Natural Awakenings September 2019 Edition

E E FR H E A L T H Y L I V I N G

HEALTHY

PLANET

SOUND FOR HEALING

illy Blanks J B r ee

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YOGA & DANCE

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Tune Up Mind, Body and Spirit

Power a Vibrant Life September 2019 | Fairfield County/Housatonic Valley Edition | eNaturalAwakenings.com September 2019

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The Breiner Whole-Body Health Center z

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Difficulting Concentrating Female Concerns Fibromyalgia Gastrointestinal Concerns Healthy Aging Hormonal Issues Immune Disorders

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We can help you get your health back in balance naturally with proven treatments and therapies:

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Whole-Body Medicine, LLC ~ The Natural Approach for Optimal Health 2

501 Kings Highway East, Suite 108 | Fairfield, CT | 203-371-8258 | WholeBodyMed.com Fairfield County/Housatonic Valley Edition

eNaturalAwakenings.com

September 2019

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Contents 22 RADHA AGRAWAL

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On Creating Connections Come Exerience a Day of Spiritual & Creative Enlightenment!

Sun. Nov. 3, 2019 10 AM - 5 PM 2 Rooms of Dynamic Speakers & Guided Meditations TAROT & INTUITIVE READINGS HANDCRAFTED GIFTS

PROGRAM

32 STRETCH, RELAX AND CONNECT

Yoga Retreats Engage Energy of People and Place

36 MOVING PARTS

Use Your Body to Stay Healthy

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Sound Healing Tunes

DRUMMING CIRCLE

Up Body, Mind and Soul

AURA PHOTOS CRYSTALS

44 CONDUCT LIFE’S

REIKI

SYMPHONY

Listen for the Sound of Your Soul

CBD AND

46 VENOUS RISING

SO MUCH

Natural Help for Varicose Veins

MORE...

48 THE PURE JOY OF PLAY

cryours87@yahoo.com

Why Kids Need Unstructured Fun

or call

203-733-6560

MUSHROOMS

Fungi Heal What Ails You

(Formally Crowne Plaza)

55 VET CHECK

1284 Strongtown Rd. Southbury, CT

Treating the Whole Pet

Gayle Franceschetti: An Evening with Spirit Reading Event at 5:15

For tickets: eventbrite.com

$6 Admission $1 OFF

Cut-Out Entire Ad For Coupon Fairfield County/Housatonic Valley Edition

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52 TRULY MAGIC

Wyndham Southbury

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23 STAMFORD EXPO

40 HAVE YOU HEARD?

HEALTH & WELLNESS

For more info email:

and Community

DEPARTMENTS 7 news briefs 18 global briefs 19 event spotlight 20 event spotlight 22 wise words 32 mastering yoga 46 healing ways 48 healthy kids

eNaturalAwakenings.com

50 conscious

eating 54 naturally healthy pet 59 calendar 63 classified 64 resource guide 70 inspiration 70 display ad index

Natural Awakenings is a family of more than 70 healthy living magazines celebrating 25 years of providing the communities we serve with the tools and resources we all need to lead healthier lives on a healthy planet.

40 32

52 Three days of yoga, wellness and music on the breathtaking Connecticut River.

Dozens of sessions with professional yogi, presenters and performers.

Yoga Tracks for Beginners & Advanced Practitioners Yoga for U.S. Veterans | Vendors & Food Trucks | Healing Huts

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@NaturalAwakeningsMag.com.

Deadline for ads: the 12th of the month.

EDITORIAL SUBMISSIONS Visit eNaturalAwakenings.com.

Deadline for News Briefs: the 12th 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 NaturalAwakeningsMag.com.

CLASSES INCLUDING Morning Meditative Walk SocaRobix What is Ashtanga Restorative Yoga The Sustainable Self

MUSICAL PERFORMANCES SEPT 13 Mixashawn, People of Goodwill, DJ Kered

SEPT 14 Fiery String Sistas, Girish, DJ Wasine SEPT 15 Taikoza

Soul Flow Chair Yoga Hot Hatha Fusion

PRESENTED IN AFFILIATION WITH

Creating a Spiritual Life Yoga Para Todos

September 13–15, 2019

Hartford, CT

Tickets, Schedules, Presenters, and more at

spirityogafestival.com September 2019

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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 Jennifer Aurelia Alison Birks Patricia Staino Danielle Sullo SALES & MARKETING Nicole Miale Lisa Toczko SOCIAL MEDIA Amy Hass WEBSITE Erica Mills DISTRIBUTION Man in Motion LLC COVER PHOTO Alex Rosenfeld Photography

CONTACT US 137 Danbury Rd, #323, New Milford, CT 06776 Phone: 203-885-4674 Fax: 203-516-2392 NicoleM@NaturalAwakeningsMag.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 FRANCHISE SUPPORT MGR. Heather Gibbs WEBSITE COORDINATOR Rachael Oppy NATIONAL ADVERTISING Kara Cave Natural Awakenings Publishing Corporation 4933 Tamiami Trail N., Ste. 203 Naples, FL 34103 Ph: 239-434-9392 • Fax: 239-434-9513 NaturalAwakeningsMag.com © 2019 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

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atural Awakenings has always been a free monthly publication that is for, by and about the local community. Our mission is to inspire, empower and educate people to feel, do and be better. We’ve been doing that in this area for 15 years! For the past eight years we have been so excited to partner with the organizers of the Health Wellness & Lifestyle Expo. The expo– now in its 8th year! –embodies the same principles and energy we have here at the magazine. The expo is happening September 14 and 15 and has a new location this year, moving to the beautifully redone Nicole Miale Harbor Point section of Stamford. Offering two packed days of fun, education, great food, exercise, and community-building, this special event promises something for everyone. Natural Awakenings is very pleased to be a sponsor of the expo again this year; check out page 20 and the event program on pages 23-30 for all the details about what you can expect to find once there. Come on out and support this great local event—we hope to see many of you there, connecting and getting your groove on! J

In the same vein of community-building, I am thrilled this month to announce the addition of an important new team member. Managing Editor Patricia Staino is fully on board as of this edition and I could not be happier. I have known Patricia for more years than either of us cares to count at this point (we first met in high school…let’s just call it decades!) and having the opportunity to work with her again is wish-fulfillment for me. Take a look at page 16 to meet Patricia and find out how you can connect with her about submitting an article for an upcoming issue. Contributing editorial in Natural Awakenings is free and independent of advertising commitments; Patricia’s leadership and integrity will ensure that remains the case as we continue to expand.

You’ll get a taste of her writing style in two different articles this month. We hope you enjoy her exploration of sound healing—featuring input from several beloved practitioners in this area—as well as her review of options for increasing movement in pursuit of keeping oneself vibrant and feeling young.

As always, we appreciate the support of our diverse advertisers, contributors and distributors! We look forward to welcoming more of you to the Natural Awakenings’ community.

Looking for something to do this month? With the Health Wellness & Lifestyle Expo leading the way, there is an astounding array of options in our area! Check out the news briefs, display ads and calendar for ideas about what to do and where to go. Take advantage of this richness…it is not available in some other areas of the country. We are truly blessed.

With love and light,

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

See our display advertiser index on page 70, making it easier to find the resources you need.

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

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Fairfield County/Housatonic Valley Edition

eNaturalAwakenings.com

Nutrition Guru Returns to Weston

news briefs

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Somatic Therapies Center Open in Norwalk

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new Somatic Therapies Center has opened in Norwalk. To mark the opening of the new location, the center will offer two evenings of workshops so those interested can learn more about what Somatic therapy includes and how it leads to deeper embodiment. The workshops will take place Thursday, September 17, and Friday, September 25.

Owner and longtime practitioner Vincent Fraser Vincent Fraser, CST, CAT, SEP, will offer craniosacral therapy, Alexander technique and Somatic Experiencing trauma resolution as pathways to healing and deeper embodiment. Fraser has been in private practice locally for 25 years, in addition to presenting and teaching at nearby hospitals, universities and clinics. He also will offer some evening somatic meditation groups.

In this context, the word “somatic” refers to “the knowing body, as perceived from within,” and includes sensations, movements, tensions, intuitions and emotions. According to the Somatic Experiencing Trauma Institute, the Somatic Experiencing approach facilitates the completion of self-protective motor responses and the release of thwarted survival energy bound in the body to address the root cause of trauma symptoms. This is approached by gently guiding clients to develop increasing tolerance for difficult bodily sensations and suppressed emotions.

To sign up for the evening workshop or for further information, call 203-570-2059, e-mail Vincent@VincentFraser.com or visit VincentFraser.com. Location: 94 East Ave, Norwalk. See Community Resource Guide listing, page 64.

aster herbalist, skincare guru and nutrition consultant Susan Nichols will be providing private sessions, nutritional analysis and a deep dive into holistic nutrition at The Liphe Balance Center of Weston from September 20 to 23.

The “Empowered Health” presentation focusing on nutrition takes place on September 20 from 7 to 8:30pm, and tickets cost just $10.

From September 20 to 23 Nichols Susan Nichols will be available for private sessions and nutritional analysis by appointment.

The private sessions cost $150, during which Nichols will provide real-time analysis of your body and offer simple nutritional solutions to restore balance and wellness. She will provide an analysis of clients’ overall physical and biochemical predispositions immediately following the current blood profile. Body types are broken into four categories, each containing 10 profiles, for a total of 40 types. The hour will be spent identifying the client’s body type and related nutritional needs.

Nichols’ expertise is in biochemical pathways and how they are influenced by nutrition. Her interest in holistic health began under the influence of Bernard Jensen, PhD, raw-food advocate Ann Wigmore, and John R. Carpenter, MD, MH. She has spent decades studying where the various information dovetails. She currently resides in New Mexico where she farms organically, supports sustainable agriculture and produces the maxandjane skincare line.

To reserve a session with Nichols, call 203-912-2791 or email LipheBalance@gmail.com. For more information, visit LipheBalanceCenter.com. Location: 36 Michaels Way, Weston.

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Yoga Teacher Training Hatha, Yin Yoga, Vinyasa Flow, Beginner Basic

October Gardens Yoga for the People

Meditation Classes, Meditation Sessions, Self-reflection, Contemplation Dharma Discussion Chanting, Prayer, Drumming Circles Workshops & Events Gardening & Herbalism

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For class schedules, workshops and weekly meditation sessions, visit octobergardens.com

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yoga is for everybody!

6 weeks unli mited yoga $50 begi ns when you begi n!

860-605-5331

October Gardens & Meditation Center

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news briefs

Institute for Holistic Health Studies Fall Line-up yoga and moving, Mudra and insight meditations. The event is open to the public and refreshments will be served.

T

he Institute for Holistic Health Studies at Western Connecticut State University in Danbury is celebrating its 20th year with a full schedule of fall events for everyone.

Fourth Annual WCSU Multicultural Meditation The evening will take place on Wednesday, September 4, in the Student Center at Western Connecticut State University’s Midtown Campus, from 4 to 8:30pm.

After an introduction from Christel Autuori, MA, Director of the Institute of Holistic Health Studies, there will be a variety of 45-minute meditation workshops starting at 4:15pm and continuing until 8pm. Workshops include themes such as guided visual, inner focus, hummingbird sound, listening and sound, eco-energy,

Wellness Wednesday Workshop Series The Wellness Wednesday workshops will be held in White Hall, room 122, on the WCSU Midtown Campus, at 12:30pm.

These workshops are free and open to the public, and you are invited to bring your lunch with you. The speaker lineup includes:

On September 18, chiropractor Dr. Anne Brandon will speak about posture, ergonomics and health.

On October 16, Bobbi Soares, vocal yoga teacher and energy and sound healer, will discuss stress-reducing techniques of humming and self-created sounds in “Hummingbird Sound Journey.�

On November 13, Michael Rosenbaum will speak on positive psychology and stress management.

Special Event: Environmental Chemicals and Mental Health: What We Can Do to Reduce Exposures On November 13 at 7:30pm, Aly Cohen,

MD, will discuss evidence-based data on everyday chemicals and EMF exposures and how they contribute to mental health conditions, such as anxiety, depression and ADHD. She will provide practical tips and resources to reduce toxicity, and offer information about dietary approaches, sleep hygiene, stress management and the safe use of cellular technology. This event will be held in the Ives concert hall on the WCSU Midtown campus. Tickets will be available online and at the WCSU box office.

Monthly Mudra Meditation The monthly mudra meditation series continues at 7pm on the second Tuesday of the month (except for October, when it will be the second Thursday of the month due to Yom Kippur) and is held in Warner Hall room 101 on the WCSU Midtown campus. This meditation series is free and open to the public.

Free parking is available for all events at the White Street parking garage.

For more information or to register, visit WCSU.edu/IHHS/. Locations: WCSU Midtown campus, 181 White St, Danbury and WCSU Westside campus, Mill Plain Rd, Danbury. See Community Resource Guide listing, page 65.

Silent Unity, the worlwide prayer ministry of Unity, has been praying with people seeking spiritual support for 125 years.

Join Silent Unity and Unity churches and centers around the world, for the Unity World Day of Prayer.

UNITY WORLD DAY OF PRAYER SERVICE Celebration Service

Thursday, September 12, 2019 7:00 pm

3 Main Street, 2nd Floor Norwalk, CT 06851 (203) 855-7922 www.unitycenternorwalk.org

Attend Unity Center of Norwalk’s Annual World Day of Prayer Service Celebration led by Prayer Leader, Theresa Crisci

Sundays at 10:30 am

This year’s affirmation:

Rental space is available for therapists & spiritual groups.

Contact us.

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Fairfield County/Housatonic Valley Edition

I celebrate the vast possibilities for my life.

UPCOMING EVENTS Open Mic Night, Saturday, September 21st at 7pm See all events in the calendar listings

eNaturalAwakenings.com

Pomperaug River Benefit at Woodbury Barns

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he Pomperaug River Watershed Coalition’s annual benefit takes place September 22 from 11am to 2pm at Woodbury Barns & Farm. The Cocktail Brunch by the Pond will gather supporters in celebration and stewardship of Pomperaug River Watershed’s rivers, streams and drinking water. The event will also raise funds to support PRWC’s scientific research and community educational outreach in protection of water resources now and for future generations.

Woodbury Barns & Farm is a premiere destination situated on the 20 beautiful acres of The Old Samuel Bull Estate and former site of The Country Loft in the historic town of Woodbury. Guests will enjoy the locale’s rustic charm, music, tasty food, signature cocktails by Litchfield Distillery, tempting auction items and lots of fun amidst sweeping views on 20 acres of magnificent Litchfield county countryside. Tickets are $75.

To purchase tickets, visit Pomperaug.org/benefit. Location: Woodbury Barns & Farm, 557 Main St South, Woodbury.

Wellness on the Water Excursion

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efore summer fades, spend a day on the Connecticut shore immersed in soothing activities for body, mind and soul.

Celebrate Connecticut, the state’s only tour company focused solely on in-state excursions, offers its new Wellness on the Water outing on Friday, September 13.

Like all Celebrate Connecticut tours, Wellness on the Water showcases people, landscapes and attractions that make Connecticut a distinctive destination and place to live. Co-hosted by company founder Michelle Falcone and author and Yankee Magazine contributing editor Kim Knox Beckius, the day begins with gentle stretching and meditation by the sea in Milford, led by Traci Weber of WalkAboutYoga. As the group travels by luxury van from location to location, Beckius will lead simple exercises designed to encourage creative thinking and reflection. Next, participants will join Shana Schneider of Fitstyle by Shana for a brisk, two-mile walk along the beach in New Haven. A healthy and delicious lunch at a secret shoreline spot concludes this scenic and inspiring day of mindfulness, exercise and self-discovery.

The $75 per person cost of the day-long tour includes lunch, all activities and transportation, with pick-up of guests from a location convenient for them.

Reservations can be made online at CelebrateCT.com/shop or by email to CelebrateConnecticut@gmail.com.

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Horse Wisdom Workshops in Wilton

news briefs

2nd Annual Smart Walk for Smart Kids

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ark your calendars for the 2nd Annual Smart Walk for Smart Kids with Learning Disabilities on Sunday, September 22, at spectacular Sherwood Island State Park. Join families, friends and professionals to celebrate the strengths of children with learning disabilities and ADHD. The walk also Richard, Kara, Kaylie and Kevin Berghaus will empower parents and combat stigma while raising funds for critical educational programs, youth mentoring, parent networking, important resources and much more.

Individuals, families and teams are welcome to walk the scenic 2-mile route at their own pace. There will be games and activities for children, music, free snacks and food for purchase.

Entry fee costs are $15 per adult, $10 for children ages 7 to 17 and free for children 6 and under. Register by Monday, September 2 and receive a free t-shirt. The event is rain or shine, from 12 to 3pm. Parking is free.

For information and registration, visit SmartKidswithLD.org/ smartwalk. Location: Sherwood Island State Park, Westport.

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Fairfield County/Housatonic Valley Edition

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ossibilities Farm in Wilton has announced a new series of one-day horse wisdom workshops designed to help people discover new possibilities in their everyday lives. Each workshop involves playful and powerful activities with the herd, along with group discussions and opportunities for quiet Carrie Brady reflection. There is no riding involved and prior horse experience is not necessary.

“Horse Wisdom for Entrepreneurs” on September 18 will support solo entrepreneurs and small business owners in rediscovering joy in work and finding new paths around any obstacles. “Empty Nest Filled with Possibilities” on September 25 will celebrate this transition and explore the adventures ahead. “Reiki 1 Certification with Horse Teachers” will take place on October 2 and will guide participants in connecting with Reiki energy for self-care and support of others. “Innovation and Insight” on October 23 focuses on self-discovery through creative activities, including horse-guided writing prompts and intuitive art.

For more information or to register, visit PossibilitiesFarm.com or contact Carrie Brady at 203-803-8333 or PossibilitiesFarm@ gmail.com. See ad, page 17.

eNaturalAwakenings.com

Expanding Possibility Through Vision

Get “Ready To Exhale” in Woodbury

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eady to Exhale, a yoga and creative workshop studio in Woodbury, will celebrate its grand opening with an Open House on September 29 from 11am to 2pm. Owner Debbie Barry opened her doors in August, with a mission to offer her customers the best in self-care.

Barry is a yoga instructor who offers gentle vinayasa/hatha classes, as well as a Basic Beginners five-week course geared toward women facing strength, flexibility and balance challenges. She also is certified in trauma-sensitive restoration yoga.

Another popular pastime at the space is a creative art process called Zentangle, which ensures every person takes home a surprisingly beautiful piece of artwork they themselves created. Zentangle is a highly focused and mindful creative selfcare modality that reduces stress while heightening awareness and self-esteem. It encourages limitless creativity and fun.

Barry also offers Restorative Relaxation sessions, during which clients experience a deep level of rest and relaxation with the help of the instructor in a caring atmosphere. Ready to Exhale is open Monday to Thursday, 9am to 6pm, and private sessions are offered in yoga, restorative yoga and private Zentangle parties.

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6515 Main Street Trumbull, CT 06611 203-374-2020 2600 Post Road Southport, CT 06890 203-255-4005 444 Westport Ave. Norwalk, CT 06851 203-840-1991 1425 Bedford Street, 1M Stamford, CT 06905 203-357-0204

We’re Dedicated To Every Client Because of you there is a change for the better!

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Connect with Debbie Barry at 203-558-5025 or ReadytoExhale.com. Location: 107 Main St North, Woodbury.

I’m happy to report that my inner child is still ageless. ~James Broughton .

September 2019

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news briefs

A Morning of Mushrooms at Holcomb Farm

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he Institute of Sustainable Nutrition in West Granby will host “A Morning of Mushrooms” at Holcomb Farm on September 14. In addition to discussing important sustainability issues around foraging for fungi in our regional ecosystems, participants will explore the medicinal and edible mushrooms found in the area.

They will also learn to prepare, dry and store some of the delicious, local mushrooms as well as how to extract their powerful medicine.

The event runs from 9:30am to noon and costs $25.

The Institute of Sustainable Nutrition integrates traditional food wisdom with the science of nutrition, creating an innovative model of holistic health education. Classes infuse the hands-on components of sustainable regenerative gardening, culinary skills, kitchen medicine and sustainable foraging to skillfully weave together the relationship between soil health, human health and environmental sustainability.

For more information, visit the events page at TIOSN.com.

Location: Workshop Space at Holcomb Farm, 113 Simsbury Rd, West Granby. See ad, page 51.

The Academy at MoCA Westport Opens

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oCA Westport, formerly known as the Westport Arts Center, begins a new chapter on September 22 with Opening Day at its new location on Newtown Turnpike.

The origin of the term MoCA is Museum of Contemporary Art and the Academy is the only arts education experience in the area that combines exhibit-inspired activities in a semi-private class setting. The new studio and grounds have been designed to be both experiential and immersive. Programs were developed in conjunction with Yale’s Center for Emotional Intelligence and are intended to provide people of all ages and talents with opportunities to not only develop new skills, but discover and enjoy the arts in meaningful ways.

Classes beginning this fall include: New Touchpoints & Art Sensory Explorations (18 months to 3 years); Dynamic Clay: Polymer Clay Action Figures & Animals (Grades 1-5); Arts Away from Home (Grades 1-5, for homeschool students); Sculpture Through the Senses (Grades 3-6); Through the Digital Lens (Grades 3-8); Visual Storytelling (Grades 5-8); and Art Socials (Adults), among other classes.

For more information or to enroll, call 203-222-7070, email Education@WestportArtsCenter.org or visit MOCAWestport.org.

Location: 19 Newtown Tnpke, Westport.

Jessica Hunter

Hunter Healing Hands

Integrative & Intuitive Shamanic Wellness Integrative & Intuitive Healing Sessions Shamanic Healing, Shamanic Spirit Communication, Soul Retrieval, Extraction, Depossession, Curse Unraveling, Crystal Healing, Acupressure, Reiki

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Professional Space Clearing and Blessing for Homes, Land or Businesses

Available Training Programs Stone Spirit Program

Crystal Healing Practitioner Certification

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2 Year Shamanic Apprenticeship & Shamanic Practitioner Certification

Shamanic & Empath Workshops

203-916-8381 | www. hunterhealinghands. com | hunterhealinghands@hotmail. com 12

Fairfield County/Housatonic Valley Edition

eNaturalAwakenings.com

Meditation Retreat at Wisdom House in Litchfield and West Redding

WELLNESS & DIVORCE COACHING

PRIVATE SESSIONS AND GROUP WORKSHOPS AVAILABLE

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he Centers for Mindfulness & Insight Meditation in Connecticut and Massachusetts are teaming up to hold a five-day Mahasati meditation retreat from October 10 to 14 at Wisdom House Retreat Center in Litchfield. The retreat will be led by Thai Forest Monks and meditation masters Achan Dha and Achan Niphen and psychologist Michael Bresnan.

The retreat provides an opportunity to deepen meditation practice by allowing participants to cultivate self-awareness for an extended period of time without distraction. While the retreat will be conducted mainly in silence, there will also be Dhama talks and question-and-answer periods. As is the tradition with meditation retreats, all attendees will have a private interview period with Achan Dha as a further aid to their practice.

Wisdom House provides an excellent atmosphere for meditation. The retreat will take place in a separate 18th-century New England farmhouse, ensuring the group’s privacy throughout the weekend. Wholesome and delicious meals will be served, including breads and desserts baked on the premises by the Wisdom House Staff.

The retreat begins at 7pm on Thursday evening, October 10, and concludes at 1pm Monday afternoon, October 14. The cost for the retreat is $75 per night for double occupancy, and $100 per night for single occupancy. The cost covers room and board. Partial attendance is allowed, but a two-night minimum is required. Partial scholarships are available based on need. A $100 deposit is requested to register. There are a limited number of spots for this retreat.

Additionally, there will be a one-day retreat on September 14 from 9:30am to 4pm at the Center for Mindfulness & Insight Meditation in West Redding. Participants should bring a bag lunch. There is no formal charge for this retreat, which is also led by Achan Dha and Achan Niphen, but donations are greatly appreciated.

To make a reservation, or for more information, please contact Michael at Michael@cfmim.org. Location for one-day retreat: Center for Mindfulness and Insight Meditation, Picketts Ridge Rd, West Redding. Location for five-day retreat: Wisdom House Retreat Center, 229 E Litchfield Rd, Litchfield.

Animals are such agreeable friends—they ask no questions; they pass no criticisms. ~George Eliot

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Teacher and Practitioner of Cross-Cultural Energy Medicine and Contemporary Shamanism

Classes, Shamanic Training, Healing Sessions, Reiki, Andean Energy Medicine, Readings, Space Clearings and more...

www.embodythesacred.net September 2019

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Thrive, Not Just Survive in the 21st Century!

news briefs

Mike’s Organic Market Opens; Organic Delivery Service Celebrates 10 Years

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Master of Arts Degrees and Certificate Programs Boost Your Career — Affordable Payments 1 Weekend Per Month — 2 Years

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Fairfield County/Housatonic Valley Edition

ike Geller, lifelong Greenwich resident, has capped the celebration of the 10th anniversary of his popular Mike’s Organic Delivery service with the launch of a new brick-andmortar outpost, Mike’s Organic Market. The first-of-its-kind space will serve as a hub for food and wellness education, offering a series of events, classes and pop-up experiences, in addition to the finest grocery products.

Geller has been serving organic groceries to Fairfield and Westchester counties for a decade, and the expansion of Mike’s Organic Market marks the brand’s debut in retail. Located on the border of Old Greenwich and Stamford, and tucked away in an industrial warehouse, the space previously functioned as the grocery delivery service headquarters. The new marketplace features a curated selection of items, from organic produce and pastured meats to grass-fed dairy and cold-pressed juices. Mike’s Organic partners only with small farmers, fishermen, artisans and producers, and each item has been vetted and hand-picked by the team to be sold in the market, ensuring the highest quality offerings.

More than a market, Mike’s will be a center for the community to learn about wellness. A robust and diverse calendar of events and classes is slated for the fall, inviting visitors to immerse themselves in a variety of food-forward and healthy living programming. Culinary offerings include something for everyone, from a pancake power-hour to teach kids how to make breakfast healthier, to a dumpling-making and wine course led by Norwalk’s Nit Noi Provisions, to an apple pie baking class in collaboration with Ridgefield-based Ross Breads.

A calendar of chef pop-up dinners is soon to be announced, hosted by a variety of renowned chefs. Mike’s Organic Market is also available to host private events, seminars, cooking tutorials and more.

For more information, visit MikesOrganicDelivery.com. Location: Mike’s Organic Delivery and Market, 377 Fairfield Ave, Building 1, Stamford.

eNaturalAwakenings.com

Women Empowering Women in Watertown

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he Women Empowering Women NOW Watertown Chapter will hold its next meeting September 25 at 6pm. WEW will be recognizing three local women entrepreneurs in its first WEW Entrepreneurial Awards competition. Awards will be presented in three categories: solopreneur, mompreneur and grandmapreneur. The Watertown chapter meets the last Wednesday of every month.

The organization also runs the Girl Boss Leads Group, a woman-only leads group with the sole purpose of passing on referrals and qualified leads, helping to build connections that go far beyond the allotted meeting time. The GB Leads group meets the second and fourth Monday of each month at noon.

WEW Now is a growing community of women entrepreneurs who are stepping outside the box and making their dreams come true. Chapters are currently opening in Winsted and New Haven, Connecticut, Pennsylvania and California. The organization was founded by Doreen Dilger, certified business and life coach and author, with a mission to educate, support and empower women by offering networking, leads groups, certification programs, mastermind groups, online inner circle memberships, business coaching, life coaching, workshops and challenges.

“If you are a women entrepreneur who is thinking about starting a business, wanting to hit six figures or somewhere in between, then I am sure there is a program that will fit your needs,” says Dilger.

For more information about programs, certifications and other offerings, visit WomenEmpoweringWomenNOW.com. To find details on the upcoming events for the local chapter, visit the Facebook Event page at Facebook.com/WomenEmpowering WomenNetworkingWatertown. Location: Princeton Venture Hub, 27 Siemon Company Dr, Ste 304 W, Watertown.

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news briefs

CT Natural Awakenings’ Editions Welcome New Managing Editor Deepen Your Knowledge of Yoga Whether you just finished your first 200-hour training, you’re a seasoned teacher, or you’re a committed student looking to dive deeper, the Yoga Teachers Association is your resource for enhancing and expanding your knowledge and teaching. Connect with the Hudson Valley yoga community and earn your CEUs at monthly workshops led by nationally recognized teachers and highly accomplished area instructors.

Fall 2019 Workshops

Saturdays, 1:30–4:30 p.m.

The Yoga Studio, Club Fit, Briarcliff Manor, NY Nonmembers welcome!

Yoga Therapy Approaches Through a Kundalini Lens • September 14 A unique opportunity to explore techniques for a wide range of modern-day ailments as an adjunct to medical treatment with Ravi Singh.

Flowing into Wholeness • October 12 Daniel Orlansky will share the Taoist concept of “effortless flow” through qigong exercises and sequences from his Yoga of Energy Flow method.

Yoga for Scoliosis • November 9 Explore the main principles of practice for those with idiopathic or degenerative scoliosis and valuable teaching techniques with Alison West.

Lions and Tigers and Elephants, Oh My! December 14 Discuss the Hatha Yoga Pradipika, a tantric text describing practices that focus on prana, and learn how to tame the inner beast with Sandra Anderson.

Visit our website to register for workshops, become a member, and find out about our retreat at Himalayan Institute with Todd Norian:

Yoga for a Radiant Heart • October 25–27

ytayoga.com 16

Fairfield County/Housatonic Valley Edition

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ublisher Nicole Miale is excited to announce that the Natural Awakenings Greater Hartford and Fairfield County/ Housatonic Valley editions have welcomed a new managing editor as Patricia Staino joins to take a leadership role on the editorial and digital teams.

Staino has worked as a writer and editor for more than 20 years, covering a Patricia Staino variety of industries and topics, including: telecom, electronics, the new world of work, the human side of technology, food, travel, real estate, caregiving, and of course, holistic wellness.

After two decades working for marketing, publishing, public relations and consulting firms, she made the decision to spend more time researching, writing and editing stories about topics she truly loves, and established her own freelance writing firm, Best.Last.Word. One of the first projects she chose to take on was the editorial content of Natural Awakenings, in the process reuniting with Miale, a longtime friend and colleague.

“As my business has grown over the past couple years, it became apparent that developing a stronger team around me was key to more success,” Miale says. “I am thrilled at the synchronicity that made Patricia available at the exact time I was thinking I needed someone just like her. I am so happy to be working with her again after all these years!”

Staino, who grew up in the northeast but is now based in Raleigh, North Carolina, says she loves being a nonfiction writer because every time she sits down to research and write an article, she has the opportunity to learn about a new topic. “Not many professions offer that kind of perk,” she says. “I’m excited to be working with NA because every bit of copy I read or write will educate me on improving my own well-being, as well as that of our readers.”

Staino’s favorite yoga poses are Downward Facing Dog and Extended Triangle, but she admits to struggling with a wandering mind during meditation. After editing this month’s issue, she has vowed to eat more mushrooms, experience a sound bath and try ecstatic dancing.

“I’m looking forward to working with and meeting the local Natural Awakenings’ communities as we move forward,” she says.

“My professional goal is to tell people’s untold stories, or at least tell well-loved stories in new ways. There are so many opportunities for all of us to do that together.”

If you have a story you’d like to tell in Natural Awakenings, contact Patricia Staino at PatriciaStaino@gmail.com to discuss opportunities to contribute to or be covered in an upcoming local edition of the magazine.

eNaturalAwakenings.com

CT Folk Festival & Green Expo Returns in September

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n September 7, from 11am to 10pm, the CT Folk Festival & Green Expo presents their annual free festival of live music, handmade artisans, food trucks, children’s activities and “green” workshops at New Haven’s Edgerton Park. This is the expo’s 27th year.

Festival directors, Nicole Mikula and Michael Skrtic, alongside the CT Folk Board of Directors, unveil an outrageous music lineup that includes Donna The Buffalo, with direct support from Birds of Chicago. Ghost of Paul Revere, Amythyst Kiah, Jim Allyn Band, Quarter Horse, Susan Cattaneo and Professors round out the lineup as well. Also, the Grassy Hill Songwriting Competition highlighting Stan Sullivan, Monica Rizzio, Nick Depuy, Sharon Goldman and Margo Hennebach will kick off the day.

The Green Expo, open from 11am to 6pm, highlights over 50 exhibitors that include handmade artisans and exhibitors with innovative ideas and products for sustainable lifestyles.

Our Green New Haven tent will feature environmental organizations who will each offer a workshop and a Farmers Market from New Britain ROOTS.

For families, the Green Kids Village offers a fun-filled day including interactive drumming with Infinite Roots, hula hooping with BringtheHoopla and children’s yoga with Full of Joy Yoga. There will also be interactive workshops all day with Cyril the Sorceror, cooking demos with My City Kitchen, Songwriting Workshop with Dick Neal, recycled art projects with EcoWorks and activities with Common Ground and Massaro Farm.

CT Folk Festival offers a craft beer (New England Brewing Company) and wine garden.

There is a $10 suggested donation to support CT Folk’s continued efforts. Proceeds benefit CT Folk’s mission to educate, entertain and inspire a diverse audience through music and conversation to create a socially responsible and environmentally sustainable community.

There is parking on the streets surrounding Edgerton Park.

There are no vehicles allowed in the park, except for those using the limited number of Americans with Disabilities Act parking spaces. These spaces are available on a “first-come” basis.

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For more information, visit CTFolk.org, Facebook.com/CTFolk or Instagram.com/CT_Folk. Location: Edgerton Park, 75 Cliff St, New Haven.

September 2019

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Whale Wipe-Out

global briefs

Brainy Beasts

Elephants Never Forget—What They Smell

According to a new report from the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, elephants have such sensitive olfactory discrimination that they can determine different amounts of food just by sniffing it. Most animals use visual acuity to determine quantities of food, but this study shows that it’s important for psychologists to incorporate into experimental designs the ways in which different animals interact with their environment using all of their senses.

More than 160 dead gray whales have washed up on the Pacific Coast this year, including onto beaches in Canada, Mexico and Alaska, and scientists estimate that they represent just 10 percent of the total number of the dead, with the rest sinking into the sea. In Washington, officials have run out of public beaches for the huge carcasses to rot, and have asked for owners of private beaches to volunteer space.

This could end up being the deadliest year for gray whales since 2000, when 131 were found on U.S. shores.

Many of this year’s victims have been malnourished, according to David Weller, a research wildlife biologist with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Southwest Fisheries Science Center, in La Jolla, California.

That could be because of unusually warm temperatures in the northern Bering Sea last year, says Sue Moore, a biological oceanographer at the University of Washington, in Seattle. This results in less of the type of algae that amphipods (shrimplike crustaceans) eat, which in turn lowers the food supply for the whales.

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Fairfield County/Housatonic Valley Edition

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INFLAMMATION?

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Record Numbers Starving to Death

event spotlight

Recapture Spirit on the Riverfront

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Music highlights include performances by: • All-female jazz ensemble The Fiery String Sistas • World Music artist and author Girish • Hartford’s own RaPoet Khaiim Kelly and Lee Mixashawn Rozie • People of Goodwill, celebrating the musical heritage of the African Diaspora

Additional soul-connecting arts experiences include a digital art installation

by Balam, a Sound Lounge by The Conduit Center, and late-night dance parties on the riverfront with DJs Kered and Wasine.

For parents who may want to include the entire family in their Spirit Festival experience, there are child-centered workshops and performances throughout the weekend including Children’s Yoga, “Trash to Tunes” with homemade instruments, puppet shows by Oompapossum, a hula workshop and much more.

Yoga, Music, Community and Healing at Spirit Festival

pirit Festival, a three-day yoga, music, dance and healing event, will be held September 13 through 15 in Hartford at the Riverfront Recapture’s breathtaking system of parks on the banks of the Connecticut River.

In collaboration with and inspired by BaliSpirit Festival—named one of the top 10 yoga events in the world by Yoga Journal—Spirit Festival brings a unique blend of wellness to the U.S. for the first time, offering more than 60 distinct workshops, classes and performances over the course of a single weekend. The event is suitable for all skill levels (beginners to advanced practitioners) with special programming for children and people who have experienced trauma, such as veterans. Venues along the Connecticut River include the boathouse in Riverside Park, Mortensen Riverfront Plaza, Connecticut Science Center and tented spaces within the parks on the river.

Over the course of the weekend, yoga classes, concerts, workshops, lectures and

other activities will provide more than 25 hours of varied, all-inclusive programming.

Yoga presenters from throughout the Northeast and beyond include: • Peaceful Warrior Flow workshop with Pia Oliveri • Yoga Para Todas workshop in English and Spanish with Nicole Diaz • Soul Flow with nationally renowned teacher Kenny Frisby • Mindful Yoga Therapy for U.S. veterans • Workshops presented by acclaimed yogis Kiley Holliday, Meredith Evangelisti, LeoRising and Randolph Osgood.

Talks with conscious practitioners include: • Yoga - A Sacred Rhythm with Maya Breuer • An Ayurvedic Approach to Wellness with Ali Cramer • Perfectly Imperfect: Finding Healing and Love in The Beautiful Mess of Being Human with Simon & Schuster author Chris Grosso

The event will also feature a vendor market selling holistic goods, healing huts offering wellness services in various modalities and food trucks with healthy eating options.

Full weekend passes are on sale now for $245. One-day tickets are on sale now with prices ranging from $62 to $135.

Children’s tickets are $25 per day and group rates are available for parties of 10 or more.

For tickets and programming information, visit SpiritYogaFestival.com. Location: Riverside Park, 20 Leibert Rd, Hartford.

See ads, pages 5 and 39.

September 2019

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event spotlight

8th Annual Health Wellness & Lifestyle Expo 2019

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he 8th Annual Health Wellness & Lifestyle Expo 2019 presented by WABC-TV with special thanks to Stamford Health, Exclusive Healthcare Partner, debuts at its new location on the Harbor Point Boardwalk in Stamford on September 14 and 15. Expo 2019 will feature more than 150 exhibitors in addition to Stamford Health, group yoga, dance and fitness classes featuring top fitness instructors from throughout the area, and 11 different zones showcasing pet wellness, healthy restaurants, food and

beverages, activewear, organic craft beer, wine and spirits, live music, and a kids zone featuring interactive and educational activities. Admission and parking are free.

“Stamford Health will offer fun health-related activities for people of all ages,” says Audrey Wise, Executive Director, Marketing and Communications, Stamford Health. “Our doctors, nurses and other team members are looking forward to engaging with the community in new and exciting ways.”

The official event beneficiary is

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Fairfield County/Housatonic Valley Edition

Stamford Health’s KIDS’ FANS (Fitness and Nutrition Services) program, which promotes childhood wellness, obesity prevention and physical activity using a hands-on curriculum taught at area public schools, summer camps and after-school programs. KIDS’ FANS is designed to make learning about healthy eating and regular exercise engaging and interactive for children pre-K to high-school age.

Attendees can purchase $5 raffle tickets to support Stamford Health’s KIDS’ FANS at the Welcome Tents.

Throughout the weekend, attendees can look forward to a live, exciting and interactive experience with Billy Blanks of Tae Bo fame and Billy Blanks Jr of Dance It Out, as seen on ABC TV’S Shark Tank.

The father-son dynamic fitness duo, presenting together for the first time in more than 20 years, will bring their energy of movement, healing and transformation to Expo 2019.

This year’s event also will feature the Yoga & Stretching Zone and Dance & Fitness Zone, showcasing a schedule of exhilarating and motivating fitness classes led by top instructors from Support Sponsor Equinox, as well as classes with Dr. Tanvi Yoga, Samurai Fit, Belly and Body, Edge Fitness, Club Sweat, Title Boxing, Enjoy Community Wellness, Exhale and more. Attendees can sign up in advance for classes or just show up.

Joining this year’s exciting line-up of talent is Sam Ryan, Emmy-award-winning sports anchor and reporter for ABC 7 New York. Attendees can meet Sam on Saturday, September 14.

Find out how it could benefit your health AND your bank account!

SHOP: www.holistichealthwithcbd.com BIZ OP: www.hempworxbizop.com/CJoy

eNaturalAwakenings.com

Carol Joy 203.307.0323

Certified Health & Wellness Coach

Stamford Health, Exclusive Healthcare Partner, will be on site with their team from the Health & Fitness Institute, providing Stop the Bleed and hands-free CPR education, sports rehab activities, women’s health information and more.

Other weekend highlights include: Pet Wellness Zone sponsored by Cornell University Veterinary Specialists featuring Pets on Parade presented by Adopt-ADog: Creative and interactive activities in the Kids Zone sponsored by Stepping Stones Museum for Children, which includes Code Ninja games and fun with StamfordMoms.com and GreenwichMoms.com; Education on free nutritional services with registered dieticians from Support Sponsor Grade A ShopRite; and Unlocking the KEY to Financial Wellness at the Red Key promotion with Official Bank Sponsor Key Bank: Pick up a key at any Expo Welcome tent and see if it unlocks the Financial Wellness Trunk of prizes at Key Bank’s exhibitor space.

Visit with Support Sponsors Fairfield University Marion Peckham Egan School of Nursing and Health Studies’ nursing students and faculty and learn about Cassena Care at Stamford and their shortand long-term rehabilitation programs to promote holistic wellness.

Finally, don’t miss the Eco-Friendly Wine and Spirits Zone and enjoy samples from Harbor Point Wine & Spirits and Val’s Putnam Wines & Liquors. Attendees can also browse activewear fashions from Athleta, Vineyard Vines, Daisy-Bella.com, Fjallraven, Peach, Runner’s Roost and Skube.me. The first 100 attendees on both Saturday and Sunday to visit the Expo will receive a free pass from Community Partner RPM Raceway.

For the most up-to date exhibitor list, fitness schedule, music schedule, food offerings and expo highlights, visit HWL-EXPOS. com. Follow the Expo on Instagram @ HWLEXPO, Facebook.com/hwlexpo and Twitter @hwl_expoAdmission. Location: The Boardwalk at Harbor Point: 1 Harbor Point Rd, Stamford. See Expo Program, pages 23 to 30.

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Ecologically Responsible Services

Safe Solutions To Protect Your Family from Tick and Mosquito-Borne Diseases!

The folks at Country Tick & Mosquito understand your concerns and can be trusted to give honest advice on chemical and organic services at your home.

• Organic treatments for those who have small children, outdoor pets, or vegetable gardens.

• Pesticide-based products that would provide some residual control for wooded areas and wetlands with a lot of wildlife.

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wise words

Radha Agrawal on Creating Connections and Community

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by April Thompson

ntrepreneur, DJ and author Radha Agrawal is on a global mission to catalyze community and connect people meaningfully through shared values, talents and passions. Driven by her love of movement and music, Agrawal founded Daybreaker—early morning yoga sessions followed by live-music, alcohol-free dance parties that are being held in 26 cities worldwide—which are helping to break down the loneliness and isolation increasingly common to urban settings. She also co-founded the THINX line of period-proof underwear with her twin sister Miki and friend Antonia Saint Dunbar, and is now launching LiveItUp, a virtual “life school” featuring 21-day challenges from renowned guides such as Whole Foods CEO John Mackey and functional medicine specialist Mark Hyman, M.D.

Her recent book Belong: Find Your People, Create Community and Live a More Connected Life shares her personal journey of finding her place and people in life, and offers hands-on exercises to help others do the same. Agrawal lives with her husband and daughter in Brooklyn, New York, where she still loves to go out and celebrate life with friends several nights a week.

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What inspired your journey to bring people together?

I grew up in a community-driven town in Montreal. My dad is Indian and my mom is Japanese, and I had a built-in sense of community within those two cultures. Yet I sleepwalked through my 20s; at 30 years old, I woke up realizing I didn’t feel a sense of belonging anymore and started on an intentional journey back to community.

I was also shocked into action by the statistics around our lack of community. One in four Americans report having no friends to confide in; the number jumps to one in three for those over age 65. Another study showed that not having social ties is as harmful to our health as being an alcoholic, and is twice as harmful as obesity.

Fairfield County/Housatonic Valley Edition

What steps can help people that are feeling isolated start to find community?

It starts with an internal journey of self-exploration.

Make a list of your values, interests and abilities, and see where they intersect and how you can use them to serve your community.

They may be bringing music to a space, asking questions or hosting, which is my particular gift. Then find 10 communities that align with those interests and explore them in a light-touch way until you find the ones you want to participate in more deeply.

eNaturalAwakenings.com

What is the key to cultivating nurturing friendships?

Again, start by taking a self-inventory: the qualities you seek in a friend, the qualities you don’t want and the qualities you need to embody as a friend. Take stock on how you are showing up for your friends, and note if you are making excuses for yourself or your friends. I realized in doing this that I was often triple-booking myself and prioritizing everything but friendship, and made an effort to change. Now I look for friends who love adventure and lean in and say yes to life. Now, at 40, I seem to meet new people every day who come from the same star and make friends so much faster having done that hard work in my 30s.

What are the key components of a healthy, thriving community?

Community is built on safety and sustained on mystery. With Daybreaker, the mystery is not knowing the next theme or DJ or “Wow!” moment, but our members have the safety of knowing it will be a wellness-oriented event and a safe space where they will be hugged upon entry and can dance with reckless abandon every month. It takes effort to keep the excitement alive, but as a result, Daybreaker is scaling and gaining momentum.

How do we find the proper balance of commitments and interests?

Developing boundaries is key. When I first started Daybreaker, I would say yes to everything, and I was exhausted all the time trying to please everyone. Now that I have a daughter, my time is even more precious. If I ask myself if something is giving me energy and fulfillment and the answer isn’t a deep yes, then I know it’s a deep no.

Celebrate your abundant energy, though; it’s a blessing to have lots of interests and friends. Stay curious to where you are in life and what the world has to offer.

April Thompson is a freelance writer in Washington, D.C. Connect at AprilWrites.com.

September 2019

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eNaturalAwakenings.com

Nature’s Virus Killer

sinuses. Attorney Donna Blight had a 2-day sinus headache. When her CopperZap arrived, she tried it. “I am shocked!” she said. “My head cleared, no more headache, no more congestion.”

Some users say copper stops nighttime stuffiness if used just before bed. One man said, “Best sleep I’ve had

By Doug Cornell in years.” ore and more people are He asked relatives and friends to try Copper can also stop flu if used early saying they just don’t get it. They said it worked for them, too, so and for several days. Lab technicians colds anymore. he patented CopperZap™ and put it on placed 25 million live flu viruses on They are using a new device made the market. a CopperZap. No viruses were found of pure copper, which scientists say Now tens of thousands of people alive soon after. kills cold and flu have tried it. Nearly Dr. Bill Keevil led one of the teams viruses.

100% of feedback confirming the discovery. He placed Doug Cornell said the copper millions of disease germs on copper. invented the stops colds if used “They started to die literally as soon as device in 2012. within 3 hours after they touched the surface,” he said.

“I haven’t had a the first sign. Even People have used it on cold sores single cold since up to 2 days, if they and say it can completely prevent ugly then,” he says. still get the cold it outbreaks. You can also rub it gently on People were is milder than usual wounds or lesions to combat infections. skeptical but EPA and they feel The handle is New research: Copper stops colds if used early. and university better. curved and finely studies demonstrate repeatedly that Users wrote things like, “It textured to improve viruses and bacteria die almost instantly stopped my cold right away,” and “Is contact. It kills germs when touched by copper. it supposed to work that fast?” picked up on fingers That’s why ancient Greeks and “What a wonderful thing,” wrote and hands to protect Egyptians used copper to purify water Physician’s Assistant Julie. “No more you and your family. and heal wounds. They didn’t know colds for me!”

Copper even about viruses and bacteria, but now we Pat McAllister, age 70, received kills deadly Dr. Bill Keevil: do. one for Christmas and called it “one Copper quickly kills germs that have cold viruses.

Scientists say the high conductance of the best presents ever. This little become resistant to of copper disrupts the electrical balance jewel really works.” Now thousands of antibiotics. If you are near sick people, in a microbe cell and destroys the cell users have simply stopped getting colds. a moment of handling it may keep in seconds.

People often use CopperZap serious infection away from you and So some hospitals tried copper touch preventively. Frequent flier Karen your loved ones. It may even save a life. surfaces like faucets and doorknobs.

Gauci used to get colds after crowded The EPA says copper still works This cut the spread of MRSA and other flights. Though skeptical, she tried it even when tarnished. It kills hundreds illnesses by over half, and saved lives. several times a day on travel days for of different disease germs so it can Colds start after cold viruses get in 2 months. “Sixteen flights and not a prevent serious or even fatal illness. your nose, so the vast body of research sniffle!”

CopperZap is made in America of gave Cornell an idea. When he next Businesswoman Rosaleen says pure copper. It has a 90-day full money felt a cold about to start, he fashioned when people are sick around her she back guarantee. It is $69.95. a smooth copper probe and rubbed it uses CopperZap morning and night. “It Get $10 off each CopperZap with gently in his nose for 60 seconds. saved me last holidays,” she said. “The code NATA12.

“It worked!” he exclaimed. “The kids had colds going round and round, Go to www.CopperZap.com or cold never got going.” It worked again but not me.” call toll-free 1-888-411-6114. every time.

Some users say it also helps with Buy once, use forever.

31 September 2019 ADVERTORIAL

Copper in new device stops cold and flu

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Mastering Yoga STRETCH, RELAX AND CONNECT

Yoga Retreats Engage Energy of People and Place

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by Danielle Sullo

oga retreats can be spiritual experiences that focus the practice and enrich present-day reality. They help attendees delve deeper into their mindfulness, reminding them that no matter where they are on their journey, it is their own.

Attending a yoga retreat combines the love of yoga, travel, adventure and community. Many retreat leaders say they find joy in the wondrous adventures they plan, making lifelong friends and witnessing amazing connections. Retreat leaders often enhance this community-building by choosing locales to which they personally feel a strong connection.

Maggie Durbas, founder of Journey of Yoga in Simsbury, describes her upcoming European yoga retreat location as magical. As a self-proclaimed “mountain girl at heart,” and having already visited this region for extended periods of time, she is leading her first international yoga retreat in Lake Como (Lago di Como), Italy, this month. The retreat will center on 32

daily yoga practice, planned excursions, and exploring the beauty of this majestic mountain and lake region.

Local yoga studios leave nothing to chance in the planning process in order to ensure that participants feel completely comfortable and cared for throughout the experience. Retreat leaders usually create all-inclusive packages around these trips, so participants are responsible only for airfare and personal spending money once the trip is booked. Durbas checks and double-checks that all is in order prior to her trips, and even takes the time to meet with all participants to address questions and concerns prior to the trip. Berta Prevosti of the Jiiva Center in Stratford arrives at a retreat’s destination a few days in advance to be sure all is ready for her groups, and that “there are no glitches.” Both Durbas and Provosti expressed feeling both fulfilled and challenged as they prepare for the magic that comes when participants arrive. Attendees can expect to be at ease not just on the mat, but for the duration of

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their retreat, thanks to the dedication and planning of the retreat leaders.

Provosti plans her retreats to include meditation, gathering, lectures, yoga, kirtan (call-and-response chanting) and organic food offerings. “I am proud of the amazing communities that have been formed during these trips,” she says. “I ensure participants have the right balance of choice and structure.”

Jessica Proulx, Director of The Om Center for Yoga and Massage in Watertown, agrees, saying, “It is important to include time for rest and play. It is important for us to teach and help our students to find that balance, which is often lacking as house-holders.”

Aside from furthering participants’ yoga practices, retreats are designed to bring people together, and offer opportunities for personal connection. “I pride myself on bringing people together as a community throughout the experience,” says Provosti, who plans one winter, one summer and numerous local retreats each year with her son, Domingo Perez. When planning her retreats, Provosti prioritizes affordability, location for introspection and exploration, and the security that the participants’ money and vacation is well-spent.

Most importantly, yoga retreat leaders take pride in offering a holistic experience so that in addition to daily yoga practice, participants have many opportunities to connect with each other as well as the energy of the natural landscape in which they find themselves.

As is so intricately woven into the yoga experience, yoga retreats also provide opportunities for spiritual awakening. “My second retreat to Jamaica was more than the location and the yoga,” says Provosti. “It was about the spiritual experience.” She says when she began offering yoga retreats, she didn’t realize how many people were searching for this type of spiritual experience.

All three trip organizers describe

their retreats as having a deeply spiritual element that honors the spirit of the group and the soul of the location, creating a profound sense of connection that participants will never forget.

Retreat leaders offer local and international retreats. Both Provosti and Durbas began planning local yoga retreats before those with an international focus, such as Provosti’s upcoming Bali trip in February 2020. Her first retreat was held four years ago in Vermont during the winter, and she says, “it was the people and the community, not the location,” that made it special.

“On a personal level, leading retreats is and always will be one of the greatest joys of my life,” says Proulx. In addition to offering retreats in places such as Costa Rica, Belize, Sedona and an upcoming Maui trip in April 2020, she is offering a three-week, 200-hour teacher training immersion in Belize in February. “While not a retreat, being able to spend three weeks in deep practice and in such a beautiful location will give it that feel,” she says.

For anyone interested in attending a yoga retreat, the depth and breadth of the experiences planned by local yoga retreat leaders seems unmatched. Roll up your yoga mat, tap into your sense of adventurous spirituality and plan to see the world. Let it change you. Let it challenge you. Let it be.

yoga briefs

Danielle Sullo is an educator, writing facilitator and freelance writer based in northwestern Connecticut. Connect with her at DSulloNWH@gmail.com.

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Local Resources: Maggie Durbas, Journey of Yoga Simsbury • JourneyOfYoga.com Berta Prevosti, The Jiiva Center Stratford • JiivaCenter.com Jessica Proulx, The Om Center for Yoga and Massage Watertown NoPlaceLikeOmCenter.com

YTA Announces Workshop Lineup for New Season

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he Yoga Teachers Association of the Hudson Valley (YTA) has announced an exciting workshop lineup for this fall and beyond. Add these dates to your calendar and get prepared to bliss out!

To kick off the 2019-20 season, Californiabased master yogi Ravi Singh will present “Yoga Therapeutics Through a Kundalini Lens” on September 14, from 1:30 to 4:30pm. The YTA’s annual Prana Party will immediately follow the workshop. All are welcome to connect with yoga teachers and other yoga enthusiasts from the tri-state area; light refreshments will be served.

The season will continue in October with “Yoga for Scoliosis,” featuring NYC’s Alison West, who will share the main principles of practice for those with idiopathic or degenerative scoliosis and valuable teaching techniques.

Daniel Orlansky returns in November for “Flowing into Wholeness,” a magical mix of yoga and qigong, and in December, Sandra Anderson will join us to explore the Hatha Yoga Pradipika. Other workshops in the 2019–20 season will be led by Mona Anand, Lee Albert and Deirdre Breen and will cover topics such as the yoga nidra, yoga for pain relief, mudras and the three pillars of Ashtanga yoga. Beloved 101-years-young yogini Tao Porchon-Lynch will close out the season once again, on June 13, 2020.

In addition to its regular workshops, the YTA will be holding its second annual retreat at Himalayan Institute in Honesdale, PA. “Yoga for a Radiant Heart, Body, and Mind” with Todd Norian will take place October 25–27.

YTA is an educational nonprofit run by volunteers. Membership is open to studio owners, yoga teachers and individual practitioners. Workshops are usually held on the second Saturday of the month, 1:30–4:30pm, at Club Fit in Briarcliff Manor, NY. The cost is $45 for members, $65 for nonmembers in advance. Continuing education credits are available for all workshops.

For more information, visit YTAYoga.com or email YTACommunications@gmail.com.

See ad, page 16.

YogaSpace Hosting Free Classes and Kirtan

n September 14 from 8am to 4pm, YogaSpace in Bethel will host an Open at its studio. All classes will be free and door prizes will be awarded. Additionally, a 10 percent discount on retail, workshops and 10- and 20-class passes will be applied to House purchases made during the special event.

The class schedule for the day is as follows: • 8:30am – Mixed-Level Yoga with Heather Philip • 10:15am – Yoga Basics with Heather Morgado • 12pm – Mixed-Level Yoga with Terri Jennings The event will come to a close with a special celebration kirtan chant at 2pm with Sita’s Light. Through simple mantras and spirit-filled songs, Sita Miriam Zernis and her talented musician friends will guide attendees to a place of deep peace and joy with easy, soulful call-and-response singing framed by the eclectic sacred music sounds of harmonium, tabla, guitar and didgeridoo. Dancing and clapping are encouraged! Community sharing and snacks will follow. While the chanting celebration is free, there is a suggested donation of $10.

To book your free class during the Open House, visit Yogaspace-CT.com/schedule/. Location: 78 Stony Hill Rd (Route 6), Bethel.

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Yoga gives us powerful tools so we may age gracefully. ~Lisa Moore

The Power of Yoga

Tapping Into the Life Force

by Marlaina Donato

L

ongevity is something most of us strive for, and increasingly, research shows that implementing a consistent yoga practice can be a fruitful investment toward that goal. Yoga is an eight-branch system of well-being that encompasses exercise, meditation, conscious breathing, diet and other elements, but how it effects mind-body fitness alone is proving to be a reliable defense against age-related loss of mobility, cardiovascular disease and depression.

Its stress-busting capabilities help to support challenged adrenal glands and lower elevated blood pressure. Getting on the mat can improve insulin sensitivity in diabetics and also help balance immune responses in individuals with autoimmune conditions or insufficient natural killer cells.

Combined research from 22 studies by the University of Edinburgh reveals that yoga, compared to both sedentary lifestyles and other forms of exercise such as walking or chair aerobics, improved 34

the lower-body strength and flexibility in individuals age 60 and older. The findings published earlier this year in the International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity also showed improved quality of sleep and fewer symptoms of depression.

Fewer Health Risks, Stronger Bones

Yoga’s inverted poses increase blood circulation to vital organs, including the intestines, which facilitates assimilation of nutrients and waste elimination.

Asanas like shoulder stand, bridge and downward-facing dog stimulate blood flow from the lower extremities to the heart and fortify red blood cells by increasing hemoglobin, guarding against blood clots, stroke and heart attack. Yoga can also strengthen the bones. A 2016 study published in the International Journal of Yoga shows improved bone mineral density in women with postmenopausal osteoporosis.

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Stretching Into Joy

A 2014 hatha yoga study published in the Journals of Gerontology revealed increased cognitive function in older adults after eight weeks of yoga three times a week. Yoga’s super power lies in its capacity to reset the autonomic nervous system and ramp up mood-boosting serotonin while decreasing monoamine oxidase, an enzyme that disarms the effects of stress hormones like cortisol. Under the influence of yoga, the brain is bathed in calming neurotransmitters, combatting depression and anxiety, and instilling a sense of optimism.

“Yoga also helps us to embrace the hard times and ride the waves. With the tools that yoga provides, we can swim toward the light. It also helps us to experience a more intimate relationship with body and soul, and in turn make better choices in all aspects of life,” notes Carmen Ferreira, owner of the Sunshine Barre Studio, in Rocky Point, New York.

Moore concurs, advising, “Yoga gives us powerful tools so we may age gracefully. One of them is to manage stress with equanimity.”

The Breath of Life

Conscious breathing is at the core of a dedicated yoga practice, and a lowered risk of cardiovascular and respiratory disease gives us another reason to inhale

De Visu/Shutterstock.com

“Much like a house that sits empty or a car left to sit unused in a garage, our human parts can age and rot without movement. Movement creates more energy,” explains Nancy Poole, a teacher at Clarksburg Yoga and Wellness, in Clarksburg, Maryland.

Joints lose flexibility as we age, but yoga movement provides them with essential oxygen, blood and nutrients.

Lisa Moore, owner of Free to Be Yoga, in Great Falls, Montana, underscores, “A joint needs to move through its full range of motion to function well. Movement helps lubricate and cushion joints, provides nutrition and removes wastes.”

and exhale deeply. Poole observes, “Our general population does not breathe correctly, and many of us even hold our breath unconsciously. For my students, the hardest part of yoga is learning to take deep, full breaths. Old breathing habits must be unlearned. Once attention is given to the breath, tensions can be released.”

“Yoga improves lung capacity and brings more energy to the cells, which in turn creates more energy and life force in our bodies,” says Ferreira. “It helps us to live from the heart’s center and foster a better quality of life,” she adds. “Each time we show up on our mats, we show up for ourselves, an opportunity to nourish the body, our one and only temple.”

Try This

Lisa Moore, owner of Free to Be Yoga, recommends: brahmari, or humming bee breath

Benefits: reducing anxiety How to do it: Close eyes and gently plug ears with fingers. Breathe through the nose and hum softly upon exhaling.

Marlaina Donato is an author of several books and a composer.

Connect at AutumnEmbersMusic.com.

September Is National Yoga Month This marks the 10th anniversary of the designation by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. National Yoga Month was developed to raise awareness of yoga’s health benefits.

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fizkes/Shutterstock.com

Breath exercise:

Try black light yoga, done under a black light, often to upbeat music—so you won’t be sure if you’re at the yoga studio or an after-hours club—or buti yoga, which is inspired by primal dance and includes fast-paced cardio and strength moves. Or try Cat and Cow with a joyful baby goat on your back. The notions may make purists shudder, but there’s nothing wrong with adding a little goofiness to your practice once in a while. The key thing is that you’re moving!

TAI CHI AND QIGONG

MOVING PARTS

Use Your Body to Stay Healthy

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by Patricia Staino

here’s no doubt that regular exercise is an important component of a vibrant life. Even knowing that, “exercise” can sound like a dirty word, like something we must do—along with working for a living and cleaning the house—before we can make time for the fun stuff. What if we replaced exercise with something joyful, calming and inspirational, something we look forward to in the way we anticipated recess as a child? Why can’t moving our body feel more like play?

Study after study has demonstrated that moving our bodies is the key to aging gracefully, repelling disease, keeping our minds sharp and creating a general sense of well-being. There’s an adage that you’re only as old as your joints feel, and most people over a certain age would probably agree. While media (and social media) hype may have us believe that our only hope is to jump on the next big workout trend—like Peloton, Pound or Battle Ropes, for example—more people are turning to kinder, gentler and yes, more traditional movement to restore both body and soul.

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YOGA

While yoga comprises a host of mental, physical and spiritual practices, in the Western world it often focuses on the asanas and vinyasas. The American Osteopathic Association says that among the many physical benefits, yoga lessens chronic pain, lowers blood pressure, reduces insomnia, increases flexibility and muscle strength, improves energy, maintains a balanced metabolism and aids in weight loss. Further, just last month Harvard Medical School announced research it says proves that yoga “provides a retreat from the chaos of life,” citing in particular its tendency to boost body image, encourage mindful eating habits, reduce stress and increase overall physical fitness.

Dating back to 600 BC, the poses and philosophy are well-established—and there is something reassuring and grounding in following a tradition that for centuries has provided a mindfulness so easily lost in our fast-paced modern lives. However, if you want to switch up your yoga practice, try teaching your Downward Facing Dog some new tricks.

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Tai chi, which translates roughly to “supreme ultimate”, is a Chinese martial art that comprises three elements of practice: health, meditation and the physical movements. Developed around 1200 and taught as a battle technique in the 16th century, it has been taught openly in the US only since 1939. Today, tai chi focuses on a sequence of slow, deliberate movements emphasizing a straight spine, abdominal breathing and a natural range of motion that is gentle on muscles and joints. Once considered a form of self-defense, the practice is now regarded as a low-impact regimen that is quite popular in retirement homes and senior centers.

Qigong is similar to tai chi in that it uses a series of slow movements in sequence, but it is less disciplined, and the moves are more free-form and adaptive according to the participant’s abilities.

According to the Tai Chi Society, both tai chi and qigong are ancient practices that cultivate the qi—the life energy that flows through the body’s energy pathways—by combining movement, breathing and meditation. The main difference between the two is that tai chi is considered a martial art, while qigong is a method of wellness. Tai chi’s moves are more complex and athletic, and it can take months of practice to master just one.

Both practices can decrease stress, increase aerobic capacity, improve energy and stamina, develop flexibility and balance and build strength. There are some studies that indicate they may also enhance the

quality of sleep, boost the immune system and reduce the risk of falls in older adults.

It seems that even the most creative fitness types choose not to mess with the basics of the movements; while there are no black light or hip-hop versions just yet, some studios are combining the moves with yoga and Pilates. As an added benefit, since many classes take place outside, they can be a spirit-boosting experience that connects you to the natural world.

DANCE

Thinking of dance as exercise may seem a bit like cheating because it’s so much fun.

It’s also affordable and accessible—just turn on the radio and throw your hands in the air—requires no special clothing or equipment, no training or gym membership, and can be practiced by almost anyone, almost anywhere. Sure, if you prefer ballet, toe shoes and tutus can get pricey; but in general, dance is one of easiest forms of exercise to take up right here, right now.

In just the past year, two studies reported that dancing may keep us healthy into old age, possibly reducing the risk of disability and dementia. One of the studies, which examined 32 past studies (involving 3,500 people ages 50 to 85), found evidence that one to two hours of dance (or tai chi) per week could improve cognition, even in adults who already had some impairment.

Now more than ever, there are many options from which to choose. Many gyms, dance studios, parks and rec departments and community centers offer classes in tap, hip-hop, belly dance, dance fitness, Zumba and our current favorite—Bokwa.

It fuses step aerobics, hip-hop and African dance with steps that trace out letters and numbers on the floor. It’s intense, it’s sweaty and every cell will be vibrating when you’re done.

MEDITATIVE MOVEMENT

Unlike specific dance forms where there may be prescriptive techniques, choreography and directions, there is growing interest in forms of dance called meditative movement. In these, there is minimal

instruction, no learning specific steps and no way to do it right or wrong. All that’s needed is a willingness to move and an openness to be moved.

Across Connecticut we can find classes, meet-ups and community events including Ecstatic Dance, Journey Dance, Yoga Dance, Chakra Dance, Shake Your Soul, Contact Improvisation and other forms of meditative movement. Each of these forms views dance as a language to connect with our heart and soul and provide physical entrance into our inner world.

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JUST DO IT

Healthy movement isn’t an all-or-nothing proposition. Start small and over time build your stamina; the easiest way to do that is to find an activity you love. Even just a few steps at a time will increase your energy and put a smile on your face.

Patricia Staino is the managing editor of Natural Awakenings’ Fairfield County and Hartford editions.

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A hatha class will likely include slow-paced stretching, asanas, simple breathing exercises and perhaps seated meditation. Hatha yoga classes are a good starting point for beginners.

Hot Yoga: Hot yoga is performed in a heated room using a variety of temperatures and yoga poses. A Bikram yoga room is set at a minimum of 105° Fahrenheit with about 40 percent humidity, performing 26 prescribed asanas. Heated yoga helps to speed up metabolism and improve circulation.

GLOSSARY

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oga, a holistic art and practice that originated some 5,000 years ago in India, aims to integrate mind, body and spirit. The word yoga comes from the Sanskrit root yuj, meaning to yoke or unite, and refers to the joining of body with mind and mind with soul to achieve health, balance, tranquility and enlightenment.

Although many schools, or styles, of yoga exist, most differences derive from the primary focus of the practitioner’s attention: precise alignment of the body; holding of the asanas; flow between the postures; breath and movement coordination; or inner awareness and meditation. No particular style is better than another, and many students practice more than one.

Aerial: Sometimes branded as AntiGravity Yoga, aerial incorporates traditional yoga asanas with the use of a hammock or sling and combines elements of Pilates and dance. This style is said to deliver benefits on emotional and psychological levels and has a fun component.

Ananda: A form of gentle hatha yoga with an emphasis on meditation.

Ananda combines classic yoga postures with breathing and silent affirmations to attune with higher levels of body sense, energy and silent inner awareness. An inner-directed practice, it has less appeal to those desiring a more aerobic experience.

Anusara: Anusara means “go with the flow,” and blends spirituality with inner/outer alignment and balanced energetic actions. Developed in 1997, this style urges students to think of poses as artistic expressions of the heart. Anusara yoga can be helpful for everyone and is good for beginners.

Iyengar: Noted for precise alignment and symmetry of postures, the development of balance and the use of props such as blocks, balls and belts, the Iyengar style of yoga was developed by B.K.S. Iyengar. This form is a good style for beginners, but can also challenge seasoned practitioners.

Kundalini: A powerful style that incorporates mantras (chanting), meditation, visualization, breathing and guided relaxation with precise postures. According to Hindu philosophy, kundalini is a concentrated form of prana, or life force, represented by a coiled, sleeping serpent said to reside at the base of the spine.

When breath and movement awaken the serpent (energy), it moves up the spine through each of the seven chakras (energy centers) of the body, bringing energy and bliss. Kundalini yoga was first brought to the West in 1969, and has been known to help with addictions and releasing endorphins in the body.

Kundalini should be practiced under the supervision of an experienced teacher.

Prenatal: This yoga style is specifically tailored for pregnant women during all stages of pregnancy. Its combination of stretching, focus and breathwork make it ideal for improving strength and decreasing stress levels in preparation for childbirth. It might alleviate pregnancy-related headaches, nausea and back pain.

Restorative: Distinguished by the use of props, this form of yoga aims to relax the muscles, calm the mind and open the body through slow movements and passive stretching. Maintaining balance and holding gentle stretches for up to 20 minutes is made easier through the use of blocks, bolsters and blankets to support deep relaxation.

SUP: An acronym for stand up paddleboard, SUP yoga can be practiced on a lake or other calm body of water. Hatha and vinyasa asanas are employed to challenge the practitioner to maintain balance.

Svaroopa: The Sanskrit word svaroopa means “the true nature of being,” and Svaroopa yoga is sometimes called the yoga of alignment and Aqua: Aqua yoga is practiced in water—a warm indoor pool or natural body compassion. Attention to alignment in specifically chosen poses helps to soften connective tissues and ease spinal tension. Blocks and bolsters of water. Asanas are adapted to work with the buoyancy provided by water and have a positive effect on joints. This is a viable option for older individu- may be used to allow for deeper muscle release. The style is suitable for als or anyone with physical conditions that prevent them from practicing land beginners and useful for those recovering from injury. yoga. Benefits include lymphatic stimulation and improved range of motion. Viniyoga: A transformative, slower and more individualized form of yoga that emphasizes gentle flow and coordinated breath with movement, Ashtanga: A physically demanding style that is light on meditation, Viniyoga teaches the student to apply the yoga tools of poses, chanting, ashtanga yoga employs a fast-paced series of flowing poses to build breathing and meditation. Viniyoga is recommended for beginners and strength, flexibility and stamina. Developed by Indian yoga master Sri seniors, as well as those in chronic pain or healing from injury or disease.

K. Pattabhi Jois, ashtanga’s progressively difficult postures are synchronized with a loud breath (called ujyaii breath in Sanskrit) and are Vinyasa: Vinyasa yoga poses incorporate alignment principles and are designed to produce intense internal heat and purifying sweat in order woven together in a flowing practice that is both intense and dance-like. to detoxify muscles and organs. Preferred by many athletes, this style is Translated from Sanskrit, Vinyasa means “without obstacle”. The style is too intense for most beginners. best suited to energetic, physically fit students.

Chair: Practiced sitting or standing, it uses a chair as a support/prop Yin: Developed to improve joint mobility and flexibility through holding and asanas are adapted from traditional hatha yoga. It benefits older asanas for up to five minutes or longer, yin yoga complements more intense individuals and those that are body-challenged. practices, increases circulation in connective tissue and fosters inner stillness.

Hatha: Hatha yoga is the foundational discipline on which nearly all Please note: The contents of this Yoga Glossary are for informational purposes other styles are based. In Sanskrit, ha represents the sun and tha, the only. The information is not intended to be used in place of a visit or consultamoon—hence, the practice is designed to bring the yin and yang, light tion with a healthcare professional. Always seek out a licensed, certified or and dark, masculine and feminine aspects and polarities into balance. otherwise professionally qualified practitioner to conduct a selected treatment.

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September 13–15, 2019

Riverside Park & Mortensen Riverfront Plaza * Hartford, CT

FEATURED PRESENTERS & PERFORMERS INCLUDE:

Meredith Evangelisti

Balam Soto

Kenny Frisby

Maya Breuer

Kiley Holliday

Jampa Stewart

LeoRising

Three days of yoga, wellness and music on the breathtaking Connecticut River.

Dozens of sessions with professional yogi, presenters and performers.

Yoga Tracks for Beginners & Advanced Practitioners | Evening Concerts to Move Your Spirit & Your Feet Yoga for U.S. Veterans | Programs for Children | Vendors & Food Trucks | Healing Huts MUSICAL PERFORMANCES

SEPT 13 Mixashawn, People of Goodwill, DJ Kered SEPT 14 Fiery String Sistas, Girish, DJ Wasine SEPT 15 Taikoza

CLASSES INCLUDING Morning Meditative Walk

Hot Hatha Fusion

SocaRobix

Creating a Spiritual Life

What is Ashtanga

Yoga Para Todos

Restorative Yoga

Mindfulness for Extroverts

The Sustainable Self

Family Yoga

Soul Flow

Perfectly Imperfect

Chair Yoga

Little Creative Hearts

Art Installations

Tango Todo Terreno

Tickets, Schedules, Presenters, and more:

spirityogafestival.com

Presented in affiliation with September 2019

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play when they need some cheering up, some calming down or some psyching out.

“We’re all moved by music; therefore, all musicians are sound healers in their own way,” says Quintanal.

What Is Sound Healing?

HAVE YOU HEARD? Sound Healing Tunes Up Body, Mind and Soul

W

by Patricia Staino

hen a woman of the Himba tribe in Africa decides she wants to have a baby, she steals away to a solitary spot and listens for the song of the child that wants to be born to her. She teaches the song to her husband, and then they sing it as they try to conceive. Throughout her pregnancy, the woman sings the song to her unborn child, and the women of her village sing it to her as she gives birth. A Himba child is born knowing her song, and the tune follows her throughout her life. When she ails or commits some transgression, the tribe gathers around her to sing her song, to remind her who she is.

“It’s not a punishment, it’s a remembering,” says Cynthia Quintanal, sound artist and healer. “Sometimes, the tissues in our bodies can be injured or altered by emotion.

The idea behind sound healing is to remember how those vibrations should be.”

Since ancient times, music, chants and rhythmic instruments have been used in healing rituals around the world. The Aborigines of Australia have employed the didgeridoo’s healing vibrations for 1,500 years, and around 500 BC, Pythagorus began using the lyre and flute music for medicinal purposes. More recently, Native 40

American drum circles, Aztec rain sticks, and even windchimes we hang on the front porch have elicited calming responses from both the players and the listeners.

The Sound Connection

Today, many are returning to the science of sound, as sound baths, drum circles, kirtan gatherings and other audial assemblies become increasingly popular, whether just a handful or a crowd gather to connect, reflect and relax. Sonic events are becoming so commonplace in some areas of the country that they often serve as the first step for newcomers’ overall holistic wellness journeys.

“There’s definitely some kind of evolution happening right now,” says Miriam Zernis, who has been leading heartopening kirtan (ritual chanting) and sacred music events since 2007. “Many people are starting to awaken to the value of spiritual practice over material goods. They want to open their hearts to feel better about themselves and their lives, and events like a kirtan gathering are truly loving, nonjudgmental spaces for them to do so.”

In its simplest form, sound therapy may mean listening to a favorite album, musician or piece of music to help yourself relax. Most people have a special song they

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But sound healers do so much more, intentionally using specific beats and frequencies to adjust brainwaves and alter the listener’s state of mind. Practitioners use voice, gongs, Tibetan singing bowls, crystal bowls, drums, rattles, tuning forks and dozens of other instruments in sessions to coax the brain into its theta, and sometimes even its delta, state.

“Sound healing touches us mentally, emotionally, physically and spiritually,” says sound healer Kelvin Young. “It helps us calm the mental chatter; it helps us balance and control our raw, human emotions. It helps relax our bodies and relieve the stress we store there, and it helps connect us to our higher power. Sound, music and vibration do so much on so many levels.”

In sound healing, the energy of sound promotes wellness of the body and mind. It is based on the idea that all matter vibrates at a specific frequency, and those vibrations affect the balance and health of our cells, tissues and bodies. Because our bodies are 70 percent water, they are natural conductors for sound energy, which is why we can feel the beat of a bass drum reverberating in our chests. When our bodies are out of sorts, listening to various frequencies can help bring their vibrations back into harmony.

“But everyone is different, as some frequencies may be good for one person, but they may not be good for another,” says Ed Cleveland, neuroacoustic sound therapist, gong teacher and holographic sound healer.

“We are all different, like snowflakes.”

Cleveland is certified to work with 34 instruments (and counting) in his sound healing practice, his favorite of which is the large gong, because it is capable of playing many more notes than can be played on a typical instrument. “The very large bronze is basically a full piano with millions of different sounds, so we’re hitting notes in between the black and white piano keys

that you don’t normally hear in traditional music. The gongs don’t conform to a musical protocol, and if I can make millions of different sounds, I basically have millions of different tuning forks.”

How Does It Work?

Restoring internal harmony can be achieved through “entrainment”—the concept that when two vibrating entities are in close proximity to one another, the weaker vibration will eventually synchronize itself with the stronger vibration. When we listen to the sounds of gongs, singing bowls, drums or chants, our fluctuating brain waves attune themselves to the rhythm and frequencies we hear, helping the brain shift from its beta state (or normal waking consciousness) to the more-relaxed alpha state. Some may even reach the meditative theta state. Just as we focus on controlling our breath during meditation, repetitive sound frequencies initiate a similar shift in our brainwaves, with similar results.

“I might play a note on a bowl, and when I get to a note where someone’s entire body is vibrating, I know that note is truly resonating with who they are, and that can bring someone back to wholeness,” says Quintanal. Further, practitioners can focus on specific body parts, systems or centers by using the same techniques.

While practitioners agree that the therapeutic benefits of sound are more pervasive when the listener believes in its healing potential, the vibrations and frequencies of the instruments will work on even the most reluctant of subjects.

“Intention makes it more powerful, but sound and vibration work on a cellular level,” says Young. “No matter what you are thinking, sound is still going to move energy through our bodies.

It’s still activating our parasympathetic nervous system. On a physical level, it will still do its job. On a mental and emotional level, once you start to relax, and some of the skepticism falls away, it can deepen the positive effect.”

This is borne out in Cleveland’s work with children, a passion project that he has extended into outreach to local schools. “Neuroacoustic sound therapy can have a great impact on children’s social, emotional and cognitive development, accelerating brain development in young children, particularly in the areas responsible for processing sound, language development, speech perception and reading skills.”

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Young, who began his healing journey in a drug treatment program in prison, says he discovered sound healing after using music as an aid to support his meditation practice. He was having trouble sitting in silence and focusing on his breath, but says that once he introduced ambient music and soundscapes, he was able to still his thoughts. “It was as if I wasn’t in prison anymore; I was focusing on sounds and vibrations, and I wasn’t worried about my daily stressors. It took me to a whole new level,” he explains.

Now Young brings sound healing to institutional settings such as prisons, mental health facilities and schools, to help others who may be struggling with addiction and other challenges. He has found sound healing to be particularly effective in

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treating addiction, as stress is one of the biggest contributors to relapse.

Additionally, Young says, sound therapy is more accessible and inclusive than other holistic modalities. “As a black man, I didn’t see a lot of people that looked like me practicing yoga and meditation,” he says. “Sound healing is more accessible because music is universal. People can relate to music, so they are more open to trying sound healing.”

A Symphony of Modalities

Additionally, many practitioners are trained in other modalities, which can enhance the effects of sound healing.

Composer, singer and sound healer Bradford Tilden, for example, is also a crystal and gemstone healer. He has found that combining a stone layout with sound healing intensifies his clients’ experiences, so he always encourages them to use at least one crystal during a sound healing session. He shares his voice and crystal bowls at yoga studios, healing centers, and public venues, locally and globally. He also

offers private sessions and workshops in conjunction with his meditative sound healing journeys and concerts.

Young uses the crystal and Himalayan singing bowls, gong, ocean drum, tuning forks, rattles, hand drum and other healing tools to activate the parasympathetic nervous system. Quintanal combines her experience as a craniosacral therapist and energy practitioner with sound guiding, connecting the physical with spiritual and emotional healing work.

Cleveland agrees that “layering” modalities can deepen the experience.

“Everything compliments everything else; it’s like putting more spices into your soup,” says Cleveland. “You create a whole, unique flavor, which is important because each individual is different.”

Patricia Staino is the managing editor of Natural Awakenings’ Fairfield County/ Housatonic Valley, CT and Greater Hartford, CT editions. She lives near Raleigh, North Carolina, and can be reached at PatriciaStaino@gmail.com.

Local Resources: Ed Cleveland Hartford • 860-681-3981 EdReiki3@yahoo.com EdCleveland.net Cynthia Quintanal Ayni Healing Arts • Crystal Cymbalogy Sandy Hook • 203-257-9935 Cynsongs@me.com CynthiaQuintanal.com CrystalCymbalogy.com Bradford Tilden Crystal Music Healing Bristol • 860–830–5841 Info@CrystalMusicHealing.com CrystalMusicHealing.com Kelvin Young • Hartford 860-951-6921 • KelvinBYoung.com Miriam Zernis • Sita’s Light Kirtan 917-854-9016 SitasLight@SitasLight.com SitasLight.com

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or those considering immersing themselves in sound healing, there are many affordable ways to stick a toe in the water. Kelvin Young recommends trying sound meditation through an app like Cloud9, Insight Timer or Calm to get a feel for sound’s effects on your body and mind. If you find it enjoyable, try attending a group sound event, such as a sound bath or sonic concert. A quick Google search or a browse through the Natural Awakenings calendar each month can point you in the right direction.

“While listening on an app or a CD is a great experience, it’s nothing like experiencing a live sound healing session. In person you don’t just hear the sound, you also feel the vibration penetrating on a cellular level. Live sound can be transformational,” explains Young.

If you enjoy the sound bath event, ask the practitioner if they do private sessions or if they can recommend someone who does. Some practitioners, like Bradford Tilden, will also teach you how to use your own voice in self-healing exercises: “No one is healed by another person,” he says. “A good sound healer provides a sacred space for people and gives them energy through sound transmission that they can utilize to heal themselves.”

Ed Cleveland agrees. “It is the job of a quality practitioner to empower people to do their own innate healing, so they don’t have to come back for repeated sessions for the same conditions,” he says.

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Listen for the Sound of Your Soul

H

by Jennifer Aurelia

ave you ever watched a great conductor of an orchestra, band or choir? While they literally have a hand in getting the composer’s score to the audience, underneath they are doing a much more powerful thing: they are conducting energy! Music is organized sound and sound is powerful energy. Anyone who has conducted choirs, coached singers or composed music can attest that this is true.

Did you know that you are actually the Divine Conductor of your life’s symphony? Music directly affects consciousness, and our consciousness affects our energy. Thankfully, we are waking up in numbers on this earth. We are waking up to the fact that we are not our physical bodies and we are indeed connected to a vast field of energy that is beyond our limited logical minds. The physical or material dimension is pure energy condensed into a dense physical form. And as we experience our earthly journeys, we are coming into, or remembering, who we truly are.

We are indeed the conductors of our own life symphonies. What does energy like to do? Energy loves to flow, create and move. When energy is blocked or stuck and not flowing, illness or disease occurs.

Our thoughts, feelings, emotions and beliefs have energetic frequencies and have a direct impact on our flow of energy. As we become more conscious and aware that we

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are indeed conducting our lives through the flow of energy, it is up to us whether we will allow our energy to flow or constrict.

That is the beauty of living a life on a planet with free will. This creative process happens regardless of our participation, but it can be so much more fun when we participate.

How do music and the movement of sound come to play in our creative process? Music is, in fact, the highest art form as it contains almost every modality within itself. Music is math, science, art, communication; it assists in spatial reasoning, kinesthetic awareness, emotional intelligence, memory, empathy and so much more. If you were lucky enough to study music when you were young or are considering giving music lessons to your own child, you should be smiling. Along with the long list of benefits previously mentioned, a unique thing actually happens to a “brain on music.” Scientists have found that learning music stimulates more parts of the brain than any other human function. The little bolts of electricity running through a musician’s neurons are very different than those of one who just listens to music. Participation or taking part in this fine art is the key.

Brain scans have shown that piano players who’ve studied music from an early age have a different brain than the rest of

us. The brains of pianists appear to be highly efficient energetic machines. According to recent studies, pianists’ brains have an extremely efficient connection between the different parts of the frontal lobe compared to non-musicians. That’s a big deal because the frontal lobe is responsible for integrating a ton of information. Pianists had a demonstrably more symmetrical central sulcus (the prominent landmark of the brain, separating the parietal lobe from the frontal lobe and the primary motor cortex from the primary somatosensory cortex) than everyone else. That means they are balanced, which is rare in humans. Playing the piano actually reshapes the brain. How cool is that?

The role of music in enriching people’s lives while supporting natural intelligence, health, happiness and freedom finally is being scientifically supported. The fine minds of composers in the last century were definitely on to something.

Conduct Your Voice: SING!

If you want to experience the benefits of playing music, it is never too late. In fact, as the conductor of your own life, what better way to do so than by learning to conduct your voice? Learning to sing and use your body as an instrument is another wonderful way to explore the movement of energy through sound. Singing has some incredible health benefits, and the voice may be the ultimate healing tool. Plus, we all have one, and it’s free. The voice impacts the whole body as it becomes the instrument of the soul. And unlike the piano, which is a separate instrument, singing allows us to get in touch with the true intimacy and vulnerability of our bodies. We literally become the flow. When we allow ourselves the opportunity to express through our voices, it awakens parts of us that may have been dormant or neglected our entire lives. We gain access to a deep inner wisdom, and with this wisdom comes transformative power. Singing also hones the fifth (throat) chakra, which affects issues many women are experiencing at this time in our evolution.

There are numerous benefits that result from singing, but here are a few you

might not have known. Singing gives you a natural high—it raises endorphins and releases dopamine and serotonin. Your vibration will rise almost immediately, and you create more energy. The act of singing in a supportive environment fosters good posture, breath control and moves energy,

Music is math, science, art, communication; it assists in spatial reasoning, kinesthetic awareness, emotional intelligence, memory, empathy and so much more. which allows you to create more flow.

Kundalini yoga involves a lot of singing for a reason. When we move energy and raise our frequency or vibration, we are in a beneficial state for optimal alignment, leading to health and wellness. Lastly, and most importantly, singing helps you connect to the authentic version of you, as no two voices are the same; it truly helps you connect to your divinity, your soul.

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Beethoven said, “Music is a higher revelation than all wisdom and philosophy. Music is the electrical soil in which the spirit lives, thinks and invents.” As the weather grows colder and the nights grow longer, consider taking a music class or piano lessons or joining a choir. Music was made to bring people together, it was created to move us, break down the divides and bring us closer to God.

Dance, sing and be joyful; the world is your symphony. And always listen for the sound of your soul.

Jennifer Aurelia (Aureliaslight) is an awardwinning recording artist, composer, vocal coach and teacher. She holds a BA and MS in music and music education (with a focus on ethnomusicology and mind, body, spirit pedagogies) and has completed post-Masters study in sound healing, sound therapy and multiple energy medicine modalities. Aureliaslight’s music is played on XM Radio and available on most platforms and is used in healing and educational centers around the world.

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healing ways

VENOUS RISING Natural Help for Varicose Veins

by Melanie Laporte

T

he season for wearing shorts and swimsuits may be coming to an end, but the unsightly—and often painful—puffy, blue streaks caused by varicose veins will likely remain an issue for many.

While more than 40 percent of adults suffer from them, women are affected two to three times more often, according to a study in the journal BMJ Clinical Evidence.

It cites child-bearing, especially more than two pregnancies, as one root cause of varicose veins. However, smoking, family history, obesity and professions that involve extended periods of standing and sitting such as chefs, hairdressers, office workers and healthcare professionals can also contribute to the condition. Birthdays can also be a factor. “As we age, the leg skin

gets thinner from wear and tear,” says Marcelle Pick, an integrative OB/GYN nurse practitioner in Falmouth, Maine, resulting in even more visible veins.

However, these lumpy blood vessels can cause more than cosmetic issues.

Varicose veins can promote pain, cramping, itching and swelling of lower legs, ankles and feet, as well as lead to more serious health conditions involving blood clots and poor circulation. There are a number of natural strategies that can alleviate symptoms and even prevent them from developing.

Get Moving

Varicose veins are the result of valve damage and loss of elasticity that allows blood to pool inside the vessel. “When you’re stand-

ing still for a long period of time, the valves stop working and blood fills in the vein, creating more and more pressure, which dilates it like a water balloon,” says Dr. Mary Sheu, assistant professor of dermatology at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine.

Walking, swimming, cycling and trampoline jumping are among the most beneficial activities. Sheu says it helps to get up and walk around every half hour for those with a stationary desk job. “Do some squats or go on your tiptoes to get the blood pumping, so it’s not stagnant.”

Aerial yoga or headstands are other exercises that help move blood from the feet to heart, along with using an inversion table that holds people upside-down.

However, most people can’t stay in that position for any appreciable length of time, so an easy daily option is to elevate the legs on a pillow or small stool.

“Any position where your legs are elevated above the level of your heart would help with the flow of fluid back towards the heart,” says Sheu. Work with gravity: the higher the elevation, the quicker blood returns to the heart.

Compression

Supportive legwear is another effective way to reduce water retention and swelling, boost circulation and improve pelvic posture. “Compression stockings help keep everything cinched in so veins don’t stay

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dilated and the valves don’t move farther apart,” says Sheu, especially for frequent flyers stuck in a small seat for long flights.

In addition to old-fashioned tights, support options range from chic, charcoal, high-denier hose and lacey knee socks to stylish compression leggings, athletic compression socks and light support pantyhose. Most are readily available in airports and retail outlets.

Nutritional Support

Because obesity is a known cause of venous issues, maintaining a healthy weight is essential to lessening pressure on the lower limbs. Pick recommends an antiinflammatory diet rich in antioxidants that helps increase blood circulation. Foods like blueberries, blackberries, leafy greens, beets and ginger are good options.

Chamomile and dandelion tea can arrest fluid retention, which relates to swelling and heaviness in the legs, as do botanical herbs. Ascorbic acid and ginkgo biloba stimulate circulation, helping the veins and capillaries contract.

Australian naturopath Leah Hechtman, who specializes in reproductive health, often sees women dealing with compromised veins. “Rutin, quercetin, and vitamin P bioflavonoids, taken in conjunction with vitamin C, are effective at improving the integrity of the vein and improving blood flow,” she says. Another flavonoid, red vine leaf, reduces swelling and symptoms of tension and heaviness in the legs.

Jill Blakeway, a doctor of acupuncture and Chinese medicine in New York City and author of Energy Medicine: The Science and Mystery of Healing, advises, “CoQ10 increases circulation, while horse chestnut and bilberry reduce inflammation and increase fluid circulation.” She also recommends bromelain, which is an anti-inflammatory and reduces the risk of blood clots, with acupuncture to raise central qi, which improves the elasticity of blood vessels and improves blood flow.

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The Pure Joy of Play 1

Why Kids Need Unstructured Fun

N

by Ronica O’Hara

ot so long ago, kids would be shooed out the door to play and told to return home at meal time. But the rising use of digital devices and kids’ highly scheduled sports

and school activities, as well as parental fears about safety, has made that kind of unstructured play rare—with resulting drops in children’s independence, resilience and creativity, experts say. In fact,

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Give them lots of free time away from devices. Yes, they

might be bored at first—but boredom enhances creativity, partly by allowing for daydreaming, concludes a study from the UK’s University of Central Lancashire.

2

Encourage fun, rather than competition. By age 6, 60 percent

of American boys and 47 percent of girls are participating on organized sport teams, but three out of four kids quit

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play has been shown to be so critical to children’s development that an American Academy of Pediatrics 2018 clinical report, “The Power of Play,” recommends that doctors write prescriptions for it.

“Play is not frivolous; it is brain building,” concludes the report. It defines play as voluntary, fun and spontaneous activities that engross a child, often resulting in joyous discovery, and includes imaginative make-believe, experimenting and risk-taking. It cites 147 studies showing that play builds skills critical for adult success such as problem solving, collaboration and creativity; decreases stress, fatigue, injury and depression; and increases range of motion, agility, coordination, balance and flexibility.

Here are some ways to up the play in children’s lives:

healthy kids

sports by age 13—one major reason being, “I was not having fun.” Play, on the other hand, is based on pure enjoyment and spontaneous collaboration among kids, minus overanxious adult “sidelining”. “When children play in their own ways, they generally play cooperatively. We adults impose competition, unfortunately. Yet even in our competitive society, the really successful and happy people are the ones who are oriented toward cooperation,” says Peter Gray, Ph.D., a Boston College psychology professor and author of Free to Learn: Why Unleashing the Instinct to Play Will Make Our Children Happier, More Self-Reliant, and Better Students for Life.

3

Encourage them to take the lead. Let kids decide

whether they want to play with friends, siblings or alone.

They will happily make up their own games with lots of raw materials that are on hand—blocks, balls, puzzles, crayons, boxes, wooden spoons, old costumes and hats, sand, water, tarps and shovels. “Play is how children learn to create and govern their own activities and solve their own problems independently of adults,” says Gray. “Stated differently, it is how children learn to become adults. This value is destroyed when adults take charge of children’s activities.”

4

Back off from hovering supervision. It can rob them

of a sense of ownership and accomplishment. Leigh Ellen Magness, a clinical social worker and registered play therapist in Athens, Georgia, grappled with anxiety as she watched her 5-yearold son clamber up a roadside sculpture designed for climbing.

“He climbed so high that my stomach flip-flopped to see him so far from me. But I knew there was no better way for him to learn the limits of his own body than to test them,” she says.

Mariana Brussoni, Ph.D., an associate professor in the department of pediatrics and the School of Population and Public Health at the University of British Columbia, Canada, concurs: “When they’re given the chance, even very young children show clear abilities to manage risks and figure out their own limits. The potential for learning is enormous.”

5

Don’t worry. “The data show that children are far more

likely to get injured in adult-directed sports, where they are pushed to compete, than in free play,” says Gray. “Moreover, the kinds of injuries that occur in free play are relatively easy to recover from.” As for the fear of kidnapping by strangers, the odds are very small—one in a million, according to the latest U.S. Department of Justice data. “Weigh the effect of the limits you place on your kids to prevent that very, very, very unlikely possibility versus the fundamental importance for their own health and development of exploring freedom,” advises Brussoni.

Ronica A. O’Hara is a Denver-based freelance health writer.

Connect at OHaraRonica@gmail.com.

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conscious eating

Ayurvedic Cooking

Ancient System Restores Balance

I

“

by April Thompson

n Ayurveda, food is medicine,” says Susan Weis-Bohlen, the Reisterstown, Maryland, instructor and author of Ayurveda Beginner’s Guide: Essential Ayurvedic Principles and Practices to Balance and Heal Naturally.

“How we feed ourselves is the first line of disease prevention and longevity.”

First developed in India some 5,000 years ago, Ayurveda is one of the world’s oldest medical systems. It works to rebalance mental and physical health in coordination with mind-body energy types called doshas. The primary ones— Vata, Pitta and Kapha—correlate to the five elements of space, air, fire, earth and water, and can fluctuate over time.

An Ayurvedic diet can help address dosha imbalances and optimize health and well-being. New York City chef, restauranteur and author Divya Alter embraced Ayurveda while suffering from an autoimmune disorder that conventional medicine couldn’t cure. “Food was instrumental to my healing,” she says.

50

Eating in Season “Ayurveda is about living in harmony.

Eating seasonally and locally, you not only get the most nourishment, but also rekindle your relationship to food and the environment,” says Nishita Shah, of The Ayurvedic Institute, in Albuquerque.

“In Ayurveda, we look to seasons to determine what to eat based on what is naturally available, like eating light juicy fruits in summer rather than the heavy root vegetables abundant in winter,” notes Weis-Bohlen.

Spices and herbs have powerful healing properties that can be combined in different ways to balance doshas in tune with the seasons. “In winter, use warming spices like ginger, cinnamon or chilies, and in summer, season with cooling spices like coriander and fennel, or fresh herbs like cilantro,” says Alter.

Ayurvedic Prep Tips Proper combination and selection of ingredients are a critical component of Ayurveda, according to Alter, author of

Fairfield County/Housatonic Valley Edition

eNaturalAwakenings.com

What to Eat for How You Feel: The New Ayurvedic Kitchen. She says, “Well-prepared food is easy to digest and protects prana—the food’s living force or energy— so it can nourish and energize.”

Ayurveda also focuses on the “six tastes” ideally present in every dish: sweet, sour, salty, astringent, bitter and pungent.

“Western cuisine has a strong salty and sweet bias. Health issues arise from an imbalanced palate,” says Shah.

Alter adjusts taste profiles according to the season and the individual’s dosha.

“Bitter foods can be very cleansing and help eliminate winter sluggishness. More pungent foods are good in the spring, when the body may feel congested and heavy after winter,” she says.

To address diners’ differing doshas at her restaurant, Divya’s Kitchen, Alter focuses on seasonal dishes that incorporate all six tastes. “By definition, these are tri-doshic foods which can balance all three dosha types.”

Good tri-doshic foods include asparagus in spring, berries in summer and root vegetables in winter. “Cooked leafy greens can also be tri-doshic,” says Alter, adding that spices can tweak the natural dosha effect of a given food.

Ancient Cooking for Modern Lifestyles Ayurveda’s rules of the kitchen—such as avoiding cold, raw, processed or microwaved foods, not combining fruits with other foods, and making lunch the heaviest meal of the day—can run counter to the typical Western diet, but with time, Ayurvedic cooking can become intuitive.

Ayurvedic meals don’t need to be complicated or challenging to prepare.

“A simple apple or plain rice can nourish us,” says Shah. One of Alter’s favorite recipes is an apple or pear stewed with cloves, prepared and eaten first thing in the morning to stimulate the digestive system. Plain almonds are another good protein snack, especially in aiding digestion when soaked and peeled, she advises.

A “Buddha bowl” packed with color-

ful, sautéed vegetables, lentils and a grain like quinoa, barley or millet makes for a simple, nourishing, well-balanced meal, says Shah. “I try to add just enough spice to enhance the flavor, while still being able to taste the sweetness of a carrot or the bitterness of chard.”

A cook’s mindset is as important as the meal itself, say Ayurvedic practitioners. Alter believes mindfulness while cooking and eating not only enhances our experience, but also our digestion.

Ayurvedic cooking should be fun, ignite curiosity and taste great—not feel restrictive or lack flavor, says Shah. “Food should bring joy, and bring us back in tune with our bodies. Our bodies are smart and will tell us what they need.”

photo by © Nadine Greeff

April Thompson is a freelance writer in Washington, D.C. Connect at AprilWrites.com.

Simple Ayurvedic Recipes Crunchy Chickpeas

Pitta and Kapha pacifying

While Ayurveda does nor promote snacking, sometimes we just need a little something to peck on now and then. Crunchy garbanzo beans (chickpeas) make a satisfying and supremely healthy choice for Pitta and Kapha. As witnessed by the many packaged chickpea snacks now commonly seen in stores, chickpeas are popular, so make this snack for a quarter of the price. Customize the flavors to satisfy a personal dosha, and palate, by getting creative with the spices.

Yields: 5 cup servings 2 cups precooked chickpeas or 2, 8-oz cans chickpeas, drained and rinsed 1 tsp sea salt for Pitta or Himalayan salt for Kapha ½ tsp smoked paprika or ½ tsp ground cumin or ½ tsp garam masala powder (optional) 1 Tbsp sunflower or safflower oil (optional for crunchiness; no oil for Kapha) Spread the rinsed chickpeas on a baking sheet to dry, about 20 minutes. Preheat the oven to 450° F. In a mixing bowl, add the chickpeas; salt; paprika, cumin or garam masala (if using); and the oil (if using).

Toss well to coat and spread on a baking sheet in a single layer.

Place the baking sheet in the oven and bake for 20 minutes.

Remove from the oven, and use a spatula to turn the chickpeas over.

Place back in the oven and roast for an additional 10 minutes or until the chickpeas are slightly browned. Roast a little longer, if desired, for crunchier chickpeas.

Store the crunchy chickpeas in an airtight container. Do not refrigerate. These are great to sprinkle on salads and rice dishes.

Don’t make more than can be eaten in three days.

To cook dry chickpeas, soak overnight, drain and place into a large soup pot.

Cover with water, at least double the amount of beans.

Bring to a boil, then cover and simmer for at least 30 to 45 minutes.

Check on the beans during cooking. When they are soft, they are done.

Recipe courtesy of Ayurveda Beginner’s Guide: Essential Ayurvedic Principles and Practices to Balance and Heal Naturally,

by Susan Weis-Bohlen.

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51

Truly Magic Mushrooms Fungi Heal What Ails You

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by Alison Birks

ungi. Our world could not exist without them. Without them, there would be no soil. No trees. No forests. Many plant species would go extinct along with their animal pollinators. Whole ecosystems would collapse. Our earth would literally be one giant garbage heap of refuse. There would be no wine, no beer, no bread and no cheese. We would not have the life-saving benefits of antibiotics.

And most importantly, our agricultural lands would yield crops so deficient in minerals, they could not sustain life. Fortunately for the living things on this planet, the molds, the yeasts, the mushrooms and the polypores are still here. The amazing kingdom Fungi, our distant relatives on the tree of life, are essential to Earth’s survival.

Not only do fungi play a key ecological role here on Earth, but many mushrooms and other edible fungi are nutritious foods as well. Fungi are the source of many unique compounds, with a multitude of health benefits. Medicinal fungi excel as natural products in the prevention of chronic diseases, such as type II diabetes, cancer, autoimmunity and more. Medicines from fungi are also employed as adjuncts to conventional medicine, especially cancer.

As of 2018, $24 billion were spent in the annual global trade of medicinal mushrooms and products made from them. Medicinal mushrooms are available as fresh produce or dried, as alcohol-based extracts or powders.

They are even combined with other herbs and nutrients in the form of nutraceuticals.

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Safe Wild Foraging

If you prefer to acquire them for free, wild foraging for edible and medicinal fungi is another option. The mushroom hunter must be educated on the life cycle, habitat and identification traits of each species that is collected. Fungi have relationships with specific trees, whose traits must also be learned. Poisonous look-alike species need to be recognized as well. Identification traits include color, shape, size, spore type, odor, texture, taste, habit of growth, habitat and more. It takes many years of practice to learn to forage for mushrooms. This art can be effectively learned from a trusted mentor, such as a seasoned forager or amateur or professional mycologist. Joining a local mushroom club is also highly recommended for those who are eager to learn. There is a saying worth remembering here: “There are old mushroom hunters and there are bold mushroom hunters, but there are no old, bold mushroom hunters.” Newbies might take these words of wisdom to heart.

Mushroom foragers should also take great care to become educated about the sustainability of mushroom gathering and respect the important ecological niche that fungi occupy on our planet.

Fungi as Medicine

While fungi as medicine may be new to many Westerners, in the Orient the traditional practice of eating fungi to strengthen the immune system and the body’s vital energy or “Qi” dates back a few thousand

Fairfield County/Housatonic Valley Edition

eNaturalAwakenings.com

years. Classical medical texts from China contain information about several of the most well-researched and highly prized medicinal fungi, such as Ganoderma lucidum or Reishi (“Ling Zhi”). Fungi used in Asian traditional healing have been shown to be immune-modulating in vitro and in multiple animal studies. The polysaccharides (beta glucans) in fungi normalize the immune system, exhibit hepatoprotectant (liver protective) properties and display anti-fatigue effects. Some fungi also contain potent antioxidants and anti-inflammatories, such as terpenes and polyphenols. All edible and medicinal fungi contain a potent, unique antioxidant called ergothioneine, the importance of which is yet unknown.

Fungi have fibrous cell walls which contain chitin. Chitin is unique in that it is only found in one other group of organisms—in the protective shell-like exoskeletons of insects, crustaceans and other arthropods. As a dietary supplement, chitin has been clinically studied for its cholesterollowering effects. The chitin in mushrooms make them a valuable, low-caloric food to add to the diet to help normalize blood sugar, LDL cholesterol and other blood lipids. Mushrooms and edible fungi are high in vitamin D, selenium, B vitamins and several trace minerals, yet contain very few calories.

(Note: To enhance the amount of vitamin D present in dried mushrooms, it is recommended to place them directly in sunlight for several hours before eating.) Blenditarian.com supports the “Blended Burger Project,” an effort which entices consumers and chefs to blend minced mushrooms into meat products. The goal is to make meat-based meals healthier and more sustainable.

Medicinal fungi can play a role in the prevention and treatment of cancer. While most of this evidence is not supported by human clinical trials, there are a few medicinal fungi preparations which have passed the test. In both Japan and China, the standard of care for cancer treatment is to combine chemotherapy and/or radiation treatment with medicinal mushroom extracts. One adjunct therapy widely used is an extract of the common turkey tail polypore (Trametes versicolor, also known

as Coriolus versicolor), called “PSK.” This extract has a proven safety record and improves quality of life in cancer survivors.

There also have been numerous studies on the health benefits associated with Ganoderma spp. or Reishi, which is known as the “ginseng of the fungal kingdom” for good reason. It helps the body combat stress, promotes relaxation, benefits those with allergies and asthma, enhances mental function and reduces fatigue. Recent research conducted by Paul Stamets at Washington State University has also found that extracts of Ganoderma polypore fortify the immune systems of honeybees and may play an important role in preventing colony collapse disorder (for more information visit HostDefense.com/pages/bees).

Another important medicinal mushroom is the cultivated Shitake mushroom, or Lentinula edodes. In one human clinical trial, healthy young adults who ate a small portion of dried shitake mushrooms daily for four weeks had improved immunity and lower levels of inflammation.

The amazing kingdom Fungi, our distant relatives on the tree of life, are essential to Earth’s survival.

Grifola frondosa or maitake (“hen of the woods”) is another great-tasting, edible fungus which fruits in the autumn. A specific fraction of maitake (D-fraction) has yielded benefits for those with cancer. A different fraction of this fungus was found to be helpful for those with insulin resistance.

The exquisite-tasting Lion’s Mane or Bear’s Tooth fungus, Hericium erinaceus, currently is being studied for its beneficial effects on the nervous system. It may enhance nerve re-growth and cognitive function. Compounds called hericenones and erinacines may someday prove to prevent or treat neurological diseases, such as dementia, Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease.

One of the most highly prized (and expensive) kidney and lung restorative tonics of the natural world is Ophiocordyceps (Cordyceps) sinensis and related species. The cordyceps fungus is truly remarkable in that the fruiting body emerges out of an insect (a caterpillar) that is completely devoured by the fungus from the inside out. It’s straight out of a science fiction. But this is not fiction, The Chinese were spot-on when they used this fungus in soups to strengthen the weak and the elderly. And there have been instances where cordyceps extracts help with shortness of breath due to asthma and COPD, as well as improve singers’ voices. This amazing adaptogenic fungus also protects the kidneys, as evidenced by several positive clinical trials in those with chronic kidney disease.

There is so much yet to learn about this incredible group of organisms. The next time it rains, go outside and look beneath your feet!

The answer to many of our modern-day problems may lie in the soil.

Alison Birks, MS, AHG, CNS, CDN is an instructor at The Institute Of Sustainable Nutrition, (TIOSN) which is now enrolling for its certificate program starting this month. For more on Magic Mushrooms, attend “A Morning of Mushrooms” at Holcomb Farm on September 14 from 9:30am to noon. For more information, visit TIOSN.com. See ad, page 51.

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naturally healthy pet

Therapy Animal Open House and Kids’ Club

A

The Monthly Naturally Healthy Pet Section Starts Here!

nimal Assisted Therapy Services (AaTs) will host an Open House on September 21 from 4 to 6pm in Milford. The nonprofit organization builds the human/animal connection as a motivator for therapeutic and recreational purposes. AaTs’ recreational therapists work with children and adults who have physical, cognitive or social/emotional disabilities. Additionally, AaTs has certified professional dog trainers who train family dogs, develop therapy dog teams and place emotional support animals.

Several schools, agencies, parents and club members who have participated in recent AaTs programs will be on hand during the Open House. Speakers will provide attendees first-hand accounts of programs they have enjoyed this past year. The Open House is free to attend and refreshments will be served. It is a wonderful opportunity to learn more about the many different applications of animal-assisted interventions.

One such program is the non-therapeutic For the Love of Therapy Animals Club, a new weekly group for kids in grades 4 through 8. The club members assist in the training and care of AaTs Credentialed Therapy Dogs and small animals including fish, bunnies, guinea pigs, and hamsters. After developing handling skills and bonding with the animals, the group regularly visits local assisted-living facilities, bringing the joy of the human/animal bond to residents and patients.

The For the Love of Therapy Animals Club meets Tuesdays, 4 to 6pm for fourth and fifth graders and on Fridays from 3:30 to 5:30pm for grades 6 through 8. The program runs year-round, in eight-week sessions, beginning September 24. Cost is $250 per session.

For more information please call 203-804-5343 or email Chris.Patella@aatsct.org.

Location: 4 Oxford Rd, Building D, Milford.

Animal Sanctuary Golf Invitational in Greenwich

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@NaturalAwakeningsMag.com

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T

he Catherine Violet Hubbard Animal Sanctuary will host a fundraising golf invitational at Stanwich Club of Greenwich on September 12. All proceeds of this golf experience support the creation of the Catherine Violet Hubbard Animal Sanctuary in Newtown – a safe haven and place of healing in honor of Catherine Hubbard, who lost her life at Sandy Hook Elementary School in 2012.

Lunch will be served at the Stanwich Club Grill at 11:30am, followed by the invitational’s shotgun start at 1pm. Events include longest drive and closest-to-the-pin competitions. The event will close with a 6pm reception of cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, and dining stations. Cost for a “Purple Dog Sponsor” foursome is $7,500, while a “Red Swan Single Golfer” is $2,500. The sponsorship deadline was August 29, but tickets are still available for the evening reception at $200 each.

Annually ranked as the top golf course in Connecticut by Golf Digest, the club has hosted several PGA, USGA, AJGA, and Collegiate local and national championships.

To learn more about the animal sanctuary, visit CVHFoundation.org. To register for the event, visit CVHFoundation.org/golf-tournament/. Location: Stanwich Club of Greenwich, 888 North St, Greenwich.

Fairfield County/Housatonic Valley Edition

eNaturalAwakenings.com

Ljupco Smokovski/Shutterstock.com

Integrative medicine is about broadening our medical options, blending both conventional medical and holistic approaches.

It focuses on client education and participation in the healing process of their pet.

VET CHECK Treating the Whole Pet

~Danielle Becton, DVM

by Julie Peterson

A

bout 10 years ago, Kim Krouth’s dog, Buckeye, was suffering from severe allergy symptoms. The mixed-breed shepherd was licking and biting her paws until her toe pads were bleeding.

“Our conventional vet prescribed steroids,” recalls Krouth. “It helped some, but also agitated Buckeye. When I found out that other side effects could include serious health problems, I didn’t want to put her at risk.”

The Madison, Wisconsin, animal lover headed to a holistic pet supply store to ask about alternative treatments for the dog’s allergies. She learned about herbal remedies, and was advised to take Buckeye to a holistic veterinarian. “Treating her holistically seemed like a better option than the side effects of treatment with drugs,” she says.

The holistic veterinarian recommended acupuncture. It helped, but the dog later became sensitive to the needles.

At that point, she was given homeopathic plant-based treatments that worked well with no side effects. Buckeye, now 15, has also received laser light therapy and spinal manipulation to help with mobility in her senior years.

The Holistic Difference

Holistic veterinarians have been treating dogs, cats, chickens, livestock and exotic animals across the nation for some time, but many people aren’t entirely clear about how their approach—and their training—differs from a conventional vet. Both enter the profession after earning a doctor of veterinary medicine (DVM) degree.

Holistic practitioners can then choose to train in a variety of modalities, including acupuncture, herbs and physical rehabilitation, plus trigger point, megavitamin and stem cell therapies.

“Any method that is sufficiently different from conventional medicine requires extra training ... over a period of weeks, months or years,” says Nancy Scanlan, DVM, the executive director of the American Holistic Veterinary Medical Foundation, in Mount Shasta, California.

Veterinarians, holistic or not, typically do the same initial examination of an animal, she says. From there, a holistic vet may look at additional areas or assess things in a slightly different way. “For example, someone trained in veterinary osteopathy or veterinary chiropractic would explore the range of motion of joints or the spine.”

In treatment, holistic DVMs use an integrative approach. The goal is to look at the animal as a whole and treat the underlying condition, rather than treating the symptoms.

“Integrative medicine is about broadening our medical options, blending both conventional medical and holistic approaches. It focuses on client education and participation in the healing process of their pet,” says Danielle Becton, DVM, of Aloha Pet & Bird Hospital, in Indian Harbour Beach, Florida.

Holistic veterinarians may also choose to use fewer conventional drugs and limited vaccinations. “Vaccine titers can be used to determine if a patient has adequate antibodies to a disease to create immunity,” says Becton. “If a pet is already immune, they may not need another vaccine booster that year.”

Becton and Scanlan agree that alternative treatments such as acupuncture, laser therapy or massage can be used in lieu of drugs for pain management. However, Scanlan does note that in an acute or emergency situation, many natural methods do not work fast enough, “and that is when holistic veterinarians are more likely to use drugs.”

Choosing a Holistic Veterinarian

Pet owners seek out holistic veterinarians for different reasons. In Krouth’s case, it was the unacceptable side effects to drugs that led her to explore other options. Becton points out that she gets clients looking for a more natural approach for their pets after they personally have had success with human integrative medicine.

However, it’s important that pets are treated by professionals that are trained to treat animals. People with holistic training for humans may not understand animal anatomy or physiology.

Ultimately, choosing a veterinarian is a personal decision, and seeing a beloved pet thrive is the best confirmation that it was the right one. “We are so glad that we still have Buckeye at this golden age, and believe it’s due to holistic care that she has lived a comfortable, long life,” says Krouth.

Julie Peterson lives in rural Wisconsin with her husband, dogs and chickens. She has contributed to Natural Awakenings for more than a decade. Contact her at JPtrsn22@att.net.

September 2019

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natural pet

Thrive Through Transition Take Cues from Horses and Herds

F

Change Your Lead

by Carrie Brady

all is a time of transition for many families as children go back to school. Schedules may become more challenging with added activities, homework and buses, or they may be simplified when a child heads off to college or into the working world. Change is inevitable and often welcome; but humans tend to be slower than animals to adapt to new situations and may dread or try to avoid them. We can learn a lot from horses about how to thrive through transitions of all kinds—by finding our guiding stars, changing our lead and expanding our herd.

Find Your Guiding Stars

Horses have primary guiding stars that affect their choices in a wide variety of situations, including survival, responsibility to the herd and delight. As prey animals, they will always respond

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Fairfield County/Housatonic Valley Edition

to threats first and fill their roles in the herd second. If there is no threat and no obligation, they choose whatever brings them joy, whether it is rolling, napping, grooming each other or grazing.

Humans also have a set of individualized guiding stars, the priorities that influence our decisions and perceptions. People often are not fully conscious of those guiding stars, however, because they have become so ingrained. The guiding stars may shift as you go through transitions in your life: If being an involved parent or achieving a specific professional status has been a goal, the child moving out of the house or the loss of the job can be very disconcerting, especially if you haven’t realized the need to examine and reset your guiding stars.

To find your guiding stars, consider what priorities or beliefs are most important to you. What things do you consider first when making major life decisions? What influences you when making smaller decisions, such as how you spend your day? Do your guiding stars for big decisions match the ones you use for daily decisions? People tend to give more thought to major decisions and may not be aware that how they choose to spend their days isn’t consistent with how they want to spend their lives. What adjustments could you make to align your days with your guiding stars?

Change is an invitation for rebalancing and an opportunity to take a new lead in a different direction. Horses respond rapidly as circumstances evolve. When horses canter, they lead with their inside front leg because this stride gives them the most power to propel themselves forward with their hind leg. If they change direction, they switch the leading leg mid-air without stopping, which is known as a “flying change.” Horses will be off-balance and uncomfortable until they change leads, so they adapt naturally to the change of direction. Humans going through changes may not recognize the need to rebalance. If they keep doing the same things they always did, they may feel awkward until they change their lead and rediscover balance and ease.

To find your new lead, consider how a recent change in your life offers new freedom and opens up possibilities. What are your well-established habits, and which ones would you like to shift? For example, if you always had to get up early for work or to get your children to school, what would happen if you stayed up late and slept in? Are there things you couldn’t do before that you can once you make that change? Try doing old things in new ways, even if it is as simple as brushing your teeth with your non-dominant hand or taking a different route as you drive to a familiar place. Changing routines and breaking out of habitual patterns will help you find new balance.

Expand Your Herd

After you have identified some guiding stars and experimented with changing your lead, take a look at your herd. Horses act collectively and work together for the good of the whole group.

eNaturalAwakenings.com

As a new horse arrives, the herd adjusts responsibilities and roles. Humans are members of many herds simultaneously, including families, friends, a neighborhood, colleagues and the professionals they invite to serve specific functions, such as doctors and dentists. Your herd includes all the people in your life and the roles you fill for them, as well as the roles they fill for you.

As you are going through a transition, consider all the roles you have in your herds, both in terms of relationships (mother, brother, friend) and the skills you share (peacemaker, adventurer, excellent listener). Which roles are changing?

What skills do you enjoy using the most?

What changes could you make that would bring out the best in you or others? Are there gaps in your herd now that need to be filled? Consider whether you have people in your life who support your guiding stars or share your passions. If you love live music, do you know people

who will join you at concerts? If you love cooking, do you have people to enjoy eating what you make?

Changes can leave noticeable absences in our human herds, not just because you miss a specific person, but also because you miss the roles you filled for each other. If you miss being around teens, perhaps you can volunteer at a school, teach a cooking class, or coach a team. There are many opportunities to expand your herd and to find new ways to share your special skills and gifts.

Carrie Brady is the creator of Possibilities Farm in Wilton, where she partners with horses in innovative non-riding programs for personal growth, professional development, and wellness. Her fall workshop series includes programs in horse wisdom for entrepreneurs, reiki certification with horse teachers, and an empty nest brimming with possibilities. For more information, visit PossibilitiesFarm.com. See ad, page 17.

Pets are humanizing.

They remind us we have an obligation and responsibility to preserve and nurture and care for all life. ~James Cromwell

September 2019

57

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

COMMUNITY CATS

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

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

PET PROTECTORS

DANBURY ANIMAL WELFARE

RIDGEFIELD OPERATION FOR ANIMAL RESCUE (ROAR)

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

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

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 57.

PET ASSISTANCE, INC

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

PO Box 2015, New Preston 860-355-PETS • GetaPet@gmail.com PetAssistanceInc.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)

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.

Ridgefield • LGARinc.org On Facebook, Twitter and Instagram

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

Fairfield County/Housatonic Valley Edition

eNaturalAwakenings.com

calendar of events All Calendar events must be received by the 10th of the month prior to publication and adhere to our guidelines. Calendar submissions must be entered online at eNaturalAwakenings.com: click on “submit calendar” at the very top of the page.

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 1 Rosie the Riveter – 2-3:30pm. Dr. Darla Shaw will take on the role of Rita Stapleton Reuter, a Rosie from Bridgeport who was a riveter on F4U Corsair Bombers. She’ll share her research and explain how audience members can become Rosebuds. $25 (a donation will be made to Rosie the Riveter National Park). Address provided at time of registration. 860-354-4881. Grounded Goodwife@yahoo.com. GroundedGoodwife.com.

markyourcalendar ALBERTSON MEMORIAL CHURCH UPCOMING EVENTS

Saturday, September 7 & October 5 Spiritual/Psychic Fair • 11am-4pm • $35+ Sunday, September 8 The Mind Lab Thought Experiments with Joan Carra 1-3pm • $30/members • $35/non-members Thursday, September 12 White Light Healing Night Service 7-8pm • Love Donation Saturday, September 14 New Member Orientation with Lelia Cutler 10am-12pm • Free Saturday, September 14 Private Readings with Lelia Cutler 12:30-4pm • $65+ Sunday, September 15 Members and Volunteers Appreciation Celebration 12:30-2pm • Free/current members & volunteers • $10/non-members Sunday, September 29 Message Circle with Rev. Robin Dubord 1-3pm •$20

ONGOING EVENTS:

Sundays Service • 11am-12:30pm Prayer Circle Second and Fourth Sundays • 10-10:45am Bereavement Group for Parents • 1-2pm Wednesdays Spirit Speaks – Developing Psychic & Mediumship Abilities with Rev. Ana Reluzco 7-9pm • $20 Thursdays Spiritual Mediumship Class – All Levels First & Third Thursdays • 7-9pm Love Donation or Service Cancelled events will be posted on our website Email: Info@AlbertsonChurch.org Website: AlbertsonChurch.org Facebook: Facebook.com/ AlbertsonMemorialChurchofSpiritualism Meetup: Meetup.com/ AlbertsonMemorialChurchofSpiritualism

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 3 CBD Informational Talk – 6-7pm. Join New Morning Market for an informational talk about the uses and benefits of CBD oil. Attendees will also be able to take advantage of an extra 15 percent off RopaNa products during the event. Free.

Registration requested. New Morning Market, 129 Main St N, Woodbury. 203-263-4868. MorganL@ NewMorn.com. NewMorn.com.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 5 Yoga for Lower Back Pain and Strengthening – 6-7pm. Learn to use your yoga practice to help alleviate pain by building stronger lower back muscles and developing healthy posture. This lesson specifically focuses on strengthening the low back. Limited to 6 students. $35. Yoga Culture, 105 Mill Plain Rd, Danbury. 203-730-0250.

WeAreYogaCulture.com.

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 6

ket, 129 Main St N, Woodbury. 203-263-4868.

MorganL@NewMorn.com. NewMorn.com.

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 8 Restorative Yoga: Unwind From The Grind – 7-9pm. With Gloria Owens. Restorative Yoga is a passive practice, which just about anyone can do. We’ll use props (pillows, blankets, straps, etc.) to support your body. 16 students. $30/advance; $38/day of if space. Yogaspace, 78 Stony Hill Rd, Bethel. 203-7309642. Info@Yogaspace-CT.com. Yogaspace-CT.com.

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10 Sauerkraut Made Simple – 6-7pm. Learn the basics of fermenting vegetables through an interactive sauerkraut-making demonstration without special equipment. Registration requested. $5. New Morning Market, 129 Main St N, Woodbury. 203-263-4868.

MorganL@NewMorn.com. NewMorn.com.

The Graduate Institute Information Session – 6:30-7:30pm. Enrolling now. New England’s award-winning school for Holistic Studies. Transformative education. Affordable. One weekend per month. Master of Arts degrees, certificates and sixth-year equivalent programs. The Graduate Institute, 171 Amity Rd, Bethany. Locations throughout CT. Register online: Learn.edu.

Reiki 1st Degree Workshop – 10am-5pm. With Gigi Benanti. Learn Western style from an experienced Reiki Master (21 years). Includes latest info.

Learn how to use Reiki for self-healing and healing for others. Two manuals and certificate. $125.

Angelic Healing Center for Reiki, 7 Morgan Ave, Norwalk. 203-852-1150. AngelHealReikiGigiB@ snet.net. AngelHealReiki.com.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 14

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 7

5th Annual Step Up For The Brave Stair Climb Challenge – 8am-12pm. Participants will follow a guided route up and down the Arena stairs at their own pace. The event is open to those ages 8 and up, and everyone is encouraged to participate. $35.

Webster Bank Arena, 600 Main St, Bridgeport. 203338-0669. Egorenbergh@HomesForTheBrave.org.

HomesForTheBrave.org.

Reiki Level 1 Workshop – 10am-5pm. With Gigi Benanti. Learn Western style from an experienced Reiki Master (21 years). Includes latest info. Learn how to use Reiki for self-healing and healing for others. Two manuals and certificate. $125. Angelic Healing Center for Reiki, 7 Morgan Ave, Norwalk.

203-852-1150. AngelHealReikiGigiB@snet.net.

AngelHealReiki.com.

Free Yoga Open House – 8am-4pm. All classes free through 3pm. 10 percent discount on retail, workshops and/or class passes during open house.

Chance to win a door prize. No purchase necessary.

Admission is free. $10/suggested donation. Yogaspace, 78 Stony Hill Rd, Bethel. 203-730-1893.

Info@Yogaspace-CT.com. Yogaspace-CT.com.

Teen Nutrition – 11am-12:30pm. This class is aimed at educating parents about the value of good nutrition for teens. Explore ways to communicate about healthy eating. Tips and practical suggestions for improving your family’s diet will be provided.

Free. Registration requested. New Morning Mar-

Introduction to Pet Massage and Energy Work: Helping You and Your Pets Heal – 2-3pm. Join Kerrie March to learn massage and energy techniques that you can do at home to help your pet’s health and well-being. Please bring a stuffed animal to practice on. $20. New Morning Market, 129 Main St N, Woodbury. 203-263-4868. MorganL@ NewMorn.com. NewMorn.com.

markyourcalendar

markyourcalendar

SPIRIT FESTIVAL

HEALTH WELLNESS AND LIFESTYLE EXPO 2019

September 13-15 Experience a celebration of wellness, yoga, music and dance – in affiliation with Riverfront Recapture and BaliSpirit Festival.

Riverside Park & Mortensen Riverfront Plaza, Hartford SpiritYogaFestival.com

Saturday, September 14 and Sunday, September 15 • 11am-5pm Boardwalk area at Harbor Point, Stamford HWL-EXPOS.com facebook.com/hwl.expos twitter: @hwl_expos September 2019

59

markyourcalendar calendar of events MORNING OF MUSHROOMS AT HOLCOMB FARM September 14 • 9:30am-noon The Institute of Sustainable Nutrition in West Granby will discuss important sustainability issues around foraging for fungi in our regional ecosystems. Participants will explore the medicinal and edible mushrooms and will learn to prepare, dry and store mushrooms. $25.

Workshop Space at Holcomb Farm 113 Simsbury Rd, West Granby For more information, visit the events page at TIOSN.com.

markyourcalendar A YEAR OF HEALING IN 2020 With Dr. Eilis Philpott Soul Healing Journey, LLC We will meet one weekend a month for 12 months. We will meet once a month and spend Friday evening together and all day Saturday and Sunday.

The 2020 dates are: January 10-12 • February 7-9 • March 13-15 April 3-5 • May 1-3 • June 12-14 • July 10-12 August 7-9 • September 11-13 • October 9-11 November 13-15 • December 11-13 I will share with you what I have learned from trainings, from life and from guidance in a way that integrates the various modalities. By the end of this 12 months of training you will have catapulted your personal, professional and spiritual journey into the stratosphere.

Location: TBD Investment: Early bird rate - Pay in full $4,200 or pay quarterly $1,050 or pay monthly $350 Regular rate - Pay in full $4,800 or pay quarterly $1,200 or pay monthly $400 ​Reviewer rate - Pay in full $3,000 or pay quarterly $750 or pay monthly $250 To Register: Choose an option to pay (full, quarterly or monthly) and make that first payment.

Be prepared to commit to one full year of healing.

NOTE: If you take advantage of the early bird rate and make the initial payment you will be locked into that rate for the year.

Registration required. 203-767-5954 Eilis@SoulHealingJourney.com AcademyforSoulHealing.com 60

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 15 Mushroom Hunting Workshop – 10am-3pm.

A slide show will cover the basics of mushroom science and safety. Next, the group will head to the woods and fields for a guided mushroom hunting adventure, returning for a cooking demonstration. $35. New Morning Market, 129 Main St N, Woodbury. 203-263-4868. MorganL@NewMorn.com.

NewMorn.com.

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 17 Seafood, Sustainability + the Science of Omega3s – 12-1pm. Join Dr. Vincent de Luise for a lively conversation about seafood, sustainability and the future of omega-3s. We promise only a tiny taste of biochemistry, but a big serving of useful information. Free. Registration requested. New Morning Market, 129 Main St N, Woodbury. 203-263-4868.

MorganL@NewMorn.com. NewMorn.com.

Restorative Yoga Sponsored by Dr. Hauschka Skincare – 6-7pm. In this class, full-body relaxation and balance are the goals. Plus, you’ll receive a Facial Toner to help your skin stay balanced all day and a complimentary skin consultation. Free.

Registration requested. New Morning Market, 129 Main St N, Woodbury. 203-263-4868. MorganL@ NewMorn.com. NewMorn.com.

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 18 Yoga with Curves – 12-1pm. 9/18-10/9, four-week series. Have you heard about the benefits of yoga, but are hesitant to attend a class because you feel somehow your body is not right for yoga? Explore mindful movement in a supportive and non-judgmental environment, using props and modifications tailored to your comfort. $15/per class. Yogaspace, 78 Stony Hill Rd, Bethel. 203-730-9642. Info@ Yogaspace-CT.com. Yogaspace-CT.com.

Healthy Beautiful Skin with Lymphatic Stimulation – 6-7pm. Join New Morning Market’s Vitality Center Esthetician, Alexis Murphy to learn about the Dr. Hauschka difference. Guests will have a chance to both test product and technique in this hands-on class. Free. Registration requested. New Morning Market, 129 Main St N, Woodbury. 203-263-4868.

MorganL@NewMorn.com. NewMorn.com.

Yoga for Menopause with Wendy Verga – 7:308:45pm. This series will focus on ways one can implement yoga as a tool for combating some of the most common symptoms of menopause. $15 per class; series of four classes. Yogaspace, 78 Stony Hill Rd, Bethel. 203-730-9642. Info@YogaspaceCT.com. Yogaspace-CT.com.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 19 The Toxic Effects of Trauma – 7:30-9pm. David Read Johnson, PhD, Co-Director of the Post Traumatic Stress Center in New Haven, will review the scientific research, describe cases from his clinical experience and offer guidance on how families can use this information to avoid treatments that do not work or are not needed. Free. Greenwich Town Hall, 101 Field Point Rd, Greenwich. 203-400-6264. NamiSouthwestCT@ gmail.com. NamiSouthwestCT.org.

Fairfield County/Housatonic Valley Edition

eNaturalAwakenings.com

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 21 Mindful Sound Class – 10-11am. Experience how sacred sound meditation can connect you to inner stillness and quieting the mind. First half focuses on mindfulness awareness skills. Second half you will experience sound meditation with healing instruments.

Beginners welcome. Space is limited. $20/pre-register; $25/door. Sono Healing Collective, 71 Water St, 2nd Flr, Norwalk. 203-434-4209. Suz@WellnessWisdomInspires.com. WellnessWisdomInspires.com.

Relaxation 101: What Meditation Style is Right for You? – 1:30-3:30pm. Join Karen Pierce and teacher trainees in the yoga studies workshop.

Qualifies for Yoga Alliance Continuing Education credits. Join us as we travel through time and space to receive healing energy using several amazing relaxation tools to connect us to our subconscious minds. No experience necessary. $39. Yogaspace, 78 Stony Hill Rd, Bethel. 203-730-9642. Info@ Yogaspace-CT.com. Yogaspace-CT.com.

Alternatives to Medication for ADD/ADHD – 2-3pm. Dr. Shawn Carney, a naturopathic physician at Northeast Natural Medicine, LLC, will discuss how neurotransmitter testing, dietary changes and nutritional supplementation can successfully treat patients with ADD/ADHD. Free. Registration requested. New Morning Market, 129 Main St N, Woodbury. 203-2634868. MorganL@NewMorn.com. NewMorn.com.

Animal-Assisted Therapy Services Open House – 4-6pm. Please come meet some of our wonderful therapy animal teams and speak with representatives from a wide variety of programs that Animal Assisted Interventions have been used by this past year.

Refreshments served. No charge. Animal Assisted Therapy Services, 4 Oxford Rd, Bldg D, Milford. 203804-5343. Chris.Patella@AATSCT.org. AATSCT.org.

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 22 2nd Annual Smart Walk for Smart Kids with Learning Disabilities – 12-3pm. Celebrate the strengths of children with learning disabilities and ADHD, empower parents and combat stigma while raising funds. Rain or shine. Parking is free. $15/adult; $10/children 7-17; Free/children 6 and under. Sherwood Island State Park, Sherwood Island Connector, Westport. 203-226-6831. Info@ SmartKidsWithLD.org. SmartKidsWithLD.org.

Art of Meditation (21-Day Challenge) – 6:307:45pm. The four-week meditation course is an excellent program for beginners and also a great place for seasoned practitioners who desire to go deeper, to find more in their meditations. $19/drop-in; series discount available. Yogaspace, 78 Stony Hill Rd, Bethel. 203-730-9642. Info@Yogaspace-CT.com.

Yogaspace-CT.com.

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24 The Graduate Institute Information Session – 6:30-7:30pm. Enrolling now. New England’s award-winning school for Holistic Studies. Transformative education. Affordable. One weekend per month. Master of Arts degrees, certificates and sixth-year equivalent programs. The Graduate Institute, 171 Amity Rd, Bethany. Locations throughout CT. Register online: Learn.edu.

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 25 Baby and Me Yoga – 11-11:45am. Four class sessions. With Laurie. Stretch and play, incorporating baby into some of the yoga postures. End with quiet transition time and bonding with baby. For infants not yet crawling, with a parent or caretaker. No prior experience needed. $60/four sessions. Yogaspace, 78 Stony Hill Rd, Bethel. 203-730-9642.

Info@Yogaspace-CT.com. Yogaspace-CT.com.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 26 Yoga for Pelvic Floor Health – 6-7pm. With Beth.

A brief informative discussion followed by an asana practice designed to work this area of the body that supports the entire female lower abdomen and pelvic region. $35. Yoga Culture, 105 Mill Plain Rd, Danbury. 203-730-0250. WeAreYogaCulture.com.

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 27 Reiki Second Degree – 10am-5:30pm. With Gigi Benanti, Reiki Master/Teacher (21 years). Learn to send distance Reiki healing, deepen use of Reiki for others and yourself. Two powerful energy connections from Gigi’s short Japanese/Usa Lineage. Two manuals and certificate. $215. Angelic Healing Center, 7 Morgan Ave, Norwalk. 203-852-1150. Angel HealReikiGigiB@snet.net. AngelHealReiki.com.

Mindful Movie Night – 7:30-9:30pm. Inspiring, curious movies, documentaries, TED Talks, new ideas, radical conversation and more. Water and popcorn included. After movie discussion.

Conscious group sharing after movie. $5/suggested donation. Yogaspace, 78 Stony Hill Rd, Bethel. 203-730-9642. Info@Yogaspace-CT.com.

Yogaspace-CT.com.

powerful energy connections from Gigi’s short Japanese/Usa Lineage. Two manuals and certificate. $215. Angelic Healing Center, 7 Morgan Ave, Norwalk. 203-852-1150. AngelHealReikiGigiB@ snet.net. AngelHealReiki.com.

AromaSound – 11am-12pm. Discover how sacred sound combined with the scent of essential oils promotes relaxation, meditation and healing. A collection of pure essential oils will be introduced. Class is limited, register early. $25/pre-register; $30/door. Sono Healing Collective, 71 Water St, 2nd Flr, Norwalk.

203-434-4209. Suz@WellnessWisdomInspires.com.

WellnessWisdomInspires.com.

Goddess Circle of Seasons: Durga – 2-4pm.

Four sessions. 9/28: Durga, 1/18: Cerridwen, 4/18: Persephone and 7/18: Oshun. Meditate, play, learn about a different Goddess for each season and share. $30/advance; $35/day of event. Yogaspace, 78 Stony Hill Rd, Bethel. 203-730-9642. Info@ Yogaspace-CT.com. Yogaspace-CT.com.

Sound Bath Meditation – 7-8pm. With Eileen Byrne, Reiki Master Certified/Sound Healing Therapist.

Byrne will use high vibration instruments to help you enter a state of deep relaxation. Bring a mat, pillow and blanket for maximum comfort. $25. Rivers Edge Healing Center, 5 Riverside Rd, Sandy Hook. 203448-6242. ReikiAndSoundTherapy@gmail.com.

Songwriters’ Concert – 7:30-9:30pm. Join us for an evening of music featuring four local songwriters performing original music. Doors open at 7pm in our handicapped accessible Community Room.

For more info, contact Doug Mahard at 203-2666688. Free, but donations appreciated. New Morning Market, 129 Main St N, Woodbury. 203-2634868. MorganL@NewMorn.com. NewMorn.com.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 28 Reiki Second Degree Workshop – 10am-5:30pm.

With Gigi Benanti, Reiki Master/Teacher (21 years). Learn to send distance Reiki healing, deepen use of Reiki for others and yourself. Two

markyourcalendar NEW AGE & CRAFTS EXPO Sunday, November 3 • 10am-5pm Our 6th Year!

Come Experience a Day of Spiritual & Creative Enlightenment!

Intuitive Readers, Aura Photos & Crystals, Tibetan Singing Bowls, Healings, Handcrafted Jewelry, Soaps, Oils, Guided Meditations, Spiritual Art 2 Rooms of Dynamic Speakers and much more! $6 Admission Wyndham Southbury 1284 Strongtown Rd, Southbury VENDOR SPACE AVAILABLE 203-733-6560 • cryours87@yahoo.com

markyourcalendar YOGA THERAPEUTICS THROUGH A KUNDALINI LENS with Ravi Singh Hosted by Yoga Teachers Association

Saturday, September 14 • 1:30-4:30pm Explore techniques for a wide range of modernday ailments as an adjunct to medical treatment.

Save the Date!

October 12: Flowing into Wholeness with Daniel Orlansky November 9: Yoga for Scoliosis with Alison West December 14: Hatha Yoga Pradipika with Sandra Anderson January 11: Yoga Meets the Alexander Technique with Ingrid Bacci February 8: Yoga Nidra with Mona Anand The Yoga Studio at Club Fit Briarcliff Manor, NY $45 members/$65 nonmembers Register at YTAYoga.com

ongoing events

sunday Tal Fusion: Sunday Sweat – 9:15-10am. With Tal Fagin. Get your heart pumping and blood flowing with this eclectic, spirited, high energy class. Class is 50 minutes in length, so get ready to get in high gear. $18/class; $16/senior. Valley Spirit Cooperative and Wellness Center, 6 Green Hill Rd, Washington Depot. 860-619-2788.

Info@ValleySpiritCoop.com. ValleySpiritCoop.com.

Gentle Yoga, Pranayama, Meditation – 9:30-10:45am.

Relax, release and flow into wellness in beginner/ level 1 yoga classes with work on mindfulness practices, breathing techniques, alignment, flexibility and strength. Modifications suggested and props used when needed. $5/donation per class. Hindu Cultural Center of CT (HCC), 96 Chapel St, Stratford. 203-5210359. HCC.Yoga.Wendy@gmail.com. HCCYoga.org.

Satsang Meditation – 9:30-11am. Satsangs are wonderful spiritual and community gatherings of like-minded people. Satsangs with Shanti Mission Healers are filled with music, mantra, meditation, spiritual instruction/discourse and spiritual blessings to help you reset, recharge and get ready for the week ahead. By donation. Muktinath Holistic Center, 731 Main St, Monroe. 203-518-5808. MuktinathHC@ gmail.com. MuktinathHolisticCenter.com.

New Beginnings in Community Sunday Service – 10am. Join this group of spiritually minded people embracing and honoring all world religions, belief systems, cultures and traditions. Free. Mystics By The Sea, 394 New Haven Ave, Milford. 203-980-6272.

NewBeginningsInCommunity.Weebly.com.

Family Meditation Program – 10-11:30am.

Second and fourth Sunday. Ages 4-13. While the adults are meditating in the main building, young people can connect with others in their age-group, learn about mindfulness, compassion toward self and others. 203-244-3130. MMKeeler@gmail.com.

ReddingMeditation.org.

Mahasati or Insight Meditation – 10-11:30am.

Learn how to live your life more skillfully through the development of self-awareness and mindfulness.

A simple practice that can be easily incorporated into daily life. Discover the benefits of becoming more present. 203-244-3130. Info@ReddingMeditation.org.

ReddingMeditation.org.

Celebration Service – 10:30am-12pm. With Rev. Shawn Moninger. Inspiring message supports your spiritual unfolding with thought provoking, soul -healing topics and uplifting music. By donation.

Unity Center of Norwalk, 3 Main St, 2nd Fl, Norwalk.

203-855-7922. Office@UnityCenterNorwalk.org.

UnityCenterNorwalk.org.

Sunday Morning Meditation – 11-11:45am.

Experience stillness and peace, establish a regular practice, reduce stress and tension, and enhance health and well-being. Meditation class for beginners and experienced meditators. $5/donation per class. Hindu Cultural Center of CT (HCC), 96 Chapel St, Stratford. 203-521-0359. HCC.Yoga.

Wendy@gmail.com. HCCYoga.org.

914-582-7816 • YTACommunications@gmail.com September 2019

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ongoing events Sunday Albertson Memorial Church Service – 11am-12:30pm. Join us for inspirational sermons, meditation, energy healing and messages from Spirit. By donation. Albertson Memorial Church of Spiritualism, 293 Sound Beach Ave, Old Greenwich. 203-637-4615.

Info@AlbertsonChurch.org. AlbertsonChurch.org.

Monthly Mystical Market – 11am-4pm. Third Sunday. Psychics, mediums, intuitives, CT artisans, vendors and holistic practitioners. Free admission, vendors prices vary. The Ruby Tree, 670 Main St S, Woodbury. 203-586-1655. Christina@ TheRubyTreeCT.com. TheRubyTreeCT.com.

Meditation Class with Stephanie – 12-1pm. Experience the power of meditation. Heal mind, body and soul. Classes include instruction and meditation practice. Join us for our other meditation classes, Tuesdays at 7:15pm and Saturdays at 9am. $10. The Jiiva Center, 2900 Main St, Ste 1A, Stratford. 203-345-7747.

Support@JiivaCenter.com. JiivaCenter.com.

Karma Community Yoga – 5:30-6:30pm. Fourth Sunday. Our monthly donation-based class. Bring a non-perishable food donation, and enjoy an hour for your mind, body and spirit. The Ruby Tree, Sherman Village, 670 Main St S, Woodbury.

203-586-1655. Christina@TheRubyTreeCT.com.

TheRubyTreeCT.com.

monday Vinyasa Yoga – 9:30-10:30am. Vinyasa Yoga is a flowing, dynamic sequence of poses that is one of the most popular styles of yoga in the United States. This type of practice involves synchronizing the breath with a continuous flow of postures. $20. Soul Synergy Holistic Wellness Center and Spa, 1492 High Ridge Rd, Ste 6, 2nd Fl, Stamford. 203-814-1355. SoulSynergyWellness111@gmail.com. SoulSynergy.org.

Yoga All Levels – 10-11am. With Caroline. Class given according to whatever level of student happens to show up. All levels welcome. The class is hatha flow-based with elements of relaxation, meditation, breath work and strength. $18/class; $16/senior. Valley Spirit Cooperative and Wellness Center, 6 Green Hill Rd, Washington Depot. 860-619-2788. Info@ValleySpiritCoop.com.

ValleySpiritCoop.com.

Mahasati or Insight Meditation – 7-8:30pm.

Learn how to live your life more skillfully through the development of self-awareness and mindfulness. A simple practice that can be easily incorporated into daily life. Discover the benefits of becoming more present. 203-244-3130. Info@ReddingMeditation.org.

ReddingMeditation.org.

Reiki Share – 7:30-9:30pm. Fourth Monday. With JoAnn Inserra Duncan, MS, RMT. Practice Reiki in a small group setting. Share experiences and help each other develop in a safe, fun environment while providing a wonderful, relaxing, rejuvenating experience. $20. Registration required. Turning Point Healing Arts and Education Center, 100B Danbury Rd, Ste 101, Ridgefield. 203-438-3050. TurningPointReiki.com.

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tuesday

wednesday

Slow Yoga – 10-11am. With Lella Ilyinsky. Class is set to a slower pace, and may include elements of restorative yoga, yin yoga and foundational flow sequences. Beginners welcome. $18/class; $16/senior. Valley Spirit Cooperative and Wellness Center, 6 Green Hill Rd, Washington Depot. 860-619-2788.

Info@ValleySpiritCoop.com. ValleySpiritCoop.com.

Power Yoga/Vinyasa – 11am-12pm & 5:30-6:30pm.

Power yoga is a general term used to describe a vigorous, fitness-based approach to vinyasa-style yoga.

Power yoga incorporates the athleticism of Ashtanga, including lots of vinyasas. $20. Soul Synergy Wellness, 1492 High Ridge Rd, Ste 6, 2nd Fl, Stamford.

203-814-1355. SoulSynergyWellness111@gmail. com. SoulSynergy.org.

Mahasati or Insight Meditation – 12:30-2pm.

Learn how to live your life more skillfully through the development of self-awareness and mindfulness.A simple practice that can be easily incorporated into daily life. Discover the benefits of becoming more present. 203-244-3130. Info@ReddingMeditation.org.

ReddingMeditation.org.

Monthly Information Sessions at The Graduate Institute – 6:30-7:30pm. Join us for an info session every 2nd Tuesday of the month at The Graduate Institute. Please contact us to let us know that you’ll be attending. The Graduate Institute, 171 Amity Rd, Bethany. 203-874-4252.

New NAMI Support Group – 6:30-7:45pm. Third Tuesday. A place where families and friends of individuals living with mental health challenges can come together in a safe and compassionate forum. Meetings are confidential. Free. Rowayton United Methodist Church, 5 Pennoyer St, Norwalk. 203-428-6864.

ClaudiaDevita1123@gmail.com. NAMISouthwestCT.org.

Reiki Share – 7-8:30pm. First Tuesday of the month. With June and Tracy. Come join our circle of practitioners for sharing and caring and healing. All levels of practitioners are welcome. Please RSVP. $20/drop-in. Kindred Spirits, 197 Ethan Allen Hwy, Ridgefield. 203-938-3690.

Intermediate Evidential Mediumship – 7-9pm.

This class is designed for those who know how to connect to spirit and wish to deepen the connection and get more specific evidence. Once a month we work with the public to gain experience. $20. 135 Clover Hill Dr. 203-344-9311.

Reiki Share – 7-9pm. Second Tuesday. Practice and enhance your Reiki healing and grow your intuition. All will receive healing time and practice time. You must have completed at minimum Reiki Level I in order to fully participate. $15/suggested contribution. Muktinath Holistic Center, 731 Main St, Monroe. 203-518-5808. MuktinathHC@gmail. com. MuktinathHolisticCenter.com.

Meditation Class with Berta – 7:15-8:30pm.

Experience the incredible power of meditation.

Heal mind, body and soul. Each session includes instruction and meditation practice. $10. The Jiiva Center, 2900 Main St, Ste 1A, Stratford. 203-3457747. Support@JiivaCenter.com. JiivaCenter.com.

Reiki Healing Shares – 7:30-9:30pm. First and third Tuesdays. With Gigi Benanti, Usui Reiki Master/ Teacher. For Reiki practitioners only. Includes short instruction and discussion. Must RSVP. $20.

Angelic Healing Center, 7 Morgan Ave, Norwalk.

203-852-1150. AngelHealReikiGigiB@snet.net.

AngelHealReiki.com.

Fairfield County/Housatonic Valley Edition

eNaturalAwakenings.com

Tai Chi Classes – 6:30-7:30pm. With June Fagan, Tai Chi Instructor. A slow movement meditation for all levels of fitness. Known to reduce stress, increase focus and balance and improve self and well-being. $25/drop-in; $85/1 class per week; $150/unlimited classes month. Kindred Spirits, 1197 Ethan Allen Hwy, Ridgefield. 203-938-3690.

Gentle Yoga, Pranayama, Meditation – 6:45-8pm.

Relax, release and flow into wellness in beginner/ level 1 yoga classes with work on mindfulness practices, breathing techniques, alignment, flexibility and strength. Modifications suggested and props used when needed. $5/donation per class.

Hindu Cultural Center of CT (HCC), 96 Chapel St, Stratford. 203-521-0359. HCC.Yoga.Wendy@ gmail.com. HCCYoga.org.

The Power of Now–7-8:15pm. A study group of Eckhart Tolle’s The Power of Now. Our interactive group will discuss his wisdom and portals to enlightenment thru an understanding of the Mind. No cost - donation suggested. Unitarian Church-The Meeting House, 10 Lyons Plains Rd, Westport. Bob 203-227-7494, Frank 203-571-7470. JustBe13@icloud.com.

Mahasati or Insight Meditation – 7-8:30pm.

Learn how to live your life more skillfully through the development of self-awareness and mindfulness. A simple practice that can be easily incorporated into daily life. Discover the benefits of becoming more present. 203-244-3130. Info@ReddingMeditation.org.

ReddingMeditation.org.

Meditation – 7-8:30pm. Meditation that often includes chanting, music and requires your active participation. All faiths and cultures are welcomed.

By donation. Muktinath Holistic Center, 731 Main St, Monroe. 203-518-5808. MuktinathHC@gmail.com.

MuktinathHolisticCenter.com.

Beginners Psychic Mediumship Development – 7-9pm. Learn to meditate and connect to your own soul as well as the souls around you - both incarnate and discarnate. Topics include healing,carting, psychic readings and evidential mediumship.$20. Union Lodge No. 5, AF & AM, 47 Kirkham Pl, Stamford. 203-344-9311.

Reiki Share – 7-9pm. With Nancy. Reiki Share is a wonderful opportunity to give and receive Reiki in a casual atmosphere of friendship, honor, positive energy and devotion. We welcome Reiki practitioners of any level. $10. The Jiiva Center, 2900 Main St, Ste 1A, Stratford. 203-345-7747.

Support@JiivaCenter.com. JiivaCenter.com.

Holistic Moms Network Fairfield County, CT Chapter – 7:30pm. Second Wednesday.

Associates in Family Chiropractic and Natural Health Care, 156 East Ave, Norwalk.

Home.Homewebs.com/HMNFairfieldCtyCT-

Turning Point S.H.A.R.E. Divorce Group – 7:30-9:30pm. Third Wednesdays. Offering support, healing, advocacy, resources and education for women in the process of, or recently divorced. $20, $150/10-session card. Registration required. Turning Point Healing Arts and Education Center, 100B Danbury Rd, Ste 101, Ridgefield. 203-438-3050. TurningPointShare.com.

thursday Kundalini Yoga and Music Meditation – 9:30-10:30am.

With Leesa Sklover, PhD, C-IAYT, Certified Yoga Therapist, Kundalini Yoga Teacher. Experience the yoga of awareness weekly to heal your mind and your life. All welcome. Register for first class. $15 per class/monthly discount. Short Beach Union Church, 14 Pentacost St, Branford. 917-860-0488. DrSklover@gmail.com.

LoveLifeProductions.net.

Vinyasa Yoga – 9:30-10:30am. Vinyasa Yoga is a flowing, dynamic sequence of poses that is one of the most popular styles of yoga in the United States. This type of practice involves synchronizing the breath with a continuous flow of postures. $20. Soul Synergy Holistic Wellness Center and Spa, 1492 High Ridge Rd, Ste 6, 2nd Fl, Stamford. 203-814-1355. SoulSynergyWellness111@gmail.com. SoulSynergy.org.

Mahasati or Insight Meditation – 9:30-11am. Learn how to live your life more skillfully through the development of self-awareness and mindfulness.

A simple practice that can be easily incorporated into daily life. Discover the benefits of becoming more present. By donation. Redding Center for Meditation, 9 Picketts Ridge Rd, West Redding.

203-244-3130. Info@ReddingMeditation.org.

ReddingMeditation.org.

Gentle Yoga, Pranayama, Meditation – 6:45-8pm.

Relax, release and flow into wellness in beginner/ level 1 yoga classes with work on mindfulness practices, breathing techniques, alignment, flexibility and strength. Modifications suggested and props used when needed. $5/donation per class. Hindu Cultural Center of CT (HCC), 96 Chapel St, Stratford. 203-5210359. HCC.Yoga.Wendy@gmail.com. HCCYoga.org.

Reiki Healing Circle – 7-9pm. First Thursday. All welcome. Share and experience Reiki. Please join us while we enjoy a peaceful, powerful night of healing. Hosted by Gigi Benanti, Reiki Master/Teacher. $20. Unity Center of Norwalk, 3 Main St, Norwalk.

203-852-1150. AngelHealReikiGigiB@snet.net.

AngelHealReiki.com, UnityCenterNorwalk.org.

friday Vinyasa Yoga – 9:30-10:30am. Vinyasa Yoga is a flowing, dynamic sequence of poses that is one of the most popular styles of yoga in the United States. This type of practice involves synchronizing the breath with a continuous flow of postures. $20. Soul Synergy Holistic Wellness Center and Spa, 1492 High Ridge Rd, Ste 6, 2nd Fl, Stamford. 203-814-1355. SoulSynergyWellness111@gmail.com. SoulSynergy.org.

Reiki Share – 9:30-11:30am. First Friday. With JoAnn Inserra Duncan, MS, RMT. Practice Reiki in a small group setting. Share experiences and help each other develop in a safe, fun environment while providing a wonderful, relaxing, rejuvenating experience. $20. Registration required. Turning Point Healing Arts and Education Center 100B Danbury Rd, Ste 101, Ridgefield. 203-438-3050. TurningPointReiki.com.

Spiritual, Psychic and Healing Fair – 11am-4pm. First Saturday. Would you like a second opinion on your life issues, or a personal message from a departed loved one?

Are you curious about your purpose in this life, or seeking a bit more direction and focus? Come join us. $35+.

Albertson Memorial Church, 293 Sound Beach Ave, Old Greenwich. 203-637-4615. Info@AlbertsonChurch.org.

AlbertsonChurch.org.

Discussion with The Higher Realms – 7-9:30pm.

Last Friday. Bring your heartfelt questions and receive the wisdom of The Ascended Masters and The Divine Feminine specifically for you as channeled by Ginny Brown. $45. Address provided upon registration. HeartAndHealing@hotmail.com.

GinnyBrown.net.

New Women’s Group – 1pm. For women ages 29 through 35 who have difficulty navigating social situations that are interested in making new friends.

This group will be working on understanding the nuances of social behavior and how to set attainable goals and boundaries. Space is limited. $20/ session. Wolf Spirit Wellness and Counseling Center, LLC, 125 Main St North, Ste 2B, Woodbury.

203-509-8602. WolfSpiritWellness@gmail.com.

WolfSpiritWellness.org.

saturday Find Your Edge Yoga – 9-10am. With Pauline Koinis. For yoga practitioners. A chance for yoginis and yogis alike to get a Saturday morning groove on; where laughter, challenge and heart all meet on the mat. $18/class; $16/senior. Valley Spirit Cooperative and Wellness Center, 6 Green Hill Rd, Washington Depot. 860-619-2788. Info@ ValleySpiritCoop.com. ValleySpiritCoop.com.

Open Mic Night – 7-9pm, 3rd Saturday. Bring music printed out in your key and Kenneth Gartman will accompany you at the piano for your moment at the microphone. Comedians, poets, writers and musicians welcomed as well. Unity Center of Norwalk, 3 Main St, 2nd Fl, Norwalk. 203-855-7922. Office@ UnityCenterNorwalk.org. UnityCenterNorwalk.org.

Meditation Class with Elizabeth – 9-10:15am.

Experience the power of meditation. Heal mind, body and soul. Classes include instruction and meditation practice. Join us for our other meditation classes, Tuesdays at 7:15pm and Mondays at 12pm. $10. The Jiiva Center, 2900 Main St, Ste 1A, Stratford. 203-345-7747.

Support@JiivaCenter.com. JiivaCenter.com.

Gentle Yoga, Pranayama, Meditation – 9:30-10:45am.

Relax, release and flow into wellness in beginner/level 1 yoga classes with work on mindfulness practices, breathing techniques, alignment, flexibility and strength. Modifications suggested and props used when needed. $5/donation per class. Hindu Cultural Center of CT (HCC), 96 Chapel St, Stratford. 203-521-0359. HCC. Yoga.Wendy@gmail.com. HCCYoga.org.

classifieds

Mahasati or Insight Meditation – 10-11:30am.

Learn how to live your life more skillfully through the development of self-awareness and mindfulness.

A simple practice that can be easily incorporated into daily life. Discover the benefits of becoming more present. 203-244-3130. Info@ReddingMeditation.org.

ReddingMeditation.org.

To place a Classified Listing: $1 per word. $25 minimum.

Magazine deadline: 12th of month prior to publication. Email copy to NicoleM@NaturalAwakeningsMag.com.

Reiki Share – 10:30am-12:30pm. With Elizabeth. Reiki Share is a wonderful opportunity to give and receive Reiki in a casual atmosphere of friendship, honor, positive energy and devotion. We welcome Reiki practitioners of any level. $10. The Jiiva Center, 2900 Main St, Ste 1A, Stratford. 203-3457747. Support@JiivaCenter.com. JiivaCenter.com.

HELP WANTED

Spondylitis Support Group – 11am-12:30pm.

Last Saturday. Led by Dr. Andrew Cummins, naturopathic physician. Having lived with the chronic inflammatory disease Ankylosing Spondylitis for the last 18 years, Cummins understands what living with chronic pain and limited mobility is all about. Group provides education, empowerment, understanding and support. Free. Shalva Clinic, 8 Lincoln St, 1st Fl, Westport. 203-916-4600.

DrCummins@ShalvaClinic.org. ShalvaClinic.org.

DISTRIBUTORS WANTED for monthly deliveries of Natural Awakenings and other local publications. Perfect for a retired person or stay-at-home mom looking to earn some extra income and connect with their local community. Honesty and dependability are the most important characteristics of our distributors - if you don’t have it in spades, please do not apply!

Thomas@ManInMotionLLC.com.

DO YOU LOVE NATURAL AWAKENINGS? Help us spread the word! We’re looking for Community Street Team Members to work with us at upcoming events all over CT. Please send an email (subject line: COMMUNITY) and resume to NicoleM@NaturalAwakeningsmag.com.

September 2019

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community resource guide

CHIROPRACTIC

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@NaturalAwakeningsMag.com to request our media kit.

13TH OCTAVE/LAHOCHI EVERYDAY ALCHEMY LLC

Nicole Miale, MA, Certified Habit Change Coach New Milford 860-799-5076 • NMiale@charter.net Alchemy is the transformation of base metal into gold. A process that defies logic, it seems magical. This kind of wonder is accessible to each of us in our daily lives! Using a variety of non-invasive approaches and techniques customized to each client, I facilitate the alchemical process within each person. Rediscover the magic in yourself and experience your golden life!

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 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, page 48.

BIRTH DOULA

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 is one of only two people approved to teach 13th Octave/LaHoChi in the United States. 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 49.

MOMMA T DOULA

Terri Piazza 919-244-8410 MommaTDoula@gmail.com MommaTDoula.com

AYURVEDA

Every woman deserves the childbirth experience they desire, from informative practical classes to prenatal, birth, postpartum and nursing support. Momma T Doula provides care from birth planning and education through labor, postpartum and parenting. I am enthusiastic about helping families have positive experiences so the world is a healthier, happier place. See ad, page 41.

NEERU KAUSHIK, ND, MS ACU, MS, MA

BREAST THERMOGRAPHY

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

ALBA THERMAL IMAGING LLC

Safe, painless early detection 71 East Ave, Ste D, Norwalk 203-856-1421 • AlbaThermalImaging.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 49.

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Fairfield County/Housatonic Valley Edition

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.

eNaturalAwakenings.com

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.

COLONICS COLONICS

914-921-LIFE (5433) LifelineHygienics.com Experience and personalized service you can trust.

The finest in colonic irrigation and personal care. Serving the tri-state area since 1993.

CRANIOSACRAL THERAPY/ ALEXANDER TECHNIQUE VINCENT FRASER, CST, CAT, SEP Craniosacral Therapy, Alexander Technique, Somatic Experiencing Greenwich and Norwalk 203-570-2059 Vincent@VincentFraser.com

Vincent offers paths to wholeness which lead to resolving pain and trauma, ease of movement in one’s body and life, and a fuller conscious embodiment.

EDUCATION 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 2019 programs. See ad, page 14.

INSTITUTE FOR HOLISTIC HEALTH STUDIES

Western Connecticut State University Christel Autuori, RDH, RYT, MA, Director 181 White St, Danbury 203-837-8559 • WCSU.edu/IHHS The mission of the IHHS is to provide the University and Greater Danbury area with an opportunity to engage in and explore different aspects of holistic and integrative health through programming and instruction. Programs include Wellness Wednesday lunchtime workshops, monthly meditation program, lecture series, health wellness and fitness fair.

JOY REIKI INSTITUTE

Sarah Chapman, Reiki Master 3 Sterling Dr, Westport 415-912-6863 • JoyReiki-Institute.com Sarah offers private Reiki sessions reflecting the lineage of Dr Usui. Each session helps increase your vitality and balance the different areas of your body to restore the quality of your health (emotional and physical), promoting transformation and growth.

Sarah also offers monthly training workshops in Reiki 1 and 2 as well as Reiki distance packages.

Please consult website for more info. Or text/call Sarah directly to book your first experience.

THE INSTITUTE OF SUSTAINABLE NUTRITION

SOUL HEALING JOURNEY, LLC

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 for fall 2019. See ad, page 51.

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 49.

TWO COYOTES WILDERNESS SCHOOL

JENNIFER BLAKE

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

P.O. Box 711, Monroe TwoCoyotes.org Facebook.com/TwoCoyotes Instagram.com/TwoCoyotes Two Coyotes Wilderness School is a non-profit nature organization dedicated to creating a healthier, more connected future by connecting people to nature, community, and their personal empowerment. We offer year-round wildernessbased mentorship programs, including summer camps, for all ages.

Eilis Philpott Fairfield • 203-767-5954 Eilis@SoulHealingJourney.com SoulHealingJourney.com

ESSENTIAL OILS 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.

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.

FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE/ NUTRITION MARY GILBERTSON WELLNESS Mary Gilbertson, MS, BSN, CHHC Licensed RN, Nutritionist and Certified Health Coach 500 Purdy Hill Rd, Ste 2, Monroe 203-521-4733 MaryGilbertsonWellness@gmail.com MaryGilbertsonWellness.co

Using the concept of “Food as Medicine” to create your customized nutrition and lifestyle plan for whole living.

Working one-on-one, in groups and in corporations to develop customized healthy lifestyle plans. Works with patients on metabolism and weight loss, detoxification, gut health, cancers, inflammatory conditions and stress management.

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 71.

Age is just a number. Life and aging are the greatest gifts that we could possibly ever have. ~Cicely Tyson

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GREEN HOUSES FOR SALE ROCKY CORNER COHOUSING 203-903-2646 Homes@RockyCorner.org RockyCorner.org

Rocky Corner’s sharing and caring neighborhood: Meet friendly, creative people. Feel welcomed and included. Eat from our organic farm and gardens. Own a green home. Co-own amazing common buildings and 33 acres.

Bethany, 5 miles north of New Haven. Nurture kids, retire, have fun, work together. Last remaining homes for sale. Contact us now!

HEALING ACID REFLUX HEALING ACID REFLUX NATURALLY Susan Berman, Med, CHHC 860-670-4152 Susan@HealingAcidReflux.com HealingAcidReflux.com

I work with health conscious individuals to help heal their acid reflux or GERD to avoid further damage and prevent esophageal cancer. Find your unique food and lifestyle triggers. Offers 1:1 coaching via Zoom, Skype, or a DIY program.

HEALING CENTER THE RUBY TREE

Metaphysical Shop and Healing Space Sherman Village, 670 Main St S, Woodbury 203-586-1655 • TheRubyTreeCT.com Rocks and crystals, magical objects, singing bowls, herbal candles and more.

Local artisans, an array of holistic practitioners, a monthly Mystical Market fair, regularly scheduled psychics/ mediums/intuitives, yoga, meditation, and workshops galore—all to enhance the health of your mind, body and spirit. See ad, page 37.

HEALTHY EATING CHEF ELIANA GRUBEL, CHC

HEALING TREE WISDOM

As a Board-Certified Health Coach by the American Association of Drugless Practitioners and member of the United States 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 41.

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 71.

Licensed and Insured In-home Cooking Services 203-559-8946 • CleanFood4UrType.com

HOLISTIC DENTIST DAVID L LERNER, DDS, CAC, FIND Yorktown Heights, NY 914-214-9678 HolisticDentist.com

We offer a unique approach to the health care of the mouth based on a holistic understanding of the whole body. I invite you to explore our website to learn how we can serve your needs. See ad, page 10.

WHOLE BODY DENTISTRY

Mark A Breiner, DDS 501 Kings Hwy East, Ste 108, Fairfield 203-371-0300 WholeBodyDentistry.com Mark Breiner, DDS, is a pioneer and recognized authority in the field of holistic dentistry. His patients have found solutions to baffling, unresolved and seemingly unrelated dentalrelated health problems. He is the author of the award-winning book, Whole-Body Dentistry. See ad, page 2.

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

Fairfield County/Housatonic Valley Edition

eNaturalAwakenings.com

Thea Litsios, CHy Locations in Norwalk and Stratford 203-693-1493 • HealingTreeWisdom.com

MIND-BODY TRANSFORMATION Diane Bahr-Groth, CHy, TFTdx 1177 High Ridge Rd, Stamford 203-595-0110 MindBodyTransformation.com

Fast, effective methods for weight, stress, fear, pain, smoking, etc.

Certified Hypnotherapist, Thought Field Therapy, Time Line Therapy, NLP and Complementary Medical Hypnosis, since 1989. See ads, pages 15 and 21.

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 42.

INTEGRATIVE NATURAL MEDICINE SOPHIA NATURAL HEALTH CENTER

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

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.

WHOLE-BODY MEDICINE LLC

Adam Breiner, ND, Director David Brady, ND, CCN, DACBN David Johnston, DO Elena Sokolova, MD, ND 203-371-8258 • WholeBodyMed.com Using state-of-the-art science combined with holistic medicine, our caring integrative physicians correct underlying imbalances and address issues which may interfere with the body’s ability to heal itself. We treat many conditions including Lyme disease, fibromyalgia, immune disorders, allergies, thyroid conditions, pain, neurological conditions, stroke, concussion, ADD/ ADHD, depression, insomnia and more. We offer hyperbaric oxygen, neurofeedback and neurotherapies, osteopathic medicine, functional medicine, IV nutrient and chelation therapy, energetic medicine, homeopathy, Japanese Reiki, nutrition, colonics and detoxification, enhanced brain, athletic, scholastic performance, and more. See ad, page 2.

INSPIRATIONAL BOUTIQUE THE ANGEL COOPERATIVE

Purveyors of Positivity 51 Ethan Allen Hwy (Route 7), Ridgefield 203-431-2959 TheAngelCoop.com A unique lifestyle boutique featuring the first Shungite room in the U.S., The Angel Cooperative has products and experiences designed to care for your body and soul while also offering beautiful and healing goods for the home. We offer a regular schedule of workshops, meditations, classes, and other holistic and spiritual events. See ad, page 47.

INTEGRATIVE OPTOMETRY EYECARE ASSOCIATES, PC

Dr. Randy Schulman, MS, OD, FCOVD Locations: 6515 Main St, Trumbull • 203-374-2020 444 Westport Ave, Norwalk • 203-840-1991 2600 Post Rd, Southport • 203-255-4005 1425 Bedford St, 1M, Stamford • 203-357-0204 CTEyeCareAssociates.com We offer behavioral optometry, comprehensive vision exams, contact lenses and vision therapy.

See ad, page 11.

INTUITIVE ARTS JOAN CARRA

Psychic Medium 203-531-6387 • PsychicJoan@yahoo.com PsychicJoanCarra.net Joan’s reputation as a psychic and medium for over 20 years is supported by seven books that recommend her work. Her insights can help you release blocks in business and romance.

As a gifted medium, Joan can contact loved ones in spirit and help heal your grief.

IV THERAPY WHOLE-BODY MEDICINE LLC

501 Kings Highway E, Ste 108, Fairfield 203-371-8258 • WholeBodyMed.com IV nutrient therapy bypasses the digestive process and delivers 100% of pure quality nutrients to your cells. Custom drips support your immune system, help you recover from long work hours, hangovers, jet lag, and increase stamina, support muscle recovery and growth, aid in detoxification, provide anti-aging benefits for youthful skin and glow, promote weight loss, help brain function, provide an energy boost and more. See ad, page 2.

LIFE COACH

MASSAGE AND BODYWORK JIIVA YOGA, REIKI AND MASSAGE CENTER

2900 Main St, Ste 1A, Stratford 203-345-7747 • JiivaCenter.com We offer Traditional, Thai Massage and Prenatal massage.

At Jiiva Massage, our goal is to provide our clients with a variety of experienced therapists and modalities to choose from.

Our hope is to provide you with an assortment of different techniques so you can find what works best for your individual needs. See ad, page 35.

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.

CHRISTINE MOFFATT

Energy Space Wellness and Divorce Coaching Services Westchester and Greenwich 203-625-8461 • Christine@EnergySpace.life EnergySpace.life We offer wellness and divorce coaching as well as energy work, and group sessions for clients looking for social support and connections in addition to private coaching.

I am also a Reiki Master and often incorporate the practice when clients are looking for help managing stress. See ad, page 13.

LYME DISEASE EDUCATION/SUPPORT LYME CONNECTION

NATUROPATHIC PHYSICIAN ADAM BREINER, ND

Whole-Body Medicine LLC 501 Kings Hwy E, Ste 108, Fairfield 203-371-8258 • WholeBodyMed.com Dr. Adam Breiner has helped patients with a wide variety of neurological conditions—including stroke, concussions, TBIs, ADD/ADHD, depression and anxiety—as well as seeing patients for enhanced sports, scholastic and workplace performance. His center was the first facility in the country to offer the powerful combination of hyperbaric oxygen therapy and neurofeedback. Dr. Breiner also has natural and cutting-edge approaches for the treatment of Lyme disease. See ad, page 2.

400 Main St, Ridgefield Info@LymeConnection.org LymeConnection.org Lyme Connection is an all-volunteer, communitybased task force providing support and resources to patients and their families coping with tickborne disease.

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Aleo – Bold CMYK: 72, 66, 65, 79

P R O X I M A N O VA – S E M I B O L D CMYK: 72, 66, 65, 79

NATUROPATHIC PHYSICIAN NEERU KAUSHIK, ND, MS ACU, MS, MA 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 49.

SHALVA CLINIC LLC

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. See ad, back cover.

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 46.

MARVIN P. SCHWEITZER, ND

Wellness Institute 1 Westport Ave, Norwalk 203-847-2788 • DrMarvinSchweitzer.com Family Health Care using all natural therapies for 25 years.

Acupuncture, bioidentical hormones, homeopathy, Chinese/Western herbs, allergy/ toxin testing, oxygen therapy, Meridian stress assessment, nutrition/enzyme therapies.

See ad, page 18.

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NEUROFEEDBACK ADAM BREINER, ND

The NeuroEdge Brain Performance Center Full Color Division of Whole-Body MedicineOne Color 501 Kings Highway E, Ste 108, Fairfield 203-371-8258 • TheNeuroEdge.com The NeuroEdge is dedicated to keeping your brain sharp and high-functioning. We treat head injuries and brain traumas such as concussion and stroke as well as help athletes, students and businesspeople improve their performance. Learn and view our cutting-edge neurotherapies at TheNeuroEdge.com. See ad, page 2.

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 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, page 48.

ORGANIC SALON ECO CHIC SALON SPA & BLOW DRY BAR 16 Center St, Wilton 203-966-5655 • EcoChicSalonCT.com

Eco Chic Salon Spa & Blow Dry Bar is committed to the healthy way of life so many people strive for each and every day. Mindful stylists are dedicated to the use of environmentally friendly products, including Eco Chic branded products, and alternative hair services with less toxic variations from the typical salon experience. Be well. Be beautiful. See ad, page 9.

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT DR. LORI MONACO

Inspire and Empower, LLC 203-395-9832 • DrLoriMonaco@gmail.com DrLoriMonaco.com Lori is a Transformational Speaker, Coach and Wholistic practitioner helping people become the best version of themselves. She uses mindfulness techniques including the HeartMath protocol for creating heart coherence and improved resilience. She offers one-on-one and group coaching sessions, lectures and workshops, and Laughter Yoga sessions. She works with children to adults.

Fairfield County/Housatonic Valley Edition

eNaturalAwakenings.com

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PSYCHOTHERAPY

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

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

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, page 48.

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 20.

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.

Digital Infrared Thermal Imaging (DITI)

REIKI THERMOGRAPHY offers safe, FDA approved full body

or breast screening.

JIIVA YOGA, REIKI WHOLE HEALTH Non Invasive • No Radiati on AND MASSAGE CENTER THERMOGRAPHY LLC 2900 Main St, Ste 1A, •Stratford Possible 8 years earlier breast Rachel Mazzarelli, MS, CCT 203-345-7747 • JiivaCenter.com Locations throughout Fairfield County, cancer detection vs mammogram Southbury, New Haven, Milford and New York Berta Prevosti is a Usui and • Clinical imaging for detecti ng and 203-257-3785 Karuna Reiki Master and has monitoring a number of diseases WHThermography@gmail.com been practicing Reiki for over 20 andseveral physical WholeHealthThermography.com years. We also have expe-injuries. rienced Reiki Masters and Rachel Mazzarelli practitioners. We offer private Reiki sessions for��,��� physical and emotional pain. We also have ongoing Reiki 203-257-3785 classes that are taught in theOffi traditional Usui ces throughout method by Berta. See ad, pageeld 35.County, Southbury, Fairfi

New Haven, Milford,

TURNING POINT REIKIand LLC New York

Digital Infrared Thermal Imaging (DITI) is an FDAapproved, noninvasive, no-radiation screening for the whole body. It offers possible earlier detection of breast disease and can aid in diagnosis and improved prognosis of many health conditions and injuries. See ad, page 44.

JoAnn Inserra Duncan, MS, RMT whthermography@gmail.com 100B Danbury Rd, Ste 101, Ridgefield 203-438-3050 www.wholehealththermography.com TurningPointReiki.com TRANSFORMATIVE 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.

TRADITIONAL/HOLISTIC/ GREEN INTERIOR DESIGN PUT IT TOGETHER, LLC

714 Main St South, Woodbury 203-263-7836 PutItTogetherLLC.com PutItTogetherLLC@cs.com Incorporating environmentally sound options into a traditional interior design business, I can show you great options for low to no VOC exposure in your homes. Offering interior design, feng shui and environmental consultations. See ad, page 41.

HEALING

EVERYDAY ALCHEMY LLC

Nicole Miale, MA, Certified Habit Change Coach New Milford 860-799-5076 • NMiale@charter.net Alchemy is the transformation of base metal into gold. A process that defies logic, it seems magical. This kind of wonder is accessible to each of us in our daily lives! Using a variety of non-invasive approaches and techniques customized to each client, I facilitate the alchemical process within each person. Rediscover the magic in yourself and experience your golden life!

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 71.

Your business could be featured here Reach over 75,000 Natural Awakenings readers by placing your ad here.

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 49.

WELLNESS CENTER JIIVA YOGA, REIKI AND MASSAGE CENTER

Berta Prevosti, Usui and Karuna Reiki Master 2900 Main St, Ste 1A, Stratford 203-345-7747 • JiivaCenter.com Jiiva is in the business of building a community for yoga and healing. We offer yoga classes, a school of Reiki, private Reiki treatments, traditional massage therapy, Thai massage, meditation classes, workshops and community events.

See ad, page 35.

SALTANA CAVE HIMALAYAN SALT SPA 590 Danbury Rd, Ridgefield 203-969-4327 SaltanaCave.com

Fairfield County’s first and only therapeutic Himalayan salt cave provides relief from respiratory issues such as allergies, asthma, and side effects of smoking and pollution. Salt is naturally anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and antifungal. See ad, page 47.

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. See ad, page 9.

Call for more info. 203-885-4674 September 2019

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inspiration

display ad index 203TLC 71

The Advance Guard for Human Ascension

L

Alison David Bird, CHt is the originator of Marconics Ascension Healing. For more information about Marconics Ascension Energy Workshops, or to buy the book, Marconics: The Clarion Call, visit Marconics.com.

Fairfield County/Housatonic Valley Edition

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The Breiner Whole-Body Health Center: Medical

2

The Breiner Whole-Body Health Center: Dental

2

Clean Food 4 Ur Type/ Eliana Grubel Cloud 9 App

41 3

CopperZap 31

by Alison David Bird

ight-Workers, Star-Seed, Way-Showers, Code Writers, Keepers of the Flame, Human Portals, Gatekeepers and Truth Seekers: All are being called on to step up and into their power on the path toward self-realization, awakening and reunification with Source, as we return to a state of expanded consciousness.

As the next wave of cosmic energy washes over the surface of the planet, many individuals are becoming aware of these intensifying frequencies, and some are struggling to assimilate them. Others may be experiencing a rise in chaos and confusion, because as the Light intensifies, it illuminates darker elements, as the battle for ascension continues to wage.

However, these darker energies will be defeated as Light forces have been successful in reaching critical mass, and malevolent forces are rolling in their death throes. The shift will continue, whether in a slow, gentle, progressive and creative way through the ingenuity of mankind with its newfound awareness and increased consciousness, or decisively in a series of cataclysmic Earth-changing events, which will pull the planet through the void into the Fifth Dimension.

To ensure that the timeline of probability we choose is the gentler of the two, it is important now that Light-Workers, WayShowers and Star-Seed stand fully in their power as “Guardians of Light”, as the advance guard anchoring these new transformative energies to the planetary grid.

There are many beautiful souls engaged in the process of raising vibrational frequency in their biological vehicles, but most are discovering that it is not so easy to sustain a shift into higher dimensions unless the physical body can be “re-tooled” for higher purpose and “re-calibrated” to resonate with the Universal Matrix.

This nexus point in the story of humanity requires spiritual intervention if Light-Workers are to become the “negative ionic generators” required to draw down higher dimensional frequencies from the cosmos and anchor them to the Earth grid in preparation for the next phase of human evolution.

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Natural Health & Wellness Center

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Nature’s Rite

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Robin Ordan, LCSW

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Passport to Health & Wellness Statewide Holistic Expo

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Philip Stein Sleep Bracelet

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Possibilities Farm

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Put It Together

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Ann Reeves

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23-30

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Institute for Ayurvedic and Naturopathic Therapies

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Soul Healing Journey/ Academy for Soul Healing

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The Institute of Sustainable Nutrition 51 Jiiva Yoga and Wellness Center 35 David L. Lerner, DDS/ Center for Holistic Dentistry

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Spirit Festival

5 & 39

Sustainne 37 The Tapping Practice

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Touch of Sedona

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Unity Center of Norwalk

8

Wellness Institute/ Marvin Schweitzer, ND

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Mind-Body Transformation Hypnosis Center

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Whole Health Thermography 44

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eNaturalAwakenings.com

203 TLC 203-856-9566 www.203TLC.com Bodywork

Energy Healing/Meditation/Tarot

Michelle Quigley, LMT, RCST Advanced & Orthopedic Massage, Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapy & Sheng Zhen Meditation Teacher Fairfield & Weston michellequigley.com 203-216-8874

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

Holistic Center & Spa Soul Synergy Wellness Holistic Center & Spa Tracey Scalzi, Reiki II, Access Consciousness Prac.

1492 High Ridge Rd, Ste 9, Stamford SoulSynergy.org accessconsciousness.com/en SoulSynergyWellness111@gmail.com 203-356-5822 or 203-814-1355

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

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

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.

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

Fit Body/Yoga Robyn Mortiboys, E-RYT 200 Vinyasa Flow Yoga Classes all levels Paddle Board Yoga Yoga & Painting Workshops robyn@yogainwaves.com yogainwaves.com 203-674-9995

Interior Design/Design Psychology Betsy Cameron, Seva Interiors Full-service Interiors, Color Consultations, Home Styling, Workshops sevainteriors.com 203-635-0808

Meditation & Counseling Meg Reilly, MS, CH Meg Reilly 360 Classes monthly in Norwalk Personalized service by appointment MegReilly360.com 203-952-6272

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

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

Transformative Healing Tesa Baum, CHT, RM Certified Hypnotherapy Practitioner, Usui/Karuna Reiki Master, Shamanic Practitioner TesaBaum.com Ridgefield 203-364-4084

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.

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PRACTITIONERS DR . E L L E N L E W I S DR . NA DI A NO OR I C I N DY W E C H S L E R , A P R N A L E X A N DR A M A S ON, L M T B E V E R LY L E W I S

T H E C E N T E R F OR NAT U R A L M E DIC I N E

NATUROPATHIC SERVICES NATUROPATHIC PRIMARY CARE SICK DAY VISITS LAB & DIAGNOSTIC SERVICES

VITALITY ENHANCEMENT THERAPIES HYDROTHERAPY CRANIOSACRAL THERAPY MASSAGE THERAPY REIKI SHAMANIC HEALING ACUPUNCTURE & CUPPING

SPECIALTIES

SPECIALTY SERVICES PELVIC FLOOR THERAPY ABNORMAL PAP & ESCHAROTIC TREATMENT OZONE THERAPY NEUROFEEDBACK GENOMIC ANALYSIS

COMMUNITY WELLNESS CLASSES AND WORKSHOPS

DR. ELLEN LEWIS: THYROID DISORDERS, ABNORMAL PAPS, WOMEN’S HEALTH DR. NADIA NOORI: FUNCTIONAL NEUROLOGY, ADD/ADHD, AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDERS CINDY WECHSLER, APRN: INTEGRATIVE PEDIATRICS, LACTATION SUPPORT, INFANT MASSAGE EACH PRACTITIONER TREATS THE WHOLE FAMILY INCLUDING HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE, WEIGHT ISSUES, HEADACHES, FATIGUE, SLEEP DISTURBANCES, DIGESTIVE DISORDERS, COLDS/FLUS, ANXIETY/DEPRESSION, ALLERGIES, PEDIATRICS, AND MORE

T H E C E N T E R F OR NAT U R A L M E DIC I N E 8 LI N C O LN S TR E E T | W E S TPO RT, CT 06880 | ( 203) 916-4600 | INFO@ SH ALVACL INIC.ORG

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