Natural Awakenings Magazine ~ January 2015

H E A L T H Y

L I V I N G

H E A L T H Y

P L A N E T

feel good • live simply • laugh more

WHOLE SYSTEMS HEALTH

It’s All About Metabolism and a Healthy Lifestyle

Eating for

FREE

Live Long & Beautifully

Louise Hay on Loving Yourself to Vibrant Health

Energy

BOOSTERS

HAPPY

HORMONES

The Right Foods Help Balance Our Body

Four Ways to Reboot and Recharge

What’s App For Kids

E-Devices Can Serve as a Natural Health Coach

January 2015 | West Michigan Edition | NaturalWestMichigan.com natural awakenings

January 2015

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

18 INTERVAL TRAINING KNOCKS DOWN BLOOD SUGAR Exercise Bursts are Fast and Effective

by Lisa Marlene

20 HORMONE-HAPPY FOODS

The Right Choices Make Our Bodies Hum

by Linda Sechrist

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22 NEW YEAR, NEW YOU

When ‘Good Enough’ Is Perfect

by Elizabeth Lombardo

24 IT’S ALL ABOUT METABOLISM

Getting to the Root Cause of Disease

by Linda Sechrist

28 ENERGY BOOSTERS Four Ways to Recharge

by Kathleen Barnes

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32 LOUISE HAY ON

LOVING YOURSELF TO AGELESS HEALTH

by S. Alison Chabonais

34 PET ANESTHESIA

How to Make it Safe and Easier on Everyone

by Shawn Messonnier

36 AN APP A DAY KEEPS THE DOCTOR AWAY Keep Kids Engaged in Healthy Living

by Julianne Hale

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9 5 newsbriefs 9 healthbriefs 12 globalbriefs 14 ecobrief 18 fitbody 20 consciouseating 12 22 inspiration 23 community

spotlight 28 healingways 32 wisewords 34 naturalpet 14 36 healthykids 40 calendar 44 naturaldirectory 47 classifieds

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letterfrompublisher

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contact us Publishers Kyle & Amy Hass

Photo: Allyson Regan

Assistant Publisher Amanda Grasmeyer

new year is traditionally a time of excitement and anticipation. Each January ushers in the space of a whole year ready to be filled with memories, experiences, hopes and dreams. Naturally, we resolve to make changes in our life for the better.

On New Year’s Eve of 2013, caught up in the festive hype, I jokingly set some lofty goals for the year, and then proceeded to close out 2014 without accomplishing a single one of them. While I knew such ambitions were outlandish the moment I put them into words, they were all things I feel passionate about and wish to see made real in my life.

I spent a significant portion of 2014 wondering, “What if... ?” What if I did help find a natural cure for cancer? What if I helped clothe the homeless in our community? What if I helped resolve one of the big controversial environmental issues in our state? What would my life look and feel like if I worked adamantly enough to make the differences I dream of?

What if I worked adamantly enough to make the differences I dream about in moments where we’re urged to dream? Too often, on New Year’s Eve, we make hollow proclamations of our plans for the next year. We have good intentions, making claims like we’re going to work out more or eat healthier, and then shortly into the new year, we throw caution to the wind and find ourselves right back in the rut of the previous year.

Imagine with me what our world would be like if we all worked hard and wisely at achieving what we most desire. We are capable of doing tons more good than we think when we don’t give up on what we cherish most.

There’s no telling the good our simply trying might achieve.

I feel blessed to be given yet another year to become a better person and play a role in working to improve society. I feel blessed to be given the opportunity to at least try.

Editors S. Alison Chabonais Linda Sechrist Design & Production Interactive Media Design Scott Carvey Printer Stafford Media Solutions Natural Awakenings 484 Sunmeadow Dr. SE Grand Rapids, MI 49508 Phone: 616-656-9232 Publisher@NaturalWestMichigan.com

www.NaturalWestMichigan.com

Subscriptions are available by sending $30 (12 issues) to the above address. © 2015 by Natural Awakenings. All rights reserved.

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

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

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

COMMITTED TO SUSTAINABILITY Natural Awakenings is locally owned and operated.

Best of luck as you embark on your dream adventure, Amanda Grasmeyer, Assistant Publisher

Never Glossy. Always Green.

Natural Awakenings practices environmental sustainability by printing on post-consumer recycled paper with soy-based ink.

This choice avoids the toxic chemicals and high energy costs of producing shiny, coated paper that is hard to recycle.

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newsbriefs Canvas Labyrinth Walk

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alk the Canvas Labyrinth at Spirit Space on January 10 from 10:00 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Spirit Space welcomes all interested in walking. Learn more about the healing powers and the spiritual growth possibilities as your brain focuses on the path and you journey through our labyrinth. Spirit Space will also be building an outdoor labyrinth in the spring.

Spirit Space is located at 3493 Blue Star Highway in Saugatuck. For more information, call 616-836-1555 or visit Spirit-Space.org. See ad, page 14.

Vision Board Afternoon

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t’s that time of year; time to dust off those New Year’s resolutions you made last year (but didn’t keep) and start anew for 2015. Many people increase their chances of resolution success by making a vision board. If you’re new to the concept, a vision board is a visual representation, using pictures cut from magazines, of your innermost dreams for your body, mind and spirit. It’s based on the theory of the law of attraction that says we can attract our heart’s desires into our lives by our thoughts and intentions. Staff member Nancy Getz of Bodhi Tree Yoga & Wellness Studio would add that just thinking about the life we want to live is not enough. While that can be a lot of fun (temporarily), in the long run, we have to act on where those thoughts are nudging us.

With that in mind, she is offering a Vision/Action board afternoon at the Studio, 208 W. 18th St., Holland, on Sunday, January 11 from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. Cost is $15 which includes all materials. You may wish to bring a picture of yourself to put on the board. You will leave with a completed board to remind you of the life you want to live physically, spiritually and mindfully, along with your own personal commitment for action.

It promises to be a fun afternoon. Bring a friend!

Space is limited. Call Nancy at 616-566-3916 with any questions. Register with her or visit MiBodhiTree.com.

See ad, page 17.

Whole U GR Expo

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ave the date for the second annual Whole U GR expo on January 24. The New Year is a perfect time to begin and renew your commitment to healthy living. It only takes a few small changes to start your journey to a healthy lifestyle.

Our bodies are made up of multiple networks.

When our organs, nerves, blood, mind and soul are communicating properly with each other, they are working together as a whole. This is homeostasis and holistic living. When we network as humans we network together to communicate, teach, learn and inspire each other to healthier living. The Whole U GR expo is a beautiful network of like-minded people working together as a whole to create a positive holistic environment where the visitor can develop a relationship with the exhibitors and speakers.

The expo takes place from 10-4 p.m. at the St. Cecilia Music Center in Grand Rapids and is sure to be a day filled with exhibitors, speakers and workshops.

Tickets on sale now. For more information go to WholeUGR.com. See ad, page 37.

Harmony ‘n Health Colon Hydrotherapy

Mary A. DeLange C.C.T. L.M.T. 616-456-5033

Some Benefits of Colon Hydrotherapy: ~ Remove Toxic Waste from ones body ~ Eradicate Constipation ~ Removes Stomach Bloat ~ Increase ones Energy

Therapeutic Massage also available

Mary@HarmonynHealth.net

www.HarmonynHealth.net natural awakenings

January 2015

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newsbriefs

Technology and how it can help people struggling with depression, anxiety, insomnia and more. Nexalin Technology has also been used on VAs to help with posttraumatic stress.

The one-hour class will be held from 11:00 a.m. to noon at Bodhi Tree Yoga, located at 208 W 18th Street in Holland.

Grand Opening

For more information, call 616-594-9005, email SLDaubenspeck@gmail.com or find Susie Daubenspeck on Facebook. See ad, pages 26 & 44.

Body Mind & Spirit Expo

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n April 17, the School of Ayurveda at the Sambodh Center in Kalamazoo will celebrate its grand opening. This State licensed post-secondary school offers a one-year certificate program in Ayurveda beginning April 18. The course of study consists of 12 intensive weekend courses taught by highly qualified instructors and takes place at the Sambodh Center.

Apply now to become an Ayurvedic Consultant. The deadline for application submissions is March 19. Tuition discounts of $500 are being offered for early submissions (applications received during January 2015) and $250 deducted for applications received in February.

For more information, call 269-381-4946, email Ayurveda@sambodh.us or visit Sambodh.us (see: “About” dropdown, “Bodhananda Vedic Institute”).

See ad, page 47.

Experience Nexalin Technology

O Susie Daubenspeck

n February 7, Susie Daubenspeck of Bethesda Health and Wellness will offer a presentation and question-and-answer time on Nexalin

SOPHYTOPRO ®

Discover a superior range of skin & body products made to very strict EU Cosmetics Directive Standards.

Cruelty Free • Gluten Free 100% Biodegradable 616-453-4215 NancyDespres.com 6

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Money Back Guarantee!

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n March 28 and 29 professional mediums, intuitive communicators, holistic healing practitioners and spiritual merchandisers will join together for a Body Mind & Spirit Expo at the Radisson Hotel & Suites in Downtown Kalamazoo. Many talented exhibitors have already signed up to be in on the action and the invitation is extended to fellow practitioners as well.

Beverly and John Stephan, and Ms. Margo have been participating in Body Mind & Spirit expos for many years across the US and Canada and are excited to bring a piece of Spirit to Kalamazoo. Join in and spread the word to all who love to help others about this perfect opportunity for many in the profession to spread amazing healing light to the local community.

The Body Mind & Spirit expo is seeking exhibitors as well as those looking for a weekend of fun, free lectures, speakers and demonstrations both days. The cost of entrance is $8.00 per day, and children 12 and younger are free.

For more information visit HealingBodyAndSpirit.com.

See ad, page 3.

Life Coaching in the New Year

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s is the custom this time of year, many people spend time reflecting on the past and looking ahead to the future.

With good intentions, some people make grand New Year’s Resolutions that often quickly fade because they demand too drastic of a behavior change all at once. This is disappointing, of course, and also quite normal.

However, Life Coaching could be the constructive path forward. When a person engages with an exceptional Life Coach, one finds an equal, co-creative relationship, a partnership, and accountability to oneself. The coach’s role is never to tell a person what to do, what to think, or what to be. Rather, the coach’s role is to listen to the person, to help him/her re-discover who they are and what they want in life, to strategize and create a realistic, step-by-step plan together. The person can take the natural steps that fit within his/her life and then take him/her where they want to be.

Scott Mutchler is a CTA Certified Coach, specializing in helping mid-life adults create what’s next, reaching their goals one step at a time, in a sustained manner.

Having successfully navigated various career changes, family growth and an empty nest, he founded Wellspring Professional Coaching Services LLC with the mission of helping other adults in mid-life define and build the lives they desire.

For more information, call 616-901-6885, email Scott@ wellspringpcs.com or visit WellspringPCS.com. See ad, page 14.

Balance Out of Stress

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tress ages people faster and has been proven to contribute to virtually all diseases from the common cold to cancer and everything in between, and the body clearly shows whether or not a person is currently stuck in a chronic stress state. In addition to work and demands on time, stress attacks from many different angles like unrelenting electromagnetic pollution, unnatural foods and most importantly mental and emotional reactions to what happens in daily life. As the saying goes, “It is not what happens to you, but how you react to it.”

The goal at Spark of Life Studio is to show people how they can go from having stress run their lives to being in control of their stress. During each session, clients are able to see for themselves whether their body is in a stressed state or in balance, and they are able to experience what it feels like to be in balance physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. A balanced body not only leads to an overall state of wellbeing but it can also make so-called disease symptoms unnecessary.

For more information, call 616-516-1479, email Info@ SparkOfLifeStudio.com or visit SparkOfLifeStudio.com.

Hours are available by appointment only, Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. See ad, pages 33 & 44.

natural awakenings

January 2015

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newsbriefs Free Fat Funeral Detox Seven-Day Bootcamp

2015 Annual Natural Living Directory

F

at Funeral Detox is offering a free seven-day bootcamp to help people radically and positively impact their health, their weight and their life by learning some fun, simple and very impactful health information over seven days and then applying it with a daily Fat Funeral Detox Challenge. Small, simple actions each day have been shown to bring meaningful, cumulative changes in one’s health. Whether the desire is to lose weight, to face a health challenge or to just get ripped, the knowledge offered during these seven days can get people on their way to their greatest wealth- great health!

Also included in the free seven-day bootcamp is Dr. Ginger’s “Vitamin Robber’s Report” that shows what nutrients are being stripped from the body as people take prescription and common over the counter medicines, such as cholesterol medication, aspirin and antacids.

15 categories of drugs are listed in the report with the corresponding nutrients depleted and the signs and symptoms people may experience due to this nutrient loss.

The full Fat Funeral Detox program utilizes Dr. Ginger’s 20 years of experience in natural health and healing, her teachings at the world renowned Hippocrates Health Institute and Johnson & Wales University College of Culinary Arts, along with her top recommended nonGMO, organic foods, products and recipes that help detoxify and nourish the body from a cellular level.

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e invite you to be a part of Natural Awakenings Annual Natural Living Directory for West Michigan, FREE A N N U A L N AT U R A L L I V I N G D I R E C T O R Y coming March 2015.

This special annual directory of Natural Awakenings magazine will serve as a handy reference guide for consumers to keep at their fingertips all year long when searching for the products and services they want to live a healthier and more sustainable lifestyle.

This A to Z directory will feature a glossary to educate our health conscious readers about the benefits of various natural health modalities, sustainable practices and more. Consumers trust Natural Awakenings information and its featured advertisers because we offer refreshing and educational editorial on natural health and green living. Natural Awakenings also provides the resources that support Health, Fitness, Sustainable Living, Personal Growth and Creative Expression. This Directory is a must for businesses that offer healthy products and/or sustainable services.

Don’t miss out on this important issue!

Natural Living Directory prices: $119.00 for your first category listing includes 5 contact lines, a 35-word description and a photo or logo. A second category is 50% off and a third category is FREE. Early Registration Rates – $99 for the first listing. Special pricing ends January 30th, 2015. ½ page and Full Page Ads are also available.

H E A L T H Y

L I V I N G

H E A L T H Y

P L A N E T

feel good • live simply • laugh more

West Michigan Edition | NaturalWestMichigan.com 1

Call 616-656-9232 for details, examples and to reserve your space in the Natural Living Directory. Deadline to register is February 13th. See ad, page 17.

For more information, visit GoFatGo.com. See ad, page 21.

Midwifery Matters

High Quality Care for Preconception, Pregnancy & Beyond • Home Births • Birth Center Deliveries • Well Women Care

We are Welcoming New Clients!

Leslie Cornwell, Certified Nurse Midwife 616-258-2386 • www.midwifery-matters.com 8

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healthbriefs

Be Young Essential Oils

Eucalyptus Oil Inhibits Spread of TB

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any of the natural compounds in the essential oil of Eucalyptus citriodora may prevent the airborne spread of the tuberculosis (TB) bacterium (Mycobacterium tuberculosis), according to a study from the Institute for Tuberculosis Research at the University of Illinois College of Pharmacy. Several of the compounds in the eucalyptus oil inhibited the airborne spread of the infection by 90 percent, while the major component of the oil was only weakly active, at 18 percent.

The scientists used an array of analytical laboratory tests to measure the airborne spread of TB from contagious patients. They also identified 32 active airborne compounds within the essential oil of eucalyptus and studied the impact of the interaction of multiple components in artificial mixtures.

The researchers undertook the study because “the rapid emergence of extensively and multidrug-resistant tuberculosis has created a pressing public health problem… and represents a new constraint in the already challenging disease management of TB.”

Legumes, Nuts and Corn Cut Risk of Breast Cancer

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Harvard Medical School study concluded that eating more peanut butter, corn, nuts and beans, including lentils and soybeans, during adolescence significantly reduces the risk of breast cancer later on.

The researchers followed 9,039 young women that were between 9 and 15 years old when the study started in 1996, having the subjects complete diet questionnaires every year through 2001, and also in 2003, 2004, 2007 and 2010. When the women were ages 18 to 30, the number of benign breast diseases that had developed was recorded. The statistics associated a daily serving of nuts and legumes at age 14 with a 66 percent reduction in the risk of developing breast cancer. Just a single serving of peanut butter once every three days at the age of 11 was associated with a 44 percent reduction of breast cancer risk. Intake of at least one serving of corn every three days was correlated with a 39 percent reduction in the disease.

Earlier studies by Harvard researchers found that eating pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, soybeans, tofu and other vegetable fats also reduces breast cancer risk.

“One drop of the best Nature can give.”

E.O.B.B.D. Guaranteed Pure Clara Vander Zouwen Independent Sharing Partner #1024 http://www.beyoungth.com 616.481.8587 • claravz@sbcglobal.net www.totalhealth4today.com

Quote of the Month There is nothing more needed for transformation than forgiveness. Forgiveness means to give up all that holds us back from all we are meant to be. What is holding you back from the job, the relationship, the freedom you want? Do a self-inventory and see if there is any unforgiveness lurking around. Start this transformation process with forgiving yourself. ~ Sherry Petro-Surdel – Spirit Space

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January 2015

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School Lunches Minus the Meat

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s the first school in the nation to go completely meatless, 400 students at New York City’s P.S. 244, the Active Learning Elementary School, are treated to eclectic fare that includes black bean and cheese quesadillas, falafels, and tofu in an Asian sesame sauce. “We’ve had a really great response from the kids, but they also understand it’s about healthy options,” says Principal Bob Groff. “Because we teach them to make healthy choices, they understand what is happening and believe in what we’re doing, too.”

When the school opened in 2008, the cafeteria served vegetarian meals three days a week. “We started to try out recipes with small groups of students to see what they liked and didn’t like. It was a hit,” says Groff. All meals adhere to U.S. Department of Agriculture standards, so students get plenty of nutrient- and protein-dense vegetables. Students are also welcome to pack their own lunches, including meat.

PHOTOTHERAPY REDUCES KNEE PAIN

Research from Brazil’s Universidade Nove de Julho has confirmed that pulsed lasers and LED therapy applied during treatment can significantly reduce knee pain. The 86 patients that participated in the study were divided into two groups; one received 12 treatments using super-pulsed red laser and infrared LED phototherapy and the control (placebo) group received 12 treatments using non-therapeutic phototherapy instruments.

The patients given therapeutic phototherapy reported feeling significantly less pain, beginning with and continuing after the tenth treatment through a one-month follow-up visit, and showed improved quality of life compared with the study’s placebo group.

YOGA BREATHING HELPS ILL KIDS’ LUNGS

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esearchers from Brazil’s University of São Paulo have found that hatha yoga breathing exercises can significantly improve lung function in children with Duchenne muscular dystrophy, a disease that often ends in premature death from respiratory failure.

The average age of the 26 children that completed the study was 9-and-a-half years old. Participants were taught how to perform hatha yoga breathing exercises and instructed to perform them three times a day for 10 months.

The researchers performed spirometry [breathing] tests before, during and after the study period. At the end of the 10 months of practice, the scientists found the breathing exercises improved both the children’s forced vital capacity (the volume of air that can forcibly be blown out after full inspiration) and forced expiratory volume in one second (the volume of air that can forcibly be exhaled in one second after full inspiration).

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Energy Healing for the New Year

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o you have intentions for yourself in this New Year? While we are constantly having to adjust to the flow of our forever changing life moments all year long, the beginning of a new year is a significant time to set new goals, visions and positive intentions for ourselves that assist in us working towards being able to reach our highest potential, while at the same time letting go of the “old” that’s no longer serving us.

Sometimes releasing old habits, beliefs, etc., that are not serving our soul’s purpose can be challenging, it’s a reprogramming process that may take a little time and continuous, conscious effort.

Often times receiving Energy Healing sessions during these important, life changing processes can be extremely helpful in moving us towards our intention with greater ease. The assistance during the process of releasing any old attachments or patterns that have been keeping one from moving forward with ease and clarity can make a great difference.

People are meant to experience love, peace and truth in their lives... in challenging times they must ask themselves, what is preventing them from experiencing wholeness and harmony and then take appropriate actions to make positive changes in their lives. Sometimes this requires asking for help. Energy Healing is a great support for people in experiencing wholeness and harmony in all aspects of their lives: physical, emotional, mental and spiritual while on their journey to self-empowerment.

For more information, visit waystohealing.com or call Healing Ways 269-2211961. See ad, page 46.

natural awakenings

January 2015

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globalbriefs News and resources to inspire concerned citizens to work together in building a healthier, stronger society that benefits all.

Safer Groceries Landmark Food Law Being Enforced

The Center for Food Safety (CFS) has reached a settlement agreement (Tinyurl. com/FoodSettlementAgreement) with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that sets firm deadlines for the agency to fully enact the 2011 Food Safety Modernization Act. A federal court will maintain supervision to ensure FDA compliance.

CFS senior attorney George Kimbrell, who led the case, says, “The first major update to our food safety laws since 1938 must now be implemented in a closed-ended, timely fashion. That means safer food for American families.”

Congress passed the law to combat the epidemic of food-borne illnesses affecting one in six Americans annually. After repeated delays, the FDA must now comply with the following court-overseen schedule to implement the final rules: preventative controls for human and animal food (8/30/2015); imported food and foreign suppliers (10/31/2015); produce safety (10/31/2015); food transportation (3/31/2016); and intentional adulteration of food (5/31/2016).

Source: CenterForFoodSafety.org

Smart Solar Japan Floats New Nuclear Alternative Two companies in Japan will begin building two huge new solar power islands that will float on reservoirs, following the inception of the Kagoshima floating solar plant as the country’s largest, which opened in late 2013 just off the country’s southern coast.

The new direction comes as Japan looks to move on from the Fukushima atomic disaster of 2011 and meet the energy needs of its 127 million people without relying on nuclear power. Before the incident, about 30 percent of the country’s power was generated by nuclear plants, but Fukushima destroyed public confidence, and with earthquakes highly likely in regions containing reactors, Japan is looking for alternatives.

Solar islands could also be a solution for other countries where space or nuclear concerns are an issue. It’s possible that one day a significant portion of Europe’s power could come from use of the technology; experts believe the engineering challenges can be surmounted.

West Michigan Edition

Holistic Healers Reach Out to the Underserved An annual report issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes that up to 33 percent of uninsured people are avoiding needed treatment for economic reasons. Lifestyle changes and natural remedies like yoga and massage therapy can be highly effective when treating conditions such as high blood pressure, depression or aching joints, and groups nationwide are making these modalities more affordable for everyone.

At California’s Healing Clinic Collective (HealingClinicCollective.

Wordpress.com), in Oakland, women receive a day of free holistic health care—from acupuncture to massage therapy and nutritional counseling— and discounted rates for follow-up appointments.

The Third Root Community Health Center (ThirdRoot.org), in Brooklyn, helps arrange for acupuncturists, herbalists, Reiki practitioners and others to treat low-income people in New York City, especially community organizers and activists that are often overworked and lack the resources for these types of care.

The Samarya Center (Samarya Center.org), in Seattle, Washington, uses revenue from its yoga studio to provide free yoga to critically ill patients served by the city’s Bailey-Boushay House and the local VA hospital, and also to patients with chronic pain at the Pike Place Medical Clinic, which treats many homeless and lowincome Seattle residents.

Source: YES! magazine

Source: DailyGalaxy.com 12

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Pristine Protection

America’s Huge New Underwater Park The Pacific Remote Islands National Marine Monument— about 470,000 square miles of ocean surrounding a couple of remote U.S. Pacific islands—is now officially set aside to protect its pristine habitat from deep-sea mining and commercial fishing. Although smaller than the nearly 800,000 square miles of its original plan, the park is still twice the size of Texas.

In a final compromise, fishermen will have access to the waters around half of the islands and atolls, while the other half remains protected. Only 2 percent of the entire Pacific enjoys similar protection.

Corn Guzzler

Downsides of Ethanol Ethanol, which makes up 10 percent of the gasoline available at filling stations, together with other biofuels made from crops, appeared to be a way to reduce reliance on fossil fuels. However, recent research shows that the federal government’s push to up production of corn-derived ethanol as a gasoline additive since the U.S. Renewable Fuels Standard was enacted in 2007 has instead expanded our national carbon footprint and contributed to a range of other problems.

The nonprofit Environmental Working Group warns that continued production of corn ethanol is both worse for the climate than gasoline and bad for farmers, the land and consumers. “It’s driving up food prices, straining agricultural markets, increasing competition for arable land and promoting conversion of uncultivated land to grow crops,” according to this watchdog organization.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is reportedly weighing a proposal to cut the amount of ethanol currently required by law to be blended into gasoline by 1.39 billion gallons, equivalent to taking 580,000 cars off the roads for a year.

Researchers have been trying to develop greener forms of ethanol, but none are ready for market yet.

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For more information, visit epa.gov/otaq/fuels/renewablefuels.

Water Cartons

Paper Can Easily Replace Plastic The Boxed Water is Better company was launched in 2009 in Grand Rapids, Michigan, to provide a more sustainable alternative to the ubiquitous plastic containers that are made from petroleum products, have big carbon footprints and clog U.S. landfills.

Boxed Water containers resemble milk cartons and are far more sustainable because about 75 percent of the box comes from a renewable resource—trees in certified, well-managed forests—and are completely recyclable. The company uses reverse osmosis and carbon filters for its purified drinking water from the municipal source at the location of their filling plant, and then ships the product to retailers via the shortest route to curtail the transportation footprint.

Boxed Water has partnered with 1% for the Planet to help with world water relief, reforestation and environmental protection projects, benefiting both humanitarian and environmental efforts.

For more information, visit BoxedWaterIsBetter.com. natural awakenings

January 2015

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Sustainable practices are notoriously difficult to implement in the service industry, yet many breweries in West Michigan are taking on the challenge.

For example, breweries owned by BarFly Ventures, such as Grand Rapids Brewing Company, HopCat, Stella’s Lounge and McFadden’s Irish Pub, can typically boast less than ten percent of waste ending up in a landfill, thanks to their commitment to recycling and composting through local vendors and facilities. All of their food waste, spent grain, take-out containers, straws, disposable cups and paper waste is currently composted and turned back into new soil for local farmers.

As an organization, BarFly also actively supports local charitable and environmental causes. Most recently, they have begun to support clean water initiatives in West Michigan. Water is not only central to survival; it is also the most important ingredient in food and beer. Their No Fracking Way collaboration beer, released in 2014, has already united many West Michigan breweries in a show of support for protecting the lakes, rivers and water supply.

Grand Rapids Brewing Company is additionally proud to be Michigan’s first USDA-certified organic brewery—but the entire brewery was designed from the ground up keeping the environmental impact in mind. A number of old architectural elements in the original space at 1 Ionia were reused throughout the building: floor joists from 1886 became their tables, old fire suppression system pipes were transformed into furniture legs and nearly all the brick that was removed in the renovation was put to use throughout the space, among other efforts. In an effort to reduce their carbon emissions, the brewery is powered mostly by city steam instead of solely fossil-based fuels. Their beer has also made them part of the local organic community as they use almost 90 percent of Michigan’s organic hops supply.

Brewery Vivant is also quite keen on sustainability. They worked closely with the U.S. Green Building Council during renovation and construction to coordinate compliance with the Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design framework. In 2012, they were awarded the first ever LEED certification (LEED Silver) for a brewery in the United States. Brewery Vivant also published sustainability goals and releases an annual report to the public, statistically showing where they are at with what they set out to do. A few of their 14 goals include zero waste to landfill, 90% of all purchases being made within 250 miles, 75% of all purchases being made from Michigan business and 10% of food being grown at the Vivant Farm.

West Michigan is full of many great, local breweries and should be proud of both what they produce and what they are doing for the planet in the meantime.

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I found it — The Secret to Anti-Aging!

My cholesterol dropped by 73 points in 1 month, my husband’s morning blood sugar level dropped from 200 to 113 in 3 months, and we are feeling and looking so much YOUNGER! A few months ago, my husband’s blood sugars were out of control after years of controlling it with diet. And his skin had taken on a yellowish-grey pallor… which showed me that his liver and kidneys were also in serious trouble. I was scared!

A friend stopped by, took one look at Charles, and said, “We have to get him on Forbidden Micronized Rice Heart immediately!” Although I had never heard of it, I quickly said, “Get me some now.” I am so grateful that I did!

Within 3 weeks his skin was pink and glowing and he was feeling much better. I also began eating it and began noticing more energy, sounder sleep, and improved skin.

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It is so tiny and powerful that when you eat it … it does not even have to go through your digestive system — it can immediately go into the cells and energize them! Like tiny arrows, these highly charged alpha glucan chains of super nutrients can pierce cell walls and furnish the mitochondria (the cell’s battery) with fuel to create massive amounts of ATP Light Energy, so that the cells can recharge, regenerate, and function at the highest level.

Recharge, Repair, and Regenerate Your Cells

We had our blood tested and after eating this rice product for only a month, my cholesterol had dropped by 73 points! I had been taking several other natural supplements for two years to lower cholesterol to no avail, but after only one month my cholesterol dropped to normal, as did my triglycerides, and three other blood markers that had been way too high. My doctor was shocked. He said no drug would give me those quick and dramatic results!

And Charles, with several medical conditions, had 10 blood markers drop significantly! My doctor said he knew of nothing that could work like that across so many body systems! “Not drugs...but real foods,” I said.

The reason so many people who are eating well and taking good supplements are still sick is ... nutrition can’t get into the cell!

A recent medical study showed — more than 80% of the population is insulin resistant at some level! That means that the sugars and nutrients we need for energy cannot get into the cells. (If a cell phone battery cannot be recharged — it powers down and eventually dies). If you are tired, and have dis-eases that have names … your cells are also powering down and dying.

When the sugars (polysaccharides) can’t get into your cells to be used for energy, they cause another problem, too. They float around your blood stream, sticking to proteins and fats—or “glycating”. Wherever they stick they cause problems … if they stick in the bloodstream they cause hardening of the arteries and high blood pressure, in the brain they cause learning and memory issues or dementia, in the eyes—cataracts, in the skin—wrinkles.

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The basis of the product is a ancient, heirloom strain of forbidden rice that is now grown in Thailand in a pristine valley that has never seen chemicals, pesticides, or GMO’s.

Then, the purple husk, which is extremely high in anthocyanin antioxidants, along with the very heart of the rice (the endosperm) is removed—this is the part that carries the super polysaccharide sugars and polypeptide amino acid building blocks. Everything else is discarded.

With only the dense nutrient rice heart left — this is then milled down to the size of a micron! That’s it—that is all that’s in this amazing raw natural product.

When I shared this with my friend, Bonnie, her body used the new cellular energy to reduce her blood pressure and smooth the wrinkles from her face. Nicole’s intense pain from an accident is gone and she is off her debilitating medications. Jeff is no longer experiencing acid reflux or gout. Dee Dee’s night blindness is gone and so are her allergies. Charles morning blood sugars have dropped from 200 to 113. I am looking so much younger that someone asked me if I had a ‘procedure’ done! Even my granddaughter’s dog has gotten rid of his digestive issues because of this product. So … would you like to see what this amazing food will do for you?

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Interval Training Knocks Down Blood Sugar

on

Exercise Bursts are Fast and Effective

by Lisa Marlene

Natural Awakenings Magazine of West Michigan

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L

abels may vary, but results are what count. Whether called highintensity intermittent exercise (HIIE), interval or burst-style training, recent research proves that this form of exercise improves insulin levels. This is promising news for the estimated 50 million American adults that have abdominal obesity and are on the path toward metabolic dysfunction due to a high-sugar diet that causes spikes and crashes in blood sugar levels and eventually contributes to insulin resistance.

According to a recent study published in the Journal of Obesity, the benefits of doing HIIE at least three times a week for two to six weeks include reduction of abdominal body fat, improved aerobic and anaerobic fitness and lower levels of insulin resistance.

In a separate study, Norwegian researchers examined the impact that different types of exercise programs had on individuals seeking to reverse metabolic dysfunction, an overall

NaturalWestMichigan.com

chemical imbalance largely attributed to insulin resistance. They concluded that despite producing similar effects on body weight and blood pressure, the aerobic interval training group also showed greater improvement in insulin sensitivity, aerobic capacity and highdensity lipoprotein (HDL, or “good� cholesterol) than those performing continuous moderate exercise. They also exhibited lower blood glucose (sugar) levels.

Another beneficial HIIE characteristic is that it involves markedly fewer exercise repetitions and less training time. JJ Virgin, a fitness and nutrition expert and author of The Virgin Diet, recommends incorporating burst-style and resistance training for fast, lasting fat loss and improving insulin resistance.

Best of all, you can do these exercises in minutes a day.

“Burst exercise means working out in short intense bursts of 30 to 60 seconds, coupled with one to two minutes

of active recovery time, moving at a lower intensity that allows you to catch your breath and lower your heart rate,” she explains.

Two easy examples of this are sprinting to burst and then walking to recover, and running up stairs to burst, and then walking down them to recover. “This should be repeated for a total of four to eight minutes of high-intensity bursts per session. Overall, this will take 20 to 30 minutes,” says Virgin.

She notes that the increase in stress hormones that occurs during HIIE are counteracted by the simultaneously raised levels of anabolic-building hormones.

“Short bursts train the body in how to handle stress and recover.

Repeated intense bursts raise the lactic acid level, which in turn raises growth hormone production and supports fat burning. The research is clear that the more intense the exercise, the bigger the metabolic benefit is afterward.”

The Skinny on Glycemic Foods

by Kathleen Barnes

T

hose wanting to reduce carbohydrate intake by eating foods with a low glycemic index based on their impact on blood sugar levels might consider using newer tables that instead measure glycemic load, suggests New York City Registered Dietitian and Nutritionist Susan Weiner.

She explains that the glycemic index only considers how quickly sugars from food are released into the bloodstream. The glycemic load charts a more accurate accounting of the amount of carbohydrates in an actual serving, rather than the 50-gram (1.76-ounce) portion used in calculating a food’s ranking on the glycemic index scale of 1 to 100.

“Glycemic load is a better indicator of how a carbohydrate food will affect blood sugar in realistic portions, especially in combination with other foods, including proteins and fats,” advises Weiner.

Here are a few compelling comparisons:

Food/Snack Carrot Watermelon Graham crackers Baguette Snickers bar Cornflakes Baked Potato

Glycemic Index 35 (low) 72 (high) 74 (high) 95 (very high) 51 (medium) 93 (very high) 111 (very high)

Glycemic Load 2 (low) 4 (low) 14 (medium) 15 (medium) 18 (medium high) 23 (high) 33 (high)

For an expanded rating of food items, visit Tinyurl.com/Glycemic-Load-Factor.

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January 2015

19

consciouseating

Hormone-Happy

FOODS The Right Choices Make Our Bodies Hum

by Linda Sechrist

O

ur body’s hormones work like an orchestra. When one instrument is out of tune, the entire production struggles to maintain harmony. Each plays a part in influencing the others and determining how well the whole concert works.

Fortunately, our body has masterful conductors, including the endocrine system, which coordinates all of the glands and the hormones they produce. “Players” include the adrenal, hypothalamus, pancreas, pineal, pituitary, reproductive and thyroid/ parathyroid glands.

“A healthy endocrine system is essential to making hormones in appropriate amounts throughout our life,” says Theresa Dale, Ph.D., a naturopathic doctor who practices as a traditional naturopath and clinical nutritionist in Oxnard, California, and has authored Revitalizing Your Hormones. “For example, when the ovaries shut down after menopause, the adrenal glands continue producing progesterone and other essential hormones.”

Dale, dean and founder of the California College of Natural Medicine, further assures that contrary to assertions from some conventional medicine reports, the body is able to produce necessary hormones throughout our entire life.

Hormones function as chemical messengers that commute through the bloodstream as part of the information

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NaturalWestMichigan.com

superhighway that connects the brain to the DNA managers of the body’s cells. “Hormones communicate with chemicals produced by the brain called neurotransmitters, such as serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine, which greatly influence energy levels, moods and other bodily functions such as moving memories from short- to longterm storage,” explains Dale.

For 20 years, she has seen patients with critical hormonal imbalances respond to her recommended threemonth, endocrine-rebuilding diet, comprising three daily meals of steamed, sautéed and raw foods, fish, whole grains, legumes, seeds, nuts, fresh fruits and vegetables, plus two raw vegetable or seed snacks. The regimen strives to balance metabolism, cleanse the body, restore immune function and revitalize the endocrine system.

Kokomo, Indiana, resident Sylvia Egel, national director of coaching and education for Metabolic Balance, a personalized nutrition plan to balance metabolism and hormones, optimize health and increase energy at any age, agrees that hormones can be restored and balanced via proper food selections. “Our lifestyle and dietary choices strongly affect our metabolism and hormonal health, as do stress levels and sleep patterns. Eating at the wrong time, in the wrong place or in the

wrong order, and even poor combinations of healthy foods, can be almost as problematic as eating junk food,” says Egel. She also warns against snacking, emotional eating, eating on the go, skipping breakfast and waiting too long between meals.

Diana Hoppe, author of Healthy Sex Drive, Healthy You, an obstetrician and gynecologist in San Diego, California, who leads clinical trials related to women’s health at the Pacific Coast Research Center, also sees firsthand how what we eat directly affects our hormones. She attests that our bodies need a balance of three macronutrients: carbohydrates, protein and fat. “But for 20 years, we have been advised to decrease fat intake in favor of fat-free options that have been detrimental to us, because we need fat to produce hormones and maintain healthy hormone function. Certain fatty acids and cholesterol serve as building blocks in hormone production and cellular function, especially the reproductive hormones of estrogen and testosterone,” says Hoppe.

Food can be medicine for hormones. One of the most important hormone-balancing fats is coconut oil, which heals skin, increases metabolism and supplies a quick source of energy.

Egg yolks are a good source of choline and iodine, essential to the production of healthy thyroid hormones, plus are rich in vitamins A, D, E and B-complex vitamins. Avocados have lots of healthy fat that helps absorb and utilize nutrients. Nuts and seeds, olive oil and salmon are all rich in omega-3 essential fatty acids that help stabilize hormone levels. Eating the right foods and incorporating healthy fats into meals increases overall energy, reduces hormonal fluctuations and helps us feel more balanced.

Says Dale, “The majority of individuals are surprised to learn that hormone health doesn’t depend on age, but rather on a complex of factors, like the air we breathe, the water we drink, the quality of our diet, good sleep and adequate exercise, plus the relative health of our relationships and emotional life—and that’s just for starters.”

Kelly S. Hassberger, N.D. Naturopathic Doctor

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January 2015

21

inspiration

New Year, New You When ‘Good Enough’ Is Perfect

by Elizabeth Lombardo

D

oes it sometimes feel like if we can’t do something perfectly, why should we bother doing it at all?

Perfectionism feeds on such an all-ornothing approach in following rigid self-imposed rules that can sabotage relationships, health and happiness.

Instead, try adopting a “better than perfect” mindset that embraces life’s imperfections without guilt or shame. A clean enough house or a good enough job is in many ways better than perfect.

Here are helpful approaches to reframe the internal discussion.

Remember what matters. In planning a big birthday party for her hus-

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West Michigan Edition

band, one wife was so stressed trying to manage every detail that she had to stop and ask herself: What is most important—having everything look perfect, or having a fun party they would enjoy and remember for the rest of their lives?

Thinking about our values keeps things in perspective and perfectionism in check.

Perfection isn’t likable. We often try to be perfect to gain other people’s attention and approval, but no one wants to be around a person trying to be someone they aren’t.

No one’s life is perfect. Social media often present idealized versions of people’s lives. Few post about

NaturalWestMichigan.com

fighting with their partner or coping with an unhappy infant; we most often hear about vacation adventures and baby’s first word or step. We can avoid feelings of dissatisfaction by avoiding comparisons with others.

It’s not failure, it’s data. Rather than personalize a perceived failure, take it on as an opportunity. If a New Year’s resolution to work out more isn’t kept, ask why: Is the exercise location too far away or is the class schedule inconvenient? It feels better to adopt a more successful strategy than to beat ourself up about falling short.

Perfectionism is a treadmill. People often think, “I’ll be happy when I weigh this or achieve that,” always seeking the next level of self-improvement. Appreciating who we are right now is a path to happiness.

Perfectionism is a learned behavior, and anything learned can be unlearned at any age. As we continue to strive for excellence, we can learn to embrace what’s good.

Take a perfectionist self-assessment quiz at Tinyurl.com/PerfectionismQuiz.

Elizabeth Lombardo, Ph.D., is a clinical psychologist and the author of Better than Perfect: 7 Strategies to Crush Your Inner Critic and Create a Life You Love plus A Happy You: Your Ultimate Prescription for Happiness. Connect at ElizabethLombardo.com.

communityspotlight

grand rapids natural health

by Mandi Grasmeyer

G

rowing up around naturopathy, Kelly Hassberger, ND of Grand Rapids Natural Health knew early on that she wanted to work within the healing arts.

Having lived a lifestyle of seeking alternative approaches when necessary and seen the benefits of doing so, it became clear to her that naturopathic medicine was an empowering field, and empowering is exactly what she wanted to do.

Hassberger attended the Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine in Arizona where she received her doctorate in Naturopathic Medicine. With her training and a year-long residency, Hassberger is able to use her medical knowledge to guide patients on the right direction toward healing, while focusing on alternative therapies whenever possible.

As naturopathic medicine is based on the belief that the body has the ability to heal itself given the proper environment and balance, the empowerment takes place when Hassberger gives her clients the tools, resources and/or education necessary to achieve that proper environment and balance.

Hassberger describes her job and says, “What I’m doing here is helping people figure out where the imbalances are coming from and adjusting things accordingly so the body can heal itself.”

Hassberger works alongside a client’s medical diagnosis and their primary care physician, while providing them with the tools they need to take back control of their health.

While Hassberger sees clients with a wide array of arising issues, naturopathic approaches often take the form of dietary and lifestyle modification.

Hassberger may also look into gastrointestinal tract imbalances or food

sensitivity analysis as she feels many issues are often a result of imbalanced gastrointestinal health. Issues arise when the body is not digesting properly, the body is depleted of nutrients or the immune system is not working as it should (80 percent of the immune system lives in the GI tract). When taking a closer look at what is really going on, Hassberger seeks out the imbalance(s) and helps her patients return to health naturally.

Hassberger notes that there are a lot of diseases that the conventional world calls “diagnosis of exclusion”, meaning the diagnosis falls under a broad category that doesn’t really help the patient learn how to get well, and the patient is sometimes even told they have no options. Hassberger enjoys stepping into these situations and working with those people to help them find a way out. For example, she’s witnessed the woman diagnosed as infertile become a mother after all. She’s had many patients return to their primary care physicians and be released from the medications they were once told would be their lifelong crutch.

Big, life changes can be made when using naturopathy. It’s those life changes made in her clients and the knowledge they gain about their individual situation that excites Hassberger about being a part of this industry and helping people heal. She enjoys taking the time to really listen to what people’s concerns are and provide them with the tools and resources they need to feel empowered to make the necessary change. Therefore, Hassberger’s initial consultations are two hours long so she’s able to thoroughly get to know her client and the issue they are facing and

then be able to educate them on what’s going on with their body and what the plan is going forward.

Hassberger knows that education is key, which is why she enjoys sharing on Facebook, updating her blog, speaking on television interviews, creating programs like her 7 and 30 Day cleanse programs, speaking in public and offering retreats for her clients, like the retreat coming up on March 20 to 22, when Hassberger will team up with Mary Johnson and Chris Wheeler of 1Breath4All to offer a wellness weekend.

The month of January celebrates many new and exciting things for Hassberger and Grand Rapids Natural Health. Not only is the business expanding, bringing on a Family and Marriage Therapist, getting into individual dietary programming, and more, but Grand Rapids Natural Health will also be moving to downtown Grand Rapids.

The new location will be at 638 West Fulton Street, Suite B.

As Hassberger says, “Naturopathy empowers people to make the changes that allow their body to function in the state in which it’s supposed to be functioning.” With naturopathy, much healing is possible. Whether a simple consultation or a cleanse is necessary, big changes can be made with this alternative approach; even for those that do not feel like they have a way out of their imbalanced health.

For more information or to schedule an appointment, call 616-264-6556 or visit GRNaturalHealth.com. See ad, page 21.

Mandi Grasmeyer is a frequent contributor to Natural Awakenings Magazine.

You can contact her at MandiGrasmeyer@gmail.com.

natural awakenings

January 2015

23

This past August, 12 nationally recognized functional medicine experts participated in the country’s first online Metabolic Revolution Summit to discuss the importance of recognizing the dots that connect the majority of today’s chronic diseases—high blood pressure, heart attack, stroke, pre-diabetes, Type 2 diabetes, weight gain, obesity, fatty liver disease, Alzheimer’s, dementia, cancer and even infertility. All of the panelists pointed to the root cause that links them all—the craze for a highcarbohydrate, low-fat diet starting in the 1990s combined with a sedentary lifestyle.

When several complex conditions exist simultaneously, medical science refers to them as a syndrome. Regardless of how such intricate interrelationships become manifest, all of these syndromes have early-stage signs that include inflammation, high blood sugar and insulin resistance, which can affect metabolic health.

A Holistic Approach

Doctors that specialize in functional integrative medicine strive to improve the health and well-being of patients by en-

It’s All About Metabolism Getting to the Root Cause of Disease

by Linda Sechrist

A

ttempts to tender lay explanations of how to attain and maintain better health have become fragmented and compartmentalized, with complex scientific cause-and-effect explanations of disease regularly reduced to isolated infographics and sound bites in the media. But understanding our body’s sophisticated, self-regulating, selfcorrecting and interdependent physiological systems, which work in collaboration with each other and inform us of the body’s status by means of symptoms, deserves a whole-systems frame of reference.

Stepping back from immediate concerns to grasp the bigger picture allows for rethinking the Western approach to health. A perspective that connects all the dots works best, beginning with the foundation of wellness—the functioning of 73 trillion cells that are organized into a variety of tissues, including interconnected systems of organs. Optimally, they function together harmoniously to achieve homeostasis, the overall chemical and energetic balance that defines metabolic health.

The Reign of Metabolism

Many perceive the role of metabolism as limited to determining energy expenditure via the number of calories burned per day, but it does much more. Metabolism actually encompasses thousands of physical and chemical processes that take place in the functioning of every cell, the building blocks of life; healthy cell function produces proper endocrine (hormonal) functioning, influencing homeostasis.

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NaturalWestMichigan.com

gaging them in their own healing process. One popular approach is practiced by Durango, Colorado, Doctor of Chiropractic James Forleo, author of Health is Simple, Disease is Complicated: A Systems Approach to Vibrant Health. He starts by educating people about the basic functioning of the major body systems involved in their specific health challenges.

“To maintain metabolic health, no one should overlook that the body’s intelligence works 24/7 to solve multiple problems simultaneously, including balancing their metabolism. The more complex the pattern of symptoms, the more systems are involved. Whether a single or group of symptoms indicate metabolic dysfunction, it means that numerous systems that rely on healthy cells are unable to perform their normal functions,” explains Forleo.

For example, blood sugar issues, excess circulating insulin and buildup of excess glucose stored as fat can lead to metabolic dysfunction. The pancreas, thyroid and gastrointestinal tract—primary glands in the endocrine system that plays a major role in balancing body chemistry by secreting hormones directly into the circulatory system—are negatively impacted.

Well-functioning adrenals are necessary to balance blood sugar and one role of the pancreas is to produce insulin.

When four of the eight major organ systems—immune, endocrine, cardiovascular and digestive—are impacted by metabolic dysfunction, a more holistic and systemic approach to health can provide a broader understanding of how they interrelate, and why preventive measures can preclude having to later pursue ways to reverse serious chronic diseases.

Pioneering integrative doctors are connecting the dots that point to the root causes of the majority of today’s chronic diseases.

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Lifestyle Factors

Functional medicine’s integrative approach to metabolic health is based on proper nutrition and regular exercise.

“The inflammatory agents present in much of the food consumed at each meal in the standard American diet—highglycemic refined carbohydrates, high-fructose corn syrup and other sugars, and hydrogenated and partially hydrogenated fats—are the biggest offenders,” says Forleo, who notes that the body instead needs good fats, such as those obtained from olive and coconut oils.

Factors over which we can exercise some control— physical activity, stress, sleep, diet and circadian rhythms— all play roles in metabolic health. Unfortunately, “We are moving further away from our ancestors’ healthier diet and lifestyle. We’re overfed and undernourished because we’re no longer eating for nutrition, but for entertainment,” remarks Doctor of Chiropractic Brian Mowll, the medical director of Sweet Life Diabetes Health Centers in Pennsylvania and Delaware.

He characterizes metabolic dysfunction as the ultimate problem because it’s the doorway to many other ailments.

“A hundred years ago, infectious diseases plagued humanity.

Today and in the future, it’ll be metabolic disorders such as obesity, cancer, metabolic syndrome, thyroid disorders and other endocrine problems, diabetes and Type 2 diabetes,” predicts Mowll.

Metabolic Health Education

Dr. Caroline Cederquist, author of The MD Factor Diet: A Physician’s Proven Diet for Metabolism Correction and Healthy Weight Loss, and founder of Cederquist Medical Wellness Center, in Naples, Florida, conducted a one-year study of patients to identify their health issues via blood work analysis. Eighty-nine percent of the men, women and children showed evidence of insulin resistance. This often-overlooked metabolic condition affects how the body processes glucose, a simple sugar and the body’s primary fuel, making gaining weight easy and losing it difficult. Treated with proper diet, lifestyle changes and supplements, plus medication in advanced stages, Cederquist found that metabolic dysfunction is reversible.

She explains that long-term insulin resistance can lead to fatty liver disease, high blood sugar and eventually, diabetes. It also directly affects cholesterol levels and can induce triglycerides, high blood pressure, low HDL (high-density lipoprotein, or “good” cholesterol), increased waist circumference and heart disease. In Cederquist’s young adult patients, metabolic dysfunction was also associated with polycystic ovarian syndrome, a cause of infertility.

Germany’s Dr. Wolf Funfack, a specialist in internal and nutritional medicine and creator of a well-regarded

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25

metabolic balancing program, noted that insulin resistance both increases the production of stress hormones and blocks production of the anti-inflammatory hormones that slow the aging process. Funfack’s all-natural, personalized nutrition plan, backed by more than 25 years of scientific study, is designed to bring hormonal balance, optimize health and lead to long-term weight management.

Cardiologist Stephen Sinatra, author of Metabolic Cardiology, goes a step further. He believes that metabolic dysfunction involving cells, hormones and inflammation encompasses the molecular-based essence of all disease. He observes, “Individuals diagnosed with several conditions can leave a doctor’s office with three or four prescriptions, rather than the one solution for reversal and prevention—a healthy lifestyle and non-inflammatory diet to offset and neutralize weight gain, blood pressure elevation and other abnormalities such as high blood sugar.”

Mowll agrees that many conventional healthcare practitioners don’t address the root cause of metabolic disorders or provide lifestyle interventions. “They simply reach for the prescription pad,” he says. This growing problem presents an opportunity to educate the entire populace.

Bestselling Virgin Diet author JJ Virgin, who characterizes the human body as a “chemistry lab,” adopts an easy-tofollow nutritional and fitness approach for metabolic health.

She recommends eating the types of healthy fats found in wild fish, raw nuts and seeds, coconut, avocado and olives.

Virgin prefers the clean, lean protein of grass-fed beef and wild fish, plus low-glycemic lentils and legumes and plenty of low-glycemic fruits like raspberries, blueberries, pears and grapefruits. Low-glycemic vegetables on her list include green peas, green beans, broccoli, cauliflower, onion and eggplant. “When you eat this way, there’s a slow release of sugar, and insulin remains at lower levels,” advises Virgin.

As in any systems theory, the whole must be understood in relationship to the parts, as well as the relevant environment.

Experts agree that it’s paramount to take an expanded, systemic approach to metabolic health, rather than fixating on only one or two aspects at a time. Metabolic health—from basic cells to the most sophisticated of organized systems—can only be achieved and sustained when the whole system is healthy.

Linda Sechrist is a senior staff writer for Natural Awakenings and host of the online Metabolic Revolution Summit. Visit her website ItsAllAboutWe.com for a free audio sample.

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How to Talk with a Doctor

by Carol L. Roberts

M

any patients, both men and women, have a heroworshipping attitude toward their physicians and can be intimidated during visits. They may feel it’s impolite to question a doctor, even to get information needed to make critical decisions for one’s self or a loved one.

Some doctors seem to have forgotten they are still just people with a medical degree. Patients should remember this if they encounter any perceived aloofness or arrogance. Too often, such an unhelpful attitude may be acquired along with professional experience.

Getting ready for a visit to a doctor often entails following instructions, but should also include preparing questions you want answered. If a serious health issue has surfaced, such as an abnormal lab test or a diagnosis that requires treatment, make key questions count: “Where did this come from? Is there anything I can do for myself? What is the recommended treatment? What are the expected effects and unintended side effects of the proposed treatment? Are there alternative forms of treatment? Can I speak to one of your patients that has undergone this treatment?”

Then, do online research upon returning home. The Internet has placed the entire library of medicine at our fingertips.

Sift out the science from the hype, refine questions and go back for deeper answers. Get a second opinion from another medical doctor or naturopath (some states license them) or doctor of Oriental medicine (acupuncture and herbs). No matter if the proposed treatment is as seemingly simple as a course of antibiotics or as serious as surgery, question it before automatically submitting to a diagnosis and drug prescription.

Each of us is the only person on Earth with the unique vantage point of living inside our body. We shouldn’t let anyone label us as depressed if a sick body says otherwise, that “It’s all in your head,” if it’s real, or that there’s no cure. That’s where alternative medicine usually begins and miracles can happen. The best results come from standing up for ourselves.

Dr. Carol L. Roberts practices integrative medicine at the Perlmutter Health Center, in Naples, FL (PerlHealth.com).

She is a founding diplomate of the American Board of Integrative Holistic Medicine.

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Understanding Whole Systems Health

by Sandy Parker, BS CPT

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iological function in the West is largely based on understanding individual systems such as the nervous, cardiovascular, skeletal or muscular. These are broken down further into organs or other smaller recognizable parts, such as vessels, nodes or ligaments. Generally, systems and their respective parts are learned independently of one another, and many practitioners specialize in a particular system. For example, a fitness expert may think his/her main concern is the muscular system and the science of kinesiology.

However, experience will shape understanding and he/she will begin to discern patterns of functionality that don’t neatly fit into the categories his/ her professors taught.

The body is not made up of separate, independent parts, and although learning systems individually has some benefit, the more you learn, the more integrative aspects of whole body function becomes apparent.

One of the main concerns of a yoga teacher is hips. In 21st century America, there are so many hip injuries and replacements. To teach to all levels of ability, a yoga instructor needs a clear understanding of how they function. They, therefore, must understand the thighs, feet, pelvis, sacrum, lower back, pelvic floor and all the tissues located

within that area. This may lead them to learning about Pelvic Floor Dysfunction (PFD). A large part of society is experiencing PFD and PFD is expected to increase over the next 50 years.

A blog, Katy Says speaks straight science about hips, Kegels, the pelvic floor, squatting and PFD in a way that makes logical sense. Katy Says is written by Katy Bowman, MS, a biomechanical scientist who decided to take her work from the lab out into the world of “front line” teachers – people that connect on a daily basis with clients that are actively seeking better health. She developed the Restorative Exercise Institute, the Aligned and Well video series and an international program that offers a certification to become a Restorative Exercise Specialist™. She has written several books, and her latest, Move Your DNA, has become an instant best seller.

At the heart of Restorative Exercise™ are the principles that your body responds to what you do most frequently, not what you do most enthusiastically and that movement is a biological requirement.

Scientifically, Bowman’s work is based on a Newtonian physics understanding of how load applies to the human body: how gravity, torsion and pressure influence cells, tissues, organs and systems. Bowman researches how we move now and what effect those habits have on our

health. She states, “The loads we experience in today’s world differ hugely from the loads people experienced a hundred, a thousand, and ten thousand years ago. Yet we blithely accept that our health issues – which so many of us share – are genetic. Genetic, a term we’ve internally defined as beyond our control.” (Move Your DNA, 25)

Biomechanics is a unifying foundation for well-being that sees the body as a matrix of interactive parts rather than individual ones. Rather than a static understanding of human health, it becomes a dynamic interplay of bodies in motion. The key to understanding holistic health becomes understanding how we move (load) and what effect it has on functionality.

Aiding in understanding holistic health could be a Restorative Exercise Specialist™. A Restorative Exercise Specialist™ would check how a client aligns in a simple standing position, test for tension and assess their gait in walking. They would then assign simple exercises that transition a client to natural movement that is most beneficial to all of the cells, tissues, organs and systems of the body. This is a simple-yet-effective method that honors human design and restores health. The real beauty of this modality is that it places taking control of one’s health back into one’s own hands – which incidentally represent several integrative systems in themselves!

Sandy Parker, BS CPT is a Restorative Exercise Specialist™ and the owner of and instructor at On The Path Yoga in Spring Lake. Email her at Sandy@ OnThePathYoga.com or visit OnThePathYoga.com.

natural awakenings

January 2015

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tress saps energy, and Americans feel stressed more than ever, with 20 percent of us experiencing “extreme stress” at least weekly, according to the American Institute of Stress. Could latenight TV and the ubiquitous presence of electronic devices be the culprits?

Partly, according to information published by Harvard Medical School. While all light stimulates the brain, the blue light from electronic devices and some eco-light bulbs disrupt circadian rhythms, prevent production of melatonin and block deep, healthful, restorative sleep.

Fortunately, there’s an easy remedy, say Harvard experts: Seek abundant exposure to bright natural sunlight, and then turn off all electronic devices an hour before bedtime. Some experts even suggest wearing orange-colored goggles for the last two waking hours to neutralize the energy-sucking blue rays.

Here are a few more energy thieves and ways to neutralize them.

Avoid Energy Vampires

Problem: We all know someone that exhausts us, according to Dr. Judith Orloff, Venice Beach, California, author of the new book, The Ecstasy of Surrender. Maybe he or she talks endlessly about personal matters, is incessantly negative, a gossip or a guilt-tripper.

NaturalWestMichigan.com

Solution: “Take control. Get in the driver’s seat,” advises Orloff. “Create a circle of positive people around you.

Stay calm and centered. Distance yourself from energy vampires and if they’re family, limit time spent with them and establish boundaries.”

Recognize Time Leeches

Problem: We fall into the black hole of Facebook or cute kitten videos. Hours pass and we fall behind in more productive activities and then feel drained and groggy.

Solution: Time management is essential to preserving energy, says Orloff. Limit time spent on social media. Check email once or twice a day instead of every 15 minutes.

“The Internet is addictive, almost like a drug,” explains Orloff. “When you’re online, your energy is cut off and you become a zombie; you’re not in your body. Take a technology fast. Talk to your mate. Make love. Go for a walk in the woods. See your best friend.”

Get Rid of Clutter

Problem: We all have way too much “stuff,” says Linda Rauch Carter, author of Move Your Stuff, Change Your Life. “If you don’t have room, you shut your-

self off from the flow of energy in your home and become exhausted,” says the Tustin, California, feng shui expert.

“When I ask a client to take half of the stuff off a shelf and then ask how it feels, they almost always take a deep breath. The clutter literally chokes off breath and vitality.”

Solution: “Clear out what isn’t needed,” counsels Carter. “Keep a balance by making it a habit when bringing new things into a home or work environments to let go of a comparable number of old things at the same time.”

Beware of clutter creep, the slow accumulation of energy-sapping clutter, she says. “I believe the lack of energy so many of us experience is a nearly undetectable, chronic energy drain that seems slight, yet over time becomes a big problem.”

More Ways to Recharge Take a walk. A brisk 10-minute walk gets the cobwebs out and neutralizes the four o’clock energy slump, says Dr. Judith Orloff. Just spending time outside is a simple, time-tested way of boosting energy.

Recent Scottish research published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine confirms the energy-enhancing power of nature in general, noting that people that live near trees have lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol.

Just Say No. “’No,’ is a complete sentence,” says Orloff. “You don’t have to be mean or angry about it; just firmly say ‘No,’ when someone asks you to do something you don’t want to do or because you already feel overcommitted or overwhelmed. You don’t have to explain or make excuses.” A commitment isn’t necessarily final either, remarks Orloff: “If you dread it and can’t delegate it, renegotiate the earlier agreement.”

Stop Electromagnetic Pollution

Problem: We are all surrounded by energy-draining electromagnetic fields (EMF) from myriad electronic devices and systems in homes and offices, plus cell phone towers and transmission lines. All of these operate on frequencies that can be major energy drains, says Carter. Japanese research physician Ryoichi Ogawa found that 80 percent of his chronic fatigue patients were frequent users of electromagnetic technologies (Omega-News).

Solution: Minimize indoor exposure to EMFs by using land lines with corded phones, power strips and shutting off electricity to nonessential appliances when not in use. “I’ve been preaching this for 20 years,” says Carter. Protecting sleep space is a primary consideration. “Make sure no beds are near electrical outlets and cell phones. Get rid of cordless phones, which are like mini cell towers, right there in the house,” she adds.

The easiest solution, Carter says, is to put bare feet on bare earth for 15 to 20 minutes a day. “It will pull some of that excess EMF charge right off of you.”

Kathleen Barnes is the author of numerous natural health books and publisher at Take Charge Books. Connect at Kathleen@KathleenBarnes.com. natural awakenings

January 2015

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2015 JANUARY

whole systems health plus: energy boosters FEBRUARY

enlightened relationships plus: healing grief MARCH

animal rights

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plus: natural birth JUNE

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plus: inspired living AUGUST

parenting with presence plus: creativity SEPTEMBER

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wisewords

Louise Hay on Loving Yourself to Ageless Health

by S. Alison Chabonais

A Tip of the Month...

If you get coffee to go, ask them to not give you a sleeve, you don’t really need it and it is bad for the environment.

renowned leader of the self-help movement from its early days, Louise Hay is celebrated worldwide for teaching—by personal example and through her bestselling book, You Can Heal Your Life—how each of us can transform our mind, body and spirit by changing the way we think. Her positive philosophy has sparked an industry and her Hay House publishing group.

Nourishing mind and body, loving life, learning and growing, giving back and moving ahead—these comprise Hay’s program for creating health, happiness and longevity. At 88, she continues to travel for business and pleasure, embracing vital, joy-filled days with a thankful smile. Her new book, Loving Yourself to Great Health, co-authored with Ahlea Khadro and Heather Dane, explains how she’s taking all she knows to the next level.

Why does first applying love and forgiveness to yourself make a happy, healthy and long life possible?

Loving yourself is the foundation for living the life you want. A healthy and happy life is rooted in self-love, and forgiveness is an act of self-love.

It all comes down to how you think and treat yourself. What we give out we get 32

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back, so it all starts with us. Remember, no matter what the problem is, there is only one answer: loving yourself. Start with small steps and be gentle. If you start there, magical things will happen.

How do you manage to engage in a stream of loving affirmations 24/7?

Practice, practice, practice! Slowly, bit-by-bit, start each day with a loving act towards yourself. Loving affirmations and worrying about things take up the same amount of time; you still get the same things done along the way, but worrying creates stress, while affirmations will brighten your life. It can be exhausting if you fight the shift and make it difficult. If you make kindness to yourself and others a simple part of everyday life, it isn’t exhausting at all.

What are some key elements to crafting a life experience that supports and nourishes ageless being?

Choose thoughts that bring love into your life and laugh a lot. Say yes to life and the magic it brings.

I trust that life will bring me exactly what I need, and part of that is realizing that I don’t need to know everything, because life brings me people like Ahlea and Heather.

A third of our life is spent eating, and

it’s essential that we know the best way to do this. Start your day with water and an act of self-love. Eat real food; seasonal, organic, natural foods are a positive affirmation to your body. Poop every day, figuratively and literally.

Learn to listen to your body and its wisdom. Choose exercise that you love and that makes you feel good.

Also, go on a media diet. Filter out from your consciousness any messages that say you are not good enough or that separate you from the beautiful and lovable person you are. Surround yourself with like-minded people that share good news and love to laugh.

The core belief founding your lifework is that every thought we have is creating our future.

Is scientific research now supporting that?

When I began teaching people about affirmations, there wasn’t any science to support it, but we knew it worked, and now studies verify that. I particularly love Bruce Lipton’s scientific research showing that we are not controlled by our genes because the genetic blueprint can be altered through positive changes in our beliefs.

I hear reports every day of how people are healing their lives by changing their thoughts through cultivating selflove and personal affirmations. They are seeing healing of autoimmune diseases, obesity, addictions, post-traumatic stress and many other so-called incurable illnesses. It’s amazing what happens when you are kind and loving to yourself.

What is your secret to aging gracefully through the years?

It’s simple. It’s about getting your thoughts and food right and having fun along the way. If you are thinking positive thoughts but feeding yourself processed, unnatural or sugary foods, you are sending yourself mixed messages. Feed yourself nourishing foods and think loving thoughts. Any time you don’t know what else to do, focus on love. Loving yourself makes you feel good, and good health comes from feeling good.

S. Alison Chabonais is the national content editor for Natural Awakenings magazines.

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naturalpet

cautiously for the welfare of all individuals connected to its use. Both injectable anesthetic drugs and inhalant anesthetic drugs (gases) can be used safely if properly chosen for a specific condition, accurately dosed and continuously monitored.

Myth #2: Grogginess is a Given When a high-quality medication is properly administered, a groggy state lasting from several hours to a day or more following a procedure shouldn’t occur. Lower-quality anesthetic drugs injected during discounted spaying and neutering procedures may produce such prolonged recovery periods.

It’s safer to use a high-quality, quick-acting, short-term injectable anesthetic, followed by gas anesthesia for anesthetic maintenance, during surgical procedures, including for spaying and neutering. Patients wake up quickly following surgery and can be sent home fully awake soon afterwards.

PET ANESTHESIA How to Make it Safe and Easier on Everyone

Myth #3: A Pet is Too Old

by Shawn Messonnier

M

any pet parents and some veterinarians have an unnecessary fear of animal anesthesia. Addressing some misconceptions about this common medical procedure can be helpful, particularly in regard to older pets.

Myth #1: Anesthesia is Dangerous Modern anesthesia has evolved into a safe medical practice since it was introduced in 1799 and uses much safer drugs than earlier versions. Still, all medications need to be approached

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No pet is too old for proper medical care. Because older pets don’t metabolize some drugs as well as younger ones, the correct anesthesia must be chosen for the pet’s age and current state of health or medical problems.

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veterinarian has deemed them too old for anesthesia.

Both the family and the veterinarian need to feel comfortable with treatments. Ask questions before submitting an animal to any anesthetic or surgery or other medical procedure.

Talk with the veterinarian about using this gentle, natural approach to help relieve any concerns if a pet needs sedation or anesthesia.

A NEW DAY A NEW APP

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.

PRINCIPLES OF HOLISTIC ANESTHESIA

by Shawn Messonnier n Each patient is unique and has unique anesthetic needs. n Giving the least amount of anesthesia needed ensures the safest possible procedure. n Analgesics are used to minimize discomfort and meet anesthetic needs. n Some anesthetic drugs may be used to minimize the depth of anesthesia obtained.

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n Light levels of anesthesia are preferred for minimally painful procedures. n Carefully monitoring the patient during anesthesia helps ensure a good outcome.

Learn from the past and let it go.

n Patients should wake up from anesthesia immediately following the procedure.

~Louise Hay

Live in today.

n Patients are sent home immediately following anesthetic recovery. n An older pet can be safely anesthetized by a holistic vet as part of its anti-aging care. natural awakenings

January 2015

35

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healthykids

An App a Day Keeps the Doctor Away Keep Kids Engaged in Healthy Living

by Julianne Hale

I

n today’s technology-fueled society, kids spend many hours of their free time staring at smartphones or tablets instead of exploring nature, riding bikes or playing outdoor games with their friends. Rather than just imposing radical reductions in screen time, parents and caregivers can meet youngsters halfway by adding apps to their handheld devices that provide tips on healthy eating, exercise and behavior.

Here are five that are fun for kids and promote healthy lifestyle choices.

To advertise or participate in our next issue, call

616-656-9232 36

West Michigan Edition

Super Stretch Yoga HD. Super Stretch is the primary character in this yoga adventure in which players are encouraged to, “Create a peaceful, balanced life by living a NAMASTE mission: Nothing is impossible; Always be honest; Make the world a better place; Act with kindness; Share with others; Trust and believe in yourself; and Enjoy and have fun.”

Creator and founder Jessica Rosenberg, of Minneapolis, Minnesota, explains, “I translated a curriculum that I’ve been using for kids into an ‘edutainment’ app that combines gaming and real-life kids

NaturalWestMichigan.com

as characters that bring yoga to life.”

Players are challenged to master the skills presented by each of the game’s 12 main characters, increasing awareness of breathing and other aspects of how the body works, plus promoting self-esteem.

Free in the iTunes App Store.

If, the Emotional IQ Game. An adventure game inspired by If, a well-known poem by Rudyard Kipling, players go on a quest through Ziggurat, a fantasy world where they enlist energy creatures called Vims to rid their avatars of dark energy. Youngsters are challenged to complete missions using emotional language. The character traits required to complete the tasks include patience, teamwork and other skills that help kids build emotional intelligence. Free in the iTunes App Store.

Smash Your Food. Nutritionist Marta De Wulf, from Bellevue, Washington, felt compelled to develop her innovative app when she realized that while kids understand that certain foods contain too much sugar, fat or carbs, they have

no idea how the information pertains to them.

The award-winning app “allows children to input their age, gender and level of physical activity to measure their individual caloric need,” says De Wulf.

“When they choose a food to ‘smash’ and see that eight grams of sugar cubes are in a can of soda, they’re able to process healthy food information.”

Smash Your Food features audio/ video of actual food smashing. “Kids are sensorial and different kinds of learners. It’s more effective than using cartoon images,” she observes. It’s $2.99 in the iTunes App Store.

Oh, Ranger! Park Finder. Instead of vaguely suggesting that kids put down their electronic devices and head outdoors, why not ask them to choose an adventure for the whole family? Using the Oh, Ranger! Park Finder app, kids can search for nearby outdoor recreation areas from a comprehensive database of national parks, state parks, national forests, wildlife refuges, Bureau of Land Management sites and U.S. Army Corps recreation areas. Kids can further seek out specific activities from 20-plus categories that range from birdwatching and hiking to boating and camping. Free in the iTunes App Store or Google Play.

Whole U GR Grand Rapid’s 2nd Annual Holistic Expo January 24, 2015 | 10am-4pm

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Spirit, Mind & Body

Kids Making Healthy Choices. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control reports that rates of childhood obesity have doubled in the past 30 years. This kid- and parent-friendly app is designed to help.

It springboards from San Diego, California’s Merilee Kern’s children’s book of the same title. Embedded via an e-reader, kids can play games, print coloring sheets and explore healthy recipes while parents check out the news section and resource page for links with information for keeping youngsters healthy.

“Surveys show that parents often don’t realize that their child has a weight problem,” notes Kern. “It’s important to discuss this topic within the family, and the app helps facilitate this in a non-threatening, helpful way.”

It’s $2.99 in the iTunes App Store.

Julianne Hale writes and edits for Natural Awakenings franchise magazines and blogs about motherhood at AnotherGrayHair.wordpress.com. natural awakenings

January 2015

37

er

smey

Gra andi

by M

The

cry for peace has been heard for hundreds of years, in countless situations, spanning the entire world. Many have a strong, innate desire for peace – a strong desire to live in harmony with nature and neighbor, but the cruel disturbances of that peace cut like daggers into what could be better. Only by making a conscious note of those disturbances and seeking to eliminate them can we achieve that “better”, the peace we desire.

One such disturbance is bullying.

Bullying may seem so small in comparison to battles and bombs, but the rippling effect of bullying also affects the lives of all, young and old, near and far.

According to Stopbullying.gov, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ anti-bullying website, bullying is defined as “intentionally aggressive,

usually repeated verbal, social or physical behavior aimed at a specific person or group of people”. While some bullying actions are considered criminal, such as harassment or hazing, “bullying” alone is not illegal, and it is very prominent in all stages of life.

A UCLA psychology study found that bullying supposedly boosts the social status and popularity of middle school students, causing it to be an enticing vice for those trying to look “cool”. It went on to report that approximately 160,000 teens reportedly skip school every day in the nation because of bullying, and one in 10 teens drops out of school due to repeated bullying.

Not surprisingly, students who are bullies as young adults continue the trend of abuse and violence into adulthood.

By the age of 30, approximately 40 percent of boys who were identified as bullies in middle and high school had been arrested three or more times.

As for the bullied students, many

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suffer lifelong consequences such as self-doubt, lack of courage and a proneness to self-harm and even suicide. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found in 2011 that 39,518 suicides were reported, making suicide the 10th leading cause of death for Americans. In that year, someone in this country died by suicide every 13.3 minutes.

Unfortunately, only 20-30 percent of students who are bullied tell adults or authorities about their situations.

Without accurate reporting, it’s difficult to change the patterns of bullying and abuse that persist in the U.S. and to potentially lower the likelihood of death by suicide due to bullying. However, a glimpse of hope comes from initiatives like be nice., a West Michigan mental health awareness, bullying and suicide prevention initiative that focuses on school-wide change through simple, daily actions and now is expanding into other areas of the nation as well.

The be nice. program was created in 2011 by the Mental Health Foundation of West Michigan, an organization that exists to promote good mental

We all have a hand in creating the community where we want to live.

It is the support of our wonderful advertisers that makes it possible to provide this resource to you each month.

Please support the businesses that support us... and be sure to mention you saw them in Natural Awakenings.

health at every level. At the core of be nice. is the idea that your words and actions have tremendous power: the power to change someone’s life. As the program says, “How you treat others can have a major impact on their mental health (how they think, act and feel). Simple efforts on your part to infuse positivity into negative situations can make someone’s day and even save their life!”

be nice. focuses on a four step model to raise awareness and address bullying before it ever happens. The first step is to notice what is good, what is right and what could be done better to make everyone feel like they belong.

The second step is to invite ourselves to make a change, knowing that small changes can make a big difference. The third step is to challenge others to join in the movement, and the fourth and final step is to empower schools and communities to embrace the principals of the be nice. initiative.

be nice. offers a program for elementary schools and a program for middle/high schools. The programs include instructions, lesson plans, access to monthly webinars, discounted be

nice. merchandise for an entire school and more. The materials provided act as empowerment to the schools to get their students educated on bullying and the effects it has on students as well as to get them to team up together to stop bullying.

With this initiative and others like it, schools will hopefully see a greater sense of the peace many desire and a healthier environment for students to learn, grow and become adults who want the peace they experienced in school to continue on into their adult lives as well as the lives of others.

A certain level of peace is achievable if students, young adults and adults are empowered, taking note of what is going on around them and seeking to make positive changes to prevent such a disturbance in the peace that could be. It is possible to

live in right relationship with nature and neighbor so long as we live consciously. Bullying does not have to be a disturbance of the peace, because it does not have to be at all. We simply have to be nice.

For more information on the be nice. initiative, visit BeNiceOnline.com.

Mandi Grasmeyer is a frequent contributor to Natural Awakenings Magazine. Contact her at MandiGrasmeyer@ gmail.com.

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natural awakenings

January 2015

39

$ave Time & Energy!

Please call in advance to ensure that the event you’re interested in is still available.

calendarofevents Visit www.NaturalWestMichigan.com for guidelines and to submit entries. All Calendar events must be submitted online by the 15th of the month prior to publication.

Denotes an event sponsored by Natural Awakenings Magazine West Michigan.

ALL MONTH LONG

and discover an inner world of calm, peace and joy. During this guided meditation, energy healing will be given to each participant by Healing in America-trained practitioners. $5. Info: 269-9296796. At Satya Yoga’s new location: 439 Butler St., Saugatuck.

SUNDAY, JANUARY 11

Vendor Registration- Booth rental and presentation spots now open for registration for the all-inclusive Healthy Living Expo at the Lakes Mall in Muskegon. The expo is on April 25 from 11am-7pm.

Share your natural product/healthy service or art!

RimeTimeProductions.com.

TUESDAY, JANUARY 6

Vision Board Making- Join Nancy Getz at Bodhi Tree Yoga & Wellness Studio to create your Vision Board for 2015. Costs $15, includes all materials.

Call 616-566-3916 with any questions. Register at MiBodhiTree.com. 208 W. 18th St, Holland.

Garden Of Life Demo- Garden of Life will be doing demonstrations once a month at Nature’s Market, 1013 Washington Ave, Holland. Contact Nature’s Market at 616-394-5250 or visit NaturesMarketHolland.com to find out which day they’ll be there each month.

Awaken into the New Year- Schedule a one-hour massage and receive an additional 30 minutes complimentary, combined with Energy Healing. Awaken to your highest potential today. Call 269-221-1961 to schedule an appointment. WaysToHealing.com.

Kalamazoo and Portage.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 1 New Year’s Day Free New Year Yoga Class- 11am and 4pm. Create intention on the first day of the New Year with a practice designed to move and integrate you – mentally, physically and spiritually. See OnThePathYoga.com for details. Free. On The Path Yoga, 701 E. Savidge #3, Spring Lake.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 3

Bija Yoga Prenatal Program- noon-1:15pm.

Experience the many benefits of yoga during pregnancy. Learn specific alignment, breathing and relaxation techniques as well as how to modify postures and movements as your baby grows. Visit OnThePathYoga.com for details. 701 E. Savidge #3, Spring Lake.

Free New Year Classes- 1-2pm: Gentle Yoga, 2:303:30pm: Mixed Levels 1-3. Celebrate the start of 2015. New, current and returning students are all welcome. Reserve your place by emailing to: info@ gryoga.com. The Yoga Studio, 955 Cherry St. SE, Grand Rapids. GRYoga.com.

SUNDAY, JANUARY 4 World Hypnotism Day

Guided Meditation & Healing Circle- 7:458:45pm. Escape from the stress and strains of life

40

West Michigan Edition

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 7

Guided Meditation and Healing Circle- 7-8pm.

Escape from stress and discover an inner world of calm, peace & joy through guided meditation and energy healing from Healing in America-Trained Healers. $5 donation. Holistic Care Approach, 3368 Beltline Ct., NE, Grand Rapids.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 8

How to Use a Pendulum- 6-8pm. Learn the hidden secrets of the pendulum and how to find the answers for healings and other wonderful modalities. The Healing Center, 3332 S. Lincoln Ave., Lakeview.

RSVP at 989-352-6500. TheHealingCenterOfLakeview.com.

Microbirth at Midwifery Matters Community Center- 6:30-9pm. We’d like to give back to the community through education with birth related movies and donations to local organizations. Second Thursday, bi-monthly. Please bring an item to donate to Pregnancy Resource Center, visit PRCForLife. org for list of items. Questions? Midwifery-Matters. com. 6293 Kenowa Ave SW, Grandville.

Path to Transformation Series- 7-8pm. No matter what your goals are for the New Year, you will need guidance, encouragement and discipline to make them a lasting part of your journey. This series offers everything you need to stay on track. Visit OnThePathYoga.com for more information. Space limited, register early. Spring Lake.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 10

Sunday Service- 10:30am. Join our warm, inviting, New Thought, spiritual community, inclusive and accepting of all for a special New Year’s Burning Bowl Service. Join Rev. Jim Ashby and musician Ray Gordon for a highly effective means of manifesting the potential for new beginnings. Unity of Grand Rapids, 1711 Walker Ave. NW, Grand Rapids.

MONDAY, JANUARY 5

Living Downstream- 7pm. Come watch Living Downstream, based on Sandra Steingraber’s book.

It’s a documentary breaking the silence about cancer and its environmental links. Sponsored by Michigan Land Air and Water Defense. 315 S. Rose St. Kalamazoo.

Sing Song Yoga- Noon-12:30 for ages 2-6, 12:451:30 for ages 6-11. Introduce your children to the joys of yoga in an age-appropriate class full of music, movement and merriment! Learn more and register on-line at GRYoga.com. The Yoga Studio, 955 Cherry St. SE, Grand Rapids.

Restorative Sound Journey- 1-3pm. In this workshop, participants will weave elements of deeply restorative yoga poses and music for a deep, relaxing inward journey. Reservations required. Sign up at OnThePathYoga.com. On the Path Yoga, 701 E Savidge #3, Spring Lake.

NaturalWestMichigan.com

Sunday Service- 10:30am. Come join our warm, inviting, New Thought spiritual community, inclusive and accepting of all, for Sunday Service and be empowered with a message based on Unity Truths. Unity of Grand Rapids, 1711 Walker Ave. NW, Grand Rapids.

TUESDAY, JANUARY 13

Kombucha Class- 7pm. Join Nature’s Market for this very popular and quite flavor-able class. All the participants will be given a free Scoby and starter tea to take home. Sign up in store, class fills quickly.

1013 Washington Ave, Holland.

HypnoBirthing® Classes- 6-8:30pm. A complete 5-week childbirth education program. Learn relaxation techniques to give your baby a welcome that is calm, gentle and safe. Achieve birth fulfillment – awake and alert – in a totally relaxed state of mind and body. Visit MyBellaBirth.com. MyBellaBirth@ gmail.com. 2119 Lake Drive SE, East Grand Rapids.

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 14

Hormone Happy Hour- 5-6pm. This hormone happy hour is specially focused on pelvic pain and incontinence for women. All things hormone related, healthy habits and exercises to move you beyond Kegels can be discussed in this small group Q&A. RSVP’s encouraged to 616-558-8334. Keystone Pharmacy, Grand Rapids.

GMO OMG Film Screening- 6:30-9pm. Filmmaker and concerned father in search of answers about GMOs and how they affect our children, the health of our planet and our freedom of choice.

RSVP to NoGMO4Michigan.org/Events. Fountain St. Church, 24 Fountain St., Grand Rapids.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 15

Reflexology/Toe Reading- 6-8pm. Learn the techniques of giving a great reflexology healing on yourself and others, how to see signs from the toes that show what people are really thinking about themselves and ways to heal all types of emotional issues. The Healing Center, 3332 S. Lincoln Ave., Lakeview. RSVP to 989-352-6500.

TheHealingCenterOfLakeview.com.

SUNDAY, JANUARY 18

Sunday Service- 10:30am. Come join our warm, inviting, New Thought spiritual community, inclusive and accepting of all, for Sunday Service and be empowered with a message based on Unity Truths. Unity of Grand Rapids, 1711 Walker Ave. NW, Grand Rapids.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 24

MONDAY, JANUARY 19 Martin Luther King Jr. Day WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21

Reiki Share- 6:30-8pm. Come check out what Reiki is all about and have a mini session done. Open to those who know Reiki and those who don’t. Donations welcome. Call 616-443-4225 to register. The Remedy House, 5150 Northland Dr., Grand Rapids.

Healing Energy Circle- 7-8pm. Following a discussion with Interfaith Pastor Sherry Petro-Surdel from 6-7pm, join us in a Healing Energy Circle at 7pm to promote wellness for ourselves and others. Join us for all or part of the gathering. Call 616-836-1555 for more information. All healing modalities welcome, Spirit-Space.org. Saugatuck.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 22

Deciphering Dreams- 6-8pm. Dreams are messages from within and above. Knowing how to decipher your dreams makes life more interesting and fulfilling. This class will give you a better understanding of dreams. The Healing Center, 3332 S. Lincoln Ave., Lakeview. RSVP at 989-352-6500.

TheHealingCenterOfLakeview.com.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 23

Movie Night- 7pm. Enjoy a wide range of movies, from spiritual to secular on the sanctuary big screen; often small, independent films with a spiritual message. 616-682-7812. Unity of Greater Grand Rapids, 6025 Ada Dr., Ada.

Reiki I & II- 9am-5pm. Get an introduction to Reiki, become attuned to the universal energy, learn how to give treatment to self and others and meet your Reiki guide. Class fee is $250 and includes a $50 deposit due at registration. Call 616-443-4225 to register. The Remedy House, 5150 Northland Dr., Grand Rapids.

Second Annual Whole U GR Expo10am-4pm. Whole U GR is an intimate expo that focus’ on mind, body and spirit. A day filled with exhibitors, speakers and workshops. Tickets on sale now or for more information go to WholeUGR.com.

Grand Rapids.

Foam Roller Class- 1pm. Join us for a new, antiaging foam rolling play shop, featuring Melt, the 50 Second Facelift, and the 60 Second Cellulite Solution. Dress comfortably and be able to get up and down off the floor easily. Limited space. Registration required at MeltMichigan.com. Grand Rapids.

SUNDAY, JANUARY 25

Advanced Reiki Class- 9am-5pm. Enhance energy work to a new level. Learn how to up and utilize a crystal grid with energy work. Class fee is $275.

The fee includes a $50 deposit due at registration.

Call 616-443-4225 to register. The Remedy House, 5150 Northland Dr., Grand Rapids.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 29

Tarot Cards and their Meanings- Cards are just symbols/pictures that have different meanings.

Learn how to care for them and different spreads

Natural Awakenings Green PowderTM Paleo profile dietary supplement, made with certified organic non-GMO ingredients, supplies your body with essential vitamins and minerals you might ordinarily be missing from your regular diet.

and meanings so you can do your own reading. Bring a deck you like or borrow from us. The Healing Center, 3332 S. Lincoln Ave., Lakeview. RSVP at 989-352-6500. TheHealingCenterOfLakeview.com.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 31

Reiki Masters- 9am-5pm. Be attuned to the master level of Reiki and learn how to pass it onto others.

Class fee is $350 including a $50 deposit due at registration. Call 616-443-4225 for qualifications and to register. The Remedy House, 5150 Northland Dr. Ste. N, Grand Rapids.

Relaxing Yoga Morning Retreat- 10am-1:30pm.

For all levels and abilities. Retreat includes a delicious home cooked vegetarian lunch and refreshments. $35. Self Realization Meditation Healing Centre, 7187 Drumheller Rd, Bath. Pre-registration required. 517-641-6201, info@SelfRealizationCentreMichigan.org. SelfRealizationCentreMichigan. org. A longer, overnight retreat is also possible.

Health in the Palm of Your Hands- 1-3pm. A class taught by Jewel Sheldon. Learn the areas of the hand that reveal diabetic tendencies, heart disease, surgery or accidents, eye and teeth problems and even tumors. The Healing Center, 3332 S. Lincoln Ave., Lakeview. RSVP at 989-352-6500.

TheHealingCenterOfLakeview.com.

Chocolate, Sex & Your Pelvic Floor- 1-4pm.

Explore the function of the female pelvic floor, discuss common problems and learn how to be better grounded and healthy through simple self care correctives. Visit OnThePathYoga.com for more information on this and the following workshops in this series. On the Path Yoga, Spring Lake.

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natural awakenings

January 2015

41

Grand Rapids Center for Mindfulness

Manage your stress and enjoy new health and well-being!

8-WEEK MINDFULNESS BASED STRESS REDUCTION COURSE: Free Information Sessions: Week of January 5 & 12, 2015

8-Week Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction Courses Begin: Week of January 19, 2015 **************************************************

New Course! 8-WEEK MINDFUL SELF-COMPASSION COURSE: Free Information Sessions: January 6 & 13, 2015 Course Begins: January 20, 2015

GrandRapidsCenterForMindfulness.com CALL 616-361-3660

Early Detection Saves Lives Thermography

Women’s Vision Board Workshop- 1-6pm. The annual Vision Board Workshop includes everything you need to create a collage to identify and empower your desires. Facilitated by Daina (Dinah) Puodziunas at her home. Cost of $50 includes all materials. Email Dinah@AwakenedPotentials.com or call 616-754-9672. Greenville.

Pure Mediation Foundation Class for Adults3pm. Conquer stress, improve concentration, find inner peace and much more. Includes book: Self Realization Through Pure Meditation by Mata Yogananda, follow-up appointment & continuing support. Self Realization Meditation Healing Centre, 7187 Drumheller Rd, Bath, 48808. Pre-registration required. 517-6416201, info@SelfRealizationCentreMichigan. org, SelfRealizationCentreMichigan.org.

savethedate Save The Date Events

Must be submitted online each month at NaturalWestMichigan.com. Events priced $80 or above require a corresponding display ad. There is a $40 charge per listing, up to 50 words. If you are a current advertiser, distribution site or non-profit you just use this listing in place of two of your free listings.

savethedate February 1

Animal Massage Class-10am-4pm.

Join Bodhi Tree & Wellness Studio for an Animal Massage Class. 208 W 18th St., Holland. For more information or to register, visit nwsam.com or call 616392-7580.

savethedate February 1 - March 1

47th Annual Poetry CompetitionSubmit poetry entries to Kent County Dyer-Ives Poetry Competition (specify The addition of Thermography to the appropriate division on envelope) P.O. front line of breast health brings a Box 6504 Grand Rapids, MI 49516 For great deal of good FIND news for OUT women.WHATpoetry contest guidelines and eligibility requirements, MINDFULNESS CAN DO FOR YOU!visit Dyer-Ives.org.

Painless ~ No Compression ~ No Radiation

savethedate February 7

Call to Set up Your Appointment 3368 Beltline Ct NE, Grand Rapids 616-361-9221 HolisticCareApproach.com 42

West Michigan Edition

Depression, Anxiety, Insomnia 11am-noon. Experience what Nexalin Technology can do for you. For more information call Susie of Bethesda Health and Wellness at 616-594-9005 or visit Nexalin.com. Held at Bodhi Tree Yoga, 208 W 18th Street, Holland.

NaturalWestMichigan.com

savethedate March 13-15

West Michigan Women’s Expo - Over 400 exhibits and seminars tailored to women and their families, focusing on health, beauty, fitness, fashion, finance and fun! Tickets available at the door or in advance at Meijer. KohlerExpo.com.

Devos Place, Grand Rapids.

savethedate March 28 & 29

Body Mind & Spirit Expo- Largest spirit expo to exhibit in Kalamazoo, professional mediums, intuitive communicators and healers gathered under one roof. Many free lectures, speakers & demonstrations both days.

Radisson Hotel & Suites, downtown Kalamazoo $8.00 per day, 12 & under free. HealingBodyAndSpirit.com.

savethedate April 22

Raw Food Show - Come celebrate Earth day with Chef Adams at Nature’s Market with a raw food show where he’ll demonstrate three raw dishes.

Participants will taste and learn the nutrition benefits of eating raw. 1013 Washington Ave, Holland.

savethedate April 25

Healthy Living Expo- 11am-7pm. Plan ahead for the Healthy Living Expo at The Lakes Mall! Join us for a wide assortment of art, natural products, healthful services and more. (Vendor registration is now open.) RimeTimeProductions.com.

Muskegon.

ongoingevents Note: Visit www.NaturalWestMichigan.com for guidelines and to submit entries.

Events must be re-submitted each month by the 15th of the month. Events subject to change, please call ahead.

Sunday

Tuesday

Sunday Celebration- 10am. Looking for an authentic and positive message without fear and guilt? Welcome to Unity! Join us for our music filled celebration. All paths to God are honored.

UnityGGR.org. 6025 Ada Dr. SE, Ada.

Energy Healing Spiritual Life Counsel- Sessions are available in exchange for a voluntary offering.

Don’t miss this opportunity to become one with a healthier, happier you. Call 269-303-3523 to schedule an appointment. WaysToHealing.com.

Kalamazoo and Portage.

Sunday Service- 10:30am. Seeking Spiritual Truth? Join our warm, inviting, New Thought spiritual community, inclusive and accepting of all and be empowered with a message based on Unity Truths. Unity of Grand Rapids, 1711 Walker Ave. NW, Grand Rapids.

Sunday Worship- 10:30am. Spirit Space is an interfaith, non-denominational gathering place for worship and spiritual enrichment. Join us for inspiring messages called Reasonings. Visit Spirit-Space.org or call 616-836-1555 for more information. Saugatuck.

Art Class for Kids- 1-3:30pm. Give your kids a Sunday afternoon creative getaway at the Art by Era studio in Grandville. All materials included.

Contact Summer at ArtByEra@gmail.com for more information, or to RSVP. Encompassed Body Experience- 1:30-3:30pm, every 3rd Sunday of the month. This 6-month series focuses on your body, mind and spirit connection.

Costs $15.00 per class or $75 if paid in advance.

For more information and registration check out MiBodhiTree.com or call 616-392-7580. 208 W 18th St., Holland.

Community Yoga Class- 4-5pm for $5. All levels welcome. All proceeds donated to the Charity of the Month. Bodhi Tree Yoga & Wellness Studio, 218 W 18th Street, Holland. Visit MiBodhiTree. com for more information.

Sunday Series- 6pm. Explore spirituality, universal truths, self-mastery and balanced, positive, loving and joyful living with The Coptic Center and their ongoing offering of enlightening Ministers, Teachers and guest presenters. Love offering. 0-381 Lake Michigan Drive, Grand Rapids. For more information see TheCopticCenter.org.

Monday 5 Tibetans & Cleansing Energy Workshop7:30-8:30am. Keep warm this winter using these five simple exercises that warm your core, balance chakras and more! Cleansing energy portion of the workshop brings you through your reflex points to encourage circulation. Register online or drop in: Spreflex.com. Spring Lake.

The Practice of A Course in Miracles - 7-8:30pm.

Learn “Miracle-Mindedness”. Got joy? This is how to have it. (Hint: You already do.) All are welcome. Free. Fountain Street Church, Grand Rapids. 616-458-5095.

Gentle Hatha Yoga with Mitch Coleman7:45-9am & 9:15-10:30am. Drop-ins welcome.

Visit WhiteRiverYoga.com for more information.

Classes meet at White River Yoga Studio, 8724 Ferry St. Montague. 231-740-6662.

Chair Yoga Classes- 10:30am. Chair yoga classes include movements and breathing exercises designed to encourage relaxation and increase mobility, balance and strength. This class is a great gentle option for those who use a walker or wheelchair or those with limited mobility. Hearts Journey Wellness Center, 6189 Lake Michigan Dr., Allendale.

Hatha Yoga- 6-7:30pm. Find your inner yogi.

Practice Hatha Yoga, strengthen and tone, learn breathing techniques, increase your energy and promote healthy body functioning. Sambodh Center, Kalamazoo. Guided meditation following yoga. Info at 269-579-4091.

Discussion and Meditation- 6-8pm. Discussion to promote spiritual enrichment. Questions are welcomed, followed by meditation at 7pm.

Spirit Space is an interfaith church and spiritual enrichment center. Call 616-836-1555 or visit Spirit-Space.org for more information. Saugatuck.

EmbodyGR- 6:30pm. Gather in community for yoga, music and justice. Bring your yoga mat, your amazing self and a friend who may need to connect, heal and serve. 24 Fountain St. NE, Grand Rapids.

Morning Flow Yoga- 10:15-11:30am. Unwind your body and your mind. A Yoga practice intended to gradually increase flexibility, strength and a range of motion. Laketown Healing Arts, LaketownHealingArts.com, Holland.

Mindfulness, Meditation and Mudras- 7pm.

Experience a quiet and gentle way to end your day.

No yoga experience necessary. Space is limited.

Please register ahead of time. Regular pricing applies. HeartsJourneyWellness.com. Allendale.

The ABC+D Systems Approach to Wellness2-3pm. This 12-week class starts on January 6.

Donations welcome. Contact 616-443-4225 to register. The Remedy House, 5150 Northland Dr., Grand Rapids.

Creation’s Lessons for Living- 7pm. 2nd Wed of month. Creation desires to help us grow, mature, evolve. Connect with Creation’s wisdom through the teachings and ceremonies of the shamanic Sweet Medicine SunDance Path. Donation. Call 616-856-4957 for more information. Join me in learning to walk in beauty. NE Grand Rapids.

Painting/Drawing for Kids- 4:30-5:30pm. Unleash the power of your child’s creative potential with weekly art classes. $39 for the whole month.

Contact Summer at ArtByEra@gmail.com for more information, or to RSVP. Grandville.

The ABC+D Systems Approach to Wellness6:30-7:30pm. This 12-week class starts on January 6. Donations welcome. Contact 616-443-4225 to register. The Remedy House, 5150 Northland Dr., Grand Rapids.

A Course in Miracles- 6:30-8pm. This self-study system is unique in teaching forgiveness as the road to inner peace and the remembrance of the unconditional love of God. UnityGGR.org. 6025 Ada Dr. SE, Ada. Restorative Yoga Specialty Class- 7pm. Restorative yoga uses various props to support the body in seated and supine poses that are held for several minutes due to their relaxing and healing qualities. Hearts Journey Wellness Center, 6189 Lake Michigan Dr., Allendale.

Wednesday $20 off BioMeridian Assessments- Food allergies, environmental allergies, organ function and real food menus and shopping lists for families that are healthy and kid-approved. Visit IntegrativeNutritionalTherapies.com or 616-365-9176.

Grand Rapids.

A Course in Miracles- 9:30-11am. This self-study system is unique in teaching forgiveness as the road to inner peace and the remembrance of the unconditional love of God. UnityGGR.org. 6025 Ada Dr. SE, Ada.

Thursday Morning Flow Yoga- 10:15-11:30am. Unwind your body and your mind. A Yoga practice intended to gradually increase flexibility, strength and a range of motion. Laketown Healing Arts, LaketownHealingArts.com, Holland.

5 Tibetans & Cleansing Energy Workshop2:30-3:30am. Keep warm this winter using these five simple exercises that warm your core, balance chakras and more! Cleansing energy portion of the workshop brings you through your reflex points to encourage circulation. Register online or drop in: Spreflex.com. Spring Lake.

Support Group for Awakening Women6-8:30pm, every other Thursday starting January 8. For women who have been studying personal/ spiritual growth & want support. Feel free to check out what the meetings are like on January 8 and/or January 22. Contact Dinah@AwakenedPotentials. com or 616-7549672. Rockford.

Essential Oil Class- 6:30-8:30pm. Series starts January 8 with the basics and then each week following going into specific sets of oils. $40. Call 616-443-4225 to register. The Remedy House, 5150 Northland Dr., Grand Rapids.

Live Drawing for Adults- 7-8:30pm. Weekly live drawing classes for adults at Art by Era. $39 for the whole month. Contact Summer at ArtByEra@ gmail.com for more information, or to RSVP. Grandville.

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thenaturaldirectory

Friday Book Study- noon-1:30pm. Join Spirit Space January 9 - February 13 on Fridays for a book study on The Dance of the Dissident Daughter by Sue Monk Kidd. Attendance every week not necessary. Call 616-886-2716 for more information. 3493 Blue Star Hwy, Saugatuck.

...connecting you to the leaders in natural health and green living in West Michigan. To find out how you can be included in The Natural Directory log-on to www.NaturalWestMichigan.com/advertising.

Gentle Yin- 4:30-6:00pm. Find your inner Yogi.

Practice Hatha Yoga, strengthen and tone, learn breathing techniques, increase your energy and promote healthy body functioning. Sambodh Center, Kalamazoo. Guided meditation following yoga.

Information at 269-579-4091.

Vikki Nestico, R.Ac., Dipl. OM Acupuncture + Chinese Herbal Therapy 616-940-1177 GrandWellness.net

ACUPUNCTURE GRAND WELLNESS

Grand Wellness offers a holistic perspective on wellness and promotes healing through acupuncture, Chinese herbal therapy and eastern nutrition.

Set up a free consultation to discuss how Chinese medicine can help your specific health concerns. See ad page 25.

Art Classes for Adults- 6-9:30pm. Looking for a fun, creative date night? Bring a beverage and enjoy a $29 art classes at the Art by Era studio in Grandville, materials included. Contact Summer at ArtByEra@gmail.com to RSVP.

Saturday Hatha Yoga- 9-10:15am. A Little more invigorating, this is a great class to learn the foundations of a yoga practice. Laketown Healing Arts, LaketownHealingArts.com, Holland.

Gentle Hatha Yoga with Mitch Coleman– 9-10:15am & 10:30-11:45am. Drop-ins welcome.

Visit WhiteRiverYoga.com for info. Classes meet at White River Yoga Studio. Montague.

231-740-6662.

Sweetwater Local Foods Market- 9am-1pm.

Hackley Health at the Lakes building on Harvey Street. We are inside if the weather is bad. We are a double up bucks and bridge card market. Hesperia.

231-861-2234.

Post your events to our calendar section $20 for dated events $10 for ongoing events $40 for save the date events

Submit directly through our website.

Deadline is the 15th of each month.

BIO ENERGETIC SYNCHRONIZATION TECHNIQUE B.E.S.T, ALPHABIOTICS & I CHING BALANCING Spark of Life Studio 959 Lake Dr. SE, Suite 201, Grand Rapids 616-516-1479 SparkOfLifeStudio.com

Living organisms want to be in balance but everyday stress is preventing us from feeling our best. Let us restore balance to your body and thus maximize your well-being and your body’s own innate healing capacity. See ad page 33.

BODY CARE PRODUCTS MOONDROP HERBALS, LLC Cottage of Natural Elements 351 Cummings, NW Grand Rapids, MI 49534 616-735-1285 MoondropHerbals.com

Your Local Source for all things Natural and Botanical.

Hand crafted bath & body products, tea, bulk herbs, essential oils, other raw ingredients, containers, local artwork, unique gifts. Practitioner discounts. Space rental and artisan consignment. See ad page 32.

Visit NaturalWestMichigan.com for guidelines and more information.

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NaturalWestMichigan.com

SÉRENDIPITÉ ORGANIQUES

959 Lake Dr SE, Suite 2, GR 49506 *Second Floor of Blackport Building 616-419-8115 Facebook.com/SerendipiteOrganiques Your retail location for makeup, body care, & household products that are organic, nonGMO, vegan, gluten free & cruelty-free! Products offered score ‘0-2, Low Hazard’ on Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep database. See ad page 28.

BODYWORK WHOLISTIC KINESIOLOGY HEALTH SERVICES, LLC Barbara Zvirzdinis, WK, CMT 616-581-3885 WKHealthServices.com

Certified Massage Therapist offering Therapeutic, Hot Stone & Matrix Massage. Certified Wholistic Kinesiologist, Certified Matrix E n e rg e t i c s P r a c t i t i o n e r, Reconnection Healing Practitioner, Certified Herbalist, Certified Acutonics Practitioner, and a Certified Reflexologist. See ad page 21.

BRAIN HEALTH BETHESDA HEALTH AND WELLNESS, LLC Susie Daubenspeck 616-594-9005 sldaubenspeck@gmail.com NexalinTechnology.com

Certified technician in Nexalin Technology, a medication-free t r e a t m e n t f o r a n x i e t y, depression and insomnia. The hypothalamus and mid-brain area are gently stimulated, supporting brain function resets. Treatments in your home or Holland office. Find us on Facebook and LinkedIn at Susie Daubenspeck. See ad page 26.

CHIROPRACTIC CARE DYNAMIC FAMILY CHIROPRACTIC Dr. Ronda VanderWall 4072 Chicago Drive, Grandville 616-531-6050 DynamicChiro.com

Family owned and operated in the heart of downtown Grandville, Dynamic Family Chiropractic focuses on lifestyle improvements through living a maximized life. A safe and natural approach to health through the combination of exercise, nutrition, detoxification and chiropractic care.

SCHAFER CHIROPRACTIC AND HEALING SPA

Dr. Andrew Schafer 1801 Breton SE Grand Rapids, MI 49506 616-301-3000 GRChiroSpa.com

Tr e a t i n g m u s c u l o s k e l e t a l conditions, but specializing in back pain, neck pain, and headaches. Also offering physical therapy, massage therapy, and postural awareness. Most insurance accepted. Breton Village area. See ad pages 7 & 30.

COLON HYDROTHERAPY HARMONY ’N HEALTH Mary De Lange, CCT. LMT. 1003 Maryland Ave, N.E., Grand Rapids 616-456-5033 HarmonyNHealth.net

Certified therapist since 1991 offering colon therapy in a sterile and professional environment.

Using a holistic approach, colonics relieves constipation, diarrhea, gas, bloat, poor digestion, back pain, body odor and more. See ad page 5.

TRICIA E. GOSLING

Holistic Energy Therapies 616-481-9074 HolisticEnergyTherapies.net Offering an advanced clientcentered dimension of colonics since 1996: gentle, safe and effective. Eliminate toxins and enhance well-being. Also offering Quantum Biofeedback sessions.

I-ACT certified Instructor.

ENERGY HEALING MATRIX ENERGETICS

Barbara Zvirzdinis, WK, CMT 616-581-3885 WKHealthServices.com Matrix Energetics is a system used to heal, transform and create new possibilities in your life. Using the principles of quantum physics and subtle e n e rg y d u r i n g a M a t r i x Energetics session we are able to enter into different realties and download new possibilities for your mental, emotional, physical and spiritual selves. See ad page 21.

Look for this symbol throughout Natural Awakenings for Natural Awakenings Network (NAN) providers offering savings to NAN members.

ESSENTIAL OILS

HAKOMI THERAPY

BE YOUNG ESSENTIAL OILS

KEN PORTER CST, CHT

Clara VanderZouwen Independent Sharing Partner #1024 616-481-8587 claravz@sbcglobal.net

3355 Eagle Park Dr NE Ste 107 GR 49525 616-262-3848 BodyandSoulGR.com

”What you put on the skin, goes within”.

Offering E.O.B.B.D. guaranteed essential oils, Non-GMO Protein Shakes, chemical free body products and nutrient dense whole food products. Zyto Compass scans and Ionic Detoxing Foot Baths. My goal is to offer you Life-Restoring and Life-Rewarding products and experiences! See ad page 9.

YOUNG LIVING ESSENTIAL OILS

Barbara Borgeld Independent Distributor # 1182115 5 W. Main St., #8 / Boyne City, MI 49712 386-366-1903 SozoTouch.com Discover the high potency, 4,000-yearold therapeutic properties in Young Living Essential Oils. Learn how the oils enhance health--yours, as well as others who seek holistic options. (Seen on the “TODAY” show). Income Opportunities also available. Free Training. See ad page 34.

FITNESS & NUTRITION MISSY HACKER FITNESS

Hakomi Therapy can truly change your life. It’s a mindfulnessbased, experiential therapy for transforming the unconscious patterns that keep you from the love, joy, and fulfillment you deserve. Offered with exquisite care and attentiveness.

HEALING SERVICES THE REMEDY HOUSE

Jodi Jenks Natural Health Practitioner, Reiki Master 616-443-4225 TheRemedyHouse.org Certified in bodywork, lymphatic drainage, raindrop therapy, CranioSacral, reflexology, iridology, natural health consultations including a zyto bio-communication scan. Emotional clearing with essential oils and energy work, Reiki, Energy Touch. See ad page 41.

HEALTH EDUCATION CENTER THE WELLNESS FORUM 616-430-2291 WellnessForum.com

MelissAHacker@gmail.com Facebook.com/missycoates MissyHackerFitness.com

A fitness and nutrition coach, making your health and fitness a priority. Plans for people of all ages and fitness levels. Offering many free options, as well as cost effective solutions.

Contact Missy to see how to achieve your optimal level of health & fitness. See ad page 19.

TRUE FORM HOLISTIC HEALTH AND FITNESS

1140 Monroe Ave NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49503 616-889-9825 TrueFormGR@gmail.com YourTrueForm.com NAMA Certified Ayurvedic Practitioner and Personal Trainer. Ayurvedic consultations for better health and balance through diet, lifestyle, herbs, exercise and more. Fitness regimens that are tailored to your unique needs. Exercise with a higher purpose. See ad page 18.

Educational programs for personal health improvement - Wo r k p l a c e w e l l n e s s programs - Wellness Forum Foundation focused on school nutrition and children’s health - National conferences.

HEALTH / WELLNESS CENTER THE HEALING CENTER

Bob Huttinga PA-C & Rev. Barbara Huttinga 332 S. Lincoln Ave, Lakeview 989-352-6500 TheHealingCenterOfLakeview.com Affordable, natural approach to better health. Certified nutritional consultant with 22 years experience. Offering select, high quality vitamins, minerals, herbs, children’s products, essential oils, homeopathics, weight loss and more. Professional discounts and senior pricing. www.affordablenutrition.com. See ad in page 20.

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HOLISTIC HEALTH

MASSAGE THERAPY

HEALING WAYS

DYNAMIC FAMILY CHIROPRACTIC & MASSAGE THERAPY

Pastor & Casey Brian Kalamazoo & Portage 269-221-1961 WaysToHealing.com Massage Therapy, Energy Healing, Spiritual Counsel, Healing Services for Groups and more. We fully support you in experiencing Healing in all aspects of your life: physical, mental, emotional and spiritual...

HOMEOPATHY

Mary De Lange, CCT., LMT. 1003 Maryland Ave NE, Grand Rapids 616-456-5033 HarmonyNHealth.net

332 S. Lincoln Ave Lakeview 989-352-6500 TheHealingCenterOfLakeview.com A Certified Physician Assistant since 1976, specializing in naturopathic and homeopathic care.

Family care. Also, certified Silva Method instructor. We use Clinical Homeopathy to assist traditional medications.

We take most insurances. See ad page 20.

INTERIOR DESIGN SERVICES ALIGN DESIGN, LLC

Shawn Merkel, ASID 616-916-1071 shawnmerk@gmail.com AlignDesignGR.com Complete Interior Design Services for your home or business. Specializing in creating, harmonious, nurturing spaces, by incorporating feng shui principals and repurposing your existing treasures. Let your space become a reflection of who you are. See ad page 28.

KINESIOLOGY

Over 21 years of professional experience and trained in a complete range of modalities.

Whether you are seeking relaxation, renewal, or treatment for a specific condition, Mary will help find an approach that is helpful for you. See ad page 5.

SCHAFER CHIROPRACTIC AND HEALING SPA

Sheri Beth Schafer, CMT, Ayurvedic Bodyworker, Reiki Master 1801 Breton SE Grand Rapids, MI 49506 616-301-3000 We have multiple certified massage therapists offering relaxation, prenatal, deep tissue massage, and medical massage. We also offer Reiki, chakra balancing, and Ayurvedic bodywork. Breton Vi l l a g e a r e a . w w w.

GRChiroSpa.com. See ad pages 7 & 30.

MIDWIFERY FULL CIRCLE MIDWIFERY SERVICE, INC. Patrice Bobier CPM Hesperia: 231-861-2234 FullCircleMidwifery.com

WHOLISTIC KINESIOLOGY HEALTH SERVICES, LLC Barbara Zvirzdinis, WK, CMT 616-581-3885 WKHealthServices.com

Certified Wholistic Kinesiologist, Certified Matrix E n e rg e t i c s P r a c t i t i o n e r, Certified Massage Therapist, Reconnection Healing P r a c t i t i o n e r, C e r t i f i e d Herbalist, Certified Acutonics Practitioner and Certified Reflexologist. Specializing in muscle testing, massage, energy medicine, nutritional counseling, lectures and classes. See ad page 21.

West Michigan Edition

I offer Swedish massage with Integrated Te c h n i q u e s , c h o s e n specifically to your unique body. Relieve those tired and sore muscles and rejuvenate! Call for ongoing monthly specials and discounts.

HARMONY ‘N HEALTH

BOB HUTTINGA PA-C

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Jaci Timmermans, MT 4072 Chicago Drive, Grandville, MI 49418 616-531-6050 DynamicChiro.com.

In private practice since 1982 specializing in homebirth. Over 1450 births attended.

Offering midwifery care that maintains a family-centered safe birth experience. Empowering women to stay healthy during pregnancy, give birth naturally and parent in the best ways. Free initial consultations including Prenatal check up.

NaturalWestMichigan.com

MIDWIFERY MATTERS Leslie Cornwell, CNM 616-258-2386 Midwifery-Matters.com

Looking for different care for your pregnancy outside the traditional maternity system, we have what you have been looking for. High quality care for preconception, pregnancy, and beyond. See ad page 8.

SIMPLY BORN

Sara Badger, Midwife Jodi Borsk, Junior Midwife Casi Russo, Senior Student SimplyBorn@yahoo.com A full service Midwifery group partnering with you to provide prenatal care, education, and choice. The first birthing center in Grand Rapids to add to women’s birth choices. Contact us for a free consultation 559-9075341. See ad page 26.

REIKI PRANA HOUSE REIKI & MASSAGE Jen Gemski, CMT, Reiki Master Practitioner 1345 Monroe Ave NE Ste 204 616-970-3003

Facebook.com/PranaHouseReikiMassage Find relief from anxiety, depression, grief, chronic pain, or pain/ discomfort due to cancer treatment. See how Reiki can transform your life from chaos to harmony, you can find balance again! Awaken the healing within. See ad page 30.

SALON SERVICES CJ’S STUDIO SALON 5286 Plainfield Ave., NE Grand Rapids 49525 616-364-9191 CjsStudioSalon.com

An award winning Hair Stylist with 30 years Advanced Education, that uses and sells Organic Hair Care Products as well as uses a professional line of Organic Hair Color.

Ionic Detox Foot Baths also available.

SCHOOL / EDUCATION BVI SCHOOL OF AYURVEDA Attn: Ruth Small, Director 6363 N. 24th St., Kalamazoo, MI 49004 IndiaInk@charter.net

Sambodh.us/SS/abtVedicInst/abtVedicInst.html

State-Licensed Post-Secondary AYURVEDA SCHOOL Opening Spring 2015. One-year Certificate Program: healthcare/wellness educators and professionals, yoga teachers, massage therapists, chiropractors, dieticians, holistichealth advocates, and self-care.

Highly qualified Instructors.

Accepting Applications.

INSTITUTE OF SANATIVE ARTS

0-11279 Tallmadge Woods Dr. Grand Rapids, MI 49534 616-791-0472 info@SanativeTranquility.com SanativeTranquility.com State licensed school for massage and bodywork.

Offering high quality, affordable massage certification courses as well as NCBTMB continuing education courses for the experienced therapist. Located conveniently to Grand Rapids, Standale, Walker and Allendale.

NATUROPATHIC INSTITUTE OF THERAPIES & EDUCATION

503 East Broadway St. Mt. Pleasant, MI 48858 989-773-1714 contact@NaturopathicInstitute.info NaturopathicInstitute.info

Educational Programs Offered: Natural Health Program - Four Years (one weekend a month); Massage Therapy Program - One Year (two weekends a month); Holistic Doula Practitioner Program - Six Months (one weekend a month). Individual classes available. See ad page 48.

SKIN CARE

classifieds

LAKESHORE NATURAL SKIN CARE

10500 Chicago Drive Holland Twp/Zeeland MI 49464 231-557-3619 LakeshoreNaturalSkinCare.com Specializing in advanced, customized skin care using all-natural, organic skin care products from Elina Organics.

Facials, Back Facials, Foot Facials, Hand Facials, Tummy Facials, and “Beautiful Legs” services. Needle-Free Mesotherapy, TriPolarRF, DermaLaser, LED, Microdermabrasion, Peels, Body Wraps, Body Scrubs, Brow Shaping, Aromatherapy, Signature Scent, Hair Restoration, Bamboo Massage, RainDrop, Air Compression Lymph Drainage Massage, Acupressure, Reiki, Infrared and Ionic Cleanses, Ear Candling, and more! See ad page 32.

SACRED SKIN CARE

Grand Rapids SE 616-690-3527 Kathy@SacredSkinCaregr.com Facebook.com/SacredSkinCare ”Rejuvenate your body, mind and spirit while nourishing your skin with customized, therapeutic facials using all natural Elina Organics Products.

Individualized, professional treatments provided in a warm, caring environment”.

To place a Classified Listing: E-mail listing to Publisher@NaturalWestMichigan.com.

Must be received by the 15th of the month prior to publication. $1.00 per word; must be pre-paid.

CLASSES Energy Healings and Training, Reiki & Urevia Healings/Classes - held near Hastings at Subtle Energies w/ Ken & Dana Gray. Learn a variety of techniques that can heal your life. Reiki I & Urevia Practitioner classes are eligible for NAN 20% discount. Visit www.reikiconnect.com for more information.

FOR RENT Space For Rent - Grand Rapids Natural Health is expanding our office space in February 2015 and moving to downtown Grand Rapids.

We are looking for other health and wellness professionals to join us. Space is rented by day, front desk staff and scheduling included in rent.

Contact Kelly Hassberger for more details, 616540-0723 or KHassberger@gmail.com.

Treatment Room for Rent - Looking for a certified massage therapist to rent space in our organic salon. Located on Plainfield NE, Grand Rapids. Please email Cynthia at cjsstudiosalon@ yahoo.com.

HELP WANTED

SCREEN PRINTING GREEN INK WORKS

3637 Clyde Park Ave., Suite 2 Wyoming, MI 49509 616-254-7350 Dan@GreenInkWorks.com Custom screen printed apparel using water-based and discharge inks. Earth friendlier screen printing with a different look and feel. Also offering promotional products with an emphasis on the environment.

Ad Sales Rep – Natural Awakenings is now accepting resumes for Part/Full Time Sales Reps throughout the West Michigan area. Must be self-motivated with strong organizational skills, sales and computer/database experience. We’re positive people looking for positive associates.

Flexible schedule with great earning potential.

Pay is set up on a generous full commission structure with bonuses. Email cover letter and resume to Publisher@NaturalWestMichigan.com.

new from 60 capsules: $34.99 shipping: $5 (up to 8 bottles)

ORDER TODAY!

NAWebstore.com

or call 1-888-822-0246

Pleasant Dreams contains a blend of safe, natural sleepinducing ingredients including chamomile, valerian root and melatonin which may help to: • Maintain sleep all night • Reduce anxiety symptoms • Facilitate relaxation without • Improve pain tolerance morning drowsiness ™

Consult a healthcare professional before taking this product.

Pleasant Dreams is not intended to cure, treat, diagnose or mitigate any disease or other medical condition.

These statements have not been evaluated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

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NaturalWestMichigan.com