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April 2012 | Seattle Edition | SeattleAwakenings.com
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letterfrompublisher
W
elcome to the April issue of Seattle Natural Awakenings! This month marks our one-year anniversary publishing in Seattle. It’s been such an adventure, and it wouldn’t be possible without our fantastic readers, advertisers, and the friends and family who have helped us in so many ways. We are now reaching 40,000 people every single month with a positive message of health and sustainability, while helping build a network among the holistic and green-living community through our calendar of events, news briefs, ads for eco- and health-friendly businesses as well as a just-right blend of locally written and nationally relevant content. If I could sum it up in a sentence, I’d say this past year has been hard at times, but always good, and I wouldn’t trade this journey, with the fabulous, inspiring explorers, envelope-pushers and game-changers that I have met along the way, for anything. To enhance the journey even more, we’re expanding our online presence and launching a new website, blog and iPhone app very soon, with more exciting frontiers to come, so join us on this trek. What better motif for our anniversary than this month’s “Green Living” theme, yielding an issue positively packed with sustainable ideas to improve and support your life and our world. Don’t miss “The Green Home Checklist” (page 14) for a whole-house, green tune-up. Just as critical as opting for natural cleaning products and no-VOC paint is being aware and fulfilling the maintenance requirements of your home. “Green Home Operations” (page 22) will open your eyes to easy and inexpensive ways to protect your family’s health and the value of your green home at the same time. To see these ideas in action, attend the 2012 Green Home Tour, April 21 and 22. Find out the highlights of this second annual event (page 11), including opportunities to translate inspiration into reality with two days of hands-on learning this year: an eco-expo and a day of workshops. Get details, including the notes on featured homes and more, by flipping this issue over to view the Green Home Tour official program. To kick off our second year publishing Natural Awakenings magazine, I am committing to expand our capacity to facilitate conversations in the community, both in these pages and online. I view this magazine as a gateway to greater action, and in that spirit, we plan to highlight many more organizations, green and holistic businesses and resources so you can learn, connect with and enhance your sustainable, healthy and conscious lifestyle over the coming year. Want to join the conversation? Friend me on Facebook, follow me on Twitter (SeattleNA), or see what inspires me on Pinterest (Natural Awakenings - search for people). To your good health,
Ann
contact us Publishers Ann Dorn David Seregow National Editor S. Alison Chabonais Account Manager Dena Marie 425-350-5448 Dena@SeattleAwakenings.com Design & Production Patrick Floresca Franchise Sales John Voell II 239-530-1377 To Advertise: 206-788-7313 or 425-350-5448
SeattleAwakenings.com 3815 S Othello St. 100-186 Seattle, WA 98118 Phone: 206-788-7313 Fax: 877-531-7691 © 2012 by Natural Awakenings. All rights reserved. Although some parts of this publication may be reproduced and reprinted, we require that prior permission be obtained in writing. 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 $30 (for 12 issues) to the above address. Natural Awakenings is printed on recycled newsprint with soybased ink.
natural awakenings
April 2012
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contents
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5 9 12 18 20 21 22 24
newsbriefs healthbriefs naturalpet healingways yogalife healthykids healthyhomes consciouseating
26 wisewords
28 fitbody 30 community spotlight
3 1 inspiration 32 calendar
advertising & submissions HOW TO ADVERTISE To advertise with Natural Awakenings or request a media kit, please contact us at 206-788-7313 or 425- 350-5448 or email Publisher@SeattleAwakenings.com. Deadline for ads: the 15th of the month. EDITORIAL SUBMISSIONS Email articles, news items and ideas to: Submissions@SeattleAwakenings.com Deadline for editorial: the 5th of the month. CALENDAR SUBMISSIONS Email Calendar Events to: Calendar@SeattleAwakenings.com or submit online at SeattleAwakenings.com. Deadline for calendar: the 12th of the month. REGIONAL MARKETS Advertise your products or services in multiple markets! Natural Awakenings Publishing Corp. is a growing franchised family of locallyowned 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.
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.
11 THE 2012 GREEN HOME TOUR Guide To Top Highlights And Features by Cate O’dahl
14 GREEN HOME CHECKLIST Room-by-Room Steps We Can Take, Starting Right Now by Crissy Trask
18 NATURAL REMEDIES FOR SEASONAL ALLERGIES
14 18
by Dr. Lauri Grossman
20 YOGA OFF THE MAT Yogis Take Their Practice Into The World by Andrea Blair Cirignano
22 GREEN HOME OPERATIONS Critical Maintenance Ensures Eco-Healthy Home Performance by Doug Kennedy
24 WASTE NOT, WANT NOT 10 Ways to Reduce Costly Food Waste by Amber Lanier Nagle
26 ECO-MIND:
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CREATING THE WORLD WE WANT
A Conversation with Frances Moore Lappé by Linda Sechrist
28 FOREST BATHING The Healing Power Of A Walk In The Woods by Maggie Spilner
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30 COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT Vesta Home Performance by Ann Dorn
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BACK COVER - BROCHURE Flip this magazine for the 2012 Green Home Tour
newsbriefs Soaring Heart Offers New Sleep Yoga Classes
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oaring Heart Natural Bed Company is offering donationbased sleep yoga classes on Friday nights beginning April 6, from 6:30-8pm. “On a physical level, yoga can address physical aliments that prevent sound sleeping through a combination of stretching and strengthening,” says instructor Natalie Ginapp. “When sleep is disturbed, it seems like everything in life becomes harder. Sound sleep is essential to our overall well-being, both physically and mentally.” Classes will include gentle stretching, integrate breath and mindfulness practices, and the last part of class includes a guided meditation designed to help release tension in the body and mind. Participants are asked to bring their yoga mat, blanket, and wear comfortable clothes (changing rooms are not available, and Soaring Heart is a fragrancefree facility). The classes will be held at Soaring Heart’s showroom in the Nickerson neighborhood and donations will benefit the Healing Center of Seattle. “Regardless of whether you have chronic sleeping issues or have intermittent challenges to restful sleep, there are natural solutions that can help you sleep with greater ease,” Ginapp says. “It is important to note that some sleeping conditions and some folks will need medical assistance for their individual situations; however, we can all benefit from tips on how to sleep well.” Soaring Heart Natural Bed Company is located at 101 Nickerson St, Suite 400, Seattle. Classes are limited to 20 attendees. Registration required at SoaringHeart.com. For more information: 206-282-1717.
Mighty House Construction Volunteers 1,500 Hours
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aura and Doug Elfline, the owners of Mighty House Construction recently marked their 1500th volunteer hour since they founded their sustainable construction company three years ago. Their primary objectives in volunteering, they say, are to support nonprofits that promote ecological sustainability and to build authentic relationships. “We have benefited immensely from friendships and the support of people in the green community, so it’s very important to us to be supportive of sustainability efforts and organizations in Seattle and the Northwest,” explains Laura. The Elflines have donated time and energy to chairing
and serving on committees for multiple organizations and projects, including CoolMom, the Northwest EcoBuilding Guild, Seattle Good Business Network, Network for Business Innovation and Sustainability (NBIS), and the West Seattle Tool Library, where they host the monthly workshop Ask Photo: Mira Stories for Think Local An Expert—for the DIYer (second Thursdays). Mighty House Construction specializes in sustainable remodels and new additions. Their work has been highlighted as part of the 2011 and 2012 Green Home Tours (see page 11) and the 10x10x10 Green Building Slam, both programs of the Northwest EcoBuilding Guild. For more information: 206-715-0893 or MightyHouseConstruction.com.
Green Friends Litter Project Passes 1,000-Hour Milestone
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embers of the Pacific Northwest Green Friends Litter Project (GFLP) have collectively completed more than 1,000 hours of volunteer work since the movement began in July 2011. GFLP is a global grassroots environmental movement founded by internationally known humanitarian and spiritual leader Mata Amritanandamayi, better known as Amma. More than 200 adults and children are now members of the project, logging the time monthly that they spend picking up litter in groups and individually, says GFLP organizer Karuna Poole. “Members love to be serving Mother Nature in this way,” Poole explains. “Also, every time we clean something up in a public place, whether it is in a park, on a beach, or on a city street, we are seen by people walking by; by people in passing buses and cars and by people waiting for the buses or just hanging out. Some of them may themselves start cleaning up litter. Some may teach their children. Some may think twice before they throw garbage on the ground. This is one way to change the world,” she concludes. GFLP is one of the projects of Embracing the World, a notfor-profit international collective of charities founded by Amma. To learn more about the Green Friends Litter Project, email PNWGreenFriendsLitterProject@gmail.com or visit SeattleSatsang.Amma.org. For more information about Amma, visit Amma.org and EmbracingTheWorld.com. natural awakenings
April 2012
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Breema: The Art of Being Present Returns to Seattle
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Costs: Free introduction; 7 to 8:30 p.m., May 4. Weekend workshop, May 6-7, $200. Discounted rates available for one-day attendance or payment before April 23rd.
weekend of Breema, Self-Breema and the Nine Principles of Harmony is taking place May 5 and 6 at Studio M’illumino, in the Roosevelt District. “A Breema weekend is a unique opportunity to experience a holistic, body-based practice that teaches us practical steps we can take to unify the energies of mind, body and feelings to become present,” says Breema instructor Birthe Kaarsholm. By studying and applying Breema’s Nine Principles of Harmony, practitioners say they move from complication toward simplicity and support an open-hearted and openminded posture toward life. “Breema brings you to the level at which you can be nurtured, rather than drained, by your relationship to your body, your surroundings, other people and all life,” explains Breema instructor Roxanne Caswell. “The flowing movements of Breema bodywork and Self-Breema exercises are a delight to learn, practice and receive.” According to proponents, Breema’s direct approach to being present can be integrated and applied in any profession and in all activities of daily life, helping to bring greater harmony to all relationships. Classes are suitable for people with or without prior bodywork experience, as long as they can comfortably sit and work on a carpeted floor. Continuing education credit is available.
Location: 6921 Roosevelt Way NE, Seattle. For more information and to register, call 510-428-0937, email Center@ Breema.com or visit Breema.com.
Local Yoga Instructor Offers Donation Based Classes
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ocal yoga instructor Johanna Schimpff is offering donation-based group classes in her recently opened Santosha Yoga Seattle. The name, “Santosha,” means contentment, something that Schimpff says she strives to bring into her student’s lives. “My group classes at Santosha Yoga Studio are donation based because I want to make yoga affordable for everyone,” Schimpff says. “This is how yogic saints and swamis lived in India a thousand years ago. They dedicated their lives to their dharma (calling) and their needs were taken care of.” Schimpff has studied a variety of styles of yoga from Anusara, to Pattabhi Jois’ Ashtanga, as well as restorative and yoga therapy. “My classes incorporate vinyasa (flowing asanas) along with pranayama and meditation,” Schimpff explains. “I also offer yin/yang classes along with yoga
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Sophie enjoying an adventure in the woods
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nidra. For illness and injury recovery, I focus on gentle movement and held stretches that will gradually increase mobility, flexibility and strength.” She currently offers private, group and yoga therapy sessions. “I am able to adapt my style to meet the needs of the individual students and enjoy getting to know each yogi and yogini I meet,” Schimpff says. Mention Natural Awakenings to receive 50 percent off the cost of one private yoga session. For more information: SantoshaYogaSeattle.com or join the Santosha Yoga Meetup group by searching “Santosha Yoga Seattle” on Meetup.com.
eventspotlight Ecopolitan Seminar-Workshop Series
D
in association with the University of Natural Medicine Presents
r. Adiel Tel-Oren, Dr. Adiel Tel-Oren
known as “Dr. T,” will Stimulants, return to Seattle in May Sex, and Your for another eye-opening lecture Health on Stimulants, Sex, and Your
7:00-9:00 pm Health - Caffeine, Chocolate, Monday, May 7thNutritionat Viagra-type Drugs and University Heights Center al-Hormonal Approaches. May May 21 - 24, 2012 | Mark Spencer Hotel, Portland, OR Rm 109 Today’s circumstances 7th, 7:00 PM, University 5031 University Way NEHeights are calling on us to Center, Rm 109 WA 5031 University Seattle, take strong leadership — at work, in our Way NE, Seattle. Admission: Dr. Adiel Tel-Oren is a licensed communities, or with Please visitclinic the website: $15. Dr. T willdoctor also see clients for skin appointments European medical our families. Yet it www.doctorTevents.com (trained in Europe ersonal Leadership: Making A isn’t the taking of on May 8th. and USA), to register online a US licensed, board-certified itself that is Worldleadership Of Difference is comManyand ofboard us enjoy like coffee, chocolate nutritionist, certi-stimulants or book your skin clinic important, it is in how ing to Portland May 21-24. Led fied byalcohol, the American of the downsides we lead that we make and but Boards what are of consuming appointment. by facilitators including Seattle the difference. The Functional Medicine, Oxidative them? Are they addictive? Is raw chocolate healthier than resident Barbara Schaetti, PhD, Foundations Seminar, Medicine, Chelation Therapy Contact: Savina Uzunow a consultant coach who Mayand 21-24, will help cooked chocolate? What a healthy sex life mean for and Disability Analysis. He is does Area Coordinator 425-753-0634 youinengage changing specializes the experience President Emeritus and Professeattle@ecopolitan.com your health? What are the causes of erectile dysfunction? circumstances with sor of Nutrition and Functional of living and working across confidence, and with How does work and Medicine withViagra the University of what are the risks of taking it? cultures, athe seminar is recomstance both of clear Natural Medicine. Are there healthier alternatives that provide similar benmended for anyone lives or purpose andwho openness http://ecopolitan.com works with people hailing from to outcome. efits? What causes low libido? What are the causes of sex diverse cultural backgrounds, Already had a Foundationsinhormone insufficiency or imbalance? Are there nutritional experience? that training local community activists, cluding health careTake professionals, changes that can have a positive impact on sexual health? to a new level at the Training of humanitarian relief workers, organizational development Facilitators, May 19-26. Learn Dr. T is passionate about educating audiences so that consultants thetofaculty of higher education not and just how lead, butand howstaff to facilitate the learning of others. institutions. they can take individual ownership of their health and wellin partnership with . . . “Today’s realitiesLearn demand that more of. . .us take the lead more being, rather than giving away this responsibility to diseaseas never before,” Dr. and Schaetti explains. Register at: “The challenge is oriented doctors and insurance companies. Lecture attendwhether we can do that while organizing for sustainability, .COM ees can expect to walk away with valuable information on cultivating genuine and authentic relationships, and nurturing both strength and compassion.” how to be “good consumers” of the health care industry. This program is grounded in the Personal Leadership™ Dr. T will also be seeing clients for his revolutionary methodology. “The seminar offers a practice-based, relimethod to eliminate skin tags, moles and skin lesions. This able, and infinitely repeatable process for determining the approach is safe, gentle, non-medical, non-surgical, painbest way to move forward with confidence and ease,” Dr. Schaetti says. “It is designed to help people stay connected less and esthetically pleasing. Visit DoctorTEvents.com and to their internal wisdom and creativity and to discern right book your appt today for your FREE consultation to see if action at all times, especially when faced with change, the this method is right for you. unfamiliar, and in times of personal or professional transiDr. Tel-Oren is the founder and co-founder of several tion.” Completion of the Foundations seminar qualifies parnon-profit health and sustainability programs worldwide. ticipants to enroll in the Facilitators seminar. Visit Ecopolitan.com.
Take The Lead!
The Personal Leadership Foundations Seminar is coming to Portland
P
PLSEMINARS
The seminar will be held May 21-24 at the Mark Spencer Hotel, located at 409 SW 11th Ave, Portland, Ore. $1675/ participant, lodging not included. Includes opening reception and closing dinner meals; catered lunch available each day for additional fee. Registration required at PLSeminars. com. For more information: Info@PLSeminars.com.
Please visit the website: DoctorTEvents.com to register online or book your skin clinic appointment. Contact: Savina Uzunow– Area Coordinator at 425-753-0634 or email at seattle@ecopolitan.com. natural awakenings
April 2012
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Cash is Great But Barter is Smarter by Linda Sechrist
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rthur Kaliel’s first experience with “barter is smarter” may have been 25 years ago but he still remembers it. “I worked for a small printing company in 1986 and I was curious to know how my boss could afford to treat my wife and I to such great dinners and top-notch vacations,” says Kaliel, a marketing agent for ITEX Corporation. “When I asked, he told me that his generous employee perks were possible because he accepted barter dollars from restaurants and resorts for his printing services,” advises Kaliel. Kaliel liked the idea of cashless business transactions so much that in 1992 he went to work for Business Exchange International (BXI), which was bought out in 2004 by ITEX, the leading marketplace for cashless business transactions across North America. ITEX provides a stable and secure infrastructure for businesses to barter and has over 90 franchisees and licensees serving over 24,000 member businesses nationwide. The ITEX corporate office, located in Bellevue, debits and credits member accounts processing over $100 million a year in transactions and provides 24/7 automated check authorization service via the internet and by phone to insure that all barter checks clear. An ITEX Checking Account lets members pay for their purchases with offsetting ITEX Check sales rather than cash. Every ITEX member enjoys new business and saves cash on every purchase. Ordinary bank checks and credit cards require payment in 100 percent cash dollars. But every dollar spent with ITEX Checks can be paid with one dollar in new ITEX sales. A member’s actual cash cost is only the cost of their inventory, so they profit by the amount of their
markup. When making a sale, members must charge the same price to ITEX members that they charge their cash customers. Prices may not be increased for an ITEX sale. Sales tax and shipping is paid in cash and all sales up to $5,000 must be at 100 percent ITEX trade credits. For the portion of a transaction over $5,000 a percentage of cash may be negotiated. “Initially when I joined, I took my ITEX checks home and showed my wife the $2500 line of credit that every member gets when they sign on,” says Kaliel, who adds that he still recalls his wife’s skepticism. “After three days of cashless lunches, dinners, baseball games, Disneyland, hair appointments and new shoes, my wife endorsed it and said ‘this is cool, let’s keep doing it,’” says Kaliel. “To continue I had to sell some printing for BSI [now ITEX] dollars,” says Kaliel. According to Kaliel, bartering is especially well suited to service-based businesses, such as printing, accounting, consulting or graphic design. In a service-based business, income often depends on the ability to charge an hourly wage. Time that isn't accounted for doesn't produce income, so a services business can benefit from using barter to turn excess hours into hard goods. Just about anything can be purchased on barter. With ITEX’s national membership of over 24,000 businesses there are literally thousands of categories for goods and services to choose from. “Members tell me about other businesses they want to add to our directory and I go out and recruit them,” advises Kaliel. “The more members trade and the more referrals they bring me, the more cash they save because they are paying with ITEX dollars. Many of our members are like me; once they started bartering they never wanted to pay cash for anything.” Contact Arthur Kaliel at 760-613-6412 or Art.Kaliel@Itex.net. Visit JoinItex.com.
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healthbriefs
Sweet Stuff Combats Infections
H
oney’s use as a medicine was described on Sumerian clay tablets dating back 4,000 years, and ancient Egyptians made ointments of the sticky substance to treat wounds. Now, contemporary scientists have shown that manuka honey, which comes from New Zealand, could be an efficient way to clear chronically infected wounds and help reverse bacterial resistance to antibiotics. Professor Rose Cooper, of the University of Wales Institute, Cardiff, in the UK, has investigated how manuka honey interacts with bacteria such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Group A Streptococcus and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). She discovered that the honey interfered with their growth, blocking the formation of biofilms that can wall off such bacteria from antibiotic remedies.
Green Veggies Boost Immunity
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esearchers reporting in the journal Cell have found another good reason to fill our plates with plenty of green vegetables like bok choy and broccoli: Tiny chemical compounds found in these healthful greens interact with the immune cells of the gut, known as intraepithelial lymphocytes (IEL), by effectively protecting them and boosting their numbers. IELs, white blood cells that inhabit the lining of many body cavities and structures, are concentrated in the gastrointestinal tract, where their primary purpose is to destroy target cells that are infected by pathogens. Because pathogens frequently enter the body via the gastrointestinal tract, a high IEL count benefits overall health. Source: Babraham Institute, Cambridge, UK
Ecopolitan Seminar-Workshop Series in association with the University of Natural Medicine Presents
Dr. Adiel Tel-Oren
Stimulants, Sex, and Your Health 7:00-9:00 pm Monday, May 7th at University Heights Center Rm 109 5031 University Way NE Seattle, WA
Dr. Adiel Tel-Oren is a licensed Please visit the website: European medical doctor www.doctorTevents.com (trained in Europe and USA), to register online a US licensed, board-certified nutritionist, and board certior book your skin clinic fied by the American Boards of appointment. Functional Medicine, Oxidative Medicine, Chelation Therapy Contact: Savina Uzunow and Disability Analysis. He is Area Coordinator 425-753-0634 President Emeritus and Professeattle@ecopolitan.com sor of Nutrition and Functional Medicine with the University of Natural Medicine. http://ecopolitan.com
natural awakenings
April 2012
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healthbriefs Recipe for Strong Bones
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Barter Is Smarter!
ost Americans get more than enough of the calcium they need from food, so taking a supplement can be unnecessary and even dangerous. What many are not getting are the essential nutrients and other minerals that help calcium in its mission to help build strong bones. The lifecycle of bones is not dissimilar to those of other types of cells, except that our ability to rebuild strong bones, called bone remodeling, can diminish with age, resulting in bone loss (known as osteopenia) or osteoporosis. Collagen is the best known building block for healthy bones, and to build collagen, we need: vitamins C, D and K plus folic acid, magnesium, potassium, iron, zinc, boron, manganese, phosphorus, copper and strontium. Further, we need them all in correct proportion to optimize their effectiveness without overloading the system with excess nutrients, which can cause damage. Data culled from 12,000 participants in the 15-year Women’s Health Initiative launched in 1991 and recently re-analyzed at the University of Auckland, in New Zealand, for example, shows that excess calcium can actually cause heart disease and increase the risk of heart attacks. The solution for maintaining strong bones is to look for a high quality supplement that contains all of the aforementioned ingredients with little or no calcium content. For more information, call 888-465-4404 or visit NaturesRiteRemedies.com. See ad, page 27.
National Start! Walking Day
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Get started now:
JoinItex.com 10
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mproving overall health can be as simple as putting one foot in front of the other—and April 6, National Start! Walking Day, is the ideal opportunity to begin a regular walking routine. American Heart Association (AHA) research shows that individuals can gain about two hours of life for every hour engaged in regular, vigorous exercise—a two-for-one deal that’s hard to beat. Walking just 30 minutes per day, five days a week, can also help reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and stroke, promote better sleep and assist in maintaining healthy body weight. Visit StartWalkingNow.org for resources to kick-start a heart-friendly regimen. The site offers links to local walking paths, heart-healthy recipes, an online progress tracker and an app that helps walkers find and create paths while traveling. To find walking buddies or start a walking club, visit AHA’s MyWalkingClub.org.
eventspotlight
The 2012 Green Home Tour Celebrate Earth Day In The Greater Seattle Area by Cate O’dahl
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he Seattle chapter of the Northwest EcoBuilding Guild presents an Earth Day weekend showcasing green building ideas. Their annual Green Home Tour takes place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., April 21 and 22, offering a free, self-guided exploration of more than 25 projects—homes, multi-family dwellings, cottages and more—that have been designed, constructed, retrofitted or remodeled using techniques, materials and features that protect and conserve natural resources. Guild members and their clients are opening their homes and unfinished projects for a rare peek behind the walls. Most sites are in Seattle, but others are located in Issaquah, Bothell, Kent, Shoreline and other King County cities, and new this year, homes in Kitsap County will also be featured. The weekend also offers a Green Home Expo on Saturday at Green Depot and a day of workshops at Greenhome Solutions on Sunday. All the homes on the tour provide visitors an up-close look at green building, from sustainable design and energy-efficient upgrades to deconstruction, and landscaping, as well as opportunities to talk with the builders, designers and other professionals about the projects. Participants will take home hands-on information about how they can choose strategies that might work in their own homes. “Sustainable is Attainable” is the catch phrase for homes that showcase affordable options, while “Extreme Green” represents inspiring homes featuring elements that may not be cost-effective for every family but may spark ideas and dreams for comparable possibilities. A West Seattle Extreme Green
project shows off radiant heat, solar hot water, backyard chickens and a rainwater collection system. The zHome, in Issaquah, is a revolutionary 10-unit townhome project designed to generate as much energy as it needs and attain net-zero energy consumption within one year. A single-family project, in Ballard, also demonstrates a net-zero energy consumption system, giving tour guests a picture of what it takes to eliminate their power bills. In addition to the Green Home Tour, the weekend offers two other opportunities to learn about green building. The Green Home Expo, at Green Depot, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.,
April 21, will showcase solar contractors, energy-efficiency providers, green material suppliers and more. From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on April 22, six energy conservation workshops will take place at Greenhome Solutions; topics include lighting, duct sealing, heat pumps, financing energy projects and more. The weekend also offers games and activities for children, along with take-home gifts, such as a free Chinook Book, courtesy of IKEA, and vegetable seed packets from Grower’s Gold. Playing the Green Home Tour Game gives tour visitors the chance to win prizes including family-oriented fun at the Woodland Park Zoo or gift certificates to local green building suppliers. Carpool, walk, bike or bus, and come and see for yourself what green living is. Locations: Green Home Expo: Green Depot, 4121 First Ave. S., Seattle. 206315-1958. Workshops: Greenhome Solutions, 1210 W. Nickerson St., Seattle (Lower Queen Ann/Ballard neighborhood). 206-284-2281. For more information, visit SeattleGreenHomeTour. org or simply flip this magazine over for the Tour Brochure.
Self-Publishing Made Easy!
natural awakenings
April 2012
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naturalpet
Simple Tips For Making Greener Choices For Your Pet by Darla Rewers, DVM
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Avoid food colorings in food. They are unnecessary, merely used for marketing to make processed foods look more like meat or vegetables. Some food colorings can affect the nerves and create other problems.
Avoid synthetic preservatives such as BHA, BHT and ethoxyquin. These are known carcinogens, and are still often used in crackers and meat for people as well as pets. Look for rosemary, vitamin E or mixed tocopherols as natural preservatives, or buy fresh frozen foods.
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Avoid by-products in food—these can be toenails and feathers, which are not very digestible but contribute to the overall protein level the food can claim. Minimize wheat, corn and soy, because these are common culprits for food allergies in pets, necessitating vet visits that could otherwise be avoided.
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Avoid weed and bug killers in your own yard and house. By being aware of what chemicals we are using,
we can help pets have fewer chemicals to process. Vinegar and water can be a non-toxic and inexpensive substitute for household cleaners and mildewkillers. Baking soda can be used to scour. Rubbing alcohol can polish stainless steel or bathroom fixtures. Any shampoo or soap will kill fleas off pets. Soapy water will kill aphids on plants.
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Buying local products means less fuel and packaging was used to get those products to their end point.
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Fancy treats aren’t necessary for pets. Some contribute to kidney problems and digestive woes. Many dogs and cats crave more attention and praise. Try using kind petting and gentle massage instead of loading pets up with treats while training or bonding. Mindfulness can improve our green score in many ways. Read labels and think about where the products and packaging will go after we use them. Raising awareness of the products and medications we use can be an easy first step to becoming greener. Darla Rewers, DVM, is the owner of Ancient Arts Veterinary Acupuncture Services, located at 110 N. 36th St. Seattle. For more information, call 206-547-1025 or visit AncientArtsVets.com.
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6921 Roosevelt Way NE Seattle, WA 98115 natural awakenings
April 2012
13
GREEN HOME CHECKLIST Room-by-Room Steps We Can Take, Starting Right Now
instead of paper; dishwasher-safe serving ware instead of single-use paper or plastic; glass or recycled food storage containers in place of throwaway plastic bags and wrap; and natural fiber dishcloths to replace paper towels and plastic sponges.
4 Clean naturally. Chemical powerhouses have become the norm in household cleaning products, but they are not essential. Non-toxic cleaners are up to the task, from cleaning a sink to an oven.
4 Shop for the Energy Star logo. Ap-
by Crissy Trask
G
reen living is being embraced by more folks than ever, in ways both large and small, giving the Earth some much-needed kindness. If you’re interested in some good ideas that fall between a total home solar installation and basic recycling—with many delivering big impacts—check out Natural Awakenings’ room-by-room green checklist. You’ll find inspired, practical changes that are doable starting right now.
Kitchen
The kitchen can be a hot spot for waste. Eileen Green, with EcoEvaluator.com, says that reducing waste, conserving water and increasing energy efficiency are
all important considerations within an environmentally friendly kitchen.
4 Eat up food. Each year, a typical household discards an estimated 474 pounds of food waste, according to University of Arizona research—at large economic and environmental cost. Buying more fresh food than we can eat before the expiration date is up and allowing leftovers to expire in the fridge are culprits. “Drawing up menus and avoiding buying on impulse can help,” advises Green. Compost food scraps at home or sign up for curbside composting, if it’s offered locally. Disposing of food in garbage disposals or landfills is not environmentally sound.
4 Dispense with disposables. Replace disposable paper and plastic products with durable, lasting alternatives: cloth napkins
pliances bearing the Energy Star logo are up to 50 percent more energy efficient than standard ones. This translates to significant savings in annual operating costs.
4 Filter water with less waste. Bottled water is expensive and wasteful. Instead, purchase a home-filtering system that uses recycled or reusable filters. On the road, carry tasty filtered water in a reusable glass bottle.
4 Conserve water. Run dishwashers only when fully loaded and fill the sink with water, rather than running it down the drain, when washing by hand. Use water only to wet and rinse; otherwise turn it off.
4 Phase out non-stick skillets. Teflon coatings can leach toxins when damaged or overheated. Play it safe and begin assembling a set of cookware that includes properly seasoned cast iron, which is naturally non-stick.
4 Avoid cheap reusable shopping bags. Flimsy reusable bags end up as trash within a few months under normal use. Buy a set of high quality reusable bags that will give years of use.
Bedrooms
“Most people spend more time in the bedroom than in any other room of the
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house,” remarks Huffington Post Eco Etiquette columnist Jennifer Grayson. “So it’s important to focus on making bedrooms as green and healthy as possible.” She advocates paying special attention to sleepwear, bedding and furniture people sleep on.
is non-toxic, or else you’ll be wearing Find more big ideas in toxic chemical residues next to your Natural Awakenings’ article, skin all day, cautions MacEachern. “Spring Green Rehab,” at 4 Select cold water. On average, only 10 percent of the energy used by Tinyurl.com/3nhan6s.
4 Start with a good foundation. Box
enough for sleeping with the addition of a slight breeze from an open window or a slow-running floor or ceiling fan.
springs can be constructed of plywood or particleboard, which commonly contain formaldehyde, classified as a probable human carcinogen by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and a toxic air contaminant by the state of California. Choose those that have been certified as formaldehyde-free or with low emissions. A platform bed made of Forest Stewardship Council-certified wood, sourced from sustainably managed forests, is a healthy alternative.
4 Don’t sleep on a cloud of chemicals. “If your face is pressed up against a conventional mattress for seven hours a night, then you’re going to be breathing in whatever chemicals are off-gassing from that mattress for seven hours a night,” warns Grayson. Mattresses are commonly treated with fire-retardant chemicals to comply with U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission rules. To avoid toxic chemicals like the hydrocarbon toluene, emitted from mattresses stuffed with polyurethane foam, instead look for untreated, wool-covered mattresses (wool is a natural fire retardant) filled with natural latex or containing a spring system wrapped with organic cotton batting. Non-organic cotton production relies on lots of hazardous synthetic chemicals in its production. Organic cotton, linen and wool bedding are safer bets, especially when certified to meet strict environmental standards.
4 Block the afternoon sun. During the day, shut off air-conditioning vents inside bedrooms and block the afternoon sun with interior or exterior solar shades. By day’s end, even in warm climates, bedrooms should be cool
4 Go wireless. It’s impossible to completely avoid electromagnetic radiation from today’s technologies, so lower exposure in the bedroom by removing electronic devices and placing electrical items at least five feet away from the bed. 4 Forget fabric softeners. Most fabric softeners contain highly toxic chemicals that latch onto sheets and can be inhaled or absorbed directly into the bloodstream through skin. Instead, add a quarter-cup of baking soda to the wash cycle to soften sheets and other laundry.
4 Leave the lights off. Motion-detecting nightlights save energy while allowing safe passage in the wee hours.
Laundry Room
a clothes washer runs the machine; the other 90 percent goes to heat the water. The typical American household does about 400 loads of laundry each year, resulting in much energy squandered on hot water. With the exception of laundering greasy spots or stubborn stains, routinely wash in cold water, using a cold-water eco-detergent.
4 Install a clothesline. Running a dryer for just 40 minutes can use the energy equivalent of a 15-watt, compact fluorescent bulb lit for a week. Stretch out a line and hang clothes outside to dry in the fresh air to save about $100 a year on electric bills. The sun imparts a disinfectant benefit as a bonus.
4 Replace an old machine. A washer or dryer that is older than 10 years has hidden costs. EnergyStar.gov notes that an older machine uses more energy and can cost from 10 to 75 percent more to operate than a new, high-efficiency appliance.
4 Choose eco-friendly laundry prod-
In a typical U.S. home, the washing machine accounts for 21 percent of home water use and combined, the washer and dryer comprise 5 to 8 percent of home energy demands. Diane MacEachern, founder of BigGreenPurse.com and author of Big Green Purse: Use Your Spending Power to Create a Cleaner, Greener World, explains that a good way to conserve key resources is to use these appliances less—reducing the number of loads and drying items on outdoor clotheslines or indoor racks. MacEachern says, “You can probably wash things like sweatshirts and blue jeans less frequently without much consequence, and a clothesline requires no energy other than the sun.” Also, make sure that whatever goes into the washer or dryer with clothes
ucts. Conventional laundry soaps contain chemicals that can be problematic for us and wreak havoc on marine ecosystems. Look for cold-water brands that are fragrance- and phosphate-free.
4 Switch to concentrates. Concentrated detergents translate to less energy used in shipping, less waste and more value.
4 Stop static cling without dryer sheets. Never over-dry clothes and always dry natural fibers separately from synthetics to prevent static cling.
Bathroom
The smallest room in the house is a disproportionately large contributor to household environmental impacts. In an average non-conservation-minded American home, 38,000 gallons of water annually go down the drains and toilet. “Along with that water,” says
natural awakenings
April 2012
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MacEachern, “You’ll be washing lots of personal care and cleaning products down the drain, as well, where they could get into local natural water supplies and make life difficult for birds, frogs and fish.” Sara Snow, television host and author of Sara Snow’s Fresh Living: The Essential Room-by-Room Guide to a Greener, Healthier Family and Home, cautions against personal skin care products with questionable chemical ingredients. “A good percentage of them are being absorbed right into our bloodstream, so focus on ingredients that do no harm; ones that help our bodies instead, such as nourishing and healing botanicals.”
4 Slow the flow. Ultra-efficient showerheads use as little as 1 gallon per minute (gpm); aerated types that mix air into the water stream to enhance pressure provide a good soak and rinse using less than half the water than some other low-flow showerheads. At the sink, aerators should flow between 0.5 and 1 gpm—plenty of pressure for brushing teeth and washing hands.
4 Flush responsibly. According to the EPA, the toilet alone can use 27 percent of household water. Replace older toilets (pre-1994) with new, higher efficiency models for savings of two to six gallons per flush.
4 Heat water wisely. A tankless water
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heater supplies instantaneous hot water only as needed. Or, install a timer on a traditional water heater to cut warming time to a few hours a day at most.
4 Shun a plastic shower curtain. Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) has been called “the poison plastic” for its highly toxic lifecycle, which includes the release of dioxins into the air and water. These toxic chemicals persist in ecosystems and can cause cancer. PVC shower curtains are also a short-life product that cannot be recycled, so switch to a PVC-free alternative. Organic hemp is the eco-shower curtain gold standard.
4 Ban antibacterial products. Triclosan is a popular antibacterial agent found in many household cleaners, hand soaps, cosmetics and even toothpaste. It’s also a registered pesticide and probable human carcinogen that’s showing up in the environment and children’s urine. The Mayo Clinic suggests that triclosan may contribute to the development of antibiotic-resistant germs and harm the immune system, making us more susceptible to bacteria.
4 Install a shower filter that removes chlorine. Chlorine, which is increasingly being linked to some cancers, is used by many municipalities to disinfect water supplies. People absorb more chlorine through the skin and by inhaling chlorine vapors when bathing and showering than from drinking it.
4 Use recycled and unbleached paper products. Using recycled bath tissue helps close the recycling loop on all the paper we dutifully recycle at the curb. Unbleached varieties keep chlorine byproducts like dioxins out of the environment.
4 Remove bad odors instead of covering them up. In a University of California study, chemical air fresheners were found to have higher concentrations of polluting volatile organic compounds (VOC) than any other household cleaning product. Long-term exposure to some VOCs have been linked with adverse health effects. This Natural Awakenings checklist suggests steps that are possible in making any home healthier, safer and more enjoyable. Start checking off items today and begin shrinking the family’s ecological footprint right away. Crissy Trask is the founder of Green Matters.com and author of the bestselling, It’s Easy Being Green: A Handbook for Earth-Friendly Living. Follow her at Twitter.com/greenmatters.
GREEN UN-ROOM CHECKLIST by Crissy Trask Kitchens, bathrooms and laundry rooms earn the most attention in greening up our homes, but what about the miscellaneous spaces? Attics, garages, closets and entry halls can get overlooked, although they also yield benefits from some green-minded attention. Here are tips for the most common “un-rooms” to get the ball rolling.
Garage
4 Empty the car of extra weight and optimally inflate tires to improve gas mileage by up to 5 percent.
4 Replace poisonous windshield wiper fluid with a make-it-yourself solution that combines seven cups of distilled water, one-half-cup isopropyl alcohol and one-half-teaspoon ecodishwashing liquid. Properly dispose of old wiper fluid in a boldly labeled container at a hazardous waste center.
4 Clean with a broom instead of a hose to save water.
Attic
4 Install a whole-house fan to pull warm air out of the attic, keeping rooms below cooler.
4 Blanket the attic with a reflective heat barrier to reflect heat before it has a chance to enter.
4 If the tops of floor joists above the insulation are visible, EnergyStar.gov recommends adding more insulation
until they are no longer visible when viewed at eye level.
Your house wastes enough energy to run a car.
Entry Hall
4 Leave shoes, along with allergens and dirt, at the door for a healthier home.
4 Reduce unwanted mail by opting out of catalogs, credit card and insurance offers and Direct Marketing Association-member mailings at CatalogChoice.org, OptOutPrescreen. com and DMAChoice.org, respectively.
4 Doormats made from recycled
What’s more, it’s affecting your health, your family and your comfort.
plastic soda bottles keep millions of them from entering landfills.
Closets
4 Get organized with bins and shelves made from recycled plastic, reclaimed wood, salvaged and repurposed items, formaldehyde-free plant-based boards or Forest Stewardship Council-certified wood.
4 Shop for local, previously owned clothes and accessories from consignment boutiques, thrift stores or a local clothing swap.
Remember what you paid for heating last winter? Up to a THIRD of those dollars instantly flew out the holes in your home, while contaminated air is constantly sailing in. Eliminate those energy leaks, and at the same time, you’ll also ensure that you’re breathing better air while you remove hot and cold spots, and add to the value of your house. Call Vesta for a FREE phone consultation. No other home improvement is as good for you, your health, your property — and the planet.
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4 Slip into some vegan or Earthfriendly shoes; there’s a lot more to choose from than hemp sandals. Sources: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Sierra Club, Mayo Clinic, chej. org, DrClaudiaMiller.com, DrWeil.com, ftc.gov, EnergyStar.gov
vestaperformance.com Vesta Home Performance is fully licensed, bonded, and insured in the state of Washington. Contractor # VESTAHP915K6.
GO-TO RESOURCES Urban composting solution BokashiComposting.com
Textile certifications Tinyurl.com/7wd9vlr
Toxins in consumer products Toxipedia.org
PVC fact sheet MyHouseIsYourHouse.org/pvcfacts.html
Eco-water filters Brita.com/your-brita/recycle-your-filter BritishBerkefeld.com TerraFlo.com/recycle.htm
Radiation exposure facts epa.gov/radtown/index.html Safe cosmetics and personal care products ewg.org/skindeep
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natural awakenings
April 2012
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healingways
Free Lectures on Natural Health
Natural Remedies for Seasonal Allergies
April 7 Acupuncture for Infertility April 28 Personal Growth: A Whole-Person Approach
by Dr. Lauri Grossman
3670 Stone Way N., Seattle
Details at Events.BastyrCenter.com
F
or many, spring brings joy via outdoor activities amid blossoming flowers and blooming trees, as they visit parks, hike through meadows and jog along roads in the warming air. For millions of allergy sufferers, however, the attendant airborne pollen brings bedeviling sneezes, congestion, teary eyes and runny noses. Hay fever alone, which affects 35 million Americans, shuts many of us indoors. Before resorting to such an extreme measure, try controlling allergic reactions using some of these simple suggestions. The Mayo Clinic recommends that we begin by reducing exposure to allergy triggers: n Stay indoors on dry, windy days and early mornings, when pollen counts are high. The best time to be outside is after a good rain, which helps clear pollen from the air. n Remove clothes previously worn outside. Immediately after coming
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inside, shower thoroughly to rinse off pollen. n Don’t hang laundry outside, because pollen may stick to it, especially sheets and towels. n Keep indoor air as clean as possible by turning on the air conditioner in both the house and car, and use high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters, especially in the bedroom; most cost less than $100. Make sure the vacuum cleaner has a HEPA filter, too. Keep indoor air comfortably dry with a dehumidifier. For those that love being outdoors, several natural remedies can help. Dr. Roger Morrison, a holistic physician in Point Richmond, California, likes targeted, widely available, over-the-counter homeopathic medicines. Carefully read labels to match specific symptoms with those noted on individual remedies. For example, for a badly dripping
For those that love being outdoors, several natural remedies can help. nose, Allium cepa may be the most helpful remedy. It helps lessen nasal discharge, plus reduces sneezing and congestive headaches that can accompany allergies. If allergy symptoms center around the eyes, causing itching, burning, redness and tears, then homeopathic Euphrasia is a better choice. If nighttime post-nasal drainage leads to coughing upon waking, Euphrasia can help, as well. Pulsatilla helps people whose allergies are worse when they enter a warm room or feel congested when they lie down at night. Homeopathic remedies generally are available for less than $10. If symptoms don’t improve in three days, stop and try a different homeopathic remedy. Homeopathic practitioner Dr. Greg Meyer, in Phoenix, Arizona, says that many of his patients benefit from taking herbs and other natural supplements, and one of the most effective for hay fever is Urtica dioica (stinging nettles). Studies reported in Planta Medica: Journal of Medicinal Plant and Natural Product Research, showed that after one week, nearly two-thirds of the participants taking two 300 milligram (mg) capsules of freeze-dried nettles experienced decreased sneezing and itching. Dr. Andrew Weil, of the Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine, in Tucson, recommends taking 250 mg of freeze-dried nettles extract every two to four hours until symptoms subside. Quercitin is another useful herb. By preventing release of histamine, it also works to lessen the sneezing and itching that accompany allergies. Take 400 mg twice a day before meals. Diana Danna, an integrative nurse practitioner in Staten Island, New York, suggests the age-old remedy of a neti pot to relieve congested nasal passageways. It may take a bit of practice, but
she’s seen how rinsing the sinuses with a warm saltwater solution can reduce congestion and make breathing easier. An over-the-counter squeeze bottle can substitute for a neti pot, as can NeilMed Sinus Rinse. Danna suggests rinsing twice a day for best results. Simple dietary modifications often yield promising results, as well. Stick to non-mucous-producing foods and eat more foods that give a boost to the body’s natural immune system. Whole grains, fruits and vegetables and raw nuts and seeds fit both categories, as do lean proteins like fresh fish and organic meats. Drinking plenty of clean water flushes the system and thins secretions. Foods that tend to cause the most problems for allergy sufferers include dairy products, fried and processed foods and refined sugars and flours. Adding essential fatty acids to a diet has benefits beyond allergy relief. In my own practice, I’ve seen how patients that take one to two tablespoons of flaxseed oil or three grams of fish oil during the spring months breathe more easily when outdoors. They also delight in healthier looking skin, shinier hair and harder nails. Trying these approaches may well turn spring into a favorite time of year for everyone. Lauri Grossman is a doctor of chiropractic and certified classical homeopath, practices in Manhattan, NY. She also chairs the American Medical College of Homeopathy’s department of humanism, in Phoenix, AZ. Learn more at amcofh.org and HomeopathyCafe.com.
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Information:
natural awakenings
April 2012
19
yogalife
Yoga Off The Mat by Andrea Blair Cirignano
Y
oga is, by definition, ‘a union.’ When a student leaves his or her first yoga class, he or she might already feel a little more connected between mind and body. Continuing to practice will lead to more connections, in other areas of life, according to several yoga students in the Pacific Northwest. “I think people in our area embrace the yoga mind-set in all areas of their lives, not just on the mat,” says Jennifer Mycon, former front desk employee of Bala Yoga in Kirkland. Ali Valdez, founder and owner of Sattva Yoga Online, also said she notices
this progression in many students. “Yoga tends to be the horse pulling the cart,” she says, explaining that people tend to initially gravitate toward yoga because of fitness or diet goals. Even the most novice yogis quickly realize their body’s endless connections. For example, hand and wrist stretches can release a tense neck, so as a practice progresses, yogis start to treat their bodies as one whole, rather than a collection of separate parts and it only grows from there. “Over time, people begin to reflect on other choices in their life [and] that is when the flower of yoga truly
begins to blossom,” says Valdez. A developing yoga practice can take on many forms. Asana, the physical portion of yoga, is only one of the eight limbs of yoga. A student might find interest in any of the seven other limbs or in Ayurveda, the science of nutrition and life that compliments yoga. Others simply start to see the bliss and connection between all living things. For the average person, what does this mean for practical, everyday life? “Yoga can clean out the body and heal. We know this. But what if what we consumed enabled the yoga to go beyond maintenance and repair?” asks Valdez. “We can look younger, have unlimited energy, think clearly, and regulate our hormone levels that determine our metabolism, sleep needs, cravings, temperature and emotions.” In the end, each yoga practice is as individual as each student and the lengths a yogi can take his or her practice are limitless. Writer Andrea Blair Cirignano is a local yoga instructor with a journalism background. She believes yoga is for everyone and that each member of the community could benefit from the practice in some way, shape or form. Her articles highlight the unique pairing of this ancient practice with a modern Pacific Northwest lifestyle. Find out more about Andrea at yogatone.net.
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healthykids
Egg-ceptional Fun Natural Easter Colors to Dye For by Linda Sechrist
F
rom toddlers to tweens, many children eagerly anticipate one of spring’s most pleasurable rituals: coloring Easter eggs. This shared family activity allows kids to be hands-on artists, as they choose from a palette of cheerful hues to fashion little edible treasures. But youngsters that dip their hands into synthetic dyes can absorb chemicals through the skin that have been linked with allergic reactions, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and with ADHD and hyperactivity, per a 2011 report by Science News. Keep their creations healthy and chemical-free by avoiding commercial food coloring and using easy-to-make, fruit- and veggie-based dyes instead. The simplest way to use Earthfriendly shades is to add natural materials when boiling the eggs. Some suggestions: purple grape juice or crushed blueberries, for blue; liquid chlorophyll or spinach, for green; organic orange peels or ground turmeric, for yel-
low; cranberries, pickled beets, cherries or pomegranate juice, for pink and red; and yellow onion skins, cooked carrots, chili powder or paprika, for orange. Then, follow these directions: Place the eggs in a single layer in a pan and add water to cover. Add one teaspoon of white vinegar (this helps the eggshells absorb color) and the natural dye material; use more material for more eggs or a more intense color. Bring the water to a boil and then reduce the heat and simmer the eggs for 15 minutes. Remove the eggs and
refrigerate them. These naturally colored treats, more beautiful than their artificially enhanced cousins, will mimic Mother Nature’s softer, gentler tints. For a shiny appearance, rub some cooking oil onto the eggs when they are dry. Also remember that hard-cooked eggs are more perishable than raw ones, and should remain outside the refrigerator no more than two hours (so the one possibly found the day after Easter needs to hit the compost pile) and be consumed within one week.
natural awakenings
April 2012
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healthyhomes
Green Home Operations Fo r Ec o - H e a l t hy L i v i n g by Doug Kennedy
W
hether one owns a new home or one that’s been remodeled, if the building was done correctly, one may reason, it should provide years of comfortable trouble free living, right? In reality, not always. A home builder’s goal is to provide safe, healthy, energy-efficient and well
ventilated places to live. If best building practices are followed, homeowners should be off to a good start and experience relatively few problems. Ultimately, the life span of any project is determined by the homeowner’s followup operations and maintenance of their home.
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Five Actual Cases Do They Sound Familiar?
1
You arrive home on a rainy day and notice water running over the top of the gutters. You tell yourself, “I must remember to get those cleaned!”
2
You walk into the bathroom and notice a little water on the floor between the shower and toilet. You think, “It doesn’t seem too bad; I’ll check it out soon.”
3
A musty smell welcomes you whenever you go down to the basement bedroom and bath, but you see no water on the floor. You say, “I will look into it when I have time.”
4
Your children spend considerable time indoors and always seem to have colds, asthma or other allergy type symptoms. You wake up in the mornings, stuffed up or itchy eyed thinking “I should change the furnace filter one of these days.”
5
You notice mold growing on bathroom ceilings, back of closets and even furniture when it is placed too close to exterior wall areas. You think “Time to get out the bleach and mold remover.”
When we see, hear or smell something, most of us know we should act immediately but often postpone doing so. The problem is that the problem is not on hold and often grows into a major issue costing thousands of dollars in repair or health-related costs.
How Costly?
1
$10,000. A simple $75 annual gutter cleaning would have eliminated the need for an exterior wall rebuild (water ran behind fascia and eaves into wall for several years, resulting rot and mold).
2
$19,600. For less than $50, the seal in the shower could have been repaired, stopping the water from pooling on the tile, finding a void in the grout and rotting the subfloor and supports.
3
$20,000. Water intrusion behind walls and under floor coverings can often be spotted with little effort and cost; simply follow your nose, open a wall or look under the carpet. Catching this problem early could have saved thousands of dollars.
4
Excessive dust or signs of mold, as described above, can often be found in homes that have poorly maintained, or improperly ventilated, spaces. Costs associated with poor indoor air quality, resulting from lack of regular operation and maintenance include: reduced comfort in the home, illness and missed school and/ or work days. Add to this the medical costs involved in trying to manage the resulting illnesses, and we begin to see the actual costs of not being proactive when operating and maintaining our homes. In reality, our houses are an extension of ourselves. If we look out for the needs of our home it will give us many years of safe, healthy, comfortable enjoyment at a minimal cost. As some investors say, “It pays to invest early, regularly and often.” Doug Kennedy is the operations manager at Pathway Design & Construction, a healthy and green construction company serving clients throughout the greater Seattle area. He speaks and gives class about green building throughout the Northwest, and can be reached at Doug@PathwayDC.com.
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April 2012
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Waste Not, Want Not 10 Ways to Reduce Costly Food Waste by Amber Lanier Nagle
M
ost of us regularly discard food items—week-old cooked pasta, stale cereal, half a loaf of moldy bread, suspicious leftovers and other foods we fail to eat before they perish. But consider that the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) reports that 40 percent of all edible food products in the United States— comprising 34 million tons—is wasted each year. Food waste occurs at all levels of the supply chain. Farm fresh fruits and vegetables are often left unharvested because their appearance does not meet aesthetic standards imposed by grocery stores, and pieces bruised or marred during shipping and handling are routinely discarded. Many restaurants serve supersized portions of food, even though much of it is left on plates when customers leave, and thrown into dumpsters. Plus, many shoppers buy more than they need. With a little care and a more enlightened system, we could help prevent much of the waste and better address
hunger in the United States. Researchers estimate that Americans could feed 25 million people if we collectively reduced our commercial and consumer food waste by just 20 percent. From an environmental standpoint, wasted food equals wasted water, energy and chemicals. Producing, packaging and transporting these food items generate pollution—all for nothing: a zero percent return on our dollars. Food waste represents the single largest component of all municipal solid waste now going into landfills. Although it is biodegradable when properly exposed to sunlight, air and moisture, decomposing food releases significant amounts of methane, a heat-trapping greenhouse gas that is more than 20 times more potent than carbon dioxide (CO2). Ten tips make it possible to reduce our “food print”. Shop smarter. Preplan meals for the week, including non-cooking days and leftover days. Make a shopping list and stick to it after inventorying the
pantry, fridge and freezer. Buy produce in smaller quantities to use within a few days. Because we tend to overbuy when we’re hungry, don’t walk the aisles with a growling stomach. Organize the refrigerator. Place leftovers at eye level in the fridge, so they are front-and-center anytime someone opens it. When stowing groceries, slide older items to the front. Pay attention to use-by dates and understand that food is good for several days beyond a sell-by date. Freeze foods. Many food items will last for months in the freezer in appropriate storage bags and containers. Share surplus food. For larger dishes such as casseroles and crockpot meals, invite a friend over for supper, deliver a plate to an elderly neighbor or pack leftovers to share with coworkers. Donate extra nonperishable or unspoiled food items to a local soup kitchen, food bank or pantry or homeless shelter. Store food properly. To maximize food’s edible life, set the fridge between 35 and 38 degrees Fahrenheit and arrange containers so that air circulates around items; the coldest areas are near the back and bottom of the unit. For fruits and vegetables stored in plastic bags or designated bins or containers, squeeze out air and close tightly to reduce the damaging effects of exposure to oxygen. Buy ugly fruits and veggies. Grocery stores and markets throw out a substantial volume of vegetables and fruits because their size, shape or color is deemed less than ideal. Purchase produce with cosmetic blemishes to
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save perfectly good, overlooked food from being discarded as waste. Use soft fruits and wilted vegetables. Soft, overripe fruits can be converted to jellies, jams, pies, cobblers, milkshakes and smoothies. Wilted carrots, limp celery, soft tomatoes and droopy broccoli can be chopped up and blended into soups, stews, juices and vegetable stocks. Dish up smaller portions. Smaller portions are healthier and allow leftovers for another meal. Take home a doggie bag. Only about half of restaurant diners take leftovers home. Ask to have unfinished food boxed in a recyclable container, and then enjoy it for lunch or dinner within two days. Compost routinely. If, despite daily best efforts, food waste still occurs, recycle it with meal preparation scraps into a nutrient-rich soil amendment. Create an outdoor compost heap, or compost cooked and uncooked meats, food scraps and small bones quickly and without odor in an indoor bokashi bin. “Earth Day—April 22nd—serves as a reminder that each of us must exercise personal responsibility to think globally and act locally as environmental stewards of Earth,” says Kathleen Rogers, president of Earth Day Network. “Reducing food waste is another way of being part of the solution.”
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wisewords
Eco-Mind: Creating the World We Want A Conversation with Frances Moore Lappé by Linda Sechrist
F
rances Moore Lappé, author of 18 books including Diet for a Small Planet, is the co-founder of Food First: The Institute for Food and Development Policy, and Small Planet Institute. She also serves on the board of advisors of Grassroots International. In her most recent release, EcoMind: Changing the Way We Think, to Create the World We Want, Lappé explores the latest in climate studies, anthropology and neuroscience. She aims to dismantle the seven widely held messages, or thought traps, that undermine our responses to current eco-crises.
How can civilization think more like an eco-system to better handle environmental challenges? Ecology is the science of relationships among organisms and their environ-
ment. Seeing life through an ecological lens allows us to see the world and our place in it without managing quantities of limited things. The most stunning implication of this way of seeing is its endless possibilities, as we learn to align with the laws of nature. With an “eco-mind,” we see that ours is not a finished, fixed world, but rather an evolving and relational world. Through an ecological worldview, we realize that everything, including ourselves, is co-created, moment-to-moment, in relation to all else. Separateness is an illusion and notions of “fixed” or “finished” are fanciful. With an eco-mind, we can move from fixing something outside of ourselves to realigning our relationships within our ecological home. Making such leaps of thought can uplift us from disempowerment and despair to empowerment and hope.
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Current metaphors pointing to such causes of environmental crises as “insatiable consumers” and this “age of irresponsibility” fix attention on our character failings. They make us feel blameworthy and incite feelings of guilt and fear. Fear doesn’t motivate humans to be more engaged and giving; rather, it too often has the opposite effect, and leads us to objectify and dismiss the “other,” even if the other is nature. Metaphors of contemporary environmentalism, such as “power down” and “we’ve hit the limits,” keep us locked in quantitative thinking. They don’t encourage us to see the underlying patterns of waste and destruction. They also fail to offer emotionally compelling, alternative ways of seeing current challenges and their rich, positive possibilities. People need to see a new path, a way ahead, in order to leave the old.
Which of your seven “thought traps” do you see as most significant?
Your Choice for a Sustainable Future
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How are our culture’s current stories about the causes of environmental crises disempowering us?
4/29/11 5:29 PM
that overtax the planet are to blame,” is a thought trap that engenders fear. People then think there isn’t enough to go around, so they have to grab what they can now. This thinking locks our imagination inside an inherited, unecological worldview that focuses on separateness and lack; that’s precisely the thinking that got us into this mess. Considering the power of frame and language, we can ask ourselves: What is the one piece of my current mental map—my core assumption about life—that limits me? How could I reframe it to free myself? How do I keep my thinking from being mired in the world of separateness and lack? What are other terms I want to start using?
What “thought leap” can move us forward? In some ways, my “thought leaps” all reflect a shift from focusing on limits to that of alignment. We’re in the mess we’re in because our economic rules are perversely unaligned with the laws of nature and with human nature itself; they bring out the worst and keep the best in check. We need the opposite. For example, we now know how to align food production with ecological principles so that there’s enough for all, while regenerating flora and fauna. In this thought leap, we shift from fixating on quantities and focus instead on the quality of ever-changing relationships with all life. We work to replace fear with curiosity—asking why we are together creating a world that none of us as individuals would choose? We see the nature of life as connection and change—realizing, therefore, that it’s just not possible to know what’s possible. How freeing. When we put our eco-minds into action with the power of connection, we can reach out and spark face-toface gatherings with others that are also eager to move from feeling overwhelmed to taking rewarding action. Everyone benefits. Visit SmallPlanet.org. Linda Sechrist is a senior staff writer for Natural Awakenings magazines.
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The Healing Power of a Walk in the Woods
206-595-5291
by Maggie Spilner
16339 NE 74th Street, Redmond HardcoreFitStudio.com
A good garden may have some weeds.
“N
~Thomas Fuller
ature doesn’t bang any drums when she bursts forth into flowers, nor play any dirges when the trees let go of their leaves in the fall. But when we approach her in the right spirit, she has many secrets to share. If you haven’t heard nature whispering to you lately, now is a good time to give her the opportunity.” ~ Osho, in Osho Zen Taro: the Transcendental Game of Zen As we all innately know, spending time in nature is good for our body, mind and spirit. It’s why we’re attracted to green places, flowers, lakes, fresh air and sunshine. Taking a nature walk—affording plenty of fresh air and exercise in a quiet setting—has traditionally been prescribed for good health. That raises a question: How much natural healing are we sacrificing when we spend most of our days indoors?
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In Japan, a group of medical researchers and government-affiliated forest organizations support the creation of forest therapy centers, where people enjoy the trails and guided walks and also receive free medical checkups under the trees. Since 1984, they have been studying the health benefits of walking in the woods, termed shinrinyoku, or forest bathing. There are now more than 30 such officially designated sites. In related studies, scientists from Japan’s Nippon Medical School and Chiba University tracked positive physiological changes in individuals walking in the woods compared with city walkers. Early results were published in the International Journal of Immunopathology and Pharmacology, European Journal of Applied Physiology and Journal of Biological Regulators and Homeostatic Agents. Forest walkers showed: n Lower concentrations of salivary cortisol, known as the stress hormone
that pleases you and sit and enjoy the scenery.” He adds that relaxing in a hot tub or spa counts as a perfect end to a day of forest bathing. Li foresees a future in which patients diagnosed with high blood pressure or hypertension may receive a forest bathing prescription, but counsels that shinrin-yoku is considered preventive, rather than therapeutic, medicine.
Go Prepared Protect and comfort your feet when traversing forest paths and trails by switching to an off-road shoe, hiking shoe or boot, because the sole will grip uneven surfaces better. If weak ankles are a problem or if uneven trails or rocky climbing are on tap, select high-top models. Wear them around town before heading into the woods, and always take along moleskin or specialty blister band-aids and thicker or thinner socks to aid any hot spots or blisters. Note: A moisture-wicking synthetic sock prevents blisters better than an organic cotton or cotton blend sock. n Lower blood pressure and heart rate n Reduction of adrenaline and noradrenalin, also stress-related hormones n Increase in immunity-boosting natural killer (NK) cell activity, and the numbers of NK cells and anti-cancer proteins known to combat cancer
Newest Findings
The researchers theorized that organic compounds called phytoncides, produced by trees and other plants as a protection from disease, insects and fungus, were also producing beneficial natural killer cells in people in the forests. In a study that exposed participants to phytoncides via aromatic oils fed through a humidifier in a hotel room, the researchers found similar increases in NK levels. A 2011 study by Nippon Medical School’s department of hygiene and public health showed that the resulting increase in NK cells lasted for 30 days. They concluded that a monthly walk in the woods could help people maintain a higher level of protective NK activity and perhaps even have a preventive effect on cancer generation and progression. Qing Li, Ph.D., the assistant professor leading several of these studies, suggests that dense forest areas are more effective at boosting immunity than city parks and gardens. He also reports that phytoncide concentrations increase during summer growing
Enhancing Nature’s Power
seasons and decrease during the winter, although they are still present in tree trunks even when the trees are deciduous. Li further suggests that walks in the woods should be conducted at a leisurely pace. For stress reduction, he suggests four hours of walking, covering a generous 3 miles, or 2 hours walking about 1.5 miles. For cancerprotecting effects, he suggests regularly spending three days and two nights in a forested area. “Carry water and drink when you’re thirsty,” says Li. “Find a place
Ecopsychologist Michael Cohen, Ph.D., executive director of Project NatureConnect, adds, “If you want to increase the healing effect of being in nature, it helps to change the way you think and feel about connecting with it.” He has students repeat the word ‘unity’ as they encounter natural attractions—be it a tree, bird, brook or breeze—until they feel that they are part of nature, not separate… part of the healing wisdom of the planet. More, he states, “Sharing helps solidify the experience and opens you to greater personal healing.” Maggie Spilner, author of Prevention’s Complete Book of Walking and Walk Your Way Through Menopause, leads walking vacations for her company, Walk For All Seasons.
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Saving Dollars & The Earth An Interview With Vesta Home Performance by Ann Dorn
V
esta Home Performance is a Seattle-based, home energy retrofitting company whose mission is to fix comfort, health and safety problems while increasing home value and energy efficiency. Founded by Alison Kartiganer and Yves Vetter, Vesta Home Performance launched in 2009 with a desire to shape business for the better. “It became clear to me that we needed enlightened business action rather than more science if we are to have a chance of passing on to our kids a planet nearly as great as the one we got,” explains Vetter, who earned a PhD in oceanography and also ran a green remodeling company for ten years before co-founding Vesta Home Performance. He adds that over the past few years, the company has changed their message to emphasize comfort and indoor air quality, but their mission of leaving the world a better place, while simultaneously creating a better quality of life for individuals, remains strong. “The most common misconception in our industry is that home energy efficiency is all about saving dollars,” Vetter clarifies. “This hurts the industry as well as our clients by setting up a standard for decision making that is much narrower than the standards people use to make any other decision in their lives. Typically, the work we do costs less than $10,000 and makes people more comfortable, healthier, and makes their homes demonstrably more valuable and durable. Yet the question people have been trained to ask is: why is it so expensive and how fast will it pay back? No one asks this when they buy a new car,” he reasons. Despite the need to help educate consumers about the quality-of-life benefits that their work can bring, Vesta Home Performance is reaching a growing number of Seattle and Eastside area residents who are eco-savvy. “Our most popular service is a one-day home energy upgrade we call our SWAT,” Vetter says. “It is a system of upgrades and repairs that we make to fix all of the most important defects that degrade comfort, air quality and energy efficiency in any house,” he notes. “It is the fastest and most cost-effective way to improve comfort and reduce heating fuel use and is the ideal first step toward deeper home performance upgrades.” Recently, Vesta Home Performance also launched its own line of storm windows, called SecondPanes. “... there was a need for a good-looking interior storm window and no existing example,” Vetter says. “We manufacture the
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“We make people more comfortable and healthier, we increase their home values, and we permanently reduce the carbon footprint of their home,” Vetter affirms. “It really is a win-win-win.” stock for our windows in-house, and we assemble them onsite to assure a perfect custom fit, rapid service and no disappointments.” Vetter notes the windows are a good way to improve comfort and energy efficiency without replacing existing pane windows. At the end of the day, the Vesta Home Performance team appreciates the impact of their work. “We make people more comfortable and healthier, we increase their home values, and we permanently reduce the carbon footprint of their homes,” Vetter affirms. “It really is a win-win-win.” Vesta Home Performance is offering Natural Awakenings readers 20 percent off the street price of the SWAT ($2,999) or the standard SecondPane pricing (ranging from $400 to $800) through the month of May 2012. For more information, call 206-919-6770 or visit VestaPerformance.com.
inspiration
“You cannot help but get the sense that you are interacting with a highly sentient being; the feeling of direct connection is remarkable,” says McLeod. “I am most affected by my quiet connections with the elders that will just hang in the water with me. Sometimes, they will close their eyes and simply rest at my side. Their presence is one of total, unqualified acceptance.” People who swim so intimately with these dolphins depart feeling they have “met the master,” as McLeod puts it. Comments from guests returned via TripAdvisor.com (Tinyurl. com/7n8khqf) report how the experience puts them back in touch with who they really are and empowers them to make changes in their lives. “Connecting with these special dolphins somehow brings us into the ‘here and now’ in a profound way,” says McLeod. “We drop out of the mind and into the heart. There is this feeling of expansion, connection and being one with everything. When people return home, they often report that they have started to let go of things in their lives that no longer serve them, allowing them to become more true to themselves.” For more information, visit WildQuest.com. Bill Van Arsdale is a contributing writer who recently swam with the dolphins near Bimini.
DEEP BLUE
CONNECTIONS Extraordinary Encounters with Dolphins by Bill Van Arsdale
F
or the past dozen years, Amlas McLeod has been leading wild dolphin encounters in Bimini, Bahamas, enabling swimmers to experience transformative changes through encounters with this extraordinary marine mammal. “Wild dolphins often enjoy interacting with boats, but most are not interested in being close to humans. As soon as you get into the water, they disappear,” McLeod explains. “The Atlantic spotted dolphin species near Bimini is unusual in that they are comfortable connecting with people, and seem to enjoy it as much as we do. Amazingly, they actually include us in their pod activities during these encounters.” These spotted dolphins often swim very close to the boat, jumping up or turning to get a better view of folks on McLeod’s catamaran. Once overboard, swimmers revel in how the animals playfully move and twirl amongst them and often come within inches as they glide by slowly enough to make prolonged eye contact.
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calendarofevents MONDAY, APRIL 2 Paul Muller-Ortega Meditation Initiation – April 2-3. This two-day course includes learning an elegant, powerful and deeply effective practice for systematically exploring the deeper spaces of consciousness. During the course, Paul offers instruction in Neelakantha Meditation, as well as a very clear, specific understanding of the theoretical context and foundational principles of this powerful practice. $550. Seattle Yoga Arts, 1540 15th Ave, Seattle. Registration required. 206-440-3191. SeattleYogaArts.com.
THURSDAY, APRIL 5 Motherline: Finding Our Feminine Souls – 6:30-8:30pm. Mary Alice Long, PhD invites both women and men to share their stories, connect to their embodied roots, visit and learn from their maternal ancestors in this introductory group. $20. Good Shepherd Community Center, Room 223, 4649 Sunnyside Ave N, Seattle. 206-200-4542. Maryalice@PlayEqualsPeace.com. A Fuller View – 7-8:30pm. Steven Sieden has dedicated his life to studying, understanding and sharing the wisdom and truth of visionary Buckminster Fuller. Steven’s new book, A Fuller View, gives rich insight into Buckminster’s teachings. Free. East West Bookshop, 6500 Roosevelt Way NE, Seattle. 206-523-3726. EastWestBookshop.com/Events/3490.
FRIDAY, APRIL 6 Grand Opening of Shambala Farm – 12-7 pm. Spend the day celebrating the opening of the farm season with Easter egg hunts, farm tours, and a look at Shambala’s latest permaculture projects and perennial vegetable nursery. Shambala will be
hosting a full Permaculture Design Course in June. Free. Shambala Permaculture Farm & Perennial Vegetable Nursery, 395 E N Camano Dr, Camano Island. 360-387-4110. ShambalaFarm.com. The GuruGanesha Band – 7:30pm. April 6-7. The GuruGanesha Band will perform their uplifting signature blend of kirtan, raga, rock and meditative folk music featuring the glassy tonalities of the electric guitar, bass, drums and vocals. $15 in advance, $20 at door or $25 for two night pass. Om Culture, 2210 N. Pacific St, Seattle. For tickets: GuruGanesha.com.
SATURDAY, APRIL 7 Meditation Level 1 Workshop – 9:30am-12pm. Meditation can transform one’s life. Learn to relax the body, quiet the mind, awaken intuition and experience greater joy and creativity in daily life. This Saturday morning workshop includes in-class practice, tips on establishing practice at home, online guided meditations, written instructions, and ongoing support in-person or online. $25, prepay online to receive 10% discount. Ananda Meditation Temple, 23305 Bothell-Everett Hwy, Bothell. Registration required. 425-806-3700. AnandaSeattle.org. Living Naturally: Acupuncture for Fertility – 10:30am-12pm. Many families struggle with fertility issues. Avoid invasive or pharmaceutical approaches, acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine have been proven to gently improve chances of conception. Join Bastyr Center clinical faculty member Weiyi Ding, MD to learn how to take a natural and effective approach to starting a family. Free and open to the public. Bastyr Center for Natural Health, 3670 Stone Way N, Seattle. 206834-4100. BastyrCenter.org/Content/View/2302.
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Weigh to Go! – 6-7pm. Wednesdays, April 11June 6. Love your body, eat more healthfully, get moving, and lose weight in the process. Sign up today for “Weigh to Go,” a nine-week weight management and lifestyle program developed by Bastyr’s nutrition and clinical health psychology faculty. This unique and comprehensive program combines individual and group counseling with education in whole-food nutrition and healthy eating. $300 for 9 week program. Bastyr Center for Natural Health, 3670 Stone Way N, Seattle. Registration required. 206-925-4662. BastyrCenter.org/Content/View/1293.
THURSDAY, APRIL 12 Butterfly Balance Open House – 7pm-9pm. Celebrate the opening of the new location of the Butterfly Balance Wellness Center. Meet owner Sue Mariconda, enjoy refreshments, giveaways and enter a drawing for free Health Kinesiology and Reconnective Healing sessions and Young Living Essential Oils. Free. Butterfly Balance Wellness Center, 3515 SW Alaska St, 2nd Floor, West Seattle. 206-755-9900. ButterflyBalance.com.
FRIDAY, APRIL 13 Integrative Therapies in Mental Health – 8:30am-4pm. Bastyr University is pleased to present the 4th Annual BRANCHES (Building Research Amongst Northwest Complementary Health Experts) research conference featuring this year’s theme: “Integrative Therapies in Mental Health.” Local experts will present therapeutic approaches ranging from homeopathy to interpersonal companionship. $35 general admission, $15 students. Bastyr University, 14500 Juanita Dr NE, Kenmore. Registration required. 425-602-3152. Bastyr.edu.
SATURDAY, APRIL 14
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Body Wisdom: Accessing your Own Heart’s Truth – 2-4:30pm. Join healing practitioner and Chiropractor Dr. Margaret Burbidge and learn simple practices to tune into one’s body. Feel confident in asking one’s body questions and learn to listen to the signs the body is giving. $30. East West Bookshop, 6500 Roosevelt Way NE, Seattle. Registration required. 206-523-3726. EastWestBookshop.com/Events/3567.
SUNDAY, APRIL 15 Seattle Reiki Level 1: Introduction to Hands-on Healing – 10am-5pm. With Reiki master Eileen Dey. Receive traditional Usui Reiki attunements to establish one’s self as a channel for healing and practice Reiki on one’s self and others. No prerequisite required. $195. The Reiki Training Program, 7709 8th Ave SW, Seattle. Registration required. 206-947-7687. ReikiTrainingProgram.com.
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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 18
FRIDAY, APRIL 20
Intro to Health Kinesiology and Muscle Testing – 7pm-8pm. Join us for the first in a series of free, monthly talks on a variety of health and wellness topics. This month we will explore Health Kinesiology and how to unlock the body’s messages using muscle testing. Space is limited. Free. Butterfly Balance Wellness Center, 3515 SW Alaska St, 2nd Floor, West Seattle. Registration required. 206-755-9900. ButterflyBalance.com.
The Interfaith Alternative: Embracing Spiritual Diversity – 7-8:30pm. A large and growing number of people worldwide are struggling to fill a spiritual void and are frustrated by religious dogma. The Interfaith Alternative shows that people can come together united by love and compassion and share and learn from and celebrate diverse spiritual paths. Village Books, 1200 11th St, Bellingham. 360-6712626. VillageBooks.com. Cell-Level Resonance – 7:30-9pm. Discover a new appreciation for who you are and ways in which one can develop the skill to restore and maintain well-being. Joyce Hawkes, Ph.D will introduce her newest book, Resonance, and will talk about the spectacular link to harmonize with the universe and improve physical wellness. $10. East West Bookshop, 6500 Roosevelt Way NE, Seattle. 2 0 6 - 5 2 3 - 3 7 2 6 . E a s t We s t B o o k s h o p . c o m / Events/3495.
SATURDAY, APRIL 21
A good photograph is knowing where to stand. ~Ansel Adams Adopt Or Sponsor A Rescue Horse
Beautiful, sound, healthy four year old Appendix Quarter Horse mare. Started under saddle with a professional trainer. Adoption fee: $750. • • • •
Rescue horse rehabilitation Equine Facilitated Learning Educational Programs Volunteer Opportunities
Learn more about Cricket and how you can help other rescue horses: NWESC.org * 206-940-8589
Green Home Tour – April 21-22. Open house style educational events held in your neighbor’s homes in Seattle and King Country area. Features kids activities, sustainability demos and Saturday eco expo. Attend with friends, host a site, exhibit at the expo, sponsor or volunteer. SeattleGreenHomeTour.org. The Communal Power of Women’s Dance – April 21-22. With Helene Eriksen. Study different styles of women’s dance from North Africa, the Middle East and Central Asia. M’illumino, 6921 Roosevelt Way NE, Seattle. Registration required. Helene-Eriksen.de. Great Cloth Diaper Change 2012 – 9-10am. Join in on the attempt to break the Guinness World Records for the greatest number of people changing cloth diapers simultaneously at multiple venues. RSVP via Facebook or e-mailing Sales@BabyDiaperService.net. $1 or suggested donation. Baby Diaper Service, 6559 5th Pl S, Seattle. Registration required. 206-634-2229. BabyDiaperService.net/Events. MCKS Pranic Healing Level 1 Intensive – 9am-5:30pm. April 21-22. Learn and apply the laws of life force energy - the most powerful and fundamental energy in healing. Seattle/Bellevue. MasterStephenCo.com. BodyTalk Access – 9:30am-5pm. In this 6 hour workshop learn 5 easy techniques to balance the brain, increase immune function, hydrate the body, balance the entire musculoskeletal system and learn procedures for fast-aid treatment for injuries and traumas. $135 before April 11, $150 after. Call for location, Seattle. Registration required. 206-9205528. JoyOfHealthSolutions.com. Yogasana Intensive: Increasing Flexibility – 1:30-4pm. Go deep into your yoga experience, this 3-hour yoga intensive will bring practice to a new level of satisfaction and vitality - a complete yoga routine from warm-ups and pranayams through postures and more. $40. Ananda Meditation Temple, 23305 Bothell-Everett Hwy, Bothell. Registration required. 425-806-3700. AnandaSeattle.org/Yoga/Yoga-In-Bothell. Thrive Movie Screening – 7-8:30pm. Thrive is an unconventional documentary that lifts the veil on what’s really going on in the world, weaving to-
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gether breakthroughs in science, consciousness and activism. Thrive offers real solutions, empowering people with unprecedented and bold strategies for reclaiming lives and the future. Free. East West Bookshop, 6500 Roosevelt Way NE, Seattle. 206523-3726. EastWestBookshop.com/Events/3696.
SUNDAY, APRIL 22 Mystical Winds Holistic Fair – 11am-5pm. Join a day full of fun and spiritually uplifting activities including relaxing massage or rejuvenating energy work. Browse local art and jewelry, or enjoy finding a perfect metaphysical tool. Free admission. Best Western Cascadia Inn, 2800 Pacific Ave, Everett. OlsonWalderEvents.com.
MONDAY, APRIL 23 T h e H A N D L E A p p ro a c h t o L e a r n i n g Challenges – 6:45-8:15 pm. Learn about neurodevelopment, the brain and sensory systems and how learning and sensory challenges, attention issues, eating limitations, language delays, visual
THINK BEFORE YOU BUY: make the green choice. focus issues are interrelated. HANDLE is a gentle, non-drug holistic alternative that works for all ages. Free. Shoreline Library, 345 NE 175th, Shoreline. Registration required. Peg.Simon@Handle.org.
TUESDAY, APRIL 24 Seattle Free School Facilitator’s Class – 3-4pm. Learn how to be a facilitator and meet and network with other facilitators. This informal meeting covers what Seattle Free School is, tips on teaching and how to schedule and promote a course. Street Bean Espresso, 2702 3rd Ave, Seattle. StreetBeanEspresso.org.
FRIDAY, APRIL 27 The Yoga of Pregnancy – April 27-29. With Jessica Jennings. Learn the fundamental principles of yoga, specifically the biomechanical and heartbased alignment principles of Anusara. Seattle Yoga Arts, 1540 15th Ave, Seattle. Registration required. 206-440-3191. SeattleYogaArts.com. Ananda Yoga: Relax & Restore – 6-7:15pm. Breathe deeply and relax in this Friday night restorative yoga class. Take the time to relax and unwind, finding a natural state of balance and experience a greater sense of being. All levels of experience are welcome. Yoga props provided but feel free to bring your own blanket and eye pillow. $14. Ananda Meditation Temple, 23305 Bothell-Everett Hwy, Bothell. 425-806-3700. AnandaSeattle.org/Yoga/Yoga-In-Bothell. Hidden Treasure – 7:30-9pm. An evening with
one of today’s greatest living spiritual teachers, Gangaji. Gangaji’s newest book, Hidden Treasure, an inspiring work with personal and universal anecdotes, reminding that people aren’t who they think they are. $20. East West Bookshop, 6500 Roosevelt Way NE, Seattle. Registration required. 206-5233726. EastWestBookshop.com/Events/3359.
SATURDAY, APRIL 28 Cultivating Your Inner Qi – April 28-29. With Qigong Master Li Junfeng. Strengthen the body and open the heart in this 2-day workshop. $250. Om Center, Seattle. EmeraldFengShuiInstitute.com. My Greener Home: Essentials For Purchasing A Green Home Or Greening The One You Already Have - 10am-1pm. Workshop with local green home professionals covers green loans and appraisal addendums; home energy audits; energy retrofitting; local green product showcase, and more. Free. Seattle. 206-579-9066. Kim@CooperJacobs.com. Living Naturally: Personal Growth: A WholePerson Approach – 10:30am-12pm. With Charles Smith, PhD. Psychosynthesis is a holistic and spiritual approach to psychology that considers the whole person. Charles Smith will give an overview of this practice and talk about how to use psychosynthesis ideas and techniques for personal growth and development. Free and open to the public. Bastyr Center for Natural Health, 3670 Stone Way N, Seattle. 206-834-4100. BastyrCenter.org/Content/View/2303. Sew Up Seattle Sewing Session – 11am-1pm. Share our donated machines, fabrics, and supplies or bring your own. Men and women of all ages and skill levels welcome. To help those with sensitivities please come fragrance free. Free. Denny Place Center, 210 Dexter Ave N, Seattle. Registration required. 206-784-7117. SewUpSeattle@yahoo.com. Awaken Your Brain, Transform Your Life – 12-2pm. Dr. Jeff Skolnick, brain researcher, psychiatrist, naturopath and long term Zen practitioner teaches how brain exercises can enhance one’s life. $10. East West Bookshop, 6500 Roosevelt Way NE, Seattle. Registration required. 206-523-3726. EastWestBookshop.com/Events/3698. Beyond 2012 – 7-10pm. Amazing energies are coming, consciousness as a human race is leaping forward. Hear four gifted people speak to those changes, what is in store for humanity and where are we going? Q&A to follow. $10 in advance, $15 at door. Unity Church of Kent, 218 S. State St, Kent. Registration required 206-455-0411. Brenaster@Aol.com.
SUNDAY, APRIL 29 Awakening Light Gong – 9am-4:30pm. With certified qigong instructor Teri Applegate. One of the most advanced forms of qigong, Awakening Light Gong is powerful in that light is the carrier of qi. Especially unique to this practice is the accompanying music that promotes opening of the central channel. $125 before April 14, $150 after. Includes cd and book. M’illumino, 6921 Roosevelt Way NE, Seattle. Registration required. 206-778-9907. TeriApplegate.com.
FRIDAY, MAY 4 Yoga and Mindfulness Retreat – May 4-6. With Roy Holman and Bill Hale. Enjoy daily yoga and mindfulness meditation. $325 includes organic meals, classes & lodging. Skalitude Retreat Center, Methow Valley. Registration required. 425-303-8150. HolmanHealthConnections.com. Experience Breema – 7-8:30pm. Learn Breema to relax and be revitalized while unifying the mind, body and feelings in the present moment. Breema supports an openhearted and open-minded posture toward life. Free introduction. M-illumino, 6921 Roosevelt Way NE, Seattle. Breema.com.
SATURDAY, MAY 5 Breema Workshop – May 5-6. See May 4 description. $175 before April 23, $200 after. M-illumino, 6921 Roosevelt Way NE, Seattle. Breema.com.
save the date MONDAY, MAY 7 Stimulants, Sex and Your Health – 7-9pm. With Dr. Adiel Tel-Oren. University Heights Center, Rm 109, 5031 University Way NE, Seattle. Register: 425-753-0634. DoctorTEvents.com.
MONDAY, MAY 21 Personal Leadership: Making A World Of Difference – May 21-24. Personal Leadership is a methodology of two principles, six practices, and the Critical Moment Dialogue. It is designed to serve anyone who is living or working across cultural differences (national, ethnic, religious, etc.) or in situations of uncertainty and transition. $1675 includes reception and closing dinner meals. Lodging not included. Mark Spencer Hotel, 409 SW 11th Ave, Portland. Registration required. PLSeminars.com.
Green Homes Aren’t Just the Future They are in your neighborhood NOW!
2O12 GREEN HOME Tour X P O replace with ad - sent to Ann aturday
PRESENTED BY:
Northwest EcoBuilding Guild
E +S rkshops o W y a d n u & S
Saturday and Sunday - April 21 & 22 • Open Daily 10am - 4pm
Celebrate EARTH Day With Us! See for yourself how your home can become a part of a healthier, more productive lifestyle Learn from your neighbors See what’s working in their homes 25 Sites to Visit: North Seattle & Bothell, West & South Seattle, Eastside & Around the Sound Attend with Friends, Visit the Expo, Learn at the Workshops, or Volunteer LEARN MORE AT
SeattleGreenHomeTour.org INSPIRATION • EDUCATION • SOLUTIONS sponsored by Greenhome Solutions | Seattle Natural Awakenings | IKEA | ESP Services Puget Sound Cooperative Credit Union | Northwest ENERGY STAR | Envision Homes Built Green | Local Tools | Mighty House Construction | Greenpod | Green Depot Keystone Windows & Doors | Northwest Ecobuilding Guild Seattle Chapter | YOU!
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ongoingevents NOTE: All Calendar events must be received by the 12th of the month prior to publication and adhere to our guidelines. Email Calendar@SeattleAwakenings.com for guidelines and to submit entries. No phone calls or faxes, please. Or visit SeattleAwakenings.com to submit online.
sunday
tuesday
Cascadia Hikes – 8am-12pm. Learn about local and natural history, sustainability and ecology while viewing waterfalls and wildlife on these guided half-day hikes. Includes hotel pick up and drop off, nature guide, refreshments, transportation, and entry fees. $95. Register: EvergreenEscapes.com/ Seattle-Hiking-Tour.asp.
Seattle Greendrinks – 5:30pm. 2nd Tues. Informal social networking to connect and unite those working or interested in environmental issues. Locations vary. Details: SeattleGreendrinks.org.
monday La Leche League of West Seattle – 10:30am. 4th Mon. All breastfeeding mothers and mothers-tobe interested in breastfeeding welcome. Westside Unitarian Universalist Church, 7141 California Ave SW, Seattle. 206-932-9912.
Tribal Style Bellydance – 7-9pm. With Shay Moore. Classes get people moving to the global groove as they develop core tribal bellydance movements with strength, grace, and flexibility. Women of all ages, shapes, sizes, and experience welcome. $60 for 6 classes. M’Illumino, 6921 Roosevelt Way NE, Seattle. Registration required: 206-525-0363. DeepRootsDance.com.
wednesday Feldenkrais® Awareness Through Movement – 9-10am. With LeeAnn Starovasnik. Engage the
brain and body in new ways while learning to move more easily, more comfortably and even more playfully. Discover a fun and easy movement method while improving physical movements, sense of balance and overall wellbeing. $20/drop-in, $75/5 prepaid classes. M’illumino, 6921 Roosevelt Way NE, Seattle. 206-525-0363. M-illumino.com. Free Intro to Meditation Class – 6-7pm. 3rd Wed. With Mary Davis. This class will show the mind, body and spirit health benefits of meditation and give an easy daily practice. Seattle Healing Arts Center, 6300 9th Ave NE, Seattle. 206-679-9620. MeditateSeattle.com. Indigenous Nourishing Traditions Potluck – 6-9pm. An on-going discussion and potluck dinner centered around the role of nourishing food in indigenous cultures for creating sustainable traditions. Space is limited to 10 participants per evening. Free, donations accepted. 9029 35th Ave SW, West Seattle. Registration required. 425-6989817. Info@LabyrinthineRetreat.org. Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction – 7-9pm. With Erica Rayner-Horn. Learn effective tools to manage stress, cope better with stressful situations, and bring more balance and harmony to life. Learn to deal more effectively with physical, emotional or psychological stress and relieve depression or anxiety, digestive or sleep problems, high blood pressure, or chronic pain. Learn to connect to one’s innate ability to be compassionate, patient, non-judgmental, and to develop relaxed awareness. $290 for 8 weeks. M-illumino, 6921 Roosevelt Way NE, Seattle. Registration required: 206-973-7371. Mindful-Therapy.net.
thursday Birds are indicators of the environment. If they are in trouble, we know we’ll soon be in trouble. ~Roger Tory Peterson
Weston A. Price Foundation Seattle Meeting – 6pm. 3rd Thurs. The Weston Price style potluck begins at 6:00 and is followed by the featured presentation at 7:00. Free. Firefly Kitchens, 844 NW 49th St, Seattle. WestonAPrice.org. Free Total Health Seminar – 6-7pm. 3rd Thurs. Dr. Tami Meraglia will be discussing adrenal fatigue and stress awareness. Free. Vitality Medical Clinic, 1501 Queen Anne Ave N, Seattle. 206-6225300. Vitality-Medical-Clinic.net. Baby Diaper Service 101 – 6:30-7:30pm. 2nd Thurs. This class is designed to educate new and
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Seattle, April 6 & 7
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7:30pm (both nights) Om Culture 2210 N. Paciic Street
$15 advance / $20 door or $25 for two night pass Each concert will feature a 15 minute opening performance by Gina Salá. Tickets & info: www.GuruGanesha.com
expectant parents on the use of cloth diapers and today’s newest cloth diapering accessories. Learn the environmental and health benefits of using cloth diapers including information on how Baby Diaper Service laundry and home delivery works. Tuition is refunded if sign-up for service. Free to existing customers and health care professionals. $10/family. Parent Trust for Washington Children, 2200 Rainier Ave S, Seattle. Registration required: 206-634-2229. BabyDiaperService.net. Feldenkrais® Awareness Through Movement – 6:30-7:30pm. See Wednesday description. $20/drop-in, $75/5 prepaid classes. M’illumino, 6921 Roosevelt Way NE, Seattle. 206-525-0363. M-illumino.com.
friday InterPlay – 10:30am-12pm. An improvisational practice that playfully explores the things a body can do: move, make sounds, tell stories, sing, and experience stillness. Based on life-affirming body wisdom principles and the transformative power of play. M-illumino, 6921 Roosevelt Way NE, Seattle. 206-525-0363 or Info@M-illumino.com. Sleep Yoga Classes – 6:30-8pm. Yoga for Sleep will include gentle stretching, breath and mindfulness practice to open the body and alleviate tight places that have accumulated over the work week. Props such as supportive pillows will be provided. Please bring a yoga mat, blanket, comfy clothes
and an open mind! Classes limited to 20. $10 suggested donation. Soaring Heart Natural Bed Co, 101 Nickerson, Ste 400, Seattle. Registration required. 206-282-1717. SoaringHeart.com.
classifieds Fee for classifieds is $1.00 per word per month. To place listing, email content to Publisher@SeattleAwakenings.com. Deadline is the 12th of the month.
saturday Feldenkrais® Awareness Through Movement – 9-10:15am. With LeeAnn Starovasnik and Vicki Robinson. Engaging the brain and body in new ways, learn to move more easily, more comfortably and even more playfully. Improve physical movements, sense of balance and overall well being. $20/drop-in, $75/5 prepaid classes. M’illumino, 6921 Roosevelt Way NE, Room 3, Seattle. 206-525-0363. M-illumino.com. Intro to Successful Advertising in Natural Awakenings – 10-10:30am. 3rd Sat. See Thurs description of webinar. Attendees will receive discount advertising offer valid for 30 days. Free. Register by emailing Publisher@SeattleAwakenings.com. Puget Creek: Planting a Community – 10am-1 pm. Begins April 28. Restore Sanislo School’s wetland, the headwater of Puget Creek, as a green strategy to reduce polluted storm water and keep sewer overflows out of Puget Sound. Come plant a tree, trim blackberries, and support salmon restoration upstream of the Duwamish Tribe Longhouse. Sanislo School Wetland, 1812 SW Myrtle St, Seattle. 206-650-9807. PugetCreekWaterShedAlliance.org.
BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY Nutraceutical & herbal DNA research company moving HQ to Seattle. Looking for home-based business builders. Local training, leads provided. NutritionScience@aol.com. Build your brand, build relationships and build a loyal following with 9 different online video communication products and the world’s first instant pay compensation plan. Be in business for yourself, but not by yourself. Free webinar presentation: call 206-788-7313.
EVENTS 2012 Green Home Tour – April 21-22. SeattleGreenHomeTour.org.
Natural Awakenings
Online Coupons HomEvolution
Butterfly Balance
Baby Diaper Service
Songdog Healing
SAVE $150 on home inspection
Free diaper cover for new clients
Visit NaturalAwakeningsCoupons.com Search by category, zip code, city or business name Print, save or share your coupons and tag your favorites for future email or text notifications when offer changes!
Buy one Health Kinesiology session, get second free $20.00 off initial hypnotherapy session
Hurry! Many of these offers expire at the end of the month! Questions? Want to list a coupon for your business for the March Natural Food & Garden issue?
Coupons@SeattleAwakenings.com
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naturaldirectory 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@SeattleAwakenings.com to request our media kit.
ACCOUNTING C. BROOKS SCHOMBURG, CPA Brooks Schomburg 206-632-3315 Brooks@CBSchomburg.com CBSchomburg.com
O ff e r i n g a f u l l r a n g e o f bookkeeping, accounting, tax, and small business consulting services, we focus on your unique tax, accounting and consulting needs. See ad page 18.
CONSTRUCTION PATHWAY DESIGN & CONSTRUCTION 206-937-4809 PathwayDC.com
Design, build and remodeling contractor specializing in sustainable, healthy homes and the symbiotic relationship between humankind and nature.
dentists INTEGRATIVE DENTISTRY
BEDDING SEATTLE NATURAL MATTRESS 206-419-9550 SeattleNaturalMattress.com
Manufacturer and retailer of natural, chemicalfree latex mattresses designed to provide a comfortable and supportive alternative to traditional spring mattresses. See ad page 23.
BODYTALK JOY OF HEALTH SOLUTIONS Patricia Sullivan Seattle & Woodinville 206-920-5528 JoyOfHealthSolutions.com
Get to the cause of your issue or ‘story’ easily and with great results! Resolving anxiety, pain, allergies, digestive, immune i s s u e s , i n j u r y, s t r u c t u r a l challenges and more.
9730 3rd Ave NE Suite 205 Seattle, WA 98115 206-367-6453 Info@MitchMarderDDS.com MitchMarderDDS.com
We are a holistic dental practice specializing in safe mercury filling removal, non-surgical periodontal care, and TMJ/ orthodontic treatments. We welcome new patients! See ad page 9.
ENERGY EFFICIENCY VESTA HOME PERFORMANCE 206-919-6770 Info@VestaPerformance.com VestaPerformance.com
Dedicated to improving the comfort, indoor air quality, and energy efficiency of homes in the Seattle region. See ad page 17.
CHILDREN’S SERVICES BABY DIAPER SERVICE 206-634-2229 BabyDiaperService.Net
Committed to providing 100% pure cotton diapers for your baby. Convenient weekly pickup and delivery of cloth diapers and accessories. Better for baby’s skin, more sustainable than washing at home. See ad page 12.
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HEALTH CENTERS BASTYR CENTER 3670 Stone Way N Seattle, WA 98103 206-834-4100 BastyrCenter.org
Bastyr Center offers naturopathic medicine, acupuncture and Oriental medicine, nutrition counseling, Chinese herbal medicine, short-term psychological counseling, and more. Our Team Care approach to healing ensures you’ll see a licensed practitioner and two to three advanced
student clinicians while receiving individualized treatments and generous practitioner time. See ad page 18.
HEALTH FOOD TruHealth, Inc.
18001 Bothell-Everett Hwy Suite 109 Bothell, WA 98012 425-415-8410 Kasara@TruHealth.com TruHealth.com A unique health food store offering raw milk, pastured eggs, grass fed meats and a variety of organic and gluten-free foods as well as the highest quality supplements and services.
HEALTHY HOME LULLABY ORGANICS
800-401-8301 CustServ@LullabyOrganics.com LullabyOrganics.com Lullaby Organics offers safe, healthy mattresses, bedding, sleepwear, toys, gear, furniture, and air filtration systems so your whole family can get a pure night’s rest.
MASSAGE SOARING SPIRITS MASSAGE
NE Ravenna Neighborhood Seattle, WA 98115 206-412-5170 Laura@SoaringSpiritsLightCenter.com SoaringSpiritsLightCenter.com Offering aromatherapy, Raindrop Therapy, Shiatsu, deep tissue, and Swedish massage, tailored to your sense of pressure since 1993. Therapeutic grade essential oils by Young Living.
MEDICAL AMY FASIG, ND
2206 Queen Anne Ave N, Ste 204 Seattle, WA 98109 206-599-6030 Dr.AmyFasig@gmail.com QueenAnneNaturalMedicine.com Specializing in women’s health, hormone balancing, and immune wellness. Saturday and evening appts. available. Covered by most insurance plans.
OVERNIGHT ACCOMMODATIONS
REIKI REIKI RANCH
M’ILLUMINO
Energy Healing Center Chehalis, WA 360-748-4426 ReikiRanch.com
6921 Roosevelt Way NE Seattle, WA 98115 206-525-0363 Info@M-Illumino.com M-Illumino.com/P/Retreat.html Escape from the city without having to travel 100 miles. Relax in the steam room and infrared sauna, and have lunch in the private garden. See ad page 13.
DR. VENESSA WAHLER, ND Broadway Building 1620 Broadway, Ste 204 Seattle, WA 98122 206-420-6701 Info@DrWahler.com DrWahler.com
Special interests in natural weight loss (including HCG diet), stress management and food sensitivities. Call today for your complimentary 15 minute introductory consultation! Accepts insurance.
Thrive offers botanical medicine, nutrition, physical medicine, nutraceuticals and counseling to treat the whole family. Most insurance plans accepted. Book an appointment today and Thrive!
MOVEMENT CENTERS M’ILLUMINO
6921 Roosevelt Way NE Seattle, WA 98115 206-525-0363 Info@M-Illumino.com M-Illumino.com At m’illumino, we are dedicated to your transformation through movement. Take a class, try private sessions, discover your own innate grace. See ad page 13.
1026 NE 65th St Seattle, WA 98115 206-525-0300 GenerationThrive.com
LIFT YOUR SPIRITS WITH DENA MARIE! 425-350-5448 Dena@Dena-Marie.com LiftYourSpiritswithDenaMarie.com
Classes, Workshops and Re-Treats that will Lift Your Spirits! Individual consultations by appointment.
GLADRAGS
503-282-0436 Orders@GladRags.com GladRags.com Live more sustainably with GladRags washable menstrual pads and menstrual cups. Join the community of women who have decided to make a lower carbon footprint every month!
Thrive in Seattle offers fresh, vegetarian and 95% organic ingredients in their smoothies, juices, pies, salads and decadent entrees.
SKINCARE MY MAMA’S LOVE
SONGDOG HEALING & DREAMCRAFT Camilla Paynter, M.A. 206-914-3769 SongdogDreaming.com
Spiritually informed hypnotherapy and Reiki for life transitions, personal growth, healing and more. Connect with deep inner wisdom and live life’s bigger story.
My-Mamas-Love.com
My Mama’s Love skin care products use safe, nontoxic and hypoallergenic organic ingredients. Our products don’t just mask symptoms; they address the underlying causes of a skin condition. Locally owned and operated.
VETERINARIANS ANCIENT ARTS HOLISTIC VET 110 N 36th St Seattle, WA 98103 206-547-1025 AncientArtsVet@gmail.com AncientArtsVet.com
PLUMBING GREEN T PLUMBING
Sam Harris 206-414-2968 Sam@GreenTPlumbing.com GreenTPlumbing.com Full plumbing services ranging from fixing leaky faucets to design and installation. Sustainable and independent. Email or text a photo of your problem for free professional opinion.
PRINTING NATURAL PRODUCTS
RESTAURANTS THRIVE CAFE
PERSONAL GROWTH
THRIVE NATURAL FAMILY MEDICINE Dr. Scott Moser, ND LMP 5020 Meridian Ave N, Ste 104 206-257-1488 Info@ThriveNaturalMedicine.com ThriveNaturalMedicine.com
All levels of Reiki certification including laser Reiki, advanced Reiki energy training, and cosmic energy healing classes.
Veterinary acupuncture and natural medicine for animals rebalances health safely, gently, peacefully. Improve pets’ quality of life the way nature intended— your pet will thank you. See ad page 6.
YOGA KANJIN YOGA
SNOHOMISH PUBLISHING CO.
206-722-2665 Info@TheKanjinYogaCenter.com KanjinYoga.com
605 2nd St Snohomish, WA 98290 206-523-7548 SnoPub.com
Family owned publishing company providing professional design, printing and mailing services for magazines, books, brochures, business cards, posters, tickets, forms and more. See ad page 11.
Kanjin Yoga is a path to abundant health and wellness helping people live better inside their bodies. Specializing in Yoga Nidra, Gentle Hatha Yoga, we offer classes and workshops for groups and organizations.
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