June 2020 Issue Natural Awakenings

E E FR

HEALTHY

TRAVEL IN PLACE Stay Local for Fun & Respite

LIVING

HEALTHY

Changing Your World One Blessing at a Time

PLANET

ART OF SEEING

Appreciation for Art & Slow Living

June 2020 | Fairfield County/Housatonic Valley Edition | eNaturalAwakenings.com June 2020

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LAUNCHING SOON!

ONE ONLINE DESTINATION FOR TODAY’S TRUSTED “WHOLISTIC” KNOWLEDGE, RESOURCES AND COMMUNITY A NEW

PARTNERSHIP

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A Top 50 Healthcare Company 2019

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REQUEST AN INVITE

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Fairfield County/Housatonic Valley Edition eNaturalAwakenings.com The KnoWEwell Collaborative with benefits for all in the “wholistic” health and well-being ecosystem.

203-856-9566 www.203TLC.com

203 TLC

203 TLC is a community of accredited health and wellness providers offering a wide variety of services and products.

Founded in 1997 by Beth Leas, the TLC Tribe is Fairfield County’s largest holistic health resource - a vibrant and growing community of over 90 Members, committed to living consciously and offering healthy lifestyle opportunities. We offer high quality private sessions, products, workshops, classes and resources designed to help you live life well.

Energy Healing/Meditation/Tarot Beth Leas 25+ Years Experience Private Sessions, Workshops, Events In-person or by phone bethleas.com 203-856-9566

Lyme Disease Healing Gregg Kirk, Lyme Recovery Clinic & Detox Center Heal from chronic illness through all-natural herbal treatments, intensive detox, cleanses & energy healing.

528 Post Rd, Darien Gregg.Kirk@gmail.com 203-858-9725

Salt Cave

Essential Oils Wayne Leiss, LMT Centering Our Lives Through Touch. dōTERRA Essential Oils and Symphony of the Cells™ Protocols 20 Fifth Ave, Apt A, Danbury Wayne@WayneLeiss.com WayneLeiss.com 203-994-1207

Massage Therapy Betsy Benham Fruda, LMT Therapeutic Massage, Deep Tissue Melt, Fascial Function, Restorative Movement Westport Therapeutic LLC 16 Ketchum St, Westport Betsybwtllc.com 203-858-0679

Spiritual Counseling

Salt Cave of Darien Salt therapy, massage, meditation & yoga 555 Post Rd, Darien Info@SaltCaveofDarien.com SaltCaveofDarien.com 203-658-7667

Katherine Gray Silvan, LMSW Clear Light Spiritual Counseling Interfaith Minister, Reiki Master Inspirational Speaker katherinesilvan.com 203-912-5252

Hypnosis/Active Dreaming Thea Litsios, CHy Healing Tree Wisdom Norwalk and Stratford HealingTreeWisdom.com 203-693-1493

Meditation & Counseling Meg Reilly, MS, CH Counselor, Workshop Facilitator, Writer, Poet Services in person or by phone megreilly360.com 203-952-6272

Transformation Coaching/Healing Katie Augustyn, MA, CPC Transformation Coach, Shamanic Practitioner, Spiritual Evolution Trainer, Energy Healer, TV Host TransformationCenterCT.com 203-820-3800

Get to know us at TLC’s monthly networking breakfast!

Looking for a relaxed group of professionals offering a supportive community, free networking events, many affordable marketing opportunities, and FUN? We meet on the first Tuesday of every month, at Valencia Luncheria, 164 Main St, Norwalk, CT, from 8:30 -10:00am.

Come the first time as Beth's guest - and if you find your time with us worthwhile, we invite you to become a TLC Member.

Please RSVP to Beth Leas at: 203-856-9566 (call/text) orTLCBethLeas@gmail.com so she can reserve your place.

June 2020

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Your Family From Tick & Mosquito-Borne Diseases

Ecologically Responsible Services BE PrOaCTivE! Let Country Tick & Mosquito protect your yard with a robust spring treatment right away!

16 A CONVERSATION

WITH ROSEANN CAPANNA-HODGE

on Re-Entry Panic Syndrome and the New Docuseries PROVEN

18 TRANSFORMATIVE

Finding Respite and Fun Close to Home

21 EVERYDAY ADVENTURES

are you ready to join them outside?

Taking to Vans & RVs for Life on the Road

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22 THE ART OF SEEING

We offer an array of safe and effective organic products, putting our 40+ years experience to work on a tailored program to give your family year-round protection from:

Appreciation of Art Encourages Living Slow

24 YOU CAN CHANGE THE WORLD

Lyme Disease, Babesiosis Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever Powasson Virus, Anaplasmosis

26 FINDING PEACE IN

West Nile Virus, Trivittatus Eastern Equinine Encephalitis LaCrosse Virus, Zika Virus

IMMUNE SYSTEM DURING THE PANDEMIC

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$20 OFF

1st Tick or Mosquito Control Application

With coupon. Not to be combined.

Expires 10/15/20

countrytickandmosquito.com info@countrytickandmosquito.com 431 Pepper Street, Monroe, CT 203-880-5888 Fairfield County/Housatonic Valley Edition

UNCERTAIN TIMES

28 SUPPORT YOUR

30

30 TIMELESS AYURVEDA

Call Paul Saltanis to obtain a FREE property evaluation and prompt treatment.

Industry Experts Organic Products Family Owned Licensed & Accredited

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STAYCATIONS

Ticks have been waiting for a nice day.

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Contents

Healing Body, Mind and Spirit

32 SOOTHING SEPARATION

Helping Anxious Dogs to Cope

DEPARTMENTS 7 news briefs 14 health briefs 15 global briefs 16 community

spotlight 21 green living eNaturalAwakenings.com

32 naturally

healthy pet 34 pet resource guide 35 resource guide 38 display ad index

Natural Awakenings is a family of nearly 70 healthy living magazines celebrating 26 years of providing the communities we serve with the tools and resources we all need to lead healthier lives on a healthy planet.

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Live Your Soul's Purpose | Attain Deep Peace Have Balance Around Giving and Receiving Have Loving, Supportive Relationships Have the Career that Sings to Your Soul The Academy for Soul Healing supports the growth and expansion of humanity, individually and on a global scale.

"I foresee many students from the Academy becoming the teachers of this integrated way of service."

Now Offering Special Rates for Individual Sessions via Zoom with Eilis Philpott Master Healer and Teacher

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ADVERTISING & SUBMISSIONS HOW TO ADVERTISE To advertise with Natural Awakenings or request a media kit, please contact us at 203-885-4674 or email FFCAdvertising@NaturalAwakenings.com.

Deadline for ads: the 12th of the month.

EDITORIAL SUBMISSIONS Visit eNaturalAwakenings.com.

Deadline for News Briefs: the 8th of the month.

CALENDAR SUBMISSIONS Visit eNaturalAwakenings.com. Deadline for magazine calendar listings: the 12th of the month. Website calendar listings may be entered at any time.

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 239-434-9392. For franchising opportunities call 239-530-1377 or visit NaturalAwakenings.com.

See updated offerings and training schedules at: www.SoulHealingJourney.com www.academyforsoulhealing.com Eilis@SoulHealingJourney.com 203-767-5954 Fairfield, CT

MIND, BODY, SPIRIT EXPERIENTIAL EDUCATION MASTER OF ARTS DEGREES

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THE GRADUATE INSTITUTE Locations Throughout Connecticut!

WWW.LEARN.EDU • 203.874.4252 June 2020

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HEALTHY LIVING HEALTHY PLANET

FAIRFIELD COUNTY/ HOUSATONIC VALLEY Publisher Nicole Miale

Managing Editor Patricia Staino

Editor Michelle Bense

Design & Production Kathleen Fellows Erica Mills

Contributing Writers Diane Bahr-Groth Kathy Katts

Patricia Staino Veena Verma-Dzik

Sales & Marketing Nicole Miale Social Media Amy Hass

Website Erica Mills Distribution Man in Motion LLC

CONTACT US 137 Danbury Rd, #323, New Milford, CT 06776 Phone: 203-885-4674 Fax: 203-516-2392 NicoleM@NaturalAwakenings.com eNaturalAwakenings.com SUBSCRIPTIONS Subscriptions are available by sending $30 (for 12 issues) to the above address.

NATIONAL TEAM

CEO/Founder Sharon Bruckman COO/Franchise Sales Joe Dunne

National Editor Jan Hollingsworth

Managing Editor Linda Sechrist

National Art Director Stephen Blancett

Art Director Josh Pope

Financial Manager Yolanda Shebert Asst. Director of Ops Heather Gibbs Digital Content Director Rachael Oppy

National Advertising Lisa Doyle-Mitchell Natural Awakenings Publishing Corporation 4933 Tamiami Trail N., Ste. 203 Naples, FL 34103 Ph: 239-434-9392 • Fax: 239-434-9513 NaturalAwakenings.com © 2020 by Natural Awakenings. All rights reserved.

Although some parts of this publication may be reproduced and reprinted, we require that prior permission be obtained in writing.

Natural Awakenings is a free publication distributed locally and is supported by our advertisers. Please call to find a location near you or if you would like copies placed at your business.

We do not necessarily endorse the views expressed in the articles and advertisements, nor are we responsible for the products and services advertised.

Check with a healthcare professional regarding the appropriate use of any treatment.

letter from publisher

M

anaging Editor Patricia Staino and I were laughing recently about the rampant ubiquity of the phrases “unprecedented times” and “new normal.” As Patricia pointed out, since we’ve been dealing with these strange situations and protocols for many months now, at what point do they become just the way things are and no longer worthy of note? I’m not sure the exact answer to that question, but I am pretty certain we’re still not there yet.

As clichéd as it may be, these do still feel like unprecedented times to me. It feels like we’re all part of a massive human experiment, having vastly different experiences with the sole common denominator that very little is as it used to be, regardless of where we each started.

Nicole Miale

This pandemic has exposed anew that when we rip away social veneers and step out of the busy-ness of daily routine, each person’s individual landscape looks and feels very different. Every soul has a story to tell, equally valid, powerful and important. We have a choice in how to react to this reminder of uniqueness: we are able to offer compassion and understanding (including to ourselves!) or may be tempted to judge and divide. I have witnessed behavior and received gifts of great kindness and I have heard about and observed selfish acts that troubled and shocked me. Now that the human condition has been so utterly exposed in its glory and flaws, the question is what comes next?

Compassion and suspension of judgment, including for self, are my wishes for us all as we move further through this shared human experience. Hopefully the virus will fizzle away and be a memory in short order, allowing us each to rebuild what is important to us, in the ways we find acceptable. The only way to find out is for time to pass.

I don’t know about you, but I’m not wishing my days away, no matter how fraught they may currently be with uncertainty and confusion. I am striving to be mindful to appreciate the goodness in each day, for days like these may never come our way again. If we pay attention and can be gentle with ourselves and others, in between what was and what will be we may find inspiration and hope we didn’t know we were seeking. These seeds could well be the tender shoots to be nurtured next on our life’s journey.

We hope you enjoy this month’s selection of articles, focusing on inspiration and exploration of new habits and horizons. Thank you for choosing to share your precious time with us and our advertisers, contributors and distributors. We are grateful to have a place in your community, especially at such an unprecedented time.

With love and light,

Natural Awakenings Magazine is ranked 5th Nationally in CISION’S® 2016 Top 10 Health & Fitness Magazines

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

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Fairfield County/Housatonic Valley Edition

See our display advertiser index on page 38, making it easier to find the resources you need. eNaturalAwakenings.com

news briefs

Natural Awakenings Publishing Corp.

Partners with KnoWEwell Collaborative

N

atural Awakenings Publishing Corp.

(NAPC) is entering into a partnership with KnoWEwell, P.B.C., and is a Founding Patron of The KnoWEwell Collaborative.

KnoWEwell, a 1% for the Planet company, received the Top 50 Healthcare Companies award from the International Forum on Advancements in Healthcare. Founder and Chief Executive Officer Kimberly Whittle says, “It’s one centralized private, secure online platform to inspire and empower individuals with today’s knowledge, evidenced-based resources and collaborative ‘wholistic’ community to help them address the root causes of chronic diseases and achieve optimal health and well-being.”

Whittle points out that KnoWEwell is “the missing link designed to provide people with peace of mind throughout their life journey―a collaborative with personal and professional benefits for all in the ‘wholistic’ ecosystem: individuals, families, providers and organizations. Our purpose is to improve the health of humanity and our planet.”

NAPC and KnoWEwell are perfectly mission aligned, adds Whittle. “Natural Awakenings’ well-researched, practical information about the latest natural approaches to nutrition, fitness, personal growth and sustainable living played a significant role in fueling the wellness revolution. We’re grateful to collaborate with them.”

NAPC Chief Executive Officer Sharon Bruckman says, “Our Natural Awakenings family of 60 publishers is excited about the new resources and opportunities this new partnership brings to our community of readers, providers and organizations. We are honored to be playing such a significant role in the launch and future growth of this incredibly sophisticated platform which will result in tremendous benefits to members.”

For more information, visit NaturalAwakenings.com. See ad, page 2.

Local Ayurveda Doctor Publishes Third Book

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r. (Vaidya) Jaya Daptardar, an Ayurveda practitioner who practices in Weston and New Canaan, has published her third book, Be Beautiful Inside and Out. The book promises to reveal the secrets of ancient Ayurvedic therapies, rituals and eating habits to help you maintain beauty and well-being. The book can be purchased on Amazon for $20.

Daptardar is an Ayurveda Specialist, and for the past 20 years she has led clients to health and healing by sharing the transformative power of Ayurveda in her seminars and workJaya Daptardar shops. She is a founder of Active Ayurveda and Yoga and The Institute of Ayurveda and Life Style Management. Her two previously published books were Aging Gracefully and Ayurveda’s Wisdom for Management of Pain and Addiction.

As a healing practitioner, Daptardar concentrates on prevention and wellness, women’s health, nutrition, weight and lifestyle management and the treatment of such maladies as arthritis, asthma, allergies, acne, digestion issues, chronic pain, mental health, stress-related illness, addiction and more.

To contact Daptardar, call 203-857-4123, email Info@AyurBeautyandLifestyle.com, or visit AyurBeautyandLifestyle.com.

June 2020

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Lectio 360

A Contemplative Practice to Improve Self-Awareness and Serenity

Regular Online 30-Minute Sessions Conveniently Scheduled and Designed to Fit Into Your Day

Learn More and Register at www.lectio360.com

Positive & Nature Based Psychology Promoting well-being and resilience.

Happiness • Strength • Hope • Wisdom • Coping • Flourishing Ann C. Reeves, Psy. D, CAPP Licensed Psychologist

203-451-6208

annreevespsych@optonline.net • www.annreevespsychology.com 3 Hollyhock Lane, Wilton, CT 06897

news briefs

Align with Source via Zoom

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nnaita Gandhy, an advanced spiritual healer, has begun to hold classes via Zoom.

Originally from India, Gandhy is now living in Connecticut and helping others to align with Source.

Some classes currently being made available include “Aligned with Source,” held Saturdays at 10:30am, in which attendees develop personal spiritual empowerment; and “5D: Shifting from the Third Dimension in Preparation for Fifth-Dimensional Reality,” held Fridays at 5pm. All classes are by email invite only.

Classes are free to those who cannot afford to pay, with donations requested of those who can.

If interested, contact Gandhy at AlignWithSource@gmail.com. For recordings of her classes and mediations, visit AlignWithSource. blogspot.com/p/presentations.html.

Land Trust Works to Achieve Green Corridor

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spetuck Land Trust has acquired Gilbertie’s Farm, a 34-acre working organic farm adjacent to the land trust’s Randall’s Farm Preserve on Sport Hill Road in Easton.

Sal Gilbertie will continue to farm the land, which will anchor Aspetuck Land Trust’s larger vision to create a multi-town Green Corridor involving a 40,000-acre belt of land in Easton, Weston, Redding, Wilton, Westport and Fairfield. Gilbertie’s Farm is the largest certified organic greenhouse operation in the Northeast.

Bill Kraekel, president of Aspetuck Land Trust, said in a release, “We are pleased to be able to make this announcement in this very difficult economic and public health environment. That said, we continue to need funds to protect other parcels in the Green Corridor that are at clear risk for development. For us to succeed in keeping Fairfield County’s serene pockets of rural beauty which we know and love, we will need more people to step forward.”

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Fairfield County/Housatonic Valley Edition

eNaturalAwakenings.com

Westport Farmers Market Opens for Summer

Organic Lawn, Garden & Land Care

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he Westport Farmers Market has officially returned to its home in the parking lot of 50 Imperial Avenue. The summer market will run from 10am to 2pm and will continue to operate on a pre-order basis with scheduled pick-up times. There will be no onsite shopping.

Delivery options are available.

Shoppers will have the opportunity to purchase from 15 vendors (with more added throughout the season) beginning every Saturday at 4pm through Monday at noon.

All shoppers must secure a pick-up time before ordering from vendors at WestportFarmersMarket.com/order. Vendors will be required to wear masks and gloves at all times. Shoppers will have an opportunity to support the market through a “Friend of the Market” program.

“We love our community and are thrilled to return to our summer location on Imperial Avenue,” says Lori Cochran Dougall, executive director of WFM. “While the market is operating differently, we are who we are at our core.

We look forward to launching the harvest season with our supporters.”

New vendors have been added, and the roster includes Calf and Clover Creamery, Farmers & Crooks, Fort Hill Farm, Herbaceous Catering Company, Two Guys from Woodbridge, Lost Ruby Farm, Muddy Feet Flower Farm, Nit Noi Provisions, Ox Hollow Farm, Paul’s Custom Pet Food, Riverbank Farm, Seacoast Mushrooms and Wave Hill Breads.

For details, and to place your orders, email Director@WestportFarmersMarket.com or visit WestportFarmersMarket.com.

Location: 50 Imperial Ave, Westport.

Safely Working With Nature CT HIC # 0617420 • B-2670

860-935-5235 • GoOrganicLLc.com Victoria F. Shaw, PhD, LPC

Intuitive & Consultant LPC Shaw, PhD, F.Psychotherapist Victoria

Intuitive Psychotherapist & Consultant Combining the best of traditional

psychotherapy with intuitive guidance in Combining the best of traditional psychotherapy with working with children, teens adults. intuitive guidance in working with children,and teens and adults.

Offices in Wilton, Westport and Fairfield.

Offices in Wilton and Westport www.victoriashawpsychotherapy.com

www.victoriashawintuitive.com VictoriaShawPsychotherapy.com • VictoriaShawIntuitive.com 203-254-3403 •• vfshawphd@gmail.com 203-254-3403 vfshawphd@gmail.com

51 Ethan Allen Hwy (Rt 7), Ridgefield, CT PURVEYORS OF POSITIVITY

A Unique Lifestyle Boutique Featuring the first Shungite Room in the USA. HOME • BODY • SOUL

Introducing…

THE ANGEL WING, A DIVINE SPIRITUAL CENTER The Angel Wing is available to rent for individual or group sessions, workshops, classes, retreats, or for any therapeutic practice including yoga, meditation, reiki, massage, musical events, and more. Optional rental spaces include a large open room and/or an intimate private room with massage/reiki table.

• Wide selection of crystals & jewelry • Candles, essential oils, incense & soap • Feng Shui & home decor • Spiritual gifts, statuary, decks, books & cards • Private & group readings, reiki, guided 49 Ethan Allen Hwy (Rt 7), Ridgefield, CT meditation, sound therapy & energy work (Located next door to The Angel Cooperative) 203 -4 31-2959 • WWW.THEANGELCOOP.COM

June 2020

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Family and Child Psychotherapy Support and Guidance • Divorce Anxiety • Parent/Child Conflict Attachment and Bonding • Trauma • Grief Professional/Executive Coaching

Robin Ordan, LCSW 203-561-8535

www.robinordanlcsw.com Located on the Old Greenwich/Stamford Border

CLEANSES, SPECIAL DIETS, AND MORE… short term detox • meals to freeze dinner parties • homegrown microgreens fermented locally grown vegetables

Chef Eliana Grübel, C.H.C. Licensed and Insured In-home Cooking Services

203-559-8946 www.cleanfood4urtype.com

Touch of Sedona The Finest in Southwest Goods & Healing Items

A Unique Boutique with Heartfelt Purpose

Native American Art Turquoise & Silver Jewelry Crystals of all sizes Chakra Jewelry Dreamcatchers Buddhas • Books • Angels Candles • Incense • Oils F

Visit us in Ridgefield and our New Store in Bethel! www.TouchofSedonaCT.com Both Locations 125 Greenwood Ave. 452 Main Street Open Everyday Ridgefield, CT Bethel, CT Until 5:30pm 203-438-7146 475-329-2087 10

Fairfield County/Housatonic Valley Edition

news briefs

The Silo at Hunt Hill to Reopen

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ans of The Silo in New Milford will be pleased to know the historic property will soon be opening its doors to the public once again. Alessandro Piovezahn and two others have taken over the Hunt Hill Farm, Inc. non-profit organization and its property at 44 Upland Road. Going forward, the site will be referred to as The Henderson Center for Excellence for Youth Empowerment at The Silo, to honor the original owners, and will offer many of the same programs it did in the past, in addition to new ones.

Until its closing last summer due to revenue issues, Hunt Hill offered space to showcase art, presented cooking classes, held open mic nights and concerts and operated a gift shop. Piovezahn and the other directors intend to create a board of advisors comprised of local community members, businesses and collaborators to help identify the key elements necessary to transform Hunt Hill Farm into a “local paradise” for the community.

Lyle Russell Cedric “Skitch” Henderson and his wife, Ruth, purchased the property in 1968. Four years later, the couple established The Silo, a well-known store, cooking school and art gallery. In 2003, the Hendersons established the Hunt Hill Farm Trust, a 501(c)(3), in order to preserve their farm’s rich history, land and buildings, and celebrate the arts in America through the creation of a living museum. The museum, which became affiliated with the Smithsonian Institute in 2005, eventually will be re-opened to showcase some of the artifacts that were saved or have been reacquired. Some of the earliest buildings at Hunt Hill Farm date back to before the Revolutionary War.

The Silo will be home to educational experiences for both children and adults. It will serve as a venue for improvisational theater, arts and technology programs and serve as a gathering space for the community. However, due to the coronavirus pandemic, activities have been put on hold due to stay-at-home and social distancing orders. Open-air activities for children and adults including arts, music and sports programs, and open air open-mic and music jams for local artists are being discussed.

Piovezahn said Hunt Hill Farm will file for the United Nations Observer Status with the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). This would enable Hunt Hill Farm Trust to collaborate with other organizations around the globe through the UN network of accredited NGOs. Location: 44 Upland Rd, New Milford.

eNaturalAwakenings.com

Social Distancing Food Drive in Trumbull

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ith thousands of families and businesses struggling economically during this worldwide coronavirus pandemic, Trumbull EMS and State Reps. Dave Rutigliano, Laura Devlin, and Ben McGorty are co-hosting a community social distancing food drive every Wednesday evening to help their neighbors during this time of need.

The food drive takes place in the Trumbull Library parking lot from 4 to 6pm.

Donors do not have to leave their cars, and social distancing guidelines will be followed to protect the health of both donors and volunteers. All items will go to the Trumbull Food Pantry. For a list of the priority items needed in the pantry visit Trumbull-CT.gov/ 573/Food-Pantry-Needs-List.

To Whom it May Concern: This whole-hearted thank you is for all clinicians who are working hard behind the scenes providing support and counseling to individuals and families dealing with what can only be called "COVID19 Trauma Syndrome." We appreciate and respect your time, energy, and effort. While the task at hand may seem daunting your perseverance and continued compassion does not go unnoticed.

Peace, The Wolf Spirit Wellness Family Nagi, Jewelz, Diane, LeeAnne, Caitlin, Jake, Tanya, Ferris, and Hope

Location: Trumbull Library, 33 Quality Street, Trumbull.

Online Yogic Philosophy Classes

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he Jiiva Center will present “Yogic Philosophy Lesson 3: ASTEYA The Art of Generosity” as an online event on June 12 from 7 to 9pm. Taught by the Center’s founder, Berta Provosti, the third lesson in this life-changing series focuses on the third yama—asteya— and discusses the value of being naturally generous, not coveting or envying what others have, and how this practice connects us to the vastness of life and the Universe’s abundance. Attendees will learn that if they eschew stealing and greed, feel contented with what they have, and keep serene minds, all heath will come to them.

To register and receive the Zoom link, visit https://www.jiivacenter.com/online-workshops. html. Location: 2900 Main St, Ste 1A, Stratford.

6th Bi-Annual

Passport to Health & Wellness presented by the Holistic Community Professionals

Statewide Benefit * HoliStic expo

Sunday | August 23 | 10 am - 5pm

75+ Exhibitors and Speakers! iant!

ompl

C CDC-

DoubleTree by Hilton 42 Century Drive, Bristol, CT 06010

FREE DRUM HEaling 4-5pm Speakers all day Free Raffles • Drumming gRanD PRiZE: A Hilton Overnight Stay for Two!

FREE aDMiSSiOn Donations Accepted * All door donations to benefit:

Hartford Hospital's Integrative Medicine Angie’s Spa and CT Children’s Medical Center.

For more information please contact: Vendors apply at: yourholisticevents.com Shirley R. Bloethe at 860-989-0033 FB - Passport to Health and Wellness Expo Email: yourholisticevents@gmail.com

Holistic Community Professionals

www.HolisticCommunityProfessionals.org June 2020

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news briefs

Sign Up for DNA Activation

S

oul Healing Journey’s next DNA Activation Series will begin on June 4, with sessions held on the first Thursday of each month via Zoom. liveDNA a bridge between matter and the divine. It is the gateway through which YourisSoul's Purpose | attain Deep Peace Have Balance around Receiving Spirit emerges into formgiving and a and multi-dimensional portal to the superluminal field of the Have loving, Supportive Relationships 12 dimensions and beyond.

DNA Activation is a spiritually focused process of awakening Have the Career that Sings to Your Soul dormant potentials within the multidimensional human DNA codex. The intention of 13th Octave laHoChi $555 Investment this series to unlock these $100 codes usingRequired multidimensional music and sound.

Practi tionerisTraining Deposit toof Register March Are you feeling the acceleration energy on the planetary grid? Is it time to go deeper in 21 - 24 Payment Plans Available The Woodbury Wellness your meditative states? Are you walking a spiritual journey focused on ascension dynamics and Book early as these events &actualizing/grounding Psychotherapy Center fifth world/heaven-on-earth always sell out! templates in your life? Do you align with the 787 Main St. South, Suite A5 Visit website for more details incoming andto toconnect register. with higher frequencies of Light/Sound/Color Woodbury,frequencies?

CT 06798 Do you want to assist you on this journey? Do you want to manifest abundance in all areas of your life? Are The Academy for Soul Healing supports the growth ready to actualize and step upand into andyou expansion of humanity, individually onyour highest potential? This DNA Activation approach a global scale.

"I foresee many students from is for those who know deep in their hearts that they are here to assist in bridging the energetic the Academy becoming the teachers of this pathways the third dimension to a fifth dimensional template. It is coded in your DNA to integrated wayfrom of service." a part,of this wave of and energy and many of you have already begun your activation process.

EilisbePhilpott Master Healer Teacher Sign up now for

The DNA soundscapes, along with other energy techniques including, but not lim"a ited Year to, of Healing 2019" at:Sacred academyforsoulhealing.com Theta Healing, Geometry, Light Language transmissions, and Quantum 203-767-5954 | www.SoulHealingJourney.com Light transmission will provide you with the frequency maps you will require to build the Eilis@SoulHealingJourney.com | Fairfield, CT roadways to navigate this multidimensional terrain.

Classes are held via Zoom on the first Thursday of each month, from 6 to 7:30pm for 12 months. This series starts at a basic/beginner level and finishes at an advanced level, so all sessions are required. Cost is $360.

For more information and to register, visit SoulHealingJourney.com/dna-activation-series.

See ad, page 5.

Pace Yourself Through Online Shamanic Lightworking

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nchanted Realms offers a self-paced, online Elemental Shamanic Lightworking course, to help attendees become balanced, fully integrated people whose souls and physical lives are in harmony.

The five-part class is adapted from Enchanted Realms’ 25-hour Elemental Apprenticeship program and teaches you how to balance the five elements in your own being for physical and mental well-being—Earth, Air, Fire, Water and Ether. Core shamanic and spiritual lightworking techniques are covered in depth, while you learn the ancient art of journeying, meet your guides and power animals and achieve new levels of personal empowerment. Other topics include breathwork, smudging, the four winds, the Thunderbeings, protection, candle rites, kundalini energy, dreaming, emotional cleansing, the Akash, releasing negative karma and healing past life trauma.

The Elemental Shamanic Lightworking Course includes 10 video lessons, 16 guided meditations and journeys, and written summaries of each lesson. At-home exercises provide further practice — you’ll receive access to three different drumming and rattle tracks for journeying at your own leisure. Proceed through the lessons and meditations at your own pace, whether it takes you weeks or months, then complete a short online Q&A to receive certification as an Elemental Shamanic Lightworker by healer and author Maya Cointreau.

For more information, visit EnchantedRealmz.com.

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Fairfield County/Housatonic Valley Edition

eNaturalAwakenings.com

Relationship Consulting for Pandemic Stress in Stamford

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he COVID-19 pandemic has taken an immeasurable toll on our lives, relationships and livelihoods. JSRC Group in Stamford, founded by relationship consultants Samantha Lavy and Jennifer Strom, is providing individuals, couples and companies with tools to move forward.

According to a Kaiser Family Foundation poll, nearly half of Americans report that circumstances surrounding the coronavirus are harming their mental health. Furthermore, online therapy company Talkspace reported a 65 percent jump in clients since mid-February, with coronavirusrelated anxiety dominating clients’ concerns. In this current environment, Lavy and Strom find clients struggling to balance the intersection of work, home and family, with a number of recurring themes:

Collective grief and loss: In the third month of lockdown, clients are hitting a wall, facing a sense of loss—loss of jobs, loss of camaraderie, loss of community, loss of structure.

Uncertainty: With more questions than there are answers about when things will return to “normal” and what will be a new “normal,” clients struggle to manage expectations, as guidelines change every day. Functioning in this environment, in roles at home as well as work, is challenging and frustrating.

Relationship issues: Overall, many clients are together with partners and family 24/7, dealing with shifting moods, expectations and disappointments. Relationships are being put to the test under these circumstances.

JSRC Group is currently offering teletherapy due to COVID-19, with face-to-face therapy resuming soon. As trained relationship consultants, the partners understand how stress impacts relationships and are in the position to support clients and promote mental health in the context of the pandemic. The team also consults with businesses, providing teletherapy and curating workshops to help companies get ahead of transitioning employees back to work.

To contact JSRC, visit JSRCGroup.com or email Hello@JSRC.com. Location: 1275 Summer St, Suite 204, Stamford.

A Contemplative Practice for Modern Times

Lectio 360

I

f you’re looking for a contemplative self-care practice that will fit into your busy schedule, try Lectio 360.

Lectio, meaning “readings,” and 360, meaning “complete” or “full circle,” come together in this meditative practice conducted by Meg Reilly, a holistic counselor and certified hypnotist. Using inspired poetry and writing from Confucius to Mary Oliver, from Rumi to Rilke, selections are recited aloud repeatedly. You are invited to simply listen and attend to your own internal process and be guided to your own insights or moments of illumination. All you have to do is receive.

Lectio 360 is a space for you to tune into your own inner dialogue with a heart-centered openness and no judgment, to take time for yourself – getting out of your own way to allow the inspiring words of the reading to connect with your current feelings. Journaling is encouraged. Adapting to current practices of social distancing, each 30-minute session is conducted online via Zoom. Sessions are held twice daily, at noon and 4:30pm, two days a week: Tuesday and Friday.

Reilly has been writing a weekly blog for eight years focused on helping readers live with compassion for themselves and others. She sees private clients and facilitates self-discovery workshops using the art of drawing your personal mandala. Her counseling website is MegReilly360.com.

Registration is required: all information is at Lectio360.com. A Zoom link will be sent. No payment is required; however, a suggested $5.00 donation is accepted via PayPal or Venmo.

See ad, page 8.

Halo Fitness Looks Forward

H

alo Fitness in New Canaan is tentatively planning to reopen its doors in early to mid-June, subject to state mandate.

“As a fitness facility, our primary function is to provide health and wellness in a safe and clean environment,” said management in a message to members. “As such, we are utilizing this transition time to update our facility and train staff on operating in this ‘new normal’. We have created several changes to protocol and additions to our facility to ensure everybody’s safety.”

Stay tuned to Halo’s website for updates and guidelines for the reopening.

For more information, visit HaloFitnessNC.com. Location: 45 Grove Street, New Canaan.

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Decrease Bone Fractures with Natto Natto, a fermented soybean dish of Japan, offers postmenopausal women protection from bone fractures, concludes a new study in The Journal of Nutrition. Studying 24 years of records of 1,417 Japanese women older than 45, researchers found that compared to those women that rarely ate natto, those that consumed one to six 40-gram packs a week had 21 percent fewer fractures and those consuming more than seven packs had 44 percent fewer fractures. Tofu and other soybean products had no effect on fracture risk. With its strong smell and sticky consistency, natto is an acquired taste, but is also one of the few plant sources of vitamin K2, which activates bone-building proteins. Other studies have linked it to healthier gut flora, lower cholesterol and blood pressure levels, and a stronger immune system.

In what might be good news for teetotalers, researchers at the University of Minnesota found that it’s not the resveratrol in red wine that increases the life span of cells of those following the Mediterranean Diet, but the fat in olive oil that activates the critical pathway which prevents age-related diseases.

“This pathway has been linked to almost all of [aging diseases]. It’s the roots,” says Doug Mashek, Ph.D., a professor in the departments of medicine and biochemistry, molecular biology and biophysics. His studies suggest that the benefits of olive oil are most pronounced when coupled with fasting, limiting caloric intake and exercising. “We found that the way this fat works is it first has to get stored in microscopic things called lipid droplets, which is how our cells store fat. And then, when the fat is broken down during exercising or fasting, for example, is when the signaling and beneficial effects are realized,” Mashek explains.

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Consume Olive Oil to Fight Off Aging

health briefs

Splashy Solution

Generating Electricity from Rain

A surprisingly high voltage can be generated from raindrops using a field-effect, transistor-style structure, reports a new study from the City University of Hong Kong in the journal Nature. A single drop can muster 140 volts, enough to briefly light up 100 small LED bulbs. The new design couples an aluminum electrode with an indium-tinoxide electrode layered with polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), a material with a quasi-permanent electric charge. When a raindrop hits the PTFE/tin surface, it bridges the two electrodes and creates a closed-loop circuit that helps fully release any stored charges. The technology could handle sustained rainfall, as well. If there are continuous drops, the charge accumulates and eventually hits a saturation point. Building rooftops could supplement some of the electricity used inside, and electric boats could extend their range.

Mental Relief

Mindfulness Training May Reduce Paranoia

In news that may be useful for people dealing with the stress of the global pandemic, researchers from the University of London have found that just one week of practicing mindfulness— moment-to-moment awareness—reduces feelings of paranoia. The research, published in the journal Mindfulness, was based on questionnaires of 494 people, enabling researchers to find a correlation between paranoia and judgemental thinking. They found that higher levels of nonjudgement predicted lower levels of paranoia, even in individuals that had a predisposition for it. Then, 68 people were selected and divided into two groups: one that was asked to go through a prerecorded, guided mindfulness session once per day, and one that acted as a control. The session consisted of a quick body scan, mindful breathing and awareness exercises. The results showed a drop in judgmental thinking and paranoia in the mindfulness group.

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global briefs

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community spotlight

A Conversation with Roseann Capanna-Hodge

on Re-Entry Panic Syndrome and the New Docuseries PROVEN You coined the term “Re-Entry Panic Syndrome”… what is it?

What can people do if they think they have Re-Entry Panic Syndrome?

Now you are in the docuseries, PROVEN, with Dr. Andrew Weil.

Can you tell us more about that?

I am so grateful to be a part of this major documentary series that is taking a deep look at all the complementary and alternative therapies scientifically proven to treat mental health issues and physical disease.

There are so many highly effective and clinically proven therapies out there that people just don’t know about. So many times when people come to my Ridgefield center to reduce or reverse their mental health issues, they always ask me, “Why haven’t I heard about biofeedback or neurofeedback before”? The answer is, unfortunately, many mental health providers and physicians don’t know about these treatments and thus aren’t sharing that information. And people and kids are getting physically sicker and mental health issues are skyrocketing. The average age of onset of an anxiety disorder is age 6, and now one in six people are on a psychiatric medication, yet people are more anxious and depressed than ever. The good news is that with the internet, people are becoming the CEO of their own healthcare and finding ways to deal with and even heal their issues.

With the average delay between onset of mental illness symptoms and treatment being 11 years (NAMI, 2019), we need to and can intervene sooner. There is so much a person can do for themselves or their child before it bubbles over into a larger - Counseling issue. The notion that our genetics define - Play us is an antiquated one and this Therapy documentary shows people all that they can do toFunction - Executive improve their mental and physical health.

- Parent Education a

Many are feeling worried The first thing to do for a or anxious about re-enperson who has anxiety tering the world after of any kind, is practice quarantine but some are good self-care, so you panicked. Re-Entry Panic can lessen your stress and Syndrome is worry about sleep better, which will re-entering your commureduce your overall nity, job, or school after anxiety. Be mindful pandemic quarantine and intently practice due to the fear of becoming ill. It is fear stress management techniques daily. Then attempt to get out in the community in that stops you from resuming your normal some way that you feel most comfortable life. The fear of becoming ill if you leave (maybe walking on your street or going to a your home is overwhelming and results in park) and for short amounts of time. physical, behavioral, or emotional distress.

If you can’t tamp down your re-entry Physical symptoms can include shortworries on your own, then it is time to seek ness of breath, chest pain, panic attacks, help from a licensed mental health providsweating, nausea, and racing heartbeat. er. At our Ridgefield center we have been Behavioral symptoms can include avoidNeurofeedback & Biofeedback working virtually with clients with anxiety ance, becoming upset when others -close to - QEEG Brain aroundMapping re-entering the world and have them re-enter after quarantine, difficulty begunBio-Regulation to work with some clients in person. sleeping, irritability, and general change - Advanced Therapy (BRT) in behavior. Emotional symptoms can With our trademarked, REPS Protocol™, we - Short-term, Intensive Therapy include worry, mood fluctuation, anger, teachBe people how Course to break free from their - Behavioral Support - It’s Gonna OK™ How can people watch theReboot® Prog emotional upset or tearful bouts. re-entry panic with four steps: Respirate, - 360° - EFT/Tapping PROVEN docuseries?

Envision, Positivity, and Stress ManageFor a limited time, you can watch the PROVEN ment. We guide people who feel anxious or How is anxiety different from documentary series for FREE. You can sign up panicked through each of the steps so they Re-Entry Panic Syndrome? here: LW255.isrefer.com/go/proven/drch/ can return to work or resume their life in Anxiety is your brain or body’s response way that feels comfortable for them. to stress that can be triggered by a mulFor more information about Dr. Roseann titude of things. The stressor can be real Neurofeedback, Evaluation Therapy You have done so much to Capanna-Hodge, integrative & and pediatric or imagined or a perceived threat. With educate others about how mental health expert, and her integrative Re-Entry Panic Syndrome, your anxiety mental health center in Ridgefield, call effective holistic therapies are is specific to fear of leaving your home 203-438-4848, email Info@DrRoseann.com for mental health with almost due to worries about illness related to or visit DrRoseann.com. See ad, back cover.

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If you feel like you have tried everything and don't know what to do, eNaturalAwakenings.com to schedule your QEEG Brain Map to "check under the hoo and get the clear path to help you or your child be focused, calm,

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BE well. STAY connected.

Support LOCAL BUSINESSES. LOCAL UPDATES & RESOURCES W ith th e e v e r-e v o lv in g C O V ID -1 9 p a n d e m ic c a u sin g u n c e r ta in ty fo r c itize n s w o rld w id e , N a tu ra l A w a k e n in g s is m o re c o m m itte d th a n e v e r to su p p o r tin g y o u r h e a lth a n d w e ll-b e in g a n d th e g re a te r g o o d o f o u r c o m m u n ity.

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P le a se re m e m b e r to su p p o r t o th e r lo c a l b u sin e sse s th a t a re still o p e n a n d g o in g o u t o f th e ir w a y to k e e p y o u h e a lth y a n d w e ll-fe d . H e re a re a fe w th a t a re a lso p a r tn e rin g w ith u s to g e t o u r m a g a z in e s in to th e h a n d s o f re a d e rs.

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Transformative Staycations Finding Respite and Fun Close to Home

taycations—sticking close to home for new travel experiences—was a growing trend even before the COVID-19 pandemic turned it into a practical necessity for many of us. Staycations reduce costs, minimize travel time and also lower our carbon footprint by eliminating international travel. Happily, they don’t reduce the pure pleasure of finding new adventures, exploring untrammeled nature, seeing the familiar with fresh eyes and meeting people from all walks of life. All of that is close at hand, and especially when compared to foreign jaunts, the price is right.

A good place to start is by checking out state and regional parks, often overlooked gems offering scenic miles of trails for hiking, biking, birding, fishing, picnicking and other activities. “Whether mountains, prairies, rivers, forests in the country or heart of the city, there is always a state park waiting to welcome you, no matter what kind of recreation you enjoy,” says Jason Clay, spokesperson with Colorado Parks and Wildlife. In Colorado parks, people can, for example, river raft in the Arkansas

18

Headwaters Recreation Area; boat, fish and hammock camp in Jackson Lake State Park; and rock climb in Eldorado Canyon.

Parks can be discovered and trail maps downloaded by visiting TrailLink.com, run by the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy. It provides searches for nearby trails using parameters such as distance, types of activity and wheelchair accessibility. Its smartphone TrailLink app is free to download and $30 per year for unlimited customized use.

State, local and regional parks across the country offer rich educational opportunities for kids and adults alike, including naturalist-guided activities, bird and botany walks, lessons in local history, ecology and geography, and more. Several states offer free admission to all state-run parks, including Hawaii, Tennessee and Illinois. Stateby-state listings of fees and policies can be found at Tinyurl.com/StateParkPasses.

Making a Quick Getaway

Weekend forays into natural and rustic settings can be ideal escape valves for people needing a simple, quick change

Fairfield County/Housatonic Valley Edition

eNaturalAwakenings.com

of venue. Camping, of course, is always an option, but for those that want to be in nature in a more comfy fashion, using “cabin” as a search word works well in websites like Airbnb.com and TripAdvisor. com. The option of glamping—or glamorous camping—offers surprisingly luxurious stays outdoors in tents, pods and domes; check out Glamping.com.

Getaway.House offers woodsy outposts in 10 locations equipped with “tiny house” cabins around the country designed for quick escapes from cities. “If you were at your desk in need of an escape, you could cut out early and be there by 6 p.m.,” says Vice President of Marketing Rachel Mansfield. The private experience, with no check-in desk or communal areas, enables it to continue operating safely during the pandemic. The cabins, designed to blend in with their natural surroundings, are equipped with food for purchase, stove, books, radio, firewood, fire pit and Adirondack chairs, as well as a map for local hikes and adventures.

“I did a getaway at a point in my life where I wanted some time alone, away

PH888/Shutterstock.com

S

by April Thompson

Rawpixel.com/Shutterstock.com

alike to many of its little-known facets.

“I’ve fallen in love with my city all over again doing these tours,” says Kniewel, a self-proclaimed history geek.

She loves to take guests inside Art Deco and Beaux Arts buildings they may have passed before without realizing the gorgeous art and architecture that exists inside, such as the library-turned-cultural center, Chicago Cultural Center, boasting two impressive glass domes, one designed

by Tiffany Glass. Another favorite excursion is taking guests on a water taxi tour. from commitments, to figure out what my next chapter in life was going to be,” says Paige Conner Totaro, of Alexandria, Virginia, the founder of Unquote Travel, a web-based tour agency focusing on small group, off-the-beaten-track adventures.

“You can change your environment without going very far, and that in turn can change the way you think about things. Little things like sleeping on the other side of the bed can help you shake up your brain.”

“It’s a cheap and unique way to see Chicago. The water, both the Chicago River and Lake Michigan, is so much a part of who we are as a city.”

During the limitations imposed during the COVID-19 period, Airbnb and other websites began offering experiences online, allowing people from all over the world to connect and make pastries with a Swedish baker, draw with a Mexican cartoonist, learn about apartheid from a South African or experience a day in the life of an American Olympic bobsledder.

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Local-led excursions are another way to see our home turf through a new lens. Airbnb Experiences, offered virtually everywhere that Airbnb lists lodging, are one-of-a-kind tours and classes designed and hosted by locals with unique expertise. Experiences run the gamut from neighborhood tours on foot or bikes with athletes to museum tours led by local artists or art historians. Many include a hands-on learning component, like how to make mosaics in a community art space or cook a local delicacy from a family recipe. Similar tours and experiences can be found on TripAdvisor’s Things To Do listings. WithLocals.com, whose mission is “to break down the barriers between travelers and locals worldwide,” also offers foodie fun and off-beat adventures.

Kelly Kniewel stumbled onto tour guiding after experiencing burnout in her previous career in the beverage industry. An Airbnb Experiences host, Kniewel now leads small group tours of Chicago, introducing locals and visitors

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Be a Weekend Farmer

Agrotourism, in which working farms open the barn doors to visitors for day or overnight trips, has the added advantage of supporting local agriculture. AgritourismWorld. com and FarmStayUS.com provide listings 20

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Iakov Filimonov/Shutterstock.com

Connect with Washington, D.C., freelance writer April Thompson at AprilWrites.com.

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from 29 countries, and loved every experience. “I had a big apartment in the heart of Washington, D.C., when I first started hosting, but lived alone and felt a little isolated. I wanted to bring back the youth hostel feel from travels in my younger days, where you’d hang out with fellow travelers and go hiking, share a meal or play cards,” he says.

A web developer, he recalls such memorable guests as a carpenter in his 60s from the Pacific Northwest that helped him with fixer-upper projects, a pair of pro volleyball players from the Czech Republic and two young women from China that prepared him a massive traditional Chinese feast “with all four burners going,” he says. “It’s restored my faith in humanity. I’ve encountered nothing but wonderful people, all with such different personalities and backgrounds.”

for farm stays worldwide searchable by type, such as Christmas tree farm, vineyard, orchard, dude ranch or alpaca farm.

The 40-acre Taos Goji Farm and Eco-Lodge Retreat, in Taos, New Mexico, is one such venue. “My husband and I returned to the land nine years ago after many years working as professionals in stuffy offices. The farm has been developed for our family and others who wish to be close to nature and to live off of the land,” says co-owner Elizabeth vom Dorp.

The farm is open for paid guests, as well as to the volunteers known as “Wwoofers” that come through Worldwide Opportunities on Organic Farms to help raise goji berries, fruits, vegetables and free-range chickens. All cabins date from the early 1900s, including an old dairy barn converted into a duplex and five sheep herder cabins. The farm is surrounded by a national forest, so many guests visit to enjoy hiking, biking, fishing, rafting and ballooning. “Families with children love to come and pick berries, collect eggs and pet the animals. We have rescue alpacas, sheep, goats, chickens and turkeys,” says vom Dorp.

While the world may still be at the mercy of unfortunate circumstances this summer, travel is ultimately a state of mind.

By staying open, curious and present, there are always new encounters and discoveries underfoot very close to home.

Iakov Filimonov/Shutterstock.com

Hosting travelers can bring new meaning to a staycation, offering a rich opportunity for cross-cultural exchange without any exchange of currency. The popular CouchSurfing.com connects travelers with locals offering free use of a couch, air mattress or spare bedroom. Available in more than 200,000 cities worldwide, it has 14 million members and sponsors local language exchanges, dance classes, hikes and dinners, so there are opportunities to make new friends and have new experiences even without offering a place to sleep. (During COVID-19 restrictions, these activities were moved online.)

Similar organizations that offer opportunities for local hosting (including low- or no-cost lodging) include Servas. org, established in 1949, which stresses world peace and cultural exchange, and pre-interviews potential guests and hosts to ensure safety; GlobalFreeloaders.com, a free registry for hosts and guests that do their own online screening and matching; and

EvergreenClub.com, in which hosts provide a bed-and-breakfast homestay for travelers over age 50 for $20 a night. An exciting option for homeowners is HomeExchange. com, a $150-a-year service that allows people in far-flung places to switch homes, either directly or through a staggered point system so they can truly live like locals.

John Fackenthal, of Rockville, Maryland, has hosted more than 100 couchsurfers

Iakov Filimonov/Shutterstock.com

Traveling the World Without Leaving Home

View Apart/Shutterstock.com

green living

Everyday Adventures Taking to Vans and RVs for Life on the Road

M

by Sandra Yeyati

any Americans choose to travel in recreational vehicles (RVs) or well-equipped vans with all the comforts of home—no hotels, just the open road and a tank full of gas. Cindy Jane is a Florida naturalist, vegan advocate, accomplished artist and wife to land surveyor Kevin Georgeson. Now 50 years old, she’s had a dream since she was 18 to travel the country in a van, visiting state and national parks, hiking trails and spending quality time in nature. She envisions setting up an easel and painting in inspiring settings. “It’s about getting out of that social norm of always knowing what the next day is going to be like, doing the same thing every day. I like a little bit of the unknown, the unexpected. I want to see things. I want adventure. I want the freedom that comes with going,” she says.

The couple purchased a 2018 Ford Transit van with low mileage and a little warranty left on it. Together, they are customizing it to create a comfortable home away from home to satisfy Jane’s wanderlust. Crafty and resourceful, they voraciously watch YouTube videos to learn the ins and outs of solar panels, electrical hookups, kitchen countertops, insulation and 1,000 other details that go into a suc-

cessful buildout. They’re taking their time to do it right after investing thousands of dollars already. To document their progress and hopefully inspire others, they record videos on Jane’s smartphone and post them to her website (ArtfulVeganNomad.com).

Val and Nick Wheatley are veteran nomads, having travelled the world for almost four years in all kinds of rides, including the 1994 Ford Bronco they drove across the U.S. for six months. Camping outdoors was challenging, and they vowed never again to travel in a vehicle without a bed.

They purchased a Ford Econovan to explore New Zealand and sold it three months later when they left. In Germany, where beautiful campgrounds and free public lots with inexpensive electric and water hookups are plentiful, a rented RV was the way to go. With experience, the couple has come to prefer converted vans or smaller RVs, thanks to their fuel savings and easier maneuverability in cities and on narrow country roads.

According to the Wheatleys, traveling and living in close quarters has its drawbacks.

Cleaning out portable toilets and taking showers at truck stops can be challenging, but for the avid explorers, these inconveniences were always eclipsed by jaw-dropping scen-

ery and cultural immersion in new countries.

“Because we had wheels and time, we got to see some cool stuff off the beaten track that most people that were visiting for a weekend or week never see,” says Val.

Offering tips, tricks, candid descriptions and inspiring photography of their many world-trotting experiences, the couple’s travel blog (WanderingWheatleys. com) tallied more than 600,000 visitors last year. Through online advertising and affiliate programs, they earned enough money for living and travel expenses. “The world actually isn’t a scary place at all. People all over the world in every culture are friendly and welcoming,” Nick says.

For those looking to connect with fellow travelers, there are numerous recreational clubs that offer base camps, programming and social opportunities. One such club is Sisters on the Fly (SistersOnTheFly.com), an all-women outdoor adventure club founded in 1999 by Maurrie Sussman and her sister Rebecca Clarke with a penchant for small, vintage trailers that are restored and embellished by their owners.

With 9,000 active members and an organizer in each state, these resourceful and festive ladies hold more than 1,000 events nationwide every year, including fly fishing, guided tours, kayaking, mountain climbing, biking and more. “It’s about being outdoors and meeting amazing women. We love going into the national parks, taking back roads and visiting all the small towns,” Sussman says.

Living in an RV or van full-time has become an attractive option for many people, including college kids looking for inexpensive housing or retirees on limited incomes. “I think more and more we’re seeing people who value their time more than a bunch of possessions,” says Jane. “Maybe that means working less and living more frugally, so you see a rise in minimalism and van life.” For a wealth of information on vans and RVs as full-time options, as well as in-depth interviews with van lifers, visit Bob Wells’ YouTube channel CheapRVLiving.

Sandra Yeyati is a freelance writer. Reach her at SandraYeyati@gmail.com.

June 2020

21

THE ART OF SEEING Appreciation of Art Encourages Living Slow

by Patricia Staino

“It’s not what you look at that matters, it’s what you see.” ~ Henry David Thoreau

B

efore we can see, we need to look.

But what does it mean “to look”?

Think back to your last art gallery visit. How long did you gaze at each installation? Did you give the object your full attention? Or did you slow down briefly, focus your phone, click a photo, then move on to the next work?

The average person spends less than 17 seconds looking at a work of art; but are they really looking? More importantly, are they seeing? Observe any visitor walking through a museum and it’s a clear the 17-second threshold is optimistic. If they do spend that much time in front of a painting, they read its descriptive placard rather than contemplate the artwork.

In a world of virtual reality and artificial intelligence, we’ve come to expect a fully 22

engaging, multi-sensory assault on our senses, no matter the situation. In that context, spending 10 minutes focused on a single, silent, stationary object is an uncomfortable experience for most people. More alarming, taking 10 minutes to really see something may be viewed as an imposition on our time. That’s precisely why the small details of life are often missed and little appreciated.

Enter the “slow” movement. It’s been creeping up on us over the years. More than a decade ago, mindful chefs started touting the pleasure of “slow food”. Now there are similar movements around slow travel, slow reading, slow cities and slow money. Most have managed to gain just a toehold within niche populations here or there, but often they experience pushback because much of the “civilized” world

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is unwilling to give up the luxuries and convenience necessary to live slowly.

If done with intent, looking at art may produce a relaxing, meditative state, and Slow Art Day was born to show museum visitors how to achieve such mindfulness.

Launched in 2009, Slow Art Day was the brainchild of Phil Terry, founder of the Reading Odyssey and CEO of Collaborative Gain: “My wife kept dragging me to museums. I did not know how to look at art. Like most people, I would walk by quickly,” he said.

His first “test” of the slow art concept was spending an hour in front of Hans Hoffman’s Fantasia in The Jewish Museum.

He found it such a powerful experience, he brought along friends on subsequent experiments, finally deciding to launch and promote Slow Art Day in 2009.

The now-annual event usually takes place in April, and a number of Connecticut museums and arts organizations take part, including Clare Gallery in Hartford, ARTworks Gallery in Norwalk, the Norwalk Arts Commission, and Florence Griswold Museum in Old Lyme. The participating museums (around 200 worldwide) choose a number of works from their collections, and visitors commit to spending no less than 10 minutes with each work, viewing, contemplating, taking notes, and sketching. Organizers encourage viewers to look closely at a work, then back up and view from a distance. Terry reminds viewers “there is not a right or wrong way…be naïve, be patient, allow the experience to unfold…breathe.”

Turns out that may be easier said than done. Until recently our common goal was to do as much as we could in as little time as possible for the maximum amount of payoff. We don’t know how to live slow. Foreign correspondence arrives instantaneously via email; Amazon delivers just about anything within hours; any data we need can be accessed in seconds. How can we possibly justify 10 minutes looking at art, an activity with no immediate, tangible takeaway?

Art requires the viewer to seek, find and maintain a personal connection. The artist hopes we will stop, consider, think, and

see. That pause, that engagement, sets apart, for example, the completely white canvas by Robert Ryman, dubbed “Twin,” in the collection of The Museum of Modern Art in New York City, from a random doodle in a notebook. The viewer’s gaze and consideration are necessary components of a masterpiece.

Art asks something of the viewer. The mood and emotion conveyed and elicited, the ongoing conversation between the viewer and canvas, the impact a work has on the viewer long after they’ve left the gallery— that is the true purpose of art, and it can’t be achieved in 17 seconds. True art, once seen, must be consumed, digested, and contemplated, or it has not achieved its purpose.

Have you ever seen photos of Leonardo’s Mona Lisa at the Louvre? Most show the modest-sized painting against the stark white wall at the far end of a hall crowded with a sea of tourists—10 to 20 deep on some days—all holding their cameras above their heads and blindly clicking to grab the photo they will post on Facebook

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to prove they’ve seen the Mona Lisa. But have they? Once they’ve captured the painting digitally, they turn and walk away, none the better for having been there. And if they are lucky enough to go to Paris twice (or more) in their lifetime, it’s a sure bet they won’t return to visit her, complaining it’s not worth fighting the crowds.

But for art fans, returning again and again to visit favorite works is like seeing an old friend. New details emerge upon repeat visits: the brushstrokes, the light, the hidden messages, the movement. For them, visiting their favorite artwork is a once-ina-lifetime experience, each time they go.

For the rest, looking at art should at least serve as a form of momentary meditation.

Spending time with a work of art moves you beyond the surface, the first impression, your mistaken idea that you must understand what the artist was saying. Because when you take the time to look, you find what speaks to you. You experience the palette, textures, light,

How to Look Slowly

hile COVID-19 cancelled this year’s Slow Art Day, you can plan your own slow walkabout once your local art museum reopens, or practice during quarantine by choosing a favorite item in your home.

Here are some tips for how to look and how to see: n If possible, choose a smaller museum. You’ll feel less pressure to “see everything,” and smaller crowds are more conducive to spending more time with a work. n If the museum offers folding chairs or stools to borrow, be sure to pick one up so you can relax in front of the artwork. n Spend at least 10 minutes observing the work. Look at it, section by section. Get as close to it as the gallery sensors will allow, then move back to view from a distance.

Notice colors, brushstrokes, shadows, reflections, imperfections. n Empty your mind, breathe deeply, and view the work passively. What do you discover when you aren’t consciously looking for something? n Start a gallery journal. Keep track of the works you view. Leave at least a page per work, then freewrite as you observe, and sketch if you are so moved. n If discussing the work with a group, leave the gallery area after 10 minutes to chat. This will require you to draw from your memories of the work rather than glance at it for prompts. n Write a poem immediately following the viewing, capturing your raw reaction and your memories of the work. n After your visit, learn a little about the artist, the time period, the subject matter, and any other social context. Do these align with what you assumed about the work based on your observations? n Plan a return visit and examine the same work(s) again. Has your view of the work changed? What do you notice now that you didn’t notice the first time?

vibrations and movement. You note how its impression changes at various times of day, how it means something different at a new stage of your life. The work becomes your own and its meaning is found within you—in light of your memories, your emotions, your biases. The next time you see that work, which could be weeks or months or years from now, you may feel something completely new as you gaze at it. The artwork has remained the same, but you’ve changed, and you begin to see and feel and understand the work as you never could before. You’ve grown older and wiser, and so, magically, has the masterpiece.

To enjoy a work of art is to mindfully live in the moment. As artist Marcel Duchamp once said, art is completed by the viewer. Give it more than 17 seconds.

Patricia Staino is the managing editor of Natural Awakenings’ Hartford and Fairfield County editions. Connect at PatriciaStaino@gmail.com.

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YOU CAN CHANGE THE WORLD

by Meg Reilly

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he comedian Bill Maher has quipped, “I don’t know it for a fact…I just know it’s true.”

If you’ve always had a gut feeling that people who seem to be a little kinder than most—a little more grateful or caring toward others—also seem to be happier people, you’re right. But unlike Maher’s joke, there actually are facts that back this up, and the good news is you don’t just

have to be born that way. You can make small changes in the way you act outwardly that will benefit you inwardly. They might even change the world.

Martin Seligman, considered the founding father of positive psychology, began his work in the 1960s and 1970s by developing a theory of “learned helplessness,” which he soon connected to depression. His work had profound

social implications. Think of someone you know who gave up on themselves because they were conditioned to think there was no chance of changing their circumstances, whether economic, educational, social or personal. They just stopped trying. Maybe you’ve even felt this way. Happily, Seligman went on to theorize that if learned helplessness can lead to depression, maybe we can learn to be resilient and that can lead to optimism. Dr. Seligman is now the leader of the Positive Psychology Center (PPC) at the University of Pennsylvania, which has the goal of creating a science and profession that heals psychological damage (the crux of his early research) and builds strengths to enable us to achieve the best things in life (the focus of his last several decades of work).

The PPC focuses on three areas.

The first one is positive experiences, and this is where your ability to create change in your life comes in. The second one is positive individual traits–that person mentioned earlier who always seems to look on the sunny side of life. The third one is bold and expansive: creating positive institutions, workplaces and communities.

So how does this work?

Seph Fontane Pennock has some ideas.

He is a founder of PostitivePsychology.com, a website where he curates an immense library of commentary, advice, tests and coursework on topics related to positive emotions, gratitude, mindfulness, compassion and much more. Here are some suggestions Pennock offers on his website to strengthen gratitude: Count your blessings. Yup, the most old-fashioned one of them all. Take a moment or two and list three things that you are grateful for. That’s it! Do it often – daily or at least four to five times a week.

Send a handwritten thank you note. It takes a little time and you don’t type it out or text it – you use your own hand, real

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paper and a stamp. It can be to anyone for anything. Do it once a month.

Remember a negative event. This may sound counterintuitive but the idea is to remind yourself that you’ve had times that seemed bad and this is not one of them.

Plus, you got through it!

Say thank you in a specific, meaningful way. We’ve grown so accustomed to the quick emoji (smile, thumbs up, etc.) response or even the cursory verbal, “Thanks.” Instead you could text something just a little bit longer, as appropriate, like, “Thanks for the feedback. Feels good to be seen.” Or at the drive-up window, look the server in the eye for just one whole second and say, “Thanks for my coffee. It smells great.”

Keep a gratitude journal. There are hundreds of little practices you can do to incorporate kindness or compassion

toward others in your daily life, and while that certainly pertains to the benefit of the recipient, there is a solid and growing body of research on the physical and emotional benefits to the actor, the giver, to you as you act kindly toward others.

Acts of kindness and moments of gratitude repeatedly return upon the giver.

Caring makes us feel good. St. Francis said, “It is in giving that we receive.” In fact, it is in connecting to others that we often feel most alive ourselves. Our (very) human natures vibrate with the uplift that comes with caring – caring for a person, for a cause, for an ideal. And while this may not come naturally or easily at first, it’s worth the effort. It takes practice to make a change but as Martin Seligman said, “When we take the time to notice the things that go right, it means we’re getting a lot of little rewards throughout the day.”

When you make the effort to make someone else’s world a little better, even if it’s just for a moment or two, and you do it

simply because it’s a kind thing to do – no expectation of anything back – something very wonderful begins to happen. You do get it back. When you notice how that feels good to you, you begin to understand the wisdom of Gandhi’s admonition to be the change you wish to see in the world.

When you are the change, your world changes, and your world really is the whole world.

Throughout time, people have

known this, maybe not for a fact, but they just knew it was true. Six thousand years after Lao Tzu said, “Compassionate toward yourself, you reconcile all beings in the world,” Bill Watterson wrote in Calvin and Hobbes, “You know what’s weird? Day by day, nothing seems to change. But pretty soon…everything’s different.”

Meg Reilly, MS, CH, can be reached at MegReilly360.com and Lectio360.com.

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memory, fear, motivation and healing are commonly helped with hypnosis. It can help to create positive results and implement self-healing where traditional medicine has often failed.

Thought Field Therapy – Fast Stress Reduction

Finding Peace in Uncertain Times

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by Diane Bahr-Groth

n today’s uncertain world, we may find ourselves and loved ones experiencing extreme stress or fear, unable to create and perpetuate a sense of safety and security. These unprecedented times have caused many to reassess their lives, their priorities, and their futures. Concerns about children, family members, friends, education, health, work, finances, frontline heroes and even food supplies can cause us to feel helpless and overwhelmed, which then leads to many sleepless nights. Even before our day begins, our dreams and sleepy minds may be flooded with worrisome, negative thoughts. These cause us to respond to this “new normal” life of self-isolation, face masks, hand sanitizers and social distancing with feelings of sadness, confusion and anxiety.

Thankfully, today there is hope and help to quickly reduce stress and fear. Hypnosis and Thought Field Therapy (TFT) are natural, fast, effective relaxation techniques to organically develop a real sense of relief and peace for adults and children alike.

Hypnosis: Natural, Safe & Enjoyable

Hypnosis is widely recognized by researchers and others in the medical field as a very safe and enjoyable state of deep physical and emotional relaxation. Hypnosis may be as old as mankind itself and has proven to be a natural and effective tool to create desired physical and emotional change. Today, hypnosis is considered to be conventional and mainstream. Over the years millions of people world-wide have benefited from its use. Men, women, and children are using hypnosis regularly and their doctors are recommending it to help with many problems from arthritis to childbirth to anxiety and stress reduction. Major hospitals across the U.S. are using hypnosis to speed surgical recovery, heal fractures faster and assist in reducing pain and improve healing of burns. It can help to alleviate negative thoughts, feelings and beliefs as well as eliminate the emotional blockages preventing one from accomplishing personal goals. Weight loss, smoking cessation, sleep issues, success, 26

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Thought Field Therapy is a powerful, rapid and effective technique developed by Dr. Roger Callahan, noted clinical psychologist. Dr. Callahan began exploring alternative therapies in the early 1980s while searching for a faster and better way to help those suffering from emotional distress. After years of research, he developed TFT, which integrates the sciences of acupuncture, the meridian system and applied kinesiology with associated emotional problems to successfully eliminate negative and often debilitating emotional and physical responses. While stimulating specific meridian points in a precise order and thinking about the upsetting issue, we utilize the power of the body’s own energy system to help us heal.

The New Field of Energy Psychology

Scientists have discovered that we have an electromagnetic circuitry, or system of meridians, throughout the body. This energy or meridian system—known to the Chinese for over 5,000 years— appears to act as a governing force in healing and growth as well as a control system and pathway for negative emotions. There are 12 major meridians linked to the major organs of the body; specific emotions are associated with those particular organs and meridians. Scientific evidence has shown that significant negative emotional or traumatic events experienced in life—especially those associated with fear, anxiety, shock, traumas, or loss—can often be the root cause of illness, anxiety, depression and pain. These traumatic imprints can become “locked” within the meridian system, causing imbalances of energy or “dis-ease” in the body.

Research indicates our thoughts and emotions can significantly affect not only our physical health but also our mental well-being. Neuroscientists working with psychologists and immunologists have discovered that emotions such as love, hate, happiness and fear directly influence the nervous and immune system. These emotions cause the body to create chemicals and hormones that can either enhance or drain our energy and performance. When we think negative thoughts, experience stress, or feel anxiety, the brain signals the release of chemicals which can weaken the immune system, making the body more vulnerable to disease. Negative emotions can cause more negative thinking which, if not treated, could result in emotional or physical pain and illness. Wellness is directly connected to our “thought fields”, our automatic thoughts and responses to past, present and life itself.

Multiple studies have examined the effectiveness of TFT on various conditions and in different environments. Statistically significant results were obtained with all problems and symptoms treated with TFT in a 1999 study at Kaiser Behavioral Health Services. These problems included anxiety, depression, alcohol abuse, anger and anxiety due to medical conditions, bereavement and chronic pain, along with other ailments.

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The National Registry of Evidence-based Programs and Practices (NREPP), a service of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Agency (SAMHA) within the United States Department of Health and Human Services, has added TFT as an effective evidence-based practice for improving personal resilience/ self-concept, self-regulation, reducing trauma- and stressor-related disorders and symptoms and phobia, panic and generalized anxiety disorders and symptoms.

The TFT Foundation has provided free trauma relief and used these procedures around the world—from Africa and Kosovo following wars and genocide to New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina and Haiti after its earthquake. They have completed four studies demonstrating the effectiveness and, in the process, thousands of disaster sufferers and victims of war were helped using TFT. The outcomes of its use in studies of the recovery of victims of the Rwandan genocide is recognized in the International Journal of Emergency Mental Health. A documentary film about the work TFT has helped to accomplish in Rwanda, entitled From Trauma to Peace, was an official selection at several film festivals in 2015.

Create Peace of Mind Naturally

Stress, fear and emotional and physical traumas may exhaust a person’s immune system which, over time, could lead to health issues. Western medicine is beginning to understand that health and illness may be related to our emotional state of inner harmony and balance. Releasing negative thoughts and emotions with

TFT and solidifying the positive changes with hypnosis may help unlock the natural healing power of the body and mind and cause one to feel happier and healthier, and help one rediscover the natural joy of life. Each technique can quickly help reduce the intensity of fear, stress, anger, loss and grief as well as negative thoughts, feelings and emotions related to perceived or real-life events. The combination of these two natural methods of stress reduction can be an effective way to create rapid change resulting in feelings of deep peace and relaxation and freedom from anxiety.

For those interested in experiencing hypnosis in the comfort of their own homes, Mind Body Transformation is offering a free hypnosis mp3 recording entitled “Finding a Place of Peace” as well as a free mp3 Thought Field Therapy stress reduction technique. Please copy or click the link to access both: MindBodyTransformation.com/?section=47 Diane Bahr-Groth, CH, TFT-Adv, Director of Mind-Body Transformation Hypnosis Center in Stamford, with more than 28 years of experience in Mind -Body Therapy, has clients from all over the world. She is a registered consulting hypnotist, certified by and a member of the National Guild of Hypnotists and certified in the Virtual Gastric Band Hypnosis Program, Thought Field Therapy, Advanced Thought Field Therapy Optimal Health - Voice Technology, Time Line Therapy, neuro-linguistic programming, medical hypnosis and advanced hypnosis certification training. Call 203-595-0110 for an appointment or visit MindBodyTransformation.com.

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Zinc Zinc also has been used for a long time for treating colds and flus. It has been shown to decrease the rate of acute respiratory infections, shorten the duration of flu-like symptoms and improve recovery time.

Its antiviral effects are due to its ability to inhibit RNA-dependent RNA polymerases and other proteins that are essential for viral replication.

Monolaurin

Support Your Immune System During the Pandemic

by Veena Verma-Dzik

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ith the state of uncertainty that lingers in the air surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, it is a good time to get a better handle on our health. In absence of a treatment, it is wise to make use of alternative methods to help lessen chances of contracting the infection and decreasing its severity if we, unfortunately, become infected. The Harvard School of Public Health supports depending on good quality supplements to help reduce the risk of infection. Here is a quick run-through of a few of the supplements that peer-reviewed studies deem helpful for supporting the immune system.

Vitamin D Vitamin D3 deficiency is common in many health conditions, including chronic illnesses, many types of cancer, autoimmune diseases, HIV, coagulopathy, advanced age and morbidity. In fact, one study showed that 84% of ICU patients with COVID had insufficient vitamin D levels. In our immune system, vitamin D helps turn on infection-fighting cells, such as monocytes, macrophages and dendritic cells, via vitamin D receptors (VDR) located on the cells. Vitamin D also induces antimicrobial peptides, defensins and cathelicidins, which decrease the rate of 28

viral replication, increase anti-inflammatory cytokines and reduce concentrations of pro-inflammatory cytokines, which have been associated with injuring the lungs. Studies show that vitamin D’s antiviral mechanism may further be due to its ability to up-regulate peptides LL-37 and human beta defensin 2.

Vitamin C Clinical trials are being conducted on the use of intravenous vitamin C for supportive care for COVID-19 patients; it seems to decrease the duration of the stay in ICU and the need for mechanical ventilation.

There are over 60,000 studies on vitamin C in PubMed, and its antiviral actions actually were discovered more than 80 years ago when scientists were researching poliomyelitis. Vitamin C is present within white blood cells and macrophages, supporting their proliferation and functioning, and enhances neutrophil phagocytosis. By restoring cellular antioxidants and scavenging reactive oxygen species (ROS), it can ameliorate viral-induced oxidative injury. Further, vitamin C immunomodulates by increasing alpha and beta interferons, inhibiting TNF alpha, and blocking NF kappa B, which plays a critical role in the pro-inflammatory response.

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Monolaurin is derived from lauric acid, which is found in coconut oil. It has a broad spectrum of activity, and studies have shown it to be effective against staph infections, E.coli, bacillus, candida and gram negative bacteria such as h. pylori. It also has demonstrated antiviral properties against influenza, pneumovirus, EBV, HSV and HIV. When it comes to viral infections, it binds to the viral envelope causing it to disintegrate, inhibits late-stage viral maturation and prevents binding of the virus to the host cell. It is currently being studied in clinical trials for its anti-HIV properties.

Quercetin Quercetin is a type of polyphenol known to have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. Polyphenols regulate immunity by interfering with pro-inflammatory cytokines’ synthesis, inactivating NF kappa B, inhibiting ROS, modulating mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) and more. Quercetin has been found to inhibit SARS proteases 3 CLpro.

The International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents suggests that quercetin yields anti-coronavirus effects from its ability to modulate unfolded protein response, which is a pathway that plays a role in the viral life cycle.

Glutathione Glutathione is another nutrient commonly deficient in people with chronic illnesses. People who suffer from pulmonary disease, cardiovascular disease, immune

disorders, neurodegenerative disorders and chronic age-related diseases tend to have low levels of glutathione. There is extensive literature on the role of glutathione in immunity. Among its many effects, glutathione plays a role in both innate and adaptive immune responses, and inhibits ROS, NF kappa B and pro-inflammatory cytokines. It maintains the active states of vitamins C and E within cells. Its role in the host defense against intracellular pathogens is essential, where it is required to maintain an adequate interferon-gamma production by dendritic cells.

Supplementing with glutathione alone is not enough to replenish deficiencies, however. Adding n-acetyl cysteine (NAC) and alpha-lipoic acid will help improve levels of glutathione. NAC is also essential for an optimal functioning immune system where it suppresses NF kappa B activation, blocks TNF alpha activation and subsequent inflammatory cytokine production.

Nutrition Those are just a handful of the supplements studies show to be beneficial to the immune system by providing support during inflammatory responses to infections. Additionally, there are many herbs being studied and researched in clinical trials for their roles and potential benefits in supportive care and treatments.

Consuming a diet that is nutrient-rich and high in antioxidants will help avoid deficiencies required for the immune system to function optimally. Keep in mind, during this stressful time we must also focus on our mental and spiritual well-being, for these are also vital for the immune system: • Try to get adequate amounts of sleep.

Disruptive sleep is associated with increased sympathetic nervous system activity, a disruption in hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and pro-inflammatory responses, leading to an inability to fight infection, chronic illnesses, inflammation,

mood disorders, and cognitive, memory and performance deficits.

• Getting regular exercise increases immune surveillance, the function of natural killer cells and CD8 T cells.

• Address any anxiety and depression that you may be experiencing. New studies are predicting that more than 70,000 people will die from the use of drugs, alcohol and suicide due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Despite being quarantined, many health professionals are readily available to help you in the comfort of your home and provide you with the support you need to get through this. Remember, alone we are strong, but together we are stronger.

Dr. Veena Verma-Dzik, ND, FIAMA is a board-certified naturopathic physician and certified medical acupuncturist who is highly experienced in treating acute and chronic health conditions. She treats patients at Insight Counseling, located at 105 Danbury Rd in Ridgefield. See ad, page 19.

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Timeless Ayurveda Healing Body, Mind and Spirit

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by Kathy Katts

hat does it mean to heal?

There are two definitions: to become sound or healthy again and to alleviate a person’s distress or anguish. To heal is to become whole again. You are so intelligent—you know that your well-being depends not just on the health and structure of the body, but the state of your mind and spiritual connection to everything in the universe.

Ayurveda translates to ayur meaning life or longevity and veda meaning truth, science or knowledge. Ayurveda is the trinity that is made up of the connection between mind, body and spirit. It is the science of all consciousness within us and all living things. Dating back 5,000 years, this knowledge was the foundation of all life and healing. There was a time when all medicine and healing came from nature and our connection to the universal energies. Over thousands of years, this knowledge was lost as man became disconnected to truth and focused on pursuit of power. Now, this knowledge has been rediscovered. Now is the time for us to awaken and reconnect, not to a 30

set of rules or guidelines, but to our own healer within.

Ayurveda tells us that the truth or knowledge of life is within us and among nature. Nature can be a powerful teacher, helping us understand these are not just concepts but are observable in the way life unfolds each day. The five elements of Ayurveda are space, air, fire, water and earth, natural forces observable by the human eye in the wind, sun, water and soil.

Within our bodies, space and air— referred to as vata dosha—are responsible for movement, transportation and communication across all functions. Fire and water—referred to as pitta dosha—is connected to digestion, flow and transformation of both knowledge and food.

Earth and water—known as kapha dosha—translate as the strength, stability and lubrication within us that provides immunity and a strong foundation.

Just as everything we see out in nature has a unique blueprint, so do we. Although we need each element within us to function, these elements and doshas have a different manifestation within every person.

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Ayurveda tells us that when we understand and honor those elements, growth becomes natural and quite effortless.

How do we begin understanding these elements in the simplest of ways?

Use nature to guide the way. Vata dosha begins each day in the hours before 6am with the preparation of the rising sun. Those elements of space and air are light. We hear the birds communicate and when we rise with the sun, we feel light. This is the most wonderful time for meditation and prayer as we are easily connected to our higher selves during this cycle of the day.

Kapha dosha comes into nature during the hours after the sun rises until 10am. We can feel the day grounding, the earth beginning to settle into the day.

When we rise with the sun in the vata hours, we are productive in the kapha hours. Eating light during this time will help keep energy and attention high, as the elements during this time are heavy, making it a perfect time to complete a todo list you made the day before.

As 10am rolls in, the sun begins to rise high and ready for the peak of the day—and pitta dosha. Our minds and digestive fire are heightened and primed for the best work of the day between 10am and 2pm.

This is the time for our most strategic work and our largest meal. The fire allows us to step into our work in tune with nature’s purpose. We can watch seedlings transform into flowers and buds into leaves, allowing us to transform information into knowledge and food into nutrients.

In the next three cycles the doshas repeat, returning to vata dosha from 2 to 6pm, making the day lighter again.

This time of day is ideal for creativity or meditation. If you feel antsy during this time, walking in nature may help. If you feel tired from overworking in pitta time, take a break for meditation or a savasana rest. This short break, when we listen to what the body needs, is rejuvenating. As kapha dosha returns from 6 to 10pm, we take a lesson from the sun and begin to slow down our activity. Lighter eating is

Ayurveda tells us that the truth or knowledge of life is within us and among nature. Nature can be a powerful teacher, helping us understand these are not just concepts but are observable in the way life unfolds each day. necessary as our digestive fire lowers with the sun. As the elements of kapha come in, we feel our bodies and minds slow and ground. Relaxation and time with family and friends support us.

The end of kapha time is the ideal cycle for us to put the body and mind to rest. Let go. When we go to sleep while grounded in kapha time, our body understands how to properly settle. As pitta returns at 10pm, it brings the fire. When we are awake and “doing� at this time, we go against nature. Our bodies and minds need us to sleep to transform everything absorbed throughout the day. If we choose to stay awake into pitta time, we will burn the midnight oil. This does not allow for the proper transformation the body, mind and soul need for healing and growth.

Staying in tune with nature can reveal to us the simplicity of life and the powerful force that exists to awaken us to the consciousness of healing. When we stay in alignment with these energies and elements of life, all will begin to flow in a beautiful harmony with the universe.

May you discover this truth of life in all its glory.

The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page. ~Saint Augustine

Yoga and Ayurveda have been a part of Kathy Katts’ life for more than 20 years.

Her passion is to support and guide her clients to harmony and balance in their lives through the modalities of Ayurveda, yoga, meditation, Reiki healing, life coaching and vedic astrology. For more information about Kathy, visit InnerSourceAyurveda.com.

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The Monthly Naturally Healthy Pet Section Starts Here!

Soothing Separation

News, articles, resources, events— all dedicated exclusively to happy, naturally healthy living for our furred, feathered and scaled animal companions For information on how you can be a part of a future issue, call

203-885-4674 or email NicoleM@NaturalAwakenings.com

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Helping Anxious Dogs to Cope

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by Julie Peterson

eparation anxiety is a common canine problem, diagnosed in as many as 40 percent of dogs seen by veterinary behavioral specialists. When the dog is left alone, it may serenade the neighbors, soil the house or cause damage. Stories abound of unstuffed couches, dug-up floors, destroyed window coverings and dog injury from chewing out of a crate or trying to escape through windows.

In an article on separation anxiety syndrome (SAS) in the Journal of American Veterinary Medicine, Stefanie Schwartz, DVM, cites several studies that agree on common risk factors for SAS in dogs: history of traumatic separation,

Fairfield County/Housatonic Valley Edition

eNaturalAwakenings.com

inexperience with being alone, excessive greetings and prolonged departures by owners, relocation and changes in routine or family structure.

Symptoms vary in scope and degree, but SAS is painful for both dog and parent. Repeatedly returning home to complaints from neighbors or considerable damage can cause owners to surrender their dogs.

Get the Diagnosis

If a dog is acting out, an assessment is needed to ensure that what seems like SAS isn’t caused by underlying conditions.

Boredom, illness or canine cognitive dysfunction could result in actions and symp-

toms such as pacing or excessive salivating that mimic anxiety. If SAS is diagnosed, owners must understand that dogs aren’t exacting revenge and should never be punished for behavior exhibited when they are terrified, advise veterinarians.

Natural Solutions Human Tricks

A 2018 study in the Journal of Veterinary Behavior suggests that petting a dog for one minute before leaving may make the dog calmer during separation. Some dogs feel safest when left in a crate covered with a blanket. The human attitude toward separation can be felt by the dog, as well, but some dogs simply need more help coping.

Changing the brain might be the way to go. Calmer Canine is a device that sends targeted, pulsed, electromagnetic field (tPEMF) signals to the dog’s brain.

Unlike approaches like medications, supplements and cannabidiol (CBD) that have to be administered repeatedly as needed, “the dog gets two, 15-minute treatments per day for four to six weeks,” says veterinarian Judy Korman, at Assisi Animal Health, in New York City and Santa Fe, New Mexico. A 2019 pilot study of nine dogs that she conducted in cooperation with the North Carolina State University of Veterinary Medicine, which developed the device, showed that the tPEMF signals reduced anxiety and restored calm.

Exercise

“I’ve tried medication and natural supplements, and have found that what works best for all three of my dogs is plenty of exercise. Long walks, especially in new locations with new smells, are a favorite,” says Kimberly Gauthier, a blogger at Keep the Tail Wagging and Dog Mom Style, in Marysville, Washington.

There is a physiological reason for engaging in walks guided by the dog’s nose. “The more the dog is able to take in scent, the more it triggers the seeking

part of the brain, the more enriching life is for the dog and the more it calms them down,” says Mittsy Voiles, a behavior specialist at the Lake Mills Veterinary Clinic, in Wisconsin.

Food and Supplements

Good nutrition allows dogs to be more successful citizens. “If you make the baseline fundamentals good, it gives the dog the ability to think, process its environment and have less anxiety,” says holistic veterinarian Catherine Alinovi, at Healthy Pawsibilities, in Clearwater, Florida.

Symptoms vary in scope and degree, but SAS is painful for both dog and parent.

Repeatedly returning home to complaints from neighbors or considerable damage can cause owners to surrender their dogs.

Processed kibble with food coloring is doggie junk food. “Kibble Quandary: A Fresh Look at Pet Food,” at NaturalAwakenings.com, suggests healthier feeding options.

How a dog is fed can also have an impact. Putting food in puzzle toys facilitates a brain exercise that improves confidence. “Dogs who spend part of their day working out puzzles are really engaging

that opportunistic scavenger part of their biology,” says Voiles.

Commonly, pet owners are turning to the hemp plant derivative CBD as a calming aid. For those considering nutraceuticals, herbs and supplements, a holistic veterinarian can make recommendations.

Accessories

Diffusing calming essential oils may relax some dogs, but a mild scent for humans could supersaturate a dog’s olfactory organ, preventing them from smelling what’s necessary. Learning how to use essential oils safely around pets is critical.

But the pacifying scent of natural pheromones that mimic the comfort of nursing are hard to beat; pheromone-based products in sprays, diffusers, wipes and collars can be found in natural-health stores and pet stores. “It’s effective for dogs who need to feel safe or when adjusting to a new environment,” says Voiles.

ThunderShirts, special blankets and Dog TV are tried by many, but no one option works for every dog. “When people try things and don’t get improvement, they should seek a holistic veterinarian who can help figure out what is going on,” says Alinovi.

Julie Peterson writes about wellness and the environment. Reach out at JuliePeterson2222@gmail.com.

Final Journey,

LLC

( Pet Euthanasia Service )

Kristen Klie, D.V. M. and Associates

( 203 ) 645-5570 www.finaljourneyllc.com

June 2020

33

pet resource guide

VETERINARY SERVICES

ADOPTION/RESCUE ANIMALS IN DISTRESS INC

NFSAW

238 Danbury Rd, Wilton 203-762-2006 • Animals-In-Distress.com

223 State Rt 37, New Fairfield 203-746-2925 • NFSAW.org

BRIDGEPORT ANIMAL CONTROL

PET ANIMAL WELFARE SOCIETY INC (PAWS)

236 Evergreen St, Bridgeport 203-576-7727

504 Main Ave, Norwalk 203-750-9572 • PAWSCT.org

COMMUNITY CATS

PET PROTECTORS

PO Box 4380, Stamford CommunityCatsCT@yahoo.com CommunityCatsCT.org

2490 Black Rock Tpke, #453, Fairfield 203-330-0255 PetProtectorsRescue.org

DANBURY ANIMAL WELFARE

RIDGEFIELD OPERATION FOR ANIMAL RESCUE (ROAR)

SOCIETY (DAWS) 147 Grassy Plain St, Bethel 203-744-3297

45 South St, Ridgefield 203-438-0158 • ROAR-Ridgefield.org

FRIENDS OF FELINES INC

STRAYS AND OTHERS

PO Box 8147, Stamford 203-363-0220 Cats@AdoptAPet.org AdoptAPet.org

PO Box 473, New Canaan 203-966-6556 StraysAndOthers@hotmail.com

LOOKING GLASS ANIMAL RESCUE

WESTPORT ANIMAL SHELTER ADVOCATES (WASA)

Ridgefield • LGARinc.org On Facebook, Twitter and Instagram

1 Tower Ridge, Westport 203-557-0361 • WestportWASA.org

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NUTMEG SPAY/NEUTER CLINIC 25 Charles St, Stratford 203-690-1550 • NutmegClinic.org

The Nutmeg Spay/Neuter Clinic is a low-cost, high-volume facility for cats and dogs, the first such professional clinic in Fairfield County. The clinic offers other low-cost services during the spay/neuter appointment. Nutmeg honors state spay/neuter vouchers at face value from adopted shelter pets and qualified low-income families, and offers further low-cost incentives to nonprofit rescue groups. Pit bulls and mixes are welcome at an even more reduced rate, and the clinic offers spay/neuter and vaccine discounts for feral cats.

See ad, page 34.

PET ASSISTANCE, INC

PO Box 2015, New Preston 860-355-PETS GetaPet@gmail.com • PetAssistanceInc.org Pet Assistance helps keep pets in their homes in times of financial and medical crises, providing emergency veterinary subsidies to pet owners in financial need. We only give grants for pets that have a good prognosis, unless the knowledge we gain from the treatment or surgery may help future animals in need.

community resource guide

THE INSTITUTE OF SUSTAINABLE NUTRITION

Connecting you to the leaders in natural healthcare and green living in our community. To find out how you can be included in the Community Resource Guide email FFCAdvertising@NaturalAwakenings.com to request our media kit.

Board Certified Acupuncturist Valley Spirit Wellness Cooperative 6 Green Hill Rd, Washington Depot 860-619-2788 ValleySpiritCoop.com

Compassionate professional care for those suffering from pain, internal disorders, menstrual issues and menopause, infertility, depression and anxiety, insomnia, addiction, fatigue, tune-ups and more.

AYURVEDA NEERU KAUSHIK, ND, MS ACU, MS, MA Institute for Ayurvedic and Naturopathic Therapies 805 Kings Highway East, Fairfield 203-331-9111 DrKaushik@AyurvedicInstituteCT.com AyurvedicInstituteCT.com

A combination of Ayurveda and Naturopathy is used to create a unique treatment plan to regain and maintain health. Based on one’s particular body constitution (dosha), a plan may include supplements, diet/ nutrition suggestions, lifestyle management, detoxification, hydrotherapy, 0zone therapy, Panchakarma. See ad, page 8.

BIOFEEDBACK ROSEANN CAPANNA-HODGE, EDD, LPC, BCN, LLC 898 Ethan Allen Hwy, Ridgefield Offices in Ridgefield and Newtown 203-438-4848 Info@DrRoseann.com DrRoseann.com

Safe, painless early detection 71 East Ave, Ste D, Norwalk 203-856-1421 • AlbaThermalImaging.com Thermography can detect breast disease at its earliest stages and monitor and assess pain in any part of the body. Safe, painless, noninvasive, FDA registered.

SOPHIA NATURAL HEALTH CENTER

Ken Hoffman, DACM, LAc, Medical Director 31 Old Rte 7, Brookfield 203-740-9300 • INM.Center Women’s Health: hormonal balancing, breast cancer prevention. Breast and full body thermography screening. Screening and treatment of chronic inflammation using medical infrared thermography (MIT). Safe, painless and non-invasive, thermography can detect early changes in breast tissue up to eight years before a mammogram.

FDA-registered, our high-definition camera is the most advanced in the region.

CHIROPRACTIC PETER BRAGLIA, DC

True Health Family Chiropractic 7365 Main St, Stratford 203-923-8633 • TrueHealthCT.com As a member of the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association, Dr. Braglia has received advanced training in Pediatric Adjusting and Prenatal Care, including the Webster Technique.

We are proud to serve patients from all over Fairfield and New Haven Counties with our unique and gentle approach to health care.

EDUCATION

ENERGY HEALING BETH LEAS

Transformative Healing • Tarot 203-856-9566 BethLeas.com • TLCTarot.com If not now, when? Inspire change on all levels—greater physical ease, emotional freedom, peace of mind and spiritual connection. 20 years of intuitive healing experience with adults and children of all ages. Reiki, Jin Shin Jyutsu, Tarot. See ad, page 3.

ESSENTIAL OILS JENNIFER BLAKE

Certified Essential Oil Educator 203-856-1790 JenniferBlake2@yahoo.com my.doterra.com/JenniferBlake2 I sell doTERRA essential oils and teach practitioners how to implement high quality oils into their practice to enhance client experience. I also work with individuals who seek to reduce toxicity load and support their overall health and wellness naturally.

WAYNE LEISS, LMT

20 Fifth Ave, Apt A, Danbury 203-994-1207 Wayne@WayneLeiss.com WayneLeiss.com

THE GRADUATE INSTITUTE 171 Amity Rd, Bethany 203-874-4252 Info@Learn.edu • Learn.edu

The Graduate Institute is a state-accredited graduate school dedicated to promoting an integrative and holistic worldview through the study of health, wellness, education, and personal and professional transformation.

Enrolling now for 2020 programs. See ad, page 5.

YN

ELE

I SS

Advanced Bio-Regulation (BRT) is a unique approach to health and wellness that uses Biofeedback and PEMF-based Electromagnetic Technology to help the body better self-regulate, adapt and heal naturally. It is used for chronic pain, depression, anxiety, hormonal issues, Lyme, etc. See ad, back cover.

ALBA THERMAL IMAGING LLC

A

JAMPA STEWART, MSOM, LAC

BREAST THERMOGRAPHY

We offer a unique certification program blending the science of nutrition with the hands-on components of sustainable gardening practices. We use food and herbs to make kitchen medicine, teach basic culinary skills, and practice foraging for and using nutrient-rich wild food. Now enrolling.

See ad, page 14.

W

ACUPUNCTURE

113 Simsbury Rd, West Granby 860-764-9070 Joan@TIOSN.com TIOSN.com

Centering our lives through touch. Essential oils address

stress reduction, pain relief and overall well-being. They are used in topical, internal CENTERING OUR LIVES and aeromatic applications.

THROUGH TOUCH Improve physically, emotionally and spiritually as I teach you about the benefits and uses of massage with natural and pure dōTERRA Essential Oils. See ad, page 3.

June 2020

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FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE TAMARA SACHS, MD

Functional Medicine and Integrative Care LLC 15 Bennitt St, New Milford 860-354-3304 • TSachsMD.com Using Functional Medicine, Dr. Sachs prevents and treats chronic illnesses by addressing their underlying root causes, remaining respectful of the uniqueness, complexity and intuitions that make us human. Trained at Mt. Sinai Medical School and Yale University Hospital in Internal Medicine, in 2003 she opened Functional Medicine and Integrative Care LLC. She has great success with IBS, Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue, autoimmune problems, toxicity and more, by creating individualized, realistic and comprehensive personalized wellness plans. She consults in her New Milford, CT office, and also by phone or video using telemedicine.

HEALTHY EATING CHEF ELIANA GRUBEL, CHC

Licensed and Insured In-home Cooking Services 203-559-8946 • CleanFood4UrType.com As a Board-Certified Health Coach by the American Association of Drugless Practitioners and member of the U.S. Personal Chef Association, Eliana’s passion is her clients’ success. She has been serving CT for more than 15 years and now offers short-term detoxes, meals to freeze, dinner parties, homegrown microgreens and fermented, locally grown vegetables as well as personalized coaching programs. See ad, page 10.

HOLISTIC PSYCHIATRY DAVID LONDON, MD

544 Riverside Ave, Westport 203-557-6574 Contact@DavidLondonMD.com DavidLondonMD.com David London, MD, honors emotional, spiritual and biochemical individuality to assist healing psychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders.

Sophisticated genetic and lab testing help identify underlying causes. Treatment may include acupuncture, psychotherapy, EMDR, herbs, vitamins, nutrients, lifestyle changes, medication.

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HYPNOSIS HEALING TREE WISDOM

Thea Litsios, CHy Locations in Norwalk and Stratford 203-693-1493 • HealingTreeWisdom.com Use the power of your whole mind to transform your life: Hypnosis for weight loss, smoking cessation, stress relief, and past life review.

Certified teacher of Active Dream work. Individual dream consultations available, as well as workshops and monthly Dream Groups. See ad, page 3.

INTEGRATIVE MEDICINE PHYSICIAN HENRY C. SOBO, MD

Optimal Health Medical LLC 111 High Ridge Rd, Stamford 203-348-8805 • DrSobo.com Advances in Regenerative Medicine allow Dr. Sobo to offer cutting-edge technologies such as PRP (Platelet Rich Plasma) treatments and adult stem cell therapy. Dr. Sobo’s integrative approach addresses a variety of conditions such as: food allergies, Alzheimer’s/ dementia, chronic fatigue syndrome, weight loss, hormonal health, fibromyalgia, anti-aging medicine, and MTHFR-Genetic Mutation. See ad, page 25.

INTEGRATIVE NATURAL MEDICINE SOPHIA NATURAL HEALTH CENTER

MEDITATION CENTER FOR MINDFULNESS & INSIGHT MEDITATION

9 Picketts Ridge Rd, West Redding 203-244-3130 • ReddingMeditation.org We teach and practice Mahasati meditation.

Mahasati meditation cultivates self-awareness through attention to the movement of the body and, at more advanced levels, to the movement of the mind. No prior meditating experience is necessary. Ongoing weekly meditation classes, retreats and events.

Please check monthly event calendar or visit ReddingMeditation.org for updated information.

METABOLIC OPTIMIZATION MARVIN P. SCHWEITZER, ND

Wellness Institute 1 Westport Ave, Norwalk 203-847-2788 • DrMarvinSchweitzer.com We help you unleash your own body’s ability to heal. Cutting edge evaluations and 25+ years experience help to determine precisely which individualized therapies – including energy medicine, oxygen therapies, homeopathy, botanicals, nutrition, allergy/toxin testing and treatment are used to nourish, cleanse, balance and repair. We collaborate with you in a caring environment. See ad, page 13.

METAPHYSICAL STORE THE ANGEL COOPERATIVE

Ken Hoffman, DACM, LAc, Medical Director 31 Old Rte 7, Brookfield 203-740-9300 • INM.Center

51 Ethan Allen Hwy (Rte. 7), Ridgefield 203-431-2959 TheAngelCoop.com Follow us on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube

Using naturopathic and Chinese medical principles, we get to the source of your health concerns.

Diagnostic methods include functional testing such as advanced bloodwork analysis, cardiovascular testing, hormone evaluation and thermography. Our customized treatment program includes acupuncture, herbal and nutritional medicine, diet and lifestyle counseling and more. Most insurance accepted.

The Angel Cooperative is a unique lifestyle boutique featuring the first and only Shungite room in the USA. Wide selection of crystals, jewelry, candles, essential oils and soaps. Spiritual gifts, statuary, oracle decks and tarot and home décor. Available in The Shungite Room: readings, Reiki, meditation, sound therapy, energy work and workshops. See ad, page 9.

Fairfield County/Housatonic Valley Edition

I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel. ~Maya Angelou

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NATUROPATHIC PHYSICIAN

NEUROFEEDBACK

NEERU KAUSHIK, ND, MS ACU, MS, MA

ROSEANN CAPANNA-HODGE, EDD, LPC, BCN, LLC

Institute for Ayurvedic and Naturopathic Therapies 805 Kings Highway East, Fairfield 203-331-9111 DrKaushik@AyurvedicInstituteCT.com

A combination of Ayurveda and Naturopathy is used to create a unique treatment plan to regain and maintain health. Based on one’s particular body constitution (dosha), a plan may include supplements, diet/nutrition suggestions, lifestyle management, detoxification, hydrotherapy, 0zone therapy, Panchakarma.

See ad, page 8.

SHALVA CLINIC LLC

898 Ethan Allen Hwy, Ridgefield Offices in Ridgefield and Newtown 203-438-4848 Info@DrRoseann.com • DrRoseann.com We work with children, adolescents, teens, adults and families around a variety of issues with non-medication therapies. We provide brainbased treatments like neurofeedback, biofeedback, EFT, hypnosis, meditation, etc. Our staff provides non-judgmental support to help alleviate stress and promote wellness. See ad, back cover.

PSYCHOTHERAPY

Ellen M Lewis, ND, Director 8 Lincoln St, Westport 203-916-4600 • ShalvaClinic.org

.

Dr. Lewis offers comprehensive holistic care for women including well-women exams, fertility, thyroid and menopause support. She also has a special interest in pediatrics and utilizes a variety of natural modalities when working with patients with ADD/ADHD, autism, allergies, eczema and asthma. Treatments include herbal medicine, functional medicine, biotherapeutic drainage, homeopathy and more.

898 Ethan Allen Hwy, Ridgefield Offices in Ridgefield and Newtown 203-438-4848 Info@DrRoseann.com •DrRoseann.com

NATURAL HEALTH AND WELLNESS CENTER

Lisa Singley, ND, MS 2103 Main St, Ste 2, Stratford 203-874-4333 Info@NHAWC.com • NHAWC.com We use advanced diagnostic testing with safe, effective, all-natural healing modalities and treatment options to treat acute and chronic conditions; restore balance; and treat the mind, body and spirit. Specialists in endocrine disorders, digestive issues, pain management and chronic fatigue. We offer comprehensive solutions to prevent illness and maintain optimal health for body, mind and spirit. See ad, page 15.

MARVIN P. SCHWEITZER, ND

Wellness Institute 1 Westport Ave, Norwalk 203-847-2788 • DrMarvinSchweitzer.com We help you unleash your own body’s ability to heal. Cutting edge evaluations and 25+ years experience help to determine precisely which individualized therapies – including energy medicine, oxygen therapies, homeopathy, botanicals, nutrition, allergy/toxin testing and treatment are used to nourish, cleanse, balance and repair. We collaborate with you in a caring environment. See ad, page 13.

ROSEANN CAPANNA-HODGE, EDD, LPC, BCN, LLC

Our highly trained and experienced therapists utilize a variety of brain-based tools and techniques that allow the CNS to calm down so one can address their issues without heightened anxiety. We specialize in pediatrics, parenting and supporting individuals with chronic issues. See ad, back cover.

ROBIN ORDAN, LCSW Family, Child, Individual and Couples Therapy Old Greenwich/Stamford 203-561-8535 RobinOrdanLCSW.com

Robin has more than 18 years of experience working with families and children.

Specializing in divorce, parent/child conflict, grief, attachment/bonding, child development and parenting.

See ad, page 10.

NANCY SCHERLONG, LCSW

Coaching/Psychotherapy/Consulting Offices in Danbury and Ridgefield 914-572-3167 WellnessMetaphors.com Manage stress with relaxation techniques. Rediscover your creativity through writing and the expressive arts. Resolve trauma with EMDR, IFS or SE. Or book an experiential workshop! Nancy has over 20 years of experience with children, families, groups, adults and corporate wellness programs.

REIKI GIGI BENANTI, USUI REIKI MASTER Angelic Healing Center 7 Morgan Ave, Norwalk 203-852-1150 • AngelHealReiki.com

Gigi is an experienced Reiki Master/Teacher. She offers all levels of Reiki training monthly.

All classes and Reiki sessions include the latest techniques including Karuna, Angelic and Jikiden Reiki.

TURNING POINT REIKI LLC

JoAnn Inserra Duncan, MS, RMT 100B Danbury Rd, Ste 101, Ridgefield 203-438-3050 TurningPointReiki.com TurningPointShare.com JoAnn uses intuition, experience and a deep spiritual connection in her Reiki, IET and Reconnective Healing sessions. Specializing in care for individuals with cancer, Lyme disease and back pain. All Reiki levels taught.

SHAMANIC PRACTITIONER EMBODY THE SACRED

Deana Paqua, MA, LMT Ridgefield and New Milford Deana.Paqua@gmail.com EmbodyTheSacred.net Offering classes, training programs, healing sessions and mentoring in cross-cultural energy medicine and contemporary shamanism for healers, spiritual seekers and the energy sensitive. Learn self-healing, self-empowerment and trauma transformation through the sacred.

SOUND HEALING HUMMINGBIRD SOUND YOGA

Barbara (Bobbi) Soares New Milford • 860-946-9470 BSoares@LightOfTheNewMoon.com HummingbirdSoundYoga.com Facebook @HummingbirdSoundYoga Barbara (Bobbi) Soares, MA, CYT, is a sound yoga and vocal yoga teacher, blues/jazz singer, and Reiki master, certified in several modalities of energy and sound healing. She offers hummingbird sound yoga and sound healing immersions for groups and private sessions. Using earth, dance and symphonic gongs, bowls, tuning forks and humming-for-health meditations, her goal is to help individuals experience becoming “one with sound” to promote a deep relaxation response that balances energy and encourages healing. See ad, page 7.

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TAI CHI/QIGONG JAMPA STEWART, MSOM, LAC

Board Certified Acupuncturist Valley Spirit Wellness Cooperative 6 Green Hill Rd, Washington Depot 860-619-2788 • ValleySpiritCoop.com Develop physical and mental fitness and find a new harmony of the mind, body and spirit using these ancient Chinese movement arts. Starting with basic movements, warm-up techniques and breathing exercises, you will learn a set of flowing natural movements done slowly with calmness, balance and awareness. Weekly classes, weekend workshops and retreats. Classes currently available each week online via zoom.

THERAPEUTIC MASSAGE WESTPORT THERAPEUTIC LLC Betsy Benham Fruda LMT 16 Ketchum St, Westport BetsyBWTllc.com • 203-858-0679

Therapeutic massage. Deep tissue melt. Fascial function.

Restorative movement. The goal of my work is creating fascial function and wellness. You leave feeling lighter, standing taller and like something different just happened. I “de-glom” your body using deep tissue melt, cupping, structural integration and myofascial release techniques. See ad, page 3.

TRANSFORMATIVE HEALING KATIE AUGUSTYN, MA, CPC

Transformation Coach - Shamanic Healer TransformationCenterCT.com 203-820-3800 TransformationCenterCT@gmail.com Katie will assist you in reaching your true potential and heal what has been holding you back.

You will experience real self-acceptance and start to live in alignment with who you truly are so you can create a life you love, a life of meaning and purpose. See ad, page 3.

BETH LEAS

Transformative Healing • Tarot 203-856-9566 BethLeas.com • TLCTarot.com If not now, when? Inspire change on all levels—greater physical ease, emotional freedom, peace of mind and spiritual connection. 20 years of intuitive healing experience with adults and children of all ages. Reiki, Jin Shin Jyutsu, Tarot. See ad, page 3.

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SOUL HEALING JOURNEY, LLC Eilis Philpott Fairfield • 203-767-5954 Eilis@SoulHealingJourney.com SoulHealingJourney.com

Eilis is a master healer and teacher and certified in numerous modalities as both a practitioner and teacher. She offers soul-level healing, which clears any blocks, obstacles and challenges that are preventing you from living your life to its fullest potential.

See ad, page 5.

WELLNESS CENTER THE ANGEL WING, A DIVINE SPIRITUAL CENTER

display ad index 203TLC 3 The Angel Cooperative/Angel Wing 9 Chamomille 39 Clean Food 4 Ur Type/Eliana Grubel 10 Country Tick & Mosquito Final Journey LLC

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Go Organic LLC

9

The Graduate Institute

5

Hummingbird Sound Healing & Meditation

7

Located next door to The Angel Cooperative 49 Ethan Allen Hwy (Rte. 7), Ridgefield 203-431-2959 •TheAngelCoop.com Follow us on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube

Insight Counseling

The Angel Wing hosts workshops, yoga classes, retreats, energy work sessions, readings, Reiki and guided meditations. It is available to rent on an hourly, daily, weekly or monthly basis.

Optional rental spaces include a large open room and/or an intimate private room with massage/ Reiki table. See ad, page 9.

Institute of Sustainable Nutrition

SALT CAVE OF DARIEN

4

Institute for Ayurvedic and Naturopathic Therapies

19 8 14

Kleinsleep 29 KnoWEwell 2 Lectio360 8 LifeWorks Wellness Center

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The Market

39

Natural Awakenings Singles 31

555 Post Rd, Darien 203-658-7667 Info@SaltCaveofDarien.com SaltCaveofDarien.com

Natural Health & Wellness Center

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Nature’s Temptation

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Our wellness destination offers a rich lineup of therapies: community salt cave sessions, special events with local healers, lunchtime meditation class, coffee chatter sessions and weekly yoga and stretch classes.

Nature’s Way

39

New Morning Market

39

Nutmeg Spay/Neuter Clinic

34

Optimal Health Medical/ Henry Sobo, MD

25

Robin Ordan, LCSW

10

SALT OF THE EARTH THERAPEUTIC SPA

787 Main St S, Woodbury 203-586-1172 NaturalSaltHealing.com Combining an array of natural therapies that have been used since ancient times with today’s technology, Salt of the Earth Spa provides a sanctuary for deep transformation, healing and grounding for mind, body and spirit.

Fairfield County/Housatonic Valley Edition

Ann Reeves

8

Roseann Capanna-Hodge & Associates

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The Sacred Spirit/Ohempo

24

Victoria Shaw, PhD

9

Soul Healing Journey

5

Sustainne 23 Touch of Sedona

10

Wellness Institute/ Marvin Schweitzer, ND

13

Whole Foods 39 Wolf Spirit Wellness eNaturalAwakenings.com

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Nature’s Temptations

Your HealTHY FooD MarKeT

where community and healthy food is our priority

orgaNic • local • SuSTaiNable Produce • Meats & Seafood • Bulk Foods Juice Bar • Cafe • Prepared Foods • Deli Vitamins • Health & Beauty • Well Baby Catering for all Occasions

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YOU CAN REDUCE & REVERSE

MENTAL HEALTH SYMPTOMS - Neurofeedback & Biofeedback - QEEG Brain Mapping - Advanced Bio-Regulation Therapy (BRT) - Short-term, Intensive Therapy - It’s Gonna Be OK™ Course - EFT/Tapping

- Counseling - Play Therapy - Executive Functioning Coaching / Therapy - Parent Education and Therapy - Behavioral Support - 360° Reboot® Program

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OUR CENTER HAS HELPED THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE If you feel like you have tried everything and don't know what to do, call us today to schedule your QEEG Brain Map to "check under the hood" and get the clear path to help you or your child be focused, calm, and happy.

WE TREAT THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS: - ADHD / ADD / Executive Functioning - Anxiety, Social Anxiety & OCD - Autism - Behavioral & Social Issues - Chronic Pain / Fibromyalgia - Concussion / TBI

- Depression / Mood Issues - Learning Disability / Dyslexia - Lyme, PANDAS / PANS & Other Chronic Health Conditions - PTSD / Trauma - Seizures - Failure to Launch Young Adults

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898 Ethan Allen Highway, Suite 6 Ridgefield, CT 06877 Satellite Offi ce in Newtown, CT