Natural Awakenings-Houston June 2016 by Holistic Choice Publishing/Natural Awakenings Houston

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H E A L T H Y

P L A N E T

feel good • live simply • laugh more

CHOOSE HAPPINESS

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Tone + Om Bodybuilding Meets Yoga

Daily Practices for a Happier Life

Father Love How to be a Naturally Great Dad Gay Hendricks on

MAKING LOVE LAST

Emotional

SMARTS

n Housto rs Farme o r t e M uide G t e k r Ma ge 43 a p e d i Ins

How to Raise Your Quotient

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

June 2016

When Everything Else Has Failed

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contents 5

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.

5 newsbriefs 7 businessbriefs 16 HAPPY ALL DAY 9 healthbriefs Simple Daily Practices for a Happier Life 11 globalbriefs by Judith Fertig 19 consciouseating 23 healingways 19 FAST WHOLE-FOOD MUNCHIES 25 fitbody Tasty Homemade Alternatives 31 inspiration to Junk Food by Judith Fertig 33 wisewords 34 greenliving 23 TRESS STRESS 35 healthykids Natural Ways to Prevent Hair Loss 38 naturalpet by Jody McCutcheon 39 calendar 43 farmersmarkets 25 BUFF AND BALANCED 44 resourceguide Bodybuilders Turn to Yoga

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31 EMOTIONAL SMARTS How to Raise Your Quotient

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33 GAY HENDRICKS ON

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35 DAD MATTERS How to be the Father Kids Need

by Armin Brott

38 HOT DAYS ARE HARD ON PETS

How to Prevent, Detect and Treat Heatstroke by Shawn Messonnier

natural awakenings

June 2016

letterfrompublishers

reetings! This month’s Natural Awakenings themes are the interrelated ideas of happiness and the balanced man. As Thomas Merton wisely said, “Happiness is not a matter of intensity but of balance, order, rhythm and harmony.” But then what is balance? It means having a handle on the different parts in your life and not feeling like your head or heart are being pulled too hard in any direction. It results in feeling calm, grounded, clearheaded and motivated. Balance is both inner and outer. Focusing too much on either kind of balance misses the goal of becoming balanced as a person. Inner balance involves your head, heart and health. There should be times when you challenge yourself intellectually and times when you just let your mind rest. You need to both give and receive love. We know that prana enters the body through eating, drinking, breathing and exercise. The better we eat, drink, breathe and exercise the stronger our life force. Yet while the active aspect is vital, so is the inactive aspect of resting and giving ourselves an occasional well-deserved treat. Externally, there is work, social, family and—last but not least—fun. Balance is the middle ground between pushing to achieve those goals yet realizing that it isn’t all about goals and deadlines, but it is about enjoying the process as well. We all need to be with other people but we also need to take time to be alone. In our families, we should balance our responsibilities with setting healthy boundaries. Then there is fun. I firmly believe we don’t stop playing because we grow old but that we grow old because we stop playing; yet, as adults we know not to overdo fun so that we neglect our responsibilities. Let this month’s Natural Awakenings magazine be your guide to balance in all its forms. There are articles and events, tips and hints. There are some of the best services and products to help you stay balanced offered by our advertisers who are right here in Houston.

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

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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.

P.S. I will be speaking at Carmel Temple located at 1208 Pennsylvania Street in South Houston 77587 on Sunday June 5th at 11 am on Mary Ann Moore’s children’s story, “Hide-And-Seek With God”. Meet Cindy and myself after the service. See you there! 4

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

SUBSCRIPTIONS

newsbriefs

Tom Prasada-Rao Concert at Millbend Coffeehouse

Photography Exhibit Shines Spotlight on Mental Health May was Mental Health Month and The Health Museum is bringing awareness to the subject with an extraordinary exhibit on display through June 30. FINE LINE: Mental Health/Mental Illness is a documentary of voices, stories and portraits that confronts stereotypes and reveals the courage and fragility of those living with mental illnesses. Photographer Michael Nye spent four years photographing and recording stories. Schizophrenia, depression, obsessivecompulsive, anxiety and bi-polar disorders are among the experiences considered. In simple and eloquent detail, the 46 black-and-white portraits and voices draw viewers closer into each life by addressing and exploring many topics: family, confusion, pain, abuse, treatment and healing. FINE LINE: Mental Health/ Mental Illness is graciously sponsored by Houston Psychiatric Society, Drs. George and Cynthia Santos, Houston Behavioral Healthcare Hospital and Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences of McGovern Medical School at UT Health. The Health Museum is located at 1515 Hermann Dr. For more information, call 713-521-1515 or visit TheHealthMuseum.org.

Heal Yourself Through IMPROVED NUTRITION

LaZelle Bradley Holistic Nutritionist

281-440-3136

n Saturday, June 11 at 7:30 p.m., Millbend Coffeehouse presents in c o n c e r t , To m P ra s a d a Rao. Born in Ethiopia of Indian parents and raised in Washington, D.C., PrasadaRao is a musician’s musician and an unassuming presence on the folk scene since the early nineties. His voice belies his musicianship and his extraordinary songs. From Rishi’s Garden with its homage to Ravi Shankar to the groove of Sleeping Beauty, Prasada-Rao’s music is melodic, ambitious and reverent. He’s starting to tour again after being featured last year on the nationally syndicated TV show Troubadour Texas. From headlining major festivals 15 years ago, to the relative obscurity of a recording studio, Prasada-Rao continued to mature as an artist. That work blossomed into an impressive resume of producing credits as well as his songs covered by other artists. Singer/songwriter David Becker will open the evening. Recommended donation: Adult $20, attended children $4. Childcare is available with advance notice. Advance tickets for the concert are available at Millbend.org/tickets. Contact 936-499-9559 or 281-350-3052. Millbend Coffeehouse is a non-profit, smoke-free venue devoted to the promotion of national and local acoustic musicians, artists and poets. All proceeds, after expenses, are donated to area charities, selected by an audience vote at the door. The Coffeehouse is located at the Northwood’s Unitarian Church, 1370 N. Millbend Dr. in The Woodlands, two blocks west of I-45 and one block south of the Woodlands Parkway. A selection of gourmet coffees, herbal teas and desserts is available. Millbend.org.

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June 2016

Caterpillarland by Roxanne Beck.

oxanne Beck’s debut children’s book, Caterpillarland (Chakra 4 Publishing), Zen Master Thich Dieu Thien and Unive was released in 2015 to critical acclaim by spiritual luminaries such as Marianne Williamson and Michael Bernard Beckwith. Its central theme—about a secret world of caterpillars that don’t turn into butterflies because they’ve been brainwashed to think that they’re worms—is resonating with children and adults alike. It has drawn This program, directed by the Zen Master and facilitated by sen comparisons to classics such as Charlotte’s variety of games and activities to give youth and teens (grades 1 Web and The Velveteen Rabbit. very Sunday summer from June develop important life this skills that help them19to be m Marianne Williamson, New York to August 21, 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., successful in everyday life at home, scho Times No. 1 Bestselling Author of A the Universal Door Meditation Center Return to Love, says, “Caterpillarland is will be running its Summer Youth and a beautiful children’s book that speaks to In this Summer 2016, kids wi Teen Program. the child inside us all.” “Caterpillarland This program, directed by the Zen will touch the hearts of children and  The basic understanding and practice of Zen m Master and facilitated by senior students parents alike with wonderment, joy, and wisdom,” of mediation, utilizes a wide variety of stress and conflicts in everyday life states Michael Bernard Beckwith, author of Spiritual Liberation. And Neil games and activities to give youth and Landau, award-winning screenwriter of Tad The Explorer, Capture the Flag, and teens (grades 1-12) hands-on experience communication skills with peers and  a Improve Don’t Tell Mom the Babysitter’s Dead, adds, “Destined to be timeless classic.” to wake up and develop important life Beck, an award-winning screenwriter and voice actor, is available for readings skills that help them to be more happy, This program, by the and out faci and book signings at schools, libraries and conferences. Caterpillarland is available leadership skills weZen plan, carry  Develop stable, directed clear andas successful inMaster everyday on Amazon.com, BN.com and other retail sites. variety of life games and activities to give youth and te at home, school and everywhere.

SUMMER

Here comes the Summer Youth and Teen Program

develop important life skills thatto help teamwork awareness and ability w In this Summer 2016 program, kids More information is available at RoxanneBeck.com andIncrease Facebook.com/ will develop: the basic understanding successful in everyday life a Caterpillarland. Twitter: @roxannebeck1. and practice of Zen meditation to help  Develop a healthier relationship to electronics them handle stress and conflicts in thisit,Summer 20 the pros and cons, and when toInuse and whe everyday life; improve communication skills with peers and adults; develop “There are a lot Summerbasic activitiesunderstanding out there to choose from,and but thispractic is the only  of The as they plan, out they given them a lot of benefits leadership as well. I seeskills over time my kids arecarry less stressed, and in everyday wrap up guided projects; increase are more able to seestress the bigand picture toconflicts make more clear decision. A lot of life positive teamwork and ability to work ined possible just a few months ago.” - awareness S.N. LaZelle Bradley is a degreed Nutritionist, having and play well with others; andskills develop with a communication p  Improve graduated from the University of Houston. She “After being in the program, I see a big difference in my teenagers. When I talk w healthier relationship to electronics and derstand each other compared to before when they would just push away or just d has been in the nutritional field for 50 years technology— see present clearly. Master Thich Dieu Thien and Universal Door Meditation Center proudly leadership skills as we Sugges plan,  Develop and has seen many changes in our environment Register soon! Space is 281-565-9718 “There arelimited! a lot of summer activities which definitely affects our nutrition. Today, out there to choose from, but this is the the levels of toxins have increased to a record  Increase teamwork awareness and ab only one Universal I have seen thatDoor the kidsMeditatio enjoy, number. It is being said that one in two men and it has given them a lot of benefits 2619 Charles Lane, Sugar Land, T and one in three women will have cancer going a healthier to e  Develop as well. I see281-565-9718 over timerelationship my kids are less * www.universa forward and the gluten problem is a major cause stressed, they know how to focus better the pros and cons, and when to use it of ill health by blocking nutrition or assimilation. on homework and are more able to LaZelle became interested in food addictions and addiction to alcohol which the big picture to make more clear “There are see led her to get her substance abuse counseling license, but there were still some a lot of Summer activities out there to choose from, b given themdecisions. a lot of benefits as of well. I see over time myin kids are l A lot positive changes missing pieces. She later discovered the gluten sensitivity problem—not are gluten more able to see the Ibig picturenot to make clear decision. them that could havemore imagined intolerance—was being caused by foods. She put the pieces of the puzzle together ined possible just a few - S.N. possible justmonths a fewago.” months ago.” ~ S.N. with an herbal foods source she uses and by adding it to a healthy diet, the person “After in the program, I see a big difference in my teenage returns to balance! LaZelle worked with a clinical nutritionist from Canada whobeing For more info. visit UniversalDoor.org. derstand each other compared to before when they would just pu had discovered the same thing and who was sent home to die at 65 with diabetes. See ad on page 26. Register soon! Space is limited! 281-565She (I assume the nutritionist?) recovered fully. We must get the body fed. For more testing, LaZelle can help. Some labs are much better than others. Cravings for breads, alcohol, sugars, salt, smoking can be stopped and one’s health Universal Door returned without drugs or surgery. 2619 Charles Lane,

Introducing LaZelle Bradley, Nutritionist

MER

Call LaZelle at 281-440-3136 to schedule an appointment. See ad on page 5. 6

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businessbriefs Namaste Yoga Celebrated One Year Anniversary

N Why Am I Still So Sick and No-one Can Help?

oo little acid in the stomach causes digestive issues, but how does that manifest into more chronic health issues? Simple: a diseased gut allows bacteria, viruses, parasites, toxins, etc. to invade through the GI system. These survive due to the lack of stomach acid that would have destroyed them. After all, we don’t eat, breath or drink anything that’s sterile. Once inside the body—after years of abuse, smoking, too much alcohol, bad diet and cellular aging—they have the perfect environment in which to thrive…and keep thriving. Wi t h t h e s t a n d a r d m e d i c a l approach, once a chronic disease is diagnosed, everyone quits looking for the “why?” Why did the patient suddenly develop high blood pressure or diabetes? In the meantime, patients are placed on one or more drugs—each with their own side effects. Often, those sides effects are treated with more drugs, creating a viscous cycle. Next time, we’ll look at ways to break the cycle.

amaste Yoga, a boutique yoga studio conveniently located in the heart of the Energy Corridor, has just celebrated their one year anniversary. Offering a variety of yoga classes and styles to meet the needs of their community, the classes are small so there is an opportunity to develop a relationship with the teachers. There are classes for experienced yogis as well as first timers. Their schedule includes Ashtanga Yoga, Vinyasa, Slow Flow, Yin Yoga, Mindful Meditation, Kids and Prenatal Yoga and private classes. Special offerings include: The Yogi Book Club each Sunday from 5 to 7 p.m.; Mindful Meditation Kids Summer Camp, second session starting June 20; and their New Yogi Special of one month of unlimited yoga for $99 or two weeks of unlimited yoga for $69. Co-owners Gabriella White and Mario Alejandro Quijano say, “Our goal is to promote loving-kindness, selfacceptance, community building and mindful behavior as a universal language… As part of giving back to the community and doing ‘our bit,’ we have a Community Class every Sunday at 9:45 a.m.; we have been offering the class ever since we started as we believe everyone should have an opportunity to practice and enjoy yoga.” Stop by and try them out! Location: 1275 Eldridge Parkway, Houston, 77077. For more information, visit NamasteYogaHouston.com. See ad on page 47.

When Everything Else

Please see Dr. Bobbie Has Stowe’s ad, Failed page 2.

Have You Ever Had A Doctor Tell You It’s All In Your Head Or That They Can’t Find Anything Wrong With You?

Functional Medicine May Be The Answer.

natural awakenings

June 2016

lyv-na-ad-0416.qxp_p 4/8/16 9:29 AM Page 1

businessbriefs Introducing Dr. Stacey Delgado and the Mariposa Wellness Center

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r. Stacey Delgado absolutely loves being a chiropractor and is grateful to have the opportunity to assist her community in their journey toward optimal health. She was born and raised in Houston and attended Texas Chiropractic College in Pasadena, Texas, graduating in 2008, becoming board certified by the Texas Board of Chiropractic Examiners. She has been working in the chiropractic field for over 15 years and firmly believes that her experience, in both chiropractic and massage therapy, have been an advantage that has enhanced her ability to treat a vast array of neuro-musculoskeletal issues. She is excited to share her experience and passion for chiropractic to families in the Houston area, helping them to attain their health and wellness goals. Dr. Delgado established her practice, Mariposa Wellness Center, at the Edgar Cayce A.R.E. Houston Center because she prefers an alternative holistic approach to healthcare and feels that the services offered at the center compliment her practice for overall wellness of mind, body and spirit. While back pain is the number one symptom for patients to seek chiropractic care, Mariposa Wellness Center helps people with much more than their back. Schedule a complimentary new patient consult today to find out how chiropractic care can help get you on track to optimal health. Mariposa Wellness Center is located at 7800 Ameila, Suite 4, Houston. Call us at 281-846-4461. See ad on page 5.

www.NaturalAwakenings-Houston.com

healthbriefs

Medicinal Mushroom Heals HPV

New Ayurveda Spa Opens in Sugar Land Ayush Wave Ayurveda Wellness and Yoga is a new, alternative and holistic wellness center in Sugar Land. Their focus is on providing alternative therapies to chronic diseases using Ayurveda, the form of traditional medicine from India. Ayush Wave is owned by Shwetha Reddy, who has been practicing Ayurveda since 2006 in India and Europe. She has consulted over 2,000 patients to date. Before starting Ayush Wave, she worked as a Chief Ayurvedic Consultant at Kerala Ayurveda, Nurture Soul Therapeutics and at Baba Ram Dev’s Patanjali Ayurvedic center in Houston, Texas. She has completed Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery from Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Science, India, and Master of Science in Pharmacology from University of Hertfordshire, London. She is experienced in consulting chronic disorders and a board member of AAMA and NAMA. Her areas of interest include: Ayurvedic approach to hypo and hyper thyroidism, back pain, cervical and lumbar spondylitis, diabetes, weight management, gastric issues, insomnia, anxiety, migraine and sinus issues, allergies, arthritis. Ayush Wave will be opening its new facility in mid-July with full details in next month’s Natural Awakenings. Until then, contact Reddy and schedule an appointment with her. Ayush Wave Ayurveda Wellness and Yoga, 15263 Southwest Frwy., Sugar Land. Call 281-870-2772 or visit AyushWave.com for more information. See ad on page 44.

esearch from the University of Texas Medical School and Health Science Center has found that a medicinal mushroom extract may be able to eradicate human papillomavirus (HPV), a common sexually transmitted disease. Presented last fall at the 11th International Conference of the Society for Integrative Oncology, in Houston, the clinical study treated 10 women that tested positive for HPV with the mushroom mycelia extract called active hexose correlated compound (AHCC). The patients were given three grams of the AHCC once a day for six months or longer. Eight of them tested negative for HPV after the period, including three that were confirmed HPV-eradicated after stopping the AHCC treatment. The two other patients continued receiving the extract. A phase II clinical trial led by Dr. Judith Smith, a professor at the UT Medical School, will be conducted.

Omega-3s May Increase Risk of Prostate Cancer

esearch published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute has confirmed that high blood levels of DHA, EPA and DPA—three omega-3 fatty acids found in fish oil supplements—are linked to prostate cancer. The study from the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center tested 834 men with prostate cancer and 1,393 healthy men; they found that such high concentrations were associated with a 71 percent increased risk of more serious prostate cancer and a 44 percent increase in the risk of less serious prostate cancer. The overall increased risk in all prostate cancers was 43 percent. The findings of this study confirm similar research in 2011 and another large European study. “What’s important is that we have been able to replicate our findings from 2011,” says one of the more recent study’s authors, Theodore Brasky, Ph.D.

A Healing Collective

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June 2016

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ow testosterone levels can be problematic for men as they age. Fortunately, Mother Nature produces her own form of testosterone booster: the herb ashwagandha. Research published in the Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition tested 57 men between the ages of 18 and 50. They were divided into two groups—one was given 300 milligrams of the herbal extract twice a day for eight weeks; the other ingested a placebo for the same period. Both groups underwent supervised muscle training programs for the duration of the study. The men that took the ashwagandha had significantly higher levels of circulating testosterone compared to the placebo group. The ashwagandha group also experienced an increase in muscle mass in the chest and arms, yielding an average arm muscle size of 8.6 centimeters, compared to the placebo group’s 5.3 centimeters. Those men in the ashwagandha group also exhibited faster reductions of creatine kinase, a marker for the type of muscle fiber injury that occurs during strenuous exercise, following workouts.

www.NaturalAwakenings-Houston.com

globalbriefs Well Well

New Healthy Building Standard

Bye-Bye Dye

Mars and Others Abandoning Artificial Colors Mars Inc., the maker of many candies, chewing gum flavors and other food products, is phasing out artificial food dyes over the next five years. The decision came as a response to growing customer demand, says CEO Grant F. Reid. Nestlé, General Mills, Kraft and Kellogg’s have also started eliminating artificial dyes from their products due to calls for more natural ingredients. Common shades of red 40 and yellow 5 are presently ubiquitous, as per capita production of artificial coloring approved for use in food has increased more than five-fold since the 1950s. According to a study of supermarket labels by the Center for Science in Public Interest, an estimated 90 percent of child-oriented candies, fruit snacks, drink mixes and powders contain artificial colors, and many parents are concerned about their potential impact on developing brains. Several studies have scrutinized dyes’ possible link to attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and other effects on children’s behavior. When a study by a group of British scientists suggested a link between the consumption of certain food dyes and hyperactivity in kids, Europe and the UK began requiring food with artificial dyes to carry warning labels. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration continues to maintain that no causal relationship exists between color additives and hyperactivity in children, and doesn’t require warning labels.

The WELL Building Standard, administered by the International WELL Building Institute, is the world’s first development criterion to focus exclusively on human health and wellness. It marries best practices in design and construction with evidence-based medical and scientific research, harnessing the built environment as a vehicle to support human health and well-being. Pioneered by the Delos company and the culmination of seven years of research in partnership with leading scientists, doctors, architects and wellness thought leaders, WELL is grounded in a body of medical research that explores the connection between the buildings where people spend more than 90 percent of their time and the health and wellness impacts on occupants. It sets performance requirements in seven categories: air, water, nourishment, light, fitness, comfort and state of mind. WELL-certified spaces can help foster improvements in the nutrition, fitness, moods, sleep patterns and performance of occupants. WELL is independently certified by Green Business Certification Inc., which administers the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program and associated professional credentialing program. Source: Delos.com

Nature’s Metric

Rethinking All Aspects of Society The International Living Future Institute’s Living Future Challenge presents a bold new framework for rethinking how systems, products, buildings and communities are designed. Based on the elegant and profound architecture of its recent Living Building Challenge that cites nature as the ultimate metric for success, the Living Future Challenge is now branching out to influence aspects of society. The Living Community Challenge applies Living Building concepts to entire communities or cities; the Living Product Challenge asks designers and manufacturers to create net positive products; Net Zero Energy Building certification rates successful energy conservation in both new and existing buildings; Just becomes the social justice label for appropriately certified organizations; Declare confirms the merit of nutrition labels; and Reveal affirms a building’s energy efficiency status. Source: Living-Future.org

natural awakenings

June 2016

Buzz Benefactors More Retailers Ban Bee-Toxic Products

Amidst the growing pollinator crisis and due to public pressure, Aldi SĂźd, the German supermarket chain with stores in the U.S., has become the first major European retailer to ban pesticides toxic to bees, including the neonicotinoids imidacloprid, clothianidin and thiamethoxam, from fruits and vegetables produced for their

stores. Starting in January, Aldi produce suppliers have had to ensure their cultivation practices exclude eight pesticides identified as toxic to bees. Other retailers in the U.S. and Europe are also beginning to shun bee-toxic pesticides. Home Depot will no longer use the class of pesticides known as neonics on 80 percent of its flowering plants; completing the phase-out in 2018. Loweâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s is ending the sale of products containing neonicotinoid pesticides

within 48 months. Smaller retailers are also working on removing neonics and other toxic pesticides from their shelves. The science has become increasingly clear that pesticides, working individually or synergistically, play a critical role in the ongoing decline of honeybees and other pollinators. Bees in the U.S. and Europe have seen unprecedented losses over the last decade, and bee-toxic pesticides like neonicotinoids have consistently been implicated as a major contributing factor. Source: BeyondPesticides.org

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Swedes’ Solution

Six-Hour Workday Reaps Benefits Many Americans work 50 hours a week or more because they think they’ll get more done and reap the benefits later. However, according to a metastudy published in The Lancet, people that clock a 55-hour week have a 33 percent greater risk of stroke and 13 percent higher risk of developing coronary heart disease than those that maintain a 35- to 40-hour work week. Data from 25 studies that monitored the health of 600,000 people from the U.S., Europe and Australia for up to 8.5 years were analyzed. Paul Kelley, of Oxford University’s Sleep and Circadian Neuroscience Institute, notes that even a traditional nine-tofive workday is at odds with peoples’ internal body clocks, contributing to sleep deprivation. Now Sweden is moving toward a standard six-hour workday, with some businesses having already implemented the change. Linus Feldt, CEO of Stockholm app developer Filimundus, reports that the shift has maintained productivity while decreasing staff conflicts, because people are happier and better rested. Several Toyota service centers in Gothenburg that switched to a six-hour day 13 years ago also report happier staff, a lower turnover rate and increased ease in enticing new hires. A Swedish retirement home has embarked on a yearlong experiment to compare the costs and benefits of a shorter working day. Source: ScienceAlert.com

BACTERIA THAT

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June 2016

The Unexpected Meetings of Love by Petra Valica

ove can be a precarious thing. Whether someone is in a relationship or looking for one, love is something that all our hearts yearn for. Regardless of our culture, education, background or our economic condition, the desire for love is something the world has in common. We all want to be happy and love is one tool that helps us to lead a fulfilling life. Finding love, however, can be difficult, especially when we are searching for a spiritual connection. Many of us are finding that we want to go deeper and discover a partner who is living on the same vibrational plane

as we are. With spirit, finding someone changes the nature of dating. Opening our hearts to allow love to shine in, can be a scary thing in itself, never mind opening our souls. We are putting ourselves out into the world in order that another may feel some commonality with us. On top of all the challenges we face, this can be even more daunting in today’s world when connections have become largely virtual and online. Connection is key. How do we connect and find a spiritual partner, in a world where it seems we are becoming more and more disconnected?

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I was having coffee with a friend of mine and we were talking about connection and finding soulmates in today’s fast paced world. My friend (Karen) has been single for a couple of years, while I am in a new relationship. I alleged, that it was when I stopped looking for love, that love came knocking on my doorstep. It took me four years of being single and finding myself, before my heart was open enough for another to share in my space. Karen looked at me and smiled. Her story of love was different than mine. As a single mom of a beautiful young girl, she said that in one way she has all the love in the world right in front of her every day. She’s come to be grateful for the unconditional love she and her daughter share. However, like anyone, she hopes to one day have a partner to share in her life’s celebration and connect with on a deeper romantic

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and spiritual level. She’s looked for love in many places and wants to choose someone who shares her spiritual values. Not find, but choose. She said that love, like anything else, is about choice and in order to make that choice, one has to be very clear about what they want and not compromise. Finding a spiritual partner comes when we simply let go. Karen told me that she also believes that things happen in the time that they are meant to happen. Karen is still searching and decided she would open up to the virtual world. She has tried an array of online tools to help her find meaningful connection. I laughed when she said that it wasn’t until she picked up a copy of Natural Awakenings magazine that the Universe spoke to her. Flipping through the magazine, she came across “Natural Awakenings Singles” for conscious connections. She instinctively stepped outside her comfort zone and signed up. She said, “I wasn’t really expecting to find love, rather I just wanted to open up a channel of communication with likeminded people and the site seemed like a great tool. I think I found love because I didn’t expect anything.” Karen began a conversation

of spiritual meaning after finding a connection with a man from Europe. They instantly clicked and developed an ongoing relationship for a period of time. He even came to visit her in the U.S., where their online connection blossomed into a deeply intimate one. In the end, it didn’t work out, but she enjoyed the special year they shared together and still believes that things happen as they are meant to. Love can be found, even in our virtual world. Perhaps this world gives us the opportunity to find someone from a place we never imagined. Connection comes in all forms—we just have to step outside of our comfort zone to find it. When looking for love, keep these simple principles in mind. z Find love in yourself first and foremost. The more we love ourselves, the higher love we will find in return. z Celebrate your life as it is—today. Look for love around you that may not be of the romantic kind, but the love you have for a daughter, a father or a friend. This love can keep us in a higher vibrational state. z

Fo r g e t l o n e l i n e s s a n d l o v e

aloneness—yes, we all know that being single can be lonely. Instead of feeling alone, take this time to expand on your “you”. Enjoy the company of you and you’d be surprised at what hidden talents you may find. I was alone for four years before I found a partner, and in those four years I wrote a book. z Don’t expect and step outside your comfort zone—never expect that what you want is going to be exactly what you want. Karen found love online, which she never expected in a million years. She said that when she let go of expectation and stepped outside of her comfort zone, love came around. z Finally, embrace your choice. Keep your vibrational state high and don’t settle for less. This doesn’t mean that everything on your list needs to be ticked off. It merely means that you’ll find the love that vibrates on your current level of being. Petra Valica is the author of Sipping Green Tea and the Journey to Me, and an awakening coach, helping others to find their true Selves. For more information on her writings and coaching, write her a: Admin@PetraValica.com.

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June 2016

HAPPY ALL DAY Simple Daily Practices for a Happier Life by Judith Fertig

in the mind, he says, conscious selfobservation introduces a space between our perceptions and responses, allowing us to view our thoughts as separate from the person we really are. Complementary methods may include breathing techniques or body awareness that help shift us away from anxious, “What if?” speculations into the ever-present now. With just a few minutes of mindfulness a day—the first thing in the morning or at night before retiring—according to Verni, “We can shift our relationship to ourselves and our life experiences in a way that allows for greater spaciousness, acceptance and compassion, and in doing so, can dramatically improve the quality of our lives.”

Daily Joy at Home

hroughout the past decade, success researchers and positive psychologists have sketched out in broad strokes the big picture of our elemental yearning for happiness. According to Martin Seligman, Ph.D., and his colleagues at the University of Pennsylvania, in Philadelphia, inner happiness derives from four basic elements: positive emotion, relationships, meaning in life and accomplishment. What we want to know now is how to instill happiness into daily practices. In her latest book, Better Than Before: Mastering The Habits Of Our Ever yday Lives, happiness expert Gretchen Rubin fleshes out the needed details. She maintains that the shift into a happier way of being can be as simple as changing our habits, which she terms the invisible architecture of daily life. Rubin found, “We repeat about 40 percent of our behavior almost daily, so our habits shape our existence and our future. If we change our habits, we change our lives.” We can start small in sometimes surprising ways that encourage personal, family, workplace and community wellbeing.

Simplify—Exercise—Meditate

Israeli-born Tal Ben-Shahar, Ph.D., a former Harvard lecturer and author of the bestselling Happier: Learn the Secrets to Daily Joy and Lasting Fulfillment, 16

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had 854 students enroll in one of his pioneering classes on happiness in 2006, the highest enrollment for any class at the time. “Students explored ways to apply these ideas to their life experiences and communities,” he says. Today, he lectures and consults worldwide on the science of happiness, or “optimal being and functioning”. Ben-Shahar suggests we cultivate three personal habits. The first one is to simplify, saying, “We need to turn off our phones, email and other distractions at home, so we can fully be with the people we care about and that care about us. Time affluence—time to enjoy and appreciate—is a predictor of happiness.” The second is to exercise. “We were not meant to be sedentary,” he says. The third is to meditate. “Meditating helps us to develop extreme resilience to negative emotion.” Ken A.Verni, Psy.D., a clinical psychologist in Highland Park, New Jersey, endorses the importance of a mindfulness habit. In his new book, Happiness the Mindful Way: A Practical Guide, Verni outlines easy, step-by-step actions to form a new happiness habit that concurrently reduces stress and increases enlightenment. He starts with what he calls “compassionate attention”; being fully awake or present in our lives without judging what we’re thinking. When we view our thoughts as events

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Another way to improve the quality of our life is to reverse one habit. Shonda Rhimes, creator of TV dramas that include Grey’s Anatomy and Scandal, admits that she’s a driven, Type-A person in her new book, Year of Yes. A busy career in Los Angeles, three children and little leisure left her feeling unhappy, so instead of reciting her habitual, “No” to anything extraneous— like parties, eating chocolate chip cookies or spending a lazy afternoon chatting with an old friend—she decided to change that habit to, “Yes.” One of Rhimes’ most profound revelations occurred after she responded positively when her children asked her to play. She observes that kids don’t want that much from us and playtime rarely involves more than 15 minutes; when we give them access and attention, it makes everyone feel good. Rubin agrees that it’s the little things that can contribute to family happiness. As a New York City mother of two, she decided that she’d be happier if she knew she was creating family memories. She started regularly preparing “special occasion” family breakfasts, a relatively easy meal to customize. She says, “Studies show that family traditions support children’s social development and strengthen family cohesiveness. They provide the connection and predictability that people crave. I know that I enjoy a holiday more when I know exactly what we’re going to do and when we’re going to do it.”

Take the Secret Society of Happy People’s personal happiness inventory at Tinyurl.com/HappinessCheck. Tinyurl.com/ DefiningOurHappiness provides an introduction. Home for Matthieu Ricard, a biochemist turned Buddhist monk, could be a Nepalese monastery or a seat at scientific conferences around the world. As the author of Happiness: A Guide to Developing Life’s Most Important Skill, he defines happiness as a deep sense of flourishing that arises from an exceptionally healthy mind. “It’s not a mere pleasurable feeling, a fleeting emotion or a mood, but an optimal state of being,” he says. In order to nurture it, Ricard recommends taking some time each day for quiet reflection, noting, “The contemplative approach consists of rising above the whirlpool of our thoughts for a moment and looking calmly within, as if at an interior landscape, to find the embodiment of our deepest aspirations.” By cultivating attention and mindfulness, the cares of everyday

life become less burdensome. Such a spiritual practice of just sitting quietly for 10 minutes a day, observing the thoughts that randomly cross our minds, and then gently shooing them away, can be enormously beneficial, he says, as it helps us put things in perspective and aim for continuous calm.

Flipping the Switch

Changing thought habits to focus on the good things in life is an approach that works for clients of Mary Lynn Ziemer, a life coach in Estero, Florida. Ziemer suggests we “flip the switch” from negative thinking and make a habit of starting our day being positive and grateful for 10 minutes. She recommends we start by doing deep breathing— four seconds breathing in, hold for seven seconds, eight seconds breathing out—repeated four times. Next, we ask

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ourselves how we feel in the moment and identify the emotion, and then ask what thoughts we can think to feel better. The last step of the exercise is to frame a positive outlook in an affirmation, such as, “I am so grateful that I know I am doing the best I can and everything will work out. Everything is fine.” Ziemer adds, “Remember that happiness comes from love and takes you to a place of peace and calm. It is such emotions that beget success in relationships, health, supply, and clear purpose. Plus, it benefits everyone around you.”

Happiness Habits at Work

Dallas happiness researcher Shawn Achor, founder of Goodthink, Inc., and author of The Happiness Advantage, applies the science of happiness to the workplace. His research echoes the personal positivity of Ziemer, Verni and Ben-Shahar’s approaches to nurturing happiness. “Happiness is such an incredible advantage in our lives,” says Achor. “When the human brain is positive, our intelligence rises and we stop diverting resources to think about anxiety.” The Harvard Business Review published his research results: “Creativity

June 2016

HAPPIER IN JUST MINUTES n Journaling for two minutes about one positive experience we’ve had over the past 24 hours allows our brain to relive it. n Exercising, including 15 minutes of cardiovascular action a day, teaches our brain that our behavior matters and improves our mood. n Meditating for even a few minutes at a time relieves an overloaded brain and allows it to focus on one thing at a time. n Writing one quick email in the morning praising or thanking someone we work with or just to make them happy will make us feel a sense of social support, a great predictor of happiness. Source: The Happiness Advantage, by Shawn Achor

I have chosen to be happy because it is good for my health. ~Voltaire

from multitasking to simply focusing on their breathing. This drops their stress levels and raises accuracy rates. It improves levels of happiness and it takes just minutes.”

triples and productive energy rises by 31 percent. Sales rise by 37 percent and the likelihood of promotion rises by 40 percent.” Achor’s method is helping people rewrite the way they think by first looking for positives at work. Workers write down three highly specific, positive things about their workday for 21 consecutive days. Rather than just, “I love my job,” acknowledge, “I love my job because I get to help people every day.” Or, “I love my morning tea because it gets me going.” Achor reports that at the end of the period, “Their brain starts to retain a pattern of scanning the world not for the negative, but for the positive first.” Taking a work break for two minutes of mindfulness is also effective. “We did this at Google,” he says. “We had employees take their hands off their keyboards for two minutes a day to go

We can foster happiness habits at home, at work and in the community. Rubin suggests starting such a group, akin to a self-help book club or bridge group, but with extra benefits. She even offers a free starter kit for those that want to try it, available via Gretchen Rubin.com/habits/start-a-habits-group. In addition to the happy exchange of ideas and success stories, happiness habits group members also have the benefit of being accountable to each other. Others can help us continue to color in the details supporting and forwarding the broad brushstrokes of positive emotions, relationships, meaning in life and accomplishments in a down-toearth, fun way.

Happiness in the Community

Judith Fertig blogs at AlfrescoFoodAnd Lifestyle.blogspot.com from Overland Park, KS.

1 0 HABITS OF THE HAPPIEST PEOPLE by Kristi Ling

appy people don’t find happiness like you’d find a penny on the ground; they make it happen, with action. Cultivating happiness habits can make a marked difference in your life.

life move you to possibility, opportunity and gratitude.

4 Be deliberately optimistic. Optimism is imperative to emotional wellness.

4 Examine the worst that can happen. Many of the limitations you’re placing o n yo u r s e l f a r e n ’t r e a l — t h e y ’r e illusions.

4 Prioritize mindfully. Consistently align choices, intentions and actions with the top priorities of love, happiness and health.

4 Don’t make things personal. Absolutely nothing others say or do is about you, ever.

4 Keep uplifting resources on hand. A few surefire mood-lifters may include a green smoothie, mani-pedi and solo dance party to at least one get-your-feetmoving song by a favorite artist. 4 Put yourself first. It’s the best way to bring your A game to everyone else. 4 Be a prolific seeker. Seek beauty, joy, adventure, pleasure, growth and powerful meaning in all areas of life. Let 18

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4 Practice loving-kindness. Making this a habit changes the vibration of your life and the lives of those around you. Plus it feels great. 4 Be aware of your energy. Tune in to surrounding energy, as well as the energy you’re emitting and notice what needs to be adjusted or abandoned. 4 Be wary of media consumption. Limit messages in everything from email and news to books and music that take you away from the calm, open space within that revels in joy and wonder. Conversations count, too. Kristi Ling is the author of Operation Happiness: The 3-Step Plan to Creating a Life of Lasting Joy, Abundant Energy, and Radical Bliss. The life and business coach shares more at KristiLing.com/ operationhappinessresources.

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Fast Whole-Food

MUNCHIES Tasty Homemade Alternatives to Junk Food by Judith Fertig

lanning ahead is an effective key to healthy eating and weight management. Having healthy snacks available, both savory and naturally sweet, helps us to conquer cravings and avoid a sugar rush—or slump. Between-meal nutritious and delicious snacks can be easy to make. Plus, unlike commercial foods, we know their ingredients. Here, Natural Awakenings has tapped two plant-based whole foods experts and cookbook authors for their best snack recipes and tips. “Healthy happens when we’re prepared,” says Elise Museles, of Washington, D.C., the mother of two sons who writes at KaleAndChocolate. com/blog and recently released Whole Food Energy: 200 All Natural Recipes to Help You Prepare, Refuel, and Recover. “Nutritious is delicious; healthy doesn’t have to be bland and boring.” she says. Nor does it take hours to make.

“I pick one day a week to do meal prep,” she explains. “After a visit to our Sunday farmers’ market, I work in the kitchen for a few hours so I’m ready to go on Monday and for the rest of the week.” Whenever hunger threatens to derail her from a whole-foods, nutrient-dense diet, Museles is equipped with options like protein balls and carrot hummus. She’s also learned that having naturally sweet foods at hand helps divert cravings, realizing, “You just want a sweet thing more if you think you can’t have it. Plus, I think better when my blood sugar is stable.” Museles combines naturally sweet dried fruits such as goji berries and tropical coconut to make a handy snack mix. “Like blending smoothies, this basic trail mix can have many variations,” she says. She also suggests maintaining a well-stocked freezer. Museles freezes berries in season to pop in the blender for smoothies; pitted and peeled avocados

photo courtesy of Ella Leché/Andrews McMeel Publishing

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

Natural Awakenings recommends using organic and non-GMO (genetically modified) ingredients whenever possible. natural awakenings

June 2016

to thaw and mash over gluten-free toast; and frozen banana slices to layer over nut butter. Canadian Ella Leché, a mother of two daughters best known for her website PureElla.com/blog, is the new author of Cut the Sugar, You’re Sweet Enough cookbook. She came to a plant-based lifestyle in 2008 after a whole foods diet helped her overcome a chronic illness. Her blog documents her journey to wellness—one healthy change at a time. Leché, a graphic designer and photographer in Mississauga, near Toronto, started an elimination diet four months after the birth of her first child, when she noticed puzzling symptoms. “I started to make small changes and slowly but surely, I began to recover,” she says. Today her diet is 90 percent vegan and gluten-free. “I had a sweet tooth, but I didn’t have the balance thing figured out,” Leché admits. Foregoing sugar was hard emotionally, even though her body had difficulties with sugar, which seemed correlated to frequent headaches and mood slumps. Slowly, she started emphasizing naturally sweet, pure foods like dates and fruits and found other ways to ease cravings. “Starting the day with a savory, healthy breakfast can cut sugar from your diet because the sweet taste on our tongue essentially sets the brain into craving sugar,” she says. Leché enjoys involving her children in making snacks like healthy turnip or kale chips. When she gets a hankering for something sweet, she chooses her special cranberry and chocolate protein balls, sweetened with dried fruit and bolstered with almonds and walnuts. They take minutes to make and keep in the refrigerator for a week or in the freezer for up to three months. Having easy-to-prepare, whole food snacks on hand keeps families happily snacking on quick bites and on track with healthy eating. “It’s not a diet, it’s a lifestyle,” says Museles. “If you like recipes that are good for you, it’s a sustainable lifestyle.” Judith Fertig is the author of the awardwinning Back in the Swing Cookbook and blogs at AlfrescoFoodAndLifestyle. blogspot.com from Overland Park, KS. 20

Houston

Natural Quick Snack Recipes Raw Cheesy Kale Chips Yields: 2 servings Bunch of kale, stemmed 1 cup raw cashews, soaked in water for at least 2 hours ½ red or orange bell pepper 2 cloves garlic, peeled ¾ cup water Juice of ½ lemon 2 Tbsp nutritional yeast flakes ½ tsp sea salt Preheat the oven to 300° F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Make sure the kale leaves are thoroughly dry. Tear them into large pieces and place in a large bowl. Rinse and drain the cashews. In a food processor, process the cashews, bell pepper, garlic, water, lemon juice, yeast flakes and salt until a smooth paste forms.

Turnip and Beet Chips Yields: Up to 4 servings 4 turnips, peeled 4 beets, peeled ¼ cup grapeseed oil or other neutral oil 1 tsp sea salt Preheat the oven to 325° F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Slice the turnips and beets using a mandolin and place in a large bowl. Drizzle the oil over the vegetables, sprinkle with the salt and toss to fully coat. Bake for 15 minutes, turning over chips halfway through the baking time. Then lower the temperature to 200° F and bake for another 5 to 10 minutes, until golden. Source: Cut the Sugar, You’re Sweet Enough, by Ella Leché

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Toss the kale leaves in the paste to fully coat, and then place them on the baking sheet in a single layer; don’t overlap any. Bake for 15 minutes, then flip the leaves and bake another 10 minutes. Remove from the oven and cool for 5 minutes before serving. Note: Alternatively, dehydrate the kale leaves in a food dehydrator for 8 hours on a high setting (no need to turn them over). Source: Cut the Sugar, You’re Sweet Enough, by Ella Leché

Thermography Prevention vs Detection Superfood Trail Mix Yields: About 3 servings This trail mix is loaded with antioxidants. Pack up a mason jar and store it at the office or other work station or make individual serving packets to take along on hikes. ½ cup sunflower seeds 1 cup walnuts 1 cup goji berries ½ cup coconut flakes ¼ cup cacao nibs Mix all ingredients together in a bowl and store in an airtight container. Source: Whole Food Energy: 200 All Natural Recipes to Help You Prepare, Refuel, and Recover, by Elise Museles

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June 2016

Help for Migraine by Shwetha J. Reddy, BAMS, MS

Weather

igraine headaches are the exhaustive condition which costs the United States billions of dollars in healthcare treatment every year. Migraine prevalence peaks in middle life, between 30-50 years of age, and are three times more common in women than in men. Despite all the development in health care, migraines continue to be under diagnosed and under treated. Hence, the World Health Organization (WHO) ranks migraine as the world’s most disabling condition and categorized as chronic illness, and it is the medical and health problem of first magnitude. It is for this reason that I explore alternative approaches to help the condition using Ayurveda and its principles. Migraines are symptomized with intense pulsing or throbbing pain in one area of the head. Additional symptoms include nausea, vomiting, dizziness and hypersensitivity to both light and sound. People with migraine tend to have recurring attacks triggered by a number of different factors including stress, anxiety, hormonal changes, bright or flashing lights, lack of food or sleep and dietary substances. Although many medications are available for migraine, many people do not get the desired

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overeating of sour, salt pungent food that leads to excessive digestion and the accumulation of digestive wastes (Ama) in the intestines. This undigested Ama moves to the liver and blood, resulting in various pitta disorders. Balancing pitta will decrease all the symptoms expressed by Pitta aggravation. According to Ayurveda, Virechana, or laxative therapy, in suitable individuals is considered as effective therapy in eliminating the Ama accumulated in the digestive tract. Hence, Virechana is considered as the one, among the cooling down therapies, for migraine. However, Virechana should be carried out only for suitable individuals determined by an Ayurvedic practioner. Proper regimens of Nasya and Neti are also advised to drain out the toxins accumulated in the sinuses, which helps in relieving the symptoms. Different Pitta Dosha balancing aromas are advised for aromatherapy to decrease the effect of Pitta.

results from medication or do not like the side effects of those medications. This has led many people to explore alternative approaches for their migraine management. Ayurveda is one among the alternative health approaches that has helped many people with migraine headaches.

Migraine in Ayurveda

Charka Samhita classifies migraine as “Ardhavabhedhaka” which means “pain in the half portion of head”. Migraine leads to chronic exhaustion if left untreated. Ayurveda defines migraine as the condition that happens with excessive imbalance of Pitta Dosha (a Body Constituent) and focuses on balancing Pitta Dosha to help migraine sufferers.

Diet

People with Pitta Prakruthi, “Pitta dominant mind-body constitution”, have high Agni (Digestive Fire) in their body. They will have high fire element in their body—any Pitta-increasing activities like eating spicy food, spending too much time in the sun, alcohol, salt or spicy food, etc. When Pitta goes out of balance in the body, meaning the fire and water qualities are too high, it results in the

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Since Pitta is aggravated by hot weather, migraine sufferers are advised to stay away from hot climate and to avoid over exhaustion during the hottest part of the day as Pitta will be very high during that time. Studies have confirmed the increase in headaches with the increase in atmospheric temperature.

Yoga and Meditation

Regular yoga, exercise and meditation are the cornerstone for mind-body balancing. Ayurvedic lifestyle changes include proper yoga and meditation, along with weight management. Yoga and meditation teach simple relaxation techniques and have the powerful effect on the body and mind physiology. Many studies have concluded the decrease in the intensity and frequency of migraine attacks in individuals with the proper yoga and meditation along with proper sleep regimens. Many slow and Pitta calming asanas along with proper pranayama like “shitali” and “sitakari” are believed to decrease the heat from the head. Ayurveda recommends at least five minutes of pranayama in the morning and evening.

Ayurvedic Formulations

A recent study in 2010 from the International Journal of Ayurvedic

Research demonstrated a positive response to an Ayurvedic therapy in the treatment of migraine without aura. In this study, a protocol of Five Ayurvedic Formulations—Narikel Lavana, Soothashekara Rasa, Rasona Vati, Sithophaladhi Churana and Godhanti Mishran—with a regulated diet and Ayurvedic lifestyle for 90 days recorded 70.5 percent of the people showed decrease in headaches and 35.2 percent of individuals showed complete disappearance of headaches. Hence, concluding Ayurvedic approach as the powerful approach in the management of migraines.

healingways

Herb of the Month to Help Migraine: Tanacetum Parthenium

Feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium,) belonging to the family Asteraceae, is a daisy-like perennial plant found commonly in gardens and along roadsides. The name stems from the Latin word febrifugia, fever reducer also known as feverfew because of its feathery leaves. It is a short, bushy, aromatic perennial that grows .3 to 1mm in height. Its yellow-green leaves are usually less than 8cm in length, almost hairless and pinnate (chrysanthemum-like). Its yellow flowers bloom from July to October and are about 2cm in diameter. They resemble those of chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla), for which they are sometimes confused, and have a single layer of white outer-ray florets. This aromatic plant gives off a strong and bitter odor. Commonly called, feverfew seems to block the prostaglandins and influence the production of neurochemicals and helps in pain modulation. It acts as an anti-inflammatory and inhibits spam of blood vessels and increases the secretion serotonin. According to Ayurveda, feverfew is bitter in taste and cool in nature; thus, it decreases the Pitta. However, the administration of the herb has cautions and should be taken under professional guidance only. More research work is needed to justify the complete and detailed use and efficacy of the herb.

TRESS STRESS Natural Ways to Prevent Hair Loss by Jody McCutcheon

ncient Egyptians sought to stem hair loss and stimulate hair growth with a cocktail of iron oxide, red lead, onions, alabaster, animal fats and honey. Today, we’re still deploying creative approaches. Men’s hair loss, specifically, is a billion-dollar industry, touting solutions ranging from chemically laced topical treatments and drugs to transplants and wigs. Yet hairloss science is imperfect; it’s riddled with

misinformation that allows companies to sell products of varying efficacy. The average head holds about 120,000 to 150,000 strands of hair, and it’s normal for both men and women to lose 50 to 100 strands daily. We lose hair for several reasons. Chiefly, aging weakens hair and makes it more brittle; it also decreases hormone production, slowing hair growth. According to a study published in the Cleveland Clinic Journal

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June 2016

of Medicine, anything that interrupts the normal hair cycle can trigger diffuse hair loss. Triggers include physiologic trauma and emotional stresses, nutritional deficiencies, endocrine imbalances and illness, as well as genetics, including pattern baldness. Even air and water pollutants and sunlight’s phototoxic aging effects may facilitate alopecia (sudden hair loss). While it’s impossible to completely stop natural hair loss catalyzed by aging and genes, the rate can be controlled and abnormal loss may be reversed while stimulating growth. Dietary Changes. The typical North American fat-, protein- and salt-rich diet fosters an acidic environment in the body which can lead to premature hair loss. Iron-rich foods like lean red meats and dark green veggies contribute to ferritin levels sufficient to increase the hair’s growth cycle. Iron also delivers oxygen to hair follicles, further inciting growth. In a review of related research, the journal Clinical and Experimental Dermatology reports that double-blind data confirmed the findings of a study in women with increased hair shedding in which a significant proportion responded to l-lysine and iron therapy. Because hair is made mostly of protein, and protein deficiency is thought to cause hair loss, it would seem that consuming more protein would stimulate growth, although moderation is the key. Too much protein may result in baldness, according to Dr. Michael Eades, who owns ProteinPower.com. The American Heart Association recommends against high-protein diets because most Americans already eat more protein than they need.

Omega-3 fatty acids found in fish, shellfish, nuts and seeds and their oils can facilitate the production and action of hormones and oily lubricants that effect a healthy scalp and follicles and bouncy, shiny hair. A-complex and B-complex vitamins also are said to promote vibrant, shiny hair; B12 to neutralize premature hair loss; vitamin C and zinc to help strengthen hair; biotin to avoid hair loss and premature graying; vitamin D to facilitate healthy follicular growth; and vitamin E to maintain a healthy, moisturized scalp. Eating whole foods like organic eggs, lentils, spinach, red meat, pumpkin seeds and salmon is ideal, including plenty of fruits and vegetables for vitamins and minerals. Most vegetable skins are also rich in silica, which helps strengthen hair. Drink More Tea. Green tea, saw palmetto (or its extract) and stinging nettle tea contain ingredients that inhibit the conversion of testosterone into dihydrotestosterone (DHT), a compound that’s been linked to thinning hair and pattern baldness, according to Medical News Today. These products are used in battling some forms of alopecia and concentrated ingredients of these teas are available in pill form. Detox. Eliminating alcohol, tobacco and coffee can help. Excessive booze and caffeine lead to dehydration, which makes hair dry and brittle, and also dramatically depletes the body’s iron and zinc levels. Cigarette smoke contains toxins that accelerate hair loss, as well as premature graying. Chill Out. Stress is a widely known factor in hair loss, specifically of a condition called telogen effluvium (Principles of Dermatology, by James Marks and

Jeffrey Miller). Meditation and exercise can relieve stress and create a better hormonal balance, thereby helping to prevent alopecia. Massage of body and scalp also may be beneficial. Adding oils such as almond or coconut infuses the scalp with essential vitamins and minerals. A study by the Journal of Dermatology shows that applying onion juice can lead to hair growth. Treat hair gently, air-drying rather than rubbing it with a towel. Don’t Fake It. Using extensions and weaves or wearing tight wigs or hairpieces daily may damage hair follicles by stressing their anchor to the scalp, accelerating hair loss. Also, hair straighteners, tight pony tails, blow dryers and heated rollers may damage or break off follicles. Consider natural hair dyes.

Eschew Shampoo. Most commercial shampoos contain sodium laurel sulphate (SLS) or sodium laureth sulphate because it’s inexpensive, lathers well and typically thickens hair via salt. SLS also corrodes follicles and impairs their ability to grow hair. Consider switching to organic shampoos and conditioners. Jody McCutcheon is a freelance editor in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

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Buff and Balanced Bodybuilders Turn to Yoga by Aimee Hughes

e don’t typically envision ironpumping bodybuilders also flowing and breathing through yoga postures, yet many are combining these complementary disciplines to realize huge benefits.

Competitive Edge

Nicolina Sandstedt, a yoga teacher trainer and anatomy expert with the Yandara Yoga Institute, in Baja, Mexico, observes, “The body awareness and alignment focus that the practice of yoga asanas [positions] offers helps bodybuilders find correct posture. Yoga also teaches elegance in transitions that improve competitive posing.” Peter Nielsen, a bodybuilder, yoga practitioner and world-class fitness guru in Detroit, observes, “Most bodybuilders haven’t fine-tuned their presentation. They often grimace and look uncomfortable, with their veins popping out.” He points out, “Yoga helps teach bodybuilders how to slow down, breathe into each posture and ultimately win posing competitions because of the grace, elegance and body awareness that yoga provides.”

Injury Prevention

Joseph Grassadonia, bodybuilder, yoga enthusiast and founder of On Fitness

magazine, in Kahuku, Hawaii, cites additional benefits: “Incorporating yoga into your workout routine improves your core, giving you overall body strength in specific targeted muscle groups. It also increases flexibility, stability and mobility, allowing greater range of motion. Most importantly, it will keep you from being sidelined with injuries.” “Stretching a muscle can make i t m o r e a e s t h e t i c a l l y p l e a s i n g ,” remarks Sandstedt. “In yoga, we often hold postures for a relatively long period of time, in a more isometric endurance workout, than the short, repetitive movements performed in bodybuilding. Bodybuilding develops fast-twitch muscle fibers for power and speed, while yoga develops slow-twitch muscle fibers for endurance. Both are important for tissues to stay healthy while building muscle mass.” Nielsen notes, “Bodybuilding makes me feel stronger; I look better and have loads of endurance. Yoga makes me feel more centered; it softens me so I can hear and surrender to what my body is telling me rather than me just telling it what to do.” Such listening is essential to preventing injuries that periodically plague bodybuilders. Slowing down into yoga’s present moment awareness teaches bodybuilders how to perform from a place natural awakenings

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COMPARING BENEFITS Yoga

of presence rather than on autopilot, which is when most injuries occur. “Yoga works all the muscles, even the smaller, intrinsic muscles often neglected in bodybuilding,” Sandstedt says. “In addition to facilitating healthy posture, these small muscles help support balanced joint alignment.” She explains that the explosive, repetitive movements used to build muscle mass in bodybuilding make the muscles less elastic, which also inhibits range of motion. Less elastic muscles may be more prone to injury, as daily activities require both strength and mobility.”

Beginning Yogis

For bodybuilders that want to give yoga a shot, Nielsen advises trying a structured, 30-day yoga challenge. He sees how after the first month with his clients, the positive effects become apparent and most bodybuilders don’t want to go back to life before yoga.

Stretches and lengthens muscles while relieving tension

Shortens and builds muscles while building tension

Moves prana (life force energy) throughout the body, boosting energy levels and mental sharpness after a session

Expends energy, sometimes ending in muscle fatigue and mental exhaustion

Improves oxygenation of the circulatory system, providing energy and invigoration

Improves muscle oxygenation, which helps growth and repair functions

Tones muscles gradually

Builds muscle strength rapidly and enhances the toning aspect of yoga

Involves the body, mind and spirit

Primarily involves the physical body

Accessible to every age group

Not accessible for the very young and very old

Promotes body confidence through self-acceptance

Promotes body confidence through a fixed physical aesthetic

Prevents injuries through body awareness and helps heal injuries through yoga therapeutics

Can cause injury absent preventive awareness

S a n d s t e d t o f f e r s , “ I a dv i s e newcomers to incorporate a light yoga routine into the beginning and end of each bodybuilding training session. Ending training sessions with a few yoga postures will help balance the body, bringing a sense of calm and equanimity to the workout experience.” “In my fitness career, I’ve found that yoga perfectly complements any strength training program as a

form of stretching, flexibility and de-stressing,” says Nielsen. “Yoga focuses me, and helps me to isolate whatever muscle I choose. It helps me reach my fullest potential and simply makes me a better version of myself.”

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Aimee Hughes is a doctor of naturopathy and freelance writer in Kansas City, MO. Connect at ChezAimee@gmail.com.

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Don’t Get Ticked Off

Natural Ways to Avoid and Treat Lyme Disease by Linda Sechrist

n 1977, two Yale School of Medicine scientists identified the infected blacklegged deer tick carrying the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi as the disease-transmitting organism of Lyme disease. Since 1982, this most commonly reported vector-borne disease in the U.S. has gained notoriety, with its own resource book, Disease Update: Science, Policy & Law; research center (Columbia-Lyme.org/index.html); International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society website, ilads.org; Lyme Times print journal (LymeDisease.org); and national informational organization, the Tick-Borne Disease Alliance (TBDAlliance. org). The surge of activity appears justifiable. According to scientists at the Centers for Disease Control, approximately 300,000 cases are diagnosed annually in this country alone. Amy Tan, author of The Joy Luck Club, is a posttreatment Lyme disease patient and co-founder of LymeAid 4Kids (Tinyurl.com/LymeAid4Kids) that funds the diagnosis and treatment of uninsured children with Lyme. She disagrees with physicians that downplay late-stage cases and insist that the disease is cured with a simple round of antibiotics, as does Katina Makris, a classical homeopath from New Hampshire and host of Lyme Light Radio. After experiencing mysterious symptoms, Makris spent five years suffering from debilitating symptoms familiar to individuals with Lyme—undiagnosed, relapsing fevers, lingering fatigue, joint pain, headaches, neurological symptoms and cognitive impairment. “Then I finally began my 10-year healing journey,” she says. Her book Out of the Woods: Healing from Lyme Disease for Body, Mind, and Spirit, is a

recovery memoir and resource guide for alternative medical, emotional and spiritual support. Lyme evades detection by standard blood tests for bacterial antigens and antibodies. “The ELISA [enzyme-linked immuno assay] test is only accurate between two weeks and two months after the bite,” says Makris, who notes that the Western Blot test is somewhat more accurate, while the IGeneX Laboratory test is superior. She believes the best laboratories for testing are Clongen Laboratories and IGeneX Laboratory Services. Dr. Richard Horowitz has treated more than 12,000 Lyme disease patients as medical director of the Hudson Valley Healing Arts Center, in Hyde Park, New York. The author of Why Can’t I Get Better? Solving the Mystery of Lyme and Chronic Disease raises another red flag regarding detection. Testing for coinfections frequently transmitted along with Lyme is unreliable. Horowitz, who will conduct a workshop with Makris at New York’s Omega Institute for Holistic Studies, in Rhinebeck, and online, from June 26 to 28, counsels that antibiotics are not effective because they don’t address all of the infecting organisms now frequently found in ticks. Stephen Harrod Buhner, of Silver City, New Mexico, an independent scholar and citizen scientist and author of Healing Lyme Disease Coinfections, says that the bacteria have jumped species and found new hosts that live in habitats formerly occupied by wild animals: “They have learned to exist in humans and are teaching each other how to resist antibiotics and more easily infect us. What they do together in the body is a great deal more complex than what they do alone, making them difficult to treat. Bartonella species utilize the immune system of whatever mammal they infect as part of their infection strategy. Any existing inflammation in the body, such as arthritis, facilitates the growth of Bartonella.” The weaker or more compromised one’s immune system, the more likely a debilitating course of illness will occur. An improved immune system can identify the outer membrane proteins of the offending bacteria and create countering antibodies in four to eight months. “Once the immune system creates the proper antibodies, the bacteria are then eliminated fairly rapidly,” advises Buhner. Makris is grateful that she saw a nutritionist trained in functional medicine. “He worked slowly and methodically to reduce the inflammation, build up my immune system and restore my digestive, endocrine and nervous systems before killing the bacteria and opening up natural detoxification pathways to flush out the bacteria and their endotoxins. We used weekly acupuncture appointments, good nutrition and homeopathic formulas, plus various herbs, vitamins and mineral supplements,” says Makris. Ticks in high-vegetation areas wait for a passing host. To avoid these hitchhikers, wear light-colored long pants tucked into socks. A shirt should also be tucked in. Later, strip down and search hair, underarms, legs, behind the knees and ears, and in the belly button. As commercial tick repellants contain toxic ingredients, a targeted mixture of topically applied, therapeutic-grade essential oils is preferred. Linda Sechrist is the senior staff writer for Natural Awakenings.

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June 2016

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After stays in guesthouses and hotel rooms, a tiny house felt spacious, so I decided to build my own as a home base.

THE TEENY-TINY VACATION OPTION Mini-Dwellings Make Travel a Lark by Avery Mack

Tiny vacation cottages offer a simple, cozy setting for taking time off together and spell crazy fun—a huge improvement over sterile motel rooms.

ost of us are oriented to a typical American house averaging 2,300 square feet, making it a childlike hoot to step into the petite footprint of a tiny house one-tenth the size. Vacation rentals of “tinies” are available nationwide in all shapes and styles—including treetop aeries. Tree houses range from rustic to luxurious. Marti MacGibbon and her husband, Chris Fitzhugh, spent a romantic weekend at the Out ‘n’ About Treehouse Resort, in Cave Junction, Oregon. “The Peacock Perch is a favorite,” says MacGibbon. “It also helps me overcome my fear of heights.” In Hawaii, Skye Peterson built a tree house from recycled materials in five native ohia trees outside Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park. The eco-friendly, solar-powered, passive-energy vacation home enchants guests with firelight at night and breakfast in the morning. For those that prefer ground-level vacationing, glamorous camping, or glamping, offers an outdoor experience with the comforts of home. Yellowstone

National Park’s Yellowstone Under Canvas has summer options for every budget through September 7, including an onsite gourmet restaurant. Tipis offer the basics, while a roomier safari tent adds a wood-burning stove with complimentary firewood. A deluxe suite with private bath sleeps a family with king-size and sofa beds. All face majestic views of mountains, water and wildlife. Rustic Karenville, eight miles from Ithaca, New York, isn’t on any map. Owner and builder Karen Thurnheer and her husband, Robert Wesley, live in a 270-square-foot cabin amidst a small village of tinies next to the 9,000acre Danby State Forest. The little buildings don’t have running water; some have woodstove heat, electricity if the generator’s running and there’s a composting outhouse. “The houses are silly and fun,” she says. “There’s fresh air and at night a million stars.” Sarah and John Murphy welcome travelers to enjoy urban life with amenities in the heart of Music City via Nashville’s tiniest guest house. With a natural awakenings

photo courtesy of Pat Capozzi

~Lauren Juliff, professional travel blogger complete kitchen and bath, conditioned air and Wi-Fi, its 200 square feet can accommodate four. Rhode Island’s Arcade Providence historic shopping mall took a hit from Internet shopping. Now it’s vibrantly alive as micro-apartments (bedroom, bath and kitchen in 300 square feet) fill the second and third levels, while first-floor stores cater to residents and destination shoppers. The “no vacancy” sign is regularly posted for apartments acting as dorms or pied á terres. On the West coast, near the 150-acre Lily Point Marine Park, in Port Roberts, Washington, a secluded gingerbread cottage affords a gas fireplace, solarium and upstairs deck for viewing wildlife. “It’s relaxing and romantic,” says owner Pat Capozzi. Artsy and trendy, Caravan is the first tiny hotel in the United States. Since 2013, guests have enjoyed a choice of its six tiny houses in Portland, Oregon’s Alberta Arts District. Simple-living students, retirees and even families with small children and pets are embracing the concept longer-term. “The best part,” says Macy Miller, a Boise, Idaho architect who built her own tiny of recycled materials at a cost of $12,000, “is no mortgage.” To avoid local minimum-size zoning requirements, her house is mounted on a flatbed trailer. The 196-square-foot space is also home to her boyfriend James, toddler Hazel, and Denver, a 150-pound great dane. Recently, Miller blogged, “I’m designing what may be the first tiny nursery as we expect baby number two!” As Thurnheer observes, “There are lots of silly people like me who love living tiny.” Connect with freelance writer Avery Mack at AveryMack@mindspring.com. June 2016

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The Hidden 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.

Causes of Iodine Deficiency

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

A toxic chemical found in baked goods overrides iodine's ability to aid thyroid

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

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.

What to Do The easy solution is taking the right kind of iodine in the right dosage to rebalance thyroid function and restore health to the whole body.

inspiration

missteps in taking future actions. They never see failure as permanent or a personal reflection of themselves. Look for ways to make life more fun, happy and interesting. At work, at home and with friends, high EI people know what makes them happy and look for opportunities to expand the enjoyment. They receive pleasure and satisfaction from seeing others happy and fulfilled, and do whatever they can to brighten someone else’s day. Expend energy wisely. High EI folks don’t hold onto anger over how others have treated them, but use the incident to create awareness of how to not let it happen again. While they move on and forgive, they don’t forget, and are unlikely to be taken advantage of again in the same set of circumstances.

Emotional Smarts

How to Raise Your Quotient by Harvey Deutschendorf

he role of emotional intelligence (EI) in helping to facilitate success and happiness in individual lives has become well accepted. People with high EI tend to share seven habits. Focus on the positive. While not ignoring bad news, EI people have made a conscious decision to not spend much time and energy f o c u s i n g o n p r o b l e m s . R a t h e r, they look at what’s positive in a situation and seek solutions. They focus on what can be done and what’s within their control. Associate only with positive people. High EI people regard complainers and negative people as energy drains. They tend to avoid them to maintain their own vitality. Instead, they spend time with those that look on the bright side of life. They tend to smile and laugh and attract other positive people. Their warmth, openness and caring attitude leads others to regard them as more trustworthy.

Set boundaries and assert a position. Although their friendly, open nature may make them appear as pushovers to some, people with high EI are able to set boundaries and assert themselves when necessary; they demonstrate politeness and consideration, yet stay firm. High EI people guard their time and commitments and know when they need to say no. They don’t make needless enemies. Their response to potentially volatile situations is measured, not inflated, and managed appropriately. They think before speaking, allowing themselves time to calm down if their emotions start to feel overwhelming.

Always learn and grow. High EI people are lifelong learners, constantly growing and evolving. Being critical thinkers, they are open to changing their minds if someone presents a better idea. They trust themselves and their own judgment to make the best decision for themselves. Harvey Deutschendorf is an emotional intelligence expert, speaker and author of The Other Kind of Smart. Take the EI Quiz at TheOtherKindOfSmart.com/ei-quiz.

Life isn’t about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself. ~George Bernard Shaw

Practice forward thinking and willingness to let go of the past. People with high EI are too busy thinking of future possibilities to dwell upon things that didn’t work out in the past. They apply lessons learned from past natural awakenings

June 2016

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Gay Hendricks on Nurturing Love in Midlife Why Growing Up Can Mean Loving Better by S. Alison Chabonais

ay Hendricks and is that people in the his wife, Kathlyn, second half of life tend have discovered to be open to learning through working on their and trying new things, own relationship and such as adopting our counseling hundreds practice of scheduling of other couples that two, 10-minute the time from midlife conversations a week to onward offers the greatest take care of relationship opportunity of any other business: one covers period to grow love. At “stuff talk”, the other a mutual low point, they is “heart talk”. Often, made the life-changing it only takes a few decision to rebirth their minutes of trying out a marriage, tapping into brand-new activity to a new source of energy spark a major rebirth of Gay Hendricks and and rejuvenation that’s intimacy. his wife, Kathlyn producing extensive and surprising benefits. The Ojai, California-based couple, How pivotal is self-love, a both with Ph.D. degrees, co-authored tough concept for many, their first trailblazing bestseller, Conscious in securing a healthy Loving, more than 20 years ago and have relationship? published 30 other books, including their You can only love another person to the latest, Conscious Loving Ever After. The extent that you love yourself. After we Hendricks Institute that they founded take people through a process designed annually offers workshops and seminars to give them a clear experience of loving in North America, Europe and Asia. Their themselves unconditionally, they often nonprofit Foundation for Conscious Living tell us that the experience changed funds research, films and scholarships everything in their relationship. It’s powerful because so many of us enter a related to relationship well-being. relationship in an attempt to get the other person to love some part of ourselves Why do you say the best that we don’t know how to love, which relationships are possible never works. Learning to love ourselves in the second half of life, is an inside job. including the greatest sex? Childrearing responsibilities often decrease in our 40s and 50s, affording more time and resources to invest in the quality of the relationship. Psychological and spiritual maturity also comes into play—the more deeply we know ourselves, the more able we are to communicate meaningfully with our partner. Probably the biggest factor

What would you say is the biggest challenge for midlife couples in a longterm relationship? It’s vital to get out of the rut of recycling conflicts and predictable routines in order to liberate a new creativity. Creativity doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive. It might be a matter of giving natural awakenings

a new way to communicate a whirl or taking a walk together instead of watching TV. Ultimately, relationships only thrive when both people make an ongoing commitment to investing time and energy to explore their own creative nature. One may elect to learn to play a musical instrument, while the other might take up gardening. The only requirement is that we take on new activities that have the capacity to surprise us.

What tips do you have for those that are single during the second half of their life? Enjoy your singularity! Singlehood affords great opportunities. You can choose whether or not you wish to invest time and energy manifesting a mate. No law requires that everyone has to have an intimate relationship, but if you’d like to, go about the process consciously. First, work on learning to love yourself, because it’s wise not to depend on anyone else to do it for us. Second, figure out what we call your Three Absolute Yesses and Nos, the three most important qualities you want in a mate, and equally important, the three most important things you don’t want in a mate. It’s a good way to avoid mistakes.

Why do you call blame “the crack cocaine of relationships”? When you blame another person for something, you fire up adrenaline both in yourself and the other person. Adrenaline is manufactured by our bodies and is highly addictive. Blame also typically produces a defensive reaction, causing a harmful cycle of two-way criticism and defensiveness that can go on for years. One couple we counseled had been having essentially the same argument since their honeymoon 29 years earlier—so addicted to the adrenalized “cocaine” of blame that it had become a permanent feature of their relationship. The answer is for each person to take healthy responsibility for issues in the relationship and together seek ways to both break unhealthy habits and replace them with mutually satisfying ways of relating. S. Alison Chabonais orchestrates national editorial content for Natural Awakenings magazines. June 2016

greenliving

DITCH THE HOTEL Frugal Lodging Options from AirBnB to House Swapping by Avery Mack

ravel is changing as vacationers i n c r e a s i n g l y va l u e u n i q u e experiences over standard tourist fare. In addition to the option o f c o u ch s u r f i n g ( Ti ny u r l . c o m / CouchsurfingAdventure), more people are making the most of house rentals, swapping and sitting, plus various home stays via Airbnb (Airbnb.com). All expand options for affordable journeys tailored to their needs. AirBnB accommodations range from private studios to family-sized homey spaces, encompassing tiny houses, treehouses, geodesic domes, yurts, container cars, caves, lighthouses, working ranches, castles and luxury carriage houses. With 2 million listings for 34,000 cities in 190 countries, 600 million people have found their ideal getaway through the San Francisco-based company since it launched in 2008. Published feedback, including comment books at the rental sites, provides assurance for visitors. When hosts aren’t on the premises, they are available as needed by guests. Mary Bartnikowski, publisher and photographer at Vagabond Travel

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Photography Magazine (VagabondTravel Mag.com), has visited 32 countries so far, staying in homes, ashrams, temples, boats and apartments. “My best AirBnB rental was camping for two weeks in a Hawaii home garden next to a big tree; my host forgot to mention the big, friendly dog,” she says, recalling an unexpected wake-up greeting. Hosts find providing rentals a way to monetize unused space, meet new people and showcase their area. Beth Everett, an Oregon author, offers an AirBnB detached backyard studio space. “We moved from New Jersey to Portland two years ago, and the extra income lets me stay home to write,” she says. House swapping is another option for soaking in local color. Preparation is key and includes a notebook’s worth of helpful details shared in advance, as well as onsite. Most exchanges involve a series of Skype sessions for questions and answers. Leasa Sanders McIntosh, an executive recruiter, swapped her Denver home for a month in Kona, Hawaii. “We traded cars and joked that we even traded cats. We swapped three times

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before they moved to the mainland.” This summer, she’ll swap to be at the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. Susan May, an established advocate of organ donation from Cartersville, Georgia, traded homes and cars to take her four teens to Europe. “We visited 13 countries, spending two weeks in Wales and three in Germany. We saw fireworks in Paris on Bastille Day and joined the Highland Games, in Scotland,” she says. “I want our family to be more than just tourists passing through Westernized hotels with no real contact with local folks. Exchanging homes is an ideal way for a family to travel inexpensively.” Housesitting fan and senior technical recruiter Rachel Burke, of Santa Monica, California, has stayed for free in London, Cape Cod and Palm Springs, California, using TrustedHouseSitters. com. “This way, homeowners can travel without leaving pets in a kennel while unpaid housesitters avoid hotel expenses and gain a chance to be a native in a different location,” she says. “Last year, I watched a five-story home in a London suburb while the owners visited Portugal for three weeks.” She shares shots of her favorite spots at Tinyurl.com/ FunLondonPhotos. Burke combines housesitting with AirBnB by renting her apartment when she travels. “A couple of years ago, I paid $1,800 for a two-week trip to Thailand and charged $125 a night for my apartment, making my trip to Thailand free,” she relates. Burke lives near the Santa Monica Pier, Venice Beach and Hollywood, all prime destinations. With 50,000 listings in 150 countries, Homestay.com tweaks the AirBnB experience in that hosts are more involved in their guests’ local adventures. Cuba currently tops desired destinations for U.S. travelers, with most rentals in the capital, Havana, the nearby artistic enclave of Trinidad or rural Vinales. Many hosts arrange airport transfers, tours, visits to attractions, bicycle rentals, restaurant reservations and transportation to other Cuban locales. Hosts usually speak several languages, including English, and may even teach guests to play Cuban-style dominoes. Eco-friendly homestays are available, too, ranging from a private Nicaraguan

island independently powered by solar panels and a Spanish farmhouse off the grid to an organic farm in Thailand or eco-lodge in South Africa. An Austin, Texas, listing notes, “Everything is reclaimed, recycled or repurposed. We have an infused honey business. We’re laid-back and practice good karma and a healthy, drama-free lifestyle.” Homestay’s average nightly rental is $46. While some guests are students, the majority are 35 and older, vacationing on substantial salaries; they simply prefer the local color. Vacations needn’t be expensive, but they should be memorable. The biggest challenge may be deciding where to go first.

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Connect with freelance writer via AveryMack@mindspring.com.

BUDGET TRAVEL TIPS by Avery Mack

ick Steves, host of the long-running Public Television series Rick Steves’ Europe and Edmonds, Washington, bestselling author of 40 European travel books, encourages Americans to travel as “temporary locals”. Here’s some of his helpful advice. 4 Start by searching HomeExchange. com, HomeLink.org and IntervacHomeExchange.com for listings, tips and assistance.

4 Contact the host well before the trip. Be clear about what’s expected and what to do if there’s a hiccup. Triple check the key’s location and how to open the door, including any alarm system. Agree on phone and Internet charges. 4 Share information on where to shop and instructions for appliances and maintenance services. Ask about any quirks a loaned car might have and make sure insurance covers another driver. 4 Information about local sights and good restaurants is appreciated. Source: Adapted from RickSteves.com

DAD MATTERS

How to be the Father Kids Need by Armin Brott

merican fatherhood has evolved considerably in the last 50 years. While dads used to be kept out of the delivery room, today, more than 90 percent of new fathers are present for their children’s birth, reflected in MenCare Advocacy’s State of the Worlds’ Fathers. However, being there early on does not necessarily define the scope of future involvement. Overcoming obstacles that might keep men from being the “high-five” dads they and their family need them to be is key. Involved fathers benefit children. Most research on child development has focused on how mothers influence their children, but in recent decades, society has “discovered” fathers. In many studies, pioneering Psychologist Ross Parke, Ph.D., professor emeritus of University of California, Riverside, and others have conclusively shown that children of more-involved dads are better at solving puzzles, score higher on cognitive skills tests, do better in school, are more likely to go to college, are more empathetic, manage their emotions better, have fewer behavior problems, are less natural awakenings

likely to suffer from depression or mental illness and are less likely to break laws or become teen parents. Fathering tip: Never miss an opportunity to change a diaper, play with the kids, read stories together or simply ask them about their day. Equal workplace policies matter. The U.S. is the only economically advanced country that has no nationally mandated paid maternity leave policy and is absent a national paternity leave policy, paid or unpaid. When men don’t get time off to learn basic parenting skills, it’s harder for them to stay engaged later. In 1977, 41 percent of women and 35 percent of men in dual-earner couples reported work-family life conflicts. Today, the figures are 47 percent and 60 percent, respectively, according to the Families and Work Institute’s ongoing National Study of the Changing Workforce. Parenting tip: Advocate for national, paid parenting leave policies for men and women starting with local employers. It benefits both families and companies. Studies by Stanford University, the Families and Work Institute, Gallup, Inc. June 2016

and others have found that companies with family-friendly benefits enjoy more loyal employees, better morale, lower turnover, fewer arbitrary sick days, higher levels of customer service and higher shareholder returns—all of which contribute to their bottom line. Both genders can be naturally nurturing. Certainly, women are biologically adapted for giving birth and breastfeeding, but Parke found that caring new dads typically cuddle, coo, giggle, rock and feed their babies just as much as new mothers. One hurdle men face is that they usually have to return to work sooner, and their natural nurturing skills can get rusty, while moms’ get sharper. Opportunity and practice are the biggest predictors of meaningful connections with children. Fathering tip: Don’t assume that a partner knows more. Whatever a mother knows, she learned by making mistakes, and that’s the best way for fathers to learn, too. B e o p e n t o c o m p l e m e n t a ry expertise. A dad with a mate that praises and supports him will be far more confident and engaged with his child than one with a partner that criticizes him. Parenting tip: No one likes to feel incompetent, so when offering dad advice, do it in a nonthreatening way that supports and compliments his improving skills over time. It may mean adjusting personal standards a bit. Dad should take

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pride in practicing his unique rapport with offspring. Instead of letting mom pluck a crying or smelly baby from his arms, he can try, “Honey, I’ve got this.” End-running the legal system after divorce. For some 30 years, the default decision in divorce cases has been to award the mother primary physical custody, with limited visitation for the father. More states are now moving toward a presumption of 50-50 physical custody, but it’s not the norm. Therefore, many divorced dads may feel disconnected from their children and suppressed in their parenting role moving forward. Fathering tip: Never give up. Children need their dad in their life and vice-versa. It’s critical to stay in touch. In

person is best; phone, email and Skype are decent fallbacks. Make time together feel meaningful as well as normal, instead of falling into a “Disneyland dad” syndrome of trying to make every moment a party. Practice harmonious communications with the ex. The biggest known predictor of children’s future mental and emotional health is how well their parents get along. Separated parents don’t have to be friends, but they do need to acknowledge both parents’ importance to the children and treat each other respectfully. Armin Brott is the author of eight bestselling books on fatherhood, including The Expectant Father and The New Father. Learn more at MrDad.com.

DEAR DEPLOYED DAD by Armin Brott

or parents serving in the military, some of the biggest barriers to involvement are inevitable and often repeated deployments. Dads returning home often struggle to reestablish both their family role—which changed while they were away—and their relationships with children they haven’t seen for months and who may not even recognize them. Here are practical tips to counter any estrangement. Talk to your children before you leave and tell them, in age-appropriate terms, what’s happening and why. Record yourself reading a child’s favorite book and ask mom to play it every night. Their hearing your voice while you’re gone will make it easier for them to get used to having you home again. During deployment, communicate with home as much as possible by phone, Skype and email, taking into account time zone differences and military security. Don’t underestimate the power of snail mail. Little things—a dried leaf from a tree near the barracks, a film canister full of sand—let a child know Dad is thinking of them and provides tangible signs that he’s in a real place somewhere.

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Upon returning home, take it easy and don’t expect to be able to simply pick up where you were when you left. Everyone in the family has changed, and likely become stronger via the experience. Some things may never return to the pre-deployment normal, but the new normal can be just as good—or better. Source: The Military Father: A Handson Guide for Deployed Dads, by Armin Brott

Libra – Quarrels and frustration in relationship with spouse and in-laws are very likely; stay calm. Try couples meditation to lessen the struggles in romantic relationship. While you struggle with your personal life, you should begin to experience a little relief in income/finance. Your lucky days are the 15th and 16th.

May MoonSign Predictions by Varshaa Sachdev

HAT IS YOUR MOON SIGN? 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 different from your Sun Sign or Moon Sign in Western Astrology. Find out your Moon Sign for FREE by logging on to OpenMindAstrology.com or call 832-597-8888. You can also find us on Facebook at Facebook.com/ OpenMindAstrology. All Signs – Prepare to deal with feelings of intimidation by authority figures/ government this month. Aries – This month you should expect to be coming up with new ideas or problem solving, especially in the first week. There also might be a feeling of being drained and lower abdominal problems during the first half of the month. Pay attention to the tone of your speech as it may sound authoritative and produce resistance. Expect to feel a little relief in finance and guard against aggression in relationship with spouse during the second part of the month. Your lucky days are the 2nd, 3rd, 29th and 30th. Taurus - Relationship with spouse should be more peaceful and the atmosphere at home and parent’s health see a little bit of improvement. During the second half of the month prepare for quarrels at work. Watch out for your authoritative sounding speech during the last week as it will cause problems. Your lucky days are the 4th and 5th

Gemini – Your focus this month will be on yourself, income and spirituality. You might experience insecurities at work. Remain calm and focused. Take care of your health, especially abdominal area. Take extra care while driving. Your lucky days are the 6th and 7th. Cancer – You will have productive first week at work. You could experience some relief in your romantic relationship and finance. Your network circle may give you mixed results at this point. Look outside your usual circle of friends and colleagues. Expect to find success in spiritual connections during the last week. Take care of aggressive energy at home during the second part of the month. Your luck days are the 8th and 9th. Leo – You should experience a little bit of relief in regard to finance. Quarrels/ struggles at home can calm down a bit if you remain calm and focused. Make an effort to not be so intimidating/ authoritative at work. Second part of the month focus on income and networking circle. Detachment in relationship with spouse will continue—be patient. Your lucky days are the 10th and 11th. Virgo – Your month may start on a tough note but by the middle of the month you will gain the confidence to take action and face hurdles. In the last week you even may feel content. Take care of your speech and communication as it may sound harsh to others. You may experience detachment to work. Work to remain connected. Your lucky days are the 12th–14th. natural awakenings

Scorpio – Breathe and you will experience a little bit of relief in your struggles. Parent’s health may have some improvement. Be careful of possible losses in the second half of the month. Your lucky days are the 17th–19th. Sagittarius – Your luck should be getting a bit better this month. Look out for intimidation and disagreement by an authority figure at work. Relationship with spouse may lack romance during the second half of the month. Don’t panic. Take small steps to rekindle the romance and be patient. Take care of the way you communicate with other as it may sound harsh. Your pursuit of finance should become aggressive. Your lucky days are the 20th and 21st. Capricorn – This month you could attain a little financial relief, so don’t quit. Continue to take care of your harsh sounding speech and be careful of road rage while driving. Anger is not the best way to deal with authority figures at work. Take care of your temper, especially during the second half of the month. Your lucky days are the 22nd and 23rd. Aquarius – Expect some financial relief this month. Stay calm and don’t react in anger at home or at work. You might want to consider a spiritual outlet because of a feeling of detachment. Drive carefully, especially second half of the month. Your luck days are the 24th–26th. Pisces – Atmosphere at work and your finances will show improvement this month. Take care of your health, especially lower abdomen and feet. Last week may bring harmony at home. Your lucky days are the 27th and 28th. See ad on page 17.

June 2016

naturalpet

Hot Days Are Hard on Pets How to Prevent, Detect and Treat Heatstroke by Shawn Messonnier

s outdoor temperatures heat up, pets may suffer from the effects of increased ambient temperatures. While problems such as squamous cell carcinoma and moist dermatitis (skin hot spots) increase along with temperatures and amount of sun exposure, the most serious heat-related health issue is heatstroke. Holistic vets recommend some simple, commonsense steps that will help and also possibly save a pet’s life. Heat stroke in both people and pets develops when core body temperature rises and stays above a certain level. In dogs and cats, the tipping point tends to be a body temperature higher than 106 degrees Fahrenheit. This can happen more quickly in overheated dogs and cats because they don’t have the ability to sweat in order to cool off like people do; this is due to a lack of eccrine sweat glands over most of their body surface. Pa n t i n g c a n r e d u c e b o d y temperature, but is inefficient and easily overwhelmed if their temperature

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rises quickly and a pet can’t remove itself from the surrounding warm environment. Dogs such as pugs and bulldogs that have a short, broad skull are especially at risk due to genetically impaired breathing structures; they can easily overheat even in mildly warm weather. Ferrets and rabbits are especially prone to heatstroke because they typically dwell in cooler temperatures. As a result, these small mammals do best when housed indoors rather than outside; outdoor time should be limited and supervised. Heatstroke in pets is usually easy to detect for a pet with a history of being in a hot environment from which it cannot escape to cool itself in shade or water or take a refreshing drink. Excess panting, dark red gums and a “hot feel” to the ears and hairless skin of the abdomen are clues. First-aid involves quickly cooling the animal and notifying the veterinarian that a pet suffering from heatstroke is on the way. Wetting it will begin the

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process. Applying either ice packs or ice cubes in a plastic bag wrapped in a towel to avoid freezing the skin also helps. Recommended spots for the packs are on the back of the neck, armpits and groin, as these areas have large arteries and veins close to the surface. If possible, don’t spend much time on these actions, because getting the pet to the doctor quickly is the overriding goal. Administering homeopathic drops of arnica and hypericum via the mouth from a natural home first-aid kit while en route to the vet may assist healing. Treatment at the veterinary hospital involves continued cooling, including intravenous fluids and cool water enemas. Cooling the pet must be done quickly in order to restore enzyme systems to normal functioning. Hospitalization will likely be required to evaluate the patient for potential serious complications, including cardiac arrest, shock, septicemia, bloody diarrhea, and disseminated intravascular coagulation to ensure against a usually fatal disorder involving the pet’s blood-clotting mechanisms. With prompt assistance, most pets with heatstroke will recover, but treatment can be extensive and expensive. The most important aspect is initiating it early to prevent permanent organ and brain damage. Prevention is ideal and preferred over the need for treatment. Guard against leaving furred pets outdoors for extended periods of time during hot weather. Pets that must be outside need protection from the heat and sun in shaded areas with access to plenty of fresh cool water; provide several water bowls. Opinion is divided about whether longer-haired pets seem more comfortable and have fewer weatherrelated problems if their hair is cut short, but don’t cut it down to the skin, as that removes their protective coat and predisposes them to sunburn. A good rule of thumb is that if it’s too hot for the pet’s person, it’s too hot for the pet. Shawn Messonnier, a doctor of veterinary medicine practicing in Plano, TX, is the award-winning author of The Natural Health Bible for Dogs & Cats and Unexpected Miracles: Hope and Holistic Healing for Pets. For more information, visit PetCareNaturally.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.

WEDNESDAY JUNE 1ST

Swing, Jive and Pop! Into Dance. 11am. Children’s performance. Incorporating history, fashion, music, and the arts in an interactive blast of excitement. Students, teachers, and audience members have the opportunity to converse with the dancers and participate in an energy-filled hour of dance while learning fun, historical tidbits of information along the way. Miller Outdoor Theatre, 6000 Hermann Park Drive, 77030 http://milleroutdoortheatre.com/

THURSDAY JUNE 2ND

markyourcalendar John Edward. 8-10pm. 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. Tickets start @ $150 - See more at: http://johnedward.net/event/8151/houston-tx#sthash. USUYcXvW.dpuf

FRIDAY JUNE 3RD

New Opportunity: New Moon in Gemini Forecast and Meditation with Kimberley 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 Gemini heralds a month long opportunity to explore new possibilities and gather needed information in order to adapt our perceptions to accommodate what current reality dictates. $25. Body Mind & Soul 7951 Katy Frwy Ste. N, 77024 www.bmshouston.com 713-993-0550

SATURDAY JUNE 4TH

Screen on the Green. 8:30pm-10:30pm. Catch a free flick in the shadow of Houston’s skyline with a showing of Jurassic World, rated PG-13. Arrive one hour early for fun contests and activities! Blankets, lawn chairs and picnics are welcome. Beer, wine and concessions are available for purchase. No glass containers or outside alcoholic beverages. Special appearance by J&D Entertainment’s Dynamic T-Rex Dino from 6:30-8:30pm. Free. Discovery Green 1500 McKenney, 77010. discoverygreen.com

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

Love the Skin You are In. 9:00am -3:00pm. A conference to improve body image and self-esteem for school-age children and teens with birthmarks and skin conditions. Featuring award-winning photographer Rick Guidotti of NY-based Positive Exposure. $10/adults and $5/ children. The Health Museum, 1515 Hermann Dr, 77004. achildrenshouse.com

SUNDAY JUNE 5TH

SATURDAY JUNE 11TH

markyourcalendar YogaMass™. 5-6 pm. 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. Grace Episcopal Church, 4040 W. Bellfort (one block west of Stella Link), Houston 77025. For more information, contact Grace at 832.667.8601, info@graceinhouston.org or yogamass.com.

SUNDAY JUNE 12TH

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 281.568.1568. Cthouston.org

Meditation Workshop. 10-11am. 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 281.568.1568. Cthouston.org

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Public Oneness Meditation with Reverend Howard Caesar. 12:30pm-1:30pm. The Oneness Meditation is a powerful transmission of Divine Energy which helps one move into higher states of consciousness; allowing the individual to deepen their spiritual journey. The results are transformative, bringing lasting changes and shifts in consciousness. Each person will have their own unique experience during the meditation. Child care is available, no reservation required. Love offering. Unity of Houston, 2929 Unity Dr, 77057. 713782-4050. unityhouston.org

Hide-and-Seek with God. 11am. Co-owner and publisher of Natural Awakenings magazine, Michael Hart will be speaking at Carmel Temple’s All Faith Service on Mary Ann Moore’s brief story “Hide-and-Seek with God”. Free. Carmel Temple 1208 Pennsylvania St. South Houston TX 77587. 713-944-0014. http://carmeltemple.org/ 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. thespiritquestcenter.com

TUESDAY JUNE 7TH

Meditation 101 Class. 7-9pm. Class will cover basic key instructions about meditation techniques, mindful intention, self-awareness, inner-silence, breathing techniques, relaxation exercises, Q&A and a guided meditation. $15. Wells Fargo Business Building 12337 Jones Road, 2nd Floor Conference Room, Houston, TX 77070. 832-303-6319.

WEDNESDAY JUNE 8TH

James and the Giant Peach, Jr. 11:00am. Children’s performance. Miller Outdoor Theatre, 6000 Hermann Park Drive, 77030 http://milleroutdoortheatre.com/ Addtl. showings June 9th & 10th also at 11am and free ticketed performances at 8:15pm June 10th & 11th.

THURSDAY JUNE 9TH

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

The Yoga Issue plus: Healing Music

Our Readers Are Seeking These Providers & Services: Yoga Classes, Studios, Teachers, Events & Workshops • Life Coaches Wellness Trainers & Coaches • Yoga Apparel & Gear Natural Recreational Supplies, Natural Healthcare Practitioners Natural, Organic Foods & Supplements Concerts, Music Festivals & Recorded Music Providers ... and this is just a partial list! natural awakenings

Parent and Teen Workshop. 9:00am-4:00pm. Our sixth time to run this, brought back by many requests! Don’t miss this fantastic opportunity to bridge the gaps and restore harmony in yourself and in the home. Open to all parents and young people age 13 and up. Register soon, space is limited. $50 per person, includes vegetarian lunch, drinks, and snacks. Please call 281565-9718 for more information or to register. Universal Door Meditation Center - 2619 Charles Lane, Sugar Land, 77498

MONDAY JUNE 13TH

markyourcalendar Photographic Self-Expression: the “Not-a-Selfie” Workshop for Teens. Teens, improve your photography skills while learning how to use a cell phone camera as a tool to understand yourself better. This weeklong workshop encourages teens (ages 13 to 17) to take a tool at their fingertips (literally!) and use it to create art that fosters self-awareness. Week of June 13-17; 9-2pm; $125 for the workshop, box lunches for an additional fee. The Hines Center 500 Fannin St #100, Houston, TX 77002. 713-5903302. hinescenter.org

TUESDAY JUNE 14TH

Summer Neighborhood Concert. 11 am. Children’s performance. Brings audiences the sights and sounds of Houston’s symphony in a family-friendly setting. Miller Outdoor Theatre, 6000 Hermann Park Drive, 77030. milleroutdoortheatre.com/

S E P T June 2016

JULY

BRING IN THE HARVEST Cultivate Bountiful Sales

Meditation Lecture Group. 7-9pm. The group will enjoy different types of mantras & affirmation styles, meditation techniques, relaxation exercises, breathing techniques, Q&A discussion and guided meditation. $15. Wells Fargo Business Building 12337 Jones Rd. 2nd Floor Conference Room Houston, TX 77070. 832-303-6319.

THURSDAY JUNE 16TH

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 JUNE 17TH

A Bollywood Night. 8:00pm, film at 9pm. Celebrate the art and culture of India! Learn some dance moves, taste the spice, treasure hunt among the Indian arts and crafts and enjoy Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam (NR, 1999, 190 min)! Participants include the Samskriti Society for Indian Performing Arts and others. Free. Discovery Green. 1500 McKenney, 77010. discoverygreen.com

SATURDAY JUNE 18TH

One-day Meditation Retreat “You are the Clear Water.” 8:00am-3:00pm. Experience the profound benefits of meditation retreats guided by Zen Master Thich Dieu Thien to help each person return to their Awake Mind. Open to beginner and experienced students. Please call 281-565-9718 for more information or to register. Universal Door Meditation Center - 2619 Charles Lane, Sugar Land, 77498 www.universaldoor.org

SUNDAY JUNE 19TH

Houston Pride Week. June 19-26th. For information on events and locations check www.pridehouston.org! 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

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July Summer Harvest & Independent Media Issue

The Summer Youth and Teen Program. 11:00am-12:30pm. Sundays until August 21. Join in on our fourth annual Summer program for kids! A fantastic, fun program directed by Zen Master Thich Dieu Thien not only introduces kids to the benefits and experience of meditation, but also supports understanding of self and others, improved communication, leadership skills, and harmonious teamwork. Please call 281565-9718 for more information or to register. Universal Door Meditation Center - 2619 Charles Lane, Sugar Land, 77498 www.universaldoor.org

MONDAY JUNE 20TH

markyourcalendar Mindful Movement-Kid’s Summer Camp. Namaste Yoga is teaming up with the Art Cellar of Houston and Dance and Jump Studio to offer an amazing summer program for families in and around the Energy Corridor, we will be offering Yoga, Fitness, Zumba and Painting classes every week, offering morning and afternoon sessions for children 6 and up! $199+tax. Namaste Yoga 1275 Eldridge Pkwy, Suite 160 Houston, TX 77077. 281-928-6951. Namasteyogahouston.com

TUESDAY JUNE 21ST

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WEDNESDAY JUNE 22ND

Fargo at Market Square Park. 8:30 pm. Join us for a film under the stars as the Rolling Roadshow presents, reality-based crime drama, Fargo (R), 98 min. Grab your spot on the lawn and prepare to be entertained. Market Square Park. 301 Milam, 77002 marketsquarepark.com

www.NaturalAwakenings-Houston.com

FRIDAY JUNE 24TH

Critical Mass-Houston. Assemble at 6:30 pm. Roll 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

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.

SATURDAY JUNE 25TH

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.* 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 Journey Beneath the Sea: A Guided Session with Melanie Harrell. 1:30pm-3:00pm. Many people feel a deep connection with the water. Are you one of those people? Join Melanie as we explore the deep places beneath the surface of the ocean. With the help of our guides, we will discover the source of our love for the sea and bring a gift back to this world. $35. Body Mind & Soul 7951 Katy Frwy Ste. N, 77024 www.bmshouston.com 713-993-0550 Community Reiki Share. 2-4pm. Join like minded people and practitioners interested in learning more about Reiki history, giving or receiving treatments and guided meditation. $15. Wells Fargo Bldg, 12337 Jones Rd. 2nd Floor Conference Room, Houston, TX 77077. 832-303-6319.

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

TUESDAY JUNE 28TH

THURSDAY JUNE 30TH

Movies at Miller – Star Wars: The Force Awakens. 8:30pm. Free movie showing. Miller Outdoor Theatre, 6000 Hermann Park Drive, 77030 http://milleroutdoortheatre.com/ LiveStream Oneness Meditation with Reverend Howard Caesar. 11:30am-12:30pm. The Oneness Meditation is a powerful transmission of Divine Energy which helps one move into higher states of consciousness; allowing the individual to deepen their spiritual journey. The results are transformative, bringing lasting changes and shifts in consciousness. Each person will have their own unique experience during the meditation. Child care is available, no reservation required. Love offering. Unity of Houston, 2929 Unity Dr, 77057. 713782-4050 unityhouston.org

markyourcalendar Meeting Emotional Needs: New Moon in Cancer Forecast and Meditation with Kimberley McSherry. 6:00pm– 8:00pm. 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 Cancer heralds a month long opportunity to explore the personally defined emotional process and the ways we go about getting our most basic emotional needs (security, nurture, and unconditional love and acceptance) met. $25. Body Mind & Soul 7951 Katy Frwy Ste. N, 77024 www.bmshouston.com 713-993-0550

planahead SUNDAY JULY 3RD

SUNDAY JULY 10TH

SUNDAY JULY 24TH

Three Refuges Ceremony. 1:30pm-2:30pm. Free. Chung Tai Zen Center of Houston 12129 Bellaire Blvd., 77072 zen@cthouston.org www. cthouston.org 281-568-1568

SUNDAY JULY 31

Blessing Ceremony. 10:00am-12:00pm. Free. Chung Tai Zen Center of Houston 12129 Bellaire Blvd., 77072 zen@cthouston.org www. cthouston.org 281-568-1568

THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 22

An Evening with Panache Desai. 7:30pm-9:00pm. An invitation to be empowered to create the life of your dreams. General Admission: $35. VIP Seating: $55. Unity of Houston. More info: www.unityhouston.org or call 713-782-4050

THURSDAY OCTOBER 20

An Evening with Miguel Ruiz Jr. 8:00am–5:00pm. In this workshop, our perception will blossom into the awareness that we are the constant in every relationship we are in; thus we are either the constant opportunity for either conditional love or unconditional love in life. General Admission: $35. Unity of Houston – Sanctuary. More info: www.unityhouston.org or call 713-782-4050

THURSDAY OCTOBER 20 SUNDAY OCTOBER 23

markyourcalendar Blossom: A Yoga & Spirit Renewal Retreat. Attend a 4 day retreat starting Thursday, October 20th and running through Sunday, October 23rd. Nurture your body, mind, and spirit at our fall yoga retreat in the magical high desert of Santa Fe, NM on a five-star oasis. Come to clear the path for the good you want to see in your life. Come to Blossom! Four Seasons Resort Rancho Encantado, Santa Fe, NM. Packages start at $2400. Brought to you by Soul Bliss Yoga. For more information and to reserve your spot, visit: www.soulblissyoga.com/blossomsantafe2016 or contact: retreats@soulblissyoga.com or 720-295-2127.

ongoingevents daily Houston Arboretum. 8am-6pm. Walk in nature. Learn about native plants and wildlife. Free. Houston Arboretum 4501 Woodway Dr., 77024. houstonarboretum.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 Café 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 Courtyard 521 Lamar, 77002.. houstonfoodnotbombs.org

tuesday 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, 77025. www.graceinhouston.org. 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 Racz. 11am-2pm or 6:45pm8:45pm. 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

natural awakenings

Zumba. 7pm to 8pm. Join Marco Oliver on Tuesday nights, Auditorium for Dance fitness classes are now available. The class is just $ 4.00 per drop in. Please bring water, a towel and some indoor shoes. Edgar Cayce’s A.R.E Center & Spa 7800 Amelia Road Houston TX 77055 http://www.arecenterhouston.org 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, 77498 www.universaldoor.org 281-565-9718 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 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, reservation required. $10 suggested Love Offering. Unity of Houston, 2929 Unity Dr, 77057. 713-782-4050. unityhouston.org

wednesday 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. 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 Zumba on the Green. 6:30-7:30pm. ACE certified personal trainer, Oscar Sajche shows you how to make your workout a party! 6:30-7:30 pm. 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 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

June 2016

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, 77479. 832-433-2415. info@Houston-Meditation.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

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

Intuitive Painting at True You Creativity Studio. 6:00pm8:30pm. June 9th & 30th. 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. All materials included. $55/session multi session discounts available. True You Creativity Studio in The Heights. For more information and to register, visit www.trueyoucreativity.com

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 -10:00pm. Free dinner music. Last Concert Café, 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

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

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 Courtyard 521 Lamar, 77002. houstonfoodnotbombs.org Pot Roast. 10:00pm-12mn. Late night music outside under the stars. Cover charge. Last Concert Cafe 1403 Nance St. 77002. 713-226-8563 www.lastconcert.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, pre-registration required. Universal Door Meditation Center - 2619 Charles Lane, Sugar Land, 77498 www.universaldoor.org 281-565-9718

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

thursday 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, 77025. www.graceinhouston.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

Houston Museum of Natural Science. 3-6pm. Roam the Serengeti, walk with dinosaurs and discover the world’s mineral wonders. Free. HMNS 5555 Hermann Park Drive 77030. hmns.org Free Family Thursdays at The Health Museum. 2:00pm7:00pm.Free entry into The Health Museum to enjoy permanent and traveling exhibits (DeBakey Cell Lab requires a $3 fee) on Thursdays from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. The Health Museum, 1515 Hermann Dr 77004. thehealthmuseum.org (713) 521-1515

Houston

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. 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 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

friday

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.

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

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

Introduction to Intuitive Painting & Open Studio. 10am12:30pm. June 10th & 24th. 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

www.NaturalAwakenings-Houston.com

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

Recycling Saturdays. 11:00am-2:00pm. Bring your, paper, plastic and aluminum to a recycling station at Discovery Green. We no longer accept GLASS. Please note: Recycling container is provided by the City of Houston Solid Waste Management. The schedule can be subject to change, but park staff will accept your recycling in the park office during the hours of 11 am to 2 pm regardless of whether the container is on site. Free. Discovery Green 1500 McKenney, 77010. discoverygreen.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. Sunday Oneness Blessing. After 9am and 11am services. 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. 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 . 9:30am–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, pre-registration required. Universal Door Meditation Center - 2619 Charles Lane, Sugar Land, 77498 www.universaldoor.org 281-565-9718 Community Yoga Class. 9:45-11am. As our giving back to the yoga community we offer a free community yoga class every Sunday morning. Come, and enjoy. Whether you are a beginner or an experience yogi, you will find something for you here. To further build community, stay and enjoy tea and chat with the instructors after class. Free. Namaste Yoga 1275 Eldridge Parkway 77077. 281-928-6951. Namasteyogahouston.com

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 Café, 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, they are introduced to basic meditation practice and life skills needed to understand more about themselves and how to be truly happy. Suggested donation $60/month, registration required, call for more details. Universal Door Meditation Center - 2619 Charles Lane, Sugar Land, 77498 universaldoor.org 281-565-9718. Centerpoint Body Mind and Spirit Expo. 1pm-5 pm. Psychics, Astrology, Tarot, Ear Candling, Massage, Fengshue, Ionic Foot Bath, Palmist, Pranic, Reiki & Matrix Healers, Jewelry, Foot Reflexology, Pet Massage, Pet Healing, FREE coffee, tea & pastries. Admission Free. Center Point (in the old Metaphysical Matrix building) 2727 Fondren Suite 5M, 77080. 713-932-7224 centerpointhouston.org

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 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. Yogi Book Club. 5-7pm Want to go deeper with yoga? At Namaste we believe that reading is an important tool in our mental and emotional development. Empowering ourselves to expand our knowledge and understanding of ourselves begins with quality information and cultivation of inner awareness. Reading is also a great way to calm the restless mind and with it the restless body. Enjoy an hour long vinyasa flō class followed immediately by sangha and lively discussion on the current book selection. June selection is: “The Power of Now” by Eckhart Tolle. Monthly investment: $69, (includes class, book, mat, towel). Namaste Yoga 1275 Eldridge Parkway 77077. 281-928-6951. Namasteyogahouston.com 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 Courtyard 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

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

Kingwood Farmer’s Market. 3-7pm. Town Center Park, 8 N. Main in Kingwood 77339. facebook.com/ kingwoodfarmersmarket

East End Street Market. 10am-2pm. 2800 Navigation Blvd 77003. Eastendhouston.com

SATURDAY

Magnolia Farmer’s & Artisan’s Market. 11am-3pm. 1st, 3rd & 5th Sundays. Intersection of FM 1488 and FM 1774 in Magnolia, 77354. sweetmagnoliapickins.net

Eastside Urban Harvest Farmer’s Market. 8am-12n. Parking lot behind 3000 Richmond at Eastside, 77098. urbanharvest.org The Farm Stand at Petrol Station. 9am-1pm. Petrol Station, 985 Wakefield 77018. 713.957.2875 facebook.com/The-FarmStand-at-Petrol-Station

Farmers Market at Bridgeland. 12:30-3:30pm. 2nd Sundays. 16902 Bridgeland Landing, Cypress 77433. farmersmarketatbridgeland.org/

The Woodlands Farmer’s Market at Grogan’s Mill. 8am-12n. 7 Switchbud Place in The Woodlands 77380. grogansmillvillage.com

natural awakenings

June 2016

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

BIOLOGICAL DENISTRY

JONELL NORCINI, L.AC.

MARILYN K. JONES, DDS

Cypress Area Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine 10330 Lake Road, Building D Houston, TX 77070. By appointment only 713-825-1636. CypressAreaAcupuncture.com

Houston Dental Health Center 800 Bering Dr. Houston, TX 77057 712-785-7767 MarilynKJonesDDS.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 13.

AYURVEDA AYUSH WAVE-AYURVEDA AND YOGA 15263 Southwest Freeway Sugar Land, TX 77478 281-870-2772 AyushWave.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. See ad on page 15.

FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE DR. BOBBIE STOWE, DC

Experience what people in India have known about for centuries, the healing power of Ayurveda. Ayush Wave Ayurveda Wellness and Yoga is the new, alternative and holistic wellness center in Sugar Land. Our focus is on providing alternative therapies to chronic diseases using Ayurveda, the form of traditional medicine from India in a spa environment. To learn more visit our website or call today for a consultation.

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

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 2.

GYMS HOUSTON GYM

BEDDING

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

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

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. See ad on page 8.

new living

Houston

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.

www.NaturalAwakenings-Houston.com

HOLISTIC FAIR MARVA MASON’S HOLISTIC FAIR La Quinta Inn-Galleria 1625 West 610 Loop Houston, TX 77027 PsychicFairs.com

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. Meditation 101 each Wednesday at 7. Call for more information.

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.

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.

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 21.

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 26.

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–12pm - For children ages 4–12 and parents. Half-day Retreat: Sun., June 5, 9am-noon. Sun., July 3, 9am-noon. Meditation Workshop: Sun., June 12, 10-11am. Sun., July 10, 10-11am. Blessing Ceremony: Sun., June 26, 10am-noon. Sun., July 31, 10am-noon. Check the web site (event calendar) for the most current information. See ad on page 11.

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 25.

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!”

June 2016

UNIVERSAL DOOR MEDITATION CENTER

NATURAL OPTOMETRY DR. SUSAN MOSS, OD

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

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.

Houston

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 19.

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 12.

www.NaturalAwakenings-Houston.com

RAINWATER HARVESTING 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.

REIKI CLAUDIA AUTRY, REIKI PRACTITIONER

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

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!

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.

TAPPING

YOGA FOR MENTAL & PHYSICAL HAPPINESS

YOGA

THRIVE TAPPING.

NAMASTE YOGA

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/

We are a “boutique” Yoga Studio conveniently located in the heart of the Energy Corridor in West Houston, we offer a variety of yoga classes and styles to cater for the needs of our community. Our classes are small giving us an opportunity to develop a relationship with all our students getting to know their name and enjoying a chat after class over tea is part of who we are. We offer classes for first timers as well as experienced Yogis. Our schedule includes Ashtanga Yoga, Vinyasa, Slow Flow, Yin Yoga, Mindful Meditation, Kids and Prenatal yoga and private classes, there is a class for everyone in the family!!! As part of giving back to the community and doing “our bit” we have a Community Class every Sunday at 9:45am, we have been offering the class ever since we started as we believe everyone should have an opportunity to practice and enjoy yoga.

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

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

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 6.

1275 Eldridge Parkway Houston, TX 77077 281-928-6951 Namasteyogahouston.com

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.

WANT TO CONNECT WITH OUR READERS? T H RE E -MONT H E DIT OR IAL CALE ND AR AND MAR KE T ING PLANNE R

J U L Y

Summer’s Harvest plus: The Importance of Independent Media

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.

Our Readers Are Seeking Providers & Services for Healthy Foods & Gardening

A U G natural awakenings

Empowering Youth plus: Creativity

Our Readers Are Seeking Providers & Services for Children’s Health & Well-being June 2016

Houston