Healthy Living - Spring/Summer 2009

SPRING / SUMMER 2009 FREE! www.hvhealthyliving.com

SOMETHING TO LIVE FOR TIPS FOR FINDING YOUR WAY IN THE SECOND HALF OF LIFE FROM AUTHOR RICHARD LEIDER

OUR RENEWABLE RESOURCE HOW TO SOLVE THE PERSONAL ENERGY CRISIS THROUGH FULL ENGAGEMENT WITH EVERYDAY TASKS

CHIROPRACTIC FOR KIDS CHILDREN CAN BENEFIT DURING CRITICAL GROWTH STAGES FROM MUSCULOSKELETAL ALIGNMENT

DIRECTORY OF HEALTH PRODUCTS & SERVICES

Join the Family

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Dr. Anthony Angiolillo, DDS 60 Park Lane Suite 3 Highland, NY 12528

& 11 Market Street, Suite 208 Poughkeepsie, NY 12601

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Introduce yourself to yet another top breast cancer surgeon.

And take comfort knowing the best care is here when you need it.

Introducing Hank Schmidt, MD, PhD Health Quest Medical Practice is proud to announce the addition of Hank Schmidt, MD, PhD, to our already highly regarded staff of breast cancer surgeons. Working under the direction of Angela Keleher, MD, FACS, Dr. Schmidt brings an impressive history of education and experience that includes a PhD in Genetics from the Institute of Molecular Medicine and Genetics at the Medical College of Georgia, as well as a Surgical Oncology Fellowship at the prestigious University of Chicago.

Please join us in welcoming yet another talented surgeon to our team at The Dyson Center for Cancer Care at Vassar Brothers Medical Center in Poughkeepsie. Dr. Schmidt joins the rest of our expertly skilled, compassionate clinicians to perform high quality breast cancer surgeries to patients throughout the Mid-Hudson Valley.

To find out more or to schedule an appointment,

call (845) 483-6500 today.

www.health-quest.org 2

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SPRING / SUMMER 2009

HEALTH NOTES 10 ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE Integrated Feeling Therapy taps into the primal root of psychological pain.

12 AN OUNCE OF PREVENTION Chiropractic care for children can help ease growing bones and prevent damage.

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14 HIGH-TECH DENTAL HYGIENE Defeating periodontal disease with noninvasive laser surgery.

FEATURES 16 OUR RENEWABLE RESOURCE Understanding how to manage our energy is vital for overall wellness.

20 TRUSTING THE BIRTHING BODY Women know intuitively how to give birth without medication or fear.

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24 SOMETHING TO LIVE FOR Richard Leider explains how to pack your bags for the second half of life.

FARE WELL 44 MILK OF HUMANE KINDNESS Coconut oil and milk can be substituted in a variety of guises—from popcorn to smoothies—to salutary effect.

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DIRECTORY

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GLOSSARY

34

INDEX

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CREDITS PUBLISHER Jason Stern | EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Brian K. Mahoney CREATIVE DIRECTOR David Perry | PRODUCTION DIRECTOR Teal Hutton PRODUCTION DESIGNERS Eileen Carpenter, Mary Maguire SALES & MARKETING Maryellen Case, Shirley Stone, Eva Tentuo, Mario Torchio BUSINESS MANAGER Ruth Samuels

HEALTHY LIVING is published quarterly | DISTRIBUTION 60,000 ADVERTISING DEADLINE Fall 2008 Issue AUGUST 19, 2008 ADVERTISING INFORMATION (845) 334-8600, sales@chronogram.com DISCLAIMER: Luminary Publishing's HEALTHY LIVING is an advertising service. We cannot guarantee any of the services and products advertised within these pages. We welcome your comments; they will help us create a better publication with each succeeding issue.

LUMINARY PUBLISHING, COPYRIGHT 2009. | 314 WALL STREET, KINGSTON, NY 12401 | ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

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Short Term Rehabilitation Post Acute Care Long Term Care 21 Ferncliff Drive Rhinebeck, New York (845) 876-2011 The Continuing Care Community of the Archdiocese of New York

health buzz ACID-ALKALINE BALANCE FOR OPTIMAL HEALTH The acid-alkaline balance, or pH balance, of the body is critical to optimal health. While we have natural mechanisms to keep our blood and tissues in balance, diet and nutrition can help maintain—or disrupt—this balance. If the body is not able to compensate for a diet that is too acidic or too alkaline, the internal environment becomes compromised and eventually cells fail to thrive, leading to a diseased state.

The pH scale, which represents degree of acidity or alkalinity, goes from 0 to 14, with number 7 representing balance between acidic and alkaline substances. The body’s healthy range in pH is 7.36 to 7.42 (slightly on the alkaline side). Illness will typically accompany any prolonged state of acidosis (blood or tissues with a pH value lower than 7.36) or alkalosis (pH higher than 7.42).

Many everyday activities, such as muscle use, produce acidic substances. But normally, alkaline biochemical buffers in the bloodstream and tissues compensate, bringing pH back to the healthy range.

However, if acidity is excessive, our systems cannot compensate enough, and acidosis results, with acids accumulating in tissues and joints. (Many health specialists believe that acidity leads to arthritis.)

Food is a very important factor in acidosis. Foods are classified as acidic or alkaline according to the residue left after they have been metabolized. America’s typical diet is heavily based on acidifying (acid-producing) foods. They include wheat, oats, white rice, refined flour, refined sugar, strawberries, pomegranates, meat, poultry, cold cuts, fish, eggs, cheese, butter, whole and refined grains, bread, pasta, cereal flakes, pecans, peanuts, soybeans, white sugar, sweets, cashews, sodas, coffee, tea, cocoa, wine, mayonnaise, ketchup, and mustard. In contrast, alkalizing (alkaline-producing) foods consist mostly of green and colored vegetables, most fruits, millet, buckwheat, sprouted beans, sprouted seeds, fermented tempeh and tofu, olive oil, and soaked almonds.

For a healthy acid-alkaline balance, your diet should contain about 70 percent alkaline foods, focusing on fruits and vegetables, with some whole grains and sprouts, and smaller amounts of animal foods and refined foods. Drinking large amounts of water on a daily basis can also be a highly effective way to help the body eliminate accumulating acids.

Acidic/alkaline food charts are available at www.essense-of-life.com/moreinfo/foodcharts.htm.

—Aimee Hughes

POSTURE-PERFECT Proper posture is essential to looking and feeling good—and it’s also good prevention for health problems. If you have poor posture, your bones are not properly aligned, and your muscles, joints, and ligaments take more strain than nature intended. Faulty posture may cause fatigue, muscular strain, and, in later stages, pain. If the shoulders are slouched, the chest cavity is smaller, hindering inhalation. This reduces the flow of oxygen into the body, compromising digestion, circulation, and other vital functions.

To ensure excellent posture, pay attention to how you stand. Follow this simple exercise and feel the difference between standing correctly and the misaligned stance many of us take habitually.

1. Place your feet hip-width apart, with both feet pointing forward.

2. The legs should be straight but the knees should not be locked.

3. Let your arms rest naturally at your sides.

4. Feel your weight being supported in the middle of each foot. You may want to see how it feels to rock onto the ball of the foot and then back on the heel of the foot. Then find a balance in the middle.

5. Align the shoulders by first elevating them toward your ears, then rolling them back and down into a relaxed position away from the neck.

6. Center the head directly on top of the spine.

Many of us spend over half our waking life sitting in a chair behind a desk at the workplace. Therefore, finding a chair to support good posture is essential. Check for the following in your existing chair or while shopping for a new one: 1. You should be able to place both feet flat on the floor.

2. Your entire thigh should be supported by the seat of the chair.

3. The back support of the chair should be as high as your shoulder blades.

While seated, keep your upper torso aligned as in the standing posture. Check yourself periodically to be sure your posture is excellent, and also take frequent breaks to get up and stretch.

—Aimee Hughes healthy living – SPRING / SUMMER 09

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You can stay steady in today’s turbulent times.

I will help you make real change and live a more satisfying life through physical, emotional, and spiritual nourishment.

Carol Hornig, MS, CNS, CEDS NYS Certified nutritionist and eating disorder specialist; IFS and Certified Hakomi Practitioner; Spiritual and Hands-on-healing

845-340-1702

www.deepnourishment.com | West Hurley, NY

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health buzz WILDLIFE SMARTS When you think about health and wildlife, what comes to mind? Likely, Lyme disease comes first—and rightly so. With more than 4,000 cases statewide last year, New York remains a nationwide hotspot. Ticks carry pathogens for other illnesses, too, such as babesiosis, ehrlichiosis (granulocytic anaplasmosis), and cat-scratch fever. If you’re still naïve about tick-transmitted diseases, ’tis the season to learn!

Next on your list might be rabies. New York State often tops rabid animal counts nationwide, but human cases are rare. Rather than fear our furry friends, keep the facts in mind. Only mammals carry rabies—mostly raccoons, skunks, bats, and foxes (and unvaccinated domestic mammals). People usually get rabies through a rabid animal’s bite or scratch, or, very rarely, if animal saliva gets into an existing, fresh cut or in the person’s eyes, nose, or mouth. Of the country’s roughly two dozen cases of human rabies since 1990 (three in New York State), most were from bats, usually with no known contact (genetic analysis later confirmed a bat source). Bottom line: Keep doors and windows closed or screened from dusk to dawn when bats are active, and don’t handle bats, ever. Be aware that, worldwide, rabies is common among dogs, and responsible for thousands of human deaths annually, so consult the Centers for Disease Control (www.CDC.gov) if you plan to travel abroad.

If you’re a fishing buff, health advisories about pollution-contaminated fish now apply to 150 of the state’s waters. Women of childbearing years and children under the age of 15 are especially advised to avoid or rarely eat fish from these waters. Swimming in contaminated water is also a health risk. For a complete list of tainted waterways, and for updated warnings, visit the New York State Department of Health website (http://www.health.state.ny.us/environmental).

Mosquito-borne West Nile virus is still on the watch list. Last year, 46 people in the state were diagnosed with it (mostly in Nassau County and New York City), and six died. However, health experts believe that only a fifth of people who contact the virus will develop symptoms, which are usually mild, and only 1.5 percent of infected people are at risk of dangerous encephalitis or death.

What about Hanta virus from rodents? Human cases are very rare and typically follow exposure to large amounts of mouse feces and urine while cleaning out nesting areas. For safety during clean up, don gloves and a mask and don’t sweep; use damp rags to clean and disinfect instead. If you need to trap rodents, use capture-and-release or snap traps; shun torturous glue traps, which kill by starvation over days. Then seal all possible rodent reentry sites—it’s up to you to keep critters out!

A variety of health advisories and information is available through the New York State Department of Health, www.nyhealth.gov.

—Lorrie Klosterman

YOGA FOR HEADACHE RELIEF Headaches are usually a result of muscle tension in the back of the neck due to postural problems. For most people, restorative yoga poses (asanas) and breathing techniques can relieve and help prevent the onset of many types of headaches. Here are some examples.

Mountain Pose is an “active standing” posture. Stand tall with the outer edges of the feet parallel to each other. Engage (contract) the thigh muscles, causing the kneecaps to lift. At the same time, press your shoulder blades together and then release them down the back. Lengthen the neck, keeping your chin parallel to the floor, and relax your eyes. This asana can help eliminate bad postural habits and serve as a reminder to keep the head elevated rather than crunching it into the neck.

Downward Facing Dog begins by kneeling with the hands and knees on the floor, hands under the shoulders, fingers spread wide, knees under the hips, spine straight. Now push the hips upward, moving the body into and inverted V shape. The legs and arms are straight, and the shoulders are wide and relaxed. The heels move toward the floor. Tighten the tummy, but keep the head and face relaxed. Take several slow deep breaths in this position, then come back to kneeling. Repeat as many times as you like.

Stretching and strengthening the muscles in the upper torso during this pose can also help relieve tension in the neck and head.

Bridge Pose begins on your back, feet planted close to your buttocks, palms on the floor. Breathe in, and with an exhale, press your feet into the mat to lift the tailbone off the ground. Clasp your hands together underneath your tailbone and walk the shoulder blades closer together.

Allow your weight to rest on the posterior shoulders and the feet. Next, lift your hips upward; hold for several breaths. Then slowly roll the spine down to the ground, one vertebra at a time, beginning from the shoulders. This pose calms the brain while opening the chest and rejuvenating tired legs.

Although it may sound odd, it can be helpful while doing these restorative asanas to wrap the head with an Ace bandage. The sensation it creates can be quite comforting.

—Aimee Hughes healthy living – SPRING / SUMMER 09

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HEALTH NOTES

ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE USING INTEGRATED FEELING THERAPY TO EXPERIENCE AND GROW

By Kelley Granger

I

t was John Lennon’s album Plastic Ono Band that helped Jeffrey Cohen, the founder and director of the Institute for Integrated Feeling Therapy in New Paltz, fi nd his life’s course. The record was written as Lennon was undergoing primal therapy and embracing the idea that pain from early life, even during the preverbal or birth stages, can affect us physically and psychologically in our adult lives. The music prompted Cohen, then in his twenties, to delve deeper into the subject and he began reading The Primal Scream by the therapy’s originator, psychologist Arthur Janov.

“That book, emotionally, really affected me,” Cohen says. “I majored in psychology in college and studied various modalities, but this was such a radical departure from traditional therapy and it just appealed to me; it made sense to me on many levels, that we carry around inside of us all these traumas and they affect us really deeply. This therapy seemed to have an effective way of getting to those traumas, and hopefully what I’ve done with integrated feeling therapy has addressed not only getting to them, but healing them in the present.”

A licensed mental health counselor and CUNY psychology graduate, Cohen has been providing primal therapy work since 1981, and his practice has developed into what he now labels integrated feeling therapy. According to

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him, just feeling the pain (as traditional primal therapy suggests) is often not enough to create lasting change in the present. His practice today incorporates elements of life coaching and helps clients learn how to assimilate what they’ve learned from their past experiences into their current daily lives.

Clients seek out sessions with Cohen for a variety of reasons, including depression, anxiety, sleeplessness, and to figure out why relationships may not be working. “We do some very deep exploration and we call it ‘following the line of pain,’ down from the person’s present-day life into their past,” Cohen says. “We often see that the root causes of marital distress, relationship distress, anxiety, and depression really emanate from pain in our early childhood.”

Sessions will vary highly depending on the client, but the goal is to uncover those traumas and allow them to be experienced, releasing them from unconsciously driving actions or fears. These experiences can be extremely intense, and Cohen notes that all the therapists he’s trained over the years must have undergone the therapy themselves to be able to understand what clients are going through.

“You have to know what it’s like to go back and relive this stuff, because it helps people do it themselves,” he says. “So that gives everybody who does this work a special sensitivity to what it’s like to really be open

and vulnerable in the way we encourage in the work.”

As a client traces back the line of pain, the root causes can surface as hurts that were physical, psychological, or both. When Cohen began attending primal therapy sessions in his twenties, he frequently complained of chronic headaches and stress-related confusion. During one session of his “intensive,” a 30-hour block of therapy in a three-week period, he kept placing his hand on his head and telling the therapist it felt like he was struggling to be born. When Cohen spoke with his mother and asked her to describe his birth, she told him that the doctor was late to the delivery and the nurse was physically holding him back from being born. “That set up two major traumas for me,” he says. “On the physical level, when I would get stressed I’d get headaches. As a result of feeling this stuff all these years later, I rarely get a headache now. Confusion was also a huge symptom at that point. I’m not a confused person at this point, I’m pretty direct and clear on decisions that I want to make.

It had major impacts, and it does for many people who go back and live that stuff.”

Cohen also works with clients whose root pain is psychological. He used an example of a doctor who became a client after he began suffering from clinical depression when his wife left him. During the doctor’s intensive, he began to relive the experience of his mother’s death when he was three years old. Integrating the experience into his current life, he was able to see how his wife’s abandonment was triggering memories of his mother’s death. “The thing to understand is that when somebody goes back and lives something that’s been buried for that long, it’s so healing for the person to uncover it that they immediately feel better,” Cohen says. “It’s like a wound that is finally being cleansed and seen.

Then, we always spend time in the session integrating and talking. We help integrate how the early trauma may be affecting their present-day life.”

According to Cohen, repression of pain and painful memories is the basis of many maladies, and exploring where love went wrong in early life can help put the pieces together in current circumstances. “To me, it’s all about love—that’s what it comes down to,” he says. “I don’t think we ultimately heal in life until we’re able to love and be loved as adults.”

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HEALTH NOTES

AN OUNCE OF PREVENTION

Chiropractic for Kids

By Kelley Granger DR. DAVID NESS WORKS ON 12-YEAR-OLD SARA RUTIGLIANO FROM TILLSON.

A

t first consideration, sending a child to the chiropractor may appear unnecessary. Kids seem to bounce back from injuries with relative ease. But when you start to consider the many activities that children participate in—athletics, playing instruments, roughhousing, gaming—the idea that chiropractic could play a role during critical growth stages begins to make sense.

“Child athletes and musicians are very prone to repetitive injuries that can cause very severe orthopedic injuries down the line if they’re not addressed soon,” said Dr. David Ness, a chiropractor in New Paltz. “I have kids who, with the repetitiveness of horseback riding, track and field, or baseball, come in with the strains and sprains that professional athletes come in with.”

For this reason and more, the f ield of pediatric chiropractic is growing. According to a 2005 study by the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners, the number of chiropractic patients under 17 years old had increased from 9.7 percent in 1991 to 18.2 percent. But it’s not just child athletes who are seeking treatment for muscular issues.

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According to a study by the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association (ICPA) on juvenile chiropractic care, musculoskeletal concerns ranked only third as a reason for chiropractic treatment, following respiratory and gastrointestinal problems.

The idea that chiropractic can help not just musculoskeletal problems but also the whole body’s healing process is not news for Ness, who at age three was taken by his mother to a chiropractor to battle a recurrent ear infection. Today, in his own practice, he’s worked with children who have mild cerebral palsy, asthma, and many other conditions.

With respiratory issues, for example, Ness said adjustments can help free up vertebrae and ribs that are not moving properly. “If one area is fi xed, it’s going to cause another area to be fixed, and you won’t be able to get deep breaths in or expand your lungs,” he said.

Although the chiropractor’s goal of keeping nerve flow free has benefits for a number of conditions, the majority of Ness’s work with children involves sports-related injuries and pain resulting from poor posture. “[Kids] spend so much time at a desk with poor posture,

and watching TV or studying on the computer with poor posture, that all of those things eventually cause back or neck pain,� he said. “If you start that habit in first or second grade, by the time you get into ninth grade eight years have gone by where developing bones have not developed properly, and we’re already seeing signs of early arthritis in teenagers because of [this].� Visiting a chiropractor can help with the current pain and also prevent further injury through education on everything from proper posture and how often to change position to how much weight to carry in a backpack—all information that is pertinent to children who spend hours a day at school desks and lugging around heavy textbooks. Ness also demonstrates stretches and exercises for his patients that will counteract the negative posture or repetitive movement that’s causing injury, which helps to prevent further damage.

According to Ness, chiropractic can even be performed on infants and toddlers, though he said the traditional chiropractic techniques are modified for smaller-size patients. For example, instead of using the palm of the hand during an adjustment, Ness said he might use his fi ngertips, and a lot less force. While some of these patients may be too young to verbalize a complaint about pain or an injury they’ve sustained, it doesn’t mean they couldn’t benefit from a checkup, he said. Youngsters often have trips and falls, or sleeping positions, that could cause damage.

Although some parents may be concerned about potential risks of chiropractic to young children, the ICPA study on the safety and effectiveness of chiropractic care indicates that less than 1 percent, of the 10,249 office visits it considered, reported minor adverse events resulting from treatment, while 66 percent described improvements in their present complaints. A further 8 percent spoke of improvements not directly related to their original complaint, such as improved sleep, mood, and immune function. “You have to go to the dentist to check your teeth periodically,� Ness explained. “They need to be cleaned, flossed, and taken care of. Your teeth are a very important part of your body, and your spinal column is equally important to your body. It houses and protects your spinal cord, and through it, your brain connects to the rest of your body. If that breaks down, where are you going to be? You need to have someone take care of your spine and the muscles of your spine and body so that they will serve you well down the line.�

RESOURCE: David Ness, CCSP 3 Cherry Hill Road, New Paltz, NY (845) 255-1200 www.drness.com

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healthy living – SPRING / SUMMER 09

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HEALTH NOTES

HIGH-TECH DENTAL HYGIENE

DEFEATING PERIODONTAL DISEASE WITH LASERS

BY KELLEY GRANGER

S

tudies continue to illustrate the correlation between dental health and overall wellness, and that the gums play a significant role in the well-being of the entire body. According to the American Academy of Periodontology, gum disease is related to a growing number of health issues. For example, someone with periodontal disease is twice as likely to have a heart attack, and women with the condition are seven times more likely to give birth to a premature or underweight baby.

Luckily, periodontal treatments are evolving beyond the surgical procedures many dentists have traditionally used to combat the later stages of gum disease. A number of dental practices are adding a laser treatment called PerioLase to their arsenal. Tischler Dental of Woodstock began using the technology a little over a year ago. Since implementing the procedure, they haven’t done a single conventional gum surgery.

One of the major benefits of PerioLase is that healing time is a fraction of that of a

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surgical treatment. During a standard gum surgery, incisions are made along the tissue and gums are flapped back so that the dentist can view the roots and bone below, said Dr. Fred Milton, a Tischler dentist. Then the practitioner uses instruments to clean out diseased tissue and contour bone or perform grafts to regenerate areas of bone loss, if necessary, before suturing the gums closed. Depending on the patient, healing can take up to two weeks, sometimes with notable discomfort.

PerioLase’s recovery time is significantly less.

Milton said he’ll see patients out and about the next day as if they had no treatment at all—the only complaint being a postoperative requirement that prohibits brushing the teeth for a number of days.

The reason PerioLase is able to cause minimal discomfort and is highly effective is because the laser can precisely target and destroy gum disease, Milton said. “The laser has very specific wavelengths and it can distinguish between healthy tissue and diseased tissue because the color of diseased and healthy

tissue is different,” he said. “The laser seeks out pigmented tissue, so it’s able to zap away only bacteria and infected tissue.”

Beyond the benef it of rapid recovery, dentists are discovering that the laser is a catalyst for regeneration of the root surfaces, which means there may be less chance of the disease returning. It also gives the body’s immune system a break from concentrating on oral inflammation. “When we do PerioLase, we get rid of the tissue, the bacteria, and the chronic inflammation in the mouth,” Milton said. “It’s almost like we push a reset button on the computer. It gives the body a chance to not pay attention to so much inflammation in the mouth, and it can start taking care of other things that are going on.”

After having a PerioLase treatment, which is done under anesthesia in two stages, Tischler patients have generally reported feeling better all over their body. “Once you get rid of the chronic infection in your mouth, the rest of your body starts to feel better, because periodontal disease is related to so many different things,” Milton said. “It’s been related to heart disease, stroke, Alzheimer’s, diabetes, gastric ulcers … there is a defi nite relationship here. We have a lot of people who say, ‘Since I’ve had this laser surgery done, I just feel better. My body feels better, I don’t have as many aches and pains.’ I think a lot of that is attributed to the body’s immune system quieting down.”

According to the American Dental Association, gum disease doesn’t always have symptoms. It starts as gingivitis, a mild form of disease that can be easily treated, but progresses into a more serious, risky issue the longer it’s ignored—often leading to swollen, irritated gums that bleed easily. Risk factors include tobacco use, systemic diseases (like diabetes), and use of oral contraceptives, among other things. With regular dental care and proper hygiene, gum disease is preventable and treatable. For those already suf fering with advanced gum disease, PerioLase can help provide a fresh start for a healthy mouth.

“It’s generally believed that less than 5 percent of the people [treated with PerioLase] have to be treated again after five years, but they really have to do their work,” Milton said. “After we do our job, 100 percent is back on the patient to do their work, and that’s properly cleaning their teeth.”

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RESOURCE: Dr. Fred Milton, DMD Tischler Dental 121 Route 375 Woodstock, NY (845) 684-4282 www.tischlerdental.com

healthy living – SPRING / SUMMER 09

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FEATURE

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FEATURE

OUR RENEWABLE RESOURCE

Solving Our Personal Energy Crisis

BY TEYA SKAE

I

n our increasingly pressured lives, people are craving more time and energy to get more things done, or even just to get through their daily routines. In fact, time and energy are now commodities. Buying “time share” holidays or trading options to achieve the most profitable outcome in buying or selling commodities is based on the concept of buying, negotiating, or extending time. But can we buy energy?

The answer is probably. Energy bars and meditation, yoga, or exercise can boost one’s energy. Yet this is clearly not sustaining enough, as most people still crave energy despite their hard-earned efforts at increasing it.

Why is this so? If we understand that time is outside of ourselves and energy is within us all, we begin to understand that energy is our own currency for living. Without energy, we can’t perform and do much in our life, even if we can buy time.

As philosophical as it may sound, this realization is very practical and has huge implications in the way we use and value our most vital resource—our energy.

The old paradigm for getting things done

emphasized “time management”; now the human potential movement sweeping across the planet (so much so that it now underpins leadership training programs for Google staff) takes as its basic template for living your life, the need to balance your energy. So the new paradigm is all about energy and how we use it, and, most importantly, renew it.

But the “new paradigm” is not really new; its foundation lies in the wisdom of the ancient texts of Upanishads and the Vedas, and traditional Chinese medicine, a 5,000-year-old system for living in harmony. All of these bodies of ancient wisdom recognize that energy is the fundamental principle of life, and if it is not harnessed or renewed we face major struggles, symptoms, and imbalances.

It might sound a bit nebulous, yet energy transcends time, space, and dimension, as quantum physicists would attest. Simply put, when you manage energy, you are, in fact, managing time.

In the New York Times bestseller The Power of Full Engagement (2003, Free Press) co-authors Jim Loehr and Tony Schwartz (corporate coaches to top-ranked professional athletes

healthy living – SPRING / SUMMER 09

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and corporations) demonstrate how managing energy, not time, is the key to enduring high performance, as well as health, happiness, and life balance.

As the authors and management leaders summarize: “We live in digital time.

Our pace is rushed, rapidfire, and relentless. Facing crushing workloads, we try to cram as much as possible into every day. We’re wired up, but we’re melting down.

Time management is no longer a viable solution.

“The number of hours in a day is fixed, but the quantity and quality of energy available to us is not. This fundamental insight has the power to revolutionize the way you live your life.”

The key to sustaining high performance in any area of life is to make the experience engaging and enjoyable, so it can be re-created again and again without burning us out. While our customary busyness may have the appeal of suggesting high productivity or being successful and in demand, it can also mean avoidance and energy drain. To renew our energy, we must find time for rest, relaxation, fun and play, emotional connectedness, mental relaxation, and spiritual realignment every day and in short bursts.

The Four Key Sources of Energy Physical Energy We can achieve this goal through: * Quality and quantity of sleep * Appropriate nutrition in order to have balanced blood sugar levels thought the day.

It isn’t possible to be productive and perform well with low blood sugar. It is impossible to even think with very low blood sugar levels, as it literally leaves you feeling “brain dead.” Appropriate nutrition means managing your insulin spikes and choosing live, fresh, enzyme-rich foods for the best fuel for your physical body, your engine.

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* The right exercise—and this does not mean excessive cardio. In fact, short, intense exercise is far more beneficial and doable. * Short bursts of rest in between rushing around or performing endless tasks around the house or work are far more productive.

Think of yourself as a “corporate athlete”—sprint and recover, instead of working all day long without regular rest and recovery. Little breaks can be anywhere from one to five minutes, as long as you totally disengage from your activity.

Emotional Energy: Creating Connection In order to perform at our best, we need to access the positive and uplifting emotions associated with enjoyment, adventure, opportunity, challenge, and feeling inspired. Appreciating others and, in turn, feeling appreciated, is the key.

When we dwell on negative emotions such as hostility, resentment, and anxiety, the quality of our energy is hugely diminished. Over time, running on negative emotional energy at work or in any other area of life is a huge energy drain, which leads to chronic tiredness, perhaps even chronic fatigue syndrome.

This is because emotions that arise out of fear or deficit and threaten our survival in any way produce an extremely toxic effect by stimulating our adrenal glands to release cortisol, the stress hormone. In small amounts, cortisol is beneficial, but when it pumps into the bloodstream for too long, it leaves a trail of destruction and eats away muscle tissue.

Mental Energy: Sharpening Focus Any way of quieting the mind and its constant chitchat, such as meditation or activities that focus on the breath like qi gong, allows us to renew our mental energy. This makes us far more intelligent and productive in the long run.

To perform at our best, we need to sustain concentration and be flexible in our thinking, with appropriate focus and realistic optimism.

Regularly engaging in creative visualization enhances the mental flow of energy.

Mental capacity is derived from expending and renewing energy—in practical terms, if we spend too much time in overthinking, overanalyzing, and focusing heavily on practical outcomes, we are not allowing for creative possibilities and new ways of experiencing. If we adopt this approach habitually it can lead to boredom, a very destructive outcome.

Holistic Psychiatry OF NEW YORK

Integrative Psychiatry, Neurofeedback, Energy Medicine & Counseling Center

Spiritual Energy: Finding Your Path Knowing your soul or life purpose is not enough—taking little steps to actualize it and align your life with it is the key to maintaining overall balance. Why? It is not widely understood that while the most fundamental source of energy is physical, the most significant is spiritual.

If we are aligned with our spiritual energy, it directly flows and replenishes the other three interconnected sources of our energy bowl: the physical, the mental, and the emotional.

Spiritual energy aligns our actions, motivations, and ambitions, with the end result that we feel more alive, engaged, connected, and able to judge more clearly our next step. At this level, we are able to access and use our innate gifts and talents, so that we have a source of “energy on tap.”

Spiritual energy is the most powerful source of our motivation, perseverance, and direction; it makes sense to use it daily.

Psychiatric Evaluation Psychotherapy LENS Neurofeeback/Biofeedback Energy Medicine Technology Nonpharmaceutical Interventions

Theresa Yonker, MD Board Certified Child, Adolescent and Adult Psychiatrist 7472 S. Broadway Red Hook, NY 12571 (845) 758-9694 Major Credit Cards Accepted

Fully Engaged Life is not so much just about acquiring things and living from one experience to the next, but, rather, being fully engaged and enjoying what we are doing at any given time. And the key to being more engaged in all aspects of life is to balance our four key sources of energy— physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual— with intermittent energy renewal.

Just as nature has its own natural pulses and rhythms—the ebb and flow of tides, the lunar cycle, the seasons, the daily rising and setting of the sun—we also experience wavelike movements between activity and rest.

Our breathing, brain waves, body temperature, heart rate, hormonal levels, and blood pressure all have healthy and unhealthy rhythmic patterns. Daily rest and renewal is the key to balancing our four sources of energy. If we have more energy, we have the capacity to do more and enjoy life even more. If we can achieve a balance of being physically energized, emotionally connected, mentally focused, and spiritually aligned, we are well on the way to health and happiness. healthy living – SPRING / SUMMER 09

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Roy and Sandy Brueckner and family of Tillson had a homebirth assisted by Susanrachel Condon and Susan Rannestad of River and Mountain.

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FEATURE

TRUSTING THE BIRTHING BODY Delivering a Baby without Medication

BY KELLEY GRANGER

O

f all the different childbirth methods that exist, there seems to be a common belief that threads them together: Women know how to give birth, and they can do it without medication and without fear. Still, research continues to confirm alarming trends involving medical interventions in the birthing process. The National Center for Health Statistics released a report in January revealing the birth trends for 2006, which found that 22.5 percent of births in this country used induction (medication to enhance labor)—double what it was in 1990—and a cesarean delivery rate that rose to an all-time high of 31.1 percent of all births. Once a woman has had a C-section, research indicates that her next birth will be done by caesarian 92 percent of the time, often without attempting normal delivery.

For Jennifer Houston, a certified nursemidwife from Catskill, these interventions are all part of a modern misconception that birth is a medical event. “Doctors are practicing a medical model—they’re selling services,” she said. “They’re keeping an eye out for danger and they’re looking through a filter of pathology. Medicine makes birth pathology, and it’s not pathology. It becomes pathology when it’s not supported.” While hospitals and medication certainly have roles to play in risky pregnancies and abnormal labor and delivery scenarios, they are simply not necessary for the average, normal birth.

These days, a common hospital delivery may play out something like this: First, an epidural may be administered to numb pain from the waist down via a spinal injection. But that can hinder natural contractions, so the doctor may give the mother pitocin, a drug that stimulates labor but also causes more pain.

That may necessitate another epidural, which may necessitate more pitocin. All of these drugs and injections can cause the baby to go into stress, so a cesarean section may be performed.

“A regular, normal hospital routine inhibits the natural physiology of birth happening normally

on its own,” Houston said. “Unfortunately, I see a lot of women these days asking for and wanting epidurals and not being well informed.

In some ways, they may be more humanelooking births, but in other ways we’re still overusing technology, overmedicating people, and definitely doing too many C-sections. One hospital intervention leads to the next, and there’s this whole cascading effect.”

When you trace these births backward from the moment of delivery, you’ll often see a procession of interventions that fell against one another like dominos—and it often starts with the painkillers.

Explaining Epidurals According to the American Pregnancy Association (APA), more than 50 percent of women request an epidural during labor in a hospital, making it the most popular anesthesia for pain relief during labor. Epidurals are injected just adjacent to the spinal cord of the lower back, where a catheter is placed that typically administers a combination of local anesthetic and narcotics or opioids. More medications may be dispensed to steady the mother’s blood pressure or to extend the effects of the epidural. The APA notes on its website the benefits of the painkiller (like relieving discomfort and allowing rest in prolonged labor), but the catalog of possible drawbacks is longer and more striking, including rapid drops in blood pressure, severe headaches caused by leakage of spinal fluid, slowed or stopped labor, permanent nerve damage at the insertion site, shivering, nausea, and more. The list also warns that pushing may become more difficult, so that further interventions—pitocin, forceps, vacuum extraction, and cesarean— may become essential to delivery. The use of an epidural can also hold health implications for the baby, with studies suggesting infants may experience respiratory depression, fetal malpositioning, and an increase in fetal heart rate variability during the delivery process, and may also have difficulty breastfeeding after healthy living – SPRING / SUMMER 09

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birth. Though some of these side effects may be rare or need further documentation, an overwhelming complaint against the epidural is that women feel powerless and cheated out of the real childbirth experience.

Houston herself said she was medicated during the birth of her first child, and felt “scared and out of control” during the process.

“A lot of women feel less control when they have narcotics,” she said. “Certainly epidurals could be useful if people are having very, very long, difficult labors and just have to have some relief, but midwives generally work on that need for relief through the skills required for an unmedicated birth.”

A Natural Birth “I always looked at birth like most other women, with fear,” said Kate Murphy of Kingston. “I think we are conditioned as a culture to immediately picture a red-faced woman in excruciating pain screaming and cursing her way through the experience. When I found out I was pregnant, however, my feelings changed. I felt that I could birth my child gently and with confidence.”

Like so many other women, Murphy’s original vision of labor involved one of the foremost deterrents of opting for a natural childbirth: fear.

“Women who have unmedicated births— natural births, empowered births—come away from those births feeling very, very different, much more powerful,” Houston said. “Clearly, it’s transformative, and I think that we’re wired for this. This is our physiology. The culture has given us a sort of propaganda—the danger, the fear, the pain, the complications. The truth of the matter is that most births are completely normal. And it absolutely needs to be supported by well-trained, attentive, skilled birth attendants, preferably midwives.”

Murphy gave birth to her child in December, using HypnoBirthing, the Mongan Method. The primary tenet of the approach is that mothers can birth without severe pain by reducing fear and tension through education and practice of visualization and relaxation techniques. She studied the method during private classes with Jency Elliott, a HypnoBirthing practitioner in Woodstock, and at home, through literature and relaxation CDs. “I always looked toward the upcoming birth very positively,” she said. “I remember people would always ask, ‘Are you scared?’ I could honestly answer no. They always wanted to convince me that I should be scared. People would ask me if I had chosen a method. When I would tell them about HypnoBirthing, more than one person responded, ‘No matter how you do it, it’s going to hurt!’ I had to laugh inside. It always amazed me how hard it was for most people to accept a woman birthing fearlessly. Most people would rather try to convince me to be afraid.”

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Elliott probably wouldn’t be surprised to hear this. “Birth acts as a magnet,” she said.

“Everyone will tell you their stories and a lot of them are scary because of the fact that the parents were afraid.” But Murphy said that through the HypnoBirthing classes and making informed decisions, her labor couldn’t have gone better. She spent the early stages of labor at home before transferring to a hospital. Once there, “I focused on visualizations to help relax my muscles and allow them to work together,” she said. “I didn’t experience what I would describe as pain. It was more like pressure, very bearable.” Her daughter, almost 10 pounds, was delivered without any dose of pain medication—not even a Motrin afterward, Murphy said.

“What you will not learn is how to ‘deal’ with the pain, as that concept means you are already anticipating and expecting to be miserable,” said Elliott of the HypnoBirthing method. “However, you will learn comfort measures and ways to ease your mind, thereby easing your birthing body.”

Aid from Acupuncture Studies on the effects of acupuncture during labor are also raising hopes that the practice may be an effective alternative to pain medication.

A report prepared by the obstetrics and gynecology department at Saint Vincent de Paul Hospital in Paris cited a number of studies that showed the use of acupuncture during labor significantly reduced the use of epidurals and seemed to lessen pain, with most participants reporting better overall relaxation, too.

Jipala Reicher-Kagan of Transpersonal Acupuncture in Kingston performed acupuncture on herself when she was in labor with her children with positive results. “In my first pregnancy I did a series of prelabor treatments that start in the 36th week to prime the body for labor,” she said. “I also received treatment the morning that my labor started to get the qi moving and open up the pelvic area.” She used acupuncture during her second pregnancy to induce her overdue baby, and delivered within 48 hours.

Therese Sibon of Body Mind Spirit Acupuncture in New Paltz provides acupuncture services for pregnant women, especially for inductions and delivery of breeched babies, which could help avoid the medical interventions designed to deal with these situations.

“Acupuncture isn’t going to force the body to do something its not able to do,” said Sibon. “It catalyzes the energy that’s in the body to do what’s beneficial for it.” Through needling, moxa, and demonstrating massage of specific points, Sibon has helped a number of local parents naturally bring their babies into the world.

Plans for natural childbirth may nonetheless go out the window when the labor actually starts. Having an experienced birth attendant

can make all the difference, as they can offer a number of methods to help control pain naturally. Houston is not only a midwife but also a certified Kripalu bodyworker and a certified hypnotist with training ranging from the Lamaze and Bradley birth methods to yoga and neurolinguistic programming. Mothers can also benefit from hiring a doula for physical and emotional support throughout the labor.

Doulas, as do midwives, often bring a range of ideas for pain management, extending from the use of warm water to soothe and soften tense muscles and make delivery easier, to helping women find positions that help expedite the labor in a safe and comfortable fashion. Cari Naftali, a certified doula based in Canaan, said that she’ll use a combination of techniques for mothers in labor, including birthing balls, warm compresses, and other options.

Be Prepared and Realistic about Pain As your pregnancy progresses, educate yourself on the options available—the different birthing methods, where you want to have your baby, and who you want to facilitate care. If you decide to choose a nonmedicated birth, get support from your friends, family, and professionals who may be present during labor. Remember that every birth is unique in its process, and have reasonable expectations concerning your pain management choices.

“Most women who haven’t given birth don’t realize it’s not a kind of pain like a brokeyour-leg pain or a migraine,” said Naftali. “It’s a productive kind of pain, a unique feeling, and it’s not pain for pain’s sake. It actually can feel good. It’s something that in my personal view is really worth feeling and experiencing.”

Core Pilates

“Pilates with a PersonalTouch” Michelle Humphrey, MSPT Certified Pilates Instructor Sessions using Pilates Apparatus Beacon, NY 845.825.3369 Michellescorepilates@msn.com

RESOURCES: Susanrachel Condon, CNM, LM Susan Rannestad, CPM, CM, LM

Drs. Jessica & Joshua Burckhard

(845) 256 5430 www.riverandmountain.net

Pregnancy K Pediatrics Family Wellness

Jency Elliott, HBCE 845.876.6450 www.rhinebeckchiropractic.com

(845) 679-1180 Jency@hvc.rr.com

Jennifer Houston, CNM (518) 678-3154 www.midwifejennahouston.com

Cari Naftali, DONA-certified Doula (518) 781-2202 www.berkshiredoulas.com/doulas-cari.html

Jipala Reicher-Kagan Transpersonal Acupuncture (845) 340-8625 www.transpersonalacupuncture.com

Therese Sibon Body Mind Spirit Acupuncture (845) 594-3873 www.bodymindspiritacupuncture.com

HOLISTIC ORTHODONTICS IN

A

MAGICAL

SETTING

Gentle Force Appliances Fixed Braces ∙ Invisalign Early Treatment for Young Children if Needed Adult Treatment for Malocclusion, Pain & Snoring Rhoney Stanley, DDS, MPH, LicAcup, RD Insurance Accepted (845) 246-2729 • Saugerties/Woodstock Office healthy living – SPRING / SUMMER 09

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FEATURE

SOMETHING TO LIVE FOR Finding Meaning in Middle Age and Beyond

BY LORRIE KLOSTERMAN

W

hile the proverbial midlife crisis is typically seen as a fearsome enemy, cresting the hill of middle age can launch a quest for true meaning in one’s life. Authors Richard Leider and David Shapiro have crafted a number of books guiding inner growth and empowerment, including Whistle While You Work, Claiming Your Place at the Fire, and the international bestseller Repacking Your Bags. In their latest book, Something to Live For: Finding Your Way in the Second Half of Life, Leider and Shapiro offer specific steps to a meaningful elderhood, interspersed with illustrative stories from their real-life explorations—both geographical and psychological—among indigenous tribes in Africa.

On the weekend of August 14–16, Leider will be giving a workshop, “Something to Live For: Repacking Your Bags for the Second Half of Life,” at the Omega Institute in Rhinebeck. Leider is a senior fellow in the University of Minnesota’s Center for Spirituality and Healing; has penned additional books (The Power of Purpose and Life Skills); is a founding partner of the Inventure Group, a coaching and consulting firm; and was praised by Forbes magazine as being among the nation’s top five coaches. Leider recently spoke with us by telephone to share some of his insights and give us a peak into the workshop’s intention.

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In your book Something to Live For, you talk about the three concepts of money, medicine, and meaning. Can you summarize what you mean by this?

Today, people are living longer than ever before. In 1900 the life expectancy was only age 47, and now we’re living into our eighties. What do we do with those extra years? We need to look at money, medicine, and meaning. Do we have enough money to do what we want? And by medicine we mean, Do we have the energy and health? And if we have enough money and health, what’s the third leg of the stool? It’s meaning.

Meaning is a fundamental human need. And it’s a megatrend of the 21st century. We’ve had the positive psychology movement—it’s a very big trend, with thousands of books in the self-help section—but what I’m talking about is the positive aging movement. MetLife, the largest insurer in the country, has a research group, the Mature Market Institute, which did a study based on my work in which they interviewed thousands of people from ages 47 to 74 about this very question of money, medicine, and meaning. They found that meaning trumps money: It’s more important to people.

How do you define a meaningful life?

There are four parts. The first is community. Throughout history, we’ve not lived in isolation, in retirement homes where we’re disconnected from the world, like so many older people do today. People want to be connected. It might be through faith-based organizations, or volunteer organizations—there are a thousand things. Second, people want to be connected with friends and family—a more intimate community. The third part of meaning is creative work. People really want to use their abilities to accomplish things. It’s not just about money. They actually want to feel connected to their work.

And the fourth is helping to make things better—to somehow be part of “saving” something. That can come in a lot of forms, like volunteering. And when we find ourselves disconnected from that, it’s a problem. A core question behind all this is pretty clear: What gets you up in the morning? You can talk about purpose and meaning in lofty terms, but when you don’t have a purpose to get up in the morning, you don’t live as happily or fulfilled—or as long. Research supports this. healthy living – SPRING / SUMMER 09

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Richard Leider will lead a workshop on finding meaning in midlife at the Omega Institute in August.

You have talked with lots of older people around the world, and you have some insight into “what the elders say,” to use your phrase.

I’ve been interviewing people for 30-some years, and I’ve found three themes that come up over and over when I ask, “If you could live over again, what would you do differently?”

First, they say I would be more reflective, meaning they would stop and look at the big picture, instead of being busy, busy, busy, and all of a sudden we’re older, wondering, Where did that life go? Secondly, they say they would be more courageous in two areas: work and love. In work, where you spend 60 percent of your life, they say, “I wish I would have made a better choice.” Courage is the courage to say no to some things and yes to others—to look for that which is a better fit. A lot of folks got into their work just by accident, and took an easier route. The same is true with relationships.

Thirdly, the elders say they would understand their own personal bottom line, and do what matters most to them.

You describe “savoring” and “saving” as both being important to a meaningful life, with the “saving” part becoming a more powerful need in the second half of life.

There’s a quote from E. B. White that really grabs everybody: “If the world were merely seductive, that would be easy. If it were merely challenging, that would be no problem. But I arise in the morning, torn between a desire to save the world and a desire to savor the world.

That makes it hard to plan the day.”

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Somehow, in our DNA as human beings, we want our lives to matter. And people know intuitively that helping others in some way is good medicine. We have found there is science behind this. People do better medically, and live longer, than if they have nothing else but themselves to live for. Even people with dementia may have a pet to care for, or a plant to water—something beyond themselves.

What if you have to work in your later years, for money? What if you feel stuck, and can’t really pursue your meaning?

A myth that we’ve uncovered in our work is that a good life means the absence of misfortune. But we’ll all have misfortune, including jobs we dislike, illness, death of loved ones, economic meltdown, and so on. But in spite of that, people can make something good of it.

Part of that is your attitude, your choices. Just today, 21,000 people lost their jobs at GM. They are going to have to reinvent themselves even if they didn’t want to. They have to step back and take a deep dive—they don’t have a choice in the matter.

As a career counselor, I often work with people who are in jobs they dislike. Finding the will to change is not easy. But the starting point is this formula: gifts plus passion plus value equals calling. Calling is the inner urge to give your gifts away. One of the things I do is make sure a person understands their gifts or talents. Then I would look at their passions— what are they really interested in? Does their current job fit their passions? It comes to really saying, What do you bring to the party here?

And then, What are your values? What is the

best environment for those?

Those are the core pieces of a good work decision. It’s actually the core of the program I do at Omega. Gifts plus passions plus values.

One of my mentors, Richard Bolles, who is the author of What Color Is Your Parachute?, is similarly aligned with this formula.

What if your spouse or partner doesn’t agree on how to spend the later years?

I hear it all the time in my coaching practice.

Nothing short of a courageous conversation will get the job done. Couples oftentimes haven’t had to have this conversation because they have been planted where they are. And now they have choices. For example, in my work I do a “place” inventory with people. It’s shocking, how many couples get to the second half of life and they don’t agree on where they want to live. We have to sit down and look at the criteria, and maybe do a trial—try to live somewhere for a month. Or when I lead walking safaris in Africa, both parties may not want to go. Does it mean one can’t go because the other doesn’t want to? So they have a process to go through to see what they each want. It’s not easy, but there are all kinds of tools. Repacking Your Bags and our website have them, like a values inventory, and a good-life inventory.

As you point out, many people reaching midlife may never have had the chance or awareness to ask what would make their life most meaningful. How do you start doing that, or even know what to ask?

People are really looking for guidance. You can actually get a free self-help guidebook and DVD that I wrote about how to go about this process of reinventing yourself. It’s on the website that explains the MetLife study. It’s a guidance system—everything we’ve talked about, and practical tools. The good-life inventory asks essential questions to guide you in discovering and planning the good life for yourself. The four components of a good life are living in the place you belong, with the people you love, while doing the right work, on purpose. Part of the workshop at Omega is about how to have that conversation with yourself—to ask, What do I want? What’s next for me? And how do I have that conversation with somebody else?

RESOURCES: Omega Institute www.eomega.org/omega/about/workshops

Inventure Group www.inventuregroup.com

MetLife’s Mature Market Institute www.maturemarketinstitute.com

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DIRECTORY

Directory HEALTHY LIVING

ACTIVE RELEASE TECHNIQUES

Hoon Park, MD

Dr. David Ness

1772 South Road

(845) 255-1200 www.drness.com mail@drness.com Active Release Techniques (ART) is a patented soft tissue treatment system that heals injured muscles, tendons, fascia (covers muscle), ligaments, and nerves. It is used to treat acute or chronic injuries, sports injuries, repetitive strain injuries and nerve entrapments like carpal tunnel syndrome, and sciatica. ART(r) is also used before and after surgery to reduce scar tissue formation and build up. ART works to break up and remove scar tissue deep within and around injured muscles, tendons, ligaments, and nerves. The injured muscle, joint, ligament, and nerves are moved through a range of motion while a contact is held over the injured structure. This breaks up the scar tissue and heals the tissue faster than traditional treatments. ART doctors are trained in over 500 hands on protocols and must undergo rigorous written and practical examination to become certified. In order to maintain their certification in ART doctors attend yearly continuing education and re-certification by ART. See also CHIROPRACTIC.

(845) 298-6060 See display ad on page 5.

Mid-Hudson Acupuncture William Weinstein, L.Ac. (845) 255-2070; (212) 695-3565 www.mhacu.com Announcing MEI ZEN COSMETIC ACUPUNCTURE at Mid-Hudson Acupuncture. Present yourself the way you wish to be. Feel great inside! Look great outside!ÂŽ Personalized, unhurried treatment tailored to your specific needs. ALSO: Relief from headache, migraine, arthritis, carpal tunnel, TMJ/ TMD, repetitive strain, rotator cuff injury, and stressrelated syndromes stemming from the modern lifestyle. Support through chronic illness, including relief from the adverse effects of cancer care.

NHAI, Oxford, Elderplan. MC/V/D. New Paltz: 218 Main Street. Manhattan: 119 West 23rd Street.

See display ad on page 19.

Stone Flower Mountain Health 1310 Route 28, Box 300 (845) 679-4872

ACUPUNCTURE

See display ad on page 11.

Bodhi Holistic Spa, Store & Salon See SPAS and display ad on page 8.

Chinese Healing Arts Center Melanie Shih, OMD, LAc

ALTERNATIVE ENERGY Mountain Flame 42825 Route 28

264-266 Smith Avenue

1 (800) 250-6485

(845) 338-6045

www.mountainflame.com

www.qihealer.com

See display ad on page 27.

See display ad on page 19.

Earthbound Herbs and Acupuncture

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ASTROLOGY

(845) 339-5653

Spirit Root Services

www.earthboundapothecary.com

(845) 897-3280

See display ad on page 8.

See display ad on page 13.

SPRING / SUMMER 09 – healthy living

DIRECTORY

BEDS & BEDDING College Bed Lofts

COLON HEALTH CARE / COLONICS

382 Upper Oakwood Ave

Bodhi Holistic Spa, Store & Salon

(866) 739-2331

See SPAS and display ad on page 8.

www.YouthBedLofts.com; www.CollegeBedLofts.com

Center For Life Force Studies

info@collegebedlofts.com

Pat Schroeter, Certified Colon Hydrotherapist

Heavy-duty wooden loft beds and bunk beds for youth, teen, and college students. Easy-toassemble kits and do-it-yourself plans available in twin, full, and queen sizes. Customizable study desk and shelf options available. A fun family project to set up, paint, and decorate together.

866-739-2331 www.YouthBedLofts.com or www.CollegeBedLofts.com

301 Hurley Avenue

See display ad on page 8.

BODY & SKIN CARE Medical Aesthetics of the Hudson Valley 166 Albany Avenue (845) 339-LASER (5273) www.medicalaestheticshv.com See display ad on page 6.

CAMPS Hudson River Performing Arts Center 29 Elm Street, Suite 205 (845) 896-1888 www.hudsonriverperformingarts.com hudsonriverperformingarts@yahoo.com See display ad on page 15.

YMCA of Kingston (845) 338-3810 ext. 115 www.ymcaulster.org See display ad on page 41.

CHIROPRACTIC

(845) 339-2820 See display ad on page 11.

Colon Hydrotherapy Connie Schneider, Certified Colon Therapist (845) 256-1516 www.hudsonvalleycolonics.com See display ad on page 23.

COMPOUNDING PHARMACIES Dermasave Labs, Inc. Glenn Arpino, RPh 3 Charles Street, Suite 4 1-800-277-7099 dermasavelabs@aol.com We are a compounding only pharmacy specializing in skin care products and Bio-identical Hormone Replacement Therapy for women. The art of compounding offers the patient and physician flexibility in the choice of drug, dosage, form, strength, and excipient. We also customize formulations for animals.

See display ad on page 6.

DENTISTRY Dr. Anthony J. Angiolillo, DDS 60 Park Lane Suite 3 (845) 454-3310 www.hotsmilesoftheHV.com See display ad on page C2.

Dr. David Ness

Holistic Orthodontics & Dentistry

(845) 255-1200

Dr. Rhoney Stanley, DDS, MPH, LicAcup, RD

www.drness.com

107 Fish Creek Road

mail@drness.com

(845) 246-2729

Dr. David Ness is a Certified Active Release Techniques (ART(r)) Provider and Certified Chiropractic Sports Practitioner specializing in helping athletes and active people quickly relieve their pain and heal their injuries. In addition to providing traditional chiropractic care, Dr. Ness utilizes ART(r) to remove scar tissue and adhesions in order to restore mobility, flexibility, and strength faster than standard treatments will allow. If you have an injury that has not responded to treatment, call Dr. Ness for an appointment today.

Experience Orthodontics in a magical setting using expansion and gentle forces, not extraction and heavy pressure. Member of The Cranial Academy, Dr. Rhoney Stanley considers the bones, teeth, face and smile components of the whole. Offers fixed braces, functional appliances, Invisalign. Early Treatment for young children when essential. Insurance accepted. Payment plans available.

See also ACTIVE RELEASE TECHNIQUES.

See display ad on page 23.

EDUCATION Columbia-Greene Comm. College

Rhinebeck Chiropractic

4400 State Route 23

Drs. Jessica & Joshua Burchhard

518-828-4181

(845) 876-6450

www.mycommunitycollege.com

www.rhinebeckchiropractic.com

admissions@mycommunitycollege.com

See display ad on page 23.

See display ad on page 6. healthy living – SPRING / SUMMER 09

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DIRECTORY

ENERGY HEALING Cassia Berman (845) 679-9457 Qi Healing, without touching, balances and cleans your energy. It easily relieves stress and pain, and brings relief to many chronic conditions--from back problems, menstrual & menopausal symptoms, to the common cold & hepatitis C. I can also teach you simple Medical Qigong techniques for your specific needs. At the very least, you are guaranteed to feel happy, peaceful, more relaxed.

Certified by Chinese Healing Arts Center. See also Tai Chi Chu’an / Qi Gong.

HOLISTIC HEALTH & MEDICINE deepnourishment Carol Hornig, MS, CNS. 356 Stone Road (845) 340-1702 www.deepnourishment.com feedsoul@mac.com See display ad on page 8.

Finding the Courage Shirley Stone, MBA, Certified Empowerment Life Coach 50 Violet Place 845-876-2194 www.findingthecourage.com shirley@findingthecourage.com Want to convert fear into courage, stress into power, depression into joy, worry into satisfaction?

Consider empowerment life coaching. Get clarity on the life you want plus the tools and techniques to make your dreams a reality. Stop being a problem solver and become a vision creator. Call 845-876-2194 Shirley@findingthecourage.com. www.findingthecourage.com Rhinebeck, NY. See display ad on page 15.

Mid-Hudson Acupuncture See ACUPUNCTURE and display ad on page 19.

HOSPITALS Benedictine Hospital Member of Health Alliance 105 Mary’s Avenue (845) 338-2500 www.benedictine.org

Northern Dutchess Hospital 6511 Springbrook Avenue (845) 876-3001 www.health-quest.org See display ad on page C3.

Vassar Brothers Medical Center 45 Reade Place (845) 454-8500 www.health-quest.org/home_vb.cfm?id=11 See display ad on page 2.

HYPNOTHERAPY Susan Willson Transpersonal Hypnotherapist (845) 687-4807 This gentle hypnotherapy session connects you to your eternal soul and provides answers about soul continuity after death, life patterns/themes, purpose of the current life and guidance in this life. Sessions can help to heal grief, physical and emotional symptoms and to gain clarity about relationships.

See also THERMOGRAPHY and display ad on page 42.

LIFE COACHING Dear Nancy Personal Consultant 437 New Paltz Road (845) 518-1228 dearnancy09@optonline.net Own who you are more confidently! Your personal journey towards finding, defining and owning more confidently a gratifying contentment and connection with your inner well being and relationships.

Dear Nancy offers a nonjudgmental atmosphere which is a sounding board to troubleshoot any concerns you may have; help create, clarify and obtain personal goals & help YOU find which direction to journey with a particular issue… or just in life. Isn’t time to empower yourself?

Benedictine Hospital is a progressive, fullyaccredited 222-bed acute care facility serving the growing needs of Ulster County. With numerous building expansions over its 100 plus year history, Benedictine has kept pace with medical advances and healthcare challenges and remains faithful to its mission and tradition of Benedictine hospitality and care.

See display ad on page 1.

MASSAGE

Kingston Hospital

Apter Aromatherapy (845) 679-0512 www.apteraromatherapy.com japter@ulster.net See display ad on page 13.

Member of Health Alliance 396 Broadway (845) 331-3131 www.kingstonhospital.org

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The Kingston Hospital is a 160-bed acute care hospital. Many services are provided such as: Cardiology, Surgical, Maternity, Women’s Health, Dialysis, Wound Care and much more. The medical technology has advanced, and the facility has grown and the hospital still operates to provide our community with the region’s best healthcare.

See display ad on page 1.

SPRING / SUMMER 09 – healthy living

Bodhi Holistic Spa, Store & Salon See SPAS and display ad on page 8.

Hudson Valley Structural Integration See STRUCTURAL INTEGRATION and display ad on page 42.

Joan Apter

DIRECTORY

MEDICAL IMAGING

Village Wine & Spirits

45 Pine Grove Avenue; 11 Mary’s Ave

45 Front Street (845) 677-3311 www.villagewinemillbrook.com

(845) 340-4500

See display ad on page 43.

River Radiology

www.riverradiology.com See display ad on page C4.

MENTAL HEALTH

ORGANIZATIONAL SERVICES The “BE CLUTTER FREE” E-Book

(518) 822-1207

Rosalyn Cherry, M.S., C.H.T. PO Box 187 (212) 864-2165 www.BeClutterFreeBook.com

www.eliasaville.com

rosalyn@BeClutterFreeBook.com

elia@eliasaville.com

Act now and order this e-book for a breakthrough in letting go of too much stuff. Decide what goes and what stays with this color-coded step-by-step guide. Experience support and develop personal strategies during the actual de-cluttering process.

Follow th e “Be Clutter Free” tips and case studies to stay motivated and engaged. Yes you can!

Elia Saville—Intuitive Counselor

See display ad on page 13.

MIDWIFERY Jennifer Houston (518) 678-3154 www.midwifejennahouston.com womanway@gmail.com See display ad on page 11.

PHYSICIANS Integrated Health Care for Women

NATURAL FOODS

Kristen Jemiolo, MD (845) 485-7168

Lagusta’s Luscious

See display ad on page 3.

Vegetarian Home Meal Delivery Service (845) 255-8VEG (8834)

PILATES

www.lagustasluscious.com

Core Pilates

chef@lagustasluscious.com

Michelle Humphrey, MSPT (845) 825-3369 michellescorepilates@msn.com

Lagusta’s Luscious brings heartbreakingly delicious, sophisticated vegetarian food that “meatand-potatoes people” love too to the Hudson Valley and NYC. We are as passionate about our politics – locally grown organic produce, environmentally sustainable business practices – as we are about our food, and it tastes just as good as any you’ll find at the finest restaurants. End weeknight meal boredom forever. Serving New York City and the Hudson Valley Region.

Watershed Agricultural Council www.buypurecatskills.com

NURSING HOMES Archcare at Ferncliff Nursing Home

See display ad on page 23.

PSYCHOTHERAPY Judith Blackstone, Ph.D. PO Box 1209 845-679-7005 www.judithblackstone.com blackstonejudith@aol.com Offering traditional psychotherapy and EMDR for healing from trauma and changing limiting beliefs, and Realization Process, a body-oriented meditation for deepening contact with oneself and others.

For individuals and couples. NY State licensed; 28 years experience. Offices in Woodstock and NYC.

21 Ferncliff Drive

K. Melissa Waterman, LCSW-R

(845) 876-2011

35 Main Street, #333 (845) 464-8910 therapist.psychologytoday.com/52566

See display ad on page 6.

NUTRITION

See display ad on page 15.

Damsel Fly Center

Don Wilde, PhD

Team Northrup (845) 489-4745 www.teamnorthrup.com See display ad on page 8.

Vicki Koenig, MS, RD, CDN (845) 255-2398 www.nutrition-wise.com See display ad on page 6.

Clinical Psychologist Warwick/Newburgh 845-987-9960 www.donwildephd.com Specializing in biofeedback, schema therapy, mindfulness, and counseling. Treating all forms of anxiety disorder, including panic attacks and PTSD. Couples work, general counseling, evaluation, and treatment of ADHD and head injury.

Not just feeling better—living a more skillful life. healthy living – SPRING / SUMMER 09

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DIRECTORY

RETREAT CENTERS Breema Center www.breema.com center@breema.com See display ad on page 5.

SPAS Bodhi Holistic Spa, Store & Salon 323 Warren Street (518) 828-2233 www.bodhistudio.com See display ad on page 8.

300 Kings Mall Court; 249 Main Street; 1955 South Road (845) 336-5541; (845) 246-9614; (845) 296-1069 www.motherearthstorehouse.com Also at: 249 Main Street Saugerties 12477; 1955 South Road Poughkeepsie 12602 See display ad on page 3.

Sunflower Natural Food Market 75 Mill Hill Road (845) 679-5361 www.sunflowernatural.com See display ad on page 5.

THERMOGRAPHY SPIRITUAL COUNSELING & GUIDANCE IONE Healing Psyche, Spirit and Body (845) 339-5776 www.ministryofmaat.org; www.ionedreams.us iodreams@deeplistening.org IONE is an author, inter-faith minister, and spiritual counselor who offers healing services to individuals and oversees international programs for women and men. She is director of the Ministry of Maåt, Inc., dedicated to nurturing world harmony. Ione specializes in creative process, dream phenomena and women’s issues. A Helix Graduate and a certified Qi Healer, she is author of Nile Night; Remembered Texts from the Deep, Pride of Family: Four Generations of American Women of Color; Listening in Dreams & This is a Dream! A Handbook for Deep Dreamers; Services in Kingston and New York City.

STRUCTURAL INTEGRATION Hudson Valley Structural Integration 26 East Market Street (845) 876-4654 www.anatomytrains.com Ryan Flowers & Krisha Showalter are NY State Licensed Massage Therapists with additional professional training and Certification in Structural Integration and Visceral Osteopathic Manipulation.

We offer advanced manual therapy specializing in chronic pain conditions, structural/postural alignment, movement re-education and rehabilitation.

We are committed to providing a high level of skill in manual therapy, utilizing intelligent principles to guide the use of techniques, detailed visual and manual assessments and soft tissue manipulation that is communicative and receptive to the individual and their body’s systems. Free Consultations.

See display ad on page 42.

SUPERMARKETS Beacon Natural Market Lighting the Way for a Healthier World 348 Main Street (845) 838-1288 www.beaconnaturalmarket.com See display ad on page 6.

Mother Earth’s Storehouse

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Susan Willson CNM, CCT (845) 687-4807 www.biothermalimaging.com Thermography is a painless, non-invasive screening test that shows signs of abnormality in the breast up to 10 years before mammogram. This offers the possibility of preventing tumor formation and the chance to regain health without invasive intervention. Breast and full-body scans available.

See also HYPNOTHERAPY and display ad on page 42.

VEGETARIAN / VEGAN LIFESTYLES Lagusta’s Luscious Vegetarian Home Meal Delivery Service See NATURAL FOODS.

WOMEN’S HEALTH Susun Weed PO Box 64 www.susunweed.com Herbal medicine, spirit healing, wild food, and wild women at the Wise Woman Center: Exciting classes, work weekends, moonlodges, and special sexy events! Enjoy one-day herbal classes, weed walks, correspondence courses, intensives, and Green Goddess Apprentice Week. We’ll wrap you in Green Blessings. Details at our award-winning website.

WORKSHOPS & CLASSES Joan Apter See MASSAGE and display ad on page 13.

YOGA The Other Yoga Melissa Parsons, CSYT, Nicolas Dalton, CSYT (518) 697-0200 www.theotheryoga.net Svaroopa Yoga uses deep relaxation, breathwork and supported poses to release core tension from the spine and throughout the entire body. Improve flexibility, balance, strength and stamina while experiencing a safe, effective release from pain and stress. Ongoing classes and private sessions in Dutchess, Columbia and Litchfield counties.

See display ad on page 15.

INDEX OF DIRECTORY SERVICES ACTIVE RELEASE TECHNIQUES

28

MIDWIFERY

31

ACUPUNCTURE

28

NATURAL FOODS

31

ASTROLOGY

28

NURSING HOMES

31

BEDS & BEDDING

29

NUTRITION

31

BODY & SKIN CARE

29

ORGANIZATIONAL SERVICES

31

CAMPS

29

PHYSICIANS

31

CHIROPRACTIC

29 PILATES

31

COLON HEALTH CARE / COLONICS

29 PSYCHOTHERAPY

31

COMPOUNDING PHARMACIES

29 RETREAT CENTERS

32

DENTISTRY

29 SPAS

32

EDUCATION

29 SPIRITUAL COUNSELING & GUIDANCE

32

ENERGY HEALING

30 STRUCTURAL INTEGRATION

32

HOLISTIC HEALTH & MEDICINE

30

HOSPITALS

30

SUPERMARKETS

32

HYPNOTHERAPY

30

THERMOGRAPHY

32

LIFE COACHING

30

VEGETARIAN / VEGAN LIFESTYLES

32

MASSAGE

30

WOMEN’S HEALTH

32

MEDICAL IMAGING

31

WORKSHOPS & CLASSES

32

MENTAL HEALTH

31

YOGA

32

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Glossary HEALTHY LIVING

ACUPUNCTURE

ASTROLOGY

Acupuncture has been practiced for 6,000 years in China and neighboring countries. It consists of the use of very fine needles and other devices to stimulate and balance the flow of energy— known as chi or qi—through channels or meridians in the body. Disease occurs because of imbalances in the meridian system. Acupuncture is based on ancient Chinese ideas about the rhythm and harmony of the universe as a whole—the Tao—and the relationship of human beings to that universe. Health is viewed as a dynamic interaction between each individual’s inner environment and the exterior world.

Astrology uses a birth chart to map the positions of the planets relative to the location and moment of birth. The interpretation of the chart incorporates the angular relationships between the planets and the signs of the zodiac, the area of the chart in which they fall, and other symbolic indicators to examine the different experiences and psychology of the individual. A trained astrologer then analyzes the pertinent information, exploring how the various aspects of the client’s personality may be integrated, and finding ways to draw the greatest fulfillment from the energies symbolized in the chart.

ALEXANDER TECHNIQUE The Alexander Technique is concerned with the mechanics of coordination and balance and our control over them. These things begin to deteriorate in most of us quite early in childhood, and the process continues as the stresses of modern life take their toll. Excessive effort and tension become insidiously ingrained in our habits of movement, thought, and feeling.

Through an increase in muscular tensions we may notice this deterioration in the neck, back, legs, and wrists. The Alexander Technique aims to help you take a fresh look at the way you think and move, in everyday activities as well as specific skills.

AROMATHERAPY Aromatherapy employs highly concentrated essential oils extracted from herbs and flowers that contain hormones, vitamins, antibiotics, and antiseptics. Applied to the skin—often in massage—or through inhalation, the oil or combination of oils can be used for medicinal, meditative, restorative, or relaxation purposes.

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AYURVEDA The Sanskrit word meaning “science of life,” Ayurveda is Yoga’s sister science, dating back to the ancient Vedic civilization, the oldest tradition of knowledge in human history. Ayurveda is not a “modality” but a comprehensive body of knowledge based upon the observation of living beings and their environment, appreciation of the balance between the individual and the cosmos, and how to maintain balance and develop the consciousness that underlies and integrates all aspects of life, leading to self-realization—the goal it shares with Yoga. Ayurveda does this through its insight into the various body/mind constitutions, called Prakriti, which is the innate balance of three primary principles, or energies, called Doshas. Health is defined as the maintenance of balance among the Doshas according to one’s unique constitution. Its methodologies include, but are not limited to: nutrition, herbalism, aromatherapy, Yoga Asana, meditation, and body work.

BODYTALK

COLON HEALTH CARE

Since most illnesses have a number of contributing factors, from hormones to stress, physical trauma, environmental toxins, and nutrition, it’s often difficult to know where to begin the healing process. Fortunately, every person has an Innate Wisdom within them that knows exactly what they need to heal on all levels. BodyTalk is a simple, effective method of communicating with that Innate Wisdom to discover the level each person needs to heal first. Once the priority for healing has been discovered, a gentle tapping is used to reharmonize the neglected area. It is astonishing how quickly the body/mind can heal once we allow it to communicate better within itself, and with us. All we have to do is ask.

Colon hydrotherapy is a safe and effective irrigation to remove toxic waste from the large intestine without the use of drugs. Filtered water and regulated temperatures soften and loosen waste resulting in evacuation through natural peristalsis. Colonics can be helpful for such problems as constipation, psoriasis, acne, allergies, and headaches, and can improve overall health. Therapists may use abdominal massage during this process and advise the client regarding nutrition, fluids, and exercise to enhance the colonic procedure and general health of the colon. Today’s sophisticated technology promotes both safety and sanitation of the popular practice with the use of FDA- certified equipment, disposable rectal nozzles, and certified therapists.

CHIROPRACTIC HEALING Chiropractic care employs gentle and forceful manipulation and movement techniques to correct spinal-nerve interferences. It removes blockages to the flow of Life Energy from the brain down the spinal cord, through the nervous system, and out to every cell. Chiropractors assist in maintaining the body’s natural alignment so that it functions at peak performance. They have been successful in treating headaches, back problems, and other traumas.

COACHING Coaching is a relationship in which the client and the coach are active collaborators for the purpose of meeting the client’s needs. The coach holds the client as naturally creative, resourceful, and whole. The agenda comes from the client, and the coaching relationship addresses the client’s whole life. Through a process of action and learning, the client makes desirable changes in one or more parts of his or her life, to create a life that is fulfilling and balanced. On a practical level, the coaching process addresses setting and achieving goals. On a spiritual level, coaching leads to a purposeful life where actions flow from innermost values. The ultimate goal is supporting the client to reach her or his full potential.

CRANIOSACRAL THERAPY The craniosacral system surrounds the brain and the spinal cord. The practitioner utilizes the subtle rhythm of spinal fluid motion as it is transmitted along fascial planes throughout the body. Craniosacral therapy is a system of evaluation and light touch that views the individual as an integrated totality. Conditions that frequently respond well to this therapeutic modality include: acute musculoskeletal injuries, chronic pain conditions associated with accidents, and stress-exacerbated dysfunctions of the autonomic nervous system.

DOULA A doula is a woman experienced in childbirth who provides continuous physical, emotional, and informational support to the mother before, during, and just after childbirth.

Trained doulas understand the physiology of birth and the emotional needs of a woman in labor. Doulas believe that pregnancy and birth are normal, natural, and healthy processes. This includes preparation for birth, helping the laboring woman with encouragement, comfort measures, relaxation techniques, and an objective viewpoint, as well as support after childbirth, such as help with breast-feeding.

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FACIAL REJUVENATION Facial Rejuvenation is a combination of massage and energy work. It assists nerve, muscle, and energy reconnection through the use of select contact points, and employs specific massage strokes and massage patterns to relax the muscles and increase circulation and energy flow to the face, neck, shoulders, and head. This combined result allows a realignment of the facial muscles into a more stress-free, relaxed, and youthful pattern. The treatment includes herbal compressing, cleansing, and natural masks, and may also utilize aromatherapy, with individually chosen aromatic essential oils helping to move the body into a state of balance.

ings from Kabbalah, Buddhism, Christian mysticism, psychology, and science. IKH is for anyone, regardless of their background, because it is about the shared human condition—at once perfect and imperfect, accepting and rejecting, fragmented and whole. IKH awakens us to our true nature, which does not free us from our problems but gathers them to our heart, and teaches us how to become a healing presence where no part of us or of creation is orphaned.

HYPNOTHERAPY

Feng Shui (pronounced “fung shway”) is the terrestrial equivalent of astrology, and is the ancient mystical art of Chinese geomancy, studying the dynamic relationship between humans and the surrounding environment. It attempts to show how everybody can match their personal characteristics to their surroundings, whether at home or at work, thus ensuring greater environmental harmony and leading to enhanced inner peace.

Hypnotherapy is a technique using hypnosis that reaches into the subconscious mind for solutions to problems with which the conscious mind has been unable to deal. The altered state occurring under hypnosis is akin to a state of deep meditation, where the recuperative abilities of the psyche are allowed to flow more freely. Hypnosis is a waking state; the hypnotized person remains in full control of his or her behavior, and usually is able to recall the whole experience. Hypnotherapy has been used to treat addictions, relieve stress, and help individuals develop a more positive attitude in general. Many people have learned to hypnotize themselves as a regular adjunct to their daily life.

HOMEOPATHY

IMAGO THERAPY

Homeopathy is derived from the Greek word homoio, meaning like or similar. This natural system of medicine was developed over 200 years ago by Samuel Hahneman, a German physician. It bases its practice on treating like with like. This homeopathic principle is based on treating an illness with a substance that produces, in a healthy person, similar symptoms to those experienced by the sick person, employing minute doses of natural remedies that are created from herbal, mineral, and animal substances.

Homeopathy views symptoms as the body’s natural reaction in fighting the illness and, unlike conventional medicine, seeks to stimulate them rather than suppress them. Homeopathy is widely practiced throughout Europe.

Imago relationship therapy recognizes that the inherent nature of human beings is what Carl G. Jung described as a “push toward wholeness.” Throughout our development as human beings, that wholeness is fragmented through experiences in relationship with our caretakers and results in significant impact on the choice of a marriage or relationship partner (the imago).

Since unmet needs from childhood are brought into adult intimate partnerships for resolution, childhood frustrations are inevitably reactivated and experienced. These relational conflicts are an unconscious attempt by partners to finish childhood, reestablish contact without losing their identity, and to recover a sense of wholeness.

FENG SHUI

IRIDOLOGY INTEGRATED KABBALISTIC HEALING Based on the work of Jason Shulman, Integrated Kabbalistic Healing is rooted in teach-

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Iridology is the analysis of the iris of the eye, the colored portion that reveals the basic constitutional health of an individual. Iridology can indicate genetic and functional weaknesses,

tissue and organ condition, areas of nutritional depletion and need, areas of inflammation and toxicity, and the general body constitution.

This information is gathered by “reading” the fiber and markings of the iris, which manifests symptoms specific to all the organs of the body before they would be discernible through lab analysis or bloodwork.

JIN SHIN JYUTSU Jin Shin Jyutsu (Physio-Philosophy) is an ancient art of harmonizing the life energy in the body.

Jin Shin Jyutsu employs 26 “safety energy locks” along energy pathways that feed life into our bodies. When one or more of the paths become blocked, the resulting stagnation can disrupt the local area and eventually disharmonize the complete path of energy flow. Holding these energy locks in combination can bring balance to mind, body, and spirit. Jin Shin Jyutsu is a gentle art practiced by placing the fingertips (over clothing) on designated safety energy locks, to harmonize and restore the energy flow.

NATUROPATHY Naturopathy is a compilation of a wide variety of natural therapeutics and healing techniques.

This natural method of healing is based on the premise that the body contains the innate wisdom and power to heal itself, providing that we enhance rather than hinder that process, and in addition, that treating the whole person is more desirable than simply alleviating the symptoms of disease. The naturopathic physician utilizes such therapies as non invasive allergy testing, herbology, acupressure, acupuncture, and iridology.

OSTEOPATHY Osteopathy is a scientifically based philosophy of health care that embraces the concept of the interrelatedness of structure (anatomy) and function (physiology). Dysfunction of the musculoskeletal system contributes to imbalances and insufficiencies of the circulation and nervous system, rendering the body vulnerable to disease. Osteopathic manual treatment of the musculoskeletal system allows normal function to resume. Doctors of osteopathy are fully licensed physicians who use the principles of osteopathy along with traditional medical models to promote the health of their patients.

PILATES Pronounced “Puh-lah-tees,” this “intelligent” exercise was developed by German nurse and fitness guru Joseph Pilates after World War I to assist bedridden patients in recovering muscle strength.

The system employs specialized machines to teach the body self-awareness and strengthen muscles without straining them, in a complete and balanced way. Pilates has proven beneficial for the rehabilitation of injuries and is favored by dancers and athletes for muscle toning.

POLARITY THERAPY One of the first Western therapy systems to utilize energy and understand that it is the bottom line of healing, Polarity was developed by Randolph Stone, osteopath, chiropractor, and naturopath. It uses physical touch and pressure to balance energy in the body, conceiving of energy as flowing outward from a central core in the body, which is a reservoir of wholeness and health. Understanding the relationships between this energetic source within the body and the various flows of energy underlying physiological function, Polarity helps the body restore itself to health based on its own resources. Polarity makes use of these therapeutic sessions, as well as diet, self-awareness, and energy-based exercises.

QIGONG Qigong means “energy practice.” These ancient Chinese exercises generally consist of one or a few simple movements done repetitively, focusing mind and breath through the body in specific ways. There are innumerable forms of Qigong— for general health and well-being, for healing specific organs or illnesses, and for cultivating special capacities, from memory and extrasensory perceptions to the highest spiritual development.

REFLEXOLOGY Reflexology is a natural healing art based on the principle that there are reflex points on the feet, outer ears, and hands that are actually “reflections” of body parts. Their location and relationships follow a logical anatomical pattern that closely resembles that of the body itself. This ancient healing technique involves a steady pressure on the reflex points, which correspond to areas throughout the body. healthy living – SPRING / SUMMER 09

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Reflexology accelerates the body’s natural healing abilities and directly acts upon particular organs, glands, and body parts through gentle stimulation upon the points or reflexes.

down, and different muscular, neurological, glandular, and organ systems function in a more balanced fashion. The practice of Tai Chi Chuan is harmony and understanding of the ways of the world.

ROLFING See Structural Integration.

REIKI In Reiki, a practitioner’s hands are very gently placed on the fully-clothed body of a person in a variety of established places on the head, chest, abdomen, and back. This scientific method of activating and balancing the life-force energy (also known as prana, qi, or chi) was brought to the West in 1937 by Saici Takata. Light hand placement is used on the body in order to align the chakras and channel energy to organs and glands. Reiki can be used as a form of health maintenance and disease prevention, applied as a self-help technique, or used on others.

STRUCTURAL INTEGRATION Structural Integration is a unique, whole systems approach to connective-tissue manipulation and movement education created by the late biochemist and physiologist Dr. Ida P. Rolf. The work is defined by the intelligent process and guiding principles of rebalancing the human body in relation to itself and gravity.

It blends science (anatomy) with art (hands-on manipulation), allowing the practitioner to skillfully unwind the postural compensations and distortions that so often lead to chronic pain and physiological dysfunction.

THERMOGRAPHY Breast thermography is a painless, noninvasive clinical test that gives women the opportunity to increase their chances of detecting breast disease at an early stage. With this test, there is no contact with the body and no exposure to radiation. A breast tumor has often been growing 8 to 10 years before it is dense enough to show up on a mammogram. Thermography picks up physiological changes that are present in early stages of tumor growth, thereby giving women the opportunity to intervene years earlier to reverse changes and regain breast health.

THE TRAGER® APPROACH Utilizing gentle movements, The Trager® Approach helps release deep-seated physical and mental patterns and facilitates deep relaxation, increased physical mobility, and mental clarity.

These patterns may have developed in response to accidents, illnesses, or any kind of physical or emotional trauma, including stress. During the table work session, the client is moved by the practitioner in ways they naturally move and with a quality of touch such that the recipient experiences the feeling of moving effortlessly and freely on their own. This feeling is maintained and reinforced by Mentastics®, simple, self-induced movement that the client can do on their own, during their daily activities.

TAI CHI CHUAN The forms of Tai Chi Chuan are a traditional Chinese approach to exercise, meditation, and personal growth. Practiced both for health and self-defense, its graceful, flowing movements are beautiful, healthful, and powerful. Its practice promotes an inner calm and a tranquil attitude, enhancing self-awareness. Tai Chi springs from emptiness and is born of nature.

It is the source of motion and tranquility and the mother of Yin and Yang. The body weight or center of gravity of the practitioner sinks into the abdomen and trunk of the body, thus allowing more relaxed and deep breathing.

With the mind quieted, the heartbeat slows

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YOGA Yoga is an ancient Indian practice that is a scientific system designed to bring the practitioner improved health, happiness, and sense of Self.

In Yoga, the body and mind are linked to create a state of internal peacefulness and integration.

At the practical level, and included in the contemporary definitions of Yoga, are the actual physiological/mental techniques themselves.

These techniques concentrate on posture and alignment, as well as creating a higher consciousness. Yoga utilizes stretching postures, breathing, and meditation techniques to calm the emotional state and the mind, and tone the body.

Enchanting Euphoric Mystical Dance

ß

ß Kiyana - Vital & Perpetual Movements A system of movements and internal work coming from ancient Persia; it relates to the education and the complete development, the unity and oneness of the body, mind and spirit, cleanliness, purity, equilibrium, power, health of body, tranquility in the mind and subtility of the soul of human beings.

ß

The ability to observe and recognize the level of the self-being and beyond.

Concentration and complete attention, divided attention, and presence.

Signification and apprehension of mysterious symbolic aspects and the dynamic geometry of the enneagram.

ß

Perpetual, disciplinal, vital exercises, infinity respiration, eye exercises, body discipline, symmetric and asymmetric movements by the method of divided attention, inner development, rhythmical contemplative movements, and the enchanting, euphoric Sama’a dance.

ß

Workshops: New York—June 20/21 & 27/28 | Woodstock—July 4/5 Evening of Music & Poetries: New York, June 27 Contact: 212-362-4354 | whirling121@yahoo.com | www.whirling121.com

healthy living – SPRING / SUMMER 09

39

INDEX OF ADVERTISERS

AIM GROUP

39

DR. ANTHONY J. ANGIOLILLO, DDS

C2, 29

JOAN APTER

13, 30

IONE

32

KINGSTON HOSPITAL

1, 30

VICKI KOENIG, MS, RD, CDN

6, 31

ARCHCARE AT FERNCLIFF NURSING HOME 6, 31 LAGUSTA’S LUSCIOUS BEACON NATURAL MARKET

6, 32

BENEDICTINE HOSPITAL

1, 30

CASSIA BERMAN

30

JUDITH BLACKSTONE, PH.D.

31

31

MEDICAL AESTHETICS OF THE HUDSON VALLEY

6, 29

MID-HUDSON ACUPUNCTURE

BODHI HOLISTIC SPA, STORE & SALON

8, 32

BREEMA CENTER

5, 32

CENTER FOR LIFE FORCE STUDIES ROSALYN CHERRY CHINESE HEALING ARTS CENTER COLLEGE BED LOFTS

11, 29 31

19, 28

MOTHER EARTH’S STOREHOUSE

3, 32

MOUNTAIN FLAME

27

DR. DAVID NESS

28, 29

NORTHERN DUTCHESS HOSPITAL

30, C3

THE OTHER YOGA

15, 32

19, 28 8, 29 HOON PARK, MD

COLON HYDROTHERAPY COLUMBIA-GREENE COMM. COLLEGE CORE PILATES DAMSEL FLY CENTER DEAR NANCY

6, 29 23, 31 8, 31 30

DEEPNOURISHMENT

8, 30

DERMASAVE LABS, INC.

6, 29

EARTHBOUND HERBS & ACUPUNCTURE

8, 28

RHINEBECK CHIROPRACTIC

23, 29

RIVER RADIOLOGY

31, C4

ELIA SAVILLE—INTUITIVE COUNSELOR

13, 31

SPIRIT ROOT SERVICES

13, 28

STONE FLOWER MOUNTAIN HEALTH

FINDING THE COURAGE FLOWING SPIRIT HEALING HOLISTIC ORTHODONTICS & DENTISTRY HOLISTIC PSYCHIATRY OF NEW YORK JENNIFER HOUSTON

15, 30 8 23, 29 19

11

SUNFLOWER NATURAL FOOD MARKET

5, 32

VASSAR BROTHERS MEDICAL CENTER

2, 30

VILLAGE WINE & SPIRITS

31, 43

K. MELISSA WATERMAN, LCSW-R

15, 31

WATERSHED AGRICULTURAL COUNCIL

43

SUSUN WEED

32

11, 31

HUDSON RIVER PERFORMING ARTS CENTER

15, 29

DON WILDE, PHD

31

HUDSON VALLEY STRUCTURAL INTEGRATION

32, 42

SUSAN WILLSON

30, 32, 42

INTEGRATED HEALTH CARE FOR WOMEN

40

5, 28

23, 29

SPRING / SUMMER 09 – healthy living

3, 31

YMCA OF KINGSTON

29, 41

healthy living – SPRING / SUMMER 09

41

THERMOGRAPHY

9 Able to detect the first signs of breast cancer formation up to 10 years before any other procedure.

9 Painless, No-Risk Breast, Regional, and Full-Body Scans.

9 FDA approved in 1982 for adjunct breast screening 9 With early detection you have more options!

For more information call: Susan Willson, CNM, CCT 845-687-4807 www.biothermalimaging.com

Advanced Manual Therapy with Progressive

& Lasting Results

Providing intelligent, sensitive & educative care through Structural Integration, the work of Dr. Ida Rolf.

Solution-oriented approach to: Benefits include: Chronic Pain • Neck/Back Pain Increased flexibility & range of motion Scoliosis • Nerve Entrapment • Whiplash More energy, less fatigue Pelvic Dysfunction Improved posture & structure Post traumatic stress & more Psychological growth

“I am very impressed with structural integration & have referred a lot of patients… including scoliosis patients. Structural integration is a wonderful method that can rehabilitate & reverse injuries.”

- Dr. Irene Grant

Certified & Licensed Practitioners

Ryan Flowers, LMT – Structural Integration / Visceral Manipulation Krisha Showalter, LMT – Structural Integration / Therapeutic Massage

Hudson Valley Structural Integration 26 E. Market St. • Rhinebeck, NY • 845.876.4654

www.hudsonvalleysi.com • www.theiasi.org 42

SPRING / SUMMER 09 – healthy living

Wine tastings every Saturday starting at noon.

A hand-picked selection of wine and spirits for everyday or once in a lifetime. Superior customer service with wine tastings every Saturday.

Find what your palate’s been searching for.

'SPOU 4USFFU t .JMMCSPPL /: t .PO o 5IVST B N UP Q N 'SJ 4BU B N UP Q N t 4VO /PPO UP Q N XXX WJMMBHFXJOFNJMMCSPPL DPN healthy living – SPRING / SUMMER 09

43

FARE WELL

COCONUT Milk of Humane Kindness

BY AIMEE HUGHES

E

ven healthy organic vegetable oils, including olive oil, oxidize and create harmful free radicals, especially when used in baking and frying. Organic virgin coconut oil, however, does not oxidize even at 170oC, which makes it ideal for cooking.

In addition, nearly 50 percent of coconut oil’s fatty acids is lauric acid, which is converted to monolaurin in the body. Monolaurin has adverse effects on a variety of microorganisms including bacteria, yeast, fungi, and enveloped viruses. It weakens or destroys the lipid membrane of such enveloped viruses as HIV, measles, herpes simplex virus, influenza, and cytomegalovirus. Coconut oil also contains caprylic acid and capric acid, both are natural anti-fungals known to fight yeast overgrowth.

(The saturated fat in coconut oil consists mainly of medium-chain fatty acids which are easily digestible and converted into energy. They are less likely to contribute to obesity because the body does not store medium-chain fatty acids as easily as it does long-chain fatty acids.)

You can purchase coconut oil or coconut milk (which includes oil) at a natural food store or well-stocked grocery, or enjoy fresh coconut milk and “meat” from store-bought whole coconuts. Here are just a few ways you can add coconut to your diet:

44

SPRING / SUMMER 09 – healthy living

1. Whenever you stir fry, use coconut oil for a tropical, unique flavor.

2. Substitute coconut oil for butter on multigrain toast (it melts nicely on the warm bread), top with organic fruit jam.

3. Substitute coconut oil for vegetable oil in pancake batter, cookies, muffins, and cakes.

4. Melt coconut oil over popcorn instead of butter.

5. Make a creative dipping oil for bread, a topping for pasta or veggies, or as a salad dressing: Combine 31⁄2 tbsp. coconut oil, 2 tbsp. diced onion, 1 tbsp. diced garlic, 1⁄2 tsp. basil, 1⁄2 tsp. oregano, 1⁄4 tsp. paprika, 1⁄4 tsp. salt, and 1/8 tsp. cayenne pepper.

Heat the mixture to a simmer, turn off the heat, and let cool.

6. Use coconut milk as a fantastic base for smoothies. Blend one banana, 1 cup coconut milk, and one cup orange juice, or make your own favorite concoction.

7. Add coconut milk to tea and coffee instead of milk or cream.