Natural Awakenings Charlotte - August 2017

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August August2017 2017 | | Location-Edition Charlotte Edition| |NaturalAwakeningsMag.com AwakeningCharlotte.com natural awakenings

August 2017

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Advertising Sales Ads@AwakeningCharlotte.com Ad Design Helene Leininger Editorial Michelle Bense Randy Kambic Martin Miron Jeanette Watkins Calendar Editor Alison Holmes Calendar@AwakeningCharlotte.com Multi-Market Advertising 239-449-8309 Design & Production Chelsea Rose 19825 N. Cove Rd., #176 Cornelius, NC 28031 Phone: 704-499-3327 Fax: 866-632-9118 Š 2017 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.

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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.

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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.

18 FEAST IN THE FIELDS

19

The Rise of Pop-Up Organic Dining

by John D. Ivanko and Lisa Kivirist

19 HELP FOR

INJURED WILDLIFE Caring Rehab Gives Them a Second Chance

by Sandra Murphy

20 GET A GOOD

NIGHT’S SLEEP Five Solutions for Sleep Apnea

by Lloyd Jenkins

22 LIVE CANCER-FREE Natural Ways to Prevent and Heal Cancer

by Linda Sechrist

25 NATURAL CANCER

THERAPIES IN CHARLOTTE Simple Nutrition Changes May Be Key

by Michelle Bense

22 26

26 TAKE A HIKE

Escape into Nature with a Day Trip

by Marlaina Donato

28 ELLEN LANGER

How Changing Your Thinking Changes Everything

by April Thompson

32 DOGS AT WORK

Finding the Right Dog for the Job

by Sandra Murphy

34 FRESH LOOKS AT AUTISM

Focusing on a Child’s Optimal Potential

by Linda Sechrist

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AwakeningCharlotte.com

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Non Surgical Pain Relief 7 newsbriefs 1 1 healthbriefs 14 globalbriefs 14 16 eventspotlight 17 ecotip 18 consciouseating 19 greenliving 20 healingways 16 26 fitbody 28 wisewords 30 30 businessspotlight 32 naturalpet 36 calendar 40 resourceguide

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advertising & submissions HOW TO ADVERTISE To advertise with Natural Awakenings or request a media kit, please contact us at 704-499-3327 or email Ads@AwakeningCharlotte.com Deadline for ads: the 12th of the month EDITORIAL SUBMISSIONS Email articles, news items and ideas to: Publisher@AwakeningCharlotte.com Deadline for editorial: the 12th of the month

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CALENDAR SUBMISSIONS Email Calendar Events to: Calendar@AwakeningCharlotte.com or AwakeningCharlotte.com/Calendar/Add Your Event $15/each daily $10/each ongoing Deadline for calendar: 12th of the month 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.

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letterfrompublisher Facing Our Fears

Send energy to every cell in your body with an Aqua-Chi Footbath!

Anti-Aging • Improve Sleep Fewer Allergies • Reduce Inflammation Boost Immune System

By Appointment

A year ago I read about a doctor that uses natural therapies to treat cancer and my first reaction was “That is irresponsible.

Chemotherapy and radiation are the only viable options.”

Even then it struck me as odd that someone like me, who knows little about applicable alternative therapies, outcomes and research, had such a strong opinion.

Cancer scares me and I suspect I was dealing with the fear by avoiding it rather than intelligently facing it down. I’m happy to say that since that time I’ve seen research reports that support the gentle effectiveness of alternative therapies already being incorporated into cancer patient treatments by an increasing number of doctors and oncology centers. More importantly, apparently Charlotte oncology patients also feel more comfortable agreeing to a more integrative approach addressing their health in terms of mind, body and spirit. In considering this month’s theme of Rethinking Cancer, I realize I’m ready to think about the subject with a bit more informed clarity now.

Linda Sechrist’s August feature article, “Live Cancer Free: Natural Ways to Prevent and Heal Cancer” reminds me why I love Natural Awakenings. Each issue helpfully leaves me asking “What positive things can I do today? How can my view of life improve?”

I appreciate reading about people diagnosed with cancer that, unsatisfied with the status quo, courageously embarked on their own path of healing and as a result are still with us today, helping us understand the science behind the alternative therapies they employed. I like the idea that nourishing body, mind and spirit all play into prevention and healing.

We’re mindful that a number of courageous souls are not with us today.

What’s the difference between them and cancer survivors and me? The crux of my fear is that current medical science and technology isn’t doing what we need it to.

But we have hope in the successes and the continual research that is being done.

I admire the courage of every person handed a medical diagnosis of any kind that refuses to give up. Each must navigate myriad options to find a protocol that feels comfortably right for them while dealing with the stress of the unknown. Know that we are with you in spirit and hope you find uplift in this month’s editorial.

Wishing you inner peace,

Aleesha Ashlie detoxesyou.com

704.995.5337

Shannon McKenzie, Publisher

harmony yoga

please recycle

Group & Private Classes • Ayurveda • Workshops Aug 5 Intro to Vedic Astrology Aug 7 Full Moon Shamanic Journey Aug 26 Pranayama for Self-Healing Sep 9 200 Hour Teacher Training

HarmonyYogaNC.com 704-277-3887

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AwakeningCharlotte.com

Lisa Moore E-RYT 500 Ayurveda Wellness Practitioner

Small classes, big experiences.

newsbriefs

H.U.G.S. Seeks Hosts for Dinner with Friends Fundraiser

Ahlara International Becomes a Full-Service Healing Center

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hlara International, located in Mooresville, has become known as the area’s full-service healing center.

Its spa services include healing treatments such as therapeutic massage, a dry float bed, an amethyst biomat, body wraps, hot stone massage and sauna. Ahlara also houses a boutique and a yoga and Pilates studio.

The staff at Ahlara consists of highly educated and experienced practitioners who bring a compassionate and caring essence to each client visit. Along with the unique ambiance, which is immediately recognizable when a client opens the front door, Ahlara enjoys a reputation of providing service excellence in a serene atmosphere. The estheticians at Ahlara provide an array of facial treatments to maintain healthy, revitalized skin. Clients enjoy the finest in skin care products, including those that renew and refresh the skin and help prevent aging and sun damage.

Ahlara’s services also include the holistic healing modalities of several of this area’s most esteemed intuitive healers and readers, creating a total mind, body, and spirit experience at one location. Private sessions are offered each month by appointment. Ahlara also offers a quarterly Mind, Body, Spirit Expo, bringing together 8 to 10 spiritual healers and intuitives for minisessions. The next event is scheduled for October.

A variety of interesting and informative classes provide space for creativity, learning and healing. Sound Therapy, Intuitive Art, The Ahlara Sisterhood, and a Sunday Service round out a full-service experience. The center is committed to the well-being of their clients.

To complete the healing experience, Ahlara has added a Crystal Center which has been acclaimed as having the most complete display of crystals in the Charlotte/Lake Norman area.

The Ahlara staff is educated on the healing properties of crystals and makes recommendations based on client’s needs.

H

.U.G.S. (Healing and Understanding of Grief from Suicide) is looking for people to host a Dinner with Friends Fundraiser. September is Suicide Awareness Month, and Dinner with Friends is about raising awareness of suicide, suicide prevention resources and programs available for those who have lost a loved one to suicide.

Hosts can choose which Saturday in the month of September that works best for them to host a Dinner with Friends.

Casual or fancy, big or small, hosts share a meal and ask guests for a donation in return to support H.U.G.S. Hosts can choose any venue location they wish to gather friends for a dinner—their home or a restaurant, park, place of worship, etc.

The money raised from dinner gatherings supports H.U.G.S., a well-established 501c3 nonprofit organization founded in 2003 that provides bi-monthly support groups to Survivors of Suicide. In addition, H.U.G.S. provides educational resources and suicide prevention presentations in select Mecklenburg County elementary and high schools.

The goal this year is to have over 100 hosted H.U.G.S. Dinner with Friends gatherings.

H.U.G.S. offers a diverse environment of individuals from different backgrounds that meet bi-monthly to discuss stories, obstacles, hardships, or anything that might have an effect on their members. H.U.G.S. embraces diversity and welcomes all who have experienced a loss of a loved one to suicide. Referrals are also made for children experiencing such a loss. In addition to the peer support groups, H.U.G.S. will also provide early response and home visits to those who don’t feel ready for a group environment.

The organization also provides suicide prevention presentations to local schools and community groups. All services are free of charge.

To learn more about H.U.G.S. and hosting a dinner, visit HUGSDinnerWithFriends.org.

Location: 155 Joe V. Knox Ave., Mooresville, NC. For more information, call 704-662-0946 or visit AhlaraInternational. com. See ad, page 4.

News to share?

Submit information to Publisher@AwakeningCharlotte.com Submittal deadline is the 12th of the month. natural awakenings

August 2017

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newsbriefs

Direct Access to Two Controversial Films Harmony Yoga 200Hour Teacher Training Starts in September

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eginning September 9, Harmony Yoga will offer an integrative hatha yoga 200-hour teacher training program led by Lisa Moore, E-RYT 500 and an Ayurveda Wellness Practitioner. The course is open to those who are inspired to learn the art of teaching and anyone seeking to enhance their yoga practice for deeper selfawareness and personal transformation.

“Yoga and Ayurveda have always offered an effective, holistic technology to live a balanced life, and medical research is now proving this. As more people become empowered to take control of their health, the need for qualified yoga instructors will continue to grow,” says Moore.

The program is designed for multiple skill levels and will allow instructors to teach to a wide population of students. The comprehensive curriculum will explore functional, therapeutic postures as well as philosophy, pranayama, meditation, energy anatomy, mantric science, Vedic astrology/mythology and more.

Students will gain in-depth knowledge on how to weave Ayurveda, the sister science of yoga, into their teaching and lifestyle.

Location: South Charlotte. For more information, call 704-277-3887 or visit HarmonyYogaNC.com. See ad, page 6.

Are You Looking For A HEALTHY NATURAL Smile?

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• 3D Digital Dentistry • Preventative Dentistry • Mercury Safe Removal • Sleep Apnea Screenings IAOMT Accredited Mercury Safe Removal Biological/Holistic Family Dentistry in a Caring Relaxed Environment Failing Amalgams (silver fillings) are removed using safe accredited protective protocols.

All of our crowns, bridges, and veneers are made in-house with CAD/CAM computer milled technology.

As true Biological/Holistic Dentists, Drs. John Kempter & Eric Kempter combine modern technology & safe protection protocols with advanced knowledge of biological dentistry & medicine.

Kempter Holistic Dentistry 1000 Copperfield Blvd Ste 160 Concord, NC 28025

www.KempterDentistry.com

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AwakeningCharlotte.com

Drs. John Kempter & Eric Kempter

Accepting New Patients!

704-782-0797

I

njecting Aluminum, a new documentary by French journalist Marie-Ange Poyet, investigates the history of aluminum in vaccines and its potentially devastating effects on the human body.

Injecting Aluminum is now available on DVD, streaming and at screening events from Cinema Libre Studio.

Aluminum has been recognized as a neurotoxic ingredient by leading researchers and scientists across the globe, yet babies in the U.S. receive up to 4,925 micrograms (mcg) of aluminum within the first 18 months, and an additional 170 to 625 mcg by the age of 6 through routine vaccinations. This film explores the possible side effects of aluminum on the human body when injected.

Vaxxed: From Cover-Up to Catastrophe is one of the most controversial documentaries of the last year and investigates claims that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), concealed data from a 2004 study that showed a link between the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine and autism. The film was de-selected from the Tribeca Film Festival amidst much controversy. Although the data presented in the film is still questioned, it has served to spark an international grassroots movement, calling for safer vaccines and total transparency from the CDC about vaccine safety testing.

Natural Awakenings Charlotte readers receive 25 percent off both films at Tinyurl.com/DVD25OFF by using the code NANC25 at checkout. See ad, page 2.

breathe

Premier Foods at Home Delivers to Your Door

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or consumers who would like to source the best beef, pork, chicken and seafood for their family and have it delivered to their doorstep, Premier Foods at Home is a new option in home delivery. Premier Foods at Home is the only USDA inspected, healthy, clean food company that offers affordable healthy food and conveniently delivers it to your home.

They use no GMOs, steroids, hormones, antibiotics, washes, bleaches, dyes or injections.

Robert Woods started the company four years ago after doing extensive research. He discovered the food many people are buying from the grocery store is not healthy.

Woods decided to give people true farm-to-table, USDA inspected, carbon neutral, humanely-treated foods that have nothing unhealthy in the protein. The food is brought directly to your home from the farm. According to Woods, they offer some of the cleanest, purist, food in the country.

Premier Foods at Home is a fully customized and tailored food company that harvests the food only after it is ordered; in other words, the food is fresh and not warehoused for weeks or months, and it is not shipped from Australia, Mexico or China. Their farms and ranches are in the Carolinas and Virginia.

Free Classes on Miranda Macpherson’s Approach at Elemental Healing

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atricia Wolf will host a free class on Miranda Macpherson’s Approach at 7 p.m. on September 7 at Elemental Healing in Charlotte. She will also provide free sessions on the teachings that combine the depth of spiritual enlightenment with the breadth of Western psychology and rational clarity one Thursday evening per month and from 1:30 to 3 p.m. on the second and fourth Tuesdays Miranda Macpherson each month based on the commitment of six participants for four classes.

Also, Macpherson will host a free session on October 5 in Greensboro plus host a three-day retreat from October 6 to 8. She has a unique ability to help you find direct spiritual experience through compassionately relaxing the ego rather than battling or trying to annihilate it. She says “make love of the truth your guru.”

The Australian native began her spiritual journey with an enlightening experience arising from despair at age 13. After graduating from the New York Interfaith Seminary in 1995, she opened the first one in Europe and has been an international spiritual teacher, counselor and author ever since.

Location: Elemental Healing, 5200 Park Rd., in 2nd Flr. Library. For more information or to register, call Patricia Wolf at 704-591-5359 or email PatColby2017@ gmail.com or visit MirandaMacpherson.com or on YouTube.

Natural Awakenings Charlotte readers receive 10 percent off their first order by using the code NACLT10. For more information, call 704-659-1910, email RWoods@PremierFoodsGroup. com or visit PremierFoodsAtHome. com. See ad, page 2. natural awakenings

August 2017

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Connect with the Wellness Community

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 16TH 10:00am - 4:00pm Free Event

VENDORS | EDUCATION | FOOD

BRING THE WHOLE FAMILY TO EXPLORE LOCAL RESOURCES FOR HEALTHY LIVING! Learn more about specific ailments, therapies & practitioners.

Traditional Medicine, Holistic Therapies & Integrative Healthcare

Now Accepting

Vendor Applications!

(704) 360-8889 Organizer@ NourishWellnessEvent.com NourishWellnessEvent.com

Location 3 miles south of Ballantyne 1040 Edgewater Corporate Parkway, Indian Land SC 29707

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AwakeningCharlotte.com

healthbriefs

Harmful Effects of EMF and Wi-Fi Pollution

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lectromagnetic field (EMF) pollution is a growing threat to the health and the well-being of everyone. Many scientific studies, such as those done by the International Commission for Electromagnetic Safety (ICEMS), have been published documenting the negative effects of harmful manmade EMF and the negative impact to our health.

EMF pollution comes from electromagnetic energy that is emitted from compact fluorescent bulbs, light dimmer switches, solar inverters, electronics, appliances, wiring, cordless phones, computers, tablets, PDAs, smart meters, cell towers, Wi-Fi routers, overhead power lines, power transformers, baby monitors, wireless Internet modems, gaming systems and more.

Wi-Fi devices emit radio frequency radiation of 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz, otherwise known as microwave radiation. Most wireless routers and similar wireless devices, such as the electrical utility’s KWh smart meter on the exterior wall of a home emit a field of wireless radiation 24/7. Microwave ovens use to cook food emits exactly the same kind of radiation as Wi-Fi routers and smart meters. WiFi routers, Bluetooth and similar wireless systems emit levels of electromagnetic radiation that is considered potentially dangerous to people, and is made worse by the cumulative effect.

These dangers are compounded by several factors. Just like the wireless signals themselves, the EMFs can pass through walls. Most Wi-Fi routers and KWh smart meters are not turned off at night, so we are exposed 24/7. We are also exposed to EMF from the neighbors’ Wi-Fi routers and KWh smart meter, as well.

All of them emit EMF. Increasingly, scientists and researchers are uncovering the health risks of EMF. Depending on the level and the length of exposure, those risks can range from insomnia and headaches to tumors. We can protect ourselves with a range of effective and affordable products that are available.

Some benefits to be expected by reducing the negative effects of EMF radiation we and our loved ones include improved chronic fatigue conditions, improved balance and flexibility, reduced inflammation, arthritis, body aches and joint pains, enhanced circulation, enhanced immune, detoxification and endocrine systems, improved chi energy concentration and focus, and strengthened biofield.

Carolinas Energy Associates do an inspection that includes a field measurement with an EMF gaussmeter, broadband EMI meter and HF (high frequency) power flux density analyzer to determine how much dirty electricity and WiFi radiation (EMF pollution) is present in a home or office, with a consultation on how to reduce it. For more information, call 704-408-2420, or visit CarolinasEnergy.com/ emf__dirty_electricity. See ad, page 29.

W hile we are postponing, life speeds by. ~Lucius Annaeus Seneca

Thermography Is an Option for Cancer Screening

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ore and more evidence is proving that cancer is the result of environmental effects—internal and external toxins that include radiation. Statistics show that half of all living males and one-third women will receive a cancer diagnosis in their lifetime. In 2012 the British Medical Journal published a study proving women with a higher risk of breast cancer who carry the BRCA 1 or 2 mutations are susceptible to developing radiation-induced cancer. Exposure to radiation and the potential toxic effects is a concern to many people.

Thermography, or thermal scanning, is much safer, using absolutely no radiation. The resulting thermal photograph detects heat generated by negative environmental congestion and inflammatory effects on the entire body, and allows us to see where it is located within the body. Meditherm, the largest thermography company in the world, uses the most powerful cameras available to detect inflammation down to the hundredth of a degree per megapixel in the scan.

Just as importantly, Meditherm uses medical radiologists; doctors that read imaging, including mammograms, X-rays, MRIs and CAT scans, to review the results.

Dillon Natural Health is located at 421-B S. Sharon Amity Rd., in Charlotte. For appointments, call 704-333-9991. For more information, visit DillonNaturalHealth. com. Learn more at ThermologyOnline. org. See ad, page 16.

natural awakenings

August 2017

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Sufficient Sleep Supports Immunity

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study from the University of Washington, in Seattle, tested the relationship of immune system functioning to lack of adequate sleep. To rule out genetic factors, which experts say account for 31 to 55 percent of individual sleep patterns, researchers tested blood samples from 11 pairs of adult identical twins (genetic matches) with differing sleep habits.

They found that the immune system was depressed in the twin that slept less.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Americans are sleeping 1.5 to two hours less than they did 100 years ago, and more than 30 percent of working people average fewer than six hours a night.

Dr. Nathanial Watson, lead author and co-director of the university’s Sleep Medicine Center at Harborview Medical Center, observes, “Seven or more hours of sleep is recommended for optimal health.”

Alliance/Shutterstock.com

EATING FRUIT LOWERS CARDIAC RISK Scientists from the University of Oxford and the Chinese Medical Academy studied 500,000 healthy adults in China for seven years, tracking medical records of illnesses and deaths. They found that a 100-gram serving of fruit per day (primarily apples and oranges) reduces the risk of dying from a heart attack or stroke by one-third.

NATURAL SOUNDS SOOTHE THE BRAIN Sussex University researchers in the UK tested the brain activity of 17 healthy subjects as they listened to a series of soundscapes from either natural or artificial environments.

Brain scans and questionnaires found that natural sounds led to relaxation and positive feedback, while artificial sounds activated stress and anxietyrelated brain activity.

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Naturopathic Cancer Support

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Meditating Raises Spirits More than a Vacation

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cientists from the University of California at San Francisco, and Harvard Medical School, in Boston, tested the effect of vacations and meditation on the genes of 64 women between the ages of 30 and 60 that were novice meditators. They all spent six days at the same resort in California. Half participated in a meditation program that included yoga, self-reflection exercises and mantra meditation; the other half did not engage in onsite meditation. The researchers also studied a group of 30 experienced meditators already participating in the resort’s meditation program.

Blood sample tests and surveys from all 94 women were conducted at intervals: once right before their stay, once right after, a third one month post-vacation and then 10 months after the trip. All the women displayed significant changes to their molecular network pattern after the six days, with the most substantial genetic changes related to immune function and stress response.

One month after the resort experience, all groups continued to display improvements. However, the novice meditators showed fewer symptoms of depression and stress for a significantly longer period than the women not participating in the meditation exercise.

ccording to the National Cancer Institute, approximately 40 percent of Americans will be diagnosed with cancer during their lifetime. Additionally, the American Cancer Society states that about one-third of cancer deaths will be related to overweight, obesity, physical inactivity or poor nutrition.

Although we may feel hopeless when faced with a diagnosis of cancer, there are ways to naturally empower ourselves through our journey to healing.

Critical evaluation of natural medicine reveals there are excellent ways to significantly bolster the fight against cancer and better our quality of life through the process and beyond. Naturopathic medicine addresses the obstacles to healing and places the individual at the center. This makes it an effective complement to conventional cancer treatments such as pharmaceuticals, chemotherapy, surgery and radiation.

The aim of naturopathic cancer support is to improve quality of life, decrease side effects and strengthen immunity. This can be done through improved nutrition and supplementation, herbal/botanical medicine and other natural therapies.

We can think of our body as a garden. The cancer is a weed in the garden, and the body is the soil in which the cancer grows. Conventional medicine addresses the weed, while naturopathic medicine focuses on nourishing the soil so that the weed does not grow anymore.

Naturopathic cancer support is also beneficial after traditional treatment, as the toxic side effects of fighting cancer can take a toll on the body. Naturopathic medicine can help reduce and remove those toxic effects. Additionally, conventional cancer treatments can further suppress our immune system. We can improve the immune system and heal the body with naturopathic medicine at any time.

Naturopathic Doctor Megan Ding is located at 10722 Carmel Commons Blvd., Ste. 450, in Charlotte. For appointments, call 704-543-5540. For more information, visit DrMeganDing.com. See ad, page 41.

natural awakenings

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globalbriefs nodff/Shutterstock.com

News and resources to inspire concerned citizens to work together in building a healthier, stronger society that benefits all.

Accepted Misfits

Due to customer requests and petitions, more stores are beginning to stock the one in five pieces of produce that never made the cut before due to quirky shapes or other blemishes. Often, these are displayed next to their better-looking, more expensive counterparts to give consumers an eco-friendly choice. The 133 billion pounds worth of misshapen or scarred fruits and vegetables annually plowed under, buried in a landfill or fed to livestock is sharply at odds with the reality that 48 million Americans face food insecurity.

Whole Foods Market created a pilot program in some of its California stores, testing sales in April 2016 with Imperfect Produce (ImperfectProduce. com), a service that delivers to homes. Walmart brought weather-blemished apples to 300 of its Florida stores to kick off their imperfect role in the movement. Five Pittsburgh Giant Eagle stores call their program Produce with Personality, and focus on navel oranges, russet potatoes, peppers and apples. Fourteen Hannaford stores in Albany, New York, offer the Misfits line, while donating unsold produce to local nonprofits. Hy-Vee’s 242 stores, located in eight central states, rolled out the Misfits last December.

Orca Finale

Sea Mammals Freed from Showtime

For more information, visit EndFoodWaste.org.

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Ugly Produce Gains Status

Tuna Turnaround

Lower Mercury Levels Tied to Drop in Coal Emissions Levels of highly toxic mercury contamination in Atlantic bluefin tuna are rapidly declining, a trend that has been linked to reduced mercury emissions in North America, according to a new study published in Environmental Science & Technology.

Average mercury concentrations dropped by more than 2 percent per year, for a total decline of 19 percent between 2004 and 2012.

Scientists believe that most of that reduction has occurred because of a shift away from coal, the major source of mercury emissions, to natural gas and renewable fuels. Pollution control requirements imposed by the federal government have also cut mercury emissions, but these have been rolled back or eliminated by President Trump’s commitment to “bring back coal.”

Source: Scientific American

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Charlotte Edition

AwakeningCharlotte.com

The California Orca Responsibility and Care Advancement Act, sponsored by Congressman Adam Schiff, is aimed to end the famous SeaWorld orca shows. “It means no more wild capture, no more breeding. We would essentially phase out the captive orcas that are currently in these water parks,” says Schiff.

This means that SeaWorld must end their Shamu shows by the end of this year. However, the animals already at the San Diego park will continue to live there. Parks in Orlando and San Antonio will end their shows by 2019.

Under pressure from activists and faced with declining ticket sales, SeaWorld is now moving to end its theatrical orca shows and breeding program. They announced the unveiling of a new attraction this summer, Orca Encounter, as an educational experience.

Gabriela Cowperthwaite, director of the documentary film Blackfish, says that the new show is designed to make the audience feel better, not the animals. “The trainers aren’t safe, and the whales aren’t happy,” she states. “They’re still just doing manic circles around concrete swimming pools.” The company is developing its first SeaWorld park without orcas in the Middle-Eastern country of Abu Dhabi.

RZhay/Shutterstock.com

Citizen Scientists Needed for Carbon Storage Experiment Australian scientists have launched a project to bury tens of thousands of teabags in wetlands around the world to discover how efficient different kinds of wetlands are at capturing and storing carbon dioxide.

Already, more than 500 citizen scientists are involved on every continent but Antarctica.

The bags will be monitored over a three-year period, and then dug up and measured at intervals of three months, six months and each year after that.

Wetlands are important for carbon capture and storage, a process known as carbon sequestration, holding up to 50 times as much carbon as a comparable area in a rainforest; some are better than others. There are hundreds of thousands of wetlands around the world, and a standardized technique for monitoring the carbon sink is needed for accurate comparison—but monitoring devices can be expensive to install.

Faster decay of the tea inside the bag means more carbon is being released into the atmosphere, while a slower rate means the soil is holding the carbon. Once researchers can establish which wetlands are most effective at carbon sequestration, work can begin on protecting and restoring them, and ensuring they are not disrupted.

Nature Rights

Waterways Granted Personhood This year, the Whanganui River, in New Zealand, became the first in the world to be granted the same legal rights as a person.

Equally vital, a court in northern India has given the sacred Ganges and Yamuna rivers, as well as several glaciers, the legal status of “living human entities” to help in the preservation and conservation of the country’s highly polluted waterways, thus allowing polluters to be sued.

These decisions are variants of “rights of nature” measures that date back to the 1970s. More than three dozen U.S. localities have ordinances ascribing varying types of rights to nature or to specific natural objects.

In America, rights of nature activism usually takes the form of ballot initiatives that emerge to contest the power of corporations wherever local natural resources are seen as being threatened. The first such ordinance was passed in 2006, when Tamaqua Borough, in Pennsylvania, sought to protect the town’s drinking water from the nearby dumping of sewage sludge.

More recently, an ordinance from the Boulder (Colorado) County Protectors, with assistance from the Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund, asserting the “right to a healthy climate,” was recognized as a federal constitutional right by Judge Ann Aiken, of the U.S. District Court in Oregon.

Source: BBC

Find all of your Holistic & Metaphysical needs at

Volunteers that contact BlueCarbonLab. org will receive a kit containing teabags and information on how to bury them.

G ratitude makes sense

of our past, brings peace for today and creates a vision for tomorrow. ~Melody Beattie natural awakenings

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Tea Time

eventspotlight

Taking a Leap of Love for the Planet

by Martin Miron

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n August 21, the Great American Eclipse will travel across the U.S. and head out to sea, touching land last on a barrier island at the tip of the Cape Romain Wildlife Preserve, just east of McClellanville, South Carolina.

Astrologer Dorothy Taylor, of Leap of Love, would like people to regard it an omen of enlightenment and an opportunity for people everywhere to contemplate their place in the universe.

Taylor says, “I would like you to hold in your mind and in your heart, at the moment that seems right for you, the thoughts and feelings that represent the most loving moment you have ever experienced. First, allowing yourself to feel the joy and the peace that feeling brings to you on all levels, and then allowing this feeling to expand into the world around you until it expands to more than you can contain, and finally release the

love, joy and peace to the universe for all of us to enjoy. This is peace. This is love. This is joy. This is the one thing we can all agree on, that we need more peace, love and joy in the world.”

Astrologer Eric Francis writes, “In astrology, eclipses represent watershed events. They can arrive with sweeping changes and represent before and after moments. This works personally, and it works collectively, and it’s especially true for the place where the individual and the collective intersect. Said another way, eclipses represent collective events that can have deep personal influence. They represent change. With the shadow falling across the United States, change is imminent. It’s an open question what kind of change we get and what kind we create.”

Taylor explains, “This eclipse is an opportunity for us all, no matter who we are or what country we are in, to effect change, if only for a moment. So please spread the word and share my request. Ask the world to take a Leap of Love with us. Help spread the word now, and just maybe by August 21 we will have a worldwide positive influence on the changes coming our way.

She muses, “What if we, meaning each of us personally and all of us collectively, use this moment of change and shifting reality to make a difference? What if everyone the world over held the same desire, the same goal, for this time? How would vibration change in our world and in our lives?

What is the one thing in this world we could all agree on?”

For more information, visit Facebook. com/groups/leapoflove and Eclipse2017. org/2017/maps. See ad, page 40.

S tudy nature,

love nature, stay close to nature.

It will never fail you. ~Frank Lloyd Wright

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City Smarts

Urban Planning Goes Green Early American developers of Washington, D.C., and Savannah, Georgia, strived to recreate the plans of European cities that offered plenty of public squares and parks. Subsequent high-rise apartments in most other U.S. cities that followed lacked certain elements of neighborhood cohesion, as documented in Zane Miller’s book The Urbanization of Modern America. In Boston, Baltimore, New York City and elsewhere, waterfront revitalizations launched in the 1980s helped improve conditions, making use of nature-oriented ideas that are still trending upward.

Urban Hub describes how regions like Silicon Valley, in California, and Boston’s Route 128 corridor continue to enjoy mutually beneficial relationships with Stanford University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard University. The concept promotes pedestrianization programs and incentives that increase bike-friendliness, multimodal public transportation such as people-mover sidewalks and car sharing, plus off-hour, no-driving and park-and-ride policies.

Join the social media conversation at Urban-Hub.com.

The U.S. Department of Transportation recently released updated standards on how state agencies should measure mass transit, biking and walking volumes (EverybodyWalk.org). States will assess impacts on carbon emissions by tracking walkers, bikers and transit users instead of just comparing rush-hour travel times to free-flowing traffic conditions, which favors highway spending alone.

The Big Jump Project at PeopleForBikes.org rates areas for bike friendliness and taps ideas aimed to increase biking networks. To date, they cover Austin, Texas; Baltimore; Fort Collins, Colorado; Los Angeles; Memphis, Tennessee; New Orleans; New York City; Providence, Rhode Island; Portland, Oregon; and Tucson.

The nonprofit Sustainable Business Network of Greater Philadelphia (sbnPhiladelphia.org), encompassing 400 businesses and organizations, is pioneering a Green Stormwater Infrastructure (GSI) retrofit program. The city water department is collaborating on Green City Clean Water’s plan to meet U.S. Environmental Protection Agency clean water regulations and foster rain gardens, green roofs and porous pavements.

“We help engineer nature back into cities,” says Anna Shipp, interim executive director and GSI manager. “Socially responsible, replicable and environmentally conscious initiatives and policies catalyze local economies and benefit water, air, aesthetics and people’s emotions.”

Monkey Business Images/Shutterstock.com

ecotip

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photos by John D. Ivanko

consciouseating

on long tables set up in fields on prairie ranches, in olive groves or fruit orchards, as well as at urban rooftop farms or near vegetable row crops.

“Our mission is to get folks out to the farm and honor the people whose good work brings nourishment to the table,” says organization founder and chef/artist Jim Denevan. More than 90, five-hour events that include appetizers and a guided farm tour are being held all the way through November in more than a dozen states (see OutstandingInTheField.com).

“Some of our most popular events feature farmers of the sea, and are set alongside the ocean or other bodies of water,” adds Lisa Supple, publicist for the company. “They feature local fisher people and oyster and abalone farmers.”

FEAST IN THE FIELDS

The Rise of Pop-Up Organic Dining

by John D. Ivanko and Lisa Kivirist

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he flip side of enjoying farm to table is taking the table to the farm. Socalled “pop-up feasts” are booming at farms throughout the country during growing and harvest seasons. While the format varies, dinners are typically hosted on working rural or urban farms, last about three hours and include aperitifs and a tour before the meal. Wine pairings or beer tastings and live music may be among the enticing activities offered.

Gabriele Marewski, owner of Paradise Farms, near Miami, Florida, was a pioneering forerunner of the trend. For 10 years prior to retirement, she hosted more than 50 chefs, served thousands of guests an organic Dinner in Paradise and raised more than $50,000 for area charities. Periodic onsite dinners continue (ParadiseFarms.net).

“Many chefs are active in farm-totable dinners on the West Coast. We also see participation among wineries, orchards, cheese makers and breweries,” says A.K. Crump, CEO of TasteTV, in San Francisco, which also supervises PopUpRestaurants.com. “People like to meet the meal maker and know more about the origin of what they eat.”

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“I started Dinner on the Farm nine years ago to create unique experiences that connect people to the places their food is grown and the people that grow them,” says Monica Walch, whose pop-up dinners are served picnic-style for friends and families that bring their own tableware. Her company’s Midwest events, usually offered on Minnesota and Wisconsin farms, always feature local chefs, food ingredients and breweries (DinnerOnTheFarm.com).

“There’s nothing like being comfortably seated in the field where your food is growing and having the opportunity to enjoy it just hours after it’s been picked. Then, add in one-on-one conversations with your chef, brewer and farmer, as well as like-minded community members,” observes Walch, who grew up on an organic dairy farm in Minnesota.

Setting the bar for high-end, white tablecloth, adults-only communal events, Outstanding in the Field tours the country to offer a taste of fresh, local cuisine prepared by top regional chefs. They’re known for serving meals

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Guests enjoy appetizers and cocktails at a Dinner on the Farm event at Primrose Valley Farm, in New Glarus, Wisconsin.

“Epicurean San Diego offers popup farm dinner events at Dickinson Farm, in National City, California,” explains owner Stephanie Parker (Epicurean SanDiego.com). “We strive to completely source our produce from the farm.” The veteran-owned, certified organic Dickinson Farm features heirloom fruits, vegetables and herbs grown on a large city lot. “We have focused on urban farms to inspire more people to grow their own food and to show that you don’t have to live on a huge piece of property in the countryside,” Parker notes.

Some pop-up feasts are managed directly by local farmers in partnership with lead chefs. Others serve as annual fundraising events, like The Foodshed Alliance’s Farm to Fork Dinner and Wine Tasting, now in its seventh year (Tinyurl.com/Foodshed-AllianceFarm2Fork).

greenliving

Help for Injured Wildlife Caring Rehab Gives Them a Second Chance

Margaret M Stewart/Shutterstock.com

by Sandra Murphy

Pizza on the Farm event at Dream Acres, served by a waiter on stilts, in Rogers, Minnesota.

It’s held at the Alba Vineyard, in Milford, New Jersey, which practices renewable viticulture.

“We already have eight chefs lined up to prepare an eight-course, locally sourced, wine-pairing dinner served among the vines,” explains Kendrya Close, executive director of the alliance. Expert winemakers select each course’s pairing.

“We’re proud to be the hardworking roadies that set the stage for America’s rock star farmers,” says Denevan.

John Ivanko and Lisa Kivirist, co-authors of ECOpreneuring and Farmstead Chef, operate the Inn Serendipity, in Browntown, WI.

MooGrass Band performance at Dinner on the Farm event at Sandhill Family Farms, in Brodhead, Wisconsin.

S

eeing lost, injured or orphaned animals is heartbreaking, but unless a wild animal is in immediate danger from prey or traffic, it’s best to wait and observe. Mothers forage for food and return to the babies intermittently. If in doubt, call a wildlife rehabber for advice.

“Rehabilitators are trained, tested, licensed, take continuing education courses and file annual reports. All care provided must meet government standards,” explains wildlife rehabilitator Regina Whitman, of Queen Creek, Arizona, via her Desert Cry Wildlife website.

She rehabs rabbits, squirrels, raccoons, skunks, baby javelina and coyote pups.

The Dan & Dianne May Wildlife Rehabilitation Center at Lee’s-McRae College, in Banner Elk, North Carolina, is the only college program in the U.S. that allows students to work hands-on with veterinarians in the rehab center. “We see native species of reptiles, raptors, songbirds and mammals like eastern gray squirrels,” says Jenna Glaski, a program senior mentor. “When fawns and bobcats are orphaned, it’s usually because the mother has been hit by a car or shot.”

In the Georgetown area, South Carolina Coastal Animal Rescue and Educational Sanctuary (SC-CARES) rehabbers care for injured wildlife and other animals. Miss Belle—a doe that was trapped

in fencing and temporarily paralyzed trying to get free—received physical therapy and is expected to make a full recovery.

Founded in 2004 by Kevin Barton and Linda Schrader, the Wildlife Center of Venice, serves Sarasota and Charlotte counties. Its five acres offers hutches, barns, habitats for squirrels and raccoons, an aviary and a pond for waterfowl. In 2015, volunteers rescued eight striped skunks. Because these mammals are slow and have poor eyesight, wide roads are especially hazardous as they move through diminishing habitat. Skunks eat insects, grubs, rodents, moles and snakes.

Paul and Gloria Halesworth specialize in hummingbirds at Wild Wing Rehab Hummers & Songbirds, in Ahwatukee, Arizona. “Hummingbird babies require a special formula we import from Europe. A body temperature of 105 degrees causes casual rescuers to think they’re overheated. They pant like dogs if too hot; otherwise, they’re okay,” Paul says. If a nest is found on the ground, reaffix it in a tree. “Duct tape works,” he notes. “Mom will find them.” Released birds are taken to the Desert Botanical Garden, in Phoenix.

Rehabbing owls costs significantly more, up to $800 from hatchling to release. The Halesworths refer owls to

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Connect with freelance writer Sandra Murphy at StLouisFreelanceWriter@ mindspring.com.

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healingways

Juan Nel/Shutterstock.com

another rehabber that annually cares for about 500 owls.

In Fort Gratiot, Michigan, Back 2 the Wild Rehab rescues all kinds of wild animals. In February, two geese were stuck in a frozen river. Firefighters freed the birds and rehabbers checked them for frostbite.

One goose died, but the other was released after the next storm passed through.

The Snowdon Wildlife Sanctuary, near McCall, Idaho, accepts orphaned bear cubs. Tapping into three decades of research reported by program supervisor Jeff Rohlman, they are vetted and put into a two-acre enclosure to learn to live in the wild until they are old enough for release. Most arrive undernourished and dehydrated; if separated from their mother, they don’t know how to feed themselves or when to hibernate.

Dreamcatcher Wild Horse & Burro Sanctuary, in Ravendale, California, doesn’t release rehabbed guests—it provides a lifetime home to roam 1,000 acres in family packs to find their own food and water. Public lands are leased to ranchers for grazing, compelling competition for food between livestock and wild animals, so this is a safer option; the sanctuary also advocates protection of resident mountain lions, badgers, coyotes, hawks and eagles.

Barry and Maureen Genzlinger, founders of the Vermont Bat Center, in Milton, have rescued and released more than 125 bats since Barry became a licensed bat rehabilitator for the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department in 2013.

“We have one bat that lost 95 percent of the skin on a wing,” he says. “After three months, most of it has grown back. In two more months, it should be fine, just in time to hibernate.” Bats can eat up to 1,000 mosquitoes in an hour.

While some are considered a nuisance, each rescued animal has a place in the overall eco-system. Following the good Samaritan rule allows casual rescuers to keep an animal only long enough to safely transport it to a rehabilitator. Rescue operations always need volunteers to donate time or money to help the cause.

For creatures, staying with a healing friend can help but there’s no place like home.

Get a Good Night’s Sleep Five Solutions for Sleep Apnea

by Lloyd Jenkins

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n estimated 18 million people in the U.S. suffer from some form of sleep apnea. From the Greek expression for “want of breath,” sleep apnea causes cessation of breathing during the night. Bouts usually last from 10 to 30 seconds and can occur from just a few times to several hundred.

The main cause is the throat muscles becoming too relaxed during sleep and constricting the airway.

Two out of four people with the condition do not even realize they are sleep deprived due to apnea, and thus are at greater risk of suffering from both short-term ailments such as migraines or extreme fatigue, and long-term effects that include stroke and heart disease.

1

Lose Weight via Diet and Exercise Most people find the problem clears up or is greatly improved when they lose weight. One of the easiest and healthiest ways is eating only fruit from morning until noon, and then eating healthy, nutritious meals for lunch and dinner. Avoid processed, sugar-laden and deep-fried foods.

Exercise at least four times a week.

Doing moderate exercise for just 40 minutes has been shown to significantly reduce sleep apnea (Sleep journal). Use a

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medicine ball to follow a trainer tutorial at Tinyurl.com/25-MinMedicineBallWorkout.

A mini-trampoline also offers a safe and effective workout. A brisk 20-to-30-minute daily walk is a must for better sleep.

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Sleep on Either Side Lying on the back encourages throat muscles to close up and the tongue to fall toward the back of the throat. Shifting onto one side reduces this discomfort and potential apnea episodes. Using one pillow beneath the head allows the neck to rest at a more natural angle, rather than pushing the chin toward the chest, which restricts the airway.

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Vitamins D and C Almost everyone is deficient in vitamin D, even many in sunny regions, reports Dr. Joseph Mercola in his report, The Amazing Wonder Nutrient.

Wisely managed sun exposure supplies vitamin D—no more than 20 minutes a day, 10 minutes on each side—without suntan lotion. Alternatively, a high-dose of a quality vitamin D supplement measuring 5,000 international units is adequate, but always take it along with vitamin K2, which helps the body process calcium properly to avoid overdose problems.

4

Magnesium, the Master Mineral From 70 to 80 percent of mankind is deficient in magnesium, which has been connected with prevention of degenerative diseases and mental health and is often the missing mineral in an individual’s wellness equation, according to Enviromedica’s Ancient Minerals.

It also regulates muscle function, including those in the upper throat involved with apnea. Organic foods and farmers’ market offerings may have higher levels of magnesium, especially those packed with green chlorophyll.

Liquid chlorophyll is available in most health stores. Start by drinking one glass (250 milliliters) per day for a week, and then take two tablespoons daily. Spinach, chard, pumpkin seeds, yogurt, kefir, almonds, black beans, avocados, figs, bananas and dark chocolate (avoid brands with white sugar) are good sources.

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Helpful Natural Medicines n Just before bedtime, consume one teaspoon of olive oil (or organic honey) combined with three drops of lavender essential oil.

The Proper Pillow

by Randy Kambic

T

he right natural pillow is a key component to restful sleep. In fact, pillow comfort and support are as critical to good sleep as the proper mattress.

According to the National Sleep Foundation (NSF) (SleepFoundation.org), 91 percent of Americans say that a good pillow is key to their sleep quality.

Investing in a high-quality, supportive pillow can be transformative, both personally and professionally. The RAND Corporation calculates that poor sleep among U.S. workers annually costs the U.S. economy some $411 billion.

Replace old, worn-out pillows.

Pillows can harbor dust mites and their excrement, dead skin cells and bacteria that can exacerbate allergy symptoms. If a pillow is clumping, losing support or yellowing, replace it, says Michelle Fishberg, co-founder of sleep wellness company Slumbr (Slumbr.com).

“Quality, properly sourced, down and feather pillows can be comfortable for those that like classic, soft pillows.

Buckwheat and natural latex pillows each have unique qualities promoting better sleep. Buckwheat is therapeutic for back pain, all-natural and hypoallergenic, and reduces snoring for some,” advises Fishberg.

baranq/Shutterstock.com

Our body does not store vitamin C, so we need at least 2,000 milligrams daily to maintain good health. A study published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine found that vitamin C can reduce damage caused by sleep apnea. High-content foods include bell peppers, dark leafy greens, kiwi fruit, broccoli, berries, citrus fruits, tomatoes, peas and papayas.

Pillow care. The NSF suggests using pillow as well as mattress protectors; PureCare mattress (PureCare.com) is their official source including a range of down pillows and its MiteTight protector. Organic cotton covers are kind to people and the planet.

Slumbr.com likewise advises using a protective cover to extend pillow life.

Don’t dry clean pillows, because chemicals and heat can do damage. A down pillow can be washed, but it’s best to have it professionally cleaned by a down specialist every three to four years. Or wash them at home no more than twice a year on the delicate cycle, alone in a large or commercial washing machine, to avoid breaking down the down’s natural oils and structure. Latex pillows can be occasionally hand-washed with mild detergent and air-dried flat. Don’t wash buckwheat pillows—if the hulls get wet, pour them into a fine mesh bag and air-dry them in the sun.

n Supplement with serotonin precursor 5-HTP (5-hydroxytryptophan), which complements magnesium. n One of the best pure sources of omega-3—a top remedy for sleep apnea by protecting cells from stress—is krill oil (Alternative Medicine Review).

Sleep apnea causes long-term oxidative stress and puts severe demands on the body, which is thought to deplete omega-3 levels.

Lloyd Jenkins is a certified naturopath native to Canada and owner of the Budwig Cancer Clinic, in Malaga, Spain.

He’s the author of seven books and many articles on treating common diseases using natural therapies. natural awakenings

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LIVE CANCER-FREE Natural Ways to Prevent and Heal Cancer

by Linda Sechrist

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ictorious warriors against cancer are speaking to other patients about their journeys of recovery and healing. Two who regularly speak to physicians, as well, are Glenn Sabin, author of n of 1: One Man’s Harvarddocumented Remission of Incurable Cancer Using Only Natural Methods, and Kathy Mydlach-Bero, author of EAT: An Unconventional Decade in the Life of a Cancer Patient. Their stories demonstrate the healing effectiveness of healthy lifestyle measures still widely categorized as prevention.

Whole Life Triumphs

Determined to become free of the chronic lymphocytic leukemia that had defined his life for 20 years, Sabin, who lives near Washington, D.C., appointed himself the subject of his own research experiment. He subsequently became a poster child for the remedial synergy of biological individuality, a whole systems approach to integrative oncology and self-induced healing through lifestyle and supplement interventions. Sabin now

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dedicates his business development firm, FON Consulting, to advancing integrative medicine as the new standard of care. His mission is to open minds to the idea that knowledge, empowerment and self-efficacy are our best allies against a life-limiting diagnosis, and we can do much to help the healing process.

Writing to Joe Biden regarding the vice president’s Cancer Moonshot initiative, he candidly describes America’s present cancer-friendly environment.

“The public has become conditioned to existing in a broken food chain that remains in disrepair due to misguided farming subsidies [and] untested or otherwise questionable chemicals (many of which are banned in other countries) that are present in the water we drink, the air we breathe, food we consume and products we use. Current therapies or those in the drug pipeline won’t improve the 50/50 odds of developing cancer. What will have the greatest impact are consumer education toward powerful lifestyle changes and access to the building blocks of basic health.”

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Avastin, a pharmaceutical created to combat harmful growth of new blood cells, and the benefits of growing and eating foods containing angiogenesisinhibiting compounds that oppose such growth and so work to prevent, improve and avert recurrences of chronic disease. “Cancer hijacks the angiogenesis process triggered by inflammation and keeps it permanently activated to ensure that cancerous cells receive a dedicated, uninterrupted blood supply,” explains Mydlach-Bero.

For three years, she largely consumed only items from the list of angiogenesis-inhibiting foods now posted at KathyMydlachBero.com/ food-research. These include green tea, strawberries, blackberries, red tart cherries, raspberries, blueberries, apples, grapefruit, lemons, tomatoes, cinnamon, purple potatoes, kale, grape seed oil and pomegranate. In 2008, she completely replaced both the drugs to combat the side effects of chemo and radiation and a long-term medication for preventing recurrence with healthful foods.

Her physicians were admittedly uncomfortable with her decision to

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Mydlach-Bero made her remarkable recovery from rare and unrelated aggressive Stage 4 inflammatory breast cancer and a high-grade tumor in her head and neck. To tell her story, the resident of Delafield, Wisconsin, relied on her 18 journals as a surrogate memory to chronicle a 10-year journey of courageous exploration, self-evolution, self-advocacy and self-transformation that connected her with her healing potential.

Then the mother of two young daughters, Mydlach-Bero rejected a 21-month prognosis in 2005, along with the notion that disease and medicine would determine her fate.

Defying the odds, she applied what she learned from research regarding

combine chemotherapy and radiation treatments with “food as medicine”, reiki, prayer, meditation, mindfulness and supplement intervention. But that didn’t deter her. To awaken others to the practicality of food as medicine, she founded NuGenesis Farm, in Pewaukee, Wisconsin, a nonprofit modeled after her home practice.

Prevention is Paramount

Pioneering physicians and researchers agree with Sabin and MyldachBero that comprehensive prevention, the key to solving the cancer epidemic, is missing from conventional medicine. Leading voices include Dr. Andrew Weil, founder and director of the Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine at the College of Medicine, University of Arizona (AzCIM), in Tucson; Dr. Carlos M. Garcia, founder of Utopia Wellness, near Tampa, Florida; advocate Susan Silberstein, Ph.D., founder of BeatCancer.org, in Richboro, Pennsylvania; and Ajay Goel, Ph.D., director of the Center for Epigenetics, Cancer Prevention and Cancer Genomics at Baylor University Medical Center’s Research Institute, in Dallas.

Weil pioneered the earliest efforts to develop a comprehensive curriculum in evidence-based integrative medicine and the field of integrative oncology. “We’ve known for nearly

We’ve known for nearly 15 years that inflammation is the root cause of many chronic diseases. ~Andrew Weil 15 years that inflammation is the root cause of many chronic diseases. Since 2012 scientific evidence has proven that a healthy lifestyle and an anti-inflammatory diet can influence various cancers,” says Weil.

His curriculum for health professionals and the general public was the first to cite the role of a nutrientrich, anti-inflammatory diet in cancer prevention and treatment. “Health professionals graduate armed with a better understanding of the complex interactions between cancer, gut microbiome and nutrition,” advises Weil, whose paradigm inspires his chain of True Food Kitchen restaurants.

Integrative Oncology, authored by Weil and Dr. Donald I. Abrams, an integrative oncologist, is mandatory reading for AzCIM students that learn to use complementary interventions in prevention and conventional cancer care. Subjects such as antioxidants, cannabinoids, energy medicine, mind-body medicine, music and expressive art

therapies are covered, as well as naturopathic oncology, plus the roles that community and spirituality play in prevention and treatment.

Goel’s 20-year career in cancer prevention research has produced a wealth of related articles. Among his findings, he advises, “Curcumin, a yellow compound extracted from turmeric, has become a gold standard for prevention and the natural treatment of many chronic health conditions, including colon cancer. It targets cancer stem cells, disrupts cancer cell communication, triggers cancer cell death and helps to prevent cancerous mutations to cells. It’s also been shown to improve the efficacy of conventional treatments including fewer adverse effects.” He recommends only taking turmeric products with BCM-95 percent active curcuminoids.

Customized Protocols

Considering each individual’s biological individuality as a Petri dish, Garcia’s studies help achieve an anticancer life. He advises, “There is no ‘one size fits all’ medical protocol box for cancer treatment.

Customized modifications to lifestyle and diet are required because food nutrients directly impact the mechanisms by which cancer cells grow and spread. The right nutrition can reverse a compromised

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plus: Graceful Aging September articles include: Yoga Practice Tips, Enhancing Elderhood, Healthful Recipes and so much more!

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immune system, which research shows is a major contributor to the development of cancer.”

Whether for improvement or prevention, Garcia’s patient protocols always begin with a comprehensive evaluation appointment to learn about the individual he is treating. For cancer patients, his two-phase, eight-week program involves immune-enhancing therapies followed by immunotherapy aimed to de-cloak the camouflaged protein coating of wily cancer cells so the body’s immune system can identify and destroy them.

Mind/Body Detox

To maintain good health, Judy Seeger, a doctor of naturopathy near Fort Lauderdale, Florida, recommends a regular detoxification regimen to cleanse environmental and product toxins and toxic emotions.

Through experience, she has learned that individuals living with cancer need to substantially support their abnormally functioning elimination system to rid it of dead proteins from destroyed cancer cells and chemotherapy drugs that are overtaxing the immune system.

“Clearing out toxic, stressful emotions that produce acid, weaken the immune system and create an environment for cancer to propagate is essential,” says Seeger. “Fulfilling the body’s requirement for an ongoing healthy nutritional plan that maintains a healing alkaline environment reduces both the risk of a cancer as well as recurrence.” She has observed that when an individual’s healing process has stalled despite their doing all the right things to improve their

biochemistry, it’s frequently because they haven’t done an emotional detox and lack feeling a spiritual connection to something larger than themselves.

Silberstein categorizes cancer as epidemic. She speaks regularly regarding preventing cancer and its recurrence at medical and nursing schools, continuing oncology nursing education programs and universities. “What is needed more than new treatment research is public education regarding the true causes of cancer and continuing education credits in lifestyle training for medical professionals,” she says. Silberstein’s nonprofit organization provides online holistic cancer coach training for health professionals as well as research-based education and counseling on how to prevent, cope with and beat cancer through immune-boosting holistic approaches.

The list of books authored by cancer survivors continues to grow, offering helpful insight into how individuals are negotiating the challenges of their healing journey. Two recent books, Surviving the Storm: A Workbook for Telling Your Cancer Story, by Psychotherapist Cheryl Krauter, and Cancer Survivorship Coping Tools: We’ll Get You Through

This, by Barbara Tako, are particularly helpful regarding the onslaught of toxic feelings and emotions that stress the mind and body—fear, anger, isolation, anxiety, depression and uncertainty, as well as loss and grief. Emphasizing the need for individuals diagnosed with cancer to tell their stories, the authors encourage keeping a journal. The act of getting thoughts and experiences out of the mind and onto paper supports emotional cleansing.

“It’s important to share the real story of the emotional storm that is cancer, as well as the ravages of its treatments and invisible, but lingering side effects; to tell the tale of the cancer survivor who is moving from patient to person; and to explore and discover who you are after having faced down your mortality,” Krauter counsels.

Changed Paradigm

Results of the Human Genome Project, as well as the work of Bruce Lipton, Ph.D., stem cell biologist and author of The Biology of Belief, and other epigenetic researchers support the point that “environmental signals” that directly affect our DNA expression include our thoughts, emotions, belief system, exposure to sunlight, exercise and everything we put into our body.

Such new science shatters the idea that we are victims of our genes and environment. It shines light on the fact that we have tremendous power to shape and direct our own physical health. Our entire lifestyle is pivotal.

Linda Sechrist is a senior staff writer for Natural Awakenings. Connect at ItsAllAboutWe.com.

Natural Sunscreen Recipe 1/4 cup vitamin E 1/4 cup coconut oil 1/2 cup almond oil 1/4 cup shea butter or beeswax 5-10 drops of a non-citrus essential oil for fragrance (optional) Combine ingredients into a pot and place over low heat.

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Stir ingredients until well combined and distribute into small mason jars for storage.

Store in a cool and dry place until ready for use.

Courtesy of The Truth About Cancer. For more information, call 877-521-5572, email Support@TheTruthAbout Cancer.com or visit TheTruthAboutCancer.com.

NATURAL CANCER THERAPIES IN CHARLOTTE Simple Nutrition Changes May Be Key

by Michelle Bense

E

verywhere we go, there are people fighting cancer, people in remission, people who are currently helping others through the struggles of cancer and on and on. Cancer is, unfortunately, present in nearly all of our lives in some way. It can be scary, feel hopeless and overwhelm anyone, but there are a multitude of therapies that can help in big and small ways.

While doctors often prescribe aggressive treatments like chemotherapy, there are also natural and holistic therapies to help those in treatment and remission, as well as lifestyle changes to help prevent cancer. Charlotte is lucky to have many practitioners who devote their time, expertise and resources to helping those with cancer.

Dr. Megan Ding, of Charlotte Natural Wellness, pursued naturopathic medicine and a specialty in naturopathic cancer support after she saw her aunt benefit from integrating natural therapies into her fight against ovarian cancer. As a

naturopathic doctor, she is dedicated to providing patientcentered care using natural therapies.

Her number one recommendation for those fighting cancer is to focus on nutrition. “Nourish your body so that you can empower yourself,” she says. “Nutrition is a foundation of health. Changing your diet is key. Without changing your foundations of health, other therapies will not be as effective.” Ding offers dietary counseling, nutritional supplementation, herbal/botanical medicine, homeopathy, stress management and alpha-stim therapy.

“By focusing on the patient, I address the environment in which the cancer lives. It is a whole-body approach where the mind, body and spirit are addressed,” Ding says. Her natural therapies help maximally support overall health, fight disease progression and prevent and reduce side effects of conventional cancer treatment.

THE POWER OF LIVE FOOD TO HEAL DISEASE AND CONQUER AGING

4:30-7:00 PM Health Fair 7-9:00 PM Keynote Speaker Q&A and Book signing to Follow

Christ Central Church 3646 Central Avenue Charlotte, NC 28205

natural awakenings

August 2017 25

Currently living in Charlotte, Michelle Bense is an editor and writer for Natural Awakenings editions across the country.

Connect at EditorMichelleBense@gmail.com.

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AwakeningCharlotte.com

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“Many studies reveal that patients have better outcomes when they take an integrative approach to their treatment,” says Ding, describing the triumphs of a current patient with a rare form of small intestinal cancer. “She came to me right after starting her chemotherapy regimen. Together, we worked to change her diet completely and she has been following her treatment protocol. After months of working together, she shocked her oncologist. When her oncologist palpated her tumor, she couldn’t believe that tumor had actually decreased in size.”

The optimal diet changes vary for each individual, but perhaps wheatgrass is the answer—or at least that’s what the Hippocrates Health Institute (HippocratesInst.org) suggests.

In the 1940s, visionary and humanitarian Ann Wigmore developed a simple concept first articulated by Hippocrates, the father of modern medicine, nearly 2,500 years ago: “Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.” She began promoting the benefits of wheatgrass and other raw foods in order to “detox”, removing what she considered to be poisons of unnatural cooked foods and food additives added by industrial society. She believed this diet allowed and helped the body to heal itself.

William D. Carter and Marcea Wolf-Carter are vice president and president, respectively, of the nonprofit Save Your Life, LTD (SaveYourLife.co), where they devote their lives to helping others attend Hippocrates Health Institute (HHI)—whether they are struggling with disease or are a healthcare professional interested in learning alternative cures for patients.

The Carters are hosting a Hippocrates Health Institute Health Fair (BrianInCharlotte.eventbrite.com), October 14, at the Christ Central Church, in Charlotte. Keynote speakers Brian and Anna Maria Clement are co-directors of HHI, devoted to teaching people how to take control of their health. In conjunction with their presentation will be a health fair with five local businesses devoted to organic raw food, healthy juices, food preparation, holistic healing and spiritual healing.

Explaining the philosophies of HHI and Wigmore, the Carters say, “She believed that fresh wheatgrass juice and fresh vegetables—and especially chlorophyll—retained more of their original energy and potency (a form of vitalism) if they were uncooked and eaten as soon as possible after harvesting them.”

The Carters recommend eating organic, living, raw food as much as possible. “Drink 2 ounces of good wheatgrass juice every day, and use an infrared sauna at 120 degrees for at least 20 minutes as often as possible,” they suggest. “Take the time to teach your children to eat healthy food and stay away from sodas and sugar.” Sometimes the simplest changes can make the biggest impact.

“I think of the body as a garden and the cancer as a weed,” concludes Ding. “I focus on the garden, changing and nourishing the soil so that the soil (your body) becomes inhospitable to the growth and spread of the weed (cancer).”

TAKE A HIKE Escape into Nature with a Day Trip

by Marlaina Donato

T

o many, hiking means long-distance treks through forests or backpacking remote terrain. “In reality, it’s more about getting out into green areas close to home,” says Wesley Trimble, of the American Hiking Society. “It’s about immersion in nature.”

Day hiking can be easily tailored to personal preferences and interests. “Excellent apps and websites list and describe trails in your area or community. We have a database on our site that’s helpful,” says Trimble (AmericanHiking.org).

He’s personally high on old rail lines that have been converted to wide, accessible paths (RailsToTrails.us).

A Trail for Everyone Whatever our location, age or fitness level, a hike can provide opportunities for calming solitude or connecting with people we care about. Individuals with disabilities can also get outdoors at accommodating trails such as those at Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge, in Delaware. There’s always something to be learned in identifying wildlife and plants.

“Families can enjoy time walking outdoors together in ways impossible in other settings,” observes Verna Gates, founder of Fresh Air Family, a Birmingham, Alabama, outdoor activities educational foundation. “Nature aids in well-being in many ways.” She points to studies cited at NatureAndForest Therapy.org/the-science.html that reveal how trees emit enzymes into the air that help improve our emotional and physical health. “When I lost a child, the only place I found solace was in nature. Sitting in a patch of wildflowers truly brought me back to living,” recalls Gates.

Where to Go

A

long with checking your state’s departments of tourism and parks and recreation, here are some broader resources for finding local trails. n AmericanHiking.org

Explorers’ Heaven Following a lovely trail, much like inspired cooking, is as intriguing and delightful as we wish it to be. From wildflower paths to wine country trails, the great outdoors invites exploration of woodlands, glens, forests, mountain valleys, coastal areas, bayous, deserts and other terrain. Experienced daytrippers recommend revisiting favorite trails in specific seasons.

“I love being in the natural world, be it New Jersey, Florida or Alaska. Every trail offers surprises,” marvels distance hiker Craig Romano (CraigRomano.com). As the author of several day hike guidebooks, he’s seen firsthand how, “Every part of the country offers different perspectives and forms of beauty. The greatest biological diversity in our country is found in the Great Smoky Mountains, where the rhododendrons are breathtaking in spring.”

The world’s largest mapped cave system is in Kentucky’s Mammoth Cave National Park. Hiking to observe other subterranean wonders in Indiana or Virginia’s Natural Bridge Caverns is no less exhilarating than walking Alabama’s covered bridge trail or painter Georgia O’Keeffe’s Ghost Ranch country, in New Mexico. The Appalachian Trail, running between Maine and Georgia, attracts thousands of adventurous long-distance trekkers, but such trails also offer sections ideal for day hikes.

Geomagnetic points in Arizona’s vortex region or America’s Stonehenge, in New Hampshire, afford unusual destinations.

The wonders of California’s Sonoma County include Planet Walk, a scale model path that illustrates our solar system. The Crater of Diamonds State Park, in Arkansas, is the only place in the world where hikers can dig for diamonds and keep what they find, although quartz diamond sites (semiprecious stones less hard than diamonds) can be accessed at other U.S. locales. Coastal walks lead to discovering sea glass and shells.

Arboretums in urban areas offer trails flush with local flora.

Joining or starting a hiking club based on common interests is one way to go. “One of our guidebook series encourages outdoor enthusiasts to explore the natural world in their immediate backyards. This approach especially appeals to families, first-time trail users and athletes looking for a quick nature fix after work,” offers Helen Cherullo, publisher of Mountaineers Books (MountaineersBooks.org), a nonprofit committed to conservation and sustainable lifestyles.

Wherever we venture, take nothing but pictures and leave nature untouched. Cherullo reminds us, “Connecting people to treasured natural landscapes leads to active engagement to preserve these places for future generations.

The future of public lands—owned by every American citizen—is literally in our hands.” They deserve our vote.

n AmericanTrails.org n Backpacker.com n BluePlanetGreenLiving.com n ClimateRide.org n FreshAirFamily.org n GearPatrol.com n HikingProject.com n NWF.org (National Wildlife Federation) n OutsideOnline.com (Outside Magazine) n SectionHiker.com

What You Need

T

ime spent outside is best when we’re well-equipped.

Here are some basic tips.

4 Be prepared for weather, stay alert, plan ahead and have a trail map so you know what to expect.

4 Inform others where you will be and what time you plan to be back. Set a deadline to turn around and head back well before sundown.

4 Plan on not having cell phone reception.

4 Wear proper footwear and clothing.

4 Take a compass and a flashlight.

4 Bring water, in plastic-free bottles, and well-sealed snacks.

4 Apply natural, reliable sunscreen (such as Think Sport).

4 Use DEET-free insect and tick repellant. (For an easy home recipe, add 15 drops of geranium and eucalyptus essential oils to a two-ounce spray bottle filled with distilled water. Shake well before each use.)

4 Consider a natural first-aid kit. (DIY guidelines for creating alternative kits are found at Tinyurl.com/Natural RemediesTravelKit and Tinyurl.com/ AnHerbalFirstAidKit.)

masik0553/Shutterstock.com

Olga Danylenko/Shutterstock.com

Hiking in nature is a ready way to reset frazzled nerves.

Marlaina Donato is a freelance writer, author and multimedia artist. Connect at MarlainaDonato.com. natural awakenings

August 2017 27

wisewords

ELLEN LANGER

How Changing Your Thinking Changes Everything

by April Thompson

F

or 40 years, Social Psychologist Ellen Langer has conducted pioneering research on the power of our minds to shape health and well-being.

Langer’s work demonstrates that changing what we think and believe can transform not only our experiences, but also our bodies— a once-radical idea now common among neuroscientists. Her unconventional experiments often involve mind tricks: taking elders’ subjective thoughts back 20 years to reverse objective metrics of aging; fostering weight loss in a group of hotel maids by simply suggesting that their jobs qualify as exercise; and even changing blood sugar levels in diabetics by speeding up or slowing down perceived time during a video game session.

Affectionately dubbed the “Mother of Mindfulness”, Langer was the first female professor to earn tenure in Harvard University’s psychology department. A prolific writer and scientist, she has authored more than 200 related articles and 11 books, including Mindfulness; The Power of Mindful Learning; On Becoming an Artist: Reinventing Yourself Through Mindful Creativity; and Counterclockwise: Mindful Health and the Power of Possibility. Langer lives, paints, works and observes the world from Cambridge, Massachusetts. Learn more at EllenLanger.com.

What is mindful learning, and how can we best practice it?

All learning is mindful; the only way to learn is by noticing new things.

Natural Awakenings M agazine is Ranked 5th Nationally in Cision’s 2016 Top 10 Health & Fi tness Magazines List

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When we stop observing and get into our heads, wondering if that answer was right or if we responded quickly enough, we exit learning mode and enter mindlessness, where no learning can really take place.

Part of what makes travel exciting, for example, is that we are primed to experience new things and pay attention to them, but actually, newness surrounds us at all times, no matter where we are. What makes us mindless is the mistaken notion of already knowing, when everything is always changing.

What techniques, with or without meditation, can we adopt to change our mindset and mental habits to reduce stress and increase health and happiness?

Most mindlessness occurs by default, rather than design. If we all realized that through mindfulness we could look better, feel better, be better received and do better things—all claims that are supported by scientific research—it wouldn’t be hard to choose.

Meditation is essentially a tool to lead you to the simple act of intentional noticing, but many routes lead to that destination. One way to learn mindfully is to learn conditionally; to see the world as “it would seem that” and “could be”, which is very different than “it is.”

If we recognized that evaluations occur in our heads rather than the external world, much of our stress would dissipate. Negativity and stress are typically a result of mindless ruminations about negative things we think are inevitable. If we simply ask ourselves why the dreaded event might

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not occur, we’d be less stressed. Next, if we ask ourselves how it may actually be a good thing if it does happen, again stress would diminish.

How do the mental constructs we attach to our experiences affect outcomes of health and well-being?

Mental constructs are positions we consider as accepted certainties.

When a physician makes a diagnosis, most people take it as a certainty and behave accordingly. Assuming that pain, decline or failure is inevitable can cause an individual to give up hope of complete recovery. But science only suggests probabilities, and if we understand this, we’ll go to work on a solution.

We have a tremendous amount of control over our health that goes untapped. Placebos are today’s strongest medications demonstrating this fact. Initially, placebos were frowned upon by the pharmaceutical industry because a drug couldn’t be brought to market if a placebo was just as effective. When someone gives you a pill and you get better not because of the pill, but because of your beliefs about it, you realize that what stands in the way of healing is your own mindset.

How have you seen these principles play out in your own life?

My fascination with the ability of our mind to change our health began when my mother’s diagnosed metastasized breast cancer disappeared, a fact the medical world could not explain.

Since then, my own prognosis related to a smashed ankle from a Beth Israel teaching hospital physician with the Harvard Medical School, stating that I would always walk with a limp and never play tennis again, has been completely overturned.

My mission coming out of these two experiences is to determine how we can apply our mental capacities to increase control of our health and well-being.

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

August 2017 29

businessspotlight

Bunt Offers the Very Best of Reiki

by Martin Miron

A

Reiki Life Academy is a professional from illness, injury and loss,” says Bunt. “I also reiki treatment and training facility. routinely support people coping with anxiety, Founder and Director Nancy Bunt is a depression and trauma recovery.” certified yoga teacher (RYT-500) with advanced Having experienced the effects of reiki for training in therapy and trauma, a certified so long, Bunt says, “I know firsthand just how meditation teacher, certified Tension/Trauma profound an impact this practice can have on Releasing Exercises (TRE) provider and nationan individual’s life and personal growth. Reiki ally certified personal trainer with advanced has given me an amazing tool to help navigate training in mind-body wellness and a master’s the inevitable challenges life has thrown at me. degree in sports science. She has been practicRegardless of the situation and how difficult it ing reiki for 22 years. may have seemed at the time, I always knew I Nancy Bunt

Services include reiki treatment, reiki trainwas going to move through it and come out beting programs, TRE, instruction in relaxation techniques and ter on the other side. This is a great benefit to having reiki in specialty workshops like Chakra Balancing, Meditation and the your life. You are more capable of going with the flow of life Art of Dowsing. She states, “I pride myself on having an endless and staying grounded, centered and connected.” thirst to learn and gain experience in order to give my clients

Bunt has engaged in advanced study as a master teacher and students nothing but the best. I am continually working to under the current reiki grand master in the Usui shiki ryoho, advance my mind-body education through regular attendance Phyllis Lei Furumoto. “My time with Phyllis only further of seminars, workshops and training programs.” strengthened my passion for reiki, as well as my commitment

She was introduced to reiki as a young girl. “My mother had to preserving the integrity of the traditional Usui practice. received training in reiki first and second degree, and I rememMy extensive experience and education allows me to offer a ber feeling very intrigued and receptive of it. Something about foundation to my students like no other.” reiki seemed so natural to me, like I had always known about it

Bunt has volunteered at a children’s in-residence psychiand was being given a reminder. When I reached my early 20s, atric facility for over six years. “I have the privilege of sharing I began to feel a strong calling to become a practitioner myself.” reiki and relaxation techniques with children recovering from Her extensive background in fitness, mind-body wellthe effects of trauma,” she says. “This experience has been ness, yoga and meditation allows Bunt to provide more such an amazing gift to me and a way of giving back for integrative wellness support, as well. having had reiki in my life since I was a child.”

She works with adults, children and animals. “People come to me for a variety Bunt’s Reiki First Degree class begins Sept. of reasons. Some for general wellness, 23, and the Reiki Second Degree class begins balancing and personal growth; profesSept. 9. A Reiki Life Academy is located at 5200 sional athletes looking to stay fully focused Park Rd., Ste. 105, in Charlotte. For more informaon their game; and others come to me ® tion, call 704-996-4079, email Nancy@ for support with the healing process AReikiLife.com or visit AReikiLife.com.

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A 7-year-old hound and canine-style Houdini named Gumby was adopted seven times, surrendered to the shelter eight times and thrice became a stray. An unprecedented 11 return trips to the Charleston Animal Society, in South Carolina, convinced the staff he prefers shelter life. Now his selfappointed job is comforting and helping new arrivals adjust to their temporary home.

Dentist April Patterson owns Dr. Patty’s Dental Boutique and Spa, in Fort Lauderdale. After attending a local Humane Society fashion show, she returned to her office with Oliver, a four-pound Pomeranian mix of undetermined age. This cutie’s job is to steady nervous patients. “It wasn’t planned,” says Patterson. “Oliver will bark nonstop when left alone, but being one of the staff makes him happy. Meeting Oliver is part of our hiring process.”

Dory, a yellow Labrador certified therapy dog, is approved by the San Diego district attorney’s office to offer aid in court when a victim or witness testifies in front of the defendant. “Dory was the first court support dog in California and the city’s first of five dog and handler teams,” says Kathleen Lam, a retired attorney and dog handler. “The dogs

courtesy of Kathleen Lam

undergo rigorous testing to demonstrate good behavior in court. Handlers work on long downs and stays, including hand signals.” Dory recently accompanied an 8-year-old girl testifying against her father; he had killed his wife in front of her two years before.

Special Rescue Teams

Mas, a water-loving Newfoundland, redefines “rescue dog”. The Scuola Italiana Cani Salvataggio, or Italian School of Rescue Dogs, is the largest national organization in Italy to train dogs and handlers for water rescue. Helicopters can often reach a swimmer in distress more quickly Public Ambassadors than a boat. The dog jumps out to circle Deemed “too large to sell,” Bert, a the victim until they can grab her harness chocolate Pomeranian, wound up in before swimming to shore or a human an Oklahoma shelter. Kathy Grayson, partner. Mas, the first certified water rescue owner of The Hole, a New York City art operative recognized by Italy, France and gallery, saw his photo on Petfinder.com Switzerland port authorities and coast and fell in love. She immediately traveled guards, went on to train her successors. to adopt him. Bert, whom she characterBloodhounds are renowned for their izes as quiet, refined and perfectly suited super sniffers. Lou, a nine-year K9 veteran, Dory, the first court support to the art world, loves being at the gallery on Pennsylvania’s West York Borough dog in California. and has attended art fairs in major U.S. Police Department force, ultimately applied cities. Follow Bert’s adventures via for retirement, passing the harness to Instagram.com/bertiebertthepom.

Prince, a 3-month-old bloodhound. Prince was sworn in “Edie, a boxer mix puppy, started training as an assisby District Judge Jennifer J.P. Clancy in her Spring Garden tance dog, but her personality proved better suited to the Township courtroom. The ceremony emphasizes a K9’s status hospitality industry,” says Julie Abramovic Kunes, public in the community and within law enforcement. Paired with relations manager for the Fairmont Hotel, in Berkeley, Officer Scott Musselman for eight months of training, the duo California. Kunes’ Edie was hired by the Fairmont Pittsburgh will work with the Missing Child Task Force.

Hotel in 2011, before making the career move west with her in 2017. A former shelter dog, Edie greets visitors as a Connect with freelance writer Sandra Murphy at community ambassador.

StLouisFreelanceWriter@mindspring.com.

natural awakenings

August 2017 33

healthykids

Fresh Looks at Autism Focusing on a Child’s Optimal Potential

chekart /Shutterstock.com

by Linda Sechrist

A

new paradigm shift regarding autism spectrum disorder (ASD) centers on evolving beliefs about the possibilities for those living with autism, as well as the unimagined brilliance they possess and their need for supportive help.

Everyone can benefit from the results of hands-on research and experience by parents and caregivers that are finding nontraditional ways to help special needs children deal with issues related to emotional and cognitive detachment and isolation. Momentum for this major shift in perspective is fueled by young adults that are telling their encouraging stories online and in books such as Carly Fleishman’s Carly’s Voice.

Parents of the one in 45 children diagnosed with ASD know that their lifetime commitment requires extraordinary courage, perseverance, patience, determination, emotional strength, outside-the-box thinking and unconditional love. These parental characteristics are most cited by those that have mastered related developmental disorders, which they now regard as gifts, because they are thriving.

Dr. Andrea Libutti, author of Awakened by Autism: Embracing Autism, Self, and Hope for a New World, offers her insights for understanding the multifaceted nature of autism and the need for

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a personalized plan for healing. Janice Vedrode, a special needs coach, consultant and child advocate in Saginaw, Michigan, founded Spectrum Speaks and writes at JaniceVedrode. com/blog to inform parents about numerous issues regarding ASD.

“Because I live in a town that didn’t have an existing support group for parents with ASD children, I took it upon myself to get the ball rolling and advise parents that they need to build a dream team—doctors, therapists, special needs teachers, spiritual community, friends and family—that will make sure their child succeeds and lives a happy and successful life,” says Vedrode.

Wanting to help both their own two sons with developmental disabilities and others, Boaz and Minerva Santiago, residents of Pembroke Pines, Florida, became early trailblazers ushering in the self-employment movement for special needs individuals.

Their Picasso Einstein online educational platform at SelfEmploy.org has launched the #JobCreators Bootcamp Training for parents and professionals and the #JobCreators Integration Program that collaborates with organizations, financial institutions and government agencies.

“If you focus on pursuing a business for your child for the sake

AwakeningCharlotte.com

of their independence, you won’t get caught up in only the business and money aspects. Self-employment allows even greatly impaired individuals the maximum opportunity to experience independence, not just in the present, but for the rest of their lives,” explains Boaz.

He cites an example of a young boy with an avid interest in folding clothing. His parents learned how to create a meaningful job for him by creating a simple small laundry business from the family garage. Although at the beginning he was only asked to fold clothing (which he already expressed interest in), his father now accompanies him around the neighborhood to pass out business cards and promote his service. Being in business has helped him grow as a person. “Begin by assuming your child is competent and make it possible for them to follow their passion and create a future they can be proud of,” advises Boaz.

Shining lights are leading the way. With her father’s help, Carly Fleishman, diagnosed at the age of 2 with nonverbal severe autism, wrote a book by striking one computer key at a time that described living in a mind and body afflicted with this condition. Still nonverbal, she hosts a YouTube radio show on which she interviews celebrities via a device that turns keystrokes into verbal language.

Kerry Magro, with Autism Speaks, a research and advocacy organization, answered the question, “What Happens to Children with Autism When They Become Adults?” in his TEDx talk, one of his many media ventures. Chris Varney, an “I can” advocate for children’s rights, won rave reviews for his TEDx talk, “My Unstoppable Mother Proved the Experts Wrong.”

Such powerful stories specifically relate how parents, grandparents and helpful friends forged networks that freed them and their afflicted children of the inhibiting stigma of autism and enabled them to realize their fullest potential. A bedrock philosophy in supporting ASD and other special needs children is to assume they are competent and learn to see them through God’s lens, rather than the lens of the world.

Linda Sechrist is a senior staff writer for Natural Awakenings. Connect at ItsAllAboutWe.com.

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natural awakenings

August 2017

calendarofevents

future to empower you in the now. $150/45 minutes.

155 Joe V Knox Ave, Mooresville. 704-662-0946.

AhlaraInternational.com

NOTE: All calendar events must be received via email by the 12th of the month and adhere to our guidelines. Email Calendar@AwakeningCharlotte.com for guidelines and to submit entries. No phone calls or faxes, please. Or to submit online, visit AwakeningCharlotte.com.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 12

FRIDAY, AUGUST 4 Full Moon Drum Circle – 7-9pm. Come drum and dance to the energy of the Full Moon. Remember your chair and insect repellent. Rain or shine. Love offering. 7300 Mallard Creek Rd, Charlotte. 704-5991180. SLCofCharlotte@att.net. SLCofCharlotte.org Candlelight Yoga – 7:30-9pm. Casey Miller will lead you through a candlelit, 90-minute practice of yin, yang and yoga nidra. $20. 1912 Commonwealth Ave, Charlotte. 704-266-1443. OkraCharlotte.com

SATURDAY, AUGUST 5 Intro to Vedic Astrology – Aug 5-6. 9am-5pm, Sat, Sun. Explore Vedic Astrology’s philosophical and spiritual underpinnings and the important role of reincarnation and karma. Basics of the birth chart, houses, planets and four goals of life as well as personal planetary mantras, mudras and gemstones.

Radhe Pfau, instructor. $150. Register/info: HarmonyYogaNC.com or CelestialGazing.com Chi Running/Walking – 9:30-11am. Learn how to use natural forces to run/walk more effortlessly and injury free. $40. 1912 Commonwealth Ave, Charlotte. 704-266-1443. OkraCharlotte.com Emotional Freedom Technique – 10-11am.

Emotional freedom techniques, also known as EFT Tapping, is a powerful and easy-to-learn-and-apply technique which can help bring balance and calm to your life. Join Dr Damon Silas to learn all about this method. $20. The Meditation Room, 19900 S Main St, Ste 5, Cornelius. info@themeditationroom.org.

TheMeditationRoom.org Sacred Sounds Meditation – 1-3pm. Ease yourself into a state of deep relaxation with the vibrations of Tibetan and crystal singing bowls, tingshas, tuning forks, bells. $20. 1912 Commonwealth Ave, Charlotte. 704-266-1443. OkraCharlotte.com Clearing of Negative Subtle Energies – 1pm.

Sacred ceremony by June Hamilton. Rid yourself of etheric parasites and spirit attachments. This powerful ceremony of clearing will be done with the assistance from the Angelic Realm. Space limited, register today. $45. 2221 N Center St, #3, Hickory.

828-855-9980. Contact@salinity.net. Salinity.net Mystical Shamanic Evolution – 1-2:30pm. Bridging ancient reality with the human experience; a fusion of mysteries and magic. $35. 704-896-3111.

Meetup.com/TheNook/events/2017-08

SUNDAY, AUGUST 6 Queen City Center for Spiritual Living – 10:30am. The first Sunday of every month. An open-minded spiritual community that has a totally positive and practical philosophy of life. We celebrate the mysticism of faith combined with the clarity of universal principle. We invite you to awaken to your spiritual magnificence. The Double Tree Hotel, 6300 Morrison Blvd, Charlotte. 704643-4970. QueenCityCSL.com

36

Charlotte Edition

Unity of Charlotte Sunday Service – 10:30am. Rev Grace Carcich from Asheville presents “Joyfully Embracing the Gift of Surrender!”. 401 E Arrowood Rd, Charlotte. 704-523-0062. UnityofCharlotte.org 5th Annual Piedmont PPD Blood Drive – 12-3pm.

Join Piedmont PPD and support the Community Blood Center of the Carolinas. Get a free reading with your donation. Reserve appointment: NCDonor.com/index.cfm?group=op&expand=55131& zc=28262. Free. 7300 Mallard Creek Rd, Charlotte.

704-599-1180. SLCofCharlotte@att.net iRest Guided Meditation – 2-3pm. iRest Guided Meditation provides you with tools to help you relax deeply and release stress. $10. 1912 Commonwealth Ave, Charlotte. 704-266-1443. OkraCharlotte.com Goat Yoga – 5-6pm. Have you always wanted to do a mountain pose next to a goat? Join our social goats in the pasture and bring a new meaning to your practice. They love our yoga days as much as we do. As a courtesy to our yoga instructors, preregistration is required. $10. 623-282-4325. 10715 Shopton Rd W, Charlotte. WishWeHadAcres.com

MONDAY, AUGUST 7 Summer Camp for ‘Kids’ of All Ages – Aug 7-Aug 10. 10am-3pm. Enjoy a variety of special events throughout each day. Meet the Pendulum, Palmistry, Exploring Stones, Spirit Art/Painting, Tarot, Mind/ Bending Spoons. Ages 10-16. $100. 704-896-3111.

Meetup.com/TheNook/events/2017-08 Guided Shamanic Mediation – 7-8:30pm. Robbie Warren works to bring clarity and wisdom through this led meditation. $30. 1912 Commonwealth Ave, Charlotte. 704-266-1443. OkraCharlotte.com Full Moon Shamanic Journey – 7:30pm. A special level of consciousness to work with intuitive and spiritual guidance for healing, obtaining information and working through personal issues. $20. 704-2773887. HarmonyYogaNC.com

TUESDAY, AUGUST 8 Soul Coaching International Training Institute – 10am. Introduction to 28 Day Soul ®Coaching (individual and group programs) followed by (at 11am) Introduction to 21 Day Clutter Clearing Inside: Out (individual and group program). Theresa Gendron MSN; SC®T, SC®MP (Soul Coach® Trainer, SC® Master Practitioner) Certified Past Life Regressions, Elemental Space Clearing, Certified Gateway Dreaming™. 10 AM Kick off! Free conference call- Overview of upcoming programs. Register: CoachingYourSoul.com.

Participants receive free conference call number and access code. YourSoulLovestheTruth.com

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 9 Private Readings with Mary Beth Wrenn – Appointments avail 1-5pm. She can tune into your personal energetic signature, pick up on projected thought forms and can tune into the energetic signature of a person who has passed away. She sees the

AwakeningCharlotte.com

Samadhi: The Inner Still Point that Transforms All Appearances – 9:30am-4pm. A day of teaching and meditation with Venerables Dr Pannavati and Pannadipa. The thoughts we hold in our mind actually shape our reality. How we see makes the difference in our ability to respond to life’s challenges. Free. This is a Dana (donation) based event with no registration fee. Park Rd Baptist Church, Milford Chapel, 3900 Park Rd, Charlotte. Registration required: azcuys@ gmail.com. InsightMeditationCharlotte.org How to Use Essential Oils for Illness and Disease – 10am-4pm. In this first-of-its-kind class, you will learn how to choose the best essential oils for healing, learn areas to target to increase healing, and using essential oils to shift emotions. Register: Kaliana. com/pages/eo-class. $227. 7300 Mallard Creek Rd, Charlotte. 704-599-1180. SLCofCharlotte@att.net SoulCollage – 1:30-4:30pm. A creative and lighthearted collage process with Margaret Wyche that allows one to explore their life, inner wisdom, and intuition. $45 includes all supplies. 5200 Park Rd, Ste 200C, Charlotte. 704-807-3635. MWyche3@ icloud.net. ElementalHealingCharlotte.com Pass the Oils Workshop – 1:45-3pm. Join us at Gumbo to experience all that essential oils have to offer. $15 earlybird/$20 day of. 1912 Commonwealth Ave, Charlotte. 704-266-1443. OkraCharlotte.com Reiki Share – 3-4pm. Dealing with cancer, chronic illness, pain, fatigue, insomnia, depression, etc or just curious about the extraordinary aspects of Reiki energy healing? Please join us. $5. 704-896-3111.

Meetup.com/TheNook/events/2017-08 Exhibition opening: Bree Stallings: Things with Wings – 7-10pm. This exhibit explores the concept of woman-on-woman violence. What does it mean culturally for those who identify as female to navigate and operate in a world that isn’t built to accommodate or appreciate us? Bree Stallings is a NC native multi-media artist, illustrator, writer and activist. Informal; 21+ only; bring your own beverages as this evening is about Art. 1111 Central Ave, Charlotte. HayloStudioLounge.com

SUNDAY, AUGUST 13 Unity of Charlotte Sunday Service – 10:30am.

Matt Jones presents “Creating Your Brightest Future”. He went from being a three-time cancer conqueror, to surviving a bone marrow transplant, to relearning how to walk, to running seven marathons on seven continents. 401 E Arrowood Rd, Charlotte.

704-523-0062. UnityofCharlotte.org

TUESDAY, AUGUST 15 Spiritual Coaching with Rev Christy Snow – Appointments avail 3-8pm. Release limiting beliefs and associated patterns of behavior: improve a specific area of your life or change your course; create more peace; experience balance; enjoy harmonious relationships; step into prosperity. $150/50 minutes.

155 Joe V Knox Ave, Mooresville. 704-662-0946.

AhlaraInternational.com Better Body Better You – 6pm. Join Eric Osborne, PA-C for a discussion on a holistic approach to weight loss and fitness including nutrition, exercise and goal setting. Free. RSVP: info@

CarolinaFamilyHealthcare.com or 704-847-4000.

11220 Elm Ln, Ste 102, Charlotte

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 16 Mediumship Readings/Healings with Ed Carlton – Appointments avail 1-6pm. Connect with deceased loved ones. Receive guidance from the spiritual realm. $120/60 minutes. Plus Group energy Healings at 12pm and 6:05pm: one might receive physical, emotional or spiritual healing. $10/55 minutes.

155 Joe V Knox Ave, Mooresville. 704-662-0946.

AhlaraInternational.com Beyond the Pull: Integrative Support for Mercury Removal – 6pm. Free educational seminar by guest speaker Michelle Drains, ND of Riverbirch Holistic Health. Free. Space is limited so registration is required. 1000 Copperfield Blvd, Concord.

704-782-0797. Info@KempterDentistry.com

THURSDAY, AUGUST 17 Karmic Astrology Readings with Susan Reynolds – Appointments avail 10:30am-4:30pm. Visions of past lives and insight into impact on present life. $150/1hr. Provide birthdate, time and place when registering. 155 Joe V Knox Ave, Mooresville. 704662-0946. AhlaraInternational.com

FRIDAY, AUGUST 18 Soul Coaching International Training Institute – 7pm. Introduction to 28 Day Soul ®Coaching (individual and group programs) followed by (at 8pm) Introduction to 21 Day Clutter Clearing Inside: Out (individual and group program). Theresa Gendron MSN; SC®T, SC®MP (Soul Coach® Trainer, SC® Master Practitioner) Certified Past Life Regressions, Elemental Space Clearing, Certified Gateway Dreaming™. 10 AM Kick off! Free conference call- Overview of upcoming programs. Register: CoachingYourSoul.com.

Participants receive free conference call number and access code. YourSoulLovestheTruth.com

SATURDAY, AUGUST 19 Nookstore Back to School Sale – 10am-3pm. Kids are back to school – isn’t it time for YOU to give yourself a special treat? Items 15-40% off. 704896-3111. Meetup.com/TheNook/events/2017-08 Connecting with Angels – 1pm. Angels were created to guide us through difficult times from the time we are born until the day we exit this lifetime. Experience the beautiful love and healing the Angelic realm offers. $25. 2221 N Center St, #3, Hickory.

828-855-9980. Contact@salinity.net. Salinity.net Triggerpoint Workshop – 1:45-3pm. Utilizing the Triggerpoint deep tissue therapy products, help relieve soreness and tension throughout the body. $10. 1912 Commonwealth Ave, Charlotte. 704-2661443. OkraCharlotte.com

SUNDAY, AUGUST 20 Certified Holy Fire Reiki Level 1 – 9am-6pm.

Comprehensive beginner energy healing and empowerment class. Learn hand placement system, history, Japanese techniques, grounding, protection, and clearing. Includes initiations, ICRT manual, certificate, discussion, hands-on practice, ongoing support. $205. 8301 Univ Exec Park Dr, Ste 106, Charlotte. Register: BryceGoebel.com Unity of Charlotte Sunday Service – 10:30am. Rev David Hiller presents “Miracle Shifts for Shifting Times”. Sunday service followed by a “Shift” work-

shop at 12:30pm. $20 donation. 401 E Arrowood Rd, Charlotte. 704-523-0062. UnityofCharlotte.org Goat Yoga – 5-6pm. Have you always wanted to do a mountain pose next to a goat? Join our social goats in the pasture and bring a new meaning to your practice. They love our yoga days as much as we do. As a courtesy to our yoga instructors, preregistration is required. $10. 623-282-4325. 10715 Shopton Rd W, Charlotte. WishWeHadAcres.com

MONDAY, AUGUST 21 Certified Holy Fire Reiki Level 2 – 9am-6pm. Empower your Reiki practice with Power, Harmony and Distance symbols, healing the past, distant treatments, Japanese Reiki techniques. Includes initiations, ICRT manual, certificate, lecture, demonstration, hands-on practice, ongoing teacher support. $205. 8301 Univ Exec Park Dr, Ste 106, Charlotte. Register: BryceGoebel.com Neuro Linguistic Programming for Women – 7-8pm. We will focus on self-awareness, our belief system and adding value to our lives. Social time mixed with techniques, tools and strategies to create a more empowered life. Free. Elemental Healing, 5200 Park Rd, Bldg 1, 2nd floor, Library, Charlotte. 704915-8375. Phenixnlp@gmail.com. PhenixNLP.com

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 23 Sierra Club Central Piedmont Chapter Meeting – 7pm (pizza at 6:30pm). Announcements, programs on a variety of environmental issues. Check website for details. Free and open to the public. Mahlon Adams Pavilion, Freedom Park, 2435 Cumberland Ave, Charlotte. Roger.Diedrich@SierraClub.org.

CharlotteSierraClub.org

THURSDAY, AUGUST 24 Awaken Your Spiritual Heart – 1:30-3pm. Take a journey from your head to your heart and awaken your heart’s love, wisdom and amazing intelligence.

In this dynamic, life-changing series of classes, you will learn simple and practical tools developed by the world-famous HeartMath institute, which has been doing research on the power of the heart in human transformation for 2 decades. As you awaken your spiritual heart and bring your head and heart into coherence, you will discover who you truly are and experience the fulfillment and joy of heart centered living. Love offering. Elemental Healing, 5200 Park Rd. Info/register: NancyEnnis4Love@gmail.com. 704-619-5796 Intuitive Healings and Readings with Constantino – Appointments avail 3-8pm. Sound and color healing, light energization, body cleanse. $75/30-minute reading or $150/60-minute reading with healing. 155 Joe V Knox Ave, Mooresville.

704-662-0946. AhlaraInternational.com Understanding Mental Health in Adolescents –

6pm. Presented by Eric Osborne, PA-C, a former school guidance counselor. He will discuss common mental health disorders that may present for school age children and will include resources for parents including home and classroom interventions. Free.

RSVP: info@CarolinaFamilyHealthcare.com or 704-847-4000. 11220 Elm Ln, Ste 102, Charlotte

FRIDAY, AUGUST 25 Table Thai Massage for Therapists – Aug 25-27.

9:30am-6pm, Fri-Sun. Work standing at your table without getting up on it, and do the same whole-body Thai treatment as on the floor. This is the complete level one certification. $350. Elemental Healing, 5200 Park Rd, Ste 200C, Community room, Charlotte. Info@thaibodywork.info. ThaiBodyWork.info

SATURDAY, AUGUST 26 Guided Meditation with PE Calvert – 1pm. For centuries, meditation has promoted health, clarity and happiness. The practice of mindful meditation has been proven to increase memory, learning capacity, and instill a greater sense of self. $20. 2221 N Center St, #3, Hickory. 828-855-9980. Contact@ salinity.net. Salinity.net Pranayama for Self-Healing – 1-3:30pm. A special practice that unfolds cellular intelligence and invites peace and bliss. The techniques and sequence come directly from Ayurvedic master Dr Vasant Lad and were passed down through a lineage of gurus. CEs for yoga teachers. $35. 704-277-3887. HarmonyYogaNC.com Aroma Yoga – 1:45-3:15pm. Discover how to integrate essential oils into your yoga and relaxation routines. $15 early bird/$20 day of. 1912 Commonwealth Ave, Charlotte. 704-266-1443.

OkraCharlotte.com Automatic Writing – 3pm. This unique class combines guided meditation and automatic writing.

Automatic writing is a process of connecting with spirit without using the conscious mind. In this class with PE Calvert, you will align with your intuition, connect to spirit guides and expand our personal growth. It’s fun, easy and everyone can do it. $20.

2221 N Center St, #3, Hickory. 828-855-9980.

Contact@salinity.net. Salinity.net

SUNDAY, AUGUST 27 Unity of Charlotte Sunday Service – 10:30am.

Special guest speaker Rev Pat Veenema also offers a powerful workshop on “Spiral Dynamics” after the service. 401 E Arrowood Rd, Charlotte. 704523-0062. UnityofCharlotte.org T’ai Chi Chih – 2-3pm. Experience this gentle flow and learn new tools for self-healing. $15. 1912 Commonwealth Ave, Charlotte. 704-266-1443.

OkraCharlotte.com

natural awakenings

August 2017 37

plan ahead WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6 Wonderful, Whimsical Provisions for

the SOUL

Products And Events That Inspire Creativity, Spirituality, Hilarity, Random Enchantment and unmitigated Bodaciousness!

Mon - Sat 10-7 Sunday 12-4

Reiki as a Complementary Therapy in Healthcare – 6pm. Presented by Tammy Schoolcraft and Miri Klements. Learn about the benefits of Reiki for reducing stress, calming the mind and emotions, reducing and releasing tension, pain and anxiety, fatigue and helping to diminish the side effects of chemotherapy and medications. Free. RSVP: info@ CarolinaFamilyHealthcare.com or 704-847-4000.

11220 Elm Ln, Ste 102, Charlotte

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 7 Miranda Macpherson – 8:30pm. Founder of OneSpirit Interfaith Foundation in London, Miranda Macpherson is an enlightened, international spiritual teacher, counselor and author using gentle relaxation strategies to give a direct experience of boundless love. Study her approach and find direct spiritual experience through relaxing the ego rather than battling it. Free. Also offered free on Tuesday afternoons when 6+ people sign up. 5200 Park Rd, Library room. 704-591-5359.

PatColby2017@gmail.com

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 8 (704) 338-9778 1710 Kenilworth Ave, Ste 200 Charlotte, NC • www.the-bag-lady.biz

Experiential Anatomy and Therapeutic Essentials for the Lower Extremity – Sep 8-10.

6-9:30pm, Fri; 8:30am-6:30pm, Sat-Sun. 20-hour course focused on: Primary Pelvic and lower limb muscles; Exploring joints, muscles, fascia, nervous system and application to movement; addressing common dysfunctions and injuries for hips and knees; learn muscle testing and develop yoga practice. CEs available through Yoga Alliance. Taught by Tra Kirkpatrick, CIAYT, E-RYT-500. $350 prepaid by Aug 7 ($400 after 8/7). Cornwell Center, 2001 Selwyn Ave, Charlotte. 704-927-0774. CornwellCenter.org.

MPBCOnline.org

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 9 SLC of Charlotte Metaphysical Fair – 11am3pm. Join SLC of Charlotte for their first official metaphysical fair. Come receive intuitive readings and healing from our group of talented practitioners.

Check website for updates. Cost varies. 7300 Mallard Creek Rd, Charlotte. 704-599-1180. SLCofCharlotte@att.net. SLCofCharlotte.org

Harmony Yoga 200hr Teacher Training – Gentle yet powerful postures combined with the nourishing, contemplative aspects of yoga offer an inner and outer transformational experience that will expand your personal practice or allow you to teach to a wide audience of students. 704-277-3887. HarmonyYogaNC.com

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 15 Nepal SEEDS Charlotte Fundraiser – 6-9pm. Major fundraiser for a non-profit helping the people of Nepal improve education, water, health and the environment following the April 2015 earthquakes. Free, $20 suggested donation. Silent auction and raffle. Free Range Brewery, 2320 N Davidson St, Charlotte. 704309-2343. Vcoleman4@carolina.rr.com

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 17 Unity of Charlotte Sunday Service – 10:30am.

Singer-songwriter, Rev Elaine Silver offers the special message. 401 E Arrowood Rd, Charlotte.

704-523-0062. UnityofCharlotte.org

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 23 Reiki First Degree Training – This 3-month (32 hour) program can be a powerful means of personal transformation. It will prepare you for a personal self-practice, and give you the skills and confidence to offer Reiki to your family, friends, pets and plant life. 26 CE hours (NCBTMB). Tuition $450 (early bird special). A Reiki Life Academy®, 5200 Park Rd, Ste 105, Charlotte.704-996-4079. AReikiLife.com

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 5 Miranda Macpherson – 7-8:45pm. Talk, meditation and chanting with Miranda in person. Miranda is an enlightened, international spiritual teacher, counselor and author using gentle relaxation strategies to give a direct experience of boundless love. Free. Greensboro. 704-591-5359. PatColby2017@gmail.com

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 6 Miranda Macpherson Retreat – Oct 6-8. 3-day retreat with the founder of OneSpirit Interfaith Foundation in London. Miranda Macpherson is an enlightened, international spiritual teacher, counselor and author using gentle relaxation strategies to give a direct experience of boundless love.

Study her approach and find direct spiritual experience through relaxing the ego rather than battling it. $450 includes tuition, room and board. 704-5915359. PatColby2017@gmail.com

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38

Charlotte Edition

AwakeningCharlotte.com

ongoingevents NOTE: All calendar events must be received via email by the 12th of the month and adhere to our guidelines. Email Calendar@AwakeningCharlotte.com for guidelines and to submit entries. No phone calls or faxes, please. Or to submit online, visit AwakeningCharlotte.com.

sunday Spiritual Light Center of Charlotte - 10:30am.

Rev. Rebecca Nagy, spiritual leader. A nondenominational spiritual community, grounded in the Universal Truth Teachings of New Thought and Ageless Wisdom. Services followed by Master Mind and Fellowship. Spiritual Light Center of Charlotte, 7300 Mallard Creek Rd. 704-599-1180.

SLCofCharlotte.org Unity of Charlotte Sunday Celebration Service – 10:30am. Spirit-led and Heart-driven describes this welcoming spiritual community that offers spiritual enrichment classes throughout the week and a vibrant Sunday Celebration Service with terrific music and inspiring messages.

Youth Program ages 4+ avail. Unity of Charlotte, 401 E Arrowood Rd, Charlotte. 704-523-0062.

UnityofCharlotte.org Unity Spiritual Center – 10:30am. Casual service.

Positive music, centering meditations and inspiring metaphysical talks. We are a spiritual community (not a religion) grounded in Unity Metaphysics, A Course in Miracles and related Eastern teachings.

New meeting location: 627 S Sharon Amity Rd. 704-619-9029. Find us on Facebook, Meetup and CharlotteSpiritualCenter.org QiGong with Yadi Alamin – 1pm. The most energetic QiGong class in Charlotte. Exercise for strength, flexibility, internal power and peace of mind. $15/class or $40/monthly. Elemental Healing Charlotte, 5200 Park Rd, Ste 200C, Charlotte.

980-800-7043. CharlotteReflexology@gmail.com.

CharlotteReflexology.com

monday A Course in Miracles – 7pm. ongoing study and discussion of ACIM. Jim and Kay Fuller have been facilitating ACIM studies for over 25 years. Bonnie Briar Townhomes, Elm Ln at Hwy 51. Find us on Facebook and Meetup. 704-619-9029. CharlotteSpiritualCenter.org

tuesday Gentle Yoga Flow – 9:30-11am. Come into the present moment using functional, adaptable postures, mindful movement and guided breath flow. All welcome. $13. HarmonyYogaNC.com. 704-277-3887 Yin Yoga with The Yoga Oasis – every Tue and Thu. 9:30-10:30am. This practice compliments the more muscular forms of yoga and exercise giving the joints a rest. Letting go, relaxing, and finding stillness in each posture is the Yin experience. Perfect for healing injuries. No yoga experience required.

All levels welcome. Single class and monthly memberships avail. Elemental Healing Charlotte, 5200 Park Rd, Ste 200C, Movement room #1, Charlotte.

TheYogaOasis.com

Chair Yoga: Sit & Get Fit – 10-11am. Participants learn modified versions of twists, hip stretches and other poses that will soothe aching joints and improve flexibility and range of motion. $10. 1040 Edgewater Corp Pkwy, Indian Land, SC. Just 3 miles from Ballantyne. RSVP: 704-360-8889. Info@ IntegraWellnessCenter.com Lunch Hour Slow Flow Yoga – 12-1pm. Enjoy mid-day rejuvenation with adaptable poses, balancing breathwork and mindful movement. $10.

1040 Edgewater Corp Pkwy, Indian Land, SC. Just 3 miles from Ballantyne. RSVP: 704-360-8889.

Info@IntegraWellnessCenter.com Weekly Daytime Meditation – 12-1pm. Brief instruction period, 30-minute silent meditation, and a short period of questions and answers. Donation.

Park Rd Baptist Church, Milford Chapel, 3900 Park Rd, Charlotte. 704-995-4860. IMCCharlotte.org

wednesday Gentle Yoga Flow – 9:30-11am. Come into the present moment using functional, adaptable postures, mindful movement and guided breath flow. All welcome. $13. HarmonyYogaNC.com. 704-277-3887 The School of Spirituality – 10:30am-12pm.

On-going class with Barbara Ruff is a discussion on spiritual topics relevant to our changing world and search for deeper meaning. All welcome. Love offering. Unity of Charlotte, 401 E Arrowood Rd, Charlotte. 704-523-0062. UnityofCharlotte.org Psychic Tarot Readings – 1-6pm. Heather GaffneyDarnell is an intuitive reader, teacher and energy healer with over 30 years’ experience. Call for an appointment. $45. 2221 N Center St, #3, Hickory.

828-855-9980. contact@salinity.net. Salinity.net Therapeutic Yoga for Deep Relaxation – 7-8:30pm. Breathing techniques, gentle poses and meditation to peacefully bring you into the present moment. All levels, beginners welcome. $13. Integra Wellness Center, 1040 Edgewater Corporate Parkway, Indian Land, SC. 704-277-3887. Info@IntegraWellnessCenter.com. HarmonyYogaNC.com.

Wisdom Wednesdays – 7-8:30pm. An ongoing study of the Ageless Wisdom Teachings with Rev Rebecca Nagy. ‘Meditation is the Doorway’ continues through July. Love offering. Spiritual Light Center of Charlotte, 7300 Mallard Creek Rd, Charlotte. 704-599-1180. SLCofCharlotte@att.net.

SLCofCharlotte.org Weekly Wednesday Meditation – 7-9pm. Practice instructions for those new to meditation at 7pm.

Silent mindfulness meditation at 7:30pm, followed by dharma talk and discussion. Donation. Park Rd Baptist Church, Milford Chapel, 3900 Park Rd, Charlotte. IMCCharlotte.org Heartfulness Meditation – 7:30pm. This group meets for a period of silent meditation. The process begins promptly at 7:30pm, so we suggest you arrive around 7:15. More info: Heartfulness.org. Unity of

Charlotte, 401 E Arrowood Rd, Charlotte. 704-5230062. UnityofCharlotte.org

thursday A Course in Miracles - 9:30am. A transformative ongoing study group open to all. Where philosophy, psychology, and religion end, A Course in Miracles begins. Freewill offering. Unity of Charlotte, 401 E. Arrowood Road, Charlotte. 704-523-0062, UnityOfCharlotte.org.

Relieve Stress, Live a Healthier Life with QiGong – 10-11am. Learn choreographed movement sequences to address health concerns of all kinds and empower yourself to become well naturally. Develop techniques to release the stress and tension of life that can so easily get stuck inside and cultivate a peaceful energy that will aid in personal development. $10. 1040 Edgewater Corp Pkwy, Indian Land, SC. Just 3 miles from Ballantyne. RSVP: 704-360-8889. Info@ IntegraWellnessCenter.com Yoga Therapeutics – 12-12:50pm. A focused specialized therapeutic yoga class for chronic and acute issues for increased healing of range of motion. Instructor Jeffery Shoaf, Internationally Certified Yoga Therapist. $12. 2001 Selwyn Ave, Charlotte. 704-927-0774. CornwellCenter.org.

MPBCOnline.org

friday Gentle Yoga Flow – 9:30-11am. Come into the present moment using functional, adaptable postures, mindful movement and guided breath flow. All welcome. $13. HarmonyYogaNC.com. 704-277-3887 Bone Makers for Healthy Bones and Body – 10:30am. Aug 4 & 11 only. Come to Bone Makers to build healthy bones, balance and memory. This graduated program is great for arthritis. $6/class. Davidson Community Center, 865 South St, Davidson.

704-892-3349. BonewalkersPlus.com QiGong with Yadi Alamin – 6:30pm. The most energetic QiGong class in Charlotte. Exercise for strength, flexibility, internal power and peace of mind. $15/class or $40/monthly. Elemental Healing Charlotte, 5200 Park Rd, Ste 200C, Charlotte.

980-800-7043. CharlotteReflexology@gmail.com.

CharlotteReflexology.com

saturday Heartfulness Meditation – 9-10am. Experience the Heart’s unlimited resources. Learn simple yet effective relaxation & meditation techniques to reduce stress, calm your mind and improve quality of life. Instructor Faith Northington. Free. 1040 Edgewater Corp Pkwy, Indian Land, SC. Just 3 miles from Ballantyne. RSVP: 704-360-8889. Info@ IntegraWellnessCenter.com Magic in a Minute – Live on Facebook – 11am.

Catch these fun moments of mystical information, magic fixes and problem-solving tidbits.

Laugh with us, learn with us. Weekly on The Nook – Facebook. 704-896-3111. Meetup.com/ TheNook/events/2017-08

natural awakenings

August 2017 39

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

COLONICS

ACUPUNCTURE

HC WELLNESS CENTER & SPA

EMPOWER LIFE CENTER

1308 E Garrison Blvd, Gastonia 704-823-1577 HCWellnessCenterAndSpa.com

Camilo Sanchez, LAc, MOM, MQG 704-542-8088 EmpowerLifeCenter.com With 24 years of clinical and teaching experience in acupuncture and Chinese medicine, Camilo’s expertise is to identify the root cause of your health concerns. Specializing in the treatment of pain conditions, women’s health, digestive disorders, sports injuries, stress and chronic diseases. Camilo also teaches authentic Chen Tai Chi, Qigong and Taoist yoga.

Paula Kearney, L.Ac. & David Bonilla, L.Ac. 1318-A3 Central Ave, Plaza Midwood 704-770-1318 TwoTreesAcupuncture.com Providing private and community acupuncture services, herbal medicine, bodywork sessions, classes and more to the city of Charlotte.

See ad, page 17.

ASTROLOGY SOUL OF CHIRON

Dorothy Taylor, CH Charlotte 919-889-0457 • SoulOfChiron.com Info@SoulOfChiron.com Sharing intuitive and insightful awareness for healing, direction and success in life for over 12 years. Discover gifts and overcome challenges reaching your full potential and happiness. Certified Consulting Hypnotist, Astrologer and Life Coach.

AYURVEDA INTEGRA WELLNESS CENTER Ayurvedic Wellness Practitioner Lisa Moore, AWP, E-RYT 500 704-360-8889 IntegraWellnessCenter.com

Holistic education/support on food and lifestyle practices that uses a constitutional model based on elemental make-up.

Enhance digestion, detoxify, reduce stress and increase mind/ body connection for health and vitality. See ad, page 10.

Charlotte Edition

Dr Michael Smith 1114 Sam Newell Rd, Ste A 704-708-4404 CarolinasNaturalHealth.com

Charlotte’s only doctor specializing in homeopathy – a power system of natural medicine that stimulates your body’s natural ability to heal, without side effects. Anxiety/ Depression, ADHD, Behavioural issues, Eczema, auto-immune disease, hormonal imbalance, and much more. See ad, page 12.

HYPNOSIS QUIT SMOKING • LOSE WEIGHT

DENTISTRY KEMPTER HOLISTIC DENTISTRY

TWO TREES ACUPUNCTURE

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Our principle service is Colon Hydrotherapy, but we also offer a wide variety of other services. We o ff e r b o t h t r a d i t i o n a l a n d alternative therapies to assist clients in achieving optimal health, wellness and balance.

HOMEOPATHY CAROLINAS NATURAL HEALTH CENTER

Drs. John Kempter and Eric Kempter 1000 Copperfield Blvd, Ste 160, Concord 704-782-0797 KempterDentistry.com Biologically minded family dental office offering 3D digital dentistry, preventative dentistry, safe mercury removal and sleep apnea screenings. In a relaxed and caring environment, all patients are given devoted time. Call the office today to request a new patient consultation. See ad, page 8.

EDUCATION KENT-COOK INSTITUTE

400 N Harbor Pl, Ste C, Davidson 704-896-3111 KentCookInstitute.com Online or on campus. Accredited School with classes in Mediumship Development, Spiritual Healing and Philosophical Metaphysics. The Kent-Cook Institute on Lake Norman has a full curriculum. See ad, page 13.

GIFT SHOPS THE NOOK STORE

400 N Harbor Place Dr, Ste C, Davidson 704-896-3111 KentCookInstitute.com

AwakeningCharlotte.com

The Nook Store, a Divinely Unique Mystical Boutique on Lake Norman, the gem of The Nook. We carry the tools you need for your spiritual journey. See ad, page 13.

Mark Bell, CPLC, C.H. 704-604-5018 CharlotteHypnosisServices.com

Enhance your life. Past life regression, stress reduction, quit smoking, lose weight, break bad habits, gain confidence and more.

Call now to schedule.

STRESS RELIEF, ANXIETY MANAGEMENT, PAST LIVES REGRESSION

Heidi E. Kent, C.Ht. & Marsha G. Cook, C.Ht. 704-896-3111 Your mind is an organic computer riddled with belief systems, programs and fears. We provide the tools you need for your spiritual journey. Relief is an appointment away. See ad, page 13.

INTEGRATIVE MEDICINE CAROLINA FAMILY HEALTHCARE Maureen Scott, ANP-BC 704-847-4000 CarolinaFamilyHealthcare.com

Maureen Scott is a practicing adult nurse practitioner who has been Fellowship trained in Integrative Medicine through the University of Arizona. She treats physical ailments and the person a s a w h o l e - e m o t i o n a l l y, m e n t a l l y a n d spiritually. Carolina Family Healthcare is a full service primary care facility located in the Ballantyne area.

See ad, page 29.

INTEGRATIVE PEDIATRICIAN INFINITE HEALTH, PLLC

Sheila Kilbane, MD Deborah Allen, Integrative Pharmacist 2201 Park Rd, Ste B, Charlotte 704-626-6771 SheilaKilbane.com Dr. Kilbane is a board-certified pediatrician who trained in integrative medicine. She works with families to find the root cause of illnesses such as: reflux, eczema, allergies, recurrent ear and sinus infections, asthma, constipation and abdominal pain. Deborah Allen leads a gut restoration program for adults.

INTEGRATIVE WELLNESS CONNIE WILLIAMS

Senior Pranic Healing Instructor Pediatric Speech Pathologist 850-380-0561 PranicHealingandWellness.com Comprehensive energy healing curriculum, certifications, private healing sessions, meditation, yoga, spiritual retreats, NCBTMB and NASW CE hrs, and more for individuals and families! Please visit our website for class schedule or to make an appointment.

INTUITIVE DEVELOPMENT GINA SPRIGGS

Futurist. Holistic Intuitive. Mentor.

704-846-0217 GinaSpriggs.Guru Are you at a crossroads with work, relationships or personal purpose? Would you like to peer into the future you are creating & determine if it’s one you want?

Schedule your session today via GinaSpriggs.Guru (& get your FREE Gift!) See ad, page 30.

KNEE PAIN

MASSAGE

VEZENDY CHIROPRACTIC

JEFFREY SHOAF, LMBT (#14847)

21000 Torrence Chapel Rd, Ste 101, Cornelius 704-895-2240 VezendyChiropractic.com Our advanced knee pain relief program is a result of years of research and study and has resulted in knee pain resolution for hundreds of patients without pain medication or surgery. We treat the underlying cause of your knee pain and help your body heal itself. See ad, page 5.

MARY E. AMON

Mary the Metaphysical Maven 808-283-5249 MaryEAmon.com Mary offers spiritually guided sessions that provide new tools to help you “see” yourself and your life path more clearly. Clients reconnect with their authentic self-worth and develop deeper more meaningful relationships with healthy boundaries. You will be guided towards your unique path of spiritual growth in a loving and nononsense manner.

Offering therapeutic massage, bodywork, and yoga therapy, utilizing myofascial release, trigger point therapy, and physical assessment tools for a collaborative approach to client centered health!

NATURAL DOCTOR

LIFE COACH

DR. MEGAN DING, ND

FIND THE TRUE ME

Charlotte Natural Wellness 10722 Carmel Commons Blvd, Ste 450 704-543-5540 • DrMeganDing.com

Dorothy Taylor, CLC, CH Charlotte 919-889-0457 TrueMeCoach.com Info@TrueMeCoach.com Find a clear path to your true center of power and happiness and reach your full potential through the power of your own mind.

Dorothy Taylor Certified Life Coach, Consulting Hypnotist and Professional Astrologer with over 12 years experience.

Charlotte’s only naturopathic doctor specializing in natural cancer support. Dedicated to treating the whole body and empowering you to improve your health using natural medicine.

NATUROPATHIC PHYSICIAN CAROLINAS NATURAL HEALTH CENTER

ALANNAH JOY RCT, CLT Starlight Productions 704-964-3980 AlannahJoy.com

Dr Michael Smith 1114 Sam Newell Rd, Ste A 704-708-4404 • CarolinasNaturalHealth.com

30 years of Life and Health coaching with both a medical and holistic background. Uncanny ability to assess health needs for people and pets. Effective Animal Communicator. Highly intuitive Reiki Master and Minister combining healing and prayer for effective results.

LYMPHATIC CLEANSE

Diabetes, Depression, Digestive Disorders, ​A llergies, Autoi m m u n e d i s e a s e , ​A n x i e t y​,​ ADHD. Charlotte’s only doctor specializing in homeopathy. We focus on treating YOU to uncover the cause of your health condition and empower you to better health! S​ ee ad, page 12.

OF THE EARTH WELLNESS, LLC Dr. Dave Hamilton 10715 Shopton Rd W, Charlotte 980-272-1897 OfTheEarthWellness.com

JENNIFER DILLON, DC, CCN

INTUITIVE SPIRITUAL GUIDANCE

Certified Yoga Therapist 726 E. Blvd. Charlotte, NC 309-287-0576 JBShoaf113.wix.com/jeffreyshoaf

421-B S. Sharon Amity Rd 704-333-9991 DillonNaturalHealth.com

The Light Beam Generator is a non-invasive oxygen based detoxification system helping to restore function and assist the lymphatic system. When this circulatory system is congested, the whole system becomes toxic causing chronic inflammation as well as many other issues. See ad, page 16.

A community of healing and nonjudgment. You are an individual and encouraged to be an active participant in your own health. We treat a variety of health concerns from the common cold to chronic illness. Begin your journey today.

Plant the seed of health. Grow balanced naturally. See ad, page 21.

You cannot step into the same river twice. ~Heraclitus natural awakenings

August 2017

41

REIKI/LIGHT TREATMENTS

NUTRITION INTEGRA WELLNESS CENTER

Functional Nutrition Rhya Pachin, LDN, RDN, CLT 704-360-8889 • IntegraWellnessCenter.com Evidence-based nutrition science to support the body as a whole to address the root cause of health imbalance.

Custom elimination diets for IBS/IBD, fibromyalgia, food sensitivities, and other chronic inflammatory conditions.

Accepts most insurance. See ad, page 10.

PSYCHIC

Bill Flanigan 355 W. Martin Luther King Blvd 704-507-5975

Alleviate pain, dislocated joints, low platelets, allergies, nausea and panic attacks and increase spiritual connection and overall feelings of well-being. In person and remote sessions for people and pets. Call now to schedule your appointment.

ROLFING STRUCTURAL INTEGRATION JILL COYNE, CERTIFIED ROLFER

SPIRITUAL PSYCHIC MEDIUM

Heidi E Kent, M.A. CM, C.Ht. 423-300-8618 • HeidisReadings.com Heidi E. Kent, co-director of The Kent-Cook Institute, is a certified psychic medium, master palmist, spiritual communicator, numerologist, relationship counselor, metaphysical teacher and certified hypnotherapist. Heidi guides you to the place of “what to do, what to do, what to do”! See ad, page 13.

REIKI

Flex5 Fitness & Wellness 428 E. 4th St, Ste 201 312-342-3547 QueenCityRolfing.com

Feeling limited or inhibited?

Rolfing realigns chronic patterns in your body to eliminate pain as well as evoke postural integrity and energetic vitality via gentle hands-on manipulation and awareness education. See ad, page 7.

TRANSITION WITH CARE

Offering reiki treatment for adults, children and animals; comprehensive reiki educational programs; and NCBTMB continuing education.

Nancy Bunt, founder and director, has over 22 years of experience with reiki in both clinical settings and private practice, as well as an extensive background in mind-body wellness. See ad, page 5.

W h e n i t ’s t i m e t o downsize and move from a home of many years we understand the details.

Our compassionate teams of move managers reduce your physical and emotional stress by carefully planning and executing your relocation.

5200 Park Rd, Ste 105, Charlotte 704-996-4079 • AReikiLife.com

6135 Park South Dr, Ste 510 704-945-7108 TransitionWithCare.net

SOUL COACH CERTIFIED PAST LIFE REGRESSIONS, ELEMENTAL SPACE CLEARING, CERTIFIED GATEWAY DREAMING™ Theresa Gendron MSM; SC®T, SC®MP 203-710-6453 YourSoulLovestheTruth.com

Soul Coaching® is a remarkable pathway that allows clients to truly “hear” the yearnings of their soul.

It is a program for anyone seeking a phenomenal spiritual cleansing, renewal and transformation. Call today and be empowered to experience a remarkable and prosperous life!

o ma k of igital gaz you ine r

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Charlotte Edition

RESPIRA VITA SALT & SAUNA 7800-F Stevens Mill Rd, Matthews 704-628-5788 RespiraVita.com

The Greater Charlotte Area’s premier provider of all-natural salt therapy (halotherapy), full-spectrum infrared sauna, thermal massage bed, energy therapy (reiki) and licensed massage.

SPIRITUAL CENTERS SPIRITUAL LIGHT CENTER OF CHARLOTTE

Rev. Rebecca Nagy, Spiritual Leader 7300 Mallard Creek Rd, Charlotte 704-599-1180 SLCofCharlotte.org 10:30 a.m. Sunday service and meditation. Spiritual but not religious? Looking for a vibrant, inclusive and nondenominational spiritual family that honors you on your spiritual journey? Then SLCC is for you. Meditations, classes and more.

See ad, page 6.

SENIOR SERVICES

A REIKI LIFE ACADEMY®

CH Text A to RNA 64 to 84 T rec flip eiv 2 ed bo

SPAS

AwakeningCharlotte.com

UNITY OF CHARLOTTE

Exciting Speakers Every Sunday 401 E. Arrowood Rd. 704-523-0062 UnityOfCharlotte.org Unity features a vibrant, joyous Sunday Celebration Service at 10:30am with terrific music, inspiring messages and a warm, welcoming spiritual community. Offering classes and workshops throughout the week with activities that support your health, wellness and spiritual journey.

See ad, page 17.

UNITY SPIRITUAL CENTER OF CHARLOTTE CharlotteSpiritualCenter.org 704-619-9029 Find us on Facebook & Meetup

We are a welcoming Spiritual Community grounded in Unity Metaphysics, A Course in Miracles and related Eastern Teachings.

Sunday “Casual Service” 10:30am. Monday ACIM study group at 7pm. See ad, page 38.

TAI CHI/QIGONG EMPOWER LIFE CENTER

WOMEN’S HEALTH

THERMOGRAPHY

NATURAL BEGINNINGS BIRTH AND WELLNESS CENTER

JENNIFER DILLON, DC, CCN

Camilo Sanchez, LAc, MOM 704-542-8088 EmpowerLifeCenter.com

Learn authentic Chen Tai Chi and Taoist Elixir Qigong under the guidance of 20th generation Master Instructor Lao Shi, Camilo Sanchez, L. Ac, MOM. Tai Chi has been called the “Perfect exercise” for mind/ body wellness. Promote fitness, improve health, relieve pain, boost energy, reduce stress & learn self-defense skills.

TAROT

421-B S. Sharon Amity Rd 704-333-9991 DillonNaturalHealth.com

Thermography is a non-invasive way to visualize the health of a tissue. Identify inflammation in breast tissue and other areas of the body. Detect issues early to allow time to make a change before diagnosis occurs. See ad, page 16.

VETERINARIAN ATRIUM ANIMAL HOSPITAL

RAVEN SCHONER

2210 India Hook Rd, Rock Hill, SC 803-818-2133 DivineRaven.com Lady Raven is a born empath with over 10 years tarot reader and spiritual herbalist experience. She uses her skills in magick and her natural psychic gifts to receive aid from spirit in both her personal practice and on behalf of her clients. See ad, page 38.

1420 Fern Creek Dr, Statesville 704-380-3722 NaturalBeginningsNC.com

Holistic Wellness Center for Women offering primary gynecological care, on-site birthing rooms as well as hospital births, newborn care and a state-of-the-art lactation facility. Staffed by Certified Nurse Midwives who love to care for women during all life stages. Accepts most insurance plans. See ad, page 17.

YOGA

Dr Kim Hombs, DVM, CVA, CVCH, CTui-Na 6520 McMahon Dr, 704-542-2000 AtriumAnimalHospital.com

INTEGRA WELLNESS CENTER

The most comprehensive Holistic/Integrative Animal Me d i c i n e P r a c t i c e i n t h e Charlotte region. Alternative vaccine approaches, double certified acupuncturist and herbalist, offering cold and class 4 laser, TCM food therapy, Tui-na, Animal Rehabilitation with underwater treadmill. See ad, page 33.

Restorative Yoga Lisa Moore, E-RYT 500, AWP 704-360-8889 IntegraWellnessCenter.com

Offering gentle, restorative yoga for all ability levels that is safe, adaptable and contemplative. Educational workshops on yoga and Ay u r v e d a i n w e l l n e s s facility near Ballantyne. See ad, page 10.

CONNECT WITH OUR READERS!

THREE-MONTH EDITORIAL CALENDAR AND MARKETING PLANNER

SEPT

OCT

NOV

plus: Yoga

plus: Chiropractic

plus: Silent Retreats

Our Readers are Seeking Providers & Services for: Natural Healthcare Practitioners • Functional Medicine Financial Planning • Community Banks Organic Foods • Yoga Classes & Apparel

Our Readers are Seeking Providers & Services for: Transformative Travel Companies Natural Habitat Adventures • Travel Outfitters Personal Growth Retreats • Adventure Groups General, Advanced & Sports Chiropractors

Graceful Aging Transformative Travel Diabetes Prevention Our Readers are Seeking Providers & Services for: Functional Medicine Practitioners Organic/Non-GMO Sugar-Free Foods Fitness/Health Clubs Weight-Loss Centers Spas/Retreats

Contact us to learn about marketing opportunities and become a member of the Natural Awakenings community at:

704-499-3327 natural awakenings

August 2017 43

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