NA Tallahassee August 2010 by Donna Konuch

HEALTHY LIVING HEALTHY PLANET feel good live simply laugh more

FREE

RAISING VIBRANT CHILDREN How to Forage for

WILD EDIBLES LIGHTEN UP

YOUR LIFE Go Inward to Find Peace

RETHINKING

SCHOOL Reigniting Love of Learning

AUGUST 2010

| Tallahassee, South Georgia, Gulf Coast | www.natallahassee.com natural awakenings

August 2010

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… Support our advertisers contact us Publisher Donna L. Konuch

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Editor Donna L. Konuch Design & Production Susan McCann jaxgraphicdesign.net Advertising Sales Donna L. Konuch 850-590-7024 Natural Awakenings Tallahassee 3767 Greyfield Dr Tallahassee, Fl 32311 Phone: 850-590-7024 Fax: 850-270-67NA (6762) natallahassee@yahoo.com www.NaturalAwakeningsMag.com www.NATallahassee.com

That’s why we use the Integrative Approach. At Archbold’s Integrative Medicine center, we have a special Pain Management emphasis on Fibromyalgia, Headaches, Arthritis, Neck and Back Pain. For more information, call 229.228.7008 or visit us at www.archbold.org/integrative.

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Tallahassee, S. Georgia, Gulf Coast

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 for 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. SUBSCRIPTIONS Subscriptions are available for $18 (for 12 issues). Please call 850-590-7024 with credit card information or mail a check, payable to Natural Awakenings–Tallahassee, to the above address.

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contents 7

7 globalbriefs

10 healthbriefs 12 fitbody 14 naturalpet

16 healthykids 17 inspiration

22 community spotlight

10 14

FOR HEALTH A Fun Way to Get

a Groove On

by Ellen Mahoney

14 BACK-TO-SCHOOL SEPARATION

28 greenliving

32 wisewords

16 SMACKING

34 calendarof events 34 classfieds 35 ongingcalendar 36 community

12 HOOP IT UP

ANXIETY Restoring and Maintaining Calm by Mary Wulff

24 consciouseating

33 healingways

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.

resource guide

GOOD SNACKS Naturally Healthy Choices

Kids Crave

by Judith Fertig

18 DEMOCRACY

Think, Create, Initiate

IN ACTION Educating Students to

by Lisa Marshall

24 WILD EDIBLES Forage Local Lands for Free Goodies by Steve Brill

28 WHAT’S BEST FOR

BABY’S BOTTOM Cloth Makes a Comeback by Barb Amrhein

32 A CONVERSATION WITH 28 ELIZABETH GILBERT Author of Eat,

Pray, Love– Now a Film Starring Julia Roberts by Leah Ingram

natural awakenings

August 2010

letterfromthepublisher

an you believe that a year has passed already, and that this issue is my One Year Anniversary as publisher of Natural Awakenings magazine? What a year of change and growth for yours truly! I am blessed that I have been able to fulfill a personal dream in helping people find health and happiness in the most natural way possible. Through this particular medium, I am able to share knowledge about living a green and ecological lifestyle. I happily promote local authors and business people as they seek to share vast talents and knowledge that I have come to realize exists in abundance here in Tallahassee and the surrounding communities. The theme for this month’s issue of Natural Awakenings magazine is all about raising vibrant children. This, too, is poignant in my life at the present time as my family prepares to travel to China this month to adopt a little girl. I am also a mother of twin boys, and have always sought a natural approach for any of their health concerns and to support their particular, joie de vivre as they make their way through life. That is my personal definition of “vibrant children.” I hope the issue you hold in your hands will help you find interesting ways to allow vibrant good will into your life and your family’s. In support of a vibrant life, articles in this month’s magazine include one on how to encourage your child’s inner spirit written by local authors Katie Lilly and Leslee Horner. Are you trying to develop a better connection with the tweens in your life? Sara Marchessault, a local coach who specializes in middle and high school students, has a great article on page 30. Have you thought about using cloth diapers instead of disposable ones for your baby? An article on page 28 discusses how far cloth diapers have come to increase convenience for Mom and to still be a supportive way to help our environment. Our showcase article, which begins on page 18, is all about alternative schools that support a democratic approach within their individual disciplines. The article refers to Free Schools, Montessori, Waldorf and Homeschooling. What you may not be aware of is that Tallahassee has one of the few Free Schools that exist in this country. The Grassroots School was established here in 1973 and has yielded remarkable success for many of its students. Their concepts are unique, but their results speak for themselves. For two years in a row now, my sons have attended camp there in the summer. Grassroots School is a part of our lives in a very special way and I am delighted that they hold the Community Spotlight piece this month on page 22. I want to express my gratitude to you for welcoming me this past year and supporting Natural Awakenings magazine. Since I have come on board the magazine has grown larger, has more color pages and more local content. Our advertisers see results and are happily supported by the readers of this publication. I thank you and they thank you. As always, I wish you abundant good health and a vibrant, joyful life.

Blessings,

Donna K.

Tallahassee, S. Georgia, Gulf Coast

www.natallahassee.com

advertising & Submissions How to Advertise

To advertise with Natural Awakenings or request a media kit, please contact us at 850-590-7024 or natallahassee@yahoo. com. Deadline for ad space reservation for the September issue is Thursday, August 12.

News Briefs and article submissions

Email articles, news items and ideas to: natallahassee@yahoo.com. Deadline for editorial for the September issue is Thursday, August 5.

calendar submissions

Email calendar events to: natallahassee@ yahoo.com or fax to 850-270-6762. Please see page 31 for details Calendar deadline for September issue is Tuesday, August 10.

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 1-239-449-8309. For franchising opportunities call 1-239-5301377 or visit NaturalAwakeningsMag.com.

Coming in September

Creative Expression

The Sharing Tree in Tallahassee

fter a few years of planning and dreaming, Leon County will be home to a new program benefiting teachers, our public schools and the environment. The Sharing TREE (Teachers Reusing Everything for Education) is a reusable resource center where donated new and gently used items will be available to teachers free of charge. Every day, households and businesses throw away countless items that still have value to them. These materials now have the opporFrom Left to Right, Carol Gentry (LC Govt.) tunity to be transformed into instrucSharon Liggett (Ex Director of Sustainable tional aids, student projects and even Tallahassee) Carly Sinnadurai, (Ex Director of works of art. The Sharing TREE) Brooke Lochore (VP of PR The center is a public-non-profit Goodwill), Cyndy Brantley (LC Govt.). partnership. The founding partners are Leon County Schools, Goodwill Industries, Sustainable Tallahassee and Leon County Government. Without support from citizens, however, this program cannot be successful. Carly J. Sinnadurai, the executive director of The Sharing Tree, is an art education graduate of FSU and has experience with reusable resource centers. In her hometown of Minneapolis, she began to shop at a reuse store at the age of 4 and would later work there. “Not knowing it at the time, this would shape much of who I am today. Being a thrifty artist and environmentalist, I have always wanted a center here in our community,” she said. Her dream come true, she hit the ground running on June 1st, planning an opening in mid-August, before classes start on August 23rd. “Everyone is excited about this program; it is a win-win,” she said. “Businesses and organizations no longer have to send materials to our landfills. With a little bit of creativity, materials can be transformed into something our schools can use.” An array of materials can be donated to center; everything as small as buttons and pencils to paints, canvas, fabrics, books and paper. You can contact The Sharing Tree for a materials list. If you would like to donate to this program you can email Carly Sinnadurai @ thesharingtree@leonschools.net or drop off your donation at any local Goodwill. If you would like to help financially or volunteer please email and we will be happy to have your support.

Namaste Yoga Returning to Neighborhood

amaste Yoga is thrilled to announce that they are expanding and returning to their previous neighborhood near New Leaf Market. The yoga center is moving to a larger facility at 1369 East Lafayette Street into that has been a dance studio for many years. Doors open August 1; a grand opening is planned for September. This new location enables Namaste Yoga to offer simultaneous classes as well as to accommodate more students per class. Namaste Yoga first opened in 2001 in an office building on the corner of East Lafayette and Goodbody Lane and remained in that location until 2008. Classes will continue through July at the current location at 925 John Knox Road. Namaste offers daily classes, 7 days a week, by 9 different yoga teachers trained in a variety of yoga styles. Classes include Core Power, Gentle, Strength and Spirit, Hot Healing, Healing Heart, Restorative, and PreNatal Yoga, as well as several different flow classes. Students can choose from a spectrum of gentle, meditative yoga, to moderate or vigorous yoga in several traditions, including Kripalu, Iyengar, Kundalini. For a complete schedule of classes, see the “Ongoing” events calendar in this issue. Also check our website at www.namaste-tallahassee. com or call 222-0003.

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August 2010

Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan Program

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Tallahassee, S. Georgia, Gulf Coast

ov. Charlie Crist has allocated $5 million from General Revenue to fund the Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan Program. Established for small businesses that have been adversely affected by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, they may now apply for a loan up to $25,000 in interest-free assistance for up to 12 months. The loans will help to bridge the gap between the oil spill and when other financial resources become available (BP claims receipts, insurance payments, federal loans or other assistance, or other longer term loans). Counties currently approved for the emergency bridge loan program are: Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, Walton, Bay, Gulf, Franklin, Wakulla, Jefferson, Taylor, Dixie, Levy, Citrus, Hernando, Pasco, Pinellas, Hillsborough, Manatee, Sarasota, Charlotte, Lee, Collier, Monroe, Dade, Broward and Palm Beach. The amount of the loans can run between $1,000 and $25,000. The size of the small business must be between 2 to 100 employees. Self-employed individuals may be eligible on a case-by-case basis. The business must demonstrate economic injury or physical damage as a result of the oil spill. For further information about this Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill bridge loan check out the website at http://floridaoilhelp.com/.

Rest and Renewal at An Evening of Solitude

f you like the idea of going on retreat (think rest, renewal, time to just BE!) but don’t have the time to devote to a weekend getaway, “An Evening of Solitude” may be just the answer you are seeking. This mini-retreat will be held Wednesday evening August 18th from 5:30-9:00 p.m. at the United Church of Tallahassee on Mahan Drive. A healthy dinner is included in the price. This event is being offered by Solitude Retreats, a collaboration between Elizabeth Barbour, life & business coach and Geralyn Russell, yoga & meditation instructor. They offer women’s retreats for self care and spirituality, custom retreats for teams and organizations and a monthly free virtual book club. Each participant will be encouraged to relax her mind, restore her body, and renew her spirit by giving herself permission to step away from everyday life for an evening. Restful activities will include gentle yoga, meditation and some journaling. Noble silence is a powerful component of the retreat and participants will have both alone time and community time with the other participants. Karen Cooley, a financial planner at North Florida Financial, attended the last Evening of Solitude and had this to say “GO! Sign-up, Show-up, Let Go and Participate! Reap the rewards of self-care.” If you are craving rest and time out from your busy life, visit www.solituderetreats.com or call Elizabeth Barbour at 893-5211 or Geralyn Russell at 878-2843 to register. www.natallahassee.com

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

Infant Morality

Gulf Aid

Text-Message Giving Helps Rescue Oil-Soaked Wildlife In a recent Cone marketing agency survey, 19 percent of Americans said that they would rather text a donation to a nonprofit than make a donation in any other way, and the method is particularly popular among youth. It’s a fundraising tool now on the radar of every major U.S. charity, according to Christian Zimmern, co-founder of the nonprofit Mobile Giving Foundation (MGF). Zimmern notes that “we have 260 million cell phones in the United States,” while The New York Times reports that almost 90 percent of U.S. households now have a cell phone. He points out that this means that givers need not be a member of any online pay system, nor use a credit card; “You just need your phone.” MGF first qualifies charities, then facilitates a coordinated link with telecommunications carriers. The latest pressing cause to benefit from text-message giving are rescue operations for 400 species of wildlife from the life-threatening effects of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Birds, fish, reptiles and marine mammals urgently need help. The National Wildlife Federation (nwf.org) is asking cell phone users to text “Wildlife” to 20222 to donate $10 to try to save the animals. Source: The Christian Science Monitor. Details at NWF.org/Oil-Spill/Ways-toHelp/Mobile-Giving.aspx.

Psychologists Find Babies Know Right from Wrong

New research counters the prevailing theory that babies arrive in this world as a blank slate. Research using mini puppet plays at Yale University’s Infant Cognition Center in Connecticut shows that infants between six and 10 months old can consistently differentiate between helpful and unhelpful behaviors, indicating that humans are born with innate moral judgment. “Some sense of good and evil seems to be bred in the bone,” says Paul Bloom, a professor of psychology who led the study.

Teachers’ Aid

Good Samaritans Boost the Quality of Classroom Teaching Despite billions of federal stimulus dollars allocated for qualifying schools this year, tens of thousands of teachers are flocking to online charities like AdoptAClassroom.org, DonorsChoose. com, ILoveSchools.com and SupportYourTeacher.org for help in securing essential classroom tools and supplies. Needed items range widely, from books and calculators to paper, pencils and microscope slides. In many districts, school budgets cannot cover the cost of all the classroom supplies needed, so a teacher will pay several hundred dollars a year from his or her own pocket to keep the classroom equipped. Given today’s pay freezes, job insecurity and school program cuts, individual donors are stepping up to widen the circle of support and fill a local teacher’s specified wish list, reports Judy McClellan, spokesperson for another teacher help site, GoldStarRegistry.com. Donations of extra office equipment and household art materials are also welcome.

25th Anniversary International Youth Day is August 12

This year United Nations International Year of Youth activities will focus on dialogue and mutual understanding in order to advance the full and effective participation of youth in all aspects of society. Info: Social.UN.org/youthyear

natural awakenings

August 2010

globalbriefs Kindergarten Crisis

Why Children Need to Play in School

Report Card

Time for play in most public kindergartens has dwindled to the vanishing point, replaced by lengthy lessons and standardized testing, according to three recent studies released by the nonprofit Alliance for Childhood. This group of advocates for children reports that classic play materials have largely disappeared from the 268 full-day conventional classrooms studied. Authors of the research hail from the University of California, Los Angeles, Long Island University and Sarah Lawrence College, in New York. In sounding the warning about the potential intellectual, social and physical repercussions of this widespread educational policy on childhood development, they also point to the academic success associated with play-based schooling in other countries. Students in China and Japan, often heralded for their aptitudes in science, technology, engineering and math, enjoy a play-based experiential approach to school until second grade. Children in Finland, who don’t begin formal schooling until age 6, consistently achieve the highest score on international exams.

In The Princeton Review’s latest College Hopes & Worries Survey, 68 percent of students said they value having information about a college’s commitment to the environment. From a pool of almost 700 U.S. colleges and universities, the organization identified the country’s 371 exemplary green colleges of 2010 (up from 286 in 2009). Key criteria include a healthy and sustainable quality of life on campus, preparation for employment in a world facing environmental challenges and overall commitment to environmental issues. Fifteen institutions made the 2010 honor roll. The role models setting the standard are in Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Pennsylvania, Vermont and Washington. The Sustainable Endowments Institute, too, offers its College Sustainability Report Card. This in-depth eco-profile for 332 colleges in the United States and Canada also evaluates how each profiled institution invests its endowment assets. The site allows viewers to instantly compare selected schools in nine categories. In 2010, the group recognized 80 extraordinarily green schools and saluted 26 as “top of their class” in endowment allocation.

For more information visit AllianceForChildhood.org.

Tallahassee, S. Georgia, Gulf Coast

Students Like to Pick Green Colleges

Visit PrincetonReview.com/green and GreenReportCard.org.

www.natallahassee.com

Online Guidance

Great Websites for Any Age Googling Yahoo’s “Yahooligans for kids,” and the Association for Library Service to Children’s “2010 notable children’s books” pulls up wonderful websites, as does visiting MyYoungChild.org, for its listen-along children’s stories that build values, but how do families always know which Internet resources to trust? Sometimes it’s hard to tell what’s safe, where the hidden treasures are and what’s a waste of time. The American Library Association has published How to Tell if You Are Looking at a Great Web Site to help. Great sites share meaningful and useful content that educates, informs or entertains in a way that is appropriate to their stated purpose; they both enrich the user’s experience and expand the imagination. The best sites have personality and strength of character, are easy to use, and will not require the user to pay a fee or type in personal information in order to use them. It’s important that the primary website and any linked site clearly note its sponsors and authors, who will both invite and respond to guest comments and suggestions. A great site will not knowingly violate copyright or other laws, and will not list, link to or recommend resources that do.

Transcontinental Run

National Campaign Introduces Naturopathy to America Doctors, medical students, patients and other advocates of naturopathic medicine from 50 states are planning a public education campaign that will take to the streets July 17, 2011, for a 3,250-mile run from San Francisco to Bridgeport, Connecticut, by way of Washington, D.C., and New York City. Former transcontinental runner and founder of the R.U.N., Dr. Dennis Godby, intends that the four-month-long event will familiarize citizens with natural medicine and move them to demand access to and state licensing of doctors of natural medicine. For event details visit TheRun.org.

For details visit http://bit.ly/b11Udo.

Humane Youth

Compassion for Animals Aids Diet Changes

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention now estimates that one in 200 children is a practicing vegetarian, according to the parents polled. FoxNews.com also reports that earlier surveys suggest the rate of vegetarianism among older teens could be four to six times that of younger children, because teens have more control over what they eat. Animal welfare, rather than health, is cited most often as to why kids stop eating meat.

Find a Place to

Renew Your Spirit

Yoga Beach Retreat October 21-24 at St. George Island, FL Move, meditate, consciously breathe, rest, swim, play, commune, relax, circle, share, dance, drum and practice lots of yoga! Beginners and more advanced are welcome.

Sunday Services 10:00 AM Youth Education 10:00 AM 8551 Buck Lake Road www.unity-eastside.org 5 miles off Mahan on Buck Lake Road

Inspirational Talks • Meditation • Youth Programs • Community Service • Prayer • Classes • Music • Tranquil Setting

Visit the website for complete registration info: www.DrEllenShapiro.com DrEllenShapiro@gmail.com

850-222-0003 natural awakenings

August 2010

healthbriefs

Microwave Popcorn Toxicity Study

opcorn is one of the add-ons that rarely fails to make watching a movie more fun, but the modern way of preparing this popular snack may harbor an unhappy secret. Research by the U.S. government now reports that microwave popcorn may contain chemicals that can cause health problems. At issue is that commercial popcorn companies often coat their microwave popcorn bags with a chemical called perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) which has been found to cause both cancer and lung disease in laboratory animals. Making matters worse, the butter substitute that generally accompanies microwavable popcorn contains a chemical called diacetyl, a common foodflavoring agent that, according to health scientists, is responsible for bronchiolitis obliterans, a serious, debilitating lung disease. For an easy and fun healthy alternative, nutritionists suggest that we pop our own popcorn. All that’s needed is a large, high pot, about four tablespoons of peanut or canola oil and a small handful of organic popcorn kernels. When the kernels start popping, shake the pot to let the steam escape and to let the unpopped kernels fall to the bottom. As soon as the popping slows down, remove the pot from the stove, pour the popcorn into a bowl, season with a small amount of real butter or olive oil and natural salt or brewer’s yeast to taste, et voilà, happy eating. Source: AssociatedContent.com

Why Brown Rice is Better

Rice is generally thought to be part of a healthy diet because it’s a good source of fiber, but not all rice is equally nutritious. Brown rice might have an advantage over white rice by offering protection from high blood pressure and atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries), say researchers at the Cardiovascular Research Center and department of physiology at Temple University School of Medicine, in Philadelphia. The secret lies in the layer between the white center of the grain and the brown fibrous outer layer, which is milled away to produce white rice; it contains a component that works against angiotensin II, a known culprit in development of these health problems.

Just Say No to TV for Tots

Families who want kids to grow up thinner and smarter do well to keep them away from the television as toddlers. In a new study published in Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, Dr. Linda S. Pagani, a professor at the Université de Montréal and researcher at the Sainte-Justine University Hospital Research Center, concluded: “We found every additional hour of TV exposure among toddlers corresponded to a future decrease in classroom engagement and success at math, increased victimization by classmates, a more sedentary lifestyle, higher consumption of junk food and ultimately, a higher body mass index.” 10

Tallahassee, S. Georgia, Gulf Coast

www.natallahassee.com

Veggies Help Protect Babies from Diabetes

recent study from the Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, in Sweden, reveals that expectant mothers who eat vegetables every day give birth to children who are much less likely to develop Type 1 diabetes. Analysis of blood samples from almost 6,000 5-year-olds showed that children at risk of developing diabetes 1 have antibodies that attack insulin-producing cells, a risk marker that was up to twice as common in children whose mothers rarely ate vegetables during pregnancy. The university says this is the first study to show a direct link between vegetable intake during pregnancy and the risk of children then getting this disease.

GETTING ENOUGH Bs

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Summer is the best time to enjoy freshly harvested lettuces, peas, avocados, berries and greens, all good sources of the B vitamins B-6 and folate. Associated benefits include lowered risk of death from stroke and heart disease in women and possible reduced risk of heart failure in men, according to Japanese research reported in Stroke, a journal of the American Heart Association.

Listen Up

oung people who listen to personal music players for several hours a day at high volume could be putting their hearing at risk, warns a study published online in the British Medical Journal. Researchers found that devices such as MP3 players can generate levels of sound directed at the ear in excess of 120 decibels, similar in intensity to a jet engine, especially when used with earphones inserted into the ear canal. Use of music devices has grown faster than health experts’ ability to assess potential health consequences such as long-term hearing loss, as well as their interference with concentration and performance, especially when driving. Such findings point out that today’s ubiquitous acceptance of technology in our lives must be accompanied by vigorous efforts to understand its impacts on our health and well-being, especially among youth.

All children are artists. The problem is how to remain an artist once they grow up. ~ Pablo Picasso

We are healthy and green And going…..Greener! If you have a green business • Natural and recyclable • Green and sustainable home building • Solar systems • Windows, insulation • Air and water purifiers • Environmental • More earth friendly

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natural awakenings

August 2010

It Tilts! It Turns! It Banks! Burn More Calories Engage Your Core

fitbody

it up for health

A FUN WAY TO GET A GROOVE ON by Ellen Mahoney

Tallahassee’s EXCLUSIVE

Hooping became an instant hit and a cultural TV Producer Garry Marshall icon, which lost appeal over time hen Betty until revitalized in Shurin, aka the late ’90s at music “Betty Hoops,” festivals. That’s when picked up a hula hoop 10 years fitness folks became ago, she didn’t know that one inspired to use the hoop for First Lady Michelle Obama day she’d take home a Guinness getting in shape. World Record. But in 2005, Shurin set These days, Shurin, a certified the pace for the world of hula racing, anusara yoga teacher, focuses her piorunning Colorado’s 10-kilometer Bolder neering spirit on hoop training as artful Boulder event with her bright red hoop exercise that blends aspects of yoga, continually spinning around her waist. sports and dance in workshops that “My goal was no stopping and no dropcrisscross the United States. She says ping,” she says. hoop exercise realigns and strengthens Today, like many fitness trainers core elements of the musculoskeletal across the country, this hooping pioneer system and claims individuals can lose teaches people of all ages and body inches around the waist and burn up to types who are interested in getting fit, 600 calories an hour with her program. losing weight, shaping up or just having Karla Kress-Boyle, a dancer from fun. “Hooping changes people’s lives,” Connecticut, says she is much stronger Shurin observes. “I love that when I from the hooping that helped her take hoop with others, I get to experience off weight after having a baby. She adds, “It definitely strengthened my the sheer playfulness of a child.” The hoop has been around for thou- abdominal muscles.” Hula hooping is not exclusive to sands of years, beginning in the form of encircled grapevines and grasses used as women. Philo Hagen, editor of Los Angeles-based Hooping.org, discova toy by children. The evolution of the ered the updated phenomenon at a hula hoop, influenced by the Hawaiian party and says it immediately helped island dance, emerged in 1958 when him quiet the chatter in his head. “I wooden hoops from Australia morphed just felt like I was connecting with the into America’s plastic edition, courtesy music and my body, and wound up of the Wham-O toy company.

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Tallahassee, S. Georgia, Gulf Coast

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hooping for hours.” Hagen soon realized how hooping was also helping him “accidentally get in shape.”At heart, he felt he was becoming more centered in both body and mind. Shurin explains that, “Hooping is similar to the [Sufi] whirling dervish dance that emphasizes the laws of physics, metaphysics and quantum physics.” In addition to strengthening the body, she sees the hoop as a wheel-like vortex that enables the hula hooper to receive energy, as well as release it. She recommends using a weighted adultsized hoop that weighs no more than two pounds; they even come in collapsible travel models. This year, hooping hit the big screen with director Amy Goldstein’s self-proclaimed popumentary, The HoopAmazing ing Life. online videos at: She first • TheHoopingLife.com discovered • HoopRevolution.com/ hooping performance in Venice, • Hooping.org California, where it’s hugely popular. “I’ve noticed that hooping brings people from every walk of life together,” Goldstein says. “It has a spiritual side, a business side and a healthy side, and I’ve seen how many young people who used to feel isolated and without direction are now hooping and living life to its fullest.”

Highlights of her feel good film include appearances by Michelle Obama and Shaquille O’Neal, plus intimate portraits of eight hoopers from around the world. “The essence of the film,” says Goldstein, “is about finding something you love and taking the risk to give it all you’ve got.” After discovering hooping, Anah Reichenbach, aka “Hoopalicious,” a California-based dancer and hooper in the film, started making and selling innovative hoops on her own. She now offers a hoop mentor certification program through hooping workshops nationwide. “Beyond being an incredible core workout,” Reichenbach says, “hooping can become an all-body, cardiovascular workout.” Other benefits she’s observed first-hand extend to increased calm and peacefulness, happiness and even more personal compassion. As a movement, the hoop has become a widespread symbol for individuals’ willingness to be free and playful as adults as well as show that they care about community; people unite around the rhythm and creativity. “You really can transcend yourself if you let yourself go with the hoop,” remarks Goldstein. “Even if you have no rhythm, you get it with a hoop.” Ellen Mahoney teaches writing at the University of Colorado, Boulder. Email evm@infionline.net.

HOOPING TIPS n Use a hoop weighing 1 to 2 pounds; anything heavier creates too much torque for the organs and spine. n Stand up tall with good posture and feet a hip-distance apart; don’t look down. n Breathe deeply from the body’s core and push belly muscles toward the hoop. n Rock hips back and forth or from side-to-side; don’t rotate the hips in a circle. n Maintain the rhythm via belly and hip movement; don’t use the knees or lower back. n If the hoop starts to fall, move faster. Source: Betty Shurin and BettyHoops.com

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August 2010

naturalpet

BACK-TO-SCHOOL

that live with a nervous, angry or depressed person, may be more prone to separation anxiety. The breed and physical requirements of your dog may contribute to anxiety, as well. Dogs are social animals. They need to feel part of a pack, with a sense of rank. In the course of domesticating dogs, humans have become pack leaders in the minds of household canines, so the behavior and habits of the primary caregiver largely influences a dog’s behavior. While it may seem like a good idea to add another animal to the household to keep your companion company, this can actually make matters worse, by confusing its sense of pack hierarchy and creating a state of continuous competition. It may be a better idea to provide substitute leadership in the form of another human. Dog walkers, friends, neighbors or relatives could come by and spend time with the dog when you’re away, acting as a surrogate, temporary pack mate. You could consider a good doggie daycare provider, but there is no permanent substitute for the human alpha leader, who must be a strong, controlling presence whenever you are together. From the beginning of your relationship, a dog will gain trust and faith in your leadership, avoiding costly dog-sitting bills later on. Once puppyhood is past, you can keep a dog from becoming bored and tearing the house apart when you’re out by employing the following tips and tricks.

SEPARATION ANXIETY

RESTORING AND MAINTAINING CALM

by Mary Wulff

orky the dog so dislikes being left alone that he has ripped up car upholstery and jumped through windows in an attempt to rejoin his humans when they leave the house for school, work or errands. Shay, on the other hand, watches calmly out the window when her humans leave each day. Dog lovers with a pet that trembles, whines or rushes to the door in anticipation of being left alone know that the problem can interfere with work, school or travel days and make life difficult for you and your companion. In severe cases, a vet may even prescribe a sedative or antidepressant drug for an animal, a practice that seldom reaches the root causes of separation anxiety, and may lead to serious, longterm health problems.

Order in the Pack To start, it is important to understand that virtually every domestic dog lives in a confusing world. Improperly socialized or mistreated, abused or abandoned dogs, as well as those 14

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n Leave the television on, tuned to a nature show channel. Human voices can provide reassurance that humans still exist during your absence. n Leave talk radio on. Soothing music also tames the savage beast, and in many cases it will help a lonely, confused pooch to relax. n A toy filled with peanut butter or dog treats might keep him busy. Upon returning home, give the dog the treats that were in the toy and take the toy away. n Ignore the dog for several minutes before leaving the house and when you return. Do not shower him with hugs and kisses as you are leaving, as this may add to his anxiety. n Begin by leaving for short periods of time, and then increase it over a few weeks. Each time you return, have the dog sit, and praise and reward him with a treat when he is calm.

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n When in doubt, work with a recommended animal behaviorist. Also, consider any physical problems that may be causing the anxiety disorder.

Natural Diet and Supplement Aids Some people may feel they need to resort to drugs when they are at their witâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s end from dealing with a dog that acts out by becoming aggressive around people or outright destructive when no one is home. These are behaviors sometimes seen when an animal is receiving inadequate nutrition or essential brain nutrients. In the holistic realm, the foundation to treating any animal problem, physical or mental, begins with a good diet. A home-prepared diet is best (how-to books are available), but a high-quality, natural commercial food may also help. Behavior problems can lessen or go away with a simple change in nutrition. Adequate essential fatty acids, including omega 3, are necessary supplements for dogs, even if they are fed a commercial diet. They help the nervous system function more smoothly and help improve skin and coat condition. Some animals may need extra help from herbs to get through a particularly stressful time. One miniature schnauzer benefited from ingesting a formula made for dogs that contained valerian, skullcap, oat flower and passionflower before his owners would leave the house. Max became calmer and stopped tearing apart the furniture after just a few weeks of using the herbs.

Other animals become anxious in the vicinity of loud noises, whether or not the caregiver is at home. Many caregivers have found a melatonin supplement helpful in these instances. Whatever the reason, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hard to leave a companion behind when you know they suffer in your absence. With a bit of knowledge and care, you can help make the periods of separation much easier. Mary Wulff is a veterinary herbalist consultant and co-author with Gregory Tilford of Herbs for Pets. She specializes in home-prepared diets, herbs and homeopathy for companion animals from her office in Hamilton, MT. Connect at Cedar Orion@yahoo.com.

LYMPHATIC DRAINAGE THERAPY

www.tallahasseeacupuncture.net

natural awakenings

August 2010

healthykids

Smacking Good Snacks NATURALLY HEALTHY CHOICES KIDS CRAVE by Judith Fertig

dults may think in terms of three meals a day, but kids are natural grazers, enjoying small portions of lots of different foods throughout the day. So it makes sense for parents to expand the notion of snack time and to have healthy foods ready when hunger strikes at a moment’s notice. If kids can understand that a snack simply means a smaller portion of a good-for-us food instead of a processed item with empty calories, the rest is easy. More, when kids can help prepare the snack and are more invested in the process, they’re also more likely to eat

it, advises Marina Ganter, a former researcher with Bon Appétit and Gourmet and the mother of daughters Zoe and Charlotte, ages 9 and 7. The following ideas for premade, easy-to prepare snacks will curb hunger and deliciously nourish children. It’s easy to keep several options on hand and form good eating habits early. Naturally Sweet ~ “One way for your kids to enjoy healthy snacks is to get them started on naturally sweet foods,” says Christine Steendahl, of KidApprovedMeals.com and DineWithoutWhine.com, which sell menus and shopping lists to parents looking for guidance in meal preparation. “Since most kids crave sweets… naturally sweet foods such as fruits are perfect.” Real bananas, oranges, apples, cherries, strawberries and other fruits are popular with most kids. She suggests, “You can mix in yogurt or even make a fruit smoothie with some milk and a drop of chocolate or other natural flavors.” Or cut a firm, ripe banana (a good source of potassium) in half horizontally and insert a frozen treat stick in the cut end. Then, roll or brush the banana in antioxidant-rich, melted chocolate chips. Kids like these fresh or frozen; if frozen, let the chocolate-coated bananas cool, then wrap and freeze them for up to a month. Frozen Yogurt ~ Jessica Seinfeld, author of Deceptively Delicious (DeceptivelyDelicious. com), is the mother of Sascha, 9, Julian, 7, and Shepherd, 4, and the wife of comedian

Tallahassee, S. Georgia, Gulf Coast

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Jerry Seinfeld. She makes frozen yogurt “lollies” (frozen lollipops) by puréeing a 16-ounce carton of plain yogurt with two or more cups of fresh or frozen berries in a blender or food processor. She then pours the mixture into frozen treat molds. “Your kids think they’re just getting a treat,” she smiles, “but these lollies are a great low-calorie, low-fat alternative to high-fat ice cream.” Little Plates ~ Ganter celebrates her family’s French/Greek heritage with mezedes, or “meze”—little plates of lots of things—which her daughters adore.

“These vary constantly at our house,” she notes, “depending on what’s fresh at the market and what’s in my fridge. The great thing about small plates is that children are free to take as much or as little as they want and can sample several things at once.” The variety might include hummus, cucumbers, roasted red peppers, feta cheese, pita bread, Kalamata olives and steamed spinach, flavored with garlic and olive oil. From the Garden ~ When children pick their own foods from a garden, they are more likely to eat the resulting dish, especially fresh vegetables. Tatjana Alvegard, a photographer and blogger, has discovered that her daughters, Nikita, 8, and Kaya, 3, know that a snack is as close as their own backyard. They love helping Mom make an easy basil pesto to herb just-picked tomatoes, sandwiches, pasta and gardenfresh veggie dips. Nuts and Dry Cereals ~ “One thing to recognize about children is that if they try enough types of natural and healthy snacks, they will find one that they enjoy,” remarks Steendahl. “The problem is that many times, parents give up trying to find the snacks that their kids like and settle for popular junk foods instead.” She stresses the importance of teaching kids which snacks to eat and which to avoid early in life, so that they can sidestep obesity problems as they grow. Nuts and dry cereals, for example, are choice alternatives to chips and other junk foods. According to California-based pediatrician and author William Sears, who markets his own line of healthy kids snacks called Lunchbox Essentials (DrSearsHealthyKids.com), parents should read labels to tell which manufactured products contain hydrogenated oils, artificial colors, preservatives and high-fructose corn syrup—all of which are best avoided. Rather, give family members snacks that provide both fiber and protein, which create a feeling of fullness and taste good, as well. Judith Fertig is a freelance food writer in Overland Park, KS; for more information visit AlfrescoFoodAndLifestyle.blogspot. com.

inspiration

Four Ways to Light(en) Up Your Life by Isha Judd

n an increasingly unpredictable world where anxiety and insecurity abound, where can we turn to find peace and happiness? The simple answer is: within ourselves. Here’s how.

1. Get present When you find yourself in the midst of a worrisome situation, stop. Go inward, and ask yourself, “What is wrong in this moment?” Usually, nothing is wrong at that time. It is when we stray off into past regrets and future concerns that anxiety kicks in; don’t deny the problems that you are facing, but don’t get lost in them, either. Being in the present will bring you greater alertness and inner security, allowing you to face challenges more objectively and with greater calm. 2. Laugh at yourself When you realize that you are obsessing over a concern or a worry, laugh at yourself. Just look up at the sky and think, “Oh! I’m doing it again.” When you don’t take yourself so seriously, you immediately disarm the worry and anxiety of the human intellect. This will help you take stock of the situation and reassess things more clearly. 3. Go with the flow As adults, we lose the ability to flow. We cling to the idea of what we want

and fight against the current of life, because we think that securing what we want is what is going to make us happy. But that’s not the truth; our happiness depends upon the wisdom of the choices we make in each moment. Ask yourself, “Am I choosing to be happy, or am I fighting for what I want? Am I attached to an idea or am I willing to flow?”

4. Take responsibility for your own happiness “If only he or she wasn’t so… then, I could be happy.” Does this sound familiar? We are so dependent on the behaviors of others that whenever they aren’t doing what we want them to, we suffer. If your happiness depends upon others, you are setting yourself up for disappointment. People continually change and things are never exactly the way we expect them to be. Stop trying to change others so that you can be happy. Instead, focus on praising and appreciating the people around you. Isha Judd is an internationally renowned spiritual teacher and author; her book and movie, Why Walk When You Can Fly? explain her system for self-love and the expansion of consciousness. Learn more at WhyWalkWhenYou CanFly.com.

natural awakenings

August 2010

DEMOCRACY IN ACTION EDUCATING STUDENTS TO THINK, CREATE, INITIATE by Lisa Marshall

Tallahassee, S. Georgia, Gulf Coast

www.natallahassee.com

sy of ID courte

unworkable in our present society, where education funding is increasingly tied to student academic performance. But 40 years after the birth of The Free School, and the 1960s “democratic education” movement that inspired it, the nearly defunct philosophy appears to be making a comeback. In May, a group of educators founded the Institute for Democratic Education in America (IDEA), which, Students practice hands-on through town meetings, learning outside of classroom walls. social networking and online education, aims to help teachers infuse more crucial point,” says Jerry student choice into what they see Mintz, who founded as an autocratic K-12 public school AERO in 1989. “Everysystem. Meanwhile, new, private body knows there is democratic schools have opened in something wrong with Seattle, Portland, Denver, New York the current educational City and elsewhere, bringing the system, and people are number to 85, according to the nonnow starting to realize profit Alternative Education Resource they have choices.” Organization (AERO). In all, its online directory has swelled to 12,000 opOld Factory tions, including those affiliated with Model of Montessori, Waldorf, Democratic and Schooling other methods which, while they differ When parents step into in curriculum, all share a dedication many public school to a learner-centered approach. classrooms today, they By contrast, according to the U.S. find neat rows of desks Department of Education, the number occupied by children, of kids enrolled in an assigned public school dipped from 80 percent in 1993 while a teacher in the front of the room presents to 73 percent in 2007. “We are at a

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sk Isaac Graves what seventh grade was like at The Free School in Albany, New York, and he paints a picture that would seem like a dream to many conventional middle schoolers—and a nightmare to their administrators. There were no tests, no homework and almost no schedules. On a typical day, students of all ages would scatter around the refurbished inner-city tenement at will, some spontaneously engaging in a game of Dungeons and Dragons in one room, while others planned a trip to Puerto Rico, learned Spanish from a fellow student, or designed a literary magazine on the computer. At weekly, democratic, all-school meetings, they voted on everything from what optional classes the school should offer to what color to paint the walls; not once were they asked to fill in small circles with a number 2 pencil to prove they were learning something. “We were, at a very young age, in control of our education,” recalls Graves, a remarkably astute 23-year-old who now lives in Oregon and works as an event planner. “I had to figure out what I liked, what my passions were, and how to access information in a variety of ways. I had to interact with adults in a real way—not just as authority figures. I had to learn how to learn.” To many, the notion of a school without schedules where kids and adults have equal say and “test” is almost a dirty word seems utterly

Is a more democratic model of schooling the answer to today’s education crisis?

y of Harriet photo courtes

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e School

mom named Mary Leue opened The Free School in Albany (Albany FreeSchool. com). By the 1970s, as many as 800 democratic schools were in operation. While pioneering models like Sudbury Valley and The Free School have survived and flourished, Miller says the larger movement became usurped by the 1980s trend toward more standardization, with most democratic schools shutting their doors. Now, growing discontent over standardization has inspired a revival. “The public school system tends to operate under the paradigm that kids are naturally lazy and must be forced to learn, so they need homework and testing to be motivated,” says Mintz. “Advocates of democratic education and other learner-centered approaches believe that children have a natural passion for learning and are good judges of what they need to learn. Our job as educators is to provide them resources.”

a lesson. When the bell rings, students file into another room, where the same scene plays out again. That structure, according to education historians, is no accident. With the Industrial Revolution underway in the 1800s and waves of families moving from rural settings (where life followed a seasonal rhythm) to cities, education pioneers faced a formidable task. “Civic leaders realized that people were not well prepared for this new lifestyle of working in a factory,” explains Ron Miller, Ph.D., a widely published education historian. “Public education was designed with the idea that people had to learn how to follow a set schedule, follow orders and come up with a product in the end. The day was broken up into time periods with a bell, because that was what factory work entailed.” Miller observes that the system served its purpose well. “The U.S. became a tremendously productive industrial society.” But by the 1960s, some critics began to point to what they saw as a glaring hypocrisy: America claimed to be a democratic society, yet our youngest citizens were given no voice. In 1968, a group of parents in Sudbury, Massachusetts, founded the Sudbury Valley School, a K-12 learning center where adults were literally prohibited from initiating activities, while kids chose what to do, where and when (SudVal. org). One year later, a homeschooling

Renewed Democracy in Action Rebirth of the democratic school movement can be credited in part to Alan Berger, an idealistic New York teacher who, after reading an article about the 1960s Free School movement in 2002, was inspired to open The Brooklyn Free School in the basement of a small church. Today, the school is thriving, with a diverse student body of 60, a new five-story brownstone to call home, and a sliding fee scale that lets children of all economic backgrounds participate in an education they largely create themselves. On a typical morning, students gather in the music room for impromptu Beatles jam sessions, do yoga in the

“Montessori really is a ‘no child left behind’ teaching philosophy. If you are ready to keep moving, you keep moving. If you aren’t, you can stay on task until you get it.” ~ Tanya Stutzman, whose six children have attended Montessori schools in Sarasota, Florida

“The reading, writing and academics all came out eventually, as day-to-day living required that they learned them.” ~ Wonshe, who “unschooled” both of her sons in rural Virginia

“Waldorf understands that there are many ways for a child to express oneself— not just through words and academics, but also through creativity.” ~ Patrice Maynerd, who enrolled her son in Waldorf education at age 3

hallway, scrawl art across a designated wall or curl up with a book in the wellstocked library. Some attend optional math and writing classes. For others, the year’s lesson plan evolves more organically out of a larger goal. For example, in preparation for a school trip to Tanzania, some students studied Swahili, African cuisine and the region’s history. “There are just so many things that I love here,” raves student Erin Huang Schaffer in a new documentary about the school called The Good, The True and The Beautiful. “I love making art and drawing, and I’ve started making stories… I’m just finding out so much about the world.” Thousands of miles away, at a new democratic preschool called The Patchwork School, in Louisville, Colorado,

natural awakenings

August 2010

y of Harriet photo courtes

e School Tubman Fre

surveyed 431 alumni from the democratic Jefferson County Open School in Denver (one of the oldest public alternative schools in the country) and found that 91 percent went to college, 85 percent completed degreed programs and 25 percent earned graduate degrees. Many lauded their K-12 education there: “Because of the school, I am much less influenced by the need to conform and I’m not afraid to take risks,” said Adelle, a 1986 graduate who went on to become a project manager for an entertainment company. Other comments were less glowing: “I found that I had to scramble to catch up with my peers; the school failed to provide me with even the most basic mathematical skills,” said Mary, a 1991 graduate. Kristin, from the class of 1997 added, “When I was applying to colleges, I wished that I had some documentation other than self-assessment; I think this hurt me.” But still other democratic alumni contend that the struggle is only temporary and—in hindsight—well worth it. Meghan Carrico, 47, attended a democratic school in North Vancouver from age 8 to 13. She told Natural Awakenings she did fine academically when she transitioned to a mainstream public high school, but found it “boring and socially barren,” with teachers who didn’t appreciate her tendency to question author-

the same principles apply to even the youngest learners. On a recent day, a group of 5-year-olds held a vote and elected to spend the morning crafting miniature cardboard cities. Then their instructor, a precocious 5-yearold named Evan, led the way to the workroom, passing out paints, scissors, Popsicle sticks and glue as an adult watched quietly nearby. “Everyone here has a voice,” affirms Patchwork co-founder Elizabeth Baker, who was homeschooled in a democratic fashion herself. “If we can validate who they are as people now, they can go out into the world with confidence that their thoughts and opinions count.” But, will they be prepared for that world?

Good Questions Will children, given the freedom, choose to learn basic skills like reading and math? What will this revolutionary breed of students have to show a college entrance board if they have no test scores? And how will kids schooled with little structure and no hierarchy thrive in a professional world with so much of both? Skeptics abound, and they have pounced on such questions. Meanwhile, informal surveys of democratic school graduates have yielded mixed answers. For his new book, Lives of Passion; School of Hope, Rick Posner, Ph.D., 20

Tallahassee, S. Georgia, Gulf Coast

Helpful Resources DemocraticEducation.org DemocraticEducation.com EducationRevolution.org FairTest.org www.natallahassee.com

ity and venture beyond the status quo. She dropped out in 11th grade, then dropped out of a community college for many of the same reasons. “If I contradicted the professor, I got a bad grade,” she recalls. Ultimately, Carrico made her way to the highly progressive Antioch College in Ohio (one of 815 colleges now willing to consider students with no high school test scores), where she ended up with a master’s degree in leadership and training. She also landed a job that she loves, teaching in a democratic school. While Carrico relates that her own early schooling may not have prepared her to fit in at a mainstream classroom or top-down workplace, it absolutely prepared her for a changing world in which factory jobs are dwindling and people must think outside the box. “People who are really successful in the world today are not waiting around to be told what to do,” she comments. Instead, “they are actively creating social networks and seeking out knowledge on their own; these are the very things they learn from kindergarten on in democratic schools.” College success and career paths aside, Miller believes the best way to determine if democratic education is working is to pay a visit to a school and ask the question: “Are the kids excited about school or not?” On a recent May afternoon at Colorado’s Jefferson County Open School, students lounged on puffy couches or sat on the steps with their principal, whom they casually called Wendy. The school year was officially over and warm weather beckoned, but they were in no rush to leave. To Anna Reihmann, 17, a graduating senior who has attended there since preschool, excelled academically and is headed to college next year, it was a particularly bittersweet day. “I have learned so much about who I am as a person here. It has always felt like home,” she said that day. Then she uttered the three words that many parents and teachers say that they don’t hear often enough from students these days: “I love school.” Lisa Marshall is a freelance writer in Lyons, CO. Contact her at Lisa Marshall08@gmail.com.

Guide At A Glance

Alternative Education Approaches MONTESSORI The Montessori method was born in 1907 in the slums of Italy, when physician Maria Montessori founded Casa dei Bambini, or Children’s House, a school for 50 preschoolers. She believed that children learn best when allowed to independently explore an orderly environment, stocked with hands-on materials that engage all five senses. Today, the United States is home to 10,000 Montessori schools. More than 60 percent are for children under 6, with an increasing number extending through high school; kids are grouped in three-year age spans. Classrooms for the youngest children come stocked with miniature furniture and kitchens, which enables them to make their own snacks and lunches. Independence and order are key, as students are free to move around the room, selecting from neatly arranged materials, like strings of beads that represent numbers or wooden blocks symbolizing letters. “Montessori is hyper-intellectual,” comments Tim Seldin, of the International Montessori Council. “We raise kids who are joyful scholars.” A 2006 study in Science Magazine found Montessori 5-year-olds were significantly better prepared in science and math than those who attended conventional preschools. They also tested better on executive function, defined as the ability to adapt in response to problems. “They don’t just make you memorize facts,” says 15-year-old Natacha Stutzman, who attended a Montessori school in Sarasota, Florida, through 8th grade. “They teach you life lessons.”

WALDORF The Waldorf movement began in 1919, when Austrian scientist Rudolf Steiner established a school for children of employees of the Waldorf Astoria cigarette factory in Stuttgart, Germany. According to his philosophy, children evolve through three, seven-year stages, first absorbing the world through the senses in early childhood, and later through fantasy and imagination. Only after puberty comes the rational, abstract power of the intellect. Consequently, Waldorf’s lower-grade educators emphasize free play and fantasy and discourage exposure to media. Most schools allow no computers in the classroom until middle school, and reading is not formally taught until second grade. “At a time when kindergartens are becoming more academic, we are protecting the child’s right to play,” advises Patrice Maynerd, outreach director for the Association of Waldorf Schools of North America. She explains that rather than using textbooks, students create their own lesson books, which they build upon through high school. In contrast to the widespread elimination of art and music classes in public schools, Waldorf’s philosophy centers on creating the “Renaissance child,” encouraging every student to play an instrument and participate in theater. Teachers follow their classes through the first eight grades, so that one child may have the same instructor for their entire experience. There are 165 Waldorf Schools in North America. A Waldorf-sponsored survey of 526 graduates found that 94 percent attended college, and 90 percent are highly satisfied with their careers.

Find details at Montessori.org.

Find details at WhyWaldorfWorks.org.

HOMESCHOOLING AND UNSCHOOLING Today, more than 2 million students are homeschooled in the United States, up from 850,000 in 1999, according to the U.S. Department of Education. While roughly 90 percent of these students follow some set curriculum, about 10 percent adhere to an approach called unschooling, which, much like democratic education, allows students to choose what and how they wish to learn, and for how long. “I define unschooling as allowing children as much freedom to learn in the world as their parents can comfortably bear,” says Pat Farenga, president of Holt Associates Inc., a homeschooling consulting firm. “For instance, a young child’s interest in hot rods might lead him or her to a study of how the engine works (science), how and when a car was built (history and business), and who built it (biography). They learn when it makes sense for them to do so.” Find details at HomeEdMag.com, supplemented by Unschooling.com.

natural awakenings

August 2010

communityspotlight

Grassroots School in Tallahassee by David August Konuch Imagine a school where children are free to study whatever they want, whenever they want. The students decide on all the rules along with the teachers and administrators, with each person getting one vote. One more thing: no FCATs. Such a school does in fact exist right here in Tallahassee, and has an amazing record of achievement since 1973. At Grassroots School, there are no grades, no required classes, no testing. Grassroots is a “free school,” one of only about a dozen in the U.S. and Europe, where kids and teachers make the rules through a pure democratic process where each person – students and teachers regardless of age – gets one vote. While it seems unusual, it works. The “free school” or “democratic” school movement began with A.S. 22

Tallahassee, S. Georgia, Gulf Coast

Neill, who started the Summerhill School in Suffolk, England in 1921. Neill’s own father had been an educator, and as was the custom of the time, did not spare the rod in Neill’s own upbringing and schooling. The Free School movement was a reaction against the authoritarian schools of Neill’s youth. Children were given complete latitude as to what and when to study, and all rules were made in democratic meetings where each teacher and each student’s vote counted the same. When given responsibility for the management of their own school and education, the Summerhill students blossomed. Summerhill also focused on providing its students with time for creative play, which Neill believed was crucial for learning. The Free School movement reached its heyday in the 1960s and 1970’s. While few remain today, we are priviwww.natallahassee.com

leged to have one right here in Tallahassee, Florida. Pat Seery, a Stanford University graduate, visited the Summerhill School. In 1972, he founded the Grassroots School on land belonging to the Grassroots subdivision land coop off of Old St. Augustine road. The school’s literature notes that Summerhill inspired Grassroots’ twin principles of “self-regulation on the individual level, and self-government on the community level.” Major guidelines at the school include no compulsory attendance at any class or project unless voted upon, and all rules – except those having to do with health, safety, government mandate, etc. – are made on a one-person-one-vote basis open to all presently involved in the school. Children can attend Grassroots from pre-school all the way through high school, but most choose a traditional high school experi-

ence after grade school. Grassroots unique approach has yielded remarkable successes for its students. According to one former student, “nay sayers out there who believe that kids won’t learn without structure should take note of the fact that after I left Grassroots I was Valedictorian of my high school and graduated Cum Laude from FSU.” The success of Grassroots students helps validate its unique educational approach. However, it should be noted that an important aspect of the Grassroots “curriculum” supports the belief that feelings and emotions are as important to a person’s development as anything else. They believe that all knowledge is interrelated and each person is special and unique. The historical significance of having one of the few Free Schools in the nation right here in our midst, is just one more factor in why Tallahassee and the people of this region have a variety of educational choices to choose from that are as unique and special as they are.

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August 2010

consciouseating

WILD EDIBLES

Forage Local Lands for Free Goodies by Steve Brill

ay, those plants along this path look good enough to eat. Well, maybe they are and perhaps we should eat them. There are thousands of plants of all types that can provide healthy, nutritious, organic meals we’ll never see in a grocery store or restaurant. Just don’t call them weeds. That’s only civilization’s erroneous name for the prolific, edible herbs, greens, berries, roots, nuts, seeds and mushrooms that sustain the neighborhood herbivores (including people). Yes, a few of them are not good for us, even poisonous, but with a little effort, we can easily tell the good from the bad and the ugly. Many of these overlooked treasures are more delicious than commercial produce. Consider the increasing appreciation of native heirloom varieties of vegetables; growing on their own, without artificial fertilizers or pesticides, their native nutrition value often exceeds that of hybrids grown for appearance and the ability to hold up under long-distance shipping. It is vital to avoid environmental toxins when foraging, so stay at least 50 feet away from highways and railroad tracks or anyplace that has been sprayed with chemicals. 24

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Identifying the plant you want with 100 percent certainty is also paramount. Don’t worry, it gets easier with practice, and easier still in the fall, when growth is mature and characteristics are more pronounced than in the spring. Another rule of thumb is to harvest where growth is abundant, and take only what’s needed. Foraging is not about stocking up or making money on a crop; it’s about our personal relationship with the Earth and sharing its bounty, so respect that. Picking up any scattered litter along the way also contributes to the benefits.

Shoots and Greens Wild greens are leafy vegetables, often excellent either raw or cooked. Shoots are edible stems, such as asparagus, which we usually cook. When we elect to eat both the stem and developing leaves, the distinction between shoots and greens becomes irrelevant. Seasons, like wild species, vary from place to place. Spring, summer and fall all begin at various times of year in different states, as well as in warm, sheltered spots, such as those with southern exposure, or next to a wall or boulder reflecting solar heat. Thus, just a few feet away from a meadow of dandelions in full flower, younger, even tastier ones might be growing, partially shaded by a wall. Dandelions, sheep sorrel and cattails grow all around the country, so let’s look at what they have to offer. Common Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) One of the most nutritious of foods, dandelion leaves provide more vitamins A, C, E, K, and B complex, plus the minerals iron, calcium and potassium, than any

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Eat Only What is Absolutely Identified Dandelion While everyone recognizes the dandelion’s radially configured, yellow flower composed of many long, strap-shaped ray petals, it’s more important to detect the leaves before the flowers appear. The dandelion is hairless, with a white, milky sap that pervades the entire plant, and the leaves grow up to 10 inches long and 2.5 inches wide. Large, sharp “teeth” point toward the leaf base (dente de lion is Old French for “tooth of the lion”). Sheep Sorrel The leaf looks like a sheep’s face—there’s a pointed “nose” at the tip, and two spreading “ears” (lobes) perpendicular to the arrow-shaped leaf’s broad base. Spreading via runners, this hairless plant begins as

commercial vegetable. Even the blossom provides vitamin A, calcium and magnesium. Sheep Sorrel (Rumex acetosella) Sheep sorrel provides vitamins A, D, E, B complex and C, calcium, iron, magnesium, sulfur, zinc, potassium and phosphorus plus the flavonoid rutin. Kids love this European perennial on account of its great flavor. Cattails (Typha spp.) Immature cattail flowers are a good source of protein and essential fatty acids (both rare in plants), as well as a number of trace minerals. The pollen provides the same nutrients, plus vitamin A. People pay premium prices for bee pollen, an energizer, in health food stores. Cattail pollen is identical, except that people, instead of bees, gather it, and it’s free.

Renewable Bounty Wild edibles are a renewable natural resource that requires no husbandry from mankind; all we have to do is not build houses and parking lots on top of them. In addition to providing nutritious food, many of these plants have a rich, global history as remedies and healing agents. They are the forerunners, and in some cases still the source of, virtually all modern medicines.

a basal rosette (circle of bottom leaves) 1.5 to 3 inches long, then develops a slender, branched, jointed flower and leafstalk, usually up to 9 inches tall, but sometimes as high as 14. Confirm field book identification by tasting a leaf; the distinct, attractive, lemon-like flavor accounts for the name sorrel, Old French for sour. Cattail One of the easiest wild edibles to recognize, cattail does resemble a cat’s tail (or a sausage). Its fuzzy, brown, cylindrical, mature flower head—a spike 1 inch across and up to 6 inches long—grows atop an erect, jointless stem 4 to 9 feet tall. Cattails spread mainly from underground rhizomes—long, horizontal, underground stems that give rise to many stalks. The seeds assure longrange dispersal.

Of course, use of pictures is essential in accurately identifying wild plants. My illustrated books and the Internet are handy and portable resources. A good place to start is Foraging.com and the Green Links section of my website. Nature provides us with an open-ended curriculum to study in every season. Exploring local parks and uncultivated areas shows what they have to offer. Foragers will return home embracing an abundance of viable vegetables at the height of their goodness, with a deeper feeling and appreciation for humanity’s role in Earth’s ecosystems that is unobtainable in any other kind of classroom. Steve “Wildman” Brill is a naturalist who specializes in edible and medicinal wild plants. He leads tours throughout the greater New York area for school, day camp and museum groups, as well as the general public. His books and DVDs include The Wild Vegetarian Cookbook. Connect at Wildman SteveBrill.com. natural awakenings

August 2010

Coming in September

Plant Cooking Instructions Dandelion

You may sauté, simmer, or pickle the immature flower buds that grow at the base of the plant. The French sauté the crown, the white part attached to the top of the root at the base of the leaves—also delicious—before the plant flowers. Try eating dandelion flowers after discarding the bitter, green sepals (modified leaves) at the flower’s base. Parboil for one minute, dip in pancake batter and fry the flowers in a healthy cooking oil to make dandelion fritters. A few flowers baked into casseroles taste good, too. The taproot is edible after boiling in one or more changes of water to get rid of the bitterness; remove the pithy core before slicing. Other root vegetables taste better, so this one isn’t at the top of the list. Dandelion roots also make a caffeine-free coffee substitute using the same techniques used with chicory root, or combine the two roots.

Sheep Sorrel

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A salad ingredient par excellence, the basal leaves are also tasty when steamed, simmered in soups, stews and sauces, or sautéed for 10 to 15 minutes. The flowers are bitter, and leaves from the flower stalk, while edible, are inferior to the basal leaves. Steep 1⁄4 cup of the leaves, stems and flowers (the stems and flowers are too tough to eat raw) for 20 minutes in 1 cup of water just off the boil. Chill this tea, and sweeten if desired, for a superb lemony beverage.

Cattails

Peel cattail shoots before the flowers begin to form (when the shoots toughen). Discard any layers that are too hard to pinch through with a fingernail and then add the tender, white core raw to salads, or simmer in soups, sauté, bake or stir-fry. Cattail hearts cook in 5 to 10 minutes. Clip or snap off the top halves of the immature, green flower heads when they first emerge from their sheathes. Steam 15 minutes, and serve with a sauce (otherwise, they’re somewhat dry), like corn on the cob, a distant relative. Mix some savory herbs with corn oil or olive oil thickened with mellow (light-colored) miso (or add salt) and bake, covered, in a casserole dish for 15 minutes. They’re also delicious broiled 5 minutes with this mixture, but take care not to burn them. When the flower heads turn golden, shake off the pollen into a paper bag, sift, and use as flour, half-and-half with whole grain flour, in any kind of baking. It won’t rise like wheat flour unless a little xanthan gum is added, but it’s especially good in waffles and pancakes, which don’t have to rise much, and in corn muffins.

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by Katie Lilly and Leslee Horner.

Giving Your Child A Spiritual Gift

hildren are naturally connected to their inner spirit. Until they are taught otherwise, they live from that place of awareness. Parents may wonder how they can nurture their child’s spirit and help them meet the challenges of life from this peaceful place. There are infinite ways to do this, so here are a few suggestions to get your ideas flowing: Encourage children to listen to their inner voice. Being aware of their intuition can help children to discern right from wrong. If a child is taught to listen to their “gut feelings” or the “still small voice within”, then as they enter adolescence, they will be better equipped to handle peer pressure. Within them will be a compass that if heard and understood can lead them to their highest outcome. If the parent can model decision making skills that use both intuition and collecting facts, the child will learn an effective way to make decisions. Foster an attitude of gratitude on a daily basis. Gratitude helps to create an optimistic attitude that can be contagious. Encourage your child to acknowledge the good in his or her life.

This can be accomplished in a myriad of ways including a family gratitude journal that is left on a coffee table, going around the table before dinner and saying one thing you are grateful for, or asking your child what they were most grateful for in class when they arrive home from school. Practicing gratitude, and making it a natural part of daily life, allows the child to recognize the abundance in their life. Emphasize the golden rule. What you give to the world is what you will receive from the world. Remind your child, if they are teasing a sibling or a friend, that what they give to others they will receive, and mention that they may want to consider giving kindness instead. If a child is upset because of a friendship issue, ask them, “what are you giving to this friendship?” This also works as part of family life, when you are teaching your child how to be a responsible and valuable part of the family. Try asking them how they would like to contribute to family life. You’ll be surprised by their answers! Introduce your child to meditation. There are a number of ways to introduce the ideas of meditation to a child. For example, embrace a child’s active imagination and have them lie down and envision a balloon. This balloon can be whatever color, shape, size that they would like, and have them describe it to you as their eyes are closed. Then ask them to imagine

that balloon encompassing their whole body, then their room, then their home, then their neighborhood, then their state, then their country, then the Earth, and then the Universe. Another helpful meditation that can be used on “booboos” is the star meditation. In this, the parent has the child envision a group of stars in their mind, and then they ask them to send the stars to the point in their body that needs healing. From here, they have the stars circle around the injury sending healing white light to the source of the pain. Children enjoy these types of meditation, because they can do them over and over, changing the imagery in their mind. In doing so, they are in a relaxed state with a focused attention that calms all other thoughts they may be having. There are so many challenges children will face as they grow into adulthood. A great gift parents can give them is to provide them with spiritual tools to navigate their worlds more peacefully and compassionately. Katie Lilly is the Director of Youth & Family Ministry for Unity Eastside church and a certified KidLead trainer. You can contact her at youthdirector@ unity-eastside.org. Leslee Horner is a former elementary school teacher turned stay-at-homemom and writer. She is the co-leader of the Uniteens program at Unity Eastside church. You can read more of her essays on the website www.OwningPink. com, where she is a featured blogger.

natural awakenings

August 2010

greenliving

What’s Best for Baby’s Bottom CLOTH MAKES A COMEBACK by Barb Amrhein

savings. According to the Sierra Club, most parents who opt for home laundering will spend a total of between $400 and $1,700 for diapers, laundry supplies, water and electricity to get baby from birth through toilet training; disposables can run up to $2,500. (Click on the Cloth Diaper Resources link at DiaperDecisions.com for a helpful cost comparison guide.) Organic cotton diapers, the ultimate green choice because they help reduce pesticide use, are also more expensive than conventional cotton diapers, which is why budget-minded parents often elect to buy gently used diapers. Conventional cotton is considered an environmentally wasteful crop to grow (though its effluents are far less hazardous than those from the plastic, pulp and paper industries), so green diapers are frequently made of hemp or bamboo, natural fabrics that feel soft against baby’s skin.

Best for Mother Earth and Baby Saving dollars is a key concern for most families, but caring parents’ need to both protect baby’s health

illions of new parents in the 1960s thought they had found the answer to their prayers in the mess-free convenience of disposable diapers. Sales of Pampers, Huggies and other brands continued to soar during the following decades. Sadly, so did a host of related problems: tons of soiled plastic diapers that could potentially contaminate groundwater packed the nation’s landfills; infant health concerns surfaced, including rashes, allergies and new respiratory and immune system worries; and delayed toilet training became an issue. In more recent years, a growing number of parents have determined that the greenest, healthiest and most economical way to cover baby’s bottom is with cloth, and new products are truly innovative.

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The greening of baby diapers

Not Your Nana’s Nappies Today’s “smart cloth” reusable diapers sport snaps, buttons and Velcro, rather than pins, and include a naturally absorbent liner (often made of organic cotton or hemp fleece) under the cover. Much preferred over the rubber overpants of older products, these leaner, greener nappies use water-resistant covers of merino wool, nylon or polyurethane laminate that don’t leak, sag or smell (admittedly, even the use of smaller amounts of manufactured fabrics still isn’t perfect). Some diapers combine the liner and cover into one washable unit. Cloth diapers cost more upfront than disposables—they range from $6 to $18 each—but offer long-term www.natallahassee.com

has not yet translated to adult diapers, although longer-lasting brands available online cut down on the volume of trash (see Caring.com/articles/adultdiapers-waste). Japan’s answer is to convert used adult diapers into an alternative heating fuel. and preserve the quality of the planet for their children are of equal importance. Yet, according to the National Geographic Society’s Green Guide, 95 percent of U.S. families still use disposables, which get sent to municipal landfills in the amount of 3.5 million tons

per year. Along with the diapers goes the untreated sewage, creating potential health risks. In addition, dioxin, a toxic byproduct of pulp and paper bleaching used in making most disposables, is a concern. More, disposables consume virgin pulp from an estimated 250,000 trees every year—also going straight from babies’ bottoms into landfills. The toxic stew smoldering underground isn’t the only uncomfortable problem—the Green Guide notes that aboveground, animal studies have linked emissions from disposable diapers’ fragrances and plastics with infant respiratory problems and symptoms of asthma. The biocide tributyltin, which can be absorbed through the skin and lead to immune system damage and disrupted hormone function, has been detected in disposables, and diapers are not routinely tested for the substance. Most disposable diapers also contain polyacrylate crystals, or super absorbent polymers (SAP), that absorb up to 800 times their weight in liquid, turning into gel when wet and keeping baby dry and protected from diaper

rash. If the diaper breaks open, though, the gel may end up on skin or in baby’s mouth, leading to skin or gastrointestinal irritation. Plus, because SAP allows diapers to retain lots of liquid while keeping baby’s bottom dry, the child may have a harder time recognizing when he or she

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is wet, and thus take longer to potty train than an infant wearing cloth.

Newest Innovations New hybrid diapers now feature cloth outer pants that are free of latex, chlorine and fragrance, and smaller, disposable inserts made of absorbent wood pulp and polyacrylate (still a potential concern). The inserts can absorb up to 100 times their weight in liquid. Because they don’t contain plastic, many can be composted, thrown in the trash or even flushed, although not in septic systems. Hybrids can be useful for traveling and are accepted at some day care centers that don’t have the resources to deal with cloth diapers. Companies that sell cloth diapers have reported sales increases of 25 to 50 percent over the past few years as eco-savvy parents convert from disposables. These new green moms and dads are determined to ensure an Earth- and baby-friendly “bottom” line. Barb Amrhein is an editor with Natural Awakenings.

natural awakenings

August 2010

Connecting with your Middle Schooler by Sara J. Marchessault

If a child lives with approval, he learns to live with himself. ~ Dorothy Law Nolte

emember middle school? Those happy years when childhood starts to melt away and the promise of being a real teenage sits on the horizon. If you were anything like me, your body grew in places you weren’t ready for and one morning you woke up with your first pimple glaring at you in the mirror. With the squeezing of that first pustule, you were initiated into the wonderful world of hormonal changes. But the middle school years are more than hanging out at the mall and dealing with parents who are no longer cool. Being in middle school also means rising expectations, both in the areas of academics and personal responsibility. Parents want to spend time with their children; teenagers may want nothing to do with us. While some distance is certainly necessary – as much for our sanity as anyone else’s – we still want to be the major source of positive influence in the life of our kids. Here are a few ideas for connecting with your middle schooler. 1. Cook something new together. We all have to eat and food preparation is a skill that often passes through the generations. Maybe it’s time to see if Grandma is willing to share her secret recipe for homemade pesto and make it with

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your middle schooler. When cooking something new you not only learn the ins and outs of a new dish, but you also make mistakes and problem solve together. Make this a monthly or weekly ritual, take turns picking recipes, and see how your relationship can grow. 2. Start a book club. We hear all the time that one of the best ways to develop a love of reading is to make sure our kids see us reading. If your middle schooler is inclined to engage in literary delights, see what they do with the idea of a book club. Make sure they get to select the book you read and work together to decide who, if anyone, you’d like to invite into your club. You could meet in someone’s home or make it a special night out where you dress up and enjoy a fancy dinner discussing the merits of the latest novel. 3. Plan your next family trip together. Invite your middle schooler to select a location for a trip. Talk to them about options for places to visits, how you’ll get there, what sort of budget you have for the trip, and what you’ll do when you reach your destination. Allow your child to make a few of the major decisions and see how they get excited about doing something special for the family. Engaging your middle schooler and allowing him or her to express an area of interest is a worthwhile task. Have fun and enjoy your child where they are in their life now! The middle school years won’t last forever, but our nurtured connections will lay the groundwork for a lifetime of happily shared experiences. Sara J. Marchessault is the owner of Joyful by Design: College Coaching. She offers coaching to middle and high school students to plan for college and complete the college admissions process. She works with middle school girls each summer through her camp, Girl’s Camp for Life. Sara also teaches at Tallahassee Community College.

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natural awakenings

August 2010

wisewords A Conversation with

Elizabeth Gilbert Author of Eat, Pray, Love— Now a Film Starring Julia Roberts

How did you integrate what you learned from your trips into your daily life?

by Leah Ingram

lizabeth “Liz” Gilbert’s story of her year-long odyssey of self-rediscovery via sojourns in Italy, India and Indonesia, after divorcing herself from her former way of life, struck a nerve with millions of women around the world through her bestseller, Eat, Pray, Love, available in 40 languages. Now, actress Julia Roberts renders the universal truth embodied in Gilbert’s personal journey accessible to an even broader audience with this summer’s release of a film based on the book. “It’s the way that [Liz] wrote this book,” says Roberts. “It’s like a bell that just keeps ringing.” Gilbert believes her message resonates because it’s about trying to figure out who we are in relationship to those around us and how we get over our greatest disappointments and try again. In the end, Gilbert does get in tune with herself and coincidentally, finds true love, which is further explored in her latest chronicle, Committed: A Skeptic Makes Peace with Marriage. It’s her go at unraveling the mysteries of marriage.

How are you different after Eat, Pray, Love? I think the main difference is this relationship that I forged with myself in all those months spent alone, particularly in India; in those long, tedious, difficult, emotionally painful hours sitting in the meditation chamber, trying to find some sort of center in all that maelstrom of thought and confusion and worry and anxiety and resentment and that whole soup that I was bathed in before I left [home]. And to watch the evolution over time, over those months, and see myself go from somebody who quite literally could not spend five minutes in silence in her own company without crawling out of her own skin to somebody who could sit for four or five consecutive hours and be undisturbed by my own existence on Earth—it seems like a simple thing, but isn’t. In that silence and stillness, I met this other voice that I never had before, which is this older part of me—this calm, sedate, affectionate, forgiving, wise soul that watches my comings and

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goings and my spastic fears and desires and anger, and all the stuff that pulls on me, and intercepts me before I get dragged too far away from myself. And she just says, very sweetly and with a kind of amusement, ‘Do you really want to go through this again? Because if you do, I’ll do it with you. But, maybe we don’t want to do this again. Maybe we want to actually remember what we learned and do a different thing.’

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For me, all the spiritual lessons that I learned would mean nothing if they didn’t have a practical application. So I was eager, after my four months in the ashram, to come back home and put it into practice. I mostly use it in trying to arrange my life so that it is as unstressful as possible. I push every day against forces that say you have to go faster, be more effective, be more productive, you have to constantly outdo yourself, you have to constantly outdo your neighbor—all of the stuff that creates an incredibly productive society, but also a very neurotic one. I have these new policies toward my life, like I will not accelerate when I see the yellow light. I’ll say no to things that I used to instinctively say yes to, invitations that are wonderful, but I know will actually make me more tired the next day, more stressed. It’s like protecting this wonderful little match that I lit in India. And I feel my job now is to cup my hand around it and make sure that the shearing winds of capitalism and industrialism and competition don’t blow it out, and that my own anxiety doesn’t blow it out.

Given what you’ve been through, what is God for you today? I sort of do have an answer. It’s something from the Gnostics, which said that God is the perfection which absorbs. I think that’s the loveliest and simplest and least politically controversial possible definition of divinity—that we are not perfect as humans, and yet we have access to a perfection that’s beyond us that we can become absorbed in, sometimes just for five minutes, sometimes for a whole year, sometimes if you’re really a blessed saint, forever. Suddenly, there’s just this crack of a doorway into that divine perfection where you remember for a minute that you’re more than this. It’s available to you always. It’s your right to find that and it’s your right to shape your life as much as you can to where you can access that as much as possible.

How can a broken heart lead to a fuller heart? There’s a line from Leonard Cohen, he has this wonderful song that says; “There’s a crack in everything—that’s where the light gets in.” And I think that’s probably the best encapsulation of how a broken heart can lead to a bigger heart. The light causes the expansion. There’s also this wonderful adage that says, “You can’t push out darkness. You can only bring in light.” If you’re in a closet and it’s black, there’s no way to sweep darkness out. The only thing you can do is ignite, illuminate somehow. And the only way to get into a darkened, miserable heart is to break it. I had kind of given up on love, but hadn’t given up on myself. That’s what I did on this journey—I said, “I’m going to marry my own life and make that wonderful, even if it means that I don’t have this experience of intimacy that everybody wants.” And of course, because the universe loves to be ironic, I found the intimacy that everybody wants. So whatever the lesson is that comes from that—if it brings hope, let thereSpecialty be hope.Commissioned Collages For examples and more information:

Source: Adapted from Beliefnet.com.

healingways

KIDS’ VITAMIN GUIDE by Carlotta Mast

ost kids are more likely to grab a French fry than a broccoli floret. Fortunately, a children’s-specific, high-quality multivitamin can help provide crucial, missing nutrients, as well as build an early shield against diabetes, heart disease and childhood cancers, according to the writings of Shari Lieberman, Ph.D., a clinical nutritionist often cited for her bestselling The Real Vitamin and Mineral Book. But do children need

additional supplements, and how do parents know which ones to choose? The natural health experts we tapped pinpoint the nutrients kids need and what to look for on a label. CALCIUM With just 20-100 milligrams (mg) of calcium, most children’s multis don’t come close to packing in the required amount they need daily (800 mg for ages 4 to 8; 1,300 mg for kids over 9). If children

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don’t drink organic dairy or enriched soy milk, which contain 300 mg per cup, consider supplementing with two daily doses. IRON Many multis don’t contain iron because it can be harmful if taken in high doses, but youngsters still need it. A child can get the recommended 10 mg by eating meat, spinach or fortified cereals, advises Marilyn Tanner, a registered and pediatric dietitian at St. Louis Children’s Hospital. She notes that menstruating girls, who need 15 mg daily, are a possible exception. FOLIC ACID Essential for growth and the production of red blood cells (as well as healthy gums, skin and hair), folic acid supports nervous system function and repairs DNA damaged by toxins. It also may help protect against leukemia and other types of cancer. A typical kids’ dose is 75-150 micrograms (mcg) daily. OMEGA 3 Fish oil is not a food that tykes typically go for, but buy a fruit-flavored product and your little one will gulp it down. Packed with docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), Lieberman notes that the omega3s in fish oil help boost brain and eye development and decrease the risk of aggression, depression and attention

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deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Read labels to ensure that the fish oil has been tested for mercury and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). PROBIOTICS Adults aren’t the only ones who need healthy gut flora—supplying children’s digestive system with probiotics (good bacteria) may boost their immunity by maintaining a healthy balance within the gastrointestinal tract, says Tara Skye Goldin, a naturopathic doctor in Boulder, Colorado. In a 2005 study, people who took daily probiotics supplements for at least three months experienced shorter and less severe colds. Chewable probiotics are now made specifically for kids. Aim for 5 to 10 billion live microorganisms daily, or serve Lactobacillus acidophilus-rich yogurt. VITAMIN A Although vitamin A aids immunity and healthy vision, taking too much can be toxic to the liver and can leave bones prone to fracture, advises Goldin. A safer option is beta-carotene, which converts to vitamin A in the body, is water soluble and can be excreted, unlike fat-soluble, preformed vitamin A (palmitate or retinol palmitate). Pick a kids’ multi with vitamin A obtained solely through 2,100 IU beta-carotene.

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Friday, August 6 Downtown Nights in Downtown Thomasville, 5:00 PM - 9:00 PM, Back to School Bash – First Friday specials, free activities, entertainment, and great dining! 229-227-7020, www.downtownthomasville.com.

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VITAMIN C During cold and flu season, increase children’s daily vitamin C intake to at least 1 gram, counsels Lieberman. Or add a gentle blend of herbs, such as echinacea (Echinacea purpurea) and astragalus (Astragalus membranaceus), an Asian root commonly used as a tonic in traditional Chinese medicine.

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VITAMIN D Growing bones need vitamin D, which is found in fortified milk and can be gained through sun exposure—part of why outdoor playtime is important. For families who live in a cloudy climate, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that kids take a daily supplement of 800-1,000 IU of vitamin D.

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ongoing calendar SUNDAY

Unity Eastside Services – 10:00am. 8551 Buck Lake Rd. 850-656-1678, www.transformingourworld.org. Unity of Tallahassee Services – 9:30 & 11am Rev. Bill Williams. Dial-a-Thought 850-562-3766. 2850 Unity Ln, 850-562-5744, UnityofTallahassee.org. Pagan Picnic and Red Hills Pagan Council Meeting – 11 am on the second Sunday of each month. At the picnic pavilions on the south side of Lake Ella. Come meet local Pagans, Wiccans, Witches, Druids and other Earth worshippers. Bring a potluck dish to share, plates and utensils. Come for the picnic and stay for the RHPC monthly meeting at noon. Hatha Yoga class - 6-7pm. Leslie Hanks’ Yoga Unlimited -Yoga and Ayurveda. 1st month $65. Teacher Training Program, RYT 200. 850-385-6904, www.leslieyoga.com. Healing Heart Yoga-Yoga from the Inside Out with Nell Corry. 4:00–5:30 p.m. OM Studio, Namaste Yoga, 1369 East Lafayette Street. Healing Heart Yoga is a gentle meditative practice designed to release stress and tension, nourish the soul, and access and strengthen the natural healing program of body, mind and spirit. For more information, contact Nell at 877-9086 or cerulean3@hotmail.com, or see www.namaste-tallahassee.com. Tallahassee Buddhist Book Discussion/Meditation Group. 1 to 2pm. Meets every 2nd and 4th Sunday in the Barnes N Noble Cafe in the Tallahassee Mall. Please contact Stacey Turknett for more information stayc1977@yahoo.com or 850-656-7066.

MONDAY

Spiritual Growth/Study Group based on the Edgar Cayce readings. 7pm . Join us or let us help you start your own group. Genevieve Blazek - (850) 893-3269. Healing Hot Yoga with Ellen Shapiro. 8:15–9:45 a.m. OM Studio, Namaste Yoga, 1369 East Lafayette Street. A moderately intense set of postures done with the room hot, suitable for all levels. Focus is on healing body, mind, and spirit through increasing strength, endurance, balance and flexibility. Contact Ellen at 222-0003 or ellsha@comcast.net or see www.namaste-tallahassee.com. Lunchtime Yoga with Mary Bradford. 12 noon– 12:45 p.m. OM Studio, Namaste Yoga, 1369 East Lafayette Street. Sequences of 12 - 18 poses designed to strengthen, balance, and restore ending in relaxation. Contact Mary at 322-0063 or mbradford931@comcast.net or see www.namastetallahassee.com. Dynamic and Alive Yoga with Gretchen Hein 5:30 – 7:00 p.m. OM Studio, Namaste Yoga, 1369 East Lafayette Street. A moderate exploration of postures, movement of breath, finding optimum alignment, developing strength, flexibility, inner peace and deep relaxation. Contact Gretchen at 391-9833 or tallahasseeyoga@hotmail.com or see www.namaste-tallahassee.com. Viniyoga with Debra Hale, begins August 13th. 7:15–8:45 p.m. OM Studio, Namaste Yoga, 1369 East Lafayette Street. Class that is breath-based; focus is on function of postures and adaptations for the individual. Contact Deb at 850-339-4675 or dhale@ fsu.edu or see www.namaste-tallahassee.com.

TUESDAY

Healing Arts Alliance Meeting – 7-8:30pm 2nd Tues each month. Educational meeting open to all interested in healing arts. Email Susie@FertileCres-

cent.net to get meeting announcements. www. healingartsalliance.org. Yoga Flow with Marianna Tutwiler. 5:30–7:00 p.m. OM Studio, Namaste Yoga, 1369 East Lafayette Street. A flow of postures to distress your day while building strength and stamina. All levels. Contact Marianna at 566-6813 or Journeysendyoga@comcast. net or see www.namaste-tallahassee.com. Open Flow Yoga with Jan Dzurik - 7:15-8:45 p.m. OM Studio, Namaste Yoga, 1369 East Lafayette Street. A fast-paced and vigorous flow of asana to strengthen the body and mind. For more information, contact Jan at 508-9058 or dzurikj3@embarqmail.com or see www.namaste-tallahassee.com.

WEDNESDAY

Strength and Spirit Yoga with Ellen Shapiro. 8:30-10:15am. OM Studio, Namaste Yoga, 1369 East Lafayette Street. A moderate flow of postures and breathwork, suitable for all levels, focusing on developing core strength, endurance, flexibility and balance. Class is a mix of standing and floor work with detailed posture instruction, and will invigorate you while also relaxing you. Contact Ellen at 222-0003 or ellsha@comcast.net or see www.namaste-tallahassee.com. Gentle Yoga with Charlene Cappellini. 5:30–7:00 p.m. OM Studio, Namaste Yoga, 1369 East Lafayette Street. For both beginners and experienced students, an organic practice that begins a natural self-healing process that strengthens and stabilizes your body, increases your vitality, and reveals your inner wisdom. Contact Charlene at 997-4534 or cappellini@nettally.com or see www.namastetallahassee.com. Yoga for Beginners with Mary Bradford. 5:30– 7:00 p.m. Shanti Studio. Namaste Yoga, 1369 East Lafayette Street. Experience and exploration of asana to build endurance, strength, and energy and to rejuvenate. Contact Mary at 322-0063 or mbradford931@comcast.net or see www.namastetallahassee.com. Guided meditation with Dr. Patty Ball Thomas, L.U.T. Noon. Unity Eastside, 8551 Buck Lake Road, admin@unity-eastside.org 656-1678. Hatha Yoga class - 6-7pm. Leslie Hanks’ Yoga Unlimited -Yoga and Ayurveda. 1st month $65. Teacher Training Program, RYT 200. 850-3856904, www.leslieyoga.com. Strength and Spirit Yoga with Ellen Shapiro. 7:15–8:45pm. OM Studio, Namaste Yoga, 1369 East Lafayette Street. A moderate flow of postures and breathwork, focusing on personal transformation through the development of self-awareness and compassion. All levels. Contact Ellen at 2220003 or ellsha@comcast.net or see www.namastetallahassee.com.

THURSDAY

Gentle Yoga with Charlene Cappellini - 9:30–11 a.m. OM Studio, Namaste Yoga, 1369 East Lafayette Street. All levels. An organic practice that begins a natural self-healing process that strengthens and stabilizes the body, increases vitality, and reveals your own inner wisdom. For more information, contact Charlene at 997-4534 or cappellini@nettally.com or see http://www.namaste-tallahassee.com. Yin Yoga with Chantel Graham. 7:00-8:15pm. Shanti Studio, Namaste Yoga, 1369 East Lafayette Street. Please call or email Chantel to register or for more information: 850-459-5717 or chantel@ divyayogaandmassage.com. Life Exercise - 9:30–10:30am, also Tues. Aerobics, light weights, stretching. Tallahassee Senior Center, 1400 N. Monroe St, 850-891-4000. Yoga for any Body with Nell Corry. 5:30–7:00 p.m. OM Studio, Namaste Yoga, 1369 East Lafayette Street. Relaxing, revitalizing class to stress-proof body, mind, spirit and emotions. Includes yoga

postures, breathing and meditation for healing. Fun for any body, any age, any level. Beginners welcome. For more information, contact Nell at 877-9086 or cerulean3@hotmail.com, or see www. namaste-tallahassee.com. Prenatal Yoga with Mary Bradford. 5:30–7:00p.m. Safe strengthening and stretching postures to help reduce common complaints of pregnancy. Shanti Studio, Namaste Yoga, 1369 East Lafayette Street. Contact Mary at 322-0063 or mbradford931@comcast.net or see www.namaste-tallahassee.com. Tallahassee Pagan Meetup - Second Thursday of each month at 7 pm. Come meet local Pagans, Wiccans, Witches, Druids and other practitioners of New-Age spirituality and religion! Make friends, share stories and exchange knowledge. For more information check out http://pagan.meetup.com/1296/ or email KrazyPagan@aol.com. Crystal Connection, 1105 Apalachee Parkway. Yoga for Alignment with Julia DeHoff - 7:30–9:00 p.m OM Studio, Namaste Yoga, 1369 East Lafayette Street. This class develops strength, flexibility, and serenity through correct body alignment in the poses,using props such as blankets and blocks to adapt poses for individual students. For more information, contact Julia at 224-9751 or juliadehoff@ yahoo.com or see www.namaste-tallahassee.com.

FRIDAY

Wine Tasting - 5:30-7:30pm. FREE. New Leaf Market, 1235 Apalachee Pkwy, 850-942-2557, www.newleafmarket.coop. Drumming Circle. 7-9 p.m. on Third Fridays in the Children’s House behind Unity Eastside’s main building. A willing heart, moving hands and a loving participation is all that’s needed. Some percussion instruments may be provided, but it if you have a drum, please bring it. Contact Mike Smith at msmithdrummerboy37@gmail.com for information. Unity Eastside, 8551 Buck Lake Road, www. unity-eastside.org 656-1678. Happy Hour Yoga with Jan Dzurik. 5:30–7:00 p.m. Shanti Studio, Namaste Yoga, 1369 East Lafayette Street. Come home to yourself in this mild to moderately paced class that ends with a guided meditation. All levels. For more information, contact Jan at 508-9058 or dzurikj3@embarqmail.com or see www.namaste-tallahassee.com.

SATURDAY

Beer Tasting – 4:30-6:30pm. FREE! New Leaf Market, 1235 Apalachee Pkwy, 850-942-2557, www.newleafmarket.coop. Tallahassee Farmers Market at Market Square. 8am – 5pm. Year-round. rain or shine. Early Birds get the best selection! The oldest farmers market in Tallahassee. Growers and resellers. Organic and conventionally grown. Locally in season - late July early August – Field Peas, Squash, Muscadine Grapes, Figs, Gourds, Corn, Plums, Eggplant, Okra, Pole Beans, Garlic, Green Peanuts 1415 Timberlane Rd Tallahassee, FL. Yoga Unlimited Early Risers’ Class - 8-9am. Yoga and Ayurveda. 1st month $65. Teacher Training Program, RYT 200. Leslie Hanks 850-385-6904, www.leslieyoga.com. Core Power Yoga with Ellen Shapiro. 9:00–10:30 am. OM Studio, Namaste Yoga, 1369 East Lafayette Street. A vigorous posture flow done with the room hot, suitable for more experienced students and those in good physical condition. Focus is on building core strength and internal steadiness, while challenging oneself beyond perceived limitations. Expect more intense postures and a steady focus on the breath, to help increase strength, endurance, balance and flexibility. Followed by deep relaxation and optional meditation. For more information, contact Ellen at 222-0003 or ellsha@comcast.net or see http://www. namaste-tallahassee.com.

natural awakenings

August 2010

To find out how to advertise in CRG,

email TallaAdvertising@naturalawakeningsmag.com

to request our media kit.

ART Therapy

Licia Berry, Integrative Artist www.liciaberry.com licia@liciaberry.com (719) 850-1890

An artist and art educator with a passion for Jungian psychology, indigenous values, symbolism and writing (and over 25 years of professional experience), Licia blends visual image, written and spoken word, and healing and intuitive arts in original, unique art that reveal profound truths. Licia offers specialty commissioned collages for Rite of Passage, “Message from Spirit”, Birthday, Midlife, and Initiation into New Cycle (wonderful gifts!), playshops and customized Collage Retreats. With an international following on her Blog, FaceBook and Twitter, Licia’s genuine messages of self love and inner wisdom are gently affirming seekers all over the globe.

Cleaning

Tina’s Cleaning & Organizing Services 850-212-1223 Tinacleaning@hotmail.com

We offer eco-friendly cleaning of your home or office. We specialize in thorough, deep cleaning. This can include organizing your closet, kitchen or garage. We have more than 15 years experience and can provide reliable references.

coaching

Elizabeth Barbour, M.Ed. The Inspired Entrepreneur Life & Business Coach www.elizabethbarbour.com www.inspiredentrepreneur.com 850-893-5211

Ready to shift FROM TIRED TO INSPIRED in your business and life? Elizabeth helps women entrepreneurs to increase the visibility, credibility and profitability of their businesses while practicing self care at the same time! She offers group coaching, individual coaching and leads retreats around the country.

Tallahassee, S. Georgia, Gulf Coast

CRANIOSACRAL THERAPY

healthy solutions, inc.

Rick Ferrall, lmt, 850-294-8069 521 E. College Ave., TLH 32301 www.healthy_solutions@comcast.net

CranioSacral Therapy addresses scoliosis, chronic fatigue and MS, infant disorders, learning disabilities, orthopedic problems, emotional difficulties, chronic neck/back pain, stress and tension related problems, TMJ, brain/spinal cord injuries, and cancer issues. MA24604 / MM11960

healing

Healing Path Alice McCall

Advanced Energy Healer & Counselor BS Psychology, MBA, Hypnotherapist www.healingpath.info: 850-585-5496

I offer phone sessions, specializing in healing serious health issues and unwanted patterns. My book ‘Wellness Wisdom’ has little known information on natural health and healing; inspired by my journey with cancer. Free 15 minutes phone consultation to learn how I can help you.

healthcare Integrative Healthcare

N. Elizabeth Markovich, MSN, ARNP 850-878-4434 2016 Delta Blvd. Suite 100 Tallahasee 32308 www.IHCFL.com

We offer primary care, preventive care with a holistic approach. We use special testing with 11 outside laboratories to help find the cause of chronic illness and use a functional medicine approach (www.functionalmedicine.org). We also have hypnosis combined with acupuncture by IB Price MD, massage and cranio-sacral therapy by Angele LaGrave LMT and Nutritional Counseling by Leah Gilbert-Henderson PhD nutrition.Accept Medicare, Blue Cross, Universal, Aetna, others.

FLORIDA WELLNESS CENTER OF TALLAHASSEE 850.385.6664 2339 North Monroe Street (next to Boston Market) www.floridawellnessandrehab.com

At Florida Wellness & Rehabilitation Centers we are committed to keeping up with the latest technologies and treatments to provide our patients with the best rehabilitative experience possible. We believe in educating and encouraging our patients to take an active role in their own treatment.

www.natallahassee.com

holistic health NEW GENESIS CENTER Patrice Bullock, MSN, Family Nurse Practitioner-C www.NewGenesisCenter.com 229-228-9050

A healthcare center-Functional medicine, patient-centered approach, non-drug, science-based, results oriented. Getting to the source of your health problems rather than bandaiding. Simple to complex problems. Skin care, digestive problems to the more complex health problems such as Chronic Fatigue, Fibromyalgia, Chemical Sensitivity. Extraordinary results & health transformation. Functional medicine approach consults, hormone testing, detoxification, weight loss, expert skincare consult & prof. treatments, colonics, far-infrared sauna, physical therapy, massage therapy,

HYPNOSIS

DARLENE TREESE, Ph.D.

State Board Licensed 850-201-0073

Diplomate in Sports Counseling, National Institute of Sports Professionals. Past President, American Psychotherapy and Medical Hypnosis Association. e-Therapy and TherapyChat/Office-Based Hypnosis and Life Coaching/Professional Seminar Training www. AskDrTreese.com

integrative medicine Archbold Integrative Medicine Center

John Mansberger, MD, Medical Director. 229-228-7008; 2705 E. Pinetree Blvd. #C, Thomasville, GA 31792.

A holistic team approach to a variety of medical problems. Offering acupuncture, Chinese Medicine, pain relief, natural hormone replacement, Cancer therapy, nutrition, weight control, herbal medicine, yoga and physical therapy. www.archbold.org.

photography

Ansley Studio

Ansley Simmons artist . photographer . owner 229.224.6021 www.AnsleyStudio.com

Specializing in portraits & weddings. MFA in Photography, Arts Administration Doctoral Student, Art Museum Education Certificate Florida State University

professional SERVICES

Southeastern community blood ctr. 1-800-722-2218. Located in Tallahassee; Marianna, FL; Thomasville & Douglas, GA. scbcinfo.org

Blood donors save lives. Is there any greater reward? Save Lives. Give Blood. M-F, 9am–6pm. (Sat. hours in Tallahassee: 9am–1pm)

REAL ESTATE TEAM - KW Debbie Leo - 273-9306 Jennifer Stowell - 567-3223

You can have a green home or find a green home for your family’s health and future. If you’re looking to buy or sell, call Debbie Leo and Jenn Stowell! Your Tallahassee Keller Williams agents.

FITNESS

UNITY OF TALLAHASSEE

YOGA

2850 Unity Lane, TLH, 850-562-5744, Rev. Bill Williams, Minister,

NAMASTE YOGA

www.namaste-tallahassee.com 850-222-0003 325 1369 East Lafayette Street ellsha@comcast.net

An array of day and evening classes by a variety Of certified teachers trained in different traditions: Kripalu, Iyengar and Ashtanga. Drop by or visit our Website for a schedule of current classes or see the Calendar of events.

A ministry that seeks inspiration from the teachings of Jesus and finds common ground with spiritual masters from other traditions. We invite you to join us. Sunday Services 9:30 & 11 AM. Youth Education 11 AM. Wednesday Service at Noon.

worship

Unity eastside

8551 Buck lake, TLH, 850-656-1678, Rev. Jean De Barbieris Owen, Minister, www.unity-eastside.org www.facebook.com- unityeastsidechurch Rev. Jean believes the love of God is unfolding in each person, place, thing. Join us in worship: Celebration Service, 10am; Youth, 10am. Noon prayer Wed.

Sweat Therapy Fitness

realryder® cycle studio 850-222-1781 sweattherapyfitness.com

We offer cycling workouts that improves strength, stability and coordination of the upper and lower body--with special emphasis on activating the core muscles. Located in Midtown behind Kool Beanz Cafe

Coming In September

Creative Expression Natural Awakenings Explores How Creativity Heals Us, Lifts Our Spirits, Makes Us Feel Good, and Inspires Community natural awakenings

August 2010

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August 2010

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