January 2026 Natural Awakenings Sarasota

H E A LT H Y L I V I N G | H E A LT H Y P L A N E T

Health & Wellness January 2026

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Sarasota/Manatee/Charlotte Edition | nasrq.com

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Sarasota’s Premier Acupuncture Practice We Treat: • Chronic Pain • Fibromyalgia • Peripheral Neuropathy • Nerve Pain • Fertility Enhancement • Failed Surgery Pain • Gastrointestinal Disturbances • Covid Long Hauler Symptoms • Grief Loss Recovery • Stress Induced Disturbances

Christina A. Captain, DAOM, MSHN, AP

Transforming Lives Through Acupuncture and Functional Nutrition 2650 Bahia Vista St, Suite 101, Sarasota, Florida 34239 | 941.951.1119 | SCANsrq.com

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New Year, New Career: Your next chapter starts with a Bachelor’s degree in

Alternative Medicine

COURSES INCLUDE:

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• Nutrition and Aging • Herbology and Botany • Naturopathy • Detoxification and Healing • Ayurvedic Medicine • Traditional Chinese Medicine • Dietary Influences on Disease

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Apply NOW!

100% online or on-campus class schedules are available Students take one class at a time for more focused learning Financial aid is available for those who qualify

Call 888.417.3382 SARASOTA CAMPUS

6001 Lake Osprey Drive, #110, Sarasota, FL 34240

www.EvergladesUniversity.edu

January 2026

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We Put Your

Head on Straight (So You Can Achieve Optimal Health, Naturally)

If the first two bones in your neck are misaligned, communication between the brain and body is interrupted and can cause numerous health problems.

Dr. Drew Hall has practiced the Blair Upper Cervical Chiropractic technique for the last 20 years in Los Angeles and Carson California before opening his third clinic right here in Sarasota, Florida.

Blair Upper Cervical Chiropractic is a unique chiropractic technique that focuses all its attention on the upper neck and how it impacts the brainstem and central nerve system. The Blair technique is precise, gentle, and does not use any pulling, popping, or twisting of the neck.

Call (941) 259-1891 today to schedule an appointment to see if you suffer from a neck misalignment that may be affecting your health.

We have helped people with the following conditions:

• • • • • • • • • •

Auto Accidents Fibromyalgia Lower Back Pain Meniere’s Disease Neck Pain Sciatica Post-Concussion Syndrome TMJ Trigeminal Neuralgia Vertigo & Whiplash

“I have over 20 years of practice experience and taking care of 10,000 patients from Los Angeles to Sarasota Florida. I recovered from severe chronic health problems 30 years ago after being introduced to blair upper cervical technique. It’s my lasting purpose to help as many people as possible live a life of health and happiness”.

- Dr. Drew Hall

ACCEPTING NEW PATIENTS! 3920 Bee Ridge Rd, Bldg D, Sarasota, Fl 34233

(941) 259-1891 • sarasotauppercervical.com January 2026

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Stay in the flow with neuro-fascial bodywork.

Rowan Winder LMT– Neuro-fascial Strain Release, Gentle-DeepTM Stretching, Myofascial Release, Relaxation Massage MA76884 Mahalah “Haley” Bond LMT – Neuro-fascial Strain Release, CranioSacral Therapy, Relaxation Massage, Myofascial Release MA23423 Stephen Rumley LMT – Neuro-fascial Massage, Neuromuscular Therapy, Deep Tissue Massage, Swedish Massage, Sports Massage and Stretching MA108233

Performance • Relaxation • Mobility • Well-being • Pain Relief 7246 S. Beneva Rd, Sarasota • 941.957.8390 more info at www.gentlebay.com MM#39113

15% off your first session with this ad, through January 30, 2026.

Located in:

January 2026

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Contents 19 Baby Steps to a Life Well Lived

20 Sustainable

Wellness, Made More Accessible

22 Vertigo:

Finding the Cause and Discovering Relief

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24 Ancient Wisdom

Meets Modern Science

26 The Power of

Integrative Medicine

29 Strong for Life The Power of Functional Fitness

30 Soulful Sourdough

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Why This Bread Still Heals

34 Clean, Nonstick

Cookware

36 Big Dreams, Little Hands

38 Holistic Health

From Nose to Tail Whole-Pet Strategies for Optimized Well-Being

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Departments 11 18 19 26 29 30 8

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News Briefs Health Briefs Inspiration Feature Story Fit Body Conscious Eating

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Green Living Healthy Kids Natural Pet Calendar Classifieds Resource Guide

Knee Pain?

FINALLY,

Get Rid of Knee Pain Without Drugs, Shots or Surgery!

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Do You Have Any Of The Following Conditions?

• Arthritis • Knee pain • Cartilage damage • ‘Bone-on-bone’ • Tendonitis • Bursitis • Crunching & popping sounds A Non-Surgical, Non-Invasive, Knee Pain Treatment NOW AVAILABLE!

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Pain Relief With Laser Therapy!

How to advertise To advertise with Natural Awakenings or request a media kit, please contact us at 941-564-0885 or email Publisher@nasrq.com. Deadline for ads: the 15th of the month.

Editorial submissions Email articles, news items and ideas to: Publisher@nasrq. com. Deadline for editorial: the 12th of the month.

calendar submissions Please submit all listings through nasrq.com. Deadline for calendar: the 12th of the month.

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Natural Awakenings Publishing Corp. is a growing franchised family of locally owned magazines serving communities since 1994. To place your ad in other markets call 941-564-0885. For franchising opportunities call 239-530-1377 or visit NaturalAwakenings.com.

Own Your Own Franchise Make a difference in your community. Become a Natural Awakenings Franchise owner.

Visit: Corp.NaturalAwakenings.com.

HERE’S WHAT PATIENTS SAY...

“After just 1 Laser treatment, the pain was diminished and I had my first full night of sleep in several weeks.” - Merry N.

LINDA HAD PAIN IN BOTH KNEES FOR 5-6 YEARS.

“Amazing! I’m now able to enjoy my activities. My husband and I started bowling and going to the driving range again. We used to go biking, but donated our bikes because we thought it was something I’d never be able to enjoy again, but NOW we’re looking to purchase bikes again! Thank you Dr. Korman!” - Linda

$67 CONSULTATION Includes: Consultation, Exam, Necessary X-Rays & One Laser Treatment With Coupon.

Expires 1/31/26

Laura R. Korman, DC, DACBN

16954 Toledo Blade Blvd. • Port Charlotte, FL 33954 (941) 629-6700 • drlaurakorman.com Functional Medicine | 35 Years in Private Practice Diplomate, American Clinical Board of Nutrition | Doctor of Chiropractic

January 2026

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Publisher’s Letter

HEALTHY LIVING HEALTHY PLANET

SARASOTA /MANATEE EDITION PUBLISHER Janet Lindsay MANAGING EDITOR Mary-Elizabeth-Schurrer DESIGN & PRODUCTION Susan Jones SOCIALMEDIA Golden Thread Executive Service Corp

Welcome to our first issue of 2026! This year, Natural Awakenings will explore the theme of “Wellness Made Easy.” As we step into this season of growth and renewal, I invite you to embrace health through a whole-person lens. Inspire the mind, nourish the body, honor the emotions, and revitalize the spirit with choices that draw you into a deeper alignment with the truest version of yourself. It’s time to begin the New Year with simple but transformational shifts toward the next chapter of our wellness journeys. So let’s dive right in!

Our feature story, “Integrative Medicine: A Guide to Whole Body Care,” unpacks the fusion of both conventional and holistic modalities to benefit your entire well-being from the inside out. From disease prevention to chronic pain relief, this article explains how integrative medicine combines mindful practices, lifestyle choices, and a personalized level of care— which, altogether, can lead to remarkable health outcomes.

Next, this month’s “Fit Body” article discusses how to free up the body with functional fitness. Basic movement patterns—such as squatting, reaching, twisting, and lifting—can help you cultivate strength, balance, mobility, and sustainable independence at any age. Functional fitness doesn’t have to be complicated either. Short walks, playful activities, or simple at-home exercise routines can leave you feeling more vibrant and energized in life.

CONTACT US Sarasota / Manatee Edition: 941-564-0885 publisher@nasrq.com

NATIONAL TEAM

CEO Kimberly B. Whittle CMO Vee Banionis Sr. VP Operations Brian Stenzler, DC National Sales Darleene Lee National Editor Sandra Yeyati Editor Brooke Goode Copy Editor Melanie Rankin Print Production Specialist Kevin Rankin Design Director Agnes Mazeikaite Production Flip180 Customer Service Dani Bucad

To round out the January issue, our “Conscious Eating” article pays tribute to the soulful tradition of sourdough bread. This ancient form of sustenance has experienced a resurgence over the past few years, but sourdough is more than just a trend—its natural fermentation can also do absolute wonders for our gut health. Make bakers describe the whole sourdough process as both creatively nurturing and emotionally centering. One small starter can turn into anything from a loaf of bread to a slice of pizza to a batch of cookies and so much more. On that note, this article also includes some recipes to fuel your own sourdough ventures.

This is just a quick taste of all the inspiration we have in store as 2026 unfolds. Thank you so much for continuing to walk this journey with us, and I hope this New Year is full of physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual breakthroughs for our entire community. I’ll see you here next month as we delve into another layer of “wellness made easy” together!

CONTACT US Natural Awakenings Publishing Corporation 350 Main Street, Suite 9B Bedminster, NJ 07921 Ph: 239-206-2000 NaturalAwakenings@KnoWEwell.com

Cosmic Center of Spiritual Light

© 2026 by Natural Awakenings. All rights reserved.

Although some parts of this publication may be reproduced and reprinted, we require that prior permission be obtained in writing. Natural Awakenings is a free publication distributed locally and is supported by our advertisers. Please call to find a location near you or if you would like copies placed at your business. We do not necessarily endorse the views expressed in the articles and advertisements, nor are we responsible for the products and services advertised. Check with a healthcare professional regarding the appropriate use of any treatment.

Serving Sarasota and Manatee Counties - and the World through Healing, Education and Enlightenment

Embracing the New Paradigms of our Awakening Consciousness: Divine Connection, Ascended Masters, Alternative Healings, Lightwork, Meditations, Channeling, Mediumship, Shamanism, UFOs, Special Guest Speakers and much more...

For information about classes, services and special events please go to: CCOSL.com Please visit us on FB and Instagram

Natural Awakenings is printed on recycled newsprint with soy-based ink.

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Sarasota/Manatee Edition

5041 Ringwood Meadow, Bldg. G-2, Sarasota, FL 34235 941-371-9333 www.nasrq.com

European Helix Hair Designer THE CUT THAT CURLS and with NO chemicals.

Please call Jutta for an appointment 941-629-0074

Everybody will benefit from this carefree haircutting Technique, especially baby-fine hair. Any Length from short to long.

I use “All Nutrient”, an organic derived haircolor and Highlights/ Helix cut Balayage made with Blueberrys.

“I do with Scissors, what others do with Chemicals” NO MORE BRASSY HAIRCOLOR

The “Vines”DOCTORS Shopping Center, 701 JC Center Court, Unit 10, Port Charlotte, FL • www.EuropeanHairDesigner.com THESE ARE AMONG

Begin this new year with intention, renewal, and serenity at Ritual Room Spa. Nestled within a beautifully restored historic home, Ritual Room Spa invites you into an unforgettable experience of sheer tranquility and pure luxury.

Ritual Room Spa is also excited to introduce new offerings in our boutique collection of fine Italian clothing, curated selection of wellness gifts and self-care essentials for mindful living, and an exclusive line of high-quality skincare products.

In celebration of 2026, enjoy 25 percent off all facials the whole month of January. This is a perfect way to refresh and restore your skin for the new year ahead.

If you are looking for a special, intentional space to host your next event, our stunning location is now available for private celebrations and occasions, offering a serene environment unlike any other. For those in the wellness community, such as estheticians or massage therapists seeking a beautiful space to grow their practice, Ritual Room Spa would love to connect. Start this new year rooted in the essence of beauty, balance, and self-care at Ritual Room Spa—where each visit is a ritual worth savoring.

Location: 2088 Hawthorne St., Sarasota. To book an appointment or purchase a gift certificate, call 941-203-6543 or visit RitualRoomSpa.com.

THE BEST ONE OF THE BEST

SPINAL DECOMPRESSION SPINAL DECOMPRESSION

PHYSICIANS PHYSICIANS ININAMERICA AMERICA 2025

? or in nd k pa a k! ec k r y ac N ac ge b b ur fe w s li lo id our o y Av et g

Ritual Room Spa: A Reawakening of Beauty and Intention

(Sarasota, Florida) Dr. David Cifra, DC who is board certified in the specialty of Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression has been peer-nominated and recognized again in 2025 by the International Medical Advisory Board on Spinal Decompression.

This advanced certification is provided in conjunction with Disc Centers of America, which sets the gold standard in training and research, on the latest, most effective options for the alleviation & treatment of

spinal disc disorders, which often cause low back pain, neck pain, sciatica, numbness, tingling, pins and needle sensations and more.

Dr. Cifra is committed to helping his patients AVOID narcotics, epidural injections, and unnecessary surgeries.

Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression provides safe, gentle, and effective relief for upwards of 90% of patients that qualify for care.

DR. CIFRA IS LOCATED AT: MIDTOWN MEDICAL PARK 1215 S. EAST AVE. SUITE 210, SARASOTA FL 34239

SarasotaDiscCenter.com

CALL (941) 358-2224 OR (315) 345-7390 TODAY TO SCHEDULE A FREE CONSULTATION January 2026

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Start the New Year Right at Manatee Spirit Holistic Sound Studio Picture yourself embarking on a Manatee Spirit Sound Journey in 2026. Revitalize, recreate, and reinvigorate to the healing frequencies of an improvised shamanic-symphonic soundscape of cello, guitar, wind gong, Nepali gongs, crystal and Nepali singing bowls, Native American flutes, drums, vocals, Buddhist bells, Egyptian chimes, and Peruvian rattles.

Manatee Spirit holds space for eight sound journey participants at a time, including private groups. A solo experience costs $60, and a couple’s experience costs $75. There’s also a $25 cost for each additional guest. Manatee Spirit provides all the instruments and materials you need to be fully immersed in this transformative sound journey.

Manatee Spirit also hosts two community events each month—a Full Moon Sound Bath on January 3, and a Second Sunday Sound Bath on January 10, both from 7:30–9 p.m. Space is available for 11 guests, and the cost to attend is $20. These events blend affirmations, meditation, breathwork, refreshments, heart connections, and a 60-minute sound bath experience.

You are also invited to join a “Whole Food Plant-Based Oil-Free” course on January 11 and 17, from noon to 3:30 p.m., along with a 21-day nutritional challenge. Next, on the docket is Manatee Spirit’s “Universal Wisdom and Meditation” course on January 13–15, from 7–9 p.m., either in-person or online. Previous graduates of this course are welcome to join a “Wisdom Seekers” Zoom meeting each week as well.

Finally, a “Transformational Sound Healing” course will take place on January 20 and 22, and 6 p.m. During this class, you learn how to master leading a sound bath with intent, soothing tones, healing frequencies, confidence, and joy. Level I and II certifications will be offered upon completion. All three of these hands-on workshops cost $165 to attend.

For more information and to register, call 941-201-0069, email Info@ManateeSpirit.com, or visit ManateeSpirit.com.

BEST MEDICINE, Inc. Anxiety and Depression Thermography

Hormone Therapy

Peptide Therapy

Second Opinions Alternative Cancer Treatments

Infertility & Pregnancy Support

CAROL L. ROBERTS, M.D. 2106 Bispham Road • Sarasota, FL 34231 Phone: 941.404.8030 • www.bestmedicine.us 12

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Sarasota Center of Light Announces January Events Sarasota Center of Light has several workshops on the calendar for January, so you can start 2026 on an uplifting note. Eric Cargill and Gerald O’Hara will both visit in January to facilitate the following events for our community.

“Trance Demonstration” will be held in the Chapel on January 16, from 7–9 p.m. The cost to attend is $30, and space is limited to 35 participants. “Deepening Connection” will be held in the Chapel on January 17, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The cost to attend is $60. “Assessment Sitting” will be held on January 19, 21, and 22 in the Chapel. Each session will last 45 minutes, and two will be offered each day at 5 p.m. and 5:45 p.m. The cost to attend is $75.

“Psychic Stream” will be held in Davis Hall on January 20, from 7–9 p.m. The cost to attend is $25. “Trance Healing” will be held in the Sanctuary on January 21, from 7–9 p.m.

Love offerings are welcome. “Demonstration of Mediumship” will be held in the Sanctuary on January 23, from 7:15–8:30 p.m. The cost to attend is $20. Finally, eight “Trance Readings” will also be offered on various dates and times in the Learning Center next month. Each reading will last for 45 minutes, and the cost is $100. Please contact our office to book a time slot.

For more information and to register for these workshops, call 941-953-6620 or visit SarasotaCenterOfLight.com.

New Seasonal Kombucha Flavors Available Now at Flobucha Come visit Sarasota’s first non-alcoholic bar, focused 100 percent on kombucha.

Flobucha is a brewery and taproom located in the beautiful Gulfgate Village which produces and serves premium raw kombucha, fermented to perfection.

Flobucha comes in a variety of unique flavors, all of which are meticulously crafted and balanced. In addition to the six flagship flavors, you can also taste the new limited-quantity seasonal options: Cherry Lemon Ginger, Lychee Rosemary Fennel, Pineapple Cranberry Tumeric and Blue Spirit – a blend of coconut water, ginger and blue spirulina. They also now have kombucha based sparkling non-alcoholic wine alternatives called Winesque and a non-alcoholic IPA beer alternative. Wine alternative flavors include Rose, CAB and their new white wine addition based on Sauvignon Blanc grapes. Try a six-flight kombucha sampler for $12.95, which can be mixed or matched with kombucha, wine or beer.

All flavors are brewed with all-natural, organic ingredients, raw, unfiltered and never pasteurized. Not only does this kombucha taste delicious, but it’s also rich in natural probiotics, healthy organic nutrients and antioxidants.

The Flobucha taproom is a fun place to hang out as well. Join us Thursdays for a free Kombucha tasting from 5-6 p.m. and enjoy our seasonal Flobucha flavors.

Location: 2725 Mall Dr., Sarasota. Hours: Tuesday–Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturday, 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. For more information, email Info@Flobucha.com, visit Winesque.com or follow via social media at @flobucha on Instagram and @Flobucha on Facebook.

NEW SPECIAL!

NEW YEAR’S SPECIAL

Anti-Aging Seminars with Dr. Anna Dr. Anna Baker, DOM, invites you to join her interactive anti-aging seminars via Zoom on January 14 and 23, both at 1:30 p.m. She will showcase her Faces by Dr. Anna acupuncture facelift and her muscle retightening Pearl Cream by Dr. Anna. Contact the Pearl Cream by Dr. Anna store to access the meeting ID number. If you cannot attend the seminar live, Dr. Anna will send you a link to watch at your own convenience.

Dr. Anna performs a unique type of acupuncture facelift that she invented. The muscles of the face and neck are progressively retightened to retrace the steps that aging took. An initial package of 10 treatments is required, and the results last for 18 months before you will need a one-treatment touchup to maintain the lift.

In these seminars, Dr. Anna will show photographed results on people of all ages. In addition, she will discuss her proprietary Pearl Cream

by Dr Anna, which offers the same muscle retightening as her acupuncture facelift in a slower, more gradual process. Her Pearl Cream is an anti-aging serum made from real pearls and Chinese herbs without any preservatives. Pearl Cream by Dr. Anna is also available as a muscle tightening body lotion, a men’s anti-aging line, and a sports performance line.

Pearl Cream by Dr. Anna is available for pick up by appointment only at Dr. Anna’s office. Call 941-924-2723 for directions. Free consultations and facial analyses are offered for acupuncture facelift and Pearl Cream

by Dr. Anna. For more information about Dr. Anna’s services and products including photo documentation, visit FacesByDrAnna.com and PearlCreamByDrAnna.com (we are no longer at the location shown on this website).

MANATEE SPIRIT HOLISTIC SOUND STUDIO

BOOK TODAY! (941) 201 - 0069 Email: info@manateespirit.com 4.4 miles from Anna Maria Island

$20 OFF ULTIMATE SOUND BATH LEARN MORE:

www.manateespirit.com January 2026

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Senior Friendship Centers Host 20th Annual Caregivers Forum Senior Friendship Centers (SFC) invite caregivers to the 20th Annual Caregivers Forum on February 6, at the Harvest House Venue in Sarasota. This event is open to anyone who cares for a senior facing a new diagnosis, chronic illness, dementia, or complications of aging.

The annual retreat includes a keynote by internal medicine physician Derrick DeSilva, Jr. His presentation will focus on caregiver wellness and practical strategies to reinforce caregivers’ mental and physical resilience.

The first panel discussion, hosted by SFC President and CEO Erin McLeod, will feature Maricela Morado, President and CEO of the Area Agency on Aging of Southwest Florida; Sue Berger, Aging System Coordinator for Sarasota; and Jenny Macias, SFC Director of Innovative Programs. The second panel and Q&A session will feature senior service specialists, hosted by Samantha Hersch, publisher of Seniors Bluebook.

This panel will also host Paula Falk, former Director of SFC’s Caregiving Place Adult Daycare and Caregivers Resource Center; Pam Polowski, Dementia Practitioner and Trainer; Dr. Par Reed, SMH Psychiatrist; and Debbie Frank, full-time caregiver.

Attendees can also enjoy breakfast, networking, and access to community senior service resource booths. Tickets cost $25, and are available for purchase online.

For more information, call 941-556-3216. To purchase tickets, visit SFC2026.Eventbrite.com.

Discover Your Vibe at The George in Sarasota Step into The George, an eclectic downtown Sarasota boutique that promises a vibrant escape into a world of unique style and artistic expression. Located upstairs at 1960 Main Street, Sarasota, you’ll find a celebration of individuality and creativity, offering cool clothes and funky finds for both men and women.

The George is a haven for those who dare to express themselves.

The clothing selection focuses on a free-spirited aesthetic that blends comfort with an edgy vibe. Peruse an eclectic mix of bohemian, punk, hippie, resort, and festival apparel. The collection features a kaleidoscope of colors and prints—from crochet tops to flowy dresses to tie-dye patterns.

Beyond this unique clothing selection, The George also brims with other one-of-a-kind treasures. Think: vintage décor, original artwork, and multicultural accessories such as jewelry, incense, prayer flags, tapestries, and chimes.

The George delivers a personalized retail experience in a dynamic space that encourages self-expression. It is the perfect destination in Sarasota for anyone who needs something special, unique, and far from ordinary.

Location: 1960 Main St., Sarasota. For more information, call 941-277-3707 or visit TheGeorgeSarasota.com.

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The Cosmic Center of Spiritual Light: A Beacon for Seekers of Truth For those drawn to deeper understanding and purpose, the Cosmic Center of Spiritual Light stands as a beacon of illumination— both locally and globally. Rooted in higher teachings, the Cosmic Center serves as a community for seekers of truth who want to enact a positive change in this world.

Through lectures, classes, and transformative events, the Cosmic Center brings in renowned luminaries to offer wisdom that inspires growth and collective upliftment.

Long before certain healers and teachers became widely known, the Cosmic Center empowered their gifts, helping launch many voices to serve humanity. The Center also provides access to ancient knowledge— teachings that have been obscured over time yet remain vital for those committed to a conscious evolution. Here, the understanding of Ascension is not a distant idea but a real possibility for many in this lifetime.

To learn more about upcoming events, teachings, and opportunities to engage— both in person and online—visit the Cosmic Center’s website All are invited to join this mission of a higher world vision for peace, awakening, and spiritual light.

Location: 5041 Ringwood Meadow, Bldg. G-2, Sarasota. For more information, call 941-3719333 or visit CCOSL.com.

ELEVATE YOUR LAND INTO A LIVING SANCTUARY

Offering Installation, Design & Maintenance From Full Landscaping to Entire Food Gardens!

EDIBLE GARDENS & FOOD FORESTS

NATIVE LANDSCAPING Restore the Land. Revive Biodiversity.

Rebalance Your Space.

We design native landscapes that restore harmony to your property while enhancing its natural beauty. Butterfly gardens, pollinator pathways, and full ecological restorations— crafted with intention and artistry.

Abundance That Gives Back.

Imagine harvesting fresh, organic fruits and herbs from a thriving edible ecosystem that enriches the soil instead of depleting it. We design regenerative food gardens—from single fruit trees to full food forests—built to nourish your family and restore the earth.

CONSULTATIONS Not sure where to begin?

We walk your property with you, explore your vision, and offer expert recommendations to turn your land into the sanctuary you’ve been dreaming of.

Our goal is to transform our local environment into beautiful, nuturing, entertaining and abundant sanctuaries.

Call 941-323-1312 or Email Deric@NativeEdibleAbundance.com for a Consultation to Transform your Outdoor Space.

Visit NativeEdibleAbundance.com for more information and to see our gallery.

Caregivers Forum 2026 Connect ✤ Educate ✤ Support

Friday, February 6, 2026 8 am – 12 pm

Chairwomen: Paula Falk and Pam Polowski

Harvest House Venue 3650 17th Street, Sarasota 34235

We know the journey of caregiving can be isolating.

This morning retreat is for you…those new to caregiving and those well into their caregiving journey.

Breakfast • Speakers • Panel Discussions Senior Service Resources • Bring your questions!

You deserve support too! $25 tickets: SFC2026.eventbrite.com

For more information call Georgann Nugent, Event Manager: 941-556-3216 THE HARRIS FAMILY

Media Sponsor

January 2026

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Native Edible Abundance Will Elevate Your Land into a Living Sanctuary Your land has the potential to become more than a yard, it can be a thriving, living sanctuary that nourishes both people and planet. Through thoughtful design, skilled installation, and ongoing maintenance, Native Edible Abundance transforms ordinary outdoor spaces into regenerative ecosystems filled with beauty, purpose, and abundance.

Specializing in edible gardens, food forests, and native landscaping, we help restore the land while reviving biodiversity. Our designs work in harmony with nature, incorporating native plants, butterfly gardens, and pollinator pathways that support local wildlife and rebuild healthy soil. Each landscape is crafted with intention and artistry, creating spaces that feel balanced, alive, and deeply connected to the natural world.

For those dreaming of greater self-sufficiency, our edible landscapes offer abundance that truly gives back. Imagine harvesting fresh, organic fruits, herbs, and vegetables from a thriving ecosystem designed to regenerate the soil rather than deplete it. From planting a single fruit tree to establishing a full food forest, we create productive gardens that nourish your family while restoring the earth.

RemedyBooth: A Data-Driven Approach to Holistic Health and Mineral Balance RemedyBooth is a holistic health company that specializes in mineral balancing, personalized supplementation, and other wellness services.

RemedyBooth helps identify nutrient deficiencies, toxic heavy metals, and imbalances that can impact energy, focus, sleep, and well-being. Their mission is to remove the guesswork from supplements with data-driven solutions.

A cornerstone of these services is OligoScan mineral testing. This non-invasive scan offers fast insights into vitamin levels, mineral deficiencies, and heavy metal exposure in minutes.

RemedyBooth allows customers to choose supplements tailored to their needs, saving time, money, and frustration associated with trial-and-error supplementation.

Optimal mineral ratios play a critical role in cellular health, hormone balance, nervous system function, and skin health. RemedyBooth knows firsthand how correcting mineral imbalances can increase focus, sleep, clear skin, and vitality.

Along with nutritional support, RemedyBooth also offers in-store Pulsed Electromagnetic Field (PEMF) therapy sessions. PEMF therapy can promote cellular recovery, enhance circulation, and lower inflammation, making it an ideal complement to mineral balancing.

RemedyBooth carries high-quality supplements and vitamins, made in the United States with third-party lab testing. They also offer lab-tested CBD, Delta-9 THC products, and blue light blocking glasses to reduce digital eye strain and increase sleep quality. By combining mineral testing, holistic therapies, and premium wellness solutions, RemedyBooth delivers personalized, science-backed solutions to holistic and natural health.

For more information, call 941-451-8894, email RemedyBooth@gmail.com, or visit RemedyBooth.com.

Transform a Tight Jaw into a Light Jaw with BonnieK Feldenkrais Practitioner, BonnieK, M.A., offers an easy, indirect healing method for those who clench or grind their teeth while asleep. Her online seminar, “Release Your Jaw, Your Voice, Your Whole-Self,” will teach you how to overcome this habit with simple and sustainable techniques.

This seminar will take place on January 28–30 and February 4–5, from 6–9 p.m. You’ll learn how shifting one area of tension in the body—whethere it’s a clenched fist, tight jaw, or titled hip—can reorganize the entire system.

Not sure where to begin? We walk your property with you, listen to your vision, and provide expert guidance to help you take the first step. Every project is tailored to your land, your goals, and your lifestyle.

Our mission is simple yet powerful: to transform our local environment into beautiful, nurturing, entertaining, and abundant sanctuaries—one landscape at a time. Your outdoor space can be a place of restoration, connection, and lasting abundance.

For more information, call 941-323-1312 or email Deric@NativeEdibleAbundance.com for a consultation. Visit NativeEdibleAbundance.com to see their gallery.

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Sarasota/Manatee Edition

This beautiful paradox occurs when you encounter changes with curiosity instead of effort, which invites your brain to become a willing partner in the transformation. Rather then forcing an outcome or solution, this gentle process invites the nervous system to discover new possibilities. The more you focus on attention, variation, and ease, the more you’ll adapt to change—and the more readily healing comes.

For more information on this Feldenkrais technique and to register for the online seminar, visit TouchToInform.com/Release-Your-Jaw-Full-15Hr-Seminar.

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Antioxidant May Protect Heart During Chemotherapy

Cancer patients treated with doxorubicin, a common chemotherapy drug, may suffer heart damage, including reduced heart function, irregular heart rhythms and heart failure. A 2025 study published in Nature investigated whether astaxanthin, a natural antioxidant found in certain seafood and algae, could help reduce the damage.

The researchers divided study rats into a group that received only doxorubicin, two groups that received doxorubicin along with different doses of astaxanthin, and a control group. They used ultrasound scans to check blood markers for heart injury, examined heart tissue, measured cellular energy levels and analyzed proteins related to mitochondrial health.

Rats given doxorubicin alone experienced heart damage, mitochondrial disruptions and lower energy levels in the heart. By contrast, rats treated with astaxanthin showed improved heart function compared to the doxorubicin group, fewer signs of injury, healthier heart tissue and higher cellular energy levels. Astaxanthin also protected the structure and function of mitochondria.

Further research in humans is needed to confirm whether astaxanthin could safely and effectively be used alongside chemotherapy.

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Reducing Anxiety With Virtual Sound Therapy Biofield tuning (BT) balances the body’s energy field using sound vibrations. A 2023 study published in Complementary Therapies in Medicine involved 15 participants that received three weekly hour-long BT sessions over Zoom from certified practitioners during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Participant surveys revealed significant reductions in anxiety, negative emotions and perceived stress after the treatments. They also reported feeling more positive and less overwhelmed. The practitioners observed a decrease in negative emotional language by the participants, indicating a shift to a more positive emotional state.

Although the study was small, the results suggest that sound-based energy healing could be an effective, low-risk option for managing anxiety.

Baby Steps to a Life Well Lived

another opportunity, another 12 months, to continue investing in our baby steps. New year’s resolutions can be a way of living without deadlines.

invigorating stretches.

• Allocate three hours a week for a cherished project.

Ideas for a brand-new year:

• View goals as sacred.

• Allot 10 minutes twice a day for true self-care, which might include meditation, stillness, listening to music or a few

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by Marlaina Donato

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reathing in the fresh air of a new year can be both invigorating and a little intimidating. We are encouraged to set resolutions, dive headfirst into greater and better lives, and release outdated beliefs. What can begin as a promising path of good intentions may quickly become overwhelming. By spring, some of us may not even remember our January aspirations.

But if we silence the well-meaning shoulds and have-tos, it is possible to confidently step into a new chapter at our own pace, increasing our chances of success.

This year, instead of lofty resolutions, let’s choose baby steps toward better health or a more peaceful life, basing our hopes on realistic simplicity and modifying our goals into small dedications—sacred vows we uphold and share only with those we trust. Just as a tiny seed lies dormant in the frozen earth waiting for the right moment to transform, we can rise at the perfect time and reveal our vibrant potential. Allotting a little time each day to baby steps can become something to eagerly await—writing another paragraph of that novel-in-progress, cooking something delicious that nourishes the body, learning a few words in a language course or simply saying no to anything that distracts us from nurturing our growth or bliss.

Twelve months is not long to transform, build a business or heal on the cellular level. Reaching the end of another year without crossing our personal finish line does not mean we have failed. It simply offers us

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doing physical exams to diagnose an acute illness, and I no longer perform in-office interventional procedures. Because of this, a physical brick-and-mortar location isn’t necessary for me to do effective, meaningful work with my patients.

NA: What can both current and future patients expect from this new format, and how do you envision it reaching and benefiting even more folks as 2026 unfolds?

Sustainable Wellness, Made More Accessible: Q&A with Dr. Fred Harvey

by Mary-Elizabeth Schurrer

T

he start of each new year comes with a requisite list of wellness resolutions. You know this familiar drill: Invest in self-care practices.

Eat a nutritious diet. Commit to a fitness regimen. Prioritize restorative sleep habits.

Choose peace and balance over stress and burnout.

These lifestyle shifts are beneficial—foundational even. But all too often, we embark on healthy changes without the direction necessary to sustain them. No wonder about 80 percent of these resolutions run their course by mid-February (University of Scranton).

Wellness is more than just checking a few arbitrary boxes in accordance with an annual new year tradition. Wellness thrives on consistent implementation and intentional guidance from a provider you can trust, tailored to your own unique and specific body.

That’s where Functional Medicine Florida comes in. Dr. Fred Harvey, the Medical Director of this practice, is a long-time

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contributor of Natural Awakenings. We are thankful for his expert insights and commitment to whole-person care which resolves the underlying roots of a chronic condition, rather than merely treating the surface-level symptoms.

Dr. Harvey has transitioned his practice to an entirely virtual telehealth format—an evolution he breaks down in our first Community Spotlight of 2026.

Natural Awakenings: What factors influenced your decision to transition Functional Medicine Florida from a brick-and-mortar space into an entirely virtual practice?

Dr. Fred Harvey: This decision has been years in the making. In the pandemic, in-office healthcare became difficult to access, so regulatory agencies had to pivot and make high-quality virtual telehealth options more feasible.

The work I do primarily centers around information—I gather it, interpret it, and tailor it into a structured care plan. I do not practice “medicine” in the conventional sense of

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Dr. Harvey: For current patients, the relationship does not fundamentally change—all that changes is the delivery method. We will meet through video telehealth appointments instead of in-office visits. The only service my practice offered onsite was laboratory tests, so moving forward, we will handle these with partner facilities or at-home options.

Looking ahead to 2026, this virtual model will also expand access. Telehealth licenses and regulations now make it possible for me to see patients in more locations. Currently, with Florida licensure, I can practice telehealth in over 20 states. This increased reach means that more folks who need this type of care can receive it.

NA: What services and modalities does Functional Medicine Florida offer, and can you describe what a typical virtual session might entail?

Dr. Harvey: Functional Medicine Florida offers programs that focus on recovering function in chronic illness and optimizing wellness in those who want to improve their health trajectory. We work with complex conditions—Alzheimer’s, diabetes, heart disease, arthritis, post-Lyme and postCOVID syndromes, vaccine injuries, mold toxicity, or other difficult-to-manage chronic patterns, which often do not respond well to a conventional acute-care model.

Many of the folks I see have been told—either explicitly or implicitly—that a condition is “in their head,” that no abnormalities can be found in conventional lab results, or to come back if a new symptom occurs.

These are the patients who deserve a more complete investigation into their health status and a more functional path to healing.

In my virtual practice, the first intake session

is about two hours. It includes an extensive history and a thorough discussion of the issues a person is dealing with. Then, we follow this up with a review of metabolic and metabolomic testing to help clarify what is occurring inside the body, so we can establish how best to intervene. Next, we build a plan together—I do not believe in simply issuing orders, then hoping someone follows them. Implementation matters, and it works most effectively when the plan fits each unique patient.

the body can sustain long-term. One of the healthiest actions that folks can implement—if they’re able—is walking. If you do not walk daily, begin there. Make it a priority to set aside 20 minutes each day for this new habit. That one intentional shift can improve your metabolic health, mood state, circulation, sleep quality, and overall resilience more than you might realize. You do not need a “perfect” plan to begin—you just need a manageable first step, consistently repeated.

After the visit, a patient will receive written summaries, a post-consult instruction plan, and supplemental guidance to support the follow-through. Patients will also meet with a health coach to help them locate resources and facilitate real-world implementation.

Dr. Fred Harvey is the Medical Director at Functional Medicine Florida. He is quadruple board-certified in Internal Medicine, Geriatric Medicine, Functional Medicine, and Holistic-Integrative Medicine. Dr. Harvey brings decades of clinical insight to help patients nationwide recover from chronic illness, rebalance their systems, and thrive at every stage of life. He also hosts Tampa Bay’s number-one health program, The Healthy Steps Radio Show, where he shares real solutions for modern health challenges. To learn more or schedule a consultation, visit FunctionalMedicineFlorida.com.

NA: The start of a New Year is often the season when folks resolve to take better care of their health—what would you tell someone who wants to make a positive lifestyle change in 2026, but might feel overwhelmed or unsure of where to start?

Dr. Harvey: Start off simple with a change

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January 2026

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Vertigo: Finding the Cause and Discovering Relief

by Eric Winder, DC

I

f you have not experienced extreme dizziness or vertigo, it can be hard to conceptualize just how debilitating this can be. Several of my patients with this problem tell me they would rather deal with chronic pain or some other issue instead because it is so draining to feel a constant sense of disorientation in space. With vertigo, daily tasks can be difficult—especially actions that require head movement or being on your feet.

Vertigo is a specific kind of dizziness where a person feels as though they are in constant motion. Potential causes include certain medications, inflammation of the inner ear nerves, viral infections, or abnormal fluid

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pressure in the inner ear. The most commonly diagnosable form of vertigo is Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo, or BPPV. This is thought to be caused by dislocated particles in the canals of the inner ear. Folks with BPPV are often taught to do a version of the “Epley Maneuver,” which is a pattern of head and body motions that attempt to move these particles into a better position.

Hidden Cause

While medications and the Epley Maneuver can be extremely helpful, vertigo is often not resolved by these treatments alone. I believe that many folks continue to experience vertigo symptoms because an important cause is ignored. At our clinic, we work to improve or resolve vertigo for many patients by looking beyond the inner ear to another

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source—the nerve endings that give our bodies position sense.

As an example, a patient I’ll refer to as Dorothy came in for lower back and neck pain treatment. She was not aware that we also treat vertigo, but during the history and examination on her first visit, she explained that she had been suffering for months with dizziness. She had been diagnosed with BPPV but could not tolerate the medication that she had been prescribed. While the Epley Maneuver helped somewhat, the relief was temporary.

While we successfully treated her other complaints, we also used therapies that focused on releasing restrictions of the connective tissue in her upper neck, jaw muscles, and

muscles at the base of the skull. This fibrous connective tissue is called fascia, and in Dorothy’s case, it responded well to gentle hands-on treatment. She reported a 60 percent decrease in her vertigo symptoms after just one session. Within a few more visits, Dorothy was elated to see that her vertigo symptoms were gone.

Position Sense

The reason that fascia release treatments were able to relieve Dorothy’s vertigo is because of the most important sense in our bodies—proprioception. This is the medical term for position sense, our ability to know where all the parts of our bodies are in space.

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The millions of nerve endings that give us position sense are found throughout our entire bodies, located in fascia and other fibrous tissue. They give us the information that makes all coordinated movement possible, along with upright posture, stability, and muscular balance. In the case of vertigo, fascia restrictions in the jaw, upper neck, or skull can distort position sense, which causes the disorienting sensations of a spinning motion and loss of balance.

At our office, we release restrictions in fascia through a non-invasive combination of therapies such as gentle tissue compression, stretching, and pulsed microcurrent. Restoring normal flexibility and movement to fascia helps return to normal position sense. Most of our vertigo patients achieve significant relief with these fascia treatments—even when other treatment methods fail. This relief is usually more sustainable than other therapies.

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When vertigo symptoms are extreme or persistent, it’s crucial to be evaluated first by a physician who specializes in this area. If vertigo or dizziness occurs with other symptoms such as blurred vision, rapid heartrate, or mental confusion, an urgent medical evaluation is necessary. But many cases of vertigo don’t have serious underlying conditions, as the most common cause is often overlooked.

Exploring fascia release therapy with a practitioner who has experience with vertigo treatment could be the key to lasting relief.

Eric Winder, D.C., uses gentle manual therapy and rehab techniques to help patients with a wide range of pain and injury problems. Dr. Winder’s office is in the Gulf Gate area of Sarasota. For more information, call 941-957-8390 or visit Gentlebay.com.

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to injured or inflamed tissues. Functional Medicine helps identify other contributing factors such as food sensitivities, gut inflammation, blood sugar instability, or nutrient deficiencies that further intensity pain. This combination of modalities is particularly effective for conditions such as the following: • • • •

Ancient Wisdom Meets Modern Science

by Christina Captain, DAOM, Dipl. Ac., L.Ac.

M

any folks arrive at my clinic feeling exhausted, discouraged, or unsure of where to turn next for relief. They have tried medications, procedures, special diets, supplements, and countless appointments, but they still deal with chronic pain, digestive imbalances, fatigue, or other symptoms that disrupt their lives. Some have been told, “You’ll just learn to live with it.” Others are labeled as “normal” despite feeling the exact opposite.

This is where a truly integrated approach to healing becomes essential. By combining the time-tested principles of Eastern Medicine and acupuncture with the investigative tools of Western Functional Medicine, we can uncover root causes, restore balance, and help the body heal in ways that neither healthcare model can fully achieve on its own.

Eastern Medicine views the body as an interconnected system. Pain, digestive problems, hormonal imbalance, and emotional stress are not isolated issues. Rather, they are signals that something deeper is out of balance.

Acupuncture regulates the nervous system,

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improves circulation, reduces inflammation, and restores the smooth flow of energy—all of which can enable the body to heal itself.

Western Functional Medicine looks at the root cause of symptoms. Instead of masking problems with medications alone, it examines digestion, inflammation, blood sugar regulation, immune function, gut bacteria, nutrient absorption, and detoxification pathways. Functional testing offers insight into what occurs beneath the surface. When these two systems integrate, the results are powerful. We can analyze both the signal and the source of a problem.

Chronic Pain: More than a Structural Issue Many folks believe that pain is entirely mechanical or age-related. In reality, chronic pain is often driven by inflammation, nervous system dysregulation, poor circulation, digestive dysfunction, or unresolved stress responses.

Acupuncture helps calm an overactive nervous system, reduces pain signals in the brain, and improves the blood flow

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Chronic back, neck, and joint pain Neuropathy and nerve pain Migraines and tension headaches Fibromyalgia and complex pain syndromes

When pain becomes your “new normal,” it is often a sign the body is asking for deeper support. Digestive issues are one of the most common reasons patients seek out integrative care. Bloating, reflux, constipation, diarrhea, abdominal pain, or food reactions are not just uncomfortable. They can also impact energy, mood state, immunity, hormone balance, and even chronic pain. Eastern Medicine has always recognized optimal digestion as central to health.

Acupuncture restores gut motility, reduces inflammation, and improves communication between the brain and the digestive system. Functional Medicine allows us to investigate the microbiome, digestive enzyme production, infections, inflammation, and nutrient absorption. Together, we can use this information to identify the root of digestive imbalances and create a plan that nurtures healing rather just than treating symptoms.

Patients often come into the clinic after years of inconclusive tests or ineffective treatments. Many are shocked to learn their digestive dysfunction has been quietly contributing to chronic fatigue, joint pain, skin issues, anxiety, or autoimmune symptoms.

Some of the most heartbreaking stories I hear come from patients who have been told their labs are “normal,” even though they feel unwell. Their pain is often minimized because their symptoms don’t fit neatly into one diagnosis.

Integrative medicine honors each patient’s unique experience. Symptoms are meaningful. They are the human body’s method

of communicating imbalance. By combining acupuncture’s ability to regulate the nervous system with Functional Medicine’s ability to uncover dysfunction, we can often find answers where others no longer look.

No two patients are the same, and healing is not a one-size-fits-all process. Integrative care allows for personalized treatment that evolves as the body responds. Patients who feel stuck—or who have “tried everything”—often benefit tremendously from this approach. If you live with pain, digestive distress, or other chronic symptoms, please know this: You are not broken. Your body is communicating.

When Eastern Medicine and Western Functional Medicine work together, we listen more closely, treat more deeply, and nurture the body’s innate abilities to heal. For anyone who has lost hope, this might just be the missing piece. We invite you to reach out, ask questions, and explore whether an integrative approach is right for you. There is hope. Healing is possible. Sometimes it simply requires a new lens for looking at the problem.

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The Power of Integrative Medicine A Guide to Whole-Person Care

by Hannah Tytus

A

s interest in health and wellness grows, more people are seeking medical models that go beyond symptom treatment and disease management. Integrative medicine has emerged as one such approach, blending conventional and complementary methods to address the health of the whole person. An integrative health approach offers a practical, evidence-informed framework for personalized care. Its focus is shifting the conversation to prevention by cultivating holistic health that goes beyond the absence of disease.

Defining Integrative Medicine

The Academic Consortium for Integrative

Medicine & Health defines integrative medicine as a philosophy that emphasizes the practitioner-patient relationship, focuses on the whole person, is evidence based and draws on all appropriate therapies and lifestyle approaches that promote optimal health and healing.

Brent Bauer, M.D., a professor of medicine and the research chair for Mayo Clinic Integrative Medicine and Health, describes it as “bringing the best of both conventional and evidence-based complementary therapies together to optimally meet the needs of the patient. We simply ask, what is the best therapy for the individual patient? That gets us back to what I would think of as plain old good medicine.”

On an integrative health team, medical doctors may work alongside acupuncturists, naturopaths, herbalists, chiropractors, massage therapists or any number of specialized practitioners. “Integrative medicine is taking the best of what we call Western medicine and integrating it into what is practiced in other parts of the world to create a health plan where the patient is the focus,” says Hakima Amri, Ph.D., co-director of the integrative medicine and health sciences program at Georgetown University. These other medicine systems include Traditional Chinese Medicine, Indian Ayurveda, Unani-Tibb medicine, homeopathy and others.

The Whole-Person Mindset

Integrative medicine is about viewing patients holistically, considering all parts of their humanity. Rather than examining organs or systems in isolation, practitioners evaluate the multitude of factors that influence illness or well-being. It emphasizes disease prevention, resilience building and health restoration throughout the lifespan.

“We bring a whole team of practitioners to work with the patient, to look at the patient as a whole and not only treat symptoms, but to truly heal the patient,” explains Amri.

Whole-person health rests on five key principles: patient-centered, relationship-based care; personalized health plans; attention to physical, mental and spiritual well-being; prevention and self-responsibility; and collaboration across modalities and providers.

It acknowledges the patient as being embedded in environmental, relational, emotional and spiritual contexts that each play a part.

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Bauer explains how an integrative approach might work for a surgery patient. “If they have pain, a conventional approach might include medications, physical therapy or perhaps an injection. As an integrative physician, I have an even larger toolkit with things such as acupuncture, tuina (a Chinese bodywork technique), massage, mind-body practices like yoga and meditation, herbs and supplements, and low-level laser therapy.”

As the medical doctor leading the team, Bauer confers with other in-house practitioners to build a customized care plan. This expanded toolkit gives him a better chance of finding a therapy that not only works for the patient but also fits their personal preferences to optimize their quality of life.

Why Whole-Person Health Matters

“Chronic conditions are the biggest plight to humanity today. People are living with cardiovascular disease, diabetes, allergies, irritable bowel disorders and more, often with multiple conditions at once,” says Amri. Chronic disease is now a leading health challenge in the United States, heavily impacting quality of life for many. One in four American adults lives with chronic pain. At the same time, the use of complementary and integrative approaches has risen sharply from 19.2 percent in 2002 to 36.7 percent in 2022, with increases in yoga and meditation leading the growth.

“I think integrative medicine is an excellent approach for any patient,” says Bauer. “But I think it really shines when it comes to patients with chronic disease. By definition, most chronic illnesses are ones that conventional medicine cannot cure.” At the Mayo Clinic, he sees firsthand how integrative approaches can transform lives.

He often introduces mindfulness and biofeedback-based meditation to help patients manage stress.

Beyond symptom relief, Bauer emphasizes a comprehensive lifestyle framework rooted in integrative principles that include balanced nutrition, regular exercise, daily mind-body practice, restorative sleep, strong social and spiritual connections, and time in nature, finding these evidence-based habits to be not only restorative, but profoundly transformative.

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Misconceptions and Skepticism

When it comes to innovative healing philosophies, myths abound.

Here are some common misconceptions about integrative medicine.

• Myth: Integrative medicine is exotic. People often think it is coming from elsewhere—other people’s traditions—and not our culture, yet many of the modalities were founded in the West, including naturopathy, chiropractic, osteopathy and homeopathy, notes Amri.

• Myth: Integrative is the same as alternative. Integrative medicine is not alternative medicine. Alternative therapies replace conventional care, often without scientific evidence, while integrative medicine combines evidence-based approaches for positive outcomes.

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• Myth: There is little scientific evidence. According to Amri, the assumption that there is no scientific evidence to support the use of integrative medicine is 30 years out of date. Today, almost every major healing modality has been studied. Bauer highlights the scale of research, pointing to the Mayo Clinic Integrative Medicine program, which has published more than 600 • peer-reviewed manuscripts covering hundreds of clinical trials over three decades showing the benefits of massage, acupuncture and mind-body practices.

Communicating With Healthcare Providers

Although one-third of adults report using complementary and integrative medicine modalities, at least 42 percent of users do not disclose their integrative therapy usage to their doctor. This nondisclosure can be dangerous, as many integrative modalities can potentially interact with medications or chronic conditions.

Amri offers an example: “Ginkgo biloba is good for improving memory, but it is also a blood thinner. If someone is on prescription blood thinners, it could cause serious complications.” Many herbs and supplements can interact with prescription medications and preexisting conditions, so it is very important to establish an open and honest dialogue with healthcare providers.

To facilitate good conversations, Amri advises patients to be open and well-prepared. She encourages patients to bring their research

materials with them to their appointments: “Do your research ahead of time,” she says. “If there are papers or studies you find interesting, take them with you and share them with your doctor. Be prepared and explain why you want to try certain therapies.”

“Physicians can do their part by listening carefully and by honestly acknowledging where their knowledge base might be limited,” says Bauer. “This is a great time for them to reach out to their integrative medicine colleagues and have them provide guidance to help meet the patient’s needs with evidence-based approaches.”

Looking Ahead

Despite the growth in integrative medicine, key barriers remain.

Bauer points to insurance as the biggest gap, explaining, “Very few of these evidence-based, helpful, cost-avoiding therapies are covered by payers. My hope is that we see that change significantly in the immediate future. In a five-to-ten-year time frame, I think we’ll simply drop all the labels and call it good medicine.”

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Amri also sees the field evolving quickly. “We’ve been training a whole generation of researchers that look at things differently,” she remarks, adding that policy reform and adequate reimbursements are essential to making integrative care more accessible.

Integrative medicine brings together evidence, empathy and empowerment, uniting the best of conventional, traditional and complementary approaches. It emphasizes collaboration between patients and providers, shared responsibility for wellness and a comprehensive focus on the whole person. By bridging therapies, fostering dialogue and addressing chronic disease with both science and compassion, integrative care offers a hopeful path to redefining modern health.

Hannah Tytus is an integrative health coach, researcher and content creator at KnoWEwell, P.B.C., and former writer at the National Institutes of Health.

Strong for Life The Power of Functional Fitness

by Zak Logan

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Moving Better, Not Harder Aches and pains or feelings of limitation often result from a lack of consistent movement, rather than biological age. “As our world has gone more toward technology, we’ve created a situation where we need to get our movement and cardio elsewhere,” observes Sharon Bourke, a certified medical exercise specialist and executive director of The Life Energy Foundation, in Rockville, Maryland.

Stationary split squat

decline in mobility begins between ages 40 and 55 and accelerates with each decade, according to a 2017 study in The Journals of Gerontology. The U.S. Census Bureau reports that nearly 40 percent of people aged 65 and older have at least one disability. However, consistent, targeted activity can maintain or even improve the ability to rise from a chair, climb stairs, carry groceries or get onto the floor.

Functional fitness exercises that mimic daily tasks like reaching, twisting, squatting and bending enhance quality of life, manage pain and aid injury recovery at any age.

A 2021 systematic review in Frontiers in Physiology found functional training beneficial for the development of agility, balance and speed. And a 2024 study in Advances in Rheumatology showed that a functional fitness program for fibromyalgia patients was more effective than stretching exercises at reducing pain and improving quality of life and general health. Additional benefits include better cardiovascular health and improved metabolism, without the need for expensive gym memberships or elaborate equipment.

Because she lives with the challenges of fibromyalgia, Bourke knows firsthand how ill health can lead to loss of fitness. She shares, “I started walking only five minutes a day because I would get a setback if I did more. I did this for two weeks. Once I was gaining energy, I added another five minutes. Every time I had a couple of good weeks, I would add more.

Was it slow? Yes. Was it worth it? Oh yes!”

According to certified fitness coach Travis Weber, in Mountain View, California, functional fitness focuses on how the body moves as a system, not on bulking specific muscle groups. “It’s about moving better, not harder,” he explains. “When performed correctly, these exercises let the body stretch and strengthen at the same time, building mobile, flexible strength that translates directly to everyday life.”

Vital Moves and Modifications For easier chair access or stair climbing, Harvard Health recommends functional exercises like the stationary split squat, which targets the quads, gluteal muscles and hamstrings; addresses muscular imbalances by working each leg separately; and is gentler on the knees and ankles than traditional lunges.

A stationary split squat starts in a lunge position, lowering the back knee to tap the floor while keeping the upper body straight and holding onto a chair for stability.

Squats, with or without weights, strengthen

core, leg and gluteal muscles needed to rise from a chair or lift objects. Classic push-ups can be done on the floor from toes or knees, or against a wall. Upper body strength enables picking up a toddler and placing a suitcase in the overhead bin.

“Some exercises use your own body weight with acceleration (going fast) and deceleration (slowing down) to build strength in a certain movement pattern. For instance, going from sitting to standing at a timed speed would increase your ability to get up out of a chair,” explains Bourke, emphasizing fitness geared toward multi-joint movements that resemble everyday activities. Some of her clients that struggled to get up and down from the floor improved by engaging in functional exercises while in bed, and she endorses tailored exercise regimens for pain reduction.

Weber points out that the body moves more freely without heavy resistance; for example, stretching with a weight instead of tightening against it improves flexibility and mobility over time. He recommends lightweight deadlifts and any lightweight squat variation, “because they recruit nearly every muscle in the body while allowing you to move with control and awareness, reinforcing strength and coordination in everyday tasks like bending, lifting or getting up from the floor.” For those seeking a trainer or class, he advises finding an instructor that prioritizes form and quality of movement over speed or intensity. If a full workout isn’t feasible, he suggests a 15-to-20-minute walk that can make a huge difference.

Bourke confirms that strict training routines are not necessary, sharing, “Play with your kids or grandkids. Dance around the house.

Sit less. Get up and do some tasks like cleaning or running errands rather than having things delivered.”

Weber asserts, “Building healthy habits doesn’t have to mean overhauling your life.

It’s about small, consistent actions that add up. When movement and recovery both feel rewarding, consistency becomes natural.”

Zak Logan is a freelance health writer dedicated to holistic living.

January 2026

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A Belly-Friendly Treat

Soulful Sourdough Why This Bread Still Heals

by Maya Whitman

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ourdough, made from flour, water, salt and starter, is the oldest form of leavened bread, originating with the ancient Egyptians. Unlike most yeast breads, sourdough has a low glycemic index and does not spike blood sugar levels.

A 2024 study in Foods highlights its benefits compared to other types of bread, including improved digestibility, high mineral and antioxidant content, better blood sugar control and improved dietary fiber composition, including prebiotics to feed healthy gut bacteria.

Artisans that master its versatility also find sourdough to be a source of emotional nourishment. “You hear the crust crackle as it

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cools, smell the warmth of grain and time, and know that something very old and very human has happened in your own kitchen,” says Lisa Robitaille, founder of Great Lakes Sourdough, in Kingston, Ontario, Canada.

With knowledge, a good starter and patience, sourdough can become a lifelong friend, offering more than just the iconic crusty loaf. “The same living starter that makes a loaf rise can become the morning’s pancakes, the evening’s pizza or even a tray of chocolate chip cookies,” says Robitaille.

“Once you understand how the culture behaves, you can shape it into nearly anything: soft rolls, bagels, waffles, muffins, even pastry.”

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While many yeast breads cause bloating and other gut discomforts, sourdough is gentler. According to the Mayo Clinic, regular consumption of sourdough can improve the intestinal microbiome. “During a long fermentation, the yeast and bacteria produce enzymes that help break down gluten and some carbohydrates and reduce phytic acid, a grain compound that can block mineral absorption. The result is a sourdough bread many people find easier to digest,” explains Katya Nikolov, a cancer research scientist and owner of Dubuque Bakery, in Snohomish, Washington. “My view is simple and science-first: When it is slowly fermented and made with high-quality flour, sourdough can be a delicious, gut-friendly ally within a varied, balanced diet.”

According to Emily Harryman, owner of Plain Jane Bakes, in Keller, Texas, and author of the upcoming cookbook Plain Jane Sourdough, her customers with irritable bowel syndrome and gluten intolerance attest to sourdough’s superiority. “I had one customer in particular who relayed to me that my bread was the only bread she could eat,” Harryman boasts. “She took my sourdough class before she moved out of state so she could replicate it in her new home. It was such a blessing to her.”

Tips for Beginners

The dough’s gluten network traps the gas, causing the dough to rise, yielding sourdough’s renowned, airy crumb.”

A sourdough starter is a live, active, fermented culture made from flour and water that acts as a leavening agent for baked goods, replacing commercial yeast and providing a signature tangy flavor. Sourdough starters vary greatly depending on water-to-flour ratios (from liquid to stiff), flavor profiles (from tangy to sour to slightly sweet) and flour types (from whole grain rye to whole wheat to unbleached all-purpose). The secret to sourdough success is letting nature take its course.

“Sourdough bread baking isn’t just following a recipe; it’s understanding the living system in your bowl and a constant response to a changing environment like temperature, season, humidity and flour,” says Nikolov, who recommends using a scale, keeping notes and aiming for steady, comfortable temperatures between 72° and 78° F for both the starter and dough. She generally prefers clean, non-processed, organic whole-grain flours milled directly from the grain, as well as ancient wheats like einkorn and spelt.

Fresh herbs, fruit, cheese, seeds or chocolate can be folded into the dough for a delicious taste experience, but behind every fresh-from-the-oven masterpiece is a good starter. Each one is unique, thanks to a mélange of elements. As Harryman explains, “When the wild yeasts from the starter mingle and consume the sugars in the flour, carbon dioxide gas is released.

For reliability and depth of flavor, Harryman suggests acquiring a mature starter fed with organic flour, ideally dark rye. This can be accomplished by connecting with a local sourdough baker or

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ordering a well-reviewed, dehydrated sourdough starter. “They are fairly easy to revive, and some are nearly 100 years old in maturity,” she explains. For a gluten-free option, she recommends building a starter from scratch to be sure of its purity.

Robitaille underscores the importance of time, grain and imagination for flavor. “Red Fife [a North American heirloom wheat variety] brings a quiet sweetness; rye adds depth and spice; and whole wheat speaks of the harvest field,” she explains. In a busy world, baking bread can be a grounding, meditative act that also nourishes family and friends. “There is a kind of stillness in the act of baking that feels sacred. You watch a living culture transform simple ingredients into sustenance,” she muses.

“That, to me, is magic.”

Maya Whitman is a frequent writer for Natural Awakenings.

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EVERYDAY SOURDOUGH LOAF WITH HONEY YIELD: 1 LOAF 3 cups white-bread or all-purpose flour 1 cup whole-wheat flour 1½ cup water ½ cup active sourdough starter ¾ Tbsp honey 1¾ tsp salt Rice flour for dusting

Combine all ingredients except the rice flour in a bowl or stand mixer. Mix just until no dry flour remains and the dough is cohesive. The bulk fermentation process begins as soon as the starter is mixed with the other ingredients, which means that the dough will rise and grow in size while it ferments. Cover the dough with a damp linen kitchen towel and let it rest for 30 minutes to an hour at 73° to 75° F room temperature.

Stretch and fold the dough as follows: With lightly wet fingertips, grab a portion of the dough and stretch it upward.

Fold the dough over toward the center of the bowl. Give the bowl a quarter turn and repeat the stretch and fold.

Continue to turn, stretch and fold until the circle is complete. Cover the dough and let it sit for 30 minutes. Repeat this stretch-and-fold process three more times, letting the dough rest for 30 minutes in between.

After the fourth set of stretch-and-folds, cover the dough with a linen cloth or towel and allow it to ferment at room temperature. Let the dough proof (rise until the needed 32

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bulk is complete) approximately 5 hours, but the time may vary. Watch the dough, not the clock, looking for a noticeable rise of about 60 to 75 percent, a slightly domed surface, bubbles on the surface and an airy feel with a gentle jiggle.

Once the dough has proofed, lightly dust the counter with rice flour. Turn out the dough onto a clean work surface and shape it into a ball by hand—this is called a pre-shape.

Let it rest for 20 to 30 minutes on the counter uncovered.

Shape the dough and place it seam-side up in a rice-flour dusted banneton (or extra-large bowl lined with a linen cloth). Let the shaped dough rest at room temperature for 1 hour to start fermentation before the cold proof.

To cold proof the dough, cover the loaf with a damp linen kitchen towel and refrigerate 12 to 16 hours.

Place an oven-safe cast iron Dutch oven with the lid onto the center rack of the oven. Preheat the oven to 480° F for 1 hour.

Invert the cold dough onto parchment paper, score the loaf, load it into the hot Dutch oven and cover it with the lid. Bake covered for 20 minutes to trap steam and drive dough expansion.

After 20 minutes, remove the lid, reduce the oven to 450° F and bake for an additional 15 to 20 minutes until the loaf is deep golden. It is ready when the internal temperature is 205° to 210° F. Let the loaf cool for 1 to 2 hours before slicing, so that the crumb can set.

Recipe courtesy of Katya Nikolov of Dubuque Bakery.

FRENCH ONION SOURDOUGH

Raw milk Gruyère cheese, organic onions caramelized in beef tallow and fresh chives make this loaf truly memorable.

Roll the loaf like a burrito and crimp the sides. Place the loaf into the banneton. If any cubes of cheese are sticking out on the bottom of the dough, tuck them in by pulling a bit of dough over them.

This will prevent the bottom of the crust from burning.

YIELD: 1 LOAF

Transfer the banneton basket to the refrigerator and let the loaf cold proof for 12 to 24 hours.

4 cups plus 2 Tbsp organic bread flour ¾ cup active sourdough starter 2 cups plus 2 tsp room-temperature water ½ cup grass-fed beef stock

1½ tsp salt 1½ Tbsp fresh chives 1 small organic onion, sliced thin 1 Tbsp beef tallow 3 oz raw milk Gruyère, cubed

To caramelize the onions, heat the beef tallow in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium-low heat. Add the onions and stir to coat. Let them cook, stirring occasionally, until they are deeply browned and caramelized, about 45 minutes to an hour. Keep the onions in the refrigerator until they are ready to be used.

In a large glass bowl, combine the flour, active starter, water, beef stock, salt, chives and caramelized onions. Mix thoroughly. The bulk fermentation process begins as soon as the starter is mixed with the other ingredients, which means that the dough will rise and grow in size while it ferments. Cover the dough with a damp linen kitchen towel and let it rest for 1 hour at room temperature.

Place an oven-safe cast iron Dutch oven with the lid onto the center rack of the oven. Preheat the oven to 490° F. Once the oven has preheated, remove the loaf from the refrigerator and turn it out onto a 12-by-12-inch piece of unbleached parchment paper. Using a bread lame knife (or sharp paring knife), score the loaf down the center. Top with finely grated Gruyère and fresh chives.

Transfer the loaf on the parchment paper into the Dutch oven and seal it with the lid. Bake covered for 25 minutes. Remove the lid and bake for an additional 20 to 25 minutes uncovered.

Remove the loaf from the oven and immediately transfer it to a wire rack to cool.

Cut the loaf once it has fully cooled and store it wrapped in a linen kitchen towel at room temperature for up to three days.

Recipe courtesy of Emily Harryman.

Stretch and fold the dough as follows: With lightly wet fingertips, grab a portion of the dough and stretch it upward. Fold the dough over toward the center of the bowl. Give the bowl a quarter turn and repeat the stretch and fold. Continue to turn, stretch and fold until the circle is complete. Cover the dough and let it sit for 30 minutes.

Repeat this stretch-and-fold process two more times, letting the dough rest for 30 minutes in between.

Evenly distribute the cheese over the surface of the dough and perform one more set of stretch and folds.

Continue to ferment the dough for 2 to 4 more hours until it has proofed or domed in the bowl with various sized bubbles visible along the sides of the dough. (The dough will ferment faster on a warm day and slower on a chilly day.)

Once the dough has proofed, turn it out onto a clean work surface and shape it into a ball by hand—this is called a pre-shape. Let it rest for 10 minutes on the counter uncovered.

After this pre-shape, it is time to shape the dough. The goal is to create good tension that will help keep the dough’s shape while it bakes. Prepare a banneton (or extra-large bowl) lined with a linen cloth generously dusted with flour. Turn the dough top side down, then perform a letter fold, folding top to center then bottom to center.

January 2026

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Clean, Nonstick Cookware Transforming the Kitchen for Human and Planetary Health

by Marlaina Donato

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rom omelets to air-fried treats, modern nonstick cookware makes cooking effortless with minimal cleanup. However, many of these pots, pans, baking sheets, waffle irons, slow cookers, countertop ovens and more are coated with per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)—known as “forever chemicals”. These substances can leach into food, accumulate in the body and pose serious health risks, including hormone imbalances, altered immunity, inflammatory and autoimmune conditions, kidney disease, adverse reproductive and developmental outcomes and cancer. They also harm the environment, affecting wildlife, soil and water.

Although the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has designated perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) as hazardous, and the manufacture of PFOA was voluntarily phased out by 2015 in this country, imported products may still contain them.

Seeing Through False Claims

“Even when a label claims PFOA-free or PFOS-free, manufacturers often substitute newer fluorinated chemicals like GenX or PTFE [polytetrafluoroethylene, also known as Teflon] derivatives which still fall under the PFAS family and pose risks to the liver, hormones and immune system,” warns Kali Storm, a functional nutritionist and founder of Root Level Living, in Clear Lake, Wisconsin.

After recovering from a severe illness linked to mold exposure, Storm replaced her nonstick cookware with healthier options like cast iron. She advises caution with imported

products, which may not disclose the presence of glazes, adhesives, bonding agents or sealants in multi-layer cookware that can introduce phenols, phthalates and other endocrine-disrupting chemicals.

High-quality ceramic cookware is generally considered safe. Beth Bollinger, an integrative health practitioner and the founder of Nest Wellness, in Sonoma County, California, points out that true ceramic is stoneware and porcelain. However, she notes that many ceramic nonstick pans are actually metal pans with a sol-gel ceramic coating that can contain nanoparticles, lead, cadmium or PFAS. “Always look for third-party testing certifications and avoid inexpensive ceramic-coated cookware from unknown brands,” she cautions.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration imposes cookware safety regulations, but it does not test the products. The State of California goes further with Proposition 65, which requires manufacturers to disclose whether their cookware contains lead, cadmium or certain PFAS. And the European Union sets the strictest limits on cookware coatings, banning specified heavy metals and harmful chemicals, including PFAS. Third-party organizations that test products to ensure compliance with applicable safety standards and regulations include Greenscreen Certified (GreenScreenChemicals.org), SGS (sgs.com) and Intertek (Intertek.com).

Choosing Cleaner Options

Like Storm, Bollinger cleaned up her food and home environment, including kitchenware, after a health diagnosis, and she believes those modifications led to significant improvements in energy, mental clarity and overall well-being. Her kitchen essentials include enameled cast iron, for its nonreactive nature with acidic foods, and carbon steel, which is lighter than cast iron and heats quickly and evenly.

Bollinger suggests, “Start out with stainless steel, because it’s the most versatile and user-friendly option. High-quality stainless 34

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ALWAYS TRUST The VIBE

Crystals

steel—18/10 with an aluminum or copper core for even heat distribution—is durable, nonreactive, dishwasher-safe and works for almost any cooking method, be it sautéing, searing, boiling or baking.” She acknowledges the challenge of finding air fryers and slow cookers without chemical coatings but recommends models with stainless steel baskets and true ceramic or stoneware inserts for slow cookers. She also advises verifying with the manufacturer that their ceramic is lead- and cadmium-free.

For Storm and her family, cast iron is a versatile and reliable choice.

“Cast iron is incredibly user-friendly once you learn how to use and clean it,” she explains. “Many don’t realize how naturally nonstick it becomes when well-seasoned. If you cook in your cast iron regularly and clean it properly with no soap, just hot water and a scrub, you’re technically seasoning it a little bit every time.”

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Arrive early, doors close at 6pm to honor our sacred cast iron Dutch oven retains heat beautifully.” To season cast iron, Speaks 411 W. Dearborn St. Englewood ~ IamMsKitty.com 734-4 she recommends using avocado oil, flaxseed oil or beef tallow, and Leaders In Alternative, Regenerative avoiding budget vegetable or seed oils that may contain fillers and Wednesday Wisdom Share 6pm Weekly. gathering of “Light-m Medicine & Treatment For A Chronic Disease oxidize easily.

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Thistocan • IV Therapy • Total Body Health Coaching be beneficial for healthy individuals or those that areArrive deficient,early, but doors • StemWave or in-person) close at 6pm to honor(virtual our sacred space. Love d people with too much iron in their blood might want to minimize Spirit Speaks 411 W. For Dearborn Englewood ~ IamMsKitty.com NaturalSt. Awakenings Readers or avoid using cast iron altogether.

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35

Big Dreams, Little Hands Vision Boards and Focus Wheels That Nurture Childhood Development

by Christina Connors

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ision boards have long been a popular tool for goal setting and manifestation. For kids, creating a collage of pictures and words glued onto a poster board to represent their wishes or goals is a fun activity. Once completed, it serves as a source of inspiration or motivation. This creative project gains deeper meaning when combined with a focus wheel, often with the guidance and encouragement of a parent or caregiver.

• “I Am” boards focus on affirmations such as “I am brave” or “I am creative.” This builds self-esteem rooted in intrinsic qualities, rather than external achievements.

• Calming boards for anxious or overwhelmed kids include visual reminders of soothing strategies like deep breathing, comforting music, tranquil natural settings or cherished items like a stuffed teddy bear. Such images can provide grounding during difficult moments.

• Sensory boards use textured materials such as fabric, sandpaper or soft cotton to strengthen mind-body connections. This

• Seasonal boards highlight fun activities like building a snowman in winter, picking apples in the fall or swimming

Beyond Pictures and Goals

A 2024 study in Frontiers in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry shows that creative-arts interventions improve mental health and emotional well-being, especially in elementary school children with speech, language or communication challenges. Art-making provides a safe, non-verbal way for kids to process complex feelings they cannot yet articulate.

Chanie Messinger, a doctor of occupational therapy, educator, speaker and author in Sarasota/Manatee Edition

• Feeling boards use pictures, colors or words to represent emotions. This makes abstract feelings like frustration or sadness more tangible and manageable.

Brooklyn, New York, states, “Vision boards can help children express themselves, explore emotions, practice mindfulness and build skills.” She recommends using them creatively to promote present-moment awareness and emotional growth. Here are a few of her suggestions.

Vision boards show what children want, while focus wheels help them emotionally align with their desires. This is how they work: Write a core desire in the center of a circle, then add positive, believable affirmations related to that goal around it. Together, vision boards and focus wheels are engaging and motivating tools for developing self-awareness, emotional regulation and inner confidence in young people.

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method is particularly effective for tactile learners.

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The real magic happens when these tools are combined. Begin with a focus wheel to help kids identify genuine desires, confront limiting beliefs and align emotionally with their goals, paving the way for a more meaningful vision boarding experience. Now the images and words they select reflect their authentic desires, not superficial wants or external pressures.

Tips for Success

• Make it a family activity. Working together fosters connection and strengthens bonds. Share, celebrate and discuss each person’s vision.

• Create a judgment-free environment. Clearly state that there is no right way to create; each board is unique. at the lake in the summertime, fostering anticipation and family bonding.

• Mindfulness boards incorporate peaceful imagery such as forests, water and breathing exercises to encourage present-moment awareness.

A Heart-Centered Approach

“Through images, colors and words, kids begin to develop self-awareness and a connection to their heart’s desires, which is the foundation of intentional creation,” says Tanya Murphy, founder of The Heart’s Desire Method. Vision boards teach children that their feelings are important. By focusing on what makes them happy, they reinforce positive emotions and purposeful living.

For younger children, vision boards are playful ways to explore emotions like joy and love. Murphy suggests starting around age 6 or 7, when kids can think abstractly and handle fine motor skills.

Even children as young as 4 benefit from sensory-based boards, while older kids can use them to visualize personal goals, travel adventures or friendships they want to nurture.

Delving Deeper for Transformative Awareness

“A focus wheel helps a child take a heart-centered desire, like making new friends, feeling confident at school or improving at a sport, and gently guides them into emotional alignment with it, one believable thought at a time,” Murphy explains. “This builds resilience, self-awareness and emotional regulation skills a vision board alone cannot provide.”

• Use age-appropriate materials. Younger children thrive with large images and simple concepts, while older kids can explore complex ideas.

• Display the boards. Place them where they are seen daily, serving as gentle reminders.

• Revisit them regularly. Use boards and focus wheels to initiate conversations about feelings, goals and personal growth.

Why It Matters

Vision boards spark imagination, while focus wheels channel that energy into emotional alignment. Together, they promote wholechild wellness and personal growth, helping children navigate challenges, boost their confidence and foster self-expression. Visual tools make emotions easier to identify and understand. Affirmations and positive imagery reinforce self-worth and resilience.

Focus wheels lead kids through emotional shifts with clarity and purpose. By adopting these tools, parents and caregivers can equip children with lifelong emotional resources.

Christina Connors is a writer, keynote singer and head of music and SEL integration for the Kind Mind Education Program. Learn more at ChristinaConnors.com.

Unlike vision boards, which may unintentionally cause comparison or frustration if results don’t come quickly, focus wheels build emotional momentum gradually, enabling children to acknowledge how they feel in the moment, while progressing toward hope, clarity and confidence.

January 2026

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Holistic Health From Nose to Tail Whole-Pet Strategies for Optimized Well-Being

by Ruth Roberts, DVM, CVA, CVH, CVFT, NAN

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verall pet wellness transcends the mere absence of illness, encompassing body, mind and spirit. From digestion to mood, every system is interconnected in subtle ways that influence how animals feel and behave. Understanding and supporting these connections allows pets to experience more ease, energy and joy in everyday life. An integrative, energy-based approach views animal companions as complete physical, emotional and energetic beings, combining modern veterinary science with natural healing strategies to restore balance and connection.

“Holism means that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. Our pets are more than their bodies made up of tissues and cells, so a holistic approach looks at the bigger picture,” says Dennis W. Thomas, a holistic veterinarian and author of Whole-Pet Healing, adding that conventional veterinary medicine often focuses on individual parts of a pet’s body, whereas a holistic approach includes balanced nutrition, daily movement, emotional connection and a healthy home environment to build lasting vitality.

Clean Nutrition and Proper Hydration

Nutrition is the foundation for vitality, and a pet’s food should nourish, not burden, the body.

Whole-pet wellness begins with clean, fresh ingredients and balanced hydration. “We must always look for the best guidance as to how to keep the physical body healthy with proper nutrition,” says Thomas, noting that food is more than just ingredients; it also carries energy

and intention. “People were always looking for the right ingredients, hoping to get the same results, without realizing it was the love Grandma had for the child that made the soup healing,” he says, encouraging pet parents to use the same “energy of gratitude” when preparing their food.

Dr. Chris Bessent, a holistic veterinarian and founder of Herbsmith and Medicus Veterinary Diets, stresses the importance of feeding pets whole foods, defined as “real, unprocessed ingredients, not byproducts or powders, but complete, natural foods that retain their original nutrients.” Whole-food meals combine fresh meats, organs, fruits and vegetables—for example, chicken, liver, blueberries and sweet potatoes—to create balanced nutrition.

Hydration is equally important for overall wellness. Pets thrive with constant access to clean, filtered water and moisture-rich foods. Adequate hydration supports digestion, circulation and temperature regulation; flushes toxins; and maintains healthy skin and joints.

Daily Movement and Play

Exercise keeps pets strong, alert and emotionally balanced. Movement promotes flexibility and joint health, as well as behavioral stability. “Exercise is a form of self-care for dogs. It keeps their bodies strong, minds sharp and emotions balanced,” says Denise Bozenski, a holistic pet health coach, professional dog trainer and certified canine fitness coach based in Phoenix, Arizona.

“It’s not about intensity; it’s about consistency, connection and engaging both body and mind.”

Bozenski explains that gentle, consistent activity such as walks, swimming and play reduce anxiety and prevent stiffness. Regular movement supports joint health, cardiovascular strength and a healthy weight, as well as providing essential mental stimulation.

Dogs are natural explorers that find purpose through activity and engagement with their environment. Regular movement improves behavior. For senior dogs, staying active preserves mobility, comfort and confidence.

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Energetic Health

Pets feel deeply, and their emotions directly affect their health and behavior. A 2024 review in the journal Animals reports that various stressors and emotional imbalance can trigger abnormal levels of the stress hormone cortisol, which in turn influences a dog’s behavior and physical state. Emotional balance centers on trust, calm connection and stability. To support this connection, pet parents should focus on creating calm, loving routines, speaking gently and spending unhurried time together. Equally important, creating a safe, toxin-free environment helps pets feel secure.

The bond between humans and pets operates on an energetic level, too. Thomas advises, “Where two energetic beings spend a lot of time together, the energy seeks harmony and the two energies become one.”

He calls this “quantum entanglement”, noting that pets often share their higher energy with humans, lifting us up, but sometimes absorbing our stress in return. Because pets mirror the energy around them, calm, gratitude and presence at home are essential.

Supporting whole-pet wellness involves more than keeping animals healthy; it’s about nurturing balance in every part of their lives. When pet parents meet their pets’ physical, emotional and energetic needs, they build a foundation for lasting vitality and trust.

Ruth Roberts, an integrative veterinarian and a holistic health coach for pets, is the creator of The Original CrockPet Diet. Learn more at DrRuthRoberts.com.

Calendar of Events THURSDAY, JANUARY 1 Cosmic Center Special New Year’s Day Ganesh/Lakshmi Ceremony Removing Obstacles & Creating Prosperity - 7-8:30pm. With Rev. Nancy and Dr. Raj Markos. After the year of 2025, let us start the New Year of 2026 with both the benevolent energies of Ganesh and Lakshmi.

Together we will say the Mantras of Ganesh and Lakshmi and align with their benevolent energies. Ganesh is the Hindu deity who through his benevolence removes obstacles in the lives of those who focus and tune into his energy that has been established on this earth for thousands and thousands of years by his devotees across all generations. This will also be the case for Lakshmi. Let us incorporate Lakshmi’s aura of divine happiness, mental and spiritual satisfaction, financial success, and auspicious outcomes in areas of our lives and that of our world.

In-person and online. Donation based. Register for online here: us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_vwAOcMw_Rv-EXLp8uVrYLQ. Cosmic Center of Spiritual Light, 5041 Ringwood Meadows, Bldg G-2, Sarasota, 941-371-9333, CCOSL.com, Facebook and Instagram.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 3 Manatee Spirit Full Moon Sound Bath - 7:309pm, Jan. 3 and 10. Space for 11 guests. Both events blend affirmations, meditation, breath work, 60-minute sound bath, lovely refreshments, and heart connection. $20/PP. Manatee Spirit is a sanctuary-style sound healing studio located in southwest Bradenton, just 4.4 miles from Anna Maria Island. $20. Reservations, 941-201-0069, Info@ManateeSpirit.com, https://manateespirit.com/

THURSDAY, JANUARY 8 Free Event at Selby Library! Fascinating Unexplained Phenomenon - 3pm-4:15pm, and 2ND Thurs. monthly. Speakers include authors, scientists and scholars. Sponsored by IANDS (Inter.

Ass. for Near-Death Studies) - branches worldwide since 1982. State-of-the-art equip. in a large comfortable setting. Facilitator: Bob Waxman, Ph.D., 2 hr. free parking. No reservations. 941-7245151, Iands.org.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 9 Ethiopian Food Pop-Up at Flobucha - 5-8pm, 9th and 23rd. Join us for another fun night of Ethiopian food, seasonal flavors and live music.

A fabulous array of Ethiopian dishes that start at $6. You can enjoy all 6 of the menu items for $37 and it’s great to share while enjoying our refreshing Kombucha in a variety of flavors. We have six standard flavors, two seasonal flavors as well as our non-alcoholic wine alternatives Cab, Rose and Blanc. We now offer a 6 flight Kombucha sampler for $12.95 if you want to try them all. Then you can order your favorite by the glass and take a bottle or growler home with you.

For those who are musically inclined and would like to contribute to the live music, you are welcome to use our stage at the Flobucha taproom that includes a microphone, guitar and piano.

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Flobucha, 2725 Mall Drive, Sarasota, Info@Flobucha.com, follow us on social media: Instagram. com/Flobucha and on Facebook: Flobucha.

Cosmic Center Blessed Mystic Meditation with Elise - 5:30-7pm. Have you ever been to a therapist or counselor and felt no permanent shift? Did your life actually change in a long lasting, eternal way? Develop your own tools to do so now. This development on a spiritual level is very much like learning to read once you know how you can’t go back. Ultimate healing and growth happens when you take the step on your own versus depending on someone else.

This is the tool to do so. Come play in energy kinda-garden, you will learn psychic grounding and calling back your energy into present time. Rev. Elise Blessings has taught for 18 years in various communities and locations. She worked as a professional hotline reader and provides ongoing spiritual counseling, readings and healings. $25. Cosmic Center of Spiritual Light, 5041 Ringwood Meadows, Bldg G-2, Sarasota, 941-371-9333, CCOSL.com, Facebook and Instagram.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 10 Cosmic Center Jivamukti Yoga with Elise - 1011:30am. Hatha Vinyasa flow sequence chanting and meditation. An advance beginner/ intermediate sequence set to music. The name Jivamukti means “liberation while living”. It is taken from the Sanskrit term “Jivanmuktih” which is used to describe the state of enlightenment or God realization. Jiva means “individual soul” and mukti means “liberation”. Elise Blessings has been teaching various styles of yoga for 18 years. Before that she had a career in Ballet and is compassionate to injuries. Her favorite things about teaching are when students get a new pose or experience for the first time and the excitement with that growth. $25. Cosmic Center of Spiritual Light, 5041 Ringwood Meadows, Bldg G-2, Sarasota, 941-371-9333, CCOSL.com, Facebook and Instagram.

Ian Maksin, Cellist, Vocalist Concert “Songs of the Vagabond Cello” - Come see this amazing Cellist at Sarasota Center of Light. For information, go to SarasotaCenterOfLight.com. Located at 852 S. Tuttle Ave. 941-953-6620.

SUNDAY, JANUARY 11 Manatee Spirit New Year, New You! Whole Food Plant-Based Oil-Free Course - 12-3:30pm, Jan. 11, 17. Unlock the secrets to maintaining your ideal size. $165. Manatee Spirit is a sanctuary-style sound healing studio located in southwest Bradenton, just 4.4 miles from Anna Maria Island, 941-201-0069, Info@ManateeSpirit.com, ManateeSpirit.com.

Star Harmony Sound Medicine Ceremony: Doorway to Inner Truth & Alignment -6-7:30pm. A grounding, coherence-focused sound immersion aligned with the stabilizing energy of 1/11. Supports clarity, balance, and foundational reset as the nervous system settles and inner rhythms realign. 22 comfy spaces. $33. Kenshō Studio, 4141 S. Tamiami Tr., KenshoStudio.as.me/starharmony.

TUESDAY, JANUARY 13 Join the Wisdom Seekers at Manatee Spirit – Universal Wisdom and Meditation Course -

7pm-9pm, January 13,14,15. Calling all consciousness-expanding-curious! Graduates of the UW&M Course are invited to the Wisdom Seekers weekly Zoom meetings. Online with Zoom or at Manatee Spirit, $165. Manatee Spirit is a sanctuary-style sound healing studio located in southwest Bradenton, just 4.4 miles from Anna Maria Island, 941-201-0069, Info@ManateeSpirit.com, https://manateespirit.com/

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 14 Sound + Flo Event at Flobucha - 5-6pm. Unwind your mind and refresh your senses. Experience the harmonious blend of relaxation and flavor with a soothing sound meditation session followed by a curated kombucha tasting. Let the resonating tones guide you to a place of calm while savoring our handcrafted, premium raw kombucha. This event is perfect for connecting with yourself and our community in a tranquil, welcoming space. $44. Includes a 6oz. glass of Kombucha. Flobucha, 2725 Mall Dr., Gulf Gate, Sarasota, Flobucha.com.

Star Harmony Sound Medicine Ceremony: Capricorn Reset - 6-7:30pm. An intentionally composed sound journey aligned with the Sun–Pluto conjunction, supporting deep integration and inner authority. Transformation from the inside out - softening old patterns, clarifying identity, and grounding change in the body. $30. Prana Yoga, 3840 S. Osprey Ave, PranaYogaSarasota.com/workshops.

SUNDAY, JANUARY 18 Vision Board Sunday - 4-6pm. Spirit Speaks will have a class on creating Vision Boards. $35./ per person, class space is limited. Please Call to reserve your spot, 734-464-6828 and to inquire about upcoming classes and forums. Spirit Speaks 411 W. Dearborn St. Englewood, 734-4646828, IamMsKitty.com.

MONDAY, JANUARY 19 REIKI III Practitioners Share - 7pm-8:30pm. This Reiki share is ongoing, the 3rd Monday of each month. Bring a table if you have one. $5 donation at door, at Rising Tide International, 5102 Swift Rd. Sarasota. Rev. Zan Benham, 941-9227839, or Zan@woman-spirit.com.

Yet in truth, it is a darkness that emerges before the soul’s dawning hour. In this presentation, William Meader will closely examine the Dark Night of the Soul experience. He will show how spiritual blindness is a prelude to greater light, as well as the processes that can be used to lift the “veils of illusion” that give rise to this blindness.

William Meader has established an international reputation for his gift as a communicator of this philosophy. His extensive teaching program includes a diverse array of workshops and lectures devoted to nurturing a deeper understanding of the spiritual path, both from an individual and global perspective. William’s website is Emergent Light at Meader.org. In person and online (Zoom) - $25. Cosmic Center of Spiritual Light, 5041 Ringwood Meadows, Bldg G-2, Sarasota, 941-371-9333, CCOSL.com, Facebook and Instagram.

6-7:30pm. Every 3rd. Wed. of the month. Carrie Eckert says cacao healed her autoimmune conditions and anxiety. She wants to help others reap its benefits. Come join the fun and have a healthy drink at this educational workshop.

Learn more here: AvocadoToZen.com. Registration required, space is limited. To sign up, visit Flobucha.com/events. Flobucha, 2725 Mall Dr., Gulf Gate, Sarasota, Flobucha.com.

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FRIDAY, JANAURY 23

Cosmic Center Esoteric Astrology Appointments - 9am-2:30pm, Jan.21, 23. While in Florida for events, William Meader will be offering esoterically interpreted astrological readings at Cosmic Center of Spiritual Light. Called the Astrology of the Soul, this form of reading is designed to reveal the Soul’s purpose. In addition, it indicates how the personality (ego) tends to inhibit the Soul and reveals the means to overcome such tendencies. Readings are one hour in length, and a recording is provided. Please provide your name/birthdate/birthtime/location of birth when booking an appointment. William will prepare a chart in advance to review during your appointment. Appointments are $200/one hour/recorded. Appointment times as available are: 9am, 10:15am, 11:30am, 1:15pm and 2:30pm. For appointments please call Linda Woodward at 412-298-4876. For more information about William Meader and events - please visit his website Emergent Light at Meader.org.

Cosmic Center of Spiritual Light, 5041 Ringwood Meadows, Bldg G-2, Sarasota, 941-371-9333, CCOSL.com, Facebook and Instagram.

Cacao Exploration Workshop at Flobucha -

A Way with Words: A Poetic Venture 7-8:30pm. Mark your calendars for the 3rd Wed. of each month. Door opens at 6:30pm to first come, first read/sign up. Offer up your diverse creative expression of poetry or prose to an attentive and appreciative audience. Readings are 5 min per reader. $5 admission for audience or reader. At Rising Tide, 5102 Swift Rd. Sarasota.

Presented by Rev. Zan Benham, 941-922-7839, or Zan@woman-spirit.com.

Intuitive Readings with Charlotte of Aroma Oracles at Flobucha - 4-6pm. Short on time but seeking guidance? Quick insight, deep clarity 15-minute Intuitive Readings. Tap into your inner wisdom with a powerful 15-minute Aroma Oracle Intuitive Reading at Flobucha. Perfect for a quick check-in with Spirit, clarity around a specific question, emotional support or next steps, a taste of what Aroma Oracles is all about. You’ll receive intuitive insights, essential oil guidance, and a gentle energetic boost in just 15 minutes. $20. Walk-in or schedule in advance at: Calendly. com/charlottewarn/15-minute-reading-for-20.

Flobucha, 2725 Mall Dr., Gulf Gate, Sarasota, Flobucha.com.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 24 Cosmic Center the Solarized Mind - the Soul and it’s Angelic Companion by William Meader (International Teacher-Esoteric Astrologer-Author) - 10am-5pm. For those who are consciously walking the Path, the search for the soul is a central feature on the journey toward enlightenment. Yet, it is often not realized that the soul has an eternal companion that provides

TUESDAY, JANUARY 20 Manatee Spirit Transformational Sound Healing Course - 6pm, Jan. 20 & 22. As a career cello coach, I break it down for you. You will master leading a sound bath with intent, soothing tones, healing frequencies, confidence, and joy.

Certification level 1 & 2. $165. Manatee Spirit is a sanctuary-style sound healing studio located in southwest Bradenton, just 4.4 miles from Anna Maria Island, 941-201-0069, Info@ManateeSpirit. com, https://manateespirit.com/ Cosmic Center the Dark Night of the Soul presented by William Meader (International Teacher - Esoteric Astrologer - Author) - 7-9pm. The Dark Night of the Soul is an inescapable event when walking the spiritual path.

At various stages of development, a sense of inner blindness will surely emerge. When strong, it leads to the feeling that God has abandoned us.

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divine assistance every step of the way. Sometimes called the Solar Angel, this great being seeks to illuminate our thoughts with profound wisdom. In this seminar, we will deeply consider the Solar Angel and its influence in our personal lives. This will involve a profound look at the nature of the Causal Body—the vehicle used by the soul to express the Solar Angel’s wise guidance. We will also consider the various states of consciousness that emerge at each step in the soul’s unfoldment. In this way, participants will gain a deeper understanding as to where they are upon the path of evolution, and what soulful qualities are seeking to be developed within their individual lives. William’s website is Emergent Light at Meader.org. $90. Online and in-person. Cosmic Center of Spiritual Light, 5041 Ringwood Meadows, Bldg G-2, Sarasota, 941-3719333, CCOSL.com, Facebook and Instagram.

A Shaman Journey - 2pm-5pm. Like a guided meditation, enhanced by the heartbeat of a large mother drum. This is an inter-dimensional journey into a parallel reality, where the seen and unseen, known and unknown open within you with guidance and insights into your own shamans dream, for healing, expansion and clarity. $25/Advance, $30/ATD. To reserve, Rev. Zan Butterfly Deerwoman, 941-922-7839, or Zan@woman-spirit.com. At Rising Tide International, 5102 Swift Rd. Sarasota.

MONDAY, JANUARY 26 Stem Cell Seminar at Renewed Life Wellness - 12pm. In this seminar you will learn how regenerative medicine, like stem cell therapy, can successfully treat your joint pain without the use of drugs or surgery. You can get long lasting pain relief if you suffer from knee, hip, wrist, shoulder, back or neck pain. To attend this free seminar, mention this event listing and call 941-376-1488.

Visit RenewedLifeWellnesscenter.com for more information. Renewed Life Wellness, 5664 Bee Ridge rd., STE. 102, Sarasota.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 29

Ongoing Events

Sunday Cosmic Center Sunday Sabbath Services 10:30am. In person and on Zoom. Join our rotation of reverends every Sunday as we connect with our Family of Light. First Sunday - Open Heart Divine Healing Service with Rev. Sharon-Elizabeth (Baba Sharone) and experience sound healing through the rare and unique 4 Quadrant Pythagorean Lambdona Harmonic Keyboard at 528 Hertz.

Through the Divine Names of God and conscious intention we create the Sacred Space to connect to the Healing Power of the Divine.

Expect Miracles! Second Sunday - A Channeling of Dimensions of Love with Rev. Nancy Robinson. She will Uplift, Guide, Inspire, Heal and help promote Peace and Harmony in the Heart. Third Sunday - Ecstatic Kabbalah with Rev. Annie Eng anchored in Kabbalah Tree of Life Ceremony and Wisdom. Fourth Sunday – Rev. Robin brings you wisdom teachings from around the world and ages, accompanied with her crystal harp. Fifth Sunday – Rev. Ildigo Varga, experience the spiritual energy of Divine Protection. This service helps you align with the Higher Wisdom and blessing that is available to all of us. Love Donation.

Cosmic Center of Spiritual Light, 5041 Ringwood Meadows, Bldg G-2, Sarasota, 941-3719333, CCOSL.com, Facebook and Instagram.

Sunday Morning Celebration Service, In-Person and Zoom - 11am, in person healing at 10:30 in the Sanctuary before service. Join us as we come together as a spiritual family and community, sharing our love and light for ourselves, for each other, and the world.

Be a part of sharing the energy and illumination of our hearts and souls together through conversation, music, meditation, a talk and affirmation and messages. Sarasota Center of Light, 852 S Tuttle Ave. 941-953-6620, SarasotaCenterOfLight.com.

Free - “Writing Workshop” with Poet Kai Siedenburg - Via Zoom - 4pm. An invitation to connect with nature through writing. Welcoming men, women, and all who seek connection.

Come as you are. This is a gentle, supportive space to write, reflect, and share. Sharing is always optional. This 90-minute gathering is not about performance or perfection; it’s about showing up as you are, for yourself and for others, and letting your voice be heard. No writing experience necessary. Kai Siedenburg is a mindful nature connection guide, ecotherapist, and poet devoted to the healing power of nature. She is the author of Poems of Earth and Spirit, Space Between the Stones, and Love Poems from the Earth. Free to attend. For more info call or text 941-830-3040. Sign up at ZenfulConversations.com.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 31 David Roth Concert - 7pm. An event to remember at Sarasota Center of Light. $20/suggested donation - no one turned away. For information, go to SarasotaCenterOfLight.com. Located at 852 S. Tuttle Ave. 941-953-6620.

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Cosmic Center Study Group the Pistis Sophia - The Faith of Wisdom with Kim Converse - 1-4pm, 2nd Sun. In-person. Join Kim Converse, our Keys of Enoch® facilitator, as we embark on the study of the Pistis Sophia, an ancient Coptic Gnostic text (gnosis means ‘knowledge’) with commentary by Drs. J.J. Hurtak and Desiree Hurtak. The Pistis Sophia “the Faith of Wisdom” is a teaching given to the disciples of Jesus after his resurrection as the Christed Jesus for a period of 11 years not only to his male disciples, but also to his female disciples. $20. per month. “Pistis Sophia” book $50 plus shipping at: KeysofEnoch.org.

KimConverse@gmail.com with questions.

Cosmic Center of Spiritual Light, 5041 Ringwood Meadows, Bldg G-2, Sarasota, 941-3719333, CCOSL.com, Facebook and Instagram.

The OM Shamanic Sound Journey - 3-4pm, 4th Sun. of each month. Performed by Resonance. One-of-a-kind blend of hypnotic induction & immersive amplified musical composition with 4 sound musicians and over 150 sound healing instruments. Always sells out- reserve now. $85. The Om Shoppe, 4801 S. Tamiami Tr #5, Sarasota, 941-706-3257, TheOMShoppe.com or TheOMShoppeandSpa.com.

Monday “Health & Nutrition”- 10-11am. With Fred Harvey, MD of The Harvey Center for Integrative Medicine. Health & nutrition is a live call-in or email Ask the Doc health show from 10-11 on WMNF 88.5FM public radio Tampa. Email questions to DJ@WMNF.org Manatee Spirit’s Manifest Abundance Morning Sound Meditation - 10-11:30am. Release energy blockages and create space for growth, harness the power of healing vibrations, light stretching, soothing breathwork, and a 60-minute Sound Meditation. Everything provided for your comfort, kindred

spirits, heart connection. $20. Manatee Spirit is a sanctuary-style sound healing studio located in southwest Bradenton, just 4.4 miles from Anna Maria Island, 941-201-0069, Info@ManateeSpirit.com, ManateeSpirit.com.

Resident Medium, Pranic Healer and Spiritual Counselor at The Cosmic Center - 1-5pm. Rev Nancy Lee Robinson is available by appt only at The Cosmic Center for Spiritual Counseling, through medium/intuitive readings, pranic healing, aura & chakra clearing, inner child healing, past life regression and restorative release (emotional release). These sessions guide you on your spiritual path, releases energetic, mental, emotional, physical and spiritual blocks that keep you from moving forward and raising your vibration to higher levels. Other times available by appt only – call/text 941-313-0418 or at RevNancyLee52@ gmail.com. Cosmic Center of Spiritual Light, 5041 Ringwood Meadows, Bldg G-2, Sarasota, 941-371-9333, CCOSL.com, Facebook and Instagram.

The Om Shoppe Crystal Singing Bowls for Personal Wellness - 3-5pm, check website for dates. With Zooey Seraphine, musical director. Start with Introduction Course and advance to OM Community Singing Bowl Circles to master the art of crystalline sound medicine for your personal wellness. The Om Shoppe, 4801 S. Tamiami Tr #5, Sarasota, 941-706-3257, TheOMShoppe.com or TheOMShoppeandSpa.com.

Feldenkrais with Bonnie K - 5:45pm. Online!

Awareness Through Movement classes: Lessons (in chairs/on floor) are designed to quiet non-working habitual patterns, invite you into a process for learning and offer experiences for more efficient movement. Ongoing classes - movement lessons w/replays. More info, 941-360-2248.

FeldenkraisInSarasota.com.

Register with Bonnie at: FeldenkraisinSarasota.com/Sarasota-Classes-Feldenkrais/

Spiritual Light, 5041 Ringwood Meadows, Bldg G-2, Sarasota, 941-371-9333, CCOSL.com, Facebook and Instagram.

Tuesday Manatee Spirit’s Manifest Abundance Morning Sound Meditation - 10-11:30am. Release energy blockages and create space for growth, harness the power of healing vibrations, light stretching, soothing breathwork, and a 60-minute Sound Meditation. Everything provided for your comfort, kindred spirits, heart connection. $20. Manatee Spirit is a sanctuary-style sound healing studio located in southwest Bradenton, just 4.4 miles from Anna Maria Island, 941-201-0069, Info@ManateeSpirit.com, ManateeSpirit.com.

Cosmic Center Light Circuitry Activation Healing with Resident Healer Michael - 3-7pm.

Light Circuitry Activation is direct energy transmission accompanied by intuitively guided breathwork mediations. These therapeutic sessions are designed to reactivate energy centers (chakras) and channels (nadis) which revitalize the connection between the physical and subtle bodies. The session produces a relaxing trance state in which the mind softens, the heart opens, and new energy begins to move through latent pathways within. Receivers often report renewed energy, physiological balance, clarity of mind, physical rejuvenation of vitality and a new awareness of the energetic power available within. Michael is a certified light channel and PhD chemist with a passion for exploring the human condition, Jungian psychology, soul alchemy, yoga and breathwork. $125. For an appt., email Mortiz279@gmail.com. Cosmic Center of Spiritual Light, 5041 Ringwood Meadows, Bldg G-2, Sarasota, 941-371-9333, CCOSL.com, Facebook and Instagram.

Services HOUSECLEANING. Enjoy your free time and let us do what we do best: Housecleaning to your healthy satisfaction. Call Paula for a free estimate 941-320-4052.

Transformational Body-Mind-Spirit Services. Unlock your potential with Hypnotherapy, Breathwork, QHHT®, Akashic Records, Emotion Code®, PSYCH-K®, and Soul Realignment®.

Release blocks, reclaim your authenticity, and embrace love’s presence. Bianca Hellenga, LiberateToEmpower.com, L i b e ra teTo E m p o w e r@ g m a i l . c o m , 786-380-3037.

MASSAGE/BODYWORK. Offering detailed, results-oriented bodywork specializing in deep tissue, trigger point, and myofascial techniques. Focused on relieving pain, restoring alignment, and facilitating deep relaxation. 724-355-9917, SKTherapeuticMassage.Squarespace.com.

(MA96776) (MT141197)

Wednesday Cosmic Center Study Group the Pistis Sophia - The Faith of Wisdom with Kim Converse - 1-4pm, 3rd Wed. only on Zoom. Join Kim Converse, our Keys of Enoch® facilitator, as we embark on the study of the Pistis Sophia, an ancient Coptic Gnostic text (gnosis means ‘knowledge’) with commentary by Drs. J.J.

Monday Night Meditation - 6pm. All are welcome to come and explore with us a variety of meditation practices as we allow spirit to guide us. Come gather, connect and breath as we open to the possibilities. Arrive early, doors close at 6pm to honor our sacred space.

Love donations welcomed. Spirit Speaks, 411 W. Dearborn St., Englewood, 734-464-6828, IamMsKitty.com.

Cosmic Center Anchoring Light Transmission Meditation - 6:45pm. With Baba Sharone. A call to all Lightworkers. The Anchoring Light Transmission Channeled Meditation has been a gathering point for Lightworkers and Planetary World Servers to come together and assist in the ascension of our planet and all her life in cooperation with our expanded family of light. As Anchors of Light, we take our important role in the spiritual hierarchy to manifest the divine plan of love, light, peace and oneness to our planet. Participants who serve in anchoring this Celestial Radiant Light Energy from the ascended realms benefit from the wisdom, guidance and grace that flows from it which brings forth healing, peace and accelerated spiritual growth. In person and online. Love offering. Cosmic Center of

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Editorial Calendar Three-Month Planner

Nurture the Heart February

Nourish & Flourish March

Hurtak and Desiree Hurtak. The Pistis Sophia “the Faith of Wisdom” is a teaching given to the disciples of Jesus after his resurrection as the Christed Jesus for a period of 11 years not only to his male disciples, but also to his female disciples. $20. per month. “Pistis Sophia” book $50 plus shipping at: KeysofEnoch.org.

KimConverse@gmail.com with questions.

Cosmic Center of Spiritual Light, 5041 Ringwood Meadows, Bldg G-2, Sarasota, 941-3719333, CCOSL.com, Facebook and Instagram.

Free Reiki Healing Clinic - 4-6pm. Come visit our new location. Reiki is an ancient healing technique that is thousands of years old. Reiki is the Chi or life force energy that runs through each of us and is directed and transferred during a Reiki session. Free session every Wednesday. Angel Ministries, 1890 Tamiami Trail S., Venice, 941-492-4995, AngelMinistriesFl.org.

Wednesday Wisdom Share - 6pm. A gathering of “Light-minded Souls” is a sacred circle that meets to honor and support each other weekly. We are all awakening and expanding in new ways. Whether you are just becoming aware or have been on your path. We offer a safe and supportive space to share. Bring your stories and experiences and questions or just listen as others share theirs. Arrive early, doors close at 6pm to honor our sacred space.

Love donations welcomed. Spirit Speaks, 411 W. Dearborn St., Englewood, 734-464-6828, IamMsKitty.com.

Cosmic Center Special Spirit Messages and Channeling - 7-8:30pm, third Wed. of each month. This service is channeled through Reverend Nancy Lee and for all who attend can receive messages from loved ones, guides, masters and teachers in spirit. Also, at the last part of the service Rev. Nancy Lee will channel Divine Wisdom, guidance, and teachings from the Divine Nine Counsel, which are part of her spirit team working with her and through her. Come and enjoy this beautiful service to uplift and inspire you. Love donation $20. Cosmic Center of Spiritual Light, 5041 Ringwood Meadows, Bldg G-2, Sarasota, 941-371-9333, CCOSL.com, Facebook and Instagram.

The Om Shoppe Singing Bowl Sound Baths - 7-8pm, 2nd Wed. of each month. Discover the power of sound to help you access inner peace, stillness, and deep relaxation. An acoustic crystalline experience of transcendence while relaxing in anti-gravity lounge chairs with professionally trained sound therapists and musicians. Always sells out- reserve now. $45. The Om Shoppe, 4801 S. Tamiami Tr #5, Sarasota, 941-706-3257, TheOMShoppe. com or TheOMShoppeandSpa.com.

Sustainable Together April

Thursday Reiki Share at Sarasota Center of Light 5:30-7:30, starting Jan. 29 and every last Thurs. of the month. Love offering. Sarasota Center of Light Learning Center, 2770 Browning St. Sarasota, 941-953-6620, SarasotaCenterOfLight.com.

Lecture: The Science of the Spiritual Worlds - 3-4:30pm, 3rd Thursdays through Nov 6,

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2026. How do we study the Spiritual Worlds and our lives after death. Lecture and discussion about the work of Rudolf Steiner. Have you ever asked what really happens after I die but are not satisfied with religious or new age spiritual answers? If so, you are invited to come to a free discussion of the science of the spiritual world. We are not discussing theories or religious dogma but the actual experiences of Rudolf Steiner who approached the spiritual world as a scientist approaches the physical world. Topics to include: pre birth, after death, reincarnation and karma, cosmic evolution, the spiritual beings and how they influence us in the world and much more. Selby Library Jack J Gelbart Auditorium, 1331 1st St, Sarasota, 941-356-0669.

Cosmic Center Lightworker Circle Gathering of Friends - 4-6pm. Come and meet other like-minded people to share, exchange, and converse on various spiritual topics. An eclectic and ever evolving group that embraces the energy of the circle in the present time and what unfolds for both newbies and seasoned participants. Facilitated by Clark Mumaw, this circle of Lightworker Friends will enhance and broaden each participant’s experience in real time. All are welcome. Love offering. Cosmic Center of Spiritual Light, 5041 Ringwood Meadows, Bldg G-2, Sarasota, 941-371-9333, CCOSL.com, Facebook and Instagram.

Cosmic Center Chanting The 72 Names of God with Baba Sharone - 7pm, every 2nd Thurs. of the month. A powerful spiritual tool to assist in the healing of ourselves, communities and the world. To help create the Golden age of Peace on Earth. For those who are dedicated to their Path of Light. Cosmic Center of Spiritual Light, 5041 Ringwood Meadows, Bldg G-2, Sarasota, 941-371-9333, CCOSL.com, Facebook and Instagram.

Sarasota Center of Light “Mediumship Practice Circle” - 7-8:30. Held in the Learning Center. This circle is open to all who are seeking development or practice in mediumship, connection to spirit and meditation. Love offering. Sarasota Center of Light, Flexer Healing Chapel, 941-953-6620, SarasotaCenterOfLight.com.

Saturday Psychic Saturday - 11:30am-1:30pm, 1st Sat only. In Davis Hall of Sarasota Center of Light.

There is a 15-minute reading for $20 and in Flexer Healing Chapel there is healing with a $5 love donation. All are welcome! Sarasota Center of Light, 852 S Tuttle Ave., Sarasota, 941-953-6620, SarasotaCenterOfLight.com.

Acupuncture/Chinese Medicine CARYN L. YOUNG, DOM, AP, OTR Board Certified Acupuncture Physician The Integrated Path, P.A. 2801 Fruitville Rd.Suite 135, Sarasota 941-924-8833 • IntegratedPath.com

The Integrated Path to Health and Wellness for the whole family utilizing Traditional Chinese Medicine,Acupuncture, Energetic Medicine, Bloodwork Analysis,Clinical Nutrition Assessments and ZYTO Elite to restore balance.

Over 30 years of clinical experience!

DR DEBORAH SCANDIN AP RRT Acupuncture Physician Respiratory Therapist Located at Dr. Luo’s Oriental Medicine 3292 Fruitville Rd., STE 104, Sarasota 941-955-8882 DrLuoAcupuncture.com

Dr Scandin has over 25 years combined experience in Traditional Chinese Medicine, Respiratory Therapy and Neuromuscular Massage. She treats : flu & colds, sore throat, asthma, headaches, sinusitis, sport injuries, trauma and total wellness .

SARASOTA CENTER FOR ACUPUNCTURE AND NUTRITION Dr. Christina Captain, DAOM Nationally Board Certified Dipl.Ac Complimentary Meet & Greet The Medical Complex 2650 Bahia Vista Street, Suite 101, Sarasota, 941-951-1119 • ScanSRQ.com

Sarasota Center For Acupuncture and Nutrition is an integrated wellness practice addressing all health issues.We will find the key to unlock your highest level of health and wellness. Complimentary meet & greet.

Acupuncture Facelift FACES BY DR ANNA

Anna L. Baker, D.O.M. Nationally Board Certified Acupuncture Physician 941-924-2723 • FacesByDrAnna.com

Unique muscle-tightening acupuncture facelift and necklift done with 12 hair-thin needles, none of which are on the face.

Results documented photographically. Only one maintenance treatment needed every 18 months. Free consultation includes facial analysis. Monthly seminars, call for schedule.

Apothecary

ENERGY HEALING

NATURAL APOTHECARY SHOPPE

VIBRATIONAL BLISS WELLNESS, LLC

Internal/External Beauty 6608 Gateway Ave., (Gulf Gate), Sarasota 941-554-8623 NaturalApothecaryShoppe.com Instagram:The Natural Apothecary Shoppe FB: Natural Apothecary Shoppe

Organic skincare, (made on the premises), natural cosmetic kits by 2 time Emmy Award Winning Makeup Artist Laurie Lombardi. Professional supplements, enzymes, vitamins, CBD, homeopathy, herbal consultant by our Holistic Pharmacist.

Chiropractors GENTLEBAY SARASOTA CHIROPRACTIC

Residual Strain Therapy Eric Winder DC 7246 South Beneva Road, Sarasota 941-957-8390 • Eric.Winder.dc@gmail.com

Professional care with a personal focus. Feel better through proper alignment, and get back to work and play! See our website for more information.

Colon/Ozone Therapy COLON THERAPY CLINC OZONE THERAPY

Alain and Marsha Menard Xavier Menard 442 South Tamiami Trail, Osprey (South Sarasota) 941-922-7744 - Colon 941-321-3061 - Ozone ColonTherapyClinic.com OzoneSRQ.com Licensed 52 Years. Gentle Technique, Open and Closed Systems, Ozone Therapy, Cleansing for Digestive Disorders and Double Foot Bath..

Perette DeJean-Cannady 8051 North Tamiami Trail, STE E-2, Sarasota 941-587-5648 VibrationalBlissWellness.com Perette@VibrationalBliss.com

Your voice is a sacred map of your wellbeing.

It contains twelve subtle frequencies that reveal emotional, energetic and physical balance. The advance Voice-Bio Analysis Technology turns your voice into data, detecting stress and imbalance. A customized frequency sound remedy is created to re-attune your body restoring homeostasis. Ancient Healing Wisdom meets Modern Technology!

Feldenkrais Method® THE FELDENKRAIS METHOD® Lessons for Children (ABM), Adults, Classes, Prof Seminars Bonnie Kissam, M.A., Feldenkrais® Practitioner, LMT, CE Provider 941-360-2248 Bonnie@FeldenkraisInSarasota.com FeldenkraisInSarasota.com

The Feldenkrais® Approach , ‘Movement with Attention’, helps one ‘sense easier, improved posture and ways of moving. Clients optimize their musical, athletic or everyday activities through heightened ‘awareness’. They find unique ways to recover from injury, surgeries or illness. Call for appointments, classes or for weekend TOUCH TO INFORM seminars 941360-2248, Bonnie@FeldenkraisInSarasota.com.

Functional & Lifestyle Wellness KORMAN RELIEF & WELLNESS CENTER

Laura Korman, DC, DACBN Chiropractor, Diplomate in Nutrition 16954 Toledo Blade Blvd, Port Charlotte 941-629-6700 • DrLauraKorman.com

Dr. Korman specializes in helping peri-menopausal women eliminate pain, fatigue and unwanted belly fat through functional medicine, lifestyle strategies and regenerative therapies so they can reclaim their vitality and stay engaged in the life they love. We offer PEMF (Pulsed Electromagnetic Field Therapy), Class IV Deep Tissue Laser, Near & Far Infrared Sauna, Decompression Therapies, Whole Body Vibration and carry a professional line of supplementation.

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Natural Food

Pet Supplies

CAFE EVERGREEN

PET SUPPLY CENTER

801 S Tamiami Trail, Nokomis, FL 941-412-4334 • CafeEvergreen.net

Cafe Evergreen is a natural, organic restaurant. Our menu consists of many organic recipes designed to not only taste delicious, but also enhance your health. Open Monday-Saturday, closed on Sundays.

Natural & Holistic Premium Pet Foods 3558 Webber Street, Sarasota

941-925-4376 • PetSupplyCenter@gmail.com

PetSupplyCenterSarasota.com

Offering full lines of veterinary diets, raw and frozen diets, dog, cat and bird supplies. Huge selection of toys, treats, flea and tick products, collars and more. Certified veterinary nutritional consultant on staff. We ship and pets always welcom

Organic Salon HAIR & EARTH ORGANIC SALON 200 Central Ave, Suite 18, Sarasota

941-284-9563 • HairandEarth.GlossGenius.com Erinn offers Sarasota excellence in conscious haircare. Cuts, color, highlights, smoothing treatments and more. Metaphysical gifts too! Kevin Murphy color line as well as retail products available. Comfortable, private space for calm, creative collaboration. Call or text Erinn Earth for an appointment or consultation. Or schedule online at: HairandEarth.GlossGenius.com.

Pain Management Neck and Back Pain

Shamanic Practices SPIRITUAL COUNSELOR, SHAMANIC AND REIKI PRACTICES

Rev. Zan Benham, BSL, BD, CHT 941-922-7839 Spiritual counselor, shamanic practitioner, Reiki healing, breath, and energy work, hypnosis, soul retrieval, past life regression all to empower and help you move into the Divine flow of the joy and power within you.

Spiritual Centers

DISC CENTERS OF AMERICA/SARASOTA Dr. David Cifra, DC

Non-Surgical Spinal • Decompression Specialist

Office: 941-358-2224 • Cell: 315-345-7390 DrCifra@SarasotaDiscCenter.com SarasotaDiscCenter.com

Medical Breakthrough Technology! Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression Specialist, Dr.David Cifra,DC. Advanced procedure for patients who have back and neck pain and want to avoid narcotics, epidural injections, and unnecessary surgeries. Over 90% effective.

No pain, No drugs, No surgery, NO Injections. Call today 941-3582224. FREE CONSULTATION.

COSMIC CENTER OF SPIRITUAL LIGHT

Embracing the New Paradigms of our Awak-ening Consciousness

5041 Ringwood Meadows - Bldg G-2 • Sarasota

CCOSL.com • Facebook/Instgram/Twitter

Connecting you to the leaders in natural healthcare and green living in our community. To find out how you can be included in the Community Resource Guide VISIT NASRQ.COM/BUSINESSES. 46

Sarasota/Manatee Edition

www.nasrq.com

A place of Light and Uncondition-al Love bringing together awak-ened and awakening minds and hearts for healing, enlightenment, support and joy!

Spiritual Centers SARASOTA CENTER OF LIGHT

852 S Tuttle Ave, Sarasota 941-953-6620 • SarasotaCenterOfLight.com

Experience the peaceful energy, love and light of our metaphysical spiritual community. Join us for the inspiration, healing and connection to Spirit in our services, classes and social gatherings.

Thermography FLORIDA MEDICAL THERMOGRAPHY

June Drennon, CCT 2008

JuneDrennon@TampaBayThermography.com

727-729-2711 FloridaMedicalThermography.com

JuneDrennon@FloridaMedicalThermography.com

Certified Clinical Thermographer 2008. Prevention is better than early detection. Knowledge is power: Know your risk factors to make corrections and avoid developing pathology. Call for location convenient for you.

Weddings DIVINE CHAPEL OF LOVE

In the Picturesque Natural Beauty of The Meadows

5041 Ringwood Meadow, Sarasota DivineChapelofLove.com • 941-295-9333 The Divine Chapel of Love offers a place for weddings, renewal of vows and ceremonies for couples who wish to commemorate their special occasion in a beautiful surrounding to form lasting memories where Love is All That Matters.

Proudly Announces — A Mini Documentary by

Coming 2026 — On National & Local Public Television

A Mini Documentary on The Regenerative Whole Health Movement Real People. Real Insights. Real Practitioners. Real Healing.

hosted by critically acclaimed actress Be Inspired.

Be Empowered.

Be Well.

KnoWEwell.com

MEG RYAN Join the Movement January 2026

47

FRANCHISE FRANCHISE OPPORTUNITY OPPORTUNITY

2026 NEW YEAR. NEW YOU!

Become the trusted voice and partner in your community while building a purpose-driven business—own a Natural Awakenings

® maga ine ranchise and connect conscious consumers

and values-aligned organi ations through a power ul print , digital, and community plat orm that promotes healthier people , a healthier planet , and sustainable local prosperity .

MAKE AN IMPACT IN YOUR COMMUNITY NEW MODEL.

NEW LOWER COSTS.

corp.naturalawakenings.com 48

Sarasota/Manatee Edition

www.nasrq.com

NEW OPPORTUNITIES.

239.206.2000