HEALTHY LIVING HEALTHY PLANET feel good live simply laugh more
FREE
Foods That Fight Pain
PREMIERE EDITION
PAIN-FREE
PETS
Nature’s Pharmacy
EXERCISE
BETTER HEALTH
5STEPS TO
Provide Relief Naturally
NOW! Anti-Aging Strategies
APRIL 2011 1
Simple, Effective, Affordable
| SE Middlesex County | NaturalAwakeningsmcma.com
SE Middlesex County | www.NaturalAwakeningsMCMA.com
Natural Awakenings Magazine
Friendly User Guide
...to Southeastern Middlesex County’s newest healthy living magazine! We’re delighted to be here and want to make it easy for you to use and benefit from this new resource and community builder. From our eye-catching cover to the appealing editorial throughout, you’ve discovered the perfect guide to a healthier and more balanced life for you and your family. Each month Natural Awakenings advertisers and authors provide a helping hand along your personal path to wellness.
Let’s get started! Publisher’s Letter – Each month Publisher Maisie Raftery shares her thoughts on the featured monthly topic. She’ll share her entertaining and informative perspective with a nod to stories from her own experience. You’ll get to know us as we come to know you. News Briefs – Local news keeps you up on cutting-edge perspectives in the fields of natural health, alternative medicine, fitness and related fields. We welcome everyone’s contributions of newsworthy information. Health Briefs – Timely news items introduce and hook you up with the latest treatments and tools for specific health and wellness concerns. Includes practical tips that you can use today to advance a healthy living lifestyle. Global Briefs – The rain forest is half a world away, yet our health depends on its health. This department keeps you wired with relevant current events and opportunities for action vital to our planet’s well-being. Community Spotlight – Articles packed with insight into local businesses and healing arts practitioners show they can be of service to you and your loved ones. You’ll be amazed by the level of knowledge and expertise right here in and around SE Middlesex County!
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Interviews – Exclusive interviews with national and local leaders, experts and authors who know how to live well naturally offer anecdotes, nuggets of wisdom and expert how-to’s for enhancing life. Healthy Kids – Our children’s health is paramount. This column helps parents and caretakers make wise decisions in protecting your children’s health and well-being. Natural Pet – We love to see our family pets active and thriving. Surprising alternative therapies, nutrition ideas and resources open new possibilities. Fit Body – We all know that exercise and physical fitness are essential. The trick is finding the right options for you. We will supply fresh windows of thought that can help get you moving. Feature Articles – Interesting and informative articles take advantage of Natural Awakenings’ national scope and local interest in our community. You’ll want to read them all. Calendar of Events – There’s so much to do in SE Middlesex County. Check out the exciting classes, weekend workshops and special events that pop up each month.
SE Middlesex County | www.NaturalAwakeningsMCMA.com
Classified Ads – Classifieds are an inexpensive way to let readers know what you have to offer. It’s a great source to locate “that’s exactly what I need” types of services, products and opportunities. Community Resource Guide – Here’s a quick reference to the best health and wellness resources in SE Middlesex County. It’s a quick way to find gifts of health and fun for yourself or others. Display Ads – Our advertisers are the absolute best! They not only make this magazine possible but are the nicest people in town. Please patronize them and tell them you saw their ad in Natural Awakenings. Distribution Locations – Please ask for Natural Awakenings at every business you visit and support our distributors with purchases. Our distributors are just as important as our advertisers and readers. All three are essential elements of the wider community we seek to cultivate, grow and weave into a oneness of community for the benefit of all.
Thank you for reading, supporting and contributing to Natural Awakenings. We’re glad you’ve joined us in rousing a real natural awakening of the whole SE Middlesex County community!
contents 5
5 newsbriefs
10 globalbriefs
11 healthbriefs
12 ecobriefs
10
13 consciouseating 14 healthykids
13 FOODS THAT
FIGHT PAIN A Tasty, Colorful Banquet
by Michelle Schoffro Cook
23 community
spotlight
14 RAISING HEALTHY EATERS How to Train Children’s Palates from the Cradle On 14
28 healingways
16 MOVEMENT
16 fitbody
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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.
30 naturalpet 33 wisewords
advertising & submissions
by Jeannette Bessinger and Tracee Yablon Brenner
AS MEDICINE A Universal
Antidote to Aging by Katy Bowman
18 FIVE STEPS TO
BETTER HEALTH How Integrative Medicine
how to advertise To advertise with Natural Awakenings or request a media kit, please contact us at 617-906-0232 or email publisher@NaturalAwakeningsMCMA.com. Deadline for ads: the 10th of the month.
Can Make Health Care Simpler, More Effective and More Affordable
Editorial submissions Email articles, news items and ideas to: publisher@ NaturalAwakeningsMCMA.com. Deadline for editorial: the 5th of the month.
26 THE ENNEAGRAM
calendar submissions Email Calendar Events to: calendar@NaturalAwakenings MCMA.com or fax to 877-907-1406. Deadline for calendar: the 10th of the month.
30 PAIN-FREE PETS
regional markets Advertise your products or services in multiple markets! Natural Awakenings Publishing Corp. is a growing franchised family of locally owned magazines serving communities since 1994. To place your ad in other markets call 239-449-8309. For franchising opportunities call 239-530-1377 or visit NaturalAwakeningsMag.com.
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by Marco Visscher, Ursula Sautter and Carmel Wroth
A Dynamic Personality System for Understanding Ourselves by Herb Pearce
Natural Ways to Provide Relief
by Dr. Matthew J. Heller
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33 A CONVERSATION
WITH SHAKTI GAWAIN
Author and Counselor in Prosperity Consciousness by Ellen Mahoney
NaturalAwakeningsMCMA.com natural awakenings
April 2011
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letterfrompublisher
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elcome to the premiere issue of Natural Awakenings, Middlesex County edition! We are thrilled to present this new, free magazine for healthy living in our community, and we aim to help you improve the quality of your life physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. Each month, we’ll bring you valuable articles by national and local experts with cutting-edge information on health, wellness, fitness, nutrition, personal growth, creative expression and environmentally friendly living. Our local news briefs will update you on events and announcements in our area, and monthly calendars will enable you to learn and network with others in our growing healthy living community. This magazine is also your primary resource for local wellness practitioners of integrative and alternative healing arts, here to help you take control of your own health and well-being. I plan to share my exciting journey to becoming a fan of Natural Awakenings next month. This month my letter is dedicated to the lighthearted spirit my brother Rick brought to every part of my life and especially to the launch of this magazine. Sadly, Rick passed unexpectedly on February 10, but I still smile inside remembering how he often called to check on his baby sister’s progress. He was as excited about my giving birth to this incredible community resource as I am. In his own way, my big brother epitomized the Natural Awakenings tag line: Feel Good ~ Live Simply ~ Laugh More. Always quick with his Irish wit, his heart and home were open to all he touched. He gave a grin to everyone he encountered. He shared his love for life freely and never failed to yell “I Love You” across crowded rooms, parking lots, supermarkets, even a major concert hall when he spied me on a stairway. I am comforted by my faith and Teilhard de Chardin’s maxim: “We are not human beings having a spiritual experience. We are spiritual beings having a human experience.” Rick’s spirit lives on in my heart and will guide me along this publishing journey in ways he couldn’t even when he was here. This premiere issue is packed with articles especially for you. On page 18, “Five Steps to Better Health” explores how integrative medicine can make health care simpler, more effective and more affordable. In our local feature article, on page 26, Herb Pearce explains the power of the Enneagram, a personality decoding system that may help you understand yourself and improve your relationships. Special thanks go to our advertisers, writers, contributing local practitioners and distribution locations for your enthusiastic participation. Our advertisers are the reason we can bring this free publication to the Southeastern Middlesex community. Please remember them when you shop for products and services and add your thanks for their support. We are eager to hear from our readers, so please share your ideas and feedback with us. Send your news, and local story ideas to Maisie@Natural Awakeningsmcma.com In the meantime, we invite you now to open your mind, settle in, relax and read on. Wishing you peace and wellness,
Maisie Raftery, Publisher 4
SE Middlesex County | www.NaturalAwakeningsMCMA.com
contact us Publisher/Editor Maisie Raftery National Editor S. Alison Chabonais Writers Kim Childs Casey McAnn Lauressa Nelson Herb Pearce Lee Walker Design & Production Stephen Blancett Kim Cerne Zina Cochran Helene Leininger Multi-Market Advertising 239-449-8309
P.O. Box 1149 Brookline, MA 02446 Phone: 617-906-0232 Fax: 877-907-1406 www.NaturalAwakeningsMCMA.com © 2011 by Natural Awakenings. All rights reserved. Although some parts of this publication may be reproduced and reprinted, we require that prior permission be obtained in writing. Natural Awakenings is a free publication distributed locally and is supported by our advertisers. It is available in selected stores, health and education centers, healing centers, public libraries and wherever free publications are generally seen. Please call to find a location near you or if you would like copies placed at your business. We do not necessarily endorse the views expressed in the articles and advertisements, nor are we responsible for the products and services advertised. We welcome your ideas, articles and feedback.
SUBSCRIPTIONS Subscriptions are available by sending $25 (for 12 issues) to the above address.
Natural Awakenings is printed on recycled newsprint with soy-based ink.
newsbriefs Sollievo Offers Massage Training for Two in Cambridge
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ollievo Massage and Bodywork, in Cambridge, is introducing a new, 90-minute massage training session for two that includes hands-on time and methods for safely and comfortably giving and receiving massages at home. “This is not training for certification or continuing education,” says co-owner Laura Barricelli. “It’s a service to help anyone learn basic skills that can be used in a nonprofessional context.” The private training sessions are led by professional massage therapists who tailor them to the clients’ needs, interests and abilities. “People will learn basic techniques to deliver a safe and relaxing massage without causing injury to themselves or others,” says Barricelli. “Massage has so many therapeutic benefits, and this will enable trainees to make those benefits available to the people in their lives.” Location: 2285 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge 02140. Closed Mon. To schedule a lesson or treatment, call 617-354-3082. For more information, visit Sollievo.org. See ad on page 21.
Natural Awakenings Launches New Health Network
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atural Awakenings Corp., whose signature Natural Awakenings magazines support sustainable, healthy living, is launching an innovative, cost-saving health network. The new Natural Awakenings Network (NAN) allows members to obtain discounts on products and services focused on wellness and natural, healthy lifestyles. NAN’s extensive network encompasses practitioners of alternative and complementary medicine, including chiropractic, naturopathy, acupuncture, body therapies and energy work, as well as health and fitness clubs, health food stores, yoga centers, bookstores, spas and vegetarian/healthy restaurants. Members enjoy discounts ranging from 5 to 50 percent on products and services offered through NAN providers and can choose individual or family coverage. Additional benefits include an annual Natural Awakenings subscription, a NAN Provider Directory and newsletter, access to NAN’s website and free Consultation Line, and discounts on workshops and special events. Company founder and CEO Sharon Bruckman says, “We rejoice that the wellness revolution is in full swing, propelled by the kind of people who read our magazines and website. Natural Awakenings Network is our next step in helping people map out alternate routes to healthier, happier, longer lives.” For more information, call 717-469-0620 or visit NaturalAwakeningsNetwork.com See ad on the back cover.
Tips for Living E-Book Available from Herb Pearce
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erb Pearce, M.Ed., therapist, personal coach and author of The Idiot’s Guide to the Enneagram and numerous articles on personality types, presents a new e-book, Herb’s Tips for Living, which offers advice on how to live a life of enjoyment, spiritual fulfillment, relationship satisfaction and greater ease. Searchable topics include self-esteem, communication skills, romance, food and money, along with Pearce’s guidance, insight, fresh ideas and action steps. “My tips are simple and easy to understand, while honoring the complexity of life’s challenges,” says Pearce. “They’ve been sent to thousands of people throughout the world, with very positive and appreciative responses.” An expert in the Enneagram Personality Typing System, Pearce teaches public workshops and offers organizational team building training nationwide. He has more than 30 years experience and practices in Arlington; his weekly e-newsletter, available on his website, features tips and a schedule of workshops and events. For more information, call 781-648-3737 or visit HerbPearce.com.
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April 2011
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newsbriefs On-the-Go Aromatherapy
A
New Office for Savor Your Existence
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illan DiGiovanni, a certified holistic health coach, is expanding her practice by opening a new office in her favorite neighborhood, the heart of Davis Square, in Somerville. She will continue to offer both health coaching and guided meditation sessions for individual clients, along with new group programs for those seeking a peer support experience. All Natural Awakenings readers who mention this news brief will receive a $10 discount on an initial health consultation and a 20 percent discount on the cost of a three- or six-month individualized healthcoaching program. DiGiovanni is an experienced health coach, speaker and former classroom teacher, who brings a love of learning and humor to her health coaching sessions. She tests all recommendations herself before making suggestions to ensure that they are practical and affordable ways to experience a healthier life. For more information or to make an appointment, call 617-5102534 or email Dillan@SavorYour Existence.com. Also visit Savor YourExistence.com. See ad page on page 36.
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romago is a natural blend of essential oils that provides convenient, on-the-go refreshment whenever and wherever it is needed. It looks like a tube of lip balm and transports just as easily for modern lifestyles. “Think of it as a breath mint for your nose,” says Kyle Harder, a member of the team launching the new product. “You can use Aromago whenever you need it to return to the present moment and lift your spirits.” The Revive blend contains peppermint and eucalyptus oil for cold season, prompting some customers to use it for clearing up stuffy sinuses. The Relax blend, a mix of lavender oil and vanilla extract, can be used to encourage a good night’s sleep. Harder and his team anticipate that retail outlets and yoga studios in Middlesex County will soon stock Aromago, which is already sold in New York City and at GoAromago.com. Fans can follow the product on Facebook and Twitter at Aromago. For more information about carrying or buying Aromago, contact Kyle Harder at 617-823-6382 or Kyle@GoAromago.com. Also visit GoAromago.com.
Harvest Co-op Markets Awards Three Nonprofits
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arvest Co-op Markets, a community-owned food retailer with stores in Cambridge and Jamaica Plain, has awarded $6,500 to three local nonprofit organizations: The Food Project, the Cambridgeport Parent Teacher Organization, and Mass Farmers Markets. “All the original applicants were very deserving of support,” says Andrew Kessel, a Harvest Co-op board member. “We created criteria and listened to our members and communities before choosing the final recipients.” Harvest reviewed feedback on the award process from both the membership and the community, including through a Facebook survey. The Food Project will use its award to support a local youth program that teaches about food systems and volunteering on farms. Cambridgeport Parent Teacher Organization plans to use its funds to support a City Sprouts food garden at the Cambridgeport School. Mass Farmers Markets is using the award to help hire and train market benefits coordinators within farmers’ markets, so that recipients of federal and state food aid can shop at the markets. Harvest Co-op locations: 581 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge 02139, 617-6611580; and 57 South St., Jamaica Plain 02130, 617-524-1667. For more information, contact Chris Durkin at cdurkin@Harvest.coop or 617-661-1580, ext. 132. Also visit Harvest.Coop.com.
SE Middlesex County | www.NaturalAwakeningsMCMA.com
New Treatment for Chronic Pain at Myers Bodywork
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amar Myers, of Myers Bodywork, in Lexington, recognizes that some chronic pain and tension issues may not be helped by massage alone, so she is adding visceral and neural manipulation to the list of modalities offered in her practice. “Longstanding fascial restrictions in and around the viscera can pull on back and neck muscles and vertebrae,” says Myers. “Restrictions in the nerves themselves can cause pain that one may think is coming from muscles or tissues around the nerves.” She explains that even after an injury has healed, irritated nerves can cause pain apart from the original injury. For such issues, visceral and neural manipulation techniques may provide relief where massage alone does not. Location: 16 Clarke St., Lexington 02421. For more information or to schedule an appointment, call 781-862-8000, email Tamar@MyersBodyWork.com or visit MyersBodywork.com.
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April 2011
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newsbriefs Greenward Now Accepting Techno-Trash
T VioClean Launches Emergency Water Removal Service
V
ioClean, LLC, has launched a new service for emergency water removal, offering a nontoxic, natural process for postdisaster clean-ups. “We’re a safe resource in the case of an emergency,” says proprietor Trung Nguyen. “We are environmentally concerned and aware of the hazards of today’s chemicals and applications. We’ll safely restore the customer’s home as it was prior to the loss.” VioClean also offers carpet, upholstery, tile and grout cleaning and construction clean-ups. Some of VioClean’s clients cite young children and health conditions as reasons for choosing environmentally friendly, non-toxic cleaning. VioClean staff members use green cleaning and finishing products, and their floor finishes do not contain zinc or volatile organic compounds. For more information, call 800-277-2532, email Trung@ VioClean.com or visit VioClean. com.
echno-trash, or digital waste, includes cameras, CDs and tapes, MP3 players, laptops and storage devices, small electronic devices and rechargeable batteries. Greenward, in Cambridge, is encouraging the socially responsible disposal of these items by accepting them at its store. “E-waste is a huge environmental concern,” says owner Scott Walker. “Many toxic and valuable materials end up in landfills needlessly.” Greenward is an eco-boutique for shoppers interested in sustainability and environmentally friendly products, accessories, gifts, gadgets and jewelry. Techno-trash items can be dropped off during regular store hours, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Saturday (Thursday until 8 p.m.); and from noon to 5 p.m., Sunday. Location: 1764 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge 02140. For more information, call 617-395-1338, email Info@GreenwardShop.com or visit GreenwardShop. com. See ad on page 35.
Action Alert Take a Stand Against Biotech Bullies
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arly this year, the Obama administration approved three genetically modified organism (GMO) crops—Monsanto’s Roundup Ready alfalfa and sugar beets and Syngenta’s amylase corn to produce ethanol. Food Democracy Now, a grassroots community for a sustainable food system, is circulating an online petition objecting to these decisions that support biotech. Dozens of large food manufacturers and farm, food and agricultural organizations, both conventional and organic, are on board in opposing these lab-engineered food products for a variety of reasons such as unknown health and environmental consequences, including genetic contamination. Instead, the Obama administration should be forging progress in making agriculture more sustainable and encouraging farmers to convert to organic farming practices. Join with 50 million organic consumers who daily take a stand for their right to know what is in their food and how it’s produced. Tell President Obama to instruct the U.S. Department of Agriculture to ban planting of these GMOs. Sign the petition at Action.FoodDemocracyNow.org/go/347?akid=298.238135. FB4IuF&t=7.
Natural Food Store for Davis Square Pets
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one Appétit is a new natural pet store that promises fine food and sundries for four-legged friends. The store opened in December on Highland Avenue to offer its Davis Square neighbors a place to buy healthful products for dogs and cats, including raw food and foods free of corn, wheat and soy, with protein as the first ingredient. All-natural treats and shampoos are also available, and knowledgeable staff members can assist with product selection. Location: 389 Highland Ave., Somerville 02144. For more information, call 617-623-2226 or email BoneAppetitDavisSquare@gmail.com.
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SE Middlesex County | www.NaturalAwakeningsMCMA.com
New Test Analyzes Metabolism for Better Health
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mily Chan, doctor of naturopathic medicine, offers bio-impedance analysis (BIA)—a low-cost, accurate analysis of body composition— at the Lydian Center for Innovative Medicine, in Cambridge. BIA measures fat and muscle mass, cell hydration, cell energy capacity and other metabolic indicators. “This test is excellent for tracking progress with the First Line Therapy program that we also offer,” says Chan. “First Line Therapy addresses healthy weight, metabolism, blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar and energy.” According to Chan, a healthy metabolism can reduce risk factors for diabetes and cardiovascular disease and can indirectly affect hormone, adrenal and immune function. “Studies show that patients diagnosed with metabolic syndrome no longer meet the criteria for that diagnostic category after 16 weeks of a First Line Therapy protocol,” she reports. “Feeling great is a gift, and now is the time for people to start achieving their goals for a healthier spring and summer.”
Wild Dolphin Encounter Sweepstakes
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atural Awakenings has teamed up with WildQuest to offer readers a chance to win a Wild Dolphin Encounter Caribbean adventure getaway in the Bahamas. The six-night trip includes a onenight stay in Ft. Lauderdale before flying to Bimini, where the lucky winner will enjoy five days of daily excursions on a comfortable catamaran to connect and play with wild dolphins, swimming free in their natural environment. The combination of yoga, healthy food, supportive surroundings and dolphin encounters creates a transformative opportunity to relax, expand and reconnect with nature. Since 1995, WildQuest has been providing programs for swimming with wild and free dolphins in the warm Caribbean Sea; for many individuals, the experience is life changing. Natural Awakenings reader Bukki Sitler reports on Facebook: “I won a trip last summer, and it was one of the most amazing experiences of my life. Even off the boat, there is a lot to do, like yoga and daily meditation. It’s a beautiful program.” To sign up for the sweepstakes, visit NaturalAwakeningsMag.com/ contests. To learn more about WildQuest, visit WildQuest.com.
Location: 777 Concord Ave., Ste. 301, Cambridge 02138. Office hours are Mon.-Fri. For more information, call 617-299-6151, email DrEmily@ modernintegrativemedicine.com or visit ModernIntegrativeMedicine.com.
Our attitude toward
life determines life’s attitude towards us. ~ Earl Nightingale
natural awakenings
April 2011
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globalbriefs News and resources to inspire concerned citizens to work together in building a healthier, stronger society that benefits all.
Vital Signs
Lifetime Educational Achievement is Up Worldwide Worldwatch Institute reports that people all over the world are completing more years of schooling than ever before, according to the latest data out of Austria. Just over 3 billion, or 61 percent of the global population 15 years or older, had finished at least some secondary schooling during their lifetime as of 2010. That’s up from 36 percent in 1970 and 50 percent in 1990, and includes those who went on to even higher education. Having advanced to secondary school or beyond indicates that individuals are better prepared for the future. Sources: International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis and Vienna Institute of Demography
Survey Says
Most Scientists Don’t See Science and Spirituality at Odds Research for a new book, Science vs. Religion: What Scientists Really Think, reports that a significant number of scientists from elite universities do not see much of a conflict between their work and their faith. (Those who do see such conflict tend to be atheists or agnostics.) Author Elaine Howard Ecklund, a Rice University sociologist, also learned that the younger scientists, who are more likely to be religious, feel less of a sense of conflict than their older counterparts. While believing scientists, who comprised 70 percent of the nearly 1,500 survey participants, may feel beleaguered by their non-believing colleagues, Ecklund found that the strongly anti-religious views found among “new atheists,” such as Oxford University Biologist Richard Dawkins, are in the minority. “What religious scientists fail to realize, however, is that a significant proportion of their colleagues, [even if] not religious themselves, are open to talking and thinking about matters of faith,” she comments. Scientists who say they are “spiritual, but not religious” range from those who find their secular spirituality in nature or teaching science, to those engaged in such practices as yoga and meditation. Ecklund writes that such spiritual entrepreneurs may help in bridging the perceived gulf between science and religion, because they see their practice of spirituality as flowing into their scientific discipline, yet they tend to avoid politicized science-religion conflicts. Source: Religion Watch 10
SE Middlesex County | www.NaturalAwakeningsMCMA.com
Nature’s Cure
Monarch Butterfly Behavior Hints of Self-Medication As with many species, Monarch butterflies’ bright coloring warns predators of the insects’ potential toxicity, which in many cases is true. Biologists have now discovered that female Monarchs infected with a particularly noxious parasite will choose to lay their eggs on a more toxic version of milkweed, their basic food foliage, which works to reduce pass-along parasite infection in their offspring and is harmless to the larvae. “These experiments provide the best evidence to date that animals use medication,” says Jaap de Roode, the biologist who led the Emory University study. Some scientists theorize that animals’ practice of self-doctoring by using nature’s medicine cabinet may be more widespread than we realize.
Humane Youth
Compassion for Animals Aids Diet Changes The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention now estimates that one in 200 children is a practicing vegetarian, according to the parents polled. Fox News.com also reports that earlier surveys suggest the rate of vegetarianism among older teens could be four to six times that of younger children, because teens have more control over what they eat. Animal welfare, rather than health, is cited most often as to why kids stop eating meat.
healthbriefs
The Scent that Helps Us Sleep
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nsomnia, feelings of restlessness and irritability are widespread symptoms that negatively impact our quality of life. But there’s an alternative to sleeping pills and sedatives, say German researchers. At RuhrUniversität-Bochum, they have discovered that a nose full of jasmine scent is as effective in soothing, relieving anxiety and promoting sleep as the most commonly prescribed medications. In their study, the researchers worked with mice that inhaled jasmine scent released into their Plexiglas cage, and then ceased all motion and sat quietly in a corner. The researchers explained that the calming scent molecules proceed from the lungs into the blood, and then are transmitted to the brain, where they affect neurons responsible for the sleep-wake cycle. When the mice were injected with a chemical variation of jasmine, the results were similar. In working to balance neurotransmitters in the brain, the researchers suggest that the scent of jasmine acts as strongly as a range of today’s psychotropic drugs. Remarks Bochum cell physiologist and smell researcher Hanns Hatt, “The results can also be seen as evidence of a scientific basis for aromatherapy.”
Mushrooms for Health
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new Agricultural Research Service study reports that mushrooms may play an important role in maintaining health. Researchers found that white button mushrooms may promote immune function by increasing production of antiviral and other proteins that are released by cells seeking to protect and repair tissue.
Source: United States Department of Agriculture
Build Muscle with Weightlifting Lite
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e know that maintaining muscle mass is important to good health, especially as we age. But is it really obligatory to lift heavy weights to keep muscles in shape? Not necessarily, says a new study conducted at McMaster University, in Ontario, Canada, which shows that effective muscle building also can be achieved by using lighter weights and pumping until the muscles in the targeted area are fatigued. “Rather than grunting and straining to lift heavy weights, you can grab something much lighter, but you have to lift until you can’t lift it anymore,” says Stuart Phillips, associate professor of kinesiology at the university. “We’re convinced that growing muscle means stimulating your muscle to make new muscle proteins, a process in the body that over time, accumulates into bigger muscles.” The new paradigm contradicts current gym dogma and is welcome news for those who cannot lift heavy weights or simply don’t want to.
Why Junk Food Is Aging Here’s another reason to kick the soda habit. Research published online in the FASEB Journal (Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology) shows that high levels of phosphates may add more fizzle to sodas and processed foods than previously thought. New evidence shows that ingesting these accelerates signs of aging by increasing the prevalence and severity of age-related complications, such as chronic kidney disease, cardiovascular calcification and severe muscle and skin atrophy. When the researchers fed mice with a high phosphate diet, the mammals died prematurely. Dr. M. Shawkat Razzaque extrapolated that, “Keeping the balance of phosphate in the [human] diet may be important for a healthy life and longevity,” speaking for his team at the Department of Oral Medicine, Infection and Immunity at the Harvard School of Dental Medicine. This gives us all yet another reason to read food and beverage labels.
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ecobriefs Green Marketplace
Environmentally Conscious Behavior is Encouraging With more organic foods and sustainable products becoming available, it’s a bit easier to go green these days, and consumers are responding. The latest annual study by the Natural Marketing Institute finds that we are increasingly taking bags with us to the store, avoiding brands that don’t reflect our values and making better transportation choices, including carpooling and using public transit.
Reliable Source
Americans Trust Scientists for Information on Global Warming A national study of what Americans know about the causes and effects of global warming, along with potential solutions, reveals a general acknowledgement of our limited understanding. According to the Yale Project on Climate Change Communication, only 10 percent believe they are “very well informed,” while 75 percent say they would like to know more about the issue. Likewise, 75 percent want America’s schools to teach our children about climate change, while 68 percent would welcome a national program to make us all better informed. Overall, 63 percent of the Americans surveyed believe that global warming is occurring, but only about half of our citizens make the connection between human activities and greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Just 25 percent have ever heard of ocean acidification. Meanwhile, a large majority incorrectly thinks that global warming is somehow related to the hole in the ozone layer and that banning aerosol spray cans and stopping rockets from punching holes in the ozone blanket are viable solutions to the problem.
Gigantic Grid
Global Benefits of World’s Largest Public Computing Project A recent big idea has IBM’s World Community Grid tapping into the computing power of millions of linked personal computers to help solve the global water crisis. Scientists from China, Brazil and the United States will make use of formerly idle processing capacity among volunteered PCs to develop water filtering technology, clean up polluted waterways and find treatments for water-related diseases. While the idea of aggregating thousands of individual computers to create a virtual supercomputer to process data is not new, Grist.org reports that it’s the first time the approach has been used to tackle one of the planet’s bigger environmental problems. To do that, the scientists need to run millions of computer simulations as part of their Computing for Clean Water project. “They believe they can collapse tens or even hundreds of years of trial and error into mere months,” says spokesperson Ari Fishkind. To join the Clean Water or Clean Energy projects, download the software at WorldCommunityGrid.org. 12
SE Middlesex County | www.NaturalAwakeningsMCMA.com
consciouseating
health practitioner for possible herbdrug interactions. Turmeric Turmeric (Curcuma longa), the yellow spice commonly used in Indian curries, is well known for its anti-inflammatory properties and for suppressing pain without harmful side effects. Its main therapeutic ingredient is curcumin. Research from institutions such as the University of California, San Diego, and Cornell University indicate that curcumin appears to be a safe, natural alternative to COX-2 inhibitor drugs. Fatty Fish Many fatty fish like salmon, mackerel and herring contain omega-3 fatty acids that convert in the body into hormonelike substances that decrease inflammation and pain. According to research reports from arthritis specialists associated with the National Institutes of Health, omega-3 is an effective anti-inflammatory agent; ingesting fish oil acts directly on the immune system by suppressing 40 to 55 percent of the release of cytokines, compounds known to destroy joints. Many other studies similarly demonstrate that eating moderate amounts of fish or taking fish oil supplements reduces pain and inflammation, particularly for arthritis sufferers.
FOODS THAT
FIGHT PAIN A TASTY, COLORFUL BANQUET by Michelle Schoffro Cook
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hile many foods taste great, they can also be powerful healers, naturally packaged in vibrant, multicolored disguises. Plus, these foods won’t cause the nasty, common side effects that often accompany the use of drugs. Here are some fabulous-tasting favorites that can yield extra benefits. Cherries Muraleedharan Nair, Ph.D., professor of natural products and chemistry at Michigan State University, found that tart cherry extract is 10 times more effective than aspirin at relieving inflammation. Only two tablespoons of the concentrated juice need to be taken daily for effective results. Sweet cherries have also been found to be effective. Other Berries Nair later found the same anti-pain compound in other berries, specifically
blackberries, raspberries, blueberries and strawberries. Celery and Celery Seeds James Duke, Ph.D., author of The Green Pharmacy, found more than 20 anti-inflammatory compounds in celery and celery seeds, including a powerful flavonoid called apigenin. Add celery seeds to soups, stews or as a salt substitute in many recipes. Ginger Ginger reduces levels of pain-causing prostaglandin in the body and has been widely used in India to treat pain and inflammation. A study by Indian researchers found that when people who were suffering from muscular pain were given ginger, they all experienced improvement. New research from the University of Georgia supports these findings. If you’re taking medications, check with your
Flax Seeds and Flax Oil Freshly ground flax seeds and coldpressed flax oil contain plentiful amounts of the omega-3 essential fatty acids. Do not cook with flax oil, however, as it then can have the opposite effect of irritating the body’s tissues and causing pain. Raw Walnuts and Walnut Oil Raw walnuts and walnut oil also contain powerful omega-3 fatty acids that fight pain and inflammation in the body. When it comes to relieving pain, food really can be the best medicine. Michelle Schoffro Cook is a registered nutrition consulting practitioner and doctor of natural medicine. Her latest book is The Phytozyme Cure. Learn more at DrMichelleCook.com/Health SmartNews.
natural awakenings
April 2011
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healthykids
RAISING HEALTHY EATERS How to Train Children’s Palates from the Cradle On
by Jeannette Bessinger and Tracee Yablon Brenner
America is in the midst of an epidemic of
after problems have taken hold. Parents can begin cultivating healthy eating habits in their children right from the cradle. childhood obesity that is creating a health Establishing a few key parental practices can have long-ranging benefits for the family. crisis for our kids. The first tip is to keep a neutral attitude about food, even if it’s counterintuitive. When introducing solids to a child, it is helpful to present the foods in a relaxed, neutral way, with ccording to the Nestlé Nutrition Institute’s often no pressure to eat them. As the youngster grows, avoid labelreferenced Feeding Infant and Toddler Study (FITS), ing certain foods as good, bad or even healthy to sidestep the many U.S. children are eating a poor quality diet too response, “This is good for me? I don’t like it!” high in calories and too low in nutrition. About one in three Parents do well to remain patient. It can take up to 15 older babies and toddlers are not eating a single vegetable presentations before a child is willing to try something new, on a given day, and eating habits don’t improve as children and then several tastings before they decide they like it. get older. It also helps to offer a variety of fla Today’s typical American diet is clearly vors from a very young age to familiarize “The first three years not working. According to a benchmark children with many dimensions of tastes of a child’s life are a and textures. Though babies initially prefer National Cancer Institute study, only 1 percent of all children between the ages of tastes above all others, as youngsters window of opportuni- sweet 2 and 19 years met all requirements of the grow, their preferences tend toward what is U.S. Department of Agriculture Food Guide ty for forming lifelong, familiar. When introduced early on to varipyramid. Sixteen percent of the children ety and consistently offered healthy whole healthy eating habits.” foods, including all the veggies, these come met none of the pyramid recommendations. In 2010, the American Dietetic Association to comprise their preferred diet. Dr. William Sears, author, (ADA) reported that upwards of 23 milprofessor of pediatrics at the lion U.S. children and adolescents are now Continuing Practices University of California-Irvine overweight or obese and currently at risk School of Medicine and found- It’s always wise to offer food to children for other health problems associated with only when they are actually hungry. When er of AskDrSears.com obesity. That’s nearly one in three children. kids eat a continuous flow of simple carbohydrates, such as white crackers and sweetened cereals Early Training or even 100 percent juices, it keeps their blood sugar levels Nationwide efforts to address these health issues have demslightly elevated, which can create problems. onstrated that early prevention is easier than intervention Nutritionists see firsthand how such a diet prevents the
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true hunger signal from turning on fully, which in turn can cause little ones to act finicky about certain foods, especially vegetables. It can also prompt them to eat less of more nutritionally balanced foods on their plate at mealtimes. In children who have any type of blood sugar sensitivity, the more sweet foods they eat, the more they will tend to want. If a parent wants to offer a sweet snack, include some additional fiber, protein or healthy fat to balance it, because these nutrients act as a time-release mechanism for sugars and will help to regulate a more natural appetite rhythm. According to the ADA’s Pediatric Manual of Clinical Dietetics, vegetarian children tend to be leaner than their non-vegetarian peers; it doesn’t mean that simply eliminating meat is a recipe for obesity prevention. According to the ADA, a varied and appropriately planned vegetarian diet can meet all of a growing baby and toddler’s nutritional needs. But it is even more crucial to keep the blood sugar levels balanced in vegetarian toddlers, because they aren’t receiving proteins from animal sources. On the plus side, young vegetarians are more likely to eat a broader range of fiber and micronutrient-rich fruits, veggies and beans. To encourage reluctant youngsters to eat more vegetables, try roasting them, especially green produce and root veggies. Also serve a new vegetable in a way similar to one that they already like; e.g., baking homemade sweet potato fries cut in familiar shapes. Kid-size veggies like mini-broccoli trees or baby carrots have appeal. Dressing up plain veggies with dips and shakers of a mild herb, spice, Parmesan cheese, ground seeds or wheat germ adds to the fun. Finally, encourage toddlers to help out in the kitchen by asking them to wash and sort the veggies or arrange them in a pretty way on the platter. If children are involved in preparing foods, they are more likely to eat them. Jeannette Lee Bessinger, an award-winning lifestyle and nutrition educator, and Tracee Yablon Brenner, a registered dietitian, founded RealFoodMoms.com. These certified health counselors have co-authored two practical guides for families: Great Expectations: Best Food for Your Baby and Toddler and Simple Food for Busy Families.
Protective Food Practices n
80 percent rule: Don’t worry too much about what your child is eating outside the home. If s/he is eating a varied diet of high quality whole foods at home 80 percent of the time, everyone’s on the right track.
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Make the connection: Help a child understand the relationship between our food supply and the natural world. Visit an organic farm or help young ones start a garden.
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The pristine pantry: Put the child in charge of what foods they actually eat at a meal while parents stay in charge of the foods available. Keep unhealthy foods out of the house.
‘Eat Smart’ Strategies for School-Age Kids
by Kim Childs
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arents can usually control what babies and toddlers eat, but school-age kids face more external influences on their food choices, from peer pressure and social events to aggressive junk-food marketing. Nina Manolson is a certified health coach and family wellness expert in Somerville, with two school-age children of her own. She shares her tips for learning to “BEE” an advocate for healthy eating in the family. B = Buzz “In the same way our children are being marketed to, we need to create our own buzz for healthy food,” says Manolson. Instead of offering a smoothie with the news that it’s nutritious, tell kids that it’s delicious, with a secret hidden ingredient or fruit to discover. The same excitement can be generated at dinner, she says. “If you’re making sautéed spinach, say, ‘I have a magic trick. Do you think I can make this huge pile of greens fit into this tiny bowl?’” Another of Manolson’s mealtime strategies is placing condiments such as Italian or French spice blends, tamari and lemon pepper on the table and enticing children to, “travel to another country with their food,” by adding spices. This allows children to play chef and customize their meals.
E = Empower Manolson recommends taking kids grocery shopping and inviting them to select appealing fruits or vegetables. “This way, you’re empowering them to be an active participant in eating healthy, and they become part of the hunting and gathering process,” she says. Be sure everyone eats before shopping, she adds, so there is less temptation in the cookie aisle. “The other part of empowerment is to get them in the kitchen,” says Manolson. “Giving kids the tools and skills they need to make delicious food is very empowering.” E = Educate Parents should talk to kids about how food affects their bodies, Manolson advises. “We raise our children to know math, but we also need to create food-literate children.” In addition, she says, establish which foods are unacceptable in the family, make healthful substitutions (for example, honey instead of refined sugar, homemade goods over packaged) and be a good example. “You have to walk the talk,” says Manolson. “If Mom can be the example of walking down a buffet line and making healthy choices, that’s how children learn.” For more information, contact Nina Manolson at 617-7715121 or visit BodyAliveBodyAware.com. See ad on page 35.
natural awakenings
April 2011
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Movement as Medicine
A Universal Antidote to Aging by Katy Bowman
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ave you ever compared the benefits of a walk around the park with taking an antiinflammatory medication? How about correlating a game of hopscotch with high bone density? Many of us are very compliant when following a drug, herbal or vitamin prescription, but when our health care practitioner recommends exercise as a treatment, we too often accept that information with a shrug. It just doesn’t seem as critical. Yet, just as chemicals may affect specific body tissues, so do different machines, movements and modes of exercise. A healthy body is a fine-tuned mechanism, circulating essential blood, lymph and electrical impulses efficiently. While we may accept the belief that our circulation invariably degrades as we get older, it is really that we move less and allow our muscles to tighten. Muscles are the main force generators in the body, supporting the circulation of fluids and affecting the number of calories burned; constriction of muscles contributes to a decrease in both. Anyone, at any age, can turn to 16
exercise for movement’s natural, rich supply of anti-aging properties, but be aware that not all exercise is equal. It is vital that we select the best program for us, one that gives us what we need to maintain a healthy, youthful body without causing problems like a stressed immune system and degenerating joints.
Anti-aging Prescription n Save your joints and stretch. Human muscle tissue doesn’t change much over a lifetime; an anatomical science journal, Muscle & Nerve, reports that under a microscope, scientists can’t tell if they are looking at 18- or 80-year-old muscle. What they can see are the effects of inflexibility and tension around the joints that causes them to wear down and age us. The solution is to find a yoga or stretching class or home video and attend to it at least a few minutes every day. n Take a daily walk. Get those arms swinging and keep your legs extended, in order to stretch behind the knees while walking. Although one long walk is great for endurance, research
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from the American College of Nutrition shows that two or more shorter walks taken throughout the day may be even better for weight loss, cardiovascular health and overall metabolism. n Use it or lose it. Preventing the loss of your ability to get down to the floor and then stand back up again. This is a tough, whole-body, strength generating workout. Repeat it 10 times to feel an instant, healthful increase in body heat and breathing rate. n Choose a lighter activity. Multiple studies from Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise show that the many benefits of lighter activity include an improved immune system. According to the American College of Sports Medicine, a correlation exists between heavy exercise and upper respiratory tract infection. Walking is one example of a lighter exercise that meets your whole-body movement needs without compromising health. n Find a good exercise teacher. A 2009 study published in Clinical Rehabilitation that compared the effectiveness of unsupervised versus supervised exer-
cise programs, found more desirable improvements in balance, functional mobility, flexibility and strength in the group that met regularly in a private session or group class format. n Pay attention to alignment. Just as you wouldn’t continue to drive your car around with poor wheel alignment and expect optimum performance, so proper alignment of your skeleton can have an instant impact on the health of all tissues. Find an alignment specialist who can point out a few of your postural anomalies, and work together to improve them. n Minimize exercises that can wear down joints. Artificial walking patterns caused by treadmills and other cardio machines significantly increase the tension in the joints of the hips and knees. Rather, choose an aesthetically pleasing walking path around the neighborhood or opt for an indoor track or, in inclement weather, the local mall. n Mens sana in corpore sano. A healthy mind in a healthy body is the goal. According to the Gerontological Society of America, consistent exercise at midlife may reduce the odds of dementia in older adulthood. Make exercise time a daily habit in your own and your family’s schedule. Movement isn’t a luxury. The human body requires daily, hourly movement to optimize longevity, as well as youthful strength and flexibility. It doesn’t cost much to take a walk or to stretch your arms, legs and spine throughout the day, and the dividends are magnificent. Start by incorporating one “prescribed” anti-aging activity at a time, until you have a rich and well developed habit of taking your “movement vitamins.” It is absolutely possible to feel more energetic and vital now than you did 10 years ago, if you choose well. Katy Bowman, a biomechanics scientist, has a master’s degree in kinesiology and is director of the Restorative Exercise Institute in Ventura, CA. She has created the Aligned and Well™ DVD series to educate people about how their bodies work, so they can make informed decisions. Learn more at KatySays.com and Restorative Exercise.com.
Getting and Staying in the Exercise Habit by Casey McAnn
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he numerous benefits of exercise are powerful reasons to make it a regular habit. But many who start an exercise plan that’s too aggressive or ill-suited to their bodies often give up, says Newton personal trainer and life coach, Debra Bennett. “People often have a perfectionist approach to exercise,” she says. “It’s all or nothing— they’re ‘good’ or they’re ‘bad,’ and they’re going full pace and exhausting themselves or they’re doing nothing.” Bennett encourages her clients to adopt what she calls a yogic approach to fitness. This means starting where they are, heeding their body’s messages and building upon their own successes, instead of competing or comparing. “So maybe someone’s a couch potato today, but if they walk for 15 minutes tomorrow, that’s a big change,” she says. “From there, they can keep building.” The first step is to get moving, says Bennett, who recommends starting with a plan of cardiovascular exercise (e.g., walking, swimming or bicycling) three times a week and strength training (via Pilates, weightbearing exercises, free weights or machines) once a week. Building basic core and upper body strength is important, as is regularly stretching the lower back and hamstrings. “You want to get a bit of fitness in those key areas before you start doing lunges, heavy lifting or even complicated yoga,” says Bennett, who also likes her clients to use a heart monitor when exercising. Stay accountable by committing to a walking or workout partner, joining a gym or fitness program at work, taking a weekly class or booking regular sessions with a trainer or coach. Other tips include securing childcare, getting some home exercise equipment and DVDs and keeping an iPod loaded with favorite songs. Consis-
tency keeps a body in motion, says Bennett, and fitness professionals can help clients to identify and overcome obstacles, correct alignment and adjust goals over time. Bennett has helped clients to overcome insomnia and migraines with plans that include cardiovascular exercise, yoga, conscious breathing, nutrition and lifestyle changes that reduce stress. Others have similarly lowered their blood pressure and established healthy cholesterol levels. Another big benefit, she adds, is more fun. “I consistently hear feedback that exercise is now pleasurable, because they’re not overworking; they’re choosing activities that are fun and they’re starting to see results.” For more information and to sign up for Debra Bennett’s monthly e-newsletter, call 617-794-7123 or visit core harmony.com. See ad on page 22.
natural awakenings
April 2011
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Five Steps to
Better Health How integrative medicine can make health care simpler, more effective and more affordable. by Marco Visscher, Ursula Sautter and Carmel Wroth
Suffering from headaches and depression? Don’t let a doctor put you on drugs; instead, look for the underlying causes. High cholesterol? Try the Mediterranean diet, with a glass of organic red wine a day. The best way to win the war on cancer? Eat healthy, exercise and develop at the center of attention, and it puts the focus on an active social life. An increasing number company, the sources of illness and not the symptoms. of physicians are realizing that this type Health care costs are continually rising, but people are getting any healthier. Here is a five-point prescription for of approach, geared to prevention and a not the future of health care that applies the tenets of integrative conservative use of medications and technol- medicine to make today’s health care simpler, more effective ogy, not only increases patients’ vitality, but and more affordable. saves lots of money. 1. Emphasize Illness Prevention
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n the words of Dr. Dean Ornish, founder and chairman of the Preventive Medicine Research Institute, in Sausalito, California, “It is time to change not only who is covered, but also what is covered.” There is an overemphasis, he says, on treating symptoms and on the idea that caring for our health is primarily the responsibility of medical experts, rather than of individuals themselves. Zhaoming Chen, a neurologist and chairman of the American Association of Integrative Medicine, describes the way things currently work. “We only treat the disease after it occurs.” With figures showing that 95 cents out of every dollar spent on health care goes toward treating illness, he notes that “The best way to reduce the costs is prevention.” Integrative medicine puts the patient, not the doctor or the insurance 18
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About half of all American adults have a chronic illness, according to the Partnership for Solutions, a John Hopkins University-led initiative to improve care for Americans with chronic health conditions. Ornish claims that three-quarters of the more than $2 trillion recently spent on health care in a single year went to treat these kinds of conditions, including obesity. “All of these can be not only prevented, but even reversed through diet and lifestyle intervention,” he says. “It just seems so obvious to me that this is where we should be putting our focus.” There is a long way to go before prevention is on the national agenda. While prevention is indeed better than cure, we tend to reward those who find solutions for existing problems rather than those who ensure that those problems don’t occur. “Prevention is boring,” says Ornish. Rather, “We need to focus on living better.”
2. Promote Healthy Foods
nourish, nurture and augment the body’s own defenses. One alternative healing method that’s now beginning to find its way into hospitals is acupuncture, which has been shown, among other benefits, to help relieve pain, stress and nausea during pre- and post-operative care. Beth Israel’s Department of Integrative Medicine is bringing acupuncture into the hospital free of charge as part of a fellowship program for Chinese medicine practitioners. “The future of acupuncture is to be a part of best practices in the conventional setting,” says Arya Nielsen, a nationally board-certified acupuncture specialist who leads the program. “The Another way to reduce research is just too good.” The goal is to train both acupunccosts is to use alternaturists and conventional doctors in the tive and complementary benefits of this technique so that it can be 3. Focus on Lifestyle Changes therapies such as homeincorporated into Beth Israel’s best pracThe majority of health problems and tices. “Even if physicians have time to opathy, naturopathy, yoga risk factors for illnesses stem from the read the acupuncture studies, what really choices we make: how much time we and herbal medicine that makes it gel is when they see the results invest working, exercising and relaxing; can supplement and even on the patient they treat,” says Nielsen. time spent with friends and outdoors; and replace conventional meth- “The proof is in practitioners working whether we consistently take the stairs or side-by-side and people being able to the elevator. ods. Such complementary experience what this therapy can do.” The Sanoviv Medical Institute, in treatments work to nour Chen points out that chemotherapy, Rosarito, Mexico, is located on a beautisurgery and radiation dramatically ish, nurture and augment ful stretch of the Pacific coast, an hour change a patient’s life, and people need south of San Diego. The recommended the body’s own defenses. strong support from family and friends to stay for most patients is two weeks. While adapt to these changes. Chen believes there, they learn about and experience a that treating cancer should involve both conventional and allifestyle based around stress reduction, emotional well-being, ternative medicine. “Patients also need some lifestyle changes: healthy eating and exercise. Many patients come in with cancer or multiple sclerosis; others come just to detoxify and clear smoking cessation, minimizing alcohol intake, adopting a low-fat, high-fiber diet. Besides that, because [conventional] out the accumulated effects of stress. The program includes treatment may cause nausea and pain, patients may benefit dietary changes, supplements, daily exercise and a stress from acupuncture, meditation, yoga and Tai chi. This will help management plan supported by psychological counseling and them cope with pain better.” daily meditation. Roberta Lee, a pioneer of integrative health care and primary care physician at the Beth Isreal Medical Center Department of Integrative Medicine, in New York City, believes the first prescription any doctor should write should be about diet and lifestyle. “You can never lose by maximizing lifestyle management,” says Lee, pointing out that many conditions not easily diagnosed or cured in a conventional framework can be improved by dietary and lifestyle changes. “There are specific diets that promote wellness,” she says. “They reduce inflammation, [and] increase fiber, vitamins and minerals that come in the form of a lot of fruits, vegetables and whole grains.”
A 2004 study in The Lancet showed that lifestyle changes—quitting smoking, healthier eating habits, moderate alcohol consumption and regular exercise—can prevent 90 percent of today’s cases of heart disease, which currently accounts for more premature deaths and higher health care costs than any other illness, according to Ornish. “When lifestyle is offered as a treatment, it’s as effective and often more effective than what we’re now doing, at a fraction of the cost,” says Ornish. “We pay for all these interventions that are dangerous, invasive, expensive and largely ineffective, and yet interventions that have been scientifically proven to reverse disease, are a simple change of lifestyle.”
4. Use Alternative Therapies
Another way to reduce costs is to use alternative and complementary therapies such as homeopathy, naturopathy, yoga and herbal medicine that can supplement and even replace conventional methods. Such complementary treatments work to
5. Treat People, Not Diseases
As Nurse Béatrice Fleury pours a steaming infusion of yarrow over a piece of cotton and then wrings it out, the aroma of the medicinal herb wafts over to the hospital bed where Eliane Perrot is waiting for her body wrap. When the compress and a hot water bottle have been gingerly applied to her lower back and secured by a soft cloth sash, she leans back with a contented sigh. The compress will help her liver better metabolize the toxins that have accumulated in it after months of breast cancer therapy. The wrap’s warmth will also create a sense of temporary well-being, a precious feeling for the frail, exhausted, 65-year-old. Alternative treatments like the yarrow wrap are the order of the day at the Paracelsus Spital, in the Swiss town of Richterswil, outside of Zurich. Founded in 1994, the clinic is one of a handful of hospitals in Europe devoted to complementary healing. In addition to orthodox treatments and drugs, the natural awakenings
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Helping the Body Heal Itself by Casey McAnn
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he central nervous system is a wise manager, with the task of controlling autonomic processes such as respiration, digestion, sleep patterns, hormonal activity and cardiovascular function. When a person experiences physical, emotional or mental stress, the central nervous system is disturbed, body functions are thrown off and illness can result. According to licensed Acupuncturist Lisa Bernazini, in Cambridge, that’s when acupuncture can be used to restore well-being. “Acupuncture is not as mysterious as most people think,” says Bernazani, who is also a licensed Chinese herbal medicine practitioner. She explains that the body perceives the insertion of acupuncture needles as a kind of attack, and responds by releasing substances that normalize the central nervous system. “When the nervous system becomes stabilized, all the body’s autonomic processes become normal again,” she says. Bernazani has successfully treated clients for thyroid imbalances, infertility, depression and anxiety, fibromyalgia, digestive disorders, insomnia and other complaints. She says that while most individuals require a series of treatments to correct their health issues, clients usually feel a difference after one session. “They report feelings of internal stability and improved sleep, digestion, hormonal balance and mood,” Bernazani advises. “People also regain their will and clarity to move forward on their path in a way that’s appropriate for them.” That’s the ultimate goal of acupuncture, she says— getting clients relaxed and balanced enough to make diet, exercise and lifestyle choices that will keep them well. “Prevention is almost always the best cure,” notes Bernazani. “Once somebody becomes sick, it requires a very large commitment on the individual’s part to return to normal.” A true wellness plan is less complicated than most people imagine, she says, and it doesn’t necessarily involve supplements, rigid diets or a monastic lifestyle. “All you have to do is slow down, relax, listen to yourself, know your limitations and respect them.” Bernazani counsels her clients to take responsibility for their own well-being—an approach that she believes will ultimately save the nation’s healthcare system. “It’s not about throwing more dollars at healthcare, or more news flashes about what to do and what not to do,” she says. “It’s really up to people to start changing their ways.” To connect with Lisa Bernazani at her practice, Middle Path Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine, call 339-2213132, email LBernazani@gmail.com or visit AcupunctureBoston.com.
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conventionally schooled doctors here also use therapies and medications based on the holistic approach to medicine inspired by the anthroposophy of Waldorf education founder Rudolf Steiner. “If you want to understand a person’s disease and support his self-healing powers, it’s of central importance to look at the human being as a whole—body, spirit and soul,” says Paracelsus Medical Director Erich Skala. “This may require more time and effort, but it’s how you treat the causes, and not just the symptoms.” Dr. Daniel Dunphy, of the San Francisco Preventive Medical Group, believes the Paracelsus approach is what the United States needs. “You have to take time to get to know the patients and listen to their stories,” he counsels. “I want to know their personal history, their traumas, how they do at work, what they eat and at what times of the day—and then I know what to do about their problem.”
The Bottom Line
Of course, the bottom line in the debate about health care is cost. Proponents of integrative health argue that the promotion of preventive steps such as eating healthy food and making positive lifestyle changes, as well as using complementary methods to treat the whole person and not just the disease, will result in “… the biggest return on investment this nation could ever have,” in the words of William Novelli, a professor at Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business and the former CEO of AARP. Kenneth R. Pelletier, clinical professor of medicine at the University of Arizona School of Medicine and the University of California School of Medicine, has been putting numbers behind the arguments for integrative health. Pelletier has studied the cost-effectiveness of corporate programs to promote health and manage disease among employees. The programs encompassed everything from subsidized gym memberships and smoking cessation classes to biometric screening and serving smaller portions in company cafeterias. Pelletier found that companies with such programs in place realized healthier, more productive workforces, fewer sick days and less staff turnover. He estimates that it takes, on average, just over three years before firms see a financial return on this kind of investment. “These reviews clearly indicate that comprehensive interventions do evidence both clinical- and cost-effectiveness,” says Pelletier. “There’s a very good payback. It makes us think about health as an investment.” More money, more pills and more technology don’t necessarily lead to better health. Advocates of integrative medicine generally take a “less is more” approach—less needless medications and medical procedures and more prevention and healthy personal lifestyle changes can add up to big financial savings and big improvements in an individual’s quality of life. Marco Visscher is the managing editor of Ode, Ursula Sautter and Carmel Wroth are contributors. Adapted from an article that first appeared in Ode, the magazine about positive change.
Building Health, One Bite at a Time by Kim Childs
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efore there were pharmacies, there were berries, vegetables, nuts, seeds and fish. These foods nourished cave dwellers, says Arlington nutritionist Charlie Smigelski, and they’re still vital for maintaining healthy bodies today. “We are what we eat,” says Smigelski. “The groceries that I’m consuming today really do represent the foundation for how I’m repairing and restoring myself for tomorrow.” He explains that our bodies thrive on adequate protein to build and maintain muscle throughout life, while fruits and vegetables provide vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and fiber. Fruits also help to create a healthy intestinal ecosystem, which affects much more than digestion. “Fruit fibers nourish all the friendly bacteria that have a lot to do with keeping your intestinal cells happy,” Smigelski says. “In turn, this keeps your brain happy, because there are as many serotonin receptors in your gut as there are in your head.” Those fruit-nourished bacteria also support immune system functions that originate in the intestines, he notes, citing Tufts University research that suggests antioxidant-rich berries can improve aging brains by cleaning out free radicals. “It’s stunning that you can improve brain function in somebody just by giving them half a cup of berries every day,” Smigelski remarks. “There’s no pharmaceutical agent on the planet that can do that.” Good fats are also essential for physical and mental health, he says. Omega-3 oils from fish, flaxseed and walnuts can offset anxiety and depression and regulate heartbeat, while the gamma linolenic acid in omega-6 oils moistens the skin, increases beneficial cholesterol and decreases harmful cholesterol. Sources include raw sunflower or pumpkin seeds and evening primrose oil capsules. When it comes to carbohydrates, Smigelski prefers sweet potatoes and
legumes to bread and pasta. “All we are saying is, give peas a chance,” he quips. One reason is that legumes are a great source of magnesium, which regulates the body’s anti-inflammatory processes. “People not getting enough magnesium have an accelerated rate of bone loss, cholesterol hardening in their arteries and belly fat accumulation,” says Smigelski. “They may also be at a higher risk for developing Alzheimer’s.” To help all these nutrients reach their destinations, Smigelski recommends fitness practices such as yoga or Tai chi to keep one’s life-force energy moving well throughout the body. For more information, call 617-8772982, email Charlie@CharlieNutrition. com or visit CharlieNutrition.com.
Time you
enjoy wasting, was not wasted. ~ John Lennon
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Nexus Integrative Therapy Working with Mind-Body Unity by Lauressa Nelson
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reat people, not diseases,” is the philosophy of Arlington-based healer Alison Shaw, a registered nurse and licensed massage therapist. “The next, deeper level of conversation we need to have around health care is dealing with the person as an integrated being,” she says. Shaw’s background in science (B.S. in nutrition and M.S. in nursing), plus 20 years in private practice as a licensed massage therapist and certified energy healer (Brennan Healing Science), have led her to found Nexus Integrative Therapy. “I work with mind-body unity, the direct connection between mind and body, which includes the spiritual,” Shaw advises. She uses bodycentered counseling, energy healing and integrative bodywork to address the connection of emotional, physical and spiritual issues with acute and chronic illnesses. Shaw explains that every thought and emotion has a direct physiological effect at the chemical level, such as the “fight-or-flight response.” Over time, experiences can create conditioned responses that last beyond the immediate event and determine one’s experience in a new situation—even when the response may not be helpful. She gives this example: “When someone is chronically tense in the neck, jaw or back, that [tension] becomes their first reaction and triggers a default emotional experience of anxiousness. With depression, people may literally collapse their muscles and breath, which then locks in their depressed mood. It’s hard to change the mood with-
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out changing the body, along with underlying beliefs and attitudes.” When a client comes in with a physiological issue, Shaw explains how feelings and beliefs are related to what’s happening in the body. She leads clients in exercises, such as guided body awareness, to connect feelings and beliefs with illnesses or symptoms. “If someone were to have a dialogue with their high blood pressure, for example, he may find information about emotional issues expressed as illness,” she says. Awareness is vitally important; what causes the cycle is the unconscious internal dialogue. “The nervous system doesn’t know that an old emotional situation is over,” Shaw clarifies. “If a person becomes aware of how the body is enacting problems, I can teach new ways to release with movement, grounding, breathing, opening and awareness exercises.” Her clients often show progress quickly, within as few as two sessions. “It’s the system that is un-integrated,” concludes Shaw. “If every practitioner—even the traditional clinician—were to look at what’s going on with their clients’ lives and emotions, patients would greatly benefit and medical costs would decrease.” For more information about Alison Shaw, R.N., L.M.T., call 781-646-0686, email Alison@NexusIntegrativeTherapy.com or visit NexusIntegrativeTherapy.com. See ad on page 34.
communityspotlight
Canis Major Herbals
A Natural Approach to Pet Wellness by Kim Childs
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f people do best with a program of exercise, whole food diets and herbs to occasionally cleanse and tone the body, would the same approach work for pets? Yes, says Somerville herbalist Nancy Anderson, who has been healing local pets for five years, using a natural approach to wellness. Anderson named her business Canis Major Herbals to honor the Big Dog constellation and her fondness for large canines. “I love helping dogs come back to wellness,” she says. “It feeds me.” Anderson worked for years in the pharmaceutical industry before a lucky turn of events and a severance package allowed her to change course. She went on to pursue herbal studies and an internship in which she focused on the application of herbal remedies to animals. Today, she works at the B.Y.O.D. self-serve dog wash, in South Boston, while growing her business and blogging and lecturing about pet wellness. “I talk with people every day who are either unaware that their dogs have a problem, or they’re seeing a vet who doesn’t seem to get to the underlying issue,” says Anderson, referring to conditions such as the red, itchy paws and chronic paw licking that she sees in some of the dogs that come in for baths. Nearly all of those ailments can be traced to food sensitivities, she says. “As an herbalist, I love formulating herbs and mixing up tinctures and teas and things like that,” Anderson explains. “But I’m equally happy when
conditions can be reversed just by changing the pet’s food.” A Natural Diet Is Key Grocery and chain store kibble contains grains, fillers and byproducts that can throw off an animal’s pH balance and create other problems, says Anderson. She recommends a diet that is more like what animals eat in the wild. “Dogs that are switched to a raw diet do exceptionally well,” she says. “I often see a complete turnaround.” Frozen, packaged, raw food diets containing meat and vegetables are available from many local independent pet stores and facilities, including LaundroMutt, B.Y.O.D., Animal Spirit and Bone Appetit. These foods supply the enzymes necessary for healthy digestion, says Anderson, while most processed commercial pet foods do not. “If the stomach is missing these digestive enzymes, it asks the brain to step in and rob metabolic enzymes that should be off doing things like fighting inflammation,” she notes. “That’s why we’re seeing lots of chronic illness in pets these days, like arthritis, allergies and urinary issues.” Cats are especially susceptible to urinary problems, she says, and benefit greatly from a meat-based diet with little or no dry food. For more information about Nancy Anderson, call 617501-9241, email Nancy@CanisMajorHerbals.com. See ad on page 34.
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snapshots Our area is rich with a variety of businesses and individuals who provide natural, healthy living products and services that can help us achieve greater well-being and fulfillment. They also create opportunities to build meaningful community connections and explore options for living a simpler, greener, more authentic life. Here are just a few of the many facilities, practitioners and providers who support Natural Awakenings’ mission to “feel good, live simply and laugh more.”
Central Bottle Wine and Provisions 196 Massachusetts Ave. Cambridge 02139 617-255-0040 CentralBottle.com Selected wines, beers, meats, cheeses and homemade organic treats line the shelves at Central Bottle Wine and Provisions, where Maureen Rubino and her partners help customers pair food and beverages for the perfect meal. “Central Bottle is a sort of Italian enoteca, or gathering place [for wine and food],” Rubino notes. “People come from other countries and tell us that they feel at home here.” Central Bottle hosts special events, including a wine bar every Thursday night.
core harmony P.O. Box 600298 Newtonville 02460 617-794-7123 coreharmony.com As a personal trainer, certified coach and teacher, Debra Bennett instructs and guides her clients in yoga, Pilates, fitness, wellness, weight loss and relationship and life coaching. “We strive to meet and exceed the diverse needs of the clients we serve by offering individual attention, integrative plans and customized programs,” says Bennett. “We care about your health, your well-being, your relationships, your company and your success.” See ad on page 22. 24
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Dahlia 97M Union St. Newton Center 02459 617-527-4456. DahliaHandmade.com Dahlia Popovits is a professional weaver who started creating at the age of 4. Today, she designs all of her own products and features handmade, natural-fiber scarves and clothing from other artisans at Dahlia, the store she opened six years ago. “I try to design garments that will balance someone’s life,” she says. “I like making customers happy, and the one-on-one interactions feed both me and the customer.” See ad on page 33.
Down Under Yoga 306 Walnut St. Newtonville 02460 617-244-YOGA (9642) DownUnderYoga.com Down Under Yoga features two studios, two styles of yoga (Iyengar and Flow) and three levels of instruction. Owner Justine Wiltshire Cohen, who formerly taught yoga to the U.S. Supreme Court, believes that, “…the effects of what you do on the mat naturally spill over into your life.” Down Under students and teachers span the generations, and teachers Patricia Walden, Barbara Benagh and Natasha Rizopoulos teach monthly master classes and perform workshops periodically.
Eric Volkin, LMT, NCTMB
Med Acupressure
Samadhi
The Arlington Center 369 Massachusetts Ave. Arlington 02474 339-368-0375 EVCMassage.com
110 Madison Ave. Newtonville 02460 617-795-2500 ja1165@hotmail.com
796 Beacon St. Newton Center 02459 617-243-0034 SamadhiIntegral.com
Seven years ago, Suk Ja Lim gave up a musical life in Korea to pursue a career in acupressure. “I wanted to help people get healthy,” Lim says of a healing technique that relieves pain, improves circulation and increases the flow of life-force energy without the use of needles. Lim, who also practices point and acupressure massage, hopes to expand Med Acupressure by offering a variety of spa services.
Samadhi offers yoga, dance, psychotherapy, meditation, human-development programs and cleansing and acupuncture treatments. Owners Nicole and John Churchill believe in supporting individual growth and collective community with a holistic and methodic approach. “Our planet desperately needs its humans to grow ethically, spiritually and physically,” says Nicole. “We provide a place for people to do all three, offering a grounded program that pulls together the best of Eastern and Western knowledge.”
For six years, licensed massage therapist Eric Volkin has worked to meet his clients’ needs by customizing their treatments. His techniques include deep-tissue, orthopedic, sports, oncology and chair massage; active, isolated stretching; myofascial release; and Reiki. “I love helping people feel better by relieving their pain and educating them about how to help themselves,” he says. Volkin is also constantly updating his knowledge of the many healing arts. See ad on page 22.
Greenward 1764 Massachusetts Ave. Cambridge 02140 617-395-1338 GreenwardShop.com Scott Walker grew up understanding that environmentalism is a civic responsibility. Opening Greenward in 2007 satisfied his desire to exemplify this belief. “In everything we do, we try to be as environmentally responsible as possible,” Walker says. Greenward provides a one-stop shopping experience for those interested in sustainability and environmentally friendly products that range from toothbrushes made from recycled materials, to indoor and outdoor composters, baby products, gifts, jewelry and more. See ad on page 35.
Life Alive Urban Oasis and Café 765 Massachusetts Ave. Cambridge 02139 617-354-LIFE (5433) LifeAlive.com There’s something for everyone at Life Alive Urban Oasis and Café, including a children’s play area by day and workshops, acoustic music and movies by night. Founder Heidi Feinstein is an activist and naturopath who says she’s created a space, “…where people can come to awaken their spirit, vitality and joy,” while eating delicious, healthful, organic food. Feinstein started Life Alive in Lowell and opened the Cambridge café last fall.
Natural Sense 326 Walnut St. Newtonville 02460 617-969-9510
Savor Your Existence
Beverly Cummings Goldstein has provided all-natural skin care to her clients for 26 years at Natural Sense. A former kindergarten teacher with “horrible skin,” Goldstein says she discovered the positive effects of pharmacygrade, natural skin-care products and wanted to share them with others. “Our customers are part of the family,” says Goldstein. “I want them to understand why they’re using a particular product, and educate them about product use and ingredients.”
Prana Power Yoga and Prana Restaurant 282 and 292 Centre St. Newton 02458 617-641-YOGA (9642) 617-527-7726 PranaPowerYoga.com, EatAtPrana.com
Dillan DiGiovanni, CHC (Certified Health Coach) 278 Elm St., Davis Square Somerville 02144 617-510-2534 SavorYourExistence.com Dillan DiGiovanni is a certified health coach serving Cambridge, Somerville, Arlington and beyond. Savor Your Existence is the business she created with severance money from an old job, allowing her to realize a dream of helping people enjoy better nutrition and healthful habits for life. DiGiovanni also has a strong desire to work with the GLBT community and says, “I want to help people appreciate who they really are.” See ad on page 36.
Taylor and Philippe Wells opened Prana Power Yoga studios in Newton, Woburn and Cambridge with the intention of bringing more light and life to these communities. Later, they added Prana Café—an organic, raw, vegan restaurant—to the Newton studio. “We combine the spiritual and physical aspects of yoga in a way that is not intrusive,” says Philippe. Prana Power Yoga was recognized as a top yoga studio by Travel + Leisure magazine.
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The Enneagram A Dynamic Personality System for Understanding Ourselves by Herb Pearce
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he Enneagram (from the Greek ennea [nine] and grammos [something written or drawn]), is a personality system that describes nine unique personality perspectives. Even though we all have characteristics of the nine types, one is more basic to each person’s motivation, thinking and behavior than the others. It can be eye opening to discover our core perspective and learn how to communicate well with every type. According to the Enneagram theory, personality develops as a result of a unique combination of genetics, cultural influence, family and childhood experiences and spiritual growth inclination. There are subtypes within each personality type and a sequence of other type aspects that explain our individual uniqueness. This down-to-earth personality matrix helps us understand our self and others, in order to comprehend our own world and engage theirs. The Enneagram is also a useful tool for personal development and learning how to build up the strengths of each type within our self.
Type 1, the Perfectionist, tends to correct and reform everything according to an ideal and has a hard time letting things be. Example: Martha Stewart. Type 2, the Cheerleader, is upbeat, personal and
giving—sometimes too much—yet has a hard time loving himself or herself. Example: Kelly Ripa.
Type 3, the Overachiever, loves to compete and
win and strives for success to avoid failure. Example: Bill Clinton.
Type 4, the Depth Seeker, searches for depth and meaning, emotion, esthetics and individuality and avoids the ordinary. Example: Johnny Depp.
Type 5, the Knowledge Seeker, tries to understand life through the mind, is private and avoids revealing personal feelings. Example: Albert Einstein.
Type 6, the Questioner, is loyal and protective, lives by the motto, “Be prepared,” and tends not to notice what is secure and positive. Example: George Costanza, of the TV comedy series, Seinfeld. Type 7, the Optimist, is positive to a fault, loves fun and tends to downplay pain and problems. Example: Goldie Hawn. Type 8, the Director, likes to be in charge and make quick and strong deci-
sions to protect against any sign of weakness or confusion. Example: Donald Trump.
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Type 9, the Peacemaker, tends to
go along with others to avoid conflict and avoids his or her own assertion and individuality. Example: the Dalai Lama. The Enneagram is an excellent tool to use in counseling. Knowing a client’s core type offers an instant read on how they view reality and reveals their inherent strengths and limitations. For example, a Type 1 needs to relax more and let things be; a Type 2 needs to help others less and give to themselves more; and a Type 9 needs to be much more assertive. The Enneagram matrix can save time and energy by getting directly to the point. Herb Pearce, M.Ed., from Arlington, is an individual, couples and family therapist and coach and an Enneagram and Myers-Briggs trainer with 30 years experience. The author of The Complete Idiot’s Guide to the Power of the Enneagram, he is a leading expert on the personality system and has taught nearly 2,000 workshops. His e-book, Herb’s Tips for Living: A Manual for Living on the Earth, is available online. For more information, call 781-6483737 or visit HerbPearce.com. For an event schedule or to receive his weekly e-newsletter, Herb’s Life Tips, email Herb@HerbPearce.com.
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Leap at the
healingways
The Evolution of Massage Hands-On Healing Power Gains Momentum by Lee Walker
Chance!
For more information on how to
jump-start your business and advertise in
email:
publisher@Natural AwakeningsMCMA.com
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T
he ancient healing Ancient Greeks States, according to the American Massage Aspractice of massage and Romans were sociation. therapy is playing an important role today in keen on massage. Kneading, tapping and stroking, the common the emerging golden age of complementary and al- Greek gymnasiums ancestors of the 100ternative medicine (CAM). included massage plus techniques used by today’s massage theraSurprisingly, it remains rooms, and the pists, have survived two comparatively underrepresented in U.S. medical practice of massage evolutionary spirals, but acceptance of massage school curricula, while appeared in every as a prominent healing Massage Today reports tool has not followed an that “Insurance reimbursecountry that uninterrupted ascent. ment for massage therapy was part of the Starting in 1800 is at an all-time high.� From the time that Roman Empire. B.C., when East Indian ayurvedic massage Hippocrates, the father techniques were used to of modern medicine, maintain mental health and prevent introduced the idea that a physician disease, the development of related should be experienced in rubbing, healing modalities, such as Reiki, massage therapy has moved in and out acupressure, Shiatsu, Canadian deep of the traditional medical models of muscle massage, lomilomi and Swedish various cultures. Current practitioners massage, generally gained in accepattribute its staying power to continued tance. When, in 1884, skeptical British awareness of the inherent healing and physicians alleged that its practitioners therapeutic value of massage, now the leading form of bodywork in the United were stealing patients, the Incorporated
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Society of Trained Masseuses formed to legitimize their approach. They set about creating regulations and establishing a clear practice model for physical rehabilitation; today the organization exists as the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy. Many of the techniques used by its members still reflect treatment practices invented prior to the society’s inception. Since the 1970s, renewed interest in hands-on methods of manipulating muscles and other soft tissues has propelled the therapeutic use of touch into its latest upward growth spiral, freeing it from the gravitational pull of another bout of opposition from mainstream medicine in the early 1930s. Now on an accelerated course, massage again has the opportunity to assume a celebrated place in the annals of medicine, just as it did in 1936, when Dr. Thomas Lathrop Stedman included it as a “scientific method” among therapeutics in his Practical Medical Dictionary. Eric Volkin is a licensed massage therapist in Arlington who says that very few of his clients come in solely for relaxation anymore. “About 90 percent of the people who come to see me are in for very specific issues that they want to have treated,” he reports. Common complaints include shoulder and neck pain or limitation, along with low-back and repetitivestress injuries. Volkin continually studies applied-massage techniques and works in partnership with osteopaths, chiropractors and orthopedic doctors, some of whom tell their patients to have a massage before visiting their offices. “I get referrals from conventional and alternative practitioners who acknowledge that the work I do is complementary to what they are doing,” says Volkin. “If I can prepare the [client’s] tissue to accept the [other practitioners’] treatments, it makes their job easier and gives them a better body to work with.” In 2006, Massachusetts made massage a state-regulated industry, giving practitioners like Volkin more credibility and influence, he says. The Boston Medical Center’s Moakley Cancer Center offers massage to alle-
viate the depression, nausea, pain, fatigue and anxiety that cancer patients often suffer during treatment. Volkin, who practices oncology massage, says that the release of endorphins during a session does much to improve a patient’s well-being. “With massage, patients have the opportunity to receive nurturing touch that’s healing and non-judgmental,” he says. “It feels much better than getting poked and prodded with needles.” While more research is needed to support specific health benefits of massage, the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) continues to sponsor studies. The effort is to determine if and how the changes that occur in the body dur-
ing massage influence health, and to identify the conditions for which massage may be most helpful. Unwilling to wait for such statistical evidence, ever-growing numbers of American adults—18 million per a 2007 NCCAM study—have chosen to make use of massage. Their testimonials regularly attest to its therapeutic benefits and recognize its worth as an aid to general wellness—a positive sign that the current positive trend will continue. For more information about Eric Volkin’s massage treatments, call 339368-0375, email EVolkin7@gmail.com or visit EVCMassage.com. See ad on page 22.
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naturalpet
PAIN-FREE
PETS NATURAL WAYS TO PROVIDE RELIEF by Dr. Matthew J. Heller
out animals that display signs of pain or injury as a preferred target, so it’s natural to hide pain as a protective measure. In the event of a trauma, illness or surgery, seek diagnosis and assistance from a trusted integrative veterinarian. Mounting evidence from institutions such as the American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association and American Academy of Veterinary Acupuncture supports the use of alternative modalities to effectively manage pain and provide relief. Some of the most common include the following approaches.
Nutraceuticals These non-drug nutrients play a significant role in strengthening normal body tissues, repairing damaged tissues and improving efficient body metabolism. Pet guardians may use vet-recommended nutraceuticals for up to six to eight weeks to manage low levels of pain.
Homeopathic Remedies
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roviding pain relief for pets is important, whether they are recovering from an injury or surgery or suffering from a chronic problem. But recognizing signs of pain in animals is tricky because it’s subjective and its expression varies with each animal. Some pets are stoic when faced with horrible injuries, while others howl over minor ailments. Humans complain, grumble and often self-medicate to alleviate their aches. A pet may need help and be communicating, “I hurt!” if any of the following signs are evident. n Being unusually withdrawn, inac30
tive, restless or exceptionally clingy n Refusing to walk stairs or not rising quickly when called n Avoiding physical contact, such as being lifted or carried n Whining, whimpering, howling or meowing constantly n Biting or continually licking a particular part ofthe body n Flattening ears against the head n Loss of appetite Changes in behavior may be the only way a cat or dog will communicate its plea for relief from pain. Keep in mind that in nature, predators seek
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Homeopathic remedies, sometimes referred to as homotoxicology, comprise the use of plant and animal materials to stimulate the body into action; homeopathy is often explained as, “Like heals like.” Specifically, exposure to a large amount of a toxin (e.g., poison ivy or arsenic or anthrax) would likely cause specific physical problems, but in a small, controlled dose, it may stimulate the body to heal similar problems. We regularly apply Traumeel, manufactured by Heel, a blend of 12 homeopathic remedies for temporary relief of minor aches and pains associated with bruises, sprains and injuries such as dislocations, fractures and trauma. It can also ease pain associated with inflammation and arthritis. Forms include dissolvable tablets, ointments and drops.
In decades past, veterinarians were taught that some feeling of pain could help an injured or post-operative pet to stay quiet enough, long enough to heal. More recent studies, to the contrary, show that minimizing any pain generally aids the recovery process. Primary source: Purina Pet Institute
Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine (TCVM) is a holistic approach that considers each being as a whole—body, mind and spirit—and takes into account both diet and environment. For the practitioner, disease is the result of an imbalance of the body’s energy flow, which needs to be redirected, rebalanced and restored. Herbal formulas are prepared for pets suffering from musculoskeletal injuries due to an acute trauma, like a sprain or back injury, or a chronic discomfort, such as arthritis. They are available in capsules, powders and tea pills. In medical terms, acupuncture can assist the body to heal itself by effecting certain physiological changes, such as increasing blood circulation and relieving muscle spasms. General conditions treated by acupuncture include arthritis; back pain; muscle pain and spasms; and stroke. A simple acute problem like a sprain may require only one treatment, where more severe or chronic ailments may require multiple sessions.
Animal Chiropractic Veterinary Spinal Manipulation Therapy, also referred to as animal chiropractic, is applied to correct common misalignments in the spine, restoring motion to the spine, as well as proper nerve and muscle function. Misalignment may be caused by trauma, overexertion or the normal wear and tear of everyday life. Proper adjustment allows the body to fully function and better heal itself. The number of adjustments required to alleviate pain varies based on the severity of the disease or injury. Pain management requires a team effort, but the result—a pain-free pet that feels happier and healthier—is worth it.
Make your community a little GREENER … Support our advertisers For every $100 spent in locally owned business, $68 returns to the community source: the350project.net
Dr. Matthew J. Heller is a holistic veterinarian and owner of All About PetCare, in Middletown, OH. For more information, call 513-424-1626 or 866-YOUR-VET, or visit AllAbout PetCare.com. natural awakenings
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wisewords
How can we stay “up” if we are unemployed, underemployed, or otherwise overwhelmed by economic hardship?
A Conversation with Shakti Gawain
Author and Counselor in Prosperity Consciousness by Ellen Mahoney
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hakti Gawain is co-founder of New World Library and an internationally renowned pioneer in the fields of personal growth, visualization and prosperity consciousness. Her many best-selling books have sold 6 million copies in 30 languages. For 20 years, she has helped thousands of individuals develop greater awareness, balance and wholeness in their lives. Today, she continues to give talks and lead workshops throughout the world.
What is “prosperity consciousness?” Most people think prosperity means having money, and that the more money you have, the more prosperity you have. Money is part of the process, but truly experiencing prosperity, I believe, has to do with discovering and satisfying our heart and soul’s deep needs and desires. Prosperity is an experience, a feeling of fulfillment or richness in your life, not something you can count.
So, how is money related to individual and community prosperity? If you look at people in the world who have millions or billions of dollars, some are doing creative, interesting and purposely helpful things with their money. But too often, people become solely hung up on the money factor and don’t end up doing much that really satisfies them. They’re not feeling as safe and secure, as successful and free, as they hoped they would.
In contrast, those living an elegantly simple life may not be making a lot of money, but if they’re right where they want to be in life, they often experience a deep sense of satisfaction and peace of mind.
Can anyone arrive at a place of ongoing, conscious prosperity? Each of us moves through many stages on our road of self-discovery; it’s a lifelong process of growth and development and we arrive there at different times. This is what life is really all about—the discovery of what’s meaningful to us and how we can live the life that’s most satisfying to us on all levels. I’ve observed that an important part of most people’s satisfaction comes from activities associated with being in nature or singing and dancing, creating space to relax and taking in the beauty of life.
Well, if we try to stay “up,” we’re often not allowing ourselves to see what’s truly going on underneath, and this can be a form of denial. What’s going on underneath can be scary to look at if we’re really feeling frightened, sad or upset, but it’s important to look at these things. It has to do with becoming more conscious and more aware of our feelings and thoughts on a day-to-day, moment-to-moment basis. It’s not easy, but it’s what every psychological and spiritual process is trying to help us to do, become more conscious of what’s going on inside of us. Once we do, we can see what is holding us back and take steps to help ourselves feel better. Instead of denying what’s happened, we can embrace it and figure out what can be done to make it better. Getting out in nature, meditation and talking to someone you feel comfortable with are ways to nurture yourself and heal. I always would urge you to do what feels right for you. For more information visit Shakti Gawain.com. Ellen Mahoney is a writer and teaches writing at the University of Colorado, Boulder. Email evm@infionline.net.
What’s the secret to boosting our joy and love for life? One of the most important things that I’ve found, for myself and others, is to understand that we all really do have a wise part inside of us that’s our inner guidance. You can call it many different things. The wisdom within surfaces in an intuitive way and doesn’t necessarily depend on knowing things intellectually. It’s a sense that somewhere deep inside, there is an understanding and conviction of what’s just right for us. This can serve as a guiding force on a highly practical level. natural awakenings
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calendarofevents All Calendar events for the May issue must be received by April 10th and adhere to our guidelines. Email Calendar@NaturalAwakeningsMCMA.com for guidelines and to submit entries.
THURSDAY, MARCH 24 Understanding Bioidentical Hormones – 6-8pm. With Dr. Charise Ivy. Hormone imbalance is common in both women and men and can cause a plethora of medical symptoms and problems. Free lecture offers an understanding of the hormones, treatments, controversies, and risks and benefits of bioidentical hormones. Free. Groton Wellness, 493 Main St, Groton. 978-449-9919. GrotonWellness.com. Wah! Yoga & Chant – 6-8pm. A yoga class with Wah! world-renowned recording artist and yoga teacher. She will provide live savasana music, as well as 30 mins of informal chanting following the asana practice. Suitable for all levels. $25. Majestic Yoga Studio, 223 Concord Ave, Cambridge. Register: 617-876-6116 or Info@Majestic YogaStudio.com.
FRIDAY, MARCH 25 Flower Yoga: Becoming A Teacher of Yoga for Children – Mar 25-27 & Apr 29-May 1. A 2-Weekend Training with Tara Rachel Jones. Course offered to anyone (teachers, parents, caregivers, therapists) who wishes to introduce and practice yoga with the children in their lives. Concrete tools and practical application presented in a simple to follow sequence. $495, payable in 3 installments of $165. The Arlington Center, 369 Mass Ave, Arlington. 781-316-0282. Register by Mar 24: ArlingtonCenter.org. Wah! Concert – 6pm. A special workshop on Sanksrit chanting. From a yogic perspective, she will explore how the sound is made in the body, where light can be received, what prayers, visualizations and mudras can be added to your practice, and other energetic nuances behind the popular practice of mantra chanting. $35. Held at The First Parish Church, 3 Church St, Cambridge. Register: 617-876-6116 or Info@MajesticYogaStudio.com. Money Matters, Or Does It? An Evening With True Story Theater – 7:30pm. This troupe of
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skilled listeners will honor each story through the power of improvisatory drama, music and movement. The stories you share will magically be brought to life as we explore this important common theme. All welcome. $15 or class card at door, $10/students/elders/low income. The Arlington Center, 369 Mass Ave, Arlington. 781316-0282. ArlingtonCenter.org.
SATURDAY, MARCH 26 Kirtan with Shubalananda & Ashley plus Special Guests – 7pm. Sing the kirtan, call and response style, over and over, with more and more bhava until the singers enter higher planes of consciousness. The wonderful thing about kirtan is that it is fun. The Arlington Center, 369 Mass Ave, Arlington. 781-316-0282. ArlingtonCenter. org. Shubalananda.com.
SUNDAY, MARCH 27 Parent/Child Birdhouse Class – 12-2pm or 3-5pm. For ages 4 and up. Make a clay birdhouse for your backyard. $45/parent-child pair, all materials included. Mudflat Pottery Studio, Inc, 149 Broadway, Somerville. 617-628-0589. Mudflat.org. Spiral Power: The Mechanical Advantage – 1:45-4:15pm. With Josh Schreiber. Learn to tap into the spiralic structure of your body, discovering how to rise effortlessly from the floor to standing, and to move in any direction with increased ease, power and grace. $28 or class card x 2. The Arlington Center, 369 Mass Ave, Arlington. 781-316-0282. ArlingtonCenter.org. Vermicomposting for Beginners – 2-3:30pm. Using a simple yet effective system, can turn food waste into potting soil with the help of red worms. We provide the materials, worms, and instruction, and you go home with a fully functioning vermicomposting bin. Instructor: Carolyn Around. $40, $35/Friends of the Farm. Newton Community Farm, 303 Nahanton St, Newton. Newton CommunityFarm.org.
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Yoga for Menopause with Patricia Walden – 3:30-6:30pm. Patricia Walden teaches strategies to cope with the challenges of this time in life. $40. Down Under Yoga, 306 Walnut St, Newtonville. 617-244-9642. DownUnderYoga.com.
TUESDAY, MARCH 29 Great Books Discussion Group – 7:30-9pm. Reading: Aeschylus, Agememnon. Cambridge Public Library, Beech Rm, 449 Broadway, Cambridge. 857-235-9843. Hugh Crane: HCrane@ CambridgeMA.gov. Cambridge.gov/CPL.aspx.
SATURDAY, APRIL 2 Free Bone Density Scan For You – Apr 2 & 3. Gain valuable info on protecting your bones with this free bone mineral density test that Cambridge Naturals is excited to offer in conjunction with Rainbow Light, one of our premier vitamin companies. A safe, non-invasive ultrasound performed by a trained technician. Cambridge Naturals, 23 White St, Cambridge. Reservation: 617-492-4452. CambridgeNaturals.com.
SUNDAY, APRIL 3 Restorative Yoga – 4-6:30pm. With Billie Jo Joy. Intended for people who have been experiencing stress and fatigue, or people who have been sick or not sleeping well; also good for anyone wanting a quiet, centering respite. $35/workshop. Art Soul Yoga, 91 Hampshire St, Cambridge. To register: 617-395-4227 or Joy@Yoga.com. ArtSoulYoga.com.
TUESDAY, APRIL 5 Dental Secrets: A Lifetime of Health – 7-9pm. With Dr. Jean Nordin-Evans. Good oral health is vital to the functioning of the entire body. Can determine a great deal about overall health by examining your mouth. One of the most important goals of Holistic Dentistry is to remove any toxicity from the mouth and to use only biocompatible materials. Free. Groton Wellness, 493 Main St, Groton. 978-449-9919. GrotonWellness.com.
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 6 Ethical Practice in Massage Therapy: Part 1 – 6:30-9:30pm. Instructor: Sue Mapel. Learn about and discuss power issues; types of interpersonal boundaries; sexual boundaries and preventing sexual misconduct; strategies for managing boundaries; and dual relationships. $60. Cortiva Institute, 103 Morse St, Watertown. 617-612-6900. Cortiva.com.
THURSDAY, APRIL 7 Mercury Toxicity and Detoxification – 3-5pm. With Dr. Luby. A free informational seminar regarding toxicity; how you are susceptible to toxicity; how toxicity may impact you; and a summary discussion regarding the detoxification process. Groton Wellness, 493 Main St, Groton. 978-449-9919. GrotonWellness.com. Spring Renewal: Gentle Fasting for Health Workshop – 7pm. With Su Cousineau of Taproot Healing, Shiatsu, Herbs and Self-Care Consults. Learn about fasting, explore options and create a simple program that’s right for you. Cambridge Naturals, 23 White St, Cambridge. Register: 617-492-4452. CambridgeNaturals.com.
SATURDAY, APRIL 9 Earth Night – 6-10pm. A party to benefit the Environmental League of Massachusetts. Features award-winning food, networking, and live and silent auctions. The Earth Fair showcases products and services of local businesses and nonprofits working to protect the Massachusetts environment. Sheraton Boston Hotel, 39 Dalton St, Boston. EnvironmentalLeague.org/page.php?id=32.
SUNDAY, APRIL 10 Second Sunday Sangha: Relational Meditation/ Insight Dialogue Practice Group – 9am-12pm. With Janet Surrey & Annie Hoffman. Interpersonal meditation practice for cultivating the mindfulness and tranquility of traditional silent meditation in our direct experience with others. Alternating periods of solo practice, insight dialogue, and yoga. Donation. Art Soul Yoga, 91 Hampshire St, Cambridge. Janet Surrey: 617-966-4898, JSurrey @aol.com; Annie Hoffman: AnnieHoffman Yoga@yahoo.com. ArtSoulYoga.com. Introduction to Craniosacral Techniques I – 9am-6pm. Instructor: Saskia Cote. Gain an understanding of the craniosacral system and learn where it is easiest for you to palpate. Learn basic techniques to use alone or in a massage or Reiki treatment. $160. Cortiva Institute, 103 Morse St, Watertown. 617-612-6900. Cortiva.com. 10th Annual Walk for Affordable Housing – 1-3pm. A family-friendly, 3-mi walk through Arlington Center to raise funds for HCA’s homelessness prevention work and increase public awareness around the desperate need for more affordable housing in Arlington. Jason Russell House, corner of Mass Ave & Jason St, Arlington. Jennifer Lewis-Forbes: 781-316-3451 or JLewis@ HousingCorpArlington.org.
Healthy Sweet Treats Cooking Class – 2:306:30pm. Learn to make delicious and nutritious sweets at this hands-on natural cooking class. Make and eat healthy cookies, candies, bars, cakes and more. $175. Somerville. Address given upon registration: 617-771-5121. Nina@BodyAliveBodyAware.com. BodyAliveBodyAware.com. Master Class with Barbara Benagh – 3:30-6pm. Developing a theme in a longer session. Enlighten and deepen yoga practice. $35. Down Under Yoga, 306 Walnut St, Newtonville. 617-244-9642. DownUnderYoga.com.
TUESDAY, APRIL 12 Shamanic Plant Journeying – 6-9:30pm. Experience how the physical and spiritual energies of a plant affect all levels of being. Through drumming and guided meditation, we make contact with plant wisdom for our own personal healing and the healing of the earth. $25. Boston School of Herbal Studies. Held at 4 Minebrook Rd, Lincoln. 339-223-0647. BostonHerbalStudies.com. Nutritional Weight Loss Program Information Night – 6:30-7:30pm. Our program is a powerful medical weight loss and nutrition program. Program will not only promote weight loss, but also a lifestyle change. Helps to promote loss of inches as well as pounds. Free. Groton Wellness, 493 Main St, Groton. 978-449-9919. GrotonWellness.com.
THURSDAY, APRIL 14 Itching to Know: A Natural Approach to Skin Issues – 7pm. Free. Cambridge Naturals in Porter Sq, 23 White St, Cambridge. 617-492-4452 CanisMajorHerbals.com. Open Evening of Sharing the Presence: An Integral Approach – 7:30-11pm. With Thomas Huebl. A practice which cultivates a permanently unfolding field. This field furthers, encourages, stimulates and supports presence, awareness and compassion in the world and cultivates an encompassing understanding of human consciousness and potential. Talk, guided exercises in transparent communication and a toning meditation. $45. Samadhi, 796 Beacon St, Newton Center. Register: 617-243-0034. SamadhiIntegral.com.
FRIDAY, APRIL 15
Great Books Discussion Group – 7:30-9pm. Reading: Shakespeare, Hamlet. Cambridge Public Library, Main, Beech Rm, 449 Broadway, Cambridge. Hugh Crane: 857-235-9843 or HCrane@ CambridgeMA.gov. CambridgeMA.gov/CPL.aspx.
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 13 Personal Budget Management – 6-8pm. Learn to create a budget, realize financial goals and make your money work for you. Free for eligible Cambridge residents; $5/others. Fresh Pond Apartments Computer Rm, 362-364 Rindge Ave Cambridge. Register with Rona Holmes: 617-3494637 or RHolmes@cambridgema.gov. Ethical Practice in Massage Therapy: Part 2 – 6:30-9:30pm. Instructor: Sue Mapel. Learn about and discuss the responsibility inherent in being a professional; scope of practice; confidentiality and HIPAA; legal and ethical obligations; and integrity in business practices. $60. Cortiva Institute, 103 Morse St, Watertown. 617-612-6900. Cortiva.com. Understanding Whole Food Vitamins – 7pm. Learn how bodies utilize nutrients, how to understand “potency” and why whole raw food
nutritionals are absorbed and utilized better than isolated nutrients in the same potency. Also digestion, nutrient absorption, toxic overload and how eating a proper diet and using the proper whole food supplement is essential to good health. Innate Response (manufacturer of raw whole food nutritional products) will provide a raffle consisting of products totaling over $150. Johnson Compounding and Wellness Center, 577 Main St, Waltham. 781-893-3870. NaturalCompounder.com.
Neck and Shoulders Workshop – 6-8:30pm. with Peentz Dubble. Learn various ways of creating space and mobility in the shoulders and upper chest, as well as strengthening arms and upper back to support the neck. $35. Down Under Yoga, 306 Walnut St, Newtonville. 617-244-9642. DownUnderYoga.com.
SATURDAY, APRIL 16 12th Annual Earth Day Charles River Cleanup – 9am-12pm. At sites all along the Charles River and its tributaries. CRWA.org/Cleanup.html. The Art of Teaching and the Heart of a Teacher: Advanced Studies Workshop Part 1 – Apr 16-17. 12:30-7pm, Sat; 12:30-6:30, Sun. With Patricia Walden. For teachers of the Iyengar method who have completed a teacher training and/or are certified in the Iyengar method. Must have Patricia’s permission to attend. $250. Down Under Yoga, 306 Walnut St, Newtonville. 617244-9642. DownUnderYoga.com. Women’s Yoga Workshop 2: Yoga for Every Cycle – 1:30-4:30pm. With Nancy Turnquist. Learn the principles behind modifying yoga practice at different cycles of a woman’s life from menstruation, to pregnancy and postpartum, to
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menopause and beyond. Explore modifications of a basic sequence of practice for women’s health based on the needs of the women who attend. $35. Art Soul Yoga, 91 Hampshire St, Cambridge. To register: 617-354-9439 or NancyTurnquist@ gmail.com. ArtSoulYoga.com.
SUNDAY, APRIL 17 Reflexology for Stress – 9am-5pm. Instructor: Val Voner. Learn the history, definition, benefits of reflexology as well as perform hands on solutions to help alleviate two common conditions. $140. Cortiva Institute, 103 Morse St, Watertown. 617612-6900. Cortiva.com. Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) Disorder: Pain and Treatment – 9am-5pm. Instructor: Susan Coffey. Receive a lecture on the anatomy, symptoms and causes of TMJD, learn and practice assessment using techniques such as Trigger Point Therapy and Myofascial release. $140. Cortiva Institute, 103 Morse St, Watertown. 617-612-6900. Cortiva.com. Race Against Extinction – 11am. 5K Race. Make a positive impact for Earth Day this year. All entry fee proceeds will be donated to the World Wildlife Fund’s Year of the Tiger campaign. $25. Artesani Park, 1234 Soldiers Field Rd, Brighton. The RaceAgainstExtinction.org. Full Moon Salutations – 6:30-9pm. With Billie Jo Joy. Aligning with Palm Sunday and the arrival of Spring, this mostly standing flow sequence begins with gentle hip openers and ends with sarvangasana (shoulder stand) and pranayama (breathing). Musical accompaniment. $35. Art Soul Yoga, 91 Hampshire St, Cambridge. Preregistration required: 617-395-4227 or Joy@Yoga. com. ArtSoulYoga.com.
FRIDAY, APRIL 22 The Five Buddha Families as a Path of Transformation – Apr 22-24. 6-10pm, Fri; 12:30-9:30pm, Sat; 12:30-4:30pm, Sun. With Irini Rockwell, MA. The five Buddha families are an integral aspect of Vajrayana teachings. Based on tantric practices, Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche created the practice of using five postures in colored environments as a basis for understanding ourselves and the world. Buddhist teachings on skandhas (five psychophysical phenomena), realms (six versions of reality), emotional transmutation and mandala principle form the context for this practice. $195; $175/early-bird discount by Apr 1; $175/students & seniors. Samadhi, 796 Beacon St, Newton Center. Register: 617-243-0034. SamadhiIntegral.com. Help A Sister Out: Master Class – 6:45-8:45pm. Led by four of Boston’s top yoga teachers: Chanel Luck, Jacqui Bonwell, Bonnie Argo and Molly Powers. A powerful vinyasa practice full of hands on assisting, Reiki, craniosacral therapy and other fun energy healing treats. $45. Down Under Yoga, 306 Walnut St, Newtonville. 617-244-9642. DownUnderYoga.com.
TUESDAY, APRIL 26 O’Connell Family Reading Night – 6:307:30pm. Families with children of all ages, stuffed animals and pajamas welcome. Milk and cookies served. O’Connell Branch, 48 Sixth St, Cambridge. 617-349-4019. CambridgeMA.gov/CPL.aspx. Great Books Discussion Group – 7:309pm. Reading: Ibsen, An Enemy of the People. Cambridge Public Library, Main, Beech Rm, 449 Broadway, Cambridge. Hugh Crane: 857-2359843 or HCrane@CambridgeMA.gov. CambridgeMA.gov/CPL.aspx.
TUESDAY, APRIL 19
THURSDAY, APRIL 28
Kids Cabaret April Vacation Program – Apr 19-Apr 23. 5-day Kids’ Cabaret, musical theater workshop. For students ages 7-14 yrs old. $350/wk. New School of Music, 25 Lowell St, Cambridge. 617-492-8105. Info@CambridgeMusic.org.
Blood Pressure Screening – 9:30-11am. A nurse from Partners Home Care takes blood pressure readings monthly, and tracks over time. Free, donations appreciated. Watertown Senior Center, 31 Marshall St, Watertown. 617-972-6490.
THURSDAY, APRIL 21
Evening Walk along the Charles River – 5:45pm. With Adam. See the waterfall/dam in Watertown and walk by some tiny rapids. Walk goes on both sides of the river (Watertown and Newton). Watertown Square CVS, 27 Main St, Watertown. Meetup.com/Evening-Walkers.
Suffolk University Earth Day Kick-Off – Poster Session by students to be followed by lunch and panel focusing on sustainable opportunities as they relate to: communities, corporations, and consumers. Boston. More info: Suffolk.edu/ Sustainability.
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Understanding Bioidentical Hormones – 6-8pm. With Dr. Charise Ivy. Hormone imbalance is common in both women and men and can cause a plethora of medical symptoms and problems. Free lecture
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offers an understanding of the hormones, treatments, controversies,& risks and benefits of bioidentical hormones. Free. Groton Wellness, 493 Main St, Groton. 978-449-9919. GrotonWellness.com.
SATURDAY, APRIL 30 The Bliss Brothers Yoga Welcome Their First Sister Deb Neubauer: The Legendary Heart Tour – Apr 30-May 1. $100 with registration before April 1; $110 after for 3 classes. Majestic Yoga Studio, 223 Concord Ave, Cambridge. To register: 617-876-6116 or Info@MajesticYogaStudio.com. Specific workshop info: Majestic YogaStudio.com. Run of the Charles Canoe & Kayak Race – 7am-5pm. Ages 12 and up, compete in a variety of races, including the $5,000 Professional Flatwater Canoe Marathon, the 24-Mile Relay Race, and 19-, 9-, and 6-mile races. Enjoy a day of music, refreshments, exhibits, raffle drawings, picnics and awards at the free Finish Line Festival. Free admission to the festival. Race entry fees: $35-$55/ individual; $350-$400/relay race team. All races finish at DCR’s Artesani Park, Soldiers Field Rd, Brighton. Meg: 508-698-6810 x 10 or ROTC@ CharlesRiver.org. Medicinal Plant Walk – 1-3pm. Learn to identify local medicinal plants and understand how they help heal us. Look at which parts of the plants are used medicinally and how they support health. $15. Boston School of Herbal Studies. Rock Meadow Conservation Area, Belmont. 781-6466319. BostonHerbalStudies.com. Once and Future Giants – 3:30-5pm. In her new book, Once and Future Giants, science writer Sharon Levy digs through the evidence surrounding Pleistocene extinction events worldwide, showing how an understanding of this history, and our part in it, is crucial for protecting elephants, polar bears, tigers, and other endangered megafauna. Admission: $9-$6. Harvard Museum of Natural History, 26 Oxford St, Cambridge. 617-495-3045. HMNH.Harvard.edu/Lectures_And_Special_ Events/index.ph
ongoingcalendar All Calendar events for the May issue must be received by April 10th and adhere to our guidelines. Email Calendar@NaturalAwakeningsMCMA.com for guidelines and to submit entries.
Spinning Group – 7-9pm. 3rd Thurs each month. Anyone welcome. Free. Mind’s Eye Yarns, 22 White St, Cambridge. 617-354-7253. Minds EyeYarns.com.
such as Train, Lady Antebellum, and Brad Paisley. Free. The Milky Way, 284 Amory St, Jamaica Plain. DirtyWaterSaloon.com. Baby Lapsit – 10-10:30am. Enjoy time together with other parents, caregivers, and babies to learn, play, and develop language and motor skills. For pre-walkers. Cambridge Public Library, Main, Snail Rm, 449 Broadway, Cambridge. 617-3494038. CambridgeMA.gov/CPL.aspx. Bioenergetics Exercise Class – 7-8:15pm. A blend of stretching, breathing, grounding, and expressive exercises. Appropriate for therapists, students of expressive therapies, and those wishing to develop greater body awareness. Led by Sarah Putnam. $10. 269 Washington St, Somerville. 617-640-7560 or SarahPutnam@netscape. com. MassBioenergetics.org.
Practitioners’ Breakfast – 7:30-9am. 3rd Tues each month. A time for practitioners to come together and enjoy a light breakfast and discuss different ways to practice holistic health care. Bring anyone you know who uses a more natural approach to healthcare and have the opportunity to share with others of your community. $5 donation. Groton Wellness, 493 Main St, Groton. 978-4499919. GrotonWellness.com. Nantucket Basket Making Class – 10am-12pm. Open to all levels. Self-paced, join at any time. Choose a Nantucket Basket project that best suits your skills and experience. Costs for materials based on the materials required for specific project. $30/session. GrayMist Studio & Shop, 364 Huron Ave, Cambridge. 617-868-8868. GrayMistStudio.com. Stretching for Seniors – 10:30-11:30am. With Sylvia Piltch. Increase range of motion with easy stretching set to the rhythm of big band music. Cambridge Public Library, Main, Community Rm, 449 Broadway, Cambridge. 617-349-4032. CambridgeMA.gov/CPL.aspx. Preschool Story Time – 4-4:30pm. Ages 3-5 and caregivers. Accommodate 45 people. Tickets available on first-come, first-served basis on day of program. Cambridge Public Library, Main, Snail Rm, 449 Broadway, Cambridge. 617-3494038. CambridgeMA.gov/CPL.aspx. Boudreau Knitting Group – 7-8pm. 1st & 3rd Tues each month. Bring own needles and yarn. Enjoy meeting other knitters, share tips, techniques and inspiration and peruse interesting knitting books. Adults only. Boudreau Branch, 245 Concord Ave, Cambridge. 617-349-4017. CambridgeMA.gov/CPL.aspx. Dirty Water Saloon – 7-10pm. Two-step, West Coast Swing and Line Dancing for GLBT folks, friends and allies. Learn to lead or follow to artists
Nantucket Basket Making Class – 10am-12pm & 1-3pm, every other Fri. See Tues listing. GrayMist Studio & Shop, 364 Huron Ave, Cambridge. 617-868-8868. GrayMistStudio.com. Tong Ren Healing Energy Class – 9-10am. Classes use the Tom Tam Healing System. The foundation of his system is that blockages in the flow of Chi impede healing. Direct energy from the collective unconscious, to focus it on people, reducing blockages. Completely natural, safe and painless. $10 suggested donation. Jefferson Cutter House (basement), 611 Mass Ave at Rte 60, Arlington. Class leader, Charlie Smigelski, RD: CharlieNutrition.com. TomTam.com. Onesies (and Twosies) – 10-10:30am. Ages 12-24 mos. Too young for storytime, too old for lapsit? Rhyme, bounce and read with other toddlers and their grownups. Can accommodate 30 people. Tickets available on first-come, first served basis on day of program. Cambridge Public Library, Main, Snail Rm, 449 Broadway, Cambridge. 617349-4038. CambridgeMA.gov/CPL.aspx. Nantucket Basket Making Class – 10am-12pm, 1-3pm & 7-9pm. See Tues listing. GrayMist Studio & Shop, 364 Huron Ave, Cambridge. 617868-8868. GrayMistStudio.com. Chick Lit Book Discussion Group – 7-8pm. 4th Wed each month. Group focuses on these modern works and discuss the merits and pitfalls of reading chick lit. Cambridge Public Library, Beech Rm, 449 Broadway, Cambridge. 857-235-9810. Kelly Linehan, KLinehan@CambridgeMA.gov. CambridgeMA.gov/CPL.aspx.
Prana 2 Music in Newton – 6:15-7:45pm. An invigorating, all levels flow, set to a unique playlist created by the instructor. Experience the Prana flow as you open into the rhythm of your breath and the music. Classes sell out, arrive a bit early. Prana class packages and regular drop-in rates apply. Prana Power Yoga, 282 Centre St, Newton. PranaPowerYoga.com. Prana After Dark in Cambridge – 9-10:30pm. 2nd Fri each month. With Ray. Features a blend of electronic, dub-reggae, and chill-out music: coordinated in a playlist that is built to flow with the class. Prana Power Yoga, 585 Mass Ave, 2nd fl (2R on elevator), Central Square, Cambridge. PranaPowerYoga.com. Prana Groove in Cambridge – 9-10:30pm. 4th Fri each month. With Sue Jones. Learn a fun flow to the best of today’s and yesterday’s Hip Hop, Pop, Funk, R & B and Disco. Passes & drop-ins. Prana Power Yoga, 585 Mass Ave, 2nd fl (2R on elevator), Central Square, Cambridge. Prana PowerYoga.com.
Knitting Group – 7-9pm. Try out one night for free. $30/6 months. Mind’s Eye Yarns, 22 White St, Cambridge. 617-354-7253. MindsEyeYarns. com. Prana 2 Music in Cambridge – 7:30-8:45pm. An invigorating, all levels flow, set to a unique playlist created by the instructor. Experience the Prana flow as you open into the rhythm of your breath and the music. Classes sell out, arrive a bit early. Prana class packages and regular drop-in rates apply. Prana Power Yoga, 585 Mass Ave, 2nd fl (2R on elevator), Central Square, Cambridge. PranaPowerYoga.com.
Collins Tea Time – 3:30-5pm. We provide tea, snacks, and plenty of reading material to browse and borrow. Informal discussions and an invigorating break. Collins Branch, 64 Aberdeen Ave, Cambridge. 617-349-4021. CambridgeMA.gov/ CPL.aspx.
Prana 2 Music in Cambridge – 5:30-6:30pm. An invigorating, all levels flow, set to a unique playlist created by the instructor. Experience the Prana flow as you open into the rhythm of your breath and the music. Classes sell out, arrive a bit early. Prana class packages and regular drop-in rates apply. Prana Power Yoga, 585 Mass Ave, 2nd fl (2R on elevator), Central Square, Cambridge. PranaPowerYoga.com.
Tour of the New Main Library – 10-11am. Library has recently earned a LEED Silver Certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. Learn more about the green aspects of new building as well as the art and architecture of both the stone and the glass sides of the building. Free. Cambridge Public Library, Main, 449 Broadway, Cambridge. Register: CPLDocents@gmail.com. CambridgeMA.gov/CPL.aspx. Nantucket Basket Making Class – 10am-12pm. See Tues listing. GrayMist Studio & Shop, 364 Huron Ave, Cambridge. 617-868-8868. GrayMist Studio.com. Fresh Pond Cambridge Walk from Whole Foods – 11am. 1st Sat each month. Meet in front of Whole Foods then walk over to the pond and around the 2.25 mile paved trail. Whole Foods Market, 200 Alewife Brook Pkwy, Cambridge.
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communityresourceguide Connecting you to the leaders in natural healthcare and green living in our community. To find out how you can be included in the Community Resource Guide, email Publisher@NaturalAwakeningsMCMA.com to request our media kit.
CHIROPRACTOR WALTHAM CHIROPRACTIC Dr. John C. Duffy, DC 781-894-4270 WalthamChiropractic.com
Chiropractic, massage therapy, nutritional therapies, adjunctive physical therapy, activator techniques, applied kinesiology, pediatric adjusting, sacro-occipital techniques, personal injury/auto accident cases, sports injuries; major health insurances accepted. See ad page 29.
EDITING/WRITING SERVICES KIM CHILDS
BARBARA GOSSELIN, PT
Writer/Editor 617-640-3813 KimChilds.com
393 Massachusetts Ave, Arlington, MA 781-507-4226 HolisticHealingPT.com
Let me help you to say what you want to say as clearly and originally as possible, whether your writing project is personal or professional.
HEALTHY HOME CREATIVITY COACHING THE ARTIST’S WAY Kim Childs 617-640-3813 KimChilds.com
Kim coaches groups and individuals in the life-changing practices and principles of The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron. Group intensives offered each spring and fall.
HOLISTIC BODYWORK
ENERGY CONSERVATION DESIGN Peter Brooks 617-833-0087 P.Brooks@rcn.com EnergyConservationDesign.us
A home consultation will: Reduce your carbon footprint and save energy; Increase comfort and air quality through diagnostic testing, air sealing and insulation.
I’m a Physical Therapist with 20+ years experience helping people recover from pain using gentle, effective Bodywork techniques including Craniosacral Therapy and Fascial Mobilization. See ad page 27.
HOLISTIC HEALTH COACH NINA MANOLSON, MA, LMT, CHC Certified Health Coach 617-771-5121 Nina@BodyAliveBodyAware.com BodyAliveBodyAware.com
Helping busy women who take care of everything, start taking care of themselves. Nina offers health coaching, wellness and cooking classes. Free trial sessions offered. See ad page35.
SAVOR YOUR EXISTENCE INTEGRATIVE HEALTH Dillan DiGiovanni, CHC 617-510-2534 SavorYourExistence.com
COUNSELING/ PSYCHOTHERAPY
Set and reach goals for mindful eating and balanced lifestyle habits with Dillan as your coach. Live better. Savor Your Existence. See ad page 36.
ARLINGTON WELLNESS
Dal Hucknall, LICSW 781-424-6249 ArlingtonCenter.org/Therapy.html Change your life with integrated approach through healthy diet, nutrition, life coaching, and hypnosis. This highly effective, step-by-step method helps overcome anxiety, depression and addictions. See ad page 27.
Want to reach readers who are health and wellness focused? Learn how to list your services in the Community Resource Guide.
617-906-0232 38
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INTEGRATED MANUAL & ENERGETIC BODYWORK
HOLISTIC PET
COMING IN MAY
CANIS MAJOR HERBALS PHOENIX HEALING ARTS 617-413-7174 Mimi@PhoenixHealingArts.net PhoenixHealingArts.net
Phoenix Healing Arts is a manual and energetic bodywork practice that specializes in techniques for chronic pain and physical, emotional and sexual trauma release. See ad page 7.
Nancy Anderson 617-501-9241 Nancy@CanisMajorHerbals.com
Helping to bring dogs back to wellness using medicinal herbalism for health conditions and Tail Hikes for exercise. See CanisMajorHerbals.com for more info. See ad page 34.
MASSAGE ERIC M. VOLKIN 339-368-0375 EVolkin7@gmail.com EVCMassage.com
Receive a massage experience that is unequaled, combining strength, gentleness, knowledge and experience with an acute sensitivity to minimizing pain and stiffness. By appointment only. See ad page 22.
MYERS BODYWORK
Lexington, MA 781-862-8000 Tamar@MyersBodywork.com MyersBodywork.com Tamar Myers, in practice since 1992, offers comprehensive bodywork. Her expertise in a wide variety of modalities allows her to design sessions unique to each individual’s needs.
INTEGRATIVE THERAPY NEXUS INTEGRATIVE THERAPY Alison Shaw APRN, LMT, CEH 393 Massachusetts Ave Arlington, MA 02474 781-646-0686 Alison@NexusIntegrativeTherapy.com
Your symptoms are trying to tell you something… Listen… Your body, emotions and thoughts are constantly interacting and affecting each other. Using my innovative blend of Body-Centered Counseling, Bodywork and Energy Medicine, I will help you discover and release the underlying mind-body patterns that may be interfering with your health and limiting your life. See ad page 34.
PHYSICAL THERAPY/ SPORTS MEDICINE CAMBRIDGE PHYSICAL THERAPY & SPORTS MEDICINE 1000A Cambridge St, Cambridge, 02141 617-492-6600 CambridgePTSportsMed.com
Specializing in outpatient orthopedic rehabilitation and treatment of sports, dance and work injuries. We also treat computer/musician overuse injuries, carpal tunnel, and injuries from motor vehicle accidents. See ad page 36.
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