Natural Awakenings South Jersey December 2021

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Sugar-Free Holiday Treats A Blessing Hub for Those in Need How Great Kids’ Books Can Shape a Lifetime

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DECEMBER 2021 | SOUTH JERSEY | NASOUTHJERSEY.COM

Where family-centered care comes naturally.

What does it mean to be a part of the only midwifery-led, freestanding birth center in South Jersey? It means having the leading voice in your care alongside a partner who will guide you, teach you, support you, and always hear you. It means having your family become part of ours in a soothing setting that feels like home. And it means the peace of mind that comes from knowing if medical care is needed, it’s moments away. From routine gynecological care and well care, to family planning, holistic birth, post-birth support and more, our midwives are here to empower you to choose your own path and then never walk it alone. Connect with us at midwiferybirthandwellnesscenter.org

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SOUTH JERSEY EDITION Owner/Publisher Shae Marcus Bookkeeper Kristin Kelly Communications Nancy Seigle Editors Theresa Archer Sara Gurgen

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FROM THE PUBLISHER Winter’s energy brings a cold nip to the air and warm memories to our hearts as we enter into this most magical time of year!

No matter which holiday traditions we embrace, we can feel our spirits lift in a sacred and special way, allowing us to widen our circles and embrace one another in genuine celebration.

It’s a time for festive preparation, and this month’s issue is chock-full of information and inspiration!

Shae Marcus, Publisher You’ll find our feature article, “Circles of Healing,” which focuses on the power of gathering in community, especially insightful. Learn how spirit-based small groups and wisdom gatherings can bring important healing to us as individuals, communities and society as a whole.

Check out “Amp Up Immunity” and “Holiday Zen” for some great tips on how to keep our bodies and minds balanced and healthy during what can be a very stressful and chaotic season. There are also delicious, low-sugar holiday recipes that you’ll want to explore, along with eco-friendly advice for buying and storing food. And the “Greening the Holidays” article on how to celebrate sustainably is a “can’t miss”!

Other great selections to enjoy include a compilation of the best books for kids, gifts for children with learning disabilities, and safe and fun toys for dogs. “Companion Animals Are Not Presents,” “The Health Benefits of Omega” and a community spotlight on the charity, Unforgotten Haven, round out December’s issue.

Wishing you and yours love and peace,

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CONTENTS Natural Awakenings | South Jersey | December 2021 Issue

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28 34

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A Blessing Hub for Those in Need

Gift Choices that Can Open Up Worlds

Choosing Safe Playthings a Dog Will Love

UNFORGOTTEN HAVEN

16

CIRCLES OF HEALING

THE BEST BOOKS FOR KIDS TOYLAND FOR POOCHES

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28

The Power of Gathering in Community

SPECIAL GIFTS FOR SPECIAL KIDS

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30

THE SWEET DANGER OF SUGAR Ways to Enjoy Healthier Holiday Fare

24

AMP UP IMMUNITY

Proven Boosters for Good Health

32

OMEGA FATTY ACIDS

HOLIDAY ZEN

May—or May Not—Do a Body Good

Stress-Free Fitness and Self-Care 4

South Jersey Edition

POOCHES AS PRESENTS: Think Twice…

38

GREENING THE HOLIDAYS How to Celebrate Sustainably

40

SEASON OF LIGHT

Celebrating the Sould of Winter

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UNIVERSAL OUTREACH NASouthJersey.com

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DEPARTMENTS 6 8 10 12 14 20 24 26 30 34 38 40 42 44 47

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NEWS BRIEFS

Wellness Educator Joins Excitari Wellness Center

Nurse Katelyn Krause Now a Certified Women’s Health Coach Katelyn Krause, a multi-passionate nurse with more than a decade of experience, is now a certified women’s health coach. She is the founder of Kate Krause Coaching, where she offers fertility health coaching to women on the road to having a baby.

Krause helps women give birth to their full fertile potential by empowering them to tap into their innate wisdom and overcome barriers hindering them from achieving their vision of motherhood.

Using a holistic approach, she helps women to identify how areas such as stress, physical movement, nutrition, sleep and environmental toxins might be impacting their ability to conceive and carry a healthy Katelyn Krause baby. Through one-on-one coaching, she provides education about health and its impact on fertility optimization; supports women to implement new and healthy behaviors; and guides them to identify and overcome barriers.

Her wish is that her clients not only give life to the baby that they’re dreaming of, but that along the way they also give life to their fullest potential through overall health optimization.

For more information, call 609-975-9708, email KateKrauseCoach @gmail.com or visit KateKrauseCoaching.wixsite.com/home.

Excitari Wellness Center, in Medf o r d, r ecent ly welco m ed Elsie Kerns, a wellness educator, advanced energy medicine practitioner and teacher who specializes in offering easy, effective and practical stress solutions to her clients. Teaching and empowering her clients to engage the natural healing wisdom of the mind, body, spirit, Elsie Kerns Kerns navigates clients through strategies that are meant to restore, revitalize and renew one’s energy and passion for life.

As an advanced Eden Method (EM) practitioner, authorized EM101-102 teacher and reiki master, Kerns offers Excitari clients one-on-one consultations, coaching, worksite wellness, reiki sessions, webinars and in-person and virtual events. These are some of the ways Kerns teaches lifelong wellness.

Kerns is presenting The Energies of Joy workshop at Excitari at 6:30 p.m. on December 2. Attendees will learn how to open their energy circuits of joy, which naturally run through the body and close the stress points.

Kerns’ training is comprised of more than 28 years in the field of alternative and complementary medicine. Wellness presentations include classes at Drexel University’s Goodwin College of Professional Studies, Drexel’s graduate program in Complementary and Integrative Medicine and Camden County College’s Holistic Health Institute.

Location: 30 Jackson Rd., Ste. D-101. For more information, visit ExcitariWellness.com. To schedule an appointment with Kerns or to register for her workshop, visit Vagaro.com/ExcitariWellnessCenter.

When Conventional Medicine Fails…

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BE BETTER. FEEL BETTER. LIVE BETTER. 6

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HEALTH BRIEFS

Eat an Avocado Daily to Redistribute Belly Fat

Try Damask Rose Extract to Boost Liver Function

wasanajai/AdobeStock.com

The fragrant Damask rose (Rosa damascene), a common ingredient in essential oils and perfumes, has been used for a millennia in the Middle East to treat chest pain, menstrual bleeding, heart weakness and digestive ailments. A new study by Iranian researchers has found that it also boosts liver function in people with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. The 37 participating patients that took 500 milligrams of rose petal extract daily for 12 weeks had significantly better serum ALT (liver enzyme) levels compared to the placebo group. The rose extract also reduced triglycerides, low-density lipoproteins and blood pressure, and it significantly improved metabolic syndrome markers.

Avoid Antibiotics to Lower Colon Cancer Risk A clear link exists between taking antibiotics for six months and developing colorectal cancer in the next five to 10 years, report researchers from Umea University, in Sweden.

By comparing the records of 40,000 Swedish cancer patients to 200,000 people without cancer, they found that taking antibiotics for at least six months increased the risk of cancer by 17 percent in the ascending colon, the first part to be reached by food after the small intestine.

However, no increased risk was found for cancer in the descending colon. Those taking the most antibiotics had the greatest risk, but even a single course was associated with a small, but statistically significant risk increase. “While in many cases antibiotic therapy is necessary and saves lives, in the event of less serious ailments that can be expected to heal anyway, caution should be exercised,” says Umea University researcher Sophia Harlid, Ph.D. ana terevich/Pexels.com

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Healthy older adults that ate about a half cup of walnuts every day for two years gained a modest reduction in low-density lipoprotein (LDL), the “bad cholesterol”, reports a study of 636 people from San Diego’s Loma Linda University. Other risk factors for heart health—small LDL particles and intermediate-density lipoprotein—also decreased, signaling a lower chance of cardiovascular events. “Many people are worried about unwanted weight gain when they include nuts in their diet,” says study co-author Emilio Ros, M.D., Ph.D. “Our study found that the healthy fats in walnuts did not cause participants to gain weight.”

The deep visceral fat that surrounds internal organs is a major indicator of metabolic syndrome and diabetes, but it can be decreased in women by eating an avocado each day, report researchers at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. For 12 weeks, 105 overweight or obese men and women were fed a meal that for only half of the participants included an avocado.

The women that ate avocados experienced a reduction in visceral abdominal fat, as well as a reduced ratio of visceral fat to subcutaneous fat closer to the skin, indicating a redistribution of fat away from the organs. Fat distribution in males did not change. ready made/Pexels.com

Eat Walnuts to Reduce Bad Cholesterol and Heart Disease

Blessed is the season which engages the whole world in a conspiracy of love. ~Hamilton Wright Mabie 8

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Try Garlic to Relieve Endometriosis Pain

Services and Classes Focused on Balancing Mind, Body and Spirit

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For women suffering from pelvic and back pain associated with endometriosis (uterus growth), garlic may help. In an Iranian study published in the journal Evidence-Based Alternative and Complementary Medicine, half of a group of 60 women with the disorder were given 400 milligrams of garlic in tablets daily, and the others received a placebo. Over a span of three months, researchers found that the women taking the garlic tablets had significantly less pelvic and back pain, as well as significant reductions in discomfort during menstruation and sexual intercourse.

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GLOBAL BRIEFS

Holy Smoke!

Marine Crisis

University of Rhode Island research published in Environmental Science & Technology Letters describes a new technique for measuring the presence of per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS) in indoor air, which found them in kindergarten classrooms, offices, laboratories and a home. We have known about toxic “forever chemicals” in food and drinking water, and it seems they are also ubiquitous in the air.

Tyler Eddy, a research scientist who co-authored a new study at the Memorial University of Newfoundland, says, “Coral reefs have been in decline worldwide. I think that’s pretty commonly accepted.

We didn’t necessarily know the magnitude of how much.” The in-depth analysis reveals half of coral reefs have been lost since the 1950s. Climate change, overfishing and pollution are decimating coral reef cover, biodiversity and fish abundance. In another study, scientists with the Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network determined the world lost 14 percent of its coral between 2009 and 2018 alone.

Coral reefs provide habitat for fish and protection for coastal communities, and they generate billions of dollars for the fishing and tourism industries. Corals are extremely sensitive to changes in water temperature and acidity. The living polyps rely on zooxanthellae—algae that live in their tissue—to produce food the corals need. When the polyps are stressed by changes in light, water temperature or acidity, they expel the algae in a process called bleaching. There is a brief time frame in which they can replenish the algae, but if corals are stressed for too long, their death is irreversible. “We are running out of time: We can reverse losses, but we have to act now,” says Inger Andersen, head of the United Nations Environment Program.

graphic&IllustrAdobeStock.com

PFAS are a class of approximately 9,000 chemicals used to improve stain, water or heat resistance in products. The public health concern is that they don’t break down in the environment.

PFAS accumulate in animals and humans and are linked to health impacts including cancer, birth defects and immune suppression.

The scientists think PFAS enter the atmosphere when compounds break off of treated products like coats or carpets and attach to dust. “It’s an underestimated and potentially important source of exposure to PFAS,” says study co-author and Green Science Policy Institute Senior Scientist Tom Bruton.

According to the Institute, schools and offices can protect students and employees by replacing carpeting, but that doesn’t prevent PFAS from entering via coats or shoes. Bruton writes, “As long as they continue to be used in products, we’ll all be eating, drinking and breathing PFAS. We need to turn off the tap and stop all unnecessary uses of PFAS as soon as possible.”

tom fisk/Pexels.com

Coral Reefs May Soon Be Just a Memory

Forever Chemicals in Indoor Air

Shine On

Large-Scale Solar Power Cost Plummets

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A report from the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) describes a significant decrease in the cost of renewable energy sources compared to 2020, with solar leading the pack by a wide margin. The 10-year average adjusted costs of generation for a plant over its lifetime are 85 percent for utility-scale solar; 56 percent for onshore wind; 48 percent for offshore wind; and 68 percent for concentrated solar power. IRENA continues to see drops of between 7 percent and 16 percent in these categories this year. According to the same report, the 62 percent of new renewables added last year had lower costs than the cheapest fossil fuels.

New renewables are increasingly competitive against existing fossil fuels. In the U.S., 61 percent of current coal capacity already has higher operating costs.

Phasing out these coal plants would start saving money almost immediately. IRENA Director-General Francesco La Camera states that because renewables cost more upfront than keeping old coal rolling, action is needed to make sure emerging economies are not left behind. “We are far beyond the tipping point of coal.”

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Peaceful Settlement

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Native Americans Win Historic Water Battle The Indigenous Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes have reached an historic $1.9 billion water rights settlement with Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland, resolving thousands of tribal claims to waterways in Montana. The largest of its kind, this agreement authorizes funding to modernize the Flathead Indian Irrigation Project, a 1,300-mile network of aging canals. It also provides funding for habitat restoration and transfers control of the National Bison Range to the tribes. The dispute stems from the 1855 Treaty of Hellgate, which created the 1.25-million-acre reservation.

The agreement establishes a Flathead Reservation Water Management Board to govern water use within the reservation.

Two members of the board will be chosen by the tribe, two will be chosen by the governor of Montana and a fifth will be chosen by the four appointed members. Tribal Chairwoman Shelly R. Fyant says, “Our elders continually remind us to protect our water, and this day marks the beginning of the water compact implementation that will protect the water for all generations to come.”

Ryan Rusche, an attorney for the tribes, says, “The settlement provides water to fulfill the purpose of the reservation, which is a permanent homeland for the tribes, while at the same time protecting existing non-Indian uses of water on the reservation where there is a significant irrigation-based economy.”

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ECO TIP

Sustainable Kitchen Advice for Buying and Storing Food As we awaken to the climate crisis, we are called to participate in its solutions. In addition to frequenting farmers’ markets, much can be done at the grocery store and in the kitchen. By adopting these easy practices incrementally, we’ll be living zero-waste lifestyles before we know it.

Food waste is environmentally problematic, producing a significant amount of greenhouse gases. Before entering the grocery store, plan meals for the week and build a shopping list to prevent overbuying.

Buy staples like nuts, beans, flours, grains, dried fruit and chocolate chips in bulk, carrying them home in reusable cotton sacks that can be purchased from artisans on Etsy.com. Some grocery stores offer paper bags in the bulk aisle; choose these over plastic and save them for subsequent uses.

Many of us have stopped drinking bottled water to ditch single-use plastics. Consider expanding that effort by forgoing packaged products that can be made easily from scratch, including salad dressings, breads, hummus, nut milks, nut butters, jams, tortilla chips and granola.

Some food companies employ eco-friendly packaging, setting an example for the rest of the industry. Read labels not just for ingredients, but for packaging practices, too. For example, look for shelf-stable dried goods packaged in recycled cardboard boxes printed with vegetable-based inks. While loose tea is the most sustainable choice, we can also opt for compostable tea bag brands that don’t use strings, staples or individual wrappers.

IN THE KITCHEN One of the most elegant and traditional storage solutions is the Mason jar. It’s an inexpensive, reusable, versatile option, not just for canning and preserving foods, but also for storing bulk pantry items or refrigerated leftovers.

While paper towels and napkins may be biodegradable, an Earth-friendlier choice is reusable washcloths and fabric napkins that are easily washed in the laundry. Avoid

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AT THE GROCERY STORE

ones that come in plastic wrapping. Darker colors will hide stains better, but if they help save the planet, embrace the stains.

Several options exist to avoid plastic wrap and disposable plastic containers, including reusable silicone freezer bags, beeswax wraps, glass spray bottles and stainless steel canisters. Keep and reuse grocery store jars. Soaking them to remove the labels is easy.

A bristled, wooden dish brush is preferable to petroleum-based disposable sponges that come wrapped in plastic.

They last longer, don’t produce as much bacteria and are capable scrubbers. Use bar soap to avoid plastic dishwashing liquid containers.

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ADVERTORIAL

LAUGHING HEARTS YOGA & MOVEMENT Where Movement and Laughter Are Medicine

by Cheryl Natusch

My personal life journey has been a series of giant mountains to be scaled and conquered. It feels as if everything I’ve set out to do has had to be a struggle to get to the summit. Once there, I feel immense gratitude for all the effort put forth to get there.

The same goes for my professional life.

Laughing Hearts Yoga & Movement has been a dream of mine for over 10 years.

During this period, I have been working in South Jersey providing personal training, teaching yoga, conducting workshops and getting my name spread around doing what I love to do. The dream of building my own studio finally became reality in 2020 when I received the keys to my physical location, one week before the pandemic shutdown.

Of course, I expected that this huge dream of mine would also have to manifest itself into existence through challenge and hardship. I honestly wouldn’t have it any other way because when things are easy, they lack grit, heart and soul. For the three months when everything was shut down due to COVID-19, I built Laughing Hearts with my own two hands, by myself. Every single day I showed up, worked and envisioned the beautiful souls that would fill the space once I had completed it and we were allowed to open again. The vision was always to build a place where everyone, no matter who they are and what they are about, could come enjoy movement and community. Most importantly, I wanted to build the community.

Despite my degrees in exercise science, and my passion for fitness, I’ve never fit the mold of the average fitness trainer.

I have personally never felt like I’ve fit in anywhere, especially not in the fitness world.

My business dream was to create something that allowed others that felt like me to have a safe place to come and move without feeling pressured to be something they don’t want to be or feel intimidated by others and have a sense of belonging. The vision I have for my community space has slowly unfolded into something bigger from what I originally

dreamed. We are four walls rich with love, laughter and closeness. We are a sacred container filled with some of the best human beings one could ever hope to have included in their inner circle. Each class and group training session is a belly laughing good time; the students and clients getting stronger and healthier from the inside out each week. In these uncertain times, the most important component of good health is surrounding yourself with support and good people.

Exercise is just one element to a healthy life— it’s nothing without cultivating spirit, taking care of your emotional and mental health and feeling like you belong somewhere. I’m so proud to stand in the space and say that we have that and so much more.

For more information, including the class schedule and to register, visit LaughingHeartsYoga.com.

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| December 2021

13

COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT

The Unforgotten Haven A Blessing Hub for Those in Need

by Sheila Julson

Michele Gambone never intended to start a nonprofit. In 2014, she helped a homeless family that had been living in their car. Soon after, her living room was full of donated items she had collected for that family. That effort led to the Unforgotten Haven, a multifaceted nonprofit that to date has helped 1.5 million homeless persons, veterans, seniors and animals obtain necessary items.

The organization is 100 percent volunteer-operated. People can stop by six days a week to get free food, diapers, infant formula, pet food and feminine hygiene products. Gambone has a team of 26 managers that staff the building to distribute items and collect and sort donations.

In addition, the Unforgotten Haven has more than 20 project groups designed to help people in need. Every Sunday, volunteers travel to Philadelphia and also Camden, New Jersey, to distribute bagged lunches and Blessing Bags with trial-sized toiletries, snacks, gloves and socks to 600 homeless people.

The Cookies for Charity Project organizes families to bake cookies for the homeless. Gambone notes it’s a project that families can do together in their own kitchens, and teens can qualify for community service hours. The organization distributes approximately 1,000 cookies per week.

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Other efforts include Empowerment Bags, with items for women in domestic violence shelters. Aunt Flo’s In Town Project has feminine hygiene products for women and girls. Yarn for a Cause is the Unforgotten Haven’s knitting and crocheting club that makes winter items.

The Unforgotten Haven also assists with disaster relief. They provided $15,000 in cash donations to victims affected by an F-3 tornado that touched down in Gloucester County, New Jersey, last September.

The Christmas Winter Wonderland 2021 project will distribute gifts to children and teens. Through December 6, people can donate toys for babies and children, along with gift sets of cologne, makeup, gift cards and other items appropriate for teens. Gifts should be valued at $30 or less. Distribution takes place December 11 and 12.

Last year, the Unforgotten Haven distributed more than 4,000 gifts. Gambone says a local family helps collect and organize hundreds of gifts for Christmas Winter Wonderland. Their effort is part of Team Gettin It Dunn, formed in memory of Joanne Dunn, who was a devoted supporter of the Unforgotten Haven.

Anybody can use their services. There’s no income verification; families just have to show an ID to use the pantry once per month.

The Unforgotten Haven keeps growing. Volunteers, along with myriad individual and corporate donors including Five Below and Berkshire Hathaway Home Services/Fox & Roach Charities, support the organization’s multiple projects that serve South Jersey and beyond. A generous private donation allowed the organization to purchase a larger building, which Gambone says is currently being renovated. She hopes it will be ready for use some time next year.

Gambone, who works a full-time job in addition to volunteering full-time hours with the Unforgotten Haven, emphasizes that her passionate volunteers and an engaged community help make the organization successful.

“I’m an instrument of God, but it’s a team effort,” Gambone concludes. “They’re there when I need them. We’ve got a wonderful team.”

The Unforgotten Haven is located at 100 S. Black Horse Pike, in Blackwood, NJ. For more information, email TheUnforgotten Haven@comcast.net or visit TheUnforgottenHaven.org.

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| December 2021

15

The Power of Gathering in Community

by Linda Sechrist Had the intellectual achievements of human culture evolved during a revolution based on living systems in the natural world rather than one of rapid industrial growth and resource consumption, we might be experiencing interconnectedness instead of divisiveness during this time of social and ecological crisis.

A nature-focused revolution embracing humans as an integral part of the Earth’s natural systems would have instilled a deeper understanding of the wonders of the human body as a living system imbued with inner intelligence, as well as the intelligence of the non-human living world. This perspective, held by Native Americans, would have helped to create sustainable human communities that flourish by connecting, collaborating, cooperating and communicating.

With such approaches as wisdom circles, story circles, power of eight intention circles, support groups, prayer circles and dialogue circles exploring conflict solutions, Western minds are just beginning to comprehend how small-community experiences of fellowship and communion can assuage feelings of separation and isolation, and create inner experiences of wholeness and belonging.

MENTORING EACH OTHER Although not always sharing a common geographical location, small communities formed around common interests and shared 16

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values enable emotional healing. The ManKind Project (MKP), which describes itself as a “men’s community for the 21st century,” has more than 1,000 peer-facilitated groups in 22 countries in which men mentor each other through their life passages.

“In our MKP communities, there’s a sense of shared commitment and the shared values of accountability, authenticity, compassion, generosity, integrity, respect, leadership and multicultural awareness, along with a shared vision pointing us in the direction we want to go together,” says Boysen Hodgson, MKP-USA communications director. “While MKP’s mission statement informs our work, in New Warrior Adventure training, each man creates a personal mission statement. Mine is, ‘I transform culture by designing change, building bridges and co-creating space for connection.’”

According to Hodgson, when a man shares how he hears his inner voice for the first time along with his story in another man’s story, he becomes aware of his interior capacities and cultivates internal and external listening skills. By sharing personal stories, men experience epiphanies that can result in connections and bonding.

Douglas Bonar, a 35-year veteran of mental health counseling and owner of A Center for Wellness, in Pinellas Park, Florida, has been facilitating men’s groups for 22 years. Men and occasionally women that have been court-ordered to undergo counseling with Bonar for 29 weeks after their incarceration learn the value of

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Circles of Healing

growing together in community. “I initiate the uninitiated who’ve never heard about the powerful impacts of respectful, attentive listening without judgement, giving/receiving feedback and support, and learning about successes and failures in the company of community,” says Bonar. “Actively engaging the minds, hearts and energy of people participating in community makes experiencing emotional healing possible. Feeling truly heard and deeply listened to and comprehending life from a multisensory human perception and a sense of oneness can lead to understanding that we are never alone, the universe is alive—conscious, intelligent and compassionate.”

More about progress than perfection, Bonar’s unique Roots and Wings Way of Wholeness approach to healing in community tills the soil of an inner world and plants seeds via the introduction of guidelines for creating authentic power, spiritual growth, levels of consciousness, coherence, the realization of one’s true self as more than an enculturated personality, the Noetic experience of oneness, humans as energetic beings, emotions as energy in motion and a coherent energetic field that the HeartMath Institute notes creates synchronization, or entrainment, between the heart and mind, as well as a sense of unity.

Recalling a tumultuous time in her life, Toms relates a profound healing experience that occurred in a circle community in which she and her husband had been participating since the 1980s. “This particular circle usually gathers for an entire weekend. On one, I arrived in deep distress—so much so that on Friday I began pouring out my fears, anxiety, blame and judgements. I raged through the night and didn’t stop until after breakfast on Saturday, when I felt complete, totally heard, emotionally healed and revived.”

From a sense of peace and clarity, Toms knew that healing occurred because of the circle’s capacity for deep listening. “We know and trust the true genius that each of us is, and we know how to not be afraid for each other when life is in a rollercoaster cycle and we’re at the bottom, but don’t want to pull the brake because we’ll never have the momentum to go back up. This is the power of a circle of friends of the heart who love you,” says Toms, who shares a favorite African saying, “‘A friend is someone who knows your song and sings it to you when you have forgotten it. Those who love you are not fooled by the mistakes you’ve made or the dark images you hold about yourself. They remember your beauty when you feel ugly, your wholeness when you are broken, your innocence when you’re feeling guilty and your purpose when you are confused.’”

SHARING SACRED SPACE

CONNECTING THROUGH COMMON EMOTIONS

Jean Shinoda Bolen, a Jungian psychiatrist, activist and author of Moving Toward the Millionth Circle: Energizing the Global Women’s Movement, encourages everyone to follow a path with soul and take on a personal assignment that contributes to change, while relying on the support of circle communities of like-minded individuals. “Fundamental principles applicable to any group include creating sacred space, listening with compassion and for wisdom, speaking from the heart and personal experience, inviting silence and reflection when needed, taking responsibility for your experience and your impact on the circle, keeping the confidence of the circle and making decisions when needed by consensus,” says Bolen, whose active events include a prayer circle and another with women she has been together with since the 1980s.

“The more frequently a circle meets to fully witness one another’s life stories, including all the changes and crises, a growing trust and heart connection occurs and a coherent energy field is created,” says Bolen. At the beginning of her circle gatherings, upon hearing the tone of a Tibetan bowl, she says, everyone immediately drops into coherence; a state of connectedness in which the whole is greater than the sum of the individual parts.

CULTIVATING DEEP LISTENING As the host of New Dimensions, a nationally syndicated radio program that addresses cultural shifts, Justine Willis Toms has deeply explored interconnectedness with some of the greatest minds on the planet, including the Dalai Lama and physicist David Bohm. Referring to her circle communities as “friends of the heart,” she enthuses, “When I am deeply listening to another or speaking authentically aloud in a circle of trust, I get to hear myself in a way that I don’t if I’m only listening to what is in my head.”

Physician Jennifer Phelps, owner of Phelps MD Integrative Medicine, in Redding, Connecticut, is a trained facilitator of small groups who has worked in communities traumatized by natural disasters and human-caused catastrophes in her role as a faculty member of the Center for Mind-Body Medicine, in Washington, D.C. “Where individuals listen to the grief and loss of others, emotional healing can be quite profound. Sharing stories in community, we learn we’re not alone and isolated, but rather related and connected in our human emotions,” says Phelps, adding that in groups of fewer than six people cohesiveness dissipates, leaving only conversation and cross-talk.

The process of human and community development unfolds from within each person, relationship and community. According to Cate Montana, of Kula, Hawaii, author of The E-Word: Ego, Enlightenment & Other Essentials, awakening to the illusion of separation, which can happen in community, sparks healing. “The persona of an individual as only a body and mind is the big sleep,” advises Montana, whose life work has been about waking people up to the truth of their essential spiritual nature and giving them tools for a more fulfilling life.

Having experiences of fellowship and communion with like-minded people can make it possible to observe and understand how ego and mind function, and to become aware of crippling social programming which fragments, separates and divides us. Experiencing a sense of wholeness in such an environment allows for healing naturally on many levels.

Linda Sechrist is Natural Awakenings’ senior staff writer. Connect at LindaSechrist.com.

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| December 2021

17

Ideas for Starting and Maintaining a Circle

by Justine Willis Toms When I tell someone that I’ve been meeting in a circle with the same people for more than three decades, they invariably ask, “How can I have that in my life?” They are eager to hear my stories, but feel overwhelmed about how to start a circle of their own. While those first steps feel like the biggest steps, they are really baby steps.

Best Practices for Circles These agreements have helped circles to function more successfully for all participants.

Three-step advice: 1. Make the commitment and write it down 2. Put out the call 3. Be consistent

n Consider it a sacred space

Step One: Set forth a clear intention.

n Encourage and welcome diverse points of view

n One person speaks at a time n Speak and listen from the heart

Years ago, I learned from Rev. Mary Manin Morrissey that everything is born twice: first in the imagination and then into the world. In the beginning, you will not know all the details, but you need to be clear in the overall intention of starting a circle and meeting regularly. Instead of saying, “Having a circle in my life is a good idea,” say, “It’s as good as done; I’m going to make it so no matter what.” Then write it down. This anchors it into the world of manifestation.

Step Two: Put out the call.

After making the inner commitment, you need to tune into other people that want to travel with you. It doesn’t take a lot of people to begin; one or two others will be fine.

Talk to a friend about this idea. You may feel awkward at first, but be assured there is a field of energy holding you—humans we have been circling since the dawn of history. If people turn you down, do not be discouraged. Trust that the perfect people will begin to show up. It is my experience that if even two people meet using circle principles on a regular basis it acts as an attractor for others.

Step Three: Meet on a consistent basis.

Put your circle time in your calendar as an important event. Keep this commitment just as you would a medical or dental appointment. Show up and keep the appointment even if you are the only one. There will be times when you feel too tired to go. Go anyway.

Afterwards, you’ll be truly delighted you went. Being sporadic in your meeting time will create a “leaky container”. Meeting consistently builds a powerful and vitalizing bond.

n Listen with discernment instead of judgment n When in doubt or need, pause and silently ask for guidance n Share leadership and resources n Decide together how decisions will be made n Work toward consensus when possible n Offer experience instead of advice n Decide together what is to be held in confidence n Speak from your own experiences and beliefs rather than speaking for others n Open and close the circle by hearing each voice (Check-ins and check-outs)

FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT: New Dimensions Radio NewDimensions.org

Cate Montana CateMontana.com

Mankind Project MankindProject.org

Institute of Noetic Science (IONS) Noetic.org

Jean Shinoda Bolen JeanBolen.com

Douglas Bonar A Center for Wellness ACenterForWellness.net

Circle Principles MillionthCircle.org/circle-resources/ circle-principles 18

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The Center for Mind Body Wellness cmbm.org HeartMath HeartMath.com Jennifer Phelps, M.D. cmbm.org/faculty-member/ jennifer-phelps-md

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CONSCIOUS EATING

The Sweet Danger of Sugar ways to enjoy healthier holiday fare

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by Christy Ratliff

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Chocolate Santas, decorated cookies and other sweet confections are ingrained in our holiday traditions, yet sugary food does little to actually make us feel merry and bright in the long run.

A high-sugar diet increases the risk of high blood pressure and cholesterol, inflammation, weight gain and weight-related conditions such as Type 2 diabetes, heart disease and stroke. It can also contribute to tooth decay and acne. “Most high-sugar foods are ‘treats’ and are not intended to be high in nutrition or consumed instead of healthier foods,” says Shelley Maniscalco, registered dietitian and CEO of the consulting firm Nutrition on Demand, in Arlington, Virginia. “When we have too many foods that are what we call calorie-dense versus nutrient-dense, we run the risk of displacing healthier foods, and, therefore, under-consuming key nutrients.”

This can impact mental health and impair the body’s ability to manage stress. “When we eat nutritious foods, and our gut is healthy, we obtain necessary nutrients to create neurotransmitters, which are key to optimal mental health,” explains Maggie Roney, a licensed counselor and certified functional medicine provider in Wylie, Texas. “There’s mood-stabilizing serotonin, which is a precursor for melatonin, needed for sleep; dopamine, involved in pleasure, focus and motivation; and GABA, which provides a calming effect that can help with stress and anxiety. All of these require amino acids, zinc, iron, vitamin D, magnesium, copper and B vitamins.”

In moderation, sugar is not necessarily detrimental to our health and well-being, but differentiating between naturally occurring sugar and added sugar is key to finding a middle ground. “New changes in the food label allow consumers to more easily identify sources of sugar in foods,” Maniscalco says. “Many healthy foods naturally contain sugars, such as fructose in fruits and lactose in dairy products. These natural sugars don’t need to be avoided.

When checking the label, look for amounts of added sugars and choose the options that have less.”

Foods and beverages with added sugars are now required to list the number of grams and percent daily value for added sugars on the nutrition facts label. For example, a container of yogurt with fruit on the bottom might list total sugars at 15 grams (g), including 7 g of added sugar, which means 8 g of naturally occurring sugars.

In a society long obsessed with counting calories, we may as-

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Hidden sugars are often found where we least expect them.

–Ricardo Díaz sume we’re making smart choices with low-fat, non-fat, reduced calorie or light versions of grocery items. But, the amount of added sugar is actually higher in low calorie versions of a wide variety of foods because sugar is used to compensate for the loss of flavor from fat. “Sugar tastes good and balances out other flavors, so many foods that we wouldn’t consider sweet have added sugars,” says Colleen Tewksbury, Ph.D., bariatric program manager and senior research investigator at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. “Common products include pasta sauce, cereal and salad dressing. Reading food labels looking specifically for added sugars is key to finding these foods.”

“Hidden sugars are often found where we least expect them,” adds Ricardo Díaz, chef and registered dietitian nutritionist at the New York-based nonprofit Wellness in the Schools, which works

to improve nutrition in school lunches. “Many savory or salty foods tend to have added sugars, such as tortilla chips, popcorn, jerky and frozen prepared foods. Check your labels and compare between products on the supermarket shelves to find the healthiest pick for you and your loved ones.”

“Often, we think of eating in ‘all or nothing’ terms. When we cut out foods we enjoy, it often backfires and we end up overeating them in the end when our willpower runs out,” Maniscaclo says. “I would really encourage mindfulness in eating so that individuals can enjoy treats in moderation and feel satisfied by them so that there’s less need to over consume. Also, being physically active year-round is a great habit to get into and can create more space in the diet for treats.”

As we implement these small but significant low-sugar strategies, we’ll be rewarded with better physical and emotional health all year long. That’s something to celebrate.

Christy Ratliff is a professional health and wellness writer based in Central Florida.

Tips to Eat Less Sugar

brent hofacker/AdobeStock.com

Shelley Maniscalco, MPH, RD: Eat fruit. Most are naturally sweet and provide healthy nutrients without a lot of calories. As an added bonus, the fiber and water content in fruit helps with feeling satiated.

Add spices and fresh herbs. Studies show that adding them enhances flavor, and it also lowers the use of such unhealthy nutrients as added sugars, sodium and saturated fats.

Colleen Tewksbury, Ph.D., RD: Choose plain yogurt, as it contains no added sugar. Top it with fresh fruit, cinnamon or nuts. Choose yogurt that contains live and active cultures, as these promote gut health and boost immunity.

maxim khytra/AdobeStock.com

Nearly a quarter of added sugars consumed come from sugar-sweetened beverages such as sodas and fruit drinks, even more than from desserts and sweets. A simple way of reducing added sugar is reducing intake of sugar-sweetened beverages. Three approaches are: setting a frequency goal (limit to x times per week); setting a portion goal (limit to x ounces per day); or setting a substitution goal (replace sugar-sweetened beverages with sugar-free options).

Jennifer Martin-Biggers, Ph.D., RDN: To reduce sugar intake, as with any other new habit or behavior change, it’s important to set manageable goals and set new ones as you go.

Another way to support dietary changes is through supplementation. The mineral chromium, in particular in the form of chromium picolinate, has been shown in clinical studies to reduce food cravings. ronstik/AdobeStock.com

marilyn barbone/AdobeStock.com

Chef and dietitian nutritionist Ricardo Díaz: Swap out fruit juice cocktails and fruit juice concentrates for whole fruits and 100 percent fruit juice. Fruit beverages rely on added sugar to provide much of their sweetness.

Choose whole grains over enriched grains.

Include a variety of whole grains in your diet, such as oats, brown rice or whole-wheat pastas and breads.

To maximize fiber intake, pick products labeled “100% Whole Grains” over labels stating “Whole Grains” or “Multigrain”.

Make your own baked goods. Besides controlling the amount of sugar in your treats, baking at home is a great way to get your youngest family members involved in cooking.

Film Suggestion: Watch That Sugar Film, a 2014 Australian documentary/drama directed by Damon Gameau at WatchDocumentaries.com/that-sugar-film. According to New York Times film critic Daniel M. Gold, “The food-doc shelf is crowded with good-for-you movies, including Fed Up, Fast Food Nation, Food Inc. and, yes, Super Size Me. That Sugar Film is a worthy addition, entertaining while informing.”

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21

Low- or No-Sugar Holiday Treats Baklava Cookie Cups 2 cups unbleached, all-purpose flour 1 tsp orange zest ½ tsp ground cardamom ¼ tsp salt 1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature ¾ cup honey 2 large eggs, room temperature 1 tsp pure vanilla extract

photo provided by allrecipes.com

filling and syrup:

½ cup pistachios, chopped ½ cup honey 3 Tbsp water 2 tsp orange juice 4 green cardamom pods, crushed 1 cinnamon stick

Heat oven to 350° F and grease a 24-cup mini muffin tin. In a medium mixing bowl, combine the flour, orange zest, cardamom and salt. In the bowl of a standing mixer with the paddle attachment, cream the butter and honey for about 1-2 minutes. (The mix will look a little curdled at this point and that’s fine; scrape down the sides.) Beat in the eggs, then the vanilla. Mix in the flour in two parts.

Using a cookie scoop, scoop the dough into the prepared muffin tin and bake for 10 minutes.

Remove from the oven; let sit for about 3-4 minutes before using a dowel to carefully press down in the center of each cookie to make a well. Let the cookies cool for about 15 minutes in the tin before removing to a cooling rack to cool completely. In a small saucepan over medium heat, prepare the syrup by combining the honey, water, orange juice, cardamom pods and cinnamon stick. Bring to a simmer and remove from the heat. Drizzle a small amount in the bottom of each cookie cup and then fill with the chopped pistachios. Drizzle more syrup on top of the filled cookie cups. Serve immediately or store in an airtight container for up to one week.

Courtesy of the National Honey Board. For more information, visit Honey.com.

Baked Apples

Preheat oven to 375° F. Wash apples.

Using an apple corer, remove cores and leave ½ inch of the bottom of each apple. (If using a paring knife, just cut the center core out fully.) Make the hole ¾-inch wide, and remove the seeds using a spoon. Place the cored apples in an 8-inch-by 8-inch baking dish.

Sprinkle lemon juice over apples to prevent browning. In a small bowl, combine cinnamon, chopped nuts and raisins or another dried fruit. Stuff each apple with the filling mixture. Top with a dot of butter (about ½ to ¾ tsp per apple). Add boiling water to baking pan.

Bake for 40-45 minutes until tender, but not mushy. Remove baked apples from the 22

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oven, and baste apples several times with the juice from the pan. (Apples can be baked in a muffin tin. Place muffin liners into the muffin tins, and place cored apples inside.)

Chef’s Note: Personalize the baked apples with seasonal fillings and spices, such as nutmeg, cardamom or pumpkin pie spice. For a twist, try a savory, fresh herb like rosemary or thyme.

Courtesy of Wellness in the Schools. For more information, visit WellnessInThe Schools.org. roman samokhin/AdobeStock.com

photo provided by allrecipes.com

4 large Granny Smith baking apples Juice of one lemon (about ¼ cup) 1 tsp cinnamon ¼ cup chopped pecans or another nut of choice ¼ cup raisins or another dried fruit of choice 1 tsp butter ¾ cup boiling water

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A Dietician’s Healthy Dark Chocolate Bark This dark chocolate bark recipe is holiday-themed with red, white and green toppings. Other topping options include almonds, dried fruit, sunflower, pumpkin or hemp seeds or granola.

Pour melted chocolate onto the prepared baking tray. Spread to ⅛-inch thickness.

While the chocolate is still warm, sprinkle with dried cranberries, chopped pistachios and shredded coconut. To set, place tray in the fridge for 15 to 20 minutes or in the freezer for 10 to 15 minutes. Break the bark into pieces and serve. Store extra pieces at room temperature in an airtight container.

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside. Create a double boiler by placing a saucepan filled with a few inches of water and topped with a glass bowl over medium heat. Bring the water to a boil. Add two thirds of the chocolate and let melt, stirring until smooth. Take off the heat and stir in the remaining chocolate.

Courtesy of Jessica Bippen, MS, RD. For more information, visit HUMNutrition.com/blog.

kolesnikovserg/AdobeStock.com

photo provided by allrecipes.com

6 oz dark chocolate ¼ cup raw pistachios ¼ cup dried cranberries 2 Tbsp shredded coconut

Honey Lavender Cookies This recipe was developed after lavender was accidentally weeded from the garden. These cookies are made with honey and whole-wheat flour.

Health & Wellness Issue

24 cookies

½ cup butter, softened ½ cup honey 1 egg 1 Tbsp lavender flowers 2 cups whole-wheat flour

Preheat oven to 350° F. Line baking sheets with parchment paper. Beat butter in a bowl with an electric mixer until creamy. Beat honey, egg and lavender into the creamed butter until

incorporated.

Stir flour, ½ cup at a time, into butter mixture until blended.

Drop spoonful of batter onto the prepared baking sheet, about 2 inches apart. Bake in preheated oven until cookies are browned on the bottom, about 15 minutes.

Courtesy of Sue B. For more information, visit AllRecipes.com.

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photo provided by allrecipes.com

yield: about

coming in the january

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23

FIT BODY

HOLIDAY ZEN Stress-Free Fitness and Self-Care

by Maya Whitman Despite our best efforts, holiday time can frazzle our nerves and snag us in an unhealthy loop of overindulgence. To combat holiday pressure, the Mayo Clinic suggests maintaining a regular exercise program and investing in me-time activities like meditation and deep breathing.

Movement and simple self-care, even for a few minutes, can lower cortisol levels that often contribute to excessive food cravings. Walking, going for a run, lifting weights, or getting into the pool or onto the yoga mat can help us enjoy the season with less angst.

foto helin/AdobeStock.com

CANCELLING GUILT, STAYING HEALTHY

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With simple strategies, enjoying the office party dessert table doesn’t have to get us off track. “One of the greatest gifts you can give yourself when reaching for a cookie is to be in full approval of eating it. Let your experience of eating it be clean, present and so free of resistance that you can really experience it,” says Maria Miller, a spiritual life coach in Oceanside, California.

Stephanie Mansour, host of the weekly national PBS health and fitness show Step It Up with Steph, also opts for a no-stress approach, especially when it comes to working out. “When cortisol levels are through the roof, we crave fattening, salty or sweet foods. Studies have shown that people have a more positive body image just after five minutes of exercise,” says the Chicago-based wellness coach. “This mindset is huge when it comes to eating healthier and taming holiday cravings.”

Bolstering neurotransmitters through good nutrition can take the edge off the to-do list or a gloomy winter day. “When

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we fuel our bodies with a variety of whole foods, we are also supporting healthy brain function, which has a direct impact on our emotions,” says Teigan Draig, a life coach in Spencerville, Ohio. Draig suggests berries, citrus fruits, fresh fish, turkey, walnuts, almonds, avocados and eggs to boost serotonin and dopamine levels, “which improve mood and help to reduce the effects of stress and anxiety on the body.”

PRIORITIZING SELF Most of us are short on time, but committing to good health doesn’t require hours at the gym. “Many of my clients are looking for fast, simple workouts that they can squeeze in during the holidays,” says Mansour. “Set the timer for five minutes and get down on the floor to do ab exercises.

Doing leg lifts, bicycle abs and crunches for five minutes is an excellent way to fire up the core.” She also suggests setting the morning alarm or going to sleep at night

five minutes earlier to do some stretches in bed. “If you’re cooking, you can do squats in the kitchen while a smoothie is blending or calf raises while stirring a pot on the stove.”

For Miller, putting on some music and dancing in the living room is a sure way to get a boost. She is also a fan of guilt-free, unplugged intervals of shut-eye: “Five-to25-minute power naps are a great way to rest and recharge with a very high return on your investment of time.” During the winter months, it can be easy to turn to screens for distraction and as a way to cope with the stress of the season. Miller reminds us to nourish our souls and get out in nature to “notice the way the weather impacts your body, the way it feels to draw in a breath and how you’re part of a constant exchange with life through each breath you take.”

INHALING PEACE Conscious breathing makes the effects of workouts go further and halts the cascade of stress hormones. “Whatever fitness rou-

tine you’re doing is fine, just always breathe through your nose. Mouth breathing triggers cortisol release,” says Ed Harrold, breathwork and performance coach in Draper, Utah, and author of Life with Breath. “When we slow the breath rate, we encourage a relaxation response. We can manage the release of cortisol by inhaling through the nose, slowly from the belly to the collarbone and exhaling slowly through the nose by gently drawing the belly back into the lower spine. This is called diaphragmatic breathing and is our proper breath, even during exercise.”

For nature, winter is a time of repose from which we can take a cue and enjoy the moment. Draig muses, “Mindfulness requires us to be present in the here and now, rather than worrying about the todo list or stressing over holiday finances.”

Maya Whitman writes about natural health and living a more beautiful life. Connect at Ekstasis28@gmail.com.

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25

H EALTHY KIDS

The Best Books for Kids Gift Choices that Can Open Up Worlds

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by Sandra Yeyati

Helping children learn to read and love books is one of the greatest parental endeavors.

Many kids learn their first words after hearing the adults in their lives sing a lullaby or tell them a nursery rhyme. “Building a child’s vocabulary is the key to reading, and rhymes, singing, word games, synonyms, homonyms and rap are great places to start,” says Claudette McLinn, executive director of the Los Angeles-based Center for the Study of Multicultural Children’s Literature and former librarian, teacher, school administrator and children’s bookstore owner.

A child’s first reading experience will likely involve a picture book. “What’s powerful about picture books is that the illustrations and text intertwine,” McLinn explains. “You can read them aloud together. As the child looks at the artwork, the adult can ask, ‘What is that?’ And the child can use their imagination while you teach them to observe, articulate and start the reading process.”

To encourage childhood reading, it’s helpful to have a variety of books around the house and to set aside reading time every day. “It costs nothing to check out a pile of 25 books at the library, take them home and try them,” says Maeve Knoth, a librarian at Phillips Brooks School, in Menlo Park, California. When buying books, she suggests consulting librarians and booksellers for recommendations, as well as relying on book awards such as the Newbery or Caldecott medals, and on book lists compiled every year by reputable organizations 26

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and committees, notably the Association for Library Service to Children, a division of the American Library Association.

Choosing books for kids should always start by discovering what their passions or interests are and then finding a good book on that subject, says McLinn, adding that encouraging children to browse the shelves and choose their own books is an empowering exercise that builds self-esteem and a love of reading. Whether it’s dinosaurs, cars or the stars and planets, there’s a kid’s book about it. “Although fiction is important early on because it increases imagination, nonfiction books help kids learn new information and understand the role of the table of contents, the glossary and index, and informative diagrams,” she

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says, adding that she prefers award-winning nonfiction books because they’ve been vetted for accuracy.

“Kids often gravitate toward books that are a little bit less challenging,” Knoth says.

“While I have no objection to those popular books, which are lots of fun, they’re not going to give kids a new way to think about themselves or the world. I want my children to have consequential reading experiences with books that offer new points of view where kids can live in someone else’s heart and mind for a little while. I want them to know what it might be like to live in a different time period or to grow up in China.”

According to Knoth, a great children’s book will include an engaging character that has an experience, prompting them to change and grow. “I want it to be well structured and beautifully written, with setting, point of view and all those elements that fit together to create a theme and give you a literary experience,” she explains.

She looks for nuanced books that invite kids to use their imagination and find their own way. “The reader might be young, but they’re not dumb. They just haven’t had lots of experiences yet. If a book concludes with one narrow solution to a child’s problem, then I would say it’s not that useful or successful,” says Knoth, a frequent contributor to The Horn Book, a resource for children’s book reviews and articles.

McLinn believes that kids should be exposed to a diversity of authors and illustrators that explore the lives of all cultures. “We live in silos with the people in our group, and we don’t know anything about other groups,” she explains. “When you read about other cultures, you learn that we are more alike than we are different.

We may eat different foods, wear different clothing and have different customs, but you find out that it’s not scary. Kids love to read about heroes that they can identify with and become their friends. Children are into social justice and fairness. As a child, I loved biographies. I wanted to read about great people and what made them great so that maybe I could be great like them.”

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27

Special Gifts for Special Kids

by Jaycee Miller

Experts say choosing the right gift for a child with learning disabilities comes down to a few key points.

“The most important factor should be having fun,” says Sheldon H. Horowitz, EdD, a senior advisor for the National Center on Learning Disabilities. “Positive emotions (especially strong responses like joy and surprise) engage brain networks in miraculous ways … leads to motivation and determination, perseverance and resilience.”

PerformanceHealth.com, a company that makes and distributes products for children with learning disabilities, recommends asking the child’s parents about the gift recipient’s interests, likes and dislikes, abilities, special needs and developmental age to make the most appropriate gift selection.

Horowitz offers many gift suggestions for children of various ages that have been diagnosed with several common pediatric learning disabilities:

n Dolls and play people, rhythm toys and books “that are easily held and read aloud” may be suitable for 2- to 4-year-olds with dyslexia. n Books that contain “rich vocabulary [and] detailed illustrations” and games that allow words to be broken into components (eg, prefixes and suffixes) may be a good fit for 5- to 8-year-olds with dyslexia. n Spelling games and crossword puzzles may be apt for 9- to 12-year-olds with dyslexia. n Squeeze balls and soft fidget toys may be suitable for 2- to 4-year-olds with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. n Games that develop people skills, like turn-taking, and others that enable strategy development may be a good fit for 5- to 8-year-olds with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. n Games that emphasize using newly learned words may be apt for 9- to-12year-olds with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. n Play scales with many different sized items and shapes may be suitable for 2- to 4-year-olds with math difficulties. n Talking calculators or items with timers may be a good fit for 5- to 8-year-olds with math difficulties.

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n Rulers, compasses and protractors may be apt for 9- to 12-year-olds with math difficulties.

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n Large snap-together blocks or a light plastic toolset for tightening screws and hammering pegs may be suitable for 2- to 4-year-olds that have problems putting their thoughts on paper. n Smaller snap-together blocks or items that encourage teaching and drawing shapes like circles and squares may be a

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good fit for 5- to 8-year-olds who have problems putting their thoughts on paper. n Typing keyboards or different sized pens and markers may be appropriate for 9- to 12-year-olds that have problems putting their thoughts on paper. n Large crayons or painting supplies may be suitable for 2- to 4-year-olds that have difficulties coordinating things. n Colored paper and glue or safety scissors may be a good fit for 5- to 8-year-olds who have difficulties coordinating things. n Musical keyboard or rhythm instruments may be good for 9- to 12-year-olds that have difficulties coordinating things.

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There are many organizations dedicated to helping others understand learning disabilities that can help select a gift for a child with learning disabilities. Some of them also have online stores that may spur additional gift ideas.

Jaycee Miller is a freelance researcher, blogger and writer living in New Jersey.

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29

HEALING WAYS

Amp Up Immunity Proven Boosters for Good Health

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by Ronica O’Hara

As we head into the holidays, a gift that many of us wish for is a strong immune system to protect us not only from serious illness, but also from wintry coughs and sniffles. Robust immunity rests on three pillars, research shows: getting at least seven hours of sleep a night to allow immune functions to reboot; daily exercise to stimulate the production of white blood cells that fight off harmful bacteria and viruses; and plant-based foods to supply the antioxidants and phytochemicals needed to reduce inflammation and keep cells humming happily.

In addition, we can enhance immunity by adding specific adaptogens and mushroom powders into our daily routine. These study-proven substances perform specific functions in the immune system that boost our resistance to illness. As powders, they can be easily added into drinks or foods, and they can also be taken as tinctures or pills.

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MODULATING IMMUNITY WITH ADAPTOGENS Used for millennia in China and India, adaptogens are plants that keep the body in balance by helping it adapt to stress. They interact with the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, a complex system of glands, hormones and receptors that helps manage homeostasis, stress responses and energy metabolism. “Adaptogens are a great way to boost immunity, especially if you are constantly sick and run down due to feeling stressed,” says Heather Hanks, a Plymouth, Michigan, nutritionist with USA Rx. Adaptogens typically take two or three weeks to become effective; follow package directions for proper dosage.

Astragalus (Astragalus membranaceus), an herb called locoweed in the U.S., boosts immune function by increasing natural killer cell activity and enhancing the function of macrophages, the “immune sentinels” that reside in tissues. A recent review suggests that

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long-term use of astragalus might help prevent colds, and taking it for up to six weeks may relieve seasonal allergy symptoms such as runny nose, itching and sneezing. It has also been shown to improve recovery after illness, disease or prolonged stress and to help post-chemotherapy patients regain health. Polish researchers found that rowing team athletes given 500 milligrams of astragalus root extract each day for six weeks had immune systems that recovered faster after strenuous exercise.

Panax Ginseng, a perennial plant from East Asia, keeps the immune system in balance by regulating its components, including macrophages, dendritic cells and both T and B cells. It improves resistance to illness and microbial attacks, helps counter stress, controls inflammation, improves cognitive functions and has been found effective in the treatment of cancer, neurodegenerative disorders, insulin resistance and hypertension.

Tulsi (Ocimum tenuiflorum), also known as holy basil, “enhances the immune response, protects the body against bacterial and viral infection and promotes clear and comfortable breathing,” says Ameya Duprey, a certified Ayurvedic practitioner in Nevada City, California. Studies show that it also helps prevent liver, kidney and brain injury by protecting against the genetic, immune and cellular damage caused by pesticides, pharmaceuticals and industrial chemicals.

THE MARVEL OF MEDICINAL MUSHROOMS Used medicinally since at least 3,000 BCE, certain mushrooms have been found to have antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, cardiovascu-

lar-protective, anti-diabetic, liver-protective and anticancer properties. They are usually not cooked, but rather taken as a powder that can be added to foods like smoothies, cereals and stir-fries.

Reishi mushrooms increase the activity of killer cells and lower inflammation in white cells, warding off infections. “They are used by cancer patients, as they support a healthy immune system, have antioxidant properties and may prevent or treat infections,” says Linda Strause, Ph.D., an adjunct professor of human nutrition at University of California San Diego, whose husband with brain cancer was encouraged to take the mushrooms as a supplement.

Cordyceps (Cordyceps sinensi) is harvested from the larvae of caterpillars in the high Himalayas. In a randomized, eight-week Korean study of 79 adults, supplementing with 1.7 grams of cordyceps extract daily led to a significant 38 percent increase in the activity of natural killer cells that protect against infection. It has been used traditionally to treat fatigue, sexual dysfunction, asthma, kidney problems, high blood pressure and weak hearts.

Turkey tail (Trametes versicolor) contains a compound called polysaccharide-K that stimulates the immune system. It also acts as a prebiotic, which promotes the health of the gut microbiome, a key player in immunity. A Harvard Medical School study of 22 healthy people found that taking 3,600 milligrams of polysaccharopeptide extracted from turkey tail mushrooms each day led to beneficial changes in gut bacteria and suppressed the growth of problematic E. coli and shigella bacteria.

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

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| December 2021

31

OMEGA FATTY ACIDS

May – or May Not – Do a Body Good

by Jaycee Miller Research indicates that both omega-3 and omega-9 fatty acids promote good health as reported on Healthline.com. However, evidence is mixed when it comes to omega-6 fatty acids, according to articles on the same website and in the Open Heart journal.

OMEGA-3 FATTY ACIDS Omega-3s are not produced in the body naturally. Therefore, they must be consumed to obtain health benefits like lowered inflammation, preventing depression, and promoting heart and brain health, also according to Healthline.com.

Most women need about 1.1 grams of the substance daily to reach what the National Institutes of Health considers an “adequate intake,” while most men need about 1.6 grams daily. These amounts may be obtained by “eating oily, fatty fishes at least twice a week,” says Robert Fishberg, M.D., a cardiologist with Atlantic Medical Group.

A tuna fish sandwich “made as lean and with as little mayonnaise as possible” may also provide omega-3s, says Kimberly M. Lamartin, M.D., a primary care physician with Tampa General Medical Group. “Other good sources are soybean oil, vegetable oil, walnuts, chia seeds and flax seeds,” she adds.

OMEGA-6 FATTY ACIDS

OMEGA-9 FATTY ACIDS Omega-9s are produced naturally in the body, according to Food for the Ageing Population. Therefore, there are no recommended daily amounts of their consumption, Healthline.com says.

Food for the Ageing Population adds that omega-9s help maintain cardiovascular and brain health, while they may improve insulin sensitivity and lower inflammation. Sources of the substance include olive oil, peanut oil, cashews and walnuts.

SUPPLEMENTS Fishberg encourages those that want to use fish oil supplements to fill in any omega fatty acid nutritional gaps to be careful.

“They are not regulated by the FDA,” he cautions. “Some may have impurities in them.” To minimize this risk, he advises buying such supplements “from a very reputable store.”

Jaycee Miller is a freelance researcher, blogger and writer living in New Jersey.

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Omega-6s are another polyunsaturated fat that is not produced in the body naturally and thus, must be consumed to receive their health benefits, Healthline.com states. Sources include soybean oil, corn oil, walnuts, sunflower seeds, almonds and cashews.

Most women ages between 19 and 50 years should try to consume 12 grams daily, while for men in this age group, 17 grams daily is advised, the website continues.

The data on omega-6’s benefits appear mixed. Two physicians from Saint Luke’s Mid America Heart Institute wrote in Open Heart that some omega-6 sources may be a leading cause of coronary heart disease, while Healthline.com indicates omega-6s may help reduce symptoms of inflammatory diseases.

Until more evidence is available, Lamartin recommends “having a diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids to offset omega-6 fatty acids.” In addition, Healthline.com encourages a “healthy ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acids appears to be between 1-to-1 and 4-to-1.”

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33

NATURAL PET

BRIDGING THE GAP BETWEEN

Toyland for Pooches

CONVENTIONAL AND

Choosing Safe Playthings a Dog Will Love

ALTERNATIVE VETRINARY MEDICINE

by Karen Shaw Becker Most healthy dogs retain their love of play throughout their lives. Because canine family members can be loosely compared to perpetual human toddlers, it makes sense that they enjoy playtime no matter their age.

Most dogs are also fascinated, at least temporarily, with toys made just for them.

Some love to chase a ball or Frisbee and others like a good game of tug or stuffed toys. Most dogs seem to enjoy playthings that squeak when they bite them, possibly because the noise brings to mind the sound of captured prey, or perhaps because pet parents give their dogs extra attention when they “get their squeak on”.

Most dogs in the U.S. have lots of toys, and many pet parents practice trial-and-error to determine what type their dog prefers—and which are safest—from a mind-blowing selection of tugs, balls,

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discs, chews, puzzles, squeaky or stuffed toys and more. Because many pet stores welcome dogs, some pet parents even bring their four-legged family members along and allow them to sniff out their favorites.

It’s important to select a dog’s toys carefully, because not every option is a good choice. For example, some dogs, especially large breeds, tend to rip soft toys apart within seconds to taste-test the stuffing.

There are also dogs that can swallow small soft toys whole. A pup’s temperament, size and age all play a role in determining which toys are safe, and there are also considerations based on the toy itself, such as materials used, size, shape and more.

POTENTIALLY TOXIC TOYS Pet toys are not regulated, so they can be made with virtually any material.

Plastic toys, in particular, can be

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dangerous, because many contain endocrine-disrupting chemicals such as phthalates and bisphenol-A (BPA). Old or weathered toys such as those left outside leach higher concentrations of harmful chemicals.

While BPA-free toys are available, the toxin may have been replaced with similar—or even more toxic—chemicals, including bisphenol-S (BPS), so “BPAfree” unfortunately isn’t a reliable indicator of toy safety. Other adulterants found in dog toys include heavy metals like lead and formaldehyde.

When looking for new toys, choose those made in the U.S. out of 100 percent natural rubber, organic cotton or other eco-friendly and contaminant-free materials. Try the sniff test. If a toy being considered smells strongly of chemicals, put it back. Testing shows that some tennis balls made for pets contain more contaminants than those made for sports.

The best toys for pets are usually hand- made by individuals or very small companies and can be found at local farmers’ markets or sold regionally in small, independent pet stores. There’s no plethora of companies that produce 100 percent organic toys, but some great, allnatural toys can be found online.

WHAT DOGS SEEM TO PREFER Researchers have discovered that re-

gardless of the type of toy, once a dog is completely familiar with the sight, sound, smell and feel of it, boredom can set in.

In addition, we may want to avoid “indestructible” toys the dog can’t make a dent in, because they enjoy toys they can pull apart and destroy, or those that are edible.

Offering a dog easily destroyed toys isn’t ideal, either, as they may accidently or intentionally ingest some of the non-edible pieces. A good alternative is recreational bones (large, raw chunks of beef and bison femur bones), which are quite enjoyable to most dogs, even though they’re not technically toys. Lick mats that hold a soft food treat are also a great environmental enrichment choice for dogs that tend to destroy toys quickly.

Treat-release puzzle toys, toys meant to be chewed and those that make noise or are edible (like a nontoxic dental bone) can also be good options, while toys that are hard, unyielding and silent will probably not be a big hit.

Don’t underestimate our human ability to stimulate a dog’s interests. A session of playtime—playing fetch, tug-of-war or hide-and-seek—will be far more stimulating to the pup than any toy could be.

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NATURAL PET

Pooches as Presents:

coming a new member into the family.

Giving pets as holiday gifts to children or adults can cause real problems.

Households considering a new pet need to honestly assess if they have the time, money and energy to handle all that comes with pet ownership. Consideration has to be undertaken as to if it fits into their lifestyle and do they have the will to commit to a relationship with a new pet that could last 20 years, do they have a connection to their new pet. When given as a present, the new owner did not have a choice to take on these new responsibilities and often will surrender their new “present” to local rescues and shelters.

If a household truly feels they are ready to commit to giving an animal a lifetime of love, veterinary visits, housetraining, food, treats, toys, bedding, exercise, playtime, etc., then the best option is to adopt, with all family members meeting the new addition prior to adoption.

Reliable animal shelters or rescue groups can help guide future pet owners to the best possible match for their families.

Many different breeds and species are readily available for adoption and essential research will assure a good fit for any household looking to love up a companion animal.

THINK TWICE…

by Nancy Smith Seigle

Ahhh … the holidays!

Doorbells ringing, loud music playing, noisy new toys, games and families making merry can turn an otherwise quiet household into total chaos this time of year.

And, while those heart-tugging videos or DVDs, in which fluffy puppies in red bows appear under the Christmas tree, may tempt us, hard statistics show giving a companion animal as a holiday present is a terrible idea.

According to People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, many “present” animals,

by January, will have joined the more than 6 million that enter shelters in the U.S. every year.

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For those looking to offer a forever home to the perfect rescue dog, look no further than a pit bull. Historically, the it was considered a generic name covering a variety of breeds like the American Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, American Bully, Staffordshire Bull Terrier and the American Bulldog.

Today, we can find any number of different breeds within the pit bull DNA grouping available for adoption. Sadly, the pit bull has been on the receiving end of some very bad press. High-profile stories about dog fighting rings and deadly attacks have led some to erroneously believe the dog group is vicious by nature.

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Nothing could be further from the truth. Pit bulls are extremely affectionate, loving and devoted animals. For those looking for a real snuggler that likes to cuddle, wiggle and give you kisses, look no further than the pit bull. They are smart, easy to train and have a ton of personality. They are great with kids and are natural caretakers. Low maintenance and healthy, be sure to give the pit bull consideration through a reliable rescue or shelter when picking your next fur baby

HOLIDAY GIFT IDEAS People that want a gift to open during the holidays for the “wanna-be” or “soon-to-be” pet owners, wrap up a nice collar and leash or create a gift basket filled with pet goodies. A gift certificate is always a good option. They can even be purchase from an adoption center—to use after the holiday seaon.

Pet ownership is a huge responsibility that can bring a lifetime of joy and love if approached with proper respect and care for all sentient creatures.

Happy h olidays … and remember to spay and neuter!

LOCAL SHELTERS AND RESCUES Homeward Bound Shelter HomewardBoundNJ.org Gloucester County Animal Shelter GloucesterCountyNJ.gov Voorhess Animal Orphanage VAONJ.org Animal Welfare Association AWANJ.org Burlington County Animal Shelter Co.Burlington.NJ.us Burlington County Animal Alliance BCAAOFNJ.org South Jersey Rescue SouthJerseyRescue.com Check PetFinder.com to find the breeds and ages of available dogs in our area.

YOUR BEST FRIEND AWAITS!

Weekly adoption events Every Saturday at the Mt Laurel Petsmart

Please Help!

609.314.4664 Dogs, Cats, Small Animals

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Burlington County Animal Alliance of New Jersey (BCAA of NJ) is a network of fosters. All animals are taken care of in our own homes.

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wwwbcaaofnj.org | December 2021

37

GREEN LIVING

Greening the Holidays HOW TO CELEBRATE SUSTAINABLY

tanyajoy/AdobeStock.com

by Sandra Yeyati

With every record-setting storm and catastrophic fire, more people are realizing that we are embroiled in a climate crisis. Consider this holiday season as an opportunity not just to make sustainable choices, but also to take strategic action that positively impacts the planet and inspires friends and family to join the environmental cause. Whether that means modifications to the holiday dinner, eco-friendly decorating tactics or responsible gifting, every environmental choice can be a teaching moment or conversation starter.

Together, we can make a difference.

ECO-FRIENDLY HOLIDAY DINNER Growing fruits and vegetables is generally kinder to the Earth than the industrialized production of meat, which pollutes the environment and mistreats animals. Hosting a vegetarian holiday feast with locally sourced, organic produce is a great way to support regenerative farming systems, slash transportation emissions and introduce guests to new culinary traditions. If meat is a must, opt for sustainably wild-caught salmon or shrimp and pastured, organic turkey or chicken over beef, as cow production leads to significant methane emissions.

To conserve energy, use the oven or stove sparingly, opting instead for recipes that employ crockpots, air fryers, pressure cookers, outdoor barbecues or the microwave.

For both health and environmental reasons, gently encourage smaller meat portions and 38

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fill the plate with scrumptious side dishes.

After the party, leftovers can be sent home with guests, turned into next-day lunches and soups or frozen for later use. Compost scraps to keep them out of the landfill.

RESPONSIBLE GIFT WRAPPING Eliminating wrapping paper, bows, ribbons and greeting cards from the holiday equation is a great zero-waste lifestyle choice.

Gifts can just as easily be wrapped in fabric, scarves and cloth napkins, or presented inside a reusable shopping bag. Another alternative is to use wrapping materials and greeting cards that are biodegradable, from recycled origins or certified by the Forestry Stewardship Council (fsc.org) to ensure they did not contribute to defor-

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estation. Avoid papers with glitter, foil and other decorations that may contain nonbiodegradable, petroleum-based elements. Glitter is usually made from plastic, contributing to the microplastics problem. When recycling, remove tape, bows and ribbons.

EARTH-FRIENDLY HOLIDAY DECORATIONS The most eco-friendly Christmas decoration is a potted, living tree that can be decorated and exhibited indoors during the holidays and planted in the garden afterwards. A mini-rosemary tree is also a fragrant tabletop alternative. Opt for LED string lights, which use a fraction of the energy that traditional lights require.

With the help of online instructional videos, families can come together to craft decorations out of biodegradable, recycled and consumable materials, including tree ornaments made of reclaimed wood or soda can tabs; garlands of popcorn, dried fruit slices or cinnamon sticks; wreaths and centerpieces studded with pine cones, herb branches and flowers from the garden; and candles made with essential oils and soy wax. The home will smell festive, fresh and healthful.

THOUGHTFUL, LIFE-AFFIRMING GIFTS Environmentally responsible holiday shopping takes many forms. Some people pledge to buy nothing during Christmas and instead donate their holiday budgets to families in need. Others set out to buy gifts they know the recipient wants or needs to avoid waste. They shop at local, small businesses and choose durable, repurposed, easily repairable and upcycled items.

Thoughtful gifts that affirm a commitment to the planet are electric bicycles and comfortable hiking shoes to encourage slow transportation and healing walks in nature; solar-powered devices and chargers in support of renewable energy; consumable items and foods that won’t clutter the home or landfill; services and experiences that don’t need to be gift wrapped; and donations to environmental charities that are meaningful to the recipient.

Consider gifts that encourage loved ones to grow their own fruits, vegetables and herbs; plant shade trees in their backyards; and nurture flowering plants that support bees, butterflies and other pollinators— green-thumb gifts like herb planters, wildflower seed packets, garden tools, utility gloves and vegetable-growing instruction books.

plastic that pollutes the environment and harms aquatic wildlife. n Straws made of stainless steel, organic bamboo, silicone, biodegradable paper or glass n Water bottles and insulated containers made of stainless steel or glass n Food bags, wraps and bowl covers made of beeswax, silicone, cotton or canvas n Stainless steel plates and bamboo utensils for sustainable picnicking n Zero-waste shampoo, conditioner and body wash bars

REUSABLE GIFTS THAT DITCH THE PLASTIC These reusable gifts make it easy and fun for recipients to be kind to the planet yearround by reducing our devastating dependence on single-use, nonbiodegradable

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

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39

INSPIRATION

Season of Light

Celebrating the Soul of Winter

by Marlaina Donato

LOVE THIS FIND TRUE

HIS T E V O L E FIND TRU Try for FREE at NaturalAwakeningsSingles.com 40

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

This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

†

Inevitably, the wheel of the year turns with the nuances of the seasons hardly noticed in the blur of our busy days. “Next year,” we say, when we realize that we’ve run out of time to try that holiday recipe, connect with friends or revel in a winter sunset. Collecting small joys takes us out of survival mode and into wideawake living. Pausing to sip from winter’s steaming cup of comfort can be the perfect way to begin a new chapter that prompts us to come back to the center.

In the ancient world, fire festivals marked holy days celebrating the sun’s promise of return and supplied felicity in a time of hardship. Today, something inside our ancestral memories makes us crave celebration as we wrap the year’s end in shiny ribbon, ethereal lights and scented candles. Singing, chanting or caroling this time of year—“old-fashioned” pastimes—were ancient elements of winter’s revels that invited benevolent energy and chased away bad luck. While most of us no longer grace our neighbors with song, raising our voices to any capacity can be an offering, an invitation to hope and beauty. Singing multicultural songs with the kids, writing a spontaneous prayer or sharing seasonal or funny stories naturally boosts the immune system and helps to fight off the winter blues.

Winter has its own jewel-toned beauty that rivals summer’s most dazzling hour if we pay attention: ruby fruits baked with brown sugar, rosy desert mornings and snowy sapphire twilights. Pointing out December constellations over a beach or lacing up our boots for a brisk walk helps us to unplug from the world’s problems. Sprinkling heart-healthy spices in our morning coffee opens a gloomy day on a lovely note.

Winter can feel long, so go ahead and treat your senses; buy a few yards of red velvet to sleep on or pick up that novel you’ve been planning to read. Live and give a little more deeply. Feed the birds and feed your soul.

Marlaina Donato is an author and a composer of ambient holiday music. Connect at WildflowerLady.com.

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Universal Outreach

by Matt Preston

Photo by mododeolhar from Pexels

As the year wraps up, it’s a nice time to take stock in how the universe may be reaching out in positive and uplifting ways. And one thing that humanity needs now more than ever, and has pretty much always needed, is a positive energy. Here are three ways the universe may try to get that message out.

Signs, although sometimes they aren’t easy to recognize.

When the universe uses signs, it can be anything to anyone and endless in nature. It can be related to taking a new job in a new city, maybe Seattle. If all of a sudden you start getting Starbucks coupons even though you don’t drink coffee or notice an inordinate amount of Frasier reruns on TV, that could be a pattern for sure.

Another common example of signs is numbers. It can sometimes be hard to explain as the most common critique is that someone is looking for them.

The best are the truly random examples that occur, the gym being an easy place for that. It could be looking up at the TV at just the right time to see lottery numbers that match someone’s signs, checking a stopwatch or looking at the treadmill panel at just the right moment so see the numbers pass by. These are some of the many great ways that the universe puts out subtle nods.

Energy is another way to know that positives are either here now or around the corner. Even when things aren’t going great, if

someone still shows that drive to be positive, it’s such an important way to engage. This shows a determination to keep one’s vibes at a higher level.

This could also be a great way to get someone to focus on their talents or opportunities or help those around the community.

This is especially true for artists, that find that their energy is at its most positive when they’re expressing themselves. Just the same, this could go for athletes, those that like to garden or cook or essentially anyone open enough to receive.

This doesn’t always have to be something that’s Earth shattering or life altering either, but just being able to absorb the message.

And having your head and heart space prepped and ready to go to receive it could, literally, make all the difference in the world.

Destiny is something that’s a little harder to pin down and is hardly an exact science.

It’s not exactly tangible, but the concept is proven all the time. There are many examples of meeting people that affect us positively or negatively, zigging when they could have zagged.

We have to stop being our own worst enemies as a species and not just listen, but engage the process in a positive way. In looking at just these three aspects, it’s a great template to help us focus on what someone could be missing. And if just a quarter of humanity did this, consider how much longer it would it take for the rest of us to catch up. The hope remains it wouldn’t be too long.

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41

SOUTH JERSEY’S

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Email Publisher@NASouthJersey.com for guidelines.

We advise confirming in advance directly with the business or organization.

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 1

Tapping into The Holiday Spirit – 6:308pm. With Kathy Hardies. Learn how to “tap” into that feeling of joy and reprogram your nervous system to help create a sense of oneness and feelings of peace, joy and love during this busy time of year. There will be meditation, followed by a sharing circle, a tapping session, and finally, a token of holiday spirit to share with a stranger. $30. The Center, Life in Balance, 45 S Main St, Medford. 609-975-8379.

TheCenterLifeInBalance.com.

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 2

Online: Self-Care Masterclass – 8pm.

Register: TeemingHealth.com.

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 4

Special Holiday Market – 10am-2pm.

Bundle up and head over for the absolute last market of the season. Stock up on holiday wreaths of greens, and shop for special holiday gifts hand-made by local artisans. Burlington County Agricultural Center, 500 Centerton Rd, Moorestown.

Co.Burlington.nj.us.

Trauma-Sensitive Yoga Teaching Training: Level 1 – Dec 4-5. 12-5pm. With Janet Watkins. Learn how to create a trauma-sensitive yoga practice body-based approach incorporating ayurveda, the Healing Science of Yoga. Open to yoga teachers and those who would like to expand their knowledge of yoga and complex trauma. $250. Live In Joy Yoga & Wellness, 118 W Merchant St, Audubon.

LiveInJoyYoga.com.

Pet Sitting Workshop – 2-4:30pm. Also held Dec 11. Learn the ins and outs of pet sitting, including Pet CPR and Pet First Aid. Make own Pet First Aid Kit and certificate of class completion. $35/person. HousePaws Vets in Training, 201 Main St, Rancocas. Register: VetsInTraining.us.

New Moon Night Hike: Adults Only – 5-7pm.

Enjoy a guided hike under the darkness of the new moon to visit nocturnal habitats that are home to owls, raccoons, opossums and other wildlife that emerge after dark. $15/person.

Woodford Cedar Run Wildlife Refuge, 4 Sawmill Rd, Medford. Registration required: 856-983-3329 or CedarRun.org.

New Moon Crystal Bowl Sound Bath Meditation – 7-8pm. Opening meditation to improve the body’s health, increase love, clarity and prosperity. Rest in a crystalline sound warp and experience the frequencies and harmonies of crystal sing-

42

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ing bowls and ultra-relaxing brainwave state where healing happens. $25. Excitari Wellness Center, 30 Jackson Rd, Bldg D, Medford. Register: 856-885-2990 or Vagaro.com/excitariwellnesscenter.

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 5

Victorian Holiday Celebration – 1-5pm.

Includes train or horse-drawn carriage rides, Rodeo Reindeer, ice-skating rink, shopping and more. Free. Historic Smithville Park & Smith’s Woods, 803 Smithville Rd, Mt Holly.

609-265-5858. Co.Burlington.nj.us.

Interpretive Trail Hike – 1:30-3pm. An interpretive hike through our varied habitats. Easy pace suitable for all ages. Masks and social distancing required. Inclement weather cancels. Registration limited. Free. Rancocas Nature Center, 794 Rancocas Rd, Westampton.

609-261-2495. RancocasNatureCenter.org.

MONDAY, DECEMBER 6

Yin Yoga with Angelic Reiki – 6:30-8pm.

With Sue Raletz & Alexis DiTullio. Explore, open and release as you settle into the poses of a gentle yin yoga practice. During the stillness of the longer holds, Angelic Reiki will be provided. $30. Live In Joy Yoga & Wellness, 118 W Merchant St, Audubon.

LiveInJoyYoga.com.

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 9

ONLINE: Mysteries of the Gut Microbiome Masterclass – 8pm. Register: TeemingHealth.com.

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 11

Astral Travel – 10am-3pm. With Melissa Reddick. Have you ever desired to explore the cosmos; travel to distant planets, stars, galaxies? Are you seeking knowledge that feels just beyond your grasp to help you grow and progress in your life, or create a more meaningful experience here on Earth?

The methods taught work in accordance with sacred law, and you will be handed down energetic tools to protect you on your journey. $100. The Center, Life in Balance, 45 S Main St, Medford. 609-975-8379.

TheCenterLifeInBalance.com.

Handmade Holiday Market & Family Day – 11am-4pm. Shop local, support local artists and makers while supporting the farm.

Includes free wagon rides, a candy cane hunt on the woodland trails, hot cocoa and cookies, live music and more. Free admission & parking. Whitesbog Preservation Trust, 120 W Whites Bogs Rd, #34, Browns Mills.

609-893-4646. Whitesbog.org.

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The Sound of Love Workshop – 2-4pm.

With Angelo Rizzo. Learn how to open heart chakra blockages with sounds and resonate higher fields of love; after enjoy profound sound bath with live instruments, natural sounds and an array of singing bowls. $35.

Excitari Wellness Center, 30 Jackson Rd, Bldg D, Medford. Register: 856-885-2990 or Vagaro.com/excitariwellnesscenter.

Pet Sitting Workshop – 2-4:30pm. See Dec 4 listing. HousePaws Vets in Training, 201 Main St, Rancocas. Register: VetsInTraining.us.

Winter Solstice Celebration: Honoring the Light Within – 4:30-7pm. Come together in community as we honor the light within through a graceful flow of movement, meditation, power of sound and more on the longest night of the year. Light refreshments. $40/advance, $50/day of. Live In Joy Yoga & Wellness, 118 W Merchant St, Audubon.

LiveInJoyYoga.com.

MONDAY, DECEMBER 13

Yoga for the Young Ones – 7-8pm. Ages 12 & up. Come for a calming, stress-relieving class to strengthen the body and mind, with emphasis on building awareness of the breath and the body allowing the mind to focus. $10. Live In Joy Yoga & Wellness, 118 W Merchant St, Audubon. LiveInJoyYoga.com.

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 17

Parents’ Night Out: Drop & Shop – 6-9:30pm. Pre-K-8th grade. Kids can wear their favorite PJs for snuggle time with their animal friends. $50/child; discount for siblings. HousePaws Vets in Training, 201 Main St, Rancocas. Register: VetsInTraining.us.

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 18

Saturday Guided Hike – 10:30-11:30am.

Studies show that taking a walk in a natural area is good for your physical and mental health. Adults and interested. Masks and social distancing required. Inclement weather cancels. Registration limited.

Free. Rancocas Nature Center, 794 Rancocas Rd, Westampton. 609-261-2495.

RancocasNatureCenter.org.

Family Night Hike – 4:30-6pm. Enjoy a guided hike at night to visit nocturnal habitats that are home to owls, raccoons, opossums and other wildlife that emerge after dark. $15/adult, $10/child, free/age 3 & under.

Woodford Cedar Run Wildlife Refuge, 4 Sawmill Rd, Medford. Registration required: 856-983-3329 or CedarRun.org.

Moonlight Walk – 7-9pm. Join an experienced guide for a night walk in the pines.

Whitesbog Preservation Trust, 120 W Whites Bogs Rd, #34, Browns Mills. 609-893-4646.

Whitesbog.org.

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MONDAY, DECEMBER 20

Yoga Dance – 7-8pm. With Megan Marchese.

Blends music, lyrics, dance movements and yoga into one flowing practice. Each setlist is created with a theme and follows the structure of a hatha yoga class. All levels; no dance experience required. $12 or class card. Live In Joy Yoga & Wellness, 118 W Merchant St, Audubon. LiveInJoyYoga.com.

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TUESDAY, DECEMBER 21

Winter Solstice Evening – 4-6pm. Enjoy a campfire with marshmallow roasting, a story and make a Winter Solstice lantern to bring the light home with you. All ages. $15/adult, $10/child, free/ages 3 & under. Woodford Cedar Run Wildlife Refuge, 4 Sawmill Rd, Medford. Registration required: 856-9833329 or CedarRun.org.

MONDAY, DECEMBER 27

Winter Break One-Day Camps – Dec 2731. 8:30am-3:30pm. Ages 4-12. Full-day program with lots of unique, fun, hands-on educational experiences with our animals. $80/day; sibling discount. HousePaws Vets in Training, 201 Main St, Rancocas. Register: VetsInTraining.us.

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SATURDAY, JANUARY 1

Yoga for the New Year – 10-11:30am. Get a fresh start to the New Year with a deep de-toxifying yoga practice and a few cheerful lessons from the Lord of Auspicious Beginnings, Ganesha. All levels. $15 or class card.

Live In Joy Yoga & Wellness, 118 W Merchant St, Audubon. LiveInJoyYoga.com.

First Day Night Hike: Adults Only – 4:306:30pm. Come celebrate the first day of 2022 with us. First Day Hikes are part of a nationwide initiative led by America’s State Parks to encourage people to get outdoors. $15/person. Woodford Cedar Run Wildlife Refuge, 4 Sawmill Rd, Medford. Registration required: 856-983-3329 or CedarRun.org.

SUNDAY, JANUARY 2

SAVE THE DATE New Moon Crystal Bowl Sound Bath Meditation – 7-8pm. Opening meditation to improve the body’s health, increase love, clarity and prosperity. Rest in a crystalline sound warp and experience the frequencies and harmonies of crystal singing bowls and ultra-relaxing brainwave state where healing happens. $25. Excitari Wellness Center, 30 Jackson Rd, Bldg D, Medford.

Register: 856-885-2990 or Vagaro.com/ excitariwellnesscenter.

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SATURDAY, JANUARY 8

Training Available

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FRIDAY, JANUARY 28

SAVE THE DATE

SAVE THE DATE

Sankalpa Afternoon Retreat – 1-5pm.

With Julie Fischer. What is desiring to express through you this year? Connect with and affirm your heart’s intention for your life through deepening processes of nurturing, meditation, movement, self-inquiry and sound. Via Zoom and in studio. $40.

Live In Joy Yoga & Wellness, 118 W Merchant St, Audubon. LiveInJoyYoga.com.

Yoga Cape May Holistic Yoga Retreat – Jan 28-30. “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. $299 all-inclusive. Marianist Retreat Center, Cape May Point. Info, Karen: 609-827-8886 or KBosna28@yahoo.com.

YogaCapeMay.com.

MONDAY, JANUARY 10

SAVE THE DATE Yin Yoga with Angelic Reiki – 6:30-8pm.

With Sue Raletz & Alexis DiTullio. Explore, open and release as you settle into the poses of a gentle yin yoga practice. During the stillness of the longer holds, Angelic Reiki will be provided. $30. Live In Joy Yoga & Wellness, 118 W Merchant St, Audubon.

LiveInJoyYoga.com.

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SOUTH JERSEY’S

YOUR ONE TRUSTED GLOBAL CLASSIFIEDS ONLINE DESTINATION FOR Fee for classifieds is $1 per word per

Regenerative Whole Health™ Benefits

month. To place a listing, email content to NASouthJersey@gmail.com.

Deadline is the 10th of the month.

For Rent AFFORDABLE OFFICE SPACE FOR RENT ON MAIN ST IN HISTORIC MEDFORD, NJ – South Jersey’s premier source for all that is holistic and spiritually enlightened, The Center, Life In Balance, on Main Street in Medford, has office space for rent. The office space would be shared with other like-minded practitioners, so it’s very affordable. For more info: 609-975-8379.

24/7 ACCESS KnoWEwell is a One-Of-A-Kind Platform that centralizes today’s trusted global knowledge, resources and community to Prevent and Address the Root Causes of Chronic Diseases.

NEWLY RENOVATED OFFICES – For rent in Medford, NJ. Info: 856-906-0644.

OFFICE SPACE – Integrative Physician looking to share office space in Voorhees.

856-669-9118.

Find best-matched Vetted Practitioners.

Learn from Top Educators and Experts.

Access Evidence-Based Resources.

Make Meaningful Connections in Community Topic Groups.

Explore Funding Help for Outof-Pocket Costs of Practitioner

OFFICE SPACE FOR RENT – Established holistic wellness center located in the heart of Merchantville. Info: 856-488-7067.

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Practitioners Apply: NAPUB0221P | Individuals Apply: NAPUB0221

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Holistic Health & Healing Expo,

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COLON HYDRO THERAPIST – Want to be part of a highly successful 40-yr-old practice that already has business booked? Allergy and Health Solution, Medford, is hiring an LPN, RN or medical technician with a min of 2 years’ experience. Will train the right person.

To apply, Carylann: 609-654-4858.

DENTAL ASSISTANT (OR TRAINEE) FOR HOLISTIC PRACTICE – Part-time position (Haddon Township, NJ). Seeking: high-energy, reliable, compassionate assistant or trainee. Ideal candidate: 1-3 yrs of experience (with x-ray license) preferred but will train. Work hrs: M-W, 20-25 hrs/wk.

Email resume to: DrScott621@gmail.com Learn more about holistic dentistry: BiologicalDentistsOfNJ.com.

HALO WELLNESS CENTER IN MARLTON – Looking to hire 3 part-time licensed massage therapists. Offer flexible schedules, excellent compensation and a positive work environment. Send resume: Info@HaloWellnessCtr.com.

NUTRITIONAL WELLNESS CENTER – Is hiring a clinical nutritionist. Please contact Sean Inselberg: 856-499-2160.

Sunday, March 20, 2022

Volunteers

at the Aloft Mount Laurel Hotel, 558 Fellowship Road, Mount Laurel township, New Jersey.

VOLUNTEERS – If you are interested in crystals and everything holistic, we are looking for volunteers for HeartSpace Metaphysical Gift Shop. Susan Drummond: 609-975-8379.

NASouthJersey.com

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ONGOING THURSDAY

MONDAY Holistic Health with Siobhan – 10am, Mon & Wed. A mixture of qigong and easy holistic health techniques, you may effectively change how you feel in mind/body/spirit. This is a provocative and interactive class with time for Q&A. Lots of health challenges will be covered. Meets live; recordings available for a limited time. $96/mo; 2 1-hr classes/ wk. Register with a friend(s) and each get $25 off. Info & register: 609-752-1048 or NextStepStrategiesLLC.com.

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 Afternoon Hike – Thru 12/29.

2-3:30pm. Like to hike, but don’t like doing it alone? Come on out for a brisk hike in nature.

Masks and social distancing required. Inclement weather cancels. Age 18+. Registration limited. Free. Rancocas Nature Center, 794 Rancocas Rd, Westampton. 609-261-2495.

RancocasNatureCenter.org.

T’ai Chi Chih: Joy thru Movement – 6pm.

A non-martial art with many health benefits. This practice is more qigong-like and is completely non-violent. A set of movements (done standing or seated) completely focused on the development of an intrinsic energy called Chi. Improve physical and emotional balance, help with better sleep quality and overall sense of well-being is reported by clients. Meets live; recordings available for a limited time. $96/mo. Register with a friend(s) and each get $25 off. Info & register: 609-752-1048 or NextStepStrategiesLLC.com.

Reiki/EdenMethod/EnergyMedicine Online/In-person Sessions – Struggling with a chronic condition or feel there is nowhere else to turn? Let’s work together to balance energies and create a customized strategy for you. Using reiki, the Eden Method and other holistic practices to help you feel better again. Tap into your body’s natural healing ability with ongoing support. Appointments at Mt Holly location. Online availability through the week and at additional centers. Info & register: 609-752-1048 or NextStepStrategiesLLC.com.

coming in the january

Health & Wellness Issue

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.

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. 609-9758379. TheCenterLifeInBalance.com.

SATURDAY Burlington County Farmers’ Market – 8:30am-1pm. 500 Centerton Rd, Moorestown. BurlCoAgCenter.com.

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/HealthyMount-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.

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45

Nature’s Virus Killer

not a sniffle!” she exclaimed.

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

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46

South Jersey Edition

NASouthJersey.com

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SOUTH JERSEY’S

COMMUNITY RESOURCE GUIDE

Connecting you to the leaders in natural health care and green living in our community.

To find out how you can be included in the Community Resource Guide, email NASouthJersey@gmail.com to request our media kit.

Alternative and Complementary Medicine

Awareness Coaching

MARK JAMES BARTISS, MD

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

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.

Animal Intuitive SALLY KYLE

Animal Communication & Holistic Bodywork Paws 4 Healing 609-791-9406 Paws4HealingNJ@gmail.com Paws4Healing.net Curious about what your animal friend is thinking, feeling and sensing? Want to learn how to bridge a connection through communication and gentle touch? Your animal companion does not have to be in discomfort when experiencing dis-ease, mobility or behavior projects.

When heard and acknowledged, transformation begins. Sally, a clairsentient, specializes in Tellington TTouch®, Reiki Ryoho, Jin Shin Jyutsu®, Bach Flower Remedies and Emotional Freedom Technique. She channels through automatic writing offering sessions in person via home/yard visits or phone consultations.

MARYANN PINO MILLER, M.Ed.

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.

Ayurvedic Healing Practitioner JANET WATKINS, RYT, CRM

Ayurvedic Healing Practitioner Registered Yoga Teacher Live in Joy Yoga & Wellness 118 W Merchant St, Audubon, NJ 08106 856-816-4158 Utilizing the principles of ayurveda, nutrition, yoga, meditation, and herbs for natural healing and self-care to support your body in returning to its natural healthy function. Reiki session, ayurvedic cooking classes, restorative yoga and private yoga sessions.

Passion is the log that keeps the fire of purpose blazing. ~Oprah Winfrey

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.

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47 47

Chiropractor

SACRED SERENITY LLC

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.

Essential Oils YOUNG LIVING ESSENTIAL OILS

Marilyn York Independent Distributor #489656 877-436-2299 MyYL.com/naturalhealth4U

Essential oils: revered for thousands of years for their naturally enhancing support of body, mind and spirit. Become a Young Living Essential Oils Member/Customer, and/or an Independent Distributor.

Healing Modalities NATURAL HEALTH IMPROVEMENT CENTER OF SOUTH JERSEY

Sharon Coward 5 W Chester Ave Merchantville, NJ 08109 856-553-9678 MySacredSerenity.com

What would it take to live your best life? Time to thrive not just survive. Reduce stress, anxiety and traumas with TRE. Sacred Serenity also offers life coaching, meditation and yoga for everybody. Schedule a private session, do a group session, or attend a workshop.

Health Coach MOLLY DINAN, HHC

Higher Altitude Wellness 110 N Woodbury Rd Pitman, NJ 08071 207-653-8062 HigherAltitudeWellness.com I am a certified Holistic Health Counselor, Reiki Master and Energy Medicine Practitioner. It is my mission to provide health counseling that is economical, empathetic and empowering.

Want to build emotional, physical and spiritual resilience? Need simple strategies to boost and improve your immune system? Like to learn techniques to manage emotional stress?

Please visit my website to learn more or book a session.

JASON FOSTER

New Moon Holistic Health Coaching, LLC The Center, Life in Balance 45 S Main St, Medford HealingLifeToLoveLife@gmail.com HealingLifeToLoveLife.com Integrative Nutrition Health Coach, Reiki Master and Shamanism practitioner who helps people transform their lives from the inside out. Using energy work and coaching to help them make changes in their lives.

5 W Chester Ave, Merchantville NJ 08109 856-667-6805 • NHICSouthJersey.com

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.”

change

A snowflake is one of nature’s most fragile things, but look what they can do if they stick together.

can do you good Join the Natural Awakenings Franchise Family

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~Unknown

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.

Holistic Coaching NATURAL HEALTH

Laurel Hill Plaza, corner of Blackwood- Clementon Rd & Laurel Rd, Lindenwold.

856-784-1021 • NaturalHealthNJ.com For a complete selection of vitamins, homeopathics, body care, bulk herbs, bulk grains, packaged foods, frozen foods, organic produce, snacks. Open 7 days. Mon-Fri, 9am8pm; Sat, 10am-8pm; Sun, 10am-5pm.

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.

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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.

Intuitive Healing & Yoga

Naturopathic Doctor

TRICIA BANFE HEISER

Naturopathic Doctor Marlton & Haddonfield, NJ 856-472-9495 • MyNaturalDoctor.com

Yoga Teacher, Reiki Master/Teacher, IET Practitioner, Energy Intuitive 856-905-3024 TheSanctuaryForYoga.com App.namastream.com/the-sanctuary-for-yoga It is my desire to help you live your best life. To feel balanced and at ease in mind, body and spirit. Join me online for yoga, meditation, pranayama and other pearls of wisdom to help you navigate life with joy and grace.

Or, in-person, allow me to shine a light on the divine guidance that is always there for you but sometimes goes unnoticed with energy work and intuitive guidance. A session with me will leave you feeling as if you are in the Divine Flow of Life!

Medical Skincare and Cosmetics

MELISSA JOSSELSON, ND

Holistic health care for all ages and a variety of health conditions. Find the cause of your health issues and heal using safe, natural and non-toxic therapies.

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.

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.

Naturopath DOROTHY GREEN, HHP

Moorestown, NJ & Narberth, PA 609-261-1955 DorothysHealingCenter.com With over 20 years’ experience and 60,000 sessions, come experience methods to reconnect the body back to wellness and free itself from symptoms, then move into greater self-awareness.

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

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Outdoor Recreation & Pinelands Preservation PINELANDS ADVENTURES

1005 Atsion Rd, Shamong, NJ 08088 609-268-0189 PinelandsAdventures.org

forest tours.

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

Pre-Pregnancy and Pregnancy Holistic Telehealth KATELYN KRAUSE

Kate Krause Coaching LLC 609-975-9708 KateKrauseCoach@gmail.com KateKrauseCoaching.wixsite.com/hom Using a back-to-basics approach in her 1:1 coaching program, Kate supports women by providing education about health and fertility optimization, assists in the process of implementing healthy behaviors and guides women through barriers that hinder them from finding their healthiest selves.

December 2021 2021 || December

49

MICHELLE URBANSKI, CHHP

Revive Your Health, LLC 609-614-0604 ReviveForYourHealth@gmail.com ReviveForYourHealth.com Michelle Urbanski is a Certified Holistic Healthcare Practitioner specializing in helping couples identify and heal the known or unknown factors preventing pregnancy. She utilizes Bioenergetic Assessment to identify stressors, discover imbalances and create customized nutritional and emotional supports for your fertility journey. Michelle provides virtual holistic telehealth services specific for fertility, pregnancy and postpartum needs.

Reflexology MARLENE HUDSON

Board Certified Massage Therapist, NCBTMB Approved Provider, Reflexologist The Center, Life in Balance 45 S Main St, Medford, NJ 609-321-4843 Marlene@LearnReflex.com Marlene provides workshops and classes in reflexology and aromatherapy for Massage Therapists seeking continuing education credits and certification in reflexology. Her reflexology sessions incorporate the use of Young Living essential oils on reflex points, and her approach helps clients understand the emotional/mental (psychosomatic) causes of illness and wellbeing and how the nervous system (reflexes) are key to reversing stress responses in the body and mind. She also teaches Raindrop Therapy and was previously a national trainer for Young Living Essential Oils.

Reiki PEEL THE ONION REIKI

Jose Vega Jr 30 Jackson Rd, Bldg D, 2nd Fl, Ste 202 Medford, NJ 08055 347-605-4810 Josejrvega93@gmail.com Reiki is a form of energy healing.

Its purpose is to release trapped stale negative emotional and mental energies which promotes healing and well-being to the body, mind and spirit. I start working with the auras and then work on the chakras. The sessions last about an hour. By appointment only.

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South South Jersey JerseyEdition Edition

Sexual Dysfunction DR. CAMILLE SEMPLE-DALY, DO

Weight Management DR. CAMILLE SEMPLE-DALY, DO

Replenish Center 215 Sunset Rd, Ste 204 Willingboro, NJ 08046 856-380-1330 Info@ReplenishHormones.com ReplenishHormones.com

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.

End yo-yo dieting with our safe and effective Physician-Supervised Weight-Loss Program. Our program is designed to identify the root causes of your weight concerns, individualize a plan to reverse the imbalances identified, and help you to quickly and safely lose the excess weight.

Finally, we will transition you to a healthier lifestyle to keep you at a healthier weight.

Dr. Semple-Daly is triple board certified in OB/GYN, Integrative Medicine and Aesthetic Medicine.

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.

Tai Chi/Energy Balance SIOBHAN HUTCHINSON, MA, HOLISTIC HEALTH

South & Central NJ, Bucks County, PA & Skype sessions 609-752-1048 Siobhan@NextStepStrategiesLLC.com NextStepStrategiesLLC.com Discover your body’s natural healing ability. Clients report experiencing increased range of motion, balance, relaxation, reduced stress and an overall sense of well-being. Siobhan is an accredited T’ai Chi Chih®, Seijaku, Guigen Qigong, Reiki Master/Teacher, Medicinal Aromatherapist and Certified Clinical Eden Energy Medicine Practitioner. The United Fellowship of Martial Artists awarded her Holistic Healing Artist & Qigong Master. Her passion is stress relief and walking in serenity.

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Wellness Center NUTRITIONAL WELLNESS CENTER

Sean C. Inselberg, MS, CNS 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.

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.

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MONTHLY

Crossword Puzzle

For clues, simply read the articles in this month's edition of

ACROSS

1 5 8 10 11 12

Join together Fruit drink GIs’ entertainment grp., abbr.

Green citrus fruits full of vitamin C Not as serious Group that handles medical emergencies, abbr.

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1 2 3 4 5 6 7

DOWN

35 36

1 Work with others to forward good goals 2 Wanderer 3 Relieved pain 4 Another name for holy basil 5 Exercise lightly 6 Honesty- vital quality in relationships and work 7 Musical ability 9 Spanish for yes 14 Glitter 15 Controls 17 Peppermint or chamomile drink 18 Started a campfire 19 Mineral which is recommended as a remedy for anemia 20 Droop 23 Day before an event 24 Imitate 26 “One Day ___ Time”, 2 words 27 Spanish for sun 28 Historical period 29 Hawaiian flower wreath 30 Essential cell strand, abbr.

31 Resort to relax in 32 Complete

8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15

16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34

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Nutritional Wellness Center Total Healing for the Body, Mind & Spirit

Offering simple, effective solutions for optimal health for the whole family.

• Board Certified Clinical Nutritionist

• Digestive and Thyroid Health

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1 Cinnaminson Ave. Suite 206 • Palmyra, NJ 08065 In Office or Virtual Appointments Available

856-499-2160 nutritionalwellnessnj.com