February 2016 Natural Awakenings Peace River

H E A L T H Y

L I V I N G

FREE

H E A L T H Y

P L A N E T

feel good • live simply • laugh more

ECO-FRIENDLY

DATING Going Online Makes it Easier

Your Mouth Today’s Best The Power Tweets Tells a Story of Friendship

Oral Health Offers Clues to Whole-Body Health

Bird Watching for Beginners

It Sustains, Nourishes and Supports Us

February 2016 | Englewood • North Port • Port Charlotte • Punta Gorda • Venice | PeaceRiverNA.com

letterfrompublisher

A contact us Publisher Janet Lindsay Managing Editor Mary-Elizabeth Schurrer Contributing Writer Juliette Jones Calendar Editor Cheryl Hynes Design & Production Susan McCann Web Development Stephen Warne Social Media Manager Stephen Warne

s we transition away from the season of New Year’s resolutions into the month synonymous with romance, now is a perfect opportunity to pause and reflect on all the positive relationships that enrich our lives. Love is undoubtedly in the air this time of year, and our February issue is filled with tips for enhancing your intimate connections— both romantic and otherwise.

A cornerstone of any healthy, meaningful relationship is understanding and validating the other person’s point of view, so be sure to read “The Art of Deep Listening” for advice on cultivating this skill. Also, environmentally-conscious couples (and singles, too!) will enjoy our “Green Dating” feature. And, let’s not forget about friendships— check out “Friends are the Family We Choose,” which celebrates those bonds that keep us grounded and make our days brighter.

February isn’t all starry-eyed bliss, though. Instead, it might leave feelings of guilt when your Valentine plies you with chocolate, candy hearts and other sweet treats. So, if these well-intentioned gifts distract you from eating healthy, our “Ancient Grains 101” article will help you rediscover balanced nutrition. But, by all means—indulge in moderation!

As always, feel free to email any comments or suggestions to Publisher@ nasrq.com. I hope you’ll find this issue both enlightening and enjoyable. Happy Valentine’s Day, dear readers!

To contact Natural Awakenings Peace River Edition: 941-564-0885 publisher@nasrq.com © 2016 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. It is available in selected stores, health and education centers, healing centers, public libraries and wherever free publications are generally seen. 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. We welcome your ideas, articles and feedback.

Printed on 100% recycled paper Natural Awakenings is printed on 100% recycled paper with soybased ink.

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contents 10 6 newsbriefs 10 healthbriefs 12 globalbriefs 14 ecotip 12 19 wisewords 20 greenliving

Natural Awakenings is your guide to a healthier, more balanced life. In each issue readers find cutting-edge information on natural health, nutrition, fitness, personal growth, green living, creative expression and the products and services that support a healthy lifestyle.

16 THE POWER

16

OF FRIENDSHIP

It Sustains, Nourishes and Supports Us

by Judith Fertig

19 ALYSSA MILANO’S

21 consciouseating ANTI-AGING SECRETS 24 naturalpet

14 25 inspiration 26 calendar

26 classifieds 31 resourceguide

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

EDITORIAL SUBMISSIONS Email articles, news items and ideas to: Publisher@nasrq.com.

Deadline for editorial: the 10th of the month.

Her Natural Lifestyle Choices Keep Her Young

19

by Gerry Strauss

20 ECO-FRIENDLY DATING

Going Online Makes it Easier

by Avery Mack

21 ANCIENT GRAINS

FOR MODERN PALATES Gluten-Free and Eco-Friendly Grains Gain Favor

20

by Judith Fertig

24 BIRD-WATCHING FOR BEGINNERS

Start with a Bird Feeder and Binoculars

by Sandra Murphy

21

CALENDAR SUBMISSIONS Email Calendar Events to: calendar@nasrq.com. Deadline for calendar: the 12th of the month.

REGIONAL MARKETS Advertise your products or services in multiple markets!

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

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February 2016

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More than an Ad...

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newsbriefs Can You Say “Bellabaci?”

W

ho doesn’t want to lose inches and experience firmer skin during a massage? Lana and Diana, Licensed Massage Therapists and Jessica, Licensed Esthetician and Skin Care Specialist, invite you to try Bellabaci Massage and Facial.

This new contouring body treatment, available at Beach Life Wellness, is based on Ancient Chinese Cupping and designed to deliver a skin treatment that feels like a massage.

Bellabaci offers several beautifying and health benefits such as lymphatic drainage, myofascial release, reduced cellulite, inch loss, skin firming, collagen stimulation, elastin production and detoxification.

Bellabaci is now included in all of Beach Life Wellness’ body wrap and scrub treatments, and it also can be experienced upon request in our 60-minute Organic European Touch facial. For maximum results, we recommend starting with the Bellabaci Luxury Contour Treatment, followed by one full 90-minute Bellabaci Massage for six weeks, or until desired results are achieved. Individual results vary.

The 90-minute Bellabaci Massage includes a full-body and face treatment. The 90-minute Mango Island Dream Treatment includes a 30-minute Bellabaci Massage, mango sugar scrub, shower and mango body butter. This service offers all the benefits of Bellabaci, as well as exfoliation and hydration. The two-hour-15-minute Bellabaci Luxury Contour Treatment includes a 90-minute Bellabaci body and face massage, citrus body scrub, hot towels French green clay body wrap, shower and body butter application. This service features all the benefits of Bellabaci, as well as exfoliation, hydration, additional toxin removal and stronger lymphatic detoxification.

Location: 301 Albee Rd. W, Nokomis. Cost: $125 (90-Minute Bellabaci Massage, Mango Island Dream), $195 (Bellabaci Luxury Contour Treatment). Prepaid pack of 6 Treatments offered at 10% Off. For more information, call 941-244-2006 or visit BeachLifeWellness.com.

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Siesta Dental Offers Solution to Help Prevent Snoring

S

noring is not only embarrassing, but it can also negatively affect on your physical and mental health. Habitual snorers face an increased risk of developing multiple serious health problems. Snoring is often left untreated, as few people realize the consequences or the danger they are in.

In fact, snoring can become more harmful than being overweight, smoking or having high cholesterol. So, if you are a snorer and want to protect yourself these health concerns, there are solutions like using an Anti-Snoring Jaw Supporter.

When your jaw opens during sleep, your tongue moves to the back of your throat, blocking your airways and limiting the air you can inhale.

As previously described, oxygen that cannot pass through this airway causes the noisy vibrations we all know as snoring.

The Stop Snoring Today chin strap works by supporting the jaw and keeping both the jaw and tongue in correct alignment, thereby preventing the airway from becoming obstructed. This helps correct the irritating and potentially dangerous issue of snoring.

Made from lightweight materials with the sleeper’s maximum comfort in mind, this chin strap has helped thousands get the sleep their bodies need each night. Because Stop Snoring Today is certain the chin strap will solve your sleep apnea problems, this product is offered with a 30-day money back guarantee. There is no risk in testing out this lifechanging device.

So, before resorting to complicated and expensive sleep surgeries, give Stop Snoring Today a try. It’s inexpensive, clinically tested, recommended by doctors, comfortable and easy. You’ll experience a disappearance of snoring, and your sleep will significantly improve.

Locations: 5223 Avenida Navarra, Sarasota; 463 US HWY 41 Bypass S, Venice; 416 S Tamiami Trail, Suite F1, Osprey. For more information and to schedule an appointment, call 941-266-7000 or visit SiestaDental. com. For more information on Stop Snoring Today, visit StopSnoring.

Today.

spotlightartist You Are Love Gloria di Simone

Artist Gloria di Simone’s featured cover painting, You Are Love, reflects her long-held passion for color. She refers to her paintings as “axquarelli”, her unique variation on the Italian word for watercolor, saying, “They are—tempera—a rather diluted paint on watercolor paper.” In many of her paintings, she also adds diamond water and gold for unusual effects. “My images are focused on vibration and energy,” explains di Simone.

She leads workshops in creative painting that focus on freeing the inner child in everyone.

“My creativity and passion for color has been my life focus, and it brings me great joy to share that,” says di Simone. She describes her axquarelli paintings as intuitive and heartwarming: “I hope they bring peace and exude a balancing of environmental energies.” Through her innate abilities, she blends colors to embed her paintings with healing vibrations.

A native of Naples, Italy, di Simone currently makes her home there after spending 28 years in Rome. In addition to being an artist, she has also worked as an architect, graphic designer, art director, furniture designer and teacher.

View the artist’s portfolio at GloriaDiSimone.WordPress.com.

FOOD CHOICES MAKE A DIFFERENCE You can change the way America eats.

Cultivate a healthy business by advertising in Natural Awakenings’

March Food Matters Issue To advertise or participate in our next issue, call 941-564-0885 natural awakenings

February 2016

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The Hidden Deficiency Having the proper amount of iodine in our system at all times is critical to overall health, yet the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition finds that iodine deficiency is increasing drastically in light of an increasingly anemic national diet of unpronounceable additives and secret, unlabeled ingredients. This deficit now affects nearly three-quarters of the population.

Causes of Iodine Deficiency

Radiation

Almost everyone is routinely exposed to iodine-depleting radiation

Low-Sodium Diets

Overuse of zero-nutrient salt substitutes in foods leads to iodine depletion

Iodized Table Salt

Iodized salt may slowly lose its iodine content by exposure to air

Bromine

A toxic chemical found in baked goods overrides iodine's ability to aid thyroid

Iodine-Depleted Soil Poor farming techniques have led to declined levels of iodine in soil

A Growing Epidemic Symptoms range from extreme fatigue and weight gain to depression, carpal tunnel syndrome, high blood pressure, fibrocystic breasts and skin and hair problems. This lack of essential iodine can also cause infertility, joint pain, heart disease and stroke. Low iodine levels also have been associated with breast and thyroid cancers; and in children, intellectual disability, deafness, attention deficient hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and impaired growth, according to studies by Boston University and the French National Academy of Medicine.

What to Do The easy solution is taking the right kind of iodine in the right dosage to rebalance thyroid function and restore health to the whole body. natural awakenings

February 2016

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healthbriefs

Kids Get Fewer Cavities When Mothers Chew Xylitol Gum

R

esearch published in the International Journal of Paediatric Dentistry has concluded mothers that chew natural xylitol gum regularly will significantly reduce oral infections of mutans streptococcus bacteria in their infants. Five research teams and 11 randomized studies of 601 mothers and their children showed 46 percent fewer infections of the bacteria, which is the central species responsible for dental caries and periodontal disease.

The studies included children that were 6, 9, 12, 18 and 24 months old.

Other research supports the claim of xylitol’s beneficial nature. A study from the University of Manchester, in England, analyzing data from 4,216 schoolchildren, showed that using toothpaste containing xylitol with fluoride resulted in 13 percent less tooth decay than using toothpaste with fluoride only.

Note: Xylitol is toxic to dogs; if ingested, consult a veterinarian.

Olive Oil Compound Kills Cancer Cells

R

esearchers from Rutgers University have found that an ingredient in olive oil will kill cancer cells in under an hour. The researchers tested a compound called oleocanthal, a central component of extra virgin olive oil, and found that it caused the premature death of cancer cells in the laboratory by puncturing cancer cell vesicles, called lysosomes.

“We needed to determine if oleocanthal was targeting that protein and causing the cells to die,” says Paul Breslin, Ph.D., a professor of nutritional sciences in the School of Environmental and Biological Sciences at Rutgers and co-author of the study, published in Molecular and Cellular Oncology.

The research also found that the olive oil compound didn’t damage healthy cells. Breslin states that the compound merely “put them to sleep” for a day, after which they resumed their normal, healthy functioning.

Senior author David Foster, Ph.D., of Hunter College, points out that additional studies are necessary to determine if the compound halts tumor growth. “We also need to understand why it is that cancerous cells are more sensitive to oleocanthal than non-cancerous cells,” he says.

February is National Children’s Dental Health Month 10

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Neti Pot Solutions for Sinus Problems

N

eti pots, used for centuries in Asian cultures to support nasal health and eliminate toxins from the nasal mucosa, have become increasingly popular in the Western world.

People use the small Aladdin’s lamp-looking pots to help flush sinuses, usually by pouring a mild solution of unrefined sea salt and water from one nostril through the other (avoid common table salt because it can irritate mucous membranes).

The process flushes out unwanted mucus, bacteria, fungi and other microorganisms.

Frequent nasal flushing is credited with preventing and relieving sinus infections. Some experts recommend a stronger remedy if an infection is present.

“The bacteria and fungus stick rather well to the nasal mucosa and few are flushed out with saline flushes,” remarks Herbalist Steven Frank, of Nature’s Rite, LLC. “Most of these nasty pathogens adhere to the mucosa with what is called a biofilm. Within this slime layer, they are well protected and thrive within the warm moist sinuses, so a small saline bath once a day doesn’t bother them much at all.”

To deal with stubborn sinus problems, Frank likes using the neti pot with a colloidal silver wash that is retained in the nostrils for ten minutes.

This can be supported with regular intra-nasal spraying of the colloid throughout the day.

For more information, call 888-4654404 or visit NaturesRiteRemedies.com.

Bifidobacteria Probiotic Fends Off Colds and Flu

Kids Learn Social Skills Through Pretending and Joking

I

n a study published in the British Journal of Nutrition, researchers found that supplementing with bifidobacteria probiotics will reduce colds and flu. The study followed 581 college students for six weeks as they prepared for their final exams. During the study period, the students consumed a placebo or a daily supplement with one of three probiotics, including Bifidobacterium bifidum.

The students given the bifidum supplement experienced significantly fewer cold or flu infections, and when they did succumb, the infection was generally less severe. The other probiotic supplements did not reduce colds or flu compared to the placebo for the six weeks.

R

esearch published in the journal Cognitive Science has found that toddlers with parents that played with them using humor and fantasy gained increased skills for learning, imagining and bonding, along with thinking in abstract ways.

The researchers tested children between 16 and 24 months old in two phases. The first utilized action play among 25 kids and the second utilized verbal play among 40 children. The parents and children pretended to do activities such as washing their hands with no soap or creating situations using a toy.

During the second phase, the children and parents played around jokingly by using words, identifying things in funny ways and making believe they were doing things.

The researchers found that joking and pretend play allowed the kids to distinguish cues that helped them communicate and develop skills to understand intentions. The study also found that older toddlers relied more on verbal cues to understand pretending and joking communications.

High-Fructose Sweetener Aggravates Asthma and Bronchitis

A

large study from the New York Medical College and the University of Massachusetts found that high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) is linked to a greater risk of asthma and chronic bronchitis. The research included 2,801 people between the ages of 20 and 55 years old. The scientists utilized health data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey of 2003 to 2006 to compare people with a history of chronic bronchitis.

The study measured the types of soft drinks consumed, eliminating risks related to known asthma relationships such as smoking. The researchers found those that drank five or more HFCS-containing sodas per week had an 80 percent increased incidence of chronic bronchitis.

Greater intake of HFCS has also been linked with higher risk of other health conditions, including diabetes and obesity.

Mediterranean Diet Sustains More Youthful Brain Sizes

A

s we age, our brains shrink, a condition linked to cognitive impairment. According to a study from Columbia University, a healthy diet can help reduce such occurrences.

The researchers studied 674 adults with an average age of 80. They were divided into two groups, depending upon their diets, and given magnetic resonance imaging scans to measure total brain volume and thickness.

It was found that those following diets that most closely resembled the Mediterranean diet—less meat and more vegetables and fish—had larger brain sizes with less shrinking. The researchers equated the average size difference between the groups to about five years of aging.

Dr. Yian Gu, a neuropsychology professor at Columbia University, says, “This is another study consistent with previous studies that indicate the Mediterranean diet is an overall healthy diet.” natural awakenings

February 2016

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globalbriefs News and resources to inspire concerned citizens to work together in building a healthier, stronger society that benefits all.

Green Goalposts

Super Bowl Eco-Stadium Gains National Spotlight The 50th Super Bowl will take place February 7 at the brand-new Levi’s Stadium, in Santa Clara, outside San Francisco, and the anniversary isn’t the only thing that’s historic. As part of a trend toward sustainability in athletic facilities, it’s the greenest and most technologically advanced professional football stadium in the U.S. The structure is designed to support sustainability, located on a site with accessible public transportation plus a bike path to encourage fans to pedal to and from games. Its predominantly open and airy, environmentally friendly building plan also takes advantage of the Silicon Valley climate. One outstanding feature is the green roof atop the suite tower on the west side of the stadium. Another is the three solar bridges connecting the main parking area to the stadium that generate energy from hundreds of solar panels.

All of the wood used was repurposed from a local airplane hangar at Moffett Field, in Mountain View, California, and other reclaimed building products were used where possible. Reclaimed water sources serve potable and non-potable uses, including playing field irrigation. The local suppliers providing farm-totable food menus also are required to practice composting and recycling to the greatest extent possible.

For more information, visit LevisStadium.com.

Nice Spice

McCormick Going Non-GMO McCormick, the world’s largest spice company, plans to eliminate almost all genetically modified (GMO) ingredients from their product line by 2016. In response to increased consumer demand for healthier options, 80 percent of its overall gourmet herb and spice business in the U.S. will be both organic and non-GMO by 2016, as well as all McCormick-branded herbs, spices and extracts sold in the U.S.

They will voluntarily label the updated products to inform consumers as part of a commitment to transparency and consumer education. The first product introduced, a non-GMO vanilla extract, is already available.

McCormick also uses steam treatments in its processing to preserve the health benefits of spices instead of the ionizing irradiation used by competitors. Although food radiation is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, some studies link it to significant health problems.

“Our consumers are increasingly interested in quality flavors with pure ingredients in their food,” says McCormick President and Chief Operating Officer Lawrence Kurzius. “Our efforts prove that we are listening to consumers and are committed to continuing to evolve.”

Source: NaturalNews.com 12

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Seeing Change

Young Children Can Unlearn Racial Sterotyping New research by Paul Quinn, a professor of psychological and brain sciences at the University of Delaware, and his collaborators across the globe, have found a simple exercise that can undo the unconscious racial biases that may begin to develop as early as infancy.

Quinn learned that 3-month-olds begin showing a visual preference for the same race they see most often in their daily lives. By 9 months, infants not only distinguish racial categories, but also become less able to tell different individuals apart if they are members of a less-familiar race.

In the experiment, the scientists morphed together photos of African and Asian faces to create ambiguous images that looked equally African and Asian. As a result, Quinn reports, “At 9 months, they didn’t respond to the differences between the African and Asian categories, but instead they had two less discriminatory broad categories; ‘own race’ and ‘other race’. We think it might be a precursor to an initial ‘in group/out group’ differentiation and suggest that perceptual and social processing of faces may overlap, even in infants.”

Source: LaboratoryEquipment.com

One loyal friend is worth 10,000 relatives. ~Euripides

Lions Untamed

Shrine Circus Ends Wild Animal Acts Bill Cunningham, CEO of Dallas-based Fun Time Shows, the largest Shrine Circus producer in the country, says he’ll no longer produce shows featuring elephants, tigers, lions or other wild animals.

Cunningham says, “These animals are very special; we cohabit the Earth with them and they are deserving of our respect and awe. They’re not here to perform tricks for our entertainment.”

He says, “I’ve tried to listen to the mothers that said they didn’t want their kids to grow up and learn that the animals they saw had been probed, poked, prodded and chained to a floor.” The move has received an outpouring of support from outside the industry, including People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.

Cunningham’s Shrine Circuses will still feature high wire acts, human cannonballs, trapeze artists and motorcycle tricks, along with performing horses and dogs. “The horses and dogs act in true collaboration with their owners,” says Cunningham.

“We feel the audience still wants to see domestic animals.”

Exploring The Inner Dimensions of Yoga & Yoga Nidra The Amrit Method of Yoga Nidra is a guided meditation technique, assessible to everyone. It has the power to take you to the innermost, deepest levels of relaxation where your whole body and being is permeate by peace of mind and profound stillness.

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Journey Into Complete Well-Being Yoga & Meditation Center 265 E. Marion Ave. Suite #117 C, Punta Gorda, Fl. 33950 (772)485-0605 • www.journeyinstudio.com

Source: GreenSourceDFW.org

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ecotip Eco-Cappuccino

Reducing Coffee Shop Waste For many, getting a coffee to go at a favorite spot on the way to work or while dropping the kids off at school and running errands is a weekday ritual. It also warms up the body on cold mornings in northern regions this time of year. The java might taste even better if we reduce the amount of waste traditionally involved. Here are a few ways to better cherish Earth’s resources.

Avoid the paper cup; carry a reusable thermos or insulated bottle instead as a matter of routine. Author and activist Beth Terry, in her book Plastic Free: How I Kicked the Habit and How You Can Too suggests both stainless steel beverage containers and mugs. She also recommends glass mason jars and points out that EcoJarz

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recently began making stainless steel caps and lids instead of plastic. Learn more at MyPlastic FreeLife.com. Terry further cites the unhealthy aspects of continual use of paper cups because, “Many are lined with plastic, and the plastic lids are often the equivalent of Styrofoam.”

If caught without a favorite reusable container, Treehugger.com’s Katherine Martinko recommends at least giving an old paper cup one more turn. “It’s not a zero waste solution, but if you’ve already got a paper cup in your car or kitchen, you might as well extend its life. Wash and hand it over the next time you get a coffee,” she suggests. “It will still do the job.”

For those that add cream, milk or sugar to coffee, consider the waste involved just in the plastic and wood stirrers provided by the shop that are tossed in the trash after serving their one-time function. “Avoid all of them,” advises Terry. “Carry a clean utensil in the car,” such as a bamboo tableware or a spork (combination spoon and fork). Cutting down or weaning off of dairy, sugar and especially sugar substitutes is another healthful move.

Englewood Yoga & Healing Center 3455 S. Access Rd., Englewood, FL

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Sinus Infection Sinus Relief offers a nasal spray that is both anti-fungal and anti-bacterial in a convenient spray bottle. Super Neti Juice offers the same antimicrobial power with soothing, subtle peppermint. Powerful tools to combat germs.

Rash Relief This powerful herbal lotion is designed to relieve the pain and itch of eczema, while correcting the cause and repairing the skin. A healthy and natural approach to correcting skin rash without dangerous drugs.

natural awakenings

February 2016

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THE POWER OF FRIENDSHIP It Sustains, Nourishes and Supports Us

by Judith Fertig

For a reason, a season or a lifetime, friends help us cope with challenges, motivate our best work and celebrate life. Friendships take many forms, crossing generations and self-imposed boundaries, and even spring up between unlikely confidants.

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hildhood friends Matt Damon and Ben Affleck collaborated on the Oscar-winning screenplay for Good Will Hunting. Fierce tennis competitors Serena Williams and Caroline Wozniacki like to get together for a gal-pal getaway after a major match.

Country music artists Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood married following an 18-year friendship; “We had a lot more in common than I ever dreamed we did,” says Brooks.

Rafts of research confirm how friendship enriches us. Carlin Flora, of New York City, spent years as a Psychology Today writer and editor before penning Friendfluence: The Surprising Ways Friends Make Us Who We Are. She notes that among the varied and perhaps unforeseen benefits, friendships can help us “shed pounds, sleep better, stop smoking and even survive a major illness.”

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An ongoing, two-decade-plus study of nearly 1,500 seniors by the Flinders University Centre for Ageing Studies, in Australia, found those with a large network of friends outliving others with the fewest friends by 22 percent. The University of Chicago National Opinion Research Center also reports people with five or more close friends as 50 percent more likely to describe themselves as “very happy” than those maintaining fewer confidants.

“Friends past and present play powerful and often unappreciated roles in determining our sense of self and the direction of our lives,” says Flora. “Even in a supposedly meritocratic society, friends give jobs and assignments to each other, so having friends that share your career interests and aspirations can get you much farther than you could ever get on your own.”

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Make New Friends, Keep the Old Today, making and keeping friends can be challenging, due to distance, frequent life changes, overprotective parenting and substituting social media for more intimate face time. It all makes friendship more fluid than we might realize, says Shasta Nelson, the San Francisco founder of GirlFriendCircles. com, a women’s friendship matching site and author of Friendships Don’t Just Happen: The Guide to Creating a Meaningful Circle of Girlfriends, plus the upcoming book, Frientimacy, about deepening such relationships.

“Most of us replace half of our close friends every seven years,” says Nelson. Although this might seem alarming, she considers it a natural ebb and flow. “We all need a couple of very close friends, while others that come and go might just be what we currently need—at work or school, among firsttime parents, in a new neighborhood, starting a job, in retirement or during some other life change,” she says.

Canadian Greg Tjosvold, a married middle school teacher in Vancouver, Canada, has enjoyed great friendships with women, including his wife, partly because he doesn’t relate to men’s generally competitive nature and interest in sports. But when a close female friend moved away, he wanted to expand his circle to include men. He joined a group called The Barley Brethren that sample craft beers and talk about life. Although not into suds, he values “having a safe and enjoyable place to discuss deep issues, victories and temporary setbacks.” He admits, “That’s over-simplification, though.” Finding a group of men he can feel a part of has validated him, making this unique man still feel like one of the guys.

Nelson categorizes the concentric circles of developing friendship as starting with a mutually agreeable acquaintance or contact, and then moving emotionally closer with someone that we find similarities with. Then the original bond can enter the confirmed friend category. A group of friends, like a longtime book club, can constitute a community. The highest level is the committed friend that has evolved into a trusted and valuable life companion.

How to Make Good Friends

by Shasta Nelson

Three Necessary Ingredients

Both friendship and romantic bonds are developed when three things occur: We feel satisfied, which happens when an interaction has more positivity than negativity. We feel safe, which comes when we commit to consistent time with each other.

We feel seen, which we experience when we practice revealing ourselves and expressing vulnerability.

Here’s a formula for creating meaningful connections: Positivity + Consistency + Vulnerability = Frientimacy.

Two Steps

It usually takes most people six to eight interactions with someone new before they start feeling like friends.

The sooner they schedule such occasions, the sooner the rewards. c Be open to making new friends. c Make the first move; repeat.

One Ratio

To keep a friendship going, remember that it has to have a positivity-to-negativity ratio of at least five-to-one. That means sharing five times more fun and feel-good moments than stressors that can range from disappointments and frustrations to jealousies. By definition, to be and keep a good friend requires that both parties bring satisfying positivity to the relationship.

Source: Adapted from Frientimacy: How to Deepen Friendships for Lifelong Intimacy by Shasta Nelson; scheduled for release in March.

Sarah Huntsman Reed, a medical counselor in Kansas City, Missouri, has such a lifelong friend. She met Doug Reed, now a pharmacist, when both were in their high school musical, Once Upon a Mattress. Reed had a great sense of humor, Sarah remembers. “He’s still the most honest yet kindest person I’ve met,” she says. Soon, their mothers became friends, too, and the two teens would pair up for family weddings. Then she went to college and married and he moved away; yet they stayed in touch through mutual friends and their moms, catching up in person when he returned to his hometown.

Seventeen years after they first met, by which time Sarah was divorced, the two discussed taking their friendship to the next level and soon married. “It was a big decision to commit, because we knew so much about each other,” she says. “But we prefer each other’s company, and it was the best thing we ever did.”

Safety Net In trying times, friends can surround us with positive energy, says Madisyn Taylor, co-founder and editor-in-chief of the spiritual blog DailyOm, in Ashland,

Hallmarks of good friendship include staying in touch and being consistently positive and vulnerable, so as we reveal ourselves over time, we can be authentic with each other.

Oregon. “The people we love form a protective barrier that buffers and shields us from many of the world’s more crippling blows,” including receiving hurtful slights from others.

How we make friends has been altered by today’s social landscape, which includes working parents and Amber Alerts. The days of children freely roaming their neighborhood discovering friends to play with are, unfortunately, over, says Jennifer S. White, a Toledo, Ohio, blogger and author of The Art of Parenting: Love Letters from a Mother.

“My long-term friendships from childhood were all built around being neighbors and playing together just because we wanted to,” recalls White.

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With today’s safety concerns and work-life challenges, parents now set up playdates, a more structured, less organic way of fostering childhood friendships, and they must be proactive to ensure success.

White has some misgivings about this modern-day approach. “When I think about that one little gleaming seed of truth at the heart of why, it’s often because I don’t think it’s fair that I have to be a popular ‘playdate mom’ for my kid to have some friends.”

Besties and Buddies Automatic playdates—with siblings—often enhance family ties through lifelong friendships. Sally Ekus is a culinary talent representative in Florence, Massachusetts.

Her younger sister, Amelia, is the general manager of Twitter Cafe, in New York City, and lives in Brooklyn. Both foodies have knife-and-fork tattoos. Sally is more into meal ingredients and preparation, while Amelia loves pouring wine and making sure everyone is comfortable.

“Together,” says Sally, “we create total hospitality, from lavish Passover seders to Friday nights with friends.”

She notes that her sister is the only other person who understands what the world looks like through the Ekus girls’ perspective.

Some adults might never meet faceto-face, but become friends via social media. American Jamie Schler, co-owner of the Hotel Diderot, in Chinon, France, with her native-born husband, says, “So-

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Everyone from contemporary scientists to ancient philosophers agrees that having strong social bonds is probably the most meaningful contributor to happiness. ~Gretchen Rubin, author of The Happiness Project cial media [especially Facebook posts] is how I meet and make personal friends and keep in touch on a daily basis. As an expat, this is important because I often feel far from family and friends that understand me, share common interests and ideas and speak the same language—and I don’t necessarily mean English.” Her high-tech circle ranges from hometown pals to new friends in the food community and political forums. She raves, “It’s a place where I find them all at the same time!”

Nelson remarks, “No one is saying Facebook should replace visits, nights

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out and phone calls, but in a world where most of us wish we felt closer to a few more people, it doesn’t hurt to use every tool at our disposal for creating connections.”

Differences in age needn’t be a hurdle in forging friendships. Candelaria Silva-Collins, an arts marketing professional in Boston, attended area social gatherings where she regularly encountered a museum director and his wife. “They seemed like a fantastic couple,” she says, and began a friendship with the older woman, despite their being from different generations. “My friend teaches me a lot about being vital and vibrant,” she says.

Expanding Circles

Becoming friends with people of different ages, languages and social standing gives us a spiritual workout, advises Nelson.

With a master’s degree in divinity, Nelson views friendship as a type of health club in which we develop our empathy, forgiveness and compassion muscles through practice. “Friendships are the way we become better people,” she says.

Furthermore, the process, especially with people unlike us, leads to a better world. “Being able to inherently care for people we know makes it easier to do the same for people we’ve not met yet,” says Nelson. World peace happens one friend at a time.

Freelance writer Judith Fertig also blogs at AlfrescoFoodAndLifestyle.blogspot. com from Overland Park, KS.

wisewords

moment, doing the best I can every day. I’ve also learned to be kind to myself when I’m failing to do so or something is annoying me due to some unfortunate imbalance.

Alyssa Milano’s Anti-Aging Secrets Her Natural Lifestyle Choices Keep Her Young

by Gerry Strauss

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lyssa Milano has grown up, and most of us have grown up with her. From her days as preteen tomboy Samantha Miceli on Who’s the Boss? to witchy woman Phoebe Halliwell on Charmed, the actress has been a vibrant, relatable and beautiful persona we’ve come to know via television. She was even named a UNICEF ambassador in 2004. Today, with a young family, her Touch licensed sports apparel line, and the wisdom that accompanies adulthood, her commitment to a natural, eco-friendly lifestyle has become another hallmark of her life.

What connection do you see between eating organic foods and maintaining the energy level that your busy life requires?

I think everything that you put into your body has a connection to how well we function in daily life. As a mom of two, eating organic is a priority; when organic is not an option, it’s about finding the healthiest accessible choices.

I eat tomatoes like other people eat fruit and love papaya. I would put avocado on anything. I also like to cook with healthful herbs and spices like garlic and onions, which is natural for an Italian like me. We keep genetically modified foods out of our house.

Which fitness habits embodied by others have you made your own?

In my Who’s the Boss? days, Tony Danza and Judith Light were always active

and athletic. Tony would bring in a tap dance teacher and Judith a private trainer during lunch breaks. Being tutored on the set, I had no physical education classes or sports activities, so it was super-important for me to see how self-motivated they were to stay fit and in shape. Their example instilled a desire to take care of myself as an adult.

What role does nature play in your daily life?

I love being outside in my organic garden three or more times a week.

Also, the kids and I regularly head outside, which is an easy place to keep them happily and healthfully occupied without my having to jump through hoops.

As an advocate of breastfeeding, which benefits do you think are especially good for mother and child?

In the beginning, a primary benefit is giving your child quality nourishment, including healthy antibodies and other goodies to support health. As they start eating solids, it’s still about maintaining that intimate connection until they’re ready to be weaned and you’re ready to surrender this last physical bond.

How do you balance family life with your acting career?

It’s a hard balance for anyone, especially one who’s detail-oriented and a bit of a perfectionist, like me. The most important thing is to be in the

How do you and your husband keep both your friendship and love vibrant?

We work hard at maintaining a good and healthy marriage, which can be tested in tough times. I believe that it’s vital to have the ability to laugh; you have to find humor in things, reminding yourself and each other that there is something funny in every daily activity, no matter how mundane or hard. When there’s no time to eat together or be intimate, shared laughter is an easy thing to achieve together. Done daily, it can only make the marriage stronger.

We enjoy date nights once or twice a week when my parents take care of the kids. I’ll put on mascara and change out of yoga pants, even if we’re just hanging out together.

Then we do little things like asking how each other’s day went and caring about the answer. We also look for ways we can help each other throughout the week.

What actions does your family emphasize in being stewards of the Earth?

We try to be as eco-friendly as possible, including having lights on timers, conserving water and being kind to animals. I cannot stress how important it is to visit a farm and organic gardens and orchards with children so that they see where their food comes from. We can’t take good food for granted.

In addition to a naturally healthy lifestyle, what else do you credit for your enduring youthfulness?

My secret is happiness. I’ve always said that as long as my laugh lines are deeper than my frown lines, I’m living a good life.

Gerry Strauss is a freelance writer in Hamilton, NJ. Connect at GerryStrauss@aol.com.

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greenliving professional matching, a wider range of singles and better communications with potential partners.

Identifying Candidates

ECOFRIENDLY DATING

Going Online Makes it Easier

A

by Avery Mack

mericans are staying single longer these days. Instead of marrying in our early 20s like in the 1960s, today we’re more likely to be upwards of 27 before committing. Careers and family obligations are among the factors causing delays, allowing couples to learn what really matters before they walk down the aisle.

“A good partner is someone that encourages you to be your authentic self,” says Jill Crosby, host of the online dating website NaturalAwakeningsSingles.com from Mount Shasta, California. “There are always some compromises, but similar core values and respect for each other make a good relationship even better.”

Online dating isn’t just for the unmarried, post-college crowd. Widowed and divorced singles also find it a good way to ease into a renewed social life.

According to a Northwestern University study, typical benefits include access to

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Dates can still spring from chance meetings, fix-ups by friends and family or workplace encounters, but these generally have the same success rate as finding the proverbial needle in a haystack. Adding must-have characteristics such as an eco-friendly lifestyle might land an aspirant in the shallow end of the dating pool unless it is pre-screened by a conscious dating site.

Discovering a potential partner via a dedicated online site enables members to refine their list of desired attributes versus deal-breakers, modifying their own profile accordingly. Elements of success stories usually include both prospects keeping an open mind while exploring a mutually compatible dating site. Honest communication is the most vital link in this get-to-know-you venue, but the goal is to meet, not become pen pals.

When interest proceeds beyond onsite messaging, texting may follow, which tends to diminish fears of saying the wrong thing that could delay or prevent a more in-depth reply. Textpert, a free app that crowdsources text messages, comes to the rescue with suggested responses by other members to help anyone encountering writer’s block.

Distance Hurdles

Long distance isn’t often a deterrent when love is right. A California vegan that spent four years on multiple vegan dating sites found her match thousands of miles away in New York through NaturalAwakeningsSingles. com. When an eventual first meeting is more than a quick coffee date, prior Skype or FaceTime chats can confirm that the photo is current and messages were more than pickup lines.

“Technology has made a tremendous difference in price, accessibility and reach,” says Crosby. “Members now post selfies as headshots, shoot their own videos and can access potential matches anywhere in the world.”

Discerning Kindred Spirits

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Not all online relationships are love matches. Sometimes it’s enough to find like-minded people. “Natural AwakeningsSingles.com is a safe place to talk about spiritual awakening without someone looking at you like you have three heads. I’ve met a number of people who speak my language,” says Sharmaine Monteith, a sales manager in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. “When people care about the environment, it changes who they are and how they live. My profile maps my beliefs and my heart.”

A University of Chicago study asked 20,000 people that married between 2005 and 2012 how they met. One third said online; half used another kind of dating service. Another telling statistic showed that those that met at work, in a bar or by blind date were 25 percent more likely to divorce. Researchers think this is because online daters know each other better before meeting. When folks fudge a bit in their profile, it’s mostly about weight and height.

Green Hot Spots

“It’s easier to find a vegan date in the produce aisle of the grocery store than at the beach,” advises April Masini, a New York City author of four relationship books and the AskApril.com advice column. “Whether you’re looking in person or online for dates, focus on the areas where you’d naturally find others who are green like you.” Community gardens, river cleanups and Earth Day celebrations spring to mind.

Make a green impression by wearing clothing made of sustainable fabrics and offering a small gift of a fair trade item, organic chocolates or native wildflower bouquet. The choice of going to a locally sourced restaurant will include an eco-friendly ride to get there.

A 2014 study by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics found that 50 percent of Americans over the age of 16 are unmarried—yet most believe marriage is extremely important. With all the people still looking for love, online meet-ups can dramatically improve success.

Connect with the freelance writer via AveryMack@mindspring.com.

consciouseating

Ancient Grains for Modern Palates Gluten-Free and Eco-Friendly Grains Gain Favor

by Judith Fertig

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ncient grains are making a comeback. Grown since Neolithic times about 10,000 years ago, varieties of barley, corn, millet and rice have helped assuage the hunger of many communities.

Today, yellow millet, dark red wholegrain sorghum, brown quinoa and exotic black rice can help alleviate food shortages.

According to Harry Balzer, an expert surveyor of food and diet trends with The NPD Group, concerns about grains and gluten have prompted about a third of Americans to try to cut back on both since 2012. About 1 percent of the population has celiac disease, estimates the Celiac Disease Foundation, but many more prefer not to eat gluten. Many ancient grains are naturally gluten-free, including amaranth, buckwheat, millet, quinoa, rice and teff.

“Some think that a grain-free way

of eating is healthier and also better for the planet,” says food writer Maria Speck, of Cambridge, Massachusetts, author of Ancient Grains for Modern Meals and Simply Ancient Grains.

“But that may be too simplistic, a characteristic of many diet trends.”

Better for Our Health

Whole grains fill us up and provide fiber, both necessary for maintaining optimum digestion and weight, says Kathleen Barnes, a widely published natural health expert in Brevard, North Carolina.

Eating more whole grains has been previously associated with a lower risk of major diseases such as Type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease, based on studies by the University of Minnesota and Lund University, in Sweden. Qi Sun, assistant professor in the Harvard School of Public Health department of nutrition, agrees

Natural Awakenings recommends using organic and non-GMO (genetically modified) ingredients whenever possible.

that whole grains are one of the major healthful foods for prevention of major chronic diseases. He’s the lead author of a new Harvard study of data associating consumption of whole grains with a 9 percent reduction in overall mortality and up to 15 percent fewer cardiovascular fatalities during two 25-yearlong research initiatives that followed 74,000 woman and 43,000 men. The researchers cited substituting whole grains for refined grains and red meat as likely contributors to longer life.

“Whole grains are nutritional powerhouses, packed with vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, beneficial fiber and even some protein,” observes Speck. With a German father and a Greek mother, she grew up in two cultures where grains are a part of everyday meals. “We eat them because they taste good.”

Better for Local Farmers

Sourcing and eating more organic and GMO-free whole grains (absent modified genetics) can help support local farmers, Speck maintains. Choose barley from Four Star Farms, in Massachusetts; heirloom grits from Anson Mills, in South Carolina; quinoa from White Mountain Farm, in Colorado; or heirloom Japanese rice from Koda Farms, in California.

Better for the Planet

Ancient grains require fewer natural resources to plant, grow and harvest.

According to the Water Footprint Network, a pound of beef, millet and rice require 1,851, 568 and 300 gallons of water, respectively, to produce.

Substituting grains in diets is a sustainable alternative to meat, and they grow on grasslands that now inefficiently support livestock. According to University of Cambridge Professor of Engineering David MacKay, it takes about 25 times more energy to produce one calorie of beef than one calorie of natural grain.

Ancient grains can add variety and flavor to meals and a wealth of them are as close as the gluten-free aisle of a neighborhood grocery or health food store.

Judith Fertig blogs at AlfrescoFood AndLifestyle.blogspot.com from Overland Park, KS.

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Cooking with Ancient Grains To make the soup, heat a large heavy saucepan over medium heat. Swirl in the oil and wait until it shimmers.

Add the onion and ¼ tsp of the salt. Stir occasionally, until the onion just starts to brown at the edges, about 5 minutes.

Buckwheat and Beet Soup 1 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil 1½ cups chopped red onion (1 medium) ¾ tsp fine sea salt 2 tsp minced garlic (2 cloves) ¼ tsp dried thyme ¾ tsp dried savory or ½ tsp more dried thyme ¾ cup raw buckwheat groats (not kasha) 4 cups low-sodium vegetable broth ¼ tsp freshly ground black pepper 2 cups raw shredded beets, preferably red (1 large or 2 small) 1 to 2 tsp honey 1 cup purified water (approximately) 2 tsp sherry vinegar, or more as needed Horseradish Yogurt ¾ cup whole milk or 2% Greek yogurt 3 Tbsp retail horseradish, with liquid ¼ tsp fine sea salt ¼ tsp freshly ground black pepper 22

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Stir in the buckwheat groats and cook, stirring occasionally and monitoring, until the grains take on some color, about 2 minutes.

Add the broth (beware of splatter), the remaining ½ tsp salt and the pepper and bring to a boil, scraping the bottom of the pan.

Decrease the heat to maintain a simmer, cover and cook until the buckwheat is tender, about 15 minutes.

Yields: 4 servings

Photo by Erin Kunkel © 2015

Photo by Erin Kunkel © 2015

Stir in the garlic and the herbs thyme and savory, and then cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 1 minute. Watch closely, so as not to burn the pieces.

While it simmers, prepare the horseradish yogurt topping: Combine the horseradish, salt and pepper in a small bowl and beat until smooth using a fork. Season with more salt and pepper to taste.

To finish, stir in the beets and 1 tsp of the honey and then add about 1 cup of water to reach a preferred consistency.

Remove the pot from the heat, cover and allow to sit for 5 minutes until the vegetables soften.

Add the vinegar and taste for seasoning.

Depending on the beets’ sweetness, maybe add another teaspoon of honey and a bit more vinegar to balance it, and perhaps a tad more salt and pepper.

The seasoning is forgiving because the topping will bring the flavors together.

Ladle the soup into four bowls, garnish with a dollop of the yogurt topping and serve at once.

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Cardamom-Infused Black Rice Porridge with Blueberries and Pistachios Yields: 4 to 6 servings Black Rice ¾ cup black rice 2 whole green cardamom pods 1½ cups boiling purified water Porridge 1 cup half-and-half, plus more as needed 3 Tbsp maple syrup, or more as needed ¾ tsp ground cardamom 1 cup fresh or frozen blueberries 4 to 6 Tbsp pomegranate seeds, for garnish 3 Tbsp lightly toasted chopped plain pistachios, for garnish Start the rice the night before: Add the rice and cardamom pods to a large, heavy saucepan. Pour over the boiling water, cover and let sit at room temperature or overnight (or chill, covered, for up to 2 days).

The next morning, make the porridge: Add 1 cup of half-and-half, the maple syrup and ground cardamom to the saucepan with the rice, cover and bring to a boil over medium-high heat.

Uncover, decrease the heat to retain a lively simmer, and cook, stirring once occasionally, until the rice is tender with a slight chew, 5 to 7 minutes.

Decrease the heat to maintain a light boil and cook, uncovered, for 3 minutes.

Remove the cardamom pods, if preferred. Add the blueberries and simmer gently until they are warmed through, 1 to 2 minutes more.

Taste for salt and pepper and adjust (keeping in mind that olives and feta cheese are typically salty).

Remove the pot from the heat, sprinkle with the feta and cover to allow the cheese to soften.

Stir in the millet and green olives.

To finish, add ¼ to ½ cup more halfand-half to reach a desired consistency.

Taste for sweetness and adjust with more maple syrup if needed.

To prepare the shrimp (or tofu), season them with salt and pepper.

Divide between 4 to 6 breakfast bowls.

Top each bowl with 1 tablespoon of pomegranate seeds and 1 teaspoon of chopped pistachios. Serve warm.

Photo by Erin Kunkel © 2015

Greek Millet Saganaki with Shrimp and Ouzo Millet 1¼ cups purified water ¾ cup millet 1 bay leaf Pinch of fine sea salt Saganaki 1 Tbsp extra-virgin olive oil 1 cup finely chopped yellow onion (1 small) 1 clove garlic, peeled and slightly crushed 1 small hot green chili, minced (optional) ¼ tsp fine sea salt 2 Tbsp tomato paste 1 (28-oz) BPA-free can whole tomatoes, crushed in a bowl ¼ tsp freshly ground black pepper ½ cup green pimiento-stuffed olives, halved if large 4 oz coarsely crumbled Greek feta cheese (about 1 cup), preferably made from sheep’s milk Shrimp 1 lb jumbo shell-on shrimp from a reputable fishmonger, deveined and patted dry (or substitute firm tofu, cut into bite-sized pieces) Fine sea salt and freshly ground black pepper 2 Tbsp extra-virgin olive oil 1 /3 cup ouzo or other anise-

flavored liqueur ¼ cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley To prepare the millet, bring the water, millet, bay leaf, and salt to a boil in a 2-quart saucepan.

Decrease the heat to maintain a simmer, cover and cook until the water is absorbed, about 15 minutes.

Remove from the heat and let sit covered for 5 to 10 minutes. Uncover, remove the bay leaf and set aside to cool.

Meanwhile, make the saganaki. Heat the olive oil in a large Dutch oven or large, heavy-bottomed saucepan over medium heat until it shimmers. Add the onion, garlic, chili and salt; cook, stirring frequently, until the onion softens and turns light golden, about 5 minutes.

Add the tomato paste and cook, stirring, until it darkens, about 1 minute.

Add the tomatoes with their juices and the pepper; bring to a boil over medium-high heat.

Heat the olive oil in a 12-inch skillet over high heat until it shimmers. Add the shrimp. Cook, undisturbed, until the shrimp or tofu pieces turn golden, 1 to 2 minutes, and then flip them with a spatula and cook until the shrimp are just opaque throughout or the tofu has warmed through, 1 to 2 more minutes, depending on the size.

Add the ouzo and cook until it’s syrupy, about 30 seconds. Using a spatula, briskly remove the shrimp from the pan and arrange on top of the millet.

Sprinkle with the parsley and serve at once.

All recipes adapted from Simply Ancient Grains or Ancient Grains for Modern Meals, by Maria Speck, courtesy of Ten Speed Press.

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naturalpet

Bird-Watching for Beginners Start with a Bird Feeder and Binoculars

by Sandra Murphy

F

or those that love animals but can’t provide a home to a domestic pet, wild birds are just outside the window. Between 50 and 60 million Americans list bird-watching as a hobby. To start, all we need is a bird feeder.

For safety and comfort, position feeders near a tree or bush at least 15 feet from windows. Scott Logan, an Audubon Society board member in Sherman Oaks, California, cautions, “Birds stay alert for predators. An unmarked window looks like an escape route. They won’t see the glass.” Products like Window Alert, a decal that reflects ultraviolet rays birds see but humans don’t, can prevent a crash.

A book on local birds will describe the best food to attract them, whether residents or just passing through. Bluebirds love mealworms.

Hummingbirds like floral nectars and orioles prefer citrus flavors. Cardinals and jays dine on sunflower seeds.

Always provide unseasoned, unsalted seeds. In cold weather, also remember to hang homemade suet combining one part organic regular fat peanut butter with five parts organic, nonGMO (genetically modified) corn meal. Pour fresh water in the birdbath daily, change hummingbird nectar every three days and discard moldy seeds and old suet.

Feeding year-round doesn’t interfere with migration, according to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, in Ithaca, 24

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New York. Migration, nest building, feeding a new family and staying warm in colder weather require substantial calories. “American goldfinches are social and will stay to eat,” adds Logan.

“Blue jays and titmouses are ‘grab-andgo’ birds.”

Join in the Fun

In Arlington, Texas, Cathy Stein, owner of EclecticDesignChoices.com, will participate in the Great Backyard Bird Count this year from February 12 to 15 (Audubon.org/content/aboutgreat-backyard-bird-count). “One easy resource for identifying birds is Merlin, the free app from Cornell Lab,” says Stein. “Take the bird’s picture, which is helpful in identifying details that can be overlooked or forgotten otherwise.”

Merlin works like facial recognition for birds, comparing eyes, beaks and tails to species in its database by location (Merlin.AllAboutBirds.org). Audubon’s free app includes birdcalls (Tinyurl. com/AudubonFreeBirdApp).

Jon Weber-Hahnsberg, a 12-yearold volunteer at the Dallas Zoo, and his seven-member team won last year’s statewide birding competition hosted by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department by identifying 72 species in 12 hours.

“Now I’m hooked,” he says. “Outside the city, there are snowy egrets, waterfowl, hawks and owls to see.”

National wildlife refuges managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service are suitable birding sites for both

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novices and pros. Here are some tips for beginners.

Focus on big, easy-to-see birds.

Sandhill crane tours are a hit in Mississippi and other Gulf Coast states (fws.gov/refuge/Mississippi_ Sandhill_Crane).

Concentrate on birds that travel in flocks. Common redhead ducks migrate in great numbers to the Texas coast each winter (Tinyurl.com/ LagunaAtascosaBirdlife).

Look for standouts, birds with characteristics that capture the imagination, like the speed of a peregrine falcon, large wingspan of a California condor or unusual color of Florida’s roseate spoonbills. (Visit fws.gov/refuge/ Cape_Meares and fws.gov/refuge/ JN_Ding_Darling.)

In Maine, see puffins at the only colony that allows visitors to go ashore for a close-up look (MaineBirdingTrail. com/MachiasSealIsland.htm). Not a

I think the most important quality in a birdwatcher is a willingness to stand quietly and see what comes. Some people are very competitive in their birding. Maybe they’ll die happy, having seen a thousand species… but I’ll die happy knowing I’ve spent all that quiet time being present. ~Lynn Thomson, Birding with Yeats: A Memoir

refuge, ownership of the island has been disputed for two centuries.

inspiration

DEEP LISTENING

Incredible Hobby

“Keeping a life list of birds you’ve seen, when and where, is not only fun,” says Nate Swick, author of the recent Birding for the Curious, in Greensboro, North Carolina. “It brings back memories of a time and place. Birding takes you places you wouldn’t think of. I’ve birdwatched in local landfills, as well as in India and Central America.” A particularly impressive sight was a shearwater, found 30 to 40 miles into the Atlantic Ocean off the North Carolina coast, a species that only comes to land during breeding season.

“Each bird has an incredible story,” he says. “Migrating birds that arrive exhausted and hungry after flying hundreds of miles will often look for local birds like chickadees that act as the welcome wagon, showing where food, water and a safe rest area can be found.”

Erika Zar, a catalog copywriter in Madison, Wisconsin, happened upon the nearby Horicon Marsh Bird Festival (HoriconMarshBirdClub.com/for-visitors). “Everyone seemed so meditative, hiking in quiet groups. It was peaceful,” she says. “Listing the birds they saw on checklists was like a scavenger hunt for adults.”

Zar immediately bought binoculars, but soon traded them for a better pair. “Bird-watching opened my eyes to a new world right in front of me,” she says joyfully. “I’d just never looked or listened closely enough before.”

Connect with Sandra Murphy at StLouisFreelanceWriter@mindspring.com.

Fine Feathered Facts What to do with a stranded baby bird: Tinyurl.com/OrphanedBabyBirds Comparing bird and human vision: WindowAlert.com/bird-vision

Our Wholehearted Attention Is Our Greatest Gift

by Kay Lindahl

P

erhaps one of the most precious and powerful gifts we give another person is to really listen to them with quiet, fascinated attention and our whole being; fully present. Deep listening occurs at the heart level, and we must ask ourselves how often we listen to each other so completely. Such listening is a creative force. We expand, ideas come to life and grow and we remember who we are. It brings forth our inner spirit, intelligence, or true self, and opens up the space for us to thrive.

Sometimes we have to do a lot of listening before another’s inner being feels replenished. Some people just need to talk and go on and on, usually in a superficial, nervous manner. This often happens because they have not been truly listened to. Patience is required to be a listening presence for such a person long enough that they get to their center point of tranquility and peace. The results of such listening are extraordinary.

Some would call them miracles.

Listening well takes time, skill and a readiness to slow down to afford time

for reflection and to let go of expectations, judgments, boredom, self-assertiveness and defensiveness.

When two people listen deeply to one another, we sense that we are present not only to each other, but also to something beyond our individual selves; something spiritual, holy or sacred.

Once we experience the depth of being listened to like this, we naturally begin to listen to be present with another. We notice what occurs when we interrupt someone and when we don’t.

We watch what unfolds when another stops speaking and we ask, “Is there anything else?”

Listening is an art that calls for practice. Imagine if we all spent just a few minutes each day choosing to practice the art of listening; of being fully present with the person we are with.

Being truly listened to and understood yields a sigh of contentment and joy.

Kay Lindahl, of Long Beach, CA, is the author of The Sacred Art of Listening, from which this was adapted with permission from SkyLight Paths Publishing.

Love is life. And if you

miss love, you miss life. ~Leo Buscaglia

Find wildlife refuges by state: fws.gov/refuges Live bird cams: Cams.AllAboutBirds.org natural awakenings

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Effective Listening Practices

calendarofevents NOTE: All calendar events must be received via email by the 12th of the month and adhere to our guidelines. Email publisher@nasrq.com for guidelines. No phone calls or faxes, please. Visit NASRQ.com to submit online.

by Kay Lindahl Pay attention to the environment. Stop other activities to listen. Clear your desk. Turn off background noise or move to a quiet corner.

Be present. Listen with an open, appreciative and curious mind rather than evaluating what’s being said. Put your own agenda aside.

Stop talking. One person speaks at a time without interruption.

Listen for understanding. No one is required to agree with or believe what they hear. Let empathy and compassion take the lead; put yourself in their shoes.

Ask for clarification. It can help a listener understand what’s being expressed.

Pause before speaking. Allow the speaker to complete their thought, and then wait a few seconds before responding. Also ask, “Is there anything else?” There almost always is.

Listen to yourself. Inquire of your inner voice, “What wants to be expressed next?”

Signal that they’ve been heard. Encouraging body language includes empathetic facial expressions, nodding and sympathetic postures.

Adapted from The Top Ten Powerful Listening Practices on the author’s website SacredListening.com.

A smile is a

curve that sets everything straight. ~Phyllis Diller

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Peace River Edition

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 2

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 5

Yanni – 8pm. Legendary composer and live performer, Yanni has brought hundreds of millions of fans and fellow world citizens together via his concerts, with countless more experiencing the magic of his music through television broadcasts.

Location: Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, 777 N Tamiami Trl, Sarasota. Info, 941-953-3368, VanWezel.org.

Psychic Intuitive & Trance Channel Readings – 10:30am-5:30pm. Sherry Lord is a versatile channel who can assist you on your path. 15 mins/$40; 30 mins/$75; 60 mins/$125; Deep Trance Channel Sessions 50 mins/$175. Elysian Fields, Midtown Plaza, 1273 S Tamiami Trl, Sarasota. RSVP 941361-3006, ElysianFieldsOnline.com.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 3 John of God, Crystal Light Bed Session – Also Feb 4. Call or email to book your session with Michele Denise, authorized John of God guide. 828-4231482. Michele@CrystalHealingBed.com. The Cosmic Center of Spiritual Light, 5041 Ringwood Mdw, Bldg G-2, Sarasota. 941-371-9333, ccosl.com.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 4 32nd Annual Glendi Greek Festival – 11am9pm Feb 4-6. Noon-8pm Feb 7. Authentic Greek food & wines, live entertainment & dancing, marketplace, crafts, children’s kid zone, church tours & more. Win a Mercedes, $7500 or trip anyway in the world. Details on website or in church office. Thursday admission benefits Take Stock in Children. $4. Free/Children under 12. St. Barbara Greek Orthodox Church, 7671 N Lockwood Ridge Rd (at Tallevast Rd), Sarasota. Info, Denise Chimbos -941-355-2616. StBarbara34243@gmail.com.

StBarbaraFestival.org.

Ancient Aliens: The Lost Episodes – 7-9pm.

Join William Henry, the spiritual voice of the History Channel’s hit TV show Ancient Aliens for an exploration of topics “too hot to handle” for the network. As a story contributor to Ancient Aliens, William knows firsthand that there are ancient alien accounts that are banned due to their controversial nature. William brings these stories to you and more. WilliamHenry.net. $25. The Cosmic Center of Spiritual Light, 5041 Ringwood Mdw, Bldg G-2, Sarasota. Register, Cosmic Center 941371-9333 or visit WilliamHenry.splashthat.com.

“Aida” by Giuseppe Verdi – 7:30pm. A most beloved tale of the mythic love triangle between a slave, a vengeful princess and a great warrior, conducted by Victor DeRenzi, staged

by Stephanie Sundine and with new sets by David P Gordon, this opera features arias such as “Celeste Aida” and “O Patria Mia.” $19 - $125.

Sarasota Opera House, 61 N Pineapple Ave. Info 941-328-1300, SarasotaOpera.org.

Masters of Illusion - Believe the Impossible – 7:30pm. Nothing beats the experience of seeing a magic show in person. You will see grand illusions, levitating women, appearances, vanishes, escapes, comedy magic, sleight of hand and beautiful dancers all rolled up into America’s largest touring magic show! Only the best, most unique, amusing, astounding and amazing performers have been chosen to perform in this huge stage phenomenon. Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, 777 N Tamiami Trl, Sarasota. Info, 941-953-3368, VanWezel.org.

www.peaceriverna.com

Workshop-Pathways to Ascension: Revealing the Lost Knowledge and Healing Wisdom of Humanity’s Greatest Avatars – 7-9:30pm Fri. 10am–5pm Sat. Feb 5-6. Ascension teachings and light body empowerments of Akhenaton and Nefertiti, Jesus and Mary Magdalene, Padmasambhava and Yeshe Tsogyal, St Francis and Clare of Assisi among others. With William Henry, author of 18 books and featured on Ancient Aliens. WilliamHenry.net. $175. Seating is limited. The Cosmic Center of Spiritual Light, 5041 Ringwood Mdw, Bldg G-2, Sarasota. Register, Cosmic Center 941-371-9333 or visit WilliamHenry.splashthat.com.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 6 ReptiDay Sarasota Reptile & Exotic Animal Expo – 10am-5pm. Featuring vendors offering reptile pets, supplies, feeders, cages and merchandise as well as live animal seminars and frequent free raffles for coveted prizes. Exciting, educational, family-oriented fun for everyone! Adults $10, Children (5-12) $5, Under 5 Free. Visit website for special offers on Early Entry VIP tickets. Sarasota County Fairgrounds Potter Building, 3000 Ringling Blvd. Info 863-268-4273, ReptiDay.com/sarasota.html.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 7 ECK Worship Service – 10-11am. This month: What is Spiritual Freedom? Come learn what having Spiritual Freedom can mean for you and how you can gain it. Free, Charlotte County Cultural Center, Rm I, 2280 Aaron St, Port Charlotte, 941764-1797, Meetup.com/EckankarInSarasota.

Open Heart Divine Healing Service – 12:15pm.

The first Sunday of each month. Through the gathering of the Faithful, experience and co-create the Anchoring of Powerful Divine Healing energies within the Sacred Circle. Expect Miracles! Reverend Sharon Elizabeth James. Love offering. The Cosmic Center of Spiritual Light, 5041 Ringwood Mdw, Bldg G-2, Sarasota. 941-371-9333, ccosl.com.

classifieds SERVICES CREATIVITY COACH FOR SENIORS. Personalized arts. Private home sessions. Specializing in dementia. Caregiver and family training. Excellent résumé. 941-549-1317. kdeluisa@yahoo.com.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 9

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 13

Monthly Anchoring Light Channeled Meditation – 7pm. With Reverend Sharon-Elizabeth James. Serving the Ascension of our planet with the Ascended Realms as Anchors of Light. Love Offering. The Cosmic Center of Spiritual Light, 5041 Ringwood Mdw, Bldg G-2, Sarasota. For location and direction, 941-371-9333. ccosl.com.

Shaman Journey Experience – 2-5:30pm. Similar to guided meditation enhanced by the heartbeat of the large mother drum. You open to your own shaman dream where mysteries open and unfold. The Journey itself is 30-40 mins. The Cosmic Center of Spiritual Light, 5041 Ringwood Mdw, Bldg G-2, Sarasota. 941-371-9333. ccosl.com. RSVP, Rev Zan Butterfly Deerwoman, 941-922-7839, Zan@ Woman-Spirit.com, Woman-Spirit.com.

WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 10 Angelic Healing – 7-9pm. Divinely guided healing, crystal bowl meditation, group & personal healing as Alysia Sargent & Melissa Parks channel Archangels & divine healers. Profound healing & guidance on all levels to align with soul purpose. $25. 941-536-1045. EarthAngelsOfSarasota.com.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 11 Intuitive & Healer Readings – 10:30am-5:30pm.

Also Feb 25. Join Deborah Chadwick who communicates with her guides and angels, quickly receiving very specific information for her clients.

15 mins/$30; 30 mins/$60. Elysian Fields, 1273 S Tamiami Trl, Sarasota. 941-361-3006, ElysianFieldsOnline.com.

Tired of Searching for Love? Let Love Find You! – 7-9pm. This class with Indira explores how to clear energy and accelerate the process of manifesting your most compatible soul mate. Elysian Fields, 1273 S Tamiami Trl, Sarasota. 941-3613006, ElysianFieldsOnline.com.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 12 Circus Sarasota Winter Production – 7pm. Feb 12-26. Under the Big Top for over 18 seasons, an international, all-star lineup of circus artists with an unparalleled array of thrilling acts will once again amaze audiences celebrating the unique circus heritage of this community. Sells out early. Big Top, SE corner of University Town Center Mall, 140 University Town Center Dr, Sarasota. Info & tickets, 941-355-9805.

Meditation & Spirit Circle – 7-8:30pm. 2nd and 4th Friday. Learn how to prepare for meditation. Experience a guided meditation. Participate in a Spirit Circle. $10. Angel Ministries, 2269 S Tamiami Trl, Venice. Rev Patricia Charnley, 941492-4995. RevPat@AngelMinistriesfl.org, AngelMinistriesfl.org.

Group Channeling with Source – 7-9 pm. Elliott Eli Jackson, international channel, bestselling author and Source’s monthly articles in the Sedona Journal of Emergence, will also offer private sessions on Sat 2/13, 10am-6:30pm & Sun 2/14, 3-8pm. $130/1 hr. $75/30mins. The Cosmic Center of Spiritual Light, 5041 Ringwood Mdw, Bldg G-2, Sarasota. Appointments, 941-371-9333. ccosl.com.

Valentine Celebration/Getaway Weekend & Tantra Workshop – 7pm-Sun 2pm. Feb 12-14.

Join Richard & Diana Daffner, authors of Tantric Sex for Busy Couples, for a romantic beach getaway. Bring greater joy, intimacy and passion to your relationship. Celebrate your love. Connect with your beloved on a soul level. $695/couple. Siesta Key Beach, Sarasota. More info, other dates & locations, brochure, 941-349-6804, IntimacyRetreats.com.

True Love Never Dies – 8-9:30pm. Have you ever seen a medium work live? Do you yearn to hear from a family member who has passed? Wish to communicate with Spirit yourself? During this amazing evening you’ll meet one of the country’s top psychic mediums, Victoria Ackerman, and others who will not only deliver live readings and messages for many audience members, but will show you how to discover your innate intuitive abilities. Tickets on sale now, limited seating! $20.

The Players Theatre, 838 N Tamiami Trl, Sarasota. 941-544-5874, Light@VictoriaAckerman.com, TheSpiritUniversity.com.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 14 HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY♥ Siesta Key Valentine’s Day I Do’s – 6pm. Couples can say “I do” again on the white sands of Siesta Key this Valentine’s Day. More than 300 couples took part in last year’s vow-renewal ceremony on Siesta Public Beach. The County has hosted the annual ceremony for many years, and the event continues to grow. Info, ParksOnline.scgov.net.

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 15 Paddle Myrtle Creek with Jim Story – 9am2pm. Join Florida Master Naturalist Jim Story as he leads us through a freshwater jungle to tidal Shell Creek waterfall and dam. Participants must provide their own watercraft, PFD, and be able to swim. Free to the public. Voluntary donations to the Sierra Club are always gratefully accepted.

Must reserve, 941-505-8904.

Astrology Discussions with Catherine Rosenbaum – 7-9pm. This class delves into the twoyear period of Saturn that is transiting Sagittarius.

Explore the areas of life that Saturn, the Master Teacher/Guide, is activating for you. $25. Elysian Fields, 1273 S Tamiami Trl, Sarasota. 941-3613006, ElysianFieldsOnline.com.

Introduction to Evidential Mediumship – 7:158:45pm. This is a class about evidential mediumship, the ability to communicate with Spirit loved ones and bring through evidential information.

We will discuss the difference between a psychic and a medium, what mediumship is and isn’t, and more. Your questions are welcome. Take this opportunity to check out your interest and potential for evidential mediumship! Note: This class is the prerequisite for the Foundations of Evidential Mediumship Skills course starting Feb 22 (5 classes).

With Shanna Spalding St Clair. $15. The Spirit University, 373 Braden Ave, Sarasota. 941-5445874, Light@VictoriaAckerman.com, TheSpiritUniversity.com.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 17 Chakra Class & Healing – 1-3pm. Learn how important chakras are to body, mind & spirit health.

Discover chakras 8-12. Alysia Sargent & Melissa Parks channel Archangel Metatron & other healers to give a complete chakra healing, open your 8th chakra and give you a sacred geometry symbol. $25. 941-536-1045. EarthAngelsOfSarasota.com.

Master Share for Reiki III – 7-9pm. Masters of all lineages come together to share, expand, enhance and brush up on their Reiki. Wear comfortable clothes. $5 Suggested Donation. Rising Tide, 5102 Swift Rd, Sarasota. Rev Zan Benham.

941-922-7839. Zan@Woman-Spirit.com, Woman-Spirit.com.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 18 Interiorology: Mind, Body & Spirit of Home Series – 7-9pm. In this class with Laurel James, learn to awaken the possibilities, positive aspects, and expressions of your True Self within your home. $20.

Elysian Fields, 1273 S Tamiami Trl, Sarasota. 941361-3006, ElysianFieldsOnline.com.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 20 Basic IET Certification – 10am-4pm. In the Basic IET class you will be attuned to the energy ray activating the 1st and 2nd DNA pairs that empower you.

You will learn to conduct the 5-minute empowerment self-balancing and clearing session. You will learn to conduct an absentee IET session, increase your ability to be an energy intuitive and “read” energy, and so much more. $180/0.5 college credit. Angel Ministries College, 2269 S Tamiami Trl, Venice. Rev Patricia Charnley, 941-492-4995. AngelMinistriesfl.org.

Psychic Fair – 11am-4pm. Readings, healings, message gallery, free lectures. Psychic Readers will use their intuitive abilities to assist you in making choices and in answers for personal growth. Readings and Healings are 15 minutes, so you have time to sample different reader styles.

If you’ve never had a reading, now is the time to give it a try! Join in the fun, and see how spirit is helping you! $20/15 min. The Spirit University, 373 Braden Ave, Sarasota. 941-544-5874, Light@ VictoriaAckerman.com, TheSpiritUniversity.com.

Reiki II Attunement and Certification Class – 11:30am-5:30pm. The 2nd of 4 classes towards a Reiki III Master Healer Certification into the Usui Method. Teacher, Rev Zan Benham. $122.

The Cosmic Center of Spiritual Light, 5041 Ringwood Mdw, Bldg G-2, Sarasota. 941-371-9333. ccosl.com. Info, Zan@Woman-Spirit.com, Woman-Spirit.com.

Reiki II Certification – Noon-5pm. Learn three reiki symbols & how to draw them correctly. Discover their meanings & when to use them. Be sure to bring a pen with purple ink. Receive second degree attunement. Learn about raku-kei, crystals and more. $75 class/$15 Manual /0.5 College Credit.

Angel Ministries, 2269 S Tamiami Trl, Venice. Rev Patricia Charnley, 941-492-4995. RevPat@AngelMinistriesfl.org, AngelMinistriesfl.org.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 21 Divitarot Readers of Sarasota – 2-4pm. This group will be focused on learning the tarot, developing your intuitive skills and ultimately reaching a point where you feel comfortable reading for yourself, as well as others. Tarot is steeped in history which we will review. The tarot will be our focus, however other oracle decks will eventually be

natural awakenings

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27

introduced. This group will meet again every two weeks. With Bridget Fortune Burns, PhD. $10.

The Spirit University, 373 Braden Ave, Sarasota.

941-544-5874, Light@VictoriaAckerman.com, TheSpiritUniversity.com.

A Reiki Share – 6-7pm. For healing practitioners to participate in giving and receiving Reiki within an atmosphere of friendship and love. Benefit from combined wisdom and skill. Align with your Spirit, feel more centered, release fear and stress, and experience connection. For anyone who is interested in finding wellbeing and creating harmonious changes in their life through personal healing, transformation, and awakening. All are welcome to come and receive a healing. Free. The Spirit University, 373 Braden Ave, Sarasota. 941544-5874, Light@VictoriaAckerman.com, TheSpiritUniversity.com.

Celebration Sunday – 7-8:20pm. Come together each month in community and joy. Celebrate, be strengthened, be encouraged, and seek truth while continuing to learn and grow. Interesting, inspirational, and informative speakers help stimulate thinking and introduce us to new ideas and knowledge of the world around us. Mediumship Message Demonstration (contact with those in the afterlife), Meditation, Music, Fellowship. Hosted

by Shanna Spalding St Clair. Come early for the Reiki Share at 6pm if you are interested. Free. The Spirit University, 373 Braden Ave, Sarasota. 941544-5874, Light@VictoriaAckerman.com, TheSpiritUniversity.com.

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 22 Foundations of Evidential Mediumship – 7:158:45pm. This course with Shanna Spalding St Clair focuses on developing and establishing the skills and supporting practices that lead to communication with Spirit/ loved ones, such as how to connect with the Spirit Communicator and your Gatekeeper, recognizing and communicating evidence that confirms consciousness continues after the transition called death, creating trust and confidence as a medium, and more. Five-class course.

Prerequisites: Permission of instructor (216402-0597, ShannaSpalding@yahoo.com), Introduction to Evidential Mediumship, or two prior Foundations classes. $15. The Spirit University, 373 Braden Ave, Sarasota. 941-544-5874, Light@ VictoriaAckerman.com, TheSpiritUniversity.com.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 26 Concert: Studio and Apprentice Artists – Noon.

Sarasota Opera Studio and Apprentice Artists present an hour-long program of arias and scenes from Sarasota Opera’s 2015-2016 season. $5.

Sarasota Opera House, Peterson Great Room, 61 N Pineapple Ave. Info, 941-328-1300, SarasotaOpera.org.

Conversations with the Other Side – 7-9pm.

Trance/channel mediums Alysia Sargent & Melissa Parks step back to allow their guides to speak with the group. Ask questions, get insight & wisdom from ascended teachers & galactic beings. Receive a healing from multi-dimension healing group. $25.

941-536-1045. EarthAngelsOfSarasota.com.

Speaking to Heaven – 7-9pm. With Joseph LoBrutto communicating directly with loved ones.

During his gallery he brings through clear evidence about your loved ones in spirit, often clarifying questions you might have had since their

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transition. Recognized as a loving bridge to the departed, he brings comfort and joy as he randomly reads the audience delivering heartfelt messages that will make your evening an unforgettable experience. $40 (or Weekend Savings). The Spirit University, 373 Braden Ave, Sarasota. 941-544-5874, Light@VictoriaAckerman.com, TheSpiritUniversity.com.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 27 Peace & Adventure Women’s Retreat – 9am3pm. P&A retreats are about bringing women together with yoga, adventure, community and sharing fabulous meals. Join Patty Seidensticker and Mandy Main exploring the TreeUmph Adventure Course in Bradenton, beginning with yoga stretches and centering, opening ourselves up to the day ahead. Learn the ropes first on the training course and then move at your own pace to experience the various course challenges. Enjoy the woods, exploring, soaring, climbing, swinging with all sorts of wobbly bridges, hanging nets and other rope challenges. Snacks and lunch provided. $85. Advance Reservation requested by February 13. Patty 941-380-1206, RadiantSoulYogaWellness@gmail. com or Mandy 941-893-7245, Mandy@BalanceForLiving.com.

Community HU Song – 11am-noon. Come experience for yourself, with others, how your days can be enhanced by singing the word ‘HU’ from your heart to God, for 20 minutes. You can do this exercise on your own at any time. It is for everyone of any background or religious beliefs. Light refreshments follow. Free, Mid-County Regional Library, room B, 2050 Forrest Nelson Blvd., Port Charlotte, 941-764-1797, Meetup.com/EckankarInSarasota.

local as well as nationally known artists. A portion of the proceeds will be used to complete the restoration of the Farmhouse on the Phillippi Estate, in time for its 100th anniversary this year. Phillippi Estate Park 5500 S Trail, Sarasota.

Info 941-861-5000, LightChasersInc.com.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 28 Divine Healing –- 3-5pm. With Joseph LoBrutto.

Many have witnessed the miraculous healing of diseases, depression, and trauma along with receiving spiritual balance for a healthy mind, body & spirit. The Healing Masters will work on each person’s mental, physical and spiritual self. Find clarity in making decisions, to forgive and let go of all fears. Feel a closer connection with God and be greeted by your loved ones on the other side making your connection an unforgettable memory. $40 (or Weekend Savings). The Spirit University, 373 Braden Ave, Sarasota. 941-544-5874, Light@VictoriaAckerman.com, TheSpiritUniversity.com.

plan ahead FRIDAY, MARCH 4 Powerful Therapy to Health and Wholeness with Intuitive Biomagnetist, Ralph Serrano – A registered nurse, Ralph’s true healing power comes from his ability to communicate with Spirit Guides in helping people find their true illness, and through the process of Biomagnetic Pair Therapy–a revolutionary, scientific and therapeutic approach–he is able to help people heal. This therapy is free of side effects, compatible with traditional or alternative practices. Other dates are 3/9 and 3/11. The Cosmic Center of Spiritual Light, 5041 Ringwood Mdw, Bldg G-2, Sarasota. Appointments, 941-371-9333. ccosl.com.

Intuitive Faire Readings and More – 11am-4pm.

A monthly event with Intuitive and Mediumistic Readings, Spirit Artist, Palmistry, Astrology and Numerology Reports. Something for everyone.

The Cosmic Center of Spiritual Light, 5041 Ringwood Mdw, Bldg G-2, Sarasota. 941-371-9333. ccosl.com.

SATURDAY, MARCH 5

Unlock Your Psychic Mind – Noon-2pm. With Joseph LoBrutto, explore the subject of Psychic Awareness utilizing your psychic strengths. Learn tips on raising your vibrations and how to send & receive psychic information. Color and energy sensing along with Billet Reading. Joseph will share a unique technique in giving a psychic reading by using Psychometry and Numerology. $35 (or Weekend Savings). The Spirit University, 373 Braden Ave, Sarasota. 941-544-5874, Light@VictoriaAckerman.com, TheSpiritUniversity.com.

SUNDAY, MARCH 6

Connecting with our Angels & Spirit Guides – 4-6pm. With Joseph LoBrutto, learn techniques in channeling. Joseph will actually put everyone under in a deep trance using hypnosis. His Spirit Guides will work through him manipulating the energy field around each student increasing their vibrational frequency higher into the alpha state causing a strong connection. By this method you will connect with your Higher Self, Angels, Spirit Guides or meet your loved ones on the other side. $35 (or Weekend Savings). The Spirit University, 373 Braden Ave, Sarasota. 941-544-5874, Light@ VictoriaAckerman.com, TheSpiritUniversity.com.

Light Chasers 5th Annual Art Show/Sale Saturday Gala – 5-8pm. More works by the Light Chasers of the Sun Coast Plein Air Painters plus

www.peaceriverna.com

Learn Palmistry with Myrna Lou, Master Palmist – Noon-2pm. Learn to read your own hand so you can read others. Easy to digest material. Myrna Lou is an award winning author. The Cosmic Center of Spiritual Light, 5041 Ringwood Mdw, Bldg G-2, Sarasota. 941-371-9333. ccosl.com.

Reiki 2 Certification – 1-5pm. Teaches Distance Healing and opens additional energy centers. Includes Reiki 2 Attunement. We will also touch on animal healing. Prerequisite is Reiki 1 Certification.

Class size is limited, so pre-registration is required. $98 in advance, $118 at the door. With Dawn Freeman. The Spirit University, 373 Braden Ave, Sarasota. 941-544-5874, Light@VictoriaAckerman. com, TheSpiritUniversity.com.

TUESDAY, MAY 31 American Holistic Nurses Association Annual Conference – May 31-June 5. “Interconnectedness: The Soul of Holistic Nursing.” Attendees will learn about holistic nursing practice, education and research from various types of healthcare and nursing experts. Registration opens January 2016 with discounted Early Bird rates before February 15, 2016. Hyatt Regency Coconut Point, Bonita Springs. Info & Registration, 800-278-2462, ahna. org/conference/registration.

ongoingevents sunday Beach Yoga for Everybody – 8:30-9:30am. Relax, breathe, stretch & greet the beautiful morning on beautiful Englewood Beach (N end). 941-473-0135.

Loving Light Yoga, 3455 S Access Rd, Englewood.

Lata528@gmail.com. LovingLightYoga.com.

Community Book Study: Aging as a Spiritual Practice – 9am. A contemplative guide to growing older. Buddhist meditation teacher, Lewis Richmond, helps us understand how aging can bring new possibilities and a depth of gratitude that profoundly affects us. Whether you are enjoying growing old, hating it or in denial, this study is for you. All beliefs and “unbeliefs” welcome. Faith United Church of Christ, 4850 SR 64 E, Bradenton. 941-746-8890, FaithChurchucc.com.

Amrit Level 1 Yoga – 9:30-10:15am. Specifically designed to lead students into a deeper experience of integration. You will be guided into proper alignment for your body type through energetic extensions and press points. Working with the 1st and 2nd half of the posture brings the nervous system into balance and body into homeostasis. Intentionally repeating this sequence is similar to chanting a mantra repeatedly, focusing the mind so that the body can relax fully. All levels welcome. $15/1, $125/10, NEW student special $57/unlimited-1x offer. Journey Into Complete Wellbeing Yoga & Meditation Studio, 265 E Marion Ave, Ste 117C, Punta Gorda. 772-485-0605. JourneyInStudio.com.

Bridge Street Market – 10am-3pm. Open-air market. Live music every week. Bradenton Beach, Anna Maria Island. BridgeStreetMerchants.com.

Silent Retreat – 10am-3:45pm. 2nd Sun. Venice Mindfulness Community. Come to all or part. Silent brown bag lunch Noon-1:30pm. Venice Holistic Community Center, 714 Shamrock Blvd, Venice, RSVP 941-615-7613.

A Cosmic New Thought Service – 10:3011:30am. A metaphysical universal service with music, talk, meditation and chants, to educate & expand our understanding and concepts to clarify and empower our connection with Infinite Spirit, Divine Source. Free energy healings at 10am.

Love offering. The Cosmic Center, 5041 Ringwood Meadow, Bldg G-2, Sarasota. Rev Zan Benham 941-922-7839, Zan@Woman-Spirit.com, CCOSL.com.

Sunday AM Service – 10:30am-Noon. Join us for a free chair healing, singing, inspiring spiritual church messages and, after service, messages from Spirit with our Psychic/Mediums. Love Offering Welcome. Angel Ministries, 2269 S Tamiami Trl, Venice. Rev Patricia Charnley, 941-492-4995, revpat@angelministriesfl.org, angelministriesfl.org.

Chess – 11am-3pm. The Cultural Center of Charlotte County, 2280 Aaron St, Port Charlotte. Info & sign-up 941-625-4175.

Cosmic In-Service – 12:15-1:30pm. Gathering of Lightworkers. A call to Planetary World Servers to anchor Light and work with our family of light to bridge Heaven and Earth. Love Offering. The Cosmic Center, 5041 Ringwood Meadow, Bldg G-2, Sarasota. Rev Sharon Elizabeth James, 941-3719333, CCOSL.com.

Sunday PM Service – 6:30-8pm. Join us for a free chair healing, singing, inspiring spiritual church messages and, after service, messages from Spirit with our Psychic/Mediums. Love Offering Welcome. Angel Ministries, 2269 S Tamiami Trl, Venice. Rev Patricia Charnley, 941-492-4995, revpat@ angelministriesfl.org, angelministriesfl.org.

monday Beach Yoga for Everybody – 8:30-9:30am. Relax, breathe, stretch & greet the beautiful morning on beautiful Englewood Beach (N end). 941-473-0135.

Loving Light Yoga, 3455 S Access Rd, Englewood.

Lata528@gmail.com. LovingLightYoga.com.

Yoga Infused – 8:30-9:45am. A fun class, blending yoga fit & Pilates to build full body strength, improve posture, increase endurance, stamina & flexibility. Loving Light Yoga Studio, 3455 S Access Rd, Englewood. 941-473-0135. Lata528@gmail. com, LovingLightYoga.com.

Paddleboard Lessons & Tour – 9-10:30am. Learn how to stand up paddleboard while exploring the barrier islands that surround the North Jetty. Great opportunity to see dolphins, manatees and other wildlife. $25. N Jetty, Nokomis. 941-234-4311.

SUPEnglewood.com.

Gentle Mixed Yoga – 9:30-11am. Gentle mixed level yoga. All levels and bodies welcome. $10.

238 W Tampa Ave, Ste 250, Venice. 941-468-0403.

Sunlight Yoga – 9:30-11am Mon, Tues, Thurs.

5:45-7:05am Wed. With Debbie Downing. Gentle flowing hatha yoga for range of motion, balance, relaxation. Mixed level. $10. The Power of One, 238 W Tampa Ave, Venice Centre Mall/KMI Bldg, Rm 250. 941-468-0403. SunLightYoga@verizon.net.

Amrit Yoga Therapeutics – 10-11:30am. 6-7:30pm Thursdays. Over time, patterns of thinking and feeling are energetically and physically held in the body. Left unsolved, they can manifest as tension, agitation, health imbalances and other problems.

Through this understanding and the use of yoga postures to free prana, the body mind complex can begin to heal and integrate itself. The focus of this class is learning to relax with forms of energy one would normally resist and recognizing that even the most intense, uncomfortable sensations lead back to stillness and calm. All levels of students welcome. $15/1, $125/10, special $57/unlimited-1x offer/new students only. Journey Into Complete Wellbeing Yoga & Meditation Studio, 265 E Marion Ave, Ste 117C, Punta Gorda. 772-4850605. JourneyInStudio.com.

Gentle Yoga with Lata – 11am-12:30pm. A heart centered gentle flow of postures and deep stretching, breathing techniques and relaxation helping you to release tension and stress in the body and mind. Englewood Yoga Center, Loving Light Yoga, 3455 S Access Rd, 941-473-0135. Lata528@gmail.com.

Slow Flow Kripalu Yoga with Angelena Craig – 4-5:15pm. A gentle, yet energetic approach to traditional yoga, suitable for beginners or the more advanced. First time student special $15/ first class, second one is free; $55/5 class packages. Circusoul Yoga Studio, 4141 S Tamiami Trl, Sarasota. 941822-9620, ANewAgingMovement.com.

The Amrit Method of Yoga Nidra – 6-7pm. Experience a guided meditation technique with the power to take you to the innermost, deepest levels of relaxation where your whole body and being is permeated by peace of mind and profound stillness.

Yoga Nidra takes you beyond the ordinary state of mind where the deepest level of healing and rejuvenation take place effortlessly. $15/1, $125/10, special $57/unlimited-1x offer/new students only.

Journey Into Complete Wellbeing Yoga & Meditation Studio, 265 E Marion Ave, Ste 117C, Punta Gorda. 772-485-0605. JourneyInStudio.com.

Evening Yoga Flow – 6-7:15pm. Join Lata in this evening slow flow vinyasa practice. Bring your focus to releasing stress and tension in the body and mind while opening the heart and freeing the spirit, slowing down from your busy day as we link breath and movement with grounding asana sequencing and longer held forward bends to relax and re-new. Loving Light Yoga, 3455 S Access Rd, Englewood. 941-473-0135. Lata528@gmail.com, LovingLightYoga.com.

tuesday Beach Yoga for Everybody – 8:30-9:30am. Relax, breathe, stretch & greet the beautiful morning on beautiful Englewood Beach (N end). 941-473-0135.

Loving Light Yoga, 3455 S Access Rd, Englewood.

Lata528@gmail.com. LovingLightYoga.com.

Yoga with Robert – 8:30-10am. Class includes gentle warms ups, yoga postures & relaxation, all levels are welcome. Loving Light Yoga, 3455 S Access Rd, Englewood. 941-473-0135. Lata528@ gmail.com, LovingLightYoga.com.

WSLR Peace & Justice Show – 9-10am. Tune in to 96.5 on the 1st, 3rd and 5th Tuesdays of the month for The Peace and Justice Report. Submit any event announcements for the show to Info@wslr.org.

Gentle Mixed Yoga – 9:30-11am. Gentle mixed level yoga. All levels & bodies welcome. $10. 238 W Tampa Ave, Ste 250, Venice. 941-468-0403.

Deep Water Aerobics – 10-10:45am Tues & Thurs.

Come join the fun. Some swimming ability required. $3, South County Regional Park, 670 Cooper St, Punta Gorda, 941-629-0170, 941-505-8686.

Gentle Yoga Flow – 11am-12:30pm. A flow of postures designed to increase strength, flexibility and the flow of vital energy. Ending with a guided deep relaxation to restore body, mind and spirit.

Beginner friendly. Loving Light Yoga Studio, E Englewood. 941-473-0135, Lata528@gmail.com.

Transformative Yoga – 5:30-6:45pm. The literal translation of Nidra is sleep. However, Yoga Nidra is a dynamic state, not the unconscious sleep of nighttime. It has the ability to alter your unconscious programming. You tap into creative powers beyond the ego-mind and have access to healing on physical, mental and emotional planes. First class complimentary, $10 thereafter. Venice Holistic Community Center, 714 Shamrock Blvd, Venice.

Register, Facilitator Rick Rabalais 941-539-9149.

Yoga Nidra and Sound Healing – 6-7pm. First Tuesday monthly. A time to relax, restore and renew. A deep guided meditation that will take you into the deepest levels of relaxation. Through the use of guided imagery, breath awareness and the healing sounds of the Crystal Bowls, Yoga Nidra

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will help to alleviate not only muscular tensions, but also mental & emotional stress, healing the body, mind & spirit, bringing you into balance, harmony and peace. Open to all ages. Bring your favorite blanket and pillow. $18. Loving Light Yoga, 3455 S Access Rd, Englewood. Must Pre-register, 941-4730135, Lata528@gmail.com, LovingLightYoga.com.

Yin/Restorative and Sound Healing – 6-7:15pm.

A gentle yin practice with the crystal healing bowls.

Relax and surrender into sensations and unlock deep rooted tensions in the body, quite the busy mind as you allow every cell of your bod y to be bathed in sound healing and vibration. A Spiritual Uplift for body, mind and soul! Englewood Yoga Center/Loving Light Yoga. Must pre-register, 941473-0135, LovingLightYoga.com.

Community Book Study: Aging as a Spiritual Practice – 6:30pm. Beginning Feb 16. A contemplative guide to growing older. Buddhist meditation teacher, Lewis Richmond, helps us understand how aging can bring new possibilities and a depth of gratitude that profoundly affects us. Whether you are enjoying growing old, hating it or in denial, this study is for you. All beliefs and “unbeliefs” welcome. Faith United Church of Christ, 4850 SR 64 E, Bradenton. 941-746-8890, FaithChurchucc.com.

wednesday Beach Yoga for Everybody – 8:30-9:30am. Relax, breathe, stretch & greet the beautiful morning on beautiful Englewood Beach (N end). 941-473-0135.

Loving Light Yoga, 3455 S Access Rd, Englewood.

Lata528@gmail.com. LovingLightYoga.com.

Yoga for Well-Being – 8:30-10am. Guided meditation, breathing exercises, sun salutations and an energizing flow of postures with a guided relaxation.

All levels welcome. $12; $55/5; $100/10. Loving Light Yoga Studio, 3455 S Access Rd, Englewood.

941-473-0135. LovingLightYoga.com.

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The Amrit Method of Yoga Nidra – 10-11am.

Experience a guided meditation technique with the power to take you to the innermost, deepest levels of relaxation where your whole body and being is permeated by peace of mind and profound stillness.

Yoga Nidra takes you beyond the ordinary state of mind where the deepest level of healing and rejuvenation take place effortlessly. $15/1, $125/10, special $57/unlimited-1x offer/new students only.

Journey Into Complete Wellbeing Yoga & Meditation Studio, 265 E Marion Ave, Ste 117C, Punta Gorda. 772-485-0605. JourneyInStudio.com.

Yoga/Pilates Flow, Level One – 11am-12:15pm.

With Lata. Great for beginners and all levels. A flow of yoga postures and Pilates to strengthen, tone and stretch the entire body. Packages available. 3455 S Access Rd, Englewood. 941-473-0135. LovingLightYoga.com.

Free Healing Clinic – 4-6:30pm. Our Masters tap into the Divine Source of energy to balance and heal your being. Relax and enjoy this renewing and enlightening experience. Love Donation Appreciated. Angel Ministries, 2269 S Tamiami Trl, Venice.

Rev Patricia Charnley, 941-492-4995, revpat@angelministriesfl.org, angelministriesfl.org.

Sunset Yoga – 5pm. Relax, breathe, stretch & enjoy the sunset on beautiful Englewood Beach. Beginner friendly. Donation. Sponsored by Loving Light

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Yoga, Englewood Beach (N end). 941-473-0135.

LovingLightYoga.com.

Debbie Downing Yoga – 5:45-7:15pm. Gentle mixed level yoga. All levels and bodies welcome. $10. 238 W Tampa Ave, Ste 250, Venice. 941-468-0403.

Square Dancing – 7-9pm. The Cultural Center of Charlotte County, 2280 Aaron St, Port Charlotte.

941-625-4175.

thursday Kundalini Yoga/Gong Meditation – 8-9:30am. A blend of postures, mantra & gong meditation offering a technology that aligns with the ever-evolving universe. All levels. $15; $52/4; $88/8. Moving Toward Stillness Wellness Center, Osprey. 941-812-8695.

Beach Yoga for Everybody – 8:30-9:30am. Relax, breathe, stretch & greet the beautiful morning on beautiful Englewood Beach (N end). 941-473-0135. Loving Light Yoga, 3455 S Access Rd, Englewood. Lata528@ gmail.com. LovingLightYoga.com.

Yoga Infused – 8:30-9:45am. A fun class, blending yoga fit & Pilates to build full body strength, improve posture, increase endurance, stamina & flexibility.

Loving Light Yoga Studio, 3455 S Access Rd, Englewood. 941-473-0135. Lata528@gmail.com, LovingLightYoga.com.

Zumba/Yoga Class with Allison – 9-10am. Feel young & energetic on Venice Beach. Dance & relax.

Donations. W Venice Ave, on the Beach, Venice.

VeniceInformationCenter.com.

Englewood Farmers’ Market – 9am-2pm. Find a wide range of fruits, organic vegetables, fresh baked German breads, gourmet French foods, fresh seafood, bonsai plants, orchids, garden plants, kettle corn and much more! Olde Englewood Village, W Dearborn St, Englewood, EnglewoodFarmersMarket.org.

Gentle Mixed Yoga – 9:30-11am. Gentle mixed level yoga. All levels & bodies welcome. $10. 238 W Tampa Ave, Ste 250, Venice. 941-468-0403.

Deep Water Aerobics – 10-10:45am. Some swimming ability required. $3, S County Regional Park, 670 Cooper St, Punta Gorda. 941-629-0170, 941505-8686.

Awakening Spirit Kundalini Yoga – 11am12:15pm. Awaken spiritual energy with breath, movement and meditation, with Jana and Hannah. $10. Venice Holistic Community Center, 714 Shamrock Blvd, Venice. Register 941-488-1828.

Gentle Yoga Flow – 11am-12:30pm. A flow of postures designed to increase strength, flexibility and the flow of vital energy. Ending with a guided deep relaxation to restore body, mind, and spirit. Beginner friendly. $12; $55/5; $100/10. Loving Light Yoga Studio, E Englewood. 941-473-0135, Lata528@gmail.com.

Open Gym Basketball – 5-8pm. Drop in & enjoy a game of indoor basketball. Shoot some hoops. Play 3 on 3, 5 on 5 or a pickup game with friends. Times subject to change. $2/player. Tringali Recreation Ctr, 3460 N Access Rd, Englewood.

Gentle Restorative Yoga – 6pm. Unwind the body with this gentle restorative class. All levels. $15/first class free. Moving Toward Stillness Wellness Center, Osprey. 941-266-6962.

Restorative Yoga and Sound Healing – 6-7:15pm. Restorative yoga with the use of props to help you relax and surrender into gravity, with sound healing concert of the crystal bowls that will take you into the deepest levels of relaxation and healing. Loving Light Yoga, 3455 S Access Rd, Englewood. Must pre-register, 941-473-0135.

LovingLightYoga.com.

Amrit Yoga Therapeutics – 6-7:30pm. Over time, patterns of thinking and feeling are energetically and physically held in the body. Left unsolved, they can manifest as tension, agitation, health imbalances and other problems. Through the use of yoga postures to free prana, the body mind complex can begin to heal and integrate itself. The focus of this class is learning to relax with forms of energy one would normally resist and recognizing that even the most intense, uncomfortable sensations lead back to stillness and calm. All levels of students welcome. $15/1, $125/10, special $57/ unlimited-1x offer/new students only. Journey Into Complete Wellbeing Yoga & Meditation Studio, 265 E Marion Ave, Ste 117C, Punta Gorda. 772485-0605. JourneyInStudio.com.

Healing & Messages – 6:30-8pm. Join us for a free chair healing, singing, inspiring spiritual messages with our Psychic/Mediums. Love Offering Welcome. Angel Ministries, 2269 S Tamiami Trl, Venice. Rev Patricia Charnley, 941-492-4995, revpat@ angelministriesfl.org, angelministriesfl.org.

friday Beach Yoga for Everybody – 8:30-9:30am. Relax, breathe, stretch & greet the beautiful morning on beautiful Englewood Beach (N end). 941-473-0135.

Loving Light Yoga, 3455 S Access Rd, Englewood.

Lata528@gmail.com. LovingLightYoga.com.

Yoga for Well-Being – 8:30-10am. Guided meditation, sun salutations and an energizing flow of postures with a guided relaxation. All levels welcome.

Loving Light Yoga Studio, 3455 S Access Rd, Englewood. 941-473-0135, LovingLightYoga.com.

Amrit Gentle Yoga Class – 10-11am. Through breath you learn to release limitations felt in your body and keep the mind present in the experience.

You will be guided into your body’s energetic extensions and press points present within each posture. By working with press points and extensions the body naturally is held into the pose without force or strain, allowing you to find your full expression in the posture, opening the energy channels in your body to release trapped energy and tensions, effortlessly bringing you back into harmony. $15/1, $125/10, special $57/unlimited-1x offer/new students only. Journey Into Complete Wellbeing Yoga & Meditation Studio, 265 E Marion Ave, Ste 117C, Punta Gorda. 772-485-0605.

JourneyInStudio.com.

Gentle Yoga with Lata – 11am-12:30pm. A heart centered gentle flow of postures and deep stretching, breathing techniques and relaxation helping you to release tension and stress in the body and mind. Englewood Yoga Center, Loving Light Yoga, 3455 S Access Rd, 941-473-0135.

Lata528@gmail.com.

Astrology Fridays at The Power of One – 11am3pm. Know thyself and know what’s coming in your future. New relationship, order a synastry chart. Accurate, affordable prices. Call for an appointment or stop by the store to talk. Ask for Astrology Bob. $35/Natal or Progressed chart. The Power of One Metaphysical Shop, 238 W Tampa Ave, Venice. 941-493-6096.

Amrit Yoga Nidra Class – 6-7pm. The Amrit Method of Yoga Nidra is a guided meditation technique, accessible to everyone. It has the power to take you to the innermost, deepest levels of relaxation where your whole body and being is permeated by peace of mind and profound stillness. Yoga Nidra takes you beyond the ordinary state of mind where the deepest level of healing and rejuvenation take place effortlessly. $15/1, $125/10, special $57/unlimited-1x offer/new students only. Journey Into Complete Wellbeing Yoga & Meditation Studio, 265 E Marion Ave, Ste 117C, Punta Gorda.

772-485-0605. JourneyInStudio.com.

Punta Gorda Farmers Market – 8am-Noon. Voted the ‘Best Small Market in Florida’ and 15th in the USA, we have a large number of vendors offering fruits and vegetables, dried fruits and nuts, Italian bakery, fresh homemade pasta, kitchenware, cupcakes, beef and fresh seafood, fresh citrus, jewelry, candles and soaps, dip mixes, Florida arts and crafts, cheese, French bakery, baguettes and olives, homemade pies, orchids, organic produce, personalized pens, kettlecorn, coffee beans and drinks, native and exotic plants.Taylor St (across from Historic Charlotte County Courthouse), Punta Gorda. 941391-4856. Info@PGDowntownMerchants.com.

Friday Night Concert – 7-9pm. Join us in Downtown Venice for our Free Friday Night Concert series at the Gazebo in Centennial Park. 200 W Venice Ave, Venice. Info MainStreet.com.

Beach Yoga for Everybody – 8:30-9:30am. Relax, breathe, stretch & greet the beautiful morning on beautiful Englewood Beach (N end). 941-473-0135.

Loving Light Yoga, 3455 S Access Rd, Englewood.

Lata528@gmail.com. LovingLightYoga.com.

saturday Venice Farmers Market – 8am-1pm. Every Saturday morning, local farmers, fisherman, craftsmen, bakers, artists and others gather in the heart of historic downtown for a weekly celebration of the best of Venice were you can get fresh seasonal Florida fruits and vegetables direct from local farms. You can’t find any fresher shrimp or seafood. There’s incredible tasty homemade baked goods, trinkets, crafts, soaps, flowers, plants, locally roasted coffee, and more. Tampa Ave between Nokomis & Nassau. 941-929-5304. TheVeniceFarmersMarket.com.

Yoga with Robert – 8:30-10am. Class includes gentle warms ups, yoga postures & relaxation, all levels are welcome. Loving Light Yoga, 3455 S Access Rd, Englewood. 941-473-0135. LovingLightYoga.com.

Psychic Fair – 10am-3pm. 2nd & 4th Saturdays.

Are you searching, questioning and seeking answers? Choose from some of the best Intuitive Artists in the Area! See what your future holds! Complimentary refreshments. Private Readings $1/Min. Angel Ministries, 2269 S Tamiami Trl, Venice.

Rev Patricia Charnley, 941-492-4995, revpat@angelministriesfl.org, angelministriesfl.org.

communityresourceguide Connecting you to the leaders in natural health care and green living in our community. To find out how you can be included in the Community Resource Guide, email publisher@nasrq.com to request our media kit.

MINERAL SPRINGS/SPA THE SPRINGS AT DAYS INN

18051 S Tamiami Tr., Fort Myers 239-267-7900 TheSpringsResortFL.com From over 1,000 feet below, warm mineral spring waters bubble to the surface and cascade from our large fountain beneath our domed pool.

Even those with sun sensitivites can enjoy our local fountain of youth.

Come and enjoy the healing and resorative powers of our high-mineral-content waters. Just 30 minutes away.

ORGANIC SALONS EUROPEAN HELIX HAIR DESIGNERS

PEST CONTROL GOOD NEWS PEST SOLUTIONS

Dean Burnside, President Sarasota, Bradenton, Venice 941-371-1311 GoodNewsPestSolutions.com Go Green Plus 3 • Pest Control, Termite Control • Rodent Proofing and Trapping • Bat and Bird Exclusion • Mosquito and Mole Suppression • Bed Bug Control • Residential and Commercial.

YOGA

Jutta Mestas, P.H.D. The Vines , 701 JC Center Court, Unit # 10 Port Charlotte, FL 33954 941-629-0074 Discover the “Magic” of Helix. Adds Volume, Body, Curls or Waves. We do with Scissors what others do with Chemicals.

LOVING LIGHT YOGA & HEALING CENTER

3455 S. Access Rd., Englewood 941-473-0135 LovingLightYoga.com Yoga for Every Body. Restore your Body, Mind & Spirit!

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www.peaceriverna.com