Natural Awakenings DC September 2018

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E E R

HEALTHY

LIVING

WHY OUR BODIES LOVE YOGA Gentle Poses Foster Flexibility

Chef Rick Moonen on

Why Buying Sustainable Seafood Matters

HEALTHY

PLANET

Forever Flexible Natural Ways

to Stay Flexible

Zero-Waste

LIFESTYLE

Ways to Make Far Less Trash

September 2018 | Washington, D.C. Edition | NaturalAwakeningsDC.com 1 September 2018

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Washington, D.C.

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September 2018

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letter from the publisher

Dear Readers, As we prepare to move from summer into autumn, which is my favorite time of year, our schedules are getting busier.

We’re helping the kids settle into a new school year and we’re starting to plan ahead for the holidays in just a couple of months. I think I even saw a “number of days until Christmas” countdown at a local store.

During this transitional season, it’s almost too easy to forget about our commitment to wellness and balance in the midst of our hectic lives, but these elements can’t be overlooked. This month we’re focusing on joint health and some of the natural ways to care for them. It seems that every time we turn on the television, there are more prescription drugs that offer new hope for arthritis, which is the universal term for any joint-related problem. As noted so often, chemical responses may help relieve the symptoms of joint pain, but they don’t help to identify or alleviate the source of the problem.

More and more medical practitioners have been looking to an expansive understanding of joint pain and are counseling their patients to lose weight and to help fight the inflammation in their bodies with wholesome food and supplements. Likewise, with regular exercise and science-backed integrative therapies, patients get to the cause of their problems and find ultimate relief. In addition to our feature article this month on joint pain, nutritionist Elizabeth McMillan provides an additional focus on the foods that support good joint health—and even provides a few recipes to provide natural relief for pain.

A growing trend in our area, and across the country, is the interest in yoga, which is another great support for those dealing with joint pain. While the typical image that one has of a seasoned yoga student or teacher is a person with long, lean muscles, the beauty of yoga is that it is accessible to every person and there are many different styles to experience. Even a beginner will get the benefits of flexibility from a yoga practice, and one can begin right where they are—even if it is sitting on a chair. We feature an article this month in our Fit Body section that discusses the ways in which the practice of yoga enables our bodies to remain flexible as we age. Our region has many amazing places to develop a practice of yoga. We encourage you to find one that fits your skill level and lifestyle­—because we know, with a bit of looking, you will find a perfect community in which to practice.

And it wouldn’t be September if we didn’t help in the transition that many parents face as their children go back to school—in making school lunches. For many parents, it is almost too easy to purchase processed foods and snacks, not realizing that the lunch meal is an important one. With a little bit of preparation you can offer your children some great tasting, kid-approved foods that are not too time-consuming to make, which are included in our Healthy Kids section this month.

While you are taking care of your children and sending them off to school, don’t neglect your own health and self-care. And enjoy the impending season of color as the leaves begin to change!

HEALTHY LIVING HEALTHY PLANET

WASHINGTON, D.C. EDITION PUBLISHER Stephen Ellis

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

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Contents 12 FOREVER FLEXIBLE

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Keep Joints Naturally Healthy

15 BUILD A BENTO

BOX LUNCH FOR KIDS

Pack Five Foods for Fun, Flavor and Health

16 CHEF RICK MOONEN on Why Buying Sustainable Seafood Matters

17 YOGA MEETS LIFE’S ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS

18 MEDITATIVE MELODIES How Sound Deepens Meditation Tapping into Our True Nature

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20 WHY OUR BODY LOVES YOGA

Gentle Poses Foster Flexibility

22 ZERO WASTE LIFESTYLE

Ways to Make Far Less Trash

24 SCAR THERAPY Surgical Scars May Trap You

26 THIRD ANNUAL

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PEACE RIDE

Pedaling to Prevent Violence

ADVERTISING & SUBMISSIONS HOW TO ADVERTISE To advertise with Natural Awakenings or request a media kit, please contact us at 202-505-4835 or email Stephen@NaturalAwakeningsDC.com.

Deadline for ads: the 15th of the month.

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27 HEALTHY JOINTS That Last a Lifetime

28 NATURE’S PAIN KILLERS

Super Foods that Halt the Inflammatory Process

DEPARTMENTS 6 news briefs 8 health briefs 10 global briefs 15 healthy kids 16 wise words 17 inspiration 18 healing ways 20 fit body 22 green living

24 leading edge 26 event spotlight 27 healthy aging 28 natural healing 30 healthy kids 29 daily calendar 31 ongoing

calendar 32 resource guide September 2018

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news briefs

Join the People’s Climate March in Washington, D.C.

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s part of a global day of action, the D.C. People’s Climate March will be held at 11 a.m. on September 8, on the National Mall. Led by a local team from Rise for Climate, it will be one of thousands of rallies taking place worldwide to demand that local leaders commit to building a fossil-free world and totally renewable energy that works for all of us.

“Together, we can make governments, institutions and corporations divest from fossil fuel,” says Bill McKibben, a longtime environmental advocate and founding fellow of the Sanders Institute, of Burlington, Vermont, which supports the program. “Together, we can elect candidates who vow to keep carbon in the ground. Together, we can use our collective voice to move our local communities, states and nation to 100 percent renewable energy.”

The Action Network is an open platform that empowers individuals and groups to organize for progressive causes.

Location: Pennsylvania Ave., NW. For more information, email NJaghori@outlook.com or visit RiseForClimate.org or ActionNetwork.org/Events/DC-Climate-March.

Local Screening of New Documentary, What the Health

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eck, Back and Beyond offers a monthly film screening with films that help others find the path to good health. This month they will be screening the documentary What the Health. The event is taking place from 7 to 10 p.m. on September 27, at their office in Fairfax.

From the creators of the movie Cowspiracy, this film is the follow-up that deals with preventing and even reversing chronic diseases. It exposes the corruption and collusion between big agribusiness and the government that is costing the citizens of the United States trillions of dollars and is keeping us sick. What The Health is a surprising, and at times hilarious, investigative documentary that will be an eye-opener for everyone concerned about our nation’s health and how big business influences it.

Donation: $5. Location: 10195 Main St., Ste. D, Fairfax. RSVP requested by calling 703-865-5690 or emailing NeckBackAndBeyond@gmail.com. See ad, page 23.

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Explore Culture, Yoga & Community: A New Year’s Journey in Laos and Cambodia

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Holistic Energy Expo Returns in November

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ll are invited to the Holistic Energy Expo, a free event, designed to create a warm, supportive and welcoming environment to connect like-minded people. It will be held from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on November 4, at the Ashburn Farm Clubhouse.

Expo co-founders, Annie Larson and Linda Pisani, encourage everyone from the casually curious attendee to the experienced practitioner to come enjoy the great energy of the expo and its many vendors.

Throughout the day, attendees can explore affordable mini-sessions, which are available to sample on a walk-in basis or you may book ahead by contacting the various vendors directly from the Holistic Energy Expo Facebook event page. Participants can enjoy a mini-session with massage therapists, reiki master energy healers, sound therapists, psychics, mediums, angel card readers and fairy readers. Vendors will offer for sale holistic products, jewelry, crystals, essential oils, divination cards and tools and so much more.

This is the third expo for Larson and Pisani, after they received wonderful reviews from participants of their past expos, including: “Thank you Linda and Annie for creating something wonderful in our community, all under one roof. Loved every moment of it. I’ll be at your next one for sure.” “Thank you so much, Annie and Linda for the amazing event! It was a beautiful picture of love, light and a shared appreciation for healing. So blessed to know you both and learn from your example.”

mmerse and cultivate a greater understanding of who you are and your yoga practice while traveling, touring and exploring in the rich culture of Southeast Asia. This journey will be led by local compassionate and adventuresome cultural guides, Mimi and Hawah. The trip will take place from December 28 to January 5, 2019.

Set amid these ancient and hallowed civilizations, this pilgrimage will reveal and inspire a deeper seat of knowledge, passion for life and connection with a curious, like-minded community. This new year’s journey will begin in Luang Prabang, a timeless town situated on the banks of the Mekong River. During the days here, the group will explore the UNESCO-protected city center to appreciate its unspoiled Laotian-colonial-fusion architecture and take in notable Buddhist temples.

Pilgrims will spend time cruising up the mighty Mekong gazing upon the stunning scenery and taking a tour of the Pak Ou caves, filled with thousands of tiny Buddha statues. Downtime and yoga will be enjoyed at the charming hotel in the heart of the city, perfectly situated near the magnificent markets and Luang Prabang’s revered restaurants.

Then on to Siem Reap, in Cambodia, which will be home for an exploration of Angkor Wat, one of the world’s most important ancient monuments. The days have been skillfully designed to get the most out of the time here, with an eye for avoiding the crowds. Pilgrims on this journey will see all of the more well-known highlights of this UNESCO World Heritage Site, as well as a few off-the-beatentrack treasures, where they will likely be the only visitors there.

Join along with fellow world travelers for a new year’s that will promise memories for a lifetime.

For more information, visit Hawah.Us. See calendar listing, page 30.

Location: 21400 Windmill Dr., Ashburn, VA. For more information, call 703-3038439 or 703-728-4656 or visit Holistic EnergyExpo.com.

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Acupuncture Alleviates Autism in Children

Meditation Improves Long-Term Cognition Cognitive gains that people experience from an intense meditation retreat can persist for at least seven years and slow age-related cognitive decline, a new study shows. Researchers from the University of California at Davis followed up with 60 people that had participated in a three-month retreat in which they meditated in a group and alone for a total of about eight hours a day.

Immediately afterwards, the meditators showed improvements in holding sustained attention— the ability to stay focused on a task or object— a key measure of cognitive function. Seven years later, researchers found that those significant gains were partly maintained, and that older participants that diligently practiced meditation didn’t show typical patterns of age-related attention declines.

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Ballet Dancing Boosts Senior Fitness and Energy Ten Australian seniors that strapped on ballet slippers and participated in Ballet for Seniors classes for three months reported feeling more fit, energetic and animated, according to research from the Queensland Institute of Technology and the Queensland Ballet. They also found that ballet improved their posture, flexibility, maneuverability and awareness.

Mastering challenging movements and sequences made the dancers happier than working at already achieved levels.

Also, the group enjoyed developing supportive social bonds in get-togethers outside the dance studio.

Cruciferous Veggies May Lower Stroke Risk Elderly women that eat lots of broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower and cabbage have less plaque on their carotid artery walls, reducing risk of strokes and heart attacks, a new study shows.

Researchers from the University of Western Australia surveyed 854 Australian women over the age of 70 to determine their vegetable intake, and then used sonograms to measure their carotid artery wall thickness to ascertain the severity of carotid plaque. Those eating the most cruciferous vegetables had a .05 millimeter lower carotid artery wall thickness compared to those with the lowest intake.

“That is likely significant, because a 0.1 millimeter decrease in carotid wall thickness is associated with a 10 to 18 percent decrease in risk of stroke and heart attack,” says lead study author Lauren Blekkenhorst.

Other vegetables, including leafy greens and alliums like onions, were not found to have the same protective effect.

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Acupuncture reduces autism scores, according to a new meta-analysis of 27 clinical studies of 1,736 children.

Researchers from Kyung Hee University, in the Republic of Korea, found that whether acupuncture was used alone or combined with other therapies, it improved outcomes for children with autism spectrum disorder as measured by the Childhood Autism Rating Scale and the Autism Behavior Checklist, without causing adverse side effects.

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health briefs

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Wild Berries Prove Anti-Cancer Prowess Spanking Linked A naturally occurring compound found abundantly in wild blackcurrants, bilberries to Mental Health and lingonberries increases the body’s ability to prevent Problems tumors, report researchers from the University of Eastern Finland. The color-producing pigments known as anthocyanins were found to increase the cancer-fighting ability of sirtuin 6, part of a class of enzymes that regulate the expression of genes that control the function of cells via key signaling pathways. Aging causes changes in the function of sirtuins, which in turn contributes to the development of several diseases.

Anthocyanins also color other berries, and earlier research from the UK University of East Anglia found that women eating blueberries and strawberries three or more times a week slashed their risk of heart attack by a third.

What are the Different Uses for Hypnosis?

by Michelle DeStefano Many people are curious about hypnosis and how it can be used to support their own health journey.

A good place to start learning is with the official definition of the practice: Hypnosis uses guided relaxation, intense concentration and focused attention to achieve a heightened state of awareness that is sometimes called a trance. It is this state that generates the ability to accept the suggestions given by the hypnotist to achieve desired results.

More specifically, hypnosis can be categorized in different groups. First, it can be used to deal with stress, fears, sadness and anxieties, comfortable births, changing bad habits, increasing self-esteem and building confidence, healing the past and more. Second, it is successfully used to assist with medical issues of all sorts, such as pre- and post-surgery support, nausea, gastrointestinal problems, pain management, high blood pressure and cancer, just to name a few. Third, many find it helpful to enhance performance in playing golf and other sports, increasing sales and improving job performance. Hypnosis has also been used as a tool for self-discovery and academic enhancement, finding hidden talents, relieving test anxiety and more. Finally, hypnosis for past life regression is in a category all by itself.

People have different reasons for seeking hypnosis and find that their sessions are very healing and enlightening. Some seek the treatment to release past traumas, to gain more insight on one’s life purpose, to better understand current relationships and so many more reasons. Since the mind and body are connected, if one’s mind is calm, the body will be healthier. In general, seeking health and wellbeing for one’s whole mind and body is one of the many great reasons to use the services of a local hypnotist.

Michelle DeStefano is double-certified in hypnosis and a member of both the National Guild of Hypnotists and the American Hypnosis Association. Her specialty is stress reduction and pain management. For upcoming events or free consultations, call 301-744-0200 or visit FreeYourselfHypnosis.com. See ad, page 7.

Spanking—defined as using physical force to control a child’s behavior by inflicting pain, but not injury—can have profound effects on a child later in life, say University of Michigan researchers.

Surveying records of 8,300 people that visited outpatient clinics for routine health problems, they found that the 55 percent of those that reported being spanked as children had higher incidences of depression, suicide attempts, drinking and drug use. The finding is in line with previous studies showing that childhood trauma, abuse and neglect can have long-term health effects.

A Quiet Heart At the center of the most turbulent heart there is a place of peace, a place beyond time that cannot be touched by change or loss.

No tumult can disturb the quietness, no shadow can dim the light. Here in this stillness is rest and healing. Nothing we suffer, nothing that we fear, can damage its perfection. ~Pam Brown

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A United Nations-backed report, Global Trends in Renewable Energy Investment 2018, reveals that the world invested more in solar power than any other single energy technology in 2017 and installed more new solar capacity than all other energy sources combined, including fossil fuels.

The report tally saw investors committing $279.8 billion to renewable energy overall, excluding large dams, and $160.8 billion to solar specifically. United Nations Energy Programme head Erik Solheim explains, “The extraordinary surge in solar investment shows how the global energy map is changing and more importantly, what the economic benefits are, including the creation of more better-paying, higher-quality jobs.”

China, the leader in solar and renewable investment, was responsible for more than half of the 98 gigawatts of solar capacity added last year and 45 percent of the dollars invested in renewables overall. The U.S. was second, investing $40.5 billion in renewable energy. Mexico, Australia and Sweden increased their commitments by substantial amounts—810 percent, 147 percent and 127 percent, respectively—with all three countries ranked in the top 10.

Flower Power

Farms Test Low-Tech Pesticide Alternative To make sure more beneficial bugs come to their crops to feed on pests, farmers are planting flowers in the middle of their fields. On a farm near the town of Buckingham, England, a crop of oilseed rape is planted amidst rows of wildflowers. It’s one of 14 sites in a study testing the wildflowers’ efficacy in attracting pest-eating bugs, and how well they would 10

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perform in replacing toxic pesticides.

The study also includes the use of borders of wildflowers around each field, a technique farmers in the area have used for the past two decades to promote general biodiversity, though not specifically for pest control.

Researchers Ben Woodcock and Richard Pywell, of the UK Center for Ecology and Hydrology,

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write, “The crop protection ‘toolbox’ is becoming smaller and more vulnerable, so now is a good time to rethink our future crop protection strategies to consider the use of alternative pest control measures alongside conventional pesticides.”

Pesticide use probably won’t be eliminated completely, they say.

However, by attracting pest-eating bugs—along

with other techniques like breeding plants to better resist pests, using technology to better diagnose and forecast pest behavior and application systems that can apply tiny amounts of pesticide more precisely—pesticide use could be dramatically reduced. Harsh chemicals can then serve as a last line of defense, rather than the first thing farmers reach for.

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New Solar Capacity Outpaced Other Fuel Sources

The Humane Society Legislative Fund, the government affairs affiliate of the Humane Society of the U.S., worked with animal protection champions in both chambers and with other stakeholders to secure success on several fronts in the 2018 federal budget.

Victories include preventing the slaughter of wild horses and burros, preserving protections for carnivores on National Park Service lands in Alaska, preserving Endangered Species Act protections for Great Lakes wolves and urging the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to restore inspection reports and enforcement records for horse shows, puppy mills, roadside zoos, laboratories and other facilities that were purged from the agency’s website in early 2017.

The budget also adds another $2 million for USDA enforcement of the Animal Welfare Act and $5 million to train and provide therapeutic service dogs for veterans and soldiers. It holds the line against cuts on many other vital fronts affecting animals, such as the Marine Mammal Commission and development of alternatives to live animal testing.

Harmful provisions still reflected in the budget include exempting concentrated animal-feeding operations from reporting toxic air emissions and maintaining a prohibition on the Environmental Protection Agency to regulate toxic lead content in ammunition and fishing tackle that poison and kill wildlife.

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Animals Gain Some Protection in New Budget

Sunny Success

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Hopeful Sign

global briefs

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Pipeline Slowdown

Animal Safety Measures Delay Tree Cutting

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has denied a request by Dominion Energy, the lead builder of the Atlantic Coast Pipeline, for more time to cut trees along the route. The company had to stop cutting by the end of March in order to protect migratory birds and endangered bats in the path of the project, planned to run from West Virginia to terminals in Virginia and North Carolina.

Opposing the controversial natural gas pipeline from the Appalachian Mountains to the Atlantic coast, Jamshid Bakhtiari, Virginia field coordinator for the Chesapeake Climate Action Network, says the FERC decision will delay, but not stop the project. Yet he states, “It’s a good thing. We should shoot to have more things like this happen in terms of delaying the pipeline. But it’s not a final nail, by any means, in the coffin.”

The pipeline is one of two conduits up to 42 inches in diameter for transporting fracked gas that developers want to build through the central Appalachians.

It’s across terrain that critics say is both scenic and poorly suited to heavy infrastructure.

Bakhtiari’s group is part of a broad coalition of organizations, including the Sierra Club, that has mobilized to stop the Atlantic Coast Pipeline. The denial means tree clearing has to halt at least until September, and at some points on the route, until November.

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New Eco-Packaging Options Underway Frito-Lay, Campbell Soup and other major U.S. players in the food and beauty industries are talking more about sustainability these days. The result is adoption of innovative materials.

Tom Szaky, founder and CEO of recycler TerraCycle, advises, “Bioplastics are meant to be a solution for the world’s plastic waste problem. However, in most cases, biodegradable bioplastics will only break down in a high-temperature industrial composting facility, not in your average household compost bin. Plus, these are not recyclable. A better solution might be to place the focus on durable bioplastics that are made from plant materials, but can still be recycled,”

Entrepreneurs like Daphna Nissenbaum are taking action. As an Israeli mom, she chided her teenage son for trashing rather than recycling plastic water bottles.

Yet then, she says, “I realized plastic bottles weren’t the main issue,” when she saw flexible packaging such as chip bags, candy wrappers and go-to containers crammed into the trash. Nissenbaum learned that most flexible packaging isn’t recycled and ends up in landfills, oceans and other places.

Once an orange peel is discarded, it disintegrates biologically and turns to compost, she saw, and committed to engineering packaging to do the same.

A graduate of the Israeli Army’s elite software engineering program and with a marketing MBA, her Tipa Corporation has patented bioplastic that acts like plastic.

“When composted, the material naturally breaks down in 180 days or less,” she says. Tipa now makes zippered bags, stand-up pouches and packaging for coffee, snacks and produce.

Action Alert

Migratory Birds Threatened by Rule Change A coalition of national environmental groups led by the National Audubon Society filed a lawsuit in May against the U.S. Department of the Interior challenging the federal administration’s move last December to eliminate longstanding protections for waterfowl, raptors and songbirds under the 100-year-old Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA). The intent is to weaken enforcement on businesses, municipalities and individuals to prevent “incidental” deaths of birds, which would lessen requirements for their protection from electrical power lines, towers, buildings and other hazards.

The risk of liability under the MBTA has provided incentives for the oil and gas industry, wind energy development companies and power transmission line operators to work with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to minimize bird deaths. The new policy eliminates these incentives to reduce and mitigate foreseeable impacts of operations on migratory birds.

“One of the first conservation laws, the MBTA sparked 100 years of conservation leadership in this country,” says Sarah Greenberger, Audubon’s senior vice president of conservation policy. “It defies all facts for the Department of the Interior to suggest that this law is somehow broken when we have a century of evidence that says otherwise.”

Urge senators and other representatives to uphold the MBTA via an easy form and single click under the Take Action tab at Audubon.org.

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Identification Helps

The term “arthritis” can conjure images of aging cartilage worn thin by years of overuse. Yet this common type, known as osteoarthritis, is just one of many joint pain culprits. Rheumatoid arthritis, which manifests in swelling and pain in the hands, wrists, feet or toes, arises when the body’s immune system attacks

Forever Flexible Keep Joints Naturally Healthy

by Lisa Marshall

Creaky knees, sore hips, shoulder pain or a stiff neck can be a thing of the past.

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hirty-seven percent of American adults 18 and older suffer from arthritis—a catch-all term for a dozen varieties of joint disease—according to the nonprofit Arthritis Foundation.

One in two men and two in three women 65 or older may have it, estimates a recent Boston University study. Due to increasing obesity rates and autoimmune disorders, it’s also impacting 8 million Millennials, reports the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

“I’m seeing higher rates, more severe cases and more of them in younger people.

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It’s an epidemic no one is talking about,” says Dr. Susan Blum, a Rye Brook, New York, physician and author of Healing Arthritis: Your 3-Step Guide to Conquering Arthritis Naturally.

About 65 percent of patients try to treat joint pain with daily anti-inflammatory drugs that can damage the stomach and kidneys. Many work and exercise less due to pain, making arthritis the leading cause of disability. More than 1 million undergo expensive, risky surgeries annually, with hip and knee replacements performed twice as often now as in 2000.

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itself, destroying tissue around the joints.

Spondyloarthritis inflames the spine and sometimes the eyes and gut. Infections like Lyme disease, parvovirus and hepatitis B can also ignite arthritic joint pain.

Inflammation may exacerbate them all, so an anti-inflammatory program can typically provide relief, says Blum. Serious forms might require more aggressive treatments; a visit with an integrative clinician is an important first step.

Get Weight in Check

About one-third of obese people have arthritis, and research shows that with every pound lost, joint pain diminishes— the lighter the load, the less the pressure on joints. A Wake Forest University study of knee osteoarthritis patients showed that with each 10 pounds lost, 40 pounds of pressure is lifted from the knee.

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Although conventional medicine maintains that drugs, surgery and reduced activity are inevitable, a new generation of clinicians disagree. They’ve seen how by losing weight, fighting inflammation with wholesome food and supplements, exercising smart and exploring science-backed integrative therapies, patients can manage the root causes of joint pain and find relief.

“We have many tools at our disposal to halt or slow the progression of arthritis so most people never have to have surgery,” says Doctor of Naturopathy Casey Seenauth, a staff physician at the Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine Pain Relief Center, in Tempe, Arizona.

“But it’s not simply about the load on the joints,” says Blum.

Fat cells release compounds called inflammatory cytokines, which can boost inflammation and pain. And new research from the University of Rochester, in New York, suggests that obesity may also impair the gut microbiome (beneficial bacteria lining the gastrointestinal tract), further exacerbating arthritis.

“There is no doubt that the gut bacteria are involved in the onset and perpetuation of inflammation and pain in arthritis,” says Blum.

When researchers fed mice the equivalent of a “cheeseburger and milkshake” diet for 12 weeks, doubling their body fat, they found more pro-inflammatory bacteria in their colon, more cartilage deterioration than in lean mice and more inflammation in their knees.

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Healing the Gut Heals Joints

Blum explains that dysbiosis, an overgrowth of harmful bacteria in the intestinal tract, can damage its fragile lining, allowing bits of bacteria to enter the bloodstream and ignite an autoimmune response. Dysbiosis can be kick-started by antibiotics, drugs like proton pump inhibitors, bad diet or stress, says Blum, who battled autoimmune arthritis after her son had a traumatic accident.

For curbing arthritis through the gut microbiome, the science is young. A few small human studies conducted in China and Finland suggest that ingesting specific strains of Lactobacillus (including casei, acidophilus, reuteri and rhamnosus) and Bifidobacterium (bifidum and infantis) may decrease inflammation and pain associated with arthritis.

In the University of Rochester study, overweight mice fed prebiotics (indigestible fibers that good bacteria feed on) had less arthritis progression.

Blum recommends taking antimicrobial herbs like oregano oil to heal a gut overgrown with bad bacteria and a highquality probiotic supplement to replenish good bacteria. She also suggests ditching processed food and products with refined sugar, along with known allergens like gluten, soy and dairy, which can spawn inflammation. Avoid nightshade vegetables like tomatoes, potatoes and peppers,

which anecdotally have been suggested to aggravate joint pain. Overall, strive for a plant-based diet high in fiber, colorful, antioxidant-rich vegetables and “good” fats. One recent Michigan State University study found that when osteoarthritis patients switched to a plant-based diet for six weeks, they experienced less pain than those in the meat-eating control group.

Exercise Smart

When joint pain begins to flare up, a carefully chosen workout may be exactly what’s needed for relief. A.J. Gregg, a chiropractor in Flagstaff, Arizona, says, “There is an element of ‘use-it-or-lose it’.” The proper

exercise depends partly on which joints are affected. He notes that properly executed strength training exercises like lifting weights can stabilize muscles around joints, easing strain and preventing arthritis from accelerating. Low-impact aerobic exercises like cycling or swimming can fuel the production and flushing of fluids through the joints without overloading them. Tai chi can improve range of motion. Even running, long falsely maligned as a precursor to arthritis, can help prompt cartilage cells to divide and replenish faster, research suggests.

A study of 75,000 runners by researchers at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, in California, found that they

Supplementing Suppleness

by Lisa Marshall

Curcumin: Derived from turmeric (Curcuma longa), this bright yellow culinary spice has been used as an anti-inflammatory agent in Asia for centuries. Today, it’s used as an alternative to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID), which can wreak havoc on the stomach and kidneys if taken long term, according to Naturopath Casey Seenauth. One industry-sponsored review concluded that 1,000 milligrams (mg) per day of curcumin can rival a NSAID like Advil for relief of pain and inflammation.

Collagen or gelatin: Integrative medicine practitioners have

long prescribed gelatin powder made from animal connective tissue to provide the nutrients required for joint regeneration. Supplement makers have developed arthritis-specific collagen supplements in which the gelatin is broken down for better absorption. A Chinese study of 500 rheumatoid arthritis patients found that collagen derived from chicken cartilage improved symptoms of pain, stiffness and swelling in joints. Plant-based options are available.

Glucosamine: This classic tissue-building block has been shown in multiple studies to slow cartilage loss associated with osteoarthritis. Taken long enough, it can also ease pain, says Seenauth. “People often take it, don’t feel anything right away and quit. Give it time.” He recommends 2,000 mg per day for at least six to eight weeks.

Fish oil: Omega-3 fatty acids like eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) are established anti-inflammatories. A Korean University review of 10 trials involving nearly 400 rheumatoid arthritis patients found that those taking more than three grams per day of omega-3 fatty acid supplements reduced their reliance on NSAIDs and had less pain.

Probiotics: While their impact on pain reduction isn’t clearly known, many studies show that certain strains of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium can boost immune function, repair damaged gut lining and reduce system-aggravating inflammation, says Dr. Susan Blum. She recommends products containing a mixed blend of 20 billion to 30 billion colony-forming units (CFU) per capsule.

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were less likely to develop osteoarthritis of the knee than less active people. A subsequent paper by University of Illinois researchers found that while each running step levels more force on joints than a walking step, the foot hits the ground less often, so when it comes to wear and tear, it approximates the effect of walking. “Running doesn’t set people up for earlier development of osteoarthritis, and can in fact be protective,” says Gregg, stressing that proper form, a soft running surface and moderation are all important.

later, while the placebo group worsened. In prolotherapy, doctors inject natural substances like dextrose and saline into the joint two to three times for six to eight weeks to promote production of collagen and other tissue-regenerating compounds.

“Rather than inject a steroid, which provides a short-term fix by suppressing the immune response, we inject a concentrated solution that ignites the body’s natural healing response,” says Seenauth.

Regenerative Injections

Natural joint pain remedies also encompass acupuncture and meditation. In the UK, a University of York meta-review of 114 studies exploring 22 integrative or complementary therapies for arthritis, including strength and aerobic exercise training, found acupuncture to have the most studies completed and the most promising results.

“Acupuncture can be considered as one of the more effective physical treatments for alleviating osteoarthritis knee pain in the short term,” concluded the authors.

University of Auckland researchers, in New Zealand, recruited 42 rheuma-

For more advanced cases of osteoarthritis, Seenauth recommends regenerative injections such as prolotherapy and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy. For PRP, doctors draw some of the patient’s blood and spin it down with a centrifuge to isolate platelets loaded with growth-promoting compounds.

Then, they inject the platelets into the joint.

A study of 78 patients with knee osteoarthritis published in the American Journal of Sports Medicine found that those receiving one or two PRP injections had significantly less pain and better function six months

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A Mind-Body Approach

NaturalAwakeningsDC.com

toid arthritis patients and assigned half to a program of mindfulness-based stress reduction, described by researchers as “the cultivation of nonjudgmental attention to unwanted thoughts, feelings and bodily experiences via meditation.”

While the meditation group saw no change in levels of inflammatory markers in the blood or the number of swollen joints, they did report significantly less morning stiffness, tenderness and pain.

The patients, in essence, trained themselves to experience their symptoms differently.

“Pain is not just about nerves detecting a noxious stimulant and sending the signal to your brain. The brain has a whole system for processing these signals, and is also informed by your experiences, emotions and cognition,” says Seenauth, who recommends mindfulness meditation to all of his patients.

“With the right nutrition, therapies and state of mind,” he says, “you can significantly reduce the impact joint pain has on your life.”

Lisa Marshall is a freelance health writer in Boulder, CO. Connect at LisaAnnMarshall.com.

“emotional nutrition”, as well. She might include a piece of chocolate or a cookie, but the surprise doesn’t have to be food.

“A note or picture from you written on your child’s napkin adds a special touch.

It lets them know you’re thinking about them and gives them a feeling of security throughout the day,” she says.

Parents faced with the daily round of lunch packing may benefit from the system of five. Each item goes into a separate compartment in the bento, box-style lunchbox.

Many also offer a space for a “chiller” to keep foods safely cool.

Elena Veselova/Shutterstock.com

healthy kids

Build a Bento Box Lunch for Kids Pack Five Foods for Fun, Flavor and Health

by Judith Fertig

O

ld-style rectangular metal lunchboxes are passé. New, convenient compartmentalized containers inspired by the Japanese bento box and Indian tiffin allow parents to pack up to five different, colorful and healthy items for a child’s lunch with less plastic wrapping to separate foods. It dovetails exactly with what nutrition professionals recommend.

Think Five

“People usually eat with their eyes,” says Allison Forajter, a clinical dietitian at Community Hospital, in Munster, Indiana. “The more color and variety presented the better.”

Holley Grainger, a registered dietitian, creator of the blog Cleverful Living at HolleyGrainger.com and mother of two school-age daughters in Birmingham, Alabama, agrees, saying, “These boxes make lunchbox packing easier because each compartment can be assigned a different food group.”

Grainger usually starts with a protein, adds fruits, vegetables and whole

grains, and inserts a surprise treat for a total of five selections. “One easy and inexpensive way to boost protein is through low-fat dairy options like milk, yogurt, string cheese or cottage cheese. For children that like meat and poultry, roasted chicken and low-sodium deli turkey are delicious options. This is where I like to work in leftovers, so last night’s entrée may be the filling for today’s lunchbox mini-tacos. For a high-protein vegetarian/vegan option, beans/legumes are a favorite, whether in dips, salsas, salads or pastas,” she says.

Forajter recommends exploring varied colors of the same type of fruits or vegetables. Offer green and purple grapes or red, yellow, green and orange bell pepper strips, and ask kids if each color tasted different. Including unusual fruits or vegetables can be a learning experience for the whole family. “Try purple and orange cauliflower or red, yellow, white or purple carrots,” she suggests.

Grainger not only packs healthy foods for her kids, she makes sure they get a little

Easy Options

Protein: turkey breast, chicken breast, hardboiled egg cut in half, nuts, beans, almond butter, string cheese, yogurt Fruit: blueberries, apple slices, plums, grapes—something easy for kids to eat

Vegetable: carrots, English cucumbers, celery sticks, bell pepper strips—easy finger foods; kids might eat more veggies if provided with a dip such as hummus or natural homemade ranch dressing

Whole grain: ancient or whole grain crackers, pita bread, non-GMO blue corn chips

Treat: a happy surprise could be a piece of wrapped dark chocolate, a crayon or a funny, loving or encouraging note from a parent

Lunch: a Key Meal

“When children are fueled with nutritious foods, they are more alert and focused throughout the day, leading to better behavior, concentration and test scores,” says Grainger. “They also have the opportunity to fill up on many of the essential vitamins and minerals often lacking in away-from-home meals. I’ve found that my children are hungrier at lunch than at other meals, so they tend to fill up on whatever is being offered.”

Judith Fertig writes award-winning cookbooks plus foodie fiction from Overland Park, KS (JudithFertig.com).

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wise words

Can we counteract the additional carbon footprint of shipping seafood inland?

Eat as local as possible, whenever possible. Typically, U.S. seafood is sustainable seafood. Choose freshwater fish.

Seafood is the most perishable ingredient in the kitchen.

It’s caught, cleaned, chilled and transported with a short expiration date. Chefs stay with the tried and true because it’s wasted if customers hesitate to order a dish. In a few years, we’ll be eating more seaweed.

We are literally loving some species to death. Bluefin tuna will likely become extinct during our lifetime due to our love affair with sushi. We should all rotate the types of fish on our plate, beyond tuna, tilapia and salmon. Good choices include halibut, mahi mahi, Arctic char, black cod and rockfish.

Refer to the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seafood Watch app for where and how fish are caught, if it’s sustainable or to be avoided. Sustainable means it’s fished or farmed with minimal impact on ocean health and will more likely remain available for the future. Half the seafood consumed today is farmed, according to program researchers.

Chef

RICK MOONEN on Why Buying Sustainable Seafood Matters

by Sandra Murphy

A

n early promoter of sustainable fishing, celebrity chef Rick Moonen is the owner of both RM Seafood and Rx Boiler Room, in Las Vegas, and brand promoter for True North Seafood. His cookbook, Fish Without a Doubt: The Cook’s Essential Companion, features only seafood that hasn’t been overfished. He was named Chef of the Year in 2011 by the Monterey Bay Aquarium, which publishes an up-to-date Seafood Watch guide to sustainable species (SeafoodWatch.org).

Moonen’s latest project is promoting non-BPA canned seafood to reduce waste, encourage everyone to eat lower on the food chain and give popular fish a chance to rebound.

Do healthy food trends start with chefs or customers asking for more nutritious dishes?

Both. Chefs are inherently curious. When a new food is available, they’re challenged to see how it can be used. Customers spread the word via social media. Travel broadens our palate. Trying something new is supercool.

Like the wreckfish, some species have unfortunate names. Smart marketing can persuade a consumer to try something unfamiliar.

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NaturalAwakeningsDC.com

Consider canned fish in BPA-free containers to better diversify an ocean-sourced diet. There’s no waste because it doesn’t rely on seasonal availability, tastes good and is sustainable. With creative recipes and fun garnishes, simple food can be as much of an experience as fine dining.

How can we avoid trashing the ocean and polluting our seafood?

People once thought the ocean was big enough to absorb anything dumped into it and it could replenish anything taken out. Toxic oil spills get publicity, but runoff from agricultural businesses is just as bad. The ocean can’t be used like a toilet. Be a steward of the environment and personalize the message through social media.

Is fish farming a good alternative for salmon and other species?

Fish farming has many components. Mistakes were made as people learned best practices during the past 20 years. Early instant demand called for rapid growth, causing overcrowded conditions, stressed fish and the use of antibiotics and genetically modified ingredients in the fish food. Aquaculture shouldn’t be demonized anymore.

marcin jucha/Shutterstock.com

Victor Tondee/Shutterstock.com

inspiration

It took a while, but the better companies made changes and continue to refine improvements. They deserve our support.

Wild fish are being contaminated by debris and plastic in the water, so farming is a good alternative.

Yoga Meets Life’s Essential Questions

What gives you hope?

Influencers are joining the choir of sustainability that I’ve preached for 30 years. Now I’m the Trojan Chef, sitting in on meetings with major suppliers and acting as spokesperson for True North.

We need to remember a species doesn’t live alone. Fish produce feces. Mussels love the yucky muck and they’re a great way to clean the water. Symbiotic species work with nature, eliminating the need for manmade chemicals.

What can individuals do?

When we’re grocery shopping or eating out, we’re voting with our dollars. Ask, “What kind of fish is this? Where was it caught and how? Is it farmed or wild?”

Serving as informed voices not only secures answers, it makes people aware of necessary preferences.

Sharing the message can be fun as anxiety melts over tasting the unfamiliar.

Host a Chopped or Iron Chef-style competition at home or with a neighbor. When my youngest son was little, there were things he wouldn’t eat out of hand, so I had him help me in the kitchen. Once he was invested in meals, he tasted new dishes.

Experimenting can be exciting.

Connect with freelance writer Sandra Murphy at StLouisFreelanceWriter@mindspring.com.

Tapping into Our True Nature

I

by Michael A. Singer

n 1972, I experienced a profound spiritual awakening and went into seclusion to focus on my inner growth.

This awakening helped me see that I’m not my mind—I am the observer of my mind.

I watched this chattering mind creating an obstacle to self-realization and true happiness. I also came to realize another clear truth: The outside world isn’t personal.

It’s unfolding according to all the forces that have taken place from the beginning of creation. Call it science or the will of God—it doesn’t matter. What matters is we didn’t do it, and it isn’t supposed to match what we want. When we see this, we can transcend the limited mind and embrace the true nature of our being.

We’ve each developed personal likes and dislikes resulting from life experiences that have left good or unfavorable impressions within us. These impressions determine how we view the world, and they limit our ability to enjoy life. We can begin learning how to release these impressions by letting go of the little things that irritate us for no reason—like the weather or someone’s attitude. We have a tendency to resist uncomfortable feelings, so we try to fix and control our environment. A commit-

ment to yoga demands that we let go of our personal reactions and use each experience in life to go beyond our comfort zone.

The science of yoga is centered on realizing the essential self—the one within who is simply aware. It comes from thousands of years of enlightened beings devoting their lives to the questions: “Who am I? Why do my thoughts and emotions change so much?” This inquiry helps us find the true self inside, the self beyond personality and the mind’s fears and opinions.

Progress happens through cultivating awareness. The simplest approach is to ask: “Who is in here looking through these eyes and experiencing this world?” Don’t try to answer. Just relax back into the essence of your being—the one who sees—and experience life from this place of awareness.

When we’re clear and comfortable with who we are inside, life becomes beautiful—regardless of what is going on around us. We can then help raise the world for the better. There is freedom and peace in that.

Michael A. Singer, author of The Untethered Soul, is founder of the Temple of the Universe yoga and meditation center, in Alachua, Florida. See UntetheredSoul.com.

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“When we do studies of this, we find we can change our brains. We can change our relationship to our emotions. We can change our relationship to the actuality of things in ways that are healing. The immune system responds.”

wavebreakmedia/Shutterstock.com

healing ways

Meditative Melodies

How Sound Deepens Meditation

W

by Dudley Evenson

hen life is stressful, we know we need to relax. The question is how. Many wonderful ways involve combining music with a meditation practice. Although we can’t always control our surroundings, we can learn to control how we react to and internalize what happens around us.

On the value of meditation and mindfulness, Jon Kabat-Zinn, founder of the Center for Mindfulness in Medicine, Health Care and Society, at the University of Massachusetts Medical School, observes, “When we do studies of this, we find we can change our brains. We can change our relationship to our emotions. We can change our relationship to the actuality of things in ways that are healing. The immune system responds.”

Because sound affects us on all levels—emotional, mental and physical—combining musical processes with our meditation practice can be highly effective in easing stress. Cultures worldwide have long used music to lift the spirit and enhance meditation and healing.

Choose recorded music that helps calm mental chatter. Here are some criteria.

Choosing Meditation Music

Controlling Breath

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4 Slow rhythms. These entrain bodily systems, including the heartbeat, pulse, digestion, respiration and muscle functioning, to a more natural rhythm.

4 Natural sounds. They give a sense of peace.

4 Nurturing tones. Typically, these are clear, warm and gentle.

4 Uplifting, not gloomy. The music should give rise to a sense of joy and beauty.

4 Absence of hooks and refrains; avoid repetition and familiarity that engage the analytical mind.

4 Flowing. It is soothing and feels akin to nature.

4 Sub-audio frequencies. The presence of these is an optional way to entrain brainwaves to an alpha or theta state that allows relaxation and healing to occur.

4 Intention. It’s important for both the musician and listener.

Here are several self-generated ways to further enhance meditation.

NaturalAwakeningsDC.com

We can live without food for weeks and water for days, but breath for only minutes. A simple way to begin breath work is by taking a fast, full inhalation, followed by a long, slow exhalation. With practice, both breath control and stress levels will improve.

Vocal Toning This uses the human voice to produce elongated vowel tones or humming sounds that can empower meditation. It also slows and lengthens our exhalation by putting a brake on the breath.

Begin by taking a deep breath and then, with the mouth open, make a simple vowel tone such as ahh or ohh. With the exhalation pushing out a sound, the tone follows naturally.

Mantra and Chant Mantras can keep the demons of our monkey mind from distracting us. The word means “mind protection” in Sanskrit. A mantra is characterized by a short sound or phrase that carries a vibration and frequency that extends beyond the simple meaning of the words. Using mantras can help overcome mental chatter, de-stress and set us up for an expansion of consciousness.

Dr. Herbert Benson, founder of the Mind/Body Medical Institute at Harvard Medical School, in Boston, documented a phenomenon he named “the relaxation response”. His research discovered that those that repeated mantras for even 10 minutes a day experienced physiological changes— a reduced heart rate, slower metabolism and lower stress levels, all of which allow the body to return to a more natural state of wellness.

Singing Affirmations Research led by Carnegie Mellon University’s David Creswell found that people using self-affirmation also can protect against the damaging effects of stress on problem-solving performance.

An affirmation is a positive statement spoken in the present tense asserting that a desired goal is already achieved. With sufficient repetition and focused intention, declaration becomes reality. Adding a melody to our affirmation and singing it repeatedly enhances its power.

Mind-body expert Dr. Deepak Chopra agrees, stating, “Music helps to take the affirmations to a deeper level of the mind so that a process of emotional and spiritual transformation can start.”

We are constantly affirming in our mind what we believe. With perseverance, repetition and steadfast belief in them, the words of our affirmations become a part of us.

Before long, we notice we are achieving what we may have previously thought was impossible. Accessing the rich array of music and sound modalities available can help deepen meditation, decrease stress and allow us to benefit from a higher and much improved quality of life.

Dudley Evenson and her husband, Dean, are sound healing pioneers who have produced award-winning music since 1979 through their label, Soundings of the Planet. Their new book is Quieting the Monkey Mind: How to Meditate with Music.

Learn more at Soundings.com.

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刀漀挀欀瘀椀氀氀攀Ⰰ 䴀䐀 ⠀㌀ ㄀⤀ 㜀㜀 ⴀ㜀 㐀

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Yoga poses don’t need to be intense to have a significant effect. Gentle, regular practice can improve range of motion, increase muscle strength and promote circulation of the synovial fluid surrounding joints that supplies oxygen and nutrients to cartilage.

happy_fox_art/Shutterstock.com

fit body

WHY OUR BODY LOVES YOGA

Gentle Poses Foster Flexibility

A

by Marlaina Donato

lthough media coverage of yoga often highlights advanced yoga poses, the practice is not reserved solely for super-flexible folks. Benefits are available to everyone of any age or physical type.

“Many people assume that yoga requires the ability to be a contortionist.

Yoga is an internal process and can meet us wherever we are,” says yoga therapist Kimberly Carson, of Mindful Yoga Works, in Portland, Oregon. Springing from the theory that half of our capacity to become more flexible lies less in the muscles than in the nervous system, this calming practice helps the body release tension and achieve a suppler state.

Why it Works Yoga poses don’t need to be intense to have a significant effect. Gentle, regular practice can improve range of motion, increase muscle strength and promote circulation of the synovial fluid surrounding joints that supplies oxygen and nutrients to cartilage.

“Basic yoga is just as beneficial as more advanced ideas of yoga, especially in terms of body awareness,” says Piper Abbott, an integrative yoga therapist and 20

Washington, D.C.

teacher who owns Burlington Yoga, in Burlington, Vermont. “Where our attention goes, energy flows. When we’re holding a posture and directing this focused awareness into the sensation of a stretch, we’re learning to read our body.”

Agility is usually associated with muscles and joints, but underlying flexibility goes deep to further enhance wellness. Stiff muscles often go hand-inhand with stiff arteries, for example, but appropriate exercise can have a positive effect there, too.

According to studies by physical therapist Miriam Cortez-Cooper, Ph.D., and her colleagues during her tenure at the University of Texas at Austin, stretching exercises performed for 11 weeks improved flexibility of the carotid artery—the main vessel that transports blood to the brain—by 23 percent. Such an increase did not result from aerobic exercise or strength training.

Every Body Can Benefit “Yoga is truly for any and every body.

Flexibility or a lack thereof can be found in anatomies of any shape. Many options

NaturalAwakeningsDC.com

for poses exist to help you find the version that works best for you. Yoga props such as blocks and straps can provide support to encourage experimenting while ensuring a safe approach,” says Anna Guest-Jelley, CEO of Curvy Yoga, in Portland, Oregon. She loves sharing the value of yoga with people of all sizes.

“What’s important is working wherever you are within your current range of motion, so your body can open to new movements appropriately.”

Maintaining a regular practice offers an opportunity for individuals living with chronic pain or undergoing cancer treatment to feel more at ease. “Even in cases of severe fibromyalgia, some movement is better than none, and can foster better sleep. Restorative sleep can help to heal microtears in muscles, which can be common.

Non-goal-oriented yoga also offers layers of benefits for cancer patients, both supporting physical function, as well as offering a way to practice kindness towards the body/ mind during tough times,” says Carson.

For seniors, yoga is an excellent way to foster better flexibility, even in the presence of osteoarthritis. Studies conducted

by Dr. Sharon Kolasinski, of the University of Pennsylvania, found that Iyengar yoga reduced joint stiffness and pain reduction during an eight-week period in people with knee osteoarthritis. Chair yoga, though popular with seniors, can introduce unnecessary risk if not tailored appropriately for those with osteoporosis, Carson cautions. “It’s important for older adults to find classes taught by appropriately trained instructors. Inappropriate chair sitting itself can compromise bone health, so teachers trained in spinal health and planes of action are recommended.”

No matter the level of an individual’s agility, improved flexibility is a boon, especially when it goes beyond the physical to embrace mental and spiritual aspects. Abbott remarks, “Yoga has taught me not only how to move and relate to my body, but how to gracefully adjust to change and the challenges of life.”

Marlaina Donato is a freelance writer and authors books related to the fields of alternative health and spirituality. Connect at MarlainaDonato.com.

Where to Learn More

Pick up CSA Membership Box, weekly, at one of our 5 locations in the Silver Spring and Bethesda area

Yoga for Every Body: Basics for Alignment and Flexibility, Diane Finlayson DVD, Tinyurl.com/Yoga-Align-Flex Curvy Yoga YouTube videos, include 15-minute morning wake-ups with Anna Guest-Jelley, YouTube.com/user/ CurvyYoga/featured Power Yoga for Flexibility, Rodney Yee DVD, Gaia.com/person/ rodney-yee Relax into Yoga for Seniors: A Six-Week Program for Strength, Balance, Flexibility and Pain Relief¸ a book by Kimberly Carson, MindfulYogaWorks.com/products

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ZERO WASTE

LIFESTYLE

Ways to Make Far Less Trash

by Avery Mack

I

n manufacturing, a zero waste policy means designing products so that all resources are used or reused. It’s a concept Bea Johnson, author of Zero Waste Home: The Ultimate Guide to Simplifying Your Life by Reducing Your Waste, embraced for her family a decade ago in Mill Valley, California. “My goal was to simplify our lives,” she says. “We found a zero waste lifestyle isn’t what we expected; it’s better. It’s good for the environment and for our family.”

Johnson reports achieving 40 percent savings in annual household costs. “Voluntary simplicity has also changed our daily routines. Simple living focuses on experiences versus things, and we find we have more free time,” she says. “Our minimalist wardrobes now fit into carry-on bags for travel.”

A Doable Personal Goal “Don’t expect to reach zero. Go for zero-ish,” counsels Celia Ristow, a freelance writer who blogs at Litterless.com. In 2017, Ristow and two friends, Moira Kelley and Bailey Warren, started a grassroots group called Zero Waste Chicago to raise awareness and connect locals with needed resources to reduce trash.

“We speak at grocery stores, community events, schools, colleges and to employees on their lunch hour. We love how responding readers send suggestions and outlets for reusing items,” says Ristow.

Local efforts can take off when people find like-minded others through using hash tags like #zerowastechicago on Instagram, search for a local blogger or host a mini-meet-up in a grocery that sells in bulk or at a coffee shop that uses ceramic cups or no plastic stirrers.

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Washington, D.C.

NaturalAwakeningsDC.com

Similar grassroots organizations are active in Colorado (EcoCycle. org/home) and Seattle (EcoCollectiveSeattle.com).

“Zero waste seems difficult to imagine in the U.S. People think change is costly and time-consuming,” Johnson says. “My vocation is to shatter these misconceptions. Follow the 5 R’s: refuse what you don’t need, reduce what you need, reuse, recycle and rot. Refuse single-use plastics and junk mail, reduce the volume of clothing items and sports equipment, buy used, recycle the unwanted and compost (rot) food waste, lint, hair and floor sweepings. It’s not that complicated.”

Due to her experience, Johnson can now store a year’s worth of waste in a pint-sized Mason jar. “Inside is deteriorated foam from headphones, a dental retainer, silicone caulk from the sink, fruit and veggie stickers, clothing labels, plastic mini-bumpers from cabinet corners I replaced with felt and a plastic-coated spike from the dishwasher,” she says. “I’m still amazed when people have a use for something I don’t want or need. Start by saying no to flyers, freebies, party favors, business cards, plastics, excessive packaging and junk mail. Accepting them creates more. Refusing such clutter is the first rule to a less wasteful lifestyle.”

Kathryn Kellogg, the Vallejo, California, author of the Going Zero Waste blog and a content creator for Pela Case, a Canadian eco-friendly smartphone case maker, offers many zero waste swaps. “I use silicone cupcake liners instead of paper, bar soap in lieu of plastic-packaged body wash and make my own lip balm.” She also has alternatives for sponges, plastic wrap, cooking pans and toothbrushes. Consider her 31-day challenge at GoingZeroWaste.com/31-day-video-challenge. She notes, “Since I started working toward zero waste, I have more confidence, am able to speak up about less waste and am mindful when I shop.”

A World View In May, Johnson toured 16 countries in 17 days giving presentations. “Surprisingly, we often had to open another room because interest was higher than expected. In Russia, they broadcasted my talk to 17 cities,” she says.

Johnson learned that many countries have no waste collection or recycling programs. Plastic bottles, bags and trash litter many landscapes. “Life in the United States is different. Here, we have bigger houses, need more and create more waste. Elsewhere, grocery shopping is done daily instead of weekly, produce is local, seasonal and sustainable instead of imported,” she observes. “In a way, it’s easier to go zero waste there because they’re using just what they need. Everyone deserves a place to live and life’s necessities. Past that comfort level, it’s excess.”

Johnson sees rapid changes underway in consumer thinking and is hopeful looking forward. “I don’t want to tell others how to live. I just want to share our experiences. The United States’ example has a huge impact worldwide. Zero waste is the necessary lifestyle of the future, and it begins at home.”

Connect with the freelance writer via AveryMack@mindspring.com.

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subscribe from receiving bulky catalogs, credit card offers and unwanted paper mail (PaperKarma.com).

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*Students in K-12 schools across the continental U.S. and parts of Canada can collect and repurpose all brands of plastic markers, including dry-erase and highlighters. A minimum of 100 markers and up to 40 pounds is the suggested package.

Crayola’s Colorcycle program provides prepaid FedEx shipping labels via Tinyurl.com/ColorCycleInfo. *Rubber bands can be donated to local schools or to the post office for mail carriers’ use. *Donate old cell phones to charities. Because it reduces the

need for coltan, an African ore mined in endangered gorilla habitat, zoos in San Diego, Oklahoma City, Oakland and Cincinnati are among those collecting cell phones for recycling.

Check Tinyurl.com/Phones4Charities and CincinnatiZoo.org/ savingspecies/recycle-your-cell-phone.

*Listfully.org takes the guesswork out of gift giving. A user can select a date night at a favorite spot, a donation to charity or any item. It’s not limited to a particular store or occasion.

Avoid unwanted gifts and the guilt of regifting. *Use SwoondleSociety.com to swap children’s clothing and

keep clothes out of landfills.

The most Earth-conscious option is to reduce, re-use, then recycle or donate to charities.

September 2018

23

leading edge

SCAR THERAPY

Surgical Scars May Trap You

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Washington, D.C.

NaturalAwakeningsDC.com

By Dr. Isabel Sharkar, ND

cars may be easily overlooked as if they do not interfere with your health, but there are good reasons why you should pay more attention to them. A scar is an adhesion and may be a direct pain generator, especially when cutaneous and subcutaneous nerves are cut along with the skin and deeper tissues. A scar interferes with normal physiological exchange between the connected sides.

When the body repairs, new protein (collagen) fibers replace the injured tissue and a scar is formed. With this new formation, the new fibers are randomly aligned and mismatched and may lead to trapped nerves, neuromas or inflammatory mediators that produce ongoing pain. This scar tissue may pull on other areas, compress nerves, blood vessels, organs and limit physiological functioning.

An incision (considered an “injury”) into the body for a surgery will upset the body’s natural processes and rhythm— leaving behind trauma from the “injury.” The body has a natural flow—especially seen with the meridian lines in Traditional Chinese Medicine. Each point in the body within the meridian system correlates with an organ, cell or other system of the body.

Scars can prevent the natural flow of the body’s energy or qi (chi). Nerves, blood and lymphatic vessels, meridians, skin, fascia and other tissues cease to connect or communicate normally across the scar barrier. The result is stagnation of energy that can, over time, result in new problems in that area of the body.

Why Doctors Ask for Your Surgical History When a mystery disease appears within the vicinity of a scar, it is important to check the associated meridians in that area. There are many undiagnosed medical conditions that may be linked to postoperative surgical scarring. Releasing scar tissue is a very important step in your healing process. Scars may also hold on to emotions from the past that are trapped in the nerve fibers. As you release the scar tissue, you may release the emotions and let them go for good.

Releasing scars may be done in several ways. The goal is to break down scar tissue in order for it to realign the fibers more functionally and enable flexibility in the area.

Neural Therapy Treatment for Scars One such treatment is neural therapy— also known as German scar therapy.

This procedure involves numbing the scar and surrounding area with procaine. When this local anesthetic drug is applied, the body converts it to ParaAmino-Benzoic Acid (PABA), an antioxidant that helps to generate the production of folic acid. It begins to release some of the rigidity and stored energy of the scar tissue. Scar therapy helps to stimulate the autonomic ganglia, peripheral nerves, glands and trigger points associated with the affected meridian.

A scar has a sympathetic-dominant charge firing in a disturbed “fight or flight” manner. A neural therapy injection may alter the autonomic nerve conduction that creates the disturbance by normalizing membrane potential. When procaine is injected into a nerve, temporary hyperpolarization (inhibition) is caused by the anesthesia. As it wears off, the nerve repolarizes with a normal membrane potential. There are variations of neural therapy that work very well to break down scar tissue.

All surgical scars including Cesarean section, plastic surgery or internal scars must be evaluated. Scar therapy is a wonderful tool to add onto any health treatment protocol.

Dr. Isabel Sharkar is a licensed naturopathic physician and co-owner of the Indigo Integrative Health Clinic, in Georgetown. For more information, call 202-298-9131 or visit IndigoHealthClinic.com. See ad, page 36.

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To advertise or participate in our next issue, call 202-505-4835 September 2018

25

event spotlight

ONE COMMON UNITY

Pedaling to Prevent Violence

Third Annual Peace Ride R egistration has begun for One Common Unity’s Third Annual Peace Ride, which will take place Saturday, September 29 ​from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., in Washington, D.C. ​The ride will cover 19 scenic miles, starting from the Lincoln Memorial and spreading across the District and Virginia. All are welcome to be a part of this effort to fulfill the mission of the event, which is to Pedal to Promote Compassion—Pedal to Prevent Violence— Pedal for Peace.

The sponsoring organization, One Common Unity, delivers holistic, artsdriven violence prevention programs to more than 5,000 D.C. youth in 14 public high schools and middle schools across all eight wards of the city. Their innovative youth development program, Fly By Light, immerses area youth in a transformative process centered upon social-emotional learning, mindfulness, health and wellness, nature immersion and the arts.

With the support of a professional

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Washington, D.C.

program evaluation specialist, they recently completed a five-year impact study that illuminates the change that their Fly By Light program had on the 2011 cohort five years later. The study indicates that 84 percent of their students graduated from high school—a rate far higher than the D.C. average. None of their participants served time in juvenile detention, jail or prison and 83 percent report taking on more leadership roles than they did before participating in the program.

“Despite extensive studies that emphasizes the importance of outdoor physical activity for youth as an outlet for stress and anger, new research reveals the average youth is spending seven hours a day behind a digital screen and only seven minutes a day in unstructured time playing outside.

To shift this culture, One Common Unity uses a social-emotional learning curriculum model paired with nature immersion to provide violence prevention programs to thousands of D.C. youth,” says Hawah

NaturalAwakeningsDC.com

Kasat, co-founder and executive director of One Common Unity.

This annual Peace Ride is a ​signature community event and fundraiser which brings together riders and supporters from all across the region who are committed to ending youth violence and building a better future through peace education, social-emotional literacy, creative arts and mindfulness programming.

The day’s event kicks off at Base Camp, overlooking the Lincoln Memorial. From this symbolic starting point, riders will cycle along a pre-planned 19-mile loop, offering an opportunity to push themselves and support each other. The course offers opportunities to complete one or multiple loops, and also offers a shorter walk and family-friendly six-mile route.

Participants also have an opportunity participate in yoga classes, as well as wellness and interactive art workshops. There will be live music and poetry performances by students and special guests throughout

healthy aging

Healthy Joints That Last a Lifetime

the day. The Peace Ride is a day of sun, fun and connection and open to all.

All proceeds from this event support One Common Unity and its ongoing violence prevention programs in D.C. public schools. In D.C., violent crime is still more than five times the national average and youth are four times more likely to die by homicide than by the next closest cause. For the past 18 years, One Common Unity has been working at the front lines in the community to change the lives of District Youth and prepare them for a better future.

The Peace Ride is made possible with support from the Platinum Sponsor: Lululemon; the Bronze Sponsor: AmeriHealth Caritas D.C.; as well as Community Partners: Pleasant Pops, Capital Bikeshare, Washington Sports Club, LimeBikes, MTO Kombucha, DayBreaker, South Block Juicery, TaKorean, Yoga District, Gearin’ Up Bicycles, Natalie’s Orchid Island Juice Co., Metro D.C. Yoga, Flow Yoga Center and Mellow Mushroom.

To learn more or to be a part of this important event, call Emily Eakland at 202765-3757, email Emily@OneCommon Unity.org or visit OCUPeaceRide.com.

See ad, page 24.

T

by Allan Tomson

here are many different functions for joints and therefore they come in many different sizes and shapes. They are perfectly suited to the job they do. There are hinge joints, ball and socket, gliding and pivot types. All have different functions and all, of course, have limits.

When joints are overtaxed or injured, the body goes into repair mode by creating an inflammatory response (think: swelling or a sprained ankle). An inflammation is an immune response the body uses by pouring white blood cells into an area, to digest and remove tissue debris (broken cells). If this happens repeatedly, over years, the joint can degenerate. The cartilage and soft tissue basically wear down to nothing. The joints, over time, become stiffer and lose range of motion. Pain eventually arrives and if the joint is a weight-bearing one, the stress is amplified.

The spine is no different. The vertebra has two main joints: the disc between each vertebra and the facets joints (small joints at the back of each vertebra that guide motion). When vertebra become misaligned, pressure builds in the nervous system and can block nerve flow. Chiropractic manipulation can remove blocks in the spine and improve nerve flow. Additionally, exercise is critical piece of the puzzle to keep joints moving, flexing and extending for a pain-free lifestyle.

Another factor that affects joint health over the long term is something called “leaky gut”. It is a problem of the small intestine in that the tight junctions in the absorptive membrane loosen up and allow larger molecules that aren’t normally absorbed to get into the body. Your immune system finds these molecules and deems them a foreign invader. Of course, they attack to neutralize them. For some reason, this inflammatory action ends up in some of the larger joints like the knee and hip. Almost all forms of arthritis can be connected back to leaky gut in some way. Fortunately, there are a number of supplements that can heal the small intestines’ absorptive membrane.

Dr. Allan Tomson, DC, is the executive director of Neck, Back & Beyond Healing Arts, an integrative wellness center in Fairfax, with a satellite office in Manassas. He has skills and experience in functional medicine, visceral manipulation, CranioSacral Therapy and Cayce protocols. To contact him, email ATomsonDC@gmail.com or visit NeckBackAndBeyond.com. See ad, page 23.

September 2018

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natural healing

smoothies and jellies. By implementing an anti-inflammatory lifestyle and including nature’s natural pain reducers, one can achieve more joint mobility and be less reliant on medications. This is a key part in energizing your wellness.

Nature’s Pain Killers

Super Foods that Halt the Inflammatory Process

W

hether it is a result of injuries or simply due to aging, joint pain is extremely common. The pain we feel is due to chemical messengers called cytokines, which are released in order to fight off bacteria or heal from an injury.

This causes an inflammatory state and is part of the body’s natural way to heal itself.

Unfortunately, the inflamed state can become chronic, leading to osteoarthritis—also known as chronic inflammation.

Most doctors will prescribe a daily nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) like aspirin or ibuprofen. Daily use of NSAIDs can wreak havoc on the stomach, causing stomach pain, heartburn, ulcers and can lead to liver and kidney problems. Diet and lifestyle choices can have a dramatic effect on chronic pain and lead to less of a reliance such drugs. There are some noteworthy super foods that succeed in halting the inflammatory process such as turmeric, ginger, tart cherry and collagen.

Turmeric is one of nature’s most powerful anti-inflammatory agents. The active bioflavonoid is curcumin, which contains many antioxidants that eliminate the free radicals that cause swelling. Turmeric has been shown to reduce inflammation, boost cognitive activity, support joint and muscle health and optimize detoxification. Pair turmeric with black pepper to enhance its bioavailability.

Ginger is closely related to turmeric and is also extremely potent in fighting inflammation. In a double-blind, placebocontrolled study, ginger was found to reduce 28

Washington, D.C.

chronic osteoarthritis of the knee, as noted in a 2001 study found in Arthritis & Rheumatism. The phytochemicals found in ginger have been shown to reduce pain at the cellular level. Reduction in inflammation allows for healthier joint motility and therefore, one feels less pain.

Collagen peptides are a protein that make up the soft tissue surrounding our joints. Adding collagen or a gelatin to the diet has also been shown to reduce pain. The amino acids found in collagen have been suggested to promote the development of healthy tissue between joints, thus improving joint motility as well. Collagen is also important in maintaining youthful skin and supports a healthy digestive system.

Tart cherries contain anthocyanins that promote the natural anti-inflammatory process in the body. They also contain high amounts of potassium that help regulate the nerve processes of pain. According to a 2012 study reported in the Journal of Food Studies, drinking 10 ounces of tart cherry juice a day provided relief from osteoarthritis. This juice also contains many antioxidants that help diminish pain and cancer-cell growth.

Adding some of these pain fighting superfoods to the diet can easily be done. For instance, one could add freshly grated ginger and turmeric with a dash of black pepper to a glass of tart cherry juice. This simple cocktail could be the new nightcap needed to help fight pain and inflammation, all night long.

Another favorite way to include these healing ingredients into everyday life is with

NaturalAwakeningsDC.com

Elizabeth McMillan, CNS, LDN is an integrative nutritionist at the Rose Wellness Center, in Oakton, Virginia. To learn more, visit RoseWellness.com. See ad, page 23.

Recipes for Pain Relief Tropical Turmeric 1 cup almond milk ½ cup pineapple 2 ribs celery ½-inch ginger ½ tsp turmeric Water to dilute (optional – 1 scoop collagen peptides) Blend all ingredients and enjoy

Anti-inflammatory Turmeric Jellies 2 cups water ½ Tbsp turmeric 3 Tbsp honey 1 Tbsp coconut oil 4 Tbsp unflavored gelatin powder Combine water, turmeric, honey and coconut oil in a saucepan on medium-high heat for about five minutes, stirring constantly.

Check and adjust sweetness. Remove from heat and sprinkle gelatin powder over warm liquid. Whisk vigorously for one minute. Pour into a glass, shallow dish.

Refrigerate for two hours. Once solidified, cut into small portions with a knife and enjoy.

calendar of events

as the waves of sound wash over participants, a deep energetic clearing occurs, leaving participants feeling balanced, peaceful and light. $25$30. Nourishing Journey, 8975 Guilford Rd, Ste 170, Columbia, MD. Info: AngelaBlueskies.com.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 8

how to tap into your innate strengths, set priorities and reframe your thinking to achieve greater balance and make room for the things that are most important to you. $10. Rise Well-Being Center, 11130 Sunrise Valley Dr, Ste 150, (right side of building), Reston, VA. Register: RiseWellBeing.

Center/Special-Events. Info: 703-429-1509.

Kids’ Cooking Adventure – 10am. Children 3 years and older can join us with their grown-ups to learn to make totally healthy, totally vegan snacks.

You must pre-register at customer service or by email. $5/child. Dawson’s Market, 225 N Washington St, Rockville, MD. Register: DThomas@ DawsonsMarket.com. Info: DawsonsMarket.com.

Essential Oils Series – 6:30-9:30pm. 1st of 6 monthly topics: Beat stress with essential oils, open to everyone (3 CE hours for massage therapists).

Potomac Massage Training Institute (PMTI), 8380 Colesville Rd, Ste 600, Silver Spring, MD. Register: PMTI.org/Registration. Info: PMTI.org/ Community-Workshops.

special event Illuminate Columbia Mind-Body-Spirit Festival

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 1 Couples Massage – 2-5:30pm. Increase your awareness of self and explore deeper connections with others through massage. $99/couple.

Potomac Massage Training Institute (PMTI), 8380 Colesville Rd, Ste 600, Silver Spring, MD. Register: PMTI.org/Registration. Info: PMTI.org/ Community-Workshops.

Meet the Artist - Beach pARTy – 7-9pm. Current artists, Jackie Tury and Vladimir Grablev. This beach-blast will have music, food and art projects to cheer this family-friendly, good-bye summer gathering. Free. Rise Well-Being Center, 11130 Sunrise Valley Dr, Ste 150, (right side of building), Reston, VA. Register: RiseWellBeing.Center/ Special-Events. Info: 703-429-1509.

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 2 Touch of Massage – 10am-5pm. A full-day immersion to learn how massage can relax, rejuvenate and heal. $85. Potomac Massage Training Institute (PMTI), 8380 Colesville Rd, Ste 600, Silver Spring, MD. Register: PMTI.org/Registration. Info: PMTI.org/Community-Workshops.

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 5 Restorative Yoga with Reiki Healing – 6:308:30pm. Restorative yoga is a gentle form of yoga where we use props to support our bodies in creating space and a sense of ease and peaceful relaxation. Reiki is a Japanese practice of maximizing and balancing force energy. $32 for members and $40 for nonmembers. Rise Well-Being Center, 11130 Sunrise Valley Dr, Ste 150, (right side of building), Reston, VA. Register: RiseWellBeing.

Center/Special-Events. Info: 703-429-1509.

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 7 Essential Oils for Health and Vitality – 6:308pm. Free evening to learn about the healing properties of essential oils and how oils can be used in your wellness routine. Potomac Massage Training Institute (PMTI), 8380 Colesville Rd, Ste 600, Silver Spring, MD. Info: Info@PMTI.org or PMTI. org/Community-Workshops.

Gong Medicine Journey – 7-8:30pm. With Angela Blueskies. Through the intense vibrations of the sound, the body and mind are able to relax and surrender to the healing energies of the Gong and

Explore local holistic wellness. Sample sessions of astrology, massage, energywork, intuitive readers; shop crystals, essential oils, spa products and unique gifts. Free workshops every hour. $6 at the door or save $1 by purchasing online. Free for active/veteran military, emergency responders and children 16 and under.

Saturday, September 8 • 11am-6pm Illuminate Festivals, Nourishing Journey, 8975 Guilford Rd, Ste 170, Columbia, MD. Info: IlluminateFestivals.com/Columbia.

Yoga Teacher Training: Free Info Session – 4-6pm. Come to our free Yoga Teacher Training open house. Bring your questions, get to know the teachers and alumni and enjoy a mini Yin Yoga Practice. Register in advance so we know to expect you. Blue Heron Wellness, 10723B Columbia Pike, Silver Spring, MD. Register: BlueHeronWellness. com/Teacher-Training. Info: 301-754-3730.

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 9 Stop Thinking and Start Writing: Journaling for Personal Development and Stress Relief – 12:30-2pm. The purpose of this workshop is to teach journaling as a tool to help you to relieve negative stress in your life. A love offering will be taken. Unity of Washington DC, 1225 R St, NW. Info: 202-543-1414 or UnityofWashingtonDC.org.

Shamanic Empowerment Collective: Truth Mandala Prayer and Grief Ceremony – 2-4pm. Just days before the return of Sept 11, we come together to honor our prayers for the healing of the world, as well as to express the grief and heaviness we carry on personal, intergenerational and cultural levels. $3035. East Meets West Yoga, 8227 Old Courthouse Rd, Ste 310, Vienna VA. Info: AngelaBlueskies.com.

Natural Health for Busy Professionals Meetup Group – 3-4:30pm. Learn how to address a wide variety of health issues with homeopathic remedies. Free. Dawson’s Market, 225 N Washington St, Rockville, MD. Register: Bit.ly/ IntroToHomeopathy.

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12 Striving for That Elusive Work-Life Balance – 12-1pm. With Mary Kearns PhD, RYT200, Reiki Master. While it may not be possible to achieve perfect balance in our lives, we can learn to work more perfectly toward it. Mary Kearns will discuss

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 13 Brain Balancing – 7:30-9pm. With Christine Lisio.

Reboot your brain to think more clearly, increase your memory and enjoy more peace and harmony in your life. Christine combines the power of the group with advanced healing technology to activate profound, subtle brain balancing processes that can be powerful and life-enhancing. $49. Rise Well-Being Center, 11130 Sunrise Valley Dr, Ste 150, (right side of building), Reston, VA. Register: RiseWell Being.Center/Special-Events. Info: 703-429-1509.

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 14 Accunect SelfCare Workshop – 1-4:30pm. With Laura Freix. Accunect is energy medicine that helps bring the body into balance by recalibrating the body’s natural energy pathways that get disrupted due to stress. You will learn a simple, yet powerful routine to improve your health, balance your body and help injuries heal faster. $120 for nonmembers and $100 for members. Rise WellBeing Center, 11130 Sunrise Valley Dr, Ste 150, (right side of building), Reston, VA. Register: RiseWellBeing.Center/Special-Events. Info: 703429-1509 or IEmbraceWellness.com.

Accunect Connect – 6:30-9:30pm. Through Sept 16. With Laura Freix. Accunect is a love-infused healing system. A tool you can use every day; that you won’t be able to imagine your life without.

You will learn to use intuition, muscle-checking and a visual health map to observe the potential for change and healing. $249 for returning students, $465 for members and $549 for nonmembers. Rise Well-Being Center, 11130 Sunrise Valley Dr, Ste 150, (right side of building), Reston, VA. Register: RiseWellBeing.Center/Special-Events. Info: 703429-1509 or Laura@iEmbraceWellness.com.

Sound Medicine Journey – 7-8:30pm. With Angela Blueskies. Let go of stress and relax while you are bathed in the healing vibrations of singing bowls, flute, chimes, sounds of nature and inspirational songs. $25-$30. East Meets West Yoga, 8227 Old Courthouse Rd, Ste 310, Vienna VA. Info: AngelaBlueskies.com.

Soundscape – 7:30-9pm. By WovenGreen. A meditative, healing sound experience which weaves native flutes, singing bowls, vocal toning, nature sounds and stringed instruments. $20 in advance, $25 at the door and $20 at the door for members.

Rise Well-Being Center, 11130 Sunrise Valley Dr, Ste 150, (right side of building), Reston, VA. Register: RiseWellBeing.Center/Special-Events. Info: 703-429-1509.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 15 DC VegFest 2018 – 11am-6pm. The East Coast’s

September 2018

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largest vegan celebration, presented by Compassion Over Killing. Featuring inspiring speakers, over 120 exhibitors, kids’ activities, free food samples and more. Free. Outdoors at Yards Park, North St SE and First St SE, (Lot H/I across from Nationals Park). Info: DCVegFest.com.

Ancestral Healing Talk and Journey – 2-4:30pm. Through conversation and a guided group visualization, we will enter into a deeper understanding of the challenges we face as individuals and as a culture through reconnecting with our own blood lineages and explore ideas around protection, boundaries and healing family trauma. $35-$40. Heart Centered Healing (at Smart Moves), 3345 Duke St, Alexandria, VA. Info: AngelaBlueskies.com.

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 16 Introduction to Essential Oils – 2-3:30pm. Learn from a certified aromatherapist how to use essential oils to support the health outcomes you’re seeking. Make a roller bottle blend to support your top health concern. Free. 122 Moore Drive, Rockville, MD. Register: Bit.ly/SeptEOIntro.

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 18 Yoga and Reiki: Connecting with Your Prana for More Vibrant Health – 6:30-8:30pm.

With Mary Kearns. There are many ways to harness your universal energy, also known as prana, for improved health and wellbeing.

Yoga and reiki are two of them. Learn how yoga helps keep your prana flowing; practice breath and movements. Plus learn some basic reiki concepts, a few hand positions for stressrelief. $30 for members and $35 for nonmembers. Rise Well-Being Center, 11130 Sunrise Valley Dr, Ste 150, (right side of building), Reston, VA. Register: RiseWellBeing.Center/ Special-Events. Info: 703-429-1509.

special event

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 18

Stress, Hormones and Health 5 Signs Your Body is Giving You That You Are Stressed Out

Learn how hormone imbalances can increase your belly fat, prevent weight loss and affect your sleep, cravings, and fat burning. Learn how chronic oppression can contribute to poor health.

Learn what really works, to solve these problems.

September 18 • 8-9am and 12-1pm Regenasyst Wellness and Health Co and Dr. Satcher, online.

Register: 703-454-9326x0 Info@TreatYourselfToHealth or TreatYourselfToHealth.com

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 20 Self-Care for Your Mind, Body and Soul – 7-9pm. Come participate as holistic health coach and yoga instructor, Angela Usas, discusses selfcare and the importance of accountability in our efforts. Enjoy self-care stations and learn ways to feel more connected to yourself and the world around you. Arlington/Alexandria Chapter - Holistic Moms Network, Unitarian Universalist Church of Arlington, 4444 Arlington Blvd, Arlington,

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Washington, D.C.

VA. Info: HolisticMomsArlAlex@gmail.com or Chapters.HolisticMoms.org/Chapters/VA-Arlington.

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 21 Documentary Movie: Overpopulation – Overconsumption – 6:30-9:30pm. This BBC documentary focuses on the psychosocial and emotional forces around support for population control and over consumption and resource scarcity of industrialized societies. Bring small donations for supper or a covered vegan/vegetarian. Free. Cedar Lane Unitarian Universalist Church, Chalice House, 9601 Cedar Ln, Bethesda, MD. Info: 301-717-4204.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 22 Munay-Ki All Levels: An Initiation into the Shamanic Healing Tradition of Peru – 9am6pm. Through Sept 23. The Munay–Ki Rites are inspired by the Rites of the Shaman’s Path of the Q’ero Nation, the descendants of the Inka, the indigenous people of the holy mountains of the Andes in Peru. The Munay–Ki are the codes for the new human. These Rites are given as the next step in the evolution of humanity, to realign and attune our neuropathways and truly shift human consciousness. $405 for the whole weekend before Sept 17th and $450 after. No walk-ins. Rumi Wasi Sanctuary, 1030 Shannondale Rd, Harpers Ferry, WV. Info: AngelaBlueskies.com.

Reiki I & II – 9:30am-6pm. Through Sept 23. Introductory workshop to reiki energy healing. Level I on Saturday and Level II on Sunday. Take one or both days. $175/day. Potomac Massage Training Institute (PMTI), 8380 Colesville Rd, Ste 600, Silver Spring, MD. Register: PMTI.org/Registration.

Info: PMTI.org/Community-Workshops.

Celebrate Local Women in Business – 11am3pm. We’re celebrating our local women owned vendors. Meet the makers of some of our favorite local products, hear their stories and sample their goods. Free. Dawson’s Market, 225 N Washington St, Rockville, MD. Info: DawsonsMarket.com.

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 23 Rite of the Womb: 13th Rite of the Munay Ki – 1-3pm. Join us for a beautiful healing ceremony to help clear physical, emotional and spiritual imbalances by healing the Divine Feminine. Open to all ages, genders. $20 (suggested donation). Heeling Vibes and Your Stellar Self, private residence in Potomac, MD. Address provided upon registration and payment. Register: Gomette4@gmail.com.

Info: HeelingVibes.com.

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 24 Laughter Yoga – 6:30-7:30pm. Please join us for a playful and fun practice that has been proven to reduce stress and strengthen the immune system. The session ends with a silent meditation. Free. Arlington Central Library auditorium, 1015 N Quincy St, Arlington, VA. Info: Arlington LaughterYoga@yahoo.com.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 27 Movie Night – 7pm. Join for a screening of the BBC documentary, What the Health. From the creators of the movie Cowspiracy, this is the follow-up film that deals with preventing and even reversing chronic diseases. It exposes the corruption and collusion between big agribusiness and the government that is costing us

NaturalAwakeningsDC.com

trillions of dollars and is keeping us sick. Neck, Back and Beyond, 10195 Main St, Ste D, Fairfax. $5 donation. RSVP: 703-865-5690 or email NeckBackAnd Beyond@gmail.com.

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 30 CPR for Healthcare Providers – 10am-5pm.

Red Cross certified CPR and AED certification for healthcare providers; satisfies the MD requirement for licensure in massage therapy. $120.

Potomac Massage Training Institute (PMTI), 8380 Colesville Rd, Ste 600, Silver Spring, MD. Register: PMTI.org/Registration. Info: PMTI. org/Community-Workshops.

plan ahead THURSDAY, OCTOBER 18 Living Simply – 7-9pm. If you find yourself struggling to declutter, organize and simplify your home and life, join us to learn how to get back on track. Arlington/Alexandria Chapter Holistic Moms Network, Unitarian Universalist Church of Arlington, 4444 Arlington Blvd, Arlington, VA. Info: HolisticMomsArlAlex@gmail.comor Chapters.HolisticMoms.org/Chapters/VA-Arlington.

MONDAY, OCTOBER 22 Laughter Yoga – 6:30-7:30pm. Please join us for a playful and fun practice that has been proven to reduce stress and strengthen the immune system.

The session ends with a silent meditation. Free.

Arlington Central Library auditorium, 1015 N Quincy St, Arlington, VA. Info: ArlingtonLaughter Yoga@yahoo.com.

NOVEMBER 4 - 18

special event 2018 TCM Wellness (Yang-Sheng) Study of China

On this trip, participants will explore Traditional Chinese Medicine, wellness practices and experience how they can support one’s health, while enjoying Chinese hospitality, food, culture, sightseeing and more. Additional add-on tours available. $2,000 for all food, transportation within China, treatments and massages, luxury hotels and entertainment.

November 4-18

Info: Yang-Sheng.com.

DECEMBER 28 - JANUARY 5 Explore Yoga and Culture: A New Year’s Journey to Laos and Cambodia This pilgrimage of ancient civilizations will reveal and inspire a deeper seat of knowledge, passion for life and connection with a curious like-minded, community. Join fellow world travelers for a New Years that will promise memories for a lifetime. $3,495 (shared double room). International Yoga, Cambodia and Laos (Southeast Asia). Register: InternationalYoga.com/Retreats/Lao-Cambodia-Mimi-Hawah.

Info: Stephanie@InternationalYoga.com.

ongoing events

tuesday Early Morning Meditation – 7:30-8:15am. See Mon for details. The Center for Mindful Living, 4708 Wisconsin Ave, Ste 200, NW, Tenleytown.

Info: Living-Mindfully.org.

Meet the Locals – 4-7pm. 2nd Tues. Come sample products from our favorite local vendors while you enjoy a glass of beer or wine. Free. Dawson’s Market, 225 N Washington St, Rockville, MD. Info: DawsonsMarket.com.

NOTE: All calendar events must be received via email by the 10th of the month and adhere to our guidelines.

Email CalendarNADC@gmail.com for guidelines and to submit entries.

sunday Sunday Morning Meditation Class – 10:30am12:30pm. With Hugh Byrne. An oasis in a busy week, including 30-minute guided meditations, a 10-minute walking meditation and 30-minute discussion. A mini-retreat. Drop-ins welcome. The Center for Mindful Living, 4708 Wisconsin Ave, Ste 200, NW, Tenleytown. Info: Living-Mindfully.org.

Jazz Brunch – 11am-2pm. 4th Sun. An all-youcan-eat brunch buffet that includes an extended breakfast hot bar, salad bar, a locally made bagel and lox station, a made-to-order omelet station, waffle station, dessert and mimosa tasting. $16.99/ person and $6.99 for kids 4-10 and free for kids 3 and under. Dawson’s Market, 225 N Washington St, Rockville, MD. Info: DawsonsMarket.com.

Mindfulness in Recovery – 6:30-8pm. This group is open to new meditators and seasoned practitioners alike with a common interest in the intersection of Buddhist teachings and 12 Step recovery. All 12 Steppers are welcome and we ask that participants have at least 90 days of continuous recovery and a working relationship with a home 12 Step recovery group be established before attending your first meeting. This group is not a replacement for our individual 12 Step programs. The Center for Mindful Living, 4708 Wisconsin Ave, Ste 200, NW, Tenleytown. Info: Living-Mindfully.org. .org.

monday

Early Morning Meditation – 7:30-8:15am. A beautiful way to start your day, with a 30-minute meditation and optional 15-minute discussion following. Drop-ins welcome. A project of the Insight Meditation Community of Washington (IMCW). The Center for Mindful Living, 4708 Wisconsin Ave, Ste 200, NW, Tenleytown.

Info: Living-Mindfully.org.

Pet Loss Support Group – 6:30-7:30pm. 1st Tues. This group, facilitated by Dr. Karen Randall (DVM), is a safe place to share your grief with others who have also lost a beloved pet and or service animal. It’s a place to share memories, stories and to learn how to work through grief. Attendees are encouraged to bring a photo or a memento of their fuzzy companions to share. The Big Bad Woof, 6960 Maple St, NW. RSVP: Info@Solacevs.com.

Info: 202-291-2404 or TheBigBadWoof.com.

wednesday Early Morning Meditation – 7:30-8:15am. See Mon for details. The Center for Mindful Living, 4708 Wisconsin Ave, Ste 200, NW, Tenleytown.

Info: Living-Mindfully.org.

Mindfulness Meditation – 7-8pm. 2nd and 4th Wed. Reduce stress and quiet inner criticism.

Guided meditation with Jerry Hartman. No experience necessary, drop ins welcome. $15 (suggested donation). Potomac Massage Training Institute (PMTI), 8380 Colesville Rd, Ste 600, Silver Spring, MD. Info: Info@PMTI.org or PMTI.org/ Community-Workshops.

Level II Iyengar Yoga – 7:15pm. Iyengar yoga is unique in that we look at your body to determine what type of practice is right for you and adapt poses so you can access the power of practice. First class is always free. Yoga 4 All Bodies, 12021 Creekbend Dr, Reston, VA. Register: Contact Leanne at 703297-2224 or Yoga4AllBodies.com.

friday Early Morning Meditation – 7:30-8:15am. See Mon for details. The Center for Mindful Living, 4708 Wisconsin Ave, Ste 200, NW, Tenleytown.

Info: Living-Mindfully.org.

All-Levels Iyengar Yoga – 11:45am. See Thurs for details. First class is always free. Yoga 4 All Bodies, 12021 Creekbend Dr, Reston, VA. Register: Contact Leanne at 703-297-2224 or Yoga4AllBodies.com.

saturday Refuge Recovery – 6:30-8pm. Refuge Recovery is a mindfulness-based recovery program and community that utilizes Buddhist philosophy as the foundation of the recovery process.

Based on the Four Noble Truths and Eight-fold Path, emphasis is placed on both knowledge and empathy as a means for overcoming addiction and its causes. The Center for Mindful Living, 4708 Wisconsin Ave, Ste 200, NW, Tenleytown.

Info: Living-Mindfully.org.

Teen Sanga – 7:30-9pm. 2nd and 4th Wed. The teen sangha provides a framework for exploring one’s inner life, understanding the causes of emotional stress and realizing the possibility of inner freedom. We explore key Buddhist teachings and how they can be helpful in navigating life’s inevitable challenges. The Center for Mindful Living, 4708 Wisconsin Ave, Ste 200, NW, Tenleytown.

Info: Living-Mindfully.org.

thursday Early Morning Meditation – 7:30-8:15am. See Mon for details. The Center for Mindful Living, 4708 Wisconsin Ave, Ste 200, NW, Tenleytown.

Info: Living-Mindfully.org.

Community Yoga – 5:15-6:15pm. Gentle, vinyasa-style flow, great for all levels of yoga practice.

Drop ins are by donation. $5-$25 (suggested donation). Potomac Massage Training Institute (PMTI), 8380 Colesville Rd, Ste 600, Silver Spring, MD. Info: MFarwell@PMTI.org.

All-Levels Iyengar Yoga – 5:45pm. Iyengar yoga is unique in that we look at your body to determine what type of practice is right for you and adapt poses so you can access the power of practice, whatever your level. First class is always free. Yoga 4 All Bodies, 12021 Creekbend Dr, Reston, VA. Register: Contact Leanne at 703-297-2224 or Yoga4AllBodies.com.

The more sand that has escaped from the hourglass of our life, the clearer we should see through it. ~Jean Paul

September 2018

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community resource guide

CORPORATE WELLNESS

Connecting you to the leaders in natural health care and green living in our community. To find out how you can be included in the Community Resource Guide email Robin@NaturalAwakeningsDC.com to request our media kit.

ACUPUNCTURE NECK BACK & BEYOND WELLNESS CENTER

10195 Main St, Ste D, Fairfax, VA 703-865-5690 • NeckBackAndBeyond.com NeckBackAndBeyond@gmail.com Neck Back & Beyond in Fairfax, VA, offers chiropractic and naturopathic care, acupuncture, massage,reflexology, lymphatic drainage and more. See ad, page 23.

AROMATHERAPY

DR. VISHAL VERMA, DC, CCSP Rose Wellness Center 571-529-6699 RoseWellness.com

Dr. Verma specializes in functional ch i ropr a c t i c c are for p ai n management and active restoration of the body. He treating root causes using gentle chiropractic, physical therapy, cold laser therapy and rehabilitation for fast effective results. Dr. Verma treats back, neck, spine and joint pain, sciatica, sports injuries, fibromyalgia, and various other chronic and acute pain conditions. See ad, page 23.

MOTHER’S NATURE STORE 703-851-0087 Laina_Poulakos@hotmail.com MothersNatureStore.com

Certified aromatherapist and herbalist offering lifestyle consultations and handmade pro-ducts, including soaps, balms and beard oils. Reach a better state of body and mind. See ad, page 6.

BEDROOM FURNITURE

CLEANING MAID BRIGADE CAPITAL REGION

4813-A Eisenhower Ave, Alexandria, VA 800-515-6243 Marketing@Maid-Brigade.com MaidBrigade.com

We are Green Clean Certified, so you can have peace of mind that you r home w i l l b e healthier for you, your pets and the environment. See ad, page 25.

SAVVY REST NATURAL BEDROOM

258 Maple Ave East, Vienna, VA and 12242 Rockville Pike, Rockville, MD 703-255-7040 (VA) or 301-770-7040 (MD) Maddie@SavvyRest.com • SRNB.com Savvy Rest Natural Bedroom is the premier retailer of Savvy Rest organic mattresses and bedding, a Virginia manufacturer and retailer of fine bedroom furniture. See ad, page 19.

CONSULTING JESSICA CLAIRE HANE CONSULTING 571-358-8645 Jessica@MindfulHealthyLife.com JessicaClaireHaney.com

CHIROPRACTOR NECK BACK & BEYOND WELLNESS CENTER DR. ALLAN TOMSON, DC

10195 Main St, Ste D, Fairfax, VA 703-865-5690 • NeckBackAndBeyond.com NeckBackAndBeyond@gmail.com Dr. Allan Tomson, DC, director of Neck Back & Beyond Healing Arts in Fairfax, VA, with a satellite office in Manassas, VA. He is not your ordinary chiropractor with skills and experience in functional medicine, visceral manipulation, CranioSacral Therapy and Cayce protocols. See ad, page 23.

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Washington, D.C.

NaturalAwakeningsDC.com

Writing, editing, marketing/digital media support and strategy consulting for holistic-minded businesses and organizations from experienced local writer, blogger and event organizer Jessica Claire Haney.

MARIANNE SCIPPA

Neck Back & Beyond Wellness Center 10195 Main St, Ste D, Fairfax, VA 703-865-5690 • NeckBackAndBeyond.com ScippaAssociates.com We design interactive sessions for you and your staff to better understand the physical, mental and emotional costs of many common work management habits. Individual or team coaching for ongoing leadership, management and health development support to create the peak performance habits you need. See ad, page 23.

ENERGY THERAPIES INCA ENERGY INTEGRATIVE HEALTH AND WELLNESS CENTER

10440 Shaker Dr, Ste 203, Columbia, MD 410-292-5149 EnergyTherapyCeuWorkshops.com Inca Energy Integrative Health and Wellness Center is an ecofriendly holistic center offering energy medicine, energy psychology and meditation.

Inca Wellness brings together authentic ancient healing traditions from around the world with contemporary therapies to nurture ones whole being.

RISE WELL-BEING CENTER

11130 Sunrise Valley Dr., Ste 150, Reston, VA 703-429-1509 Info@RiseWellBeing.center RiseWellBeing.center Looking for more peace and well-being in your life? Come nurture yourself and experience the inherent healing of nature. Rise offers a relaxing indoor garden area, Mindful Movement, yoga, meditation and wellness classes, one-on-one sessions including reiki, and Healing Touch to give you the personalized attention you desire. Discover how good you can feel! See ad, page 19.

ESSENTIAL OILS PAM SNYDER

Neck Back & Beyond Wellness Center 10195 Main St, Ste D, Fairfax, VA NeckBackAndBeyond@gmail.com 703-865-5690 • NeckBackAndBeyond.com Let us help you integrate the healing power of essential oils into your home and personal care routines. We offer free ongoing classes each month. Individual and group consultations are available by appointment. See ad, page 23.

GREEN BUILDING AMICUS GREEN BUILDING CENTER 301-571-8590 • Info@AmicusGreen.com AmicusGreen.com

A new kind of design center and home improvement store, creating fresh spaces, fresh air and water and a fresh take on our buildings.

HEALTH COACH NATIONAL INTEGRATED HEALTH ASSOCIATES

HERBS MOTHER’S NATURE STORE 703-851-0087 Laina_Poulakos@hotmail.com MothersNatureStore.com

Certified aromatherapist and herbalist offering lifestyle consultations and handmade products, including soaps, balms and beard oils. Reach a better state of body and mind. See ad, page 6.

HOLISTIC NUTRITION

1010 Wisconsin Ave, Ste 660, DC 202-298-9131 • IndigoHealthClinic.com

HOLISTIC MOMS NETWORK Holistic Moms Network is a national organization supporting natural-minded parents. Local chapters in Arlington/Alexandria, Burke, Fairfax, Gainesville and Montgomery County hold monthly meetings and more.

MINDFUL HEALTHY LIFE

571-358-8645 • MindfulHealthyLife.com Jessica@MindfulHealthyLife.com Online lifestyle magazine for natural-minded parents with a blog, calendar, directory and eBook filled with resources for holistic parenting and family wellness in metro D.C. parenting.

HOMEOPATHY

MICHAEL LISS

Rose Wellness Center 571-529-6699 • RoseWellness.com Michael Liss is a Doctor of Classical Homeopathy and an integrative health practitioner. He specializes in using homeopathy to help you find relief from various emotional and physical health problems including addictions, substance abuse, anxiety, depression, allergies, asthma, childhood ailments, migraines, hair and skin disorders, immune deficiencies and sinus disorders. See ad, page 23.

INTEGRATIVE MEDICINE SUSHMA HIRANI, MD

ELIZABETH MCMILLAN, MS, CNS

Rose Wellness Center 2944 Hunter Mill Rd, Ste 101, Oakton, VA Info@RoseWellness.com RoseWellness.com • 571-529-6699

Elizabeth McMillan is a boardcertified clinical nutritionist specializing in functional nutrition.

She believes in finding the root cause of a liments and cre at ing a personalized dietary plan to restore optimal wellness. Elizabeth specializes in diabetes, food sensitivities, gastrointestinal health, autoimmunity and metabolic syndrome issues. Call today to see how she can help. See ad, page 23.

Dr. Sushma Hirani uses an integrative approach to wellness, utilizing conventional medicine and evidence-based complementary therapies. She strives to treat the whole person and emphasiz es nut r it ion , preventive care and lifestyle changes. Dr. Hirani specializes in the treatment of chronic issues such as hypothyroidism, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, hormonal imbalances, digestive disorders, menopause and women’s health issues. Patients love her compassionate care and personalized attention. See ad, page 23.

Rose Wellness Center 571-529-6699 RoseWellness.com

The body has an innate ability to heal itself and achieve balance from everyday stressors through non-toxic, non-aggressive and highly effective modalities. See ad, page 36.

HolisticMoms.org

5225 Wisconsin Ave, Ste 402, NW 202-237-7000 NICADC.com/Health-Programs/ Rejuvenation-Detoxification.html

Rejuvenation & Detoxification program provides guidance to restore balance and health with lifestyle tips on diet, hydration, digestion and internal cleansing and detoxification with integrative athome and spa strategies.

INDIGO INTEGRATIVE HEALTH CLINIC

HOLISTIC PARENTING

ALEX LEON, MD

Integrative Family Physician Rose Wellness Center 2944 Hunter Mill Rd, Ste 101, Oakton, VA 571-529-6699 • RoseWellness.com Dr. Alex Leon is a board-certified family physician specializing in integrative functional medicine to help restore and maintain your wellbeing. He has a special interest in men’s health care, chronic pain syndromes including mus c u loskelet a l problems, fibromyalgia, bioidentical hormone replacement for men and women, chronic conditions including hypothyroidism, gastrointestinal disorders and allergic disorders. He treats kids too. See ad, page 23.

ROSE WELLNESS CENTER

2944 Hunter Mill Rd, Ste 101, Oakton, VA 571-529-6699 • RoseWellness.com Info@RoseWellness.com

Suffering from chronic pain, fatigue, allergies, stress? Whatever your health challenges, Rose Wellness Center can help you get on the path to real wellness. We help identify hormone, metabolic, digestive, nutritional and food sensitivity issues to get to the root cause of your health problems, where true healing begins. Our services include digestive and women’s health programs, hormone balancing, acupuncture, Lyme treatment, homeopathy and thyroid management. See ad, page 23.

MEDITATION RISE WELL-BEING CENTER

11130 Sunrise Valley Dr., Ste 150, Reston, VA 703-429-1509 Info@RiseWellBeing.center RiseWellBeing.center Looking for more peace and well-being in your life? Come nurture yourself and experience the inherent healing of nature. Rise offers a relaxing indoor garden area, Mindful Movement, yoga, meditation and wellness classes, one-on-one sessions including reiki, and Healing Touch to give you the personalized attention you desire. Discover how good you can feel! See ad, page 19.

Yoga is almost like music in a way; there’s no end to it. ~Sting September 2018

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NATURAL LIVING RESOURCE MINDFUL HEALTHY LIFE OF METRO DC Jessica@MindfulHealthyLife.com MindfulHealthyLife.com • 571-358-8645

Blog, calendar and directory for natural living, holistic parenting and family wellness.

POLARITY THERAPY NECK BACK & BEYOND WELLNESS CENTER

Janice M Johnson 10195 Main St, Ste D, Fairfax, VA NeckBackAndBeyond@gmail.com NeckBackAndBeyond.com • 703-865-5690 Allow me to join you in creating your own individualized treatment program, which provides a safe and supportive experience for your healing process, with Polarity Therapy and Swiss Bionic Solutions MRS 2000 (Magnetic Resonance Stimulation) pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMF). See ad, page 23.

ORGANIC PRODUCE - CSA SPIRAL PATH FARM

717-789-4433 • Csa@SpiralPathFarm.com SpiralPathFarm.com 100% USDA-certified organic all grown at our farm in southcentral Pennsylvania. Join for our weekly produce deliveries t h rou g h a C om mu n it y Supported Agriculture (CSA) membership. See ad, page 21.

OSTEOPOROSIS SUPPORT

SHIATSU THERAPIST NECK BACK & BEYOND WELLNESS CENTER

Nathalie Depastas 10195 Main St, Ste D, Fairfax, VA 703-865-5690 • NeckBackAndBeyond.com NeckBackAndBeyond@gmail.com Nathalie Depastas is a highly skilled acupuncturist and Shiatsu therapist with 30 years of experience in Chinese medicine, including medical qigong. See ad, page 23.

NURTURED BONES

Great Falls, VA 703-738-4230 • NurturedBones.com

Nurtured Bones provides a holistic approach to addressing osteoporosis and bone loss. Our BONES method will help you build strong, healthy bones for life. See ad, page 34.

PHYSICAL THERAPY NURTURED BONES

Great Falls, VA 703-738-4230 • NurturedBones.com

.

THERMOGRAPHY

NECK BACK & BEYOND WELLNESS CENTER

10195 Main St, Ste D, Fairfax, VA 703-865-5690 NeckBackAndBeyond.com NeckBackAndBeyond@gmail.com

Nurtured Bones provides a holistic approach to addressing osteoporosis and bone loss. Our BONES method will help you build strong, healthy bones for life. See ad, page 34.

Neck Back & Beyond in Fairfax, VA, offers chiropractic and naturopathic care, acupuncture, massage,reflexology, lymphatic drainage and more. See ad, page 23.

Yoga is the settling of the mind into silence.

When the mind has settled, we are established in our essential nature, which is unbounded Consciousness.

Our essential nature is usually overshadowed by the activity of the mind. ~Patanjali

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Washington, D.C.

NaturalAwakeningsDC.com

ROSE WELLNESS CENTER

2944 Hunter Mill Rd, Ste 101, Oakton, VA 571-529-6699 • RoseWellness.com

Rose Wellness Center for Integrative Medicine offers Thermography or Digital Infrared Thermal Imaging (DITI). This noninvasive diagnostic technique creates thermal images that are analyzed for abnormalities and early signs of disease.

Thermal imaging is painless, non-invasive, does not involve any compression and emits no radiation.

Call today to setup your scan. See ad, page 23.

YOGA RISE WELL-BEING CENTER

11130 Sunrise Valley Dr., Ste 150, Reston, VA 703-429-1509 Info@RiseWellBeing.center RiseWellBeing.center Looking for more peace and well-being in your life? Come nurture yourself and experience the inherent healing of nature. Rise offers a relaxing indoor garden area, Mindful Movement, yoga, meditation and wellness classes, one-on-one sessions including reiki, and Healing Touch to give you the personalized attention you desire. Discover how good you can feel! See ad, page 19.

Copper

N

Natural device stops a cold before it starts

went away completely.” It worked again every time he felt a cold coming on and he hasn’t had a cold since.

He asked relatives and friends to try coming on. it. They said it worked for them, too, so he patented CopperZap™ and put it on the market.

Soon hundreds of people had tried it and given feedback. Nearly 100% said the copper stops colds New research: Copper stops colds if used early. if used within 3 Colds start when cold viruses get in days, if they still get the cold it is milder your nose. Viruses multiply fast. If you than usual and they feel better. don’t stop them early, they spread in Users wrote things like, “It stopped your airways and cause misery. my cold right away,” and “Is it supBut scientists have found a quick way to kill a virus. Touch it with copper. posed to work that fast?”

Pat McAllister, age 70, received Researchers at labs and universities one for Christmas and called it “one agree, copper is “antimicrobial.” It kills of the best presents ever. This little microbes, such as viruses and bacteria, jewel really works.” Now thousands just by touch.

That’s why ancient Greeks and Egyp- of users have stopped getting colds.

People often use CopperZap tians used copper to purify water and heal wounds. They didn’t know about viruses and bacteria, but now we do.

Though skeptical, she tried it several Scientists say the high conductance times a day on travel days for 2 months. of copper disrupts the electrical balance in a microbe cell, destroying it in exclaimed. seconds.

Businesswoman Rosaleen says when Tests by the Environmental Protecpeople are sick around her she uses Coption Agency (EPA) show germs die fast perZap morning and night. “It saved me on copper. Some hospitals tried copper last holidays,” she said. “The kids had for surfaces like faucets and doorknobs. colds going around, but not me.”

This cut the spread of MRSA and other Some users say it also helps with illnesses by over half, and saved lives. sinuses. Attorney Donna Blight had inventor Doug Cornell an idea. When a 2-day sinus headache. When her he felt a cold coming on he fashioned CopperZap arrived, she tried it. “I am a smooth copper probe and rubbed it shocked!” she said. “My head cleared, gently in his nose for 60 seconds. no more headache, no more congestion.”

“It worked!” he exclaimed. “The cold Some users say copper stops nightADVERTORIAL ew research shows you can stop a cold in its tracks if you take one simple step with a

One man said, “Best sleep I’ve had in years.” ly and for several days. Lab technicians

-

CopperZap. No viruses were found alive soon after.

People have used it on cold sores and say it can completely prevent ugly outbreaks. You can also rub it gently on wounds, cuts, or lesions to combat infections. textured to improve contact. It kills protect you and your family.

Copper even kills deadly germs that have become resistant to antibiotics. If you are near sick people, a moment of handling it may keep serious infection away from you and your loved ones. It may even save a life.

The EPA says copper still works even when tarnished. It kills hundreds of serious or even fatal illness.

CopperZap is made in the U.S. of pure copper. It has a 90-day full money back guarantee when used as directed each CopperZap with code NATA3. Go to www.CopperZap.com or call tollfree 1-888-411-6114.

Buy once, use forever.

September 2018

35

' Washington D.C.'s Finest Integrative Health Care

Indigo Clinic CallIntegrative today to Health schedule The Waterfront Center a free consultation 1010 Wisconsin Ave., NW

Suite #660 202-298-9131 Washington, D.C. 20007

Our goal is to lead you back to thriving health.

INDIGO INTEGRATIVE HEALTH CLINIC

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Call today to schedule a consultation (202) 298-9131 Learn more at IndigoHealthClinic.com Washington, D.C. NaturalAwakeningsDC.com