Natural Awakenings SJ April 2023 Issue

PEOPLE. PLANET. PURPOSE.

To those who participated in our Holistic Health & Healing Expo, we are so GRATEFUL!!

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Passionate about Your Total Wellness

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Never before have these wise words from the Greek philosopher Heraclitus been truer.

Change has been a consistent in every part of our lives these last few years as we navigate a “new normal”. From our workplace to our homes and even in the ways we recreate and relax, we are ever evolving on how we think and experience our daily lives.

Renewing our focus on sustainability is especially key. The more we learn, the better equipped we are to embrace the principles of sustainable living and apply them for a healthier world. Whether it’s fashion, furniture, food or farming, the opportunities in our society to make small individual changes in order to achieve a greater global impact are everywhere.

Let’s start with this issue’s feature story on Regenerative Organic Agriculture, “A New Dawn on the Farm Front: Stepping Away from Industrialized Agriculture.” Here we learn there are viable, achievable solutions to bring important change from the way in which a handful of profit-driven, multinational corporations effect the way we grow, distribute and consume food.

Discover how to have the least environmental impact with regard to what you eat in, “Sustainable Eating: Tips to Shrink Your Foodprint.” You’ll find tips on buying sustainable foods, buying locally and in season and being responsible about how you dispose of uneaten food.

We can change how we see our world in “The Earth as Muse, Inspiration Meets Conservation.” When we view our Earth as both our mother and our muse—sustaining our lives and blessing us with beauty—we make time to notice her perpetual creative forces.

Don’t miss “Outdoor Safety for Pets, Helpful Tips to Navigate Hazards,” where whether we lounge in the backyard, take a walk around the neighborhood or venture out to a dog park, we can make changes in our awareness of potential dangers and better enjoy the great outdoors with our pets.

And be inspired to change your thoughts about self-care in “The Restorative Gift of Traveling Solo. ” Taking a trip on your own might just bring that special kind of peace, tranquility and transformation you’ve been searching for.

The human heart is hardwired to grow … to seek … to change!

I witnessed this personally at our recent Holistic Health and Healing Expo last month—another wildly successful event where our community joined together to educate, inspire and connect with one another. Thank you for participating!

I’m grateful to each of you, our readers, and humbled by all that have the courage to embrace change.

Feeling blessed,

Owner/Publisher Shae Marcus

Communications Nancy Seigle

Editors Theresa Archer

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Massage Therapist Combines Energy Work at Merchantville Wellness Center

Megan Kenny, LMT, has recently joined the team at Merchantville Medical Wellness Center (MMWC), offering myofascial release, deep tissue and Swedish massage and reflexology. She also has five years of experience as a level two reiki practitioner and is currently studying the Advanced Eden Energy Medicine method. The energy techniques can be infused into the sessions, offering a unique and customized experience, whether for long-term injuries, physical/emotional trauma or simple relaxation.

“The interweaving of energetic techniques facilitates a deeper healing for clients who also might be struggling with mental health issues such as PTSD, depression, anxiety and sleep disorders,” notes Kenny. “I always use a holistic approach in my therapeutic method.”

MMWC offers a full spectrum of integrative and holistic health care. The services include naturopathic medicine, functional chiropractic medicine, intravenous nutrition (including high-dose vitamin C), acupuncture, massage therapy, infrared sauna and more.

Location: 5 W. Chestnut Ave. For more information or to schedule an appointment, call 856-532-2063 or visit www.MerchantvilleWellness.com

Certified Functional Medicine Practitioner Joins The Center, Life in Balance

The Center, Life in Balance, in Medford, recently welcomed Christina Marino—a certified functional medicine practitioner who specializes in energy medicine—to its community of wellness practitioners. She is offering $33 off her three-session package through April 30. Marino’s approach to wellness is to support the physical symptoms while getting to the ‘why.’ She utilizes energy testing to determine exactly what her clients’ bodies need. She specializes in, but is not limited to, hormones, digestive issues, headaches and weaning from prescription medications.

“As a functional wellness practitioner, I dig to discover the ‘root cause’ of symptoms. Physiology, psychology/spirit and lifestyle all contribute to health and well-being in equal measure. The goal is to thrive, not just survive,” explains Marino.

“We are so blessed to have Christina join us,” shares Susan Drummond, the center’s owner. “Besides her gifts and knowledge, she brings an energy and enthusiasm that is contagious and fits so well within our community.”

Location: 45 S. Main St. For more information or to schedule an appointment, contact Marino at 609-744-5733 or visit www.NourishingUnicorn.com

Sexual Wellness at the Replenish Center

The Replenish Center, in Willingboro, offers a range of services and treatment options including therapy, medication and lifestyle changes to help those struggling with sexual dysfunction regain their confidence and enjoy a fulfilling sex life.

“Our team of experienced and compassionate specialists are here to help,” says center owner Dr. Camille Semple, who is triple-board certified in obstetrics and gynecology, aesthetic medicine and integrative medicine. “We understand that discussing sexual issues can be difficult, but we provide a safe and nonjudgmental environment for you to talk openly and honestly. Don’t let sexual dysfunction control your life; take the first step and schedule a consultation today. Let us help you get back to feeling your best.”

In 2005, Semple opened the Replenish Center to address and restore hormone deficits, which are experienced by millions of women and men worldwide. At Replenish Center, she also focuses on functional medicine with an emphasis on thyroid and adrenal balance.

Location: 215 Sunset Rd., Ste. 204. For more information or to schedule an appointment, call 609-871-6800 or visit www.ReplenishHormones.com

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April Detox Deals at Nutritional Wellness Center

Dr. Sean Inselberg, CEO of the Nutritional Wellness Center, in Palmyra, is offering several different deals when one purchases a 21- or 28-day full-body detox/cleanse during the month of April.

“A full-body detox/cleanse will help you speed up your metabolism to lose inches and pounds; regain energy/vitality; and improve moods, sleep, digestion and immune system function,” notes Inselberg.

With the purchase of this program, Inselberg says that one gets to choose one of the following: a 30-minute session in their new, state-of-the-art, biofeedback pulsed electromagnetic field therapy machine with brain entrainment (a $50 value); a 30-minute session in what he describes as “the best sauna in the world” from Sun Lighten sauna with light therapy, and which he adds, cleanses the whole lymphatic system, decreases cardiovascular risks and that research shows it may reduce the risk of breast cancer (a $50 value); or $30 off any of the cleanses.

Location: 1 Cinnaminson Ave. For more information, call 856-499-2160 or text to 347-508-0772. Also visit www.NutritionalWellnessNJ.com

Mother’s Day Weekend Babymoon Escape

Perinatal Health is hosting a Babymoon Escape—a luxurious and relaxing getaway for expecting parents before baby arrives—Mother’s Day weekend from 3 p.m. on May 13 until 11 a.m. on May 14 at the Chalfonte Hotel, in Cape May. The event includes a one-night stay, couples massage, prenatal massage, reflexology, gift giveaways, crafts, prenatal yoga, mocktails and a complimentary breakfast. Enjoy a relaxing and luxurious escape for you and your partner. With much planning for your new arrival, now is the perfect time to release your tensions, ease your worries and rejuvenate your body. Take time to reconnect as a couple or with a few pregnant girlfriends and celebrate the new endeavor ahead!

Founder, Donna Favilla, has dedicated the past 35 years to helping women and their families. She started her career in labor and delivery at Virtua Hospital, assisting women through their birth journey and it has grown into a love of being a birthworker. Favilla has a passion for supporting pregnant women throughout the entire pregnancy, during labor and the postpartum period to help families adjust to the new addition to the family.

Location: 301 Howard St. For more information, contact Donna Favilla at 609-206-9633 or email Donna@PerinatalHealthLLC.com visit www.PerinatalHealthLLC.com

Services and Classes Focused on Balancing Mind, Body and Spirit

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Pomegranate May Offer

Skin and Gut Benefits

Pomegranate fruit has been widely used in traditional medicine, and a new, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study published in the Journal of Clinical Medicine looked at the effects of taking pomegranate extract for a period of four weeks on different aspects of skin and gut health. Using facial imaging, researchers found the group that received the pomegranate extract had significant reductions in wrinkle severity and a decrease in the rate of forehead sebum excretion. They also found beneficial effects to the gut-skin axis, noting that participants in the pomegranate extract group had a higher abundance of Eggerthellaceae in the gut with accompanying wrinkle reduction. The scientists concluded that the skin benefits from pomegranate extract may be due to the potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of phytochemicals, as pomegranate contains more than 100 bioactive constituents.

Screening Children for Anxiety

After a systematic review of 39 studies to evaluate the benefits and harms of screening for anxiety disorders in children and adolescents aged 8 to 18, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), a group of disease prevention and medical experts assembled by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, now recommends that primary care physicians perform such screenings, even if there are no signs or symptoms of anxiety.

A common mental health condition in the U.S., anxiety disorder involves excessive fear or worry that manifests as emotional and physical symptoms. In children and adolescents, it is associated with impaired functioning, educational underachievement and an increased likelihood of a future anxiety disorder or depression. The 2018-2019 National Survey of Children’s Health found that 7.8 percent of children and adolescents aged 3 to 17 had a current anxiety disorder.

USPSTF recommended using screening questionnaires to identify children at risk, noting that studies show that children with anxiety benefit from treatments that may include cognitive behavioral therapy or psychotherapy. They also concluded that there is insufficient evidence to assess children 7 years old or younger.

Acupuncture: A Beneficial, Holistic and Natural Treatment

Many of us have probably heard of acupuncture. It is a part of East Asian medicine that has been practiced for thousands of years to bring healing and balance to the body’s energy systems. Fortunately, this minimally invasive, therapeutic modality is a part of the evidence-based medicine paradigm that is being practiced today and is benefiting the well-being of many people; helping in areas of digestion, sleep, mood, stress and pain to name a few.

Acupuncture communicates directly with our nervous system. Thin needles are inserted into specific acupuncture points and signal the nervous system to regulate. Acupuncture has been shown to have regulatory effects on the neurological, endocrine and immune systems. Locally, it signals the body’s innate healing processes and promotes circulation, decreases inflammation and reduces pain.

In cases of chronic pain, multiple acupuncture sessions can serve to reset the nervous

system’s pain threshold and end the pain cycle. In regard to mood, acupuncture can help shift a person from a stressed state into a relaxed one where rest, healing and digestion can occur because the nervous system is able to function and restore balance to the body’s systems. On top of that, many people report experiencing sound sleep the nights following an acupuncture treatment. The health benefits of acupuncture can be highly personal. As it’s a very individualized form of medicine, the specific symptoms, conditions or concerns that we “bring to the table” can be treated naturally to provide the best support for each of our unique constitutions. Acupuncture treats the whole person—our physical, emotional, mental and spiritual aspects.

Dr. Jocelyn Flay, DAc, is with the Nutritional Wellness Center, located at 1 Cinnaminson Ave., Ste. 206, in Palmyra, New Jersey. For more information or to make an appointment, call 856-499-2160. www.NutritionalWellnessNJ.com

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Possible Links Between Veggie Diets and Depression

Plant-based diets have been associated with several health benefits, but not much is known about their effects on mental health. A new Brazilian study published in the Journal of Affective Disorders surveyed more than 14,000 people between the ages of 35 and 74 for a period of six months and found that those following a vegetarian diet were twice as likely to have a depressive episode than meat eaters, even when other lifestyle factors like smoking, alcohol consumption, physical activity and micronutrient intake were taken into account. The nature of this correlation between vegetarianism and depression is still unclear, and more research is needed.

Healy: The Bridge to a New Paradigm of Health and Wellness

Get ready to experience a new paradigm, one in which ancient wisdom meets future technology, merging spirituality, health and science with frequency—our universal language.

The Healy is a groundbreaking device that harnesses the healing and activating technology of frequency. It uses a quantum sensor to scan the body’s imbalances and then delivers back to the individual customized frequency programs through either frequency specific microcurrent technology (FSM), a magnet torus field to the body or through the quantum field. These frequencies work towards returning our cells back to homeostasis, optimizing and harmonizing our entire system. With more than 100 programs to support a multitude of conditions, Healy offers multi-level care in a wearable, two-inch by two-inch device. It supports various ailments such as chronic pain, fibromyalgia, skeletal pain, migraines and many more. It is also mainly used as an alternative, complementary therapy for mental illnesses such as depression and anxiety, and includes a varied range of programs that can support hormonal health, gut healing, nervous system nourishment, immune boosting and anti-aging among others. Working in the quantum field of all possibilities, the support which is available is potentially limitless.

Healy was created by inventor Marcus Schmieke with the purest of intentions to always be used for the benefit of people, plants and animals. The Healy vision is to empower people to live a healthy, fulfilled and conscious life and to inspire its growing global community to make a continuous positive impact on humanity.

For more information about Healy and how it can harmonize our body, mind and spirit, email frequency technology practitioner Zofia Hausman at She.Codes.All@gmail.com

~Julia Butterfly Hill

I wake up in the morning asking myself what can I do today, how can I help the world today.

Invasive Wild Hogs Pose Numerous Threats

There are approximately 6 million non-native, feral pigs in the United States. They destroy an estimated $2.5 billion in crops, pastures, forests and livestock each year across 35 states and jeopardize endangered species, including the Florida panther, green sea turtles and red-cheeked salamanders. But their greatest threat may be the potential to carry disease to humans, domesticated hogs and other animals.

The pigs were brought to the Americas from Europe as early as the 1500s. They reproduce quickly, with up to two litters of four to 12 piglets every 12 to 15 months, and can grow to be five feet long and weigh more than 500 pounds.

Feral swine can carry a long list of pathogens, including leptospirosis, brucellosis, swine influenza, salmonella, hepatitis and pathogenic E. coli. The U.S. Department of Agriculture describes swine as a “mixing vessel species”, meaning that they are susceptible to human viruses and have the ability to create novel forms of those diseases. Human risk to known and new pathogens is greater from feral swine than other wildlife due to our proximity to them and their large numbers. Hunters and farmers are at greatest risk. Anyone that handles feral swine should wear rubber gloves and avoid fluid exchanges.

Gas Stove Pollution Goes Unnoticed

A new study published in Environmental Science & Technology finds that gas stoves frequently leak dangerous pollutants into the kitchen. A team from PSE Health Energy collected samples from 159 gas stoves across California and sent them to a laboratory for analysis. The researchers found 12 pollutants in total, and four of these gases—benzene, toluene, hexane and m- or p-xylene—were present in 98 percent of the samples. Most of the stoves leaked at least a little, even when they were turned off.

The natural gas used in stoves is comprised mostly of methane and other hydrocarbons and gases. Before it is delivered into homes and business, most of the non-methane gases are removed and a strong-scented chemical is added to alert people to possible leaks. The leaks studied by the California researchers were not substantial enough for people to notice this rotten-egg smell, but they could still expose users to harmful and potentially cancer-causing pollutants. Those with gas stoves are encouraged to turn on their exhaust fans whenever they are in use.

Rebuilding Coral Reefs With Sound

Rapid ocean warming and other effects caused by climate change have stressed and degraded corals around the globe, and scientists have been studying ways to rebuild, manage and conserve these vital ecosystems. A new Australian study published in Journal of Applied Ecology tested whether playing certain sounds underwater at reef restoration sites could boost the recruitment of oysters and enhance their habitat-building activities. Australia’s flat oyster is a key reef-building organism targeted for restoration efforts. Previous studies had shown that the sound of healthy reefs differs from that of damaged reefs. Using inexpensive marine speakers, the researchers reproduced the sound of a healthy reef at four sites across two of the largest oyster reef restorations in Australia and compared the results to areas that did not receive this soundscape enrichment. The sonically enhanced areas resulted in the presence of more and larger oysters that formed more three-dimensional habitats atop the reef restorations. The scientists propose that the use of marine soundscapes during early stages of new reef restoration projects could reduce the cost of habitat recovery.

Lowering the Carbon Footprint of Batteries

A Swedish battery manufacturer, Northvolt, in partnership with Stora Enso, one of the largest private forest owners in the world, has developed a battery for electric vehicles (EV) with an anode made of sustainably raised and harvested wood instead of graphite, paving the way for battery production from a renewable source.

The partners figured out a way to extract lignin, a carbon-rich natural binder that comprises up to 30 percent of many trees, and turn it into a material they call Lignode. According to Stora Enso, by replacing graphite or copper anodes with Lignode, lithium-ion batteries will offer faster charging and discharging, higher cycling stability and more efficient performance in low temperature.

More than 50 percent of the EV’s carbon footprint comes from the manufacture of its battery—both in sourcing raw materials and producing the component. Mining graphite is an expensive and labor-intensive process that requires considerable resources that come from parts of the world where workers’ rights are inadequately protected. While Northvolt’s battery is not on the market yet, this development, along with others like solid-state batteries, may help to reduce the carbon footprint of EVs.

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A NEW DAWN ON THE FARM FRONT

STEPPING AWAY FROM INDUSTRIALIZED AGRICULTURE

by Sandra Yeyati

We all have to eat, and the food industry is big business, with wide-ranging implications across many arenas. Because agriculture is controlled by a handful of multinational corporations, the priority to maximize profits often conflicts with what is best for human and planetary health. In many ways, our food production and consumption practices are broken or on the brink of failure. They are inhumane, socially unjust, environmentally unsound and unsustainable.

Viable, achievable solutions to these immense challenges exist, and the emerging consensus is that regenerative organic agriculture is the key to preserving human health and helping solve the climate crisis. The COVID-19 pandemic uncovered weaknesses in the system, such as supply chain vulnerabilities, and altered human behavior as more people started cooking at home and exploring healthier lifestyle choices. The time is right to make positive changes to the way we grow, distribute and consume food.

THE PROBLEMS WITH OUR CURRENT INDUSTRIAL FARMING MODEL

For decades, doctors, scientists, farmers and nonprofits at the forefront of the environmental movement have been sounding the alarm about the inherent weaknesses in the national food chain and the harmful effects of industrial agriculture. In his book Food Fix: How to Save Our Health, Our Economy, Our Communities and Our Planet—One Bite at a Time, Dr. Mark Hyman notes, “Food is the nexus of most of our world’s health, economic, environmental, climate, social and even political crises. While this may seem like an exaggeration, it is not.”

In the late 1800s, American farming began to transition from small, diverse operations that produced a variety of crops and livestock to feed a family or community to an industrialized system dominated by multinational corporations that focused on maximizing yields of just a few crops, primarily corn, soy and wheat. Today, these crops overwhelmingly end up as animal feed, biofuels and cheap, processed food ingredients—a staple of the standard American diet since the 1950s.

Industrial agriculture is now the dominant food production system in this country, characterized by large-scale monoculture, heavy use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, and meat produced in confined animal feeding operations (CAFO). Most modest family farms have been forced to either get into business with a big company (contract farming) or go out of business. The Natural Resources Defense Council reports that 90 percent of the 9 billion chickens raised each year in the U.S. are grown under contract, and 57 percent of hogs are owned and slaughtered by just four companies. According to Rodale Institute, only 8 percent of farms produce more than four crops, while specialty crops like fruits, vegetables and nuts

are grown on just 3 percent of cropland.

With industrial dominance comes numerous devastating consequences.

HUMAN HEALTH COSTS

According to the Union of Concerned Scientists, industrially produced food is bad for us on several fronts. Heavy pesticide use is poisoning our food, fertilizer is polluting our drinking water, junk food made of corn and soybeans is degrading our health and the overuse of antibiotics in CAFOs is accelerating the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Bioethicist Peter Singer advises, “Factory farms are breeding grounds for new viruses. We’ve had swine flu and avian flu coming out of factory farms. It’s quite possible that the next pandemic will originate there.”

Zach Bush, a triple board-certified physician and producer of the documentary Farmer’s Footprint, says, “Over the last 25 years, we have seen the most profound explosion of chronic disease in human history. Research from around the globe now suggests that environmental factors are contributing to a combination of genetic, neurologic, autoimmune and metabolic injuries that underpin the collapse of health in our children and adults.”

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that chronic and mental health conditions account for 90 percent of the nation’s $4.1 trillion in annual health care expenditures. Obesity affects 20 percent of children and 42 percent of adults. More than 850,000 Americans die of heart disease or stroke annually, and 37 million have diabetes. Each year, more than 1.7 million people are diagnosed with cancer, while 600,000 succumb to the disease.

“Most of those diseases are caused by our industrial diet, which means they are avoidable if we transform the food we grow, the food we produce and the food we eat. Eleven million people die every year from a bad diet,” Hyman asserts.

SOLUTIONS USING REGENERATIVE ORGANIC FARMING

Led by the Regenerative Organic Alliance, which includes organizations and brands like Rodale Institute, Dr. Bronner’s and Patagonia, the Regenerative Organic Certified (ROC) standard helps consumers make informed choices about their food purchases. Its three pillars—soil health, animal welfare and social fairness—are designed to ameliorate the problems associated with conventional agriculture.

SOIL HEALTH EQUALS PLANETARY AND HUMAN HEALTH

Chemical-heavy farming practices employed by conventional agriculture deplete topsoil, draining it of all its organic matter—the very microbiome needed to nourish the plants we grow and ultimately nourish us. In 2014,

Maria-Helena Semedo, of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, said that if current farming practices continue, we have only 60 years of harvest left. The clock is ticking.

Farming techniques proposed by the ROC are designed to continually rebuild soil. They are proven by years of science done at Rodale Institute and practical results achieved by regenerative organic farmers already growing food this way. “On the farm that we operate here at the Institute, we know that Native Americans were farming this land 8,000 to 10,000 years ago. We’d like to be farming this land 8,000 to 10,000 years from now. We probably won’t be using tractors or diesel fuel, but we will be using the soil,” says Rodale Institute CEO Jeff Moyer.

Under ROC standards that include a variety of rotating crops, cover crops, no tillage, no synthetic inputs of any kind, no genetically modified seeds and staggered grazing by animals, farms become biodiverse ecosystems with organically rich soil that absorbs water, doesn’t erode over time and produces safe, nutritious food. As J.I. Rodale said, “Healthy soil equals healthy food equals healthy people.”

Healthy soil draws carbon from the atmosphere deep into the ground, and that is a boost for our fight against climate change. “Regenerative organic farming has a very positive impact on climate, because we’re sequestering more carbon than we are emitting,” Moyer explains. “Under its current production model, agriculture is part of the problem. If it’s part of the problem, then it can and should be part of the solution. That’s the whole premise behind the [ROC] standard itself—treating agriculture as one of the primary tools that we’re going to use as a society to improve our relationship with the planet.”

ANIMAL WELFARE IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO

Under the ROC model, animals must be raised in a humane way that frees them from discomfort, fear, distress, hunger, pain, injury and disease, while also being able to express normal behavior. To achieve these aims, they need to be taken out of CAFOs and reintegrated into farmland, so that they are pasture-raised and grass-fed, creating meat that is more nutritious and less diseased without chemical interventions.

“We’re integrating animals onto the cropland, with livestock, chickens, sheep and hogs. Imagine what the Great Plains of the United States was 500 years ago. You had bison, elk, deer, rabbits, wolves and myriad different birds, because the birds always followed the migrating animals. We’re trying to mimic that to a small degree on our ranch,” says North Dakota farmer Gabe Brown, who started transitioning into regenerative organic practices in the mid1990s and wrote an influential book on the subject, Dirt to Soil: One Family’s Journey into Regenerative Agriculture.

SOCIAL FAIRNESS AND FARMING RESILIENCE

Taking care of the farmers and workers that plant, raise, harvest and transport our food is not just the right thing to do, it also creates a system that is more stable and resilient, says Graham Christensen, a Nebraska farmer and president of GC Resolve. “There are serious issues with how the big agricultural companies are treating workers. We saw horrible situations with COVID in the meatpacking plants and how the workers were being treated. This is just one of the many reasons that this over-centralized, monopolized system is affecting people in bad ways,” he says. “Regenerative organic farming requires more hands-on work, which creates jobs. Structural changes in the food production system to decentralize agriculture in favor of regional markets comprised of smaller farms would allow for more equity and better management of the ecosystem.”

Sandra Yeyati is national editor of Natural Awakenings magazine.

Babymoon Escape

SUSTAINABLE EATING

TIPS TO SHRINK YOUR FOODPRINT

by Ana Reisdorf, MS, RD

Knowing which foods have the least environmental impact is not always easy. Organic blueberries are considered Earth-protective because no pesticides were used to grow them, but if they were shipped from California to a Florida grocery store, the transportation represents a steep carbon footprint. And if we waited too long to eat those blueberries and had to throw them away, all of the resources spent on producing those fruits were wasted.

To get a fuller picture of our food-related environmental impacts, we need to take into consideration the many variables associated with the production, transportation and consumption of food, and that’s where the “foodprint” comes in—a barometer of eco-friendliness. There are many ways to calculate a foodprint; EarthDay.org/foodprints-calculators lists a few automated calculators and food quizzes that can help. Here are noteworthy examples:

n EatLowCarbon.org compares the carbon emissions associated with different meals—ranging from bean soup (lowest CO2 emissions) to a Philly cheesesteak (highest).

n FoodPrint.org offers a questionnaire about a person’s food choices and follows up with tips to reduce their foodprint.

n FoodEmissions.com calculates the foodprint of specific foods like dairy or seafood by asking about the origination and destination of the food to determine transportation emissions, and by asking the consumer to self-report their percentage of waste to calculate the loss of natural resources.

HOW TO REDUCE OUR FOODPRINT BUY RESPONSIBLY PRODUCED FOOD

When shopping for groceries, consider buying from food producers that support environmental stewardship, sustainability and regenerative farming practices in their production systems. A list of third-party certifications that can help identify responsibly manufactured foodstuffs can be found at Foodprint.org/ eating-sustainably/food-label-guide

BUY LOCAL AND IN SEASON

Lisa Andrews, MEd, RD, owner of Sound Bites Nutrition, encourages her clients to eat local, seasonal produce. “[It] spares the environment, as it doesn’t need to be flown across the country, reducing fuel costs,” she explains, adding that local produce is generally more nutritious and cost effective.

STORE FOOD CORRECTLY

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), 30 to 40 percent of the available food supply is wasted. While there are many reasons for food loss at all stages of production and

delivery, consumers can have a major impact in reducing how much food is wasted.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency provides advice for properly storing foods in the refrigerator: leafy veggies go in the high-humidity drawer, while most fruits should be placed in the low-humidity bin. Some fruits like apples and avocados release ethylene gas and can cause nearby produce to spoil, so they should be stored separately. Wash berries just before eating them to prevent mold. Store potatoes, onion and garlic in a cool, dry, dark and well-ventilated place. Freeze bread, meat or leftovers that won’t be eaten before they spoil.

CONSUME SUSTAINABLE FOODS

According to Registered Dietitian Lauren Panoff, one way that consumers can benefit the environment is by transitioning to a more plant-predominant lifestyle. “Plant foods utilize far fewer natural resources than industrial animal agriculture, which is also one of the largest emitters of greenhouse gases and drivers of Amazon deforestation,” Panoff explains.

Patricia Kolesa, MS, RDN, founder of the Dietitian Dish, notes, “Plant-based proteins tend to be more affordable and can be stored longer than your animal proteins, helping reduce food waste.”

Nutritics, a food information company, offers a list of the highest-ranking foods when it comes to sustainability, considering inputs like water usage, carbon emissions or capture, land usage and nitrogen storage capabilities. Their list includes mussels, beans, lentils, peas and other legumes, mushrooms, seaweed, cereals and grains, and organic fruits and vegetables.

RESPONSIBLY DISPOSE OF OR SHARE UNEATEN FOOD

Perfectly fresh food that the family has decided not to eat can be donated to people in need. Visit FoodPantries.org to find a nearby soup kitchen or food bank. Compost scraps and spoiled items to divert them from landfills. For composting instructions by the USDA, visit Tinyurl.com/USDAcompost

Ana Reisdorf is a registered dietitian and freelance writer with more than 15 years of experience in the fields of nutrition and dietetics.

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Eating Sustainably

BY

PREVENTING FOOD WASTE

by Lauren Simon

Food is one of our most basic necessities, yet it’s also one of our largest sources of waste. The Environmental Protection Agency reports that food waste is the most common material landfilled and incinerated in the U.S. Approximately one-third of food produced for human consumption nationally is lost or wasted, totaling a $1 trillion loss each year, according to the World Food Programme (WFP).

Different from food loss, food waste includes all of our discarded or recycled food. This might be peels and rinds from fruits and vegetables or spoiled food products and uneaten leftovers in the fridge at home. Food loss accounts for unused food such as unharvested crops or food lost at the pre- and post- agricultural production stages. There’s no doubt that populations suffering from hunger are impacted by these substantial losses as well as our environment that supports food production. Food waste also means wasted land, water, energy and labor.

Greenhouse gasses are produced in landfills, and food waste is surely not a small contributor. The WFP cites that over 3 billion tons of greenhouse gasses produced are a result of our food waste, exacerbating our global climate crisis. Not only is carbon dioxide emitted from the production, transportation and handling of food, but methane is produced when our waste ends up in landfills.

We can all take a step toward sustainability by preventing food waste at home. Only buying what’s needed at the grocery

store each week and managing portions to prevent plate waste are some practices to start with. Keeping an eye on food expiration dates is also critical. The common “Best if Used By” label recommends how long a certain product will maintain its best quality. This is why shopping lists are important in planning ahead; we can avoid food spoilage by only buying what we will use in a given week. Extra food products in the fridge or pantry can be donated to those in need.

Food banks or pantries and food rescue organizations are a few places that accept donations. Take a look at Feeding

HOURS: Tues-Fri 10am-5pm Sat 10am-4pm Closed

Photo

America’s Find Your Local Food Bank tool ( www. FeedingAmerica.org/find-your-local-foodbank) to locate nearby donation recipients.

Saving leftovers can be a great way to conserve food while meal prepping for a busy week ahead. This can be done by packing leftovers in small containers to be used over the course of three to four days. Sustainable eating also has much to do with what we eat and where we buy it. Opt for more plant-based meals by reducing the amount of meat in your diet, and shop local at farmers markets; explore the USDA Local Food Directories (www.usdalocalfoodportal.com) to find one close to home.

Small changes can make big differences, and there are many ways we can be more proactive in our sustainable eating journey.

allergies, autism, ADHD,

Charlotte Nussbaum, MD, a triple board-certified pediatrician and internist can work with you to reclaim your and your family’s health.

Lauren Simon is a freelance writer with a passion for holistic health and a contributor to Natural Awakenings.

THE ESSENCE OF Breathwork

by Martha Klein

In this modern era filled with stress and anxiety, breathwork helps people calm down, focus and achieve better health. There are many reasons why breathwork is trending right now, and how it’s used to naturally boost both mental and physical health and well-being.

BREATHWORK AS MEDITATION

Breathwork has recently become quite popular, yet there may be misconceptions about it. Often, people associate this “new trend” of breathing exercises and breathing to heal with meditation practices. But this is not exactly accurate. Breathwork is a field all its own. While closely affiliated and often confused with yoga and meditation, breathwork and breathing exercises can be done effectively without combining them with other physical or mental exercise practices. Breathwork stands alone as a healing modality and tool for physical and mental fitness. By regulating our breathing through various techniques, we can improve our overall health. Breathwork consists of breathing exercises, done with or without meditation, that will help achieve balance with our body and mind.

We can think of breathwork exercises as lifeblood enhancers since they increase the capability of the body to bring in more oxygen. People won’t realize the power of breathwork until they try it. It’s one of the most uncomplicated and natural ways to enhance our mental, physical and spiritual health.

HISTORY OF BREATHWORK

Over the centuries, people have pursued mental well-being through various meditative practices. Breathwork resurfaced from diverse ancient cultures and religions. It’s mostly rooted in the Eastern practices of tai chi, Buddhism or yoga, but historically it also includes qigong, Sufism, Taoism, Hinduism, Christianity and even martial arts. Apart from the obvious “spiritual” benefits, breathwork has gained popularity for its guaranteed health benefits.

Western civilization did not place much value on breathwork until the 1960s. Since then, many techniques have been introduced and deemed effective, and breathwork has become a “new” activity that has caught on around the world.

HEALTH BENEFITS OF BREATHING EXERCISES

While breathwork is often confused with yoga, it is just as powerful and has just as many health benefits. Many medical doctors are now recommending breathwork as a supple-

ment to traditional Western medications. By simply learning some new techniques to control our breath through alternating patterns, lengths, inhalation, exhalation or even retention, we can reduce our stress levels and our heart rate and relax.

BREATHWORK CALMS AND RELAXES

We can achieve a peaceful mental state by practicing breathwork. The method allows us to intake more oxygen into our bloodstream and breathe out toxins. Then, increased oxygenated blood flow helps calm our nerves which helps relax our thoughts when we are stressed or anxious, and it will

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also help increase our performance levels.

BREATHWORK ENCOURAGES MINDFULNESS

Mindfulness refers to paying attention to the present without any judgment or negative thinking. It helps us gain control over our emotions and stay stress free. Also, breathing exercises focus on present-time breathing which works as a mindfulness practice.

BREATHWORK STRENGTHENS LUNGS

The lungs are a vital organ of our bodies that regulate the entire breathing process. Breathwork helps us improve our lung capacity and strengthen our lungs overall. So, we’ll have better oxygen intake, and this promotes better mental and physical health.

BREATHWORK IMPROVES SLEEP

Too much worry and stress can deprive us of sleep, which can have a huge negative impact on our well-being. Breathing exercises can significantly ease our stress and anxiety, which in turn promotes better, more restful sleep.

SOME FINAL TIPS

Manipulating our breath for mental and physical well-being is a simple task that takes practice to master. Just as people work with personal trainers at the gym to get a jumpstart on their physical fitness, working with a breathing instructor can help us fast track our breathing workouts and personalize our experience. We can also learn breathwork in online classes or even on YouTube. Enjoy the journey.

Martha Kein is school director of The American Yoga Academy, a world-renowned, online, yoga teacher training school, that has trained and certified yoga instructors for 30 years, and where all are welcome. For more information, call 973-731-9960 or email info@AmericanYogaAcademy.

The 4-7-8 Breathing Technique

This breathing exercise is known specifically for promoting better sleep, calming nerves and swirling minds, and managing reactive emotions and anxiety. The 4-78 Breath is used to promote relaxation and counteract the fight-or-flight nervous response we experience when we are stressed.

For those experiencing racing and swirling thoughts that prevent relaxation and sleep, 4-7-8 Breath can help. Some have even called the technique a natural tranquilizer.

HOW TO PRACTICE 4-7-8 BREATH

Inhale for four seconds, hold the breath for seven seconds and exhale for eight seconds.

PREPARE

1. Sit in a comfortable, upright position or lay in bed.

2. Place our hands on our knees with palms facing upward.

3. Close our eyes.

BREATHE

1. INHALE. Breathe through the nose for four seconds.

2. RETAIN. Hold the breath for a count of seven seconds.

3. EXHALE. Exhale forcefully through the nose for eight seconds.

4. REPEAT. Repeat steps one to three.

CHECK

n Steps one to three constitute one cycle of 4-7-8 Breathing.

n Perform four to eight rounds per sitting. If using this exercise to fall asleep, perform it as long as we feel like doing it.

n The best time to perform this relaxing, tranquilizing exercise is before bed.

MEDICAL AND HEALTH CONSIDERATIONS

This breathing exercise is suitable for everyone. However, it may be more difficult for children, pregnant women and elderly people to retain the breath for seven counts and exhale for eight counts. If this happens, just count faster instead of changing the ratio of the breaths.

As with any new exercise, stop it feels uncomfortable. Breathwork is an excellent way to improve health and well-being, although it is not a substitute for medical treatment. Consult a doctor if there’s a medical condition. Enjoy the journey.

Source: Martha Kein, school director of The American Yoga Academy, a world-renowned, online, yoga teacher training school that has trained and certified yoga instructors for 30 years, and where all are welcome. For more information, call 973-731-9960 or email info@AmericanYogaAcademy.

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THE RESTORATIVE GIFT OF Traveling Solo

by Kelly Steward

Consider our “to do” list ... that seemingly never-ending mental scroll that if it was rolled out, it might stretch the entire length of a football field. It’s the list that we add to when we wake up in the middle of the night thanks to our new water intake goals. It’s the list that is not only our own—the kids add to it when they have a project due or need a new dress for the school dance or when they get invited to the third bar mitzvah this school year. Husbands and bosses also get to add to the list, at will. As many tasks as we are able to check off, we never quite seem to be able to catch up.

There comes a time each year when I stop checking off and start to check out. It’s the gift to myself that I never regret –The Solo Trip. Yes, I do a family trip every year and I’m always down for a good girl’s trip, but I really look forward to my trip alone. It may sound selfish, but it’s not self-ish, it’s self-preservation. It’s an investment in my mental health. It’s the pinnacle of my self-care journey for the season.

At first it was awkward; being on vacation by myself. I felt like a new colt, trying to get my legs under me. Dining alone felt like I was on display at the Bronx Zoo. Come look at this exotic creature: the Lone Wolf Woman. I had to engage in some positive self-talk to change my perspective. The greatest gift I could give myself was to stop making excuses and gift myself these trips that feed my soul. A few days away, being next to the beach restores my soul. The walks along the water’s edge marveling in God’s creation bring me a peace that I don’t get anywhere else. These feelings of being overwhelmed and the stress that is associated with walking out this thing called life melt away with each wave I hear crash on the shore. Just sit and imagine for a moment how it feels to have many hours to ourselves with no one needing or demanding anything from us. Now expand the imagination to include days. In this scheduled “Me” time, I’ll go get a massage, sit by the pool and sunbathe, read on the beach, go shopping at the mall …

whatever my brain can dream up and my pockets can afford.

The prospect of solo travel can be daunting. The logistics alone are enough to elicit anxiety in the most organized of individuals. What airline to travel, to stay in a hotel or Airbnb or Vrbo, to rent a car or to call an uber … these are just a few of the cares that we don’t have to take on should we choose to hire a professional travel agent. Check out www.TravelsStateOfMind.com to assist with your travel needs. Don’t be afraid to ask questions. This is an investment in our mental health … make sure you do research.

Decide which type of trip will bring about the most benefits including peace of mind, whether it features the relaxing sounds of waves or the majestic views from mountains. Determine how much time that’s available to be away. Factor in not only vacation time, but the commitments of others in the household. We don’t want to be in a situation where we’re attempting to relax and can’t because we’re thinking and wondering if everyone is where they need to be. Once we cross our t’s and dot our i’s, surrender control. We can’t be everyone’s everything. People can and will survive without us for a few days.

Plan out the trip, but be flexible in the itinerary. Sometimes the trip doesn’t go as planned. Once I chose a sunny, warm destination and it rained all week long. At first, disappointment began to seep into my bones, but then I changed the narrative. What other time could I nap as much as I want to and lazily walk around the condo in my pjs, putting off my shower and reveling in the ability to do nothing. It was the most restorative trip I’ve ever been on in my life. I invite us all to try the solo trip. It’s almost a guaranteed return on our investment.

Kelly Steward (KSteward0406@gmail.com) is a freelance writer, compensation manager and mother of two teenagers. She is a South Jersey local with a passion for travel. When she’s not writing, Kelly showcases her compassion toward young people and women through various philanthropic initiatives.

B er Health Begins Here…

OUTDOOR SAFETY FOR PETS HELPFUL TIPS TO NAVIGATE HAZARDS

by Paige Cerulli

With nicer spring weather, pets will likely spend more time outside. Whether lounging in the backyard, taking a walk around the neighborhood or venturing out to a dog park, our awareness of potential dangers is important. Despite the risks, there is no reason to keep pets cooped up. With diligence, protecting our furry best friends can become second nature as we safely enjoy the great outdoors together with our pets.

HOME AND YARD

A fenced yard might seem like a safe space for pets, but that is not always the case. “Pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers are just a few of the toxic substances that could be in a pet owner’s yard,” explains veterinarian Alex Schechter, of Burrwood Veterinary, in Royal Oak, Michigan. “These substances can harm dogs and cats if they are consumed or come into contact with a pet’s skin.”

A 2013 study published in Environmental Research found that dogs exposed to professionally applied lawn care pesticides

had a 70 percent higher risk of developing canine malignant lymphoma than dogs that were not exposed to these products.

Schechter recommends that pet owners choose non-chemical lawn management methods that are safe for pets, like neem oil or diatomaceous earth. “Reduce the use of chemicals by using organic farming practices or natural fertilizers,” he says.

Veterinarian Dwight Alleyne, an advisor at Betterpet, cautions that a yard might be home to plants that are poisonous to pets. “Some of these plants could include lilies, sago palms, tulips and oleander,” he advises. “It is important for pet owners who have a backyard to be able to identify any potential hazards before leaving their pet out unattended.”

NEIGHBORS’ YARDS

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, mouse or rat poison is a popular pest control choice that kills by causing excessive bleeding. Use of this product can be extremely dangerous to

pets if they ingest either a poisoned rodent or the poison itself. Schechter warns, “If you see bait stations or dead rats, those areas may have been treated with a rodenticide.” He advises pet owners to have a conversation with their neighbors, suggesting the use of snap or electronic traps as more humane and less toxic alternatives.

DRIVEWAYS

Coal tar sealants used on driveways contain polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) that, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, may pass through skin or be inhaled. In large amounts, PAHs can irritate eyes and breathing, and several PAHs are carcinogenic in humans. Avoid sealing driveways with any coal tar products. When out for walks, pet owners should keep their dogs off other driveways, as well.

OUTDOOR EXCURSIONS

Dog parks carry several risks, including exposure to intestinal parasites. A 2020 study found that 85 percent of the 288 dog parks sampled had at least one dog infected with gastrointestinal parasites like Giardia, hookworms, whipworms or roundworms. These parasites can be transmitted when dogs eat or sniff poop.

“It is recommended that your dog is on a monthly heartworm preventative, which can help protect against common parasites that they may encounter,” says Alleyne. If a dog regularly visits dog parks, a vet can perform a fecal exam to identify and treat any intestinal parasites that the dog may have contracted.

When visiting ponds and lakes, beware of blue-green algae bacteria, which commonly proliferate in freshwater bodies, particularly during summer months. Dogs can ingest algae by playing in or drinking the water, or when licking their paws. In large quantities, algae can be toxic to dogs (and humans). Because algae are not always visible, keeping dogs leashed around bodies of fresh water is best.

Paige Cerulli is a freelance writer in Western Massachusetts specializing in the health and care of pets.

The Earth as Muse

INSPIRATION MEETS CONSERVATION

by Marlaina Donato

The Earth is both our mother and our muse, sustaining our lives and blessing us with beauty when we make time to notice her perpetual creative forces. She has long inspired expressive souls of all disciplines, but some of our modern innovators are merging talent with the urgent need to minimize toxic impact. This eco-vision has resulted in some awe-inspiring efforts.

In an awareness-based art installation he calls Ice Watch, Danish-Icelandic artist Olafur Eliasson collected 30 blocks of glacial ice found free-floating near Greenland and placed them in public settings across London where passersby could observe them melting.

Artists John Dahlsen and Rox De Luca spotlight the plastic waste catastrophe in their sculptures and paintings by using debris washed up on the shores of Australia’s beaches. Their sculptural assemblages hang from ceilings and criss-cross walls, driving home the prediction by the World Economic Forum that by 2050 our precious oceans will be more crowded with plastic than marine life.

When creating our own art, we can join these stirring visionaries by minimizing toxic impacts.

Buy Earth-friendly art supplies for the kids

The common crayon contains chemicals like formaldehyde and asbestos, which are harmful to humans and the planet. Opt for biodegradable glitter, non-toxic modeling clays and recycled paper. For more sustainable supply ideas, visit Tinyurl.com/EcoArtSupplies

Get creative with single-use trash items. Paper towel cardboard rolls, plastic shopping bags, bottles, straws and cutlery can be turned into fun projects for kids, teens and adults. Whimsical mobiles, sculptures and magical miniature cities are just a few ideas to conjure while contributing to Earth Day every day. For more ideas, visit Tinyurl.com/ SingleUseTrashToArt

Inspire environmentalism by choosing art implements that celebrate nature. Consider

using alternatives to toxic solvents, pigments and varnishes. Look for sustainable brushes made from bamboo or corn and easels fashioned from eucalyptus wood.

Marlaina Donato is a visionary painter who hosts art exhibits for community healing. She is also an author and composer. Connect at WildflowerLady.com

Image courtesy of JohnDahlsen.com

~Joshua Becker

Gary’s Gem Garden

by Nancy Smith Seigle

Rockhounding started early for the owner and operator of Gary’s Gem Garden, in Mount Laurel. At just 11, and already dually gifted with an interest in all things science and art, Gary Weinstein began field collecting stones, gems and minerals of all types.

This early hobby eventually led him down the path to creating what is now the largest and oldest rock shop on the East Coast. “This fall, we will celebrate a milestone anniversary for the store, its 50th year in operation,” Weinstein says. “I have customers coming in pushing their children in strollers, telling me their parents first brought them in the store when they were in strollers.”

The other half of the store showcases minerals, crystals, metaphysical items, fossils, shells, tumbled gemstones, trees, wands, spheres, eggs, obelisks, pyramids, animal carvings, bookends, agate slabs, meteorites and much more.

Supporting causes is also important to this storied rock shop. “We are primary advocates for Alzheimer’s Awareness and show our continued support through the Alzheimer’s Association by making personal donations, fundraising and participating in the Walk to End Alzheimer’s in Ocean City,” Gary says, explaining his own mother, Estelle, suffered from the disease. “Our staff has crossed paths with this unkind disease in their own lives, so we make it a personal mission to support the Alzheimer’s Association and its purpose to raise awareness and fund the research necessary to, one day, end Alzheimer’s.”

Community minded, Gary’s Gem Garden holds family-friendly events throughout the year such as scavenger hunts for all ages with fun prizes. “Emily and Michelle make up our very personable staff. They are well-recognized and liked by our customers and are such a big help to us,” Gary says. “They actively engage our customers making Gary’s Gem Garden feel more like a family … They are the reason we can celebrate 50 years of service.”

Gary’s Gem Garden offers a wide variety of services including jewelry and watch cleaning and repair, machine and hand engraving, laser welding and plating, remounting and resizing rings, replacing and repairing clasps as well as restringing pearls and other beads.

While much has stayed the same, a lot has also changed since 1973. Plugged into multiple social media accounts like Instagram, Facebook and TikTok, along with a constantly updated website and easy texting capabilities, Gary’s Gem Garden customers stay connected and current with new products and services and can even enjoy shopping from the comfort of their own homes. Last year, the store initiated a loyalty program to give back and show appreciation for their many faithful customers.

He and his wife Denise have maintained high standards for their business throughout the decades, sourcing products from all over the world. New and unusual items are added daily. Half of this unique store displays pieces made from sterling silver, gold and platinum, beautifully designed by Gary and other artisans. Genuine gemstones in all forms including faceted and cabochons, and beads are also on display.

“We will even repair costume jewelry, something other jewelry stores turn down,” Gary says. “We also repair pocketbooks, shoes, statuary, in-laid boxes, etc.”

Gary’s Gem Garden is located at 3119 Rte. 38, Ste. 1, in Mount Laurel. For more information, call or text 856-795-5077, email info@GarysGemGarden or visit www.GarysGemGarden.com

Clockwise from the top: Gary Weinstein, Michelle Freilick, Emily Fonollosa and Denise Weinstein

THE WINDS OF CHANGE

YOUNG ACTIVISTS PURSUE CLIMATE JUSTICE AND GREEN LIVING

by Sheila Julson

Born in the mid-to-late 1990s up to the early 2010s, Generation Z environmental activists agree that urgent action is needed to achieve climate justice, and they’re willing to do what it takes to get results.

“Climate and environmental justice and environmental racism are very big concerns among youth, whether or not they are youth of color. It’s not just about energy, water or air—it’s also very much about people,” says Ana Garcia-Doyle, executive director of One Earth Collective.

The Chicago nonprofit inspires action, facilitates learning and promotes environmental justice through annual programs like the One Earth Film Festival and One Earth Youth Voices, a summit designed to give voice to the next generation’s environmental concerns.

Kristi Blokhin/ ShutterStock.com

TEENS TAKE CHARGE

Marin Chalmers, a sophomore at Oak Park River Forest High School, in Illinois, and member of One Earth’s Youth Advisory Council, has been participating in the One Earth Young Filmmakers contest since the seventh grade. Her short documentary, Sondaica, is about wildlife and ecosystems.

Chalmers credits One Earth with helping her connect with people that normally would not be involved with climate activism. Her peers share in the understanding that there’s a climate crisis. “The Earth is breaking,” she explains. “We need to fix it. Everybody needs to do a better job of taking action.” Getting people to pay attention is challenging, Chalmers laments, especially given America’s overwhelming dependence on automobiles and the lack of public transportation. “A lot of people want to help, but just don’t know how,” she notes. “Some people don’t have the financial ability to make environmentally sound choices.”

Although individual action can help mitigate climate change, 16-year-old Sebastian Delgado, a Revolutionary Youth Action League (ROYAL) volunteer, blames polluting, profit-driven corporations for the climate crisis. “The biggest threat to our climate and people of color is capitalism,” he explains. “We need a new economic system that’s not based on profit.”

ROYAL volunteers like Delgado collaborated with Marlene Brito-Millán, Ph.D., an ecology assistant professor at Loyola University Chicago, and Dr. Bryan Ramson, a nuclear physicist and research associate at Fermilab, to craft a s ocial justice plan that incorporates climate town hall meetings to raise awareness and develop action plans. According to Delgado, even when concerned citizens contact their elected representatives, leaders can be slow to act. “Climate change has been happening for decades, and we’re still dealing with the same issues,” he remarks, adding that bold ideas and unwavering action are needed when government officials won’t listen to their constituents.

GREENING URBAN AREAS

In Austin, a predominantly Black neighborhood on the west side of Chicago,

two 20-year-olds, Cortez Dean and Ethan Horne, work at paid internships in an urban farming program called Austin Grown, which raises chickens and maintains gardens with vegetables and native pollinators.

A collaboration between One Earth Collective and BUILD Chicago, a nationally respected youth development organization, Austin Grown serves urban communities where fruits and vegetables are hard to find. The organization also offers gardening and healthy eating classes to the public.

Dean is learning firsthand how climate change adversely affects farms, gardens and forests where food and medicinal plants are grown. During a summer heat wave, he witnessed a sewer pipe explode, filling his neighborhood with a powerful stench, and he worries that aging infrastructure will contaminate their drinking water.

“People assume there’s time to solve climate change, but we’re not slowing things down. There’s a lot of work to be done,” Horne says, noting that food deserts disproportionately affect communities of color. “There are lots of areas with no grocery stores, or stores that only offer chips and candy, but no fruits and vegetables.”

Dean and Horne concur that gardening provides needed green infrastructure and nutritional food to underserved populations. “I didn’t fully understand climate change

until I put my hands into the soil. When you do that, you’ll see Earth for what it is—and the damage we’ve done to it,” Dean says.

ACTIVISM ON UNIVERSITY CAMPUSES

Originally from Waukesha County, Wisconsin, 21-year-old Grace Arnold feels lucky to have attended two schools with strong environmental programs and student engagement. At the University of Vermont, she participated in marches against fossil fuels and joined lively discussions about climate-related racism at the Social Justice Coalition. Now a student at University of Texas at Austin, she is enrolled in environmental studies classes and notes, “Students are forming environmental clubs. I’m grateful to again be surrounded by people trying to get their voices heard.”

Arnold was a social media volunteer for Plastic-Free MKE, a Milwaukee-based organization dedicated to reducing single-use plastic waste. She credits social media as a powerful tool that helps her generation reach people and organize activism. “Climate change is intertwined with social, economic and political issues,” she relates. “But small actions can make big impacts—and voting is a powerful thing.”

Sheila Julson is a freelance writer and contributor to Natural Awakenings magazine.

The Refill Market Advancing Waste Reduction and Sustainability

by Nancy Smith Seigle

In the early 1990s, Tina Solak was bringing reusable bags to the grocery store and getting strange looks from the checkout people for what’s now an expected practice.

Fast forward to 2021. That’s when this long-time, committed environmentalist launched The Refill Market, in Haddon Township. “I was first inspired by a refill store I visited out of the area,” she says. “I knew then I wanted to bring low-waste shopping to my own community.”

Education and encouragement are key. “It can be very overwhelming at first for people to begin thinking about the devastating consequences something like plastic has for our planet,” Solak adds. With less than 10 percent of plastic recycled, it takes hundreds of years for each item to break down. This means every single piece of plastic ever manufactured still exists.

For those that want to learn more about reducing waste, but don’t know how, Solak advises, “Start small, but start somewhere.”

And The Refill Market is a great place to begin. Customers can bring their own clean, dry and empty reusable containers (or purchase them at the store). The next step is weighing and labeling each empty container, then filling up with product and weighing it again, subtracting the weight of the empty container. This way customers pay for the

products only.

The facility offers a wide array of high-quality products including bath and personal care items, kitchen, laundry and cleaning products, as well as baby and pet care items. Everything from liquid hand soap, sanitizer, shampoo, conditioner and body soap to lip and cheek tint, toothpaste, dental floss and sunscreen is available. “Our products are all natural, mild and good for the whole family. We have a baby barrier balm that is very popular and effective,” she says. “We also have a nice variety of unique gift items for sale.”

The forward-thinking, planet-friendly store also provides onsite recycling of certain otherwise-would-be-trash items for their customers, such as crayons, writing instruments, oral care products, razors, Brita filters, plastic bags, drink pouches and bottle caps and many others. It’s estimated they have already saved local landfills 7,000-plus plastic containers. Committed to informing, inspiring and educating others about waste reduction, Solak often gives tours of her facility, recently hosting a local Girl Scout troop.

A registered New Jersey Sustainable Business, The Refill Market also offers online shopping, a bottle-return program, curbside pick-up and delivery to some areas.

Location: 10 Haddon Ave. For more information including on sustainable living and adopting low-waste practices, visit www.TheRefillMarketNJ.com.

quick links

What Would

Do If

-Thermography is a physiologic breast health risk assessment tool utilizing medical infra-red imaging technology without damaging compression and radiation.

-Thermography shows the earliest possible indication of abnormalities which allows for the earliest possible intervention.

-Thermography allows women to maintain their dignity while empowering them to be proactive in their health and wellness concerns.

What It Means to be ‘Green’

CHOOSING SUSTAINABLE PRODUCTS AT HOME

by Lauren Simon

Many of the products we take off of the shelf at stores these days may have one or more of these words on their labels: green, eco-friendly, non-toxic and natural.

Now more than ever, we can see how many companies and manufacturers distinguishtheir products as “green” or ones that are made with our environmental and personal health in mind. From beauty products to household cleaners, disinfectants and even food packaging, we use several types of products every day. How often, or how little, do we think about the broader impacts of them should be considered.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reports on the various effects of the products we use, including toxic exposure, air and water pollution, and climate change. Actually, the damage starts before we even use these items. These impacts take their toll during the manufacturing, packaging and distribution stages. These environmental and health risks can present themselves in different ways. The ingredients in some cleaning products can cause skin and eye irritation or pose a health threat to aquatic species. Product packaging that is made with heavy metals, BPA and phthalates can be equally as problematic.

DEFINING A SUSTAINABLE PRODUCT

Some characteristics of what constitutes a sustainable product can include the absence of corrosive or irritating substances and ozone-depleting compounds. Whether or not renewable resources are used in the product is also closely considered. Biodegradability, low toxicity to aquatic environments and limited fragrance content also fit within these criteria.

In regard to product packaging, a sustainable item might look like one with recyclable or lightweight packaging, products shipped in bulk, or one that is reusable, like a refillablebottle.

Eco-labels can be good indicators of a safe and healthy product. According to a recent article in U.S. News and World Report, some labels we might see could be “USDAOrganic,” “Non-GMO Project Verified,” “Carbon Neutral Certified,” and “Regener-

ative Organic Certified.” The EPA advises approaching these labels with a critical eye; whenpurchasing green products and services, we can consider the company’s reputation or if they are managed by the EPA or other government agency.

FINDING AND USING SUSTAINABLE PRODUCTS

Treehugger.com emphasizes the importance of scanning the ingredient list on products rather than simply taking eco-labels at face value. Both quality and quantity matter here; truly green products can be identified through specific ingredients and the length of the ingredient list itself. This is especially crucial when shopping for food, cosmetics and household cleaning products.

Recyclable packaging, such as glass, metal and paper, or just less packaging as a whole, is significantly more sustainable. Purchasing products locally, such as produce at farmers markets, also reduces the costs and environmental impacts of transportation and distribution.

The list of products we use every day seems endless, but we can start by becoming more mindful of common household products we use. Using biodegradable laundry and dish detergents as well as opting for reusable cloths instead of disposable wipes are small changes we can make. Although convenient, single-use coffee pod machines are best avoided; the plastic and aluminum pods that aren’t recycled end up becoming yet another addition to our landfills. We can even make our own eco-friendly household cleaner from items we might find at home, like water, vinegar and baking soda.

Whether it’s reusable shopping bags at the grocery store or safer ingredients in our favorite foods, we can all contribute in small ways to the health of one another and our planet.

Lauren Simon is a freelance writer with a passion for holistic health and a contributor to Natural Awakenings

Photo by pexels-vlada-karpovich-6634652.jpg

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

WARNING: NOT FOR THE TREATMENT OF OBESITY OR FOR WEIGHT LOSS

• Thyroid hormones, including TIROSINT-SOL, either alone or with other therapeutic agents, should not be used for the treatment of obesity or for weight loss.

• In euthyroid patients, doses within the range of daily hormonal requirements are ineffective for weight reduction.

• Larger doses may produce serious or even life-threatening manifestations of toxicity, particularly when given in association with sympathomimetic amines such as those used for their anorectic effects.

Contraindications

• Hypersensitivity to glycerol

• Uncorrected adrenal insufficiency

Warnings and Precautions

• Cardiac adverse reactions in the elderly and in patients with underlying cardiovascular disease: Initiate TIROSINT-SOL at less than the full replacement dose because of the increased risk of cardiac adverse reactions, including atrial fibrillation

• Myxedema coma: Do not use oral thyroid hormone drug products to treat myxedema coma

• Acute adrenal crisis in patients with concomitant adrenal insufficiency: Treat with replacement glucocorticoids prior to initiation of TIROSINT-SOL treatment

• Prevention of hyperthyroidism or incomplete treatment of hypothyroidism: Proper dose titration and careful monitoring is critical to prevent the persistence of hypothyroidism or the development of hyperthyroidism

• Worsening of diabetic control: Therapy in patients with diabetes mellitus may worsen glycemic control and result in increased antidiabetic agent or insulin requirements. Carefully monitor glycemic control after starting, changing, or discontinuing thyroid hormone therapy

• Decreased bone mineral density associated with thyroid hormone over-replacement: Over-replacement can increase bone reabsorption and decrease bone mineral density. Give the lowest effective dose

Limitations of Use

• Not indicated for suppression of benign thyroid nodules and nontoxic diffuse goiter in iodine-sufficient patients

• Not indicated for treatment of transient hypothyroidism during the recovery phase of subacute thyroiditis

Adverse Reactions

Adverse reactions associated with TIROSINT-SOL are primarily those of hyperthyroidism due to therapeutic overdosage including: arrhythmias, myocardial infarction, dyspnea, muscle spasm, headache, nervousness, irritability, insomnia, tremors, muscle weakness, increased appetite, weight loss, diarrhea, heat intolerance, menstrual irregularities, and skin rash

Pixel-Shot/ ShutterStock.com

Thyroid medication: why less really is more

by Dr. Raquel Espinol

Introduction

The thyroid gland regulates metabolism by releasing hormones called thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3). When the thyroid underperforms, it causes everything in your body to work less efficiently. This is known as hypothyroidism. Hypothyroidism affects more than 30 million American adults and is five to eight times more common in females.1 By conservative estimates, one in eight women will develop hypothyroidism.1

The most common cause of hypothyroidism is an autoimmune disease called Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. This makes up 75-85% of hypothyroid cases. Oftentimes, people with Hashimoto’s struggle to find a medication or treatment plan that works for them and continue to suffer through symptoms like:

• Fatigue

• Feeling cold

• Losing hair

• Gaining weight

• Depression

While there are many treatment options for hypothyroidism, not all are created equal. Selecting the most appropriate one is vital to managing this disease.

What can interfere with hypothyroid therapy?

Some commonly used prescription drugs that can interfere with thyroid medication absorption and efficacy:

• Antacids

• Lithium

• Amiodarone

• Antibiotics

• Antidepressants

• Dopamine agonists

• Colestipol

• Cholestyramine

• Estrogen, testosterone

Thyroid hormones: T3 and T4

The two hormones to remember are T4 (thyroxine) and T3 (triiodothyronine). T4 circulates throughout your bloodstream and is stored in your tissues until needed. Once your body finds a need, it converts T4 into T3. Establishing the exact levels of T4 and T3, and determining if the conversion process is working normally, are critical to designing the best treatment approach.

While most healthcare providers understand the critical nature of T4 to T3 conversion, many fail to recognize the factors that affect this process. These include:

• Nutritional deficiencies/excesses

• Autoimmune diseases

• Gastrointestinal diseases such as celiac disease, acid reflux, or irritable bowel syndrome

• Use of interfering medications like proton pump inhibitors (Nexium® and Prevacid®, for example) or H2 blockers (Tagamet®, for example), which inhibit the dissolution and absorption of thyroid hormone tablets

• The body’s own obstacles to converting T4 to T3

Some people continue to suffer from hypothyroid symptoms despite being on medication for years. But with some effort, patients can work with their doctor to find an approach that works for them.

Some commonly used nutraceuticals that can interfere with the absorption of thyroid medicines:

• Iron

• Calcium

• Magnesium

• Chromium picolinate

Some foods that can interfere with absorption of medication:

• Soy products

• High-fiber/high-bran foods

• Calcium-enriched foods/beverages

Digestive complications or diseases such as celiac disease, autoimmune gastritis, and irritable bowel syndrome can also complicate thyroid hormone therapy.

Make sure to discuss with your doctor all of your medical conditions, medications (both prescription and nonprescription), and nutritional supplements before starting or switching thyroid hormone therapy.

Dr. Raquel Espinol graduated with honors and received her doctorate in naturopathic medicine from Sonoran University of Health Sciences (formerly Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine). She struggled with her own thyroid condition, which was not successfully managed until she discovered naturopathic medicine and worked with a naturopathic doctor to control her condition. This firsthand success inspired her to pursue a career in naturopathic medicine specializing in thyroid diseases.

Dr. Espinol works with men and women addressing thyroid conditions, hormone imbalances, and weight loss. She is licensed to practice in Arizona, California, Oregon, Washington, Utah, and Montana.

Common choices for treating hypothyroidism

The most common treatments for hypothyroidism include T4 monotherapy with levothyroxine, natural desiccated thyroid (NDT) aka “glandular thyroid,” and a regimen of T4 and T3 medications taken together. Figuring out the best option for you may take some time. See the accompanying chart for pros/cons of commonly used hypothyroidism therapies.

T4 monotherapy

Pros:

• Current standard of care for hypothyroidism

• Proven safe and effective

• Available at all pharmacies

• Usually low cost

Cons:

• GI conditions, medications, sensitivities to excipients/ inactive ingredients in tablet formulations can interfere with absorption and tolerability

Natural desiccated thyroid (NDT)

Pros:

• Contains both key thyroid hormones: T4 and T3

• An option for people who need supplemental T3

Cons:

• Derived from thyroid glands of pigs – an issue for vegans

• NDT therapies are tablets that contain excipients or “fillers”

• The T4:T3 ratio contained in NDT tablets is 5:1 – different than the normal human ratio of these hormones

• Can lead to cardiac problems like rapid heartbeat, insomnia, and feelings of anxiety

• It comes from pigs and may contain porcine antigens, which may be problematic for some people

• Not all pharmacies carry NDT products. Not all insurance carriers pay for them

Combined T4 and T3 medication therapy

Pros:

• Consistent potency

• Can be an option for those in need of supplemental T3

• Available at most pharmacies

Cons:

• Two separate medicines that need to be taken daily. T4 is taken once a day; T3 may be recommended in multiple daily doses

• Some insurance plans may require two medication copays

• T3 can be risky for some patients with cardiovascular conditions. Some patients can experience heart palpitations and other side effects

Malabsorption and drug underperformance

Most thyroid hormone therapies come in tablet form. These contain inactive ingredients such as wheat starch (gluten), talc, lactose, sugars, and dyes that help hold the tablet together, but also can impede the absorption of their active ingredient, which results in suboptimal or inconsistent levels of thyroid hormones. When this happens, many patients often believe they need to change medication rather than address the factors that contribute to their therapy’s poor performance. They turn to their physician for new therapies in the hope that these can provide long hopedfor relief from their symptoms.2

Nutritional support

Nutrition can play a role in managing hypothyroidism. However, few patients can treat hypothyroidism with nutritional supplements alone. Some examples of helpful nutritional supplements include inositol, nigella, B vitamins, and selenium. However, excess amounts of certain nutritional supplements can also lead to hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism. Always tell your physician about all drugs and supplements that you are currently taking as well as your soy, fiber, and non-animal product intake.

Thyroid treatment: sometimes less is more Less is often more when it comes to hypothyroid treatment. Tirosint®-SOL (levothyroxine sodium) oral solution is a unique liquid hypothyroid medication made with only three ingredients. It contains no fillers or other ingredients that can irritate your stomach or lead to poor drug absorption. Because it’s a liquid, it doesn’t need to dissolve in your stomach like a tablet or capsule before your body starts to absorb it. It’s not made with any ingredients sourced from animals, and it’s easy to swallow and comes in precise monodose ampules that can be conveniently stored for travel. You can pour it into a glass of water and drink it, or you can squeeze the contents of the ampule directly into your mouth.

Since Tirosint-SOL consists of just water, glycerol, and levothyroxine, it’s a very simple yet effective solution for treating hypothyroidism. This is important to me. Additionally, I want to ensure my patients have consistent access to the thyroid medication that works best for them. That being said, Tirosint-SOL has a generous coupon program and low-cost mail-order option to help patients without insurance or with high insurance copays/ deductibles. These can be found on the product’s website.

So, which treatment is right for you?

Share your answers to the following with your physicians so they can work with you to pick the right option for you:

• Have you been treated for hypothyroidism and are dissatisfied with the results?

• Do you want a simpler approach?

• Do you need a drug that is free of excipients like gluten, dyes, lactose, and preservatives?

• Do you have gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) or another GI condition?

• Problems swallowing?

Please see Important Safety Information on the following page or toward the back of this issue, and Full Prescribing Information at TirosintSOL.com.

References: 1. American Thyroid Association Website. https://www.thyroid.org/mediamain/press-room/. Accessed December 8, 2022. 2. McMillan M, et al. Results of the CONTROL Surveillance Project. Drugs in R&D. 2015;16(1):53-68.

PM-01-22-0089

SOUTH JERSEY’S CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Email Publisher@NASouthJersey.com for guidelines. We advise confirming in advance directly with the business or organization.

FRIDAY, MARCH 31

Intro to Buti Yoga – 6:30-8pm. Buti yoga is a music-driven movement methodology that incorporates dynamic yoga asana, cardio-dance bursts and deep core conditioning. Live in Joy Yoga and Wellness, 118 W Merchant St, Audubon. LiveInJoyYoga.com

SATURDAY, APRIL 1

Bald Eagle Walk: Maurice River Bluffs –10am-12pm. Learn about the plants and wildlife in the area and keep our eyes peeled for the many bald eagles that live there. Free/member, $3/nonmember. Maurice River Bluffs, 1311 Silver Run Rd, Millville. Register: SJLandWater.org

Easter EggstravaganZoo – 10am-2pm. Includes educational displays, live entertainment, scavenger hunt, crafts and live animal encounters. Free. Cape May County Park & Zoo, 707 N Rte 9, Cape May Court House. Tinyurl.com/3yw6zbbh

Hayrides to the Easter Bunny House –10am-4pm. Board the wagon and ride to Bunny Egg-cres where the kids can pick up eggs and trade them in for a chocolate treat inside the bunny house. $7/adult, $15/kids. Duffield’s Farm, 280 Chapel Heights Rd, Sewell. DuffieldsFarm.com

SUNDAY, APRIL 2

Habitat Improvement Day – 12:303:30pm. Help improve habitats at the Nature Center. Invasive plant removal will be a focus. Rancocas Nature Center, 794 Rancocas Rd, Westampton. 609-261-2495. RancocasNatureCenter.org

Intimate Afternoon of Messages –3-4:30pm. Connecting to your Spiritual team for spiritual guidance messages to take a next step on their path or messages from loved ones. $35. Live in Joy Yoga and Wellness, 118 W Merchant St, Audubon. LiveInJoyYoga.com

MONDAY, APRIL 3

Candle Magic Making Class – 6:30pm. Beth O’Brien. Allow yourself to tap into a mighty self-power for manifesting and healing and answering prayers. Everyone will be dressing and learning about the properties of the herbs on their own candle for personal use. All supplies provided. $30. Willow Moon Candles, 2209 Atco Ave, Atco. RSVP required: 609-330-5550. WillowMoonCandle.com

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 5

Vegetable Gardening 101 Workshop –5:30pm. Liz Kleisner, City Green’s director of community horticulture will provide introductory information on healthy garden soil, garden seasonality, watering, maintenance and more to get you started out on the growing season. Zoom. Register: CityGreenOnline.org

How to Stop Negative Thinking – Wednesdays thru May 3. 6:30-8:30pm. 45-min group discussion each week based off a 7-step model that helps us to recognize every type of negative thinking and negative thought pattern and how to stop it. Discussion followed by breathwork, meditation and body movement (yoga). All welcome. $45/class. Must pre-register: 609-744-9445 (text) or Therapy. DeAnnMishler@comcast.net

Moonlit Walk – 8-9:30pm. With Naturalist Gina. Leave your flashlights at home and allow your eyes to adjust. We’ll listen and watch for nocturnal animals while admiring constellations, planets, and satellites. Boundary Creek Natural Resource Area, 515 Creek Rd, Moorestown. Registration required: 609-265-5958 or Co.Burlington.nj.us

SATURDAY, APRIL 8

Wise Women Medicine Retreat –9:30am-4:30pm. With Kathy Milano. Engage the Andean Medicine Wheel, a mythic map, to empower transformation. A day of teaching, ceremony, introspection, sharing and initiation. Ladies only. Soul Sanctuary, 110 Marter Ave, Ste 206, Moorestown. Register: 856-778-1981 or KathyMilano.com

Cooper River Park Cleanup – 10am-12pm. Enjoy the new season as we tidy up the mighty Cooper River. Location TBD. Register: SJLandWater.org

Moonlight Walk – 7-8pm. Join an experienced guide for a night walk in the pines. $5/member, $10/nonmember. Whitesbog Preservation Trust, 120 W Whites Bogs Rd, #34, Browns Mills. 609-893-4646. Whitesbog.org

TUESDAY, APRIL 11

Grief Gathering – 11am. Also held Apr 28, 6:30pm. With Beth O’Brien and April Willard. Community gathering to support each other through grief. Ages 16 and up. Tea and cookies provided. $15. The Center, Life in Balance, 45 S Main St, Medford. 609-975-8379. TheCenterLifeInBalance@gmail.com

SATURDAY, APRIL 15

Farnham Park Cleanup – 10am-12pm. Gloves and bags will be provided. Farnham Park, 1648 Baird Blvd, Camden. Register: SJLandWater.org

Girlfriends Getaway Weekend – Apr 1516. 12-9pm, Sat; 12-6pm, Sun. Vendors on site offering a variety of unique, handmade quality items, all while you socialize and sip delicious Laurita wine with your friends. Live music. Admission free. Laurita Winery, 85 Archertown Rd, New Eqypt. LauritaWinery.com

Spring Ephemeral Wildflower Walk –1-3pm. Take a stroll on the Ravine Nature Trail with Senior Naturalist Jen Bulava to discover fascinating spring wildflowers and their adaptations for survival. Historic Smithville Park & Smith’s Woods, 803 Smithville Rd, Mt Holly. 609-265-5858. Co.Burlington.NJ.us

Wildscaping for Wildlife – 3pm. Wildscaping is a way of designing your property’s landscape to provide habitat for wildlife. Discover all the benefits of this practice, tips and tricks, and take a short hike. $15/ person. Woodford Cedar Run Wildlife Refuge, 4 Sawmill Rd, Medford. Registration required: 856-983-3329 or CedarRun.org

SUNDAY, APRIL 16

Yoga in the Tulips – 9-10am. All-levels yoga class surrounded by thousands of tulips. $30, includes class and entry to the festival. Dalton Farms, 660 Oak Grove Rd, Swedesboro. DaltonFarms.com

Spring Walk – 9-11am. Join naturalist educators Jeff Calhoun and Gina DiMaio for a tour of our local treasure. $15 donation. Saddler’s Woods, 250 MacArthur Blvd, Haddon Township. Registration required: SaddlersWoods.org

Mom & Me Paint and Pamper – 11am-1pm. Artists will guide your painting and supply a variety of bright and cheerful paint colors for you to create your own set of 2 charming, ceramic, heart-shaped boxes. No experience required. Plus get pampered in our party room by stylists from Looks and Lashes Beauty. Paint-a-Treasure Studio Haddon Heights, 615 Station Ave, Haddon Heights. Register: PaintATreasure.com

Between every two pines is a doorway to a new world.

~John Muir

MONDAY, APRIL 17

World Bat Day – 6:30-8pm. Begins with a short hike using bat detectors followed by a presentation in our Covered Pavilion about the bats that call New Jersey home. $15/adult, $10/child. Woodford Cedar Run Wildlife Refuge, 4 Sawmill Rd, Medford. Registration required: 856-983-3329 or CedarRun.org

TUESDAY, APRIL 18

The Energetic Council Meeting – 6-9pm. A network for local South Jersey lightworkers, healers and holistic practitioners to connect, collaborate, and spread love and healing as far as we can. The Venus Moon Crystal Warehouse, 234 Chestnut St, Glendora. Register: Admin@EnergeticCouncil.com

Crystal Bowl Meditation/Reiki – 7-8:30pm. Beth O’Brien, spiritual medium, is back at Halo to share her gift of playing the crystal bowls. $30. Halo Wellness Center, 968 Rte 73 S, Marlton. ElevateYourHealth.com

FRIDAY, APRIL 21

Paint Party: Adults – 6-8pm. Ages 21+ are welcome to join us for a night of painting and fun lead by our Membership Manager, Ashley. No painting experience required. Beginners welcome. Woodford Cedar Run Wildlife Refuge, 4 Sawmill Rd, Medford. Registration required: 856-983-3329 or CedarRun.org

SATURDAY, APRIL 22

Earth Day BioBlitz – Join us for Cedar Run’s first-ever BioBlitz. We’ll be getting out and about exploring all of Cedar Run. Be an observer or just come out and get a behind the scenes look at Cedar Run’s artifacts of all kinds. Woodford Cedar Run Wildlife Refuge, 4 Sawmill Rd, Medford. 856-983-3329. CedarRun.org

Native Plant Sale – 9am-12pm. Native plants are great for your yard and for wildlife, but they can be hard to find. Find plants native to the Pine Barrens and South Jersey at our spring native plant sale. Pinelands Preservation Alliance, 17 Pemberton Rd, Southampton. PinelandsAlliance.org

Earth Day Camden Park Cleanups –10am-12pm. To celebrate Earth Day we will be cleaning up several parks located in Camden. Farnham, Gateway, and Cooper River parks will be on our agenda. 7600 Kaighn Ave, Pennsauken Township. Register: SJLandWater.org

Earth Day Appreciation Spring Kick-Off –10am-2pm. To celebrate Earth Day, 2023, Rancocas staff have organized a spring kickoff of maintenance in the gardens and on our trails. We encourage volunteers to assist. Rancocas Nature Center, 794 Rancocas Rd, Westampton. 609-261-2495. RancocasNatureCenter.org

Earth Day Plant Swap & Shop – 10am3pm. Sustainable, plant-based and garden-themed vendors. Rancocas Woods, 118 Creek Rd, Mt Laurel. RancocasWoodsEventsNShops.com

Fur Baby Fest: Food, Music, Pet Adoptions – 12-7pm. Join 15+ food vendors, live music, games for all ages, face painter, both human and pet vendors, a doggie agility course and pet costume contest. $6/ age 5 & up. Burlington County Fairgrounds, 1990 Jacksonville Jobstown Rd, Columbus. Tinyurl.com/FurBaby2023

Botany Basics – 1-3pm. Join naturalist Gina to learn botany basics and discover a variety of plant species. Will discuss botanical terminology and walk the park trails to practice what we learn. Crystal Lake Park, 2401 Axe Factory Rd, Mansfield. 609-265-5958. Co.Burlington.NJ.us

Intro to TRE Workshop – 1-3pm. Shake your way back to balance and enjoy less stress and tension in your body. Must pre-register; limited spots available. Bring yoga mat and blanket. Donation. The Venus Moon, 234 Chestnut St, Glendora. 856-333-3728. MySacredSerenity.com

Earth Day Ayni Despacho Ceremony –

6:30pm. With Kathy Hardies. Creating a Despacho is a powerful way to create “Ayni” or right relationship with our body, the ancestors, or families, communities, humanity and nature. $40. The Center, Life in Balance, 45 S Main St, Medford. 609-975-8379. TheCenterLifeInBalance@gmail.com

SUNDAY, APRIL 23

Frog Walk – 8:30-11am. Mark Manning will lead visitors around the trails of Whitesbog, making stops along the way to point out, and observe frog habitats, activity areas, food sources and hopefully some frogs. $10/person. Whitesbog Preservation Trust, 120 W Whites Bogs Rd, #34, Browns Mills. 609-893-4646. Whitesbog.org

Forked River Mountain Clean-Up –8:45am-12pm. This will be the 30th Annual Cleanup. Last year volunteers helped to clean up 16 tons of debris making the 29year grand total 733 tons. Pre-registration required: PinelandsAlliance.org

Spring Fling Festival – 11am-6pm. Enjoy a variety of activities, live music and food specials for an unforgettable spring day. Stokelan Winery, 50 Eayrestown Rd, Medford. StokelanWinery.com

TUESDAY, APRIL 25

Spring Bird Walk – 3:30-5pm. Rancocas naturalists will lead multiple spring walks through various habitats to see how many species of birds we can record in the preserve that week. All skill levels welcome. Inclement weather cancels. Free. Rancocas Nature Center, 794 Rancocas Rd, Westampton. 609-261-2495. RancocasNatureCenter.org

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THURSDAY, APRIL 27

Botany Basics – 1-3pm. See Apr 22 listing. Crystal Lake Park, 2401 Axe Factory Rd, Mansfield. 609-265-5958. Co.Burlington.N.us

Holistic Chamber of Commerce Meeting – 6:30pm. Join us for a Holistic Gathering and Nutrition III Seminar Series on What the heck do I eat? How to Shift your Perspective on Eating to Receive the Most Nourishment. Nutritional Wellness Center, 1 Cinnaminson Ave, Ste 206, Palmyra. 856-499-2160. NutritionalWellnessNJ.com.

Sounds By Sunflowers Crystal Bowl Sound Bath: A Multisensory Immersion –7-8:15pmTake an expansive inner journey immersed in an hour of harmonic crystal bowl sound frequencies for mind, body and soul healing as we blend in nature’s soothing sunflower field sounds with the crystal bowl harmonic sound waves. Cherry Hill. Tickets: bit.ly/cc-soundbath

FRIDAY, APRIL 28

Grief Gathering – 6:30pm. See Apr 11 listing. The Center, Life in Balance, 45 S Main St, Medford. 609-975-8379. TheCenterLifeInBalance@gmail.com

SATURDAY, APRIL 29

Brooklawn Park Cleanup – 10am-12pm. Enjoy a wonderful view of the Delaware River while cleaning up around the Brooklawn Community Park. Brooklawn Community Park, Timber Blvd, Brooklawn. Register: SJLandWater.org.

Craft & Antique Show – 10am-3pm. A monthly outdoor market featuring an eclectic mix of local handmade, vintage and antique goods. Rain or shine. Free. Rancocas Woods, 118 Creek Rd, Mt Laurel. RancocasWoodsEventsNShops.com

SUNDAY, APRIL 30

One Love Animal Rescue at Haddon Heights Farmers Market – 10am-1pm. Meet our adoptable animals, do some local shopping and enjoy some live music. Tinyurl.com/4n4tcmz9

PLAN AHEAD

FRIDAY, MAY 12

Meditative Group Drumming Circle –7-9pm. With Sacred Tree Drumming. This group drumming experience will connect you to your heart and the Universe. No drumming experience needed and drums provided if you don’t have one. $25. Massage By Melissa, 698 Main St, Ste A, Lumberton. Register: bit.ly/cc-soundbath

SATURDAY, MAY 13

Babymoon – May 13-14. A relaxing retreat for expecting parents to enjoy a fun get away before baby arrives. Chalfonte Hotel, 301 Howard St, Cape May. Details, Donna Favilla: 609-206-9633. PerinatalHealthllc.com

SUNDAY, MAY 14

Childhood Anxiety: Helping Children Heal – 11am-6pm. Anxiety has many faces, and at this workshop parents, caregivers, and professionals will learn about the psychological and physiological roots of anxiety, why it is on the rise in our children, and what to do to help children better manage it. Virtual. Register: InstituteOfChildPsychology.com

WEDNESDAY, MAY 17

Becoming Fierce – Wednesdays, May 17June 21. 6:30-8:30pm. 6-wk workshop; 45-min mental health discussion each week on how to live life fully. Embodying the powerful, passionate, fiery energy that is the authentic expression of every human being. Learn how to follow your own inner guidance and trust yourself. Discussion followed by breathwork, meditation and body movement (yoga). All welcome. $45/class. Must pre-register: 609-744-9445 (text) or Therapy.DeAnnMishler@comcast.net

SUNDAY, MAY 21

Yoga Cape May Holistic Yoga Retreat –May 21-23. “Listening with our Hearts.” Deepen your experience with yoga and meditation. This retreat can help you connect deep within yourself to discover your true self and allow you to find your own path to wholeness. Experience various styles of yoga and meditation. All levels. $250. The Chalfonte Hotel, Cape May. Info, Karen: 609-827-8886, KBosna28@ yahoo.com or YogaCapeMay.com

Kids Nature Series: Be A Monarch Superhero – 10am. Learn about the life cycle of the Monarch butterfly by studying live specimens, dramatic play and a related craft. $15. Burlington County Agricultural Center, Farmhouse, 500 Centerton Rd, Moorestown. Tickets: Tinyurl.com/4wwyjbbh

SUNDAY, JUNE 25

Holistic Health & Wellness Fair – 125pm. Crescent Shriners, 700 Highland Dr, Westampton. Interested exhibitors: Info@Connect2Holistics.com Connect2Holistics.com

ONGOING

NASouthJersey.com can help you access the resources you need for help in staying healthy and happy!

DAILY

Pinelands Juried Photo Exhibit – Thru Apr 28. 12-5pm, Sun; 10am-4pm, Mon-Thurs; 10am-2pm, Fri & Sat. Exhibit celebrates the New Jersey Pinelands with photographs that capture its natural beauty and rich cultural heritage. Photographs include the beautiful Pinelands landscape, plants, wildlife, history and culture. Pinelands Preservation Alliance, 17 Pemberton Rd, Southampton. PinelandsPhotoExhibit.org

SUNDAY

Sunday Morning Yoga – 9:30-10:30am. Offers a hatha yoga practice, following a classic style that includes asanas (yoga postures) and pranayama (yoga breathwork). This gentle synchronized flow is guided by Fit Mind and Body LLC instructors helping us to bring balance to the mind and body and enhancing deeper spiritual practices such as meditation. $15. Studio 67 Medford, 67 N Main St, Medford. Studio67Medford.com

MONDAY

Monthly Meditation/Mini-Workshop –6:30-8pm. 1st Mon. An open invitation to those who are interested in exploring meditation, energy education/topics and reiki. No experience necessary. $15. The Center, Life in Balance, 45 S Main St, Medford. Pre-registration required: 609-975-8379 or TheCenterLifeInBalance.com

WEDNESDAY

Midweek Meditation – 12-12:10pm. Also Fri. The focus of this meditation is love. Each week we will raise the love vibration personally and globally. Treat yourself to a mid-day refresher. Free. The Center, Life in Balance, 45 S Main St, Medford. 609-975-8379. TheCenterLifeInBalance.com

Hump-Day Hikes – 5:30-7pm. Join us for a brisk guided hike in nature and view the week-to-week changes as the natural world comes alive. Inclement weather cancels. Free. Rancocas Nature Center, 794 Rancocas Rd, Westampton. 609-261-2495. RancocasNatureCenter.org

THURSDAY

All-Level Vinyasa Flow – 9:30-10:45am. With Eric Herman. Tune into your true essence through asanas, breathwork and meditation experiencing a place of peace in the present moment by the end of each class. $10. Live In Joy Yoga & Wellness, 118 W Merchant St, Audubon. LiveInJoyYoga.com

Yoga Mobility – 2pm. Yoga Mobility is something very different from traditional yoga. It takes the best of many different forms of movement to create a flow within our body. Perfect for seniors and people who are physically disabled. 1st class free; $10/class. Barrel Factory at Whitesbog Historic Farm and Village, 120 W Whites Bogs Rd, Browns Mills. Whitesbog.org

FRIDAY

Midweek Meditation – 12-12:10pm. Also Wed. The focus of this meditation is peace. Each week we will raise the love vibration personally and globally. Treat yourself to a mid-day refresher. Free. The Center, Life in Balance, 45 S Main St, Medford. 609-975-8379. TheCenterLifeInBalance.com

SATURDAY

Walking Group – 9am. 1st Sat. With Michelle, Teeming Health Wellness Studio. Walking group at one of our local county parks. For more info & location: Meetup. com/Healthy-Mount-Holly

Psychic & Healing Fair – 10am-2pm. 3rd Sat. The fair offers different avenues to healing. Be able to have an intuitive/psychic reading, a reiki session, energy healing or lie on the BioMat. $30/20 mins. A variety of 20-min free talks offered. The BioMat incorporates amethyst crystals, far infrared heat and negative ions to help the body heal and relax. Walk-ins welcome and encouraged. The Center, Life in Balance, 45 S Main St, Medford. 609-975-8379. TheCenterLifeInBalance.com

Volunteer Service Day – 10am-3pm. 1st Sat. Volunteer in outdoor or indoor projects in the village. Whitesbog Preservation Trust, 120 W Whites Bogs Rd, #34, Browns Mills. 609-893-4646. Whitesbog.org

SOUTH JERSEY’S COMMUNITY RESOURCE GUIDE

Alternative and Complementary Medicine

MARK JAMES BARTISS, MD

Institute for Complementary & Alternative Medicine

24 Nautilus Dr, Ste 3, Manahawkin

609-978-9002

504 Hamburg Tpk, Ste 202, Wayne

973-790-6363

639 Stokes Rd, Se 202, Medford

609-654-5900

ICAMBartissMD.com

Dr. Bartiss is both conventionally and holistically trained, giving patients the best of both worlds and the freedom to choose.

ICAM’s HEART Program addresses the body’s basic needs in terms of hormone rejuvenation to include adrenal, thyroid, sex and growth hormones as well as the essential neurotransmitters. As an active and founding member of the American Association of Ozonotherapists, Dr. Bartiss is an expert in various forms of bio-oxidative therapies that include ozone, hydrogen peroxide, ultraviolet phototherapy and high-dose vitamin C. These and other powerful therapies are offered by only a few hundred medical practitioners throughout the country.

DR. SEAN C. INSELBERG, DAC, MSC, CNS

Nutritional Wellness Center

1 Cinnaminson Ave, Ste 206 Palmyra, NJ 08065

856-499-2160

NutritionalWellnessNJ.com

Offering simple, effective solutions for optimal health for the whole family. Includes: Functional Medicine testing, Othromolecular energy medicine, Neuro Emotional Technique, Psycho neurobiology, autonomic response testing, Theta Healing.

Ancestral Energy and Pranic Healing

DANA REYNOLDS-MARNICHE, PHD

Shaman-based Qi Channeler, Clairvoyant and Teacher

Mount Meru Holistic Earth Power Healing

856-993-1786

MtMeruHolistic.com/healing-testimonials

Highly trained with 35 yrs experience in mind-body healing, I utilize Korean Chunsu, a 5,000-yrold therapeutic practice, involving the channeling of balanced Heaven-Earth cosmic Qi energy to release negative ancestral patterns from the body and mind. Rapidly restores well-being, addresses anxiety, depression, treats hormonal, immune system and chakra imbalances, alleviates physical pain, rejuvenates body cells and clears toxins. Over time a prevalence of harmony in one’s home and work environment and the ability to manifest abundance and protection become our natural state of being.

Awareness Coaching

MARYANN PINO MILLER, M.Ed. Certified Heal Your Life® Teacher Emotion Code Practitione Consciously Living, LLC

The Center, Life in Balance 45 S Main St, Medford, NJ 856-912-2087

Maryann@ConsciouslyLiving.net

Become aware of your true nature, meet your inner child waiting for your love, become aware of and unload the baggage weighing you down, become aware of the depth of love that exists within you and gain the understanding of the importance of your relationship with yourself and how to foster it.

Bio-Identical Hormone Restoration Therapy

DR. CAMILLE SEMPLE-DALY, DO Replenish Center 215 Sunset Rd, Ste 204 Willingboro, NJ 08046

856-380-1330

Info@ReplenishHormones.com

ReplenishHormones.com

Don’t wait any longer to restore your hormone balance. Symptoms due to menopause, andropause, PMS, thyroid dysfunction, adrenal fatigue, etc., should not negatively impact your quality of life. Regain your vitality and zest naturally with individualized Bio-Identical Hormone Restoration Therapy (BHRT). Dr. Camille Semple-Daly is board certified in OB/GYN, Integrative and Aesthetic Medicine.

MARK JAMES BARTISS, MD

Institute for Complementary & Alternative Medicine

24 Nautilus Dr, Ste 3, Manahawkin

609-978-9002

504 Hamburg Tpk, Ste 202, Wayne 973-790-6363

639 Stokes Rd, Se 202, Medford 609-654-5900

ICAMBartissMD.com

Dr. Bartiss is among a small group of physicians that pioneered the early “integrated” health care system. As a conventionally and holistically trained physician, he offers the best of both schools of medicine. Dr. Bartiss’ “HEART” Program (Hormone, Endocrine, Adrenal Rejuvenation Therapy) addresses hormone imbalance and focuses on restoring his patients to optimal levels. The simple explanation of this program is that when the endocrine system is balanced, a person is less likely to become ill, overweight and emotionally imbalanced. ICAM patients report an improved quality of life, both emotionally and physically.

Someone is sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago.

~Warren Buffett

VIRAPEL

2 Sheppard Rd, Ste 602, Voorhees

856-751-2100 | Virapel.com

Virapel is a natural-based practice, specializes in helping with Hormone Regulation, Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT), Natural Aesthetics, and Wellness Infusions. They offer a highly experienced staff with years of education in different wellness fields, vitamin therapy and menopause/andropause health.

Chiropractor

DR. SYLVIA BIDWELL BIDWELL CHIROPRACTIC

The Strawbridge Professional Center

212 W Rte 38, Ste 100 Moorestown, NJ 08057

856-273-1551

DrSylvia@Bidwell-Chiropractic.com

Bidwell-Chiropractic.com

Dr. Bidwell is dedicated to providing patients the best possible spinal health care including chiropractic adjustment, massage, electrical muscle stimulation, ultrasound, hot and cold therapy, cervical and lumbar traction, and stretching and strengthening exercise instruction. Her adjustments techniques consist of diversified, activator, arthrostim, SOT blocking, craniosacral work, active release technique and PNF stretching.

HARMONIOUS HEALINGS HOLISTIC HEALTHCARE

30 Jackson Rd, D207, Medford, NJ 08055

856-359-6005

DrKevinG.com

Optimize your human potential holistically: functional neurology & kinesiology, stress release & neuro-emotional technique, structure & posture improvement with advanced biostructural correction, biophysics body optimizer.

Counseling and Yoga Therapy

ONE LIFE COUNSELING AND YOGA THERAPY

DeAnn Mishler

609-744-9445

Therapy.DeAnnMishler@comcast.net

DeAnn is warm and grounded; clinical theory is based on attachment and solution focused. She offers a holistic and mindfulness-based approach to therapy to help clients free themselves and live the life they deserve. As a yoga therapist, DeAnn uses yoga to reconnect the mind and body to release the central nervous system from holding past physical and emotional pain that has been stored in the body.

Food Sensitivity Testing

GO WITH YOUR GUT TESTING

609-202-8188

GoWithYourGutTesting.com

The Alcat test is world-renowned and validated by Yale. It determines the cause of inflammation for those with autoimmune, IBS, rashes, infertility and unexplained illnesses. We arrange your blood draw. Get results in 8-10 days. Coaching session included.

Functional Medicine

CHARLOTTE NUSSBAUM, MD Medford Functional Medicine

107 Jamestown Ct, Medford 609-969-4844

MedfordFunctionalMedicine.com

Board-certified pediatrician and internist Charlotte Nussbaum is a founder of Medford Functional Medicine where we partner with people of all ages to reclaim your health.

Healing Modalities

NATURAL HEALTH IMPROVEMENT CENTER OF SOUTH JERSEY

1020 Kings Hwy. N., Ste 110, Cherry Hill, NJ

856-667-6805 • NHICSouthJersey.com

SOUTH JERSEY’S CLASSIFIEDS For Rent

OFFICE SPACE AVAILABLE – Integrative Physician looking to share their office space in Voorheers. 856-669-9118.

Safe, natural solutions for many health problems. Get to the root of your symptoms and heal your body with Nutrition Response Testing. The practitioners at NHIC offer a non-invasive, advanced form of muscle testing for food sensitivities, chemical and metal toxicity, and immune system issues for all ages. Individualized, targeted, “Root-Cause Nutrition.”

Health Counseling

LIESHA GETSON, BCTT, HHC Health Through Awareness

100 Brick Rd, Ste 206, Marlton 856-596-5834

HealthThroughAwareness.com

Liesha Getson is a Board-Certified Thermographic Technician, Holistic Health Counselor, a Reiki Master and Energy Practitioner. Liesha is a founding partner of Health Through Awareness in Marlton, a cooperative wellness center that provides a variety of alternative services to facilitate healthy living including nutrition and lifestyle counseling, reiki, thermography, infrared detoxification and biopuncture.

Hypnotherapy

DR. JAIME FELDMAN, DCH

Chairman, Medical & Dental Division, International Hypnosis Federation 214 W Main St, Ste L4 Moorestown, NJ 08057 856-231-0432 • DrJaimeF@aol.com

PartsTherapy.com

Dr. Jaime Feldman, one of the pioneers in an advanced technique called “Advanced Parts Therapy,” has been able to unlock the subconscious and remove unwanted behaviors: stop smoking (guaranteed), weight loss, stress, depression, pain and anger management, and more. Outstanding success in curing phobias and deep-seated trauma, and treating the immune system to put cancer into complete remission.

Integrative/Holistic Medicine

DR. STEVEN HORVITZ

Institute for Medical Wellness

110 Marter Ave, Ste 408, Moorestown, NJ 856-231-0590 • DrHorvitz.com

Board-Certified Family Medicine blending traditional family care with a holistic focus and preventive, nutritional and integrative approach. We look for causes and triggers for disease before reaching for the prescription pad. Same and next day appointments are available.

PHILIP GETSON, DO

Health Through Awareness

100 Brick Rd, Ste 206, Marlton, NJ 08053

856-596-5834

Health Through Awareness takes a holistic approach to health and well-being. Dr. Philip Getson is a board-certified Family Physician and certified by four Thermographic Boards. He specializes in thermography, an early diagnostic tool for many health conditions including breast health. With the mission of providing a balanced approach to wellness, the center offers diet and lifestyle counseling, thermography, the area’s most unique infrared detox sauna (The POD), reiki, a smoking cessation program, physician standard supplements and ongoing wellness classes.

Integrative Medicine/ Holistic Pain Management

POLINA KARMAZIN, MD

Board certified in Integrative Medicine & Acupuncture

2301 E Evesham Rd, Bldg 800, Ste 219 Voorhees, NJ 08043

856-528-2258 • SouthJerseyHolistic.com

Our practice treats each person individually by addressing the root cause of the problem. Dr Karmazin employs holistic therapies, such as acupuncture, biopuncture, homeopathy and nutritional counselling for a variety of ailments. We also specialize in holistic pain management and do not use narcotics, NSAIDs or steroid injections.

Intuitive Healing

SUSAN COSTANTINO DRUMMOND RM, INTUITIVE MEDIUM

NJBalance at The Center, Life in Balance

45 S Main St, Medford 609-923-3154

Susan@NJBalance.com

NJBalance.com

Susan is an Intuitive Medium and Reiki Master. She specializes in intuitively enhancing the mind, soul and physical body with healing energy for your highest well-being.

Medical Skincare and Cosmetics

DR. ANAMARIA NEWPORT, DMS, DMD, MHS, PAC

17 White Horse Pike, Ste 10B Haddon Heights, NJ 08035 856-323-8885

Dr. Newport is a discerning artist, highly experienced master cosmetic injector and renowned dermatology speaker with 10+ years of extensive medical training. Her continuous dedication for skincare, surgery, dentistry, and cosmetic procedures are enhanced by combining the use of the latest technology and her unique homeopathic style. As an artist, she is genuinely passionate about bringing out the unique beauty in each one of her patients. Look no further for your organic skincare specialist, offering the purest treatments achievable with our personalized natural products.

Numerologist

TRACI ROSENBERG, MA

Numerologist & Empowerment Coach 609-417-4526

TraciRosenberg@gmail.com

SoulTalkWithTraci.com

Join the region’s leading numerologist as you discover your life’s purpose. Encoded in your name and birth date are your lessons, talents and desires. Traci will help you realize your full potential.

Outdoor Recreation & Pinelands Preservation

PINELANDS ADVENTURES

1005 Atsion Rd, Shamong, NJ 08088 609-268-0189

PinelandsAdventures.org

A nonprofit Initiative of Pinelands Preservation Alliance. Recreational activities include guided/unguided river paddling, camping, hiking and small group history and ecology forest tours.

Physical Therapy

DR. ASHA PANDEY-SMITH, PT, DPT

SoulRise Physical Therapy, LLC

912 W Kings Hwy, Haddon Heights, NJ, 08035

856-433-4008

Info@SoulRisePT.com

SoulRisePT.com

Limited by pain? Trouble getting around? Lacking confidence and motivation to accomplish your goals? Be in charge of your health, be your own hero. At SoulRise Physical Therapy, you will be empowered to live the life you want by being the driver of your own health and wellness. We specialize in combining health and spirituality to provide the most well-rounded experience. We treat all orthopedic conditions, with special focus on women’s health and maternal wellness prenatal through post-partum. Book a free consultation today.

Sexual Dysfunction

DR. CAMILLE SEMPLE-DALY, DO Replenish Center

215 Sunset Rd, Ste 204 Willingboro, NJ 08046

856-380-1330

Info@ReplenishHormones.com

ReplenishHormones.com

Natural, non-invasive procedures for sexual dysfunction affecting one or more of the following: desire, arousal, lubrication, erectile function, orgasm, pain, dryness and satisfaction. The Replenish Center utilizes an integrative and functional approach looking at key factors such as hormone imbalance, vitamin/mineral deficiencies, certain medications and chronic illnesses. Other contributing factors are lifestyle, diet, exercise and stress. The Replenish Center specializes in therapies which utilize your body’s own healing mechanisms. Dr. Camille Semple-Daly is triple board certified in OB/GYN, Integrative Medicine and Aesthetic Medicine.

You can cut all the flowers but you cannot keep Spring from coming.

~Pablo Neruda

MONTHLY PLANNER

Sound Healing - Retail

SOULOSOARING

Terry Eldh

917-282-5554

SoulOSoaring.com

SoulOSoaring is the home of sound and energy. Healing frequencies of alchemy crystal singing bowls help to reduce burnout, stress, anxiety and enhances overall well-being. Serving Fairfield County, CT, Greater New York City … and the world. Shop our online store at SoulOSoaring.com

Spiritual Wellness

BETH O’BRIEN

Spiritual Healing Through Guidance

The Center Life in Balance, 45 N Main St, Medford On Angels Wings, 110 Creek Rd, Mt Laurel BethOB67@yahoo.com

Beth, a psychic/medium, can give you spiritual and intuitive guidance from your loved ones. Beth is also a Reiki Master and an ordained minister to officiate your wedding. She also is a paranormal investigator and does private and public homes. She also does house blessings and cleansing.

Wellness Center

EXCITARI WELLNESS CENTER

30 Jackson Rd, D101, Medford ExcitariWellness.com

A full-service holistic wellness center offering everything from yoga to integrative osteopathic physician services and sound healing to psychic wellness reading and more.

WHITE HAWK HOLISTIC WELLNESS CENTER

Jennifer Armento, Homeopath PHOM, Clinical Herbalist

Tabernacle, NJ

732-778-5023

WhiteHawkHolistic.com

Homeopath and herbal consulting for acute and chronic illness. Offering holistic workshops, homeopathic classes, herbal products, quantum bioscan sessions and a raw food co-op.

Yoga

RISE AND THRIVE WELLNESS YOGA

Terry Veit-Harmening

714 E Main St, Moorestown

609-923-5782

RiseAndThriveWellnessYoga.com

Terry Veit-Harmening is a certified Yoga Therapist, a certified Ayurvedic Lifestyle Educator and a brain longevity specialist with the Alzheimer’s Research Association.

Yoga Therapy is a holistic approach to health care using postures, movement, stretches, lifestyle choices, relaxation and breathing practices to address your specific issues.

Women’s Health

MICHELLE URBANSKI, CHHP

Balance Blossom Birth 609-614-0604

Hello@BalanceBlossomBirth.com

BalanceBlossomBirth.com

Michelle Urbanski is a Certified Holistic Healthcare Practitioner specializing in supporting women’s health naturally from the inside out, whether you are looking to improve your health or just starting your motherhood journey. She utilizes Bioenergetic Assessment to identify stressors, discover imbalances and create customized nutritional and emotional supports for your women’s health needs. She provides virtual holistic telehealth services specific for fertility, pregnancy and postpartum needs.

Next Month: TOP WOMEN IN WELLNESS

Don't miss interviews and lifestyle tips for reducing stress.

Scan the QR code to JOIN US LIVE ONL INE as these top women in wellness share their expert insights for reducing stress and achieving WELLthier Living!

Trevor Cates, ND Stress Impact on Skin

Jaclyn Chasse, ND Stress and Fertility

Carol Penn, DO Aging Gracefully

Carrie Jones, MD, FAAP Stress and your Thyroid

Jaquel Patterson, ND, IFMCP Sleep, Cortisol and its Relation to Stress

Anna Cabeca DO, OBGYN, FACOG S t res s a nd Lib i do

Arti Chandra, MD, MPH Healing Your Gut

Anne Marie Fine, ND Cracking the Beauty Code

Kela Smith, PhD DNM Stress & Fertility

Jyl Steinbeck Women’s Health & Homeopathy

-Picture from Left to Right: Breayannah, Dr. Vadino DAc, Dr. Inselberg DAc, MSc, CNS, Dr. Flay DAc, Samantha