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November is a time for giving thanks; it also marks our 15th year publishing Natural Awak enings. I can say that I am feeling truly grateful and blessed. Growing up, did I ever imagine myself publishing a healthylifestyle magazine—a go-to resource for my community? Never. Yet, here I am thrilled and honored to rejoice in this milestone with all of you and my marvel ous publishing partner, Marilee Burrell. A big thank you to you—our loyal readers—along with our amazing advertising partners and our talented Natural Awakenings team, whose members you can “meet” on page 6. Also, lots of thanks go out for all the love and support Marilee and I have received from family and friends over the years.
Dana Boulanger Marilee BurrellTogether, we have journeyed through the ever-changing challenges of life, and now more than ever, I feel it is time to embrace our health, wellness and spirituality and raise the vibration for the greater good of our communities. I am excited, hopeful and trust that life is always working out for me.
The theme of this month’s issue is mental health, and we have an array of articles on this important topic, including our feature, “Staying Serene in Turbulent Times,” on page 26, which sheds light on how to turn anxiety into positive action.
Local expert Brett Cotter shares his journey on overcoming stress, anxiety and trauma with and attitude of gratitude, kindness and unconditional love in our Wise Words article on page 14. I hear the positive, powerful healing approaches he employs in his retreats are emotionally freeing. Our Healing Ways article, “12 Quick Fixes for Anxiety,” on page 30, offers readers simple strategies for mental well-being.
We are also pleased to share an interesting article by local dentist Dr. David Lerner that educates us on how our oral health may affect our mental health—who knew? Be sure to read “How Mental Health Can Be Affected by Oral Health” on page 16. Oh, and did you know that food affects our mood too? For an explanation and some delicious, moodenhancing recipes, check out our Conscious Eating article, “The Gut Brain Connection,” on page 22.
Rounding out our mental health offerings is our Inspiration article, “Gratitude is Good Medicine,” on page 40, in which author Madiha Saeed shares that gratitude is not just a feel-good word, but has actual physiological consequences.
Of course, I want you to read all of this month’s fantastic articles on mental health and well-being; however, with snow season just around the corner, I have to mention our great Fit Body article, “Skiing for Fitness and Pure Fun,” on page 38. Be sure to check it out, especially if you are a ski enthusiast. Yonkers chiropractor Dr. Leigh Damkohler shares her expert advice, along with others, on getting ready for the slopes, staying fit and having fun!
Speaking of fun, we hope to see you on November 20 in Tarrytown at the Awaken Wellness Fair, which celebrates its 20th year. Kudos to founder and CEO Paula Caracap pa and her team. This body-mind-spirit-green expo always has a fabulous and inspiring mix of speakers, vendors, healers and readers from near and far.
Joyfully,
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The Awaken Wellness Fair—the area’s fa vorite body-mind-spirit-green expo—re turns to Tarrytown on November 20. Founder and CEO Paula Caracappa says enthusiasm is running high for this big semi-annual event, which gives like-minded people a chance to step away from everyday life and treat them selves to a soothing respite—and some fun.
“At the Awaken Fairs, vendors offer unusual, natural and healthy products and services—whether it’s artwork that inspires, words that uplift, jewelry that adorns or a practice that heals. Our fall event kicks off the holiday season with unique, often handmade, items that enhance everyone’s gift list,” says Caracappa, who adds that vendor spots are still available.
In addition, experts in a variety of fields will be giving free 45-minute talks all day, of fering ways to help attendees awaken to their best life, says Caracappa. Talk titles include “Stop Overworking and Start Overflowing,” “Soul Aligned Success Secrets” and “Angel Healing and Guidance.” The event will also include intuitive readers and gifted energy healers that offer sessions for a nominal fee. And something new—a séance is planned for this fair.
“Guests always enjoy the re-useable bags and glossy covered booklets given free of charge to attendees,” adds Caracappa. “Exhibitors fill the goody bag tables with gifts and special offers for guests.”
Location: Sleepy Hollow Hotel and Conference Center, 455 S. Broadway, Tarrytown, NY. For more information, including vendor and speaker opportunities, or to purchase tickets, call 914.422.1784, email awakenusa@aol.com or visit AwakenFair.com. See ad, page 2.
In addition to Sacred Spirit Yoga and Healing Arts Center’s inperson and livestreamed kripalu-inspired yoga classes on Tues day, Friday and Saturday mornings, they are offering two events this month for all levels, both in-person and virtually: a Yoga for Anxi ety Workshop from 4 to 5:30 p.m. on November 5 and an All-Levels Community Yoga practice from 4 to 5:30 p.m. on November 26.
The workshop will be led by Donna Moss, a psychotherapist and certified yoga teacher. “She will share mindfulness tools to support a yoga practice in the face of anxiety,” says Anne Day, board mem ber. “In this workshop, we will learn postures, breathing, coping skills and discuss mindfulness practices to calm the limbic system and ease stress.”
The community yoga practice will be led by Franklin Shire, a beloved guest teacher who will guide participants in a hearty, heartwarming practice. “Proceeds will benefit the Decem ber 24 Party on the Streets, sponsored by Midnight Run, providing food, gifts and fellowship to those living on the streets of NYC,” shares Day. “On behalf of Midnight Run, we will accept your donations of $25, $50, $100 for the purchase of food and gifts (thermals, gloves, hats, warm fleece) for a safe, socially distanced gathering on the streets on December 24.”
Cost for each event: $20. Location: Sacred Spirit Yoga and Healing Arts Center, on the South Presbyterian Church campus, 343 Broadway, Dobbs Ferry, NY. For more information or to register, visit SacredSpiritYogaCenter.org.
On Point Acu puncture NY has opened at 1875 US-6, in Carmel Hamlet. Owner of the practice Richard Yonke, MSOM, LMT, LAc, incor porates medical massage therapy in his 45- to 60-minute treat ments to enhance the process of acupuncture—an ancient healing art that involves applying hair-thin needles to specific points of the body to manipulate the immune system and help the body maintain homeostasis.
“I have been renting space from a chi ropractor in Kent, New York, and needed a more visible location,” says Yonke. “The space in Carmel is modern, and along with the artisanal vibe and great location, I was happy to relocate. Before COVID, I worked for different medical professionals and was only in private practice part-time. Now, I am building a private practice in a great space. It’s all ‘new’ to me. I’m excited to evolve in the Carmel community.”
Yonke is New York State licensed in both massage therapy and acupuncture, and has a master’s degree in oriental medi cine from New York College of Health Professions, in Syosset.
“Having worked alongside an array of physicians (i.e., physiatrists, orthopedists, neurologists, chiropractors and physical therapists), I have gained the knowledge and skill to focus my practice on pain management,” explains Yonke. “I uti lize medical massage therapy in all my acupuncture treatments; a few minutes of hands-on work increases blood flow and supports the treatment focus, whether it’s lower back pain, rotator cuff or shoul der injuries, headaches, knee joint pain, shingles or Bell’s palsy, just to name a few.”
For more info, call/text 917.584.1300, email onpointacupunctureny@gmail.com or visit OnPointAcupunctureNY.com.
Brooklyn Organic Kitchen (BOK), in Mahopac, an nounces they will have a spe cial organic Thanksgiving menu available for order online or by phone and self-pick or dine in, featuring vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free options.
“What’s on the menu? All the delicious and health-supportive trimmings you need to make your holiday table complete,” says Sandra Marinelli, chef and owner. “We are offering tradi tional, vegan and gluten-free versions of all of your favorite sides: truffled or garlic mashed potatoes;�Southern-style sweet po-�Southern-style Southern-style po tato pie; crispy, roasted Brussels sprouts with our hot agave sauce; stuffed Portobello mushrooms; zucchini gratin; fresh artichokes; fresh cranberry sauce; apple sausage stuffing; and many more!”
Organic roasted turkey at Brooklyn Organic Kitchen.
Marinelli says they will also be offering organic roasted tur key, or “tofurkey”, with turkey gravy, which must be preordered. And for dessert, they will be serving up assorted pies—including apple crumble, blueberry crumble, pecan, pumpkin and coconut cream—which will be available traditionally as well as vegan or gluten-free.
BOK’s menu features organic plant-based items designed to be nourishing and energizing. BOK uses only USDA-certified organic, non-GMO and fairly traded ingredients—including lo cally sourced ingredients from farmers whose practices align with BOK’s mission.
Location: Brooklyn Organic Kitchen, 890 S. Lake Blvd., Mahopac, NY. For more information or to order, call 845.621.2655, email brooklynorganickitchen@gmail.com or visit bokMahopac.com
Holiday
Craft Fair will take place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on November 12 and from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on November 13 on the great lawn and in the auditorium at beautiful, historic Camp woods Grounds, in Ossining. The highly anticipated, well-attend ed annual event features unique handcrafted items made by local
artists and craftspeople, as well as refreshments.
“The Craft Fair was started over 10 years ago by past resident Rena Wilhelm, owner of the White Weathered Barn, and has evolved over the years,” says Katie Gorycki, event coordinator for the community. “We needed to skip the Craft Fair in 2020 due to the pandemic, so when we brought the event back last year, we spread out for social distancing, moved the date up to Veterans Day weekend so it would be warmer, and began to have vendors outside on the great lawn as well. This year, we will feature indoor and outdoor vendors and go back to a two-day event.”
Gorycki mentioned that refreshments will include hot drinks from First Village coffee; baked goods from Abby’s Dessert Bar; and select food trucks, including Wanna Empanada. She also ex plained that parking spaces are reserved for residents, so visitors are requested to find parking on neighboring streets.
Location: Campwoods Grounds, in Ossining, NY. For more infor mation, visit CampwoodsGrounds.com.
Acall for artwork created by wom en resulted in a virtual exhibit featuring 94 pieces submitted by 49 local and regional artists. Hosted by Ma hopac Public Library, the Women’s Work/ Working Women show began October 12 and runs through November 30. It can be viewed on the library’s YouTube channel.
The exhibit presents an exploration of imagery, materials and techniques utilized by women as they pursue their creative jour ney. The entries submitted include paintings, ceramics, jewelry, fiber art, photography, graphic art, mixed media and collage.
Mahopac Public Library chose to host this virtual exhibit while the library building is temporarily closed to the public for renova tions. The theme of “women’s work” was selected to emphasize the enduring role of women as creators—their experience as women at work, in the home and in the world.
Heidi Stein, one of the women whose work is featured, de scribes her artmaking process this way: “Everything I do with paint and paper is an exploration and an experiment. The way I approach art is to always ask myself, ‘What happens if?’ In order to make big pieces of finished art, I try to paint daily. Most exercisers know the value of keeping muscles in motion and cell memory. The same seems to be true for art—we need daily play and regular activity of making art-conscious decisions to remain in good shape.”
To view the virtual exhibit, visit YouTube.com/ watch?v=1lZESqHxlOA. For more information, call 845.628.2009, ext. 108, or visit MahopacLibrary.org.
Dr.Somesh N. Kaushik announces the reopening of the Ayurvedic and Naturopathic Clinic, in New York City. After a two-year hiatus, it has reopened under the name Vaidya Center of Inte grative Medicine. It is an independent extension of his Cross River clinic and the Institute for Ayurvedic and Natu ropathic Therapies, in Fairfield, Con necticut. These clinics offer authentic treatments, therapies and preventives based on the ancient philosophy of Ayurveda. The Vaidya Center’s practitioners are Dr. Thara Kodandaramachandra and Dr. Neha Kaushik.
Kodandaramachandra received her bachelor of Ayurvedic medicine and surgery (BAMS) degree at one of the best traditional Ayurvedic facilities in India—Government Ayurvedic College, in Bangalore—and attended Rāmniranjan Ānandilāl Podar College, in Mumbai, specializing in panchakarma. She is a certified Perfect Health Instructor, of fering workshops and lectures in Ayurveda.
Neha’s academic degrees—doctor of naturopathic medicine, from Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine; master’s in public health in epidemiology, from the University of Alabama; and Ayurvedic degree, from the Institute for the Advancement of Ayurvedic Sciences—allow her to specialize in chronic and acute illnesses with a focus on autoim mune conditions, intestinal health, the endocrine system and pain management.
Kodandaramachandra and Neha believe the doctor-patient relationship is central to healing and are committed to this relationship with compassionate care. They invite people to visit them at the Vaidya Center, where the mission is to help patients achieve a successful and balanced path to health and wellness.
Location: Vaidya Center of Integrative Medicine, 303 Second Ave., Ste. 9, NYC, NY. For more information, call 917.999.6590, email health@vaidyawellness.com or visit VaidyaWellness.com. See ad, page 10.
Steve Farris, owner of Fit Social, a group fit ness studio on 188 Main Street, in Pough keepsie, has invited Sweet Harvest Shoppe—a superfood café with a location in Cold Spring—to take over the studio’s smoothie bar and make it their own. A soft opening took place October 8. One does not have to be a studio member to eat at the café.
Tara Sweet-Flagler, an exercise physiologist, wellness expert and owner of Sweet Harvest, was Farris’ professor 15 years ago at Dutchess Community College, where she still teaches. She opened her first café in 2020 with the mis sion of helping folks eat healthier and catering to those with celiac disease.
Farris and Sweet-Flagler are in the business of enriching people’s health through nutri tion and fitness, and together they are.
Locations: Sweet Harvest Shoppe, 82 Main St., Cold Spring, NY; and 188 Main St., Pough keepsie, NY. For more information, call 845.666.7390 or visit SweetHarvestShoppe.com.
NuSpecies liquid supplements.
NuSpecies, a Pawling-based manufac turer of natural nutritional formulas, is opening a new location in Bronxville in early November, which will replace their Mt. Vernon location. The new address is 118 Kraft Avenue—right across the street from the metro north Harlem line Bronx ville train station.
“Our Mt. Vernon location is still open up until the day we move; there will be no interruption in our business hours,” says Executive Vice President Jillian Pelliccio, who adds that their business hours will remain the same (Tuesday through Satur day, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.). “Look out on social media or our website for the grand opening date.”
NuSpecies uses a cold-processing tech nique to maintain the nutritional integ rity of the plant-based and plant-derived ingredients used in its liquid supplements. From consultation to follow-ups, clients have a NuSpecies medical practitioner that stays in sync with their primary care doc tor or specialists.
For more information, call 866.261.8886 or visit NuSpecies.com. See ad, page 3.
I am happy because I’m grateful. I choose to be grateful. That gratitude allows me to be happy.
~Will ArnettBrettCotter is an author, founder of Stress Is Gone and a retreat fa cilitator with more than 20 years of experience helping people heal trauma and overcome stress and anxiety. Cotter recent ly took time out from his busy schedule to talk with Natural Awakenings
In 1999, I was 27 years old and seeking new ways to fix my problem with jeal ously. It ruined relationships repeatedly. One night, three separate sources guided me towards meditation, so I listened to the universe. My first solo meditation rocked my world, forever opening my mind—like it was waiting to happen for lifetimes. Then, a highly referred psychic helped me see there’s a divine intelligence all around me. I was captivated by it and wanted to learn how to access it. She referred me to a healer who helped me transcend the fear that was fueling my jealously. He also helped me remember my true strength is in my vulnerability and every answer to every question lives inside me.
The next year, I was volunteering in a Chinese energetic medicine clinic in Ma rina Del Rey, California. One night, there were about 30 people and the group leader couldn’t make it. I was asked to facilitate. Immediately after that session, my col leagues came to me and said they want me to run the group from now on. I was shocked, but took on the responsibility and haven’t looked back since.
gangbusters with healing my own heart. My burning desire was to transform my heart; this was the catalyst that drove me to experience healing in many one-onone sessions and group workshops with my first teacher. My goal was to return my heart, and my ability to give and receive unconditional love, to the state it was in when I was born. My quest was to heal all the major scars on my heart from this lifetime. At a certain point on that journey, it felt like a critical mass was healed within me—like I turned a corner into a new life and was reconnected to an ocean of innocence, happiness and spirit.
like imaging your stressor doing the same thing it always does but your body has zero reaction. Once the emotions are out of the way, I usually coach people to cultivate a new response—sometimes a gentle inner chuckle by imagining a small bowl of salad at their center. Every time they jiggle the bowl, the salad laughs like the plants on the old TV show The Magic Garden. That little inner chuckle is followed by unconditional love for yourself and the stressor.
Kindness is the key for humanity and unconditional self-love is the doorway to living a kind life. Energetically, uncondi tional love is expansion and our universe is expanding. That’s why love will always prevail; it’s in alignment with the universe, and like a moth to the flame, we all seek it because innately we are one with it. Love helps us remember the divine when we feel lonely, kindness when we get frustrated and safety when we feel afraid.
When I first got into this work, I went
The transformation that happens in our coaching calls and the retreats. People say they experience an emotional heaviness lift off their body that is replaced with a strong sense of self. Their stressors no longer affect them in the same way because the trauma the stress triggered is gone. It’s
People will get to experience Cotter and the Stress Is Gone Method at his upcom ing transformational weekend retreat— Break Free from Anxiety and Heal Trauma Naturally—at Honor’s Haven, in Ellenville, from December 2 through 4.
For more information, visit StressIsGone.com. See ad, back cover.
What has made the biggest shift in your life from stress to happiness?
What factor would you say makes the biggest difference for your clients?
Thehealth of our mouth can greatly impact how we feel overall, as well as affect our appearance. Research and clinical experience show there is a direct link between our dental health and overall health. But what about when it comes to our mental well-being? Is there a connection between our oral health and mental health? Yes, there is.
Dental conditions can be a major source of stress that affect the health of our brain. The mouth can be a cause of poor sleep, resulting in not enough oxygen to our brain (sleep apnea), as well as the source of stimulation of our nervous system, keep ing us from getting enough deep sleep. When sleep deprived, our mental health is compromised. If our bite and airway are not right, it will affect our throat at night, causing it to become narrower. This is
called a constricted airway and can inter fere with our brain’s ability to get enough oxygen. This is known to cause hyperten sion, stroke, arrhythmia, cardiomyopathy (enlargement of the muscle tissue of the heart), heart failure, diabetes, obesity and heart attacks.
Many people experience muscle tension and pain at night because their teeth don’t fit properly; some will grind their teeth at night, wearing down their bite, making the situation even worse. When chronic, these conditions can lead to debilitating fatigue and depression.
Through dental sleep appliances, ortho dontics and restoring our teeth, we can correct our bite, which will open up our airway and, therefore, improve sleep. As a result, many of our patients experience an overall improved quality of life. By restor ing muscular balance to the head and neck and eliminating tension in the chest, I have seen patients relieved of chronic depres sion caused by their body’s energy being blocked.
As with our general health, hygiene and nutrition also will greatly impact our den tal and mental health.
We now know that when gum disease is present, the bacteria from the mouth can enter the blood stream, causing disease in the brain, contributing to the development of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. This can be exacerbated by the promotion of inflammation in the body, just as autoim mune conditions are. There are other den tal conditions that can contribute to this.
Infected teeth, even many of those that might have been treated with root canal therapy can be a contributor to disease forming elsewhere in the body, including the brain. The presence of persistent dental infections and the toxins that accumulate within the tooth will render a dead tooth into a foreign body.
Toxic materials like mercury can be introduced into the body in silver dental fillings, and after leaking out, be absorbed by the brain, affecting how it functions. Research has identified the mercury in sil ver fillings as a contributor to Alzheimer’s. Our practice has been mercury-free since 1983. We recommend that our patients have all silver fillings removed safely, using a special protocol to minimize exposure to toxic mercury vapors for both the patient and the clinical team—and to not get new silver fillings!
David Lerner, DDS, is owner of The Center for Holistic Dentistry, located at 2649 Strang Blvd., Ste. 201, Yorktown Heights, NY. For more information, call 914.214.9678, email info@holisticdentist.com or visit HolisticDentist.com. See ad, page 5.
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The best strategy to stay upbeat may be to reach for the fruit bowl, sug gests a new study comparing the habits and mental states of 428 people published in the British Journal of Nutri tion. Researchers at the UK’s Aston University found that the more often people ate fruit, the lower they scored for depression and the higher for mental well-being. The frequency of fruit consumption seemed to be more important to psycho logical health than the total amount consumed. People that ate savory snacks such as potato chips, which are low in nutrients, were more likely to report more frequent memory lapses and greater levels of anxiety and depres sion. The researchers found no connection between eating vegetables and psychological health. Nutrients can be lost during cooking. “As we are more likely to eat fruit raw, this could potentially explain its stronger influence on our psy chological health,” says lead author Nicola-Jayne Tuck.
In another study, researchers from the UK’s University of Reading gave 478 young adults either high doses of vi tamins B6 or B12 or a placebo. After one month, they found that 100 milligrams of the B6 (about 50 times the recom mended daily allowance) significantly boosted gamma aminobutyric acid, which inhibits excitatory impulses in the brain, and reduced self-reported anxiety and depression levels. B12 had no such effects.
Although high-fiber diets reduce the risk of heart attack, stroke and cardiovascular disease, the latest research from Stanford University indicates that not all fibers are equal in their effect on different species of probiotics in the intestines. Arabinoxylan, which is common in whole grains, was found to reduce cholesterol naturally and was easier to digest than long-chain inulin, which is found in onions, chicory root and Jerusalem artichokes. Commonly used for weight-loss products, inulin was linked to a mod est decrease in inflammation markers and an increase in Bifidobacterium, a “good” gut microbe; however, at high doses it increased inflammation and raised the possibility of liver damage.
Immunity supplements may not be all they claim to be, according to a new study in the Journal of the American Medical Association. Re searchers conducted liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry tests on 30 of the bestselling, four-star-and-up immunity products on Amazon and found that only 13 contained the exact ingre dients listed on their labels. Thirteen were missing some of the listed ingredients and nine contained ingredients not listed on the labels. Missing ingredients were mainly plant extracts such as aloe vera, astragalus, eleuthero, ginger root and slippery elm. Added ingredients included black rice seed in elderberry extracts and pantothenic acid.
To protect against memory loss, simple stretching and balance exercises work as well as hard-driving aerobics, concludes a new study from Wake Forest University. The study enrolled 296 sedentary older adults with mild cognitive decline such as forgetting dates, keys and names. Those that performed simple stretching routines for 120 to 150 minutes per week experienced no memory decline in a year’s time, as measured by cognitive tests and brain scans that showed no shrinkage. These results matched the outcome of people that did moderate-intensity aerobic training on treadmills or stationary bikes four times a week, striving for about 30 to 40 minutes of a heightened heart rate. A control group of equally matched people that did not exercise did decline cog nitively. The people that exercised were supervised by trainers at local YMCAs, which may have helped them stay motivated, say the researchers.
M any alpine ski resorts are going more and more green, enabling enthusiasts to reduce their impact on the planet while enjoying the winter sport. Here’s some eco-information, as well as money-saving tips:
As detailed on SkiVermont.com, the latest Vermont Ski Areas Energy Savings Impact Report from Efficiency Vermont revealed that 13 state ski areas have completed 668 projects since 2000, including “low-energy snowguns, compressed air right-sizing, lift terminal heater controls, thermal shells and many other systems and improvements.”
Last year, Taos Ski Valley, in New Mexico, treated 245 acres of high mortality spruce and fir trees to help restore the for est ecosystem and diverted 10,287 pounds of waste from landfill to compost, equal ing a CO2 reduction of approximately 3.2 megatons. Park City and Deer Valley, in Utah, have partnered with nearby districts to source power from an 80-megawatt solar farm. Vail Resorts, encompass ing more than 40 ski areas, continues its EpicPromise program with the goal of zero net emissions, zero waste to landfills and zero operating impact on land and ecosys tems by 2030 (TheAvantSki.com).
Skiers at Big Sky Resort (BigSkyResort. com), in Wyoming, can minimize their car bon footprint by offsetting their trip with partner Tradewater, a Chicago company
that facilitates lowering greenhouse gas emissions. All of the resort’s lift opera tions have been running carbon-free since March 2020, and ongoing efficiency proj ects include upgrading hotel thermostats and increasing the use of solar power.
Wear sustainable brands. Patagonia, The North Face and Cotopaxi are some of the brands that make ski jackets from recycled materials. Also, instead of buying new, con sider patching up an old jacket if it has a tear.
Take a pass. Many individual ski resorts and associations offer lift ticket passes. Tips on making the best choice for in dividual or family needs can be found at SkiMag.com. It’s a popular trend: The National Ski Areas Association (nsaa.org) reports season passes now make up more than half of all lift ticket sales.
Group together. Gather family and friends in one car. Also, local ski clubs, sporting goods retailers and parks and rec reation departments often organize group trips by chartering buses and arranging for discounted lift tickets. Warm-weather ski clubs arrange for flights to ski resorts. Making new friends along the way is a nice bonus.
Leave a clean path. Don’t leave any plastic water or sports drink containers or power bar wrappers on the snow.
The world’s biggest search engine has taken a key driver of global warming out of the carbon calcu lator embedded in the company’s Google Flights search tool, making jour neys appear to have much less impact on the envi ronment than before. Dr. Doug Parr, chief scientist of Greenpeace, says, “Google has airbrushed a huge chunk of the aviation industry’s climate impacts from its pages.”
With Google hosting nine out of every 10 online search es, this could have wide repercussions for people’s travel decisions. In July, the search engine decided to exclude all the global warming impacts of flying except CO2 following consultations with its industry partners.
Kit Brennan, a founder of Thrust Carbon, a UK company that helps businesses reduce the effect their travel has on the climate, fears consumers could come to believe that non-CO2 impacts on the climate are not relevant in the longer term, despite the science that contradicts this view. That would mean up to 1.5 percent of the warming caused by human activity would be ignored, and the pressure on airlines to reduce their emissions would be cut according ly. Some experts say Google’s calculations now represent just over half of the real impact of flights on the climate.
According to a new report (Tinyurl.com/Chemical Recycling) from the non profit Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives (GAIA), 20 states have passed bills to exempt chemical recycling facilities from waste management requirements, despite sig nificant evidence that most facilities actually incinerate the plastic they receive.
The petrochemical industry, as represented by the American Chemistry Council, has been lobbying for state-level legislation to promote “chemical recycling”, a process that critics say is recycling in name only. Their goal is to reclassify chemical recycling as a manufactur ing process, rather than waste disposal, with more lenient regulations concerning pollution and hazardous waste.
GAIA Policy and Research Coordinator and author of the report Tok Oyewole says, “These facilities are in actuality waste-to-toxic-oil plants, processing plastic to turn it into a subpar and polluting fuel.” The report calls for federal regulation to crack down on the plastic industry’s misinformation and affirm chemical recycling’s status as a waste management process.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is considering whether chemical recycling should be regulated under Sec tion 129 of the Clean Air Act, which would define chemical recycling processes as incineration, potentially short-circu iting the petrochemical industry’s state legislative strategy, although Oyewole says it’s unclear whether the agency’s determination would override existing state legislation.
Concrete consists of water, cement and an aggregate such as sand or gravel. The aggregate has to be mined from the ground, and is now in short supply in many parts of the world, while discarded tires can be partially recycled, but are often burned or relegated to landfills.
Attempts to replace some of the aggregate used in concrete with crumbled, used tires has been stymied by a bonding problem because pores in the rubber fill with water when the concrete is first mixed, and become empty holes as the water evaporates and the concrete sets.
As reported in the journal Resources, Conservation & Recycling, scientists at Australia’s RMIT University have produced good-quality concrete in which all of the aggregate has been replaced with tire particles. They started with wet concrete in which all the aggregate is comprised of tire particles, then placed it in special steel molds as it set to place pressure on the concrete, compressing the particles and the pores within.
Once the concrete dried and set, the cement had bonded much better to the tire particles. When compared to previous 100-percent tire-aggregate concrete produced by conventional means, the preloaded concrete exhib ited 97 percent, 59 percent and 20 percent increases in compressive, flexural and tensile strength, respectively.
A new study led by Lancaster University researchers shows that ur ban gardens and hydroponics can thrive and may exceed the yields of rural farms. Professor Jess Davies, project lead for the Rurban Revolution project that developed this study, says, “Urban food growing is often dismissed as something that cannot meaningfully contribute to food security.”
The paper compiled studies on urban agriculture from 53 countries to find out which crops grow well in cities, what growing methods are most effective and which spaces can be used for growing. It turns out that urban yields for crops like cucumbers, tubers and lettuces can be two to four times higher than conventional farming. Cost efficiency remains an open question and important factor.
Most studies on urban agriculture focus on private and community gardens, parks and field growing operations. This one includes “grey” spaces in cities that are already built, but could be used for growing, such as rooftops and building facades. Dr. Florian Payen, lead author and researcher from the Lancaster Environment Centre, says, “Surprisingly, there were few dif ferences between overall yields in indoor spaces and outdoor green spaces, but there were clear differences in the suitability of crop types to different gray spaces. You can’t exactly stack up apple trees in a five- or 10-layer-high growth chamber.”
Facing threats from invasive pests, climate change and habitat loss, up to 135 tree species—about one-sixth of those found in the conti nental U.S.—could be lost forever. Only eight of them currently enjoy federal pro tection. In a study published in the journal Plants People Planet that focused on 881 tree species native to the continental United States, researchers evaluated how endangered each tree is accord ing to criteria developed by NatureServe and the Interna tional Union for Conservation of Nature. Murphy Westwood, vice president of science and conservation at the Morton Arboretum, in Lisle, Illinois, and lead author of the study, says, “That’s a lot of species.”
Noah Greenwald, endangered species director for the Tuc son-based Center for Biological Diversity, notes that trees play foundational roles in ecosystems. When they die out, whole swaths of biodiversity can perish along with them, as well as the ecosystem services that humans depend on. He says, “Trees and forests are really the bench that we all rest on.”
Leigh Greenwood, a forest specialist at the Nature Con servancy, believes that preventing new tree killers from reaching the U.S. is critical, saying, “This paper is very much a call to action to bolster the prevention strategies that we have against the entry of new forest pests and pathogens.”
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency data shows the difference in nighttime temperatures in heat island areas can be as much as 22 degrees warmer than temperatures measured outside such locations. This leads to more energy consumption, greenhouse gas emissions, air pollution and other harmful effects.
Cool pavement is a road treatment made with no harmful chemicals—just asphalt, water, an emulsifying soap, mineral fillers, polymers and recycled materials—applied on top of existing asphalt pave ment. Because the surface reflects, rather than retains heat, it has the potential to offset rising nighttime temperatures.
In 2020, portions of eight neighborhoods in Phoe nix received cool pavement asphalt coating treat ment in areas already in need of pavement preserva tion. The city partnered with Arizona State University researchers to conduct scientific tests using thermal imaging by helicopter flyovers and temperature sen sors embedded in the pavement surface, studying how it could mitigate the urban heat island effect. In October 2021, the pilot program ended and cool pavement has become a regular program for the city’s Street Transportation Department.
Similarly, 1 million square feet of roads in Los An geles have been covered with solar-reflective paint in the GAF Cool Community Project, which includes colorful murals by a local artist on a basketball court, a school playground and a parking lot.
by Kimberly B. Whittle
We’ve all heard the phrase, “You are what you eat,” but the connection is more than just physical because food impacts our mood, too. During the last decade, there have been an increasing number of studies explor ing what’s called the gut-brain axis and the role that microorganisms in the gut play in mental health conditions like anxiety, stress, depression and other disorders.
Depression is a leading cause of dis ability in the U.S. and worldwide. There are long-held views in medicine that depression is caused by imbalances in brain levels of serotonin—the neurotransmitter that plays a key role in regulating mood and other func tions like digestion and sleep. These beliefs resulted in decades of extensive use of antianti depressants, most of which boost serotonin in the brain.
However, research by University College London, published in July in the journal Mo lecular Psychology, found “no consistent evi dence of there being an association between serotonin and depression, and no support for the hypothesis that depression is caused by lowered serotonin activity or concentrations.”
Michael Gershon, M.D., a Columbia University professor of pathology and cell biology, and author of The Second Brain, has explained to psychologists that “scientists were shocked to learn” that about 90 percent of serotonin is not created in the brain, but is actually produced in the gut and carried from there to the brain, not the other way around. This relationship is called the gutbrain axis.
A recent literature review of 26 studies suggests that imbalances in gut bacteria can disrupt the two-way communication along the gut-brain axis, leading to depression and other psychiatric issues.
“Gut health is extremely important for mental health,” says Bhavna Barmi, Ph.D., a senior clinical psychologist, relationship therapist and founder of the New Delhi-based Happiness Studio. “The traditional belief that only psychiatry and talk therapy can treat mental health has widened to include lifestyle and food, too.”
“The truth is that our food is the primary contributor of the quality and diversity of bacteria in the microbiome,” says Ishi Khosla, a clinical nutritionist and president of the Celiac Society of India. “There is an intricate relationship between the gut and the brain.” Food sensitivities, alcohol and highly processed, refined and sugary foods can lead to a lower diversity of good bacte ria and increases in bad bacteria in the gut, which can trigger gut inflammation and unfavorable health conditions.
Most mood-related disorders start with inflammation of the brain as a response to inflammation in the gut. “Certain foods, like gluten, can cause an inflammatory response in the gut. Over time, sensitivi ties to gluten and other foods can lead to a ‘leaky gut’, an impairment of the gut lining that lets toxins into the bloodstream. Often, if it remains unresolved, it leads to mood-related disorders and other chronic health conditions,” says Khosla.
Clinical nutritionists and other practitioners use biochemical markers and food sensitivity tests to help identify food ingredients that trigger inflammation in patients. However, if a leaky gut is present, a food sensitivity test may not be very accurate. As Tom O’Bryan, DC, chief health officer of KnoWEwell, explains in his bestselling book The Autoimmune Fix, “When you have a leaky gut, a practitioner may do a 90-food testing panel that comes back sensitive to 20 or 25 different foods. And then the patient exclaims, ‘Oh my God, that’s everything I eat.’ Well, of course it is, because your immune system is doing what it is supposed to do— protecting you from toxins. Once the inflammation in the gut is reduced through the elimination of wheat and other offensive foods, and the implementation of a personalized diet and protocol to heal the gut [takes place], the same food testing panel will cor rectly identify those few ingredients to permanently avoid.”
Kelly Brogan, M.D., a holistic psychiatrist and author of The New York Times bestsellers A Mind of Your Own and Own Your Self, as well as co-editor of the landmark textbook Integrative Therapies for Depression, recommends making three dietary changes to lift mood:
n Eliminate processed foods and food toxins
n Add whole foods, good fats and therapeutic foods
n Add fermented foods
Eating foods that are fresh, whole, simple and organic when available fuels good gut bacteria and eliminates the toxins
A powerful mood regulator is the ome ga-3 fatty acid found in such cold-water fish as salmon and trout or taken as a dietary supplement. These fatty acids regulate neurotransmission and gene expression, act as antioxidants and have potent anti-inflammatory properties. Good fats from pasture-raised meats, wild fish, eggs, nuts, seeds, olive oil, coco nut oil and grass-fed ghee also contribute to mood regulation.
“Resetting the gut through good bacteria in probiotics and feeding the good bacteria with prebiotics is a powerful tool to fight mood disorders,” says Khosla. Fermented foods such as sauerkraut, pickles (truly fermented, not just cured in vinegar), kimchi and coconut kefir are natural sources of probiotics. They are delicious and easy to make at home.
A 2018 University of Toronto study in the World Journal of Psychiatry identified 12 nutrients to prevent and treat depres sive disorders and found that the following foods had the highest levels of those beneficial nutrients: bivalves such as oysters and mussels; various sea foods such as octopus, crab and tuna; organ meats; leafy greens; lettuces; fresh herbs; peppers; and cruciferous vegetables such as cauliflower and broccoli.
Choosing what to eat is complex and affected by culture, cost, environment and taste preferences. Dietary changes can be diffi cult and take time, and those suffering from mood swings, depres sion or anxiety have additional challenges in making changes. Nu tritionists advise starting small by incorporating one or two foods rich in beneficial nutrients and eliminating a highly processed or packaged food or two. Focus on incorporating a rainbow of red, yellow, orange and green foods into meals. “Food therapy to improve mood is inexpensive, free of side effects and can begin to show results within days,” says Khosla.
In view of the gut-brain axis, says Barmi, “It is imperative that from this point on, nutritionists, psychiatrists and psycho therapists work together for holistic care of the client to lead to maximum benefit.”
Kimberly B. Whittle is the CEO of KnoWEwell, the Regenerative Whole Health Hub online solution for health and well-being. Visit KnoWEwell.com.
found in packaged foods such as hydrogenated vegetable oils, preser vatives, dyes, emulsi fiers, taste enhancers and sugars that can upset the proper bal ance in the gut.
YIELD: 2 SERVINGS
SALAD:
½ cup quinoa
1 medium beetroot, grated
10-12 fresh mint leaves, roughly chopped
¼ cup fresh cilantro
2 Tbsp shelled pistachios, roasted
2 Tbsp golden raisins
1 cup water
DRESSING:
2 Tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
3 Tbsp lemon juice, adjust to taste
2 cloves garlic, adjust to taste
½ tsp roasted cumin powder
Salt and ground black pepper to taste
Honey to taste
Rinse quinoa and add to a pot. Add water and cook uncovered for around 15 minutes or until all the water is evaporated. Cover the
pan and switch off the stove. Keep covered for 5 minutes, remove lid and fluff cooked quinoa with a fork. Set aside to cool.
In a bowl, mix all dressing ingredients and set aside. Place cooled quinoa, grated beets, pistachios, raisins and chopped herbs in a large bowl. Pour the dressing, toss well. Serve cold.
Recipe courtesy of Ishi Khosla.
Blueberries contain compounds that increase beneficial bacteria in the gut, as well as antioxidant properties that are remarkable at protecting our brain. In fact, consuming 1 cup of blueberries per day for three years gets our brain working as well as it did 11 years earlier. Bananas are high in pectin, which helps to normalize movements of the large intestine. Look for gelatin powders from pastured animals.
1-1½ cups water
½ cup coconut milk
1-2 frozen bananas
1 cup frozen blueberries
2 Tbsp ground flaxseed
1 Tbsp unflavored gelatin powder
1 Tbsp high-quality fish oil
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1-3 scoops L-glutamine powder (optional)
In a blender, combine the water, coconut milk, bananas, blueber ries, flaxseeds, gelatin powder, fish oil, cinnamon and L-glutamine powder (if using). Blend until smooth. Add more water for a thin ner smoothie, if desired. Serve immediately or pour into ice-pop molds and freeze for a sweet treat later on.
Recipe courtesy of Tom O’Bryan, DC, CCN, DACBN, from his book The Autoimmune Fix
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In this day and age, we have good reason to toss and turn in our beds at night. As our nation faces climate catastrophes, acrid politics, stubborn inflation, unpredictable virus variants and hot-button issues like abortion and guns, there’s good reason our collective anxiety levels are at a high pitch. A recent Yale survey found that 70 percent of Americans report being anxious or depressed about global warming, and a Penn State survey this year found that 84 percent of us say
we are “extremely worried” or “very worried” about where the country is headed. Re searchers are coining new terms: “polycrisis”, for complex, cascading crises in interacting systems, and “pre-traumatic stress disorder”, when fear of an outcome makes it as good as real to our psyches.
“It’s easy for people to feel overwhelmed now, feeling there are breakdowns and threats on many fronts. People can wonder ‘Where do I even start?’ and feel powerless and hope less and numb,” says psychiatrist Janet Lewis, M.D., a founder of the nationwide Climate Psychiatry Alliance and a University of Rochester clinical assistant professor of psychia try. “We are part of a complex system that is moving into new ways of functioning, but there’s no way of predicting ahead of time exactly what all the features of the new ways of operating will be. That makes it impossible for us to wrap our minds around everything that is happening.”
Still, she adds, “We are also by definition part of the system, and therefore have a responsibility to do what we can. We can’t sit on the sidelines and merely hope that things transform in good directions. The situation being so serious also means that what we do now is really important.”
To move from anxiety into effective action, mental health experts advise several strategies: taking a wider perspective, building resilience through self-care and taking individual steps to make a collective difference. As the Dalai Lama encourages, “If you think you are too small to make a difference, try sleeping with a mosquito!”
News reports almost always sound dire—just like the amygdala of our brains, journalists often see their function as focusing on threats to alert us to dangers. “Still, if you take the long view of history, we are much better off than we were 200 years ago or
Barbara Easterlin, of Jackson, Wyoming, an expert on eco-anxiety who is on the steering committee of the Climate Psychology Al liance of North America. “Doing just one thing to help the planet consistently helps defeat anxiety.”
Taking action moves us into our power—as 15-year-old Greta Thunberg demonstrated by holding a sign outside the Swedish parliament. Personal actions matter because numbers add up. Only 25 percent of individuals in a social group need to make a shift before significant social change follows, conclude researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Engineering and Ap plied Science that analyzed a decade of societal changes in voting, health, technology and finance. Once a group reaches that tipping point, it can trigger a change in the rest of society, says study au thor Damon Centola, Ph.D., author of Change: How to Make Big Things Happen.
1,000 years ago, but it took many years to make those changes,” counsels Robert L. Leahy, Ph.D., director of the American Insti tute for Cognitive Therapy and author of the bestselling The Worry Cure and the upcoming If Only.
“We never know if something is hopeless until we have all the data, and we seldom have all the data,” he says. “And when it comes to political emotions, many of the predictions that are made by the ‘talking heads’ in media never come true.”
Leahy counsels patience: “Social change does not come about by one person doing something. That usually comes about by a long process of millions of people changing their attitudes and changing their behavior. Small efforts can be made on a daily basis that move this slow process forward. We need to take a longer view, rather than expect immediate change.”
In this ongoing process, anxiety has its rightful place. “Anxiety makes us look around, figure out solutions and act. This can abso lutely be turned into something positive,” says neuropsychologist
Fears about the shape of the planet and nation are often piled on top of our everyday living anxieties about family and finances, which can in duce emotional overload. “We all have a ‘zone of resilience’ or ‘window of tolerance’, outside of which we become more reactive, less able to function effectively. But it is not fixed. We can learn tools to ex pand it and cultivate the capacity to be with more,” says Easterlin.
Therapy can be a part of that process by challenging us to examine “the mental narratives that can exacerbate distress,” says Leslie Davenport, a climate psychology consultant and author of Emotional Resiliency in the Era of Climate Change. It’s important to find a therapist, she says, that “validates that your feelings are a normal response to an existential crisis.” She has helped develop new programs at the American Psychology Association and the California Institute of Integral Studies to train therapists in treat ing eco-anxiety. For low-cost online support, the Good Grief Net work offers a 10-step, 10-week program to help process personal anxiety and grief about climate change. People are also sitting down to share their distress at climate cafes, small local gatherings springing up across the country and globe, including some online.
Getting enough sleep, eating healthy and exercising are also key self-care strategies. When anxiety strikes, psychologists advise shifting attention from the head to the body, using such approach es as mindful breathing, dancing and grounding. Meditation, easily accessed these days through apps like Calm and Headspace, helps us to enter into what religious and spiritual teachings call “the still point within.”
Rather than “doomscrolling” when anxiety mounts, cutting back our media use can significantly lower stress levels, studies
show. Wise media strategies include choosing well-established, credible news sources; reading rather than watching the news to lower its emotional impact; limiting news intake to 10 minutes once or twice a day; taking a “news fast” on occasion; and passing up sources that incessantly feed fury.
On the other hand, it’s essential to find sources for hope, an emotion important in recovery from anxiety disorders, according to a study in Behavior Therapy. Googling “good news on climate change” will bring up articles about alternative energy growth, new super-enzymes that eat plastic rubbish and black rhinos com ing back from the brink of extinction. Although dystopic books abound, others offer hope, such as Drawdown, with its sensible, scaled-down strategies to stop global warming by 2050.
Virtually no one can take on all the problems of the nation and globe at once—and the good news is that unless we hold high public office, we don’t have to. Instead, “In taking action, focus on what you are good at, what your sphere of influence might be,” adad vises Lewis. “What are you most heartbroken over? Get involved in that and allow yourself to feel really good about what you’re doing and other people are doing.”
By narrowing our focus, we can hone in on an issue and figure out our part in its solution. “We need a broad range of collective action for transformation,” says Davenport. “For climate change, a teacher could bring social-emotional learning to climate educa tion into the classroom or start an after school ‘green club’; an artist could use their creative medium to communicate about climate in a moving way that could engage others; a nurse could create a
waste-reduction initiative within a medical setting. These efforts all have ripple effects and help to elevate each other.”
In one recent study, people were found to consume less energy if they believed their neighbors did so and personally cared about conservation. Our neighborhoods are the place to take the small, meaningful steps that address the “crisis of connection” underlying rancorous national crises, says New York Times columnist David Brooks. He advocates “radical mutuality”, saying, “Nothing we do, however virtuous, can be accomplished alone.” Through simple actions like having casual conversations around town, pitching in to help a fam ily in crisis, bringing a salad to a block party, tutoring a child or holding a civic post, we build the warm relational bonds that strengthen communities. As we meet others that feel as strongly as we do about our issues, our numbers start building and collective action can unfold.
“Independent of political beliefs, many people can find common values such as wanting safety for their families, a clean environment with clean waterways and recreation in natural environments,” says Easterlin.
That, in turn, helps lower our distress. A recent Yale study found that eco-anxiety was linked to depression only among students not involved in group activities; those engaged in collective action such as being part of an environmental group, working in a letter-writing campaign or going to events or protests did not spiral downward emotionally. “Personal transfor mation and social transformation happen simultaneously. When you reach out and build community, you nourish yourself,” Brooks says.
As Thunberg has put it: “When I’m tak ing action, I don’t feel like I am helpless and that things are hopeless, because then I feel like I’m doing everything I can. And that gives me very much hope, especially to see all the other people all around the world, the activists, who are taking action and who are fighting for their present and for their future.”
Health writer Ronica O’Hara can be reached at OHaraRonica@gmail.com.
It is an all-too-human experience to have anxiety—feeling fear or apprehension about what might happen. A survival mechanism for our species, it can easily get out of hand in times of uncertainty, morphing from a timely signal to a crippling, chronic condition. Happily, mental health professionals have found many useful anti-anxiety strategies to ease us through difficult moments.
“Controlling your breathing is a fantastic hack to help you move out of a
stress/anxiety response state. It’s important to try different breath ing techniques to figure out which ones work for you,” says Krista Jordan, Ph.D., a clinical psychologist in Austin, Texas. Many options exist such as breathing slowly into the belly; inhaling through the nose for a count of four, holding the breath for a count of seven and exhaling through the mouth for a count of eight; slowing the breath so that the in and out breaths equalize; and placing mindful attention on our breathing until 10 breaths are completed
Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) is a five-minute approach using two fingers to tap on specific points of the head and chest in a certain sequence. In one 5,000-person study, 76 percent of participants found anxiety relief after three EFT sessions, while only 51 percent experi-EFT sessions, while experi enced relief after 15 sessions of cognicogni tive behavioral therapy.
“EFT sends a calming signal to the brain that reduces your anxiety, which allows for newfound thinking and solutions,” says Colorado Springs therapist Dana C. Avey. Simple instructions can be found online and in YouTube videos.
Whether it’s a three-page brain dump in the morning, a frantic scribbling on paper in a stressful moment or a nightly ritual in a bound journal, writing out anxious thoughts helps clarify worries and puts things into perspective, research shows. Seattle spinal surgeon David Hanscom, a chronic pain expert and author of Back in Control, counsels writing down in longhand whatever is on the mind using graphic and descriptive language twice a day for 10 to 30 minutes, and then prompt ly tearing it up to let the thoughts go.
Many soothing types of meditation can be tried out on apps like Calm, Insight Timer and Headspace, but the beststudied approach for anxiety is mind fulness, which involves focusing on the breath and body sensations while letting distracting thoughts float by. A 2017 Aus tralian study found that just 10 minutes of daily mindful meditation can help prevent the mind from wandering and is particularly effective for repetitive, anx ious thoughts. “Just be clear that having a constant stream of thoughts is fine and part of the process. It’s sadly ironic that people turn to meditation to help with anxiety, and then get anxious that they are doing it wrong,” advises Jordan.
According to the Harvard Health Letter, “Just a single bout of exercise can ease anx iety when it strikes ” Studies have proven the value of everything from aerobics to swimming and yoga, and it’s even better if exercising can be done outdoors, because decades of research have found that being amidst the sights, sounds and scents of natural settings lowers anxiety markers. In a recent study, walking without using a smartphone or another electronic device in urban settings just two hours a week re duced cortisol levels 21 percent in 20 min
utes, “which helps to reduce the medical effects of stress, including chronic inflam mation, GI disorders and heart problems,” says Santa Barbara-based John La Puma, M.D., co-founder of the ChefMD health media brand and creator of MyNatureDose. com, a free, anti-anxiety walking program.
Making a deep spiritual connection—an age-old anxiety solution—can involve pray ing or for example, reading psalms, saying a rosary, chanting a mantra or reading sacred scripture. Eric Almeida, a mental health practitioner in Bernardston, Massachusetts, recommends the Serenity Prayer: “God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can and the wisdom to know the difference.” He says, “It doesn’t matter if you believe in God, the wisdom is use ful nonetheless.”
“Sip cold water, hold ice cubes, take a cold shower, blast the AC in your face. Our body and mind are very connected, so if you can’t cool down your mind, cool down your temperature,” advises San Diego based marriage and family therapist Sarah O’Leary Some people find the opposite works: taking a long, hot bath infused with essential oils like bergamot, frankincense and lavender.
Stand barefoot in grass or dirt while breathing deeply or imagine the roots of trees growing from the soles of the feet deep into the earth. “This helps ‘ground’ you or ‘root’ you, and can help you find steadiness rather than getting lost in anxi ety,” says mindfulness trainer and author Joy Rains of Bethesda, Maryland.
Boston integrative medicine physician Sarika Arora, M.D., of the Women’s Health Network, recommends vitamins B5, B6 and B12 to improve cellular energy, lower cortisol and restore equilibrium to the nervous system; magnesium to sup port balanced metabolism and increase feelings of calm; L-theanine, found in green tea, to lower stress hormone levels;
eleuthero (Siberian ginseng) to limit excess cortisol; and vitamin E to support hormone production and stress recovery.
Tyler Read, the San Francisco-based own er of Personal Trainer Pioneer, decided to bite the bullet by using the tools of dialectical behavior therapy to put him self into anxiety-producing public places. “Instead of convincing myself that I was at peace or not nervous, I accepted that I was nervous. I gave myself permission to shake, sweat and feel nauseous; at times, I acknowledged that I felt like I was dying. And by permitting myself to be nervous, the anxiety decreased over time,” he says.
Relaxing music can be as effective as medication in altering brain func tion, research suggests, especially if the rhythm is 60 beats per minute, which encourages the slow brainwaves associ ated with hypnotic or meditative states. Dancing to upbeat music like no one is watching can also chase worries away. Holistic psychotherapist Kellie Kirksey, Ph.D. , of Youngstown, Ohio, suggests shaking to a favorite song: “Begin by shaking out the hands while holding the thought, ‘I let go.’ If shaking the hands feels good, add in shaking one leg at a time. Shake the whole body while imagining yourself releasing the tension stored in your muscles.”
Merely petting a dog or cat releases the feelgood bonding hormone oxytocin into our system. “Animals speak to you in a nonverbal communication, so the interac tions require you to be present and to feel. Both allow for a meditative experience that is tremendously impactful for reducing anxiety,” says Shannon Dolan, an Austin, Texas, nutritional therapist and horse own er. “If you don’t have your own pet, look up equine therapy in your area, go to a local dog shelter, spend time with a friend’s dog or travel out to a petting zoo, where you can experience the healing power of animals.”
Health writer Ronica O’Hara can be reached at OHaraRonica@gmail.com.
Opening a brand-new box of crayons or making a happy mess with homemade salt dough can provide hours of fun for most kids, but art therapy—based in a clinical setting—can help children achieve emotional equilibrium, cultivate social skills and increase their capacity for learning. Dipping a brush into bright colors or creating a collage under the guidance of a qualified therapist can help a child express what is beyond spo ken language: unprocessed trauma, emotional and physical pain or the multilevel challenges of autism spectrum disorder.
“Art therapy is completely different from arts and crafts, or even teaching a child how to do art. The idea behind art therapy is that not everyone attending therapy is able to talk about what is going on inside of them,” says Robyn Spodek-Schindler, owner of Paint the Stars Art Therapy, in Manalapan, New Jersey.
According to 2018 research published in the Journal of Applied Psychology & Behavioral Science, painting-based art therapy has been effective in reducing symptoms of depression and anxiety in preschool-aged children. Dipping into the unconscious wellspring of creative impulse through doodling and drawing, finger painting or taking a photograph can help kids bounce back more easily from bullying or family conflicts, including divorce. Splashing color on a canvas or throwing pottery has been shown to enhance fine motor skills, increase attention spans and instill a sense of accomplishment. For those that are not neurotypical, engaging in guided artistic expression can foster sensory integration and promote positive social interaction.
“I have worked with children who have lost a parent, experienced abuse, abandon ment, consequences of addiction in the family, COVID [-19] anxiety and autism spectrum disorders,” says Andrea Davis, founder and CEO of Dallas Art Therapy, in Richardson, Texas. “Many times, the body is expressing the trauma in the form of sleep disturbance, eating changes, anxiety, depression and panic attacks, to name a few. Art-making bypasses the brain’s trau ma response. The art therapist is trained to support the person in the process of cre ation and allows the person to utilize their other senses to express themselves.”
Celeste Wade, an art psychotherapist at the Child and Family Art Therapy Center, in Haverford, Pennsylvania, emphasizes that emotional processing cannot occur when an individual is on the alert for potential danger, a physiological response from an overstimulated amygdala. “Trau ma needs to be processed for the client to gain mastery and function in a calm state versus fight, flight or freeze. Art making can also activate this area of the brain and have calming effects to counteract trauma responses,” she says.
The art therapist provides a nourishing presence without art instruction or critiqu ing, and sessions can be private, in a group setting or include family members. Con versation, combined with art making, is typical in any art therapy session. Schind ler stresses that creating pretty images is not the goal of an art therapy session and dispels the common assumption that “the person attending art therapy needs to have either a talent in art or an interest in art. They just need the willingness to participate in a session.” Some children see immediate benefits, while others realize emotional progress after several sessions
Art therapy, sometimes in conjunction with other modalities, not only gives children a voice, but provides them with an opportunity to stretch their wings. Group therapy, says Davis, “can look like working together to create a collaborative mural. In the process, taking turns, hearing one an other’s ideas, sharing materials, respecting
boundaries and each other’s art becomes an important part of meeting goals.”
During an initial art therapy assessment, Wade might ask a client to draw a family of animals, which creates an opportunity “for the client to share about their own family dynam ics in a safe way. If the client has experienced any type of familial trauma and I were to present the same directive as, ‘draw you and your family doing something,’ the child may be more hesitant or may shut down.”
In a world that can be overwhelming, self-expression through art can give a young person a safe harbor. Schindler accentuates human rapport in the clinical setting, saying, “Art, much like play, is a universal communication tool for children. Sometimes you just feel better when creat ing and sharing with a trusted person.”
Marlaina Donato is an author, painter and composer. Connect at WildflowerLady.com.
Decades ago, environmental groups urged the banning of what are known as forever chemicals, which have been linked to cancer, compromised immune systems and hormonal imbalances, among other health issues. Today, although some of these man-made perand polyfluoro alkyl substances (PFAS) are being phased out, there’s still much to worry about.
“These chemi cals are every where–in products, in our homes, in our drinking water. They’re even coming down in rain,” says Mike Schade, director of the Mind the Store program of Toxic-Free Future (ToxicFreeFuture. org), a national nonprofit based in Seattle. “This is a growing public health crisis.”
A recent Environmental Working Group (ewg.org) report says that 200 mil lion Americans are likely drinking water contaminated with PFAS, and that these chemicals are even more toxic than once thought. In June, the U.S. Environmen tal Protection Agency (EPA) established new health advisories for these chemicals, warning about the toxicity of even lower amounts in water. The EPA is offering $1
billion in grants initially and $5 billion over time to help remove them from drinking water. Recent research has also shown PFAS detected in sludge used as fertilizer in home gardens. “We need action at all levels of government,” Schade says. “We need states to step up. We need Congress to step up. We need big companies to step up and consumers to take action.”
Since the late 1940s, forever chemi cals have been manufactured for use in products such as nonstick cookware; water proof, water-resistant and stain-resistant textiles; dental floss; and food packag ing, such as mi crowave popcorn bags and fastfood contain ers. Firefighters also use foam that contains the chemicals. “Production and disposal of these chemicals is leading to the contamina tion of drinking water supplies and surface water bodies all across the country,” Schade says. “It’s a huge issue, especially in the Great
“We’re talking about more than 9,000 chemicals,” says Susie Dai, Ph.D., a leading PFAS researcher and an associate profes sor of plant pathology and microbiology at Texas A&M University. “Because they contain one of the strongest chemical bonds, the carbon-fluorine bond, they are very stable. That makes it difficult for the chemicals to break down and easy for them to accumulate in the environment.”
Several years ago, chemical companies began manufacturing what they deem are
less-toxic PFAS. They’re known as either short-chain or alternative PFAS, and include chemicals named GenX and PFBS. “The more that scientists study this very large class of chemicals, the more that sci entists find the replacement chemicals are likely just as toxic,” Schade says. The EPA June health advisories include these two new PFAS.
Meanwhile, as public concern grows, 11 states have banned PFAS in food packaging, and Congress is considering a similar ban, says Schade. Whole Foods Market has stopped using the chemicals in food packaging, and Keen, an outdoor shoe brand, has phased out use of PFAS in their products.
In February, Toxic-Free Future sent rain jackets, hiking pants, cloth napkins, bedding and other products marked as stain- or water-resistant to independent labs for analysis. “Seventy-two percent of them contained forever chemicals,” Schade says. Some of these products are manufactured by recreational equipment company REI, which Toxic-Free is urging consumers to write to, asking it to end the practice.
In July, Columbia Sportswear received petitions with 48,000 sig natures from the Natural Resources Defense Council and other en vironmental organizations urging the company to eliminate PFAS from its products. Although it has begun taking steps, Columbia has yet to set a timeline or define PFAS sustainability standards.
“We can minimize the threat of PFAS contamination by turning off the tap on their use,” says Paloma Paez-Coombe, an associate of Environment Illinois, which participated in the petition drive. “One of the best ways we can do that is by getting a major brand like Columbia Sportswear to publicly lead the way.”
These actions, however, won’t fix the problem of PFAS already in drinking water. Dai and other researchers have created a new bioremediation technology using plant-based material and fungi that could clean places where forever chemicals have been disposed. She hopes a similar concept can be applied to PFAScontaminated drinking water.
Northwestern University researchers published a paper in Au gust in Science showing PFAS can be destroyed using somewhat harmless chemicals called sodium hydroxide, which is the lye used to make soap, and dimethyl sulfoxide, a medicine for bladder issues. Dai says that before these new approaches, the only way to break down PFAS was to expose them to high temperatures in an incinerator, but that is costly and still introduces harmful chemi cals into the environment.
Meanwhile, the Delaware-based chemical company Chemours, a spinoff of Dupont that manufactures PFAS, has filed a lawsuit against the EPA saying the agency’s most recent health advisory regarding PFAS is based on flawed science. Chemours is the same company that has been ordered to pay a $12 million fine to the state of North Carolina after contaminating waterways with PFAS.
Schade surmises, “This is an issue that should be of concern to every American, especially when these chemicals are linked to health problems that are on the rise in our communities.”
Sheryl DeVore has written six books on science, health and na ture, as well as health and environmental stories for national and regional publications. Read more at SherylDeVore.wordpress.com.
Animals offer support to humans in innumerable ways, acting as loyal companions, providing soothing therapy and emotional support, and being attentive service animals for invaluable medical assistance. As animals increasingly take on these roles in public spaces, it is necessary to understand what each category offers and the type of access each is given.
“Some people misrepresent their animals as assistance animals in order to bring them to places where pets are not allowed, to avoid fees or out of a misunderstanding of the animal’s role,” states the American Veteri nary Medical Association (avma.org). It points out that although service, therapy and emotional support animals are sometimes referred to interchangeably, they are distinct categories, each with its own definition.
As defined by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, an as sistance animal is “any animal that works, provides assistance or performs tasks for the benefit of a person with a disability, or provides emotional support that allevi ates one or more identified symptoms or effects of a person’s disability.” If certain conditions are met, a person may be entitled to keep an assistance animal in a housing facility that would otherwise prohibit animals.
The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 defines a service animal as “any dog that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individ ual with a disability, including a physical,
sensory, psychiatric, intellectual or other mental disability.” Aside from miniature horses, no other species are included.
Service animals perform such tasks as helping with navigation, pulling a wheel chair, assisting during a seizure, providing protection or rescue work, alerting a per son to allergens and interrupting impulsive or destructive behavior.
Emotional support animals (ESA), accord ing to the Fair Housing Act and the Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA), can be any spe cies. Both laws require a disability-related need and a recommendation by a medical or mental health professional. ESAs do not have to be trained to perform a particular task and may be permitted in otherwise banned housing facilities. Some interna tional airlines allow them to travel at no ex tra cost. As of January 2021, following a U.S. Department of Transportation rule-tighten ing, virtually no American domestic airline allows ESAs to fly free. (Small dogs can still be flown by passengers paying extra.)
According to the ACAA, therapy animals may take part in animal-assisted inter ventions when there’s a “goal-directed intervention in which an animal meeting specific criteria is an integral part of the treatment process.” Animal-assisted ther apy may involve dogs, cats, horses, llamas, pigs and other species, typically in hospi tals, schools and rehabilitation centers.
While service animals are highly trained and can even receive certifications as psychiatric service dogs, ESAs are often pets that help a person to cope with daily life or situa tions they may otherwise find intolerable, such as being in stores, restau rants, museums and on airline flights and other public transportation.
Controversy has arisen when some people have pushed the line, claiming their pet is necessary for emotional support, but in reality, are just there to enjoy access benefits. Yet, in a survey of more than 500 Americans, both service dogs and emo tional support dogs were viewed favorably, and most participants reported feeling that the majority of people with such dogs were not taking advantage of the system.
There is seemingly no end to the emotional, physical and mental benefits dogs offer to humans. Regular visits with therapy dogs may improve the well-being of people seek ing addiction and mental health treatment. Animal-assisted interventions have been used among Canada’s correctional popula tion, for which mental health, addictions and trauma histories are major concerns. Research published in the journal Anthrozoös found that animal-assisted therapy decreased the need for pain medi cation in people receiving joint replace ment therapy. Studies by the Delta Society suggests holding, stroking or simply seeing an animal may lower blood pressure while lessening feelings of hostility and increasing self-esteem. For children, service dogs can be trained to detect the scent of allergens like peanuts or gluten in food and even pro vide comfort to them and adult witnesses in courtrooms.
Be aware that out in public, certain rules of etiquette apply. Service dogs, in particuparticu lar, should never be approached, talked to or touched unless permission is granted by the dog’s handler. And take no offense if the handler says no. Distracting a working dog can result in potential harm to the handler and may interfere with the dog’s focus and ability to follow potentially lifesaving commands or cues.
Veterinarian Karen Shaw Becker, DVM, has spent her career empowering animal guardians to make knowledgeable decisions to extend the life and well-being of their animals.
by Randy Kambic
Whether it’s the thrill of alpine skiing down the side of a high mountain with breathtaking views or the serene pleasure of Nordic cross-country skiing in a nearby park, strapping on skis and swooping off burns lots of calories, makes winter more enjoyable in diverse settings and ac commodates all ages and skill levels.
According to the National Ski Areas Association, there were 61 million ski resort visits during the 2021-2022 season, a 3.5 percent increase over the previous season. A survey by Snowsports Industries America found that 4.8 million peo ple cross-country skied on back country, public and private trails, and in other areas in the 2019-2020 season. To encour age neophytes to try either style or for skiers wishing to do more, here are some technique, conditioning, fitness and safety tips.
Skis have parabolic characteristics: they are made to turn. When the knees are slightly bent forward, the up per legs serve as shock absorbers. “When skiers don’t sufficient ly flex their knees and ankles, they can’t adequately pressure the fronts of their skis, which is where the control is,” says Mike Cyr, a ski instructor at Lost Valley, Maine, in SKI magazine’s July edition.
“Tip your skis into their uphill edges to turn up the hill until you stop,” advises Deer Valley, Utah, ski instructor Rusty Carr in SKI . The more experienced skiers get, the more they understand how long this will take, based on terrain, speed and snow conditions.
“In addition to keeping strong the more obvious muscles like quads and hamstrings, being sure your glutes are strong and not inhibited by tight hip flexors is key,” says Leigh Damkohler, a certified chiropractic sports physician and a licensed massage therapist, in Yonkers, New York. “Maintain ing a strong core and a combination of high-intensity, shortburst training, as well as sustained cardio, will keep your body prepared for skiing.” She recommends cycling, swimming, walking, running, yoga, Barre and Pilates, plus doing “wall sits, lunges or squats that are ideal to work your muscles in a parallel way to when you’re on the slopes.”
Conditions are key. A “fast track”—hard-packed snow—de mands sharp, forceful turns to maintain control. Spots on the slope that are shaded may be icy, especially early in the day. Ski ing in powder or slushy snow will slow skis down, allowing for subtler turns and carving a path down the slope. Tight-fitting, stiff ski boots are necessary to provide the most direct intention of energy to either ski. Al ways be alert. To avoid collisions, look before turning and listen for skiers or snowboarders that might be speeding down the slope from behind.
All that’s needed is a few inches of snow for a recre ational playground. Along with snowshoeing, crosscountry skiing is a serene and quiet connection with nature. Some hardcore aficionados take multi-day backcountry or mountainous treks along marked trails with overnight stays in lodges, huts and cabins that may provide ski equipment.
Cross-country skiers glide on thinner skis over relatively flat terrain with their weight slightly forward and evenly distributed over both skis, moving in a scissorslike motion akin to an elliptical workout machine or power walking with a long gait. Only the toe in a sneaker-like boot is attached to the ski’s binding, so skiers lift up with each arm, planting a pole and pushing on it, and a fuller gliding motion is attained. Overall, it’s a highly aerobic exercise facilitating an extensive workout for arms and legs.
Many park and recreation departments and sporting goods retailers put on winter festivals that feature the activity. Next year’s Slumberland American Birke-s Birke beiner, North America’s largest cross-country ski marathon, covering 50 kilometers from Cable to Hayward, Wisconsin, is expected to attract 13,000 participants from throughout the U.S. and overseas, plus 40,000 spectators, on February 25.
“It’s physically gratifying to self-propel yourself on snow,” says Ben Popp, executive director of the American Birkebeiner Ski Foundation ( Birkie.com ), which operates the event. “It’s accessible to every effort level—it’s as easy as walking. It’s not gruel ing—that’s a misconception.”
With either form of skiing, make sure to respect the sun and consume liquids. Surrounded by snow, both direct rays and the glare of indirect sunlight will hit unexposed parts of the face not covered by goggles or sunglasses, so apply sunscreen to those spots beforehand. “Hydration before and during your day is going to help prevent muscle cramping and fatigue,” adds Damkohler.
Freelance editor, writer and avid skier Randy Kambic lives in Estero, Florida.
The slopes of alpine ski resorts are shared with snowboarders. Here’s some basic advice to give it a try:
n A great way to decide which foot to lead with is to go with the foot used to kick a soccer ball.
n To attain and maintain proper balance, keep most of the weight over the board.
n Learn to strap into the board while standing, as this saves considerable energy, instead of repeatedly pushing up from sitting in the snow.
n Traverse evenly across the slope to learn how to ride and gain edge control. With improvement, use this skill to explore new terrain, find stashes of powder and deal with any slopes encountered.
n To execute turns in one smooth movement, start in a heel side slide slip (body facing down the hill). Press down on the front foot. As the board starts to point down the hill, rotate the head, shoulders and hips until the front hand is pointing to the other side of the slope and the body is facing up the mountain.
Source: SnowboardAddiction.com.
Stress, work and family routines can trap us in a pattern of negative thinking that feeds on itself and creates stress and unhappiness. With our internal and external worlds being bombarded these days with negativity, being optimistic is more impor tant now than ever before.
Gratitude is not just a feel-good word. It is an emotion expressing appreciation for what one has—a universal concept in nearly all of the world’s spiritual traditions. Practicing gratitude daily is proven to have actual physiological consequences. It helps lower inflam matory markers, influences epigenetics, improves the immune system and even helps the heart, adding years to life.
Optimism has been found to correlate positively with life satisfaction and self-esteem. “Heartfelt” emotions like gratitude, love and caring produce coherent brain waves radiat ing to every cell of the body, as shown by technology that measures changes in heart rhythm variation and coherence.
Our subconscious governs 90 percent of our thoughts and actions. It shapes our every behavior. But the subconscious mind is nothing other than neural pathways that have been established in the brain as a result of past beliefs and conditioning. Our subconscious does no thinking of its own, but rather relies on our perception of the world around us, interpreting verbal and nonverbal cues.
When we consciously turn negativity to positivity from the inside-out, the neural path way associated with negativity will take time to come down fully, so it is critical to practice gratitude regularly. Upon waking in the morning, say 10 things that you are grateful for. Keep a gratitude journal. Put sticky notes all over the house with gratitude messages—on photos, light fixtures, fans, exercise equipment—to create a zone of subliminal positivity.
Remember that our perspective can reflect either our pain or our power. That choice is in our hands. Know what you are grateful for each day.
Madiha Saeed, M.D., ABIHM, is the bestselling author of The Holistic RX, an international speaker, founder of HolisticMomMD.com and director of education for KnoWEwell.
The Temperance Center Merrill Black, LCSW Reiki Master/Instructor Light Body Quantum Healings 914.793.2600
TheTemperanceCenter.com
Moss and Moonlight Workshops, Yoga, Reiki, Women Circles, In-Person & Virtual Hopewell Junction, NY MossAndMoonlight.com
Pam Cucinell
Phone, online & in person 917.796.6026; InsightOasis.com
ENERGY
Bernadette Bloom, MI Energy Healing & Teacher 239.289.3744 theesotericbloom.com
One Light Healing Touch Penny and Ron Lavin, MA Sessions and Schools OLHT1.com/845.878.5165
INTUITIVE
White Lotus Grace Healing/Dance/Readings 845.677.3517
Millbrook & Remote Whitelotusgrace.com
NEW
Persephone’s Pearl 1014 B Main St., Peekskill 914.737.3460
The Soul Connection Shop Metaphysical Shop; Crystals, Jewelry, Reiki, Tarot, more at Universal Healing Arts Center Cortlandt Manor, 914.737.HEAL SoulConnectionShop.com
PSYCHIC MEDIUM
Celestial Touch Laura Schek, Psychic Medium, Reiki Master 7 Arch St, Pawling, NY 845.244.1767 celestialtouchllc.com
Edit Babboni, CHC, RYT 200 Reiki Healing. Health Coaching. Yoga. 61 Lakeview Drive, Yorktown Heights, NY 917.721.2529 yoga.zengarden@gmail.com
REIKI
Balancing 4 Life
Anne Bentzen, Jikiden Reiki Certified Teacher/Practitioner 25 Broadway, Pleasantville, NY 914.588.4079 Balancing4Life.com
Laura DeToia In person and Long-Distance Reiki 914.645.7704 MerkabaPeace.com
NEW
Please call ahead to confirm times and dates. Pre-register early to insure events will have a minimum number to take place. To place a calendar listing, email us before November 12 (for the December issue) and adhere to our guidelines. Email marilee@wakeupnaturally.com for guidelines on how to submit listings.
The Integumentary System: Investigating the Root Cause of Disorder – 7-8pm. With Dr. So mesh N. Kaushik, an Ayurvedic and Naturopathic physician. Free online lecture through the Pawling Free Library. Registration is required; contact the library: 845.855.3444 or PawlingFreeLibrary.org.
Crystal Healing Educational Workshop –6-8pm. With Beth Wing. Learn about the healing properties of crystals and how to incorporate crys tal healing work into daily life. Pellegrino Healing Center Salt Cave. 4307 Albany Post Rd, Hyde Park. Info: 845.233.5672. Registration required: PellegrinoHealingCenter.com/events.
Women’s Work/Working Women – Virtual art ex hibit began in October and runs through 11/30. Fea tures 94 pieces submitted by 49 local and regional artists. Hosted by the Mahopac Public Library. Info: 845.628.2009, ext. 108, or MahopacLibrary.org.
Drop into Your Best Self: Compassion – 10am12pm. Joy Matalon and Dr. Erica Warren offer facilitated activities, discussions, videos and meditations that support personal growth, feel heard, build empathy and discover community. 43 Lakefront Rd., Putnam Valley. Info: 914.519.8138; DropIntoYourBestSelf.com.
Quit with Quinn, Addiction-Free Naturally – 6:30pm, lasts 30-45 minutes. Quit with Quinn addiction cessation treatments bring remarkable, fast and sustainable results for overcoming all sorts of addictions. Q & A regarding smoking, al cohol, sugar, overeating, weight loss. Free. Details: 914.473.2015; quitwithquinn.com.
Movements of the Soul: Family and Systemic Constellation Workshops – 10am-6pm. Led by Lucien Schloss. Family and Systemic Con stellations reveal and heal hidden dynamics in families, groups, and the individual soul. The Healing House, 11 North Cedar St, Beacon. Info: 914.456.7789; EileenOhare.com.
Yoga for Anxiety Workshop – 4-5:30pm. In-person & virtual. With Donna Moss. Learn postures, breathing, coping skills and discuss mindfulness practices to calm the limbic system and ease stress. All levels welcome. $20. Info/ register: SacredSpiritYogaCenter.org.
Myopia, Prevention & Control – 7-9pm. Glasses getting stronger every year? Learn the triggers which increase nearsightedness, and how to stop or even reverse myopia progression at any age. Free. Dr. Samantha Slotnick, 495 Central Park Ave, Ste 301, Scarsdale. RSVP: 914.874.1177. DrSlotnick.com.
Shamanic Healing Hearth – 7-9pm. Participants will gather with the intention of healing themselves and the earth. Experience shamanic journeying, drumming, reiki, etc. Bring a drum. Free. Universal Healing Arts, Cortlandt Manor. Info: 914.737.4325; UniversalHealingArts.com.
Quit with Quinn, Addiction-Free Naturally – 6:30pm, lasts 30-45 minutes. Quit with Quinn addiction cessation treatments bring remarkable, fast and sustainable results for overcoming all sorts of addictions. Q & A regarding smoking, alcohol, sugar, overeating, weight loss. Free. Details: 914.473.2015; quitwithquinn.com
Campwoods Holiday Craft Fair – 10am-4pm & 11/13 (11am-4pm.) Outdoors on the Great Lawn and in the auditorium at beautiful, historic Campwoods Grounds. High-end seasonal shopping for unique handcrafted items. Refreshments. Park outside Campwoods Grounds. Ossining Camp Meeting As sociation, Ossining. Info: CampwoodsGrounds.com. Stray H.E.L.P. Community Day – 11am-5pm. Calling all cat lovers! Gather for vendors, raf fles, food, music and demonstrations. Free to the public. Trinity Episcopal Church 5 Elm St, Fishkill. Info: Ann 845.489,5211; StrayHelp.org.
The Yoga Teachers Association (YTA) is having Devarshi Steven Hartman, ERYT, present the Essence of the Bhagavad Gita on Zoom at 1:30 p.m. on November 12 for the monthly YTA workshop, which takes place the second Satur day each month.
“Come explore why this ageless poem has been a guide for much of the world in how to attain true happiness and live a life in accordance with a loving, all-powerful God by your side,” says Hartman, founder of Pranotthan Yoga School, former dean of the Kripalu School of Yoga, and former direc tor of professional trainings at Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health.
“We will dive into the main concepts set forth in the Gita as guiding principles to live by,” adds Hartman. “The Bhagavad Gita is the quintessential text on yoga–not hatha yoga, the yoga of postures–but bhakti yoga, the yoga of love. All yoga practices rest on the foundation of this fearless love and how to attain it, set forth in this scripture.”
Devarshi has been a yoga student and teacher for more than 40 years and is a former Kripalu ashram resident, where he lived for nearly a decade living, studying and teaching yoga. Devarshi is the creator of two best-selling audio series, “The Essence of the Bhagavad Gita” and “Satori–Simple Secrets to Inner Peace.” He leads workshops and retreats around the country and teaches pranotthan yoga teacher trainings.
For more information, visit ytaYoga.com.
NETWORK
Encourage Yoga OnDemand/Livestream/ Deep Dive 413.679.7766 EncourageYoga.com
YogaShine
For the Over-50 Crowd Mat, Chair, Therapy – ZOOM Groups and Individuals 914.769.8745; yogashine.com
Dutchess County Empowered By Nature Lorraine Hughes 845.416.4598 EmpoweredByNature.net
In Balance Concepts Qigong. Tai Chi. Meditation 2505 Rt. 6, St. 108, Brewster 845.803.1992 Inbalancetaichi.com
Yoga Society of New York Ananda Ashram Monroe, NY 845.782.5575 anandaashram.org
Yoga Teachers Association Workshops 2nd Sat. 1:30pm Club Fit, Briarcliff Manor, NY and via Zoom; ytayoga.com yta_president@ytayoga.com
Yoga in the Adirondacks, LLC 2 Coulter Rd, Bakers Mills, NY 518.251.3015;914.556.8258 yogaintheadirondacks.com
BREWSTER
Tula Yoga For Wellness Group, Privates, Specialties 22 Sutton Place; 914.806.3286 Tulayogaforwellness.com
Sacred Spirit Yoga & Healing Arts Center
343 Broadway (on campus of South Presbyterian Church) sacredspirityogacenter.org
NEW
Blue Lotus Yoga & Healing Yoga, Reiki, Meditation 5 Dover Village Plaza, Ste 3 845.242.3625; bluelotusyoga.com
Redtail Power Yoga 810 Route 82 845.605.2257 redtailpoweryoga.com
Luna Power Yoga Move, Sweat & Breathe 54 Miller Rd., Ste. 4 845.276.4619; lunapoweryoga.com
Putnam Yoga 30 Tomahawk Street Baldwin Place, Mahopac 845.494.8118
PutnamYoga.com
Pawling Yoga & Wellness 26 East Main St., Ste. 2 845.661.8664
pawlingyogawellness.org
PranaMoon Yoga In Studio + Zoom 1000 N. Division St, 2H 845.528.0318
PranaMoonYoga.com
Zen Garden Health Coaching & Yoga Edit Babboni; CHC, RYT 200 61 Lakeview Dr., Yorktown Heights, NY 917.721.2529
yoga.zengarden@gmail.com
Women’s Circle for Growing Gratitude –4:30-6:30pm. Celebrate the beauty of together ness and learn how to practice gratitude with the help of meditation, safe expression, and wellness expert, Michelle Eggink. Pellegrino Healing Center Salt Cave. 4307 Albany Post Rd, Hyde Park. Info: 845.233.5672. Registration required: pellegrinohealingcenter.com/events.
Campwoods Holiday Craft Fair – 11am-4pm. Outdoors on the Great Lawn and in the auditorium at beautiful, historic Campwoods Grounds. high-end seasonal shopping for unique handcrafted items. Refreshments. Park outside Campwoods Grounds. Ossining Camp Meeting Association, Ossining. Info: CampwoodsGrounds.com.
Free Community BEMER Info Session – 6-7pm. Learn about the benefits of PEMF Therapy and receive 50% off a BEMER session. Pellegrino Heal ing Center Salt Cave. 4307 Albany Post Rd, Hyde Park. Info: 845.233.5672. Registration required: pellegrinohealingcenter.com/events
Quit with Quinn, Addiction-Free Naturally – 6:30pm, lasts 30-45 minutes. Quit with Quinn addiction cessation treatments bring remarkable,
fast and sustainable results for overcoming all sorts of addictions. Q & A regarding smoking, alcohol, sugar, overeating, weight loss. Free. Details: 914.473.2015; quitwithquinn.com
Grand Opening Party – 11am-6pm. Celebrate the opening of the new White Plain Your CBD Store with raffles, free gifts and lite refreshments. Stock up and save with 25% off entire purchase in store. 365 Mamaroneck Ave., White Plains. 914.358.9748. Follow: @yourcbdstorewhiteplains.
Awaken Wellness Fair Live! – 10am-5pm. A day of education and inspiration with unique vendors, expert speakers, intuitive readers and gifted heal ers. Sleepy Hollow Hotel + Conference Center, Tarrytown. Info: AwakenFair.com.
All-Levels Community Yoga – 4 - 5:30pm. With Franklin Shire. In-person & virtual. Beloved guest teacher Franklin returns to Sacred Spirit to guide participants in a hearty, heart-warming practice. Pro ceeds will benefit Midnight Run, providing food, gifts and fellowship to those living on the streets of NYC. $20. Info/register: SacredSpiritYogaCenter.org
Break Free from Anxiety and Heal Trauma Natu rally – 12/2-12/4. With Brett Cotter. Experience the Stress Is Gone Method this this transformative weekend retreat at Honor’s Haven, in Ellenville. Info: 833.867.3529; StressIsGone.com
Movements of the Soul: Family and Systemic Constellation Workshops – 10am-6pm. Led by Lucien Schloss. Family and Systemic Con stellations reveal and heal hidden dynamics in families, groups, and the individual soul. The Healing House, 11 North Cedar St, Beacon. Info: 914.456.7789; EileenOhare.com.
ADD Just Doesn’t
Up – 7-9pm.
it really a
and how to
problems that mimic or complicate AD(H)D. Free. Dr. Samantha Slotnick, 495 Central Park Ave, Ste 301, Scarsdale. RSVP: 914.874.1177. DrSlotnick.com.
Ongoing Calendar listings must be resent quarterly for our January, April, July & October editions. Email listings to Marlee@WakeUpNaturally.com
Rye 2022 Down to Earth Farmers Market – 8:30am-1pm. 5/8-12/4. In the parking lot off Theodore Fremd Avenue, behind the Purchase Street stores. Info: DownToEarthMarkets.com.
Reiki Infused Restorative Yoga – 9:30am. A re leasing, restorative practice supported by bolsters and blocks so that the body is completely relaxed. Reiki is used to remove blockages. $20/$12 se niors. Blue Lotus Yoga & Healing, 5 Dover Village Plaza, Suite 3, Dover Plains. Info: Deb Proscher: 845.242.3625; BlueLotusYogaHealing.com.
Luna Power Flow – 9:30-10:30am. This all-levels Vinyasa-based class provides the opportunity to ground through mindful movement and build strength and endurance through power-driven flows. Modifications offered. $25/Drop-in. 54 Miller Rd. Suite 4, Mahopac. Info: 845.276.4619. LunaPowerYoga.com
Journey into Power Yoga Class – 9:30-11am. This 90 minute signature class is a journey to vitality, power and freedom. All levels. $25/Drop-in, class cards and memberships available. RedTail Power Yoga, 810 Route 82, Hopewell Junction. Info: RedTailPowerYoga.com; 845.605.2257.
Irvington Farmers Market – 9:30am-1pm. 2nd & 4th Sundays. Main Street School parking lot, 101 Main St, Irvington. Info: theirvingtonfarmersmarket.org.
Yonkers 2022 Down to Earth Farmers Market –10am-2pm. 6/5-11/20. Closed street and footpath in Van Der Donck Park at Wood worth Avenue between traffic barriers. Info: DownToEarthMarkets.com.
Beacon Farmers Market – 10am-3pm. May through Nov. DMV parking lot, 223 Main Street, Beacon. Info: beaconfarmersmarket.org.
Rhinebeck Farmers’ Market – 10am-2pm. Thru December 18 (no market December 4). Rain or shine. Located outside at the municipal parking lot. Info: Rhinebeckfarmersmarket.com.
Hudson Valley Farmers Market- 10am-3pm. Year round. A one stop shop farmers market with fresh Hudson Valley products. 227 Pitcher Lane, Red Hook. Info: GreigFarm.com; 845.758.1234.
1 hour L1 Alignment Vinyasa – 9:30am. All classes include movement, breath work and meditation. Beginners welcome. $20/Drop-in or call for packages. Tula Yoga for Wellness, 22 Sutton Place, Brewster. Info: 914.806.3286; TulaYogaForWellness.com.
Meditation – 10-11am. Soul soothing, spiritually lifting, and devotionally enriching. Guided, man tra, or moving. $25. Millbrook & Virtual. Info: 845.677.3517. WhiteLotusGrace.com.
The Healing Circle – 10:30-11:30am. Via Zoom. Conducted by Beryl Hay. 2nd Mondays. Safe and sacred way to connect to the breath while deepening meditation and mindfulness practices. This practice helps to provide a more compassionate way to live. Info: mariandale.org (calendar).
1 hour L2 Alignment Vinyasa – 5:30pm. All classes include movement, breath work and meditation. Be ginners welcome. $20/Drop-in or call for packages. Tula Yoga for Wellness, 22 Sutton Place, Brewster. Info: 914.806.3286; TulaYogaForWellness.com.
Qigong Zoom Class – 9am. With Master David Cunniff. Zoom class. First class is free. In Balance Tai Chi Studio, 2505 Carmel Ave, Suite 108, Brew ster. Info: 845.803.1992 or InBalanceTaiChi.com.
Gentle Slow Flow Yoga – 9:15am. A slower, soothing vinyasa practice. Gently open energy lines, and soothe the nervous system through pranayama, meditation and movement. $20 Universal Healing Arts, Cortlandt Manor. Info: 914.737.4325; UniversalHealingArts.com.
Moderate Kripalu-based Yoga – 9:30-11am. With Chris Glover. In-person and virtual. For more expe rienced practitioners. Nurturing, yet strengthening. Develops a calm nervous system and embodied awareness thru compassionate self-observation. South Presbyterian Church campus, 343 Broadway, Dobbs Ferry. Info/register: SacredSpiritYogaCenter.org.
Green Street Radio – 10am. With Patti and Doug Wood. Environmental news, analysis and sciencebased information. Info: greenstreetradio.com. 99.5 FM and WBAI.org
Power Flow – 4:30-5:30pm. Fun and energetic class with a strong emphasis on breath, alignment and flow. $25/Drop-in, class cards and memberships available. RedTail Power Yoga, 810 Route 82, Hopewell Junc tion. Info: RedTailPowerYoga.com; 845.605.2257.
Qigong Class – 5:30pm. With Master David Cun niff. In Studio class for those fully vaccinated. First class is free. In Balance Tai Chi Studio, 2505 Carmel Ave, Suite 108, Brewster. Info: 845.803.1992 or InBalanceTaiChi.com.
Spiritual Support Circle – 4th Mondays, 6-7pm. Participants bring what is on their hearts. Receive to feel lighter, lifted, and richer. Donations welcome. Virtual. Info: 845.677.3517. WhiteLotusGrace.com.
Slow Burn – 6-7pm. Gain strength, stamina and focus through slow, isolated movements targeted to tone and sculpt. All levels. $25/Drop-in, class cards and memberships available. RedTail Power Yoga, 810 Route 82, Hopewell Junction. Info: RedTailPowerYoga.com; 845.605.2257.
Yoga & Sound Bath Infusion – 6:30-7:30pm. This all-levels Vinyasa-based class is set to the sound of beautiful singing bowls played in-person by a sound healer with an extended Savasana. $25/Drop-in.
54 Miller Rd. Suite 4, Mahopac. Info: 845.276.4619. LunaPowerYoga.com
Tai Chi & Qigong – 7pm Instructor, Sifu Gary Renza (35 years of experience). Cultivate ‘lifeforce’ energy, strengthen body, mind, and spirit, and improve overall health. $20/drop in. Universal Healing Arts, Cortlandt Manor. Info: 914.737.4325; UniversalHealingArts.com.
Breath, Relax & Slow Flow Yoga – 7:30-8:45pm. With Jo-Anne Salomone, CYT. A great slow flow with breath movement and deep relaxation. Open level. (Virtual via zoom) $12. Contact Jo-Anne: 917.364.1871; thetemperancecenter.com.
Virtual YogaShine for Adults – 8:30-10am. Kri palu-based, gentle and strengthening, calming the nervous system, heart-centered, developing consciousness, curiosity, and compassion. Lots of individual attention. First class free. Vitalah Simon. Zoom invitation: 914.769.8745, yogashine.com. Tea & Yoga – 9:15am. Enjoy these beautiful flow sequences with expert instruction by Yogini Sabrina. Vinyasa yoga is an ideal light-intensity cardiovascular workout. $20. Universal Healing Arts, Cortlandt Manor. Info: 914.737.4325; Uni versalHealingArts.com.
Luna Power Flow – 9:30-10:30am. This all-levels Vinyasa-based class provides the opportunity to ground through mindful movement and build strength and endurance through power-driven flows. Modifications offered. $25 Drop in. 54 Miller Rd. Suite 4, Mahopac. Info: 845.276.4619. LunaPowerYoga.com
Healing Dance – 11:30am-1pm. Easy flowing energy, lifting movement. Supports spiritual, emo tional, and physical wellness. Meditative and cre ative. $25. Millbrook & Virtual. Info: 845.677.3517; WhiteLotusGrace.com.
Mars retrograde this month freezes move ment; use it to hone skills and temper your pace. Slow and steady brings results November 1 in spite of frustrations or distractions. Get organized November 2 to move forward in the later part of the day. Serendipity reigns November 3. Creative juices flow November 4 and in the evening, a brisk walk or workout helps settle your body. Uphill with detours can thwart goals November 5; don’t make it harder by fight ing yourself. Channel aggravations into exercise you enjoy November 6.
Dispel the idea of insurmountable effort November 7 and invite fresh possibilities. The lunar eclipse on election day indicates an unprecedented November surprise. Lots of chatter November 9 demands thorough research. Be wary of complacency No vember 10. Alternative perspectives create tension November 11. Soothe old wounds November 12. Comfort provides deep heal ing on November 13.
Read between the lines November 14. The most insistent voice November 15 benefits from sharper listening skills. Exuberance intoxicates November 16; double check before action. You can get it done Novem ber 17 when you uphold strict priorities. Avoid frustration to yield maximum results November 18.
Don’t push without clear direction Novem ber 19; some things require more conversa tion. Enjoy easy connections November 20, but keep alert for potential disagreements. After noon November 21, doorways and opportunities open. Good fortune comes November 22 for those who are committed to the work. The November 23 Sagittarius new moon coupled with Jupiter direct sizzles with excitement. Best to consider options on Thanksgiving Day; enthusiasm benefits from thoughtful plans and bless ings magnify when shared.
Distractions abound November 25; time in nature quiets confusion and evening brings clarity. Attention to a goal, whether as an intention or action, increases its viability November 26. Creative drift on November 27 generates inspiration. Don’t get stuck if something out of the blue November 28 changes the plan, because it can still lead to a stable outcome. Networks and con versations stimulate ideas November 29, but let them marinate as you finish up and organize. An open heart welcomes miracles when November 30 sparkles with auspi cious potential.
Pamela Cucinell offers a spiritual astrologi cal perspective for the massive changes of our time, as well as guidance through private sessions and podcasts. For more info, call 917.796.6026, email pamela@insightoasis. com, or visit InsightOasis.com and ActiveSpirituality.Life. See ad, page 42.
Level 2/3 Alignment Vinyasa – 6:45. With Kathy. All classes include movement, breath work and meditation. Beginners welcome. $20/Drop-in or call for packages. Tula Yoga for Wellness, 22 Sutton Place, Brewster. Info: 914.806.3286; TulaYogaForWellness.com.
Virtual YogaShine for Adults – 7-8:30pm. Kripalubased, gentle and strengthening, calming the nervous system, heart-centered, developing consciousness, curiosity, and compassion. Lots of individual atten tion. . First class free. Vitalah Simon. Zoom invita-. invita tion: 914.769.8745, yogashine.com.
Gentle Slow Flow Yoga – 7:30pm. A slower, sooth ing slow flow practice. Gently open energy lines, and soothe the nervous system through pranayama, meditation and movement. $20. Universal Healing Arts, Cortlandt Manor. Info: 914.737.4325; Univer salHealingArts.com.
Cat Spay And Neutering Day – 3RD Thursdays
Low cost services provided by the T.A.R.A. Mobile Clinic. Appointments required. Other services avail able. Early morning drop off and late afternoon pick up. Trinity Episcopal Church Parish House, 5 Elm St, Fishkill. Pricing/Info: 845.206.9021.
Gentle Alignment Yoga – 9:30am. With Kathy. All classes include movement, breath work and meditation. Beginners welcome. $20/Drop-in or call for packages. Tula Yoga for Wellness, 22 Sutton Place, Brewster. Info: 914.806.3286; TulaYogaForWellness.com.
The NuSpecian Live – 9:30am. Aston and Jillian talk about health-related topics and NuSpecies products. Viewers can chat during the live show to comment on the topic and ask questions. Info: nuspecies.com/pages/the-nuspecian.
Slow Flow Deep Stretch – 5:30-6:45pm. With Sarah Fine. Moving mindfindully at a slower pace, using the breath to guide the flow, finding the time to sink in and open up. All-levels welcome. PranaMoon Yoga, 1000 North Division St, Peek skill. 845.528.0318 pranamoonyoga.com.
Power Ease – 7:30-8:30pm. Vinyasa sequence to build heat and prep the body for deep stretching and then hip-opening Yin poses that increase flex ibility and create ease. $25/Drop-in. RedTail Power Yoga, 810 Route 82, Hopewell Junction. Info: RedTailPowerYoga.com; 845.605.2257.
The NuSpecian Live – 9:30am. Aston and Jillian talk about health-related topics and NuSpecies products. Viewers can chat during the live show to comment on the topic and ask questions. Info: nuspecies.com/pages/the-nuspecian.
Gentle/Moderate Kripalu-based Yoga – 9:3011am. With Chris Glover. In-person and virtual. Gentle, nurturing, yet strengthening. Develops a calm nervous system and embodied awareness thru compassionate self-observation. South Presbyterian Church campus, 343 Broadway, Dobbs Ferry. Info/ register: SacredSpiritYogaCenter.org
Virtual Chair YogaShine, Super Gentle, for Senior Adults and Adults with Special Needs/ Health and Recovery concerns 10:30-11:30 am. Gentle and strengthening, calming the nervous sys tem, heart-centered, Kripalu-based, developing cu riosity, flexibility, and compassion. Vitalah Simon. Zoom invitation: 914.769.8745, yogashine.com.
Qi Gong Class – 10:30-11:45am. With Lorraine Hughes. Fridays. Simple movements aligned with breathwork to alleviate stress and promote flexibility. open to everyone, regardless of physical capabilities. $100/5 class package. Dutchess Yoga, 1820 Route 376, Poughkeepsie. Info: EmpoweredByNature.net
Healing Dance – 11:30am-1pm. Easy flowing ener gy lifting movement. Supports spiritual, emotional, and physical wellness. Meditative and creative. $25. Millbrook and virtual. Info: 845.677.3517; WhiteLotusGrace.com.
Luna Gentle Flow – 5:30pm. This all-levels gentle class is geared towards those looking to ease into their practice, while still developing awareness of their body through stretching, strength building, and breathwork. Modifications offered. $25 Drop in. 54 Miller Rd. Suite 4, Mahopac. Info: 845.276.4619. LunaPowerYoga.com
Yoga Teachers Association Workshops – 2nd Sat. Open to yoga teachers and students, members and nonmembers. Club Fit, 584 N State Rd, Briarcliff Manor and/or via Zoom. Info: ytayoga.com
Chappaqua farmers market – 8:30am-1pm. Located at the South Lot, Chappaqua train station. Info: chappaquafarmersmarket.org.
Larchmont 2022 Down to Earth Farmers Market – 8:30am-1:00pm. Thru 12/17. ). At the front of the Metro-North upper lot, Chatsworth Ave/Myrtle Blvd. Larchmont. Info/updates: DownToEarthMarkets.com.
Ossining 2022 Down to Earth Farmers Market – 8:30am-1pm. Year-Round. Parking lot near the
corner of Spring and Main Streets. Info/updates: downtoearthmarkets.com.
Tarrytown and Sleepy Hollow Farmers Market, The TaSH – 8:30am-1:30am. Patriots Park. Info: tashfarmersmarket.org.
Pleasantville Farmers Market – 8:30am-1pm. Through Nov. 19. Metro-North Parking Lot, 10 Memorial Plaza, Pleasantville. Information: pleasantvillefarmersmarket.org.
Open Vinyasa – 8:30-9:45am. With Betsy Egan. All levels, uplifting vinyasa class, for each student to experience their own personal journey finding increased strength, balance, flexibility, and a sense of personal growth and discovery. PranaMoon Yoga, 1000 North Division St, Peekskill. 845.528.0318 pranamoonyoga.com.
1 hour L1 Alignment Vinyasa – 9am. With Kathy. All classes include movement, breath work and meditation. Beginners welcome. $20/Drop-in or call for packages. Tula Yoga for Wellness, 22 Sutton Place, Brewster. Info: 914.806.3286; TulaYogaForWellness.com.
Kingston Farmers Market – 9am-2pm. Thru Nov 19. County Courthouse parking lot, 285 Wall St, Kingston. Info: Kingstonfarmersmarket.org.
Intermediate Kripalu-based Yoga – 9:1510:30am. With Kathleen Hinge. In-person and vir tual. For more experienced practitioners. Be guided through more advanced postures, and invited to hold poses longer and explore personal variations. South Presbyterian Church campus, 343 Broadway, Dobbs Ferry. Info/register: SacredSpiritYogaCenter.org
Luna Power Flow – 9:30-10:30am. This all-levels Vinyasa-based class provides the opportunity to ground through mindful movement and build strength and endurance through power-driven flows. Modifications offered. $25/Drop-in. 54 Miller Rd. Suite 4, Mahopac. Info: 845.276.4619. LunaPowerYoga.com
Cold Spring Farmers’ Market – 10am-1pm. Outdoors in the Boscobel House and Gardens, 1601 NY-9D, Garrison Info: csfarmmarket.org.
Hudson Valley Farmers Market- 10am-3pm. Year round. A one stop shop farmers market with fresh Hudson Valley products. 227 Pitcher Lane, Red Hook. Info: GreigFarm.com; 845.758.1234.
Beginner Kripalu-based Yoga – 10:45am-12noon. With Kathleen Hinge. In-person and virtual. Learn gentle pose sequences and embodied awareness. Suitable for new students and those with physical limitations or recovering from injury. South PresPres byterian Church campus, 343 Broadway, Dobbs Ferry. Info/register: SacredSpiritYogaCenter.org
Bhakti Healing Arts – 11:30am-12:30 PM. An cient spiritual healing practices from devotional wisdom of the Vedas. Gentle, intuitive, timeless, and transformative. $25. Millbrook & Virtual. Info: 845.677.3517. WhiteLotusGrace.com.
Aston’s Virtual Office Hours – 4-5pm. Every other Saturday. An open forum for those that are new to NuSpecies or currently on the products to ask any questions they have. Info: nuspecies.com/pages/ webinar-registration
Email Dana-NA@WakeUpNaturally.com to place a listing.
BE A PART OF INNOVATIVE HEALING with the Alternative Healing Clinic-Seeking experienced Reiki healers, Estheticians, massage therapists, and Reflexologists to join our dynamic team of practi tioners in Mahopac, NY, right off the Taconic Pkwy. Flexible hours and friendly atmosphere. Immediate start. Please email your resume and references to info@alternativehealingclinic.com.
BE A NATURAL AWAKENINGS PUBLISHER2023 could be your year to live your passion and be your own boss. If you share our passion for a healthy lifestyle, healthy planet and seek a creative home-based career with flexibility, consider being the next publisher for the Westchester-PutnamDutchess edition. Visit WakeUpNaturally.com/ franchise to learn more.
BE A PART OF SOMETHING BIG-WORK FROM HOPE FT/PT. Turn your passion for wellness into a paycheck! Be at the intersection of the booming natural health field and work from home and in an e-commerce industry. Contact Cindy Rosenbaum of Rosenbaum Wellness. 914.806.6559.
CORTLANDT MANOR/NOW HIRING . Licensed Massage Therapist, Experienced Tarot Reader. Universal Healing Arts, Cortlandt Manor, Call Shima at 914.737.4325.
PART TIME/ FULL TIME – servers, baristas and kitchen staff. Brooklyn Organic Kitchen is look ing for like-minded individuals to join their team! Previous restaurant experience is required, refer ences will be checked. Resumes may be emailed to brooklynorganickitchen@gmail.com.
Awaken Wellness Fair November 20, 2022 Tar rytown, NY. Visit AwakenFair.com for details.
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 Dana-NA@WakeUpNaturally.com to request our media kit.
STERNBACH & ROSE, CPAS
115 E. Stevens Ave, Suite 100 Valhalla, NY 10595 914.940.4449; sandrcpa.com
Our goal is to help people have less anxiety about managing their finances, to maximize their income and run their businesses better. Giving people a stronger financial foundation can absolutely contribute to a better quality of life.
HEATHER PERLOW, L.AC. Concentric Acupuncture 875 Mamaroneck Ave, Ste 303, Mamaroneck 914.200.3343; ConcentricAcupuncture.com
Let’s restore your health together! My personalized treatment plans promote healing through acupuncture, cupping, gua sha and microneedling. I treat pain, insomnia, anxiety, depression, digestive and skin issues, pre/ post-surgical care, gynecological issues, arthritis, facial rejuvenation and more.
QUANTUM HEALING & WELLNESS
175 E. Main St., Ste 202, Mt. Kisco, NY 914.218.3428
quantumhealingandwellnessspma.com
Give your body the energy to heal itself! The Energy Enhancement SystemTM is Bio-Scalar Photonic Fusion technology [aka, Tesla Waves] that generates multiple bioactive life enhancing energy fields, including scalar waves, which can allow cell regeneration, and enhance your energy levels for optimum function. See ad pg 13.
LAURIE R. MALLIS, MD, LAC
SearchLight Medical 2424 Route 52, Hopewell Junction, NY 845.592.4310; SearchLightMedical.com
Frustrated with not feeling or looking your best? Let me guide you on your path to better health and well-being. Utilizing: Medical Acupuncture, ONDAMED Biofeedback Therapy, Reiki, Mei Zen Acupuncture for facial rejuvenation, weight loss and fertility. See ad pg 13.
QUIT WITH QUINN Midtown Manhattan and Garrison Steve.healingny@gmail.com 914.473.2015; QuitWithQuinn.com
Quit with Quinn helps people
overcome daily addictions and unwanted habits ranging from sugar, smoking, alcohol, weight loss, to overeating and other compulsive habits. All natural, painless, no medications, needles, or hypnosis. 90% success rate. See ad pg 31.
KARLA BOOTH DIAMOND, MAMSAT
PELLEGRINO HEALING CENTER
4307 Albany Post Rd
Hyde Park New York 12538 pellegrinohealingcenter.com
Pellegrino Healing Center differs from your average acupuncture and wellness facility because we offer our patients access to a collective, diverse team of healing practitioners and cutting-edge healing modalities. Top-tier acupuncture, massage therapy, salt cave sessions, energy healing, meditation, esthetics, and more. See ad pg 12.
Member: Westchester Holistic Network 11 Main St, 2nd Floor, Mount Kisco, NY 10549 914.649.9565; Awareness-in-Action.com
Move with ease! The Alexander Technique is an educational method for learning to release patterns of tension that may be causing stress, pain, or poor body usage. Feel lighter and learn to undo compression of the spine and joints.
ASTROLOGY INSIGHT
Pamela Cucinell NCGR PAA 917.796.6026; InsightOasis.com
Astrology & Tarot with spiritual perspective and a practical twist. Find your way to flow instead of fight; economy of action leads to a beautiful life. Skype, Zoom and phone. See ad pg 42.
792 Rte 35 Cross River, NY, and NYC Office: 914.875.9088; Cell: 646.670.6725 Drkaushik.com; drkaushik@drkaushik.com
Combination of Ayurveda and Naturopathy is used to create a unique treatment plan to regain and maintain health. Based on one’s particular body constitution (dosha), a plan may includesupplements, diet/ nutrition suggestions, lifestyle management, detoxification, hydrotherapy, 0zone therapy, Panchakarma. Clinic days: M-F. See ad pg 10.
SAMANTHA SLOTNICK, OD, FAAO, FCOVD
495 Central Park Ave, Suite 301, Scarsdale 914.874.1177; DrSlotnick.com
A whole-person, holistic approach to vision care, for all ages. Specializing in vision therapy and rehabilitation for vision problems which interfere with reading, learning, attention, performance and efficiency. Please visit website for details.
DR. LEIGH DAMKOHLER, CCSP, LMT 8 Bacon Place, Yonkers, NY 10710 914.523.7947
Chiropractor-WestchesterNY.com
PERSONALIZED treatments designed for YOU by Westchester’s only dually licensed practicing Sports Chiropractor and Massage Therapist. Receive a unique combination of muscle work and adjustments not provided elsewhere. Dr. Leigh can help you move and feel better. Get back to the life you love!
UPPER CERVICAL CHIROPRACTIC OF NY
CBD
YOUR CBD OF WAPPINGERS
1582 U.S. 9 #5, Wappingers Falls, NY 12590 845.297.0302; CBDWappingers.com
YOUR CBD OF MT. KISCO 222 E. Main St., Mt. Kisco, NY 10549 914.276.5409; YourCBDstoreMtKisco.com
YOUR CBD OF RYE 131 Purchase St., Store #3, Rye, NY 10580 914.921.1073; CBD@YourCBDStoreRye.com
YOUR CBD STORE OF WHITE PLAINS 365 Mamaroneck Ave., White Plains, NY 10605 914.358.9748; CBD@CBDWhitePlains.com
Your CBD Store® is the largest hemp retailer in the US. All of our products are USDA Certified Organic, Non-GMO and ThirdParty Lab Tested. We offer the highest quality hemp products including CBD Tinctures, Topicals and Water Solubles for people and pets. See ad pg 19.
311 North St., Suite 410, White Plains, NY 914.686.6200: ucc-ny.com
Dr. Gertner himself suffered with back pain due to an injury. With upper cervical chiropractic treatments, his body began to “heal itself” and the relentless pain that had plagued him quickly left his body. This inspired him to become one of only 5 NUCCA chiropractors in New York, and less than 200 worldwide, currently. He experienced amazing results and he knows you will too. See ad pg 55.
JOY MATALON LMT, CST Locations: Ossining, Garrison 914.519.8138; Joymatalon.com
Paul V. Scarborough, DC, BCAO 77 Pond Field Rd., 1F-2A 914.704.3005; atlasorthogonist.com
Dr. Paul Scarborough has relo cated to Bronxville, NY from his NYC location to continue practic ing Atlas Orthogonal, a subspe cialty in Chiropractic. Specific x-rays are taken utilizing state of the art equipment, treatment is administered with the Atlas Orthogonal Percus sion adjusting instrument, secondary treatments are incorporated as needed. See ad pg 13.
Craniosacral Therapy with Somato Emotional Release allows physi cal, emotional, and spiritual issues to be intimately explored bringing relief from pain and activating a healing process which continues beyond the session. Experience CST alone or integrated in therapeutic massage.
PROFESSIONAL DOWSER
MEMBER: Westchester Holistic Network 845.709.5245; dowsing@househarmony.org HouseHarmony.org
Protect yourself from EMFs and other negative energies! A professional dowser can block the negative effects of cell phones, satellite dishes, high-tension wires and more. Moved into a new home? Want to sell? Have unexplained health issues? Call now!
ANNE H. BENTZEN
Certified Jikiden Reiki Teacher/Practitioner Treatments, Classes and Student Events
Custom BACH Flower Essence formulas
Energy Counseling, Crystalline grids 25 Broadway, Ste.101, Pleasantville, NY balancing4life.com; 914.588.4079
Health requires energetic balance. Reiki clears stress, reduces pain, inflammation and restores energy flow. Strengthen your immunity. Relieve anxiety. Depression and insomnia. Learn the original Reiki teachings with Jikiden. Private sessions and small classes. See ad pg 42.
RISE ABOVE FLOATATION
111 East Main Street Mount Kisco, NY 10549 914.241.1900
A Center For Awareness and Relaxation through Floatation Therapy. Create the ultimate Relaxation Response by removing all stimulation from light, sound, and gravity. Choose from three different float environments to find your perfect experience. Appointments available from 10am to 10pm daily. Free Parking.
SUSANNE SALTZMAN, MD
250 E. Hartsdale Ave. St. 22, Hartsdale, NY 914.472.0666; HartsdaleHomeopathy.com
Looking for a physician with 25 years of clinical practice using natural remedies? Expertise in treating acute and chronic illness in children and adults. Emphasis on homeopathic and functional medicine to decrease dependency on pharmaceutical drugs. If you want experienced, competent, compassionate, and exceptional care.
FRESH ORGANIC SALON SOLUTIONS
Hair care, Skincare & Make up 190 Rt 117 By Pass, Bedford, NY 914.242.1928; FreshOrganicSalon.com
A healthy approach to beauty and wellness led by Maureen Toohey, Regional Educator for Organic Salon Systems. The fresh team is committed to making your experience fully complete and satisfying, organically. Receive a gift valued at $75 with your 1st color appointment, when you mention Natural Awakenings. See ad pg 35.
LISA BLEASDALE, C.HT
Certified Hypnotherapist Somers, Ny 914.400.9508; lisableasdale.com
Willpower often falls short. Hypnotherapy taps into the power of the subconscious mind to transform your life by creating positive changes. Lisa helps individuals with stress reduction, addiction, weight loss, smoking cessation, procrastination, overcoming fears, phobias, anxiety, grief, and divorce.
DR. KAUSHIK’S AYURVEDIC AND NATUROPATHIC CLINIC Yellow Monkey Village 792 Rte 35 Cross River, NY, and NYC Office: 914.875.9088; Cell: 646.670.6725 Drkaushik.com; drkaushik@drkaushik.com
Combination of Ayurveda and Naturopathy is used to create a unique treatment plan to regain and maintain health. Based on one’s particular body constitution (dosha), a plan may include supplements, diet/nutrition suggestions, lifestyle management, detoxification, hydrotherapy, 0zone therapy, Panchakarma. Clinic days: Monday-Friday. See ad pg 10.
LORRAINE HUGHES
Registered Herbalist (AHG) 263 New Hackensack Road, 2nd Floor Wappingers Falls, NY 12590 lorrainehughes54@gmail.com EmpoweredbyNature.net; 845.416.4598
Lorraine offers Individual Wellness Consultations based on the Chinese Herbal Medicine Paradigm which provides a preventative and individual approach to balanced health. Each “unique” individual protocol will include Chinese, Western, Ayurvedic Herbal remedies and Nutritional planning.
DAVID L LERNER, DDS, CAC, FIND Yorktown Heights, NY 10598 914.214.9678; holisticdentist.com
We offer a unique approach to the health care of the mouth based on a holistic understanding of the whole body. I invite you to explore our web site to learn how we can serve your needs. See ad pg 5.
Open Mon-Sat. 10-6 2264 South Rd., Poughkeepsie, NY 845.204.9090; DavisFurnitureOnline.com
NUSPECIES
Nuspecies.com 866.624.4117 Westchester. Long Island. Brooklyn. Jamaica, Caribbean
Do you want a healthier night’s sleep? Visit locally owned Davis Furniture and see their full line of all natural American-made mattresses. For over 90 years they have been giving their customers more, and charging them less. And they’ve once again been voted the best furniture store in the Hudson Valley.
NuSpecies Health Centers provide free health consultations with certified nutritionists/life coaches. We make custom recommendations of our Raw, Organic, Liquid, Natural nutritional formulas and then work with our clients until they achieve their health goals. See ad pg 3.
LYNN PARODNECK M.D.
Certified Medical Marijuana Practitioner 914.525.6536; DrParodneck@gmail.com DrLynnParodneck.com
Evaluations and Consultations; Dr. Parodneck works in compliance with the New York State Compassionate Care Act. She is one of the leading medical marijuana clinicians in New York, with numerous referring specialists and an extensive professional network in the cannabis industry. See ad pg 31.
SUSANNE SALTZMAN, MD
250 E. Hartsdale Ave. St. 22, Hartsdale, NY 914.472.0666; HartsdaleHomeopathy.com
Looking for a physician with 25 years of clinical practice using natural remedies? Expertise in treating acute and chronic illness in children and adults. Emphasis on homeopathic and functional medicine to decrease dependency on pharmaceutical drugs. If you want experienced, competent, compassionate, and exceptional care.
Dr. Michael Wald, DC, Board Certified Nutritionist 29 King St, 2nd Fl, Chappaqua, NY 10514 914.552.1442 - info@blooddetective.com DrMichaelWald.com; #BloodDetective
Dr. Wald is a holistic DC, Nutritionist, and Dietician who’s Blood Detective software, labs and detailed consult help get to the cause(s) of persistent health issues. Conditions include autoimmune, weight loss, antiaging, cancer, GI issues, depression, and more. See ad pg 11.
KATONAH PODIATRY, PC
Pamela Hoffman, DPM
Glenn B. Weiss, DPM
200 Katonah Ave., Katonah, NY 914.232.8880; Katonahpodiatry.com
Foot care for people of all ages. Board certified holistic podiatrists who use a comprehensive, inte grative approach. Customized treatments utilizing the best of today’s technology combined with nutrition and 30 years of experience.
HUDSON RIVER HEALING & WELLNESS
290 Main St., Cold Spring NY 845.240.1822; HRHealingWellness.com
Improve overall wellness. Breather, Relax, Restore. Services offered; Salt Room, CBD Products, Red/Infrared Light therapy, Thai Bodywork, Massage, Craniosacral work, Percussive therapy, Reiki, Acupuncture, Reflexology, Myofacial Release, Meditation, Yoga and more.
ARCB Certified Reflexologist
263 New Hackensack Road, 2nd Floor
Wappingers Falls, NY 12590
lorrainehughes54@gmail.com
EmpoweredbyNature.net; 845.416.4598
Foot and/or Hand Reflexology sessions are offered with the use of Essential Oils applied to acupuncture points based upon each individual’s presenting pattern. Please refer to Services page on web site for the many benefits of this ancient modality.
DAVID L LERNER, DDS, CAC, FIND Yorktown Heights, NY 10598 914.214.9678 HolisticDentist.com
We offer a unique approach to the health care of the mouth based on a holistic understanding of the whole body. I invite you to explore our web site to learn how we can serve your needs . See ad pg 5.
BALANCE DAY SPA
Cynthia M Chase, LCSW, Reiki Master 860.395.0284; cynthiachase.com cynthiamchase@gmail.com
Manifest yourself as a healer; fulfill your life’s purpose! Cynthia offers personalized classes leading to Reiki levels I, II and Master level. Go to cynthiamchase.com for details.
Westchester’s ONLY Certified Green Spa 280 Mamaroneck Ave., Suite 310, White Plains, NY 914.358.9898; balance-dayspa.com
As Westchester County’s ONLY certified green spa, Balance Day Spa has been in business since 2010. We specialize in all aspects of esthetics, including: facials, peels, waxing, tinting, bronzing, aromatherapy, energy healing and makeup. All organic, all the time.
DAVID L LERNER, DDS, CAC, FIND Yorktown Heights, NY 10598 914.214.9678
HolisticDentist.com
We offer a unique approach to the health care of the mouth based on a holistic understanding of the whole body. I invite you to explore our web site to learn how we can serve your needs. See ad pg 5.
VETERINARY HOSPITAL 44 Saint Nicholas Rd., Wappingers Falls, NY 12590 845.227.P-A-W-S (7297)
Earthangelsvet.com
Where East meets West with compassionate care for a holistic approach to your pet’s health. Offering a wide range of services/ products including wellness exams, nutritional support, alternative cancer therapies, surgery, dentals, acupuncture, CBD products, pet boarding and more on our beautiful 9-acre facility.
QUIT WITH QUINN Addiction-Free Naturally Midtown Manhattan and Garrison Steve.healingny@gmail.com 914.473.2015; QuitWithQuinn.com
Quit with Quinn helps people lose weight by overcoming addiction to sugar and white flour, and compulsive overeating. After treatment, most people experience indifference towards refined sugar, sweets and treats, leading to easy weight loss. 30 years experience. 90% success rate. See ad pg 31.
YOGA IN THE ADIRONDACKS (YitA) at The Divine Acres “Where Yoga Embraces Nature” 2 Coulter Road, Bakers Mills, NY 12811 518.251.3015; YogaInTheAdirondacks.com
YitA at the Divine Acres is a yoga shala – a safe place for healing and becoming healthy within our authentic selves. Eliminate distractions and illuminate positivity to focus on our true intentions. YitA is a place of education and joy, with miniature donkeys and sheep that add love to this divine space.
SUPPORT CONNECTION Breast and Ovarian Cancer Support Services 914.962.6402; 800.532.4290 Supportconnection.org
Support Connection provides free support services to people affected by breast and ovarian cancer. Services include: Oneon-one counseling (counselors are also cancer survivors); Support groups; Educational and wellness programs; Webinars; Social gatherings; Referrals; A national toll-free information and support hotline.
The Future of Medicine
By appt: 914.330.5594
AlternativeHealingClinic.com
At Alternative Healing Clinic, Dr. Jordan, NA.D., Ph.D. Naturologist finds causes of sub-health conditions and locates natural solutions that clear acute and chronic issues through an FDA approved non-invasive test creating your effective wellness plans. Free consultation. See ad pg 9.
