm. This 8 week series is designed to give practical steps to apply in order to get back on track or find the clarity to make good decisions. Topics range from meditation, relationships, healing depression and more. $8 per lecture, $56/8 lectures.

The Center of Light, 5225 15th Ave NE, Seattle.

For more information: 206-525-8488 or Seattle.

LightLectureSeries.com.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 1 Breema: The Art of Being Present – Oct 1-2.

With Roxanne Caswell and Birthe Kaarsholm.

Breema bodywork and Self-Breema exercises use nurturing touch, tension-relieving stretches, and rhythmic movements to create physical, mental, and emotional balance. Seattle. More information and registration: 510-428-0937 or Center@ Breema.com.

ongoingevents 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. No phone calls or faxes, please. Or visit SeattleAwakenings.com to submit online.

sunday

suggested donation. Garfield Community Center, 2323 E Cherry St, Seattle. 425-614-6253. Surrender Dance.org.

1:30pm. See Sun listing. 7020 Tolt Highlands Rd NE, Carnation. For more info: 425-333-0833.

DogMtnFarm.com.

Cascadia Hikes – 8am-12pm. Learn about local and natural history, sustainability and ecology while viewing waterfalls and wildlife on these guided half day hikes. Includes hotel pick up and drop off, nature guide, refreshments, transportation, and entry fees. $95. Register: EvergreenEscapes.com/ Seattle-Hiking-Tour.asp.

tuesday

thursday

Urban Forest Restoration ­– 10am-2pm. Tues, Thurs & Sat. Nature Consortium holds volunteer work parties throughout the week in the West Duwamish Greenbelt. Volunteers help plant trees, remove invasive species and more. Tools, gloves, water and snacks provided. Free. RSVP: 206-9230853 or NatureC.org under “Forest Restoration.”

Urban Forest Restoration –­ 10am-2pm. See Tues listing. RSVP & location: 206-923-0853 or Volunteer@NatureC.org.

Bicycle Sunday – Aug 21 & 28. 10am-6pm. Bicycle or walk along Lake Washington Blvd south of Mount Baker Beach to Seward Parks entrance.

Lake Washington Blvd will be closed to motorized traffic. Free. For more info: Seattle.gov/Parks/ BicycleSunday.

Locavore Lunches at Dog Mountain Farm – 11am-1:30pm. Tour the farm with our resident chef, gathering produce and edibles to prepare into a delicious meal enjoyed onsite in our orchard, complete with wine pairings. $35/person. 7020 Tolt Highlands Rd NE, Carnation. Registration required: 425-333-0833. DogMtnFarm.com.

Prenatal Yoga ­– 3-4:30pm. Practice the art of relaxation through breath awareness, reduce physical tension, and safely prepare for labor. $105/8-class pass. 8 Limbs Yoga, Phinney Ridge, 6801 Greenwood Ave N, Seattle. Registration required: 206325-8221. 8LimbsYoga.com.

monday La Leche League of West Seattle – 10:30am. 4th Mon. All breastfeeding mothers and mothers-tobe interested in breastfeeding welcome. Westside Unitarian Universalist Church, 7141 California Ave SW, Seattle. 206-932-9912.

Infant Massage Class ­– 10:30-11:45am. 1st & 2nd Mon. Promote better infant health and meet other moms while learning infant massage techniques. $25/1 class, $100/5 classes. Queen Anne Christian Church, 1316 3rd Ave W, Seattle. 206-409-4812.

Parent 2Infant.com.

Family Hatha Yoga – 4-5pm. Practice yoga for yourself and with your child by incorporating age appropriate movement that is fun for everyone. $17/drop-in per adult. Good Shepherd Center, 4649 Sunnyside Ave N, Rm 302, Seattle. 206-525-9035.

SeattleHolisticCenter.com.

Surrender Dance – 7-8pm. Beginner-friendly, allfemale dance class mixing ballet, modern and jazz styles for all ages. Engage in community, energize mind and body through dance, and donate towards helping girls in Seattle get out of sex slavery. $10

Seattle Greendrinks – 5:30pm. 2nd Tues. Informal social networking to connect and unite those working or interested in environmental issues. Locations vary. Details: SeattleGreendrinks.org.

Natural Business Networking – 6pm. 3rd Tues.

Meet sustainable business owners, holistic practitioners and others active in the natural marketplace for relationship building and collaboration. Sponsored by Seattle Natural Awakenings magazine.

No registration required. Suggested $3 donation benefits local nonprofit. Goods For The Planet, 525 Dexter Ave N, Seattle. More info: Publisher@ SeattleAwakenings.com.

Awareness Through Movement® – 5:30-6:30pm.

With LeeAnn Starovasnik. Engage the brain and body in new ways. Learn to move more easily, more comfortably and even more playfully. Discover a fun and easy movement method while improving physical movements, sense of balance and overall well being. M’Illumino, 6921 Roosevelt Way NE, Seattle. 206-525-0363. M-Illumino.com.

Holistic Moms Network Tacoma Chapter Meeting – 5:30-7:30pm. Last Thurs. Get connected to other like-minded moms and dads interested in

Adopt Or Sponsor A Rescue Horse

La Leche League of Seattle Central – 6:308:30pm. 1st Tues. See Mon description. Swedish Medical Center, 500, 17th Ave, Mother Joseph Conference Rm, Seattle. 206-949-3076. LLLEmHealy@gmail.com.

Tribal Style Bellydance –­ 7-8pm. With Shay Moore. Classes get people moving to the global groove as they develop core tribal bellydance movements with strength, grace, and flexibility.

Women of all ages, shapes, sizes, and experience welcome. $60/6 classes. M’Illumino, 6921 Roosevelt Way NE, Seattle. 206-525-0363.

M-Illumino.com.

wednesday Japanese Infant Massage Class ­– 10-11:30am.

1st, 3rd & 4th & 5th Wed. Class taught in Japanese.

See Mon description. $25/1 class, $100/5 classes.

Overlake Hospital City University, Bldg F, 2nd Fl, Rm 15, 150 120th Ave NE, Bellevue. Registration required: 425-688-5259. OverLakeHospital.org/ Classes.

Beautiful, sound, healthy four year old Appendix Quarter Horse mare. Started under saddle with a professional trainer. Adoption fee: $750.

• • • •

Rescue horse rehabilitation Equine Facilitated Learning Educational Programs Volunteer Opportunities

Learn more about Cricket and how you can help other rescue horses: EHVCEquine.com * 206-940-8589

La Leche League of Seattle – 10:15am. 3rd Wed. See Mon description. Good Shepherd Center, Wallingford, Seattle. 206-304-9153.

Locavore Lunches at Dog Mountain Farm – 11am-

natural awakenings

August 2011

27

holistic health and green living. Bates Technical College, S Campus, Home and Family Life Bldg, 2201 S 78th St, Tacoma. 253-381-4701. Home.

HomeWebs.com/HMNTacomaWA.

The publication for the discerning life traveler.

Articles and advertising that inspires and educates, giving you practical tools and ideas you can use in your own life!

Baby Diaper Service 101 ­– 6:30-7:30pm. 2nd Thurs. Learn the environmental and health benefits of using cloth diapers including information on how Baby Diaper Service laundry and home delivery works. Free to existing customers; $10/family. Parent Trust, 2200 Rainier Ave S, Seattle. Registration required: 206-634-2229. BabyDiaper Service.net.

classifieds Fee for classifieds is $1.00 per word per month. To place listing, email content to Publisher@SeattleAwakenings.com.

Deadline is the 12th of the month.

Business opportunity

Water Sense: Feldenkrais, Anatomy of Grace in the Pool – 6:30-7:30pm. Be guided through fluent movement combinations for balance, core strength, alignment and coordination in our salt water therapy pool. $120/6 classes. M’Illumino, 6921 Roosevelt Way NE, Seattle. Registration required: 206-525-0363. M-Illumino.com.

CURRENTLY PUBLISHING NATURAL AWAKENINGS MAGAZINES – For sale in Birmingham, AL; Cincinnati, OH; Lexington, KY; Louisville, KY Manhattan, NY; North Central, FL; Tulsa, OK; Northeast PA, Southwest VA: Wilmington, NC Call for details 239-530-1377.

COUPLES RETREAT

206-799-7753 or 425-356-7237

Free Meditation Workshop ­– 7-8pm. Sahaja meditation is a simple, time-honored technique that helps reduce stress and increase wellness. Anyone can do it. Free. Sahaja Meditation, Bellevue Crossroads Mall, Community Rm, 15600 NE 8th St, Bellevue. 425-753-0634. SahajaMeditation.com.

C O M I N G I N S EP TEMB ER

Free Meditation Workshop ­– 7:30-8:30pm. See Thurs, 7-8pm description. Free. Lynwood Library, 19200 44th Ave W, Lynnwood. 425-753-0634.

SahajaMeditation.com.

Distributed free at more than 500 locations in the Puget Sound region.

55,000 loyal readers... and growing!

Locally owned.

www.newspiritjournal.com

friday

!

GET IVE T A E R

C

Natural Awakenings’ September edition shows you how.

Wassa Dance – 8:45-9:45am. A lively accessible mix of traditional and contemporary polyrhythmic movement inspired by the elemental roots of music and styles from Africa and the Americas. Class suited to all levels of bare foot movement enthusiasts. Drop-ins welcome. $15. ARC School of Ballet, 9250 14th Ave NW, Seattle. 206-284-9473.

WassaDance.com.

La Leche League of South King County – 10am.

1st Fri. See Mon description. For location: 253212-6159 or LLLOfNorthTacoma@yahoo.com.

InterPlay ­– 10:30am-12pm An improvisational practice that playfully explores the things a body can do: move, make sounds, tell stories, sing, and experience stillness. Based on life-affirming, body wisdom principles and the transformative power of play. Donations accepted. M’Illumino, 6921 Roosevelt Way NE, Seattle. 206-525-0363.

M-Illumino.com.

saturday Wassa Dance – 8:45-9:45am. See Fri listing. $15.

ARC School of Ballet, 9250 14th Ave NW, Seattle.

206-284-9473. WassaDance.com.

For more information about advertising and how you can participate, call

206-788-7313

28

Seattle

SeattleAwakenings.com

Urban Forest Restoration –­ 10am-2pm. See Tues listing. RSVP & location: 206-923-0853 or Volunteer@NatureC.org.

Lacto-Fermentation Class: The Basics – 11am1pm. 2nd Sat. Learn the basics and understand the benefits of lacto-fermentation. How to make yogurt, greek yogurt, cream cheese, whey and fermented vegetables easily in any kitchen and in small or large quantities. Includes a recipe and info packet,

Weekend Getaway & Workshop: August 26 – 28; 7pm – Sun 2pm. Join Richard & Diana Daffner, authors of “Tantric Sex for Busy Couples.” Reignite your relationship, Rekindle your passion.

Connect with your beloved on a soul level. Honor one another with authentic communication, loving touch and sacred sexuality. $650/couple. 1-877282-4244; www.intimacyretreats.com./seattle.htm.

SERVICES Bastyr Center Offers $20 Well-Child Visits – July 1 - August 31. Learn the benefits of keeping kids healthy through good nutrition, exercise and taking care of their bodies. For children 11 and younger.

Multiple children from the same family may not be seen as a group. One appointment per child. This appointment intended for a wellness evaluation only. Bastyr Center for Natural Health, 3670 Stone Way N, Seattle. Make appointment: 206-834-4100.

BastyrCenter.org/content/view/1099.

SUPPLEMENTS SAY NO!! TO INFLAMMATION AND CHRONIC DISEASE – The best Omega 3 Oil – 100% natural, plant based, stable, pure – Clary Sage Seed Oil is now available in the USA. Exceptional Quality and Potency. Call 425-753-0634 and see www.youtube.com/user/savinauzunow. and a sample of what we make in class to continue the fermentation process at home. $50. Goods for the Planet/Golden Fish Bodyworks, 525 Dexter Ave N, Seattle. Registration required: 206-948-2108.

GoldenFishBodyWorks.com.

Lacto-fermentation Class: Intermediate – 2-4pm.

2nd Sat. An in-depth discussion about lactofermentation methods and benefits. Demonstrates recipes for fermented grains, and traditional condiments like mustard, ketchup, mayonnaise and vinegar to easy to make lacto-fermented soda pop. Includes sample of what we make in class as well as recipe and info packet. $50. Goods for the Planet/Golden Fish Bodyworks, 525 Dexter Ave N, Seattle. Registration required: 206-948-2108.

GoldenFishBodyWorks.com.

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

ACCOUNTING C. BROOKS SCHOMBURG, CPA Brooks Schomburg 206-632-3315 Brooks@CBSchomburg.com CBSchomburg.com

O ff e r i n g a f u l l r a n g e o f bookkeeping, accounting, tax, and small business consulting services, we focus on your unique tax, accounting and consulting needs. See ad page 12.

BEDDING

WU HSING TAO SCHOOL Talaris World Campus 4000 NE 41st St Seattle, WA 98105 206-324-7188 Admissions@WuHsing.org WuHsing.org

Wu Hsing Tao School is the only Five Element Acupuncture School in the Pacific Northwest.

We offer a master ’s level program in a weekend-seminar format, and continuing education opportunities. See ad page 16.

SEATTLE NATURAL MATTRESS 206-419-9550 SeattleNaturalMattress.com

Manufacturer and retailer of natural, chemicalfree latex mattresses designed to provide a comfortable and supportive alternative to traditional spring mattresses. See ad page 23.

TIERRA SOL

Krista Arias N Michigan Ave Portland, OR 503-750-1415 Portland urban farm family welcoming guests for overnight visits and to experience farm life.

Rise to the sounds of a stirring household, collect eggs from the backyard chickens, or feed the goats before setting out to stroll nearby vibrant Alberta Arts District.

206-937-4809 PathwayDC.com

ENERGY EFFICIENCY

A

J A L 1 5

VESTA HOME PERFORMANCE 206-919-6770 Info@VestaPerformance.com VestaPerformance.com

BOWENWORK Scott Wurtz 206-524-5511 WeReStart.com

Bowenwork is a way to be pain free through dynamic “hands on” physical therapy. Simple “moves” redirect your body’s natural healing potential by sending clarifying waves of energy directly to the brain. See ad page 19.

Dedicated to improving the comfort, indoor air quality, and energy efficiency of homes in the Seattle region. See ad page 21.

GREEN MERCANTILE

L

D F N

GOODS FOR THE PLANET

BUSINESS PRINTING

525 Dexter Ave N Seattle, WA 98109 206-652-2327 GoodsForThePlanet.com

ION MARKETING 800-989-5086 IonGoGreen.com

Green printing at unbeatable prices. Guaranteed.

Business cards, rack cards, postcards and more.

CHILDREN’S SERVICES BED AND BREAKFAST

PATHWAY DESIGN & CONSTRUCTION Design, build and remodeling contractor specializing in sustainable, healthy homes and the symbiotic relationship between humankind and nature. See ad page 20.

WELLNESS RESTORATION ARTS

ACUPUNCTURE

CONSTRUCTION

We carry environmentally friendly garden supplies, seeds, outdoor furniture, kitchen supplies, bed and bath linens, solar gadgets, office supplies, cleaning products, books, toys, home decor, gifts and more.

See ad page 13.

P

HEALTH CENTERS

BABY DIAPER SERVICE 206-634-2229 BabyDiaperService.Net

Committed to providing 100% pure cotton diapers for your baby. Convenient weekly pickup and delivery of cloth diapers and accessories. Better for baby’s skin, more sustainable than washing at home. See ad page 26.

PARENT TO INFANT MASSAGE 206-409-4812 Info@Parent2Infant.com Parent2Infant.com

Learn gentle infant massage techniques in a supportive and fun class setting. Babies 6 weeks up to 1 year old. Benefit with better sleep, foundation for lifelong health, secure attachment and more independent personality.

See ad page 12.

O 2 2

BASTYR CENTER 3670 Stone Way N Seattle, WA 98103 206-834-4100 BastyrCenter.org

Bastyr Center offers naturopathic medicine, acupuncture and Oriental medicine, nutrition counseling, Chinese herbal medicine, short-term psychological counseling, and more. Our Team Care approach to healing ensures you’ll see a licensed practitioner and two to three advanced student clinicians while receiving individualized treatments and generous practitioner time.

natural awakenings

August 2011

29

HEALTHY HOME LULLABY ORGANICS

800-401-8301 CustServ@LullabyOrganics.com LullabyOrganics.com

DR. VENESSA WAHLER, ND Broadway Building 1620 Broadway, Ste 204 Seattle, WA 98122 206-420-6701 Info@DrWahler.com DrWahler.com

Special interests in natural weight loss (including HCG diet), stress management and food sensitivities. Call today for your complimentary 15 minute introductory consultation!

Accepts insurance.

Lullaby Organics offers safe, healthy mattresses, bedding, sleepwear, toys, gear, furniture, and air filtration systems so your whole family can get a pure night’s rest. See ad page 13.

THRIVE NATURAL FAMILY MEDICINE

MASSAGE HEALING HANDS

Malor Karle, LMT Offices in Bellevue and Newcastle Outcalls by request 206-229-2469 AmtaMembers.com/Malor Intuitive, compassionate bodywork and gentle, deep tissue massage. Release old patterns and negative emotions for an improved flow of Chi and a more joyful life. See ad page 13.

Dr. Scott Moser, ND LMP Dr. Corinne Harpster, ND LMP 5020 Meridian Ave N, Ste 104 206-257-1488 Info@ThriveNaturalMedicine.com ThriveNaturalMedicine.com

Thrive offers botanical medicine, nutrition, physical medicine, nutraceuticals and counseling to treat the whole family. Most insurance plans accepted. Book an appointment today and Thrive!

MOVEMENT CENTERS SOARING SPIRITS MASSAGENE

Ravenna Neighborhood Seattle, WA 98115 206-412-5170 Laura@SoaringSpiritsLightCenter.com SoaringSpiritsLightCenter.com Offering aromatherapy, Raindrop Therapy, Shiatsu, deep tissue, and Swedish massage, tailored to your sense of pressure since 1993.

Therapeutic grade essential oils by Young Living.

M’ILLUMINO

6921 Roosevelt Way NE Seattle, WA 98115 206-525-0363 Info@M-Illumino.com M-Illumino.com At m’illumino, we are dedicated to your transformation through movement. Take a class, try private sessions, discover your own innate grace. See ad page 7.

NUTRITION MEDICAL AMY FASIG, ND

2206 Queen Anne Ave N, Ste 204 Seattle, WA 98109 206-599-6030 Dr.AmyFasig@gmail.com QueenAnneNaturalMedicine.com Specializing in women’s health, hormone balancing, and immune wellness. Saturday and evening appts. available. Covered by most insurance plans.

30

Seattle

SeattleAwakenings.com

BUZZ NUTRITION

5801 Phinney Ave N, Ste 100 206-497-5326 anne@buzznutrition.com BuzzNutrition.com Registered Dietitian who knows you’re busy, stressed and unique.

Regain your natural healthy buzz using unprocessed foods and the latest nutrition research. See ad page 23.

OVERNIGHT ACCOMMODATIONS M’ILLUMINO

6921 Roosevelt Way NE Seattle, WA 98115 206-525-0363 Info@M-Illumino.com M-Illumino.com/P/Retreat.html Escape from the city without having to travel 100 miles. Relax in the steam room and infrared sauna, and have lunch in the private garden. See ad page 7.

PLUMBING GREEN T PLUMBING

Sam Harris 206-414-2968 Sam@GreenTPlumbing.com GreenTPlumbing.com Full plumbing services ranging from fixing leaky faucets to design and installation. Sustainable and independent. Email or text a photo of your problem for free professional opinion. See ad page 23.

SKINCARE MY MAMA’S LOVE My-Mamas-Love.com

My Mama’s Love skin care products use safe, non-toxic and hypoallergenic organic ingredients.

Our products don’t just mask symptoms; they address the underlying causes of a skin condition.

Locally owned and operated. See ad page 16.

VETERINARIANS ANCIENT ARTS HOLISTIC VET 110 N 36th St Seattle, WA 98103 206-547-1025 AncientArtsVet@gmail.com AncientArtsVet.com

Veterinary acupuncture and natural medicine for animals rebalances health safely, gently, peacefully. Improve pets’ quality of life the way nature intended— your pet will thank you. See ad page 32.

FRANCHISES NOW AVAILABLE IN WASHINGTON STATE

Join Our Family of Natural Awakenings Publishers

Established in 1994 (franchising since 2000), Natural Awakenings is published in 84 U.S. metropolitan areas in 35 states and Puerto Rico. Together we’re reaching over 3.6 million readers with our free monthly magazines.

Natural Awakenings Franchises currently available in:  Tacoma/Olympia  Everett  Spokane As a Natural Awakenings publisher, you can enjoy learning about healthy and joyous living while working from your home and earn a good income doing something you love!

Your magazine will help thousands of readers to make positive changes in their lives, while promoting local practitioners and providers of natural, earth-friendly lifestyles. You will be creating a healthier community while building your own financial security.

No publishing experience is necessary. You’ll work for yourself but not by yourself. We offer a complete training and support system that allows you to successfully publish your own magazine.

For information about how to publish a Natural Awakenings in your community call:

Be part of a dynamic franchised publishing network that is helping to transform the way we live and care for ourselves.

Now available in Spanish as well.

To determine if owning a Natural Awakenings is right for you and your target community, call us for a free consultation at 239-530-1377 • Low Investment • Work at Home • Great Support Team • Marketing Tools • Meaningful New Career

Phenomenal Monthly Circulation Growth Since 1994

239-530-1377 NaturalAwakeningsMag.com

natural awakenings

August 2011

31

Keep your pets loving life!

Your pet deserves a veterinarian who understands how to keep animals well - naturally. From herbs to acupuncture, Dr. Darla Rewers offers the utmost in loving, holistic care so you and your pet can enjoy life together.

• Comfortable and inviting exam rooms • Relaxing acupuncture, herbs, energy healing and homeopathy • Tui na massage and general wellness exams Darla Rewers, DVM

Ancient Arts Holistic Veterinary

110 N. 36th in Fremont w206-547-1025 AncientArtsVet.com

of ts! e on p ve d te s to o V le’ tt a e S