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GREEN LIVING Exploring America’s National Treasures Detecting Disease Eating Ecology Education for a More Sustainable World

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April 2013

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Holistic Networking Group Next Meeting Date

Natural Awakenings Detroit is pleased to sponsor this

community outreach event specifically targeted for those in healthy living and green businesses. It offers an opportunity for business people from this niche to gather, network and share ideas to help support one another and grow our local green economy.

This is also a great chance to learn more specific ways to partner with Natural Awakenings magazine to help grow your business.

Meetings will be held at: St. Paul of the Cross Passionist Retreat and Conference Center 23333 Schoolcraft Rd • Detroit (on the I-96 service drive near Telegraph)

Wednesday, April 10th 6-8pm Group Discussions Sharing & Fellowship Upcoming Meeting Dates: May - Thur 16th Jun - Thur 13th Jul - Wed 10th Aug - Thur 15th

Sep - Wed 11th Oct - Wed 16th Nov - Wed 20th Dec - Thur 12th

Please RSVP to Mary Anne 586-943-5785

Learn my quick and simple method for harnessing the power of the Law of Attraction One-on-One training packages Group workshops in the comfort of your own home or business Set your own price Listen: Blogtalkradio.com/chrisleelifestyle Connect: Facebook.com/chrisleelifestyle email: chris@chrisleelifestyle.com

call: 248-962-8422

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April 2013

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m t.co line! i o r n et le o gsD nin vailab e k a a lAw les tura e artic a N t or Visi ven m e r o f

contact us Wayne County, Michigan Edition Published by: Healthy Living Detroit, Inc. P.O. Box 381250 Clinton Twp, MI 48038 Phone: 313-221-9674 Fax: 586-933-2557 Publisher Mary Anne Demo publisher@NaturalAwakeningsDetroit.com Editorial & Layout Team Lauressa Nelson Kim Cerne Hedy Schulte National Franchise Sales John Voell II NaturalAwkeningsMag.com 239-530-1377 Business Development Chris Lee, Sales Director Unique Mills, Sales Kevin Woody, Sales © 2013 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.

SUBSCRIPTIONS Subscriptions are available by sending $28 (for 12 issues) to the above address.

letterfrompublisher

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ecently, I enjoyed a presentation by the Search Institute, a nonprofit based in Minnesota, that, for fifty years, has been an innovator in discovering what kids need to succeed in their families, schools, and communities. The organization has identified 40 building blocks of development that help young people grow up healthy, caring and responsible.

These range from positive family communication and support to creative activities, personal empowerment and a sense of purpose. Each block is ranked with a percentage that reflects how it influences the overall picture. These Developmental Assets Lists, as they are named, are excellent references for anyone that interacts with young people, and several versions exist, each tailored for a specific age group or native language.

One of the key assets was reading for pleasure—something so simple that can have a tremendously positive impact on the lives of others. On an individual level, we can make a difference in the lives of others in our communities by volunteering a few hours each week to tutor through organizations like ProLiteracy Detroit.

Gifting books and reading to young children are also ways to contribute to the literacy of our youth.

Even for adults, it remains important to maintain solid blocks upon which to build and grow. A genuine curiosity and love of lifelong learning has served me well along my personal journey, yielding many lessons, especially as Natural Awakenings Detroit continues to grow and thrive. One such lesson is that it takes a village to raise a magazine, and I am so blessed to work with a group of caring, dedicated and extremely awesome individuals who go above and beyond to get the job done every month.

I've always felt that the magazine’s mission is to empower people with information that will enable them to make better choices for their health and wellbeing. Because everyone is at a different place along the continuum of health and wellness, and there is always an opportunity to learn more, Natural Awakenings is a resource that blends the latest national and local information and promotes enriching events to help us learn and discover new options for healthy, sustainable living. None of this would be possible without the support of the local advertisers that provide products and services that enable us to make the best choices.

This month’s issue celebrates our fourth anniversary of Natural Awakenings Detroit. I am always pleased to hear, “Oh, I love that magazine,” when someone I meet learns that I publish the magazine. To know that we are positively affecting the lives of others makes all the work worthwhile.

FB - Natural Awakenings Detroit Twitter - Natural Detroit Linked In - Natural Awakenings Detroit

Natural Awakenings is printed on recycled newsprint with soybased ink.

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contents 14

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

6 newsbriefs 12 community

spotlight 14 healthbriefs 16 THE NEXT LEVEL 20 healthykids Education for a More Sustainable World 26 naturalpet

by Linda Sechrist 30 consciouseating 20 PARK IT HERE 32 fitbody

Exploring America’s National Treasures 36 calendar

by S. Alison Chabonais 43 resourceguide 22 HOW TO GROW A 45 classifieds

16

TRULY GREEN LAWN

TRANSITIONING FROM

20

CHEMICALLY TO ORGANICALLY GROWN

by Hedy Schulte

advertising & submissions

26 DETECTING DISEASE

Liver and Adrenal Issues

HOW TO ADVERTISE

Share Symptoms

To advertise with Natural Awakenings or request a media kit, please contact us at 313-221-9674 or email Publisher@NaturalAwakeningsDetroit.com Deadline for ads: the 15th of the month.

27 MOBILE YOGA

by Dr. Shawn Messonnier

EDITORIAL SUBMISSIONS

STUDIO BRINGS SPECIAL DELIVERY

Email articles, news items and ideas to:

by Karen Couf-Cohen

Publisher@NaturalAwakeningsDetroit.com Deadline for editorial: the 10th of the month.

30 EATING ECOLOGY

CALENDAR SUBMISSIONS Visit our website to enter calendar items.

NaturalAwakeningsDetroit.com You will receive a confirmation email when your event has been approved and posted online, usually within 24 hours. Events submitted by the 15th and meet our criteria will be added to the print magazine as space permits.

REGIONAL MARKETS

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Daily Decisions Make a Difference

by Judith Fertig

34 HIDDEN CAUSES

OF HYPOTHYROID SYMPTOMS

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By Gregory Kramer, DC

Advertise your products or services in multiple markets!

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

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newsbriefs

Midwives Host WellWoman Health Days

Natural Awakenings’ Family of Franchises Keeps Growing

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atural Awakenings Publishing Corp. (NAPC) recently welcomed a group of new publishers that completed a March training program at corporate headquarters in Naples, Florida. The NAPC training staff spent several days with the entrepreneurs now launching new Natural Awakenings territories or taking over the production of existing magazines in several locales. New markets include Albany, New York; Toledo, Ohio; and Portland, Maine; and the franchise in Indianapolis, Indiana, will have a new publisher at the helm.

Company CEO Sharon Bruckman launched the first edition of Natural Awakenings in 1994 and began franchising it in 1999. The company currently publishes 88 Natural Awakenings magazines throughout the United States and in Puerto Rico, with a collective readership exceeding 3.5 million.

“Interest in naturally healthy living that’s good for people and the planet is now influencing mainstream America, thanks in part to our active and growing readership,” says Bruckman. “Natural Awakenings’ dedicated family of publishers, supported by loyal advertisers, connects readers with a wealth of national and local resources mapping out alternate routes to a healthier, happier, longer life.”

For a list of locations where Natural Awakenings is publishing or to learn more about franchise opportunities, visit NaturalAwakeningsMag.com or call 239-530-1377.

Lincoln Park DDA Looking For Artists

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he Lincoln Park Downtown Development Authority (DDA) is seeking artwork from local artists and art students to display in the vacant storefronts on Fort Street and Southfield Road, in downtown Lincoln Park, beginning the first week of July and continuing through September.

Lincoln Park is one of several communities chosen to participate in the Inside/ Out program, through which Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA) brings high-quality reproductions of masterpieces from the its collection to the streets and parks of Detroit. The DIA reproductions will be installed on the building facades.

Interested artists should contact Madhu Oberoi at 313-386-1800, ext. 1289.

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Angels for Healing • Call 734-778-4655 • AngelsforHealing.com 6

Wayne County Edition

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ocusing on a holistic and womancentered practice, Certified Professional Midwives Adarsa Antares and Helen Stockton will host two well-woman health days: from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., April 27, at Authentic Living Center in Troy, and from 2 to 5 p.m., May 18, at Total Health Foods in Wyandotte. Services available include breast imaging thermography, pap,

blood work (cholesterol, estrogen and vitamin D) and nutritional coaching.

Tests are priced individually, but for those who choose to have all the tests done, a special package price of $280 is offered. Financial options will be available for low income clients who qualify.

Antares, who is also a certified clinical thermography technician and healthy cooking coach, says thermography can be used as a vital adjunctive screening tool for breast health. The 30-minute, non-invasive imaging procedure is painless and uses no radiation. It can be used to detect subtle changes in the breast. With this valuable information, a woman can make changes to her diet and lifestyle to change the course of her health.

Cost: $135/breast scan, $85/pap, $80/blood work. Locations: April 27, 1640 Axtell Drive, Troy. May 18, 2938 Biddle Ave., Wyandotte. To schedule an appointment, call 734972-8775. For more information, visit HealthyBreastScan.com.

newsbriefs Unique Summer Camps for Kids

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rom the beginning, Schoolcraft College’s vibrant Kids on Campus program has been current and trendy – delighting kids with over 60 unique camp offerings in the arts, acting, cultural immersion, computers, writing, math, science, as well as career-oriented learning opportunities, and traditional academic skills workshops.

Celebrating its 34th year, this year’s Kids on Campus program guarantees campers a sweet summer with more new and exciting offerings for children entering the first through twelfth grades in the fall.

Some of this year’s new offerings include: Safety Olympics, where kids entering grades 1 and 2 can discover events like self-defense, first aid, stranger awareness, what to do in a school emergency, and the meaning of 911. For students entering 3rd or 4th grade, we have a new Sports Sampler class that includes soccer, basketball, flag football and volleyball. Kids entering 5th and 6th grades can check out our brand new Kids with Cameras class, and for kids entering 7th through 9th grade, opportunities abound with new culinary classes.

One particularly exciting class open to kids entering high school is Discover Fire Academy, which gives participants a glimpse into the world of firefighting.

Other popular camps will be offered in the areas of robotics, aviation and aerospace, adventures in medicine, crime detection, gaming design, culinary arts, song writing, art and acting, biz kids, cultural immersion, study skills, academic basics in writing, math, and science.

Huron-Clinton Metroparks Offer Camping and Nature Activities for All Ages

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he Huron-Clinton Metroparks are gearing up for spring and summer, with a full schedule of activities. Located along the Huron and Clinton rivers, the Huron-Clinton Metroparks is a regional park system comprising 13 parks that cover 25,000 acres and include public golf courses, scenic nature trails, beaches, educational activities and two marinas.

Between April 1 and 5, the Marshlands Museum and Nature Center of Lake Erie Metropark, located at 32481 W. Jefferson Avenue, in Brownstown Township, is offering special programs for kids on spring break. On April 7, residents can bring in unusual items for the museum staff to appraise for their historical and interest value. Justin Chiotti, a U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Fisheries biologist, will speak, April 21, about lake sturgeon and his efforts to assist this species of fish in their comeback along the Detroit River.

For more information call 734-462-4448 or visit www.schoolcraft.edu/KOC.

ReLeaf Michigan Launches 23rd Annual Tree and Shrub Fundraiser

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eLeaf Michigan, a nonprofit tree education and planting organization, is taking orders for tree and shrubs through April 12. For more than two decades, ReLeaf carefully selects hardy, bare-root trees and shrubs and sells them to the public at reasonable rates. The tree sale raises funds to support ReLeaf Michigan’s ongoing tree planting and educational programs, while encouraging citizens to plant trees.

ReLeaf Michigan has been working with community groups statewide for the past 25 years to plant trees on public property.

More than 26,000 trees have been planted in partnership with nearly 350 community organizations.

For prices, online ordering and more information, visit ReLeafMichigan.org, call 800642-7353 or email Info@ReLeafMichigan.org.

At the Oakwoods Metropark, near Flat Rock, the Nature Center is hosting a variety of programs for children, scouts and adults during the month of April.

Children ages 8 to 12 can search for cottontail with the Explorers Club on April 6, the Webelos scouts can earn their geology pin on April 13, and volunteers can help keep cleanup the park on April 20 in observation of this year’s Earth Day. The Walnut Grove Campground in Lower Huron Metropark, located at 17845 Savage Road, in Belleville, is accepting reservations for its 27 rustic campground sites, between May 3 and mid-October; tents, campers and motorhomes are accommodated. For more information, visit Metroparks.com. natural awakenings

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newsbriefs Nuclear Waste Activist Scheduled to Speak at Sierra Club Monthly Meeting

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outheast Michigan Group (SEMG) Sierra Club will host radioactive waste specialist Kevin Kamps, of Beyond Nuclear, a Maryland nuclear power abolition group, at 7:30 p.m., April 4, at Birmingham Unitarian Church, in Bloomfield Hills. Kamps will deliver a presentation, Southeast Michigan in the Radioactive Crosshairs, as part of the free monthly environmental series the club launched in February.

Many southeast Michigan residents are concerned about nuclear waste storage and pollution, especially the national Canadian radioactive waste dump proposed for Lake Huron, in Ontario, close to Michigan’s shoreline. Kamps will describe how the Great Lakes are burdened by many aspects of the hazardous and polluting uranium fuel chain, from mining to processing, and the effects of longterm radioactive waste storage at the Fermi 2 nuclear power plant in Monroe.

The SEMG Sierra Club is a volunteer-run and funded organization with more than 4500 members in Wayne, Oakland, Macomb and St. Clair Counties. Their mission is to encourage southeast Michigan residents to explore, enjoy and protect nature’s local resources.

World T’ai Chi and Qigong Day Celebrated April 27

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oin Erin Reas, owner of Torus Wellness in Dearborn, as she instructs a free T’ai Chi Easy class at 9:30 a.m., April 27, followed by an Integral Qigong class at 10 a.m., at Ford Field Park in Dearborn, to celebrate World T’ai Chi and Qigong Day. Reas will join the tens of thousands of people who gather in cities throughout 65 countries at 10 a.m. on the last Saturday in April to practice t’ai chi and qigong. The event was founded 15 years ago by Bill Douglas, t’ai chi expert for DrWeil. com, to educate the public on the health benefits of t’ai chi and qigong.

With roots in Chinese medicine, qigong is a practice of aligning breath, movement and awareness for exercise, healing and mediation. T’ai chi involves a series of movements performed in a slow, focused manner, accompanied by deep breathing. Medical research

Location: 38651 Woodward Ave., Blooomfield Hills. For more information, visit Michigan.SierraClub.org/semg or Facebook.com/clubSEMG.

Salvation Army Bed and Bread Club Receives Assistance from Rotary Club of Dearborn

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he Salvation Army’s Bed and Bread Club received welcomed assistance recently from the Rotary Club of Dearborn. Ten volunteers packaged over 1,000 lunches with food donated by the Dearborn Sausage Company and Greenland Market and contributions made by the Dearborn Rotary Foundation.

There are over 100 Bed and Bread Clubs throughout the country that help the Salvation Army provide food and shelter to the hungry and homeless. Bed and Bread Club trucks travel throughout Detroit delivering food to the hungry. In southeast Michigan, the Bed and Bread Club serves nearly 5,000 meals each day and provides shelter to 600 men, women and children every day and night of the year.

The Rotary Club of Dearborn is one of 50 clubs in Rotary District 6400, which includes Wayne, Monroe and Lenawee counties in Michigan and Essex County in Ontario. The club meets weekly at Park Place in Dearborn.

For more information about the Salvation Army and the Bed and Bread Program, call 313-361-6136 or visit Salmich.org or BedandBreadClub.org. For the Rotary Club of Dearborn, call 313-278-7233 or visit DearbornRotary.org.

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has shown that mind-body practices are very effective in lowering blood pressure, improving immune system functioning, increasing mental focus and reducing stress, a major contributor to disease.

Cost: Free. Location: 22051 Cherry Hill St., Dearborn. For more information, call Erin at 313-429-3214, email Erin@ erinreas.com, or visit Facebook.com/ Ease.Chi or WorldTaiChiDay.org.

newsbriefs Total Health Foods Leads Class on Reducing Exposure to Toxins

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class titled Taking Out The Toxins is scheduled from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., April 15, at Total Health Foods in Wyandotte. Certified Health Counselor Theresa Edmunds will talk about ways to reduce exposure to the many toxins in the environment, from everyday household and skin care products to drinking water and foods consumed.

Edmunds believes awareness is the first step in protecting against toxic burdens. “We are always going to be exposed in the world we live in, but the key to protecting yourself from disease is to reduce toxins where possible,” notes Edmunds, who graduated from the Health Coach Training Program at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition and is certified by the American Association of Drugless Practitioners.

Cost: $10. Location: 2938 Biddle Ave., Wyandotte. Call 734-246-1208 to register.

For more information, visit TheresaEdmunds.com.

Non-Toxic Nursery Topic for April Green Living Tuesdays Program

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ocalMotionGreen and The Lake House will present Non-Toxic Nursery, a presentation by Education Director Melissa Cooper Sargent of LocalMotionGreen, at 6:30 p.m., April 9, at The Lake House in St. Clair Shores.

Sargent will offer simple tips parents can use to minimize their children’s exposure to everyday chemicals used in the home. The two organizations have partnered to offer the free monthly Green Living Tuesdays programs dedicated to healthy living on the second Tuesday of each month.

LocalMotionGreen is a community-based organization in Grosse Pointe dedicated to raising public awareness about the connections between environmental toxins and negative health consequences, such as cancer, in an effort to influence personal behavior to promote improved health and quality of life. The organization was inspired by lifelong Grosse Pointe resident Elizabeth Cadwell Dance and shaped by many other Grosse Pointe residents who, like Dance, lost their life to cancer.

Opened in May 2011, The Lake House’s mission is to provide a safe harbor to support, educate and empower those touched by cancer. They offer support groups, health and wellness programs and social events.

For more information on LocalMotionGreen and Green Living Tuesdays, visit LocalMotionGreen.org. For more information on The Lake House, visit MiLakeHouse.org.

Detroit Historical Museum Exhibits Ukrainian Art

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he Ukrainian American Archives and Museum of Detroit, in cooperation with the Detroit Historical Society, has opened an exhibit on Ukrainian Americans and their immigration story at the Detroit Historical Museum. Entitled, A Cultural Thread....The Enduring Ukrainian Spirit, the exhibit opened March 16 and is open to the public through June 16 in the Museum’s Community Gallery.

The primary focus of the exhibit is to introduce the viewer to the history of Ukrainian immigration to the United States and its impact on American culture over the years, in particular to the local communities of the Detroit metropolitan area.

The exhibit features traditional art brought to America by Ukrainian immigrants including regional styles of costumes, sculptures, paintings, over 1,000 Ukrainian Pysanky (Easter eggs), ritual cloths which were used during life passages, pottery, and woodcarvings, as well as large scanned historical photographs of Ukrainian settlers and famous persons of Ukrainian descent.

Cost: Free. $5/parking. Location: 5401 Woodward Ave., Detroit. For more information, call 313-833-1805 or visit DetroitHistorical.org. Special group tour information is available by calling the exhibit curator, Dzvinka Hayda, at the Ukrainian American Archives and Museum at 313-366-9764.

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newsbriefs Monroe County Community College Offers Class on Digestive Health

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onroe County Community College is offering the class, All Disease Begins in the Gut, through their Lifelong Learning Program. Certified Health Counselor Theresa Edmunds will teach the class scheduled to start April 25 and run through May 30.

Edmunds says that while many people suffer from illnesses directly related to the digestive system, many others suffer with symptoms seemingly unrelated when, in fact, they are related to the digestive system. “Research is indicating that issues in the gut are far reaching and extend beyond the digestive system,” Edmunds points out. “With the way our diet has changed in the last 50 years, most of us have a compromised digestive system, whether we know it or not.”

Edmunds believes “it is only a matter of time before the standard American diet will start to affect their health.” The good news, she says, is that there are steps everyone can take to protect and even heal their digestive system.

Traditional principles that have been abandoned over time, combined with new measures to give the body the tools it needs to deal with today’s toxins, are the basis to heal the gut.

For more information or to register, call 734-242-7300, ext. 4127, or visit MonroeCCC./edu/ccs/lifelong.htm. Contact Edmunds at TheresaEdmunds@ hotmail.com.

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SEED Wayne Promotes Healthy Eating Through Workshops

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wo educational projects related to healthy eating are now offered by SEED Wayne (Sustainable Food Systems Education & Engagement in Detroit and Wayne State University). Supported by a recently received grant, the group is offering Healthy Eats Project, a foursession nutrition education curriculum at four senior housing sites, February through May, and a weekly nutrition and food demonstration at the Wayne State University (WSU) Farmers Market, between June and September.

The goals of the Healthy Eats Project are to increase the consumption by seniors of fruits and vegetables and to encourage them to participate in at least 30 minutes of physical activity most days. Nearly two dozen seniors from Woodbridge Manor participated in the first workshop conducted in February.

The Farmers Market project aims to increase the consumption of diverse kinds of fruits and vegetables by SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) using customers.

SEED Wayne is dedicated to sustainable food systems on the campus of WSU and in Detroit communities. he group of students and faculty from WSU work in partnership with communitybased organizations to promote access to healthy food, urban agriculture, farm-toinstitution and food system planning and policy development through teaching, research, engagement and campus operations.

SEED Wayne Director Kami Pothukuchi, Associate Professor of Urban Planning in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences of Wayne State University in Detroit, leads the group.

The Healthy Eats Project is funded in part by the State of Michigan with federal funds from the USDA’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program by way of the Michigan Nutrition Network at the Michigan Fitness Foundation.

For more information, visit Clas.Wayne.

Edu/SeedWayne/.

newsbriefs Combination Yang Yoga and Tai-Chi Workshop Offered at Taylor Yoga

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aylor Yoga is offering the workshop, Flying Dragon: Yang Yoga, Based on the Tao Teaching of Flow, from 6 to 8 p.m., April 16, by registered yoga teacher Roger DeYoung and Connie Fedel, instructor and owner of Taylor Yoga in Taylor.

The flow and stretch Flying Dragon workshop is a combination of Yang Yoga and t’ai-chi moves that center on stretching, strengthening and loosening of muscles, a practice that is the opposing force to the slow, long holds of Yin Yoga. Although Fedel says some yoga experience is helpful, it is not required to participate in the class.

Fedel’s personal health journey directed her into a yoga lifestyle that helped her realize “we are all in control of our own health.” An instructor since 2005, she has studied numerous forms of yoga including Bikram, Lyengar, Ashtanga and Isha, and teaches from beginner to advanced level classes as well as private lessons for individuals with special needs.

Cost: $20. Location: 8935 Telegraph Road, Taylor. Call 313-292-9642 to register (recommended).

Southern Wayne Country Regional Chamber 2013 Business & Lifestyles Expo

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he Southern Wayne County Regional Chamber (SWCRC) has big plans for the 2013 Business and Lifestyles Expo set to run April 25 to April 27.

The event kicks off with the Best of Downriver Black Tie Event, 6 to 9 p.m., April 25, at the Benjamin Yack Arena in Wyandotte, featuring cocktails and culinary masterpieces from more than 20 of the area’s finest chefs, followed by an afterglow of music, dancing, cocktails and hors d’oeuvres until 11 pm.

The Expo opens to the public free of charge 10 a.m. to 4 p.m, April 26, and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., April 27.

With this year’s theme, Live-Work-Play Downriver, a variety of zones will be setup, with interests ranging from kids crafts and activities to cooking demonstrations, exercise basics and animal adoptions from the Wyandotte Animal Shelter.

A Happy Hour Workshop of appetizers, drinks and guest speaker is set 5 to 7 p.m., April 26.

For more information, visit Swcrc.com.

Registration for Little Miss Princess of Pride Scholarships & Awards Pageant

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egistration and interviews for the Little Miss Princess of Pride Scholarships and Awards Pageant, along with registration for the Inner Beauty, Outer Peace workshop, will be held from noon to 5 p.m., April 14, at the Horatio Williams Foundation Center in Detroit. Both the pageant and workshop are open to girls ages 4-13.

The pageant will focus on individuality, talent, confidence, and cultural knowledge. Unlike any of its kind, the pageant will require contestants to research, scribe, study, and transform themselves into an ancestor from their cultural lineage.

Thirty girls will be selected to compete in the pageant, with three being crowned winners at the pageant on July 21 aboard the Detroit Princess Riverboat.

The workshop classes will meet weekly on Sundays, 1 to 5 p.m., April 21 to July 14, at the Horatio Williams Foundation Center. All pageant hopefuls will automatically be enrolled in the 12-week workshop classes.

Educators will instruct classes in yoga, poise and etiquette, public speaking, dance, healthy eating, conflict resolution, self image and modeling.

The Little Miss Princess of Pride Scholarships and Awards Pageant was formulated to educate young girls on the importance of self-awareness and self-acceptance and has a vision that girls and women of all ages will view each other as their extension and not their competition.

Cost: $75. Location: 1010 Antietam Ave., Detroit. Call 313-422-3755 to setup an appointment (required).

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is a great opportunity for anyone interested in sampling vegan food and products, or wanting to learn more on sustainable, compassionate, and healthy, food choices and lifestyles.”

Nationally known presenters will be featured at VegFest again this year including comedian Carol Leifer, NBA champ John Salley; President of Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine and PBS program host Neal Barnard M.D.; world-renowned ultramarathon champion Scott Jurek; author and sustainability activist Ruby Roth, on the health, environmental and ethical benefits of a plant-based diet.

Celebrate Sustainable, Healthy and Compassionate Food Choices at VegFest

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omedian Carol Leifer, NBA champ John Salley, Dr. Neal Barnard, chefs, authors, health experts, artists, food and more to be featured at VegFest 2013.

Michigan’s largest vegetarian organization will present VegFest 2013 annual vegan tastefest, health, and environmental expo at Suburban Collection Showplace in Novi on Sunday, April 21st.

In response to a record-breaking crowd of over 4000 last year, VegFest brings a variety of experts, innovative products, and activities. The event will feature talks by some of the nation’s foremost experts on plant-based nutrition, cooking demonstrations, childrens activites, and a food court featuring delicious options from local restaurants, bakeries, caterers and food companies.

Also included will be national brand samples, eco-friendly products, crueltyfree fashion, door prizes, literature, cookbooks and more. All vegan, of course!

“VegFest is about promoting health, environmental, and ethical benefits of living a plant-based lifestyle.” says Paul Krause, president of VegMichigan. “This

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NaturalAwakeningsDetroit.com

Schedule of Speakers: Room 1 •11:45 - Jim Corcoran •12:00 - Scott Jurek •1:00 - Carol Leifer •2:00 - John Salley •3:00 - Dr. Neal Barnard Room 2 •12:00 - Ruby Roth •1:00 - Tina Miller •2:00 - Jan Kemp •3:00 - Thomas Lahser Major event sponsors include BetterHealth Stores, The Medicine Cabinet Pharmacy of Southfield, Whole Foods Market, The Lunch Room, Ann Arbor Family and Ann Arbor Current Magazines, and 93.9 The River.

The 2013 VegFest is on Sunday, April 21, from 11am–5pm at the Suburban Collection Showplace in Novi, Michigan. Admission is $10 (under six free).

For memberships, advance discounted tickets and information on sponsorship, exhibiting, volunteering or the day’s schedule, contact VegMichigan at 877778-3464 or visit VegMichigan.org. See ad page 29.

MI Earth Day Fest Returns

O

ne of the planet’s largest Earth Day events, the MI Earth Day Fest, will return to downtown Rochester April 26-28.

Featuring green and healthy living vendors, exhibits, and presentations, as well as music, food, and kids’ activities, the three-day event will highlight solutions to environmental and health issues through education, product/service innovation and community building. Admission is free and open to all ages.

“Earth Day is the world’s largest secular observance, and we’re joining the celebration with an event planned to inspire, entertain and teach about how we can all make every day Earth Day,” says John Batdorf, general manager of event organizer MI Green Team, whose mission is to promote green and healthy living, businesses and communities through networking, events and website.

Highlights of the festival to be located at Third and Water Streets include: • Kickoff & Awards Ceremony: 7 p.m., April 26.

• Parade and Pep Rally: 11 a.m., April 27.

• Exhibits: Dozens of innovative, eco-friendly, and healthy products and

services on display in the areas of food, energy, transportation, clothing,

home, kids, garden, finances, art and more.

• Presentations: International climate change expert Peter Sinclair, Oakland

County Water Resources Commissioner Jim Nash, and other thought-

provoking presentations.

• Wellness Programs: Healthy eating, weight loss, and disease prevention

advice from best-selling author Dr. Kerrie Saunders and DMC cardiologist

Dr. Joel Kahn, plus free health screenings.

• Kids’ Corner: Crafts, climbing tower, straw bale climb and other fun activities.

• Community Building: Interactive presentation formats, Connections Café

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Originally founded as the Earth Day Expo at Oakland University in 2006, a partnership with the city of Rochester brought the annual event to downtown in 2009, where it grew to more than 50,000 attendees and over 200 exhibitors. In 2011, the event moved to mid-May and was renamed the Green Living Festival.

For maps/directions, program schedules, lists of participants and registration, visit MiEDF.org. or MiGreenTeam.com.

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healthbriefs

A Bus Pass to Green Well-Being T

here’s a way to simultaneously help both Planet Earth and one’s own health, report scientists from Imperial College London, in England. The researchers examined four years of data from the country’s Department for Transport National Travel Survey beginning in 2005, the year before free bus passes were available for people ages 60 and older.

The study team found that those with a pass were more likely to walk frequently and take more journeys by “active travel”—defined as walking, cycling or using public transport.

Staying physically active helps maintain mental well-being, mobility and muscle strength in older people and reduces their risk of cardiovascular disease, falls and fractures. Previous research

by Taiwan’s National Health Research Institutes published in The Lancet has shown that just 15 minutes of moderate daily exercise lowers the risk of death in people over 60 by 12 percent, and another study at Newcastle University found that 19 percent of Britain’s adults achieve their recommended amount of physical activity through active travel alone.

Public health organizations in the UK believe that “incidental” exercise, such as walking to and from bus stops, may play a key role in helping seniors keep fit and reduce social exclusion.

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Email: Roger@RogerMohr.com • 313-262-6175 • www.RogerMohr.com 14 Wayne County Edition

NaturalAwakeningsDetroit.com

COFFEE AND VISION LOSS LINKED

E

asing up on java consumption or switching to decaf may be a wise move for coffee lovers, according to a scientific paper published in Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science. The study links heavy consumption of the caffeinated beverage to an increased risk of developing exfoliation glaucoma, a condition in which fluid builds up inside the eye and puts pressure on the optic nerve.

This leads to some vision loss and in serious cases, total blindness.

Researchers obtained data from 78,977 women from the Nurses’ Health Study and 41,202 men from the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study that focused on caffeinated coffee, tea and cola servings. They found that drinking three or more cups of caffeinated coffee daily was linked with an increased risk of developing the eye condition, especially for women with a family history of glaucoma. However, the researchers did not find associations with consumption of decaffeinated tea, chocolate or coffee.

“Because this is the first [such] study, confirmation of the U.S. results in other populations would be needed to lend more credence to the possibility that caffeinated coffee might be a modifiable risk factor for glaucoma,” says Doctor of Science Jae Hee Kang, of the Channing Division of Network Medicine at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, in Boston, Massachusetts. “It may also lead to research into other dietary or lifestyle risk factors.”

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Zoe Weil portrait by Robert Shetterly

mane education: providing information about current issues in age-appropriate ways; fostering the Three C’s of curiosity, creativity and critical thinking; instilling the Three R’s of reverence, respect and responsibility; and ensuring access to both positive choices and the necessary tools for problem solving. “These elements enable students to take all that they learn and use it with reverence and a sense of responsibility,” says Weil.

Her institute offers the only master’s degrees in humane education that this approach requires, with complementary in-class and online programs for young people and adults.

Her determined vision is slowly becoming a reality as teachers become familiar with these concepts and integrate them into hands-on, project-based learning that crosses disciplines and better marries school experiences with real-life lessons.

Make the Extraordinary Ordinary

Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Seymour Papert, a renowned educator and computer scientist, has conducted indepth research in how worthy real-world topics get students excited about what they learn. They increase their tendency to dig more deeply and expand their interest in a wide array of

THE NEXT LEVEL Education for a More Sustainable World

by Linda Sechrist

W

“

hat is the purpose of education?” That’s a question Zoe Weil frequently revisits with her workshop audiences. As co-founder and President of the Institute for Humane Education (IHE), Weil has spent most of her adult life researching the answer. Her conclusion is that the U.S. Department of Education’s present goal of preparing graduates to “compete in the global economy” is far too myopic for our times.

Weil’s firsthand research, which grounds her book, The Power and Promise of Humane Education, has led her to forward the idea that the goal should be inspiring generations of “solutionaries” prepared to joyfully and enthusiastically meet the challenges of world problems.

“I believe that it is incredibly irresponsible for America’s educators and policymakers not to provide people with the knowledge of interconnected global issues, plus the skills and tools to become creative problem solvers and motivated change makers in whatever fields they pursue,” says Weil.

Weil points to four primary elements that comprise a hu-

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NaturalAwakeningsDetroit.com

We need to build cases for environmental protection around broad-based community concerns like health, quality of life, the protection of watersheds and wildlife and the education of our children. Environmental issues are also social, economic and quality of life issues.

Our challenge is to bring life-sustaining principles into creative thinking for the long view, rather than the short term. ~ Terry Tempest Williams

subjects as they better retain what they learn, become more confident in trusting their own judgment and make the connections needed to broadly apply their knowledge. Young people learn how to collaborate and improve their social and group speaking skills, including with adults.

According to Papert, projectbased learning improves test scores and reduces absenteeism and disciplinary problems. “If schoolchildren are given the gift of exploration, society will benefit, both in practical and theoretical ways,” notes Papert.

Telling Transformation

Papert’s observations were affirmed by middle school students at Voyagers’ Community School, in Farmingdale, New Jersey, in one of the IHE 10-week online classes—Most Good, Least Harm—in April 2012. “Initially, students were intimidated and underestimated their ability to express their thoughts and concerns or debate issues with the adult participants. That challenge faded quickly,” remarks Karen Giuffre, founder and director of the progressive day school.

Posing provocative questions like, “What brings you joy?” and engaging in conversations in subjects like climate change, racism, recycling, green energy, genocide and war challenged the students to step up to become respected equals. “This demanded a lot from these young people, because the experience wasn’t only about absorbing complex issues and developing an awareness of the material, political, economic and cultural world around them. It was also about how they probed their minds and emotions to determine where they stood on issues and what they could do to change their lifestyle, or that of their family and community, to make it more sustainable,” says Giuffre.

The students went on to help organize a peace conference that entailed 20-plus workshops to inspire an individual mindful awareness of peace that motivates and empowers the peacemaker within. It was intended to incite collective action across generations, explains Giuffre, and was followed by community service to people impacted

by Hurricane Sandy.

Answering the Call

Children or adults that participate in activities such as those created by IHE or the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) Challenge 20/20 are developing what Peggy Holman describes as “change literacy”, the capacity to be effectively present amid a changing set of circumstances. Holman, an adjunct professional lecturer at American University’s School of Public Affairs, in Washington, D.C., is co-founder of the Open Space Institute-US, which fosters whole-system engagement, and author of Engaging Emergence.

“Conversational literacy—the capacity to talk and interact in creative ways with others that are very different from us—is our birthright. However, change literacy, a necessary skill for future leaders, is learned via curiosity,” advises Holman. “In my experience, children grasp it more quickly than adults, because authentic expression and curiosity come naturally to them.

Children don’t have a long history, and so are naturally more present when engaged in exploring things that matter.”

Global problems of deforestation, peacekeeping, conflict prevention, terrorism, water pollution and shortages, natural disasters and mitigation, global warming, education for all, biodiversity, ecosystem losses and global infectious diseases aren’t yet subjects found in a normal curriculum for grades five through nine. However, the Internetbased Challenge 20/20 program now has youth in nearly 120 independent and traditional schools throughout the United States working on solutions that can be implemented both locally and globally.

“Challenge 20/20 partners American schools at any grade level [K-12] with counterpart schools in other countries, free of cost,” explains NAIS Director Patrick Bassett. “Together, teams tackle real global problems while forming authentic bonds and learning firsthand about cross-cultural communication.” Qualifying students may have an opportunity to share their experiences at the association’s

annual Student Diversity Leadership Conference.

In 2010, 11 students at the Fay School, in Southborough, Massachusetts, partnered with Saigon South International School (SSIS), in Vietnam.

After a year of studying, raising awareness and brainstorming solutions for the global water deficit, Fay students focused on the challenges families in underdeveloped countries face that must walk miles to find clean, safe, water sources.

A taxing water-carrying experiment brought immediate appreciation for the difficulty of transporting water, prompting them to invent the Water Walker.

The modified rolling cooler with heavyduty straps attached can carry up to 40 quarts of water on large, durable wheels and axles designed to navigate rocky terrain.

Re-Imagining Education

“Transformative learning, which is vital to the learning journey, goes beyond the acquisition of information,” says Aftab Omer, Ph.D., president of Meridian University, in Petaluma, California, and founder of its formative Institute of Imaginal Studies. “In informational learning, we acquire facts, concepts, principles and even skills, but in transformative learning, we are cultivating capacities. This is how certain capabilities become embodied in us, either as individuals or as human systems,” he advises.

Portrait artist Robert Shetterly tours with his series of more than 100 portrait paintings in traveling exhibits titled Americans Who Tell the Truth.

They are helping individuals learn to embody patience, perseverance and compassion, while enhancing their understanding of sustainability, social justice, civic activism, democracy and civil rights, via both historical role models and contemporary mentors such as environmental activist Bill McKibben, conservationist Terry Tempest Williams and renowned climate scientist James Hansen.

“We don’t need to invent the wheel, because we have role models that have confronted these issues and left us a valuable legacy,” remarks Shetterly.

natural awakenings

April 2013

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Bill McKibben portrait by Robert Shetterly

Summer 2013

July 8–August 2

Treat your kids to a sweet summer…

Camps and academic skills classes for 1st graders through high school seniors

In 2004, he collaborated to produce a companion curriculum with Michele Hemenway, who continues to offer it in Louisville, Kentucky, elementary, middle and high schools. Hemenway also teaches Art in Education at Jefferson Community & Technical College and 21st-Century Civics at Bellamine University, both in Louisville.

Out of many, she shares a particularly compelling example of a student transformed due to this learning method: “I taught a young girl studying these true stories and portraits from the third through fifth grades when she took her place in a leadership group outside the classroom. Now in middle school, she is doing amazing things to make a difference in her community,” says Hemenway.

Reflecting on her own life, deciding what she cared about most and what actions she wanted to take, plus her own strengths, helped the student get a blighted building torn down, document and photograph neighborhood chemical dumping and have it stopped and succeed in establishing a community garden, a factor known to help reduce crime.

Among Shetterly’s collection is the portrait of John Hunter, a teacher in Charlottesville, Virginia, who devised the World Peace Game for his fourth grade students. Children learn to communicate, collaborate and take care of each other as they work to resolve the

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READ • EMPOWER • SUCCEED 18 Wayne County Edition

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THYROID RECOVERY WORKSHOP Dr. Greg Kramer, DC is holding a

Terry Tempest Williams portrait by Robert Shetterly

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game’s conflicts. The game triggers an eight-week transformation of the children from students of a neighborhood public school to citizens of the world.

Demonstrating transformational learning at its best, they experience the connectedness of the global community through the lens of economic, social and environmental crises, as well as the imminent threat of war. Hunter and his students are now part of a new film, World Peace and Other 4th-Grade Achievements, which reveals how effective teaching can help unleash students’ full potential.

Professor Emeritus Peter Gray, of Boston College, who researches comparative, evolutionary, developmental and educational psychology, believes the transformational method will be accepted as part of the increased demand to integrate enlightened educational approaches in public schools. The author of Free to Learn notes, “A tipping point can occur. It’s happened before, when women won the right to vote, slavery was abolished and recently when gays were openly accepted in the military.”

Weil agrees that when more individuals commit to working toward a sustainable and just world, it will happen.

“What’s more worthy of our lives than doing this work for our children and coming generations?” she queries. “How can we not do this for them if we love them?”

Linda Sechrist is a Natural Awakenings senior staff writer.

For recorded source interviews and additional perspective, visit her website, ItsAllAboutWe.com.

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healthykids

P ARK IT HERE Exploring America’s National Treasures

by S. Alison Chabonais

T

he Kent family, of Amherst, New Hampshire, has faced many “Can I really do this?” moments while adventuring in America’s national parks. So far they’ve visited 57, and with Pinnacles just named a full park in January, they’ll likely be headed for California again. American Somoa, in the South Pacific, potentially the last and most remote destination of their 11-year odyssey, is under serious consideration.

Along the way, father Scott, mother Lisa and (now) 18-year-old Tanner and 16-year-old Peyton each grew increasingly self-confident in testing their skills at everything from spelunking, subtropical snorkeling and paragliding to ice trekking and kayaking subarctic waters. “If they offered it, we tried it,” says Lisa. “Our family regularly debates our favorite memories.”

While they hiked and explored natural rock formations at every opportunity—including New Mexico’s Carls-

20 Wayne County Edition

bad Caverns, Kentucky’s Mammoth Cave, South Dakota’s Wind Cave and California’s Yosemite—the gals also liked to ride horses while the guys fly fished. “One of my favorite moments was when Tanner and I hiked a Colorado trail to a pristine lake in Rocky Mountain National Park, where he caught his first trout,” recalls Scott.

“I never give the same answer as to the best experience or best park,” adds Tanner, citing Yellowstone, in Wyoming, and Wrangell-St. Elias, in Alaska, as particularly spectacular, partly for their distinctive wildlife. His favorite anecdote? “When I was little, I stared down a barracuda in the Dry Tortugas, off the coast of South Florida, wildly pointing it out to Dad, who was calmly photographing itty-bitty fish and never saw it.”

“It’s so cool to get close to a big animal,” says Peyton, recalling when she and Mom were sea kayaking Alaska’s Glacier Bay near a humpback whale. “I thought we were going to end

NaturalAwakeningsDetroit.com

up in the whale’s mouth,” she laughs.

The family agrees that their longest expedition—eight Alaskan parks in three weeks—was extraordinary.

“We had to fly into the Arctic Circle on a float plane and walk the ice using crampons,” Peyton notes about their visit to the remote Gates of the Arctic and Kobuk Valley, among America’s least-visited parks, in contrast to the most-visited Great Smoky Mountains National Park, straddling Tennessee and North Carolina.

Whether witnessing Kodiak Island bears, Hawaiian volcanoes or Everglades’ alligators, their overarching mission was to visit every major park before Tanner embarked for college.

The family’s National Park Service Passport already has 57 stamps secured during school holidays and summer vacations, timed to prime park seasons and complemented by destination photos.

“It’s easy to talk about the big moments, but you can have a memorable time in any park,” says Lisa, from appreciating the beauty of a boardwalk to boarding a ferry for an island picnic.

“Getting back to basics has been really good for our family, part of the glue that binds us together.”

She says her growing children learned to be brave and patient, help fellow travelers and be happy without cell phones. “We moved away from immediate gratification to focusing on a greater good,” remarks Lisa. “We enjoy interacting and doing simple things together.”

The family assesses its national parks tour as affordable, accessible and affecting how they experience life as a software engineer (Scott), physical education teacher (Lisa) and student athletes (Tanner and Peyton). They are pleased to be counted among the innumerable national park visitors that have benefited since the inception of what Ken Burns’ video series characterizes as America’s Best Idea. Lisa sums it up: “You don’t have to do it as big as we did to get big out of it.”

S. Alison Chabonais is the national editor of Natural Awakenings.

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How to Grow a Truly Green Lawn Transitioning from Chemically to Organically Grown

by Hedy Schulte

A

well-manicured green lawn adds tremendous curb appeal to any house and is a sure sign of ownership pride. But what price are homeowners willing to pay for a lush, green lawn? Studies show American homeowners use more pesticides per acre than farmers, putting the health of their families and pets at risk with exposure to harmful chemicals. Fortunately, homeowners don’t have to choose between the two. A beautiful green organic lawn can be attained by understanding the composition of a successful lawn, learning the alternatives to synthetic fertilizers and following a simple, soil-enriching routine.

Exposure to Lawn Chemicals

The initial investment of time, effort and money put into transitioning to an organic lawn make it all worthwhile when you look at the data on links between exposure to lawn pesticides and diseases. Of 30 commonly used pesticides identified by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and other sources, 19 are linked to cancer, 13 are associated with birth defects, 21 affect reproduction, and 26 may cause liver or kidney damage, according to data collected by Beyond Pesticides, a nonprofit, national coalition for pesticide-free lawns. Recent studies indicate a link between pesticide exposure and diseases such as asthma, autism, diabetes, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s disease and cancer.

A 1993 study by the National Academy of Sciences determined exposure to toxic substances before or after birth is one of several risk factors that appear to make certain children vulnerable to psychological disorders. Studies show mixtures of fertilizers, insecticides and herbicides commonly used on lawns are capable of altering behavior patterns, particularly in children, because their developing organs are less able than adults to detoxify toxic chemicals. Children’s vulnerability to toxic chemicals may be increased because they are naturally more exposed—they roll around in the grass and play on baseball, football and soccer fields, and then they touch their face and put their hands in their mouth,

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NaturalAwakeningsDetroit.com

transferring the chemicals from treated lawns and fields into their body. Compounding the exposure, the pesticides are tracked into the house on shoes and clothes.

Healthy Soil The key to a successful lawn is building healthy soil. “With an organic lawn, you’re not simply putting down fertilizers four times a year; you’re initiating cultural practices to nurture life in the soil, and in turn, the soil sustains the grass,” writes Paul Tukey on the website, OrganicGardening. com. Tukey is author of The Organic Lawn Care Manual and spokesperson for SafeLawns.org.

Healthy natural, organic soil contains a balance of bacteria, fungi, nematodes, earthworms and other organisms that break down thatch and clippings. Using organic fertilizers will feed the grass while building the soil’s structure. Organic fertilizers work slowly because they are made from plant and animal sources that need to be broken down by soil microbes in order for their nutrients to be released. This slow process provides lasting nutrition and steady growth.

Lawns treated with chemicals build up thatch, and their roots struggle to become established. Synthetic fertilizers are designed to work fast, with quick results, making the grass appear green, but the soil below the surface is sick because the chemicals killed many of the soil organisms responsible for decomposition and soil formation. To fix this, more chemicals are applied, and soon the grass becomes dependent.

Fertilizers By law, products labeled organic must be derived from plants, animals or minerals (rock powders). Examples of plant-based fertilizers are alfalfa meal, corn gluten, soybean meal and seaweed. Blood meal, feather meal, bone meal and

fish emulsion are animal by-products used in organic fertilizers, and mineral powders such as gypsum, greensand, granite dust and limestone are natural mineral powders found in organic fertilizers.

The three main nutrients needed to grow grass are nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium (N-P-K). In January 2012, new legislation took effect in Michigan (Public Act 299) designed to prevent excess phosphorus from entering waters by way of runoff from lawns and sidewalks and into storm drains. Once in the waters, this nutrient can cause overgrowth of plants like algae that can overtake waterways.

The general rule is no phosphorus fertilizer may be applied on residential or commercial lawns, unless it meets an exemption (visit Michigan.gov/ Act 299 to read the entire Act). The sale of phosphorus fertilizers in the marketplace is not impacted; hence, shoppers who don’t fall under the exemptions should read the label to see if the “P” in “N-P-K” is 0 (zero).

A comprehensive list of zero phosphorus organic fertilizers and the stores that carry them, along with lawn service companies that offer organic fertilizing applications, can be found at LocalMotionGreen.org.

LocalMotionGreen is a communitybased organization in Grosse Pointe dedicated to raising public awareness about the connections between environmental toxins and negative health consequences.

Weeds There are different ways to address weeds in an organic lawn. The most obvious method is to dig them out if they are few in number. Overseeding promotes a dense turf that will help out-compete weeds. While some experts recommend corn gluten to inhibit the seeds from annual weeds, such as crabgrass, from germinating, Jeff Copeland of A-1 Organic Lawns in White Lake, Michigan, says in his experience corn gluten attracts ants, a lot of ants. If corn meal is used, the best time to apply it is just prior to the bloom of forsythia, and it should not be applied at the same time as natural awakenings

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overseeding, as the seeds won’t come up.

For post-emergent weed control, Copeland, a man of great passion for his business and the mission for every turf to be chemical free, recommends spot spraying unwanted plants in full sun with a home remedy of 80-percent white vinegar and 20-percent lemon juice mixed with one teaspoon of a nongermicidal liquid dish soap added just before use. Be careful to apply only to the plants you want to eliminate, as it will kill whatever it contacts.

Not all weeds are bad, though. What some people consider a weed, clover, is in fact beneficial to turf. It traps free nitrogen from the atmosphere into its roots and distributes it to the grass, through the soil, which helps it grow and green up. Tukey says each lawn should contain five percent clover to fix nitrogen into the soil. A guide to common lawn weeds and the conditions that contribute to them is available at BeyondPesticides.org).

Be patient when transitioning to an organic lawn, as your turf needs time to detoxify from being chemically dependent to growing strong and healthy on its own. It won’t go green overnight. In fact, it may take up to three years to yield the results you want; but in time your natural system will sustain itself, your grass will be green, and best of all, you and your family can enjoy walking and playing on your lawn without worrying about exposure to harmful chemicals.

Thursday, May 19 • 6pm-9pm

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24 Wayne County Edition

NaturalAwakeningsDetroit.com

Steps for Transitioning from a Synthetic to a Natural Lawn 1. Test the soil to determine which

nutrients are lacking. Kits can be

purchased at local hardware

stores or through MSU Extension (MsuSoilTest.com).

2. Aerate and dethatch to allow water

and soil amendments to penetrate

It is best to aerate in the fall.

3. Overseed with appropriate

grass seed.

4. Top-dress with a 1/2-inch thick

layer of organic compost.

5. Adopt good mowing habits. Mow

high, leaving grass three to four

inches long, to shade out weed

seeds from germinating. Use a

sharp blade, and leave clippings

on the lawn, as they contain

needed nitrogen. Never cut off

more than 1/3 of the grass blades

at a time (which means you

may have to mow more often). The

exception to this is the final cut of

the season, when the grass should

be cut to a height of two inches.

6. Three to four times per season,

apply organic fertilizers and

compost tea based on soil test results.

7. Water infrequently but deeply

(about one inch per week) to

promote deep root growth, and

always water in the morning.

Hedy Schulte, of Chesterfield Township, is a freelance writer focusing on health and nutrition. She can be reached at HMSchulte@comcast.net.

SANKOFA LIFE NETWORK presents

Sundays 3:30 pm - 4:00

WADL-TV 38 with

Dr. Keefa Weatherspoon

www.DrKeefa.com

HELPFUL RESOURCES FOR ORGANIC LAWN WRANGLERS Participation is Limited. Plea se RSVP early!

Local companies: A-1 Organic Lawns. 248-889-7200.

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Wednesday, May 29th from Noon-5pm at St. Paul of the Cross Passionist Retreat & Conference Center 23333 Schoolcraft Rd (I-96/Telegraph) Detroit 313-535-9563 or msansotta@passionist.org Call to reserve your spot today! natural awakenings

April 2013

25

DETECTING

DISEASE

Liver and Adrenal Issues Share Symptoms

by Dr. Shawn Messonnier

A

drenal and liver diseases can commonly plague pets, with adrenal problems occurring more often in dogs but routinely misdiagnosed, and liver disease more frequently present in cats.

Liver Disease

This inclusive term is used to describe any disorder of the liver. In both dogs and cats, common causes include toxins, infections, metabolic problems and tumors. In cats, infections and fatty liver disease are more likely, while dogs more often experience infections and tumors. Clinically affected pets are usually anorectic (not eating) and lethargic; in severe cases, jaundice may occur.

Conventional therapies depend to some extent on the cause, but in general, antibiotics and hospitalization for fluid therapy and forced feeding, often through a stomach tube, are necessary to give the pet the best chances of recovering. Pets with liver cancer are usually diagnosed too late to be a candidate for surgery, unless only one liver lobe is involved, or chemotherapy.

More gentle natural therapy often results in curing the condition, even in later stages, depending upon the root cause. The herb milk thistle is well known for its ability to heal liver damage. B vitamins, as well as the nutritional supplements comprising S-adenosylmethionine (SAMe) and phosphatidylcholine, may also be ef-

26 Wayne County Edition

fective treatments.

Adrenal Disease

Adrenal issues, especially common in middle-aged and older canines, can refer to Addison’s disease or Cushing’s disease—signifying decreased or increased adrenal function, respectively—and are commonly misdiagnosed as liver disease.

Addison’s disease, although not prevalent, is often incorrectly diagnosed because its symptoms of reduced appetite, vomiting, diarrhea and weakness are shared with most other diseases. Blood testing can be helpful, but is not always definitive.

“In my veterinary practice, pets with elevated levels of enzymes indicating liver or adrenal disease are always treated with natural remedies first.

In most cases, this treatment is effective and conventional medication is not needed.” ~ Dr. Shawn Messonnier

NaturalAwakeningsDetroit.com

Cushing’s disease is a more common problem. Signs mimic diabetes and kidney disease, including increases in appetite, thirst and urination. Accurate diagnosis requires specialized blood tests and abdominal sonograms.

Conventional treatment for either disease involves lifelong medication.

Natural therapies that work to prevent and alleviate such ailments may involve adrenal glandular supplements, milk thistle and herbs such as licorice (for Addison’s disease) or ginseng and magnolia bark (for Cushing’s disease).

Regular laboratory testing is important for a pet to allow for early diagnosis and treatment of potentially life-threatening diseases. If a pet develops liver or adrenal disease, combining conventional therapies with natural remedies usually results in successful treatment of the condition.

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. Visit PetCare Naturally.com.

Mobile Yoga Studio Brings Special Delivery

by Karen Couf-Cohen

Y

oga practitioners aspire to unite the mind and body through awareness and acceptance, connecting with what is inside first to better manage what’s happening outside. The desire for work-life balance led Lisa Ballo, a former advertising vice-president to make yoga an integral part of her life. “Yoga became my sanctuary, a way to manage the challenges of life and stay healthy,” she says.

Now Ballo channels her executive skills and 20 years’ worth of yoga practice to lead 16 seasoned instructors for her growing company, Belightful Yoga, a mobile yoga studio launched in 2010 that serves southeast Michigan.

While Belightful Yoga brings onsite yoga to everyone from schools to companies, Ballo’s passion is teaching children, particularly those with special needs. Children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) as well as those with Down syndrome (DS) present a unique set of opportunities that can be successfully channeled through a yoga practice. “My team offers a non-competitive and encouraging atmosphere to support the wellbeing of the children with special healthcare needs,” she says.

yoga offers a calming environment to children with ASD. Predictability decreases the common anxiety they face with change. Positive affirmations, such as, “I can do it,” “I am strong and powerful,” or “I am balanced and focused,” are frequently incorporated into Belightful Yoga classes to increase student’s self-esteem, attention and concentration.

Other techniques encourage the child to gain awareness of their breath, an ideal tool to support transitions.

Belightful Yoga develops custom classes for children and their caregivers through organizations, such as Oakland and Macomb/St. Clair Autism Societies and Oakwood Hospital’s Center for Exceptional Families in Dearborn. “Our first class started out loud and wild at times,” recalls Theresa Gabalis, chapter president of the Macomb/Saint Clair Autism Society.

“The repetitive component in the class, where you build on what you learned the previous week, increased the kid’s confidence and decreased their anxiety because they knew what to expect. By the end of our series, you could hear a pin drop.”

Consistency and Verbal and Visual Cues

Notable Benefits for Children with Special Needs

How does that translate therapeutically into a yoga class? “In a traditional adult class, instructors might say ‘downward dog,’ but for kids with ASD, Belightful teachers use visuals and verbal explanations that make sense to them, so they can mirror our physical actions,” explains Ballo.

The predictable repetitive and mirroring nature of

Years of yoga practice, personal experience and a growing body of supportive research have convinced Ballo of the social, emotional and physical benefits of yoga for this population. Based upon her sample study of young children with ASD, Yoga Therapist Rachel Fridholm found that yoga therapy was effective in increasing emotional regulation, natural awakenings

April 2013

27

Coming in May

with significantly fewer interruptions after yoga therapy. Families and teachers reportedly observed improvements in participants’ focus, strength, flexibility and balance, as well as an enhanced sense of self-awareness and pride and better self-calming abilities.

Dr. Kristie Patten Koenig, Ph.D.— an assistant professor of occupational therapy at NYU Steinhardt— led a study, published in a 2012, where children from a public school with the nation’s largest population of ASD

Exceptional Families developed a program to deal with the predisposition toward obesity among its population of children with special needs. “The yoga segment offered the children a perfect opportunity to connect with their bodies and increase their physical fitness and self-esteem,” notes Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Stephanie Pritula.

Paulette Duggins, director of the Down Syndrome Guild of Southeast Michigan, a participating partner with Belightful Yoga, says, “Yoga provides our children an activity

participated in a 16-week program of breathing deeply, assuming poses, tensing and relaxing muscles and singing daily. She founded that the children exhibited significantly less aggressive behavior, social withdrawal and hyperactivity.

Parents of children who regularly attend Belightful Yoga’s special-needs classes concur with the findings. Patrice LaPoint, of Macomb County, who observed a sizeable decrease in her nine-year-old son’s anxiety, says that he was able to reduce his medications.

Darlene Wasilewski, of Oakland County, reports that after class her son was relaxed and free of his stuttering difficulty.

Oakwood Hospital’s Center for

level and opportunity for relaxation and identification of triggers.” Other benefits of yoga for children with Down syndrome include developing discipline, teaching respect for self and others, increasing body awareness and improving self-esteem and confidence.

Loose muscles, a tendency toward flexibility, and boundless enthusiasm with diminished awareness of physical limitations often characterize children with DS. “Any yoga instructor teaching children with DS needs to be mindful to ensure the child’s safety,” points out Ballo. Belightful Yoga’s class content emphasizes building strength and muscle tone.

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The Breath as Healer

Pranayama, or yogic breathing, is the practice of regulating the breath to improve respiratory efficiency and promote relaxation. It is a wavelike pattern, where an inhalation begins with an expansion of the upper chest and moves into the abdomen. On exhalation, the opposite occurs: the abdomen contracts first, followed by the upper chest.

“This wavelike breathing pattern for children with special healthcare needs is not the norm,” notes Ballo.

Children with DS often breathe in reverse, swelling the abdomen and expanding the chest during exhalation, write Physical Therapist Caryn Bradley and Occupational Therapist Elizabeth Cara, in their course manual, Yoga for the Child with Special Healthcare Needs. The researchers state that proper yogic breathing increases relaxation and opens up airways, reducing the likelihood of sleep apnea, nasal congestion and throat irritations and infections.

Slow, relaxed breathing also helps children and adults with attention-deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) to increase their ability to focus and to reduce anxiety.

“By being mindful of the connection between breath and movement, says Ballo, “Belightful’s teachers allow those with ADHD to come into the present moment.”

“Well trained and patient teachers, who are particularly mindful of the teacher: student ratio, help ensure that

children with special needs get the attention and sense of pride that they need upon leaving yoga class,” says Ballo. “The best classes will provide total wellbeing and nourishment for their body and minds.”

A Final Word for Caregivers

Any discussion of the wellbeing of children with special needs would be incomplete without a mention of the caregiver. A 2008 National Health Interview Survey reported that caregivers of children are twice as likely as the general adult population to say they are in fair or poor health. While that may not be surprising, a small amount of caregiver respite can make a big difference. Depending on the level of impairment, parents can apply for respite care through the State of Michigan—an arrangement for outside caregivers to relieve the primary caregiver for a designated length of time.

Often, a planned regular activity like a yoga class is perfect for the respite caregiver to attend with a child with special needs.

To reach Belightful Yoga, call 248-761-6815 or visit BelightfulYoga.com.

Karen Couf-Cohen is a writer and the owner of Karen Couf Cohen Public Relations, LLC, based in Franklin, Michigan.

Reach her at KarenCoufCohen.com.

natural awakenings

April 2013

29

consciouseating

Eating Ecology Daily Decisions Make a Difference

by Judith Fertig

C

onsuming food has such an enormous ripple effect that making small changes, one meal at a time, can reap big benefits. How we choose, prepare, cook, serve and preserve our food can improve nutrition, weight loss, cost savings and the environment.

Decide What to Eat

Choosing what we eat is critical. New

30 Wayne County Edition

York Times food columnist Mark Bittman believes that no food is absolutely off limits because, “It’s all in the way we use these things.” Yet, he adds, “The evidence is clear. Plants promote health.”

For the past few years, Bittman has experimented with eating vegan for breakfast and lunch, and then indulging at dinner. “It’s just one model of a new way of eating,” he says, “but it makes

NaturalAwakeningsDetroit.com

sense on many levels. By eating more plants, fewer animals and less processed food, I’ve lost 30 pounds and my cholesterol and blood sugar levels are normal again.”

When a friend sent him a 21stcentury United Nations study on how intensive livestock production causes more greenhouse gas emissions than driving a car, Bittman realized how a change of diet is a win-win for him and the environment.

For a wake-up call on how our food choices affect the planet, the Center for Science in the Public Interest offers a short quiz at Tinyurl.com/ EatingGreenCalculator.

Identify Good Sources “One of the most ecologically conscious things you can do to make a great meal is prepare it with food that you grew yourself,” says New Yorkbased lifestyle writer Jen Laskey, who blogs at Frugaltopia.com. “Plant a small vegetable garden and a few fruit trees in your yard or join a local community garden. Even sprouting an herb garden on a windowsill will make a difference;

plus, everyone in your household will appreciate the choice in fresh seasonings.”

Kansas City Star journalist Cindy Hoedel suggests planting parsley, basil, dill and other herbs every three to six weeks in eggshells in a sunny window after the outdoor growing season for a year-round tasty harvest.

When shopping, renowned activist, author and eco-stylist Danny Seo, of Bucks County, Pennsylvania, suggests bringing along reusable shopping bags and choosing local foods when possible, plus sustainable seafood and free trade, organic and hormone-free foods.

The Socially Responsible Agricultural Project offers more eco-shopping tips, such as carpooling grocery trips and avoiding products with more than five ingredients, at Tinyurl.com/ShopHealthier.

Prepare and Serve Righteously “On average, each person throws about $600 worth of food into the trash every year because of spoilage,”

says Seo. Instead of rinsing food before storing, which causes more spoilage, he recommends cleaning it right before meal preparation.

Buying what’s in season (and thus less expensive) makes sense, advises Hoedel. “When you find fresh produce on sale, buy it in large quantities and boil it (one to five minutes, depending on how long the regular cooking time is), and then freeze it in glass containers. This saves money and plastic packaging waste.” Hoedel also likes to store lemon wedges, chopped onions and other leftovers in small glass jars instead of plastic bags.

Seo suggests using real dinnerware, glasses and utensils instead of disposable products. For a touch of elegance, take the advice of travel expert Kathy Denis, of Leawood, Kansas. “Adopt the traditional French practice of using—and reusing—a cloth napkin all week, or until it is too soiled to use,” she recommends. “Family members like to have a personal napkin ring. Each napkin gets shaken out and then rolled up in the ring for use at another meal.”

“Saving leftovers in the freezer

helps keep it full (which helps it run more efficiently) and ensures future meals that require minimal energy to prepare,” advises Seo.

Hoedel’s zero-waste tips, shared via Twitter, include making and freezing lots of end-of-season pasta sauce with tomatoes, peppers and basil.

Food can also be canned or pickled. Seattle cookbook author Kim O’Donnel, who founded Canning Across America and is known for her meatless recipes, says, “My only regret about canning is that I waited so long.

Learning how to extend the season of my favorite fruits and vegetables in a jar is one of the most gratifying and useful skills I’ve acquired as an adult.”

As green eating habits add up, Bittman says he enjoys… “a bit of self-satisfaction knowing that, by an infinitesimal amount, I’m reducing the pace of global warming. And I’m saving money by buying more ‘real’ food and less meat and packaged junk.”

Award-winning cookbook author Judith Fertig blogs at AlfrescoFood AndLifestyle.blogspot.com.

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fitbody

Picture Perfect From athletes to astronauts, mental imagery boosts performance.

by Debra Melani

L

ast winter, Terry Chiplin went for an early morning run near his Colorado home. Snow crunched as his sneakered feet hit the front porch of his mountain lodge, tucked into a secluded forest. Evergreen boughs glistened in the sun, drooping slightly from the weight of the sparkling white powder. The running coach smiled as he lifted his face to the sky, welcoming the large, wet flakes that kissed his face.

“Can you picture it?” asks the bubbly British native and owner of Active at Altitude, in Estes Park. That is visualization, he explains, a concept he uses regularly at retreats he conducts for runners from beginner to elite as a holistic means of boosting performance. “It’s simply a succession of mental images; we use visualization all the time.”

Whether it’s Tiger Woods envisioning a perfect golf swing minutes before taking a shot or Michael Phelps

32 Wayne County Edition

replaying a mental video of an ideal swim the night before an Olympic event, many athletes have long worked with trainers such as Chiplin to move beyond strictly physical preparation and consciously enlist creative mental capacities to enhance their performance. Using imagery and positive self-talk can improve the efforts of any type of athlete and, as Chiplin’s clients have found, improve their lives.

“The notion that we are just a physical body, so we just need to train physically, is old-fashioned,” Chiplin maintains. Shortly after launching his program six years ago, he learned firsthand how powerful the mind could be in boosting (or sabotaging) performance.

He remarks, “It quickly became apparent that the main issues people face are the mental things, what is happening in their heads.” Chiplin recalls watching runners fall from the peak capabilities they had reached af-

NaturalAwakeningsDetroit.com

ter training hard for endurance events as their mileage tapered off in the final days before the race. Similarly, he thinks the sort of “negative visualization” he witnessed can have a similar impact on everyday life events, such as exams, interviews and job achievement.

Although unclear about its exact mechanism, sports psychologists have long recognized the value of positive mental imagery, especially in building skills and reducing anxiety. In working with athletes, they apply shared models such as those reported in The Sport Psychologist.

Both professional and amateur runners have benefited from Chiplin’s camps, including graduate Ginny Landes, 62, who says visualization techniques have changed her running outlook and her life.

“My goal is not high achievement or personal records; it’s to always finish my run feeling good,” says Landes, of Lafayette, Colorado. As part of the visualizing process, she says she also clears her mind of negative thoughts, stops comparing her performance to others and accepts factors that are out of her control, whether it’s bad race weather or competitive colleagues.

Practicing helpful visualization techniques consistently in daily life can lead to better returns across the board, not just in athletics, according to Terry Orlick, a performance consultant from Ottawa, Ontario, and author of many self-improvement books, including Embracing Your Potential and In Pursuit of Excellence.

Orlick has worked with people from many walks of life that use imagery in their quest for improvement, including surgeons, musicians, pilots, dancers, astronauts and CEOs. When working with Canadian Olympic teams, Orlick found that 99 percent of the athletes practiced visualization an average of 12 minutes per day, four times a week.

Studies have linked imagery and improved performance in a variety of sports. For instance, researchers found that golfers that used visualization and positive self-talk improved their putting performance (Journal of Sports Science & Medicine). Another study showed an increase in confidence

among novice female rock climbers, leading to better performance (Journal of Sport Behavior).

For Landes, her personal experience is all the proof she needs. After years of rarely being able to run the entire course of a major annual race in Aspen—generally walking the last stretch—Landes tried visualizing herself having a strong finish as she trained and prepared for the event.

For weeks, she replayed the last three miles many times in her mind. Then she ran the race, paring 12 minutes off her previous year’s time. “It felt great,” Landes says, “and it worked.”

Tune in to

BoB & RoB Allison’s

on Air: 248-557-3300

Freelance journalist Debra Melani writes about health care and fitness from Lyons, CO. Connect at Debra Melani.com or DMelani@msn.com.

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Visualization Tips

A

s with any skill, practice often, gradually increasing the num-

ber of sessions.

n For maximum effect, incorporate sounds, smells, colors and feel ings to create vivid images. n

Plan imagery to meet current needs. If struggling with a skill, imagine performing it perfectly and confidently many times. If distractions are an issue, imagine remaining calm and focused while dealing with what ever occurs during an event.

Source: Adapted from Association for Applied Sport Psychology

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The thyroid’s hormonal output is regulated by thyroidstimulating hormone (TSH) produced by the anterior pituitary, which is regulated by thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) produced by the hypothalamus. T3 and T4 are synthesized from both iodine and tyrosine, so imbalances of these nutrients, too much or too little, can affect the production of thyroid hormone.

Hypothyroidism, or underactive thyroid gland, is the most common type of thyroid dysfunction, followed next by hyperthyroidism, or overactive thyroid gland, and then goiter and thyroid cancer. Hashimoto’s disease, the most common cause of underactive thyroid in the US, is an autoimmune disorder whereby the immune system makes antibodies that damage thyroid cells and interfere with their ability to make thyroid hormones. For those that suffer with Hashimoto’s disease, the battle is not with the thyroid, but with the immune system. Unless the immune system is modulated, the patient will continue to suffer.

Typically, these are five thyroid issues are not tested for and may be missed.

Hidden Causes of Hypothyroid Symptoms

By Gregory Kramer, DC

1. Hypothyroidism caused by pituitary dysfunction This pattern is triggered by elevated cortisol, which can be the result of active infection, blood sugar imbalances, chronic stress, pregnancy, hypoglycemia or insulin resistance. These stressors fatigue the pituitary gland at the base of the brain so that it can no longer signal the thyroid to release enough thyroid hormone. There may be nothing wrong with the thyroid gland itself; rather the pituitary is not sending it the right messages. Hypothyroid symptoms are present and the measure of TSH in the blood is below the functional range (1.8 to 3.0) but within the standard range (0.5 to 5.0). The T4 will be low in the functional range (and possibly in the standard range too).

2. Under-conversion of T4 to T3 “The thyroid is the central gear in the complex web of metabolism and extremely sensitive to minor imbalances in other areas of physiology. An astute clinician should always ask what else is going wrong, as a result and cause, when they identify a thyroid imbalance.” –Datis Kharrazian, DC, author of Why do I Still Have Thyroid Symtoms, When all my Labs are Normal?

Disorders of thyroid function are very prevalent in the US and continue to increase. Thyroid medications, notably Synthroid, have been on the list of most prescribed medications for decades. The traditional health care model for managing thyroid disorders is an outdated model, dating back to the 1960s.

The thyroid gland is one of the body’s largest endocrine glands, located in the front of the neck beneath cartilage that forms what is known commonly as the Adam’s apple.

The gland produces hormones, principally triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4), which control metabolic rate, make proteins and determine how sensitive the body is to other hormones.

34 Wayne County Edition

NaturalAwakeningsDetroit.com

Inflammation and elevated cortisol levels can cause this pattern. T4 is the inactive form of thyroid hormone and must be converted to T3 before the body can use it. More than 90 percent of thyroid hormone produced is T4. T4 to T3 conversion happens in cell membranes. Inflammatory cytokines damage cell membranes and impair the body’s ability to convert T4 to T3. High cortisol also suppresses the conversion. Nutritional deficiencies can play a role. Patients with this issue have hypothyroid symptoms, but their TSH and T4 are normal. T3 testing reveals low levels.

3. Hypothyroidism caused by elevated TBG

Thyroid (or thyroxine) binding globulin (TBG) is the protein that transports thyroid hormone through the blood.

When thyroid hormone is bound to TBG, it is inactive and unavailable to the tissues. When TBG levels are high, levels of unbound (free) thyroid hormone will be low, leading to hypothyroid symptoms. With this pattern, TSH and T4 will be normal. If tested, T3 and T3 uptake will be low, and TBG will be high. Elevated TBG may be caused by high estrogen levels, which are often associated with birth control pills or estrogen

replacement (i.e. Premarin or estrogen creams). To treat this pattern, excess estrogen must be cleared from the body.

4. Hypothyroidism caused by decreased TBG

When TBG levels are low, levels of free thyroid hormone will be high.

Too much free thyroid hormone in the bloodstream causes the cells to develop resistance to it. Even though there is more than enough thyroid hormone, the cells cannot use it and symptoms of hypothyroidism, not hyperthyroidism, develop. With this pattern, TSH and T4 will be normal. If tested, T3 and T3 uptake will be high, and TBG will be low. A study in the European Journal of Endocrinology found that high testosterone can decrease TBG. In women, this pattern is often accompanied by polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and insulin resistance. Reversing insulin resistance and restoring blood sugar balance is one of the keys to supporting those that suffer with this issue.

5. Thyroid resistance

In this case, the thyroid and pituitary glands are functioning normally, but the hormones are not getting into the cells where they are needed, resulting in hypothyroid symptoms. All lab test markers appear normal because there is no way to test the function of cellular receptors directly; labs measure only the levels of hormones in the present blood. Chronic stress and high cortisol levels are the usual cause of thyroid resistance, but high levels of homocysteine and genetic factors may also contribute.

Conclusion

The five patterns described are only some of possible causes of hypothyroid symptoms that may not show up on standard lab tests. If you have hypothyroid symptoms, but your lab tests are normal, you may have one of these hidden problems.

There are multiple sites of thyroid metabolic defects, starting with the hypothalamus-pituitary-axis and ending with the receptor sites. Each of these imbalances can be clearly identified and linked to toxicities,

blood sugar imbalances, medication, nutrient deficiencies and unbalanced hormones.

While conventional medical care treats just the symptoms or tip of the iceberg, it rarely leads to long-term relief and vibrancy. By identifying and treating the underlying root cause or causes, a holistic approach has a much better chance to resolve successfully a patient’s health challenge. A truly comprehensive approach should include very specific tests with high sensitivity to help patients discover any underlying causes for their particular dysfunctions, whether they be food intolerances, a gut infection, blood sugar dysregulation, anemia or a host of other issues. If the underlying cause is discovered, the patient can achieve optimal wellness.

Dr. Gregory M. Kramer is a chiropractic physician with a practice located at 34441 W. 8 Mile Rd., Ste. 116, in Livonia. For more information or for a free consultation, call 248-615-1533, email LivoniaSpine@yahoo.com or visit LivoniaSpineAndHealth.com.

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Wednesday, April 17, 2013 7:00pm TLC Holistic Wellness, 31580 Schoolcraft Rd, Livonia

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calendarofevents All Calendar events must be received by the 15th of the month prior to publication, and adhere to our guidelines.

Please visit HealthyLivingDetroit.com for guidelines and to submit entries.

April 1

April 5

LifeCare’s Outstretched - -. Want to worship God and refuel your soul, all while stretching your body? Have we got a class for you! Come to LifeCare’s Outstretched in Worship. A Christian alterntive to yoga. Only $5! Hope to see you there! $5. LifeCare, 33445 Warren Rd, Westland.

LifeCareChristianCenter.org, 734-629-3551.

April 2

Low-Cost Vaccine & Microchipping Clinic for Pets - 4:30-7:30pm. Protect your pets from illness even in this economy - top quality vaccines, heartworm meds, and flea and tick preventatives for dogs and cats at low prices.

Microchips available for $25. Nail trims available for $5. Clinic brought to you by Basil’s Buddies.

Tiny Paws Pet Grooming, 13498 Dix Rd, Southgate. BasilsBuddies.org, 734-926-1098.

Life Balance Nutrition Class: Genetics and Blood Type - 6:30-7:30pm. Join Karen Mikhail for her latest nutrition class series. Come to one or come to all - 4 week program – 4/16 - Gluten-Free Solutions, 4/23 - Veggies &Fruits, 4/30 - Protein & the Sugar Blues $40 for 4 weeks or $15 drop in.

Total Health Foods, 2938 Biddle Ave, Wyandotte.

THFDownriver.com, 734-246-1208.

Drink Yourself Healthy - 7pm. All water is not created equal, learn which water is the best for your body. Dr. Fischer, a hydration expert, will help you learn the truth about water to help boost your overall health and improve your mood.

Free. TLC Holistic Wellness, 31580 Schoolcraft Rd, Livonia. TLCHolisticWellness.com, 734664-0339.

Veg101 - 7-8:30pm. Fun and informative cooking class, attendees will learn the nutritional aspects of a plant based diet and taste samples of the prepared food. Registration required, either on line or at the Customer Service Desk (734) 997-7500. All food demos vary monthly. Whole Foods Market, 2918 Walton Blvd, Rochester Hills. VegMichigan.org.

April 6

April 4 Preventing Diabetes Class - 5:30-7:30pm.

For individuals with pre-diabetes focusing on diet and exercise. $25. Henry Ford Selfhealth Center, 23400 Allen Rd, Woodhaven.

HenryFordSelfHealth.com, 734-676-3813.

S.E. Michigan in the Radioactive Crosshairs - 6:30-8:30pm. Radioactive waste burial in the Great Lakes basin means deep trouble for 20% of the world’s fresh water and Michigan residents.

Guest speaker, Kevin Kamps, Radioactive Waste Specialist will update us how this will affect Michigan resident’s water, air and evacuation routes. Refreshments, announcements and Earth Day Volunteer opportunities, free. Birmingham Unitarian Church, 38651 Woodward Ave, Bloomfield Hills. Michigan.SierraClub.org/semg Pressure Point Therapy - 7-8pm. Step-bystep instruction of this therapy is taught by Certified Wellness Doctor, Dr William H Karl, DC. Bring a partner to receive the most benefit from this relaxing, informative, free workshop.

Karl Wellness Center & Chiropractic Clinic, 30935 Ann Arbor Trail, Westland. Register at 734-425-8220.

Essential Daily Exercises - 8-9pm. Learn the six most essential exercises that will help you to improve strength, balance, and overall energy - a must for all ages and fitness levels, free. Karl Wellness Center & Chiropractic Clinic, 30935 Ann Arbor Trail, Westland. KarlWellnessCenter. com Register at 734-425-8220.

36 Wayne County Edition

Drink Yourself Healthy - 11am. All water is not created equal, learn which water is the best for your body. Dr Fischer, a hydration expert, will help you learn the truth about water to help boost your overall health and improve your mood.

Free. TLC Holistic Wellness, 31580 Schoolcraft Rd, Livonia. TLCHolisticWellness.com, 734664-0339.

Family Kitchen Fun - 1-3pm. Join us for a Family Kitchen Fun workshop!Kids of all ages plus parent are welcome - learn how to make an organic meal, will make the meal and then enjoy it afterwards, seating is limited - please RSVP $15 per family. Total Health Foods, 2938 Biddle Ave, Wyandotte. THFDownriver.com, 734-246-1208.

April 7 Natural Remedies Seminar - 2-4pm. Aimed to guide participants on improving the immune system and preventing disease using natural remedies without breaking the bank - learn the healing power of foods right in your own kitchen.

Come and experience the truth behind the words of Hippocrates, “Let food be thy medicine and medicine by thy food.” Free. Detroit NW Church, 14301 Burt Rd., Detroit. SanareLife.com

April 9 Weight Loss & Detox Seminar - 12-1pm.

Healthy Detroit Seminar - 6-8pm. Join Team Healthy Detroit for our monthly wellness seminars which feature holistic health professionals from around the Metro Detroit area. Each seminar includes nutrition tips and a taster sponsored by USANA Health Sciences followed by a special guest presentation. Free.

Whole Foods Market Office Detroit, 3670 Woodward Ave, Detroit. BeHealthyDetroit. eventbrite.com, 313-443-2571.

NaturalAwakeningsDetroit.com

Veg101 - 7-8:30pm. Fun and informative cooking class, attendees will learn the nutritional aspects of a plant based diet and taste samples of the prepared food. Registration required, either on line or at the Customer Service Desk (734) 997-7500. All food demos vary monthly. Whole Foods Market, 990 W Eisenhower Parkway, Ann Arbor. VegMichigan.org Youngevity meeting - 7-8pm. Learn about Youngevity & see what the hype is all about.

Free. Total Health Foods, 2938 Biddle Ave, Wyandotte. THFDownriver.com, 734-2461208.

April 10 Holistic Networking Group – 6pm-8pm. Great opportunity to meet other holistic practitioners, share best practices and empower one another.

Bring your business cards and be prepared to share with the group. Free. Call to register 586-943-5785. St Paul of the Cross Retreat & Conference Center, 23333 Schoolcraft (I96 service drive just E of Telegraph) Detroit.

Peripheral Neuropathy Recovery Workshop – 6pm. Learn about problem causes & cures, presented by Dr Kramer, DC. Free, but seating is limited, call to reserve your spot 248-615-1533.

Livonia Spine & Health, 34441 Eight Mile Rd Ste 116, Livonia.

Low Glycemic Dessert Show - 7pm. Join Jamie Sutton of the Pampered Chef as she teaches you how to make low-glycemic desserts! Food samples included! Free. Total Health Foods, 2938 Biddle Ave, Wyandotte. THFDownriver. com, 734-246-1208.

Pet Food Bank – 3-5:30pm. 2nd Wed of every month. Bring proof of your animals which you are seeking assistance for, see website for requirements. Please do not bring your animals to this visit. Trenton/Woodhaven Animal Shelter, 21860 Van Horn Rd, Woodhaven.

BasilsBuddies.org, 734-926-1098.

April 11 Dine & Dish: How to Be a Vegan - 7-8pm. On the fence about becoming a vegetarian? Have questions about the vegan lifestyle? Having problems figuring out what to eat on a gluten-Free diet? Want to know what raw foodists actually eat? VeggiePatti will be available for a minilecture followed by Q & A. Grab a smoothie, juice, or raw food snack and get your questions answered. VeggiePatti is happy to answer questions on vegetarianism, veganism, raw foods, whole foods, gluten-Free diets, and eating w/food sensitivities at all sessions. Disclaimer: The information presented is not intended as medical advice. Free. Total Health Foods, 2938 Biddle Ave, Wyandotte. VeggiePatti.com, 734246-1208.

Preventing Diabetes Class - 5:30-7:30pm.

For individuals with pre-diabetes focusing on diet and exercise. $25. Henry Ford Selfhealth Center, 23400 Allen Rd, Woodhaven.

HenryFordSelfHealth.com, 734-676-3813.

Project Healthy Living - 9am-3pm. Quality free and low-cost health screenings for serious illnesses including obesity, diabetes, cancer, heart disease, hypertension, blood pressure, vision, body composition, blood oxygen and more.

Call the PHL HOTLINE at 313-531-9108, or ProjectHealthyLiving.org. Free Event. Livonia Recreation Center, 15100 Hubbard, Livonia.

734-466-2918.

April 12 Marley Coffee Sampling – 9am-10pm.. Join us for Marley Coffee sampling - come taste the difference. Total Health Foods, 2938 Biddle Ave, Wyandotte. THFDownriver.com, 734-246-1208.

savethedate Ladies Spa Day - 4-7pm. Anti aging galvanic facial treatment, cellulite treatment, chair massage or calf/foot treatment, food & fun, gift drawings + specials, come and pamper yourself, gift certificates available, must call to register 734-454-5600, $30pp or bring a friend $50. Dr. Elizabeth Sisk, 1075 Ann Arbor Rd, Plymouth. HealthSpaofPlymouth. com.

Drink Yourself Healthy - 7pm. All water is not created equal, learn which water is the best for your body. Dr Fischer, a hydration expert, will help you learn the truth about water to help boost your overall health and improve your mood. Free. TLC Holistic Wellness, 31580 Schoolcraft Rd, Livonia.

TLCHolisticWellness.com, 734-664-0339.

April 13 Marley Coffee Sampling – 9am-10pm.. Join us for Marley Coffee sampling - come taste the difference. Total Health Foods, 2938 Biddle Ave, Wyandotte. THFDownriver.com, 734-246-1208.

Drink Yourself Healthy - 11am. All water is not created equal, learn which water is the best for your body. Dr Fischer, a hydration expert, will help you learn the truth about water to help boost your overall health and improve your mood. Free. TLC Holistic Wellness, 31580 Schoolcraft Rd, Livonia.

TLCHolisticWellness.com, 734-664-0339.

Pet Adoptions - 3-5pm. Basil’s Buddies has many available cats waiting for their fur-ever homes - come meet your new best friend. PetSmart, 23470 Allen Rd, Woodhaven.

BasilsBuddies.org, 734-926-1098.

Rejuvenating Yoga - 8:30-9:30am. Get a refreshing start to your day with a revitalizing yoga class. Classes are designed with the beginner in mind, although all levels are welcome. $12 dropin. Henry Ford Self-health Center, 23400 Allen Rd, Woodhaven. 734-676-3813.

VegMichigan Dinner Club - 6pm. Dinner at Penn’s Thai Kitchen, a vegan-friendly Thai restaurant, as the fish sauce can be omitted in any dish on request. We will order off their menu which includes a variety of delicious curries and noodle dishes, prepared to preferred spice level, and priced under $11. Note the earlier starting time this month. To attend, you MUST give an RSVP by April 11, and seating is limited to first 22 to respond. Leave a message at 1-877778-3464 or email karen@vegmichigan.org.

Prnn’s Thai Kitchen, 1800 W 14 Mile Rd, Royal Oak. VegMichigan.org.

April 15 Muscle Testing Workshop - 7:15-8:30pm.

Learn how your body lets you know what it needs nutritionally through muscle testing & discover the basic principles behind this scientific technique - best to bring a partner. Family & friends are welcome, have the doctor muscle test them at No Charge, presented by Dr Robert Potter. Register at 734-455-6767. Free. Canton Center Chiropractic, 6231 N Canton Ctr Rd Ste 109, Canton. CantonCenterChiropractic.com.

Taking Out the Toxins - 6:30-7:30pm. Join Theresa Edmunds as she discusses how to safely eliminate toxins from your body. $10. Total Health Foods, 2938 Biddle Ave, Wyandotte.

THFDownriver.com, 734-246-1208.

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natural awakenings

April 2013

37

calendarofevents All Calendar events must be received by the 15th of the month prior to publication, and adhere to our guidelines.

Please visit HealthyLivingDetroit.com for guidelines and to submit entries.

April 16 Flower Essences – 7pm. Flower Essences can offer you emotional healing in a gentle and subtle way. In this introductory experience with Compass Bio-Feedback you can find out which flower essence can help you balance your emotions. Your mental, emotional, and physical needs can be readily recognized by the resonant feeback of your body’s frequency vibrations. $15 includes bio-feedback assessment, flower essence additional cost. Phoenix Honka - Mercy Center, 28650 11 Mile Rd, Farmington Hills.

248-880-6320.

The violets in the mountains have broken the rocks. ~Tennessee Williams Balancing Energy with Essential Oils 7-8:15pm. Learn about energy work and how essential oils help, join M.J. Potter, Reiki Master, exploring the use of essential oils with focus on the chakras. Register at 734-455-6767. Free. Canton Center Chiropractic, 6231 N Canton Ctr Rd Ste 109, Canton. CantonCenterChiropractic.com.

Natural Soluitions to Sugar Cravings & Diabetes – 7pm. Crave sugar? Avoid sugar?

Know all the names sugar has on the ingredient list? Afraid of getting diabetes? Learn where sugar is hiding in your food and why it is a danger to you when too much is consumed. There is a natural way to still eat sweet. Presented by Dr Carol Ann Fischer, DC, ND at TLC Holistic Wellness, 31580 Schoolcraft Road, Livonia.

Limited seating call 734-756-6904.

Asthma & Allergies - 7-8pm. Learn the alternative means to get your body on the best path to health. Free. Broad Family Chiropractic, 43423 Joy Rd & Morton Taylor, Canton.

BroadFamilyChiro.com, 734-354-9900.

Free Pranic Healing Clinic - 7-8:30pm.

Dissolve and disintegrate blocked energy.

Effective with many illnesses and diseases.

Relieve stress. Meditation Twin Hearts, love donation. BodyWorks Healing Center, 819 Mill St., Plymouth. BodyWorksHealingCenter.com, 734-419-5200.

April 18

Life Balance Nutrition Class: Gluten-Free Solutions - 6:30-7:30pm. Join Karen Mikhail for her latest nutrition class series. $15 drop.

Total Health Foods, 2938 Biddle Ave, Wyandotte.

THFDownriver.com, 734-246-1208.

PTSD - 6pm-7:30pm. Join Kathy Peltier as she discusses post traumatic stress disorder.

Free. Total Health Foods, 2938 Biddle Ave, Wyandotte. THFDownriver.com, , 734-2461208.

April 17

The Secret of Healing - 6:30-7:30pm. Come with all your problems and concerns and learn how YOU can heal yourself. Please RSVP at (734) 525-9588. Seating is limited. Free. Dr. William Civello, 34441 8 Mile Rd, Suite 116, Livonia. DrCivello.com, (734) 525-9588.

Thyroid Recovery Workshop – 6pm. Learn about problem causes & cures, presented by Dr Kramer, DC. Free, but seating is limited, call to reserve your spot 248-615-1533. Livonia Spine & Health, 34441 Eight Mile Rd Ste 116, Livonia.

ORGANIC HAIR CARE Now Offering Migun Far Infrared Thermal Massage Facials and Massage Available

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38 Wayne County Edition

April 19 Third Fridays in Wyandotte - Girls’ Night Out - 5pm- 9pm. Join us along with the Wyandotte Business Assoc for some extra free pampering: chair and hand massage, bio mat bed and Zyto compass. Full spread of appetizers, Pretty in Pink juice, fabulous gifts and much, much more! Many of the shops and restaurants in the downtown district stay open later than usual, offer freebies, specials and discounts on these special nights. In addition, there is musical entertainment and Free trolley and horse and carriage rides throughout the downtown district.

For more information please visit Wyandotte. net Free. Total Health Foods, 2938 Biddle Ave, Wyandotte. 734-246-1208.

Drink Yourself Healthy - 7pm. All water is not created equal, learn which water is the best for your body. Dr Fischer, a hydration expert, will help you learn the truth about water to help boost your overall health and improve your mood. Free. TLC Holistic Wellness, 31580 Schoolcraft Rd, Livonia. TLCHolisticWellness. com, 734-664-0339.

NaturalAwakeningsDetroit.com

April 20 Coffee & Tea Tasting - 2pm. Our coffee and tea tasting class is divided into two groups one for coffees and one for teas. Each class will taste 3 to 4 different drinks and discuss the health benefits, origins, the complexities of the taste, also what makes an organic tea or coffee, the market price of the products around the world and what affects them. $10 Agua Dulce Coffee & Tea, 1519 N Telegraph Rd, Monroe. AguaDulceCoffee.com, 734-652-7103.

Free Tai Chi Easy Class - 10am-12pm. Free Tai Chi Easy class to learn this simple & fun practice, includes 5 movements from traditional Yang style Tai Chi that can be done sitting or standing. It enhances health by reducing stress, lowering blood pressure, and improving balance, mental focus and immune system functioning. Good Shepherd United Methodist Church, 1570 Mason, Dearborn. facebook.com/ease.chi, 313-429-3214.

Rejuvenating Yoga - 8:30-9:30am. Get a refreshing start to your day with a revitalizing yoga class, designed with the beginner in mind, although all levels are welcome. $12 drop-in. Henry Ford Self-health Center, 23400 Allen Rd, Woodhaven.

734-676-3813.

Thermography Class and Scans - 2pm- 2:30pm.

Join us for an informational class on thermography.

Scans will be available following the class. Call to make an appt or schedule one after. Free Lecture.

Total Health Foods, 2938 Biddle Ave, Wyandotte.

734-246-1208.

savethedate

Thermography Scans - 2:30pm4pm. Thermography scans by Certified Thermography Technician Adarsa Antares. Digital Infrared Thermal Imaging is a 30-minute non-invasive imaging procedure used for detecting and monitoring breast disease.

Thermography uses no radiation and is painless. Call 734-246-1208 to make appointment. Cost is $135 for scan $135 per scan. Total Health Foods, 2938 Biddle Ave, Wyandotte.

April 21 VegFest - 11am-5pm. Presented by VegMichigan, features notable local and national speakers, including NBA champ John Salley, back by popular demand; author and president of the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine and an Adjunct Associate Professor of Medicine at the George Washington University School of Medicine Neal Barnard, M.D.; Author, artist and activist Ruby Roth and others on the health, environmental and ethical benefits of a plant-baseddiet. In addition to more than a dozen speakers, panelists and cooking and raw-food demonstrators, the event will feature tasty vegan cuisine from 50 local restaurants and bakeries along with national brand samples, a diverse array of exhibitors, children’s activities, door prizes,literature, cookbooks and more. $10, Children 6 and under Free. Suburban Collection Showplace Novi, 46100 Grand River Ave , Novi.

VegMichigan.org.

April 22 Eat Your Way Thin – 7pm. Take a natural approach to a healthier, new you. You can have the body you want and eat too, lLearn why diets don’t work, ways to avoid weight gain and how to lose weight with diet, nutrition and exercise.

Limited to 10 guests. Presented by Dr. Carol Ann Fischer, DC, at Civic Center Library - 3rd Floor, 32777 Five Mile Rd, Livonia. Reserve your seat 734-756-6904.

A Holistic Approach to Allergies Workshop - 7-8:15pm. Learn a drug Free approach and find out what may be causing your allergies and how to relieve them naturally. Presented by Dr. D. Register at 734-455-6767. Free. Canton Center Chiropractic, 6231 N Canton Ctr Rd. Ste 109, Canton. CantonCenterChiropractic. com. cantoncenterchiropractic@yahoo.com, 734-455-6767.

Celebrate Earth Day - 9am-9pm. It’s time to celebrate Earth Day - Do something good for the environment - reduce, reuse, and recycle. If you’re looking for eco-friendly products, just ask - Total Health Foods has you covered. Total Health Foods, 2938 Biddle Ave, Wyandotte.

THFDownriver.com, 734-246-1208.

April 23 Life Balance Nutrition Class: Veggies and Fruits - 6:30-7:30pm. Join Karen Mikhail for her latest nutrition class series. Come to one or come to all!4 week program - Tuesdays in April, 6:307:30 pmApril 2 - Genetics and Blood TypeApril 16 - Gluten-Free SolutionsApril 23 - Veggies and FruitsApril 30 - Protein & the Sugar Blues$40 for 4 weeks or $15 drop in $40 for 4 weeks/$15 drop in. Total Health Foods, 2938 Biddle Ave, Wyandotte. THFDownriver.com, , 734-246-1208.

Flower Essences – 7pm. Flower Essences can offer you emotional healing in a gentle and subtle way. In this introductory experience with Compass Bio-Feedback you can find out which flower essence can help you balance your emotions. Your mental, emotional, and physical needs can be readily recognized by the resonant feeback of your body’s frequency vibrations. $15 includes bio-feedback assessment, flower essence additional cost. Phoenix Honka - Mercy Center, 28650 11 Mile Rd, Farmington Hills.

248-880-6320.

Spring Cleaning Essential Oils Workshop - 7-8:15pm. Join Cynthia Haas for Spring Cleaning Essential Oils Workshop. She will share her plan on getting healthy, feeling better with more energy and how to detox the liver using essential oils. Please call the office to register at 734-455-6767. Free. Canton Center Chiropractic, 6231 N Canton Ctr Rd Ste 109, Canton. CantonCenterChiropractic.com, 734455-6767.

April 24 Total Health Foods - Double Punch Day - 9am9pm. Get more bang for your buck with double punch day & get to your rewards faster, stop in and save - get double punch rewards when you spend over $25 . Total Health Foods, 2938 Biddle Ave, Wyandotte. THFDownriver.com, 734-246-1208.

Fibromyalgia Recovery Workshop – 6pm.

Learn about problem causes & cures, presented

by Dr Kramer, DC. Free, but seating is limited, call to reserve your spot 248-615-1533. Livonia Spine & Health, 34441 Eight Mile Rd Ste 116, Livonia.

Treating Fibromyalgia Holistically 7-8:15pm. Presented by Dr. Mark Campbell, learn a holistic approach to treating Fibromyalgia, which encompasses nutrition, diet, exercise and lifestyle changes. Free, call to register 734-455-6767. Canton Center Chiropractic, 6231 N Canton Cte Rd Ste 109, Canton. CantonCenterChiropractic.com.

April 25 Free Reiki Clinic - 7-8:30pm. A unique opportunity to experience the powerful healing effects of Reiki. You have to feel it to know it, love donation. BodyWorks Healing Center, 819 Mill St., Plymouth. BodyWorksHealingCenter. com, 734-416-5200.

April 26 Pet Adoptions - 12-4pm. Join Basil’s Buddies for the National Pet Adoption Weekend. We have many available cats waiting for their fur-ever homes. PetSmart, 23470 Allen Rd, Woodhaven.

BasilsBuddies.org, 734-926-1098.

April 27 Family Kitchen Fun - 6:30-7:45pm. Come join Drink Yourself Healthy - 11am. All water is not created equal, learn which water is the best for your body. Dr Fischer, a hydration expert, will help you learn the truth about water to help boost your overall health and improve your mood. Free. TLC Holistic Wellness, 31580 Schoolcraft Rd, Livonia. TLCHolisticWellness. com, 734-664-0339.

Go Vegan for Cinco de Mayo - 1-2pm. Join Lucinda Reinas as she teaches you how to make vegan foods for Cinco de Mayo, Includes food samples $5. Total Health Foods, 2938 Biddle Ave, Wyandotte. THFDownriver.com, 734-246-1208.

Flower Essences – 7pm. Flower Essences can offer emotional healing in a gentle and subtle way. In this introductory experience with Compass Bio-Feedback you can find out which flower essence can help you balance your emotions. Your mental, emotional, and physical needs can be readily recognized by the resonant feeback of your body’s frequency vibrations. $15 includes bio-feedback assessment, flower essence additional cost. Phoenix Honka - Mercy Center, 28650 11 Mile Rd, Farmington Hills.

248-880-6320.

Mental Health Boot Camps - 6-8pm. Intensive self-help workshop designed to empower, educate, promote positive choices, openness to change, mental and emotional stability. Classes are interactive, informative and facilitated by a Licensed Professional Counselor in groups of 1525. Light refreshments will be served, arrive early for registration. Topics will include depression, anxiety, bi-polar disorder, codependency, self esteem, substance abuse, anger & trauma recovery $25. Darev Safety Consultants, 38099 Schoolcraft Rd, Livonia. 313-467-6434.

Pet Adoptions - 12-4pm. Join Basil’s Buddies for the National Pet Adoption Weekend at PetSmart Woodhaven. We have many available cats waiting for their fur-ever homes. PetSmart, 23470 Allen Rd, Woodhaven. BasilsBuddies.org, 734-926-1098.

Rejuvenating Yoga - 8:30-9:30am. Get a refreshing start to your day with a revitalizing yoga class. Classes are designed with the beginner in mind, although all levels are welcome. $12 dropin. Henry Ford Self-health Center, 23400 Allen Rd, Woodhaven. 734-676-3813.

Get a Year of Flowers for just

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Enjoy them yourself or it makes a great gift!

Call Lynn @ 313-308-0500 x116 AD XL Promotions

*Pick up flowers/potted plant each month at English Gardens. special offer not available in store must call to purchase

8935 Telegraph Rd –– Taylor –– natural awakenings

April 2013

39

Well-Woman Health Day - 10am-3pm.

Complete care for the wholistic woman by local certified professional midwives. Breast Imaging Thermography--no radiation or compression, yearly pap, blood work, and nutritional coaching for food sensitivities and women’s issues. Financial options for those who are low income. Call 734.972.8775 to make appointment. . Authentic Living Center, 1640 Axtell Drive, Troy. healthybreastscan.com, info@healthybreastscan.com, 734-972-8775.

World Tai Chi & Qigong Day Celebration - 9:30-11am. Come celebrate and try some simple movements with the group. Practiced by thousands of people for stress reduction and health enhancement. Tai Chi Easy class at 10am. Ford Field, Dearborn, Brady and Garrison, Dearborn. .facebook.com/ease.chi, 313-429-3214.

April 29 Raising the ‘Bar’ - 7-8pm. Dr. Campbell will talk about all the different types of “Bars” that are out there. Energy bars, protein bars, supplement bars, meal replacement bars…even candy bars - learn about the differences among the “Bars” and sample them. Register at 734-455-6767. Free. Canton Center Chiropractic, 6231 N Canton Ctr Rd Ste 109, Canton. CantonCenterChiropractic.com.

April 30 Is Yoga for Me? - 6-7pm. Yoga is for everyone no matter size, shape, or age. Come learn about the benefits of yoga, how to choose a class that is right for you, and put your worries at ease.

Free. Henry Ford Self-health Center, 23400 Allen Rd, Woodhaven. HenryFordSelfHealth. com, 734-676-3813.

Life Balance Nutrition Class: Protein & the Sugar Blues - 6:30-7:30pm. Join Karen Mikhail for her latest nutrition class series. $15. Total Health Foods, 2938 Biddle Ave, Wyandotte.

THFDownriver.com, 734-246-1208.

The Physiology of Success – 7-8:30pm. Learn how your body affects your ability to succeed and what you can do to improve it, free. Livonia Civic Center Library 3rd floor, 32777 Five Mile Rd, Livonia. KarlWellnessCenter.com.

Reservations required. 734-425-8588.

ongoingcalendar All Calendar events must be received by the 15th of the month prior to publication, and adhere to our guidelines. Visit NaturalAwakeningsDetroit.com for calendar guidelines and to submit ongoing events.

$2 Shot Day – 11am-7pm.. Ready to try a new type of shot? Every Sunday in April, try a $2 shot at Total Health Foods Juice Bar! Try our Red Horse shot - just beets and horseradish! $2.

Total Health Foods, 2938 Biddle Ave, Wyandotte.

THFDownriver.com, 734-246-1208.

Yoga Class - 11:30am-12:30pm. Guided poses to warm the body. Gentle postures with optimal alignment. All levels, donation based(not Free) BE NICE Yoga Studio, 4100 Woodward Ave, Detroit. BeNiceYoga.com.

Yin (restorative) Yoga – 7-8pm. $14 walk in.

Livonia Yoga Ctr, 19219 Merriman Rd, Livonia.

LivoniaYogaCenter.com, 248-449-9642.

Foot Detox Mondays - 9am-8pm. Now offer foot detoxing, call to make an appt with Alicia.

Walk-ins also welcome. $25. Total Health Foods, 2938 Biddle Ave, Wyandotte. THFDownriver. com, 734-246-1208.

Gentle Flow Yoga – 11:30am-12:30pm. Serene, restorative practice. All levels. Yoga Shelter, 17000 Kercheval Ave, 2nd floor, Grosse Pte. YogaShelter.com, 313-884-YOGA. Lunch Yoga – 12-1pm. Donation. Yoga 4 Peace, 13550 Dix-Toledo Rd, Southgate. info@ y4peace.org 734-282-9642.

SWCRC Connections Weekly Networking Group – 8am. Free to chamber members, one business per industry. Non-members can visit two meetings free. WCCC-Downriver Campus, 21000 Northline Rd – Conference Room 11, Taylor. Rick Williams, 734-626-7778.

Foot Detox Tuesdays - 9am-8pm. Now offer foot detoxing, call to make an appt with Alicia.

Walk-ins also welcome. $25. Total Health Foods, 2938 Biddle Ave, Wyandotte. THFDownriver. com, 734-246-1208.

Zumba – 9-10am. With Kym $10 Sankofa Life Learning & Wellness Center, 18734 Woodward Ave, Detroit. 313-366-5250 SankofaLife.net Gentle Yoga – 9-10:15am. All levels. $14.

TaylorYoga, 8935 Telegraph Rd, Taylor.

TaylorYoga.com, 313-292-9642.

Foot Detox Tuesdays - 9am-8pm. Call to make an appt with Alicia. Walk-ins also welcome. $25.

Total Health Foods, 2938 Biddle Ave, Wyandotte.

734-246-1208.

Yoga - 10:15-11:15am. Come enjoy yoga in a nurturing environment! $10 walk-in rate. St John Neumann, 44800 Warren Rd, Canton.

StJohnNeumann.us, 734-455-5910.

Awaken Internal Organs – 11:30am-12:30pm.

Learn ancient & new ways to acknowledge & awaken your internal organs. $10. Kandascent Temple of Love, 8325 E Jefferson – Indian Village, Detroit. 313-286-5426

Kids Yoga – 4:45-5:30pm. Students ages 5 to 12 will gain focus, confidence, and body awareness while having fun with new friends, $8 per child. Taylor Yoga, 8935 Telegraph Rd, Taylor.

TaylorYoga.com, 313-292-9642.

Donation Pop-Up Yoga - 12-1pm. Basic-Hatha Flow class, we encourage students to pay what they can, no one will be turned away, takes place in the atrium of the Fisher Bldg, street parking is available + in the lot attached to the Fisher Building (just W, & across the St from the New Ctr Bldg). donation. The Fisher Building, 3011 W Grand Blvd, Detroit. PopUpYoga313.com, 405-971-4523.

Yoga – 6-7pm. De-stress, relax, rejuvenate! $10. The Sanctuary, Chiropractic & Wellness Spa, 35275 Plymouth Rd, Livonia. Katie 248880-3755.

Classic Nia – 5:30-6:30pm. All levels. $13.

Body and Mind Fitness, 239 E Nine Mile Rd, 1 blk E of Woodward, Ferndale. NiaBethSchedule.

BlogSpot.com Beginners Pilates – 6pm. Guardian Martial Arts & Fitness, 30942 Ford Rd, Garden City.

GuardianMartialArts.com, 734-266-0565.

40 Wayne County Edition

NaturalAwakeningsDetroit.com

ongoingcalendar All Calendar events must be received by the 15th of the month prior to publication, and adhere to our guidelines.

Visit NaturalAwakeningsDetroit.com for calendar guidelines and to submit ongoing events.

Qi Gong and Yoga for Real Bodies and Yoga Nidra – 6-7:15pm. Qi Gong is ancient Chinese exercise. No exp needed, provides stress relief and focus. Donation. Yoga 4 Peace, 13550 Dix-Toledo Rd, Southgate. Y4Peace.org, 734-282-9642.

Transformational Tuesdays – 7-9pm. With Dr Keefa Weatherspoon. $10 Sankofa Life Learning & Wellness Center, 18734 Woodward Ave, Detroit. 313-366-5250 SankofaLife.net Mindfulness Meditation Practice - 7- 8:30pm.

Learn a system of breathing, balance, flexibility, and mental focus/concentration practices designed to create a total “mind body” meditative experience. $15. BodyWorks Healing Center, 819 Mill St, Plymouth. BodyWorksHealingCenter. com, 734-416-5200.

Core Yoga + Meditation - 7:30- 8:30pm.

Come and experience Core Yoga + Meditation in a nurturing environment! $10 walk-in rate.

Canfield Community Center, 1801 N Beech Daly Rd, Dearborn Hghts. 313-791-3600.

Opening the Doors of Change 8pm. Prepare to be informed, uplifted and inspired as you discover how to open the doors to positive change in your life. Each week Chris Lee bring you the hottest author’s, experts and thought leaders - dynamic people who positively impact the planet. Visit Blogtalkradio.com/ chrisleelifestyle to listen online.

SWCRC Connections Weekly Networking Group – 8am. 2nd and 4th Wed. Free to chamber members, one business per industry.

Non-members can visit two meetings free.

WCCC-Downriver Campus, 21000 Northline Rd – Conference Room 8, Taylor. Contact Mark Tremper 313-460-0438.

Canton Communicators Club – 6:30pm. Learn to become a better communicator and improve public speaking abilities! Canton Coney Island, 8533 Lilly Rd, Canton. Canton.FreeToastHost. com, 734-994-0569.

Community Share Dinner & Activities – 6:30-8pm. Join us for a meal, followed by contemporary worship, Bible study, classes, music, cards, and crafts -sign up for dinner each wk. Suggested cost is $6 per adult, $4 for 4-14, 3 and under free. “pay-what-you-can”. Allen Park Presbyterian Church, 7101 Park Ave, Allen Park. AllenParkChurch.org, 313-383-0100.

SWCRC Connections Weekly Networking Group – 8am. Free to chamber members, one business per industry. Non-members can visit two mtgs free. Best Western/Greenfield Inn “The Pink Palace” Packard Room, 3000 Enterprise Dr, Allen Park. Annette Prevaux 313389-3937.

Chakra Yoga – 11am-12pm. Vinyasa class led

by Courtney Conover, designed to help balance chakras, all levels $14. Taylor Yoga, 8935 Telegraph Rd, Taylor. TaylorYoga.com Circle of Light – 2-7pm. Sukyo Mahikari, Love offering. Sankofa Life Learning & Wellness Center, 18734 Woodward Ave, Detroit. 313366-5250 SankofaLife.net Qigong – 5:30pm. Harmonize your body and relieve stress w/this ancient Chinese practice of meditation through movement w/instructor Terrell Thomas, all levels, 1st class free. New Center Yoga, 6080 Woodward Ave, Detroit.

NewCenterYoga.com, 248-703-6971.

Tai Chi – 6-7pm. $5. Canton Ctr Chiropractic Clinic, 6231 N Canton Ctr Rd, Ste 109, Canton.

734-455-6767.

Tai Chi – 6-7pm. With Boby Jean Calhoun $10 Sankofa Life Learning & Wellness Center, 18734 Woodward Ave, Detroit. 313-366-5250 SankofaLife.net

Budokon Flow – 6:15-7:15pm. Experience movements that fuse the yogic, martial & living arts. 1st wk free. Practice Yoga, 20792 Mack Ave, Grosse Pte Wds. Practice-Yoga.net, 313881-2874.

Empathic Mystic Movement – 6-7:30pm.

Makeeba will help you learn to allow yourself to fully engage body, mind, soul, and spirit while combining music, movement, colors, and meditation. Begin to create our best lives. $10 Kandascent Temple of Love, 8325 E Jefferson Ave - Indian Village, Detroit. 313-286-5426

Community Yoga - 7-8pm. All-levels, dedicated Christian Yoga Studio. Free/Donation. Living Waters Yoga, 63 Kercheval, Ste 20, Grosse Pointe Farms. LivingWatersYoga.com, 313-884-4465.

Nia Technique – 7-8pm. All ages & fitness levels. $7. Canton Ctr Chiropractic Clinic, 6231 N Canton Ctr Rd, Ste 109, Canton. 734-455-6767.

Cardio Kickboxing – 7:45-8:45pm. Ages 13 and up. $5. Michigan Karate Academy, 23753 Van Born Rd, Taylor. 313-292-9214.

Prenatal Yoga – 7:45-8:45pm. $14. Northville Yoga Center, 200 S Main St Unit B, Northville.

NorthvilleYogaCenter.com, 248-449-9642.

Vinyasa Yoga - 9-10:15am. Flowing sequence, all levels. $14. Taylor Yoga, 8935 Telegraph Rd, Taylor. TaylorYoga.com, 313-292-9642.

Zommer Yoga - 10:30-11:30am. Chair Yoga.

Safe, low-impact workout with cross training benefits. Enhance flexibility, mobility, bone density, and strength. Good for active seniors. $10. Mind Body Balance, 105 E Front St, Ste 304, Monroe. MindBodyBalance.com, 734-457-9003.

Slow Flow Yoga - 11:30am-12:15pm. Beginning students and moderate pace. Intro to vinyasa.

Gentle flow working toward an advanced beginner class. $10. Mind Body Balance, 105 E Front St, Ste 304, Monroe. MindBodyBalance. com, 734-457-9003.

Yin Yoga - 11:45am-12:30pm. All levels, yin is a unique quality of challenge and surrender that works to stretch muscles and connective tissues $15. BE NICE Yoga Studio, 4100 Woodward Ave, Detroit. BeNiceYoga.com, 313-544-9787.

Hustle Dance – 6-7pm. With Fast Freddy $10.

Sankofa Life Learning & Wellness Center, 18734 Woodward Ave, Detroit. 313-366-5250 SankofaLife.net Intro to Thriving Life Course (TLC 101) – 6:30-7:30pm. Learn how to make your powerful subconscious mind work for you to achieve your dreams. $25 for 2 weeks, call 734-778-4655 to reserve your space. Unity of Livonia, 28660 5 Mile Rd, Livonia. AngelsforHealing.com Kid’s Yoga - 4:30-5:30pm. Ages 7-12 years old.

Learn basic postures, activities, and games. $10.

Mind Body Balance, 105 E Front St, Ste 304, Monroe. MindBodyBalance.com, 734-457-9003.

Open Gymnastics Fridays – 7-9pm. All levels welcome, drop in fee $10. Sokol Detroit Gymnastics, 23600 W Warren Ave, Dearborn Hghts.

SokolDetroitGymnastics.com 313-268-7232.

natural awakenings

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VENDORS WANTED for VeggiePatti’s

Detroit Eastern Market – 5am-5pm. Open year-round. Now that most of the local farmers markets have closed for the season, it’s great time to check out Eastern Market. EBT accepted. 2934 Russell St, bet Mack & Gratiot, Detroit.

DetroitEasternMarket.com

Gluten-Free Extravaganza Sunday, May 19, 2013 Noon to 5 pm Downriver Italian-American Hall 646 Biddle Avenue, Wyandotte Join us for Southeast Michigan’s first gluten-free expo!

Sponsor and vendor opportunities available!

Qi Gong – 8am. Harmonize your body and relieve stress w/this ancient Chinese practice of meditation through movement w/instructor Terrell Thomas, all levels, 1st class free. New Center Yoga, 6080 Woodward Ave, Detroit.

NewCenterYoga.com, 248-703-6971.

Zumba – 10-11am. With Via Kim $10. Sankofa Life Learning & Wellness Center, 18734 Woodward Ave, Detroit. 313-366-5250 SankofaLife.net P90X Certified Classes - 12-12:30pm. P90X is now available in live class form, drop in $12. World of Pole Fitness & Dance, 32669 Warren, Ste 6, Garden City.

WorldofPole.com, 734-306-0909.

Tai Chi – 12-1pm. With Ted Cash $10. Sankofa Life Learning & Wellness Center, 18734 Woodward Ave, Detroit. 313-366-5250 SankofaLife.net

Platinum Sponsors:

Thriving Life Course (TLC 101) – 1-3pm or 4-6pm. Continuing Education, learn how to make your powerful subconscious mind work for you to achieve your dreams. $25 for 2 weeks, call 734-778-4655 to reserve your space. Unity of Livonia, 28660 5 Mile Rd, Livonia. AngelsforHealing.com

For more information: www.veggiepatti.com veggiepatti@gmail.com

Swim with your Senior dog - 2-5pm. 4ft deep heated pool, 1/2 hr swim $15.

Private sessions RSVP required. $15 Me & My Shadow, 29855 Ford Rd, Garden City. MeandMyShadowLLC.com, 734-525-9500.

&

Michigan’s finest provider of: - Organic & natural foods - Gluten-free foods - Vitamins - Supplements - Restrictive-diet friendly foods - Diet & Sports Nutrition - Natural Bath & Body - Allergy support

MICHIGAN betternutrition betterprices Owned & Operated

since 1998 42 Wayne County Edition

for a store nearest you, call (888) 48-BETTER or visit

thebetterhealthstore.com/stores for a complete listing.

NaturalAwakeningsDetroit.com

Ann Arbor • Belleville • Bloomfield Hills Dearborn • Downriver Lansing (Frandor • West Saginaw) Grosse Pointe Woods • Livonia Novi • Plymouth • Southfield • Sterling Heights

communityresourceguide

PURE PASTURES East. 6870 Telegraph Rd Dearborn Heights, MI 48127 313-277-4066 West, 1192 Ann Arbor Rd Plymouth, MI 48170 734-927-6951

Want to reach readers who are health and wellness focused?

Learn how to list your services in the Community Resource Guide.

Call us at 313-221-9674

4100 Woodward Ave., Detroit 313-831-3222 www.detroitcommunityacupuncture.com In pain? Stressed out? Try acupuncture!

We offer comfortable, individualized treatments in a cozy community setting. $15 - $35 sliding scale. Check our website for current specials, “What to Expect” for new patients, and more!

CHIROPRACTIC WELLNESS HEALTH SPA OF PLYMOUTH & INTEGRATIVE HEALTH CHIROPRACTIC CENTER 1075 Ann Arbor Road Plymouth, MI 48170 734-454-5600 HealthSpaofPlymouth.com Wellness and Posture Doctors

With a combined 30 yrs in practice Dr Elizabeth Sisk DC and Dr Craig Stoller DC have focused their attention on total body function and posture in respect to the affect they play on health and wellness. Using Chiropractic care, rehab/proprioceptive training, and nutrition Dr Sisk and Dr Stoller have effectively treated patients with a wide variety of health problems, as well as, individuals looking to maintain and achieve better health and wellness. If you are searching for innovative methods to improve or maintain your health contact the doctors at Integrative Health Chiropractic Center.

We specialize in organic, and locally sourced, grass fed meats, eggs and cheeses, free of antibiotics and hormones. Also an assortment of gluten free plus many fine Michigan made artisan products

EDUCATION

ACUPUNCTURE DETROIT COMMUNITY ACUPUNCTURE

NaturalLocalFoods.com

NATUROPATHIC SCHOOL of the HEALING ARTS. NATUROPATH DIPLOMA (ND) , AND INTEGRATED THERAPEUTIC MASSAGE DIPLOMA

HEALTHY LIFESTYLE CONSULTANT

Commutable scheduling in Ann Arbor, serving the Great Lakes region.

734-769-7794 NaturopathicSchoolofAnnArbor.net

See schedules, fees, FAQ, Clinic Hours State Licensed school.

Supervised student clinic offering on-site clinical internships. On-site Herbal Pharmacy and Dispensary.

Naturopathy diploma (ND), Massage Therapy/Natural Medicine Diploma, Medicinal Herbal Studies, Iridology, Homeopathy, Bodywork Therapies, Energy Medicine, Homeopathy, Healing Diets

HEALTH COUNSELING

VEGGIEPATTI www.veggiepatti.com veggiepatti@gmail.com Providing education and resources in healthy living, chronic illnesses, and specialized diets such as vegetarian, vegan, glutenfree, grain-free, and raw foods. Private consultations, classes, books, and more! Business and restaurant consulting also available.

HOLISTIC HEALTH

NATURAL CONCEPTS HEALTH COUNSELING

DETROIT WHOLISTIC CENTER 20944 Grand River Ave. Detroit, Mi. 48219 313-538-5433 www.DetroitWholisticCenter.com

Theresa Edmunds, CHC (734) 308-7105 theresaedmunds@hotmail.com www.theresaedmunds.com Have a child with ADHD or Spectrum disorders?

Diagnosed with an autoimmune disease or glutenintolerance? Suffering from digestive issues? Theresa Edmunds is a Certified Health Counselor who helps her clients feel better and create lasting health. Call and schedule your free initial consultation today. “There is a better way. . .Live Healthier, Feel Better, Be Happier”

Wholistic Health Services and Training Specializing in Colon Hydrotherapy (colonics) and cleansing programs. Established in 1987 Jesse R. Brown N.D. and staff have helped thousands relieve colon congestion and lose weight naturally. All therapists certified by Wholistic Training InstituteWTI licensed by the State of Michigan and providing training since 1999.

HEALTH FOOD STORES ZERBO’S 34164 Plymouth Rd., Livonia, MI 48150 734-427-3144 Zerbos.com Wall to Wall supplements Organic products & produce Frozen & Refrigerated foods Groceries, Teas, Bulk Foods Natural Chemical Free Pet Products Mineral Based Cosmetics Chemical Free Personal Care products Raw Living & Sprouted Food Section Fitness Section and more.

natural awakenings

April 2013

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communityresourceguide Want to reach readers who are health and wellness focused?

Learn how to list your services in the Community Resource Guide.

Call us at 313-221-9674

NEW LIVING ELLEN LIVINGSTON, MA, RYT

www.NewLivingNow.org www.LivingYogaNow.com 734.645.3217 P o w e r f u l l y e ff e c t i v e L I F E COACHING brings your HEALTH and your VISIONS into alignment.

To create the life of your dreams, you need to feel your best. I can show you how to achieve optimum health and well-being by living and eating the way nature intended for us, and as your disease symptoms fall away and your natural energy returns you will be ready to identify and change self-limiting beliefs and let your light shine fully.

Call to schedule your free 30-minute introductory consultation.

NATURES REMEDIES DR DENISE ACTON, N.D. 734-645-4434 www.DrDSNaturesRemedies.com Certified naturopathic doctor offers acupuncture treatments, nutritional counseling, massage raindrop therapy, and biomeridian testing for a variety of issues. Advanced training in nutrition response testing for food sensitivities, chemicals, heavy metals, or virus, bacteria, fungus or parasites. She works out of several clinics in Canton or Livonia. Call to schedule an appt today to get your health back on track.

The violets in the mountains have broken the rocks.

• Tennessee Williams MASSAGE THERAPY LINDA’S PEACEFUL AND THERAPEUTICMASSAGE

Sherry Lane, CMT 2930 Biddle Ave Wyandotte MI 48192 734-331-0696 UrbanOasisMassage.abmp.com Certified myomassologist and Reiki practitioner. Sherry will work with you to customize a combination of therapeutic and relaxation techniques to achieve balance of mind and body.

Integrative massage sessions can incorporate Swedish, Myofascial Release, Lymphatic Drainage, Cranial Sacral Therapy, and Hot Stone work. Chair massage is also available for those who need a break in their busy workday. Offering massage, Reiki and doTERRA Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade Essential Oils. Gift certificates available, see website for full service menu.

Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated. ~Confucius MENTAL WELLNESS A PERFECT BALANCE

Debbie Bollen • Jenny Harwood Farmington Hills 248-254-7827 PerfectBalanceMind.com Holistic, non-invasive brain optimization technology, identifying where brainwave patterns are not functioning at optimal levels. Specializing in: anxiety, memory/focus problems, sleep issues, PTSD, ADD/ADHD, Brain Injury.

NATURAL WELLNESS ADVANCED WELLNESSTHERMOGRAPHY/MIDWIFERY/ HEALTHY COOKING

(734) 765-1341 linda4massage@gmail.com

CUSTOMIZED THERAPEUTIC MASSAGE for you. Designed to relieve muscle tension and the stresses of the day. Complimentary, Essential Oils offered for additional benefits Ask me about AFFORDABLE PRICES, GIFT CERTIFICATES and SPA PARTY ideas. Serving Southeastern MI at: Shaft Chiropractic Wellness on Mondays, Tuesdays & Thursdays. Avail weekends; call or email to schedule an appointment. ABMP (Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals).

44 Wayne County Edition

URBAN OASIS MASSAGE

HealthyBreastScan.com Adarsa Antares CPM, CTT, MS. Ed. Advanced Wellness-TMHC 734-972-8775

Servicing the Metro Detroit and surrounding areas:Thermographyinfrared camera detect early changes in breast-no radiation-Dr.’s create report Midwifery-certified midwife to help you deliver in the safety of your home. Healthy Cooking-coach that guides children/family to wellnes

NaturalAwakeningsDetroit.com

RETREAT CENTERS SONG OF THE MORNING YOGA RETREAT CENTER

9607 Sturgeon Valley Rd Vanderbilt, MI 49795 989-983-4107 office@songofthemorning.org SongoftheMorning.org

Find spiritual refreshment amongst 800-acres of natural beauty for your own personal retreat or participate in workshops, yoga classes, meditations, or Sunday Service.

Accommodations and gourmet vegetarian meals available.

SPIRITUALITY ONE SPACE LESLIE BLACKBURN Dearborn, MI 313.269.6719 OneSpaceConnected.com MysterySchooloftheTempleArts.com

Illuminating the Path of Self-Realization through A r t , Yo g a , S a c r e d G e o m e t r y, S a c r e d Sexuality & more!

Individual and couple coaching is available in addition to group classes, workshops and retreats.

Browse the website for original artwork and music.

Prints, music downloads and commission pieces are also available.

WELLNESS CENTERS DR CAROL ANN FISCHER, D.C. N.D. TLC HOLISTIC WELLNESS 31580 Schoolcraft Rd Livonia, MI 48150 734-664-0339 You deserve the best TLC TLCHolisticWellness.com

Dr. Carol Ann Fischer, D.C., N.D. owns TLC Holistic Wellness in Livonia. She is a practicing chiropractor, naturopath and wellness consultant, who for 28 years has provided holistic and nutritional recommendations using whole food supplements.

Visit www.TLCHolisticWellness.com for more health information, and free public workshop dates, or call (734) 664-0339.

YOGA YOGA 4 PEACE

13550 Dix-Toledo Rd., Southgate Mi 48195 www.y4peace.org

Yoga 4 Peace is a non-profit yoga studio that offers classes on a donation basis. We have a wide variety of classes for every level. We offer Classes, Workshops, Retreats and Teacher Training.

community resource guide DR. WILLIAM H. KARL, D.C., CERTIFIED WELLNESS DOCTOR KARL WELLNESS CENTER & CHIROPRACTIC CLINIC 30935 Ann Arbor Trail Westland, MI 48185 734.425.8220 KarlWellnessCenter.com

Certified Wellness Doctor with over 30 years experience, Dr. William H. Karl, D.C., is dedicated to helping his patients obtain optimal healthutilizing whole food supplements, herbs, homeopathic remedies, nutritional consultation, allergy elimination/reprogramming techniques, detoxification programs, advanced chiropractic care, cold laser, and Neurological Relief Techniques for Fibromyalgia and pain management.

DR SHARON A. OLIVER, M.D. INTEGRATIVE MEDICINE INSTITUTE

classifieds

HEALTH STUDIES VOLUNTEERS NEEDED TO DRINK MEDICAL GRADE WATER. Requirements: age 25-75, desire to eliminate unwanted fatigue, weight, digestive, joint or body pain, where traditional meds have not gotten desired results.

Must attend one 2.5 hour class, return 6 more times for water, and only drink water provided. Improved health is only compensation. Call (248) 382-8668.

HELP WANTED DETROIT WHOLISTIC CENTER is looking for 4 people who are experienced or to train in colon hydrotherapy, herbal body wraps and trained massage therapists. Email resumes to jesserbrown1@sbcglobal.net

Yard Work Day - Sat, 5/4 – 10am-2pm. Come help rake gardens, clear away fallen branches, remove dead trees and enjoy the fellowship of other St. Paul volunteers and students fulfilling their Christian Service hours. Should you have access to tree trimming tools, wood chippers or chain saws, we’d appreciate it if you could bring them along. Lunch is served to all participants.

Spring Cleaning Day - Wed, 5/8 – 10am-2pm.

Spring into action and help clean off the grime of winter. We will be cleaning windows, screens, walls, doors.

Rouge River Rescue Community Service Day – Sat, 6/1 – 9am-1pm. Join us, along with volunteers from the Rouge River Rescue team in cleaning up the river and it’s embankments through our property.

Again, we will need chain saws, wood chippers, tree and bush trimming tools, but mostly, many gracious volunteers ready to “roll up their sleeves”.

If you wish to help with any of these volunteer opportunities, please contact Roz at 313-2862805 or rsalter@passionist.org. Consider bringing a friend and introduce them to the wonderful loving atmosphere here at St. Paul of the Cross. We certainly would love more helping hands!

Canton Center Chiropractic Clinic

Obesity

His information has helped millions

6231 N. Canton Center Rd. • Ste 109 • Canton

Dr. Joel Wallach Creator of DEAD DOCTORS DON”T LIE

(734) 455-6767

www.cantoncenterchiropractic.com

Books, CDs & Nutritional Products Available locally at wholesale www.MYoungevity.com

Housekeeping helper needed on: Sun 4/14 noon-4pm, Mon, 4/15 – 9am-3pm, Fri, 4/19 – 9:30am-3:30pm, Friday, 4/26 – 9:30am-2:30pm, or Thu, 5/2 – 10am-3pm.

Volunteer to re-upholster chairs - Fabric will be provided.

Dr. Oliver is a medical doctor Board Certified by the American Holistic Medical Association.

She has over 15 years experience helping people achieve their optimal health with the use of foods, herbs and natural remedies. If needed Dr. Oliver has the knowledge and ability to help you effectively use conventional treatments, including chelation therapy, intravenous Vitamin C, and nutritional I.V.s. Come experience truly wholistic care!

Arthritis

Spring Time Volunteering Opportunities @ St Paul of the Cross

To place a listing: 3 lines minimum (or 35 words): 1 month $25; or 3 months for $60 prepaid. Extra words: $1 each: Send check w/listing by 15th of the month to Healthy Living Detroit, Inc. - Classifieds, Box 341081, Detroit, MI 48234-1081 or email to Publisher@NaturalAwakeningsDetroit.com.

18714 Woodward Ave,, Detroit, MI 48203 313-368-2284 313-368-4598 fax DrOliverMD.Tripod.com

Diabetes

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNTIES

888-277-2751

Dr. Robert E. Potter, JR., D.C., CTN & Associates Chiropractic & Nutrition

natural awakenings

April 2013

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46 Wayne County Edition

NaturalAwakeningsDetroit.com

7pm - FREE!

natural awakenings

April 2013

47

SANKOFA LIFE NETWORK

presents

YOUR ONGOING WELLNESS SUPPORT CL ASS A Wholistic Approach to Restoring and Maintaining balance in Spirit, Mind and Body!

Our “Inner Physician” is wired for 3-R’s Regenerate, Rebuild, Redirect! We simply have to know its many languages and learn how to respond!

Join Us Every Tuesday from 7 to 9 pm at

LEARNING & WELLNESS Center

18734 Woodward Ave. • Detroit, MI 48203 313-366-5250 • www.SanKofaLife.org FREE* to SanKofa LIFE Gold Members and Above, $5 for member’s guest, $10 for drop-ins.

Dr. Keefa Weatherspoon *Gold, Platinum, Diamond and Founding Members

48 Wayne County Edition

NaturalAwakeningsDetroit.com

wisewords

Healing the Ecosystem Within A Conversation with Bioneers Co-Founder Nina Simons

by Brita Belli

B

ioneers are innovators from all walks of life, seeking to make the world a better place in ways that respect the Earth and all of its inhabitants. Their organization, considered a “network of networks,” connects people and ideas through their annual National Bioneers Conference, local community action groups and original multimedia productions, including the award-winning “Revolution from the Heart of Nature” radio series.

Bioneers co-founder Nina Simons, co-editor of Moonrise: The Power of Women Leading from the Heart, talked with Natural Awakenings about the role each of us plays today in creating a more sustainable tomorrow.

How can we be hopeful about the state of the Earth?

I feel that we each need to cultivate a balanced view. It’s important to hold what I call a “both/and” awareness, which recognizes how seriously our planet’s life support systems are compromised and how intensive the demand is for us to engage in reversing their deterioration. At the same time, I remain deeply hopeful, because so many people are awakening to the urgency of the issues we face and many more are now mobilizing to act in positive ways.

Does this mean that you see a societal shift toward a better way of thinking?

50 Wayne County Edition

Our state of mind is directly affected by where we place our attention. If our primary source of information is mainstream media, then it’s easy to feel depressed and hopeless. Each of us would benefit from limiting our daily media intake, because it influences our inner story and impacts how we nourish our psyches, stories and visions.

One of the greatest medicines for despair is action.

When we act on behalf of what we love and those in need, it can help restore gratitude, a sense of faith and a more balanced view. That’s why natural disasters often elicit the best kinds of responses human beings can offer: compassion, empathy and a desire to generously contribute to solutions.

To what extent does healing the Earth depend on healing ourselves?

We co-created the current political, economic, energy, industrial and food production systems based on competition and hierarchies that are wreaking havoc on Planet Earth and on our collective quality of life and future survival.

As long as we participate in them, we perpetuate them. We have an immense opportunity to reinvent our selves and society’s systems right now.

Our culture conditions us to be hard on ourselves, judging and comparing our talents and actions while often valuing ourselves primarily based on our work or relationships. To be

NaturalAwakeningsDetroit.com

the most effective change agents we can be, I believe we need to reverse these patterns and learn to consider ourselves and all of life as sacred and inherently worthy of love.

One of the most powerful things each of us can do at this pivotal point is to claim full responsibility for our inner “story-scape”—to shift our personal story about the impacts we’re capable of having, what our capacity for action really is and how bringing ourselves in service to life at this moment can be meaningful, joyful and effective.

Isn’t there often a conflict between what people believe and what they do?

We each contain a complex ecosystem within us. The more we can become conscious of cultivating ourselves to be authentically and fully in heartfelt service to what we love, the better we can show up on behalf of the Earth and the people and creatures with whom we share it as home.

Do you see women playing a particular role in this transformation?

While every person is a unique mix of both masculine and feminine qualities, I think that women as a whole have a deeply embedded coding that inclines us to be especially strong in caring, compassion and collaboration.

As leadership capacities, I believe these three—and connecting across differences—may be among the most essential to resilience. Our future as a species will clearly benefit from more women finding their voice, truth and connections to power.

The more women that can articulate their individual experiences in support of an inclusive collective vision, the more we can begin to tip our institutions, culture and the men we love to increasingly value these “feminine traits,” which I refer to as relational intelligence. For a long time, we have perpetuated a fatally flawed culture that has put intellect first. It’s past time that we all put the wisdom of our hearts, bodies and intuition first, with intellect in a supporting role.

healingways

can mimic or block hormones in the body. In addition, the EPA has linked PVC to serious respiratory problems, immune suppression and cancer.

Healthier choices: Look for PVC-free plastics. When shopping for waterproofed items, choose those with coatings made from polyurethane or polyester.

Household CLEANSE Banish these Five Chemicals for a Domestic Detox

by Gail Griswold-Elwyn

A “

mericans are collectively more aware and educated than just a few years ago about the range of environmental chemicals we inhale and ingest, yet most still live with dangerous substances in their homes,” according to Jen Loui. She is a Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design-accredited professional in St. Louis and an industry expert who writes green curricula for high schools across the country.

Guarding against pollution of indoor air is a good place to start; the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has ranked poor air quality among the leading environmental dangers, reporting links to many common health problems. Here’s how to rid the family home of the top five common household toxins.

Formaldehyde. Traces of this toxin, the same chemical used to embalm the deceased, pervade almost every room.

“My clients are often shocked to learn that they likely ingest this toxic, cancercausing chemical every day of their lives,” says P. Richelle White, a sustainable lifestyle coach and co-owner of Herb’n Maid, a green cleaning and concierge service in St. Louis. “Because formaldehyde is often an ingredient in everyday things like cosmetics,

faux wood furniture and conventional cleaning products, they get a daily dose of it.”

Even at low levels, formaldehyde can cause eye, nose, throat and skin irritation; at its most malignant levels, it can cause severe allergic asthma, infertility and lymphoma, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health.

Healthier choices: Switch to all-natural beauty products and cosmetics. At minimum, check that compressed wood fibers don’t use a formaldehyde-based chemical as a binding agent; better yet, choose natural, reclaimed wood for interior surfaces and furnishings.

Polyvinyl chloride. PVC is omnipresent and dangerous. Water bottles, nylon backpacks, pipes, insulation and vinyl tiles generally contain PVC, as well as almost anything waterproofed, such as baby changing mats and mattress covers. PVC usually contains plasticizers called phthalates, which are released over time; it also can chemically combine with other organic materials to produce toxic dioxin byproducts. According to Greenpeace and the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), PVC byproducts and vapors are endocrine disruptors that

Phthalates. A 2007 report by the NRDC notes that 12 out of 14 common brands of household air fresheners and room sprays contain phthalates, which people regularly inhale primarily because these chemicals prolong the time that products maintain their fragrance. In studies conducted by the World Health Organization, researchers concluded that consistent exposure to phthalates could increase the risks for endocrine, reproductive and developmental problems. The majority of synthetic air fresheners were found to also emit significant amounts of terpene, a volatile organic compound (VOC) that can react with naturally occurring ozone to create formaldehyde.

Healthier choices: Put boxes of baking soda in cabinets to absorb odors and scent interiors with all-natural oils and potpourri.

Chlorine. According to the American Lung Association, most conventional cleaning products include some chlorine, with large concentrations in bleach. Inhalation of chlorine can irritate the respiratory system; prolonged exposure can lead to lung disease and asthma.

Healthier choices: Purchase chlorine-free cleaning products, especially chlorine-free bleach. Or make inexpensive solutions of white, distilled vinegar mixed with a little lemon for scent for a multipurpose, multi-surface cleaner; try baking soda as a scrubbing powder.

Gail Griswold-Elwyn is founding president of Rethink Renovations, of St. Louis, MO, which offers green design/build and construction services, including cabinetry and furniture that minimize environmental impact.

Connect at 314-323-8845 or RethinkRenovations.com.

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upfront cost and longer range—200 miles plus—instead of the standard 100 now.”

greenliving

Mass Transit

GOING ELECTRIC Tech Advances May Drive Eco-Transportation Mainstream

by Brita Belli

W

ith the opening of three new Supercharger stations for its luxury Model S on the East Coast last January, electric carmaker Tesla now operates a total of nine stations serving its electric sedan owners between San Francisco and Los Angeles and between Boston and Washington, D.C.

That same month, Nissan announced plans to add 500 public stations for electric vehicle (EV) fastcharging, which provide 80 percent of a charge in less than 30 minutes, tripling the number of such stations by mid-2014, including the first ones in our nation’s capital. It also aims to increase the presence of charging stations at workplaces.

These steps in the growth in infrastructure are easing Americans’ transition from gas-powered to electric and hybrid cars. Already, more than 7,000 public charging stations dot the country, from Custer, Washington, to Key West, Florida (plan a route at Tinyurl.com/MobileChargingStations).

Meanwhile, most EV owners simply charge up at home.

Driving Excitement 52 Wayne County Edition

Excitement has risen in recent years as electric car manufacturers have rolled out more affordable, familyfriendly versions like the Nissan Leaf and Mitsubishi i-MiEV. Honda is testing its Fit EV in 2013; with only 1,100 available to lease, opportunities to try out the fun, sporty car are at a premium. These models offer considerable fuel efficiency, easy charging and even apps to check their charge, yet eco-vehicles continue to represent a fraction of overall car sales.

In a 2012 report, the U.S. Energy Information Administration noted that fewer than 10,000 EVs were sold in 2011. While sales of all-electric vehicles improved slightly in the first half of 2012, dealers saw nowhere near the major jump produced by plug-in hybrids like the Chevrolet Volt and Toyota Prius.

Obstacles to a stronger EV sales upswing include purchase price, charging time and driver anxiety about range.

“The battery is a big reason the cars are expensive,” says Jim Motavalli, author of High Voltage: The Fast Track to Plug in the Auto Industry. “More public charging is coming,” he adds, “but it doesn’t matter as much as a cheaper

NaturalAwakeningsDetroit.com

Almost any form of public transportation can run on alternative power— electricity or natural gas, propane, biodiesel or hydrogen. “The big hurdle,” says Motavalli, “is having enough stations to rival the 160,000 conveniently located gas stations we already have.”

Biodiesel buses have been in use for several years at locations like Colorado’s Aspen resorts and Harvard University. Musicians Willie Nelson and Jack Johnson each rely on a biodiesel tour bus. Many school buses—including those in Charleston, West Virginia; Medford, New Jersey; and San Diego, California—have been converted to biodiesel, significantly reducing the toxic emissions and particulate matter children breathe in at bus stops. Some school systems in Michigan and New York use hybrid-electric buses.

Vehicle fleets are also joining the greening trend. Kansas City, Missouribased Smith Electric Vehicles already produces all-electric, zero-emission trucks for Coca-Cola, Frito-Lay, Staples and the U.S. Marines.

The need for regular recharging, a former obstacle for deploying electric buses for public transportation, has been cleared by Utah State University’s (USU) Aggie Bus. The groundbreaking, all-electric bus has a plate that draws off electricity across an air gap when it pauses over another plate installed at a bus stop. In mid-2013, WAVE, Inc., the university’s offshoot company behind the project, will launch a commercial on-campus demonstration in partnership with the Utah Transit Authority, via a 40-foot-long transit bus and 50 kilowatts of wireless power transfer.

Such wireless technology could also revolutionize electric-car recharging. “EV owners and operators will now be able to simply drive over a pad in the ground to recharge their batteries, the benefits of which reach far beyond convenience,” says Robert T. Behunin, Ph.D., USU vice president of commercialization and regional development.

inspiration

Earth Music Saving Nature’s Wild Symphony

by Bernie Krause

W

Regarding greening travel by train, Europe is leagues ahead of America; half its trains are now electric. A new regenerative braking system being developed by Deutsche Bahn and Tognum could turn all trains into hybrids. Its innovative drive system converts the kinetic energy produced during braking into usable electrical energy, reducing emissions and saving up to 25 percent in fuel consumption. The first such converted hybrid train testing the technology began carrying passengers in Germany in January 2013.

The International Energy Agency’s 2012 EV City Casebook reports that, “Electric vehicles represent one of the most promising technology pathways for cutting oil use and CO2 on a per-kilometer basis. The experiences of urban drivers and the pioneering policies of local governments can help accelerate the transition to clean and sustainable mobility.”

Freelance writer Brita Belli is the editor of E-The Environmental Magazine.

Connect at BritaBelli.com.

e may be drawn to the sounds of waves or woodland streams or beguiled by the subtle winds and creature voices of the desert or mountains. Whatever captures our imagination, as we actively listen, something in a wild animal’s repertoire will cause us to catch our breath.

Nature teems with a vigorous resonance that is as complete and expansive as it is delicately balanced. Every place on the planet populated by plants and wild animals is a concert hall, with a unique orchestra performing an unmatched symphony. Each resident species possesses its own preferred sonic bandwidth—to blend or contrast—akin to how stringed, woodwind, brass and percussion instruments stake out acoustic territory in an orchestral masterpiece.

Into Earth’s daily round are embedded the dawn and daytime, evening and nighttime choruses. Whatever the purpose of a creature’s aural signal—mating, protecting territory, capturing food, group defense, play or social contact—it must be audible and free from human acoustical interference if the species is to successfully function.

During the last half of the 20th century, I recorded the wild sounds of more than 15,000 species and 4,500 hours of natural ambience. Nearly 50 percent of these land, sea and sky habitats have since then become seriously compromised, if not biophonically silent. The loss of representative habitats due to human presence and noise has resulted in declines in the density and diversity of creatures large and small that contribute to healthy natural soundscapes.

Fortunately, in the absence of human habitation, these places can become lively again. Fellow British soundscape ecologist Peter Cusack wrote of the restoration of wildlife 20 years after the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear catastrophe in the Ukraine: “Animals and birds absent for many decades—wolves, moose, white-tailed eagles, black storks—have moved back, and the Chernobyl [human] exclusion zone is now one of Europe’s prime wildlife sites. The species-rich dawn chorus is one of Chernobyl’s definitive sounds… its nighttime concerts equally spectacular.”

In 1968, 45 percent of the old-growth forests in the contiguous United States were still standing; by 2011 it was less than 2 percent. Before the forest echoes die, we may want to step back for a moment and listen carefully to the chorus of the natural world where rivers of sound flow, ranging from crickets, frogs and insects to wrens, condors, cheetahs, wolves—and us. Otherwise we are denying ourselves the fullest experience of that which is essential to our spiritual and psychological health.

The whisper of every leaf and creature’s song implores us to love and care for the delicate tapestry of the biophony that was the first music our species ever heard. It told us that we are part of a single, fragile biological system; voices in an orchestra of many, with no more important cause than the celebration of life itself.

Adapted excerpt from The Great Animal Orchestra, by Bernie Krause, used with permission of Little, Brown and Company. Listen in at WildSanctuary.com and learn more at NatureSounds.org and WorldListeningProject.org.

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Thrifty Threads

Levi’s Latest Sustainable Moves World record holder and Olympic champion sprinter Usain Bolt will soon model Puma boots that are “made for rotting,” and when the next Levi Strauss collection arrives, their new jingle will be, “These jeans are made of garbage.” Crushed brown and green half-liter plastic bottles will be on display at retail store displays, of which the equivalent of eight, or 20 percent, are blended into each pair of Waste<Less jeans.

Nike and Gap have their own sustainability programs, and Patagonia has long supported a small ecosystem of Earth-friendly suppliers.

But as the biggest maker of jeans in the world, with sales of $4.8 billion in 2011, Levi’s efforts command the most attention.

Levi joined the Better Cotton Initiative, a group of companies that work with local nongovernmental organizations in Pakistan, India, Brazil and Mali to teach farmers how to grow cotton with less water. Last year marked the first cotton harvest given this effort and Levi has blended its share into more than 5 million pairs of jeans.

With cotton prices on the rise and pressure from activist groups such as BSR, an environmental organization that works with businesses, large clothing manufacturers are starting to adopt more sustainable practices.

Source: Business Week

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globalbriefs Survival Alert

Join America’s Start Saving Water Now Challenge America, like most of the rest of the world, is running short of fresh water. Our welfare depends on having annual access to 150 trillion gallons of fresh water for drinking, cleaning, growing food, making products and generating electricity. In every region of the country, the conservation and recycling of this vital resource is a key solution to achieving a sustainable future.

“We can do better” is the urgent message of the 2013 National Mayor’s Challenge for Water Conservation. Last year, people in more than 1,000 cities took simple actions to save water and related energy expenditures, pledging to collectively reduce their water use by 4.7 billion gallons

over one year.

The Wyland Foundation, supported by the National League of Cities and the Environmental Protection Agency, are again sponsoring prizes for residents in the most “water-wise” cities, based on pledges to be made in April.

Last year, $50,000 in awarded prizes included a Toyota Prius, Lowe’s gift cards and 1,200 water-saving fixtures.

Sign on at WylandFoundation.org/mywaterpledge.

Keystone XL Fight

Protesters Rally Again Against Tar Sands Pipeline In February more than 10,000 citizens rallied at the White House, calling on President Obama to honor his clean energy campaign promises and reject the proposed Keystone XL Pipeline, resulting in multiple arrests of protest leaders. The 1,700-mile pipeline, a project of TransCanada Corporation, would carry tar sands crude oil south from Alberta, Canada, through multiple heartland states to refineries on the Gulf Coast.

“As our nation’s worst-ever economic recession drags on, creating jobs in the clean energy sector should be priority number one,” states a Sierra Club Beyond Oil campaign spokesperson. “Building the poisonous Keystone XL pipeline would put the brakes on clean energy and exacerbate the pollution and public health problems that come with America’s dependence on dirty, dangerous oil.”

The Sierra Club reports that pipeline plans require clear-cutting boreal forests and consuming huge amounts of energy and water, leaving behind toxic lakes.

An associated oil spill could devastate aquifers that supply water to 30 percent of America’s irrigated farmland (2,554 U.S. oil pipeline spills occurred from 2000 to 2009). Opponents are also concerned the pipeline would exacerbate air pollution and cancer, respiratory illnesses and other health problems in communities surrounding oil refineries in Chicago, Detroit and Houston.

For states directly impacted, visit Tinyurl.com/KeystoneXLMap. Learn more and take action at SierraClub.org/dirtyfuels/tar-sands.

NaturalAwakeningsDetroit.com

ecotip Gas Saver

Keep Bucks in Your Pocket at the Pump When mass transit isn’t an option, drivers have many ways to save money by coaxing more miles per gallon (mpg) from their vehicle. It’s easy to adopt some simple driving and maintenance habits.

Slow down. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), driving at 55 mph instead of 65 mph can improve gas mileage by as much as 15 percent.

Reduce excess weight. An extra 100 pounds of nonessential cargo in a vehicle could reduce mpg by up to 2 percent, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.

Properly inflate tires. The increased surface area of the rubber in soft tires meeting the road creates ongoing drag and a greater demand on the engine.

Keep the engine tuned. Regularly check and refresh fluid levels, especially in colder regions where winter places additional stress on engine parts. While high-quality synthetic motor oil blends may protect the engine better than conventional oil, they don’t eliminate the need for regular oil changes, according to JiffyLube.com. The National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence notes that one misfiring spark plug can reduce fuel efficiency by up to 30 percent.

Avoid rapid accelerations and braking. The EPA estimates that about half of the energy needed to power a car is consumed during acceleration, and fuel economy can be improved by as much as 10 percent by avoiding unnecessary braking.

Keep the engine air filter clean.

According to AAA.com, a clogged filter strains performance. In some cars, the filter can be easily checked by the owner; or drivers may ask a technician to do so during regular tune-ups.

Turmeric Acts Against Cancer T

hroughout history, the spice turmeric has been a favored seasoning for curries and other Indian dishes. Its pungent flavor is also known to offer medicinal qualities—turmeric has been used for centuries to treat osteoarthritis and other illnesses because its active ingredient, curcumin, can inhibit inflammation.

A new study led by a research team at Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, in Munich, Germany, has shown that turmeric can also restrict the formation of metastases and help keep prostate cancer in check. The researchers discovered that curcumin decreases the expression of two pro-inflammatory proteins associated with tumor cells and noted that both prostate and breast cancer are linked to inflammation. The study further noted that curcumin is, in principle, suitable for both prophylactic use (primary prevention) and for the suppression of metastases in cases where an established tumor is already present (secondary prevention).

How Does Your Garden Glow?

G

ardening can be a healthy pastime… as long as toxic tools aren’t involved.

Researchers at the Ann Arbor, Michigan-based Ecology Center recently tested nearly 200 garden essentials—especially hoses, hand tools, gloves and knee pads—for chemicals and heavy metals such as lead, cadmium, phthalates and Bisphenol A (BPA), which are linked to birth defects, hormone imbalances, learning delays and other serious health problems. The researchers found that nearly two-thirds of the tested products contained levels of chemicals that concerned them greatly.

Cautious gardeners should seek products that are free of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and lead-free, and follow good garden hose hygiene: Avoid drinking out of the hose, don’t leave it exposed to the sun (where water within the hose can absorb chemicals) and always flush it out before watering edible plants.

Source: EcologyCenter.org

A DIET FOR HEALTHY BONES

A

ge-related bone mass loss and decreased bone strength affect both genders. Now, the first randomized study, published in the Endocrine Society’s Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, indicates that consuming a Mediterranean diet enriched with olive oil may be associated with increased serum levels of osteocalcin, a protein that plays a vital role in bone formation. Earlier studies have shown that the incidence of osteoporosis in Europe is lower in the Mediterranean basin, possibly due to the traditional Mediterranean diet, which is rich in fruits, vegetables, olives and olive oil. natural awakenings

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Silver Lining

Cleaning Up the Cloud The New York Times has reported that “cloud” data centers—which store YouTube videos, run Google searches and process eBay bids—use about 2 percent of all electricity in the nation. In some data centers, up to 90 percent of the energy is wasted.

Now, an industry consortium called the Uptime Institute is sponsoring a “server roundup” and handing out rodeo belt buckles to the Internet company that can take the largest number of heat-producing, energy-hungry servers offline. Many centers expend as much or more energy in cooling their facilities as in computing and transmitting data.

Sharing best practices has become common among data center pros.

Facebook won the Institute’s Audacious Idea award last year for its Open Compute Project, which enabled both its server and data center designs to be opensourced for anyone to access and improve upon.

Source: Slate.com

Better Barters

Swapping Trash for Fresh Produce Mexico City’s innovative monthly Mercado del Trueque (barter market) in Chapultepec Park is a winning trifecta for citizens, local vegetable and plant vendors and the city’s secretariat of the environment. There, residents can exchange cardboard, paper, glass, aluminum, plastic bottles, electronic devices and other waste for paper chits that are redeemed at kiosks for vouchers worth points.

The traders can then use the vouchers to buy tomatoes, potatoes, lettuce, lemons and other produce from participating farmers from surrounding districts.

Mexico produces 40 million tons of garbage annually, but only recycles about 15 percent. With this barter system, farmers have gained a new place to sell their produce and earn extra income, while the materials collected are processed for industrial reuse.

Source: IPSNews.net

Nordic Order

Sweden Running Out of Garbage Sweden’s successful recycling program ensures that only 4 percent of the country’s waste ends up in landfills, while the other 96 percent is reused. But this means incinerators that burn waste to create heat and electricity are running short on fuel.

As a solution, Sweden has recently begun to import about 800,000 tons of trash every year from other European countries, most of it from neighboring Norway, which finds it a costeffective option.

Find details at Tinyurl.com/SwedishWaste.

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NaturalAwakeningsDetroit.com

Online Literacy

Students Learning to Adopt Internet Academics The findings of a survey of teachers conducted by the Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Project, in collaboration with the College Board and the National Writing Project, show that the Internet has opened up a vast world of information for today’s students, but digital literacy skills need improvement.

Three-quarters of Advanced Placement and National Writing Project teachers say that the Internet and digital search tools have had a “mostly positive” impact on their students’ research habits, but 87 percent say these technologies are creating an easily distracted generation with short attention spans, and 64 percent say they do more to divert students’ attention than to help them academically.

The good news is that 99 percent of teachers in the study agree with the notion that, “The Internet enables students to access a wider range of resources than would otherwise be available,” and 65 percent agree that, “It makes today’s students more self-sufficient researchers.”

Read the full report at Tinyurl.com/ TeenResearch.

Suburbia is where the developer bulldozes out the trees, then names the streets after them. ~Bill Vaughan