Natural Awakenings Fairfield County April 2014

H E A L T H Y

L I V I N G

H E A L T H Y

P L A N E T

feel good • live simply • laugh more

FREE

CELEBRATE EARTH DAY

ECO ON THE CHEAP Save Money and the Planet

Backyard Clean Birds & Green! Butterflies Got Allergies?

April 2014 | Fairfield County Edition | eNaturalAwakenings.com eNaturalAwakenings.com

April 2014

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The Natural Choice – The Breiner Whole-Body Health Center

Optimize Your Smile and Your Health!

Whole-Body Dentistry® provides comprehensive oral health care using traditional and holistic approaches. We understand the “mouth-body connection.”

Mark A. Breiner, DDS

Fellow of the Academy of General Dentistry Fellow of the International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology Speaker and best-selling author of Whole-Body Dentistry®

Mercury-free for over 30 years, Dr. Breiner is a pioneer and recognized authority in the field of biological and holistic dentistry.

WholeBodyDentistry.com 203-371-0300

5520 Park Ave., Trumbull / Fairfield town line at Exit 47 off Merritt Pkwy

Doesn’t it make sense to see the authority?

The Natural Choice – The Breiner Whole-Body Health Center Caring Naturopathic Physicians Offering the Best in Holistic Healing

Our integrative approach treats a widerange of conditions including: ADD/ADHD Allergies Anxiety & Depression Autism Brain Injuries Candidiasis Chronic Fatigue (or Fatigue Concerns) Difficulty Concentrating Female Concerns Fibromaylgia

Gastrointestinal Concerns Healthy Aging Hormonal Issues Immune Disorders Lyme Disease RSD Sports Injuries Stress-related Symptoms Thyroid & Adrenal Issues Toxicities Weight Gain

Learn more about our approach. Watch our new therapy videos – all on our website!

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

From left to right:

Dr. Adam Breiner, ND, Director Dr. Elena Sokolova, MD, ND & Dr. David M. Brady, ND, CCN, DACBN

WholeBodyMed.com 203-371-8258

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) EEG Neurofeedback Acupuncture Chinese Medicine Homeopathy Energy Medicine Electrodermal Screening Metabolic Typing

Functional Medicine Colon Hydrotherapy Natural Hormone Therapy Herbal Medicine Nutritional Assessment Allergy Desensitization FDA-cleared Phototherapy Detoxification Abdominal Manual Therapy

FREE CDs on our Whole-Body approach to Lyme Disease.

Call now for details.

Office located on the Fairfield/Trumbull line

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

Fairfield County Edition

natural awakenings

WHY AN ORGANIC MATTRESS IS RIGHT FOR YOU

While we sleep, our immune system recovers and prepares for the day ahead. If your mattress is filled with airborne allergens and chemical toxins, your immune system will battle these rather than repair

itself. Regular bedding & mattresses are laden with polyurethane foam, toxic flame retardants, and water or stain resistant chemicals.

When we found out what was in our mattress, my husband said, ‘Every mother in the world should know what they are putting their child on at night.’ That was 2004, and the Clean Bedroom was born.

—Chris Chamberlin, Co-founder

FIND A HUGE SELECTION OF THE BEST ORGANIC MATTRESSES IN THE WORLD

WHY YOU SHOULD PURCHASE YOUR ORGANIC MATTRESS FROM THE CLEAN BEDROOM We have an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau. We research every brand we carry, testing the mattresses and bedding to be sure they meet our rigorous standards for purity and construction. Our extensive product knowledge helps you select the mattress and bedding that is right for you. Our prices are fair. We listen. We recommend. You decide.

TheCleanBedroom TM

The Finest Organic Mattresses & Bedding in the World, all in one place

Greenwich at 79 East Putnam Ave | 203.292.9275 Manhattan at 230 5th Ave | 212.889.1091 eNaturalAwakenings.com April 2014 3 www.thecleanbedroom.com

contents

Discover the freedom within yourself!

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

29 Ecotherapy for

Health and Cultural Sustainability

Q&A with The Graduate Institute’s Ed O’Malley A whole new kind of Body-Mind-Spirit-Green EXPO!

30 The Greening of

32

One Woman’s Mission to Protect Natural Resources

by Nicole Miale

38

Fairfield County

Sun., June 1, 2014 10am to 5pm

Stamford Marriott Hotel & Spa

32 Cob House Project at

Sticks & Stones Farm

243 Tresser Blvd., Stamford, CT BE INSPIRED by over 100 exhibitors including: ❁ Noted speakers ❁ Gifted healers ❁ “Green” experts ❁ Self improvement vendors ❁ Intuitive readers Media Sponsor:

Presented by PPC Group, LLC

Ancient Building Style Sees Resurgence

by Ana Mercedes Kranzlin

36 Got Allergies?

Clean Green!

40

Allergies and Autoimmune Disease Spurred by Chemicals

by Jaime A. Heidel

38 HOMEMADE

ECO-CLEANERS

ORDER TODAY!

DIY Recipes Keep Your Home Naturally Clean

by Lane Vail

TICKETS: $10 online; $15 at the door www.AwakenFair.com

46

40 LIVE GREEN, SAVE BIG

FOR MORE INFO:

Five Eco-Friendly Life Decisions that Can Actually Save Money

by Crissy Trask

www.AwakenFair.com click on “Stamford, CT”

46 BACKYARD BIRDS

AND BUTTERFLIES

Awaken Fair also in Tarrytown Sunday, March 30

Native Habitats Draw Critters and Delight Kids

by Avery Mack

48 GOOD RIDDANCE TO BAD VIBES

Escaping Electromagnetic Exposure

by Priscilla Goudreau-Santos

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Be allergy Free 19 7 newsbriefs 16 therapyspotlight 19 earthdayevents 20 healthbriefs 24 globalbriefs 34 organiclandscaping 20

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profiles 44 wisewords 45 communityspotlight 46 healthykids 48 healingways 51 naturallyhealthypet 52 naturalpet 55 petresourceguide 56 calendar 60 classifieds 61 resourceguide 67 productmarketplace

advertising & submissions how to advertise To advertise with Natural Awakenings or request a media kit, please contact us at 203-885-4674 or email NicoleM@NaturalAwakeningsMag.com.

Deadline for ads: the 12th of the month.

Editorial submissions Visit eNaturalAwakenings.com.

Deadline for News Briefs: the 5th of the month. calendar submissions Visit eNaturalAwakenings.com.

Deadline for magazine calendar listings: the 5th 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 239-449-8309. For franchising opportunities call 239-530-1377 or visit NaturalAwakeningsMag.com.

eNaturalAwakenings.com

Perhaps Even for Life!

Seasonal, food & environmental allergies CAN be eliminated: Conditions like eczema, gastric reflux, IBS, sinus conditions and digestive problems are often due to food & chemical allergies.

A revolutionary, noninvasive, child friendly technique is available to eliminate food, environmental and other sensitivities. It is used together with: • Computerized allergy testing & elimination without medication or shots • Enzyme therapy, including nutrition and proper diet • It enhances immune system function & assists the body in the natural healing process.

Visit allergyEliminationNorwalk.com for more information and a

FrEE E-Book Download: “How To Stop Suffering From Food Sensitivities, ‘Allergies’ and Digestion Problems” Allergy Elimination | Norwalk

Call Dr. Mark JoaChiM for a complimentary consultation. Over 10 years experience as an Advanced BioSET Practitioner.

ASSOCIATES IN FAMILY CHIROPRACTIC & NATURAL HEALTH CARE, P.C. 156 East Avenue, Norwalk

allergyEliminationNorwalk.com

(203) 838-1555 eNaturalAwakenings.com

April 2014

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letterfrompublisher

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contact us Publisher/Managing Editor Nicole Miale Assistant Editor Ariana Rawls Fine Design & Production Kathleen Fellows Erica Mills

utting together this month’s special Earth Day issue reminded me again how lucky we are to live in this beautiful and resource-rich area. No matter what your need or interest – short of tropical sunshine! - you can find something within an hour’s drive that might satisfy the urge.

The topography is varied, with mountains, forests, lakes, farms, the Long Island Sound, active suburbs, and vibrant cities forming a unique landscape full of possibility. The county ranges from urban to rural in terms of population Nicole Miale density, with all the culture and diversity you can imagine.

I love and appreciate this flexibility. Feel like seeing people?

Our county offers plenty of places and occasions to interact. Feel like being alone in the wilderness? You might run into me there; wandering in the woods is a favorite avocation of mine. I call it walking the dogs, but the time in nature means as much to me as it does to them. ;-) We are blessed. Most of the world doesn’t have the environmental and cultural wealth we experience in our local area. We may take this for granted; I know I do sometimes. The next time you’re outside, please pause a moment and say, think or write some words of appreciation and gratitude. Let’s take time to acknowledge the gift that is this amazing resource we call home. More importantly, let’s pledge to take care of it.

Contributing Writers Jaime A. Heidel Ana Kranzlin Beth Leas Natasha Michaels Sales & Marketing Nicole Miale Virginia Trinque Distribution Man in Motion LLC Natural Awakenings Fairfield County Phone: 203-885-4674 Fax: 203-516-2392 NicoleM@NaturalAwakeningsMag.com

eNaturalAwakenings.com NAWebstore.com NaturalAwakeningsSingles.com © 2014 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.

Our Earth Day edition features articles from and about local naturalists/activists.

These folks are actively working to educate, inform and inspire businesses, municipalities, and individuals about exciting environmental projects and programs happening in our communities. Other articles offer practical information and resources to make your yard the healthiest it has ever been, using techniques which won’t harm children, pets or the environment.

See page 19 for a schedule of the many Earth Day celebrations planned nearby in April and early May; come out to learn a little and have some fun! Look for Natural Awakenings there!

As always, please support the businesses that make this community resource possible. Our advertisers and distributors bring this information to you… please tell them you found them in Natural Awakenings and you appreciate their support!

With love and light,

Natural Awakenings is a free publication distributed locally and is supported by our advertisers. It is available in selected stores, health and education centers, healing centers, public libraries and wherever free publications are generally seen. Please call to find a location near you or if you would like copies placed at your business.

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

We welcome your ideas, articles and feedback.

SUBSCRIPTIONS Subscriptions are available by sending $15 (for 12 issues) to the above address.

Natural Awakenings is printed on recycled newsprint with soybased ink.

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Fairfield County Edition

New in 2014: See our advertiser index on page 66.

Making it easier to find the resources you need. natural awakenings

newsbriefs The Graduate Institute Offers New MA in Writing and Oral Tradition

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he Graduate Institute (TGI) in Bethany is offering a new degree, Master of Arts in Writing and Oral Tradition, in which students will study memoirs, poetry, children’s literature, short stories, non-fiction, screenplays and much more. Instruction is given in both traditional publishing practices and the emerging field of e-publishing.

“Everyone loves a good story,” said Robin Moore, who serves as Program Coordinator and is also a professional storyteller and author. “Stories help us to make sense of a world that often seems frightening and chaotic. Whether the stories spring from personal experience, folklore or purely from imagination, the tried and true techniques of storytelling, storylistening and storycreating can give authors a fresh perspective on the writing process.”

Unlike the traditional MFA degree, TGI’s approach to the study of writing values collaboration and community in place of competition and criticism. Another unique facet of the program is its emphasis on oral tradition and the spoken word as the foundations of modern narrative. Beginning May 2, classes will meet one weekend per month (Friday from 5 to 9pm and Saturday from 9am to 5pm).

~ equestrian gifts ~ pottery ~ buddas ~ crystals of all sizes ~ books ~ angels

Touch of Sedona A unique boutique with a heartfelt purpose

203-438-7146

452 Main Street, Ridgefield

touchofsedonaridgefield.com

Open Every Day Until 5:30

For more information, visit Learn.Edu/OT, call 203-874-4252 or email Admissions@Learn.Edu. See ad, page 15. savatree.com

Stamford’s New Balance Integrated Health Center

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alance Integrated Health Center, a new center located in Stamford, offers Reiki, massage, body treatments, physical therapy and acupuncture to clients as well as golf and dance fitness programs and holistic health coaching. Christine Colonna, MSPT, Gabriela Cascante, LMT, Joanne Tenzer, LAc, Linda Radice, Reiki Master, and Susan Vancura, LMT, are the five practitioners partnering to open the new center.

Workshops on chakras, energy work, tai chi and yoga are held at the center. In the upcoming months, classes on nutrition, bellydancing, 5 element qigong and Reiki shares will also be offered.

For more information, visit BalanceIntegratedHealth.com.

Balance Integrated Health Center is located at 1450 Washington Blvd, Ste 104 South, Stamford.

Organic and sustainable tree, shrub and lawn care SavATree’s organic programs incorporate the highest standards, using only materials permitted by the USDA’s National Organic Program. We can help you make well-informed green choices that will keep your landscape and the environment healthy, safe and beautiful.

• Organic Plant Health Care • Organic Tick Treatments • Organic Lawn Care • Complimentary consultation

Call today (203) 853-9526 formerly Country Green

Trees | Shrubs | Lawn | Deer | Consulting

eNaturalAwakenings.com

April 2014

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newsbriefs Charitable Earth Day Celebration at Chamomille

››

Want to protect your family & pets from harsh chemicals?

››

Concerned about the overuse of synthetic fertilizers & pesticides?

››

Interested in a safer, sustainable approach to a beautiful yard?

Go Organic with Lawn Care Services and Tick Management from Growing Solutions Contact us today for a complimentary consultation as to how our NOFA®-accredited team of experts can enhance your property.

growso.com

On April 22, in honor of Earth Day, Chamomille Natural Foods in Danbury will donate 10 percent of the day’s profits to Heifer International and host a day-long demo event featuring local vendors.

Heifer International promotes sustainable agriculture and commerce in poverty-stricken parts of the world.

Rather than simply giving people food, the organization provides poor villages with cows, hens and bees for a continual supply of milk, eggs and honey. As the animals reproduce, the abundance of food increases.

Raw food demos will begin at 10:30am where visitors can learn to make a few easy, no-cook recipes.

Between noon and 3pm, Maria, a Zuzu cosmetics makeup artist, will offer complimentary makeovers. The beekeepers from Living Foods Gang Honey will be onsite from 12:30 to 5pm to talk about the life of bees. From 3 to 5pm, visitors can bring their kids to meet the kids, as the owners of Goat Boy Soap Company will drop by with baby goats. There will be plenty of free samples offered throughout the day.

Chamomille Natural Foods is located at Route 6 Plaza, 58-60 Newtown Rd, Danbury. For more information, call 203-792-8952 or visit ChamomilleNaturalFoods.com.

See ad, page 24.

Growth is the only evidence of life. ~John Henry Newman 8

Fairfield County Edition

natural awakenings

Holistic Moms Network of Fairfield County Launches Playgroup

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he Holistic Moms Network (HMN) of Fairfield County has launched a new HMN Chapter Playgroup. Twice monthly, members will meet with their children for play, community, support and a fun activity centered on a holistic theme. Each playgroup will feature a different activity such as making herbal remedies or personal care products, cooking or fermenting foods, playing music, learning meditation, organic gardening, art, felting, dance, yoga and much more for adults and children to do together. All ages are welcome.

The playgroup will be hosted by chapter members Marija Mikolajczak and Muneeza Akhtar Ahmed, meeting monthly on the first Thursday of each month at 9:30am in Cos Cob and the third Friday at 2pm in Norwalk. The playgroup is open to members of the Fairfield County chapter of the Holistic Moms Network. Non-members may attend one playgroup or evening meeting to find out if HMN is right for you.

To join or renew, visit HolisticMoms.org/Category/Connect/ Membership/Join-Now/.

Introduction to Massage Therapy at Finger Lakes School

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he Finger Lakes School of Massage (FLSM) is celebrating 20 years of massage therapy education.

On April 19, the Westchester FLSM campus is holding an Introduction to Massage Therapy Seminar. The day includes an introductory class and a massage from a current FLSM student, along with the opportunity to learn more about the school’s culture and teaching philosophy.

The school’s Ithaca, New York, location opened in 1994, and a Westchester campus was added in 2008 by co-founders Cindy Black and Andrea Butje. Staff, students and alumni come together regularly to give back in community events throughout the year, including local Relays for Life with the American Cancer Society, The Westchester Food Bank and the Multiple Sclerosis Society’s annual Westchester run, among others.

The Westchester campus is located at 272 N. Bedford Rd, Mount Kisco, NY. The seminar is $50/person. For more information and to reserve a place in the seminar, call 914241-7363 or visit FLSM.com. See ad, page 20.

Are You Looking For A Doctor Who Will Address More Than Just Your Symptoms?

• Pediatrics • ADD/ADHD • Diabetes • Food Sensitivities • Eczema

• Asthma • Allergies • Insomnia • Abnormal Paps • Thyroid Disorders

• Women’s Health • Fertility • Hormonal Imbalance • Anxiety and Depression • Weight Loss

Treatments include herbal medicine, functional medicine, biotherapeutic drainage, homeopathy, low-level laser therapy, and detoxification programs.

Shalva Clinic, LLC

Dr. Ellen Lewis Naturopathic Physician

The Center for Natural Medicine 260 Riverside Avenue Westport, CT 06880 p 203.916.4600 f 203.916.4601 www.ShalvaClinic.org Info@ShalvaClinic.org

Power is abused all over the world . . .

from the bedroom to the boardroom, from spiritual office to the political arena . . . from infancy all the way through our senior years.

Find out more about the real roots of power abuse ... and how you can help bring about lasting change in your life and in our world by

healing your own relationship with power.

$16.95

ISBN # 1886264244

Judith Barr, LPC, LMhC ... hEaLiNG tO thE rOOt

To learn more and to order the book, please visit www.PowerabusedPowerhealed.com PO Box 603, Brookfield, CT 06804 n 203-775-5006 n JudBarr@JudithBarr.com

Beyond Touch

Massage & Energy Therapies De-Stress • Relieve Pain • Rejuvenate Facilitate Change • Manifest Abundance Release pain, stress, trauma; facilitate personal change.

$10 Off Your First Two Sessions

• Therapeutic Massage • Energy Healing & EFT • Transformational Guidance Roberta Russell, LMT, RPP Ridgefield, CT

203.438.2354 • www.beyond-touch.com eNaturalAwakenings.com

April 2014

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newsbriefs Cancer Wellness Health and Healing Program

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age Osa, a 12-year cancer survivor, certified holistic health/wellness coach and owner of Personal Wellness Center, is offering a new program that focuses on promoting health and healing in a safe group environment. The workshop will cover Green Juice Therapy, boosting the immune system, guided imagery, meditation and an exploration of spirituality.

The four-class program begins Mondays starting May 5 from 10am Sage Osa to 12pm with other dates and times available. Each participant will receive a comprehensive wellness workbook containing tools, techniques and holistic healthcare resources.

For more information and to register, visit MyPersonal Wellness.com, email Sage@MyPersonalWellness.com or call 203-767-6237. Personal Wellness Center is located at 1895 Post Rd, Fairfield. See ad, page 31.

Tune in to SOPHIA Natural Health Center’s Radio Show

K

en Hoffman, medical director of SOPHIA Natural Health Center in Brookfield, will be hosting a new health talk radio show, The Natural Medicine Connection, on WLAD Danbury every Saturday from 10 to 11am. Listeners can tune in to 800 AM WLAD, stream it live at WLAD.com or call the radio station at 203-792-8080 with questions about how to maintain or improve health naturally.

“I am very excited for this opportunity to share my 20 years of natural medicine experience with as many people as I can,” says Hoffman. “My plan is to have lots of content on the show that will appeal to many people and give information about the causes of illness and solutions for those issues that many might not know about.”

Hoffman is a natural medicine specialist and licensed acupuncturist in Connecticut. He holds national certifications in acupuncture and Chinese herbology and is a Doctor of Acupuncture in Rhode Island.

For more information on SOPHIA Natural Health Center, call 203-740-9300 or visit SophiaNaturalHealth.com. See Community Resource Guide listing, page 61.

DID YOU REALIZE THAT

TOXINS Toxins drive neurological, metabolic (including weight gain), immune and cardiovascular illnesses – and any disease ending in “itis”. We have the knowledge and technology to help your body heal itself. For 25+ years, our patients have enjoyed remarkable success with naturopathic treatments which cleanse, detox, nourish, repair and balance. Call us to schedule an appointment:

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ARE OFTEN THE ROOT CAUSE OF

INFLAMMATION?

D r M a r v i n S c h w e i t z e r. c o m 2 0 3 . 8 4 7. 2 7 8 8

1 We s t p o r t A v e n u e Norwalk, CT 06851

Healing Vibrations: A Journey Inward Workshop

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eiki practitioners and “soul specialists” Lynette Turner, Andrea Rudolph and Maria Castillo have teamed up to offer a new workshop, Healing Vibrations: A Journey Inward. Participants will experience a combination of Reiki, sound healing, chanting, guided meditation and messages from the angels to enhance emotional, physical, mental and spiritual well-being and balance.

Healing Vibrations is available for ceremonies, rituals, corporate retreats and hospice and health care settings. The next offerings will be on May 9 at 7pm at ARC Sacred Center in Monroe and an outdoor event at Kindred Spirits Center in Redding on June 28 at 4pm.

For more information, contact Maria at 203-445-8966 or Andrea at 203-257-1009. Register in advance at Msisi@aol.com as space is limited. See Community Resource Guide listing on page 64.

Joan Carra to be Resident Psychic Medium at The Wainwright House

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sychic medium Joan Carra has been invited to be a resident practitioner at The Wainwright House, a learning center in Rye, New York overlooking the Long Island Sound. An intuitive reader for 20 years, she will be present on designated days for group séances, speaking with those who are departed during private and group circle readings.

Join Carra at the Wainwright House on April 27 from 1 to 3:30pm Joan Carra for group circle readings ($45/person). On May 4, she will be giving a séance with messages from passed loved ones from 1 to 3:30pm ($55/person).

Ready to Heat or Freeze In-Home Prep: personalized menus Home Delivery: Clean Food Prepared in a Farm, Packaged and Labeled.

Stamford, Norwalk, New Canaan, and more to come.

Specialty: BloodType/Genotype Diet-SWAMI* (generativemedicine.org ) * by Dr. Peter D’Adamo Licensed/Insured

(203) 559 8946 • ChefElyGrubel.com

Do you want to create vibrant health?

Do you want to empower yourself & uplift others?

Do you want to become heart-centered in business?

Do you want to learn about long-term, financial prosperity?

We are a network marketing team committed to changing how the industry is seen and practiced.

Join our team!

For more information contact: Connie at: TrueHealthTrueWealth@aol.com or call: 203 913 8118

Master’s in Nutrition Online

• Counsel patients in alternative and • Graduates are eligible to earn credentials as a: complementary medicine using nutritional strategies - Certified Clinical Nutritionist (CCN) • Study within a functional medicine based curriculum with a virtual clinic - Certified Nutrition Specialist (CNS) experience - Diplomate of the American Clinical • Learn the principles of nutrition and Board of Nutrition (DACBN) its role in attaining a longer, healthier life To learn more, call 203.576.4552 or visit bridgeport.edu/nutrition

For more information, call 203-531-6387 or visit PsychicJoanCarra.com or Facebook.com/PsychicJoan.Carra.

See Community Resource Guide Listing on page 63. eNaturalAwakenings.com

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newsbriefs

RVNA Annual Health and Wellness Fair’s 40th Anniversary

New Healthy Choice Mattress Organic Wool Pillowtop

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ealthy Choice Mattress has added a new organic wool pillowtop to its product offerings. It is handcrafted using Premium Eco-Wool batting tufted between two layers of organic cotton fabric.

These chemical-free pillowtops are designed to lay flat on top of the mattress without shifting. Wool is a natural fiber and is very breathable.

In an effort to reduce carbon footprints and to support the local economy, all Healthy Choice mattresses are handcrafted in Connecticut using only locally produced and American-made materials.

For more information, view the collection online at HCmattress.com or visit one of Healthy Choice Organic Mattress’ four showrooms in Westport and Brookfield CT, Mt. Kisco NY, and Ridgewood NJ. See ads, pages 67 & back cover.

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n addition to celebrating its 100th year serving the Ridgefield community, the Ridgefield Visiting Nurse Association (RVNA) is marking the 40th anniversary of its Annual Health and Wellness Fair. Offered free to the community, the event will take place on April 5 from 10am to 2pm.

Ridgefield’s East Ridge Middle School will be transformed into a community of wellness villages, grouping specific conditions, screenings, results, medical consultations and advice offered by local medical professionals.

Representatives from community service organizations such as the Lyme Disease Task Force, the Ridgefield Commission on Aging, the Chamber of Commerce Health and Wellness Council, WomenHeart and local rehabilitation and senior living communities will be on hand, as will numerous health businesses and medical practices.

RVNA provides home and community care services, supports public health and safety and promotes quality of life in Western Connecticut.

For more information, visit RidgefieldVNA.org/Health-Fair or call 203-438-5555. See ad, page 25.

Two Coyotes Wilderness School Family Fun Day

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wo Coyotes Wilderness School will be holding its 2nd Annual Family Fun Day on May 4. The free event for the whole family will take place from 1 to 4pm at Sticks and Stones Farm in Newtown. Family Fun Day activities include making a fire without matches, wildlife tracking, storytelling, drumming, nature games and art, a wild edible plant hike, live music and food.

Two Coyotes staff, volunteers and alumni will be at hand to discuss the camp experience and answer any questions. Tours of the camp grounds and videos will also be available. For those registering for camp at the event, a $25 discount is being offered, as is a chance to win a full, one-week session tuition.

Founded in 2000, Two Coyotes is a nonprofit organization dedicated to nurturing healthy, whole human beings through building self-awareness and community and connecting people to nature with wilderness survival, wildlife tracking and naturalist skills.

Worden Wellness Center

Open House Saturday, April 5, 2014 • 10am–3pm Worden Wellness Center | Chiropractic • Acupuncture • Nutrition 41 Kenosia Avenue • Danbury, CT 06810 • 203-244-8801 wordenwellnesscenter.com /wordenwellnesscenter

Discover the true wellness lifestyle at Worden Wellness Center.

Our approach to wellness is to provide safe, drug-free natural pain relief using non-invasive therapies. n Talk with Dr. Thomas Worden, DC and staff. n Receive mini sessions with Claudia Larsson, LMT, Reiki master, reflexology and other techniques. n Experience and learn more with Mini Info Sessions on: • Acupuncture • Nutritional & Health Screening • Body Fat Analysis • Hormone Imbalance Testing

Drawing to win an Acupuncture Rejuvenation Facial

“Two Sisters Catering” Woodbury, will be serving fresh hummus with veggies, organic fritatta, kale salad and hand-made gluten-free flat bread.

Please join us for the Open House. Book an appointment

by May 31st, 2014 and receive $25 off your first visit. ♥

Reserve at TwoCoyotes.EventBrite.com.

Sticks and Stones Farm is located at 201 Huntington Rd, Newtown. Parking is limited.

eNaturalAwakenings.com

April 2014

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newsbriefs Spring is Coming and So is The Well!

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he Well, Wilton’s throwback to the intimate and personal health food store of old, is celebrating its grand opening this month.

The store provides vitamins, supplements, groceries and produce with freshly made sandwiches, soups and takeout. Daily specials include options for those on vegan, paleo and gluten-free diets.

In addition to a full service organic juice bar and organic coffee/tea bar, The Well also specializes in whole food cleansing. “Whole food cleansing provides a much needed break from the intense digestive process our body endures on a daily basis,” says Katharina Helms, The Well’s owner.

Helms and Store Manager Kaitlin Crean also provide personal counseling services relating to the deconstruction of cravings, weight management, blood pressure, cholesterol and other diet-related issues.

The Well is located at 33 Danbury Rd, Wilton. The store is open Monday-Saturday from 8am to 6pm. For more information, visit ShopTheWell.co.

Greenwich Community Gardens To Build Second Garden

G

reenwich Community Gardens (GCG) recently received approval from the Town of Greenwich to build a second garden with 88 raised beds in the Cos Cob section of town. This public/private partnership with the town will allow more local residents to grow their own produce and flowers.

GCG will also be able to provide additional fresh food for those who truly need it through the nonprofit’s giving program.

The first GCG initiative, the Armstrong Court Community Organic Garden, was built six years ago and now has over 125 raised beds along with a pergola and picnic tables, native butterfly and herb gardens and two garden sheds. GCG has delivered large quantities of fresh produce to the Greenwich Neighbor to Neighbor food pantry over the past few years, providing nutritious food to over 1,000 people weekly.

Creating more gardens in Greenwich will expand the capacity of the organization to address health and hunger issues, not only at the level of individual families who garden with us, but also through increased donations to the food pantry.

For more information, visit GreenwichCommunityGardens.org.

Listening and Caring Wouldn’t you prefer a doctor who makes time for both?

Naturopathic Medicine Services Offered:

General Family Medicine Acupuncture Dr. Susan Rzucidlo, ND

Facial Rejuvenation– “The Natural Facelift” Pediatrics

Diet & Nutritional Counseling

Anthem, BC/BS, Oxford, Aetna insurance accepted

Botanical Medicine

Conditions Treated: Allergies Arthritis Diabetes Heart Disease PMS Chronic Pain Any many others…

The Center for Naturopathic Medicine, Inc. 3335 Main Street, Stratford • (203) 377-1525

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Rejuvenation therapyspotlight and Healing

CT Naturopathic Physicians Seek Modernized Scope of Practice

by Jaime A. Heidel

T

he Connecticut Naturopathic Physicians Association (CNPA) testified March 14th to the State Legislature about an important proposal for updating, modernizing and expanding the Naturopathic Scope of Practice in the state.

Over 25 years providing expert naturopathic solutions for:

Connecticut’s naturopathic physicians (ND) are seeking the ability to:

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n Prescribe specific legend drugs. n Write prescriptions for devices and durable medical equipment. n Perform minor office procedures.

Currently, the State of Connecticut Department of Public Health defines the scope of naturopathic practice as dietary and lifestyle counseling as well as a limited number of natural therapies such as physiotherapy and hydrotherapy. These strict guidelines also prevent the doctor from being able to prescribe anything beyond natural supplements.

From their Practitioner Licensing and Investigations Naturopathic Study Guide, naturopathic physicians can only prescribe substances that “are not narcotic substances as defined in subsection (30) of section 21a-240, [and] do not require the written or oral prescription of a licensed practitioner to be dispensed.”

Dr. David M. Brady, vice provost and associate professor of clinical sciences at the University of Bridgeport – home of the area’s largest naturopathic education program – says the current antiquated licensing law in Connecticut for naturopathic doctors significantly impedes the ability of health-conscious consumers in the state to access a broader scope of medical care.

The effort to gain an expanded scope of naturopathic practice is an attempt to catch up with what other states have already been doing for years, Brady says.

This, he believes, could potentially reduce the risk of prescription-related injury or death because NDs focus primarily on dietary and lifestyle changes.

“The experience in other states with prescriptive authority for NDs has shown that they use medication judiciously and perhaps more conservatively than their conventional medical counterparts, with an impeccable safety record,” Brady explains.

The CNPA is hopeful the law will be modified in 2014.

Jaime A. Heidel is a Connecticut-based freelance writer whose passion for natural health began when her lifelong mystery symptoms were diagnosed as gluten intolerance by a naturopathic physician. Connect with her at IToldYouIWasSick.com.

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If you would like to support this effort, here is what you can do: n Visit the CPNA Legislative Action website at cqrcEngage.com/Naturopathic/cnpa.

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n Create a Profile.

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n Write a letter to your legislator by clicking on the “Support Expanded Naturopathic Scope of Practice” sidebar topic.

203-938-3690 KindredSpiritsCenter.com 16

Fairfield County Edition

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Total Life Care Center 152 East Ave. • Norwalk, CT • 203-856-9566 • TLCcenter.com Total Life Care Center is dedicated to holistic health by providing you with highly trained and experienced integrated health care practitioners. TLC Center is Fairfield County’s largest holistic health center - with over 90 Independent Members - and was founded by Beth Prins Leas in 1997 on the premise that a single candle burns brighter in a gathering.

Beth has created a vibrant holistic health and resource center and growing community of people who are committed to living consciously and to offering healthy lifestyle options in the form of private sessions, classes, workshops, and special events.

Please visit our website and sign up for our newsletter to learn more about how TLC Center can support you on your journey to living well.

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Fairfield County Edition

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earthdayevents

Celebrate Earth Day 2014

Saturday, April 26 7th Annual Newtown Earth Day Festival Newtown Middle School Queen St, Newtown 10am-4pm Fairfield’s Earth Day Celebration Fairfield Warde High School 755 Melville Ave, Fairfield 10am-4pm

Reduce, Reuse and Recycle to Renew the Health of Our Planet

Sunday, April 27 Earth Day Celebration At Trumbull Nature and Arts Center 7115 Main St, Trumbull 10 am-3pm

Sunday, May 4

W

hether already an activist or still struggling to sort recyclables, we all have a prime opportunity during the week of April 22 to renew our individual and collective pledge to tread more lightly on the planet.

“Environmentalism touches every part of our lives, from what we eat to what we wear to what we breathe,” says Earth Day Network President Kathleen Rogers. “Learning about where our food comes from or how a product is made can be fun,” she continues, “and awareness is the foundation for action.”

More than a billion citizens have already registered their acts of green through the organization’s website; this year, the campaign seeks to engage a billion more. Suggestions range from the personal, such as pledging to stop using disposable plastic, to the political, in calling our congressional representatives to reestablish a tax credit program for renewable energy.

With an estimated two out of every three people on Earth expected to be living in cities by 2050—straining water, energy and transportation systems—Earth Day Network has cho-

sen Green Cities as this year’s theme.

Advocates are calling upon cities to invest in smart grids, overhaul outdated building codes and increase public transportation options.

U.S. success stories helping to lead the way include Chicago’s Solar Express program, using incentives to drive solar installations, and New York City’s pedestrian plazas, designed to replace urban gridlock with open space. Denver’s low-income South Lincoln neighborhood is also getting a makeover with its green public housing community that boasts a platinum-certified Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design building. Its energy efficiency and water reuse systems are reducing resource consumption by up to 40 percent. Plus, bicycle lanes in roads and expanded access to city bus and tram systems decrease trafficrelated pollution.

Wilton Go Green 2014 Wilton Town Green and Wilton Library

Saturday, May 17 8th Annual Milford Earth Day Celebration Flower Field, Milford 8 am-3pm

Visit EarthDay.org to pledge a personal act of green, find a volunteer opportunity or learn more about the re-greening of urban communities around the world. Help Fairfield County celebrate its progress toward sustainability at these local Earth Day 2014 events. eNaturalAwakenings.com

April 2014

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healthbriefs

Home Renovations Aggravate Childhood Asthma

N

ew research suggests that renovation planning should involve more than just picking the right colors and styles; doing it right may help prevent childhood respiratory conditions. Researchers from St. Louis University, in Missouri, linked home renovations with increased wheezing, asthma and chronic coughing among children living in the home. The study, published in the American Journal of Public Health, followed 31,049 children between the ages of 2 and 14 years old from seven Chinese cities over a two-year period.

Previous research has also reached a similar conclusion, identifying some specific materials responsible for increased childhood respiratory disorders. A Russian study of 5,951 children ages 8 to 12 found that increased asthma and wheezing were related to recently completed painting, as well as the installation of new linoleum flooring, synthetic carpets, particleboard and wall coverings.

That study, published in the same journal states, “Exposure levels are the highest during and shortly after painting, but low levels of exposure may remain for several months. Wooden furniture, as well as painted or varnished and new furniture, is likely to emit chemical substances.”

A 2002 study of New York children published in the Journal of Urban Health found similar results.

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Fairfield County Edition

roperly ventilating and frequently cleaning our homes and offices are both important to our health, concludes a new European study published in the Journal of Environmental Science and Health. Researchers analyzed bacterial and fungal counts and suspended particulate matter in indoor air samples of 40 homes and offices. They determined that 45 percent had indoor pollution levels greater than that recommended by the current European Concerted Action Report on air quality standards.

An analysis of a Canadian government Health Measures Survey discovered 47 different indoor volatile organic compounds (VOC) among more than half of the 3,857 households surveyed throughout Canada. Most of the VOCs identified there have also been present in separate European and U.S. studies.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), VOCs are carbon chemical compounds that can evaporate under normal indoor atmospheric conditions. The concern with indoor VOCs is their potential to react with indoor ozone to produce harmful byproducts that may be associated with adverse health effects in sensitive populations.

Benzene, trichloroethylene, tetrachloroethylene and xylene top the list of common VOCs inside U.S. households, according to an EPA report. Typical sources comprise common household chemicals, furnishings and décor, as well as indoor activities such as unventilated cooking, heating and smoking.

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or centuries, aromatherapy using orange oil has been heralded in traditional herbalism for its ability to alleviate anxiety. Research published in the journal Advanced Biomedical Research now finds that aromatherapy using the same ingredient can significantly reduce a child’s anxiety at the dentist’s office.

The study, conducted at Iran’s Isfahan University of Medical Sciences and published in the peer-reviewed journal Advanced Biomedical Research, tested 10 boys and 20 girls between 6 and 9 years old. In this crossover design study, participants were assigned randomly into two groups. Half the children were treated with water instead of any essential oil (control) initially and received orange aroma in the second session (intervention). Another 15 children received treatment under orange aroma in the first encounter (intervention) and were treated without any aroma the second time (control). When the children were given orange oil aromatherapy, they experienced significantly reduced heart rates and lower salivary cortisol levels compared with those not receiving it.

The results corroborate findings from a 2000 study from the University of Vienna, in Austria, published in Physiology and Behavior.

203.548.7785 eNaturalAwakenings.com

April 2014

21

healthbriefs

Air Conditioning Cleans Up Indoor Air

A

ir conditioning does more than keep us cool. A study of 300 adults and homes concludes that central air conditioning removes significant levels of volatile organic compounds and pollution particulates from indoor air. The research, published in the journal Science of the Total Environment, finds that using air conditioning with windows closed reduced indoor air pollution the most. One caveat, however, is that the research was conducted in Taipei, China—notable for its extreme outdoor pollution.

Another recent study published in Environmental Science confirms the general premise. A research team in Zhejiang, China, found that air conditioning reduced the presence of potent atmospheric pollutants known as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAC) by 23 percent. PACs contain compounds that are carcinogenic, mutagenic and teratogenic (damaging to fetuses).

22

Fairfield County Edition

natural awakenings

Supplements Could Save $70 Billion in Medical Costs

I

n a Frost & Sullivan study report authored by Christopher Shanahan and Robert de Lorimier, Ph.D., the use of dietary supplements, including B vitamins, phytosterols and dietary fiber, could reduce the cost of treating coronary artery disease in the U.S. by nearly $50 billion over the next seven years. In addition, healthcare costs related to diabetes, vision problems and osteoporosis could be reduced by nearly $20 billion collectively with the use of certain supplements.

The projections were based on cost-benefit analysis comparing a series of scenarios to assess the effect on overall disease management costs if an identified high-risk population were to avoid costly medical events by increasing their intake of dietary supplements purchased out-of-pocket versus no supplement usage.

“The healthcare system spends a tremendous amount of money treating chronic disease, but has failed to focus on ways to reduce those costs through prevention,� says Steve Mister, president of the Council for Responsible Nutrition Foundation. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, only 3 percent of U.S. healthcare costs are spent on the prevention of chronic diseases.

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

Food Charter

United Nations Blueprints Sustainability Goals A new publication, Trade and Environment Review: Wake Up Before it is Too Late, from the United Nations Commission on Trade and Development, declares that transformative changes are needed in current food, agriculture and trade systems to increase diversity on farms, reduce use of fertilizer and other inputs, support small-scale farmers and create strong local food systems.

Key indicators of needed transformation in agriculture include increased soil carbon content and better integration between crop and livestock production; more incorporation of agroforestry and wild vegetation; reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of livestock production; reduction of GHG through sustainable peatland, forest and grassland management; optimization of organic and inorganic fertilizer use; reduction of waste throughout the food chains; changing dietary patterns toward climate-friendly food consumption; and reform of the international trade regime for food and agriculture.

The report includes contributions from more than 60 international experts, including a commentary from the Institute of Agriculture and Trade Policy.

Source: iatp.org

Trees are Trying Forests Have Limited Powers to Save Us

Forests have a finite capacity to soak up atmospheric carbon dioxide, according to a recent study from Northern Arizona University.

Results published in the online journal New Phytologist illustrate how today’s rising atmospheric levels of carbon dioxide (CO2) might alter the carbon and nitrogen content of ecosystems.

In contrast to expectations, research over an 11-year period showed that ecosystem carbon uptake was not significantly increased by high CO2.

While plants did contain more carbon in the presence of higher CO2 levels, the soil lost carbon content due to microbial decomposition. These factors essentially canceled each other out, signifying that nature cannot entirely self-correct against climate change.

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Fairfield County Edition

natural awakenings

Pick-Me-Up Books Mailbox Libraries Gain Worldwide

Alice Mills smiles as she looks at the box that sits on her lawn in Hutchinson, Kansas, an act of kindness for neighbors and the community.

Inside the box is a miniature library.

Books sit on two shelves; the bottom with short stories for children and the top with novels for adults. After her children grew up and moved away from home, they took the books they wanted with them. The rest sat on a bookshelf collecting dust. “If they’re here, they’re not being read,” Mills says.

The concept for the Little Free Library began in 2009 to promote literacy and the love of reading, as well as to build a sense of community, according to LittleFreeLibrary.org. They are now popping up around the world in the United States, Bulgaria, Germany, Italy, Pakistan, Spain, Turkey and the Congo.

A recent Pew Internet & American Life Project survey shows that Americans strongly value the role of public libraries in their communities, both for providing access to materials and resources and for promoting literacy and improving the overall quality of life. More than half used a public library in a one-year period, and 72 percent say they live in a “library household”. Most Americans say they have only had positive experiences at public libraries and value a range of library resources and services. National Library Week begins April 13.

Contributing source: HutchNews.com

Come to the 40th Annual RVNA Health & Wellness Fair!

Saturday, April 5, 2014 10:00 am to 2:00 pm

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April 2014

25

globalbriefs

Struggling to Find Happiness in Your Marriage?

GMO Go-Ahead

If you are feeling hopeless, there are things you can do right now to restore love and connection.

Feds Give Dangerous Green Light The U.S. Department of Agriculture has issued a draft statement essentially giving the green light to the marketing, sale and planting of Dow Chemical’s genetically modified (GM, GMO, GE) corn and soybeans resistant to 2,4-D, which will trigger a huge increase in the use of the toxic herbicide.

The determination under the Plant Pest Act comes despite intense opposition over the past two years from farmers, more than 400,000 other individuals and some 150 farm, fishery, public health, consumer and environmental groups and private businesses.

Meanwhile, the Grocery Manufacturers Association has issued talking points against GMO labeling laws for food industry lobbyists that claim the laws are unconstitutional, violating the First Amendment, although other legal experts say the assertion is baseless.

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Take action at Tinyurl.com/PushToLabelGMO. Learn more at OrganicConsumers.org.

Albatross Advance

Other Endangered Animals Continue to Decline The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has updated its “red list” of threatened species, upgrading two kinds of albatross. However, the okapi, or “forest giraffe”, has taken a turn for the worse in Africa; the species is now listed as endangered and its numbers are dwindling, say IUCN officials.

Among species that saw an increase in population are the black-browed albatross, which was promoted from endangered to near threatened, and the black-footed albatross, which went from vulnerable to near threatened.

With stripes on its legs similar to those on zebras, the okapi is revered in its native habitat within the Democratic Republic of the Congo and even appears on the country’s currency.

Protecting the species has been difficult amid political turbulence because armed rebels, elephant poachers and illegal miners encroach on parts of the okapi’s range, say conservationists.

Clinics Your Partners in Health and Wellness

The UB Clinics, located on the campus of the University of Bridgeport, are staffed by some of the brightest and most talented healthcare professionals of the future. Open to the public, the UB Clinics offer affordable, high-quality care at a fraction of the cost of comparable treatments elsewhere.

• Naturopathic Medicine • Dental Hygiene • Chiropractic • Acupuncture Call our UB Clinics at 203-576-4349 to take advantage of this unique healthcare opportunity located in your own backyard. Or visit www.ubclinics.org

Health Sciences Center, 60 Lafayette Street, Bridgeport, CT 06604

Source: Mother Nature Network 26

Fairfieldcolor County Edition UBRIRE380_natrl_Awkngs_Ad PRINT.indd 1

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Grassroots Initiative Tackles New Childhood Epidemics One-Week Day Camps • 285-acre nature sanctuary • Learn nature & outdoor skills • Explore wildlife habitats • Games, crafts & memories Sean Iorio, 7; One of our canaries returning from the coal mine Obesity and diabetes, autism and neurodevelopmental delays, digestive and allergic diseases: all these chronic illnesses were rare a generation ago, but today they are impacting our children in epidemic numbers. “Paradoxically, the most affluent, medically advanced societies in the modern world also have the highest rates of chronic childhood illness,” says Beth Lambert, founder and director of Epidemic Answers, a nonprofit educational organization based in West Simsbury, Conn. “Our children are the canaries in the coal mine of national health. It’s critical that we take action now.”

That sense of urgency is behind the nonprofit’s innovative Canary Kids Project, which this year will follow the journeys of 14 American children as a medically-led team uses integrative therapies to help them heal from chronic illness, including autism, ADHD, asthma, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, mood disorders, obesity/type II diabetes and atopic disease/eczema.

“There is much anecdotal evidence indicating that individuals with chronic conditions, even autism, can fully recover,” Lambert says. “This project will use rigorous scientific methodology to test and explore the underpinnings of these anecdotal successes.” The project will be documented in a full-length film, Canary Kids, spreading the message that recovery is possible.

Make a tax-deductible donation to CanaryKidsMovie.com/donate or Epidemic Answers, PO Box 191, West Simsbury, CT 06092. For more info, visit CanaryKidsMovie.com.

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Experience a Himalayan Salt Cave …Now Here in Ridgefield Experience

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April 2014

27

Buzz from CT’s Largest Food, Agriculture and Sustainability Conference

by Eileen Hochberg

“C

T NOFA’s 32nd Annual Winter Conference, which took place at Western Connecticut State University in Danbury on March 1, was well attended with over 900 participants. The conference has already received positive feedback including comments such as “an important part of reestablishing a robust agricultural community in Connecticut” and “encouraged to witness so much support for local, sustainable agriculture.” Attendees are already looking forward to next year’s conference and CT NOFA’s upcoming events as they seek more education, inspiration and community.

CT NOFA is the Connecticut Chapter of the Northeast Organic Farming Association, which has seven chapters in total. The organization advocates for, promotes and supports local and organic food, farming, gardening and land care.

Conference attendees included gardeners, food lovers, farmers, families, environmentalists and cooks who were able to choose from 58 workshops given by 85 presenters, visit 83 vendors and eat a fabulous farm-to table lunch sponsored by some of Connecticut’s food establishments. Workshops catered to all levels and interests. Farmers learned how to grow shitake mushrooms, gardeners learned about backyard chickens and vegetables, DIY enthusiasts learned how to make their own wine at home and activists and organizers came together to discuss the organic food movement.

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Fairfield County Edition

natural awakenings

Teachers included gardening instructors, Connecticut’s farmers, chefs, community activists, organic land care professionals and nutritionists.

The conference was supported by Gold Sponsor Millstone Farm in Wilton, as well as by Silver Sponsors Stonyfield Organics, Farm Credit East and Connecticut Land Conservation Council. Co-Sponsor Western Connecticut State University and its Jane Goodall Center for Excellence in Environmental Studies hosted the Conference.

CT NOFA strives to have the opportunity to engage with each other often, to learn from one another and be inspired and energized by one another to make real change in our food system and environment.

CT NOFA and its partner Winvian in Morris will be hosting A Summer Gathering, Growing Food, Farms and Community on July 19. The day will feature keynote speakers, interactive programming for children and special workshops for young adults introducing them to opportunities related to food system careers.

CT NOFA invites all who are interested in sustainable living to join the community, including those interested in environmental issues or our food system, all who enjoy good food, restaurants or cooking, all who garden or cook.

Eileen Hochberg is Executive Director of CT NOFA. Visit CTNOFA.org for membership opportunities, upcoming events, important advocacy issues and more.

Upcoming CT NOFA local events include: Organic Land Care For Homeowners Workshop Thursday, April 3 • Audubon Greenwich, Greenwich Crop and Gardening Planning • Saturday, May 10, Time TBA • Massaro Community Farm, Woodbridge Raising Chickens on a Diversified Farm Saturday, June 14, 1-3pm • Millstone Farm, Wilton

communityspotlight What research has been done to verify the effectiveness of ecotherapy?

Ecotherapy for Health and Cultural Sustainability

In Western Europe, it is common for medical practitioners to refer patients to ecotherapists and prescribe time in nature. In Japan, there’s a practice called forest therapy, in which people utilize the woods for healing. In America, wilderness therapy has been shown to benefit at-risk adolescents. Alzheimer’s and dementia patients have responded to plant and animal-assisted therapies with heightened awareness and focus.

Q&A with The Graduate Institute’s, Ed O’Malley

T

he Graduate Institute (TGI in Bethany is celebrating Earth Day with the launch of its new 12-credit graduate certificate program in Ecotherapy and Cultural Sustainability. Below is an interview with Dr. Ed O’Malley, naturalist, neurobiologist and shaman, who serves as the program’s new Academic Director.

First of all, what is ecotherapy?

Ecotherapy is about re-establishing connection with Mother Earth. This involves cultivating a very personal relationship with nature, something that we seem to have lost over the years. In the process, we come to appreciate how all life is sacred, which propels our own healing process. Ecotherapy teaches how to facilitate this reconnection, sharing it with others so they may heal as well.

Why do we need a certificate program in ecotherapy?

There are so many complex factors that influence our relationship with nature.

In order to make informed decisions about environmental practices that affect

What is your vision for the ecotherapy program at TGI? the health and well-being of our society, we need to employ a systemic approach that addresses the deeper issues. A program like this allows us to consider all of the big questions, as well as our personal involvement in each. On the West Coast and in Europe, a number of programs have already been created to meet this need. But, at present, there isn’t anything on the East Coast… The Graduate Institute’s will be the first.

What benefits does ecotherapy offer our society?

There’s a great deal of research that substantiates the incredible healing power of being in nature – from planting and growing a garden, to working with animals, wilderness therapy, hiking or simply walking in the woods.

Re-attuning ourselves to the natural rhythms and cycles of the seasons directly impacts our mental and physical health. It’s clear we don’t need more psychotherapists today, but we do need people who are in touch with the entire natural world and can guide us out of our cubicles and return us to the source of all healing.

The majority of the program is experiential, and students will be fully immersed in nature. We will learn the wisdom of Indigenous elders, explore plant growth and their medicines, study permaculture principles and other aspects of sustainable agriculture and develop native skills. The curriculum offers a broad landscape, both for students who are already therapists or those planning to start a practice. We will meet you where you are and allow you to benefit from the full array of offerings while simultaneously carving out a niche for yourself in any area of ecotherapy that you are passionate about.

To learn more, attend a monthly Ecotherapy Interest Group at TGI that is free and open to all. The next meeting is March 31 at 6pm and includes a talk on Transformational Healing through Nature. On April 21 at 6pm, a discussion on Ecological Gastronomy will be included.

To learn more, visit Learn.Edu/ Ecotherapy or to reserve a space at the group, visit Learn.Edu/Events. See ad, page 15.

eNaturalAwakenings.com

April 2014

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The Greening of Fairfield County One Woman’s Mission to Protect Natural Resources

by Nicole Miale

D

aphne Dixon was 10 years old when she first realized the power of Mother Nature. She was living in Sacramento, California during a severe drought and vividly recalls ordering a glass of water at a neighborhood restaurant. All eyes in the room glued to her while her father quietly warned her that she’d better finish every drop. Growing up in a region prone to earthquakes, wildfires and drought shaped a mindset that now powers her life mission as an environmentalist and activist. “I was attuned to the reality from a very young age that natural resources are something that have to be

respected and protected,” Dixon says.

“This is all I’ve wanted to do since I was a little girl.”

“This” refers to the various green events and enterprises Dixon has built – with the help and support of various partners along the way – under the umbrella of a company called Conscious Decisions. In 2007, she made Fairfield County her adopted home and enrolled in a Master Gardener program at Bartlett Arboretum in Stamford. Later that year, she organized and held her first Green Faire at Bartlett with 25 exhibitors. A success from the start, the next Green Faire will be in November in Stamford.

Dixon is well known in the county for organizing and holding Green Drinks networking events in Fairfield, Stamford and Bridgeport. Perhaps she has gained the most acclaim in recent years for the vibrant and successful Live Green CT festival, which will celebrate its fifth year in 2014. Live Green CT is held at Taylor Farm Park in Norwalk each September and has become a flagship event for Dixon and green businesses in the area. The event attracted

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5,000 people over two days in 2013 and Dixon expects that to increase again this year as she adds new and ever more inspiring community members to the lineup of exhibitors.

“I have these events – whether it is Green Drinks or Live Green or the Green Coast Awards – so people can gather and learn and be in joy,” she explains. “For me, there is nothing better than gathering people in the name of protecting our resources.”

Dixon has taken her mission one step further this year, working with local government and businesses to hold Resilient Communities workshops, which has now been renamed the Smart Town Network. There was one event in Fairfield in the fall of 2013 and another is planned at Yale in June of this year. Additional workshops in Stamford and Sacramento are in the works. The Smart Town Network workshops are one day events where community, business and municipal leaders are invited to hear presentations about local projects that are raising the standard for environmental protection while also providing economic payback. “It is essential for our country to move forward and stay a world leader,” she states. “To do that, we must have all three groups involved in sustainability projects that matter.”

She names the Connecticut-based Winter Bros. sanitation company as an example of a green business leader for their forward-thinking approach to single-stream recycling.

“Leadership and towns have to make it easier for people to do the right thing,” Dixon explains. “Systems need to support and make it easier for people by setting the example in a way that doesn’t create hardship. Single-stream recycling is a great example. People are happy to recycle if you don’t make it too complicated.”

Although Dixon’s business is based in Fairfield, she has strong ties to many towns in the county from her years organizing events and working with business and municipal leadership all along the coastline and up Route 7. “You can’t do just one part and have it all work,” she says of her various enterprises. “Knowing and supporting the businesses, working with the municipalities and educating the consumers are the key elements to having a successful event and making a real impact. You can’t cut out one part of that equation and have a sustainable positive result.”

Whether it’s a Green Drinks event on a Wednesday night in Stamford, the Green Coast Awards to celebrate people and businesses that have made a difference or Live Green CT itself, Dixon’s motivation is the same and her joy in the progress is palpable. “I have these events so people can connect and ideas can grow,” she says. “That is the way we can slowly change minds and habits to keep our country strong and vital.”

Nicole Miale is Publisher/Managing Editor of Natural Awakenings Fairfield County.

Connect with Daphne Dixon at DaphneDixon.com.

For more information about specific events, please visit LiveGreenCT.com or GreenDrinks.org/CT or SmartTownNetwork.com.

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April 2014

31

in the UK, Africa, the Middle East, and some parts of the eastern United States.

A number of cob cottages survive from mid-19th century New Zealand. There has been a modern-day resurgence of interest in the cob house as an energy and resource-efficient alternative to conventional building materials and practices.

What is a Cob House?

Cob House Project at Sticks & Stones Farm Ancient Building Style Sees Resurgence

by Ana Mercedes Kranzlin

A

fter experiencing a freezing cold winter like the one just past, it is nice to think of a house that can stay warm in the winter and cool in the summer simply because of the materials it is built with. Facilities management and maintenance company FrontStreet Facility Solutions, Inc., in partnership

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with Newtown’s Sticks and Stones Farm learning center and the Chacaruna community organization, is building one such cob house in Newtown this spring.

Cob structures can be found in a variety of climates across the globe; many old cob buildings can be found

Cob is an ancient building material that seems to have been used for building since prehistoric times. Traditionally, English cob was made by mixing the clay-based subsoil with sand, straw and water, then using oxen to trample it.

The earthen mixture was then ladled onto a stone foundation in courses and trodden onto the wall by workers in a process known as cobbing. The construction would progress according to the time required for the prior course to dry. After drying, the walls would be trimmed and the next course built, with lintels for later openings such as doors and windows being placed as the wall took shape. The material has a long life span even in rainy climates, as long as a tall foundation and large roof overhang are present.

“A cob house is not mainly composed of synthetic materials but rather built out of natural materials found in nature,” explains Marc D. Lash, sustainability champion at FrontStreet Facility Solutions, based in Bohemia, New York. “A cob house can be built from the earth right beneath the building site.” Those natural resources that are not available on the site (sand, gravel, stones, timber and other materials) are usually sourced locally.

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Honoring your spirit, your way

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What are a cob house’s benefits?

Energy efficient: A cob house requires minimal electric and gas heating or, in many cases, none at all. The walls of a cob house are generally about 24 inches thick, creating a “thermal mass” that absorbs sunlight and warms the building over the course of the day. This is basic solar heating, and it keeps the inside of the building warm in the winter and cool in the summer.

Low cost: The primary building materials are very easily accessible and cheap resources to acquire. Other parts like windows and doors can be salvaged. FrontStreet Facility Solutions partners with windows replacement companies to reuse old windows removed from homes and offices. A high quality cob home for a family of five can cost a few thousand dollars, Lash says.

Healthier: Unlike conventional homes which are constructed with synthetic, industrial-formed materials, cob homes are built almost entirely out of natural, clean materials. Modern buildings made out of typical building materials are full of indoor air pollutants and off-gassing of chemicals contained in the building materials. Cob, on the contrary, “breathes” through its tiny pores and keeps the air fresh and clean.

Stands the test of time: The straw, which is part of the cob mix, acts like a natural rebar to hold the whole structure together as one monolithic piece. Many cob homes have lasted for hundreds of years with minimal maintenance.

Stronger communities

An important social component of cob homes is the fact that their construction allows the participation of the communities. “You don’t have to be an expert to help in the building process. Even children can help build in many instances.

Building with cob can be a good social activity and it contributes with strengthening communities,” Lash explains.

The foundation of the cob house at Sticks & Stones is due to be finished by the end of April, with actual construction starting in May. The goal is to have the cob house finished by June 10 and opened to the public through Sticks and Stones Farm. These groups are working on a second project in New York and hope to build as many as 15 cob homes starting next year.

Ana Mercedes Kranzlin is a contributing writer to Natural Awakenings Fairfield County.

For more information, call 203-270-8820, visit SticksAnd StonesFarm.com or email Mlash@FrontStreetfs.com.

Sticks & Stones Farm is located at 201 Huntingtown Rd, Newtown. See ad, page 39.

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Audubon’s 10 Commandments for a Healthy Yard

T

hink, plan, and plant around these 10 Commandments for a healthier yard this year!

1. Go organic • Just say no or limit exposure to toxic chemicals.

• Nourish with “brown gold” (compost), slow release organic rock fertilizers or limestone.

organiclandscaping Green Jay Landscaping, LLC Jay Archer, President 222 Purchase St, #144, Rye, NY 914-560-6570 GreenJayLandscaping@gmail.com GreenJayLandscaping.com

2. Make your turf tough • Use grass varieties developed for your area.

• Use sharp blades to mow 3 to 4 inches high. Short clippings decompose fast to add nitrogen instead of thatch.

• Water deeply only when needed and aerate for deep, dense roots.

3. Go native!

• Native plants means less care, less time, less expense.

• The more native plants in your yard, the more healthy habitats for birds and other wildlife.

• Challenge: REDUCE LAWN AREA by 25% this season.

4. Know your enemies • Get a field guide to identify insects.

• Match control to pest.

• Use control only if a high number of insects exist.

5. Treat only when necessary • Use nontoxic methods first.

• Pick off and dispose of insects, vacuum, prune out infestations or hose off garden plants.

6. Pick your pesticides • Not all chemicals are created equal.

• Ask your lawn-care service to lists pesticides used.

• Look for EPA toxicity ratings: caution (least toxic), warning, poison (most toxic).

7. Use biological controls or biopesticides • Most have very little environmental impact.

• Most decompose quickly and affect only the target pest.

8. Follow directions and protect yourself • Read labels before you buy or use a product.

• Always wear protective clothing while mixing and applying.

• Never use more than recommended. Remember, LESS IS BEST • Do not apply pesticides in windy conditions, near water sources, people, pets or wildlife habitat.

• Learn signs of pesticide poisoning.

9. Respect your neighbor’s “right to know” • Notify your neighbor before using pesticides that could drift, remain active on lawn areas or settle in water.

• Ask neighbors and lawn services to do the same.

• Contact local municipalities to learn what, where and when chemicals are used.

• Ask decision makers to consider safer alternatives.

10. Teach tolerance and be tolerant • Create natural yards with a variety of pests, predators, weeds, wildlife and native plant species.

• Plant bird and wildlife habitat.

• Enjoy controlled untidiness, not lawn maintenance.

Excerpted from Audubon Guide for a Healthy Yard and Beyond (3rd Edition). For reprints, email audubonathome@audubon.org.

To join Audubon, call 800-274-4201.

34

Fairfield County Edition

natural awakenings

Describe your business: Green Jay Landscaping, LLC, is a landscape design/build and property management company featuring ecological services, organic gardening, sustainable lawn, tree and shrub care and consulting and educational services to communities in New York and New England.

What’s your mission? We are inspired by a passionate desire to create naturally healthy and beautiful landscape environments for individuals, their families, communities, schools, institutions and organizations. We are committed to a mindful awareness of the value of conserving, preserving and protecting our precious natural resources.

What do you offer? In addition to design, construction and property management, we offer organic land care, wetland and ecological restoration, rain gardens and storm water management, indoor and outdoor plantscapes and water features and general contracting and home improvement services.

Any specials? We offer a 10 percent discount on design, maintenance and consulting contracts for 2014 signed before May 15. For events, garden tours and lecture dates, visit our new website, GreenJayLandscaping.com.

Green Living Tip - Reduce your lawn, expand your garden, increase diversity naturally and enjoy the benefits of a healthy environment. See ad, page 21.

Growing Solutions, LLC P.O. Box 442, Ridgefield 866-476-9765 or 203-730-1103 Info@Growso.com Growso.com

Business summary and/or services offered: Growing Solutions, LLC, co-owned by Paul Fujitani and Chris Baliko, is a full service landscape company servicing Fairfield County since 2002. Our services include landscape design/installation, property maintenance, organic lawn care, organic plant health care, organic tick control, masonry, large tree care, irrigation and landscape lighting.

What drew you to this work as a profession? I have been an outdoors person all my life. My dad has been a forester for 50 years, so I was influenced by him.

Areas of specialty and/or special certifications: Sustainable landscape design, organic lawn programs, organic tick control, organic plant health care programs, CT licensed arborist.

Licensed in CT? Yes, we are licensed and insured.

How has your work/business evolved and/or what new can you offer for 2014? We started out applying synthetic products, but realized how unhealthy this was for our customers, employees, the earth and us. In 2006, we became accredited organic through the Northeast Organic Farming Association and have been providing organic services since then.

What do you most want Natural Awakenings’ readers to know about you and your business? That organic gardens and lawns are not just about using organic products. It involves building a healthy soil. If we focus on creating a healthy soil full of organic matter, we will have healthier plants, lawns and trees. See ad, page 8.

Ste. Therese Design Associates, LLC 58 Old Rock Ln, Norwalk 203-956-9612 ThinkProgress@optonline.net Business Summary: Suzanne Ste. Therese Design Associates (SSDA), LLC, uses organic methods including soil testing and supplementation, the key to all successful landscapes, as well as collaborative plant selection and expert layout and vigilant site supervision. SSDA creates the kind of landscapes that feel like sanctuary at your home or business.

Why This Profession: Growing up on a farm in California imprinted Ste. Therese for life. Having tried other professions, she finally came home when she enrolled in a Landscape Architecture curriculum at UCLA: a profession that encompasses engineering, planting, soils, design, drawing, land development and conservation law.

Specialty or Special Certifications: Graduate level work at UCLA in Landscape Architecture completed at City College of New York with a Bachelor of Science in Urban Landscape Design. Master Gardener through the State of Connecticut at Bartlett Arboretum.

New Offerings in 2014: Always learning, SSDA brings the latest organic practices, including a greater selection of native plants. More than gardens grow at SSDA with the latest developments in environmental design and all aspects of landscape design and architecture constantly evolving.

What do you most want “Natural Awakenings Readers” to know about your business?: To nurture a stressed planet and create beauty is what SSDA does. A tenacious desire for research and application of a developed knowledge base brings beauty to homes or businesses. SSDA can create the “full picture” immediately or work incrementally to make a new, vibrant space sing.

eNaturalAwakenings.com

April 2014

35

Got Allergies?

Clean Green!

Allergies and Autoimmune Disease Spurred by Chemicals

by Jaime A. Heidel

S

pring is in the air and with it comes the pollen and ragweed that sends over half of the population scurrying into the relative safety of their homes with windows closed and tissues at the ready. According to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, approximately 54 percent of the U.S. population suffers from some sort of allergy.

In the past 60 years, incidence of allergies has risen substantially and so has the diagnosis of autoimmune disease.

With an allergy, the immune system mistakes a harmless substance outside the body (pollen, pet dander) as a foreign invader and triggers an inflammatory response. In autoimmune disease, the immune system misidentifies and attacks healthy tissue (lungs, intestines), resulting in a chronic inflammatory response.

Unfortunately, if you suffer from allergies, staying inside may not keep you safe, especially if you are doing some spring cleaning. The average household cleaning product contains 62 toxic chemicals that can exacerbate existing symptoms and even cause new ones. There is currently no federal regulation for any of the chemicals used in conventional cleaning products.

The classic allergic symptoms won’t be the only indicator that there may be a problem. Nearly everyone with allergies or an autoimmune disease also has a compromised digestive system. When a home is cleaned with products containing harmful synthetic chemicals, it can worsen symptoms by further depleting healthy gut bacteria, even though you’re only inhaling and not swallowing the products.

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natural awakenings

Mark J. Joachim, DC, who practices in Norwalk and specializes in treatment of allergic conditions, has seen a striking rise in the amount of multiple food and chemical sensitivities as well as autoimmune dysfunction in the patients he has treated over 22 years.

“The synthetic chemicals in our food and environment are a constant challenge to our bodies and have a detrimental effect on our health by compromising our digestive and immune systems,” Joachim says. Since over 70 percent of the immune system resides in the gut, keeping the digestive system healthy and filled with beneficial bacteria is a key step in preventing chronic disease.

“As our gut is compromised through exposure to certain medications, unhealthy food sources (processed and GMO foods) and synthetic chemicals, we develop intolerances/ sensitivities,” Joachim explains. Over time, these intolerances and sensitivities may turn into permanent allergies and cause such a disruption of the immune system that it turns on itself: autoimmune disease.

Joachim currently uses the BioSET Allergy Elimination System with his patients, which he says has the ability to permanently eliminate some food and environmental allergies.

Top 10 Most Dangerous Synthetic Chemical Cleaners So what are the commonly used synthetic cleaners to watch out for? These are the top 10 most dangerous synthetic chemicals in conventional cleaning products: 1. Formaldehyde: Formaldehyde has been declared by the National Cancer Institute as a known human carcinogen.

Exposure to this chemical has been linked to chronic upper respiratory distress and contact dermatitis. Expectant mothers should be especially wary; prenatal exposure has been linked to developmental disorders. This chemical is often found in wood cleaner and aerosol propellants.

2. Dioxin: Chlorine from bleach eventually turns into dioxin.

The World Health Organization has declared dioxins a danger because they “affect a number of organs and systems.”

This chemical has also been declared as a probable human carcinogen by the Environmental Protection Agency. Dioxin has been linked to birth defects, deformities, developmental delays and immune system damage. One of the most dangerous aspects of dioxin is that it is absorbed by fat tissue and can remain in the body for 7-11 years. Anything labeled “antimicrobial” or “antibacterial” could potentially contain this chemical compound.

3. Benzene: Benzene is a component of products derived from coal and petroleum and is found in gasoline and other fuels. “Long-term exposure may affect bone marrow and blood production. Short-term exposure to high levels of benzene can cause drowsiness, dizziness, unconsciousness and even death,” according to OSHA.gov. Benzene has also been linked to the development of leukemia. It is commonly found in furniture polish.

4. Chloroform: The Environmental Protection Agency has classified chloroform as a Group B2 probable human carcino-

gen. Chronic long-term exposure to this chemical has been associated with neurological impairment, mood disorders, hepatitis and jaundice.

Chloroform is often found in de-greasing agents and carpet spot removers.

5. Toluene: Toluene is a clear, waterinsoluble liquid derived from coal tar and petroleum. The Centers for Disease Control has labeled this chemiInes Japa of Elegant cal as “Immediately Dangerous to Lifestyle Organic Life or Health Concentrations” as it Home Cleaning has been linked to extreme fatigue, mental confusion, nausea, headache and dizziness from exposure to small concentrations. Toluene is most commonly found in brush cleaners, varnish and wood-finishing agents.

6. Propylene Glycol: Although propylene glycol has not been linked to nearly as many negative health effects as others, hidden allergy to propylene glycol is quite common. This chemical is often used as a solvent and enzyme stabilizer in a multitude of cleaning products.

7. Parabens: Autoimmune thyroid disease could be, in part, the result of exposure to parabens. According to a study published in the Journal of Reproductive Toxicology, parabens can mimic estrogen and disrupt the body’s hormone system. The study revealed that the effects of parabens may be “thyrotoxic” and also contribute to reproductive and developmental disorders. Parabens are found in a multitude of household cleaners.

8. Phthalates: Phthalates are considered endocrine-disrupting chemicals and are “reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen” by the “Twelfth Report on Carcinogens” published by the National Toxicology Program. These chemicals can be found in multiple cleaning products but are most commonly found in air fresheners.

9. Triclosan: Triclosan is a synthetic antibacterial agent that has been recently linked to the development of antibiotic resistance – the inability of prescription antibiotics to kill bacteria. Triclosan has chlorinated structures that bind to your thyroid gland, which displaces essential iodine and causes chronic inflammation. Using antibacterial soap and chlorinated water to clean our homes exposes us to Triclosan as well as chloroform.

10. Chlorine: Chlorine bleach is quite caustic and can result in chest pains, upper respiratory distress and eye irritation.

According to a study published in the Scandinavian Journal of Immunology, chronic exposure to chlorine during a period of inflammation (sickness or injury) could result in the development of an autoimmune disease. Any product containing bleach contains chlorine.

Ways to Ditch the Chemicals and Clean Green Many of us are turning to greener products in an attempt to reduce our allergies as well as our carbon footprint. How-

ever, as these products become more popular, manufacturers struggle to keep up while keeping costs down. This results in many products being labeled “natural” and “organic” when they actually contain synthetic fragrances and chemicals.

In contrast, Shaklee has created completely organic cleaning products since 1956. The products they produce are plant-based and contain no harmful fumes, phthalates or bisphenol-A. Shaklee’s cleaning products also save energy and eliminate excess waste by coming in recyclable or reduced-waste packaging. They are highly-concentrated, so a little goes a long way.

Debbie Miron, an authorized Shaklee distributor based in Greenwich, understands good health means more than eating a healthy diet and getting plenty of exercise. “When it comes to being your healthiest self, what you put around your body is just as important as what you put in your body.

That’s why home should be the safest place on earth.”

This is good advice, especially for anyone suffering with allergies or an autoimmune disease. Your home should be a sanctuary; a healing place where everything is designed to improve your health or, at the very least, not harm it.

Nancy Sherr, owner of Chamomille Natural Foods in Danbury, says a safe, low-cost way to clean your home is to use a component for popular salad dressing. “Use distilled white vinegar,” Sherr advises. “You can pick up a gallon cheaply at most supermarkets. It cuts through grease and kills most bacteria. The vinegar smell does not linger but, if does bother you, you can add a favorite essential oil to the bottle before using.”

Fairfield County also boasts at least one home and business cleaning service which specializes in healthier, non-toxic cleaning. Elegant Lifestyle Organic Homecleaning Service has been in business for eight years and the team - which provides all tools and cleaning products - even uses a special filtering vacuum. Owner Ines Japa says the products her company uses are toxin-free and naturally aromatic, without synthetic chemicals or scents. “Why wouldn’t someone choose the safer alternative for their family,” she asks. “The choice is clear!”

Jaime A. Heidel is a Connecticut-based freelance writer whose passion for natural health began when her lifelong mystery symptoms were diagnosed as gluten intolerance by a naturopathic physician. Connect with her at IToldYouIWasSick.com.

Local Resources Mark Joachim, DC • Associates In Family Chiropractic Norwalk • 203-838-1555 • AllergyElimination.com Debra S. Miron • Authorized Shaklee Distributor Greenwich • 203-253-1462 • DebbieMiron.MyShaklee.com Nancy Sherr • Chamomille Natural Foods Danbury • 203-792-8953 • ChamomilleNaturalFoods.com Ines Japa • Elegant Lifestyle Organic Homecleaning Serving Fairfield County • 203-313-5155 eNaturalAwakenings.com

April 2014

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greenliving

The Jabs’ homemade laundry detergent costs five cents per load, compared with 21 cents for a store brand.

Annie B. Bond, a bestselling author and pioneering editor of the award-winning Green Guide, dispels a DIY myth: “What’s time-consuming isn’t making the cleaners; it’s making the decision to switch and figuring it all out,” she says.

Nine Basics

HOMEMADE ECO-CLEANERS DIY Recipes Keep Your Home Naturally Clean

by Lane Vail

A

mericans use 35 million pounds of toxic household cleaning products annually. According to the Children’s Health Environmental Coalition, in Los Angeles, traces of cleaning chemicals can be found throughout the human body within seconds of exposure, posing risks like asthma, allergies, cancer, reproductive toxicity, hormone disruption, neurotoxicity and death.

Equally sobering is the decades of research suggesting a relationship between the overuse of powerful disinfectants and the rise of antibiotic-resistant super bacteria like methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), as well as concerns over these toxins enter-

ing water supplies and wildlife food chains.

Cleaning product labels lack transparency, says Johanna Congleton, Ph.D., a senior scientist for the Environmental Working Group, because “manufacturers aren’t required to specify ingredients.”

One approach to assure safe ingredients is do-it-yourself (DIY) products.

For Matt and Betsy Jabs, the authors of DIY Natural Household Cleaners who blog at DIYNatural.com, creating homemade cleaners is a rewarding exercise in sustainability and simplicity.

“We’re cutting through all the marketing and getting back to basics,” says Matt. Affordability is another benefit:

Find these multitasking ingredients in local groceries and health stores or online.

White vinegar effectively cleans, deodorizes, cuts grease and disinfects against bacteria, viruses and mold.

Castile soap in liquid or bar form serves as a biodegradable, vegetablebased surfactant and all-around cleaner (avoid mixing with vinegar, which neutralizes its cleansing properties).

Baking soda cleans, whitens, neutralizes odors and softens water. It’s an excellent scrubbing agent for bathrooms, refrigerators and ovens.

Borax, a natural mineral, improves the effectiveness of laundry soap. Although classified (as is salt) as a low-level health hazard that should be kept away from children and animals, borax is non-carcinogenic and isn’t absorbed through skin.

Washing soda, a caustic chemical cousin of baking soda, softens water and removes stains. Bond advises, “It’s a heavy duty cleaner as powerful as any toxic solvent,” so wear gloves.

Hydrogen peroxide is considered an effective disinfectant and bleach alternative

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Open Mic Night, 3rd Sat at 7 pm Reiki Healing Circle, 1st Thu at 7 pm Movie Night, 1st Fri at 8 pm Purls of Wisdom, 2nd Sat at 6 pm Radical Forgiveness (6 week class), Tuesdays at 7 pm (beginning 4/15)

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Stand-Up Comedy Night Hosted by Shawn Moninger Headliner Chuck Sweeney as “Miss Peggy Lee” Saturday, April 19th at 7:00 pm, $10 Tickets

natural awakenings

by the Environmental Protection Agency. Use it to whiten grout and remove stains.

Essential oils derived from plants infuse cleaners with fragrance and boost germ-fighting power. Tea tree, eucalyptus and lavender oils all boast antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal properties. The Jabs advise that although they can be pricy, “The investment will pay for itself many times over.”

Lemon juice or citric acid cuts through grease, removes mold and bacteria and leaves dishes streak-free.

Coarse kosher salt helps soften dishwasher water and acts as a scouring agent.

Home Formulas

All-purpose cleaner: Homemade Cleaners: Quick-and-Easy Toxin-Free Recipes, by Mandy O’Brien and Dionna Ford, suggests combining one cup of vinegar, one cup of water and 15 drops of lemon oil in a spray bottle. Use it anywhere, including glass and mirrors. For serious disinfecting, follow with a hydrogen peroxide spray.

Foaming hand/dish soap: Shake one cup of water, a quartercup of castile soap and 15 drops of essential oil in a foaming dispenser. Use in bathrooms and kitchens.

Dishwashing detergent: DIYNatural recommends mixing one cup of borax, one cup of washing soda, a half-cup of citric acid and a half-cup of coarse kosher salt. Leave it uncovered for several days, stirring often to prevent clumping.

Cover and refrigerate. Use one tablespoon per load with a half-cup of citric acid in the rinse to combat streaks.

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Laundry detergent: Combine one cup of borax, one cup of washing soda and one 14-ounce bar of grated castile soap.

Use one tablespoon per load, adding a half-cup of lemon juice to the rinse cycle. Prior to washing, use hydrogen peroxide as a stain remover (test first; it may lift color).

Bathroom soft scrub: Bond recommends creating a thick paste with liquid castile soap and a half-cup of baking soda.

Scour tubs, showers and stainless steel surfaces with a sponge, and then rinse.

Toilet bowl cleaner: Sprinkle one cup of borax into the toilet at bedtime and then clean the loosened grime with a brush the next morning, advises Bond. Wipe outer surfaces with the all-purpose spray.

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Wood polish: Bond recommends mixing a quarter-cup of vinegar or lemon juice with a few drops of olive and lemon oil.

Hard floor cleaner: Environmental Working Group’s DIY Cleaning Guide suggests combining a half-gallon of hot water with one cup of white vinegar in a bucket to mop.

Carpet cleaner: Freshen rugs by sprinkling baking soda at night and vacuuming in the morning, suggests Bond. For deeper cleaning, combine one cup of vinegar and two-anda-half gallons of water in a steam cleaner.

Lane Vail is a freelance writer in South Carolina. Connect at WriterLane.com.

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April 2014

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Securing a much smaller dwelling than what we originally had designs on can lead to a lifetime of savings.

With less space to furnish, heat, cool, light, clean and maintain, we can enjoy greater financial freedom, less stress and more time for fun.

2. Deciding Where to Live

LIVE GREEN,

SAVE BIG Five Eco-Friendly Life Decisions that Can Actually Save Us Money

by Crissy Trask

E

very pivotal life decision, from choosing where we live to eating healthier, can support our best interests environmentally, as well. The good news is that it is possible to afford a sustainable way of life. Eco-friendly choices for housing, vehicles and food— generally perceived as expensive for the average individual or family—often are not only attainable when pursued in a thoughtful way, but can actually save us money compared to maintaining the status quo.

1. Buying a Home

When considering a move to a new place, we often find out how much house we can manage and then proceed to invest to the hilt. But if hitting our spending limit will leave a deficit in the amount of green and healthy home features and furnishings we can achieve, we could end up with a residence that makes neither financial nor ecological sense, and isn’t good for our 40

Fairfield County Edition

health. A solution is to scale back on costly square footage. Spending 25 to 40 percent less than we think we can on a smaller home provides more possibilities when planning the renovation budget, enabling us to create a home that is more deeply satisfying.

Nicole Alvarez, an architectural designer with Ellen Cassilly Architect, in Durham, North Carolina, who blogs at IntentionallySmall.com, says that if we value quality over quantity, place over space and living more intentionally in every aspect of our lives, we are ready for a small home. Occupying less space has profoundly influenced her daily life and happiness.

Alvarez has found, “When space is limited, everything has a function and a purpose. Everything has to be intentional. Over time, as you grow in the home, you make small modifications to personalize it more to adjust to your routine. You grow a strong bond with your home.”

natural awakenings

Urban, suburban or rural, where we live incurs long-term repercussions on the natural environment. Choosing an established community within or close to an urban center tends to be more protective of air, water and land quality than living in a distant, car-dependent suburb, yet many families feel either drawn to or resigned to the suburbs for the lower housing prices.

But as Ilana Preuss, vice president at Washington, D.C.-based Smart Growth America, explains, “There is more to housing affordability than how much rent or mortgage we pay. Transportation costs are the second-biggest budget item for most families. In locations with access to few transportation choices, the combined cost of housing and transportation can be more than 60 percent of the total household budget.

For families with access to a range of transportation choices, the combined cost can be less than 40 percent.”

In most suburbs, where the only practical transportation choice is a personal vehicle, dependency on a car takes a toll on us financially and physically. Driving a personal vehicle 15,000 miles a year can cost about $9,122 annually in ownership and operating expenses, according to AAA’s 2013 Your Driving Costs report, and hours spent daily sitting behind the wheel being sedentary is eroding our health.

Lack of transportation options is a leading detriment to the nation’s collective wellness, according to the federal agency Healthy People.

Sustainable cities provide many transportation options, including public buses and trains, car-sharing services and all forms of ride sharing; and perhaps most importantly, they are bike- and pedestrian-friendly. Choosing communities that make it possible to reduce driving and even go car-free much of the time can save us money, reduce stress and improve our health.

Eco-friendly choices for housing, vehicles and food—generally perceived as expensive for the average individual or family—often are not only attainable when pursued in a thoughtful way, but can actually save us money compared to maintaining the status quo.

3. Choosing a Car

We know two primary facts about cars: They are expensive and those with inter-

nal combustion engines pollute during operation. Still, many of us need one.

Reducing the total impact and burden of owning a car can be as simple as prioritizing fuel efficiency. It helps that fuel-sippers now come in more sizes than just small, yet small subcompacts remain a good place to start our research because of their budget-friendly prices and high fuel economy.

A subcompact that averages 32 miles per gallon (mpg) and has a sticker price below $15,000 can save us so much money compared with a top-selling compact SUV—upwards of $16,000 over five years, according to Edmunds.com—that if we need a larger vehicle on occasion, we can more easily afford to rent one.

Hybrid electric vehicles (HEV), both small and midsized, can be an even better choice, averaging 41 mpg. Cost comparisons show that an HEV can save a heavily travelling city driver nearly $1,000 in fuel costs annually versus a comparably sized conventional gasolinepowered car. Although a 2014 midsized HEV has an average suggested retail price of $28,431, the category has been around long enough to create a market

in previously owned vehicles. A used hybrid that is just two years old can cost up to 25 percent less than a new one.

4. Buying American

According to Consumer Reports, many shoppers prefer to buy products made in the USA, but with more than 60 percent of all consumer goods now produced overseas, finding American goods is not always easy.

The good news is that buying American doesn’t mean only buying American made. We back the U.S. economy and jobs when we purchase used items that have been renewed or repurposed by enterprising citizens. Creative reuse supports new and existing businesses that collect, clean, sort, recondition, refurbish, remanufacture, update, refinish, reupholster, repair, tailor, distribute and sell used parts, materials and finished goods.

Sarah Baird, director of outreach and communications of the Center for a New American Dream, an organization working to shift consumption away from wasteful trends, loves the history of used items. She says, “An item that has already lived one life has a story to tell,

eNaturalAwakenings.com

April 2014

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By the Numbers The newest hybrids have been around for more than a decade, and the batteries have held up extremely well, lasting 150,000 to 200,000 miles in some cases. ~ CNN.com

3 The factor by which occupied liv-

ing space per household member has increased in the last 60 years.

8 The percentage of goods sold in the U.S. in 1960 that were foreign made.

377 The number of hours the average

American needs to work each year in order to own and operate a car, equivalent to 9.4 standard work weeks.

13,000 The dollars a person re-

and is infinitely more interesting than anything newly manufactured.” Another reward is the big savings afforded by previously owned durable goods; not even America’s big-box discount retailers can beat these genuine bargains.

Of course, not everything is available in the used marketplace, but when it makes sense, we can proudly know that our purchases support American ingenuity and workers.

5. Getting Healthy

1 The average dollar cost to fully recharge a plug-in electric hybrid vehicle battery.

Going green is healthy in innumerable ways. In addition to driving less, banning toxic products from our household cupboards and dinner plates is another solid place to start on the road

quires annually to treat Type 2 diabetes, a preventable, diet-related disease.

Sources: Go Green, Spend Less, Live Better, by Crissy Trask; In Defense of Food, by Michael Pollan

to improved well-being for ourselves and the planet.

Toxic consumer products pollute the planet, from manufacture through use and disposal. They aren’t doing us any favors. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency reports that the average human body now contains an estimated 700 industrial compounds, pollutants and other chemicals due to exposure to toxic consumer products and industrial chemicals. After researching proper

local disposal of such hazards, replace them on future shopping forays with safer choices. It’s an investment in our health that can save untold pain and money and pay off big time in avoiding health problems ranging from cancer, asthma and chronic diseases to impaired fertility, birth defects and learning disabilities according to the Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families Coalition.

To reduce exposure to the toxins that are commonly sprayed on conventional crops, select sustainable and organic versions of foods to prepare at home whenever possible. Such choices help keep both our bodies and the environment healthy and can be surprisingly affordable compared with eating out and consuming prepackaged convenience foods.

By substituting whole foods for prepared foods, cooking more meals at home and practicing good eating habits—like eating less meat and downsizing portions—the average person can enjoy high-quality food for $7 to $11 per day. This matches or falls below what the average American daily spends on food, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Considering that diet-related diseases can cost afflicted families thousands of dollars a year, better food choices can make us not only healthier, but wealthier, too.

Crissy Trask is the author of Go Green, Spend Less, Live Better. Connect at CrissyTrask.com.

Celebrate April 22

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Fairfield County Edition

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wisewords

Ice Chaser

James Balog’s Dramatic Images Document Climate Change

by Christine MacDonald

N

ational Geographic photographer James Balog says he was skeptical about climate change until he saw it happening firsthand. Watching once-towering glaciers falling into the sea inspired his most challenging assignment in a storied 30-year career— finding a way to photograph climate change.

In exploring Balog’s Extreme Ice Survey, a breathtaking photographic record of vanishing glaciers, and his award-winning documentary, Chasing Ice, Natural Awakenings asked about the challenges he faced to bring this dramatic evidence of climate change to a world audience.

How did seeing glaciers shrink “before your eyes” move you to endure sometimes lifethreatening conditions to get these images on record?

I fell in love with ice decades ago as a young mountaineer and scientist. I loved to get up before dawn and hike out on a glacier in Mount Rainier or one in the Alps, watch the light come up and hear the crunch of the frozen ice underfoot.

On a trip to Iceland early in the project, I was looking at these little diamonds of ice that were left behind on the beach after the glaciers broke up.

The surf had polished them into incredible shapes and textures. Walking the beach, you’d realize each one was a unique natural sculpture that existed only for that moment before the 44

Fairfield County Edition

return of high tide stole it away. Nobody would ever see it again. That was an amazing aesthetic and metaphysical experience.

I realized that I wanted people to share this experience, to see the glaciers disappearing.

This visual manifestation and evidence of climate change is here, happening right before our eyes. It is undeniable.

Why do these photos and videos help us grasp the scale of Planet Earth’s climate changes already underway?

When people encounter Extreme Ice Survey images, their response is typically immediate and dramatic. It is the first step toward caring about a distant landscape most will never experience in person, enabling them to connect the dots between what happens far away and the rising sea levels, extreme weather events and other climaterelated issues closer to home.

What can an everyday person do to help underscore the global scientific consensus and urgency of addressing global warming?

Lobbyists and pundits seek confusion and controversy, because ignorance seeks to hide within a noise cloud of false information. As long as the public thinks climate change isn’t real or that science is still debating it, fossil fuel industries protect their profits. Without social clarity, the political leaders finan-

natural awakenings

cially beholden to fossil fuel industries have no motivation to act. Market signals don’t help us make correct decisions when the military, health and environmental costs of fossil fuels that spread throughout the economic system don’t show up in today’s gasoline prices and electricity bills.

Science and art seek clarity and vision. Clear perception is the key to changing the impact we’re having on our home planet. With social clarity, the policy, economic and technological solutions to wise energy use and countering climate change can be widely implemented. The path forward is being traveled by individuals committed to improving their own lives and communities; by school children who can’t stand the inaction of their elders; by innovative entrepreneurs and corporations eager to make or save money; by military generals seeking to protect their country and their soldiers; and by political leaders of courage and vision.

We are all complicit with action or skeptical inaction; we can all participate in solutions to climate change.

What’s next on the horizon for you?

We will continue to keep the Extreme Ice Survey cameras alive. This project doesn’t end just because the film came out. We plan to keep observing the world indefinitely. We’ll install more cameras in Antarctica; funding permitting, we also hope to expand into South America.

I intend to continue looking at human-caused changes in the natural world, which is what I’ve been photographing for 30 years. I’m developing a couple of other big ideas for conveying innovative, artistic and compelling interpretations of the world as it’s changing around us. I will continue doing self-directed educational projects through our new nonprofit, Earth Vision Trust. Overall, I feel a great obligation to preserve a pictorial memory of vanishing landscapes for the people of the future.

Christine MacDonald is a freelance journalist in Washington, D.C., whose specialties include health and science.

Visit ChristineMacDonald.info.

communityspotlight

The Clean Bedroom Q&A with Co-Founder Chris Chamberlin

T

he Clean Bedroom is an independent retailer of organic mattresses and bedding founded in November 2004 by home furnishings marketers Theodore Duquette and Christine Chamberlin.

Its focus is to help people make informed purchase decisions as they create a sustainable, green bedroom or organic nursery.

The retailer, which currently has seven locations, moved its Westport showroom last fall to a larger space in Greenwich to serve all of Fairfield County and more of Westchester County. The new space is located at 79 East Putnam Ave, across from Whole Foods.

What is The Clean Bedroom?

We’re the premier resource for organic mattresses and bedding with sleep showrooms across the country.

Whole Foods Market is bringing you natural & organic foods at premium quality, not premium prices.

Westport 399 Post Road West, CT 203.227.6858 Greenwich 90 E. Putnam Avenue, CT 203.661.0631 Darien 150 Ledge Road, CT 203.662.0577

How did you get started?

When we discovered what was in conventional mattresses, my husband said, “Every mother in the world should know what they are putting their child on at night.” That was 2004, and The Clean Bedroom was born.

What’s wrong with conventional mattresses?

They’re nightmares. You spend one-third of your life in bed, and that very intimate, prolonged exposure to oil, polyester, toxic flame retardants and chemicals is dangerous.

What’s right with organic mattresses?

Those we recommend use renewable, natural materials— from cotton to sea grass—without unwelcome additions like chemical flame retardants.

GREENS WITH CARROTS, FETA CHEESE AND BROWN RICE (Serves 4)

Dark leafy greens are the most nutrient-dense foods. That means that they contain more beneficial micronutrients per calorie than any other food, providing incredible nutritional bang for your buck, and in this case they’re ready, and very tasty, in less than 15 minutes. Serve with lemon wedges for even more flavor.

2 carrots, shredded 2 bunches dark leafy greens (kale, collard greens or Swiss chard), tough stems removed, leaves very thinly sliced

What makes you the experts?

1/2 red onion, finely chopped

We do a lot of research. In most cases, my husband (and business partner) and I visit the factories to ensure the mattresses meet our standards. This really is our passion.

1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper

How can people utilize The Clean Bedroom?

Enlist a trained organic mattress specialist to match you with the eco-mattress of your dreams when you call us at 866-380-5892, stop by a sleep showroom or visit TheCleanBedroom.com.

Best advice?

Avoid green-washing. Ask questions. And don’t settle— organic mattresses come in all sizes, sleep styles and prices.

1/4 teaspoon sea salt 1/4 pound feta cheese, crumbled 1 (20-ounce) package frozen 365 Everyday Value Organic Whole Grain Brown Rice, prepared according to package directions

• Put carrots, greens, onions, 1/4 cup water, salt and pepper into a large, deep skillet and toss well. Cover and cook over medium heat, tossing once or twice, until greens are wilted and tender, 10 to 15 minutes. Toss with feta cheese and spoon over brown rice.

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April 2014

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healthykids

Backyard Birds and Butterflies Native Habitats Draw Critters and Delight Kids

by Avery Mack

C

reating a backyard wildlife habitat provides valuable teaching moments. With planning and care, birds, bats, butterflies and bunnies can view yards as safe havens and sources for food, water and shelter, providing endless fascination.

Josh Stasik, a father of three and owner of SweetSeed.com, in Syracuse, New York, sees firsthand how feeding winged wonders can be an inexpensive way to start a new family activity. “My mom taught me about flowers and bird feeders. I hope my kids will someday pass the information along to their children,” he says.

Habitat plantings and available foods determine 46

Hummingbird Nectar Recipe Measure one part ordinary white sugar to four parts water (no unhealthy red dye needed). Boil the water first, and then mix the nectar while the water is hot; the sugar will easily dissolve.

Fairfield County Edition

Source: TomatoEnvy.com

what creatures will visit.

“Native plants attract native bugs that are eaten by native birds and bats,” observes Stasik, noting that staff at extension services and garden centers can provide helpful advice.

Based on his own research, Stasik knows, “Bird species have definite tastes in food. Bluebirds love mealworms. Hummingbirds like floral nectars. Orioles look for citrus fruit. Butterflies are eclectic sippers of both floral and citrus.”

Hummingbirds pose particular appeal for kids and adults because they appear always on the move. Hummingbirds.net/ map.html follows their migration sites.

Videographer Tom

natural awakenings

Hoebbel, owner of TH Photography, outside Ithaca, New York, builds birdhouses and nesting boxes with his kids. They also participate in the annual Christmas bird count for the Audubon Society (Birds.

Audubon.org/ Christmas-birdcount). The Great Backyard Bird Count, a joint project bird photos courtesy of Susan between nonGottlieb, of Venice, California profits Audubon and the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, follows in February (gbbc.BirdCount.org).

“In our yard, we have five nesting boxes made from reused wood. Once or twice a week, we check to see who lives there and how many eggs there are,” says Hoebbel. “So far, we’ve seen bluebirds, chickadees and house wrens.”

He laments the rapid decline of bats in the Northeast due to pesticides killing bugs, the main course for birds and bats. “In the winter, bats live in caves, so we put one-by-one-foot boxes in the yard for their summer homes.” Warm evenings on the patio are more enjoyable when bats clean up the mosquito population; a single bat can eat as many as 1,000 in an hour.

The monarch butterfly population is another favorite species in decline, with the spectacular annual migration on the verge of disappearing due to illegal deforestation, climate change, expansion of crop acreage and imposition of genetically modified plants that reduce the growth of native species.

“You can help them by planting perennial milkweed in your garden,” advises Brande Plotnick, founder of Tomato Envy, in Jenkintown, Pennsylvania.

Milkweed is the food of choice because

it makes the caterpillars and butterflies toxic to birds and other predators. Also consider planting garden phlox, coneflower and lantana. Migrating monarchs live about nine months and fly up to 30 miles per hour.

Plotnick also suggests planting an herb garden that includes parsley.

“Swallowtail butterflies will lay eggs on parsley, caterpillars hatch and feed on it, and eventually create a chrysalis,” she says. “You’ll be able to see the entire butterfly life cycle.”

Rabbits add another dimension to backyard wildlife. Just as birds and butterflies need trees, bushes and plants to land on and hide in, bunnies need ground cover. The Virginia Department of Game and Fisheries counsels that brush piles should start with a base of large limbs, logs or stones to raise the floor above ground and create tunnels and escape routes, plus a home base.

Top with smaller branches and maybe a recycled Christmas tree or dead plants.

Encourage structural density and permanence with live vines. The resulting brush pile should be igloo-shaped and about six to eight feet tall and wide.

Visit Tinyurl.com/BunnyShelters.

City ordinances or subdivision regulations might prohibit brush piles in ordinary yards. Find out how to gain certification as a wildlife habitat through the National Wildlife Federation at Tinyurl.com/CertifiedWildlifeHabitat.

Rabbits can have as many as seven babies per litter, depending on the species. Make sure their space is sufficient.

Before attracting bunnies to the yard, be aware of local predators—hawks, owls, coyote, dogs and stray cats. The brush pile may also attract other animals like skunks, raccoons and reptiles.

A wildlife habitat is a fun, ongoing learning experience. It calls on math skills for bird counts, geography to follow migration maps and woodworking to build homesites and feeding spots. It becomes a lesson in local ecology and the roles of native plants and animals. When children comprehend they can help save wildlife, it’s also a lesson in hope.

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Avery Mack is a freelance writer in St. Louis, MO. Connect via AveryMack@mindspring.com. eNaturalAwakenings.com

April 2014

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healingways

Good Riddance to Bad Vibes

Escaping Electromagnetic Exposure

by Priscilla Goudreau-Santos

W

e crackle Sound Home, in Boston, “Just because with enis certified by the Internasomeone isn’t ergy. Natural tional Institute of Buildelectromagnetic fields feeling symptoms ing-Biology & Ecology within us regulate how to detect, measure and from exposure our bodies work. Plus, counter in-home electrowe continually encoun- to electronic magnetic activity. “The ter many outside energy institute usually finds that technology, that fields from Wi-Fi, cell when a patient doesn’t phones and towers, respond to treatment by doesn’t mean power lines, microwave an energy healer, it’s beovens, computers, TVs, that it’s not having cause of the environment. security devices and ra- an effect on DNA.” I try to neutralize its effect dar. A growing number to help the body regulate of experts see these surproperly,” Traver says. ~ Camilla Rees rounding frequencies as While protection in an increasing danger to our well-being. highly occupied family areas is impor Applying modalities like acupunc- tant, providing protection in bedrooms ture, Reiki, Touch for Health and Eden is especially vital, due to the amount Energy Medicine can help us maintain of time we spend there for rest and a healthy energy balance internally. restoration. Traver’s diagnoses someThey work to harmonize the body times suggest remediation measures to protect against stress, trauma and that involve an electrician grounding associated illness. currents and adding selective shielding

Phyllis Traver, owner of Safe & materials to block frequencies flow-

48

Fairfield County Edition

natural awakenings

ing from electronic devices. “Magnetic fields from outside the house are hard to control, but 98 percent of what I find can be fixed,” she advises.

When Terry Mollner, 69, was having trouble sleeping, he contacted Traver, who receives client referrals from energy healers. “The conclusions were stunning,” Mollner says. “The detector’s measurements went off the charts in the bedroom. It wasn’t the flat screen TV at the foot of my bed, but how the room’s wiring was done. The electrician installed a relay so I can switch off the power on that side of the house at night. Now, I sleep six or seven hours,” which he characterizes as “a profound change.” He also suggests turning off and moving cell phones away from beds. Mollner then hardwired the computers in his home, eliminated Wi-Fi and rearranged the electronic equipment in his home office.

Kim Cook, an energy practitioner in Mission Viejo, California, specializes in Eden Energy Medicine and Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT). Cook decided not to buy a house she was initially interested in because it was in a hot spot. When Cook used her meter to chart frequencies at home, it also prompted her to move her bedroom clock radio to a different bureau. “It’s no longer sitting right at our heads,” she notes. Plus, “I don’t put my cell phone on my body and it bothers me that my son puts his in his pocket.”

An overarching observation from Cook’s professional practice is that increasing numbers of people in pain are interested in energy medicine because they’re so frustrated with Western medicine. She observes, “Pain is blocked energy, and people are learning how to unblock it naturally.”

The World Health Organization (WHO) launched the International EMF Project in 1996 because of rising public health concerns due to the surge in EMF sources. After reviewing extensive research and thousands of articles, the organization can’t confirm—or deny—the existence of health consequences from exposure to lowlevel EMFs.

But in 2011, the WHO International Agency for Research on Cancer classified the electromagnetic ra-

A growing number of experts see surrounding electromagnetic frequencies as an increasing danger to our well-being.

Ways to Reduce Risk Although electromagnetic field (EMF) activity vibrates all around us, there are simple ways to reduce adverse health effects in daily indoor environments.

Computers 4 Hardwire all Internet connections instead of using Wi-Fi. 4 Power a laptop using a three-prong grounded plug and then plug in a separate, hardwired keyboard (this minimizes both the exposure to wireless radiation and the effects from the laptop battery’s magnetic field).

4 Use a grounding mouse pad to minimize effects of the electric field from the computer.

4 Don’t position any laptop or tablet computer on the lap.

General 4 Don’t live within 1,500 feet of a cell tower.

4 Use battery-powered LCD alarm clocks (not LED), keeping them several feet away from the body.

4 Don’t use an electric blanket.

4 Turn off all wireless devices before bedtime and generally minimize usage at other times.

Phones 4 Replace cordless phones with corded landlines or use cordless phones only when needed; otherwise, unplug them.

4 Never hold the cell phone directly against the head or body. Use the speaker phone function, other hands-free device or another device that meets the Environmental Health Trust guidelines at Tinyurl.com/CellPhoneUsageTips.

4 Protect children, pregnant women and men that want to become fathers. Sperm are especially vulnerable. Children absorb twice as much radiation as adults.

4 Be wary of a weak signal. Phones work harder and emit more radiation when the signal is weak or blocked.

4 Don’t sleep with a cell phone nearby. Place it several feet away from the bed or across the room, turn it off or put it in airplane mode.

4 Find more helpful information at Tinyurl.com/EMF-ProtectionTips and Tinyurl.com/CellPhoneRadiationDanger.

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diation from cell phones as possibly carcinogenic to humans, based on increased risk for glioma, a malignant brain cancer. Lloyd Morgan, a senior researcher with the nonprofit Environmental Health Trust and lead author of the internationally endorsed report, Cellphones and Brain Tumors, goes further, unequivocally stating, “Cell phone radiation is a carcinogen.”

In our own environment, we can regulate EMF, says Iowan Camilla Rees, founder of the educational petition website ElectromagneticHealth.org and Campaign for Radiation Free Schools on Facebook; she is the co-author of Public Health SOS: The Shadow Side of the Wireless Revolution and Morgan’s cell phone report.

Says Rees, “You can buy a meter, avoid using cordless phones and baby monitors, and change your cell phone behavior. The harmful effects of cell phones decrease with distance; just by holding the cell phone six inches from your head, there is a 10,000-fold reduction of risk.”

Priscilla Goudreau-Santos is a freelance writer and owner of Priscilla Goudreau Public Relations & Marketing, in Charlotte, NC.

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Tired of unwanted litters?

Need to get your pet fixed, but not sure if you can afford it?

Nutmeg Spay/Neuter Clinic can help!

Call 203-690-1550 for an appointment.

Nutmeg SPAY/NEUTER CLINIC

www.nutmegclinic.org 25 Charles Street, Stratford, CT 06615

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Fairfield County Edition

natural awakenings

petbriefs Beardsley Zoo Lecture Series Continues

C

The Monthly Naturally Healthy Pet Section Starts Here!

onnecticut’s Beardsley Zoo’s evening lecture series will continue on April 16 from 7 to 8pm in its Hanson Exploration Station. The series engages audiences of all ages, especially lifelong learners, who have an appetite for delving deeper into the wonders of wildlife.

Attending these programs allows visitors to live vicariously through the zoo’s experts, who often have had close encounters with creatures across the globe.

Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo is dedicated to acquainting a diverse public to the delicate balance that exists between living things and their environment.

For more information, visit BeardsleyZoo.org. A $5 donation is suggested for attendees. Refreshments will be served.

Silent Auction & Happy Hour Event with Friends of Felines

F

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

riends of Felines, Inc. will be holding its Second Annual Silent Auction & Happy Hour event on April 5 at Stamford’s Butterfield8 to benefit the organization’s Feral Cat Project. Taking place from 6 to 8:30pm, the event is being sponsored by C&H Electric and Kitty Cat and Pooches and supported by over 60 businesses.

Friends of Felines, formerly part of Animal Lifesavers, is a nonprofit, no-kill organization in Stamford serving lower Fairfield County. The Feral Cat Project conducts trap-neuter-return, responsible adoption and humane education programs for homeless cats, both feral and friendly.

For more information on Friends of Felines and ticket reservations, email FoF.Fundriaser@gmail.com or visit AdoptaPet.org. Tickets are $5/person or $35/person for entry and open bar.

Since 2008, we have rescued more than 1000pure and mixed breed dogs and cats from death row and placed them in foster and forever homes!

We are a foster-based, no-kill rescue dedicated to saving the lives of homeless, neglected, and abused animals by providing a safe refuge, rehabilitation, and permanent homes.

Please

ADOPT • FOSTER • DONATE • VOLUNTEER www.TheLastResortRescue.com • TheLastResortRescue@gmail.com The Last Resort is a 501(c) non-profit, volunteer-run organization. eNaturalAwakenings.com

April 2014

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naturalpet

care or play dates with other dogs help hone canine social skills, while basic obedience—leave it, sit, stay, down, off, an effective recall and walking nicely on a leash—form the basis for good manners. Reward good behavior with praise, treats or a favorite activity.

Eating Out

Pooch Protocol

Good Manners Make a Dog Welcome

by Sandra Murphy

I

t seems dogs travel just about everywhere with their humans these days.

They’re spotted at home improvement stores, happy hours, drive-through restaurants and workplaces, in addition to their usual hangouts. To get Sparky invited into even more people places, he must have good manners.

“Just like with kids, not every venue is appropriate for dogs,” advises Eileen Proctor, a pet lifestyle expert in Denver, Colorado. “Some dogs are more introverted and want a quiet spot to relax.

52

Fairfield County Edition

Others love a party. Know your dog and socialize him accordingly; never force him into an uncomfortable situation.”

Instead, help him acclimate to new locales gradually, from a distance; stop when he shows signs of stress. A yawn, averted eyes, hiding behind his owner or nervous pacing are clues that a four-legged pal has had enough.

“Good manners at home might not translate to public manners,” Proctor notes. “Take practice runs to see how your dog handles distractions.” Day

natural awakenings

Amy Burkert, the on-the-road owner of GoPetFriendly.com, says, “After a long day at the office or a ‘ruff’ week at work, it’s nice to include your dog when eating out. Pet-friendly restaurants with outdoor seating areas where the dog can join you are becoming more common, but always ask first.

“Dogs in dining areas should lie quietly under your table or by your chair,” she continues. “This is not the time to socialize. Diners may find it unappealing to be approached by your dog while they’re eating. Choose a table where your dog can be out of the way of customers and the wait staff.”

It will take practice. “If he acts up, apologize, leave and know that you’ll do better next time,” says Burkert.

A good process for teaching good restaurant manners begins with sitting quietly with the dog when there are few people around, and then moving on. The next time, order an appetizer.

Increase the amount of time the pet is expected to wait quietly, as well as the number of distractions.

Traveling Together

Christina Mendel, an international business coach with offices in Germany and Italy, adds that dogs need a safe and secure retreat from excessive activity. Her Chihuahua mix, Balu, is small enough to fit into a carry bag. He can take a nap, people watch or have a snack without fear of human interference. “The carry bag helps when I take clients to dinner, drive or fly to onsite appointments,” she says. “Many of my clients are dog owners, so we bond because he’s well behaved and knows tricks.”

Flying presents its own challenges because airlines limit the number of pets on each flight. Check the company’s rules for pet size, weight and type of crate required. Dogs ride as cargo

Find tips for walking dogs in crowded urban areas at Tinyurl.com/RulesOfTheDoggyRoad. unless they are small enough to fit in a carrier under the seat.

Other passengers might be fearful or allergic, so respect their boundaries.

In the car, a dog needs to be calm and wear a special seat belt, be crated or otherwise restrained to keep him safe, not distract the driver and prevent lunging out the window.

At Work

Dogs may be welcome in the workplace. Alexandra Blackstone, design director for Killer Infographics, in Seattle, Washington, takes her corgi puppy, Buster, to the office.

“He was good when he was the only dog at work,” explains Blackstone. “When an older dog and another puppy were there, he barked and tried to herd them.” He didn’t read other dogs well, so to further Buster’s dog-to-dog communication skills, Blackstone enrolled him in doggie day care twice a week.

She advises first introducing dogs outside of the office setting. “Communicate with coworkers as to what your dog is working on, so everyone is consistent in their behavior toward him,” Blackstone advises. “Be clear how to correct any inappropriate behavior if someone else shares responsibility for walking him.” She reports that with positive training techniques, Buster is learning to respond well and now splits his time between day care and the office.

“It’s your responsibility to make taking the dog along a good experience for all,” counsels Proctor. “That includes using a leash and always picking up after him, every time.”

Connect with freelance writer Sandra Murphy of St. Louis, MO, at StLSandy@mindspring.com.

Bout ique Dog Resort & Spa

WHOLISTIC PET SERVICES

Boarding, Daycare and Grooming Training, Socialization and Long Trail Hikes Holistic Nutrition and Remedies Cooking Lessons and Catering

203-542-0910 www.wholisticpetservice.com loukia @ wholisticpetservice.com Wholistic Pet Services-K9 Resort & Spa eNaturalAwakenings.com

April 2014

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communityspotlight

Nutmeg Spay/ Neuter Clinic The Unglamorous but Necessary Side of Animal Rescue

by Natasha Michaels

T

here was an uproar across the United States during the Olympics when the plight of the Sochi stray dog population was exposed, but our nation has a tremendous problem of its own. According to the ASPCA, millions of cats and dogs of all ages and breeds – including purebreds - are euthanized each year or suffer short, difficult lives as strays. These high numbers are the unfortunate result of unwanted and unplanned litters that put tremendous strain on the active shelter/rescue/adoption system.

Clara Nolan, executive director of Stratford’s Nutmeg Spay/Neuter Clinic, says it was the sheer scope of the problem that led her from working rescue as a foster parent to opening the clinic. “I started in rescue 10 years ago,” she says.

“I started to realize there was just no way we were ever going to adopt ourselves out of the overpopulation crisis.”

She attended a one-day seminar on spay/ neuter clinics and became convinced it was an important path for her to take.

“Spay and neuter is the unglamorous side of animal rescue,” she says. “We love cats and dogs. We just know there are way too many of them. It keeps me up at night, thinking about how many are out there simply because people do not understand the gravity of this issue.”

Nolan formed FeralCare in Stratford in November 2006, her first foray into the spay/neuter side of animal rescue. FeralCare, which still operates today, is a “Trap, Neuter, Return” (TNR) operation, which returns sterilized and vaccinated feral cats back into their colonies. Doing this eases stress on shelters and adoption agencies and slows the rampant growth of feral cat 54

Fairfield County Edition

colonies, which are prone to disease, suffering and very short life spans. FeralCare held its first Sunday spay/neuter clinic in 2007 and, as of 2013, more than 3,000 cats had been altered.

The practice was like a MASH unit at first, with monthly Sunday clinics being held at various host organizations in Bridgeport and Norwalk (Beardsley Zoo and PAWS). In 2010, Nolan worked with a national organization called Humane Alliance, following their model and protocols to build the clinic. In August 2012, Nutmeg Spay/Neuter Clinic opened the doors at its fixed location at 25 Charles Street in Stratford. Now the clinic receives an average of 50 calls per day and full- and part-time veterinarians perform surgeries four days a week, sometimes as many as 35 per day. Nolan has begun to more actively promote the clinic and its services.

“I want to raise awareness that these services are available and our clinic makes it affordable.” she says.

“Spaying and neutering is better for the animals’ long term health while reducing overpopulation.”

There are some in the community who disagree with this approach. There are heated debates in animal care circles – especially “natural” animal care circles – about whether so many sterilizations are necessary and what the long-term physical effects may be to animals who lose their primary sources of hormone production at a very young age.

Nolan is well aware of the criticism but firmly believes the potential for surgical health consequences is not outweighed by the animal overpopulation issue and the benefits of spay/neuter. Some of those benefits include pre-

natural awakenings

venting certain cancers of the reproductive organs, reducing hormone-related behavioral issues in both males and females and inbreeding, among others.

It is indefensible, she says, for critics to assert there are enough homes for stray animals and that rescuers just aren’t doing enough. Stray animals reproduce far too quickly for the rescue/adoption model to be the only answer.

“For too long the problem was that spay/neuter was so expensive that people simply couldn’t afford it,” she says.

“If someone has to choose between spay/neuter or buying groceries, then obviously their choice is made. But for many others, accessibility was the key issue. We think these services should be available to everyone who wants them.

That’s why we’re here.”

Nolan says 80% of the clinic’s business is from individuals either bringing in their own pets or strays they have found and wish to keep, whereas only 20% of the clinic business is now shelter/rescue. That ratio was different when the clinic began, signaling that the clinic’s attempts to reach the public are being noticed and – perhaps – more of the animals coming into shelters are already sterilized. Customers come from all over Connecticut and New York; a caller can expect to wait approximately two weeks between the call and the surgery date.

Nutmeg Spay/Neuter Clinic, like many non-profit organizations, is dependent on the skills and dedication of small permanent staffs and many volunteers. Their busiest season is approaching, as spring is when new puppies and kittens are born. Nolan is actively seeking applications to support their work in a variety of capacities including clinical (vet and vet tech) and administrative. Please email or call if interested to volunteer and help reduce animal overpopulation.

Natasha Michaels is a contributing writer to Natural Awakenings Fairfield County.

Nutmeg Spay/Neuter Clinic is located at 25 Charles St, Stratford. Call 203-690-1550 for an appointment.

For more information about the clinic’s services and hours of operation, visit NutmegClinic.com. See ad, page 50.

petresourceguide Adoption/Rescue Animals in Distress Inc. 238 Danbury Rd, Wilton 203-762-2006 Animals-In-Distress.com

Bridgeport Animal Control 236 Evergreen St, Bridgeport 203-576-7727

Bully Breed Rescue P.O. Box 953, New Canaan BBRct@yahoo.com BullyBreedRescueInc.org

Danbury Animal Welfare Society (DAWS) 147 Grassy Plain St, Bethel 203-744-3297

Friends of Felines, Inc.

P.O. Box 8147, Stamford 203-363-0220 Cats@AdoptAPet.org • AdoptAPet.org

Pet Animal Welfare Society Inc. (PAWS)

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

Pet Protectors

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

Ridgefield Operation for Animal Rescue

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

SPCA of Connecticut Inc.

359 Spring Hill Rd, Monroe 203-445-9978 SPCAct.org

Strays and Others

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

Doggie Day Camp, Day Care, Training & Boarding

Pet Food & Health Supplies Earth Animal

606 Post Rd East, Westport 203-222-7173 • EarthAnimal.com

Dog Gone Smart 15 Cross St, Norwalk 203-838-7729 DogGoneSmart.com

Fairfield County’s TOP canine center! We have been serving pet lovers in our area for over 20 years. Our staff consists of dog trainers and animal behavorists who work together to make Dog Gone Smart a loving, safe, fun and happy home away from home for your dog. See ad, page 59.

Passage East Boarding Kennels 499 Danbury Rd, Wilton 203-762-7998 PassageEastKennels.com Passage_East@sbcglobal.net

Passage East has been dedicated to caring for pets for more than 40 years and makes your dog feel like they never left home. Passage East is a full-service dog boarding kennel. We offer daycare services, overnight boarding and full-service grooming.

Wholistic Pet Services Boutique Dog Resort & Spa East Norwalk • 203-542-0910 WholisticPetService.com Loukia@WholisticPetservice.com

Earth Animal has been the pioneer in the natural pet health industry for decades.

The family owned business sells their own veterinarianformulated products for cats and dogs. These include vitamins, organic herbal remedies and a natural flea and tick prevention program. Dr. Bob Goldstein recently partnered with Bell&Evans® to produce a hormone and antibiotic free line of American made chicken treats. Earth Animal also sells raw and dehydrated foods and organic home cooking pre-mixes, plus the best quality treats, bones, toys, leashes, collars, beds, etc! See ad, page 58.

The Honest Kitchen

145 14th St, San Diego, CA 866-437-9729 • TheHonestKitchen.com

The Honest Kitchen provides natural, human-grade pet food products for dogs and cats. Our gourmet recipes are 100% natural and gently dehydrated. See ad, page 61.

Veterinary Services

Wholistic Pet Services is a unique and “boutique” dogboarding and training resort in a private home with a fully fenced and landscaped garden. Furry guests receive good manners training, sleep on cotton sheets and Persian carpets and go for daily socialization and training hikes. Home-made holistic nutrition supplemented by herbal remedies and nutritional advice and cooking lessons available for health conscious dog parents. See ad, page 59.

Nutmeg Spay/Neuter Clinic 25 Charles St, Stratford 203-690-1550 • NutmegClinic.org

The Nutmeg Spay/Neuter Clinic is a low-cost, highvolume facility for cats and dogs, the first such professional clinic in Fairfield County. The clinic offers other low-cost services only during the spay/ neuter appointment. Nutmeg honors state spay/ neuter vouchers at face value from shelters and offers incentives for low-income families and rescue groups. Pit bulls and mixes are welcome and the clinic offers discounts for feral cats to be spayed or neutered. See ad, page 63.

Tails of Courage

1 Pembroke Rd, Danbury 877-63-TAILS TailsOfCourage.org

Westport Animal Shelter Advocates (WASA)

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

UNLEASH YOUR EARNING POTENTIAL Fetch new customers by advertising in Natural Awakenings’ Monthly Section Naturally Healthy Pet. eNaturalAwakenings.com

April 2014

55

calendarofevents Magazine calendar events must be received by April 5th (for May issue) and adhere to our guidelines. All calendar submissions must be entered online at eNaturalAwakenings.com click on “submit calendar” at the very top of the page.

markyourcalendar Messages From Spirit Thursday, April 10th Come experience an event like no other.

Receive Personal Messages from crossed-over loved ones, skillfully delivered by 4 renowned psychic mediums.

All participants are guaranteed a message!

The Westport Inn 1595 Post Road E. Westport CT Register: MyPersonalWellness.com/ Classes-Workshops AARP/IRS Volunteer Tax Assistance at Norwalk Public Library System – IRS-Certified volunteers provide free state/federal income tax preparation/ e-filing. Through April 15. Norwalk Public Library, 1 Belden Ave. Thursday, 2-8pm, Saturday 9am-2pm.

South Norwalk Branch, 10 Washington St, Tuesday, 2:30-8pm, Saturday 9am-2pm. No appointment.

Both husband and wife should be present. Certain forms and personal and financial documents required to process your tax information. 203-899-2780 ext.

15109. Free. NorwalkPublicLibary.org.

Sunday, April 6 Living Between Two Worlds; Self Care for Sensitives, Healers, and Mediums – 1-4pm. With Pamela Marie Edmunds. Are you a highly sensitive person? Do you feel other people’s energies?

Do you want to learn how to release negativity and cleanse your physical environment? This class offers methods and tools to help you stay balanced and at peace in your daily life. $40. Albertson Church of Spiritualism, 293 Sound Beach Ave, Old Greenwich. AlbertsonChurch@gmail.com.

AlbertsonChurch.org.

Preparing for Menopause: A Restorative Practice – 1-3:15pm. With Deborah Swann. Restorative Yoga is an effective practice to help balance and heal the physical, mental and emotional challenges of this life transition. This workshop will help you embrace this personal journey offering the practice of Restorative Yoga in support of deep healing.

Workshop will include discussion, restorative practice and mudra meditation. No prior yoga experience necessary. All levels welcome! $35 if paid one week in advance, $45 thereafter. Yoga for Everybody, 27 Unquowa Rd, Fairfield. 203-254-9642. Info@Yoga4 Everybody.net. Yoga4Everybody.net.

Tuesday, April 8

Information Session on The Graduate Institute’s Certificate program in Integrative Health Coaching and Patient Navigation – 6-7:30pm.

F r e e . 1 7 1 A m i t y R d , B e t h a n y. R S V P : Learn.Edu/Events or Admissions@Learn.Edu.

Angel, Auras and Your Intuition – 7-9:15pm.

Learn how to connect with Angels. Through meditation and energy exercises, you’ll learn how to tap into your intuition. Learn how to see and sense your aura and auras of others and how to protect yourself from negative experiences. Sign up with Stamford Adult Education. 203-977-4209. $35 + $10 nonresident fee. Rippowam School, 381 High Ridge Rd, Stamford. 203-852-1150. AngelHealReikiGiGiB@ snet.net. AngelHealReiki.com.

Saturday, April 5

Thursday, April 10

Spiritual Psychic Fair – 12-5pm. Come and visit our gifted intuitive readers. Mediumship sessions, tarot and angel card sessions, pendulum readings.

All sessions are 25 mins. Walk-ins welcome. $40 and up. Albertson Memorial Church of Spiritualism, 293 Sound Beach Ave, Old Greenwich. RSVP: AlbertsonChurch@gmail.com. AlbertsonChurch.org.

Gabby Bernstein in Norwalk – 7-9pm. Gabby Bernstein makes her only CT stop on her book tour for her lastest offering “Miracles Now: 108 Life Changing Tools for Less Stress, More Flow and Finding your True Purpose.” Ticket includes a copy of the book. $38. The Norwalk Concert Hall, 125 East Ave, Norwalk. 203-292-8190. CatchA HealthyHabit@yahoo.com. CatchAHealthyHabit. com/GabbyB2014BookTour.

Thursday, April 3

Reiki Level 1 workshop – 9am-5pm. With Gigi Benanti Reiki Master/Teacher. Learn Reiki Level 1 in the Western style from an experienced Reiki Master. Learn how to use Reiki for self-healing and healing for others. Includes 4 powerful energy connections. Receive 2 manuals and certificate $115 + $10 towards materials. Held at Angelic Healing Center, 7 Morgan Ave, Norwalk (downstairs in the back). RSVP: 203-852-1150 or visit AngelHeal ReikiGiGiB@snet.net. AngelHealReiki.com.

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Fairfield County Edition

Messages From Spirit – 7:30-9:30pm. Receive personal messages from crossed-over loved ones, skillfully delivered by four renowned Psychic mediums. Enjoy the unique style of each medium in a rotating format. Q&A after the event. All participants are guaranteed a message. Register: MyPersonalWellness.com/Classes-Workshops. $85. The Westport Inn, 1595 Post Rd, Westport.

203-767-6237. Sage@MyPersonalWellness.com.

MyPersonalWellness.com.

natural awakenings

Nighty Night: Head, Neck & Jaw – 11am12:30pm. With Michelle Dalbec. A great way to ease yourself to sleep is with a neck and shoulder massage. Now you can have one every night with Yoga Tune Up® Therapy Ball self massage. These massage techniques roll away stress and strain in the neck, jaw, & temples and can help with headaches, TMJ, and blurry vision. $35/by 4/3. $45/ thereafter. Yoga for Everybody, 27 Unquowa Rd, Fairfield. 203-254-9642. Info@Yoga4Everybody. net. Yoga4Everybody.net.

Friday, April 11 Intro to Chakra Energy – 7-8:30pm. Chakras are located within the body along the spine. Learn basic principles, techniques, hands-on experience with singing bowls, essential oils and pendulum assessments to clear and balance these energy centers for well-being. $25. Space Limited.

Balance Integrated Health, 1450 Washington Blvd, 1st Flr, Suite 104 South, Stamford. 203-6633000 ext 5. Linda@BalanceIntegratedHealth.com.

BalanceIntegratedHealth.com.

Monday, April 14 Open House and Information Session at The Graduate Institute – 6-7:30pm. Free. 171 Amity Road, Bethany. RSVP: Learn.Edu/Events or Admissions@Learn.Edu.

Wednesday, April 16 Albertson Church Healing Service – 7:30-8:30pm.

A beautiful guided meditation followed by the opportunity to sit with a church designated healer for hands-on shoulders healing. All are welcome to participate in the healing or simply enjoy the meditation and peacefulness of the sanctuary. Free.

Albertson Church of Spiritualism, 293 Sound Beach Ave, Old Greenwich. AlbertsonChurch@gmail.com.

AlbertsonChurch.org.

Thursday, April 17 KES Educational Services Inc Presents Networking Circles – 6:30-8pm. Stop talking and start moving! If you know your path, why aren’t you walking it? For individuals who are ready to connect with others. Monthly. $20. Tusk & Cup, 51 Ethan Allen Hwy, Ridgefield. RSVP required. 203-505-3660.

KmarEducation.org.

Reiki Refresher for all levels – 7:30-9:45pm. Reiki practitioners only. Group class techniques taught to raise one’s reiki vibration. Please bring Reiki Certificates from in person classes. Shared by Gigi Benanti, Reiki Master. Includes a re-attunement. $38+ $8 material Fee. Held at Angelic Healing Center, 7 Morgan Ave, Norwalk (enter office downstairs in back). Must RSVP: 203-852-1150 or AngelHeal ReikiGiGiB@snet.net. AngelHealReiki.com.

Saturday April 19 Introduction to Massage Therapy Seminar – 10am-4pm. Explore Massage Therapy as a career at the Finger Lakes School of Massage in Mt. Kisco, NY. Introduction to foundational elements

markyourcalendar Holistic Stress Management Instructor Certification Workshop

with Brian Luke Seaward, Ph.D. In association with The Paramount Wellness Institute Four-day Level I Certification Workshop May 1, 2, 3 & 4th, 2014 Hilton Garden Inn, Windsor Locks, CT On or before 3/15/14 Early Bird Tuition Fee $1,495 After 3/15/14 (if available) $1,895

For more information 303-678-9962 Tu/Th afternoons in a sample class. Receive massage from current student. $50. Register: 914-241-7363 ext 14. Info: FLSM.com.

Sunday, April 20 Spiritual Development Workshop Series with Rev. Mary Yankee – 1-4pm. Eight-week journey through the vistas of the Soul. Each week covers a topic of interest, intending to help us inform ourselves and develop our spirituality and our spiritual goals. Classes are part lecture/discussion, part experiential. Each class will build off the prior lecture. $250/8-week course. For workshop content information, go to ReverendYankee.com - events.

April 12 and 26. $30/session. Albertson Church of Spiritualism, 293 Sound Beach Ave, Old Greenwich. Pre-register: AlbertsonChurch@gmail.com.

AlbertsonChurch.org.

Monday, April 21 Ecotherapy Interest Group at The Graduate Institute – 6pm. Presentation on Cultural Food Ecology. Explore topics related to living with greater intention and purpose. Free. 171 Amity Road, Bethany. RSVP: Learn.Edu/Events or CAHill@ Learn.Edu. Intentional Living Interest Group at The Graduate Institute – 7-9pm. Explore topics related to living with greater intention and purpose. Free. 171 Amity Road, Bethany. RSVP: Learn.Edu/Events or CAHill@Learn.Edu.

Tuesday, April 22 Earth Day at Chamomille – 10:30am-5pm. Day includes raw food demo, recipes, complimentary make-overs, beekeepers and baby goats. Free.

Schedule at ChamomilleNaturalFoods.com. Chamomille Natural Foods, Rt 6 Plaza, 58-60 Newtown Rd, Danbury. Info: 203-792-8952.

Wednesday, April 23 Reiki Circle – 7-8pm. With Linda Radice, Reiki Master. Connect with community, conversation and collective healing energy. Chakra meditation. $15. Balance Integrated Health, 1450 Washington Blvd, 1st Flr, Suite 104 South, Stamford. 203-6633000 ext 5. Linda@BalanceIntegratedHealth.com.

BalanceIntegratedHealth.com.

Intro to Tarot: Reading Your Own Cards – 7-9:30pm. With Cathy Prins. Explore the possibili-

ties of the Tarot. Little or no experience is necessary to join in. Cathy’s warm, down-to-earth style will give you the confidence you need to make these cards your own resource to inner wisdom. Students will need a Rider-Waite Tarot deck. Available for purchase ($25) at workshop or bring your own. $45/by 4/16, $55/thereafter. Yoga for Everybody, 27 Unquowa Rd, Fairfield. 203-254-9642. Info@ Yoga4Everybody.net. Yoga4Everybody.net.

Friday, April 25 Reiki Second Degree workshop – 10am-5:30pm.

With Gigi Benanti, Reiki Master/Teacher. Learn Reiki 2rd Degree in the Western style from an experienced Reiki Master. Learn how to send distance Reiki healing, deepen your use of Reiki for others & yourself, including newest information. Receive 2 powerful energy connections. Receive 2 manuals and certificate. $215. Held at Angelic Healing Center, 7 Morgan Ave (enter private office downstairs in back), Norwalk. RSVP: 203-852-1150 or Angel HealReikiGiGiB@snet.net. AngelHealReiki.com.

Kirtan with Sita’s Light – 7:30-9pm. With Sita’s Light. Kirtan is the chanting and singing of devotional mantras and prayers. Kirtan is for everyone and offers the possibilities of personal discovery and expression or simply the joy of raising one’s voice in song while cultivating a sense of peace and connection to all life. All voices welcome - no experience necessary!. $20/by 4/24. $25/day of show. Yoga for Everybody, 27 Unquowa Rd, Fairfield. 203-254-9642. Info@Yoga4Everybody.net.

Yoga4Everybody.net.

Saturday, April 26 Chakra and Movement Exploration – 2-4pm.

Develop an understanding and learn a practice how to activate and balance chakras 1-3. Experience through breath, mantras, qigong and yoga to help facilitate the flow of energy “life force” known as prana or chi. $50. Space Limited. Balance Integrated Health, 1450 Washington Blvd, 1st Flr, Suite 104 South, Stamford. 203-663-3000 ext 5. Linda@ BalanceIntegratedHealth.com. BalanceIntegrated Health.com.

Fairfield’s Earth Day Celebration –10am-4pm.

Play Earth-Bingo! Plenty of Free Parking! Rain or Shine! FREE Admission! Fairfield Warde High School, 755 Melville Ave. For more information about the event, to be an exhibitor, entertainer or sponsor, visit FairfieldEarthDay.org or email FairfieldEarthDay@gmail.com or 203-590-1755.

Fairfield Warde High School, 755 Melville Ave, Fairfield.

Sunday, April 27 Developing Psychic Abilities – 1-3pm. With Priscilla Keresey. Everyone has psychic abilities that can be developed further with structured practice of our parasenses. This interactive workshop helps participants identify the difference between psychic impressions and self-generated thoughts. Bring pictures of loved ones both alive and in spirit. $40.

markyourcalendar Awaken Wellness Fair A whole new kind of

Body-Mind-Spirit-Green Expo Sunday June 1 • 10am to 5pm Stamford Marriott Hotel and Spa 243 Tresser Blvd, Stamford CT Speakers, Healers, Vendors and Readers Over 100 exhibitors, 1000 guests!

AwakenFair.com click on “Stamford CT 6-1-14” Exhibitor spots available Albertson Church of Spiritualism, 293 Sound Beach Ave, Old Greenwich. AlbertsonChurch@gmail.com.

AlbertsonChurch.org.

Group Circle. – 1-3:30pm. With Psychic Joan Carra. Everyone gets an intuitive reading. $45. Call for location. Reserve: 203-531-6387 or PsychicJoan@ yahoo.com. PsychicJoanCarra.com.

Thursday, May 1 WAKING UP – 7-8:30pm. With Rev. Chris. Waking up can be hard to do but nothing is more nourishing than like minded people coming together to support, share and empower one another in the name of spiritual awakening. This monthly psycho-spiritual group is open to all and will offer healing opportunities, practical tools, sacred wisdom and group support and sharing to help us along our journeys. $15 love offering appreciated, no one turned away.

ARC Sacred Center, 458 Monroe Tpke, Monroe.

203-268-1ARC (1272). Register: ArcSacred Center@gmail.com. ArcSacredCenter.org.

Sunday, May 4 Séance – Talking to the Dead. – 1-3:30pm. With Psychic Joan Carra. Everyone Find comfort and closure with messages from passed loved ones. $55 per person, small group. Call for location.

Reserve: 203-531-6387 or or PsychicJoan@ yahoo.com. PsychicJoanCarra.com.

Friday, May 9 HEALING VIBRATIONS: A Journey Inward – 7-9:30pm. Looking for inner peace, healing, and joy? Healing Vibrations offers you an experiential journey inward to lift your spirit and ease your soul.

In this workshop, participants will experience a combination of Reiki (Universe Life Force Energy) and sound healing to enhance emotional, physical, mental, and spiritual well-being and balance. $30.

ARC Sacred Center, 458 Monroe Tpke, Monroe.

203-445-8966. Msis@aol.com. LifeBetween LivesTherapy.com.

Don’t go around saying the world owes you a living.

The world owes you nothing. It was here first. ~Mark Twain eNaturalAwakenings.com

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Coming Next Month

Women’s Wellness Tune into Your Body’s Intelligence and Take Charge of Your Life

ongoingevents sunday Angelic Reiki Meditation with Essential Oils – 8-9am. Receive short, hands-on Angelic Reiki, experience powerful techniques to reduce stress and relax. $10. Angelic Healing Center, 7 Morgan Ave (in the back, downstairs), Norwalk. Pre-register: 203-852-1150.

CHANTSFORMATIONS-A Chant & Meditation Experience – 9-9:45am. With Andrea Rudolph, Jewish Interfaith Minister. A chant & meditation experience with ancient Hebrew, Interfaith and spiritual wisdom. Join us as we gather to contemplate and nurture the Spirit within through the practice of chant & meditation. No prior Hebrew knowledge required. ALL FAITHS WELCOME! Suggested donation: $10. Free – Donations Appreciated. ARC Sacred Center, 458 Monroe Tpke, Monroe. 203-257-1009. InTheSpiritOfLife@gmail. com. InTheSpiritOfLife.com.

Spiritual Sunday Services – 10-11am. Please join us as we build community and celebrate life, hope, healing, love and Spirit. A one-hour service followed by community hour from 11am to noon. The Arc Sacred Center is a non-profit spiritual community center created for the purpose of offering a gathering place for spiritual exploration and teaching, freedom of spiritual expression, and healing for the body, mind and soul. Free. ARC Sacred Center, 458 Monroe Tpke, Monroe. 203-268-1272.

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

Our mission is to help people of all faiths develop self-awareness and inner peace. Everybody is welcome! We do not charge, but donations are encouraged to support our Center. If first time on Saturday or Sunday, arrive 5-10 minutes before start of class.

The Redding Center for Meditation, 9 Picketts Ridge Rd, West Redding. 203-244-3130.

Interfaith Service Gathering – 10-11am. A community to celebrate life, hope, healing, love and Spirit. Followed by a community hour from 11am-12pm. My Little Light Children’s Program is available during the service. Free. ARC Sacred Center, 458 Monroe Tpke, Monroe. 203-268-1272.

Reiki Volunteers – 10am-12pm. Pledge time to volunteer Sundays at various homes for the elderly and nursing homes in Fairfield and Southbury. Receive credits towards Reiki training. Reiki Overtones, 95 Harris St, Fairfield. Reservations: Jim or Jeannette: 203-254-3958.

To advertise or participate in our May edition, call

203-885-4674 58

Fairfield County Edition

Celebration Service – 10:30am-12pm. With Rev. Shawn Moninger. Inspiring message supports one’s spiritual unfoldment. Great music by award-winning singers. Childcare provided. Fellowship hour after the service. All are welcome. Love offering. Unity Center, 3 Main St (above Ford dealership), Norwalk.

203-855-7922.

Albertson Church Service – 11am-12:30pm. Includes an inspirational talk from caring ministers, guided meditation, time to receive healing energy and spirit messages from those we continue to love.

Free. Albertson Church of Spiritualism, 293 Sound Beach Ave, Old Greenwich. 203-637-4615.

monday Monthly Mutual Support-Alternative Cancer – 10:30am-12pm. 1st Monday every month. Starting monthly mutual support meeting for those choosing to treat our cancer diagnoses alternatively. A happy, positive connection starting. Free. Silvermine Studio, Norwalk. RSVP: 203 847-2561. Norwalk.

203-847-2561.

Reiki Circle – 7-8pm. With Linda Radice, Reiki Master. Connect with community, conversation and collective healing energy. Chakra meditation. $15. Balance Integrated Health, 1450 Washington Blvd, Suite 104 South, Stamford. 203-663-3000 ext 5. Linda@BalanceIntegratedHealth.com. Balance IntegratedHealth.com.

Yoga – 7-8:15pm. With Charles Sikorski, RYT. Weekly. Charles encourages one to find one’s true self: physically, mentally and spiritually. $13/session or 5/$60, 10/$110, 20/$200. ARC Sacred Center, 458 Monroe Tpk, Monroe. 203-414-6790.

Mahasati or Insight Meditation – 7-8:30pm. Our mission is to help people of all faiths develop selfawareness and inner peace. Everybody is welcome!

We do not charge, but donations are encouraged to support our Center. The Redding Center for Meditation, 9 Picketts Ridge Rd, West Redding.

203-244-3130.

Transformation and Healing – 7:30-8:15pm. Rev. Ed O’Malley uses a Shamanic Illumination Process which removes heavy energies from luminous energy fields, returning the body and soul to its initial state of wellness. ARC Sacred Center, 458 Monroe Tpk, Monroe. 203-268-1272.

Guided Meditation at Sabita Holistic Center – 7:30-8:30pm. Give yourself the gift of meditation at Sabita Holistic Center. Internationally known Dr. Levy has worked for over the past 35 years in stress reduction, deep relaxation and meditation. Free.

Sabita Holistic Center, 3519 Post Rd, Southport.

203-254-2633.

Monday Meditation for Everyone – 7:30-9pm.

This is Meditation Guided imagery for relaxation and stress reduction. It also helps you move forward on your Spiritual path. No experience necessary. $20. Soul Focus, 145 Grassy Plain St, Bethel. 203570-3868.

Whoever is happy will make others happy too. ~Anne Frank

natural awakenings

monday Reiki Share – 7:30-9:30pm. Last Monday. With JoAnn Duncan. JoAnn hosts Reiki shares for those interested in practicing 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 for all. $20. Registration required. The Redding Center for Meditation, 9 Picketts Ridge Rd, West Redding.

203-438-3050 or TurningPointReiki.com.

Sticks & Stones Farm Expression Mondays – 8-10pm. 2nd Monday each month. Express yourself with dance, music, poetry, in a safe environment on non-judgment, deep listening and community. Discover and share your untapped gifts. $10. Upstairs in “Shoes off” Yoga room, wear comfy socks. Bring reusable cup to purchase tea. 201 Huntingtown Rd, Newtown. RSVP: LeahJoyP@yahoo.com or 203-382-3342.

tuesday TLC Monthly Networking Breakfast – 8:30am.

1st Tuesday. A relaxed, supportive community of healthy living professionals. Grab a friend, biz cards and join for a fun morning of connecting. Free. TLC Center, 152 East Ave, Norwalk. 203-853-4852.

Pilates – 9:15-10am. Wth Laura Lehrhaupt, Certified Holistic Health Counselor. Laura is also a certified Spinning, Kickboxing, Balletone and Pilates Instructor. $13/class. $15/drop-in. ARC Sacred Center, 458 Monroe Tpke, Monroe. BeWellLaural@ gmail.com. BeWellLaural.com.

Mahasati or Insight Meditation – 12:30-2pm. Our mission is to help people of all faiths develop selfawareness and inner peace. Everybody is welcome!

We do not charge, but donations are encouraged to support our Center. The Redding Center for Meditation, 9 Picketts Ridge Rd, West Redding.

203-244-3130.

Gentle Yoga Class – 6-7pm. Perfect for beginners and people with physical difficulties such as back pain and knee pain. $10. Fairfield County Integrative Family Medicine and Healing Therapies, 2 Corporate Dr, Trumbull. Registration required: 203-445-9060.

BodySmart – 6:15-7:30pm. Semi-private sessions for 2-4 participants. Complete core/body conditioning exercises and stretching utilizing a 9’ floor to ceiling X-Pole. $45/class-discount with 6+ classes (pre-reg required). BodySmart, 115 Main St, Unit 11, Monroe. Call Lisa for details, additional schedule information and to register: 203-209-7359.

Qigong for Every BODY – 7-8pm. Health enhancement based on Chinese 5 Elements.

A great way to end the day to reduce stress, tension and fatigue. Strengthen immune and organ function, increase energy levels, mental clarity and slow aging process. $15. Balance Integrated Health, 1450 Washington Blvd, 1st Flr, Ste 104 South, Stamford. 203-663-3000 ext 5.

Linda@BalanceIntegratedHealth.com. Balance IntegratedHealth.com.

Reiki Shares – 7:30-10pm. 1st and 3rd Tuesdays.

Gigi Benanti Usui/Karuna Reiki Master/Teacher.

For Reiki practitioners only. Exchange ongoing since 1996. Instructions included. $10. Angelic Healing Center, 7 Morgan Ave, Norwalk. Preregister: 203-852-1150.

wednesday Sticks and Stones Farm Restorative Flow Yoga – 9:15-10:15am. With Aga Chapska. Beginners welcome. Bring a mat and water bottle. $15/drop-in, $100/10 classes. Bring a mat & water bottle. 201 Huntingtown Rd, Newtown. RSVP: 203-559-9656.

Guided Meditation – 1-1:45pm. Give yourself the gift of meditation at Sabita Holistic Center. Internationally known Dr. Levy has worked for over the past 35 years in stress reduction, deep relaxation and meditation. Free. Sabita Holistic Center, 3519 Post Rd, Southport. 203-254-2633.

Albertson Church Healing Service – 7-8pm. 3rd Wednesday. Guided meditation, receive healing energy from church-sanctioned healers and the gift of saging. All are welcome. Free. Albertson Church of Spiritualism, 293 Sound Beach Ave, Old Greenwich.

203-637-4615.

Journaling with Spirit – 7-8pm. By Rev. Shawn Moninger. Journaling is one of the fastest and easiest ways to get in touch with the highest voice within ourselves. First-time attendees receive a new journal. Love offering. Unity Center for Practical Spirituality, Norwalk. 203-855-7922.

Mahasati or Insight Meditation – 7-8:30pm. Our mission is to help people of all faiths develop selfawareness and inner peace. Everybody is welcome!

We do not charge, but donations are encouraged to support our Center. The Redding Center for Meditation, 9 Picketts Ridge Rd, West Redding.

203-244-3130.

Turning Point S.H.A.R.E. Divorce Group – 7:30-9:30pm. 1st and 3rd Wednesdays. Offering Support, Healing, Advocacy, Resources, and Education for women in the process of or recently divorced. Themes and speakers cover the legal, financial, and emotional issues encountered during or in the aftermath of divorce. Cost: $20, $150/10-session card. Registration required. Redding Center for Meditation, 9 Picketts Ridge Rd, Redding. 203-4383050 or TurningPointShare.com.

thursday Thursday Morning Meditation for Moms – 9:3011am. Come and unwind with a Guided Meditative Journey geared to release stress and a healthful more positive understanding of self. $20. Soul Focus, 145 Grassy Plain St, Bethel. 203-570-3868.

Tea & Meditation – 9:30am. Redding Center for Meditation, West Redding. 203-244-3130.

Monthly Tapping Group – 10-11:30am. Last Thursday. EFT together for stress reduction, conflict resolution, abundance, whatever the group dictates.

Free. Darien. Reservation required: 203-202-4174.

Detox With Dr. Dave – 6pm. Join for a discussion on the importance of cleanses, facts on nutrition and supplementation and support for weight loss. No fee or registration. Osteopathic Wellness Center, 158 Danbury Rd, Ste #6, Ridgefield. 203-438-9915.

Reiki Healing/Exchange – 7-9pm. 1st Thursday.

By Gigi Benanti Reiki. All welcome. Love offering.

Unity Center for Practical Spirituality, 3 Main St, Norwalk. Gigi: 203-852-1150.

Circle of Life – 7:30-9:30pm. Explore topics such as love, trust, permission and forgiveness as tools in navigating through life’s opportunities, losses and changes. Learn how to bring love, life and happiness.

Location given with registration: 203-268-3262.

Psychic Development Class – 7-8:30pm. Every other Wednesday, begins March 12 for March series of 6 classes. Please bring journal and pen. Reserve a spot at Soul Focus, 145 Grassy Plain St, Bethel.

203-570-3868. Soul-Focus.me.

Journey Within: Do You Feel Stuck? – 7-9pm.

1st Wednesday. Need support trying to begin something new? Support, intuitive insight, wisdom.

Facilitator: Cindy Miller, intuitive. $20. Newtown Congregational Church, 14 West St, Newtown. Call: 203-426-9448.

Sticks & Stones Farm Improv Workshop Series – 7-9pm. Six sessions, March 5-April 9. Come play games, create characters, and learn the basics of Improv. No experience necessary. Adults only. $80 for series. In the upstairs “Shoes off” Yoga room, wear comfy socks. 201 Huntingtown Rd, Newtown.

RSVP: LeahJoyP@yahoo.com or 203-382-3342 Holistic Moms Network Fairfield County, CT Chapter – 7:30pm. 2nd Wednesday. Associates in Family Chiropractic & Natural Health Care 156 East Ave, Norwalk.

Monthly Relaxation Class – 7:30-8:30pm. 1st Wednesday. Reduce stress with Hypnosis by Clinical Hypnotist, Meg Tocantins. Space is limited. $90.

Stamford Healthcare Associates, 1425 Bedford St, 1G, Stamford. Register by texting: 917-292-8115.

Home is where

you feel at home and are treated well. ~The Dalai Lama

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ongoingevents

classifieds

friday

saturday

A Course in Miracles Study Group – 9:15am.

Meets bi-weekly in Westport. Facilitator: Henry Grayson, PhD. Free. To reserve seat and for dates/ location: 203-454-1745.

Angelic Reiki Meditation with Essential Oils – 8-9am. Receive short, hands-on Angelic Reiki, experience powerful techniques to reduce stress and relax. $10. Angelic Healing Center, 7 Morgan Ave (in the back, downstairs), Norwalk. Pre-register: 203-852-1150.

Reiki Share – 9:30-11:30am. First Friday. With JoAnn Duncan. JoAnn hosts Reiki shares for those interested in practicing 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 for all. $20. Registration required. The Redding Center for Meditation, 9 Picketts Ridge Rd, West Redding.

203-438-3050 or TurningPointReiki.com.

Tai Chi and Tea – 10-11am. A great way to start your day and achieve therapeutic benefits with easy, gentle movements to improve circulation, coordination, balance and joint mobility. Standing or seated optional. $15/class. $10/Seniors 60+.

Balance Integrated Health, 1450 Washington Blvd, 1st Flr, Ste 104 South, Stamford. 203-663-3000 ext 5. Linda@BalanceIntegratedHealth.com. Balance IntegratedHealth.com.

Student Massage Clinic – 11am-1pm. Relax and enjoy a full-body massage at the Danbury Campus public’s Student Massage Therapy Clinic. Wednesday evenings or Friday mornings available. $30/50 minutes. Ridley-Lowell Business & Technical Institute, 24 Shelter Rock Rd, Danbury. Call for appointment: 203-748-0052.

Teen Meditation – 5-6pm. This is an enjoyable approach to the understanding of self and how you fit into the world in which you can grow with confidence. Come and explore a guided meditative journey that helps to melt away stress and anxiety.

For teens and up. $15. Soul Focus, 145 Grassy Plains St, Bethel. 203-570-3868.

TLC Tarot Fun & Fabulous Tarot Friday – 7-9pm. Have fun with Beth with this self-help tool for novices to longtime tarot friends to explore the Tarot or develop a deeper relationship with your cards. $40. TLC Center Norwalk, 152 East Ave, Norwalk. 203-856-9566.

Discussion with Spirit – 7:30pm. Bring questions, receive channeled information to help understand who you are, why you’ve come to the earth plane and empower yourself with messages from Spirit and loved ones. $35. Private residence, Monroe.

Information/RSVP: 203-268-3262.

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

Our mission is to help people of all faiths develop self-awareness and inner peace. Everybody is welcome! We do not charge, but donations are encouraged to support our Center. If first time on Saturday or Sunday, arrive 5-10 minutes before start of class.

The Redding Center for Meditation, 9 Picketts Ridge Rd, West Redding. 203-244-3130.

The Universal Reiki Plan – 11am-1pm. 3rd Saturday. Reiki Practitioners. Register for a free Reiki session. Free. Love offerings appreciated. Bloodroot Vegetarian Restaurant, 85 Ferris St, Bridgeport.

Reservations, Jim or Jeannette: 203-254-3958, Reiki Overtones@sbcglobal.net. ReikiOvertones.com.

The Universal Reiki Plan – 1:30-4:30pm.

3rd Saturday. Reiki practitioners only. Workshop a n d R e i k i S h a r e . F r e e . L o v e o ff e r i n g s appreciated. Bloodroot Vegetarian Restaurant, 85 Ferris St, Bridgeport. Reservations, Jim or Jeannette: 203-254-3958, ReikiOvertones@ sbcglobal.net. ReikiOvertones.com.

Reiki Session – 5-6pm. Offering free Reiki sessions during classes. Students participate as part of class syllabus. 1st reserved. ReikiOvertones, 95 Harris St, Fairfield. Reservations, Jim or Jeannette: 203-254-3958, ReikiOvertones@sbcglobal.net.

ReikiOvertones.com.

Kirtan with the Bindu Band – 7-9pm. Come join The Bindu Band on their vibrational journey back to the heart. Bring some snacks and beverages to share. Love offerings accepted. ARC Sacred Center, 458 Monroe Tpk, Monroe. Register: 203-268-1272.

Open Mic Night – 7-9pm. 3rd Saturday. Bring music printed out in your key and Kenneth Gartman will accompany on the piano. Comedians, poets and writers welcomed as well. $10. Unity Center, 3 Main St (above the Ford dealership), Norwalk.

203-855-7922.

It’s important to recognize that humans are not the measure of all things...

The Earth is the measure of all things. ~James Balog

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Fairfield County Edition

natural awakenings

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

Magazine deadline: 12th of month prior to publication.

Email copy to NicoleM@ NaturalAwakeningsMag.com. for rent Part-time rental space for Holistic health practitioner. Weekday/weekends available. $175 month. Newtown. 203-270-1119.

Rental space available in beautifully renovated holistic arts center. Perfect for holistic health practitioner, arts therapist. Supportive & Healing Environment. Part-time options available. Great location off I-84. Only serious inquiries please. 203-240-8747.

Space Available in small Wellness Center 2-3 days/week in Bethel location in time slots of 4-hr minimum. Open area perfect for Yoga, Pilates, Offices for Reiki, Massage, Counseling and Readings, etc. 203-570-3868.

for SALE Wooded 6 acre prime building lot in gated lake community. Woods at Duck Harbor in Equinunk, PA, near NY state border and Honesdale, PA. Lot borders protected PA game land, gorgeous mountain views in fall and winter, walk to lake. Low taxes and maintenance fees. If interested, call 914-763-0464.

HELP WANTED 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.

Natural Health Writer – Four years’ experience writing articles, blogs, newsletters, and brochures for natural health practitioners. Social media. $25 per hour. References. 203-886-7381.

PT - APRN - Established Naturopathic practice in Stratford seeks open-minded, experienced nursing professional. Hours and salary negotiable. 203-8744333 or Info@NHAWC.com.

SERVICES Get to the root cause of chronic disEASE. To pill away your symptoms is giving your power away. Challenge your physical, emotional and psychological issues.

Experience the peace within. Call 203-550-5996.

SoundEqualEnergy.com.

communityresourceguide

David Davis, DC

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 (CRG) in print and online email FFCadvertising@NaturalAwakeningsMag.com to request our advertising rates.

ACUPUNCTURE Ingri Boe-Wiegaard, LAc

Fairfield, Wilton, Bethel 203-259-1660 • CTAcupuncture.com 25 year full time practice Ingri treatments help alleviate Pain, Depression, Neck & Back, Anxiety, Headaches, Stress, Allergies, Asthma, Arthritis, Digestive, Menstrual, Infertility and Smoking & Weight Loss Issues. See ad page 47.

Jody Eisemann, LAc

Offices in Norwalk and Fairfield 203-216-2548 • AcupunctureHealingCT.com High-quality acupuncture at the most affordable prices in Fairfield County. 20+ years experience, specializing in treating all kinds of pain and general health issues.

See ad page 18.

BREAST THERMOGRAPHY ALBA THERMAL IMAGING LLC

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

FDA registered.

Thermography can detect breast disease at its earliest stages and monitor and assess pain in any part of the body. Safe, painless, non-invasive,

SOPHIA NATURAL HEALTH CENTER 31 Old Rt 7, Brookfield 203-740-9300 • SophiaNaturalHealth.com

As the hormone experts, we specialize in women’s health, natural hormone balancing, breast cancer prevention and thermography utilizing the highest definition camera in the area with interpretations from MD specialists in the field.

CHIROPRACTIC Odyssey Chiropractic & Wellness 158 Danbury Rd, Ste 3, Ridgefield 203-431-7779 • DavidDavisDC.com

BREAST THERMOGRAPHY X TO RAYS.COM

Digital Infrared Thermal Imaging Suzanne Pyle, MS, CCT 866-XtoRAYS • SuzannePyle@Prodigy.net

Dr. Davis has practiced in Ridgefield, CT long enough to enjoy taking care of three generations of families.

He remains as committed and enthusiastic as ever in delivering the highest quality chiropractic care. He is equally as passionate when communicating to individuals and groups the transformative power of healthy choices. Dr. Davis offers initial consultations at no charge.

COLONICS

Get peace of mind with safe (no radiation), FDA-approved breast cancer screening. 8 years earlier detection vs. mammography.

Certified DITI thermographer.

Conveniently located throughout Fairfield.

CANCER TREATMENT

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.

WHOLE-BODY MEDICINE, LLC

Advanced Medicine of Mt. Kisco, PC Neil Raff MD CNS 37 Moore Ave, Mt. Kisco, NY 914-241-7030 • NeilRaffMD.com

The most advanced natural nutritional treatment and support for all stages of cancer – high dose vitamin C, European herbals, Iscador (mistletoe), ozone, immune boosters. Specializing in removal of cancer causing toxins.

Call for free consultation.

CHIROPRACTIC

Fairfield/Trumbull town line 203-371-8258 • WholeBodyMed.com Ready to start feeling healthier? Take your first step with this gentle cleansing procedure. Watch our colonic and detoxification videos on our new video website located at WholeBodyMed.com. Call for Free CD on detoxification. See ad page 2.

Detoxification Advanced Medicine of Mt. Kisco, PC

Black Rock Holistic Health Center Kristine DeMarco, DC, MS, FIAMA 825 Kings Hwy East, Fairfield 203-333-6544 • DeMarcoChiropractic.com

Kristine M. DeMarco, Doctorate of Chiropractic and founder of the Black Rock Holistic Health Center, has been successfully specializing in the diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of musculoskeletal problems for over 12 years. She is certified in “Cox Flexion Distraction Technique,” Graston Technique, Applied Kinesiology and Acupuncture. Specializes in disc problems, LBP, neck pain and musculoskeletal pain.

Neil Raff MD CNS 37 Moore Ave, Mt. Kisco, NY 914-241-7030 • NeilRaffMD.com Westchester’s most experienced office for the detection and treatment of toxic metals (lead, mercury, aluminum, etc), the underlying cause of many inflammatory, immune and digestive conditions.

Years of experience with chelation, IV or oral. Call for free consultation.

EDUCATION Housatonic Valley Waldorf School

40 Dodgingtown Rd, Newtown 203-364-1113 • WaldorfCT.org We develop each child’s unique capacity to engage meaningfully in the world by integrating experiential and artistic learning, academic excellence, respect for diversity and reverence for nature. See ad page 21.

eNaturalAwakenings.com

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HEALING CENTER

ENERGY HEALING

SOUND - A Center for

The Light of Happiness Reiki and Wellness

Deborah Arconti, LPN, RMT, IARP Reiki Master/Teacher Advance Practice IET™ Danbury • 203-470-0635 TheLightOfHappiness.com Specializing in Reiki and IET™ sessions for mind, body and spirit connections. IET™ “Integrated Energy Therapy” uses angelic connections for soothing results.

Teaching all levels of small Usui Reiki classes, experienced in training healthcare professionals.

Virginia Trinque, Usui Reiki Master 203-733-1330 • Danbury VirginiasHealthyLiving@gmail.com VirginiasHealthyLiving.com

Virginia is a Reiki Master/Teacher with years of experience healing children and adults. Specializing in physical and spiritual pain relief and “body and soul integration” for easier living in this world. Usui Reiki classes offered for Master level, Levels I and II and Teacher Training. Sessions and classes held in a private, serene setting.

HEALING CENTER Rev. Christine Guerrera, LMFT Psychotherapist, Interfaith Minister ARC Sacred Center, Monroe 203-268-1272 • ARCSacredCenter.org

Chris is a licensed psychotherapist and inter-spiritual teacher offering psycho-spiritual therapy and sacred ceremonies such as baby blessings, weddings, interfaith gatherings and healing workshops. See ad page 32.

Forza5 Holistic Fitness and Healing Center 1047 Danbury Rd, Wilton 203-247-4175

Forza5 is a center that focuses on bringing the fitness and healing worlds together. A beautiful, fully equipped gym offers personal training or group classes. A meditation and yoga room offers tranquil space where we connect our minds and spirits through meditation, reiki,and intuitive readings.

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Music, Creative Arts & Mindfulness 31 Hawleyville Rd, Newtown 203-270-1119 • SoundCenterArts.com SOUND is a holistic center for arts and spiritual awareness. We offer individual classes and group workshops for children and adults in music, creative arts, intuitive development, sound and energy healing, meditation yoga and much more.

HEALTH COACH Mary Gilbertson MS, BSN,CHHC

Licensed RN,Nutritionist & Certified Health Coach 500 Monroe Tpke, Monroe • 203-521-4733 GilbertsonMary@yahoo.com Prescription4wellness.com Working 1:1, in groups and corporations to develop customized healthy lifestyle plans. You receive tools to optimize your health through nutrition, disease management, exercise, weight loss & stress reduction. 28 years of experience supporting teens & adults in healthy lifestyle. Available for speaking engagements and health events. See ad page 33.

Hypnosis MIND BODY TRANSFORMATION HYPNOSIS

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 ad page 49.

INTEGRATIVE HealTH Worden Wellness Center

Thomas Worden, DC 41 Kenosia Ave, Danbury 203-244-8801 DocWorden@WordenWellnessCenter.com WordenWellnessCenter.com At Worden Wellness Center we use an integrated approach of chiropractic, acupuncture and nutrition to incorporate therapeutic lifestyle changes to help you reach your optimum health. Dr. Worden has been practicing in Danbury for 25 years. See ad page 13.

Integrative Medicine Physician

Virginia Trinque Certified Holistic Health Coach

RIVERSIDE OB/GYN

Claim the life you are meant to live. Virginia is a Certified Holistic Health Coach and Nutrition Counselor for women, families and teenagers. Kind and proven coaching methods will guide you to cleanse your body and home for disease prevention and weight loss, increasing mind/ body/spirit health. Individual, group, family and corporate wellness programs by phone, in person and live web-meeting.

Riverside Obstetrics & Gynecology is a full-service medical practice incorporating traditional and holistic approaches to women’s health. The practice includes two OB/GYNs and a naturopathic physician. See ad page 12.

203-733-1330 VirginiasHealthyLiving@gmail.com

HOLISTIC DENTIST MARK A. BREINER, DDS, FIAOMT

5520 Park Ave, Ste 301, Ffld Town Line Merritt Pkwy, Exit 47 203-371-0300 • WholeBodyDentistry.com Dr. Mark A. Breiner is a pioneer and recognized authority in the field of holistic dentistry. With over 30 years of experience, he is a sought after speaker and lecturer.

His popular consumer book, Whole-Body Dentistry, has been sold world-wide. See ad page 2.

natural awakenings

Russell Turk, MD Karen Zino, MD 1200 East Putnam Ave, Riverside 203-637-3337

STAMFORD INTEGRATIVE MEDICINE Michael E. Doyle, MD Conventional & Alternative Medicine 22 5th St, Suite 201, Stamford 203-324-4747 • GoToDrDoyle.com

Specializing in Natural and Alternative approaches to restoring health. Focusing on underlying causes of illness. Hypothyroidism, hormonal imbalances, nutrition and much more. See ad page 41.

INTEGRATIVE OPTOMETRY Eyecare Associates, PC

Drs. Randy Schulman, Steve Carr, Narvan Bakhtiari, Carl Gruning, and C. Lee Mellinger Locations: 6515 Main St, Trumbull • 203-374-2020 139 Main St, Norwalk • 203-840-1991 2600 Post Rd, Southport • 203-255-4005 CTEyeCareAssociates.com We offer behavioral optometry, comprehensive vision exams, contact lenses and vision therapy.

See ad page 47.

INTUITIVE CONSULTANT Joan Carra, Psychic Medium 203-531-6387 PsychicJoanCarra.com Facebook.com/PsychicJoan.Carra

Joan is recommended by six books and has twenty years experience.

Find solutions, comfort and closure. Specializing in contacting passed loved ones. Available for private sessions, parties and corporate events.

Massage & Bodywork iFloat

163 Main St, Westport 203-226-7378 • iFloatSpa.net Experience this superior form of body/mind relaxation as you float effortlessly in warm water with high concentrations of Epsom salt. Relieve stress, chronic pain and more. See ad page 18.

JOY CARBINO

Licensed Massage Therapist Holistic Nutrition Consultant & Reiki 203-470-1226 • HealingWhiteLight.com Joy combines her intuitive ability and her expertise in massage therapy to enhance the body’s natural ability to heal itself. Holistic health & nutrition programs also offered. See ad page 27.

Massage & Bodywork

MEDITATION

Laura Carlson, LMT

Redding Center for Meditation

Yo u d e s e r v e t o b e nurtured and time to be still, to breathe and to restore balance.

Relaxing and nourishing massage will encourage positive changes in your mind and body. Individual sessions and massage parties available.

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.

Redding/Monroe/Easton 203-885-7353 (SELF) Facebook.com/LauraCarlsonMassageLLC

Roberta Russell

Licensed Massage Therapist Reiki and Polarity Practitioner West Redding • 203-438-2354 Beyond-Touch.com

Naturopathic Physician

Relieve stress and pain. Improve sleep, energy levels, immune system. Swedish and Integrated Deep Tissue Massage styles incorporated with Energy Healing.

Rebalance energy for body, mind and spirit. Restorative and deeply relaxing! 15 years experience. See ad page 9.

Robin Ordan, LMT, LCSW, CICMI Licensed Massage Therapist & Reiki Practitioner Old Greenwich/Stamford 203-5610-8535 • RobinOrdanLMT.com

Debra Gibson, ND

100 Danbury Rd, Ridgefield 203-431-4443 Natural family healthcare using nutrition and biochemistry; herbal, homeopathic and energetic medicine; lifestyle transformation and detoxification, to promote well-being of body, mind and spirit. See ad page 16.

Dr. Marina Yanover, ND, LAc

Robin has been providing massage and Reiki for over 15 years. Specializing in Swedish, Pregnancy, Trigger Point, Injuries and Infant/ Child Massage Instruction. Sessions are individualized to meet your needs. See ad page 42.

Zak Walker, LMT

1300 Post Rd East, Westport 203-255-5005 • BigAppleHealth.com

Naturopathic Medicine, Acupuncture, Craniosacral Therapy, Natural Face Lift using microcurrent therapy. Specialties include Family Medicine, Women’s Health, Endocrinology, Gastroenterology, Pain Management, Skin Care. Insurance accepted.

Northeast Natural Medicine, LLC

Wellness Institute One Westport Ave, Norwalk 203-443-6679 • ZaxWeb@gmail.com I combine elements of Swedish and Deep Tissue Massage, Acupressure and Myofascial Release, according to the goals and preferences of each client. I’m here to help you feel your best!

MASSAGE SCHOOL Finger Lakes School of Massage

Sometimes it’s the smallest decisions that can change your life forever. ~Keri Russell

9 Picketts Ridge Rd, West Redding 203-244-3130 ReddingMeditation.org

Shawn M. Carney, ND 19 Church Hill Rd, Ste 1, Newtown 800-723-2962 • NortheastNatMed.com

Integrative naturopathic medicine clinic and therapeutic massage center for the whole family.

Services include advanced diagnostic testing, detoxification programs, personalized nutrition and botanicals. Insurance accepted.

Marvin P. Schweitzer, ND

272 N. Bedford Rd, Mount Kisco, NY 914-241-7363 • FLSM.com

Wellness Institute 1 Westport Ave, Norwalk 203-847-2788 • DrMarvinSchweitzer.com

Join us for a transformative experience as you develop your intuitive and scientific abilities to heal through therapeutic touch.

Classes taught to auditory, visual and kinesthetic learners. Financial aid available for full and part-time programs. See ad page 20.

Family Health Care using all natural therapies for 25 years.

Acupuncture, Bio-Identical H o r m o n e s , H o m e o p a t h y, Chinese/Western Herbs, Allergy/ Toxin Testing, Oxygen Therapy, Meridian Stress Assessment, Nutrition/Enzyme Therapies. See ad page 10.

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Naturopathic Physician SHALVA CLINIC, LLC

ORGANIC MATTRESSES & BEDDING

Ellen M. Lewis, ND, Director 260 Riverside Ave, Westport 203-916-4600 • ShalvaClinic.org

Organic Sleep by Sleep Etc.

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 page 9.

Founded in 1947, Sleep Etc now offers a new line of socially responsible bedding products, including higher quality, more comfortable and longer lasting mattresses. See ad page 17.

508 Main Ave, Norwalk • 203-846-2233 55 High Ridge Rd, Stamford • 203-323-1509

WHOLE-BODY MEDICINE, LLC

Adam Breiner, ND, Director Elena Sokolova, MD, ND David Brady, ND, CCN, DACBN Fairfield/Trumbull town line 203-371-8258 • WholeBodyMed.com Using state-of-the-art science combined with centuries-old healing modalities, our caring naturopathic doctors correct underlying imbalances and address issues which may interfere with the body’s ability to heal itself.

Treatment protocols or therapies include: Abdominal Manual Therapy, Acupuncture, Allergy Desensitization, Chinese Medicine, Colonics and other Detoxification Protocols, Electro-Dermal Screening, Energy Medicine, FDA-cleared Phototherapy, Functional Medicine, Herbal Medicine, Homeopathy, Hormonal Balancing, Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy, Metabolic Typing, Nutritional Assessment, RealTime EEG Neurofeedback and other therapies. See ad page 2.

ORGANIC MATTRESSES & BEDDING Healthy Choice Mattress

270 Federal Rd, Brookfield • 203-739-0077 141 Post Rd East, Westport • 203-557-3900 HCmattress.com Healthy Choice Organic Mattress offers luxury mattresses and bedding made from the highest quality natural materials. With four showrooms, including two in CT, Healthy Choice features locally made mattresses that are chemical and toxin free, biodegradable, comfortable and durable. See ad back cover.

The Clean Bedroom

79 West Putnam Ave, Greenwich 203-292-9275 | 866-380-5892 TheCleanBedroom.com The Clean Bedroom is an organic and all-natural mattress and bedding resource with seven showrooms, including its new location in Greenwich. Through its showrooms and web site, eco-minded shoppers gain insight to create a healthier sleep environment. See ad page 3.

PERSONAL GROWTH KES Educational Services 203-505-3660 kmarEducation.org

KES Educational Services, Inc. provides a menu of services for individuals who understand the necessity of personal growth investment to be competitive in this world. It is not how much you know, it is about how, when, what and where you have applied your Knowledge and Skill Set and the moment of truth: THE RESULTS.

PHYSICAL THERAPY Physical Therapy of Southern CT

Linda Maude, PT 917 Bridgeport Ave, Shelton 203-926-6997 • PhysicalTherapySoCT.com Specializing in evaluation & treatment of musculoskeletal imbalance & injuries. Results achieved that traditional physical therapy may not. Therapeutic approaches such as manual therapy, cranialsacral, visceral manipulation and vestibular rehab. State of the art facility for strengthening & overall rehabilitation.

PSYCHOTHERAPY DENI WEBER, MA, LPC, D-CEP

Holistic Psychotherapist Comprehensive Energy Psychology Fairfield County 203-544-6094 • DeniWeber.com Within a supportive, empathic relationship Deni guides individuals on their journey of self-discovery integrating psychology, Eastern medicine and spirituality to heal suffering from traumatic stress related to chronic illness, disabilities, abuse & PTSD.

JUDITH BARR, LPC, CCMHC Brookfield 203-775-5006 • JudithBarr.com PowerAbusedPowerHealed.com

At its heart, psychotherapy is soulwork, which helps you reconnect with wounded, buried parts of yourself, finally healing, becoming your true Self – heartful, matured, full. This is not quick-fix, band-aid work. Do yourself justice – mind, body, heart, soul. Journey safely to your Self with Judith. See ad page 9.

Maria C. Castillo, MSW, LCSW 238 Monroe Tpke, Suite B, Monroe 203-445-8966 • Msisi@AOL.com LifeBetweenLivesTherapy.com

Past Life Regression, trained by Brian Weiss, MD. Life Between Lives Hypnotherapy, trained by TNI and Michael Newton, PhD. Traditional psychotherapy with a spiritual approach; Reiki. Connect with your soul self and let your inner wisdom guide you.

Robin Ordan, LCSW

Family, Child, Individual & Couples Therapy Old Greenwich/Stamford 203-561-8535 • RobinOrdanLCSW.com Robin has over 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 19.

All gardening

is landscape painting. ~William Kent

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PSYCHOTHERAPY VICTORIA SHAW, PhD

Intuitive Psychotherapist 3 Hollyhock Ln, Wilton • 203-210-5700 VictoriaShawPsychotherapy.com VictoriaShawintuitive.com I combine the best of traditional psychotherapy with intuitive guidance in my work with children, teens, and adults. My goal is to connect clients with their own inner source of strength, wisdom, and healing. See ad page 18.

REIKI EMBODY THE SACRED® Deana Paqua, MA, LMT 203-994-5045 EmbodyTheSacred.net

Turn your deepest pain or trauma into your greatest strength.

Shamanic Reiki, Usui/Karuna® Reiki, Shamanic Healing and Bodywork. Offerings in Ridgefield, Danbury and NY areas.

REIKI & JIKIDEN REIKI ARTHUR S GERSTEIN, MANAGER, ACORN LLC

Practicing Reiki at 1 Danbury Rd, Wilton 855-245-3060 • info@ArtEnergyHealing.com ArtEnergyHealing.com Certified in several types of Reiki, Arthur also practices other energy modalities and techniques to help reduce pain as well as provide relaxation. His innovative on-site 25 minute workshop can help energize for a more productive day. His unique melding of colors and imagery with life force promotes light and well-being. He is also available for individual sessions.

RESULTS COACHING Jeff Forte PEAK Results Coaching

2389 Main St, Glastonbury 860-633-8555 • PeakResultsCoaching.com Want to quickly improve your marriage or personal happiness?

Hope is not a strategy for success.

Call to learn proven strategies to overcome your life challenges. See ad page 26.

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.

J

oin the largest database of health-conscious and ecominded, spiritual singles for FREE and manifest an extraordinary relationship!

Transformative Healing Beth Prins Leas

Transformative Healing • Tarot Offices in Norwalk & Ridgefield 203-856-9566 BethLeas.com • TLCTarot.com

Reiki Medic

Suzanne Schultz RN, Reiki Master, CCH Monroe • 203-650-0325 • ReikiMedic.com Specializing in Reiki and Hypnosis. Healing from my heart center to yours. Offering private sessions and teaching all Usui Reiki levels. Will travel.

Ahhh...

Springtime, Find Your Natural Match!

See ad page 18.

If not now, when? Inspire change on all levels - greater physical ease, emotional freedom, peace of mind and spiritual connection. 20 years intuitive healing experience with adults and children of all ages. Reiki, Jin Shin Jyutsu, Tarot.

Heart’s Desire Method TURNING POINT REIKI, LLC

JoAnn Duncan, MS, RMT Reiki Master Ridgefield • 203-438-3050 TurningPointReiki.com TurningPointShare.com JoAnn uses intuition, experience and a deep spiritual connection in her Reiki, IET and Reconnective Healing sessions. Specializing in care for individuals with Cancer, Lyme disease and Back Pain. All Reiki levels taught.

Shiloh@theHDMethod.com theHDMethod.com

The Heart’s Desire Method – 7 Steps to making your dreams come true. Bring high definition focus on what you want in all areas – work, family, relationships and money. By energizing the healing power of the authentic self, you will lead a happier, more peaceful and fulfilling life.

Join for FREE at NaturalAwakeningsSingles.com eNaturalAwakenings.com

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Did you know that 98% of all mattresses on the market today contain toxic chemicals and fire retardants and are made of polyurethane foams, petrochemicals and steel springs? Not a healthy formula for a good night’s sleep!

Healthy Choice

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Brookfield, CT 270 Federal Road (203) 739-0077 Westport, CT 141 Post Rd. East (203) 557-3900 Mt. Kisco, NY 681 East Main Street, (914) 241-2467 Ridgewood, NJ 14 Wilsey Square (201) 857-3245

Because Nature Makes The Best Stuff! eNaturalAwakenings.com

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Organic Mattresses The Premier Retailer of Organic Latex Mattresses & Green Wood Bed Frames in the Tri-Stae Area Brookfield, CT 270 Federal Road (203) 739-0077

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Ridgewood, NJ 14 Wilsey Square (201) 857-3245