Natural Awakenings Lowcountry February 2017

H E A L T H Y

L I V I N G

FREE

H E A L T H Y

feel good • live simply • laugh more

Valentines SACRED FOREVER PASSAGE How to Keep a Marriage Sweet

P L A N E T

In the O-ZONE

Conscious Dying Oxygen Therapy as a Transformative Heals a Host of Ills Healing Journey

February 2017 | Lowcountry Edition | NALowcountry.com

An Integrative Wellness Experience

FEST 2017

Shelmore Village in Mt Pleasant March 11, 2017 11-5 pm

Speakers, Yoga, Meditation, Wellness Village and Marketplace, Music and Food

is a proud sponsor of Live Well Fest

Food Sensitivities Plus: Holistic Eye Care Our Readers are Seeking Providers & Services for Addressing Dietary Concerns & Natural Vision Care

To advertise or participate in our next issue, call 843-821-7404

M A R

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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.

15 THE POWER OF GRATITUDE • Ozone Therapy • Safe Amalgam Removal • BPA-Free Fillings Biological General Dentistry & Cosmetic Dentistry

by Steve Liverani

16 BORN FOR OUR TIMES

A Guide to Feeding the Good Wolf

by Joan Borysenko

18 TRANSFORMING THE

WAY WOMEN RELATE TO MEN

An Interview with Alison Armstrong

by April Thompson

Call Us Today: 843-884-1215 1571 Mathis Ferry Road Mount Pleasant, SC 29464

15

19 KISSED BY KINDNESS

by Emily Esfahani Smith

mathisferrydentistry.com

20 IN THE O-ZONE

Oxygen Therapy Heals a Host of Ills

by Valerie Burke

21 FIT FOR LIFE

How to Stay Healthy, Flexible and Strong

23

by Aimee Hughes

23 INDOOR KITCHEN GARDENING

Easy-Grow Microgreens Are Big on Nutrition

Holistic Boutique & Gift sHop

by Barbara Pleasant

24 KEEP DECAY AWAY

Kids Do Best with Holistic Dentistry • Home & Gift items from India, Bali & Thailand • Herbal remedies • Crystals & stones • Spiritual books • Reiki candles • Meditation supplies

Located inside Charmed Reiki Master Sylvia Barnhill Book appointments by calling 843-224-7377

Energy Work, angel card readings, and private meditations by appointment only.

217 Lucas Street, Suite E, Mount Pleasant SC 29464 New Hours! Tuesday – Saturday noon to 6 p.m. CharmedOnShemCreek

4

NA Lowcountry Edition

26 SUSTAINABLY

24

STYLISH HOME

Relax into Nurturing Furnishings

by April Thompson

28 SACRED PASSAGE

Conscious Dying as a Transformative Healing Journey

by Linda Sechrist

Charmed is located at Look for the purple door!

by Linda Sechrist

(843) 352-2983

NALowcountry.com

31 THE REVIVAL OF DEATH

MIDWIFERY

by Paige Hetherington

28

9 7 newsbriefs 9 healthbriefs 11 globalbriefs 13 ecotip 14 community

spotlight 17 readersnapshot 11 18 wisewords 19 inspiration 20 healingways 2 1 fitbody 23 consciouseating 24 healthykids 13 26 greenliving 32 naturalpet 34 calendar 37 classifieds 38 resourceguide

advertising & submissions How to Advertise FOR NEXT MONTH’S ISSUE To advertise with Natural Awakenings or request our rates, please contact us at 843-821-7404 or email: Publishernalowcountry@gmail.com. Deadline for ads: the 10th of the month for the next month’s issue.

EDITORIAL submissions FOR NEXT MONTH’S ISSUE Email articles, news items and ideas to: Publishernalowcountry@gmail.com. Deadline for editorial: the 5th of the month for the next month’s issue. calendar submissions FOR NEXT MONTH’S ISSUE Deadline: the 10th of the month for the next month’s issue.

- Calendar Event submit to: nalowcountry.com/event-entry.html - Ongoing Event submit to: nalowcountry.com/recurring-events-calendar.html 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 239530-1377 or visit NaturalAwakeningsMag.com.

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February 2017

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letterfrompublisher

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contact us Owner/Publisher Toni Owen Conover Senior Editor Sara Gurgen Design and Production T.W.S. Graphics Stephen Blancett Steve Hagewood Writer Gwen Hughes Advertising Sales Toni Owen Conover PublisherNALowcountry@gmail.com Phone: 843-821-7404 NALowcountry.com Natural Awakenings-Lowcountry PO Box 1001, Isle of Palms, SC 29451 © 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.

Natural Awakenings is a free publication distributed locally and is supported by our advertisers. It is available in selected stores, health and education centers, healing centers, public libraries and wherever free publications are generally seen. Please call to find a location near you or if you would like copies placed at your business.

We do not necessarily endorse the views expressed in the articles and advertisements, nor are we responsible for the products and services advertised. We welcome your ideas, articles and feedback.

Natural Awakenings is printed on recycled newsprint with soybased ink.

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NA Lowcountry Edition

ebruary brings us Valentine’s Day, when both the paired and singles’ thoughts turn to love and relationships, or lack thereof. This month, we help those in relationships bridge communication differences (see page 18) and share the results of a behavior study that predicts the success of marriages (see page 19). For the singles among us, our Reader Snapshot features local author and dating coach Naked Auntie, the author of Getting Ready to Date, the first in her Pain Proof Dating series. Check out her interview and special offer on page 17.

February is also a month most spend indoors (although we did experience some lovely, warm January days!). When we are home, we want to ensure we are in a healthy, comfortable environment. Unfortunately, most mass-produced furnishings are full of chemicals that are anything but healthy. Read about healthier alternatives in “Sustainably Stylish Home, Relax into Nurturing Furnishings,” on page 26.

I mentioned last month that I would be sharing reviews and recipes on home and personal-care products. I’m a big fan of essential oils and made Christmas presents with them, including beard oil for my son and body butter for friends. I’ve also started replacing commercial cleaning products with those I make myself. I found a simple glass cleaner to be just as effective as commercial brands, without the nasty chemicals. It’s quick and easy to make and costs less. You can find the recipe on page 37. If you have some tried-and-true recipes for home or personalcare products, please share them with me. I will test them, and if I like them, I will share your recipe, and perhaps your photo to go along with it. I’m also interested in running photos of pets, so if you would like to see your fur baby on these pages, send me a photo!

This month’s feature article, “Sacred Passage: Conscious Dying as a Transformative Healing Journey,” tenderly explores how the ultimate transition can be beautified by compassion and dignity when thoughtfully approached. Local resident Paige Hetherington’s article, on page 31, describes the empathetic end-of-life care she and other death midwives can provide. This month’s Community Spotlight is on Hospice of Charleston (see page 14). I will be forever grateful to the hospice nurses and volunteers who cared for my mother and family and made her transition peaceful.

Life is short. A crucial part of creating the life we desire is to effectively work with our mind to develop our thoughts and beliefs. Natural Awakenings has partnered with MindPT, a new, cutting-edge technology that blends positive psychology with neuroscience. This fun and engaging platform helps users build and reinforce positive mental messaging, which helps transform thoughts, beliefs and lives. We are pleased to offer you the opportunity to experience the benefits of MindPT by giving you a free video session, titled NATURAL AWAKENINGS, which helps reinforce the message to feel good, live simply and laugh more (see ad on page 3 for details).

“The Power of Gratitude,” by local life coach Steve Liverani, on page 15, discusses how gratitude can be truly transformative in both good and difficult times.

“Born for Our Times: a Guide to Feeding the Good Wolf,” by Joan Borysenko, on page 16, shows how positive thinking (feeding the good wolf) helps us be more resilient, happy and creative. Borysenko, a pioneer in mind/body research and New York Times best-selling author, will lead a retreat on this topic at the Sophia Institute, February 24 to 25.

We hope that each month these pages help support and guide you along your path to a happier, healthier life as we remind you of ways to feel good, live simply and laugh more.

Toni Owen Conover, Publisher NALowcountry.com

newsbriefs First Annual Live Well Fest 2017

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he first Live Well Fest, a wellness and well-being festival, will take place in The Shelmore Village Green, March 11, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Live Well Charleston’s mission is to bring together local health and wellness practitioners and showcase Charleston as a wellness destination. Natural Awakenings is proud to be a sponsor. Admission is free.

The festival will offer a wellness sampler with local practitioners. Attendees will hear holistic experts talk about wellness in the workplace, natural medicine, stress-reduction, yogic breathing and quantum healing. With a wellness village, marketplace, class offerings, live music, and healthy food vendors and organic wine, the event promises fun for the whole family.

According to organizer Sandra Jamali: “The idea is to celebrate healing and wellness, which is what we are all about. Through this festival, people can experience and understand different wellness modalities that they normally might not have access to, or learn about traditional and new alternative therapies.”

Live Well Charleston (LWC) is partnering with Natural Awakenings, EcoHealth Wellness Center & Detox Spa, King Street Marketing Group, and The Collective Way to present this holistic event. LWC serves as a wellness lifestyle blog and guide to living well in Charleston. It appreciates the local wellness culture and promotes diverse holistic practitioners, yoga and meditation, boutique fitness studios, healthy sustainable food, wellness travel and more.

Location: 712 S. Shelmore Blvd., in Mount Pleasant. For more information, contact Sandra Jamali at 203-249-8052 or Sandra@LiveWellCharleston.com, or visit LiveWellCharleston.com. See ad, page 2.

Liverani Life Coaching 440-476-6928

Info@LiveraniLifeCoaching.com

LiveraniLifeCoaching.com Call or Email for Free Initial Consultation

Steve Liverani, BCC Board Certified Life Coach Reach out today to take the fiRst step.

The Sophia Institute TransformYour Life, Transform Our World Making Change Your Ally with Creativity and Intuition DEBRA MOFFITT

February 3 | Friday Night Lecture 6:30-8:30pm February 4 | Full Retreat 9:30-5pm Lance Hall, 150 Meeting St., Charleston

The New Divine Feminine Book Study MEGHAN DON

February 15 - May 17 | Every 1st & 3rd Wednesday 301 East Bay Street, Charleston

Born for These Times JOAN BORYSENKO

February 24 | Friday Night Lecture 6:30-8:30pm February 25 | Full Retreat 9:30-5pm Lance Hall, 150 Meeting St., Charleston

Return to Joy ANDREW HARVEY & CAROLYN BAKER March 17 | Friday Night Lecture 6:30-8:30pm March 18 | Full Retreat 9:30am-5:00pm Lance Hall, 150 Meeting St., Charleston TO REGISTER FOR OUR FEBRUARY / MARCH PROGRAMS , VISIT

www.TheSophiaInstitute.org office location: 293 East Bay Street | Charleston, South Carolina 29401 843.720.8528 | info@TheSophiaInstitute.org natural awakenings

February 2017

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newsbriefs Doctor of Chiropractic Ann Jenkins Welcomes Massage and Skin Therapist Rosella McGilsky

The Stone Soup Collective: New Nonprofit to Help Feed Area Hungry

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From left to right: Linda DeRemer, Jennifer Michelle Saunders, Dylan Duckworth, April Ballard and Renée Orth

“E

arth to soul.” These words capture what The Stone Soup Collective, a new nonprofit enterprise, is all about.

Healthy, nutrient-packed, delicious soup made primarily from local produce will be sold on a buy one, give one basis— for every serving purchased, another will be given to someone in need. There are estimated to be more than 140,000 food insecure people in the lowcountry, about half of whom are children and seniors. “We are committed to creating a win-win-win-win: ending food insecurity, making healthy and sustainable eating easy and enjoyable, enabling our customers to help their community, and supporting local farmers,” says the initiative’s founder, Renée Orth.

Be on the lookout for a crowdfunding campaign to be launched mid-tolate February. Contributors can help by making a tax-deductible donation or by pre-purchasing soup, or both. Funds received from the campaign will help pay for start-up, production, packaging and distribution costs. The group will operate out of the Sweetgrass Garden kitchen on Johns Island, itself a local nonprofit with a similar mission. Soup will be distributed to local hubs—churches, yoga studios, offices, schools and more—as well as through existing organizations aimed at helping food insecure individuals in our community. Community ambassadors are needed to help spread the word throughout the Charleston area.

For more information, contact Renée Orth at 310-995-1582 or Renee@ TheStoneSoupCollective.com. Also visit Friends of the Stone Soup Collective on Facebook.

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NA Lowcountry Edition

osella McGilsky, of Oceans Charleston, has joined Doctor of Chiropractic Ann Jenkins in her West Ashley office. McGilsky is a tenured deep-tissue massage and skin therapist with 16 years of experience. She is trained in a wide array of bodywork techniques, including but not limited to, acupressure, circulatory, neuromuscular, myofascial and various energy modalities. McGilsky’s facials are Rosella McGilsky customized to meet individual needs using pharmaceuticalgrade skin products and deep-tissue “face-lift” massage techniques.

Packages and membership options are available. Oceans Charleston is offering an introduction massage or facial special for the month of February for $59. Book online at OceansCharleston.com.

Jenkins Family Care is located at 1164 Northbridge Dr., in Charleston (West Ashley).

For more information, call Doctor of Chiropractic Ann Jenkins at 843-270-9913. See ad, page 9, and listing, page 39.

The New Divine Feminine: Spiritual Evolution for a Woman’s Soul

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he Sophia Institute is offering a book study on Meghan Don’s new book, The New Divine Feminine, the first and third Wednesday of the month, beginning February 15 through May 17, from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Don is an award-winning author, spiritual mentor, and founder and leading guide of the Gnostic Grace Circle (visit GnosticGrace.com).

This will be an in-depth study and an experiential and evolutionary journey into the light and dark faces of the archetypal stages of sacred womanhood. It will lead participants into the inner territory of the heart, soul and body, opening the way to the true nature of being, and will show participants how to use their lives for the good of the world and the good of the earth.

The New Divine Feminine will also challenge and bring forth those places where lack of self-worth, jealousy and lack of confidence still lie hiding. Prayers, meditations and chants will be given to help heal and transform. There will also be sacred sharing, during which time participants can learn from each other’s lives and experiences.

Cost: $175. Location: 301 East Bay St., Charleston. For more information, email Info@The SophiaInstitute.org or visit TheSophiaInstitute.org. See ad, page 7.

Correction: The publisher would like to apologize for listing the incorrect name of the product in the Product Review on page 32 and in the Letter from the Publisher in the January issue. The correct name of the product reviewed is LipSense by Senegence. This product is available locally through Be Kiss Proof (see listing, page 39). The publisher regrets the error and highly recommends the LipSense product.

NALowcountry.com

healthbriefs

FEEL CALM and CONFIDENT

Infants Breathing Bad Air May Suffer as Teens

The Magnesphere magnets will WIPE AWAY your anxieties and gently RESTORE your Peace of Mind

study from the Karolinska Institute of Environmental Medicine, in Stockholm, analyzed data on air pollution exposure and lung function in the first and 15th years of life among 2,415 adolescents in Sweden. The researchers focused on nitrogen oxide in vehicle exhaust and particulate matter from road erosion, using road traffic, topography and weather conditions to classify pollution levels. They compared this data to the level of difficulty the teens experienced getting air through their peripheral airways, termed “resistance”.

The study found that breathing problems increased for teenagers each time their exposure as infants to such pollution increased by 10 micrograms per cubic meter, with the strongest association occurring in male subjects with asthma at age 16. The same increase was not present in relation to their exposure to traffic pollution as teenagers.

Lead author Erica S. Schultz, Ph.D., says, “An increasing number of studies demonstrate the importance of airway periphery for lung health. It’s concerning that the effect from the first year of life seems to be long-lasting, although we don’t yet know the full clinical implications.”

The first 10 people to call this month will receive a for more information: free www.magnesphere.info/ session 843-270-9913 Dr. Ann wants to fix the problem ...not just treat it!

Reflexology and Imagery Relieve Preoperative Anxiety

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nticipating surgery can be stress1164 Northbridge Dr. ful, and many patients suffer from Charleston, SC 29407 preoperative anxiety, which can cause nt the Seed a serious health complications such as l P www.drannjenkins.com hypertension, rapid pulse and sugar www.facebook.com/drannjenkins metabolism changes. Israeli researchers from the University of Haifa have found Not Your Ordinary Buy Chiropractor into your that complementary medicine, comcommunity bined with standard use of anti-anxiety … Support our advertisers drugs prior to entering the operating room, can significantly reduce preoperative anxiety levels and improve outcomes.

Researchers divided 360 preoperative patients ages 17 and up into three groups: those receiving standard care for preoperative anxiety; those receiving standard care along with complementary therapy, featuring acupuncture, reflexology, individual guided imagery or a combination of the latter two; and those Make your community • Is it recycled or made from receiving standard care combined with generic guided imagery via a recording.a little GREENER …sustainableBEFORE materials?

YOU BUY: Support Anxiety levels were measured preoperatively before and after the intervention on a our advertisers 1. Is it recycled • Is it resource saving?

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• Is it vintagesustainable or $68 returns to the community level anxiety.

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The study found that complementary therapy in combination with standard care 3. Is it vintage or produced a 60 percent reduction in anxiety, with the mean score dropping from pre-owned?

Asking these questions Asking these 5.54 to 2.32. Combining standard care with reflexology and guided imagery provided before you buy questions can help before you the best relief, reducing anxiety by an average of 4.22 points. Patients receiving only buy can help you make a green choice you make a standard care experienced a slight rise in their average anxiety level. green choice.

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FamVeld/Shutterstock.com

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Grow your business with Natural Awakenings

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source: the350project.net

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February 2017

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healthbriefs

Fenugreek Eases Menopause

randomized, double-blind study from the Sri Jayadeva Institute of Cardiovascular Science and Research, in Bangalore, India, has found that an extract of fenugreek husk (FHE) called FenuSMART can provide relief from common symptoms of menopause, including night sweats, insomnia, headaches, hot flashes and mood swings.

Researchers studied 88 menopausal women between the ages of 45 and 58. Half were given one gram of FHE per day for 90 days while the other half received a placebo. The study measured the impact the supplement had on the subjects’ menopausal symptoms through weekly telephone sessions.

At the study’s end, approximately 32 percent of the women in the FHE group reported no hot flashes, while the placebo subjects saw the frequency of theirs reduced from three to five per day to one or two. Additionally, the subjects that took FHE experienced a 57 percent reduction in night sweats, a 68 percent abatement of mood swings, a 75 percent drop in insomnia and 58 percent fewer headaches.

Dino Osmic/Shutterstock.com

Oliver Wilde/Shutterstock.com

A

Fortified Foods Cut Into Supplement Use

Aloe Vera Juice Allays Diabetes A

September 2016 survey from Packaged Facts, a division esearchers from the David Grant Medical Center, at of Market Research Group, LLC, Travis Air Force Base, in Fairfield, California, have showed that as much as 20 percent found that oral doses of aloe vera can reduce fasting of the U.S. adult population is cutblood glucose and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), ting back on supplement use due to which indicates the average 2/1 glucose level over the preconsumption of fortified foods. DeSEI-Charleston vious three months, in patients with Type 2 diabetes. spite this trend, nutritional supple Data from nine clinical540-1240-NA-Hands-On/PCMT-4x3 studies that included 89 ment sales nationwide are projected NaturalFindings Awakenings diabetes patients were analyzed. suggest to increase by $1.5 billion in just 4.75 x 3.25 that patients with a fasting blood glucose level of PK two years to $16 billion in 2018. more than 200 milligrams per deciliter experienced 1/10

Fortified foods contain extra nuthe greatest benefits from the aloe vera. trients added by manufacturers such as cereal fortified with iron, milk with added vitamin D and pasta enhanced with folic acid. While the original intent of these additives was to improve nutritional deficiencies in people without access to foods that naturally contain these nutrients, consequences now include an overabundance of particular nutrients for some and poor food choices due to a dependence on fortified foods for others. Ingesting naturally Southeastern Institute occurring nutrients in unfortified OFFERS HANDS-ON TRAINING IN foods allows each nutrient to be PROFESSIONAL CLINICAL MASSAGE THERAPY absorbed together with the other vitamins, minerals and phytonutri888.866.8251 ents contained in that food, enabling SoutheasternInstitute.edu them to work together within the Charleston Main Campus: 4600 Goer Drive, Suite105 body, according to the Harvard For information on graduation rates, student debt levels, and other disclosures, visit www.SoutheasternInstitute.edu/ConsumerInfo School of Public Health.

joannawnuk/Shutterstock.com

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HANDS-ON TRAINING FOR A HANDS-ON CAREER

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NA Lowcountry Edition

NALowcountry.com

globalbriefs

Believe

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

in Yourself:

Change

Heave Ho

Abandoned and lost fishing gear such as traps, crab pots and nets litter the ocean floor in coastal areas worldwide, continuing to attract, entrap and kill fish and other marine life. The Associated Press reports that global nonprofits, governments and companies are engaged in efforts to retrieve and recycle as many of the items as possible to protect the environment, save marine life and reduce hazards to marine navigation.

A 2009 United Nations report estimated there are 640,000 tons of discarded fishing nets deep below the ocean surface worldwide. Recommended solutions include degradable panels on traps that break down and allow trapped marine life to escape. International agreements prohibit dumping fishing equipment at sea; yet in England, small vessels can amass landfill charges of roughly $700 per year, giving them an incentive to ditch broken gear.

Pascal van Erp, a Dutch diver alarmed by the amount of equipment he’s encountered, founded the Ghost Fishing Foundation to tackle the issue. He says, “It’s found in all seas, oceans and inland waters at all depths, along the beach and under the sand. I don’t think the problem can be resolved completely, but we can keep it from getting worse by showing the problem to the public and the authorities.” Industry experts and scientists estimate that commercial fishermen annually lose about 10 percent of their traps due to bad weather.

Your Life Story I can help you: • Gain clarity and focus • Release anxiety, fear, sadness • Resolve relationship challenges • Relieve tension; be peaceful • Get unstuck and moving in your life and career

Release fears and experience joy again

Free Fuel

Hydrogen Conversion From Water Making Gains Scientists at KTH Royal Institute of Technology, in Stockholm, report that they have finally unlocked a major barrier to exploiting a renewable energy source through extracting pure hydrogen from water. Because the best-performing catalysts for electrochemical oxidation, or “water splitting”, are expensive precious metals, the research team led by KTH Professor Licheng Sun developed molecular catalysts for water oxidation with an efficiency approaching that of natural photosynthesis comprising common, abundant elements, all of which could help change the economics of large-scale hydrogen fuel production.

Meanwhile, Daniel Nocera, a professor of energy at Harvard University, and Pamela Silver, a professor of biochemistry and systems biology at Harvard Medical School, have co-created a system that uses solar energy to split water molecules and hydrogen-eating bacteria to produce liquid fuels. Their paper, whose lead authors include post-doctoral fellow Chong Liu and graduate student Brendan Colón, was recently published in Science.

“This is a true artificial photosynthesis system,” says Nocera. “Previously, people were using artificial photosynthesis for water-splitting, but this is a true A-to-Z system, and we’ve greatly exceeded the efficiency of photosynthesis in nature.”

Sashkin/Shutterstock.com

Richard Whitcombe/Shutterstock.com

Abandoned and Lost Fishing Gear Pollutes the Seas

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natural awakenings

February 2017

11

Veggie Tales

Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) is a new method of editing genomes of farm animals and food crops.

White button mushrooms (Agaricus bisporus) that have been genetically modified to delay the natural browning process are the first CRISPRedited organisms to receive approval from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

Yinong Yang, a plant pathologist from Penn State University, crafted the modified mushrooms by targeting the family of genes responsible for the browning effect seen in produce when sliced and exposed to oxygen.

Yang was able to reduce the browning enzyme’s work by 30 percent and was granted approval from the USDA because no foreign or altered DNA was integrated into the mushroom genome. The department only assesses whether there’s a risk that the new modified variety of an organism could become a weed or “pest” to other plants.

The mushrooms may still be subject to Food and Drug Administration or Environmental Protection Agency regulations. The National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine are in discussions about developing a new set of rules for the biotech industry in the next five to 10 years.

Source: Nature.com 12

NA Lowcountry Edition

Watch the Birdie

Selfies Promote Animal Cruelty and Death Zachary Crockett, of Pricenomics.com, has found that since 2014, 49 people were killed in attempts to take pictures of themselves with wild creatures. Although there are no statistics on how many animals have been harmed due to selfies, wildlife organizations such as Care for the Wild International are appealing to the public to stop using animals as props.

Visitors to China’s Yunnan Wild Animal Park lured captive peacocks from their enclosure and grabbed them by their tails. The birds died as a result. Another group of people at a beach in Argentina was filmed mobbing a baby Franciscana dolphin, an endangered species, while taking pictures, resulting in its death likely through shock and severe dehydration from being removed from the water for too long.

Due to the high demand by tourists to take pictures with wild animals, special photographic settings are popping up in Mexico, Europe and Morocco. However, the Association for British Travel Agents stated that no legitimate sanctuary would allow animals to be used as photo props.

Soru Epotok/Shutterstock.com

Genetically Altered Mushrooms Approved for Consumption

A recent study from the University of Western Australia has found that plants regularly react to and emit sounds through a series of clicks produced by their roots, and that such inter-flora communication may be essential to their survival. Evolutionary biologist Monica Gagliano, who made the discovery, listened to the roots of young corn plants and found that they regularly produced sounds in the range of 220Hz, a frequency audible to the human ear.

Plants have been shown to influence each other in many ways through nanomechanical oscillations on a molecular scale. Gagliano remarks, “Scientists also know that plants use volatile chemicals to communicate with each other.”

Another biological research team under the direction of Professor Olaf Kruse, Ph.D., scientific director of the Center for Biotechnology at Germany’s Bielefeld University, has shown that green algae not only engages in photosynthesis, but also has an alternative source of energy: It can draw it from other plants (Nature Communications).

Gagliano comments, “Considering that entire forests are all interconnected by networks of fungi, maybe plants are using fungi the way we use the Internet.”

Repurposed Pallets

Texas Company Turns Wood Waste into Furniture Nearly 2 billion wooden pallets are currently in circulation in the U.S., consuming around 50 percent of the country’s annual hardwood harvest and representing more than 90 percent of the world’s shipping waste. PalletSmart, in Fort Worth, Texas, has been making furniture, home decor and custom projects out of repurposed pallets and other reclaimed material since 2012.

Company co-founder John Zaskoda says, “As with any business, we are looking to grow, but want to be smart about it. For now, we are staying put, taking custom residential and commercial orders and producing top-notch furniture.” He sees the endeavor as proof that with hard work and consistency it’s possible to make trash into treasure.

Source: PalletSmart360.com

NALowcountry.com

holbox/Shutterstock.com

Fungus Among Us

leungchopan/Shutterstock.com

Bevan Young/Shutterstock.com

Plants Communicate with Sound

ecotip Laundry List

Following eco-friendly laundry tips can save on energy, water usage and utility bills, making it good for both the planet and the bank account. The laundry results, too, may be better for some loads.

RealSimple.com advises that 90 percent of the energy consumed while running a wash load is used to heat the water, so the average household can eliminate as much as 350 pounds of carbon emissions and save about $40 annually by turning the knob to cold.

It also notes that some protein-heavy stains, like perspiration and blood, can become more set into the fabric when washed in hot water, which can also shrink synthetic fibers.

For sweat stains, DIYNatural.com suggests combining two tablespoons of cream of tartar, a few drops of lemon essential oil and water to make a paste. Mix and spread it on the stain, and then rub it in and let dry. Another pre-laundry option is to pour or spray a 3 percent solution of hydrogen peroxide onto the stain and then soak for about 30 minutes.

Mildly soiled laundry doesn’t necessarily need hot water for adequate cleaning, reports the Mother Nature Network. It advises pre-soaking heavily soiled laundry in cold water for about an hour, adding four tablespoons of baking soda to loosen dirt and grime.

“Responding quickly to stains always helps,” says Steve Boorstein, a Boulder, Colorado, clothing-care expert on his ClothingDoctor.com website.

“For washable clothing, flush the stained area with cool water to remove any solid matter. Never rub the stain in order to avoid driving it deeper into the fabric.”

Conserve more energy as well as water by always assembling a full load of laundry. Appliance performance can also make an eco-difference. Energy Star estimates that water savings of between 40 and 75 percent can be achieved with front-loading machines

Hekla/Shutterstock.com

Cool Tips to Save Money and Energy instead of top-loaders. Line drying wins over a clothes dryer in terms of freshness, energy use and kindness to the environment.

Start with biodegradable and phosphate-free detergents made from plant- and vegetable-based ingredients.

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natural awakenings

February 2017

13

Hospice of Charleston (a Gentiva Company)

© Lighthunter | Dreamstime.com

communityspotlight

An Interview with Danielle Duncan, IPU Manager, Hospice of Charleston Inpatient Unit

by Jennifer Iamele Savage

H

ospice of Charleston provides many services that promote comfort and dignity for end of life. Although this is a difficult life stage, hospice helps to lighten the process and make the transition smoother for patients and their families.

How did your organization get started?

Duncan: Hospice of Charleston was the first hospice in the area, founded in 1981—before hospice was even a Medicare benefit.

The inpatient unit (IPU) was built in 2006 as a community resource to help patients and their families in the event the patient could not be managed comfortably in the home. It is the only freestanding IPU in the area.

How do you serve the lowcountry?

Duncan: Hospice allows patients and their families the comfort of home while still receiving the care that hospice can provide. We provide skilled care, including nursing and aide visits, supplies, equipment and medications.

How does your organization promote and support “conscious dying”?

Duncan: Under the direction of a physician, our interdisciplinary team offers a special kind of caring that encompasses both the patient and their loved ones.

We include medical, social, emotional 14

NA Lowcountry Edition

and spiritual aspects of treatment.

We have social services available to help with the transition to new living situations, insurance questions and changes in relationship dynamics.

Many go from living independently to being cared for by their children. It can be difficult for both sides to adjust to their new roles.

Our chaplain and bereavement services assist with the spiritual and emotional changes the patient and families may experience before and after hospice care begins. The disease and dying process has so many ups and downs; it can be difficult to navigate this new path.

We use the team approach to care.

The patient, their loved ones, and each of the staff members involved in care are all a part of that team. We encourage the patient and their loved ones to be as involved as possible. Their involvement can help them have some control over a situation they cannot change. The team helps guide them along the way.

Treating the dying process as a natural part of life allows for the passing of a loved one to be more graceful, peaceful, and often cathartic.

What volunteer opportunities are available?

Duncan: Our volunteers are an amazing part of our team. We have a variety of volunteer roles, including providing companionship (e.g., reading, helping with hobbies); offering expert services

NALowcountry.com

(e.g., pet therapy, accounting, music); educating the public about hospice; and helping with administrative office duties. (For more volunteer information, call Freeda Mullins at 843-529-3100.)

What have been some of the greatest successes of your organization?

Duncan: Knowing that we help to improve quality of life, along with providing comfort and peace during the most difficult time in a person’s life, is very rewarding. We are also involved in the community; we participate in the Alzheimer’s walk, blood donation programs, food drives, and raising funds for cancer research—just to name a few.

We are beginning a “memory stone” project. We want our families to have more than just pictures to remember their loved one. We place a fingerprint from their loved one on the back side of the stone; the front side has a peaceful picture. The response to the stones has been overwhelmingly positive.

Our volunteer coordinator, bereavement coordinator, social workers and chaplains help organize memorials throughout the community to help with bereavement. We reach out to our families to encourage healing and closure.

Is there anything else you would like to share?

Duncan: None of us knows exactly how we will pass but making early preparations that involve our loved ones will help make the journey a little easier. Having a living will, do not resuscitate order, or any kind of advance directive can save our loved ones from difficult and emotional decisions. We are so involved with our lives, but we need to start viewing our passing as a natural part of our lives.

Jennifer Iamele Savage is a transitional life coach and secondary Montessori educator. Her latest project, the Mindfull Mamas Project, aims to coach women struggling with the identity of motherhood and help them uncover their creative voice so they can step into their purpose and rediscover who they are. For more information, visit InspirationAndBliss.com. See listing, page 40.

The Power of © Nikkizalewski | Dreamstime.com - Infinite Gratitude Photo

1. A deep well of strength beyond imagination.

by Steve Liverani

“Loving people live in a loving world.

Hostile people live in a hostile world.

Same world.” ~ Wayne Dyer

I

t’s nearly impossible to be negative and thankful at the same time.

Seriously, try it sometime. Focusing primarily on gratitude will have an impact on every aspect of one’s life.

Ernest Holmes, founder of Science of Mind, along with many other philosophers, believes in the mantra “in everything give thanks.”

These four simple words, when lived faithfully and authentically, possess amazing power. Having an attitude of gratitude doesn’t require religious, or even spiritual commitment.

What it does demand is an ongoing awareness and appreciation for life, period. It’s certainly easy to be thankful for the happy times; meaningful moments; special relationships; and the many experiences that provide inspiration, joy and fulfillment.

a fortitude that may have remained concealed if not for the difficult circumstances.

There is always a choice.

There’s always a choice when encountering situations beyond one’s control. Tapping into personal power and potential will provide two things:

Valuable lessons to be learned (or taught) in every situation encountered.

Recognizing the specific lesson of a difficult or painful event is the key to personal growth, happiness and fulfillment. Controlling every situation encountered is not possible. But controlling the reactions and responses to those situations is always possible. When lessons are found among those difficult situations, there is a deeper dive below the surface taking place that provides the understanding that the universe is a supportive universe—even when appearances may say otherwise. In other words, it’s about believing that everything happening to us is actually happening for us. When considered from this perspective, what’s there not to be thankful for?

Steve Liverani founded Liverani Life Coaching following two very successful careers. First, as a 30-year sports television executive responsible for providing guidance and direction to hundreds of employees. And, most recently, as a coach/mentor for at-risk teens for a local nonprofit. See ad, page 7, and listing, page 40.

People may hear your words, but they feel your attitude. ~ John C. Maxwell

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natural awakenings

February 2017

15

by Joan Borysenko, Ph.D.

W

e are living in what Mark Twain called interesting times. Polls report that the majority of Americans are experiencing anxiety, depression and stress. If you’re one of them, I want to support the emergence of your Wise Mind. Staying calm in the chaos is the root of wisdom in these challenging times.

Do you recall the parable of the two wolves? A grandfather tells his grandson that all humans have two wolves battling inside themselves. The good wolf is kind, creative, brave and ready to act when the time is right. The other wolf is greedy, judgmental, hateful and filled with fear. The grandson thinks about this and then asks, “Which wolf will win?” The grandfather says, “Whichever one you feed.”

Research in mind-body medicine and positive psychology prove the point. Focusing on the positive can help keep stress in check. But more than that, it helps rewire our mind-body system for resilience, happiness and creativity.

Thinking about change as a time of breakthrough, rather than breakdown, is a basic necessity for staying calm and centered. The late Ilya Prigogine, a mathematician and physicist at the University of Texas at Austin, won a Nobel Prize in 1977 for his Theory of Dissipative Structures. Whether we are talking about an atom or a solar system, disruption leads to re-creation. The energy released when an old system crumbles, frees the energy to reconfigure at a higher level of function. That’s the image to hold in mind during these

16

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times of rapid change.

The journey from breakdown to breakthrough is a classic rite of passage comprising three parts: 1. Separation: the ground beneath us gives way and uncertainty prevails.

2. Liminality: the time between no longer and not yet. The old system is defunct but a new one has not yet emerged. This passage is rife with both danger and opportunity. It is a time for grief, reflection, soul searching, finding allies and mentors, and working together.

3. Return: when the crisis passes, there is a return to an improved level of equilibrium.

The most important skills for navigating the liminal time in which we are living boil down to the care and feeding of the good wolf. Rather than triggering the fight, flight or freeze response in the brain’s amygdala (emotional survival center), staying mindful and present brings an evolutionarily more recent part of the brain online, the prefrontal cortex. This part of the brain witnesses without becoming attached and reactive. It is goal directed, clear and capable of mediating the constant internal conversation that goes on inside between the two wolves.

How to fire up your wise prefrontal cortex?

1. Benefit finding. It sure beats fault finding. So if you catch yourself complaining, take a few deep breaths and focus on one thing that is good.

At the very least, you are still breath-

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© Tutuvi | Dreamstime.com - Silhouette Of Wolf Howling To The Full Moon Photo

Born for Our Times: A Guide to Feeding the Good Wolf

ing—that’s certainly a fine thing.

2. Installing the good. Rick Hanson, Ph.D.—psychologist and neuroscientist— suggests stopping for 10 to 20 seconds when something good or beautiful comes up. Dwell on it with all your senses. That simple act changes your brain and begins to build up your happiness circuits.

3. Exercise—it’s practically a panacea.

4. Eat more plants and fewer crap carbs. If you make your gut bacteria happy and diverse by feeding them well, they will release the neurotransmitters of joy, equanimity and well-being.

5. Appreciate someone—give them a compliment that is true. You’ll share a smile and that will lift you both up.

6. Find a dog or a cat to stroke and cuddle. Failing that, take care of a plant or two. Give it water, food, love, light. Life loves life.

And ... as you start the new year, take a few minutes to retrospect the year that has passed, and give thanks for five things in 2016. Gratitude is the best antidote for stress.

Joan Borysenko, Ph.D., is a Harvardtrained cell biologist, licensed psychologist and New York Times bestselling author of 16 books, living in Santa Fe, NM. Connect with her at JoanBorysenko.com or Facebook.com/ JoanBorysenkoCommunity.

The Sophia Institute will present Borysenko and Born for These Times on February 24 and 25 at Lance Hall, 150 Meeting St., Charleston. The Sophia Institute is a center of learning that provides innovative programs that foster the rise of the feminine, cultivating wisdom and mindfulness, for a more just, sustainable and flourishing world. Register at TheSophiaInstitute.org/events/ born-these-times.

It’s Not the End of the World: Developing Resilience in Times of Change, Hay House, Carlsbad 2009

readersnapshot Who’s a Natural Awakenings Reader?

Meet Naked Auntie— Mt. Pleasant Resident, Author and Dating Coach Author of Getting Ready to Date, the first book of her Pain Proof Dating series Tell our readers Ready to Date. First, find your authentic self, love yourself and love your life. a little about When you figure out who you are, what yourself:

Naked Auntie is my nom de plume.

Under this moniker, I tell the bold, naked truth on many subjects. I grew up in Boston and graduated from Barnard College – Columbia University, in New York City. I’ve been a South Carolina resident for over 15 years.

I began a journey of self-discovery after my children had grown and I got divorced. I worked hard to put FUN back in my life and reclaim my body.

I then turned my attention to dating.

I’ve dated at all three stages of my life—maiden, mother and crone.

The last two were online dating experiences. During this process, I learned I gave away my self-esteem to men I just met. I projected my past relationship issues on to new people. When I discovered ways to overcome these behaviors, it dramatically shifted my dating experience. I felt compelled to share what I learned. It became my mission to educate and protect women looking for love online. But me being me, I had to educate through my filter of FUN, absurd stories and HUMOR!!

I’ve written a step-by-step guide.

Pain Proof Dating book one is Getting

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you like and what you’re looking for, you are much more likely to find it.

Now you have a compass, here comes the pain-proof part: When you really like yourself … what other people think of you doesn’t matter!!

Mission:

My goal is to help women make dating FUN! I show women how to take the pressure off of the date and the search for the perfect guy. The goal is to meet many men, not the right man!! Dating can be a great way to learn more about ourselves and what we want. Using new dating techniques, we can delay getting emotionally involved. The stories I relate, about my own experiences, can protect women from odd, unexpected online predators and characters.

The most innovative aspect of my book is the idea of wing women.

Women can support each other while learning to love themselves and dating. Wing Woman is a new community using the Pain Proof Dating books as a guideline. Local groups are forming on the Naked Auntie website (NakedAuntie.com) to provide support in every aspect of getting ready to date,

dating and relationships.

Other interests/passions:

I love the scenery, wildlife and the warmth of the people here in Charleston. I run on the beaches of the Isle of Palms most mornings if the temperature is above 55. Just for laughs, I polar bear plunge on New Year’s Day on Folly! To give back, I volunteer at the VA. Kayaking is my fun “get-out-of-my-head-andinto-nature” hobby. This summer, I want to kayak in the ocean.

What do you like most about Natural Awakenings?

When I left Boston, I left behind the comfort and support of a vibrant, healing community. And I found it again in the Natural Awakenings magazine.

It provides an easy, one-stop resource for those of us interested in ongoing personal development and education.

It is a vital community builder, support and networking agent.

Naked Auntie will be teaching Getting Ready to Date at bliss Spiritual Co-op, in Mt. Pleasant, Feb. 16 and 23. See her listing, page 39. Natural Awakenings readers are invited to download a free copy of her book at NakedAuntie.com/ freebook when it becomes available.

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natural awakenings

February 2017

17

wisewords

Transforming the Way Women Relate to Men An Interview with Alison Armstrong

by April Thompson

F

or 25 years, relationship expert Alison Armstrong has worked to evolve society by changing the way women relate to men. Her yearning to understand the opposite sex was born from personal challenges, including a failed marriage in her 20s. She began studying men on her own, at the age of 30, beginning with the question, “What if men are responding to women?” What started out as a personal inquiry has become a lifelong pursuit and she’s shared her findings with millions of men and women worldwide.

Armstrong, co-founder and CEO of PAX Programs, addresses gender differences, sexuality and relationships.

She has written three books, including The Queen’s Code, and speaks to interpersonal insights through workshops, webinars and teleclasses, including free recordings and articles at UnderstandMen.com.

Armstrong and her second husband have been happily married for 23 years and now live in Colorado.

Which core differences between men and women cause everyday misunderstandings?

The biggest source of mischief is denying that differences exist at all. Both men and women tend to assume that each is a version of the other, which creates significant misunderstandings.

We interact with our partners by doing 18

NA Lowcountry Edition

or saying what works for us. When that doesn’t get the response we’re expecting, we usually draw incorrect conclusions and act in counterproductive ways.

For example, men and women relate to feelings differently.

Women often make life decisions based on their feelings about something or someone.

To men, who tend to rely on facts and set aside feelings, this approach can seem irrational, and relating to women as irrational has predictably bad outcomes.

Where does a couple best start to heal the communication divide?

The most powerful thing men and women can do is to address misunderstandings with openness and curiosity rather than assuming we know why our partner did or said something. We should ask ourselves, “What if there’s a good reason for that?” Don’t assume that what’s true for her is also true for him, and vice versa.

Once a couple chooses to give each other the benefit of the doubt, a few simple changes can further open up communication. Saying “I need” instead of “I want” will make a huge difference. Because being “needy” is considered unattractive, women avoid this word, not realizing that it connects with a man’s instinct to provide.

When asking for something, it’s important to say what it would

NALowcountry.com

provide us. For him, there needs to be a reward equal to or greater than the energy he’ll have to expend. Years ago, I described to my husband in colorful detail the experience of falling into the toilet in the middle of the night; he took it upon himself to make sure that never again happens to the women he loves.

What’s the secret to navigating partners’ differing needs and drives for physical intimacy?

The secret is to stop leaving our sex lives to the whims of biology, or making decisions based on whether we “feel like it.” Waiting for a time when both partners feel like it, the kids are at Grandma’s and we’re not too tired leads to sex happening too rarely. Delicious sexual partnerships begin when we decide to stop waiting and instead work on creating the circumstances that put us in the mood.

One example is learning to offer “dessert”. Using the desire for food as a metaphor for the desire for sex, we’re often trying to eat together when only one partner is hungry. But dessert sounds delicious anytime; examples might be massage or kissing or other physical activities. Find out what reliably perks up a partner’s interest and put that on the menu.

How can a woman satisfy a man’s desire to provide without sacrificing her independence?

American culture tells women that being low-maintenance matters most.

Yet, when we allow our partners to fulfill our needs, it can help us unlock our own greatness, as well as theirs. Men are driven to provide for their loved ones and denying them such opportunities takes away their life’s pursuit, which can be emasculating.

By asking for what we need, women create opportunities for partnership, satisfaction and fulfillment for both partners. When we allow the men in our life to contribute to us and learn to receive graciously, we discover that it doesn’t diminish our power.

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

inspiration

KISSED BY KINDNESS Masson/Shutterstock.com

by Emily Esfahani Smith

P

sychologist Ty Tashiro reports in The Science of Happily Ever After that only three in 10 couples remain in healthy, happy marriages.

Psychologist John Gottman, in New York City, has studied couples for four decades seeking to understand successful relationships. He and his psychologist wife, Julie, founded The Gottman Institute that helps couples build and maintain loving, healthy relationships based on scientific studies.

Using data from his Love Lab at the University of Washington, John separated thousands of couples into two groups: masters (still happy after six years) and disasters (separated or chronically unhappy in their marriages).

One of Gottman’s studies watched 130 newlywed vacationing couples and found that partners regularly made bids for connection, requesting responses from their mate. Choices to “turn toward” or “turn away” revealed the level of engagement and respect in the relationship. Couples that divorced within six years had shown “turn toward” bids a third of the time while couples still together responded to their partner’s emotional need nine times out of 10.

An integral element is the spirit couples bring to the relationship: kindness and generosity or contempt, criticism and hostility.

“There’s a key habit of mind that the masters have,” Gottman explains.

“They are scanning the social environment for things they can appreciate and express thanks for. Disasters are scanning for partners’ mistakes.”

People focused on criticizing miss 50 percent of positive things their partners are doing and see negativity when it’s absent. Deliberately ignoring their partner or responding minimally to opportunities for small moments of emotional connection devalues and

kills a relationship.

Kindness, conversely, glues couples together, making each partner feel cared for, understood, validated and loved. In a study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, researchers found that the more someone receives or witnesses kindness, the more they will be kind themselves, creating upward spirals of love and generosity.

Practicing kindness during a fight is vital. Letting contempt and aggression spiral out of control during a conflict can inflict irrevocable damage.

“Kindness doesn’t mean that we don’t express anger,” Julie explains, “But it informs how we choose to express it.

You can either throw spears or explain why you’re hurt and angry, which is the kinder path.”

Kindness can also solidify the backbone of a relationship by being generous about our partner’s intention and avoiding misinterpreting what’s motivating their behavior. “Even if it’s executed poorly, appreciate the intent,” Tashiro advises.

Clearly, if we want to have a stable, healthy relationship, exercise kindness early and often and let a spirit of generosity guide happy years together.

Emily Esfahani Smith is the author of The Power of Meaning: Crafting a Life That Matters. Connect at EmilyEsfahaniSmith. com or on Twitter @emesfahanismith.

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natural awakenings

February 2017

19

healingways

In the O-Zone Oxygen Therapy Heals a Host of Ills

by Valerie Burke

20

NA Lowcountry Edition

Sebastian Kaulitzki/Shutterstock.com

A

s safe and trusted as hyperbaric (high pressure) oxygen therapy, ozone therapy also harnesses the healing power of oxygen. Since the 1950s, its popularity has increased around the world.

Today, more than 45,000 physicians in 50 countries administer ozone therapy to address ailments ranging from endodontic infections and herniated disk pain to arterial plaque and Lyme disease.

According to the American Academy of Ozonotherapy, the widespread medical use of ozone began in Germany and has since spread across Europe as an alternative treatment for antibiotic-resistant bacteria. The academy notes that allopathic physicians caution against ozone therapy largely due to misinformation and a lack of understanding regarding its efficacy, side effects, expense and safety, even though published international studies as well as U.S. clinical trials have shown it can be used instead of more expensive and dangerous methods such as surgery or pharmaceuticals.

Therapeutic ozone has a sound safety record and no toxic effects have been observed from proper clinical use (Journal of the American Medical Association). Occasional reported side effects are slight

weakness, dizziness or drowsiness for short periods of time during or after treatment. Rare allergic skin reactions like nettle rash are possible with local applications, although occurrences are mild and quick to resolve.

Ozone is an oxidant.

Ozone therapy, like exercise, creates health benefits by delivering measured doses of oxidative stress that activate the body’s internal antioxidant systems. The primary natural enzyme in ozone therapy is superoxide dismutase, which stimulates another enzyme called telomerase that keeps DNA young by maintaining the telomere at the end of each DNA strand.

A study from Cuba’s University of Havana of herniated disc patients found that ozone therapy provided both oxidative protection and pain relief. Such properties make medical ozone therapy a safe and effective treatment for many infections.

It’s been shown to be particularly effective for sinus and endodontic infections (Iranian Endodonics Journal), osteonecrosis of the jaw, ear infections, hepatitis (Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine), cystitis, HIV, intestinal and blood infections and Lyme disease. Staff of the Sophia Health Institute, in Woodinville, Washington, report remarkably fast results treating such chronic complex infections by

NALowcountry.com

following intensive intravenous (IV) ozone protocols, with individualized systemic support.

Ozonotherapy is a prime treatment for infections, especially viral. Leading experts in oxidative therapy Dr. Robert Rowen, who practices in Santa Rosa, California, and Dr. Howard Robins, director of The Healing Center, in New York City, had good success administering treatment during the Ebola crisis in Sierra Leone. In addition to many patients helped, “It’s been reported that ozone therapy rapidly cured five patients with Ebola during the outbreak,” says Rowen.

Ozone therapy is now used to relieve arthritis, neuropathy, degenerative joint and disk disease, fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue. A pilot study led by the Universidad de Granada, Spain, saw improvement in the physical and depressive symptoms of fibromyalgia.

“Ozone is also effective in treating osteoarthritic knees and, via injection, arthritic hips,” says Rowen. Other individuals describe their experiences of overcoming various diseases using ozone therapy at YouTube.com/user/ RobertRowenMD/videos.

One of the most impressive evidence-based applications is relief from the pain of herniated disks, particularly lumbar. More than one meta-analysis deemed ozone treatment an effective and extremely safe procedure, with pain and functional outcomes equal to or better than surgery and far lower complication rates (less than 0.1 percent), along with significantly shorter recovery times (Pain Physician; American Journal of Neuroradiology).

According to the Journal of Natural Science, Biology and Medicine, oxygen/ ozone therapy used in dentistry offers three fundamental forms of applications to treat oral tissue—ozonated water, ozonated olive oil and oxygen/ozone gas. Ozonated water and olive oil have proved to be an ideal delivery system.

Non-toxic and simple to generate, ozone therapy is coming of age as a viable option for both the treatment and prevention of illnesses.

Valerie Burke is a freelance health writer in Olympia, Washington, versed in integrative medicine with a master’s degree in nursing science.

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How to Stay Healthy, Flexible and Strong

by Aimee Hughes

W

“

hen thinking about the best forms of exercise as we enter midlife and beyond, we should first clarify some myths and preconceptions,” says Michael Spitzer, of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, biochemist, fitness expert and author of Fitness at 40, 50, 60 and Beyond. “In our society, there’s a mindset that once we pass our 40th year, it’s all downhill from there.

Our metabolism slows and we gain weight, lose mobility and flexibility, deal with more aches and pains, experience shortness of breath and the list goes on.”

According to Spitzer, this all can happen, but it’s more of a self-fulfilling prophecy than destiny. “Research with older people at both rehabilitation and nursing centers tells us that the human body wasn’t designed to begin a major decline in function until age 70, barring major illness or accidents along the way. Most of individual decline is due to lifestyle choices, not nature’s plan.”

Spitzer teaches his clients that weight training is essential for every age group. “After age 30, most people lose between 0.5 to 1 percent of lean muscle fiber per year, which directly affects the basal metabolic rate. Much like a car engine, the more lean muscle mass

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we have, the more energy our ‘engine’ uses, even when idling. If not prevented, by age 50, for example, we may have lost as much as 20 percent of the lean muscle fiber we had when we were 30.”

He also recommends regular cardiovascular exercise. “Do a good round of cardio inside your target heart rate zone for 30 minutes at least three times a week. It’s vital for lung and heart health, the primary benefit of cardio exercise as opposed to just burning calories.”

“For those in their 40s, I recommend high-intensity interval training such as burst training, along with a mind-body practice like power yoga or budokon,” says Nelson Pahl, of Northfield, Minnesota, managing editor of Longevity Times. “Vinyasa yoga, tai chi and cycling are ideal during our 50s, while hatha yoga, tai chi, or qigong and hiking work well in our 60s.”

“Most of my clients are 70 and up,” notes Gwyneth Jones, an active aging specialist at the Carriage Club, in Kansas City, Missouri, who also trains physical therapists, rehabilitation specialists and movement educators. “They enjoy mixing up their daily exercise routines and look forward to the support and encourage-

Put your heart,

mind, and soul into even your smallest acts.

This is the secret of success. ~Swami Sivananda

natural awakenings

February 2017

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ment of their classmates. Discussions include lighthearted wordplay and questions about anatomy and physiology.”

Pahl urges everyone at every age, “Consume only whole foods, always.” He rarely drinks alcohol and begins every day with yoga and qigong.

“Also, be sure to stay well hydrated,” adds Jones.

“This will keep your joints healthy, skin clear and moist, digestion more efficient and detoxification of organ systems more effective. Add fresh lemon if you like.”

Physical fitness is only one aspect of aging gracefully. Spiritual growth lifts and lightens any mental and emotional load, while supporting physical well-being.

Spitzer also recommends, “Reading, learning to play a musical instrument, crafting activities, computer strategy games or doing other activities that require concentration or new problem-solving skills; all help the mind stay tuned up and sharp.” It’s always healthy to break out of normal routines and comfort zones, venture into new worlds, volunteer and do what makes our heart soar.

Jones advises, “Choose activities that feel good, refreshing, include people you enjoy, and are done in pleasant environments. Don’t forget to revel in sunshine or a good book on a rainy day. Listen to music, play music, sing and dance every day.”

Maturity brings benefits we can embrace with delight when we bring loving attention and happy novelty to life.

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Aimee Hughes, a freelance writer in Kansas City, MO, is a doctor of naturopathy and consultant for the Yandara Yoga Institute. Connect at ChezAimee@gmail.com.

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INDOOR KITCHEN GARDENING

Easy-Grow Microgreens Are Big on Nutrition

Check with these online companies for any seeds unavailable locally.

SproutHouse.com, 800-777-6887 SproutPeople.org, 415-640-1280 OrganicSproutingSeeds.com

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Organic Seed Sources

consciouseating

ConneCtions that nourish Your soul

by Barbara Pleasant

F

ast, fun to grow and packed with flavor and nutrition, tender young microgreens can go from seed to table in as little as a week. Close cousins to edible sprouts, microgreens are grown in potting soil or seed-starting mixes instead of plain water. They customarily grow beyond the sprout stage until they have produced a true leaf or two. After that, harvesting is a simple matter of snipping off fresh greens.

“You don’t need a green thumb to grow microgreens, only patience and persistence,” says Mark Mathew Braunstein, in Old Saybrook, Connecticut, author of Microgreen Garden. Even first-timers can expect good results. For example, the thin shoots grown from popcorn taste like a more vibrant form of sweet corn, and pea shoots work well in wraps, salads and virtually any Asian dish.

Like high-fiber wheatgrass, “Microgreens are great for juicing, either by themselves or mixed with other veggies,” says Rita Galchus (aka Sprout Lady Rita), proprietor of The Sprout House, in Lake Katrine, New York, which sells organic seeds for microgreens and sprouts. “You can add a handful of microgreens to a smoothie to ramp up the nutrition without changing its taste or texture,” she notes.

Good Picks

The seeds of dozens of plants from alfalfa to wheat can be grown as microgreens. If seeking to maximize nutrition, put red cabbage and cilantro on the planting list. Scientists at the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food Quality Laboratory, in Beltsville, Maryland, tested the nutritional properties of 25 microgreens; red cabbage, cilantro, garnet amaranth and green daikon radish had the highest concentrations of vitamin C, carotenoids, and vitamins K and E, respectively. Microgreens generally provide three times as much nutrition per weight as the same food eaten in its mature state.

“People underestimate the intense flavor of microgreens and might try planting mustard greens or radish varieties even if they don’t like spicy flavors,” say Elizabeth Millard, an organic farmer in Northfield, Minnesota, and author of Indoor Kitchen Gardening.

For beginners, large seeds that sprout quickly such as sunflowers, buckwheat and snow peas are good choices because they produce big, robust sprouts with mild flavor.

Many people also grow microgreens for their pets. “Cats tend to prefer mild,

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sweet-tasting microgreens such as red clover, alfalfa and flax seed,” advises Galchus. “They also love grasses grown from hard wheat, whole barley and rye. Cats cannot digest the grass, but use it to bring up indigestible matter that might be lodged in their stomachs.”

healthykids

Microgreens grow so fast that there’s little time for them to run into trouble. Commercial growers use large trays, but home gardeners can also use pretty coffee mugs or tofu boxes rescued from the recycling bin.

Drainage holes in the container bottoms work well when growing beets or other slow-sprouting seeds, but are less important for fast-growing sunflowers or wheat.

Work only with organic seeds.

Seeds sold for sprouting or bulk grains from a local health food store cost much less than the larger, robust seeds produced for gardening. Soak seeds in water overnight to jump-start germination. Place an inch or so of potting soil or seed-starting mix in the container, and then scatter the plump seeds on top. “A common beginner’s error is to sow seeds too thickly,” says Braunstein.

Sown seeds should not touch each other, with most spaced about onequarter-inch apart. Spritz with water and cover with a plate or plastic wrap.

At the first signs of sprouting, water and move the pot to a sunny spot near a bright window or within two inches of a bright grow light. Dribble in small amounts of water to maintain moisture over the next few days. To harvest, cut in bunches about one-half inch above the soil line. Microgreens store well in the refrigerator for a couple of days, but are best eaten fresh.

For both beginners and experienced gardeners, growing microgreens provides a close-up look at seed germination, one of nature’s miracles.

Award-winning garden writer Barbara Pleasant’s new book Homegrown Pantry: A Gardener’s Guide to Selecting the Best Varieties & Planting the Perfect Amounts for What You Want to Eat Year Round, will be out next month from Storey Publishing.

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Clean Greens

KEEP DECAY AWAY

Kids Do Best with Holistic Dentistry

by Linda Sechrist

A

ccording to a 2012 New York Times story, “Preschoolers in Surgery for a Mouthful of Cavities,” more dentists nationwide are recommending that children be administered general anesthesia at hospitals due to the severity of decay.

Such extensive dental work on children is largely preventable. Wise parents encourage their children to develop healthy habits such as brushing teeth at least twice a day; eating fewer sugary snacks and brushing afterwards; limiting fruit juice intake to four ounces a day; and sucking on bacteria-killing xylitol lollipops. Such a routine combined with an initial dentist visit by their first birthday can reduce dental costs, including hospital treatment for extreme decay that can cost thousands of dollars.

Other ways to reduce the toocommon incidence of six to 10 childhood cavities include breastfeeding only until baby teeth erupt;

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avoiding transmission of an anaerobic oral bacteria carried in saliva that’s the leading cause of tooth decay; early interceptive treatment to avoid crowding of teeth; and consulting a nutritionist.

Breastfeeding

Andie Pearson, a doctor of dental medicine and owner of Gaimed Dental Spa, in Wilmette, Illinois, tells mothers that in the descent through the birth canal, their baby ingests the bacteria necessary to digest breast milk. As teeth later emerge, their gut bacteria also become able to digest solid food. “By the time a child has all 20 baby teeth, between 18 and 30 months, they no longer have the microbial ecology for digesting breast milk and should be weaned.

Researchers from the University of California-Berkeley have found that the more frequently a mother breastfed her child beyond the second

birthday during the day, the greater the child’s risk of severe early tooth decay,” says Pearson.

Development of facial muscles and bone structure is dependent on chewing and gnawing. “Teething rings facilitate chewing that builds stronger teeth and creates better alignment,” she explains. If childhood tooth growth is delayed, Pearson often suggests a chiropractic adjustment if all other developmental areas are normal. “It can help the body relax so that teeth erupt naturally,” she advises.

Mouth-to-Mouth Susan Maples, a doctor of dental surgery and owner of Total Health Dentistry, in Holt, Michigan, notes that Streptococcus mutans is the leading reason children are hospitalized today. “Cavities are formed when the rate of decay of the teeth caused by the lactic acid produced by the bacteria exceeds the rate of repair initiated by the phosphate and calcium ions in saliva,” she explains.

The unwanted bacteria is transmitted through saliva, which is why adults should avoid licking spoons

or tasting foods before offering them to children between the ages of 1 and 3. “This type of bacteria thrives on sugar, so children shouldn’t have lots of sugary drinks and sweet treats,” says Maples. Mouth kissing presents a similar risk.

dome, influences bone growth and makes room for incoming teeth,” says Kammer. Early proper diet may also help prevent crowding of teeth as well as malocclusion, or misalignment of upper and lower teeth, according to Pearson.

Early Intervention

“Parents play a pivotal role in their children’s dental hygiene. They influence how their children care for their teeth, behave in the dentist’s office and feel about dental visits,” advises Pentti Nupponen, a doctor of dental medicine and owner of the Halifax Center for Holistic & Cosmetic Dentistry, in Halifax, Pennsylvania.

Children should be made familiar with dentistry and taught that they are responsible for their dental hygiene from around age 1. Nupponen explains his gentle method: “I encourage mothers to bring their children along for dental appointments so that they can watch me from their mother’s lap. Generally, by the time they are alone in my chair, they aren’t frightened.”

Kris Kammer, a doctor of dental surgery and owner of Gums of Steel Oral Hygiene Transformation, in Middleton, Wisconsin, learned early in his career to avoid mercury amalgam fillings and early extractions of bicuspids for orthodontic purposes, and that xylitol reduces buildup of plaque bacterial biofilm on teeth. A study published in the Journal of Dental Research, supported by findings of a metastudy appearing in Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dentistry “shows that regular use of xylitol over six months significantly reduces the Streptococcus mutans population,” he says.

He also suggests early interceptive treatments which can be performed by general dentists. “Parents don’t need to wait for children’s teeth to come in crooked and crowded. These issues can be addressed with a removable appliance that expands the arch in the roof

Role Modeling

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

Let us love with the urgency of the dying and the innocence of the newborn.

Let us love with the abandon of adolescence and the certainty of adulthood.

Let us love generously and openly taking all risks-for as we have loved, we must love in return, And in the love that redeems us, we open our hands and hearts gathering a bouquet to offer to heaven. ~Katherine Mary Krsak Thank you Susan Popiel for sharing this quote

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Savvy Shoppers

Sustainably Stylish Home Relax into Nurturing Furnishings

by April Thompson

W

e all relish a cozy nest, whether that means lightfilled views, the embrace of form-fitting sofas and chairs or plush rugs that snuggle bare feet. A beautiful, comfortable home that reflects our personal style and embodies our values can be achieved by learning the origin of furnishings and investing in sustainably made pieces that will stand the test of time, say experts.

“Furnishing a home ethically doesn’t mean sacrificing comfort or style,” says JD Doliner, a business consultant in Charlotte, North Carolina. Doliner’s home is graced with 18th- and 19th-century antiques, organic cotton mattresses, comfy custom-made chairs from Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)-certified wood and handmade wool rugs certified childlabor-free by GoodWeave. “They give me peace of mind as a humanitarian and environmentalist,” she says.

Signs of Progress

Debbie Hindman, marketing director for Associates III Interior Design, in Denver, is working with increasingly knowledgeable clients like Doliner asking for sustainably sourced products. Manufacturers, in turn, are upping transparency about product origins, realizing it can provide a competitive edge, she notes.

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“We look at the story behind a product and make sure that it aligns with both our company’s and clients’ values,” says Hindman, a co-author of Sustainable Residential Interiors. “We ask questions like, ‘Are workers paid a fair wage? Was the product made with local materials? What is the story behind the company’s founding?’”

The Sustainable Furnishings Council (SFC) coalition of manufacturers, retailers and designers partners with businesses and informs consumers to increase environmentally responsible choices in the marketplace. Its 400 members commit to sustainability and transparency in their business practices and submit an annual action plan showing such efforts. Headquartered in Edenton, North Carolina, the council strives to minimize industry carbon emissions and remove unsustainable materials and harmful chemical ingredients from residential and commercial furnishings.

“The residential furnishings industry frequently takes raw materials from one continent, processes and manufactures on another to be consumed on yet another, leaving a huge environmental footprint,” says Susan Inglis, the council’s executive director. As the third largest consumer of wood, these manufacturers bear significant responsibility for preserv-

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To make informed decisions, furniture shoppers need to ask how, where, from what and by whom a potential purchase is made. Lisa Beres, a healthy home expert and former interior designer in Newport Coast, California, and author of Just Green It! advises not taking product claims at face value. Ask if the product has earned a certification like the Global Organic Textile Standard for fabrics or GreenGuard, which verifies low levels of chemical emissions.

Not all natural products are sustainably produced; cotton, for example, is one of the most heavily sprayed crops. Look for certified organic cotton as a responsible textile choice. Beres also suggests renewable fiber sources like bamboo or hemp. “Natural latex is a sound alternative to foam fillers, offering good support and dust mite resistance,” says Beres.

Specific animal-based products like down feathers used in bedding can provoke allergies and be produced inhumanely, Beres cautions. Products certified to the Responsible Down Standard, which protects the wellbeing and welfare of geese tapped for their manufacture, offer a humane choice for fluffy down comforters.

Look for well-crafted furniture made from locally sourced, reclaimed or FSC-certified wood instead of particleboard, which usually contains formaldehyde and may be made from unsustainably harvested wood.

Sustainable furnishings are both better for the planet and can make a home distinctive. Natural pieces like a countertop made from reclaimed, rough-hewn wood provide a unique beauty that mass-manufactured pieces can’t match and also showcase the material’s natural form and feeling.

Her firm promotes durable, timeless pieces over trendy furnishings that a client might discard in a few years.

When it’s time to retire a piece of furniture, find a new home for it, whether by donating to a charity or reselling through a consignment store.

While cutting corners on home furnishing choices can be tempting,

especially when shopping on a budget, remember that today’s quality pieces may become tomorrow’s cherished heirlooms.

“Some will spend money on the latest gadget, but hesitate to invest in a great piece of furniture or a quality mattress they’ll spend much of their life sitting or sleeping on,” says Beres. “It’s not a splurge; you’re investing in your health and protecting Earth’s precious resources. It all comes full circle.”

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

Toxic Furnishings Alert

T

oday’s mass-produced furniture may contain hidden chemicals such as formaldehyde-based adhesives, flame retardants and other volatile organic compounds (VOC) linked to serious health issues. Researchers from the Natural Resources Defense Council found 45 toxic chemicals in indoor dust, 10 of which were present in at least 90 percent of households sampled.

“These chemicals enter the air as materials in the furnishings break down,” explains healthy home expert Lisa Beres. “Because we spend an average of 90 percent of our lives indoors, the exposure to harmful chemicals is troubling.”

Beres advises shoppers to be wary of synthetic fabrics, which not only consume nonrenewable resources like petroleum, but may also contain toxic dyes, heavy metals or chemicals like Teflon. Foam and other fillings in mattresses, sofas and chairs are often a hidden source of off-gassing VOCs.

The Sustainable Furnishing Council’s seal of approval and member list at SustainableFurnishings.org are a good place to start to find companies committed to offering healthier alternatives that include transparency and responsibility in their manufacturing practices.

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SACRED PASSAGE Conscious Dying as a Transformative Healing Journey

by Linda Sechrist

W

hen properly viewed, the thresholds of all of life’s transitional moments can be both emotionally and spiritually rewarding.

Whether it involves marriage or birth, job loss or illness, gleaning insight from the experience can yield fresh perspective on how to live life more fully today, if we remain mindful and lovingly attentive through the process.

Like birth, death is a transition we can wisely prepare for. In recent years, compassionate individuals and grassroots movements have emerged to help us conduct ourselves, heal and grow from losing a loved one or face our own passing. An increasing number of initiatives support a new model in palliative care that treats death not as a failure, but an expected aspect of

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the human experience. Each in its own way advocates for a grace-filled passage supported by dignified, caring and compassionate practices.

Profound Shift

The Conscious Dying Institute, in Boulder, Colorado, aims to restore death and dying to its natural place in the sacred circle of life. Its end-oflife literacy curriculum and certificate training programs are helping to create a new, wisdom-based culture of healing teachers and end-of-life doulas that serve among the frontline caregivers and companions providing the comfort people want and need most. Founded by Tarron Estes, a healing artist, poet, Caritas coach and transformational learning educa-

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tor, the institute is grounded in love, spiritual openness, compassion and a universal field of consciousness.

“Training is open to nurses, physicians, clinicians, caregivers, family members, healthcare teams and anyone else interested in exploring what it means to die consciously,” says Estes.

It attends to the provider’s inner awakening and helps them strengthen their ability to give spiritual, emotional, physical and practical care to anyone, helping to relieve pain, regardless of diagnosis.

“Rather than curative care, it’s all about seeking to increase precious, meaningful moments, a sense of spiritual sanctity, beauty, interconnectedness and appreciation of life for the families and patients they serve. An end-of-life doula at bedside assures that families and loved ones can focus on what is most important,” explains Estes, who believes that our true nature lives within us as an unblemished jewel.

Helping individuals become comfortable talking about death is the work of Dr. Karen Wyatt, of Dillon, Colorado, founder of the End of Life University, an online interview series with end-of-life care experts. She provides a trustworthy loving environment in monthly death cafés. The author of What Really Matters: 7 Lessons for Living from the Stories of Dying expands the conversation through related articles and podcasts at eolUniversity.com.

Death cafés benefit from Wyatt’s experience as a hospice doctor. “There is never an agenda. Of the 10 to 12 people that generally join in, one is always a new caller, recently awakened to the idea of conscious dying or their own mortality. They’re seeking information and someone to talk to because family and friends aren’t interested.

Some already embracing their mortality wish to explore their thoughts with others. Some callers join just to listen,” advises Wyatt.

Because death in the West has become a commercialized, medical event with funeral home packages the norm, Wyatt recommends the National Home Funeral Alliance to those interested in a deeper understanding of options and resources for a gentler model. The nonprofit, grassroots movement and

Exploring the Mystery

For more than 40 years, philosopher, psychologist and physician Raymond Moody’s life work has been acknowledging the mysteries and validating the unexplainable events at the end of life. His seminal bestseller Life After Life appeared in 1975. Lisa Smartt’s mentorship by Moody led them to co-found FinalWordsProject.org. She’s also authored Words at the Threshold, a study of the nonsensical, metaphorical and paradoxical language and visions of the dying.

Moody and Smartt agree that by better understanding the unique language patterns related to end of life we can share more deeply and build bridges with our beloveds throughout the dying process. “When we do so, we offer greater support to the dying and ameliorate our own experience of loss as they cross the threshold,” remarks Smartt. Like William Peters, founder of the Shared Crossings Project, in Santa Barbara, California, they caution that compassionate etiquette during events at death is important.

“Assume that levels of awareness exist in the dying so that our energy and presence are felt and our voices heard,” advises Moody. “Respect your words and actions, regardless of the person’s state of consciousness. Be a compassionate listener and validate their

vision. Don’t pretend to intellectualize or explain anything.”

Dianne Gray, president and executive director of the Elisabeth KüblerRoss Foundation, also owns Hospice and Healthcare Communications.

“The dying often wish to leave here surrounded by peace and harmony.

They choose to let go of contentiousness and often wish family members would do the same, which is facilitated by mapping out Advance Directives according to the final wishes of the patient,” says Gray.

Questions she frequently addresses in public talks and Death Over Dinner party conversations include: the necessity of finishing unfinished business; bringing closure to unresolved relationship issues; finding words to express our compassion; soothing the sense of impending loss; and managing to take only love with us to the other side, yet leave enough of it behind to help loved ones through their grieving process. She cautions that no matter how well we plan for death, things don’t always go as planned.

Sarit Wuttisan/Shutterstock.com

its members, such as Sacred Crossings, in Los Angeles, seek to restore the lost art and healing ritual of a home funeral by preserving the rights of families to provide home after-death care.

Supporting and educating interested families is the mission of Sacred Crossings founder Rev. Olivia Rosemarie Bareham. The certified death midwife and home funeral guide draws from her experiences as an auxiliary nurse and hospice volunteer to assist families with end-of-life planning, death midwifery and arrangements for an at-home vigil and funeral, as well as cremation and burial choices.

“We also offer sacred singing to help ease a loved one’s transition. Music by a bedside soloist or choir before, during and after death can be deeply relaxing and comforting, and even provide pain relief,” advises Bareham.

We rediscover that in order to die well, we must live well. Dying gracefully is the result of a mindful, day-to-day journey—a culmination of informed choices, honest discussions and deference to the hallowed fragility of nature’s life-death cycles. ~William Rosa

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As many as 80 percent of us say we want to die at home. ~CNN Kennedy told friends that he wanted to take stock of his life and enjoy the gift of his remaining days with the people he loved most. As a result, he continued enjoying his morning ritual of reading newspapers while drinking coffee, playing with his dogs, watching James Bond movies with his wife and holding family dinners and sing-alongs near nightly. He reveled in his bedside view of Nantucket Sound, sailed when he could and ate lots of his favorite ice cream. His mantra was, “Every day is a gift.”

Practical Plans

The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and its 360 Degrees of Financial Literacy program offer a free downloadable national Guide to Financial Decisions: Implementing an End-of-Life Plan at Tinyurl.com/EssentialPlanNeeds.

It includes basic descriptions of issues that arise as we age beyond retirement and details the critical documents needed for the individual, dependents, property, assets, estate planning, wills and trusts. It also addresses issues related to advance, treatment and do-notresuscitate directives, insurance, types of funerals and costs, and Social Security, Medicare and veterans’ benefits. Guidelines suggest consulting with a certified public accountant or personal financial planning specialist.

The latest innovation is the blessing of a living funeral, a celebration of life while the honoree is present to hear the eulogies, praises and farewells before they depart.

AgingWithDignity.org provides a downloadable Five Wishes document, a popular advance directive, or living will that covers personal, spiritual, medical and legal aspects. It’s easy to use and can serve as a family guide to prompt conversations about personal care preferences in the event of serious illness.

New York Times journalist Mark Leibovich wrote about how Massachusetts Senator Edward Kennedy chose to spend his final weeks in pursuit of a “good ending.” As death approached, 30

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“As our time winds down, we all seek comfort in simple pleasures— companionship, everyday routines, the taste of good food, the warmth of sunlight on our faces,” remarks Boston’s Dr. Atul Gawande in Being Mortal.

“If we strive in our final months for independence, companionship, mindful attention, dignity, wisdom, joy, love and freedom from pain, we have the power to make those days less miserable, confusing and frightening.”

In these many ways, we can manage to gently embrace and tenderly navigate life’s final transition with grace and love.

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

Writing Our Legacy

by Linda Sechrist

I

n their books Caring for the Dying and Having the Last Say, authors Henry FerskoWeiss and Alan Gelb, respectively, advocate reviewing our life and writing a short narrative to explore its value as we approach our final act of Earth’s play.

Processing experiences from the past and what they mean at this juncture presents us an opportunity to achieve greater clarity and integrate them in a positive way in our life story. According to Fersko-Weiss, it has the power to reduce depression, increase life satisfaction, promote acceptance of self and enhance integrity of spirit, no matter what phase of life we are in.

The harvesting of life experiences should reflect our true humanity—flaws and all—and what we’ve learned through mistakes and failures, as well as triumphs. Conveying a compelling mythic family story, values we’ve lived by and our embrace of meaningful relationships will help the people we know understand that, for all its difficulties and complexities, life is worth living.

Our narrative, whether recorded as an essay or scripted video, becomes an act of praise for the gift of the life we’ve led, imperfect as it may have been. It can also serve as a potential keepsake that passes along life lessons and values from one generation to another.

Gelb suggests that summing up what’s most important to us in 500 to 1,000 words can be an experience to savor and enjoy at a reflective time in life, an opportunity to capture our legacy and even serve as our own eulogy.

When we want a loved one no longer here to feel near to us and hear them one last time, it’s a way for them to literally have the last say, he adds.

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Have a nice day Photo/Shutterstock.com

“Sometimes no matter how many advance care conversations have taken place, discord can dismantle the best laid plans. It requires the tough work of compassionate communications. Friends and families need to remember that this is the patient’s end-of-life experience, not theirs. It is possible to find peace in the midst of conflict, understanding that the one leaving overwhelmingly wishes for a peaceful passing, including peace within the family.”

The Death Over Dinner initiative, founded by Michael Hebb in 2013, has been hosted by groups in more than 20 countries to help people engage in conversations on “how we want to die”—the most vital and costly discussion Americans aren’t having (DeathOverDinner.org/stories).

© Obencem | Dreamstime.com - Helping Hands Photo

The Revival of Death Midwifery

by Paige Hetherington, LAc

T

he need for supportive death care is great in our culture. Prior to the Civil War and modern medical facilities, dying usually took place in the home. It was not considered a medical procedure but a final act of life. Families cared for loved ones, and death was a familiar aspect of existence. It has since been removed from our awareness, handled mostly by expensive professionals.

We are missing contact with the one natural process we all have in common and will inevitably face. This separation has resulted in repressed anxieties surrounding death and complicated grief and loss.

Death midwifery provides support for the dying and families facing loss.

Certified death, or soul, midwives are trained in programs that cover conscious dying and family-directed funeral guidance. Midwives learn how best to support people preparing to depart from this world and gently soothe emotions intertwined with transition. The course empowers those with a calling the means to retrieve the institutionalized death process and return it to the hands of families and loved ones. Traditionally in most cultures, death, or soul, midwives were the caretakers of the dying, those who helped souls cross from one realm

to the next. They held knowledge of tools, which they offered to provide peace and comfort. Oftentimes, they would summon the ancestors to welcome the dying to the “other side.”

Their presence and understanding of the phases of dying enabled them to calm fears and gently encourage the process of letting go.

Midwives have experienced the profound grace that accompanies dying and are subsequently able to ease fears of the unknown. When people provide support for their loved ones going through the dying process, they witness the exquisite magnificence that arises after death.

Experiencing this tends to calm a person’s fears of their own death.

Being with the dying is an honor, where one can encounter the calm and wonder the process accompanies.

Grief is ushered in more smoothly in an environment that allows for a peaceful pause of acknowledgement, something that is not always possible in healthcare settings. The opportunity to witness this sacred moment should be encouraged and available to all who desire to walk a friend as far as they can in this life.

Death midwives are used to inform people of their choices in dying and help determine advance death-

care directives. Addressing the aspects of dying that are within our control can make the difference in creating a harmonious transition. Perhaps a person wants spiritual influences surrounding him or her during the dying process or an environmentally friendly burial. Identifying these preferences alleviates some of the stress for family members or loved ones who are simultaneously facing issues of loss and may have difficulty making decisions. Along with advance plans and support for the dying, midwives are also available to assist in practical matters in after-death care, such as filing death certificates and funeral planning. A death midwife can be an emotional, spiritual and logistical guide and resource for the dying and their caregivers.

Having a greater awareness of death is not meant to be a morbid or neurotic focus but a practical resource for dying well. Those facing end-oflife transitions are deeply aligned with what matters most in life. No one should die without competent support, and the wisdom of the dying should not go unheard. We all have a right to a dignified, peaceful transition from this world, and it is our responsibility as a community to provide that for each other. We also owe it to ourselves to spend time preparing for our graduation from life. As Plato says, “All earthly wisdom is but a rehearsal for that great awakening, an awakening that takes place upon death.”

Paige Hetherington, LAc, will be participating in Bridge to Avalon’s series Bridge to the Beyond: an Exploration of Conscious Dying. The introduction to the series is Feb. 24 at 7 p.m. at 757 St. Andrews Blvd., in Charleston. Hetherington is a licensed acupuncturist and herbalist who is experienced in providing palliative care. She has volunteered in hospice and received her training in conscious dying and home funeral guidance from Sacred Crossings of Los Angeles.

She offers empathic end-of-life care and aids loved ones in creating an environment for transitions to be dignified and peaceful.

natural awakenings

February 2017

31

A dvertise H ere

naturalpet

and

watch

business

grow

Osetrik/Shutterstock.com

your

HEART-TO-HEART WITH A HORSE

W NO BLE ILA AVA ALL ER AT EET I S T RY R R HA ROCE S! G RE S TO

Their Gentle Empathy Helps Us Heal

by Sandra Murphy

P

Did you know that

Natural Awakenings can be found in locations all throughout the Charleston Metro area including libraries, stores, medical and dental offices?

Look for us at Earth Fare, Food Lion and all Harris Teeter grocery stores. ads@NALowcountry.com 843-821-7404 32

NA Lowcountry Edition

hysical therapists have long used horses to help patients improve balance or strengthen core muscles.

Now they’re helping to teach empathy.

Given a horse’s significant size, sometimes distracting surroundings and the need for safety, humans need to learn the animal’s non-verbal cues, and to regulate their own. Close interaction without riding is proving to be helpful for those dealing with addictions, trauma and grief, and for employees to improve their communication and teamwork skills.

Kelly Wendorf and Scott Strachan, co-founders of Equus, in Santa Fe, work with both individuals and organizations. Strachan emphasizes, “This isn’t magic. Horses reflect our feelings back to us. If we’re nervous, the horse will be more skittish.”

“We’ve had executives arrive with cell phones firmly in hand and leave holding soggy tissues instead,” comments Wendorf. “For them, it was unexpectedly emotional.”

For addicts caught up in a debilitating cycle, “Equine therapy gets the brain firing in a new direction,” says Constance Scharff, Ph.D., director of

NALowcountry.com

addiction research at Cliffside Malibu, in California. “Patients may say they’re fine when they’re not, but you can’t lie to a horse. They have boundaries; if you’re angry, a horse won’t tolerate your behavior and will walk away.”

Scharff notes, “Equine therapy is complementary to psychotherapy medicine, and one tool we use in approaching addiction. Depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder can be the underlying issue, so we can address it, to understand why the person became an addict.”

Wendorf relates the story of an 18-year-old client facing body image issues. “Five horses approached her and touched her with their noses on her arms and legs. Where they touched was where she had been cutting herself to try to relieve her emotional pain.”

“People feel a powerful connection when they let down their defenses and a horse responds,” says Sheryl Jordan, equestrian director at Salamander Resort & Spa, in Middleburg, Virginia. “Our Equi-Spective life lessons program brings self-awareness and the power to better

Horses help bring back memories for clients with dementia. ~Hearts & Horses, Loveland, Colorado, nonprofit therapeutic riding facility control emotions. During the session, they may hug, pet and cry on the horse, but they leave the corral smiling.”

The program teamed up with the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS) serving bereaved military families. Kelly Griffith, a surviving sister of U.S. Marine Corps Major Samuel Griffith, points to the power of equine therapy in a video at Tinyurl.com/ Equi-SpectiveVideo.

Susan Wight, a former professional steeplechase rider and ambassador for TAPS in Leesburg, Virginia, says, “My husband was my riding coach. When he passed away, I was numb when facing decisions, but at the session, it felt like one of the horses was the one to choose.

The initial flood of emotions and memories from being around horses again wasn’t pretty, but empathy is a specific language, and I’m grateful for the opportunity. Horses are a huge part of my life.”

At Ranch Hand Rescue Counseling Center & Animal Sanctuary, in South Argyle, Texas, founder Bob Williams considers animal therapy a ministry.

“We rescue abused and neglected farm animals, including horses that come into play when patients are not responding to usual therapies,” he says. “It’s important for damaged people to learn to live in the light, and our partnering with the special needs animals helps put them on the emotional path to health.” The rescue’s mission is to provide hope, healing and a sense of security for children and adults that have suffered severe trauma

such as abuse, domestic violence and witnessing violent death (Tinyurl.com/ RanchHandRescueVideo).

Riding Beyond’s four-session program, in Ashland, Oregon, is free to women recovering from the rigors of breast cancer treatment. Expenses are covered by donations from the community. German research published in the journal Psycho-Oncology reported that 82 percent of participating breast cancer patients studied displayed symptoms of PTSD following diagnosis.

“They often don’t want to touch or be touched, and have trouble with friendships and intimate relationships; issues that can cripple a woman’s life,” says Trish Broersma, founding director and a certified therapeutic riding professional at Riding Beyond (Tinyurl. com/RidingBeyondVideo). “The medical team that saved their lives doesn’t treat these issues.”

The first client, unfamiliar with horses, met Mystic, who touched her on the site of the former tumor. She says, “Even weeks later, when I brought her image to mind when stressed, sad or even happy, it brought feelings of contentment, peace and well-being.”

Horses have been serving humans in many ways for centuries. Equine therapy shows they have even more to give if we are open to receive.

Find Your Natural Valentine Join the largest conscious-

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20

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

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Email your favorite picture of your pet to: publishernalowcountry@gmail.com

for possible inclusion in the magazine. © Damedeeso | Dreamstime.com - Selfie dogs

Try it for FREE at

NaturalAwakeningsSingles.com *Offer good Tuesday, Feb. 14 through Monday, Feb. 20, 2017

natural awakenings

February 2017

33

calendarofevents Our calendar is filled with classes, workshops and events that feed your mind/body/ spirit and promote a healthy lifestyle. All submissions for the March issue must be received no later than February 10. Basic listings are a maximum of 40 words, not including the day/date, and cost $10/month. Highlighted events are $0.50/word plus $10/photo. Submit one time calendar entries at nalowcountry.com/event-entry.html.

Submit ongoing events at nalowcountry.com/recurring-events-calendar.html.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 1 Emotional Health Meetup – 7-8:30pm. Explore a myriad of topics concerning emotional health and well-being in a safe space with a welcoming, nonjudgmental support group and emotional health coach. Feb Topic: Using Emotional Intelligence in Everyday Relationships. Facilitator Diana Deaver.

FREE. bliss Spiritual Co-op, 1163 Pleasant Oaks Dr, Mt Pleasant. 843-345-7061. DianaDeaver@ gmail.com. EmotionalHealthCoaching.com. blissSpiritualCo-op.org.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 3 Making Change Your Ally with Creativity and Intuition – Feb 3-4. 6:30pm, Fri thru 5pm, Sat. Debra Moffitt leads this retreat featuring practical tools to help participants reconnect to their intuition and fuel their creativity. Friday night lecture $25 in advance, $35 day of. Full retreat $195. The Sophia Institute, Lance Hall, 150 Meeting St, Charleston.

843-720-8528. Info@TheSophiaInstitute.org.

TheSophiaInstitute.org.

Contemplative Moment of Grace – Feb 3-5. 7pm, Fri thru 1pm, Sun. Retreat into the quiet of nature and your own soul to enhance awareness of the sacredness of life. Silence allows deep listening for spirit. Mornings begin with centering prayer and Tai Chi Chih, inviting stability and balance for the day. $275/includes lodging and meals. Springbank Retreat for Eco-Spirituality & the Arts, 1345 Springbank Rd, Kingstree. 843-382-9777. Springbank@ SpringbankRetreat.org. SpringbankRetreat.org.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 4 Usui/Holy Fire Reiki I & II Classes – The Path of Love Within the Chaos! – Feb 4-5. 9am-6pm Sat & Sun. CEs for Nurses/LMT, Counselors. With Usui/ Karuna Reiki Master & ICRT Licensed Teacher Dianne Thomas. $410. Summerville. 843-297-2468.

ThePinkDolphin.com.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 7 Unspoken Hunger: A Compass for the Journey – Feb 7-9. 7pm, Tues thru 4:30pm, Thurs. In a time of confusion and anxiety, we will explore our true depths where the human connects to the heart of God and the heart of the Cosmos. $325/includes lodging and meals. Springbank Retreat for Eco-Spirituality & the Arts, 1345 Springbank Rd, Kingstree. 843382-9777. Springbank@SpringbankRetreat.org.

SpringbankRetreat.org.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9 Sacred Sound Bath Meditation with Daniel Scruggs – 7-8:15. Join us for an experience of deep relaxation that allows you to open to the peace of

34

NA Lowcountry Edition

your highest self. Daniel graces us with therapeutic sounds and enlightening vibrations via instruments from around the world. $27. Bridge to Avalon, 757 St Andrews Blvd, Charleston. 843-974-5676. Jeannine@BridgeToAvalon.com. BridgeToAvalon.com.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 11 Traveler’s Guide to the 5th Dimension – Teachings to Ease the Path to Embodied Enlightenment – Feb 11-12. 9am-6pm Sat & Sun. With Usui/ Karuna Reiki Master & ICRT Licensed Teacher Dianne Thomas. $555. Summerville. 843-297-2468.

ThePinkDolphin.com.

Women’s Holistic Health Symposium – THRIVE – Ignite Your Purpose and Spark Your Passion – 10am-6pm. This year’s theme: Women and SelfCare. The day will be filled with a variety of speakers and activities that include topics on Women’s Health, Wealth, Career, Soul Nurturing, Relationships and Sacred Sexuality, and more. Lunch and snacks included! $197. Edisto Hall - James Island County Park, 871 Riverland Dr, Charleston. 843-214-2997.

Hello@SoulBlossoms.org. SoulBlossoms.org.

Living Qigong – 2-4pm. Qigong for health is designed for all ages and all abilities. This Ancient Healing Art creates health for the body, mind and spirit. $40. Natsu Mura Karate, 125 S Main St, Summerville. Info@ResourcesUnlimited1.com.

843-875-4543 ResourcesUnlimited1.com.

Knots & Kinks Couples Massage Class – Feb 11-12. 3-4:30pm Sat & Sun. A 1-hr couples massage session teaching couples techniques to release tensions and relax muscles of their partner.

Led by Gabrielle, a licensed massage therapist excited to share some of her secrets of how to properly massage your partner. $75. The Healing Arts Center, 480 Jessen Ln, Ste C, Charleston.

843-214-8646. Gabby@GabbyDoesMassage.com.

GabbyDoesMassage.com.

Valentine’s Dance – 7-10pm. Join Palmetto Soul Band for food, dancing, fellowship and a celebration of Love! $15. Unity of Charleston, 2535 Leeds Ave, Charleston. 843-566-0600. UnityCharleston@msn. com. Unitychs.org.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 12 Black History Film Series – 1pm. Dr. Myrtle Glascoe brings us the movie LBJ to teach us about Black History. Donation. Unity of Charleston, 2535 Leeds Ave, Charleston. 843-566-0600.

UnityCharleston@msn.com. Unitychs.org.

Honoring the Moon: A Menstrual Health Workshop for Women of All Ages – 2-5pm. Herbalist and Midwife Adrienne Leeds delves into holistic menstrual health. We’ll share a guided meditation, discussion of cultural myths and taboos, and

NALowcountry.com

alternatives to dioxin-bleached hygiene products.

Learn to address common moon-time concerns and discomforts using nutrition and herbs. $30-40.

South Carolina Herbal Society, James Island. 978340-5566. pharpell@gmail.com. scHerbalSociety. com/workshops.html.

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 13 Paint Your Prayer – Feb 13-16. 10am, Mon thru 4pm, Thurs. Using the techniques of watercolor painting, this retreat provides opportunities to pray and rejoice in the divine gift of our creative and artistic energy. Giving expression to creativity facilitates union with our creator. $450/includes lodging and meals. Springbank Retreat for Eco-Spirituality & the Arts, 1345 Springbank Rd, Kingstree. 843-3829777. Springbank@SpringbankRetreat.org.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 15 The New Divine Feminine Book Study with Author Meghan Don – Feb 15-May 17, 1st & 3rd Wednesday. 5-6:30pm. An in-depth study of the Seven Faces of the Feminine, including meditation and chant. Embodying confidence, transforming the soul and participating in the spiritual evolution of the world. This is what is asked of us all at this time. $175. East Bay St, Charleston. 843-720-8528.

Info@TheSophiaInstitute.org. TheSophiaInstitute. org.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 16 New Year ... Detox to the New You – 6-7pm.

Join us for the latest way to assess toxin and precancer status with thermal imaging, and learn from experts how to clear away the toxins with the NASA-approved Bemer Mat and our proven 10- or 21-day purification detox. Free. Merge Medical Center, 250 Mathis Ferry Rd, Ste 101, Mt Pleasant.

843-469-1001. Reception@Merge-Medical.com.

MergeMedicalCenter.com.

Discover the Difference Between a Medical Doctor and a Naturopathic Doctor – 6:15-7:15pm.

In this discussion, Dr. Dean, ND, will explain the role and scope of a Naturopathic Doctor as a healthcare practitioner in comparison to a Medical Doctor. Some of the techniques used to support the natural healing process will also be discussed. Free.

Bridge to Avalon, 757 St Andrews Blvd, Charleston.

843-974-5676. Jeannine@BridgeToAvalon.com.

BridgeToAvalon.com.

Fertility Sound Bath Meditation – 6:30-8pm.

This Sound Bath Meditation is specifically tailored to anyone struggling with fertility or preparing for conception. Tarah Herrington, LAc, a specialist in fertility acupuncture combines auricular acupuncture for fertility with a guided meditation to crystal singing bowls. $25. The Healing Arts Center, 480 Jessen Ln, Ste C, Charleston. 843-779-5423. Info@ WellRoundedHealing.com. HealingArtsCentersc. com.

Shamanic Dream Circle with Erin Sirona – 6:308:45pm. Immersed in powerful collective energy, we will journey deeply through Shamanic meditation.

There will be an opportunity for feedback from others as well as time to share your “takeaway” at the end. Please bring a snack to share. $27. Bridge to Avalon, 757 St Andrews Blvd, Charleston.

843-974-5676. Jeannine@BridgeToAvalon.com.

BridgeToAvalon.com.

Pain Proof Dating – 7-8:30pm. Online dating has changed the way people meet. Naked Auntie, as she is known on YouTube, wants women to be prepared on their dating adventures. Photographs, profile writing, texting, how to be approachable, flirting, sex.

FREE. bliss Spiritual Co-op, 1163 Pleasant Oaks Dr, Mt Pleasant. 843-345-7061. Diana@NakedAuntie. com. DianaHumphrey.com. NakedAuntie.com. blissSpiritualCo-op.org.

Pain Proof Dating – 7-8:30pm. Online dating has changed the way people meet. Naked Auntie, as she is known on YouTube, wants women to be prepared on their dating adventures. Photographs, profile writing, texting, how to be approachable, flirting, sex.

FREE. bliss Spiritual Co-op, 1163 Pleasant Oaks Dr, Mt Pleasant. 843-345-7061. Diana@NakedAuntie. com. DianaHumphrey.com. NakedAuntie.com. blissSpiritualCo-op.org.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 17

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 24

From Aquinas to “Laudato Si” – Feb 17-18. 7pm, Fri thru 4:30pm, Sat. In his theology of creation, Thomas Aquinas emphasized unity, multiplicity and diversity. His moral teachings offer insights into ecological responsibility. Pope Francis borrows from and builds on sacred scripture and Aquinas in calling to practical action and an ecological spirituality. $175/includes lodging and meals. Springbank Retreat for Eco-Spirituality & the Arts, 1345 Springbank Rd, Kingstree. 843-382-9777. Springbank@ SpringbankRetreat.org. SpringbankRetreat.org.

Born for These Times – Feb 24-25. 6:30pm, Fri thru 5pm, Sat. Feeling confused, hopeful, sad or angry?

Anxious, curious—wondering how to help? We are in need of strengthening our resilience to bring our best self back psychologically in the wake of monumental shifts. We are indeed, born for these times. $25 for Fri only; $295 for full retreat. Lance Hall, 150 Meeting St, Charleston. 843-720-8528.

Info@TheSophiaInstitute.org. TheSophiaInstitute. org/events/born-these-times.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 18 Holy Fire Reiki Level 1 & 2 – Feb 18-19. 10am5pm Sat & Sun. In the Holy Fire Reiki I Level class the student is given a Usui/level I attunement, which opens the student to channeling the Reiki energy to self and others. In the Holy Fire Reiki Level II class the student explores the symbols of healing. $410. Lotus Healing Centre, 232 Ashley Ave, Ste A, Charleston. 310-889-4825. Abigail@ LotusCharleston.com. LotusCharleston.com.

Reiki II – Feb 18-19. 10am-5pm Sat & Sun. A deeper exploration of Usui Reiki. We dive into the Level II symbols, Distant Healing and the Chakra System.

Class includes a comprehensive manual, Level II Attunement and beautiful certificate. Register by Feb 14. $299. Bodhi Tree Charleston, 792 Folly Rd, James Island. 843-327-4761. Maureen@BodhiTreeCharleston.com. BodhiTreeCharleston.com.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 19 Truth Talk “Into the I of All” – 1pm. Muni Natarajan, a monastic, studied Hinduism and Yoga to realize life’s fullest potential by merging with life’s ultimate essence. Donation. Unity of Charleston, 2535 Leeds Ave, Charleston. 843-566-0600.

UnityCharleston@msn.com. Unitychs.org.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 21 Celebrating Our Sacred Story Life – Feb 21-22.

10am, Tues thru 4:30pm, Wed. This retreat will explore the context of our lives from a personal, religious and cosmic view. “We explain things by telling their story,” says Thomas Berry. “How they came into being and the changes that take place over time.” $200/includes lodging and meals. Springbank Retreat for Eco-Spirituality & the Arts, 1345 Springbank Rd, Kingstree. 843-382-9777. Springbank@ SpringbankRetreat.org. SpringbankRetreat.org.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 23 Messages from Heaven: An Evening of Spirit Communication with Priscilla Keresey – 7-9pm.

Priscilla will explain the process of receiving spirit evidence and messages throughout the night.

There will be time for questions in this upbeat and entertaining evening. $20. Bridge to Avalon, 757 St Andrews Blvd, Charleston. 843-974-5676. Jeannine@BridgeToAvalon.com. BridgeToAvalon.com.

Bridge to the Beyond: An Exploration of Conscious Dying – 7-8:30pm. What if death could be a supported, celebrated and sacred process for all involved? Join Soul Midwife Paige Hetherington for an exploratory discussion around how we approach death in our culture as well as the possibilities. Free.

Bridge to Avalon, 757 St Andrews Blvd, Charleston.

843-974-5676. Jeannine@BridgeToAvalon.com.

BridgeToAvalon.com.

Practitioner Reiki Healing Energy Circle – 7-8:30pm. We are on a mission to create a powerful community of conscious healers devoted to awakening the greatest of human potential and to provide a supportive path for the spiritual growth of our community. This circle is for practitioners. $10 Donation. Bridge to Avalon, 757 St Andrews Blvd, Charleston. 843-974-5676. Jeannine@ BridgeToAvalon.com. BridgeToAvalon.com.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 25 Transform Ideas Into Impact: Envisioning Workshop – 10am-12pm. This workshop will give you tools to transform your vision for 2017 into impact.

Vision board materials will be provided; you will make an essential oils roller and participate in guided visualization. Tickets on Eventbrite. $30. Center for Holistic Health, 1470 Ben Sawyer Blvd, Ste 7, Mt Pleasant. 508-942-0402. JIamele@gmail.com.

InspirationAndBliss.com.

Natural Medicine for Common Ailments: Create Your Own Medicine Easily with These 10 Simple-to-Grow Herbs – 1-5pm. Dr. Aminah Dean will teach the best herbs to grow for common ailments of all ages. This is an in-depth class featuring demonstrations, booklets and a few starter supplies. You will learn the many uses of each herb involved. $295 early registration special (first 7 registrants); $350 registration prior to Feb 15; $395 normal registration fee. Bridge to Avalon, 757 St Andrews Blvd, Charleston. 843-974-5676. Jeannine @BridgeToAvalon.com. BridgeToAvalon.com.

Dances of Universal Peace – 7pm. Mantra meditation in movement. Easy circle dances with spiritual music from many of the world religions. Fun and energizing. Donation. Unity of Charleston, 2535 Leeds Ave, Charleston. 843-566-0600. UnityCharleston@ msn.com. Unitychs.org.

Spiritual Cinema Night – 7-10pm. Do you like movies with a spiritual theme or message? Do you like to discuss them with others of like mind? Please join us and bring your own bowl for popcorn, which will be provided! $10. Bridge to Avalon, 757 St Andrews Blvd, Charleston. 843-974-5676. Jeannine @BridgeToAvalon.com. BridgeToAvalon.com.

plan ahead SATURDAY, MARCH 11 Live Well Fest – 11am-5pm. Integrative Wellness Experience sponsored by Live Well Charleston and Natural Awakenings. Yoga, Meditation, Holistic healing, Wellness Village, Marketplace, pop-up shops, demos, food and music. Free. Shelmore Village, Mt Pleasant. 203-249-8053. Connect@ LiveWellCharleston.com. LiveWellCharleston.com.

SUNDAY, MARCH 26 Holistic Health Fair – 1:30pm. Save the date.

Holistic Care Health Fair Fundraiser for Unity of Charleston. Details to come. Unity of Charleston, 2535 Leeds Ave, Charleston. 843-566-0600.

UnityCharleston@msn.com. Unitychs.org.

Be thankful for

what you have; you’ll end up having more.

If you concentrate on what you don’t have, you will never, ever have enough. ~Oprah Winfrey

Trinity Table Open House – 2-4:30pm. Join Reiki Level III Master Joseph Benton for a group journey with the Trinity Table—a revolving, suspended treatment table legendary for its ability to induce deep states of relaxation and intense spiritual/ energetic experiences. Love Donations gratefully accepted. The Healing Arts Center, 480 Jessen Ln, Charleston. 843-991-3444. InHealth@yahoo.com.

HealingArtsCentersc.com.

natural awakenings

February 2017

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ongoing events

create more stability, stamina, balance and improve strength. All fitness levels are welcome! Andrew Dean. $10 per class. Register in advance; limited space. Seed of Life Collective, 621 Wappoo Rd, Charleston. TransformUniversalFitness@yahoo. com. 843-475-2156. HolisticHealthTrainer.com.

The Reiki Connection – 7pm. With Chrys Franks, Reiki Master/Teacher. Guided meditation followed by mini reiki sessions by certified practitioners. Love offering. (1st Tues for practitioners only.) Unity of Charleston, 2535 Leeds Ave, Charleston. 843-3645725. Unitychs.org.

sunday

tuesday

wednesday

Zen Meditation Group – 8:15am. Three half-hour rounds of sitting along with walking meditation.

Email to find out the best time for you to arrive. Free.

Holy Cow Yoga, 10 Windermere Blvd, West Ashley.

Info@CharlestonZen.org. CharlestonZen.org.

Yoga for EveryBody – 9:30am. With Sam Meehan.

This gentle, traditional meditative approach to yoga is guaranteed to reduce stress while increasing your strength, flexibility and stamina. Each class includes postures, breathing techniques, deep relaxation and meditation. $15 per class or $85 unlimited monthly pass. Healing Hara Massage & Wellness Center, 209 Stallsville Loop Rd, Summerville. 843-810-5953.

HealingHara@yahoo.com. HealingHara.com.

Hara Yoga – 7:30-8:30am. This class will focus on the Hara, the Solar Plexus in the region of the abdomen where the internal organs are housed. Various types of pressure may be exerted here through deep, diaphragmatic strong poses and deep twists.

Ignite the fire! $85. Unlimited monthly pass. Healing Hara Massage & Wellness, 209 Stallsville Loop, Summerville. 843-810-5953. HealingHara@yahoo. com. HealingHara.com.

Chair Yoga – 11:15am. This class is designed to lead those who need or prefer to use a chair in place of a mat. If you or someone you know feels uncomfortable on the floor, we suggest this class for disorders and disabilities. $85/unltd, $50/5 class, $15/1 class.

Healing Hara Massage & Wellness, 209 Stallsville Loop Rd, Summerville. 843-810-5953. HealingHara@yahoo.com. HealingHara.com.

Complimentary Natural Female Hormone Balancing Consultations – 10am-4pm. With Dr. Stephanie Zgraggen. Lime and Lotus, 925-F Wappoo Rd, West Ashley. Call to schedule: 843-2142997. LimeAndLotus.com.

Unity of Charleston Services – 9:30 & 11:15am.

Are you more spiritual than religious? So are we!

Do you believe in many paths to God? Then join us.

Unity of Charleston, 2535 Leeds Ave, Charleston.

843-566-0600. Unitychs.org.

Unity of Mt Pleasant – 10-11am. Unity is a Positive Path for Spiritual Living. We lovingly welcome people of all faiths and inspire them to live with Passion. Free. Unity of Mt Pleasant, 3100 Tradition Cir, 2nd Floor, Somerby at Park West, Mt Pleasant.

843-814-1322. lleshay@comcast.net.

New Spirit Books & Gifts – 10:30am-1pm. Spiritual, metaphysical and inspirational books, crystals, incense, tarot/oracle cards. Unity of Charleston, 2535 Leeds Ave, Charleston. 843-566-0600.

NewSpiritbg@gmail.com.

Martial Arts – 2-5pm. $50 per month. Healing Hara Massage & Wellness Center, 209 Stallsville Loop Rd, Summerville. 843-810-5953. HealingHara@ yahoo.com. HealingHara.com.

monday Slow Flow and Meditation – 9am. With Teresa Bulford. The perfect opportunity to take your time moving through a beautifully sequenced flow infused with mindfulness and meditation practices. $15 per class or $85 unlimited monthly pass. Healing Hara Massage & Wellness Center, 209 Stallsville Loop Rd, Summerville. 843-810-5953. HealingHara@ yahoo.com. HealingHara.com.

Charleston Community Acupuncture – 10am1pm & 3-5:30pm (new extended hours). 1307 Savannah Hwy, Charleston. 843-763-7200.

Complimentary Natural Female Hormone Balancing Consultations – 10am-4pm. With Dr. Stephanie Zgraggen. Lime and Lotus, 925-F Wappoo Rd, West Ashley. Call to schedule: 843-2142997. LimeAndLotus.com.

Senior Yoga – 2:30pm. With Joe Vinciguerra. Offering a variety of approaches to meet the needs of all seniors. These classes incorporate gentle yoga poses, gradual stretching and correct breathing. Chairs incorporated to support your yoga practice. $15 per class or $85 unlimited monthly pass. Healing Hara Massage & Wellness Center, 209 Stallsville Loop Rd, Summerville. 843-810-5953. HealingHara@ yahoo.com. HealingHara.com.

Functional Fitness Group Class – 6-7pm. Each fun and motivational class focuses on different large muscle groups in functional everyday movements to

36

NA Lowcountry Edition

Your Power Hour – 5:30pm. A progressive class that offers challenging aspects for everyone. With an emphasis on core strength, this class combines traditional yoga postures with strong, energetic movement. $15 per class or $85 unlimited monthly pass. Healing Hara Massage & Wellness Center, 209 Stallsville Loop Rd, Summerville. 843-810-5953.

HealingHara@yahoo.com. HealingHara.com.

Free Monthly Essential Oils Class – 6-7pm. 1st Tues of the month. Learn Healthy Habits, use Essential oils, Make ‘N’ Take items to use or give away to loved ones, Refreshments served, Recipes and RAFFLES! Free. 1164 Northbridge Rd (West Ashley), Charleston. 843-270-9913. ChiroAnn@ yahoo.com. DrAnnJenkins.com.

Martial Arts Training – 6:30-8:30pm. Martial Arts training from beginning to advanced. Free trial lesson for evaluation. An Ancient Okinawan Martial Art for enhancement on all levels of Awareness—on the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual self. $75 per month, $135/family rates. Natsu Mura Karate & Kobudo, 125 S Main St, Summerville.

843-875-4543. Info@ResourcesUnlimited1.com.

NatsuMura.com.

Abraham Hicks Meetup – 7-8:30pm. 1st Tues of the month. Play and experiment with rampages of appreciation, playing with the magical creation box, describing what the vortex means to you and sharing interesting manifestations that you created this month. Facilitator Chris Cunniffe, of Lucid Coaching LLC. FREE. bliss Spiritual Co-op, 1163 Pleasant Oaks Dr, Mt Pleasant. 843-345-7061. Chris@ LucidCoaching.com. blissSpiritualCo-op.org.

Hara Flow Yoga – 7pm. With Joe Vinciguerra. A fully awakening practice of breath and movement.

Students will learn to flow through various yoga poses with emphasis on breathwork and proper alignment. $15 per class or $85 unlimited monthly pass. Healing Hara Massage & Wellness Center, 209 Stallsville Loop Rd, Summerville. 843-810-5953.

HealingHara@yahoo.com. HealingHara.com.

NALowcountry.com

Yoga for All – 11am. With Marlene Glaser. Connect breath awareness, mindfulness and fluid movement as you practice both gentle and active yoga asanas.

Allow yoga to help foster relaxation, balance and a healthier body and mind. $15 per class or $85 monthly unlimited pass. Healing Hara Massage & Wellness Center, 209 Stallsville Loop Rd, Summerville. 843-810-5953. HealingHara@yahoo.com.

HealingHara.com.

Functional Fitness Group Class – 6-7pm. Each fun and motivational class focuses on different large muscle groups in functional everyday movements to create more stability, stamina, balance and improve strength. All fitness levels are welcome! Andrew Dean. $10 per class. Register in advance; limited space. Seed of Life Collective, 621 Wappoo Rd, Charleston. TransformUniversalFitness@yahoo. com. 843-475-2156. HolisticHealthTrainer.com.

Martial Arts – 6-8pm. $50 per month. Healing Hara Massage & Wellness Center, 209 Stallsville Loop Rd, Summerville. 843-810-5953. HealingHara@ yahoo.com. HealingHara.com.

Guided Meditations – 6:30-7:15pm. Through visually guided meditations, together, we will raise our vibrational frequencies. Weekly sessions are one hour, beginning with a Spirit-channeled visualization/meditation. Upon completion, everyone will have an opportunity to share visions, insights, breakthroughs and more. $10 donation. Bridge to Avalon, 757 St Andrews Blvd, West Ashley.

843-974-5676. Jeannine@BridgeToAvalon.com.

BridgeToAvalon.com.

Meditation Class – 6:30-7:30pm. With Jennifer Michaels, Energy Healer and Spiritual Life Coach.

Guided and silent meditation. Beginners and advanced. $15 per class. Shepard Integrative Dermatology, 912 Old Georgetown Rd, Mt Pleasant.

843-514-2848. JEMichaels.com.

WiseWomen Meetup – 7-8:30 pm. Come explore with us a variety of spiritual topics, meet other seeking women, and meet your tribe. Donation optional.

Serenity Center, 820 Central Ave, Summerville.

314-276-7772. SerenitySC.com.

thursday Natural Health Consultations with Dr. Dean – 10-6pm. Dr. Dean uses various modalities to treat the root cause of illnesses, including nutrition, herbs, flower remedies, energy work and overall healthy living. Please call for an initial consultation.

Bridge to Avalon, 757 St Andrews Blvd, Charleston.

843-974-5676. Jeannine@BridgeToAvalon.com.

BridgeToAvalon.com.

Senior Yoga – 2:30pm. With Joe Vinciguerra. Offered in a variety of approaches to meet the needs of all seniors. These classes incorporate gentle yoga poses, gradual stretching and correct breathing.

Healing Hara Massage & Wellness Center, 209 Stallsville Loop Rd, Summerville. 843-810-5953.

HealingHara@yahoo.com. HealingHara.com.

Slow Flow and Meditation – 6pm. With Marlene Glaser. This class interweaves learning true insight meditation and pranayama (breathing) techniques as well as conscious, flowing asanas that help build strength and stability. Leave class feeling grounded, relaxed and rejuvenated. $15 per class or $85 unlimited monthly pass. Healing Hara Massage & Wellness Center, 209 Stallsville Loop Rd, Summerville. 843-810-5953. HealingHara@yahoo. com. HealingHara.com.

Martial Arts Training – 6:30-8:30pm. Martial Arts training from beginning to advanced. Free trial lesson for evaluation. An Ancient Okinawan Martial Art for enhancement on all levels of Awareness—on the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual self. $75 per month, $135/family rates. Natsu Mura Karate & Kobudo, 125 S Main St, Summerville.

843-875-4543. Info@ResourcesUnlimited1.com.

NatsuMura.com.

Figure Drawing – 7-8:30pm. 3rd Thurs of month.

Immerse yourself in drawing. Evoke a deep calm peace. Bring pencils, vine charcoal or soft pastels stubs, erasers, paper. Warm up, five 3-minute sketches with instruction on proper proportions, common mistakes, two 20-minute sketches. Facilitator Roy Hiller. FREE. bliss Spiritual Co-op, 1163 Pleasant Oaks Dr, Mt Pleasant. 843-345-7061. RoyHiller@ gmail.com. blissSpiritualCo-op.org.

Poetry Writing – 7-8:30pm. 1st, 2nd & 4th Thurs of the month. He does not rhyme all the time and neither should you buckaroo. Bring paper and pen.

We’re going to write poetry, not type it. Facilitator Jack Tracey, Featured Spoleto Poet, Emcee, Stand Up Poet, Poetry Society of SC. FREE. bliss Spiritual Co-op, 1163 Pleasant Oaks Dr, Mt Pleasant. 843-3457061. SpecialMedia@att.net. blissSpiritualCo-op. org.

friday Yin Yang Yoga – 9am. With Marlene Glaser. Increase your flexibility with yin yoga as well as the yang aspects of the practice that focus on increasing core strength and joint stability. Slow and deep exploration of mind and body. $15 per class or $85 unlimited monthly pass. Healing Hara Massage & Wellness Center, 209 Stallsville Loop Rd, Summerville. 843-810-5953. HealingHara@yahoo.com.

HealingHara.com.

Friday Flow – 5:30pm. Start the weekend off right with this 75-minute practice! We begin class building heat by flowing through a mindful vinyasa series and top off with soothing, longer-held poses to relax body and mind! $85 monthly unlimited pass. $50/5 classes, $15/class. Healing Hara Massage & Wellness, 209 Stallsville Loop, Summerville. 843-8105953. HealingHara@yahoo.com. HealingHara.com.

Transmission Meditation – 6:30pm. Very powerful work. Beneficial for humanity and self.

Healing Oasis, 772 St Andrews Blvd, West Ashely. 843-743-5222. HealingOasisllc.com.

TransmissionMeditation.org.

saturday Compost Daze – 10am-2pm. Compost Rangers Compost Daze volunteer monthly workday every 2nd Sat of the month. Location will vary, so follow Compost Rangers on Facebook or visit CompostRangers.org and sign up for email reminders.

Gentle Yoga – 10am. Providing the opportunity to relax and renew the body with restful yoga postures. Practicing gentle yoga can teach you to relax, rest deeply and completely. $15 per class or $85 unlimited monthly pass. Healing Hara Massage & Wellness Center, 209 Stallsville Loop Rd, Summerville. 843-810-5953. HealingHara@yahoo.com.

HealingHara.com.

Simply Meditate – 10:30am-12pm. 2nd and 4th Saturdays. Drop-in classes with guided meditations, suitable for beginners and experienced alike. Circular Church, 150 Meeting St, Charleston (classroom below Lance Hall). $10 or $5/students/seniors.

MeditationInSouthCarolina.org.

Functional Fitness Group Class – 11am. Each fun and motivational class focuses on different large

muscle groups in functional everyday movements to create more stability, stamina, balance and improve strength. All fitness levels are welcome! Andrew Dean. $10 per class. Register in advance; limited space. Seed of Life Collective, 621 Wappoo Rd, Charleston. TransformUniversalFitness@yahoo. com. 843-475-2156. HolisticHealthTrainer.com.

Martial Arts Training – 10am-12pm. Martial Arts training from beginning to advanced. Free trial lesson for evaluation. An Ancient Okinawan Martial Art for enhancement on all levels of Awareness—on the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual self. $75 per month, $135/family rates. Natsu Mura Karate & Kobudo, 125 S Main St, Summerville.

843-875-4543. Info@ResourcesUnlimited1.com.

NatsuMura.com.

classifieds Have a job to fill or a space to rent?

Advertise in our classified section.

Information is due by February 10 for the March issue. Cost is $25/month for 30 words; additional words are $0.50 each. Must be prepaid. Email to PublisherNALowcountry@gmail.com SPACE AVAILABLE Want to run your own wellness business without all the overhead costs? Space available in a holistic practice in beautiful Mount Pleasant. Please email drsusandoyle@gmail.com for more details or questions.

Homemade Glass Cleaner Ingredients ¼ cup white vinegar ¼ cup rubbing alcohol 1 Tbsp cornstarch 2 cups water (preferably distilled, or boil it first and then let it cool).

8-10 drops essential oil of choice (citrus helps neutralize the vinegar smell).

Get a funnel and a plastic bottle (I used an old empty one I cleaned out from an eco-friendly product). Mix it up and use it like you would any storebought window cleaner.

Some people just use vinegar, water and newspaper. That is certainly ecofriendly, but I found it left streaks. Some people use a drop of dish soap instead of the cornstarch and they say that also works well. I have also heard of options without rubbing alcohol that are more expensive to make. I am happy with this recipe which is super cheap, quick to create, and better for the environment and our health.

This recipe is available all over the web, on too many sites to name. They say the original was probably first listed on CrunchyBetty.com. Thanks Crunchy Betty! natural awakenings

February 2017

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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 PublisherNALowcountry@gmail.com .

DR. PATRICK S. LOVEGROVE

ACUPUNCTURE

Merge Medical Center Mt Pleasant • 843-469-1001 MergeMedicalCenter.com

CHARLESTON COMMUNITY ACUPUNCTURE

1307 Savannah Hwy, West Ashley 843-763-7200 FeelGreatCharleston.com Voted best acupuncturist three years running. We treat most ailments, including stress, pain management, autoimmune issues, infertility, migraines, fatigue, allergies, diabetes and much more. Sliding scale payment option $20-$40 (return visits).

SUMMERVILLE COMMUNITY ACUPUNCTURE

1731 N Main St, Ste H Summerville 843-810-1225 SummervilleCommunityAcupuncture.com Bring us your headaches, back pain, tennis elbow, indigestion or whatever else is bothering you. Affordable acupuncture between $15-$45 plus a $10 paperwork fee for new patients. $5 PTSD treatments for veterans. Appointments or walk-ins welcome.

AMA board-certified MD specializing in family medicine, holistic internal medicine, Antiaging, Chinese medicine, naturopathy. Merge Medical Center … where modern thinking meets natural healing. Services include Primary Care, Weight Loss, Fatigue management, Bioidentical hormones, Colonics, Acupuncture, Massage, Reiki, Chiropractic, IV vitamins, and Bemer therapy.

beauty consultant YOUR GROOMING GURU

1319 Savannah Hwy, Ste C Charleston (in Artisans Inc Salon) 843-813-1838 YourGroomingGuru.com Your Grooming Guru, Barbara BrantWilliams, is an experienced hairstylist, makeup artist and certified Organic Color Specialist practicing out of the Artisans Salon. Charleston’s go-to source for hair, makeup and beauty product knowledge.

ALTERNATIVE HOLISTIC MEDICINE

bodywork

HEALING OASIS LLC

THE HEALING ARTS CENTER

Beverly Lucas, LMT, CST David Lucas, LMT 772 St Andrews Blvd, Charleston 843-743-5222 HealingOasisllc.com

Allison Kirk and Gudrun Strmic 480 Jessen Ln, Charleston 843-631-6422 • HealingArtsCenterSC.com

Visit Healing Oasis and experience powerful healing vibrations.

Services: Advanced CranioSacral Therapy, with more than a decade of experience; Energy Healing; Chakra Balancing; Massage Therapy; Aura Photography; SoulCollage Workshops; Ionic Detox Foot Bath; Far-Infrared Sauna.

Each therapist has a unique background providing tailored treatments for every client. This month’s featured therapist is Gabrielle Bankston. She skillfully integrates techniques, such as neuromuscular, reflexology and trigger point therapy, into her massages.

Knight Wellness and Therapy Bethany Knight, LMT 200 W 5th N St, Summerville 843-518-0692 KnightWellnessAndTherapy.com

Busy lives require working bodies.

Bethany will assess your aches and pains and help get you back in working order. Certified in Cupping, ART (lower extremity), Neuromuscular massage and more.

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NA Lowcountry Edition

NALowcountry.com

LOTUS HOLISTIC MASSAGE Abigail McClam, BA, LMBT 232A Ashley Ave, Charleston 843-724-9807 Abigail@LotusCharleston.com LotusCharleston.com

Licensed holistic massage and integrative bodywork practitioner offering massage, aromatherapy, energy healing and breathing techniques to help individuals nurture health, restore balance, manage pain, trauma and injury as they learn to embrace their own body/mind wisdom.

POPIEL HOLISTIC THERAPY

Susan Popiel, RN, CST 1037-D Chuck Dawley Blvd, Ste 206 Mt Pleasant 843-834-4168 • SusanPopiel.com Susan provides natural and compassionate therapy that promotes relief from pain and anxiety and improves immune f u n c t i o n . I d e a l f o r s u rg e r y preparation. She is certified in CranioSacral Therapy, Acupressure and Zero Balancing.

WORLD OF WELLNESS

Pam Olivier 3226 2B Maybank Hwy, Johns Island 843-708-8923 • PamOlivier.com A unique massage formulated specifically to meet your needs.

Several different massage modalities are used, including sports, neuromuscular, trigger point, lomi lomi, Thai yoga massage and manual lymph drainage. Conditions addressed include migraines, sciatica, whiplash, stress, anxiety and good old tight shoulders.

BRAIN TRAINING BRAINCORE NEUROFEEDBACK

990 Lake Hunter Cir, Ste 212, Mt Pleasant 844-BRAIN-ON (272-4666) BrainCore.Dianne@gmail.com Specializing in brain training, an effective, drug-free treatment for ADHD, autism, anxiety, depression, insomnia, migraines, memory, improving performance and more. No side effects. Permanent changes.

CHIROPRACTORS COLUCCI CHIROPRACTIC AND WELLNESS CENTER Dr. Gina Colucci 1806 Trolley Rd, Summerville 843-875-5700 ColucciChiropractic.com

Serving the Summerville area for 29 years. Specializing in holistic care; weight loss and nutritional cleansing; pain management; bioidentical hormones; sugar detox; stress testing; chiropractic; peripheral neuropathy; detox footbaths; emotional (TBM/NET) and wellness care.

Dr. Ann Jenkins, Not Your Ordinary Chiropractor 1164 Northbridge Dr, Charleston (West Ashley) 843-270-9913 DrAnnJenkins.com

Exclusive to the area: Whole Body Magnetic Therapy. Mention Natural Awakenings for a free one-hour session. Holistic family care. Relief of neck, back and emotional pain.

Homeopathy and essential oils. See ad, page 9.

CHURCHES Unity Church of Charleston Rev. Ed Kosak, Minister 2535 Leeds Ave, Charleston 843-566-0600 • Unitychs.org

Sunday Services: 9:30 and 11:15am. Are you more spiritual than religious? Do you believe in many paths to God? Then please join us.

COLON HEALTH A CENTER FOR WELL-BEING

Grass Roots Health Care Since 1991 843-769-6848 • ACenterForWellbeing.com Therapeutic Massage, Colon Hydrotherapy, Detox Foot Baths. Healthy Food Choice Coaching, NBCTH-certified and I-ACT members. Offering people a vehicle to help improve their quality of life. Specializing in probiotic education.

COSMETICS BE KISS PROOF

LipSense & SeneGence Distributor #202044 Ashley T. Caldwell BeKissProof.com The lipstick and makeup that doesn’t budge! 4-18 hours of wear!

dating coach

eco-cleaning

Diana Humphrey

ABOVE & BEYOND CLEANING LLC

Dating Coach Author of Pain Proof Dating Series Book 1 Getting Ready to Date 8437date7 (843-732-8377)

Kimberly Henderson • 843-901-4779 AboveAndBeyondCleaningllc.com

Get ready to date and make the process PAIN PROOF. Diana will coach you through the program step by step. Learn about yourself, become your best self, develop your best life and have FUN! Call for an appointment: 843-732-8377.

DENTISTRY

Healthy living starts with an ecoclean home or office. Health and wholeness are our top priorities by providing our clients with a “green” clean by using natural and botanical cleaning products.

ENERGY HEALING JENNIFER E. MICHAELS

Energy Healer and Soul Coach Artist, Author and Speaker Mt Pleasant • 843-514-2848 Jennifer@JEMichaels.com • JEMichaels.com

DELITE DENTAL

Dr. Hayan Lee & Dr. Young Kim 320 Midland Pkwy, Ste A, Summerville 843-486-2022 • DeliteDental.net Stop being a cavity victim. Dental health is more than just brushing and flossing two times a day. See the dental revolution of a compassionate, holistic office. Call and ask for current promotion.

I SMILE MATHIS FERRY DENTISTRY Wendy S. Haefner, DDS 1571 Mathis Ferry Rd, Mt Pleasant 843-884-1215 • MathisFerryDentistry.com

Biological dentistry using IAOMT protocol. Natural products free of BPA and mercury. Mercury-safe filling removal. Now offering ozone therapy! See ad, page 4.

JULIE OBENCHAIN, DDS

924 Tall Pine Rd, Mt Pleasant 843-884-0701 • PleasantSmilesCFD.com BPA and bis-GMA free dental fillings and BPA-free night guards.

Mercury free, mercury safe.

Accepting new patients and emergency appointments. Please call for consultation. See ad, page 25.

Overcome emotional, mental, physical and spiritual issues with Energy Healing and Soul Coaching.

Remove blocks and move forward with grace and ease. Holy-land oils, John of God crystals, angel therapy, past-life regressions, inner-child wellness and more. Raise vibration and feel amazing!

RESOURCES UNLIMITED

Joyce Stech 125 S Main St, Summerville Summerville • 843-870-4462 ResourcesUnlimited1.com • RoyalGems.org Joyce Stech (maMJAH), founder of Royal Gems Matrix Healing System, Martial Artist (Kyoshi, 7th dan), author, Metaphysician, Spiritual CEO of Taoist-Yogi Christ Lineage International. Private sessions, classes, online programs.

Change your

thoughts and you change your world.

JAMES SEXTON, DMD, MAGD Please call for appointment: Mt Pleasant • 843-881-1418 Myrtle Beach • 843-293-6700

~Norman Vincent Peale

Holistic, preventive dentistry. Safe removal of mercury fillings since 1975, following IAOMT protocol.

Offering anti-aging dentistry and biocompatible materials. See ad, page 17.

natural awakenings

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VITAMIN PLUS+

ESSENTIAL OILS YOUNG LIVING

Roberta Philbrick 843-826-4086 • RLPhilbr13@aol.com YoungLiving.com ID#3441572 As a Team Leader and Independent Distributor for Young Living, I specialize in Longevity and Wellness. Essential oils are the natural way to clean up your home and environment. Let me share with you how they can also benefit your mental and physical well-being. Call to schedule individual or group classes.

FITNESS SEED OF LIFE COLLECTIVE

Andrew Dean, ISFTA Certified Personal Fitness Trainer and Exercise Therapist 621 Wappoo Rd, Charleston 843-475-2156 TransformUniversalFitness@yahoo.com, HolisticHealthTrainer.com With over five years of experience in the Charleston area in Personal Fitness Training and Rehabilitation Exercise Therapy, Andrew’s approach looks at every individual from a holistic and integrated perspective, blending structured fitness programs, stretching and strengthening exercises, muscle- and mind-calming techniques, aromatherapy and breathwork, among other modalities. Call for a FREE Consultation today!

HEALTH FOOD STORES EUCALYPTUS WELLNESS & ELIXIR BAR 280 W Coleman Blvd, Ste E Mt Pleasant • 843-388-4956 EucalyptusWellness.com

Vitamins and supplements, CBD oil, bulk herbs, Wyndmere and doTerra essential oils, alkaline ionized water, facial and body care. New Elixir Bar! Herbal elixirs, blended drinks and fresh raw juices. Open Mon-Fri, 7am-7pm. Saturdays 8am-7pm, Sundays, 11am-5pm.

Herbs and Health Foods 119 N Goose Creek Blvd, Ste K Goose Creek • 843-797-3200 Best selection of herbs in South Carolina. Organic teas, spices, supplements, essential oils, wheat-free and gluten-free products. 10am-7pm Mon-Sat; closed Sunday.

HEALTH & WELLNESS BEMER DISTRIBUTOR

Gerry Schmidt, PhD 843-588-9286 • HelpCirculation.com Gerry.Lee.Schmidt@gmail.com Reverse aging in just eight minutes, two times a day with BEMER—reduces inflammation, pain, digestive issues, improves sleep and energy/vitality, plus more. Used by NASA and Olympic teams in 42 countries for 15 years. Try it free.

Change your water, change your life!

Thomas P Meletis, Distributor 843-729-7837 • TPM13@aol.com Water is the single most important element that goes in our body.

Drinking the right type of water may be the single most important piece in achieving and maintaining optimal health. Visit KangenDemo. com to see a comparison. View all eight machines at TopShelfWater.net. Financing at zero interest.

INTUITIVE GUIDANCE CAROL COTTRELL, INTUITIVE MEDIUM

By appointment only 815 Savannah Hwy, West Ashley 843-324-6460 • Carol@CCottrell.com CCottrell.com

843-284-6810 VictoriaHargis.com

Eliminate emotional barriers and live life free! PTSD intervention, anxiety and trauma release. Leadership Coach. Fast and permanent results.

Master Coach Certified. NLP, brain retraining, PSTEC. Services provided in HIPPA compliant platform online or in person.

LIVERANI LIFE COACHING Steve Liverani, BCC 440-476-6928 LiveraniLifeCoaching.com

Supportive, collaborative guidance designed to help you unlock your potential. Tapping into your inner strength will provide the clarity and direction you desire for living a meaningful and successful life. See ad, page 7.

Connect with passed loved ones to experience healing, love and guidance. Individual or group readings available in person or via Skype. Mediumship classes also available.

Jennifer Iamele Savage, M.Ed Certified Life Coach 508-942-0402 InspirationAndBliss.com

A trained Montessori educator and intuitive life coach, specializing in transitions and soul purpose coaching. Eliminate blocks, work through transitions, and discover your purpose. Courses on the use of essential oils for healing, journaling and vision boards to manifest your dreams.

ALEKA THORVALSON, CPC, PCC

Aloha Healing Arts Life Strategies Coaching and Hypnosis 843-870-7455 • Alekasky.com

Federation.

Achieve lasting transformation that awakens the whole self. Release blocks, gain clarity, purpose, inspiration and motivation.

Individuals—Couples—Families.

Professionally credentialed coach with the International Coach

ORGANIC SALON & BOUTIQUE COTTAGE AROMA BELLA DAY SPA

1240-C Central Ave, Summerville 843-873-3953 GodsGreenAcreOnline.com Your doorway to total health.

Serving Summerville for over 40 years. Natural and gluten-free products. Probiotics, organic oils, vitamins and supplements, essential oils and more.

NA Lowcountry Edition

Victoria Hargis

KANGEN IONIZED WATER

GOD’S GREEN ACRE

40

life coach

NALowcountry.com

2671 Fort Trenholm Rd, Johns Island 843-266-3619 CottageAromaBella.com Relax and renew your mind, body and soul while enjoying our luxurious services. All treatments are tailored just for you using the finest all-natural products.

See ad, page 13.

J SALON

Jody Lemmon 615 Johnnie Dodds Blvd, Ste 101 Mt Pleasant 843-882-5015 • JodyLemmon.com J Salon is passionate about healthy hair and overall wellness of the human body. We strive to give the best customer service and build long-lasting relationships with our clients. See ad, page 19.

SALON INDIGO

732 S Shelmore Blvd, Ste 100 Mt Pleasant (Shelmore Village) 843-991-6835 Our experienced team of hairstylists and skin care specialist use 100 percent-certified organic products.

We specialize in haircutting, coloring and make-up application. We sell All Nutrient™, Moroccan Oils, Dr. Hauschka™, 100% Pure™, iLike™ and many other boutique items.

reiki BODHI TREE CHARLESTON Maureen Donohue, LMT #3231 792 Folly Rd, James Island 843-327-4761 BodhiTreeCharleston.com

Client-focused, heart-centered, therapeutic reiki and massage.

Maureen Donohue is a Usui Reiki Master/Teacher, massage therapist and Medical Reiki Master™.

Teaching reiki classes throughout the Southeast, approved by NCBTMB as a CEU provider.

RIVER OF LIFE

Eileen Ayers Mino, RN, Reiki Holy Fire Master Teacher • Reiki and Past-Life Recall 301 E Richardson Ave, Summerville 860-857-4815

soul coach

WOMEN’S HEALTH

WE EMPOWER CONSCIOUSNESS

Dr. Wendy M. Perrell, Certified Soul Coach and Shaman 907-317-2483 • wperrell@wppec.com Meetup: Charleston~Align with Your Soul’s Purpose Your Soul speaks to me! I channel Archangel Raphael to help you heal fear, guilt, shame, unworthiness and unlovable energy that holds you back from your Soul’s purpose. We provide spiritual tools and practices that enlighten and empower you to enjoy love, wealth, health, joy and balance.

DR. STEPHANIE ZGRAGGEN, DC, MS, CNS, CCN

Lime and Lotus LLC Healing Arts Center 925 Wappoo Rd, Ste F, Charleston 843-214-2997 • Hello@DrZgraggen.com HealYourHormonesNow.com Painful periods? Hot flashes?

Fatigue? Weight gain? Let us help you balance your hormones naturally with the use of food and herbs.

THERMOGRAPHY

Yoga

BREAST THERMOGRAPHY INTL Shanna Schulze Rivera 877-315-7226, ext 447 EarlyDetectionIsKey@gmail.com btiscan.com

SEED OF LIFE COLLECTIVE

Radiation-free cancer and inflammation screening. Locations in South Florida, West Florida and South Carolina. Injury documentation, determine origination of pain, evaluate nerve pathology and monitor progress of current treatments.

Transformational Coach GERRY SCHMIDT, PhD

Master Coach Central location • 843-478-4090 GerrySchmidt.com Awaken to who you really are. Get unstuck, empowered, implement your vision. Never let fear decide your fate. Get results. Individuals, families, group sessions.

Complimentary intro session. See ad, page 11.

Christy Boaman, Phoenix Rising Yoga Therapist 600 and Yoga Instructor 200 621 Wappoo Rd, Charleston • 843-991-0876 ChristyBoaman@gmail.com, ChristyBoaman.com Cultivate and Strengthen your mindbody connection through Phoenix Rising Yoga Therapy. Uniting your psychological experience of life to the physical experience of life, yoga therapy creates access to the resource that has been with you since the beginning, your Body. With Divorce, Loss, Transition or Trauma, this therapeutic modality connects you to the wisdom of the body where you can discover the tools you need to move forward.

Serving the Tri-County Area.

Usui HF Reiki Treatments and classes—Reiki I to Master. Reiki works on all levels of Body, Mind and Spirit. Past-Life Recall— explore your past; tap into your subconscious.

relocation specialist DI JOHNSON

Agent Owned Mt Pleasant 843-270-6448 DiJohnsonSC@gmail.com Di has relocated over 300 Boeing families to the Charleston area. She brings 15 years of experience as a top producing agent to assist her clients with all aspects of buying and selling a home. She would love to help you!

Sunset on Isle of Palms, South Carolina natural awakenings

February 2017

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Tur� Your Passion Into a Business

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*Natural Awakenings recently received the prestigious FBR50 Franchise Satisfaction Award from Franchise Business Review.

“TV•Ears saved our marriage!”

New Special Offer!

TM

The Doctor Recommended TV•EARS® headset has helped millions of people hear television dialog clearly while eliminating concerns about loud volume or the need to buy expensive hearing aids. Put on your TV•Ears headset and turn it up as loud as you want while others listen to the television at a comfortable volume. You can even put the TV on mute and listen through the headset only. Others in the room won’t hear a thing, but we guarantee you will. Imagine watching television with your family again without fighting over the TV volume or listening in private while a loved one sleeps or reads. As thousands of our customers have said, “TV•Ears has

Adjustable Foam Tips

changed our lives!”

Voice Clarifying Circuitry® The TV•Ears headset contains proprietary Voice Clarifying Circuitry that automatically adjusts the audio curve to increase the clarity of television dialog while decreasing the volume of background sounds such as music and sound effects.

The words seem to jump out of the audio track, Transmitter/Charger making even whispers and accents understandable.

Pat and Shirley Boone Happily married over 60 years!

“I can watch TV as loud as I want without disturbing my wife. The dialog is clear and it’s good to hear my favorite shows again!”

— Pat Boone, Singer/Songwriter

120dB Volume

Adjustable Tone

Fast, Safe and Simple. TV•Ears transmitters use Speed of Light Infrared Technology™ (SoLIT) to send the television’s audio to the headset. Unlike slower Bluetooth or Radio Frequency, SoLIT does not need to be paired or adjusted, is completely safe with pacemakers, and will not interfere with your telephone.

Twice the Power with 120 decibels. The TV•Ears headsets are classified as “Assistive Listening Devices” for hearing-impaired individuals. This special designation permits the TV•Ears headset to have twice the maximum volume compared to all other wireless headsets.

Voice Clarifying TV•Ears Headset

“My wife and I have used the TV•Ears headset almost daily for many years and find them an invaluable help in our enjoyment of television. We would not be without them. As a retired Otologist, I heartily recommend them to people with or without hearing loss.”

— Robert Forbes, M.D., California

TV Ears Original™......$129.95 Special Offer

Now $59.95 +s&h For fastest service, call toll-free between 6am and 6pm PST Monday through Friday.

1-800-379-7832 or visit

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30-day risk free trial

Over 2 million satisfied users since 1998 TV dialog is clear and understandable Works better than hearing aids

Voice Clarifying Products

TV Ears is a trademark of TV Ears, Inc. © 2017 TV Ears, Inc. All Rights Reserved

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