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May 2016 | Houston-Edition | NaturalAwakenings-Houston.com natural awakenings

May 2016

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A Healed Mind Creates A Happy Life Teens • Adults • Individuals • Familes • Groups

Genuine , Down-To-Earth Counseling

For Depression & Behavioral Issues

“Let Me Help You Find Your Joy” Trey Hughes, M.A., LPC is a licensed professional counselor & Reconnective Healing Practitioner with 29 years experience in the mental health field.

Also Offering: Re-Connective Healing This Form Of Energy Work Is Extremely Powerful, Often Producing Profound Healing On All Levels In Just A Few Sessions Personal Sessions with Trey Hughes

(713)-208-8837

www.treyhugheshealing.com

Psychotherapy, Cconnective Healing

• The Museum District in Houston, 77006 • Clear Lake Office in Houston, 77058

Dawn Mountain’s Summer Teaching Series Begins Tuesday, June 7!

Join Us

Founders Anne C. Klein & Harvey B. Aronson on

Facets of Loving Attention

When we really pay attention, life takes on depth, color, feeling & expansiveness. This summer at Dawn Mountain we consider the different orientations of attention - focusing & opening, as well as how such attention connects us to others. Building our attention skills enhances daily life & strengthens us on the spiritual path.

Five Classes: 7:00pm to 9:00pm June 7 & 21, July 5 & 19 & August 6 $20 per class or $80 for the series (one class free!)

These classes are also available online with your paid registration.

To sign up, visit the registration page at dawnmountain.org.

Center for Tibetan Buddhism • Founded 1997

Conveniently located near the Texas Medical Center 2010 Naomi Street, Suite A, Houston, TX 77054 2

713-630-0354 Houston

Check out our latest podcast series, Changing for Good, FREE at dawnmountain.org.

www.NaturalAwakenings-Houston.com

contents 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.

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.

19 ENERGY CLEARING Meditation for Charity Event YOUR ANIMALS

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7 12

inesCenter-NaturalAwakenings-May2016.indd 1

WITH ESSENTIAL OILS

5 newsbriefs

by Meg Shehad Introduction to Meditation: Bodily Awareness 8 eventbriefs and Relaxation 20 BREAKING AWAY 13 healthbriefs Instructed by Michael Perkola FROM TOXINS 1 4 globalbriefs Help the Houston Chapter of Engineers Without Borders

by Carrie Harmon 1 5 business to build a sustainable energy, biogas plant for a small

spotlight village in India. Suggested minimum donation $15 21 SPARK UP YOUR 27 fitbody LOVE LIFE Saturday, May 14 | 6:00 - 8:00 pm 28 healingways Natural Ways to Boost Libido

by Lisa Marshall 30 healthykids 32 wisewords register at HINESCENTER.ORG Bridging the Gap 35 consciouseating 24 Between Parents 38 naturalpet and Teens 39 calendar

by Pho Nguyen 43 farmersmarkets 27 FACIAL FITNESS 44 resourceguide

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advertising & submissions HOW TO ADVERTISE To advertise with Natural Awakenings or request a media kit, please contact us at 713-927-6540 or email Sales@NaturalAwakenings-Houston.com.

Deadline for ads: the 10th of the month.

Exercises to Tone Your Face and Neck

by Kathleen Barnes

28 SOLUTIONS FOR A

SLUGGISH THYROID

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Keying in on Iodine

by Kathleen Barnes

30 SENIORS, TEENS

EDITORIAL SUBMISSIONS Email articles, news items and ideas to: Editor@NaturalAwakenings-Houston.com.

Deadline for editorial: the 5th of the month..

AND TYKES

Enriching Programs Unite the Generations

by Linda Sechrist

CALENDAR SUBMISSIONS Email Calendar Events to: Calendar@NaturalAwakenings-Houston.com.

Deadline for calendar: the 5th of the month..

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REGIONAL MARKETS Advertise your products or services in multiple markets! Natural Awakenings Publishing Corp. is a growing franchised family of locally owned magazines serving communities since 1994. To place your ad in other markets call 239-449-8309. For franchising opportunities call 239-530-1377 or visit NaturalAwakeningsMag.com.

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SHARES HER SECRETS TO LASTING BEAUTY Why She Still Looks Terrific After 40 Years as a Model

by Gerry Strauss

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38 STRESSED-OUT PETS

Natural Ways to Calm Fear and Anxiety

by Sandra Murphy

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May 2016

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letterfrompublishers

G

reetings!

May is one of my favorite months. It’s the month when school lets out for the summer, at least traditionally. It’s the month when Cindy celebrates her birthday. It’s the month when the pollen count is low enough as is the thermometer that being outdoors is a true delight. So whether it’s working in the garden or taking the pack to the dog park, biking along the bayou or shopping at the farmer’s markets or dining out at one of the city’s great restaurants, May is a great month.

May is Women’s Wellness month at Natural Awakenings where we passionately celebrate wellness in all its forms every month. Health, being whole, holistic (wholly holy) is partly a natural ability and partly a learned skill. It involves learning to handle whatever that is thrown one’s way. Wise women (and men) are forged out of the trials of life when each challenge is embraced as an opportunity for growth.

This month we have included several articles to help women take care of themselves and remember the importance of being mindful about themselves and their bodies. This month there are many opportunities, not only for better health and fitness, but for the simple good mental health of playful fun. Enjoy reading about them, but then go out and enjoy them.

Remember to celebrate with us this Mother’s Day, not just on one Sunday, but throughout the month as we express love, gratitude and heartfelt caring for all the special women in our lives.

contact us Natural Awakenings 448 West 19th Street #419 Houston, TX 77008 Phone: 713-927-6540 Fax: 713-880-9979 Natural Awakenings Team PUBLISHERS

Cindy and Mike Hart Cindy@NaturalAwakenings-Houston.com Mike@NaturalAwakenings-Houston.com

FREELANCE WRITERS Barbara Silberg • Jo Neil Norcini Suzanne Sears • Sandra Joblonicky

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sales@NaturalAwakenings-Houston.com Barbara Silberg • Petra Valica Tameka Jones

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Mike Hart

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Franchise Sales: Toll Free 888-434-9392

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NaturalAwakenings-Houston.com © 2016 by Natural Awakenings. All rights reserved.

Although some parts of this publication may be reproduced and reprinted, we require that prior permission be obtained in writing.

Natural Awakenings is a free publication distributed locally and is supported by our advertisers. It is available in selected stores, health and education centers, healing centers, public libraries and wherever free publications are generally seen. Please call to find a location near you or if you would like copies placed at your business.

We do not necessarily endorse the views expressed in the articles and advertisements, nor are we responsible for the products and services advertised.

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Meditation and Yoga Classes at The Hines Center

The Health Museum’s Hep C Art Competition and Exhibition

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epatitis C, known as Hep C, is the blood-borne hidden disease afflicting between six and eight million Americans and more than 130 million people worldwide. To combat this disease and educate Houstonians on how Hep C is contracted, how to avoid it and how to treat it, The Health Museum is partnering with the American Liver Foundation on an awareness campaign.

The Health Museum is calling for street artists to participate in a creative art competition that culminates at “Social Silence - Hepatitis C, The Hidden Disease” scheduled for May 20-21 at The Health Museum. The two-day events includes music, presentations, CSI events for kids, Hep C resource groups, organ analysis and demonstrations, street art depicting the many facets of Hepatitis C, and a live graffiti production by artist GONZO247.

Artists are asked to submit a biography and photos of their previous work by May 4 to Nan Turner at nturner@ thehealthmuseum.org. Selected artists will provide their artistic interpretation of Hep C by May 13. Twenty applicants will have their art displayed at the Museum with visitors voting on their favorite works. First prize is a $750 scholarship, second prize is a $500 scholarship and third prize is a $300 scholarship.

In addition, the first prize winner’s artwork will be auctioned at the American Liver Foundation Gala set for August, 2016.

There is no entry fee and the competition is open to all Texas street art/graffiti artists, professional and amateur, who are 18 years or older.

For more information, visit www.thehealthmuseum.org, or contact Nan Turner at nturner@thehealthmuseum.org, or call 281-788-9964.

Celebrating its 20th anniversary, The Health Museum, John P. McGovern Museum of Health & Medical Science, is Houston’s most interactive science learning center and a member institution of the world-renowned Texas Medical Center. The Health Museum is located at 1515 Hermann Dr, Houston, TX 77004

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he Hines Center provides Houstonians a new kind of setting for spiritual formation and expression. We offer a wide variety of opportunities to know and experience God. In an environment that supports a community of individuals, the Hines Center offers a fresh approach to wholeness through enriching programs in art, movement, education, spiritual practice and conversation. Check our website for a current list of daily classes and course offerings.

The Bishop John E Hines Center For Spirituality and Prayer, 500 Fannin St., Suite 100, Houston, TX 77002. For information, 1 6. call 713-590-3302, or visitHinesCenter-NaturalAwakenings-May2016.indd hinescenter.org. See ad on page

What’s the Point of

ACUPUNCTURE?

Discover A SAFE, EFFECTIVE And CHEMICAL-FREE Way To Promote Your Body’s Self-Healing Abilities.

The World Health Organization recognizes acupuncture as an effective treatment to help you: • Move without pain • Sleep more soundly • Focus & think clearly • Stay calm & relaxed • Lower blood pressure • Soothe digestive issues • Eliminate migraines • Ease depression & grief • Promote fertility • Heal quicker • Stay healthy longer

Call (713) 825-1636

To Begin Your Journey To Wellness

JoNell Norcini,L.Ac.

10330-D Lake Road • Houston, Texas 77070 cypressareaacupuncture.com

natural awakenings

May 2016

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Feeling Angry, Sad, Depressed or Stressed is NOT Normal!

S Living Your Voice 101: Finding Your Voice A workshop for beginning and experienced speakers and singers Experience the joy and power of reclaiming your unique voice by conquering your limitations.

Call or visit our web site to learn more about Living Your Voice.®

713-826-9814

LivingYourVoice.com NEXT WORKSHOP

Saturday, July 23, 2016 10 a.m.–5 p.m.

True You Creativity Studio Houston Heights area

tressed? Angry? Sad? Depressed?

Overwhelmed? All of these symptoms are NOT normal. Find out how to break free from this endless pattern, and it’s FREE! EVERY TUESDAY, 7:00 - 8:00pm.

The Intro to Zen Meditation class at Universal Door Meditation Center is a free, drop-in session that is a fresh, open, fun way to experience all the basics: What is Zen meditation? Why meditate? (a long list dawn mountain of benefits) and most importantly..... How to meditate?

You’ve been hearing good stuff about it for a long time and you’ve been planning to actually check it out. What are you waiting for? Now is the time!

Seven different senior students take turns to lead the classes, interact with visitors, and share from their real experience, so it is never dull or repetitive! After receiving so many benefits in our own lives, we are happy to share back with the community and offer this chance to as many people as possible to find out how amazing this practice is, and how it can truly transform every struggle in your life with a simple, practical path to being truly happy in everyday life. There is no need to stay stuck in the patterns, constantly experiencing conflict inside and conflict outside. There is a way through. Come, listen, apply, and realize the Awake that is already within.

LIVE HAPPY, anywhere, anytime, always...

Universal Door Meditation Center, founded and guided by Zen Master Thich Dieu Thien, is located at 2619 Charles Lane, Sugar Land, TX 77498. (281) 565-9718. www.universaldoor.org. See ad on page 2.

Meditation for Charity Event Introduction to Meditation: Bodily Awareness and Relaxation Instructed by Michael Perkola Help the Houston Chapter of Engineers Without Borders to build a sustainable energy, biogas plant for a small village in India. Suggested minimum donation $15

Saturday, May 14 | 6:00 - 8:00 pm

register at HINESCENTER.ORG

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HinesCenter-NaturalAwakenings-May2016.indd 1 Houston

www.NaturalAwakenings-Houston.com

4/16/16 9:34 AM

Spectrum Center Has Moved!

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pectrum Center, one of Houston’s oldest holistic wellness centers, has moved from its Westheimer location to beautiful offices on the North Loop bordering the Heights, Oak Forest, Timberlawn and Garden Oaks. After 28 years inside the Loop, they have ventured out into a beautiful wooded office park called The Preserve.

Spectrum Center continues to provide Psychotherapy, Naturopathy, H o m e o p a t h y, A c u p r e s s u r e , Colorpuncture, Executive Coaching and Massage. The Center offers classes covering a wide spectrum of topics such as innovative approaches to transformation, alternative health practices, communication, art therapies, spirituality, and inspiring writing classes through the Spectrum Center Writer’s Guild. The Center also rents a workshop room to the community and rents offices on a full time, or per session basis.

Visit website for directions to the new location and to receive newsletters of events. www.spectrumcenterhouston.com. 2060 N. Loop West, Suite 205 Houston, TX 77018

The Zoo in You.

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eady to meet your microbes? Trillions of them call the inside of our bodies their home. From May 21 through September 11,The Health Museum’s newest exhibit, Zoo in You, allows guests of all ages to explore this fascinating and complex world inside us that is our microbiome—a dynamic, adaptable, and delicately balanced ecosystem much like any other found in nature.

At Zoo in You, learn who our constant microbial companions are, where they live, how diverse they are, and in what ways scientists are discovering just how important they are to our personal health. Explore this vibrant world of our inner microorganisms through engaging, interactive, and bilingual exhibits and programs concentrating on three thematic areas including Meet the Microbes, Our Complex Ecosystems, and Exploring our Microbiome.

Zoo in You, sponsored locally by PMB Helin Donovan, was produced and is toured by the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry. This exhibit was made possible by a Science Education Partnership Award (SEPA) from the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

The Health Museum is located in the Museum District at 1515 Hermann Drive, 77004. For more information, hours and admission costs, please visit www. thehealthmuseum.org, or call 713-521-1515.

natural awakenings

May 2016

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Healing the Chakras for Health and Wellbeing

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o heal us inside out, dynamic meditations that address the mind, the breath, the body and the being are required that change the way the prana (life force) flows in the body. Nithya Dhyaan is one meditation that does this.

Nithya Dhyaan is a 35-minute meditation designed by enlightened master Paramahamsa Nithyananda as a holistic way to cleanse the mind-breath-body-being system. It not only frees us from the negative emotions of the mind and helps us move beyond it, it also cleanses and energizes all the chakras in the body. It is a dynamic meditation that combines breathing techniques, yoga postures, intense visualizations, and unclutching at the deepest levels of the mind. It is a technique that gives a seeker what he needs to balance these chakras and be in complete harmony with his body, mind and spirit. Practicing Nithya Dhyaan daily gives you your daily dose of happiness.

To learn and practice Nithya Dhyaan, reach out to the meditation group at Houston at: http://tiny.cc/HoustonMeditation. For more information, please call Sri Shivajnana: 704-965-2505.

Ma Shivajnana: 704-965-8966

Join Us And Feel

The ENERGY

Experience Peace, Healing, Love & Friendship An all faith church that embraces diverse belief & positive thought

Carmel Temple

Celebrating 46 years www.carmeltemple.org 8

Houston

1208 Pennsylvania St. S. Houston, TX 77587 713-944-0014

What excites you about travel?

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ecently, I had the opportunity to ask this question to a group of intuitive painters who were discussing their upcoming travel plans. One person was talking about visiting Egypt, another about her plans to see Japan, and another about her spring break in Portland. As the conversation unfolded, it occurred to me to ask, what excites you about travel? They looked at me with heads tilted and eyes squinted as if I were clueless. It was as if I had asked a question with the most obvious of answers. Here’s what they said: to see something they’ve never seen before, to have new experiences, to explore, to have more adventures, and to be surprised. From where I sat, all of these answers pointed to the same thing, a journey into the unknown.

As I listened to their answers it occurred to me how funny it is that our minds can hold the same idea in two distinctly different ways. When anticipating the unknown through travel, the departure date can’t get here soon enough. When anticipating the unknown through creating, we recoil as if there’s a reason to run. As B.B. King once sang, the thrill is gone! In both situations we’re still stepping into the unknown.

Maybe what’s really on offer here, is to not take our state of mind as a barometer of what’s real. It’s a fickle-pickle that is inconsistent, fleeting, and illusory. It may carry the tone of an expert but that’s not a reason to take it seriously. Like the weather in Texas, it will soon change.

If you want to explore a different side to the unknown there’s no need to travel 6,000 miles. Those same goodies are waiting for you on the blank page. Creativity invites you into the adventure of seeing something new, exploring, having adventures, and being surprised. One of the best perks offered through creating is the opportunity to get very comfortable with stepping into the unknown. The unknown is never as scary as it once appeared. You transform your experience of the unknown into one of curiosity and wonder. Much like travel, the more you show up, the more is revealed and experienced.

Cherie Ray, MLA Consultant/Coach www.cherieray.com www. trueyoucreativity.com 832.545.8488. See ad on page 16

www.NaturalAwakenings-Houston.com

eventbriefs

Houston Pond & Water Garden Packing Light, Feel the Freedom Tours fish, lovely lilies, dancing dragonflies – and water, of a Clothes-Free Getaway Frolicking water, water! ... from serene pools to splashing waterfalls

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clothing-optional vacation or weekend getaway starts with freedom from large luggage. The American Association for Nude Recreation, Southwest Region, suggests that summer is the most popular and ideal time to experience a safe, clothing-free environment retreat at any of its many affiliated clubs and resorts.

Guests can visit for a weekend or stay for a week. Prescheduled and informal events and activities typically include water and beach volleyball tournaments, running contests, tennis, petanque (tossing or rolling hollow steel balls at a target), billiards, hiking, swimming, cook-outs and board games.

“Being clothes-free is a great way to build self-confidence, grants the ability to do things in a way you may not have thought about before and feels amazing, with the sun warming your entire being in a natural way while boosting the body’s production of vitamin D,” says Mitch London, an association board member in Austin, Texas. He adds, “Everyone is different; there is no body shaming. Friendly people from all walks of life appreciate the equality that it gives.”

For more information or to find the nearest location, call 1-800-879-6833, email info@aanr-sw.org, or visit aanr-sw.org.

See ad, page 7.

– these are the heart of hidden oases tucked into backyards across the Houston metro area.

Twenty backyard ponds and water gardens will open to the public, half on Saturday May 7, and half on Sunday May 8 from 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m., for the annual Houston Pond & Water Garden Tour. Ponds run the gamut from small owner-built “puddles” designed to attract wildlife, to interconnected ponds with streams and waterfalls that cover the entire backyard, to high-tech tanks that house show-quality imported Japanese koi. The beautifully landscaped yards are as enticing as the ponds.

Pond owners will be on hand to answer questions. This is a perfect opportunity to gain firsthand insight into the fascinating water gardening hobby. Photography is encouraged.

Tickets, good for both days, cost $10, and include a brochure with a description of the ponds and a map with driving directions to each home. Tickets may be purchased at any of the tour homes on the day of the tour, or in advance at www. houstonpondsociety.org or www.lonestarkoi.com. The 2016 Houston Pond and Water Garden Tour is co-sponsored by the Houston Pond Society and the Lone Star Koi Club. For more information, call Dan Cook, pond tour chairman, at (713)822-5515 or dcook1830@aol.com.

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FREE Monthly AFFIRMATION Gathering!

May 20th 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM Spectrum Center 4100 Westheimer Suite 233 • Houston May 2016

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You Are Beautiful Celebrate Your Life YogaMass™ at The Hines Center Saturday, May 7 Noon-1pm

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ogaMass™ is a unique and participative worship experience engaging the senses and integrating body, mind, and spirit through the combined practice of yoga, breath work, meditation, and Holy Communion. Led

by The Reverend Gena Davis of Grace Episcopal Church and The Reverend Dr. John K. Graham of the Institute for Spirituality and Health. Bring your mind, body, soul and mat. All levels are welcome. Chairs are available for those who wish to sit.

Hosted by the Hines Center for Spirituality and Prayer, 500 Fannin Street, Houston, TX 77002. Please make a reservation with Emily@hinescenter. org. For more information, contact Grace Episcopal Church, 832.667.8601 or www.yogamass.com.

The present time has

one advantage over every other—it is our own. ~Charles Caleb Colton

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Houston

Celebrate Your Life Comes to Houston

by Bobbie Marsh f you have never been to Celebrate Your Life, you are in for the biggest heart opening, joy filled experience of your life. Wayne Dyer was a staple at Celebrate Your Life (CYL) since the beginning. In a video he shared “This conference brings together some of the highest consciousness people on the planet. .you involve yourself in an energy, an energy shift when you attend Celebrate Your Life.”

Although there are dozens of online courses being offered all over the internet, Liz Dawn, the co-founder of Mishka Productions which produces Celebrate Your Life, still stands true to her and her mother, Ariel’s mission of creating a safe, nurturing and loving environment for people to learn and grow spiritually and personally.

She could easily jump onto the online course bandwagon, but still believes in the importance of people gathering, live, and in person.

Liz shared, “It would be so much less expensive and less stressful to create online courses, however I feel strongly, as Wayne did, that when you involve yourself in person in the energy of all these powerful teachers and the spiritual community, it is life changing. You cannot reach out and touch, or hug someone through a computer screen and have the kind of experiences that thousands of people walk away with at CYL. The love, excitement and joy is palpable at our events.”

The Mishka team accepted the invitation to bring CYL to Unity of Houston, one of the largest unity churches in the country. So for the first time in Texas, Celebrate Your Life will be in Houston on May 13–14 with eight new thought leaders and spiritual visionaries.

The lineup is synonymous to Oprah Winfrey’s Super Soul Sunday and LifeClass guest list. Liz has selected the cream of the crop for the CYL Unity of Houston conference.

“This is an exciting new adventure for us and we were so honored to receive this invitation. People are coming in from all over the country for the event!”, shared Liz.

Direct from OWN’s top rated show, Iyanla Vanzant from Iyanla, Fix My Life, is one of the keynote presenters. Iyanla will inspire you from your head to your toes teaching you how to live your life authentically, truthfully, and from a compassionate place of forgiveness.

Marianne Williamson, NY Times best-selling author of several books including

I

www.NaturalAwakenings-Houston.com

Return to Love and Healing of America, is another speaker at CYL in Houston.

Marianne is world-renowned for her direct, no nonsense spiritual approach to living an empowered courageous and passionate life. Her work with A Course in Miracles has profoundly changed people’s lives. Marianne is an extraordinary presenter and will no doubt shine her light strongly at the conference.

Reverend Michael and Rickie Beckwith are no strangers to the spiritual community. Michael is the leader and creator of one of the largest spiritual communities in the country, Agape in Los Angeles. Each week thousands of people gather from all over LA to hear Michael’s teachings and to be uplifted by Rickie’s soul touching music. This dynamic duo will take the stage at CYL Houston teaching people how to manifest and create the life they desire.

Also known for her work with the United Nations, appearances on Oprah’s Super Soul Sunday, spiritual leader Dr. Jean Houston is another speaker at this event. Jean Houston has dedicated her life to understanding life’s codes and helping others activate their highest calling and has awakened countless people to their life’s meaning and purpose.

Wayne Dyer spent the last two weeks of his life in Australia touring with author Anita Moorjani. From the moment Wayne met Anita, he knew he was in the presence of grace. He adored Anita and her work. Anita is yet another spiritual visionary presenting at the event in Houston.

Also included in the Celebrate Your Life conference in Houston is international speaker, Bryant McGill, best-selling author Gay Hendricks, and angel communicator, Sunny Dawn Johnston.

Celebrate Your Life at Unity of Houston will begin on Friday, May 13th and continue all day Saturday, May 14th.

You will be inspired, filled with new ideas, and your soul will be renewed and re-energized.

Reservations for the event are needed.

For more information call Mishka Productions at: 480-970-8543 or visit www.MishkaProductions.com

A Healing Collective

the place where healing happens

Alexander Technique, Movement Education Christine Lidvall 281-989-8574

Emotional Freedom Techniques (Tapping) Ange Finn, AAMET-certified 832-722-5955

Healing Touch, Energy Therapy Margaret Harle, RN 713-419-8207

Massage Therapy, LMT Olga Kiseleva

Massage Therapist, Vodder, MLD Molly Donovan, RMT 713-522-7588

Centrally located on Bellaire Blvd. between 610 S. Loop and Weslayan/Stella Link.

832-378-2490

For more information, visit our website www.ahealingcollective.com.

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Book Launch, Saturday,May 21 @ 05.30 pm Venue : Unity of Houston 2929, Unity Dr, Houston, TX 77057

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May 2016

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Radhanath Swami To Visit Houston May 18th-21st

H

is Holiness Radhanath Swami, the world-renowned saintly ambassador of bhakti yoga—the yoga of devotion—will make a rare Houston appearance May 18th-21st to launch his new book, The Journey Within. His main talk and book-signing will be on Saturday, May 21st at Unity of Houston, 2929 Unity Drive, Houston 77057, beginning at 5:30 pm with a kirtan and dance performance by members of the Mayapuris from Alachua, Florida. The program is free and open to the public.

In 1970, at age 19, Radhanath Swami left his family in suburban Chicago for the life of a sadhu or wandering monk, trekking across Europe and the Middle East with almost no money, often barely escaping with his life, until he reached the goal of his spiritual quest, India.

After meeting Mother Teresa, the Dalai Lama, the famous woman saint Ananda Mayi Ma, mystic yogis in the Himalayas and eventually his spiritual master, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, he began to share what he had learned and came to be revered as a guru by thousands in India and around the world. The soft-spoken swami is perhaps best known for his popular memoir The Journey Home, which reviewers have described as “an engaging yarn, a love story, and the evocation of a transcendent paradise in all its savagery,

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Houston

solitude, and splendor.”

In recent years Radhanath Swami has shared the secrets of bhakti at the annual International Yoga Festival in Rishkesh, India, California’s Bhaktifest, with his friend Krishna Das, the award-winning kirtan singer, and has addressed members of the House of Commons in England and met with Narendra Modi, India’s Prime Minister, Barack Obama, and has had dialogues with intellectuals such as Dr. Cornel West at Princeton University. “He sees life as a continuous blessing of God’s grace,” one follower says, “and yet he never loses his humanness. His accessibility leaves people feeling that, with a little sincere effort, they too will find the path to inner peace and God realization.”

Besides the Unity program, Radhanath Swami will also read from Journey Within on Friday, May 20th at 5:00 - 6:30pm followed by a special talk by him on ‘Be the Change’ at the ISKCON temple, 1320 West 34th Street, Houston, 77018. That program is also free and will include a vegetarian dinner.

Although Journey Within will not be available before May 17th at amazon.com and barnesandnoble.com, it is possible to preorder the book. Also you can pre-order at local Barnes and Noble store and pick it up in time for the swami to personally sign your copy. For more information, please contact 281-7045209. http://journeywithinbook.com/. See ad on page 11.

www.NaturalAwakenings-Houston.com

healthbriefs

Staying Active Relates to Healthy Hearing

Publish a Natural Awakenings Magazine in Your Community Share Your Vision and Make a Difference

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esearch from Johns Hopkins University has found that elderly persons that engage in frequent physical activity have a reduced incidence of hearing loss.

The researchers tested 706 people of age 70 or older. The subjects responded to a questionnaire about their physical activity levels over the previous 30 days and wore accelerometers to measure their level of day-to-day physical activity.

Subjects were categorized as inactive, insufficiently active or sufficiently active. After testing each participant’s hearing, the researchers found that those in the inactive category, according to the accelerometer data, were 70 percent more likely to suffer from significant hearing impairment. The data produced by the questionnaires alone suggested that individuals in the lowest category had a 59 percent increased incidence of hearing impairment.

Legumes Keep Colorectal Cancer at Bay

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orean medical school scientists have found that those eating more legumes have a significantly reduced risk of colorectal cancer.

Their research analyzed the diets of 3,740 people, including 901 colorectal cancer patients. A total of 106 different foods were graded and calculated to establish frequency of intake among the study participants.

The group that consumed the highest amounts of legumes had more than a 50 percent drop in incidence of colorectal cancer. As legume consumption increased, colorectal cancer risk decreased.

The researchers attributed the dramatic reduction in risk to the intake of isoflavones, contained in many nuts and beans.

When intakes of total isoflavones were calculated, those with diets that contained the highest levels reduced their colorectal cancer risk, by 33 percent in men and 35 percent in women.

The researchers reported, “The reduced risks for colorectal cancer among high-intake groups were most consistent for legumes and sprouts.”

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globalbriefs Fouled Play Farm Shares Schedule Plant It Forward Farms invites you to enjoy your own weekly box of our fresh, local produce through our Farm Share program which helps ensure our efforts to give newly arrived refugees access to the American dream. You, the socially and environmentally conscious consumer, will be supporting local refugee farmers and their families to earn a living wage by farming sustainably on urban farms in Houston. Farm Shares may be picked up at the following locations. Visit our website for more information or to sign up. http://plant-it-forward.org/our-produce/ farm-share/

MONDAY:

Nature Discovery Center in Bellaire 4pm-7pm 7112 Newcastle St, Bellaire

TUESDAY:

Local Foods in Rice Village 3:30 pm - 7 pm 2424 Dunstan Rd, Houston Dr. Blazek’s Office in the Heights 3:30 pm - 7 pm 2310 Rutland St, Houston Pearland Elite Training Center 3:30 pm - 7 pm 4407 Halik St, Pearland University of St. Thomas 3:30-7 pm 1318 Sul Ross Montrose

WEDNESDAY:

The Corner of Fondren and Willowbend 3:30 pm - 7 pm 10611 Fondren Rd, Houston Dr. Blazek’s Office in the Heights 3:30 pm - 7 pm 2310 Rutland St, Houston American Health Foods 3:30-6 pm 21202 TX-249 #500, Houston University of St. Thomas 3:30-7 pm 1318 Sul Ross Montrose Evelyn Rubenstein Jewish Community Center 3:30 - 7 pm 5601 S Braeswood Blvd, Houston

FRIDAY:

Summerwood Elementary School 3:30 - 7 pm 14000 Summerwood Lakes Dr, Houston

Toxic GMO Pesticides Drift Near Athletic Fields In an Environmental Working Group (EWG) survey, more than 90 percent of athletic fields and parks in six sample states are within 1,000 feet of a corn or soybean field where two toxic weed killers, glyphosate and 2,4-D, are commonly sprayed on genetically modified (GMO) corn, soybeans and other crops, meaning that nearby athletes are likely to be exposed.

More than 56 percent of the facilities in the study were within 200 feet of such farmland.

Corn and soybean farmers in at least 15 states now have the option of planting GMO crops that can withstand repeated spraying with Monsanto’s glyphosate and the 2,4-D mixture sold by Dow AgroSciences under the brand name Enlist Duo. Sprayed herbicides readily drift through the air, potentially exposing people and the nearby environment.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency approved the use of Enlist Duo for GMO crops shortly before the World Health Organization concluded that glyphosate, the world’s most widely used herbicide, is “probably carcinogenic to humans.” Dow’s 2,4-D also possibly causes cancer, according to leading experts; exposure has also been linked to Parkinson’s disease, hypothyroidism and suppression of the human immune system.

Source: EWG.org

May is Celiac Awareness Month Goat Groundskeepers

A Chew Crew Gobbles Up Invasive Species The Historic Congressional Cemetery, permanent resting place of J. Edgar Hoover, John Philip Sousa and 68,000 others, is threatened by invasive species such as poison ivy, poison oak, poison sumac, kudzu and English ivy. “They are plants not native to Washington, D.C.,” says Paul Williams, president of the cemetery. “They climb and kill our trees, which then fall onto the cemetery, damaging our headstones.”

Instead of using harmful herbicides that could become runoff into the nearby Anacostia River, managers have enlisted a herd of 30 goats to combat the problem. The arrangement lets the native plants grow to support pollinating insects.

The University of Georgia’s Chew Crew, comprising 40 goats, is likewise tasked with getting rid of invasive species growing around urban streams on its campus, another example of the elegant, lowtech solution. Maintaining steep inclines and other hard-to-reach areas can be expensive when using toxic herbicides and physical labor. After seeing the success of the Chew Crew, Clemson University is now also using goats to naturally recover some of the more overgrown areas of its campus.

Source: CNN

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www.NaturalAwakenings-Houston.com

businessspotlight

What is Thursday Thrive Tapping Like?

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ach free, Thursday Thrive Tapping session with Helen Racz, you will meet a room full of invitees, who join an experience that will stay with them for a lifetime. Helen goes through a quick introduction then starts to speak and tap, demonstrating the technique as each person follows. As each person repeats the words, “Even though I have this sadness, I deeply love and accept myself,” while tapping on their temple.

Helen is tapping on her face, hands, and torso while repeating key phrases, and the room follows her as if they have used this technique a thousand times. For those who are new to this type of therapy, here is how EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique) works: a problem that causes distress is selected. Perhaps someone chooses a recent loss, then names

the emotion they feel (for some, sadness, as opposed to anger, anxiety, craving, etc.). Then its asked that the emotion is summoned up, focus on where it manifests in the body, and rate the distress on a scale from one to 10. Then repeat, “Even though I have this sadness, I deeply love and accept myself” (some may pause while saying this, thinking, “Do I really?”)

-- and the room begins to tap in the nine points that Helen demonstrates for the room, while repeating the reminder phrase “this sadness.”

At first, this might feel a bit silly. But as Helen is focused, the room of people follow suit, focusing on the feeling and begin to raise the vibration in the room to a buzz. The mechanism of action is unknown; but one suggestion is that physical stimulation of certain pressure points during exposure to an emotional trauma may send deactivating signals directly to the amygdala, or the “fear center” of your brain, resulting a rapid reduction of maladaptive fear, according to Gary Craig who started EFT; or as Helen would say, “you release what you are keeping tightly wrapped inside.” The tapping technique seems to release the emotion that is stuck somewhere in the body, something that throughout the session made me feel elevated and entranced. For those who attend the Thursday night session, they all have the same response when asked why they come back, “I leave feeling less emotional, and happier.”

For others, Helen Racz is one of those living souls that one meets in life and wonder, “how did I live prior to meeting her?” If it is not her coaching that’s giving people life, it is her Thursday EFT sessions that bring people back week after week for nine years. She has a radiance about her that gives each person a glimpse of what life really is about, Love.

Helen is committed to supporting clients around the world to find freedom from their most pressing challenges by leveraging and aligning with soul’s purpose. Every Thursday she can be seen live on Facebook living freely and healing fully by using her EFT to support those who love it. Those who keep coming back praise the efforts of this class with leaving feeling free and happy with an emotional outlet that is safe as well as comforting, something we all desire in a world that can be a bit chaotic.

Thursday Thrive Tapping at The Spectrum Center 20160 North Loop West, Suite 205, 77018. HelenRacz.com. See ad on page 47.

Join the

When The Inner Light Is On, EVERYTHING IS CLEAR True happiness & true freedom are already within us.

However, our perceptions & holdings block us from living with it. Realize the source of these blocks to live truly happy… anywhere, anytime, always.

Universal Door Meditation Center 281-565-9718 • UniversalDoor.org 2619 Charles Lane, Sugar Land, TX 77498

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May 2016

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WOMEN’S HEALTH

by Ms. Angel Marlow

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ithout health, what do we have? The average woman has so much going on in her life on a day to day basis. I know, I work a demanding work week, shuffle kids from school to practice, take care of my personal relationships and make sure dinner is on time. A woman is relied on because she is intelligent, dependable and responsible. Isn’t it only right that she put herself first to make sure she can keep up with her heavy demand?

Absolutely!

A healthy lifestyle is the first step in implementing a healthy life. We all

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know that physical health is important, but I believe not many of us take our mental health into account as much as we should. According to the National Institute for Mental Health more women are affected by depression then men.

A healthy body isn’t complete without a healthy mind. By taking the time to assess our mood and energy we begin to connect with ourselves. This allows us to notice when our mental state is not at its peak, teaches us to be conscious of the stresses in our life and things that make us anxious. Some potential modalities to help us are yoga, breathing

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techniques, or meditation. With practice and guidance from a trained professional we can help our mind return to a healthy mental state. We can get so caught up in our lives and sometimes forget to take care of ourselves. Ladies, assess yourself regularly and keep tabs on your health not just for the people you love but for you as well!

Internal health is so important for everyone. Women’s internal layout is quite different from men and our bodies are designed to do some pretty amazing things. Our bodies, with aid, produce life and help provide nutrients to that life once born. Our breasts are a very important part of the body. About 1 in 8 women will develop cancer. This statistic is scary and is why doing self-breast checks and visiting your doctor on a regular basis is so important. Staying in tune with your body helps identify any abnormalities. A woman’s breasts will go through many stages during her lifetime.

As you progress through life, you may notice your breasts start to change, most of these changes will be healthy and normal. For example, when we begin to approach menopause, the breasts start to feel tender and lumpier than they did before. This change tends to be normal for most women.

A major part of why we can do everything that we do is because of the cardiovascular system. This system is made up of the heart. The heart pumps blood throughout our body, to our lungs, the arteries, and the veins. It is an important system in the body. We should treat this system like gold as it provides us with life. In the U.S. 1 in 4 women will die from heart disease. In fact, coronary heart disease (CHD) is the leading cause of death of both men and women in the U.S. However, we should note the symptoms of CHD can be controlled. Making healthy lifestyle changes, exercising, medicines, and different health procedures can lower a woman’s risk of CHD. It’s important to monitor our heart health many women go undiagnosed with issues.

Nutrition and digestion: What we put into our bodies lays the foundation for how our bodies will respond to everyday life. We have all heard, “you are what you eat.” Think about it. If you feed your body processed foods high

in salt, fat, and sugar compared to the clean foods like leafy greens, vegetables, and protein, what do you think will happen to the body? The body was not meant to process all the unnatural things we tend to put into it and the rise of heart disease, obesity, and other ailments are on the rise. Nutrition for women is especially important to help keep hormone and pH levels balanced.

We can do this by eating plenty of fiber-rich foods and fluids along with probiotic-rich foods that have healthy bacteria in them. These foods will help the body stay regular in our elimination process. A plant-rich diet can contribute to longevity and good health because plant-based foods are protective and offer so many nutritional benefits.

Supplements can also provide extra support in areas that you may miss in your diet: calcium, Vitamin-D, omega-3 fatty acids, and probiotics will all benefit and lead to a healthy body. It is all about finding balance in what we eat. Begin slowly, such as a week of clean eating (no processed foods) and see how you feel. I always suggest journaling when you make changes in your lifestyle.

Exercising is an important tool when it comes to maintaining a healthy body

and mind. This, coupled with a good diet, can help us go farther in extending our life. Many of us implement a workout regimen to lose extra weight, stay at a current weight, or to just de-stress after a long day. Whatever your age, weight, or health situation may be, engaging in any type of exercise can help your body function closer to its potential. Exercising could be power walking, jogging, biking, swimming, lifting weights, yoga, pilates, the options are endless. Exercising does not have to be a chore. Just 2030 minutes a day can help the body in so many ways. Exercising releases endorphins from the brain and produces an energy surge that helps you feel good and can help lower the risk for some diseases. I promise your body and your mind will thank you for it in the end.

Thermography, a process that was approved by the FDA in 1982, is used to screen various parts of the body to detect possible imbalances. The process is nonevasive and painless. It works by using infrared thermal imaging to discover any possible physiological or functional process rather than an anatomical presence. Through this method the imaging will detect processes that are causing temperature changes inside

natural awakenings

the body, shedding light on a possible disease before it becomes anatomical, and then proper action can be taken to try to reverse the abnormality in the body.

Scanning areas include cardiovascular inflammation, breast anomalies at the earliest stages, possible thyroid dysfunction, immune system response, hormonal imbalance, and much more.

Thermography provides a practical, useful, and helpful process to help people discover possible imbalances and reverse them before they become a problem.

All of the topics discussed above are in direct correlation with one another.

Health has many layers to it and one can never have too much knowledge on the many aspects this topic engages in. I encourage you to explore the topic of women’s health and research any questions or concerns that you may have about any of the levels it covers!

Thermal Imaging Services: 3300 Chimney Rock Rd, Suite 208, Houston TX, 77056 Phone (713) 621-4406 Website: www. thermalimagingtexas.com Mobile locations in The Woodlands, Humble/Kingwood, Beaumont and Tyler, Texas. See ad on page 31.

May 2016

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it healthy, we can increase the health and vibrancy of our dogs and horses. These animals are sensitive to energy and to their personal needs. It is important not to use any essential oil that they do not like. Dogs and horses know quickly if the essential oil will help them. There are exceptions and this is for traumatized or mentally damaged dogs and horses often found in rescues. They will need special handling. The oils can be very helpful for them, but they will probably not like the very oils that will help them the most.

Here is a list of oils that can be used in clearing. Choose the one you feel will be appropriate. Notice that energy clearing is also used with physical conditions.

Energy Clearing Your Animals with Essential Oils

by Meg Shehad at Gritman oils

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ow is the time to let go of the old and bring in the new. We often forget that our beloved pets need some help with releasing old emotional energy that they get from us humans and from just living their lives. Many animals get illness or just run into traffic when they become overburdened with energetic debris. We may know that they are doing this because they love us, but many do not know how to clear their animals. Dogs and horses response best to essential oils. Cats and birds need very special procedures. I am going to talk about dogs and horses today.

BACTERIA THAT

DEFEND YOUR H E A LT H , NATURALLY

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What is energy clearing? This is often hard for us to understand because we are dealing with what we cannot see. We all have an energy field around us. The Earth also has an energy field around it and is often described as a electromagnetic field. Humans, dogs, and horses also have electromagnetic fields. You cannot see it just like you cannot see air. We know it is there.

Describe air. Hopefully you cannot see it, but you know it is there as you breathe it in and out. Energy is like air and is all around us even though we cannot see it.

If we clear this energy field and keep

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z If the dog or horse is nervous, use the blend Calming or Lavender essential oil. z If the dog or horse is in pain, use Ache and Pain EEEZ z If the dog or horse is having breathing issues from allergies, use Allergy & Sinus EEEZ z If the owner has concerns that the animal is over medicated, use Fennel essential oil z If the animal is suffering from viral issues, use Cold & Flu EEEZ z If the horse is suffering from colic, use Peppermint or Ginger essential oils. z If the horse appears depressed, use Depression EEEZ z If the horse is traumatized, use Trauma EEEZ z If in doubt as to what to use, use Stress EEEZ

• Capsules • 8+ years old

• Chewable • 3-8 years old

• Powder form • Infants to age 3

Once you have selected the oil, drop a few drops onto your palms and rub together. Present the oils to the horse.

If the horse moves his head towards the oils, it is giving its approval. If it moves its head away from the oil, it is not giving approval and you need to try a different oil. If the animal is having a hard time accepting the oil, suspect trauma of some kind that needs to be cleared.

Before clearing imagine a way of disposing of the energy debris that you will be clearing away. This can be hard for some because you can’t see it. You are just imagining and this can make some feel weird. I always tell people that this is when you need to pull out your little kid and allow yourself to just believe.

Once you see this working, you will become a believer because you will see the evidence, but for now you just need to believe. Imagine!

Many people bring in angels or other energy beings and give the debris to them. Others like to imagine a trash can with fire in it. The debris is released into the trash can and it is burned up.

Know that if you do not do this, the emotional debris is still in the space and

will reattach.

Now the oil is selected, the animal has given approval, and a disposal site is imagined, you are ready to start. Begin at the head. For a horse you will have to go down one side of the body and then do the other side. With a dog usually you can get both both hands going down both sides of the body. Slowly make your way through the animal’s energy. Do not touch the body of the animal . Stay about 3-6 inches away from the animal depending on their size. If you feel that you need to stop, do so. The head, the heart and the rear of the animal often need some time to clear. Wait until you feel you can go ahead and move on.

Remember you are a kid and you are just pretending. Use your trash can and just dispose of the debris. Once you are finished, clear the final debris into the trash can. With your imagination, allow it to disappear as you thank your animal, yourself, and your trash can for being there. I know it sounds silly but this is just good manners when it comes to energy clearing.

This process will allow physical treatments by you or your vet or other

natural awakenings

health care provider to be more effective.

If you will be using essential oil treatment, you will not need to use as much oil.

Remember this will save you money and greatly help the health of your horse.

Emotional clearing needs to be done before any form of medical or physical treatment is used. This will increase the effectiveness of the procedure. After the procedure is preformed, the emotional clearing is used once more.

Call Amy’s Healing Apothecary today, Amy is a Certified Spiritual Aroma Therapist certified by Gritman Oil, Vajra Transmission Master in Healing Energy, Balances Chakras, Does Pet clearings, Does Essential Oils Reading Intuitively ,Does healing work with the Biomat that is made with Amethyst and Black Tourmaline, Amy specializes in healing touch, infertility, PTSD, Trauma, Terminally ill, and Sells Essential Oils to Enhance Your Life. Office is located inside Pixie’s Intent at 2727 Fondren St. Houston, TX Call today to make you appointment 281-853-4729 walk ins are welcome. Amy is also mobile she does home and hospital visits.

May 2016

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Breaking Away From Toxins

by Carrie Harmon

D

o you ever feel like you just need a break? You are constantly running, walking or dancing around and from time to time, you feel like you need a break.

You have to stop whatever you are doing and take a few moments to take it all in. It is important to sit back, catch your breath and then continue to go about your day. When doing day-to-day activities, you cannot constantly stay in motion for hours at a time. It is physically impossible to be awake and active 24/7. Our bodies need to break away from life and its exhausting activities.

Take a deep breath and relax… your body will thank you. As important as it is to break away from your life, it is equally important to break away from food.

If you are anything like me, you prep your healthy meals ahead of time and you end up eating the same thing for breakfast, lunch and dinner throughout the week.

When you continue to eat oatmeal, fruit, lean protein, veggies, quinoa and mixed green salads day after day, you are more likely to break away from your healthy lifestyle and grab a Kit Kat bar. The excess sugar from your chocolate “break” will only make you feel tired and sluggish. If you are not like me, then you are probably

The more you praise and celebrate your life, the more there is in life to celebrate. ~Oprah Winfrey

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wondering how you can finally kick-start your journey to a new and healthier you.

Regardless, if you already consider yourself a “healthy” person or not, your body is currently filled with toxins that come from the food you eat. To obtain a healthful lifestyle, you sometimes have to break away from food and flush your system. Breaking away from toxins and doing a liquid cleanse will help you hit your internal reset button. It will give you time to focus on your mind, body and spirit. A cleanse will increase your energy, help break unwanted cravings and give you glowing skin. A combination of fasting, cleansing, and colonics will energize, strengthen and enlighten you. Flushing your system can help undo the damage of overconsumption and poor food choices. I recommend doing a detox cleanse as often as you can. It can even help you lose weight. Cleansing for just three days, will make you feel better about yourself. You will feel healthier and notice you will no longer have cravings for unhealthy fatty and sugary food. It can even change your whole perspective as you will have the extra energy to connect with your mind, body and soul.

It is important to take a moment and listen to your body. Toxins and overworking your body can lead to unhealthy behavior and lifelong health problems. I suggest to do your research and do a detox program that is right for you. At Deer Lake Lodge, guests release toxins in an environment that lets them relax away from the stress at home.

It is important to unwind, flush your system and enjoy the moment whether you prefer to break away into a holistic cleanse at home or at a resort. Just remember to reward yourself and break away.

Carrie Harmon is the Spa Director at Deer Lake Lodge & Spa, a health resort that promotes enhanced living through holistic cleansing and other therapeutic practices in a relaxing, secluded environment. Deer Lake Lodge & Spa aspires to improve guests’ health in an environment where they can enjoy a multi-faceted cleansing program in a rustic-chic resort atmosphere, located on a 50-acre rustic-chic oasis in Montgomery, TX. www.DeerLakeLodge. com. See ad on page 36.

SPARK UP YOUR LOVE LIFE Natural Ways to Boost Libido

by Lisa Marshall

U

nderlying health issues aside, a hectic schedule packed with work deadlines, kids’ sporting events and household chores can leave little time for intimacy. Letting that pattern go on too long can become a problem. “There’s a use-it-or-lose-it phenomenon that occurs,” says Dr. Anita Clayton, a University of Virginia psychiatry professor, neurologist and author of Satisfaction: Women, Sex, and the Quest for Intimacy.

Despite what hyper-seductive female media stereotypes suggest we believe, in the real world, 39 percent of women feel they lack sex drive, and nearly half experience some kind of sexual dissatisfaction, according to a survey of 32,000 women published in the journal Obstetrics & Gynecology. About one in eight women are significantly distressed about it. “The truth is, many of us don’t have great sex lives,” confirms Clayton.

Sprout Pharmaceuticals introduced Addyi, aka filbanserin, last fall; the first prescription drug to address low libido in women. Some heralded the controversial medication as “the little pink pill,” seeing it as the female version of males’ blue Viagra pill, which a half-million men purchased in its first month on the mar-

ket in 1998. Yet several months after its launch, only about 1,000 women had tried Addyi and many doctors declined to prescribe it, due to its lack of widespread efficacy and possible adverse side effects, including low blood pressure and fainting when combined with alcohol.

“This is a complex problem that requires a complex solution,” says Honolulu-based naturopathic physician Laurie Steelsmith, author of Great Sex Naturally: Every Woman’s Guide to Enhancing Her Sexuality Through the Secrets of Natural Medicine. “For most women, drugs are not the answer.” She notes that for men, boosting libido is largely a matter of boosting circulation and blood flow to the penis. But for women, desire for lovemaking stems from an interplay of emotional, interpersonal, hormonal and anatomical drivers that make lack of desire harder to “treat”.

The truth is that many simple, effective, non-drug approaches exist. As Boulder, Colorado, marriage therapist Michele Weiner Davis puts it, “There’s no reason why a woman wanting a more robust sex life cannot have one.”

Overall Health Check

The number one culprit for low libido in women is subpar physical health, says Steelsmith. “To be capable of fully enjoynatural awakenings

ing pleasure, you need a healthy body.”

Carrying excess weight can both erode self-esteem and lead to reductions in a woman’s natural circulating testosterone, a critical hormone that helps ignite pleasure circuits in the female brain and increase sensitivity in the clitoris. Being underweight can result in fatigue and low sexual energy, diminished production of excitatory brain chemicals and low levels of estrogen, key for keeping a woman moist.

Meanwhile, Steelsmith explains, excess stress can prompt the body to “steal” from libido-boosting hormones like progesterone in order to make more of the stress-hormone cortisol. High blood sugar can drive down testosterone, while high cholesterol can clog pelvic blood vessels, dulling sensation.

Depression, diabetes and thyroid disorders are other major libido killers, says Clayton. “If you treat them effectively, you may see big improvements.”

Women seeking to improve their sexual health should first try to achieve a healthy weight via diet and exercise, Steelsmith says. She recommends an organic diet rich in complex carbohydrates (which keep blood sugar balanced), lean protein (a precursor to desire-related neurotransmitters) and good fats (which help keep vulval tissues lubricated).

Exercise—another circulation booster—is also key. Do it before a scheduled hot date for even better results. One 2014 study of 52 women found that those that worked out prior to an anticipated romantic encounter had significantly increased sexual desire.

Pamper Femaleness

Many women avoid sexual encounters for fear of sparking a urinary tract or vaginal infection. This becomes more common after age 40, as estrogen wanes and pelvic tissue thins and dries, leaving it more vulnerable to microbial invaders. Because semen is alkaline, it changes a woman’s vaginal pH, allowing unfriendly bacteria to thrive, says Steelsmith.

Her advice: Always go to the bathroom and urinate after intercourse, and use natural lubricants, like vitamin E. For some women, she also recommends low-dose, prescription estrogen cream or suppositories.

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If an infection occurs, try to treat it naturally, avoiding antibiotics, which can spark yeast overgrowth. Instead, Steelsmith recommends using tea tree oil, goldenseal, or probiotic douches or suppositories, available online and at health food stores.

Kegel exercises are a famous aid, involving clamping down as if interrupting urine flow, before releasing and repeating. This not only help fends off urinary incontinence and infection, it also strengthens and firms pelvic muscles, rendering enhanced enjoyment for both partners.

sex. “Some people say, ‘Oh, but that’s not spontaneous enough,’” says Weiner Davis. “But even if you put it on the calendar, what you do with that time can still be spontaneous and playful.”

While most women assume that they need to be in the mood first, research by University of British Columbia Psychiatrist Rosemary Basson suggests that in some women, desire only comes after physical arousal, especially by a loving partner that takes the time to meet her needs. “I wish I had a dollar for each time someone said to me, ‘I’m not in the mood, but once I get into it, I surprise myself, because I have a really good time,’” says Weiner Davis.

She’s not advising women to make love when they really don’t want to, but rather to be open to it even when the circumstances aren’t ideal. “A lot of women feel like the house has to be clean, with the kids asleep and free of distracting noises,” she says. “Sometimes, just do it.”

Is Sex Essential?

Make Time for Intimacy

Research has shown that over time, frequent lovemaking actually causes structural changes in certain areas of the brain as new connections form and sex-related regions grow stronger.

Stop, and those areas atrophy, making physical intimacy feel awkward once it’s resurrected.

A sexless relationship can also be emotionally devastating for the person, often the male, that wants more contact, says Weiner Davis, author of The SexStarved Marriage: Boosting Your Marriage Libido. “For the spouse yearning for touch, it is a huge deal,” she says.

“It’s about feeling wanted, attractive and loved.” In her practice, she often sees couples that are mismatched in how they wish to demonstrate and receive love. Often, the woman wants to feel close emotionally before she can feel close physically. For the man, physical intimacy is a conduit for opening up emotionally. When both keep waiting to get what they want, the relationship suffers.

She counsels couples to deliberately make time to address both partners’ needs. Schedule a long walk or intimate dinner to talk over feelings; also schedule 22

Houston

Clayton points out that while 42 percent of women experience either low sex drive or satisfaction, fewer than 12 percent are really bothered by it. “Some women experience great grief and loss about this. They say, ‘It used to be a part of my life and now it’s gone.’” For some in this subset that are unable to find relief via lifestyle changes, she would recommend Addyi, said to boost desire by changing brain chemicals. On the other hand, many women don’t need to take any action at all. “If someone has low sex drive and it doesn’t matter to them or their partner, it’s not a problem.”

That said, the benefits of attending to an affectionate, healthy sex life can go far beyond the bedroom, improving overall health and strengthening relationships, notes Steelsmith. Sex burns calories, increases circulation, releases calming and painkilling hormones like prolactin and prompts production of the “bonding hormones” vasopressin and oxytocin.

“When you are in a loving relationship and you express that love through your body, physiological changes occur that can help you bond more deeply with your partner,” she says. “The more you make love, the more love you make.”

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

www.NaturalAwakenings-Houston.com

Five Common Libido Killers Birth Control Pills: Oral contraceptives can boost levels of sex hormone-binding globulin, which attaches to desire-promoting testosterone, making it harder for the body to access it.

Antidepressants: Numerous antidepressant medications have been shown to decrease libido, but leaving depression untreated can kill sex drive even more; consider natural alternatives.

Smoking: It impairs circulation to genitals.

Alcohol: Too much alcohol lowers sexual response.

Caffeine: Excess caffeine can erode levels of testosterone, which is vital for driving desire.

Sources: Laurie Steelsmith, ND, and research studies

Nature’s LibidoEnhancers L-arginine: Boosts blood flow to sexual organs. Can be taken in supplement form or applied topically.

Chinese ginseng (Panax ginseng): Considered a sexual tonic in Chinese medicine for its ability to stabilize sexual energy over time; also used to address vaginal dryness.

Epimedium (horny goat weed): Said to stimulate nerves in genitals, support adrenal glands and boost levels of feel-good brain chemicals.

Phenylethylamine: Sometimes referred to as the “romance chemical”, this stimulant and mood elevator is naturally released in the brain when we have an orgasm, exercise or eat chocolate; also available in supplement form.

Maca: A Peruvian root used for centuries in that country to promote sexual energy, Maca is said to boost production of libido-boosting hormones.

Source: Laurie Steelsmith, ND

natural awakenings

May 2016

23

Bridging the Gap Between Parents and Teens

by Pho Nguyen

W

e’ve all heard it before ….

“The teenagers today, they are just so…..” And coming back in the other direction, “My parents are just so impossible….they just don’t get it.” Generation after generation it has always been there, but now add in rapidly advancing technology replacing interactions that used to happen in families, increased stress on parents from work and responsibilities, and an environment that pressures teens to both speed up and excel. Accumulating pressures can easily increase reactivity, and so the rifts between parents and teens that look small and seemingly insignificant at first can quickly become snarled and deeply painful. And then what? How can we unsnarl a tangled ball, especially if it has no visible tail to begin to untangle? What really works?

To help families answer those questions and have lasting happiness at home, Zen Master Thich Dieu Thien, founder of Universal Door Meditation Center, launched a series of Parent and Teen Workshops starting back in 2012.

24

Houston

The idea for it came about when within one month’s time, three different families came to meet the Zen Master with extreme situations. The first two families both had teens who were severely depressed, and having exhausted every type of counseling, medication, and intervention, they were without hope.

The third family came struggling with deep grief after their teenage son had committed suicide. The Zen Master said we can no longer wait until young people grow up to start helping families, and from there the Parent and Teen Workshops were born.

As a student at Universal Door at the time, I saw first-hand how powerful the workshops were! The results exceeded all expectations; both teens in the first two families experienced profound transformation and moved on to thrive in college. The members of the third family were able to experience deep understanding, resolution, and healing.

When both parents and teens are participating, each person realizes more about themselves and their part

www.NaturalAwakenings-Houston.com

of the equation, begins to work with it, and from there things shift, doors open.

Everything is possible! I had a chance to see how universal the application and benefits of Zen meditation really are; it is like a miracle medicine for all wounds. It is so simple, user-friendly, and profound.

The key ingredient to the success is Zen Master Thich Dieu Thien and her core teaching at Universal Door: to help all people discover more about themselves, wake up from all confusion and misunderstanding, and realize the Awake within. She uses the simple terms “Awake Mind” and “False Mind” to help people distinguish an important difference. Awake Mind describes one’s clearest, centered “true self,” or our inherent nature before life conditioning and habits (karma) cover it over. Our False Mind includes the chattering voice in the head and the ongoing thoughts, perceptions, and beliefs that color everything that comes through our senses. We live from these pictures stored in False Mind, believing they are real; they directly determine the way we act, think, and feel in every moment. This is the cause of everyday stress, fear, and conflict, including the classic friction between parents and teens. Zen Master Thich Dieu Thien frequently reminds us that the ultimate goal is to wake up from False Mind, or said another way, to

realize the truth about who we are, and who we are not.

You may wonder what’s the practical difference between navigating life from Awake Mind compared to False Mind?

Look at it this way….In the typical family, how is everyday life? Adults and kids come home from work and school, tired, usually expecting this or that from each other, and often some struggle or conflict in there. It starts with a small thing, and if unchecked, it continues to grow. Then the next incident feeds it further. A stronger perception builds up and then we start to assume before anything even happens. The other person feels prematurely judged and unseen.

We cannot hear each other. There is no space for others to speak. Our stock pile of perceptions and beliefs has become like tinted lenses through which we see things happen. We have started to see others as we are, as our created perceptions are, not as who they really are.

Now imagine a house where the seeds of Awake have been planted. Each person can recognize what is happening in their own mind and body, listen to each other, has space for each other.

They can communicate easily and share about their day or their needs. Harmony is a basic foundation in the home. Sound good? This is not a dream or imagination.

This is a real possibility. I watched it happen in dozens of families. At each workshop we could see the tremendous differences in the families since the previous workshop. The family members were happier, felt lighter and closer to each other.

Through the basics of what Zen Master Thich Dieu Thien teaches, both parents and teens have a chance to settle down and reflect on themselves. She often does this in very interactive ways, like teaching stories, live demonstrations, or activities. Combined with basic meditation practice, they understand themselves more, and automatically understand others. They are then able to soften, listen better, and communicate more clearly. With deeper understanding and improved communication, conflicts can resolve in a very natural way. And not just as a quick fix, but as a true change that allows relationships to continue to blossom for the long term.

In one of the first workshops, there was the situation between a father and daughter who lived in the same house, but had very little communication, many silent judgments, and a lack of understanding between them. Just, each going their way, day after day.

As years passed, the gap grew wider.

The workshop opened their eyes to the situation, and sparked a willingness to do things differently, as they realized the ultimate consequences if they continued to live like that. Each started to see some of the others’ perspective, each gave space, each resisted less. The result was understanding, ease and acceptance.

Neither of them ever thought that would be possible, especially from attending meditation workshops! And even better, the daughter said she now felt comfortable to go to her parents with any problem that may come up in her life instead of trying to hide it or solve it without support, which could result in even worse consequences.

Throughout the workshops, two great ironies always appeared. All parents expressed how much they love their kids, and with deepest intention to give the best to their kids in every way.

Parents make choices based on their own ideas, perceptions, and experience.

However, those choices are sometimes different than kids’ ideas, or what the kids think is best. Without understanding and communication skills, conflict happens, and then blame and resentment. So what seems to be starting out from love can end up creating conflict, again and again. Why? How? How is it we constantly end up hurting the people we love the most?

The other great irony we saw was on the teens’ side. Deep inside, the teens said they love their parents, and would like to be close with them. Yet in reality the parents are sometimes the last ones teens are comfortable to talk to. In addition to that, they are the first ones that teens blame when they feel unhappy. Without the tools to bridge the gaps, the teens said they felt misunderstood, controlled by parents, and wanted to isolate and distance themselves from their parents, despite their original intentions to love and be close. And, again, how to untangle that mess? natural awakenings

But the fantastic news is that all these questions can be answered, and we don’t have to keep living with all the conflicts inside and out! There is a direct, practical path of practice that is sustainable and available to every single family, regardless of culture, religion, or any other factor. Zen Master Thich Dieu Thien teaches from her own realization that the Awake Mind is already within each person, like the sun that is always shining behind even the darkest of clouds, and we can return to that original Awake and live from there truly happy and free in any situation, disturbed by nothing. No family situation is hopeless,and also it is never too early to start the journey of bridging the gaps and building a solid foundation of understanding and communication that will last a lifetime. We hope you can participate in any of our upcoming programs, experience the changes for yourself, and share the benefits with your family and all families.

The next Parent and Teen Workshop will be Sunday, June 12, 2016, from 9:00am to 4:00pm at Universal Door Meditation Center, guided by Zen Master Thich Dieu Thien. Please call 281-565-9718 to register soon, as space is limited. The Summer 2016 Youth and Teen Program starts Sunday, June 19 and continues every Sunday from 11:00am to 12:30pm until August 21. Registration is required.

See the events listings or call for more information.

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FACIAL FITNESS Exercises to Tone Your Face and Neck

by Kathleen Barnes

G

ravity takes its toll as years pass, and many women find themselves bemoaning crow’s feet, frown lines and turkey necks that make them look older than they feel.

Experts point to the loss of “fat pads” in the cheeks, bone loss around the eye sockets and cheekbones and overall weak muscles as potential contributors to facial aging. Natural exercise programs designed to reverse these unpleasant signs of aging comprise a new fitnessfor-beauty trend.

“Face and neck muscles somehow have been left out of mainstream fitness programs,” observes Denver esthetician and massage therapist Grace Mosgeller, who addresses this void with her series of eight FaceFitnez audio and video exercises. “If you tone the muscles of your face and neck, the skin attached to those muscles firms and tones as well, creating a natural youthful look.”

Muscular stress—the good kind— is at the core of facial fitness, says Mosgeller. She cite’s Wolff’s Law, a well-known medical theory that bone grows and remodels in response to the tension or muscle engagement put on it. “Regular facial exercise works the muscles to correct the loss of both muscle tone and bone density and build collagen. It might be called the equivalent of push-ups, pull-ups and abdominal tucks for the face.”

Carolyn Cleaves, owner of Carolyn’s Facial Fitness, in Seabeck, Washington,

near Seattle, a former college professor, developed a facial exercise program for herself upon detecting early signs of aging. With the help of two primary care physicians, she designed a routine that includes 28 basic exercises that target all 57 facial muscles. “As we get older, we lose the underlying layer of fat just beneath the skin, and as a result, we look old and tired,” says Cleaves. She agrees that exercising the face actually helps rebuild lost bone, enlarges the muscles and also builds collagen. A study from the University of Rochester, in New York, confirms that loss of bone mass can start in women as early as age 40. It starts in men 16 to 25 years later.

Mosgeller’s facial exercises work to fade wrinkles and lines and firm up sagging flesh, yielding visible results in as little as two weeks of dedicated training.

She says, “Within six to nine months, it’s possible to look five to 10 years younger than when you started.” Her claims are verified by Dr. Carol Lipper, in Denver, who states, “I’ve done the exercises and they work. The trouble is compliance.

It’s a lot of work.” She confirms that she saw improvement in her droopy eyelids after just two or three weeks of adhering to Mosgeller’s workouts.

“It seems that every three months or so, I see another leap in results and a younger look,” adds Cleaves of those using her program. Here are a few crucial areas to target, with just a few of these experts’ recommended remedies. natural awakenings

Cleaves’ Crow’s Feet Eliminator: Place fingertips on top of the head, thumbs resting near the corners of the eyes.

Shut eyes tightly and slide thumbs toward the temples for a count of five. Repeat 10 times.

Mosgeller’s Rx for Droopy Eyelids: Place index finger on top of a closed eyelid, and then lift fingers up and slightly to the outside. Blink hard and hold. It’s preventive, as well as curative, says Mosgeller, so those over 45 should repeat this 100 times a day, while younger individuals should repeat 20 to 50 times a day.

M o s g e l l e r ’s Frown Line Eraser: Pull brows apart with fingers and hold for two seconds. Repeat 50 to 100 times up to six times per week.

This is meant to relax and tone the muscles, not build them.

Cleaves’ Turkey Neck Buster: Tilt the head back slightly.

With palm facing the neck, grasp under the chin with a wide-open hand and slowly slide hand down to the collarbone; hold there while counting to 10. Repeat five times daily.

Kathleen Barnes is author and publisher of many natural health books. Connect at KathleenBarnes.com.

Face Workouts Find Mosgeller’s FacialFitnez exercise video menu at Tinyurl.com/ MosgellerFaceExercises and more info at FaceFitnez.com.

Sample Cleaves’ video series at CarolynsFacialFitness.com/free-facialexercises and Tinyurl.com/Cleaves FaceExercises.

May 2016

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healingways

metabolism, lower immunity to illness and impaired repair and maintenance of bones and joints,” explains Shames.

After testing thousands of patients in his practice, Thompson estimates that 90 percent of North Americans are iodine deficient, citing what he calls “epidemic proportions” of hypothyroidism (low thyroid function) with symptoms comprising obesity, fatigue, brain fog, irregular or absent menstrual periods, hair loss and heat and cold intolerance.

Major Culprits

Solutions for a Sluggish Thyroid Keying in on Iodine

by Kathleen Barnes

I

t seems that a common mineral supplement that costs just pennies per day can stimulate an underactive thyroid, restore metabolism to normal levels, curb excess appetite, banish fatigue and generally improve everyone’s health. Mounting scientific evidence shows that iodine may be an answer to many such health woes, especially for women.

“The thyroid acts as a throttle, the gas pedal for all metabolic functions in the human body,” says Dr. Richard

Shames, of San Rafael, California, author of Thyroid Mind Power.

If the thyroid is a driving force of human physiology, then iodine is its key fuel, says Dr. Robert Thompson, of Soldotna, Alaska, author of What Doctors Fail to Tell You About Iodine & Your Thyroid. “Every single cell in your body depends on thyroid hormone, and the thyroid depends on iodine for proper functioning.”

“ Wi t h o u t s u f f i c i e n t t hy r o i d hormone, we have low energy, slower

Estrogen: Hypothyroidism is overwhelmingly a women’s disease, with women five to eight times more likely to suffer from it than men, according to the American Thyroid Association.

“Estrogen inhibits the body’s natural ability to absorb and utilize iodine,” says Dr. Jorge Flechas, of Hendersonville, North Carolina, who specializes in thyroid disorders. “We find three periods in life when women need more iodine: at puberty and during both pregnancy and perimenopause or menopause. It’s because estrogen levels tend to fluctuate wildly at those times, neutralizing the ability of iodine gained through select foods to balance thyroid and other hormones.” Flechas prescribes iodine supplements for most women at all three stages of life.

Toxic halogens: Iodine belongs to a group of halogens that includes chlorine, bromine and fluorine, three chemicals that are both toxic to the human body and block its ability to absorb iodine, explains Thompson.

“They’re everywhere, in our air, water and food. It’s nearly impossible to avoid them,” reports Shames, a longtime advocate in the movement against the common practice of adding fluoride (a derivative of fluorine) and chlorine to municipal water. Fluoride is also added to many brands of toothpaste. Bromide is part of almost all commercial flour and flour products, as well as soft drinks.

Shames offers an historic insight.

“Fluoride was once used to slow down an

Nine in 10 North Americans may be iodine deficient. ~ Dr. Robert Thompson 28

Houston

www.NaturalAwakenings-Houston.com

overactive thyroid, as recommended by the physicians’ bible, the Merck Manuals. Now we’re putting it in the water supply and wondering why we have a mushrooming epidemic of low thyroid incidence.”

Food: “So-called ‘iodized’ salt doesn’t contain much usable iodine, and neither does pink Himalyan sea salt,” Shames cautions.

We’ve known that our soil is deficient in essential minerals such as iodine since at least 1936, when a special U.S. Senate report concluded that our soil was already severely depleted. “This simply means that when we grow produce, the plants cannot extract these vital nutrients from the soil for us—including iodine—if those nutrients aren’t there in the first place,” says Thompson. If anything, he adds, U.S. soils have become even more sterile in the 80 years since the report and, “Factory farming and the use of genetically modified (GMO) crops, Roundup herbicide and synthetic chemical fertilizers have undoubtedly worsened the situation.”

Sources of Iodine

It’s difficult to include sufficient natural iodine in our daily diet unless we follow a Japanese-style diet that includes lots of seaweed and saltwater fish, says Shames.

Other food sources are shellfish, turkey, cheese, yogurt, milk, eggs, legumes, cranberries and strawberries.

There is little agreement about the optimal levels of iodine people need.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture maintains that we need 150 micrograms a day, but iodine advocates are quick to point out that a person eating a typical Japanese diet (where hypothyroidism, or low thyroid activity, is rare) ingests 12.5 milligrams of iodine each day—83 times the amount recommended by the government.

Shames recommends getting an iodine lab test (available without a prescription at CanaryClub.org) to determine exact needs. Thompson recommends potassium iodide and sodium iodide supplements for thyroid health.

Kathleen Barnes is author of numerous natural health books, including User’s Guide to Thyroid Disorders.

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If you only talk to people like you, you’ll never learn anything new.

healthykids

~Albert Einstein

Seniors, Teens and Tykes Enriching Programs Unite the Generations

by Linda Sechrist

I

n intergenerational programs throughout the U.S. and in Europe, thousands of “youngers” and “elders” are building bridges that were forged naturally before family members spread out and many retirees departed for warmer climes.

Based on a U.S. adult population of 41 million people 65 years and older and 74 million youths up to the age of 17, the current generation gap is already unprecedented. By 2030, those numbers will increase to 72 million and 80 million, respectively, according to the international nonprofit Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation. Along with Generation Waking Up, Wiser Together and others, it’s working to foster better social cohesion in ways that help individuals of all ages lead richer and more rewarding lives.

Two-Way Mentoring

Providing nurturing opportunities for individuals to look at life through the eyes of others with dissimilar experiences that have led them to different assumptions and perspectives on life can be helpful.

Broadening everyone’s relationship scope to include “May-December” 30

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friendships creates the potential for the kind of life-changing possibilities experienced by a troubled young man named Harold when he struck up a surprising friendship with a life-loving woman as old as his grandmother in the film Harold and Maude.

In real life, “I had the blessing of growing up in an intergenerational family,” says Yvette McGlasson, director of port revenue for the PPI Group, in Pompano, Florida. The 17-year veteran of the cruise industry is a former Holland America cruise director whose career at sea launched her into work as a director of events for age-restricted (55-plus) gated communities such as Del Webb Lake Providence, near Nashville.

“As a child, I was told I had to listen to my elders as a sign of respect.

The many memorable times spent with my grandparents, my mother’s friends and a great aunt who lived to 101, soon turned my resignation into an active desire to spend time with my elders. Their experiences and wisdom were fascinating and I understood that their shared life lessons could prove invaluable to me,” says McGlasson.

www.NaturalAwakenings-Houston.com

The experience inspired her to develop a multigenerational “grandparents at-large” partnership with an elementary school across the street from the Del Webb community. The school principal recognized that residents would be valuable mentors, able to fill an emotional void for the latchkey kids of working parents, plus foster a deeper appreciation for their elders among the children.

“In this paradigm of mentorship, young people are mentoring their elders and elders are mentoring young people and together, we’re co-creating something new,” says Joshua Gorman, the founder of Generation Waking Up, based in Oakland, California.

Facilitating Connections

Since launching their first multigenerational initiative at the Shambhala Institute in 2004, partnering across age groups has been at the forefront of Juanita Brown and David Isaacs’ work as co-founders and hosts of the World Café global learning community. “We cultivate collaboration through conversations that matter in order to leverage the unique gifts of every generation in addressing humanity’s most critical issues,” says Brown.

Such conversations—in which elders and young people give up the cultural and societal norms and habits that shape so much of their thinking— offer both groups opportunities to discern the possibilities inherent in mutual insight, innovation and action.

When a young Clarissa Tufts,

What should young people do with their lives today?

Many things, obviously.

But the most daring thing is to create stable communities in which the terrible disease of loneliness can be cured. ~Kurt Vonnegut

program coordinator and family liaison for the SelfDesign Learning Community, in British Columbia, was working on her master’s degree from the SelfDesign Graduate Institute, she sought out mentor Anne Adams, a faculty member in her 70s who worked with Tufts for 18 months. “Anne’s earliest statements, ‘I’m here to support you in being the best you can be’ and ‘I get energized by talking with young people and hearing their ideas,’ felt good and let me know that we were both benefitting from our relationship and building something together,” says Tufts.

Stimulating cooperation and collaboration among generations evokes the vibrancy, energy and productivity that occur when people cross-pollinate ideas and perspectives. It can also provide a sense of purpose, improve confidence and social skills, create solutions to societal challenges, help resolve emotional and behavioral problems and lift depression, all enhancing productive engagement in life.

Linda Sechrist is a senior staff writer for Natural Awakenings. Connect at ItsAllAboutWe.com.

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Christie Brinkley Shares Her Secrets to Lasting Beauty Why She Still Looks Terrific After 40 Years as a Model

by Gerry Strauss

S

Was it tougher to maintain your natural standards as your career became filled with travel and tight schedules?

u p e r m o d e l extraordinaire Christie Brinkley looks as amazing in her 60s as she did when she first graced the cover of Sports Illustrated nearly 40 years ago. In a new book, Timeless Beauty, Brinkley reveals her anti-aging secrets, many of which involve reliance on healthful foods, a positive attitude, exercise and good skin care. Much of what she’s learned is reflected in her line of Christie Brinkley Authentic Skincare. Here, she shares some highlights of how she keeps her mind and body healthy.

When I was 13, I picked up a book from the nightstand in my parents’ bedroom called Miami and the Siege of Chicago

by Norman Mailer. I happened to open to a page with a highly graphic description of Midwest slaughterhouses.

What I read turned my stomach because I loved animals and wanted no part in this inhumane system. I swore at that moment I would never eat another piece of meat and have not done so since.

For the past 49 years I have enjoyed the resulting good karma in the form of healthful benefits from avoiding the antibiotics, growth hormones and fats associated with a carnivorous diet.

Houston

How much of anti-aging do you believe is tied to mental and emotional health?

Growing old gracefully is all about the positive energy that you use to power through your day and project to others. Happiness is a youthful quality and a smile is always our best accessory; it’s also been proven to release feelgood endorphins.

When you take good care of yourself by eating right and exercising, yo u n a t u ra l l y f e e l b e t t e r a b o u t yourself. If we’re feeling down, stressed or depressed, we’re tempted to eliminate exercise, which is the very thing that could lift us up and make us feel better. The more we move, the merrier we are.

Because you also recognize After I first became a the importance of treating vegetarian kid living at the body well from the outhome, I soon convinced side as well as from the m y f a m i l y t o g o inside, what other practices vegetarian, too. I read a do you apply?

Why did you become a vegetarian at age 14?

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naturally kept me aware of the amount of sugar I consume, limiting its effects on skin and overall health as well as weight.

lot of books to learn how to replace meat protein with healthier choices. Through the early years, as I continued to learn about options, I tried many kinds of vegetarian, macrobiotic and vegan approaches.

Once I started modeling in seashore locations, it seemed natural to me to add bits of fresh fish and some dairy; so for the most part I have been a lacto ichthyo variation of vegetarian. I raised my children as vegetarians, and recently my daughter, Sailor, and I took the next step to become mostly vegan. I allow myself a little mozzarella and an occasional salmon dish when my body is craving it, because I think we need to listen to what our body needs.

After the environmental disasters of the BP oil spill in the Gulf, made worse by toxic dispersants, and the Fukushima nuclear plant meltdown that pumped radioactive isotopes into the Pacific, I am extra-cautious about the salmon I choose and don’t eat other seafood. I’m lucky that as a model, my career has

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With everything we know about how the sun can damage our skin, it’s crucial to use a moisturizer with a broad ultraviolet spectrum blocker of both UVA and UVB rays to prevent wrinkles and hyperpigmented spots. I created my own skin care line that offers an SPF 30 broad-spectrum moisturizer that also defends against infrared rays [IR], which represent more than half of the sun’s damaging rays that reach Earth.

IR emissions also come from manmade objects such as computers and cell phones. Beyond that, I wanted a product that takes advantage of our body’s own circadian rhythms, using special peptides that help the body build collagen and elastin as we sleep and repair.

Using a gentle exfoliating scrub is also key, a step many people overlook; I’ve included it in my daily skin care routine for 30 years.

Gerry Strauss is a freelance writer in Hamilton, NJ. Connect at Gerry Strauss@aol.com.

Libra – In the first half of this month you may have an aggressive energy about you especially with partner. The hurdles with flow of income ease up a little. Be careful, as your speech could sound even harsher. During the second half of the month you may feel strained and stressed. Your lucky days this month are 18th – 20th.

May MoonSign Predictions

by Varshaa Sachdev

W

HAT IS YOUR MOONSIGN? The Moon signifies Motherly energies in the Universe. For centuries, sages in ancient cultures have based their predictions on Moon Sign because they are more accurate. Vedic Moon sign is not the same as the Western Astrology Sun or Moon signs. Find out your Vedic Moon Sign for FREE by logging on to www.openmindastrology. com or call us (832) 597-8888.You can also us on Facebook www.facebook. com/OpenMindAstrology All Moon signs –Be extra careful of communication issues throughout this month.

Aries – This month starts out with confidence on the rise. You expect positive news during the first half of the month, especially between (9th – 15th).

Struggle with in-laws continues but you will be strong enough to sustain it. The hurdles you have been facing in regards to romance and education may get a little relief. Your lucky days this month are 5th, 6th.

Taurus – You should be inclined to connect to your spiritual side. Continue to watch your parent’s health closely.

Quarrels with spouse improve second half of the month. Expect some relief with hurdles. You may also deal with government/authorities second half of the month. Your lucky days this month are 7th, 8th.

Gemini – Starting this month double check all forms of communication for issues and misunderstanding. Hurdles in relationship with siblings improve.

Be careful of quarrels at work. You could also experience lack of energy and confusion so take care of yourself.

Detachment in relationship with father will continue. Your lucky days this month are 9th, 10th.

Cancer- Take care of your health, especially lower back. Dealings with authority at work and or government will continue during the first half of the month. Financial opportunities may ease up a little. You may find yourself frustrated in romantic relationship, so have patience. Your lucky days this month are 11th, 12th.

Leo – The first half of the month confidence is on the rise and plan to tackle important issues. Hurdles will start to ease up just a little. General problems and quarrels at home continue. In the second part of the month you could have interaction with government/authority figures. You may feel detachment from marriage so try to hang on. Your lucky days this month are 13th-15th.

Virgo –Your interest turns to mystical knowledge. Take a little extra care of your health. Life in general is in the process of transformation. Hurdles in spirituality start to ease up after the first week. Your relationship with younger siblings becomes more strenuous. Your lucky days this month are 16th, 17th.

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Scorpio – You should try to still keep a close eye on your parent’s health. Take care of your temper and have patience.

You may experience lack of energy this month so be sure to also take care of yourself. There could be disturbance or lack of passion with spouse so may need to work on harmony. With all this stress you should take extra care of your health. Your lucky days this month are 21st, 22nd.

Sagittarius –Hurdles in general begin to ease up. Take care of your health especially second half of the month. You should try to take extra caution while driving. If you have a feeling of life being stagnant in general, know that this will pass. Your lucky days this month are 23rd – 25th.

Capricorn –Your income struggles start to increase. Be careful of having misunderstandings with friends and network circle. You will enjoy some happiness and harmony at home in the first half of the month. In the second half of the month try to keep calm and patient as you might experience road rage and may come across harsh tone of voice.

Your lucky days are 26th, 27th.

Aquarius –Feeling of depression and general hurdles start to ease up. Take care of your temper at work. Your relationship with spouse may feel stagnant. Look for ways to rekindle the passion. As you continue to feel detachment in general you could come off as being harsh with others, so take care. Your lucky days are 1st, 2nd, 28th ,29th.

Pisces - Issues at work may start to ease up. Take care of your health especially eyes and feet. You should try to take extra care in relationship with younger siblings. You might have a feeling of life being stagnant in general. Take some time out for yourself. Your lucky days this month are 3rd, 4th, 30th.

May 2016

33

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consciouseating

How to Reboot Your Eating Habits Small Shifts Can Drop Pounds and Gain Health

by Judith Fertig

O

ur food habits are often just that—mindless, repetitious eating behaviors. Some serve us well; others, not so much. Natural Awakenings asked experts to serve up many doable small changes that can add up to big shifts.

According to Brian Wansink, Ph.D., the John S. Dyson professor of marketing at Cornell University and author of Mindless Eating, changing just one lifestyle habit can eliminate two or more pounds each week. By changing up to three habits, we may lose more weight. At a minimum, we will likely improve the quality of the food we eat overall.

Buying Behaviors

Wansink advises that having the only food on our kitchen counter be fruit encourages healthy snacking. At work, he suggests lunching away from our desk to discourage mindless eating. At restaurants, order half-size entrees, and then add a maximum of two items, such as soup and bread, salad and side dish or an appetizer and dessert.

He recommends using a food shopping strategy to fill the cart with better food. With hunger sated first, chew on a natural gum while shopping; it discourages buying junk food.

Secondly, habitually fill the front of the cart with produce. “We eat what we see,” he says.

took Wann’s advice and cut costs in other ways instead. To her delight, she found that the fresher, better-tasting food prompted her to eat less, but eat better. “I lost seven pounds in two weeks,” she says, “and I didn’t feel like I was on a diet.”

Eating a big salad for lunch is a habit that author Victoria Moran, host of the award-winning Main Street Vegan online radio show, has adopted in her New York City home. She fills a big bowl with leafy greens, in-season vegetables, avocado and a light dressing. “This will set you up for the rest of the day,” says Moran.

Pam Anderson, a mainstream food blogger in Darien, Connecticut, agrees. Six years ago, she lost 50 pounds and credits having a big green salad for lunch—one of her

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Food Choices

Consider starting the day with a new coffee habit. Dave Asprey, of Los Angeles, author of The Bulletproof Diet, uses organic coffee, brews with filtered water and blends the hot coffee with a pat of unsalted, grass-fed butter, a fat high in vitamins and omega-3 essential fatty acids, and a small spoonful of a coconut oil that doesn’t congeal at room temperature. Unlike a drive-through latte with sugar and carbohydrates, he maintains that this type of coffee, “makes you feel energized, focused and full for hours.” Asprey takes a biohacker’s approach to natural biology-based ways to maximize physical and mental performance.

New York City writer Chris Gayomali tried Asprey’s recipe for two weeks. Although it didn’t curb his appetite, he says he felt more alert and “ready for life.”

Upgrading the foods we love is also possible, says David Wann, of Golden, Colorado, author of Simple Prosperity. “Too often, we economize on food when we should be buying the best quality, freshest organic food we can,” he says.

Rebecca Miller, who lives near Kansas City, Missouri,

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many small food habit changes—with helping her maintain a healthy weight, despite frequently testing and sampling recipes.

Food Thought Habits

Doing too much for other people and not enough for ourselves can make our internal voice whisper, “I need comfort,” a thought that can generate overeating.

In The Perfect Recipe for Losing Weight and Eating Great, Anderson suggests we ask ourselves what other triggers are prompting poor food habits. Upon reflection, we can prioritize emotional

and physical health with planned, smaller, varied, healthy, delicious meals; it’s a habit that works for her.

Elizabeth Lombardo, Ph.D., a psychologist in Lake Forest, Illinois, and bestselling author of Better Than Perfect, assures, “If we fall off the healthy eating wagon, it’s not failure, it’s data.” She believes reaching for the chocolate chip cookies in the vending machine after a stressful morning should be viewed from a scientific standpoint, not via our inner finger-pointing judge.

“What are the factors that influenced our decision: stress, hunger or a desire for

distraction? That’s great information,” says Lombardo. She proposes that we can then prepare to counter a future snack attack with handy healthy bites, a mindfulness break, a quick walk outside or other naturally healthful stressrelievers.

Changing our food habits, one at a time, can help us live better going forward.

Judith Fertig is the author of awardwinning cookbooks and blogs at AlfrescoFoodAndLifestyle.blogspot.com from Overland Park, KS.

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naturalpet

Stressed-Out Pets Natural Ways to Calm Fear and Anxiety

by Sandra Murphy

W

hile most American pets live on easy street, with meals, treats, exercise outings and affection provided, the good life also poses challenges—dogs and cats can get stressed.

“Basic stress is fear-based. Separation or isolation anxiety requires in-depth training,” says JennaLee Gallicchio, a certified separation anxiety trainer who uses scientific and hands-off techniques at her All Stars Dog Training, in Bedminster, New Jersey. She authors a bestselling series that was launched with The Secret to Getting Your Dog to Do What You Want.

A drug like Reconcile, the pet version of Prozac, looks like a quick fix, but can bring many harmful side effects. Laurel Braitman, Ph.D., of Sausalito, California, bestselling author

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of Animal Madness: How Anxious Dogs, Compulsive Parrots, and Elephants in Recovery Help Us Understand Ourselves, estimates that 70 million U.S. dogs are given the same drugs their humans use for anxiety or depression. Considering the potential dangers, such drugs should only be used briefly as a last resort with veterinary supervision to ensure the proper dosage based on age, size and temperament. There are more natural and safer alternatives.

Common Stressors

Dogs hear sounds at four times the distance we do; cats hear even better. Thunderstorms, fireworks, traffic, TV, music and children can unnerve them. Add in a new home, baby, another pet or anticipation of car rides associated with fear of the veterinarian and even normally mellow pets can get upset.

Irregular work hours undermine established routines. Pet or human health issues, plus household drama, add special reasons to fret.

Pets separated from their litters too early can experience anxiety as adults.

Stress Less Strategies

“Let your dog have a space where he can retreat when he’s had enough,” advises Dr. Carol Osborne, owner of Ohio’s Chagrin Falls Veterinary Center & Pet Clinic. She recommends Bach’s Five Flower Formula, diluted chamomile essential oil or a petsafe tincture of the Chinese herb skullcap for additional relief.

Dogs like routine. “Regular exercise helps, including two, 20-minute daily walks. A tired pet is a happy pet,” Osborne says.

“Walks can eliminate stress and anxiety by 50 percent for you both.”

“Cats need exercise that mimics hunting; cats stare and plan, stalk or chase, pounce and grab,” says Marci Koski, certified by the Animal Behavior Institute and owner of Feline Behavior Solutions, in Vancouver, Washington. “An indoor cat’s prey drive can be met with interactive toys.”

A place to climb or hide and a window with a view will help as will periodic playtime catching moving toys; with nothing to catch, a laser pointer’s red dots are frustrating for a cat and a potential danger to its eyes.

“Two of my large dogs were anxious during a three-day power outage,” says Kimberly Gauthier, a dog nutrition blogger at KeepTheTailWagging.com, in Marysville, Washington. “I add Ewegurt, a sheep’s milk yogurt, to their food to calm them when needed.”

Clicker training rewards desired behaviors. “Ralphie, an Italian greyhound mix, was protective, but also fearful; before going outside, we’d practice sit, stay and come using a click/treat. Now he sees other dogs without reacting,” relates `Katrina Wilhelm, a naturopathic physician and owner of DrKatrinaWilhelm.com, in

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Signs of Pet Stress 4 Aggression toward people or other animals 4 Digestive problems 4 Excessive barking/meowing 4 Forgetful of housetraining 4 Increased sleep 4 Isolation 4 Loss of appetite 4 Pacing 4 Pulling out fur Lake Oswego, Oregon. It works when someone knocks on the door, too.

Soothing music covers the sounds of storms and fireworks, counsels Lisa Spector, an award-winning concert pianist in Half Moon Bay, California, who creates the Through a Dog’s Ear clinically tested music series to relieve pet anxiety, inclusive of cats. “Although many holistic animal lovers want natural stress relievers, few think of auditory options,” she says.

Getting kitty into her carrier to go to the vet isn’t always easy. London’s Simon Tofield, animator and cartoonist for Simon’s Cats videos and books, suggests making the crate comfy and leaving it out so the cat gets used to it; keeping it out of reach of curious dogs at the vet’s office; and only opening it upon arrival in the exam room. His local vet staff explains more at Tinyurl.com/ CatVetProtocol.

New View

“Stressors for dogs and cats are different.

As a veterinarian, I explain situations from the animal’s perspective,” says Jennifer Quammen, with the Grants Lick Veterinary Hospital, in Butler, Kentucky. “I say, ‘From the cat’s point of view…’ As the animal advocate, I feel it’s my professional obligation.”

“We bring pets into our world and expect them to adjust. Dogs, in particular, try so hard,” says Spector. They need our attention, shared activities and most of all, our understanding.

Connect with Sandra Murphy at StLouisFreelanceWriter@mindspring.com.

calendarofevents NOTE: All Calendar events must be received via email by the 10th of the month prior to publication and adhere to our guidelines. Email Mike@NaturalAwakenings-Houston.com for guidelines and to submit entries. No phone calls or faxes, please.

SUNDAY MAY 1ST

Christian Meditation. 5:30-6:30 pm. Experience meditation and contemplative prayer using ancient prayer practices of the early Christian communities. Explore and study contemporary and ancient texts of the contemplative way. All are welcome. Grace Episcopal Church, 4040 W. Bellfort, Houston, 77025. Parking is free and available at the Woodwind St. entrance. www.graceinhouston.org. Questions? info@ graceinhouston.org or 832-667-8601.

Continuum Movement. 2:00-5:00pm. Exploring the Fluid World of Planet You, Just as our Mother Earth needs to constantly clean and filter the vast Fluid Systems of our planet, so too do we need healthy fluid movement of all our internal systems for optimal functioning. $45 one day/$85 both. A Healing Collective, 4231 Bellaire Boulevard, Suite T, 77025, Register at www.pattyadamik.com/event-registration.

SUNDAY MAY 8TH

Bayou Bikers. 8:00am. Meet at Market Square Park for 25- to 40-mile bike rides exploring the bayous of Houston.

Rides are open to all. Mountain bikes or bikes with fat tires are necessary. This is an informal group whose purpose is to show Houstonians and visitors the beauty of Houston’s waterways. Market Square 301 Milam, 77002. 713-845-1000 marketsquarepark.com

Half-day Retreat. 9:00am-12:00pm. Chan/Zen Meditation Classes guided by Ordained Zen Masters of Chung Tai Chan Monastery. Free. CHUNG TAI ZEN CENTER OF HOUSTON 12129 Bellaire Blvd., 77072 zen@cthouston.org www. cthouston.org 281-568-1568

THURSDAY MAY 5TH

¡Three Amigos! at Market Square Park. 7:00pm. Join us for a film under the stars as the Alamo Drafthouse Rolling Roadshow presents ¡Three Amigos! (PG). Market Square Park 301 Milam, 77002 marketsquarepark.com

FRIDAY MAY 6TH

Take Root and Prosper: New Moon in Taurus Forecast and Meditation with Astrologer Kimberly McSherry.

6:30pm–8:30pm. Of all the planetary forces in Astrology, the influence of the Moon is the most personal and prominent in our everyday lives. Each month, Moon and Sun join in the same sign of the zodiac at The New Moon to begin a Divine Dance which lasts for 28-29 days. The New Moon of Taurus heralds a time to evaluate resources and create more fertile ground within which our dreams and visions can take root and prosper. $25. Body Mind & Soul 7951 Katy Frwy Ste. N, 77024 www.bmshouston.com 713-993-0550 aBeing Herd: An Equine Assisted Relationship Experience.

9:00am-11:00am. Beverly Walsh & Ange Finn partner with the Red Dun Ranch herd to offer unique experiences that foster new perspectives to personal growth & learning. Working toward “stable relationships”, we focus on understanding pressure, self-regulation, and “triggers”. $100. Red Dun Ranch, 14034 Hooper Rd., 77047. Beverly Walsh at 713-540-1528 or register at www.bit.ly/beingherd

SATURDAY MAY 7TH

markyourcalendar Marva’s Holistic Fair. 10:00am-5:00pm. Psychics, tarot readers, palmists, healers, vendors of all sorts. Admission Free. LaQuinta Inn-Galleria on 610 West Loop North between San Felipe and Post Oak, 77027. psychicfairs. com 713-444-3581 Numerology and Your Heart’s Desire with Numerologist Kevin Casey. 3:00pm-4:30pm. Did you know hidden inside your given name at birth is your heart’s true desire? This is your Soul Number in numerology and it reveals your innermost thoughts, hopes, wishes, and dreams. Knowing this number gives you deeper personal insights and can also help in making career decisions. $35. Body Mind & Soul 7951 Katy Frwy Ste. N, 77024 www.bmshouston.com 713-993-0550 16th Annual Houston Dragon Boat Festival. 8:30am-4:30pm.

Celebrating Asian Culture with music, food, and dragon boat races. Join us for this free, fun cultural experience for the family – complete with boat rides, kid’s activities and vendors.

901 North York, 77003 http://texasdragonboat.com/

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Mother’s Day Ceremony. 10:00am-12pm. We would like to invite you to participate in or observe the Mother’s Day Service. To appreciate our mother’s contribution, we will recite “The Sutra As Spoken By The Buddha On The Profound Kindness Of Parents & Difficulties In Repaying Them” and dedicate the merits to them. Please don’t miss the opportunity to have a meaningful Sunday morning practice on Mother’s Day. Free. CHUNG TAI ZEN CENTER OF HOUSTON 12129 Bellaire Blvd., 77072 zen@cthouston.org www.cthouston. org 281-568-1568

WEDNESDAY MAY 11TH

Zumba on the Green. 6:30pm-7:30pm. ACE certified personal trainer, Oscar Sajche shows you how to make your workout a party! Come see why hundreds of Houstonians come out to the park to move it and lose it! Free. Discovery Green, 1500 McKenney, 77010. discoverygreen.com The Puffed-Up Prima Donna. 11:00am. Children’s performance. Miller Outdoor Theatre, 6000 Hermann Park Drive, 77030 http://milleroutdoortheatre.com/ Addtl. showings May 12th & 13th also at 11am.

THURSDAY MAY 12TH

Greek Fest. 4:00pm-9:00pm. Free Thursday evening and Friday morning until 2pm then $3 for Adults and children over 10. Guests of all ages are treated to our family friendly environment, featuring the finest in Greek foods, pastries, church tours, shopping, dancing and children’s activities.

Festival continues Friday 11:00-10pm, Saturday 11am-10pm, and Sunday 12pm-5pm. Parking available on festival grounds for $5. 1100 Eldridge Parkway, 77077 houstongreekfest.com

FRIDAY MAY 13TH

Intuitive Painting at True You Creativity Studio. 10:00am12:30pm. Intuitive Painting swings the doors open to living with more expression and authenticity. When you understand the nature of creativity and its principles, you begin to relax and trust. You will learn these principles during this series.

No experience is needed. No critiques are permitted. $55/ session or multi session packages are available for discount pricing. Facilitator: Cherie Ray. Register at www.trueyoucreativity.com Celebrate Your Life. 8:00am–6:30pm. Friday May 13th and Saturday May 14th, join the world’s top healers, thought-leaders and spiritual teachers as they share their unique and collective wisdom for the Soul-awakening event of the year.

General Seating: $279. Preferred Seating within the first 7 rows: $379. Unity of Houston – Sanctuary, 2929 Unity Drive, 77057 more info: www.unityhouston.org or call 713-782-4050

SATURDAY MAY 14TH

Creativity Coaching & Intuitive Painting. 10:00am-5:00pm.

In this workshop you will learn the principals of creativity and explore 100% creativity through Intuitive Painting. Through understanding how creativity works, you move from wanting, to do DOING, with a natural ease. You will be surprised at the joy that comes from moving a brush! Explore in a critique-free studio. You will leave with a renewed freshness for living a life filled with authenticity, passion, and creativity. No experience is needed. No critiques are permitted. $155 for the full day seminar. Facilitator: Cherie Ray. Register at www. trueyoucreativity.com

May 2016

39

Sound Healing Meditation Workshop. 7:00pm. Darrell Hicks is a professional body worker, spiritual teacher, certified sound healer and musician. He will lead the Sound Healing Meditation Workshop. Guests will experience a powerful and healing meditation through sacred sound and breathing exercises. The emotional body will use sound and breathing to release unwanted stress. Sound is a carrier wave of consciousness and it will be applied to move stress and pain out of guests’ body and mind. $10 (workshop pass). Deer Lake Lodge & Spa, 10500 Deer Lake Lodge Rd, Montgomery, 77316. deerlakelodge.com

SUNDAY MAY 15TH

markyourcalendar

Houston Crawfish, Crab & Grill Festival. 12am-12pm. $20 in advance/$25 day of. This is an annual family event held in Houston to celebrate the taste and culture of southern food cooking, with an emphasis on crawfish, crab, and grilled foods from local restaurants and caterers. The festival also brings together a number of live Zydeco, R&B, Soul, and Reggae music bands under one roof for your enjoyment. One admittance is access to all amenities, live music by 5 bands, and access to Kids Zone . Also available for purchase is food from vendors and alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. hccgfest.com

Buddha’s Birthday. 10:00am–3:30pm. On the 3,043rd Birthday of Shakyamuni Buddha, Chung Tai Zen Center of Houston will hold the Buddha’s Birthday Ceremony. We will make offerings and bathe the baby Buddha. Through this ceremony we can dedicate the merits to word peace and prosperity, and hope that all sentient beings can increase their wisdom and blessings. We sincerely invite you and your family and friends to join us for this wonderful event and share the Dharma joy. Free. CHUNG TAI ZEN CENTER OF HOUSTON 12129 Bellaire Blvd., 77072 zen@ cthouston.org www.cthouston.org 281-568-1568 The Healing Power of Sound with Debbie Cutler. 12:00pm– 2:00pm. Studies have shown that the power of sound affects us in many ways. In this class you will learn about frequencies, harmonics, resonance, entrainment, and more. Experience physical and emotional healing through crystal bowls and

A Few Drops of Detoxified Iodine Can Change Your Life

Give Your Body the Natural Boost it Needs The Hidden Deficiency Causes of Iodine Deficiency Having the proper amount of iodine in our system at all times is critical to overall health, yet the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition finds that iodine deficiency is increasing drastically in light of an increasingly anemic national diet of unpronounceable additives and secret, unlabeled ingredients. This deficit now affects nearly three-quarters of the population.

A Growing Epidemic

Symptoms range from extreme fatigue and weight gain to depression, carpal tunnel syndrome, high blood pressure, fibrocystic breasts and skin and hair problems. This lack of essential iodine can also cause infertility, joint pain, heart disease and stroke. Low iodine levels also have been associated with breast and thyroid cancers; and in children, intellectual disability, deafness, attention deficient hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and impaired growth, according to studies by Boston University and the French National Academy of Medicine.

Radiation

Almost everyone is routinely exposed to iodine-depleting radiation

Low-Sodium Diets

Overuse of zero-nutrient salt substitutes in foods leads to iodine depletion

Iodized Table Salt

Iodized salt may slowly lose its iodine content by exposure to air

Bromine

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Iodine-Depleted Soil Poor farming techniques have led to declined levels of iodine in soil

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pyramids, Tibetan bowls, and tuning forks. Discover how to use your own voice to enhance relaxation and healing. $35.

Body Mind & Soul 7951 Katy Frwy Ste. N, 77024 www. bmshouston.com 713-993-0550

THURSDAY MAY 19TH

Blanket Bingo. 6:00pm-9:00pm. Join us for Blanket Bingo benefiting Market Square Park and Buffalo Bayou Partnership.

Bring your blanket, lawn chairs or snag one of the tables at the park for a night of fun, music and great prizes! $10 admission includes one bingo packet (approx. 9 games). Additional games and daubers can be purchased for $1 each. Market Square Park 301 Milam, 77002 http://marketsquarepark.com/

FRIDAY MAY 20TH

markyourcalendar Free Monthly Affirmation Gathering with Doyle Ward.

7:00pm–8:30pm. Free Group Coaching event exploring how your thoughts influence your life. Find out how to make positive changes by joining us this month to learn about the impact of affirmative thinking! Free, donations welcome. Spectrum Center’s NEW Location! 2060 North Loop West, Suite 205, 77018 www.blissfulquests.com or call 832-628-4113.

Raw Food Weekend. Deer Lake Lodge is hosting its special raw foods-themed weekend of classes and demonstrations on Friday, May 20 through Sunday, May 22, 2016. Demonstrations will be led by April Ree and Zachary Nasar, Deer Lake Lodge and Spa’s in-house raw food chefs. A weekend packed with raw food classes will teach guests how making simple changes in diet choices can quickly set them on the journey to better health. Day passes are also available for the weekend. Please call Deer Lake Lodge and Spa for pricing at 936-647-1383). Deer Lake Lodge & Spa, 10500 Deer Lake Lodge Rd, Montgomery, 77316. deerlakelodge.com

SATURDAY MAY 21ST

Zoo in You. Through September 11, The Health Museum’s newest exhibit, Zoo in You, allows guests of all ages to explore this fascinating and complex world inside us that is our microbiome – a dynamic, adaptable, and delicately balanced ecosystem much like any other found in nature. Visitors are invited to explore this vibrant world of our inner microorganisms through engaging, interactive, and bilingual exhibits and programs concentrating on three thematic areas including Meet the Microbes, Our Complex Ecosystems, and Exploring our Microbiome. $7 for children 3-11 and seniors 65 and over, $9 for adults ages 12-64. The Health Museum, 1515 Hermann Dr 77004. thehealthmuseum.org (713) 521-1515 Group Past Life Regression with Melanie Harrell. 10:30am– 12:00pm or 4:00pm–5:00pm. Have you ever felt drawn to a person or place and wondered why? Have you ever sincerely worked on an issue and found that it keeps coming back?

Have you ever wondered if you have lived before? Maybe you have! Join Melanie for an exploration of your past through the fascinating process of past life regression. $38. Body Mind & Soul 7951 Katy Frwy Ste. N, 77024 www.bmshouston. com 713-993-0550 Puppies For Breakfast. 10:00am-2:00pm. Join Market Square Park, Neue Creative and Modular Dog, for Puppies for Breakfast – a unique outdoor festival, which brings all things dog-related to one place in Downtown Houston. This year’s event will include over 40 dog vendors, a costume contest, a mayor of Market Square contest, an area for our four-legged friends to play in, music and much more! A few of Houston’s best food trucks along with Niko Niko’s, will be on-site serving breakfast and lunch throughout the festival.

Free, with a suggested $5 donation to help a local dog rescue.

Market Square Park 301 Milam, 77002 marketsquarepark.com CPR/AED Basic Life Support Certification, Accredited by the American Heart Association. 9:30am-12:30 pm. $50, A Healing Collective, 4231 Bellaire Blvd., Suite 7, 77025, Contact Parvine Ali at 832-779-1472 or register at http://goo. gl/forms/qpjPCHdK3h.

SUNDAY MAY 22ND

Meditation Workshop. 10:00am-11:00am. Open to everyone, especially for beginners to meditation. The master will give a brief introduction to meditation and guide the participants to do meditation. Free. CHUNG TAI ZEN CENTER OF HOUSTON 12129 Bellaire Blvd., 77072 zen@cthouston.org www.cthouston.org 281-568-1568

markyourcalendar Spirit Quest’s Psychic & Holistic Fair. 1:00pm-6:00pm.

Come and enjoy a day of intuitive and holistic pampering for yourself or your family. Try out different healing modalities, get a reading, or shop a variety of products. Free.

The Spirit Quest Center. 303 Main St., Spring (Old Town Spring), TX 77373 EASE: Equine Assisted Spiritual Experience. 3:30pm-5:30 pm. By sharing space in nature and with the animals at Red Dun Ranch, take time to examine how you spiritually connect with yourself, others and the Universe. $72. Red Dun Ranch, 14034 Hooper Rd., Houston, 77047, Beverly Walsh at 713540-1528 or register at www.bit.ly/beingherd Continuum Movement. 2:00pm-5:00pm. Exploring the Fluid World of Planet You, Just as our Mother Earth needs to constantly clean and filter the vast Fluid Systems of our planet, so too do we need healthy fluid movement of all our internal systems for optimal functioning., $45 one day/$85 both, A Healing Collective, 4231 Bellaire Boulevard, Suite T, 77025, Register at www.pattyadamik.com/event-registration.

markyourcalendar Buddha’s Birthday Celebration. 5-8pm. Is it really possible to Wake Up? Come and join us for the celebration of Buddha’s birthday, and hear Zen Master Thich Dieu Thien, founder of Universal Door Meditation Center, speak directly to this question. Please call 281-565-9718 to RSVP and confirm event starting time. Free, donations welcome. Celebration will be held at our new property: 15202 Dora Lane, Sugar Land, 77498. www.universaldoor. org 281-565-9718

FRIDAY MAY 27TH

Critical Mass-Houston. Assemble at 6:30pm. Roll out at 7:15pm. A casual bike ride starting from downtown Houston and going wherever. Cars rule the road every day, but one day a month we get together to celebrate our love for bicycles and have fun riding. Free. Market Square, 301 Milam, 77002. criticalmasshouston.com Intuitive Painting at True You Creativity Studio. 10:00am12:30pm. Intuitive Painting swings the doors open to living with more expression and authenticity. When you understand the nature of creativity and its principles, you begin to relax and trust. You will learn these principles during this series.

No experience is needed. No critiques are permitted. $55/ session or multi session packages are available for discount pricing. Facilitator: Cherie Ray. Register at www.trueyoucreativity.com

SATURDAY MAY 28TH

The Mandala: Doorway to Your Intuition with Cherie Ray. 10:30am–12:30am. Mandalas have been used since ancient times as a means of devotion and connecting to higher intelligence. Learn how creating mandalas can help you hear and trust your intuition and create three mandalas in different styles using mixed media. Experience the meditative qualities of mandalas and learn how they support receiving new insights from your intuition. $45. Body Mind & Soul 7951 Katy Frwy Ste. N, 77024 www.bmshouston.com 713-993-0550

planahead THURSDAY JUNE 2

markyourcalendar John Edward. 8:00pm-10:00pm. A John Edward “group” event or seminar is reading intensive. There will be question and answer sessions and messages from the other side.

No one attending any John Edward event is guaranteed a reading. 800-514-3849. - See more at: http://johnedward. net/event/8151/houston-tx#sthash.USUYcXvW.dpuf

SUNDAY JUNE 5

Half-day Retreat. 9:00am-12:00pm. Chan/Zen Meditation Classes guided by Ordained Zen Masters of Chung Tai Chan Monastery. Free. CHUNG TAI ZEN CENTER OF HOUSTON, 12129 Bellaire Blvd., 77072 zen@cthouston.org www. cthouston.org 281-568-1568

THURSDAY JUNE 9, 2016

Sonya Fitzpatrick: What The Animals Tell Me. 7:30pm9:00pm. Join world-renowned animal communicator Sonya Fitzpatrick for a seminar to learn how to communicate with your pet. General Admission: $30. Unity of Houston, 2929 Unity Drive, 77057 More info: www.unityhouston.org or call 713-782-4050

SUNDAY JUNE 19TH

Houston Pride Week. June 19-26th Many events still to be determined! Roots Reggae Houston. Doors open @ 12pm.

Outdoor music festival for the entire family to enjoy. There will be 10 non-stop hours of fun, culture, and entertainment to include, Caribbean foods, arts and crafts, live performances and DJ’s. Tickets $20 presale and $25 at the gate. Children 10 and under free. Jones Plaza, 600 Louisiana, 77002

SATURDAY, JUNE 25, 2016

The Houston Pride Festival and Parade. 12:00pm-7:00pm.

The Festival, held around City Hall, Herman Square and Tranquility Park, showcases over 200 exhibitors with an attendance of more than 100,000 people. The Festival has something for everyone with exhibits like the Houston LGBT History exhibit, Family Fun Zone, Health and Wellness Pavilion, Free HIV testing and more. There are multiple entertainment stages where a whole cast of local and national artists, including our Pride Superstar contestants (past and present) perform for the thousands in attendance. *The Parade begins promptly at 8:30 p.m.*

SUNDAY JUNE 26TH

Medicine Buddha Blessing Ceremony. 10:00am─3:00pm.

Free. Chung Tai Zen Center of Houston, 12129 Bellaire Blvd., 77072. 281.568.1568. Cthouston.org

ongoingevents daily

tuesday

Houston Arboretum. 8am-6pm. Walk in nature. Learn about native plants and wildlife. Free. Houston Arboretum 4501 Woodway Dr., 77024. houstonarboretum.org

Grace2Go. 7:00-8:30 am. On the go? Want a boost to the start of your day? Drive thru for free coffee, a breakfast bite, and a prayer if desired. All are welcome. Grace Episcopal Church, 4040 W. Bellfort, Houston, 77025. www.graceinhouston.org.

Free Vegetarian Meal. 9:00am. (except Sunday) A free vegetarian meal for any and all. Free. ISKCON Temple 1320 West 34th Street, 77018. 713. 686.4482 iskconhouston.org Rothko Chapel. 10am-6pm (except during special events) The Rothko Chapel is an independent institution, a sacred place open to all people, every day. Free. Rothko Chapel 3900 Yupon, 77006. 713-524-9839 rothkochapel.org Free Vegetarian Meal. 12:30pm. (except Sunday) A free vegetarian meal for any and all. Free. ISKCON Temple 1320 West 34th Street, 77018. 713. 686.4482 iskconhouston.org Waugh Bridge Bat Colony. Sunset. Every evening at sunset, more than 250,000 Mexican free-tailed bats emerge from crevices found in the Waugh Drive Bridge. These creatures are non-migratory and call the bayou home year-round. Free.

Waugh Street at Allen Parkway 77019. houstontx.gov/parks/ bats.html Free Vegetarian Meal. 7:30pm. (except Sunday) A free vegetarian meal for any and all. Free. ISKCON Temple 1320 West 34th Street, 77018. 713. 686.4482 iskconhouston.org

monday Yoga on the Green. 11am-noon. Strengthen, relax and recharge. Presented in partnership with Texas Military Veterans Network. Free. Discovery Green 1500 McKenney, 77010. discoverygreen.com Heartfulness Meditation on the Green. Noon-1pm. Life has a way of provoking us with traffic jams and never ending hassles.

This free event explains how heartfulness helps us cope with stress by managing our own reactivity. Discovery Green 1500 McKenney, 77010. discoverygreen.com Open Mic with Jimmy Deen. 7:00-11:00pm. Last Concert Cafe 1403 Nance St. 77002. 713-226-8563 www.lastconcert.com Beginners Yoga 7-8:30 pm. Discover your strengths and balances through a therapeutic approach to yoga alignment and mind/body integration. First Unitarian Universalist Church of Houston 5200 Fannin 77004. stanpolins@hal-pc.org.

Food Not Bombs. 8pm. Help provide free vegan meals for Houston’s homeless. Volunteer, donate or just come see what we do. Free. Downtown Library Countyard 521 Lamar, 77002.. houstonfoodnotbombs.org Tyke Hikes (18 months – 3 years) 9:30 and 10:30 a.m. Free for members (please have member card on hand); $5 per child for nonmembers (12 months and older). Pay at the door, advanced registration not necessary. May 2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd - Houston Arboretum & Nature Center 4501 Woodway Drive, 77024 http://houstonarboretum.org/events/tyke-hike/

natural awakenings

Yoga at India House. 11:00-12:00am. Enjoy relaxing cardio work out at India House. Free. India House, 8888 West Bellfort, 77031. Go to the website, print out the form and email it to the address given. http://www.indiahouseinc.org/ programs/yoga-classes The Self-Invest Series with Helen Rucz. 11am-2pm or 6:45pm-8:45pm. Happiness, Success can often seem illusive, mysterious or even magical. Like we need a special chant, a favor from the Divine or to find just the right key to make it a regular part of our lives. LEARN how to apply SPIRITUAL LAWS to your everyday life EASILY & with FUN and HUMOR. Cost: $125 Monthly. Spectrum Center, 2060 North Loop West, Suite 205, 77018. HelenRacz.com Theater District Houston Food Truck Tuesday at Jones Plaza.

11:00am-2:00pm Enjoy a rotating cast of local food trucks week in and week out in Downtown’s scenic Theater District every Tuesday through May. Lunch goers can keep up with what three specific trucks will be on site at Jones Plaza each week via the Theater District Houston FB Page. The event is free to attend. Lunch is on you. Jones Plaza. 600 Louisiana, 77002 http://theaterdistrictopenhouse.com/ Circus Arts. 6-8pm. Circus Arts will consist of ground arts and ground acrobatics such as, contortion/flexibility, Low Tight wire, Partner acrobatics, juggling and hand balancing. Circus Arts is taught by instructors Nosa and Susie Edebor, who also teach Acro Yoga at classes outside Discovery Green. Must be 13 and up for class. Free. Discovery Green 1500 McKenney, 77010. discoverygreen.com Sahaja Yoga-Meditation. 6:30-7:30pm. Come around and try our free weekly yoga-meditation classes. Simply turn up, and make yourself comfortable. Each session includes the basics and a practical guided meditation, so that you can start meditating at home straight away. Free. South Community Center. 2235 Lake Robbins Drive, The Woodlands, Houston, Texas 77380. 832-433-2415. info@Houston-Meditation.org Charles Bryant Showcase. 7-11pm. Dinner music at Last Concert Café. Get your Tex-Mex On! Last Concert Cafe 1403 Nance St. 77002. 713-226-8563 www.lastconcert.com Intro to Meditation 101.7-8pm. Universal Door Meditation Center offers this beginner level class open to the public. Here we begin to discover the difference between False Mind and Awake Mind by applying basic Zen Meditation. Donations Welcome. Universal Door Meditation Center 2619 Charles Lane, Sugar Land, TX 77498 www.universaldoor.org 281565-9718 Yoga at Resurrection MCC. 7:00-8:00 pm. Get in touch with your mind, body, and spirit through Yoga! Connect with others in this non-competitive activity suitable for everyone. All body types and skill levels are welcome. Please bring a mat and towel. Extra mats are available for those new to Yoga. Donations Accepted. Resurrection Metropolitan Community Church 2015 West 11th Street 77008. Yoga@ResurrectionMCC.org

May 2016

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Oneness Blessing Meeting. 7-9pm Our weekly meeting includes sharing, meditation, Oneness teachings, and the giving and receiving of the Oneness Blessing, also known as Deeksha. Connect with the Oneness Community to explore deeper experiences of Oneness, Divine Love and accelerated awakening. Child care is available, no reservation required. $10 suggested Love Offering. Unity of Houston 2929 Unity Dr, 77057. 713-782-4050. unityhouston.org

wednesday Christian Meditation. 5:30-6:30 pm. Experience meditation and contemplative prayer using ancient prayer practices of the early Christian communities. Explore and study contemporary and ancient texts of the contemplative way. All are welcome. Grace Episcopal Church, 4040 W. Bellfort, Houston, 77025. Parking is free and available at the Woodwind St. entrance. www.graceinhouston.org. Questions? info@ graceinhouston.org or 832-667-8601.

Oneness Blessing Meeting. 5:30-6:45pm. Our weekly meeting includes sharing, meditation, Oneness teachings, and the giving and receiving of the Oneness Blessing, also known as Deeksha. Connect with the Oneness Community to explore deeper experiences of Oneness, Divine Love and accelerated awakening. Child care is available, no reservation required. $10 suggested Love Offering. Unity of Houston 2929 Unity Dr, 77057. 713-782-4050. unityhouston.org Urban Ride. 6:30pm. Friendly cycling group. All routes go through inner city – each day of the week we have a different route. Please obey the rules of the roads. Stop at all traffic lights and stop signs. Free. Urban Bicycle Gallery 4814 Nett St. 77007. judy@urbanbicyclegallery.com Sahaja Yoga-Meditation. 6:30-7:30pm. Come around and try our free weekly yoga-meditation classes. Simply turn up, and make yourself comfortable. Each session includes the basics and a practical guided meditation, so that you can start meditating at home straight away. Free. Kingwood Library. 4400 Bens View Lane, 77339. 832-433-2415. info@ Houston-Meditation.org Sahaja Yoga-Meditation. 6:30-8:00pm. Come around and try our free weekly yoga-meditation classes. Simply turn up, and make yourself comfortable. Each session includes the basics and a practical guided meditation, so that you can start meditating at home straight away. Free. University Branch Library, 14010 University Blvd. Sugar Land, TX 77479. 832-433-2415. info@Houston-Meditation.org Blue Line Bike Ride. 7pm. Starts at the bike shop and heads east for a loop through the 5th ward and over the viaduct into downtown. Then it heads west on Washington to TC Jester and north up to 43rd St. Second half of the ride continues west on 43rd/Clay Rd to Blalock and south to Westview where it heads back east to the Heights. Free. Blue Line Bike Lab - 3302 White Oak Drive, 77007. 713.802.1707 Diamond Way Meditation. 7-7:45 pm. Free. Diamond Way Buddhist Center. 2217 W 34th Street, Suite D. 281. 77018.

436.6081. diamondway.org/houston/ Hellina Bucket Band 8:00 -10:00 Free dinner music. Free.

Last Concert Cafe 1403 Nance St. 77002. 713-226-8563 www.lastconcert.com Beginning Zen Meditation. 7:30-9:30pm. Feeling stressed?

Want something to help you feel better? Try meditation with us. Free. Chung Tai Zen Center of Houston. 12129 Bellaire Blvd., 77072. 281.568.1568. cthouston.org

Museum of Fine Arts-Houston. 10am-9pm. If you have not spent time enjoying the art exhibits at MFAH, what are your waiting for? Free. MFAH 1001 Bissonnet, 77005.

713.639.7300 mfah.org Spring Into Yoga! 9:30 am. Integrative Hatha Yoga for Mental & Physical Happiness, facilitated by Lin Weiss MH, Certified Yoga Therapist. $18 drop in. Multiple class prices available.

Bellaire Triangle Yoga & Meditation Studio is located behind the shopping center on the corner of Bissonnet & Mapleridge.

Take first driveway on Mapleridge (right) - just past Gold’s Violin Shop. http://conscioushealingnow.com/ 713-858-8595 Yoga at India House. 11:00-12:00am. Enjoy relaxing cardio work out at India House. Free. India House, 8888 West Bellfort, 77031. Go to the website, print out the form and email it to the address given. http://www.indiahouseinc.org/ programs/yoga-classes Buffalo Soldiers Museum. 1-5pm. Buffalo Soldiers Museum is the only museum dedicated to preserving the legacy and honor of African American soldiers in the United States.

Free. Buffalo Soldiers Museum 3816 Caroline Street, 77004.

Buffalosoldiersmuseum.com 713.942.8920.

Houston Museum of Natural Science. 2-5pm. Roam the Serengeti, walk with dinosaurs and discover the world’s mineral wonders. Free. HMNS 5555 Hermann Park Drive 77030. hmns.org Children’s Museum of Houston. 5-8pm. Enjoy all the interactive exhibits at the museum with your children.

Free. Children’s Museum 1500 Binz, 77004. 713.522.1138 cmhouston.org Sahaja Yoga-Meditation. 6:00-7:00pm. Come around and try our free weekly yoga-meditation classes. Simply turn up, and make yourself comfortable. Each session includes the basics and a practical guided meditation, so that you can start meditating at home straight away. Free. Houston Public Library, Central Branch, 500 McKinney Street, 77002. 832-433-2415. info@Houston-Meditation.org Parkour. 6:30-8pm. Experienced, certified coaches utilize a unique, deconstructed approach to teaching running, jumping, climbing, crawling, balancing, vaulting, and fluidly moving through any environment…Turning “working out” into “play”.

Class will meet on the Deck under the Oak Trees. Free. Discovery Green 1500 McKenney, 77010. discoverygreen.com Thrive Tapping with Helen Racz. 7-9pm. The Thursday Night Group Tapping is an amazing gift. The work is alive and, as in all living things, it has evolved. This evolution is taking us deeper into creating positive change on purpose with purpose. The beautiful meridian based science of EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique) was originally used to clear blocks in our energy fields. What we know now is that EFT is capable of much, much more. Donations accepted. Spectrum Center at The Preserve 2060 North Loop West, Suite 205 77018. helenracz.com Meditation Class: Discovering the Awake Within 7-9pm Zen Master Thich Dieu Thien closely guides and interacts with students to connect with Awake Mind and to apply meditation.

This class provides a stable foundation for those who are ready to move to the next level, go deeper in their meditation practice, and touch with the Awake within. Suggested donation $50/month. Suggested donation $50/month. Universal Door Meditation Center 2619 Charles Lane, Sugar Land, TX 77498 www.universaldoor.org 281-565-9718

Food Not Bombs. 8pm. Help provide free vegan meals for Houston’s homeless. Volunteer, donate or just come see what we do. Free. Downtown Library Countyard 521 Lamar, 77002. houstonfoodnotbombs.org

Bohemeo’s Badass Bike Ride. 7pm. Every kind of bike is welcome but note the first and third Thursday of the month the ride is fast paced (16-18 mph) and contains about 20-25 miles with bridges. The other Thursdays it is a more social and slower ride, maintaining pace at 12-14 mph for about 12-15 miles. Free. Bohemeo’s 709 Telephone Road, 77023.

713.923.4277.

Pot Roast. 10:00pm-12mn. Late night music outside under the stars. Last Concert Cafe 1403 Nance St. 77002. 713-226-8563 www.lastconcert.com

Chaz and the Plastik Flask. 8-10pm. Upbeat musical style with a rock and roll sound. Cover charge. Last Concert Cafe 1403 Nance St., 77002. 713-226-8563 www.lastconcert.com

Drum Circle at Midnight 12mn-2am $7.00 Last Concert Cafe 1403 Nance St. 77002. 713-226-8563 www.lastconcert.com

thursday

Hightailers. 10:00pm-2 am. Longest running house band in existence! Gulf Coast Rhythm and Blues. Cover charge. Last Concert Cafe 1403 Nance St., 77002. 713-226-8563 www. lastconcert.com

Grace2Go. 7:00-8:30 am. On the go? Want a boost to the start of your day? Drive thru for free coffee, a breakfast bite, and a prayer if desired. All are welcome. Grace Episcopal Church, 4040 W. Bellfort, Houston, 77025. www.graceinhouston.org.

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Houston

www.NaturalAwakenings-Houston.com

friday Recycling Fridays. 8:30am-12:30pm. Drive by and drop off sorted plastic, aluminum, paper, glass, and flattened cardboard boxes. Free. Emerson Church. 1900 Bering Dr., 77057 (between Westheimer and San Felipe) 713-782-8250.

Emersonhouston.org Introduction to Intuitive Painting & Open Studio. 10am12:30pm. May 13th ,27th. Rid yourself of the common, wrong belief that only some of us are creative. The process of intuitive painting—which requires no skill or prior training—reflects the five guiding principles of all creativity, which you will experience in this workshop. An awareness of these principles helps you to relax and access deeper levels of creativity. $55. True You Creativity Studio in The Heights. For more information and to register, visit www.trueyoucreativity.com Houston International Folk Dancers. 7:30-10pm. Houston International Folk Dancers is a recreational folk dance group that celebrates ethnic dances from around the world: Eastern and Western Europe, Middle East and Mediterranean, and the Americas. You will delight in the diverse rhythms, melodies and unique dance styles of cultures from over 30 countries.

Experienced folk dancers are always ready to help beginners.

Singles welcome. Dress comfortably. Admission is $5. First Unitarian Universalist Church of Houston 5200 Fannin 77004.

Additional info at www.folkdancers.org Food Not Bombs. 8pm. Help provide free vegan meals for Houston’s homeless. Volunteer, donate or just come see what we do. Free. Downtown Library Count Yard, 521 Lamar, 77002. houstonfoodnotbombs.org Dinner Music with Jimmy Deen. 6-9pm. Cover charge. Last Concert Cafe 1403 Nance St. 77002. 713-226-8563 www. lastconcert.com Meditation for Spiritual Awareness. 7-8:30pm. Science of Spirituality is a global, non-religious, non-profit, spiritual organization headquartered in Chicago and under the leadership of Sant Rajinder Singh Ji Maharaj. We are beginning a new workshop series dealing with meditation for spiritual awareness. For registration and details visit our website: houstonSOS.org/carmel or call 281-766-4767. Carmel Temple 1200 Pennsylvania, South Houston 77587.

saturday Yoga for the Body and Mind. 8-9:30 am. Yoga classes based on the teachings of Swami Ramdev ji including asanas, pranayama and meditation. Free. Arya Samaj Greater Houston Center 14375 Shiller Rd. 77082. 281-242-5000 aryasamajhouston.org.

Spring Into Yoga! 9:30 am. Integrative Hatha Yoga for Mental & Physical Happiness, facilitated by Lin Weiss MH, Certified Yoga Therapist. $18 drop in. Multiple class prices available.

Bellaire Triangle Yoga & Meditation Studio is located behind the shopping center on the corner of Bissonnet & Mapleridge.

Take first driveway on Mapleridge (right) - just past Gold’s Violin Shop. http://conscioushealingnow.com/ 713-858-8595 Beginning Zen Meditation. 10am-12n. Feeling stressed?

Want something to help you feel better? Try meditation with us. Free. Chung Tai Zen Center of Houston. 12129 Bellaire Blvd., 77072. 281.568.1568. cthouston.org Children’s Zen Meditation. 10am-12n. Open to children ages 4-12. Parents must be present and participate. Free. Chung Tai Zen Center of Houston. 12129 Bellaire Blvd., 77072.

281.568.1568. cthouston.org Yoga at India House. 10:00-11:00am. Enjoy relaxing cardio work out at India House. Free. India House, 8888 West Bellfort, 77031. Go to the website, print out the form and email it to the address given. http://www.indiahouseinc.org/ programs/yoga-classes Young Writers Workshop. 10:30 -11:30 am. Kids learn to express their thoughts an develop language skills. Presented

by Houston Public Library/HPL Express and Discovery Green. Houston’s only free and open writing workshop for kids conducted by Writers In The Schools. Limited to 25 students, first come first serve. Free. Discovery Green 1500 McKenney, 77010. discoverygreen.com For more information please call 832-393-1375.

STEM Saturdays. 12:30PM - 1:30PM. Girls inc. hosts a fun, hands-on Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education program for kids. Space is limited to 60 kids on a first come first serve basis. Free. Discovery Green 1500 McKenney, 77010. discoverygreen.com Beginning Meditation. 11:00-11:30am. Enjoy relaxing meditation class at India House. Free. India House, 8888 West Bellfort, 77031. Go to the website, print out the form and email it to the address given. http://www.meetup.com/ Meditate-Houston/events/229736844/ Science of Spirituality Meditation. 12:00-2pm. Science of Spirituality is a global, non-religious, non-profit, spiritual organization headquartered in Chicago and under the leadership of Sant Rajinder Singh Ji Maharaj. Each week our group gathers to meditate together, reflect on the words of the great Saints and Mystics and spend some time with others who share the goal of leading a spiritually enriched and fulfilling life.

Spiritual Discourse, Meditation, Vegetarian Meal. Free. India House 8888 West Bellfort 77031. houstonSOS.org Falun Dafa. 4-6pm. Falun Gong also known as Falun Dafa is a traditional Chinese qigong practice. It uses gentle movements and meditation to cultivate the body, mind, and spirit. Falun Gong is a complete and powerful system, which consists of five simple exercises, which can be performed by anyone regardless of age, physical condition, or prior experience. If you plan to visit a practice location, please call the contact person beforehand. Outside of Chinese Consulate 3417 Montrose Blvd., 77006. Henry 956.844.2835. falun-houston.org Dinner Music with Jimmy Deen. 6-9pm. Cover charge. Last Concert Cafe 1403 Nance St. 77002. 713-226-8563 www. lastconcert.com

sunday Yoga for the Body and Mind. 8-9:30 am. Yoga classes based on the teachings of Swami Ramdev ji including asanas, pranayama and meditation. Free. Arya Samaj Greater Houston Center 14375 Shiller Rd. 77082. 281-242-5000 aryasamajhouston.org.

Christian Meditation. 9:00-9:30 am. Experience meditation and contemplative prayer using ancient prayer practices of the early Christian communities in preparation for receiving Holy Communion at the 10 am worship service. All are welcome.

Grace Episcopal Church, 4040 W. Bellfort, Houston, 77025. www.graceinhouston.org. Questions? info@graceinhouston. org or 832-667-8601.

Sunday Oneness Blessing. 10:00-10:30am. The Oneness Blessing, also known as Deeksha, is a hands-on, direct transfer of energy. Which can strengthen your relationship with your Divine, Spirit, God; however you relate to that. Bring freedom from your chattering mind. And can cause your Authentic You to shine and become present in the moment and experience fullness of life as it truly is. The more blessings you receive, the greater the benefit. Child care is available, no reservation required. Love Offering. Unity of Houston 2929 Unity Dr, 77057. 713-782-4050. unityhouston.org Movement Meditation for Healing Mind and Body -- 9:30 – 10:30am With an emphasis on bringing together mind, body, and movement to be in the present moment, Zen Master Thich Dieu Thien guides students to connect with Awake mind, which is profoundly healing, and also restores and refreshes every aspect of our being. Suggested donation $50/month.

Universal Door Meditation Center 2619 Charles Lane, Sugar Land, TX 77498 www.universaldoor.org 281-565-9718 Semanal Programa de Meditación 10am-1pm. Ciencia de la Espiritualidad es una organización global, no religiosa, sin fines de lucro, espiritual dedicado a la unidad del amor y de la paz. Nuestro grupo de meditación Houston ha estado activo durante más de 52 años y se reúne regularmente. Cada semana nuestro grupo se reúne para meditar juntos, reflexionar sobre las palabras de los grandes santos y místicos y pasar algún tiempo con otras personas que comparten el objetivo de llevar una vida espiritualmente enriquecida y satisfactoria.

Gratis. Trini Mendenhall Sosa Center 1414 Wirt Road 77055. houstonSOS.org 832-304-0767.

Acoustic Jams. 10:30am-12n. Easy listening music to brunch by. No cover charge. Last Concert Cafe 1403 Nance St. 77002.

713-226-8563 www.lastconcert.com

Ecstatic Dance Evolution. 10:30-1:00pm. Ecstatic Dance Evolution is a unique transformational Ecstatic Dance practice developed by Houston’s Sydney Samadhi Strahan. This Dance has been actively evolving since 2003, giving Houstonians a consistent place to be free in mind-body-spirit and express themselves through movement with an accepting creative community. Free. MATCH: Midtown Arts and Theater Center 3400 Main Street 77002 Dawn Mountain Sunday Meditation. 11am-12noon. Join us for guided meditation suitable for everyone. Led by senior members of the Dawn Mountain community. Free.

Dawn Mountain 2010 Naome Street, Suite A 77054. http:// dawnmountain.org Youth and Teen Program at Universal Door Meditation Center 11:00am – 12:30pm. For youth grades 1-12. Through games and activities, youth are introduced to basic meditation practice and life skills needed to understand more about themselves and how to be truly happy. The Spring semester runs from Jan. 10 to May 15. Registration required, call for more details. Universal Door Meditation Center - 2619 Charles Lane, Sugar Land, TX 77498 www.universaldoor. org 281-565-9718 Science of Spirituality Meditation. 1:30-3:45pm. Science of Spirituality is a global, non-religious, non-profit, spiritual organization headquartered in Chicago and under the leadership of Sant Rajinder Singh Ji Maharaj. Each week our group gathers to meditate together, reflect on the words of the great Saints and Mystics and spend some time with others who share the goal of leading a spiritually enriched and fulfilling life. Spiritual Discourse, Meditation, Vegetarian Meal. Free. Carmel Temple 1200 Pennsylvania, South Houston 77587. houstonSOS.org Diamond Way Meditation. 5-5:45 pm. Free. Diamond Way Buddhist Center. 2217 W 34th Street, Suite D., 77018. 281436-6081. diamondway.org/houston/ Food Not Bombs. 7pm. Help provide free vegan meals for Houston’s homeless. Volunteer, donate or just come see what we do. Free. Downtown Library Countyard 521 Lamar, 77002 houstonfoodnotbombs.org Sunday Love Feast. 7:00pm. A free vegetarian meal for any and all. Free. ISKCON Temple 1320 West 34th Street, 77018.

713. 686.4482 iskconhouston.org Farmer’s Market on Grand Parkway. 8am-12n. Church of the Holy Apostles, 1225 W. Grand Parkway in Katy, 77494. farmersmarketongrandparkway.com

farmers’markets DAILY

Canino Produce and Farmer’s Market. 6am-8pm (except Christmas and Thanksgiving) Over 20,000 square feet of Texas produce. Canino Produce and Farmer’s Market 2520 Airline, 77009. 713.862.4027 caninoproduce.com Last Organic Outpost Harvest. 9am-4pm (except during extreme cold or rainy weather). Come and get your hands in the dirt. Help with the work of the garden and harvest your share for FREE. Last Organic Outpost 711 Emile Street, 77020. 832.422.8407 facebook.com/lastorganicoutpost.com Nu Waters Food Co-Op. 9am-5pm Tue-Sun. 2320 Elgin 77004. NuWatersCo-Op.com

TUEDAY

Spring Branch Farmer’s Market. 2-6pm. Unitarian Fellowship of Houston 1504 Wirt Road, 77055. facebook.com/ springbranchfarmersmarkethouston Rice University Farmer’s Market. 3:30-6:30pm. Rice University, West Stadium Lot, 5600 Greenbriar 77005. farmersmarket.rice.edu/ Rawfully Organic Food Co-Op. 4-7pm Houston Arboretum 4501 Woodway 77024. You must order your shares by 9 pm Monday in order to pick up on Tuesday.

Rawfullyorganic.com

WEDNESDAY

Central City Co-Op. 9am-6:30pm. Grace Lutheran Church 2515 Waugh Drive, 77006. centralcityco-op.com City Hall Farmer’s Market. 11am-1:30pm. City Hall 500 McKenny, 77002 (parking available at 400 Rusk) urbanharvest.org

THURSDAY

Westchase District Farmer’s Market. 3-7pm. 10503 Westheimer, 77042. (1 block west of Beltway 8) westchasedistrict.com/market Kingwood Farmer’s Market. 3-7pm. Town Center Park, 8 N. Main in Kingwood 77339. facebook.com/ kingwoodfarmersmarket

SATURDAY

Eastside Urban Harvest Farmer’s Market. 8am-12n.

Parking lot behind 3000 Richmond at Eastside, 77098. urbanharvest.org

Heights Epicurian Farmer’s Market. 8am-1:30pm. First Saturdays only. Grace United Methodist Church 1245 Heights Blvd. 77008. HeightsEpicurian.com Memorial Villages Farmers Market. 9am-1pm. First Congregational Church, 10840 Beinhorn Rd. 77024. facebook.com/mvfm Farmer’s Market at Imperial. 9am-1pm. 198 Kempner, Sugar Land, 77498. imperialsugarland.com/ farmersmarket Tomball Farmer’s Market. 9am-1pm. Corner of Main (FM 2920) and Cherry in downtown Tomball 77377. tomballfarmersmarket.org Conroe Saturday AM Farmers Market. 9am-1pm. 135 N Main Conroe 77301 facebook.com/ConroeSamM/

SUNDAY East End Street Market. 10am-2pm. 2800 Navigation Blvd 77003. Eastendhouston.com Magnolia Farmer’s & Artisan’s Market. 11am-3pm. 1st, 3rd & 5th Sundays. Intersection of FM 1488 and FM 1774 in Magnolia, 77354. sweetmagnoliapickins.net Farmers Market at Bridgeland. 12:30-3:30pm. 2nd Sundays. 16902 Bridgeland Landing, Cypress 77433. farmersmarketatbridgeland.org/

The Farm Stand at Petrol Station. 9am-1pm. Petrol Station, 985 Wakefield 77018. 713.957.2875 facebook.com/The-FarmStand-at-Petrol-Station The Woodlands Farmer’s Market at Grogan’s Mill.

8am-12n. 7 Switchbud Place in The Woodlands 77380. grogansmillvillage.com

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communityresourceguide

ACUPUNCTURE JONELL NORCINI, L.AC.

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

Cypress Area Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine 10330 Lake Road, Building D Houston, TX 77070.

By appointment only 713-825-1636.

CypressAreaAcupuncture.com

At Cypress Area Acupuncture, I strive to provide quality health care at affordable prices. I believe that I am your partner in helping you obtain optimal health. I provide treatments in a relaxing atmosphere where you will seldom, if ever, have to wait and you will never feel rushed. Questions are always welcome and I will do everything possible to make your treatments comfortable and relaxing. See ad on page 5.

BEDDING

HOUSTON GYM

If you are Certified e a t i n g B organic, Corporation why aren’t you sleeping organic? We are your local supplier of organic mattresses, pillows and bedding. We also stock and design eco-friendly furniture. Come by either our Rice Village or Heights stores and find out the difference sleeping organic can make.

new living

Twenty years ago, Houston Gym opened as an alternative to big, impersonal fitness centers with staffs of high-pressure salespeople. We built a facility that boasts NEW state-of -the-art equipment, yet retains the casual feel of a neighborhood gym. Simply put, Houston Gym is a place for people who are serious about achieving physical fitness. M-F: 5a-11p, Sat & Sun: 8a-8p. Call for a FREE Trial Pass.

HOLISTIC FAIR

BIOLOGICAL DENISTRY

MARVA MASON’S HOLISTIC FAIR

MARILYN K. JONES, DDS

La Quinta Inn-Galleria 1625 West 610 Loop Houston, TX 77027 PsychicFairs.com

Natural Dentistry supports the body and the mind by finding the cause of dental problems. The dental examination includes noticing systemic and habitual influences. Setting the stage for the body to heal itself includes removing infection and toxins, correcting structure, and providing the best dental materials for you which will promote an outstanding environment for your overall health. Dentistry is my true love and as a true Biological Dentist, I combine modern technology, safe protection protocols, advanced knowledge of biological dentistry and medicine, and a patient-centric approach to enhance the wellness of all my patients.

Houston

Practicing Functional Medicine, offering lab tests to find causes of pain, disease, imbalances, dysfunctions, and Natural, Safe, Holistic protocols to address their ROOT CAUSE(s). See ad on page 34.

1501 DURHAM STREET HOUSTON, TX 77007 713-880-9191 HoustonGym.com

6111 Kirby Dr. 77005 713-521-1927 321 W. 19th St. 77008 832-659-0123 NewLiving.net

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DR. BOBBIE STOWE, DC

2400 Augusta Dr., Ste. 210 Houston, TX 77057 713-667-6656 FunctionalMedicineOfHouston.com

HOMEOPATHIC AUNT ALBERTA’S REMEDY

Homeopathic Pain Relief Cream 973-715-9097 www.healnbloom.com

Try Aunt Alberta’s Remedy to ease joint and muscular aches and pains from sciatica, gout, arthritis, neuralgia, fibromyalgia and more.

Great buy a 4oz jar for $15. See website for more options. All natural ingredients! Refer a friend and get 10% OFF your purchase. Read what people are saying about Aunt Alberta’s Remedy at our website.

GYMS

NEW LIVING & NEW LIVING BEDROOM

Houston Dental Health Center 800 Bering Dr. Houston, TX 77057 712-785-7767 MarilynKJonesDDS.com

FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE

Houston’s largest and longest continually running holistic fair is held on the first Saturday of each month from 10 am until 5 pm.

Featuring readers, alternative health practitioners and vendors. Admission is free. Come and join the fun!

HOLISTIC SHOP THE CHAKRA HAVEN

402 East Main Street Tomball, TX 77375 346-234-7754 facebook.com/thechakra.heven

A cute little shop just outside the Old Town Tomball district.

Featuring: candles, crystals, jewelry, oils, incense, herbs and more. Also by appointment only: chakra balancing, tarot readings, angel readings, angel healings and Reiki.

www.NaturalAwakenings-Houston.com

HOLISTIC HOMEOPATHY FOR WELLNESS ANUSHA THIAGARAJAN 4100 Westheimer, Suite 233 Houston, TX 77027 7335 TX-6, Suite 200 Missouri City, TX 77459 Holistichomeopathy.net 832-671-2631

Integrating Mind, Body and Spirit Homeopathy is an art and science.

The word “homeopathy” is derived from the Greek words homeos “similar” and pathos, “disease”. Homeopathy means “to treat with a remedy that produces an effect similar to that of the disease”. Anusha Thiagarajan practices traditional homeopathy with offices both in Houston and Missouri City. Visit her website for more information and call her today for a consulation.

INTUITIVE COUNSELOR CHUCK MURPHY SPIRITUAL INTUITIVE

La Quinta-Galleria 1625 West 610 Loop Houston, TX 77027 ChuckMurphy.me

Let me help you discover your unique place in creation. In person readings at Marva’s Fair on the 1st Saturday of each month. Visit my website for information about phone and SKYPE readings. Mention this ad for a 10% discount.

JULIE PARKER

FACE READING YourInnerBlueprint.com 832-305-5498

Each individual is born with their own personal blueprint.

The secrets of your inner nature and your own potential are beautifully and perfectly inscribed in the features and lines of your face. Face Reading is an ancient branch of Chinese Medicine, originally used as a diagnostic tool, it provides clues regarding an individual’s personality patterns, their inherent strengths and weaknesses, where they tend to excel and where they might face challenges. Let me help you find answers to your questions about relationships, career, dating, self-improvement or other areas of your life.

FRANK “BROTHER RACOON” RISING

ANCESTORAL INTUITIVE READINGS https://www.facebook.com/ brotherraccoon raccoonbone.wix.com/frankrising 832-233-6568 832-922-1382

Throwing the bones is an ancient divination technique where bones, shells, stones, coins, and other curios are thrown on a cloth and the pattern in which the objects fall give insight and answers to questions. Let me help you find the answers to your questions. I work at Midtown Mojo Manufactures, 4002 Chartres Street 77004 on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 10am-7pm and every other Saturday from 12n-6pm and the Edgar Cayce Center fair on 4th Saturdays. Other times by appointment. Check my Facebook page to find my schedule. I also do private readings, parties, classes and consultations.

Call me to inquire about or schedule one with me.

ION FOOT DETOX HEAL WITH NATURAL HERBS

“The Hippest Little Place in Humble” 404 Avenue E Humble, TX 77338 281-227-0435 HealWithNaturalHerbs.com

Looking for a nice peaceful place to just hang out. Well, you’ve found it. We feature ion foot detox, chair massage, an oxygen bar, herbal teas, essential oils and much more. Come by for the Lady’s Tea or the Gentlemen’s Mini-Golf and you won’t want to leave.

MEDICAL INTUITIVE INTEGRATIVE THERAPIES FOR NATURAL HEALING & WELLNESS LIN WEISS MH, CYT Holistic Healer Medical/ Spiritual Intuitive Master Teacher Houston, Texas 77025 713-858-8595 linweiss@earthlink.net conscioushealingnow.com

Through her WHOLE-istic approach, Lin weaves inspired wisdom with proven healing traditions for integrating mind/ body & soul. ALL NATURAL, ALL THE TIME, she specializes in Homeopathy; Bio-energetic Healing; Neuro-chemical Analysis/ Balance; Chakra Attunement; Nutrition Therapies; Orchid Essences; Zero Energy Balance & more.

Addressing a wide range of symptoms, ie: Allergies; ADD/ADHD; OCD: Arthritis; Autistic Spectrum; Chronic Fatigue; Depression; Detoxification; Fibromyalgia; MS; Parkinsons: Trauma Release, etc. Classes: Intuitive Development and Psychology of the Chakras!

MEDITATION

DAWN MOUNTAIN CENTER FOR TIBETAN BUDDHISM 2010 Naomi Street, Suite A Houston, TX 77054 Dawnmountain.org

Join us every Sunday morning from 11:00 to 12:00 for free, guided meditation suitable for everyone. Led by senior dawn mountain members of the Dawn Mountain sangha (community), this meditation offers a chance to take a mindful pause from your busy life, enjoy serenity and fellowship, and learn a bit more about Buddhist practice at Dawn Mountain. See ad on page 2.

GRACE EPISCOPAL CHURCH 4040 West Bellfort Street Houston, TX 77025 713-666-1408 GraceInHouston.org

We are a welcoming Christian community sharing our spiritual journeys through worship, fellowship and outreach. Grounded in both Episcopal worship and ancient practices, we are faithful to the rich traditions of our church while also open to creative expressions of our faith in worship and ministries.

CARMEL TEMPLE

1206 Pennsylvania Street South Houston 775804713-944-014 CarmelTemple.org

Carmel Temple is a quiet sanctuary far away from the outer world of seeming chaos. It is a place of peace, healing, study, teaching, meditation, love, warmth, and friendship. Opened in 1970, Carmel Temple is a loving place made available for all seekers of the Light. Join us in this welcoming environment, where enlightenment, healing, and especially love are found. See ad on page 8.

CHUNG TAI ZEN CENTER OF HOUSTON

Chan/Zen Meditation Classes Guided by Ordained Zen Masters of Chung Tai Chan Monastery. No fees.

Donations are welcome. No prior experience required for beginners.

12129 Bellaire Blvd., Houston 77072 281-568-1568 • zen@cthouston.org CTHouston.org

Beginning Meditation: (A) Wed, 7:30–9:30pm. (B) Sat, 10am– noon. Children Meditation: Sat 10am–noon - For children ages 4–12 and parents. Half-day Retreat: Sun., May 1, 9am-noon.

Sun., June 5, 9am-noon. Meditation Workshop: Sun., May 22, 10–11am. Blessing Ceremony: Sun., June 26, 10am-noon. Mother’s Day Ceremony: Sun., May 8, 2016. Buddha’s Birthday Ceremony: Sun., May 15, 2016. Check the web site (event calendar) for the most current information. See ad on page 28.

natural awakenings

THE HINES CENTER FOR SPIRITUALITY AND PRAYER 500 Fannin Street Houston, TX 77002 713-590-3320 HinesCenter.org

The Hines Center for Spirituality and Prayer is a co-created response to the community’s longing for rich spiritual formation and expression. The center will provide a wide variety of opportunities to know and experience God. We will provide classes, lectures, workshops, and programmed group settings to foster connection, understanding, and compassion for self, other, and the mystery that beautifully and expansively holds us. See ad on page 6.

UNITY OF HOUSTON 2919 Unity Drive Houston TX 77057 713-782-4050 UnityHouston.org

Unity of Houston offers p o si t i v e , p r a c tic a l teachings that support spiritual evolution and abundant living. The Unity movement is open and welcoming of all individuals regardless of race, color, gender, age, creed, religion, national origin, ethnicity, physical disability or sexual orientation. We take an extremely positive approach to life, emphasizing our Oneness in God and the goodness in people and all of life. We believe… ”Life is meant to be good!” See our ad on page 17.

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JUNE

THE ART OF BALANCE Align with Natural Health Minded Customers

UNIVERSAL DOOR MEDITATION CENTER 2619 Charles Lane Sugar Land, TX 77498 281-565-9718 UniversalDoor.org

Are you ready to Wake Up? Discover Awake mind through Zen meditation.

Zen Master Thich Dieu Thien guides students to apply this life-changing tool in all situations. Find out how Awake mind can transform stress, struggles, health issues, and conflicts that you thought were unchangeable facts of life! Tue: Meditation 101, 7-8pm, FREE Drop In Class. Thurs: Meditation Class: Discovering the Awake Within. 7-9pm*. Sun: Movement Meditation for Healing Mind and Body. 9:30-10:30am* Sun: Fall Youth and Teen Program 11am-12:30n*. * = requires pre-registration/class fee. See our ad on page 15.

NATURAL FOOD GRACE’S NUTRITION MARKET

1421 Spring Cypress Rd. Spring, TX 77373.

281-353-6630 facebook.com/Graces-Nutrition-Market

Advertise your products and services in Natural Awakenings’

June Happiness and Balanced Man Issue

To advertise or participate in our next issue, call

Grace’s Nutrition Market, your friendly neighborhood health store, packed full of well-seasoned knowledge, friendly advice, and goodies, has been in the same Spring, Texas location for upwards to 40 years, and current owner for at least 20 years. We specialize in any nutritional needs you may encounter in your daily life, from the common cold, to weight loss, or even full body nutritional counseling.

Grace’s is home to a wonderful pair, Robyn and Beverly, our Iridologist and Nutritionist. Iridology appointments are available throughout the week, or to just come talk to for good quality you can trust.

NATURAL HEALTH AMY’S HEALING APOTHECARY

281-853-4729 facebook.com/Amys-Healing-Apothecary amyshealingapothecary@yahoo.com

Working with Gritman Oils, Amy uses her training and intuition to create an oil blend especially for you to enhance your life. She also is trained in the use of Healing Touch and the far infared BioMat. Amy works with PTSD, Trauma, Infertility, Terminally Ill, and Pet Therapy. By appointment only either at her office in Center Point 2727 Fondren 77354 or at your home. Call today and experience the difference Gritman Oils make.

713-927-6540 46

Houston

www.NaturalAwakenings-Houston.com

NATURAL OPTOMETRY DR. SUSAN MOSS, OD

5218 Cedar Street, Suite A Bellaire, TX 77401 713-524-2525 eyesareprecious@gmail.com YourEyesArePrecious.com

Did you know that affordable and e f f e c t i v e N AT U R A L e y e treatments are available? Dr. Sue Moss has been helping people improve their vision naturally for 25 years. Call today for an appointment.

NATURAL WATER FILTRATION & TREATMENT ACCENT NATURAL WATER

Whole House Water Treatment 23206 I-45 North Spring, TX 77373 281-773-5441 AccentH20.com

DO YOU KNOW WHAT’S I N Y O U R WAT E R ?

Houston has the 6th worst water in the country. Our system takes out chlorine, pesticides and more. Plus, we treat and condition the water to make it healthier for your family. More than a water softener, table top unit or RO alone.

Healthy water from every faucet or shower.

Member BBB-A+ rating since the 80’s. Call Henry 281-773-5441

ORGANICALLY GROWN PRODUCE PLANT IT FORWARD

“a farm in every neighborhood” 832-983-0405 farmshareprogram@plant-it-forward.org Plant-it-forward.org

Join the Farm Share Program Today! Enjoy your own weekly box of our local, organically grown produce by enrolling in our Farm Share Program. Get 6-8 different varieties, enough for a family of 3-5 each week. Purchase a 5-week mini-season for $132, a perfect gift for your health-conscious loved ones or purchase a 20-week season for $507. Sign-up today for the Winter-Spring 2016 Season! See ad on page 14.

ORGANIC RESORT & SPA DEER LAKE LODGE AND SPA

10500 Deer Lake Lode Rd. Montgomery Tx 77316 936-647-1383 DeerLakeLodge.com

All natural, organic, resort and spa. Semi-fast juicing cleanse, raw food classes, yoga, life enhancement classes, and a variety of natural spa and salon services. See ad on page 36.

RAINWATER HARVESTING

REIKI CLAUDIA AUTRY, REIKI PRACTITIONER

THERMAL IMAGING SERVICES

We l c o m e t o y o u r transformation! Whether you are looking to change habits such as smoking or weight or looking to find better ways of relaxing and increasing the joy in your life, I can help you. I have a variety of modalities, including hypnosis, reiki, ThetaHealing and customized essential oil blends and affirmations which can be combined or used individually. Together we form a partnership for your growth!

No Compression, No Radiation, Painless. Digital Infrared Thermal Imaging or Thermography, creates images that illustrate heat patterns in the body. The thermal images are analyzed for abnormalities that may be signs of disease in the body. Thermography can be conducted onsite at your business through Thermal Imaging Services for Corporate Wellness. Locations in: Houston, Lake Charles, LA, Katy, Beaumont, The Woodlands, Tyler and Kingwood. Call for current schedule and to make an appointment. See ad on page 31.

(by appointment only) 281-849-4610 cautry@gmail.com ClaudiaAutry.com

METAL RAINTANKS

832-630-9556 MetalRainTanks.com

Every gardener will tell you rain is the best water for plants, and some would also like a backup water system in case of emergency. Still others are looking to use rain to meet all of their water needs.

Most of our tanks provide rainwater for irrigation, and automated irrigation controllers are designed to operate seamlessly with pumped systems.

Consider including a backup water supply for times of drought. Captured water can also be treated and used for drinking - check your local codes. Our rain tanks are made of stainless steel with no plastic or epoxy liner. Crafted in Houston, Texas. But what will a rain catchment system look like? Call or email today and let’s answer your questions.

RECONNECTIVE THERAPY TREY HUGHES, MA, LLC

PYSCHOTHERAPY/RECONNECTIVE HEALING Offices in The Museum District & Clear Lake 713-208-8837 TreyHughesHealing.com

Trey is a licensed professional counselor and re-connective healing practitioner with over 27 years of experience in the mental health field. His extensive work with adolescents and adults has taught him the importance of being genuine and down-toearth, and thus, he works best with clients who prefer a straightforward approach. In addition to having strong clinical skills as a psychotherapist, my recent training in re-connective healing has greatly added to my repertoire. This form of energy work is extremely powerful, often producing profound healing on all levels in just a few session.

Visit his website for more information. treyhugheshealing.com. See ad on page 2.

THERMOGRAPHY Angel Marlow, CNHP, CAHC, CCT 3300 Chimney Rock, Ste. 208 713-621-4406 angel@thermalimagingtexas.com ThermalImaingTexas.com

REIKI TRAINING REIKI MASTER JULIA CARROLL, PH.D. SCHOOL of HEALING ARTS 713-822-7380 julia@juliacarroll1.com JuliaCarroll1.com

Julia was the first Reiki Master in the State of Texas, has written 5 healing books and has had university based Reiki research published. She taught psychology at the University of Houston for 12 years and in addition to teaching and practicing Reiki also does counseling. Her education includes a post-grad degree in Art Therapy which she also teaches and utilizes in her healing practice. Julia teaches NUREIKI, which is an accelerated form of Reiki, incorporating both Reiki I and Reiki II in the same class. Her book, NU-REIKI ONENESS, is free to read on her website.

TRAINING PATRICIA J. CRANE, PH.D. AND RICK NICHOLS

Authors, speakers, trainers of Heal Your Life programs Patricia@heartinspired.com (800) 969-4584

HealYourLifetTaining.com/Teacher-Training HEAL YOUR LIFE WORKSHOP LEADER TRAINING. Become a licensed workshop leader in Louise Hay’s philosophy.

Complete manuals and materials provided plus follow-up. Cost includes hotel lodging in San Diego and meals. This training is approved by Louise and Hay House. October 22-29.

YOGA TAPPING THRIVE TAPPING.

Spectrum Center 2060 North Loop West, Suite 205 Houston, TX 77018.

HelenRacz.com

Using EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique) to create Thrive Consciousness with Helen Racz every Thursday Night 7-8:30 pm at the new Spectrum Center. EFT is a form of acupressure, based on the same energy meridians used in traditional acupuncture to treat physical and emotional ailments but without the invasiveness of needles. Claim your wholeness! How good can you feel? FREE, donations accepted. Spectrum Center at the Preserve 2060 North Loop West, Suite 205 77018 http:// spectrumcenter-houston.com/our-history/ map-and-directions/

natural awakenings

YOGA FOR MENTAL & PHYSICAL HAPPINESS

FACILITATED BY LIN WEISS, CERTIFIED YOGA THERAPIST INTEGRATIVE HATHA YOGA Saturdays @ 9:30am Bellaire, Texas 713.858.8595 linweiss@earthlink.net conscioushealingnow.com

Lin Weiss is the founder/owner of Yoga for Mental & Physical Happiness. Her passion for yoga is evidenced by her warm & personable teaching style.

Small classes afford individual instruction for students of any level, making progress attainable & real. Lin loves helping students use yoga to find balance & overcome limitations. Her classes are at the same time energizing, & relaxing, as she focuses on creating a supportive & joyful environment for her students.

Private sessions available by appt.

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Houston

www.NaturalAwakenings-Houston.com