natural awakenings magazine september 2012

1natural awakenings September 2012

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feel good • live simply • laugh more

September 2012 | West Michigan Edition | NaturalWestMichigan.com

INJURY-FREE YOGA10 Tips forSafe Practice

Functional MedicineAddressing the Root Cause of Disease

Wheat Belly?Lose the Wheat,Lose the Weight

Express YourselfWays to Explore Community Arts

2 West Michigan Edition NaturalWestMichigan.com


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18 INJURY-FREE YOGA Proven Approaches for Safe Practice by Lynda Bassett

20 FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE Taking the Whole Toolbox Approach by Kathleen Barnes

24 MAKING ALLOWANCES Learning to Manage Money at a Young Age by Sharon Lechter

26 EXPLORING OUR CREATIVE SIDE Engaging in Community Arts Brings Unexpected Rewards by Judith Fertig

30 PEACE MAIL Spreading Good Will on Earth Through Art by April Thompson

34 JULIA CAMERON SPEAKS FROM HER HEART Creating a Life Beyond Need and Worry by Linda Sechrist

36 BANISHING WHEAT BELLY The Drawbacks of a Wheat-Dominated Diet by Lee Walker

38 DOGGY LOST… AND FOUND AGAIN by Avery Mack

Natural Awakenings is your guide to a healthier, more balanced life. In each issue readers find cutting-edge information on natural health, nutrition, fitness, personal growth, green living, creative expression and the products and services that support a healthy lifestyle.

5 newsbriefs

10 healthbriefs

12 globalbriefs

14 ecotip

18 fitbody

20 healingways

22 healthykids

30 inspiration

34 wisewords

36 consciouseating

38 naturalpet

41 calendar

43 classifieds

45 naturaldirectory

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20

contents

36

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“The more you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.”

~ Dr. Seuss

Reading is such an easy way to stimulate the mind. The more you read, the more

your heart opens to new ways of thinking and the more creative you naturally become. I love the variety of journeys that reading takes me on at the flip of a page. I read educational tomes to fill my brain with knowledge, self-help paperbacks to feed my curiosity for life, even some mind-numbing fiction just for fun. It’s one of the ways I love to relax. The perfect reading day for me is cold

and rainy, just right for curling up with a good book. I can read all day when schedules allow—which admittedly isn’t as often as I’d like. This past summer, though, Kyle and I spent a few precious days beneath a beach umbrella overlooking Lake Michigan reading for hours with Thai contentedly curled up under a lap blanket. On the flip side, Judith Fertig’s feature article this month, “Exploring Our Creative Side,” inspires us with ways to actively tap into our favorite creative outlet through engaging in local community arts (page 29). With ArtPrize in Grand Rapids right around the corner we want to share events all around town ready to get your creative juices flowing. West Michigan has such a thriving and diverse cultural arts scene we can look forward to trying something new every month. Also, remember that September is National Yoga Month, a good time to try a new-to-you style of yoga. Among the unique approaches I’ve been hearing about are Stand Up Paddling Yoga, Rave Yoga and Ariel Yoga, plus veteran yogi’s can always challenge themselves with a teacher training class. To make sure you are practicing yoga safely, Lynda Bassett reports on tips from experienced yogis good for both the daily practitioner and novice, on page 18. There are infinite ways in which we can express ourselves, whether our choice is music, theater, painting, crafting, writing, yoga or dance. How grateful we are that we live in a community in a country that allows us to extravagantly express our originality.

Shine on!

Amy and Kyle Hass, Publishers

PublishersKyle & Amy Hass

Assistant PublisherAmanda Merritt

EditorsS. Alison Chabonais

Scott GillisLinda Sechrist

Design & ProductionInteractive Media Design

Scott Carvey

PrinterStafford Media Solutions

Natural Awakenings484 Sunmeadow Dr. SEGrand Rapids, MI 49508

Phone: 616-656-9232

[email protected]

© 2012 by Natural Awakenings. All rights reserved. Although some parts of this publication may be reproduced and reprinted, we require that prior permission be obtained in writing.

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newsbriefsGreat Lakes Bioneers

Conference

Tag: because it embodies active

and engaging energies passed from one person to another. You’re It: because it is up to each one of us to be the future that we want to see. This world-shifting work cannot be done by “someone else”, it will only be accomplished by everyone. You are chosen and the time is now. Register now to attend the 11th annual Great Lakes Bioneers Conference in Traverse City on October 19-21, and plan to gather at what has been called an oasis of hope. Bill McKibben, Paul Hawken and Sandra Steingraber will speak on a live-feed from California. Timothy Young of Food for Thought, and a variety of Earthwork musicians including Seth and May Bernard, Joe Riley, and Darlene will be live and direct from Milliken Auditorium. For newbies, this event is one of the premier places to meet neighbors from around the state who are interested in fresh food, local economies, nontoxic lifestyles and the power of the grassroots. The Bioneers explore tools and technologies that enable resiliency, improving our capacity to thrive in the coming decades of change. Topics include Developing and Implementing a Green Business, Body Ecology, Qigong, Organic Gardening for Any Scale, and much, much more! Come for a serious injection of inspiration and information. The event is open to all and family-friendly. The workshop presenters this year are offering special opportunities to extend the conversation and the learning throughout the year. Their California partner has promised a stunning line-up of speakers full of emerging leaders - many of whom you’ve not heard of yet like Greg Sarris, tribal chairman of the Federated Indians of the Graton Rancheria and Gretchen Daily, Ph.D., of Stanford and co-founder of The Natural Capital Project.

To volunteer or support, email [email protected]. To become a sponsor or support the scholarship program, email Renée Herman at [email protected]. Special early bird discounts will be available, visit www.glbconference.org frequently. Email [email protected], or call SEEDS 231-947-0312 for more info. See ad page 24.

Open House at the Cottage of Natural Elements

In addition to its own line of natural handmade Bath and

Body products, Moondrop Herbals Cottage of Natural

Elements, at 351 Cummings in Grand Rapids (in the Standale shopping district), now offers other natural goods made by local artists and craftswomen, including the nature inspired and whimsical artwork of ‘Woosah’, repurposed goods by ‘Tie One On’ and ‘Designs by Cilla’ which offers jewelry made from crystals and other natural stones. An Open House will be held on Saturday September 29th from 3-7pm with special offerings from Designs by Cilla. In addition to these unique one of a kind gift offerings, The Cottage also sells bulk natural products such as dried herbs, black, green, and herbal teas, and spice blends to delight the palate. The store is continually on the lookout for local artists and offers consignment and space rental (retail, studio, & meeting) opportunities. Items featured in the Cottage must be made from natural, sustainable products or made from reclaimed/repurposed materials, and promote earth-stewardship practices.

For more details, visit moondropherbals.com or contact the cottage at 616-735-1285. See ad page 6 & 45.

Cronkhite Returns to Burcon Chiropractic

Burcon Chiropractic is proud to announce the return of

therapist Kylin Cronkhite. She is certified in medical massage, manual therapy, clinical nutrition and herbal medicine. Cronkhite is also currently the Clinical Director at Blue Heron Academy and a member of the Michigan Medical Massage Association. Burcon Chiropractic has

Kylin Cronkhite


recently expanded and invites you to their open house on Friday, August 31 from 10am to 6pm and Saturday, September 1 from 11am to 3pm.

More information at www.BurconChiropractic.com. See ad page 32.

Enhancing Her Bodywork Practice

Jan Atwood has recently completed training called

“Unwinding Meridians: Applying Acupuncture Principles to CranioSacral Therapy”, through the Upledger Institute, to enhance her Bodywork Practice. Using principles from traditional Chinese

medicine, this class focuses on the 12 Meridians or energy pathways, helping the practitioner learn to find, and treat, these meridians using light touch, gentle pressure and energy from the practitioner’s fingers and hands. It is another gentle but powerful treatment, along with Reiki, Raindrop Technique and CranioSacral Therapy, that Jan uses to assist the client’s body, mind, and spirit to relax and release deep tensions and emotions that may lodge themselves along these energy pathways, the corresponding organs and processes in the body. When these meridians are released, or unwound, the body can then begin the process of self-healing. While similar to acupuncture, please note this does not involve acupuncture needles. On Friday, September 14th, Jan, a Reiki Master/Teacher, will be teaching a Reiki I/II Class. This class is open to all who are interested in learning this energy-based system of healing touch. In this class, participants will learn about the energy centers (chakras) and the energy pathways (meridians) of the body in order to release stuck and stagnant energy that prevents one from feeling relaxed and whole. When this energy is released, the body may more easily return to better health in body, mind and spirit. Hand positions will be taught. Participants will be able to begin practicing on themselves, family members and pets.

For more information visit www.JanAtwood.com or call 616-915-4144. See ad page 5.

New Book Release

For the first time, author Elizabeth Cosmos brings the

full teachings of Ama-Deus® to life! Ama-Deus is a gift written to honor the memory of the author’s teacher, Alberto Aguas, as well as the Guarani, the ancient tribe hidden deep in the Amazon who preserved this knowledge for centuries until it was time to share it with the world. These stories are interwoven with the story of how Cosmos met Aguas while he was ailing, and how she came to carry on his mission after his death, teaching, preserving, and spreading the message of Ama-Deus to the world. Ama-Deus: Teaching with the Sacred Energies of the Universe is an exploration of the spirit and the universe through Ama-Deus that enables life to heal and be healed – it invites the mind to breathe deeply from the heart and dare to touch the soul. It is a story that was sung in pre-history and still sings today. To order copies of this book, contact Xlibris Corporation at 888-795-4274 or visit www.Xlibris.com.

To order your copy, please go to www.ama-deus-international.com. See ad page 25 & 46.

Look Good and Be Healthy

Sérendipité Organiques, LLC opened their doors

June 7th at 944 Cherry St SE in Grand Rapids. It was during the previous June that owner Teri Kelley started researching the body care

products and makeup she was using. She happened upon Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep database. Kelley was astounded to learn that lead, parabens, Formaldehyde Releasing Preservatives (FRP’s), and many other toxic ingredients are in products we all use daily. Some of those ingredients are known or suspected to cause health concerns like cancer, allergies, and birth defects. She became passionate about educating people


and making healthier alternatives available to them. Her first Toxic Ingredient Workshop was held in January of 2012. Dreams soon came of opening a retail store, and so Sérendipité Organiques was started. There you’ll find organic, non-toxic makeup, body care products, cleaning products, sunscreen and safe pet products all scoring ‘Low Hazard 0-2’ on the Skin Deep database! Kelley says, “Everything we carry you can trust and feel good about putting on your body and into your home. This store isn’t just for women either. Men, children, and teens benefit from using these non-toxic products that REALLY work!” You’ll find the following lines at Sérendipité Organiques- Zum, Face Naturals, Rejuva Minerals Makeup, and Elemental Herbs Sunscreen. The newest line, Sappho Organic Cosmetics is being introduced September 6 during Fashion’s Night Out. Sérendipité Organiques is proud to have the distinguished honor of being one of only three retailers in the U.S. to carry the Sappho line,

For more information about Sérendipité Organiques log onto www.serendipiteorganics.com, call Teri at 616-419-8115, or ‘like’ them on facebook.com/SerendipiteOrganiques. See ad page 22 & 45.

New Lakeshore Area EcoTrek Series Leader

EcoTrek Fitness, the locally-owned West Michigan

company offering unique group outdoor workouts since May of 2006, is thrilled to welcome Carly Wasserman as the newest addition to the leadership team at EcoTrek Fitness, as EcoTrek Fitness Lakeshore Area Series Leader. As a busy working mom, Carly’s especially enjoyed the longtime Lakeshore Series schedule, where she can get her workout in and be back home before the kids are even awake! She plans to continue the 5:45am start-time on Tuesdays & Thursdays as well as the ever popular 8:00am Sunday morning sessions. EcoTrek sessions run 75 minutes and incorporate the elements of cardio, strength training and stretching. Each leader adds their individual spin to the workout according to the location, which is different every time. This keeps it fun and interesting -- yet effective, because EcoTrekkers burn fat, increase lean muscle mass and improve their flexibility, all in one workout. Added bonus: in a group, you’re never alone.

All schedules, costs and location information, as well as easy online sign-up, can be found on the website ecotrekfitness.com. See ad page 22 & 37.

A Gentler Course

Living as the Aware Self: Exploring the Gentle Path is a three-month program meeting weekly on Wednesdays

from 5:30 to 7pm beginning September 12. The pace of society can be stressful and demanding. In this course, you wander a different path, a gentler course of self-healing where you work with your own heart at your own pace. When your heart rests in pure awareness, you can free yourself from judgment, accept yourself in love and align with the grace that is freely given. Each session includes: a 20-minute Feldenkrais “Awareness through Movement” session led by licensed practitioner, Karel Millard of Sound Body, Sound Brain, Flow Meditation, Lecture and Contemplation led by Kathy Powell Reider, Intuitive Services, Reflection and Journaling and Yoga Nidra, an ancient meditative practice fostering deep rest and intention.

Meeting at 1546 Mount Mercy NW in Grand Rapid and via Skype. For information, contact Kathy, 616-635-6029 or [email protected].

HCA Skin Care Center: Where Beauty Meets Health

Holistic Care Approach has

always aimed to foster healthy beauty from within. Now Grand Rapids men and women can enjoy radiant, healthy beauty on the outside too through their state-of-the-art skin care center. They use leading edge technology such as photo broad band light (BBL, an innovative technology that sets new standards for skin conditions associated with aging, active life-styles and sun damage and allows us to precisely treat age and sun spots, small facial veins and many other skin conditions), combined with the latest clinical skin care products, trusted holistic wraps and facials, and the best management practices to treat multiple skin conditions, from acne and Rosacea to age spots and hair removal. Holistic Care Approach can also restore the youthful appearance of skin using our SkinTyte system, which firms and tightens trouble areas like neck wattle, loose skin from weight-loss or pregnancy and other areas prone to sag with age. Your treatment will be tailored to match your skin type and your desired results.

Contact Holistic Care Approach now at 616-361-9221 for a FREE skin care consultation with an aesthetician, nurse or doctor.

Carly Wasserman

An artist cannot fail; it is a success to be one. ~Charles Horton Cooley


Community Wellness Day

Community Wellness Day is a national event focusing

on educating the members of this community on important information that is critical to their total wellness. Set aside September 29th from 12 to 3pm

at Kentwood Christian Church located at 5841 Kalamazoo Ave in Kentwood to visit with various community agencies that will be participating and sharing their programs on health screenings, financial literacy info, drug/ alcohol awareness, senior services information, and much more. There will also be food, fun & entertainment. Admission to the event is FREE.

Contact Dr. Jason Williamson or his team at Great Lakes Family Chiropractic at 616-575-9105 or email [email protected]. See ad page 11.

Feeling Good 5K and Health Expo

Join Harvest Health Foods in Celebrating 60 years of business with a free Feeling

Good 5K Fun Run and Health Expo at the Hudsonville location on Thursday, October 11 from 5 to 8pm (the run starts at 6pm), featuring local vendors, free Fun Run/Walk, food samples and more. The first 100 people will receive a FREE Natural Awakenings reusable bag. On Saturday the 13th at 11am Harvest Health Foods will be hosting the Real Green Smoothie Girl, Robyn Openshaw of GreenSmoothieGirl.com.

Events will take place at the Hudsonville location, 4150 32nd Ave. Look for more information at www.harvesthealthfoods.com.

Saving the Bees

Artist Elizabeth Paxson has created a multi-

media installation for ArtPrize, 2012 called “Sacred Hive,” in a tribute to the endangered honey bee. It incorporates over a dozen fiber art and assemblage sculptures, oil painting, sound and light. The installation is a tribute and homage to the sacred honey bee and the principle of living in harmony with the earth, inspired by the artist’s deep concern for the loss of our pollinators due to the use of toxic chemicals. Her desire is to raise awareness through this art. In keeping with the theme, re-purposed, eco-friendly and recycled materials have been used wherever possible. Lights and sound are an integral part of the exhibit. The central focus is a black Madonna painting, “Madonna of the Bees,” in the ancient tradition that speaks to our connection with Mother Earth. Educational materials will also be a part of the display, and the artist has giclee prints and note cards of the Madonna of the Bees painting available for purchase. The “Sacred Hive” installation runs Sept.19- Oct. 7, and is the featured exhibit at the First United Methodist Church at 227 Fulton St., Grand Rapids. Singer/songwriter Anne Hills, whose song “Exile” is being featured in this exhibit, will be giving a concert at the venue on Oct. 6th.

For more information, contact Eric Strand at FUMC, 616-451-2879, or visit www.artprize.org/elizabeth-paxson/2012/sacred-hive or www.elizabethpaxson.com. You can vote for this installation during ArtPrize by using the code 53353, after you register online or in person.

Treatment of Therapies

Spa Services

back pain neck pain headaches

stress

chiropractic massage therapy

spinal rehab traction

massage therapy steam therapy

ayurvedic bodywork reiki, meditation

(616) 301-3000

1801 Breton SE Grand Rapids (across the street from the Breton

Village Mall)

www.grchirospa.com


What is SEEK?

The most frequent word people use

to describe SEEK is “fun”. SEEK is more than that, of course. It is a low pressure environment many have found helpful

as they take steps forward on their spiritual journey. One former participant called SEEK “an anchor during a chaotic time” and the way he “chose a path rather than wandering in a dark forest of endless possibilities.” SEEK meetings begin September 19 and meet Wednesdays from 6:30-8:30pm at Derby Station in East Grand Rapids. The format is simple, SEEK begins with dinner as people make friends or catch up with old ones. Next, some time is spent setting up the topic for the night. Finally, SEEK devotes an hour to everyone’s favorite segment: the conversations. The “class” is designed to help you if you are a) wondering how faith might play a greater role in your life, or how faith could be more directly relevant to the important issues in your life b) curious about Jesus and how Jesus might fit into a faith journey c) definitely interested in a life of faith, but consider yourself brand new to it d) interested in the idea of prayer or communication with God, but unsure how to pursue it. SEEK is free and so are the appetizers!

For more information, conversation topics and testimonials check out our website: facebook.com/SEEKgr. RSVP to [email protected] (SEEK provides childcare options for those who RSVP). See ad page 29.

Shakin’ Shakti Celebration

Throughout September, On The Path Yoga celebrates its inaugural year in its studio space in Spring Lake!

In addition to a variety of specials, owner and lead instructor Sandy Parker is hosting this area’s first yoga rave on Saturday, September 15 from 8-10pm. Parker describes the high energy event as “part birthday party, part fitness experience, part community bash”. The all-ages event is free to the public and will feature yoga and dancing to pumped-up Eastern club music. In the spirit of night raves, On The Path Yoga will also be distributing body paint and glow sticks to all attendees. “We want to come together as a healthy, excited community,” says Parker, “without the inclusion of alcohol, drugs or late night experiences. Participants can enjoy a social, physical and spiritual event together, yet be able to include their young family members and be home at a decent hour. This is such an awesome concept and we are fortunate to have the partnership of our DJ, our fellow yoga instructors and coordinating heath practitioners like Anne Vanderhoek with Return2Wellness”. The rave will take place behind On The Path Yoga

located at 617 E. Savidge in Spring Lake in the open space commonly used on Fridays for the local farmer’s market. Some yoga mats provided, but participants are encouraged to bring a towel or mat to be comfortable. Bottled water will be available for purchase, as well as other healthy refreshments.

For details, visit www.facebook.com/OTPYoga or www.onthepathyoga.com or call 616-935-7028. See ad page 16.

KudosKari de St Germain, an Orthopedic Massage Therapist at Rockford Health Alternatives, recently returned from Utah, where she completed a 50-hour Instructor Certification in the Melt Method, a simple self-help technique that anyone can do to relieve chronic pain, regain flexibility and slow down the aging process. Kari says it’s an honor to be the first Instructor in West Michigan and one of only three in the State.

For more information, visit www.MELTMichigan.com.


healthbriefs

MATE TEA FIGHTS COLON CANCER

According to a recent University of Illinois study, bioactive compounds

in mate tea, a beverage consumed in South America for its medicinal properties, killed human colon cancer cells in vitro. The scientists attribute this surprising health benefit to the tea’s caffeine derivatives that not only induced death in the cancer cells, but also reduced important markers of inflammation.

Source: University of Illinois College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environ-mental Sciences

National Women’s Health & Fitness Day is September 26—

Look for a Local Event

Why Laptops Should be Renamed... and RelocatedThe portable computers that serve as our business and communication

“lifelines” may actually be thwarting unborn lives. Researchers suggest that laptop computer (LTC) users should avoid putting the devices directly on their laps, especially for extended periods of time. Recent research reported in the journal Fertility and Sterility ex-amined semen samples from 29 healthy male donors that used an LTC on their laps, near their testes. The scientists found that LTCs connected to the Internet via Wi-Fi resulted in decreased sperm motility and increased sperm DNA fragmentation. A separate study, published in the journal Archives of Environmental and Occupational Health, noted that electro-magnetic fields produced by LTCs likely induce currents within the body and can expose developing fetuses in pregnant women to unsafe levels. The researchers concluded that, “[An individual’s] ‘laptop’ is paradoxically an improper site for the use of an LTC, which consequently should be renamed to not induce customers to-wards an improper use.”

WATCHING MAGIC BOOSTS CREATIVITY IN CHILDREN

Researchers from Lancaster University have discovered that youngsters

watching creative fantasy films improve their own imagination and creativity. The study involved 52 4-to-6-year-old children. The youngsters were split into two groups and shown two short segments of a popular fantasy movie. The findings showed that the group watching the magical scenes generally scored “significantly better” in creative activities than their peers in the other group that saw scenes without any magical content.


20-Second Trust FactorFirst impressions not only count—they are

surprisingly accurate, at least when it comes to detecting whether a stranger is “made” to be compassionate, trustworthy or kind. New research by the University of California, Berkeley suggests that it can take just 20 seconds to recognize who is genetically so inclined. Two dozen couples participated in the study and provided DNA samples. Researchers documented them as they talked about times when they had suf-fered. A separate group of observers that did not know

the couples were shown 20-second video segments of only the listeners and asked to rate which participants seemed most compassionate, based on facial expressions and body language. The listeners that received the highest ratings for empathy turned out to pos-sess a particular variation of the oxytocin receptor gene known as the GG genotype. Dubbed the “love hormone”, oxytocin is naturally secreted into the bloodstream and the brain, where it promotes social interaction, bonding and romantic love. “People can’t see genes, so there has to be something going on that is signal-ing these genetic differences to the strangers,” says Aleksandr Kogan, lead author of the study. “What we found is that the people that had two copies of the G ver-sion displayed more trustworthy behaviors: more head nods, eye contact, smiling and open body posture. These behaviors signaled kindness to the strangers.”

Can Parents Teach Peace?A recent study suggests they can. Researchers from

Virginia Commonwealth University, in Richmond, and the University of Illinois system studied more than 5,500 students at 37 middle schools, focusing on this age group because aggressive behavior tends to escalate during the transition from childhood to adolescence. The researchers found that violent behavior in general increased throughout the three years of middle school, especially among girls. The good news is that children whose parents actively advocate peaceful conflict resolution acted less aggressively, even if they attended more violent schools.

A New Direction for Neti PotsUsed for centuries in Asian cultures to

support nasal health and eliminate toxins from the nasal mucosa, neti pots have recently become popular in the Western world and are recognized for their value in preventing and relieving sinus infections. Typically, a mild solution of unrefined sea salt and purified or distilled water is poured from one nostril through the other to flush out unwanted mucus, bacteria, fungi and other microorganisms. Herbalist Steven Frank, of Nature’s Rite, points to a powerful new paradigm that helps neti pot users deal even more effectively with infection: a regimen of aqueous, colloidal silver and soothing herbal and plant extracts. Frank recommends using the neti pot with a colloidal silver wash that is retained in the nostrils for several minutes. “Bacteria and fungus stick rather well to the nasal mucosa and few are flushed out with simple saline flushes,” he explains. “Most of these nasty pathogens adhere to the mucosa with what is called a biofilm. Within this slime layer, they are well protected and thrive in the warm moist sinuses, so a small saline bath once a day doesn’t bother them much. However, colloidal silver disables certain enzymes needed by anaerobic bacteria, viruses, yeasts and fungus, resulting in their destruction. And, unlike antibiotics, silver does not allow resistant ‘super bugs’ to develop.” He also suggests soothing the sinuses with restorative herbal decoctions. Calendula, plantain and aloe contain vital nutrients that soothe and heal, while Echinacea root and grapefruit seed extract offer antimicrobial benefits. Frank emphasizes the importance of using a neti pot safely and responsibly and warns against table salt, which can irritate nasal membranes, and tap water, which may contain contaminants.

For more information, call 888-465-4404 or visit MyNaturesRite.com. See ad, page 14.


News and resources to inspire concerned citizens to work together in building a

healthier, stronger society that benefits all.

globalbriefs

Noodle DoodleCreativity on TapCreativity is often perceived as an unpredictable event, the product of an unexpected “Aha!” moment. But a pair of Michigan psychologists, Mareike Wieth, of Albion College, and Rose Zacks, of Michigan State University, decided to research the concept. They discovered that problems requiring a flash of illumination to solve are best approached during the time of day when thinkers are not actually at what they feel is their peak. Reporting their findings in the journal Thinking and Reasoning, they assigned 428 students to fill out a questionnaire with 19 questions, including, “What time would you get up if you were entirely free to plan your day?” and “How much do you depend upon an alarm clock?” Participants were categorized as morning, evening or neutral types and ran-domly assigned to a morning or afternoon testing session. Some problems were analytic in nature, others were inspiration-based. While the more logical type of problem solving showed no statistical difference, morning people scored higher on the insight-demanding challenges in the late afternoon, and vice versa. Wieth and Zacks believe the results depend upon an inhibitory process that suppresses distracting information. It is thought that this system performs less ef-ficiently when individuals are less alert, allowing random thoughts to enter the decision-making process, resulting in more creative thinking.

Trash FashionsThe Rehabilitation of PlasticThe rap on most plastic is that al-though it can be recycled, it doesn’t decompose in landfills. For a period of time, the city of Houston halted its composting of household yard waste due to the cost of having to cut and empty the plastic bags used in curb-side pickup, even though the annual landfill fees exceeded $1 million. But now the service has resumed, based on the use of new, compostable plas-tic bags that require no special han-dling; the city even garners income from sales of composted clippings. Dinnerware, such as utensils, plates and cups, is another niche market in which advocates see potential for use of compostable plastics, especially by cafeterias, restaurants and other institutions. Not only are such items not biodegrad-able, they often end up being thrown out with food waste. Biodegradable polymers that break down in a matter of months are more expensive; for example, the BASF company’s Ecoflex ma-terial costs about two-and-a-half times more than the polyethylene it replaces. But proponents say that it provides value by enabling the large-scale collection of organic waste, such as grass clippings and food, and that the potential for growth is enormous.

Source: Chemical & Engineering News

Bunker Hunker Down is the New Up

Designer Matthew Fromboluti, of Washington University, in St. Louis, Missouri, has turned conventional wisdom about modern construction upside-down with his architectural design, Above/Below, submitted for the eVolo Skyscraper Competition. His underground skyscraper would theo-retically fill a 900-foot-deep, 300-acre-wide crater left by the Lavender Pit copper mine, in Bisbee, Arizona. A cone-shaped, inverted tower

would allow people to live, work and even grow food in a huge cavern, covered by a dome. The building is designed to maintain a comfortable temperature via a passive climate-control system suited to the hot desert environment. A solar chim-ney provides natural ventilation as the sun heats the air at the surface, causing it to rise and draw cooler air up through vents at the bottom. The moving air passes through wind turbines at the top of the chimney, generating electricity. Fromboluti’s aim is to atone for the mine’s destruction of the landscape by finding new ways to harvest the energy that went into excavating it, suggesting that no design should be considered “off the table” when planning for the future.

Source: ForumForTheFuture.org


Harm AlarmThe Bambi EffectAccording to a report in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B, lo-cal ecosystems can be influenced and even disturbed by noise pol-lution. Clinton Francis, of the National Evo-lutionary Synthesis Center, in Durham, North Carolina, found that the uproar of noisy gas wells that operate day and night in northwestern New Mexico woodlands drives away some wildlife species and attracts others, and also alters the overall makeup of area plant life. Specifically, he discovered that the reshuffling of desirable birds and small mammals changed the odds of success for local plant reproduction. Hummingbird pollination, important for certain wildflowers, increased, while birds likely to spread around pine seeds without eating all of them largely gave way to seed-eating mice.

Source: Science News

Keep RunningRobust Record-Breaking Centenarian

In October 2011, a 100-year-old Briton, Fauja Singh, became the world’s oldest marathon run-ner, finishing the Toronto Waterfront Marathon, in Canada, in eight hours and 25 minutes. Last April, Singh went on to complete the London Marathon in seven hours and 49 minutes before announcing that he’ll continue running, but only in races from 5K up to half-marathons, and maybe even a vertical run up skyscraper steps. Born in India, Singh moved to the UK in the 1960s, becoming the world’s oldest half-marathoner in 2010 at the age of 99, via the Inter-Faith Marathon, in Luxembourg. He has participated in the Olympic Torch Relay twice, in Athens in 2004 and London in 2012.

The London resident credits ginger curry, tea and being happy for his endur-ance. The multiple Guinness World Record-holder says, “The secret to a long and healthy life is to be stress-free. Be grateful for everything you have, stay away from people that are negative, stay smiling and keep running.” Singh trains by running 10 miles every day.

Sources: BBC; ibnlive.in.com

No GMOsStop Monsanto’s Attacks on Safe Food LawsBeyond continuing its well-documented opposi-tion to genetically modified (GMO) labeling laws in order to protect its corporate interests, Monsanto has recently launched aggressive backdoor attacks on organic and non-GMO farmers and consumers. The corporation’s rider attached to the U.S. House of Representatives’ 2013 Agriculture Appropria-tions Bill would allow planting of new genetically engineered (GE) crops—even when courts rule that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has ap-proved them illegally. Now, Monsanto has slipped an even more dangerous provision, HR 872, into the house version of the Farm Bill. This so-called Reducing Regulatory Burdens Act would stop the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency from reviewing new and expanded uses of pesticides (often caused by the introduction of herbicide-resistant GMO crops) and require the USDA to approve GE crops easier and faster. Most GMO crops have been genetically engineered to withstand spraying with herbicides whose toxic ingredients remain in the plants and then enter the environment and food chain. The American Academy of Environmental Medicine links GMO foods with adverse health effects, and the President’s Cancer Panel Report advises against choosing foods grown with pesticides, herbicides and chemical fertilizers. Join with millions of other concerned consumers and national organizations, such as the Organic Consumers Association, Center for Food Safety, United Farm Workers, American Public Health Association, Sierra Club, Rainforest Action Network and Institute for Responsible Technology, to safeguard our food supply and environment. Tell Congress to remove Monsanto’s toxic provisions.

Take action to protect citizens’ food at Tinyurl.com/StopMonsantoNow.


Upcycle ItRepurpose Just About Anything

Repurposing pos-sessions saves money by reducing consumption and helps the environ-ment by taking pressure off land-fills. Common strat-egies include using

old newspapers for stuffing or wrapping and used tin cans to collect cooking grease. Author Jeff Yeager, in his book, Don’t Throw That Away, expounds on such everyday “upcycling”. His tips include using a banana peel to shine shoes, sprinkling crum-bled eggshells in the garden as fertilizer and natural pest control, and stuffing dryer lint inside empty toilet paper rolls for fireplace kindling. Instead of merely recycling plastic mesh bags, nest a few together and use them as a kitchen sink scrub pad. Fill empty plastic bottles with water and freeze them to make the refrigerator more energy-efficient, and also to serve as dripless ice cubes for the family picnic cooler. Before discarding old carpet, sal-vage the best sections to use in smaller spaces, like a bathroom, closet, car floor or pet house. Instead of buying new shelf liners, consider used gift-wrapping paper for kitchen or bathroom cabinets. Scrap lumber, tile and stones can be made into mosaic art designs. A cat scratching post exemplifies another multi-source (carpet and wood) upcy-cling project. While about 90 percent of U.S. households now have curbside recy-cling available, the amount of trash each American produces keeps grow-ing. According to the U.S. Environ-mental Protection Agency, the average citizen currently generates about 4.5 pounds of trash a day, totaling 600 times their body weight over a lifetime unless they seriously practice the three R’s of reduce, reuse and recycle.

ecotip

Chicken coop

made from discarded

scrap lumber.


THE HAKOMI METHODExperiential Therapy Invites Your Healing to Unfold

by Ken Porter

Hakomi, a body-centered, mindfulness-based experiential psychotherapy, was developed in the late 1970’s by the

renowned therapist and author Ron Kurtz. In 1981, seeking to synthesize the most effective healing modalities available, Kurtz and a team of therapists and educators founded the Hakomi Institute. Their goal: to hone the highly effective modality into a practical, coherent, and teachable approach. The result is a beautiful process that incorporates both Western and Eastern influences.

Drawing From the East and the WestFrom the West, Hakomi draws on general systems theory and modern body-centered therapies including Gestalt, Psychomotor Therapy, Feldenkrais, Focusing, Ericksonian Psychotherapy, Neurolinguistic Programming, and the work of Wilhelm Reich and Alexander Lowen. From the East, it draws on the principles of mindfulness, compassion, nonviolence and blending. Psychotherapists, counselors, social workers, physicians, bodyworkers and other healing professionals practice Hakomi, which teaches individuals how to truly love themselves by healing the unconscious patterns that block their growth and fulfillment. Practitioners and clients tend to come away from their Hakomi experiences with a new perspective on healing, a word that evokes hope, joy and relief. To heal is to change, which can evoke fear, dread and uncertainty, as it requires experiencing vulnerability and letting go of familiar ways of being. When the dynamics of seeking help from another person enter into the change equation, it’s easy to understand why people sometimes cling to habits, behavioral patterns and mindsets that bring them misery rather than embrace new ways that would bring freedom.

Change From WithinHakomi is set apart from more traditional approaches to healing because of its paradoxical absence of trying to change anyone. While change is the point, the main objective of this process is to first help people understand, and then heal the unconscious patterns that are getting in their way. Thanks to an abiding trust in the client’s innate impulse toward healing, the client senses that they are supported in discovering this for themselves. Because it comes from within and not from someone else, the resulting change is powerful and lasting.

Greeting ResistanceThis approach, which runs on a sense of curiosity, honors not only the impulse to heal, change and grow, but also the impulse to protect the status quo. When resistance arises, it’s greeted with wonder and loving presence. The client is shown how to bring curiosity and awareness to their present, felt experience, which

changes the relationship between what’s conscious and what’s unconscious.

Core MaterialGreat care is given in the Hakomi approach to the client’s relationship with his or her own “core material”. Usually formed early in life, core material consists of memories, beliefs, thought patterns and habitual ways of being. It influences—generally unconsciously—the main elements of our lives: our choices of friends, partners, careers, activities, general disposition and outlook, sense of safety and belonging, and tendencies toward success or failure. It has enormous power to impact one’s life for good or ill and doesn’t respond well to force. It has a mission and is determined to carry it out. What it does respond to is compassionate mindfulness and curiosity. As the client finds more and more safety with this core material, the process deepens, often drawing on creative experiments to increase awareness. This may involve standing, moving, exploring sound, touch, eye contact, posture or any number of other ways to understand what’s trying to make itself known. All of these explorations foster increasing connection between the conscious mind and the body, where core material is constantly expressing itself. By teaching the mind and body to communicate with each other, this work helps people clearly understand how they’ve been unconsciously creating pain in their lives. With this understanding comes the awareness of new and more satisfying options.

Conscious ChoicesThe final stage of the process is to help the client integrate this awareness by exploring experiences that support the new options. With the awareness and motivation coming from within, when new choices are embraced, they tend to stick. Being able to make conscious choices, rather than living at the mercy of habitual patterns, is a much more beautiful way to experience life.

Ken Porter is a Certified Somatic Therapist and Certified Hakomi Therapist. He practices at the Fountain Hill Center in Grand Rapids. He can be reached at 616-262-3848 or through his website at www.BodyandSoulGR.com. See ad page 46.

Practitioners interested in an introductory Hakomi workshop see the calendar section or contact Ken Porter.


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Yoga Boosts Heart HealthResearch published in the Interna-

tional Journal of Medical Engineer-ing and Informatics supports a direct link between the regular practice of yoga, with its breathing exercises, stretching, poses, relaxation and meditation, and heart health. The researchers point to yoga’s impact on the nervous system, which regulates heart rate through the sympathetic nervous system that causes the heart rate to rise, and the parasympathetic nervous system, which slows it down. When the two systems work well together, they en-sure that the heart rate is steady, yet ready to respond to external changes if needed, such as the fight or flight response. The study of 84 volunteers showed that regular yoga practitio-ners have a stronger, more flexible parasympathetic control, which helps them ease out of stressful situations more easily. The researchers con-cluded that this translates into the desirable qualities of higher heart rate variability, more resistance to stress and an overall healthier heart.

Source: Inderscience Publishers, 2009


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iNJury-free yoGAProven Approaches for Safe Practice

by Lynda Bassett

fitbody

“Like any kind of movement, yoga involves some risk,” says Devarshi Steven Hartman,

dean of the Kripalu School of Yoga, headquartered in Stockbridge, Massa-chusetts. “The level of risk depends on the individual’s age, physical condition, limitations, emotional state, previous injuries, strength, time of day, aware-ness, type of movement and how much weight bearing is taking place.” It’s not uncommon for both sea-soned athletes and yoga neophytes to push too hard in the beginning. Dr. Loren Fishman, medical director at Manhattan Physical Medicine & Reha-bilitation, says, “The three leading causes of injury are an overenthusiastic student, improper alignment and poor teaching.”

Between 15 and 20 million Americans practice yoga, spending an estimated $5.7 billion annually on classes and accessories. National Yoga Month, in September, reminds us to always make personal safety a guiding principle during practice sessions. Experts advise the following guidelines for practicing injury-free yoga.

Many aspirants feel they have to master a pose right away; thus, a “Type A” person may have the most potential for injury, observes Sadie Nardini, New York City-based founder of Core Strength Vinyasa Yoga and host of Cable TV’s Viera Living’s daily yoga show, Rock Your Yoga. Some instructors may have a vigorous Type A attitude, as well. “Keep looking if you feel pushed,” she advises. Choosing a style is less important than choosing the instructor best suited to the student’s needs. “Finding the right teacher,” says Nardini, “is kind of like dating. Keep looking until you find your match.”

Proven GuidelinesHere are some safe approaches and


injury-prevention tips from experi-enced yogis. Research the teacher. Investigate a yoga instructor’s credentials before signing up for a class, advises Meredith Montgomery, a board member of the Yoga Health Foundation and publisher of Natural Awakenings’ Mobile/Baldwin edition. Read the instructor’s biography to verify his or her professional training, certification and level of experience. YogaAlliance.org maintains a well-respected registry of instructors that have been certified as registered yoga teachers (RYT). Analyze the class level. Consider the name of the class, plus the level of advancement. New students may want to begin with a gentle, restorative or yin-type class. To reduce any risk, “Sign up for classes that are one level lower than where you are,” advises Fishman. Ask how many students are allowed in the class; a smaller size means more one-on-one attention. Speak out. “Don’t be afraid to ask questions,” Fishman emphasizes; get to the class early, introduce yourself to the teacher and perhaps audit vari-ous classes. Good instructors always ask students about their health and fitness history. Look for special needs groups. “You can get really specific in choosing the right yoga class, whether it focuses on back care or other therapeutic yoga,” notes Nardini.

Exercise caution. Certain areas of the body, like the back, neck and limbs, are particularly prone to injury, counsels Hartman. “Twisting and con-torting poses can cause undue pres-sure,” so take things slowly and stop if pain occurs. Practice correct alignment. Experts agree that proper alignment is key to injury-free yoga. “There’s a lot to proper alignment; it’s integral to being a yoga teacher,” says Fishman. A good one will walk the room to make sure every-one has the correct form, keeping the vertebrae more or less in line, even in a twisting pose. Seek modifying options. Instruc-tors must teach modifications in poses to accommodate the individual, often using props such as blocks and straps. Learn to breathe. Proper breathing cannot be overemphasized. “Kripalu’s

teaching methodology, for example, emphasizes coordinating movement with breath because it is one of the leading ways to prevent injury,” Hart-man says. Go with a teacher that under-stands anatomy. A teacher with such a background knows not only how muscles move, but also how they move together. Experts in yoga understand kinesiology—the natural synergies and limits to muscle and joint movement, according to Fishman. Nardini further emphasizes the importance of teaching transitions between poses. Consider prior injuries. “People think of yoga as a healing practice. That does not [necessarily] mean it will help heal a previous injury,” says Nardini. “It’s possible you can make it even worse.” Those with previous injuries, plus elderly individuals and expectant mothers, must take extra safety precautions. Remember that yoga is not about competition. “Don’t be afraid to take a time out,” says Fishman. “Or go into a child’s or modified child’s pose if you need to.” In the end, “Yoga is about increas-ing awareness of the body. A well-schooled yoga teacher intends to create individual, empowering experiences,” concludes Hartman. Lynda Bassett is a freelance writer based near Boston, MA. Connect at LyndaBassett.com.

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Functional MedicineTaking the Whole

Toolbox Approach

by Kathleen Barnes

“Conventional medicine is like a carpenter that only has a hammer to work with, while

functional medicine doctors are work-ing with a full toolkit,” says the author of From Fatigued to Fantastic, National Medical Director of Fibromyalgia & Fatigue Centers, Dr. Jacob Teitelbaum, of Kona, Hawaii. Conventional medicine addresses symptoms instead of diseases, explains Los Angeles functional medicine practi-tioner Dr. Hyla Cass, author of 8 Weeks to Vibrant Health: A Take Charge Plan for Women. “It tends to treat the symp-toms with more and more medications that cause a host of other side effects that also need to be treated and can result in declining health, rather than increased vitality.” “Functional medicine, rather than simply ‘chasing symptoms’ while ignoring the causes, searches for and addresses environmental factors, nutri-tional deficiencies, genetic tendencies, biochemical dysfunctions and emotion-al and social stressors that can together

cause the development of symptoms,” adds Dr. Adiel Tel-Oren. He operates Eco-Health Clinics internationally (the U.S. site is in Minneapolis, Minnesota) and serves as president emeritus and professor of nutrition and functional medicine with the California-based University of Natural Medicine. In every case, it takes some investigation to get to the heart of the problems, and the solutions can take many forms. “For example, depression, insomnia and obesity aren’t diseases; they are symptoms,” says Cass. “If we can find the underlying cause of these symptoms, we can address the prob-lem permanently.” An allopathic approach, on the other hand, would routinely recom-mend a pill to lower temperature for high fever, prescribe a synthetic pill to elevate mood in treating depression, or look to pharmacological anti-inflamma-tory drugs for simple immune reactions. Tel-Oren is among those that link a vast number of illnesses to stress: “Diverse conditions such as fibromy-

algia, irritable bowel syndrome, heart disease, diabetes, mood and cognitive disorders, various autoimmune disor-ders, premenstrual syndrome, tem-poromandibular joint issues, chronic pelvic pain, interstitial cystitis, chronic low back pain, chemical and food sen-sitivities, allergies, asthma and cancer all seem to share common courses of formation. The common denominator for these disturbances appears to be chronic stress.” Dr. Mark Hyman, chair of the Institute for Functional Medicine, in Lenox, Massachusetts, elaborates: “Functional medicine seeks to create balance in the body by looking at seven keys to achieving wellness: nutrition, hormones, inflammation, digestion, de-toxification, energy metabolism and a calm mind. We work through the entire system, help people identify patterns and return the body to balance.” Hyman is a strong advocate of nu-trition as the basis for restoring balance to the body. “Food is the most powerful medicine we have, more powerful than any drug, more powerful than anything you’ll ever find in a pill bottle,” he says. Teitelbaum notes, “Conventional medicine is basically run on econom-ics, so doctors are too often influenced by drug company marketing messages masquerading as science that encour-age expensive treatments, regardless of their toxicity.” In stark contrast, “Func-tional medicine instead looks for the lowest cost treatment that is supported by medical evidence.”

Conventional Medicine Case in PointFibromyalgia, for example, encom-passes a basket of symptoms, usually beginning with overall body pain with specific pain points. Other com-mon symptoms can include extreme fatigue, facial pain, irritable bowel syndrome, memory loss and brain fog, depression, numbness and tingling, palpitations, insomnia and headaches, including migraines. “Until a few years ago, conven-tional medicine decided you were crazy if you complained of these symp-toms,” advises Teitelbaum. “Then some expensive medications came out—promoted by $210 million a year in

healingways

Once called “alternative” medicine, then “holistic” or “comple- mentary” and later “integrative”, the newest evolution is “functional” medicine, designed to search out the underlying causes of illnesses in order to carry out effective treatment.


advertising; so now, patients are instead being told to take medications with lots of side effects.” The most common conventionally prescribed drugs for fibromyalgia target symptoms of insomnia, depression, nerve pain and inflammation. Accord-ing to Teitelbaum, the vast majority of people treating with these medications continue to experience the same symp-toms over a five-year period; only 25 to 35 percent report some improvement. It’s difficult to determine how many Americans suffer from fibro-myalgia because many go undiag-nosed (the average time from onset of symptoms to diagnosis is five years). Cure4Fibromyalgia.com estimates that 5 million Americans, or approximately 2 percent of the population, suffer from this disease.

Functional Medicine Alternative“Functional medicine practitioners recognize that fibromyalgia represents an energy crisis in the body and use simple, appropriate and effective treat-ments with no harmful side effects,” says Teitelbaum. “Most often I use a SHINE protocol that I developed, based on 30 years of treating patients with chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia, with a 90 percent success rate.” His is just one example of the way functional medicine would treat a difficult-to-diagnose and to treat disease. Cass uses functional medicine very effectively against depression, ad-diction and a host of women’s health issues. Hyman specializes in managing diabetes and obesity with the tools of functional medicine. “If other medicines worked as well as treatments used in functional medicine, I’d use them, but they don’t,” concludes Hyman. “My Hippocratic Oath says I must help relieve suffering. I can do that with the tools that func-tional medicine gives me.”

Kathleen Barnes is a natural health advocate, author and publisher. Eight Weeks to Vibrant Health: A Take Charge Plan for Women is among her many books. Visit KathleenBarnes.com.


For most parents, back-to-school season also signals the start of cold season, which for some kids, can

stretch out for months. Kids’ immune systems, like their brains, need to be educated and strengthened, which might explain why young children are likely to experience two or three colds a year, says Dr. Lawrence Rosen, a holistic pediatrician practicing in New Jersey and chair of the American Acad-emy of Pediatrics Section on Comple-mentary and Integrative Medicine. Here are some great strategies to keep kids healthy and bolster their im-mune systems throughout the year. Manage stress: Stress is probably the biggest challenge to a child’s im-mune system, says Rosen. “Stress plays a big role in immune health. It literally impacts us on the cellular level. Studies repeatedly show that kids get sick more frequently when they are stressed out.”

“Give your kids some down time,” Rosen advises. “Don’t schedule every minute of their time. If you are a compul-sive scheduler, then schedule quiet time.” Sleep is a vital component of immune system health, he points out. “Most children need at least eight hours of sleep a day and teenagers may need as much as 10 hours.” Eat right: Eliminating sugar com-pletely from a child’s diet is a huge step toward better health and building a strong immune system, says holistic Pediatrician Debby Hamilton, of Boul-der, Colorado. In California, a Loma Linda Uni-versity study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition shows that eating or drinking eight tablespoons of sugar (about the amount in two, 12-ounce soft drinks) can:nReduce the ability of white blood cells to fight off infection by 40 percent.

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nLower immune function for up to five hours.nBlock absorption of vitamin C, which plays a vital role in immune function.nMake cells more permeable to the influx of bacteria and viruses. Tracee Yablon-Brenner, a registered dietitian, holistic health counselor and co-founder of RealFoodMoms.com, offers a few tips to get kids enthusiastic about healthy eating:nAsk kids to help prepare the food and set the table, with tasks appropriate to their ages.nCut vegetables in small pieces and “hide” them in favorite foods; for example, add zucchini and broccoli to spaghetti sauce.nGrow a garden (even a container garden) and engage children in the fun of growing food.nTake them to a farmers’ market to help pick out meal ingredients.

Any food high in vitamin C is great for strengthening immune sys-tems and improving overall health. Sources include citrus fruits, berries, bell peppers, cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower and Brus-sels sprouts and all dark, green, leafy vegetables, especially kale. Yablon-Brenner thinks that juice is too high in sugar (even natural sugars) and instead favors fiber-rich whole fruits. She encourages eating lots of wild-caught fish (avoiding farmed fish, which can be contaminated with mercury and other toxic substances) and plenty of foods rich in vitamin E

and zinc, such as pumpkin seeds and sunflower seeds. Probiotics are also important for keeping the immune system strong. For some kids, eating all-natural yogurt is enough, but for others, probiotic supplements may be necessary. “I’m really passionate about edu-cating and teaching families about the benefits of eating real food and helping them recognize that food is really the best medicine,” says Yablon-Brenner. Exercise: Daily exercise is a key component of any health regimen. “Sometimes, I literally write a pre-scription for family exercise,” says Rosen. Outdoor exercise is beneficial because it also exposes children to the sun, helping them to manufacture the vitamin D that is essential for a strong immune system. Other highly recom-mended exercise programs include yoga for stress reduction, which can be adapted even for small children. Supplements: Rosen and Hamil-ton both favor select supplements for children, especially during cold and flu season. Rosen recommends a whole-food multivitamin for kids every day, as well as vitamin D supplements, as follows: 400 IU daily for babies, 1,000 IU for young children, 2,000 IU for tweens and 4,000 IU for teens and adults. A blood test may check levels of vitamin D. Hamilton adds 15 milligrams of zinc daily and likes targeted herbal preparations for preventing and treat-ing colds. Sanitation: The experts’ advice here may be surprising: They all recom-mend letting kids get a little dirty. “Kids are a little too sterile,” says Hamilton. “We used to play in the dirt, get dirt under our nails and expose our immune systems to bacteria that made them stronger. Our focus on antibacte-rial products today has actually led to the growth of antibiotic-resistant super-bugs.” As a postscript, she recommends avoiding hand sanitizers; not only are they less than effective, but their alco-hol content can cause dry skin.

Kathleen Barnes is a natural health advocate, author and publisher; 10 Best Ways to Manage Stress is her latest book. Visit KathleenBarnes.com.

Dr. Lawrence Rosen suggests

a homemade hand wash blend

of essential oils commonly

called Thieves Oil. He makes

up his own sweet-smelling

antibacterial blend from cin-

namon, clove, lemon eucalyp-

tus, rosemary and orange oils,

mixed with a little aloe vera

and water. Keep in a spray

bottle next to every sink.Kale Crisps

Recipe Kids Like1 bunch of organic curly kaleSea salt to tasteGarlic powder to taste2 Tbsp lemon juice

Preheat oven to 350° F.

Line a baking sheet with parch-ment paper.

Wash and dry kale leaves, place in a single layer on baking sheet and sprinkle with sea salt.

Roast for 8 to 10 minutes, until slightly browned and crispy.

Drizzle with lemon juice and serve.

Source: Tracee Yablon-Brenner, from RealFoodMoms.com


By the time a child is 5 or 6, he or she should be able to understand how an allowance works and the

reasons for receiving it. When deciding to pay a child an allowance, the family should first talk together about how he or she will be using the money. Is the plan to save it or spend it? Will a parent need to approve any purchases? Learning to consistently put away a portion in a savings account and perhaps gift another portion to charity become valuable life lessons. Many parents adopt the “three piggy bank” method to teach these lessons. My 20 years of experience work-ing with parents and teens has shaped a practical framework of four proven strategies to help a family wisely com-municate this mutual commitment and set parameters, including a policy as to the amount and frequency of payment. Allowance decisions can differ from one child to the next in the same family. Personal responsibility: There should be no financial reward for things that children need to do for their own

health and development, such as re-sponsibly heading to bed on time after brushing their teeth. One father shared that he had to pay his son to brush his teeth every morning and night, so who was in charge? Family or social responsibility: Tasks that contribute to the family or social environment should not result in financial reward, such as washing the dishes or reading to a younger sibling. One mother, after explaining the plan to her children and consistently apply-ing it, saw their attitude transform in just a couple of weeks. Instead of fight-ing, the three kids now work together each night to clean up after dinner without arguing. Paying for completion of specific tasks: Determine and agree to guide-lines that include the general tasks or duties that are expected, the perfor-mance of which will result in earning the specified allowance. By defining what is over and above personal, family or social responsibility, parents en-courage and reward children for their

Making AllowancesLearning to Manage Money at a Young Age

by Sharon Lechter

Instituting an allowance plan that works best for each child is a sound way to start teaching the value of money, budgeting and saving.


extra efforts. Those same kids agree-ably cleaning up after meals may also be thinking of extra chores around the house to earn their allowances. Encouraging a child’s entrepre-neurial spirit: Inspire children to think of creative ways to earn money and watch in pleased amazement at how creative they become when they really want something. One 12-year-old now has a business collecting cans from all of his neighbors and is earning $100 every other week. He was able to buy the faster skateboard he wanted and even justified it as a business expense, because he could collect the cans more quickly with it. Providing structure and enabling communication in a family’s approach to allowances is critical to ensuring that children learn good money habits that will serve them well for life. It’s a mutually constructive way to teach principles related to the importance of saving, spending less than they earn and consistently giving back to their community. The answer to the question of whether or not to pay a child an allow-ance and under what conditions rests with the parents. The greater and more vital question is what mindset do they want to create and nurture within their children: a sense of entitlement or an entrepreneurial spirit? The foundational choice is theirs.

Sharon Lechter is CEO of Pay Your Fam-ily First, creator of the ThriveTime for Teens life and money reality board game and co-author of Outwitting the Devil, Three Feet from Gold and Rich Dad Poor Dad. A recognized financial education expert, she is a member of the National CPAs Financial Literacy Commission. Learn more at SharonLechter.com.

With an entitlement mindset, a child simply expects to be paid each week.

With an entrepreneur’s mind-set, a child finds ways to create value and earn money through applied creativity.


Three years ago, Janine Joslin, a savvy business executive, set her sights on becom-

ing a Dazzler, and today is a proud member of the Leawood, Kansas, chapter of community tap-dancing troupes. “I love to dance and perform, and I felt that had been missing from my own life,” she says. After a friend suggested it, Joslin showed up for her first practice ready to go, wear-ing tights and tap shoes. Potential Dazzlers must prove they’ve learned the routines before being selected to perform for the public. Luckily, says Joslin, “I’m a quick study,” and soon took her place in this 50-and-up wom-en’s group that likes to routinely Shuffle Off to Buffalo at area retirement facilities, church halls and special events. Learning the stop-and-go, Broadway-style routines such as Steppin’ Out and Millie is more of a mental challenge than aerobic exercise, comments Joslin. “The main thing is it exercises your brain.”

Performing for appreciative groups

is a great feeling, she notes, and helps make

the twice-weekly practices worth-

while. Just being around inspir-ing women has

helped Joslin look at aging differently. She’s

now applying her business skills to set up her troupe’s first website. Joslin’s experi-ence proves what many dancers, art-ists, writers, actors and musicians know: Active, hands-on, group participation in the arts is ben-eficial on many

levels.

National TrendIn a recent study commissioned by the Wallace Foundation, Gifts of the Muse: Reframing the Debate About the Ben-efits of the Arts, the researchers found that, “People that engage in arts in a

group setting develop a sense of com-munity as they exchange favors (such as meeting to learn lines or loaning painting supplies); identify themselves with a cast, music ensemble or choral group; and develop a sense of trust and expectations of reciprocity.” It also noted, “Through the arts of ethnic traditions—such as classical Indian dance, Jamaican steel drums or Japanese raku ceramics—participants develop and maintain their cultural heritage and communicate their cul-tural identity to outsiders.”

Gateway ExperiencesMost art disciplines can be experienced at any age. No previous training or abil-ity is required, just a curious spirit and willingness to participate and learn. Fun options range from a paint-ing party, in which par-ticipants set up an easel and paint a canvas at Uncork’d Art, in Washington, D.C. (UncorkdArt.com), to African drumming at Drum-Rise, in Decatur, Georgia (DrumRise.net). “A drumming class is a great way to reduce stress, have fun, relax and reenergize, all at the same time; it has even been shown to positively affect your immune system,” say co-founders Amy Jackson and Colleen Caffrey.

Exploring Our Creative Side

Engaging in Community Arts Brings Unexpected Rewards

by Judith Fertig

“Turning, moving, spinning, dresses swirling, music beating, eyes in contact with a partner, then anoth-er, then another, then an-other, and the fiddle turns a corner, the phrase repeats, the dance repeats. You smile. Your body smiles.”

~ Doug Plummer, photographer and contra dancer, Seattle, Washington


Such activities allow us to dabble and explore amidst the power of a group and maximize the joy of artful endeavors, which many prefer to the cost of individual lessons. One of the most accessible commu-nity arts is choral music, as it requires no special equipment. Singing in a group can also become a community tradi-tion that gathers people of all ages and lifestyles in fellowship and celebration. Since 1882, singing Handel’s Messiah has become an annual high-light for a Swedish wheat-farming community in South-Central Kansas. For three months before Palm Sunday, 200 farmers, homemakers, college students and business owners from the Lindsborg area gather twice weekly to rehearse the three-hour piece (Bethanylb.edu/Oratorio_History.html). Becky Anderson, the owner of Lindsborg’s Swedish Country Inn, who has sung for 41 years, points to a par-ticularly thrilling moment during each performance. “There is just this exhilara-tion as the audience jumps to their feet yelling, ‘Brava, Brava.’ Golly, that’s fun.” Chicagoans maintain a similar holi-day tradition. For 35 years, free Do-It-Yourself Messiah concerts have provided a community-funded uplift (imfChicago.org). Thousands of audience members lend their voices to thrilling performanc-es of this masterpiece, led by a world-class conductor and soloists and backed by an all-volunteer orchestra of local professionals and amateur musicians. Storytelling is yet another com-munity performing art that requires no special equipment. The National Storytelling Network (StoryNet.org) advances the art of storytelling through a national conference and local story-telling guilds. The Lehigh Valley Story-telling Guild, in Pennsylvania, meets once a month at a local coffee house

(LVStorytellers.org). Members include professional and amateur storytell-ers, poets, actors and newcomers that love to practice—or just listen to—this ancient art. Strong community and cultural identity is forged on other stages, as well. The Community Actors Theatre, in San Diego, California’s, Oak Park, performs many plays written by local playwrights exploring themes in black culture (CommunityActorsTheatre.com). For Calvin Manson, a local poet and playwright who teaches acting workshops, the nonprofit venue feels like a mom-and-pop outfit. “They have the raw talent that could be developed into something wonderful. People don’t just learn to be actors and playwrights. They learn to work together, to com-mit to a common struggle. When they leave, they know how to work with people, to be team players.” Sometimes, a life change can open the door to a creative outlet. As a newly single 30-something, photographer Doug Plummer says that when he fell in with the Seattle contra dance scene in the mid-1980s, “It became my primary social life.” Derived from New England folk dance, two lines of dancers face each other and move to the rhythms of fiddle music. “Since 2003, anytime I’m in New England, I try to stay over on a Monday and catch the Nelson [New Hamp-shire] dance,” says Plummer. Likening it to participating in the slow-food and similar local movements, he says, “I

feel like I’m entering into a mode of slow-dancing.” At the weekly Nelson gath-erings, “The dancers will drift in; singles, couples and families with kids,” he relates. “Someone puts out the fiddle case for the

“Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up.”

~ Pablo Picasso


$2 admission. Whoever volunteered to bring baked goods sets them out. Har-vey shows up with his fiddle, sits on the fold-up chair on the stage. Bob sits at the piano. ‘Line up for a contra,’ barks Don, in a clipped, Yankee accent. ‘First dance is Monymusk.’ Then everyone just joins in.”

Auditioning for the Role of a LifetimeThe next level of volunteer arts partici-pation may involve an audition and a greater commitment. At the same time, these pursuits offer prime opportuni-ties to expand artistic skills and join in something bigger than one’s self. Since 1873, the Cincinnati, Ohio, May Festival has served as a shining ex-ample of community showmanship (May Festival.com). Chorus auditions are held in September, rehearsals begin in January and concerts routinely sell out by May. Music critic Nancy Malitz com-ments, “It’s that special, tiny sliver of the year when everybody stretches. When hundreds of amateur singers accelerate the tempo by devoting every night to rehearsal and every day to thoughts of the concerts to come… when audiences

look their finest, clap their loudest.” Lawrence Coleman, a chorus mem-ber for 15 years, has found that singing and networking with other May Festival vocalists has paid off in surprising ways. “I’ve recorded and had other singing engagements and opportunities, all be-cause I’ve been connected to the chorus and the people in it,” he says. Coleman also sings with the rhythm and blues gospel group Fo Mo Brothers, perform-ing at area churches and the Midwest Regional Black Family Reunion. Coleman remarks, “I have friends in the chorus from very different walks of life. We come together for the single purpose of making great music. People of differing backgrounds and schools of thought can do more than coexist. It’s confirmed for me that we can learn to celebrate our differences when we have a common goal.” Even those that don’t feel inher-ently artistic can find venturing into an art form unexpectedly rewarding. Channeling an inner Elizabeth Bennett or Mr. Darcy is commonplace in Bay Area English Regency Society waltzes and “longways” dances, in Palo Alto, California (baers.org). Alan Winston, a computer systems administrator and veteran dance caller, observes that these patterned dances appeal to math-science-logic-computer types. “It’s a great place for people that live in their heads to get out and be social,” he says. Appropriately, the dances all feature choreography from Jane Austen’s era. Depending on the theme of the dance—like the sophisticated Cyprians Ball or spirited Return of the Regiments Ball—the ambience may be elegant or rowdy, explains Winston. Dances are taught be-forehand to music such as George Wash-

ington’s Favourite Cotillion, an 1808 tune performed by musicians playing a clarinet, piano and recorder. Many wear period costumes, while others come in jeans. Winston is usually bedecked in a wine-colored waistcoat with tails that he found on eBay. Plein air painters forsake the indoors to take their paints, easels and canvases outside. Plein-Air Painters of America regularly paint in groups in the fresh air and then hold an exhibition; annual workshops help teach techniques (p-a-p-a.com). At the recent seventh annual Florida’s Forgotten Coast event, in the state’s Panhandle, billed as America’s Great Plein Air Paint-Out, featured artists set up alongside amateurs eager to learn more (PleinAirfl.com). Whatever one’s newly discovered or longtime treasure, individuals engag-ing in a group arts activity forge strong social bonds, keep ethnic arts traditions alive, learn new things in new ways and experience joyous personal growth. … All while creating something wonderful.

Judith Fertig regularly contributes to Natural Awakenings. She’s an award-winning cookbook author at AlfrescoFoodAndLifestyle.blogspot.com.

“When I’m not doing any plays, things just don’t go right. This is my justifica-tion. This is my opportunity to just be me.”

~ Eva Jones, foster parent and member of Community Actors Theatre, Oak Park, California

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There are many opportunities to get involved in community arts groups in West Michigan. Below is just a

sampling of what our area has to offer and be sure to check the calendar sections of Natural Awakenings.

DanceGrand Rapids Original Swing Society(www.grandrapidsoriginalswingsociety.com)Grand Rapids Original Swing Society (G.R.O.S.S.) meets every Tuesday night at 7pm and goes until 10pm. During the summer when the weather is nice, they meet at Rosa Park Circle.

MusicGrand Rapids Symphony Chorus(www.grsymphony.org/grs/affiliates/chorus/ )The Grand Rapids Symphony Chorus was organized and founded in 1962 with the guidance and support of Mary Ann Keeler. Today, it is a volunteer organization of 125 members dedicated to achieving excellence in choral presentations. Under the direction of Dr. Pearl Shangkuan since 2004, the chorus has reached an admirable level of artistic choral performance.

Chamber Choir of Grand Rapids(www.chamberchoirgr.org)The Chamber Choir of Grand Rapids serves as a community resource, enhancing cultural growth through distinctive choral arts.Storytelling

Story Spinners of Grand Rapids(www.storyspinners.net)Telling through the centuries of time, spinning forward the traditional art forms of story crafting, storytelling and story arts education.

TheaterGrand Rapids Civic Theater(www.grct.org)One of the largest community theatres in the country, the Grand Rapids Civic Theatre

Discover the Arts Everywhere!and School of Theatre Arts has been entertaining and educating West Michigan since 1925.

Master Arts Theater (www.masterarts.org)The theatre offers a four main stage production season, touring performances, educational classes, Youth Summer Stock, and Arts Day Camps. Master Arts is guided by a Christian world view.

Visual ArtsTraverse City Film Festival(www.traversecityfilmfest.org)The festival presents the best of i n d e p e n d e n t , f o r e i g n , a n d documentary films in several indoor movie houses, including the State Theatre, the City Opera House, and the Old Town Playhouse.

Grand Rapids Art Museum(www.artmuseumgr.org)Located in Grand Rapids, Michigan, it holds collections ranging from Renaissance to Modern Art and special collections on 19th and 20th century European and American art. Its holdings include notable modern art works such as Richard Diebenkorn’s 1963 Ingleside. The museum has in its collection 5,000 works of art, including over 3,500 prints, drawings and photographs.

WritingGrand Rapids Region Writers Group(www.grandrapidsregionwritersgroup.

blogspot.com)The purpose of Grand Rapids Region Writers Group is to promote excellence in fiction, help writers become published and establish careers in their writing field, and to provide continuing support for writers within the publishing industry.

Michigan Writers (www.michwriters.org )To encourage and support writers of all ages, skill levels, and genres in the Great Lakes state by providing opportunities for networking, publication, and education.

Michigan Outdoor Writers Associationwww.miowa.org The Michigan Outdoor Writers Association (MOWA) is a non-profit organization comprised of outdoor communicators, including: writers, photographers, editors, cartoonists for print and, Internet, as well video, lecturers and public relations specialists, radio and television broadcast journalists with passions for communicating about the outdoors.


inspiration

Painter Franck de Las Mercedes, of New York City, has combined a pair of hopeful concepts—world

peace and free art for all—in a quickly broadening art initiative inspired by an “Aha!” moment at the local post office. “I had always painted on the boxes I shipped my paintings in,” relates the native Nicaraguan. “One day, a postal clerk commented that my boxes were like works of art. I thought about how I had prompted the worker to pause in her everyday routine and wondered, ‘What if I shared my painting on the outside of a box, rather than the inside, and what if it carried a message of peace?’” Since that pivotal 2006 encounter, the artist has sent more than 10,600 ab-stractly painted, pre-paid boxes, labeled with messages like, “Handle with Care: Contains Peace,” to individuals in 70 countries, as part of his Priority Boxes Art Project. Each empty box is symbolically “full” of meaning, engaging the thought of the recipient as well as the sender, plus the interpretation of all those han-dling it throughout its postal journey. De Las Mercedes hopes that his painted-message boxes will stimulate new ways of communicating through art. He maintains, “We shouldn’t have to wait for world leaders to take a stand or create peace; it can begin through interpersonal dialogue.”

While many people write to the artist requesting boxes for themselves, others order them for loved ones. Requests vary widely, from a death row inmate that asked for a box for his daughter and a mom that wanted to give one to her son, a leukemia sufferer whose daily highlight was a trip to the family mailbox. The brightly painted boxes also have helped reconcile feuding friends and family members, serving as a peace offering from one to the other. It all helps to bring feelings of greater peace and understanding to the human race, one person at a time. More than 100 schools across the United States have adopted the project, with students creating their own ver-sions of the peace box in the class-room. School-sponsored peace boxes reach patients in hospitals and military personnel overseas and have been used in interschool box exchanges to support anti-bullying campaigns. It would be difficult to find a group that couldn’t benefit from such fresh inspiration.

To request a box, make a donation or start a local peace art project, visit fdlmStudio.com/PriorityBoxes.html.

April Thompson is a freelance writer in Washington, D.C. Connect at AprilWrites.com.

PeAce mAilSpreading Good Will on Earth Through Art

by April Thompson Honor World Peace Day, September 21


comiNG iN octoBer

For more information about advertising and how you can participate, call 616-656-9232

caring for the healthof people and the planet.

Participate in a better future with Natural Awakenings’ special Environment edition.

Did you know that a chiropractor does not treat specific diseases or symptoms? Jared Halsey, D.C., of Halsey Family

Chiropractic in Edmore, MI, says that a chiropractor treats subluxations (a bone misalignment) in the spine, which, when pressed up against a nerve, can cause interference. All nerves originate in the spinal cord, and fan out to all corners of the body. When a nerve is impinged or impeded, it can trigger a wide array of symptoms, from headaches to low back pain to heartburn. Chiropractic care corrects this misalignment, which allows the nerve pathways to open and allows the body to heal itself. “Everyone needs to see a chiropractor,” said Halsey. “Some subluxations may not even present symptoms, and nerve irritation could be going to the heart or the liver, where you can’t feel anything.” Halsey says that subluxations are caused by three things: thoughts, traumas and toxins. Toxins in our environment and the physical force of a car accident or sports injury can cause the vertebrae in the spine to move very slightly, which can cause a subluxation. Thoughts, Halsey said, can have an impact as well. “Your nervous system controls everything, and your body can be just as affected by thoughts as it can be by physical stress,” he said. “An emotional event can cause the nervous system to react in a physical way, just to protect itself.” Halsey specializes in the Blair Upper Cervical Technique, which deals with the manipulation of the top of the neck, which includes vertebrae C1 and C2. The theory is that your entire spinal column and brain stem passes through the first vertebrae, which potentially affects the entire body. Halsey treats the elderly, babies, and everyone in between, and no two treatment plans are alike. “Each visit, I use a thermographic scanner to determine how often a patient needs an adjustment,” said Halsey. “The scan determines the level of care

by measuring the skin’s temperature on the left and right sides of the spine. If there’s a large difference in readings, it will indicate a nerve impingent. This is done at the start of every appointment.” Halsey also incorporates nutrition into his practice, and has his clients take a questionnaire to determine what, if any, supplements would be beneficial. “We have about nine different products, which are based on different body systems,” said Halsey. After graduating from Ferris State University, Halsey attended Palmer College of Chiropractic in Davenport, IA. Halsey opened up his practice in 2006 with a strong interest to help people. “It’s a more natural way of healing,” he said. “I had been to see a chiropractor in the past and I’ve seen how it’s helped me.” Halsey’s mother owns the Countryside Pharmacies in Edmore, Lakeview and Stanton and he comes from a family of health care professionals. When his mother began carrying more natural treatments and homeopathy, it really piqued his interest. “She carries a big line of homeopathic and natural treatments in her stores. We refer patients to each other,” said Halsey. In addition to chiropractic care, Halsey’s sister is a massage therapist and offers massage therapy in the same office. Halsey is married to his wife Jennifer and together they have three children, Grace (18), Gabe (15) and Graem (7). His wife is a graphic designer and helps out in the office and also works for Countryside Pharmacy. He says that “She’s busier than all of us!”

Halsey Family Chiropractic is located at 503 E. Main St. in Edmore. Contact them at 989-427-3457 or visit their ad on page 32 for more information.

A married mother of two young children, Julie Hurley is a freelance writer with a strong interest in natural living. She is also the Director of Public Relations at Principia Media, a publishing house in Grand Rapids, www.PrincipiaMedia.com.

Community Spotlightby Julie Hurley


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wisewords

Julia Cameron is an award-winning author, poet, play-

wright and filmmaker, perhaps best known for her precedent-set-ting works on creativ-ity, including The Art-ist’s Way, The Vein of Gold, Walking in this World and The Right to Write. In her latest book, The Prosperous Heart, she presents a 10-week program that guides readers in developing a life that is as full and satisfying as they ever imagined possible.

How is unblocking creativity linked to having a prosperous heart and a life of enough?I have taught creative unblocking for 35 years. When I’ve asked my stu-dents about money, inevitably their responses are emotional exclamations: “Money is the biggest block to my creativity,” or “I feel like I can handle anything but money,” or “Do we have to talk about money?” I believe that every person is cre-ative, and can use his or her creativity to create a life of “enough”. I have worried about money and found that having money does not end this worry. I have also discovered practical tools that have lifted my students and me out of money worries into a prosper-ous heart. Prospering is something we can do today, no matter how much money we have.

Julia Cameron Speaks from Her Heart

CREATING A LIFE BEYOND NEED AND WORRY

by Linda Sechrist

Prosperity is not just about money, although our relationship to mon-ey must be brought out into the light, and we must be brave enough to look at it candidly. Hav-ing enough is having a life beyond need and worry. It’s about finding satisfaction in our lives, improving the lives we have, straightening out our finances and creat-ing a life that is enough for us.

What led you to conclude that a prosperous heart is about a spiritual bottom line, rather than a financial one?My experience of this principle has been cumulative. When teaching The Artist’s Way through the years, I have sometimes been moved to give away memberships in a class in order to help creatively stymied individu-als that felt they couldn’t afford the 12-week course. While this didn’t add to my bank account, I felt rewarded on a spiritual level as I watched those students blossom over the course of the class.

What tools do you offer readers in the Prosperous Heart?Morning Pages remain the primary tool of a creative recovery and for estab-lishing prosperity. Three daily pages of longhand writing—strictly stream of consciousness—work to provoke,

clarify, comfort, cajole, prioritize and synchronize the day at hand. Counting is another bedrock tool of prosper-ity; keeping a small notebook tracking every penny in and every penny out puts us in touch with our true values, which is one of the first and finest fruits of prosperity. This daily writing, coupled with counting, brings emotional and fi-nancial clarity. Together, they help us discover our true values—both personal and monetary—and uncover the ac-tions that will lead to a life that is truly our own. Abstaining from financial imbal-ance is simple when we stop debting. A commitment to practicing the tool of abstinence plugs the leaks and our personal lifeboat stops sinking. While this may seem severe, it leads straight to more prosperity. Walking at least twice a week for a minimum of 20 minutes works to put events into a healthier perspective. We may walk out with a problem and walk back in with a solution. Walking also offers the opportunity to encounter sights and sounds that fire the imagina-tion and replenish our inner well of creativity. As we walk, we can experi-ence the richness of the world, as well as our own inner prosperity. I recommend taking a time out once in the morning and once at night, for five minutes, to sit quietly and con-sciously count your blessings, or simply rest. Time outs also put us in closer touch with our own inner resources. Ideas often come to us during these pe-riods, which prove to be time-efficient and guided by wisdom. Through many years of experi-ence, I have seen how the tools explored in The Prosperous Heart help people from all walks of life come into contact with their true value system. When they act in alignment with their values, they naturally feel a sense of prosperity. When they do what they love and do it well, the money seems to take care of itself.

Find the next chapter on personal creativity at JuliaCameronLive.com.

Linda Sechrist is a senior staff writer for Natural Awakenings magazine.

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Life changes often occur when people experience something traumatic, and for Natural Health 4 Today, LLC owner, Clara

VanderZouwen, it was no different. “I lost my mom, my dad, and two brothers to cancer in eight years, and knew I could be next,” she said ruefully. After intense research and education, she made major changes in her lifestyle, eventually opening her own company. “My dad and my brother were painters, and every night they would come home and clean up with straight turpentine,” she remembered, “We never gave it a thought back then.” Researching cancer and other significant illnesses, she was struck by the cause and effect research she saw documented in the relationships between toxic overloads in the body and in the environment, and knew she had to make changes immediately. “We began to make the turn to non-synthetic materials and foods in my home,” she explained. “After attending some conferences held locally, I really began to understand that our bodies are made to be healthy. We compromise them by what we put into them, and in the world around us.” VanderZouwen was particularly inspired by Dana Clay Young, after hearing him speak at a conference on natural health practices. He has long pioneered the way for natural healing methods, and is the founder of Be Young Essential Oils. “Changing your lifestyle will help you see positive changes, because it is the real deal,” she said. “Learning how the body works and how wonderfully designed it is when it is cared for properly, I realized I needed to share the information because it was so important.” She opened Servant Enterprises, and although she still feels the call to be a servant, she changed the name of the company to Natural Health 4 Today to better reflect the tools she uses to help her clients. “I tell them to ‘take charge of their health’ because it is a choice,” she explained. “We live in a very toxic environment, and it takes getting educated to make good choices. What you put in or on your body – and what is in your home that is harmful to you or your family or your pets - needs to be eliminated and replaced with things that are safe and natural.” VanderZouwen uses a Bio-feedback Scan as part of her physical evaluation, because it painlessly and quickly gives her a baseline that then determines her suggestions on treatments. Similar to a computer mouse in size and shape, the meter measures bio-magnetic fields in the body, and then feeds it into a computer software program that suggests specific products and treatments to detoxify the body and repair systems that have been disrupted or damaged. “Each person is very different, and comes in suffering from such a variety of ailments and illnesses,” she said. “I have people who come to me suffering from extremely serious illnesses including cancer, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, and Crohn’s Disease, as well as weight issues. I also see people with pain and sleep challenges, Carpel Tunnel

and sports injuries, and others who have emotional difficulties that are severely affecting them physically.” In addition to detoxifying the body and providing products for the home that are not harmful to her clients, VanderZouwen works with essential oils and other natural products that feed and repair the vital systems found in the human body. “Be Young Essential oils do not just smell wonderful,” she said with a smile, “They are the natural manifestation of the plant and our connection to them. At one of the first conferences I attended I saw my first demonstration of the power of essential oils, and how they helped provide healing tools to create change in each and every one of the people who came forward.” VanderZouwen now holds classes on a regular basis to help people understand how to work with essential oils. “There are ten different body systems inside all of us, and three different communication systems, and 76 markers that indicate the health of them,” she pointed out. “They repair the crucial systems in the body. Returning your body to Homeostasis – the body in balance – is the key to good health. Doing it using products that have no bad side effects – only good side effects – is best.” VanderZouwen is certified in the use and application of Be Young Essential Oils, and has attended 29 intensive training symposiums. She has also hosted four trainings held here in Grand Rapids. “Using therapeutic essential oils can help people eliminate the medicine cabinet full of products that treat symptoms,” she said. “More important is getting to the cause of the problem or issue, and taking care of it.” In her spacious office with large picture windows that allowed in the soft green of the grass and bushes and the fading light of the afternoon sun, VanderZouwen pointed out the beauty of nature found outside. “We gain energy from the planet,” she said. “Connecting back to nature - whether it is actually grounding us to it, detoxifying, or using essential oils - raises our body’s frequency. Recharging by helping the body to use what nature has given us is crucial to good health.” She pointed out too that there may be costs in returning to good health, but in reality prevention can save money in the big scheme of life. “It is so rewarding to see someone who has suffered – with an illness itself, loss of work time, the expense and side effects of unnatural drugs, the risks and recovery of surgery – get it and understand that the key is prevention. There is so much knowledge available if they would just ask the right questions,” she remarked. “Our body has an innate ability to heal, if we just help it do so without interference and with what nature has given us.”

For more information about Natural Health 4 Today call Clara VanderZouwen at 616-698-6148 to schedule a consultation or reserve a spot in an upcoming class, or visit the website at www.naturalhealth4today.com. See ad page 45 & 46.

Natural Health 4 Today Community Spotlightby Kim Racette


Dr. William Davis, author of Wheat Belly:

Lose the Wheat, Lose the Weight and Find Your Path Back to Health, is a preventive cardiologist who has gone against the grain to expose yet another genetically engineered mon-strosity, shedding light on the dark side of today’s commercial wheat crops.

What made you suspect that wheat might be behind numerous health problems?When I recognized that 80 percent of the people that came to see me had diabetes or pre-diabetes, I began ask-ing patients to consider removing all wheat from their diets. This made sense to me due to wheat’s high glycemic index. Foods made from this grain raise blood sugar higher than nearly all other foods, including table sugar. The next logical step was to reduce blood sugar by eliminating wheat—organic, multi-grain, whole grain and sprouted—from anyone’s diet. Patients that followed my simple directives and replaced the lost calories with healthy foods such as vegetables, raw nuts, meats, eggs, avocados, olives and olive oil returned three months later with lower fasting blood sugars and low-er glycohemoglobin levels, which tests how well diabetes is being controlled. Some diabetics became non-diabetics

and pre-diabetics became non-pre-dia-betic. On average, these people each lost about 30 pounds and experienced relief from arthritis and joint pains, acid reflux, migraine headaches, edema and irritable bowel syndrome, as well as other condi-tions. Some even reported that they no longer needed inhalers for asthma. Initially, it seemed like these posi-tive results were just odd coincidences. However, based on the overwhelm-ing number of incidences, I clearly saw that it was a real and repeatable phenomenon. I began systematically removing wheat from all my patients’ diets and continued to witness similar turnarounds in health. Research related to agricultural genetics, an area largely ignored by medical doctors, and my own inter-views with U.S. Department of Agricul-ture experts substantiated what my own anecdotal evidence has revealed.

Why has wheat suddenly become such a health threat?The wheat we eat today is not the same wheat our grandmothers used for baking. In the 1970s, in anticipation of a global population explosion and world hun-ger issues, a well-meaning University

consciouseating

Banishing Wheat BellyThe Drawbacks of a Wheat- Dominated Diet

by Lee Walker

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of Minnesota-trained geneticist developed a hybridized strain of high-yielding dwarf wheat. By 1985, all wheat products were made from the altered dwarf strain, which now comprises 99 percent of all wheat grown worldwide. By weight, this modern wheat is approxi-mately 70 percent carbohydrate, in a highly digestible form of a starch known as amylo-pectin A, which converts more easily to blood sugar than nearly all other simple or complex food carbohydrates. Gram-for-gram, wheat increases blood sugar and causes insulin problems to a greater degree than even potato chips or table sugar. Wheat, which now typically comprises 20 percent of all the calories we consume, is in hundreds of prepared foods such as instant soups, salad dressings, candy and granola. In 1970, this wasn’t true. Wheat was only in such foods as bread, rolls, cookies and cake, and it was in a natural form.

How does a wheat-dominated diet compromise health?Eating a wheat-based cereal for breakfast, wheat crackers and pretzels for snacks, two slices of whole wheat bread for lunch and whole wheat pasta for dinner results in too much exposure to amylopectin A, and repeated spikes in blood sugar levels. This leads to insulin resistance and cultivates the growth of visceral fat in the abdomen, which tends toward diabetes and other inflamma-tory responses. Even worse, the gliadin protein in wheat is an opiate that stimulates appetite and ad-dictive eating behavior (it does not relieve pain). All this plus the direct intestinal toxic effects of the wheat germ agglutinin protein in wheat add up to a destructive ingredient that spurs acid reflux, bowel urgency and irritable bowel syndrome, and leads to inflammation in various organs.

Describe how eliminating wheat has affected you.Thirty pounds ago, I was an enthusiastic consumer of “healthy whole grains,” who relied on pots of coffee or walking and other exercise to maintain focus and energy. My cholesterol values reflected my wheat-consuming habits: HDL 27 mg/dl [milligrams per deciliter of good cholesterol] (very low), triglycerides 350 mg/dl (very high), and blood sugars in the diabetic range (161 mg/dl). I had high blood pressure of 150/90 and excess weight around my middle. Eliminating wheat from my diet reversed

all of these conditions without drugs, including the struggle to maintain atten-tion and focus. Overall, I feel better today at 54 than I felt at 30.

Are gluten-free foods the answer?Commercially produced gluten-free foods made with tapioca, cornstarch or rice starch—all poor replacements for wheat—are destructive to the body. Home-made or locally made gluten-free foods absent such ingredients are better, as are the free recipes available via WheatBellyBlog.com. Millet, quinoa and amaranth, whole grains that lack most of the undesirable properties of modern wheat, are better but not necessarily safe in unlimited quan-tities because most people today have spent their lives overexposed to carbohy-drates. Eating only small portions of these non-wheat grains is key.

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It’s easy for a dog or cat to slip out an unlatched door, open gate or even a window. Three million lost pets are

picked up by animal control agencies each year, according to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA). The National Council on Pet Population Study & Policy esti-mates fewer than 2 percent of wayward cats and only 15 to 20 percent of wan-dering dogs find their way home again. Most of those that make it back have been identified and reunited through tags, tattoos or microchips. About the size of a grain of rice (12 millimeters), a microchip is injected under the skin into the shoulder area of a dog or cat as a form of permanent identification. The chip itself has no internal energy source, so it will never wear out or run down. Microchips work on a radio fre-quency identification system (RFIS) that operates on two main frequencies—125 kilohertz (in this country) or 134.2 kilohertz (internationally). A handheld scanner powers a low radio frequency

readout of the chip’s unique identifi-cation number and transmits it to the scanner’s display window, much like a retail bar code. Shelters, veterinarians and animal control staff routinely use scanners to check for identification chips in unclaimed pets. If detected, the dis-played code can then be traced to the pet’s family.

Microchip Myth BustersFalse: Microchipping is common. True: The Humane Society of America estimates that fewer than 5 percent of pets have a microchip.

False: The chip will move after it’s beeninjected. True: Technology has improved. For ex-ample, one microchip manufacturer has developed a patented anti-migration feature that ensures their microchips stay put. “The chip very rarely migrates un-der the skin,” says Dr. Amber Andersen, a Los Angeles veterinarian. “Every pet should have a microchip.” False: Microchips pose a health risk.True: “There have been no reported cases of tumors at injection sites.”

There’s no reaction at all in the tissue around the chip,” reports Dr. Jeff Bryan, a veterinary oncologist at the University of Missouri’s Medical Veteri-nary Teaching Hospital, in Columbia.

False: The shelter won’t have a scanner.True: More than 50,000 veterinarians and shelters use scanners. Microchip providers also frequently donate scan-ners to shelters and rescue groups.

False: Implanting a microchip is painful.True: Pets do not have to be sedated to be chipped. Although a larger needle is used than for shots, it won’t be any more painful for the pet than a vaccination.

False: It’s expensive.True: Veterinarians set their own prices, usually between $25 and $40. Local shelters and humane societies often sponsor chip-a-thons, where micro-chips are provided at an even lower cost. Call local shelters, humane societ-ies or rescue groups for details about their next microchipping event.

False: Microchipping really isn’t necessary.True: Identification is key in returning a lost pet. The ASPCA strongly recom-mends the use of a collar tag in com-bination with a microchip. Collars can break—a microchip assures backup identification that can’t be removed or altered.

GPS Tracking For a dog that likes to jump fences or take himself out on walkabouts, consider using a GPS collar. Tagg’s battery-powered GPS system allows the owner to track a pet from the Internet or a mobile phone app. Simply set up a perimeter of allowed space between 75 and 1,000 yards, and if the tagged pet leaves that area, notification arrives by text and email. The customized GPS function traces the pet’s location on a digital map or via text updates.

Avery Mack regularly contributes to Natural Awakenings magazines. Con-nect at [email protected].

Doggy Lost… and Found AgainMicrochips Provide Peace of Mindby Avery Mack

Every two seconds, a pet is lost somewhere in the United States. Shelters report the biggest barrier to a pet and family reunion is a lack of current information. Identification can help bring him home again.

Use both a tag and microchip. Keep contact information up to date.

When traveling, program a GPS tag with a cell phone number— it’s faster than calling home for messages.


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sAturdAy, sePtemBer 1Celebration- 11:00 am-3:00 pm. Burcon Chiroprac-tic Research Institute is celebrating its expansion of hours and facilities by offering complimentary short spinal exams, both upper cervical specific and full spine, free 15-minute therapies and exams. Appointments are encouraged, but walk-ins are welcome. Free refreshments. Burcon Chiropractic, 3501 Lake Eastbrook Blvd Ste 252, Grand Rapids. 616-575-9990.

moNdAy, sePtemBer 3Labor Day, Grand Crossings Walk- 8:00 am. No need to drive to the Mackinac Bridge. Walk up to five miles right at home. Ah-Nab-Awan Park. Free, family friendly event. Grand Rapids.

tuesdAy, sePtemBer 4Oils Class- 6:30-8:30 pm. A class on the Glia Brain the most healing organ in the body. Knowing how the Glia cells act chemically in the brain will help you understand how essential oils work in the body. $10. The Healing Center. 989-352-6500.

wedNesdAy, sePtemBer 5Guided Meditation and Healing Circle - 7:00-8:00 pm. Escape from stress and discover an inner world of calm, peace & joy through guided meditation, and energy healing from Healing in America-trained healers. $5. Holistic Care Approach, 3368 E. Belt-line Ct. NE, Grand Rapids. 269-929-6796.

tHursdAy, sePtemBer 6Story Time Hike: All About Harvest- 6:00-7:30 pm. Begins with a season story and a short craft. The rest will be spent on the trails looking for objects or characters from the book. This a great program for children under 7. $5 members/$6 non-members. Blandford Nature Center. Grand Rapids.Fashion’s Night Out- 6:00-10:00 pm. See & participate in an amazing and eclectic show of eco apparel you could see nowhere else in the world! We’re celebrating all the best in our 17th year as leaders in the industry! Sérendipité Organiques. Grand Rapids.

fridAy, sePtemBer 7Fall Meditation Retreat- 9/7-9/9. Mindfulness and the Heart: Combining Compassion and Practice. Join us at Barothy Lodge on Pere Marquette for this retreat. Providing training in mindfulness and compassion, open to new meditators and experienced practitioners alike. $360 Shared Accommodations, $425 Private Room. Walhalla. Grand Rapids Center for Mindfulness & Expressions of Grace Yoga. 616-361-3660.

Fire of Transformation Practice w/ Mimi Ray- 6:00-8:30 pm. Play your edge; develop strength, flexibility and joy in community. Call for prereq-uisites. $18. Expressions of Grace Yoga. Grand Rapids. 616-361-8580.

Healthseekers Class- 6:15-7:15 pm. Pain?

Suffering? Internal mal-functioning? Fed up with merely chasing and repressing symptoms? Ready to do whatever it takes to get at causes and move toward real change? Vibrational medicines are no longer the wave of the future & compliments chiropractic beautifully. Angel Touch Family Chiropractic, 4265 Grand Haven Road Ste #203. Grand Haven. 231-679-0179.

sAturdAy, sePtemBer 8Calling All Lightworkers- 9:00 am-12:00 pm. Learn the role of a lightworker and what it is. If you feel stuck, unbalanced, or want to connect with other like-minded individuals on a metaphysical level, this is the class for you! Taught by Patti Or-tyl, Medium. $30. Holistic Care Approach. Grand Rapids. 616-949-0845.

What Color is your Personality?- 1:00-4:00 pm. This workshop will help you understand your per-sonality type and what drives you to do the things you do. Understand how you gather information and make decisions compared to others. Taught by Patti Ortyl. $30. Holistic Care Approach. Grand Rapids. 616-949-0845.

Free Vision Board Workshop for Women- 1:00-3:00 pm. Learn to manifest abundance in your life through the Law of Attraction. Create a Vision Board of the life you deserve and will create. Presented by Circle Of Sisters, held at Birds of a Feather. Grand Rapids. Register at mycircleofsisters.biz. 616-350-3557.

Overwinter Your Harvest: Root Cellaring at Home- 6:00-7:30 pm. Addresses how to best store your garden abundance, especially those root crops. Tips will also be given on how to put your garden to bed for maximum crop production the next year. $5 members/$6 non-members. Blandford Nature Center. Grand Rapids.

suNdAy, sePtemBer 9The Spiritual Purpose of Dreams-10:00-11:00 am. Join the monthly Eckankar Worship Service where people of all faiths are warmly invited to experience the Light and Sound of God. Services are the second Sunday of each month. Free. Dominican Center. Grand Rapids. 616-245-7003. eck-mi.org.

New Heavenly Healings Holistic Health Services Open House– 2:00-4:00 pm. Come share and learn about Young Living Essential Oils, my services and classes. Come sample products & services. There is no charge but donations welcome. Grand Rapids. Call Jodi with any questions 616-443-4225 or email [email protected].

Free Vision Board Workshop for Women. 2:00-4:00 pm. Learn to manifest abundance in your life through the Law of Attraction. Create a Vision Board of the life you deserve and will create. Pre-sented by Circle Of Sisters, held at The Wellness Circle. Standale. Register at mycircleofsisters.biz. 616-350-3557.

moNdAy, sePtemBer 10Free Zumba Class with Lisa Kuhn, Certified

calendarofeventsNote: Visit www.NaturalWestMichigan.com for guidelines and to submit entries. All Calendar events must be submitted online by the 15th of the month prior to publication.

Zumba Teacher- 10:15 am. Also available Septem-ber 11th. Enjoy a free trial class at Expressions of Grace! Add a little fun, rhythm, and cross training to your life. Grand Rapids. 616-361-8580.

wedNesdAy, sePtemBer 12Free Weight Loss Workshop- 6:00-7:00 pm. Free weight loss workshop addressing the Ideal Protein Diet. Dieters lose on average 3-7 pounds a week! Dieters not only lose weight but they maintain their muscle mass as well. ChiroHealth, 6769 Courtland Dr Ne, Rockford. Call to RVSP 616-863-9482.

tHursdAy, sePtemBer 13The Real Story Behind Calcium- 6:00 pm. New studies published this past year; challenge the tra-ditional thinking about calcium. If you are taking calcium or you have been encouraged to increase your calcium consumption - you need to hear this seminar. Harvest Health Foods. Hudsonville. 616-896-6630.

fridAy, sePtemBer 14New Heavenly Healings Holistic Health Services Open House– 2:00-4:00 pm & 7:00-9:00 pm. Come share and learn about Young Living Essential Oils, my services and classes. Come sample products & services. There is no charge but donations welcome. Grand Rapids. Toxic Ingredient Workshop- 5:30-7:30 pm. A FREE, fun, & interactive session where you’ll learn seven toxic ingredients in body care products that might be putting your health at risk. Space limited to seven participants. Registration required no later than September 11. Sérendipité Organiques. Grand Rapids. 616-419-8115.

sAturdAy, sePtemBer 15Rest & Relaxation Retreat- Includes shared room lodging, delicious home-cooked vegetarian meals Saturday lunch - Sunday lunch. Optional Life Skills & Relaxation class Saturday afternoon. Private room or suite available. Self Realization Meditation Healing Centre (near Lansing). Bath. 517-641-6201. SelfRealizationCentreMichigan.org.

Essential Oil Training: I (Basic)- 9:00 am-11:00 am & II (Everyday Oils) 11:00 am-1:00 pm & III (Raindrop) 1:30-3:30 pm. Learn the basics of the benefits and uses of Therapeutic Grade Es-sential Oils. $25 per class includes class materials & pre-registration required. To register call 616-443-4225 or email [email protected]. Grand Rapids.One-Day Spiritual Retreat for Women - 10:00 am-3:00 pm. Activities focus on Self Nurturing. Allow yourself the freedom to explore ways to take care of YOU. $50, lunch included. Presented by Circle Of Sisters, held at Birds of a Feather. Grand Rapids. Register at mycircleofsisters.biz. 616-350-3557.

44th Fallasburg Fall Festival- 10:00 am-5:00 pm. Sat & Sun. A unique “arts event” presented by the Lowell Arts. The festival features 100 unique art and crafts booths, food booths, musical entertainment, demonstrations of turn-of-the-century skills and a children’s craft area with pumpkin painting. Free. Fallasburg Park. Lowell. 616-897-8545.


Kombucha Making- 10:15-11:30 am. Learn how to make this nourishing digestive tonic. $30 includes all supplies you need to make your own at home! Space limited to ten participants. Reservation and payment required no later than September 12. Serendipite Organiques. Grand Rapids. 616-419-8115 to reserve.

Your Healing Gift- 1:00-5:30 pm. This introduc-tion to energy healing will teach you energy healing tools you will be able to use immediately to invoke remarkable changes in your life. Taught by licensed trainer Nancy O’Donohue. $45. Holistic Care Ap-proach, 3368 E. Beltline Ct. NE, Grand Rapids. 269-929-6796.

Numerology Class- 1:00-2:30 pm. Destiny num-bers, Personality Numbers, & Soul numbers. When you’re done you can do numerology readings too. $29.95(includes your own set of cards). The Healing Center. Grand Rapids. 989-352-6500.

Little House at Blandford- 2:00-3:30 pm. Want to pretend to be a pioneer living close to the land? Join us as we bake a treat in the wood fire oven, go to school in our one room schoolhouse and much more. $5 members/$6 non-members. Blandford Nature Center. Grand Rapids.

suNdAy, sePtemBer 16On the Path Yoga Celebration- Come celebrate our 1-year anniversary in our blissful location in Spring Lake. All classes for new visitors are FREE during the week of 9/16-9/22. A perfect chance to try a new yoga practice. Watch for additional events throughout September as we celebrate. Spring Lake. 616-935-7028.

Essential Oil Training IV (Emotional Clearing)- 9:00 am-11:00 am & V (Spiritual Journey Work) 11:00 am-1:00 pm. Learn more benefits of these different sets of oils, and how to apply them. $25 per class includes class materials & pre-registration re-quired. To register call Jodi 616-443-4225 or email [email protected]. Grand Rapids.One-Day Spiritual Retreat for Women - 10:00 am-3:00 pm. Activities focus on Self Nurturing. Allow yourself the freedom to explore ways to take care of YOU. $50, lunch included. Presented by Circle Of Sisters, held at Birds of a Feather. Grand Rapids. Register at mycircleofsisters.biz. 616-350-3557.

Your Body: Not Perfect, but Positive- 7:00-8:30 pm. It’s impossible to be “whole” if you hate your body! Learn how to enhance your self-image through body acceptance. FREE. Grand Rapids. Register with Judy 616-340-2820 or Ginny 616-822-8084.

moNdAy, sePtemBer 17Dream Catcher Workshop- 6:00-8:00 pm. Learn how to make a dream catcher and take home the one you make. $30 includes all supplies. Grand Rapids. Pre-registration is required, call 616-443-4225 or go to heavenlyhealings.org for more details.

tuesdAy, sePtemBer 18QiGong Refresher Course- 6:30-8:00 pm. A simple but profound Chinese exercise system that reduces stress and balances energy. International Wellness Partners. Spring Lake. $29 with pre-reg-istration $39 at the door. Irv Marcus 616-634-2714.

wedNesdAy, sePtemBer 19Could Faith Work for You?- 6:30-8:30 pm. SEEK meets at Derby Station for fun, food, and conversa-tion. A helpful “no pressure” environment with no agendas where people can take steps forward on their spiritual journey. 2237 Wealthy Street, East Grand Rapids. 616-283-5943. Childcare available by RSVP to [email protected].

tHursdAy, sePtemBer 20Healthseekers Class- 6:15-7:15 pm. Pain? Suffer-ing? Internal mal-functioning? Fed up with merely chasing and repressing symptoms? Ready to do whatever it takes to get at causes and move toward real change? Vibrational medicines are no longer the wave of the future & compliments chiropractic beautifully. Angel Touch Family Chiropractic, 4265 Grand Haven Road Ste #203. Grand Haven. 231-679-0179.

fridAy, sePtemBer 21Fall Bridal Show of West Michigan- Fri. 5:00-9:00 pm & Sat. 11:00 am-4:00 pm. Brides, Grooms, Moms and Friends... Meet leading bridal exhibitors face-to-face to help make your wedding special. Admission is $7 at the door. For info and $1 off coupon, visit www.kohlerexpo.com. DeVos Place in Grand Rapids. Hula Hoop Workshop with Rebecca Urick- 6:00 pm. Burn up to 600 calories an hour and restore your mind-body-spirit connection! Beginning and experienced hoopers welcome. Bring a friend. $15. Expressions of Grace Yoga. Grand Rapids. 616-361-8580.

sAturdAy, sePtemBer 22Reiki I & II class- 9:00 am-4:00 pm. Become attuned and learn how to give treatment to self and others. $200 includes manual and the $50 deposit required to register. Grand Rapids. Call Jodi 616-443-4225 to register or email [email protected].

Yoga on the Ball with Katherine Florentine- 1:00-2:00 pm Hips & Low Back, 2:15-3:15 pm Shoulders, Neck & Arms Utilizing soft balls to support conscious breath work, your body will begin to gently let go and realign. $25 each session or $40 for both. Expressions of Grace Yoga. Grand Rapids. 616-361-8580.

Wild Foraging in the Fall- 2:00-3:30 pm. Join Blandford Nature Center’s Wild Foraging Series. We will discuss healthy and responsible ways to harvest Nature’s bounty and experience the delicious flavors of fall. This program is for adults and children ages 12 and up. $5 members/$6 non-members. Blandford Nature Center. Grand Rapids.Nature-Based Spirituality- 3:15-4:30 pm. Learn about many belief systems practiced around the world, what they have in common, their influence on modern spirituality, and ways to use these con-cepts to enhance your own spirituality. Registration required no later than September 19. Serendipite Organiques. Grand Rapids. 616-419-8115.

suNdAy, sePtemBer 23Advanced Reiki Class- 9:00 am-4:00 pm. Ready to enhance your Reiki skills? Learn psychic surgery to remove tough energy blocks and how to set up

a crystal grid for healing. $250 includes textbook, certificate and deposit. Pre-registration with a $50 deposit required. Grand Rapids. Call register at 616-443-4225 or email [email protected].

Free Zoo Zen- 2:00-3:00 pm. In a celebration of our 1 year anniversary, we are offering kids a FREE session of our Zoo Zen workshop! Kids enjoy a chance to relax, recharge and learn about health and wellness through a variety of animal poses. On the Path Yoga. Spring Lake. 616-935-7028.

tuesdAy, sePtemBer 25Toxic Ingredient Workshop- 10:15 am-12:15 pm. A FREE, fun, & interactive session where you’ll learn seven toxic ingredients in body care products that might be putting your health at risk. Space limited to seven participants. Registration required no later than September 22. Sérendipité Organiques. Grand Rapids. 616-419-8115.

Fabulous Fall Vegetarian Foods- 6:00 pm. Jill Ovnik, The Vegan Gal, will demonstrate four deli-cious vegetarian recipes your family will love. Of course we will get to sample them. Bring your fiends and create healthier meals for your family. 4150 32nd Ave, Hudsonville. 616-896-6630.

wedNesdAy, sePtemBer 26Reiki Class- 6:30-8:00 pm. An opportunity to ex-perience giving and receiving Reiki energy. All are welcome. International Wellness Partners. Spring Lake. Go to lisawlee.com to register. $20 with pre-registration $25 at the door. 616-847-3138.

Could Faith Work for You?- 6:30-8:30 pm. SEEK meets at Derby Station for fun, food, and conversa-tion. A helpful “no pressure” environment with no agendas where people can take steps forward on their spiritual journey. 2237 Wealthy Street, East Grand Rapids. 616-283-5943. Childcare available by RSVP to [email protected].

tHursdAy, sePtemBer 27Boosting Your Immunity: Prepare for Cold and Flu Season- 6:00 pm. Dr. Ann Auburn presents a free educational lecture to help boost your immune system to keep you healthy throughout the cold winter months. The Natural Health Improvement Center in Grandville. 616-301-0808.

Reiki Share- 7:00-9:00 pm. Come share & learn about Reiki & Essential Oils. Open to all that care to share Reiki, those who would like to try receiv-ing Reiki, and those interested in Essential Oils. No charge. Grand Rapids. Call or email if questions. 616-443-4225 or [email protected].

sAturdAy, sePtemBer 29Meal Planning- 11:00-12:30 pm. How to make healthy meals using raw foods. Learn how the body works and how to heal with foods. $15. The Healing Center. Grand Rapids. 989-352-6500.

Community Wellness Day- 12:00-3:00pm. Various community agencies are participating and shar-ing their programs on health screenings, financial literacy info, drug/ alcohol awareness and much more. There will be food, fun & entertainment. Free. Contact Dr. Jason Williamson at 616-575-9105 or email [email protected]. Kentwood Christian Church, 5841 Kalamazoo Ave, Grand Rapids.


classifiedsto place a classified listing: Email listing to [email protected]. Must be received by the 15th of the month prior to publication. $1.00 per word; must be pre-paid.

clAsses

Energy Healings and Training, Reiki & Urevia Healings/Classes - held near Hastings at Subtle Energies w/ Ken & Dana Gray. Learn a variety of techniques that can heal your life. Reiki I & Urevia Practitioner classes are eligible for NAN 20% discount. Visit www.reikiconnect.com for more information.

for sAle

Log Cabin Home - 2 Bedrooms, 1 Bath on Campau Kettle Lake in Caledonia. Plenty of stor-age in the new 4 Stall Garage. Asking $168,000. Located at 8810 66th Street SE in Caledonia. Call for details 616-292-6762.

oPPortuNities

Business Ownership: Self-Serve Frozen Yogurt, minimum investment $165,000, realistic annual sales potential, $400,000. Jim Eisenreich, 612-718-3238, [email protected]

Holistic & Green Business Owners Wanted for Health Network - NAN, the Natural Awakenings Network, is a green and healthy living network that will allow members to enjoy discounts on products & services focused on wellness, green/sustainable living and healthy lifestyles. If you are interested in becoming a provider (a business or organization that offers discounts to members) in this innovative network or want more details, contact Natural Awakenings at 616-656-9232 or [email protected]. Partici-pating as a Provider is FREE for the 1st year.

savethedateOctober 6 & 7

Hakomi Therapy Workshop - 9:30am-6:00pm & Sat. 9:00am-3:30pm. This workshop, “The Myth of the Resistant Client: Change Without Force,” is an introduction to Hakomi, a body-centered, mindfulness-based, experiential psychotherapy. $240 ($210 before Sept 21). At Gilda’s Club in Grand Rapids. Register at grandrapidshakomi.com or 616-901-6136.

Finding Your Purpose in Life: A Spiritual Work-shop for Women- 1:00 am – 4:00 pm. Living your purpose is what brings happiness and meaning to your life. Explore ways to discover yours. $35. Presented by Circle Of Sisters, held at Dominican Center at Marywood. Grand Rapids. Register at mycircleofsisters.biz. 616-350-3557.

Seasonal Detox for a Happy Body- 1:30-4:00 pm. Join Laura as we explore the practice of seasonal de-tox for a light and renewed body and mind. Expres-sions of Grace Yoga. Grand Rapids. 616-361-8580.

Your Healing Gift- 1:00-5:30 p.m. This introduc-tion to energy healing will teach you energy healing tools you will be able to use immediately to invoke remarkable changes in your life. Taught by licensed trainer Nancy O’Donohue. $45. Holistic Care Ap-proach, 3368 E. Beltline Ct. NE, Grand Rapids. 269-929-6796.

Open House- 3:00-7:00 pm. Special offerings. Re-freshments. Moondrop Herbals Cottage of Natural Elements. Grand Rapids. Free. 616 304-6802.

suNdAy, sePtemBer 30Voluntary Simplicity Workshop for Women - 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm. Life is overloaded with possessions, (un)social media, and chaotic schedules. Be inspired to make choices and changes to reduce consumption and improve your life. $35. Presented by Circle Of Sisters, held at The Wellness Circle. Standale. Register at mycircleofsisters.biz. 616-350-3557.

moNdAy, octoBer 1Your Body: Not Perfect, but Positive- 7:00-8:30 pm. It’s impossible to be “whole” if you hate your body! Learn how to enhance your self-image through body acceptance. FREE. Grand Rapids. Register with Judy 616-340-2820 or Ginny 616-822-8084.

savethedateSave The Date Events - Must be submit-ted online each month at NaturalWest-Michigan.com. Events priced $80 or above require a corresponding display ad. There is a $45 charge per listing, up to 50 words. If you are a current advertiser, distribution site or non-profit you July use this listing in place of one of your free listings for a $25 charge

savethedateOctober 11

5K Fun Run and Health Expo – 5:00-8:00 pm. Feeling Good 5K Free Fun Run and Health Expo for the whole family. For more information www.HarvestHealthFoods.com. Harvest Health Foods - Grand Rapids 616-245-6268, Cascade 616-975-7555 & Hudsonville 616-896-6630.

savethedateOctober 12-14

Inner Engineering with Sadhguru - Friday Evening-Sunday Evening. A program for personal growth gleaned from the science of yoga. The approach is a modern antidote to stress and when practiced regularly, these tools have the potential to enhance one’s experience of life on many levels. $285. Isha Foundation, Cobo Hall, Detroit (program venue). Volunteer 313-451-4742.

savethedateOctober 13

Green Smoothie Class - 11:00am. With Robin Openshaw – The REAL Green Smoothie Girl from UTAH and U-tube Fame will be presenting a Green Smoothie Class. For more information www.HarvestHealthFoods.com. Harvest Health Foods- Grand Rapids 616-245-6268, Cascade 616-975-7555 & Hudsonville 616-896-6630

savethedateOctober 19-20

Great Lakes Bioneers Conference - Fri-Sun. A weekend of inspiring local speakers, skill and resource building workshops, and access to beamed coverage of internationally renowned experts on today’s vital issues regarding people and planet. Complete with activities for the en-tire family, the Conference welcomes children, youth, and adults. Visit www.glbconference.org. Northwestern Michigan College 1701 E. Front St. in Traverse City.

savethedateNovember 2-4

Weekend Getaway - On The Path Yoga and Return2Wellness offer a weekend of learning, healing, relaxing and connecting - to yourself and in community with other women. Yoga classes, meditation, and pampering are offered throughout the weekend. Spring Lake. Call 616-935-7028 to register.


ongoingevents

All Month Long Open Meditation & Silent Prayer- 7:45 am & 7:45 pm. All Welcome! SRMHC, 7187 Drumheller, Bath. SelfRealizationCentreMichigan.org.

SundayUnity of Greater Grand Rapids - 10:00 am. Celebrating God’s presence in human nature. Of-fering uplifting messages that are spiritual without being religious. Youth programs & Nursery. Unity of Greater Grand Rapids 6025 Ada Drive SE, Ada. 616-682-7812. www.unity-churchofpeace.org.

Unity of Grand Rapids- 10:30 am. A spiritual community that is warm and welcoming, inclusive and accepting of all, honoring diversity, for those who are seeking spiritual truth. Minister: Rev. Jennifer Sacks. 1711 Walker Avenue NE. unityof-grandrapids.org.

Unity of Muskegon “A Church of Light, Love & Laughter”- 10:30 am weekly. Sunday Services & Youth Education. Minister: Rev. John W. Williams. 2052 Bourdon St., Muskegon. 231-759-7356. Unitymuskegon.org.

The Coptic Center Sunday Series- 6:00 pm. An ongoing series of inspirational speakers, centering and music. Youth Ministry class one Sunday of each month during service, check schedule. The Coptic Center. Grand Rapids. 616-531-1339.

Monday$30 Off BioMeridian Assessments- State-of-the-art profiling and tracking of all 58 meridians in the body with take-home computer generated results to assess progress. Grand Rapids. 616-365-9176. For more info visit Integrativenutritionaltherapies.com.

Intermediate Hatha Yoga with Mitch Coleman – 6:15-7:30 pm. Drop-ins welcome. Visit WhiteRiv-erYoga.com for more information. Classes meet at White River Yoga Studio, 8724 Ferry St. Montague. 231-740-6662.

TuesdayGentle Hatha Yoga with Mitch Coleman- 7:45-9:00 am & 9:15-10:30 am. Drop-ins welcome. Visit WhiteRiverYoga.com for more information. Classes meet at White River Yoga Studio, 8724 Ferry St. Montague. 231-740-6662.

Self-Help Education Meeting- 2:00-3:30 pm. The Peter M. Wege Health & Learning Center (Wege North Building at St. Mary’s Hospital), 300 Lafay-ette Ave. SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49503 (Room & topics subject to change). 231-360-6830.

Beginner Tai Chi- Tues & Thurs 6:30-7:30 pm. Yang form for health, focus and self defense. $45 for

one class/week, $65 for two classes/week, monthly. Kentwood. Taijiquan @ 616-425-1344. facebook.com/taijiquan.llc

Camp Rawnora 3rd Tuesday Raw Potluck- 6:30 pm. Hang with other vegans and raw foodies and eat nutritious and delicious faire! Free if you bring raw food dish to share or $10. Camp Rawnora. Watervliet. 269-463-4444.

On Being a Spirit having a Physical Experience- 6:30 pm. 2nd & 4th Tuesdays. From the Shamanic Teachings of the Sweet Medicine Sundance Path w/ Marie Moon Star Seeker. $10. Owl Hawk Clan. Open Mind in Rockford. 616-447-0128.

A Course In Miracles (A.C.I.M.)- 7:00-8:30 pm & Wednesdays 9:30am-11am. This self-study system teaches forgiveness as the road to inner peace and the remembrance of the unconditional love of God. Unity of Greater Grand Rapids. Ada. 616-682-7812.

Mystic Angel Classes- 7:00-8:30 pm. With Denise Iwanwi. $15.00. The Healing Center. Lakeview. TheHealingCenterOfLakeview.com. 989-352-6500.

Vinyasa– 7:30-8:45 pm. Tues & Thurs. This ener-gizing and empowering class combines breath with a more rapid pace of flowing postures. $10-$16 per class. Seva Yoga. Grand Rapids. 616-458-2541.

Wednesday$30 Off BioMeridian Assessments- State-of-the-art profiling and tracking of all 58 meridians in the body with take-home computer generated results to assess progress. Grand Rapids. 616-365-9176. For more info visit Integrativenutritionaltherapies.com.

Hatha/Vinyasa- 12:00-1:00 pm. Wed & Fri. Hatha refers to the postures. Vinyasa is a series of postures linked together with breath. $10-$16 per class. Seva Yoga. Grand Rapids. 616-458-2541.

A Course in Miracles Class- 6:00-8:00 pm. With Cindy Barry. Free will offering. The Healing Center. Lakeview. TheHealingCenterOfLakeview.com. 989-352-6500.

Pilates at The Well Being- 6:00-7:00 pm. Build strength, endurance and flexibility throughout your body while learning proper breathing techniques which help to decrease stress. $10 per class. Equip-ment provided. Drop-ins welcome. grwellbeing.com 616-458-6870.

ThursdayClasses for the Childbearing Year and Beyond- 6:00 pm. Every 3rd Thursday. Designed to educate & support wholistic parenting & living from pregnancy through parenting and beyond. Advance registration required. Full Circle Midwifery. Hesperia. 231-861-2535.

Spiritual Classes- 6:00-7:30 pm. Astrology, numer-ology, tarot, etc with Gail Brumeister. $15.00. The Healing Center. Lakeview. TheHealingCenterO-fLakeview.com. 989-352-6500.

Note: Visit www.NaturalWestMichigan.com for guidelines and to submit entries. Events must be re-submitted each month by the 15th of the month. Events sub-ject to change, please call ahead.

Advanced Hatha Yoga with Mitch Coleman – 6:15-7:30 pm. Drop-ins welcome. Visit WhiteRiv-erYoga.com for more information. Classes meet at White River Yoga Studio, 8724 Ferry St. Montague. 231-740-6662.

Oils Classes- 6:30-8:00 pm. Every 3rd Thursday with Barb Huttinga. The Healing Center. Lakeview. TheHealingCenterOfLakeview.com. 989-352-6500.

Share & Care Meeting- 7:00-9:00 pm. Discussion group meets on 4th Thursday of each month through October to discuss the news and share emotions and struggles regarding the challenges of living with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis /Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Redwood Meeting Room at St. Mary’s Healthcare SW, 2373 64th St. Byron Center.

FridayVillage Farmers Market- 1:00-7:00 pm. Buy fresh & local from producers that utilize organic farming practices -eggs, meats, cheese, fruits & vegetables, organic Michigan milk and more. Please visit us on Facebook. Spring Lake. 616-935-7312.

SaturdayGentle Hatha Yoga with Mitch Coleman – 9:00-10:15 am & 10:30-11:45 am. Drop-ins welcome. Visit WhiteRiverYoga.com for info. Classes meet at White River Yoga Studio. Montague. 231-740-6662.

Sweetwater Local Foods Market- 9:00 am-1:00 pm. Hackley Health at the Lakes building on Harvey Street. We are indoors if the weather is bad. We are a double up bucks and bridge card market! Hesperia. 231-861-2234.

Mixed Level Tai Chi- 9:30-11 am. Yang form for beginner to intermediate students. Open class for-mat, traditional warm up. $45 for one class/week, monthly. Kentwood. Taijiquan. 616-425-1344. facebook.com/taijiquan.llc.


Body cAre Products

MOONDROP HERBALS, LLC Cottage of Natural Elements351 Cummings NWGrand Rapids, MI 49534616-735-1285www.MoondropHerbals.com

•Body & Comfort Care products made naturally since 1998 •Essential Oil Blending & Consulting •Bulk herbs, oils, etc. by the ounce •Candles, Spa accessories, Unique gifts •Reference Library •Practitioner discounts •Workspace Rental & Consignment. See ad page 6.

SÉRENDIPITÉ ORGANIQUES, LLC Teri Kelley- Owner944 Cherry St SEGrand Rapids, 49506616-419-8115www.serendipiteorganiques.com

The only retail location in Michigan to exclusively carry organic, non-toxic products scoring ‘Low Hazard, 0-2’ on ewg.org/skindeep! Product lines are

Zum Clean, Face Naturals, Rejuva Minerals Makeup, Elemental Herbs Sunscreen, and Sappho Organic Cosmetics. See ad page 22.

BodyworK

WHOLISTIC KINESIOLOGY HEALTH SERVICES, LLC Barbara Zvirzdinis, WK, CMT616-581-3885www.WKHealthServices.com

Certified Massage Therapist offering Therapeutic, Hot Stone & Matr ix Massage. Cert i f ied Wholistic Kinesiologist, Certified Matrix Energetics Practitioner, R e c o n n e c t i o n H e a l i n g Practitioner, Certified Herbalist, Certified Acutonics Practitioner, and a Certified Reflexologist. See ad page 21.

thenaturaldirectory

BuildiNG / coNstructioN

DLH CONCEPTSKyle HassLicensed Residential Home [email protected]

Locally owned and operated. Specializing in building custom livable and affordable new homes that are Energy Efficient and utilize Green Building practices. Unmatched efficiencies and uncompromising quality. See ad page 27.

cHiroPrActic cAre

DYNAMIC FAMILY CHIROPRACTICDr. Ronda VanderWall4072 Chicago Drive, Grandville616-531-6050

Family owned and operated in the heart of downtown Grandville, Dynamic Family Chiropractic focuses on lifestyle improvements through living a maximized life. A safe and natural approach to health through the combination of exercise, nutrition, detoxification and chiropractic care.

SCHAFER CHIROPRACTIC AND HEALING SPADr. Andrew Schafer 1801 Breton SE Grand Rapids, MI 49506 616-301-3000

Tr e a t i n g m u s c u l o s k e l e t a l conditions, but specializing in back pain, neck pain, and headaches. Also offering physical therapy, massage therapy, and pos tu ra l awareness . Mos t insurances accepted. Breton Village area. www.grchirospa.com. See ad pages 8 & 32.

cleANiNG Products

NATURAL HEALTH4 TODAY, LLCClara VanderZouwen, NORWEX Consultant

616-698-6148 [email protected]

Imagine cleaning with only water! Improve the quality of your life with Norwex products by radically reducing the use of chemicals in personal care and cleaning. Save Time & Money.

...connecting you to the leaders in natural health and green living in West Michi-gan. To find out how you can be included in The Natural Directory log-on to www.NaturalWestMichigan.com/advertising.

Look for this symbol throughout Natural Awakenings for Natural Awakenings Network (NAN) providers offering savings to NAN members.

coloN HydrotHerAPy

HARMONY ’N HEALTH Mary De Lange, CCT., CMT.1003 Maryland Av., N.E.Grand Rapids616-456-5033www.harmonynhealth.net

Certified therapist since 1991 offering colon therapy in a sterile and professional environment. Using a hol is t ic approach colonics relieve constipation, d ia r rhea , gas , b loa t , poor digestion, back pain, body odor and more. See ad page 28.

TRICIA E. GOSLING Natural Health & Healing Center723 Kenmoor SE Grand Rapids 49546616-481-9074 www.holisticenergytherapies.net

Offering an advanced client-centered dimension of colonics: gentle , safe and effect ive. Eliminate toxins and enhance well-being. 16 years of experience. A l s o o f f e r i n g Q u a n t u m Biofeedback sessions. I-ACT certified Instructor.

couNseliNG

THE WELL BEING LLCBehavioral Health andFitness Center616-458-6870www.grwellbeing.com

We provide counseling to individuals dealing w i t h m e n t a l a n d e m o t i o n a l h e a l t h issues. We utilize

exercise as a research-based form of treatment, for a more holistic approach to mental health care.

deNtistry / Holistic

DENTAL HEALTH& WELLNESS CENTERDr. Kevin P. Flood DDS616-974-4990www.FloodTheDentist.com

Comprehensive Holistic Dental Services – Amalgam Removal & Replacement. Bio-Compatible, metal-free materials, Low-Dose Digital X-Rays, Gentle Anesthesia, Dentistry for Diabetes, TMJ, Chronic Head & Neck pain and Non Surgical Perio. See ad page 48.


HAKomi tHerAPy

KEN PORTER CST, CHT534 Fountain NEGrand Rapids MI 49503616-262-3848www.BodyandSoulGR.com

Hakomi Therapy can truly change your life. It’s a mindfulness-based, experiential therapy for transforming the unconscious patterns that keep you from the love, joy, and fulfillment you deserve. Offered with exquisite care and attentiveness.

HeAltH educAtioN

THE WELLNESS FORUM616-430-2291www.WellnessForum.com

Educational programs for personal health improvement - Workplace wellness programs - Wellness Forum Foundation focused on school nutrition and children’s health - National conferences.

HeAltH food stores

AFFORDABLE NUTRITIONJoel D. Manning, CNC®, Owner7493 Cottonwood Drive, [email protected]

Affordable, natural approach to b e t t e r h e a l t h . C e r t i f i e d nutritional consultant with 22 years experience. Offering select, high quality vitamins, minerals, herbs, children’s p roduc t s , e s sen t i a l o i l s , homeopathics, weight loss and

more. Everyday discounts and senior pricing. www.affordable-nutrition.com.

HEALTH HUTT Grand Haven 616-846-3026Muskegon 231-739-1568North Muskegon 231-744-0852www.HealthHutt.net

Natural & organic foods, vitamins & herbs, sports nutrition, g lu t en f r ee food ,

natural body and homecare products. Open 7 days a week. See ad page 21.

Holistic HeAltH ceNtersSALLY DERSCH, CMTFrequency Apps Wellness Center12505 Northland Dr. Suite A6Cedar Springs, MI 49319616-755-8446 www.FrequencyApps.com

We offer a wide variety of services to help you enhance your health. Bio Apps (frequency patches for optimal health)- MSA Tes t ing (eva lua tes functional health)- Food/Environmental Allergy & Supplement Testing - Ionic Foot

Bath - Weight Loss Classes and Coaching - Weight Loss (www.frapps.bodybyvi.com). Call us today and ask about the 90 Day Challenge!

THE HEALING CENTERBob Huttinga PA-C& Rev. Barbara Huttinga332 S. Lincoln Ave, Lakeview989-352-6500 www.TheHealingCenterOfLakeview.com

Naturopathic / Holistic Practitioners. Physician assistant, Certified Natural Health Professionals. Private consultations. Counseling & Classes. Blood typing, acupressure, emotional

release, iridology, homeopathy, massage therapy, reflexology, cranial sacral, foot detox & more. See ad page 30.

HomeoPAtHy

BOB HUTTINGA PA-C332 S. Lincoln Ave, Lakeview989-352-6500 TheHealingCenterOfLakeview.com

A C e r t i f i e d P h y s i c i a n A s s i s t a n t s i n c e 1 9 7 6 , specializing in naturopathic and homeopathic care, ApoE Gene Diet and Family care. Also, certified Silva Method instructor. We take most insurances. See ad page 30.

iNterior desiGN services

ALIGN DESIGN, LLCShawn Merkel, ASID, [email protected]

Align your space to be a true reflection of who you are. Specializing in Wholistic design, repurposing and Feng Shui. Full service Residential and commercial Interior design. See ad page 13.

Look for this symbol throughout Natural Awakenings for Natural Awakenings Network (NAN) providers offering savings to NAN members.

eNerGy HeAliNG

AMA~DEUS®Elizabeth Cosmos Grand Rapids: 616-648-3354 [email protected]

Ama Deus® healing energy method is a hand mediated technique aligned with love. The energy helps to enhance one’s own and others growth and awareness or physical and emotional healing. See ad page 25.

MATRIX ENERGETICS Barbara Zvirzdinis, WK, CMT616-581-3885www.WKHealthServices.com

Matrix Energetics is a system used to heal, transform and create new possibilities in your life. Using the principles of quantum physics and subtle energy dur ing a Matr ix Energetics session we are able to enter into different realties and download new possibilities

for your mental, emotional, physical and spiritual selves. See ad page 21.

esseNtiAl oils

BE YOUNG ESSENTIAL OILSClara VanderZouwen [email protected]

Learn how to address issues of Pain, Stress, Hormone Imbalance, Weight Management, ADD, Allergies, Diabetes

& more with Essential Oils, Ionic Foot Baths, Bio-Energy scans, Nutritional & NEW Earthing products! Free monthly classes.

HEAVENLY HEALINGS HOLISTIC HEALTH SERVICESJodi Jenks - Reiki Master4434 Knapp St NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49525www.heavenlyhealings.org

I am a Reiki Master that also does Essential Oil therapies including Raindrop Therapy, Emotional Clearing and Spiritual Journey work. Call or email for appointments or questions, 616-443-4225 or [email protected]. See ad page 6.


KiNesioloGy

WHOLISTIC KINESIOLOGYHEALTH SERVICES, LLCBarbara Zvirzdinis, WK, CMT616-581-3885www.WKHealthServices.com

C e r t i f i e d W h o l i s t i c Kinesiologist, Certified Matrix Energet ics Pract i t ioner, Certified Massage Therapist, R e c o n n e c t i o n H e a l i n g Practitioner, Certified Herbalist, Certified Acutonics Practitioner and Certified Reflexologist. Specializing in muscle testing,

massage, energy medicine, nutritional counseling, lectures and classes. See ad page 21.

life / wellNess coAcHiNG

STEVE GUARINOCertified Life Coach Certified Meditation Instructor 888-552-8880 [email protected]

Soar Higher Than You Ever T h o u g h t P o s s i b l e . P e r s o n a l i z e d c o a c h i n g sessions that will connect you with your inner wisdom and l ight , open you to new possibilities, and help you realize your dreams.

mAssAGe tHerAPy

DYNAMIC FAMILY CHIROPRACTIC& MASSAGE THERAPYJaci Timmermans, MT 4072 Chicago Drive, Grandville, MI 49418616-531-6050

I offer Swedish massage w i t h I n t e g r a t e d Te c h n i q u e s , c h o s e n specifically to your unique body. Relieve those tired and sore muscles and rejuvenate! Call for on-

going monthly specials and discounts. www.DynamicChiro.com

SCHAFER CHIROPRACTICAND HEALING SPASheri Beth Schafer, CMT,Ayurvedic Bodyworker, Reiki Master1801 Breton SE Grand Rapids, MI 49506616-301-3000

We have multiple certified massage therapists offering relaxation, prenatal, deep tissue massage, and medical massage. We also offer Reiki, chak ra ba l anc ing , and Ayurvedic bodywork. Breton Village area. www.grchirospa.com. See ad page 8 & 32.

midwifery

BIRTH SONGMIDWIFERY SERVICESYolanda Visser CM, CPMGrand Rapids: 616-458-8144www.BirthSongGR.com

Homebirth services s i n c e 1 9 8 2 . C o m m i t t e d t o facilitating natural b i r t h , b o n d i n g ,

strengthening the family, informed active participation, and lending dignity to women through their birthing experience.

FULL CIRCLE MIDWIFERYSERVICE, INC.Patrice Bobier CPMHesperia: 231-861-2234 www.FullCircleMidwifery.com

In private practice s i n c e 1 9 8 2 - s p e c i a l i z i n g i n homebir th. Over 1200 births attended. Offering midwifery

care that maintains a family-centered safe birth experience. Empowering women to stay healthy during pregnancy, give birth naturally and parent in the best ways.

quANtum BiofeedBAcKTRICIA E. GOSLINGNatural Health & Healing Center723 Kenmoor SE Grand Rapids 49546616-481-9074

This highly complex device is a non-invasive technology that energetically scans & harmonizes the body’s stresses and imbalances, reducing those imbalances that make us uncomfortable. Visit www.holisticenergytherapies.net

scHool / educAtioN

INSTITUTE OFSANATIVE ARTS0-11279 Tallmadge Woods Dr.,Grand Rapids, MI 49534616-791-0472Sanative.isa@sbcglobal.netwww.sanativetranquility.com

State licensed school for massage and bodywork. High quality, affordable 6 month certification course with small class sizes. NCBTMB CE courses in B a m b o o - F u s i o n ® ,

cupping and more. Convenient to Grand Rapids, Standale, Walker and Allendale areas.

NATUROPATHIC INSTITUTE OF THERAPIES & EDUCATION503 E. Broadway St Mt. Pleasant, MI. 48858989-773-1714www.nite-mtp.com

Educational Programs: Natural Health 1-4 Years (one weekend per month), Holistic Labor Companion –

Doula 6 months (1 weekend per month), Massage Therapy 1 Year (2 weekends per month), Individual Classes available. Over 15 years of excellence. See ad page 2.

sPirituAl trANsformAtioN

PRACTICAL PEACEElizabeth [email protected]

Practical Peace is a catalyst for Spiritual Transformation. We offer weekend classes to help you move from ego-consciousness to Spiritual Awareness to become a more authentic “you”. For more information contact Barbra at [email protected].

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natural awakenings magazine september 2012

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