Natural Awakenings Central New Jersey / March 2022

HEALTHY

LIVING

HEALTHY

PLANET

FROM BURNOUT TO

BALANCE

ANN ARMBRECHT ON BUYING ETHICAL BOTANICALS SIMPLE WAYS TO EAT LESS MEAT AND MORE PLANTS JOURNALING TO TAP INTO YOUR INNER WISDOM

March 2022 | Somerset-Middlesex-Hunterdon-Mercer-S. Warren NaturalAwakeningsCNJ.com

80 Morristown Road, Bernardsville (Bernardsville Centre) 908.766.5450 Hibernatebedding .com

Come see how EASY it is to shop for a mattress.

Bring this ad & receive 20% OFF your total purchase.

We offer an exclusive collection of ORGANIC AND CHEMICAL FREE Mattresses and Accessories and have something for everyone at all prices…..a truly ONE OF A KIND store!

Over 30 Years Family Experience.

Once a Customer, Always a Customer.

Education is our top priority.

Platform Beds, Headboards, Adjustable Bases, Toppers, Pillows, Sheets, & Crib Mattresses.

From one of our satisfied NY customers.

We were interested in an Organic Mattress Inc. innerspring mattress set, so made the lengthy trip from western New York to the Hibernate Bedding store in Bernardsville, NJ. Our experience with Pam and her operation was well worth the investment of our time. From the moment we entered the store, Pam was welcoming, attentive and worked hard to understand our needs and concerns. The "white glove" delivery process was flawless. We can't recommend Hibernate Bedding and their products highly enough following our very satisfactory experience.

Free Delivery 2

Free Set Up

Somerset/Middlesex/Hunterdon/Mercer/ S. Warren Co. Edition

Free Removal

NaturalAwakeningsCNJ.com

Natural Health and Beauty Products. Holistic and Traditional Medicines. Unmatched Expertise.

Disease begins in the gut.

Test. Don’t Guess.

1 in 7 people suffer from a wheat related disorder. If you think you may be suffering from any undiagnosed digestive issues, you may benefit from this highly accurate, quantifiable test.

The Vibrant Wellness Wheat Zoomer Test can identify and decipher celiac disease, leaky gut, gluten sensitivity, wheat allergy, wheat sensitivity and other autoimmune reactions.

Vibrant Wellness tests include: • Micronutrient • Assorted gut health tests • Food sensitivities • Food additives • Cardiometabolic Call 908-658-4900 and make an appointment today.

SHIPPING

VIP CONCIERGE

& SHIPPING SERVICES

We’ll deliver or ship right to your door. $3.00 delivery charge.

Spend $50 Get 15% off Every time.

In store or by phone only

75 Washington Valley Road, Bedminster, NJ 07921 • 908.658.4900 • valleypharmacyrx.com Located next to Fresh Market • Current hours: Monday-Friday 10am - 6pm, Saturday 10am - 3pm March 2022

3

Natural Awakenings is a family of 50+ healthy living magazines celebrating 26 years of providing the communities we serve with the tools and resources we all need to lead healthier lives on a healthy planet.

24

Contents 16 28

14 JOURNALING TO

ACCESS INNER WISDOM

16 BEYOND KIBBLE

How to Shop for the Healthiest Pet Food

20 ANN ARMBRECHT

on the Business of Ethical Botanicals

22 BURNOUT RECOVERY

Ways to Reset and Find Balance

24 PLANT-BASED FOODS

34

GO MAINSTREAM

Healthy Eating Gets Easier with Innovations

28 EASING INTO A VEGAN LIFESTYLE

Clever Meat Substitutes that Please the Palate

34 THE BOUNTY OF

16

FARMERS MARKETS

Buying Local Boosts Health, the Economy and the Planet

ADVERTISING & SUBMISSIONS HOW TO ADVERTISE To advertise with Natural Awakenings or request a media kit, please contact us at 908-405-1515 or email Joe@NaturalAwakeningsNJ.com. Deadline for ads: the 15th of the month.

EDITORIAL SUBMISSIONS Email articles, news items and ideas to: Kathy@ NaturalAwakeningsNJ.com. Deadline for editorial: the 5th of the month.

CALENDAR SUBMISSIONS Email calendar events to: Kathy@NaturalAwakeningsNJ.com.

Deadline for calendar: the 10th of the month.

REGIONAL MARKETS Advertise your products or services in multiple markets!

Natural Awakenings Publishing Corp. is a growing franchised family of locally owned magazines serving communities since 1994. To place your ad in other markets call 239-434-9392. For franchising opportunities call 239-530-1377 or visit NaturalAwakenings.com.

4

36 A WEEKEND WARRIOR SURVIVAL GUIDE

Prevention, First-Aid and Recovery

DEPARTMENTS 6 news briefs 10 health briefs 12 global briefs 14 inspiration 16 natural pet 18 eco tip 20 wise words 22 healing ways 28 conscious

eating

Somerset/Middlesex/Hunterdon/Mercer/ S. Warren Co. Edition

NaturalAwakeningsCNJ.com

33 34 36 39 40 41 42

yoga corner green living fit body teen voices calendar classifieds business directory

HEALTHY LIVING HEALTHY PLANET

publisher letter CENTRAL NJ EDITION Publisher Joe Dunne Joe@NaturalAwakeningsNJ.com 908-405-1515 • Fax 239-920-5147 Managing Editor Kathy Tarbell Kathy@NaturalAwakeningsNJ.com 908-912-4569 • 770-867-2101 direct Design & Production Kathy Tarbell Website Kristy Mayer Accounting/Billing Asta Dunne Asta@NaturalAwakeningsNJ.com 908-405-4040

SALES & MARKETING Joe Dunne • Bedminster, NJ 908-405-1515 Joe@NaturalAwakeningsNJ.com NaturalAwakeningsCNJ.com

Pray for Peace

Visit our Facebook page for the latest health updates and information, or to post your events and comments.

NaturalAwakeningsCentralNewJersey

NATIONAL TEAM CEO/Founder COO/Franchise Sales Production Designer Financial Manager Asst. Director of Ops Digital Content Director National Advertising Administrative Asstistant

Sharon Bruckman Joe Dunne Gabrielle W-Perillo Yolanda Shebert Heather Gibbs Rachael Oppy Lisa Doyle-Mitchell Kristy Mayer

Natural Awakenings Publishing Corporation 4851 Tamiami Trail N., Ste. 200 Naples, FL 34103 NaturalAwakenings.com

© 2022 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. 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.

Check with a healthcare professional regarding the appropriate use of any treatment.

& Asta

Natural Awakenings Magazine is ranked 5th Nationally in CISION’S® 2016 Top 10 Health & Fitness Magazines

Please Recycle

March 2022

5

Directory of Display Advertisers Thank you for being part of our community!

7 Chakras Wellness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Be Here Now Yoga . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 Be the Medicine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 CardFly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 Center for Advanced Health . . . . . . . . 47 Through Dentistry

CopperZap . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 Dr. Andy Rosenfarb . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Dr. Clare Larkin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Full Circle Energy Therapies . . . . . . . . 13 Health Yeah with Michelle . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Heart of Oneness Holistic Expo . . . . . . 18 Hibernate Bedding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Holistic Dental Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 Hunterdon Integrative Physicians . . . 29 Hypnosis Counseling Center . . . . . . . . 13 KnowWEwell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 Lisa’s Thermography & Wellness . . . . 39 My Thermal Image . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Natural Awakenings Singles . . . . 21, 43 New Jersey Natural Medicine . . . . . . . 17 Ondov Relationship Coaching . . . . . . . 21 Paint with T-Anya . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8 Personally Yours Lingerie . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Qi Gong for Healing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Quantum Wellness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7 RegeneSpine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Samsara Chiropractic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 Sunrise Nutrition Center . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 The Hemp Oil Store . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 Valley Integrative Pharmacy . . . . . . . . . 3 Whole Foods . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 * New / Returning Advertisers

Let them know you found them in Natural Awakenings Central NJ!

6

news briefs

Full Circle Energy Therapies and Coaching in Ewing

M

any find themselves experiencing big transitions in life. While change can be a phenomenal experience, it can also be stressful and downright scary. Lori Hoff of Full Circle Energy Therapies understands this journey well.

Hoff ’s approach to the transformational healing process empowers individuals to do the work; gently peeling back layers so they may radiate their true essence, and vibrationally align with the life they deserve. Her services include personalized energy sessions (in person and distance. for both people and pets), group facilitated breathwork, sound healing and coaching. She also uses and teaches Reiki and Integrated Energy Therapy. She also offers a free consultation to new clients.

“I’ve been through a lot, especially at a young age, and I understand the concept of grief and gratitude rolled up into one. So, you don’t need to be ‘well versed’ in holistic healing to work with me. Show up as you are,” states Hoff.

Hoff is certified in Polyvagal Theory and understands the connection of the spiritual plane to the physical and how everyday realities can impact our ability to transform. “Deep healing is our right.

We don’t always have 5000 hours a day to devote to it, so I facilitate a safe place to land while you learn to heal yourself.”

Location: 2041 Pennington Road, Ewing. For information, call/text 908-268-7169, email feelslikesunshine124@gmail.com or visit FullCircleEnrgy.net. See ad, page 13.

Reclaim Your Health Without Surgery or Steroids

R

egeneSpine’s Dr. Stephen Roman explains why patients seek a regenerative practice. “There are two main reasons: they want to get better without surgery, and they want to get better without steroids. The first reason is understandable; why would someone want to go under the knife if they don’t need to. Patients don’t want to risk surgical complications or endure long recovery time. However, the reasoning behind reluctance to take steroids is less obvious. The administration of steroids for joint pain including disorders for cartilage, such as arthritis, as well as tendon disorders, such as tendon tears and tendinosis, remains controversial.” Dr. Roman knows there are healing alternatives that are safe and effective, and he is happy to answer questions and share the latest research with patients.

Regenerative Medicine is a broad term that includes many different technologies used to restore or replace diseased or damaged tissues to return the body to its healthy state. RegeneSpine incorporates the latest advancements in Regenerative Medicine to the treatment of patients with disorders of the spine and musculoskeletal system to help them live full and active lives.

It is possible to regain your life. Schedule an appointment today to get the answers you need.

Location: Offices in Mercerville and Cedar Knolls, NJ; and in Manhattan, NY. Call 888-352-3038 to schedule an appointment. For information, visit RegeneSpine.com.

See ad, page 19.

Somerset/Middlesex/Hunterdon/Mercer/ S. Warren Co. Edition

NaturalAwakeningsCNJ.com

March 2022

7

Free Yourself

in the Joy of Creativity Paint with TeaAnya brings the powerful benefits of painting to your location.

With unique warmth and a calm approach, Anya helps everyone relax and celebrate their inner artist. No special skills needed but be prepared to be amazed at what you can create.

• • • •

Special Occasions Group Painting One-On-One Sessions Therapeutic Painting

All paint supplies and delicious teas provided. Additional light catering and group rates available. Call for details.

Anya • 973-710-8809 anya@tanyapaint.com

www.tanyapaint.com

8

news briefs

Open the Doors to Creativity with Painting and Tea

“O

ver the past couple of years, too many of us have been locked in at home and living in fear. It’s time to enjoy life! Creativity allows us to see the light at the end of the tunnel and find relaxation, creation and joy!” shares Anya, owner of Paint with T-Anya, who brings a joyous creativity to any social gathering: birthday parties, retirement parties, fundraising, couples, one-onone sessions and therapeutic sessions.

Painting connects the body and mind to work in harmony.

Using a mobile painting service, Anya comes to her client’s home or gathering places such as churches, chapels, schools, clubs, places of business…anywhere people want to awaken the creator within.

The experience is also affordable. The base fee includes all painting supplies needed to start, plus a variety of delicious loose-leaf black, green, and herbal teas for tasting. For those who just want to invite their friends and enjoy, appetizers/desserts/snacks and wine can be included for an additional charge.

For more information, call 973-710-8809, email anya@tanyapaint. com or visit TAnyaPaint.com. See ad, page 8.

All-In-One Digital Business Card

E

xchanging information is always important, now it is pretty, professional and easy to customize with CardFly, a digital business card that keeps all your information in one place. Whether you are looking for cost-effective marketing, good customer contact or keeping in touch with family and friends, CardFly is truly an “it’s about time someone thought of this” product. It’s perfect for organizations, realtors, personal cards, pictures, videos, interactive connections. Creating a personal image is simple and fun.

As one customer states, “I have been praying for a marketing tool that combines all my reach numbers, social media, and calendar in one space and CardFly is a marketing utopia! What really sets it apart is the contact capture feature and the ability to customize the card without any additional costs. Brilliant product!”

For more information and to activate an account, visit cardfly. io/?ref=joe97. See ad, page 31.

8

Somerset/Middlesex/Hunterdon/Mercer/ S. Warren Co. Edition

NaturalAwakeningsCNJ.com

Peace, Clarity, and Health are within reach Get Unstuck in All Areas of Your Life!

Janet StraightArrow’s unique blend of ancient wisdom with practical methods opens the door for discovering your true self.

Meet Your True Self free of fear & anxiety free from trauma free to grow in love

Awaken

Deep Love, Complete Healing, Practical Spiritual Living.

Shaman, Healer, Teacher, Yogi, Sage

973-647-2500 | BeTheMedicine.com Workshops, Shaman & Reiki Training, Energy Healing Private Sessions | Remote, Virtual, In-Person March 2022

9

Depression relief may be as close as the vinegar bottle on the kitchen shelf, according to a new study from Arizona State University involving 25 healthy college students divided into two groups. Fourteen drank two tablespoons of Bragg’s apple cider vinegar diluted in one cup of water twice daily with meals, while 11 students consumed a vinegar tablet that contained 1/100 as much vinegar twice daily. After four weeks, using psychological tests and urine samples, the researchers found a 20 to 34 percent reduction in self-reported depression scores from the test group compared to slight increases in depression in the control group. Several metabolic alterations were found consistent with improved mood, including enzymatic dysfunction in the hexosamine pathway, as well as significant increases in glycine, serine and threonine metabolism. “With over 40 percent of college students self-reporting moderate-to-severe depression—a 77 percent increase over the past decade­­— simple and safe strategies that effectively reduce depression in this population are urgently needed,” the authors write.

Drink Coffee and Tea to Reduce Dementia and Stroke Risk There’s good news for coffee and tea drinkers in recent research: consuming two to three cups a day of each beverage has been found to significantly lower the risk of stroke by 32 percent and of dementia by 28 percent compared to abstainers. Researchers from Tianjin Medical University, in China, analyzed a databank of 365,682 UK residents between 50 and 74 years of age that reported their coffee and tea consumption over 11 years and found that drinking both beverages in the course of a day correlates with a lower risk of stroke and dementia compared to drinking either one exclusively. Also, drinking three to six cups of coffee alone or in combination with tea was associated with a lower risk of post-stroke dementia. “Coffee and tea are distinct beverages with both overlapping and different contents. One potential mechanism may be related to the combined protective role of the different antioxidants and other biological contents in these two beverages,” the study concluded.

10

Somerset/Middlesex/Hunterdon/Mercer/ S. Warren Co. Edition

NaturalAwakeningsCNJ.com

picture partners/AdobeStock.com

Fatigue that hampers daily activities is a major symptom of heart failure, the leading cause of U.S. hospitalization for people over 65. To explore inexpensive and accessible herbal treatments, researchers at the Aja University of Medical Sciences, in Tehran, Iran, divided 120 heart-failure patients into three groups: one received aromatherapy, breathing in lavender essence every day; another took 530 milligram capsules of valerian root extract daily; and the third group had conventional medical therapy with no herbal supplementation. After 15 days, fatigue was significantly reduced in both herbal groups, while individuals receiving only conventional care did not experience a noticeable relief in fatigue.

marek walica/AdobeStock.com

Take Vinegar to Lower the Blues

Try Lavender and Valerian to Reduce Fatigue

popout/AdobeStock.com

health briefs

A high dietary intake of foods containing alpha lipoic acid (ALA), a plant-based amino acid essential to the body’s metabolism, is associated with a 10 percent lower risk of death from all causes, an 8 percent lower risk of cardiovascular disease death and an 11 percent lower risk of coronary heart disease, reports a new study in The BMJ, a peer-reviewed medical trade journal published by the British Medical Association. An international team of researchers conducted a meta-analysis of 41 studies involving 1,197,564 participants that were followed for up to 32 years. They found that each additional gram per day of ALA (equivalent to one tablespoon of canola oil or a half-ounce of walnuts) was linked to a 5 percent lower risk of cardiovascular disease death.

“A higher intake of ALA, however, was associated with a slightly higher risk of cancer mortality,” the researchers wrote. ALA is found in nuts, soybeans, canola oil, flaxseed, chia seeds and other food sources such as avocados, dairy products, navy beans and oatmeal.

Spring into Shape with Hypnosis It’s Springtime! You’ve been hibernating over the winter and it’s now that time to get back into shape, especially before the bathing suit season.

If you diet, you know the routine: you get serious and lose some weight, feel better and relax, and the lost weight comes back. How can we stop the yo-yo dieting?

Hypnosis, that’s how. It’s been proven the most effective way to lose weight by Harvard, Yale, Columbia, Mt Sinai, Dr. Oz and Dateline NBC. The problem lies not in the body, but the mind. Attitudes toward ourselves and food lead to our behaviors and resulting physical health. If we can get beneath the surface and look at psychological factors involved, we can change our relationship to food forever. Hypnosis teaches how to eat satisfying, healthy meals, get to an ideal weight, and stay there.

At the Hypnosis Counseling Center, we assess your past experiences your current patterns. We identify the subconscious elements that contribute to unhealthy attitudes and develop a plan unique to your needs. Each client receives

a personalized audio tape that reaffirms the positive messages needed to get healthier each day.

Imagine putting down the guiltand-reward approach to weight loss, enjoying a variety of foods again, and seeing the pounds you want to lose drop away! Joseph, after losing 105 pounds, writes, “I feel confident that I am not going to gain back the weight…I wish I had attended this class years sooner!”

Hypnosis is safe, medically approved, and best of all, it works. Barry Wolfson, MS is the Director of the Hypnosis Counseling Center which has been in practice 35 years.

The center also provides classes to help people build confidence, overcome anxiety, and quit smoking. So, if you have the desire to change something in your life and the willingness to do it… you can, with hypnosis.

The Hypnosis Counseling Center is located at 28 Mine St., Flemington, with additional offices in Princeton and Livingston. For more information, go to HypnosisCounselingCenter.com or call 908-303-7767.

Run 10 Minutes for a Brain Boost Exercise is used by people of all ages to elevate a sluggish mood, and new research shows that a mere 10 minutes of moderate-intensity running also boosts cognitive function. In tests with 26 subjects, researchers from the University of Tsukuba, in Japan, found that a short burst of running improved the set of cognitive processes involved in planning, organizing and self-control by increasing blood flow to the bilateral prefrontal cortex.

“Given that running is a wholebody locomotive exercise, it may confer more mental health benefits compared to other forms of exercise such as cycling,” says study author Hideaki Soya, Ph.D.

ljupco smokovski/AdobeStock.com

Eat Alpha Lipoic Acid-Rich Foods to Live Longer

READY TO LOSE WEIGHT? SPRING INTO SHAPE! As seen on Dr. Oz, Hypnosis is the most effective way to lose weight! As Proven in Studies at Harvard, Yale, Columbia and Mt. Sinai Hospital.

Whether you need to lose 5 pounds or 50, our time-tested methods will help you reach your target weight... and stay there.

908-303-7767

HypnosisCounselingCenter.com

Like us on

NJ’S MOST SUCCESSFUL PROGRAMS WITH 35 YEARS OF PROVEN SUCCESS! 28 Mine Street, Flemington 5 E. Northfield Ave., Livingston • 43 Tamarack Cir., Princeton March 2022

11

Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) Now Labeled as Bioengineered (BE) As part of a process begun in 2018, the U.S. Department of Agriculture labeling rule for food products altered at the genetic level was finalized and implemented on January 1 to uphold the integrity of labeling claims and increase marketplace transparency.

Bioengineered food is defined as containing detectable genetic material modified by in vitro recombinant deoxyribonucleic acid techniques that could not have been modified through conventional breeding or found in nature. Crops include alfalfa, apples, canola, corn, cotton, eggplant, papaya, pineapple, potato, salmon, soybean, squash and sugar beets, and will be updated annually. The rule also applies to food products regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration under the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act. Food labels must disclose that the food is bioengineered or contains a bioengineered food ingredient. Exemptions include small food manufacturers with annual sales of less than $2.5 million; food served in restaurants, delicatessens, food trucks, trains and airplanes; and products that contain an unavoidable or accidental presence of a bioengineered substance of up to 5 percent per each ingredient in the final product. Activist groups agree that extensive consumer education is required to avoid confusion.

Millions of tons of plastic are dumped in the environment annually, and reducing that amount is critical. A study by the Chalmers University of Technology, in Sweden, published in the journal Microbial Ecology, discovered that microbes in oceans and soils worldwide are evolving to eat plastic. The research scanned more than 200 million genes found in DNA samples taken from the environment and found 30,000 different enzymes that could degrade 10 different types of plastic. This is the first, large-scale, global evaluation of the plastic-degrading potential of bacteria, which found that one in four of the organisms analyzed carried a suitable enzyme. The researchers observed that the number and type of enzymes matched those of plastic pollution in various locations.

Many plastics are hard to degrade and recycle. The explosion of plastic production in the past 70 years, from 2 million metric tons to 380 million metric tons a year, has given microbes time to evolve to deal with plastic.

Using enzymes to rapidly break down plastics into their respective building blocks will allow new products to be made from the old, decreasing the need for new production. This research highlights new enzymes that could be adapted for industrial use.

artqu/AdobeStock.com

Bacteria May Become Plastic Pathfinders

Shell Game

kateryna_kon/AdobeStock.com

Rescue Bugs

global briefs

Floating Families

In the coastal nation of the Netherlands, mostly built on reclaimed land—a third of which is below sea level—Amsterdam has around 3,000 registered houseboats on canals. A Rotterdam city official states, “Instead of seeing water just as an enemy, we see it as an opportunity.” The newest innovation, a floating house, can be constructed on any shoreline and is able to cope with rising seas or rain-induced floods by floating.

Unlike houseboats, Dutch floating homes are fixed to the shore on steel poles, connected to the local sewer system and power grid. They are structurally similar to houses built on land, but instead of a basement, they have a concrete hull counterweight that keeps them stable.

In the Netherlands, the structures are often prefabricated, square-shaped, three-story townhouses built offsite with conventional materials like timber, steel and glass. For cities facing worsening floods and a shortage of buildable land, floating homes are one potential blueprint for how to expand urban housing in the age of climate change. These floating communities are inspiring projects in flood-prone countries such as French Polynesia and the Maldives. Siti Boelen, a Dutch television producer, says, “We feel safer in a storm because we are floating. I think it’s kind of strange that building on water is not a priority worldwide.”

12

Somerset/Middlesex/Hunterdon/Mercer/ S. Warren Co. Edition

NaturalAwakeningsCNJ.com

gina sanders /AdobeStock.com

Sustainably Coping with Sea Level Rise

Spiritual Awakening

photo courtesy of USDA

People of Faith Find Connection to the Environment

Deep

Most of the world’s organized religious sects contain a doctrine or reference to preserving the environment.

Abrahamic religions view humans as stewards that have a unique responsibility to care for the planet. Other faiths like Buddhism, Hinduism and many Indigenous traditions believe that while people need to take care of the planet, they are just one part of the larger ecosystem. The creation stories in Genesis call upon humans to be caretakers of creation and tenders of the garden.

Nona Siegel grew up in Montana, where she became aware of several mining projects. She notes that one of Judaism’s core beliefs is that the land belongs to the divine, and cites the Jewish ideal of tikkun olam, which means healing the world. Tempe, Arizona, Community Christian Church pastor Doug Bland, wearing a cardboard box painted brown, invites people to confess their ecological sins in a ritual he calls “ecofessionals”. Some participants say they fly too much on airplanes. Others say they don’t appreciate the environment enough. He is the executive director for Arizona Interfaith Power and Light, an organization that works to bring a spiritual response to the climate crisis with about 100 congregations of churches, mosques and synagogues. It’s one of 40 chapters nationwide calling for faith leaders and communities to get involved.

Full Circle Energy Therapies Do you need energetic support on your healing journey?

This heart-centered approach helps empower individuals to gently peel back layers so they may radiate their true essence and vibrationally align with the life they deserve.

Giving New Meaning to

Head in the Clouds, Feet on the Ground.

Featured Services

Personalized Energy sessions (In person and distance for people & pets) Group Facilitated Breathwork, Sound Healing Transformation Coach

Deep Healing is Our Right.

Call today for free consult.

Lori Hoff

Energy Practitioner, Teacher & Coach 2041 Pennington Rd, Ewing Twp

908-268-7169 call/text feelslikesunshine124@gmail.com FullCircleEnergy.net IG: fullcircleenergy FB: fullcircleenergytherapies

QiforGong Healing

classes|seminars|workshops

Classes & Seminars Online Beginner Series / 4 Classes

“You can’t connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards. So, you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future.

You have to trust in something -- your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever. This approach has never let me down, and it has made all the difference in my life.”

Steve Jobs

Begin the gentle movements of a Qi Gong Tai Chi Journey with Patty Pagano Not sure? First 1-hour class is FREE! For info, contact Patty at 908-392-1313 or PattyQigongforHealing@gmail.com

QiGongForHealing.com or call Fran Maher & Brian Coffey

908-647-1563

March 2022

13

Sustainable Living

Journaling to Access Inner Wisdom

by Nadine Kenney Johnstone

ashlyn ciara/Unsplash.com

coming in the april issue

inspiration

O

n a summer afternoon in 2015, I sat in my favorite coffee shop waiting on life-changing news. With each minute, my anxiety mounted, so I turned to the only thing that calms me in a stressful situation—my journal. As my pen scrawled across the page, I instinctively wrote a letter from my future self to my present self. I just needed someone to reassure me. And that “someone,” apparently, was me.

I’ve been writing these inner-wisdom letters ever since, and it has been one of the most helpful practices in managing my anxiety. Women that have attended my retreats say it is the most impactful thing we do. When you’re feeling overwhelmed, grab a pen and follow these simple steps.

CREATE A SIMPLE CEREMONY. Sitting down with your favorite mug or journal makes this exercise feel sacred. Write in the light of dawn or by the glow of a candle, whatever brings you joy.

SET A TIMER SO YOU DON’T OVERTHINK IT. Perfectionism is the enemy of creativity. For 10 minutes, tell yourself to just write whatever comes, no matter how imperfect.

14

Somerset/Middlesex/Hunterdon/Mercer/ S. Warren Co. Edition

NaturalAwakeningsCNJ.com

GET INTO THE BRAIN OF THE OLDER, WISER YOU. Imagine the version of you six months from now that has gotten through the muck you’re currently in.

What deep wisdom and advice does it carry?

START WITH A LOVING GREETING. Address your present self compassionately, the way you would to a child or dear friend. “Hi darling. It’s a brand-new day, sweetheart.”

ACKNOWLEDGE YOUR HARDSHIPS WITHOUT JUDGEMENT. What is your wiser self observing from the outside? Let it state what it notices. “I can see that you’re hurting. You’ve been through it, haven’t you?”

LET THE PAST BE PROOF OF YOUR EMOTIONAL ENDURANCE. Be an investigator and dig up examples of how you’ve coped with previous hardships.

Remember that time you thought you couldn’t deal, but you did?

STATE WHAT THE WISER-YOU KNOWS. What does this perspective offer to the situation? Be the scribe as you channel wiser-you’s messages. Try this prompt: “Your heart knows that ...”

REQUEST THE NEXT RIGHT STEP. Ask your wiser self, “What do I need in order to heal from this?” Listen for the answer. It might take the form of advice, a mantra or a simple step: Rest. Pause.

Stay. Hug. LIST WHAT YOU CAN LET GO OF. Dump your obsessive thoughts onto the page, as well as anything you can’t control.

While you think you can control other people’s reactions, you can’t.

Better Vision in 10 Days Most Eye Conditions Are Treatable!

Our Integrative Medical treatment programs provide the best clinical outcomes for our patients.

25 Years of Experience • • • •

MACULAR DEGENERATION GLAUCOMA CATARACTS RETINITIS PIGMENTOSA

OPTIC ATROPHY DRY EYE DIABETIC RETINOPATHY RETINAL OCCLUSIONS

Mention this ad for a FREE phone consultation.

DR. ANDY

R OSENFARB Andy Rosenfarb, ND, LAc.

Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine Board Certified in Acupuncture & Chinese Herbal Medicine

332 S. Avenue E., Westfield, NJ Specializing in Holistic Eye Health • #1 Bestselling Author

908-466-1980 • AcuVisionAcupuncture.com

CLOSE WITH LOVE AND SUPPORT. “I love you and I’m here for you in your heart.”

Give yourself the best opportunity for better health!

READ WHAT YOU WROTE. Be amazed by the wisdom that came simply because you tapped in and asked. Bring your hands to your heart and say thank you.

Nadine Kenney Johnstone is the host of the podcast Heart of the Story, a writing, meditation and yoga nidra instructor, and a workshop and retreat leader.

• • • •

Medical Thermography

$25 OFF

First screening when you bring this ad to your appt.

is an FDA approved screening tool for possible early cancer detection. It is: • Safe • Effective • Compression-free • Non-invasive • Contactless • Radiation-free Reports are reviewed by multiple board certified physicians.

609-968-7446 info@mythermalimage.com

MyThermalImage.com NJ/PA Satellite locations on website.

March 2022

15

natural pet

Beyond Kibble How to Shop for the Healthiest Pet Food

by Sheila Julson

16

Somerset/Middlesex/Hunterdon/Mercer/ S. Warren Co. Edition

When purchasing kibble, look for brands that are minimally processed and provide vitamins directly from the ingredients; a long list of supplements on an ingredient list means the food has been highly processed.

There has been recent debate within the animal care community as to whether grain-free diets are more helpful or harmful to pets. O’Brien Greenleaf notes the jury is still out on how some grains affect pets or whether grain-free diets are better. “It depends on how contaminated or genetically modified the grains are, and whether grains agree with your pet,” she says. Testing is now available to help determine ingredients to which a pet may be allergic.

She also recommends adding high-quality fish oil to pet’s food to help quell inflammation that can cause skin issues and other disorders.

Smaller Manufacturers Emphasize Quality Control Randi Ross owns the franchise in Campbell, California, for Ben’s Barketplace, a Northern California pet food store chain that specializes in quality foods for dogs and cats. She notes that corporate mergers and acquisitions over the years have put many large pet food brands that are carried at big-box stores into the hands of conglomerates that also produce candy, soap and other non-pet products. This can lead to lack of oversight and quality control issues.

Many smaller, specialty pet food stores carefully screen the brands they carry. They offer products made by smaller companies that produce just pet food and embrace a holistic, farm-to-table philosoNaturalAwakeningsCNJ.com

mat hayward/AdobeStock.com

P

eople are always striving to improve the quality of life for their pets. For some, this means making homemade dog and cat food or buying meat directly from a local butcher, but not all pet parents have the necessary time, space or finances. While there are better quality kibble and canned pet foods available today than in the past, along with frozen raw and freeze-dried raw foods, an overwhelming volume of choices can confuse even the savviest consumer.

Cecille O’Brien Greenleaf, a holistic veterinarian in San Jose, California, advises pet parents to use the same criteria they do when shopping for human food—look for the freshest, cleanest ingredients possible, a limited ingredient panel and no chemicals and pesticides.

“Look for human-grade ingredients that offer the most vitality,” she emphasizes. She notes that some larger manufacturers have been caught using the least expensive ingredients they could find, including diseased animals that have been rejected from the human supply chain.

Ingredients on panels are listed by weight from highest to lowest, so the first one listed is the one that weighs the most. It should be pure meat— chicken, beef, venison or fish. Proteins such as chicken liver, organ meat or eggs may follow. “If there are many synthesized items in the ingredient list, that is to be avoided,” she says.

Frozen raw and dehydrated raw foods provide optimal nutrition while more closely mimicking pets’ primal eating patterns. The extrusion process that some pet food manufacturers use to make kibble can overcook the product. To compensate, synthesized vitamins are often sprayed onto the finished product, similar to how many children’s breakfast cereals are produced, she explains.

Since 2004 Naturopathic, Chinese & Biological Medicine COMPREHENSIVE & COMPASSIONATE

279photo/AdobeStock.com

HEALTH CARE FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY

phy regarding how they source their ingredients and manufacture their foods.

The melamine pet food recall of 2007, in which the U.S. Food and Drug Administration found chemical contaminants in vegetable proteins imported from China used as ingredients in pet food, prompted many people to look for “Made in the United States” on packages. However, even if a brand is labeled as American- or North American-made, it doesn’t necessarily mean all of the ingredients were sourced from America, Ross says.

Freeze-dried raw meal toppers and pour-over broths have become popular ways to add nutrition and flavor to kibble. When purchasing those products, she says, the same rules apply as when shopping for food: look for single or limited-ingredients on product panels and be wary of excessive filler ingredients like corn or wheat.

“We help educate people on the true cost of pet ownership,” Ross says. “Spending a little more money now on high-quality pet food ultimately keeps dogs and cats healthier, reducing the need for veterinarian visits, pharmaceuticals and antibiotics.”

Sheila Julson is a Milwaukee-based freelance writer and contributor to Natural Awakenings magazines throughout the country.

All who come to NJ Natural Medicine benefit from our holistic approach to treatment. Regardless of the reason for the visit, the guiding principal remains constant: to observe and treat the whole person, not just his or her symptoms.

Acupuncture Bio-resonance Therapy Diagnostics Infrared Sauna

Dr. Jason Frigerio ND LAC 2424 Lamington Road Bedminster, NJ 07921 973 267 2650 www.njnaturalmedicine.com

March 2022

17

eco tip

The 411 on Styro foam Because it is heat-resistant, extremely lightweight and relatively sturdy, Styrofoam is commonly used for takeout food and beverage containers, egg cartons, craft materials, home insulation and product packaging. The harm it causes to human health and the planet outweighs its convenience, however, and a growing number of cities in Asia, Europe and the U.S. have banned its use, including Minneapolis, Portland, Seattle, San Francisco, New York City and Washington, D.C. The word Styrofoam, which stands for a polystyrene plastic foam made from nonrenewable crude oil, is actually a trademark owned by the Dow Chemical Company in more than 90 countries. Despite city restrictions and growing concern over its safety, 3 million tons of it is produced every year in the U.S. Human Health Risks Two known toxins— benzene and styrene—are released during

18

GrabillCreative/GettyImages.co,

Why We Should Just Say No

the manufacture of this puffed, #6 plastic.

The toxins are also released whenever it is subjected to heat—by contact with a hot beverage or in the microwave, for example.

In a 1986 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) study, styrene was detected in the fatty tissue of every man, woman and child tested. The tens of thousands of people that live and work in environments with high concentrations of styrene have higher instances of cancer, neurological issues, headaches, depression and fatigue, while chronic exposure to benzene is believed to cause blood disorders, negative reproductive effects and increased incidence of leukemia.

Somerset/Middlesex/Hunterdon/Mercer/ S. Warren Co. Edition

Environmental Impacts The manufacturing process of polystyrene was rated as the fifth-largest source of hazardous waste by a 1986 EPA report. It is estimated that 680 pounds of greenhouse gas are emitted to produce 10,000 plastic foam cups. Styrofoam is virtually non-biodegradable, and only 1 percent of it is recycled. Approximately 2.3 million tons end up in landfills every year, releasing toxins into the air and breaking into smaller particles that make their way into waterways, polluting the human drinking supply and posing great risk to marine life that ingests microplastics.

Better Alternatives It is best to avoid using Styrofoam altogether, opting instead for plant-based, stainless steel, ceramic or glass containers to carry food and beverages. Choose manufacturers and shipping companies that use biodegradable packing materials instead of foam. At the grocery store, purchase eggs in paperboard cartons and get fresh cuts of meat from the butcher rather than those packed in foam trays. At home, select Earth-friendly insulation and steer clear of foam-based craft supplies.

NaturalAwakeningsCNJ.com

Stay In The Game with

Regenerative Medicine

It’s not just for professional athletes any more.

If staying in the game is a priority,

Call 609-570-6980 Today to schedule a free informational call.

Regenerative Medicine utilizes your own cells, including Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) to facilitate your body’s natural ability to heal from orthopedic and spine problems that were previously treated with steroids and surgery.

We specialize in treating pain in the spine and joints including osteoarthritis. With minimal down time, Regenerative Medicine can help you return to work, sports and activities quickly.

For over 15 years, Dr. Roman has provided care to thousands of patients including professional athletes with various spine and joint disorders, arthritis, and pain issues.

609-570-6980 | info@regenespine.com Offices in Mercerville and Cedar Knolls, NJ & NYC. Stephen J. Roman, Jr., M.D.

RegeneSpine.com March 2022

19

wise words

Ann Armbrecht

on the Business of

Ethical Botanicals

photo courtesy of Bryce Youk

by April Thompson

20

What surprised you the most in your journey around the world tracking the herbal supply chain?

I was surprised by the level of mechanization and scale, and the careless way plants were often handled—sometimes stored in open sacks and huge piles, with one type of plant spilling into another without controls for moisture and rodents. But I was also surprised to discover my own naiveté about the supply chain. These were both important realizations to help me come to a more nuanced, realistic assessment of the challenges the different stakeholders face in bringing herbs to market.

What should consumers consider when purchasing herbal products?

Alternative medicine and health care frame wellness as a personal choice, focused on the individual’s health, yet we have a responsibility back to the plants that heal us and the people who care for them. We can’t be well unless the planet is well.

By purchasing an herbal product that has been produced in ways that care for the Earth and local communities, we can start to heal the planet and address social inequities.

Purchasing Organic Certified products is a start. Someone I met at Organic India said every time you have a cup of herbal tea that isn’t certified organic, it’s like steeping a cup of pesticides. It doesn’t make any sense to consume something for its medicinal properties that has been made with pesticides or chemical fertilizers.

Certified Organic is not a perfect system—no certification is—but it operates as a stand-in for relationships and trust. These herbs change hands up to 15 times to get to a consumer, so there has to be a way to keep a paper trail and ensure product integrity. When consumers ask for Certified Organic, it signals to the marketplace that sustainability matters and helps drive change in the industry.

Somerset/Middlesex/Hunterdon/Mercer/ S. Warren Co. Edition

NaturalAwakeningsCNJ.com

quangho/Shutterstock.com

W

riter and anthropologist Ann Armbrecht explores the relationship between humans and the planet, notably through her work with plants and plant medicine. Her book The Business of Botanicals: Exploring the Healing Promise of Plant Medicines in a Global Industry tells the stories of the people and places behind the global industry of herbal products which are largely invisible to the consumers that spend $9 billion annually on them. Armbrecht is the director of the American Botanical Council Sustainable Herbs Program and is co-producer of the documentary film Numen: The Nature of Plants, inspired by her experience studying herbal medicine with herbalist Rosemary Gladstar.

Although her current work focuses on the herb industry, she is interested in broader questions about how the purchasing choices everyday citizens make impact the world. Armbrecht is also the author of the memoir Thin Places: A Pilgrimage Home, based on her time conducting ethnographic research in Nepal and her continued questioning of culture and community back home in the U.S.

Seeking out fair trade products is also great when possible. The FairWild certification, for example, works toward ecological, social and economic sustainability in the supply chain of wild-collected products.

What gives you the most hope about the herbal industry right now?

and of the communities to bring a sense of ethics, equity and transparency into the system. A lot of money is made at the very end of the value chain and not at the source.

Individuals and companies in the industry are working to address these imbalances.

More consumers are asking questions and becoming empowered citizens, and that also gives me hope. When I studied herbal medicine, what was most powerful for me was learning simple ways to take care of myself and my then-1-year-old daughter. Learning to make these simple remedies was deeply empowering. Without that knowledge, it’s easy to be overwhelmed walking through the supplement aisle of the drugstore, not knowing where to begin other than to read labels and try to compare one marketing claim to another. Taking steps to learn more about herbs and where they come from helps people make a shift from consumer to citizen.

That level of engagement also brings more meaning and connection, which people are hungering for.

The people I got to know in my travels are working really hard to take care of the plants

Connect with Washington, D.C., freelance writer April Thompson at AprilWrites.com.

What key trends are you seeing in the herbal industry?

There is a trend toward regenerative farming, which focuses on issues like how cultivating plants affects soil and biodiversity.

There is also a new focus on social equity for people growing and collecting herbs, as many of them are living on the fringes of society in precarious situations. We are doing case studies to look at details like how the structure of contracts and timing of payments affect smallholder herb farmers so we can make appropriate recommendations and hold companies accountable.

Recover from the trauma, bridge the divide, and put the pieces back together.

With or without your partner!

Rhoda Ondov, MS, MFT, CPC Relationship Coach

908-642-6256 rhoda.ondov@gmail.com

OndovRelationshipCoaching.com 12-14 E. Main St., Somerville

Sliding Scale Rates

Feel the JOY of LOVE again!

Join the Largest Online Community of Holistic-Conscious Singles who value Authentic & Loving Relationships Natural Health & Sustainable Living Living a Conscious Life Honoring Diversity

Try for

FREE at NaturalAwakeningsSingles.com March 2022

21

healing ways

Burnout Recovery Ways to Reset and Find Balance

fizkes/AdobeStock.com

by Ronica O’Hara

“I

’ll sleep when I die,” Kristina Shea used to joke about her three hours of nightly shut-eye.

In retrospect, she says ruefully, “It almost became a reality.” Her hectic life as a single, widowed mother juggling her child’s needs, a high-powered career, university classes, fitness teaching and a two-hour work commute came to an abrupt stop eight years ago when she got off an escalator in the Toronto business district and collapsed. “It was burnout which manifested into physical symptoms such as extreme high blood pressure, red rashes, eczema and even a brain cyst,” she recalls. “I was emotionally and physically drained, with little joy left for life.”

22

Determined to reset, she switched jobs, prioritized sleep, practiced yoga, meditated and took long nature walks. When COVID-19 shutdowns hit and she was laid off, she was at a loss, but rebounded, and inspired by her own healing process, started a CBD-enhanced natural skincare product line. “Still to this day, it is an active healing process,” she says. “It is very easy to go back to old patterns of behavior.”

Burnout, once primarily a workplace concern, is turning into a societal norm.

During the long slog of the pandemic, its telltale symptoms have become commonplace: fatigue, cynicism, apathy and feeling ineffective and disconnected. Among American employees, 52 percent reported

Somerset/Middlesex/Hunterdon/Mercer/ S. Warren Co. Edition

feeling burned out in a March 2021 study, with two-thirds saying it had worsened during the pandemic. Belgian researchers found parental burnout in the U.S. to be among the highest in the world—even before COVID-19 closed schools. Record numbers of healthcare workers, caregivers and therapists report feeling physically, mentally and emotionally exhausted, with grave implications for those they are helping. Over time, burnout can bring on such health consequences as depression, insomnia, cardiovascular disease and immune disorders.

Turning around burnout requires a simple first step. We must admit what’s going on, says Eileen McDargh, author of

NaturalAwakeningsCNJ.com

“Until we stop and literally look at what we are doing, we remain on the hamster wheel.” – Eileen McDargh Burnout to Breakthrough and an executive coach in Dana Point, California. “Until we stop and literally look at what we are doing, we remain on the hamster wheel,” she says. “And then, we must listen to what our head is saying to us, and perhaps even more important, what our heart—our intuition—is telling us. The heart knows the truth.”

From this self-assessment, other steps can follow, she says, such as asking, “What can I change about this? What can I avoid?

What can I amend? And what—at least for the short term—can I accept?” A stressful situation can also be proactively reframed by viewing it as a challenge, a learning opportunity, a way to help others or as having a higher purpose. Other helpful strategies include: ACCESS POINTS OF JOY. By asking ourselves what three specific activities or things truly make us feel alive, engaged and happy, we can figure out how to work them into our days and restructure our life. In one study, physicians that spent about 20 percent of their time—roughly one day a week—on the activity they found the most meaningful had half the rate of burnout as those spending less time on those pursuits.

FIND POINTS OF CONTROL. Feeling helpless is a trademark of burnout, “but there is always something we have control over.

Our physical body is a great place to start: sleep, exercise, diet….” says McDargh. Even little steps matter, such as putting greens into smoothies, turning off digital devices a half-hour before sleeping or dancing to a short tune.

TAKE MICRO-BREAKS. “You don’t have to wait for the next vacation to recharge,” says Michelle Risser, a licensed clinical social worker and burnout expert in Worthington, Ohio. “Some examples: stand up and stretch between meetings. Feel your feet on the ground and take a nice, slow breath. Breathe in on a count of five, out on a count of seven. Listen closely to a piece of music.”

As few as 10 minutes sitting or walking in nature improves mood, focus, blood pressure and heart rate, report Cornell researchers.

ENHANCE GRATITUDE. Studies among firefighters and professional athletes have found gratitude to be significantly protective against burnout—in part because it causes us to pause and savor an uplifting feeling. Developing the habit is as simple as writing down a few specific reasons to be grateful before bedtime several days a week. “Gratitude is a powerful energy enhancer,” says McDargh.

Shea concurs, “When we take the time to just be, feel gratitude, the sun on our face, this helps rewire the way we think—and we can then begin to heal our bodies.”

Health writer Ronica O’Hara can be contacted at OHaraRonica@ gmail.com.

MATRIX REPATTERNING

Your body holds onto

trauma on a cellular level.

Matrix Repatterning is a revolutionary treatment that offers healing from concussions, impact injuries, headaches, acute and chronic pain.

Learn more at MatrixRepatterningNJ.com.

Call 908-930-0628 today to begin your journey back to normal.

Dr. Clare M. Larkin, DC, CMRP drlarkin@optonline.net DrClareLarkin.com conveniently located in Warren

Feeling Vibrant is Natural (at least it should be)

Imbalances in a woman’s health can feel like being bombarded (or ambushed) from within. Life can become uncomfortable, irritating, painful and even sad.

Ayurveda uses natural and holistic methods to address these imbalances allowing vitality in body/mind/emotion to flow more freely.

Menopause • Infertility • Digestive issues Sleep Disorders • Anxiety/Stress Free 30 Minute Consults

908-251-1200 7ChakrasWellness.com

Jennifer Agugliaro AYURVEDIC PRACTITIONER

March 2022

23

Plant-Based Foods Go Mainstream Healthy Eating Gets Easier with Innovations

by Carrie Jackson

24

Somerset/Middlesex/Hunterdon/Mercer/ S. Warren Co. Edition

NaturalAwakeningsCNJ.com

P

lant-based eating has seen an explosion in the past few years as consumers become increasingly aware of how their food choices impact their health and the environment and align with their ethics. According to market research firm SPINS, plant-based eating is now a $7 billion market in the U.S., with $1.4 billion represented by plant-based meat. Consumers can now expect to see veggie burgers at the ballpark, vegan dairy at the cafe, tuna substitutes in every grocery store and a plant-based entrée at Michelin-starred restaurants.

Whether vegetarian, vegan or flexitarian, almost 40 percent of Americans are shifting to a plant-based diet, according to a 2018 Nielsen report. While a plant-based diet supplies essential nutrients and reduces the risk for some cancers, consumers now rank the health of the planet as their number one concern, overtaking personal health, which has been the top priority in recent years, according to market researcher Innova Market Insights. Such an eating regimen can lead to a more sustainable use of resources, combat climate change and help preserve biodiversity. According to a University of Illinois study published in the journal Nature Food, animal agriculture is responsible for 57 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions from food production, which accounts for 35 percent of all greenhouse gas emissions.

Plant-Based Companies Align with Values

vladimir/AdobeStock.com

Elysabeth Alfano, the founder of Plant Powered Consulting, sees a plant-based diet becoming a lifestyle as consumers demand a broader range of options. “It’s becoming increasingly normal to find plant-based foods and meat alternatives in every grocery store. Oat yogurt, seafood alternatives and vegan honey are now mainstream. People are seeing how inefficient and harmful meat production is and are making the connection between saving the environment and their lifestyle choices,” she says.

Alfano is also the co-founder and CEO of VegTech Invest, an investment management firm that is the first global exchange-traded fund of plant-based companies; it launched January 4 on the New York Stock Exchange, comprising 37 publicly traded companies actively innovating with plants and plant-derived ingredients, and producing products that are animal-free. “We believe that today’s investors want a more resource-efficient, climate-friendly and cruelty-free food and materials supply system, and want to invest their dollars in the same,” says Alfano.

Dairy and Seafood Alternatives Abound In the grocery store, it’s never been easier to shop for plant-based options. Companies are getting creative and optimizing products that stand on their own merits, instead of just mimicking meat, fish and dairy. With alternatives such as oat, almond and even potato milk touting sustainable credentials, as well as a creamy texture, plant-based dairy is having a surge.

Sales in the plant-based seafood sector grew 23 percent from 2019 to 2020 according to market data from The Good Food Institute. Nestlé recently launched Vuna, a vegan tuna alternative made of pea protein, wheat gluten, rapeseed oil, salt and a flavor blend, and other companies are jumping on board as consumers are becoming more aware of the seafood industry’s environmental problems, particularly overfishing. While a handful are specializing in proteins derived from fermentation and others are developing lab-grown seafood, most are focusing on plant-based products. Due to their fibrous consistency, jackfruit and yam root are ideal fish alternatives for fillets and sticks. Vegan fish stock, as well as plant-based scampi and king prawns, can be found in vegan grocery stores and such online shops as ShopVejii.com and GTFOItsVegan.com.

Mushrooms Become a Plant-Based Superfood Mushrooms are having a heyday due to their versatility, and companies are harnessing them as a source of fiber, protein and antioxidants. Meati.com is a Boulder-based startup that uses mycelium, the root structure of mushrooms, to create a whole-cut product that offers the protein of animal meat with the nutrients of fungi. “We believe that systemic change can start with people replacing animal meat even a couple of times a week. Eating Meati chicken or steak shouldn’t feel like a huge departure from animal products, and the nutrition offered is superior to any food out there,” says Christina Ra, vice president of marketing and communications. “People can enjoy eating Meati and feel great about how they’re nourishing their bodies.”

With $50 million in recent venture capital funding, the company is building an 80,000-square-foot production facility and plans to start selling its substitute chicken and beef in national markets later this year.

Meati has drawn on ancient, natural processes to grow clean, sustainable sources of nutrition. “Mycelium is an infinite, self-replenishing food source. Made from a closed-loop system, Meati uses less than 1 percent of the water and land needed for animal meat production,” says Ra. The company grows and harvests the mycelium indoors in stainless steel fermentation tanks using only water, sugar and nutrients. Unlike the animal agriculture industry, no antibiotics, growth hormones or pesticides are used.

Vegan Coaching and Delivery Make It Easy For people that aren’t ready to experiment with plant-based cooking themselves, vegan and vegetarian meal-delivery services are popping up. One such program is Plantable.com, founded by Nadja Pinnavaia and designed to give clients the tools to transi March 2022

25

photo courtesy of VegNews.Plantable.com

tion into a plant-based lifestyle. Customers sign up online for either a seven- or 28-day program that includes daily shipped meals, one-on-one counseling through phone calls and texts, and lifestyle recommendations to form new habits. “Our goal is to make plantbased eating so tasty and effortless that it becomes a way of life,” Pinnavaia explains.

She says the idea behind Plantable, which is based in New York, but will ship anywhere in the country, is to make plant-based eating less of a barrier for people. “Most of our clients are either looking to kickstart a new lifestyle and don’t know how to begin, or they are busy and want the ease of prepared meals made from scratch with real, clean ingredients.

Our menu is a whole-food, plant-based way of eating that is filled with fiber and packed with nutrients. We focus on legumes, tofu and nuts as sources of protein,” she says.

Pinnavaia, who holds a Ph.D. in quantum chemistry, became interested in food and nutrition after having too many family members diagnosed with cancers. Since launching

Plantable in 2016, she has observed more clients coming in on their doctor’s recommendation. “We’re seeing a shift towards more consumer-driven health care, where doctors are understanding that meal planning and nutrition are critical to overall health. The community in general is also taking more ownership of their own health and gaining more knowledge of the benefits of a plant-based diet,” she says.

Eating Out Gets Healthier For people dining out, there is no shortage of plant-based options, and that goes beyond a salad and fries. Eleven Madison Park, in New York City, is the first vegan restaurant to receive a Michelin star. Even fast-food chains are getting on board, with McDonald’s introducing the McPlant burger and KFC debuting a Beyond Chicken made of soy and wheat.

Joe Hehl, the founder of Dragged Through the Garden, a Chicago-based company that consults with restaurants and breweries looking to expand vegan options, has seen an

26

Somerset/Middlesex/Hunterdon/Mercer/ S. Warren Co. Edition

uptick in interest. “Adding a plant-based option or two on the menu can absolutely set some new eyes on a restaurant’s operation. Now this place will show up in searches for ‘restaurants with vegan options’ and appeal to an audience who potentially wouldn’t have eaten there otherwise. Plus, it’s not super-costly on the bottom line,” he explains.

He adds that the availability of meat substitutes on a menu, such as an Impossible Burger, makes it easy for people trying to cut down on their meat intake.

“Mainstream substitutes are a little more accessible than something like a bowl of quinoa to someone who is not vegan. This new era of plant-based burgers offers an alternative for those who want to wind down their meat intake, but are unsure how to start,” he says.

Hehl also offers clients recipes and guides for recreating vegan versions of traditional fast food and kitsch menus.

Past recipes have included a Vegan Philly Cheesesteak and the Vegan Chorizo Sloppy Joe, for which he offers step-by-step instructions and encourages followers to have fun and experiment with ingredients such as oat milk. “I grew up in a very meat-and-potatoes household and had no knowledge of cooking whatsoever. As I learned about some of the benefits of a plant-based diet, I decided to embrace it as a challenge to myself,” he says. “My favorite plant-based ingredients to use are garlic powder and smoked paprika! Some people are eating plant-based ingredients without even realizing it.”

Consumers have no shortage of options as plant-based eating and lifestyle choices continue to go mainstream. Companies are meeting the demand with creative, sustainable products and services that are better for the planet, healthier for the body and allow people to align their values with their purchases. As the interest increases, new innovations are likely to explode on the scene and the plant-based followers are ready.

Carrie Jackson is an Evanston, IL-based freelance writer and frequent contributor to Natural Awakenings. Connect at CarrieJacksonWrites.com.

NaturalAwakeningsCNJ.com

FLOAT YOURSELF FREE.

BE THE BEST YOU.

by Tata Umana & Ken Kaplan

D

o you want to set your well-being on a better trajectory?

If so, one of the most lasting and powerful things you can do is learn how to recognize and change the very things you believe to be real.

Our well-being and health are directly correlated with our thoughts. You could even say that if we know the thoughts a person uses to interpret the world, we would by extension know about their health’ which inescapably arises from those thoughts just like a computer yields the same results when it carries out its programmatic instructions.

So, if you want to set your health on a different trajectory, it may be helpful to investigate the thoughts you use to navigate the world. The way you do relationships and the way you think about yourself originate from those thoughts. It may be helpful too, to consider that thought has a direction. It starts from the level of belief which, in turn,gives rise to our emotions, which give

rise to our feelings, which give rise to the very logic we use. Our emotions do not just arise out of thin air. If you’re scared or angry, there is a belief that generated that fear or anger. That’s the kind of belief that the neuroscientist Dr. John C. Lilly referred to as a “self meta-program” or what you could call a belief about something we think is real.

Lilly was one of the first scientists to recognize that our mind is like a biocomputer, and just like a regular computer, our mind is comprised of a hierarchy of programs. If you are going to build a computer, you have to start with an operating system because it controls all of the higher-level programs. For humans, our beliefs-in-real are at the operating system level of our thinking.

Those beliefs run the show. Since those beliefs were put in place before (around age 4), we have a tendency when we’re young to write code that interferes with the best expression of who we are.

I know a woman, for example, who remembers spending a lot of time in her crib—not too surprising since she is the ninth of 10 siblings. From those experiences, however, she wrote a program which you could call “Nobody Loves Me.” That’s not unusual when we consider that the young mind is prone to make mistakes. The trouble arises, however, because the “nobody loves me” belief then becomes the very lens through which she interprets the whole world. And when you get right down to it, that belief may contribute to the stress she experiences.

The good news is that we can change our beliefs and many of the other programs we wrote. Dr. Lilly discovered that time spent in a floatation cabin is one of the most powerful and effective modalities for adjusting your beliefs and, hence, your behavior. A floatation cabin is a profoundly relaxing environment where you spend an hour or longer with virtually no external stimulation.

There are only about 10 inches of water. It is heated to about 95 degrees to match the ambient temperature of your skin and, with about 1000 pounds of Epsom salt dissolved in the water, you float effortlessly like a cork. Floating in this environment is like hitting the reset button. It is designed to allow you to disconnect from the outside world and spend time in a deeply relaxing state.

What Dr. Lilly also found is that when we spend time floating, we naturally examine and adjust those deep programs that cause stress and anxiety. The benefits do not stop there. Floating also relaxes your body, helps reduce pain, chronic stress, anxiety, and other stress-related conditions by calming the nervous system, slowing the heart rate, and lowering blood pressure. Floating offers a safe and stress-free environment where you can take a break from the everyday chaos of daily life while enhancing insight and helping you find solutions to personal and professional problems or obstacles. This is why so many people are turning to floatation therapy.

Quantum Wellness offers floatation cabins and the best of all relaxation modalities in its spa-like facility located at 327 US - 202 in Bedminster. For more information, call 973-782-3227 or visit QuantumWellnessNJ.com. See ad, page 7. _________________ A D V E R T O R I AL __________________ March 2022

27

conscious eating

Easing into a Vegan Lifestyle CLEVER MEAT SUBSTITUTES THAT PLEASE THE PALATE

by Sheila Julson

istetiana/AdobeStock.com

T

28

Somerset/Middlesex/Hunterdon/Mercer/ S. Warren Co. Edition

oday’s wide availability of vegan meat substitutes in the grocer’s freezer helps break the ice for people that want to experiment with plantbased foods. The taste, convenience and quality of these products has improved greatly over the past decade, but like many convenience foods, some packaged faux meat products can be high in sodium or fillers. While packaged, meat-alternative products are ideal for a tasty occasional treat, there’s a whole world of options beyond the freezer aisle for those that want to expand their vegan palates.

Arielle and Brandon Hawthorne, co-owners of Twisted Plants, a popular, plant-based restaurant in the Milwaukee area, make their vegan food approachable by creating plant-based foods that mimic everyday, non-plant-based options.

“I think that motivates people to try it because they feel they can still have the same flavor and taste they’re used to, but in a healthier version,” Arielle says. They use items like jackfruit, a species of tree in the fig family, which takes on the taste and consistency of pulled pork when shredded and marinated in sauces or spices.

Going plant-based does not mean going without. Del Sroufe, a vegan chef based in Columbus, Ohio, culinary specialist at the T. Colin Campbell Center for Nutritional Studies and author of the Forks Over Knives companion cookbook, recommends that people craft satisfying, plant-based entrées at home by starting with recipes they like, and then looking for plant-based versions of those. “If you like pizza, you can still have pizza. If you like Italian cuisine, there are plenty of Italian recipes,” he says.

Priyanka Naik, a self-taught Indian vegan chef, Food Network champion and

NaturalAwakeningsCNJ.com

author of the new vegan cookbook The Modern Tiffin, advises to gradually start a plant-based diet with one meat-free day per week and then increase. She adds that when eating out, opt for vegetarian or vegan options to be sure a plant-based lifestyle is sustainable outside of the home kitchen.

Substitutes at Home The concept of protein at the center of every dinner plate has been ingrained in American culture. Dismantling that perspective opens up a whole new world and encourages thinking about vegetarian and vegan food in a new light, Naik says.

Sroufe adds that we often believe we won’t get enough protein from plant-based foods. “There’s been a lot of science to refute that. The World Health Organization has identified people that exist healthfully on less than 6 percent protein in their diets.”

Fruits, vegetables and grains are often more economical than packaged convenience foods, especially when purchased from local farmers markets. Pasta, rice and beans, which can be purchased in bulk, are budget-friendly. Naik cooks with the objective of putting vegetables at the forefront, using her Indian ancestry and global influences to make veggies the star of the show.

Cauliflower and eggplant can be prepared in “steak” form as a main course or stand in as healthier versions of pub-food appetizers like buffalo chicken wings. For those craving meatier flavors, chickpea flour becomes crumbly when water is added, effecting a good substitute for ground beef. Adding chipotle, cumin and other seasonings emulates taco meat. “Chickpea flour is high in protein and is used in a lot of Indian cuisine,” Naik says. “You can buy the flour or grind dry chickpeas to make the flour.”

Jackfruit adapts easily to myriad recipe styles. Sroufe notes it can be used in dumplings and tacos. Hawthorne also uses it to make vegan ribs and in beef-style stews.

Don’t toss that banana peel—Naik says using clean, organic banana peels after the flesh has been removed is a zero-waste approach to plant-based eating. Cooks can shred the peel with a fork and sauté it with soy sauce and other spices to mimic pulled meat.

Tofu gets a bad rap, Sroufe says, noting that many people worldwide eat soy products without experiencing digestive issues.

He often uses tofu for a number of presentations. “Silken tofu can be used to make pudding. Crumbled tofu can be substituted for ricotta in lasagna, or you can marinate tofu to make bacon for sandwiches. It’s a good, filling food.”

Sroufe also uses millet as a base for meatloaf, meatballs and sloppy joes. Several mushroom varieties have meaty textures, and when battered and fried, they emulate fried chicken. Hawthorne also uses mushrooms as a meat replacement in Philly cheese steak sandwiches. Seitan, made with a vital wheat gluten base, can be used for meatballs.

By experimenting with an array of vegetables, grains, nuts and seeds to create balanced textures and flavors, even the choosiest omnivores won’t miss the meat.

Nutrition is the Foundation of your Health.

Strengthen Your Immunity Nourish Your Body Energy For Life Don’t rely only on drugs for your healthcare. You may really be suffering from nutritional deficiencies, toxin overload, chronic infections and bad lifestyle habits.

Affordable fees that fit almost any budget.

Take the first step to better health!

Call Today!

SunriseNutritionCenter.com 137 Mountain Ave, Hackettstown, NJ 07840

Sheila Julson is a Milwaukee-based freelance writer and contributor to Natural Awakenings magazines throughout the country.

March 2022

29

photo courtesy of Priyanka Naik

ONE-PAN SKILLET EGGPLANT PARMIGIANA

Inspired by the Italian restaurants of her Staten Island neighborhood while growing up, Naik has created a vegan version of this Italian favorite.

1 Tbsp neutral oil (such as canola or vegetable oil) 1 medium-sized Italian eggplant, split in half lengthwise 2 tsp olive oil 1 tsp Calabrian chili oil 2 cloves garlic, roughly chopped 1 sprig of fresh oregano 1 cup of jarred marinara sauce

1 sprig of fresh basil (extra for garnishing) 3-4 Tbsp water 1 Tbsp sugar 1 Tbsp tomato paste 1 tsp red pepper flakes 4 slices vegan mozzarella ⅓ cup plain breadcrumbs Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste Pour about 1 Tbsp neutral oil into a medium or large nonstick skillet. Heat over medium-high flame. Meanwhile, score the meat of the eggplant in crosshatches. Do not to cut all the way through the skin.

Place eggplant slices meat side down into the hot skillet and cover with a lid. After 3 to 4 minutes, check the eggplant to be sure it’s turning golden brown; if it looks charred, lower the heat. Cover with lid and continue cooking for another 5 minutes.

Flip eggplant slices (meat side should be tender and able to pierce with a fork).

Sprinkle with a bit of kosher salt, cover with the lid and cook another 4 to 5 minutes. Eggplant should be very soft, fork tender and cooked, but not falling apart.

Remove from pan.

Lower heat slightly and pour in olive oil and Calabrian chili oil. Once hot, add garlic, sautéing until slightly golden. Add the sprig of oregano.

Once super-fragrant, pour in the jar of sauce and a sprig of basil and water. Lower the heat to medium-low. Add sugar, tomato paste, salt, black pepper and chili flakes.

Mix until incorporated and smooth. Once the sauce starts bubbling, add eggplants meat side-up.

Cover the lid and simmer for 2 to 3 minutes. Put cheese slices on top of the eggplant and close with the lid. While the cheese is melting, toast breadcrumbs in a separate pan. Sprinkle in salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste. Toast until golden brown and crispy. Turn off heat.

Remove lid from eggplant and once cheese is fully melted, top with breadcrumbs and fresh basil, and remove from heat. Serve with Italian crusty bread.

Recipe and photo courtesy of Priyanka Naik.

High Quality CBD Oil 3rd Party Lab Tested Trusted CBD Brands Drops • Pet Products • Capsules • Sprays • Flower Softgels • Gummies • Topicals • Beauty Products And More!

855-904-4367 3 E Afton Ave Mon-Sat: 10am-6:30pm TheHempOilStore.com Yardley, PA 19067 Sun: Closed 30

Somerset/Middlesex/Hunterdon/Mercer/ S. Warren Co. Edition

NaturalAwakeningsCNJ.com

Plant-Based Options BUFFALO CAULIFLOWER BITES

photo courtesy of Del Sroufe

Build faster & more effective business cards than ever before.

This healthier version of buffalo wings is meat-free and baked instead of fried, but full of flavor and spice. It can be eaten plain or, as Sroufe recommends, as a Buffalo Po’ Boy sandwich, served on a whole-grain hoagie or sandwich buns with cabbage and peanut slaw. ½ cup water ¼ cup almond butter ½ cup red hot sauce, plus extra for tossing with the cooked bites ¾ cup whole-wheat pastry flour ¼ cup nutritional yeast 1 ½ Tbsp granulated garlic 1 large-head cauliflower, cut into 1-inch florets (about 6 cups) Preheat the oven to 375° F. Combine everything except the cauliflower in a large bowl.

Exchanging information is important—now it is pretty, professional and customizable with CardFly, a digital business card that keeps all your information in one place.

Mix well. Add the cauliflower florets and toss until thoroughly coated.

Place the coated florets on a nonstick baking sheet in a single layer. Bake for 25 minutes or until golden brown. Toss with extra red hot sauce if desired.

Perfect for: Organizations, realtors, personal cards, pictures, videos, interactive connections. Creativity galore.

siriwan/AdobeStock.com

Recipe and photo courtesy of Del Sroufe.

Start Making Your Life Easier Today!

Scan the QR code cardfly.io/?ref=joe97 March 2022

31

YOUR ONE TRUSTED GLOBAL ONLINE DESTINATION FOR

Regenerative Whole Health™ Benefits 24/7 ACCESS

KnoWEwell is a One-Of-A-Kind Platform that centralizes today’s trusted global knowledge, resources and community to Prevent and Address the Root Causes of Chronic Diseases.

Find best-matched Vetted Practitioners.

Learn from Top Educators and Experts.

Access Evidence-Based Resources.

Make Meaningful Connections in Community Topic Groups.

Explore Funding Help for Outof-Pocket Costs of Practitioner Services.

Invest in Your Optimal Health & Well-Being.

Visit KnoWEwell.com Today and receive 50% Off your first year.

Practitioners Apply: NANJ20221P | Individuals Apply: NANJ20221 32

Somerset/Middlesex/Hunterdon/Mercer/ S. Warren Co. Edition

NaturalAwakeningsCNJ.com

Yoga Corner Tapas — To Burn What is Tapas? ◊ The 3rd Niyama ◊ Refers to the burning of impurities in the physical, emotional, and energetic bodies ◊ This relates to tenacity, perseverance and maintaining unwavering focus to better ourselves regardless of life’s challenges ◊ Think of tapas as that little flame inside that motivates and keeps you on track with anything important in your life

by Nicole Zornitzer

T

apas is often translated as “austerity” or “discipline” and the word tapas is derived from the root Sanskrit verb “tap” which means to “burn” and evokes a sense of fire or passion. When we examine tapas further, we may say that this means to cultivate a sense of self discipline and courage in order to burn away impurities of mind, body or energy. This burning will therefore pave the way to our true greatness or dharmic path.

The key to understanding tapas and putting it into action is to not resist the resistance we may feel physically in a yoga practice or mentally when off the mat. To sit still and simply be is practicing tapas.

To become the witness to sensation without judgement is practicing tapas.

Tapas on the Mat

At first glance one may believe that tapas would include a power-like yoga asana practice, however, sometimes tapas just means to get to the mat and meditate or slow down our daily routine. Tapas can encourage one to take time to be still and observe the mind versus becoming attached to unnecessary thoughts that distract us from our most authentic self.

Of course, this can also translate to trying new asanas or challenging our bodies physically.

Tapas is the inner wisdom that encourages us to get on the mat and practice, even when we are tired or not motivated to do so. Other examples of engaging internal tapas are:

◊ Going to bed early to then rise early the next day and practice yoga ◊ Eating mindfully to best fuel the body ◊ Leaning into our edge during a yoga practice to simply feel what the next stage may be like ◊ Being consistent in your efforts regardless of the outcome ◊ Finding the humility to admit we are not perfect, but we are passionately committed to our own health and wellness

Tapas off the Mat

Once we master the idea of tapas on the yoga mat, we can take the lessons learned and bring them into our external world.

This could come in the form of useful pranayama techniques, managing challenges in stride rather than becoming discouraged as well as staying in difficult situations without judgement. We gain a sense of stability and strength mentally once we fully embrace tapas. Having the strength to not listen to the inner voice that at moments may tell us we are not good enough and instead allow these unnecessary thoughts to burn away thereby creating needed space in the body for new experiences.

How do we ignite our inner fire?

Working with core strength is a surefire method to tap into the sense of “fieriness” by stoking our own agni (inner fire). We look to our third chakra center; manipura in the solar plexus to ignite this flame.

The manipura chakra governs our

sense of self-confidence, inner strength, willpower, and self-discipline. The earth element fire, which links to both tapas and manipura, will create transformation and this transformation occurs when we allow change to happen, when we step outside of our comfort zone and practice asana, pranayama, or anything new with intention.

Knowing that it is the most challenging moments in our lives that create evolution or growth, we must embrace this idea of tapas. To face difficulty yet remain steady is a challenge, yet one worth taking. Fear tends to hold us back, stories that we have created in our minds can overwhelm us and create disconnection with our true path in life. When we remove these obstacles, we learn that we can create positive change in our lives and in lives of others.

Mantra: Om Agnaye Namaha

Invoke that which you wish to transform through heat or fire. As you chant the mantra for tapas, draw to mind something that you wish to cultivate, let go of, or transform through heat and fire.

Common Asanas & Breathing Targeting Tapas & Manipura ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊

Dhanurasana (Bow Pose) Kapalabhati Pranayama / Breath of Fire High Lunge Twist with Anjali Mudra Parvritta Trikonasana (Revolved Triangle) Bhujangasana (Cobra)

Nicole Zornitzer, ERYT 1000, yoga therapist, founder of Niyama Yoga & Wellness Shala, located in Randolph, New Jersey; Upper Lake Mohawk in Sparta, New Jersey; Roseland, New Jersey; and Delray Beach in Florida.

NiyamaYogaShala.com.

March 2022

33

green living

THE BOUNTY OF FARMERS MARKETS

Buying Local Boosts Health, the Economy and the Planet

rawpixel/AdobeStock.com

by Sandra Yeyati

T

hroughout the nation, an estimated 8,000 farmers markets offer some of the freshest food available anywhere. Often open on weekend mornings or select weeknights, these nutritional meccas allow local farmers to sell their fruits, vegetables, eggs, meat and dairy directly to consumers, thereby providing an attractive business channel for them. “If you buy direct from a farmer, 97 cents of every dollar goes home with the farmer, whereas if you buy from a traditional grocery store, only 17 cents makes its way back to that farmer,” says Janie Maxwell, executive director of the Illinois Farmers Market Association.

34

Somerset/Middlesex/Hunterdon/Mercer/ S. Warren Co. Edition

Dollars spent at farmers markets boost local economies. “When farmers make money, they buy seeds at their local co-op or purchase tools from a nearby hardware store, which infuses economic capital into rural communities,” says Katie Myhre, technology research manager at the Farmers Market Coalition. “If we can focus on

NaturalAwakeningsCNJ.com

growing the capacity of our farms within our region and building consumer habits around what we can grow locally, that’s going to help our region become more resilient.”

This type of localized commerce offers environmental benefits, too. Produce from a local source carries a much smaller carbon footprint than one that travelled halfway across the country. “Farmers markets are uniquely positioned to encourage environmentally responsible farming by providing a solid economic platform to climate-positive farmers that are taking care of land and water quality,” Myhre asserts.

According to a study commissioned by the U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance, 72 percent of consumers know “nothing” or “very little” about farming or ranching. Farmers markets facilitate ongoing dialogues between growers and consumers, serving as valuable educational sites.

“Getting to know your farmer offers you an opportunity to ask questions directly to the person growing the product and make a choice accordingly, whereas when you go into grocery stores, you’re fed a lot of advertising and greenwash labeling with terms that you don’t understand,” Myhre says, adding, “While many small farmers decide not to go through the costly United States Department of Agriculture organic certification process, their farming practices are often just as clean or even more so, and at a farmers market, consumers are able to look the farmer in the eye and learn about their growing methods.”

Maxwell appreciates the opportunity to make an educated choice. “As a consumer, you have to decide what is your highest value. For me, the most compelling reason to shop at a farmers market is the peak, in-season, quality of the food, the incredible taste and nutrition that you get because it was freshly harvested and didn’t have to be transported over long distances. The number of people that touch your food is significantly lower at a farmers market, so there’s less opportunity for it to be mishandled or cross-contaminated. It carries the name of the producer on it. This is their

life’s work, and their reputation is on that label. I sense that there’s a real desire to ensure great quality and safety.”

Regularly buying fresh food from a farmers market allows families to get into the habit of eating in season. “Cooking seasonally allows you the opportunity to capture the incredible flavor profiles of what’s fresh. It has just been picked and tastes incredible—very different from the flavors you get from grocery store products that were produced someplace else, maybe even weeks or months ago,” Maxwell explains.

Myhre concurs: “If we can build our habits, cooking preferences and skills around those seasonal rhythms, that’s a really beautiful benefit. It’s awesome for me to know that these herbs were harvested yesterday. There’s also a wide diversity of products. You’re not going to see 12 varieties of squash at your big-box grocery store.

I’m always surprised by what I see, and it’s a really fun experience as somebody who loves food. Taking home really great-tasting products that were produced with so much care is a central benefit.”

For many, the farmers market is a community gathering. In addition to local growers, they often include cottage food vendors offering homemade jams and jellies, baked goods, sauces, preserved and pickled items and other delicious foods, as well as arts and crafts vendors and musical entertainment. “The wonderful thing about the farmers market is that it leads with joy,” Myhre says. “It’s fun. You don’t invite friends to the grocery store, but you might meet your friends for coffee at the farmers market.”

Sandra Yeyati, J.D., is a professional writer and editor. Reach her at SandraYeyati@ gmail.com.

Natural Awakenings is proudly distributed at: Bound Brook (Bridgewater) 319 Chimney Rock Rd.

Clark 1255 Raritan Rd. Unit 150

Madison (Rose City) 222 Main St.

Metuchen 645 Middlesex Ave.

Millburn-Union 2245 Springfield Ave. Vauxhall

Montclair 701 Bloomfield Ave.

Morristown 110 Washington St.

Newark 633 Broad St.

Parsippany 60 Waterview Blvd

Princeton 3495 US Rt 1 S

Ridgewood 44 Godwin Ave.

West Orange 235 Prospect Ave.

March 2022

35

fit body

A WEEKEND WARRIOR SURVIVAL GUIDE

prevention, first-aid and recovery

by Marlaina Donato

A

t first glance, it seems harmless to sit at a desk all week and then dive into gardening, hiking, shooting some hoops or playing softball with the kids. We think nothing of it until that pulled hamstring, stiff shoulder or painful knee makes itself known, slowing us down for a few days or weeks. At the other end of the spectrum, weekend warrior injuries can be more serious, taking months and even surgery to be resolved.

With prevention, simple exercises and minimal investment of time, most suffering can be avoided. Recovery time can be shortened by integrating traditional firstaid approaches with complementary modalities like homeopathy, herbal remedies, essential oils and supplements.

monkey business/AdobeStock.com

Full-Spectrum Prevention

36

Somerset/Middlesex/Hunterdon/Mercer/ S. Warren Co. Edition

Maintaining our cars prevents them from breaking down on the highway, and our bodies are no different. Muscles are meant to move regularly, and if we’re doing our part, the body will be stronger, more flexible and less prone to sprains, strains and chronic pain. “Common causes of injury are not warming up the body before exercising, pushing yourself before you are ready, not taking enough rest, improper form and not listening to aches or pains,” says New Jersey fitness trainer and mindset coach Nadia Murdock. She stresses the importance of exercising regularly three to five times a week to improve muscle strength, increase endurance and transport oxygen and nutrients where they are needed most in the body.

“With this routine under your belt, you can find more comfort in tackling an adventurous weekend without pain or injury.”

Whether putting down a new floor, raking leaves or playing a game of tennis, toughing out an annoying muscle twinge or

NaturalAwakeningsCNJ.com

ignoring stiffness in a joint can set us up for trouble down the road.

“The ‘no pain, no gain’ mindset is definitely not beneficial over the long run for health maintenance,” says physical therapist Brennan Hussey. In his private practice in Evergreen, Colorado, and Appleton, Wisconsin, Hussey most often sees weekend warrior mishaps that target the lower back, shoulder, hip and knee. Identifying unhealthy habits and compromised alignment can prevent ongoing issues, he says, and a head-to-toe evaluation and approach are key.

“Pain is obviously what brings people in for treatment most often, but if I treat with pain as the focus, I will miss the dysfunction that’s actually causing the pain response,” he says. “I’ve found hands-on, or manual, therapy best treats the various dysfunctions that cause pain, whether chronic or acute, and usually within a very low number of visits.”

falconnadixl/AdobeStock.com

logo3in1/AdobeStock.com

logo3in1/AdobeStock.com

First-Aid and Recovery Essentials

RICE—rest, ice, compression and elevation—is the name of the game when injury strikes, but adding essential oils to a first-aid and recovery regimen can offer significant benefits. Diluted external use of lavender, cypress and eucalyptus can minimize bruising, pain and swelling. Essential oils are also reliable allies for dealing with general discomfort after an active weekend.

“In my 30 years using essential oils, plus raising two active boys, I’ve found that the most effective way to use essential oils for post-activity soreness is with topical application,” says Liz Fulcher, a clinical aromatherapist and owner of the Aromatic Wisdom Institute, in Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania. “Specifically, I add 15 to 20 drops of essential oil into one fluid ounce of unscented lotion or cream, which is a 5 percent dilution—too strong for all-over use, but great for spot application of topical issues. Apply the blend into the affected area as often as needed for approximately two days.”

Her powerhouse favorites for aches and pains include German chamomile (M. chamomilla), helichrysum (H. italicum), ginger (Z. officinale), black pepper (P. nigrum), frankincense (B. carterii), lavender (L. angustifolia) and tea tree (M. alternifolia). For open wounds, she reaches for the distilled herbal waters known as hydrosols to wash the area before applying lavender and tea tree to avoid infection. Helichrysum essential oil is remarkable for bruises and other topical trauma, she says.

According to a 2016 review of studies in the American Journal of Therapeutics, soft tissue injuries respond well to immediate and subsequent internal use of the homeopathic remedy Arnica Montana 30x, as well as topical arnica in the form of gels, oils and sprays. Remedies like Ruta graveolens and Rhus tox offer further support for sprains and strains. Bolstering the diet with anti-inflammatory spices and supplements like turmeric, vitamin C with bioflavonoids, vitamin E with mixed tocopherols, bromelain, borage and flaxseed oil can also provide support.

In the end, maintaining an active lifestyle all week long can lower the risk of needless suffering. “With consistent movement, you will understand how your body moves and responds to certain conditions.

This will start to create a deeper understanding of what your body can tolerate,” advises Murdock. “The biggest takeaway is consistency.”

Marlaina Donato is an author and recording artist. Connect at WildflowerLady.com.

TIPS TO PREVENT INJURY ADVICE FROM FITNESS TRAINER NADIA MURDOCK: Start with a gentle warmup if you are stretching before your workout. This helps to loosen up the joints and improves the blood flow to the muscles in your body. Try incorporating a few jumping jacks or a minute of running in place. Avoid bouncing in the stretch; hold the stretch for at least 20 seconds and don’t rush it.

A few simple moves: FORWARD LUNGE: Kneel on one knee, place the other leg forward at a 90-degree angle, making sure the knee is over the ankle. Lean into the movement to feel the stretch in the inner thigh. Hold for at least 20 seconds and then switch legs.

STANDING QUAD STRETCH: If you need additional support in this stretch, you can use a wall or chair. Raise one foot behind you; on the same side of the body, reach back to grab your foot at the ankle and pull it toward your seat, stretching the thigh. Keep the knees close and square your hips by keeping them forward.

Hold for at least 20 seconds.

Repeat on the other side.

SEATED STRADDLE LOTUS: Sit down on the floor with the soles of your feet together in front of you. Gently press your knees to the floor while placing your forearms on the inside of the knees. Push down as you lean your body forward toward the ground.

Make sure you are leaning forward from the hips. Hold this stretch for at least 20 seconds and repeat if you feel you need to.

March 2022

37

Nature’s Virus Killer

not a sniffle!” she exclaimed.

Businesswoman Rosaleen says when people around her show signs of cold or flu, she uses copper morning and night.

“It saved me last holidays,” she said.

“The kids had crud going round and round, but not me.”

Attorney Donna Blight tried copper for her sinus. “I am shocked!” she said.

By Doug Cornell “My head cleared, no more headache, no more congestion.” cientists have discovered a cold never got going. That was A man with trouble breathing natural way to kill germs fast.

September 2012. I use copper in the through his nose at night tried copper Now thousands of people nose every time and I have not had a just before bed. “Best sleep I’ve had in are using it against viruses and bacteria single cold since then.” years!” he said. in the nose and on “We can’t In a lab test, technicians placed 25 the skin. make product million live flu viruses on a CopperZap. Colds start health claims,” he No viruses were found surviving soon when cold viruses said, “so I can’t after. get in your nose. say cause and Dr. Bill Keevil led one of the teams Viruses multiply effect. But we confirming the research. He placed fast. If you don’t know copper is millions of disease germs on copper. stop them early, antimicrobial.”

“They started to die literally as soon as they spread and He asked they touched the surface,” he said. cause misery. relatives and Some people press copper on a lip New device puts copper right In hundreds friends to try it. right away if a warning tingle suggests where you need it. of studies, EPA and They reported unwanted germs gathering there. university researchers have confirmed the same thing, so he patented The handle is curved that viruses and bacteria die almost CopperZap® and put it on the and textured to increase instantly when touched by copper. market. contact. Copper can That’s why ancient Greeks and Soon hundreds of people had kill germs picked up on Egyptians used copper to purify water tried it. The feedback was 99% fingers and hands after and heal wounds. They didn’t know positive if they used the copper you touch things other about microbes, but now we do. within 3 hours after the first sign people have touched.

Scientists say the high conductance of unwanted germs, like a tickle The EPA says copper of copper disrupts the electrical balance in the nose or a scratchy throat. still works even when Dr. Bill Keevil: in a microbe cell and destroys the cell in Early user Mary Pickrell tarnished.

Copper quickly kills seconds. said, “I can’t believe how good CopperZap is made cold viruses.

Tests by the EPA (Environmental my nose feels.” in the U.S. of pure Protection Agency) show germs die “What a wonderful thing!” copper. It has a 90-day full money back fast on copper. So some hospitals tried exclaimed Physician’s Assistant Julie. guarantee. It is available for $79.95. Get copper for touch surfaces like faucets Another customer asked, “Is it supposed $10 off each CopperZap with code NATA27. and doorknobs. This cut the spread of to work that fast?”

Go to www.CopperZap.com or call MRSA and other illnesses by over half, Pat McAllister, 70, received one for toll-free 1-888-411-6114. and saved lives.

Christmas and called it “one of the best Buy once, use forever.

The strong scientific evidence gave presents ever. This little jewel really Statements are not intended as inventor Doug Cornell an idea. When works.” product health claims and have not been he felt a cold about to start he fashioned Frequent flier Karen Gauci had been evaluated by the FDA. Not claimed to a smooth copper probe and rubbed it suffering after crowded flights. Though diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any gently in his nose for 60 seconds. skeptical, she tried copper on travel disease.

“It worked!” he exclaimed. “The days for 2 months. “Sixteen flights and ADVERTORIAL

Copper can stop a cold before it starts

S

38

Somerset/Middlesex/Hunterdon/Mercer/ S. Warren Co. Edition

NaturalAwakeningsCNJ.com

teen voices

Strong Roots Build a Healthy Tree

By Jared Zornitzer

L

ast month I celebrated accepting my first internship.

This is something which I have worked toward for years. During high school it was registering for increasingly difficult courses and sacrificing time during lunch and after school to go to teachers for extra help to ensure that I did well. Now, at college, I have continued to push myself by taking advanced engineering courses and holding demanding, rewarding leadership positions in my fraternity and clubs. My jubilation with getting this internship caused me to reflect on the people who helped get me to where I am today. For me, it is easy to trace my accomplishments back to my parents, Nicole and Matthew.

Growing up, my mom has always been a steadfast and immensely influential figure in my life.

Being the recipient of her unconditional love taught me how to lead with my heart; by holding myself to high moral standards and taking pride in hard work and always doing what is right. Witnessing her as a successful entrepreneur and owner of four yoga studios motivates me to emulate her work ethic and pour my full effort into all my endeavors.

Likewise, my dad has been an incredible role model for me. When he was my age, he was an achiever, and went on to graduate from medical school and become a successful doctor. Some of my early memories with him revolve around us playing games, where he sat on the floor with me and tested my ability to identify all my Star Wars character action figures.

From an early age he was devoted to bringing out my potential. I attribute my sense of focus and my relentless drive to him as well.

This achievement reminded me to appreciate my roots. I am proud of myself

the person that I am today, and I would not possess my dedication and aspirations without them. I cannot imagine a world with them not in it because they have been so vital to me at every single milestone of my life.

Just like a tree cannot prosper without strong roots, I could not have arrived to where I am without the guidance and love from my parents. This internship is a kickstart to a bright career for me and it is just as much a tribute to them for making me the person that I am today.

because I put in the hours of hard work which ultimately allowed me to secure such an amazing internship opportunity.

That being said, my parents raised me into

Jared Zornitzer is a full-time college student at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, NY studying engineering. An advocate of balancing work and school with exercise and healthy living, he loves hiking, biking, running, cooking, spending time with family and friends, and learning in his classes.

Thermography is “Health Discovery” a very important part of your preventive wellness program.

Radiation Free Breast and Full Body Thermography for Both Women & Men

Find out if you have inflammation before it becomes a problem.

Non-Invasive-Pain Free Imaging World class state of the art Infrared technology high quality images.

All reports approved and written by Board Certified M.D.s

FREE Dry Brush for new clients only ~ Visit Website for Test Locations in NJ, NY & PA ~

Call for your appointment today! 855-667-9338

Lisa Mack, CCT, HHC • LisasThermographyAndWellness.com

March 2022

39

daily & ongoing

All calendar events for the April 2022 issue must be received by March 10 and adhere to our guidelines. To submit, visit naturalawakeningscnj.com/pages/calendar-listings or email kathy@NaturalAwakeningsNJ.com for submission form.

MARCH 2022 FRIDAY, MARCH4 Heart of Oneness Holistic Expo – 3/4-6; Fri. 5-9pm, Sat. 10am-7pm, Sun. 10am-5pm.

Expo features over 100 unique metaphysical healers, psychic readers, crystals, shopping, henna tattoo, organic herbs, candles, natural gifts, essential oils, angel readings, bath product, skin care, aura photography, clothing and so much more. Free to attend. New Jersey Convention and Exposition Center, 97 Sunfield Ave, Edison. For information, call 732-4171400 and visit HeartOfOnenessHolisticExpo. com.

TUESDAY, MARCH 8 Change Your Life with Hypnosis – 7-9pm.

Barry Wolfson leads two one-hour sessions.

Take either or both for tools to help you change your life for the better. Stop Smoking with Hypnosis – 7-8pm. Eliminate the craving for tobacco while minimizing discomfort.

Lose Weight with Hypnosis – 8-9pm.

Shed unwanted pounds and keep them off in a safe, effective program. $60 each session. Columbia High School, 17 Parker Av., Maplewood. For more information, contact Barry at 973-378-7620 or 908-303-7767, or barry@hypnosiscounselingcenter.com.

HypnosisCounselingCenter.com.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH9 Advanced Soul Shamanism Monthly Class – 7-9:15pm. Join us for a great night of profound experiences. For all graduates of Soul Shamanism 101 and further Soul Shamanism classes. Experience new energy levels, wisdom, knowledge, healing, tools, and practices within this practice. Each class moves you into your life as a soul and personality together as one. Even if you have taken advanced classes, this class is important to practice further as more refined advanced basics are taught. $60. Be The Medicine (Online In-PersonSessions-Classes-Retreats), 247 North Road, Chester. For information, call 973-6472500, email Janet@BeTheMedicine.com or visit BeTheMedicine.com.

THURSDAY, MARCH 10 Breathwork Workshop – 6-7pm. Breathwork is a healing experience used to calm the mind, to feel more present in the body, heal negative emotions, release stagnant energy, and relieve anxiety and stress. During this

40

workshop you will be introduced to the idea of the active breathing technique which includes belly & chest exhale breathing. $50. Niyama Yoga Shalas, 161 Eagle Rock Ave., Ste. 201, Roseland. For information call 973-500-2939 or email niyamayogastudio@gmail.com.

NiyamaYogaShala.com.

FRIDAY, MARCH 11 Numerology and Crystals Zoom Class – 7-8:30pm. Join Sue and Leslie for a fun class via Zoom! Learn how to calculate your own numerology and what crystals work best for you! $33.Register at EventBrite. com/e/206824797537. Blossoming into Light, 31 Fairmount Ave Suite 105, Chester.

862-222-4268. BlossomingIntoLightChester.com.

SUNDAY, MARCH 13 Sound Bath Meditation – 12noon. Join Lori from Full Circle Energy Therapies for an hour of intention setting, breathwork, somatic movement, reiki & sound healing. $25 at the door. Lori Hoff, Full Circle Energy Therapies, Garage Barre, 998 Second Street Pike, Richboro, PA. To RSVP by 3/11, contact Lori at 908-268-7169, feelslikesunshine124@ gmail.com or click https://get.mndbdy.ly/ nV8fevfBxmb. FullCircleEnergy.net.

SATURDAY, MARCH 19 Spring Equinox Sound Bath & Gong Bath – 6pm. Come experience the magic of Tibetan bowls, crystal bowls, gone and many other sacred instruments with the Niyama Tribe. $55. Niyama Yoga Shalas, 161 Eagle Rock Ave., Ste. 201, Roseland. For information call 973-500-2939 or email niyamayogastudio@ gmail.com. NiyamaYogaShala.com.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 23 New Year, New You ‘22 – 6-7pm. 4th Wed. Let’s get together in a group session setting, the last Wednesday of every month to focus on making 2022 your best year yet. We will focus on all attributes of life to create positive and life-affirming changes. If you are interested in becoming a client of mine, you could attend these monthly events free of charge. . $49 per person/each session.

Health Yeah with Michelle, 243 N. Union St., Ste 201, Lambertville. 973-420-9220.

HealthYeahWithMichelle.com.

Intuition and Essential Oils – 7-8:30pm;

Somerset/Middlesex/Hunterdon/Mercer/ S. Warren Co. Edition

ZOOM. learn about essential oils to enhance your intuitive abilities. We have been teaching intuitive development classes for over 10 years and have incorporated essential oils into the work. The class is meant to be informative, fun and includes a guided meditation. Class without essential oils $15/class; with essential oils $30/class (comes with two samples). Register at: EventBrite.com/e/intuition-and-essentialoils-zoom-class-tickets-269059031807.

If you select with essential oils, please email info@blossomingintolight-chester.com with your mailing address. Blossoming into Light, 31 Fairmount Ave Suite 105, Chester. 862222-4268. BlossomingIntoLight-Chester. com.

MONDAY, MARCH 28 Reiki 1 Energy Medicine Certificate – 3/284/11; 7-9:15pm; ZOOM. Learn to Heal you and others with this ancient practice used in hospitals and medical procedures. Class is offered alone, and continues into Reiki 2, if you like. Receive sets of attunements to the Reiki 1 Universal energy, which awakens healing in you and the ability to channel to others. Perfect class for yoga teachers, psychologists, parents, caregivers, to help self and help others…everyone. Reiki 1 $295. prepaid by 3/18; $325.after. Receive ebook with sign-up and Zoom recordings of each class. For information, call 973-647-2500, email Janet@BeTheMedicine.com or visit BeTheMedicine.com.

Change Your Life with Hypnosis – 6:309:15pm. Barry Wolfson leads three one-hour sessions. Take any or all for tools to help you change your life for the better. Stop Smoking with Hypnosis – 6:30-7:30pm. Eliminate the craving for tobacco while minimizing discomfort. Lose Weight with Hypnosis – 7:30-8:30pm. Shed unwanted pounds and keep them off in a safe, effective program.

Better Sleep with Hypnosis – 8:30-9:15pm.

Imagine leaving life’s cares and worries behind at the end of each day. $60 each session. Parsippany Hills High School, 24 Rita Dr. Parsippany. For more information, contact Barry at 862-762-2599 or 908-303-7767, or barry@hypnosiscounselingcenter.com.

HypnosisCounselingCenter.com.

TUESDAY, MARCH 29 Change Your Life with Hypnosis – 6:309:15pm. Barry Wolfson leads three one-hour sessions. Take any or all for tools to help you

NaturalAwakeningsCNJ.com

change your life for the better. Stop Smoking with Hypnosis – 6:30-7:30pm. Eliminate the craving for tobacco while minimizing discomfort. Lose Weight with Hypnosis – 7:30-8:30pm. Shed unwanted pounds and keep them off in a safe, effective program.

Better Sleep with Hypnosis – 8:30-9:15pm.

Imagine leaving life’s cares and worries behind at the end of each day. $60 each session. Haddonfield High School, 401 King’s Hwy. Haddonfield. For more information, contact Barry at 856-428-4433 or 908-3037767, or barry@hypnosiscounselingcenter. com. HypnosisCounselingCenter.com.

experience and practice that is life changing.

Discover your inner space of peace, wisdom, and divine connection. Knowing who you are as a soul and personality allows you to choose and live more fully each day. Led by Shaman Janet StraightArrow. Be on the lookout for next class. Be The Medicine (Online In-Person-Sessions-Classes-Retreats), 247 North Road, Chester. 973-647-2500.

BetheMedicine.com.

plan ahead

New Year, New You ‘22 – 6-7pm. 4th Wed. Let’s get together in a group session setting, the last Wednesday of every month to focus on making 2022 your best year yet. We will focus on all attributes of life to create positive and life-affirming changes. If you are interested in becoming a client of mine, you could attend these monthly events free of charge. . $49 per person/each session . Health Yea with Michelle, 243 N. Union St., Ste 201, Lambertville. 973-420-9220. healthyeahwithmichelle.com.

TUESDAY, APRIL 11 Advanced Reiki 2 Certificate Training – 4/11-5/9; 7-9:15pm; ZOOM. Learn profound ways to heal at a distance. A magical blend of Reiki attunements, teachings, and practice for self-healing and healing others to assist you in building your immunity, staying well, energized, and learning to send healing energy to someone in the next room or across the world. Daily practices for healing self and others. For people new to Reiki 2 and energy healing and advanced teachings and practice for those who have taken Reiki 2 before.

Everyone receives deep personal healing. $425/450. For information, call 973-6472500, email Janet@BeTheMedicine.com or visit BeTheMedicine.com.

ongoing daily Qi Gong for Beginner Series – Times and days vary. Four 1-hour classes. Begin the gentle movements of a Qi Gong Tai Chi journey featuring Patty Pagano live online. First 1-hour class is Free! Check schedule or register at https://forms.gle/k2kcv9tVJ6X1QfpD8.

For information contact Patty at 908-3921313 or PattyQigongforHealing@gmail.com.

QiGongForHealing.com.

sunday Mastering Mindfulness with Amy Arvary – Sundays; 2/6-4/10; 7-8pm, ZOOM. It’s Not Therapy, It’s Empowerment! Mastering Mindfulness is a series of weekly small-group live Zoom sessions on Sunday evenings designed to provide an immediate sense of relief, clarity and purpose. $50. Sign up now at AmyArvary.com/MasteringMindfulness.

tuesday Soul Shamanism 101-Be One with Your Soul – 2/8-3/8; 7-9:30pm ET; ZOOM. Initiations and Training. This class offers a profound

wednesday

Spiritual / Intuitive Development (Beginners) – 7-8:30pm. This circle is designed to assist your spiritual growth and develop your psychic/mediumship abilities. $25 registration; $15 per class. Inner Soul Wellness LLC, 3108 Rt. 10 west, Denville.

973-747-9404. InnerSoulWellness.com.

Advanced Soul Shamanism Bi-Weekly Class – 7-9:15pm. 2nd & 4th Wed, ZOOM. Join us for a great night of profound experiences. For all graduates of Soul Shamanism 101 and other Soul Shamanism classes. Experience new energy levels, wisdom, knowledge, healing, tools, and practices within this practice Zoom link is provided upon signing up. $60. Be The Medicine (Online In-Person-SessionsClasses-Retreats), 247 North Rd., Chester.

973-647-2500. BeTheMedicine.com.

THURSDAY Holistic Dentistry: Materials Reactivity Testing – 8am-4pm. Learn about and discuss Materials Reactivity Testing with the expert holistic dentists at Princeton Center for Dental Aesthetics and Implants. Biocompatibility testing can be a good way to learn what dental materials may be best suited to your oral health needs. This free consultation has a $152 value. It’s your opportunity to benefit from the decades of experience we offer all of our patients. For patients who so choose, we can arrange the testing process. Free.

Princeton Center for Dental Aesthetics & Implants, 11 Chambers Street, Princeton.

609-924-1414. PrincetonDentist.com/ holistic-dentistry.

Qigong –7-8pm. In person or Zoom. Qigong is a way to create balance, harmony and wellbeing. Join Sal each week in-person (limited space for in-person) or via Zoom. $35 per class. To RSVP, text/call Sue at 862-2224268 or info@blossomingintolight-chester. com. BlossomingIntoLight-Chester.com.

$35. Blossoming into Light, 31 Fairmount Ave Suite 105, Chester. 862-222-4268.

BlossomingIntoLight-Chester.com.

Self Awareness is the Key to Ascension – 3rd Thurs.; 7-9pm; In person or Zoom. This interactive workshop carries the intention of assisting participants in their personal evolutionary process. Each workshop includes Healing Meditations, Ascension Techniques and Soul Psychology. Facilitated by Debbie Carcuffe. $25. Portal of Healing, 50 Main St., Top Flr., Chester. For information, visit PortalOfHealing.com.

Intuitive Development Circle – 2 nd & 4 th Thurs; 7-9pm. On-going interactive workshop series, Maureen will guide you in building your intuitive muscle. Each week focuses on different techniques and development lessons. All levels welcome! $15. Portal of Healing, 50 Main St., Top Flr., Chester. For information, visit PortalOfHealing.com.

classifieds Have a business opportunity, job opening, space for rent or other need?

Place your classified ads here, 30 words for $30, extra words $1 each.

Email to

Joe@NaturalAwakeningsNJ.com by the 10th of the month prior to publication date.

METAPHYSICAL SHOP OFFERINGS: A unique gift shop for the mind, body and soul. Check out our collection of angels, candles, cards, crystals, crystal soaps, jewelry, sage, salt lamps, solar wind chimes, tea, t-shirts, tumbled stones and more.

Card readings, classes and workshops available. Metaphysical & Spiritual Bliss, 19A Old Highway 22, Clinton. 908-2688029. FB Metaphysical & Spiritual Bliss.

Instagram @cmatsen11

PHOTOGRAPHER SERVICES NEED PICTURES?: NJ Photographer specializing in portraits, still life, real estate, editorial, small events & more, available for booking. Contact 908-8872637 or andreamarinescu@optonline.net for details + pricing. Thank you!

Instagram @unbrokenbeauty_photography

March 2022

41

Central New Jersey Community

business directory

Join the community! Request our media kit today by emailing Joe@NaturalAwakeningsNJ.com

Your local source for natural health, nutrition, fitness, personal growth, green living, creative expression and the products and services that support a healthy lifestyle.

Acupuncture

CBD Oil

Dr. Andy Rosenfarb, ND, LAc

The Hemp Oil Store

Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine; Board Certified in Acupuncture & Chinese Herbal Medicine 332 South Ave East, Westfield 908-928-0060 • AcuVisionTherapy.com

Dr. Rosenfarb is world renowned in the field of holistic eye health.

He is passionate about helping people with degenerative eye diseases. Learn of his astounding work in this area—call now to qualify for your free copy of his groundbreaking book, Recover Your Vision. Additional specialties include glaucoma, retinitis pigmentosa and diabetic retinopathy. See ad, page 15.

Eden Energy Medicine/ Sound Meditation

Joseph Wilker Cool Breeze Distributors 3 E. Ave., Yardley, PA 855-904-4367, 267-679-2949 coolbreezedist@gmail.com TheHempOilStore.com License Number: 82-2609404 The Hemp Oil Store is a family-owned CBD store. Our goal is to bring you, your pets, and your loved ones high-quality CBD products at affordable prices.

Shop online at TheHempOilStore.com with free shipping. We also have curbside pickup and walkins are always welcome. See ad, page 30.

Chinese Healing Arts

RedTail Energetics Karen E Adamo, EEM-AP

Eden Energy Medicine Advanced Practitioner Phillipsburg, NJ 908-752-0097 (phone or text) Karen@RedTailEnergetics.com RedTailEnergetics.com Experience more joy, peace, calm, health and vitality through the combination of two profoundly effective healing modalities—Eden Energy Medicine, which corrects imbalances in nine different energy systems, and Sound Meditation with authentic bronze Himalayan Singing Bowls and Gongs.

Ayurveda/Women’s Health Qi Gong For Healing

Energy Practitioner & Coach

7 Chakras Wellness

Full Circle Energy Therapies

Jennifer Agugliaro

Ayurvedic Practitioner, RN 908-251-1200 • jennifer@7chakraswellness.com 7ChakrasWellness.com Are you tired of feeling unwell? Jennifer offers natural, holistic methods to help you take control of your health and life. She focuses on women’s health issues such as reproductive health, digestion, sleep and anxiety. Book a free consult today. See ad, page 23.

Bedding - Organic Hibernate Bedding

80 Morristown Rd, Bernardsville

908-766-5450 HibernateBedding.com

Brian Coffey LMT, and Fran Maher, CA 908-647-1563 QiGongForHealing.com

Specializing in T’ai Chi and Qi Gong classes, as well as private session clinical Qi Gong and acupuncture since 1994. Chinese Medicine weekend seminars teach how to apply clinical Qi Gong remedies to specific disorders. Excellent for the lay person and healthcare providers. All are welcome to observe or join a class. See ad, page 13.

Coach/Counsel/Therapy & Nutrition Health Yeah With Michelle

Michelle LaVecchia Odendahl 243 N. Union St., Ste 201, Lambertville 973-420-9220 healthyeahwithmichelle@hotmail.com HealthYeahWithMichelle.com

Exclusive collection of Organic and Chemical Free mattresses and accessories. Over 30 years family experience. Come see how easy it is to shop for a mattress. Free delivery, free set up, free removal.

See ad, page 2.

ad, page 9.

42

Did you know you are born with unique talents, desires and motivations? As a Certified International Health and Wellness Coach, I will coach you to bring a strong sense of purpose to your everyday life with a positive mindset. See

Somerset/Middlesex/Hunterdon/Mercer/ S. Warren Co. Edition

Lori L. Hoff 2041 Pennington Rd., Ewing 908-268-7169 feelslikesunshine124@gmail.com FullCircleEnergy.net

Taking energetic support to another level. Full Circle Energy Therapies is here to guide you with simple, gentle, effective tools.

This is the sign you’ve been looking for. See ad, page xx.

Eye/Vision Health Dr. Andy Rosenfarb, ND, LAc, Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine; Board Certified in Acupuncture & Chinese Herbal Medicine 332 South Ave East, Westfield 908-928-0060 • AcuVisionTherapy.com

Dr. Rosenfarb is world renowned in the field of holistic eye health and passionate about helping people with degenerative eye diseases. Learn of his astounding work in this area—call now to qualify for your free copy of his groundbreaking book, Recover Your Vision. Additional specialties include glaucoma, retinitis pigmentosa and diabetic retinopathy.See ad, page 15.

NaturalAwakeningsCNJ.com

Healing Through Art

Holistic Dental Center

T-Anya Paint

Vladimir Gashinsky, DDS 91 Millburn Avenue, Millburn 908-206-7848 HolisticDentalCenterNJ.com

Anna Wasilczyk 17 Ross Rd., Wallington anya@tanyapaint.com TanyaPaint.com

Holistic dental care that is good for the body as well as teeth and gums. By treating the cause, not just the symptoms, Dr. Gashinsky helps improve his patients’ quality of life through dental care that respects and honors the body. See ad, back cover.

Paint with T-Anya is a mobile art service that brings a joyous creativity to any social gathering: birthday parties, retirement parties, fundraising, couples, one-on-one sessions and therapeutic sessions. See ad, page 8.

Holistic Chiropractors

Holistic Dentistry

Samsara Chiropractic Wellness Center Dr Jennifer Redmond

7 E. High St, Somerville 908-300-8800 • DoctorRedmond.com We believe that the body is designed to heal itself but structural issues, toxins, lack of nutrients or an emotional component can affect overall health. We offer Whole-istic healing techniques including Neuroemotional Technique, Active Release techniques, Activator, Flexion Distraction and more!

See ad, page 45.

The Center For Advanced Health Through Dentistry

Dr. Joseph R. Mele, DDS, FIND, CNC 215 Union Ave.,Ste D, Bridgewater 908-526-2266 • MeleDDS.com

Our aim is to restore you to health and vitality by eliminating dental road blocks.

We offer the highest quality dental services with a holistic approach for children and adults. See ad, page 47.

Princeton Center For Dental Aesthetics & Implants Drs. Huckel, Huckel & Reine

11 Chambers St, Princeton 609-924-1414 • PrincetonDentist.com Come for a visit, stay for a lifetime! We are trained in identifying holistic concerns beginning in the oral cavity that may cause issues elsewhere in the body. We use ozonated water, and choose systematically biocompatible materials for your treatment.

Holistic Spa/Wellness Ctr Quantum Wellness

327 US - 202, Bedminster 973-782-3227 info@quantumwellnessnj.com QuantumWellnessNJ.com Experience perfect relaxation at our premier spa and wellness center. Modalities include therapeutic massage, acupressure, reiki, cryotherapy and infrared saunas, yoga, floation therapy, workshops and more. See ad, page 7.

fIND yoUr

We invite you to join and experience a truly conscious, loving, dating environment with amazing members.

Try for frEE!

Visit us at NaturalAwakeningsSingles.com March 2022

43

Hypnosis/Hypnotherapy

Matrix Repatterning

Nutrition

Hypnosis Counseling Center

Dr. Clare M. Larkin, DC, CMRP

Sunrise Nutrition & Wellness Center

Barry Wolfson 28 Mine St, Flemington 43 Tamarack Circle, Princeton 908-303-7767 HypnosisCounselingCenter.com

located in Warren 908-930-0628 DrLarkin@optonline.net DrClareLarkin.com

Dr. John Harrington

Over 35 years of experience. We offer traditional counseling methods and the art of hypnotherapy in private and group settings, in person or virtual, for weight loss, stress, smoking, confidence building, phobias, insomnia, test taking, sports improvement, public speaking, and more. See ad, page 13.

Your cells remember traumatic injury on a deeper level. Some injuries hang on because their energy gets trapped in the deeper tissues of the body. Matrix Repatterning allows the detection and release of these deeper injuries, improves electrical flow and allows the body to function normally again.

See ad, page 23.

Hypnosis/Reiki

Meditation/Spiritual

Energy Health & Wellness LLC

Center For Healing and Empowerment

Michele Dellavalle, CH, CHTP, ART 65 Old Rt 22, Suite 10, Clinton Online Sessions available #908-403-2045 EnergyHealth4Wellness@gmail.com ReikiEHW.com

Master Clinical Hypnotist Certified in 5 Path ® Hypnosis, 7th Path ® Self Hypnosis, Reiki, Healing Touch & Guided Meditations. We identify & address the root cause allowing our clients to move forward and heal.

Offering classes in 7th Path ® Self Hypnosis and Reiki Level 1 & 2. When all else fails, Hypnosis Works! Call for Free Consultation.

Phyllis Livera

172 Washington Valley Rd, Suite 3, Warren 732-882-9676 CenterForHealingAndEmpowerment.com Are you seeking deeper meaning in your life? Are you stressed and ready for a change? Tired of being in both physical or emotional pain? We offer spiritual development, meditation and mini-me yoga classes, which have been helping people live more productive, happier lives.

Naturopathic Medicine New Jersey Natural Medicine

Integrative Psychotherapy Bobbie Lynn Edwards LPC, NCC,M.Ed

Licensed Psychotherapist 15 E. Main St., Clinton 908-892-8978 • HunterdonTherapist.com Bobbie Lynn Edwards is a licensed psychotherapist for 35 years. Practicing integrating psychotherapy focusing on a broad spectrum of spiritual philosophies and practices to assist in your healing.

Clinically trained to provide guidance and direction to individuals, couples and families. Goals set within a mutual learning environment is the process. Meditation workshops for small and large groups are available. Call for a free consultation and further information.

44

Dr. Jason Frigerio ND, LAC

137 Mountain Ave., Hackettstown 908-441-2276 drharrington@SunriseNutritionCenter.com SunriseNutritionCenter.com Get checked today! You may be suffering from nutritional deficiencies, toxin overload, chronic infections and bad lifestyle habits. We provide health improvement programs unique to your body to improve your health through nutrition and other safe, non-invasive therapies. See ad, page 29.

Reiki & Hypnosis Alice Rich Reiki Center

Alice Rich, Certified Master Teacher Usui Reiki Ryoho, Karuna Reiki®, Crystal Healing, Certified Hypnotist 732-501-7628 alice@AliceRichReikiCenter.com AliceRichReikiCenter.com

Reiki, Crystal Healing and Integrated Energy Therapy® or Hypnosis sessions can help reduce pain physically, mentally and emotionally, promote a healthy lifestyle, achieve personal and professional goals, create balance and harmony and advance your spiritual journey.

Private sessions and classes. Certification classes on Reiki, Crystal Healing and IET.

2424 Lamington Road, Bedminster 973-267-2650 • NJNaturalMedicine.com

Relationship Coach

Since 2004, NJNM has treated patients with naturopathic, Chinese, ayurvedic and biological medicine. Our guiding principa: to observe and treat the whole person, not just symptoms to identify and treat the root cause of illness, help restore balance and promote optimal health.

See ad, page 17.

Ondov Relationship Coaching

“The important thing is this: to be able at any moment to sacrifice what we are for what we could become.”

- Charles Du Bos

Somerset/Middlesex/Hunterdon/Mercer/ S. Warren Co. Edition

Rhoda Ondov, MS, MFT, CPC

12-14 E Main St, Suite 8, Somerville 908-642-6256 rhoda.ondov@gmail.com OndovRelationshipCoaching.com If you are in a troubled relationship, or dealing with infidelity, or facing possible divorce, you do not need Therapy. You are not mentally ill. You just need guidance and solutions. Relationship Coaching can help you repair these difficult situations, bringing clarity and restoring harmony. Eight years experience helping couples successfully navigate relationship crises. Does not require participation by both partners. See ad, page 21.

NaturalAwakeningsCNJ.com

Spiritual Healing, Teaching Be The Medicine Janet StraightArrow

973-647-2500 Janet@BeTheMedicine.com BeTheMedicine.com Shamanic Healing, Energy Medicine, Past Life, Medical Intuition, Life, Health, Spiritual Coaching, Astrology Readings, House and Land Clearings. In person, phone or Skype. Professional Reiki, Shamanism and Medical Intuitive Training. Retreats. 40 years’ experience. See ad, page 9.

Do y you experience p chronic p pain, allergies, depression or anxiety?

Neuro-Emotional Technique (NET) is a safe, gentle, and effective body-mind stress reduction technique utilizing acupressure points and a gentle Chiropractic adjustment.

Thermography Lisa’s Thermography & Wellness Lisa Mack, CCT, HHC

Thermographer and Holistic Counselor See website for locations in NJ and NY 855-667-9338 Lisa@LisasThermographyAndWellness.com LisasThermographyAndWellness.com Thermography gives an early look at the most important indicator of a potential health problem – inflammation.

Whether your pain is acute or chronic, or you are merely curious about the state of your health, thermography can help provide answers. Radiation-free breast and full body screenings for men and women. See ad, page 39.

1 of 4 Doctors Advanced nced NET N certified in NJ

Dr. J. Redmond

CHIROPRAC CH C CHI HIIROP H ROPRAC ROP ROPRAC RO RA R AC TIC

Samsara Sa S ams msa arra ra Chiropractic Chir Ch irop irop opra pract ra acctticc Wellness Wel elln nes e s Center Cent Ce nterr nt E. High Ave., St., Somerville, 17Eastern Somerville,NJ NJ08876 08876 www.DoctorRedmond.com www.DoctorRedmond.com

908.300.8800

Nerve N er ve Interference Interference can can cause cause tthese hese S Symptoms: ymptoms: Headaches/Migraines Sinus/Allergies Neck/Back Pain Shoulder Problems Anxiety Depression

Earaches Sports Injuries

“The goal of many leaders is to get people to think more highly of the leader. The goal of a great leader is to help people to think more highly of themselves.”

- J. Carla Nortcutt

Yoga Classes DailY/WeeklY

in stuDio & online 200 & 300 Hour teaCHer training

reiki training MontHlY reiki sHare

PerFeCt For Beginners

“i Can’t Do Yoga” Yoga Visit

our WeBsite

.

For Details.

Be Here noW Yoga

908.642.0989 63 Main st., FleMington, nJ BeHerenoWYoga108.CoM March 2022

45

Crossword Puzzle Look for clues in the articles in this month’s edition

Across

1 Popular plant-based foods, 2 words 8 Spiritual advisers 9 Produced without using chemicals in the food 11 Used before a vowel 12 Brain child 14 Calming discipline 15 Scottish cap 17 Up on the latest trends 18 Vex 19 Display of information 22 Innovative 23 Mountain cabin 24 Break out 25 Cleansing substance 26 Possess 27 ___ out: extreme exhaustion from too much stress 28 Football score 29 Shine 30 Insult, in slang

Down

1 First global exchange traded fund of plant-based companies 2 Spice used in cooking for flavor enhancement, 2 words 3 Problem to be resolved 4 Online diary 5 Indian rhythms 6 Seemingly forever 7 Marked by friendly companionship with others 10 “___ luck?”

13 A long way off 15 Fair ____: an equitable way of doing business with suppliers 16 The root structure of mushrooms: an infinite self-replenishing food source 18 One remedy for stress and burn-out 20 Non-dairy milk 21 Give ____: show gratitude 27 Degree, abbr.

46

You can find the answers to this month’s puzzle by visiting

Somerset/Middlesex/Hunterdon/Mercer/ S. Warren Co. Edition

NaturalAwakeningsCNJ.com this month’s CROSSWORD PUZZLE sponsored by:

For more information on Be The Medicine, see ad on page 9.

NaturalAwakeningsCNJ.com

The Center for Advanced Health Through Dentistry Our aim is to restore you to health and vitality by eliminating dental road blocks.

Our patients come from New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and other states...some have even traveled from outside the United States! Why? Because quality biocompatible dental care provided by a warm, caring dental team in a comfortable, relaxed setting is worth the trip.

Start Early for a Lifetime of Benefits!

Improvements to Your Child’s Crowded Teeth and Appearance Can Begin As Early as Age 7.

Does your child show signs of: • Crowded baby or adult teeth?

• Mouth breathing? (Lips are apart most of the time due to obstructed airways.)

For more information, see our video

“How To Start Fixing Children’s Crooked Teeth As Early As Age 7 to 10” at MeleDDS.com or YouTube®.

We offer the highest quality dental services including...

• Safe removal of amalgam restorations (fillings) following OSHA and EPA guidelines • Biocompatible dental materials including BPA-free restorations • Non-surgical natural and nutritional therapies to treat periodontal disease and dental decay • Effective treatment of TMJ, teeth grinding, bad breath, snoring, sleep apnea, and mouth breathing

Joseph R. Mele D.D.S., FIND, CNC Fellowship, Institute for Natural Dentistry Diplomate Member, American Association of Nutritional Consultants Member, International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology Member, The Holistic Dental Association

Come in for a complimentary Meet and Greet or visit our website for information.

215 Union Avenue — Suite D, Bridgewater, NJ 08807

(908) 526-2266

www.MeleDDS www.

MeleDDS..com March 2022

47

Natural Awakening Readers... Looking for a More Natural Approach for Your Dentistry?

Choosing a new dentist can be a real challenge.

How do you know who is really a holistic dentist? Here are several things to look out for, when choosing...

They DON'T use mercury containing fillings because mercury is one of the most toxic substances known to man.

They DON'T remove mercury fillings without protection because inhaled mercury vapors can be easily absorbed by the body.

They DON'T recommend Root Canals because they harbor bacteria and toxins.

They DON'T use conventional standards for their cleanings because tap water and chemicals are full of toxic substances.

They DON'T use fluoride because it has been shown to be a neurotoxin.

They DON'T use metal in their restorations because many people have metal allergies and sensitivities.

They DON'T treat sensitive patients without biocompatibility testing because allergic reactions and systemic reactions can occur which burdens the body.

We at the Holistic Dental Center strive to give our patients a "True" Holistic Dental Experience... Even Holistic Practitioners become our patients!

Dr. Glenn Gero, Naturopathic Physician: "I was seeing a dentist for over 30 years and when I was invited to try Dr. Gashinsky for the first time I was so impressed with the office.""The best dental experience I have ever had in my life:' Lisa Mack, Certified Thermographic Technician: "What I see in my Thermography, I see inflammation in the mouth, how important it is, you see the bacteria draining down into the lymphatic system and from there I always refer patients back to Dr. G... Why? Because Dr. G can test that bacteria to see exactly what it is so from there he can help you. I am also a patient of Dr G's and I absolutely love coming here, the one thing that I love about here is that when you walk in here it's like you're family.

If you want a "True" Holistic Dental They are very caring and very loving and when you walk out of here you feel like you've been well taken care of..."

Experience for You and Your Entire Nancy Barrett, Certified Holistic Manual Lymphatic Therapist: Family, Call Us Today!

"Every health problem begins in the mouth... ''...I am also a patient of Dr. Gashinsky and the reason I go holistic is because I understand that every health problem begins with your mouth..:' "...I love the staff I love also the cleanings that they do here and I am also very aware of the benefits of going holistic. I really highly recommend Dr. G and his staff!"

908-206-7848

HOLISTIC DENTAL CENTER Dr. Vladimir Gashinsky 91 Millburn Ave, Millburn, NJ 07041

www.holisticdentalcenternj.com

ENJOY THIS SPECIAL *OFFER! 10% OFF ANY SERVICES OF $1000 OR MORE! Plus all new patients will receive a Complimentary Wellness Gift ($100 value) during their initial visit.

Schedule Your Appointment Today!

Mercury Amalgam Removal Mercury Free & Mercury Safe Ceramic Zirconia Implants Holistic Gum Treatment

Biocompatible Ozone Therapy Fluoride Free Metal Free

*Available for new and existing patients, must book and come in before the end of the month. One time use, per person. Not valid on previous treatments, purchases, and cannot be combined with other discounts. This offer is only valid till 03/31/2022.

Offer to claim Complimentary Wellness Gift valid for new patients to the practice.