Whole-Body Recovery for the Season Ahead
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
• Nutrition and Aging
• Herbology and Botany
• Naturopathy
• Detoxification and Healing
• Ayurvedic Medicine
• Traditional Chinese Medicine
• Dietary Influences on Disease
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.
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 f rom Los Angeles to Sarasota Florida. I recovered f rom 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
3920 Bee Ridge Rd, Bldg D, Sarasota, Fl 34233
Connect ✤ Educate ✤ Support
Friday, February 6, 2026 8:30 am – Noon Harvest House Venue
Co-chaired by Paula Falk and Pam Polowski
Keynote Speaker Derrick DeSilva, Jr., M.D. Internal and Longevity Medicine
With two panel discussions of premiere local resources
Tickets on sale November 1st, $25
Purchase on SFC website www.friendshipcenters.org/special-events
For ticketing or sponsorship information, contact Georgann Nugent gnugent@friendshipcenters.org • 941-556-3216
Sponsor:
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© 2025 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.
With another holiday season in full-swing, it’s easy to feel swept up in the current of endless task lists and festivities, while still making time for year-end reflections. But in this issue of Natural Awakenings, we invite you to pause and prioritize self-care. As you gear up for these final two months of 2025, let us be your reminder to seek out harmony amidst all the celebrations, so you can move through this season with a balanced flow of energy and intention.
Let’s begin with our feature article, “The Burnout Reset: Whole-Body Recovery for the Season Ahead.” As fall becomes winter, this seasonal transition creates space to re-align with the innate wisdom of nature’s rhythms. Dismissing these natural cycles in favor of constant busyness can lead to chronic stress of burnout—but as this article points out, there’s a less hurried, more sustainable alternative. Practices such as mindful breathwork, gentle movement, and connection with the outdoors can help you restore balance during this hectic time of year.
While we’re on the subject of holistic stress management, this month’s “Healing Ways” article explores how rebalancing cortisol can boost energy levels, enhance sleep habits, increase mental clarity, and nurture peace of mind. When it’s in a state of balance, cortisol rejuvenates you in the morning, then helps you unwind in the evening. But chronic stress can throw off that cadence, resulting in inflammation, poor memory, fatigue, sleep disturbances, or low immune function. Fortunately, this article has you covered with tips to restore healthy cortisol.
It’s no secret that balanced health starts with nutrition. Our “Conscious Eating” article focuses on the important—but often overlooked—connection between blood sugar stability and both mental and physical well-being. The foods you consume (and when you eat them) can either cause or prevent glucose fluctuations. The more stable these glucose levels are, the less susceptible you’ll be to chronic fatigue or sharp mood swings. Balanced meals with whole-food ingredients and natural herbs such as moringa, cinnamon, and fenugreek can do wonders to stabilize blood sugar. If you want some inspiration, this article also features three delicious recipes—some of which would be right at home at a seasonal brunch or a holiday feast.
As we edge closer to the finish line of another year, there is no better time to refresh, restore, and re-center. In the midst of a season known for its busyness, let’s give ourselves permission to take deep breaths, slow the pace, cultivate margin in our daily routines, and embrace the moment we’re in instead of rushing into whatever comes next. We all deserve rhythms of balance and pockets of rest—no matter how full our schedules might be.
Natural Awakenings is printed on recycled newsprint with soy-based ink.
Therapeutic Massage combining Deep Tissue, Swedish, Reiki, PEMF, Far Infrared, Red Light
Each tailored session can bring EFFECTIVE, IMMEDIATE results for aches, pains and stress. Help minimize symptoms of frozen shoulder, sciatica, carpal tunnel, tennis elbow and neuropathy. Benefits include Pain Relief, Better Sleep, Improve Circulation, Boost Immune System and Stress Management.
Julie K. Glassco, LMT Myomassologist, Reiki Master, Yoga Teacher
A powerful new film, “Evidence of the Afterlife: Exploring the Proof, the People, and the Possibility of Life After Death,” will be shown at the Sarasota Center of Light on November 14, at 7 p.m. Produced by We Don’t Die Films and directed by Robert Lyon with co-producer Sandra Champlain, the 90-minute feature follows internationally acclaimed mediums Philip Dykes and Kerry McLeod as they travel across Europe, the United States, and Australia to explore whether human consciousness survives death.
This film captures intimate and emotional readings where names, memories, and personalities emerge with such precision that audiences are left asking the question, “How could they possibly know that?” Combining authentic human stories with real-time evidence, “Evidence of the Afterlife” invites both believers and skeptics alike to reflect on the themes of love, loss, and the enduring nature of life itself.
Location: 2710 Browning St., Sarasota. Cost: $10. For more information, call 941-953-6620, email ChurchOffice@SarasotaCenterOfLight. com, or visit SarasotaCenterOfLight.
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Upgrade your morning routine at Manatee Spirit Holistic Sound Studio’s “Manifest Abundance Morning Sound Meditation” on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays, from 10–11:30 a.m., through November 27. The cost to attend is $30 for one session, $50 for two sessions, or $80 for a package of four sessions.
Start the day with gentle stretches, breathwork, and a 60-minute sound meditation. Then, refuel with seasonal fruits, morning mocktails, and heart-connected connections. Activate your chakras with resonant frequencies. Harmonically align your mind, body, and soul. Expand your consciousness, while slowing your pace and basking in the theta state.
Manatee Spirit has many other courses and workshops coming up, too. A “Universal Wisdom and Meditation Course” will take place on November 4–6, from 7–8:30 p.m., both online and in-person. A “Sound Healing Course” will take place on January 20 and 22, from 6:30–9 p.m., at Manatee Spirit. A “Whole Food, Plant-Based, Oil-Free Course” will take place on January 10 and 17, from noon to 3:30 p.m., at Manatee Spirit. The cost to attend any of these workshops is $165. Manatee Spirit also offers a “Full Moon Sound Bath” on November 5 and December 4, from 7:30–9 p.m.
Manatee Spirit is a sanctuary-style sound healing studio located on a picturesque Florida canal in southwest Bradenton, FL, less than five miles from Anna Maria Island. Home of the Manatee Spirit “Ultimate 60-Minute Sound Bath.” For more information, call 941-201-0069, email Info@ManateeSpirit, or visit ManateeSpirit.com.
As the season of thanks unfolds, it’s helpful to remember that gratitude is more than just an emotion. Rather, it’s a daily practice that can shift our energy. When we focus on what matters, what is working, and who we appreciate, our frequency rises. Life starts to feel lighter, more peaceful, and more connected.
The team at Elysian Fields believes that gratitude is the highest frequency because it naturally attracts more love, joy, support, and abundance. This month, Elysian Fields invites you to create your own gratitude rituals. light a candle each morning and name three items you’re thankful for. Carry a small crystal-like citrine or rose quartz as a reminder of all your blessings. Write a note of appreciation to someone who’s made a difference in your life.
If you want to bring this practice into your home, Elysian Fields’ shelves are filled with items chosen to inspire both mindfulness and thankfulness, such as gratitude journals, candles, intention bracelets, or other meaningful trinkets and gifts.
Stop by to browse these shelves and let yourself be drawn to what feels right. Whether you’re choosing a token of appreciation for someone special or filling your space with positive energy, remember that each act of gratitude—whether large or small—can send a wave of healing out into this world.
Location: 1273 S Tamiami Trail, Sarasota. For more information, call 941-361-3006 or visit ElysianFieldsOnline.com.
Dr. Anna Baker, DOM, invites you to join her interactive anti-aging seminars via Zoom on November 12 and 21, 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).
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, Starfruit Lemon Jalapeno, 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.
In downtown Sarasota, The George stands out as a bohemian art house and boutique. Recently, this shop moved to a new location at 1960 Main Street, upstairs and across from Regal Hollywood Cinemas. Inside you’ll find eclectic clothing, unique home décor, and other unusual finds from across the globe. With its welcoming atmosphere and free-spirited vibe, The George attracts both Sarasota locals and tourists alike.
Owner Camilla Reid, a graduate of the Ringling College of Art, infuses her creative energy and international flair into every aspect of this boutique. The George offers
a diverse selection of resort, hippie, festival, and boho-chic fashion for all ages, with an emphasis on natural fibers and unique styles.
Offering the Most Innovative Produc ts and Proven Technologies available: Environ Signature Facials
Cool Lifting Glo2 Facials
Services and Treatments:
Facials and Skincare with Celecia Quinn
Massage or Acupunture with Steph Schmitz, (LMT: MA 80163, AP 4538)
Permanent Make Up with Marisa Nicola
Beyond clothing, The George is also a treasure trove of indoor and outdoor home décor. These funky finds from the gamut of whimsical artwork to intricate tapestries to artifacts sourced from various cultures and eras. Shoppers can browse mid-century modern furniture, cast-iron fountains, and other one-of-a-kind items to enhance their living spaces. These vintage items also come at affordable prices that customers love.
With a focus on creative expression and community, The George hosts fashion shows and other events as well. Stop in to connect with your personal essence, locate the perfect curated gift, and explore this world of eclectic artistry.
Location: 1960 Main St., Sarasota. For more information, call 941-277-3707 or visit TheGeorgeSarasota.com.
On December 4, from 6–7:30 p.m., Aquarian Sound Medicine will bring an immersive sound experience to The Bishop Planetarium—a full celestial ceremony held beneath the final supermoon of the year. This unique event will combine sacred sound, scalar energy, and starlit projection for an evening of transformational, vibrational harmony.
Started by Alissa Haggstrom, Aquarian Sound Medicine was born from a decade-long healing journey and deep recognition that energy is the most powerful medicine. Each intentionally crafted sound healing experience aligns with the energetic weather of the moment—drawing inspiration from astrology, numerology, human design, seasonal transitions, and collective rhythms.
Star Harmony Sound Medicine Ceremonies emerged from intuitive listening to the body, cosmos, and community to help folks reconnect with their inner resonance. These experiences have touched hearts across Sarasota and continue to expand through word of mouth at Kenshō Studio, Prana Yoga, Opt For Light, Cinde Carroll Studio, and special area events.
This breathtaking experience beneath the planetarium dome features crystal bowls, planetary gongs, and more, woven into a soundscape of light and vibration. Guests can also enjoy herbal tea, essential oils, and Zazen scalar energy provided by Opt For Light. Come realign, release, and restore this holiday season.
Location: 201 10th St. W, Bradenton. Cost: $55. Register now for a $44 early bird special through November 17. To secure a spot, visit AquarianSoundMedicine.com/Bishop. For more information, visit AquarianSoundMedicine.com or follow on Facebook and Instagram at @aquariansoundmedicine.
“Body,
Cosmic Center of Spiritual Light is excited to sponsor an enlightened, impactful “Body, Mind, and Spirit Expo” on November 22, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. This special event will feature extraordinarily gifted healers and a select group of renowned psychics, mediums, astrologers, and spiritual counselors of various modalities. Come join the Cosmic Center for a day full of transformative insights and spiritual guidance.
Location: 5041 Ringwood Meadow, Sarasota. For more information, call 941-371-9333, email CosmicCenterOSL@gmail.com, or visit BodyMindandSpiritExpo.com.
Licensed Massage Therapist Julie Glassco, MA99314, MM42624, offers customized therapeutic massages tailored to meet your unique, specific needs. From deep tissue bodywork for pain management and chronic muscle tension relief, to a lighter Swedish technique for relaxation and stress management, you can feel the benefits after just one session.
Whether you’re an athlete who wants to integrate muscular therapy to your routine or an older person who wants to increase energy levels, Glassco offers something for everyone. A few of the specific issues she works to alleviate include lower back pain, chronic neck tension, sciatica, frozen shoulder, neuropathy, and stress.
Glassco has a wealth of bodywork experience, having trained as a massage therapist, energy healer, and yoga instructor who draws from a variety of modalities and taps into the holistic mind-body connection. She received a massage therapy license from the Myomassology Institute, completed a Yoga Teacher Training from Lakshmi Rising, and has been a Master in Usui Tibetan Reiki for more than 15 years.
Location: 1188 N. Tamiami Trail, STE. 205F, Sarasota. To schedule an appointment, call or text 941-914-3645 or visit JulieGlassco.com.
Ritual Room Spa is proud to introduce Marisa Di Nicola as a licensed professional permanent makeup and multidisciplinary artist. Born and raised here in Sarasota, Di Nicola specializes in microblading, ombré brows, nano brows, and lip blush.
She enhances natural beauty through mindful, anxiety-free tattooing practices to create a welcoming environment where all are embraced. Using eco-friendly, sustainable tattoo supplies, she also minimizes environmental impact, while delivering stunning results. Di Nicola is passionate about her craft and plans to expand into paramedical tattooing, such as areola restoration and scar camouflage, to empower her clients with confidence.
Location: 2088 Hawthorne St., Sarasota. To book an appointment, call 941-203-6543 or visit RitualRoomSpa.com.
Researchers at the University of California San Diego and Dartmouth College used advanced brain imaging and artificial intelligence to study how various interventions influence the brain’s perception of pain. The 2025 study, published in Biological Psychiatry, analyzed data from two previous trials involving 115 healthy adults randomly assigned to one of four groups.
The mindfulness meditation group was taught breathwork and how to observe their thoughts and feelings without judgment. The sham-mindfulness group did not receive proper mindfulness instructions. The placebo cream group received a cream without active ingredients. The control group listened to an audiobook. Each group completed four, 20-minute sessions of their assigned activities, followed by brain scans while pain was applied to their leg. The researchers discovered that mindfulness meditation significantly reduced pain intensity and unpleasantness more than the other groups. Brain scans revealed that mindfulness meditation decreased activity in neural patterns associated with both physical pain and emotional response to pain.
These findings suggest that mindfulness meditation reduces pain by directly altering sensory and emotional pain processing in the brain, whereas the placebo effect changes pain expectations. Further research is needed to confirm that mindfulness meditation can produce similar results for people with chronic pain.
A recent study in The Lancet Planetary Health assessed air pollution exposure in more than 750 pregnant women in Barcelona, Spain, using neurosonography imaging to examine their baby’s fetal brain structure during the third trimester. Researchers measured the mothers’ exposure to nitrogen dioxide, fine particles and black carbon at home, work and during daily travel. Black carbon forms when fossil fuels, wood or biologic materials burn incompletely.
The study revealed that higher exposure to these pollutants was linked to changes in the shape and size of certain brain structures. Fetuses exposed to higher levels of black carbon had larger fluid-filled spaces in the brain, a larger cerebellum and a shallower fold in the brain known as the Sylvian fissure. These changes suggest slower or altered brain development. The study also found that fetal brains may be most sensitive to the effects of pollution during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy.
Pesticides disrupt endocrine function, potentially interfering with reproductive health. A 2018 study in JAMA Internal Medicine investigated the impact of pesticide exposure on pregnancy outcomes in women undergoing assisted reproductive technologies (ART) such as in vitro fertilization and sperm injection.
The study included 325 women that completed diet assessments and underwent 541 ART cycles over 10 years. Researchers discovered that women consuming more than 2.3 servings daily of highpesticide-residue vegetables had an 18 percent lower chance of clinical pregnancy and a 26 percent lower chance of live birth compared to those eating fewer than one serving daily of the same vegetables.
Remarkably, women consuming more high-pesticide-residue vegetables had lower pregnancy and live birth chances than those eating fewer servings of any vegetables, highlighting the need to consider pesticide content in foods, not just their nutritional value, when trying to conceive.
Welcome to Advanced Rejuvenation, Sarasota’s premier destination for those who seek the highest level of care in regenerative and performance medicine. This boutique medical center blends science and innovation to help you achieve unparalleled vitality, focus, and longevity, tailored to your individual needs and goals.
Led by a distinguished team of physicians and wellness experts, Advanced Rejuvenation was among the first in the nation to introduce stem cell and advanced biological therapies. Today, this clinic continues to redefine modern wellness through customized protocols that include stem cell therapy, PRP, Functional Cranial Release, hyperbaric oxygen, IV nutrient therapy, and pioneering metabolic approaches that use methylene blue and melatonin.
Elite athletes, entrepreneurs, and high performers from around the world trust Advanced Rejuvenation to restore balance and unlock their body’s full potential in a setting that feels more like a luxury retreat than a clinic.
On December 5, join Dr. John Lieurance, naturopathic physician and author of the book Methylene Blue: Magic Bullet, along with world champion freediver Stig Severinsen and special guest Rear Admiral Douglas Fears. These three experts will lead a workshop on “Breathwork, Performance, and Human Potential”. Discover techniques used by elite performers to strengthen the body, sharpen the mind, and transcend limits.
For those seeking the ultimate experience, you can also take part in an exclusive two-day VIP immersion with cutting-edge treatments and an intimate gourmet dinner with the speakers. Space is extremely limited, so reserve your spot now.
Location: 1014 North East Ave., Sarasota. For more information and to register, call 941-330-8553 or visit AdvancedRejuvenation.us.
Stem Cell and PRP
IV Therapy
StemWave
Functional Cranial Release
Ozone and Prolotherapy
Total Body Health Coaching (virtual or in-person)
Consultation to Assess the Best Course of Treatment for Your Health Needs ($199 value)
Our team of physicians and wellness experts are trusted by athletes, renowned biohackers, and high performers from around the world, and are dedicated to the advancement of regenerative medicine to provide top-quality care for your optimal well-being.
by Christina Captain, DAOM, Dipl. Ac., L.Ac.
Modern life asks us to do more, be more, and recover less. Between constant digital stimulation, financial pressures, global tensions, and emotional strain, the body’s internal “stress alarm system,” the adrenal glands, often never get a chance to turn off. Over time, this chronic activation can lead to what many integrative practitioners refer to as adrenal fatigue, a state of energy depletion, hormonal imbalance, and emotional burnout.
While mainstream medicine often labels these symptoms as “non-specific,” patients are all too familiar with the realities. They
wake up tired but wired, crave sugar or caffeine, gain excess fat in their midsections, or feel unable to rest or focus.
Fortunately, acupuncture offers a deeply restorative, evidence-informed approach to rebalance this system from the inside out. The adrenal glands sit like caps above each kidney, orchestrating some of the human body’s most vital functions. They release the stress hormone cortisol which regulates immune response, energy reserves, and blood sugar levels.
In moments of acute stress, cortisol rises to help us run from danger or tackle a deadline. But when the stress never stops, cortisol can remain elevated for too long. Over time, this taxes adrenal glands, leading to
a blunted or erratic cortisol rhythm, which contributes to fatigue, sleep issues, anxiety, and blood sugar instability. From a Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) lens, this picture reflects a deficiency of Kidney Qi and Essence, often intertwined with Liver Qi stagnation and Spleen Qi deficiency. These energetic imbalances mirror chronic stress, frustration, overthinking, and dietary irregularity.
In numerous studies, acupuncture has been shown to influence what is known as the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis. This neuroendocrine system governs cortisol production. When acupuncture needles stimulate specific points, the brain releases endorphins, serotonin, and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)—natural chemicals that calm the nervous system and restore balance to stress hormones.
Research also demonstrates that acupuncture can normalize cortisol levels—whether they are too high or too low—by promoting homeostasis. This adjustment helps the body regain its natural diurnal rhythm, which releases high cortisol levels in the morning to help energize you, then lowers the levels at night to allow for restorative sleep.
Furthermore, acupuncture improves blood flow to the adrenal glands and lowers sympathetic nervous system overdrive, allowing the parasympathetic “rest-and-digest” mode to take over. Patients often describe a sensation of “reset” after each acupuncture session, helping them feel clearer, calmer, and more centered.
The World Health Organization now officially recognizes burnout as an occupational phenomenon, characterized by exhaustion, cynicism, and lack of efficacy. It’s not just a mental state—burnout occurs in the hormones, the neurotransmitters, and the mitochondria as well. Chronic stress depletes essential nutrients like magnesium, B vitamins, and vitamin C, all of which are all vital for adrenal function.
One of the most overlooked links to adrenal fatigue is blood sugar instability. Cortisol works in tandem with insulin to keep blood glucose within a healthy range. However, when cortisol is high, insulin sensitivity drops, which can lead to cravings for
sugar or carbohydrates. This cycle will then cause mid-afternoon crashes, irritability, and weight gain. Over time, it can become even more destructive, often resulting in chronic blood sugar elevations— and ultimately, diabetes.
Acupuncture enhances glucose metabolism by improving cellular insulin sensitivity and reducing systemic inflammation. Studies report that it can also lower fasting glucose and A1C levels in folks with blood sugar dysregulation. In Traditional Chinese Medicine terms, this corresponds to harmonizing the Spleen and Stomach, preventing dampness and phlegm that manifest as low energy and metabolic imbalance.
Healing adrenal fatigue is not just about needles. Rather, it’s a comprehensive lifestyle recalibration. Acupuncture lays the foundation by resetting the body’s internal communication pathways. When paired with nutritional support, adaptogenic herbs, restorative sleep, and mindful movement, the results can be profound.
Acupuncture does not chase symptoms—it restores the body’s innate capabilities to adapt. By calming an overworked nervous system, nourishing reserves, and restoring cortisol rhythm, acupuncture offers an elegant solution for the modern epidemic of burnout.
Patients often report better sleep, steadier energy, and a renewed sense of vitality within a few sessions. Over time, these small shifts can accumulate into something transformative: a body that no longer runs on stress, but on balance. In a world that glorifies the constant act of doing, acupuncture gently reminds us that healing occurs in a state of being.
Dr. Captain is a highly skilled expert in the field of Acupuncture. She has performed over 200,000 patient treatments in her career which spans over two decades. In addition to lecturing and teaching across the country and globe, her practice in Sarasota serves as a training facility for healthcare practitioners all over the U.S. and internationally. Dr. Captain’s knowledge and enthusiasm for wellness has earned her a nationwide reputation as a qualified lecturer, keynote speaker, and expert teacher. For more information, visit ScanSRQ.com or call 941-951-1119.
Therapeutic ozone bonds with viruses, bacteria, mold, pesticides, parasites, metals, or anything that is toxic to the body and dissipates it on contact without any side-effects. Xavier Menard has been administering Ozone Therapy in a relaxing sauna cabinet, on a moderate temperature for 24 years.
52
Foot Bath
by Mary-Elizabeth Schurrer
It’s hard to access a passion and enthusiasm for life when you feel stuck in a cycle of relentless, constant pain. Dr. Andrew Hall knows this reality firsthand, having suffered from various chronic health problems in the aftermath of a traumatic spinal injury.
In search of healing to resolve the root causes of his pain—not just temporarily mask the issue—Dr. Hall came across the Blair Upper Cervical Technique. That encounter and its lasting impact on his own quality of life inspired Dr. Hall to make the treatment widely accessible to others. And that’s exactly what he has done for over 20 years.
Drawing from his experience in this transformative chiropractic modality, Dr. Hall shares how the Blair Upper Cervical Technique offers the kind of sustainable pain relief which leads to joyful living. I hope our conversation fills you with confidence that healing is possible.
Natural Awakenings: For anyone unfamiliar with the Blair Upper Cervical Technique, can you offer a brief explanation as to what this treatment modality entails?
Dr. Andrew Hall: The Blair Upper Cervical Technique is a highly
specialized form of chiropractic care that focuses on precise alignment of the top two bones in the neck—the atlas (C1) and axis (C2). These vertebrae protect the brainstem, which is the control center for all communication between the brain and the body.
Even the smallest misalignment in this area can distort this communication, resulting in symptoms of dysfunction. However, with the use of accurate image tools and gentle, tailored corrections, the Blair Technique restores structural balance and allows the nervous system to function optimally without forceful manipulations. The goal is not to make spinal regular adjustments—but rather, for this correction to “hold” in its aligned position, so that no further adjustments are required. This is how sustainable healing occurs.
NA: What are the most common sources of spinal injuries and chronic pain that you see, and how can these issues affect a person’s quality of life?
Dr. Hall: Most of the upper cervical misalignments stem from past trauma—such as car accidents, sports injuries, falls, or even birth trauma. However, chronic stress and postural issues can also contribute to misalignments over time.
When the spine is misaligned at the top, it forces the rest of the body to compensate. This can result in chronic pain, migraines, vertigo, fatigue, and a host of other health problems. These imbalances affect the nervous system, which means they can also diminish energy, mood, focus, and overall vitality, causing a person to feel as if they’re just living at half-capacity.
NA: What would you tell someone who has exhausted other chiropractic modalities or practitioners, but is hesitant to try the Blair Upper Cervical Technique?
Dr. Hall: It’s important to realize that not all chiropractic methods are the same. The Blair Technique stands apart from many others because it’s precision-based, image-informed, and highly personalized. Each adjustment is tailored to the patient’s exact anatomy, which means you will not have to settle for a one-size-fits-all approach.
Many of our patients come to us after several years of testing other methods without experiencing sustainable results. As such, they often find that treating the root cause— head-to-neck misalignment—finally helps their bodies heal. This technique is gentle, specific, and the results tend to speak for themselves.
NA: In your experience, how have you seen the results from this treatment method give folks a renewed sense of joyfulness and exuberance in their daily lives?
Dr. Hall: It is immensely rewarding to watch someone who has been living with pain, dizziness, brain fog, or other related symptoms regain their mental clarity, energy, and zest for life. I have seen patients who could not work, drive, or play with their kids finally be able to resume their normal routines. When the brainbody connection is restored, you don’t just feel better—you feel alive again. This transformation fuels everything we do.
I care about helping others truly heal, not just cope. So much of modern healthcare is focused on treating surface-level symptoms, rather than correcting root causes. The Blair Technique offers a means for the body to heal itself, both naturally and sustainably, without relying on medications or constant interventions. Watching someone’s entire health trajectory change because we corrected the source of dysfunction—that’s deeply fulfilling.
Dr. Andrew Hall is the lead practitioner at Sarasota Upper Cervical Chiropractic, where he performs the Blair Upper Cervical technique. He has specialized in this holistic modality for over 20 years, helping thousands of patients discover lasting pain relief and experience healthier lives. His practice is located at 3920 Bee Ridge Road, Building D, Suite 101, Sarasota. To schedule an appointment, call 941259-1891 or visit SarasotaUpperCervical.com.
by Dr. Fred Harvey
At Functional Medicine Florida, we understand that burnout is not only a mindset—it’s a metabolic condition. When the body experiences chronic stress, it shifts into survival mode. Cortisol, the primary hormone behind the stress response, becomes dysregulated, which harms your sleep, blood sugar levels, energy, immune function, and healthy aging. Fortunately, there is a solution, and it does not start with a prescription. Rather, it begins with awareness, then continues with consistent, gentle shifts in how you breathe, eat, move, and live. This is not about hacking the body—it’s about returning to nature’s innate design.
“Health truly is an inside job. By combining breath, light, food, movement, and mindful reflection, you can retrain your stress chemistry, stabilize blood sugar, and move from burnout back to balance—naturally, sustainably, and without prescriptions.”
— Thrival Series: Health is an Inside Job
1.Reclaim the Cortisol Curve
Your cortisol should rise sharply in the morning, then fall incrementally over the course of the day to promote a restful state at night. But in our modern culture of late nights, irregular meals, and constant stimulation, this natural curve gets flattened. This is why it’s crucial to track energy patterns, mood swings, and cravings. These indicators will offer insight as to whether your cortisol is spiking when it shouldn’t or failing to rise when it should.
2. Use Breath and Meditation to Reset the Nervous System
Meditation is not a trend—it’s biochemistry. Intentional breathwork, such as coherent breathing (five to six breaths per minute), stimulate the vagus nerve and shift the body out of fight-or-flight mode into a state of healing. Research confirms that 10
minutes of meditation practice, twice daily, can lower cortisol by as much as 30 percent. Yoga Nidra at bedtime or alternate-nostril breathing in the afternoon will balance the nervous system without medication.
3. Align Your Body Clock with Natural Light
The body’s internal circadian rhythm is sensitive to light. Early morning sun exposure activates a healthy rise in cortisol, allowing for increased energy levels and mental clarity. In the evening, it’s also important to avoid screens or harsh lights in order to raise melatonin levels and promote restorative, regenerative sleep. At our clinic, we often see significant decreases in insomnia and fatigue as a result of adjusting exposure to light at various points in the day.
4. Eat
Each bite of food you take sends a hormonal signal. When blood sugar fluctuates wildly from stress or poor diet, it exerts pressure on the adrenal system. In order to prevent this, start the day with a high-protein breakfast (about 20–30 grams of protein), then continue on with meals that combine protein, healthy fats, and fiber. Foods rich in magnesium and chromium—such as leafy greens, pumpkin seeds, and cacao— will gently support insulin sensitivity and minimize unhealthy food cravings as a result of elevated cortisol.
5. Move with Intention—Not Excess
Exercise is not a one-size-fits-all solution. Therefore, it’s helpful to focus on “therapeutic movement,” which is gentle, consistent, and in tune with the body’s current state. Zone 2 cardio exercises, such as fast walking or cycling, helps regulate blood sugar without overstimulating the adrenals. Combine this with at least two sessions of strength training each week for metabolic resilience. A short walk after meals can also lower blood sugar spikes by 30 percent.
6. Protect Your Own Inner Peace
Burnout recovery includes emotional hygiene. This means setting boundaries, only committing to what you can handle, and carving out time for joy. Laugh with friends, journal with gratitude, or unplug from screens—these simple but intention practices will increase oxytocin and endor-
phins, the body’s natural “anti-stress” molecules. Healing is not just about what you do, but also what you do not allow to drain your reserves.
7. Track, Reflect, Then Adjust as Necessary
Awareness is medicine. A simple daily log of sleep habits, meal timing, mood states, and energy levels can show patterns that blood tests can miss. These patterns allow you to make precise, customized adjustments. For those interested in deeper metrics, tools like heart rate variability (HRV) monitors or continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), can provide further insight.
At Functional Medicine Florida, we believe that healing does not start with prescriptions—it begins with awareness, alignment, and action. Burnout isn’t a sign of weakness, but rather a call from the body to recalibrate. By returning to these fundamentals, you can shift out of survival mode and back into balance. These are not temporary hacks. They are sustainable habits rooted in biology, then executed with intention.
Dr. Fred Harvey is the Medical Director of Functional Medicine Florida, where science meets personalized care. Quadruple board-certified in Internal Medicine, Geriatric Medicine, Functional Medicine, and Holistic-Integrative Medicine, Dr. Harvey brings decades of clinical insight to help patients recover from chronic illness, rebalance their systems, and thrive in each 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.
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by Eric Winder, D.C.
Relief for shin splint pain can be straightforward—but sometimes it requires professional help. This ailment of runners and walkers might simply be fixed with a change of shoes or a careful stretch routine. But other cases can be stubborn, continuing to hurt even with those adjustments. Let’s look at why pain from shin splints can persist and how it can be relieved.
Shin splints are caused by excessive force on both the lower leg muscles and their attachments. This results in micro-tears or inflammation, which can be intensely painful for
many hours after running or walking. The injured person might even feel pain when first starting to move in the morning, due to their muscles stiffening overnight. Many folks with shin splints must stop running while they heal, which can take anywhere from several weeks to months without the right intervention.
The cause of shin splints is often simple and can be easily resolved in many cases. For instance, a runner might realize that she jumped too quickly into a strenuous regimen on hard pavement. After taking a couple weeks off, buying shoes that are adequate for hard surfaces, and following a
more incremental training schedule, she can likely resume pain-free.
Meanwhile, another runner might learn that his shoes show a foot pronation wear pattern and start using shoe inserts to correct this pronation. Both of these examples illustrate the three most common, obvious causes of shin splints:
• Doing too much activity, too soon
• Running or walking extensively on hard surfaces with inadequate shoes
• Pronation, or collapsing of the ankle and foot arch
However, most shin splint patients I see have already tried correcting those problems. They improved their shoes, altered the pace of their training, took time off when necessary, and began to stretch before and after their workout routines—but they still have pain. In these cases, we need to look at other problems that cause excess strain of the leg muscles.
For these folks, I find there is generally an imbalance in the muscles of their lower back, hips, or thighs. These imbalances cause them to lose control of their joint alignment and stability while in motion, which forces their leg muscles to work harder, while compensating for the issue. This overstresses the leg muscles and results in painful shin splints. Let’s examine two distinct cases that illustrate the problem.
A patient, whom I will refer to as Tammy, had been a long-distance runner in high school, but experienced shin splint problems when she tried to resume running in her 30s. She thought the pain would resolve once her body acclimated to running, but it continued to worsen.
She took some time off, then tried to ease back into running at a slower pace, but still the pain persisted. She changed shoes, wore arch supports, and became a diligent stretcher—all to no avail. She was upset and frustrated to see how a form of ex-
ercise that had come so easily to her as a teenager could be so difficult now.
As it turned out, Tammy had tight hip flexor muscles and weak, underdeveloped glutes. This was not from a lack of stretching and exercise, but rather, due to restrictions in her lower back and hip areas in the connective tissue, called fascia. This tissue creates the position sense that allows for optimal muscle balance.
A series of treatments to release the restrictions, combined with low-level laser therapy to reduce inflammation and promote healing in the leg muscles, corrected the muscle imbalance. This allowed Tammy to resume running completely painfree in four weeks’ time.
A second patient, whom I will refer to as Michael, was a high school student whose track and field career was at risk due to intense shin splint pain. With the help of his team’s athletic trainer, he tried both the application of ice and stretching. He even
underwent more intense treatment with a physical therapist, but nothing could resolve the pain.
A teammate referred him to our office, and upon examination, it became clear the problem has not actually started in his legs. There was a serious imbalance between Michael’s overly tight quadriceps in the front of his thighs and underactive hamstrings in the backs of his thighs. However, the source of his problem was unusual.
The fascia restrictions that caused his imbalanced leg muscles were located in his neck, caused by mild whiplash in a car accident earlier that year. Neck posture can affect alignment in the rest of the body, so when we treated and released those neck restrictions, Michael’s thigh muscles relaxed in front and toned up in back, thus improving muscular balance and decreasing the force on his calf muscles.
As a result, we eliminated the lower leg stress that originally caused his shin splints. Over the next six weeks, Michael became entirely pain-free. Treating the base cause of the problem allowed this
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healing to occur even though Michael continued to run (and frequently win) in competitive meets during the entire course of treatment.
For those suffering from shin splints, it is important to first consider the obvious solutions. Find the correct pair of shoes, use inserts for ankle support if necessary, and slow the pace of training. However, if these simple fixes are not enough to offer a permanent solution, consider the possibility that restricted fascia is the root cause of your problem.
Fascia allows for position sense in the body, which makes muscular balance possible. When restricted, fascia can also be the source of muscular imbalance and pain. If you can’t resolve shin splints on your own, consult an expert in posture and muscular function who can also treat issues related to fascia restriction.
Eric Winder, D.C., uses gentle manual therapy and rehab techniques to help patients with a wide range of pain and injury problems. For more information, call 941-9578390 or visit Gentlebay.com.
by Hannah Tytus
It’s six o’clock in the evening, and the sun has already set. The body is whispering for a warm cup of tea and rest, yet the to-do list stretches on: emails and carpools, fundraisers and school practices, appointments and dinner still to be cooked. The desire for rest is overridden by our self-imposed need to get it all done. The colder season, however, brings an opportunity to shift how we see rest and productivity, inviting us to move in harmony with the cycles of nature.
“Our culture has fed us the myth that we can grow and achieve ceaselessly,” explains Kari Leibowitz, Ph.D., a psychologist, speaker, workshop facilitator and author of How to Winter. “The idea that this growth is linear and steady, with no breaks, is a
myth and a fantasy. So much of the winter woes and the burnout of the season comes from a mismatch between our natural rhythms, our expectations and the demands of the world. Winter is an invitation to slow down.”
As with every other living being, we are intimately connected to nature’s cycles. “We are animals, and we live on a planet. And almost every other living thing on this planet changes its behavior with the seasons,” observes Leibowitz. “Because we have electricity, artificial light and calendars, we have deluded ourselves into thinking that we can—and should—maintain
the same routines and productivity levels year-round.”
This spirit of connectedness is echoed by Shamini Jain, Ph.D., adjunct professor at the University of California San Diego, founder of the Consciousness and Healing Initiative, and author of Healing Ourselves: Biofield Science and the Future of Health. “When we own that we’re part of a universe that has its ebbs and flows, we pay attention to the seasons,” she notes, adding that Indigenous medicine and wisdom have long honored natural cycles, seeking to answer the same question we ask ourselves today: “How can I show up and be most efficient in my service?”
This ancient orientation toward seasonal rhythms is not just a philosophical concept. Anthropological studies suggest that our ancestors likely slept more in the cooler months, falling asleep soon after sunset and rising before dawn. They got the most sunlight in the morning, aligning their body’s cycles with temperature and light cues provided by nature. Contrast this with modern life, where we stay active well after dark, are exposed to sleep-disrupting blue light, wake with alarms and regulate our environment with thermostats that erase natural temperature shifts. By structuring our lives around modern demands, we resist nature’s rhythms. The result, says Jain, is chronic stress, fatigue and burnout.
As autumn transitions into winter and the holidays approach, many of us face greater demands to cook, shop, perform, travel or coordinate complex schedules, yet our resources of time and energy remain the same—or even ebb—as daylight hours shorten and our bodies naturally slow down and produce less vitamin D because of a decrease in sunlight exposure.
“Whenever demands exceed resources, we become stressed,” says Dr. Sharon Grossman, physician and author of The Burnout Solution. Chronic stress has a cumulative effect on our bodies, causing what is known as an allostatic overload, which, according to Yale Medicine, can lead to emotional exhaustion, cynicism, detachment, reduced creativity, brain fog, disrupted sleep, physical aches and pains, or even social withdrawal.
“We often think of stress as a thing that lives ‘out there’, but stress is actually an internal perception that we have. It’s not always about the circumstances themselves; it’s about what you’re telling yourself about the circumstances that creates the stress,” explains Grossman.
A 2016 study in Anxiety, Stress, & Coping examined the effects of altering our perspective on stress. Participants were encouraged to see it as a potential source of energy and resilience, rather than harmful. Those that applied this change in mindset reported better moods, enhanced cognitive performance and healthier physiological responses during a stressful task.
Try this psychological exploration: Identify limiting beliefs by journaling about the specific fears and guilt that come with saying “no” to a request for help. Next time someone asks for something, politely decline and observe the outcome. Check if expectations of conflict or hurt were unfounded. This approach challenges limiting assumptions and helps us set healthier boundaries, thereby reducing stress and enhancing emotional well-being.
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We often have countless ideas about how we should behave, and many of these beliefs hold us back. Grossman emphasizes that every “yes” adds to our demands. “If you’re going to say ‘yes’, understand why you’re saying it,” Grossman cautions. “It should serve a purpose, because our resources are limited.” In practical terms, we have to either lower the demands we accept or increase our resources, such as time or support, to meet them.
For Leibowitz, setting boundaries becomes easier when guided by values. If we want Thanksgiving to feel lighthearted and memorable, that might mean skipping elaborate dishes, accepting a less-than-perfect home and prioritizing rest so we can be present and joyful.
When a new request comes in, pause and reflect on how it aligns with personal values. Consider whether we are acting out of pressure. Release such commitments to make room for a new, better-aligned invitation.
Simple breathing practices can profoundly calm the nervous system. “The point is to breathe—nice inhales, long exhales—and in letting out a long exhale, make a sigh of relief,” Jain advises, suggesting that sounds like “ooo” or “ahh” during exhalation enhance emotional release.
Just five minutes of intentional breathing can make a measurable difference. Studies have demonstrated that longer exhales stimulate the vagus nerve, activating the rest-and-digest system, while calming the fight-or-flight response. This reduces heart rate and blood pressure and signals the brain to relax.
Try this breathing exercise: Sit or recline comfortably. Inhale gently through the nose, then exhale through the mouth, allowing sound to escape—this can be a sigh, a groan or a vowel tone. With each round, allow the exhale to lengthen naturally, releasing tension.
According to Jain, “Singing, whether by yourself or in groups, helps harmonize the body’s rhythms, decreases inflammation and activates the nervous system’s rest-and-digest response.” A 2016 study by London researchers, published in ecancermedicalscience, demonstrated that just one hour of group singing reduced stress and improved mood, with saliva tests indicating lower levels of cortisol (the body’s main stress hormone) and changes in immune markers associated with resilience.
Bringing the benefits of song can be as simple as singing or humming a tune while washing dishes, showering or driving to work. Knowing the lyrics isn’t necessary; the vibrations alone create a positive resonance in the body.
Every breath we take is a dance between humans and plants. The
oxygen they expel fuels us, and our exhaled carbon dioxide sustains them. This exchange is part of the deep bioelectric communication connecting us to the natural world.
“Fresh air, movement and connecting with nature are all natural antidepressants. Even a few minutes outside can be a powerful way to shift your experience,” says Leibowitz. A 2016 review of 52 Japanese studies found that spending time in nature measurably relaxes the body. Being around forests, plants or green spaces calms the nervous system, improves brain function, balances hormones and strengthens the immune system.
Try this outdoor palliative: Find a patch of earth and stand barefoot. With eyes closed, imagine releasing the day’s energies down into the ground. After a few breaths, visualize energy flowing back up, reinvigorating the body.
Mind-body-spirit practices offer powerful ways to find inner serenity. “They are effective in harmonizing the nervous system, reducing inflammation and opening our connection with heaven and Earth,” asserts Jain. Tai chi and qigong, which blend flowing movements with focused attention, breath and relaxation, have been shown in studies to pacify the overactive sympathetic nervous system and promote deep relaxation. Yoga offers similar effects. A 2020 review of 12 studies with nearly 675 healthy adults found consistent reductions in perceived stress, confirming yoga’s power to ease everyday tension.
Practicing these modalities under the guidance of a professional helps reduce risk of injury. Look for a tai chi, qigong or gentle yoga class in the community. Many studios offer a free first class or sessions in a local park.
In a culture that glorifies hustle, reclaiming rest is an act of healing. Jain asserts, “We can move through the winter of our mind and body, allowing it to deeply rest so that when spring comes, we can move forward with more energy—for the right things, as opposed to everything.” Nature offers a model for this wisdom. Although the natural world seems to be still in winter, vital work occurs beneath the surface. Just as fruit trees need a cold dormancy period to bloom again, we also require periods of quiet renewal. Our cycles of stillness are as essential to growth, creativity and productivity as our cycles of action.
Rest is more than sleep; it is a way of tuning in. “When we slow down, it’s not just about regeneration,” explains Jain. “It’s about listening to the body’s wisdom, slowing down enough to access deeper intuitions and guidance about our next steps.” Our cycles of rest serve as a teacher. By slowing down, we gain the wisdom, focus and resilience to fully embrace a life renewed.
Hannah Tytus is an integrative health coach, researcher and content creator for KnoWEwell, P.B.C., as well as a former writer at the National Institutes of Health.
by Marlaina Donato
Approximately 34 to 36 million people in the United States live with Type 2 diabetes, yet many cases go undiagnosed. Additionally, about 88 million individuals have prediabetes, a reversible condition marked by higher blood sugar levels that have not yet reached diabetic status. Glucose stability is crucial for everyone and can be the root cause of symptoms like low energy (especially in the afternoon), mood swings, increased belly fat, food cravings, brain fog, hormonal imbalances and loss of libido.
Fluctuating blood sugar levels affect all of us, especially after high-carb meals or skipping meals. Our diet directly influences our metabolic processes. By choosing nutrient-dense foods, replacing high-sugar and high-carbohydrate snacks with healthier options and timing meals wisely, we can achieve balance. Incorporating blood sugar-stabilizing spices and herbs into daily meals can also have a positive impact.
“Because glucose is a crucial fuel of the brain and body, there are many backup systems and ways to create glucose,” explains Iginio Stoppa, a naturopathic doctor at Sonoran University of Health Sciences, in
Tempe, Arizona. “The absorption of glucose from our food, the production of glucose mainly from the liver and the breakdown of the storage form of glucose called glycogen is what contributes to what we see as blood sugar.” Stoppa also notes that we may notice when our blood sugar is off. Low blood sugar, for example, is often felt through symptoms like anxiety, weakness, tingling, sweating and palpitations.
“Everyone experiences natural rises and dips throughout the day. Skipping meals, leaning on caffeine for energy, eating a lot of refined carbohydrates or grabbing quick, processed snacks can all cause sharp spikes, followed by sudden crashes,” says Jennifer Ribaudo, a clinical herbalist, educator and owner of Desert Moon Botanicals, in Gilbert, Arizona.
It is advisable to avoid high carbohydrate and sugary foods, especially in the morning or before bed. Instead, opt for complex carbohydrates like lentils, beans, sweet potatoes and oats to provide essential macronutrients and prevent glucose spikes. Sonoran University recommends eating certain foods in a specific order, such as eggs or avocado before bread and roasted vegetables with olive oil before pasta, to manage glucose levels.
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This is a perfect late-autumn breakfast or snack with protein, healthy fats and complex carbohydrates.
YIELD: 1 SERVING
½ cup organic rolled oats
1 Tbsp ground flaxseeds
¼ cup organic, unsweetened peanut, almond or sunflower butter
1 to 2 Medjool dates, finely chopped
¾ cup unsweetened coconut, almond or soy milk
½ tsp vanilla extract
½ tsp powdered Ceylon cinnamon
Place all ingredients in a bowl or Mason jar and stir well. Store overnight in the refrigerator for cold oats or on the counter for room-temperature oats in the morning.
Recipe courtesy of Marlaina Donato.
Jacqui Garrison, a San Diego-based health coach, suggests eating most calories before dinner and having an earlier, lighter evening meal to reduce overnight blood sugar spikes that can negatively affect sleep quality. She recommends 30 to 40 grams of clean protein per meal; if animal protein is included, five ounces or the size of a loose fist is ideal. Aim for two servings of leafy greens, colorful veggies or whole fruit per meal, equivalent to half the plate or two open hands. Add one to two thumb-sized portions of healthy fats such as avocado, olive oil or nuts to complete the meal.
For snacks, Garrison suggests a hard-boiled egg or hummus with a handful of carrots, a cup of edamame in the pod or nitrite-free turkey slices in the afternoon. For an evening boost, she recommends “something light and protein-forward like half a cup of cottage cheese with cinnamon and berries.”
Stoppa supports high-quality protein and naturally low-glycemic index foods like wild blueberries, blackberries and chickpeas, which provide polyphenols and saponins that slow glucose absorption.
Ribaudo emphasizes that blood sugar-supportive herbs can smooth out fluctuations. “Using herbs for blood sugar balance doesn’t have to be complicated. A little cinnamon can be stirred into oatmeal, blended into a smoothie or sprinkled into roasted vegetables or beans. Fenugreek seeds work beautifully in soups, curries and lentil dishes, while moringa leaf powder blends smoothly into salad dressings, sauces or soups.”
Ribaudo also recommends Gymnema sylvestre tincture for pancreatic support and long-term glucose balance, making sugary foods less tempting. Stress-reducing holy basil (tulsi) tea is beneficial during afternoon slumps. She stresses the importance of consulting a professional, especially for those on blood sugar-lowering medications or prone to hypoglycemic dips, as effects can accumulate.
Marlaina Donato is an author, painter and composer. Connect at WildflowersAndWoodSmoke.com.
by Hannah Tytus
Cortisol, the body’s main stress hormone, plays several important roles in human physiology. Produced by the adrenal glands, this multifunctional messenger operates on a 24-hour clock, peaking in the moments just before waking from sleep in the morning, slowly tapering off throughout the day and returning to low levels at night to support rest.
When in balance, cortisol helps regulate inflammation, blood pressure and blood glucose, allowing the body to adapt to life’s changing demands. This rhythm is intimately connected to the circadian rhythm, or sleep-wake cycle. But when sleep is irregular or stress becomes chronic, cortisol levels can fall out of sync—too high at night, too low in the morning or fluctuating unpredictably.
“Stress is neither good nor bad. It gets us out of bed in the morning. Cortisol is part of that natural rhythm,” says Dr. Sharon Grossman, a burnout recovery strategist and author of The Burnout Solution. “When cortisol becomes imbalanced, it can affect memory, sleep and even immune function. The key is to find the sweet spot.”
Shamini Jain, Ph.D., an adjunct professor
at the University of California San Diego, founder and president of the Consciousness and Healing Initiative, and author of Healing Ourselves: Biofield Science and the Future of Health, explains, “If we have dysregulated cortisol rhythms because we don’t have regular sleep, or we have too much stress and we’re not handling the origins of the stress, then we could create chronic inflammation in the body, and we could have mental health issues as a result.”
The seasons affect our circadian rhythm. The sleep-wake cycle becomes more stable in autumn and winter, with longer time spent in bed, slightly more total sleep time and higher daytime activity compared to warmer months. While cooler weather often encourages more rest, it can also intensify feelings of sluggishness if cortisol and sleep cycles are not aligned. Jain recommends these simple practices that help keep cortisol and circadian rhythm in balance, even as the seasons change.
• Stick to a consistent sleep schedule. Going to bed and waking at the same times each day helps the body reset. Ayurvedic wisdom, the ancient science of life originating in India, recommends being asleep before 10 p.m. and rising before 6 a.m. to align with the body’s natural cycles.
• Create wind-down rituals. Just as children benefit from bedtime routines, adults can cue the body for rest through calming activities like reading, journaling or reflecting on the day’s positive aspects.
• Establish bedroom boundaries. Reserve the bedroom for sleep and intimacy and practice a digital detox in the evening to reduce stimulation. Avoiding blue light
from screens before bed allows melatonin, a sleep hormone, to rise naturally. “But it’s not just about the light,” Jain points out. “It’s about the activation of the mind. Consider a book instead.”
• Add simple relaxation practices. A warm foot soak or shower before bed, deep breathing exercises or restorative yoga asanas like waterfall pose can prepare the body for rest.
• Curb caffeine. Limiting caffeine in general, and particularly after noon, can help ensure a more restorative sleep.
• Start the morning well. Exposure to natural sunlight shortly after waking can reset the circadian rhythm, prompting alertness and energy.
Certain supplements, herbs and lifestyle swaps can help calm the nervous system and prepare the body for restorative slumber.
• Magnesium Glycinate: This highly absorbable form of magnesium is gentle on the stomach and has been shown to improve both the quality and onset of sleep.
• Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid (GABA): Supplementing with this inhibitory neurotransmitter may ease an overactive mind before bed.
• Beverage Swaps: Replacing late-day coffee with alternatives such as herbal tea, a mushroom-based latte or ginseng can reduce cortisol spikes that interfere with sleep.
• Herbal Allies: Adaptogens like ashwagandha help modulate cortisol levels, while calming herbs such as chamomile or passionflower promote relaxation and better sleep quality.
Incorporating these strategies can help synchronize cortisol rhythms and encourage deep, restorative sleep. As the days grow shorter and colder, honoring the body’s natural rhythm becomes even more important. Slow down, embrace rest, and work with the cycles of light and dark.
Hannah Tytus is an integrative health coach, researcher and content creator for KnoWEwell, P.B.C., as well as a former writer at the National Institutes of Health.
by Maya Whitman
As winter draws near and we seek refuge indoors, many of us notice a dip in physical energy and emotional well-being. Houseplants offer more than aesthetic appeal in our homes and workplaces; they rebalance our indoor environments and foster inner calm. Whether it’s a lush philodendron cascading from a bookcase or an elegant orchid on a coffee table, plants infuse life into any space.
With a variety of colors, sizes and maintenance levels, a green thumb isn’t required to create inviting, mood-lifting corners of greenery. Caring for plants can be an enjoyable, calming and uplifting experience, but simply being around them enhances our well-being. Research indicates that spending time with houseplants lowers levels of the stress hormone cortisol, reduces worry and improves post-surgical outcomes in hospital patients.
Indoor plants transform the ambience wherever they are placed. “Their presence alone lifts mood. My home feels softer, calmer and more alive when plants are around me in winter. Even one thriving plant in your space can shift the energy,” says Dana Carpenter, a horticultural advisor and founder of the Fancy Plants Club,
an online resource for successful houseplant management.
Plants add moisture to dry indoor air, benefiting skin and respiratory health during the cold season. Varieties with broad, large leaves have a greater humidifying effect. For lush appeal and moisturizing benefits, choose dracaena, ficus benjamina, philodendron, peace lily, areca and bamboo palms. A 2005 study presented to the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology suggests that English ivy is ideal for allergy sufferers because of its potential to reduce airborne mold spores.
“Plants are sensory by nature and stimulate the senses through touch, sight, sound, smell and taste,” says Alicia Green, a horticulturist and coordinator of Buehler Enabling Garden at the Chicago Botanic Garden. “Tending to a plant also subtly promotes a sense of responsibility and accountability that can contribute to emotional grounding.”
Carpenter agrees, stating, “When I am watering, pruning or just checking on my plants, my senses are engaged as I notice the texture of the leaves, the smell of soil,
even the sound of water trickling. Caring for my plants offers a natural break in the rhythm of my day.”
Plants provide solace for those that find the colder months challenging, particularly individuals with seasonal affective disorder. “In the winter, when the light feels scarce and the days drag, even one corner filled with a few thriving plants, a cozy chair and maybe a grow light disguised as decor can change the energy of a room,” Carpenter reflects. “Just sitting near your green zone with tea in the morning turns it into a place you look forward to, especially during gray months.”
Plants add comfort, warmth and support in spaces where we practice mindful meditation, prayer or yoga. Beautiful blooms beside photographs of loved ones celebrate happy memories. A group of plants in varying shades can transform a cozy reading nook, enliven a kitchen corner, add vibrance to a kids’ playroom or lend an exotic touch to a sunny bathroom.
Choosing the right plants that fit our individual lifestyles makes it easy to follow our bliss. “Snake plant tolerates very low light and can be placed in almost any room with a window. It also has very low watering requirements, thus making it a very low-maintenance houseplant,” advises Green. “Pothos and peace lily can also be placed away from a window, as they are very tolerant of low light.”
Green also recommends using flowering plants such as amaryllis bulbs during winter months to add color to a room, and she encourages novice indoor gardeners to consider succulents and phalaenopsis orchids for their beauty and low-water requirements. Festive-blooming cyclamen is also a favorite for its tendency to thrive in autumn and winter.
According to Carpenter, all plants are joyful additions to the home, including fragrant herbs on a windowsill. “Brushing your hand across rosemary releases that fresh, grounding scent, which feels especially comforting when the world outside is cold and bare.”
Maya Whitman is a frequent writer for Natural Awakenings.
The Thanksgiving table offers a feast of our favorite dishes to share with loved ones, but this annual gathering can lead to food waste, increased energy use, more national travel and other unsustainable excesses. With some planning and simple adjustments, we can make the holiday more environmentally conscious. Reducing our carbon footprint is the best way to show our gratitude to Mother Earth.
• Assign others to bring specific dishes and remind them to use reusable containers for leftovers.
• Shop for seasonal produce and meats at nearby stores and farmers markets to minimize food travel.
• For turkey or other meats, choose pasture-raised and certified-humane options.
• For plant-based eaters, consider a savory lentil loaf, vegan bisques and satisfying baked squashes, including pumpkins stuffed with quinoa and roasted vegetables.
• Avoid packaged foods and make some things from scratch, such as quick baking-powder biscuits.
• To reduce food waste, save produce scraps such as the outer layers and ends of onions, carrot bits, celery leaves, mushroom stalks and herb stems to make vegetable broth for soups and gravies.
• Set the table with cloth napkins and reusable tableware.
• Inform guests of the recycling bin’s location.
• Drive on off-peak days for less stress, quicker transit and less fuel wasted sitting in traffic. Consider taking a train or
bus instead of flying or driving.
• When driving, bring reusable containers and water bottles for snacks and beverages.
• Decorate the table with leaves and dried plants from the yard, baskets of real grapes and other fruits, or beeswax candles.
• Express gratitude to each guest around the table for joining the celebration and for the qualities that make them special.
• Volunteer at a local food pantry or community Thanksgiving meal.
• Freeze leftovers, including soup, stuffing and desserts for subsequent meals and snacks.
• Pack up a generous plate or two for a neighbor, single mom or friend.
by Jordan Peschek, RN-BSN
In today’s fitness landscape, recovery extends beyond rest days. Holistic therapies are revolutionizing the way we approach physical restoration by integrating mental clarity, emotional resilience and energetic balance. From ancient techniques to cutting-edge innovations, these modalities offer comprehensive support for restoring harmony to body and mind. Selecting the best modality depends on personal preference and availability. Here are some popular recovery techniques.
Sauna Therapy: Infrared and traditional saunas can reduce inflammation; improve oxidative stress; alleviate pain, stiffness and muscle soreness; and improve perceived readiness or recovery time. In addition to its benefits for recovery, research suggests that regular sauna therapy may reduce high blood pressure and the risk of heart disease, stroke and neurocognitive diseases.
Contrast Therapy: Exposing the body to alternating hot and cold temperatures, such as sauna therapy followed by a plunge in a cold-water bath, has become a staple in many athletic and integrative wellness settings. A 2023 systemic review published in PLoS One
found that contrast water therapy significantly reduces muscle soreness.
Massage Therapy: Regular massages can support athletic performance. A 2020 systemic review and meta-analysis in BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine involving more than 1,000 participants in 29 studies reported that massage improves flexibility and delays muscle soreness. It also benefits emotional well-being by lowering stress and anxiety while improving mood and self-image.
Self-Myofascial Release: This technique uses foam rollers to massage the fascia—the connective tissue that wraps around muscles and organs. A 2024 review of 25 articles, conducted by researchers in Spain, found it improves flexibility and range of motion, decreases muscle soreness and enhances perceived recovery.
Chiropractic Care: This modality includes spinal manipulation, joint mobilization and soft tissue techniques to manage the health of athletes and non-athletes. By focusing on the musculoskeletal system, chiropractic adjustments promote optimal function and pain relief, while reducing muscle stress. This type of care is effective in treating common conditions, such as lower back pain, muscle
strain and joint dysfunction, caused by fitness activities. Chiropractic care and spinal manipulation also support the regulation of the autonomic nervous system to ease depressive symptoms.
Acupuncture: A pillar of traditional Chinese medicine, acupuncture uses fine needles to stimulate energy points along the body’s meridians, decreasing muscle soreness and tension while increasing muscle activation to prevent injury. “Acupuncture helps relieve inflammation by lowering the levels of oxidative stress in the body,” explains Ayako Mizuno, a doctor of acupuncture and oriental medicine in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin. “It also stimulates the nervous and endocrine systems, which can help create calming and relaxing effects that reduce stress.”
Float Therapy: Also known as sensory deprivation, flotation involves a tank filled with magnesium-rich Epsom salt water, allowing the body to float effortlessly, free from external stimulation. This results in deep physical and mental relaxation. A 2024 randomized controlled study found that multiple sessions of float therapy were well-tolerated, safe for anxious and depressed individuals, and induced positive emotional experiences in individuals with anxiety and depression.
Compression Garments: These specialized elastic garments apply consistent, firm pressure to a body area to improve circulation, reduce inflammation and support recovery. A 2017 New Zealand meta-analysis found that compression garments benefited strength recovery following exercise. A 2022 study in Scientific Reports found that compression tights worn after exercise enhanced blood flow and recovery. Another systemic review and meta-analysis in 2025 concluded that these garments reduced the decline in muscle strength after exercise-induced muscle fatigue.
These therapies support the body’s natural healing abilities while honoring the deep connections between physical health, emotional regulation and energetic alignment. Integrating one or more of them may enhance physical recovery, emotional well-being and vitality. Listen to the body’s needs and explore the modalities that resonate most.
Jordan Peschek has a background in personal training, yoga instruction and mental health nursing. She publishes the Milwaukee and Twin Cities editions of Natural Awakenings.
by Christina Connors
Mornings set the tone for a child’s entire day. When rushed or chaotic, they can cause stress, fatigue and difficulty focusing in school. By using simple, intentional routines, mornings can become a source of grounding, positivity and energy, helping kids feel calm, nourished and mentally prepared for the day ahead.
Research confirms what many parents intuitively know: Consistent routines significantly impact a child’s development. “Morning routines create rhythm and predictability, which lower stress and help kids feel safe,” says Dr. Joel Warsh, an integrative pediatrician in Los Angeles. “A calm start sets the tone for better focus, mood and energy throughout the school day.”
A 2024 systematic review published in the Journal of Family Theory & Review found that childhood routines are linked to improved cognitive ability, self-regulatory and executive function skills, enhanced social and emotional skills, and better academic outcomes.
The morning meal is vital for sustaining vitality and focus throughout the school day. To stabilize blood sugar and support steady energy, Warsh recommends combining protein, healthy fats and fiber, such as eggs with avocado, chia pudding with berries or a smoothie
with spinach and nut butter. This nutritional approach aligns with research showing that proper breakfast consumption directly impacts classroom behavior and academic performance, with students demonstrating improved attention and participation when well-nourished.
Incorporating gentle movement into morning routines achieves more than physical activity. “Short bursts of movement like stretching, yoga or dancing help release nervous energy and signal to the body that it’s time to focus. They also regulate mood and attention,” notes Warsh.
But too much too quickly may not have the desired effect. “Movement will get the blood moving and support in transitioning. But I wouldn’t go from no movement to awake to ‘let’s hustle’. The shift cognitively can become overwhelming,” advises Dr. Isaura González, a clinical psychologist and educator. She suggests a gradual approach, using an alarm with lighting options that slowly transition from dark to bright, and soothing music that supports the nervous system, rather than overstimulating it.
Successful mornings begin the night before. “Good sleep hygiene is the foundation for calm mornings,” emphasizes Warsh. “When
kids sleep enough, their mood, focus and cooperation improve dramatically. Set out clothes, prep breakfast, pack lunches and keep backpacks by the door. These small steps prevent chaos and free up space for connection in the morning.”
Organizing a child’s activities takes this preparation further. “Getting a calendar with the month’s school activities is crucial. You don’t want to miss the green T-shirt day, and then we have a meltdown,” says González. She suggests placing a calendar in a common area such as on the refrigerator so children can independently reference upcoming events.
Sustainable morning routines thrive on cooperation, rather than forced compliance. “Add playfulness and use music, countdowns or games to get tasks done,” recommends Warsh. “Kids are more engaged when mornings feel fun, rather than rushed.”
Involve children in routine creation. “Empowerment is the long game. By doing this, you are scaffolding the behavior, letting them do with your support,” adds González. “Children will often surprise even the most involved parent when you include them in asking for their ideas. As they grow, they will need less and less support, and that’s okay because they will always need you.”
When developing a routine, ensure that it adapts to the child’s age and developmental stage. Warsh offers a simple template: “Wake up, open blinds for morning sun, make the bed, brush teeth, get dressed and eat a nourishing breakfast. End with a hug as you head out the door.”
Both experts agree that successful morning routines require patience and creativity, but the investment pays off in a child’s daily energy, mood and school readiness. With a little effort, families can transform their mornings from sources of stress into launching pads for successful, joyful days.
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.
by Ruth Roberts, DVM, CVA, CVH, CVFT, NAN
Virtual care, including online consultations with licensed veterinarians and wellness professionals, has become essential in modern pet health. While many pet parents are familiar with telemedicine, teleadvice is less understood. Comprehending their differences and limitations is important.
The American Veterinary Medical Association defines telemedicine as patient-specific medical care delivered by licensed veterinarians with an established veterinarian-client-patient relationship, which typically requires an in-person examination before a veterinarian can legally diagnose, prescribe or treat via virtual platforms. It complements in-person care, merging professional expertise with convenience.
Through telemedicine, veterinarians can diagnose common health concerns, recommend treatments, prescribe medications where permitted by law and provide follow-up care for ongoing conditions. Everyday issues such as skin irritations, minor allergies, digestive upsets, appetite changes and certain behavioral questions can often be addressed in a video consultation, giving pet owners reassurance
and a clear plan of action. For animals with chronic conditions, virtual check-ins provide a stress-free way to monitor progress without frequent clinic visits.
Telemedicine services are most trusted and valued when delivered by a familiar veterinary provider. A 2024 randomized, controlled clinical trial in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association found that pet owners are highly satisfied with telemedicine conducted by their regular veterinarian and prefer video-based recheck examinations after routine procedures. These findings support earlier research in Preventive Veterinary Medicine indicating that pet owners are willing to pay for telemedicine services provided by their own veterinarian.
Any consultation with non-veterinary professionals or pet health experts is considered teleadvice. It is educational, offering guidance such as encouraging annual wellness exams, promoting year-round parasite prevention or supporting better nutrition and lifestyle choices. While it can enhance a pet’s well-being, teleadvice does not involve diagnosing, prescrib-
ing or treating an animal.
Complementary teleadvice can add real value to a pet’s well-being, especially when delivered by certified professionals. Recent research in Frontiers in Veterinary Science demonstrated how video appointments improved cat parents’ understanding of their pet’s chronic mobility challenges and the application of at-home management strategies. Many pet health coaches deliver their services exclusively through online platforms. These virtual sessions can guide pet parents through dietary planning, safe exercise routines or stress reduction strategies.
Laura Muzal, a holistic intuitive animal practitioner and certified holistic pet health coach, offers virtual consultations focused on nutrition, lifestyle support and energy work. “Meeting with pet parents virtually allows me to understand their concerns in real time, support them from anywhere and help them create simple, practical steps they can follow at home to support their animal’s well-being,” she says.
From the pet parent perspective, online consultations can still be done with compassion while providing ample time to explain strategies and answer questions. Muzal says that pet parents describe feeling more confident and empowered to address their pet’s recurring health concerns after their virtual sessions. She also gets feedback that pet parents find their pets are calmer and more balanced with online meetings.
With the convenience of virtual consultations comes the responsibility to stay informed. Not every professional offering advice online operates under the same legal or ethical framework. Before booking any virtual consultation, pet parents must confirm who they are speaking with and under what authority they operate. Verifying whether the provider is a licensed veterinarian or a certified pet health expert helps ensure the advice given is appropriate and trustworthy. This clarity allows pets to receive the right care from the right expert at the right time. Ruth Roberts is an integrative veterinarian and a holistic health coach for pets, as well as the creator of The Original CrockPet Diet. Learn more at DrRuthRoberts.com.
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SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 2
Cosmic Center the Complete Ascension Manual: How to Achieve Ascension in this Lifetime by Joshua David Stone (Study Group & Fellowship) - 1-4pm. 1st & 3rd Sunday through May 17. Joshua David Stone has written countless books. Joshua’s gift is his ability to consolidate vast amounts of practical, useful, and essential information into easy-to-read cliff notes summary. This book covers information from Alice Bailey, Theosophy, Edgar Cayce, A Course in Miracles, the Ascended Masters teachings, the world’s great religion, Paramahansa Yogananda, Sai Baba, and Key of Enoch. The Complete Ascension Manual is both practical and enlightening guidebook through the spiritual past and a how-to manual for ascension. Each week we will start with singing the mantras, Names of God, and Words of Power from various traditions. We will end with the Ascension Meditation and Treatment. Please email Rev Annie Eng to confirm your participation and method of paying. Annieeng88@gmail.com or call 941371-9333. Cosmic Center of Spiritual Light, 5041 Ringwood Meadows, Bldg G-2, Sarasota, 941-3719333, CCOSL.com, Facebook and Instagram.
Star Harmony Sound Medicine Ceremony: Patterns into Power - 3-4:30pm. Enter a Samhain portal of renewal to release stagnant patterns and anchor stability through crystal bowls, gongs, scalar energy, essential oils and herbal tea in a zero-G chair. $44. Reservation required. Opt For Light, 2055 Wood Street. Ste 120, Sarasota, 941-907-4100, OptForLight.com/events.
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4
Navigating Personal Wellness with Dr. Derrick DeSilva - 5:30-6:30pm. Dr. Derrick DeSilva, internationally recognized physician, scientist and educator, will speak at Senior Friendship Centers as part of its Be Well! Health & Wellness Lecture Series. He will speak on “Navigating Personal Wellness Within the Healthcare System.” The event is presented by Senior Friendship Centers Alumni Association. Registration is required through the Senior Friendship Centers’ special events calendar at FriendshipCenters. org/special-events. For more information, call 941-556-3216. Location: 1888 Brother Geenen Way, Sarasota.
Manatee Spirit Universal Wisdom and Meditation Course - 7-8:30pm, Nov. 4,5,6. Online or at Manatee Spirit. Navigating multidimensional consciousness expansion. $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.
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 5
“Exploring the Akashic Records of Your Soul” 7-9pm, Nov. 5th, 12th, 19th, 3-part series. Flexer Healing Chapel 2729 Browning St. This workshop will introduce you to the mysterious aspect of collective consciousness and offer you a direct experience of the unconditional love of which we are all a part. Presented by Elisa Palma-Hancock. $20 (each class) Contact SarasotaCenterofLight.com to register online or call 941-953-6620. Held at Flexer Healing Chapel, 2729 Browning
St., Sarasota.
Manatee Spirit Full Moon Sound Bath - 7-9pm. 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.
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6
Open Mic: Live Music, Storytelling & Poetry at Flobucha - 7-9pm. Join us for a special evening of poems, stories and entertainment on the first Thursday night of each month at Flobucha. You can bring your own instruments or use ours. We have a piano, electric and acoustic guitars plugged into our amp as well as two microphones. Bring a poem, a story, or just your heart to listen. Flobucha, 2725 Mall Drive, Sarasota, Info@Flobucha.com, follow us on social media: Instagram.com/Flobucha and on Facebook: Flobucha.
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 7
Ethiopian Food Pop-Up at Flobucha - 5-8pm, 7th and 21st. 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. Flobucha, 2725 Mall Drive, Sarasota, Info@Flobucha.com, follow us on social media: Instagram. com/Flobucha and on Facebook: Flobucha.
“The Art and Structure of the Private Sitting” at Sarasota Center of Light - 7-9pm. Discover how to create a sacred professional, and inspirational environment for one-to-one sittings. This session explores the structure and flow of a private reading, how to begin with presence, establish trust, and maintain clarity throughout the sitting. You will learn how to balance psychic and mediumship, hold emotional space for your sitter, and move with purpose and confidence from evidence to message. Presented by Rev. Phil Dykes & Kerry McLeod. $30. Contact SarasotaCenterofLight.com to register online or call 941-953-6620. Held Sarasota Center of Light, at the Chapel, 2701 Browning St., Sarasota.
Dr. Raymond Moody Lecture Series: How to Call Up Spirit of the Departed in 6 Easy Lessons - History, Psychology and Practice7-8:30pm. Internationally renowned and known as the Father of near-death experiences, Dr. Raymond Moody is a researcher and international bestselling author who coined the term “near death experience.” In 1975, Dr. Raymond Moody published the book Life After Life. In it, he described the astonishing accounts of those who died and came back to life. An agnostic and a skeptic, he continued researching phenomena associated with death, dying and grief, but after fifty years was not persuaded that an afterlife existed. But then a handful of doctors who had remarkable near death and shared death experiences offered their evidence. They gath-
ered together with Dr. Moody to share their perspectives at the NDE Consciousness Forum. He was convinced by what he heard. The Cosmic Center is honored to have Dr Moody offer a six-week lecture series at the Cosmic Center. Tickets are $25./a Lecture (in-person and online) or you can get the discounted six-week package for $120. (in-person only). For more information go to: CCOSL.com/events.html. Cosmic Center of Spiritual Light, 5041 Ringwood Meadows, Bldg G-2, Sarasota, 941-371-9333, CCOSL.com, Facebook and Instagram.
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 8
10 Private Readings at Sarasota Center of Light - 1pm, 1:50 pm, 2:30pm, 3:15 pm, 4 pm, Nov. 8, 22, 29. With Rev Phil Dykes and Rev. Kerry McLeod. $100/per person. To register or for more information, contact SarasotaCenterofLight.com or call 941-953-6620. Held at Sarasota Center of Light, at the Learning Center, 2770 Browning St., Sarasota.
Star Harmony Sound Medicine Ceremony: The Depth of Still Waters - 6-7:30pm. A nurturing field of healing sound under the Scorpio Sun and Cancer Moon. Crystal bowls, planetary gongs, chimes, essential oils and herbal tea weave frequencies for release, renewal, and heart-centered calm. $33. Kenshō Studio, 4141 S. Tamiami Tr., Sarasota, KenshoStudio.as.me/starharmony.
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 11
Energy Healing Experience - 7-8:30pm. There is a higher power that is the basis of all living things and it can heal. Bruno Gröning called it the healing stream. He had a very exact intuitive knowledge of it, which through his simple teaching he made available for everyone. Bruno Gröning lived in the last century, and healed thousands during his lifetime with a divine healing power. Extraordinary healings are still occurring today. How is this possible? The power, which worked through Bruno Gröning back then, continues to work. The facts speak for themselves: healings from countless conditions, including angina pectoris, rheumatism, depression and osteoporosis, as well as from drug and other addictions, phobias, etc. (successes confirmed by medical professionals.) Come experience the healing stream for yourself. Love donation. Sarasota Center of Light, 852 Tuttle Ave., Sarasota, 919-428-0322, Bruno-Groening.org/en.
“Into the Essence” at Sarasota Center of Light - 7-9pm. An evening of deep connection with Spirit. Learn how to move beyond the surface of awareness and into the essence of spiritual communication, where true understanding and blending with the Spirit world will change your mediumship practice for the better, helping you to be more successful and to thrive in your mediumship. $30. With Rev. Phil Dykes & Kerry McLeod. Contact SarasotaCenterofLight.com to register or call 941-953-6620. Held at Sarasota Center of Light, at the Chapel, 2701 Browning St., Sarasota.
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12
Star Harmony Sound Medicine Ceremony: Integration & Release - 6–7:30pm. Immersive crystal bowls, planetary gongs, and more under the Scorpio Sun and Virgo Moon. Supports nervous-system balance, emotional release, and deep integration through sound
KnoWEwell.com
and stillness, essential oils & herbal tea. $30. Prana Yoga, 3840 S. Osprey Ave, Sarasota, PranaYogaSarasota.com/workshops.
A Way with Words: A Poetic Venture7-8:30pm. Every 2nd Wed. of the month. Mark your calendars. Door opens at 6:30pm to first come, first read/sign up. All are welcome. Offer up your diverse creative expression of poetry or prose to an attentive and appreciative audience. Readings are 5 min to 7 min. per reader. $5 Admission, whether you come as audience or reader. At Rising Tide, 5102 Swift Rd. Sarasota. Presented by Rev. Zan Benham, 941-922-7839, or Zan@woman-spirit.com.
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 14
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.
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 15
Star Harmony Sound Medicine Ceremony at Living with Intention 2-Day Retreat - Nov. 15, 16. Awaken balance, release, and renewal under a waning Libra Moon and rare water grand trine. Experience harmonic resonance supported by essential oils and herbal tea for emotional clearing, nervous-system calm, and compassionate closure. $149. Westin Tampa Waterside, 725 S. Harbour Island Blvd, Tampa, 941-250-4940, YogaWitherin.com.
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 17
REIKI III Practitioners - 7pm-8:30pm. This Reiki share is ongoing, the 3rd Mon. of each month. Bring a table if you have one. $5 donation/ATD. Held at Rising Tide International, 5102 Swift Rd. Sarasota. Rev. Zan Benham, 941-922-7839, or Zan@woman-spirit.com.
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 18
“Soul Awareness” at Sarasota Center of Light - 7-9pm. Your awareness of the soul is a practice that gives you a greater range of evidence, building confidence and reaching a higher level of mediumship that leaves no doubt. Understanding the soul’s awareness forms the foundation for evidential mediumship and a medium that wants to progress to the next level. With Revs. Phil Dykes & Kerry McLeod. $30. Contact SarasotaCenterofLight.com to register or call 941953-6620. Held at Sarasota Center of Light, at the Chapel, 2701 Browning St., Sarasota.
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 19
Cacao Exploration Workshop at Flobucha6-7:30pm. 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.
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 20
Thermography Scans at Best Medicine Inc.Now offering thermography scans for patients and non-patients. Our partner Southwest Medical Thermal Imaging offers appointments in our office one Thursday per month. Thermography scans offered are breast scans, women’s health checks and full body screenings. Call now for more information including pricing, test requirements, etc. at 941-404-8030 or visit the website to learn more at BestMedicine.us under the “Services- Thermography” tab.
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 21
21st “Tools of Communication” at Sarasota Center of Light - 7-9pm. Deepen your ability to blend with Spirit and communicate messages that move beyond information into inspiration. This session focuses on the tools that can be used. You’ll explore how to deliver messages that not only prove survival but also uplift, empower, and heal the recipient. With Revs. Phil Dykes & Kerry McLeod. $30. Contact SarasotaCenterofLight.com to register or call 941-953-6620. Held at Sarasota Center of Light, at the Chapel, 2701 Browning St., Sarasota.
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 22
Comic Center Body Mind and Spirit Expo10am-6pm. Cosmic Center of Spiritual Light’s Body, Mind and Spirit Expo is back once again. Featuring extraordinary and gifted healers and a select group of renowned psychics, mediums and spiritual counselors of various modalities. Come for a day of life-changing healing, spiritual insights and spiritual guidance with a small selected group of gifted light workers to offer you an intimate and personal spiritual experience with a choice of various spiritual modalities to choose for yourself and family. Embrace the new paradigms of our rising consciousness and healing as we move in Higher Awareness of our personal and collective consciousness. Free Admission. Go to BodyMindandSpiritExpo.com for more information and to schedule an appointment. Cosmic Center of Spiritual Light, 5041 Ringwood Meadows, Bldg G-2, Sarasota, 941-3719333, CCOSL.com, Facebook and Instagram.
Purium Superfoods Experience - 10am-6pm. Learn about Purium Superfoods - nourish your body, balance your gut, and awaken radiant energy. You’re invited to a sacred immersion in living nutrition and radiant energy. Discover organic superfoods that awaken the spirit, harmonize the gut, and transform the cells. Sample Purium Superfoods, explore conscious nourishment, and experience what it means to live Purely Aligned - radiant, balanced, and fully alive. Free. Held at the Cosmic Center of Spiritual Light, 5041 Ringwood Meadow, G2, Sarasota, 813-729-2417, Ishoppurium.com/homepage?giftcard=PurelyAligned.
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.
Star Harmony Sound Medicine Ceremony: Grounded Expansion · Return to Radiance - 6-7:30pm. Beneath a Sagittarius Sun and waxing-crescent Moon, experience crystal bowls, planetary gongs, and chimes. A soothing journey of grounded expansion, clarity, and calm integration with essential oils and herbal tea. $33. Kenshō, 4141 S. Tamiami Tr., Sarasota, KenshoStudio.as.me/starharmony.
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 25
“The Mind and Soul” at Sarasota Center of Light - 7-9pm. This establishes the partnership between the analytical mind and the intuitive soul. This class helps you to understand how thought, emotion, and soul intelligence interact in your development as a medium, allowing you to flow with your private readings and mediumship demonstrations. With Revs. Phil Dykes & Kerry McLeod. $30. Contact SarasotaCenterofLight.com to register or call 941-953-6620. Held at Sarasota Center of Light, at the Chapel, 2701 Browning St., Sarasota.
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 26
Free - “Poets in Conversation” - Real Talk with Writers - via Zoom - 2pm. For anyone who writes or wants to. Come as you are. A gentle, welcoming space for poets and writers to come as they are to connect, converse and be in community. This is a conversational gathering. Not structured as a workshop or class, just real talk among writers and those interested in learning. Participants are invited to bring poems, stories or any writing they wish to share aloud. Sharing is optional, but this is a supportive space where you may find thoughtful feedback and gentle encouragement. Whether you’re seeking connection, insight, or simply the comfort of being heard by fellow writers, this circle offers a soft, respectful, and inspiring environment to nurture your voice. For more info call or text 941-8303040 - or sign up at ZenfulConversations.com.
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 28
“The Transformational Reading Practice” at Sarasota Center of Light - 7-9pm. Bring together all your skills in this practical, integrative session designed to help you deliver transformational private readings that have a lasting impact. You’ll learn how to transition naturally from evidence to inspiration, empowering your sitter to connect with their own soul and the Spirit World in profound ways. $30. Contact SarasotaCenterofLight.com to register or call 941-9536620. Held at Sarasota Center of Light, at the Chapel, 2701 Browning St., Sarasota.
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 2
“The Medium’s Workshop” at Sarasota Center of Light - 7-9pm. $30 Chapel 2701 Browning St. This is a culminating evening that weaves together all understandings, practices and inspirational sensitivity to shape the medium’s work, expression of spiritual truths and natural practices to create a professional medium. With Revs. Phil Dykes & Kerry McLeod. $30. Contact SarasotaCenterofLight.com to register or call 941-9536620. Held at Sarasota Center of Light, at the Chapel, 2701 Browning St., Sarasota.
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 4
Star Harmony Sound Medicine Ceremony at The Bishop Planetarium - 6-7:30pm. Under the planetarium’s immersive live night sky, experience a beautiful celestial sound journey where crystal bowls, planetary gongs, chimes, scalar energy, essential oils and herbal tea bring the body, mind, and spirit into harmonic alignment. $44, $55/after 11/17. AquarianSoundMedicine/ Bishop.
Manatee Spirit Full Moon Sound Bath - 7-9pm. 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.
SATURDAY, JANUARY 10
Manatee Spirit Whole Food Plant-Based Oil-Free Course - 12-3:30pm, Jan. 10, 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.
TUESDAY, JANUARY 20
Manatee Spirit Sound Healing Course - 6:309pm, Jan. 20 & 22. Improvisation, harmony, binaural beats, rhythm, acquiring quality instruments, and leading sound baths. $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.
Cosmic Center Sunday Sabbath Services10:30am. 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.
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.
Yoga on Manasota Beach - 8:30-9:15am. Join us for an open-level beach yoga class at the north end of Manasota Beach. Classes are suitable for all ages and abilities, and no prior experience is required. Please bring a blanket or towel for the sand. On Mondays and Tuesdays, we offer an optional 15-minute extended practice with more advanced poses for those who wish to stay. More classes are available. Suggested donation $5+. For clarification: we are not the “Yoga on Englewood Beach.” Our classes meet at the north end of Manasota Key, on Manasota Beach, 8570 Manasota Key Rd., Englewood, 941-313-0358, YogaManasotaBeach.com.
“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 spir-
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, LiberateToEmpower@gmail.com, 786380-3037.
its, heart connection. Per person: $30/1 session, $50/2 sessions, $80/4 sessions. 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, 941706-3257, 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/
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 Spiritual Light, 5041 Ringwood Meadows, Bldg G-2, Sarasota, 941-371-9333, CCOSL.com, Facebook and Instagram.
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. Per person: $30/1 session, $50/2 sessions, $80/4 sessions. 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.
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. 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, except holidays and hurricanes. Love donations welcomed. Spirit Speaks, 411 W. Dearborn St., Englewood, 734-464-6828, IamMsKitty.com.
Wednesday Night Healing Service - 7pm, every 3rd Wed. Sarasota Center of Light, 852 S Tuttle Ave., Sarasota, 941-953-6620, SarasotaCenterOfLight.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.
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. Per person: $30/1 session, $50/2 sessions, $80/4 sessions. 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 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.
Friday
Cosmic Center Rev. Ildigo Varga, Resident Spiritual Guardian - Rev. Varga removes all nefarious energies. She has extensive knowledge of metaphysical and of spiritual self-defense against nefarious energies. She has been training ongoing with the Devine Angelic realms of light of the highest order to the present day. Cosmic Center of Spiritual Light, 5041 Ringwood Meadows, Bldg G-2, Sarasota, 941-371-9333, CCOSL.com, Facebook and Instagram.
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.
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.
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.
HEALTHY BODY ACUPUNCTURE, LLC
Dr. Karen Helmick, D.O.M.
2 locations: 1511 Tamiami Trail S., Suite 202 Venice 941-228-4688
AcupunctureVenice.com
SANDHILL HEALING CENTER, LLC
2484 Caring Way, Suite D Port Charlotte 941-235-8929
SandHillHealing.com
Our offices focus on the wellbeing of your entire body by offering: Acupuncture, Oriental Medicine, Massage Therapy, and Nutritional Supplements. We are a proud VA Community Care provider approved at both locations. Let us customize a healing program for you!
NATURAL APOTHECARY SHOPPE
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.
ELYSIAN FIELDS GIFTS & BOOKS FOR CONSCIOUS LIVING
Jewelry/Workshops/Readings/Spiritual Items 1273 S. Tamiami Trail
Midtown Plaza, Sarasota 941-361-3006
ElysianFieldsGifts.com Info@ElysianFieldsOnline.com
Elysian Fields, a Sarasota shopping destination for over 32 years, offers hand-selected books, gifts, greeting cards,
jewelry, spiritual items and more! Coming to Elysian Fields is an opportunity to explore your senses, embrace the serene and delve into self-discovery. They offer daily intuitive readings, workshops, house clearings, private events, parties, and more.
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 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..
SPIRITUAL BOOKS & INTUITIVE READINGS
S.M.I.L.E. -
Spiritual Miracles Intentional Living Education SPIRITUAL BOOKS, INTUITIVE READINGS, SPIRITUAL TEACHER AND GUIDE
Michelle Marie Angel
Smile4Love.com
MichelleMarieAngel.com
VisionarySolutions4Smile.org
ZOOM or in person: Spiritual: One on One Guidance, Readings, and Spiritual Development. Text for special Reading rates! Books that will help you master your energy and vibration on Amazon. Live Love, Forever Free, and It IS A New World After All will help you attain higher consciousness, replace old programming, and give you tools for empowerment and self-development. These are amazing times and you are being changed and activated. BOOKS: Michelle offers support and assistance through 3 life-changing books, events, decrees, messages, and much more at Smile4Love.com. Podcasts: Rumble “SmileSoulPower” or YouTube SMILE Soul Power. CLASSES: VisionarySolutions4Smile.org Text Michelle at: 541261-4483. Email: Michelle@Smile4Love.com.
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.
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.
CAFE EVERGREEN
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.
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.
OF
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.
PET SUPPLY CENTER
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
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.
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 A place of Light and Uncondition-al Love bringing together awak-ened and awakening minds and hearts for healing, enlightenment, support and joy!
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.
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.
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.
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